A smooth faced, pale fingered leather etcher

1). Have I ever mentioned that I have Raynaud’s Phenomenon? That sounds way more exciting than it is, actually. It means that occasionally and at random times my fingers turn white and go a little numb. Lately, it has been mostly the tip of my middle finger, but occasionally it'll spread through my whole hand. Typically it is brought on by stress or by cold. When I was in California recently, both of my hands went completely white thanks to a perfect storm of panic over riding a roller coaster and the, ahem, brisk, morning temperatures. 

2). I got a new phone a couple of weeks ago, and apparently took a bunch of photos with an auto-beauty setting turned on? It makes you look creepy smooth. Which is cool, but I really don't mind that I have pores, so it really freaked me out until I figured out what was going on. See the hat? Totally normal texture. See the subtle glow of my skin? In no way have I ever looked that smooth in my life.

3). Over Christmas (well, a little before Christmas) I bought a wood burning kit. I used it to make cutting boards for the family, and even practiced a little leather work. Most importantly, I did NOT light myself on fire, much to the surprise of everyone involved. 

Launching 2016

Every year, mama artist makes amazing calendars and sends them out for Christmas. It is one of my most favorite traditions, and it is the absolute best way for me to ring in the new year. For some reason, this year I just kept thinking about the calendar, and how I wouldn't know how to start a year without one.

I hang the calendar on the cork board in my office, where I look at it roughly 100 times a day. It not only tells me when my deadlines are and what day of the week it is, but it inspires me. Because mama artist is a phenomenal photographer.

I have saved every calendar she has ever made. I have a little area of my bookshelf where they live, and sometimes I go and sort through them, just because they make me smile. Something about starting each month with a new gorgeous photo to gaze at makes the month a little more manageable.

Thanks for the inspiration mama artist!

B is for Bon Voyage: Weekend in Wyoming

A couple weeks ago, the BHO and I snuck up to Wyoming to see the artist parents. And by snuck, I do mean boarded a teeny tiny plane, and took deep breaths as we soared through the usual amount of turbulence high above the rolling hills.

I'm thoroughly convinced that there is nothing better for one's faith than spending a touch of time with nothing between you and the picturesque ground but the hand of God.

B is for Bon Voyage: The Oregon Coast (part 2)

The artist clan spent Thursday taking Portland by storm. And by storm I actually mean by lightrail. We spent the day poking around bookstores and topped the day off with a visit to one of my top 10 favorite stores... IKEA! In case you were wondering... I AM the annoying person in the family who routinely shrieks "Stop! We have to take a photo" while the rest of the artist clan very sweetly humors me. Fortunately for the smartest... we had very little available suitcase space. Which limited my purchases to some moose shaped cookie cutters, some measuring spoons and a couple of cutting boards.

 

The smartest and I have been blessed with an exceedingly large family. In addition to having many members, all of whom we are inordinately fond of, it spreads across the country in every direction. Said spread-out-ness sometimes means that we don't get to see everyone as often as we would like, but it makes the moments we do have that much more precious. Mama artist was sweet enough to supply me with a couple photos of the artist clan that assembled to dig their toes in the last week:

 

B is for Bon Voyage: The Oregon Coast

Do you know what I love about March? March is the month that the smartest and I get to sneak away to Oregon to see the artist clan! We always have SUCH fun, and come home with clam in our bellies and sand in our suitcases. This year we had every kind of weather- from rain to rainbows, storms and sunshine and gorgeous sunsets. I will have some lovely family photos so share in a couple of days- but for now here is a little peek and the scenery:

 

 

 

As sad as we were to leave the coast, we got a pretty breathtaking welcome home:

Happy Halloween!

We interrupt your regularly schedule recaps to bring you a very special Halloween message. Over the weekend, the smartest and Cousin K took Mrs. Cousin K and I out to a masquerade ball. That's right. We're living the dream a little bit. It was gloriously fun. Anyone recognize this dress, by the way? It was almost 3 years to the day from when the smartest and I went to dinner at the same place, and he asked me to marry him, so it was fun to walk around the grounds and reminisce. While wearing capes... because who doesn't have a hankering to wear a cape every now and then.

Also over the weekend, the puppy turned 1! We bought her a puppy cookie. And she proceeded to chew on my underpants. I'm pretty sure she thought it was the world's most perfect day.