Self entertaining

When you spend twenty days essentially alone, you learn many things about yourself and you definitely find ways to entertain yourself.  (We were all home and we did lots of inter-home zoom chats and classes, but much of the time as all the adults were resting and recuperating, the boys were left to self-entertain.)

Emerson practiced balancing his stuffed animals on his head, he observed wildlife out the windows, he read a lot of books, he played a lot of hot wheels and found many ways to incorporate the construction materials in his area into the play.   

Whittaker requested craft supplies and had to clean his room of scraps of paper and debris daily, but he made many lovely creations.  He listened to endless books.

They both looked forward to internet chats with cousins. 

After 2 weeks of quarantining, I contacted the nurse at the clinic to inquire regarding Duncan and Emerson receiving the antibodies test so we could safely come out of quarantine.  We weren't 100% symptom free yet, but were feeling better and were determined that we were on the road to recovery and didn't want to risk starting the quarantine all over again if the boys started to show symptoms.  The nurse quizzed me well regarding our remaining symptoms and she stopped me short when I mentioned Whittaker's remaining rash.  I was transferred to another nurse and then repeated our symptoms and then was transferred to the Dr. and then was told to bring him in.  They would be waiting for us in the contamination room.  

Five hours later he had been examined thoroughly, given 2 covid tests, an antibodies test, a strep swab, and had 5 vials of blood drawn for further testing.  (I wanted his hearing tested but they thought that request was odd.)  His symptoms were suggesting that a complication of covid, that has been seen in many covid recovering children, was possibly a concern for him. He disliked the swabbing and the blood draw immensely. 

I suppose since they aren't sure why these recovering children suddenly begin to have systems fail about a week to ten days after symptoms first began that we should have been grateful for their thoroughness, but I wasn't feeling great yet and would have preferred to stay home resting and Whittaker has only miserable thoughts about covid.  (His horrid itchy rash and day of vomiting along with the tightness of his chest were more than annoying.)  He verbalized his anxieties on the third day of our quarantine by asking if we were all going to die?   We reassured him that no we weren't.  But he knew we had discussed the two friends from the retirement center who hadn't survived so it was a valid question to him.  (This reaction from the nurses and Dr. weren't alleviating his anxieties.)

Four full weeks later his rash is almost cleared up.  No other issues ever surfaced.  I also wasn't successful in determining if Duncan and Emerson were just asymptomatic or not infected.  Duncan had two days of a headache but nothing else.  So who knows. (the antibodies test, we were told, wouldn't have helped to know that until 10 days after our symptoms cleared up anyway.)  

As far as the rest of us.  Patrick has resumed looking for work, and has finally been released from his quarantine corner.  He lost 15 pounds over the course of the illness but otherwise has no lingering symptoms. 

Jim has bouts of fatigue and has now developed shingles and his hair is thinning (may or may not be related to covid). So now we are keeping our distance from him again.  

I am delighted that I can taste, smell and feel my face again.  The fatigue is gone and so are the body aches and headaches. I still periodically get the chest tightening.  It lasts about an hour when it comes and some days it doesn't happen at all.  

We all still feel a bit less driven and productive, but that could just be some winter doldrums or just personal idiosyncrasies.

Since the holiday season came amidst Covid quarantine, joblessness and unfinished construction, we determined some semblance of festivities would be nice but the only location the tree could go without being in the way of progress was in the corner of the kitchen... where Emerson was camping out. 

He was delighted.  He spent the entire day setting up the tree, arranging the branches, stringing lights and placing ornaments.  He struggled with keeping it from leaning but he was creative in shimming it up.  (There are a few socks and a kitchen butter knife under one part of the tree stand) Sleeping under the Christmas tree that he set up all by himself will be a memory he won't soon forget.  

Covid Update

 Patrick is sleeping. 

[He still has headache, body aches, cough, fatigue but seems to have more energy in short spurts.]

Emerson is playing operation, knocking down the fortress of the pigs and listening to a magic treehouse book.

[No actual symptoms]

Duncan is listening to a book, playing computer games, eating day old pancakes and pining over the lack of cookies in the house.  He is keeping the fires burning and has taken over spelling and other school tasks with the boys via zoom. (Wishing it wasn't a week off school so there would be more to occupy his time!)

[No actual symptoms]

Whittaker is listening to Nancy Drew mysteries, and arts and crafting.(He has created a pen catapult launcher, many Christmas ornaments and some random sketches.)  He looks forward each day to time on the computer and the chance of a chat with Ava.

[Angry rash on his hands, sore throat and a tightness in his chest, but good spirits and plenty of energy to make frequent requests for more tea, for paper, paints, glue, empty toilet paper rolls, a new book, water refills, any snacks?]

Jim is bored, and inventing new covid symptoms like, bruising easily, inability to heal after a burn and the need for frequent urination (may be tied to the constant supply of tea I've been providing).  He is productively working in spurts and suggesting activities like charades from our respective doorways.  He has thrown caution to the wind and decided to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. In other words, it's not a no sugar week!  He has lost self-control and eaten an entire container of peanuts in two days.  

[metallic taste in his mouth, had a slight headache, had a tickle in his throat, had a tightness in his chest, sporadic heavy limbs.  All symptoms are in past.. mostly.. very minor and isn't eager to do any exercise.. is winded easily after simple exertion.]

I am creating a symptom chart (None of us can register a temperature at the normal range... we all have unusually below normal temps.  Whittaker winning with 95.3) and I'm justifying ice cream for breakfast since I had lots of leftover heavy cream by adding granola and berries.  I'm paranoid that the mice will have a complete lack of respect for my days of cleaning and rodent proofing efforts.  I'm catching up on years of neglected slothfulness and am not getting dressed until noon... if I get out of my p.j's at all.  

[metallic taste in mouth, fatigue, body aches, slight cough, cold sores, nagging headache, stuffy nose, swollen throat glands and hands that constantly smell of bleach]

Figaro has increased her efforts of laziness and when she isn't lounging on Emerson's bed or meowing annoyingly at the door to be let out for 3 minutes, she has taken up residence on Patrick's side of the bed.  She also sneezed twice last night so I charted it and we'll monitor it closely. 

Noella is baffled by the lack of interaction by the humans and has quarantined herself to the couch by the front door.  She is afraid to make her presence more publicly known due the shame she feels for NOT capturing the elusive kitchen torturing mice!

Quarantine Memes

Isolating since March...

Quarantining with Covid19 for the last week...

I've been amazed at the cleverness of people as they share quarantine memes.  These are a few of my favourites.

I had other plans...

Life had other plans... 

Frozen drain = no showering or laundry (which isn't good since we all stink and I need to wash a certain unnamed young man's bedding for the 4th time in a week)

So with Patrick giving instructions Duncan and I turned off water valves, baled water out of the bathtub and plunged the drains, we ran heaters next to the new plumbing fixtures and Patrick went under the house to add more insulation wrapping to the pipes.  

Frozen pipe = no cold water.  (Unless we wanted scalding hot showers, we had to wait.

Signs of mice = have to empty the cupboards, wash every dish and bleach the cupboards, board up the back of the cupboards and now go on a hunt for how they're getting in.  (The signs of mice were neat rows of cat food inside my baking cupboard with ... droppings!) These cupboards were empty and clean just two weeks ago when we moved them for demolition day so this is a very new circumstance.  

So.. much of the day was spent washing dishes... once we had water and drains restored.  The cupboards are all smelling of bleach and the back of the cupboard has been more solidly covered... but I still don't know what the point of entry to the house is for the rodents.  We plugged in a high frequency rodent deterrent that we used successfully in the green house this summer.  Perhaps the vermin will simply leave.  

Covid19 exposure (Patrick) = quarantine everyone to their own corners of the house and now have to deliver food, water, supplies.. keep the fires going and find entertainment for boys in separate areas.  Also need to sanitize all dishes that come back from Patrick so I don't accidentally pass the covid fork or plate at the next meal.  (trying to keep exposure risk at home to a minimum to keep severity of the illness at a minimum)  Loss of job means he's not missing work I suppose... But he can't find work either from his confining corner of the house) He did drywall his confinement quarters though.  

Still not finished with the renovations = need to keep both wood stoves stoked.  (it's warm in here!)  So I'm cooking many of the meals on the wood cookstove.  Much greater appreciation for the women of yesteryear who literally slaved over hot stoves to cook their meals.  The whole stove radiates and the fronts of my legs get toasty when I'm browning meat or stirring soup.  

My actual plans for today had included taking a shower, planning Dec. menu's and finalizing the shopping list for the upcoming Utah trip.. (which is now postponed..), chat with Miles when he calls, tidy up and organize my office area in anticipation of moving to a new location..  prep a few meals for ahead in case I end up with Covid so we can all still keep eating.... help Whittaker finish up his crochet project and do some writing and watch a pre-recorded class on natural yeast bread making and maybe even try baking some.  

Maybe tomorrow!?

A second bathroom

 One of the reasons we embarked on our renovations ( besides the sinking, stinking pantry off of the only bathroom), was to build a second bathroom.  A second bathroom has been needed... a few times.

As construction progressed it became a much appreciated comment anytime there was a wait for the bathroom for people to call out loudly, "Build another bathroom Patrick!"  

It was our delightful way of letting him know how much we appreciated his efforts.. to encourage him to get to the 2nd bathroom completed stage faster and add a little fun to his life.  This calling out has been going on for 5 months.  He's definitely not tired of hearing it 😆.

A couple weeks ago, the plumbing was at the stage that the toilet could be installed.  

We may have been more excited than should be allowed for a toilet.  He thought it would put an end to our cajoling.

HA HA HA HA... 

We just change to, "sure would be nice if there was another shower... or it's not much fun using a toilet in a room without any lights... the ambience in here isn't what we had in mind"...  but mostly we say... "Bathrooms ought to have walls Patrick." 

Our support is indispensable.

But it's true... Bathrooms really ought to have walls.

There was a time almost a year ago.. when guests were coming to visit for Christmas.  The only thing they requested of us was if it was possible that the bathroom door could maybe, if it's not too much trouble, could we please get a lock on the bathroom door.  I can't imagine their comments on this bathroom situation!  

It really is an open concept bathroom.  I can stand in one place and see the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom and the front door.  I've heard open concept is all the rage these days.  Perhaps they aren't referring to bathrooms though...

We solved the lack of privacy issue simply enough.  A quick sheet hung did the trick.  Walls really are overrated.. I hung the sheet in under a minute... it's taken Patrick weeks to build walls to this state.  

As penance for being such a slow wall builder, when he was put into mandated quarantine from his Covid19 exposure we set up his cot in his yet unfinished area.  It's really ideal for him.  He has access to the new bathroom and is able to continue building the walls and finishing the interior work while staying in his designated quarantine space.  We have even hooked him up with lights and opened the windows from the living room so there's heat flow.  We are generous and caring after all. 

Distance experts

 On a trip to town to distantly deliver some goodies to my primary children... I discovered another Wyoming social distancing example.  

These moose are often rumored to be out and about town, but it's rare that they come out when we are in town.  

Even when they do make an appearance, it's rarely for long.

They definitely keep their distance.

If they think you are infringing on their space, they make it known... Fortunately, they generally just leave... but it has been said they will get in your face if need be to make it known that they need their space to be respected.

Moose are a bit haughty if you ask me.  

Something about doing social distancing before it was 'popular'.

Isolation

 

This is posted at our tiny post office.  

Are they advertising so more people will come visit?

Encouraging people to stay away?

Bragging, that life hasn't really needed to change among the pandemic?

I think it's the last... bragging.

Life all summer was exactly as it would have been pretty much any summer here.  I tried desperately to coax a few plants to grow.  (These 'giant' sunflowers grew to 3' tall!)  Patrick worked tirelessly on this summer's projects.. (just building a house)  And the boys entertained themselves.   Tennis without boundaries.  It's a cross between tennis, baseball and hide and seek for the ball in the tall grass.

It morphed into big boys play tennis and little boys play badminton with the same net... at the same time.   That even morphed and included Patrick.  

"If you can hit the tennis ball into the gap in the partially completed roof and have it roll into the new addition on the other side of the house, I will make an Orange Julius for everyone."

I made quite a few 'Julius's' this summer.  "If you hit daddy... run!"

Our breaks for rest and relaxation among our building this summer were little breaths of fresh air... except the air wasn't fresh.. it was smoky haze.. they were welcome bits of respite.  Between trampoline games, bike rides, tennis/badminton play and flying kites we managed to build a big chunk of house and continue to do our schoolwork.  

So I suppose our life is the social distancing life. We just thought it was the quiet, rural, simple life.  Either way we just carry on... Now winter is upon us.  No more kites, and tennis... we'll switch out our sandals for winter boots and snow suits and discover new methods of respite among our projects and daily tasks. 

Just another Boring Sunday

Way back in February, which seems like years ago, we heard of a buffalo farm near our house.  We had already found the one near the Post Office, but this was the other direction and... it had 'WHITE BUFFALO'.  I didn't even know there was such a thing.   I realize that in Utah we had been part of the Boy Scouts White Buffalo district, but I thought that was just a name or a distinction such as the green, the yellow, the red buffalo districts.. frankly I'd never questioned it nor thought much about it.  Until NOW.    

We lived within a 30 minute drive of white buffalo.  A definite field trip.  Winter makes exploring complicated so we took down the directions and waited for spring.  But Covid came before spring and we stopped thinking of outings.  Our friends called us one morning and asked if we wanted to join them.  They had been in on the conversation about the white buffalo and had decided they needed an excursion also.  So... we said yes.  We could social distance in our own heated cars as we drove to the buffalo. 

We knew we were close when we saw these guys.  Then we discussed the idea that perhaps they weren't white in the winter, but that would be the opposite of the arctic fox and rabbit.  Plus, they wouldn't be called the white buffalo if they were only part time white buffalo.

We continued along.  Chatting with our friends on the cell phones.  It was fun to get out and explore with friends, (sort of).  

It was another mile or two and then we saw them... How to describe the moment.  We just sat and stared.  We rolled down the windows and listened.  We heard faint grunting, the calling of Canada geese, a few other bird sounds but mostly intense silence.  They didn't do much.  We gazed for a while longer and then we remembered it was only 20 degrees outside and boys needed a potty.  We waved to our friends and we headed for home.  But then I told Pat to stop.  "I'm tired of having odd photos of animals, we need to be in the photos.  So the boys obligingly hopped out and braved the cold for a photo.  But you can barely see buffalo in that shot.  Oh well.

We returned home... our white car now also a beige colour... Perhaps the buffalo have a similar winter fate.  

April, May, June and July... Jim moved in, Covid hunkered in to stay but the snow finally left and the temperatures lifted.  Somehow the conversation in July turned to white buffalo.  With our recent dilemma of Whittaker finding Sundays, "boring", we decided a Sunday drive to see how white the buffalo are in the summer would help to 'unborify' our next Sunday.  

I had a few zoom meetings for stake callings so we scheduled our Sacrament, Zoom meetings, Come Follow Me Study time and meals carefully so we would still have a two hour window for our Sunday Buffalo quest drive. 

These brown fellows greeted us first just as they had the previous visit.  I think they appreciated that we stopped to enjoy their grandeur.  I'm sure it must be frustrating to be overlooked just because they aren't the rare variety.  They are still quite an impressive beast.  Jim and the boys attempted to gain their attention by making 'buffalo noises', but they preferred to lounge in their grassy field.  

Quest completed.

They are indeed whiter now than they were in winter.  The white herd is substantially smaller than the brown.  We don't understand the brown calves being among them but they were rather tight lipped when it came to answering our questions. 

Again the boys attempted to get their attention.  After many attempts at strange noises, we're convinced they were looking at us and not just in our direction.  

We could hear the delightful sounds of the river, the birds and the light breeze.  Once again the boys needed to potty.  (What is it about visiting buffalo?)  While the boys found an accommodating bush, I turned the car around.  They returned with a bouquet of wildflowers.

How's that for unborifying!

Week 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,35...

Let's see... so in the last nine weeks, a few things have happened.  

Miles stopped emailing.  

Because he began calling more.  He calls three times a week. He transferred to Carrollton, TX and his new companion was curmudgeonly.  He didn't want to eat meals together, to study together, to chat or play games.  Not an ideal quarantine partner. 

We however play games with him... virtually.

The boys enjoy their chess matches against Miles.  The Lego men are so that Miles can say... "move the rook on the purple Lego side forward 4 paces."  

Miles coped.  He had his Rubik's cube and a ukulele.  He also began working on his 'mind palace'.  A method of memorization and short-term memory improving techniques. He wowed us on a game night when we played the 'tray game'.  He remembered all 50 items in the order they were on the tray and he never wrote anything down.   He also remembered all 50 items in order days later!

Miles was needing some new Spanish reading material.. We did our best.  Duncan scanned each page and sent them.  We've been looking for more grown up Spanish articles and songs so he can keep up his translating.  

After only a few weeks, missionaries were transferred and Miles stayed where he was but Elder Birch became his new companion.  Elder Birch loved that Miles could cook, and called home and requested old favourite recipes for Miles to make.  They also started jogging. Miles, not such a big fan.  His shins hurt.  

Miles baked a cake, bread, made black bean burgers and chile rellanos.  

He's done so much cooking and become known for it and is referred to as the cooking specialist.  If any missionary has a cooking question, they call Miles.  

Miles also became the District Leader. (DL)

His first task as DL was to create a better name for the companion of the DL.  Until now he's been the district monkey.  Miles first companionship; he was the district monkey.  He was the district monkey a few times.  He didn't think it an appropriately descriptive title.  He is endeavoring to change the name.  The companion will be now be known as, 'CDL' (Companion to the District Leader).  The district monkey will now be... just that.. a district monkey.  

I crocheted little monkeys and attached a note, 

I am the district monkey

-keep me moving around the mission

-move me along each week

-be creative hiding me in another missionary's belongings... but don't get caught

-don't hide me so well that I never am found!!

So far the monkey has been a success.  

The weeks before Covid were very similar... so Miles always said... now they are VERY similar.  including the days all running into each other.  

Added to the isolation because of the Virus, just after becoming district leader, the riots began.  He said from their place in North Dallas they often can hear rioting.  Each of the missionaries in his district have to check in with him each evening.  They're officially on a lock down until tempers cool.  

He seems to be busier these days, with some online lessons and other responsibilities in the district.  

We haven't heard from him as frequently.  In fact not Thursday, Friday or Monday... But Tuesday he called.  Apparently one set of missionaries came across some fishing poles and since they may now go out as missionaries together during the daytime.. they went fishing.   That explained one of his days not calling... another was that they had appointments and lessons.  And another was that he forgot to charge his phone.  

Odds and ends...

Some days fly by with routine and the mundane... others seem to have extra time.  Some of the ways we have filled our 'extra time' lately have been, 

Learning Chinese Skipping

Good indoor exercise.  We mastered some of the jumps and then added others.. I forgot how much remembering the order of the jumps and mastering them mattered.  Emerson definitely enjoyed the jumping but needs to learn to land more gently.. After a while it sounded like there were elephants skipping in the house.  

The 'die hards', practiced with chair legs while the cat looked on.

Hair cuts aren't uncommon, although you never know how it will turn out with me behind the scissors/clippers.  Just for fun, Emerson sported a Mohawk for 24 hours.  I couldn't take it longer than that and finished his haircut.  

A neighbour hired Duncan for two weeks to build this shed and stack some firewood.  

We began bike riding.  Jim and I were exhausted after the first few rides, but we've built up some stamina and have agreed to more than one ride per week!  We waved to Duncan as we rode past him working on the neighbour's shed.  Once his work was completed he joined us on future rides... Well... he led us on rides... and foolishly, we followed... on long rides... with hills and very bumpy terrain.  

Emerson has adventures as antelope dart out in front of him and another time, in order to avoid a car coming around the corner he swerved, hit a pot hole and ended up in a swampy marsh along the side of the road... but he stayed on the bike.  

Art days continue

Ava took the lead for this class and we painted silhouettes.. of cats of course!

Sarah ran a zentangle relaxation art day. 

Mask making

The Noble mask factory opened and ran for a few weeks.   It closed after I broke my sewing machine needle and had to wait a few weeks for replacements to be ordered and delivered.  

Once the snow finally melted, kite flying began. Sometimes a few times a day if the wind was favourable.  

Game nights

Online game nights have become a staple activity each week... We've tried a few different games, pictionary, disney trivia, bingo, scattergories, family feud... but by far Balderdash has been the hit of the crew.  Pre game activities are more relaxed.. tray memory games, scavenger hunts, hide and seek, story time with the little boys.

Discovering how to use virtual backgrounds and hilarious facial mask options in zoom has been a hoot.  Delightful ways to connect and get to know cousins better during isolating times..

Porch swings

Patrick rebuilt the porch swings since they had weathered poorly and the seat area was worn out.  They are sturdy now... but not comfortable on the backside... so I was on the watch for some cushions.  

These were just waiting for me at the local thrift store.  Ideal!

Seating on the porch has led us to listen to the birds more.. and watch the antelopes.. and be delighted that we could hear frogs and the stream in the distance. 

Hearing the frogs led to some exploring and some toading time.  Poor Emerson, within a week or two of catching his frog he had a wart on his finger.  No convincing him that toads don't give warts!

The boys online school began to offer a one hour each day live class.  They called it Power Hour.  It began with ten minutes of exercises, then a 40 minute class followed by a story time and then a 'kahoot' quiz from the class.  The boys were so excited to have a live class like the older kids, but their power hour was more fun and soon we were all engrossed.  Each day was a different subject.  They loved their science day with Dr. Pablo learning about anatomy.  They read, 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' for Literature and were eager to watch the movies.  

They had assignments to submit... These were both from Literature.  They had to memorize the bones in the human body for science and make a food from another country for Geography.  They are sad that summer break meant that power hour ended.  It will begin again in the fall. We've ordered their new workbooks and excitement is high.

Artistic Endeavors

We don't lack for activities to eat up our hours in the days.  Covid or not we are able to keep busy. 

One afternoon, with snowflakes quietly falling outside and we had no where to be after completing our to-do list for the day, the boys were looking for an activity to do.  I suggested they pulled out their paints since they hadn't done it in a while.  They weren't sure it sounded fun... just at home by themselves. I said what if it was an art class?  With a real teacher?  I was flying by the seat of my pants but Duncan was game and the boys follow his lead.  All three boys had been taking an art class this winter and really enjoyed it.  

 Each week had a different focus.  The first few weeks taught about lines (straight, contoured, zigzags...), another week about colour and another about tone.  The classes also taught them about new art mediums.  

This was from a class using scraps of fabric to create a collage.

This was from a class of collages using 3d objects.

This was a class with broken crayons, silhouettes and a blow dryer.

Some were a nature painting based off a photograph.

We used up every inch of wall space in their bedroom to hang art.

Some took over the bookshelves.

Duncan even took a few art classes.. His were at the retirement center.  Technically he was there to assist the elderly, but he also participated.  He has done collages, ceramics and edible art. 

So Virtual Art Class became a thing.

We cued up Bob Ross on the laptop and set up the paints.  

They followed his instructions well and paused a lot.  Bob can paint very quickly.

After almost two hours, they were pleased with their 'stormy seas' renditions. 

We decided we wanted to do another Bob Ross and this time we let others know... since it was virtual, anyone, anywhere could paint.

Now Painting on Thursday afternoons is a thing!

I even painted along with the boys this time.. however I don't find Bob Ross to be relaxing for the inexperienced painter.

Karlsson's joined us for our inaugural group class.  Jill watched and enjoyed our angst!

We did a few Bob Ross classes.  

Sarah joined us for the next one and it was helpful when we paused Bob to ask Sarah... 'what did he tell us to do?  Okay.. how?'

Some of us struggled to get everything Bob said into our paintings... especially the boat... it was an the end of hours of painting and we just didn't have a sweet carefree boat left in us... well except Sarah... her painting looked better than Bob's!

Then Sarah became the teacher and we tried watercolours. 

Watercolours with Sarah was more relaxing.

I envision painting as a relaxing hobby.  I don't consider it a hobby of mine yet... I prefer house painting still, but I have picked up some knowledge of the craft and I'm very impressed with all the artistic talent we've been seeing in each other.

Emerson sees instructions as very lose guidelines and always amazes with his creations.

He's also typically finished first.

Whittaker stays very focused and listens intently to the instructions.

He is enamoured by cousin Ava and created an entire watercolour book to honour her.

• Ava swimming in a pool.
• Ava likes to ride scooters.
• Ava
• Ava is a vegetarian.
• Ava LOVES kitty cats.
• Ava plays ClubPenguin with me.
• Ava has the BEST Balderdash clues.
• Ava is a good racer at Mariokart and races with us sometimes.

Duncan dutifully painted his three Bob Ross paintings and has either been busy during art class or has opted to just sketch something instead.  

I didn't have any idea what I would be capable of when I began.  Bob Ross, as I said was not relaxing but it was fun, after it was over.  I tried a few different types of paint.. first oils, then acrylics and watercolour together and just watercolour.  I ought to give them each another try since once isn't really enough to say I enjoyed or disliked it, but class has moved on to watercolours now and that has been more enjoyable.  Except when I use too much water, or tear my page.. or use too much red...

We painted a dock scene with Bob Ross and were completely overwhelmed when he added the boat toward the end of the painting.  Sarah tried to help us get past our fear of boat painting.  

I think Eden and I agree, we'd rather paint an actual boat than a painting with another boat in it.  Who knew such a simple thing as a boat would be so daunting.

We took a break one week from regular painting and had a rock painting day.

   

Rock painting lasted late into the evening.  The boys really got into it and went out looking for more rocks.  They easily painted a dozen rocks.  

I painted a few myself.  Anything goes it seems, on a rock!

And then.... everyone was busy one week.  Whittaker and Emerson had a private class with watercolour through a straw technique.  Emerson had finished his entire painting of a 'parkor' course before the first instructions were given and he left.  

Whittaker focused and committed, stayed to finish his straw watercolour. 

'Apple Orchard on a Sunny Day'

Finally, chicken painting day arrived.  I had been campaigning for chicken painting day.  I thought it would be delightful.  I wasn't paying attention and missed some key instructions at the beginning.  I ended up with a fire engine red chicken.. It took a lot of work to blend other colours into my FDWY chicken. (Fire Department Wyoming Chicken) I may have led the boys down the red row also.

even John sent in a chicken art submission!

After posting our completed art projects John sent us this funky dancing chicken masterpiece.  Art is ageless, subjective and regardless of the instructions.. the outcomes are all unique to the painter.  Loving art classes... most of the time. 

Caleb also sent in an Art Class entry.... 

His entry lacks colour, style and he didn't really listen to Bob Ross... happy little accidents can become a cloud or a tree... not just dirty pants and boots.

Next week Miss Ava is teaching class.  I wonder if it will have anything to do with kitties??