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??

Sarah and Boomer

At Sarah's recent visit we had a photo shoot before Miles was to leave for Texas.  

Afterwards we snapped some candids of Sarah and Boomer.  They're so well colour coordinated. 

Vehicular troubles.

After a quick, and incredibly productive and wonderful (and frigid) weekend, it was time for Caleb and Sarah to make their return trip.  With just one week until Miles departure it was so wonderful to have everyone even for a quick weekend.


Partings are such sweet sorrow... Bitter sweet.. to have had them all home again for the purpose of bidding Miles farewell.



All smiles and fun.

After Caleb and Sarah departed, we had a very quiet evening... The little boys played in the newly built nook and we planned an early night after our long weekend.

But..

then ....

Caleb called.  They had been on the road about an hour.  They had a flat tire.

Since the truck had to be up on a jack, Sarah and Boomer needed to be out of the truck..... in the temperatures that were plummeting.  Sarah put on extra layers and even with Caleb's coat, still she shivered.

With assistance over the phone Caleb removed the spare tire and attempted to remove the flat tire... but it wouldn't budge. With time ticking by and Caleb needing to return for work in just hours we couldn't get there in time to help and still get him to work on time.  No one was stopping... Sarah was shivering.. Boomer was barking.  I made a few calls.  Mardy and her husband lived only a few minutes from where the travelers were stranded.  They were available and happy to help.

On the road again, there were no further incidents and Caleb made it to work... no sleep to see him through his night shift but he was there.

Grateful for kind service and all being well we went to bed.  Miles worked at 2am.  Patrick at 4 am.  I work at all hours... but typically sleep through their departures.  I knew Miles was tired and may not wake so I woke to make sure he left on time.  Then when Patrick left he came in to speak to me.  I was barely coherent.   "My truck has a flat tire.  I don't have time to look at it before work.  I'll take your car, will that strand you.  Miles will be home by 7 and you'll have that car."

In my sleepy, groggy state I must have mumbled something about.. fine.. no prob.. just go and let me sleep.  And muttered incoherently... oh how I hate vehicular troubles.

The jarring ring of the telephone woke me next.  It was nearly 6am.  Nothing good comes from phone calls at the break of day. 

"Mum?"  Can you come pick me up.  It's snowed and the roads are really icy and I slid off the road."

Miles.

AWAKE!

"Where are you?  Are you okay?  And the van??"

He was okay, the van was okay just stuck and he couldn't see since there are no street lights and the sky was cloudy.

Oh.. Wait... I cannot help.  I only have daddy's truck with a flat tire.
It was 17 degrees and pitch black.  Miles was stranded a mile from home.  Oh and he didn't have a coat with him.

We had one functional vehicle left.  The 4-wheeler.  But I am not familiar with how to drive it nor can I get it out of the barn alone.  I had to wake up Duncan.  He bundled up and took off to the rescue.

They both returned and assured me the car was not in danger of being hit off the side of the road while we waited for daylight and a plan for rescuing it.

Imagine my surprise when mid morning we filled the flat tire on the truck and headed out to assess the rescue mission to find the van... truly off the road..

Off the road by over 40'.  The 's' curve as this stretch is known was indeed icy but Miles had slid straight into the sage brush field instead of making any curve at all.  He said... it's not true... turning the wheel left to go right or left even... he turned and slowed and still went straight.  The van was indeed stuck.  WEDGED among the sagebrush.  We were successful in whacking at some of the brush and pushing the van from it's tightly wedged position.

Patrick returned home and patched the truck tire.

So in less than 24 hours, we repaired two flats and pulled a car out of the brush... we already have a dying Prius that we have been unable to diagnose and have Sarah's car with a window locked in the down position.   We have teased Miles that he needs to invent teleportation... We tease no longer... GET ON IT!... or perhaps we should return to horses for transportation.  Regardless we had what we needed to survive and carry on and will be grateful that things were not worse.

Crash, Bang, Boom.. Ta Da

Kenzie may have crashed the party... and the window but it has led to the next bit of noise here.

Once the area was cleared out...

A more careful demolition took place.

Then the new sounds of crashing and banging began.  And the countdown to having the 7' x 6' gaping hole in the side of the house to be filled... as snow flurries began to fall outside and we stoked the fire and kept it roaring in attempts to keep what little warmth inside the house that we could.  

The progress was well anticipated and each step applauded  

Finally enclosed again, the temperatures began to rise again and moral was boosted.... or at least blankets and coats were no longer needed as we huddled near the fire.  

It was late at night when it began to finally take the appearance of a finished project.  Everyone was eager to try out the new nook... 

Exactly how the new alcove will be used is still unknown entirely... but it's been put to good use... even if it is still lacking a coat of paint and a few final finishing details.

I'm not certain if we have become so accustomed to tighter quarters or are simply giddy to all squeeze into our window seat and enjoy the views outside. 

But somehow the sight of the two littles enjoying a quiet evening moment was the most delightful to see.  

Symphonic adventure

Early in June, we left Winterland and headed south for Summerville!  We only stayed the weekend.  But we always pack in as much as possible. 

We enjoyed a few short visits with Sarah for her TWENTIETH birthday!!!  Our lives are so odd now that we are the ones coming to town to visit our children instead of the other way around.  Daddy took Sarah for a birthday breakfast and then Sarah joined Grandma, the little boys and I at Jim's for some birthday cake and singing.  

We attended a phenomenal concert at the end of Elowen's week long Symphony camp.  We watched the youngest cellist play, and enjoyed an outdoor orchestral playing of the William Tell overture, with full cannon display!

We spent a quick visit to Manti to play games in a favourite alcove and enjoyed the views of the renovating of an old house with much character.  

Whittaker had his quarterly dr. appointment and received a new mouth guard appliance.  

We did LOTS of shopping and stocking up.

We picked up Grandma and returned to Winterland once again.

Filling in the Details

Daddy worked in Hawaii for a few weeks and brought back a few fresh pineapples.  

While we gobbled away, slurping the dribble off our chins, we filled him in on all that had occurred while he was away this trip.

Friends went to Brazil and brought us back and new hammock as a thanks for taking care of their pets.

A neighbourhood cat has been stalking me.

It's quite disconcerting to be stared at while washing the dishes.

(I know the solution is to just stop doing dishes!)

Emerson became stuck in a bucket.

It took two people to get him out.

He got stuck a few more times before we confiscated the bucket.

Miles spent days and days in one spot finishing up his extra courses that he took this semester.  Fortunately he enjoyed them.  We often would peek in and seeing him grinning away and when we glanced at the screen, none of us saw anything amusing or pleasant... 

Chemistry, Graphic Design and Microsoft Office Specialist.

To each his own. 

Sarah claimed there wasn't enough space in her room for all her shoes.  Rather than pare down her shoe collection, she opted for opening up a wall and creating new shelves.

On a particularly quiet afternoon, I thought Emerson was napping and assumed Whittaker was playing legos with Duncan.

I was wrong.

Duncan was voraciously reading Harry Potter and the little boys... well, they were stripped down in the sandbox.

Having the time of their lives.

Until it began to rain.  Then they were dancing on the deck trying to rinse off the sand.

Emerson discovered that other people have water bottles identical to his.

He was relieved when we returned home and his was still on his hook.

We spent an ENTIRE saturday doing Scouts.  Miles performed his Native American Hoop Dancing.  Duncan earned two merit badges.  The boys and I played every carnival game known to man, and participated in the dance demonstration, and climbed rock walls, and played on bounce houses, and sawed a tree in half, and generally had a good time.

Unfortunately, as we told Daddy all about our activities... 

His red eye flight and jet lag caught up to him.

Egg-stra special Hunting

Easter this year was simple.  As it should be.

We had the missionaries over for supper.

We had a traditional meal.

Not an Easter ham, but a traditional meal from the time of Christ's life.

Broiled fish, olives, flat bread, honey and yoghurt with dates, apricots and figs.

Some food went over better than others.

We had our lesson about the symbols of Easter.

Then the kids hid each others eggs.

Every year they are hidden more creatively.

Sarah's were very difficult to find.

Recently, after a lesson in gentlemanly like behaviour, Miles has taken it upon himself to hold the door for Sarah.  Every day.  Every where they go.  Even if it means having to race her to the door and practically shove her out of the way so that he can do it.  

This Easter egg hunt presented an opportunity for him and Duncan to put their gentleman skills to the test.

Sarah's eggs were out of reach and they dropped to their hands and knees to offer her their services.

While the gesture was thoughtful, she didn't feel the protection or security that their behaviour was intended to offer.  She claims it was terrifying and unnerving to stand on their backs and reach into the light fixture on the ceiling... And all for an empty plastic egg!

As for the egg in the skylight....  

The broom handle was all that was needed.