Busy Weekends & Painted Pottery

We had a fun & busy weekend.  Errands all day Saturday, including picking up the fruits of our foray into the "fine" arts.  

I get points for using fruits and foray in the same sentence.  And we are rather pleased with ourselves~*

We played Dungeons & Dragons until the wee hours of the morning Saturday night.  It was hosted by one of our friends & I neglected to bring a camera.  I'm a bad blogger, but we had an undocumented blast and a half.  Tucker..er...Atlas Worldmap (yes that is the name of my son's ranger in the game) tried to ride a bear and hilarity ensued.  Unfortunately it is definitely a had-to-be-there type thing so you'll have to trust me when I say it was side splitting in the best possible way.

This is the week before Spring Break and it is destined to fly by.  I know we've been out for snow days (which are wonderful) and this whole semester it seems we've spent more time outside the classroom than in.  But there is something particularly lovely about Spring Break.  Snow days are for doing nothing, Spring Break demands a flurry of activity.  I have a To Do list taking shape on the chalkboard.  

Spring cleaning & redecorating & a half dozen crafts I've been wanting to do.  Sweet.  Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your point of view, the kids'  spring break is different then ours, and the library, of course, doesn't have a spring break-- so I will have a nice quiet house for hunks of the day~*

What is on your To Do list?

The Pottery Date

This past Saturday Jeremy & I had a little adventure.  

We started with Starbucks.  Because seriously, what modern adventure doesn't start with a venti something or other?   It was in the 60s and gorgeous so we sat outside. They are calling for snow next week.  28 degrees on Thursday, so they say.  Sigh.  Gotta enjoy it while its here I suppose.

Then we headed over to Into The Fire, a relatively new paint-your-own-pottery establishment, locally owned and lovingly run.

photo from here

When we came up with our four resolutions for 2014, we started looking for things to do that would support the local business communities as well as allow us to spend some creative time together.  We are a good team, Jer & I, but it has been a while since we've done a creative project together.

We had an absolute blast.  There were people of all ages-- the spot was jumpin'.  There was a youngsters birthday bash, some women who were regulars, two elderly couples stretching their artistic chops on some vases & a rather terrifying large family of 8 kids, plus "others that couldn't come," who were intent on painting birthday presents for their grandparents-- and a few others.  One table of cute littles came buy and chatted with us about owls.  Some teenagers and college age friends rounded out the crowd.  I told you it was jumping.
We picked a table out of the way a bit, near the paint so we could people watch, but far enough away from the crowd that we could talk in privacy.
Really warm atmosphere, wonderfully friendly staff, great prices...it was really, really wonderful.

I got carried away and chose two little miniatures and an owl mug.  Jeremy picked a nice stein, "for dnd night."  We were there for three hours painting, chatting, laughing at each other's artistic abilities & people watching the afternoon away.  So much fun, sincerely.

We made plans to come back.  We actually need some serving pieces, & we have a cute idea for matching mugs & really I adore the idea of customizing some tchotchkes for around the house.  Next time we will bring some of the brood & I'm dying to bring my Mom...they have a ladies night Ma, the girl at the desk said it gets crazy lol~*

We will be able to pick up our masterpieces next weekend-- I think they will be beautiful & as Jer says, if they suck, at least they are all ours. I'll show you the finished pieces, no fear.  If you have a paint-your-own-pottery place around your hometown, we both highly recommend checking it out~*




We did not get compensated in any way for this post.  We didn't know the owners, and they didn't know us.  It was genuinely a good time had by all!

For Teachers~*

One more week of prep, seminars & registration, then classes start.  I literally & truly can not wait!  I've been dreaming about teaching...sadly, I was dreaming about teaching on the unions in the gilded age, which I won't get to cover this semester since I am teaching HIST2010, not 2020.  That isn't entirely true, I will get to cover a bit of it in the Tech in Society humanities class {I'm teaching 3 classes of that, which makes planning simple}...

...but I'm sure this does not make for riveting blog fodder~*

Today's motivations are a nod to those teachers out there-- whatever the grade, method or discipline {& of course including parents, the most valuable teachers of all}.

Monday's Motivations- Musical Edition~*

A new twist for a motivational Monday-- music! Here are the songs I have for the people {& some objects} in my life.  And I don't mean the declared "our songs," I mean that if my life had a soundtrack, these are the songs that would play when these people enter the room.  I'm really lucky, they all move to an awesome beat.

Oh & I'm a lyric person, as opposed to a beat or rhythm music lover, hence the wide variety of genres.

For Thing 1-- everyone needs a Thing 1 in their life.  She is magical.  She is a wonderment.  She makes the world better just for breathing its air, trust me.

Billy Joel - She's Got a Way

For Thing 2-- He is not in to country & western, but this song is him to the last note.  I call him my Golden boy, because he is.  He has the best sense of humor, the sweetest heart & no fear.  He doesn't live life, he eats it for breakfast.

Garth Brooks - Standing Outside the Fire

For Thing 3-- She will change the world, just you wait & see.  The traditional champions of truth & justice have nothing on Thing 3.  All she needs is a cape & we are all saved.

Green Day - Last of the American Girls

For my husband-- When I daydreamed about who I would spend my life with & what my life would be like, the dreams were never as good as he has made my reality.

Adele - Daydreamer 

For my folks-- The first one is for my dad, my pater familias & the man with all the answers {or at least, the ability to help you find them for yourself}.  He is the moral compass, the logical solution ...my mind just feels better for talking to him.

Cold Play - Fix You

I can't listen to this song without tearing up, true story-- my mom is my safe place.  Enough said.

Bob Dylan - Shelter from the Storm

And now for the the important objects in my life *giggle*


For the Audi.  Yeah, my car has a song... I call him Mr. Luva Luva...He's an Audi TT!  Convertible!
Don't judge me.

Shaggy - Mr. Bombastic

For my house.  Weird to have a song for your house?  yes.  Is this really the song? Oh yes.  I love my stupid, little house & all the blood sweat & tears that have gone in to saving her from the brink of disaster..change the lyrics slightly {your fresh paint stains, on the front lobe of my left side brains...} & you have why I would never sell her.  If you haven't found your home yet {not your house, your home} then you wouldn't understand~*

Train - Hey, Soul Sister

And last but definitely not least, for y'all-- to send you out into your week {and I apologize up front for getting it stuck in your head~*}

Rusted Root - Send Me On My Way

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What is your soundtrack?

To Do...

This coming Wednesday is my first day back at work since the summer began.  Classes won't begin until the end of August, but faculty has to report in on the 15th for Convocation Week.  Lots of seminars & Division Meetings & syllabi prep.
I have mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I adore my job & everything that comes with it & am looking forward to getting the fall semester rolling.  On the other hand, I have many projects that I wish I had more time to finish.  There never seems to be enough time for DIY projects when the teaching starts!
I'm hoping my organization plans for the blog are going to help keep me on track..hoping, but not hopeful-- I am the Queen of Chaos, its my natural state, & organizational plans have never been my strong suit...I try.  I love lists & chalkboards & notebooks & fancy ways of keeping oneself on track.  I just never seem to remember to things once they've been written down {including remembering to check the list}.

For now I still have a few days & so much to do...

Coffee is drunk.  Breakfast bar has been consumed.  Pictures have been taken & I am at least mostly dressed {sweat pants & a t-shirt don't really count as fully dressed in my book...anything I'd have to change before exiting the house in is just marginally above pj's}.  Tomorrow, according to our chalkboard, is the all day soccer jamboree for Thing 3, so today is the day to get caught up on housework {Sunday is for sleeping in & video games & old cartoons & lounging with the family}.

All right, I've dilly dallied enough, time to get busy.

What have you got going for this fine Friday & the weekend to follow?

Kickin' It 'Round the Web Wednesday~*

Last night was Thing 3's first game as a high schooler & she was absolutely awesome~*

Right now, coach is moving them around the field to see where they fit best, so technically it wasn't a game...or I suppose you'd call it a preseason game maybe?  Anyway, our Thing 3 was in the game 90% of the time {with two brief breaks each half} & she played all her positions like a pro...sorry about the extensive # of soccer pics, proud mom moment...

Not too shabby for a girl with a broken big toe!  No worries, she had the Doc's permission to play if she felt up to it & her injured digit was securely taped & padded within her cleat {though we definitely soaked her tootsies in Epsom salts when we got home...}

The kids are back in school today {sans a few classrooms in the basement of the school that are still drying out}.  This Saturday is a big soccer jamboree fundraiser thingamabob {still have a little while before the first cross country meet for Thing 2 & then things will start getting particularly nuts 'round here}.

I was never an athlete {I was the asthmatic bookish nerd in the drama club type o'kid}-- any of you all play sports?

But its Web Surfin' Wednesday-- so here are some things you oughta check out!

1. Here is a great interactive video of every medalist in the 100m, from the 1896 Olympics forward...{we are HUGE Usain Bolt fans, what with Thing 2 running track...}
2. And this event made us all tear up-- there is something so noble in his refusal to give up...
3. Here is something cute...one, two, three awwwwww
4. As previously noted, I am a big reader...& this photo set has to be one of the most beautiful things ever...
5. I've been thinking about rearranging furniture since stumbling upon this site
6. I totally covet the Nautilus House {how awesome are these places?}
7. I'm a big fan of lists of things you should read/do/see before you die {wouldn't want to miss anything!}, and here is a great one
8. And speaking of art, I could spend hours wandering this site
9. And here is some art drawn by nature in the sky
10. And lastly, one for the  Über-nerds out there {yes honey, I'm lookin' squarely at you}

I'm part of the Wonderful Wednesday Link Party-- a great way to meet new bloggers, find new blogs & gain new followers.  Click the button below & join in the fun! 

Monday's Motivations & A New Artist

Rather than do up quotations today, I thought I'd kick off my last full week of summer {I have to report back to the campus starting August 15} by introducing y'all to a few artists who use quotations in their work.

Incidentally, these quotations sum up rather nicely the lessons I've learned thus far in life.  If I could offer any advice to those younger than me, it would be to remember these 5 things...I hand you the keys to happiness {at least for people like me~*}

So many bloggers I've read are talking about taking rambling road trips or extended sabbaticals or otherwise doing something dramatic in an attempt to find out "who they are."  Here is what I've learned:  if you have to take a trip to find out who you are, you aren't searching, you are running away.  Who you are is in you, all you have to do is look inside...

If you feel the need to explain how you are a rule breaker or an outsider or otherwise odder than everyone else, you are missing the point.  The first person who got a mohawk, or pierced his/her nose, or dyed their hair pink, or got a tattoo was an original-- literally everyone else is following along.  Just live your life the best way you can, don't worry about whether or not you fit in-- the great mystery of life, I've learned, is that no one fits in {and the sooner we realize it, the sooner we can get on with making the world a better place}

We need to stop judging each other {see the above point-- if we none of us fit in, who are we to decide who should be ostracized?}.  If people do things you do not understand, assuming they are not hurting you or anyone else in doing it, don't automatically right them off as insane {or worse yet, as evil}.   I simply can not understand why so many in the world think they have the right to dictate how others are supposed to live.  

You just don't hear their music-- so let them dance & listen a little harder. 

There isn't any reason to panic.  Life is a journey-- & you can't predict what is going to happen next.  Just enjoy the ride & stop putting so much pressure on yourself to make "heavy" decisions.  

Very few people talk or learn from the days when everything goes right.  Our mistakes is what helps us grow, learn & eventually triumph.  Go ahead & make bad decisions & learn from them.

All images are copied from http://chicquero.com {if you pin any images, be sure to include their web address}.  I could spend days & days scrolling through this site-- it is, essentially, an online art collection.  If you like art,  take a minute to check them out & follow them, you won't regret it...& here are a few more images from chicquero to prove it~*