By henryjn, on May 25th, 2007%
Life has been busy around here so there has not been much time for picture taking and writing. Jay was out of town on a hiking trip for 4 nights over Mother’s Day weekend, which added animal care, bathtime and bedtime routine to my already busy schedule. Uumph, no hard feelings there!
Anyway, I’ve been wanting to take a computer break of sorts, so the solo weekend kicked off my unofficial blogging break. I have managed to read some of the blogs I like to keep up with, read my emails and respond, craft some, Ian’s been drawing lots and other than that the outdoors have been calling us to explore new ways to spend our time together.
Our Memorial Day weekend will be spent having fun with family and friends; including a trip to the beach, some time around the pool, and a visit to the lake! Have a great weekend and I hope to have some good things to share sooner than later!
By henryjn, on May 10th, 2007%
By henryjn, on May 7th, 2007%
This is a look at our day 1/2 day last Friday! I attempted to photo-document a typical weekday last Friday and post about it today for “Get Real Monday”, which is headed up by Randi over at “I have to say…”.
Here’s the low down of our exciting morning. First, the boys woke us up and we made our coffee and then it was time for breakfast. While I made breakfast the craft supplies came out and the drawing began. A paper doll knight had to be made, which then spurred the idea to make a fire-breathing dragon. I drew the knight and Ian drew the dragon and then we cut them out and gave them stands. We all ate our breakfast and then Daddy went off to work in his office, I cleaned up from breakfast and the boys drew and looked at books. I think the baby laid back down to sleep at this point. Time to get dressed and go outside!
We played with balloons until they both popped, there was a little crying and then on to the next thing. It was a hot day so Ian went inside to draw some more and the baby came out and I hooked her into the stroller to join me while Sean and I watered some flowers. Sean managed to soak his clothes, so off they went to hang on the railing and I set him up in the backyard with the sprinkler, while I tried to relax and read. Well, that lasted 5 minutes and then we were back inside to read a book and then it was time for lunch. We ate, cleaned up, read some more books and off to bed. I was pooped from the morning’s activites so I took a nap as well and woke up to Ian the Pirate bearing an Easter basket, with no pants!
I think our morning counts for an entire day, don’t you?
By henryjn, on May 3rd, 2007%
I was feeling very inadequate once the apron gallery for this Tie One On came out. There were some amazing aprons and I just submitted something at the last minute that I thought would qualify due to the little 4 inch piece of rick-rack I put on the pocket. I felt like I was back in college on critique day, turning in my project and not liking it, but I had to turn in something. There were always those students that turned in an amazing photograph or design and they didn’t spend any time in the studio, just whipped it out at the last minute. I know this isn’t college and noone is grading me, but I can’t justify submitting a fuzzy photo and feel like I did a good job. Okay, enough of that! The opportunity presented itself to make an apron for a little friend of Ian’s. Her birthday party is this Saturday, so what better way to make up for my lack of creativity, than to make another apron for this little friend! Indeed that is what I did.
This “springy” little number is made from a kitchen towel or tea towel. The neck ties with a pink grossgrain ribbon that is threaded through a casing to give it a cinched look or the Betty Rubble look, especially with the zig-zag bottom. That was not the plan initially, but after I cut it out, I realized it had a stone age flair! I added a pocket from the pieces I cut off to zag the bottom and lined the edges with a chunky, white rick-rack and a smaller yellow rick-rack. That’s all and that’s the end!
By henryjn, on May 1st, 2007%
This book is a favorite around here. We chave hecked it out of the library many, many times and since then have purchased our own copy. The illustrator is one my favorites, her name is Barbara Cooney and she has illustrated/written other books, like Miss Rumphius, Roxenboxen and Chanticleer and the Fox, which are some of our other favorites. The illustrations are just breathtaking, drawn with much attention to detail and with a folk art flair. I am drawn to all her books because of the art, but especially the stories and their content. She explains it well in this quote, “I believe that children in this country need a more robust literary diet than they are getting. … It does not hurt them to read about good and evil, love and hate, life and death. Nor do I think they should read only about things that they understand. ‘…a man’s reach should exceed his grasp.’ So should a child’s. For myself, I will never talk down to—or draw down to—children.” Barbara Cooney
During some research here, I found a unit study on Ox-cart Man. I love the idea of learning from ”living” books and working with unit studies. We acted out the story, since that is Ian’s most favorite thing to do when we read a book, even though I had this great complex unit study to use. So, we ventured outside to collect all the things that needed to go in our “ox-cart” radio flyer wagon. After gathering everything, the boys took turns being the Father and I was the Mother who waited at home with the children. It is amazing how they are learning everyday and how their minds are like sponges. Ian remembered more about the story than I did when we were recalling all the items that the family made. Sigh! I’m learning right along with them.
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Welcome I am Nancy Henry, mother to three really cool children, wife, designer, crafter, camera girl and a struggling writer. I share some of our life here when I get the chance. The focus is on the everyday and the beauty it beholds. Enjoy your stay and let me know you stopped by!
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