in Seattle

We arrived in Seattle yesterday afternoon and enjoyed catching up with Gretchen, Teal and Mike. Today we are hanging out with Teal since both Gretchen and Mike had to work. =( We're planning an excellent feast for this evening though. =) Maybe I'll even get some pictures of the chefs in action.

The trip has been interesting and there are things to report. It will have to wait until another day however. We are about to be off for lunch! I'm looking for a killer BLT and a delicious, double-tall, Seattle latte.

Talk to you all soon.

on the road again

Can't you just hear Willie warbling his famous tune? Or do you hear Donkey? Humming to keep from irritating his new best friend, Shrek?

We are soon on our way to Bellingham. After some discussion, we've decided to get one more good night's sleep here at home (and EARLY night) and leave at o'dark thirty tomorrow rather than rush out of here this afternoon. It's too crazy making. We'll still be there by early afternoon once the time change is considered.

We're hooked up to meet Joanne on Saturday and maybe Sue later in the week. Both very good things in my book. I'm looking forward to introducing Rob to them.

That's about it for the moment. I've got a few more things to throw in my bag and dinner to fix then it's off to bed. I'll be back here in about a week to 10 days. I won't even begin to promise an immediate report when we get home. It always takes me a day or two or three to get back on track.

Love to you.

and the soup's good, too!

I was given this delightful little pot by my friend, Robyn. She saw how I coveted hers when I visited her last fall. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. Tonight was the night. It was time to reheat some soup. See the handy pour spout and comfortable handle? How perfect is that? So thank you dear Robyn for putting a little delight in my evening.

Say, the soup recipe is really good and easy, too. Wanna try?

Chip & Salsa Soup
Servings: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes

3 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 15 oz can of black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 1/4 cup fresh salsa, mild or medium
1 T canned diced green chiles
1 cup corn kernels
2 cups tortilla chips broken into bite sized pieces
1 cup avocado chunks

Place the broth, beans, salsa, corn, green onions and chiles in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes to blend flavors.

Place 1/2 cup chips and 1/4 cup avocado in each of four bowls. Ladle the soup over the avocado and chips. Serve at once.

how to comment

I've had a couple of people ask how to comment on this blog so I thought I'd just jot down my answer here.

To begin, click on " # Comments" at the end of the post you want to comment on. (# being the number of comments already made to the post.)

When a new window opens, you can type in your comment. Then enter whatever string of random letters are presented to you. (This is to make sure a real human being is commenting and not an automated spambot.) And finally comes the tricky part.

You must choose an identity: Google Account, Other or Anonymous. I'll go through them seperately.

Google Account: If you have one of these, you can use that same information and it will more than likely always be filled in correctly for you each time you comment. A Google Account is not required to post a comment.

Other: When you choose this option, you will presented with Name and Website boxes to fill in. I believe that if you choose this option once, it will also be filled in for future visits. All you really need to put in is your name, a website is not required.

Anonymous: There won't be any more boxes to fill out if you choose this option. I would simply ask that you sign your name in the comment box so I know who you are.

Any of the above will work. Choose the one that works best for you. I'd love to hear from you...

easter pics

I've got pictures! As most of you know, on February 28, 2007, I officially became an auntie! Now and again, I will most certainly be posting pictures of the handsome lad, William Everett. Consider this the first of many installments to come. I hear he's tracking sounds and movements a lot more now, gaining his very own personality. One of a morning person perhaps...

(On my computer the text is not wrapping properly around these pictures and I don't know why. If anyone does, please let me know! Thx.)

this week

This week was ok. Work was interesting. We met with a GIS consultant, packed and moved our offices to make way for new carpet this weekend and I got busy with some team-oriented projects outside of the department.

The weather was pretty good as I remember it. A bit on the windy side at times but mostly sunny. And I bought new running shoes yesterday! Yippy. The ones I got over Christmas just weren't working out. My toes kept hitting the ends on downhills. No fun.

In my regular blog readings I came across a new one I want to read regularly, Karen Blados. I like her bold drawings. It reminds me of Danny Gregory's work but neater, more precise.

I also came across a place to buy cool, interesting surplus stuff, American Science and Surplus. I haven't actually bought anything there but want to explore it a bit more and see what is what. It looks like fun regardless.

I think I am going to return the scanner. It is just too slow and it sounds like it's about to break. Guess I'll just have to wait a bit longer and save my $$ for the one I really like.

I am feeling the urge to do some cleaning around here. Get rid of stuff that has been accumulating that we don't use, don't actually want but haven't gotten rid of for some reason. It will make it easier to move, too, if we have less junk to pack.

I didn't do any art at all this week. In fact, I haven't done any since I returned from ArtFest. Most of my supplies are still in the tub I took them in. Next week ought to be better for stirring the creative juices again.

new scanner

Well, I have spent the bulk of my evening setting up my new scanner. I finally found one in my price range that had the specs I really wanted: 11x17, under $200 and removeable lid for bulky items. Unfortunately, it doesn't natively run the newest Mac operating system. Some folks online wrote a workaround script to make it run but boy howdy is it slow and noisy! At this point, I'm not real impressed. The search may have to start again. I didn't get this bugger to make scanning a hassle. Doing it at work is easier than this at this point. Argh.

exercise

I just got back from a "run" with Tiika. I say "run" because it seemed like barely a jog. I was quite ok most of the time when Tiika wanted to stop to sniff something. Usually I get quite annoyed when she does this and we're out exercising on her leash. This is why having access to a trail where she can run free is so important for us in a new place to live.

This picture is a bit old but she's awfully cute when she's running around with a pink toy in her mouth (thank you Grandma!).

Last night we went to a great percussion concert at the University. There was a family sitting in front of us and the little boy was clearly enjoying himself. I whispered to Rob, "I can't wait until Will is old enough for us to take him to things like this!" Especially if he likes drums...

Laundry's going and there is a list of things I'd like to get done today including some emails I need to respond to.

-ttfn

the artiste at work

I was very fortunate that a woman (thanks, Kim!!) in my second day class took my picture as I was working on my favorite project of the weekend - my diva fairy. Do I look like I'm having fun or do I look a little buzzed? I know I fairly wolfed down my lunch to get back to her.

Rob likes this picture in particular because it shows my wedding ring. =)

And then there is the close up.

(I'm not sure how this multiple picture posting is going...I can't see very much of my post at a time and it's rather frustrating because the pictures keep moving. I hope it looks ok your screens.)

That's it for now. Happy Easter to all.

welcome

Welcome to my family, friends and ArtFest trade folks. I don't have much art here yet. It will come. I promise. I just ordered my scanner today. Hopefully it will arrive before we leave on our next trip and I can put up a few new items. In the meantime, I intend to start by downloading some of my earlier pics and such.

I will be using this as a way to talk to all of you at once. Maybe more than you want to know at times, maybe less. Let me know. You don't have to have an account to post comments and I'd love to hear from you any time.

I intend to have some fun here, too!

the drive home

Alas, all lovely events must end. After a quiet morning, I headed out on the drive home. I had considered getting together with the girls before leaving and I just wasn't in the head or heart space to make it happen. I had a lot on my mind and felt a need to stay there for a bit.

After I was on the road for a bit, my mind must have wandered and I got sidetracked or maybe my mood was lifting. I honestly don't remember any more. Just as I was approaching Ellensburg, I spotted him, the Washington State Trooper. Unfortunately, he already had me in his sights.

What I do remember is I had just passed a truck that didn't want me to pass him. I had to speed up to make the pass and get the Subaru I had behind me off my tail. I didn't slow down soon enough. As I passed the trooper, I saw him pull out. The thought occured to me it might be me he was after but I quickly reasoned he would have to go after the Subaru. Not. Either the Subaru slowed down in time to miss the gun or he was after my out of state dollars. I tend to believe the latter.

When he pulled into the lane behind me I knew the gig was up. His lights went on and I began shaking. Oh shit. [Sorry, Mom M!] (Not *exactly* what I was saying...) Up to this point, I had never been pulled over in my 20 years of driving. (Ok, one time by a community college campus cop. I don't think that really counts.)

He finally gets out of his car and tells me I was going 80 in the 70. I was shocked. I didn't remember going that fast, I stammered something about my cruise control and then lamely stated that I was just keeping up with traffic. "That doesn't make it right," he says, "now, I wouldn't pull someone over for going 4 over the speed limit." I guess I wasn't meek enough. The next thing I heard from him was a request for my license, registration and proof of insurance. Yikes! He went back to his car. Even at that point I was still hopeful that I might get away with a warning. No dice. He came back with a ticket. $91!!

I shook for a few more miles down the road and cursed every car that passed me after that. "Where is that trooper now?" You better believe my cruise wasn't set for more than 3 over the rest of the way home. It took me a little longer to make the trip but my gas mileage was probably better.

back from ArtFest

Woohoo! What a great time. ArtFest was fantastic. As a group, even before we took our first day of classes we were already talking about what we would do when we came back next year. This is a good sign. We had great weather, only got sprinkled on Friday evening. All the other days were lovely.

This is the view we had from the porch of our house. The only other pictures I took were of one of my pieces in progress for future projects and a few pieces from the Saturday Show and Tell. I wish I had gotten a picture of all the art our house produced. Next year!!

My first class, Mixed Media Naturalist, was pretty low key and I was almost disappointed. We used a fair amount of chemicals, at least in my view, and I can't imagine setting that up for myself. The intense ink would be fun to do with some other people on a summer afternoon. I do like the journal cover I started though. I also liked the teacher and would consider taking another one of her classes.

The second class, Diva Fairies, was my favorite. Lots more movement, colors everywhere and a nearly finished Diva Fairy. I have some more details I want to add to her and then she's ready to hang in a window. I'm even thinking about making another one or two. I need to order some of the great liquid watercolor paint we used.

I knew my third class, Watercolor Self Portraits, was going to be a challenge for me skillwise since I have never used watercolors in any formal way. I have a pan set I've played with a little but that was it. My final project turned out ok. The more I look at it, the more I can appreciate it and consider trying again. When I walked away from the class I was trying to figure out how I was going to unload the paints I've already bought. We'll see.

All in all, I am so glad I went. I would be one bumming chick if I'd missed it. It is definitely on my radar as an annual event. In addition to the classes being what they were, I am so grateful to have gone with such a loving group of friends. It was wonderful to spend so much time with each of them. I look forward to the day when this is something that can happen more easily for me on a more regular basis. As fabulous as annual events are, I want more of these experiences with these people on a more frequent basis.

.ttfn.