Olive

My house was kind of empty & quiet this weekend, because my parents had our kids visiting them.  So we went to the local nursery & got some stuff for our back yard.  Richard(my mighty handy husband), is making us a raised wooden planter.  The kids are going to love planting vegetables in it.  Hopefully, because it is up off the ground somewhat, it will keep the dogs from jumping into it. Fingers crossed!

So this doesn't show too much, but he got it about halfway done.  Then I kind of pulled him away from his job, to go take a drive in the canyon around us.  I wanted to check out this house for sale, nearby but more    in a mountain-y part of town, & it comes with horse stables.  Hmmmm.  


Also, I got to work on this clay doll, Olive, & no little hands were grabbing my clay as I tried to work (or asking me for juice, or snacks, or pretty much whatever constantly).   So it was good to get some things done & relax...but I do miss my noisy little kids running around.  So I am off to my Mom's soon to swoop them up, & bring them back.

The Perfect Model

Hi there.  Trying to get some new shots of Blythe, for my site.  She is a good model...never complains, looks whichever direction I need her too, doesn't need to take breaks :)

I know, some may find me strange, taking pictures of dolls.  But to them I say...you just don't get me.  Love me, love my creative quirks :)  BTW, I am liking this Macro setting on my little camera.  It took me awhile to learn to use it (or even know it was there). Now I am going Macro all the time.

Sawdust, Green Space Men & Such

A few pictures from the Sawdust Festival, in Laguna Beach.  We try to go to this fun place every summer. There is lots of pretty art to look at, glass blowing demonstrations(I wish I could do that), & little art projects for kids to do.

Yesterday was Richard's birthday, & we had kind of a low key party.  The kids decorated.  I think India thought a lot of people were coming over.  She didn't look too excited when she realized it was just us.  They had fun making up games...Sage drew a picture of Gizmo(from Gremlins) & we all got to play "Pin the heart on Gizmo".

The kids really felt like the cake top needed some kind of figurine or something.  So I tried to make a little clay Yoda...he turned out kind of cute I think.

I made this girl, out of clay, yesterday.  She has a little Asian flavor about her, so I am calling her Suki.

Indian Summer

Showing off these pretty little colored wooden earrings.  A souvenir from my vacation.

Good thing I have kids, or I have the feeling my pets would be in costumes a lot more.  The other day India found this cool leaf, that looked like a feather, so I got the idea to take Cody's picture as an Indian.  Then the 2 girls wanted to be Indians as well.

This crazy kid will not stay still for anything. I took a ton of shots. I tried to bribe him with treats, if he would just freeze for the camera.  It didn't work too well, he's just got to move...there's no stopping him.

Cody's picture, with a picture of clouds, I took, in the background.  It is layered with some paper & hand drawn elements.

Goin' Back To Cali

We are home from our road trip.  Nothing like being in the car for 10-12 hours a day, even if it is with people you love. I passed the time by listening to my fair share of Aimee Mann songs(until Richard couldn't take it anymore). Took pictures of some boring & some not so boring things in the car. Found myself contemplating life, thought about what my life would be like if I had grown up in some of the towns we passed by.  Last but not least, thought about getting out of the car & going postal in some of the crazy traffic we were stuck in(who would have thought in Idaho?)

The kids did good. They seem to be seasoned travelers.  No real whining, even from a 2 year old...I was impressed. Happy to be back in Southern California now!

After our stay in Yellowstone, we headed on to Montana.  One of Richard's sisters lives in Butte.  Also, another sister(he has 6) & family came to Butte, from Washington, to visit. We had a fun time hanging out with family & seeing the town.

A lake around the Butte area.

Butte is an old mining town & you can see a lot of the old mining remnants up in the hills. Their old downtown area kind of has this different feel about it.  There are these great old buildings, most of which are in disrepair, & there was hardly anyone out on the streets.  Of course we were out looking at these old buildings towards evening, with slightly ominous skies about.

So let me tell you about Walkerville.  Apparently, it is this unincorporated area of Butte, up in the hills. Don't know how much is myth or Walkerville folklore. We heard it was a place where the people of the town live, who don't want want to follow laws.  There are dirt roads, & they drive around on ATV's.  People let their dogs run free.  Our brother-in-law said he decided to go running up there one time & was chased by a pack of dogs. Ha ha.  Our nephew said not to go there at night.  Anyway, I was intrigued...but we didn't venture up there.  I'm sure it would've been alright, I've probably been in scarier places in LA.

Richard, Royce & Rachel

Darcy & Cody

From Butte, we headed to Missoula, Mt. I've been wanting to see it.  It is supposed to be one of the more colorful towns in Montana.  If I lived in Montana, it is the area I would gravitate towards.

Bead Shop

Here a few of the cuter houses in Missoula. In the downtown area, there were some cool ones...but it was kind of hit or miss.  A really great one could be next to a really run down house, with a yard full of weeds.

That is it for now, until the next adventure:)

Yellowstone Take 2

Some more pics from our trip.  This is Yellowstone Lake...one of the biggest lakes I've seen.  We hung out there for the better part of one day.  It used to kind of drive me crazy to sit still for too long on vacations, I always wanted to be on my way to another place.  I think I've mellowed with age though, some of the best times are just watching my kids skipping rocks, relaxing & taking it all in.

Persimmon liked hanging out on the lake shore too.

Nice Mr. Grizzly in the flowers.

Some huge marshmallows.