getting into the swing

Well, I think we're finally getting into the swing of things around here and things are going very well.  The last two weeks of August were busy with us celebrating Brooke's birthday on the 20th with a big slumber party, and then there was the back to school shopping, and enjoying one last leisurely trip to the library.  The children are in their second week of school and we're all sailing along smoothly now.

The children are all doing well and are happy with their teachers.  Brenna is in 8th grade (I can't believe it!), Brooke is in 6th, and Sean is in 1st.  I'm still volunteering in the library this year, in fact today is my first day.  And...even bigger news, I have been asked to teach art this year!  Yay!  I will be teaching art to 4th grade and 6th grade.  

Monday was my first day with art and I think it went really well.  I'm so excited and know it will be a fun year.  What a fun way for me to help at school, do something I love and pass on that joy to a room full of eager kids!

Brooke and Sean are still humming along smoothly with soccer and football.  (You should see all those 5 & 6 year old boys running around in their helmets and pads!  So cute!)  Their first games start next week.  Brenna was supposed to be playing soccer in the same league as Brooke, but they didn't have enough 8th grade girls to form a team, so now we are checking into an indoor league for her.

I've still been knitting up a storm and am also itching to paint.  I have a big 36 x 36 canvas waiting for me.  I haven't painted in a while and I'm really looking forward to sitting down and enjoying some time in my studio. 

  All in all, I'm happy and we're blessed.  I hope you are, too.

blessings and happiness,

Athena

 

school girl scarves

So here they are!  The scarves I knit up for my two school girls to wear this year.  It was so refreshing to knit a couple of quick and easy projects after I spent such a long time on that summer shawl.  I didn't even use a pattern -- just seed stitch with some random drop stitches thrown in to make it a little interesting. 

The blue and green one is Brooke's. 

And the pink and orange one is Brenna's.

I bought this beautiful Noro yarn on our most recent trip to Louisville.  When I go home I always try to visit our local yarn shop, Friends and Fiber in LaGrange, KY.  The yarn is called Taiyo and is a soft and squishy combination of cotton, silk, wool and nylon.  Just enough wool to make it warm, enough silk to make it special and enough cotton so it won't be scratchy.  And of course Noro is famous for its explosion of vibrant cascading colors.  Who wouldn't want to wear such a happy scarf to stay cozy on a blustery day?

Now I'm working on a cowl for myself.  Hopefully, I will be sharing that soon.  In the mean time the school year schedule is starting to pick up.  The children start on Friday and we are already beginning the plate spinning orchestration of football and soccer practices and games.  Praise God I have the comforting solace of knitting to keep me sane and my family warm and toasty.

blessings and happiness,

Athena

... and a partridge in a pear tree

Well, here it is Sunday and I'm finally posting about what went on last week!  My crazy week was spent ...

enjoying 2 quiet, peaceful snow days at home with the children,

taking Sean to St. Louis Children's Hospital to find out (short story) that he needs tubes in his ears,

getting a prescription (the same day) for double pink eye for the same little boy,

watching said boy shine as one of the little shepherd boys in the kindergarten Christmas pageant,

watching one little girl play piano in the 5th grade Christmas chapel service,

rummaging through boxes in the basement (not so much fun),

donating 5 car loads (so far) of things to Good Will (more fun),

taking pictures of the house for you :) ,

reading a thankfully refreshing book,

starting a new pair of socks,

going on two marathon Christmas shopping sprees...

and ...

listening for that melodically, merry partridge in a pear tree

and hoping his joyous song is bringing you

blessings and happiness,

Athena 

the discovery

As I mentioned the other day, the children made a mysterious discovery while we were visiting the farm.  I know this doesn't have anything at all to do with art or my day to day life, but they were so intrigued by it, I wanted to share.

While the children were playing in the woods, Brooke made an interesting discovery that led to a complete archaeological excavation.  She discovered an animal skull and they ended up finding virtually an entirely complete skeleton.

the excavation site

the skull with both mandibles of the lower jaw

pelvic bones, leg bones, vertebrae, and little ribs were all slowly and excitedly unearthed

I hope this doesn't seem gruesome to you, but the children were actually really excited about Brooke's discovery.  They all carefully pushed aside leaves and twigs in their effort to find as much of the skeleton as they could -- even Seany helped when he discovered there was something more exciting than climbing trees going on.

We brought the bones home, because Brenna thought she could share them with her science teacher and maybe reconstruct the skeleton as a class and possibly even determine what kind of animal it was.

Due to its size and a few broken ribs, we grownups (Mom, Dad, and Rob and I) speculated that it was a fox that may have been someone else's dinner.  Also, the skeleton was not neatly laid out in its proper position as if it had died of natural causes.  The bones were all scattered hither and yon.  The only carnivorous predators that are commonly seen on my parents farm are foxes, coyotes, and hawks.  Maybe a coyote snuck up on this unlucky fox?

So the children have really enjoyed this little mystery and it has been cool as a parent to see their little minds thinking scientificly to solve the puzzle.  Brenna was super excited to take it to school, because she has an awesome teacher who really has a passion for science. 

I rinsed the bones and soaked them in bleach to clean them and get rid (hopefully) of any yucky germs.  Brenna took them to school this morning, so it will be interesting to see what kind of conclusions the 7th grade class reached today.

Interestingly, Brenna and Brooke both went on a school field trip to the St. Louis Science Center yesterday, and I think they were more thrilled with that 20-30 minutes in the woods, than with anything they saw there. 

Next time, these gypsy boots will get back to talking about art and artsy things.  By the way, thanks for listening (I mean reading) and for continuing to uplift me with your kind and encouraging words.  

blessings and happiness,

Athena 

remember this sentiment?

A week or so ago, I wrote a post about how Sean was looking forward to his birthday with so much anticipation.  I lamented how as a grownup, I have failed to look forward to my birthdays with as much joy (at least as I got further and further from 20, and closer and closer to 40).  I have purposed in my heart that that will no longer be the case.  I am going to enjoy each and every day of life. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with my life and very thankful for all my blessings, but I think sometimes we as grownups get bogged down with the burden of our responsibilities, our schedules, our chores... 

I want to start living life a little more vicariously and with a little more humor.  So when my next birthday comes around, I'm going to celebrate it with a happy heart and allow myself to revel in some childlike joy.  (I mean why do we make ourselves feel guilty about eating our own birthday cake?  Just enjoy it!)

So, here's some art designed to remind me that it's ok to enjoy the simple things and if that means blowing a few bubbles, that's ok.

I'm going to start seeing the world through the wonder-filled eyes of a child more often.  I think I'll be a happier, more grateful person.  I think I'll treasure the little victories more and not be so worried about things I can't control any way.  Today I am wishing you a day of childlike wonder and innocence filled with

blessings and happiness,

Athena

field trip

So yesterday I spent the morning volunteering in the school library, which is so fun.  I help with checking books in and out, reshelving books and I even get to read to one of the classes that comes in.  I've always loved books, so helping in the library is a treat for me. 

Then I spent the second half of the day with Sean's kindergarten class on their first field trip:  apple picking.  They went to a small, local, family owned orchard and farm.  The children got to visit some of the farm animals, go on a wagon ride, pick apples, sample apple cider and play in an outdoor play area.  You can imagine how much fun they had.  However, by the end of the afternoon, we grownups were more worn out than the children!

waiting for the cows to come home...

Now, I should be able to proudly tell you the wafting aroma of fresh baked apples and cinnamon is filling the house this morning, but alas, I am not known for my cooking or baking skills.  However, I can say there were fresh picked apples in the children's lunches this morning.  :) 

An empty pantry is reminding me, man can not live on apples alone, so I am off to the commissary in the hopes that some other form of culinary delight will be upon the table later today.  As always, I wish you...

blessings and happiness,

Athena

reflections

Dearest readers, before I begin I must share that my eyes are filled with tears as I read all the kind and loving words of encouragement you have blessed me with.  But none more so, than the truly special words from Mr. Anonymous -- my faraway Rob.  He is currently out of the country on one of his many foreign travels and I am brought to tears by the love that has reached so far across our planet to me today.  :)

So today I was reflecting on what a treasure I have in my family and thought I'd share some photos from much earlier in the summer.  I had just gotten my new camera and was still learning how to use it

and what it ( or I ) was capable of. 

I was spending a peaceful, quiet morning in the park with young Sean.  His sisters were otherwise engaged (taking a fun painting class from a friend of mine) so we had some time together just the two of us. 

Seany loves to swing.  At home he'll go out in the yard and sit quietly and swing and swing and swing -- all by himself -- just really peaceful, and hum or sing to himself.  Those moments are so precious (read: valuable) aren't they?

Those first warm May days of summer seem so long ago now.  Here we are in September!  And Fall is just around the corner.  I do really enjoy Fall:  the color, the cooler air, the crisp newness in how I see the world, the distant beckoning of holidays and family celebrations...

But for now, summer is still holding on, not wanting to go away quite yet.  Still turning tomatoes and peppers in our garden red, still making me wish there was shade at soccer games, still causing me to squint in her bright afternoon light as I wait for the children after school. 

 

So I leave you until next time when I'm hoping to share something I'm really excited about.  So many new ideas and creative thoughts have been spinning in my little noggin since the creation of these gypsy-girl paintings (what should I call her?).  Any way, I'm hoping to get a clearer vision of where

she will lead me on this artful journey and am hoping

you will come along on the caravan ride. 

blessings and happiness,

Athena