Recent artworkings.

These are two paintings I have been working on. Unfortunately blogger doesnt arrange them very well. I have been starting this process paitning by watercolor first on the paper. Then it dries, and I use pen and ink on tissue paper. Then the tissue paper is glued on, ie the tree or the shell...and the with acrylic paints, and beads I decorate on top of the watercolor and ink.

Territorial Pissings

So last night Drew and I were soo tired of the rain, we decided to do something that is completely unheard of for us(except at Christmas when we love to shop for others)...we ventured out to the HUGE outlet mall near us and went shopping. Originally we were going to look for my mother's birthday present...but it turned to reminiscing and buying clothes for ourselves.
Not that we really went wild, we each got 2 things...shoes and a tshirt for me, and a nice shirt from banana republic for drew and some shorts from quicksilver.

So onto the topic of territorial pissings. Somehow we got onto the topic of college and how he used to feel that he had to constantly exert his male dominance to prove to every other guy that hit on me that I was with him. Its so funny looking back, I did very much feel like a tree that he was lifting his leg on where ever we went. He didn't like my "going out" clothes, tho I'm sure he felt that it would just mean more work on his part to fend off every single guy that glanced my way.
I can imagine it was exhausting...hehehe. I think we started having this discussion because he was trying to get me to wear something more revealing and I said 'wait last I remember you didn't like me wearing low cut, or body hugging clothes..." and that's what launched the little trip down memory lane.

Funny how things change. I don't think he'd even really notice if someone was checking me out now, he'd probably just think nothing of it..whereas, if it was 6 years ago...he'd probably go straight to me, and put an arm around me or something to let others know I was "his" so cute now...such a pain in my ass then :) Good thing he gained confidence and got over it.

I think we all need more long weekends....

Oh thank god it the long weekend...Drew and I are itching to get outta our "urban" area and off to the mts, so we are excitedly going to hit the Appalachian trail for a little hiking, biking, and picture taking. I tell ya, I can't WAIT to get outta here and get our own house more out of the city. Hopefully then I won't be so antsy to drive hours into the woods all the time :)

Anyway, here's to hoping the rain will stop and the weather will be beautiful for our hikes and bike ride this long weekend! Can't wait to take pictures!

oh my oldness...?

Oh my goodness, so Drew and I were innocently checking the mail...and there it was, my 10 year high school reunion invitation. 10 years? 10 years? How did I get that old? Well lets see, my youngest baby cousin that was born when I was starting high school, is now himself, going to high school. We are no longer in the same century I was born in...fortunately we all lived past the Y2K think, thank god (tad bit of sarcasm here) I got through college, paid off loans, own my own car, got married, Yup I guess thats where that all went.
Oh well. I guess its gotta happen anyway. I was looking through facebook at all my old class mates, several have 1 child, some have 2 children, and even 3?! WOWZA! Actually I guess its pretty cool. They are all doctors, lawyers, biologists, teachers, artists, techies, and government agents now.
So now the question is...do I dare go? I have been a bad friend, bad alumni...I don't keep in touch, I don't call, and when I go home, I don't get together with anyone. Its funny how for a brief moment at my graduation I realized life would never be the same. I was no longer my parents "monetary burden" anymore. College would be my loans, food would be my bills....and starting a new life in Arizona would be my next job. Admittedly I was scared...but I think more than anything, I was excited! New adventures, new friends, new sights. I mean I was going to be in Tucson...thats a loooong way from New England in more ways than one.
I think once I graduated and that chapeter of my life was over, it really was for me. Life keeps moving forward, and thats all we can do as well. Past memories are nice...but do we really want to go back? No no no! No I don't want to have to live by my parents rules, no I don't want to have to go to 8 periods of classes, no I don't want to go back. It was nice, it was fun, I am oh so greatful for my wonderful childhood. Though I am so much more grateful for my life I have now. Now I can make money, and spend it in the ways I see fit. Its MY money, my hard earned money and thats something greater than anything that could be given to me.
Its also my freedom. Ever since I can remember I wanted that. I started "picking" my car when I was 13. Sitting in the back of our proverbial soccer-mom van, I would imagine I was graduated from college, on my own...free to do whatever I please.
Don't get me wrong, I love love love my family. I am so happy God gave me the parents I have...but i think whats even better is that I know that the help and love they gave me is what got me here. I know that nothing makes parents prouder than seeing their children grow up, move out and succeed with the love and knowledge they imparted onto us. Growing up is scary at times, but I look back and realize I have come such a long way, and it wasn't as bad as I was afriad it would be back at that moment at my high school graduation. I wouldn't change it for the world, and as far as I'm concerned...you can't really ever go home, if you are lucky, you can just visit.
So maybe I will go to my reunion...afterall...I have the best husband in the world now...GOTTA show him off. :)

runnin down memory lane..

Last night I had some crazy weird dreams. I think they were brought on by the discussion of our 10 yr HS reunions coming up. Drew was all excited to go to his, and mine, whereas...well I have lukewarm feelings about attending mine. I have a great curiosity about his, but I really didn't stay connected, and the friends I did have were all a year older, so I missed that reunion.
Anyway, so after talking about HS and thinking about it, I had a dream that drew and I were 19 again.
Of course this was the last thing I was thinking of before I ran early this morning, so I just totally got into the thinking zone. Sometimes on good runs I do this. I love to run out by the woods, the shade, and the trees are my favorite places to run through.
I thought a lot about how things have changed. Drew and I met at 19..we were such different people with such a different relationship dynamic. Really we just were friends, tho I still can remember always somewhere having that feeling that I couldn't get too far away. I thought about dinners watching the sunset on top of the old union at UOFA. Our dinners long since finished, we would sit up there until it got dark and cool, all the eateries downstairs closed and quiet. We just discussed everything...classes, people, hopes for the future...
I cant remember when the friendship feelings melted away leaving behind something more...19 year old drew, so funny...his longish hair that I used to put in poneytails, I always knew it was him no matter how far away I was. I could be at one end of the campus, and he at the other, and just by the bounce in his step and the way he carried himself; straight with both thumbs hooked under his back pack...always knew it was Drew walking off to class somewhere..
Now its funny, we would kind of make eachother slack off...he with studying and me with running. He always had a way of tempting me not to run; "comon, wouldn't you rather just hang with me...wink wink..." bad drew!

He's graduated again, this time with his MBA, and I am so proud. He's worked so hard, I don't know how he kept up the 3.89 gpa through all the things that have happened the last few years. We got married, and moved. Bigger than that though, he lost his dad. Wow, what determination. I know that motivated him in a way, his dad was one class away from his MBA, and I think drew might have felt by finishing up, and finishing with such a strong gpa he did it in part for his dad.

Yes things have most definately changed...though it still feels at the core of everything...things are somehow the same, deep down. We can still talk for hours about nothing, poke fun of eachother, get mad at eachother...and cuddle at night.

Eureka, now I know why my nana is Crazy! :)

So growing up, I always heard stories of my great grandma Ryder and talent for cooking. Now I like to cook, well really bake, so I always listened to how she made wonderful cookies and pies, and every other thing. Having only met her briefly around age 4 when she had Alzheimer and was in a nursing home (thinking my mom was my nana,)I was always a rapturous listener of her younger years. I heard stories of her playing under the table with my mom and always singing while she cooked. I also knew if she ever saw elbows on the table she would stab you pretty hard with a fork, funny how things like that were important at the time.
Anyway, I am getting off subject here...Back to my nana and her, shall we say "endearing eccentricity."
I offered to transcribe an old hand written recipe booklet my great grandma wrote, with all her secret recipes. Here is a sampling of some entries, Prune Bread, Date Bars, Peach Dumplings, Date Torte, Chocolate Russe, Ginger Molasses Cookies...wait...I swear this could be what would write...each and every one of my favorite flavors...Peaches, Dates, Prunes!? Hmm...could I be related? Though, I do have to say, she was into her SUGAR!! Every single recipe is loaded with sugar...I tend to like less sweet tastes.
So I am flipping through this great book, complete with worn, aged, and stained pages (yes this was written in 1930 so the pages are that great coffee brown color). I come upon a rather strange recipe...a cold remedy? Hmm, I think to myself, this should be interesting....
I read,
One pound fresh lard----eww but lets hope this is not to be ingested, open mind this was the
1930s
Melt with one ounce of campher gum...ewww
"Take of the stove" is in bold...hmm?
add one ounce of turpentine...."wait, turp? I paint with this?! it makes me sooo SICK!
I continue to think...good thing she rememberd to take this off the stove, i think an explosion wont cure a cold...
finally ammonia is added to this concotion.
Fortunately this is to be applied to a face cloth and left on your chest 2 times a day...
I know I say fortunately, though, man no one should be breathing this no matter how sick they are!
So that explains my nana, her mom killed all her brain cells...haha!
Maybe thats why shes an artiist, she longs for the smell of turpentine :)
Now for all you reading, do not try this at home, it will not cure anything, though I may try to paint with it......

Livin on Groffs Mill Rd now...

Ok, so in the 3 years since I last wrote, LOTS has happened! To start, I no longer live on Appleford Cir, I moved a whole 1 mile away to Groffs Mill Circle. I like the name Appleford better though, Groffs Mill is so hideous sounding...plus everything out here is a "mill" hmm still hate Maryland, it still hasn't grown on me. I have gotten married, changed jobs 3 times, and now have my very own brother in law! However, not everything has changed...still am in love with Drew, and still am in love with painting..it has changed a tad though too.

I was always so fascinated by beauty in nature and colorful fruits and veggies, tho i still am, I have been trying out watercolors lately. susie gave me some great watercolors and some vibrant acrylic paints, and I LOVE them! shes got great taste in bright colors, and im so excited to use them. rather than just paint, i have been doing a little mixed media, painting first, then on tissue paper, drawing with pen and ink, and glueing it to the watercolor, and acrylic over it...rather abstract..but i like it. ive been into looking at home decorator books and magazines and have been inspired by some of the designs on fabric, pasilsy, stripes, even toile which ive never liked before. anyway its interesting...

I am so excited that Drew has finally graduated! I have been so lonely here by myself at night, I mean i always call my mom at night while hes out, but its lonely not seeing anyone really from 8am till the next morning since Drew usually got home after i was asleep...or id try to stay awake to say goodnight...
I am so PROUD of him though. He really has worked so hard! He has put so many hours into studying, reading, writing papers, putting together presentations etc. He has learned so much, and grown so much and gotten many different perspectives on work and life. Much has changed in him, all for good.
As much as I bitch and moan about how lonely its been for him, I really am happy for him in the end. Plus that means, its my turn next! Hmm..interior design school? Art history masters? pastry decorating? we'll see whats to come.

Mostly I am looking forward to many many more years together, still growing up, and moving on with our lives...ever forward. A house perhaps soon? A dog to go with it? ahh what wonderful things does the future hold for Drew and I?