Veil

John Gutmann, The Oracle, 1949

Did you ever read the Diary of Anne Frank?

Pennsylvania Thrift

My grandmother used to work part time in the Pierce Library Thrift Shop in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  The shop is in an old school house, and we try to stop by and spin away an hour or two with my grandparents. I always snag great deals.  This year I found my first pair of khaki pants, some boat shoes, a cute top and some navy blue Tingley rainboots in which I stomped about gleefully through the Pennsylvania snow.  

1. Between Me & You Top $1.00

2. Delia's Alexa Khakis $2.00

3. Hush Puppies Cloud 10 Boat Shoes $1.00

4. Tingley Navy Blue Rain Boots $2.50

Breakfast

I’ve been with family in Pennsylvania since the day after Christmas and got home the evening of New Year’s Day.  This morning I enjoyed a delightful breakfast with my new tea pot,  Trader Joe’s Duchess Grey Tea, and my favorite biscotti. 

I always look forward to picking up a bag or two of homemade biscotti in Pennsylvania.  A local woman sells to many bakeries in town, but sells the “butts” on the honor system, leaving the bags of edge pieces outside of her house on the corner in a stall filled with cubbies for each flavor.  I actually prefer biscotti butts to the slim center pieces I see sold in coffee shops.  

Wrapping Presents

Last night I spent time with my friend Bowen, who is back from Wittenberg University in Ohio.  I helped him shop for Christmas gifts (and also helped him spend his Starbucks gift card!)  and wrapped them when we got back to my house.

This year I rolled everyone's things and placed them in paper lunch bags and addressed them with india ink.  If you try this, be sure to place something thick like a sheet of cardboard in the bag when using the ink so it won't bleed through.  I also found that when I had three items of rolled clothing to stuff, it filled the bag to the top so that I couldn't fold down and staple the lip.  I simply slid another bag over the other end and placed the gift on its side!

Keep Warm

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope everyone is spending time with friends and family.

I have a list that I'd like to tackle with my loved ones this year:

Christmas Caroling

Construct a Cardboard Village

Try 3 New Recipes

Drive Around to Look at Neighborhood Christmas Lights

Read aloud The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Go to Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve

Keep warm!

Children's Books

Tonight my Mom showed me a new children’s book she had read to the kids she substitute taught: Snowmen at Christmas written and illustrated by husband and wife team Caralyn and Mark Buehner.  My mother and I have always had a heart for children’s literature and especially enjoy the illustrations.  Hidden in each picture of the snowmen are a cat, a rabbit, a mouse, a santa face and a tyrannosaurs rex.  This prompted me to grab some of my favorite books growing up and read them aloud with my roommate, Amber.  The three of us poured over the pages and took it in turns to point out the silly details and jokes slipped into the illustrations.  Two of the books I grabbed were written and illustrated by the same author, though I had never known.  Peggy Rathman wrote two of my favorites: Goodnight Gorilla, my “first book” and Ten Minutes Till Bedtime, a story I fell in love with when I was much older.  Peggy loves the tiny details, and tonight we found another treasure she had hidden for us: a scene from Goodnight Gorilla made a cameo in Ten Minutes Till Bedtime.  If you have children or simply want a beautiful book to giggle over, I heartily recommend checking out Peggy Rathman.

I don’t want to spoil all the surprises in Goodnight Gorilla, but I will say pay attention to the balloon.  

First Snow

I can't remember the last time we had December snow.  Little flurries flew up in plumes towards me as I made my way home from GA Tech.  It kept up all day, but none of it stuck.

This weekend I drove to GA Tech to see Cam and the rest of our new friends.  While they studied for their finals, I worked on painting.  I'm sorry for not keeping up this semester, but here's the gist of it: I love ink and Watercolor!  Now that I'm out for winter break, I can fill up my moleskin book for The Sketchbook Project.  My theme is Happy Thoughts and I'm planning on illustrating everything with collage papers, ink and watercolor.  Here's a look at what I finished this weekend:

This last guy was spurred from a conversation this weekend I had about "The Living Christmas Tree" which is a Christmas Concert put on by First Baptist Church of Gainesville every year.  But upon hearing the title, a friend of mine was confused and admitted they had envisioned an evil tree that ate children...it was too good an idea to pass up.  

My Work

Learning with Pigs

I am thrilled to report that I finally know how to quickly and seamlessly remove the background from images so that they stand on their own, skimpy and striking. Yay Mac!

My lap top case came in the mail this morning from Womensgirl and it is perfect! I'm a bit crazy about Japanese fabrics, and this little French piggy pattern is no exception! My new lap top fits snuggly inside this case's plushie innards.

I also wanted to show off this lovely shot Jim Haynes got of me and Cam all loved up at our Senior Prom.

Tough Week for the Wallet

In the past week I have purchased:

4 new tires

1 new side mirror

1 Macbook Pro

1 iPod Classic

1 Laptop Case

Assorted Dorm Supplies

12 Books for School

Art Supplies for School

2 Movie Tickets

1 Pair of Dress Pants

1 Ticket to the Relient K Concert tomorrow evening

Phew. Needless to say I will be tightening my belt for the next few months to ride out this unexpected explosion of spending. College and and minor accidents like driving over nails really add up when they're tossed at you within the the same span of seven days.

Here's some positive: Much of this spending has been put toward some worth while investments. A life-long PC girl, I'm is still trying to wrap my mind around the many splendored qualities of my new Mac and am tickled by the rainbow of watercolor paints and fancy brushes I need for my Watercolor class. I've also found two truly lovely paintings that make me sigh every time I look at them.