As some of you know, I am heading into my first week of my last (senior) year as an undergraduate. I just finished my first week back and boy am I intimidated by the work load! I probably won't be doing too many blog posts in the upcoming 4 months but I will try where I can, especially with artwork. We'll see what unfolds. This semester I will be taking:
1. Professional Practices - a senior class that will help me articulate my proposal for my thesis which I will be presenting in April (proposal, not thesis -- thats in the fall)
2. Advanced Sculpture - I've been dying to take this class. It is completely devoid of directed assignments and I will be doing my thesis work here.
3. City as Site - This is an art history class focusing on public artwork, I don't know a whole lot because this is a monday class and MLK Jr. day makes us the first monday class, I'll know more this upcoming monday.
4. Homeland - This is a Theory and Practice class which incorporates both reading, writing and studio assignments this one in particular focuses on the American landscape, environment and place.
5. The Wire as American Noir - A literature class in which we are going to be watching all five seasons by the end of the semester in addition to reading several other books. Luckily one of these books is No Country for Old Men which I just recently read so I have a leg up on it there.
if you're counting that is a full load and if I provided a syllabus for each one, well, let's just say I hope you're all praying! Only two semesters left (including this one) and I want to finish strong. This has been a long long journey in the making between the three colleges I've attended and countless major changes I've made. Let's just hope I get to the end alive. :0)
21 January 2010
07 January 2010
RIP Delaware White
Last night I was awoken to the deathly screams of our chickens. And then I woke Joel when I heard more frightened squacking. Something was wrong and I feared a raccoon had gotten one of our chickens. I grabbed a flashlight and handed it to Joel and he shined it out the window to see the ringed tail of a raccoon climbing up the fence. My heart was racing as we put on appropriate clothes to go outside into the howling wind. As we opened the gate to the backyard we saw the raccoon slinking near the compost pile and then up the fence again. We checked the coop and saw only four chickens. The Delaware White was missing but her feathers were everywhere. We looked behind the garage and under the coop then searched the yard. We finally found her behind the compost pile where she lay dead.
I kept hearing the skittering of leaves on the concrete behind us and I was afraid a rabid raccoon was behind us, but it was only my nerves getting the best of me. Joel put the Delaware in a bag and I shined a light on where the raccoon was hiding so that we weren't caught unaware if the raccoon tried any funny stuff (i.e., rabidly jumping out of the tree and attacking us). We closed up the other chickens and irreverently put the Delaware's body bag in the trash can putting a weight on the top so the raccoon couldn't carry her away.
We waited up for about another hour while we settled down and listened to see if the raccoon would open the coop somehow. The worst part was that this was our fault. We didn't close the coop. I thought about it after I put on my pajamas before bed and thought, "They'll be fine, we forget to close it sometime and we haven't had a problem yet." Those were my thoughts. "Yet" isn't good enough and we paid for it. RIP Delaware White.
She is survived by her sister chickens.
I kept hearing the skittering of leaves on the concrete behind us and I was afraid a rabid raccoon was behind us, but it was only my nerves getting the best of me. Joel put the Delaware in a bag and I shined a light on where the raccoon was hiding so that we weren't caught unaware if the raccoon tried any funny stuff (i.e., rabidly jumping out of the tree and attacking us). We closed up the other chickens and irreverently put the Delaware's body bag in the trash can putting a weight on the top so the raccoon couldn't carry her away.
We waited up for about another hour while we settled down and listened to see if the raccoon would open the coop somehow. The worst part was that this was our fault. We didn't close the coop. I thought about it after I put on my pajamas before bed and thought, "They'll be fine, we forget to close it sometime and we haven't had a problem yet." Those were my thoughts. "Yet" isn't good enough and we paid for it. RIP Delaware White.
She is survived by her sister chickens.
06 January 2010
Snow and Illustrations!
As some of you may have heard, a couple days before the new year we got a fair dumping of snow on Portland. It was beautiful because it fell so rapidly that it didn't have time to melt until it was done. And then just as quickly as it came, it melted away. But we won't dwell on the latter but the former, where it actually looked lovely.
This is our neighbors house after a two hours.
Our chickens were very weirded out about the snow and huddled into a corner of their pen.
My chicken ventured out into the snow, I think because I'm usually the bringer of food. This time I just wanted to take pictures. This is less than an hour into it.
This is about two hours after it started. You can tell just how pink the fence is.
By this time the chickens had all gotten back into the coop. They usually only go in at dusk, they don't even mind rain, snow however is a different matter, "The sky is falling!"
The next day they stayed in the coop until I made tracks in the snow where they could peck at the ground.
I think these tracks belong to a robin, who was not a big wiener about the snow.
Joel had to walk home because it was too slick to ride. Luckily fresh snow is pure joy, so it didn't bother him. The only people we saw biking were folks who have massive bike tires. I tried to take a picture of one guy but it didn't come out in the photo.
And as of late we've been having some odd eggs. This one happens to be flat on one side.
This one happens to have no shell... I think we have a new layer and not all her equipment is up to speed yet. I can't wait til we have all five laying!
In other animal news, Orson has been particularly snuggly with me and Joel and its been a lot of fun to have him hang out with us. He's generally a very independent cat and not all that cuddly. The whole reason we got him was that he's a mouser and we had a mouse/rat problem which he efficiently dealt with (thanks pal!). Here's how it works. Orson gets snuggled up to Joel while Joel is reading a magazine. Then Orson gets moved and sits on the magazine, then Joel pulls said magazine from under Orson and uses the cat as a magazine stand.
A couple days ago Joel had the day off so I taught him how to use my sewing machine. He converted a too-short Woodcrafter's athletic jacket (with the quilted insides) into a pillow. He did a really good job and learned quickly.
That night Clara made dinner for all of us, Huevos Ranchero! It was very delicious and we got to use the eggs from our lady chickens.
And lastly, I've been having fun putting together music packages for my friends across the country. I've been illustrating the covers for the CDs and have had a blast.
And that's about all for now. Its been a fairly quiet new year for us in general but its been nice.
This is our neighbors house after a two hours.
Our chickens were very weirded out about the snow and huddled into a corner of their pen.
My chicken ventured out into the snow, I think because I'm usually the bringer of food. This time I just wanted to take pictures. This is less than an hour into it.
This is about two hours after it started. You can tell just how pink the fence is.
By this time the chickens had all gotten back into the coop. They usually only go in at dusk, they don't even mind rain, snow however is a different matter, "The sky is falling!"
The next day they stayed in the coop until I made tracks in the snow where they could peck at the ground.
I think these tracks belong to a robin, who was not a big wiener about the snow.
Joel had to walk home because it was too slick to ride. Luckily fresh snow is pure joy, so it didn't bother him. The only people we saw biking were folks who have massive bike tires. I tried to take a picture of one guy but it didn't come out in the photo.
And as of late we've been having some odd eggs. This one happens to be flat on one side.
This one happens to have no shell... I think we have a new layer and not all her equipment is up to speed yet. I can't wait til we have all five laying!
In other animal news, Orson has been particularly snuggly with me and Joel and its been a lot of fun to have him hang out with us. He's generally a very independent cat and not all that cuddly. The whole reason we got him was that he's a mouser and we had a mouse/rat problem which he efficiently dealt with (thanks pal!). Here's how it works. Orson gets snuggled up to Joel while Joel is reading a magazine. Then Orson gets moved and sits on the magazine, then Joel pulls said magazine from under Orson and uses the cat as a magazine stand.
A couple days ago Joel had the day off so I taught him how to use my sewing machine. He converted a too-short Woodcrafter's athletic jacket (with the quilted insides) into a pillow. He did a really good job and learned quickly.
That night Clara made dinner for all of us, Huevos Ranchero! It was very delicious and we got to use the eggs from our lady chickens.
And lastly, I've been having fun putting together music packages for my friends across the country. I've been illustrating the covers for the CDs and have had a blast.
And that's about all for now. Its been a fairly quiet new year for us in general but its been nice.
26 December 2009
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to everyone! Joel and I stayed in Portland this year for Christmas which ended up being really fun. We certainly missed our friends and families that we would have seen if we were able to travel but in spite of that we had a really great couple of days. On Christmas Eve Joel and I went on a bike ride to a Presbyterian church for their candlelight service. Not just any bike ride to any Presbyterian church, no. The bike ride was a bike pulled sleigh ride! I was a reindeer, there were four of us hooked up together by bike inner tubes (2 x 2 reindeer) which pulled a two mountain bike sleigh. I really wish I had thought to bring my camera but I had no idea we were going to do this! Joel found out about the ride from a Portland bike newsletter so we decided to go, not knowing we'd be pulling a sleigh. Joel was the lookout man telling us if it was alright to turn or to get in a lane.
Then when we got to the church Joel and I realized we'd passed it plenty of times. Its a large old (1887) stone building as grandiose as any German cathedral. The inside was bedecked in hand-fashioned wood friezes and panelling, it was one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen! (You can check it out here )
Then Joel and I rode with the group to a Catholic church by our old house and then took off for home (it was getting really late at that point) and stopped by our old house on the way home. It was fun to ride in downtown on Christmas Eve because no one was out (or almost no one) and in spite of being a big 12-wheeled creature we were able to maneuver with no problem.
Christmas morning Joel and I opened up Christmas presents and then went to our friend Kelley's new apartment. This is our little tree that we got last year and we brought in for a second Christmas.
Joel's grandfather made us the cute reindeer in the back there. And his grandmother made us ornaments (a Grindstaff family tradition). Grandma made me the cat and the snowman was Joel's.
Unwrapping Christmas gifts!
Joel gave me this book which was later reinforced by my telling him that when a child, I always got the biggest/fattest children's books out of the library. Because not only did I want to be a know-it-all, I wanted to look like a know-it-all.
Orson got a bag of Pounce cat treats and stripy orange and yellow balls from his grandma (Joel's mom). He liked the Pounce so much, he tried to open it himself while we were at Kelley's! Sneaky cat.
Here he is jumping for a treat. (Sorry about the blurriness.)
We didn't have real stockings but this is what would have gone into them if we had (thanks Linda!).
Joel bought himself a front wheel for his bike with some of his Christmas money.
And I'm going to buy myself a ticket to see Muse in concert in April (yay!!).
I had every plan in the world to make stollen Christmas bread (a delicious German fruit bread) but didn't get to do it. However I did make some cherry chocolate bread. And it was delicious!
Prior to Christmas we had solstice party to welcome back the sun (I can't wait for long days again!). It was also a Christmas party and an end-of-the-semester party all rolled into one. It also started off as a knitting party. Wow, so many things! It was a lot of fun and probably the most people we've ever had at our house all at once.
Also, Joel has a hard time keeping his eyes open for pictures, for whatever reason, neither of us will knows -- so just to be ornery (when I was little I thought this word was the British way of spelling "honorary") he closed his eyes while I took the picture. Yes, on purpose!
Kelley and Brady brought over dirty Christmas cookies. (Viewer discretion advised!)
A good time was had by all and it was probably the most successful potluck/party we've ever had at this house except for maybe Kellam's going away party.
In other news, the chickens are still laying eggs. Beautiful brown eggs! I'm hoping next summer we can get some chickens that lay dark brown eggs because that would be very exciting, but we'll see how it goes.
And lastly, I've been working on crafty things lately. I made Kelley this little bear for Christmas. He stands maybe 2 1/2" tall and 4" long. I felted him with wool.
I've also been learning how to make socks (and learning how to follow a knitting pattern for that matter). I feel so accomplished!
And that is our Christmas in a nutshell. I'm not sure what we'll be doing for New Years but we may be going up to Seattle or the coast, we'll see what happens and I'll be sure to bring my camera with me this time!
Then when we got to the church Joel and I realized we'd passed it plenty of times. Its a large old (1887) stone building as grandiose as any German cathedral. The inside was bedecked in hand-fashioned wood friezes and panelling, it was one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen! (You can check it out here )
Then Joel and I rode with the group to a Catholic church by our old house and then took off for home (it was getting really late at that point) and stopped by our old house on the way home. It was fun to ride in downtown on Christmas Eve because no one was out (or almost no one) and in spite of being a big 12-wheeled creature we were able to maneuver with no problem.
Christmas morning Joel and I opened up Christmas presents and then went to our friend Kelley's new apartment. This is our little tree that we got last year and we brought in for a second Christmas.
Joel's grandfather made us the cute reindeer in the back there. And his grandmother made us ornaments (a Grindstaff family tradition). Grandma made me the cat and the snowman was Joel's.
Unwrapping Christmas gifts!
Joel gave me this book which was later reinforced by my telling him that when a child, I always got the biggest/fattest children's books out of the library. Because not only did I want to be a know-it-all, I wanted to look like a know-it-all.
Orson got a bag of Pounce cat treats and stripy orange and yellow balls from his grandma (Joel's mom). He liked the Pounce so much, he tried to open it himself while we were at Kelley's! Sneaky cat.
Here he is jumping for a treat. (Sorry about the blurriness.)
We didn't have real stockings but this is what would have gone into them if we had (thanks Linda!).
Joel bought himself a front wheel for his bike with some of his Christmas money.
And I'm going to buy myself a ticket to see Muse in concert in April (yay!!).
I had every plan in the world to make stollen Christmas bread (a delicious German fruit bread) but didn't get to do it. However I did make some cherry chocolate bread. And it was delicious!
Prior to Christmas we had solstice party to welcome back the sun (I can't wait for long days again!). It was also a Christmas party and an end-of-the-semester party all rolled into one. It also started off as a knitting party. Wow, so many things! It was a lot of fun and probably the most people we've ever had at our house all at once.
Also, Joel has a hard time keeping his eyes open for pictures, for whatever reason, neither of us will knows -- so just to be ornery (when I was little I thought this word was the British way of spelling "honorary") he closed his eyes while I took the picture. Yes, on purpose!
Kelley and Brady brought over dirty Christmas cookies. (Viewer discretion advised!)
A good time was had by all and it was probably the most successful potluck/party we've ever had at this house except for maybe Kellam's going away party.
In other news, the chickens are still laying eggs. Beautiful brown eggs! I'm hoping next summer we can get some chickens that lay dark brown eggs because that would be very exciting, but we'll see how it goes.
And lastly, I've been working on crafty things lately. I made Kelley this little bear for Christmas. He stands maybe 2 1/2" tall and 4" long. I felted him with wool.
I've also been learning how to make socks (and learning how to follow a knitting pattern for that matter). I feel so accomplished!
And that is our Christmas in a nutshell. I'm not sure what we'll be doing for New Years but we may be going up to Seattle or the coast, we'll see what happens and I'll be sure to bring my camera with me this time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)