I think they call this a "Meme"

Tantra tagged me

Well, I've been tagged and Tantra Flower has got me out from hiding - at least for today.

Here are the rules:

1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention & add one more question of your own.

2. Tag eight other people

What is your current obsession? Recycling and reusing - It's a lot of fun trying to come up with new uses for old things.

What are you wearing today? My old faded blue work pants and my washed out yellow t-shirt from Old Navy that I purchased 4 years ago.

What’s for dinner? beans (w/cheese) and rice burrito...watermelon.

What’s the last thing you bought? groceries - yesterday.

What are you listening to right now? Pandora - Lila Downs (Station). I don't buy music-unless I like something a lot. Pandora lets me listen to other artists that are similar to my taste. I also love the variety and unexpected surprises.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Machu Picchu - When the tourists and film crews are not there.

Which language do you want to learn? Sign Language. It's nice and quiet, but loud visually.

What do you love most about where you currently live? The backyard. We lived in an apartment last year and we had no yard or a patio.

What is your favorite colour? Green! Has been for a long time and it's nice to know that more people are realizing the importance of Green.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? My apron - It has become my second skin.

Describe your personal style? An inquisitive hermit.

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on? Sweets from different countries and share with my family and friends.

What are you going to do after this? Put my girl to sleep with a couple of books we got from the library.

Your favorite smell? Guavas!! My mouth waters whenever I'm lucky to get a whiff of this unusually scented fruit.

Do you collect anything? Plastic insects - I especially love winged insects.

What makes you follow a blog? Bloggers who enjoy doing things for themselves. Makers and creators who aren't looking to get rich or famous with their blogs.

Do you like to comment on blogs or just lurk? a little of both. When I see that they already have more than 10 -20 reader comments on every post they make, I don't bother commenting. What can I say that hasn't been said.

What’s one thing you dream of doing? Printmaking in my own studio. I already have an etching press, but I've never had a place of my own to claim a studio space. I keep my dream and my etching press...someday.

What is your biggest regret? Not saying goodbye to my mother when she passed away in the cold hospital.

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day? Listen to the sound of rain.

Do you have a tattoo? Sort of....The letter "S" under my left toe. "S" for Spinach. Barely visible now. Self made with an exacto blade, black ink and a bottle of XXX.

Do you play an instrument? Yes, I have two harmonicas that I like to blow just for the fun of it.

[Replacing "left or right" hand question]

This is my question for the next person....

Who was your hero or shero when you were a child?

These are the people I am tagging:

Pura

Liz

Cindy

M Lou (a lurker)

Ralph - He hasn't posted in a while and I'd like to read more in his blog.

and i guess I'm mostly a lurker because I'm having a hard time tagging people that I sometimes visit or I hardly ever comment on their blog. I feel like an intruder. Let's see who responds.

I'd like to go back in my shell and hide now.

Just kidding! I've got some photos of Oleander plants I've got in the backyard, that I'd like to post. I didn't know that they're poisonous. I've got much to learn about gardening.

My first Sewing Project

Two weekends ago we went to our Toot's Dorothy recital. It's a Ballet/Tap class which she has taken three times now. The first time she was in the recital (she was two) she cried off the stage. Not this time. She's got this whole performing on stage concept down now. The Gorilla and I are still smiling from her performance. 

This time we parents had to sew the outfit and I was eager to get my mother's old sewing machine out and give it a try. Not bad, if I do say so myself. 

I'm a little sick right now, but I managed to sketch a drawing in my large sketchbook. Hooray!

Photos will have to come later. It's a large piece, so I'll have to photograph it. 

I'm so excited for summer to get here. These gloomy days are getting to me now. 

What's happening....

Here are some snippets of things going on. 

My old camera is not working again. It went out two weeks ago and I'm weighing my options. Trying to figure out how I'm going to deal with this minor dilemma. I love that camera because it has a video feature that we use to record our girl's antics. We don't have a video camera and we can't be spending money right now on things like this. 

In the mean time I have brought out my new camera that I got for my birthday back in June. It doesn't have video, but it will do fine for photos. I'm in the process of learning how to use it. Getting sleepy from reading the instructions. 

Still haven't painted anything creative. Trying to figure out how to get a better spot with better natural light. This new home has very limited lighting. This is driving me mad too. 

I've started walking for exercise. Yes, and it feels fantastic! 

I'm reading Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature. This has been a great read and I've finally found something that has been relaxing and inspiring. 

I miss my father. He has been on Vacation in Texas for over a month now and I'm glad that he finally had time to get away from the Coo Coo's Nest. He deserved this vacation and I wish he could stay with his brother and sister a little longer, but he has to come back. I miss our nature observation in his backyard.

My Toot will be having her ballet recital in a couple of weeks. Theme: The Wizard of Oz. I've brought out my mother's old sewing machine and have sewn her Dorothy dress. Not bad. Sewing made me grateful that my mother took the time to show me how to thread her sewing machine and to let me sew some small projects. It all came back and it felt wonderful to be able to do this for my girl. My Toot loved it and she thanked me with a big kiss and a hug. I got all choked up and thanked my mom. 

From Bookcase to Sandbox

I'm back! I've finally finished the sandbox and here are some progression photos. 

Here is the bookcase before I cut off about two feet from one end. The back was a 1/8th inch plywood, which I removed.

I added slats to give the box support. The white is primer and the baby blue is the final color. 

Gave the Toot a section to paint herself. This lasted a few strokes before she moved on to another activity involving dirt and water. 

Five $5. bags of sand made specifically for sandboxes was all I needed to fill the box. I did line the inside with a plastic tarp to keep the sand contained at the bottom and in the box. I started this in February and finished in April. It did take me a while because of the overcast days we were having during these months. With the Toot's classes and potty training I was a bit busy. 

Found this caterpillar in the bushes when I was pulling weeds one sunny morning. It's a beauty!

Oh! Potty Training Camp is completed and with great success! 

Portrait "Pausa"

Pencil sketch scanned and digitally colored. 

I've finally devoted time on some work. This was great fun and I am hooked on the process. This is a small sketch that I did in a 5x8 sketchbook. I then scanned the drawing and colored digitally. Small. I would love to make some large pieces. I'm thinking about feet not inches. We'll see. 

I have neglected my blog. There is so much going on and I will have a lot to post in a couple of days. I need to spend more time on my projects so that I can have some great photos to post. I've got a sandbox and a watercolor (landscape) that I've been working on. I'm looking forward to putting up the step by step photos.

 

Thank you to my blogging friends who have come by and commented -  even when I have not posted for quite a while. It's great encouragement for me to keep blogging. Hugs to you!

Again, It's late and I'm tired. This piece has taken me about five hours to color and another hour to get it ready for posting.

 

I'm off to sleep.