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May 4 , 2008

Here's a newsflash people: When I go for weeks without posting, it's not as if I've forgotten about you or hate you or hate myself or that I don't have anything interesting to say. I've just been in Mode B. Mode B is my observation/information collection mode. Mode A is production mode. Mode A could not exist if it weren't for Mode B.

This last stint in Mode B has been troublesome- I went through a rather whiney, "why bother" phase at one point, but I think I've pulled myself out of that one. Now I'm merging in to Mode A and I'm having difficulty focusing on one thing and getting it right and instead I'll try to do too many things at once. Here's just a short list of stuff in the works.

My garden- It's...coming along...slowly. Right now we're considering also reworking our perfectly okay front yard because it gets plenty of sunlight while our backgarden is mainly shade. We want to make our own version of a Victory Garden. Oh, and did I tell you about the chickens? Yup. I want chickens in the backyard.
My photography- I made some images that I'm totally crazy about but they're a bit difficult and I'm not sure if I should show anyone or if they should just remain between a mother and her rather accomodating daughter.
My new lesson plans for my new digital photo class- The school hasn't unlocked the cameras on the new computers yet (long story) so my students are scanning objects and found photographs and I'm teaching them how to composite in Photoshop. Pretty fun, actually.
My crafty stuff- Nothing. Oh, I'm sad about this like you wouldn't believe. I've been trying to come up with something smart and fun for Maker Faire Austin in October but I'm at a total loss. I really hope I can pull something out of my ass during my summer vacation otherwise I'll be pouting come October.


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April 13 , 2008

I've been very "meh" about most stuff lately, I just want to have half, maybe a quarter of the enthusiasm this Korean drummer has for drumming. Heck, an eighth would do! Yow.


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March 21, 2008

I've got gardening on the brain bigtime. Our backyard is a big disaster area. The previous owner did an amazing job renovating the interior of this house, but he should be arrested for what he did to the backyard. The backyard had been paved and he jackhammered all the concrete, which is nice, but then he buried it under about 3" of dirt and grass. I don't like to have anyone walk in the backyard because it's a total liability. Someone might twist their ankle when they trip over a bit of concrete chunk jutting out of the grass or impale themselves on something sharp. It sucks. I feel like I have a room of the house that I can't use.

This week is my Spring Break and the weather is great, so Pat and I have finally started working on the yard. I'm a little overwhelmed by the amount of work, money and time that it's going to take, but if we can tackle it in small areas at a time, it's going to be amazing. To keep myself motivated, I surround myself with images of what I'm trying to achieve in our garden.

I'm really big on metal planters- they're easy to plant, you can move them around on a whim, and you don't have to bend down so far to tend them. They look great too.

I hate, loathe, and despise our 6' wood fence. These tall, thin rusted steel plates (behind Antidote on Studewood) give privacy and make a great backdrop for greenery. I need to make sure I can do this, according to our neighborhood's deed restrictions.

I just discovered Corsican mint and I think I'm in love, and I've always loved fig trees for their beautiful leaves and of course, the figs.

Another metal container- a water trough- this time used as a water garden with horse tail reeds (spotted at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center). The other image gives a good general idea of what I'd like to do- soft gravel, shady trees, planters, and a water feature.

Succulents just plain rule and you can find many more varieties these days due to their popularity. I want to include a vegetable garden as well as accomodate Eleanor's sweet desires in our garden plan- a living teepee made from bean vines (also seen in the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center) seems like a good thing to have in our garden.


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March 6, 2008

I like being busy and life is really, really busy right now, so why am I so stressed out? I went the the ultra fabulous wedding of my dear friends Kate and Willy in Marfa, Texas last weekend, the Spring Show opened on Tuesday (our big student art show and one of my students won first place- woo!), and I have another out-of-town wedding coming up this weekend. I'm also in the process of moving my classroom into another building and working on finishing a few new pieces for the art faculty show next week. Man! I need to take some serious chill pills and just enjoy the ride. Seeing as how I don't really have any chill pills or even know what they are for that matter, I'll have to keep watching this cute little thing that my buddy LL pointed out to me. It's a bit like an audio chill pill, but watch out, the whistling will get stuck in your brain, but it's kind of nice I suppose.

Peter, Bjorn and John- Young Folks


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February 17 , 2008

I think it's time for another...

Things That Make Me Smile
Even Though My Lips Are So Chapped That It Hurts To Smile

1. My new favorite band: Vampire Weekend
I've been on a quest for happy music that's not too saccharine and found this gem. There's a lot of musical references to 80s bands and some fantastic African-styled guitar. What's not to love? Happy happy joy joy!

2. Something I saw in the Kroger parking lot
I parked next to a vintage black Thunderbird. I don't usually go all goofy over cars (unless they're Volvos) but I had to take some time to check out this thing of beauty. A little old lady, moving at a snail's pace with her bags of groceries...whips out her key and gets in! You GO, old girl! And here I was all worried about getting older. Call me inspired.

3. Eleanor's Valentine's Gift
If someone had told me all those years ago when Eleanor was a newborn and I had a serious case of PPD, that for Valentine's Day 4 years down the road she would give me a heart-shaped piece of play bark that she found on her school's playground, I think...maybe, just maybe I would have snapped out of it.

4. My Nespreso Machine and all its accoutrements
I have to get up at the buttcrack of dawn on weekdays and little demitasse cup (with saucer!) of espresso makes it all okay. That's all it takes.

What's on your list?


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February 9, 2008

A thousand pardons if you've seen this already, but You Suck at Photoshop.


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» swapatorium
» swissmiss
» television without pity
» textile fetish
» whip up

About Me

I'm a mom and wifey living in Houston and I teach art and photography at a high school in a small rural town just south of here. In my spare time I thrift, I craft and I spend way too much time looking at flickr and design blogs. Wanna talk to me? Email me at claireATpoopscapeDOTcom.