Huge

Well, for those of you who visit, you may have noticed that I've been missing from the blog for a bit.  We had several crazy weeks in a row that threw us off of our game.  And as soon as things settled down, well, we started up something new.  Something huge.  I can't quite share details yet, but I hope you'll send some positive thoughts our way.

On a personal level regarding Harper's hearing - For those of you who sent a note or good thoughts, thank you!  We are still waiting for the CT scan results, but I will give you an update when we have one.

What a week!

Work is crazy, life is semi-crazy, and all the art I have to show you is a somewhat-crazy, completely-unfinished teapot.

There's lots going on, but I wanted to post a question.  Does anyone out there have any experience with single sided deafness?  You see, amongst the craziness of this week, we took Harper to the audiologist and ENT specialist.  When she was at her physical with our family doctor in July, she failed her hearing test.  We had some suspicions about her hearing because if we held a phone up to her ear, she seemed to only be able to hear if we held it up to her left ear.  For a while, we wrote it off thinking that she was too young to talk on the phone.  But lately, when we switched ears, she could use the phone fine.  Anyway, the doctors confirmed that she has severe hearing loss in her right ear.  She has excellent hearing in her left ear, so she compensates just fine.  (Obviously better than just fine, or we would have noticed something more before now!)  We're going to get the CT scan recommended by the doctor so that maybe we can see why she can't hear, and we're going to talk to another audiologist.  The ENT specialist doctor feels fairly certain that there isn't anything that can be done to change the hearing in her deaf ear.  Anyway, I just wondered if anyone had any experience to share?  We'd appreciate it.

Building, Bowling, and Buddies

Harper has been helping her Daddy with his shed project. They're working on finishing the inside.

And we worked on a gigantic marble machine/maze. It still has a long way to go, but we're playing with it as we build it. Lots more levels of fun planned, and then we finally get to decorate it!

And we went bowling with friends.

 Doug must have done something good here.

And there was time for bowling buddies to smile for the camera!

I forget.

I forget until I am sewing that I can't sew.  You see, I bought a small 7" Samsung tablet yesterday, and I tried to buy a case for it.  All of the cases at the store were from $23 to $40 which seemed way too expensive for what you were paying for.  So, I decided to sew a little padded case for it. 

All of this was before I remembered that I can't really sew.  I am a sewing hacker.  I don't use patterns.  I don't plan.  And I regret it the whole time.  You see, I sort of know how to sew because my mom taught me a zillion years ago.  I was a very reluctant sewing student.  She had to bribe me to sew a seam. 

With all that said, putting this together was harder than it should have been, but it's done.  It's a little cuter in person and even has a little pocket for the headphones.  It could use a few more details, but that's enough sewing for one day for me.

Summer-y

Things have been summery and sort of busy around here.  Doug and Harper spent some time cleaning.  I had to be sure to document that.

I spent some time making journal backgrounds.

A building popped up like magic in our side yard yesterday.  Seriously couldn't believe that two guys could build this thing in one day.  We'll be painting it in about a month when the wood is more dried out. 

And just because my husband and I were both actually smiling in a photo at the same time, we'll revisit early summer/June.

Hope you're having a great summer!

Art Party!

Last night was art group night! We all painted canvases this time which was different from our earlier get togethers where we all worked on our projects in progress. I didn't take photos during the party because it's hard to juggle a wine glass, paint brush, AND a camera, so you'll have to take my word for it (again) that it was a fun party. What I worked on is below... It's not done yet, but you get the general idea. It probably needs a flower garden at the bottom (which is nothing like my actual home by the way where the heat withered every living thing in the yard). 

Already looking forward to the next get together!

The View From Here

Hope you had a great 4th of July!  We had fun with friends on the 3rd and then fun with family and friends on the 4th.  We survived our four days without air conditioning.  It really wasn't bad for us because we're lucky enough to have power and an RV with AC to retreat to.

 I spent the daytime hours of the 4th cleaning my studio so I can tackle some unfinished projects.  (Yes, sissy Sarah - I am going to try to work on your son's train!)  AND, hubby put up the blinds, so now I'm not blinded by the sunshine while trying to work.

 Here's the view from my desk.  I get to see artwork by my art friends Michelle Allen, Regina Lord, Pamela Huntington, Roc Nicolas, and Syd McCutcheon. 

 This painting is coming along.  I still have a ways to go with the details, but I'm falling in love with it.  P.S.  If you don't already have some, you need some Dr. Ph. Martin's bombay india inks.  They're very fun for drawing and dripping!