Getting Ready for My Art Show - WIP Wednesday April 27th, 2016

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

While I've known for a few months that I'm going to have an art show at the local co-op in June, I'm just starting to get my act together.

I've cobbled together an artist bio: 

With marvelous artists all throughout her family, Myrrh grew up surrounded by art. With little formal training, she learned from the crafting, creating, and fine art all around. From watercolor painting with her paternal grandmother, oil painting on vacations with her mother and aunt, to finishing geometry assignments quickly so that she would have extra time to color them in, Myrrh has always had an artistic nature. After taking a break to start her family, Myrrh picked up her brushes again and has been deeply exploring watercolor painting ever since.

I've added the bio to the new painterly page here at myrrhmade.

Pigs and chicks - busy outside

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This week we've been busy buying plants (but have little to no dirt at the house yet), visiting animals, playing with our own, and daydreaming about gardens.

We are so close to our average last frost date that it's hard to walk out of almost anywhere without a plant or two to make our new home and grounds alive with green and blooms. 

We visited some crazy spotted (and one striped) piglets.

We saw what 150 almost-two-month-old golden comet chicks look like.

Our new girls had their first field trip! Our first ones were a bit younger for theirs that was a couple months warmer into the year. Oh the jumping-and-flapping was glorious!

Sometimes it's hard to be little and watch your big sister do things. Especially when you just want to SQUEEZE them they're SO cute!! 

And we got to see a beloved great-aunt last minute and help make the whip cream.

There's some thing about how good moms let their kids lick the beaters. Great moms turn off the mixer first. 

Thank goodness for lovely weather, amazing animals, lovely visits, and getting our hands dirty.

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Spring Tidying - WIP Wednesday, April 20th, 2016

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

We spent some time Spring Cleaning (is it really cleaning if you're unpacking things and giving them space at a new home?) and organizing the garage and one of the sheds. 

Five things I'm proud of today

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I have a few other posts planned, my beautiful new spot in the garage for all my gardening things, a new stone-border garden bed, a chick field-trip with our current batch of ladies, the chicks new digs, etc.

Instead, I'm showing up and giving myself points for neither killing, nor abandoning my children.

Here are five things I'm proud of today:

1.) I've memorized the first half of the first song in my "First Lessons In Bach" on the piano. 

2.) Homemade ramen soup for lunch

3.) I got the chicks out of the house and into their new swanky digs in the garage.

4.) Taking a break from (painting) reality, two new finished pantings, and two in progress.

5.) Still loving my children. Especially still loving my children. Toddlers are real jerks sometimes.

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Getting Dirty - WIP Wednesday April 13th, 2016 (and a chick update)

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

We finally made it to the garden center for potting soil, a new drip tray for the plants on the shelf, and perhaps a tiny little blue pot for a certain someone.

And YES! You can play in dirt all you like my dears! 

Happy new plants, waiting to go in the garden, prepared (but still expanding) potting medium for new seeds, and grocery store herbs all waiting for the last frost before they can head for the garden.

We've repotted, filled, dumped, filled, scooped, potted, filled, swept, dumped, mixed, scooped, watered, rescued, and scooped some more.

Someone may have finally gotten her own bike (and is wearing her "hoo-hoo" owl slippers). Thanks GrandPapa for helping us put the trike together!

And in case you didn't get enough cuteness already:

Chicks!

What are you working on? What are you excited about attempting? What are you proud to be working on? Take a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link in the comments.

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6 Tips for Solo Parenting with Toddlers

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Six (Media Free) Tips for Solo Parenting with Toddlers

Solo parenting (not to be confused with single parenting) is when one parent is gone for a period of time, often due to work trips. 

Military families (like ours) experience this often - between trainings, regular drill weekends, long schools, and deployments. Add in work trips for weekday jobs and there's lots of time when one parent is flying solo.

Here are some tips for getting through. These also work for older kids,  difficult days, or when your spouse is home:

1.) Get them outside and active

Even if it's just a tiny toddler playscape, let them burn off big energy outdoors. 

Trying not to overload on cuteness - WIP Wendesday, April 6th, 2016

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Creating is my passion, my sanity, my sense of being "up to something", my way of contributing a little bit. I always have a few projects going, many left to the side for months or even years before I pick up the best and carry on. Here's some of what I'm working on this week:

We've got new chicks! 

Ever since our first batch almost six years ago, we've loved having chickens. Due to crazy travel schedules, selling a house, moving etc. We haven't had any ladies since last spring. 

It's time. 

If you're in the area and want to see some fluffballs with beaks and legs, let me know! And come over!

Less exciting, but more beautiful, one of the succulents in my terrarium is blooming!

What are you working on? What are you excited about attempting? What are you proud to be working on? Take a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link in the comments.

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In case it doesn't look like spring...

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Welcome to New England. If you don't like the weather, just wait a little bit.

But rest assured, it's still spring, and warmer days are  coming. Maybe tomorrow.