Funny kids...and latest art...

Kids are funny.  And maybe every mom feels the same way, but mine are very funny.

Lately, I've been feeling like my main purpose in life is to load and unload the dishwasher.  It wasn't so long ago that I didn't HAVE a dishwasher, so I'm grateful to have one...and I'd get my kids to do it but I'm quite particular about where things go!

The comic relief for the dishwasher-loading drudgery is out there just waiting for me to listen.  In between loads I listen closely to strange and amazing conversations, and what a loss to not write them all down!  But I thought I'd share a few good ones I've enjoyed lately.  (It also reminds me to not take every word they say to heart, because often they're just playing with their words!)

During prayers a few nights back, Miso says..."Thank you Jesus for all the blooming opossums".
(I'm not even sure where that came from, sounds like a cut and paste idea from a few books we'd read...and it's hard to stifle laughter during prayers!)

And this was an honest one, Bashi was under the table and I see him crouched down pointing into a bright beam of sunlight, and he just says..."Mommy look! Dust...."  (Yes, thanks for reminding me.)

Earlier he'd really packed away some dinner and as he sat holding his belly he said, "Mom...I ate too many rice..." (I know what it's like...)

But the funniest one lately was just yesterday while driving to Trader Joe's, darling daughter began a verbal salad bar of strangeness, she started with...."Texas is a stinky place, I haven't smelled it but I smelled the juice that was there." (Juice?  What?!!)  When I started laughing, she told me that I should NOT laugh at her because it might hurt her feelings.  Then I asked more about Texas, and she said that Texas and also Oklahoma, both stink, and something about alcohol ...and then she said, "But I'm not telling you about Texas!"  (I apologize to everyone from Texas and Oklahoma and I assure you that her sentiments did not come from me.  I can think of many other states that DO stink, but I will not point them out here!)

Ah, never a dull moment.  Actually...some dull moments would be kinda nice now and then, but I'm sure I'd find some way to spice them up.  I like to fill blank spots with creativity...

Recently in the studio, I've been working with rusted fabric, jump rings and stitches to make some new jewelry.

This necklace combines rust with the ruster...tough with delicate.

I've also been toying with leather...a new medium for me.  I made leather "coozies" for ball jars as a St. Valentine's day gift to protect the hands from hot bulletproof coffee.  Unbeknownst to me, my darling bought a 5 lb bag of Bulletproof coffee at the same time...a perfect match.

I've been "juicing up" some old National Geographics with Citrasolv cleaner.   That's all I've ever used it for in the past, and I've learned that it's actually a great...cleaner!  It removes labels from glass jars, wipes out grease on the stove, and smells like a fresh peeled orange.  Anyway, dousing NG's with Citrasolv is such a pleasing activity because you never know what kind of lovely ink pattern you'll get.  I've started sewing the pages together and making them into books...why?  I don't know! 

And lastly, I've got a little "family art" going on.  This is just a slice...when I get it finished, I'll post more pics.

Au revoir!