Friday, November 9, 2012

we're going solar!


 I can't tell you how excited I am to see my squatty, terra cotta colored
house develop this odd, space-aged exoskeleton on top.
I have dreamt for many years of installing solar panels to replace
our dependence on the electric grid -- not so much because I'm a
particularly "green" person, although I do believe we should participate
in managing God's resources and creation well. Not altogether because
of the potential cost savings, although that is becoming more desperately
motivating of late with our already high (think nine people under two coolers
washing dishes and clothes while using their various computer-based
technologies and eating food out of three refrigerators) electric bill
unexpectedly increasing by 25 percent this year. I mostly have always
thought solar is a great idea because I live in a desert. Tucson gets 350+
days of sunshine every year. Why not get something out of that?!?
It just makes sense.
However, when I looked into solar a few years ago, the cost of purchase
and installation alone would have taken 70 years to equal the amount
saved on electric bills. There is more of an infrastructure for these things
now, and perhaps with more supply and developing technology, costs are
coming down. That and my housemate works for the county and was able
to get in on a lease agreement where we are likely to cut our energy
bills in half while paying for the use and upkeep of the equipment
over a 20 year period. Hooray to that! The big switchover happens
next Wednesday. I'm not sure what to expect at that point. I guess I'll
just be eagerly awaiting the upcoming electric bills to see what's changed.
I'll keep you posted!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

days of rest


 
Seed Pods, watercolor, 5"x5"
I've been going out of my way lately to find spaces for rest.
I'm not particularly good at resting, but I feel the need to respond to Jesus.
He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)
Last week, I practiced resting by spending a few hours alone at a
generous friend's house. This painting came from that time.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

my seven-year-old drew this one

It's from the cover of a Calvin and Hobbes comic book
compendium. I quite like Elliott's rendering of this little alien!
 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

saturday night reading

This is Elliott curled up with a Calvin and Hobbes book.
I just love those toes!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Jeremiah 29:11


I made this collage recently as a gift for a friend.
 
As for the last post, I didn't make it very far into the book.
I don't know if it was the content of the book itself
or just the fact of reading it in a digital format,
but it didn't turn out to be all that interesting.
I did finish the 1st painting but then lost it in our ongoing
closet reorganization project. So I suppose it will turn
up one of these days and I'll get it posted!
 
Life has been rather shuffly like that lately.
I'm praying that only unimportant stuff falls through
the ever-widening cracks in the floor of our days!
 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Monday, September 10, 2012

making a mess... finally!

I recently borrowed the book Layered Impressions, by Katie Kendrick,
from the library. I'm trying to work my way through some of the exercises
before I return it. The first exercise is a collage-based painting that calls
for stacks of light, medium, and dark bits pulled from magazines.
I'll post updates as I (hopefully!) progress through the book's ideas.
Oh, and as for the fruit flies, they've moved on.
I guess the soap wasn't the main attraction!

Saturday, September 8, 2012

the fruit flies love my soap?


 I bought this lovely bar of soap at Trader Joe's yesterday,
called The Vert (Green Tea?), to put in my lovely new soap dish.
Since then, it has been attracting fruit flies.
They don't sit on it, but rather near it.
Maybe just to catch a whiff? It does smell awfully good.
I find it a bit unnerving, though. 
Do the fruit flies love your soap?!?

Monday, September 3, 2012

spraypainted bottles in action

The bottles and such that I spraypainted the other day were

destined to become baby shower centerpieces.

I forgot to take pictures of them, however, so I carved

this one out of a snapshot of other things happening

at the shower. They turned out really vibrant and fun!