Happy Birthday, Leo!!

Today, our youngest grandson is 1year old!

He will be having his party tomorrow. Of course, he has no clue yet, what it is all about. I don't think, neither will his brother and he will be turning 2 years old in 9 days.

Still, pictures will be taken and tell the tale, years from now, of when our little Leo was the Birthday Boy. Isn't technology wonderful?!

Congratulations, little guy! May God bless you and us, to celebrate many, many more. :-)

So Much Creativity

I am constantly baffled by all the different types and forms of art. I started this blog to show my drawings and talk a bit about art, but over the course of time, I really got in to it.

Searching for different artists and gathering up all kinds of information about them, was extremely interesting. I still intend to do that and share with you.

However, there are so many out there, who create fabulous artwork and never get to be put in the spotlight. The creativity among all of you is incredible and by paying attention to different kinds of art, other then drawing, painting and sketching, I hope to achieve a few goals.

The first goal is to bring the art form under attention and hope you will get some recognition for it. The second goal is, to bring to your attention, how many different types of art there are and can be done as a hobby. You may not have know about it and maybe you come across one, that would be just right for you.

Either way, I love finding and talking about all those arts and crafts. Should you like to know more about one, or have one you would like me to post about, just tell me.

It would be my pleasure!

Another Sandy Form Of Art

While we all were out with the boys, having fun at the play area, it was very windy. Both boys were wearing jackets and little Leo was not wearing his hood. We thought it best to pull it over his head and the honors fell to me to do so.

Now, this little rascal was not very cooperative. He kept trying to get away, but at one point, he was sitting down and I saw my chance. Just as I pulled it over his head, he made a sudden forward motion and.... landed with his mouth in the sand. Oops!

I picked him up right away and was about to wipe the sand off his mouth, but did not have to. He sat there, blowing raspberries to try and get it out of his mouth.

After both he and I had 'repaired' the damage, he went on his merry way. However, he either was hungry (highly unlikely), or had developed a taste for sand. Even after his Mom had told and shown him not to, he kept on scooping up fists full of sand and stuff it in his little mouth.

I am not sure how much sand he actually did digest, but I know one thing. It will come out.

In some form of art! Grin.

Sand Sculpting Tools And Equipment

One would think, that a bucket, a shovel and your hands, would be enough to create this type of sand art, but nothing is less true. The professionals know better and use all kinds of tools to create their master pieces. Some tools, that are being used, you would not even suspect to be a help with these creations.

Beside the necessary shovel, you also can use plastic tableware, pastry knives, brushes and any other kind of materials.

However, if you want to take full advantages of what is available, to take your creation to the level of perfection, here are some of the tools, which can help you achieve that goal.

I am not sure, whether these tools can be bought in craft stores, but they definitely are being offered and can be purchased online.

One thing, which is an absolute must to bring, is a camera. I would advise to take a picture of this creative form of art.

It will not stand up long to time and the elements of nature. :-)

Being Blond Pays Off

Even though I may be considered to be part of the 'dumb blonde sisterhood', there are times it pays to be blonde and ignorant.

This joke, that I got in the mail, sure is one of those great examples of how things can be perceived, received, and understood.

Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with an expensive double-pane energy efficient kind.

Today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago, and I still hadn't paid for them.

Well, hellloooo,...........just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am automatically stupid.

So, I told him exactly what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves!

Helllooooo? It's been a year! I told him.

There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up. He never called back.

Guess I won that stupid argument.

I bet he felt like an idiot.

It got me laughing out loud, but it also pointed out, that one has to be very clear with what is meant.

I suppose, that is why the small print is invented, huh? I guess this contractor did not have any!

Sure, Call Me Trailer Trash

You talk about a state of the art recreational home!

This sure gave us some great ideas. We already were looking for a nice recreational vehicle, with all the comforts from home in it. We intend to travel around, upon retirement. That is...., if we can retire.

I learned something new as well, reading the e-mail that was sent to me below. I had no clue, about taxes not being applicable for a home on the move.

Anyway, this was what the e-mail said and showed:

I'm tired of paying property taxes, school taxes, state taxes, etc.. As long as my home has wheels, it's not considered a 'fixed' home address and I can take it south for winters, north for summer, and so on.

The problem is that some may say I'll become trailer trash so, I want your opinion before I make this decision. What do you think?

I want to be trailer trash......










Wow, living like that is a dream come true. Yes, I want to be trailer trash anytime!

A Cute Surprise

I must have a bad case of spring cleaning fever. The last couple of weeks, we have been redecorating and ever since anything and everything that comes in my hands, gets a thorough cleaning. Each day I have been setting and accomplishing some cleaning goals.

I suspect, I finally have to time to get around to it and want to make the most of it. Ever since last year, when our youngest was pregnant with Leo, I had dedicated all my time to help her out, take care of her and our grandson, clean up their home and kind of kept things going there. The result was, that my own work was falling behind. Way behind. I guess I am catching up, with a vengeance, haha.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I have a crystal collection and while I was cleaning our crystal cabinet and polishing up the crystal figurines, I came across the little fawn. It is one of the pieces I have. It reminded me of this e-mail I had gotten once and I decided to find it and share it with you:

A fawn followed this beagle home, right through the doggie door, in the Bittinger area. The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home.



The little crystal fawn I have, is shaped in exactly the same position as this little real one. Hence the reminder.

Nature has got some nice surprises in store, every now and then huh? This is absolutely one of the cutest.

Growing Admiration

Last Tuesday, we watched lil' Kc. He was here without his little brother this time and had all his Opa's and Oma's attention to himself. He sure enjoys it and takes full advantage of it as well. Okay, who wouldn't?!

It is much easier on us too, to have to watch just one grandbaby. A lot less running around and definitely a lot less exhausting. We actually get the chance to enjoy him to the fullest, which is much more difficult when we have to watch both of them.

Age probably plays a large role in all this. I guess, it will get easier over the years, when both boys are getting a bit more independent. It sure increased my admiration for our daughter. She deals with those little curtain-climbers day in, day out.

We have to admit though, we miss them when they go home. :-)

No Problem

When both boys were over here yesterday, I was kind of curious. Their mom had said, they sometimes got in to a fight over the same toy. Yup, as small as they are, there is going to be conflict every now and then.

Since Leo is walking, he is faster in following his big brother around. And he follows him everywhere he goes, wants every toy he has, and would take away every bite Kc would get, if we let him. Big brother is on to him though.

They have a soft, foam toddler-couch, that folds out to a bed as well. Kc was unfolding and folding it, over and over again. Until... Leo planted himself firmly on it.

Hmmm, I thought I would see what happened and let them hack it out. No problem at all. When Kc found out he could not fold it up, because his sibling was in the way, he did not hesitate. He grabbed Leo by his feet and simply drug him off.

Problem solved!

Sand Sculpting Tips And Tricks

It may seem easy to be able to make something out of sand, but that is not so. If the sand is too wet, it will dribble away and fall apart. If it is too dry, it will not hold it's form either. And how do you get it to stay up so high?

The sand has to be packed well, to retain it's shape. Usually, you can pack moist sand into a lower form, but when you go high, it is said, that hand-stacking the wet sand is best. Gravity will compact it to a solid foundation. Here are some great tips on how to hand-stack sand.

I did not know, there were sand building lessons and workshops available. I suppose, where there is a beach, you might find those classes and a good instructor. It sure would be a nice family activity during vacation.

We all know, that practise makes perfect. Don't expect to walk away a pro, after a few lessons. Learning the technique is the first, and foremost important step. A solid foundation is at the root of everything. From there, just go with the flow.

Ehhh, no better not. You don't want your sand-art to be washed away before it's done. :-)

In Training

We had our oldest grandson Kc over, yesterday afternoon. It's been a while, but we had a blast. He is wearing training diapers now. I didn't think it would make much of a difference, but...., apparently it does for him.

At one point, he grabbed my hand and led me to our bedroom. After looking around, he went straight to the bathroom, pulling me along. Upon arrival, he lifted up the lid and started pulling at his pants.

"Oh. You wanna go potty?" I removed all the obstructions and set him down. He looked up at me, gave a big grunt and indicated he was done. Of course there was nothing deposited, but it was a try.

After putting his diaper and pants back on, he flushed and watched all the water disappear. He grabbed my hand and out we went.

All done. For now. :-)

Sand Sculpting

You talk about art! If this is not one, then I don't know anymore. I consider this one of the many beautiful arts we encounter, at times.

Even though sand sculpting is very timely, the creativity displayed is of very high quality, as you can see from these pictures. No wonder, there are so many contests being held on the beaches.

It is a risky business as well. The weather has to be cooperativefor at least several days. If not, well.... you get the picture.

I can not really imagine, what it must be like to create such a wonderful work of art and then see it disintegrate before your eyes. All that hard work and time, gone with the wind. What a shame.

I am glad we still have pictures of those works of art!

See also:
Sand Sculpting Tips And Tricks
Sand Sculpting Tools And Equipment

Happy New Year

First of all, a very Happy New Year to y'all!

It has been a while, since I have posted on an artist, or an art. I am fully aware of that, but there is a whole new year ahead of us and I am going to get around to it soon.

The last art I posted about, was on sand art. This was on how to use colored sand with craft projects, anyone could do at home. There is much more sand art though. Just think about all those beautiful sculptures, which are being created on beaches and even in the sand box for that matter.

I am looking forward to giving this art more attention and sharing it with y'all. Yeah, it is long overdue. :-)