Songs from the Garden

Monday, July 28, 2008

Maybe I Can Fix It

I took my handy dandy sewing machine to camp. I had three pieces yet to finish for the up coming DAC show and, well...

It broke!!!!

Ahhhhh!

I tried to fix it. I even called my sewing machine man to see if he could walk me through it. He said it would take hours...

Alas, I guess I was meant to play and not sew at camp.

Back From Camp

Camp was great - as always. We even got a little rain, which felt great, coming from the heat of the valley.

Every year we go to Standford Sierra Camp (for Standford Alumni - my father-in-law is the alum) It is a camp for the whole family. We stay in sweet little cabins. They have adventures for young and old. Hiking, art, lectures, singing, disco bingo, kids groups....

This year there we a lot of bears in camp, due to the Angora fire from last summer. It burned all their home lands so they were over the ridge on the same side as the camp. Quiet exciting for some of the campers. Unfortunately we never saw a bear. We kept hoping too, but I think we went to bed to early for bears.

We found some great swimming holes up in the falls above camp. We had a great time until I noticed little leaches on the kids, then we were a bit grossed out. "Don't freak out guys, but there are little creatures all over you." "AAAAhhhhhh!"

It was worth it though.

A great time was had by all.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Off to Family Camp

We are off to Sierra Camp tomorrow. We go every year with hubbies folks. I will check back in a week. I am taking my sewing machine and materials. I will upload my new creations when we return.

This is the family last year leaving Sierra Camp, saying goodbye to the grandparents.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Desert Beat

Coyote sings to the dipping moon

A song so soft and sweet

Cricket begins on his leg violins

and mouse keeps time with her feet.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

I Get To Drive Next

This piece was inspired by my walking the two doggies (Manni & Marley) one night, and thinking that they need a story too.

I used to tell the children that our dogs knew how to drive and that they would take off and drive our couch when we were out and about. At the time they believed me, but now, at five and eight years old it's a little tougher to fool them.

Although my five year old will come up to me later and ask, "Mom, do they really drive the couch?" "No Sweetie, but they do know how to drive the car".

My honey-bunny husband also used to have a VW bus and did the whole surfer scene thing. I even used a picture of his old bus to design my bus from.

This piece has a lot of recycled materials in it. An old dress of mine for the sky old wool sweaters for the bus, dogs, road and board. The ocean and the border are new materials.

I Get To Drive Next

When the family is not about

The doggies they do roam

They hop in the V.W. bus

and head out far from home.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Our Closest neighbor

We have a little friend living in our pine tree. I really love her.

She hangs out in the tree most of the day resting, then around twilight we can hear her twittering as she flies overhead in search of her dinner.

Usually when I go over to have a peak at her, which is fairly often, she too is checking me out. I am a little surprised that she hasn't found a new home, for our family isn't the quietest one.

But I am glad she stays.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Longtime Pals Finished

I finished "Longtime Pals" - except for the final backing piece. We left the smoke and heat behind and went to Pacific Grove, and while the kids and hubby were running around playing soccer I sat and finished this piece.

I love these two birds. They remind me of a my longtime pal Andrea and I. Although to be fair to Andrea, if this chicken was to truly to depict her, there would be a rooster in the picture and she would be taunting him with her strawberry. And of course she'd have a long golden mane.