11 months

11 months and one day ago, at 8:40 am, everything changed.

She came into my life, and changed everything. She changed me. She changed us. 

 

Freya Katherine

Also known as Dragon

I have wanted to write this post for a long time. I had all but abandoned this space, and I think it's about time it was resurrected. There are so many little things that can get lost so easily. Little moments. Tiny snippets of this little life that I'm afraid I won't remember. 

I thought about deleting all the posts before this one. Because really, this is the beginning. But no. They need to be there. Sometimes I'll need a reminder of what once was.

So here we go again. 

For me.

For her.

Everything is different now. 

Maybe here I'll be able to make sense of it all.

It's raining

Sometimes you just need to sit around, and do nothing. You need to sit and listen to the rain fall, and the thunder rumble. The old dogs will curl up with you, and the puppy will pace for a while before finally resigning herself to her fate. Occasionally you'll catch glances from her, while she's curled up on top of an old dog, with this look on her face of "I'm so bored, Mom, I could just die." You'll have to make it up to her later.

You'll sit here and think about your daughter moving around in your tummy. You think about all the work you have to do before she gets here, but not now. It's raining. Maybe you need to go work on her room. Maybe you need to work on your life, so you can stay home with her one day. Maybe you need to drive down the street to that Chinese place, and pick up dinner. Maybe you're soaking up these moments of nothingness before they're gone.

At this moment

I know it's been just about forever since I was here last. I hope I'm back to stay this time. I always feel like I have SO much to say, but I never feel like saying it.

Right at this very moment, I am so incredibly happy. I'm on my favorite spot on my couch. The sun is pouring in. My flowers are all growing. I have the three most wonderful dogs curled up with me. The little one, our new addition, with half her delicate body and her head across my lap. She's only been here since Christmas, and she has wedged herself into this family as deeply as a little dog could go. I'll tell her story soon enough.


Papu, Jet and Holly. My three loves.

We have also added something else to our family. Our littlest one is 18 weeks along, and will be here in September.


Sprout

When I'm stressed, or worried, I tend to shut down. I haven't dealt well with the idea that my life is about to change in a big way. I haven't drawn, or even picked up my camera in months. I don't like that. It's not like me. I hope by having this space to share things it will inspire me to go back to what makes me happy, instead of sitting and brooding and agonizing over silly little things like crib bedding.

So hope to hear more from me. I truly intend to be around and stop lurking like a stranger.

And now I have to remove myself from my comfy spot, and my snoozing dogs, and make dinner. Such is life.

One fish two fish...

I finished these guys last week. I'm pretty happy with them. I absolutely love betas. They have so much personality packed into such tiny colorful bodies. To all those little guys I've had over the years, thank for you making me smile.

Here are a few "in progress" shots. Note to self: remember to actually take photos when working.

Pear shaped

Things have gone a bit pear shaped lately.

This makes me feel better.



So, in the interest of trying to make my little world a better place, I could use some good thoughts, prayer, juju, vibes, luck (whichever you fancy) sent this way. Any and all thoughts of goodness are much loved and appreciated.

Heaven

My apologies for my extended absence.



But I was in the most beautiful place in the world.

More soon...

Tour guides are people too.

At the end of a weekend all I can ever muster the energy to do is lay on the floor, beer in hand, and scream incoherent babble, laced with obscenities, at the ceiling. At least that's all I want to do.

You see, I work in tourism. It's my "real job" except that it's not a "real job" according to most "real job" standards. It's what I do to make money while I pretend to be an artist. One day it will be the other way around. Anyway, the point of all this is that working in tourism in August in the south SUCKS.

So as we launch into another weekend, please play nice and tip your guide, for the sake of my sanity.