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October 30, 2006

A little Magic

Have a fun one dudes. I hope we get to trek down to Decatur to trick-or-treat with the Jenkins. But until then I'm going to relax and be glad that I've made a half-ass costume for Josiah "Super Josiah, the Hero of Rock". We'll see that one later on.

family | By | 10:01 PM | TrackBack

October 28, 2006

Beautiful Inspiration

I"m not sure what our new home will look like in Chattanooga, it has yet to be built. But I'm trying to remain satisfied with where we are and enjoy my home now. It's hard to enjoy it sometimes when you have to clean it all the time, fix problems with it, kill the bugs that infest it, and be just generally confined to it when your kids are sleeping. But mornings that are gusty and grey are brightened by all the trees and critters that I spy off my deck. Going outside and having a coffee (too strong today) and contemplating the composition of my next painting is not difficult when my senses are full. Joel went an saw Joshi play with Infradig last night. I caught up with Lost's second season and researched photos for my next piece. Have I said how much I love flickr? It's an inexhaustable resource for me. My Metro's , Celebrate Beauty, even my cows were inspired by images on flickr. Maybe you think less of me now that I've admitted a big secret? Whatever, like I'm going to become a photographer exordinare so I have my own huge supply. I ask permission and all, have made some friends that way. It's the negative space that photos do not show me that takes all my creative energy (like the greenery that surrounds Eden).

One of Joel's coworkers is way into horses and I have wanted to paint horses, but not today. That'll wait. Since this coworker now wants a mural on her daughters wall and even though I could get a large sum for doing that, I just don't have the time (or emotional energy) to go to her house and do a mural for her over-sastisfied 8 year old. And after seeing Carolyn's horses at the Chattanooga Gallery Hop I feel the world already has some excellent cow and horse paintings to love.

I am still totally commited to do a piece on adoption. I promise I am not trying to milk all my friends and relatives of their precious savings because I've painted their children, but that's who I end up painting. Their are some beautiful stories of parenthood out there. Some that are new, some well established and some yet to be. I am in love with the concept of adoption. Not just physically but spiritually and how we are all adopted by the One Perfect Father. I'm trying to hash out how I will incorporate the text of both my dad's song about adoption and the Biblical text about adoption. I want to get a thicker layered effect on this painting. As much as I love how Eden and Juden turned out, acrylics just don't have the smooth texture of oils. I guess I'd be the only one to really know since I run my hands over the surface and most folks aren't so inclined to do that. So I'm wanting to have more gel medium and collage elements to this one. Good Morning has so many layers on it that it's nice and glossy and thick.

The huge tree in my backyard, the yard that's peppered with yellow leaves, the birds and squirrels flitting around: these things just have to make it in. My dogwood too, it's a glorious mixture of green and re right now. Mmmm, so pretty.

I've been wanting to share some art of some classmates of mine from KSU. These kids are talented and have a uniqueness you don't always find in students. Michelle Scott had her work at Fat Louie's right now in a show called "All About face" her work is small to average easel size and super affordable! I love how she's painted faces, they are so stimulating and colorful.

Baxter Crane loves animals and she depicts them quite often. She has a great sense of humor and her imagination hasn't diminished from that childlike state of combining the magical, the everyday, and creation.

"oh dear lord, it's destroyed everything! everyone is dead!"

I'm hoping to do a trade with Michelle sometime. But I'm kinda at a stand still until the Shorter show is over. Crap, I hafta write a little talk thing. What should it be about, hmmmm.

fine art | By | 11:33 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 27, 2006

The John Hughes Movie I wanted to be in

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
(and my shirt says "A city built on Rock N Roll would be structurally unsound)

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool..

Opening Credits:
"The Celibate Life" The Shins.

Waking Up:
"When it was Over" Sara Groves

First Day At School:
"Improv" 1000 Portraits & Waterdeep

Falling In Love:
"Something" The Beatles
Very fun coinsedence!

Breaking Up:
"Not Dark Yet" Bob Dylan
Also a good choice by the POD

Prom:
"Harvest Moon" Neil Young
This probably WAS playing at my prom, freakin hippies.

Life's OK:
"Hold Me" Fleetwood Mac

Mental Breakdown:
"Nice Time" Bob Marley
This made me laugh out loud

Driving:
"Please Me Like You Want To" Ben Harper

Flashback:
"Enemy Fire" Ryan Adams

Getting Back Together:
"Big Lie, Small World" Sting

Wedding:
"Carey" Joni Mitchell
Awwww, I love this song!

Birth of Child:
"It Takes a lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" Bob Dylan

Final Battle:
"Once in Royal David's City" Sufjan Stevens
Again, laughter. Christmas music!

Death Scene:
"Love is No Big Truth" Kings of Convienence

Funeral Song:
"All these Things that I've Done" The Killers
Very lame, what can I say.

End Credits:
"We Shall Not be Moved" Dan Zanes
When we're playing banjos we shall not be moved!

TAG! You're It:
Kirk, Andrea, Jeanette and both Perkins.

community | By | 2:07 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

October 24, 2006

A Machine

Yes, I am a Fine Art Machine!! Here's my messy painting "Good Morning". It's been something I've been picking up and putting back down forever. Had to finish it for the Shorter show. The bunnies in my backyard make me happy and when we leave I will miss them. The fence in this painting looks better than the one in my backyard. We have not utilized our large yard for very much but it has snuck it's way into a few of my paintings. I feel like this piece is more of a study, playing with different materials. There's puff-paint, modge-podged string, and with the inspiration of seeing Cat's trilogy in person---paint pen. Right now I spread I nice coat of heavy gel medium over the bunny to make him stick out a little bit.

This piece makes me happy. Now to my hot chocolate...

fine art | By | 10:46 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

October 23, 2006

Bullets

Now this is wierd isn't it? Went to a Pumpkin Patch with the kids on Friday and they had handmade yard pin-wheel things and this Barbie head is piloting what looks to be the Red Barron plane. OK I know it would not have the US flag on it if it were the good ole RB but maybe I've been watching to much of this. Cute that Snoopy keeps getting called Ruby at our house.

Went to see 'Flags of our Fathers' on Saturday and can I say I was disappointed? Well, we were. Hey Clint, I liked Million Dollar Baby better.

On our way to the Legacy dinner Joel got a call. It's strange. Just downright strange to find out a former close friend decided to come out of the closet. Sometimes the world just seems wierd and sad.

I'm mentally preparing for the Shorter Show. In my first child, perfectionist way I want to frame everything for this show. But wouldn't ya know it, we have termites. There goes $800. I'm keeping my head up. I know this show will be good without frames.

I have been thinking about starting to fast once a week again. I was doing it pretty regularly before I was pregnant with Eden. It's really not that hard. Of course that's easy to say the day you're not fasting. I need God to equip me for the near future and teach me patience all the time. I also would like to see break through with our house. And my little prayers with the kids and night time prayer with Joel is great, but I want to take it up a notch. If anyone else would like to join me (for my cause or for yours) let me know, I'd love to have others join me and we can suffer, I mean, learn together.

There's a Trader Joe's here in the ATL! It's not near my house at all, but you know our little fam will be taking a trip, as soon as they get thier liquor license. Here we come Charles Shaw! Oh, and I do want summore lavender dryer pouches. Mmmmm.

the spirit within | By | 6:14 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 22, 2006

New Chapters

This weekend has a little bittersweet as I went to Legacy Festival and saw the tents that weren't mine. I must say that no matter how little traffic or few artists are there I will always want to get down and dirty in the art fest scene. It really is a fun experience and a rush to talk about your art and see people who would normally never step into an art gallery check out your work and want to ask you questions. You're approachable because your wearing your hoodie and jeans and your drinking the same coffee and standing on the same parking lot grounds talking about art with Joe on the street. I just participated in the Patron Show this year which had excellent art in my opinion. Most of it was better than the festival work itself. But the Fest and the Art show had different money awards. If I had been aware of that I might have tried to be in the fest anyway. I was very confused this year, misreading things, not asking my questions on time. Whatever. We all want to have the most perfect experience ever especially when a babysitter is employed. I missed out on the 'opening' for the Patron Show because it was called "the Patron Party" and said tickets were $80 for a couple. I just am not familiar enough with art openings to realize that some art openings cost $80! Again, whatever. They had a new director this year so info was fuzzy.

We spent a good part of yesterday there and we ran into my friend from school, Brea, her son Logan (who had fun with Joel, Jos and Eden at the fire engine), her boyfriend Sean who built Brea's frames for inside the tent. She has been working a really nice dark city scene thing. Comfortably messy and streaky. It satisfies your desire to see thick paint globbiness. We hung out with her quite a bit at the after fest party last night and talked about art and potty-training (the story of my life). She showered me with compliments and stroked my ego sufficiently saying I was awesome. Yeah. I am very glad to see her working so much. She's an art ed major and has really found her groove.


Best of Show went to Georgia Rowswell for her amazing paper piece Bamboo Curtain. She's got a whole Kelloggian theme but acheives it with paper. So pretty! Her framed pieces look like oil paintings. She had some pieces in her tent that I went to look closely at because of the Eden portrait I just finished. It looked like leaf stenciling. Of course I have no picture. Of course. But when I got up to it I noticed it was paper. Wicked man. Georgia had been there the past few years I just never had time to check out her stuff very well.


Just wanted to share these. For the bizarre factor only. This dude brought these two pieces in in pieces! He had them both stuffed in his Honda Accord! He assembled them on site. Man, I'm glad that's not me, I got the Prev!

The Words I'm Eating:
For all those folks throughout my life that asked me/told me I should teach art I'm thinking of taking the plunge. I probably wont go to school for this right now, but I will start reading and researching how to teach older children and teens. My friend Jenny English asked me if I could teach her oldest daughter Cara a little to prepare her for portfolio stuff, possibly art school. The Englishes have home schooled all 6 of their children and Joel and I have seen them grow since Cara was around 10 years old. I've found very little on high school portfolio's but I have found some good books just to wet my whistle a bit. Just cuz you can do it doesn't mean that you can teach it. I want to be able to though. Teaching independant courses sounds really nice. Especially when we will be in the ever so connected Chatt-town for a 5 year period. It's important for me to know kids have a well rounded art education. If I can help the home school circut that'd be awesome.

the spirit within | By | 6:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

October 20, 2006

Portrait of My Girl

The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and look with compassion on her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing.
Isaiah 51:3


I snuck in a few pumpkins. Even though this dark wooded garden area probably would not be a good home for pumpkins, it's the beauty of painting. You can create whatever you want! These pumpkins are for Lynn, because she loves them and she made a big sacrifice lately. Kudos Lynn! This pumpkin's for you!

The verse

The red flowers with joy

The stencils

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October 19, 2006

Conquering Foreshortening

So I worked through this yesterday afternoon and some of last night. First I realized that as much as I need to get done everyday, it's best to paint when it's daylight for me. It's hard for me to make good decisions when it's darker. I'm really happy with the top of this painting. I love how the tree came out. I think the light is working through the branches pretty well. I cut out leaf shapes from a piece of paper and used it over and over. I love my exacto knife, it's come in so handy, and not just for freezer paper stencils. I like how the blue is cascading down the left side. It works dunno why, it just does. I believe I have established a horizon line and a forground line that help the figure quite a bit to feel grounded. I have to push the horizon line back though so it goes deep deep. I also love the red flowers, but something in that foreground has to change. I dont know what yet. Alot of the background is bright and moving, something (besides Eden) has to be still or it just remains flat and kinda psychadelic. Something must get muted. It's sad to cover bright colors, but in the end the result is more rewarding, those colors do count.

fine art | By | 11:06 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

October 18, 2006

Happy Birthday Lola!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLA!



WE MISS YOU AND HAVE LOTS OF SNUGGLING SAVED UP FOR YOU!

Today is my Mom in laws birthday. They're in Manilla Phillipines, so probably her birthday is over, or almost over. But we didn't forget! They'll be home for furlow (at least thats the plan so far) in April. I'm sure it's hard seeing the grandkids grow up over the www, but God bless you for all you are doing for children who need you more.

family | By | 3:34 PM | TrackBack

October 17, 2006

Why Mom's house is like a Day-Spa

Well, that might be a lofty title. But when you go away for the weekend and stay at Mom's there are things about it that are like being served. Lately Mom's house is becoming more and more enjoyable and for a mother of two small kids, the luxuries are different.

First you get a healthy wiff of Mom's basil garden which is threatening to take over the flower bed.

You head up the stairs and pass lovely little potted ivy plants with solar powered lights that glow warmly as the sun sets.

Mom's hanging baskets are so inviting. They make you want to stay on the porch and examine what it over looks.

And inside is the warm and roomy dining room, where the traces of elder care has almost vanished, and the touches of my mother's home is blossoming as fast as she can afford it. There is almost always coffee to drink, and good coffee at that.

This visit there was chocolate birthday cake, for ME! Sorry, I have no picture because it was consumed when it was uncovered from it's Tupperware home. Mom's house has Robin Hood and Fantasia for the kids to watch. There is a grand piano that is open for plunking on, with care.

There is a room with beds prepared for the kids, so no lugging of bedding for us!

This home built in 1906 was restored and still has big windows that glow with sunlight. The hardwoods are cool on your stocking feet. The location is ideal to getting everywhere we need to go. The guest room has two twin beds, which is nice sometimes when you share a bed every night with someone else. The guest bath shower has thick fat water and perfect pressure to soak you adequately and comfortably.

Music is almost always playing, and good music too. This time it was Natalie Cole. And there are people that love us there. Who ask us if we need food, coffee, cake, conversation. There is wi-fi, there is cable TV (VH1 specials are great!). And these people, Mom and Dad, agree to baby-sit with no sighing. They bathe, feed, play, teach Bible stories, and sing songs with the kids. They are patient and let Joel and I make the rules. It's a vacation of all vacations.

So even though no one is rubbing my back with hot stones, I got to have a movie night with my husband, chocolate cake, red wine, got to go to meetings with confidence, church with no nursery worries, house hunt with company and big hugs out the door.

Thanks Mom and Dad, we had a great time! You made my 30th birthday sweet!
More on the Chattanooga weekend later!

mommy time | By | 4:37 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

October 13, 2006

The Best Present, Funding.

I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR ARTS MOVE!! YES!

This program is for the city of Chattanooga, it gives artists incentive to move there by offering them 15K toward the downpayment on a house, 2500 in moving expenses, and up to 5K for special projects etc. And I have been approved for this program. When Joel read about it in the paper we pretty much new it was right for us. It would give us just that leg up to get back into the Chattanooga area. Now we just have to find someone to buy our house. That's the next miracle that needs to happen.

I must say this is a great birthday present. I got funding for my birthday!!

If you know an artist tht would love to live in Chattanooga please tell them to apply. It's a great way to get connected.

fine art | By | 3:40 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

October 12, 2006

Thirty

Happy Birthday to me! I'm 30 today. And although there are things I wish were different this year. Things I want to change, I am so thankful. I have very little wincing when I think that I'm 30. I don't feel any different. I feel different that I did 5 years ago, maybe even last year. We're a family in progress and although transition and turmoil is unpleasent it means things are growing and changing.

I wrote Helen Davis-Johnson from Arts Move last week just to see if she got my application. And some trustworthy folks had thought that maybe they were done giving away money for the year. Well, she wrote me back saying applications are accepted on a rolling basis and could I come and tour the neighborhoods sometime. I asked her if this weekend would work, and have yet to hear back, so I'll email her again. But it sounds pretty positive to me! There is so much to be worked out, but I'm hopeful, today, my birthday.

My Prev is in the shop and will be fixed by the weekend. Cuz the only other car we own that has plates, has bad plates and also did not pass the emissions test. ARGH.

My beautiful husband wants to give me something big and wonderful for my birthday, but used all his energy on my opening last weekend. He did go out before 7am this morning and bought me flowers! I also had a much needed laugh last night as I checked out the new shirts from Threadless. So funny, I swear. I bought this one for myself. I mean it makes perfect sense. The Pic of me is wearing my Threadless shirt I got a few months back it says "Purple is the new blue and red" Ha! Perfect for a Mama/Artist.

I have to admit to those of you who don't know I do have a myspace account. I'm about to go check it and see if I got any of those big gaudy sparkly "Happy Birthday" banners. Whatever. It's kinda fun, I can keep up with Thena which is great.

So for my thirtieth birthday go check out our theme song and here's a Josiah video that makes me laugh real hard.

mommy time | By | 10:08 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

October 10, 2006

At the Mercy

When events revolve around me it takes a while to let it wash off of me and get back into the real world. For me the real world was just paused while I had a fine arts vacation, all about me. My Prev, oh the Prev, won't pass the emissions test. Man, I wish I lived in like Bumble County so I didn't have to worry about this thing! I do care about the earth, I promise, I shop at thrift stores, RECYCLE! But the run-around for my van ugh. These are the bleah things that makes days kinda irritating. I am so thankful though, I mean I sold a painting that will pay for my car to be fixed. Thanks Lord! He knew how much it would cost. A couple more drives out to Chamblee will hopefully be the end of it.

The Meineke in Hiram had no idea how to fix the Prev's exhaust problem. It's just funny to hear the dude on the other end go, "Well Ma'am, we just can't get the computer to scan to find out what's wrong. We don't really know..." HA! Ok, I'll take it to Chamblee. Got it home and the hood was smoking a tad. Hmmmm, Joel checked it out. He got worried and decided we shouldn't drive it and call Toyo-techs. I called them after driving Joel to work and getting pulled over and ticketed for Joel's out of date plates that he never gets pulled over for and believed that cops didn't pull you over for that kinda stuff. Yeah, he got an ear-full from me all sobbing and pissed off. yeah.
At least Josiah thought it was cool. I had to break it to him that getting pulled over by the cops isn't a good thing. Poor guy, Santa doesn't exist either Jos.

But are favorite aisle in our favorite store always delivers great joy. And our friends from the library always wash away all gloom. Thankfulness all around.

the spirit within | By | 4:58 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

October 8, 2006

SOLD!

My painting called "Chicago" sold before the opening. Yeee-haw! When Phil handed me the check I did a double take it said $500. Did I ask that much. Guess so, yeee-haw! Phil was very complimentary of it. It's very pleasing and easy to digest, not as complicated and original as my other pieces. It's a transitional piece and I'm very happy someone loved it that much. I do like this piece. It hung in my office way too long. That knocks my Shorter show list from 20 to 19, a good problem to have. Praise God, that $500 will go toward my muffler.

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Pure Adult Silliness

So I have no pictures of my art show. Oops. I just have pictures of Joel's high school reunion. Sorta. Jesse, Christopher and Jason came out to my art reception and we all hung out after at the Earl. It was really cool. We're all about to be 30, or are already that. Most of us have kids. We had a couple youngsters hanging out with us, you know those 26 yr olds. They all shared stories and our faces hurt from laughing. I have memories with these people too. Not many, but some. Christian I spent the most time with, he's in Miami. They were warm and comfortable. I am happy to let Joel reminesce and listen to them laugh, re-tell old jokes, talk about people I don't know because it makes my husband even more endearing. It's like meeting the boy I fell in love with again. It makes me confident that I am a secure wife who loves to see what was before her. I have no fear of who Joel knew before. We've had 10 years together and that's bigger and overall more important, but this time that these people share is one that Brat-Packs are created for. They had a mini Breakfast Club time. They have different beliefs, went to different schools, have different garbage, it's rich, it's life. I like being the center, I admit it. But what a change to have these folks meet at my art opening. I am glad I had an event they could all join together for.

Take the Which Character Am I? Quiz

community | By | 3:29 PM | TrackBack

October 7, 2006

PAR-TAY 2 NITE!!!

We're puttin' on our party hats for my opening tonight at Radial. For those of you who are teetering on a maybe, make it a YES and come on down! Joel has been selling me all over town and people are responding. We are looking to have a good group and a fun time. So even though our future is uncertain and our Prev wont pass the emissions test we're having a good time and I will smile til it hurts.

Here's something to wet your whistle. I worked on Eden like mad last night and made some serious progress. It is a bit too busy, I will mask alot still but it's going in a good direction. I tell ya, her arms were so hard, they still aren't great. That right arm alone is worth $200 I worked on it so long!

Here's the info for those that might have slipped through the cracks:

"Celebrate Beauty" at Radial Cafe. Come and celebrate the color, the richness of life in it's many facets with the work you've only seen in pictures. Figures, text and abstract negative space all come together with the beautiful texture of paint to describe things we all hold dear.
Artist's reception is on October 7th, 7pm-9pm. Show runs October 1-28.

Radial Cafe 1530 Dekalb Ave Atlanta GA 30307. Radial's hours are 8am-4pm weekdays and 9am-4pm weekends. There will be a large group of Katie's work there. Small and large pieces for sale.

Bring your check books dudes!!

fine art | By | 4:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

October 5, 2006

the waiting

I am holding my breath for the things that will come. And I put on a smile when I'm tired. I sit in my clean house and I take my kids to the playground. I work on my paintings. I do need that pluck of inspiration to kick in so I can nail this painting of Eden sooner than later. I have a wonderful next piece forming in my head based on a song my dad wrote for my childhood buddy who's adopted. I want to do a piece on adoption. I know so many adopted children. Two of my cousins have adopted. And I do love this song of my dad's I wish I could stick the audio in this post. But I will put the lyrics here at the end.

Patty our real estate agent stopped by today to snap some pictures and asked if anyone had come by yet. "No" I said and she sighed "Oh dear". Great, I wasn't worried about the first week, but I guess she knows how badly we want to get out of here. She is always encouraging though "When they do come it will be the one." I agree, I don't think we'll have dozens of folks shuffling through here, it'll be the perfect family. Until then I am trying to recover from the hard work and focus on other things.

It seems that my art opening is becoming a reunion of sorts for Joel and his high school buddies. I'm cool with it, I'm looking forward to seeing all these folks that I haven't seen in like 7 years. I'm sure we're all 10 pounds heavier and just as happy about free alcohol. Well, free for them. And also my friend Jennie is advertising my show to all her Atlanta Mommie friends. I went to the wholesale shopping center of champs and got a couple flats of water, a bunch of little clear plastic glasses and a flat of juice boxes. Who woulda thunk it, animal crackers and juice boxes with KWK's fine art! I love it. Bring it on. I'm glad to have my babysitter of champions with my kidlets at home.

You Are My Child

Continue reading "the waiting"

family | By | 5:06 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

October 4, 2006

Biology

Sometime around 9:30 last night after my manager/husband finished his tangent about which web-galleries and forums I need to be a part of, how I need to switch to Blogger, how I need to snazz up my myspace page, etc, I had the swoon of fog drift by an through my whole body. At first I thought it would pass. I have been self-medicating with things like Weight Watchers huge fudge bars and dark chocolate M&M's. I sat down and began to put a healthy green leafy background on the Eden painting and I let out that deeply exhausted grooaaannn. Joel stopped what he was doing and said "What's the matter? Are you tired?" Yeah, that and just the anxiety and stress of the unknown was taking over my system. Not wearing my tennies all day yesterday my legs were aching and my toe was a little numb. My weird feet. My limbs decided all at once to just stop. I laid down and Joel turned on the last desired episodes of Prison Break and I crashed completely. I think I saw 4 minutes exactly. I woke myself at midnight just to drag my bones around the house and collect the last of the clutter (that wasn't Joel's) and drug myself up to bed. Now I was worried that I was falling apart and was coming down with something, then this morning I got my "monthly visitor". Whew. I'm not crazy just hormonal.

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October 1, 2006

The Market

I hope that all of you had a more interesting weekend than we did. I don't think I get great parenting points these past couple days as Joel and I have been working like mad to get the last few things done on the House. We met with our real estate agent this afternoon and we now are on the market!!

It's very scary, it's like getting engaged when you don't really want to be married. It's kinda awesome that your life has changed so suddenly but at the same time you're scared that everything...has...changed. For me the hardest part (so far) is keeping my house clean and uncluttered for people to come. Now Joel wants me to be optimistic all the time and never say peep about what might not happen or if things are long and drawn out. I mean I do believe in every ounce of my soul that God will sell this house. It is unlikely that a ton of people are going to come. Unlike some lucky folks, houses in our area are more like 3 months or longer. Because our garage is a closed in unusable bleah we're pricing our house below 160K. This was kinda a bummer for me. I had so set my mind on 160K. We're in a bad high school district. And we aren't around the corner from a brand new 700's housing development of McMansions. 155K is a lot more than we paid, but we paid it with our sweat and our aching muscles. So enough about that. I'm praying that this process goes smoothly and I don't have too much trouble getting myself and the kiddies out for buyers to mosie about. In the back of my mind I'm hoping our sweet neighbors have some more Katrina refugee family members that need a home. We'll see, God's good.

I am so tired. I have been wearing a uniform of jeans and tennies for over a week now because my poor veins (thanks Mom) in my legs cry out in pain with all the truckin around I'm doing. But my house is so clean because I've been working. I've been packing, my garage is a quarter full of boxes. I'm wondering if I'll fill the whole thing. I cleaned it, swept up insect parts and sawdust. Filled bag after bag with garbage and I put a bunch of stuff on freecycle. I washed my floors until 1am. Got up and cleaned more. Then after all that, I went to Joel's office and cleaned until about 11pm.

I long to do fun things like drive up to Chattanooga for my birthday. I'm going to be 30 in about 2 weeks. Less than 2 weeks. More than anything I'd love my birthday present to be a sold house. We'll see!! I'd love to move into this one. I mean this house rocks! My easel with unfinished Eden begs me to paint on it. How can I be a neat-freak? It's in me but not enough to last. I have to believe that grace will be given me and the mess will stay at bay. But I also long to make a mess! Paint and rags and paper. Masking tape and play dough. Flour and bananas, flour and zuchini, and then there's the can of pumpkin I bought today. Sorry J-nette I'm not up for the real thing. I am a mess maker. I'm not a neat freak. I love cleanliness, don't get me wrong. I love the feel of steam when I open the dishwasher. I love folding clean laundry. I love the smell of Murphy's oil soap. It's all the things I don't like doing that make it hard to like clean.

I wonder if I can justify taking a nap today. It feels good to see so much progress. The little progressions that we needed to take. Now I want to crawl into my made bed and go to sleeeeeep.

house | By | 11:50 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack