CDs & Canvases

Wesley is on his last day of recording today. It is such a good cd. I know that I may be bias, but I was drawn to his music before I was attracted to him, so I think I can say objectively that it is good stuff. And it is good stuff. It has been almost exactly a year in the making, so it's nice to see it come together. I have heard just about all of it (save for the stuff they are currently working on, though Merisha and I will be going up there later on this afternoon to work on it some more, and we shall hear it then) and it is Excellent work! So, because today is the last day of recording, the cd should be out (Lord willing!) by the end of this month! Hooray! And, we've been getting some pre-orders in (...ah, hem, at $10.00 each, including delivery which will be $12, so order your copy today!!!...) so that's reassuring that the cd will sell. I have full confidence in that its completely worth of listening to and worth of buying. I just hope that we can get the word out there. It will be available on iTunes eventually, too. Ok, enough about that.I have to order canvases this weekend. I was just commissioned recently to paint a portrait of a dog. I have only done this sort of portrait once, so it shall be a new venture. The one time I did a portrait of a pet was of our "stray" cat Clarence that adopted us, and it was for Wesley, so it will be interesting painting the portrait for someone outside of our home. I love doing people and animals. The pressure is in that it has to be exact. Its just not the same otherwise. Have you ever seen something someone's painted or drawn and thought, "well, I can tell that it looks like so & so, but somethings just not quite right." Exactly. It has to be exact. Generally animals are less stressful than humans, but you would be suprised (or maybe you wouldn't!) at how detail oriented you have to be when its someone's pet. People see their pets almost as children, and in this case, sometimes the pets are their children.

Knox's First Haircut

The Before.

Getting the Cut.

The Finished Product!

Cold Winter Mornings

Knox's Guitar

Knox and Me in the snow.

Daddy and Knox

Bathtime

Eating Bubbles

We're watching Making the Band. It is interesting watching these people record an albumn. They are going about it in such a different way than Wesley did with his cd.

Baby Einstein...

Zipping, zooming, there goes Jane
Flying by in her Airplane.

This is a little sing-song style poem in one of Knox's books that we listen to over and over. I enjoy his curiosity and adventure for books, but sometimes I want for more "adult" conversation. :o)

Last week while I was home, I read John Grisham's The Testament. It was pretty good. This week I'm reading The Summons. I have noticed a theme in how he names his books.

The past two nights I have been very thankful to the Townsend women for letting me bunk in their home with them. They are our own Natchez-version of Little Women. :o) I had porridge for the first time this morning for breakfast, and was pleasantly suprized by how good it is. I have never considered myself an oatmeal type girl, but I guess my tastebuds have changed, or else I just like porridge.

Yesterday I took a trip to see Wesley in Brookhaven. I will be glad when he shall return. Life is not the same without him for either me or Knox. I had forgotten how beautiful Mississippi is. The trees and the farms are such a nice view when driving. Even in the winter, everything is still green. I'll be glad when the summer arrives and cotton is out. I love to look out the window and see fields and fields of the snowy white. I would much rather it "snow" during our summers than deal with all the icy mess in the winter...though I was pleased with the rare snowfall last month.

Last week I was out sick just about everyday. I am happy to report that I am up and running (though not literally) once again.
This week, Robina and I have been walking. We do want to eventually have the walking turn into running, but through our little exersions, I am learning that I am not as in-shape as I had once so foolishly thought. We have been taking our little men on slow treks through Duncan Park. The first trip Knox screamed the entire time. It happened to co-inside with naptime. The next time, we were a bit more prepared. We strolled in our too-flat-tired-stroller while listening to "My Boogie Shoes" on repeat on the cell phone. Knox is turning out to be the biggest music nut I have ever met.
Yesterday Wesley went to Brookhaven to once again work on his CD. I am glad that he is making this a reality. We have been looking forward to making his CD for so long. Also, I'm glad that he is able to take a break from his job to work on music, b/c when he is away from music for so long, he seems to be burndoned. I can understand this, b/c when I am not able to write or paint or any sort of expression, I get burnt out.
I have been reading Edith Schaeffer's "The Hidden Art of Homemaking" lately, and I highly recommend it. It has proven to be an excellent tool to help me think more wholistically of the Kingdom of God and my daily life and how creativity can (and should) fit therein.
I am trying to find some literature by Anne Steele, and have not been able to find anything. I have googled her, but nothing substancial appears. I see that her hymns and collections exist, but nothing seems to be available online. Strange. Please let me know if you know anything to the contrary.
I have begun to journal again. After about a year hiatus, I am returning with a vengeance. I have misplaced my former journal...still in boxes in storage at Dad's...but I have a new one, and hopefully, once it is full, I shall find the former and resume where I left off.

happy birthday wes

Today is Wesley's birthday. He's getting 2 more days of recording his vocals. We are out at his parents to celebrate. Really we like to celebrate all week by doing little special things each day leading up to it. Its my birthday week, too. It's hard to believe that in only 3 months or so Knox will be a year already. He's no longer a baby, but now a toddler! We started him on food this week. Peas, sweet potatoes, bananas, and peaches. He's a good eater, so far. I think Wes will be gone on my actual birthday, but that's fine. :) We'll celebrate it when he gets back! :) Hopefully with more sound clips! :) I thought I'd post some pictures of little man.