"Pet Peeve" or "Decor to Die For"

I spent a few minutes thinking about if I really wanted my first post in many months to be a complaint. I came to the conclusion that this was really too good not to share.

So, even though I have issues with holidays being turned into these massive materialistic events (seriously, who doesn't?), I do admit that there is a certain charm about seeing everything sparkling at Christmastime. I don't mind decorating for Easter, the Fourth, "Fall" or even Halloween. I'll over look the fact that Christmas decorations are available for purchase 365 days a year, that Halloween decorations went up on September 15th this year, and even that those big blow-up decorations with the "snow inside", you know, the ones that look like giant cracked-out snow globes, are terrifying; but not in the way the designers intended, I'm sure. All I'm asking is for a sense of appropriateness. 

The funeral home in Brunswick has decorated for Halloween. Over the top decorated. Including a black Christmas-style plastic tree with orange and black lights and glowing monster heads, a giant pumpkin head over the lamp post and a liberal coating of halloween-themed stuff and twinkle lights everywhere else. 

Now I could easily see a Christmas or Easter theme going over well with images of life after death, eternal love, rebirth and heaven. Heck a nice "Fall" theme subtly suggesting a harvest and winter rest for the earth would be sweet. But skulls, pumpkins and monsters is a little bit extreme. 

Rant over. In other news, three weeks ago Evan started to officially work for his dad. The pay is good, the hours are great and the boss is a nice guy. I've taken the last three months off to gather my thoughts and goals. In the mean time I've had a chance to brush up on my housewifery and can whip out one mean fruit turn-over. Though I still haven't gotten the hang of wearing heels around the house. The search for someone to hire me part time continues and until that day I am enjoying my small free-lance jobs and find them MUCH more rewarding that school ever was. The cats are doing well; Meowmies seems ready to weather another winter. In fact, Evan and I just found out that we are going to inherit another small pet sometime this spring. Probably in April. Things are going well and I have never been more thankful.

Good News

Good news. My website, bergenhowlett.com, is finally looking somewhat pulled together and has some actual information; about me, about my work, and examples. Woo-hoo! You should stop whatever you are doing (namely reading this) and go chcek it out. The link in on the right.

...for the longest time

I haven't written for a while. Things have been difficult here as recently Evan and I lost someone we loved very, very much. It caught us by surprise and turned our world upside down and inside out. He taught us more about ourselves as individuals and as a family than I could have ever believed possible. He will be sorely missed but we are so grateful for everything he taught and all the love he brought. Our friends and family have been so loving and supportive in helping us through this time. Thank you, to all of them.

We will love you forever, dear one.

Sad news is just as important and good news, but it isn't the only news. The end of school is finally in sight for me. The final schedules have come out for each class and all include the words LAST DAY OF CLASSES. After this semester I have one class left. It's a first summer semester class - and it is only one month long. The best news is that this class is an open studio class where I can do anything I want. I have plans to write and illustrate a children's book about Bijoux. I already have a few illustrations done; a sneak preview is above. I am so excited and energized by this light at the end of the tunnel.  I haven't been able to breathe for the last few months, and I and relieved to be so close to the end. 

Just a quick check in this time. More later.

Garden

Today was beautiful, and I actually have something to write about: We started digging our garden! We ordered our seed and seedlings a few days ago. Evan stared to turn over the big garden while I cleaned out the herb beds. There was so much stuff in there, leaves, dead plants, sticks, trash, that it filled out two trash bags and the rest we'll turn into the garden. I'm so excited to eat food that I grew in my backyard with my own hands!

 Now.... I don't have that great a track record with plants. My pets live longer than they normally should (my cat turned 16 this month) but my plants have an unnerving tendency to commit herbicide when I have my back turned. Evan seems like he knows what he's doing, so there's still hope.  

Sick of being Sick

 I've been sick on and off for a while now. School is rough when you don't even want to get out of bed. I'm starting to get behind in my work. I didn't have class all week for various reasons; since nothing was due - I didn't do anything. Not really true,  I did a few things (like get all my graduation papers in one place, and tweaked and printed my project due Monday) but true enough to make me feel terrible for being a slacker. I wanted so much to be a "good student" this semester. With only three classes you'd think it wouldn't be so hard to keep ahead of everything. And I was doing so well at the beginning. I was ahead in all three and doing well. I worry about what will happen when the weather gets nice and sunny and the last thing on my mind is school...

On a happier note:  As much as I love living in my don't-try-to-turn-around-in-the-shower, not-enough-room-for-both-a-couch-and-a-bed, super-tiny house, I miss having a bath tub. The other day I went to a friend's new apartment a took a bath in her tub. It was wonderful, a bit odd since she was having friends over for dinner while I was soaking, but wonderful nonetheless. Its a good friend who will let me take over her only bathroom whenever I want. 

 Well, here I am, still avoiding homework. Back to work

Playin' Hookie

Today I decided that I didn't want to go to school. Having been a diligent student (understatement of the year award needed over here!) for all of my life, Husband Dear pointed out that I could take a day off. Today isn't a sick day, because otherwise how could enjoy it if I were sick?! With any luck this won't come back to bit me. I only need a C to pass this class and I really hate it anyway.

 In other news: not much. Just doing homework when the mood strikes me (which isn't often, sadly), and just enjoying life. School will be over soon. In early May I'll never have to look at a portfolio again if I don't want to. I have an internship and a painting class in the summer but those are going to be fun (and aren't really graded - I just have to show up and do some work, or a journal in the case of my internship). I do need to get all my paperwork done soon, Graduation forms and class substitutions and all that stuff. 5 months and counting. Just think, if I actually sat down and did some homework I could be done even sooner..... 

Naw, maybe later - today I'm playing hookie!

Monsters

The other day Husband Dear and I visited the in-laws (well, my parents, his in-laws). Vito, G and I had a little photo shoot. I had made a stuffed monster for each of my siblings for Christmas. With 10 brothers and sisters I had my work cut out for me. It was fun and I didn't buy a single Christmas gift this year - I made them all from scratch (with the exception of HD's gifts -- a bibliophile he required more text-substantial gifts than I could whip up on the sewing machine). Since I was still sewing on Christmas Eve morning I never had a chance to photograph them for my records, and in the heat of the moment, also forgot the camera at present opening time (what a loser I am sometimes). So we had a re-do on Sunday. This photo makes me particularly happy: Vito and an arm full of fleece monsters.

HD and I have been trying to live a simple life since we got married in June. We have a small apartment that is really more like a house; detached from any other building, has a yard shared with the land lady's house and it's own private entrance. Rent is insanely cheap. We live in a small town where we walk almost everywhere. We spend most of our money on good, tasty, healthy, whole food. HD has been sick for the past few years and we are trying to get him back to healthy again. Lately we've eaten little or no refined sugar, inspired by a friend's year of no sugar or shopping. It's been a bit tricky (we keep forgetting that ketchup is basically red corn syrup), but its not really as hard as I thought it would be. HD's tummy hasn't been as grumpy and I'm not as moody or angry feeling. We should have done this a long time ago.

 We read like there's no tomorrow and the two libraries in town can barely satisfy us. HD has a workshop in our basement where he turns wooden bowls, goblets and vases. We're trying to sell them through some of the small shops in town. I try to make most of the gifts we give - I think they are more personal, and a heck of  a lot cheaper! 

 This summer I plan to (attempt) to grow a garden in our little yard. I'm generally terrible with plants. They die when I look at them funny (or not funny!). I have a cat that is 16, had a pony that was over 30 and a dog over 19 when they died, but I cannot for the life of me grow a stinking plant! It should be a challenge. One I look forward to.