Requiem for a Bellybutton

My bellybutton - is disappearing. This disturbs me, though I'm not entirely sure why. Except for a rather enlarged chest size and a slightly rounder belly, nothing much has changed at the start of month 5. I can still fit into all my clothes except for not being able to comfortably button higher waisted pants. According to the scale at the midwife's I haven't actually gained any amount of weight. And yet, every day my bellybutton slowly pans out. I give my innie another two weeks before it's an outtie. Farewell small button - I'll see you again in about 6 months.

Ok, so...

... my beloved husband just walked passed the window carrying two whole deer legs. I know he'd gotten a nice looking doe; he came in to tell me so. It's just something that you don't see every day, legs. Without bodies. Passing windows.

The cat is intrigued. 

"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