Check out my new easel! My husband and I made it. It stands 6ft5in tall and can easily accomodate a 6ft painting! It is super sturdy. AND, the kicker is that we spent about $25 and 8 hours on it (that is with breaks and many kid interruptions.) Can you tell I am excited? We got scrap wood and tools from my Father-in-law. It was so fun to make. I was wearing goggles and sweating...using power tools. Ah, the smell of sawdust. So, I now have two easels for my studio! YAY!

The need for a new easel came up because I have a painting drying on another easel and my studio is so small, I don't have anyplace to sit it where it will remain undisturbed. So, I was going to go buy one at JoAnne's with my 40% off coupon. But, it was a pretty small easel for $130.00. I would have still had to pay around $80.00. Well, I just couldn't do it. So, I got on the internet and found an artist who designed plans for one and posted them for free. http://www.itg.uiuc.edu/people/grosser/easel/ Voila! This easel is WAY better than anything I could have afforded. Any comparable easel would run about $400.

What did I learn from this experience? I learned to make it myself anytime I can. I learned to remember to love all parts of the creative process, even the not so glorious ones. I learned once again how great of a team my husband and I are. I learned that it is good to challenge myself with things that seem bigger than my capabilities will allow. I learned that I would buy the adjustable square and use a table saw to cut the boards next time. I also learned that you can't alter even the slightest part of the plan without it effecting something else.

Aside from that, my yard is looking pretty spiffy. My tomato and pepper plants are growing nicely. My spinach is outta control. I must make a roulade soon. My flowers are spreading and my herbs are all flourishing. Paul and I are working on our Zen garden. Our fencing is being delivered today. Our stone path looks awesome! Forrest is particularly fond of it...marking it with his feces and urine every chance he gets. I am just thrilled he is going outside! So I can't bring myself to complain too much. I do wonder about the metaphore of him pissing and shitting on my path. What is that supposed to mean? A lesson in tolerance maybe? All of this creates an environment that is so grounding for me. I am so grateful just to be there to notice the growth everyday and to water and nurture everday.

My compost bin is working very well. I made it by drilling 1 1/2" holes in a plastic garbage can. This after looking at them at the gardening store and seeing that the rotating bins were $150. I see a trend forming here. I added a little soil, the kids dug worms for me and we were in business. It has been up and running for two weeks now. I had the pleasure of using some of it in a few new potted plants this weekend. That felt good. There is something so right about embracing the cylce of life, death and being mindful of how one always nurtures the other...balance, balance, balance...love all parts of the process.

So, tonight I'll be moving my easel into my studio and setting the stage for my next canvas preparation. I am seriously considering making my own canvas stretchers and such. One step at a time though. I still have some store boughts that need to be used. My day of oatmeal, homeschooling, ritual plant watering and brushing aside feces and urine from my path awaits me. Let me begin...