Congraduations!

If I were the sentimental type, I’d write this with a tear in my eye. I’m not, so I’ll just flash a ridiculous grin instead. This week my clever husband graduates flight school! Yes, I’m now expecting free helicopter tours of Alaska and the Grand Canyon, and yes I’ve been assured that I will not be getting them. Sigh….

Forrest’s Chinook class asked that I draw their picture for the plaque that they present to their instructors upon graduation. Probably against my better judgment, I accepted said challenge, saluted my pen box, and said a prayer. Helicopters aren’t exactly my specialty…but well, everybody loves a trier. And boy, did I try.

So for Forrest and CH47 Class 10-10- lemme hear some wolf whistles, gimme a Mexican wave, throw off your hats….it’s graduation time. Congratulations!

Mistletoe and Wine

Christmastime. The newest installment in my memory museum is bright with adventure and new experiences. During our Christmas road trip to California we managed to pass through just about every city that was making the news for horrendous weather conditions. However, with steely determination (and single minded intent to get to my Mother-in-law’s homemade cookies), we arrived in Tahoe just in time for some hot pretzels and another giant dumping of snow. Snow shoeing ensued, snowballs were thrown, snow angels promptly made. The skies were generous with the white stuff…. though time on the other hand always seemed in short supply.

This time around we took Rudy along, and apart from demanding ball-throwing sessions in the -25c temperatures that we witnessed along the route, the boy did a sterling job. Forrest and I were proudest parents. From looking cute in the back seat to providing cuddles when I was cold, Rudy was a help rather than a hindrance and more than worth the compromises made to take him with us. But then again, with my melted heart, it’s difficult to see anything less than perfection when it comes to that boy…..my judgment can’t be trusted!

Christmas in Napa with family-Neumann was everything I needed to keep homesickness at bay (for my first Christmas away from the Father and Mothership), and winetasting, wedding showers, and catching up with old friends and family kept the schedule pretty much overflowing until it was time to leave again. Fast-forward to 2011, and the snowstorms were back for round two, new years resolutions hung questioningly in the air, my immigration paperwork required more attention and Forrest’s impending flight school graduation were the reality checks that reined us back down to earth and out of the heady orbit of Christmas euphoria. Talk about a welcome to the new year….

The next few months hold a lot of changes and challenges for our family of three, with Forrest’s possible deployment to Afghanistan hanging over me like a grey cloud. First though, it’s time to pack up our things and move to Tennessee for Forrest’s next duty station. Do the countdown with me…. Holy cowboy hats, it’s only three weeks!

Aspirations to be an Elf

Well, Thanksgiving swept me sideways and it took me a while to find my sea legs again. It was my first year of hosting all the Neumanns, (and my first year as a Neumann) and I've got to say, I was not prepared for the sheer quantity of pie that entered my world. I welcomed it though, oh yes I did. It was a wonderful holiday- calorific and fun filled. In hindsight however, it appears that it distracted me from things that I would normally have begun gearing up for weeks ago. Namely; Christmas! (if I could make it flash gold and red and sing as well, I would do it. Green was the best I could do....). I had big plans this year too, so there was catching up to do. With my sparkly new printing press winking at me from across the room, I plunged into some 'trial and error' crafting that has resulted in an unexpected aversion to turpentine, an almost sliced-off finger (gore!) and a stack of Christmas cards that would rival your most glitter filled-fantasy. Are they perfect? Not on your nelly. Do I think they are a tiny bit charming? I'll let you decide.....

To know me, is to know my dog, so it seemed only right that Rudy be my muse for my first homemade christmas cards on his first-ever Christmas. We did name him Rudolph (for about 2 minutes) after all! The tree is up, the house smells like cookies and next up, hand-printed gift wrap….Somewhere along the way (Mister Neumann, I hope you are paying attention) I have my fingers crossed for mulled wine. 'Tis the season to be merry, after all :)

Lost Property

I have been stuck deep in the swamp of updating my illustration website. The documents folder of my computer is treacherous terrain indeed, so I had to put on my serious slippers for this one, lest I lose my footing among all the drawings of my meandering past. This process is always the gateway to re-discovery of old drawings, lost drawings and drawings I have no recollection of (thank you, hopeless memory of mine). I felt so sad for these forgotten pictures that I thought I'd welcome them into 2010, give them a stage and say 'guys! hi!- I didn't really forget you!' (except that I did, so don't tell them). I dedicated a little slice of my website to them…..a 'lost property' page, to try and give them a home. I feel better for it......

It's all about the (four legged) boy.

Like milk and cookies, Autumn and craft projects go hand in hand. The personalised laptray that I painted for Forrest was looking a little lonesome, so with Rudy as my most obliging muse, I got to work. Now the hubby and I have his & hers laptrays, so don't be telling me that romance is dead :)

In Rudy-news, we took our enormous baby to the local doggy salon the other day for his first independent grooming adventure. Testament to his winning nature, as the lady crouched down to say hi, Rudy reached out to shake her hand. Tears streamed down my face from laughing so hard, but I was proud as could be of his good manners (of course that's also his trick to get his dinner, so he could have been after treats....). Rudy returned home with a brand new bandana (guess he mustve charmed somebody) and smelling like a bar of soap. This may be the fluffiest, most fragrant week of Rudy's life. Extra cuddles, if I may.

The Flying Hotdog

Forrest is deep into his flight training, sailing back and forth across the skies in the flying hotdog (Chinook) which- against all expectations- I have grown to love. The Chinook is the helicopter that carries everything, namely soldiers, aid, food and other helicopters (I kid you not). It is a stud muffin. A workhorse. The Daddy of the copters.

These pilots-in-training eat, sleep and breathe helicopters, and their enthusiasm is contagious- which is lucky, because the subject is otherwise a little dry. Engines? Rotor systems? Instruments? Torque? Thrust? Weather patterns? Brain pain indeed.

I approach the whole thing from my own angle. Visual. I drew a little picture to put in Forrest's study folder for the purpose of making him smile amid the stress of academics. Some eagle eyed class member caught sight of it, and consequently I'm being asked to draw the class 'plaque'. A picture of the pilots-in-training and their aircraft that is presented to their instructors upon graduation. Pens and paper standing at attention? Affirmative Captain (officer /lieutenant.....). What did I just get myself into?!

You say tomayto, I say tomahto!

Capturing the taste of summer in pickled and oven-dried tomatoes. Preparing for the winter months when those trusty red orbs lack a little of their Summer luster. Rudy is co-ordinated for the colour theme of the day. My pretty little boy is so patient with my style choices for him :)

Drawing is taking a momentary back-seat while I've been researching block-printing techniques. I grabbed caution with two hands, looked it in it's nervous face and tossed it into the wind. I then ordered the printing press that I've been arguing with myself about lately. I'm ready to add a little somethin'-somethin' to my usual style of work. With two books that I illustrated for Philo Trust being published in time for Christmas, some new ideas for my very own Children's book have been whirling about in my head. It's time to put the coffee on and kick the brain into gear. I've been slipping a bit. Distracted by 100 different things. But now...new season, new page, new work. Come on.

By the way, the oven-dried tomatoes were a winning idea that I lifted from one of my favourite foodie blogs; Tea and Cookies. Always, always a good read.