PRINTING

I still have my printmaking class, but I've missed quite a bit with doctor's appointments and things. We have done woodcuts and linocuts.

This is the image I used for my woodcut. Our assignment was a self-portrait. I have the block done (carved), but haven't printed it yet. I'll post a print if I ever get done.

This is the linocut I hope to print today. (It looks a bit strange because I blackened a bunch of the edges with a sharpie to see what needed to be done- the grays will be black). Our assignment was to do a memory from childhood- preferably one involving fear. When I was 3-4 I had to have gamma globulin shots regularly because I was so sickly. That's what this image is about.

MINI VACATION

My husband decided to participate in a kayaking race up on a Class 4+ section of the Ogden River. So yesterday we went up to watch him. He had never even run that river, so he was just happy he made it down without swimming. He had a great time, which is the whole point.

After lunch, on the way home, we decided to stop at the Air Force flight museum in Roy. We've always wanted to and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. It was amazing! We had a great time seeing all the planes. It was very fun (and free)!

Right next door to the museum is a Guitar Center, which is my middle son's favorite store, so he talked us in to stopping there too. Both my older sons jammed for a few minutes on their own instruments. A's hand is still recuperating, but he enjoys playing what he can.

It was a fun spur-of-the-moment day. We had a great time being together (but missed S who had to stay home and work).

24 YEARS

On September 25, 1986 my dad died in a plane crash. He was 47 and I was 17, just starting my senior year. It was a very trying time but I learned lessons from those experiences that have strengthened me and helped me throughout my life. He was a great man and was a wonderful example for us.

Here is a photo of him on his mission to Australia. He was a dedicated servant of the Lord.

He was also a dedicated father and family man. He took us on countless family vacations and activities. Here he is with my little sister at Bryce Canyon.

He was the Stake President when he died. This was the last photo taken of him for a Primary program the week he was killed. I still miss him so much, but I am also happy my parents are together again.

PUTTING A FACE TO THE NAME

I am a big fan of The Hunger Games books, well, at least the first two. I was pretty disappointed in the last one and am still considering writing my own version (he he). We are discussing this last book, Mockingjay it is called, at our book club tonight. One of my friends thought it would be fun to find photos of people we thought might resemble the characters in the book, so I went on a cyber quest to find mine.

This is the main character- the name leaves a lot to be desired, but I love her in the first book. She seems like a naturally pretty brunette with long brown hair.

Gale is her best friend (love his name) and hunting partner. I always picture him dark and chiseled, so if you combine the face of the first boy with the coloring of the second, you'll have my version.

Peeta (by far the stupidest name ever- why could she not have just named him Peter, for crying out loud) is the cute, sweet baker boy. He is blond and very boy-next-door looking in my mind.

Well, there you have it. I don't have real names for all these people because I am not trying to cast the movie (I don't even really want them to make a movie- I think they'll ruin it). I was just trying to put actual faces to the images in my mind.

I am looking forward to book club tonight!

GARDENING

We are enjoying the 'fruits of our labors.' We haven't had a garden for quite a few years now. Neither my husband nor I are ever very excited about it, but this year I felt strongly that we needed to do it, not for us, but for our kids. We've had them out there weeding and helping off and on all summer. I am actually really surprised we got anything because we planted in July, but we did!

Last night we had fresh green beans (which I LOVE) and corn on the cob (which I believe is one of life's true joys)! Some of my family aren't as thrilled as my husband and I, but they don't like anything, so it's not much of a surprise.

We are going to have quite a few pumpkins this year too. They are mostly mini pumpkins, but that's okay. They were volunteer, so who can complain?

TIME WELL SPENT

My 16 year old son has been sick for about 3 weeks now (off and on). Yesterday, when he had to miss his 2nd day of school already this year and couldn't keep anything down, I finally took him to the doctor. He has labyrinthitis (an infection in his inner ear that causes him extreme dizziness and makes him sick to his stomach).

He was so dehydrated that they put him on an IV and for 2 hours we sat and waited for it to be done.

It was worth it though, because afterwards, he ate lunch and has felt better ever since. Hallelujah for doctors! Now he and I are both on antibiotics for our sinus infections, so hopefully we are on the mend.

DEW TOUR

Here are my my two oldest children (S and D) at the Dew Tour. We have a love of extreme sports at our house, and attending these competitions each year has become a tradition.

D and S on the left. I don't know the guys on the right. I stole these photos off of Facebook. (Let that be a lesson to you at how easy it is to take things that don't belong to you off of the internet).

Watching the games: I love this photo! D looks completely amazed and S looks like she is praying the rider will be alright.

Here they are: my two eldest extreme sports lovers! Carry on that Gordon tradition, you two!

BAPTIST DRAW/LOWER CHUTE CANYON REVISITED

We FINALLY got our 4th year hike/high adventure activity out of the way. We have had to cancel 4 times since June because of weather, but we finally got our perfect day.

This hike always starts out so deceptively innocent- hiking through the warm, dry desert...

...but pretty quickly you are into the cool, skinny slots- diving under log jams and 'choke stones.' It is an AMAZING place to be.

Next up are a couple of rappels. The first one is about 15 feet. Here I am (left) with two other YW leaders (J and J) awaiting our turn to go down.

Second rappel is much longer at round 75-80 feet. (See the little, tiny person at the top)?

Here I am at the bottom, holding the rope, pretending to do something important.

Here are our guides/sherpas. My honey, Big C, and J-- You guys are the best!

Here it is- the piece de resistance- HELL Hole. There is just no other way to describe it. It is the foulest, coldest, most disgusting water I have ever been in. I came through first and it was SCARY! I had my camera in my pack over my head and the water was so deep I literally had to swim! J came next with a rope to help everyone else through. Wish I'd been smart enough to wait! It is long too, you just can't see past the choke stone.

Then they all started coming through. Here are S and S...

... and here are the amazing Young Women that were with us! They did such a great job! No whining or complaining, just lots of enthusiasm. We briefly discussed the similarities between the rope and the iron rod...

Afterwards, we hurried through the slots until we found some sunshine so we could warm and dry a bit and put on our shoes.

Little did we know we still had MORE water! Chute canyon was basically a water/mud hole!

Look at this! And be glad you can't smell! We REEKED! A nice concoction somewhere between the essences of dairy farm, dead carcasses, and old slime.

Even as muddy, cold and smelly as we were, however, you just had to be amazed at the beauty around you.

I have never seen sights like these except here. You just have to take the bad with the good.

TULIPS

Last night our Relief Society art group met and started watercolor painting.

I started this as a demo last night and finished it this morning. Nothing too exciting, but I kind of like the simplicity and the lightness of it.

COUNTERFORM

I am entering one of my handmade books from last year's faculty show into a show at the U. (I think the show starts in October). I've had one in it before, but not for a while, so I am happy to have a book to enter this year.

Here is the cover. I had to recover it because I ran the board's grain the wrong way and it warped. I am thrilled the redo turned out as well as it did!

These are the accordion pages inside. All the images are mini versions of drawings from my sketch journal. I xerox transfered them onto the cotton paper.

Here is a sample page.

INTERESTING TURN OF EVENTS

Imagine my surprise about 2 hours after my last post when my aunt called to tell me that one of my paintings had sold. Granted, I priced them at $150 which were pretty much the cheapest paintings there, but still... I was happy anyway.

Here I am with the farm one (and the empty spot below where my truck had hung). By the time I went back to pick up my last one, it had sold too! I know I still have a long way to go, but selling my paintings went a long way to help my discouragement.

This is a very bad cell phone photo of the winner. It is the epitome of a Sanpete landscape and I really liked it.

OUT OF PLACE

I went to the show last night and I have to say that I have never felt so out of my element. There were 180 paintings submitted and the majority were PROFESSIONAL artists.

Here is my truck. I forgot to get a photo before I framed it, so you get the glass reflection. I am just a bit depressed today and discouraged. I have a LONG way to go...

GRANDPA'S FARM

Technically this is Day 2 of the competition, but I spent Day 1 at the hospital with A, so yesterday was MY Day 1.

This is the painting. I still have mixed feelings about it and need to fix the sky, but the back of this paper has 'the stamp', so there's no going back... It is at the farm that has been in our family for over 100 years. Today I get to paint another this morning and then they have to be framed, ready to hang and handed in by 5 pm.

HAND UPDATE

A's hand is healing very well. He has therapy exercises he is supposed to do 4 times a day, but doesn't quite make that goal.

This is what it looks like now. Notice how the middle finger is curved? He can't straighten it at all and today we went to the doctor in Salt Lake and found out why...

This is an illustration of what he has. It is called a boutonniere deformity in his tendon. He has to wear a special splint for 6 weeks straight and hopefully that will take care of the problem. If he takes the splint off and lets that middle knuckle bend at all, we start the 6 weeks countdown all over again. Sigh... I guess it can always be worse..

DOUBLE DIGIT BIRTHDAY

Little C is 10! Yay! He is such a sweet, sweet boy (I know that isn't a compliment to males, but we females know how truly wonderful that is). He is so great to take care of his little sister and play with her. He is also my outside boy, which I love too.

Here he is blowing out the candles on his soccer cake. (He got them all!)

Here he is eating his soccer cake with his cousins. Very fun!

DYRENG HOUSE

This is my latest bit of practice. I started it Friday before our trip and finished it today.

It is the Dyreng House in Manti, but it doesn't really look like it. The composition has much to be desired (divided right down the middle) and my husband tells me the perspective is off. Oh well. I can't paint for the next couple of days-- too much going on, so Thursday will be my beginning day for the competition. It is supposed to be over cast with a chance of storms- MAJOR BUMMER!

GREEN RIVER VACA

After I SWORE I was done river running for the summer, we ended up in Green River for the weekend with a bunch of very fun friends. We really had a great time! Lots of kids, a little water and lots of sun makes for the perfect family trip. Here are some highlights...


Of course we ran the river. Here I am rowing our raft with some kiddos on board.

My husband with his kayak from a new perspective. Love this one- thanks, Sandra!

We observed some wildlife (Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep). I caught them running up the cliff- that is always so amazing to me! I always wanted to be a National Geographic photographer when I was young- I think this is the closest I'm ever going to get.

We hung out around the campfire and roasted marshmallows and listened to the guitar.

Swayze's beach is ALWAYS the highlight of this trip though. Here are the girls building their sand city.

And the boys-- what more of a contrast between boys and girls can you ask for?