Tuesday

Today is Tuesday! I hate to count down, but this is the last Tuesday of my summer! AHHHHH.

My big sister is here for the week with her two little people and it is so fun.

I was thinking about stuff the other day thinking that my life really is flying by. I turned 30 this year, which seems substantial somehow. It also feels like it is about time that I just jumped into life and did what I was made to do.

I am going to take this year and really figure out how to make a living from home and how to do what I love.

My goal for this week...even with my sister here, is to start building my website. I want one that integrates my art and my design business.

New fun coming...stick with me I will work on being more diligent!

here is my new haircut...I shaved it, fun for summer.

Lucia

Good morning friends!

August already! I am not sure where I have been, but it's obvious that I haven't been here!

We have been traveling a lot and I have been working as a mt. bike guide this summer. BUSY

Also we have been working hard on our outside. So fun,

Here is our back deck which is so fun to have! I just feel like it enhances our lives so much to be able to sit out there and enjoy the warm weather. Gar did a beautiful job building it!

Today I am in bed with my foot propped up for most of the morning I am going to attempt to sit still and let my foot heal! On Saturday I ran for six hours and the next day the bottom of my foot started to hurt. It is very painful to walk on it. So today I have nothing really to do and I thought it would be a good day to just chill.

I am training for this marathon in September. It is an amazingly brutal marathon with extremely hard-core people. The fun part is is you are running this marathon with people out there who are running 100 miles and they have been running since the day before!!! It is seriously insane!!!

I think I am done with marathons for a while though. I am tired of training for them.

So the scoop on this blog. Major life changing earth-shattering changes are coming to this corner of the universe. Becoming has given me feed back on what she would like to see in this space so since she is about 50% of my readership I am listening to my audience and incorporating changes.

Enjoy Thursday!

Lucia

Sleep Talking and Apologies

In true ME fashion I have to make cookies this morning and bring them around to my neighbors behind us because well I was sleep yelling last night!

"Get the F*** out of here!" was what I said (because I thought someone was stealing our pine cones!) it seemed perfectly acceptable to me for me to yell this even though our neighbors have small children, I have small children and it was 1:00 in the morning!

Oh man I can't even grantee that I will never do this again! I really could.

Embarrassing!

Have a great Monday!
LUCIA-the sleep talker

Summer!

SUMMER!

Yeah for Summer!

Three cheers for summer!

OK so a few blogs ago I waxed on and on about this amazing run I went on with friends and guess what? There is a grizzly bear hanging around there! Jack, who was running with us, said he smelled it. I did not know grizzies smelled, but there you go!

Pretty crazy. Pretty weird, and I am pretty darn glad I didn't see it! A friend of mine was running up there a few days later and she said she ran right by it and saw it! and this is the same bear that tracked a man for a mile! This is very scary. The trails we were on are VERY popular so it is surprising to hear this!

So yesterday a couple of us went up Philips Canyon Which was really amazing! I didn't get any pictures, but there were amazing views of the valley, amazing views of Driggs and a lot of uphill! Loved it!

In other news art school is calling my heart....the problem is there isn't an art school here, anywhere!

More later!
Lucia

Rainy, Flue Day!

Yep it is a rainy/ snowy day and little M has the flue! Up all night with multiple trips to the toilette to be support, which means I will get sick soon...such is life!

Here is a picture from a few days ago, when it was sunny, of my favorite sign in Jackson. It is really old and makes me smile!

Have a great day, I will not let rain and flue slow me down!

Weekend!

One of the things I LOVE about Jackson is all the amazing trails right in town!

So yesterday my running friends and I went all over the Cache trail system. Everything was blooming and we had a killer view of the Tetons.

Friday night we went to the Spud Drive in in Driggs and watched Pirates, Long and boring was my take!

Saturday Cleaned out the garage, on going in our house, and went over for a cozy fire to a neighbors. Really fun night!

We are ready for our last Monday of school before summer!

Woo-Hoo

More Oil Pastels!!!

Here is some more oil Pastels fun.

I sealed it with the Utrecht gloss medium which is really fun stuff for collaging, as a sealant for acrylic paintings and it is cheaper than the golden brand (I do love golden acrylics too!)

Sorry the picture is so fuzzy.. I am still working out the camera kinks!

Bella the challenge for you in the next few days is when that beautiful baby is sleeping to bust out your pastels and do a quick pastel of your sleeping babe! Nothing perfect, just loose and beautiful!

Heather T. my challenge to you is to grab yourself a set if you don't already have one and draw/ trace/ photo copy something simple and have fun, while your new babe is sleeping!

Anybody else reading pick up the challenge and post a comment with a picture. should be cool!

CREATE!

ooooh...... Fun With Oil Pastels!

So I busted out the old OIL PASTELS today and drew a grapefruit. I had so much fun playing and playing for over an hour!

I fallowed the "Tiplets" from Kal's site...check her out she is so fabulous!

6 more days left of school! Wooo Hooo

Have a great night!

Memorial Day !!!

What a fun weekend! It didn't snow which was awesome and it was even hot! We were surprised!

We went climbing at one of our fav spots! It is way out in the middle of no-where southern Idaho outside of Burly. It is called City of Rocks State Park. It is beautiful granite everywhere!

All five of us climbed up to the top of Elephant Rock! So fun!

This is what I did the other morning. I really like it.

Help Me Expert Bloggers!!!

OK, so here is the Friday night skinny....

I hate my blog! I want a cool banner that I made and I want to add other things where I want them!

So, help! How do I do it? Anybody know how to change my blog so I can put things where I want them?

Please let me know. I am so ashamed of my plane and boring blog!

Mom's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Mom here is what is in the mail to you! A fun, tiny little painting. (it looks better in real life!)

Love you!

girls night

Thursday night at last! What a great day! drinks with friends where we spent two hours talking, drinking, and eating. And then we walked around the square where, because it is after 6:00 everything is closed! So fun!

Here are the paintings I painted for H for her birthday. I just felt that she needed these words to encourage her right now. She has started on a journey toward pursuing her passions and it is so exciting to be a part of it. So I painted these sweet images for her to inspire her when things felt hard. Fun.

Tomorrow-Friday!

catching up!

Just beautiful! Isn't she? I love her shinnig eyes and her bright smile! She is my introspective, competitive, sociallite who loves to read and write. She is funny and goes with the flow. A surprise to her father and I that turned us around and turned our lives upside down. Thank goodness for unplanned miracles!

One more thought for now

I read this article in "Delicious Living" and it said the things I feel better than I can! So please read this.



I think it is our responsibility as children of God to be stewards of the things he gives us and the things he has created for us. And I am so glad someone has said it in a natural health foods forum.



When we were climbing last week I looked up at these cliffs in this valley and thought about what a perfect composition it was. Everything was perfectly balanced. And I thought that it seems that God must have really enjoyed creating this beautiful earth. Just like I love to make something for someone I love. It is a small thought, but a new one to me.




The more I experience God, and his love for someone like me, the more I am floored.

Spring break!

We had the most wonderful time!!! Spring break is almost officially over as I write this and it feels a little hard to head on back, but what a great two weeks we had!

We spent ten days down in southern Utah outside of canyon lands in this spectacular place called Indian Creek. It has the most beautiful crack climbing outside of Yosemite that I have ever seen!!! Cracks after cracks after cracks! So fun. We had friends join us and we met new friends. It was really fun. Our kids were so enjoyable too. So many times we just sat back and watched them play together or explore the area. And all three of them climbed so well! It was great!

The desert was spectacular too! Everything was in bloom and green. This is a must see!

Dear Friends,

Well I haven't touched this in a while so a good update is in order!

My project is going really well! I have gotten over my embarrassing nerves and have really had a good time with these H.S. Kids! I first had them trace or draw a picture from one of the Spanish masters they had already studied, (Velasquez, Goya, Gaudi, Dali, Picasso, and Miro) and we started to talk about how each piece would work to translate it into a tile mosaic. The next week we ripped construction paper and started gluing it onto the image, this was to get them used to thinking in terms of shape instead of lines. The did great! Last week we smashed plates, bowls, and vases. and now they are working on putting the pieces together. There was some freak out! But over all it seems to be going well. We will pour cement on Wednesday and put them together! Should be really fun... and a little terrifying!

Today is a rainy/snowy day we had about a week and a half of this balmy gorgeous weather and it was wonderful! We are back to cold now though. And I feel really tired of the snow!

This is our last week until spring break! We have two weeks of pure fun! Yeah! We are going to go to Zion national park and then on to Moab!!! Which I still haven't seen even though I have dreamed about it since I read Desert Solitaire in college! Very exciting!

That is all have a great day!
Lucia

Lessons in Teaching

Yesterday I was that guest teacher in High School...remember that one? The one that sweated (profusely), rambled on, and forgot to tell you significant things about what was going on? I remember being in HS and thinking..."What is this person's problem, why are they so nervous?"

I am teaching an art unit in a Spanish Four class. We are taking a Spanish masters work and translating into a tile mosaic stepping stone. Pretty fun, but I was a wreck trying to explain this to them. I can't really remember what I said to them. they were great though, although I think it was more that they love their teacher who is a good friend of mine, so I will take what I can get!

Anyway, I better step it up, take a DEEP breath, or else I am screwed!

Pray for me, I really hope this goes well, I love doing these projects.

In other news at the Hart residence, Climbing season is here for the moment and we are ready to be outside in some moderate temperatures. That means ski season is over which is weird for here. Who knows we could easily get a lot more snow!

Hope all are well, drop a comment if you have any funny teaching stories. I would love to commiserate!

Adios,

Lucia

Little inspirations

I love my half-time job! I work in a first and second grade classroom as a Paraprofessional, which means I help teach reading groups. I am always inspired and constantly amused at these little guys and their personalities. It is so fun.

So one of my little second grade boys always says, "Well, I am an artist you know."

This makes me laugh every time to hear his high little voice in my head saying this with such child like conviction.

I have been repeating this over and over this week as my mantra.

I have always been in the closet about my artiness. I can hide no longer!

I used to look at artsy girls (see bellaartgirl for examples of beautiful, cool, artsy types) and I was sure they were too smart, creative, and self assured for me. I was so intimidated.

People have often asked me, "Oh, are you an artist?" and my reply is always, "Well, I enjoy art." So, I will just keep repeating my mantra to myself, until I can easily say "Yes", without sweating too much, when someone asks me that question. =)

Letting Go

How do you let go? When do you step in? and when do you step aside? These are questions I am wrestling with.

Am I doing my best? Am I working as hard as I can to be a good mom? Doubts are the hardest for me. They run through my mind over and over.

They are so precious to me and I feel so blessed to be a part of their life...Being a mom is hard!

Good Morning

Good morning friends!

Happy first day of March! My sister in P-Town said her crocusses where blooming! That means spring. Here, well, I have cut tulips on the kitchen table that I bought at the grocery store! The only other sign of spring is it is above zero! Yeah!


We are all doing great here. Today B is going snowshoeing in Grand Teton National Park for school. When I get home sick I will think of that!



I took some pictures of my kitchen and the view from the upstairs window. We aren't fortuneate enought o see the grand from our house, but we have some pretty hills to look at, so it will do!

My parents came to visit for a few days and that is always fun. It does still get lonley here in the middle of the country, So we love it when people from Oregon come! Start planning that trip Heather T!

I was thinking again about God's grace and the ripples it has caused in our lives. We are finally really plugged into a church that we love and making some really great friends.

I keep wondering where I and my family would be if I hadn't said yes, hesitently, to Jesus way back in 8th grade? All the amazing blessings I wouldn't have seen, or I would have said it was by chance or fate!

Knowing me and my propensity to want to try EVERYTHING I can tell you for sure I would have many deep regrets (more than already exsist) and many experiences I don't need.

Just some thoughts on the power of God's mercy.

Lucia

Answered Prayer!

Thank you so much for your prayers!

The update yesterday was they did get a continuance from the court! So praise God!

This will give the lawyer a chance to prepare the case!

Please keep this little one in your prayers over the next few months!

prayer requests

Dear faithful friends,

I have a prayer request for a friend's sister this morning. My friend's Mother is in court today hoping to get full custody for her 5 year old daughter. The father is molesting this little soul and at every turn the court system has sidded with the father and not the little girl. My heart is breaking for this brave mother who keeps fighting for her daughter and Ali a little five year old who in a big voice is telling anyone who will listen what is going on.

The father is trying for full custody too. Please pray that, that specifically, will not happen.

I think as a mom one of the hardest things to face would be a situation like this where you are unable to protect your daughter. Where you have to leave her with someone who is hurting her. I don't really understand what is going on there in that court system that this little girl has not been heard, but please pray that today this judge will hear her.

Thank you Friends,
Lucia

Life Lessons

God has been teaching me amazing things.

I don't really know where to start so I will just jump in. I am not a great writer or organizer of thoughts.

I started drawing at church services this Monday night. Most of you who know me, know how ADD I am. Church has always been hard. And then you throw in singing and I am really lost. It is not often that I am really inspired by singing I am just not good at it. In fact it is painful!

So, for the first time, I drew in my journal, among strangers.

Duh Duh Duh Duhhhhh!

It was terrifying. I was literally sweating. What if, What If, What if. Would people stare, would they want to look, would the snarl?

But it turned out to be wonderful, for the first time, in maybe ever, I was tuned into what was being said up front, what the songs were saying, and more importantly what Jesus wanted to say to me. I am thrilled.

I have been devouring the book called "Creative Call" ( it is on my list). She talks very frankly about the gifts God has given us. I have heard that God gives us gifts since I became a believer, but I never imagined God was talking to me and talking to me about my art! Art has always been a guilty pleasure, a distraction. Something more to hide and be embarrassed about than something that I could use to celebrate and worship Jesus.

This news is revolutionary to me.

Since learning this my mind has spread wide open. Suddenly, my time painting is important and worthy. I feel set free. I feel affirmed and I feel created with purpose.

Also, this focus has taken the rejection fear away. You don't like my work? Well, it's not really for you anyway! Yeah I hope people enjoy it, but its intended audience is love and Grace.

Please read this book, It is so wonderful to see what ever your creative passions are there is a reason and a purpose for them.

God authored art and created the artist. It is time well spent.

In Love,
Lucia

Febuary Art Every Day

I was inspired by other bloggers to try art everyday so I picked February as the month I would begin. My goal is one month, so we'll see. I have set aside a specific time everyday and I have asked my family to respect this time when I am in my studio as a Do Not Disturb time. I am excited about this venture.

I would not call this my favorite piece, but it felt so good to get paintbrushes back in my hands and move some paint around.

Oh the mud that was created!

Here is a picture of my palette. If any one has any suggestions for better palette management I would love to hear them.

This is an icicle hanging off of our neighbors roof.

It looks like fingers...cool!

Saturday morning!

Saturday Morning! I love Saturday morning. Especially sunny Saturday mornings when G is off Ice climbing. It means I get to get up slowly make some coffee and some sort of yummy creation. and then do what ever I want for a little while... until the day really starts. I have decided that this day does not really start until 10:00.

Last night Hubby and I were talking about how much we love this house that we spent so much of ourselves on. It is fun to be on this stretch, the end where we know the house is livable and warm in the cold winters. and everything works! what a relief.

There are also all these little imperfections in our house that I might be so frustrated by, but I am just not. It is wonderful. I know the reasons behind each of them and I love the house more for the memory of it.

It was also so refreshing to my spirit to see how God walked us through this. We really had no idea what we were doing, but at every turn God provided someone for advice, services, or just support. And some amazing friends who traveled to help us! Wow!

I love that about God. It is tempting to think that the creator of the universe might not be interested in the little things that go on in my world, but then I look at our front window and door and it is clear, God orchestrated that, because I sure didn't think they would look that great together! We bought the window at one bone yard at the beginning of the summer and I liked it, but thought it might look odd, or out of place because all our other windows were plainer. Then three months later at a different lumber yard we got this beautiful front doorfrom their bone yard. When we finally installed them, a month later, I was floored to see that the arch in the window perfectly compliments the arch in the door. I totally did not see that. I smile at his love for me every time I think of it.

I wanted to say to Bella if you are reading, HD called me yesterday with the news! I cried! God is so good. I am thinking of you and your family today! I know you are enjoying W's first full day on this earth. What a marvel! Rest my friend. Love you! Send pix as soon as you can!

Well 10:00 is approaching fast. I must shove off!

Lucia

Ice climbing

This is behind the local K-Mart one sunny day last winter.
Granite hot springs this year.


Two different climbs on different days in Teton Canyon.

house pictures

Hello friends!

This is my first posting!
All summer we built our very first house!! And the biggest accomplishment... My hubby and I are STILL talking and we even like each other! Miracles, Miracles!!!

This first picture is of the fam on our lot in June.

I hope you enjoy our work and more on this blog later!

Little M working hard! The Trusses, big day! Yep that's my guy!

before the roof. Our favorite roofers!

Closer! Our first snow!