Tucker the little _ucker

When our sweet hedgehog, Willie, passed away, our girls were devastated.  Especially our youngest.  We had a proper burial along with a short sermon by Daddy.  After a respectful mourning period of a few weeks, the girls decided they wanted to get a kitten.  Their Dad had already said, "No cats!" so they knew they had their work cut out for them.  They got on our Mac and created an amazing power point presentation about why they wanted a kitten.  They even included pictures and a original song to the music of the spice girls.  It was super cute!  No person in their right mind could deny them now.  After they presented their power point, their dad finally caved.  Enter Tucker.  He was the cutest kitten at the SPCA.  He was sweet and loving.  Little did we know that once he comfortably settled into our home, he would quickly morph into a child chasing, baby biting, cabinet raiding ball of "furry!"  It wasn't until we had sunk hundreds of dollars into this cat that his true colors emerged.  He was officially ours and he knew it!  We have now had him for a little over a year.  He has already chewed through most of the pull cords on our wooden blinds, broken "froggie's" aquarium, bitten several of our friends, and peed in the wet bar sink.  However, he has this knack for knowing when you've had a really bad day.  It's on those days that he lays down and lets you cuddle him for a few minutes before he is off to terrorize someone else.  I have to say that our lives would be much more boring if Tucker was not around.  I can say that there are many moments of sweetness and I am forever hopeful that this is "just a phase" that he will outgrow.  Until then, my spray bottle will stay filled with water.

Art journal supplies: gesso, magazine clippings, mod podge, scrapbook paper, water color crayons, and a black sharpie.

Art journaling

I have always loved to create.  From cross-stitch to quilting to scrapbooks, I can't remember the last time I didn't have a project I was working on.  While browsing the craft books at my local Barnes and Noble, I came across an art journaling book.  I was intrigued by the use of mixed-media art to journal thoughts, dreams, and day-to-day goings on.  I immediately wanted to start my own, but it all seemed very overwhelming.  When I got home I searched art journaling on Youtube and I was amazed by the number of postings.  I started at the top and made my way through at least twenty.  It wasn't nearly as difficult as I had thought!  I rushed out to Hobby Lobby and purchased some of the main supplies: a mixed media journal, white gesso (primer), some brushes, some cheap acrylic paint, water soluble crayons (my favorite!) and got to work.  Since the journal is just that, a journal, I didn't feel pressured to produce something that others would think beautiful.  I just let myself go and used the art of others to inspire me.  I have to say, this project has been the most freeing.  I have learned so much about myself.  I highly recommend investing some time in expressing yourself through art.  Use song lyrics, quotes, and phrases to inspire you.  Put a visual to the feelings that are too complex to express through words alone.  I think you will be surprised with the outcome.