Sustainable Me - Space for Creativity and Backyard Bunnies

It has been a couple of weeks since I posted to the blog.  The last two weeks of teaching school and graduation is always extremely busy and hectic.  I'm in my second week of summer break, and have so enjoyed my time to rest, drink coffee on the back porch, and watch the world go by.  I have also still been working on my garden and studio project.  So here are some updates on progress. I really like these Mad Mats that I found on Amazon.  They are made from recycled materials, and I bought one for the back porch and one for the front.  Totally outdoor friendly and easy cleaning and maintenance.   The front flower bed.  I enjoyed finding the bird bath and solar light at Aldi's.  I am planning to plant some caladiums in the large pot for now.   The beginning of laying down the border for the path from the patio to the art studio.  I ran two extension cords from the patio to the studio, and plan to cover with...

I have had this bird bottle for many years now, and in all of the moves and places we have lived - never once hung it up.  I lived in Williamsburg, Virginia for one year when I was 20, and I loved the Colonial area, and walking through the Governor's Palace Gardens. I bought the bottle on a return trip when as a family we traveled there to show our girls where we had once lived.  And for them to experience Jamestown, and Colonial Williamsburg. I do not know why I have moved it to so many places and never hung it in a garden.  Or under the eaves of the house. Maybe this says something about me not ever really feeling at home at the other addresses.  I do feel more at home here, and perhaps it is because I have had much to do with the choosing of the main properties and decor of the house.  It has also been a stable and calm period of life, and my children and I do feel comfortable and peaceful and at home here.   The bird bottle is supposed to attract...

Michael's troop built these birdhouses, and painted them as one of their Boy Scout projects.  They turned out great, and I'm so happy to finally have a home for it in the garden.  I'm so proud of Michael and all he has accomplished in his growing up years. We have seen, finches, doves, mockingbirds, bluebirds, scissor-tails, cardinals, black birds, and even a red headed woodpecker the other day.  It will be interesting to see who decides to take up residence here.

 Sun Wind Spinner  Hummingbird wind spinner  New bird house Tea Time   Sir Winston Queen Lizzie likes the picnic table - she can keep her distance from Winston!   I love these rattan containers that I found at Aldi's for $40.  They serve as seats also, and on Amazon the same product was $100  Butterfly wind chime - love hearing chimes outside, and this one is quiet but has a lovely sound A bunny visit as the sun was going down.  He saw Lizzie and didn't stay long - but I was delighted to see him.  I also saw a scissor tail, a finch, lightening bugs, and a red headed woodpecker.  It was a wonderful day to spend outside in perfect spring weather.  

   I found this project idea online somewhere - I can't remember where.  But I love it, and can't wait to build it.  I have always liked bottle trees, but I think I like this idea better. I had to begin again on collecting bottles since the move last year, so I thought it would take me a long time to collect this many for the project.  But a coworker had someone donate these wine bottles, and she offered them to me!  I feel loved!  Perfect timing for me.    I also have a friend that is a jeweler, and he says that a diamond bit will drill a hole into the bottom of the bottle without shattering it - I will for sure enlist his help for that part of the project. I'm not sure what I will build the frame out of - and I have thought of using a jute rope instead of the steel rods, and just tying the rope around the frame.  But I love the look of this.  And now I have enough bottles with what I have at home.  The donated wine bo...

I think it is fairly ironic that I am in a graduate program at TTU for an MAAE, and have reached a point in my teaching career that needs a boost before I completely burn out!   I totally love my graduate program!  It is certainly the right program for me, and I'm so thankful to be a part of it. The program has revitalized me as an artist, and it has been a huge motivation for me.  I love reading the books, creating art, and interacting online and in person with fellow students and my professors. I have taught art for many years both privately and in the public school setting.  I began teaching art in Gilmer, when my second child, Jennifer, was just a baby.  I had a private art studio that I began in my kitchen and then later built on to the house to accommodate more students.  Infant Jennifer was even my inspiration for my art logo for the private studio at the time.  I taught privately for about 20 years all together.  And was privilege...