Our Wall Art: metal prints, gallery wrapped canvas, oil paintings, and a quilt?

by Lucky Red Hen on March 22, 2011

Pretend like you’re coming over to my house, we’ve enjoyed visiting, and you’re about to (recluctantly) leave. This is what you’ll see on your way out!

A message saying, “Please Come Again!” and four of my favorite images printed on metal and hung together. They’re gorgeous in person, having a metal sheen that makes them POP! Plus they have dimension standing out from the wall, not pressed up against it.

Here’s looking into our teensie tinesie (how do you like my phoenetic spelling?) hall bathroom. Custom gallery wrapped canvas wall art (say THAT five times fast!) that’s perfectly safe in humid spaces.

These photos were taken a couple years ago at a nearby park. I was trying out lenses to see which one I might like to get next (the Canon 50mm 1.2f L lens, thankyouverymuch, birthday is coming up). The kidlets weren’t dressed for a photo shoot or coordinated for permanent wall art, but I used them as test subjects.

The piece on the left is four images of them making different poses every time I pressed the shutter button. The piece on the right is of them holding hands (not sure they’d be as willing to do that anymore, so I’m glad I captured their sweetness when they would let me). It’s actually not a technically sound image. My highlights are blown out, my shadows are too dark, and I’m not sure that anything is in focus.

BUT I LOVE THE IMAGE. I LOVE THE MOMENT. I LOVE WHAT I GOT EVEN THOUGH IT WON’T PASS A CRITIQUE, BUT…

“How does it make you FEEL?”
– Joe Buissink

Images of my kids make me feel extremely happy. That is why they hang on my wall. Not because they’re award winning.

The metals, on the other hand, are ROCKIN’ technically sound images :) Here’s a closer look (including the reflection of the dining room chandelier on Lisa and Eli’s faces, woops) of them before hanging.

…and a little snipet of my slipper :D

Here’s another way to get dimension with our unframed canvas painting. It’s stapled to the wall (where the creases/folds are) and stuck on the right side with painters tape. It reminds me a bit of my grandma, Lucille, who’s been gone for a long time.

The art on the left is by Adde duLaux Russell. It’s three separate canvases, making packing/moving a breeze. We met her in Seattle after seeing her one-winged angel silhouette painting (that’s not hanging in our house, unfortunately, it’s on a wall in a Sun Valley home instead). We’ve had it about nine years now, and every year we swap Christmas cards… how sweet is THAT?!?

The photograph on the right is of aspen trees in American Fork Canyon, UT, by Russell Gunther. His brother and I traded it for a quilt. I had already committed to making a baby blanket for their 5th baby, so he said (after trying to gift it to me and I wouldn’t take it for free), “I’ll trade you this for a quilt,” thinking that meant the baby blanket. But I talked to his wife about making a simple adult-sized one for him for fun, in addition to the baby blanket, and she agreed that it’d be funny.

Well, after trying to find the perfect fabric (I was seriously just going to get two pieces of fabric and sew them together, super easy) and coming up empty, I switched gears on accident and decided to try a design I’ve NEVER even come CLOSE to doing (nor had I ever made anything bigger than a baby blanket). This is what my 2 piece blanket turned into…

…well over 400 pieces in a Bullseye Design, cut in four’s and reconstructed. P.S. That’s not him, that’s his son holding it for me the last time I was in town so I could get picture proof that 1) yes, I did make it, and 2) yes, they actually use it.

We have more art hanging in our home, so maybe I’ll have to post another tour to show you the rest. By the way, all these photos were taken with my cell phone. You’d think I’d use my real camera, but no.

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Tubal Ligation = Good For Me/Us

by Lucky Red Hen on March 19, 2011

Tubal ligation (TL), sterilization, tubes tied, permanent birth control, fixed, spayed. Whatever you want to call it, it’s 99% effective in preventing pregnancy the first year. Subsequent years reduces the effectiveness slightly because there is a rare chance, depending on the procedure, the fallopian tube(s) can reform and/or reconnect, allowing the possibility of fertilization.

I know someone who got pregnant after her husband got a vasectomy… TWICE

…two vasectomies, two pregnancies (she had a TL done after the second surprise baby).

TL is also intended to be permanent, but surgical reversal of the procedure is possible (I also know someone who’s done this and was able to have another baby; not the same lady as mentioned above). The fallopian tubes can be cauterized, clipped (like a Chip Clip), blocked by tubal rings, or cut and sutured out of the way. My version was to cauterize closest to the uterus and toss as much of the tubes in the garbage so there is NO CHANCE of them growing back together. [shiver]

I had my TL 20 minutes after the birth of my second child. I already had an epidural for the birth, making anesthesia easy, and they went in through my belly button, just in case I didn’t want visible scars to ruin my chances of becoming a swimsuit model or table dancer (bahahaha). Recovery was a breeze (didn’t notice since all my guts were healing from the birth). The cost was much less because I was already at the hospital with an epidural so I was just, basically, paying for the doctor to do the surgery.

The anesthesiologist (dude, I just spelled that right the first time without spell check!) asked if I wanted to stay awake for the procedure or go under. Um, I just had a baby and don’t know when I’ll get deep sleep again so I chose go under :)

“Why didn’t you have your husband get a vasectomy instead? It’s much less invasive (30 minute out-patient), cheaper ($500 vs. 2k+), and quicker recovery.”

Because I am the one that doesn’t want to ever be pregnant again. More kids could be possible, but not out of my body. We would be parents to our nieces and nephew (if their parents die at the same time), we could adopt, or steal (depends how cute they are, j/k). If (knock on wood) I expire before my hubby, he could have more kidlets with his new wife if she wanted to. But if it were the other way around, sorry new hubby, baby factory CLOSED.

The benefits of having a TL done:

  • no pregnancies (or bladder control issues due to them)
  • no condoms (only 97% effective, as Ross/Joey found out)
  • no birth control pills (remembering/forgetting to take them)
  • no Depo Provera shots
  • no diaphragm
  • no cervical cap
  • no patches
  • no implants
  • no sponges
  • no prep (where’d we put the contraceptive?)
  • no worry (am I or am I not?)
  • no rhythm method (math is hard)
  • oh, and no abstinence (plus you can do it anywhere, anytime)

Some numbers…

Apparently there are many women (up to 26%) who wish they hadn’t gotten a TL. At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, they receive requests for information about TL reversal 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from women who regret having a TL. The U.S. Collaborative Review of Sterilization found that 20% of women who were sterilized before the age of 30 regretted their decision. Regret has been shown to correlate with external pressure by the doctor, spouse, relatives, or others :( Fewer than 20 percent seek reversal and fewer than 10 percent go through with it.

My REASONS for not wanting more babies:

  • I’m too old for this (doesn’t mean you’re too old for it).
  • When my kidlets move out, I want to do other things.
  • Kids are HARD. Maybe not for you, but for me they are.
  • My patience level is about (pinches fingers) this big.
  • Sleepless nights, feeding, diapers, potty training, crying…
  • My back doesn’t do well with little ones; I’m kinda broken.
  • Guilt with all aspects of properly/improperly parenting.
  • Selflessness… I barely have enough for my existing children.
  • My paranoia over EVERY STEP they take causes great anxiety.
  • I’d be in the high risk pregnancy age group next time around.

Kristi (@TweetingMama) says she regrets her decision to undergo a TL following the birth of her daughter two years ago. Read about her experience at Our Mommyhood. You could’ve read my clever reply in the comments section of that post, if the power hadn’t gone out mid-typing (grumble).

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Dr. Seuss’ Birthday and Condoms

by Lucky Red Hen on March 3, 2011

A Google search for "seuss birthday" led me to this page with an interesting banner ad.

What does Dr. Seuss’s birthday (which is today, March 2) have to do with condoms? I don’t know. That’s why I’ve come to you, my faithful 3 blog readers, to find out.

Maybe practicing safe secks and The Cat in The Hat (ba dump bump tsh) have something in common. But I think his other stuff shows he definitely digs abstinence (yay!)…

Would you? Could you? In a car?
I would not, could not, in a car.
A train! A train! A train! A train!
Could you, would you, on a train?
I would not, could not, in a box.
I would not, could not, with a fox.
Say! In the dark? Here in the dark!
Would you, could you, in the dark?
I would not, could not, in the dark.
Would you, could you, in the rain?
Would you, could you, with a goat?
I would not, could not with a goat!
(thank goodness, I say)
Would you, could you, on a boat?
I could not, would not, on a boat.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let me be!

And if Horton Hatches the Egg isn’t a love story about foster care and adoption, then I don’t know what my natural hair color is (I do, so there).

Happy Dr. Seuss’ birthday! We celebrated Justin Bieber’s birthday (yesterday, March 1) yesterday by frosting cupcakes with purple (his favorite color) frosting. It’s 5 o’clock (somewhere) and I wonder what we’

P.S. I dig abstinence and not using abortion as birth control. So there.

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Elementary School: Bullies Discipline Order Chaos Learning

by Lucky Red Hen on March 1, 2011

[warning: rant to follow]

When do you decide that enough is enough with your kid’s elementary school? How far is too far? Where is the line? What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

I am NOT an educator (that’s the schools job). I have NOT been taught how to teach (that’s what teachers go to college for). I do NOT profess to know how a school should run (that’s why we have education professionals).

I am just a mom who wants her kidlets to have a consistently positive learning experience around other kids who behave decently. Is that too much to ask? I guess it might.

We can’t change the language that a third grader brings to teach my non-cursing children. Yes, I KNOW that’s going to happen, but it happens a LOT (especially younger) and it’s disgusting even though people may say/feel that it’s “just how it is these days.”

How about NO, that is NOT how it is going to be these days. How about we all agree that there is a NO CURSING policy at all elementary schools? Wouldn’t EVERYONE that is a parent to elementary students agree to that? Even cussing families, don’t you think they could agree that 5-11 year old kids should refrain from dropping the F-bomb at school? My third grader came home with a discipline form because he was caught passing a note in class that read (spelled correctly), “You s__ g__ f__ a___.” These are words he has NEVER heard/read outside of school. A kid in his class giggled and told him what to write. Yeah, my kid didn’t know better to not listen. Peer pressure… sigh.

How about we all agree that there will be no TOUCHING each other at school? Just a flat out rule that everyone is supposed to follow just like the rule that they are not supposed to walk on the grass (and they don’t). This would eliminate chasing, shoving, groping, pulling, poking, scratching, etc. Today my guy came home with ANOTHER deep scratch (his neck this time) from a girl in his class. This is the third in 10 days (arm and wrist were the other two), bad enough they needed Neosporin and bandaging (they’re bigger than a Band-Aid size). He’s had issues with kids on the bus harassing him (we drove him to/from school for a week then when he went back he sat in a different area) and girls kicking him in the shins (I think he handled that one by taking them aside and telling them it hurt a lot and would they please stop doing it and they did).

I’m trying NOT to go Momma Bear on the situation. I want him to stand up for himself and know how to talk to the authorities when something is wrong (he’s told her to stop, that’s not working). He’s supposed to go to the principal tomorrow and explain that he’s being hurt and would like it to stop. The nice thing is that he’s pretty docile and non-confrontational with people (who aren’t his parents), but that works against him when he’s getting picked on and treated unkindly.

The trick is that this stuff does NOT happen in Boy Scouts, Sunday School or at other people’s houses… just at school.

I KNOW teachers have a lot of work for little pay. I KNOW that kids will be kids. I KNOW that my kid is not an angel and contributes to an unruly classroom. I KNOW that the adults at school can’t monitor EVERYTHING that goes on. I KNOW that sometimes a class/group of kids can be impossible to manage because they are just like that. I believe that the teachers and other personnel at the school are doing their best to do what is right.

He says he doesn’t have friends at school, everyone is mean to him, he doesn’t feel like he fits in, etc. This. Breaks. A. Mother’s. Heart. And it makes me think about switching school’s or (ack) home schooling (ugh).

I DON’T want to home school but I don’t want my kid getting harassed and feel like a loser either. I DON’T want to get involved in a document trail of he-said-she-said (the principal is WAY into documenting every detail, I’m not so I feel unarmed).

How do I teach my children how to stand up for themselves without being disrespectful (not all adults are right or should be trusted, maybe the adult didn’t ask the right questions or believes the wrong person) or getting in trouble for doing it (if a kid hits mine but mine blocks or pushes to avoid then mine gets in trouble)? What is a kid supposed to do when someone else won’t stop being annoying?

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ButterLONDON Nail Polish

by Lucky Red Hen on February 19, 2011

Yesterday’s post was about the FUN of opening gifts and today I received a gift! What timing :D

As luck would have it (I love it when luck would have it my way), I won a giveaway on I Can Style U from butter LONDON (non-toxic nail care famous for NOT having formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, or parabens. It came with a hand written note from the Founding Creative Director, Nonie Creme (That’s her real last name!?! HOT!)

From their website: “This year her custom lacquer designs will be showcased on the catwalks of Vena Cava, Alexander Wang, Victoria Beckham, Calvin Klein, Betsey Johnson, Yigal Azrouel land Christian Cota.”

How COOL is THAT?!? I’ll be wearing the same polish as models on the cat walk!

(Can’t help but think of the SNL Miley Cyrus…) That’s pretty cool!

Check out the names the colors have, like: Aston, Dahling, Frilly Knickers, Minger, and Saucy Jack. This green color I won is called Dosh (my daughter’s favorite color right now… she’s SO excited).

The next time I fly, I’ll make time to visit the butter LONDON salon on Concourse C of the SeaTac Int’l Airport for a pedicure (they also do manicure’s and brow waxing)!

Thanks, Christie!!!

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Opening Gifts is FUN! Giveaway’s are FUN!

by Lucky Red Hen on February 18, 2011

This ALMOST became a gift for a far away friend. A Texas themed armadillo stapler! But we decided to just take a picture of it instead. Aren’t we nice? :)

Around here, the birthday person picks whatever dessert their heart desires… hot fudge sundae with sprinkles, bananas and whipped cream (in a can).

 The birthday boy hoped for a box from Amazon.com arriving ON his birthday, and that’s EXACTLY what he got (with something inside, of course)! See his excitement over a BOX?!?

And today we get to announce another Giveaway winner! Woot woot! Another gift giving :) My internet was down this morning, so this should’ve happened sooner (sorry about the delay). With only two entries (where my people at?) the odds were high (better than the lottery, that’s for sure)… 50% chance of winning :)

* TIFFANY *

Send me an email to claim your Nie Nie Dialogues Calendar PRIZE! Wee!

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A Zombie Shoot at Wade’s Eastside Guns

by Lucky Red Hen on February 16, 2011

The other day, Victor changed his Facebook profile photo to one of him at Wade’s Eastside Guns. Within minutes, Mike commented that he’d like to go with him next time. Because of FB’s clever cross-post-update-notifying, I saw the thread and invited myself, “I’d go with y’all. I pack my own heat ;)” Within two hours we had made plans to go five days later.

Here we are at our lane (you can have up to three people at each lane, which saves some cashola; first person fee is $15 and the next one to two are $10 each).

Here’s Victor getting some impromptu gun wisdom from a friendly Wade’s worker. ALL the staff that night were extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and encouraging.

The following two paragraphs in gray are about death (so skip it if you’re squeamish or don’t want to read it)…
The first time I heard about Wade’s was in 1997, right after a new friend was at the range with a girl who was trying a pretty powerful, unfamiliar gun. She had shot one bullet at the target. The gun recoiled up and shot again. That second shot pushed the gun back once more so that it was pointing behind her. Automatic reaction is to pull the gun down to the front, but in doing so her finger put pressure on the trigger and another shot fired and he was behind her, getting shot in the neck. He died before reaching the hospital. As soon as we all heard, shock fell upon us and remained for most of the week as his family came to town, we helped empty his apartment, and funeral arrangements were being made. It was an open casket funeral. At first I didn’t want to look (I’d rather his cute face show up in my memory instead of one without his spirit in it), but I guess that curiosity got the best of me because I got in line to pay my condolences see for myself how the mortician managed to mask the wound. They ended up wrapping his neck up with white fabric, making it look like an old-fashioned high collar, Mr. Darcy style. He looked, lovely. Really. As much as you would expect in that condition.

I’m not sure where the girl is now. She moved about a year later and we all lost touch with her. I think of her randomly; more often than him (sad). She’s probably felt alone since the accident, so that’s probably why it’s only when I’m alone that thoughts of her pass through. Hope she’s found peace. I know he has.

This is Mike, a.k.a. Bonnie’s dad, taking out Zombie Tom…

…Victor working on a target with my .38 special (wasn’t his favorite)…

…and me, concentrating on Zombie Tom. Victor bet me a dollar I couldn’t get Zombie Tom “downstairs” in one shot. Yeah, I’m a dollar richer ;) See the last picture for proof of my money shot, just under the belt buckle (close enough). Oh, the other thing about this action shot is that one of the staff tried getting me to change my posture EVEN THOUGH I HAD FIRED 3 SWEET ON-THE-BLACK SHOTS (he didn’t see them, just noticed my stance) and didn’t ask for instruction. But I listened and did what he told me for several rounds before I shook it off and went back to my way (straighter back, not bent forward at the waist like I’m pushing a grocery cart). That’s probably good form for others, but it did a number on my back muscles.

Mike proudly showing off his cluster of four shots. That would blow his head off if we were being attacked by (paper) Zombie’s!

Vic couldn’t show you where he hit Zombie Tom with the .38 because I’m not sure that he did, but he was able to get him a couple times with the 9 mil he’s holding in the photo.

I might’ve gotten him once with the 9 mil but my .38 worked just fine. It’s a gun my dad got for me in my early 20’s after I went shooting with him at an outdoor range. My first shot with a .22 hit my metal target and I was hooked. Guess all that practicing at Circus Circus as a child paid off! I’m a master at winning the watergun in the clown mouth to blow up a balloon until it pops game. Too bad the prizes aren’t worth paying to play.

Here’s a better close-up of Zombie Tom. Well worth the 2 bucks for him (the other small, bullseye targets are only four for $1). My aluminum bullets aren’t allowed on the range, so I had to buy (at a premium price, I’m sure) bullets from them for $19 ish (eye and ear protection is free).

The place was packed on a Friday night. Lots of guys firing LOUD hand guns and some just popping them off as fast as they could pull the trigger. Definitely a building full mostly of testosterone, a few geeks with really good aim and many trying-to-be buff guys showing off to each other. They run a tight ship at Wade’s, making sure that people follow the safety rules and help out willingly. I’ll be going back… maybe on a Tuesday when it’s Ladies Day 1/2 Price ;)

[remember to check yesterday’s post to enter the Nie Nie Dialogues 2011 calendar]

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Collecting Rocks at Golden Gardens Beach, 520 Bridge and NieNie Calendar Giveaway

by Lucky Red Hen on February 14, 2011

After getting my zombie post all typed up, photos added, and ABC checked (isn’t that cuter than “spell”?), I realized it was TOO HEAVY to post on such a light holiday, especially with the NieNie Dialogues Calendar giveaway. But the good news is that I already have a full post ready with photos and stories!

Saturday we braved the crummy Seattle weather to beach comb for the Conversation Love Rocks, um, rocks (I couldn’t just say Rocks rocks, could I?) Traffic was a BEAST (pouring rain, even though Seattle is used to it, isn’t fun to drive through, and being a passenger in it is stressful) and I-520, the floating bridge, was packed as cars slowed because of the gusts of wind that made the bridge sway and threw water onto the eastbound traffic.

The calm north end of the lake vs. the choppy south side never ceases to amaze me. Rarely is the scene on each side the same, smooth calm. When it is, you’ll see kayaks, paddle boards, row boats, and standing surf paddling.

Luckily the rain let up long enough for us to find the rocks the kids needed for their Valentine’s. The far end of the beach area had lots for us to choose from as well as barnacled stones to inspect, giant climbing boulders, and photo ops.

Our time spent at the beach was little, so we hope to go more often when the weather is more comfortable for hanging out on the sand and in the water. Hopefully that will be sooner than later.

MONDAY GIVEAWAY!
How about this week we giveaway NieNie’s 2011 Wall Calendar?!? Yay! I ended up with an extra calendar, so I’ll pass along my goof ;) If you don’t already have a 2011 calendar or want another, leave a comment to this post telling me what your FAVORITE MONTH is! Mine is October, because I dig fall and Halloween. Here’s a photo of the actual calendar (and shipping envelope). This will be shipping from a Seattle, WA, USA area post office, so make sure I can ship it to you for under 5 bucks, ok? I don’t have advertisers or sponsors paying for shipping. This is coming from my sweet little home (and wallet) to yours :) Winner will be announced Thursday and with the this Saturday night as the deadline to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen (so come back, mkay?)

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