Putting off finishing my commission (eeek!) by playing around with a Black Annie. Just wanted to see the gold through black. Excuse terrible phone pic on funny angle.

Really tempted to put up other big pic I have been working on, but do you think if I tell my sister not to scroll down so it doesn't ruin the surprise, that she will be good?
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Nah, me neither.

Yikes

Boys. Eep. 'Nuff said.

I think mine looks particularly handsome here, despite all the camo, but I might be a tad biased ;)

Weekend Pics

Been working this one hard. He resurfaced the outdoor table for us.

And oiled it too.

We got them both working - today they finished sanding the deck so we could oil it. Sanding a deck is not too bad with four of you on the job.

Mutti came home!

 Driving home on Saturday night. Beautiful but sad :(

Spending Up!

P9 is such a spendthrift, in the nicest way. Today she spent some of her M&B Christmas windfall on this hand screen-printed apron from her art teacher. If you ask me she has pretty good taste.

Excuse the Mama brag - she also came top of the class in a geometry test (even though she's in the lower of the two year levels in the class). Jolly good for a girl who professes not to like maths.

Boys Playing

Frisbee as the sun sets.

In typical boy fashion, soon a small tree is being used as a bat.

And the usual end too. Ah, memories of Christmas.

Parenting Fail

 Accidentally popping your child over an electric fence. . . doh.

Angelina Bubblegum

After school yesterday L&P and I made a guy for the bonfire party.

Once P9 drew such a cute face on her we all got a bit attached, and we spent a lot of today reminding ourselves that a bonfire was indeed her happy place.

They named her Angelina Bubblegum and this evening she had pride of place. 

It was such a beautiful setting.

And the most impressive bonfire we've ever seen.

Happy birthday S6, and bye bye Angelina Bubblegum. You did a great job.

Good Painting Day

I had a whole bunch of not quite finished things that were bugging me, and today, as well as doing the hard initial lines for a new painting, I finished some stuff. I put some gold detail on the last two Sad Annies. Hmm, only now I think they need neck ribbons. And darker shadows. Oh when to stop!

(They are straight, it's just taken from a crappy angle!)

I also cracked (I hope) the last stages of this one. Her neck had been bugging me. Who knew the answer was just go dark and vague? Suddenly struck me there would be way more shadow. I'm so much happier with the background now it's got good darks in too. Looks smokey.

But mostly it's going to be a good day because of my favourite part of fireworks night. Certainly not the buying part - youch. Not the letting off part - yawn, bedtime. The part where both children ogle them and get excited about the names! Yeah. I love that P9 actually had to list them too. An inventory is a very important part of the process.