Monet, I Am Not

I am not an artistic person by nature. Even as an adult my attempts at drawing more closely resemble stick figures a four year old could draw. (Well, not my four year old, since he has unfortunately inherited my (lack of) artistic talent. But that doesn't mean I don't like art. In fact, I love it and one of my long time, unfulfilled dreams has been to be an artist. A painter to be specific. But I'm not an artist and if nothing else, this lack of artistic skill makes me admire the work of others all the more since creating it myself feels so out of reach.

In high school and then again in college I had the idea that I could take a painting class. After all they were readily available and the students who took these classes produced such beautiful pieces of work. And that was exactly what prevented me from enrolling in a class. Everyone in the classes already had artistic talent; I felt as though I would have been out of my element. As an adult I continued to think about taking a painting class but the timing of the local adult education classes never seemed to fit into my schedule. (And I still harbored that fear of being the only one in the class without an iota of artistic talent). I even went as far as coordinating an art class for community members when we were with the US Embassy in Tirana. Yes, I organized the class but due to scheduling conflicts --and a little bit of residual fear-- I never enrolled. So when we arrived in Belgium and I noticed that the local arts center was offering a beginning water color class that  fit into my schedule, I impulsively signed up for the class before I could talk myself out of it.

Once I had signed up however, I immediately started having buyers regret. I emailed the instructor to find out whether the class was really for beginners who had never painted before. She assured me that it was and more over, because I was the only one who had signed up, my five week class would actually be five weeks of private painting lessons. I was a bit nervous on my first day since I didn't know what to expect but my teacher immediately put me at ease, introducing me to various paints, brushes, and canvases. She showed me how to use combinations of paint, water, and brushes to create different techniques. It was all so basic yet it was exciting to me. I was finally learning how to do create these designs that I had only admired from afar. Granted, my painting samples still look like something a four year old would create but I don't care any more. I'm having fun and that is what is really important. I now find myself looking forward to my Wednesday mornings. Not only am I finally, after all these years, taking a painting class, but I'm doing something that is completely for me. When I sit down with that paintbrush my focus is no longer being a wife and a mother, it is about my taking the time to tease out any artistic ability that is lurking inside of me. And that is priceless. I may never be Monet but I'm going to have fun trying.

Mamma's New Toy

I have a new toy and I'm so excited.  After many years and thousands of pictures taken around the globe with my trusty old Canon camera, I've upgraded to a fancier Nikon D5100.  While I do not consider myself to be a my camera to document our travels, daily life abroad, and as of late, my cooking experiments.  My interest in pictures goes back a ways.  Some of my earliest memories are of my father and his using an ancient--and prohibitively heavy-- Nikon camera that that been his father's to document our family vacations.  Does anyone remember those flat cameras who negatives were actually a round disc? I was so excited when I received on as a Christmas gift.  In the seventh grade the focus of my Special Interest Fair (an event akin to a science fair) was photography.  Over the ensuing years I've been inspired by the photographs taken by friends and longed to be able to document my own experiences with the same level of quality and detail.  And now, with a new camera that requires actually reading the book length operation manual, I hope I am one step closer to this becoming a reality.

We had been contemplating buying a new camera for some time and decided to take the plunge while we were in Germany last week.  I had done a bit of research as to what features I wanted---ability to take pictures in dim lighting, relatively easy to use, a fast response time---but I wasn't set on any particular brand or model.  As Glenn and I were browsing in the camera section of the Exchange an elderly salesman approached us.  It had been a long time since I'd actually experienced helpful customer service and was initially a bit taken aback.  Although he was a talker, the salesman was a retired Vietnam-era army photographer who he really knew his stuff.  In between "war stories" he gave us the run down on the cameras they had in stock.  He steered us away from those that weren't what we needed, suggested the Nikon we ended up purchasing and even recommended that in order to save a significant amount of money, we go out onto the economy to purchase the accessories we desired.  We left the store happy with a new camera in hand and with detailed directions to a nearby electronics store.  

There is yet another reason I'm excited to have a new camera.  I've been struggling to find something that is just for me.  While cooking is a hobby that benefits everyone in my house, I'm looking for something that is purely about me and photography just might be it.  We are still eleven months out from our next move but I'm already facing a bit of anxiety about what I am going to do with all of my time.  Glenn, of course, will be working; Sidney will be starting school and without any job prospects, the thought of three full years as a house Frau is a bit overwhelming.  Since there is a limit as to how much one can cook (and therefore eat), I know need to expand my extra-curricular activities.  And I think that expansion is going to include honed photography skills.  After all, what better way is there for me to document the memories we are creating.

And now to begin studying that lengthy owner's manual.

Boys In The Kitchen

Its no secret that I love everything there is about food.  From selecting or dreaming up recipes to preparing it and eating it, I enjoy food.  Maybe in my next life I'll come back as a great chef; in the meantime I'm content to cook for my friends and family.  This weekend resulted in a cooking marathon on my part--- nine distinct dishes in two days with only one mishap.

I love the fact that Sidney is taking after his Mamma. Not only does he love food and is always willing to try new things (quite impressive for a three year old) but he loves to help out in the kitchen.  This is big......this weekend he stopped playing with his train set to come into the kitchen to cook with me.  Forget playing house and holding tea parties; my son wants to cook.

Mamma's little helper

Together we made pumpkin doughnuts and to quote Sidney "Oooohhhhh Mamma, these are so good!"  You can find the recipe here.