The Nelson Family: Random November Happenings, Part I

Here are some fun things we did in the month of November:

Nov. 7

Grandma helping Ian put together a project kit.

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Nov. 8

Gabe had a dental appointment. He obviously didn't enjoy it. he didn't have any cavities, thankfully. The worst thing was that he missed his "Day of Awesomeness" in which the kids got to play on huge, fun blow-up structures outside. Poor Gabe. I had no idea, if I had, I would have rescheduled his dentist appointment.

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I bought some pillow covers on Amazon (they were really cheap, about $6 for 4 of them) and used them to make a quick table runner. It unfortunately was a bit too bit for the table, but I guess it turned out ok. I wondered if I should have hung it as a banner, but I couldn't find a spot for it.

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Nov. 15

Employees of Honor Health got into the Phoenix Zoo's Zoo Lights for free the 15th and 16th of November. So we went. It was kind of fun though hardly worth the drive down there. I'm so glad we didn't pay anything to see the lights because although they were neat to see, they weren't worth the $16 per person price tag. Seriously you can do that for free, just drive (or walk) around the neighborhood! Ian was grumpy most of the time, I think we spent maybe 20 minutes walked around and then we were done. At the exit, we were allowed to take some Lysol disinfecting wipes the zoo was giving away for free (Why?? Who knows?!). So, I guess it was worth the drive after all when you add in the free wipes.

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Here is my Thanksgiving painting I worked from Nov. 9-12th. I first gathered up some fall stuff around the house: the pumpkin Ian picked out from school, a squash my dad gave me, a green apple from my fruit basket, random fake leaves, and a fake sunflower I pulled off from a decoration. I arranged them in what I think is a pleasing way, took a picture, and worked off the picture. I guess I could have worked off the still life, but the in the craft light keeps changing and I wanted to work on the painting when I had the time, not when the sun was in the right spot. Eh. I suppose it's a cheater-job of a still life. Oh well. I wish I would have been more careful in the placement of the outlines on the canvas. I wasn't careful at all (I was sorta in a rush), so the perspective isn't' quite the same as the photo. Whoops. In order to make this a Thanksgiving painting and not a mere still life, I left room for a phrase. I decided on "Thankful and Blessed". I used white to paint in the letters and then colored red over the top so it would look red and not reddish-brown. I thought I was finished, but when I hung it on the wall, the lettering was really hard to read. So, I went back and outlined the letters in white as to make them more visible. I need to remember that the front room is much darker than my craftroom, so I need to make adjustments for that. Overall, I'm not completely happy with this painting. I'm not a fan of the brown background at all, but I don't know what else to with it do so I guess it stays. I also think there's some weird perspective issues and color choice problems, but for now this is what I have to offer, as far as painting goes: