The oldest kid thought this bird eating tarantula we saw in the pet store was rather adorable.  I didn't used to like spiders, but the more I learn about them, the more I appreciate them for the elegant creatures they are. 

So, I mostly post slice of life type stuff on this blog, but I am also a dancer/creator/performer.  And right now the project that is receiving most of my time in that capacity is this "compost-modern" opera that will receive it's world premiere right here in Idaho in May 2013:

And right now, we have a Kickstarter campaign running in order to make this possible, and create a rich, challenging, intriguing, thought-provoking piece of theatre.  The directors are also my teachers and mentors, and I have tremendous respect for them; not only for the work they do, but also the work they encourage and nurture other artists in creating.

You can pledge your support here, if you're so inclined: 
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1091819207/double-blind-sided-world-premiere-of-new-opera

You can tell this was earlier in the year - there is still green on the trees!  

This handsome fella was posing for us when we went to the park. 

There was a small fire in the trailer park across the road from us.  

(It got put out fairly quickly, and no one was hurt- and the firefighters even rescued the pets. Neighbors were standing on the sidewalk waving the fire truck down the correct lane in the park. It's nice to know we have some good neighbors nearby, even if we don't know anybody  well.) 

But smoke and my eldest child are not a good combination, so we rushed out of the house and went to a nearby park.  As you can tell, I was super fashionable that day. ;)

Criss cross applesauce!

These are my piggy slippers. AND I LOVESES THEM! 
     I used to take pigs to the fair. We lived in town, but our grandparents graciously let us keep them on their farm and helped with their care. Every once in a while when friends would find out I took pigs to the fair, they would ask if we kept them in our backyard. 

PIG FACTS!
Pigs wallow in the mud because they don't have sweat glands, and it is how they keep cool.

They are very intelligent animals.

Hogs do not overeat. They eat until they are full.

Female swine are called sows. Sows give birth to litters of pigs twice a year. Each litter usually has eight to 12 baby pigs. Giving birth to baby pigs is called farrowing

(Last two facts courtesy of: Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom.  The first two I already knew. :))

I've got a new video tutorial up over on the Make Messes blog, check it out if you're so inclined!

Polymer Clay Flowers Tutorial

Re-enacting a nature show in the toy aisle. (And yeah, when you've got a kid who is either outside or working with animals most of the time- fingernails and hands get dirty! ;))

     The tiny paper airplane landed in the hot chocolate! I suppose practitioners of strict etiquette would be horrified at what we sometimes get up to when we are at a restaurant, but there's more than one reason we favor small, friendly, family owned type places! And we ALWAYS tip well! I was a server once, I know what hard work it is.