I had some scrap wood and some other pieces of trash in my room. I had kept them in case I had an idea for a project. And, fair enough, I had an idea today: How about a motorcycle toy! I've always wanted to build a more sophisticated "trash toy"…
I visited my parents last weekend. And during that time, there was a big renaissance fair in the nearby town of Bretten. I took a day trip and met up with a friend there, and it was a fun day! Once a year, the entire old town of Bretten turns…
I have a lot of stuff going on. Exams and finals are coming up soon. I am teaching every few weeks. I have a commission to work on. And I am trying to get other paperwork stuff done in the background. I am looking forward to a time of rest.…
The kitchen sink in my dorm appartment has been clogging up for a while. The water would run off, but it was slow-going. Then, slower. And slower. Until yesterday, it was completely jammed. A sink full of greasy water and floating pieces of tiny lunch scraps. I confess, this is…
I have been taking a course in counselor's training as part of my studies in theology. The journey is rewarding, but requires lots of emotional energy and is potentially nerve-wracking. The sessions can get intense and stir up deep emotions. And in between sessions you have time to process all…
I was sitting at the dinner table with a few friends the other day and they were thinking of bizarre or disgusting food combinations. At one point, one of them said "Chicken and Chocolate!", to which I responded, "That sounds amazing!". People were confused, but I stuck to my statement.…
I have been working on my books. Experimenting with colored pencils and different collage styles. Feeling encouraged one moment, then feeling incompetent the next. Because I can see my progress, but also just how much I still can't do. It can discourage you. It discouraged me. But then, after a…
One of my goals for 2019 is to make some significant progress on my children's books and illustrations. So, as a professional step, I have just (yesterday!) joined the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). I have put off this decision because I thought I wouldn't have enough…
When you only have little talent or responsibility, you might look up to someone who has more. You might feel jealous or unhappy, thinking that a "next level" would make you more successful in some way. I'm not a super-famous artist (yet), but even now I can tell you that…
Act I: The Adventure begins I was driving back to school on the highway. It was a Monday afternoon, and it was an easy ride. Nothing special, apart from an insignificant drizzle. When suddenly, the windshield wipers decided to start an arm wrestling competition with me as their captive audience.…
Painting I got a commission to paint some sceneries for a kid's play. I got grey paper on a long roll. Next, I needed a place to hang it while painting. I ended up unscrewing the handles of my bedroom closet and using the doors as the paint surface. It worked…
Sometimes I think that I'm not doing enough. Not enough art practice, not enough inspiration, not reading enough of those 1000 pages for school (not exaggerating here!). And what about writing songs and painting? The truth is, I have so many things I could do. I could always do more…
We finished up the projects that we started. We added a door to the chicken coop. Sylvia's mom will no longer have to worry about her birds getting stolen. She and her family are all very happy! We also taught the women how to use the tools to build a…
We continued work on the pallet furniture and got it done. The varnish made the colors pop and gave the wood a protective coat. I hope this furniture doesn't get attacked by termites (some of the unused pallets were already attracting them). We started building a chicken coop and mostly…
We went to the place where the women's ministry meets. It's on the grounds of a catholic parish, which is located in the slums. Although the church is poor, it's property is kept in nice condition. Today, they met for their monthly feast. It's one of the only times some…