Drained: 224/365

The kids have been battling the Adenovirus the past few weeks.  Some kids we know have gotten over it in three days, but our pediatrician has been seeing some kids experience a second dose of it, even after the the symptoms have disappeared for a few days.  Lucky us:)  The good news is that both kids have endured both phases and seem to be on the mend as of yesterday.   

This is what my bedside table looks like when I'm burned-out.  I drained a glass of red wine as I put away baskets of laundry. I also watched some Lifetime Television and am brave enough to tell you.  Today is going to be better, so is this week.  I can feel it.  When my kids feel better, I feel better.  

Preciousness caught on film.

Whisper: 211/365

Homemade Zen: 53/365

Going on almost two weeks of isolation with sick kids, I sought peace deep within today.  It's also the start of the Chinese New Year, so it seemed appropriate to use the homemade snow globe that my dear friend, Elizabeth, made for me.  I  got inspiration from Stace's lovely photo here and Meg's lovely photo here.  The good news is everyone is on the mend, and I have some serious snow globe support.   May your weekend be filled with peace, love, laughter and health!  

Accidents Happen: 50/365

While grocery shopping tonight, pricing some OJ, I stepped back to make my decision and noticed a Valentine snow globe randomly sitting on an étagère of cans behind me.  PERFECT! It was all cute with hearts floating all up in it.  I thought about trying to find the holiday section and look for more, but being crunched for time, I took the universe's gift home.


My two year old loves to help me unload groceries.  She saw the globe and was smitten.  "Don't take pictures of this!  This one is mine!"  I surrendered knowing that once she was in bed, I'd get my chance to photograph it.  I heard her walking in our hallway, up some steps, and SMASH.  My initial emotion was disappointment, but then I had been wanting to see what a globe would look like broken.  I just thought I'd get to do it myself under the right lighting conditions and background, preferably a black one.


My husband got our daughter busy with something while I tried to make the most of the situation.  The lightning was horrible, so after she was happily engaged, he brought over his Droid to help light the scene in between stirring pasta on the stove.  He's a good man, I'm proud to call him my Valentine. And as an added bonus, whenever you come to our home, you will be greeted by little hearts and glitter peeking through our floorboards.  


I've lost two globes in two days, but it doesn't feel like a loss.  Have you ever owned something for a very short time and in losing it, you gained more?  

Starter Home Snow Globe: 47/365

Madonna Dersch (The Happy Homemaker) had the brilliant idea for fellow 365ers to collaborate on the lovely ink on repurposed chipboard she made on day 12 of her project.  Here is what some of the fellow "neighbors" came up with.  After getting the print made this week on watercolor paper, I handcolored it and then got a small wallet size of the lovely starter home to insert in the snow globe found in a local craft store.  This is the end result:

Light Globe! 23/365

I am really enjoying thinking of new project ideas for both of us. I know my subject focus is tight, and it can seem restrictive at times, but it guarantees that a person with a limited attention span like myself, can focus on a single subject without bouncing all over the place with various ideas that never come to fruition.

My attempt at drawing a snow globe. Kinda cool, but not it.

One thing I've always wanted to try is "light painting."  I had fun this evening trying to draw an invisible snow globe in the dark.  Correction: it was fun, but I was getting frustrated.  I was coming up with some cool things, but would I call them snow globes? No.  Solution: Bring in the guy who was barking orders on the other side of the camera.  He rocked it first try.  Of course he had an incredible director, "keep it in the frame, buddy!"

Here is what we came up with.  It was fun and I can see more complex "light painting" in the future, for now, we are calling it a wrap.

There's a snow globe levitating over my bed.

Dorothy's Discovery 15/365

I'm tired of looking at my Christmas tree.  Once Christmas is over, I want nothing to do with lights, wreaths or any cutesy holiday crap. I understand that this could make my yearlong snow globe project challenging, but as long as I'm not working with Christmas tree globes all year, I should be good. As I gathered all the decor together for attic packing, I discovered an ornament I had forgotten about.  It's Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, one of my favorite films, and better yet, she's holding a snow globe.

I thought today's post might tie in nicely with the Darkside post from yesterday, since everyone knows Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon can accompany the Wizard of Oz film after the MGM lion howls his third roar.  Or maybe that's just evidence that me and my high school friends seriously needed a hobby. Regardless, tonight's post boasts a new globe.  Poor Toto.

Merry Christmas from Elf on the Shelf! 12/365

Acupuncture 3/365

What would be an interesting setting for my snow globe today?  I did the snow yesterday.  I knew I was going to my acupuncture appointment this evening, why not?  I told my acupuncturist, Remee Gemo, about my project.  She happily agreed and said she the placement of the acupuncture needles often look like art.
She helped me move the lights around until I got the shot I wanted, and then she removed the remaining head, ear, hand, arm, leg and feet needles so I could get the last shot.  We had fun working together, plus she takes my pain away.  What's not to love about her? I think even the snow globe is feeling the chi.