Shelba

Zorba The Artist

I bought this easel for Zorba about 2 years ago.  It was on sale at Hobby Lobby and I really liked the sturdiness of it, so I bought it and decided to put it away for her.  We put it in the garage and forgot about it until 2 weeks ago when Ray was cleaning out the garage.  Since he set it up for her it has been one of her most favorite things to play with.  She is always drawing or painting now.  And she likes to use the chalk board side to play school.  She gathers up every kid chair in the house and puts her dolly students in them.  She is a very strict teacher, let me tell you. Having been her student a couple of times, I've been reprimanded for talking and for pulling her pants up.    

  This is something that Zorba and I drew together.  I drew the head and put earphones on him.  She asked me to draw his arms and hands, but she did the rest.  She colored in his eyes and lips for me.  The guy is holding a remote control.  The thing with wings is a flying television.  There is a garbage can.  And there is a sun and a moon. 

Since she got her easel, she is drawing constantly.  I find papers all over the place with her drawings on them.  And then one night she drew this:

  A bee! 

I should probably post this on her blog instead of mine, but what the hell.  I do have other things to post about.  Like the quilting I've been doing, pics of the doll quilt, etc. 

Beauty and The Bead

The only time we've had to take Zorba into urgent care was when she shoved a pea up her nose. Yes, we've been lucky. Knock on wood. Well, apparently she did not learn her lesson as today she shoved a red bead up her left nostril and couldn't get it out. The last time she did this, we had to restrain her so the doctor could pluck it out, but this time she kept still so I could retrieve it with a pair of tweezers. Phew. A red bead. I made her promise that this will be the last time she shoves anything other than her finger up there.

This photograph was taken a few hours before the bead entered her nose.

Gone Baby Gone.

My girl went back to her grandparents' house with them!  I can't believe it, she actually wanted to leave me to go to her grandparents'.  And she is having a great time.  When I call her she barely has time to talk to me.  Sniff, sniff.  And it is so weird to be here without her.  It is weird to be the alone version of me.  Very weird.  I don't know what to do with myself!  Actually, I do.  I'm seeing movies, getting a pedicure, sleeping late, and taking naps.  I'll be joining her in a few days. 

Anyway, Christmas was great, but I'm glad it is over with.  I was pretty sick for a bit.  Horrible ear infection and that nasty cold that seems to be plagueing people from here to there.  But all is well again. 

I'm going to leave you with two presents I sent out this year. 

Not the best image, but you get the idea.  This was made from vintage cowboy feedsack scraps.  I bought a little baggie full of scraps and I had just enough to do this doll quilt.  I made this special for a little girl who loves horses.  The binding was made using one of my favorite feedsacks.  And the fabric for the back is new and is one of my current favorite fabrics.  I'm in love with polkadots right now. 

And this is a shot right before I put the lid on the box and mailed it out. 

I made one for her sister too.  This was made from a quilt that I found at Canton a few months back.  I knew that I would make doll quilts out of it when I bought it.  This one is the second quilt I've made from it.  The first was made back in October.   I have enough fabric for at least two ( maybe 4) more doll quilts.  Maybe.  Her mom was with me when I found this quilt, so it seemed right that her doll quilt be made from this. 

Three Years Old

Dentist!

Zorba's first visit to the dentist went better than I thought.  She allowed the hygienist to look in her mouth and count her teeth ( I had to sit in the chair with her), but when the polisher was brought it that was it, she was done.  Once the dentist came in, she refused to allow him near her.  He was great with her.  He took off his lab coat and really tried to win her over, but she wouldn't have it.  Maybe next time.  At least the hygienist got a good enough look at her teeth though to let us know that Zorba's teeth are in good shape.  Phew! 

Bits and Pieces from My Day

Damn, my arm hurts from the flu shot.  The nurse reminded me to big girl when I was making a horrible face while she stabbed my arm.  Zorba remarked, "Mama booboo!"  Then she got her booboo and cried and cried.  Poor girl.  Later on, I peeled off her bandaid and said to her, "Ohh, mama's booboo hurts, does your boo boo hurt?"  She shook her head no.  She is a better big girl than mama, that is for sure. 

While standing in line to vote, a collared dog came up and walked right into the voting precinct!  She was in there for about five to ten minutes, then came out.  I wanted to ask her how she voted, but that would have been rude and intrusive, so I kept my mouth shut.  Some nice person grabbed her and called her owner.  Phew. 

I found four wool sweaters at the thrift store.  I'm felting them as I write this.  It is sooo much fun washing wool sweaters and watching them shrink and thicken up.  I also found a Martha Stewart book that I almost didn't get.  I'm very happy now that I got it.  Zorba got a Barney book.  I hate Barney, but I said she could pick out a book and that is what she picked out. 

I bought some paint stripper today.  I'm going to attempt to strip a dresser.  Right now it is painted brown and it isn't that pretty.  But I think if I can get it stripped and stained that it will be beautiful.  We'll see how it goes. 

I also bought a painter's dropcloth and I'm going to try to paint it so it can make a nifty backdrop for portraits.  I have a cousin who has a cousin who is prophotographer and he did this and from his pictures it looked pretty damn good, so I'm going to try it.  I think it will take me awhile to do this. 

Zorba refused to take a nap today.  This is not a big deal as I just left her down there for an hour and a half.  BUT, she was incredibly grumpy for the rest of the day.  The kind of grumpy where she was smacking me while in Wal-mart and screaming so loud that our fellow customers covered their ears in pain.  BUT, in the end she fell asleep moments after I put her down tonight. 

Zorba is big into giving lip kisses now.  She wouldn't for the longest time, but she does now and I love it.  I love getting kisses from her. 

Danielle called me from the road tonight....she is on the move.  Safe travels, Danielle!  She said that she had a good cry once Grrl Travels, E, and Z dropped her off.  "Tell them that I'll find them again if it is the last thing I do."  I know that I'm a pitiful sap because I cried right along with her.