Books

Oh god- this is going to take a long time. So, I'll start with the first ten that I read at the beginning of the year and see where that takes me.

Yes, they are children's books. I got them for Christmas from my mother. She is awesome and cleaned out my Amazon wish list. O.O It's research! For science! (Actually for art.)

1. Beauty and the Beast by Angela Barrett Illu. by Max Eilenberg
2. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
3. Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave by Marianna Mayer, Illu. by K.Y. Craft
4. The Ballad of the Pirate Queens by Jane Yolen, Illu. by David Shannon
5. Aida by Leontyne Price, Illu. by Leo and Diane Dillon
6. The Lady and the Lion by Laurel Long and Jacqueline K. Ogburn, Illu. by Laurel Long
7. The Sea King's Daughter by Aaron Shepard, Illu. by Gennady Spirin
8. Alice in Wonderland and 9. The Wizard of Oz both Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
10. Alaskan Field Sketches 1954-1956 from William D. Berry

Next up- random novels that I have read this year.
11. Sabriel, 12. Lirael, 13. Abhorsen by Garth Nix
14. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
15. Dune by Frank Herbert
16. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffery
17. This Alien Shore by C.S. Friedman
18. To the King a Daughter by Andre Norton and Sasha Miller
19. The Serpents Shadow, 20. The Gates of Sleep, 21. Phoenix and Ashes by Mercedes Lackey
22. Cry Wolf, 23. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
24. Archangel by Sharon Shinn
25. Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip
26. Song in the Silence by Elizabeth Kerner
27. Caspar and the Secret Kingdom by Miranda Seymour, Illu. by Lois Allard (yes, another children's book, but it might as well be a novel- it's so long!)

Okay. Here be Romance Novels. You have been warned. Yes- I read them. Usually I can get through one in a day, so there are a lot. I also happen to have favorite authors.

28. Dark Angel, 29. Lord Carew's Bride by Mary Balogh
30. Someday Soon by Joan Wolf
31. Rules of Engagement by Christina Dodd
32. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever (alas the only book I have been disappointed with in some time), 33. What Happens in London, 34. Splendid by Julia Quinn
35. Scent of Darkness, 36. Into the Shadow, 37. Into the Flame by Christina Dodd (someday I will get the second one Touch of Darkness even though I know how the series ends. I am a completionist.)
38. Storm of Visions, 39. Storm of Shadows by Christina Dodd (and this series looks like there might be five or six books...)
40. The Duke and I, 41. The Viscount Who Loved Me, 42. An Offer From a Gentleman, 43. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, 44. To Sir Phillip With Love, 45. When He Was Wicked, 46. It's In His Kiss, 47. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn

Oh yes- more that I forgot about reading this year. Actually it's more likely that I reread these over and over again so that I don't really remember when was the last time I read them. They are kinda my constants, my comfort reads.

48. Beauty, 49. The Blue Sword, 50. Sunshine by Robin McKinley
51. Snow White and Rose Red by Patricia Wrede
52. The Serpent Garden by Judith Merkle Riley

To Be Read pile:
The Masque of the Black Tulip by Lauren Willig
Odd Thomas, Odd Hours, Brother Odd by Dean Kuntz

Well, that wraps up that. A little more than 50 books in 6 months isn't bad. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm starting to reread stuff (not that that's bad, just some variety would be nice and I don't count them twice (or thrice) in this list.)
During this post I was able to do two complete loads of laundry (sadly there is still more to go), change the bed, and do the dishes. I should however by working on a website or business cards or a logo. (sigh) What I wish to be working on is my Beauty and the Beast poster...

resolutions 6 months in...

Well, it's 6 months in and I wanted to see how far along I've gotten (mostly on the books, but that might have to be a separate post). Here we go!

Travel (these may have to be LIFE goals... sometimes they seem so out of reach. We are planning to go to NC for our anniversary though...)
1. Visit the Aquarium in NC
2. Visit the Discovery Place in Charlotte
3. Plan a week long road trip with Landon and ch-puppy

• 4. EITHER go to the Grand Canyon (and other western-ish stuff on the way)
• 5. OR travel up the Shenandoah Valley (definitely life goals. Sigh.)
  

6. Take a weekend trip up the east coast to see lighthouses and stay in a B&B
7. Ride the Great Smokey Mountains Railroad

Personal
8. Get a job :(
9. Sans job, stay busy on relevant tasks (Check!)
10. Continue learning about web design/building (Check!)
11. Update my personal sites at least monthly (Yay! Check!)
12. Read 300 books (separate post coming soon!)
13. Complete at least one piece of art a month (8 done since June, and 5 mini paintings)
14. Get in the habit of sketching and note taking again (working on that...)
15. Taking up my dream journal again (yes! I've actually had some interesting dreams)
16. Finish some of my "short stories" (erm... no)
17. Update the Scotsgrove site weekly and redesign update quarterly (Updated monthly, sometimes weekly depending on the traffic, redesigns are GO!)
18. Maintain weekly riding lessons as weather permits (Check!)
19. Compete at Scotsgrove schooling shows (er... Since Flame is gone that kinda fell through.)
20. Go to Hickory Top in the Fall (as is this one. Poo.)
21. *Give blood (I like this, I want to do this! I will try, last time I did - I puked. I'm O+, I think, so it would be good to do.) (hasn't happened yet...)
22. *Learn to change my oil! (not yet)
23. *Get the wedding pictures printed (o.O oh snap. I really need to get on that!)
24. *Attempt to grow an herb garden (CHECK! I have Basil! and Oregano! and Chives! and Lemon Balm! and a bonsai Rose! and Mint! and ... I think squash and merrygolds are in there too!)
25. Maintain our recycling (Check!)
26. Have my people over for dinner (Check!)
27. Have Landon's people over for dinner (um. We sent them dinner... does that count? no. shoot.)
28. Reach out to friends more (I have been trying. Some with success others without. I cannot expect to pick up where we left off, even though I want to.)
29. Market myself better for jobs (sigh. I am trying, but not very hard.)
30. Open an Etsy shop (this WILL come)
31. Finish a longer art project to be made into calendars/postcards/etc.

• 32. either the celestial beings (make that the princess posters.)
  
• 33. or the mushroom dancers (I was in the middle of July when I paused, so not too off track)
  

34. Actually buy clothes for myself (I did go shopping! I have three new shirts! He still has more than me.)
35. Look into the local art community (check!)
36. Submit art to some local art shows (going to do that this Thursday!)
37. Not argue so much with my mom and dad (so far so good!)
38. Work out a children's book with my mom (it's been put on pause by her, so...)
39. *Volunteer either with children or with animals or both (er....not yet.)
40. Work on creating/designing characters (I have! I just need a scanner...)

Health
41. Tone up (Ha! HAHAHA! um. yeah... no.)
42. Ease into a more organic lifestyle (somewhat. I have my mini garden!)
43. Eat more fruits and veggies (I have been making an effort to put broccoli or peas in at least two meals a week.)
44. Become more flexible (ha. no.)
45. Drink more water (we've both put down the caffeine and gotten into Powerades and homebrewed tea. Not quite water, but definitely an improvement!)
46. Have one week with no eating out (oh. um. We like to treat ourselves at least once.)
47. Try different recipes (Yes!)
48. Take ch-puppy on an "outdoor adventure" weather permitting everyday (I try. Really, but the heat is awful and it's not like she enjoys it. Really- she just lays down. But I have been pushing for walks around the neighborhood in the evening.)
49. Lessen my chocolate consumption (check!)

Financial
50. Become better aware of what is in my personal account (um. sorta)
51. Stay on track with paying off students loans and once there's a job- start paying off more than the minimum (well- it is on automatic slowly draining my account, but I get a cut in my interest so that's good!)
52. Build my credit (not yet...)
53. Maintain being cheap :D (not a problem.)
54. At the same time- learn to live a little (have a monthly "me" spree) (heh- no)
55. Learn brand-name does not equal better, but you do get what you pay for (check!)

Relationships
56. Maintain our monthly anniversary (sorta)
57. Say "I love you" more (always)
58. Initiate "yes" more ~.^ (has been fun!)
59. Listen to everyone more, instead of being bossy (trying very hard to do this one.)
60. Call my sister more, just to say "hi!" (yup!)
61. Maintain my weekly visits to my parents (sometimes I go twice. I must love them.)
62. See Landon's side more often (really need to work on this)
63. Be a better friend than I have been... (I hope so)

House
64. Decorate living room & upstairs in general (Living room- check! Upstairs-...no)
65. Paint upstairs, bathrooms & touch up dings in neutral walls (no... stupid dings.)
66. Get pictures on the walls (yes! well... some.)
67. Create larger pictures to hang on walls (wouldn't that be nice...)
68. Work on the back porch (stain, awning, garden) (GARDEN! Check!)
69. Get bedroom furniture (not yet...)
70. Get a corner cupboard for dining room (nope)
71. Organize downstairs closet and extra bedroom (HA! no)
72. Finish stripping, sanding, painting the old desk I got for Landon 2 years ago (oh. I forgot about that...)
73. Create my own work space (It is in the dining room. Not where I want it to be, but it's there.)
74. Get lots of shelves (Sigh. Eventually.)
75. Figure out what is wrong with our fireplace (either fix or replace it) (stupid fireplace.)

Dreams in Gold

Finally got my physical media project scanned. Took me long enough!


It's the story of Rumpelstiltskin. I've been calling the girl Aurelie. It means "wheat", so that's fitting. Sorry about the watermarks, I'm trying to be more careful about my final pieces. I don't know what was my favorite part, the "story mandala" in the background or the girl. I had a great reference for her. First time posting my references, I believe. I aim for black and white photos, usually older, non (or out of) copyrighted stuff. I think I found this from someone who got it from the Library of Congress. As you can see- it spoke to me from the moment I saw it.


The caption at the left says: "Thoughts of Love" Copyright 1899(?) of (something) A3. I wish I could get the last bit.

I had a lot of fun. So I'm going to go ahead with Beauty and the Beast. ^.^ One of my favorite fairy tales.

~Gwen