Artsy Craftsy

Aaron and I are volunteering for a local non profit called Treasures for Teachers. They have tons of 'junk' donated to them on a regular basis and teachers can fill a bag of random items for a couple of bucks to make projects with their students. We've been contracted (freely) to make fun arts and crafts projects for the store to display... so that the teachers have ideas for what they can create out of the random odds and ends. We filled a huge bag - binders, styrofoam cups, pine cones, styrofoam blocks, coin wrappers, fabric, string, plastic trays, so on and so forth. We'll make about 6 items out of these materials. So far, we made a stained glass inspired panel (plastic tray, paint, bubble wrap, wood sheet), neo-conservative finger puppets named Dan and Louise Meadows - they're married and he's a reporter - (coin wrappers, styrofoam blocks, paint, wood sheet, fabric, pine cone, plastic strap), and a penguin (styrofoam cups, file folder, plastic cap, pine cone, paint). Well, WE LOVE them! We took some pictures and together, they look like they're on a 70's TV talk or game show set. 

Over the weekend: We had an awesome visit with Becka this weekend and she looks amazing and seems full of spunk. Vivian's (Aaron's mom) 50th birthday was also this weekend and we threw her a surprise party at a greek festivity restaurant. That was also so much fun - she was super happy. Last night we all went to see Wicked for her b-day (Aaron, his sister and her husband, Vivian and Ron, and I). Their set was pretty kick-ass, and likely very expensive, and Glinda the Good's character was quite funny. I read the book a few years ago, so now I'll finish Son of a Witch finally. 

Becka and me... I need a tan:)

Vivian with the belly dancer 

Goings On

So, Aaron and I are both gainfully unemploy', (I just finished reading Confederacy of Dunces) and we're looking into jobs of various skill, pay, and objective. We want to get rid of our debt - who doesn't? - and then just get easy breezy jobs and travel around working on farms, making art, and eventually, hopefully, buying a piece of cheap land that has lots of dirt that we can use to make bricks and build a little dwelling, and have a garden, grove, and some goats. Anyway, there are tons of avenues to take. We both have our resumes out, our contacts contacted, our extra car on the market, and a few small, freelance (and babysitting) jobs scheduled to make it through August and hopefully get our credit cards paid off by mid 2010. But, our Mega Blaster 3000 to Get Out of Student Loan Debt Free plan is to get our teaching certificates and teach in low-income neighborhoods for 4 years. They pay a  large percentage each year towards your student loan debt and by the 4th or 5th it's inilated. Oh yeah, I didn't get the AmeriCorps jobs - rats! So, that's that. Who knows what will actually happen but this is what we're thinking at the moment. 

I was reading this book called Shelter last night. I think Dad happened upon it in one of his used book store rummages and gave it to me. It's really great - lots of pictures and random writings about shelters built throughout history throughout the world. I think my favorite buildings for the moment are that of the Dogon of central west Africa. They make bricks out of the earth and water, then make a mortar to plaster the outside. They could definitely work in Arizona. Also, the ghorfas in Tunisia are pretty awesome. They remind me of Arcosanti. 

This is the book cover. It's far out - very 70's and delightful. 

Two above - Dogon village and dwellings 

Two above - Ghorfas in Tunisia

What else? Oh yes, WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. So, you can work on organic farms that are listed through WWOOF (www.wwoof.org) and your food and lodging is paid by the farm. They typically want you to work 5 to 6 hours a day 6 days a week. Pretty cool. So, that may be something else we do after paying off our debt. So many wonderful things.

Okay, I'm going to eat some of the butter oatmeal raspberry bar that I made. It's so terribly good. 

2 sticks butter, 2 cups oatmeal, 2 cups flour of your choosing, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 cups brown sugar. Mix it. Put 2/3 in a buttered (more butter!) pan and press it. Spread either fresh fruit or preserves on top. Then add the rest of the butter crumble mix and press. Put in 375° for 40 minutes. Let cool and eat... but not too fast because it's like eating a sweet butter stick and it's very bad for you. 

Peace out!