A New Year

I'd like to say that every year we try to be better people. We try harder to bring the important things in our life, and leave behind the rest. While I can't say that any of our good habits were ever previous New Year's resolutions. I can say that that we add good things to our life every year.

So Jason says to me this year that he is going to make a New Year's resolution. He wants to make 20 pieces of art. His own art. Not art for a client. Paintings? Sculptures? Whatever. As long as it is his own art.
It seems that the past few years much of the art he has made has been a gift for me. I often times get art as my gifts for holidays, birthdays, or just cause. As long as this doesn't stop, I don't care what kind of art he wants to make.

This was my Christmas gift from Jason and Mr. Cash

It is a painting they created of "our family."

The three flowers are similar to the tattoo design Jason and I created together.

The tattoo is on my arm. Jason isn't into tattoos...yet.

So I thought I want to make a resolution too. I thought and thought. Jason thought and thought for me.

And here is what I came up with....

I want to become a better artist too! I know what you are thinking...let's just say I'm starting at ground zero.
Understand that I have much to work on during the year to become a better person. Jason suggested some things like spend less money on clothes (gasp!) and work in the garden (many times I'm the one taking the photos...not really doing the digging)- both good ideas, but I couldn't commit to too much. Ha.
Note: My art will consist of an ongoing list of "things I'd like to sew." I'm trying for 20 pieces too. I guess that would be my kind of art.

I mean, I can be an artist too! Right?

Doesn't this look like some of those Etsy profile pictures? And they are artists!

Photo notes: The glasses I got from Keith's get-rid-of pile and the art is Jason's.

I. know. If I'm going to be an artist, I better work on my originality.

Right now I'm resorting to using other peoples things to try to look artsy. *Remember ground zero*

Likely we were inspired by a holiday party we had with some friends.

We called it, Humorous Handmade Holiday.

Party goers were to bring a humorous handmade gift. Then we did the dirty Santa game and exchanged gifts.

Jason did a painting of a gnome peeing on a flower. Wish I had a picture to show, but I would need some sort of censor to cover certain areas of the gnome-wink, wink. It was the first to be out of the game (exchanged 3 times-froze it in time).

I made this super quick handbag

 

Yep, it is a douchebag.  Sorry but it is funny!

Hand stitched. Recycled material. Does that make it hipster artsy?

A couple of people made these great Christmas vest.

 

And this was the gift I received during the exchange.

See that's ART.

So..I should be able to make art...right?

And just so you know, Mr. Cash is a great artist...I hope to be as good as him some day.

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Love, The Jones Crew

The Last Day of Mom's Vacation

Here is what we accomplished on Rob's last day of vacation...

Back to work tomorrow...tear. No really, I will likely cry at some point.

Right after breakfast (some delish quinoa with honey, nuts, and berries)

More playing in the snow- we got a few inches over the night

We got so much snow it created avalanche . Ha.

More sliding!

I know what you're thinking...

Do they torture this kid or what?

He actually does his own stunts...

and look at this face. He loves it!

Snow Ice Cream

Empty bowls...I think there was ice cream in them at some point. Whatever.

Urban Hiking

Dad Pack

Mom Pack

This was at the end of the hike. Mr. Cash was getting really tired,

and I'm pretty sure was having an ice cream crash.

We ended the day with pear pie. I had some pears that needed to be cooked...so of course, pie!

While Jason was eating it, he thought it would be good with the snow ice cream.

Sadly, we had eaten all the ice cream (see empty bowl picture above).

*Note to readers: I haven't eaten piece. I just need you to know that.

Quick recipe for Pear Pie

1 crust (I made my own. buy it. whatever.)

A couple of pears

1/2 cup of butter (softened)

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of flour

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

(Guess this ain't vegan baby!)

Preheat your oven to 350. Cut pears in halves or quarters, and place them on your pie crust (you know, cover the bottom). Mix together the butter and sugar until smooth. Then beat eggs one at a time until light and fluffy. Stir in flour and vanilla. Pour over pears. Bake for 1 hour.

This is by far Jason's favorite pie.

I think the butter, eggs, and sugar make a custard-like substance, well...that is to die for. 

I would like to add I also got a few meals cooked, mopped the floor, read a few thousand books (to my hardcore reader), danced to "wock n' woll" and made a New Year's Resolution (next post). Wish me luck going back to work. I think we are all missing our usual schedule, but we miss each other more tomorrow!