Keeping busy

Not the best of photos, but here is the peanut butter jar house after I painted it. The tree came from Amazon and I'll use that in a summer project. I'm considering trying my hand at making a 'fairy garden'.
I'm not sure about the little house, I will most likely have to spray it with a fixative to see if it can withstand the weather.

The little 'hut' is perfect for the toy dachshund that Allison gave me!
And there is Mr. Morris too.

I have this over my kitchen sink at the moment. Just to make me smile while I do dishes.

So I watched a few more videos and decided to try some more projects.

I put a bottom on a 'mushroom' I'd made with a toothpick in it...

Then I thought I'd try using foil to make a gnarly tree.

I know the clay I was using would crack but I didn't mind as I'd use Elmer's Glue and repair it with a bit of more clay. I think the little cracks make it more interesting.

This is after I patched it in places. Now I have to let it dry and do some magic with moss and paint!

These were experimental mushrooms. When the material is not put over cardboard or foil, it doesn't seem to crack!

Those same little mushrooms now with the bottoms and the tops attached with some glue and clay. I set them upside down in a 'possum skull to dry for the day.

I decided to try another form of Fairy House...made out of things I could find in the woods.

Allison and I gathered some branches and cardboard. Then we had a bit of fun spreading everything over the floor first and then picking out pieces to 'do' something with.

Since I didn't know what I was really doing ... I just winged it. Allison said she kept having new ideas and I let her flow with it.

I was aiming for some sort of little wooden house/hut.
It certainly wasn't as cute as what I'd seen on line.

But.

It is sort of fun and cute!

I have a bit more work to do with some moss and final touches.

On these dreary days, I love to try new things.

Comfort Zones

On Friday at CrossFit Coach Luke was watching everyone doing strict presses. We were to do 5 reps at 80% of our best.

Of course I had no clue what that would be for me, since I was still sorting out the movements for each type of lift. I went with a weight that I could handle. Luke walked up to me and said, "More weight Val." I must have had a look in my eye that said, what???
He smiled and added weight and said, "You need to get out of your comfort zone and make it hard. It is supposed to be a challenge. That is how you get stronger."

It was harder. In fact at the 5th lift I wasn't sure I could lock my arms out. With a lot of cheering by Luke standing behind me [spotting me for safety], I did it. I then struggled through the reps with cheers from everyone.

Before I left I thanked Luke for pushing me.

While I was driving to the 'photo' shoot for my friend I was a bit nervous. I'd never done a Family Shoot before.
Rich had said I'd be just fine. I wasn't sure.
My stomach was in knots.

And then I thought about what my coach had said. "You need to get out of your comfort zone."

Well indeed, he was right. Look at all the things I've done out of that Comfort Zone. Looking back on the past year there are so many things I've done or had to do that I've never done before.
As I turned into my friend's driveway I took a breath and almost laughed.

Oh heck, I learned how to drive a skid steer and work on lawn mowers, and build fences over the past year.
This suddenly I didn't feel strange or uncomfortable.

I could do this.

And.
I did.
I had a blast and learned a lot.
So far the family is happy with what I did.

So later today I'll finish up the shots and transfer them to a memory stick.

And I guess I'll be ready for the next Challenge.