This Handmade Life

Children's Museum of Bangor.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:59:00 +0000

It was a snowy day earlier this week ... so Isaac and I decided to spend some time at the local Maine Discovery Museum. I now know that poor Isaac was coming down with something ... so he didn't expend too much energy ... but we did enjoy the following ...

This place is such a treasure in our community ... and my photographs only give the smallest glimpse of how awesome it is. Since we were both feeling a bit "under the weather" ... we didnt spend as much quality time as we have in the past and will in the future :)

Just thought I'd show a glimpse of one our recent outings. What are you all up to???

Love,

Jodi

Basketball for Little Ones.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Do you have a YMCA in your area? Or a Parks & Recreation Dept? If so ... you really should get your kiddos/grandkids/nieces or nephews into the basketball program. Not only is it good for them ... but it is SO good for a daily dose of laughter.

These kids are so totally adorable ... trying to hold on to the balls ... learning to dribble ... asking for drink breaks every 10 minutes ... and don't get me started on the passing and free throws. Hilarious! ( I mean, Healthy!).

Isaac is having a wonderful time in this class. It meets once a week ... yet he has also taken to practicing at open gym days ... he so enjoys this sport. And he is even making baskets! Daddy has always not-so-secretly hoped that Isaac would enjoy playing football. But as for this Mama, I am openly hoping he sticks to Basketball. At its best, it is a "gentleman's sport" ... without the face punching of hockey and the full body tackles of football. Either way ... he is loving this ... and he is getting active during the coldest months of winter. Win-win.

Oh yeah ... and Halis and I are getting our laughs in ... win-win-win.

What are your kids doing this winter?

Love,

Jodi

Mr. Facebook Guy.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:32:00 +0000

The other day I friend requested someone on Facebook that I had heard lots about within my social circles. He has a reputation locally for being someone who is in the process of "doing it all" ... travelling everywhere, meeting famous people, creating successful businesses, enjoying success in his various art forms, etc. I was intrigued by this guy ... so thought I'd see more. He accepted my request. And like a true weirdo, I read through all his Facebook posts, checked out all his pictures and scoped out everything he was connected to (businesses, etc). And to be sure, this guy has fun. He is certainly successful at many things ... and is living la vida loca. All at a very young age (which is key here to my mind). Impressive.

So, though I am sure this guy is lovely ... his Facebook "resume" had me feeling like crap. I am sure this is not what he intended. At 38 years old, I am beginning to question the choices I have made ... and whether I am living the life I want to live. Sometimes when we look back, given our current knowledge and wisdom (that only seems to come with age), we wonder why we wasted time doing some of the seemingly worthless activities that we were once engaged in. And sometimes thinking of that can feel painful ... because we can't rewrite our history ... and we have no idea how much longer we will be given to create new chapters in our lives.

I spent about 2 days in a self-loathing fog. I asked myself questions like ... why didn't I go to school for Marine Biology like I wanted to? ... why did I waste so much time living in Corinna? ... why didn't I spend more money on travel and less on other things? ... could I have tried harder at succeeding at various pursuits, etc.... etc... etc...

Truth be told, this questioning got me no where. Of course. But I couldn't find my way out of it. Then ... well, then ... somewhere within this ridiculous and unproductive mini-existential crisis ... I was zipping up Isaac's jacket. And it hit me. BIG. I get to parent Isaac. I am Isaac's Mom. Yes, I am not just a Mom ... I am me ... with hopes and dreams of my own ... but, THIS .... this is what I have been working toward most of my adult life.

I spent years trying to create this family. And this little family rocks. Sure, I would love to be travelling all over the world, to be CEO of various companies, to have my photography hanging in the Smithsonian, to find a new shark species and name it after myself, etc. But without Isaac and Halis, what would it be worth? And with Isaac and Halis, how could I be all these things and still be there for them ... still enjoy them ... still be the tight knit family that I want to be? The answer is an easy one for me ... I can't do "it all" and still have the family life that I have so longed for --- and have finally arrived in. Maybe some people can. Maybe some people do. But I know that in order to co-create the life I want for my family ... that we need to live simply ... to spend loads of quality time together ... to really see each other and help one another flourish. This doesn't mean I can't search for that elusive shark ... or take rock-awesome pics ... or travel to Paris. It just means that I am where I need to be right now ... and the last 38 years was full of time well spent to get right here. THIS is what I created ... a strong marriage, a loving family, a nurturing household.

I am Isaac's Mom. I am Halis's wife. I am a good friend. I am a contributing member of my beloved community. I am the best Me I can be (Ok, well - I try!). And though Mr. Facebook guy has a great life ... and I am truly glad for him ... and inspired by him ... he does not get to spend his days teaching, playing with and enjoying Isaac. I do. And I am thankful. My cup runneth over.

Existential crisis averted. Till the next one ;)

Love,
Jodi

365 ... Revisited.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:38:00 +0000

So, last year I fancied that I would get involved with a photographic 365 project on Flickr. For those who don't know about these projects ... it is very simple (or so they say!) ... You basically take a picture a day for every day of the year (thus 365) ... and post them somewhere for all to see (Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, etc).

After a few days, I failed. Or flaked. Both really.

But it is a new year! And I have a lovely friend who asked that we give it another go. She gathered up several photog friends from the area and created both a Flickr and a Facebook group for us to post our pics to. AND she also made it a bit easier ... as she has created a 52/365 project. This means that if you are worried about getting that camera out every single day of the year ... you can commit to just one pic a week for the 52 weeks of the year! Hooray for slackers everywhere ;)

Personally, I am going to aim for 365 ... and likely fall into the 52 category the second week of February. But I plan to aim high first. And because this week is not over ---- you can still join us!!!! (click on the above links OR post a comment here for an invite).

This is a great opportunity to try out some new photo skills (I suck at Photoshop and am using this project to stretch myself in that area) ... and/or photograph things that you never thought to try before. And all with the help of some friends (ahem ... friends ... are you reading this?) ... who will hopefully keep you focused on your goal (cough, cough ... ahem) ... which is to finish the year out with 365 pics ... or maybe 52.

So, get shooting! And join us if you will.

HAVE FUN!

Love,
Jodi

It's New Years Eve!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:54:00 +0000

What's your resolution? Do you make them? Do you keep them?

I don't know if I have ever really made any ... and I am sure I simply can't THINK of any because I never really actually KEPT any. But I have a few "thoughts" for the upcoming year ;) And they go something like this:

* Like nearly every other American, I would like to make a commitment to weight loss and healthier living in the new year ... especially since the Mayans believed that this will be the last year for humans on earth. Or maybe because it could be my last year ... I should just eat tons of chocolate and worry not about my heart or health? Hmmmm ... I signed Isaac and I up for karate anyway. At least if the Zombie Apocalypse occurs, (as also popularly believed), I will be prepared for executing awesome karate chops to brainless heads. And I will be healthier ... just in case we all make it to 2013.

* I would like to make a commitment to play more. Yes, PLAY. I want to play board games, team sports, practical jokes (only the nice, really fun kind), play with Isaac and Halis more ... creating epic star wars battles on the living room floor ... etc. PLAY, PLAY, PLAY. One of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes quotes comes to mind: "There is never enough time to do all the nothing you want." I wish to MAKE that time ... to do the silly things that society tends to tell us do not matter ... like chasing each other around with squirt guns, playing endless games of Monopoly, faux tag team wrestling on the bed, searching for worms in the spring mud, etc. etc. etc. Are you feeling me?

* I also wish to make a commitment to create fun play dates with my friends. And if they want, we can run around and chase each other with squirt guns (as stated above) OR we can go out for martinis ... whichever is preferred at the moment. I have amazing friends, and I think 2012 will rock if I make the commitment to spend more time with them.

* But perhaps most important, my sweet little family of 3 has made the commitment to add another child to our family in 2012! Not a resolution really ... but we have announced to friends and family that we have begun the process to domestically adopt a newborn into our family. We are all very excited about this. Isaac is certainly the MOST excited :) Details will follow ...

2012 will undoubtedly be awesome. Many changes have taken place in our lives over 2011 ... and though some were difficult to be sure ... they have led us to this new place of hope, renewed faith & love, and a commitment to cherish and grow our family and our circle of friends.

At this time of reflection on the past and hope for the future ... I wonder what you are all thinking about committing to for the new year ... for your life ... for your family ... for you. Please share.

And thank you all for reading and sharing with me over the past year. Love to you and yours. Happy New Year.

Love,
Jodi

Christmas Came!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:01:00 +0000

OK, so I failed miserably at maintaining a proper countdown to Christmas via this blog. BUT we did have a freaking awesome Christmas! I hope you did too :)

So, want to see our tree??? (which was supposed to be blogged about over a week ago - as part of the countdown) ...

Well, it was going to be a glorious looking tree from Halis's land in Lagrange ... picked out by Halis and Isaac ... a father/son day of searching out the perfect tree ... then cutting it down together ... while searching out some moose and deer ... then enjoying some hot cocoa later by a campfire ... etc...

Instead, Halis told me --- at the final hour I might add --- that the search for the glorious tree never happened. So, Mommy found a tree in our backyard. The only tree that would fit into our house ... which also happened to be the saddest looking tree we have ever put up. I could have cut it down with a kitchen knife.

See how the lovely star --- which is virtually weightless --- hangs from the tree like the infamous Charlie Brown evergreen? Yes. Hmmmm....

But we did our best to make it look pretty. And ... I actually love it. :)

And it was free. Not even the cost of gas. How is that for part of our frugal Christmas ;)

How was your tree? Show me a picture.

And Merry Christmas ... a bit belated ... but just as heartfelt.

xoxo

Jodi & family

Countdown to Christmas: Day 11: Sew Some Goodies!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:54:00 +0000

Nothing says Christmas like handmade goodies. (Ok, a few other things do too ... but handmade treats are in the top 5). And every year, I try my hardest to make at least one handmade gift for everyone on my list. It isn't easy ... and sometimes I fall short ... but I try. This book has helped for several years now ... and though it is out of print ... I highly recommend you get a used copy via Amazon asap ...

The projects are so simple yet so beautiful ... and you don't need any major sewing skills. If you are skilled, then you can just amp up the projects in your own special way. I made the following goodies so far for this year's gift giving ...

Mom asked for a handmade tablecloth ... and she is all about the plaid lately. The squares were from my Mother-in-Laws collection of fabric that I inherited 5+ years ago ... and I backed it with some jean material leftover from another project. Cost = $0.00! So, I made a matching chair pillow for her as well ... again with leftover materials and I pillow form I found new at Goodwill for $.99. So, both projects cost me less than $1. And they are so beautiful :)

By the way ... the tree on the pillow is not in the aforementioned book, but was an applique from another project book ... but so long as you have fusible webbing ... you can put anything you want on any pillow/project you want :) Easy peasy.

I am not sure how well they show up in the above pic, but I also made a few wallets for the kiddos, and some pot holders for the grown-ups . Not exactly sure who they are going to as I am making more and will decide who gets what when I have a whole bunch to choose from. That's how I roll ;)

I LOVE these potholders as I don't put the traditional "hanging loops" on them ... so they can second as mats for placing under potted plants ... and/or for placing under hot food at the dinner table.

Want some inspiration for your own handmade gifts??? Of course you do! Here is where I go when I get a bit stuck ... the Sew Mama Sew Blog. It is chock full of goodness if you are willing to hunt a bit. And right now they are hosting loads of giveaways ... so check it out.

If you are crafting too PLEASE share in the comment section.

Enjoy your countdown to Christmas!!!

Love,
Jodi

Countdown to Christmas: Day 5: Enjoy Your Friends!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:51:00 +0000

Isaac and I were invited to our friend Victoria's house the other day ... for tea time. Yes, tea time. A British tradition that we sorely lack here in the the "new world". Sure, we have coffee breaks ... but they don't come with piping hot popovers, various fruits, sharp cheese and wafer cookies dipped in flavored cream cheese. Sounds like an odd group of yummies, but I can assure you that they were perfect. (However, coffee breaks do come with donut holes, which we also enjoyed).

Having never been invited to an afternoon tea, I had no idea what to bring. But a craft of some kind - for all to enjoy - always seems appropriate. I brought some blank cards, colored ink pads, and an Ed Emberley book --- for some thumbprint art. After seeing this article in Family Fun magazine for creating these sweet cards ...

... I thought it would be a great group activity. Little did I know that Victoria's daughter, Meg, would take it to a whole new level ...

Awesome! She gave Isaac much inspiration ...

So, it was a lovely, lovely tea time. Such gracious hosts. Wonderful conversation. Playful cats. Yummy food. And crafty goodness.

Enjoying my friends has become a high priority lately. And I am blessed with some wonderful friends to enjoy. (Thank you!) How about you? Are you enjoying your friends lately? How? What are your plans with friends for the holiday season?

And ... who wants to start a tea time hosting rotation in our community? ;)

Love,

Jodi

P.S. And if you are interested in making some of your own Ed Emberley art ... or gifting a wonderful book to someone young at heart ... check them out here.

Countdown to Christmas: Day 3: Love Your Community!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:42:00 +0000

Today was pure Christmas awesomeness in Downtown Bangor. Our city celebrated Downtown Holiday Festival Day in a big way! So very much celebrating/crafting/socializing to participate in. Isaac and I parked our car around noon ... hiked all around downtown ... from one great event to another ... and didn't make it home till 7:50! A day very well spent ... and it went something like this ...

... Isaac told Mr. and Mrs. Claus what he wants for Christmas ... a blue lightsaber, a red lightsaber, and a microwave. Yes, a microwave oven. He wants to be able to cook microwavable macaroni and cheese ... just like Grandma makes. True story ...

... And no one is ever too big to sit on Santa's lap. Mrs. Claus was generous enough to offer the idea for this photo ... the three of them together. Wonderful! Thank you to the Downtown Bangor Partnership and Bagel Central for bringing Mr. & Mrs. Claus to Bangor --- for free photos ... AND for homemade cookies ...

... You should have seen the spread at Bagel Central ... Icings, sprinkles, frostings, nonpareils galore! What a great idea!

... Proud of his creation ...

... And so yummy ...

... Then to our friend Tree Heckler's studio for some Zombie Elf Ornament making! Another true story. ZOMBIE elves. Now that is Christmas :)

... Wish you could see one? I will post a pic of Isaac's creation after he gifts it to his Daddy. And also, Tree will be selling these soon ... so will post a pic when she has some ready. They are creepy and awesome. Of course ...

... After Zombie Elf making, we made our way to the UMaine Museum of Art for lots more gift making and artistic pursuits. Again, I can't show pics of some of Isaac's creations till after he gifts them to his Daddy :) ... But I can show you one of my fave pics of the day ...

... YES ... this pic made my day! Priceless ...

... Then ... off to the PARADE! We met our friends Melodi, Daiken, and Peter in front of the Children's Museum ... to enjoy some hot cocoa, cider and pastries ... compliments of the Museum (thank you all!) ... and to catch a great view of the parade ...

... These goofy guys had such a great time together! ... The parade was the best one yet. The floats were so great ... the bands were awesome ... and the dancers/gymnasts were a pleasure to watch ...

... And THIS float was my absolute favorite!!! I mean, could it be any cooler??? When Isaac spotted it, he turned to me and shouted, "Mom! It's like they knew you were coming!". Indeed. I was beaming. And I loved sharing this moment with sweet Daiken, who loves sharks as much as I do ...

So, that was our day ... with lots of other fun stuff in between ... Smiles and Hugs shared with our fellow community members ... A surprise visit with my Dad on Main Street ... the tree lighting ceremony ... And so much more. I ***LOVE*** my community ... and now I wonder ...

HOW DO YOU LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY? What sorts of things do you cherish about your community at this time of year? How do you all get together to celebrate? PLEASE SHARE in the comment section below (on blog if you are reading this on Facebook) ...

Thank you for reading. And thanks to the Bangor Area Childrens' Choir ... who put on a lovely holiday concert last night! Another wonderful celebration in our community. Will post those pics tomorrow.

Love,

Jodi

Countdown to Christmas: Epic Gift Idea ...

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 04:56:00 +0000

Ok, this gift idea is not necessarily "EPIC" for every person on your list ... but I must say, I am pretty darn impressed with it myself. Some good friends of ours thought it was near sacrilege that Isaac had no knowledge of who Marty McFly was or that a DeLorean equipped with a flux capacitor could propel a person into the future and/or the past ... so they let us borrow their 25th Anniversary blu-ray/dvd/digital trilogy package of the Back to the Future movies in order to school our kiddo on the subject ...

So, we took a day and watched all three films, back-to-back. This was not something we scheduled ... but after Isaac watched the first one, he was blown away and HAD TO watch the rest immediately. And let me tell you, it felt pretty freakin awesome to share the memories of the late 80's with my boy. I had to explain a few things ... like how skateboarding was pretty much how us teens got around back then (just as Marty does in the films) ... and that contrary to what we may have thought in the year 1985, we are all not driving space cars in the year 2011. I had to explain some of the clothing/ hair choices too ... and how Mom once dressed exactly the same as Marty's girlfriend Jennifer ...

... big hair and all. I even wore some of those same skin tight floral jeans ... and would totally show you a pic here but can't seem to find one of either Jennifer or myself ... so you will just have to watch the movie again.

But now ... so many of the snarky little sayings I say around the house ... that Isaac once never understood ... NOW, post watching Back to the Future, they all make sense to him (and raise my cool level). Like, "Hello!? McFly??" ... and "Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here!" and "What are you, CHICKEN?" ... oh, oh ... and this little chestnut ... "GREAT SCOTT!"

I am so very grateful to my friends for sharing this with us ... and am sure to buy a copy now. The updated version is absolutely pristine in color ... so vivid ... and contains so much more detail than I ever knew existed when I watched it on VHS.

I promise you (and no one is paying me or offering me anything to say this) ... you will enjoy these films so much more today than you even did back then. And your kids will thank you. The themes of these movies hold up to today ... and Isaac was as taken with these movies as he was when I first introduced him to Star Wars. Truly.

Still not sure if this is a great gift idea for someone on your list ... well, here are a couple videos to help you change your mind ;)

So, what are you waiting for? Rent, buy or gift this trilogy ... and you will never look at Calvin Klein underwear the same way again ;)

Love,
Jodi

PS. If you are reading this on Facebook, you will need to go to the blog to see the videos. Enjoy!

Frugal & Green Holiday Idea #1 ...

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000

On a recent trip to our local Lowe's Hardware store ... bored out of my mind ... waiting for Halis to find whatever he was looking for ... I found a clearance section in the plant department. Yes, a clearance section. Now, usually clearance sections of any particular department contain items that I would not want to pay a penny for ... as they are horrible failed products (like singing fish to mount on your wall) ... but plants? How can potted plants go wrong? Well, they can go unloved by staff whose primary responsibilites do not include playing nurse maid to sickly greenery. So, they mark these little guys on sale for $.25 - $3.00 each ... and hope that they will get their money back ... and that you have a green thumb.

So, I bought them all. Yes, all. From African violets to Spider plants to Orchids. I spent about $11.00 and that included the Miracle-Gro bagged soil! Why did I buy them all? And why do I plan to go back tonight for more? Christmas presents!

All I need to do is re-pot these little lovelies into recycled pots (from home or from the local thrift stores) ... give them water, sun, new soil, attention and some plentiful carbon dioxide ... and these babies will be gorgeous! And just in time for holiday gift giving.

AND every year our family gives gifts to a local charity ... and what a wonderful way to say I am caring for you ... then by giving a lovely plant to someone in a veterans/nursing home. So, we will pretty these up in time for handing out to those who will appreciate them most.

Before putting most of them (not the shade loving variety) on a shelving unit in our living room ... I plucked their yucky leaves, watered them, added soil when needed, and looked up their light/water needs on Wiki. From here, I will search out pots at our local thrift stores and transplant them as soon as possible ... adding the nutrient rich bagged soil when I do. I will add ribbons that I have in my endless collection of notions ... and VOILA!

Just before I send these guys off to their new homes, I will be sure to show you some pics. Until then, go rescue some plants from your local hardware store ... or other place (do tell where you have found yours in the comment section please). ENJOY!

Any other frugal, green ideas to share? Post them in the comments :)

Love,

Jodi

Christmas is Coming. Countdown Starts Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:03:00 +0000

My goofy little guy absolutely loves the snow. I think his body has completely forgotten that it once enjoyed a tropical climate.

I took him out in our first major snow storm ... in order to take pics for our Christmas cards ... and got a few to add to this blog as well (but won't share the chosen Christmas pic till after they are all sent!). It has been far too long since I have shared anything ... and thank you for not giving up on this blog.

Life is good. Very good. And we are all very excited for Christmas. Tomorrow, Dec 1st, starts our countdown to the big day :) I am hoping to countdown here - with crafts, videos, awesome links, etc. Let's see if I can keep this commitment. (Don't roll your eyes! I will try, I swear!).

For starters, I will share this video with you all ... it is Isaac's favorite Christmas song ever ... and I often wonder if it is because I sang it to him when I visited him in Haiti the Christmas before he came home. I know he doesn't consciously remember this ... but perhaps his heart remembers. Truth be told, I replaced some of the words to sing the song specifically to Isaac. Isaac was and always will be our miracle. His birth, his adoption, his life ... is wonderful and miraculous ... as is the birth and life of every child. And no matter whether you take the story surrounding Jesus's birth as fact, metaphor, mythology, or other ... the bottom line is that we celebrate the birth of a saviour child at Christmas ... and it is my belief that every child is a blessing, a miracle and a saviour. In that spirit, I share this song with you ... and hope you feel its power ...

(If you are reading this on Facebook, you will need to go to the blog to see the video).

Thank you for reading and sharing. I hope to write again tomorrow with some fun holiday ideas. I have a few that I am excited to show you.

Talk to you soon,

Love,

Jodi

16 Years of Keeping Our Commitment ...

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:45:00 +0000

... to one another ... through good and bad ... sickness and health ... bad hair-dos and mustaches ... and everything in-between.

Halis and I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary (October 8th) on October 10, 2011 with a day trip to Bar Harbor. We took Isaac with us ... of course ... because a wedding anniversary (in our minds) is the celebration of the beginning of a family ... and plus, Isaac is just super cool.

Before Isaac, we used to go to Bar Harbor every anniversary ... dropping by the spot where we got married, eating at the restaurant where we ate on our wedding weekend ... and visiting all the spots we visited back when we were newlyweds. But this time ... we changed it up (because I am all about change right now ;)

This time we decided to try out the famous Geddy's Restaurant. Such a fun place ...

Such a handsome man ...

So much love between us all ...

Enjoying the simple things ... like coloring ... and laughter ...

... it's all good :)

And although it was just a day trip ... I have LOADS of pics of the sites of Bar Harbor. I hope to share them tomorrow.

Spread the love my friends! Enjoy the day.

~ Jodi

Daddy's Moose.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:33:00 +0000

Halis found a HUGE moose at his camp ... and quickly raced to buy food for the big guy. He has placed the grain near the camp ... so we are hoping I can photograph him up close soon! Until then, here is a video ...

Anyone want to name him?

Love,
Jodi

Harbor Seals at Boston Aquarium.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:03:00 +0000

The Harbor Seal outdoor exhibit at the New England Aquarium is one of the classic Boston "freebies" ... and has been around since I was a toddler. It is a must for anyone visiting the area ... (well, the whole aquarium is really) ... and Halis and I were excited to be able to share it with Isaac ... just as our parents shared it with us so many years ago. And believe me, it hasn't changed at all ... (except maybe the seals). With all the wonderful changes and additions to the aquarium, we were happy to find that some exhibits there have proven timeless ...

... and watching Isaac enjoy the seals ... in the same ways that we did at his age ... was priceless ...

Look at that laugh (can't you hear it?). Love it!

I hope you enjoy a wonderful belly laugh today too :)

Love,

Jodi

SHARKS ... make me happy.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:32:00 +0000

I cannot begin to tell you just how much I love sharks ... have ALWAYS loved sharks. My first visit to the Nashua Public Library was so memorable for me because it was the first time that I could look at loads and loads of shark books without anyone else looking on (my Mom was not so enthusiastic about my shark fixation). Though I was young enough that I couldn't read all the "big kid" words ... the pictures were enough to satisfy me ... and I can still see those very pictures in my mind's eye. Jacques Cousteau? Yes ... my hero! Shark Week? Yes please! It is nearly a religious experience for me to sit down to some new Discovery Channel shark specials. Jaws? Booooo (sharks are not nearly so villainous)!

I remember the delicious fear and respect I had when I saw my first shark at the New England Aquarium in Boston. I was about 5 or 6 ... visiting there with my parents, their friends, and my little brother. And in the enormous 200,000 gallon Giant Ocean Tank ... I watched from a thick, giant viewing window as a large shark swam by ... mouth agape ... razor sharp teeth ... and seemingly within inches of my face. I was scared and awe struck at the same time. And I get that same feeling today ... I love them ... but have this healthy fear of them that quickens my breath ... and raises the hair on the back of my neck. But it is a feeling I relish ... and have been lucky enough to experience at several aquariums along the East Coast ... Sea World, Mystic Aquarium, Saco Aquarium, ... and several returns to the New England Aquarium.

And now ... this past week ... I was able to take my own boy to that wonderful place ... to share my passion for all creatures of the ocean ... but most especially to share with him the opportunity to pat a shark in the new Shark & Ray Touch Tank at the New England Aquarium!

Let me first tell you that when I told my son of our upcoming visit to the aquarium ... he protested. He WAS NOT GOING. Period. See, if I LOVE something ... like Star Wars ... he will hate it just to oppose me (though he will secretly watch the entire Star Wars trilogy over and over again and can answer just about any question you may have on the subject). My love for the ocean, and especially for sharks, is well known around here and often the main subject at any dinner gathering ... so he would have none of it.

Even as we arrived at the aquarium ... he was still protesting. He was NOT going to touch a shark. And he was NOT going to enjoy the aquarium. He was just going to "get it over with".

Upon entering the aquarium, it is the first exhibit you walk into ... and though it is really so very simple ... a petting zoo for sharks and rays ... it was AWESOME. And as you will see by the following pictures, I was NOT the only one to think so ...

Seriously ... this kid could not break away from this exhibit. And I didn't want to either. Yes, the sharks are harmless and small ... but there is something so wonderful about being able to get so close to something so wild and so primitive ...

And then there was the thrill of being able to wait patiently for the shy and elusive Bonnethead (you can see it here) and Epaulette sharks to swim up to us. As seen from the first picture, Isaac (and I) was able to touch one. And after being told that it was a rare privilege in that touch tank for the Epaulette sharks to allow you to touch them ... we couldn't resist trying again and again.

Here is the Epaulette ... shown above ... and if you have a chance to learn about them ... do! They are amazing little creatures. They can even breathe air out of water for a short period of time ... and can use their dorsal fins to "walk" across wet sand to nearby tide pools. How many sharks can say that!?

So, after touring the entire aquarium (additional pictures to come in future posts) , Isaac and I went back for more of the sharks and rays ...

and it paid off ...

And though he will tell you that he does not like sharks, and that he did not love the aquarium ... the truth is, he absolutely loved it ... did not want to leave ... and asked if we could move there to work at it. Though again, he will deny all of this. But tell him you are about to leave to go to the New England Aquarium ... and he will beat you to the car to join you!

It was absolutely wonderful and I highly recommend it. I think it is perfect for showing kids and adults that sharks and rays are mostly harmless (100 shark attacks a year is chump change and a risk worth taking in my humble opinion). I think hearts and minds can be changed with exhibits like this ... and I am so thankful for them.

So, thanks NEAQ. You guys rock! And thank you for making sure that everyone handles the animals with care.

Love,

Jodi

P.S. To see more pics from this part of our Boston Adventure, click here.

Boston: Museum of Science: Isaac's First Visit!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 03:25:00 +0000

This past week, our little family took a much needed trip to Boston. "Much needed" in the sense that we needed to get away for a while, just us three, to take a break from the chaos of our lives and simply enjoy one another. But also "much needed" in the sense that Mama needed to revisit the city of her childhood ... the city that my Dad took us to whenever we needed a bit of culture, some interesting foods, music, museums, and whenever we just needed to be surrounded by people of all kinds. My Dad and I are kindred spirits ... and Boston feels good to us.

I took Meaghan to Boston when she was 6 (still searching for the pics of that trip) ... taking the train in from Lowell ... for a visit to the New England Aquarium. It was a wonderful day for us ... and I figured it was time to do the same for Isaac.

But instead of one day ... we took a vacation of three days. One day for each place that I wanted to share with my boy. Day one? The Museum of Science.

As a child, I loved the Museum. As a young adult, I found it boring. As a Mama, I fell in love all over again. Such a huge place full of rich history and exciting innovations.

Here is a bit of what we saw/did:

First stop ... Theatre of Lightning ... one of my favorite exhibits from childhood ... and as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. But not one of Isaac's favorites. Very loud and a bit over his head. But interesting (again) for both Daddy and me.

Then, a bit of the old space exhibits that we parents also remembered from our childhood ...

R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker never get old. And since Isaac is a recent convert to the whole Star Wars trilogy ... this was a super cool find for him.

Sometime after space ... we went over to the Evolution, Human Birth and Anatomy sections. These were my favorite! Skeletons that showed the evolution of the human species ... various animal brains in jars (beluga whale brains are awesome!) ... a whole exhibit on reproduction that was so well done ... baby chicks hatching in a hatchery for all to see ... WAY COOL.

And as part of the whole Human Evolution exhibit ... there were Tamarin monkeys ... live ones. So adorable and fun to watch. And I swear to you ... on pain of death by flying monkeys ... that we (all three of us) witnessed two Tamarins totally making out. Like for real making out. Lips to lips ... smooching. Then they would preen each other ... then cuddle ... then smooch ... and repeat. It was awesome.

Why Tamarin monkeys? Well, I don't think we got that far, but the website reads: "Ancient stone tools, poisonous plants, DNA, fossil skulls, and tamarin monkeys all have something in common: they are all clues that help explain why all life on Earth, including humans, evolves over generations." So if you are interested, check out their site and search for the connection.

Later ... after skipping around to various exhibits (we had only a few hours so did much skipping about to the exhibits we knew were a must see) ... we found ourselves among dinosaurs!

The above dino is Cliff, who is apparently a big deal. He is one of only 4 nearly intact Triceratops skeletons in the world.(I am loving the picture I took of him!) As I looked over his bones, while Halis and Isaac were goofing about somewhere else, I found myself wondering how some people, in order to keep to their religion, have decided that all the skeletons/fossils of dinosaurs are a hoax. Apparently they need to believe this in order for the Christian bible timeline to make sense. I wondered how on earth anyone could pull off such a global hoax ... and how people could believe that these bones were planted all over the world for archaeologists to feign the discovery of them. I wondered this in part because I once had a friend who truly believes that dinosaurs were created as a global hoax to usurp Christianity. ANYWAY ... while I was wondering all that ...

Isaac was simply enjoying them. :)

There was so much to see all around us ... and so little time (we will definitely go back!). There were so many exhibits that we enjoyed but did not get any pictures of. A fave that comes to mind is the new X-Ray exhibit ... where Daddy showed Isaac the x-rays of various animals with various ailments.

I found this amazing rock ...

Anyone know what is called? It is gorgeous. I want to wear it all over me!

I also found this enormous piece of artwork that called to me ...

I think I may try to recreate this in some way ... on a much smaller scale ... and with paper :)

Here - for whatever reason - was one of my favorite interactive sections of the museum ...

I think I would also like to recreate this in our home too! What a simple, yet brilliant way to learn about birds! Oh, and I just have a thing for silhouettes :)

This was Isaac's favorite ... and I really think he could have spent hours at it ... watching the mechanics at work ...

At one point, there were at least a dozen kids watching this piece ... and I think Isaac loved it as much for the social interaction as he did for the mechanics of it. That's my boy.

And at the very end of our visit, I remembered the bees! The bees that I was mesmerized by as a child ... so Halis and I made sure to run Isaac up to the top floor to catch a glimpse. And it was worth it ... once again ...

So, there ya have it ... a glimpse of what we enjoyed during our first Boston day. We missed quite a bit at the museum ... so now have an excuse to return ... that and we want to do an overnight in the museum! I want to live out the adventures of Claudia and Jamie ... just as I heard them when I was in 3rd grade :) Have you ever done such a thing?

Although we weren't able to explore any one exhibit in the depth that it deserved, we now have some starting points for homeschool discussion and exploration.

Day Two? The Aquarium! And it was AWESOME! Will post more asap. Thank you for reading & sharing with us.

Love,

Jodi & Family

"A Night On Broadway" at Next Generation Theatre.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Thanks to my amazing friend Tricia Kenny, of CK2 Photography, my son is now a "theatre kid" ... at Next Generation Theatre ... and loving every minute of it! This past summer, he starred in their cabaret musical, "A Night On Broadway" ... and blew me away with how dedicated he was. At 6 years old, he had yet to be away from Mom for more than an afternoon at Grandma's ... and then for 3 weeks, he went to theatre day camp every day from 9-1 ... without Mom or Grandma ... and felt absolutely safe and gloriously happy. He made wonderful friends, he learned to sing and dance, and he was surrounded by really great people whom I trust with his sensitive nature. It was so good for both of us. I needed to learn to let go a bit ... and he thrived in it.

He was involved with the following scenes/songs: Consider Yourself (Oliver), Seasons of Love (RENT), Lullaby of Broadway, You Can't Stop the Beat (Hairspray), Twenty Million People (My Favorite Year) ... and our favorite ... ME AND MY SHADOW ... with Conor Kenny ...

WOW. I never knew he had it in him ... but he loves to perform ... and is thrilled to be able to hang with the big kids, etc. I was so worried about stage fright, not fitting in, etc... but there was nothing to fear. The group of kids who participate in this theatre, the Moms who put so much effort into it, and the owner whose passionate about both theatre and the kids ... made it easy for Isaac and I to fall in love with the place.

Oh, and he is going back for more too! He auditioned for their upcoming 101 Dalmations production and he got the role of Pongo! Perfect, right!? See you there, I hope! But be aware ... I cry, cry, cry ... through the entire production ... in awe of what these kids can do ... of their spirit, their confidence, their joy, their talents. And apparently I am not the only one, as several of my friends and my parents cried right along with me at Isaac's last production!

GREAT JOB ISAAC! You rock! And thank you to Conor Kenny ... whom he "shadows" in every way ... both in life and in theatre. You are a great role model for him and we are so glad to have you in our lives! xo

(Scene from Seasons of Love act)

(Scene from Lullaby of Broadway act)

So, thank you Tracy Marceron for creating a space for such magic ... thank you to Tricia Kenny for the pictures ... thank you to Martha Ward for the videos ... and a giant thank you to all the kids who put their hearts, soul, and dedication in to helping one another make great art!

Love,
Jodi

PS. Meaghan filled in one night for one of the acts and was absolutely fabulous! As soon as we can get pictures and video of it, we will share it here on the blog. Imagine her voice, and her talent ... singing Mama Who Bore Me. Not a dry eye in my family!

First Grade!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 23:36:00 +0000

Homeschooling is getting serious now ... as we are officially in First Grade mode!

Happy Schooling All!

Love,

Jodi & Isaac

The Universe Knows Best.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:04:00 +0000

So, Wow ... long time, no post.

The other day, a very good friend of mine came in to the shop I am now working at ... Metropolitan Soul (love it!) ... and was near furious with me. He moved to Portland, ME a while ago, and had been relying on this blog in order to see the latest goings-on of our lives (bad idea). He came to Bangor for a visit to my shop and saw that it had been completely emptied out. Wanting to know what the heck was going on, he asked around and found me at Met Soul. But after talking with me for only a few minutes, he learned that the closing of my brick and mortar shop was not the only major change in our lives ... there is oh-so-much-more ... and I have no idea where to begin. So, maybe I won't. Or maybe I will. Or maybe I will just give you all the major details ... and then simply move on from here ... ??? Let's see how this goes, shall we :)

So, yes, I needed to close the shop that I was once so very excited about. And I needed to sell the Studio to a friend of mine. And I got a new job. And I started school. And Meaghan moved out.

Yes, Meaghan moved out. If you know anything about us, you know that the pain of this was nearly unbearable. I will say only a few words about this here ... in "public" ... but will be glad to answer any questions in person. You may remember how she came to us over a year ago, and if you don't ... here is a bit about it. Well, the sum total of this tale is this ... after a year and a half of living with us, she ran away to move back to her biological family and there is little, short of making her our prisoner, that we can do about it. We tried desperately to "save" her from herself ... and from all the destructive, dysfunctional people around her. But in the end, (and lets hope this isn't the end) ... she chose to run to the people who: threw beer bottles in her face, told her she was no good, stole from her, lied to her, rejected her, enabled her, etc. etc. No amount of love and guidance we gave her over the years would ever pull her sights away from the people who gave her so much less. So here we are. Heartbroken, BUT ready to move on. I am sure this topic will come up in future posts ... but we are still trying to wrap our minds around it ... and don't want to say too much out of continued love and respect for Meg. We simply hope she knows that we are always here for her. Always have been. Always will.

The shop? Well, as fun, exciting and as well-received as it was ... I just couldn't get it to pay the bills. The economy and the location worked against it ... big-time. I tried so very hard to hold on to the business, believe me. That is precisely why you have rarely seen blog posts from me here. So much of my energy was spent in keeping that business going ... and there were times I was holding on by my fingernails ... nearly drowning in debt and in chaos. But WOW, the people we met!!! Because of that shop, and the classes we held within, we made some amazing friends! I have no regrets. And because of the way in which I needed to legally close the shop, I also needed to sell Studio 36 to a friend. The Studio has been successful for nearly 2 years, and will only continue to improve under the vision of Ao Arts. I am sure more will be said about this in future posts as well, but I can say with absolute certainty that this move was one of the best I have made in a long time. Ao loves the vision of the Studio and can bring more to it than I think I ever could ... and I still get to be a part of it! Exciting things are happening there!

School? Yes, please. I have been accepted into the Graphic Arts program at EMCC and will start in January. Very exciting stuff!

So, yes, there are plenty of changes in our lives ... and let me say a few words about the hows and whys of some of these changes ...

I truly believe that the Universe/God/Creator is always at work in our lives. And though we may try desperately to hang on to control over things ... the Universe always knows best. In the past year I have desperately held on to creating successful businesses and to "saving" Meaghan. All my energies were expended in those directions. Friends told me to let up a bit. Halis begged me to let go sometimes. Isaac, as resilient as he is, often suffered when my attentions were everywhere but on him. Our finances suffered. Our marriage suffered. My parents worried. And I lost myself. I mean, nearly completely lost myself (here come the tears). So, the Universe stepped in ... big time. The Universe took everything out of my control ... and brought me back to basics. At first, I didn't even notice, I just went through the motions. But friends ... (and oh do I have the BEST friends in the world!) held up mirrors to my life ... and showed me that if I was not going to save myself, and my family, and my marriage, then the Universe was going to do it for me. And it did. And all is as it should be.

I never would have "let go" of the businesses had I not been forced to ... and my life would continue to spiral out of control. And I surely never would have "let go" of Meaghan ... and am beginning to see that perhaps her running is the best for all of us. She needs to live out her own life journey ... she needs some "tough love" ... and perhaps the best way to love her is to let her (no matter how big a lump I have in my throat when I type this) ... go. We can no longer be her "jailers" and that is exactly how she saw us and treated us. Though our hearts are heavy, there is a peace in this household that has not been here since she came to live with us. See, she never wanted to be here. She hoped to one day want to be ... but it never happened. She had too many people in her ear, enticing her back to her previous lifestyle, and working against all our efforts. Halis, Isaac and I love Meaghan dearly ... and always will. But it is clear that we can no longer lose sight of ourselves and the health and well-being of our family of three in order to "save" someone who wants no part of it. Toward the end of her time here, Isaac asked me, "Mama, why does Meaghan hate me so much when I love her so much?". I answered his question as best as I could ... telling him how she has a hard time with love ... how she resorts to anger ... etc. But no matter what I said, the truth was, I was allowing my son to live in a toxic environment because I wanted desperately to improve Meg's life ... while all the while she was resisting and hating me for it ... and showing Isaac manipulative, destructive behaviors that we have always sought to protect him from. And I would have kept doing it! But the Universe decided otherwise. And I am beginning to "get it". I am hoping that her decision to leave offers her the best. I am worried and doubtful, of course. But I need to trust the Universe. She is a resilient person ... and we believe in her ability to eventually do what is best for her. We just pray she doesn't hurt too much in the process.

Anyway, this post turned out much longer than I had hoped ... but this is some heavy stuff ... and I have only offered the most brief details. Thank you for coming this far in your reading of it ;)

So, the posts will continue. There is more time in my life to come back to blogging ... sharing ... learning ... etc. And now, although my Portland friend should certainly CALL ME more to find out what is going on in my life ... I will be sure to update him through this medium as well.

Thank you ALL for your friendships, your support, your love, your guidance ... and for just being there! This past year has been a tough one ... BUT I would not trade it for anything! The lessons learned, the people we met, the experiences we have had have all been so worth it. And we feel good about knowing that for the time we had her, Meaghan was safe & well-loved ... not just by us, but by all of you. Thank you.

MUCH LOVE,

Jodi

P.S. Please continue to send Meg your love and well-wishes.

Every Teardrop is A Waterfall.

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:25:00 +0000

So ... I took a little cat nap in the camper this evening ... with the radio on ... to a station I never listen to ... and I came out of my sleep to hear the most wonderful song ...

... I immediately rose to my feet ... began to dance around the camper ... tears flowing ... arms wrapped around my shoulders in a self embrace ... loving every second of the energy I felt from these words, this music ... and had to share it with you.

Every day is a new day of self-discovery. With this song as my new mantra ... I am on a new path ... an awakening.

This song did not create this new path for me ... but it's timing was total perfection.

Thank you Universe.

Love,
Jodi

New Dates: 2011 Annual Pet Portrait Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:32:00 +0000

Ink the Faith Gallery Show: Art Unleashed!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:21:00 +0000

Studio 36 was the most happening place to be in Bangor, Maine on May 21st, 2011 (or perhaps in all of Maine? all of the US? in all of the Universe!?). That evenings Ink the Faith exhibition was not your average art show!

For starters, the exhibit featured the beyond amazing original art pieces by area artist Rebecca Hickman (aka Bex) ...

Her intricately detailed ... spiritually significant ... ink and paper illustrations are absolutely stunning. To see the work up close is such a visual treat ... and then to hear the significance of the abundant symbolism in her work is nearly mind-blowing.

Wait ... WHAT!? You weren't there!? Well ... please do yourself a favor and visit her website to see most of her work. And if you are in the Bangor area, drop by This Handmade Life to view and perhaps purchase one of her original pieces (some priced ridiculously low) and/or a limited edition print.

Ok ... so if you weren't there ... Bex's art isn't all you missed! But I will fill you in ...

First, you missed the scrumptious cupcake delights of Miss Kathy Flagg ... a local baker who is taking her hobby to a whole new level of yummy goodness ...

She designed her cupcakes to match the ink drawings of the fabulous Miss Bex. And the flavors? She matches those to the events as well. She is A-Mazing! Want to try some of her goodies? Well, then you have yet another reason to drop by This Handmade Life ... as she sells some of her edible delights right in the shop ... and hopes to expand the offerings soon.

Oh ---- and you may (or may not) have totally missed some of the most amazing performance art EVER. No really --- EVER. Many people who attended the event raved that it was some of the most fun they have ever had. Seriously. EVER.

And of course the performance art was raved about! It included the object manipulation trio: Aether Arts ... as well as the belly dance troupe: Paradigm East ... all made-up and outfitted by the phenomenal Ao Arts. (Please do yourself the favor of clicking on all their links - now). Separately, these folks do some amazing work ... together they rock the world ... and must be seen to be believed!

And when you throw Rebecca (Bex) Hickman in the mix ... well ... then you have yourself a powerful evening of art immersion.

So, as you may be able to imagine, the show was amazing ... fun ... interesting ... visually delightful ... yummy ... etc ... etc...

And if you missed it - we are truly sorry ... but do not despair ... there will be loads of opportunities for more of these sorts of events at Studio 36! And we will continue to post about the events of Rebecca Hickman, Kupcake Kuties, Aether Arts, Paradigm East, and Ao Arts. They have all become part of the Studio 36 family ... and we are so excited to see what all of them (collectively and individually) will be up to in Bangor and around the world.

Stay tuned.

And to those who joined us for the Ink the Faith exhibition ... you KNOW how amazing it was ... and thanks for joining us. See you again soon :)

Love,
Jodi & the Studio 36 Crew

PS. Special Thanks goes out to ... School Street Framing (where all the cool kids get framed) ... Eric Robbins and his mead making skills ... and the lovely women of Women With Wings!

So tempted ...

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 14:32:00 +0000

It is that time of year again, when our local Blue Seal feed shop gets in all manner of cute baby farm animals for sale. And every year, I buy someone. This year, I simply can't. I must not give in to temptation. BUT they are so cuuuuute!

From my iphone ...

Anyone out there getting some sweet babies for their farm this year?

Love,

Jodi

2011 Annual Pet Portrait Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Jodi Renshaw) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:37:00 +0000

Studio 36
170 Park Street
Suite 3
Bangor ME 04401
Phone (207) 299-2869

Press Release
Contact: Jodi Renshaw
Phone: (207) 299-2869

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2011

2011 Pet Portrait contest to benefit the Bangor Humane Society.

Bangor, ME, April 25, 2011: Studio 36, a photography studio in downtown Bangor, is pleased to announce their second annual Pet Portrait Contest to benefit the Bangor Humane Society. All pets are welcome to participate – from cats and dogs to iguanas and guinea pigs.

To enter the contest, pet owners should make an appointment to have their pet photographed by Studio 36. In lieu of a session fee, participants will be asked to give a donation to the Bangor Humane Society of any amount greater than $5. The pet owner may then choose which picture from their pet portrait session that they would like to enter in to the contest. All portrait sessions must take place before Monday, May 27th. Please call 299-2869 to make an appointment.

The winners will be chosen by public voting via an Internet link as well as a public viewing at the studio. All pet photos will be on display throughout Studio 36 - at 170 Park Street - for public viewing beginning Wednesday, June 22nd through Sunday, June 26th from 12pm – 5pm. Winner will be announced on Sunday, Sunday, June 26th on www.studio36bangor.com. Each vote will cost the voter a .50 cent donation to the Bangor Humane Society. The pet photo with the most votes wins.

First prize is a portrait package from Studio 36 (to be used for people or pets) valued at $150, as well as a front window display dedicated to your pet for the month of July.

Second prize is a $75 Gift Card to Pet Quarters, 744 Stillwater Avenue in Bangor, ME.

Third prize is an original watercolor portrait of your pet by Tricia Kenny of Bangor, ME.

Last year’s contest was a huge success for the Bangor Humane Society. Over $2,000 was raised for the shelter. Studio 36 is hoping to exceed that amount this year.

Pet owners are able to purchase copies of their session photos from Studio 36, with a portion of the sales also going to the Bangor Humane Society. Thanks to all who choose to participate.

http://www.studio36bangor.com/ / 207-299-2869

Picture attached:
Kimbo the Dog
Shaggy the Cat