Spring Fever

First, I think Amy needs a vacation! Oh, how the demands of college fry the brain. Just looking at her post confirms my suspicions that she needs to take a break. I hope she gets through the next week. She has only a few finals. She did manage to survive her powder puff football game yesterday (she alternated between "rushing" the other quarterback and playing quarterback herself). Considering the fact that she was never exposed to American football growing up, this came as a surprise to us. Her team didn't win and she came home with bruises. She apparently showed her temper a bit, but she impressed some of the boys and, after all, that's what it was really all about.

I really dislike growing old. I have been suffering from shoulder pain since October and after seeing the doctor on Thursday, we now have a bit of a plan to try to improve the situation. I contacted an orthopedic doctor friend of ours who is currently serving a mission in Bogata, Colombia, who actually called me from there and through a series of questions, gave me a "second" opinion to the doctor I had been seeing here. Upon returning to my original doctor, we agreed of a course of action - a shot of Marcaine (I don't spell medical words well) and a treatment of anti-inflamatory medicine for two weeks. The shot was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I have been fortunate in my life not to need the doctor much, usually just for illness that is treated with an antibiotic and over in a couple of days. So I haven't had a lot of exposure to different kinds of medicine. Before the shot, I could only lift my arm in front of me to about waist level (not very much) before there was considerable pain. The same was true if I tried to lift it out to the side. After the shot, the doctor cleaned off the injection area and put on a bandaid, then asked me to lift my arm. I lifted the arm straight to the ceiling without any pain! It was like magic! It made me feel like I had been pretending before, even though I hadn't been. The really bad part was that the medicine only lasted a couple of hours. It is used as a diagnostic device as opposed to a real treatment. So, within a few hours, the pain had returned and I was left with following the anti-inflamatory treatment for the next two weeks. I am hoping it will be better by the time Lisa gets married.

Wedding plans are proceeding as expected. The dress is ready for the zipper and then the hemming. Once that is done I have only the overskirt to complete. It is quite the dress. Grandma is making Amy's bridesmaid dress and the flowergirl dress, which are matching, in a sparkly green satin. My goal is to have the dress done a week before the wedding so I don't have to worry about it once everyone arrives. Anyone seen 27 Dresses? Well, this bridesmaid dress can't be cut off and worn again! But it will make an interesting Halloween costume, expecially for the little one, as long as she fits it. Are you curious now?

Spring is trying really hard to come to Cache Valley. Every year we forget that winter holds on so tight. Yesterday, Scott's second soccer game of the season was snowed out. (Big, heavy flakes that covered the soccer field to the point where the city closed the field). I was just as glad as I was not looking forward to sitting on the sidelines in the snow. We have had a couple of days of pretty weather, just enough to make you mad when the snow comes back. But Scott is also taking swimming lessons at an indoor pool which area is warm and humid. I like taking him to swimming! Sometimes it's the only time of the day when I am truly warm. Me and Sam McGee are kindred spirits.

The painting is my first oil, done as a commission for a friend of my brother's. It was done for her cabin in Montana and is of a Montana mountain scene.

The Bells Tolled...

Today, I have put the pencil down. Aside from my 3 finals next week I am finished with my first year of college. (Please hold your applause) I no longer have to waste away in a lecture class that I despise, have a teacher ram ideas of good nutrition down my throat, or worry about whether or not I will complete my pointless busywork before it is due two days ago. I am finished. Today is the mark of an epic beginning (or a frightening beginning depending on how my finals turn out next week). And now the only question is: What am I supposed to do for the next week?

Sharks up

Hello one and all. I am Scott, a hendersaurus in training. I am here to tell you about the catching of this shark. While in Hawaii, we decided to go on a sharkhunt. We went out in a boat and headed out to open waters. After having our rods out in the water for about half an hour we got a bite. I headed over and began to reel in the shark. After working on the shark for about 7 minutes, I was able to reel in the shark. After catching the shark we then let it go and continued with the hunt.

My World of Art

This is my latest watercolor. I finished it in January. The original reference photo was taken at the Portland Rose Gardens in August. Obviously, this is not a picture of roses, but it is wonderful to see blue and lavendar hydrangeas because where I live, they only bloom white or light pink. (It's the soil and the water).

I took it to the monthly meeting of the Cache Valley Chapter of the Utah Watercolor Society and received many gracious compliments.

This painting is a portrait of the son of our friends, Eric and Debi Aalto. His name is Mikael and although he is Lisa's age now, I loved this picture of him when he was little. This painting, too, is watercolor; a great medium for portraits. I wanted to post it because I'm not sure anyone saw it before we gave it to Eric and Debi.

In my world, art is usually the last thing I allow myself to do, after everything is put away, cleaned, and done. But sometimes, I just have to paint or I'll go crazy. Since our visit to the Rose Gardens I now have an unlimited supply of reference flowers and plan to paint in watercolor, oil, and acrylic. Since flowers are the subject matter that draws me in most, I love having so many choices now.

However, portraits are wonderful, too and I have completed a painting of Lisa when she was 2 years old, and I have reference photos waiting on the sidelines of both Amy and Scott when they were about the same age. There's just something about children...

So as new paintings are created, I will post their images here and if you like something, tell me!

Temple carvings

This is the carving on one side of the top of the Temple. Each side has a carving of a different dispensation. It was so awesome to be working on the Temple and to see the work up close. The only thing that I didn't like was the stress of not doing damage to the carving with the pressure washers. Each side took about 2 days to clean the paint off. The view was great up there, it is also fun to be at the top of a Temple. It was difficult to see the Temple being gutted inside. As we walked inside after the demolition I wondered what the new finished product would look like and how spectacular it will be. Maybe I can go back for the rededicating. Would any one like to join me?

One great day in Hawaii

This was taken when Scott did his first scuba dive. It was so cool to be there and see how comfortable he was in the water. One of reasons I like this picture is you can see my pink fins. I get a lot of flack about a big guy and pink fins,but I like them. After all pink is my adventure color.

Greetings!

I'm Lisa! Another Hendersaurus. But not for much longer! My wedding is nearly a month away. I will try and post every once in a while, but I make no guarantees. You can look at my soon to be husband's and my blog at:

www.drewandlisahamblin.blogspot.com

I Exist

Bruce and Laurie Hendersaurus had children. In case you wanted to know. I'm Amy and I might put up a post every now and then in between my classes, friends, and dating (it comes and goes). But this is mostly for attention; I want people to notice I exist.

Trip to Hawaii

It is, for me, the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The people are so friendly and the Aloha Spirit is alive and well, and real. I love the way the Hawaiians describe Aloha, because it is the way I wish to live my life. As follows:

• A is for Akahai, meaning kindness, to be expressed with tenderness.


• L is for Lokahi, meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony.


• O is for Olu'olu, meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness.


• H is for Ha'aha'a, meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty.


• A is for Ahonui, meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance.

"Aloha is the coordination of mind and heart...it's within the individual. It brings you down to yourself. You must think and emote good feelings to others." - Pilahi Paki

Here is a place where everyone accepts you for yourself, without preconceived ideas about your ethnicity, religion, economic status, or personal appearance. You are you and they take you just as you are. They are as warm as the climate, with showers of rain and showers of smiles.

Our trip was short and sweet. We are already planning the next one.

The Age of Dinosaurs enters a New Era

Be it known to all those who access this blog that at least 95% of the information herein is the creation of Mrs. Hendersaurus with much gratitude on the part of Mr. Hendersaurus. We're sure you'll be able to tell the difference! We may be a little slow getting started, like most dinosaurs, but once we know what we're doing, we hope you enjoy our comments. We will surely enjoy yours.