End of June and July 2020 summary

Ideally, I would have sat down maybe each week and updated this here blog.  I gotta tell ya, every since I started using Instagram I definitely have been posting to my blog less, and when I do it is waaaaay after whatever I am posting about happened.  I thought about not posting to my blog anymore, heck I don't know if anyone out there reads it...but it is my way of documenting in another area of the interwebs my life and my art at this time...so, here goes.  

If you have been following my social media then you know that we MOVED.  Yup, in the middle of a pandemic.  Awesome.  It has been such a weird time, these few past months. In many ways it has been like one long block of time.  It is hard to  remember when various events happened, and hard to remember what 'normal' life was like before social distancing and face masks. Now add moving on top of everything.   It was tough to be leaving south Florida mid-July and not being able to see everyone that we wanted before we left and go and do all the things we wanted to, but we will be going back- it's our vacation spot once again.  

So what I am going to do is just kinda summarize the month of July, not in order but grouped a bit based on topic.   

Okay, here goes- but first gotta go back to June;

June 2020 wrapped up with an art giveaway!

In addition to the pandemic these past few months have been full of social and political unrest- so much swirling around race and basic kindness.  I wanted to do a small thing to try and encourage some positive vibes, so I did an art giveaway on my FB page.  Folks just had to think of someone different from themselves in some way and give them a public shoutout- say something nice!  The pieces were snatched up quick- I gave away just about the whole series, and it felt good to see all the nice comments folks were writing about others.  
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July...Saying goodbye to SoFlo :(

What is harder than trying to hit up all your favorite spots before you move?  Trying to do it when Covid has everything turned upside down! If you know me personally you know that John and I LOVE traveling- but the pandemic has definitely kept us more local.  We did manage to make one last trip to Orlando to spend the 4th, went and had a drink at our favorite spot at the least busiest time of the day so there wouldn't be too many people there (wore a mask walking in, they clean and disinfect constantly AND are open to limited capacity WITH social distancing on top of that- they are on top of their game) then picked up food to-go from our favorite places and hung out in the hotel for the 4th by ourselves.  John made sure to get a room with a balcony so we could have a view of the lake- and we even saw a few fireworks.  For the past few years we have spent our 4th at Willie Nelson's picnic in Austin....this year was different for sure, but we threw on some Willie songs and just made a new 4th of July memory.

...and of course I worked on my art- poolside!

Our real 'last FL thing' was a nice visit to the Breakers and then dinner at the Flagler Steakhouse to celebrate 15 years of marriage- yay! I even found inspiration from my art while we were out.

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Okay- time to MOVE!

I thought  was super organized. 

I thought had thought of everything. 

I thought the move would go super smooth.

Guess what?  Yup, I thought wrong.  The move (and move in) didn't go as smooth as we planned, but we made it safely and that is what matters.

Uhaul boxes...Mackie looking for all the stuff...and the overall moving feeling you get looking at those empty rooms.

Moving day- it on our actual wedding anniversary! It was a long trip and the cars were loaded down so we split up the drive half way due to a late start and having the kitties (Mackie is 17 so he can't really take the stress too long) I had the cats with me- we bought a large mesh kennel they could both fit in and this was honestly the best trip Mackie has ever had. He napped with Milky most of the time and didn't meow the whole time like normal. Oh- when we stopped in GA for the night I made a special bridal-themed art piece since it was our anniversary!

It's official- we are back in NC now!

​New digs, who 'dis?

I won't get into it, but the rental was NOT 100% when we moved in and it REALLY stressed us out.  Add a hurricane, tornadoes, a power outage- it was a bit much but things much better now thankfully. 

Getting settled in (not pictured: SO much)

It was tough to search for a place and take care of everything from another state AND in a pandemic. The place we went with is older, but remodeled and has some things that we really like (and some we don't) One thing we LOVE is the screened in porch- and we knew Mackie would love it. This is a pic of him his very first time on the porch. Now we take him out there every day. Milky likes it too, but Mackie LOVES it.

Studio Woes :(

I'm not gonna go into the details...will just say that the room that was to be my studio was pink and had a GIGANTIC vinyl stencil with mirrored butterflies stuck to the wall...and it doesn't anymore thanks to me.  Not pictured- my mini-nervous breakdown, ruined fingernails and overall exhaustion. Oh, and that carpet has been replaced- that is another long story.

I know what you are thinking, 'that should have been done BEFORE ya'll moved in.'

​I know, right?

Well, it's done now- moving forward with my life.

Had to take matters into my own hands. Side note, it is much easier for me to paint a portrait than walls. MUCH EASIER.

Back where it all started...

Fun fact- our first date was actually in Wilmington, and we also got engaged here.

​And now we live here.

Our dating anniversary is July 28th and this year was special because we could celebrate it where it all begin- Wilmington! The top pic is from July 28, 1997 and the bottom pic is July 28, 2020- 23 years later!

​New school! New Age Group!

I have been teaching high school for the past seven years- but I have also taught middle school and even elementary.  In fact, before we moved to Florida eleven years ago I was at Wintergreen Primary.  

And now- I am back with the 'littles' because I will be the new art teacher at College Park Elementary!  Yay!

First day visiting my new school in person. I am SO excited!

I have been teaching at an older school for the past six years (like, close to 100 years old- my classroom was not quite that old, but it is definitely older than me...and if you know my age then you know) My new school just opened last year and this classroom has only been used for a little over half a year due to school closing and going virtual.

Now I am sure you are wondering, 'are you teaching face to face?'  Nope, New Hanover County chose option C for the first nine weeks so classes will be 100% online.  However, I will be going to campus to work on my lessons, etc (virtually, by myself in my classroom) and also working from home.  It's a weird way to start a new school/new age group but I will also consider it a good transition for me...and a way for everyone to stay safe which honestly is the number one priority.
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...oh, and about that daily ART!

You already KNOW that I made that art everyday, no matter how chaotic and stressful things got- I made time for my art.  I didn't do a proper intro and I kinda wanted to but this post is already super long and I really want a nap (just being honest) so ummmm...fashion illustration...swimwear...art history...fun.  That sums it up I reckon!

This pic is an oldie but a goodie, I think it might be from my 1st or 2nd year at LWHS, first day of school. I made that necklace. (oh, was posting it because it related to art history!)

The completed July 2020 series

...if you made it this far, thanks
​for reading my ramblings!

Same me, different beach :)