Moths and Mushrooms

I am feeling a bit lost this week as my youngest and I adjust to big sister being away at Kindergarten all day, but I'm trying to focus on the positive aspects of our changing routines, and I was able to sit down yesterday afternoon during nap time and finally finish another piece of artwork.

I started this watercolor study away back in late March or early April, and as the spring weather beckoned more and more strongly each week, we moved our daily routines outdoors and studio time was passed by in favor of planting the garden and playing in the yard.

I had a few moments to sit down long enough to paint another layer or two, but progress was slow and not particularly steady.  I had a lot of fun trying to capture the various colors and textures of the different mushrooms, and I enjoyed the light-heartedness of including both common and scientific names and even a little cluster of knitted mushrooms near the bottom.

But I felt like there was still something missing so I painted in a pair of Io moths to add one more bit of color and focus to the piece.

And brightly colored edging around most of the mushroom caps, to define their shapes just a little more.  I think I like it.

Next up - more moths?  Butterflies?  Prairie wildflowers?  Apples?  I like the idea of these pages of flora or fauna that have captured my interest and piqued my curiosity.  Has anyone ever seen a Luna moth, for example?

Roo's been busy in the studio, too.  We were having fun learning about butterflies.

Worn...

It is very nearly back-to-school time, or rather for us, the beginning-of-school time and my mind is partially occupied by outfitting the smalls for a new season and new adventures.  And that has made me reflect on my own wardrobe-wearing habits, especially this morning as I pulled out a much-loved and a bit worn-out old long-sleeved tee and surveyed its constellation of tiny holes right about where my belly button goes.  Why my shirt even has a constellation of belly-button holes is unknown to me, but it might have to do with Moo's predilection for Mama-identification via finger in the belly.  I'm just guessing here.  It might also be where my belt buckle rubs when I'm carrying Moo on my hip, which I still do on a fairly frequent basis.  He is the baby of the family, and like I said, it is an old shirt.  When I look at my wardrobe, I realize that most of my clothes have survived (and carried me through) at least one, if not two, pregnancies and delightful, messy, cuddly, tumbly baby- and toddlerhoods.  Others have been on pregnant- or nursing-mama hiatus, and are finally beginning to get some use again, but gee, they're 8-10 years old now.  Faithful old friends.  My big question here is when do you finally say goodbye to beloved old clothing?  The smalls outgrow things, and we move on regardless of its worn state, but how about us grown-ups?  My velveteen rabbit of a wardrobe is getting pretty threadbare, but has been loved enough to be Real.