FLASHBACK FRIDAY: YOU KNEW HE WAS AN ENGINEER WHEN YOU MARRIED HIM

This week's flashback is actually a three-part story that took place over a few weeks. You can stop after this first section, or just keep clicking "Newer Post" until you've read all three. Enjoy!

MY ACCIDENTAL TOURIST JOURNAL

I never really intended to make a travel journal about our trip to Marfa. After all, it was such a wee little trip -- just four days in all, with two of those spent on the road, coming and going. When we got home I was gathering up all the maps, brochures, business cards, post cards etc. -- the stuff one always seems to accumulate on any trip -- when I noticed that all of them seemed to have truly gorgeous color-mad local art in or on them. I started snipping out bits and pieces and before I knew it, I had this array of west-Texas-sunset-colored images spread out on my table. Next thing I knew I was gluing them all down together on a big sheet of mixed-media paper.

When I was done, I found myself thinking "Great. Now what do I do with it?" I mean, it's not exactly something you would want to frame and hang on your wall, right? So, I went off to do some walking, and as so often happens, an idea just popped into my head. I was picturing an article I'd seen in the winter issue of Art Journaling magazine, about a woman who made something called a no-sew journal out of a giant mandala painting she created at an art retreat, to make it easier to get home on the airplane. Unfortunately, her article didn't tell me how she made it. I decided to Google the subject, and ended up finding several articles, and a very handy little video, which I took notes on.

The size of the journal depends on that of the paper you choose to make it from, but if you crease, snip and fold according to the instructions, you should end up with something kind of like this...

a cute little journal that has eight double pages showing random snippets of your original collage...

and six blank double pages where you can do some travel journaling, like this.

Plus, there are the two blank outside pages, which you can glue something sturdier to in order to make a proper cover, if you wish.

So there you have it. A funky little travel journal is now in the works, about a couple of the funkiest little towns in Texas -- Marfa and Marathon!

SETTING HIM UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT

I believe I told you awhile back about the little "treasure chest" we set up out on the porch for Calvin. The one we filled with sand and hid things in -- things that we switched out on a rotating basis -- so he could dig for treasure? Well, they all got a bath this week.

While I was cleaning them, it suddenly occurred to me that, if we ever do take him to a real beach and let him dig in the sand, he's liable to be wondering what happened to all the sparkly minerals, gems, gold coins and dinosaurs!

Fortunately, I'd just added a little packet of sea shells into the rotation -- one thing he will at least have a shred of hope of finding on a real beach.