LIFE is Good

Wow, has it really been over a month since my last post?? I guess I've been busy.

Well, my most busiest(and totally awesome) few days in years, was the weekend of April 20th.
because of......

The LIFE Is Good Unschooling Conference!!!!

Omg, it was so totally awesome. We filled up the Salbasgeon Suites Hotel for 3 whole days. There were presentations, funshops, dancing, a talent show, pajama parties, weekend-long assassin games, people piles in the stairwells, and so much more.

You must watch this awesome video of some of the goings-on during the conference:




The talent show was fantastic, it seems everyone had something to share on the stage. Singing, dancing, drumming, guitar playing, contortionism, sign singing, hula-hooping, jokes, stick juggling, gymnastics, comedy acts, bird calls, and more that I can't remember right now. Marty AKA The Coordinator of Cool did a fantastic job running it.

Sophie and I did our duet dance:



Two girls, Saren and Harper, did some amazing hula-hooping. They were up there for a long time too:




I was on a teen panel along with Marty, Beka, Neebin, Elizabeth, Aidan, Qacei, Conor, and someone else... and I feel really bad for forgetting his name. If anybody knows, please let me know.
Too bad he's not in this picture, but this is Elizabeth speaking, and I'm behind her:

Oh, and that's Neebin there with the black makeup, she had just come from a face-painting funshop. =)

On the last night of the conference, there was a Barefoot Boogie, and I got a few shots of the dancing craziness:



I met so many incredible people, and I hope to see them all again sometime! And hopefully I'll see a few of the teens at Not Back To School Camp!
A huge thank you to Mary AKA the Conference Diva http://zenmommasgarden.blogspot.com/ for organizing the whole thing. <3

xoxo,
*Laurel*

A day in the car

Today we drove north along the coast looking at potential camp grounds for this summer. Not all of them were open this time of year, but we just got out and walked if the gate was closed. ;)

We saw a couple of waterfalls, which were very pretty.

But I was having more fun trying to pay attention to all the different native plants. Since we don't usually do a lot of hiking and stuff like that until summer, it was neat to see all the plants that are in bloom at this time of year.

And now I'm trying to identify all the ones I took photos of.

- Scouler's Corydalis,

Corydalis scouleri

- Hooker's Fairybells,

Disporum hookeri

- Pink Fawn Lily, Erythronium revolutum

- Sword Fern, new growth,

Polystichum munitum

- Bleeding Heart,

Dicentra formosa

- Redwood Sorrel,

Oxalis oregana

- Clasping Twistedstalk,

Streptopus amplexifolius

- not completely sure on this one. I think it may be a type of Water-Carpet,

Chrysosplenium

- again, not sure. Some sort of Saxifrage, most likely Small-Flowered Alumroot,

Heuchera micrantha

- Western Trillium,

Trillium ovatum

- Yellow Wood Violet,

Viola glabella

I saw many others, but since I don't have photos of them all, I won't list them at this point.

Oh, and using photos on this thing majorly sucks. It's so annoying to set it up right on the blog. I'm just leaving it like this. It's not perfect, but I'm fed up. =P

'til later,

*Laurel*

Springtime!

Yay! I'm so happy spring is here! I just love being out in the yard. BAREFOOT, no less. ^_^
Dexter has been having fun too -

Dexter's Grand Adventure II by ~LavenderElegance on deviantART

Dexter's Grand Adventure I by ~LavenderElegance on deviantART


And what else comes with spring? (besides the tap show, which I have rehearsals for non-stop this week)
My Birthday!
17, eek!
Should be a good one though. =) I've already found out about one present, which is a year's subscription for deviantART from Mom and Dad. *YIPPI* It'll be going on my LavenderElegance account. http://lavenderelegance.deviantart.com/

While deviantART is totally awesome without a subscription, you can get a bunch of extra features if you pay for it. I'll be getting a lot more out of it, be able to keep up better with all of my messages, etc.
So, thank you M&D!!


On the subject of art, I have a new painting finished from my watercolor class! I've been working on it for quite a while, and must say I'm quite happy with it.

Aspen Forest by ~TabbyRox on deviantART

When I get back to class(which will be next week, because this week is so screwy), I'll be starting on a sketch of a wolf to paint.(why do I pick such annoyingly difficult subjects? I'm a perfectionist who loves details, that's why.)


What else, what else...
Oh yes, I've joined Facebook, check me out if you have an account: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=820575642

I hope everyone is having fun, and enjoying the weather!

*Laurel*

New Artwork

New art added to http://tabbyrox.deviantart.com/



Cottage Garden by ~TabbyRox on deviantART



Killing Time by ~TabbyRox on deviantART



Notes on a Sketchbook by ~TabbyRox on deviantART



Sophie and I had class with Nancy(our tap teacher) again today, and our dance is almost finished! It's gonna be awesome. =D

I'm going to see 'The Vagina Monologues' on Thursday at OSU! Anybody who can should go see it as well, I've heard it's quite good. I'm excited to finally see it! =)

Hmm... that's all I've got for now I guess...

*Laurel*

Fun With Plants & Guest Dance Instructors

G'day,

Today I went to my first Herbal Medicine class with Jaci, one of the Moms in our homeschooling group. She teaches 3 different levels or Herbal Medicine courses, which take place in her house and garden.
I found it really interesting. I've always been fascinated by this sort of stuff, and It's really great to get to learn about it with other people.
My friend Grace is taking the class too.
This is so exciting! =D I don't think I've ever met anybody else who loves plants this way as much as I do, so I'm hoping to make some new friends in the class.

Other neat news:
Tonight during the regular Sunday folkdancing time, we had two visitors come to teach Romanian dances. We're not exactly sure if they are from Romania or not though. It seemed like it, but they were speaking French to eachother... We(meaning Sophie, Ana, Felicity and I) will have to ask Dana(our folkdance teacher) tomorrow. But anyways, they were a hoot. I wish they could have stayed longer, because they(especially the guy) we really fun to watch. hehehe.

I meant to include this earlier. Here are a few cards I made on Valentine's Day.


Valentines by ~TabbyRox on deviantART

and here is a Pam & Jim icon I just made for a friend. =)

Laterz,

*Laurel*

Icontopia

I just found someone with the biggest collection of Harry Potter icons I have ever seen! http://www.xanga.com/Maroon_Eyed_Topaz
Totally awesome. I picked out some of my favorites:

Woot!

LMAO.


Well, that's all for now. ttylz,

*Laurel*

I heart confusing weather

Well, today was just plain gorgeous. My favorite type of weather. There was even a rainbow there for a bit. Got a few photos while I was out.

The Corvallis ArtCentric.
and one of our lovely backyard.
Other than enjoying the rain and sunshine(at the same time)...

Sophie and I had our class with Nancy to work on our duet dance. Which we will be performing in the show at the Majestic Theater on March 23rd, and hopefully in the talent show at the LIFE is Good Unschooling Conference.



Anyways, the dance is coming along great. Can't wait to finish it. =D

I've also got yet another cat-sitting job in the neighborhood. Pudge, is her name, and she's older, and very sweet. =)

I've also been spending a good amount of time watching my new favorite show, The West Wing. I was so sad when they took it off the air, because I was just beginning to get into it. But HOORAY for DVDS! ^_^
Expect to see fanart. Which will go here: http://tabbyrox.deviantart.com/

CJ Cregg, AKA "Flamingo" rawks. =D

*Laurel*