Challenge progress

It got darker than I expected in my room, oops! These are some of my works in progress, the others are hanging in the darkest corner, so I'll photograph those in a few days :) Also yay figure studies!

Updates

Expect one tomorrow night! I promise. Sorry, had three projects to finish this week and one of them was writing my honor's thesis that I found out was technically due the 15th from scratch because nothing saved from the last time I worked on it... My challenge focus shifted a little but it's chugging along :)

Flashback friday and other going-on's

     Hoowee, October has been a bit of a doozie for me, but should be wrapping up within the week! Sent out the fellowship application yesterday, wrote half of my honor's thesis this afternoon (why was I procrastinating again??) and finished up the last of my mycology flash cards in preparation for Tuesday's exam. That is what I am most worried about now, although I'm trying to have the rough of my thesis sent out Monday afternoon at the latest. I had to made almost 300 flashcards for mycology because all of the terms are new, even though I'm a senior- mycologists have their own language.  While I am brain-dead for the night, tomorrow brings adventures and more chances to study until my eyes bleed.
     I'm trudging though my October challenge, after next Wednesday I should be able to get back on schedule, and just in time to finish up! Until then I'll be curled up on my blanket with a four-inch stack of index cards and grapefruit juice...

Friday Flashback

October challenge update

Hehehe, only a week in and a I'm few days behind. The homemade pasta and apple cheese cake I had while visiting my parents were totally worth it though, and if all goes as planned I will be able to get ahead this weekend- wish me luck!

3/30, this is the most done of the started pieces I have

      My first two (and as of today) completed pieces. They're currently in the corner of the largest white spot in my room. My goal is to have that papered, and the rest of my room to boot, covered in drawings and paintings. Also, medical tape is your friend for hanging paper on the walls- it's strong enough to hold them in place, but won't leave (at least so far for me, it may not have gotten hot enough to cause this) a residue or tear off the paint.

Close up of 1/30. She's actually one of the characters for the nanowrimo novel I might do. Still haven't decided.

     I'm still only considering doing Nanowrimo because I am graduating this December (set up senior portraits and ordered my cap and gown yesterday, turning in my "intent to graduate" form today- it's really starting to sink in), and still have to finish my honors thesis and I'm not sure I'll have the tie to commit to it as much as I'd like. Have any of you ever done this? If so, any recommendations or bits of advice?

      Also, because I am trying to avoid doing just work all the time (stress doesn't help my already present sleeping problems, ability to eat or socialize properly) I made a little, well... not terrarium but something like it with an old Werther's pastilles (BEST treat ever) box from my grosi. The lichen (and ascomycete beauties) were collected in Pennsylvania and the moss from a mycology lab field trip to Labrador hollow.

Three of my children tetris-ed on my dresser. (L to R) George, Phyllis, Baxter.

     Also warning: ahead there is a dead thing because it's pretty. So stop reading here if it makes you comfortable :) 

     And sorry for the gore if it's not your cup of tea but you must let me fawn over my camera. *fawns* It takes the best outdoor photographs. And in the case of my Forensic Entomology class, the larger zoom allows me to stand further away from our "victim" Lindsay the pig than my old camera would have allowed.
     Time to go for me I think... I leave for class in an hour and I'd like to round up all of my mycology photos, finish an application essay and breakfast needs to be eaten before then. Friday flashback is still on for Friday (unless I continue to forget), and either Sunday or Monday I should have a bunch of new October challenge pieces! Woot!

Pennsylvanian elk

This past Friday I drove down to North-central Pennsylvania with some folks from school to see some elk. I might still be a little sore from camping in the cold, but it was fantastic; if you're in the North eastern US area, I highly recommend visiting Benezzette around this time to see some elk.

 Also, this was just in time for the leaves to start changing color. Our group was given access to a very remote part of the elk's range by the elk biologist, who stayed and answered all of our questions. We didn't see any elk here, but the view was amazing none the less.

May or may not be green with envy regarding this person's cabin location.

 Also interesting this trip were the number of bulls in the herd when we finally found them; there must have been at least a dozen in the viewing field. And then probably close to twice as many cows, and a few young ones that were absolutely adorable.

This isn't even half the vehicles at the viewing site. We were less than 150m from the herd (minimum legal- non harassment-distance is at least 100m, if anyone is interested)

A pair of young bulls. Because the herds in PA are on lands catered to them, and we don't have any significant large predators in the east (even black bears rarely go for the calves), these two will, given a few years, grow up to be some of the largest bulls in the country.

I even managed to get a half-decent video of the bull's bugle and a brief skirmish, they hardly ever stopped.

This trip was great, and while I will be finished with classes by this time next year, I hope to return.
In other news! Feeling inspired by a challenge I saw at one point around this time last year, to get more comfortable with imperfection and what not, I will be doing 30 "finished" drawings this month. And in an attempt to destroy my lack of confidence, they will all involve people. And to tie it into my possible delve into the world of NaNoWriMo in November, they will all be related to that some how either in characters, ideas/concepts and the like. It's going to be fun and likely a little crazy. I've already rounded up some potential references and will start the first tonight while enjoying the October weather with some Sleepy Hollow and McKenzie's hard cider.  My goal is to share progress and finished pieces either once a week or along the way, whichever is more convenient. Until next time, cheers!