ivan.

brothers.

There's a part of me that loves working with my hands.  That's why I loved my undergrad in technical and design theatre, where I spent hours painting plywood to look like a brick wall, or shaping modeling clay into hands in yoga positions (to be attached to the arms of a ganesh costume), or painting details on a tribal mask, or making sausages out of nylons and stuffing.  I love getting my hands creatively dirty. Plus I love the theatre.

For a while now, I've been craving a creative outlet of some sort.  Sure, I can snap some photos, but there's something about getting my hands on a project that involves manipulating, shaping, forming a lump of nothing into something.  I'd love to take a pottery class or learn how to knit.  But I make excuses, and in the end, I'm just lazy.  So when I saw this video, I felt a bit of a kick in the bum.  But I was also inspired.  Hope you are too.

This is Sentayehu Teshale, a craftsman at work, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Stools from Mark Morgan on Vimeo.

via andrew and carissa

flashback: texas wedding.

Our dear friend Blair got married last June.  So a small urban promise crew went down to Boerne, Texas to represent.  We stayed at Joshua Creek Ranch, which is located in Texas Hill Country about 45 minutes from San Antonio.  We had a thoroughly southern experience complete with full-out Texas barbeques to clay shooting.  I'd like to say that I even hit the target, a moving one, on my first shot.  It was a shock to me, just as much as it was to the audience, considering my eyes shut for a split second as the kickback of the rifle almost dislocated my shoulder.  Wish I had photos to show, but you'll have to take my word that I looked pretty sexy shooting clay pigeons on a wildlife reserve.

Spent an afternoon in San Antonio strolling the River Walk promenade and taking in the sights.

The wedding ceremony and reception were held at Lost Mission.

Matt and I had time to kill before our flight so we romped around San Antonio's downtown and zoo.

march book.

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year
by Anne Lamott

I'm a big fan of Anne Lamott.  For a non-reader, I've actually read two of her other books already (Traveling Mercies, Bird by Bird).  Her writing, full of wit, honesty, and deep insight, ranges from the every day things of life to the spiritually profound.  I've heard good things about this book and as a future parent, I figured it's a good time to give it a whirl.

more snowshoeing pics.

These were taken by Joel.  They're fun.