Mommy's Treasures

When the Going Gets Tough . . .

2012-01-26T21:30:00.003-06:00

You've heard it before: "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping" Such was the case this week after learning that I am facing another tough surgery in the next couple of weeks. I mean, I didn't really set out to go shopping--I didn't even leave the house. But as I was browsing some Pinterest boards of friends, I came upon this sweet necklace from Jessica:

Source: etsy.com via Susan on Pinterest

I loved her designs and decided to treat myself to a special little gift. Jessica will customize the necklaces to fit your hometown and she was great to work with--I just love it when someone takes the time to personally contact you. It makes me feel like I have a new friend. :-) The turnaround time was also amazing! This evening when I arrived home, I found a little package in my mailbox. It was packaged so cute!

I love the tiny handmade box and patterned tissue paper she used (not to mention the pretty twine).

Inside, I found the treasure!

Hammered silver with a tiny heart cutout over my hometown. Perfect!

I just love it and can't wait to wear it to work tomorrow. Thanks so much, Jessica!!!

Somewhere . . .

2012-01-25T22:01:00.001-06:00

This evening, just as a really bad storm was clearing, this double-rainbow lit up the sky above my church. For once, I actually had my camera with me when I needed it!

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

OPEN

2012-01-23T16:29:00.004-06:00

When I picked my word for this year, OPEN, I envisioned keeping an open mind, being open to people and possibilities. I never in my wildest dreams pictured being cut open with nerves, tendons and muscles exposed. But it seems that is the way it is going to be this year, or at least the way the year will start. At the end of last week, I felt a pop along the back of my hand as I drove away from Occupational Therapy. After about 24 hours of fairly intense pain, it gradually subsided. By Friday morning, that area of my hand/wrist was feeling better than it had in months, BUT, my thumb was bent and try as I might, I wasn't able to straighten it.

My therapist slightly panicked and immediately called the doctor, who confirmed what Kim suspected. She worked me in for an appointment this afternoon and quickly made a definitive diagnosis of a ruptured EPL tendon. Upon examination and several x-rays, she found that 2 screws are poking through my bone, one of which is positioned right where the tendon passes. Slowly, over the past 6 months, it has been rubbing and tearing that tendon until it finally broke last week. Unfortunately, that requires surgery. While a repair is not possible, a tendon transfer is in order. The index finger has two tendons (who knew?), so one of those tendons will be transferred to my thumb and then immobilized for several weeks. Yuck!! Not something I'm looking forward to at all, but at least it can be fixed. I have a couple of weeks to get things in order around here, which is a very good thing. And who knows, maybe Dr. Ritter can take a little look around while everything is OPEN and fix anything else that might be getting in the way for full funcionality!

Hot Cocoa Bar

2012-01-20T22:28:00.000-06:00

This morning, my co-worker, Danette, and I set up a Hot Cocoa Bar at one of the daycare centers we serve as a special thank-you to the staff there. Using a bit of inspiration from Pinterest and the great sites here, here and here, we decorated cups, made cookies, dipped spoons in chocolate and set it all up on a table in the cafeteria.

Jana designed a cute little invitation for us, complete with folding cards and toothpick banners to label the different toppings available.

We set everything up on a table in the cafeteria and invited the teachers and assistants to join us as they brought the children to breakfast. Danette brought her Keurig, which made heating the water so easy, and we provided cookies, a breakfast casserole and toppings to go with the hot cocoa.

I decorated cups to look like snowmen.

Danette stumbled upon lots of fun, flavored marshmallows at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago and quickly snatched them up. We added mint morsels and candy bits, along with the chocolate "stirring spoons".

Despite the fact that the weather was quite warm outside, everyone seemed to really enjoy the morning, and even more importantly were touched that we actually put together something special for them. It certainly warmed my heart!

Snow Day?

2012-01-17T23:00:00.001-06:00

I think that today could best be described as "balmy". Despite the calendar saying that it is the middle of January, the weather outside was unseasonably warm--even for the South. After a full day at work and an evening full of meetings, Callie came over and helped me with a little project. Friday, I am co-hosting a hot cocoa bar as a thank-you to some of the daycare teachers we work with. As a fun extra, we made chocolate spoons inspired by these:

Source: alphamom.com via Linda on Pinterest

Equipped with melting chocolate, butterscotch chips and marshmallows, (the peppermints will be used later)

Callie dipped the spoons and I built the snowmen.

Fearing that they were a bit unrecognizable, I decided that we should use toothpicks dipped in food coloring (just as my mom let us do as a kid) to add faces.

They are so cute----well most of them are.

Of course, there are the others! Note: the tiniest dot of coloring spreads, so even it starts out cute, it may end up looking more like some sort of Halloween decoration. I can almost hear some of them yelling, "HELP, I'm meelllttiingg!"

The temperatures are dropping tonight, so hopefully the cold will stick around at least until Friday.

Bird Watching (and a Squirrel)

2012-01-16T15:32:00.006-06:00

This morning, after sleeping a little bit later than usual, I heard the chirping of lots of different birds in my backyard. Since Emmi's mission is to keep all birds and squirrels out of my yard, I kept her safely tucked into her kennel as I slipped outside with my camera in hand. The temperature outdoors was very mild, but it was clear that a change was coming. Birds of every variety were flying back and forth from tree to fence to ground to tree. Sparrows:

Robins:

Cedar Wax Wings:

and Cardinals:

Even the squirrels were busy getting ready for the impending change in weather.

I'll leave you with my favorite shot of the morning.

I shot all of these on Manual Mode! Oh, I am so loving this new lens!

Project Life Work Space and a Layout

2012-01-15T22:30:00.000-06:00

As I said in my last post, I have set up my Project Life supplies on my dining table. It is not the most attractive table decoration, I suppose, but it is in plain view and I already find myself stopping by to look at it or make little additions as I walk by. Here's my work space:

I have a picnic basket next to the table to hold 12x12 paper, page protectors, and other over-sized supplies.

I completed my Title page! I included my "word for 2012" along with a quote about life.

The layout for Week One is completed except for one photo that I'm waiting on. I used a 6x12 protector for my worship bulletin.

And here is the right side--As you can tell, I didn't do much embellishing, but I like the easy way it reads across the page. I can certainly see why this particular layout design is a favorite among other Project Life participants!

Open and Jumping In

2012-01-14T10:37:00.000-06:00

After lots of thought and consideration, I've decided to jump right in. I bought an album and ordered a few photo protectors and have decided to give Project Life a try. I love Becky Higgins' philosophy behind the project:

"Project Life is a back-to-basics approach to memory-keeping. This simple format requires no skill - only your pictures and a pen. No one's life is perfect but everyone has a story and every family has a collection of memories. Putting pictures + stories together in Project Life makes us more aware of our blessings and encourages us to cultivate a good life."

While I have a creative streak in my blood and most likely will embellish my layouts a bit, I love the organization of the slip-in pockets and the fact that I don't HAVE to be creative if I don't feel it that day.

While Jana was here, I picked up a package of chipboard words at Michael's and using those colors as inspiration, Jana designed a set of journaling cards for me that I just love!!! I knew the color palette was the right one for me when Valine surprised me with another set from the same Michael's line without knowing I had picked those colors.

I printed out the journaling cards on card stock and cut them out, using a corner rounder on each corner. She made 40 different designs in a .pdf file which I can reprint at any time.

She even made some great little calendar punches that I can use as embellishments.

Many of the page protectors have been back-ordered, and I worried that I would lose my momentum if I didn't get started, so I designed a template that I could begin to jot down my memories of each day. I already record these on the online journal Oh Life, but I wanted something that showed a week at a glance and even provided a spot for the memorabilia that I collect since I'm notorious for forgetting what I have with things like that. (inspiration from Marcy Penner) I decided to add a column for some words that I wanted to remember to focus on throughout the year---I might focus on one or two of these each week. I have mine saved as a Word Template so that I type directly on it, but you could also print it out to keep it with your supplies and write on it, as Marcy does.(click on the form below to download the template for your own use or click here)

Since the design A photo protectors that I wanted the most won't be available for another couple of weeks, I decided to take matters into my own hand. I purchased a pack of 12 x 12 divided protectors at Michael's yesterday (American Crafts $4.99 - 25% with coupon) and made my own "design A".

I cut a piece of cardboard 3"x4" (size of journaling cards) and slipped it into the left middle left pocket, sliding it all the way to the left,

then stitched right next to the card.

Sliding the cardboard as far to the right as it would go to serve as a cutting mat, I cut a slit with an exacto knife.

Repeat the process for the right side and you've got a "design A" protector that the journaling cards fit right into.

You can even embellish the stitching a bit with some decorative trims on a few pages, like I did.

Using this method really opens you up to some completely different layouts, as you can divide any of the pockets that you wish rather than just the middle ones.

My goal today is to get my space organized. I've decided to use my dining table, since I rarely use it for its intended purpose. Having it OPEN and in a spot I walk past multiple times will hopefully help keep me from getting too far behind.

This afternoon, I'm jumping in! It's time to begin! Anyone joining me?

CCL - XXII

2012-01-12T21:43:00.003-06:00

Well, I haven't actually been to Camp Crop-A-Lot twenty-two times, but it's been around for that long and I've been quite a few times. It's always so much fun and such a great feeling to get those layouts completed! This year's theme was "Scrap Therapy" and it definitely was that for me---both mentally and physically. For me, the fun was doubled this time by the fact that Jana was able to join me and my scrapping buddies for the weekend.

As soon as we arrived in Baton Rouge, our first stop was an appointment at the "genius bar" at the Apple Store. They were able to exchange my new iPhone quickly, but couldn't look at Callie's laptop without a separate appointment. So, of course, that left us with some time to kill as we waited . . . and a quickie design by Jana on one of the computers.

Kirk and Valine cooked us a wonderful steak dinner and we got a chance to visit with Maegan and Meredith, too. Amazing how quickly time has flown since our girls all played together on the beach at Hide-A-Way.

Friday and Saturday were filled with friends, food, laughter and lots of scrapping.

Catha, I'm hoping that you are feeling better soon---we've got some more scrapping to do this summer!

Family Photos

2012-01-01T21:25:00.002-06:00

With Jana living across the country, it is hard to get everyone together for family photos. This holiday, I made the girls promise they would let me get at least a few shots together before Jana had to head back to South Carolina. Even then, it was still a bit hard to schedule a time when the weather was nice, we were dressed in something other than workout gear and had time to pose for a few pictures. Ideally, we would have had both of their husbands in the pictures, too, but with Rob absent this time, I decided to settle on pics of the girls and me.

This afternoon, Callie stopped by for our photo session. With no photographer in sight, the best we could do was to set up the timer on my camera and run. The sun was really bright, we did not coordinate our outfits at all, and our choices of places to set the camera were limited, but we still got a few cute shots. (Love these great templates from Coffee Shop)

Thank you, Jana and Callie----I love you both so much!!

A New Word

2012-01-01T01:00:00.002-06:00

A new year.

A new word.

For 2011 I chose the word PURPOSE and participating in Ali Edward's One Little Word class really helped me keep that word in the forefront of my mind as I journeyed through the year. While certainly not the worst year ever, I faced some challenges this year medically that I

didn't expect. On the other hand, I'm in much better shape than I've been in quite some time and that feels great! My home is a bit more organized and I'm over 30 pounds lighter, so focusing on my word definitely helped me keep my priorities straight. I still have some work to do in the days and months to come, but I want to be open to the possibilities that lay before me in 2012.

This year, I plan to keep my word, OPEN, in mind as I begin Project Life. The task is a bit daunting to me, but I'm hoping to keep my scrapbook OPEN on my kitchen table where I see it each and every day---both as a reminder to document my life, but also to remain OPEN to the various opportunities and challenges I discover along the way.

What's your word?

Last First of 2011

2011-12-30T22:05:00.001-06:00

With wonderful weather forecast for the day, Jana and I decided to get up early this morning and drive over to Canton for the last "First Monday" weekend of 2011. Jana had not been there since she was a little girl, so it was lots of fun to take her back to visit one of my favorite places. (even though I missed my usual shopping buddies)

Armed with jackets and new camera bags, we began the morning by browsing through some of the pavilions.

With Christmas sales in progress, it wasn't long until we'd filled a basket at one of my favorite shops, The Sunday House.

We spent the entire afternoon out in the open air portion of Canton. This is my favorite part and Jana was in complete agreement.

She enjoyed digging through the piles to find tiny treasures as much as I did.

Our favorite find of the day was a large, classroom chalkboard map! Knowing how much Jana loves maps and globes, I bought it for her, anxious to see how it looks in her future house! My favorite purchase was a tiny printing block inscribed with "The Fabric House". Perfect for my new sewing room! On the way home, Jana noted that "each little piece has a story of its own" and now some of them will become part of our stories, too.

Back at home, I pulled out my iPhone and quickly learned how to use "Face Time" to chat with Valine and share our bargains. What a fun day!

(Hey! Where did that extra chin come from? We could have left that in Canton!)

DIY Photo Bag

2011-12-30T21:10:00.000-06:00

A couple of months ago, I picked up a couple of purses at a Old Navy sale, with the goal of transforming them into DSLR camera bags for Jana and I. With my sewing room under construction for the weeks leading up to Christmas, that project got postponed until now. So, after reviewing the tutorials posted by LilBluBoo , Craft Passion , and Blue.Lace.House , I came up with my own version that would fit specifically into our bags. I really liked the pattern on Craft Passion, so I used that as the basis of our insert, substituting the measurements of our purses.

Here is the bag with the Insert in place, minus the dividers.

I ended up sewing velcro all the way around the interior (the soft side) and instead of just making 2 dividers, I made an extra small one to give us more versatility in how we arrange the space. As you can see, I used contrasting fabric on each side---and put additional soft velcro on one of the large dividers.

Here is the completed purse

After practicing on my purse, I had a few of the kinks worked out before sewing Jana's. I love the fabrics she chose.

Today, Jana and I put those bags to use on our excursion to Canton! They worked wonderfully and we felt so stylish!

Go Heels!

2011-12-26T15:08:00.005-06:00

I have a Tar Heel in my house this afternoon! As an alum of UNC, Callie has the garb to wear--in fact, she has enough to share with Jana. But, Jordan gave her a new, better shirt for Christmas in honor of the Independence Bowl which is set to begin in about an hour.

Unfortunately, the weather is dismal today---cold and rainy. But, that has not daunted the Tar Heel --- at least, not much. Last night, as we decorated Christmas cookies, Callie made sure she captured the spirit of the game!

And today, they decked in weather appropriate apparel and headed to the game.

I'm happy to be warm and dry back at home.
Go Heels!

Bluegrass Angels

2011-12-25T19:19:00.000-06:00

This morning, Jana, Dan and I joined Callie and Jordan at their church for worship. I know that I am a bit biased, but with Callie on violin and Jordan on guitar, the band really rocked a bluegrass version of "Angels We Have Heard On High", and it definitely captured the joy of the day. Jana grabbed her camera and was able to capture most of it. We're hoping that they are able to record it a bit more professionally sometime soon (without people walking around and talking behind us). Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Shutter School

2011-12-24T15:24:00.005-06:00

Jana and I both have Nikon cameras now---hers a D60 and mine a D5100. We both shoot pretty great photos on automatic. We both want to learn how to shoot great photos on OFF automatic. So this afternoon, after the food had been cooked,

we pulled out our cameras and a couple of online tutorials here, here, and over here. This little chart that I have pinned on Pinterest came in handy--I need to print one to keep in my camera bag.

Source: Uploaded by user via Linda on Pinterest

I was able to get a some bokeh after reading this easy-to-understand tutorial.

But, getting good, clear pictures in low, indoor light is definitely a challenge. Up until now, the aperture, shutter and exposure settings were just kind of jumbled in my mind. I've experimented with Aperture Priority setting, but have had very inconsistent results and had no idea what I was doing wrong. FINALLY, after watching this tutorial, it is starting to make a little bit of sense to me. So, Jana and I switched our cameras over to "M" and practiced (these are straight out of the camera):

My pictures of Emmi went from this:

to this!

And just to be sure that one wasn't a fluke:

Even the ones on the Christmas tree, with back light, turned out much crisper and prettier!

There is still much to learn, but at least it's beginning to make more sense to me.

Insta Friday

2011-12-23T20:18:00.004-06:00

The week has zoomed by. At first, it seemed like there was so much time until Christmas, but suddenly I realize it is almost hours away. I began the week with a celebration of Advent with the Good News Sunday School class.

Of course, there has been some last minute shopping to be done, but the crowds on the road and in the stores have made me so glad that I had most of it done before school got out for the holidays.

My Christmas cards did finally get mailed out---the craftiness was "low-tech" this year, but the sentiment was there for sure.

Jana and I drove down to Cheneyville this morning to pick up Dan. He is quite excited about the presents under the tree and periodically comes into the living room to count and see how many have his name on the tag! I let him go ahead and open the one from Pam, which contained his favorite thing---Cokes!!

Tonight, Jana headed out to meet up with some old friends from her high school days. She looked so cute!

The countdown is on now! It looks like the cookies most likely won't get baked until after Christmas and there are still piles of things that need to be organized in the sewing room. But, through the years, I've learned that Christmas comes regardless of the messiness of life or what is going on in my house and there's something really special and very comforting about that.

(I'm linking up over at Life ReArranged)

She's Here!

2011-12-21T07:51:00.003-06:00

It has been well over a year since Jana was in Shreveport and even though I have seen her several times during that year, there is something so comforting and "right" about having your kids back under one roof--even if for just a couple of hours. Jana made it in last night, and after our mandatory dinner at Taco Mania, Callie was able to come by and stay for several hours before she headed home and Jana & I crawled in our beds. I was so busy visiting and listening and just watching them sit on the couch together that I never stopped to take a picture. I'm off to therapy now and then I plan to savor some more!

A Bit of Christmas Crafting

2011-12-15T22:38:00.000-06:00

Christmas crafting has been at a minimum around here this year, but I did manage to pull together a gift for the other residents at Dan's group home. When he was here a couple of months ago, I bought him one of the popular insulated cups with a straw that had a Halloween theme. He has loved that cup so much that he brought it with him to Atlanta over Thanksgiving. So, he and I decided that would make a great gift for his friends.
Those cups aren't particularly cheap, but I found the best prices on Amazon for these cups:

(Amazon.com)
I used my Cricut to add the guys' names to the cups. They turned out really great and I think the guys will like them.

Sewing Room Progress

2011-12-15T21:58:00.004-06:00

My sewing room has begun its transformation and I couldn't be happier with the way it is turning out!! Jordan was able to remove the lowered ceiling which opened up this tiny space so much. (when you only have 5'x10' to work with, any additional space--even upwards--is welcomed). The new light fixture is definitely an improvement from the old, yucky fluorescent light.

Yesterday, I came home to find the new cabinets hung on the wall, and the desk beginning to take shape.

I can't wait to get everything put back in place so the sewing fun can begin!!

More Good News/Bad News

2011-12-07T22:00:00.005-06:00

The bad news: it looks like some sort of ancient torture device (and may well be)

The good news: Popcorn makes everything better! I don't have to wear it nearly as long each day as I thought. (and hopefully it will do the trick)

P. S. This is a supination splint---for the purpose of regaining that function in my wrist.

Family Matters

2011-12-07T20:00:00.003-06:00

Day 29 - This is very belated and this is not even my own photography ( I have Camille to thank for it), but I am so thankful for my family--both those that were gathered with me at Thanksgiving in Atlanta and those that were celebrating in other parts of the country.

Tis The Season

2011-12-06T16:30:00.004-06:00

From the title of my post, you might have guessed that I was going to show you some lovely Christmas decor from around my home. But, you would have guessed wrong. This time, the season is one of change---remodeling yet again. I've lived in this house for 18 years, I think, and for most of those years, my sewing machine has been situated in a "nook" by the laundry room. When we first moved in here, we replaced the old asbestos paneling in this area with new, hardwood paneling. And that was fine, but this space has always been an after-thought and a place to stash all my junk quickly if company showed up at the door.

Well, that's all about to change! Yesterday, I emptied almost the entire room except those things that were too large for me to move in preparation for Jordan's remodeling efforts. The space is small---5 1/2 ft x 10 ft small---but, I think it can be so much more attractive and functional at the same time.

For some reason, the former owner of my house dropped the ceilings in this area and the room next to it, so Jordan pulled things out to see what is underneath. Looks like that ceiling can be re-claimed, so we're going to go for it.

This early 80's entertainment center, which formerly housed all of my teacher books, has been gifted to the Renesting Project (a great organization started by my friend, Noel, with the financial help from another friend at Lauren's Nest Egg, that furnishes homes for persons transitioning out of homelessness).

I'll be able to update and re-use the set of drawers, but I'm getting a brand new sewing table, too.

And since all of that stuff is is now sitting in the middle of my living room, looks like the Christmas decorating may just have to wait a little while.

Oh well, it will so be worth it!

P. S. Ever wonder what it looks like if you want to hang a light fixture, but you don't know where the studs are? This is it---apparently you're just supposed to bang holes in the ceiling with a hammer until you find a stud that can hold up the light box. Former owner = not so smart about building! :-(

For more about the Renesting Project, turn off the music on my music player and check out this video:

Not Your Ordinary Christmas Ornament

2011-12-04T19:30:00.004-06:00

Callie came over last night.

If you take a late night trip to

Wal Mart and add a bunch of red yarn . . .

pom-pom makers . . .

some wiggly eyes . . .

and a hot glue gun . . .

and what do you get?

An Angry Bird, that's what.

In fact, if you're a youth director, you just might need a whole flock of Angry Bird ornaments.

Warning: Emmi loves to chase birds and takes her job of chasing away birds very seriously. If a bird can't get away, this is what happens:

It's time for the pigs!!

P. S. There may or may not have been a Dove peppermint bark consumed in the process.

What?!?!?

2011-11-28T22:19:00.004-06:00

So, you can't jump up on the furniture . . .

or down from the furniture . . .

You're afraid of photos of other dogs . . .

But, suddenly you're the daredevil that climbs onto the end table------and can't get down again! And you don't learn---you continue to do it over and over again! Crazy dog!

The Great Pumpkin

2011-11-28T20:29:00.003-06:00

Day 28 - While the green pumpkin I picked a month ago has turned a bright orange, the small pie pumpkins that I purchased a the beginning of October are a deeper shade. I think that the green stem provides such a nice contrast.

Leafy Love

2011-11-27T13:15:00.003-06:00

Day 27 - Leaves are so interesting in whatever state they fall. Each is unique. Just like people, these two leaves are complete opposites in many ways--their size, one has fallen on its back and the other on its front. The smaller one even seems to be further along in the journey of changing colors. Yet they have so much in common---their general shape is similar, the veins in which they receive nourishment are clearly etched and let's face it---they have both fallen.

Open Hearts, Open Minds

2011-11-26T21:41:00.002-06:00

Day 26 - Contemplating what I need to leave "open" led me to this photo--something that I need to use more often, to study and consider as I make decisions.

Sewing Room Inspiration

2011-11-25T22:38:00.004-06:00

I've always dreamed of having my own sewing room---a space that is neat, pretty and inspires creativity. Instead, my sewing machine has been crammed into a tiny space between the laundry room and computer room that mostly serves as a junk room. I clean it and try to organize it fairly regularly, but the furnishings are of the "early attic" variety and aren't really designed for the space at all. But, lately I've been gathering images of inspirational spaces that I might be able to adapt to fit my needs.

I'd love to have a corner desk like this that would accommodate both my sewing machine and my serger.

Source: achadosdedecoracao.blogspot.com via Linda on Pinterest

This desk is beautiful! I love the soft colors and the inspiration board on the wall.

Source: weheartit.com via Linda on Pinterest

Something like these Expedit shelves would be perfect for storing all the books and fabric.

Source: aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com via Linda on Pinterest

And this little room is perfect---from the drawers beneath the desktop to the oilcloth covered surface on top!

Source: thefarmchicks.typepad.com via Linda on Pinterest

Stayed tuned----the cleaning and re-organization are about to begin!

Fall Colors

2011-11-25T22:32:00.004-06:00

Day 25 - Before my camera battery died at Don's house, I was able to snap a few pictures outdoors. The oak leaf hydrangeas were beautiful even in their dried, brown state.

P. S. I even managed to capture that ever elusive bokeh!

Rhythm of Repetition

2011-11-23T20:13:00.005-06:00

Day 23 - After a LONG drive over from Shreveport yesterday, we arrived at Don's house in Atlanta late last night. The stormy weather gave way to cooler temperatures and a beautiful day here in Atlanta. Their stepping stones remind me of a Thanksgiving many years ago and adventures involving cousins, a broken leg and a backyard fort.

Lights and Darks

2011-11-22T08:06:00.002-06:00

Day 22 - Yesterday morning, the electricity went out just as I was getting out of bed. Since it seems that my life revolves around electrical appliances or gadgets, I decided that this would be a great time to be outdoors. After sweeping the carport, taking out trash and visiting with my next door neighbor (and still not lights), I grabbed my camera and headed to the duck pond. I love being there early in the morning when no one else is there. This one little branch stood out to me, and I was able to capture it against the gray morning sky (don't be fooled by that sky,though---it was quite warm and humid rather than chilly).

Juxtaposition

2011-11-21T21:44:00.004-06:00

Day 16 - At first I was totally stumped by this prompt, but then, suddenly I started seeing contrasting images all over the place. Instead of just posting one, I decided to go ahead and post two photos today.

This lone morning glory was blooming on the ground among all of the brown, fallen leaves.

While the leaves are beautiful and seemingly harmless, better not touch---this one is poison ivy.

Connections

2011-11-20T17:21:00.002-06:00

Day 20 - When I first read this prompt, I envisioned the many connections between people that I see on a daily basis. However, today is Sunday, and I didn't bring my camera to church so I didn't get pictures there. But this evening, while working on the jewelry for the upcoming craft show, I realized that I was busily working with connections of a different sort. This photo could probably have been used yesterday, too, since they are definitely scattered, but here are the connections I worked with the most today.

Scattered

2011-11-19T21:47:00.002-06:00

Day 19 - This evening, Callie and Jordan came over to fix dinner for me for my birthday. I chose the meal----barbeque shrimp! Yum! These shrimp, before marinating in sauce, onions and lemons, posed perfectly for this prompt.

Muse

2011-11-18T15:45:00.004-06:00

Day 18 - Lately, my photographic inspiration comes from the colors and textures of fall in general. I love this season--the cooler weather, the rich colors, the acorns on the ground, squirrels scurrying around and the leaves that fall from the trees. The duck pond near my house seems to be filled with all of these elements, so I hope each afternoon that I will have time for a quick walk up there with my camera. The water level is still way down, but even with all the traffic whizzing by on one side, sitting on the benches by the water is so peaceful.

Bountiful

2011-11-17T21:09:00.002-06:00

Day 17 - I doubt you noticed that I skipped a day, but yesterday's prompt kind of stumped me and I'm still searching for the proper inspiration for it. In the meantime, I went ahead and found this photo of a bounty of berries- found on my front door wreath.

Mid-Month Message

2011-11-15T21:55:00.002-06:00

Day 15 - Today's message definitely "found ME" rather than the other way around. After a roller-coaster visit to the newest hand doctor, I sat in front of my computer researching the latest diagnosis. I flipped over to one of my Pinterest boards, only to find this quote from Volume 25----just what I needed to hear this evening!!

Unexpected Enchantment

2011-11-14T21:29:00.002-06:00

Day 14 - I struggled with this prompt a bit. After all, I have surrounded myself with things that I love---both old and new. This evening, in less than ideal light, I finally just grabbed the tiny salt and pepper shakers out of my kitchen window and took a few pictures. They belonged to my grandmother and are one of the few pairs that I kept from her vast collection. I do believe that they are kind of enchanting---what do you think?

Memory Collage

2011-11-13T21:11:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, I helped my friend Danette with a project for her parents' 50th anniversary. Inspired by these wonderful pieces of art that she'd seen for sale at Canton by J L Art, (click on that link to see their full collection)

I offered to help her make a knock-off. Her next door neighbor (I think they call him Super Mike), built the wooden frame, which is about 2' x 4'. Then we painted. I used painter's tape to get a nice straight line for the "binding" and we used a light gray and a deep blue. I "distressed" them with black and beige paint and then we were ready to begin adding the pictures.

Danette's sister had snuck in her parent's house while they were out of town and made copies of a bunch of their favorite photos, so we had some great pictures to work with. I used my Cricut to cut out the words and accents from black vinyl.

After a couple of coats of Mod Podge, she will add the metal accents. The crosses, fleur de lis and horseshoes all have special meaning to their family, so it really is a personalized gift.

****Danette just sent me a picture of the finished product! I think it turned out great!

Take Some Time Out

2011-11-13T15:02:00.000-06:00

Day 13 - Sunday. A day of rest. Sometimes it is for me and other times it is way to busy. This morning's sermon was about an addiction that many of us share----the addition of being busy. I am definitely guilty of that one. It sometimes seems that the old quote of "the busier I get, the behinder I get" was written just for me. Today's message and the photo prompt remind me of one of the goals of my One Little Word---that even stillness can have an important purpose. Relaxing for me can mean doing a craft, taking a nap, watching a movie, window shopping or just "chilling" on the back deck.

Good Day Sunshine

2011-11-12T22:52:00.002-06:00

Day 12 - I decided to mix it up a little bit today. Not that any of you know, but I'm switching around the prompts a little bit to make them fit my schedule and life. This particular prompt says that "A burst of round, ripe sunny color can totally transform the gloomy grays that may be lurking outside. That is so true! And this burst of color found in a tallow tree definitely made me smile.

Stripped Down

2011-11-11T17:11:00.002-06:00

Day 11 - I have always been drawn to textures, whether in fabric, paper, or nature. This prompt asked me to find something that is "begging to be photographed", then to strip away all the color. Once the color is removed, lighting becomes more important in letting the natural texture shine through.

Preparations

2011-11-10T17:00:00.000-06:00

Day 10 - As you know, I'm not a huge fan of cooking. Contrary to what many people think, I CAN cook, but I would much rather be concocting some sort of masterpiece on my sewing machine than stirring and measuring. That's not to say I don't enjoy eating---because I do!--and I love pretty kitchen things, like great dishes. A couple of years ago, I decided to begin collecting turkey plates while antique shopping. There are very expensive, high-quality turkey patterns out there, but I prefer the lower-cost alternatives---ones that won't make me cry if I drop one. Thanks to my flea market buddies, I've found enough plates and salad plates that I can actually set a table for the holidays if we happen to stay here in Shreveport. Here's my collection, patiently waiting in my cupboard to see if we will dine here or in Atlanta.

What Remains

2011-11-09T18:02:00.003-06:00

Day 9 - The prompt this morning was to photograph something that is not willing to let go. Seasons come and go, and most of the summer blossoms have faded by now. But this miniature rose, on a bush from my childhood home, still holds on, despite the recent drop in temperatures and storms of last night.

Keeping It Simple

2011-11-08T16:00:00.000-06:00

Day 8 - Wouldn't you know it, the day we're supposed to use "light" is the day that is totally overcast with little to no natural light on much of anything. So, I brought my object, a ceramic pumpkin into the living room and turned on the indoor light, only to have it burn out before I could snap the picture. I decided to go ahead and go with the overcast skies outdoors and decided it would be a good time to experiment with the settings on my camera. I've got a lot of practice and learning to do, but I like the way the stem reflects light in this picture.

After The Fall

2011-11-07T15:41:00.001-06:00

Day 7 - While we have yet to enjoy the change of colors in our trees this year (and may not, due to the severe drought), one of the trees that is unique to the South is the Magnolia Tree. In the fall, their fruit fall from the trees, littering lawns with these cone-like structures. I love their texture and the tiny bits of red peeking out.

Subtleties

2011-11-06T08:08:00.001-06:00

Day 6 - These acorns, while all brown, are so different in their sizes, textures and even shadings.

Saturday In The Park

2011-11-05T17:59:00.002-05:00

This morning, Callie and I got up bright and (fairly) early to promote tomorrow's CROP Walk at the Family Fitness Fest at a local park.

The weather was brisk and beautiful, so we didn't really mind sitting and visiting with people as they passed on the walking path.

It was fun to watch kids do relay races and obstacle courses, adults trying out Zumba and Yoga

and just spending a little time with this one!

Little Reminders

2011-11-05T17:07:00.003-05:00

Day 5 - I have many little reminders located around my house, small symbols of things that are important to me. Many years ago, my daughters left me handwritten notes that I later had laminated. I keep them in my medicine cabinet, among the thermometers and dental floss, so that I see them every morning and am reminded of the two most important people in the world to me. I love you Jana and Callie.

Morning Light

2011-11-04T18:50:00.003-05:00

Day 4 - While I'm not exactly a morning person, I do enjoy being up at a decent hour with time to relax and enjoy the stillness of the morning light. On work days, my routine is always the same: Get up and shower, get dressed and put on makeup, style hair, then go to the kitchen for breakfast. In the kitchen, the first thing I do is raise the shades on my kitchen window to let in the morning light. The plant stakes that were a gift from Jana always makes me smile.

The Beauty in the Ordinary

2011-11-03T19:41:00.000-05:00

Day 3 - The Beauty Challenge. The challenge for today was to find beauty in the very ordinary--to seek out the otherwise overlooked. As I left for work after reading the challenge, I noticed the huge "weed" that has sprung up in one of my flowerbeds and was reminded that I needed to get of it when possible. But, then, as I looked closer, I noticed the beautiful berries on the ends of a few branches. So pretty!!

Get Comfy

2011-11-02T19:37:00.002-05:00

Day 2 - This is my favorite spot in the whole house. I generally spend the last couple hours of each day sitting here with my computer in my lap and the TV on. The chair probably needs to be reupholstered, but I love it and hate to lose any of its "comfiness".

The red chenille throw----it covers a worn spot on the right arm.

Picture Fall

2011-11-01T20:36:00.003-05:00

Jana and I began participating in a self-paced class over at Big Picture Classes entitled "Picture Fall" (taught by Tracey Clark). We decided to do it for the month of November to help focus ourselves on gratitude and all the wonderful elements of the season. Here's my first entry, a fall leaf. Since I have a new camera, this is a great way to begin using it "off auto". When I took this picture, I didn't realize that my flash was up, so when it flashed I was afraid that I had ruined the picture. But, despite the fact that it is not as sharp as I would have liked, I actually really like the way the flash darkened the background and made the leaf stand out.

Be sure to check out Jana's photo over on her blog.

They Came

2011-10-31T21:19:00.002-05:00

They came alright! Lots of them---all sizes and all kinds of different costumes. My last visitors were these 2 tiny fairies who attend one of the schools I work with. So cute and sweet!

I have to admit that I assisted in emptying the bowl by eating a few of the non-WW friendly Reese's Pieces. At least there aren't any left to tempt me!

Will They Come?

2011-10-31T18:51:00.004-05:00

It's Halloween and candy is a requirement, isn't it?

In addition to the ordinary candy that kids love, I made a few few quick and easy ghosts based on this simple tutorial.

Source: theshabbycreekcottage.com via Linda on Pinterest

I hot-glued a tootsie-roll pop onto a coffee filter and added a face with a Sharpie and now I have a bowl full of goblins waiting for costumed guests.

For a few of my very special neighbors, I made treat bags. I used some ofsthe free Halloween printables offered by The Celebration Shoppe and stapled them to the top of a ziploc bag.

So the candy is ready.

Will they come?

Windows Of Blessings

2011-10-29T20:07:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since we had a "Women's Event" at church, but I spent the morning enjoying a nice meal with friends, good conversation and preparing needed household items for some needy families. Be sure to check out the Re-Nesting Project, founded by my friend Noel (you can "like" them on Facebook to hear updates). It is an awesome project that furnishes and decorates homes of people moving out of homelessness. They have been up and running for just over a year and have already done AMAZING things!!

I agreed to decorate one of the tables several weeks ago, but as the time got closer, I found myself overwhelmed with other things and little time to pull things together. Somehow I missed the instructions to decorate in a fall theme,

so instead I did my own "take" on the theme for the day---Windows of Blessings.

I decided upon a white color scheme, accented by natural elements and symbols of my own blessings. While I longed for some new white plates like the ones pictured here or even here, I just couldn't justify the cost for something I would use so infrequently. Since our food for the day was going to be served on clear plastic plates anyway, I came up with a really low-cost solution that turned out pretty cute. I picked up a pack of solid white dinner plates and dessert plates at Wal-Mart ($.94 a pack = $1.98) and set to work with a silver paint pen and ultra-fine line Sharpie. I lined the edges with the silver paint and then wrote the featured scripture, Malachi 3:10, around the edges. I repeated the silver trim on the dessert plates, and wrote the word "blessings" around the edges.

I had planned to make some new linen place mats, but instead settled for just cutting them out with pinking shears (I can sew them together later for my own use).

Dollar Tree had these great white ceramic pumpkins---they had kind of a bluish tint to them, so I wiped a little bit of rust-colored acrylic paint on them before writing the word "Blessings" on each one.

The dollar bins at Michael's yielded some natural colored journals and pretty white pencils with a little bling on the end, so I used my paper stash to cover them as a favor for each person.

I used my collection of apothecary jars to showcase a few of my personal blessings. I included some pictures of my family (copied in B/W on my scanner), a rolled up piece of music from a hymnal, a bird's nest and feather, a glass cross, a poetry book, and lots of things from nature (acorns, magnolia cones, pine cones, leaves, etc.)

I finished by scattering a few tulle flowers I made several months ago for a shower and some linen circles. Again, I'd planned to sew these linen pieces together to make flowers, but that never happened, so I just scatter them about.

I was pleased with the end result and felt like it portrayed a sense of calm and peace that many of us need in our busy lives. I hope that my guests enjoyed it as well.

Weekend Wrap-up---GGM Style

2011-10-24T21:06:00.005-05:00

This past weekend was a CRAZY one! I had Friday off for Fall break, but ended up spending almost the entire day at the church getting ready for the Greater Gift Market, our annual fair trade market. I took my new camera with me to document all the activities, but failed to bring along the memory card, so I ended up using my iPhone instead. So here is a round-up of the weekend---GGM style.

Some of the treasures from SERVV :

Artwork and scholarships from the Noel Community Art Program:

href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gRpzOzxzEfIADp2NX7kmHSOxZWlAIkEh4JiZP7kUr0Y?feat=embedwebsite">

Beautiful hand-woven purses from Mayan Hands:

and some beautiful pottery from master potter, Brenda Snider:

The sale went very well---great crowd and lots of fun. Balancing the books proved to be quite a bit more stressful, however. Here's what our table looked like after several hours of calculating:

The brightest spot of the weekend did not involve the church or the market for me. Callie was playing with the Longview Symphony and I was able to drive over to hear the concert. They played Beethoven's 5th and it was wonderful! A great way to relax and enjoy!

Cool Weather Food

2011-10-21T22:35:00.001-05:00

Cooler temperatures mean a return to cold-weather food. Baked potato soup---YUM!!!

A-Maze-ing

2011-10-15T21:41:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Callie and Jordan drove down to Cheneyville to pick up Dan for me while I went to work and then therapy. They ran into a few "hitches", but made it back safely and I soooo appreciate their help---that means just one round-trip for me this weekend.

This morning, after breakfast, we headed up to the church to work in the food pantry. Business was slow, which I guess is a good thing, but we managed to keep ourselves fairly busy loading groceries and carrying them out. This afternoon, the Elliotts joined us north of town at the Country Fun Corn Maze. The weather was great, although a little hot, and there was quite a crowd at the farm.

After a quick picture, we tackled the first maze.

With Dan leading the way, we ventured into the second maze. This one was much more challenging with lots of twists and turns. Let's just say that we back-tracked more than once----or at least I think we did. Every corner looks just like the one before it.

Anna burned out fairly early in the second maze and slipped out one of the emergency exits to wait for us on the outside.

The rest of us persevered and we made it out, too.

After a refreshing drink and brief rest, we loaded onto the wagons for a ride out to the pumpkin patches. We traded our wooden nickel tokens for the opportunity to pick our own pumpkins.

This year, the crop is a few weeks behind schedule due to the drought,

so instead of orange pumpkins, we brought back green ones.

Supposedly, we can wipe them with lemon juice and place them in direct sunlight to facilitate a change in color.

The highlight of the trip for Dan definitely came at the end. The very end. In fact, I thought that everyone was going to have to leave except the two of us. Prior to the pumpkin patch jaunt, we'd spotted a guy with a really large snake that Dan wanted to talk to. I assured him that we would find him after the pumpkins, but when we got back, he was no where to be found. FINALLY, Dan spotted him

and we took a few pictures with the 50 pound albino Burmese Python.

I didn't hold him --- I volunteered to take pictures. :-)-- but Dan will be talking about this for months!!

It was a really nice day----a bit hot, but otherwise great. And it was fun to have a chance to try out my new camera (on auto for now).

Insta Friday

2011-10-14T22:05:00.004-05:00

Wrapping up the week, I have a few instagram photos from the last couple of days. I'll be linking up over at Life Rearranged again so why don't you join us.
My newest wrist "contraption". Not sure exactly how this stuff works, but it seems to be helping the swelling a bit and giving me a little support in the most painful spots. Kinesio-tape---oh how I love thee!

The Head Start Center I work with celebrated this week with a balloon send-off. Unfortunately, preschoolers + letting balloons fly away = lots of tears ( I could have told them that)

The balloons were pretty though, as they floated through the air.

up . . .

UP . . .

AND AWAY!!! . . .

Toms and TV--perfect.

I've switched back to Blogger for writing my posts. Live Writer just seemed too cumbersome to me---I'm fairly proficient on Blogger and was having to look up every little step on Live Writer, which just wasn't worth it.

I Did It!

2011-10-09T16:35:00.001-05:00

I’ve been wanting one for months and had planned to buy one this summer.

After injuring my wrist, I postponed the purchase a bit longer. In the

meantime, I’ve been researching and comparing. This is a big purchase! And

today, after seeing the sale price online, I hopped in my car and drove to

Best Buy.

The price in the store was almost 100 dollars higher, but they agreed to honor

the online price since I could pull it up on my phone (don’t even think about it,

Emmi).

I unpacked it carefully and admired it.

The battery is charging and I can’t wait to try it out! I’m interested in any pointers

you might have---I’ve never owned a DSLR before!!

Insta-Weekend

2011-10-08T20:19:00.001-05:00

I’m loving the free photo templates that I picked up over at Pugly Pixel.

She does some really fun stuff and it’s great that she offers so many for

free. I liked the colors she used for blocking, so this time I let some

of them show around the edges. Here’s my weekend (or at least part of

it) in Instagram. I’m linking up over at Life Rearranged.

1. Yet another parent conference---several this week. 2. Butterfly found

on the steps of the church 3. Railroad tracks downtown 4. There seems

to be have been some sort of miscommunication with the groomer when

I asked for Emmi’s ears to be a little shorter. Hope all the other dogs aren’t laughing.

1. Red River Revel- Saturday was closing day. 2. Train bridge

over the Red River

1. Callie met Emmi and I for a walk to the duck pond 2. Gabe can’t

quite keep up with the bumper crop of acorns falling on my driveway

3. Beautiful blue skies 4. Emmi keeping a close eye on the ducks

1. Parking meters downtown 2. Callie and I passed out flyers for the

upcoming CROP walk at this afternoon’s Zombie Walk. This was definitely

the tiniest Zombie 3. And this was the tallest Zombie, thanks to his stilts.

Who knew there were so many people that like to dress as Zombies?!

4. Large mushrooms in the grass near our sidewalk

My Secret Garden

2011-10-02T16:29:00.001-05:00

Now that somewhat cooler temperatures have arrived, I love sitting out on the deck behind my house.

Despite the searing summer heat, Four O’Clocks have sprung around the edges of my deck, climbing the

ironwork and cascading from the roof.

On the other side of the deck grows a vine (of an unknown variety) bearing the prettiest little

berries.

If I squeeze my eyes into a squint, I can almost block out the storage building and the unruly flower

beds and instead pretend that it is my own secret garden.

Feeling Fallish

2011-10-01T22:12:00.001-05:00

With friends coming to visit this past weekend, I scurried around the house in my spare time the week prior trying to put things in some sort of order. In recent months, I’ve worked on several crafty projects and found that putting things away has been a challenge with my wrist / hand limitations (well, more of a challenge than normally), so things have pretty much piled up in various rooms. I was able to move the piles to more discreet locations in most cases, but it was also time for the summer decor to take a rest.

Using the things I had easy access to, I was able to pull together a bit for fresh fall decor for the house. With a pumpkin pie scented candle burning in the kitchen, it really got me in the mood for the changing seasons.

I made this simple pom-pom swag last fall, but it made me smile as I pulled it out again this year.

There’s a playful Jack-O-Lantern out on the front porch . . .

And a black crow perched on the coffee table.

There real acorns falling profusely out on the driveway, but I picked up these “faux acorns” a couple of years ago in Canton.

I can’t wait until the cooler temperatures are here to stay and leaves begin falling from the trees. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year.

Linda

Junkin’ Jaunt

2011-10-01T19:10:00.003-05:00

The first weekend in October usually brings a trip with Valine to

our favorite Flea Market, the Canton Trade Days.

Yesterday, Troy, Valine and I got up extra early and drove over

for a day of browsing and dreaming. The drive over brought some

sobering sights as we saw acres of burned forests and grass from

the wildfires that have been so rampant in East Texas.

The weather could not have been any more perfect---while quite

warm in the late afternoon, the morning was cool and there was a

breeze all day long. Being outdoors under the blue skies with

good friends was wonderful!

Valine spied one of her first purchases as we were strolling along

the main road. This great wicker chaise will be so pretty on her

front porch. It makes me want to curl up with a good book---

(maybe that new “Castle” book?)

It wasn’t long until Troy found her first purchase, too. While it

wasn’t our typical flea market purchase, we certainly got plenty of

laughs out of the light-up sign that she picked up for her daughter’s

boyfriend.

We had so much fun together. I picked up a few small items (but

have absolutely no pictures of them) and we enjoyed walking and

talking and being together.

Happy Junking!!

Linda

P. S. I’m experimenting with Windows Live Writer so I may try

a few different fonts and formats in the next few posts, so bear

with me.

Mater To The Rescue

2011-09-23T20:59:00.006-05:00

The weather today was perfect. It was so cool this morning, that I almost wished I'd thrown a sweater in the car. After sitting in a mandatory training all day long, I was so happy to finally get home and have some time to be outdoors. I decided to finally tackle the almost overwhelming task of weeding my front flowerbed. While I've been able to keep most everything alive (despite the hottest summer in history), the weeds seemed to flourish in the drought conditions. I knew it would be a big job, but it needed to be done and I thought it might serve as "PT" for my hand, too.

As soon as I walked outside, I was quickly joined by a little friend from next door. Gabriel had a thousand questions so I attempted to divert his attention by suggesting he pick up the acorns in my driveway.

Something about tiny acorns in little 2-year-old hands . . . so sweet.

And his giggles of delight as I dropped one "baby acorn" down his shirt! He repeated the process over and over, squealing as the acorn touched his tummy.

As I continued to work on the weeds that have been overtaking my beds, Gabe really wanted to help. He attempted to fill the bag, but finding that kind of difficult, he brought in the reinforcements. Mater to the rescue!!

Carter joined us when he got home from daycare and the questions about weeds and ants and dirt and leaves (and lots more) were doubled! (Carter's shirt kind of says it all)

How about that great outfit that Gabriel has on?!? His mom just purchased an industrial monogram machine and is hoping to eventually make it her full-time business. Her work is beautiful!!

The weeding may have taken a bit longer than normal, but I didn't mind a bit! It was refreshing---both the weather and the boys!

P. S. I can't figure out why my font keeps displaying so small---for some reason Blogger is not saving my preferences. Sorry if you needed your reading glasses---I did, too!

I Did It!

2011-09-18T21:17:00.004-05:00

Well, I did it!

Last night I sat down at the sewing machine and actually sewed!

Shocking, I know! (haha) Actually, this is the first time I've used the sewing machine since my surgery, so it really was a major feat for me. I had to take really frequent breaks to stretch (and breathe, if you want to know the truth), but I managed to sew several headbands for the craft show using BOTH hands.

Now, ironing them is going to be a completely different story!

Almost Time To Revel

2011-09-17T17:12:00.005-05:00

It's almost Revel time! Even though I work on the committee, for some reason, the Red River Revel has snuck up on me this year. I can't believe it is only two weeks away! I even managed to get it totally confused with the trip to Canton I'm hoping to be able to make (keep your fingers crossed)

Today, Carol and I spent some "quality time" down at the Revel office working on the graphics. Despite the fact that we've been going down at least one afternoon a week for the past month, there is still MUCH to do.

I mainly work right here, creating the graphics---

and sending them over here to the vinyl cutter (it's kind of like an industrial size Cricut -- only easier to use).

Carol has been setting up the signs. Today we even recruited Emily to help out when she can.

As we were leaving this afternoon, the first tents were going up. It's almost Revel time!!

Un-braced and Discharged

2011-09-14T19:30:00.001-05:00

This past week has brought a few changes for my wrist. I am now officially un-braced and as of yesterday, discharged from Physical Therapy as well. I'm trying to look at that as a positive thing, but unfortunately the doctor's long-term prognosis is not too great at this point. I may be looking at another surgery in the next year, but in the meantime, I'm working like heck to regain as much strength and range of motion as I can! I was sent home with tubs of "thera-putty"

and that yellow tub is already getting a good workout here at home (yes, my hand is still pretty swollen).

I'm determined to prove that doctor wrong (and work up to that pink tub soon)! Wish me luck!!

The Signs Are There

2011-09-06T20:01:00.003-05:00

The signs are barely perceptible, but they are definitely there. The air is cooler in the mornings--cool enough that a sweater seemed in order this morning.

Never mind that it was a short-sleeve sweater (I never would have worn even that last week).

And tiny acorns are beginning to adorn my patio and driveway. I love acorns!

Fall is definitely on its way.

2011-09-05T14:59:00.001-05:00

I just got my copy at the magazine stand at Drug Emporium.

Blue skies, nice breeze and temperatures in the 80's instead of triple digits and my favorite magazine---sounds like the perfect Labor Day holiday!

Crafty Weekend

2011-09-04T19:10:00.002-05:00

For the first time in many years, I've decided to participate in a holiday craft show. Given the current state of my hand/wrist, it may not be the best timing, but I have high hopes of improved use in the next few months. In the meantime, I've been looking for fun things that I can manage. Jana's former church in Atlanta, Epworth Methodist, is hosting a craft show the first weekend in December. Since she's planning to go and have a table, I'm putting together a few things as well. I'm hoping to actually be there, but if not she'll handle the actual sales for me.

To get started, I punched a bunch of paper and used a lot of Dimensional Magic. The magnets turned out really great (you may remember the ones I made for my cubicle)!

I haven't decided how to package them yet, but I'm hoping for small pieces of metal to group them as sets. (may have to talk to Ron about that)

Hancocks and Hobby Lobby had all their ribbon on sale this week, so I picked up some 3/8" grosgrain and set to work crafting a few tiny hair clips.

flowers . . .

and lots of bugs to begin with.

Since the sale is in December, I'm hoping to whip up a few Christmas related items, too. Who knows what's next?

Words To Live By

2011-08-28T14:12:00.005-05:00

For the last couple of weeks, I've participated in the Big Idea Festival class offered by Big Picture Classes. It was a free 12-day class that focused on "Words To Live By". Each day a different teacher offered a word that had special meaning to them and shared how they used it to create a scrapbook page. With the start of school, things have gotten busier around here, so I decided that rather than shooting new pictures for each prompt, I would just use the archives that are on my laptop. I also resolved to dip into my huge stash of papers and embellishments and not buy anything new for the challenge (except for a new 8x8 album).

I began by choosing a quote that included each word and then selected photos to go with those quotes. While not everyone would probably "get" the connection in each case, they have meaning to me and that's what is most important. I used a variety of papers--mostly from a paper pack by My Mind's Eye--and also pulled out a set of adhesive borders from K & Company. (I've used these borders before, but for some reason, I just now realized that they were adhesive---much easier to use!) Other embellishments consisted of punched circles of varying sizes, a couple of white doilies and even a yellow sunflower doily from my kitchen drawer. I printed out each quote on textured cardstock and cut them into strips, adhering them with my Tiny Attacher (my very favorite scrapbooking tool). Here are the completed pages:

This was a fun class for me. While I wasn't necessarily inspired by every word used, I did enjoy seeing how the teachers interpreted them and once I found quotes, they gained new meaning to me. It was also a great idea to be introduced to these teachers---I'm even following several of their blogs now. Be sure to click over to Big Picture Classes to see what is currently being offered.

A Weekend Smile

2011-08-26T21:20:00.003-05:00

While those "smile moments" were in no particular order, Friday evening gave me the opportunity for a great big smile as I finally was able to capture a couple of my tiny feathered friends on film . . . well on memory card, at least. They are fast little critters and just the movement of picking up my camera is generally enough to cause a hasty exit. But, not tonight. This time they posed for me. Hope it makes you smile, too.

Makes Me Smile . . .

2011-08-26T17:58:00.003-05:00

After reading Jana's post, I decided to carry on the meme---below, I've listed 20 things that make me smile.

1. Emmi's waving paws when she gets really excited.

2. Lunch with friends

3. Hugs from tiny, preschool arms.

4. Talking to my family online (or on the phone, but online happens more often)

5. Decorating/craft magazines

6. Shopping trips to Canton

7. Find a great deal at an antique sale, and knowing exactly where it's going to go

8. "Momo'isms"

9. Memories of family vacations from long ago

10. Vacations with my current family

11. A house full of daughters and son-in-laws

12. A big bowl of popcorn

13. Off-key singing in the car with Callie (haven't done that lately)

14. Observing the very special relationship that my girls have with each other

15. Reminiscing escapades that Valine and I have shared

16. Dan's joy in very simple things

17. Tiny hummingbirds on the feeder outside my kitchen window

18. Worship songs on Sunday mornings

19. A cold, Diet Coke on a hot day

20. Babies---anyone's baby really

Saturday Sprinkling

2011-08-20T13:03:00.003-05:00

As I went outside this morning to set up the sprinklers for the flowerbeds, I was quickly joined by the kids next door and a few doors down. The filled bird bath is like a magnet for them--they are completely fascinated by it and the water in it. It's at just the right height to splash and play.

With such sweet little hands, I didn't mind a bit!

Carter and his sister, McKenzie also love the bunny yard ornament in my flowerbed and begged me to take their picture with it (after I asked them to take it out of the bird bath and put it back).

After a few bike wrecks in my driveway, Hart joined them in making hand prints on the sidewalk.

Pretty cheap entertainment, huh?!

Hart and Gabe stayed for a while, thoroughly enjoying the sprinkler.

It's best if you stick your head in it and stand up sputtering water and wiping eyes.

Of course, no little boy play would be complete without a little "bootie humor".

I guess Gabe was feeling a bit patriotic-- or perhaps the flag he discovered in a nearby potted plant was just too tempting.

I must admit that with the heat wave we've been experiencing, I didn't even mind when they picked up the sprinkler and accidentally squirted me. It felt pretty good!!

P. S. I had to re-fill the bird bath as all the water was used to wash the bunny and any other yard ornaments adorning my flowerbed.

Insta-Friday

2011-08-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

It's time for the latest post of Insta-Friday, with a few pictures from this past week. I'll be linking up to Life Rearranged, again, too.

Our church's community garden, one of the few green spots in our city right now:

The grass at my school--no wonder there are huge brush fires all around town!!

Yep, it's hot around here!! This was Wednesday's temperatures--the 44th day of triple digits this summer (the average is 7 days).

Hello, Mr. Lizard. I know it is really hot outside today (107 again on Thursday), but I'm really glad that your beady, little eyes are on the outside of my door and not on the inside.

First Day

2011-08-16T07:18:00.002-05:00

I'm just like a little kid! Today is the first day of school (for teachers) and I hardly slept at all last night! I tossed and turned and thought about school. Goodness, morning sure came early today!! I've got a busy day aheah, so it looks like it will be a caffeine morning!

Scrapbook on the Road Revisted

2011-08-15T14:56:00.005-05:00

You may remember the Scrapbook On the Road that I prepared after completing Ali Edward's class. I finished it in time for my Yosemite vacation and even made a simplified version for Dan to enjoy. During Camp Crop-A-Lot a few weeks ago, I was able to finish my scrapbook, filling it with photos and memorabilia from the trip. The first couple of days I was able to journal in the evening about the day's activities, but of course, that stopped after I injured my wrist. I did, however, dictate some of the day's events into my iPhones voice memo feature (usually on the back deck, in the wee hours of the morning, while everyone else was sleeping - I had several sleepless nights while there). Back at home, I typed up those notes and just printed them out to be attached in the scrapbook. While I'd love for it all to be written nicely on the pages in my own handwriting, that, too, is part of the story, so I'm okay with this adapted approach. Here are a few of the completed pages:

Ali seems to be able to edit her materials and memorabilia better than me, and maybe that will come in time. I included lots of photos and ended up having to get larger rings to accommodate everything.

Another Little Back-To-School Project

2011-08-14T19:30:00.000-05:00

One more quick, little back-to-school project. Last week, I wandered the aisles of Hobby Lobby (which is always dangerous for my wallet) and found this cute magnet board on sale in the fall decor. Thinking of my office cubicle, I decided I couldn't go wrong---it was regularly $4.99, on sale for half price!

I purchased a small set of round magnets and had all the other supplies at my house.

I punched out small circles of scrapbook paper and ran them through my Xyron to attach them to the magnets, then coated them with that wonderful Dimensional Magic.

That's it! Quick, easy and cute!!

Back To School Gifts

2011-08-14T19:00:00.001-05:00

We go back to school this week! With 45+ days over 100 degrees this summer, the thought of being in and out of the car all day is not terribly appealing. On the other hand, the last few days have been pretty monotonous for me. Most of my hobbies and activities revolve around crafts, sewing and things like that---things that really require the use of both of my hands. With my right arm still in a brace, keeping myself busy has become a bit more of a challenge, so perhaps being back at work will help fill that time a little better.

I always try to have a little something for my co-workers, a little back-to-school gift. I love these "Spiffy Scissors" that Char made:

Source: eighteen25.blogspot.com via Linda on Pinterest

It took me a while to cut out the patterned paper, but that was the hardest part for me (under normal circumstances, it would be super easy). I had hoped for scissor handles in different colors, but in order to get decent scissors, I had to settle for all red handles on sale at Target.

I'm in love with Dimensional Magic---it makes things look so cool!

I designed a tag and Callie helped me punch them out. Then I packaged them in a frosting decorating bags just as Char suggested. For some reason, the ones labeled "Candy Decorating" were on sale super cheap at Joann's, while the regular ones were $6 a box. (I couldn't tell any difference)

I even decorated a pair for myself--every teacher deserves a cheerful pair of scissors to work with!

If you're interested in downloading a copy of the tags, click on the link below:

You're A Cut Above Tags Aug 2011

National S'Mores Day

2011-08-10T17:35:00.006-05:00

Did you realize that today is National S'Mores Day?? Unfortunately, I didn't know about it until it was to late to do anything about it. But, in honor of the special occasion, here are a few pictures to inspire you:

Strawberry Banana S'mores from The Shabby Nest:

Homemade S'more Ice Cream from Kevin and Amanda:

Homemade Graham Crackers from Poppytalk:

S'mores on a Stick from Brown Paper Packages:

And roasting marshmallows in Yosemite----Shaffer style:

All these pictures and recipes are making me hungry! I'm off to eat dinner---I wonder if I can round up a marshmallow or two??

Thelma and Louise - Finale

2011-08-09T21:22:00.005-05:00

Just as all my favorite USA shows are having their finales this week, this is a finale of sorts, too. The final post about the trip Valine and I took.

In between eating at great restaurants and seeing shows, we also took time to walk around the strip and check out some of the other casino/hotels. There are literally hundreds of places to stay on or near the strip and they range from the very nice to the pretty trashy (there are probably some REALLY trashy ones, too, but we didn't see them). Here are some of my favorites:

Our hotel, the Palazzo, was beautiful. The rooms are nice, the casino is more classy than some and the workers were personable and very helpful. There were also a couple of fountains that were really pretty. I especially like this one that had a summer theme of frogs and dragonflies.

Next door to the Palazzo, is the Venetian. They are actually part of the same resort and are connected through hallways and walkways, but their decor is completely different. The Venetian is decorated beautifully with the shops and restaurants located on hallways that are decorated to look like streets, complete with sidewalk cafes and street lamps.

This is the ceiling in one of the lobbies.

The Mirage has a sort of "island or rain forest" theme with lush green vignettes. They even have a dolphin pool in the back.

Caesar's Palace is quite ornate and beautiful. This is the one that made me think "wow, I can't believe the details that they include". I mean, look at the painted ceilings and the statues!

Manadalay Bay is at the complete opposite end of the strip from the Palazzo, so we took the bus down there. It is a very nice resort with a luxurious beach theme going on.

And the Paris hotel features . . . well, the Eiffel Tower, of course.

My very favorite was the Bellagio. Everything about it was just beautiful. In one of the smaller lobbies, these umbrellas were hung from the ceiling.

In the main lobby, was an area with huge floral arrangements. The ceiling was covered with these colored glass disks. It was so pretty!

The Bellagio also has a conservatory that features a seasonal display of flowers and objects made from plants. It was just beautiful!

(isn't this painting made of flowers great??)

Each evening, they offer a "dancing fountain" show out front. (imagine music playing as you see the pictures)

So long, Vegas!

In grand finale form, we finished our trip back in Manchac, Louisiana with a meal of the best catfish I've ever eaten (you were right, Valine).

Thelma and Louise - Part Three

2011-08-09T11:52:00.004-05:00

I know--this is probably more than you ever wanted to know about our trip, but we did such a variety of things that it is all worth mentioning. For the next three days, Valine was tied up with her conference for the mornings and some of the afternoons. On the other hand, I had some free time. Our hotel room was beautiful with a nice view of the pool below and part of the Strip.

I spent some time out at the pool, which was quite pleasant in the mornings. Shortly after noon, the sun finally made it to that area and the chairs in each end of the pool became "prime seating".

Each of the days that I was there, people's attention was drawn up to the windows overhead, where window washers dangled precariously from cables.

Valine and I ate at some great restaurants in Las Vegas. One night was enjoyed a meal with her credit union cohorts at Wolfgang Puck's Postrio. It was really nice and the food was good.

On Friday, we went down to Mandalay Bay to eat at Fleur, a recommendation of my physical therapist who used to live in Vegas. She even sent me a coupon to use there. (and she was right---the food was great!!)

We also got to see a couple of shows while we were there. Jersey Boys was a great show highlighting the history of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Valine's favorite activity was definitely seeing Barry Manilow in concert.

She's been a fan for a long as I've known her so when she heard he would be there at the same time as us, there was no question that we needed to get tickets.

It was a fun show, full of music that we could sing along to and great showmanship. Despite the fact that he has aged considerably since his start in the music business, he was entertaining and didn't try to act like a 20-something (which is good since he's nearing 70).

Thelma and Louise - Part Two

2011-08-09T06:54:00.000-05:00

The second day of our trip, we headed to the Grand Canyon. Valine had never been there before and it had been about 23 years since I'd been there, so it was basically a new experience for both of us. Even knowing what it looks like from photos in no way prepares you for the vast beauty that is waiting at the first view point. We walked to Mather Point first.

Amazing!!

In every direction!!

Then we walked along the Rim Trail for a while, enjoying the view at other stops.

There were tons of ground squirrels

and beautiful flowers. One of my favorites was the Cliffrose, that hugs the rim of the Canyon.

The weather at the Canyon was absolutely perfect---about 82 degrees and clear skies. We stopped for lunch at El Tovar, the iconic lodge in the National Park. The meal was really good,

but the dessert was amazing!!!! Valine ordered a chocolate taco

and I ordered a Napoleon. Yes, Weight Watchers was put on hold as I enjoyed one of the best desserts I've ever eaten!!

Since we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us, we had to leave the Canyon by late afternoon. It was a wonderful day! We arrived back in Las Vegas and were able to return our rental without incident and caught the shuttle to our hotel. I know Valine was relieved to be out from behind the wheel, but I hope she enjoyed the adventure as much as I did.

Thelma and Louise (a.k.a.Valine & Linda)---Part One

2011-08-07T18:22:00.000-05:00

Valine and I went on our first travel adventure last week---what we've been calling our "Thelma and Louise" trip. Instead of a cool convertible, we had a Ford Fusion and we never ran into Brad Pitt, but we stayed busy! We flew out of New Orleans

(that's the Grand Canyon from our airplane)

and right after arriving in Las Vegas, we picked up our rental car with Valine at the wheel and headed south. Driving in unfamiliar territory is not exactly Valine's idea of fun, but with my broken wrist, there weren't many options and she did great!

Our first stop was the Hoover Dam.

After enjoying the view from way up high, and marveling at the engineering, we drove across the new bridge and into Arizona.

I'd read about a few small ghost towns along the way, and since we're always on the lookout for a new scrapbook page, we decided to stop off in Chloride, AZ, which is advertised as "a ghost town that never really died--almost, but not quite".

On the day we were there, it seemed pretty dead--nothing was open. There were, however, some pretty desert wildflowers,

cactus,

lots of quail and a tiny bunny,

and LOTS of yard art,

some of which was actually kind of pretty, in a very odd sort of way.

We tried to view the advertised petroglyphs on the canyon walls, so we followed painted signs up a dusty, rocky "road" as far as we dared.

We parked and walked a good bit further down the deserted trail before giving up and heading back to the car.

Valine had visions of a toothless, old prospector jumping out from behind the rocks, but fortunately that never materialized either.

As we continued our road trip, a rainbow followed alongside for a while

and then there was an amazing sunset.

an amazing sunset

before settling in for the night in Williams, AZ.

Insta-Friday

2011-08-05T12:58:00.004-05:00

Still in Las Vegas for one more day, here's a quick Insta-gram review of the week.

I'm linking up over at .

Awesome views of the Grand Canyon (of course these pics barely scratch the surface)

My poolside view

Our room at the Palazzo---I've certainly never stayed anywhere this fancy before!

Part of the floral display over at the Bellagio--this bear was made completely of flowers and other living things.

Parrots in the floral display at the Bellagio

I loved these glass discs filling the ceiling in the lobby of the Bellagio---reminds me of Chihuly.

Scrapbook Divas

2011-07-30T23:07:00.004-05:00

It's the end of July and time once again for the summer Camp Crop-A-Lot. Since I just began driving a couple of days ago, I didn't really feel comfortable driving to Baton Rouge by myself, so Ron was kind enough to drive me down to Cheneyville to see Dan and meet Valine. I was really glad I'd decided to do that since the weather was so bad on the way down.

The theme this year was Scrapbook Divas and of course that calls for lots of pink, cupcakes and more than one tiara.

It is always great to see all my scrapping buddies. While I get to see Valine several times a year, Camp Crop-A-Lot is the only time I get to see Catha, Vanessa and Pam and I always enjoy being with them and catching up with their lives. Of course, we always have fun taking pictures in the photo booth!

I wasn't sure how much I would be able to get done one-handed, but as it turns out, I did pretty well. Valine and I took a class and I even was able to complete my Yosemite travel journal. (the original idea was to do it on the road, but since that wasn't possible, I printed out my journaling and attached the memorabilia this weekend) Hopefully, I can show a few pictures of it a little later.

While my right hand was not much good for cutting and writing, I did find that it didn't interfere with one thing---my yearly daiquiri! haha Whew, this glass was giant!!!

Insta-Friday

2011-07-29T10:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday!! Yesterday I drove (well, actually I rode while my friends drove) down to Baton Rouge for Camp Crop-A-Lot with Valine and my other scrapping friends. I'm not sure how much I'll actually accomplish at the retreat this year, but I know that I'll have fun! This is the only time I get to see a couple of these ladies and it's time to catch up on each other's lives!

A quick re-cap of this past week----

Last weekend I dog-sat for my friend's dog, Coco. While initially excited to have him here, Emmi soon became rather possessive of me and of her space in my chair.

Of course, Coco can jump up and down on furniture without any help from me, a skill that Emmi still lacks. He quickly made himself at home with Emmi's toys, Emmi's bed and Emmi's food. But, since Emmi was dozing next to me in my chair, Coco found an equally comfy spot over on the couch. Ahh, if only I could sleep this soundly!

We celebrated Dollie's birthday at the office by decorating her desk as a surprise.

Yosemite, Part 2

2011-07-23T21:37:00.000-05:00

It's Sunday again and since I can't take new photos easily, I thought I'd post a few more from our trip to Yosemite. Many of these photos are pulled from Jana and Callie's cameras since my photography came to an abrupt halt after I broke my wrist. But, surrounded with family and a wonderful National Park, I was determined to enjoy as much of it as I could. (plus, staying busy helped keep my mind off of my arm).

After the holiday crowds had dissipated a tiny bit, we headed to the valley to explore. Our first stop was Bridalveil Falls. It was beautiful, and very wet! Sally covered my cast with a plastic bag before I walked up, thank goodness, because the mist was really heavy. I got more than one strange look from other tourists, too.

(not a pretty picture, but this is what you look like when you combine pain meds with a waterfall)

After that, we parked near the meadow behind Yosemite Chapel and and enjoyed our picnic lunches while sitting on a fence. As we ate, several critters stopped by to visit. A curious squirrel , (isn't he cute??)

A woodpecker,

A red-winged Blackbird,

And my favorite, the Stellar Jay.

The meadow was filled with Queen Anne's lace and milkweed.

Across the street, was the amazing Yosemite Falls! There were so many people in this area that it felt a bit Disneyland-ish, but the Falls was still awesome.

Insta-Friday

2011-07-22T09:32:00.002-05:00

The weeks are flying by! That always seems to happen once July arrives, despite the fact that I try to make the summer last as long as possible. The past couple of weeks have dragged and sped by at the same time--how can that be??

Tuesday, I went back to the doctor. They removed my brace to discover that while bruised and sore, things are looking pretty good. At my first PT visit, I was evaluated and fitted for a brace.

Emmi has gotten really used to me being home all the time. She still gets so excited when visitors come, but she's soon begging me to pick her up again.

This is the prescription for torture!! (You know it's not going to be good when the therapist tells you "Nothing about this is going to be easy or feel good." Great!

A girl's gotta' have a reward from time to time, right? Jordan's parents sent me a cupcake that was much appreciated after my first therapy session----perfect companion for low-fat baked chips!

I'm linking up to Life Rearranged.

Picture-Heavy Vacation Highlights

2011-07-17T12:00:00.007-05:00

Despite the spill I took while on vacation, we really did have a good time. Everywhere we went, everywhere we looked, there were jaw-dropping views. When we arrived in San Francisco, we took a few hours to squeeze in a little sight-seeing. I maneuvered the streets in our rented SUV with Jordan as my navigator.

Dan was thrilled to get a glimpse of Alcatrez at our very first stop!

We climbed up to Lombard Street.

I want to live in this blue house--look at the flowers!

We ate lunch down at Ghiradelli Square

and walked along the Fisherman's Wharf area.

We even managed a very chilly walk across the Golden Gate Bridge!

After that, we headed towards Yosemite!

The first day in Yosemite, our whole group drove to the south of the park, in hopes of avoiding some of the holiday crowds. We tackled our first hike to the Mariposa Grove near Wawona.

It was an easy 2.5 mile hike, but with the steep climb

and Jordan's bum knee, he decided to sit out the long version with Dan.

I'd never seen sequoia trees before---they truly are amazing!

After a picnic lunch alongside the river,

Jana, Rob, Callie, Jordan and I decided to drive up to Glacier Point before returning to the house for supper. We stopped first at Washburn Point and got our first glimpse of Half Dome.

Glacier Point was a bit further down the road, but the view there was also amazing. Standing there with the mountains before us and the valley below left everyone a bit speechless---there really are no words to describe the beauty and lushness and power surrounding us.

Insta-Friday

2011-07-15T19:14:00.004-05:00

It's Friday again and I have a few pictures to share with you. After my accident in Yosemite, my ability to use my camera was severely limited, so I finally resorted to using my phone---this could be done with my left hand. Here are a few of my favorites: This first one was actually taken when we first arrived in San Francisco--when both arms were still working. Cool building, don't you think??

Later in the week, Don, Sally and I encountered this young mule deer as we were backtracking through a meadow (just a couple of wrong turns).

We had several really nice picnics in Yosemite. What is it about eating a picnic that makes everything taste better?

My favorite insta-picture is this one from the bridge at Vernal Falls. See the rainbow? So pretty!

Last, but not least, here is the latest of the 4 different casts I've sported in the last week or so. I appreciate its support but definitely won't miss it when it's gone.

I'm linking up with Life Re-Arranged.