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    T Tuesday: three days left edition

    Three days…that’s the long and short of it.

    Three days until I’m done with work until late August. But also three days until my oldest is done with high school. Technically he has already graduated since everything is checked off and he has his “card” but he must still attend school until the end. The actual “walk” is on Friday. Yep…getting my tissues ready now.

    For me this last week off school is chaotic which can sway from “easy breezy” to “smack you in the face difficult” to “wait, what just happened?” all in one class period. So needless to say, in that respect, the days are long.

    Outside of school days, I’ve been keeping busy with little mini projects and helping a friend with the monumental task of cleaning out her parents house now that is sold. I know how hard it is and I wish I could lend a greater hand but timing on these things isn’t always the best.

    My first mini project was making a pair of glasses for a co-workers wedding cake topper. She had mentioned that she ordered some Barbie glasses off the internet. I told her I doubted they’d fit and mentioned that I’d made a pair of glasses for a Gnome a couple years back.

    The glasses made the gnome a dead ringer for the neighbor kid…err…adult now. Too funny!


    Long story short…the Barbie glasses were WAY to small for the would be groom so I was given the challenge of creating a suitable pair.

    I think they turned out pretty good. I sent a photo to the bride and she approves.

    Over the weekend, my rows of beans and snow peas popped out of the ground. It’s amazing how quickly that happens. I swear if you had all day you could watch them wiggle their way through the soil and unfurl their leaves in a splendid little dance.

     I made another bunting this time for the deck garden. Since I still need to stain the deck rails I decided to try out something new with the bunting.

    I used some bamboo to act as mini flag poles suspending the bunting at the front of the garden. The hope is that the flutter of the flags might deter the deer from munching on the plants. This wasn’t my original plan so I’ll need to make a little extension so it can reach all the way around.

    Anyone notice my after dinner beer in accordance with the T Stands for Tuesday guidelines?  I’m trying to be a good kid and follow the rules….sometimes it is difficult. 🙂 I forget. It happens.

     

    I’ve worked a bit on some journal spilling. Creating a background then quickly with a very free hand (aka messy) spilling my thoughts of the moment. I may leave things as is or I may use my writing as a part of the background. Not sure, so it sits.

    I brought home a little basket of treasures from my friends house. Mostly spools of thread, a few vintage dress patterns and some double pointed knitting needles. You should have seen me walking home with my little basket under my arm. I felt like Little Red Riding Hood. I even saw a large critter on the way home. Only it wasn’t a wolf…it was its slightly small cousin a coyote. Its crazy! We’ve noticed a big jump in sightings lately. I have seen 4 in the past 2 weeks. But seeing one while out walking only 2.5 blocks from we was a little disconcerting.

    Its the last Tuesday of the school year for me…. but what are you doing today?
  • Around home - Art - Blog - Creativity - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: flora and fauna edition

    This Memorial day marks one year since I lost my mom. She was on my mind all day. Half way through my first cup of coffee I made the decision not to be sad but to reflect and remember the good things, The funny memories. The things that make me smile.

    As I walked around the yard watering before it got too hot, I thought about her green thumb. She had flowers galore and a big garden. Houseplants too. I guess I’ve taking after her in that way. I love spending time tending to the garden. Making it beautiful and productive,

    My newly sewn and strung garden bunting made me smile. Mom was no seamstress. In fact she hated sewing. She was so happy when I learned how to sew in school and gladly passed all of her supplies on to 13 yr old me.  I’ve never stopped sewing since!

    After finishing the outdoor chores I headed inside to do a bit of art journaling. I was really feeling inspired by nature.

    The background colors I laid down didn’t scream nature. They were the colors that spoke to me though. Sort of a hard edge along with nature.

    Layers upon layers stacked. This fussy cut stamped birds nest was the perfect way to embrace nature. I used watercolor crayons to color the robin eggs then used diamond glaze over top to add dimension. The addition of the thread help sell the idea of the nest for me.

    I added the skeleton leaf for balance.  As soon as I added the leaf, the words “live gently upon the earth” jumped out at me.  This page made me smile.

    Linking up with Art Journal Journey for Flora and Fauna

    Art Journal Journey
    as well as T stands for Tuesday today.
    Eight days of school left. Whoop, whoop!
    What are you doing today?

     

  • Art - Blog - Crafts - Creativity - Photography

    T Tuesday: laughter, tears and knitting edition

    It’s been an eventful week around here. so I think I’ll recap a few of the highlights.

    I’ve gotten back in the groove of being creative on a semi-regular basis. First of which is some more work on the stocking hat I’m knitting.

    Trust me…one day it will be a hat.

    I also made a patchwork infinity scarf.

    My original intention was to make something red, white and blue for our Veteran’s Day program at school but these colors spoke to me instead.

    Speaking of the Veteran’s Day program. It was amazing! I cried all of my eye makeup off. It was very moving. I hadn’t been witness to a 21 gun salute or the playing of taps since my dad’s internment. Needless to say, I was a mess. I seriously am a fairly stoic person but that got me…as well as the Lee Greenwood song, God Bless the USA….gets me every time…especially when all those vets stood up as the line says “And I gladly stand up
    Next to you and defend her still today”.
    The tears were rolling.

    I started a journal page…well at least I threw some color at the tissue paper I glued into my journal. It’s a start right!?!

    Here’s the next collection of November photo a day pictures.

    7. on the floor….me, Marvin and the toy…a little view from his side of things.

    8. a place…DQ of course. love that place and its a braizer so it doesn’t close for winter….yes many Dairy Queen stores close over winter around here.

    9. Heck yes! …….saw this sign at school  “Make your life story so amazing that unicorns have trouble believing it is true.”

    10. I do this every day….make and drink coffee.  Bam! got my tea Tuesday reference in as well. 🙂

    11. A set…my fiestaware of course.

    12. normal….my knitting looks normal at least so far.

    In other exciting news… J got an acceptance letter from UMD today!! So exciting!!!

    What are you doing today??