Tuesday, March 31, 2015

just add flowers

One of the six pack holders that Richard made for a friend . . . 
Not just for beer.  I think it is even better used this way.

March Photo Challenge 3/31 . . . self

Note to self 
Be Clare.
Keep praying.
Never give up.
Do everything with love.
Be Happy!

Antique Fair












We walked around an antique fair this past Sunday . . . always a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  I couldn't help but notice that gargoyle, but it was a little too creepy - even for someone who likes creepy things.  I also really liked the big chair - but Richard thought that was a little creepy looking also.  It was a fun day . . . even without buying a gargoyle or a creepy chair.  

Monday, March 30, 2015

March Photo Challenge . . . favorite moment of the month

I chose this picture of Charlotte for my favorite moment of the month.  It was last Sunday afternoon.  I had decided to take a nap and I was waking up - Richard walked into the bedroom with Charlotte . . . who had also just woken up from her nap.  She snuggled into my arms and said "Hi Amma."  As she woke up a little more she wanted to see my phone - so I snapped a few photos of her.  
It was quiet, the afternoon sun was coming in the window . . . and all seemed right with the world.

March Photo Challenge 3/29 . . . hanging

A few weeks ago I pieced together some butcher paper, taped it together, and folded a rather large paper crane.  It was a little harder than I thought and I spent quite a lot of time crawling around on my living room floor while folding it.  I had to enforce it with some small dowels, and even then it would not stand up . . . so I finally got around to hanging it up so I could take a picture of it.  I think I will make another one eventually, but not quite so big.  I had thought about hanging it up higher in one of the trees in our back yard . . . Richard was even up on a 12 foot ladder stringing a line to get started, but I decided it would take be easier just to hang it off this trellis . . . the photo probably would have been better if it had been high up in the tree, but I now at least have a picture of it hanging up.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

March photo challenge 3/28 . . . incomplete


I still have not finished this doll.  I'm not sure why.  I have had the time and I like how she is turning out.  I had in my head that I wanted a girl scout pin for her dress, so I had to wait until I got to an antique store to find one . . . I started this little doll awhile ago.  I need to get her finished.  I have a couple ideas for her story . . . so maybe since I am on vacation this week - I will get her finished.

March photo challenge 3/27 . . . graffiti

 . . . or rather non-graffiti.
I thought finding graffiti to take a picture of would be easy and I guess if I would have driven further it would have been, but instead I found this everywhere I looked.  I guess it is a good thing that our city paints over the graffiti, but honestly this doesn't look much better.  I did see some interesting people behind some of the stores I drove behind.  I guess if you are trying to hide what you are doing . . . alleys behind stores are the place to go.  
I have seen some interesting graffiti before, but for the most part it is ugly and costly . . . I guess I could have come up with a better prompt.  

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Kasey's Easter Wreath

I went and had dinner with Jake and Kasey last night.  Kasey was very excited to show me the Easter wreath that she made.  So simple . . . just a styrofoam wreath, plastic eggs, a bow, and a hot glue gun.  Ashley made one too - after seeing the idea on Pinterest.  It is so bright and fun!  I love it . . . and I love my daughter-in-law!

March photo challenge 3/26 . . . shoes


March photo challenge 3/25 . . . Healthy

I thought for awhile about what to take a photo of for this prompt.  I do all kinds of things that are healthy for me.  I walk and run, I play tennis, I try to eat right, I meditate and journal, I drink plenty of water . . . take my vitamins and necessary meds.  I spend time with the people I love and "try" to get enough sleep.  I pray . . . I think I try to take care of mind, body, and spirit.  I looked down at my arm yesterday and noticed my melanoma bracelet . . . and decided on that for a photo.  
It has been a little over three years since I was diagnosed with melanoma.  It came at sort of a stressful time of my life - but life is like that.  
I was just at my oncologist's office this week for a check up - which always makes me feel lucky and because I have to have a scan next week - also a little apprehensive.  It's nothing to worry about - more being over cautious than anything . . . but I always think a little more about it until I get the results back.  I also believe life is way to short to be anything but happy . . . so I choose to do that everyday.  It works!
"Health is the greatest gift,
contentment the greatest wealth,
faithfulness the best relationship."
                                             ~  Buddah

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

March photo challenge . . . PINK

"I BELIEVE IN PINK."  
~ Audrey Hepburn
One of my favorite coffee mugs . . . mainly because it is cute, but it is also very big and holds a lot of coffee.  I'm on my second cup today . . . that may or may not be a good thing.
LOVE PINK!
When you are painting something pink - it always is a good idea to have a little girl help you!
I am going to have to sand this side again . . . she really knows how to glop on the paint.  She told her daddy that she needed old clothes and shoes before she could help me.  We ended up with paint everywhere . . . even in her pigtails.  It was worth the mess!  I am painting an old entertainment center that I found at Goodwill into a little dress up place for her.  I have to find a cute mirror, add a dowel to hang up clothes, find some cute baskets and clothes hangers, and whatever else may come to mind.  I hope to get it done during Spring Break.  
Thank heaven for little girls!

Monday, March 23, 2015

March photo challenge . . . 5:00 pm


5:00 pm today . . . or close to it . . . 
 Richard surprised me by pulling into Eddie's Bakery.  I had an appointment earlier with my oncologist . . . and even though everything went fine I think he thought I needed some cheering up.  It worked!  It wasn't so much about the bakery and getting something delicious to eat . . . but about him being thoughtful and trying to cheer me up.  He said my eyes lit up like a kid when I realized where he was taking me . . . . I guess you are never to old for a treat after seeing the doctor.  We bought a small strawberry cheesecake, a chocolate eclair, and a couple of thumbprint cookies for Charlotte (with sprinkles) . . . her eyes lit up too.

Whoever said money cannot buy happiness, 
has obviously never shopped in a bakery.

March photo challenge . . . books

"Books are uniquely portable magic."
~ Stephen King






I tend to keep books, buy more books, and stack books everywhere . . . . I do get rid of them and they are in pretty good order, but our house holds a lot of books.  I have a stack of to read that it will probably take me all through the summer to get through . . . and I keep buying more.  I can't get comfortable with reading on a tablet.  They are wonderful when you travel, but I like the feel of a book in my hand.
March photo challenge for 3/22 . . . Books

"So many books, so little time."
 ~ Frank
Zappa

Sunday, March 22, 2015

catch up . . .

I've gotten a little behind on my photo challenge . . . so time to play catch up.

 Photo Challenge for 3/20 . . . vintage
I went with some vintage photos . . . the first one is of me - I am guessing around the age of one and the second photo was taken in the early to mid 70's.  I marched in a drum corps for 5 years . . . one of the best experiences of my life.  I love photos from the 70's.

 Photo Challenge for 3/21 . . . flowers
One of my roses that Luke picked today . . . and some water color flowers I did while I was painting with Charlotte this afternoon.  I like how they look . . . I think I will detail them a little more and use them in my journal.




 It was a beautiful day today . . . a perfect day for tennis, flip flops, and green toe nails.  I think the color of the day had to be green.
Simple Saturday!  
Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

just for fun . . .

Making faces with Charlotte . . .

March photo challenge . . . sunshine

 "It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"
~ Mark Twain
How wonderful it is to look up and see the sun shining through the trees.  I find reasons to leave the office during the day just so I can go outside and and walk in the sunshine for a bit . . . the world smells of blossoms and on days like today I would like to just keep walking and not look back.
March photo challenge - 3/19/15 . . . sunshine

Easter Eggs . . . and lavender

 I had plans to go home last night and get out some plastic Easter eggs, paint, glitter, and modpodge and have some fun with eggs.  Richard and I ended up out on the patio playing a game of cribbage . . . I folded a few paper cranes and wrote a couple of letters . . . I still had the egg plan . . . then Charlotte joined us . . . and we had to have "chips and dip" . . . and then Charlotte and I walked to the mailbox, took some selfies, played some games . . . Grandpa made some sandwiches . . . we watched a little bit of Practical Magic, and before you know it - not enough time for decorating eggs - so maybe tonight.  So my photo challenge picture for yesterday - 3/18 . . . "Easter Eggs" is a photo of some eggs that I painted years ago with Jennifer and Sarah.  I think we painted eggs and flower pots for three days that time and that has to have been nearly 20 years ago.  
My lavender is looking beautiful . . . I think I am going to have to plant some more.

“There are some things, after all, that Sally Owens knows for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can.” 
― Alice HoffmanPractical Magic

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

4 years of rubber bands . . . .



I came across an old picture of my rubber band ball the other day . . . so thought I better take a picture of it again.  You really have to look at how my rubber band ball sits in my had to see that it really has gotten bigger over the period of 4 years.  It now measures about 7-8 inches.  The things that I get excited about . . . . 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

3 things . . . and corn beef & cabbage

March Photo Challenge - 3/17/15 . . . 3 Things.
These are the three Pandora charms that the all kids gave me for my birthday.  The purple heart represent February . . . Jake picked out the cross - he is very aware of his mother's faith, and Luke chose the Lucky Cat - he knows what I like.  The bracelet is very special to me.
It wouldn't be St. Patrick's Day without corn beef and cabbage.  It is always such a great meal.  Luke added a new salad to the menu this year consisting of cabbage, oven roasted potatoes and carrots and a spicy mustard dressing.  It was delicious . . . we will definitely be making it again next year.  
. . . mashed potatoes, horseradish sauce, soda bread, and a delicious pastry that Jennifer brought for dessert.  As usual, I ask myself . . . why do we only make this meal only once a year?
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!