just because . . .

"I am learning to find JOY

right here in the mess of things."

                                                ~ mhn

I am pretty sure I was the cause of this stain on the driveway.  I get a little

sloppy sometimes when I am having fun with a project.  

Then I hate that there are stains on the driveway.

Oh well . . . I will go with a fun project any day . . . and the stain turned out to be fun also

Richard sent me this the other day . . . just because!

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Another rainy day

Flowers blooming everywhere

Logan giggling like only a one year old can giggle

Richard seeing the face in this stain . . . 

doodling . . . sewing . . . reading

Schitt's Creek . . . I love shows that make me both laugh and cry

The creative mess that is still going strong in my house

. . . and not letting that mess bother me

Being able to stay in touch with my family and friends through this "lock down"

My orchid is getting ready to bloom

Happy Friday!

“For a moment at least, 

be a smile on someone else’s face.” 
― Dejan Stojanovic, The Sun Watches the Sun

faces by avery . . .

I'm still here . . .

 It has been a crazy couple of weeks . . . and I just haven't made time to post and be online much at all.  I also haven't taken many pictures.  I hope to change that.  

So much going on . . . much that I won't touch on here, except for a few pictures I did take.

We had Kasey's baby shower.  It was one of those occasions that I chose to enjoy rather than take pictures.  Only a few more weeks til we get to see our new granddaughter in person.  

 This little guy turned 5!  He is such a sweet little guy!

This was taken on his actual birthday.  He had a wonderful party with a lot of kids and chaos!

Just what you would expect at a 5 year old birthday party!

This was my great find at a thrift store this afternoon.  Thirty-three stamps . . . for $12.

I don't do a lot of stamping, but I could not walk past these for that price.  There are a few Halloween stamps and somewhere in there is a peace sign stamp.  I figure the ones I don't really like I can let the kids mess with.  

Today I choose JOY!

I love her hands . . . and I love her face . . . and I love her imagination!

She brings us so much JOY! 

Happy Weekend!

make a face . . .

"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird.

 And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, 

we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." 

~ Dr.Seuss

Can I help?

Charlotte's doll is coming along . . . she wanted it to have pink hair.  I pulled out a basket of yarn and let her pick what colors she wanted to use.  She of course wanted to help with the hair . . . which meant it took a little longer to put on than it normally would have.  She would hand me some strands of yarn . . . and then would have to help pull the needle through.   She genuinely seems interested in the whole process of this little Shabby Charlotte doll. 

 I added some buttons to the eyes . . . I think this little doll is just wonderful.  I told Charlotte that the next step was making her some clothes  - Her response . . . . "Can I help?"

Charlotte's Shabby Charlotte . . .

"Children are so creative

an imaginative that they just bring

you to life all over again."

~ Moira Kelly

I let Charlotte draw the face on one of the dolls I am making. 

I love how it turned out . . . especially those eyelashes.

She may have to start helping me more often.  

I love the idea of her creating the faces on some dolls.  

this week's random . . .

I take pictures all the time  . . . of everything. Sometimes they are with blog posts in mind, sometimes something catches my eye, sometimes I go for walks just to take pictures, often times the children in my life are just so much fun that I want to capture moments.  Later when I am looking through my pictures . . . there are those random photos that I just like for one reason or another.  

For Today . . .

Outside my window . . . early morning sunshine and early morning chill

I am thinking . . . I really have a lot to do before tomorrow

I am thankful for . . . a week off for Thanksgiving

From the kitchen . . . later today - pies

I am wearing . . . still in my pajamas (I love vacation)

I am creating . . . painted rocks and paper cranes

I am going . . . to relax and enjoy everything about today

I am reading . . . Desperation by Stephen King (I think I need to read another author . . . I went for a walk last                                      night and my imagination went a little "Stephen King" . . . 

I am hoping . . . for some more rain

I am hearing . . . Richard flip through the newspaper - talking to me about the articles he is reading

Around the house . . . paper, colored pencils, markers, color books . . . 

One of my favorite things . . . Charlotte's hands

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . Thanksgiving with family

From my picture journal . . .

just because . . .

Friday Night . . .

Friday night . . .  music, friends, and some Chinese food.  That always makes for a fun Friday night.  It didn't seem like Friday at all yesterday.  In fact I have been off work long enough to sort of forget what day it is.  I like to think that that is sign it has been a good vacation . . . or maybe a sign that it is time to go back to work.
I can very easily fall into the "being off work" mode.  I stay up late, drink too muck coffee, start projects in the middle of the night, spend way too much time watching movies.  I sit down to read or journal and before I know it, it is 2:00 in the morning.  We take off in the middle of the day to play tennis, or get lunch . . . and the days fly by.  It has been a great vacation . . . with a couple more days to enjoy.  I am looking forward to going back to work next week . . . but I will miss all the extra free time that come along with being off work.

little things . . .

I stitched up some rice warmers last night,  They are great this time of year when it's cold . . . just 2 minutes in the microwave.  I always like to have a few extra gifts on hand . . . 

Grandma's old box that she used to keep gift tags in.  I can't remember how I ended up with this box.  I think Mom had it and she was going to toss it out . . . of course I had to keep it.  

This sticker came on a Christmas card at work . . . do you know one?

A little extra decoration on my nail the night we decorated ornaments at Brent & Ashley's . . . SMILE!

My new ornament . . . Richard spotted it in a store last week.  It looks great on my pink tree!

Trying on hats and snapping selfies . . . just one of those things we do.  

I like the silly side of this man. 

"Keep your Christmas-heart 

open all the year round. "

~Jessica Archmint