Spring 2020 zombie dolls swap . . .

Yarnigras decided to host a zombie doll swap this Spring.  She hosts her regular swap in September/October . . . in time for Halloween.  

I am excited to be part of this Spring 2020 Lock Down Zombie doll swap.  

I have to get a few things ready to add to my package, as well as come up with a name and a story for this little beach zombie.

Right off I decided this doll should have boobs . . . when you google "making a doll with boobs" (which I did with some hesitation . . . not knowing what was going to pop up) - you actually get quite a few ideas on how to make a doll with boobs.  I was somewhat surprised.  LOL

This may not have been the best way to go . . . I can't say she looks very good from any other angle, but once I added her top - she looked okay

The look on Richard's face when I showed him what I was doing was priceless. . . it was even better when I told him my zombie doll actually needed a boob job.  :)  

He constantly shakes his head at me . . . but he gets me.

 I think I may need to do something more with her eyes . . . I will have to think about that.

" I myself am strange and unusual."
~ Lydia, "Beetlejuice"

JOY . . .

I truly believe that you can find JOY in every day . . . and in doing that life is a bit easier.

Still working on this - (the painting and doodles - not finding joy) . . . I do that every day!

We celebrated my mom's 90th birthday this past weekend.

Not exactly as we had planned - but it was really nice.  My brother decided to make the trip to celebrate her birthday even though we postponed the full party.  (We now have to find a date where we can use the taco truck we had arranged . . . maybe we will use that to celebrate the day we can get everyone together again.)  We were able to get most of her grandchildren and great grandchildren to participate in a "Zoom" birthday party?   We all sang Happy Birthday and she blew out her candles.  I had baked pie for her birthday, but Avery she had to have a birthday cake - so thanks to Avery - she had a cake also.  

Talk about JOY . . . it was the kind that brought tears to our eyes.

Clay being Clay - he didn't stay long, but it made the weekend so special for her.  

I asked people to send mom birthday cards.  This was really fun!

She ended up getting more than 70 cards!  It took her awhile to go through them all.

There were fancy cards, old cards, handmade cards, recycled cards, photographs, cards from family, cards from old friends, new friends, and people she didn't even know.

JOY!

I love this photo of Mom and Dad on their wedding day 70 years ago

April 15, 1950

A lot of life lived in 90 years.

The secret to living well and longer is: 

eat half, walk double, laugh triple and love without measure.

good day for a good day . . .

I made these a few weeks ago - just never posted a picture. 

They are small bags filled with rice.  They can be microwaved for 2 minutes to use as a heating pad, or put in the freezer to use a an ice pack.  

My granddaughter Avery loves them when they are cold . . . just to cool off when she is hot.

I have made larger one also that you can actually put around your neck, but I like these smaller ones better.  My scraps of fabric are now being sewn into masks . . . but this is a great way to use up fabric.

Our little Tatum Mae out for a walk.  She is growing so fast.

I could watch you for a single minute

and find a thousand things I love about you.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Sunshine and temperatures over 80 degrees

Walking every day

Taking pictures

Flip Flops

Staying up late 

Feeling rested

Binge watching shows with Richard (presently we are watching Ozark)

Planting sunflower seeds

button love . . .

"Be the person who can smile 

on the worst day."

~ Cate

random . . .

What a wonderful morning!  

It is warm and sunny and smells like newly cut grass.

I have no place to be and that feels great!

  cats . . . big rabbits . . . paint and doodles . . . words on my walk . . . 

. . . and I think to myself

what a wonderful world.

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

pluviophile . . .

"I know the rain is cold my dear, 

but dance in it a little while you wait for the sun."

                                                                     ~ a.j.lawless

Yesterday was a tough day for me.  I try to deny that I have tough days . . . because I think
I need to be strong all of the time, but how unrealistic is that? Today was much better.  Maybe I just needed some rain to wash everything away . . . and start fresh.  I was driving later in the day and it seemed like I haven't seen the sky look so blue in quite some time . . . and oh the magnificent clouds.  The sun was shining on the back of them . . . it was one of those moments when you feel that heaven is just beyond those clouds.  Our world is full of magic if we just take the time to notice.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Walking in the rain

Talking with Lily . . . how this girl get me.  :)

Getting Easter stuff ready for my grandkids

Laughing with my mom

Getting packages ready to mail

Praying!
Mother Nature

gonna be all right . . .

This is another doll that I started some time ago.

I just need to figure out what I am going to do with her 

now that she has this crazy smile stitched on her face.

Never give up on anything that makes you smile.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Were there any good things today?

There had to be - right?

It doesn't take much to be a "good thing" . . . a cup of coffee, 

a smile from someone,  a good book,

finding joy in the every day stuff . . . right?  

So, why has today been hard for me?  I do know why . . . and I am stronger than that!

So . . . 

Coffee . . . and it tasting better when Richard makes it

Finishing a book - which ended so much better than I thought it would

Walking in the rain . . . even if it was just sprinkling

Working through a rough day . . .

Recording a lip sync video of myself for a project.  LOL  (Bob Marley , Three Little Birds)

"Don't worry, about a thing, 

"Cause every little thing is gonna be all right."

just breath . . .

I don't even remember when I started this doll . . . it has been that long ago.

I don't know about you - but when I have a project that stays unfinished for awhile 

it seems to get harder and harder for me to just pick it up and finish it.  

Then I got where I didn't really like how this doll was turning out.  That made me put off working on her even more.  She isn't my favorite, but I like her. 

 I especially like her button flowers and her message to "just breath".

Just Breath!

Happy Birthday Logan!

How can he be ONE already?

ONE cute boy!

Happy Birthday Logan!

How wonderful life is

now you're in the world.

just breath . . .

I was all over the place today.  My intention was to work on the pair of jeans 

that I started patching, but then decided to send for some specific thread to do that.  

That thread will be here on Thursday. (I love Amazon prime!)

     Brent called and they could not find the heating pads that I made them - so I moved on to sewing some for them.  They are simple - filled with rice and can be heated in the microwave or put in the freezer to cool.  I took a couple over to Brent and Ashley

. . . then came home and cut out and stitched a few more 

Then realized that the rice I use to put in them had dwindled down to almost nothing because Avery had come over to "play with rice" (She loves sensory activities.) 

. . . I then worked on a couple of dolls that I  started ages ago.

I watched some online art classes that I signed up for . . . 

. . . and tonight I am playing in my art journal

Yesterday my house was clean and pulled together and today there is stuff everywhere.

God how I love a creative mess!

Being home this past couple of weeks has made me realize that I am not quite ready to retire 

and that it also would be wonderful to retire.  

So for now . . . I am just trying to making the best of a unique situation. 

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Sunny and WARM!

Participating in a walk/drive by birthday party

A husband who can make and fix about anything . . . with extra time on his hands.

That same husband . . . making and fixing things.

Praying

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

~ John 14:27

good things today . . .

 This has to be the sweetest cat we have ever had.  

He also is the only cat that I have had that seems to pose . . .

. . .  and wait until I am finished taking pictures of him.

I was going to throw this pair of jeans out since they had a hole in them, but they are the only pair of jeans that I have that I really like . . . so I am going to patch and play with them and see what I come up with.  I'm starting with stripes and an alien . . . LOL!

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Walking

FaceTime with Avery & Tatum . . . I even got a smile out of Tatum

A quiet morning to myself

Timehop App . . . today's photos made me laugh

Doodling . . . Reading . . . Painting . . . 

PRAYING!

"I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. 

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don't be troubled or afraid."

~ John 14:27

good things today . . .

Richard made this shelf to hold the kid's are work for me and we got it hung up today.

There are some definite perks to this working at home.  I have been busy with work all day, but

it is nice to be able to get some things done at home also.

These painting are by Charlotte, Lily and Avery and were done a few months ago.

  I am excited to finally have them displayed.  

I liked this idea better than hanging them . . . so I can change them whenever they create 

something new . . . and also not having to put a lot of nail holes in my wall.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . .

Art work by my grandchildren

Talking to my brother

Breakfast Burritos

Working from home . . . and getting a lot done.

Sunshine and flowers

Working on some dolls

Hearing from old friends.

"I don't know if time heals, but perspective does." 

                                                              ~ Steve Maraboli

Good Morning Lily . . .

I have the joy of keeping Lily during the week . . . since her mom still has to go to work.

Since it looks like our schools may be closed for awhile, I thought Lily should have her own space while she is doing her school work. 

An old table we sanded down and threw some stain on is working out perfect.

I surprised her yesterday by  hanging up some tapestries.  

She has trouble staying focused at times - and this seems to have helped. 

"Children are not a distraction from more important work.

They are the most important work."

~ John Trainer

Birthday Doodles . . .

Since I am working from home, I brought home my desk calendar from work . . .

. . . daily doodles are a good part of my day.

Birthday Doodles for Avery!