today . . .

paint and doodles . . .

 We made a little more progress . . . primer on the front fence and the roof is started.

I have a lot of painting still to do . . . but I am happy to have it started. 

Avery loves to paint . . . I have a bunch of small canvases and lately she wants to use them.

She paints with the freedom of a child. 

 I love watching her . . . and I love how everyone of her paintings turns out.  (It's a grandma thing.)

 I decided to do something with her latest painting . . . just for fun.

Avery's painting and Amma's calendar doodles.  

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world

around you because the greatest secrets are always

hidden in the most unlikely places.  Those who

don't believe in magic will never find it."

                                                   ~ Roald Dahl

Special Delivery . . . zombie package

 I received my zombie package in the mail!  

Thank you Yarnigras for hosting this fun swap. 

Zombies in May . . . I suppose it is too early to hang up the cute beaded

Halloween garland that Kerry included in her zombie package? 

Let's see if I can grow some Brain Flowers ???

I am curious to see what happens with these.

Also included in the package was a fun skeleton journal and beaded garland.

Avery was visiting when the zombie package arrived.  She was excited as I was to open it and see what was inside.  

I don't know which face I enjoyed more . . . 

The look on Avery's  face when she opened up the zombie doll . . . or the look on Richard's face when he handed me the package with a zombie sticker on it.  He knows how much fun I have looking forward to receiving my "zombie package". 

Avery is only three years old, but she gets me.  She once told me that I was kinda weird,

but she doesn't seem to mind.

Happy Friday!

little jenny zombie . . .

Little Jenny Zombie

Sitting in the sand . . .

She doesn’t even realize

She’s part of Zombieland

She’s not quite sure what happened

But what she would like to ask . . .

Is what happened to her vacation . . .

And why is she wearing a mask?

Little Jenny Zombie

Wandering dune to dune . . .

Wants to go back to normal

She hopes that happens soon

* * * * * 

The zombie doll that I made for Yarnigras' Zombie Swap is shipped and on it's way.

This swap is always fun . . . and even more so having an extra swap this year.  

These weird little dolls just make me laugh . . . 

Richard got the railings around the front of the fort.

I will take some more pictures soon.  Next a roof . . . then siding . . . then paint . . .

So far they have come up with the name Fort Awesome,

but the kids may decide on something else.  

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

This picture of my brother and Jacob . . . It makes me smile (and tear up)

My "Cancer Sucks" coffee mug

Avery putting on purple lipstick . . . then checking herself out in the mirror
. . . Avery then having to call her daddy and show him the lipstick

Sitting outside with my coffee . . . enjoying the quiet

Rain . . . my garden and sunflowers are happy . . . and growing
Getting a zombie doll in the mail today!!!  I will post pictures soon!

Cousins . . .

This makes me smile!

progress on the fort . . .

It is fun watching the project progress.

Today we are staining and sealing the floor/deck of our fort.

We have a ways to go . . . stay tuned for more pictures.

lil monster . . .

I love this little monster body.  Now . . . what to do with him . . . or her next?

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Getting my walk in before the sun was up

Planting tomatoes and zucchini with Lily and Avery

Sunflower seeds have sprouted

Ideas for this little monster doll

Avery looking at her "Ampa" . . . and telling him, "You're a little weird."

A husband who cooks when I don't want to -  (delicious pork chops with bleu cheese last night)

Laughing

good things today . . .

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

A beautiful sleeping baby (she is a sweet one)

Progress on the fort we are building

Starting a new doll

A FaceTime visit with Avery Rose (so I could see her walk on her balance beam)

Not letting my grey hair bother me . . . the time has come to just go with the grey!  (It will take some time, but I am really excited about this change.  It just feels like it is time.)

A new llama pool float 

Squirt guns

Living Simple . . . 

Finding my JOY . . . 

work or play?

The grandkids need a playhouse/fort and "Ampa" has time to build one. 

It has been a fun project so far.

"Some days are simply meant for playing."

~ Mary Anne Radmacher

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.