More of Monet-Grace

Grace's Landscape Portrait

Yet another frame-worthy piece that Grace did at art camp a few weeks back. This one was much smaller and she finished it in the 2 hour time period of her class. It was based on one of Monet's landscape portraits. I thought it was....perfect.

So, off I go to get it (and the other big one she did) framed. Naturally, my 'champagne taste on a kool-aid budget' kicked in (as it always does) and for the large portrait, I picked one of the most expensive custom frames they had. Ugh! But it's well worth it, so I ordered the work done. This little frame, however, was pre-made and on discount, so I snagged it for a nifty $27.

Not bad!

But I just laughed....it never fails. I always fall in love with the most expensive things. I remember buying a G. Harvey print for my husband for Christmas a few years ago. It was huge. So I toted it down to a framing store in Dallas and after carefully choosing the frame and matte, the foreign lady behind the counter said, "Tsk, Tsk....you expensive taste lady!"

I already knew that.

After all, that IS why I got into the teaching profession.

Who Can Resist.....

.....kissing this sweet little face?.....

....cheering this girl who can sit on her own now (for a little while, at least!)

....photoging this moment of a big girl & a little girl playing with their toys?....

Not me. I love it!
(3 weeks and counting until I have to go back to work.....sniff. It is way harder this time. The summer made me realize too much.....)

Dove Evolution Video

Thought this was great...."Real Beauty" Dove Campaign.

"How Can I Not Kill Them?"

....were the exact words I used this morning at our local nursery. Plant nursery, that is. I have no green thumb. In fact, I have the exact opposite of a green thumb....call it a red thumb. It's dangerous. It's cruel. In fact, I'm quite sure my thumb is on the "Most Wanted" list in the plant community for killing all their friends.

I asked the man at the counter if he would give workshops, or lessons, or anything that could help me improve my thumb. His resonse? "I would....but I cuss too much."

Okay.

So, here are the little babies for my screened in porch. I haven't finished our house, much less the yard, or even much less....attacked the space in our screened in porch. So a couple plants are my feeble attempt at trying to "pretty" it up until I can find more time. Hmmmmmm......looks like I'm going to need some help.

My Attempt at "Rooting" Them.

I had not idea what that meant until the cussing man told me.

Wish me....I mean, them....luck!

Florence Ferrell is....Needing some Girl Time.

Call it a mid-summer-life crisis.

Call it a mommyneedsadultconversation moment.
Call it whatever you want.
I call it..... a desperate need for something like this:

A night away. Coffee at a place that starts with S and ends in "bucks". A few friends who don't mind ditching their family for an evening. Add one person who can bring the witty banter. Take away one person that stays on their iPhone all night (Ang, you're out!). Maybe a stop at some place that takes my money and gives me cute shoes in return. And there.

A perfectly fun girl night.

It's time.

6 Months Old & a Rite of Passage

Sophie with Sissy, Momma, and Daddy...

My sweetie is 6 months old tomorrow. If I dare say, I think she's the best baby in the world! This is that wonderful, "I love having a baby, and could have 3 more" age.....(Although, I know enough to wait until 2 hits and see if I still feel the same way!!) We recently discovered her love for country dancing......it makes her laugh so hard! I love hearing it, so we country dance a lot these days.

Sophie also had her first chicken leg bone, which in the Ferrell family, is more like a rite of passage than anything else. (Geez....I sound really country-fied right now!) We cleaned off the bone until there's nothing left but the good, greasy chicken flavor, and then watched her go to town!

Goin' To Town....

She makes all of us so happy. We're blessed.

All in a Nap's Work

Our shack has taken on a bit of whimsy. Eclectic if you will.

As soon as we moved in, I looked around.....at all of its nooks, crannies, unleveled floors, beat up old doors, etc., etc.....and I realized it wasn't perfect. So why not have some fun with it? So, during Sophie's nap time, of oh maybe 45 minutes, I grabbed some chalkboard paint and transformed a door in the dining room to a play toy for Grace.

Voila! It made me feel TOTALLY productive! (Something that's not easy these days!)

Smatter on some Chalkboard Paint...

A Newly Transformed Door....

Perfect Spot for a Memory Verse

Sophie Admires Grace's Handiwork....

Wanna Getaway?

A La France

I don't know why, but on the day God dealt out blessings on Florence's life, he gave an extra helping to the marriage section. ; ) I'm very thankful for that. But sometimes it needs a little TLC. Whenever we notice our conversations consisting mostly of "What time do we need to be at ____?" or "We need to fix this." or "Can you give the girls a bath?" ....all that daily life mumbo-jumbo....we try to get away. A little date here. A lunch there. A night away when possible. Something to where we keep connected by more than our schedules.

We've found the perfect place to steal away for a night. It's called the 7F Lodge. Featured in Southern Living, it's located just outside of Aggieland (Whoop!) in Wellbourne, Texas, and it's just the right getaway. No TV, no distractions. Just these cute little shacks named like the section of the world they are designed like - France, Mexico, Texas Hill Country, etc. - with oodles and oodles of ambiance and quietness. When you step in the doors, you want to read books, soak in the tub, and take long, deep breaths of relaxation.

We've stayed in almost every one, but our favorite is this one - France.

The Gorgeous Room

The Little Kitchen w/Cute Snacks

This Didn't Come With the Room, but We ALWAYS get a Strawberry Tart (to go!) from Cafe Excel in Aggieland

If it weren't for our gracious family, who keeps our darling children while we go on these little getaways, we probably couldn't go. But thankfully, they don't mind. And Boog & I are always reminded why it was that we married each other....and that hey - we still kinda like each other! So if you need a little TLC with your hubby, or wife, book a stay. You won't regret it!

"Flowers" by Grace

This summer, my sister asked if Grace could attend a week long "art camp" in Waco with her daughter, Landrie. Well, sure! I'm all about art. Love it!!

I must admit, "art camp" sounded fun, but I was expecting the regular hoo-haa. A few crafts, some glue, maybe something involving a paper mache.........I didn't expect this.

"FLOWERS"

WOWzers! I am totally shocked and awed. The kids spent the entire week working on one painting, learning techniques, and the proper way to use tools. This baby will be promptly framed and hung in my home as soon as you can say "genious!".

I know, she's my sweetie, but I honestly am surprised at how well it came out. Art camp 2010, here we come!

More "Shack" Before & Afters

Don't you love before and after photos? The before photos of the Shack were actually taken even after renovations had already been in the process for a couple of months. So if you'd of seen the true "before" photos, you'd would have told me to run.....run for my life! Here are a couple of before & after photos of the shack's kitchen & dining room.

Kitchen Before...or really mid-renovation....

Kitchen Kompleted!

Dining Room Before..... Dining Room After! Remember the curtains??

All in all, living in a 1000 square foot renovation deluxe hasn't been so bad. It's been good, in fact. Who'd of thought?

Each Day Is Glorious.....

when I see Sophie-bophie's big smile. Seriously, now. Is there anything sweeter in the world? : )