today, let's laugh

i got this in an email and it strikes me as funny.......hope it does you too!

what is really funny (and VERY VERY scary) is i think i can identify.......Dollar Tree is across the street from me, literally, i mean

REALLY......... a-cross........ the street.......why, i can march in there with NO make up on..cruddy clothes.........oh yea.......(i haven't tried the NO bra thing yet).........but.... Walmart......which is DOWN the street from me.......well, i might SEE someone i know in there!........

wow.........how FAR i have descended!!!............i remember when i used to DRESS up to go grocery shopping..........(and i am NOT kidding you.....).....

that's it from the funny farm today.........

more of "up and comings"

i am going to insert a few pics of upcoming products........THO still NOT my main line product......that is taking much more thought and preparation......these small little products i am showing will probably be in my ETSY store, which is non-existent so far.......just sharing some "plannies" with yall.

a product tease

this is an intro to ONE of my upcoming products........this is a a little pregnant lady CAKE SITTER........altho she is not on a cake here........this is a baby shower that Hannah hosted, which by the way looks like it was FABULOUS to the max!........Hannah decided to put her on the side of a serving tray.........nevertheless.......i will be presenting them as cake decorations and their ordering name will be "CAKIES".........i will be doing many styles for many occasions.........they are made of various materials and of light weight clay.........they are NOT edible.........but all materials will be SAFE!

can you tell my mind won't quit? i NEED to get to bed and get some sleep!

btw.........this is NOT the mainline product i will be offering.....that reveal soon to come

new business update

a few have asked about my new business endeavor!.......it is still "cookin", believe me!........on my mind a LOT.......i am doing the "footwork", if you will, all the ins and outs of a home business.....there is a LOT more than meets the eye!........so stay tuned!........here are a few pictures and sayings that depict my state of mind right now! ENJOY!

Saturday activity

we even saw Indians AND bears!!!......

one of our favorite things to do since we have moved to Georgia is to drive to the mountains, which is less than an hour for us! in fact we can see the mountain range from where we live and absolutely love it!..well, we haven't done our little drive for quite a while for many reasons, i work a lot of saturdays, PLUS.....the slight inconvenience of the price of gasoline ....but we decided we have been "away" LONG enuf, so planned a day of it! other than the oppressive heat and humidity.....(remember, i pretty much loathe summer)......it was a great day!....and fortunately it was overcast, so that helped a LITTLE.......we drove to Blue Ridge and meandered the streets and shops therein! how fun! in my "make believe" world , that of pretending i have unending amounts of loose cash waiting to be spent on non essentials........i conjured up a bill of well over $2,000......just in 2 darling antique shops alone!.......remember.......i did say PRETEND.........but seriously......i did find a few things that i certainly would have LIKED to purchase.......ALAS........they are still there......sigh........


anyway.........we had a nice day, ending at an apple orchard where we purchased a peach and an apple fried pie and split them so we each had half and shared a SASPARILLA together...yum


we were home just in time to take off and meet "the kids" for dinner at Taco Mac's!


what a full and satisfying weekend!

giveaway

You MUST visit this site!!! Enter the giveaway while you are at it!!!
i LOVE the name.......of course i love anything "bunny"

http://bunnychicboutique.blogspot.com/

paranoia

okay........i am getting paranoid to the max......i have had NO comments......i am trying not to be "vain, stuck up, a baby, or mega paranoid.........but it is still bothering me.........come on peeps.......and YOU STRANGERS too! pleeze say something.....even if it is......."YOUR BLOG STINKS"!!........i just need a little sumpin sumpin, ok?

hydrangeas

this is a bouquet of hydrangeas that i picked from my friend, Keelie's house! aren't they so delightfully beautiful??? they definitely are one of my favorite flowers, along with gerberas, roses, daisies, pansies, alstromerias, lizianthus,..............ok, well.........i guess it is hard to just name ONE fave........the point is......I LOVE FLOWERS!........thank you God for your wonderful, sensational, artistic, creative and splendid beyond splendid gift to us......the CREATION of flowers!!!........and thank you for your WORD and your words of instruction to us, that we may read and obey!

homemade dolls

here are three dolls i did for my darlin grandaughters a few years ago for Christmas!

LIGHTS OUT!

that's right........lights out......pitch black.......electricity OUT.....no t.v.........no computer........that is what we have been "enduring" tonite!.......OMG! how DID our forefathers do it????

we are SO spoiled aren't we?......honestly........i felt completely LOST tonite with the night skies settling in and darkness encroaching....and i had NO LIGHTS!.........so i light all the candles i can find, right?.......but it was still VERY dark!..........what to do? what to do? well.......i did what every red blooded american would do...........i ATE!!! that's right.........i called a friend in Iowa on my cell, while munching quietly, tho furiously on these absolutely yummy, cheap, cookies called snickerdoodles that i just picked up at Dollar Tree today!...........i mean.......they were REALLY good........so to not "crunch" in my bff's ear.......i gently melted them in my mouth first, then swallowed!..........but honestly........that really "brought out" the flavor!!!.........

ok, so Larry is upstairs on the phone also......(cuz, what ELSE is there to do?).........and he hollers down.......whatcha doin?..........EXUSE ME.........is it just me or is that a DUMB question?????????..........what can one do in total darkness except EAT and talk on the phone??????...so as soon as he finds out i am munching on cookies.....(he could tell by the garbled fashion in which i was answering him, mainly becuz my mouth was full).........he was soon at my side, fumbling thru the candle-lit hallway........and before i knew........that stinkin ONE dollar box of cookies was G-O-N-E!!!..............sigh............i was thinking how yummilicious they would be as a base for a pie crust for a pudding pie.....or an ice cream pie.......hmmmmm...........

well, alas.........the lights came on, about 2 hours after complete loss of electricity.........what a relief......after all......TWO hours is a LONG time to be without modern convenience, right?

WOW........truly, i am sometimes ashamed at how spoiled i am and how ungrateful........

i will say, my house SURE was smellin good from the candles!!!(that's ONE UP on our forefathers i guess!)

over and out........

Carter's Birthday Party

here is our newly turned seven year old! he had his party on this past Fri. nite.......of course we had a fun time, watching him enjoy his birthday!
here he is enjoying the marshmallow event......induced by Miss Robin, btw,.........

then there is AVA...

.......... MISS SASSafrass!........doin a little "sassy" move for me.........btw.......she got a little "inhibited", so we had to go to the play room and close the door, at her request (or should i say command?)........

i love whimsy and all things whimsical

for the sake of getting a blog done tonite......here is a pic of a sample i painted for Michael's...(where i work)......

an update

well.......i have been contemplating, thinking, perusing, investigating, dreaming, PRAYING,...oh MUCH PRAYING.........about starting a business...........and while i have been very excited about it.....each and every endeavor or idea i have had ......just wasn't "quite" the right fit for me.......for many different reasons.......i have even been so mad at myself, thinking i am just too old.......too boring, too stuck in my ways..........to be able to make a change..........oh, i know all about being in business.......i have done it! and in a big way! i used to design cloth dolls and sell them at markets around the country.......the Lord really blessed it and it was quite successful.......i still love my little doll creations.......i will have to share them some day with you........but let me tell you...........as those of you who KNOW.....it is NOT easy........and it involves LONG hours and HARD work.........and creates a terrible mess!..............i am just NOT up for that in this stage of my life.........plus my work space in our little town house will NOT accomodate a huge mess, nor could i stand it anymore!!!.......so i have been left with a BIG question of what should i do?
OF COURSE......PRAY.........which i have been doing.......and just like God led me to my NEW....OLD books and is blessing me beyond measure and teaching me BEYOND measure as well............i am beginning to see a little "light" down my tunnel of inquisition!....TODAY...........(and by the way......it was after a very humbling, tearful, time with the Lord this morning)............HE just GAVE it to me..........the idea! NO KIDDING...........i can't believe how simple it is.........i am so excited!...........so just you wait and see! my blog will be a very integral part of this...........in fact, i will probably create another one in addition, solely for business............the ideas are raining on me right now...........but i must start sure but slow.............so stay tuned............i am counting BIG TIME for my girls.......aka.......Heidi, Hollie, Hannah........to advertise for me via their blogs and friends.........and when you read this girls.........i need something from you to get started.......so...."CALL ME", as they say!
Well, anyway...........i am "gearing" up.........the really great thing is it will allow me to keep my job at Michael's.....at least for now.....which is a neccessity for the time being............
ALSO..........i am having a grand time altering photos and adding Bible verses or sayings to them...........please feel FREE to use them on your blog......just comment and let me know! i hope they are an inspiration ! i love "digging" in the Word for just the right verse for the right picture!
ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!...........
i love these blog give aways...........and i definitely will be giving STUFF away just to get my name out there................
that's it for now

another contest.......

don't you love it? isn't it exciting? another contest??? here is a sample picture and the link!!!......Gorgeous, Beautimous, Fantabulous stuff!

http://cinnamonsticksboutique.blogspot.com

maybe you can win!

i just entered a contest! yee ha! i rarely win anything.......but am still hopin!.......you can enter too! click here for a chance to win fabulous paper...a year's supply at that!http://funkyfairyinspirations.blogspot.com

WHO'S EXCITED ???

OH YEA!!! WE'RE ALL EXCITED!

CUZ IT'S CARTER'S BIRTHDAY!

( on the 18th)

YIPPEE! HE WILL JOIN

HOPIE IN THE RIPE

OLD AGE OF SEVEN! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!........

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

DARLIN BOY!

i have been dying to post this picture

i am having soooo much fun being creative with my pictures and have been dying to post this one of Addie.....but i was waiting for something fun to coordinate with it......but decided i don't have any secrets to share...well.....except.....don't tell anyone........but my husband severely needs to get a hearing aid.....he is SO deaf.....you should see how we watch tv.....thankfully we have the tvo thing.....cuz honestly.......here is the scene:........Larry:.....what did they say?......Sandi:.......she rewinds and goes back.......Larry:........i didn't get it...do it again......Sandi.....she rewinds again, turns the volume up........Larry:......do it one more time.......Sandi....rewinds, CRANKS the volume as high as it will go.......

Larry:..........oh well........whatever........Sandi: turns volume back to normal and proceeds with movie..........

OK.........i am soooooo serious!!!!!! honestly i am about to lose my marbles over this one.........but shhhhhhhhh.......don't tell anyone!

it's a secret! ;-)

can you tell my life is boring???

okay, so i don't have the most exciting life in the world....so what? i love "nesting" and love making my nest comfortable and FUN......besides.....i don't really enjoy summer.......i know, i know, MOST of you LOVE it......to me it is like enduring a harsh winter storm......i stay inside......light FALL candles and CRANK up the air! oh yea, now that is my idea of a GOOD time!!!.......i love to be creative in my studio and on the computer.......and "cook" up the next project! i have been doing a lot of research on having an Etsy store and really would like to try that......plus i want to get into some Fall craft shows this year.......so i need to GET GOING and get some merchandise ready! of course i will post pics of what i do.....i am hoping my blog will help the business!!!......but for now it is just in the thinking stage......so stay tuned....

as for my boring life........here are a few more "doctored" pictures of favorite "sites" in my house......please humor me on this, ok?....it's how i ROLL! :)

studio inspiration

i love my studio-slash-office!.....while it is not the PERFECT dream that i have of this space, it is without a doubt the most efficient, and inspiring space i have ever had! i would call it "controlled" clutter......and unorganized organization!......i am a MESSY at heart......i have fought it all my life and quite hate it that i am saddled with that vice.......but i will keep fighting it, realizing that many organized people i know, are also boring people!.......oops......honest.......i have NO one in mind! seriously!......but i have also learned that the people who cannot stand any clutter or mess at all.......rarely get creative projects done because they spend all their time organizing and little of their time creating. what i do is get into a HUGE mess......until i cannot find ANYTHING.....nor can walk or leave without stepping on something........and it is at that point.......i have to STOP and CLEAN UP and start all over!.......now this can come in varying degrees for me.......i guess i would say mostly i go until i am so out of control i am not worth being around.........i have learned that i need to stop......take a break......then come back and put everything into it's place once again and then proceed on a project.........

well anyway.......that's my creative process.......what's yours?

here are a few more pics of my space......after i have played with them on a photo program..........my NEW passion.........OMW!!!! i can't stand it......a new form of creativity and art for me! i was actually thinking.....what if someone would want me to do a digital scrapbook for them???? i would LOVE to !........for HIRE of course!........i wonder how much interest there would be in that????......well anyway......

here is a saying i like:

Art is more than a product of your efforts- it should be about feeling, life, attitude, soul.

-Sergei Bongart

look what's in my studio!

that's right! i am pouting!

Heidi and kiddos are on YET another road trip.....and this time i am NOT with them! they are having a fun time and i am not experiencing it with them! my sister, Teresa and fam live there and i have only been there once to visit her in my life! so of course Heidi has all these fantastic photos of the good time they are having...and yes! i am pouting and YES i am jealous!.waaaaaaaaaa

this is gonna make you HAPPY

i just love these flowers!.....they simply are HAPPY FLOWERS!...the first pic of the peony was grown by Karen J.......i absolutely luv luv luv peonies!......except for the pesky little ants they seem to attract! the rest of the flowers are mine.....

......i am getting a little carried away with the photo shop thing....how fun is this to be able to embellish, and enhance photos! wow.....i can't believe technology!

.... i had a diet coke too late tonite......and dag nab it......i can't sleep!

my scrapbooking pal

this is a scrapbooking page ...that my friend Ruthann did! it is a picture of her sister, when she was a young girl....Ruthann has "doctored" the picture with her photo program and it is stunning! this picture really does not do it justice! i am getting quite "addicted" to these photo shops where we can just about do anything to our pictures!.......but look what stunning pictures they produce for scrapbooking! she designs them online.....then sends for them from Walgreens.........and they come right to her door.....how fantastic! good job Ruthann!!!

baby birds

i have recently "hooked" up with a dear childhood friend! her name is Gloria and we were neighbors and best "buds" as children! we rode the bus together and spent many a summer's afternoon playing on our farms! we have been out of touch for a long time.....but thanks to computers and email we have been communicating! she raises birds...yes, hatches them......and whatever else......i have been asking her for pictures.......i LOVE baby birds.......or BABY anything for that matter......well.......not of the insect or rodent variety, but you know what i mean......anyway........HI GLORIA!!!

a quirky thing

i have this light fixture over my dining table.....i like it okay......but wanted it to have shades.......well.....i still loved my shades from our previous place .......however i was ONE short for this new light fixture! i was quite annoyed by it , i have to tell ya....and did not want to make another investment on new ones.....so........one day i was looking thru un-used decorative items and spied my sassy little black, feathery, and somewhat sultry shade.......and thought to myself......why........i think this sassy little thing is JUST the ticket!........after all......there is ALWAYS a BLACK SHEEP in every family, right???......(actually, just kidding on that one).........but my light fixture needed some diversity! and here is the picture........ya know what is funny......i expected people to comment on it, or at the least stare at it when they enter the room.......but NO one has ever said a THING!........i am not sure whether that is good or bad.....whether i should be embarrassed or not ?????.......i guess i don't care.....think what you want......i LOVE it.......after all......i'm old enough to wear PURPLE, but choose NOT to.....but i do CHOOSE to leave my little black sheep shade right where it IS!

new favorite things, acquired while in IOWA

i love these! they are porcelain balls with the alphabet on them! aren't they so cute?? i want MORE.....but these will have to do for now.....and NO, they are NOT lottery balls

........and these little cuties are real quail's eggs......empty of course.....they are very fragile! (i hide them when the g-kiddies are around).......they are just so darling! they are sitting in an antique wooden bowl i painted many years ago........what a great idea to put these eggs here, huh?....btw........i have an entire full, large box of MORE of these bowls.......just waiting for me to paint them........i think it will be my next project.......ummmmmmmmmm......after the long list of "other" next projects to get to!......oh i hate that........anyway.......i used to sell them....i painted various cute and adorable things on them, then waxed them......i still love them.........they are GREAT for Christmas!.......if i got started on this project, anyone interested in one?????? i have been thinking about starting a little store on ETSY........but not sure it would be worth the time or trouble........it sure looks fun, tho!........aren't the pink eggs the absolute cutest??? whoooda thunk it?

DON'T YOU LOVE GOD'S MOST PERFECT ARTISTIC TOUCH???

a leisurely stroll thru favorite sites of my kitchen

..........leisurely..true!.......did i mention leisurely but SHORT????......my kitchen is teeny teeny tiny......but ftfoi (for the fun of it)........just to satisfy you bloggy friends and ALL my bff's who probably will NEVER come to see me........here are a few faves in my teeny teeny tiny kitchen......

Henry, my rooster!

i would also like to point out the plate, behind Henry, from my bff, Joan, that is from the Mackenzie Childs collection, of which i adore, adore, adore....(hint hint family.........gift idea.......hmmmmmm?)

Henrietta, his faithful wife

my wonderful tin sign from CHRISTINES in Woodstock......love him! i love all things RETRO btw!....and love all things in Christines..(.another hint there to the fam)

this is my little chalk board carrying chef-man.....he delivers various & asundry messages to those who care to partake......today he echoes Rachael's well known, albeit overused and slightly sickening word......

more faves to come????

the word on the wall

ok, here is the infamous word on one of my walls.........i shall not tell you the shameful way in which "some" of the kids abuse these letters......nor shall ANY of you (you KNOW who you are!) leave any comments on the subject.......but to ME they epitomize that which i try to have daily........and that is a little FUN!.........and of course i put them there because that is what my little grandkiddies are.........TOTAL FUNNNNN!

(well, maybe not TOTAL.....they have their moments.......)

this is my antique park bench UNDERNEATH the word FUN!

i love my antique watering can with the

LONG

Snout!!!

Tuesday Randomness

today i have decided to randomly show you my back patio!


and with this sad picture of my pathetic tomato plant i will end this edition of the back patio, randomly presented for your entertainment pleasure on this particular random Tuesday......if you are reading this, Diana, dear Iowa friend......remember the hilarious tomato plant you gave us years ago and we didn't know how to take care of it and when you saw it again you laughed til you couldn't breathe and i didn't know what in the world was so funny?????? remember???????........well......i since have learned how to take care of plants rather well, not great, but better than a long time ago.......but this year.......something is wrong, that is for sure......i think while i was in Iowa it didn't get plant food cuz i forgot to tell larry that plants needed food too, and so they all starved for two weeks........then when i got home i was too tired to care......so basically all my vegetation went without food for over 3 weeks......well anyway.......more randomeness to come when i can find the time......btw....i would rather blog than do laundry, clean, cook, or most any other chore.......but NO ONE else will do the work for me......so gotta quit fer now!

Oh for the LOVE of Grandkids!

here is our new hair cut boy.............he spends the night tonite.... he is so handsome, but where did my little boy go?????? .......he DOES, however, have whitewalls , as his Pap Pap would call it.........meaning the parts on his head that have not been sun tanned......i am sure that will promptly be taken care of!

on Wed. nite Peter and fam came over for a late dinner........and of course we had our normal hilarity with the likes of Addie and Hopie.........and also did yet another re-watch of Cheaper by the Dozen......fast forwarding to our favorite parts.......one of which is the hamburger soaked underwear!!!....and the funeral for Beans the frog......."he hipped and he hopped.....he was a HOPPER"!.........we actually get a real hootin laugh out of that one..........i know, ya gotta be there......
anyway..........so here are pics of the two monkeys........playing dress up and playing with Pap Pap.........i have a new name for Hope........Hopie Savannah of Hixsonbrook Farms........huh?.....whadda ya think????



okay........so Ava spent the night this week.......unfortunately we had a very small window to "do our thing".......of course that usually involves reading books, the playground, a craft project, playing with our "bus".....getting the miniature plastic 1950 toys out of the bag......and various other Nee Nee slash Ava endeavors......but because i had to go to work (blah) we had to condense......so one of the items we cut out, ( actually we cut quite a few out).......but ONE item was BATHTIME!.......even tho all the kids seem to LOVE bathtime at my house........we let go of it this time....i had to bribe tho!......... i figured, as long as we were letting go of the bath......we might as well forget about all things clean and orderly.......so we decided NOT to comb Ava's hair as well!..........here is the picture to prove it........so when her mother came to pick her up......i delivered a happy, but somewhat dirty, disheveled little person to her!!!! it's a FIRST for me!!! HONEST!........but my she is cute anyway, huh???

Go forth and have a GREAT FOURTH!

here are photos that evoke memories for me..........what is your favorite 4th memory???

i think my fave 4th was many years ago in DesMoines, Ia., downtown, in front of a tall building with a mirrored exterior............we were picnicking with our wonderful friends , the Staffords, and they were playing music that went along with the fireworks. we were laying down on our blankets, faces to the sky.......... while the fantastic fireworks literally fell down onto us............

other wonderful memories come from childhood.........homemade ice cream......hide n go seek...........SPARKLERS.........

being afraid of the noises...........WATERMELON..........

.on and on......

HOW ABOUT YOU??? do you have any special memories to share???

Have a safe and FUN Fourth of July!!