We have new chicks

Five Deleware chickens. We have yet to name them because we can't tell them apart yet. But they are so cute and fuzzy.

And a picture of the number one son in his new Unisuit for the Augusta Rowing Club.

Can you believe he is 15??? Not me- seems just like yesterday he was so small I could wrap him up in my arms in my lap. Now I can fit in HIS lap!

Drama Week starts tomorrow! It sure has snuck up on me. I have 2 of the 5 Shadow Guard costumes done, but they are easy to fix up at this point. When I picked them a week ago they were almost done, so I really just need to zip up the fronts and put in a hook.

I do however need to get into the kitchen in the morning and make lots of snacks for the week. Drama Week means long days with dinner in the crock pot..... which means I have to go to the grocery store SOON.

Yesterday we went to my cousin Jennifer's house in lower Georgia. Her house is always so much fun because she has so many animals. Let's see, I saw: 2 ponies, 1 colt, 1 donkey, ??? ducklings, ??? ducks, 4 or 5 chickens, Guinea babies, 3 wild snakes, 1 fish, and 1 really frozen gator baby. Yes, gator! He was dead- a long time gone! Apparently, my cousins' husband Rusty thinks it is fun to bring out the dear dead headless gator for family occasions. Oooh!

Eric asked to go fishing and so Jennifer strung him up a red squiggly worm, and he cast it out and reeled in a beauty of a fish on the first try.

Doesn't he look so proud? He begged to take it home, and I said "NO". Number 1, I don't like to eat fish, have no idea how to cook fish. Number 2, I was not about to clean it! One day he and his brother will learn how to gut and clean fish, maybe from Papa this summer, and Grandma can show them how to cook it.
Jonah came back from camping this evening and looked beat! He hiked 7-8 miles and camped on the trail this weekend. His leader said he did a wonderful job, including encouraging the other scouts when they became tired. I wish I had had more time to get him a camera before he went. I would love to know what the scenery looked like in the Appalachian Mountains.
Anyway- I am signing off for tonight. I really must start this earlier in the evening. My brain has gone to mush for the day.

What a Wonderful Sound a Piano Makes

We have now completed another year of piano lessons with our fabulous instructor Tina. The kids played beautifully. Hannah played Hall of the Mountain King and Eric played Puff the Magic Dragon (one of my favorite songs as a kid). I am so proud of how far they have come in the last year. They have grown not only musically, but in maturity, and spirituality. All three children continue to amaze me with their loving and caring attitudes for their siblings and family.
Anyway, here are Hannah and Eric posing for Recital photos.










My camera is acting up, and did not take the best photos this time. Just erks me to no end. Both the fact that it is a new camera and my lack of understanding for photoshop and the camera itself. I still haven't figured out how to download the video's onto my laptop. Grrrr!
I did get a lot accomplished today!
Dropped the oldest son off for Boy Scout camp out. I had to really work on convincing myself that he is not going to get lost and never come home. I have been watching too much drama on TV.
Obtained new post decals for my van. I had to have the lady come out and scrape off the old decals. I am not tall enough to reach the top and she was barely tall enough. She agreed that it was OK for me to put the new stickers down lower on the window.
Picked up refill meds from PX.
Made the "call", and I now have an appointment for next week with a quilt shop owner concerning consigning in her store. Woo Hoo! I have been fretting about this for days.
Now motivated by the call, I rushed upstairs to work on quilt cards. Accomplished 1 set of 3 cards.
Sent care package to husband. Hope he reads the two things I sent him on farming!
Purchased dress shoes and a black t-shirt for the youngest. Shadow guards must wear black under their cloaks for the Wizard of Oz Play next week. Still need black pants or sweats.
Searched for hair net to help when I put Hannah's hair up next week. She needs to wear her hair in a bun and I hate bobbi pins.
Attend Piano Recital!
To do list on Saturday May 30th:
1. Sew Shadow guards' costumes- at least put a dent in the lot of 5.
2. Work on cards.
3. Make RJ a graduation card.
4. Attend RJ's graduation party. Leave early it's a 2 hour drive.
5. E-mail those pictures of the trees.
I guess that is it for now.

Another Thursday Down

I am not keeping count- but one less day until my dear husband comes home.

Thursday's have been harder for me.... I think it is because the kids have music lessons and I have an hour with nothing to do. Leaves me too much time to think.

I am getting many things accomplished in the effort to keep my mind busy. Garden has been planted and the yard cleaned up. My bedroom is finally clean... well almost. I hate to file, so there is a box of filing left to do. I have been throwing myself into my crafting, in an effort to prepare for a possible consignment opportunity.

Here are the baskets that I dressed up with high hopes they will help sell my cards. What do you think?



Here are some of my cards that are going to fill these baskets.

On to the household chores:

I had the turf guy come out today and spray fertilizer and weed killer on the front lawn. Not much grass in the back, therefor no spraying back there. So the vegies are safe. I know it is not very green to have your yards fertilized, but I can't get it to grow, and some day I will have to sell this house. What is a girl to do? I did do away with pest control services. Partly because they ticked me off, but also from the possible side effects on my small animals. So I am left to tackle the fire ants on my own. Ughh! Oh and the wasps, bees and slugs!

On to the garden- This planter is just outside of my window. It holds the three salsa tomato plants that I got from Burpees. Oregano, lemon balm, and basil are in the front planter.

These are my blueberries, one on each side of my porch.

I have also taken pictures of the trees on top of my house. Literally- on top of the house. The branches are now touching, and the neighbors say they have seen squirrels running the rooftop. Having fun no doubt! I am going to send these pictures to a friend who has offered to come and help cut them down. Won't the squirrels be disappointed? Too bad!
To Do List for Friday May 29th:
1. Drop the oldest son off for Boy Scout backpacking camp out. Yes- he is going to hike 5-8 miles this weekend. And he is excited? DONE
2. Piano recital tomorrow 6:30pm, and I have to figure out the blasted camcorder. DONE
3. Maybe, just maybe, see someone about consigning cards? DONE
4. See a Movie with a friend??? NOT YET
I know there must be more, but the mind is not working efficiently right now.
So I am signing off for tonight.

As promised- Pictures of Garden

Well I did it- One more day of posting.
Having the list of things to be completed really helped today. I completed most on the list- I am going to go down after this post and cross off everything that was done.

So here they are:




This is the original raised bed that we put up in 2007. Being our first garden we had no idea how it was going to go- so we used pine, that did not weather well. This year we bought cedar? or cypress? and painted it with deck stain. Hopefully, this will make it last longer. It looks so beautiful with all the vegies growing.
The middle larger planter is currently growing sweet potatoes. We still have some from last year. It is always so much fun to dig potatoes- like finding buried treasure.


This is the strawberry patch. Last year we had a bumper crop, but this year we have SLUGS. Tonight, I have put out beer in the hopes that the slugs will get really drunk, pass out and die. I sure did get many questions asked of me when we bought the beer tonight. Ooooh and I got carded! The cynic in me says it was just policy- but the happy part of me is so excited and chooses to believe it is because I look so young.

These are my peas. Aren't they lovely? I wish there were more of them, but maybe they will still grow more with time. Some are mature enough to eat. We have tried them in the raw and they are delicious. I am hoping to have enough to cook and maybe freeze for later. I built this trellis by myself with a little supervision from my husband. My beets are to the right of the trellis. I picked about 20 beets today.

These are my squashes- I started them indoors and did not label them- so you guessed it- I have no idea what plant is what. The one on the left is definitely a zucchini. But which one is a butternut, spaghetti, or winter squash? Guess time will tell!

Broccoli and Cauliflower are in front. I wish they would do their thing, because I am worried that the squash is going to overtake them. I cut back the zucchini today, and hopefully it will not kill it.

This is the other side of same planter- with carrots and lettuce and another squash plant peeking out from behind.

Onto the new planter which is an mirror image of the older planter. Although we did not use the stacking brackets in the new beds.

In this bed you can see broccoli and cauliflower. Eric and I planted 3 different types of carrots to the front and all beets in the rear of the bed. You can also see that I have begun the sprinkler system for this bed too. It is not completed yet because I need some parts in order to finish.

This is the bed that will hold our Kennebunk potatoes that I ordered late last night. I really was going to plant the spuds that are in the pantry that are sprouting, but then I read an article that said that grocery bought potatoes could harbor diseases and I definitely do not want to start a new planter out that way.



Eric and I planted spinach, and a mix of lettuce in this bed. I have not decided what else to plant in this bed later on.

This bed will hold our corn, which is under the grow lights in the house. I planted 40 cells today, so I am hoping for 80 ears of corn.

This last photo is specific for my husband. Honey if you are reading this, you will know that you are missed.
Looks like I will have to go next door and see if my wonderful neighbor can deal with this hornets nest. I cannot and will not for I am allergic to bees.

So for tomorrow's to do list:

1. Meet with the gardener from Turf Pride who will fertilize my nasty front yard. My Bermuda grass will not grow in the front... or the back either. One side of the front yard greens up well, but the other and larger side will not. Hopefully this gentleman will be able to fix it for me.

2. School the children.

3. Work on cards

4. Call friend to help role play cold call I want to make for local quilt shop about selling my cards.
5. Mail care package to dear husband.

Gonna Try This Again

Well- Here it goes again.
Today- was another cloudy, wet day. I haven't had to water the lawn or garden in weeks. The kiddos and myself (mostly kids) put bags and bags of compost, soil conditioner, peat moss, and sand into our raised garden beds. We have added another 12o square feet of garden this year, but haven't had soil in them until today. We are using "Mel's Mix" without the vermiculite. I have a source for vermiculite, but the lady who owns the nursery is very suspicious of my purchases. I wonder if she thinks I am starting my own horticulture business?
I have been watching other bloggers and trying to learn from them and how they post. One of the things I have seen and enjoy, is a list of to do items that they are trying to accomplish. So I thought I would try it.
So here we go: Tuesday May 26
1. Start kiddos on their schoolwork DONE
2. Fertilize garden with seaweed fertilizer DONE
3. Contemplate planting corn indoors or out? Will grow faster indoors under grow lights, but it will disturb its roots in the move. Maybe I should plant indoors in peat pots that will breakdown in the soil outdoors. Hmmmm. DONE
4. See a movie with a friend
5. Add protection/warrenty on new cell phone- important DONE
6. Plant more lettuce- trying new mix DONE
7. Plant cucumber indoors- will move outdoors in the next few weeks where the beets are currently. DONE
8. Contemplate what to do with the zucchini that is taking over the broccoli plants, and everything else in its path. DONE- I CUT IT BACK
9. If time permits- weed eat the weeds behind the garden beds. DONE
10. Have #1 son mow the lawns DONE- I MOWED BACK LAWN- HE MOWED FRONT
Future:
Lay down weed barrier around new planter
Put down edging around planter and fill with cedar chips
Try out the beer/slug treatment HOPEFULLY WORKING AS I TYPE

I will get out tomorrow and take some pictures of the garden for ya'll to see.

On the kid front- We took a holiday from school today, just like the school kids do. Well that is not necessarily true here in Georgia. The public school children here are out until August. Not mine..... we will be doing at least Math and Writing throughout the summer.
As I said before the kids helped with the garden today. We even had the neighbor boy working on the dirt shoveling. Later on this afternoon, after showers for everyone to wash the dirt from our bodies, we went next door and swam for several hours. They are sleeping soundly right now, but will no doubt be sore tomorrow.
Jonah had a Boy Scout meeting tonight. It was a "get ready and prove your worth before the backpacking campout "at the end of the week. The boys had to show that they had all of the packing list materials in their pack-plan their meals-make and find sleeping arrangements (who are you bunking with?)- and lastly, hike 3 miles with full backpack. The boy was exhausted when he returned from scouts. I told him to take an Ibuprofin and Benedryl and head off to bed. Hopefully, he will not be too sore tomorrow.
That is all for now- I will update more in the evening tomorrow.

Quilting & Stamping

I have been posting to my Splitcoaststampers gallery the last few nights, and realized that I do have a lot of things that I could be posting here. So, even if I have been unproductive lately I can still show you things that I have done in the past.

I started consigning at a quilt shop in Nevada right after Thanksgiving. I made 25 cards and shipped them off- I am pleased that they are selling, and it makes me happy to know that someone wants to buy what my talents produce. It isn't much appreciated here at my house. Maybe, because I have always created with something. That is not to say that they do not like what I do. It is just more validating when someone you don't know likes what you do.

So here are a few of my favorite creations that feature the sewing theme. I really enjoyed making the sewing cards- I even bought the Papertrey Ink Quilting Sampler stamp set. http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_quilterssampler.html Oh my.... I love it, and it is very easy to use! Alas, some of my images were clip art that I found on the net. I have found it very hard to find sewing images in stamps. I did color all of them with my Copics, so it still counts as crafting right?

This card above was made with the Christmas SU paper and paper pieced using the Papertrey Ink Quilting Sampler as a guide. Not the easiest thing to do while you are on pain meds, but I love the outcome. But still.... I probably will not repeat this effect.

Once again, this is a PTI Quilting Sampler set.

Stamping has been one of my saviors this last year. I used to sew, making many clothes for myself and the kids. When I became ill and could not get out of bed, I turned to stamping as my creative outlet. Once upon a time, many years ago I was a SU Demo. I had forgotten how much I loved it. I needed to get back in touch with my inner child and coloring was a great way to do that. Now, my husband didn't really appreciate my medium, well more the cost of my Copics, but he is happy with the results I can achieve with them. If you need to find your inner child with Copics try Oozaks at http://www.oozak.com/index.php

Anyway, that is it for today! I feel good... I posted pictures of cards. WooHoo!

Angela

A New Healthy Lifestyle

I am a bad blogger! Bad, Bad, Bad girl!
Truthfully, it has been such a busy week that I have not had a chance to blog or craft. Very depressing!
Crafting is my sanity most days- something I do just for me. A chance to concentrate on my work and my talent.
I have been trying to get the kinks out of my new healthy eating regiment. Do you know long it takes to cook every meal? A lot longer than just pouring cereal in the morning and sticking chicken nuggets in the oven at lunch. Plus the shopping is more intricate. I spent hours shopping last week. Two hours at the commissary reading labels, deciding if this was a "good enough" product, and listening to the kids whine about how long it was taking. Two hours in the Whole Foods Store, looking at all the cool stuff available, finding the right supplements, looking for alternatives to our refined and bleached food staples, and the whole time listening to the kids telling me about the fascinating things they were finding. Oh, and I almost forgot.... 45 minutes in Wally World getting the things that I couldn't find at either of the previous stores. However, I did get to do the last store alone!
I really can't complain about me kids and shopping, though. As soon as we get into the store, the oldest two go and get 2 milks each, and put them into the cart first. Then they help throughout the store by grabbing things from aisles and going after things I forgot. At the end, all three children unload the shopping cart, and when we get home, they unload the car and put all groceries away. Where would I be without them? What's more is what would this family be without them this last year? With a little guidance from Ray they would tackle grocery shopping when I couldn't. I am so very proud of their shopping abilities among other talents they have shown this last year. They can all do laundry, dishes, organize the house, and take care of me with ease. I cannot brag about them enough.
So here is a rundown of our new day- now that we are trying to lead a more healthy life.
7am- I get up and walk around the block. When I get back I tackle breakfast and then wake the kids up to eat- while I take a shower.
8:30ish- We start our school day. I spend most of my day correcting paperwork, and helping with instructions, standing by, organizing, and leading by example. During this time I usually do my Bible Study, and work on scheduling, and list making.
12ish- we come together for lunch- Ideally this would be a great time for a family devotional, but this is still a work in progress.
1ish- back to work- schoolwork that is. This is the time I can spend working on my creations. Most days I can get in a little of this before I become to weak and need to lay down. I must note that I am getting better all the time, though.
3-4ish- We try and be done with school by this time. It doesn't happen this way all the time, but we try. Our neighbor gets home from school at 3:30 and the kids would like to go outside and play with him.
5ish- Dinner, that I try and prepare while they are outside. Hubby is usually up by then (he works nights), and will help out with any things that need to get done.
I try and get everyone to bed by 9pm- yah right! But I try!
So that is it! Well, we do have to fit in occupational therapy, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, 4-H Bunny Club, MOPS (mothers of preschoolers- Hannah volunteers), Dr's appointments (for me), and Co-op for homeschoolers. Crazy schedule really. Who says Homeschoolers are unsocialized? Not mine- we are too busy living our lives in the real world.
I wanted to include a picture of our family on Eric's Birthday last month. He is 10 now- when did that happen?

Isn't it a cute photo? For his birthday, he received new chopsticks from the restaurant. He is still trying to eat every Asian meal we have with them, and doing rather well.
I guess that is it for the day. I will try and post again tomorrow. Hopefully, I will have something creative to put in.

New Header- Yippee

I spent most of my day Friday looking for a new header. I was using my business header, but it didn't fit and just didn't look right. I have been having an urge to buy land, you know the kind that has acres and acres of green farmland. Not that I can afford it.... but just in case my ship sails in. What I am finding is that Georgia has substantially lower prices for lots of land, on the other hand, Oregon is not cheap not even for a little land. What's a girl to do? Look, and look, and wish, and wish, point out to husband (who rolls his eyes) and send pleading looks his way. Yah- I know we are still indentured to the Army, but I can dream right? So this brings me to my point, my new header is of a farmhouse somewhere in the world that is surrounded by mountains and looks so peaceful I can almost envision myself there now.
This image set me off dreaming again and now I have set up a field trip for local homeschoolers to an area (couple hours away) goat farm. See it here http://splitcreek.com/index.shtml
Yep- I love goats, well the idea of them. The only ones I have really seen are in a petting zoo. They are so cute, and look so lovable, how can you not be enamoured with them? I have dreams of making goat cheese and butter. Canning and making jellies and jams. Being somewhat self- sufficient, and maybe making a simple living out of my crafts and farm.
OK- so back to reality! The kids and I have been sick all week- we keep trudging along but I have had no energy to drive the schoolwork bus. So the kids keep checking their schoolwork checklists and they say they are "completing" work, but I have been very lax and have not checked their work. Guilt- Guilt- Guilt! There is always next week... right? Now do you see why I felt the need to escape into my dream world?
While I was searching for pictures for the blog, I punched in Lake Tahoe and winter into the magical google world and out popped this image.

This is Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe. I spent some time every summer up here at Tahoe. It was not hard since I grew up in Reno. Snow is hard to come by here in Georgia, and this made me happy to look at it. Can you see the mountains in the background? Those are the Sierra Nevada Mountains. We don't have those (beautiful mountains) here where I live either. I guess I am a little homesick, it doesn't happen often, but I seems to be happening now. I have many happy memories, including time spent here with my husband (before we were married).
So I haven't done any stamping in a few days, hopefully Monday! Yah- Monday for sure!
Thanks for coming by,
Angela

Hump Day Already?

Oh how the time flies!

We are almost to February and I haven't started my Valentines yet. I must make that a priority in the next few days.

The kids and I are battling a cold. I swore I just had allergies, but now I can tell that this is not "just" allergies. The kids swear they got a cold from cleaning house- hah! It does kick up a lot of dust, but still, give me a break.

I made a birthday card yesterday for my dear friend in Virginia. I found this cute little clip art and thought it would make a great card. I have noticed that I am branching out more and using things that I would not normally use and it helps keep your creativity humming right along.

I wish I had Photoshop to edit and add watermarks, however, money does not allow for that at this time. Maybe tax time. Therefore, I use Microsoft Paint to add watermark and edit photo in Picasa 3. Both are free and that is just the right price for me.

Recipe: SU Blush and Close to Cocoa cardstock, clip art of piggy, ribbon and copics. I used a heart and dust stamp that came to me via a friend, but I have no idea who manufactured it.

See you soon and thanks for looking,

Angela

Happy Birthday To Me!!

So I still need work on this blogging bit- Everybody got to have something they need to work on right? Like this is the only thing I need to work on- Hah!
I am now officially 39 today- No really! 39 today, January 17, 1970 was a grand day for my Mom- Well that is not how she puts it, but you get the idea. 40 hours of labor, yada, yada, yada- doctor on the golf course, blah, blah, blah- making father leave the room, whine, whine, whine. I really felt sorry for you Mom... up until I had 3 of my own. Two natural, and one c-section. I count those up and am proud! Mom says after my 9lb 10oz butt, that she was done- hence, I am an only child.

Thirty-Nine seemed like a good year for a party and a nice way to start off the New Year. So Ray and I sent our children to the neighbors house and invited the adults over to celebrate. We had such a good time. Ray made Bananas Foster, and we played Apples to Apples, which is so much more fun with adults who know who Andy Warhol is. My dear friend Melissa made her famous Chocolate Cake, which she will never outlive, because we all want her to bring it wherever she goes. It is that GOOD!

Yep- That is me there in the middle in light purple. I really need to take more photos, so I have more to choose from. This was the only one taken.

Today, the official day, was spent with hubby shopping, and dinner at a Chinese restaurant.
The one thing I wanted for my birthday was an apron. You know, like the ones your grammy had? Well, we couldn't find one... well not any that were cute. So I will be off to Etsy tomorrow to purchase one.

Happy Birthday to me..... Happy Birthday to me.... ( I am singing, hee hee)
Angela

Helen Georgia

I guess I need to get into the habit of writing everyday. I want my children to be able to do this, so I must model the behavior. I will add this to all the other habits I would like them to have, that I do not possess, but somehow must endeavor to fake.


We had an enjoyable weekend. Saturday, on the spur of the moment, the kids and I went to a quaint little town in the northeast mountains of Georgia. Helen is a cute little town that was re-made in the late 60's into a Bavarian Village. I have attached the link to the Alpine tourist information. Here you will find Helens' story.


http://www.helengeorgia.com/aboutus.asp?id06=100&par06=0

And can you believe it..... it snows in Georgia! Isn't pretty?

I forgot the camera, again. That's what happens when you do things spontaneously. We will be going back in the summer again, because there is so much to do.... tubing, camping, horseback riding, shopping, and my favorite "eating". We watched a glass blower, making butterflies, and listened as he spoke of the history of his trade. Add that one up for schooling hours. I have read that they have a pottery shop where you can watch them throw and create, along with a train exhibit that shows Germany.

I have been working hard on my New Year's Resolutions, which include:

Being more God centered, and making sure our family is leading ourselves on a better path. To me this means spending more time reading the Bible together. Continued education for myself and the kids, and making the commitment to serve and learn through Christ.

Being more of a friend- so many people supported me this last year, and I have come to understand friendship in a deeper way. I want to reconnect and forge lasting friendships.

Live my life joyously NOW- I am always thinking about the future and how happy I will be, but live today with worry and dissatisfaction. I need to change this.... for myself, my children and for our well being.
I know there are more resolutions, but they are upstairs and the laptop and I are downstairs. So more on those later.

Thank you for coming by- and if you are ever in Northeast Georgia, go and checkout Helen.

Angela

Well I am back- Day 2

I was hoping to post earlier, but alas, it did not happen. The tale of this homeschooling mom is that we were out today running erands and taking lessons all day. So not much time to post, but I am going to fit in this card that I finished yesterday.

I just love to watercolor, because everything blends and makes my artwork look like I have spent hours on it when I really have not. One of the reasons I adore stamping is that the images give me the outline and I have the option to use my own color choices. Coloring pictures was my favorite activity as a little girl, (that and playing with my Baby Alive) and I guess it still is my passion.

Recipe- SU Going Gray and Not Quite Navy Cardstock, Watercolor Paper, Momento Gray Ink, Through The Storm Stamp by Stamps Happen, Brown Ribbon

Well that is it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Angela

Well here it is- My first post!

I am very excited to be writing a blog. A place to post my favorite stamp creations, and update family and friends with news from Georgia.

I never thought that I would be doing this. I have a strong aversion to writing, and usually have my husband edit everything that I write. So I will be working on my grammar and spelling issues. Note to self- add that to the never ending list of New Year's Resolutions.

I have been working on a card with
High Hopes Stamps http://www.highhopesstamps.com/
Seymore the Dragon. I just love this cutey-

The pictures never come out the way they look in real life. I normally take my pictures, but thought that I would scan this one to see if it made the picture more true to color.

Recipe- SU Mint Melody & Only Orange Cardstock, Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Copic Markers, Spica Clear Pen

I always love it when other's put in their recipe what color markers they use. I will try and do this in the future, but I have already forgotten what I used. Ooops!

I will have another card tomorrow that I watercolored.

See you and thank you for looking!