Santa's Workshop

52 days until Christmas...but who's counting?

All has been busy in Santa's workshop this weekend. I just need to add the finishing touches and hopefully these will adorn Christmas trees from Texas to North Carolina and everywhere in between. Santa's workshop will be busy for the next few weeks!

In a Fall State of Mind....

Feeling Creative

I've had a hard time lately pouring thoughts from my head into my blog hence the sparse blogging. I did however get a little spark of creativity this weekend I needed to share.

First project was the little rose painted box. I may gift this to my daughter to keep her jewelry in since the pink fits her girly room theme. I have a really hard time with roses but I'm pretty pleased how this one turned out. I had company from a certain 6 year old who announced he would so love to share my paint. I obliged and little Picasso and I spent the afternoon listening to Frank Sinatra and creating. What could be better than that? I did have a good laugh when he tried to sell me his paintings for a buck. What a little business man!

Today I decided to do a little old fashioned scrapbooking. Nothing fancy, just simple little pasting of cut out magazine pictures, etc. before there were fabulous papers and embellishments like the scrapbooking of today. I have a hard time throwing away my cherished magazines so this way I can cut out the things I love most and store them in one book. It's a good compromise to reduce clutter.

My Funky Shopping Finds!

Nana & I spent the day doing girly things and shopping at Sam Moon. Sam Moon is about the only thing I love in Texas. You can walk in with $100 bucks and come out with quite a bit. Just sharing a few things we found today....




I love this flower pendant, looks like art.


It's hard to see the colors in these pieces but they are pretty cool.


Our wish necklaces. Mine is the one with true, hope luck. Nana's the one with Wish.


Peace baby! Nana is loving the peace sign these days. My little hippy! I picked out the turtle and frog jewelry for her. Too cute!


Had to get a basic pair of silver hoops to wear. I finally found a silver chain to fit my buddhist pendant. The pendant is handmade from tibet and the loop to insert a chain is very small. I've had it for awhile but haven't been able to wear it yet. I will wear this proudly, it feels like good karma.


Yes I love purses and how cute is this one???? Nana and her peace signs again!


And finally, my funky purse! I love the vibrant colors in this for summer and nothing wrong with a little bling!

Be Free Little Butterfly...

Yes, it's been a while since I posted. I don't know why, just been in a funk. After reading blogs tonight I felt the need to post. One particular blog touched me in a way I could relate to. Amazing you might say. It is the story of butterflies. You see, one of the bloggers lost her son in February, a heartache I could never imagine. In one of her darkest hours she was touched by the rarity of not one but three beautiful yellow butterflies. Following her in her yard as if to relay a message of hope and comfort. This brought her unexplainable peace.

You see, the butterfly phenomenon has touched me as well. June 3rd was the three year anniversary of my mother's passing. On the day we buried her the cemetery was adorned with dozens of beautiful butterflies fluttering about and resting wherever their hearts contented. There was no fear that people were present. It somehow transformed a place of sadness and despair into a place of beauty and tranquility. It is said that butterflies and rainbows are the most significant signs from loved ones that they have passed into heaven. It is their message of comfort. That day I had both of those signs and that summer I had many encounters with butterflies and a few rainbows along the way too. This past week on the very anniversary I walked out to my backyard after getting home from work and a large beautiful Monarch butterfly appeared and lingered for awhile. Once again, truly amazing. So wherever you may be....be free little butterfly, may your heart be full of laughter.

"May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun, and find your shoulder to light on To bring you luck, happiness and riches today, tomorrow and beyond." ~Irish Proverb

Determination

What is it these days you can't get vegetables that taste like vegetables? I've had the toughest time in Texas growing anything but I am determined to try again and after reading blogs I came across Square Foot Gardening. I think this can actually work because you grow above ground in raised beds in a mineral rich soil. I've ordered the book and can't wait to get started. Gardening is a hobby that clears the mind, makes you feel accomplished, and feeds your family natural organic fruits and vegetables.

The basil and lettuce I planted last week has sprouted and today the kids and I decided to plant more seeds in preparation for the boxes I hope to build next week.


We decided to do sugar baby watermelons, cantaloupe, beefsteak tomatoes and cucumbers since these take the longest to harvest and wanted to get a head start.


"Cares melt when you kneel in your garden."
-author unknown

Sprucing Up For Spring

This past week was Spring Break so I decided to take some time off to escape the doldrums of work and the financial markets. After a week of non productive laziness it was crunch time this weekend to make the yard and house somewhat presentable for the arrival of Spring. Of course Monday back at work was a shock to the system and how I wish I could go back a week to the world of creativity yet again.

Step inside my little world for a moment so I can share what I have been up to...


Re-stained the front door to cover up the little nicks and scratches that have accumulated over the past 4 years. I also, spruced up the wreath my mom made for me when I moved into my first home.


Remember the little pots I painted a few weeks back? I filled with soil and added purple Phlox to match.


Recycling! This plain old generic plastic pot was a yuck tan color so I sprayed it with plastic spray paint to add some color and then added Verbena and Phlox flowers for more color impact.


Basil oh how I love thee. So easy to grow and should be sprouting in about 7 days. Yummy with summer tomatoes!


This iron bench I got at a yard sale for $15 and it's heavy! It goes perfectly with an iron set I've had for years and decided I would repaint them all to match. I've had a few yards of shabby blue fabric with roses for a while so I am planning to make a cushion seat for the bench out of it.


My other iron set, from dingy chipped brown to fabulous shabby blue.


The best project of all! I was browsing through old Cottage Living magazines and came across a potting bench. My DH headed to Home Depot to buy supplies and constructed it for me. I have been wanting one for so long and when I move it's definitely coming with me! Now I just have to figure out if I want to paint it and if so what color?


Trying out the new bench...


Planting Romaine lettuce seeds. Since they are more of a fall vegetable they will probably die in the Texas heat but I just had to plant something! I plan on adding hooks to the side of the bench to hang garden tools, a hose and whatever else I may need.