the silver lining...

I've been teaching myself how to do a coptic binding and the book above was my practice book. Since it was the one I learned on, I decided to keep it for myself and use it as my summer journal. I like how it came out, it opens so nice and flat. I will make some for my shop when I find some time. Ah, time... The kids have been pretty good about not disrupting my morning time. But, our car has been misbehaving, so I've had a lot of time at the car shop. We've gotten new brakes and had the air conditioner fixed and this morning it just wouldn't start at all and had to be towed to the shop. It needs a new starter. But to every dark cloud, there is a silver lining (at least that's what Stuart Little's dad told him). I'm actually really happy that it decided to break down today (on this day before a holiday weekend and before our upcoming vacation and while I was in my own driveway). They were able to squeeze my repair in today and hopefully all will be good for a while.

the big 4-3

I celebrated my 43rd birthday recently. And it was good. I've kind of made peace with my age. I mean after all, if we didn't get older we'd be dead right? I cried when I turned 30 and now - well - 30 seems so young. Of course, I had three kids in diapers when I was 30 and that's enough to make anyone cry. But really, I know so much more now than I did back then. And life just keeps getting better for me. I've always been a late bloomer and I am really doing some blooming in my 40's. So gray hairs aside, I think 43 is going to be a very good age. Yeah. And I'm loving my new cowboy boots, a birthday gift from the hubby. Have you ever heard that poem that goes, "When I am old, I shall wear purple..." Well, when I am old, I shall wear cowboy boots. With a skirt. And maybe some striped socks.

finally...

We have a shark...finally. The boys and I started this project two years ago. They saw a giant shark on a billboard and decided they wanted one for their bedroom. So we went about constructing one. Wax paper, a couple of rolls of masking tape, paper mache... After the shark body was constructed, we set it aside and forgot about it until this year. It was either toss it or finish it. Jacob and I got out our paints and finished it up. Now, to hang it up...

dream big...

"Nothing happens unless first we dream."

-Carl Sandburg-

the adjustment period...

We are now in the adjustment period. At least that's what I call it. Now that the kids are home all day, my schedule has changed. And I really liked my schedule. Most days it included a few hours of quiet, uninterrupted "creative time". My husband has been trying to prepare me for this for weeks. He is a big fan of scheduling. And while I hate to admit that he might know something I don't, I think he could be right this time. Of course, it's not just myself I'm trying to organize, that would be easy. It's my four sweet, loving children. They resist planning, preferring to live a free, spur of the moment type lifestyle. But I've stuck it to them this summer. I've let them know that upon my awakening until noon I am not to be disturbed. They will prepare their breakfast and do the list of chores I leave for them each morning. They will let me know if they need my taxi services well in advance. And there won't be any bickering that might disturb my creative solitude. And like I said, it is an adjustment period. It's not bound to work flawlessly right away. So far, I've spent one morning at the vet and two mornings at the car repair shop and some taxi service as well. And bickering. All before noon.

But let's talk about something happier. Check out the middle picture above. My 9 year old handed this to me the other day. I said, "wow, what is it?" He said, "It's lint, from my jean pocket. I wrote love you on it with a sharpie." Well, bless your little heart, I love you too.

wooooo-hooooo!

Well, I have to say, baseball season really ended with a bang. My most handsome guy and his team won the city championships! It was definitely the most exciting game I have ever watched. The game was really close all the way through. I found myself clutching the edge of my folding chair several times. The crowd was really crazy, yelling, cheering, jumping up and down... In the end, the kids made some great plays to pull off their big win. Jacob is totally thrilled, as you can see from his smile. A fine ending...

what are they up to now...

If you've been reading this blog right along, by now you know that I'm the sort of mother that lets my kids play with guns and knives and lighters and bullets and, yes, fireworks too. With supervision of course. As you can see, I was right there taking pictures of it. And it was so much fun. A celebration of sorts. School is out. No more homework, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks... Summer has officially begun!

success...

my favorite...

Erica took this picture of me at the art market...

I don't usually put pictures of myself on here,

because I'm...well...shy. But I was so happy

after my art fair and because Erica managed

to get a picture of me with my eyes open and

not too goofy of a smile, here I am...

a whole bucket of dollies for you... look for them in my etsy shop soon

and finally, a heart for Vicky, the nice lady who bought my collage, the one that was made from my heart, and like myself, a seeker of the hearts that are all around us...

The art fair on Saturday was so much fun. I'm really glad I did it, despite my nervousness. I feel it was successful, not just because I sold some things, but more because I overcame one of my fears. I met some nice people and got some very nice compliments on my work and that was just the boost my spirit needed. My daughter Erica came along to help me set up and keep me company, even though she had a busy day and late night at Busch Gardens the day before. I thought she might fall asleep at one point, so I sent her in to the Starlight Cafe to get a "razmo", which is a super delicious raspberry iced coffee that they make there. Thank you so much Erica! I am taking some pictures today and enjoying my last few quiet hours before the kids are all home for the summer. Oh, and by the way, they won the baseball game.

baseball and art...

It's been awhile since I last posted and I did promise some baseball pictures of the cutest (oops! I mean most handsome) baseball player I know... I have been totally focused on getting ready for an art market. This is the first time I have sold my art at an art fair and I have to say, now that the initial nervousness has worn off, I'm pretty excited. And of course, in between all of that, there is still baseball. The last game is on Saturday, unless they make it into the playoffs, which they might. I might sound like a bad mother, but I'm sure there are other moms like me, who might be secretly wishing their kids team will lose, so we can be done with this already. I mean, I love to watch my kids activities, but umpteen practices and 15 games later, I am kind of burned out on baseball. Until next year of course. But anyway, if anyone is reading this blog and if you are in Lynchburg this weekend, please come see me and some other fine vendors at the Starlight Art Market on Saturday, from 10 - 2, next to the Starlight Cafe on Fifth Street. I'll have most of the stuff from my etsy shop, plus some new things that I have been working on for the past few weeks. And cross your fingers for no rain!