on my desktop this week

cousin love (the week in pictures)

1. The girls and I went to Lebanon to pick up Abby and got a bonus, we spent time with Jess, Adam, Aunt Tine, Uncle Jeff, Mamaw and Kapaw too.

2.  Abby making waves in our pool.

3.  Cousin slumber party on the mattress.

4. Playing at Zachary's Park

5.  Six Flags fun.      

guess whos' coming next week...

{we can't wait!}

it's so hot...

the candles are melting in the sun.

the summer list

Summer vacation is halfway over.  The girls and I sat down and looked at the list

we made back in May of all the fun things we wanted to do Summer 2010.  We've done pretty well. 

What's left to do:

Visit with cousin Abby

Zachary's Park

Zoo

Water Park

Ride bikes together

Six Flags

Arch

Magic House

Roller Skating at Henry's

Fishing with Daddy

Next week we will work on getting more of these checked off.  Can't wait!

had a little chuckle and went back to my quiet spot

I was lazy this morning.  I'd like to blame it on the rain but really I was just lazy.  We were having another thunderstorm, one of many recently.  It was a nice steady rain with thunder off in the distance.  The girls were off in their rooms playing quietly, Truman was by my side.  I sat in the doorway of the deck, listening and taking in the cool breeze.  It was peaceful, cleansing. 

I had just read our good friends blog.  They lost a friend last week suddenly.  She talked of perspective.  I am hurting for them, for the family, praying.  A tragedy like this brings you face to face to the realization of how life is fragile.  I thanked God for the many blessings, I prayed that like the rain he would cleanse me of the worry and busyness life brings {I've had alot of both lately}.

During my time in prayer my sense of smell took over.   I had four overdone pancakes on the stove top, burning {oops}.  Oh well, no worries.  Normally I might have growled under my breath, beating myself up for creating a stink in the house and wasting food.  Today it didn't mean a thing.  I cleaned up the mess, had a little chuckle and went back to my quiet spot.

random weekend and today

I've been up this morning, baking peach surprise to deliver to friends.  I didn't make one for us.  In hindsight that's probably a good thing.  After this weekend we don't need anymore rich, heavy foods.

It was a good weekend.  We went to celebrate Grandpa Paul's birthday.  He turned 89 on Saturday. 

Handsome guy isn't he? 

Truman got a work out in Gale and Lisa's fenced backyard.  He was in his element being able to run, we saw a side of him we hadn't yet.  He did try to get under the fence a time or two, he's a natural hunter always looking for birds, squirrels etc...  Art enjoyed watching him be a dog.

Speaking of this guy, here's another pic for you Aunt Rita.  I've found that dogs are alot like toddlers in trying to get a good picture.  You never know what you are going to get.  Luckily he posed :).

I like this one personally.

Do we own a dog?  We couldn't ask for a better one.  He's growing on me. I knew this might happen one day, ONE DAY. 

Today we walked the small dog aisle at Home Goods, looking for a bed for this guy.  Found it for $16.99!  SCORE! Petsmart $50-70, Walmart $40.  See why I said score.  Owning a pet, getting it set up involves alot of moula!  I found some new toys for him too, he's already chewed through two squeakers. 

Grace trying to entice Truman to chase the toy.

Sarah singing her Truman song.  It goes something like this,

"He is our dog.

His name is Truman.

He loves to chase toys.

He is a good boy.

He gets on the couch.

Daddy says no.

He likes to be pet."

I think we own a dog.

on my desktop this week

warming up

Sarah has been apprehensive on having a dog. 

With each new day she is getting closer.

This morning she giggled, she was petting him with her foot from the breakfast table.

He loved it, this dog loves affection.

She's taking her time, taking baby steps.

dress up

The girls love playing dress up wtih my clothes.

The first hot (as in red)  little number Grace is wearing I actually wore in high school.  My Mom made it, I can't part with it, probably never will.  Same goes for anything made by my grandmothers :).

The second hot (as in red) little number Sarah is wearing is something I purchased recently.  Don't you love the Christmas scarf as an accent?

Fun stuff that is keeping us indoors and cool.

proud owner

of one of these....

I need every perk they can give me, they are EXPENSIVE!!

My life is now complete with this in my wallet :).
{that's sarcasm if you couldn't tell}

7-15-09

Last year at this time I was getting ready to send Grace off to Kindergarten.

I'm enjoying looking back at my picture of the day.

This was especially a sweet entry because a friend saw a need and filled it with Dr. Pepper, a scrapbooking magazine and most importantly, LOVE.

meet truman

Meet the latest member of our family, Truman.  He is a 2 year old Brittany Spaniel.  Needless to say Grace is thrilled to have him around.  We are in a probation period with him for thirty days to see if we all fit together.  So far he's been easy going.  He's affectionate, somewhat shy, quiet, obedient and sweet.  He doesn't leave mine or Art's side.  In fact this morning I had to distract him as Art left for work.  Truman went to the front room, watched Art drive away and then sat by the door, waiting for him to return.  Breakfast and two excited girls soon distracted him from his master leaving.  Boys stick together I guess and Art is thrilled to have another male in the house :).

nature & art

We are talking about nature this week in our home studies.  We had some fun painting yesterday where we took from nature and used it to create some fun works of art.

martha speaks

The girls and I love this show.  If you get a chance to check it out we have it here on our local PBS station.  Martha cracks us up and is probably one of the biggest reasons why Grace wants a dog, named Martha of course :).

new favorites from traders

I picked these up this week from Trader Joes. 

They are new summer favorites for Art and I. 

I've even mixed the two, yum-o.

on my desktop this week and nature

After planting a hydrangea bush two and half years ago in the backyard we are FINALLY seeing the beauty that they are.  I was so excited to see these blooming I brought three of the branches in.  These beauties or this picture is my desktop photo of the week.

This I added for good measure.  My girls made these vases (disposable cups & craft sticks) so they could bring some nature into the house this week.  They helped me pick out their roses.  They are very proud.

follow up to blueberry oat cake

Okay Ellen, what do you think?

Looks good doesn't it.

Smells marvelous and I used your Penzy spices!

I'll have to let you know how it tastes tomorrow.

I'm taking it to share with friends.

I even have a little blueberry syrup from the Amish store I thought I could drizzle over it.

Blueberry heaven in a pan {or at least I hope}.

:P-- {I'm salivating}

** see recipe on 7.7.09**

july 9, 2009

I have a goal for July.  To get my Project 365 from 2009 done.  Basically it is documenting my year in pictures, one picture each day.  I started it off with excitement and was keeping track of it until I broke my foot.  After that it came to a screeching halt although I did continue to take pictures, documenting and printing them never got done.  Until now. 

This is my entry for July 9th, 2009. 

My Grandma Grace on her wedding day.  Isn't she pretty, simple yet classic dress.  Love that.

I'm glad to be going through these and not just to say I'm done with them.  It's like any scrapbook, it's a reflection of the past, great memories to relive, things that were tough that God had his hands on, hardships then, blessings now.  I love scrapbooking for these reasons.

national blueberry month

I read that July is National Blueberries Month. 

The local orchards around us are busting with the blue beauties right now.

It got me in the mood to try something new.

Give it a try.

Blueberyy Oat Cake

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup granulated sugar

6 ounces vanilla fat-free yogurt, about 2/3 cup

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup milk

2 large eggs

cinnamon sugar for topping, optional

Preparation:

Heat oven to 325°. Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.

Combine the blueberries with flour, oats, baking powder, salt, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 cup granulated sugar.

In another bowl, whisk yogurt with lemon juice; whisk in the milk and eggs. Pour yogurt mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until blended. Spoon into the prepared pan; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture (about 3 teaspoons sugar to 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.). Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

4th weekend

We had a good weekend enjoying our independence.  We did alot of the same things you may have done.

Art's favorites:

Barbecued Hamburgers

Fishing

Date night with the wifester

Grace's favorites:

Swimming with friends

Smoke bombs!

Maggie (friends dog)

Sarah's favorites:

Sparklers!

Swimming with friends

Kelsey making waves in the pool

Ny's favorites:

Family and friends

Date night with the hubster

Asian Cole Slaw {Yum!}

kelsey toes

Art and I had a date night Saturday night to celebrate our 19th.

Kelsey came over to watch the girls.

She brought her nail polish.

Aren't these cute tootsies?

They had a great time, didn't even miss us.

The big toe got left out of the cuteness since I rolled over it with the Wal-Mart cart, yes I know I get the Mother of the Year award for that one. 

pop!

I enjoy reading this blog.  Becky is creative in so many ways, I latched onto her through scrapbooking.  Recently she has been blogging about the wonderful use of spray paint (scroll through June & check these out) taking it and adding "pops" of color in her home and doing it inexpensively.  I loved the look she had achieved but was a little scared to try it on my own.  After some visualizing and convincing Art agreed to let me  follow suit and yesterday I sat some time aside to create my own "pops!"  I purchased one can of spray paint in a smokey blue.  The color came from a piece I have hanging in my dining room so I jumped in.  These pieces were dark, either brown or black making these dramatic changes to me.  Tell me what you think?  Did I pop?

{the paint i used from Lowes}