What's in your rear view mirror?

Mine holds a lot of wonderful holiday memories shared with family & friends.

I feel blessed to have so many good things happening in my life. 

My knee's are healing and I will soon be back to making bags! . . .in the mean time I'm sure there's something creative to keep me busy.

Early Mornings

Early mornings and a beautiful view.

Our 1st snow for the season.

Let's hope for more sunny mornings & Mother Nature to be kind. 

 I enjoyed an afternoon of friends yesterday. Three year olds have so much energy, but we managed to get a few cards made. It was nice to have someone to share crafty ideas with too!

What happened to my simple joys?

What happened to my simple joys?
How did I come this far down my path without looking back? Okay, so I'm still learning that when life trips you and you come tumbling down (in my case literally) that you should actually stop what you're doing and turn around to see what made you fall in the first place.
I've been hit with some serious stress in a short amount of time. Most days it feels like a truck running me over would do just the same. It seems I have finally hit my limit and I want to purge all of it, all at once, and just dump it and leave it. It's not going to happen...with every life experience we take with us what we need to keep on going. I've grabbed my crutches and I've been wandering aimlessly, until today. That wonderful thing that happens when you're ready for the next door to open.
My steps today are being redirected back into my inspirational path. It's all in a choice. I am choosing no more stress and a whole lot of purging feelings, opinions and random thoughts. I'm full thanks, let me write my book I'll get back to ya ;)
 Dealing with someone else's anger for such a long time, has made me wonder what does it take to make it stop? Life should be growing and learning and as parents we are obligated to help our children with these things too. I'm not saying every experience should be a wonderful one, but why hold onto all the one's that make you feel this way? I try to let things go. As Matt said today..just put it on the shelf. What?! Clearly we're not seeing eye to eye on this.
I keep asking for guidance & serenity and when I least expect it, in walks inspiration. How Amusing!

I'm letting go of all my stress today. Bring on the inspiration & turn the music up LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

11-11-11

and a Happy Birthday Wish for my Dad. 

May you have many more!

In my week of not feeling so good. I forced myself to actually rest, well my mind just won't cooperate with that idea. I had to find something for my hands to keep busy with. This is what came of it...

Crochet Dish Cloths

Earth Tone, Oasis, Violet Stripes, Ombre, Energize

hand made by Adrienne & Aunt Gloria

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.~Norman MacEwan

Lil Fabric Flowers

The little fabric flower was last weekend's project. One of those last minute ideas that just pops into your head and you have to do it. The flowers are hand sewn with mini doilies in the center. The ribbon is sewn onto the back of the flower making it easy to wrap gifts. It comes with a gift tag too. All you need is tissue paper, or if you're like me, use a piece of fabric to wrap your gifts. Earth friendly and you can re-gift it again and again!

They would also look cute tied in a ponytail or attached to a barrette.

just creating

rain, rain go away..

What is there to do on a cold, rainy day? 

Enjoy it indoors with some Vanilla Biscotti Coffee, fabric leaves, buttons, some thread, a sewing needle, some ribbon, and a very sleepy pup.

A woodland in full color is awesome as a forest fire, 

in magnitude at least, 

but a single tree is like a dancing tongue of flame to warm the heart.  

~Hal Borland

14 years!

Hand made thank you card

~.~

Celebrated 14 years of marriage

~.~

Drawn by Nate with rose petals

~.~

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

~Juliet

A trip to the zoo!

Weekend Adventures

I've had this urge to go on a road trip for awhile now. We woke up Saturday with our youngest kiddo's and drove 2 hours to explore Turkey Run and their Nature Center. It was definitely a beautiful day for it!

The boys decided we have to go back! They want to walk all of the trails.
~.~

Calvin and Connor received certificates of achievement at the 7th Annual Smith-Cotton High School JROTC Raider Challenge in Missouri.

Good Morning Inspiration!

Another weekend of fun! Blueberry muffins, garage sale, Douglas-Hart Nature Center, McDonald's, monkeys at the park, praying mantis near the porch, nearly not enough sleep!

Thank you Clint & Cori for spending the day with us!

I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.

~Thomas A. Edison

A wink of approval

 Another beautiful sky and the last of the sunflowers. 

The hungry squirrels on our block have taken down all the rest. They were kind enough to leave me with a mess of flower parts scattered on the porch and a broken sun catcher to repair. Most of the plants still in pots are now taking over my kitchen counter, since the weather changed again. I wonder if the tomato plant will reach the ceiling?

We enjoyed 3 Open Houses this year! Nate was showing off his paper about how to not be a rock star. While Korbin showed us what he drew on the hand made rock wall that hangs in his hallway at school. 

~.~

 New Hand Crafted Cards 

are now available at

http://raindropbags.yolasite.com/

This groovy lil purse will soon be for sale. There is a pocket inside (so you'll know where your keys are), hand sewn glass beads on the front and I will be adding a snap closure for a finished look.

 ...and of course before the last project is finished, I have ideas for the next fall inspired bag.

 

"Winter is an etching, Spring a watercolor, Summer is an oil painting and Autumn is a mosaic of them all."~Stanley Horowitz