Where oh where do the hours, and minutes go?  Since I began my year with a full curriculum for beginning homeschool with a toddler...all I can say is WOW....How do teachers do it??  Seriously.  How do they plan a day, get it done and then go home from school only to return for after school activities?  Whew....I'm pooped!

I'm go from being so overwhelmed with, "Am I doing it right?" to looking at this precious child and knowing I'm instilling in her habits for her future (I HOPE!)  

One day...if it all goes good maybe I can homeschool all my granddaughters.  

Since I really haven't posted anything since Halloween, I think I'll use my planning day next week to catch up here...or maybe not.  lol   We certainly celebrated Halloween in a way I've never celebrated before.  It's always been Fall Festivals and a little trick or treating at the mall and neighbors.  It was nice helping start a new family tradition with my daughter and her family. 

We later celebrated Thanksgiving at my Mothers~  

Celebrated my granddaughters 4th birthday with a Hello Kitty Theme~

Enjoyed a wonderful evening with family at the now yearly Dirty Santa Extravaganza at my Dads~

Had Christmas with my children and grandchildren in my little humble home~

Mourned and Celebrated the moving out of my youngest son Bret~

Created a classroom almost immediately to fill the void~

Began our year homeschooling (can you call it that if they aren't even 2 yet?)

Underwent spinal revision surgery with 3 weeks left in healing~

and 

still

Going through Empty Nest Syndrome all over again~

but

ALL IS GOOD!!

We're alive and breathing!

It's actually 12:12am ~ it's Saturday morning ~ I can't sleep

so....I'm sharing with you some of what Miss Jersey and I 

have been doing in the Art department this last week while recovering.  

this was made from a frame that had broken glass....

We  simply laid down the seaglass and began gluing!

Pretty Stunning for my "Beach Bathroom" if I say so myself...now

if I can just figure out how to make the floor feel like real sand!!!

This is with paint samples from Home Depot.  

Nothing big....

Since Jersey is not quite 2 yet I positioned them and she "glued them"  

After we snatched a circle shape from the wall border (see below) I let her go to town glazing this

with Elmers glue.  I normally use Mod Podge but the scent is so strong I just didn't feel 

comfortable using it around her...as anyone else noticed that? It doesn't say Non-toxic either on the label...so...

Sorry Mod Podge you're my "go to glue" but I gotta keep the little one safe!

Next is our playroom wall border:

Miss Jersey actually did this herself.  These foam shapes were the left-over cut outs from some

Christmas decorations and I'd been using them to teach Jersey her shapes/colors.  Well....with a little re-positional tape on the back she can move them all day!!  Never fails, as soon as she walks in the room the first thing she does is hit Norah Jones on the CD player and start moving her border!  

Funny Girl! 

She loves Norah Jones music too!

We were able to get most of Zoey's trunk done....I absolutely love the way her top 

turned out!!  There's a small chipboard elephant the scrapbook store ordered that 

will be at the bottom of her Y to make it look more centered.  Once it's in 

place it's 100% complete!

I could make these all day long!!  So bring on the trunks!!

I've made over 75 new sets of earrings.  Whew...that was all in about 2 nights and 

6-7 hours each night on my booty...boy was it numb when I tried to get up and walk. lol

Even made 20 pairs for a recent wedding along with the brides bracelet and gifts

for each of the wedding party!  Loved doing that!  Bottom white pearls are some 

I made for the them.  They were such a hit!!  

Now my earrings will be selling at the Merle Norman Day Spa in Smyrna, TN effective

next week!!  Yippee to Meee!!!  

and finally.....

my biggest news of all....

FLICK...we have changed your name to SPECK and 

I had a publishing company send me back a second email requesting additional outlines, 

character studies and more illustrations!!!!

COULD IT FINALLY BE COMING TRUE???????

One day....

one day......

I CLAIM THAT I WILL BE SIGNING COPIES OF MY BOOK IN THE SAME

BOOKSTORE THAT I RECEIVED Mike Huckabees during his 2009 book tour in Palm Beach Gardens, FL!  okay...to some of you that may be crazy or weird...but...it's my dream.  Besides, if you

haven't read this sweet book he wrote...you should!

Goodnite sweet friends!

again...I'm soooo behind!  When will this organized side of me catch up?  

I am going to learn to say "No" this year. 

 right......

On a higher note I just learned tonight that the artist, Darren McGrath painted one of my barn photos.  This same photo may be chosen in a local contest for a calandar!  Exciting!  Yall know how much I love shooting barns!  How thrilled I am!  

Here's the photo:  

and here is Darrens execution of it.  I think he did a remarkable job!!  

I would never be brave enough to choose a violet but he pulls it off in a brilliant manner here!!!

Thanks Darren!  

Keep your fingers crosses to see if it's chosen for the 2014 calandar!  

By the way....For those that don't believe in Santa...He does still exist!  

I received a call from an unblocked phone number telling me to proceed to the local Best Buy and tell them my name at the "customer pickup counter".   Now mind you...It's a wonder I didn't hang up the phone at first but I continued to listen.  My daughter and I were going Christmas shopping that night...what could it hurt?  So while she waited with the Jersey girl in the car I was asked to show my I.D.  (This is when I thought, yeahhh..now they're gonna ask for a credit card or a payment of some sort)  However...she said I have one problem, "We don't have the tripod in stock that you are suppose to be picking up".  Thinking that I'm correcting her I said, "No, it's a camera.?!"  it came out sounding more like a question than a statement.  That's when she said, "Oh, We have the camera right here."  My mouth fell open and I know I gasped!   She looked at me like I with concern and said, "Is this one okay?"   ...........Okay?  OKAY?  I just wanted to know the catch and where the cameras were hiding to catch me when I fell for this trick!!  The young girl stepped away for a few moments when the manager came up and said, "We have a problem with your order.  Would you mind this 6' tripod instead of the 12"  one and we'll throw in a 16 Ultra SanDisk to make it right."  

I was seriously speechless

 as I walked out the door carrying my new Canon EOS T3i 

and accesories 

YES VIRGINIA, there really is a SANTA CLAUS!  

It only took a tiny bit of snooping to learn "WHO" Santa was

....they'll remain a secret as they wished....

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU! 

THANK YOU!

Really Reasonable Ribbon Card Creations

I know building my blog is going to take some time and while I have a few more subscribers than I do followers that's why I wanted to share with you this great giveaway over at Really Reasonable Ribbon .  Several of you, like myself, enjoy making cards and especially going to card parties.  Well...They are hosting a wonderful giveaway and also a great card challenge for the month of December!!  I've gotta find the time in the next couple of days to create something for this challenge!  My mind is already tossing around ideas! So hop on over to Really Reasonable Ribbons Ramblings    and enjoy all they have to offer!!  You'll also enjoy the fact that their site is very child friendly!  That means ten stars to me when I have one of the grands sitting beside me like now!  

He who has no Christmas

I'm in the creative mood!  Painting, sewing, ceramics....you name it the last three weeks have been full of arts & crafts!  Here's a quote I ran across last year and it stuck with me.  So...I decided to make it match the rich tones in my nativity setting and place it in a small frame next to it. 

 Feel free to share!

  Just right-click and save to your computer, then click to print.     

(Download the bottom one, it's the original size and doesn't have my stamp.) 

A photo-post from our 1st Annual Fall Festival! 

I've never planned a Halloween Party.  We just never "celebrated" it if you will.  The kids generally went "Trick or Treating" at the mall and to our immediate neighbors but going all out for Halloween just never happened. They never dressed like horror creatures and have never been allowed to watch anything like horror movies in our home nor bring such books into our home. 

 It was a conscious decision I made as a christian and as a mother.  

Why?  

Well...while in high school my younger sister was reading The History of the Tennessee Bell Witch for an English class.  She literally freaked out one night.  Thinking she was being followed, eyes were watching her, she slammed doors, screamed, kicked and cried while my friends and I watched feeling helpless. I had just attended a youth party at church with friends when we walked into the door and saw her actions.   It left a very lasting impression on me.  The fear in her face and in my step-mom's was terrible!!  Since then,  I have felt that celebrating Halloween just honored gore, horror, death and things in Satan's world.  I believe that many celebrate the life of Satan and it scares the crap out of me! It's a world I want nothing to do with.

  I will forever celebrate the life of Jesus Christ!

 So, 

When the kids first talked about a party I was eager to bake, cook and create.  I wouldn't however do anything grew-some, scary or freaky!   I don't put my personal beliefs aside for anyone or anything.  I learned years ago, "If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything!" 

 So....that being said....Pinterest here I come.  

Oh my goodness....YOU CAN HAVE A HALLOWEEN PARTY WITHOUT THE GORE!  

It can be fun! Fun for ALL ages!   

I really prayed that anything we did as strange as it seemed would be to bring joy to the kids and make the parents feel the "fellowship" of everyone being together.  I learned too that  no matter what someone believes...there is a chance for you to share God's blessings! 

I hope this makes some sense! 

Here's a look at some of the fun we had!   

We had the party in the garage which worked WONDERFUL!!  The wood burning stove added some warm heat for a night that turned out to be absolutely COLD and recording breaking!

We counted over 50+ in attendance an hour into the party!!  Whoopeee!! 

Around 7:00 we began playing the games and after the 4th game one mom said, "Oh My Goodness...this is amazing!  I feel like I'm at the county fair!"  This was just what we wanted!!  Not just a party where everyone lingers and chats..we wanted interaction!!  We got it!!  At 9:00 the kids still were still playing games one by one and crawling in the maze as the parents started dancing to the Monster Mash, The Macarena and YMCA!!  FUN!!!    

 Miss Bella in front of one of the many backdrops Jamie provided for photos!

 Brother and sister, Bret and Stephanie   

 Devin playing Balloon Pop and loving it!

 All ages made Foam Pumpkins!  

 Jason is such an adorable child!  He did great with Pin the Nose on Mr. Pumpkin

Jaxon and the Pinata.  Thankfully Mr. Lee was there and showed us the proper way to "hold" a pinata so it can be busted!  Who knew??  There are two strings to hang it...pay attention!!  

Miss Jaylen posing for one of many photos!  She was loving this!

Jersey won two rings playing the "Duck Pond"

 She did not like the popping sounds!  

 Wrap a juice box with gauze and you get a MUMMY!

 Pumpkin Poop.  By far the kids favorite snack of the evening!

Stickers, Stickers and names on pumpkins!

 all I can hear is that "bee song"  lol

Zoey loved the duck pond!

 Zoey is simply adorable and growing too fast!

Photo booth with Hello Kitty and Caillou!

Trying to capture a group shot was to say the least a challenge!  Hilarious!!  We're missing a few kids in every shot!  

 Alyssa was the Queen from "Once Upon a Time"  a new show on TV (?)

Alyssa does makeup/facials at Merle Norman Cosmetics as well as for weddings/photography settings

 Bret was a zombie and Tink was Lady Gaga.  Those shoes were crazy!!!!  I actually tried them on and  woah! I was at least 9" taller!! Tink also does makeup on the side! 

 Life long neighbors, Cynthia and her hubby Richard!

 Mrs Grace is a blessing!  She loved the maze along with Me and Larry!!  It was so much fun!

 Swing time!!

 I adore this photo of Carson and Peyton!  The backdrops were such a hit with everyone!

 Michael Jackson (oops that's Megan) Bret and Tink....see the shoes now!!!

 This is the front of my costume!!  Election 2012 Fun

 Sisters, silly silly sisters Jaylen and Riley!

 Amazing to me what I have learned to do in photoshop!

Zoey playing, "BOO!"

 Alyssa's 2nd place ribbon..her 2nd win for the night too!

 Loco Lockup Larry!  My oldest crazy child!  Thank you for making the dance floor come alive Mr Karoke!

One of the many crafts made by me and Stephanie!

I LOVE this shot inside the maze!!!

So here's the famous maze.  Jamie worked on it all day and it was sooooo worth all the hard work he put into it!!  He taped, taped and taped!!  It was actually VERY DARK inside the maze and we gave the kids little pumpkin lightup lanterns to carry with them!  From me, age 49 (the oldest) to the very youngest 18 months....everyone who went thru this enjoyed it!!  The kids just squealed with delight while they were inside it!  Great, Great Job Jamie!!

 I tried to capture a few photos from inside....of course the flash would go off so you can't see how dark it was.  It was fun!! Grace had a fit playing inside it!  See....it's the things that cost the least that bring much joy!!  

Fun with marshmallows and pumpkin decor!  

and finally....the winners of the costume contest:  

Originally our costume contest was to be voted on but several of the kiddos had left by 10pm and we had forgotten.....so Stephanie and I had a chat with Jaylen and she ultimately, unknowingly decided on all the winners!  It worked out great...one trophy for every family represented and that wasn't planned!  I thought it was sweet that she chose her little sister as the cutest!  awwww.....Riley was thrilled!!  

All photos are copyright protected and watermarked. 

 Feel free to share but link-back to my blog...Thanks!!

So there you have it....our 1st ever Halloween / Fall Festival.  It was a wonderful experience to participate in!  Our hope is that next year we merge some of our games and decorations with the Mt Juliet Cruise In Trunk or Treat.  

Who knows.....we may have started a tradition here for the granddaughters!!  

The main focus was family, friends and fellowship!!  We pulled it off!!