Hands of Love

This a photo I took on Saturday at the birthday party. Every once in a while you get that million dollar shot and this is one of them.The hands belong to my friend Renee and the little cutie is her great niece Abby. As you noticed I title the photo Hands of Love and that is for many reasons. As I told Renee last night when I gave her the picture sometimes pictures need a little explaining and this is one of them so that you get the whole meaning of it. The hands in this picture are attached to one of the most LOVING people you will ever meet. The loving look on Abby's face is saying to her Aunt Nene I know you love me more than I can understand at 3 or probably ever will. I am so blessed to have them both in my life.

Spring has Sprung

Well, last night as I was sitting and working on the computer all of a sudden I hear someone knocking at the door. Well when I get there and peek out what do I see. It sure was not anyone but instead this brandy sniffer full of the wonderful Daffodils. (As today I found out that the culprit had parked on the street and ran back there before I could get to the door)It took me a few moments, but I figured out who let them. Yes my WONDERFUL friend Renee. Once again I am remind to live in the moment and not in the PAST or FUTURE. This is one of those gifts that keep on giving. Tonight when I walked into the house tonight after work it was filled with the smell of these wonderful flowers,

Through My Daughters Eyes

Yes it is Spring Break Week here in the south. Since the boss is out of town I can't take the whole week off but I did take some time yesterday to go with Stephenie, Emily and Nathalie to do one of their favorite things. SHOP!! They all went to the zoo for a few hours until I could get out of the office. After the nightmare of trying to get them picked at the zoo. You would have thought that they were giving the animals for free with all the traffic there. We took the new car for a mini road trip to the Factory Outlet Mall in Tunica, MS. Since they shut ours down in Lakeland. So I had a great trip with the windows down and listening to the music, as all my passengers in the car were asleep. Boy they came to life when I mentioned food, so after a little snack we hit the stores. We had a dual mission today. The first being to find the girls some great looking clothes for the summer and yes that included several pairs of flip flops in a variety of colors. When you shop with these 3 we all must go into the same dressing room as we all need to see how the clothes fit. Since they will be passed around the group. Now on to the second part of the mission to get Mom some cute clothes. This is where through my daughters eyes comes in to play. As I am trying on clothes and look in the mirror I see a fat, middle age, very unattractive person with clothes that are cute. As my WONDERFUL, SWEET daughter says "Mom hush you are cute, pretty and not fat". So after I try and hold back the tears. I am thinking why can't I see ME as she sees ME. I love that kid.

BTW-She and the girls did do a good job on getting me cute clothes!

Dave's Visit

This is my friend Dave Kemp from Portland, OR. He runs DST which is our software provider for most of the Johnstones. So when the regional meeting was held in Memphis this past week I was able to show him around a bit. Not to mention that I got a day out of the office to enjoy a wonderful spring like day. Well when most people come to Memphis you show them the usual, Graceland, Beale ST, Gibson Guitar, Fed Ex Forum, Mississippi River, etc.... Well I decided to do a little something different for Dave, he is really not that kind of guy. He and his wife have the most precious and wonderful English Springer Spaniels that they show and raise. (You can see his dogs(should I say second set of children here)here. So I took is upon myself to take him somewhere that would mean more to him. So off to the National Bird Dog Museum. It only takes about an hour to get there. It was worth the drive. When we got there one of the first things we saw was a bronze statue that the artist did 300 smaller replicas and Dave got on of the first one made. So I got his picture by it. Clue number one that I made a good choice. Then once we got inside he saw the picture of the lady that sold him his first dog and saw some of the ancestors of his dogs that have won the field trails. He also got to see some of the country side of the South and in this region of the south there is a lot of history about the Civil War so along the way I filled him in on some of it. We went through Lagrange Tn and Ame's Plantation. He did get to see some of the local sites in Memphis too. We had ribs at the Rendezvous,(Thanks Dave) Beale Street, Fed Ex Forum, Gibson Guitar (someday I will have to hear you play) and some of Main St. Well, I didn't have to show him the Peabody has there is where the meetings were be held and they were staying there.

Discovery of my Niece

This is Katalina an AWESOME soccer player! She has been playing competitive soccer for over 2 years now. I am sorry to say that this is the first time I seen her play. Now that I am back in charge of what I do I went to see her on Saturday for the first time. It was so cold, but at least the rain held off until the end of the game. That I might add they won!!!! I felt so sorry for the girls standing out there on the field in shorts and all of us sitting on the sidelines in coats, covered with blankets and drinking hot beverages.

This is how I saw her most of the game running and man can she run. I am sure that is way she stays so small. After running this whole game she only ate a pbj sandwich. MMMMMMM maybe I should take up soccer for seniors and maybe I could lose all my weight. On the other hand I think I will stay with walking.

Not only did I discover that she is an awesome soccer player but that she is turning into a wonderful young lady. She has a heart full of love and smile that shines for miles.Especially now that she had braces taken off last week. She has a natural beauty that girls and women alike would die for. Discovering how wonderful this blessing from God made my weekend.

I see soccer being added to my spring time schedule. Watching her was great fun, but also taking photos of her and her team was lets say was another discovery that I made this weekend. I have spent years wanting to learn how to take photos and be one of those photo hounds that always has their camera with them. Taking snap shots of life as it pass by way too fast.

This was a weekend of moments. I even slowed down and noticed them. I went to a soccer game, lunch with great friends, shopping with another friend, created a couple of art pieces, got hugs from friends that I haven't seen in a while, (yes I love hugs), spent time with my sister, attend Sophia's birthday party, laughed and spent time with my wonderful daughter. AHHHHH the everyday MOMENTS!

Carol's Birthday Present

This piece I did for my friend Carol for her birthday. I was a little late getting it to her with all the things going on at work and having to ship it to the otherside of the US. I did think of her on her Special Day and let her know that I was thinking for her and my other friend Kathleen that shares the same birthday. I sent Kathleen a piece as well with trying to get it to her I didn't get a picture, but it turned out really cool too. I saw this saying and though of Carol and so the process began. I did a background in red(her favorite color and mine too), added some flourishes, RockCandy Studios and you got the finish project.

HAPPY BIRTDAY TO ME!

I slept in late 6:30 am that is. I got up and took myself to breakfast. Read a little and enjoyed a couple cups of tea and breakfast. Went back home for a long hot bubble bath which is such a pleasure and treat. Especially this time of year for me. But since I took the day from work I indulged. Went by the post office box and found a card from my DST buddies with a great happy. I also checked the my emails. had many warm wishes and ecards.

Okay I was going to spend the whole day by myself but who could resist this great smile and wonderful daughter. As it was raining, she couldn't go do what she wanted and under that great smile her teeth were killing her(she just had a orthodontist appointment on Friday and had a ton done to her braces). I invited her to hang out with her old Mom. Of course her take on it was: it's your birthday and I need to drive you and keep you company and there is food and you are buying. So off we went to Collierville a small town about 30 minutes away with a great town square, one of a kind shops and great family owned restaurants that serve food other than burgers and GREAT service. Found a couple of little treasures. Yes I have a problem with spending money on myself.

This is where we had lunch at the Silver Caboose. I really enjoy eating here. The atmosphere is relaxing and very enjoyable. Yes I had great company. I do love having time to just talk with Stephenie. She is so funny and full of life. I like to hear the stories of what is going on in her life. Which just makes me realize that not has much as changed everyone thinks. I am very blessed with a wonderful daughter. Then went to a couple of shops in Arlington to look and I did get a small piece of pottery that matched a tray that I got for Christmas of course Stephenie a treat as she calls it. My friends Renee, Steffen and I went to Macaroni Grill for dinner. Lets just say that the service was not there but the great conversation and friendship was. Steffen got me a really cool set of drill bits and a ratching screw set. I just love my handy woman tools. We had a great time just talking and getting caught up. Then is was to home and bed. Got to work on Sunday, but my birthday was all mine.

Well the birthday treats did start out on Friday. One of my co-workers took me to lunch and had them bring me a piece of cake with a candle. NO SINGING! I am not the one to have the whole restaurant to be looking at me. Then I got a cheese cake and necklace from a couple of my other co-workers. The biggest surprise was the tool box with my name on it and all the tools inside. My god-sister Christy, husband Nathan and Taylor, Samuel and Caleb(which shares my birthday) brought me by the office on Friday. I do know that it is very weird to hear a woman get excited about tools but I do know how to use them and will. My Mom, Susan(sister) and I went out to eat on Friday and had great time just talking uninterrupted.

This is picture of how I would really like to celebrate my birthday. Yes I know it is snow. It is on the list to just go and play in the great white stuff, drink warm drinks by a big fire and relax. You must have dreams! Thanks Lisa S for the great picture of your back yard!

Best Ever Hostess Gift and other Updates

I always like to give someone a little happy when they are nice enough to open up their home. So yesterday since I was the hostess to our stamp club I got a few nice little happies. Well this I must say this was the COOLEST hostess gift EVER. My friend Shelly H gave me a WHOLE dozen of FRESH, GREEN eggs from her chickens.

Here is a shot of them all in their glory. Yes I am a little nuts about these but they just bring back such great memories from my childhood. To think that she shared them with me..a whole dozen of them:D

One last shot. Shelly has some really great shots on her blog of these great eggs, chicken stories and great artwork. THANKS for sharing with me Shelly.

Boy where has December gone. I can't believe that it is all ready the 14th. Still so much to do before Christmas Day and the EOY. Sorry it has been so long since the last update. I went to San Antonio on the 5th and came me on the 7th. While in San Antonio came down with the crud. Which I really didn't need. As I had a party yesterday for my stamp club, gifts to finish, cards to make, work to do....as everyone else this time of year with a 1000 things to do and all you want is to take time and REALLY ENJOY the SEASON(like we should).

The party yesterday was a great success. Everyone brought great food to share. The weather was great. It was really fun opening my house for others to share. It is so funny how we spend so much time doing things to and in our homes to make them nice and never open them up to others to enjoy. I think of my home has a great big piece of art and that I need to start sharing it with others. I am not saying that it is a master piece but it is a reflection of me. Well I have got to get going on that list of many things to complete today. Thanks goodness for a great night of sleep and feeling like a human again.

Stampers Day Out and Other Great Things

OMG!! Have you every just walked in a place and saw something that you just had to have. Well after the day of fun with my stamp friends. I stopped by a friend's great little shop in Arlington to just say HI! As I was looking around this AWESOME dress form said you need and want me. She was so right. I have seen many dress forms, but this is one was so very unique one. It still had the original tag on it. So now where to place it in the house.
Well as you can see from the picture of all my goodies that the day was a GREAT. There is the collage piece that we did. I really don't like mine, as I and my own worst critic. But hey looking at here it's not half bad. Front and center is the one of the newest Oxford Impressions Halloween stamp set. Just look at all the great images. I can't wait to cut them out and slap a little ink on them. Next see the great set of jewelry that my friend Ronnie made. Now if I can just keep it off Stephenie. I will enjoy wearing it. Cyndi had awesome jewelry that she and her Mom made to help support a village in Africa. Shelley was selling great finds. I got two different sizes of test tube, a piece of a vintage measuring tape and some cool picture dictionary pages. So has you can see it was a day of fun, food, art and friends.


Well, my Secret Stamper really made my day. I just love my happy from her. She gave me this cool pumpkin bucket with goodies in it. Halloween rub ons, ribbon, truffles and a pair of lips like we got back when I would have carried a bucket like the one above. Going door to door dressed up and saying "Trick or Treat"! What memories. Thanks SS!!!



Well a quick run down on the days advents at SDO. Today was Stampers Day Out which is our stamp clubs annual day of hanging out with the girls and doing art. We had 4 GREAT projects this year. I started off the day teaching a Michelle Zindorf technique, was followed by Cyndi teaching and instructing us a making a set of tumbled marble coaster, lunch(yes we have a great batch of cooks), Robyn started off the afternoon session with an awesome 6x6 canvas college piece and then to finish off the day Shelley lead us in making a grunge metal necklace and the really neat and relaxing bandanna technique. What a fun filled day. So now off to bed.

Big 3

Well, here is a few pictures from the big 3 party today. We had a blast at Ms Abby's birthday. All of us kids enjoyed the slide. We had food, fun, presents and a plain old good time. The weather was great it is really starting to feel like FALL in the south. Let's just hope is stays this way.

AO Show in St Charles IL

Okay I promised pictures from St Charles from last weekend. I must thank Robyn and Shelley for letting me share in the AWESOME experience with them. I got to meet and work with Gerrie and Lisa who are also on the AO design team. It was a great pleasure getting to meet and know them in person. It was so wonderful to see how people took to Artistic Outpost and RockyCandy Studios. I just love seeing that other people are excited about the great products that my friends have to offer. Well, over all the show was great as we had champagne to celebrate on Sunday for a great success. Thanks to all who have let me join in on your little adventures.

CHI-TOWN HERE WE COME

Today Robyn and I leave for Chicago to sell Artistic Outpost and RockCandy Studios' awesome wares. I am so looking to the cooler weather and a change of scenery. I am so lucky to get to help promote two awesome companies and GREAT FRIENDS. So be watching the blog for pictures of this great advent and I am sure some wonderful sites. We will have some time to look around and see a few sites. Yeah I heard that the CUBS are even in town, that is if we know about 2 years ago that we were going we could have gotten tickets.


MORE TO COME!!!!!!!!!!!

Art and Downtown

Well, tonight was the big night out with the girls to go downtown for ART.Cyndi and her husband Bob, Suzanne and myself were the only ones that braved it. Roxi was all ready to go until she became a little under the weather. It was defiantly worth it. The vibe was so ARTIE. There were many galleries open and each had a it's own type of ART. There was ART for everyone. The one thing that was for sure is that it was great inspiration all around. Of course while sitting at work to day it dawned on that I forgot to take my camera, that was defiantly a bummer. We looked at ART, walked down S Main, had dinner at the oldest restaurant in Memphis the Arcade, looked at more ART and then went home. I must say that the mojo can back alive tonight and many ideals are rolling around in the old mind. Thanks ladies and Bob for a great night of ART, chatting and fun.