A Jolly Old Soul

Arielle went to visit the man in the big green chair sitting in front of JCPenney's at the mall on Dec. 12. She really took to him this year. She didn't want much to do with the man from last year. She talked this dude's head off. He was a really jolly old soul.

Merry & Bright?

Took the kids to see Chicken Little today. It was Arielle's first time in the movie theater and she was wonderful. We picked up some Santa hats (didn't want to climb in the attic and look for last years...) Just playing around with doing indoor photo shoots with a backdrop. I hate the lighting and shadows. *sigh* It's not even December yet, and it's WARM here, so it's hard to think about Christmas! I wanted to do a family shoot, but Jeff had to work late - so I just played with Arielle. Jasmine joined in on the fun towards the end.

Louisiana Thanksgiving

It was a nice Louisiana Thanksgiving. A nice, warm (not hot), sunny day in the country at Jeff's brothers house. Arielle played with her younger cousins, and Daniel enjoyed the riding the 4-wheeler - even taking Mom for a ride. I took lots of photos and enjoyed watching the kids play. We even gathered on the huge front porch steps for a family gathering photo.

Next door is a stable with HORSES! We took the younger kids down for a visit.

Blah Blah Blah

I only blog when I have something to blog about... Hmmm... lets see... Oh - I thought of something. (he he). I won a random drawing at Scrapbook Resumes last week. They are celebrating their anniversary and giving away prizes daily! One of my prizes is a P3 paper organizer and it should arrive today! I can't wait. The whole prize package has a retail value of $150!

I did have an interesting phone call this morning from New York. It was from the secretary of a previous art collector - a collector of my SON'S art work, that is. When the 9-11 events happened, Daniel participated in the 9-11 charity art auctions on ebay. One of his collectors was extremely moved by his participation. When Katrina hit Louisiana, he was concerned about us and mailed Daniel a letter. The letter was returned because our address changed - so they tracked us down and phoned us. They are resending the letter. I wonder what it says. Anyway - you can view the art at this link http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtMagazine/za_109.htm

Speaking of art, I'm going to get to work on some new pieces and some commissions soon. I'm going to have to put up my scrapbook projects for several days. I love doing both but the transition for one medium of creating to the other is the tough part.

Heart Smart Potato?

My dad sent me a photo of something he dug up in his potato garden. He calls it his heart-smart potato. What else can I say?

Dad, you have a true green thumb.

Kids and their honesty

or curiosity. How do you teach a 3 1/2 year old outgoing young lady that it is NOT appropriate to tell an older gentleman that he has a big tummy? And that its not polite to tell him he has a baby in his tummy?

Oh, the joys of my delightfully verbal joy bundle.

Pa pa pa pa PUMKINS!!

Ever since we rode by last week I have heard nothing but "Are we going to the pumpkin patch? Are we going to the pumpkin patch?" from my eager little miss. Well, we took our first of hopefully many trips to the "pumpkin patch" today right after church. I love to get lots of family pics. We don't ever make it a point to get pics of the family together except at Christmas - so going to the patch is another excuse to play around with photos. The weather cooled off AGAIN (we had upper 90's again last week) so we could go without sweating. Now I have something new to put in my scrapbooks. I'm sure we'll be back SOON since somebody won't let me forget that the patch is open. Have a great day!

What????

So hubby was off work and wanted to go to the grocery store. I hopped on the motorcycle and he got on back. (wow - he let me drive?)He didn't want me to get on the interstate so I went through town. When we got home - I came to my computer desk in my scrapbook room and OH MY GOSH! My desk was cleaned off and what was missing?? My camera.. my scanner and my printer. WE HAD BEEN ROBBED! How in the ????. I opened up my supply closet to see what else they made off with. Hanging on the inside of the door was a Nikon camera bag. Hmmm. I don't have a Nikon. Then it hit me! My parents were in on this. My birthday was a few days away - and YES! They not only bought me a Nikon digicam - but a new printer! OH BOY! Mom couldn't help but clean off the clutter from my desk. Dad was mad that I 'figured' it out. He came out of hiding and asked why I opened the closet door. Duh - dad. I thought I was robbed.

So as we were hooking up all the new gadgets - I spied a HUGE flatbed scanner. My sister quickly pointed out that they didn't bring that - that was hubby's doing. I almost cried then. No more stitching my 12x12 pages together. WOW! I can't believe this. How did he know? Which one of my scrapper friends did he talk to?

Then I did cry. I woke up.
Oh well, a girl can dream.
Have a great day!
P.S. We don't have a motorcycle. : - )

I think Fall finally made it to the South

Welcome Fall! I think Fall has finally made it to the south. I opened up the door a few days ago and AAGHH - cool air. My dog is even insisting on sitting outside IN THE SUN to get warm. Don't get me wrong - we still need the A/C going but it was cool enough for hubby to trim bushes without sweating in the evening. Fall reminds me of bon fires with roasted weiners and marshmallows. I'm strange - I love my marshmellows nice and toasted - even scorched (dare I say burnt?). When we were younger - I remember having the largest bonfire ever. Dad had all the pinetrees cut from the front yard and that was the fuel for the fire. We even have photos of it (somewhere?). I love seeing harvest decorations in people's yards when you drive by (reminder... have hubby go to attic for fall wreath..) It's like fall is the "yellow light"... it means slow down and take a breather. Afterall, Thanksgiving is right around the corner - time to be t-h-a-n-k-f-u-l - especially after so many have suffered so much of a loss with the recent storms.

Another storm?

I can't believe it. I don't think anyone really can. Another HUGE massive hurricane heading toward the gulf. I hope and pray everyone gets out. Please get out. Don't chance it. This thing is huge. We are in NE louisiana - so we aren't going to get the worst of it, but it could still pass over us. The projected path is below. We are to the left of where the "S" is in the word SUN AM. If it turns just a bit east - Rita will be visiting us.

The weird walking stick bug

Okay - so I never thought I wanted to blog. Do I have the time? What do I write about? Would it be interesting enough? Bla bla bla... So today my dachshund, Jasmine (Jazz for short - no pun intended for a long dog) kept wanting in and out and in out. She usually does NOT like to go outside by herself. We even have to stand on the patio for her to do her doggie thing. She's such a weinie (again - no pun intended). So yesterday I thought she saw a lizard on the patio. I don't ever "show" her lizards because the times that I did, well, they didn't have a very long life span after that. So outside over and over I let her go. Then she started barking - very intensely - hmmm... wondered what it was? I looked and she was in attack position against - a "weird stick bug". It was a praying mantis. Not a walking stick - a full - fledged praying mantis. I think this bug must have been the "high priest" of the area - he was rared up with his "hands" up trying to claw at Jasmine, and he had a set of wings all flared out behind him. It was the weirdest thing I have ever seen of this nature. I told my daughter to come and see the "weird stick bug" trying to attack Jasmine. I didn't even take a photo - I didn't want to interfere with what I was watching. Jasmine tried to bite at this poor weird thing - then I felt sorry for it. As "big" as he thought he was - and in the bug world I'm sure he was hot stuff, he was nothing compared to my vicious attack dog. (snicker). I told her what a good dog she was in defending her family from the weird stick bug and that I would give her a milk bone if she came in. She agreed to that and came in. I stood by the door and watched this rather freaky looking insect make its way back to safety to the grass in the backyard. I wonder if he has nightmares about being attached by the "weird long canine".