Winter Blast and Forced Labor

Time is really dragging for me.

But, today I feel fortunate that we got hit with a winter storm, and received a heavy dumping

of winter's last white.

The kids had a snow day, as school was called off,

so I immediately implemented child labor for drive-way clearing.

The boys did a great job, but Munchkie quickly abandoned her shovel.

She rolled in the snow, made snow angels, lost her boot and got her Hello-Kitty sock wet,

licked the basketball post, got yelled at,

...and continued to enjoy her snow-day.  It's the only real snow fall we've had

and she's felt left out this winter because she never had a chance to really play.

Is it okay to eat snowflakes like this, Mommy?

I was home today, too, so I was able to get a few photo shoots done 
as I had time for inspiration to occur.
Sometimes we all need a snow day.

Rack My Vintage Brain

Just when you think you're done with school...

your kids go to school....

...and once again you are learning about subject/verb agreement, predicates, 

linking verbs, etc, and trying to explain the grammatical rule

rather than go by what just sounds right.

It's exhausting when they don't get it

and you have to go over it

over and over

and

over.

Well, I'm a child when it comes to technology!

Thank you to all who emailed me about my Blogger technology/ photo editing issue.

There is always some new glitch that I can't seem to navigate on my own.

Can't they keep it simple for the simple folk?

Does the system have to be so complicated?!

 

I appreciate your help, friends!

Linking my thrifty books to 

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

and Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

Her Influence, or Mine?

You know there's a little girl in the farmhouse when...

...your angels no longer wear rosaries or vintage beads, but Day-Glo jellie bracelets...

...your vintage birdcage has had its contents removed and

it is now being inhabited by a plastic baby doll...

...and you find Grandma's porcelain egg

with the play food.

Now THAT'S style!

Sharing with:

Farmhouse Friday at Laurie Anna's Vintage Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage



Painting

Just wanted to share  a painting I've been working on of my daughter.  It's been on-going for months and remains undone.  I really need to finish it.  I hope to complete it this winter.

It's an acrylic wash on raw linen.

It's not done yet.

Basing it off some old photos.

I also did pastel portraits of the boys when they were two years old when I was on bed-rest with this one.

I would share, but they are framed under archival glass and it's kinda hard to photograph.

You would think I have tons of time to paint these, but I really don't.  Composition takes a lot of planning.  That was only a portion of her portrait.  In the final image, there will be lots of little satellite baby girls floating around her, sketchy style.

Wishing you a happy Monday!

Tired

When you're just so tired from the long week that you pass out with a snack while watching Charlie Brown.

Summer's End

Where did summer go?

The days are much cooler this week.  Although we have longed for autumn's cooler weather, it will be sad to see this summer go.   Our little baby is growing up.

You could almost blink, and the time has gone.  She is our last baby. 

She's wantin' to do big-girl things, now.

So it is hard to let go sometimes.  This is the last summer to really enjoy chubby baby legs, as she is starting to grow much taller now.  Our family is very small and there won't be another baby in the family until perhaps our babies have babies.  It is definitely hard to let go and pack up the last of the little baby sundresses, especially when you love baby-ness.

The kids had lots of fun this summer.

(Second from left is our youngest, holding Bo-Bo's hand).

They got to climb trees...

...and go for a ride with the top down. 

But I will really miss this summer in years looking back. 

The boys are getting super tall and strong now.

You just know in your heart that next summer will move even faster.

They want to do 'man' things.

Where does the time go, where does it go...

...if they could just stay little.

Mean-Muggin'

There's this term we learned at school...when someone gives another a dirty look (which could lead to an argument or altercation) it's called 'mean-muggin.'  Mean, as in dirty, mug, as in your face.

Here is our daughter's mean-muggin' mug shot.

They may have invented the term, but she has perfected the act.  We do mean-muggin' all the time around home now, it's our on-going joke.  Sometimes this little one will say, "Momma, Bo-Bo's mean-muggin' me!!"  and stand there with her arms crossed all sassy.

Red-D-Bells and School Bells

For a long time, Dan had wanted to get a bell for the yard.  Last summer, he was able to find one for the right price.

A lot of times people ask way too much $ for these bells... folks, the bell has to have the Y-bracket.  If it doesn't, it's virtually impossible to hang it or mount it anywhere.  Do not shell out for an old school bell if a Y-bracket doesn't accompany it.

Dan sunk a wood post into concrete in the ground and propped it up overnight so it would be plumb.  After he painted the post white, he mounted the bell.

Yeah, it's super loud and the kids love to stand on the table and bang on it.  Who can resist, really?  I love to give it a few good dings every now and then, too.  Something about a big bell just sounds wholesome and old-school.

Speaking of school, school bells are ringing.  Well, they actually rang in mid-August in these here parts, but you know, September is traditionally the time when we really start to think about school and apples.  Homework has finally started kicking in.  You would be SHOCKED at how much homework little kids get.  We will dish on this some other time.  But, I know the school we chose prepares our children for life and beyond.

Our kids attend a Catholic grade school.  This year they changed the shirt color from white to red.  I am really likin' the red!  When I dropped them off the first day, and the whole student body was outside the front door of the school, it was a sea of red and navy blue...

...  and then Fr. Jim said a prayer with the kids before they all went inside for their very first day,

and of course,

I cried.

Little Girl Draws

There comes a time as an artist when I am delighted when my children finally start showing an interest in art. 

Of course, I have provided them with opportunities to draw, paint, color, sculpt, etc.  But it is gratifying when they independently begin to do this on their own...as a choice in their daily activities.

Of course, can I really get mad?  I asked my daughter, just like this,

"WHO DID THIS???" 

...to which she replied, "ME!!" 

"Why, oh, why did you do this?"

"Mommy, I LOVE markers SO MUCH!!"

Wait!  It gets better!

Let's go downstairs...

Sharpie.  WHY did it have to be SHARPIE??

Took it right out of the drawer.

"DID YOU DO THIS, TOO??"

"YEAH!  I make a little circle...make it PRETTY!"

Oh, yes, folks, that is the kitchen table.  Decorated by baby-girl.  The mark is actually more prominent than it appears; the photo happens to be a little dark. 

She is joining our club of artists at large who transform just because.

*sigh*