Zentangle

What is Zentangle?
Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being. Zentangle is enjoyed by a wide range of skills and ages and is used in many fields of interest.

Was reading about this on Julie's blog this morning & started googling & doodling & this is what I ended up with......

So much fun....I can totally see myself doing this ALOT!

My art journal was laying on the table.....right out where it needs to be, right? So, I grabbed an old paper towel tube & some acrylic paint. I LOVE doing this.....I've done it before on another page. Anyway.....I came back later, after the blue stamped circles had dried & grabbed my watercolors & the brushes that are also on the table & real quick-like, I added some watercolor circles & splatters. So, there ya have my 10 minutes of art journaling today. I have a spread prepped & ready for whatever else I decide to add here. Right now, I'm just enjoying looking at it as is.
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A couple more layouts that I did on Saturday....finally added the journaling & titles so I could post....

Just a couple of random shots from my day back on Dec. 9,'10......spent my day reading, baking cookies & later that evening, Ashley & I met Maw at Starbucks for coffee & then headed up to see 'A Christmas Carol' at the LU Tower Theater.

Love this pic of Clay with his new taco holder that Jon made him!!

Alli came into the kitchen this evening to give me this picture that she had drawn for me. Isn't it cool? I just love that bunny's face....he has the cutest eyes! Such a talented little artist I have!

Sunday, Sunday

I realized on the way home from church today that I had library books that were due back tomorrow & some couldn't be renewed. So, after lunch, Ashley & I ran out there to drop them off....since Clay would be driving the van tomorrow & we wouldn't be able to go then. While we were out....just us....I let Ashley do some driving. Didn't have much time to get into anything this afternoon, so I settled for just taking a few pics of my latest art journal pages....

A fun birthday page. I used some elements from some of the cards that I received....thought that would be a cool way to save them. The flower border & little tag were from the card that Granny & Papaw sent me & the 'Happy Birthday' letters were from Melanie's card. The verse in the little cloud/bubble was part of my 'Daily Light' devotions on the 23rd & the journaling just tells about my day last Sunday.

Scrappy Saturday

Such a nice day today.....sunny & in the 50s. The boys said they actually got HOT when they were out there splitting & stacking firewood! There was an all day 'I Love Lucy' marathon on TV today....so after the chores were done, Ashley & I set up shop at the card table in the living room & scrapped the afternoon away! I was proud of myself....I got THREE layouts done! Plus I have two more on my table that just need a title and/or journaling. Hopefully I'll be able to post those tomorrow.This was our first snow of the season.....back on Dec. 4th.
Also, Dec. 4th......The banner outside of Heritage High School where Ashley took her SAT test & the small pic was inside of Starbucks where we went afterwards to celebrate.

A very simple layout of Clay's BD pics. I just liked how the design on the paper looked like sparkles/confetti around that cake with ALL those candles!
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Also did several loads of laundry today, cut Michael's hair & fixed rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans & biscuits for supper. All is calm right now.....the kids are upstairs doing stuff, Clay is laying on the couch watching 'Get Smart' & I'm here listening to Chris Tomlin. 'More than all I want, more than all I need, you are more than enough for me!'

March on in Strength!

Just wanted to share from my 'Daily Light' this morning.

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As your days, so shall your strength be * When they arrest you & deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit * Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. * The God of Israel is He who gives strength & power to His people. Blessed be God! * He gives power to the weak & to those who have no might He increases strength. * My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong * I CAN DO ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! * O my soul, march on in strength!

Yesterday's Scrappin'

Spent yesterday afternoon with my Ashley-Girl....scrappin' & watching old NCIS episodes. What better way to spend a rainy/snowy afternoon?Pics taken at Pizza Hut for Anna's 9th birthday lunch....Dec. 31, 2010
Pics of the gingerbread men we made right before Christmas. All these papers are from my stash that Patti sent me plus a few goodies here & there pulled from MY stuff. I love using up my stash!

I was seriously trying to get back into the 'school groove' Monday....it's been so hard & hit & miss with everyone being sick & not feeling good.....but why does it always happen when I'm 'serious' that I feel like a monkey wrench gets thrown in & messes up my 'best laid plans'. But ya know.....if I actually stop & think about it.......these 'life-monkey-wrenches' are not BAD things, but what makes homeschool so cool, right?! While I have all these math/algebra lessons laid out on the table, Clay comes down & starts messing with a program on the computer......Autodesk Homestyler- free home design/floor plans. See, he's trying to get some ideas about the work we need to do in our kitchen. So, he & Jon proceed to measure & type in/plan out how our kitchen will be. I finally give up & realize this IS really educational, right. Jon is taking measurements in the kitchen & telling Clay so he can type in the dimensions. They put in where the doors/windows are etc. & you can build a floor plan/3d model of how things will look. After all this 'unit study' in home remodeling the boys head out to the woods to cut a load of firewood. It's all good, right? In between.....during lunch.....Jon & I sat on the couch & learned about algebraic terms.......you know..... 3+ x-5+2x, etc. History can be read later.....when it dark outside & all the outdoor chores have been done. We are also starting to implement some 'Daily Grammar' into our routine too. And on top of all this.....I catch them upstairs together in the evenings......Jon & Alli practicing the guitar together. Throw in getting transcripts written up by me & Ashley working on her application essay for Liberty..........we're always learning & working, aren't we? Even though we don't sit down at the table from 9am- 3pm each day. Sigh......I think I just gave myself a pep-talk. LOL

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And if Life didn't get in the way on Monday......it got in the way again yesterday. I've been working on getting Ashley's transcripts done for Liberty & realized that they needed to be MAILED not emailed.....& in to Liberty by Jan.31....& of course my printer was out of ink. Talk about frustrating! Anyway, Maw had said I could come there & use her printer if that helped......SO, about lunchtime I head out to Lburg going to mom's to get her transcripts, reading log & application essay all printed off & since I was all the way there.....I was going to hand-deliver these documents instead of mailing them. Long story short....(yeah, right!) I'm up-to-date in Ashley's application process......transcripts & essay all delivered & I can breathe a sigh of relief.....for the time being anyway. With TWO graduations & college preparations all looming in the near months.....I don't dare let myself think too far ahead...I'd go crazy & cry & just be a regular 'Mom-mess'.....so, with the Lord's help, I'm just taking it one day at a time & enjoying each step of the way!! So, bring on the snow, baby......I have a scrapping date with my Ashley-Girl this afternoon.

The Love Dare

I've been typing up Ashley's transcripts for LU & in the process going back through my blog entries to make sure I get everything down that I need to as far as our schooling goes and I came across this entry. I posted this after reading 'The Love Dare' & after reading over it this morning, I thought it was worth reposting again for everyone to read.

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Just finished reading 'The Love Dare' this morning. Wow....another awesome book!
Here are some of my favorite snippets.............*Great marriages are not created by people who never hurt each other, only by people who choose to keep "no record of wrongs"* Love puts the focus on personal responsibility & improving yourself rather than on demanding more from others* The love that's demanded from you in marriage is not dependant on your mate's sweetness or suitability. The love between a husband & wife should have one chief objective: honoring the Lord with devotion & sincerity.* You must guard yourself against the wrong influencers. Everyone has an opinion & some people will encourage you to act selfishly & leave your mate in order to pursue your own happiness. Be careful about listening to advice from people who don't have a good marriage themselves!* Though threatened, it keeps pursuing. Though challenged, it keeps moving forward. Though mistreated & rejected, it refuses to give up. Love NEVER fails. NEVER!* Especially if your spouse is not in a place of receiving your love right now, the act of covenant keeping can grow more daunting with each passing day. But marriage is not a 'contract' with escape clauses & exception wordings. Marriage is a 'covenant' intended to cut off all avenues of retreat or withdrawal. There's nothing in all the world that should sever what God has joined together. Your love is based on covenant.* Malachi 2:16- For I hate divorce, says the Lord, the God of Israel. * The time is now, to renew your covenant of love in all sincerity & surrneder. Love is too holy a treasure to trade in for another, & too powerful a bond to be broken without DIRE CONSEQUENCES. Your life together is before you. Dare to take hold of it & NEVER let go. We dare you!*

This is the Stuff

Another new song I heard & love!


I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please
'Cuz I can't find my phone


This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust
You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use


45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa


This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust
You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use


So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh



This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust
You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff
You use
Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use


~Francesca Battistelli

Knitted Dishcloth Pattern

Sarah was asking me yesterday about the edge on my knitted dischcloths, so I figured the easiest thing would be for me to just post it here. It's super easy......gotta be, if I can do it!

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I usually use a size 7 needle

co4, k 1 row

next row, k2 inc in next st, k1

next row, k2, yo, k to end of row

repeat the k2, yo, k until you have 45 sts on the needle

Next row, k1, k2tog, k to end of row

Continue to do this, decreasing each row until 5 sts are left.

Then, k2, k2tog, k1

Bind off the 4 sts.

Dancing in the Minefields

How many of you have heard this song? I've heard it twice now on the radio & I LOVE it!!!






I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
Everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway
We bought our rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We made our vows and took the leap

Now fifteen years ago

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We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for

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"I do" are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I've heard
Is a good place to begin
'Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it's an easy price
For the life that we have found

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And we're dancing in the minefields
We're sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that's what the promise is for
So when I lose my way, find me
When I loose love's chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

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'Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there's nothing left to fear
So I'll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear
'Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos, baby, I can dance with you

~~Andrew Peterson

First Hooky Project of 2011

Looky, looky what came in the mail today! This box of Yummy Yarn from Aunt Vada! Wow!! The kids say thank you, for the candy & goodies....Alli says thank you SO much for the BD money......and Ashley & I say thank you SOOOOOOOOO much for the box full of beautiful yarn! Hmmmmmm.........what to make, what to make.

Ok, so here's my 'Ta-Da' pictures......first crochet project of 2011 FINISHED!My Attic24 inspired pillow/cushion. I used the same colors as I'm using for my Granny stripe blanket so this will co-ordinate. Picked up the pillow from Good Will for $1.35 & just stitched front & back together once I was finished.


I'm really tickled with how it turned out. Now to continue working on my Granny Stripes & start on something else new. I do have another Good Will pillow to cover.........

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Below is a random picture that I snapped of the girls in Walmart the other night......when we were out celebrating Alli's birthday.

Don't you just love those expressions.....They told me not to even ask....just to take their picture, so I did. Guess it was some inside joke between the two of them. LOL!

After I finished the stitching my 25 little squares together.....& debating on how to back this pillow.....I decided the simplest thing to do would be to whip up 25 more little squares & do the back just like the front. So, I stitched most of these up Tuesday while in the van riding to & from, here & there about town.

Kaye was asking about Alli's cake......it was CHOCOLATE, of course! Remember, she's my little chocoholic. Everyone was so full from Pizza Hut Tuesday evening that Alli decided she just wanted to wait & do cake & icecream on Wednesday. Why not continue the celebration on throughout the week?

Alli was not wanting her picture taken last night as we lit the candles & sang to her......

......but Jon was determined to make her smile!

Happy Birthday

So, my sweet Alli-Girl is 12 years old today. We started the morning off opening presents....and let me just tell you that Rocky had a B.L.A.S.T. Almost more fun than Christmas morning, I think. He snatched the first piece of torn-off wrapping paper & took off running through the house with the paper trailing behind him. It was so funny. Then, he'd come running back to the kitchen & kind of like put on the brakes & skid through all the paper on the floor.
Alli's big gift was her very own guitar. She's been playing around on one of Clay's old ones & it's been hard for her because it was too big. This one is smaller.....just the right size for her to be able to play easier.

The gifts. She has two Taylor Swift guitar books coming from Amazon, but with the holiday yesterday, they didn't get here in time for me to wrap them. She got a new pillow for her bed, a cute little plaid dress from Old Navy (one of those awesome bargains that I got for $5), some mini canvases to paint on, chocolate bars, coloring books (she & Ashley had been talking about how they used to LOVE getting coloring books from the Dollar Store.......so I got her a princess one & one of those cool Lisa Frank ones.....they are in there now coloring as I speak/type), Harry Potter Valentines......it's a joke around here with the brothers teasing her about liking Daniel Radcliffe.....thus the valentines, some nail polish & $10 to shop with. The cute little Bunny is from Ashley.

Ashley found this pattern in one of my crochet magazines & Alli thought it was so cute, so Ashley decided she'd make it for her birthday. She did such an excellent job! She has just taken off with her crocheting skills! I think she needs to sell some of these!!

I know I say stuff like this all the time, but I can't ever seem to get over it...........isn't this just the best snapshot?! This is what family/homeschooling is all about. Jon helping Alli & teaching her what he's learned himself. He's been doing so well with his guitar playing......learning from videos, books & what-not & now he's being able to pass it on to his sister. Just think of the bond these two will build sitting around enjoying their music together.

Happy Birthday #12, my sweet girl! I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

My Checklist

My list for today included the following:
*Laundry-
~Dark load-done
~Whites-done
~Sheets-done
*Bake Alli's BD cake-done
* Frost/decorate cake- the cake has been frosted & Baker's chocolate has been shaved/sprinkled all over the top. Just need to do a little decorating (which I think will wait until morning now) Alli wants some pink icing piped around the edges.
*make Alli's card-done
* Wrap gifts- waiting til she goes to bed....or at least upstairs for the night...at 10pm.....so I can wrap down here undisturbed!
*School- History reading assignments- All done. Of course Jon & Michael just finished theirs up a little bit ago. Oh, the beauties of homeschooling. ;-)

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We had an impromptu science class outside today. Michael had gotten a model rocket kit for Christmas which he has been working on over the weeks, but he still needed to buy the launch kit (Which I picked up for him this past Friday using my 50% off coupon at Michael's!) Anyways.....it was all ready for launching today, so we all bundled up & went out into the field with him to shoot this baby off. Man do those things fly high!! I mean totally out of sight until they begin to fall & you can catch a glimpse of it again. The first time it landed out in the front field....right on the fence in front of the railroad tracks. So, the second time he launced it, we moved down the hill a little more toward the sawmill. That one did good too, but got stuck in one of the cedar trees along the old drive. They had to climb the tree to get it down. Oh what fun! See, I told you homeschooling was fun!! And this is why the History reading got put off until dark. LOLHere's the birthday card I made for Alli this afternoon. Made it while sitting here watching 'I Love Lucy' episodes on the computer. Then for supper I put on a pot of chicken & dumplings. Just the perfect thing on a cold winter's night.

And I couldn't help but think of Lucy's blog post....you know the one, Maw......where she took a pic of her steamed up kitchen windows. While the dumplings were simmering, I looked over & my windows were all steamed up, my kitchen smelled really yummy & it made me think of Lucy & her cozy little Attic24 across the big pond & so I snapped this pic & thought I'd share a bit my coziness with y'all this evening.

From Friday til Sunday

Forgot that I had these pics on my camera. Alli took this one of her & Cori outside of O'Charley's Friday after her BD lunch. Then I took these of the girls in AC Moore.....trying on some St. Patrick's Day hats.

Then this evening....for reason's I know not of....my boys started plundering in the depths of my closet & dug up these old sport coats....Jon was wearing an old one of Clay's & Michael had on one of Pop's! (How's that for dated?!) They were having a blast & even let Alli tie the tie for them.

Michael trying to act all sophisticated.....Rocky didn't like them dressed like that....it was so funny. And he REALLY didn't like when Alli was trying to tie his tie....I guess he thought she was choking his boy!

I know he's acting all goofy & all, but he sure is handsome though, isn't he?!

More Daily Stuff

Well, today was the first time in about two weeks that Alli has been out of the house anywhere. I think she's finally over this crud. Continue the prayers for all the boys....Michael, Jon, Clay & especially Chris. Not that Chris is THAT sick, but I just hate that he WAS so sick back at Christmas & now he's got this cold stuff & having to go back to school & all......I'm just praying that he will get over this & not get himself all run down! We had Alli's BD lunch at O'Charley's today.....with Maw, Ella & kids. Anna now has the 'crud' so they stayed home. Alli was sick & missed Anna's BD & now Anna's sick & missing Alli's BD celebrating. * Sigh* Guess that just goes along with having a winter BD......seems you are either dealing with sickness or snow. Oh well.....we had a really nice time! After lunch we ran a few errands & let Alli do some shopping. We got Chris' shoes exchanged that he got for Christmas, bought Michael's model rocket launch kit for him from Michael's with a 50% coupon. ;-) Then we hit the mall for a bit. Alli got some goodies at Aeropostale & Forever 21. All of this, got groceries & still made it home by around 6pm. Fixed a quick Friday night supper & Chris headed out about 7. He was heading back & straight to the LU Bookstore.....he bought all but one book online & he wanted to go this evening....right before they closed....& hopefully avoid the LONG lines, if he could. He hated the thoughts of a long wait just for one little book. Got a message from him a little bit ago & he's back in the 'Burg all safe & sound ready for his last semester. *sniff, sniff*

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Yesterday I finished up all my little squares for my pillow topper & was playing around trying to find out how the colors looked together......you know, the best color placement.

Finally got it the way I liked it & decided I'd better draw a little pattern, so I could remember how I wanted it all to go together.

Here's how it's going to look. I do have all the squares stitcehd together now....just want to put a small edging around the outside of the whole thing & then I will figure out a backing. Maybe I can use Lucy's idea & find a 'jumper' at Good Will & do the back like she does. We shall see.

Daniel's birthday pics that I scrapped......showcasing ways to use shipping tags. For this one, I stamped/distressed one large shipping tag & then cut about 1/3 off the bottom end. I used the larger portion for my journaling & the smaller portion I used as a decorative accent.

For this LO of our Christmas tree, I used one of the tags that I had made for our Christmas Tag swap over at Cookin' Up Creations. Made the perfect little accent for my page.

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Got a head ache now....kind of sinus-y, over my eyes. Think I'm gonna go fix a cup of coffee & head to bed before too long.

January 13, 2011
What is Normal?
Mary Southerland
Today's Truth1 Peter 4:12-13 "Do not be surprised at the painful things you are now suffering. These things are testing your faith" (ICB).

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"People are desperately looking for ordinary women like you and me whose lives have been changed by an extraordinary God - the One who is calling us to be "God with skin on" to those who don't even believe He exists. I want to love every excuse and doubt right out of their minds."

Alli's Artwork

Was just going through some of the folders on my 'puter & came across a bunch of Alli's drawings she's done here recently & thought I'd share them! Enjoy!!