What was I thinking?

For a few weeks now I have been thinking about giving up scrapbooking and simply concentrating on my mixed media art. What the FLIPPITY DOO DAH was I thinking? Yesterday, I drove about 40 miles north of Bowling Green and as I was driving and listening to music oh too loud; I had this charge that I had not felt in some time. No, it was not the Auburn University fans with their SUV's all loaded down with tail gating goodies and their loud ORANGE and BLUE that was a caravan on their way to the Kentucky game. It was not the fall colors that were vivid on the trees. It was not even the beautiful sunshine. Was it because I was not alone? Was it because I was not hurried out of state to take care of family business? Was it because I had not a care in the world? I think not...what I was so giddy about was playing with paper! Yes, scrapbooking. I was on a roll and nothing was going to stop me from one thing that gives me great pleasure. Loaded down with my own goodies I was headed north to SHOP and create and it is a wonderful feeling. So, what the FLIPPITY was I thinking when I thought I could give up something that makes me so happy? Clearly, I was having a "not so clear" moment in my life. But baby, I am sniffing glue again! Not literally, but you paper artists know what I mean.

So, without further ado I will share a few things I created in about 5 hours. In that time I shopped and had lunch with some wonderful ladies along with stimulating conversations as well. I love Halloween. It is the one time each year that is pure fun. For a few hours on one night we are NOT in the backyard summoning nature but we are having a grand time dressing as something we are not. It makes me feel like a kid again and well...it is all about the candy, right?

I have a lot more to update everyone on the happenings.  Just stay tuned.

  I promise not to be so long in between posts.

Stay tuned...

Having problems with BLOGGER not uploading my pics.  So....please be patient.  I AM BACK!

Give a Girl a CAMERA!

Looking back through our summer photos I simply  smile when I look at all of the pictures my daughter took on her first Girl Scout Summer Camp experience.  It was the first time going away where she did not know anyone.  It was the first time I let her take a little camera with her to just take photos of her experience.  They are not in focus, they are not of great quality, but through her eyes I was able to relive the week with her and she simply glowed as we looked at each one in detail and she recounted the moment with excitement and most of all, she had an experience that allowed her to make wonderful friends.  I thought I would share a few.  AHHH, youth and summer.  Life is so wonderful.

Photos by MY GIRL!

She was telling me that the counselors went by names like, Lunchbox, Cookie, Nugget, Kiwi, and Pickle.

Many of her counselors were from "across the pond."  Girl Scouts exchange American Counselors with other Girl Scout Leaders from all over the world.  It broadens their own experience and they can share their cultures with girls from all over the world.  Brianna was telling me the flags in their dining hall represent where Camp Pennyroyal had representation from all over the world throughout the years.

Bri said they made SMORE'S in a can.  Layers of the SMORE goodies in a 3 pound can and they were, "YUMMY!"  Of course it is not camp without nightly campfires.  I think she had about 50 of these shots!

I do love that she had a terrific time and most of all, she wants to go back.

Hard to believe...the cooler air is nipping in the morning and summer will soon be no more.

WOW, time is flying by so quickly!

Catching up on my blog reading this morning.  I am still getting used to our schedule change around home with work and school.  Carving out time for just myself is still one of the priorities.  However, it doesn't leave much time for blogging.  For kicks and grins, here are some scrappy pages I have created recently.

It looks like rain today.  A perfect day for playing in my Art Studio.

Still here...

Yes, I am still here.  I am busy getting settled into my new position as an Legal Assistant for a law firm.  I am working about 175 cases and absorbing the routine and tasks before me.  I like the people I work with and the atmosphere is really great.

So, I thought I would leave you this Friday with another layout I created for Art Freckles  August kit.

Sometimes a simple design is all you need to tell a story. 

This picture is old and was tattered and torn.  

I simply scanned and made a copy.

Have a terrific weekend. 

Good Food, Great Company, & Music.

Stuffed from dinner at Montana Grill, 

Robin and I headed to Fountain Square Friday night 

for the last concert in the park for the summer.  

People everywhere and sounds of laughter filled the hot humid evening.  

It was a delightful evening and I enjoyed catching up with her happenings. 

I seriously need a longer arm when taking self photos.  

All in all, a wonderful evening and I simply must do better about getting together with my friend.

 Thank you Robin for a wonderful Birthday Gift.

An Artful Life

Over at Art Freckles, this months kit is a delightful addition to scrappy supplies and creating.  I love the name of the kit as well as creating with it this month.  "An Artful Life" is full of cardstock and double sided papers to woo any scrapper to share a memory or two in their scrapbook.

Here is a sample of what I created with the August Kit, "An Artful Life" from Art Freckles!

This picture was taken the first day of school and I could not resist in using the papers and embellishments from this fabulous kit and alter a frame I have had for years.

Just a few things today...

Of course, my list does not include the usual duties and chores that go with being a stay at home mom. 

But this will be changing in one week.  

All duties will be shared.

I am getting excited about me new job.

I think it will be exciting working for a lawyer.

We are planning some family activities this weekend. 

But tonight, GIRL'S NIGHT OUT with my friend.  

Celebrating my belated birthday.

I hope to get some really great photos.

Have a terrific weekend.

It's Official...

Yesterday, I turned the grand age of 45!  What does this mean?

Anxiety about my age.  My mother passed away at 45.  Yes, I think about it.  I am healthier at this age than she was at 45.  Wow, I said it.  "I am 45!" It was not a BLOW OUT Birthday as we are in the beginning of a new school year and my birthday fell in the middle of the week.  A small celebration it was.  Well, actually I am not sure I celebrated.  My daughter did the celebratory acts for me.  Children are wonderful and see a birthday as "awesome!"  I remember that feeling.  I do believe that this is the "Only day of the year to claim as your very own."  So, in essence.  It is another milestone of life and should be regarded as special.  It was.  I think.
    

So, I will share bits and pieces of my thoughts throughout this year.  Changing my blog up a bit to share other things that are important and some things that are less important but at least I will have something to blog about.  So, today this is what is on my mind.  Important? Ummm, maybe.  Thoughtless?  Not so much.  But it is something I am pondering for sure.

This is a picture of my first cousins and me.

It was taken in October 1968 at Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega, Georgia.  We chose our goodies from the festival of which has changed a great deal over the decades.

We 3 are now the "head" of our family.  

Me, 45-  Lee, 44-  Deborah, 46

.
Who knew that at this age we would have no family older than us living?  I am the only one with children.  Lee is the last male of the Thornton Clan out of Alabama.  It is kind of sad, really.  Deborah and Lee still reside in Georgia.  Lee is now the artist and curator of Foxfire Taxidermy on the Thornton Estate.  My uncle's legacy lives on at Sweetwater Creek State Park outside of Atlanta.  Several of his prize winning Taxidermy Animals are on display.  Lee will carry on the tradition.  At least I think so.  Deborah is into horticulture and pottery and lives in the N.E. Georgia Mountains.  We were very close growing up and our family always shared Christmas and special holidays together.  We also got together many weekends and shared family vacations when my family was stateside (Army Brat ya know).  I just find it so hard to grasp sometimes that we are, "it."  We lost Uncle Chuck in April and I know that my cousins must be thinking many of the same things that I now ponder. 

I feel that I am blessed.  I have 5 children.  But the Thornton legacy will be short lived.  My grandmother was one of 10 children where many families were born from her siblings.  But we are the last of the Thornton's.  I think back to many incredible memories and a childhood with lots of experiences shared with my family.  I just never knew or realized as we aged that the possibility of no hierarchy being alive when in my 40's.  It just does not seem right somehow.

So, this is what is on my mind this morning.  Mortality or the lack thereof.

Back to School...

Yes, today it is back to school.  

What is different about today?

We are under a heat advisory for today and tomorrow.

School starts one hour later than last year.

It is the first day of second grade.

She has two new teeth and two missing teeth.

She has her own style that is very creative and eclectic.

Today is a great day.  Daddy worked out at 4:30 AM to return and make sure

he watched his special girl get on the bus.  This is tradition. 

It is important for him to kiss her at every special milestone. 

I asked him, "What are you going to do when she starts driving to school?" 

His reply, "I will follow her for 9 months!"

Ummmm, yeah...okay.

This memory will last a lifetime.

Where has the time gone?

Although it is hot and humid...I still have not gotten my fill of summer.  School starts tomorrow and then I am all alone in the house.  Well, for at least until August 16th.  I was just recently hired at a local law firm and I am pretty happy about that.  My hours are great and of course the extra money is even better.  When I think of lawyers I immediately think BRIEFCASE.  My mother was a lawyer and she carried a briefcase everyday to work.  So, this is my image.

I also have images of lawyers with long hair.  It's funny how stereotypical our minds become isn't it?
I will be working for a lawyer with longer hair.  I will be working for a female lawyer.  I am looking forward to the experience and knowledge I will gain.  So, yes....I am excited.  I really enjoy working in an office atmosphere.

Now, to enjoy this last MONDAY of "our summer" and soak in the love.

If YOU really knew ME...

If you really knew me...

You would know that this

"needle" helps me deliver medication in order for me to cope
with sugars from food that my body cannot process properly.

If you knew me, you would know that everything I choose to eat weighs heavily on my mind.

If you knew me, you would know that Diabetes is hereditary in my family.

If you knew me, you would know that I have had several members of my family
die from the complications of Diabetes. 
If you knew me, you would know that I live with this fact...daily.

It can be daunting.

Inspiration

Inspiration takes me back to some old photos.  A cup of coffee and a morning jaunt on the computer for inspiration also drives me today to get my fanny in my art room and clean it up.  I for the life of me cannot create in the chaos.  It is really OUT OF CONTROL...so, with this soothing SUMMER photo...I will leave you with a Summer thought.....................

Do NOT let your PAINT DRY on your palette.

Photography Trends and CHA

Yes, it opened just a bit ago.  CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Convention!  Are you there?

Just surfing around this morning while my laundry is churning and I was delighted to see that "overexposed" photography is now considered "OUT!"  In my day, this kind of photography was not a consideration for a comment of "well done."  In my day, we also used chemicals to process our film, too.

I was just really excited to see that professional photographers all around the world do not care for this type of photography and sees it as always, a "FAD."  One blog read, "the overexposed photo fad stemmed from Calvin Klein's Advertisement back in Spring of 2009."  WHEW!  What a relief.  I thought this was going to be the "new" formula for consideration of, "perfect picture."

Photos of Overexposed Fashion Ads (Via: calvinkleininc, homotography.blogspot)

Well, "fads" are for inspiring and not longevity.  They are not for what will remain but they are for what will become.  I am so happy about this.  I love candid-real photos.  Not photo shopped, cropped, or bamboozled in some way to make a shot look different than it truly is.  I think this is why many people love "heritage photos."  But truly, did we really think that "overexposed photos" were really good?

The Temperature is INSANE!

It is so flippin' HOT!

The electric bill is up over $100.00!  OUCH...

So, this morning I call the electric company to pay our enormous bill (at least for us)

and here is what she told me.

Bowling Green has been keeping/tracking/recording temperatures since the late 1800,s.

This summer is the 6th HOTTEST Summer on record.

Then she proceeds to tell me this is the HOTTEST summer since 1980!

WHEW!

She actually said that our bill was below average.  That most everyone had a $150.00 +

up charge from the previous month.  HOLY MOLY!  

Looks like there is no relief in sight either.