Cobalt Blue Skies and Lavendar Rose Sunsets...

The recent glorious weather has inspired me.
If it works in nature, it's inspired right?
Cobalt Blue, Lavender and Rose...
Couldn't be any Lovelier!

Sarah, Natalie, Jenny and Misty...
How's next weekend looking?
Let's Play!

Ladies, if you're in town & you'd like to join in the fun, you're invited too! The more the merrier.

I've Been Playing...

I needed something for a better back drop for my beaded necklaces... I pulled out this beautiful white platter. Loved it.

The beads sparkle and shine against it ~ Perfecto!

Made a mess of this display... oh well, you get the idea.

Oops... what have we here?

How's this for a Name? Just playin' around and havin' a little fun with my latest creations.

I love these uber long necklaces. So versatile, you can wear them long, loop 'em twice and let them hang evenly, or go with the choker effect on the first tear and then let the other hang long. So fun!... PS, I would do a tutorial... but really... fishing line, seed beads and foundation beads in your color of choice. Doesn't get a whole lot easier than that. If you click on the pictures you can see the necklaces in greater detail.... feel free to try it out and let me know how you do. I would love to see your take. I will certainly be making tons more for the holidays.

It's Really Early...

My face is shiny... oh, and blotchy... I want you to look away now... you're really only supposed to be looking at the necklace anyway. I LOVE!!!!! it. So fun to make... even if a little time consuming.

This is what I made during my girl time with Misty. We had so much fun! Jake and Bj were working late, my big guys were at Kearney's first home football game, Gid was snuggled up watching 101 Dalmatians, Ashe was tuckered out and down for the count... puppy too, and that meant Misty and I got to play with beads. FUN, FUN, Fun!!! Misty made an absolutely gorgeous blue, teal, and green long necklace. It was to die for. I am hoping she blogs it... I didn't get a picture, she was scrambling to get it finished so that she could beat Jake home. Good times... don't get enough Momma and daughter time to craft. I think I might be making more of these for Christmas gifts... well that's if I can let loose of 'em. I want them all... bad sista.

New Set...

This is the latest set I've made... I wish I had better fabric to display it against. I'm in need of a little bit of black velvet. Everything looks better against black velvet... oh well, this will have to do for now. I love the black and white whimsy tho... fun, fun! I've already got the perfect outfit to pair this with... more later.

It's Official...

We Love our Silly Little Puppy!

We decided on Roxie.
It was the only name we all agreed on.
She still looks like a little Tinkerbell to me.

She thought she'd do a little reading out in the sun yesterday or at least joined momma for her reading. She romped and played and wore herself out. Made me a little nervous. She was so tired she forgot to eat. She's made up for that lapse today tho'.

Oh, on another note, this a picture of my latest jewelry design. aka... project of the moment. You can't tell by the picture, but the beads are amber colored. I love how they looked against the pearls and gold findings. I'll be trying my hand at a few more designs over the next day or so. I'll share more pics later.

Exploring...

So baby was out exploring early this morning. Dueter and Zoe' are so good with their new little sister. You can see just how tiny she is when you see her next to Dueter and Zoe'... It would help for you to know that Zoe' only weighs 10 lbs and Dueter only 15-17 lbs. Tiny, tiny little girl. Needs an awesome name... so far I am partial to Tink, but if that makes eldest son call her that awful name it will never do. Notice we had to make do with a repurposed sock turned sweater for baby. She was sooooo cold before we came up with this little goodness. Thank you, thank you to our awesome neighbors for the great idea.

Put on your thinking caps... we need some bloggin' love.

Baby Needs a Name Update:

Okay... we have a few more ideas, but nothing seems to fit our little baby girl. Fe Fe, Tinker Bell ~ aka. Tink (I really liked this one); We had suggestions of Bitzy, Sweetpea, Tootie, Lo'la, Dolly, Lolly... I don't know I think maybe something short and sweet and French would be nice.

We tried out Tink last night and she wiggled all over the place... eldest Son said no way, no how... he was calling her Yertle as in Yertle the Turtle until we came up with something he liked. Now come on... YERTLE? That's as ugly as it comes... I need some serious help here.

Meet the Newest Member of the Family

She's awfully sweet and oh so tiny. We haven't settled on a name that fits her and that we all agree on. We have Roxie, Trixie, Ladybug... need some help here. Have something spectacular that will fit our sweet little girl, were open to suggestions. We'll know when it's right.

Many Memorable Moments...

A tour of the Capital Building. Arlington Cemetery and the Changing of the Guard... Awe inspiring.

This Little Pretty Can Be Yours...

Check out this awesome give-away Here!

Or don't and that just gives me better odds.
No really, you should check out Two Creative Chicks Blog...
They have so many pretty jewelry options and are very reasonably priced.

Misadventures in Virginia

This is what happens when you fail to take your GPS out of the car before heading in for nighty night. Lesson learned the hard way. Bummer!

We were so good every night but this one. We came in late in the middle of a downpour and just grabbed our stuff and headed in for bed. Oh well, other then 7 hours of our trip that we wasted with no wheels while waiting to have the window repaired... It could have been much worse.

We've Been Through...

Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and back through the lower tip of Illinois and all the way back across Missouri. Woooo... What a trip! Over three thousand miles with only one small, or maybe not so small, misadventure (more on that later).

Alex did a lot of this... read I think three books on the drive.

While Zach did a lot of this. Playing on his new computer he bought right before we left town with some of his hard earned money.

The boys were never so happy to be back home. Zach and Alex officially do not like traveling that far by car. I think they enjoyed Washington D.C., Virginia and Tennessee, but other than that the car ride was torture for them. It was really all about being away from their girls for 8 or 9 days. You'd think we had them over the rack and coals.

I'll blog some more pics later and give the deets on the misadventure in Virginia... I'm kinda tired now.

Fun Stuff

New Aladdin Teapot looks festive amongst the pretties on my little table runner.
Rub the teapot, it will bring you good luck.

Okay, can I just say "I'm in love with this interchangeable Hearthside candle display!" The front pieces are magnetized to the base... How cool is that? I'm going to put in one quick little PartyLite plug... sorry, but this is too cool not to share.

This is one of the Hostess Specials for the months of August and September. Just $45.00 with a $250.00 show. Everything you see here! Well except for the table it's resting on and the couch you see in the background. It's a $149.00 value! You can choose from seven different scents for the 3X5 candles. That's right you decide.

Okay... done now!

Here are a few recent additions to my white goodness. Check out the footed/covered vegetable dish. Purchased for a measly $6.98 from a local Thrift Store. Now look carefully at the lower right corner. I checked this out online... found the same dish... $89.95 I was just a little excited. Bj says "SELL, SELL, SELL!!!" I said, "I don't think so... That just goes to show... I have excellent taste!"

My Whispering Willows

I love walking around our Wonder Pond... even when it's empty of water.

This is what I wake up to every morning.
Love, Love Love the song birds.
I hope you can hear the Whispering Willows.

Another Year Older and Wiser?!?

This is backward... but I think the picture says it all.
Grandpa Richardson is showing Zach a few things on Zach's birthday gift.
What were we thinking?!?!

Here he is opening his presents. I think he was happy, even if we wouldn't contribute anything towards his motorcycle.

Zach's girlfriend, Jenni, spoiled him. She got him two shirts from the Buckle, tickets to see Blink 182, a new belt buckle and a picture.

Ashelyn just wanted the bow.

I don't know if you can see the picture on the card or not.
It is a picture of a chocolate covered moose... aka, chocolate moose.

The inscription said thought you'd like some chocolate moose for your birthday. Then when Becket signed the card he asked if it looked like the moose outside the classroom? We all got a good laugh. His friend said when he saw the card, he knew it was the one he had to get Zach. (If you'd like to find out why this is perfect check it out HERE)

All in all... I think Zachy had a great birthday. Thank you to all our friends and family that shared in Zach's special day.

Joy...

They bring me joy every time I see them.

He wanted to sit in the grass... heck yay, you can sit in the grass.

He wanted to run, ya' bet ya' can.

She was having a little difficulty maneuvering in the tall grass...
It's a little scratchy.

Come with me sissy, I'll help.

Such a sweet big brother.

Where's mommy? I think she's over there.