New Things

So, you may have noticed that my header is a little different. As of Tuesday, I will no longer be a stay-at-home mom. I have a new job. I'll be an aide in the elementary school (for my daughter's class to be exact).

Was I not content to be a stay-at-home mom? No, I was content to stay home, watch kids, eat bon bons and watch TV. It was fun and easy being home and not working. (Hope you are reading the sarcasm.) Actually, I was very content taking care of the house, our kids, other people's kids, and having flexibility to fit things into my schedule. Unfortunately, Sadie will need braces soon, the cost of living has risen considerably at our house and staying home just isn't an option any more. T.S. starts Kindergarten this year and I was fortunate enough that a postition came open at school. (That doesn't happen very often.) I am blessed to be working with some of my really good friends.

I am excited about this new venture. It'll be fun for me to be back among adults. (Hopefully I can hold up my end of the conversation.) I will miss the kids I keep and eating bon bons--it really was a plush life...

Anyway, we're off on a new adventure and it should be very fun.

Bulletin Board

I finally finished one of Sadie's bulletin boards.

We took an acoustic ceiling tile (about $2 at Home Depot), painted it the same color brown as the shelves in her room, added some pink beaded fringe and pink ribbon to hang it, and...

Voila! Instant bulletin board.

Now if I can just get the other one started, hang the frames, find some curtain tie-backs, paint some flower pegs, build a window seat...Sadie's room will be finished.

(Please note: I am HORRIBLE at taking pictures of my projects--I am sure a new camera would fix this. If you'd like to contribute to the "buy Laura a new camera so we don't have to look at horrible pictures fund" please let me know.)

August???

Are you like me?
Are you wondering where the summer went? How it went by so quickly?
Did you start the summer with a long to-do list only to see very few items checked off?

Are you like me? Are the few projects you did start about 3/4 finished?
Yesterday I was contemplating the "loss of summer." I realized that even though it didn't seem like we'd had much summer, we sure have fit a lot of activities in. The kids have had fun, I've had fun, I think Robby has had fun (although several more rounds of golf would have made it more fun.)

So, what is the point of summer? Is it to cram as many activities and projects in or is it to rest and relax and enjoy? I think our summer has been a fairly good combination of both. Maybe we can fit a little bit more of the rest and relaxation part in next year.

And, hey, I still have one week before I start my new (gasp) job, so maybe I can at least finish the one project I started...in between all of the Happy Days Celebration activities, buying shoes for the kids, shopping for school supplies.....

Oh well, there's always next year.

Finally!!

The exciting thing in this picture is not the broccoli (although it has a nice flavor). The exciting thing is the okra in the basket. I realize it isn't enough for a meal, but the kids and I are frying it today anyway. We have been patiently (or in my case impatiently) waiting for it ALL summer.

This year has been a strange one for our garden. The summer started out unseasonably cool--good for broccoli and Sadie's third grade cabbage. Bad for okra and tomatoes. The okra is finally beginning to produce and I am hopeful that we may harvest at least one tomato before frost. We have enjoyed potatoes,onions, squash, zucchini, corn and broccoli, so I shouldn't complain. The black-eyed peas are finally producing and the green beans are thinking about blooming. We'll probably dig the rest of the potatoes next week--it is too wet to right now. We have four different varieties of pumpkins growing, too.

Am I going to be able to put up all the vegetables I had hoped? No, but there is always next summer.

Sadie's Flower Mirror

I finished Sadie's mirror today. I can't decide which one of the three I like best. It is hard to see but there are thin lime-green stripes and even some glitter stripes.

Please join me in hoping that Hobby Lobby restocks soon, or I"ll have to rethink some Christmas gifts.

BTW--any project you see here is available for purchase--leave a comment and let me know if you are interested (sorry for the shameless plug, I'm saving up for a nice camera--you should really help me out, it'll make reading my posts much more enjoyable when the pictures are better.)

Project

I just finished making jewelry holders for two of our friends for their birthday. I found simple wooden flowers with mirrors in the center. I painted the flower and added four cup hooks and some ribbon to hang the flower. I thought these would be neat to hang necklaces, hair bands or whatever little girls need to hang.

My next project is a picture frame that I'll paint, add cup hooks, and attach hardware cloth to the opening of the frame. The hardware cloth will be for hanging earrings. I've got several different sized frames to try. It may be a while before you see the finished product--we still have to finish Sadie's room and I have an order for 20 clip boards.

Win Free Ice Cream!!

I read a blog called We are THAT Family. You can go there today to enter for a year's worth of FREE ice cream!! Way cool. While you are there you can sign up for her newsletter that is coming out in August. I think it'll be interesting.

I think you'll enjoy the blog. I've found it entertaining. Go check it out.