Well, "Scott's Cold" ultimately knocked ALL of us on our backsides and changed plans for all of us; most notably our 20th anniversary in St.Augustine and a weekend visit with Aunt Sue :o( all of which will be rescheduled, but still disappointing at the time.
However, in the last 24hrs. I must be feeling a little better 'cuz I mustarded up some energy for some more creative play. Well, truth be told, the standing to paint was still making me feel dizzy, so I got the idea to photograph the artwork and then play with it in PicMonkey. (PicMonkey - I love! I've mentioned it before and you may be familiar but if not, it's an easy-peasy to use FREE online photo editing site....and they have just added new borders that i LOVE! click HERE to take you there)
So here's what I've done for now:
And so, now the question I keep asking myself is, "what to do with it?" Notecards are always safe for me, so I will probably send these off for prints and you might see them in a gift bag near you....{wink}!
So then I answer, "you don't have to do anything with it, it's just for fun".
Yes, I know.
But I still long to be original.
The above ideas are right from the blog pages of my favorite gals, Christy Tomlinson (house), Karrie Evenson (cat) and Donna Downey (red flower).
I keep thinking that maybe these will be my learning years, like what I have my own students do and then after lots and lots of practice maybe I will be........successful at my own originality.
In the meantime, i am open to suggestions! :O)
Thought I'd share this original before editing.....just in case you thought it was all me....
It's not that I didn't want to post, I just didn't know where to start.....
Well, besides working on scanning and documenting family photos, the other thing that was consuming all of my free time away from blogging was me playing with paper and paint in the "studio"...(which is the garage space that has been temperarily reclaimed by Scott with his renewed interest in his model trains....this of which I am not disappointed at all; it keeps him home more; something I understand a little and that we can conversate about; and he's gotten Andrea involved in painting background scenary on the wall.....which has also temperarily consumed my creative space.....of which I'm not disappointed at all.....did I say that....and you shouldn't be either....see, it allows this time for catching up via these blog posts....while they are only temperarily in my space.............)
Sorry.
I digrese.
Okay, where was I?
Aw yes, through Pinterest I'm sure, I came across an artist who was painting in a style in which I like
and then I discovered she has posted many how to videos on YouTube. So I watched. and watched. and watched again when I ran out, I signed up for her online acrylic class. Her name is Karrie Evenson and if you click this link, it will take you to the page on her website where she has her artwork for sale (point: it's a super place to see her work).
So, I played:
Karrie does adorable cats and dogs. I have a long way to go, but since this was my first...I'll keep it and won't paint over it.....for now :o)
first, this.....
then this....
got to here.....
then finished here....
I don't think this one is done yet....but I'm not sure what else to add....
Well, the weather is beautiful today, I think I can even open the garage doors for a little while, Scott and Andrea are too sick with chest colds to be in my creative space and after this post I'm feeling a little inspired to go paint!
(Incidentally, I'm also found with some extra free time I wasn't planning on. Scott and I were planning to leave on a two day trip to a very fancy bed and breakfast in St. Augustine to celebrate our 20th, but as I mentioned, he is sick as a dog! I'm lucky too, because he is not one of the needy sick types...in fact, it's better I stay out of his way....I feel terrible that he is so sick....in fact, I'm sure I'll get it before it's all said and done....but for now...perhaps I'll go paint!)
I'm sure I've said it before....well, I've certainly thunk it before....when I fall this far behind on my blog posts, I ultimately put it off because I just don't know where to start in order to "catch up"....
So, yesterday was Daddy's Day and that seems as good a place as any :o)
I got to post this photo to Facebook yesterday:
and left this comment: "It may not have been God's plan to give me the daddy I always dreamed of, but I am very grateful I married the man I always dreamed my children would have for a father. Happy Father's Day - I love you so much!" hmm,hmm pretty much says it all :o)
This photo was taken this past Saturday night at a friends 50th Wedding Anniversary and affirmation of vows. It was very nice and I'm glad we got to be there. Scott was asked to play his bagpipes, which was pretty cool.
The girls helped out with the dollar dance.
Other photos I found that I thought I'd post in honor of Father's Day are these:
Taken in The Villages at the International Music Festival in January of 2012
Taken in The Villages at Church on the Square Christmas of 2010
Taken while visiting daddy one day at work in Palatka (photo says 2006 - hope that's right!) WOW!
If you can detect a slight change in my tone while documenting my photos....you do know me well!
Part of my recent absence is because of my work with our family photos.
It's a two part project;
1. I have millions of photos saved on this computer, but they are barely organized.....I've spent a few hours on that this morning.....
2. I have this desperate yearning to scan old family photos and document their stories...a task I've attempeted before through scrapbooking, but alas it was taking so long, I'd never get it finished. So now, I've just jumped to the Publisher program in my computer and seem to be getting some of the task done.
Here are some favorites from the past few days:
This is a photo of my Great-Grandfather. Our family name on my mother's side is "Ballif"; ain't it cool that he owned his own store? This was in Whithey, Idaho. Yes, I come from a strong line of Mormon background. No multiple wives, that we know of though. {wink} We even have street signs with the Ballif name on them in Salt Lake City, Utah!
And this is Scott when he was only a few weeks old. This is four generations of Broaderick men - so cool!
(Pictured r to l: Grandma Dorothy, Scott's Dad Charlie, his Great-grandfather Charles Calvin and his Grandfather Charles Grant)
And this photo, I forgot all about it and I just love it!
It was taken on my wedding day with my closest friends who stood with me, (Pamela Griggs Cunningham and SueAnne Feener Messieo). We were all putting on our mascara and Sue's son, my "nephew" Donnie was taking a peak - so sweet!
Speaking of our wedding day....I can't believe in two days, we celebrate of 20th anniversary - can't believe it! So grateful to be married to this man!
Okay, back to sorting photos, but stay tuned....'cuz if you've hung in with me this long....I promise, I'll post more :o)
So much to catch up on, but it's the eve of our last week of school and I am ready to go to bed.....
However, just in case anyone was wondering I wanted to make this post....
Yesterday, Scott and I saw The Avengers w/ the girls, for our 3rd time, only this time was in an IMAX theater....it was AWESOME!
Yesterday, we found a pretty little dress for McKenna to wear to her 4th grade graduation tomorrow night (our 5th graders are part of the middle school, so this is it, no more elementary students in this house!)
And yesterday, well, yesterday, I got a new camera.
WHAT, A NEW CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!
IT is AWESOME!!!!!!!
I still feel so guilty.
I still worry whether or not it was the right choice.
But here we are.
It has some simple editing options in the camera, such as this "soft focus" and
this "spot color"
And it seems to take pretty close up photos,
And this was a "snapshot" taken very quickly as the girls did not want me to practice on them again!
Here is the same photo cropped and teeth whiten in Picmonkey.com, but that is the only editing,
So, tomorrow, I'll put the new Nikon P150 to the test with the students in my classroom and McKenna's awards ceremony.......
I'll keep you posted!!
Melle
Dare I say it?
So sorry for the absence.
Actually, not near as busy as I usually am, but just seem to run out of time and energy.
There is some "stuff" to catch up on; not sure where to start, so I'll just use a list.
Not in any particular order:
1. I never posted a follow-up to McKenna saving up her own money for the American Girl Doll named....."McKenna"!
McKenna saves up $109.00 (inc. s & h) of her own money
Well, it did arrive in less than a week and she was thrilled. I made a very short video, but oh so cute, enjoy.
(shhh, she said I could post a photo, but didn't want to me make a slideshow.....but it's so cute!!!)
2. THE YEARBOOKS ARE HERE!!!!!
13 boxes, over 650 books!
I can't show it to you yet, I have to wait for the "big reveal", which actually just means, I can't share them until the day they go home w/ students.....which I hope is Monday, May 14th.....
I am so happy they are here and aren't printed upside down - my greatest fear....
I did find a few "boo-boos" but I think they will be forgiven, 'cuz wait until you see!!!!
So, so pretty :O)!!!!!!
3. I've been working on some owls.
Teacher Appreciation Week is this coming week and I've been workin' on a few ideas.
Inspiration from the Pinterest website is no secret now (more on that in a minute ...hmm, those Pinterest project photos might have to wait until another post....), but I was hoping to take that inspiration this time and give it my own twist.
I like to give a little somethin' - somethin' each day of the week and lead up to the "biggie" on Friday.....
I made two owls, McKenna made two owls and here's the plan:
Monday - inside the tag says,
"Whoo is the highlight of my life? You are!"
Tuesday - inside of tag it says,
"Whoo deserves a break today? You do!"
Wednesday - inside of the tag it says,
"Whoo has the "write" stuff? You do!"
Thursday - inside of the tag it says,
"Whoo keeps me "sharp" You do!"
Friday - "Thank you for making me a whole year wiser!" Okay, so Friday's isn't actually ready yet. This entire idea was inspired by a brown paper gift paper lunch bag decorate like an owl that says, "Thank you for making me a whole year wiser!" One of the culminating gifts will be a set of four note cards, each w/ an owl from above.
Click HERE for the link to the original idea.
4. Saw The Avengers twice this weekend!
Loved it.
5. I got to craft yesterday.
I hope to give a gift this week of a photo album, photo frame and a Shutterfly gift certificate (since we can't give film anymore). I wanted a tag w/ a camera on it.
Saw this IDEA on Junelle Jacobson's blog, so I created this
I cropped it down to just one for the tag.
I admit, I kick up the color saturation and contrast on the new photo editing site I found Picmonkey, which I like very much.
Okay, between dinner and laundry tonight, this post has taken a few hours to create..... But it's a post..... Three weeks of school left w/ students..... Wow, so much to do...... Wow, I know it will pass quickly..... I will try not to keep you waiting for the next update...... TRY! :o)
Melle
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Just finished a book for my teammates and shutterfly says I can post it here....
No way!!!!!!
That is awesome.
Enjoy this sneak peak you "Special" Ladies!!
It was a good week for McKenna; and not bad for this pretty proud momma either!
She has been working hard and practicing her speech for the Tropicana Speech Contest for weeks now. Her topic was about Mr. Disney and the Magic Kingdom. It was a precious speech and it got her 3rd place in her classroom competition. Wow! I could not have talked in front of my classmates like that when I was 10 years old!!
Then, also for weeks now, McKenna has been saving up her money for this year's American Girl Doll. This doll is an important one for so many reasons, but mostly because it is a "McKenna" too!
We deposited her money this week and placed the order online. It should arrive by the end of the week. I'll be sure to post the update. :o)
Well, I didn't want to let this post go with out a shout-out for my other beautiful, talented and amazing daughter {wink}.....
So while enjoying some creative time this weekend at SHE Scrapbooks, a friend mentions Picmonkey as website for photo editing.....well, I love it! I can't wait to play w/ some photos this summer, but I couldn't resist just one photo. This is from a series taken of Andrea this swim season; photos I've been meaning to post.....I didn't take them, by the by, wish I had! Awesome!
And while feeling creative from my time on Saturday, I was inspired by yet another post on Pinterest. I (and some good friends) are hoping that our school goes w/ a western reading theme next year. I found this sample from an art teacher ( mrspicassosartroom.blogspot.com ) who just finished a Wild West Themed Unit. I took the idea and played.....
McKenna helped me with the final touches - I love that!
I so know my students can do this!
FCAT this week for McKenna, I know she's got this!
Keep you posted,
Love Melle
