All Hallo's Eve....well, almost...

Fall,
It is one of my most favorite times of year.
I love the Fall colors and Halloween has always brought back fond memories.

However, if there was an equivalent to "Scrooge" at Halloween, it would be me this year.
I'm not sure why.
A multiple of reasons I'm sure and I won't rant on here, but mostly I think it's for two reasons.
One, it falls on a Wednesday this year. Yuck.
and two, because, over the years Scott has built up a very elaborate and amazing  yard for people to come enjoy on Halloween. It takes many, many hours to build; many people to "run it" and lots of finances to keep it going. The Mad Medic Maze has provided our family with many wonderful memories. However, last year, once again, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came and how many of them who leave their candy wrapper trash in our front yard when it's all done.

However, this is one of the best times for me to craft....
Well, it's only taken me about 6 weeks to complete these because I've only had about an hour each weekend to work on them, but I finished these today....

All were inspired by other crafters' work on Pinterest!
I love that McKenna was inspired too!

She said she used masking tape to add texture to her mummy....girl after my own heart!

Speaking of Mummys....check out this easy gift idea:

I used Crystal Lite containers and wrapped them in gauze; glued on googly eyes and ta-da, stuff with candy and all done!  I felt so guilty for something so simple. So I attached tags that I created a long time ago that I'm sure took me hours to create! (That's more like me!)

It also wouldn't be Fall or Halloween around here without picking out pumpkins for the girls to carve or paint.

 While there, I even included me in a photo. I hate photos of me anymore. (So please don't write me and say "you look great" because if this is what I really look like all the time........well, I just don't want to know!)  However, although it was extremely windy, this photo will always bring back some good memories. I like that I am wearing my grandfather's denim jacket and the girls and I had so much fun because we set the camera on a timer. We were laughing a giggling the whole time!

We were in Oxford, near The Villages so Andrea could help out her former art teacher with a face painting booth at their Fall Festival.(I love watching her paint.)

McKenna was her first customer!

Just before Andrea reported for duty, we actually had time to kill and we found some really cool places to take photos:

It felt good takin' the ol' camera out!
All photos have been edited.....and all editing done at www.picmonkey.com.....love, love, love that website. I'll be so disappointed when it isn't free anymore.

So, I got to play a little, craft a little and edit a little.....all in all, not a bad weekend for such a scrooge.
Happy Halloween everyone! May it be happy and safe!
Love,
Melle

Don't Faint.....

but it's a blog post....well, sort of....
It's Sunday night.....it's late for me.....and I'm tuckered.....but I didn't want another week to pass without something on the blog.....

so here it is, brief, a flash before your eyes sort of video......

Happy 18th birthday my sweet, beautiful daughter.

Love Mom.
(Making teacher's crafts next weekend - hopefully a better update then??!!)

Thank you Lord for a 3 day weekend!

From car breaking down on Friday and then again Saturday to starting a new personal project idea that was inspired by my mom and getting a lot done related to work, it's been a roller coaster type weekend, but oh so very, very grateful to have had the extra day off for the Labor Day Holiday!!!

Making the "all done" list:
 - a beautiful prom dress for Andrea...couldn't help it....only $39.99 (that's what it rung up AFTER I thought I got it for a steal at $79.99!).
-pretty little silver shoes for McKenna...she is in a wedding in two weeks (also picked up the headband to match - her purchase totaled more than Andrea's dress!).
-bought part of the wedding gift for the wedding that is still two weeks away (that's early for me!).
-Grandpa fixed the broken car
-worked in the classroom for about an hour and a half
-painted and crafted mostly classroom projects, but still felt good to get them done
-started a new dragon project for me (3 canvases) inspired by my mommy :o)
-groceries, all laundry and cooked a meal or two (well, with daughters helping)
-lesson plans done for another week
-classroom blog completely updated with a slideshow I really really like

Making the "not done yet" list
-grades

Thanks to a friend:
Thanks to Facebook:
Thanks to a friend who has "friended" be on Facebook:
And thanks to the internet, I have now found a website I love!
(okay, okay, another website I love, but that's not the point)

Enjoy the next 3 music videos from  http://thepianoguys.com/newstore/   The Piano Guys







 and then I'll say, "good-night John Boy".....sigh, does anyone even know what that means anymore............
Sweet dreams......
Melle

Saturdays and cell phone pictures....

Saturdays.
You know they are my favorite day of the week.
But it's not until I'm back to work those first few weeks that I really appreciate them.
The first week back was a little rocky, the first weekend "off" wasn't much better. This past week had it's "bumps", but after being in my classroom for 12 days in a row, I was ready for this Saturday. (So were the mounds of dirty clothes in the laundry room....)
I posted on Facebook that I had one thing on my "to do list".....I never really have one thing on my "to do list", but I liked the way that sounded.....and it was to paint.
I've discovered that I play with paint because it helps me feel better.


I share my paintings cuz' I like to see the "from here to there", but not because I think they are good.
When I share my photography, I hope people think they are "good",
but I share paintings because they were fun to do.....

 Inspired by something I saw on Pinterest:

 Painting style inspired by artist Karrie Evenson (her blog link is listed on the right)

I call it, "the girls"

Doodling and stamping inspired by artist Christy Tomlinson, (her blog is listed on the right too).

I was getting ready to work on this owl that I started weeks ago, and found it interesting how I use my Nook for a resource of inspiration and thought how it was a sign of the times.....

before.....

after.... :o)

I took the above photos on my cell phone because it was handy, while downloading those I found a few more pics I meant to share:

McKenna officially has glasses now,

and of course they include her signature color of green!

And then, I found this photo,

I don't like to include photos of me, but I took this on the first day of school 2012....I don't know why we all were looking the same direction, but I thought it was an okay photo.....yes, I edited the teeth. I wish they were really that white (for all of us) but this is a whole lot cheaper!

Night, night ya'll, wayyyyyy past my bedtime.
Love,
Melle

First Day of School 2012!

I post this every year, and every year I'm just as surprised, overwhelmed, shocked, grateful, overjoyed and in awe......
I can't believe how much my little girls have grown!

 Andrea's 5th grade year and McKenna's PreK-3.....

 

McKenna's 5th grade year and Andrea's Senior Year!

I know I've had 13 years to get ready for this, but I just can't believe it is Andrea's Senior year!
I am just one proud momma!
Although her studies and lessons in school have always been a challenge, she is carrying a load that I never could have imagined. In my day, she's carrying a load that I thought only really, really smart kids did!! :o)
She still has her interest in Fine Arts (whoopwhoop), and has two hours of that, plus Anatomy and Physiology, Economics, British Literature, Pre-Calculus, Spanish II, PLUS Swim Team! :o)
So, so very proud of the young lady she has turned out to be.

It's been a rocky road this first week back, mostly for me, and the weekend was not much better. I still ended up at school both days.....hopefully the next week will be a little smoother.
The good Lord has me here, in this place, for a reason, I only hope I don't let Him down......or the 400 sweet little sweeties that come through my doorway every week.  (not to mention my own "babies")

Love to all,
Melle

....summer's eve.....

All is right with my little world again, and it's a good thing too because it is the eve of  the "First Day of School 2012-2013"!
How?
Well, lesson plans were done by lunchtime today so I then had time to tweak the long range plans and have all 37 weeks planned out, but mostly, because
I got to play with paint!
This summer, June got off to a great started with me checking things off of my "to do" list quiet rapidly.....but when July hit, it seemed as though nothing was going as planned.....that whole "one step forward two steps back" really seemed to fit.

We did visit a few art schools for Andrea;
We did get everyone to the dentist, some of us more than once;
We got some of us to the doctor and the rest of us have appointments;
Got some of us to the eye doctors and one even gets new glasses next week - McKenna picked out a pair with her favorite color green on them;
McKenna swam and swam, morning, almost noon, and night;
Andrea drove and drove morning, noon and almost night in driver's ed;
Scott and I traded spaces: man cave in garage and studio in old man cave;
If that's hard to follow, that's okay, just know our "spaces" must be the secret to our 20 year marriage we celebrated this summer.

McKenna starts middle school (5th for us),
and Andrea starts her Senior year.
I knew this day was coming, but I still find it hard to believe.

 Summer 2012, although you were a roller coaster ride, I am so grateful for my blessings!

PS
Inspired by this on Pinterest:

(I searched for original artist....couldn't find :o( )
I finished this little guy:

I'm certain my kinders can do this for Fire Safety Week :o)

Night night all.
Melle

There's more?

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....

after....

cool, ugh?

 

stay tuned!

Melle