On the hunt....for a purse?

{I know that this photo isn't directly related to the post below but...it's my party and I can post photos all I wanna! ;o) Besides, it's not that often that I get to take in a snowy scene in our front yard.}

I'm on the prowl for a pretty bag.

Not a gift bag...heaven knows, I've got hundreds of those. No, really, I do.

I'm looking for an attractive but functional bag that I can use as a camera bag and a purse. Because I want to avoid looking like I'm going on a weekend away when I'm just going to a program at my son's school!

I've seen the lovely, lovely designs on the j,ill-e site, epiphanie, etc. *sigh* The bags that I fell in love with were too much for my little wallet to handle right now. Did I mention that they were lovely?

So I, being the creative type, decided to take a shot at making my own...kinda.

With the help of some protective camera bag inserts and {fingers crossed} some luck finding a bag I like, I think I'll be able to enjoy the best of two worlds- creativity and functionality.

So I'm off.

To hunt.

For a purse.

Ladies, you understand...right?

Linking up with Darcy for Sweet Shot Tuesday.

All I want for Christmas...

For the holiday season I fully expected to feel chillier temps, see the warm glow of twinkle lights and sing lots of Christmas songs. I wasn't expecting to be a nurse to two very sick boys...but that's life when you have young'uns, right?

One has strep throat and a nasty cough, the other has a major double ear infection. Yikes!

All I want for Christmas is for our boys to be healthy.

Will that fit in my stocking?

Joy in the Simple Things...and my Birthday

Well, I'm a year older today.

Hopefully I'm also a bit wiser, too! I mean, what's the sense in the passage of time if I didn't learn and grow along the way?

I miss my Momma something fierce. Something about the combination of my birthday and Christmas...makes this time of year not as fun as it once was. I've shed more than a few tears.

I'm learning that there is joy in the simple things of the season. The excitement of our boys, planning Christmas surprises with the Hubs, singing with my Dad, a phone call to out-of-state relatives and sweet messages in cards.

Those simple things have brought me the most joy when enjoying the season seemed impossible.

The perfect gift, no fancy wrapping required!

Sweet Shot Tuesday

I don't often get the chance to photograph my brother. Ironic since I know he's a bit of a ham. *chuckling*

These photos were spur of the moment and are blurry, etc. I was laughing and I couldn't figure out which button I'd mashed on my DSLR. *more chuckling*

The results are no less precious to me, though. Or funny.

Did you see his face?

Trust the Bubs to get someone to laugh!

Thanks for visiting! I'm linking up with Darcy over at My 3 Boybarians for Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Busy but blessed.

The title says it all. Here's a glimpse of my to-do list.....

• Get house ready for a big family visit {Thanksgiving}
• Pics of my little studio for Cloth, Paper, Scissors Studio magazine submission
• Type up blurb for above submission
• Finish art, inventory, pricing for my art guild's upcoming Holiday Craft Show
• Finalize craft show display and pack accordingly

In between those items, I'm doing my best to fulfill my most important roles....those of a Mommy and Wife.

I know that y'all can understand. Some of you probably have lists much longer than mine. You have my sympathies and, at the same time, my cheers of encouragement!

We are busy....but so very blessed!

Halloween: Phineas and Ferb Pumpkin

Halloween doesn't excite me. Sure, when I was little the idea of getting dressed up and getting candy was kinda fun....for about 5 minutes and then I wanted to go home. *laughing* I was odd like that!

Now every year the Hubs likes to hand out candy and this year the Bubs got to help. Oh, they had so much fun! The Bubs got to wear a silly cowboy hat and be his social self and the Hubs got a kick, as he always does, out of the little kids in their cute get ups.


We also carve a pumpkin every year. Up above you see the Bubs doing the dirty work for me with the pumpkin. ;o)






Last year's pumpkin sported Thomas the Tank Engine. This year it was all about Phineas and Ferb. Y'all, I couldn't find a P & F pumpkin carving template anywhere! I ended up drawing a free hand template while I looked at coloring pages online. Eek!



In between handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, the Hubs told me that the pumpkin was a hit with the parents and kids alike! One lady even took a picture with her camera phone.

I hope y'all enjoyed your weekend and have a wonderful week!

Photos at the farm II...

While we waited for our turn on the hayride we let the boys take advantage of the wide open space. They ran and laughed and had such a good time. The Hubs and I followed them around and made sure no oopsies or owies happened. Poppi held our place in line....thank goodness, 'cause it was busy!

E-man was begging for his sippy by the time we got back in line for the ride.










Once we got on the ride,we enjoyed the pretty evening and taking in the woodsy scene around us. The Bubs, my little planner, talked a bit about coming back around Christmas time to ride and see the lights and displays that the farms puts up during the holiday season. E-man, for the most part was quietly taking it all in from Poppi's lap.

The Hubs and I enjoyed the quiet.

Once we reached the pumpkin patch, the quiet was over. Bubs and his daddy wandered off to pick out the perfect pumpkin while Poppi and I followed after E-man. He decided that sitting in the middle of a field of pumpkins was a good thing to do. I happily let him...as long as he didn't put anything in his mouth!



I hope that you and yours have a wonderful weekend! Maybe a visit to the farm?