My Memere

Where do I start? My Memere is strong, feisty, and a little rough around the edges. Well, let's just say she doesn't always think before she speaks. But, she has wonderful stories about how she grew up on the farm, worked in a bottle cap factory, and how she raised her eight children. I love visiting her, and seeing her interact with my children. It really is a full circle moment for me. I sometimes can't believe that I used to sit in her lap and she would rock me to sleep, she would hold my hand when we walked down the street, and I would sit at her dinner table for lunch. Now she does the same things with my children, her great-grandchildren. When I was over her house last Sunday, I noticed her hands. They were amazing. They not only showed her age, but her strength, her wisdom, her courage, her hard work, and her LIFE.


Thanks for all the lessons, stories, and love you have shown and taught me.

Jessica Sprague Class

I am so loving the Oh Shoot Photography class through Jessica Sprague's web site.

I am so inspired. I can't get enough of photography. I want to learn, experiment, be creative, and take a ton of pictures. I LOVE it!! Here are some pictures I have taken so far for the class. Thanks for letting me share.

Happy Birthday!

So my little Diva is another year old. I can't believe that she is two years old. Where has the time gone? I want to remember everything about your young life. I want to remember your smile, your laugh, your cute soft hair, your dimple in your chin, your tiny little teeth, your birth mark on your foot, your wonderful feisty personality, your spunk, and your determination. Nothing can stop you! You can do anything you put your mind too, you are one incredible little girl. A big kiss to you my big girl!She had a bird themed birthday party. It was perfect. You love birds, nature, and wildlife. I made birdhouses, a birthday banner, and cupcake toppers out of Amy Butler's scrapbook paper.

I also bought some bird shaped birdseed favors on etsy from Nature Favors.


I hand-stamped the little pots, put moss and candy in there, put them in cellophane bags, and tied them with a ribbon. Everything looked so pretty in the house. Everyone had a great time, can't wait for next year!

This is why....

...I really can't get anything done when my children are around. My little Baby Spice gets herself in so much trouble, but she is so darn cute I can't stay mad for long. She was eating breakfast very nicely, so I thought I would sneak away for a few seconds to look at some emails. Moments later, I heard her little voice say, "Mommy, Mommy, mess". When I went into the kitchen this is what I found... A little girl covered in maple syrup. I just stood there and laughed (and of course, ran to get my camera), I couldn't help myself. I discovered that she knocked down the big bulk maple syrup bottle we buy at BJ's, and it was just pouring out all over the place from the top of the table. She must have been standing under it, because she was covered in it from HEAD to TOE. What I discovered though, is that syrup comes out very easy. I was surprised that it washed right out, who knew?

Inspiration

Things that inspire me:

1. My children of course, they are my biggest inspirations...



2. Music, especially this song, it makes me think that when I have a bad day, tomorrow is a new day, and the past is the past.



3. Nature

4. Fabric, especially Heather Bailey's new line Nicey Jane, all I can say is delicious...

5. Paper

6. Vintage clothing, sometimes I feel as if I should have grown up in the fifties.

What a year so far....

And it has only been 10 days into the new year. First, I receive news that I have extremely high cholesterol, and that I need to take medication right away. Now, I received this alarming news in a letter. No phone call, no nothing, just a letter. I know that it is not devastating news, but I would have at least have liked to talk about the situation before they decided to just put me on meds, I am only 31. Oh well, maybe that is just me.

Second, I am trying to get back in the work world, but also, try to spend as much time with my family. I know, not an easy task. Well, I got a wonderful interview, for a job that I thought I could balance working and still being with my children perfectly. Well, I didn't get it and I was somewhat devastated. I guess the only thing I could really do was cry. My heart was just a little bit broken, and I actually kind of feel silly admitting that. Because, I felt like, why are you crying? This is not the end of the world, my kids are healthy, I am healthy (well according to the note from my Doctor I am not), and I have food on the table, etc. Cowboy up (I think that is the saying), and stop being a baby. But I just couldn't...

Third, we had no heat. Well, when you live in New England in January you REALLY need heat. So, my good old dad came over (what would I do without him) and tried to fix it, but it really wasn't a simple fix so he couldn't fix it. So he gave us a lot of space heaters, and we would have to call the oil company in the AM. Urghh, well they came over in the AM, and the good news was they were able to fix it and it only cost us $150, but the bad news is that it could keep happening, because it has something do with the wind, and the venting, I don't really know...all I really know is that it is going to be a LONG New England winter.

I know those things I can weather. But it is just hard. I need to get out of this funk, and push forward. So I decided to stop complaining, and try to be better...

What that means in my mind right now I am not sure, but I am hoping I can see things more clearly...

Pictures from My New Camera

I think my new camera takes really great pictures. I am for sure an amateur photographer, but I think this camera makes me look pretty good. Here are some pics I just took outside with very minimal editing. My kids do make great models. Happy Monday! Cheers!