Hi guys! Just a (not so little) update.
Hubby thinks he *might* be home in about a week/ week and a half.
Friday I have an early appointment to have my regular thyroid checkup. Wish that wasn't part of my schedule, but it must be done.
There is a chili and BBQ cook-off in town here this weekend. Me and the boys are for sure going. I just hope I don't forget my camera. (Which reminds me, I need to put it on the charger.)
I finally laid out my pictures from one of our cabin trip from last year. I placed all the pictures in the order that I want them to go in the album and now I just need to pick out the papers and cardstock for it. Well, that and actually making twenty 8X8 layouts! lol
Karen came over and helped me get the scrapbook theater back in order. It was a complete disaster area! I should have taken before and after pics. to share but then you'd have seen how utterly disorganized it had become. :(
We started cleaning around 5pm and did not get finished until around 5am. We didn't plan to stay up all night cleaning/re-arranging but, it just happened that way.
Caleb is getting his birthday gift a bit early this year and he knows what it is but there is a good reason for that. He really wanted a laptop of his own. This is a good thing because up until he started 9th grade this year he never wanted anything to do with computers. Well, graphic design was one of his chosen electives and he also has typing class. He is also learning Spanish on Rosetta Stone this year which is also on computer. So really it is an educational investment and I didn't want to wait until the year was half over to let him begin using it. His birthday isn't until Dec. 15th.
So, I called Chris and we talked it over for all of 30 seconds, and now the laptop will be here Monday. I really think this could be the tool that will help him become a better reader. Caleb takes after his fathers side of the family. None of them can read or spell worth a lick! Chris can, but just at a slow pace.
Alex took after me and learning how to read and spell came real easy for him. Thank goodness!
Caleb will begin studying for his learners permit next month and I just pray that he doesn't struggle with it. The kid is an excellent driver. He could pass the driving part of the test with his eyes closed.
Lastly, I've been spending my free time making these cool frayed edge multi-layered denim flowers. I also made my own bundle of cinnamon scented grubby taper candles. It turned out really nice! Besides the candles I added some willow springs, rusted stars, and tied it all together with raffia.
I will try to remember to post pictures of it all later today.
Do they look like old carved canes to you?
My KitchenAid mixer, because Chris bought it for me. He knew how much I had wanted one for so long. Call me silly but my kitchen really never felt like home until I got it.
I love my birds in flight decals on my cabinets. I have them on all of my upper cabinets that wrap around my kitchen. They all are flying in the same direction, right for the front door. It looks like a big flock is passing through.
Oh how I LOVE my chalkboard! It is HUGE and takes up the better part of one of my kitchen walls. It may seem like an odd thing to have in a kitchen but it comes in very handy. It was originally in a public school classroom. I have used it many hours in homeschooling my own boys, too. We also use it to keep lists of things we need to get when we go to town. Hubby leaves me sweet love notes on it. And sometimes we just get together and draw on it. Talk about a cool game of "pictionary."
I grabbed this up at Etsy. I love how it is coffee theme and a bit rustic looking all at the same time.
I adore the centerpiece on my kitchen table. The willow tree I bought on a shopping trip in Pigeon Forge, TN. The wooden cup full of coffee beans Chris made for me, and the egg gourds in the basket came from Etsy.
Also purchased at Etsy is my new prim canister set. Just looking up at them above the stove makes me happy. =)
My latest creation. Cinnamon scented, wax dipped, salt dough bowl fillers in fall theme.
I really enjoyed making them. I had to hand dip them in the wax one at a time which took forever, and I double and triple dipped some of them. They are rolled in cinnamon spices and fresh ground coffee prior to dipping and then rolled in the spices again after dipping. They smell delicious!
I ordered these egg gourds from midnightcoiler over at Etsy. I decided to display them on my kitchen table next to my coffee. So, eggs and coffee is the centerpiece of my table now. Who says flowers can be the only centerpiece? lol
And finally, the grubby primitive candles I made just last night. I enjoy making these so much. They are rolled in cinnamon spices and coffee grounds. They are 5" long each and they smell very yummy!
When I got them in the mail I hand stitched around the edges for a finished look and then added buttons to the centers. I then backed them on a chocolate brown fabric and put the new arrangement in this 12X12 shadowbox style frame.
I had 7 hearts left over so I made a garland strand. They still have buttons, sewn edges, and I added some worn fabric strips between each heart. I need to retake the picture in the daytime because this one is washed out from trying to use the flash.
Corrugated board and paper flower with faux leather leaf and mini tag.
A 3 X 2" glass bottle of coffee beans.
Cinnamon dipped miniature taper grubby candles.
I went back in and added cables around each square, which I am hoping you can see in the second picture. It just gave it dimension and extra texture as well as framing in the squares.
And finally, here's Caleb modeling it for you. I haven't measured it but Caleb is almost 6ft. tall if that gives you some idea. He's got the width hide a little because he wrapped himself in it, but trust me it's plenty big enough to snuggle up in.
