playgroup at the orchard

Lots of photos, so I'll let them do the talking.














Cara & Lorie on the "Cider Slider." Every time I see this it just makes me smile.










Whew! We had a great time. Cara left with a big bruise, but other than that, we all made it home in one piece.

happenings

When I'm stressed and worried about forgetting something, I make lists. I usually draw little check boxes next to my "to do" items and then check them off as the day goes on and admire the list when every box is marked. Today, however, I only got to check one thing off my list. I did so much today, lots of things to work towards checking off the items on my list, but only one completed item. So, at the end of the day, I looked at that lonely check mark and realized that it's not that I didn't do anything, I just need to write out all my tasks step by step so I can check off more things during the day. heehee.

Since a lot has happened since I posted last, this post will just be a list so I don't forget anything and so I feel accomplished today.

1. Launched the November kit at Studio Calico. This was a huge feat as it was the first time I put together the slideshows and during that same time period, made sure all the shop items were correct, inventory was done, kits were packed, email newsletters were sent, AND the new kit photos worked correctly (which seems simple, but after you edit every photo 3 times, you realize the job isn't that simple after all). Of course, I couldn't have done it without Lorie, Stephen, Cara, Kristen, Mom, Kennon, and Maggie (who took all the kit photos this month).
   

2. Granny #3 who I call "Bertie." Her real name is Berta Faye, but she is my "Bertie." When I was born (along with my twin sister of course), my mom had to have emergency surgery and afterward needed help taking care of us. Her mom lived hours away and my uncle was still in school, so that option was out. Dad's mom worked as a schoolteacher, so that was out as well. So, several ladies from church volunteered to come each day. It didn't take long until mom canceled all the other ladies and just asked Bertie to stay with us all the time. She chose us and we chose her. Apparently, we instantly fell in love and were much better, more contented babies when she was around, so ever since, she has been my grandmother. It's actually a longer story than this, but to keep with my list format, I'll expound more on that later.

After I left Bertie's house on Saturday, she had a mild stroke on Sunday. She's been in the hospital the past two weeks, but is going to be home soon. She's doing very well.

3. Jackson's Orchard. I was determined to make it there this fall since I haven't been since last year, so I went during playgroup time (several of the mothers from church with their young kids get together each Thursday), and took photos. I'll post those tomorrow, but here's one to whet your appetite.

4. House. We've had lots of things delivered, but they're all in crates so there's not much to look at. But, just as an update: The drywall is complete, the plumbing is complete (well, no fixtures are set yet), we're trying to decide on the stain for our floors (they go in next week), the brick on the fireplace is being fixed tomorrow, tile will start next week, and we're in the process of choosing paint colors.

5. Home Front. Putting the final touches on Studio Calico's first release to retailers. It will go live later this week for purchase, shipping mid-November (really, we're shipping earlier than that, but I like to over-deliver instead of over-promising). Email info@studiocalico.com to set up a wholesale account.

6. Recovering. I go tomorrow for a prerequisite to my next round of fertility treatment. Hydrosonogram. Sounds like something with water and I've chosen to be blissfully ignorant on the rest. It's unlike me to not thoroughly research anything that's going to happen to me, but I'm expecting this to just be quick and then I'll be on my way to the next round and back to my regular researcher self. Wish me luck.

I'll post the Jackson's Orchard photos tomorrow. Can't wait! But for now, this list is complete.

i'm sleepy

Last night was horrible.

Let's just say I'm used to sleeping without the back door being opened about 343 times during the night.

Let's also say I'm used to sleeping without 10 intoxicated 20-somethings outside, and in the bathroom across the hall, and in the kitchen.

Let's also say I'm used to sleeping without dogs barking at said persons.

Let's just say I'm old and cranky and I think "kids" should be taught respect and consideration.

So, at 4:00am, after 2 hours of partying, I marched outside and asked how long the party would be lasting so I'd know how long I'd be laying in bed awake, getting hungry, and fuming on the inside. The question was met by a thousand apologies and another 2 hours of partying, and door opening, toilet-flushing and barking. And at 6:05, my 4-year-old cousin woke up and the noise resumed. I welcomed that noise.

Now that my rant is over, here are my sneaks. This is your prize for listening to my complaints.


All items are from the STREET FAIR add-on + Bronze & Blue Raspberry Mists. The bronze just meshes with this add-on so so so well. I used "Going Gray" Stampin' Up! ink on the pumpkins.

All items from the main kit, MARKETPLACE, well except for the thread.


Again, all items from the main kit. I loved how this layout turned out.


All items from the BAZAAR kit. Do I spy wood veneer? Why, yes I do. Love that stuff!

Items from the main kit + Carter Stamps + 1 flower from the BAZAAR add-on. I used brown mist there, but I really wish I had used bronze. I also used "Going Gray" ink by Stampin' Up!


This ended up being my favorite layout. I love the photo on this layout and I loved how it turned out. Can't wait to show you the whole thing.

tour de grandmothers part 3

Grandmother #2 lives in Corpus Christi, so mom and I headed down there on Saturday afternoon. It was three hours away, so we had to stop for Sonic drinks twice along the way :)

Then, when we got to Corpus, my cousin Shana was waiting for us to take her to Sonic for happy hour.


In all, I think we went to Sonic 5 times in 4 days with Shana as an outing. Sad but true.

Apparently, in Shana's world, the only reason to go to church is that it's followed by a Sonic drink. I can relate to her philosophy. Happy Hour certainly gives one a sense of purpose in life.

Back to the visit. On Saturday, we played Skip-Bo and visited.
Sunday was church and more Skip-Bo.
Monday was bowling and more Skip-Bo.


Mom getting all suited up and talking about how nice and new the shoes were. Seriously.

Shana bowls in Special Olympics and her average is a 72. She uses a ramp, but not the bumpers and it's actually more difficult to bowl that way than normal. You'd think the ramp would help, but actually, it has more to do with the weight of the ball and the position of the holes. Trust me, she knows all about it, but she also thinks the color of the ball matters, too :)

Okay, so this is not the best photo, because I handed the camera over to mom without changing the focus setting, but it's the only one I have to illustrate my point. After 2 days, I guess Shana hadn't noticed my long hair, but literally as soon as I stepped down from bowling my first frame she hasn't stopped signing about wanting long hair since. I suppose she noticed because my back was to her, but anyway, I must have told her 50 times that she had to be patient and it takes time for hair to grow. I almost went out and cut mine just to even the playing field :)

Mom's rear. This is the reason she can say I need to lose weight. She's not a hypocrite, I tell you.

I tried to get a photo with Granny's mouth closed, but it just wasn't happening and this was the least awkward of the photos.

Shana, trying her luck with the yellow ball. (Aunt Jeana is helping)




My goal was to break 100 and I did. Check out that strike-spare-strike run in the 8th, 9th and 10th frames!

Mom still beat me with 148 and Shana beat her average by 2 points, so we were all happy except for my aunt Jeana.

Tuesday, we took photos and said good-bye and this is what happens when you try to get a serious photo with my mom's side of the family:


Then, Granny made a comment about a memorial service she went to. She said the wife couldn't find a photo of her husband without her in it....kind of a sweet comment. But, then we decided, we should head off that problem and go ahead and take a funeral photo for Granny. This was the result.


Kind of morbid, but we were having a good time.


All these photos are posted SOOC (straight out of the camera). I would have edited more, but I don't have actions saved on this computer. But, anyway, at least my lighting in most of them was okay. Getting better at shooting in manual thanks to Maggie.

potty humor

This falls under the category "tour de grandmothers" but I just couldn't resist titling my post "potty humor."

Ever since I got to Texas, my hiney hasn't known what to do. At my granny #1's house, the toilets are all elevated, which is nice, but for a hiney that isn't well-educated, it doesn't know what to do. It feels like it might be peeing on the lid at some times and then when it travels to granny #2's house, it feels like it's sitting on the floor with a regular height toilet. Then, when it goes back to granny #1, it plays the mind games again. What's a hiney to do?

Then, add in the fact that granny #1 has broken the toilet seats so often that my uncle got her a heavy-duty toilet seat, and the potty humor is in full force. Take a look at this bad boy!

See the wingspan and contour on that thing?
tThe rim measures at least 7" and if I thought I could have gotten a ruler into the bathroom on this covert operation to photograph the potty, I would have just to prove it.


And, last but not least, I have to mention the carpet in the bathroom. Who puts carpet in the bathroom? My grandmother. The good thing about this house is that the last house had blue carpet.

The more I learn about getting older....I guess I shouldn't finish this sentence.

tour de grandmothers part 1

When my mom and I landed in Houston, the welcoming committee was there to pick us up. Grandma, Uncle Steve, Aunt Kathy, Brandi (my cousin), and Piper (her daughter). Let's just say it was a good thing we only had carry-on luggage.

Piper was her usual talkative self and we chatted the whole way back to West Columbia (an hour's drive) about Bolt, school, Marley & Me, and braiding hair. Fun stuff.



When we got to Kathy and Steve's new house, I got the guided tour. The house has lots of limestone, which is so beautiful, but is horrible for wireless internet, if you want to know. Luckily, though, they have wireless, so that's where I plan to be on sneak night (Tuesday) for Studio Calico.

On the house tour, I saw lots of interesting things. One was a portrait/painting of my dad that they had found in Grandma's attic when they were moving. He had it done in New Orleans many years ago and it's just so cute. Can't wait to show you!

Another interesting item was Grandma's toilet seat. Talk about a throne! I was going to try to sneak a photo of it today, but it was......well....it was pungent when I passed by her room. Maybe I'll have better luck later.

Today, Kathy got up and cooked a big breakfast on her 48" cooktop. Sausage, bacon, eggs, new potatoes, toast...she can fit a lot on that griddle! I'm so happy we decided to go with the same size cooktop in our farmhouse. It's perfect for cooking for a crowd, and let's face it, when you live on a farm, cooking is the only option you have if you want to eat, so I know I'll be doing lots of it.

I'll leave you with a photo of my Grandma, known to Piper as "Mammaw" and she gets confused when I call her by any other name.


Right now, I'm in Corpus Christi (3 hours south of West Columbia) for a couple days visiting my maternal grandmother. I'll have photos of that tomorrow, hopefully.

what's in your attic?

While I was looking for this fair poster, and coveting it yet again, I stumbled across this blackboard:


And, of the limited antique/flea market shopping I've done, whadya know? I have this exact blackboard in my closet at home. I ran across it one day, probably while looking for some cool paper items for Studio Calico and I paid about $10 for it.

So, when I saw it at threepotatofour, for $150, I got really excited thinking what I had was worth something!

But before you knew it, I was checking out with the Fair Poster in my cart for $60, and thought, what an idiot I am because they probably paid $3 for it. Then I wasn't so excited.

sunset at the farm

Friday afternoon, it was 72 degrees and there was a cool breeze in the air.
Again, we were working on the farm until sunset, so when I saw this, I told Greg I couldn't wait to live at the farm, sit on the porch and be old.

I think I've inherited my grandfather's crankiness.

thou shalt not covet

Is it coveting if you just want something really badly and think it would look really really awesome in your farmhouse mainly because of the cute cow and know that it's likely never ever going to come around again?