Somewhere Along The Way

Flight

So it was Friday, May 5th, 2006.  My husband Bill took off for the first time in his plane at Quonset airport at just about 7:45am.  Julian and I were there as well as a small ground crew that Bill assembled which included his brother Paul, Conrad, Vern and another acquaintance named Tim.  What a beautiful flight it was, went without a hitch.  Was beautiful, flawless.  I can only say that I was elated and over joyed while he was taking off and flying I never had a doubt that he wouldn't be okay...(although I didn't sleep a wink the night before!).

7 years have passed since Bill purchased this plane kit....we had just started dating...and now we've been married for over 3 years, have owned 2 homes, and gave birth to a boy and between all those milestones he painstakingly and methodically kept building little by little until he finally finished.  I swear there were times I never thought it would get done.

I'm so proud of my hubby! and I can't wait to go!

"More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination."

— Wilbur Wright

More better living....

My friend sent me this photo from her recent trip to Cannes, France, so yes, I had to scrap it !  Rhonna's swhirls....YUMMY!

Lady of Leisure

I am one lucky Mama today.  My husband is in Phoenix and my son is with his Nana!  I'm all by myself and relishing the peace! What to do with myself ! Just finished a nice long workout and debating whether to go shopping (something I haven't done in forever!), scrapbook, or head out into the yard for some manual labor!

While I'm deciding how to spend my precious free time today - here are two pages I created last night with the assistance of one incredibly talented scrapbook designer Dee Gallimore-Perry who designs for KI Memories and In My Minds Eye.  These pages were created using the Wild Aspargus line.   The LOVE page was done with lots of sanding.  Wild Asparagus sands really well...the paper design itself looks like distressed cloth or wallpaper.  When sanded the paper starts to look even more worn. (v. cool !)  The paper lends itself well for this technique as the core of the paper is white.

The FAMILY page was also done with Wild Asparagus and we used Dee's Designs rub-ons around the center mat - the distressed rub-on had a sponge look to it. 

I've got lots of free wall space, I think I may shadow box these layouts!

   

Two things I learned! Layering is fabulous (& so easy!), sanding is liberating and a great way to let go of stress ! (just wish I felt like sanding down the trim in my kitchen! as we're getting ready to give it an over haul of color!)

RE: challenge....feeling great! and enjoying the workouts!

Where have I been?

I may appear behind on my art journals, but I'm conquering the 21 day personal challenge!

Here is Day 10:

Used my new Stampin Up Earth Elements pens to write the large words and Stampin Up's new french script stamp to do the background. Of course I'm still stuck on the MM flourishes stamps and here I used a metallic acrylic paint which I love.  This is a fantastic quote.  I find all of these quotes becoming my mantras and I'll have to return to them when I feel defeat of any sort or lack of will power!

So what have we been up to?

Teaching scrapbooking to some newbies.

Clearing out the gardens, and playing with this very fun lawn tool called the Cyclone Rake a must have for anyone who gets tons of leaves and has a property that requires days and hours upon hours of raking.  This machine ROCKS!

Visiting the aquarium.

Having weekend breakfast with friends.

Searching for the perfect color to paint the kitchen.

Coloring Easter Eggs.

And exercising like no tomorrow!

Will try to get a few more journal entries in later.

Feels like Spring!

Well here is my art journal for the 3rd day of the challenge!  I'm continuing to explore my acrylic paint collection as well as the Making Memories stamp set.  I must say, after I read the quotes in the a.m. and sit down to work with them I do feel uplifted!  Thanks to everyone who comments on my blog.  This is such a wonderful, warm, creative and INSPIRED community and I'm glad to be a part of it!

and onto to Day 4 !

Day 2. 21 Day Challenge

Day 2 - more about playing with new Making Memories foam stamps and paint! and just taking a few minutes to play and be peaceful.  Artsy Mamma had a nice comment on Day 1 but I have to say I love the title of her blog "A stay-at-home-mom's guide to staying sane through creative expression".  That feels like me too!

Fractured

Going into the bathroom today I did realize Julian was right behind me but didn't think that he had put his hand into the hinge side of the door.  I closed and actually locked the door on his left ring finger.  I'm pretty shaken up.  His finger looked like the letter "Z".

I know these things can happen, but to be the one responsible for his agony, his pain, his tears, his black and blue fractured finger is weighing really heavy on my heart. 

I hurt my son,

badly.

I know it could have been worse.  I know in the scheme of things this really is not that bad.  It's not a head injury, his finger will get better...but I hurt too, and all day I've been a nervous wreck.

We took him to his pediatrician.  We took him for x-rays and we were told fairly quickly that indeed the top of his finger fractured.  It's the most black and blue color I've ever seen.  All those blood vessels burst, squeezed.

My little boy's hand.

He's doing better than even I would probably do.  Not many tears at all this afternoon (although this morning he cried for over an hour).  I let him watch a full movie today.  Wallace and Grommit - the Case of the Were Rabbit.  He watched the whole thing while instinctively holding his hand above his shoulder - like he knew that elevation might stop the throbbing.

I'm wiped out.  I'm glad it wasn't worse, but I'm having a hard time smiling today.  I think I may go into his room and hold him for awhile.

Sticky Rice and Mango Pudding

Well Julian and I just shared one of those with Daddy today at our favorite Thai place!  Warm steaming white rice with a sweet sauce accompanied with fresh mango! Delicious.  As Julian and I walked hand in hand to meet Daddy and Charles - Julian spotted Daddy across the street, then looked at Charles and knew right away who he was.  We were surprised!  It had been a month since Julian saw him!  Great memory! Must take after Mommy.

Taking a cue from 52 Figments a great blog that asks a different question each week.  I thought that maybe brainstorming would ignite some creativity.  Need some of that for the weekend!  It's a scrap girls weekend Friday and Saturday.

Here's a question:  "Imagine having a conversation with yourself 20 years from now, what would you want to ask?"  I'd ask myself whether I had figured out how to live in the moment and if I thought I did a good job raising my son.  I would hope that I didn't have any regrets.

Fiona's present to Julian came in the mail today!  Julian opened his present ( a lovely book ) and read it until he fell asleep.  Thank you Fiona!  You're so good w/ prezzies and cards!

Quiet Tuesday

Just a quiet Tuesday.  Still winding down from the birthday weekend.  Saw that the girls I scrapbook with at Magical Memories met Donna Downey this weekend!  Donna posted their pics on her weblog.  They're such great gals.  Debbie, the owner invited me to a class in April that's being taught by a paper designer.  Very exciting.

Julian update:  We played at the park this afternoon.  He climbed and went down the slide, and climbed and cried on the swing and wanted to hug the babies.  We hear the train.  He asked to ride the school bus.  We walked to the Mystical Toys toyshop and on the way saw an 8 man crew rowing on the river!  (Wish I had my camera!).  Julian played at the toystore and put all the toys back after he looked at them.  He's so polite and kind like that!  Bill thinks it's a little bit of his OCD about having things in order.  Who knows...we shall see.

Bill came home and played lots of hide and seek with Julian.  They also have this came which Julian calls "two we two"...which Bill calls "one two three whee!".  Bill tickles Julian while counting to three and then plops him down on a couch full of pillows.  It's so great to see the dynamic of Daddy play vs. Mommy play.  Mommy play is "julian help mommy w/ the dishes!".

Spring is definitely in the air and I need to get my behind on the elliptical and jogging outdoors and I need to start eating better!  I feel sooo lardy!

I can hear Bill reading Julian this story...we love this book!

Sunshine and Snow

So this is my first weblog.  Inspired by several artists weblogs that I've been reading over the past few days.  We woke to sunshine and snow this morning.  Started playing with the depth of field in my camera.  I need to work on that. 

So I hope to capture many moments of our lives here as well as some interesting photos of my scrapbook art.  Creating definitely brings some peace into my life as well as energy.  I'm flabbergasted by how huge this industry as grown and how incredibly rewarding it is to design art journals, scrapbooks, and altered books that reflect a day in your life.

I've been inspired by several female artists including Ali Edwards, Claudine Hellmuth as well as so many others.

Here's Julian first thing this morning!  Great sunshine in his room.  He had taken all the nappy sacks from the drawer and scattered them everywhere.  I was angry, he knew it. I pointed to the bags and he picked them all up and handed them to me!  He knew he shouldn't have made a mess with those!

Here's a photo from the deck outside my bedroom.

Hope this is the begining of one great blog!