Cherry Blossom Mug

I'm slipping in a quick post between Financial Peace homework and Income Taxes to show you what I painted last night. I ran across a glass mug that I purchased back in December for a couple of dollars but hadn't been inspired on what to paint on it until last night. Since the Cherry Blossom Festival is going on now in Macon I thought I'd paint Cherry Blossoms on my mug. Painting on glass is so much different than painting on canvas or wood. The enamel paint just seems to slide instead of being absorbs like on other surfaces. It is easier in that you can just wipe it off and start over but other than that it truly takes patience. We had another great message at church yesterday. The 5th installment of the "why i" series was "why i pray". As the other 4, this too was an awesome message. It was great to have Stephanie and Brian with us at church and the rest of the day at the house. I can't wait until our other children are able to join us as their schedules allow. Stephanie helped me get a LOT of things done around the house. Thanks my precious angel! Wayne and Brian went out to help Brandon put the new dog house together and he was already finished. He put it together so quickly and did an awesome job! Thanks bud! However Cam won't go in it yet! Jack figured out real quick how comfy it was and made himself at home. Oh well. Brian and Wayne hung out and watched the race. Hope you have a great week!

An afternoon of painting - Whoo-hoo!

I wasn't sure if I was going to go through with it at my hair appointment on Friday but I did! I decided to go back to brown after a couple of years as a blonde. It's hard to tell in this picture but I do have a lot of highlights. The dark blonde just had too much upkeep! I was meant to be a brunette anyway! We didn't have a great start to our day but it got better. When I got up this morning to let the dogs out, Cam could hardly move. His arthritis was really bothering him. He'd take a couple of steps and lie down. It was pitiful. I called the vet and they let us come right in. They put him on a joint supplement and Rimadyl for the pain and said he should start feeling better in a few days. I had 2 painting classes today. Here is my hibiscus. This was not the easiest piece I've ever done but aren't the colors beautiful? This was my second class, a seascape. It was really pretty easy and LOTS of fun. I've painted palm tress before so it wasn't too bad. However there were a lot of "elements" to this that you don't think about. We actually learned how to sponge on the background. You wouldn't believe all of the colors that are in the sky and the ocean. In between classes today I went to PetSmart and got Cam (and Jack) a new dog house to put right by the back door and an orthapedic bed to give Cam more cushion. Yes, I know he's a dog, but he's part of the family. He has given us so much joy over the last 10 years that we want to make him as comfortable as possible. I know we'll have another great message at church tomorrow so it'll be a good day! I guess I'll spend the rest of the day getting some things done around the house since I played most of the day today! :~) Hope you enjoy what's left of the weekend. ~Kim

Three-day-weekend...

Most of your know that Wayne and I work a 9/80 work week which gives us a 3-day-weekend every other week. Lately I've had to travel or had lots of errands, etc. to do on that extra off-Friday but today all I HAVE to do is get my hair done and go to Petsmart. Of course I'll do a little laundry and straightening up but that'll be it. I slept until 8:00 a.m. which was wonderful! Anyway, I thought I'd share something I did last night. Sandy painted some file folders for someone and I thought that might be fun to have as a special thing at work or even home. I painted 3 cherry blossom folders. They got better each time and this was my third try. I thought Steph might want to share them with her co-workers in Macon since the Cherry Blossom Festival was going on there this coming week. I also painted 6 folders similar to Sandy's of rosebuds. I'm not sure what I am going to do with these but it was good practice. The "canvas" was really cheap since it was a file folder and it is practical. If something happens to it through use I just toss it and pick up another. This is something that will bring a smile to my face when I see it through my day. Well, I'll update more later. By the way, Ashley did well at the hospital on Monday. Hope you have a great day! ::Hugs:: Kim

Beautiful Sunday

It was a gorgeous day in middle Georgia! It was just over 75 degrees and beautiful sunny weather. I finally got out and trimmed our crepe myrtles. I normally do it by Valentine's Day but with all that happened that week, it just never got done. We had another awesome service at church, "Why I Give", and were so glad to have Brian & Stephanie join Wayne, Bryant and I. They got their material for the Financial Peace class and are going to join us this week. Stephanie and Brian also spent the day with us and Steph and I painted a little which we love to do when we are together and have time. I'm loving my Donna Dewberry Flowers from A-Z book. All of the pictures, except for the cherry blossoms here, were inspired by the pictures and instructions in that book. Here are a couple of things I painted while Steph and I had our time together today. Here is my first attempt at cherry blossoms. I used Sandy's Cherry Blossom canvas on her blog as a guide and I thought they came out pretty good. I'm taking this class on canvas on the 21st. So, since I've practiced a bit I hope that canvas will come out exceptionally well. I'm not crazy about this piece but I'll have to try again. The violets are okay but the leaves still give me a fit. I still struggle with placement. Sandy says it is something that will come with time. I hope she's right...I guess I'm just impatient!

Well, I'd better get to bed since we have to be at the hospital in the morning for Ashley's procedure. Luckily we don't have to be there until 9:00 a.m. I'll try to post again soon.

Hugs ~ Kim

Weddings, Playfulness, Mullets and Flowers

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I posted anything. I have lots of pictures to share so let's get started!

Wayne, Steph and I attended Jacquelyn's wedding (Jessica's twin sister) today. She was a beautiful bride. Stephanie and I served the cake and were asked to sit with the family during the wedding. It was a very nice.

Here is a picture of Bryant and Jessica. Jessica looks so pretty here and of course Bryant is cute as a button. We were really glad Bryant was feeling better so he could attend the wedding. He was a sick little guy this week. He tested positive for A & B Flu. The Tamaflu they gave him worked like a miracle!

Stephie and Jessica with their big smiles. I know Stephanie is smiling because if all goes according to plan, 1 year from today, March 10th, 2008, she will be marrying Brian aboard the cruise ship in Tampa!

~

In case you were wondering about Ashley...she was disappointed that she couldn't get anyone to cover her shift so she couldn't be with us.

Jody and Jasmine play all of the time but this time Teddy decided to join in though he doesn't play near as rough as they do. Every once in a while he'll pounce near them make a little growl and run. We think he's part "chicken"!

He's probably going to kill me but I had to post this picuture of Stephanie's fiance', Brian, in his mullet wig he got at the Thrasher's game. He was a good sport to let me take his picture.

I have painted a few times this week although I've yet to finish my birdhouse. (Sandy, I will...I promise!) They're my first attempt at all of these and I didn't have Sandy there to encourage me and help me along but not bad.

...my Tiger Lilly...

...my Hibiscus...

...my Trumpet Flowers...

...and this is a very large butterly! It's not exactly symetrical but pretty anyway.

Now for some real flowers blooming in our yard. Spring is coming and it is so strange since I've been painting that I really examine all of the flowers that I see and marvel at their beauty. I've always known that God is amazing but each day as I see the things of nature that He's created it reminds me that He is an AWESOME God! I'm merely trying to paint His exquisite works of art and He's created billions of wonderous works of art that we overlook every day.

Be sure to take time to examine His wonderous works today!

Oh, I need to share with you that Ashley was selected as a "paid math tutor" at the college for next quarter. That will be great experience for her since she is going to be a high school math teacher. She has actually been tutoring students since she was in 8th grade. She takes after her Dad and is amazing in math. This quarter was over for her on Thursday. She hasn't gotten all of her grades yet but so far has 2 A's.

Also, please keep Ashley in your prayers on Monday. She will have her yearly upper endoscopy to check on the healing of her ulcers. They are also going to take a biopsy to check for the H-Pylori bacteria since he had it last year.

I'll try not to wait so long between posts. Take care and don't forget to enjoy the beautiful flowers as you are out this week. Love to all - Kim

The Finishing Touches

Well, thanks to my friend Sandy, I took her advice and had my tulips and rooster framed at Hobby Lobby today. They did and awesome job. The open-backed frames were 50% off and for $1.00 they secured the canvas to the frame and added a wire hanger. I can't believe how it gave it such a finished look. I guess I'll save all of my pictures for their 50% off sale and have everything framed.

I gave my rooster painting to my friend, Judy as a housewarming gift. When she saw it for the first time she told me that I'd have to paint one for her because she was going to decorate her kitchen in roosters. I knew at the point that I wanted to give it to her but have been waiting to get it framed. You can't really see it in this picture but it has just a little tiny bit of red on the edges that really makes this frame perfect. Judy has lovingly named him, "Chubby"!

I also had an old photo that my Great Aunt gave Wayne and I as a wedding gift in 1978 of my grandfather as a baby with his mother. This picture is almost 100 years old! This picture doesn't do the finished product justice but it looks great. There are 2 pieces of glass and 2 mats. I zoomed in a bit so you could see the beautiful handwork on her blouse. I just love her hair, the clothes and the way she is looking at my grandfather. I love old pictures but this one is so special because it is of my family and I knew my grandfather very well since he didn't pass away until I was about 25 years old. This picture is one of my most treasured posessions.

Well, I guess that's about it for today. I've walked a couple of times this week but didn't make it today. We are planning on going back to Lifepoint Church tomorrow so maybe I'll get my walk in after that. Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing and joyful Sunday. Kim

Weathering the storm...

Bryant lost his first tooth this week. He looks so cute. He's got another loose tooth and can't wait for the tooth fairy to visit again! We had a bad storm here last night and into the morning. LOTS of rain, wind and several tornados. This is the same storm that devastated Enterprise, Alabama yesterday afternoon. Our hearts go out to all of the families who suffered loss of belongings but especially to those who lost loved ones. We were very fortunate here and were so happy to have Brandon's (Ashley's boyfriend) family here with us from Crawford county since they lost power. Our dogs were going crazy with the bad weather, especially our two meteorologists, Annie and Jody. They KNOW when rain and bad weather is heading our way. They are terrified of it and their mood changes and just want to be held or hide somewhere. Wayne and I were off work today. We kept Bryant last night because he wasn't feeling well and we were pretty sure he wouldn't be going to school today. Wayne played golf. Bryant and I didn't do much. Neither of us felt very well so we slept and relaxed all day. I hated to "waste" my day off like that but I think my body needed the rest.

I had my birdhouse painting class on Monday but haven't finished it yet. Here is what I've done so far. I'll try to work on it soon and post a picture of the finished piece.

These teeny-tiny flowers and bugs are a real challenge for me. To give you a better perspective of the size. This whole painted section is only 2 inches tall! The bees are about 1/4" long! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! :~) Kim