Personal Retreat

I typically try to attend two scrapbook retreats a year. I like the retreats as I can focus totally on
making pages and not stop to cook dinner, go feed horses, or whatever things I do when I'm home. With the rising costs .... of basically everything ... it has gotten harder and harder to save money to go to theses.  That was the situation I was in this month. I just didn't have the money to go to the store's November retreat.

My dear friend however....saved the day! She is usually my retreat buddy. When I told her I just wasn't going to be able to go to the retreat she said "I have an idea! Let's retreat at my house and use my studio! You can even spend the night here just like a real retreat!" I said "Let's do it!"

So on Thursday, November 12th, I loaded my truck with scrapbooking paraphernalia and headed to her house.

And create....I did! I completed 28 12x12 pages and made 10 cards! We had a blast!

The other advantage to being at her house is the view for sunsets! I was not disappointed! The following pictures were of the sunset the first night I was there.

Sunset over the stock tank ("pond" for those of you farther North).

It was definitely breath-taking and hard to quit taking pictures!

My friend came with me to photograph the sunset Friday night. I'll post about that one another time. Then the next two nights clouds moved in and there was no sunset.


Have a good one!

Picking Up Pecans

On of the things my Mother loves to do is pick up pecans. This hobby was discovered when we first moved to Texas in 1974. We lived in a small wood frame house on a ranch owned by a wealthy man. He allowed us to live there to oversee the property and animals in exchange for rent while my Dad attended seminary to become a minister. On this ranch was a pecan grove. In the 3 years we lived there we picked up enough pecans to bake with, sell and give away.

Kennedy and I picked up pecans yesterday. When Mother learned about it she wanted to go but was keeping Kennedy's brother and sister. I said we'd go today when she was relieved of babysitting duties.

Mother loves to find those little treasures!

Mother invited Kashton to go along with us. It took a few minutes of showing him what to look for but he actually did pretty good!

We were at Keannon's old house they lived in before Kashton was born. The house is still on the market so no one lives there. Might as well help ourselves to the nuts!

It really wasn't cold but he insisted on wearing his jacket! Oh that face!

Kashton finally decided he could take his jacket off. He is pleased with his find!

Such a cutie!

When Mother got tired she brought a little stool to sit on and continue picking up pecans. She was getting ready to sit down when Kashton beat her to the stool! She almost sat on him! It was pretty funny.

I was trying to get Kashton to hold his pecans so you could see them. Instead he's showing them to me!

We had a great time!


Have a good one!

Thanksgiving at Mother's Day Out

Thursday Nov 19th Mother's Day Out had a Thanksgiving lunch for the children and families. Vanessa invited me to join them. This is the place mat that Kashton made.

Kashton was pretty excited to have us there.

Mommy helping fix his plate.

No reason I can't eat this brownie in one bite!

We got someone to take our picture.

It doesn't seem possible that Thanksgiving is next week! Hope everyone has a good one!

Thunder Rolls

November 5th I was working at the store. A storm was rolling just before closing. I took out the trash and captured this view.

We lock up and I hope I make it to the horses before it hits. On last picture before I leave the parking lot.

the clouds were so dark!

I didn't capture a lightning bolt but a "flash"! It was bright!

Thankfully it wasn't as bad as it looked. Just some rain.

Have a good one!

Someone Came Knocking

Wednesday morning November 4th, I had just got up and had gone to the bathroom. I heard a child's voice outside but I knew it wasn't Kennedy or Kashton. That only leaves Korin. She is too little to be outside. I couldn't see my back porch from the bathroom window so I went to the back door and quietly opened the door. This is what I saw! How on earth did she end up on my porch? Then I saw the back door of the apartment was

partially opened. Vanessa had opened it to let the dog out and had left it open so he could come back in. Instead they both ended up on my porch wanting inside! Kajen is as bad as the kids about wanting to come and stay at my house!


On the 12th, Vanessa sent me this video. Excuse the quality but you can tell what is happening.

Looks like Korin likes to come to Savtah's house too!

Have a good one!

Wonderful Works

"He causes us to remember His wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!" Psalm
111:4 NLT

I was walking to the barn to feed the morning of November 2nd. We had a heavy dew and I noticed this spider web on the fence. I took a picture and posted it to Facebook with this caption:

"I saw this walking to the barn. It made me stop and consider how wonderful my God is and caused me to give thanks. Take a moment today to consider Him and marvel in His Greatness. He loves you!"


Have a good one!

Gratitude Card Challenge: 2nd Entry

If you're old enough (I'm about to date myself!) you remember the Lay's Potato Chip slogan "You can't eat just one!"

That's how I feel when I use a sheet of paper for a card. (I can't make just one!) With that said, I made another card for Cards in Envy Gratitude Card Challenge. (you can see the first card I made here).

Once again I utilized the design of the paper so this card is also very simple. Even more simple than the last. Using the same Teresa Collins paper collection. , one of the papers had the words "thank you" all over it with one "thank you" in bold. Just to give it a little more distinction I went over the lettering with "glossy accents". It doesn't really show up in this photograph. I used black cardstock to mat the design paper.

I don't have anyone designated to receive this card but I am always needing a "thank you" card for something so I will hang on to it until I do!

Thanks for looking!

Have a good one!

Gratitude Card Challenge

The card challenge at Cards in Envy this time is Gratitude. It can be gratitude, Thank You or Thanksgiving. I chose "gratitude" as my theme. Last month was Pastor (or clergy) appreciation month. I had been meaning to do something for my Pastor and his wife but time just got away from me. When I saw this challenge I decided to make them a card. I figure better late than not at all!

My card is very simple. In fact I only used paper to create it. No stamps, stickers or other embellishments. The paper collection is Teresa Collins "Giving Thanks" from 2010. I absolutely loved this collection and bought it several times. I am finally down to the last few sheets. I wrote a personal note on the inside.

Thanks for looking!

Have a good one!

Halloween

I went with the kids to a couple of "Fall Festivals" being held by local churches. I wanted to get some pics before we left not being sure if I would get any while we were at the festivals.

Unfortunately it was real quick and I didn't have a good choice of backgrounds but at least I have some pictures!

Kashton is Spiderman and Kennedy is Wonder Woman. Mom even put a little makeup on her.

Korin was able to wear Kennedy's 1st Halloween costume which is a Zebra. As you can see she doesn't like to be still for very long!

The first festival we went to was hosted by the church Keannon and Vanessa are attending called New River. It was a pretty nice set up and they had a photo booth for pictures. I wasn't a very good photographer as I cut off the top which had a banner "Give Thanks" above it. Maybe the church's photo is better. We will have access to it.

Little Miss Priss before we left the house. She did not want to leave her little cap on! Yes she is standing in a rocking chair but I am holding it so it doesn't move!













I thought it would be fun to do a little comparison. Kennedy is on the left. She is 10 months old here in 2010. Korin on the right at 12 months in 2015.

Saturday morning Kashton wanted to come see us at 8:30 AM (one of the advantages of them living out my back door!)  I am usually up but I didn't have to get up so I hadn't yet. Doyle had come in from work so he was already up. Not long after Kashton arrived, here comes Kennedy. I get up and make us all breakfast. Doyle changed clothes and when he came back in the kitchen I realized that he and Kashton had the same colors on! So of course I took a picture!


The little ones had a good time and got way too much candy! The adults tried to help them out by eating the "good stuff"! LOL!

I caught the last of a colorful sunset. I was not in a good place to get a great picture but it was still pretty!

The second festival we went to had a "train ride". Nothing more than a lawnmower pulling barrels with wheels but the kids loved it!

Have a good one!