And Then This Happened

So I was going to blog last week,

but then I finally got around to making this...

 

and then this happened...

 

Then before I knew it,

I had picked this up...

 

and this started happening...

and then it was Monday.

There was also lots of celebrating.
Celebrating of the boy
and then the SIL
and then the Farmboy.

It was a pretty good week.
I hope yours was too?



On My Worktable {Balancing}

As usual, my worktable is full of projects.

Always so much going on.

 

 

Some are projects waiting to be started.

Some are waiting to be finished.

Some have been waiting to be finished for a very long time.



 

Some are projects that are on-going.

Some are waiting to be given to others.

Some are in memory of others.

 

Some are projects full of family memories.

And some are dreams waiting to come true.

 

The tricky part to my worktable is finding a balance.

When to work on what.

How much time to spend on each so that it all gets finished.

 

Just when I think I've figured out how to get it all done,

my mental worktable gets thrown into the mix.

 

All the life things like laundry, what's for dinner,

weeding the flower beds, cleaning toilets,

making sure the bills are paid,

how to make those big dreams come true.

 

I used to crumple to the floor in a heap of frayed and wailing nerves

when I couldn't get everything finished

in a timely and rose scented manner.

But now,

now I have learned to pull my shoulders back and charge it head on,

like a bull with a bee in his bonnet, and give it my all.

And if not everything gets taken care of,

then it doesn't.

I gave it my best.

 

And that is enough.

Even if some days my best is no more than taking a shower and writing a blog post.

 

 



Coffee and the Sea

If you follow me on Instagram then you know

the Farmboy and I swept ourselves away to the island

a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

Well, swept may be too swift of a description as we

got on a broken plane

got off a broken plane

waited

got on a working plane

ran 38 gates through an airport

missed a plane

waited

got on another plane

waited

and then got on a 9 seat flying sports car which was flown by a pilot who seemed to find more interest in the state of his manicure than his control panel or what lay outside his windshield.

 

 

{but I would totally do that last plane again... quite exhilarating being in the clouds like that}

{nothing like being on a 747}

 

 

So we went.

It was a much needed time for the over-stressed Farmboy.

{and we don't like our Farmboys over-stressed}

We went and we drank coffee and we stared at the sea.

And life was good.

 

{wait.  that's a pinot grigio and the sea}

 

Until he and my father went diving and I chose not to

for reasons unbeknownst to even myself.

And I missed the eagle rays.

Wait.  Let me be a little more clear about my disappointment.

 

I. MISSED. THE EAGLE RAYS!

 

Three of them.  I even knew they had been hanging around; knew before I ever left home.

And I forgot.

The only thing I wanted to see while there

{except for my parents}

and I forgot about them.

 

{no.  that's a pig swilling a beer}

 

So, I pushed my anguish aside and

I drank more coffee and stared at the sea a little harder.

 

 

I love being at home.

I am a homebody without a doubt.

But I do also so love to go away on an adventure.

I never fail to come home refreshed and full of inspiration.

Even when I miss out on eagle rays.

 

*********

 

Before I sign off, I'd like to say thank you.

Thank you to everyone who helped out with

the online Auction for Oklahoma.

Thank you for placing bids.  Thank you for spreading the word.

You make life a beautiful place to be.

 



Hope For Oklahoma {Auction}

Hi, y'all!

I know I said I was taking a break, but this must be shared.

 

I'm sure a lot of you have heard about the devastating tornado that hit my neighbor state,

Oklahoma.

Moore, OK was literally torn apart.

Physically and emotionally.

 

Here is where we can help.

The amazing Heather Ales has organized
{in record breaking time- I think organizing might just be her super power}
an auction to raise funds to help those in Moore.
100% of the proceeds will go directly to the families in need.

Heather has a community page on Facebook called
Hope for Oklahoma.
Under "photos" there is an album called
Hope for Oklahoma Auction Photos.
Simply click on the photo of your choice
and place your bid and your PayPal email address in the comments.

There are a total of 190 items to bid on.
{art, handmade jewelry and many other items}
The auction has already opened and will close Friday, May 31 at 7pm CST.
So go place those bids!!!

I was out of town when the tornado struck and was afraid I would not be back in time to participate,
but luckily I made it just under the wire.

I have a handmade, handbound journal available just for you.
A place to write, paint, paste or draw your dreams.

Go check it out, y'all.
There is some really wonderful work and items up for bid,
but the very, very best part is that you get to help someone.
So please, take your big, beautiful hearts and go help.

Love to you all!



Blog Break {But Just A Short One}

Happy Friday!

 

I'm going to take a quick, little break.

Just a week.

And then I'll be back.

 

See you soon.

Project Life {Organization}

Before I started Project Life

I spent a bit of time

looking through Pintrest at the ways others organize their supplies.

There are some really cool ideas out there.

 

 

I decided the best way for me, would be in this old steamer trunk tray

that I already had.

 

 

Because I had to wait a bit before putting it all together,

due to the studio redo,

I had left the kit cards in the tray they came in.

That worked for me so when it came time to put everything into the trunk tray

I kept the cards in the plastic tray, but pulled it off the cardboard box.

 

 

While I was ripping things apart, I went ahead and pulled out the accordion file from

the Paypaya! Art planner I've been using.

I keep tags and labels, small paper scraps and the bits of life ephemera that will go onto the pages.

 

 

In the other side of the trunk tray I have a box of washi tapes, a container of alphabet and number stamps, a little box containing pencil, pens, scissors, etc., a few other tools

plus my Cannon Selphy printer.

 

 

I am so glad I had this trunk tray.

It is the perfect "caddy" for all of my PL stuff.

And the bonus is,

it's easily portable.

 



Outside My Backdoor

I was puttering about the other day,

just outside my backdoor.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Spring is almost over, here in Texas,

and summer will be here in the blink of an eye.

I'm not quite ready for that.

 

*********

 

All photos taken with my iPhone 4S and

processed with Florabella actions.