Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......................

If a dirty shirt is dropped in the hallway on the way to the laundry room - is it rendered INVISIBLE to everyone on the planet except those women with the nickname MOM????

You would think that by now, I would know better than to test this theory in my home. It truly would have been less aggravating to pick it up TWO WEEKS ago when I first noticed it -instead of running this maddening visual challenge for my family.

P.S. Dirty bowls on top of the piano also seem to suffer this strange phenomenon.

Why I Love Summer...................

Check out this mornings haul from the farmers market!! The local produce market is growing!! I am impressed by the number of vendors and the variety of produce available.

When my hubby and I talk about where to move to when we retire (to escape Minnesota cold, ice & snow) my first requirement is "somewhere they have year around farmers markets".

Well I am off to roast some beets. Awhile back I had a roasted red beet, green apple & ginger salsa that was out of this world!! I am attempting to duplicate the recipe - wish me luck!!

July in Review.............

Abby went without a friend Birthday party this year in order to get Jonas Brothers concert tickets. Her Uncle Paul arranged it for her to meet them in person...what a great Godfather!!

My dad and I at a family reunion on his mothers side!! It was fun to see Dad with all of his remaining brothers and sisters!! It also gave me access to lots of photos!!!

Mack's mom & dad came for a visit!! This is a photo of them with Kelley (she was dressed up to do a Murder Mystery Dinner). We always have fun when these two come to visit.

June: Fun with friends and "The Foreheads"

We recently went to South Dakota with some friends. We had a great time. Mount Rushmore is impressive and was well worth the trip. I would encourage anyone who is considering a visit to pack up and go!!

Out of the mouth of babes

As the school year winds to a close my kids come home from school and empty a years worth of papers from school out of their back packs in various places all over the house. Today I came across a journal of my son's (he is in 1st grade). He wrote a page about me. Now you may be thinking "how sweet" but wait for it................. According to my son: I like chocolates, hate sports and my favorite hobby (spelled hobe) is SLEEPING!! Well color me red!!! Does anyone else ever worry about the information your kids share with their elementary school teachers?????

An oldie..............

This is an Archivers workshop project from many years ago. I thought I would post it while I am waiting for my post tax season creative juices to start flowing once again. This looks like a scrapbook page, but it is really a canvas on which all the paper-crafting materials have been applied. This has hung in the kid's bathroom for a long time and is now searching for a new resting place while their bathroom remodel is underway.

Mom's New Man?

This is another fun photo from our recent trip to Mexico!! Although Dad does not really have to worry - Mom is still crazy about the fella on the far left!!

I could strangle that Little Red Hen!!!

It is 10:30 p.m. and I just spent the last half hour putting away groceries, emptying and loading the dishwasher. This whole time I am muttering to myself that "I am going to get copies of "The little Red Hen" for every flipping member of this family and force them to read it"!!!

This would be a waste of money, because each family member would be sure that the story is directed at the other family members and not them. The powerful message in this children's story would be too subtle and lost in trasnlation. Or worse yet, they would all agree that the book was absolutly correct and I should start baking bread from scratch.

Due to this fact - I will spend part of my day tomorrow reading Nicole Johnson's Book: The Invisible Women - when only God sees.

This is a book I have read over and over again, and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. It is a PERFECT gift for any wife and mother in what I loving call "The Parenting Trenches". I try to keep a few copies on hand and gift them when I sense the book's wisdom is needed by a friend. Read this book and find peace in the fact that every task we do is worth it, noticed and appreciated by He who matters most of all.

Happy Halloween

JP is dressed like a Skull Ninja. Where is the sweet Peter Pan of years gone by that I remember? Abby is "Michalina", the superior swimming sister of Michael Phelps. Kelley is a Firefighter. I don't have a picture of her, but in my mind she is wondering her College Campus in a VERY conservative flame retardant uniform (work with me here).

Craft Tip - The Gold Medals are made with Nestabilities Scalloped Circles run through the Cuttlebug with the Devine Swirl embossing folder.

Grafton Street Dublin

This is one of the two pictures I took during my recent trip to Dublin Ireland for my Brother-in-Law's wedding. I was blown away by the beautiful flower stands on Grafton Street. The endless variety of flowers made me green with envy. I hope all the lads in Dublin are spoiling their ladies with these gorgeous flowers!!

Things I wished I had taken photographs of:

* Musicians and other performing artists on Grafton Street

* Local artwork for sale along the fence of St. Stephen's Green

* An ECO CAB -(Someone called it an Irish Rickshaw - you sit in it and the driver pedals you around)

* The 8 oz bottle of Diet Coke my husband paid 4.50 Euro for (approx $7.00 USD)

Have you heard the news???????????????

Athena (aka: neeners) has come to live at our house. Yes I know, I have not historically been known as a "Cat person" but like everything in life - things change!! Even Rupert has come to love the new family member.