Capture the Details

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

The giant slide at the pumpkin patch is Sarah and Ben's favorite activity. This year I parked myself at the bottom and took pictures of them coming in for a landing. Or not.

Ready at the top?

   

Sarah first...

 

 

 

Now Ben.....

 

 

The slide is big. The slide is fast. And the little man is sporting a lovely black and blue shoulder and skinned elbow today because on his last flight down he accidentally turned himself around and landed on his shoulder and neck. A few months ago he accidentally flipped himself over on a swing and gave himself a nasty brush-burn up his spine. Yup, he's all boy.

:-)

Friday nights

They have certainly changed since twenty years ago.

Twenty years ago I would have been 20 years old and a junior in college. Since it's a Friday night in October I most likely would have been out with my friends at a party somewhere. Now, here I sit at my computer, with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on TV in the background, and eating a bowl of Honeynut Cheerios.

yeehaw :-)

Earlier today I learned something new...... how to make applesauce. (Did you ever try to learn one new thing a day? It could be fun.)

 

Applesauce stalagmites and stalactites....

 

A cute little helper showed up and she was so pretty in pink and brown....

 

 

Little Aubrie kept us entertained. She tried to help with the bowls....

 

Little stinker!

While the applesauce was cooking we sat talking. I took pictures....

 

Next week we'll be making another batch when a different type of apple is ready. I hope the cute little helper can join us again! :-)

go fly a kite

Or two.

 

 

run around and run around and run around

 

chase it

 

try to stomp on its shadow

 

let more string out - hurry!

 

get yourself untangled

 

Go fly a kite. Or two.

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I know.... I've been going on and on in my recent posts about the beautiful weather we've been having. Gotta get out and soak up the warm, sunny days before the cold hits. The kids suggested flying their kites today and I admit I had as much fun as they did. Even got a bit of sunburn on my cheeks, I noticed that tonight after supper.

I got a few other pictures of the kids while we were outside. Benny Boy was hiding behind his kite but I managed to capture his 1000 watt smile anyway....

 

And Miss Sarah, who wanted to wear all black today.....

 

Even me. I set the timer and sat next to my lovely little zinnia....

   

If you're having nice weather - go out and enjoy. The dishes, dust, and laundry inside can wait. I am finding this out! :-)

me and my details

 

Sometimes I like to challenge myself to capture everyday things in a creative way. To think about how I'm composing my picture. Can I make it more interesting? So, with that in mind, I took a few pictures of some details from my day today....

Sophie's new collar

 

A candle from my aunt

 

My cup of coffee sitting on the stove (notice the light bulb reflected from the range hood above)

 

I made a batch of red cabbage today. (We harvested everything we could two days ago because a frost was predicted. I freeze it in smaller batches.)

 

My hands and camera reflected in a measuring cup

 

I washed several loads of dirty dishes today because of all the cooking I did

 

I also made an apple crisp

I picked up a treat for the kids while at the apple orchard

 

My mom dropped off an old bench for me to use when I carry my laundry basket out to the clothes line.

 

I think I may make this a regular feature here on my blog. Get myself to push the creative envelope more often when it comes to picture taking.

How about you? What are some of the details from your day? :-)

'me time' splurge

I had to run some errands today and while I was out I decided to treat myself to a bit of 'window shopping'.  I went to the outdoor shops at the Lehigh Valley Mall and enjoyed the beautiful day.

I went into Pottery Barn and, oh my, what a deeeeee-light that was. It's decorated for fall and the colors are just so pretty. I fell in love with the color orange while there. I wanted to sit in this chair with a good book and hang out for awhile....

 

I have been drawn to pretty glass jars lately. They have so many potential uses....

 

I love these cute little Pottery Barn clocks...

 

I found The Coolest Rug. I looked down and I was standing on a white, super-fat shag rug. It was like walking on mini marshmallows. Hopefully you can enlarge the photo and take a closer look.....

 

Next I walked down to Coldwater Creek. They have such colorful, beautiful, detailed clothing....

 

 

I crossed over to the Yankee Candle store and smelled a bunch of candles. I love the candied apple and orchard pear scents...

 

Barnes & Noble was next on my walk. I picked up the third book in a series I've been reading....

(I should head back to that orange leather chair.) Plus I got a few more books for Christmas gifts. By this time it was after noon and I was hungry, so I went to the Chinese food restaurant and ordered fried rice, chicken and broccoli and an egg roll. My family doesn't care much for Chinese food so this is definitely a 'me time' thing.

I must say I enjoyed myself. All the colors and textures and smells. Sensory overload in a good way. Eye candy. Rejuvenating. Inspirational.

:-)

well, if you've been wondering...

Recently, I've eluded to the fact that I am doing something for me. I am now ready to share what that 'something' is.

As many of you know, my kids are at an age where they are both in school full-time. Amy, sadly, has decided to close Kinnon Keepsakes where I worked part time. I'm at a point in my life where I feel the need to believe in myself. All of these factors have come together and ***blammo!*** I'm opening a door for myself.

So without further ado, I am finally saying to the world (or at least my loyal blog readers!)....

I am opening an Etsy shop called

 

You can get there by clicking here.  I also have a gallery of what's featured in my store over there in the left column. Right now I have just a few items available. I will be working hard to get more things listed because who wants to visit a bare store  - I don't! But, I needed to get myself started or I'd sit on this forever.

(A funny little story..... I actually made my first sale within a few hours of opening and I was so excited that I shot backwards in my computer chair and ran over my toe with one of the wheels. Todd said, "First sale: $5.00. Doctor bill for injured toe: $200. Profit: negative $195.")

I am also opening a cafepress shop. You can get there by clicking here. Right now I have some items available with my logo on them. I will be adding items featuring my artwork soon.

This is just the start, folks. I am hoping by stepping through this door it will lead to more doors.

Word of mouth is a powerful advertisement. If you like what you see I would appreciate it with my whole heart if you could spread the word about me and my details!

randomness.........

2+1=3

c a t spells cat

Round the bold digit to the nearest thousand: 67,435

Now I have two little people doing homework after school. It seems funny to sit with Ben as he does his, though. I'm impressed with what he knows. He was so proud to show me how he could do his math page. I'm just not used to my little man doing these things!

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Things at the store are 30% off this week (this is the last week to get QuicKutz products at a discount). I was there today to work and I'll be there again on Friday. It was nice to see a few girls that I haven't seen in a while (hi Sue! hi Ivana!). I took all the scrapbook page samples off the walls today and it looks so bare and sad. :-(    FYI to the local people -> Inventory is going down with the sale, but there is still a decent amount of product available. Next week is 40% off, then 50% off the following week and finally 75% off. Details here.

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On the agenda tomorrow: go to the grocery store, make a cheesecake, get some creative time in. :-)

what's been going on around here....

• We survived the downpour from tropical storm Hanna. The grass has greened up and isn't so crunchy underfoot anymore.
• Since I'm talking green things, the deer have eaten 98% of the what-was-beautiful flowering hyacinth bean vine in the middle of my herb garden. They didn't touch the herbs, but they scalped the vine. One day gorgeous, the next gone.
• Benjamin has a cold. It happens every year - within one to two weeks of school starting he gets sick. Gotta keep an eye on him so it doesn't develop into an ear infection.
• Sarah is reading The Chronicles of Narnia. It amazes me because have you seen the size of this book? It's daunting for an adult and she's nine. But, she loves to read.
• I am reading the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Sarah got them as a gift and recently finished reading them. I thought I'd read them as well. They are actually very good (and I'm 40!).
• I spent my rainy day yesterday cleaning and rearranging my art/scrapbook supplies. It's always fun to rediscover a favorite item that you forgot you had!
• Todd spent a good portion of the day today washing and waxing his work truck. Last weekend he washed and waxed our Envoy. My mom asked if she could drop off her Jeep.
• I received a surprise package in the mail from Ronda - thank you!!! So sweet of you!!!!
• I have become addicted to Etsy. A D D I C T E D.
• We are all getting adjusted to the school schedule. No more after-midnight nights for me! I have inherited a neat thing, though. The ability to wake up within a few minutes before my alarm goes off. (I am pretty sure my dad did this as well.) Weird.
• Ben and Sarah (and Todd) have been playing with Lego's. They were strewn from one end of the living room to the other before I made them clean up tonight. I think I saw a Lego alligator strapped to the top of some sort of Lego vehicle. Not sure what was going on there.
• Todd picked the last of the corn from our corn patch. There is another batch but I'm not sure they'll get big enough to pick before the season ends. We had corn-on-the-cob and grilled cheeseburgers for dinner tonight. mmmmmmmmm
• Let's see.... we met Sarah's teacher last week and this week we'll meet Ben's teacher. Sarah and Ben both like their teachers, so this is good. Sarah already came home from school early last week with a bad stomach ache. I met the new school nurse that day and found out the nurse also met Ben - he spilled juice on his shirt at lunch and she gave him another shirt to wear. So, she met both of my kids on the third day of school.
• I'm working on some stuff and can't tell you what it is - I want it to be a surprise. I have to get my butt in gear with this. See that quote over there in the left column under my picture? I have to keep reminding myself of this. Go Patty GO.
• I think that's about it for now. Todd is watching the Phillies so I think I'll head out to the living room to see the score. Maybe have a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. Night!

 

a door closes

By now, my local Kinnon Keepsakes friends, you should have received the email from Amy. If you haven't, you can read it here.

Amy has decided to close the store after six years of business. All of us at Kinnon Keepsakes are heartbroken over this decision, but it was one she had to make. The girls I've worked with have become like family. I've made friends and been inspired by them. I've grown as an artist and as a teacher. I've truly enjoyed working for Amy since the beginning.

Though I'm sad, I am trying to approach this like the saying says.... when a door closes, a window opens. I have decided that here is where my word for the year, cause, should be lighting up like a neon sign. I need to be responsible for where my path will take me next. I have some things in the works which I will reveal in a little while. The kids go back to school next week and I can go at it full force then.

I hope to see you, my Kinnon Keepsakes friends, at some point in the future. I hope you will continue to keep in touch through my blog and email.

I hope you will walk with me on my new path.

Winding down? I don't think so.

Less than two weeks left until school starts and we're busier than ever. So far this week we've had Sophie to the vet for her check-up, the kids and I have been to the dentist (no cavities.... yes even me), the kids and I were at Crystal Cave, the grocery store, the hairdresser. Whew.

Next week looks less active on the calender. Thank goodness ~ a breather before we get back in the school routine. :-)