zombie purse and catch up

This month was fairly hectic with me heading back to work.    I had to change my routine with Osa to make sure she got enough playtime in after I got home.....and with the heat, that was difficult.  I haven't had much time for blogging either.  But that doesn't mean I am not doing "stuff!"

I am still plugging away on my CAL squares:

And for my craft along theme of altered art, I made a few things:

I already posted how I decoupaged a cigar box for work, along with a large P for my door.  But I also made a cigar box purse.    This one is for October.....

I have also been busy in the kitchen.....harvesting basil for pureed cubes.  I harvested 3 plants, 4 to go....

 and making my fresh strawberry cake, just because....

Dean and I attended a gala a couple weeks ago....here we are with some friends and co-workers...

no, they aren't ALL women, here I am with Ed....

This is one of the table arrangements, the roses were white.  It is drying naturally and still so lovely.

Wishing you all a happy week!

Hook and a book....and a dog!

Funny how little time I've had for these two things now that we have Osa.     

I never realized just how laid back our other dogs had gotten in their old age.  They were both pretty much on autopilot.

Osa?  Not so much.   She puts me through my paces each day after work.   She is one happy girl...

It took awhile for her to understand the whole fetch concept.  Ginger taught Mojo for us.....but I had to actually teach Osa.  Bittersweet.  What took me 30 minutes would have taken the dogs about 3...but she understands now that if she keeps the ball, I can't throw it for her to chase again!

Another "tail end" shot since it is the end of the work week!

The last 2 days have been beautiful, let's hope it holds up through the weekend!

Osa's dog days of summer

She jumped up next to me to snuggle while I was watching a documentary on polar bears.....she watched the whole thing!

playing mountain goat again....she loves/hates to do this.  She does this when she can't decide which chair to nap in!

She happily ran into the house after rolling in cat poo.  She jumped up on the couch anticipating a scratch, instead....she got a bath!  I literally said "What is this crap on Osa's side?" and then said "Oh, it IS crap on Osa's side!"

meeting Thorgi on the stairs...

greeting me as I walked in the door from my first day back to work!

and happily collapsing on the floor after a 3 and a half hour morning with Dean and I.  We went to the dog park, the farmer's market and PetSmart.  She had a blast.

Just look at that pretty rump!

                                                                        The End!

A grumpy girl

Matt headed back to LSU Wednesday and I was pretty grumpy all week because of it.   Throw in hormones and Louisiana's heat and humidity and I fit the description "hot mess" pretty well.

Here he is with his boss and another summer intern.  This was taken on their last day at work.  Ed Marshall has a tv show in New Orleans that the boys helped him with.  Sadly, he whacked ALL his hair off after this photo.    He said he might grow it out when he does his study abroad.  Good.   I love him with his hair a bit long.

The weekend before he left, he went "skydiving" with a friend.  They jumped out of a plane at 15K feet.    Oh, and they paid good money to do it!   It was a tandem jump for each of them where they were strapped onto a professional.  I'm not sure how his friend felt, but he LOVED it.  I think he'll be doing it again soon....

Dean will be glad not to suffer at his hands for awhile though...

I don't know why I allow myself to get all grumpy and emotional.  I know he will be home in the next month or so.  I just miss him.  I can't imagine how I'll act once Kaela leaves next year.   I'm trying to plan ahead and figure out what to do with my time already!

Super Snoopy!

Our theme this school year is "Adventures in Education."  Everyone is decorating with Superheroes.   

They have tons of neat stuff at Hobby Lobby but even at half price, it could get expensive so I only bought a few things but oooooh, how I could have gone overboard!
When you are a teacher and know a theme will change next year, it helps you tamp the breaks on spending too much.   

Instead, I decided to put my trusty Snoopy back to work and had Kaela help me with my door. It was sort of like playing "paper dolls." She made a paper Batman costume for him.

I used wrapping paper to edge this board and cut a scrap of fabric out as a cape for Snoopy.  Kids put their names on stars when they graduate out of my class so the board should be filled with them by the end of the school year.

I found a giant paperboard "P" at Wally World and grabbed it thinking I'd paint it but instead, I covered it with comics.   

It hangs outside my door.  Most of my students cannot pronounce my last name so they all call me Mrs. "P."  

I also covered a cigar box to hold junk that is on my desk...I forgot how much FUN it is to decoupage something.  Easy to go crazy and start covering everything!

If you look closely, the hole for the ribbon went through the girl's mouth....not intended but funny.  All the kids noticed it!   One thing they didn't notice is that I bought the wrong comics!  These were some alter ego guys...the Superman was from Russia.   No idea who the fake Robin and Batgirl were.  HA!

zombie swap announcement

Stop by my swap blog if you want to play along.   Registration is open until the 22nd!

Here is the link!

KK's Happy Trees

Friday, Kaela told me she was dropping gifted art her senior year.    I knew she might drop it...she told me it was a probability, but it still makes me a little sad.  

That being said, I can't blame her.  She doesn't feel challenged by the new teacher.  Her old teacher was one of those off kilter people who really pushed you and looked at things sideways and inside out.  The new teacher is pretty straight out of the book.  Boooring.   I don't know about you, but I don't know ANY truly creative people I consider boring.  

 Saturday night, she stayed up late watching back to back episodes of Bob Ross.    She loved his tips and quick technique tricks he used.  

Sunday morning rolls around and Dean and I took Osa to the dog park.  When we walked in, she presented me with this little lovely. 



 It took her a little under an hour.  I told her I was impressed by how quick she did it and she said "But BOB could do it in 15 minutes!"

If she wants to take art lessons from a guy I loved to watch on tv when I was a kid, that is fine with me...as long as she is painting happy little trees and happy little clouds.....  Thanks Bob!

Hook and a book

So I have a soon to be Christmas gift....scarf (cowl?) on my hook and am reading another good one by Sandford.  If he is reading this, I have a TERRIFIC idea for a book....I promise.  We will be rich.  Oh, wait.  YOU already are.....

Seriously though, I have about 4 amazing ideas for novels....but I don't have the gift.  Not a word smith.....so I just wonder and wish.....and read his instead!

A couple years ago, I started crocheting around some hangers for myself.    I still do that from time to time.  I especially like it when I find old wooden ones to recover.   I love these because blouses don't slip off the hanger.

Remember this?  It was Osa's first little bed.

Well, apparently, she outgrew it!

Happy "tail end " of the week y'all!

Summer Internship

Matt  is going into finance and was lucky enough to get a paid internship this summer in New Orleans with First NBC Bank.

He worked with Ed Marshall in the marketing division.  He got to help out with Mr. Marshall's weekly show too...always fun.  Ed snapped this shot of him walking around a corner.. SURPRISE!

With summer winding down, they took a photo before everyone parted ways:

I've loved having my sweet boy home this summer.....but he is chomping at the bit to get back to school.    In fact, he has been chomping at the bit to go back since GETTING home!  (what?  really?) 

I think Death Valley is calling his name.......hmmmmm.

Dog park!

We have started taking Osa to a dog park.  We don't have one locally so we are going to one that is about 20ish minutes away.  It is SO worth the trip!

Big dogs on one side, little dogs on the other....

Is it just me or do little dogs argue more than big dogs?  Big dogs size each other up but the TENSION on the little dog side is palpable!  After sizing up the dogs, we eventually took Osa to the big dog side.  

Osa playing with Riley and Molly.  Molly kicked her butt later so I've got my eye on her now. 

I was warned that she is a bully and apparently does it to all the new kids....

Cooling off with Riley.  Riley is the CUTEST puppy ever!  She won't be small long though, looks to be a Husky and Border Collie mix.  She and Osa got along really well.  

Pooped out!   Look at that happy face!

Nap time...well earned.

She was in one prone position or another the rest of the day...both days!