The Little Yellow House

A Great Ending...a Blessed Beginning......

 

So I held a book signing...........

One of my very good friends wrote a new book.

It’s the story of her life.

Her testimony. It’s wonderful….

 

Meet Ms. Kerrie Oles

 

 

 Her new book......
 

 

 Isn't that the cutest cover?

And NO...that isn't HER on the front...*  I though it was too:)

 

She’s been traveling for a few years sharing her life story and it’s message…and now she's placed it into a book with the help of her mother. Awesome.

 

The story is amazing...the message is life changing.

 

 

Ms. Kerrie autographing her books....
 

She’d never done a book signing before –  this was her first.

 

I was thrilled – she was thrilled….I was MORE thrilled.

 

And I held a moving sale…..moving from the warehouse space to a newly redesigned studio that my husband has worked  on tirelessly for me.

 It was HIS idea....HIS gift.... HIS awesomeness.

 

I will now join the ranks of the 'normal' humans who sleep at night and I'll actually BE home.

The last 5 months have consisted of living at the warehouse in the middle of the night...all night - no sleep ....

 

Again….I am thrilled.

 

The Moving Sale..

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

The event was even more greatly blessed by the love poured out on us by my sweet friend Tracy who made oodles of scrumptious treats for our guests.

 

Oodles. * So blessed with this loving friend. *

 

We had a 6ft. subway sub  and Caramel Brownies, Raspberry Decadence Squares, and Lemon Bars…..plenty or morsels to delight the palette. MMmmmm......

 

And of all the happenings of the day – the very best was that my newly penned author  was asked to do another book signing at an actual Christian book store owned by some friends of mine….FABULOUS-O!!!

 

My heart was so full with satisfaction and joy over this.

All her books sold and were autographed!!

 

When I’d moved into the warehouse – I had visions of events, gatherings, and fun that could be had within the walls…so before I left I wanted to do one wonderful thing with the space to benefit and bless someone else.

 

* This was it…and it did not disappoint*

 I could leave feeling full and complete....

*AAAAAAaaaahhhhhhhhh........

 

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Now…

The space I’m moving TO is outdone – outfitted – outstanding…

ALL done by my dear husband.

 

The love and support that I receive from him on a daily basis moves me greatly…even 17 years later....but the love and gentleness that he displays in the moments when I really need him...are truly GREATNESS.

 

How blessed am I in the gift the Lord gave me so long ago – in a spouse and friend that is true blue and solid as a rock. He has labored for a month on this project and has left no detail unattended.

 

It’s simply going to be awesome.

I'm looking forward to the future......

 

I’ll share a sneak peek of the progress….but as I type I am currently moving my clutter into the space and will show you the final reveal soon…very soon.

 

The walls are actually a beautfiul green, but this little camera can't help itself at night...
  

My heart is swooning over the new digs….

It may not be concrete walls with an enormous garage door….but every inch of it was made just for me…with love, attention to detail….and more love.

 

I love the color, the style, the efficiency...and most importantly....... the heart with which it was given.

 It's labor of love.

 

 

 
 

Have I mentioned that I’m thrilled??? Hehe...

 

Don’t mind me…I’m just giddy tonight from moving and swooning…..

 

Hey - how many times did I use the word 'blessed' in this post?.....wow - that's something to be very excited about right there....

a chaotic 10 minutes and a dance.......

 

 
 

Daughter went to a costume dance at school last Friday.....

 

She's a 'Black Eyed 'P'............

 

She decided on this 10 minutes before leaving the house....

I used a t-shirt and house paint from the garage...and a little eye shadow......*poof* - a costume.....

 

Next year I hope I get at least a good 30 minutes prep time:)

 

As you can see by Baby's expression...he has no idea what is going on... and what is wrong with his sister's eye!!

 

* I thought she was adorable.....:)

 

We live in Texas...which explains the flip flops and shorts in October......

Let's journey a few months back.....

So I have to say that …a new season is upon me – and I will be sharing it very soon with the rest of you. New beginnings….

 

But until then..I’m going to track back a little bit and tell you about my fabulous 40^th birthday…and friendships that make your filled with warmth and comforted with deep satisfaction.

Prior to actually turning 40 – my friends surprised me with a fun filled day of being whisked off….

 

Literally WHISKED off….

 

One of my best friends has been very blessed the last couple of years financially…but we like to say “we knew her when’…..( and one of the greatest things, is that this money hasn’t changed her a bit – love that)

 

So one of the toys in her life is a plane….

 

I know…all quite surreal to the rest of who shop with coupons and hit the dollar store regularly.

 

 

I think my head looks twice the size of hers...and I don't think it's the tiara either.......

So on this day….she asked me to go to a retreat with her for a day spa thingy-ma-jig…..

 

I didn’t decline the offer….

 

But when I boarded the plane…2 of our other best girlfriends where there hiding…and ready to yell 'surprise' as I walked aboard…they even decorated the inside of the plane – how funny!!!!

 

 

 They wouldn’t tell me where we were headed, but poured gifts over me….

Each having a funny and personal inside joke or special a meaning….ya gotta just LOVE that!

 

When we touched down in our mystery location…which appeared to be a field with a barn on it and a strip of concrete for a landing pad…...we were met with a long white stretch limo….

 

Very funny to land in a pasture with a limo in it....* an odd sight to say the least…..

 

My girlfriends would not tell me where we were going – though I protested.

 

 

As we drove ‘into town’…I realized that we’d flown to Eureka Springs, Arkansas……

 

*One of my favorite places.

 

Fabulous Art Community – very eclectic and ODD – my favorite.

 

We spent the day eating great food and sauntering up and down the main street.

 

 

 

 

 

Fabulous glasses...with the diamond bling/ring on them!!

 

The lady in the pale vintage dress is our tour guide - she's telling me a little town dirt....shhhh....
 

We took a tour – a WONDERFUL tour of the sites and history of the town…and then took in the Passion Play…..

 

One FABULOUS DAY!!!

WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!

 

 

I'm worn out on the way home......

 

Can you imagine such a gift?

 

I can't and I lived it.....only in the land of fairly tales...

Somehow I had a fairy tale:)

 

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Okay and you would think this was MORE than enough…….

 

But prior to taking this trip they’d asked me what I wanted for my birthday..and I’d requested that instead of buying me something – that they each teach me to make a meal…*they are all gourmet cooks.

*My highest level of cooking is making peanut butter toast with finesse….

 

So – BELIEVE IT NOT…they still did this for me…..

 

Each taking a night and planning a scrumptious meal…teaching me it from beginning to end…with the other two gals joining in around serving time, with a bottle of wine….yum!!!

 

OH!! How I enjoyed each night!!!

 

What fabulous cooks and teachers they are – so many wonderful details and tricks that one doesn’t learn out of a cook book….

 

They will NEVER truly know what this meant to me......even if I told them from now until kingdom to come...*really*

 

Gina's dinner......

 

Gina and I talking about our dessert.....* yes, that's the spice rack behind us..I think I could sleep in there.
 

I look like I know what I'm doing - right??

 

Grilled Steak with Chimichurri sauce, sweet potato wedges, green beans and poached pears.

SCRUMPTIOUS.

 

* I know if I was a really good blogger, I'd give you all the recipes...but since I don't have these on the computer...and it would take me 40 days to enter all this info.....

I'm just going to go with this sentence....."enjoy the picture":)

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Tracy's dinner.......

 

 

 

Pistachio Crusted Salmon,spaghetti squash, tomato lasagna, and dessert tacos with raspberry and carmel sauce. DIVINE.

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Patrice's italian dinner.........

 

 

 

Italian Cream Cake, Chicken Saltimbocca, stuffed tomatoes, veggie pasta primavera, cheese and rosemary bread sticks. PERFECTO.
  

I have some of the best friends EVER......

 

I felt blessed BEYOND MEASURE...this was a perfect birthday ball - it will live in my mind forever...so many parts...so much fun!!

 

**it's one of my favorite memories I'm taking to the old folks home with me** in another 40+ years....when they won't let me near the stove any more.

 

So..do you want to come over?

 

Ya know...I can cook you up a little something...and you'll actually like it. No peanut butter involved. :)

Mmmm-mmm....

I spent the weekend in bed with the flu...I'm the 3rd member of my family to have it...so hopefully..we are done....

 As I regained consciousness and came out of my sleep coma...a terrible MOMMA GUILT overcame me....my poor family...they had no momma ALL weekend:(

I'd literally hit the bed Friday and hadn't regained any sense of awareness until Sunday evening.

My husband had done a superb job in keeping them all alive - fed and entertained but you could see the ZOMBIE stare in each of them....'where's momma?'

 So with that.... I gathered up the baby and played on the floor until he was dizzy with sleep, put hubby to bed early...and I pulled out of my 'momma bag' ....a treat I've been saving to make with daughter.

 She loves to bake, so it was a small way to love on her.

* I know...I'm SICK, I shouldn't be making food ~ * Oh well.

Food made in love can't make another sick , right? right.

FALL CUPCAKES...

 

 

You can't tell by the photos, but the icing is a soft blue...*daughter did the icing and did a GREAT job!! 
I got the idea from this gal......michelle my belle - check her out!

 I love her blog and her artwork!!

* Yes, her entire presentation and cupcakes look a wee bit better than ours  - but I bet they taste the same:)

So this topped our weekend off nicely.....

Now...to be WELL again....

**Next - I'm going to share with you about my FABULOUS friends and the greatest 40th birthday gift I received from them!!!   It will make your mouth water.....

Can I claim.... the 'cat got my tongue?'

Well, not exactly.......

It's a bit  more like..."my mind is a mess" ~ you don't want to be in here.....

At this time, I have no less than 15 drafts of blog entries stored up...ready to spill out.....if I could just find the time to combine the picture with the entry and then edit and re-edit - and re-edit some more.

Because some of us are simply not gifted in the proof reading department......

Hahaha - that just tickled me.......because if you could actually SEE that I don't even look at the screen when I type, you'd scratch your head and wonder how I post  - at all.

 I have to look at the key board....I'm pitiful....

*It's not that I can't look up - it's that somehow that is too confusing to my brain to watch myself put the words down...the editing that takes place when I watch .... distracts from what I want to say.

It gets all 'knotty' in my brain......so I have to just go with the gushing flow of thought pouring out - unedited...(so scary) and then try and read it later ...often, trying to decipher my own particular brand of code....garbly-gook.....

As you can see it is 3 am - which seems to be the only 'productive' hour I now know.....

Why is that?

I am hoping this is a season... one that 'mothers of toddlers' endure.

Let this be a short season.

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Okay - I realized this evening that I post a lot of my great STUDIO pictures on Facebook...

 ( yes, I've fallen prey to the ills of the social networking scene) 

*And I have failed to post them here.....

So - I think tonight I'll simply post a montage of all kinds of various STUDIO SPLENDOR......

Maybe then you'll forgive me for letting that CAT GET MY TONGUE....

Pictures have a way of helping us forgive...don't ya think??

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Okay so some pictures are recent...and some are from the last several months......

*And in no particular order......how's that!!

 

I'm doing the Happy Dance with Baby in the new warehouse space...* yes, I think my tongue was actually hanging out.

 

Raw space - love it!!!

 

 

 

Starting to fill 'er up with my junk......

 

Cornice board for the front room.....

 

A fabulous - roll-out sign for the front made from an old headboard...love it!

 

 

 

 

I LOVE my friends - they'll don an apron and help me paint - even in 100+ Texas heat.

 

 

The walls start to get painted.....

 

Oh - how I LOVE my friends........

 

My sister flies in for a 3 day extravaganza of painting....

* She is FABULOUS-O muralist by profession!!

Aren't I a lucky girl??

 

 

Sweet Daughter.....I just love her.....

 

 

 

A little bathroom makeover.....

 

Grand Opening day....

 

My boys coming to visit me before the doors flew open.....**muah

 

 

Ping Pong table getting a makeover....

 

 A little paint and fresh fabric does a chair a world of good......

 

Yes...that's a conference tablethat's been given a face lift....hahaha!!

 

New product...

 

This little guy is getting a new-DO....

 

 

I hung my large orange metal hat...from a London hatter....

I LOVE this piece...found at an auction by my daughter....it's one of my favs.....

You can see it again in the bottom picture if you look closely....

 

I love remaking auction finds.....

 

Don't ya just love these silly shapes??

 

Hubby built me some fantastic walls...great for displaying artwork in the warehouse.....

*Yes*....I just said that I have a FABULOUS husband that actually built me WALLS to hang 'stuff' on because I chose to paint huge murals on the walls I had -hahaha - isn't that a kicker??!!

Oh....I am blessed....soooo blessed....

* he thinks I'm crazy, mind you...

But he loves me all the same...*perfect*

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And so concludes the montage of me ............for the moment.

I'll be back...and with more pictures.....

Tootles.....

A fitting name.....

Okay....so perhaps I should aim for every 3/4 days of blogging....argh!

 

**But if you could allow me this plea.....

If you could see my life - the small amount of shut-eye I get just trying to get all the 't' crossed in the schedule...you might think kinder on me:)

 

* But... I made the commitment, no one forced me into it, or twisted my arm...so I'm going to tighten up the strap a bit tighter and see if I can meet this personal goal:)

 

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I’m thinking that my name might be better spelled ....

‘DEBRAVATION’ ….

This clever crafting came from my husband who is forever watching me go without sleep.

 

If you know me…you know that sleep deprivation is my middle name….*really* - no exaggeration thereJ

 

So perhaps taking on something like….DEBRAVATION…..is quite appropriate.

 

Though not very cute…I’d like something sassy like........

Ruby, Lu-Lu, or Gigi…but since we already have a WAREHOUSE ARTCHIX with the name Gigi…I might have to move on down the line to something practical….

 

To my close friends I'm called DEBAR.....after a small typing error when signing off on an e-mail once.

Don't you just hate it when those 'little' imperfect moments STICK to you?

 

 

I think DEBAR sounds like a big elephant name.

( hey, maybe this IS more appropriate than I first realized?)

I'm sure it simply reminds of the childhood story of Babar the elephant.....I loved those elephants.

 

I have said a few times, now that I'm 40 - I'm going to simply work on getting Bigger and Better with age......thus announcing that I'm not going to try to look like a 20 year old version of myself.

 

 Growing old gracefully....and that might mean that I need a little extra poundage to keep my cheeks looking rosy, plump and smooth:)

 

So coming full circle here.......perhaps DEBAR is fitting.

 

Or DEBRAVATION......

 

I'm sure I'll turn around to either one:)

Nice POTS.....

I'm back...and I'm feeling kind of SKELTERED.......

Baby is down for a nap...

It's like a big gun goes off in my head....and everything in me yells....RUNNNNN!!!!

DO - DO - DO - DO...MORE - More...faster faster.....*ARGH!!!

*Such is the life with a toddler*

So.......

Should I start with personal stuff??

Should I start with Warehouse Artchix stuff?? ( I think I'll redirect you the other blog page where there are LOTS of pictures of our GRAND OPENING - take a peek!!) www.warehouseartchix.com

Should I start with current projects??

OH MY! I'm wasting time, let's GET ON with it!!!

So..here are a few SNEAK- PEAKS of things being worked on for the next monthly sale......

 

 

 

Hopefully this little chair will brighten some little girls room!

 

 

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Then there were some BASIC projects that I needed to do for 'functionality"...

Like make myself a ribbons holder...SO tired of fighting my ribbon collection......

*though, you can see that I haven't ADDED  all the ribbons yet...this is going to work wonderfully for storage....* and yes, it had to be decorated up a bit!!

 

Then  there is this ping pong table I picked up at a garage sale the other day for $15....(steal)

It will be a FABULOUS working surface...( HUGE)

GREAT for teaching ART classes.....

I'm in the middle of priming it...something GREAT has to go on it - with painted legs and all...I'll keep you updated:)

 

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And a few shots of the back of the warehouse...

Nothing NEW has really taken place here ...

 * unfortunately...so sad....so so sad....

I want/need/must  finish these walls!!!

I think I may need to fly my sister back down here to 'gett'r done'....

 

 

It really ALL looks rather CRAZY doesn't it??

Crazy=Me.

I can easily convince you.....*watch......

THIS is some of my favorite art......

I'm looking for a key and prominent place to display it in my warehouse.....

It's from the FUNKYARD...by an artist named Clementine.....

* who I think is a guy.....odd - I know...

It's a JUNK YARD and he simply paints on pieces that come in .....

***with acrylics, no less.......

 <<<<<< I LOVE THEM >>>>>

 

Notice one is a pot...one is a lid.......

 

 

See the handle???

 

 

One is a cake pan...one is a pot......

Are these not the cat's-meow???

Let me say again..........louder...

<<<< I LOVE THESE >>>>

These remind that me that you can paint on 'anything'...

*make art from trash....

*anything can be redeemed....

*and here I feel a whole sermon coming together ...a testimony of my own life.....etc. etc.

So somehow...I've gone from 'bizzarr-o' ....... to a 'meaningful message of life'...interesting transition huh? That's me....you really don't want to be in my brain....:)

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On that note... I think I'll save all the fun family stuff for another post.....

My goal this month is to post 15 out of 30 days...

*shocking*

So for those of you mathematically challenged ( like me) that is EVERY-OTHER day......

 

Wish me luck....and check on me regularly:)

Tootles....

Re-emerging....

It's been a very long time since I've visited my favorite spot - WAY TOO LONG....

My favorite spot: sitting in front of the computer with an extra large cup of coffee and a head full of 'post ideas'....

I actually THINK about posting everyday - *really* - and then LIFE sweeps in with it's fast pace and one million requests...and quietly sitting here with my own thoughts gets swept into the back of the room - where it waits patiently for me to re-emerge.

Sooo...to illustrate this more poignantly...please check out my other blog:

www.warehouseartchix.com

Find out what I've been doing.....I think it will shed A LOT of light on the whole matter:)

Thank you for all the sweet notes and inquiries I received about how I was doing...had I fallen off the earth?...or was I dead?....NONE of those things happened:) I'm actually very much alive and full of LIFE ( though, very tired) and I MADE IT to 40!!!

* Which I count as a huge blessing ang gift from my heavenly Father.

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Today....I will leave you with a few images from my 40th Birthday last weekend.....

 

My sweet daughter got up before dawn and laid rose petals all over the bathroom floor for me....it was soooo beautiful and smelled GREAT! *That is a wonderful way to wake up!!* She's the best!

 

Lots of home-made signs...I think those are the very best kind and filled with LOVE!

 

Hard to SEE the numbers on the cake...I guess I'll have to admit I'm REALLY there.....

But then.....this happened.....

 

Two weeks ago I stepped on my scale.....….but is my scale telling me that I’m old??

It won’t tell me my weight - it just keeps saying this……….

Is that hilarious or horribly offensive???

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* I WILL be back soon....tootles......

Wiley ways...

 

 

Sooooo – perhaps I should ask for daily prayer in raising this young climber…….

 

Yesterday afternoon my sweet baby wiped out his mouth again on the slide (small indoor slide that resides in our den)…biting his lower teeth into his upper palette – creating a huge hole on the top -  and knocking free one of his bottom teeth  ~ splitting the gum around the tooth open. The small tooth now sits at an angle.

*Yet another tooth sacrificed to his wiley ways.

 

We rushed him to the ped. dentist again – blood everywhere/hysterical crying ( just from him, this time) ….and they will see him again tomorrow to note the progress of it and the swelling.

 

Daughter and I were both RIGHT THERE when it happened – he was actually standing on the ground – trying to step up into the slide…his foot missed and his face came down on the edge of the plastic slide. We instantly knew the situation was not good…..but at least we were there for each other and knew what came next…..we threw him in the car and drove 90- to– nothing to the dentist.

 

This child is just twisty – slippery – wiggly  and ‘ googly – footed.’  He is without a fear of falling or apprehension of pain – oblivious that gravity exists….all things are possible …from all heights……all things are to be lifted over his head and carried from one room to another….often while looking backwards.

 

Knowing this…… we guard him like he’s a small prisoner….but none the less our efforts only save him from 97% of all bumps and bruises.

 

He’s attempted the ‘flying squirrel’ move a few times….tried ‘leap frog’ over the coffee table….and dangling from the second shelf in his closet.

 

He thinks anything with an indentation was made for his foot…anything that can be stacked was made for piling…

 

Which then lends itself to having some inevitable footholds…and the things that were stacked…are now climbed…..and the combination is a doosey!

 

Hard, pointy objects……like little animals with hooves and ears, seem to make better toys…then stuffed bears or round balls.

 

Hands must ALWAYS be carrying TWO objects…thus preventing us from holding unto our surroundings firmly, or using our hands to steady ourselves…….* or simply break our fall.

 

I’ve decided I must always be dressed – with shoes ready at the backdoor – purse and keys ready to grab and go to any emergency facility with my baby – dundee………..

 

Lounging in jammies during the day while playing and cleaning…. does not provide the good bat-man exit I need to have on hand while in the throes of raising this young warrior.

 

Somehow being bra-less and shoe-less during these emergencies..........makes me feel less in control of my faculties when I need them J

Ending Easter.....

This is how Easter day ended....

An Easter Egg hunt in the yard.....and running off some energy....

   

 

Sister helping with the eggs......

 

 

*And an attempt at a family photo with our new Easter hats on.......

This is last years lovely picture:

Here is THIS years.

..........................My Favorite..............................

*Poor thing...we terrorized him with his little mask:(

  

so I wore it instead.......

 

I think last years hats were far more flattering....

BUT, we had a whole lot more laughs this year!

* just can't see why these bunny faces might scare the baby?