Goodbye '07...Hello '08!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year.
I'll be back soon with new artwork and such. I really can't wait to get started.
The only painting going on around here for the last few days has been with a larger brush and a roller. After the surprise redo to Aaron's room (which he loved) Eli and Josh's room looked like the Grinch had just paid a visit. Empty nails on the wall, stray toys rolling about...
So now we are repainting in there and Mike's building some new shelves. Meanwhile all of their belongings are piled in our room. We have to clear a path to get to our bed each night. But what a way to start a new year right? With two brand new, spanking clean rooms!
My dad is coming home already tomorrow. Mike and I are heading out around 9 am to get him. And then back here to watch the Penguins play outdoors in Buffalo at the Winter Classic. That should be something to see. Aaron has wrestling practice on New Years day (!) at 3 and then out to my mom's for pork and to spend a bit of time with my dad.

So there. We'll be busy right up to the very end of Christmas vacation! I remember saying how all I wanted to do was lay on the couch and watch t.v. once Christmas was over. Oh well.

I also have a bit of bad news to share. Jamie, the teenager that was so badly burned in the fire last month, passed away the day after Christmas. My heart aches for his family and for Todd's family as well. They lost everything in the fire, their grandma passed away a few weeks ago, and now this.
Don't forget to count your blessings as we ring in the new year.

if - soar

I thought this was a good image for this weeks IF topic. Plus now I can plug that fact that is still available at the Pfatt Marketplace. (see sidebar for link)

For my regular visitors, my dad's surgery went so well. He's already in a regular room...eating...walking. I'm sure he'll be home in no time. We took on a room redo surprise project for Aaron while he was away for 2 days. Photos coming soon!

Last ebay listing for 2007

I think. Added some background papers. Low starting price since everyone probably spent all of their money for the month.
I know we did. Here are the pictures to prove it.

I call this "The $800 Man". Eli needed all of his ice hockey equipment so that he could start practicing with the high school team. So we decided to just jump right in and get it all at once.

Aaron had no idea what he wanted. So he was completely surprised by this 60 watt amp and a pedal that connects to our MAC so he can record right here at home.

Josh asked for a Wii but we had him convinced that we couldn't find one. Mike stood in line at Toys R Us from 4 am until they opened at 8 to get this one.
We shared our Christmas eve with this array of characters (and a few adults).

My mom made Christmas dinner as usual. Of course I forgot the camera. We are heading back there tonight to sing Happy "18th"!!! Birthday to my nephew, Timmy. I'll try to get some pictures then.
We have to have my dad to the hospital by 6 am tomorrow for his surgery and Aaron has to be at the high school by 5 am. HIs wrestling team is going to a tournament in West Va. this weekend.
Somewhere in there we have to prepare for Aaron's 16th birthday on the 5th.
So, yeah, now that I think about it this is most certainly my last listing of the year. :)
Have a safe and happy new year!!!

Merry, Merry!

Well I was trying to make the rounds through blogland and leave everyone tidings of good cheer. Alas, it is getting late and there is still much to be done before our Christmas eve guests arrive.

So Merry Christmas to everyone who visits here. Hope all of your holiday wishes come true!

(the image is from a sweet little card that we got from Mike's old work friend, Kathleen. she's not old. you know what I mean. anyway, i think it's so pretty. )

Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Just checking in real quick-like with my newest painting. I may do a bit more background work, but you get the idea. I know, she's another odd-looking girl. But kinda sweet, right?

Okay, need to head out for some dogfood and then back here for some cleanin' and wrappin'.
Have a nice day!

done, done, done, done

Done and on ebay.
Now I've really got to get movin'!


I love this chubby little puppy!

Dog Person

Here is what I worked on tonght while the Penguins stank up the ice. It's not finished but I scanned it in at this point so that it would look good on a t-shirt. I've added it here. Originally I was going to have it say "I guess I'm what you would call a Dog Person", but that looked too long so I shortened it to just "Dog Person". Actually you can customize to say anything you want.

I hope to finish the painting (just a touch of background color and such) in the morning before I head out for my THIRD day in a row of shopping. It was mostly for food today, but still. Then Eli has a hockey game at 6:30. BRRRRRR! (it's outside, you know) Then straight from there to the high school for Aaron's wrestling match. It's too hard to do Christmas and real life at the same time. Oh well. The fun part will be here soon enough.

Good Pal

Managed to get one more painting in before my marathon week of shopping, wrapping, worrying about packages arriving... begins.


These ugly-faced creations of mine are not always well received. But they are in my head along with the pretty stuff and so must be released. This forlorn little fairy is missing an eye and has patches on her dress, but with her best friend by her side she is happy. And plus she can fly and that's always a bonus.


Okay, I'm going to put her on ebay (with a low starting price) and then head out into the cold, cruel world. :(

if-backwards

backwards or forwards. wow is still wow!


This has nothing to do with the topic, but I couldn't resist sharing my 11-year-olds latest drawing entitled
"a dragon and a gnome walk into a bar...". It's a bit messy because he drew it on the back of his home work and then stuffed it in his bookbag. But look at the details. You'd think he spent every weekend bellied up to the bar. You may recognize the bartender. It's Totoro.

A little bit of New Year and a little bit of Christmas

A sip of champagne and a whole mess of confetti! My January frog is a few days late, but on ebay today. Look for the February frog on Jan. 10...hopefully I'll be back on schedule.

Mike took the day off yesterday and we went out and spent way too much money. Our kids all have different interests and "ain't none of 'em cheap"! We're still not done, but getting closer.

Here's just a few bits of Christmas from around our house. I'm a "very bad" photographer, so please keep in mind that things probably look at least 50% prettier than they appear here. :)

This is the view through the foyer and into the kitchen when you walk in the front door.


We always get a blue spruce. In the foyer this year so the living room's not so crowded.

A humble little gathering of Christmas treasures.


We tend to forget whose stocking is whose, so we've hung little ornaments by each to help identify the owner. Mike just bought mine yesterday. It's a pretty little angel bell.


My sister gifted me something in this bag a LOOOOOOOOOONG time ago, but I still love it. This year I've filled it with some leftover pine from the tree and hung it on the wall.

Buddy is hangin' out in the foyer this year...so he can freak you out as soon as you walk through the door.
He still startles me sometimes and I put him there!


The Clarks were the first to be ready for Christmas this year on account of I never took off their hats from last year. Oh well.
Uh-oh! Looks like Greg's hat fell off! (His head may be a bit slick...due to the baldness. :) )
Better go look for that.

HOpe you enjoyed the tour. I know I love looking at everyone else's Christmas-y homes, so go ahead and post as many photos as you can! I'll be watching.

Blue Moon Fairies

No time to talk...

just wanted to show my latest little painting on ebay.
Pfatt items are also still available. NOt much time left before Christmas! I'm going to sit here and finish up my on-line shopping.

Are YOU ready?

I'm Pfatt

Just a reminder that these two girls are available today over at the Pfatt Marketplace . I can't even tell you how excited I am to be there. Go and check it out. There is so much "pretty" to be seen there!

To anyone waiting for the next calendar frog, the canvases have been ordered and I'll get to work on that as soon as they arrive. I'm a little behind. :)

This weekend:
- we went and cut our tree. it was a bit small when we got it home, but we put it up on an old trunk that we borrowed from our bedroom and it looks quite nice now. Mike put the lights and beads on last night so now the decorating can begin.
- Aaron went to the Christmas dance on Saturday. I met the girl he went with for the first time when I picked them up and delivered them to Eat 'n Park afterward. She seemed very nice and I think he had a lot of fun.
- Mom and Dad took the whole family (13 in all) for brunch on Sunday and then back to their house for the very disappointing Steeler game.
- At least there were MANY very exciting Penguin wins over the last few days. And that's what really matters, isn't it? ;)

I started another small painting today, but it is grocery day so I don't know how far I'll get. Aaron is home sick, Eli starts a new dek hockey season tonight, and there is so much more "Christmas" left to do. That's what's going on here. I'll check in again soon.

IF - little things

This is fairly new...from November.
"Little Pink Houses"

New Shop!

buy unique gifts at Zazzle
Well, per the suggestion of the talented Emila, I went on over to Zazzle and opened a shop. I've only added a few things so far. I spent all day yesterday creating items to give as Christmas gifts. And I mean ALL DAY!
If there is a certain item/piece of artwork that you don't see there and would like to, just let me know and I'll add it if I can.
I just ordered my stuff yesterday and it's already shipped, so I'm thinking you can still get stuff in time for the holidays.
So I've gone ahead and closed my Cafe Press store (which I never promoted anyway) and added my Zazzle link over there ->.

Also, it's been at least a week and I've yet to thank Susan for presenting me with the "Smile" award.

So "Thank You Susan". You make me smile too!
I'm going to go ahead and pass it on to Nancy, maker of the most beautiful collages. And also to LIttle Miss Mushroom Meadows whose "doodles" always make me smile.

Okay the last thing I owe are some random things about me. Is it 5? I think it's 5 this time. I was tagged by Nancy this time around. How many times have I done this? Let's see:

1.) I've never had a cavity. That's why I chickened out on the wisdom teeth removal a few months back. I just have no experience in that area. :)

2.) I could eat something sauce-y for every meal...every day. Spaghetti for breakfast? Why not?

3.) I love hockey! This is a pretty new one for me. I was never into any sort of sports growing up. My parents were divorced from the time I was in 1st grade until after I graduated (when they got back together! Yay!), so it was just us girls...me, my mom, and sister. No sports...just girl-y stuff. When Aaron and Eli signed up for dek hockey in grade school I fell in love with it. The constant action. The thrill of watching your boys out there scoring goals. Now I'm a huge Penguin fan! How 'bout those Pens, huh?

4.) I will never, ever, ever ride the Pit FAll. Well, that's what it's called at Kennywood. You know, the ride that takes you a million miles straight up and then you just... FALL. I wouldn't let my kids ride it either until just this summer. I can't watch when they do. I can ride most any other kind of ride. Just not that one.

5.) We once discovered a McCaw parrot in a bush outside of house. Yeah, one of those huge colorful ones. We caught him by offering him some crackers. He did, by the way, have huge talons! We kept him in our old rabbit pen while my mom tried to locate his owner. He was never claimed and went to live "happily ever after" at a local pet store.

So that's it. I'm running out of good ones. I'm tagging anyone who reads this and hasn't participated yet.

Happy Friday!

Her Heart's Content

on ebay.
this is so not what I should have been doing today.

December was supposed to be cleaning/shopping month. 5 days in and I'm still painting. Aaron and Eli will be home in 10 minutes and I have yet to shower. The snow has been coming down all morning and it's looking quite Christmas-y outside. I better get in gear!!!

LA LA LA

Here's the one I started yesterday. It's on ebay.



Thanks for the nice comments about our home. It still needs so much work, but you know how that goes. And, yes, the neighbors are very close (sometimes good, sometimes bad), but we've lived in a townhouse before so we're used to it. And whenever we need some breathing room we head out to my parents' farm which is only 15 minutes(ish) away.
Here's an example of the coziness inside our house that I mentioned.

Wrestling practice really wears Aaron out. I don't know what Misty's excuse is.

I know that I'm behind on passing along the "smile" award and on coming up with 5 more random things about me. I'll try to get to those tomorrow. Right now I'm waiting on a phone call from Mike. He's going to pick up my Dad and then I will meet them at the mall to bring him the rest of the way home. Plus I need to make a trip to the post office.
So that's it for now.
Enjoy the day!

Home and family

This is our tiny little piece of the universe. Not much to look at, but it keeps us warm and cozy. As you can see, most of the work we've done has been on the inside. Although the wall is new and our little "picket fence that Mike built" is kinda cute. We plan on painting soon, but who knows. The front porch needs rebuilt as well. MIke and I were just commenting on all the telephone wires and wouldn't it look better if we could hang some quilts or something from them. :) It actually looks much better when the grass is green.
Actually I'm only showing it because I only got a small portion of my painting done today and had nothing prettier to show.

My dad gets to come home tomorrow. He will have to go back in on Dec. 28 for a quadruple by-pass. The doctor's say his heart is strong so hopefully all will go well. I'll keep you updated.

FLY!!!

-update- I think this will be my 2nd pfatt marketplace piece (for those of you who asked). I'll put a link here when the time comes.

Dad update - no go on the stint. we thought he would come home today if he needed surgery, but they are keeping him. I stayed home to get the kids off to school. My WONDERFUL husband got up at 3:30 to get my mom and dad to Pittsburgh by 6:00. Then he stayed there with my mom throughout. He is on his way home now and we will go back and get my mom later. Last I talked to him they hadn't talked to the surgeon about what happens next. I am quite worried as they tried to feed the tube through both legs and each was blocked.