Garden Tools and a Surprise

Have I told you how much I hate to be unorganized? You wouldn't think so looking at my family room right now, but I have to have things in their proper place. I even have a drawer organizer and baskets at the salon to keep all of my 'tools' in the right places. So when I went to start planting flowers, imagine how nuts I went when the bucket that holds all of my garden tools was empty!! What!! I know that I put them in their last fall! I'm sure that the body language was not pretty, nor was my mouth when I couldn't find my trowel, etc.

So off to the store ran my good husband to settle me down. And I now have 4 little shovels to get all my planting and weeding done....but I'm not happy with the bucket situation. It seems that it had been used for another project by the man and his boys during the winter. To remedy the situation, I found this little goodie at the thrift store the next day.

blah..

It definitely had potential, and for $2 I couldn't let it sit there. Of course I had to paint it and label it.

I just need to add my gloves!

I used the trusty spray paint and some stamps. And voila! My own garden tool caddy!
I think that it still may need some work, but for now it will do. So much cuter than a white bucket!

I think that I need to use paint instead of ink.

To make the week even better, this wonderful package showed up at my door! My darling husband brought it down to the salon for me.

On of my favorite blogs!

 Look how cute she packages it!! And now I have a cute pin to wear on my apron or re-purpose with some vintage beads.

sorry about the blur, this was the best one...

Ta dah!! It's the cutest purse in the world that I won from Red Neck Chic. She makes the most amazing purses! She also makes me smile with her quirky sense of humor.....because it matches mine.

Don't you love it!!

My momma is completely jealous! All she could tell my niece is, "Auntie Connie is spoiled". (She really was excited for me.) All of the girls in the family have a huge collection of purses.....bought on clearance of course. But I have the fairest of them all now. Isn't it just lovely??

I stand in awe of her talents!

Thanks again Robelyn !! Ya'll go check out her blog, Red Neck Chic,  it's guaranteed to make you smile.....check out her etsy shop while you're there!

party on!
Connie

Father's Day

"It's tough to be a sane and sensible parent in an age of fear."~Boston Globe.

Father of my children...I adore him.

I am grateful for the 'fathers' in my life and for the ways that they influence my children. 

For my own father, for my husband Ron, and for his father. For our brothers, and the husbands of our sisters. 

Ron's parents

Me and my Daddy.

 

I am also grateful for the neighbors and church leaders that are a huge part of our lives. Those that are still with us, and those who have passed on. 

I hope that all of you take time to thank and honor the 'fathers' in you life today. I know that I will.

party on peeps!
Connie

Finally Summer like...

We have finally had some decent weather here!!! I've had this project finished for a couple of weeks, but the pictures that I took in the house were rather blah....so I waited, and waited, and waited.......yes I know. Some of you have been experiencing the same nasty weather.  I wonder sometimes if Chicago really is the windy city. Right now, I believe they have nothing on us! 
Where was I???? Oh, the project. I have been lurving all of the cute banners that I see all over blogland! I thought that I might add one of my own. So without making you read any more nonsense.....here's mine!!

Want to know what I discovered?? All four seasons are spelled with six, count 'em, six letters!! I know! It's amazing! (Ya'll probably already knew that.) The things that you learn while crafting.

I wanted it to look yummy and summery, and the triangle shape was perfect for what I wanted. Then the watermelon idea hit me!! My favorite summer food must be made into the banner!!  I LOVE IT!  Now I need to convince the hubs that the fence could probably use a coat or two of paint. 


One more look at the whole thing.  

party on peeps!
Connie

I'm linking up to these parties this week......go check them out, they're wonderful!!
 
 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful mothers in my life! Those who have their own children. And to those who couldn't have their own, but helped mother mine and others. I wish you all a bouquet of wildflowers!!

God made mothers special

With lots of loving care.

He placed in her a tender heart

Forgiveness when we err.

He fashioned her with goodness

Gentleness and light

A brightness in her smile

That could light the stars at night.

But first God made a woman.

His famous work of art.

Because you don't have to be a mother

To have a mother's heart. 

Jennifer Byerly

My own beautiful parents

They really love me!

 "Her children rise up and call her blessed"

Proverbs 31:28

I am truly blessed to be the mother of these fine young men. And they are truly "Momma's Boys"! 

 Party on!
Connie

                 

Just for you....

Have a very blessed Easter!!

party on!
Connie

April is......

So, maybe you've noticed a cause that is near and dear to my heart.  It's over on the right side of my blog.  April is Autism Awareness month. As a momma who lives with this every day,  I am taking a minute of your time to stand on my soap box make you just a little bit more aware.

Autism affects every 1 in 150 children. It is one of the most confusing conditions. It varies so much from person to person.  Even with 2 of my boys having the same diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, they are so different.  

Shane

Heath

I didn't have some of the problems that other mother's have had to deal with. My heart aches for the families of the children who can't seem to be reached, and exist in their own world. Please remember, when their child is in full melt down and they can't be controlled, they are not spoiled children throwing a fit!  Please offer to help and don't judge them. You have no idea how hard it is for that mother to make a trip to the grocery store, or anywhere else for that matter.  They live in fear that they are being judged by people who just don't understand.

I don't post this for sympathy, I don't need any.  This is just life as we know it in our house. We have been very blessed to have these boys in our home. I will admit that there were a lot of tears when the diagnosis was first made. But now I see just how precious this gift is. Chances are that you know someone who is facing this challenge right now. Please educate yourself and don't be afraid of these wonderful individuals!

All of us!

In honor of these precious souls, I am posting this on both the family and the craft blog. 

Party on peeps!
Connie

Girl's weekend

Guess I've been busy....didn't mean to ignore the blog this long.  But I've been busy!  I did take this last weekend off though.  I've been looking forward to this since the first of the year! 

Where did I go? Why I spent the weekend with some of the girls in the family!  I seriously needed an estrogen fix....  So I went with the mama, an auntie, a cousin and a sister-in-law to Scrapbook USA!

Connie and my Mom, Lorrilie

Mindy and Connie

Shelly

I didn't take oodles of pictures, but I did get 22 pages completed for the scrapbook!! It was totally worth it  and spending time with some of the women I love was even better. 

ME!!

What did you accomplish this weekend?

party on!

Connie

Remeniscinig...

30 years ago today, I started dating my forever love!  Today I love him more than I thought was possible...  
We keep our Valentine's celebration pretty small, usually including the boys.  Tonight, we'll have a family dinner (lasagna) and then deliver our valentine's to family and friends.  Hope we don't get caught!! 

Image from Graphics Fairy

Do you still leave your Valentines on the porch and then knock and run???

Have a fabulous Valentine's Day!!

party on peeps!
Connie

Sneek Peek

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the fabulous Bonnie at Photography By Bon is having a special. I just couldn't resist! The last time that the hubs and I had just our pictures, (not the whole fam) were our engagement pics back in '81.  
We had over 500 shots to choose from!! Yea, it was hard to narrow it down......so, here's just a few of our favorites......enjoy!

Lovin' that Man of Mine

You can see Cedar Breaks over my shoulder

I love these hands!

Yea, we've changed a bit. We have kind of lost that whole innocent, totally in love, we can take on the world look. We have matured over time and I do believe that I love him more today than I did back then. 


Hop on over to Photography by Bon and check out her fabulous work. Then if you live in Southern Utah, you can book a session with her! I promise you won't be disappointed!
(p.s. All of the images are copyrighted by Bon.)


Party on!
Connie

Can't Quit Smiling!!

Holy Cow!! My cheeks are hurting from the smiling!! I was featured on another blog!!! I am squealing with delight!! Gail at My Repurposed Life my puzzle piece valentine on her blog.  Check it out here!! I'm not excited at all...... Thanks so much Gail! 

 

Valentine's surprise

Ok, so I'm finally ready to share my Valentine's project.  I still have my 'winter' decor up until this weekend, but I can't wait to share this with you. Brace yourselves, and if anybody else has made this in the past.....please don't tell me. (Just kidding) 

I found my inspiration in a magazine article that has NOTHING to do with the upcoming holiday.  It was the January edition of First for Women magazine. The article was on achieving happiness. When I saw the picture, I could hardly contain my excitement! Here is a blogworthy project!!

See that cute little heart and the subtitle under it? 

So I headed to the dark recesses of the storage room to find my supplies.  I knew that I needed a puzzle and a frame minus the glass. Pack rat that I am, they were both waiting for me. I had my DH and son pick up a can of Pink Krylon for me.....I think that they did rather well on the color choice!  
Step one: paint your puzzle pieces. Note: start with the backs so that you don't have to learn the hard way like I did.  They dry fairly quick.

Ooo, Aahh

While they are drying, cut a heart out of card stock. (Having scrapbooking supplies on hand helps with this part.)

Lurve Creating Memories  Tools

 I also chose a piece of patterned paper to print the saying on.  I played around with different fonts until I found one that I liked.

Font name- Fiolex Girls

Place the heart at the top or the bottom, depending on how you want yours, and glue in place. 

My fav glue after E6000

Use a stronger glue and start adding the puzzle pieces. Mine were still a little tacky, so I sprinkled a little glitter on top. Let it dry for a couple of hours. 

Lookin' good

After I got it all put together, I decided that the brown frame was a little, or a lot, wrong. So back to the Krylon....

Looks much better don't ya think?!  

Giddy, Seriously....

Any who, this is what it looks like now and I'm totally loving that I actually had something turn out the way I pictured it!! What do you think? 

Party On!! 
Connie
 Parties that I'm joining.....check them out!!