A few New pieces / the beach and a little boy and leaves

London walking on the beach during the sunset


London on the beach with Granny and Grandaddy

We just got back this past weekend from the beach. It was Londons very first trip and we were sad that Scott had to work and did not get to come. But we were very greatful to Granny and Grandaddy for taking us with them. The resort we stayed at was super nice and we had so much fun! Here are a few shots from the trip...

London and I on our balcony (what a view!)

London and I on the beach/waves

Here are a few new pieces that I also have up in the shop

"I love you to the Mountains and Back" Original Fabric on Wood art

"Old White House on a Hill" Original fabric on wood art - this is from a photo a friend of mine took of an old abandoned house in Rutherfordton NC. I am not very good at houses and bulidings so I am not as crazy about this one.

London in the backyard...getting ready for the Fall!

Couple Hours to Myself

One of my new pieces which happens to be a favorite of mine :)

"What a Beautiful Love" - Original fabric on Wood art - in my Etsy shop now!

Yes London had his first day of Mother's Morning Out and he made it the whole time! I was pleasantly suprised by this as I fully expected them to call me and tell me I need to come and get him b/c he was too upset or something.

School makes a baby tired

They did ask me if he was an only child and if he had ever been to a program like this. I said he was an only child and had never been to something like this before...and she said yup- we can pick them out of a crowd. I was also told to bring one of his favorite toys with him next week.

Overall I am very pleased.

I got a lot done while he was in school- First I went rollerblading for about 45 minute then home to shower. I finished up a commissioned piece and painted the first layer of poly on it. Then I ground up a bunch of coffee beans and brewed some coffee. After that I actually had some time to surf the net before going to pick him up (a few minutes early I might add).

This is good for London and for me!

Kitties in Progress...I will have the final piece up soon - this are 3 commissioned pieces

Now check out these photos of London and his favorite book Goodnight Moon. We have a big one and a little one and he prefers to look at both of them at the same time.

I have to wipe down the books...ugh (some things are not worth the fight)

Long weekend, travels and Oh so Tired!

What a weekend. We had so much fun at my husbands cousins house. Cindy and her husband Rob and there 2 little girls (which of course I forgot to bust out the camera and get pictures- shame on me) are such a hoot and always the best hosts!

I think I am so tired because London still has a hard time sleeping in a pack n play away from home and in the same room as Scott and I. It really is a bit of torture. He woke up both nights screaming (which he almost NEVER does at home- knock on wood). So Sunday night he got in the bed with us about 1:44am and rolled around and talked all night until I finally got him back to sleep oh about 6:45am. Yes it was exhausting and I am still paying for it today. Hopefully with the other trips I have planned this month he will do a little better with the sleeping through the night in a pack n play.

Otherwise we are just taking it easy today because tomorrow I go to orientation for London's new Mother's morning out program. He starts on Thursday. I know there are going to be lots of tears and they may have to call me to come get him early but I can't tell you all the things I have planned for these 2 morning a week I will have to myself. Shower is very high on my list as I usually have to take them at 10pm ish most nights.

We added another bookshelf to London's playroom...this is it mildly messy.

Here are things I would like to do as he starts going to Mother's Morning out...

1. shower

2. vaccum/clean the house

3.rollerblading

4. running again w/o having to push the stroller- ha

5. getting groceries and being able to come right home and put them away quickly- ahhhh

it's the little things I can't wait to do!

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor day weekend and fall is almost here. We went to the pool late yesterday as it was the last day it was open- boooo hooo. While there I realized that we did not get a single picture of London in the pool this summer (I never want to chance taking the camera up there). We are going to get pictures at the beach next week - hopefully if there are no hurricanes- yike.

London got a hold of Scott's Pork Pie Hat....I wasn't fast enough to catch him with it on his head but trust me it was cute!

Morning Visit to the Park

I so love weekends when both Scott and I can take London to the park. It is a bit easier with 2 of us to let him play while one follows close behind him and the other can snap some shots.

I have decided that I am going to start a written Journal of some of London's cute thing and milestones. I know I should have been doing this all along.

One of his most recent little things he does is he tries to sit all of his stuffed animals up. If they tip over or refuse to sit up straight he gets all upset and flustered. Before we go to bed each night we go in and cover London with a blanket and most of the time he has all his little stuffed animal friends (which consist of bunny, pink duck, both London bears, jingle bear, ice cream cone, owl flash card, tails are not for pulling book, robin baby and Lion) sitting up in a neat little row. It is the cutest thing ever!

Also,he likes to say owl, octopus, alligator, turtle and his favorite STAR!

Here is a little piece that is part of my new "Little Red Tree" series. It is up in my Etsy shop now...and I plan to make more little red tree pieces (all will be unique and different of course). I am really inlove with this fabric combo!

"Dancing Little Red Trees" - Original Fabric on Wood art

Good Eats!

You must try this one if you even remotely like Spaghetti Squash. I picked one up at the local outdoor produce stand the other day and searched for an easy recipe that included ingredients I already had at the house. So here it goes with pictures to drool over. We ate it along side some orange/garlic Chicken (which was mouth watering as well).

SPAGHETTI: SQUASH WITH TOMATOES,BASIL, AND PARMESAN

3 lb. spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise, and the seeds discarded

2 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 c. shredded fresh basil leaves plus additional for garnish

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

3 tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan

1 c. thinly sliced cherry tomatoes

In a glass baking dish arrange the squash half, cut side down, pour 1/4 cup water around it, and cover this dish tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap. Microwave the squash at high powder (100 percent) for 12 minutes, or until it is soft when pressed, and let it stand, covered, for 3 minutes. In a large bowl whisk together the oil, 1/4 cup basil, oregano, and 27 of the Parmesan, stir in the tomatoes, and season the mixture with salt and pepper.While the squash is still warm scrape it with a fork to form strands, add the strands to the tomato mixture and toss the mixture until it is combined. Divide the mixture between two bowls, sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan over it, and garnish with the additional basil.

I used fresh sage from my herb garden instead of basil and it was WONDERFUL!

Coffee Break

Coffee Break - Original fabric on wood art, originally uploaded by shellieartist.etsy.com.

Yes the days have flown by and somehow we are in the midst of August. I can hardly believe that the summer is coming to a close in a matter of weeks. However, I am very excited for September b/c we will be taking London to the beach for the very first time (since he was in my tummy). I just know he is going to love the sand and water and breeze.

Here a piece that I just finished and listed in my Etsy shop. I ordered a bunch of fabrics from http://www.batiks.com a few weeks ago. They came the very next day and it was like receiving a pot of gold in the mail. I just can't get enough of them!
Seems that I have just recently started drinking coffee. I used to only drink it if Scott brewed some up but then I got him to show me how- ha ha. Now, I would say maybe 3 times a week brew up some coffee to enjoy while London eats his breakfast. I like it with some splenda or equal and sugar-free hazelnut creamer. Yum and what a treat that little coffee break can be!

Enjoy!

Ahh Summer....where does the time go?

London Showing us that he knows where his feet are (look at the golden tan).

I have not blog at all so far this July (oops). We have been laying low and trying not to drive very far which is one of the only down falls to living out in a smaller city. We miss the good resturants and really only have 2 good ones out here. One is the Thai place (Bo Thai - it is some of the best thai food out there - imo) and the Mexican resturant (La Miriachi's - sp?) which has GREAT BIG MARGARITAS and they are yummy and pricey - but we can sit out on the covered patio and drink them up while eating chips and salsa!

I do wish there were more parks and things we could walk to on these wonderful summer nights but I guess I would still rather be out here then in Charlotte :) We have an acre of land and a big house which would never be possible in the city limit.

My Farmers Market Salad - YUM

I hit the farmers markets a few weeks ago in Matthews NC and Waxhaw NC - oh did I get so many goodies. Here is a salad I made from some of them...delish!

We did not grow Tomatoes this summer which I am regreting everyday so I picked up some green Heirloom ones at the Farmers Market to fry up for dinner - HEAVEN!

What a tasty treat to indulge in every once and a while...for real.

Scott and I chillin. I thought this was a nice picture of us if you excuse my pool hair- ha haAnyway, we are about to go out and play some Bocce ball in the front yard..soon followed by some red wine. I love summer nights!