tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-144040582024-03-14T09:41:02.578-05:00dandelion soupit looks very pretty and bright, but in reality tastes quite strange.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-70933532767033921942014-03-18T01:00:00.000-05:002014-03-19T00:00:19.005-05:00Organization: collage ephemeraHello all!<br />
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Today I am extraordinarily proud of myself because I finally tackled a lingering problem area in my (newly, and mostly organized) craft room! I'm talking about the daunting pile of collage papers that I've accumulated, both big, and small. I don't have an accurate "before" picture, unfortunately, but perhaps you can imagine? My collection was mostly photo boxes, and paper trays stuffed with hundreds of pages torn from magazines.<br />
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I wasted a lot of time looking at organizing boards on Pinterest before finally deciding that nothing I saw would work for me, because I had a budget of exactly $0 to work with, so again, I was forced to improvise. Luckily a few weeks ago, I spotted some little metal bins at Five Below, and snagged them, knowing that I would eventually find a use for them! Today was that day!<br />
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So here is some of what I was starting with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIgpg5hp0ujmGVLevbgsT8ZlmPC21mXPjDVtQukRx_xkhzSJmG8kF9bk_MNT1PckKySeaknO-h5AkSDt7IjWG99NNGJbBsO2BrfvsXNHEvZ4hFu7fN5DSFVvRARcB50VfUEclYw/s1600/before.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIgpg5hp0ujmGVLevbgsT8ZlmPC21mXPjDVtQukRx_xkhzSJmG8kF9bk_MNT1PckKySeaknO-h5AkSDt7IjWG99NNGJbBsO2BrfvsXNHEvZ4hFu7fN5DSFVvRARcB50VfUEclYw/s1600/before.jpeg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may not look so bad, but I had at least half a dozen of these paper boxes filled to overflowing with inspiration that I couldn't access!</td></tr>
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I tried first to organize by color, but that didn't suit me, so I ended up organizing EVERYTHING by category! For the pages that were roughly 8 1/2 x 11, I punched holes in them, and put them in a binder, alphabetized by subject. Luckily, I already had a pack of alphabetical tabbed dividers!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojA9BjIiUOETbayjc3yKPCnngQlhZbEcEr931PKy0wUBcFrCaUTxccd0J7e0r5DE_byvm6yn_BgFiot_4BZ41UWwxc_vzSrUSLl3u9yFkCeIMkdvyh3ugbSQWzcLNeAAvGL2UfA/s1600/after+big.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojA9BjIiUOETbayjc3yKPCnngQlhZbEcEr931PKy0wUBcFrCaUTxccd0J7e0r5DE_byvm6yn_BgFiot_4BZ41UWwxc_vzSrUSLl3u9yFkCeIMkdvyh3ugbSQWzcLNeAAvGL2UfA/s1600/after+big.jpeg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love dem! And not just because they're pretty and rainbow! But also because (sor far) they work great!</td></tr>
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Next came the smaller bits and bobs! I decided to divide them one more time, into two categories, so that the smallest things wouldn't get lost in the files with the slightly larger items. I made my own dividers out of cardstock and washi tape, and set to deciding what categories I wanted to use! I knew I couldn't alphabetize every tiny piece of inspiration, so I came up with more general categories, like "inanimate objects" "places" "people" et cetera.<br />
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I cut down and organized almost every bit of my ephemera, and these bins aren't even half-filled! </div>
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I am so excited to go to make a collage, and see if my organization system works! Also, now I have room to cut up eeeeeeven more of my magazines that are just sitting, waiting for me to rip them apart and collect the beautiful bits!</div>
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How do you organize your collage ephemera??</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-1890317764610547962014-03-16T11:48:00.000-05:002014-03-16T13:52:23.377-05:00Experimentation: DIY washi tapeI want to convince a couple of friends (okay, I sort of want to prove to myself) that it's possible to art journal without breaking the bank! But in my opinion, washi tape (Japanese, repositionable, decorative masking tape) is an absolute must-have. I am a liiitle bit obsessed. So this morning, even though I already have a TON, I attempted to make my own.<br />
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There are, of course, bazillions of tutorials on The Intarwubs for how to make decorative tape out of double-sided, peel-y tape, but I didn't have any of that, and the idea was to use what I have, so I had to improvise. First I tried several types of paper with regular old, scotch brand, double sided tape, with wax paper from the kitchen on the backside (in order to store it). It works okay, I guess, except that it's hard to see where your tape is in order to cut the paper to size. I ended up with some pretty wonky, not-very-straight, rather short lengths of narrow tape. The pattern on my tissue paper was too big to really see any fabulous detail with how narrow my tape was. Also, I discovered that the napkin I used had so many more plies than I thought it did, so I ended up with a white piece that I will probably stamp on later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXbHQ88jLBUdVBfIm_kQNpTh9Kkhvkjb9_bY-qkGsMGBHSgtlAEtTpBtXNkfl2qgT0DQqumYzQFCoQJ_9o0vRtb1epPChqjR6ELJJff_xRSzD6G2Ni3KQJzD11krF2_S1UGL63A/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXbHQ88jLBUdVBfIm_kQNpTh9Kkhvkjb9_bY-qkGsMGBHSgtlAEtTpBtXNkfl2qgT0DQqumYzQFCoQJ_9o0vRtb1epPChqjR6ELJJff_xRSzD6G2Ni3KQJzD11krF2_S1UGL63A/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was not a fan of this technique. On to the next!<br />
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I don't have a picture of this misstep, but the next thing I tried was to paint directly on some masking tape. I felt like a genius, until I realized that my paint was not sticking AT ALL to the tape. Duh.<br />
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So I got out my gesso. You know? That fabulous white stuff that you can paint on almost any surface to make it suitable for paint? Oh wait, I don't have any gesso. Cue Pinterest! Turns out, you can make your own gesso!!<br />
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I won't put the whole tutorial in this blog post because you can just go <a href="http://www.greenislescrafts.com/2011/06/tees-gesso-recipe.html" target="_blank">here</a>, where I found it. But all you need is glue, white paint, and baby powder!<br />
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Okay, third time's the charm, right?<br />
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I tore seven strips of masking tape and stuck them to a piece of wax paper. I gave them a good coat of the gesso I made, and let them dry completely, which took about half an hour. THEN I really got started!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugCgZtsUQOSN3A-kq0wJNQsRbUg7FBfyMwvJ7YL-PoZNMEeA3zD3qro5hX7YDlSiyr9bVlC1o9YX2D3Z8btVIgUI3hrnDjCuAUWack_0cDTd-yiKM-ohA2Dgf9oaSBGRkXEXmkQ/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugCgZtsUQOSN3A-kq0wJNQsRbUg7FBfyMwvJ7YL-PoZNMEeA3zD3qro5hX7YDlSiyr9bVlC1o9YX2D3Z8btVIgUI3hrnDjCuAUWack_0cDTd-yiKM-ohA2Dgf9oaSBGRkXEXmkQ/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was either going to be awesome, or a disaster!</td></tr>
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I put the tape-on-wax-paper in a shallow box and gave them a light spritzing with my homemade glimmer-y spray paints. (will probably make a tutorial for that at some point, but not today)<br />
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Hint: do not try to speed up the drying process during any of these steps with heat! I almost fused my tape to my wax paper by melting either the wax, or the adhesive, or a little of both!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllsLIJqzdgEix_0dckZLki9S7LRa18jzyuJd9wfThrpuh1S-xNFnIPEeW_4jfcqW_5LYQfVnvY8FTkvOUpbxmebJZAE50NgaSKCp2-FtueMtmWggYdK3EtJIoOrSscNmQep6Wfw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllsLIJqzdgEix_0dckZLki9S7LRa18jzyuJd9wfThrpuh1S-xNFnIPEeW_4jfcqW_5LYQfVnvY8FTkvOUpbxmebJZAE50NgaSKCp2-FtueMtmWggYdK3EtJIoOrSscNmQep6Wfw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is what they look like all dried and on a fresh sheet of wax paper!</td></tr>
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Next I decided I wanted a little more pattern/activity, so I got out my stamps!<br />
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I divided my stamps into two categories for this project. Backgrounds, done with colors similar to the ones already on the tape, and foreground, which I decided to do in black.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDIKYDzbMpiAqB2S5fRtYbTN5wS-I9C_PWUvhev96tadj8IuYh0hkGP9CpRf-tkhKAieY9IndPDtd5KGj7Gz67iJzr7J27wU-vXK5RvDtlBx7yTLzTe2WI3JRj2nUaY00MSL5Uw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDIKYDzbMpiAqB2S5fRtYbTN5wS-I9C_PWUvhev96tadj8IuYh0hkGP9CpRf-tkhKAieY9IndPDtd5KGj7Gz67iJzr7J27wU-vXK5RvDtlBx7yTLzTe2WI3JRj2nUaY00MSL5Uw/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a close-up of the background step. Starting to look kinda cool!</td></tr>
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Annnnd, drum roll please?! No? Whatever.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_LW_9ceW4Xf_XqKUzaEI_bjfOzJcp6iQ8VKPhl_0xqeT6vw4UKQdTyvt7enWTz8GApltQ_-6_o4XCQSa2WabL3AlE6Jq14-dMRBOcRzvyY8mKiKkEvQmbtk-ryHQZFFnZ2TVOg/s1600/DSC_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_LW_9ceW4Xf_XqKUzaEI_bjfOzJcp6iQ8VKPhl_0xqeT6vw4UKQdTyvt7enWTz8GApltQ_-6_o4XCQSa2WabL3AlE6Jq14-dMRBOcRzvyY8mKiKkEvQmbtk-ryHQZFFnZ2TVOg/s1600/DSC_0722.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished tape!!</td></tr>
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The birds were hard to align, and next time I think I may try some white stamps, but I am pretty happy, overall, with how this project turned out! What do you think?! I think I may send some in some future happy mail!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.com1Richmond, VA, USA37.5407246 -77.436048137.339233099999994 -77.758771599999989 37.7422161 -77.1133246tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-1824783360793727422014-03-16T02:57:00.002-05:002014-03-16T02:57:59.694-05:00Hello Blog WorldGuess what!? I'm not dead! Hooray!<br />
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So much has happened, and I could TRY to catch you all up on what's gone down in my life for the past year? But for tonight, I think it seems much more manageable to tell you what's happening with me now.<br />
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1. Moved to a new home. Away from my history and past. New beginnings. Freshly painted walls.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kRs4hWA57AR_PsOYQ-ExfcKrlw0EnTGnlaRqdoRndCTIhswt0_lGLRPnsgMfslbIBsy8q09V8qzUVukL2IFSuLRM824trXyv36Ul78CgHFNyDRDjUhv1rtZLizPCs_f3Kr9FOg/s1600/DSC_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kRs4hWA57AR_PsOYQ-ExfcKrlw0EnTGnlaRqdoRndCTIhswt0_lGLRPnsgMfslbIBsy8q09V8qzUVukL2IFSuLRM824trXyv36Ul78CgHFNyDRDjUhv1rtZLizPCs_f3Kr9FOg/s1600/DSC_0588.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. Have my own craft room! It didn't have a table in it for quite some time, and so I was doing my art at the dining room table, which was less than ideal. When my roommate (very kindly) expressed that it might be better for me to get a table IN the craft room, so that we could put all of my things not in the dining room, I realized I have a huge job ahead of me.<br />
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I struggle with depression and anxiety, and I had a really low several weeks before she made this suggestion, and so the craft room, (and pretty much the dining room too) got to be in pretty bad shape. Here are a couple of before and after shots for your viewing pleasure.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-90440128888455472132013-04-12T22:58:00.001-05:002013-04-12T22:58:24.277-05:002013 in progressLong time, no see. It may be time to face facts... Hi, my name is Kendralu, and I am a terrible blogger. But... I'm back again, with notions of actually keeping up with this blog. I know what you're thinking. "I'll believe it when I see it." Honestly, I'm right there with you. We shall see.<br />
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But for tonight, a couple of highlights from the beginning of 2013?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALFHdy4PG8Mijo-mauLTPUufCJk6Br6HKfOYoLdfky7xAh8R6iPshWBqD1Hf_ZuuCbZovPoWQDPM3n9qdvWb8_uMt-wu6qWYtiJuy9LD0MGzs_gokSfqhJbF8z32792qtgL4Zhg/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALFHdy4PG8Mijo-mauLTPUufCJk6Br6HKfOYoLdfky7xAh8R6iPshWBqD1Hf_ZuuCbZovPoWQDPM3n9qdvWb8_uMt-wu6qWYtiJuy9LD0MGzs_gokSfqhJbF8z32792qtgL4Zhg/s320/DSC_0187.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Business in the front</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tb66eyRVU1Oay_75Tqp9NitekCfuMD1fG-ExUnN8brUC0xxOabDGjAYHwFaHl0itCt38z7ehytfyBXR0RSdprg8dospDN_f7bAVbxy7aMD5eIE-ZmauU6ZzFV7oxEKQLyf7QlA/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tb66eyRVU1Oay_75Tqp9NitekCfuMD1fG-ExUnN8brUC0xxOabDGjAYHwFaHl0itCt38z7ehytfyBXR0RSdprg8dospDN_f7bAVbxy7aMD5eIE-ZmauU6ZzFV7oxEKQLyf7QlA/s320/DSC_0191.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Party in the back!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdQMz4eWDi3HAJ8YR_8bYylm9DXRckoTAYqrcqOO_i8SpGfxVAaw1saIN45-XwdWLSmt7ofs9-W4gpdM7DQ-Hh9lIAD-ADxX5rnPFGMgf8N5hhC8TT6GVidtFMRRs7BKMDQK1AQ/s1600/DSC_0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdQMz4eWDi3HAJ8YR_8bYylm9DXRckoTAYqrcqOO_i8SpGfxVAaw1saIN45-XwdWLSmt7ofs9-W4gpdM7DQ-Hh9lIAD-ADxX5rnPFGMgf8N5hhC8TT6GVidtFMRRs7BKMDQK1AQ/s320/DSC_0190.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-uJNgEP4KZeRhpkzKusN3dsT1ctIC9-mi7sx2sIgq3f-Q0LvNd8VH5a9MAbvuSuBZ-uBSNnj-wujBGGiSAg8l9rKL5qJ_5jOkOPbkUj0LrfDCh8QHHLqN6cqYzeN9YOcr1IO_w/s1600/DSC_0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-uJNgEP4KZeRhpkzKusN3dsT1ctIC9-mi7sx2sIgq3f-Q0LvNd8VH5a9MAbvuSuBZ-uBSNnj-wujBGGiSAg8l9rKL5qJ_5jOkOPbkUj0LrfDCh8QHHLqN6cqYzeN9YOcr1IO_w/s320/DSC_0193.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutie!</td></tr>
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I spent a good 20 minutes to half an hour with Cadence strapped into her high chair, grandma distracting her, so that I could pull this off. Doing a two year old's hair is hard work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbpuLr_YvsILtsw6B1tg_YmgoOUGrsaMs_-D9aQ_PbRt3Dm1OO_Wdf-z5bS9LwTnBMtAhR44xXBtUf-trZvxilnaxqTJyASEwwGurKGkHrGSj-cJNIMJd-Z219UVfYeqPZYehyphenhyphenA/s1600/DSC_0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbpuLr_YvsILtsw6B1tg_YmgoOUGrsaMs_-D9aQ_PbRt3Dm1OO_Wdf-z5bS9LwTnBMtAhR44xXBtUf-trZvxilnaxqTJyASEwwGurKGkHrGSj-cJNIMJd-Z219UVfYeqPZYehyphenhyphenA/s320/DSC_0206.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at this tall girl! This was taken at her second birthday party, in February!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7soN8cUYA0eGW1uU3A1F9D_Q-e2FiatgVZH3Iy9n3tlyWLIDd-qLK8Tjl1zfISaZV3uQzfJadj5ZI-a5H-X7DOPZHTcNlBRvwPHjH02aN6WpGWD0yxsOBOtXfz3u4bfXO4SIgNw/s1600/DSC_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7soN8cUYA0eGW1uU3A1F9D_Q-e2FiatgVZH3Iy9n3tlyWLIDd-qLK8Tjl1zfISaZV3uQzfJadj5ZI-a5H-X7DOPZHTcNlBRvwPHjH02aN6WpGWD0yxsOBOtXfz3u4bfXO4SIgNw/s320/DSC_0196.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Night Before, rainbow cake in progress...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMbZcwR4AAvf2vL7hTkgwTIFE-wEbos1Ad0LGySn9XUAK6FdkYtVSPrVTo0oIlVSbRg2si2zXrpN80bdZRAxWTw1XQvxUvL8Q5FttWG3zonoDteHzOEzZHAY3eq081jU5fgUkow/s1600/DSC_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMbZcwR4AAvf2vL7hTkgwTIFE-wEbos1Ad0LGySn9XUAK6FdkYtVSPrVTo0oIlVSbRg2si2zXrpN80bdZRAxWTw1XQvxUvL8Q5FttWG3zonoDteHzOEzZHAY3eq081jU5fgUkow/s320/DSC_0201.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday display plus a giant cake with a surprise inside!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyU4L6VwDAHgirGNH0htbuFtk_WHrH8Ew4UrhhiJYP4Z5Q-pgXMNKLsFk5O7pl0j87uql4aOtrLCJtoZhKAbgM3_AxFm066qSuXLuVNvcG-UAKTQcUa3D_CSg5qtjVQ4zm7Ludfw/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyU4L6VwDAHgirGNH0htbuFtk_WHrH8Ew4UrhhiJYP4Z5Q-pgXMNKLsFk5O7pl0j87uql4aOtrLCJtoZhKAbgM3_AxFm066qSuXLuVNvcG-UAKTQcUa3D_CSg5qtjVQ4zm7Ludfw/s320/DSC_0219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6olf4zs-ApESl9QsZ-M6ZRr1h5dP39PG43T8YkNkVxSiTl9kcikdSlL9_qWaLdUopsv_6dSUwdYwFFK8aSLmhiL-EIJp7jdichK5is23rykYCvO-PonCbjrNlXVkWIJMcR5jUQ/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6olf4zs-ApESl9QsZ-M6ZRr1h5dP39PG43T8YkNkVxSiTl9kcikdSlL9_qWaLdUopsv_6dSUwdYwFFK8aSLmhiL-EIJp7jdichK5is23rykYCvO-PonCbjrNlXVkWIJMcR5jUQ/s320/DSC_0221.JPG" width="205" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Vqq9TFwCdpGLHFWkXl-cCfZLcKlLM4RRAmtECgrQ8BTLa-FMmuu-j_c3S-CBrla6u3HAZbMKy-rxB2UYHS5vtXZOqTXEfIdwrqM8eD_Lp4DMZPhnvMA5iqD0OkTN1zubLnI_YA/s1600/DSC_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Vqq9TFwCdpGLHFWkXl-cCfZLcKlLM4RRAmtECgrQ8BTLa-FMmuu-j_c3S-CBrla6u3HAZbMKy-rxB2UYHS5vtXZOqTXEfIdwrqM8eD_Lp4DMZPhnvMA5iqD0OkTN1zubLnI_YA/s320/DSC_0236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkr3gWG2sFD1hN8DiTe15cSQO3DFhKGYLxqXwzXMpJIA1qeNfYyxcyA11QMgfPCqx2v-pGvAMwWfmbrC5DSCn4dq64d-f_t47mnzFMgfcROeOsJymIpeJG7Ht8pRv-VTg_MG_Wg/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkr3gWG2sFD1hN8DiTe15cSQO3DFhKGYLxqXwzXMpJIA1qeNfYyxcyA11QMgfPCqx2v-pGvAMwWfmbrC5DSCn4dq64d-f_t47mnzFMgfcROeOsJymIpeJG7Ht8pRv-VTg_MG_Wg/s320/DSC_0254.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6jt4a6GYcIFc5QdqxMYgFmN9BQGZt_cvK5bIFfBDqZ30ljLg79q3eLIRxx8PouwFcxbw4_0GnujQQ_1LwONQnhHXWIixxCSdprvdUxzNez_ZQ-AL9jY6vBUUdhwPaf3mJuTNww/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6jt4a6GYcIFc5QdqxMYgFmN9BQGZt_cvK5bIFfBDqZ30ljLg79q3eLIRxx8PouwFcxbw4_0GnujQQ_1LwONQnhHXWIixxCSdprvdUxzNez_ZQ-AL9jY6vBUUdhwPaf3mJuTNww/s320/DSC_0267.JPG" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar rush!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc8aVpxIxv5vp6Py85J-ka6fW4UOizd2BsBaO3bOCM_EhAAhKpPA0cWFDuCIEYiAyiPtWDoFVvquYZv1suaWeG3klsgy_hCGRbhxJPimDqb0ullZW3k87PKNPgGhhpjJFfX29sQ/s1600/DSC_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc8aVpxIxv5vp6Py85J-ka6fW4UOizd2BsBaO3bOCM_EhAAhKpPA0cWFDuCIEYiAyiPtWDoFVvquYZv1suaWeG3klsgy_hCGRbhxJPimDqb0ullZW3k87PKNPgGhhpjJFfX29sQ/s320/DSC_0304.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auntie 'Raina MADE this fabulous sweater for Miss Cady! Isn't it lovely!?</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-963971456039796612012-11-17T19:55:00.000-06:002012-11-17T19:57:12.720-06:00Art For ChristmasI am officially going to start selling my artwork. As of now. I figure Christmastime is as good a time as any!<br />
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SO! Here are some samples of what I can do for you!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36otSYm7cEc_W4-xxNWZRpfcL1_iKdLhLSt3zgQVgiiui2CR4GPnwJm3y3fwW3lS8DHv9WLPQ7khwKxn567o2IDdcmV1vqtxjlFtpRhYDzv12HG6bxbtWf5wI5VsFzzdpptwPyQ/s1600/saige+and+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36otSYm7cEc_W4-xxNWZRpfcL1_iKdLhLSt3zgQVgiiui2CR4GPnwJm3y3fwW3lS8DHv9WLPQ7khwKxn567o2IDdcmV1vqtxjlFtpRhYDzv12HG6bxbtWf5wI5VsFzzdpptwPyQ/s320/saige+and+dog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can do Custom Colored Silhouette Collages of a treasured photograph! We can decide together which of your pictures will make wonderful Collages!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA3CGYdPmULdjGPvi1yS_g4OTQJ2rBj-SGJU3MjwgzwLkNIBYSTWnUo08F2zg5alaN9MfpC7tRsq01cy_TvaWKWP2sr4SiDR4__h_7oKP2KFEe49c4_ocutO59bFCrJEeZlm7Yg/s1600/piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirA3CGYdPmULdjGPvi1yS_g4OTQJ2rBj-SGJU3MjwgzwLkNIBYSTWnUo08F2zg5alaN9MfpC7tRsq01cy_TvaWKWP2sr4SiDR4__h_7oKP2KFEe49c4_ocutO59bFCrJEeZlm7Yg/s320/piano.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$40.00 for an 8x10</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTzFR1m9kgAzIX8h4an7jgzgPlPC6M3D56BzmAyFodxuehyQOepzo_5_GJrL50rx9sNM5u2Ln2Xu1NyfEe52nBu2QFjHKv19WtfSyZnoLpvOSOJ0oSEEvqi1idEtcFyXEBqnUXw/s1600/Scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTzFR1m9kgAzIX8h4an7jgzgPlPC6M3D56BzmAyFodxuehyQOepzo_5_GJrL50rx9sNM5u2Ln2Xu1NyfEe52nBu2QFjHKv19WtfSyZnoLpvOSOJ0oSEEvqi1idEtcFyXEBqnUXw/s320/Scan.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can also do Traditional Black Silhouettes of your loved ones</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAEwEhA24yOq1Fw2lwcnhCrgRZeOuAnKfe9Q_Cw_u2jimH-UVDAfKRnNJWw9e7Dt8sjsmQzyHGyuKHrb0oejrm_0jQqNOjzjeaINgeLiblK4tR6M0KeYmGwNP6qmO8_1yqaK8tg/s1600/Scan+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAEwEhA24yOq1Fw2lwcnhCrgRZeOuAnKfe9Q_Cw_u2jimH-UVDAfKRnNJWw9e7Dt8sjsmQzyHGyuKHrb0oejrm_0jQqNOjzjeaINgeLiblK4tR6M0KeYmGwNP6qmO8_1yqaK8tg/s320/Scan+2.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$10.00</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioo21HlEF_sbz3JiRyBYr1nmigHebrB2Ks8vO33oWEnxQxyqB4oRooi0F-KtV3ett33aenYtsYwIQpBHZlmlp-Q3Nlyd6bJPuphuQCoSIUEgzZMhZqWUmAN21KpywjdT5H5nrLEw/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioo21HlEF_sbz3JiRyBYr1nmigHebrB2Ks8vO33oWEnxQxyqB4oRooi0F-KtV3ett33aenYtsYwIQpBHZlmlp-Q3Nlyd6bJPuphuQCoSIUEgzZMhZqWUmAN21KpywjdT5H5nrLEw/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can also do lovely, detailed Black and White Portraits of you or a loved one! $25.00 base price for an 8x10 b&w plus $10/hour (click the picture to enlarge it!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpem-uP0dyyU8KW07l9UqzuNtPIbxiDeSQ8bKQdJHQw8Ny4W3YKj2ic49rge4XkqRNGmLwMoxwlwSxs6bKoCXFeBEbYRUm7Y8qudEvrt7aByUpLPqlZcoeh0lfUyqOozX3JeSYA/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpem-uP0dyyU8KW07l9UqzuNtPIbxiDeSQ8bKQdJHQw8Ny4W3YKj2ic49rge4XkqRNGmLwMoxwlwSxs6bKoCXFeBEbYRUm7Y8qudEvrt7aByUpLPqlZcoeh0lfUyqOozX3JeSYA/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or, you can have a beautiful Color portrait of yourself, or a loved one! $45.00 base price for an 8x10 plus $10.00/hour</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Other things I can custom make for you include Hand-drawn Paper Dolls to look like your child, (on magnetic paper, thick cardstock, or book board) and Lovely building blocks for your toddler, personalized with a theme you choose!<br />
<br />
If you're interested you can contact me at kendraluogzewalla@gmail.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-12156917487678440872012-10-15T16:26:00.005-05:002012-10-15T16:26:56.897-05:00Backward, Glass Looking The Through (teaser)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK31Sxv8iXWKXewa6rwxhRO_oUetrWNivvmwoHpr5NlYVxv50sKKoRpEiV9i6qigqR8_B-DbC7fwgMMAXZTpQrs_W_ha5rkM_4MpkGpGzoMpjk4MEU54fcGNA6Iv9dQPMnTYbrYA/s1600/0164284_0164284-R1-E013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK31Sxv8iXWKXewa6rwxhRO_oUetrWNivvmwoHpr5NlYVxv50sKKoRpEiV9i6qigqR8_B-DbC7fwgMMAXZTpQrs_W_ha5rkM_4MpkGpGzoMpjk4MEU54fcGNA6Iv9dQPMnTYbrYA/s640/0164284_0164284-R1-E013.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
Holding tight to her teapot, The White Queen looked around. The looking
glass, that fickle contraption, was nowhere to be seen. Where was she?
What was this mysterious place on the other side of the mirror?<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-5906834713106318392012-07-21T19:37:00.001-05:002012-07-21T19:37:53.891-05:00dearest blog followers, i have abandoned you again, and i am sorry. life is life and things continue to be complicated and busy and satisfying. i have made a big decision. i am not going back to school this fall because i want more time with the kids. i don't know if i even mentioned my plans to go back to school, but i had them. i was going to study social work, and become a play therapist (one of a few options i've been considering). i've thought about it, and prayed about it, and i've decided that even though they're not my kids, they need me in their lives right now. and even if they didn't, i need them. so school will have to wait. i may have to find another way of supporting myself and my foster babies when my five years are up, but i will do it, because i KNOW that they need me. i also know that being in my nieces and nephew's lives now is more important than any psychology class that i could take. <br />
<br />
so. maybe when i have my foster babies, i could run a daycare. then i could stay home with them. or maybe my business (when i get it up and running) will be enough to take care of us. i realize that i have a lot of options, even though sometimes it doesn't feel like it. right? plenty of people with just a bachelor's degree (which is what i could have in five years, if i go back to school next year instead of this) support and raise children. right? and plenty of people support and raise children WHILE going to school. it can be done. it won't be easy, but i am motivated. my future children need me.<br />
<br />
i have plans.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15401816163569481877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-14767195093628273582012-06-14T22:32:00.001-05:002012-06-14T22:32:37.034-05:00I'm not sure what this blog post will say, but I did promise (myself and you) that I would write more regularly, so here I am.<br />
This week has been insane. An exceedingly intense metaphorical rollercoaster. Some really wonderful moments have happened this week, also a major devastating one that made just about everything else feel inconsequential. The majority of it I can't blog about, but sufficed to say, things is crazy up in here y'all. <br />
What do you do when the worst thing you can possibly imagine, happens? Not to you, but to someone you love more than anything in the world. How do you deal with the emotions that come with that? How do you react?<br />
I tell you what <i><b>we</b></i> do.<br />
We stand up, and we fight.<br />
We say no.<br />
I can tell you what people have done for me. They have stood next to me on the battlements and cried the war-cry right alongside me, even when I have insisted that this is not their fight. They have lain in the mud with me when I've been beaten, and bloodied, promising me that if I want to get up again, they will help lift me. And they have lifted me to my feet each and every time I've fallen. <br />
Now it's my turn. I've been beaten down, I've been lifted, and I've been carried to this place so that I can be. Here. Now.<br />
You're not alone in this. Not for a moment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-82285018976189130442012-06-11T20:13:00.002-05:002012-06-11T20:13:44.549-05:00It has been a very, very long time since I have been posting
regularly on my blog. I am sorry to all of you lovely people that ever
bothered to read it. I have a desire to start writing again, but most of
what I could write about seems either, inconsequential, or a smidge too
private to share with the world-at-large. However, I am going to put
aside my insecurities and start anew. It is, after all, that time of
year.<br />
<br />
So, Today.<br />
<br />
My life consists
almost entirely of taking care of my brother's kids. That, and therapy.
Almost everything else that I once cared about seems to have fallen
along the wayside. Art, writing, friends, church. However, my schedule
may be about to open up, at least for the duration of the summer. I am
looking for ways to make my life fuller, my interactions more
meaningful, my time spent with the children more memorable. <br />
<br />
I
am making art again, and encouraging others to do so, including the
kids. I am spending my spare time working on "assignments" from my
therapist, which I adore (most of the time). Maybe I will start posting
some pictures of my therapy art journal on here. I am taking more
pictures of the kids, especially cadence, as she seems to have grown an
inch every time i see her!<br />
<br />
Here are some of the recent favorites, to keep you going until (hopefully) tomorrow.<br />
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<span id="goog_1854935312"></span><span id="goog_1854935313"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-21412242767728647202012-03-10T14:06:00.001-06:002012-03-10T17:08:44.648-06:00The Loves of My Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGB0e4se-EzEzS10pc40PyHQbWM1Ej684KpCZFwklqcsw5aISvlWkSCc1dGXAR7L2n_uw1ACVNR6VTwiVa6ixVQhDZ2GXXBYEv9zkXp7DZl4zR2SiEF5LcmB70gqp1mOu3prTb/s1600/2+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGB0e4se-EzEzS10pc40PyHQbWM1Ej684KpCZFwklqcsw5aISvlWkSCc1dGXAR7L2n_uw1ACVNR6VTwiVa6ixVQhDZ2GXXBYEv9zkXp7DZl4zR2SiEF5LcmB70gqp1mOu3prTb/s400/2+%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718365509811880690" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-33473145581295870362012-01-16T00:07:00.002-06:002012-01-16T00:28:25.279-06:00Dear Future HusbandSomething that you should probably know about me is that I need medicine to make me into a real person. Mood stabilizers, and anti-depressants, and stimulants, among others. If you like me well enough to want to marry me, then you know this already. Something that may not have occurred to you, (it didn't occur to me until quite recently) is that in order to have biological children, I'll have to go off of these medications for a significant chunk of time before I can safely get pregnant. Not to mention the nine-ish months of pregnancy, and however long it takes to breastfeed. (I know a woman that had seven children so close together that she was breast-feeding at least one child for almost eleven years straight.) I've always wanted to be that wife for you, future husband. The one who is barefoot and pregnant. My question is this: what if you marry the woman you think I am, and then we want to have a baby, and so I go off of my meds, and you meet this other woman, the one who is sad, and emotional, and angry and mean, and you don't love her the way you love the medicated me? And what if you want to have seven children, and I have to breastfeed for eleven years and you forget why you ever loved me in the first place?<br /><br />Future husband, will you still love me if we have to adopt our seven children, and they don't look like you?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-23753958165075786022012-01-15T23:45:00.002-06:002012-01-16T00:06:21.134-06:0010 Things I Wish I Could Tell 10 People: Redacted1. They may have pretty faces, but you are beautiful. The more I know you, the more beautiful you are to me.<br /><br />2. I know you try your best, but that isn't good enough anymore. Can't you just try a <span style="font-style: italic;">little</span> harder?<br /><br />3. She's a dog, she doesn't speak English! And not only is she a dog, she is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">good </span>dog, and she is <span style="font-weight: bold;">my</span> dog. (If you had someone you loved as much as I love her, I would at least pretend to like them.)<br /><br />4. Why don't you talk to her? Stupid boy.<br /><br />5. I'm afraid you'll give up on me, just like everyone else who has tried. Please don't?<br /><br />6. Why not this? Why not something good?<br /><br />7. Call your mother, she worries.<br /><br />8. The most painful thing I will ever have to experience, I have already experienced, and you are behind me now.<br /><br />9. I can't afford this.<br /><br />10. Suck it up. You're capable of this.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-5566432877193846042011-12-15T09:47:00.005-06:002011-12-15T11:48:41.142-06:00I am her person.Today I made the mistake of opening an article from the Charlottesville, VA SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: the local pound) entitled "The Twelve Saves of Christmas." I naively thought this would be an article about twelve animals that had been adopted. The first animal that I read a little story about was Blue, a charming pitbull pup that needs a home. What?! NEEDS a home?? Crap. What have I done?! While I have a little rant stored up about how SPCA videos are cruelty to humans, I was completely sucked in.<br /><br />Almost three years ago now, I adopted a pitbull from the closest no-kill SPCA. Her name is Lovely and she is my baby, my best friend. I cannot even begin to tell you what a difference she has made for me. I saved her life, and she saved mine.<br /><br />When I started looking for a dog in January-ish of 2009, I had no idea why I was doing it. I'm not really a dog person. I never have been. I kept thinking to myself "Kendra, why are you doing this? You don't even LIKE dogs," but I kept looking. I met many very very sweet dogs, dogs who don't shed a lot, dogs who don't jump on you, dog's that don't yip, completely lovable dogs, but I wasn't impressed. At least I had the good sense to know that I couldn't bring home a dog that I wasn't completely over the moon in love with, so I kept looking even though I was meeting SO many good dogs. I knew they deserved someone who would love them more than I could. I began to wonder if I was wasting my time on this search, but something told me to keep at it. I came home from the Nelson County SPCA one day and started looking up the animals that were available for adoption on the internet. My head told me this was the stupidest attempt so far. "Kendra, you cannot choose a dog based on a picture on the internet," I told myself. And then i saw Lovely's little doggy profile. This was her picture.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySRJkbqp8pBC90Y17IoH-8MjlMlVHkC_3iP33EdDxM9Zb78BtO-3-zfzB47Wk_MX5fbPLtk8jtbhK9sFF9GhA-Pa9F1H_eUpWi3uj6i9Fp_4nLqe4kbjGwBMfveFf9xHWCubO/s1600/n1564560435_30359102_3776686.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySRJkbqp8pBC90Y17IoH-8MjlMlVHkC_3iP33EdDxM9Zb78BtO-3-zfzB47Wk_MX5fbPLtk8jtbhK9sFF9GhA-Pa9F1H_eUpWi3uj6i9Fp_4nLqe4kbjGwBMfveFf9xHWCubO/s400/n1564560435_30359102_3776686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686413410521660178" border="0" /></a><br /></span>Right?! When I saw it, I was smitten. "Kendra!" I told myself, "you <span style="font-weight: bold;">cannot</span> choose a dog based on a picture on the internet!" So I went to meet her in person. I got to the SPCA, and I looked for her, but she wasn't in her kennel. I was so nervous that someone had already adopted her, or that she was sick or something awful, so with shaking hands, I offered the picture I had printed from Lovely's profile to an employee, and said "I was hoping to see this dog." The girl got a HUGE smile on her face and exclaimed "Lovely!" It turned out, Lovely was so scared of people that they kept her in the manager's office when groups of people were visiting. (like the group of schoolchildren that were, at that moment, tromping around the grounds)<br /><br />The employee warned me that she wouldn't be very social with me, but I didn't care, i just wanted to meet her. When she came out to meet me, she was terrified. She wouldn't look me in the eyes, she wouldn't let me touch her, in fact, she was choking herself with her collar pulling on the leash trying to get away from me. But from the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the reason I had been looking for a dog. This dog needed me. And I didn't know it at the time, but I needed her. We desperately needed each other.<br /><br />I couldn't take her home that very day, and for the few (utterly miserable) days that followed, I wasn't sure if I could take her home at all. There were issues with the insurance and owning a pitbull, (which I had been completely unaware of, as naive as I am.) I also needed to have a vet ready, which I didn't. And the icing on the cake, I didn't have the money to pay for the adoption fees and for the essentials needed when bringing home a new dog. I thought my heart would break.<br /><br />Then the miracles started. Our insurance agent was retiring in a few days, and my mom went to ask him what kind of restrictions were placed on owning a "dominant breed" of dog. His answer: just don't tell the new agent. If she bites someone, the insurance will pay the claim, and then drop us, but as long as that doesn't happen, it really doesn't matter. He wasn't going to tell anyone. My friend Heather recommended a vet, so I was good there, and then, like manna from heaven Heather said the words, "If you're SURE that this is your dog, then I'll help you get her. I'll pay the fee."<br /><br />Lovely was mine. I was Lovely's. She is my dog, and I am her person. I belong to her. It took me two years to pay Heather back for the money she spent helping me bring Lovely home, but I know that I can never truly repay her for what she did for us, for me and Lovely. My life took a sharp turn that day. I became responsible for another living being, and it changed the way I live my life. I am a better person because of this dog, and she is a well-loved, affection-craving, almost-social animal now, almost 3 years later. My heart, and my home are full.<br /><br />I cannot adopt this dog, Blue. Not today, and not any time soon. I wish I could save them all, one at a time, but I can't. He is a living, breathing, loving creature of God, and maybe you, or someone you know can make a home for him. This tiny little blog with a hundred and nine readers is my only voice, and I needed to speak about this. This dog deserves a story like Lovely's. Will you help me spread the word? Post it on your facebook pages, your twitter, your blogs. Tell your friends, show them Blue's story! I know that they are out there, and maybe together, we can find the person that is meant to belong to Blue.<br /><br /><a href="http://caspca.blogspot.com/2011/12/twelve-saves-of-christmas-first.html">http://caspca.blogspot.com/2011/12/twelve-saves-of-christmas-first.html</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi39GMJ-FEphUSoPN4YZIXCmipHDfnEOPrNcOvnrI-MFzdDOEeQmL_SgoCM1-nMuvJZbadrireCeaB-yq1mSOeextmrat5xU8QQOeFoT0jMXazLmcSXpJs5zWHUkgWVkIkcEi/s1600/DSCN2446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi39GMJ-FEphUSoPN4YZIXCmipHDfnEOPrNcOvnrI-MFzdDOEeQmL_SgoCM1-nMuvJZbadrireCeaB-yq1mSOeextmrat5xU8QQOeFoT0jMXazLmcSXpJs5zWHUkgWVkIkcEi/s400/DSCN2446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686413081969653762" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-31026170246381690662011-11-12T09:55:00.006-06:002011-11-12T10:12:08.843-06:00cleaning the church buildingMy very favorite part of volunteering for this service is washing down the big glass doors. Why? Because you can see the handprints and the noseprints of the little toddlers who aren't strong enough to open the doors yet, trying to escape. I love it.<br /><br />In other news, 11ish pictures of the number 11, taken last night (11/11/11) on my phone! Sorry for the picture quality!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI5ADmUExQqwlh9Ob6Yvoqk7ZzNEr8m-3mScPm7jLnfrOTR31_hDP8jGgZbBvEk_OngJQqaXkeLZ4M2iheN9UWa_qaFCaxpPmcNoQk2TlZ0z4gjRREKQ26L1nfOPMPxMeGarQ/s1600/downsized_1111112152.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI5ADmUExQqwlh9Ob6Yvoqk7ZzNEr8m-3mScPm7jLnfrOTR31_hDP8jGgZbBvEk_OngJQqaXkeLZ4M2iheN9UWa_qaFCaxpPmcNoQk2TlZ0z4gjRREKQ26L1nfOPMPxMeGarQ/s200/downsized_1111112152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674142269516151282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnSUabOqRNKjQ1IBC-pZDYmeAFc3MT80uZNHX0m38_U_6ygq3Ck5LqjpLw25Epn7Fltol0b3Q3XPCyap8bdeaELC5EeW7qIPKPgwy5bHFL2kOkADR5ZK9zGGhN1JwRJjeZS_S/s1600/downsized_1111112115+3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 129px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnSUabOqRNKjQ1IBC-pZDYmeAFc3MT80uZNHX0m38_U_6ygq3Ck5LqjpLw25Epn7Fltol0b3Q3XPCyap8bdeaELC5EeW7qIPKPgwy5bHFL2kOkADR5ZK9zGGhN1JwRJjeZS_S/s200/downsized_1111112115+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141903780281410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ueUniP29BU1XA88c7Il9LlAyYv6IfaSXwO8gocyjAKWm2dKL7aJx5KaNoFCkYdAx5tHvfPNTwrA5b_Gvnqhtko98ufCT_SuCmixAyOZmPOMHNAlJxE2B-EHJLRCICP2_tTFG/s1600/downsized_1111112115+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 178px; height: 115px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ueUniP29BU1XA88c7Il9LlAyYv6IfaSXwO8gocyjAKWm2dKL7aJx5KaNoFCkYdAx5tHvfPNTwrA5b_Gvnqhtko98ufCT_SuCmixAyOZmPOMHNAlJxE2B-EHJLRCICP2_tTFG/s200/downsized_1111112115+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141893191367074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1qheJUHU51ybpvcjkyon9PlsxyZ61it7HeiuICKojZwCUKp3xQ9WQe2SWjacU6XFGK1QMSvsDZCToZpdaEXxCFZtQQ7SbC9JzoPPhNR2i0kM36DzmZdEwTyxRdUDMPbzCjCA/s1600/downsized_1111112109.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1qheJUHU51ybpvcjkyon9PlsxyZ61it7HeiuICKojZwCUKp3xQ9WQe2SWjacU6XFGK1QMSvsDZCToZpdaEXxCFZtQQ7SbC9JzoPPhNR2i0kM36DzmZdEwTyxRdUDMPbzCjCA/s200/downsized_1111112109.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141894705178930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThlHTyG_z336oQqm5wN7Fdp5oFR-ON8OLIWgiUuN2rEm5gFf12yJniLUunX5Yo_hKeF-lM5WNZLXMcu_cFHWbP2OneUI83jTnKwrtjHf3kOu9B8ZQUepFPRMHbzb0CYuA10oJ/s1600/downsized_1111112133a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgThlHTyG_z336oQqm5wN7Fdp5oFR-ON8OLIWgiUuN2rEm5gFf12yJniLUunX5Yo_hKeF-lM5WNZLXMcu_cFHWbP2OneUI83jTnKwrtjHf3kOu9B8ZQUepFPRMHbzb0CYuA10oJ/s200/downsized_1111112133a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141907206736050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETbsQvUayp0-KaALqwwf5sOnnNtONoUzLJt105aCzPUgGHAoxlGHqt3zC98nu6xirjigyXN-BGirCZGjoX-W2QlWfxe4zihgLZRqZUbtu3O4QJ72kPLAvrmSypxrAM6-g1kny/s1600/download-5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETbsQvUayp0-KaALqwwf5sOnnNtONoUzLJt105aCzPUgGHAoxlGHqt3zC98nu6xirjigyXN-BGirCZGjoX-W2QlWfxe4zihgLZRqZUbtu3O4QJ72kPLAvrmSypxrAM6-g1kny/s200/download-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141149416991890" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj520j-5eoWuj88UvjGo8371PUMV0BDuTTHb0hHKBv5tleRjvC_rYQI0ypuBdZ0TDnNAm6f08xYb_e4MiFZ_loJv-KnfVA3vc2eJcJ86JE8M9hfEh7RyCiQDrcYA32AFhyiwMol/s1600/download-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj520j-5eoWuj88UvjGo8371PUMV0BDuTTHb0hHKBv5tleRjvC_rYQI0ypuBdZ0TDnNAm6f08xYb_e4MiFZ_loJv-KnfVA3vc2eJcJ86JE8M9hfEh7RyCiQDrcYA32AFhyiwMol/s200/download-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141140605464898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HbF3TmnUNqZpFWnmCU02wDjlr0EGo9-Hx5t4SKNdu8N3jIZvMukzoAko2wkUoSIWeTusjpWhKvPfVDWsGYZBomFpw0E02IAz0xCIfa28Ly5bkTlp-8OFDTqp93tce3hHYr0Q/s1600/download-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HbF3TmnUNqZpFWnmCU02wDjlr0EGo9-Hx5t4SKNdu8N3jIZvMukzoAko2wkUoSIWeTusjpWhKvPfVDWsGYZBomFpw0E02IAz0xCIfa28Ly5bkTlp-8OFDTqp93tce3hHYr0Q/s200/download-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141132769647682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC9lzuKKSFD56qWov84FFS2PrlUVire7uTJ-nN72QyMWj-wkGwyjYxeKiYyE1leejPhgIC3HOuMwmEo6wVm3Jl9iCFrqIBeKanRsMrtIlidx9Ig4PmmKlaEYH1oq8vlsLHgWH/s1600/downsized_1111112107.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC9lzuKKSFD56qWov84FFS2PrlUVire7uTJ-nN72QyMWj-wkGwyjYxeKiYyE1leejPhgIC3HOuMwmEo6wVm3Jl9iCFrqIBeKanRsMrtIlidx9Ig4PmmKlaEYH1oq8vlsLHgWH/s200/downsized_1111112107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674141170351995074" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-11409058739931328332011-10-31T21:29:00.001-05:002011-10-31T21:29:44.022-05:00Dear Future Foster Children,I will take you trick or treating.<br /><br />love, Miss KendraUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-15314122079134541662011-10-26T12:06:00.001-05:002011-10-26T12:07:32.301-05:00Oh My Goodness!I have just discovered that I have 100 followers! I remember vividly when I only had 3. Thank you all so much, I love you!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-83804257937755055382011-10-22T02:50:00.004-05:002011-10-22T02:58:37.910-05:00I feel like posting a little bit of my art.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMp7UrPtpRisXr7X2GDdu6GAiBYb6kvD21oKdy3G5tqbX-FUyVu3URtCb4A79AX4kMK1EJsbK5VcQpwvjYpyFydfqlRW8RZpvPrN6jJPYmQS-5niUOCQ5-OuG1MPevWpfDgcq/s1600/n1564560435_30285205_6622.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 346px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMp7UrPtpRisXr7X2GDdu6GAiBYb6kvD21oKdy3G5tqbX-FUyVu3URtCb4A79AX4kMK1EJsbK5VcQpwvjYpyFydfqlRW8RZpvPrN6jJPYmQS-5niUOCQ5-OuG1MPevWpfDgcq/s400/n1564560435_30285205_6622.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666222160774210674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV939W1_4AiQnC2mMFsZoUsLlse59HbVIWDmUUcG0cmk7J_4MHMiNB1vVDjMe8AWyIoFLoHXTsMdmXV4c00Essc_2JMiR-3flrh3SRjpSkpYxJc7LdWOTzmPcNogW9yBYl22Yg/s1600/n1564560435_30285211_8169.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV939W1_4AiQnC2mMFsZoUsLlse59HbVIWDmUUcG0cmk7J_4MHMiNB1vVDjMe8AWyIoFLoHXTsMdmXV4c00Essc_2JMiR-3flrh3SRjpSkpYxJc7LdWOTzmPcNogW9yBYl22Yg/s400/n1564560435_30285211_8169.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666222168783813298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthFaW2izAQg1sUryK7oB71ABRshiQyLW_WTtNjtG1TfHHJkcucbEgZBEk2qr-JkElA3FOxsr9EFKuo9aYHQSJJypamGcempCFlQD1XqeXWoQj3E0-t8Sfa2kHViKDZBkZAzJS/s1600/n1564560435_30285210_7923.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthFaW2izAQg1sUryK7oB71ABRshiQyLW_WTtNjtG1TfHHJkcucbEgZBEk2qr-JkElA3FOxsr9EFKuo9aYHQSJJypamGcempCFlQD1XqeXWoQj3E0-t8Sfa2kHViKDZBkZAzJS/s400/n1564560435_30285210_7923.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666222165290323154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPTj9-RHGLmUySeKpfZzVRjDqmas7CT5aDx-byCRJyC1wrr62PfeuYeZP3Tu5ZALF2c7asr0osOzzOuXKOVNcAvTFEAN851Z4X05gRuz4zp390CcD1_r6i9QzkXw-kXeSz846/s1600/n1564560435_30285204_6389.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPTj9-RHGLmUySeKpfZzVRjDqmas7CT5aDx-byCRJyC1wrr62PfeuYeZP3Tu5ZALF2c7asr0osOzzOuXKOVNcAvTFEAN851Z4X05gRuz4zp390CcD1_r6i9QzkXw-kXeSz846/s400/n1564560435_30285204_6389.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666222159770931794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYuSo4rmx4ae6VJdDsWyAGrrU14lILgPFxJOJpCmJlUL-1L_FFXGBrDInnQR3u4fke94LPMdQYUCRUszOkYIyQVYLJ6BrzlnEmVG1OT6zn8AFo2T7N_W05YGAt27qpNqOLUkt/s1600/n1564560435_30285229_1060.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYuSo4rmx4ae6VJdDsWyAGrrU14lILgPFxJOJpCmJlUL-1L_FFXGBrDInnQR3u4fke94LPMdQYUCRUszOkYIyQVYLJ6BrzlnEmVG1OT6zn8AFo2T7N_W05YGAt27qpNqOLUkt/s400/n1564560435_30285229_1060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666222282125133474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUvtsGLUn1DrasLsPu4uKPVaf4VIV4xEJXeqOxkq8zGPECDyBtVaNLtfOf2Ik7EvzvDy6NduPeokiUyhJD4ZmOUWhiIQ4Sy69dbepI0M2ZjDs_XYz89MTbZM1y1_wJaEocHSr/s1600/n1564560435_30285228_774.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUvtsGLUn1DrasLsPu4uKPVaf4VIV4xEJXeqOxkq8zGPECDyBtVaNLtfOf2Ik7EvzvDy6NduPeokiUyhJD4ZmOUWhiIQ4Sy69dbepI0M2ZjDs_XYz89MTbZM1y1_wJaEocHSr/s400/n1564560435_30285228_774.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666222173865729730" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-77460517326728494022011-10-16T00:48:00.005-05:002011-10-22T03:01:10.312-05:00A Bento BoxSo after working on this gift for over a year, I finally managed to accomplish my goal and finish my first quilt ever! It ended up being quite a bit larger than I intended, and I think I ripped out a thousand stitches before I got it right, but this may still be the most satisfying thing I've ever done!<br /><br />Things I Learned<br />1. How to use a seam ripper<br />2. That it is difficult to make a quilt look random when it isn't<br />3. It is very hard to make a quilting machine make a circle<br />4. How to make a mitered corner<br />5. Measure three times, cut once<br />6. It is only almost impossible for me to keep a secret<br />7. Sticking yourself with a pin hurts<br />8. It's worth it<br /><br />The Plan:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_7B7yg1hPrCGpcqGpV9fHrcrZvbSGrlKSTyzkRdz41SAU24Tks_fdZNTmuRdYXdFHI4yK7gff-rUHCic-6XahpcLJMRBR8khIeDLCRDvTw701rdGShMTsWKpbIzq16d4U5oT/s1600/erin%2527s+quilt.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_7B7yg1hPrCGpcqGpV9fHrcrZvbSGrlKSTyzkRdz41SAU24Tks_fdZNTmuRdYXdFHI4yK7gff-rUHCic-6XahpcLJMRBR8khIeDLCRDvTw701rdGShMTsWKpbIzq16d4U5oT/s400/erin%2527s+quilt.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663965260419889618" border="0" /></a><br />The execution:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxnu-Jj6JTk7f0Wgo2qV2SC6wzGTwDlPxHXGC7ZHlF7HQiMSYysL0MeCaPacO67NGg-GhKU4fN2eWGsjBEgjBhbHN7m-t4w5GCA4iJooZ-jGkqLVX_ZkleayJ2KdtzdXt4AoS/s1600/DSC_0332.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxnu-Jj6JTk7f0Wgo2qV2SC6wzGTwDlPxHXGC7ZHlF7HQiMSYysL0MeCaPacO67NGg-GhKU4fN2eWGsjBEgjBhbHN7m-t4w5GCA4iJooZ-jGkqLVX_ZkleayJ2KdtzdXt4AoS/s400/DSC_0332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663965267037142386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYnrnb-21YLpn09-gWXE5LEVchEHXlrm42Vv-FmiroBhqMbhpsfPVnAgDJLSA9GNrzRhrQo3CM9AvQcP54SWFrx3G2OMeVbqmtSq91NceuKdYCvrPhLYz_I6mnhMPciyiE50j/s1600/DSC_0334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYnrnb-21YLpn09-gWXE5LEVchEHXlrm42Vv-FmiroBhqMbhpsfPVnAgDJLSA9GNrzRhrQo3CM9AvQcP54SWFrx3G2OMeVbqmtSq91NceuKdYCvrPhLYz_I6mnhMPciyiE50j/s400/DSC_0334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663965276347212530" border="0" /></a><br />The Result:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v-gT8AcapOFiJ1cC3eV9RRKwQxEgWp1Bub5poCusayp2CJR65CaGwHB7fcexcHrtnuEXhzUqkIqdCtN76LsJD5uDZ9qwKM87gpzlzTPhyphenhyphen2PN4pUDX64nL8cfYj2Rk2KhG4k5/s1600/DSC_0339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v-gT8AcapOFiJ1cC3eV9RRKwQxEgWp1Bub5poCusayp2CJR65CaGwHB7fcexcHrtnuEXhzUqkIqdCtN76LsJD5uDZ9qwKM87gpzlzTPhyphenhyphen2PN4pUDX64nL8cfYj2Rk2KhG4k5/s400/DSC_0339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663965280358526098" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-86297529281383564232011-10-13T00:04:00.002-05:002011-10-13T00:07:16.129-05:00don't worryI have an amazing blog post coming! I can't reveal too much, but it will be the unveiling of a labor of love. Miss Erin, I know your birthday was months ago now, but you will understand when you unwrap your gift.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-36948911222674882682011-09-13T00:24:00.005-05:002011-10-22T03:01:40.301-05:00part three16. my ambition to become a mother<br />17. my ability to be honest with myself<br />18. my appreciation for the human being<br />19. my cheery demeanor<br />20. my love language<br />21. the ability i have to heal others through touch<br />22. my hugUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-40298900029455843772011-08-31T16:10:00.004-05:002011-10-22T03:01:52.891-05:00(part two)this is a very difficult task, i don't know if i can do it.<br /><br />12. the history of my hair<br />13. my sci fi tendencies<br />14. my love for saige, charlie and cadence<br />(edit)<br />15. my persistence (knowing something is difficult but not giving up :-p )Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-66644282757917588692011-08-28T20:36:00.003-05:002011-10-22T03:02:06.203-05:00A Healing Exercize101 Things That I Would Not Change About Myself (part one)<br /><br />1. the color of my eyes<br />2. how intensely I love people (even when it sucks)<br />3. the compassion that I feel<br />4. the number of people tucked inside my suitcase heart<br />5. my handwriting<br />6. my singing voice. i would not change it for better or worse.<br />7. my determination to improve<br />8. the ability I have to empathize with others<br />9. the courage I have to wake up every day and get out of bed<br />10. the freckles on my shoulders<br />11. the way autumn smells to meUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-25513489656433095642011-08-10T21:36:00.000-05:002011-08-10T21:37:51.198-05:00mrrrrooowwwlll<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRpBgUSBkKYUFmb_uoRu04KmDOLKgewsWiDUVjPhAyadUY4IJ46pPoQXcrTwokYDDHeyVuw_0LllBHjmJR3PFAAJ-cU0qRdINM2FuZVDh_ONvWDq3fTY9V4FwUuijsDOJZV8Q/s1600/822+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRpBgUSBkKYUFmb_uoRu04KmDOLKgewsWiDUVjPhAyadUY4IJ46pPoQXcrTwokYDDHeyVuw_0LllBHjmJR3PFAAJ-cU0qRdINM2FuZVDh_ONvWDq3fTY9V4FwUuijsDOJZV8Q/s400/822+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639422001311417986" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-36504452830208142682011-07-23T18:53:00.002-05:002011-07-23T18:57:14.281-05:00"no offense, but..."So tonight I drove for 90 minutes to spend 15 of those minutes with a friend. I didn't mind doing it. I figured it would break up my night, and make me feel needed, which is always nice for me. I was low on gas, trying to decide which gas station to stop at when I mentioned that gas stations make me uncomfortable, and the response I got was, "As many things do."<br /><br />Even though I was a little uncomfortable with his statement, I laughed it off, saying "not THAT many things bother me... just some." his response was to list a few of the things that get under my skin, people, the dark, gas stations, the police. Even though the list could have been a great deal longer, and he stopped short of public bathrooms, grocery stores, buses, and having people walk behind me, his words hurt. Quite a lot more than I would have imagined for such a seemingly harmless exchange. The tears stung as they welled up in my eyes, but I did not allow myself to cry there in the car with him.<br /><br />Why did what he said bother me so much?<br /><br />Here's what I think. I think I was abused. I had gasoline poured over my head, and a lighter flicked in my face, another human being threatening to send me up in flames. Is it seriously surprising that the smell of gasoline makes me want to puke? But hey, I deal with it. I go to the gas station and I pump my gas like any normal, undamaged person. Who cares if gas stations don't make me happy? Is that justification to point out the many other things I'm afraid of for similar reasons?<br /><br />I walk my dog in the dark, I go grocery shopping, I use public restrooms, hell, I get up in the morning and leave my house and talk to people. I function. I am dealing with what I went through.<br /><br />I am healing. And I think I'm doing a pretty darn fine job of it, thankyouverymuch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404058.post-90053463094488350942011-07-22T19:39:00.006-05:002011-10-22T03:02:45.620-05:00Dearest ChildrenCharlize,<br />You are about to start kindergarten, and you are learning to write your name, and anything else anyone will spell for you. You LOVE to write. I hope this lasts. You love to have your hair done, and to get dolled up and look pretty! And you always have me take a picture of your hair so that you can see it. I love that I get to play with your hair!<br />Charlie, you are very shy around new people, and I worry about you and starting school. What if when the teacher talks to you, you stare blankly ahead, pretending you are a statue, like you do to anyone you don't know? Or, let's be honest, to anyone who says or asks something you don't like. I worry that I have not prepared you enough for what's to come. I know it's not entirely my job to prepare you, but I feel like I have been a significant part of your life thus far, and I just hope I have been a good influence. What do you think? Do you know that you are loved by me? Do you feel important, even though you were afraid of being the middle child? Do you feel smart, and pretty, and capable? Because you are, so much of every one of those things! You are SUCH a special girl, and I wish I knew that the world would treat you that way, forever and ever. You have changed my life, for the better.<br /><br />Love always,<br />Aunt Kendra<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2zy28aWbMIGHW3rgMA7GKJYu8ZJvjtLkTecuVM886pvLQY4BA-Hyy4P2eTbKDdDy41vw_nXoPLcUSlpGtdzsuItkKoLCyOLkf7AHGcGGSpx13hR3AojhzFbOw_QhorAAE3Ua/s1600/DSC_0172.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2zy28aWbMIGHW3rgMA7GKJYu8ZJvjtLkTecuVM886pvLQY4BA-Hyy4P2eTbKDdDy41vw_nXoPLcUSlpGtdzsuItkKoLCyOLkf7AHGcGGSpx13hR3AojhzFbOw_QhorAAE3Ua/s400/DSC_0172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349700058738370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNClM28oKISpzrzFH1EqyFi4ghfPHiN-gh9fvWGgBqifGwMcOaTMvnAFMHCbI3LOod0qRBaA6TkUdvWxxVOCtm903mbL0Ki2-cVwORiRRDxLmowBygC3_V0qF19PR8oHBPC1M1/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNClM28oKISpzrzFH1EqyFi4ghfPHiN-gh9fvWGgBqifGwMcOaTMvnAFMHCbI3LOod0qRBaA6TkUdvWxxVOCtm903mbL0Ki2-cVwORiRRDxLmowBygC3_V0qF19PR8oHBPC1M1/s400/DSC_0155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349693016335106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmDpMYF8RL9l4nRczzepHRIm5oUzc__HXe_S453BqNBUuyU-K-bcnmk8OVxzesoUCLxy08IxudH00uWHgr2gwtM5-r5iNdnqQ9d8QNFs16g5qhHVIgdNhF75ZsxNuoBzYMppU/s1600/DSC_0617.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmDpMYF8RL9l4nRczzepHRIm5oUzc__HXe_S453BqNBUuyU-K-bcnmk8OVxzesoUCLxy08IxudH00uWHgr2gwtM5-r5iNdnqQ9d8QNFs16g5qhHVIgdNhF75ZsxNuoBzYMppU/s400/DSC_0617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632350889517607314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Saige,<br />You are SUCH an amazing boy. Sometimes when I see other little boys, even the good ones, I am reminded of how very lucky we all are to have you in our family. You gripe sometimes, but what little boy doesn't? What I really want to know, is how many little boys do you know that love their sisters as much as you do? How many little boys will sit in the back seat of a car, with a DS sitting on his lap and spend the entire half hour drive, not playing with it, but trying to make his baby sister laugh? And succeeding! No one makes her laugh like you do. Grandma says it is because she can feel your love for her, and I think she's right. You have a lot of love to give Saige, and I hope you always keep your heart open, the way it is when you talk to Cady. If you show the world how much love is in your heart, I know it will love you right back, the way I do. I am so lucky to know you and be a part of your life!<br /><br />Love always,<br />Aunt Kendra<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5AWTzgmITFE1O72ae7SnSqev0Dxryd0k5tXLehk-6lMfryjlQ4p1uMaJCwQOFSy9XfWylTd8zpAtTU82WefrcV99wI2nSeqg4ookVHAQpxq1Uv_pxUzsL7D2jXziFv9wfU2D/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5AWTzgmITFE1O72ae7SnSqev0Dxryd0k5tXLehk-6lMfryjlQ4p1uMaJCwQOFSy9XfWylTd8zpAtTU82WefrcV99wI2nSeqg4ookVHAQpxq1Uv_pxUzsL7D2jXziFv9wfU2D/s400/DSC_0140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349721057079970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWcT8FIW0zoVKmY5aoJBp_7wvT5WDxbEXVKzn8ftGe27c49fxEWMR8deQ3QHQjp6wglkDlq_GrarLKitKmE77PhRBbPhWBfYf2EoscuxwSbZOo9Au6XfqqW2sJQBnxEZNiX5l/s1600/DSC_0615.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWcT8FIW0zoVKmY5aoJBp_7wvT5WDxbEXVKzn8ftGe27c49fxEWMR8deQ3QHQjp6wglkDlq_GrarLKitKmE77PhRBbPhWBfYf2EoscuxwSbZOo9Au6XfqqW2sJQBnxEZNiX5l/s400/DSC_0615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632350884476506946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Cadence,<br />You are the baby, and you won't remember these things when you're bigger, so I wanted to write some of them down. You never stop moving unless you are asleep. You want to go where your big brother and sister go, and you desperately want to get on the ground and play with the dog. You stand as much as you can (with a little help, and you are just starting to scooch around on your belly, so crawling can't be far off. I dread trying to keep up with you. You smile at everything! Nobody can see you giggle and not giggle right back at you. This will be a major asset to you if you keep it up. You are intensely friendly, and everyone feels special when you smile at them. You also love to swing. I don't know where I would be sometimes without that baby swing! Right now you have two little teeth on the bottom of your mouth! They are just the cutest things, but you are not a happy camper when you are teething. Though what baby is, I suppose. You almost never cry, unless you really need something, or you are in pain. You just like to spend your time smiling away, you even smile in your sleep. I feel so lucky to be able to spend so much time with you, watching you grow and learning all about you. I love you dearly, and treasure these moments with you with all my heart.<br /><br />Love always,<br />Aunt Kendra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb3hAEB3EMXd2LCYtRtsbl6UQi4DoSJaXtvRnOx2YFzwK4MWvdczF7pbbMS1hHTLK6UyxawV8Y_6DJA9AnLbSsDp0lL0cwnslkvTHM1-DT9OevyADqoGIyFF9bSYG6-HpvhmX/s1600/DSC_0177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb3hAEB3EMXd2LCYtRtsbl6UQi4DoSJaXtvRnOx2YFzwK4MWvdczF7pbbMS1hHTLK6UyxawV8Y_6DJA9AnLbSsDp0lL0cwnslkvTHM1-DT9OevyADqoGIyFF9bSYG6-HpvhmX/s400/DSC_0177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632349702799399938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDTJtgOHOrhyphenhyphenff55fNdD1iz5jBSUlrLCBi27reUVS9xh-8bywU7LWZ6kq1J8Lb6pdNYfmSNIxJl1rhoFySb6rtzISj3PrWzPss-OoosudyXytxIiW0mrrTCPTfbXZGc95d6LO/s1600/downsized_0614111637.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDTJtgOHOrhyphenhyphenff55fNdD1iz5jBSUlrLCBi27reUVS9xh-8bywU7LWZ6kq1J8Lb6pdNYfmSNIxJl1rhoFySb6rtzISj3PrWzPss-OoosudyXytxIiW0mrrTCPTfbXZGc95d6LO/s400/downsized_0614111637.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632351589171270050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkukyS8Yr5O1YWSb0KFWKajX5EaloI9o_y9RdsB6BhVSjv3airlsxOK5TYHHyNqbv_DftYfkr_3W8H1kdI8imFK7oAIjkvzYvFgu1DVzJYxAulQLAyIaoTMfBZJtiDQUd4afYU/s1600/Photo+on+2011-07-15+at+14.27+%25232.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkukyS8Yr5O1YWSb0KFWKajX5EaloI9o_y9RdsB6BhVSjv3airlsxOK5TYHHyNqbv_DftYfkr_3W8H1kdI8imFK7oAIjkvzYvFgu1DVzJYxAulQLAyIaoTMfBZJtiDQUd4afYU/s400/Photo+on+2011-07-15+at+14.27+%25232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632351587689814642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21Ypenz45d4l44OB1yOtAvNuQLhVwBnhTffN0O4vdBqVW0Av8T8FrLqgwpmyjkwmSQVitpClZQxF4OaLFvn_iD7d4PsNg5FauZX5e5URZFlROLulDp2bytLdau5uiQZu_D4Df/s1600/DSC_0171+2.jpg"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5