Crazy Busy Summer... continued

Hi all!  Thought I'd better stop in and tell ya what I've been up to!  First off, trying to stay COOL!  We've been stuck in a sizzling heatwave for what seems like an entire month.  I'm catching a little grief over saying that I was looking forward to Autumn.  I can't help it!  I do love that season but I also love long summer days with lots of fun that can be packed in!
Weather has been a tough one in 2011 don't you think?
So Saturday was my birthday and I spent it with my family at a cousin's wedding.
It was a great time!  I did the Electric Slide and danced the night away!  I haven't done that in so very long!
I've been able to squeeze in a little time inside working on my first altered art canvas and it's so addicting that I went out and bought a few more supplies to make some more.  Maybe for Christmas gifts this year?

Not my best work but I know I can get better with more play time.  The bicycle is a Tim Holtz stamp that I had to jazz up since stamping on canvas is hard!! 
I do like the papers that were Mod Podge'd on and will probably try that more and freehand something of my own...

The photo above is a weird yellowish sunset we had a few days ago.  It was weird but neat!
Tomorrow night I'm going to take some pictures of some grandkids for a friend.  I am a bit nervous ... I always want to do a great job and give them the best!

What else have I been up to?  Well I'm also looking into becoming a Big Sister and being a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands program.  I know it'll be a rewarding relationship and can't wait to get started!

Beauty in Nature

Well it's another weekend that has flown by so quickly...  Are you all surviving the hot summer temps?  It is hotter here than last week.  Man oh man!  If we didn't have 50% humidity it could probably be more bearable.  A lot of us try not to complain too much after such a cold winter, though!  Thank the Lord for A/C!  Seriously!!

Last week when I mentioned I was making that salad for another party - I was getting ready to go to my aunt's house in the farm country in the outskirts of the city. We were celebrating my other aunt Gloria's retirement (yay Glo!).  So anyway her place is surrounded by fields of corn on one side and lovely wildflowers on the other.  The sun was low in the sky and I brought my camera to see if I could capture some shots of nature (and family, too).

                                 All photos in this post by me

I was attempting to capture a sun flare in some of my shots...

Ahhh isn't the countryside lovely?  I really wanted to capture the sunset but I was little too late.  I was gabbing with my family indoors in the cool house.  Maybe another time...

Next weekend I'll be going to an informational meeting to check into becoming a Big Sister!  I have a feeling that this will be a program I will enjoy being a part of.  A friend of mine thought so, too.  So I'm diving in and truly hope to be matched up with a sweet girl looking for a big sis just like me! 

Have a great week - thanks for stopping by!  Don't forget to say hello!

Pretty Posies

Happy weekend everyone!  I'm just taking a breather to stop in and say hello and share a couple things before I'm back out the door for another celebration.
I must say that this is the busiest July that I remember in a long time.  God has truly blessed me with several celebrations to be a part of!

I have a lot of friends born in July.  I am also born the end of this month.  So I kind of feel like it's an interesting coincidence that I'm drawn to people born in the same month! I'll have to stop and take the time and count how many one of these days...

I've been a bit of a posey enthusiast lately.   They make the sweetest little gifts or just look great on a window ledge, desktop, and bedside table. 

photo by me

You saw from my last post that I had a bit of fun with red white and blue flowers, which I gave to my good friends Michele and Betsey to enjoy on the 4th.   I appreciated being able to hang out with them on the holiday.  We went to go see "Larry Crowne", which I loved!  Tom and Julia were great in it!

photo  by me

The birthday girl pin with ribbons flowing was a gift for another friend celebrating her 60th birthday.  We somehow were able to truly surprise her at her son's house today!  She jumped when we yelled surprise and sang her happy birthday.  It was such fun!  I got a little teared up.

I've always wanted a surprise birthday party...  it's such a nice gesture of love to do such a thing for a friend or family member.  To me, birthdays are worth celebrating!  Can I get a whoot woot?! 

I wish that I brought my camera to share some pics but I will say that we enjoyed yummy catered food, homemade ice cream (made in the coolest way - John Deere generator and a wood barrel container - I hope I'm explaining it properly).   We had the birthday girl release tons of balloons only AFTER we counted down from 60!  We're a funny bunch.

                                              photo by me

I better get going - off to make some more of the corn avocado salad that I cannot get enough of!   Nothing says summer like delicious sweet corn.  Delish!

I'll be using my new Oxo corn stripper, too.  Beats picking up corn kernels from all over the kitchen counter and floor.

 Have a great day!

Happy Independence Day!

Photo by me