Celebrating April!

April is a busy month for our family!

Three Birthday's

Easter

Spring

Easter came very early this year but we had a lovely day.  Church with the family.

Tiger, Scout, Sara and Blake

Tiger had been asking for a new shirt, tie and vest.  He looks so grown up.  New yellow dress for Scout!

Easter dinner that afternoon, but first Easter Baskets from Grammie!

Tiger is very into Harry Potter as he and his Mom have been reading the books together.  So he got some Harry Potter glasses and a wand in his basket.  The family got a movie and popcorn.  Scout got a pink bunny and cute pretend food for her kitchen. 

Oh and bubbles for Scout, she loves bubbles!  They loved their baskets.

Dinner next door at BB's!

April 3rd is Blake's birthday so we celebrated that day also.  

April 7th was Tiger's 7th birthday!

He had a party with some friends and it was wild, crazy and fun!

Pizza then CAKE!!

He was so happy!

Gifts!  Mom and Dad got him a new bike.  He has gotten so tall and outgrown his old bike! 

Who couldn't wait to climb on it?
Scout!! 

Next we have Scout's Birthday!
She turned 3!
We went low key with a trip to

Chick-fil-a!  They have a playground.
I got Scout a basket filled with all sorts of goodies with a Mermaid theme. Towels, book, Mermaid doll...she loved it all!!

Give that girl an ice cream cone with sprinkles and she is happy! 
She had cake at home later but this Grammie had gone home already.

It has been a good month.  My cousin Joletta has been here for a visit and will fly home to Houston on Tue.  Mom had the second surgery for her cataracts and it is going well (all those drops drive us crazy but we do it of course).

I'm doing pretty well and that is always a good thing! 
So that my friends has been April.

Wishing you Joy,

Linda

October!

I can't believe how October has flown by!  Life is busy busy and yet there has been some time for reflection.

I did dig out my one bin of Fall/Halloween decor and put up a few things in the cubbies.

I love the colored glass and this will stay until Christmas but the Halloween bears and owl will go back in the bin soon!  Maybe a few Thanksgiving items will take their place. 

My favorite witch is out with some lovely handmade pumpkins 

I can't seem to take a decent photo lately.  I guess I need to get out my 'better' camera.

These two continue to bring me such JOY!

Tiger is 6 going on 16 his Mother says! He is doing well in school and just getting to be such a big boy.  He has started calling me Grammie which I love!  

Scout at 2 and half is a tall girl and so smart! She is a mixture of rough and tumble and girly girl!  Her favorite color is pink!  I have such a good time buying her clothes and indulging her princess personality!

This little girl just celebrated her one year Gotcha Day!  She has brought much love into my life.  She has turned into a complete snuggle kitty.

I love this little face and those eyes!

Annie Belle I'm glad we found each other!

I haven't done much watercolor painting

I am happy with how this tree turned out!

I was happy with this wreath until I tried to add 'give thanks' to the middle and then I ruined it.  I need to practice before I try this again.  I'm hoping to make some Christmas gifts this year.

I have been having some health issues and would ask for your prayers

After my gallbladder surgery over a year ago I was feeling really good.  Then this past July I had an episode of pain that sent me to the ER.  They said it wasn't pancreatitis which was my fear but didn't give me any diagnosis.  The pain went away and I was just trying to be careful of fats in my diet.  Then about 3 weeks ago I had another 'attack'.  Almost as painful but this time it has been up and down in intensity.  I had blood work done which showed that my pancreas and liver functions are fine.  Monday I had an MRI to check to see if I have stones or some other blockage in my bile duct or whatever else is in there!  I'm waiting on the results.  As of now my pain comes and goes but the discomfort seems to be constant.  I've been eating but very small meals and very low fat hoping that will help.  All this has taken a toll on me.  No energy and doing much of anything has been hard.  We really need an answer to this.  Mom and I have a big trip planned for Thanksgiving for a family reunion in Texas.  She will see her brother and sisters and visit other family also.  We are praying that whatever is going on with me doesn't cancel this trip.  So prayers and good thoughts appreciated! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

HELLO!!! Anyone There?

I hope I haven't lost all of you with my lack of posts.  I didn't mean to take such a long break, but with hurricanes, a death in the family and trying to get back to normal here it is almost a month since I blogged.

I did spend some quality time with Ashleigh and it was so good to see her. The circumstances weren't the best. Still we were able to come together as a family and share our love for an amazing woman.  

So I cancelled my trip to Calif and lost big bucks on the plane ticket (grr) but I do have a credit to use up within the year.  So I'll plan a trip in the Spring maybe?  Ashleigh is home and back to work and life is moving forward.

Hurricane Irma dropped tons of rain and wind on us here in GA.  Sara and family had a tree come down and lost power for a week.  They stayed with me for meals, baths and some nights.  It was crazy and I forgot how noisy it is with two kids, 3 adults and a crazy cat in a small 2 bedroom duplex!  The kids were out of school for 3 days and Tiger had some fun!

He played chief hurricane inspector! 

This child has such an imagination! 

During all this time I didn't touch a paint brush but the other day looking out my window I saw this tree in our yard starting to turn colors and losing it's leaves.  I painted it and really I am happy with how it turned out.

I've much to share with you. A couple of junking adventures, keepsakes from family and more watercolors.  So I hope you are still with me! I promise to post again soon!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Catching Up!

Once again the month is almost over!

Summer has been a busy time.

Mom bought a new car!

She had been having a bit more difficulty getting in and out of her RAV-4 so we went car shopping.

We decided on this 2017 Toyota Camry!  It is a really nice car and Mom is having a much easier time getting in and out.  So far we like it.

(I drive she rides)

Sara took the kids blueberry picking!

As you can see they had fun!  Tiger helped to make blueberry muffins and cobbler and shared it with us!

Delicious!

If you follow me on IG or FB you saw where I ended up in the hospital ER.  I was having pains that reminded me of last years pancreatitis and so my Dr told me to go to the ER.  I am so glad it wasn't pancreatitis but the Dr said yes it can come back so I need to be more careful of my diet.   I started feeling better after some IV fluids, pain meds and a clear liquid diet for a 24 hours. 

THEN... I got a summer cold...picked up I'm sure at the ER.  Ugh!

Finally feeling better this week. 

I think my blog has become a diary of my illnesses.  I have always been so healthy and suddenly it seems I catch every cold and virus around.  I've been trying to up my immune system and get healthier before we start another round of flu season! 

I've been doing a bit of watercolor painting but not much.  I'm working on a fun challenge of a color a day prompt.  This is one page of my efforts!

I recently bought a tube of Coral watercolor paint, perfect for this first attempt at a Flamingo.  I surprised myself! It even looks like a Flamingo!

I've been downloading photos of flowers as inspiration for my painting. This was my first effort.  Side by side the colors are all wrong (mine looks so blue!) but this was my first try and it was fun.   
Edited to add the poppy photo was from my friend Jeanie from The Marmalade Gypsy! 

My friend Cheri sent me a Hobby Lobby gift card for my birthday.

I bought this journal 40% off

on sale and used a 40% coupon on a tube of watercolor paint and used up that gift card! 

 Thank you Cheri.

Sara and Tiger will be heading back to school soon.  They start so early here.  Scout continues to enjoy her friends at daycare and Blake is working at the YMCA.  We have so much to be thankful for.

During children's time at church!

Annie Belle has survived the trauma of roofers pounding away.  She hid under the couch for hours (poor baby).

As we say goodbye to July I hope you are having a wonderful summer! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

A Few Thrify Finds

June is proving to be another busy month!  I'm trying to regain my blogging mojo and have promised myself to just post even if I feel like I have little to say.  I need to get back into the habit.  I miss all of you.  

So while doing some purging in May I did find a few little things I just had to have!

My love of all things 'Paris' continues

This sweet Eiffel Tower has a new home here with me!

This cute little mug fits into the cubbies!

Like new pillow is on the futon!

A mug for the mornings and a reminder to follow that dream!

I had been keeping my eyes open for a small travel hairdryer for my craft room.  Sometimes I need to dry a watercolor before I can add more paint and this was $2 and perfect!

I think one of my favorite finds was this small aquarium.  I have been looking for one to hold the shells that I collect every time I go to the beach.  I'll put it on the top of the bookcase.

I enjoy the hunt and my finds are all thrifty and have a place in my home before I buy it.

  It's the new 'rule' of thrifting for me. 

The Grands have been so busy this summer.  Lots of day camps for Tiger and Scout is still going to daycare.  Sara is taking some graduate courses this summer and Blake is working and taking classes.  Busy family.

They had a little Father's Day trip to the mountains and had a wonderful time!

Blake is such a great Dad!

Sara took these photos of Scout and I'm so in love with them!

She loves the color pink (like her Grandma) and is such a girly girl but can play in the dirt and run with her big brother also! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda