A Quick Update...

The gator head is painted. I need to finish painting his eyes and glue them in.


Here is a small portion of dock that I have completed.

Here is a pylon painted. There are several steps left. I need to tape it, glue rope on it, and add a top.

Here is some grass that I will be using to line the kneelers. There will be cattails poked through it as well. There will be six all together.

I am off to work on some more decorations. Have a great day!

Sheri

Did You Know?

That these are not really burned hot dogs? They are paper mache "cattails" that took my mom, my friend, and I several hours to make. They will look pretty cool when they are done, but I am not certain they are worth the time (just breeze over that sentence Mom and Meg). Did you also know that you can't spray paint yarn? Our church was given several of these monster spools of yarn. I inherited four of them to use for VBS. They are bright pink and purple. Although the color isn't realistic, I like it! My volunteers are making cattails with the yarn.



Did you know that spray paint will melt styrofoam? I actually *knew* that, but I hadn't tried it. (Now I understand why my son won't just take my word for it). I sprayed a small portion of my gator/croc and I like the texture the melted part gave his skin. So I decided to spray the whole thing. I will add more color very soon and show you pics of the finished product. If you click on the gator it will enlarge the picture for a close-up.

I have no more useless trivia for you for now. Have a fun-filled day!

Sheri

Thanks Again...

And again seventy-two times over! This is what 72 thank you cards look like. My cousin is graduating on Sunday and I made these for him. Yes, they are very basic. I needed something I could mass produce without taking massive amounts of time. I like how they turned out. Although each of the cards showing appear to be the same, I actually altered some of them slightly. I put the greeting on the bottom portion. I was able to get all these done in about three hours. Now off to get them in the mail. I hope he likes them.

Have a great day!

Sheri

Happy Mother's Day!

May all the mothers out there have the kind of the day that makes you feel a little extra special today. I don't yet have any pictures or creations to share, but I loved this writing that has circulated the internet. I hope you enjoy it too. Sheri

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England ... Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees. 'In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. Great Job, MOM!

Slow Forward Motion

Yesterday I took a sick day. I know I posted the muffin story, but that actually happened Tuesday, but I didn't want to post twice in one day when I barely have enough time to do one a day. Anyway, I must have kissed a pig or something because I was down for the count for the day. I am better today, but still a little weak and achy. I do have some pictures to share of some slight progress I have made. I may end up using " Monster Mud" on the croc. I am not sure. I will see how he looks just painted and go from there. Enjoy the pictures and I may post more today if I get very far. Have a fabulous day!

Sheri

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Squeeze the snot out of them and make Lemon Pound Cake Muffins! I have a muffin ministry in which I make muffins for the teachers of my boys' school every two weeks. I get up early and make them in the morning because it's just not quite the same if I make them the night before. We walk around and pass out a napkin and a muffin to all the teachers we see. The teachers really appreciate it, and I think it's kind of fun for them to try to figure out when I am coming. It is amazing to me how many teachers don't eat breakfast. Anyway, this morning I made 4 dozen Lemon Pound Cake Muffins. I was just getting ready to load everyone in the van, and the older boys went out to our separate single car garage to get a ball to take to school. They locked my van and house keys in the garage. This wouldn't really be a problem if some unnamed individual hadn't lost the extra sets about a month ago. There is no opener or any other way to get in short of breaking a window or waiting until my Prince Charming gets home from work. I rushed the boys out the door to catch the bus since I wouldn't be able to drive them. I stewed for a few minutes and decided to take the 4 year old for a 2 mile (round trip) wagon ride to the school to deliver muffins. I had LOTS of time to think about the situation.

On The Bright Side:
-I got some new blog material

-I only have 2 dozen muffins left (since I was late I didn't get to as many teachers. I usually don't have any left)

-I got enough exercise to last me a good month

-breakfast is made for the next month
-I will save money since I won't be running any errands today
-My kids are at school so I won't be able to stare at their necks long enough that they will start looking like lemons kind of like a mirage in the desert

-my Prince Charming will be making about four extra sets of keys today (he just doesn't know it yet)

-my house might get cleaned today

-I have an excuse to post another recipe

-I am too tired to complain too much (see 3rd bright side point)

On The Down Side:

-the therapeutic squeezing happened before the turmoil

-the paint I need to finish my boat is locked away for the day

Lemon Pound Cake Muffins
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon lemon extract
1 ¾ cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup sour cream
Glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and extracts; beat well. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.
Fill greased or paper-lined muffins cups ¾ full. Bake at 400 degrees 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Combine the glaze ingredients; drizzle over muffins. Serve warm.

NOTE: If you have a gas oven decrease temperature to 375 and rotate pans halfway through cooking.

Enjoy your day and check back tomorrow for progress pictures!
Sheri

Fruit Salad, Yummy, Yummy!

Have you ever watched the Wiggles? OK I have no clue if they are still around because we don't watch TV at our house, just movies. Anyway, the title comes from the lyrics of one of the Wiggles songs. I'll bet you could go to youtube and watch a video if you really want to hear it. I would post a link, but time is very precious these days so it will have to wait for a quieter time. Oh, and if you do know the song, I apologize for torturing you with getting the song stuck in your head for the day.

So are you wondering what this post is really about? Here's a recipe for you try and let me know how it is. Just kidding, it's a tried and true divine morsel!


Apple Snickers Salad
4-6 apples, unpeeled and sliced
1 box instant vanilla pudding
2/3 cup milk
1 (8 oz) carton Cool Whip
4-6 snickers bars, cut into small pieces (it’s easier to cut if you freeze them a few minutes first)

Mix pudding and milk; fold in cool whip. Add apples and candy bars. Enjoy!

Have a yummy day!
Sheri

This Ain't No Hallmark!

That's my Dad's motto on the back of the cards he makes. He computer generates cards for us. He always puts a picture of the kids in them along with other fun stuff. On the back he has the title of this post.

OK so I admit it, I am a card snob. I can't send store bought cards. DISCLAIMER: I love getting cards whether they are store bought or homemade. I just can't send one. It's a character flaw on my part. I would rather not send a card than send a store bought card. I know it doesn't make sense. Since there are lots of opportunities to send cards coming up I'd better get crackin'! I have used up most of my supply. Plus, it seems that I rarely have the "perfect" card suited for the person when I need one. It's all so complicated! I am not above browsing cards at the store for inspiration, however. I am actually the same way when it comes to buying home decor. If I see something I like, if I know I can make it, then I won't buy it. I usually never get around to making it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing...less clutter, money saved, etc. (hey, it's my story).

Can you see the embossed frame around this card? What about the glitter on the butterfly bodies? I used one stamp from the Stampin' Up set called Birthday Whimsy. I used a Marvy punch for the butterflies. Although this card didn't take a very long time to make, I still like how it turned out.

Have an awesome day!

Sheri

One Fish, Two Fish, Brown Fish, Bling Fish

Well, I was able to make some forward progress despite a few set-backs. I copied the VBS clipart fish onto some brown paper I had (from Xpedx). I copied them with their mirror image, cut them out, stapled them partially, stuffed them with some the scraps, and stapled them closed. I had finished a couple fish, but gave one a way for someone else to have as a sample. I sprayed this fish with glitter spray. I like the shimmery look, but I am not certain all the fish will get the same blingy treatment that she got since it's pretty subtle.

I took this funky angle to try to show you the dimension. If you click on the pictures you should be able to pull up a larger view (not sure....computers aren't my thing). You might actually be able to see the shimmer too.

These fish are going to be hanging in nets in various rooms. A few will be hanging from a boat. A few will be in a fishing basket. On one of my scavenging trips to the grocery store I begged asked very nicely for the Frito-Lay vendor to donate a couple displays that look like wooden crates. They have potatoes and corn on them, but they will soon have fish, crabs, nets, and crayfish on them. I will take pictures when they are done.

What are all these turtles you ask? They are for one the crafts for VBS. I tell you I have some amazing volunteers. The woman that cut and sewed all 75 of these adorable turtles has grandkids that aren't even going to be able to go to VBS this year as they will be out of town. Talk about selfless!

Enough chatter for today, I have some props to go paint!

Sheri

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Have you seen Tortoise and the Hare? I am hoping slow and steady wins the race because I am way behind! Here are some pictures of the slow progress I am making on preparations for VBS. There will (hopefully) be four other turtle pictures to go with this one to make a filmstrip type progression. They will also be cut out. Of course, I had to have a reference point for size. My lost and found hound had to get some attention too.

The raccoons are incomplete, but I wanted to share them with you any way.

This is going to eventually be a pier post/pylon or whatever they are called. I was going to buy some cement forms but this is less expensive and I can flatten them out to store them. I used cardboard and scored it so it would make a circle. I have made some with the cement forms in the past and got some serious indigestion when they were thrown away (clearly, by someone who had no idea how much time it took to create them). I will show pictures of the completed projects soon.

Dollar Tree jackpots: dragonfly windsock, butterfly windsock, nylon dragonfly, tea light dragonfly, straw hat, tropical fish (although they are not exactly Bayou fish, I like the color), and bird feeder cattail.

Enjoy your weekend!

Sheri