Handmade Dolls! On Sale! Only $10!

Just kidding. I was going to wait until I had made diapers and clothes for the dolls I'm making, but the first one turned out so great I just couldn't help but share. I have been laughing at this doll for a good 30 minutes. It has really made my day. I hesitate to say it is from Handmade Beginnings because I don't think Anna Maria Horner would want me representing her work in this way. Well here it is!

 

Submitted to Saturday's Artist at http://www.ordinarylifemagic.com/

Let's Sweat!

I take my kids on a lot of "nature walks," but usually not in the summer. However, I was talking with my mom yesterday about how she use to go to a school in Beaumont without air conditioning and how this guy from her work said he dug a trench around his house in the middle of the Texas heat and played in it throughout the summer. So I thought, okay, okay! I'm going to take the kids on a nature walk despite the temperature. We went to some trails that are about a 10 minute drive from my house. The kids complained of being hot at first and kept asking me for water. I told them (like I always do) that nature walks make us stronger. Now I could add "especially in the summer." They trudged along and then we came to the creek.

They saw a turtle (it was on that branch sticking out of the water) and started to get more excited. We walked on and then they came to their favorite "hill."

They love climbing this hill and it was a little muddy from the rains which made it even better! We walked a little more and came upon this!

Now this part of the trail has always been there, but it's usually not this green. See! It is nice to hike in the summer sometimes! After a while, the kids wanted to head back to the trailhead (there's a playground) and so Eaden led the way.

Happy day!

By Candlelight

It's always more fun when done by candlelight.

This Moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember. Thanks Soulemama.

Pegasus

While Wandering

I was inspired by cpcable over at A Life Sustained to take a walk out in my neighborhood and try as I might to locate some beauty. It was tough, I'll admit. There was a lot of garbage (next time I'll bring a garbage bag), but we did manage to find a few things. Also, it was raining which was great. Not only because we need it desperately, but because it kept us from sweating to death. Thanks to cpcable and barefoot crofter (you made a comment on cpcable's post that really made me think) for forcing me to look a little harder and to appreciate the small things. (Note: I had to create this post with the old image editor which is why my photos aren't as large. Has anyone else had trouble today with uploading images? Also, if you're wondering about the pic with the tree, there is a squirrel at the top. He ran away as I was trying to take his picture.)