The Perfect Weekend...

 

The lights were dim.

The house was quiet. 

I was surrounded by the sounds of soothing music and...

beauty...

the smell of lavender...

and the sound of bubbling water.

3,400 square feet of luxury...all to my self.

Listening to the Carpenters and singing along with their famous titles such as Rainy Days and Mondays, Top of the World, and Close to you was all my soul needed to relax, close my eyes and put a smile on my face.

Karen Carpenter's voice is amazing and just singing along made me feel like I was on stage next to her, although I was only in my tub. The acoustics are awesome in there by the way ;)

I hope your weekend has been wonderful and relaxing...

Life passes so fast. Please take the time to enjoy some time for yourself. Rejuvenate your body and soul so you can be ready for whatever comes your way tomorrow~

I hope that you were able to do that one little thing you wanted to do...just for yourself.

Do you ever Wonder...

about LIFE?

{My first key chain made of Swarovski crystal. It was the same color as my first new (to me) car in 1985. I still wonder how she felt when I totaled it within the first 3 weeks of driving it.}

{Her De Colores pin she received when she made her Cursillo in the 1980's}

{A lapel pin she wore proudly in honor of her son in law & all military service men and women across the world who served in the Gulf War in the early '90's.}

{One of her favorite brooches even though it is missing many rhinestones. She said it was still too pretty to throw away.}

{Another one of her favorite pins, totally scuffed but she said it still had life.}

{The hummingbird was her favorite bird of all. She kept the feeders full daily and would just sit and watch them for hours.}

{A reminder of her garden...oh her flowers were so beautiful!}

{And every flower garden needed bees! (so she said)}

This is my Mother's pillow. She was my best friend 33 years out of my 38 years of life. About a year before she died, she took an ordinary pillow and she made a collage of her life. Extraordinary.

Each pin has a story and it was her way of documenting them in the most creative way. Almost 6 years ago, I pulled this pillow from the center of her bed. I knew where almost every pin came from. It was the story of her life on a pillow...

I often wonder about LIFE.

When I look at my Mother's pillow, I am reminded that with every LIFE, there is ART.  

I keep my Mother's pillow on a chase in my bedroom. It is one of my most prized possessions of ART...

I challenge you to find the ART in your LIFE and share it with someone special...thank you for letting me share this with you~

Not a Gray Day by any Means...

 

I hope your Memorial Day Holiday was a good one. Mine was wonderful as I spent it with best friends and delicious food!

While hubby and son were celebrating with race car family and friends, I drove my little black Corvette out to the lake.

The forecast called for rain for the whole holiday weekend but who cared? That doesn't stop us Cajuns from getting together, having a good time and most importantly...eating!

Above was the "grill master's" palace as Roland cooked the best second to best barbqued hamburgers I've ever eaten (sorry hubby). Roland's secret...a bottle of Southern barbque sauce, 2 eggs and Italian bread crumbs...yyyuuuummmmmmyyyy to say the least!

And as for Janet (Roland's wife), she's always the sweetest hostess. Always having lots of games to play and lots of snacks and appetizers. Who could resist a water gun fight by the lake right???

And she always has everything decorated so festive...

I have to apologize for not taking any pictures of Roland's delicious hamburgers...when they said "Let's eat"...I threw down my camera and was first in line!!!!

But I did manage to walk around and take some pictures so I could share the beauty with you. Our views from the upper deck...

 

 

 

Having a full tummy and sitting out on the deck in the cool breeze, my eyelids were heavy as the thunder mumbled in the distance. The day was starting to turn gray, but only when my eyes were closed.

I didn't want to leave but I had to snap out of it and get back to reality. I had to get back in my little black Corvette and drive home. (and try to keep my eyes open)

It was a wonderful Memorial Day!

We must NEVER forget...

 

          

Please feel free to copy...

Imagine...

The wind is blowing as there is a thunderstorm rolling in from the east. The trees are dancing and the leaves are floating across the grass. The birds are chirping and flying around to find shelter. Sounds of thunder mumble in the distance and the smell of rain is calming...

It was not a typical Southern humid day as I sat on my swing and watched Mother Nature in all of her glory.

Thank you for the sweetest comments about my jungle.

I took your advice. Yesterday afternoon, I relaxed outside and enjoyed the fruits of my labor. I basked in the glory of a job well done. I was thankful that I was sore and sunburned. Yes, I was thankful. For there are many who are not able to move and work nor get the chance to feel the sun on their skin. But let me tell you, I still hate bugs! Since Robin taught me that a wasp is not a bug...I have to add that I hate wasps too! ;)

So I had a delightful afternoon outside with these...

The current issues of Somerset's Sew, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Gallery and the premier issue of Art Quilting Studio. I have to say though, I read every word of Art Quilting Studio and the photos are wonderful!!!! Would you expect anything less from Somerset?

Some of my favorite blog friends are in this issue! And of course, it was a delight to see new artists I've never heard of too!!!

I haven't read Sew and Gallery yet, I'm saving those for Sunday and Monday.

I hope your Memorial Day Weekend is as relaxing as mine...

If you need me, I'll be watching the thunderstorms roll in and out...

I'll still be outside on the swing~

Welcome to my Jungle...

 

Helloooo...I'm over here...behind the lens!

Don't go in there! Trust me...you may never come out!

I was MIA for the past two days and NO ONE came looking for me! Shame on ya'll...weren't ya'll worried about me? Yeah right!

This is what I tackled in the last 48 hours. For those who know me, you know I HATE to sweat. I dislike the sun. I HATE bugs. I dislike yard work. So for those who did not know that about me before I disclosed that information...I hope you still love me and what you are about to see is horrifying...(but with a good ending!)

Let me start from the beginning. Grilling season (my favorite season) has started so Thad and I purchased a new outdoor grill and barbeque pit. (We have to do that about every other year as we wear the heck out them.) Tuesday night, we decided to invite Mother-in-law over to eat a steak with us. Now look closely at this picture and what do you see WRONG with it?

Okay...I'll tell you what's wrong with our grilling and Q deck...

First of all, the wisteria has taken over the pergola and deck that one could hardly enter without being attacked by it's little feeders.

Secondly, see those little plastic chairs stacked on one another? They were rotten so even if we did get in there, we wouldn't have had anything to sit on!

Thirdly, there were wasps! Didn't I tell you that I HATE bugs?

The three of us had to sit on the back porch to grill some steaks. Pitiful I tell you. But let me add that the steaks came out great! :)

So I took off of work on Wednesday and Thursday and ventured into my jungle, turning our grilling deck into a more peaceful place to sit, cook and relax....

BEFORE: (Wednesday morning) eeewww!

AFTER: (Thursday evening) aaahhhh!

1. Pressure washed cement and all three decks

2. Replaced rotten plastic chairs with new metal & mesh chairs

3. Disposed of old grill and barbeque pit & added new ones

4. Trimmed wisteria and rerouted feeders towards the west

5. Pulled weeds and put fresh new cypress mulch

6. Got a MAJOR sunburn and used four cans of wasp spray

So let's continue around the deck...

BEFORE: (Wednesday morning) eeewww!

AFTER: (Thursday evening) aaahhhh!

1. Thinned the purple irises

2. Cut the philodendron

3. Cut the root spurts of the wisteria

Some more you ask? Okaaayyy...

BEFORE: (Wednesday morning) eeewww!

AFTER: (Thursday evening) aaahhhh!

(this pic makes me laugh as it looks like the deck is leaning over because the wisteria is so heavy...but I'm only standing on a hill!)

1. Cut the philodendron

2. Killed the ants and broke the ant pile (after they bit the s*** out of my feet and ankles)

3. Threw the bird house (full of wasps...used one can alone!)

errrr...didn't I mention that I HATE yard work? I almost threw in the towel here but I was almost through...

I bet you didn't believe me about us having to sit on the back porch to grill huh? Look, at this pitiful photo! You can see the new grill and our chairs still there from Tuesday night! (far left)

Just pitiful...look at that thing in the middle, is that a weed?

Now it's all nice and clean...heck we could grill and eat off of the wood! Now if Thad would only cut the grass! Oh wait, I forgot. He doesn't cut the grass...sister in law does but since it's her birthday weekend, I'll let her off the hook this week. However, the grass will still be waiting for her!  ;)

aaahhhhh!  Would anyone like to join me for steak tonight?

Maybe if you come, you can tell me what to put on my ant bites and my sunburn. And maybe you can convince Thad to start hiring someone to do this because we are getting too old.

Whoever said 38 is the new 28 can kiss my SORE butt! 

:) Thanks for sharing my last 48 hours...I hope you didn't get bit or stung. I really think I killed every bug in the whole 6 acres!

Hey! I think I see a can of wasp spray on the chair for just in case there is anything crawling or flying around!