Smiles

Senses
Merging
Into
Loving
Emotions
Simultaneously
~ Teresa Mahieu, Jan.2012

Muffin Tin Mom: How to Make A Clay Heart Necklace (For Kids And Gr...

I found this fun and easy tutorial for clay heart pendants on Muffin Tin Mom. I am definitely having my cub scouts make these for their moms or granmoms for Valentines Day.
Take a look:
Muffin Tin Mom: How to Make A Clay Heart Necklace (For Kids And Gr...: My new crafty love is clay. Clay is great for little hands. Your little one can pound it and smush and mold it into different shapes. T...


Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,
Tess

Hello All,

I thought I would share with you what I have been doing and will be doing this year. I am taking an online class over here. The class title is Life Book 2012. Tam has brought together 15 wonderful artists to teach at different times throughout the year and in December we will bound our pages together for a 2012 LifeBook. Look here for a list of teachers.

Our first lesson was in the form of a video and PDF file from Tamara Laporte. Above is my 1st page. I must say drawing faces is hard and I really admire all of my artistic and creative online friends that are able to draw faces seemingly easily. I really had fun with this and will definitely do this lesson again just for the practice. If you are a member of willowing.ning do check out the LifeBook classes. I think it will be great fun. If you are not a member do check out the site. There is so much going on at willowing.

My word for this year is" Cheerful". I plan to try my best to be more cheerful throughout 2012. Depression has been a big part of my life as well as pain for so many years and I just want to finally kick it with determination. Trying my best to remind myself to be cheerful even when depression is knocking at my door will be a big undertaking but I do believe we can will things to happen and just maybe by choosing the word cheerful I may be on the right track.

So please tell me what have you all been up to so far during 2012?

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Merry Christmas Everyone,

How can it be that it is already Christmas Eve?

Last minute shopping is out of the way and all of the gifts are wrapped.

With one pie baked and one still to go; I'm running behind on this task.

The floor still needs vaccumed, the pets are alseep, I think I will kick these shoes off my feet. Ahh, I love freeing my toes.

We've already had the first snow of the season here and it's practically all melted.

Here I sit in the middle of Kansas and the temp outside is 44 degrees.

Such a strange year of weather we've had.

It almost frightens me how mild it has been;

what with winter yet to really set in.

I pray you all will have a very Merry Christmas and that you will remember

"The Reason for the Season".

And if you do not believe in the christ child do believe this:

He believes in you!

I challlenge you to create wonderful loving memories over these next few days

and to remember to call those loved ones far away.

Cameras charged - Ready, Set, Go!!

*

God Jul

Joyeux Noel

Feliz Navidad

Happy Yuletide

Happy Holidays

Merry Keshmish

Mele Kalikimaka

Maligayang Pasko!

Buone Feste Natalizie

Merry Christmas

to all of you

wonderful

people.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Happy Thanksgiving

Greetings Everyone and Happy Thanksgiving.

 I pray your day was full of food, fun, family and friends. 

 If not...remember, there are always blessings to be found:

 

Shoes on homeless feet. 

 A hidden can of tuna in the back of the pantry. 

 A found $5.00 bill in an old coat pocket from the Salvation Army. 

The smile on the soldiers face as he holds the door for you at the store. 

The smile on the soldiers face when you hold the door for him/her at the store.

 The laughter of cousins playing peacefully together. 

New friends...new family! 

Old friends...old family!

And pumpkin pie! :-)

Yes, there are always blessings to be found.  I pray you all found yours today.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

P.S.  Follow this link to the full version of the song/story of Alice's Restaurant on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjKF7aQthcQ&feature=colike

It's just not thanksgiving without Arlo Guthrie and Alice's Restaurant. ;-)

Hello Again

This is my new stove.  The old stove finally died after 40+ years of service.  As you can see I baked a casserole right away.  It is so good to be able to bake again.  This one has storage underneath which is really awesome.  And I now have two timers in my kitchen.  One on the microwave and one on the stove (the old stoves timer had quit too).

This is the new shelf hubby built for me.  The peg board was covered with a floral wall paper and I stripped it all off and he spray painted it white.  He then built the shelf and has plans for a smaller one below the one there.  The old stove had a topper with a warmer on top and a stove light underneith.  The warmer had quit working years ago so I used it as a shelf.  See the two little potholder hangerson each side of the wall?  I love them, they are inherited from hubbies mom too, as much of my kitchen stuff is.  She may have even made them because she was always making things with plaster of paris.  I got rid of most of her molds and such and now I wish I hadn't.

Sorry, I haven't been keeping up with my blog much. I do look in on a few blogs now and then and appreciate all of my blog friends.  I guess it really has been a while since I've logged on as now I am finding blogger has changed so now I have to get reaquainted with this site again.  And just when i was finally getting used to the Facebook changes.  LOL!!  Where did summer go? I'm afraid my art has taken a sideline too.  I have been going to rehab most weeks at least 3 or 4 times so bu the time I get home from work and exerciseing it's time start or finish making dinner and then I've just a brain fog.  I feel better when I go, my knees, but also feel as if I've gained weight instead of losing this last month.  Ugh!!  Same old story...I'm just a yo-yo.  Love me, love my fat.  LOL!!!  I've been staying involved with scouts too.  I resigned from one position/group that I just did not feel I was being of good service too anymore and am focusing on the Pack we joined a few years back to help out.  We are now fully comfortable with them and them with us. 

So I hope you all had a great summer and an awesome Halloween.  Here we are in November and before we know it we'll be sitting around the table with family and friends over big turkey dinners.  Ahh! yes, the smell of turkey cooking in my new oven will be a welcome scent.  :) And pumpkin pie too.  I must make pumpkin pie, it's my youngest favorite.  She'd have only pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner and be content I think, even now at almost 30.  My gosh where has the time gone?

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN

(Scary Clown at the B.O.S.S. Haunted House of Nightmares - Ft. Riley, Kansas)

Happy Halloween My Dearies! Do Have a Frightfilled Day!!!!

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

You Hold a Piece of My Heart Coffee Mug from Zazzle.com

Greetings one and all,

I invite you to visit my Zazzle shop and see what great gifts can be found there. The holidays are just around the corner so why not get an early start on your gifts list? You may find some fun and funky item you just can't live without.

You Hold a Piece of My Heart Coffee Mug from Zazzle.com

Thank You for having a look and have a great day.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Social anxiety | ViewsHound

The author of this article describes eloquently the emotions felt when dealing with social anxiety.
Well worth reading, will you read yourself or a loved one in this article?
I did!!
Social anxiety ViewsHound

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

9/11 10th Anniversary Rememberance | ViewsHound

I joined Viewshound and invite you to view some of my short articles and photos such as this one:
9/11 10th Anniversary Rememberance ViewsHound

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Me and my Girls

Lunch at the Bamboo Buffet in Manhattan, Kansas
Bobbie can't take anything too serious for long. If you've followed this blog for any time at all I am sure you can understand. Life is too short to take too seriously. She is doing good by the way. Still a left side weakness and such but all in all doing ok.

My favorite girls in the whole wide world. I can't belive my granddaughter will be 12 years old next week.



Just thought I would peep in and say hi and I'm fine.



Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,



Tess

Kelcy

Chloe

Chloe

Grace

Grace Kelcy

My nieces performed at the Sundown Salute 4th of July Celebration. The oldest is Chloe, in the yellow, and Grace and Kelcy are on the two opposite ends of the line in the red, white and blue costumes. Grace was so hot and tired she looked sad but she said she really had fun.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe

Tess

Horizon Line

Still playing along with Claudine Helmuth in her online Collage Composition class. I am so far behind. She's posted week 4 and I was just finishing up week 2. I've viewed most of week 3 but am not sure if I am going to like the vignette college or not.

Heading home after a long trip and the homestead is in site. (Horizon Line Composition)Calendar page for background, collage elements supplied in downloads by Claudine, watercolor pencils and crayons. I really enjoyed watching this come together. I thouhgt the background fit perfectly and all I had to do was spritz it with some glimmer mist.

She never feared the storm when he was by her side.

This one is on water color paper. I found the focal image in a very old Readers Digest and knew instantly it would be a horizon line image. Claudine supplied the boat image and sheet music. Water color crayons, glimmer mist and ink.

I found Claudine's book Collage Discovery Workshop on Amazon.com for a very good price and snatched it up. I love that I'm taking her online class and found her book at the same time. I'm really enjoying browsing through it before I sit for a marathon read. I need to focus on the class and start a vignette piece. There are so many Uber talented people taking her class and I'm loving browsing through the gallery and seeing how everyone elses using her collage sheet downloads.

I also found Misty Mawn's book Unfurling on Amazon at a really inexpensive price so bought it too. But then that is a whole nother story....

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

P.S. Don't fall down stairs while carrying an awkwardly shaped box. It really hurts and makes for some awful aches and pains and bruises.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

More from my Claudine Hellmuth Collage Composition workshop. I am having so much fun with this class.

Not really a collage as this piece is mostly paint, crayons and markers but I was thinking of the asymmetrical composition theme as I was playing. The little yellow dots are paper.

Another piece from my Claudine Hellmuth Asymmetricl Composition class. Or is it a Low Horizon Composition? I think it would fit it both categories. This is a paintover collage of a summer sunset.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Asymmetrical Composition

Greetings fellow bloggers,

My apologies for not being around much. I have been in a bit of an artsy/crafty slump as well as very busy. (Aren't we all, busy that is?!) I've been to a wedding of a friends daughter and then to a reception for one of hubbies co-workers. Chiatra was married in India. It was so much fun trying out Indian foods and watching the video of her marriage ceremony while at her reception here.

We've also been doing a lot of yard work here and at Bobbie Jo's place. Bobbie is doing good but just cannot handle the yard work by herself. Hubby and I have also planted a pot garden. we have cherry tomatoes hanging in an upside down planter and a big pot with roma tomatoes. Also a big pot with bell pepper plants and another pot with snap peas. I already have pea pods forming and flowers on the cherry tomato plant.

Yesterday I was cleaning the weeds and such out of my rose bush that was dug up and transplanted here by me after my grandfather died many years ago. I had a terrible mishap and cut a good chunk out at the base. So we have decided to try to get it to root. Right now it is in water but hubby has been researching the process and we think we are going to attempt the sand and soil mixture in a pot with a plastic bag over the rose bush technique. I hope this works because if it does we should end up with 3 clippings plants and my mom has been wanting a piece for her new home for a while. I just had never attempted doing a cutting because I did not know how. I hope this works.

So to try to get out of the artsy/crafty slump I decided to take an online class over at Big Picture Classes. Since I really enjoy Collage I decided to try Claudine Hellmuth's Composition for Collage class. I love Claudine's art and liked that the class is self paced. You can still join in until June 8th . Above is my first asymmetrical composition collage attempt using Claudine's downloads. I just thought that sweet little girl was begging for wings.

So what have you all been up to?

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Nom Nom Nom Nom, Babies! - PIcture Song

The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino

The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino

I came across this article today on Facebook (link above) and was so very moved by the content. I may not have lupus or fibromyalgia but I do understand what the author is going through to some extent. When my osteoarthritis is flaring, when my knees are enflamed the mere act of walking across the floor is so painful it is sometimes just not worth the effort. And yet I push myself to get up and get going. I have a cousin that lives with lupus and I think I now understand a bit better what she is going through daily. I hope everyone reading this will click on the link and take the time to read the spoon theory. The the next time you think someone is being lazy or you see a "normal looking" individual taking slow calculated steps or someone getting out of a car with handicap plates that looks just fine; I hope you will remember the spoon theory. I know I will.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,
Tess

For My Menopausal Friends

Hello Dear Friends,

OK, I admit it, I sometimes experience hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. Extreme mood swings. A while back I was desperate to find a cure for my night sweats. I tried a product called Estroven and it worked. i even took it with me to a doctor appointment and got my doctors approval to take it. The product is a bit expensive, over $6.00 a box. I take the Estroven Plus Multi-Vitamin. With all of the prescription medications I take I figure a multi-vitamin is a must. Why am I telling you this? Because I just found the Estroven web-site and they are offering a printable coupon for $3.00 off any Estroven purchase. And the coupon does not expire until 12/31/11. Here is the website and here is the coupon link. Go grab yourself a coupon and give the product a try or if you already do use the product save yourself some money. Woo! Hoo!

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Gods Little Creatures

(He came up on the porch and took a siesta with my hubby standing just off to the left with camera in hand. He is layinf exactly the way one of my cats lays.)

Greetings Friends,

I've been a busy little beaver for some time now. My apologizes for neglecting my blog. Please kow that I have peeked in from time to time on many of your blogs.

We have been blessed with visits from God's little creatures lately and I wanted to share some pics here with you today.

This little guy was spotted recently foraging for a snack in our yard.

Our yard bunny is still doing fine. We think he has a friend too.


My hubby was delighted to catch this male house finch in his view finder. This little guy was not afraid of the human with the camera at all. Yes, you are seeing Christmas lights. This bush is dead so we left the lights on it. Now we can't remove it untill after the birds decide to move on as they are nesting in the bottom of the bush.

Easter was fun at mom's house again this year. This is my granddaughter Raven and my niece Angel. They are 6 months apart in age and both still love and expect the Easter egg hunt.

Mother's Day was a bit different this year as my mom went to Texas that weekend to meet my step dads new grandbaby. She said they had a lot of fun on the trip and all of her kids called her on Sunday.

I'm off to an Eagle Scout ceremony this afternoon and then to Camp Brown for to follow our Cub Scout Pack around during Chuck Wagon Days. I won't be climbing up the hill from rafting across the river this year. Doc says no as it would be to hard on my knees. My next Synvisc injections are scheduled for May 31st. I really am needing it. I'm hit a plateau with my weight loss but my flexiblity is better. The doc says he can tell I am building muscle and that is a good thing.

So what have you all been up to lately?

This week was my granddaughters DARE graduation and she has passed to the 6th grade. My baby girl will be a middle school student next year. She is both excited and anxious at the same time. She won the 5th grade Most Curious Award. We thought that fit her personality perfectly.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe,

Tess

Empty Nest

Happy Sunday,
Remember this photo from approx. 2 weeks ago? (above) These eggs were so pretty. Hubby has checked on the eggs every day. (He gets so excited.) Pictures were taken through out their growth and today the last bird flew from the nest.

You can see a slide show of the progression here on my AC site. It was so much fun watching these babies grow. I hope you'll take the time to look. The pics are perfect for kids to view too. I do feel more like Spring has Sprung now.

Did you all have a chance to watch the royal wedding? William looked so handsome and Kate was stunning. I so loved the sleeves of her dress. I had the day off and was able to look in on the ceremony on different channels and on the Internet throughout the day. I had watched the wedding of Charles and Diana and was so glad to be able to watch Prince William wed his love. I do like that they are closer in age and have known each other a long while. Diana was so young when she married Charles and they had known each other for such a short time. Ah but that was then and this is now. As you can tell I followed Lady Diana's life and was so saddened when I heard of her accident. But to see William and Harry together, proud and strong, Diana would have been so proud. Didn't you just love the little ones in their finery? They were so cute... And the hats, oh what lovely and ridiculous hats were worn. I had just as much fun seeing the head gear as I did seeing the wedding.

On a different subject, please remember to pray for the victims of the horrible tornadoes this past week in the southern US states. Such destruction, so very sad. Continue to pray for Japan too. And I'm asking for prayer for the mother of a school friend of my daughter. She is on chemo fighting her second bout of lung cancer. Such a sweet lady. Please pray for Mia.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, be Safe,

Tess