A Few Updates!

Hi everyone!  I want to throw out a BIG THANK YOU to my followers, both old and new--we are halfway to 51 before my giveaway!  Feel free to promote my blog to get us there faster if you wish!  And thanks!

The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind.  I am sorry I haven't been able to keep up with all your wonderful blogs lately--I have been wanting to though!  Ever since the last Friday of July my husband "Mr. Fox" and I have been helping his parents to move.  We've also been working on setting up our own place as we will be buying their "old" house from them--Mr. Fox's years long dream!  There is still lots to do.  Here's a peek at what I've been working with.

Auntie Em!  It's a TWISTER!

 We finally have our kitchen more under control (but not entirely) and the living room is looking much more like a living room! 

This past week I've been looking at blogs and a website called weeklygreens.com for some yummy recipes.  It's been the first real chance I've been able to *really* be able to cook for my husband.  Here are a few pictures. 

Fresh PA Peaches and Beef N' Beer Sliders from http://fullbellies.blogspot.com/2011/07/beef-and-beer-sliders.html

Honey-Glazed Chicken, Sweet Potatoes and Peach Skewers from weeklygreens.com

The brown things to the left are the pecans you put on the skewers.  We are thinking of doing more of a sugar coating next time to accent the sweet potatoes and peaches!  Earlier in the week we did the turkey chili weekly greens had as well--delicious!  Next time I think I'll add a little bit of taco sauce for a touch more flavor though.

I've also been doing quite a bit of art.  I painted a little "treasure box" for my new younger cousin Jake.  We used Colorado as the theme as that is where Mr. Fox and I went on our honeymoon!

Box from the Front

The sides of the box

The back of the box

The top of the box

Here's an angled picture so you can see how it turned out!

I made the inside to look like the night sky!  He already added his coins hehe

And I've been doing other art too--here was my latest commission I did--someone wanted them drawn as an elephant (their favorite animal) and their sister as a monkey.  They requested tulips and daffodils in the picture as well (favorite flowers).  It was a lot of fun to do!  Prismacolor markers was the medium.

So as you can see lots is going on!  To top it off--(the move and art and such) August 19th and 20th our town is having Olde Home Days.  I'm having an urge to pay the $10 to get a booth and try to sell things.  My plan is to draw people as animals of their choice (kinda different from the common caricatures) but as color takes a long time I'm thinking pencil.  What do you think?  If I do it, what do you think I should sell it for? I'm thinking $10 each.  Does that sound decent on 8 1/2 by 11" cardstock?  I'll also be working on my very own etsy shop too!  So stay tuned!  Thanks for reading this and blessings to you all!

A Wedding to Remember!

Hello blog friends!  Life caught up with me a bit and I was unable to blog as soon as I had hoped... but I think you can forgive me for this time.  Like I said in my very short last post--I got married!  And happily married and blessed I am!  My husband and I have been settling in our new home, the home my hubby grew up in.  We are buying it from his parents as they found the perfect old house for them in the country!  For me though, who lived close to St. Paul in the big suburb, this is very country for me though and I LOVE IT!  I am close to farms and open fields and there is a forest connected to our back yard--God has SO blessed us and I can't be thankful enough!  And a mere 6 days after moving here He has blessed me with a JOB offer!  There is a new grocery store that will be opening probably in September and as I have worked in a grocery store for years and because the good Lord chose to give me a job sounds like that is where I will work! (I do have a different interview tomorrow that I still will go to just in case though).  I won't start for a few weeks but that will allow me to help my "new parents" move when they get to in a week.  Today, I made my first blueberry jam from berries we picked Sunday.  I am also starting to work on more art and will be having a giveaway soon.  But that is enough jabber for now--now for pictures!

Today I made jam from fresh blueberries my husband and I picked Sunday!

 

 

 

10 Jars Full!  Lovin' the Country Life!

My husband and I saying our vows to one another before God and the assembly.

Wedding party!

My immediate family.  I'm the oldest of 8!

Me with my new extended family!

The dress from behind.. it was a God-find--$100 new at a garage sale!

Over the next several days I'll try to get up pictures from the honeymoon --Colorado is such a beautiful place!  God bless you all and have a great day!

I WON A GIVEAWAY!!!!

Cute Little Peep from Carol!

I wanted to thank Carol from Buttermilk Creek Farm from the bottom of my heart for winning her giveaway!  I am very very excited--Little Peep is so cute and will so so amazing sitting up in the house!  THANK YOU SO MUCH! :) 

I also wanted to post a bit of a longer one tonight.   A few exciting things went on this weekend!  Yesterday two of my younger siblings got Confirmed and I was my sister's sponsor!  Very excited they received the Holy Spirit in full with all His gifts!  Today another sister graduated so that is very exciting too.  Each day we ate cake!  And had a lot of family time which is special especially since once I get married I will move out of my state and probably see them only about once a year. 

Remember that painting I showed a bit ago for my mom?  Well I unfortunately didn't quite think it would be SO HARD to photograph when it was in the frame!  However I do have some decent pictures all things considering so I want to show you!

Mister Doggie wanted to be in this picture!  Here is the image (with painters tape holding the painting on the cardboard) and the mat and the frame before being put together.

Here it is outside.  It was super hard finding a place without a glare of some sort.

Closer up pic.  I wish it was flatter though--the image is at a slight angle and looks slightly distorted.

I got the frame with the mat for $4.99 at Goodwill!  It had another print in it originally, but I put watercolor paper over the original cardboard and did this painting.  It was done with acrylic, watercolor, and colored pencil.  Mostly watercolor for details.  The frame looks great--looks like it could be new and I know if I bought a frame from a craft store/frame store it would cost oodles more!  I got it because I liked the northwoodsy look and the mat color, and I asked mom what she wanted for a picture after I got it and worked from there.  Spent several hours on it but I am happy!

In other news, I am still getting ready for our big day!  When I came back a few weeks ago from visiting my fiance, the party favors were here and ready to be assembled!  I got these cute little mint tins.  I had to remove the mints from the bags and pour them in, and add the sticker to the top.  The little cute ribbons I got for 59 cents a pack at Michaels in a close-out sale.  They were meant to be put around bubble containers but I thought they'd be a cute addition to the tins to keep them closed!  (though when I got them I didn't know WHAT I'd use them for!)  I am pretty happy with the result!

I also got my dress back--wow.. was it two weeks ago now?  And last week figured out the music for the Mass.  We will have things such as Cannon in D, to Ave Maria, to Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, and Ode to Joy playing at some point!  Excited!

  I have also been working on a few more art pieces.  I need to finish up our cake topper, and have a few birthdays coming up which I've been making pictures for.  I also have a commission and an art-trade to do soon too.  LOTS TO DO!

I think that is all for now but I hope to get up pics of the flowers soon!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Graduation and Visiting Future Family!

     Hi everyone!  I know it's been a few days since the last update and I'll tell ya a little bit about what has been going on!

Friday I got on a plane nice and early to go visit my fiance.  He had told me for at least several days that because he was still up at college (and about to graduate!), his mom was going to pick me up at the airport and later that day his mom, dad, and me would drive over to college to see him together Imagine my surprise--I get off the plane and begin to text my mom what the itinerary for the day was as she was asking.  I had just texted saying his mom was going to pick me up when all the sudden I left the security area and there HE WAS waiting for me!  My fiance said I had a look of shock then happiness when I saw that they had plotted a nice surprise for me.  And surprised I was!  All four of us went up to his college later in the evening together then.

Saturday was his graduation and it was such a  happy and proud moment to see him go up and get his diploma!  Four years and now he is done!  I tried snapping pictures but unfortunately my camera was slow and so I don't have a great one of him receiving the diploma itself. As you can see from the picture, he has a golden sash because he received High Honors: Magna Cum Laude!  He is now (though he always was to me) an official Meteorologist!  He has had a website for years you can check out if you wish: www.grotonweather.com.

My Fiance, Drew and me at his graduation!

The past few days have been really nice.  We are staying with his parents and have gone on walks and such together.  It's so nice to be with him again as it's been two months! :)  But it's not all fun and games: I'm looking for a job out here since this is where we will be after we get married. The frog shares my sentiments.  I have filled out 11 applications so far and a clothing store I applied to yesterday even had me do math, sequences, and define vocabulary that isn't commonly used.  I felt like I was in school again and didn't enjoy it.  Why can't I do art for food?

I think that is all for now--again if there is something you would like to see here on this blog, PLEASE don't hesitate to give me ideas, critique or suggestions!  I read and appreciate all of them!  God bless you all :)