123 Draw

My second to oldest grand daughter loves dinosaurs. And she loves for me to draw them for her so she can color them; except I don't really know how. When I found this second hand book, 123 Draw Dinosaurs by Freddie Levin, I knew I wanted it and it hasn't disappointed me at all! It shows you how to take a basic shape like an oval, then add to it until you have a dinosaur. It has many different kinds of dino's too so you will have lots of choices.

Through some google research, I found out that there are other 123 Draw_____ books out there such as 123 Draw Pets and Farm Animals, Castles and Dragons, People, Vehicles, Ocean Life, Cartoons and the list goes on. I will be purchasing a few more of these and look forward to the fun it will create around here. I found that through Amazon you can find pretty much all of them.

Do you have a book or series of books that you would recommend for kids, that has added to the fun at your house?

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Memorial Day

Thank you!!!

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Grandparent's Say It Saturday

Welcome to Grandparent's Say It Saturday # 6 where Grandparents can link a post from their blog right here. We have been enjoying our link parties and I want you fellow linkers to know that I appreciate you all so much!

Be sure to click on each one this week, leave a comment and follow them to show them they are appreciated. Say It Saturday, will be here every Saturday and the link will be open until the next Tuesday night so if you forget about it on Saturday, you can add it up until then.

On Mondays, you can link up your blog post at Lisa's GRAND Social, over at Grandma's Briefs. We are enjoying meeting new grandparent bloggers out there in blogger world. Be sure to stop by and say hello!



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If you are a grandparent and blog about it, you can add your link here every Saturday at Say It Saturday.

• Please only link to a post about grand parenting, not to the home page.
• Link that post back to Family Home and Life with a text link or my button
• Link up to 3 post but please do not re link post previously linked here
• While you are here check out other links and leave some comments
• Consider following fellow linkers
• No Etsy shops or give aways

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Guest Post, Sally Kabak

I met a wonderful grandmother online who is the writer of the blog Raising Grandchildren. She lives with her husband in New Zealand after moving there to care for her precious grand child. Imagine if you can, what it would be like to be in the situation that not only asked of you to take custody of a grand child but also to move to another country to do so. Could you do it? Sally Kabak did; and looking for support with other grandparents raising their grandchildren she began a website that is full of resources, and has successfully published a book all about raising grandchildren. Please enjoy the rest of this post written by Sally.

My husband Norman is an American and I’m a New Zealander. In 1997 I moved countries to be with him, we first lived in Washington Heights in a rather small one bedroom apartment. Never having lived before in such a confined space we decided to purchase a small cottage. Early 2003 we moved to Hudson, New York where we had hoped to spend our retirement years.

January 2007 we received a call from Child, Youth and Family, a Government Department in New Zealand. They informed us that our granddaughter (Lucy) had swallowed a very small camera battery and that she was in hospital. The acid had leaked into her oesophagus as her mother, my daughter, had left it for three days before taking her to the doctor. Lucy was admitted to hospital, and the battery was successfully removed. Thankfully Lucy has not suffered any ill effects from this dreadful experience.

We attended a Family Group Conference in a small city in New Zealand in April 2007. It was declared that Lucy was in need of care and protection for at least a period of six months while my daughter got the help that she needed.

It soon became apparent that my daughter was not going to seek the treatment that she needed. We went back to Hudson, packed up our things and return to live in New Zealand. We first lived in a hotel; eventually found an apartment which we rented for nearly four years. Last year we purchased a small 3 bedroom house with glorious harbour views. We promised Lucy that when we moved we would get a Labrador. Samantha Jan came to live with us for a brief period, it became too much for me, as I was the only one taking her for walks. She went to a loving in home in Christchurch and shortly after she left we got a cat that we named ‘Woof.’ He is a very important member of our small family and very much loved by us.

When Lucy first came to us Norman and I joined a grandparents group hoping for support. The group meet once a month, however it wasn’t working for us. There was no support from anyone between each meeting. I started a blog in 2009, http://www.raisinggrandchildren.net.nz which became an instant success. 2010 Grand Magazine of the United States named it as one of the top ten blogs in the world and the only international one to achieve the honour. The same year, North and South Magazine, a well-respected magazine in New Zealand named me New Zealander of the Year for Community. Shortly after I commenced blogging I started an online Face Book group for other grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. For a while it was an open group; however because of the nature of the subjects discussed it became a closed group. Now everyone is much more comfortable speaking about what is happening in their lives.

I am amazed at the support that I get, not just through the face book group, but from the wonderful people that I’ve meet online. Connie, who I have recently connected with, is one that I can lean on in time of need as is Lisa Carpenter of Grandma’s Briefs. Without their support and understanding my task in raising a now 7 year old granddaughter would be so much harder. I thank them very much for their wonderful support and guidance, you are indeed very special people, and I am blessed to have you in my life.

A couple of years ago I decided to try my hand at writing a book. Thought carefully about what topic I was going to write about. The first idea was to write about the tragic story of my daughter; it did occur to me that perhaps it would not be of interest to anyone else. In the end decided to incorporate some of her story along with various topics that perhaps grandparents may need information on. Times have changed since raising my own children. The book ‘Grandchildren, Our Hopes and Dreams: A Modern and Practical Guide to Raising Grandchildren,’ covers topics ranging from water safety, teen texting, helpful hints, poetry, recommended books just to name a few. My book would also suit parents as the topics are very relevant for them as well.

Susan Adcox of About.com/grandparenting which is owned by The New York Times recently reviewed my book, to read what she has to say, please click on the link http://grandparents.about.com/od/booksaboutgrandparenting/fr/Grandchildren_Our_Hopes_and_Dreams.htm

If anyone is interested in purchasing a copy, below is a list of online sites that are stocking it:

http://www.xlibris.co.nz

http://www.xlibris.com

http://www.itunes.apple.com

http://www.amazon.com

http://barnesandnobles.com

However, if you would like to place an order direct with me, please use the following email address: admin@raisinggrandchildren.net.nz

Amandita's Salsa and a Recipe

We attended the My Nana’s Salsa challenge here in the valley this year and discovered that a friend of my daughter’s from high school was entered in the contest of 60 plus entries. Amanda, a frequent guest at our house during high school, became interested in making salsa in college. Everyone loved her salsa and encouraged her to enter the My Nana’s Salsa Challenge held here annually. Her first year to enter the challenge, last year, she took second place! This year she was awarded People’s Choice Award, Best of Show Award, and awarded third place in the Hot division by a panel of judges. Right now Amanda makes salsa for her friends and family but hopes to sell commercially soon. I’ll let you know when that happens; I know I will be one of her buyer’s. On Facebook find her page at Amandita's Salsa.

Salsa Chicken is a dish that’s simple to make and I love it. Make it for one or a crowd. You can use a whole breast or as I like to do, cut it into 2 pieces to make the breast thinner and cook faster as follows. Placing chicken flat on your cutting surface; put your none cutting hand flat on top and then cut horizontally through the chicken breast.

Heat oil in a skillet that has a lid. Salt and pepper then brown the chicken breast well on each side. At this point I like to sprinkle the chicken with some type of Mexican seasoning though you don't need it; usually cumin, but taco seasoning works great too. Generously top each breast with your favorite salsa, turn down the heat to medium low and cover with the lid. In about 10-15 min (if you have sliced your breast in half) your chicken should be done.  The chicken can also be placed in a oiled baking dish and baked covered till done, about 25-35 min at 350°.  Enjoy!

I linked this post at Ginger Snap Crafts, Handy Man Crafty Woman, Organizing Junkie, Between Naps on the Porch, A Southern Fairytale, A Lettered Life and Uncommon.

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Are You Done?

“When will she be here?” an impatient 3yr old asked me for the umpteenth time. She was waiting for another 3 yr old to arrive and wanted to start playing asap. Second 3 yr old arrived and after they giggled and hugged, second 3 yr old handed the first 3 yr old a picture she had made. First 3 yr old held it and looked closely at it while second 3 yr old talked on and on about how she had made the picture especial for first 3 yr old and wasn’t that nice? Finally she stopped talking and they stood face to face just looking quietly at each other.

First 3 yr old said to second 3 yr old, “Ok, are you done now?” Second 3 yr old answered “Yes”. First 3 yr old put the picture down and said “Alright, then let’s go play!”

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Grandparent's Say It Saturday

Welcome to Grandparent's Say It Saturday where Grandparents can link a post from their blog right here. We have been enjoying our link parties and hope new grandparent bloggers will find us.


Be sure to click on each one this week, leave a comment and follow them to show them they are appreciated. Say It Saturday, will be here every Saturday and the link will be open until the next Tuesday night so if you forget about it on Saturday, you can add it up until then. This is something new for Family Home and Life so please help me get the word out.


On Mondays, you can link up your blog post at Lisa's GRAND Social, over at Grandma's Briefs. We are enjoying meeting new grandparent bloggers out there in blogger world. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

If you are a grandparent and blog about it, you can add your link here every Saturday at Say It Saturday.

· Please only link to a post about grand parenting, not to the home page

· Link that post back to Family Home and Life, just say so at the bottom of your post with a link or grab my new button below

· You may link up to 3 post, but please do not re link a post linked here previously

· While you are here, check out other grand parenting blogs who linked up

·  We all love comments so please leave some comments here and on other linked up blogs

·  Consider following them or me in some way; your choice of social media or otherwise, we all want more followers!

· No Etsy shops or giveaways please

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Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Is It Nap Time Yet?

Lunch is just over and I am watching the clock. Minutes seem to be taking hours. I am very anxious for 1pm to arrive; nap time! Usually I’m pretty good at getting several children to sleep at the same time. Today I have two 3 yr olds and two 1 yr olds. I’ll walk you through how I accomplish the amazing, yes I did mean amazing, task of getting all four of these kids to sleep in the same room at the same time.

First, at the appropriate time, I mumble something about using the bathroom and head to my bedroom. There I quickly put together two pac n plays, one on each side of the room. Then sneakily I assemble blankie’s, binky's, loveys, favorite toys and any other necessary items needed for today’s modern child to fall asleep. Said items are placed in the assigned sleeping spot of each child.

Then, back with the kids I check each baby’s diaper and change if needed. Notice I have not said one thing about announcing that it is nap time yet. The element of surprise is in play for this maneuver to work. I ask three year olds if they would like a drink, handing said drink to each. They drink. I ask if a bathroom break would be desired, if the answer is no, I take them by the hands and walk to the bathroom anyway just in case.

Once back in the kitchen I look around to see if I am being watched. I think I have maintained the secrecy of my mission. I must move forward carefully. I once again use all my powers of sneakiness and warm two bottles of milk keeping them out of sight. Once warmed they are placed in each of the pac n plays. Now I am ready for the attack; I scoop up a baby in each arm and announce "it's nap time!" sounding way too happy so it comes out like a sing song. I take the babies and deposit them into the pack n plays. I return in mere seconds with the three yr olds, one by each hand, and help them up onto the bed. I lay down on one side. I tell them they must be very quiet and very still; don’t move a muscle. Any noise or movement could disturb the babies who are busy drinking their bottles and watching us with big eyes.

There is a cartoon playing on the TV with the sound off to draw their attention. I have also turned on my secret weapon against outside noises, a white noise machine. I lie still encouraging the kids to do the same. Once they are beginning to relax I turn off the TV. Now and then I need to touch one of them to remind them to be quiet and still too. It may seem that I have accomplished my goal, but not so. Right now is a very crucial time; one wrong move and I will be right back at the beginning with crying babies to boot. I must with all diligence summon the speck of energy I have left and….. not fall asleep. One snore and all could be lost……

I have done it again! I leave the room on tip toes and make my way to my recliner. Ahhh sweet victory is mine, and the peace and quiet that goes with it. I lean back and close my eyes……yup, you can call me Super Granny!

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Chalkboard Paint

Is there anything that has not been painted with chalkboard paint these days? Pinterest is full of chalkboard paint ideas. And I love the look of it, but I don’t love painting with it. It’s hard to get it smooth when you brush it on, and not everything can be taken out side for spray painting. It might be too large for example. I began to wonder if I could find chalkboard paper or vinyl and guess what, I did! There is chalkboard contact paper and is easy to use. There is a grid on the backing for easy cutting of straight lines. It can be cut into any shape you want and then removed when you want to. I found mine online, just google it and you will find many sources.

Here is one project I have used it for; Mason jar lid labels.

If you are using your jars for dry storage you may want to label them. I put my labels on the top of my coffee jars.

Mason jar lids, or canning lids, come in two parts. This can be annoying when using them on dry storage items so I glued them closed after applying my chalkboard contact paper.

Then, using a white liquid chalk marker, I wrote on my labels. The marker is wet erasable so it won't rub off with day to day use of the jars; however, regular chalk works fine on this paper. Don’t use this type of marker on brushed on chalkboard paint, or a regular chalk board, it won’t remove completely. I found my liquid chalkboard marker at Hobby Lobby. I also tried using a chalk pencil used in sewing. It doesn't wipe off very easily, and you can get a fine point for small writing. I wouldn't try using it on a daily list but for areas you don't want to rub off it would be good.  

We have been updating our kitchen some, more about that later, but here is another project I tried the chalkboard contact paper on; my cabinet doors. I didn’t want to commit to painting them in case I didn’t like the look of chalkboard paint. With the contact paper I can just peel it off when I want. I used the chalk ink marker for 'Costco' and 'Groc' so they won't accidentally be erased. Regular chalk is used for the rest of the list.

I really love the way it looks so it’s a keeper!

The chalk and an eraser are out of sight under the bottom of the cabinet for easy retrieval attached there with Velcro.

What are some projects you could use chalkboard contact paper on?


I linked at Vinatge Wanna Bee, A bowlful of Lemons, Not JUST a Housewife, Cornerstone Confessions, Under the Table and Dreaming, Chic on a Shoestring, French Country Cottage, The Shabby Nest, Cheerios and Lattes and How to Nest for Less .

*Join me here on Wednesdays for Wow Us Wednesday weekly link party.*

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Better Than TV

It rained here a few days ago. Not something we see that often. So for this little one, it was so fascinating and fun to watch, she pulled up a chair. Who needs TV?


Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Say It Saturday

We had a good turnout for Say It Saturday last weekend. We had some new bloggers who joined us: Margaret French Stories, RaisingGrandchildren, and Grandma Ideas. Welcome!

I am enjoying SIS link up party and I hope you are too. Be sure to click on each one this week, leave a comment and follow them to show them they are appreciated. If you are on Facebook, I would love to have you 'like' me! Find me at Family Home and Life there.

Say It Saturday, will be here every Saturday for grand parenting blogs to link up with me. The link will be open until the next Tuesday night so if you forget about it on Saturday, you can add it up until then. This is something new for Family Home and Life so please help me get the word out.

If you are a grandparent and blog about it, you can add your link here every Saturday at Say It Saturday.

• Please only link to a post about grand parenting on your blog, not to the home page
• Link that post back to Family Home and Life, just say so at the bottom of your post with a link
• You may link up to 3 post, but please do not relink a post linked here previously
• While you are here, check out other grand parenting blogs who linked up
•  We all love comments so please leave some comments here and on other linked up blogs
•  Consider following them in some way; your choice of social media or otherwise, we all want more followers!
• No Etsy shops or giveaways please

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

A Tribute To My Mom; Your Quilt

 

My mother passed away a few days before Mother’s Day 11 yrs ago. We buried her on Mother’s Day that year. She lived with me 9 yrs before she left us. The last 7-8 yrs of her life she sewed and quilted quilts daily for hours and hours at a time. All of us have at least one, some of us many. One morning I was rushing around to leave for work , probably 18-19 yrs ago, and I glimpsed through her open door my mom, in her room sewing. She seemed so small yet so full of something I couldn’t describe. There was intense focus on her face and I wondered what was on her mind.

The little descriptive story below I wrote at that very moment; I dropped my purse and grabbed a pen and paper and wrote as fast as I could in an attempt to capture what I felt as I looked at her, needle in hand. Like an artist with paint and a brush, I wanted to preserve all that was happening in that moment to keep it with me forever. Because I don’t believe for a minute that all she was doing was sewing. I love you mom, Happy Mother's Day.

Your Quilt

Bright morning light, glowing, shining, fresh crisp newness. Birds call, a dog barks, somewhere near a horse neighs.

Front door slams after a last “bye mom”, and the usual busy, readying sounds cease except for my own. At last all is complete, assembled, collected, one last look around walking through rooms before I too depart.

Suddenly, through the door of her room I see a scene I have come to know so well. I stop, everything is hushed, and I drink in this picture so peaceful. In the corner next to the already made bed, just enough room to squeeze by, she is seated, needle in hand, intent look on her face.

Shoulders rounded from years of this intensity, fingers crooked, enlarged; filled with patience I do not yet own. Tiny scraps pale, bright, some just because “it seemed to need it". Arranged, measured, trimmed, tried out. One stitch….another, another. Stitches, patches, minutes, hours. Daily purpose. Daily realization. A life time.

Carefulness, exactness, mistakes painfully corrected. Slowly, one piece at a time, a pattern, a design, a whole work completed; like life. Something to leave behind, some tangible gift to give. Don’t forget me, I laughed, I loved, I cried, I endured. Remember what I loved, what I believed in. Don’t forget what is really important. Life, love, family, friends.

What thoughts accompany the making of this quilt? What memories, love, prayers, worries, conversations?

Snuggle under its warmth, coziness, softness. Smell the fresh newness, the aged scent of love. Tell me, is it really only fabric, thread and stitches?

I linked at Bible Love Notes.


*Join me in June 2012 for my new link up party, Wow Us Wednesdays.*

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Mother's Day Card

I have always meant to learn how to make greeting cards. With all the family members I have and all the birthdays it can get expensive purchasing all those cards. With birthdays alone for only my kids and spouses and grand kids, that’s 23 cards! I don’t even want to know how much it all cost. So, I was in my favorite thrift store and found a pack of unopened blank cards and envelopes to make your own greeting cards on your computer. I decided now was the perfect time to learn.

My cards are 8.5 x 11 inches before folding. I went to Graphics Fairy and found a free vintage rose picture I loved and saved it to my pictures. My computer has Microsoft Office Word 2007, and this is what I did to make my card. I opened a Word document, and on page layout I clicked landscape orientation. Then I clicked two columns on page setup. I worked on the front of the card first, which was in the second column; I inserted my vintage rose picture into a picture box. I put Happy Mother’s Day across the top and picked a fancy font to go with the picture. I also used a font color to compliment my rose.

In the first column at the bottom (this would be the back of the card) I typed, Made for you with love.

Next for the inside of the card on a new page set up as above; in the second column I wrote my verse and adjusted the layout by checking print preview. There are many places online as well as other ways to find a verse or something nice to write if you can’t think of something yourself. I used the same font and color for my verse as I did for Happy Mother's Day on the front of the card. The hard part here for me was figuring out how to put my card in the printer to have it print the inside verse on the correct side after I had printed the front with the rose. I suggest you do a practice run on regular paper first. Just saying……

I was very happy with the results but felt it still needed a homemade loving touch. At my sewing machine I removed the thread from my needle and stitched around the outside of my card, leaving perfectly spaced punched holes.

Then I chose three strands of embroidery floss and hand stitched around my card using the machine stitched holes.

I tied my threads together on the inside of the card in a neat square knot. I love my Mother’s Day cards. I think I have the courage now to make other greeting cards and I'll be adding a home made touch to them too.  Oh, and I'll save a lot of money!

This would be a good project for kids too, depending on their age.

I linked this post at Graphics Fairy.

I linked at Handy Man Crafty Woman, Sew Much Ado, Ginger Snap Crafts, Centsational Girl, Bear Rabbit Bear, Thrifty Decorating, It's A Keeper, and Someday Crafts.

*Join me here on Wednesdays for a new link up party, Wow Us Wednesday.*

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

3 2 1 Cake, Some Possibilities

3 2 1 Cake has been a popular post here on Family Home and Life. And to think it arrived as an email I almost decided not to use. You see, I haven’t brought it up before, but I am on a gluten free diet. I can’t have gluten without severe consequences. I had to go gluten free about 12-13 years ago, but before that, I enjoyed making homemade breads, rolls, cakes, all kinds of gluten filled recipes. I still make my favorite recipes for my family, but I cannot enjoy one bite!

So when this email arrived about this incredibly easy to make, one serving at a time cake, and since I couldn’t test/taste it I wasn’t sure I should tell you about it. But when it started getting so much attention and a reader, Claudia, sent me a picture of her example (above) I decided to try it out. I bought angel food cake mix and red velvet cake mix to start with. Mixed them together (dry) and put the mix in a Mason jar. I then followed cooking directions; mix 3 tbs of mix with 2 tbs of water and microwave in a microwavable container for 1 minute. I used a coffee cup and it worked fabulously! Here's the link for the directions.

321 Cake makes a great mix for kids to stir up for themselves. I put water in a bowl to make it easier for the little ones (my 5 to 3 yr olds) to scoop up the right amount, and then add it to the mix in a cup. They stirred it up and then I put it in the microwave. It will be hot so be careful here. I turn the cup upside down on a saucer and in a couple minutes or less the little cake drops down. All you need to do is frost it with canned frosting, or…..cool whip, whipped cream, Nutella, powdered sugar, or jam.

Remember the apron and felt cupcakes I made as a birthday gift for a granddaughter? I included a Ziploc bag of this mix in her gift bag to make with mom. I couldn’t resist the fun of making a small little ‘cake’ box about 5-6 inches tall to put it in. I made my own template then made the boxes from card stock, and made the labels on my computer. 

I didn’t have actual labels so I printed everything onto paper and glued it on. The front label says "Red Velvet Cake Mix", the back label reads; "3 2 1 Cake Mix, from Gramma’s kitchen to yours, for refills see Gramma". I put labels on the sides too like a real cake box with the directions and ingredients. The vintage label on the front I downloaded free from Worldlabel. Since I didn’t have labels I saved the ones I liked as a picture to my computer then inserted it into a picture box in a Word document.

I have a really old computer (10 years old!) and I was tired of fiddling with it and trying to figure out how to get text inside the label/picture so I printed the "Red Velvet Cake Mix" separate and glued it on. I think the apron, felt cupcakes, and this cake mix made a fun and enjoyable gift. Come back soon to see the other ideas I came up with for this great idea called  3 2 1 Cake.

*I am hosting a weekly linking party here at Family Home and Life on Wednesdays;  Wow Us Wednesday.*

I linked this post at Skip to my Lou, Sew Many ways, Keeping It Simple, CraftOManiac, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not JUST A Housewife, and Singing Three Little Birds.

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Say It Saturday

Welcome to Say It Saturday where grand parent bloggers are invited to link their blog post about grandparenting right here. Last week I made some new online friends! Googie’s Attic, AmaraLand, What Happen’s at Grandma’s, Confessions of a Grandma, Grandparentsplus2 and Senior Homes joined me for a Say It Saturday link party.

Please click through each link and read the bloggers who join me this week.  Be sure to leave a comment or follow them in some way, they would love that!

I will be hosting a link up party, Say It Saturday, here every Saturday for grand parenting blogs. The link will be open until the next Tuesday night so if you forget about it on Saturday, you can add it up until then. This is something new for Family Home and Life so please help me get the word out.

If you are a grandparent and blog about it, you can add your link here every Saturday at Say It Saturday.

• Please only link to a post about grand parenting on your blog, not to the home page
• Link that post back to Family Home and Life, just say so at the bottom of your post with a link
• You may link up to 3 post, but please do not relink a post linked here previously
• While you are here, check out other grand parenting blogs who linked up
•  We all love comments so please leave some comments here and on other linked up blogs
•  Consider following them in some way; your choice of social media or otherwise, we all want more followers!
• No Etsy shops or giveaways please

What's Happening at my House

A little music anyone? Song request?

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

Lacey Shelton, Local Artist

I want to introduce you to a local artist here in Arizona, Lacey Shelton. I had the pleasure of meeting her and seeing her works in person several years ago. They are special! Her name came up on my Facebook page and I wanted to see what she had been up to and what she was painting these days. Well I was not disappointed!

This is Love Calling

Her work is being sold commercially through Overstock.com, and here is the link for you.

Attracted to the Light

Here is her Artist Statement:

“My work is inspired by nature, particularly birds and other delicate creatures, as well as things man has made: bikes, typewriters, street lights, chairs, et cetera. I enjoy bringing these elements together by thoughtfully balancing them as the foreground subjects in a painting. The subjects appear to float and are showcased apart from their natural setting to simplify their formal beauty, along with communicating a conceptual theme. My abstract backgrounds allow the foreground subjects to breathe, in that they are not tightly rendered, nor realistic, but they set a stage for another kind of environment. Juxtaposing the realistic subjects with the abstract backgrounds gives the work a modern tone on a colorful, vivid plane. Acrylic lends itself to the quick and spontaneous backgrounds I enjoy.

The conceptual ideas behind my work range from fun and whimsical to thought provoking and spiritual. Inner beauty, character, hope, faith, and living life abundantly all characterize the underlying meanings. Birds represent this element of abundant life to me because these simple beauties are around us all of the time; if we pay attention, these little gifts given can brighten a day, and a lifetime. I appreciate painting common things, sparrows and wrens, to highlight their sometimes overlooked beauty. Adding an element of life, a butterfly, a person, a bird, makes the painting come alive. My vision is to bring the viewer to this deeper sense of beauty all around, even in things seen every day, and uncover true beauty within.”

Every Word You Write is Love

Lacey writes that “I am also delighted to work on private commissions with personalized subject matter & also portraits.  My original oil paintings can be purchased, as well as custom sized reproduction prints on canvas can be made to order.”

Visit her website at www.laceyshelton.com for more information about her work as well as her contact info. Isn't her work lovely?

Copyright© Family Home and Life 2012 All Rights Reserved

What's Your Story

An activity that my kiddos really love is what I call, What’s Your Story? Sit in a circle or at a table where you can have eye contact with each child. I usually start with a song just to get the kids paying attention and all on the same page. Even my one year olds will come and sit on the floor with us when we start to sing. I start off the story telling by beginning with a sentence like;  “The big bad wolf was coming to town and….”. I the touch the child next to me, or hand off something to them like a wooden spoon, to signify it’s their turn to finish the sentence. It’s then handed to the next child after each child has said their part. Today it went something like this;

The big bad wolf was coming to town and…. He fell down! (this is illustrated with a demonstration) …He said I’ll knock your house down!...So he huffed and he puffed and scooped up a little pig….then he climbed up on top and fell down!...and cracked his head and went to the hospital…then he decide to leave because he wasn’t having fun……he fell down and went to the hospital…. he got a big big bandage on his head….it was so big he couldn’t see cause it was all over his head…. the wolf was tired and his head hurt so he……he went outside and said little pig little pig and I’ll knock your house down.….then he fell down!...... he hurt his knee and couldn’t walk…..he really wanted to go home and go to bed so he started walking home and…..when he got there he fell down! (still being illustrated with a demo)

And so the story went. It is a time for creative thinking, imagination and learning to take turns and listen. Of course it is a time for hilarity and all the silliness you can muster. But it is a good bonding time and memory making time too. This is something you could also do in the car. I like sitting with them and having the eye contact the best though. I believe the kids really feel you are interested in them and care about them this way when you are eye to eye. Try it, you will be glad you did.

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