Fall flowers in Chicago

Post Card Entry

  Decided to take the challenge from Cloth Paper Scissors to create a postcard.  I had to make it out of cloth and paper with a note written to them.  Not sure how I did but I am happy that I got out of my comfort zone and mailed it in.  I am already looking at this month's issue to see what the new challenge is.

Day 15 of the 15 day Challenge!

 After several months of trying to figure out how I was going to take the art journal, that I made, with me to Italy I made the decision to take it apart and just take the 2 signatures/sections I made for the city of Rome. 

I purchased post cards from Italy at the International Festival that all of our 7th grade students attend each year.  I addressed some of the post cards so that I could send them back home to family members. I am so excited about this trip!  It is so hard to put into words what this means.  I have dreamed of this day for over 3o years!  This year has been a year for setting goals and going after them one at at time.  Getting on Facebook, starting a blog, setting up Skype and work toward my trip to Italy.  I had planned on taking my lap top, so that I could blog about my trip from Italy, but decided to pack light this trip.
Next blog entries will be pictures from Italy! Ciao for now! 

Day 14 Bella

Bella decided to take Elmo's pacifier.

Day 12 of Challenge

Page from one of my art journals.  I took a couple of ATCs and incorporated them into a page of my journal.  It is fun to start with just the ATC and then add to it.

Day 11 Painting for my living room

This is a painting that I did for my living room.  I just wanted to have some fun and create a painting using colors that would go with everything in the living room.  It was so much fun!  I would love to have the time to be in my art studio  right now painting instead of grading students art work but I am grateful I have a job!  

Day 10

Lacy just got her hair done!

Day #9 Sunrise

 It was a beautiful view looking out of my hotel window to see this scene on the morning of the Chicago marathon.  The sky is like looking at a new painting that God has done it changes daily.

Day 8 Day at the Como Zoo

Just a few of the animals at the Como Zoo in Minneapolis, MN.  I went there this summer to take pictures with my new camera.

Day 7 Sense of humor

I took the picture of this sign when Ken and I were taking a walk by a frozen lake.  I couldn't help but laugh when I saw where the sign was.  Living in Minnesota you have to have a sense of humor when it comes to the weather during the winter.

Day 7 Wishing I were there

If only this was a close place I could go to on a regular basis.  After a long day it would be so peaceful to sit and listen to the waves of the ocean coming up on shore.  I love being by the water, beaches and sun!  Hope some day to be able to go back to this place in Mexico.   

Day 6

There is something about watching the horses when I am at my Mom & Dad's house. It is calming to watch these beautiful animals. This is a picture I took of one of the neighbors horses. I loved the yellow wild flowers that were growing in the field where the horses were...and so did the horses.

Day 5

This is my visual journal that I am making with my 6th grade students.  I came up with a way to make our art journals instead of buying them pre-made.  The outside cover gets personalized with things/images we like.  I was showing my students how to experiment with the placement of the different images before gluing anything down.

Day 4 Moose when he was a puppy

When I started looking at old pictures that I had taken I found this one of my son's dog.   Moose was a puppy when I took this picture. Looking at pictures is something I have always enjoyed doing.  I used to love looking at the old photos that my grandmother had.  Every time I went to her house I would sit down and go through the pictures... even though I had looked at them all before.  There was something about the photo capturing that moment in time.  No one would have know about that moment unless it had been preserved through the photo.

Day 3

I went into my art studio tonight and found my "mini me" on the shelf.  This is one way for me to use some of my school pictures...creating a mini me.  Maybe I am on to a new idea...putting my school pictures, that I have no need for, into art work.

Day 2 of Challenge

Cool cloudy day in my backyard.  It began to rain so I wasn't able to get many pictures taken.  The colors of the leaves seemed richer today.  I know it won't be long until they will all fall off and will be replaced with snow.  Days like today make me want to have a bowl of hot chili and homemade apple sauce.

15 day challenge

I decided to challenge myself to post a picture every day for the next 15 days.  I know it sounds silly but for me this will be a great 1st challenge.  I leave for Italy in just 18 days and 15 entries will be a challenge for me to do...but here goes.  Today's photo is from my back yard.  There are a few leaves that still have beautiful  colors.  I am still learning how to take a good photo.  I love taking pictures!

25 days until Rome Italy

So excited about my trip to Rome, Italy.  I have been experimenting with different suitcases and backpacks to see which one works for me.  I have been fortunate to fly several times in the past few months.  I do NOT like the backpack I have.  Now I know I want a backpack that has a pull up handle and is more box like in shape.  I have a few more weeks to find it. People are telling me to pack light.  That is a challenge for me...I like to have things for "just in case" situations.  I really want to take only what "I need" and not want "I think I might need."

Beautiful Fall Color

Decided that I needed to stop working on my "to do list" and get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.  I took my camera to capture some of the things I saw.

God paints the sky

Time gets away from me when school starts in the fall.  I have been working on some new art things but still need to take pictures of them.

My husband and I saw this sunset when we were on our way home this past weekend.  I am always in awe of the sky at sunrise and sunsets.  God paints an amazing new picture in the sky every day.  It is moments like this one... that helps me slow down and notice what is around me that I might otherwise just pass up.  So glad I had my camera with me!