Portrait of Grace

Hi again. Here are a few pix I took of my best friend, Grace, yesterday in Gruene. I liked this green shirt she wore so much that I had to go buy one for myself!

I'm continuing to learn how to use my 28mm 2.8 lens and I was pretty happy with the results. I also used a few Totally Rad Actions on some of them to see what kind of cool pictures I could turn out.

So I'm pretty stoked and I hope Gracie likes them!

Still working on my hearts. I did six more yesterday and have done two more this morning. There are a total of 35 squares. Yikes.

Well, Happy Friday everyone!

HEARTS AWAY

Last year I made a goal (somewhat late in the year, I might add) of doing six paintings. Well, I did three. The fourth just never got off the ground and then it's the holidays, blah blah blah, I didn't make the goal.

This year, I reasoned that six was not too great a challenge. I never make resolutions but I DID make a decision to write in my journal way more frequently. I'm doing pretty well so far.

As far as art is concerned, I began drawing yesterday. Not even really drawing, more like doodling. Bess called me and said, "What are you doing?" and I answered, "I'm coloring." Like a little kid.

I saw somewhere online someone doing a series of drawings of hearts called "A heArt A Day" and it inspired me to do my own series. I got out my $20 "professional artist markers" that Sophia is not allowed to touch (and Hannah very grudgingly) and my big drawing pad and started drawing little 2x2 inch squares with hearts in them. After a while I felt I could do a bigger project so I got out a clean sheet of paper and drew a grid of 3x3 inch squares. Let's see there are about 5 squares across and 8 squares up and down? It's a big sheet of paper. Anyway. I drew 7 squares last night and quit after my finger started aching from the pressure of the marker. Hannah really likes it because she knows she gets to frame it and put it in her room when it's finished.


I decided to make these into other things like cards or whatever. I'll photo them after I'm done and print out as needed.

Hannah's 14th Birthday

Greetings, all! If you're on Facebook then you've probably already seen these photos, but I'm just trying to make them available to everyone. Mainly my mother. ;)

Hannah had a "low key" birthday party compared to most years....we'd bought her a new bed because she desperately needed one, so that pretty much nixed any budget for a party. We ended up inviting kids over to the house for pizza, pinata and cake. They had a great time!

Below, you see Hannah's personal mini-cake which she requested. I had the bright idea of using fresh flowers instead of candy, etc. I think it turned out nicely. And the day gave me a chance to use my new lens, a Canon 28mm 2.8! I really like it!

Oh I forgot to mention--it was a "superhero" themed party. Everyone had to dress up as an unknown superhero. Hannah was "Super Smurf" though she never donned a mask or cape. I was "Hershey Girl," and I think my costume was very successful. How can one be a superhero without a mask or cape?!

Even Sophie got into it; her identity was "Baby Bean," the sidekick to Bess's "Starbucks Girl." Those coffee cups really come in handy.

Hannah wore her crown all day long and even received a compliment from a boy in Wal Mart while we were out grabbing last-minute items for the party. She felt very special and loved from all the text messages, phone calls and cards in the mail. Thanks, everyone, for making her day so great!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year, everyone! We had a surprise treat! Mom and Dad drove from GA to TX for a VERY brief visit. They were bringing Grandmother Lee to Aunt Pam for an extended visit. We had one glorious day with them, a very nice way to start off 2009. Here are a few photos from our evening at our favorite Mexican place....

Above, you see Lanier with Dad and Chuck, and below is a photo Mom took of us.

I took this one of me and Hannah.

I've got $1900 toward my trip in April with another $1600 to go! I had a garage sale last Saturday to 1) raise money for my trip and 2) get rid of a bunch of JUNK. I made $100 and decided Hannah should get $20 to go toward HER trip to Mexico during spring break. She only needs about $400 total and they'll do a lot of fundraising but she's got a good head start.

Hannah's 14th birthday is on the 24th and her braces come off two days later. She's so stoked about it. Bess cut and highlighted her hair this past weekend so I really need to take some photos; it looks gorgeous! Hannah has fabulous hair. And now she looks older (sigh........)

New Year's resolutions? I have never made resolutions before, but, if I were to make one, it would be to write in my journal more regularly. So far I've done 3 days, not bad. And I am definitely trying to get back into the habit of regular exercise (meaning, power walking and stretching). I'd totally quit exercising of all kinds and my body shows it. Jiggle everywhere. Gross. And I'm reading "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, a daily devotion. Haven't read that in a couple of years.

So that's what's happening in our neck of the woods. We'll put out a newsletter this week.
Cheers! RLH