'Spraying' Space

As you probably already know, I am Raelee's art teacher, and I am loving it!

Raelee and I have been experimenting making pictures with spray paint.  

Yesterday Raelee made these:

The first one was her first try - the second was her second try.  

I think she did great!  The actual pictures do look better in person, but I took them outside with my cell phone - but you can tell how well she did.

We have a few things to figure out, but overall, I think we have got it!  


Supplies Needed:
Cardboard for over spray
Old clothes
White Poster Board
Latex or rubber gloves 
Painters Guide
Old toothbrush
Various pots, lids, bowls that don't matter if you paint them

Spray Paint:
   Red
   White
   Black
   Green
   Yellow
   Orange  
   Blue


Here is how we did it: 

We laid a white poster board on a cardboard outside in a well ventilated area; that way we weren't concerned about the over spray.

We lined up our cans and put the correct color lid by them so we could quickly grab them.

Time to start!

We sprayed three colors in the lower left corner; yellow, green then blue.  All had to be sprayed quickly while wet, one on the other. We did this in a general circle area...

While it was still wet, we took a magazine page and laid it flat on the painted area, gently pressed and then pulled it up.

Next we sprayed orange in the upper right corner, again in a circle, and over that, we quickly sprayed yellow.

While it was still wet, we took a magazine page and laid it flat on the painted area, pressed and gently pulled it up.

Next, we put an upside down butter bowl over the upper right one to make a circle.

On the bottom left one, we laid an old pan, upside down, over the 'earthy' part of the picture to make a round earth.

With the bowl and pan in place, we sprayed the entire poster board with black spray paint.

Next we took white paint, and over the cardboard, we sprayed a toothbrush heavily with paint.  

With the pan and bowl still in place, we then ran our thumb across the toothbrush to make it splash dots (stars) over our entire poster board

Gently remove the pan and bowl.

Next use a paint guide to very lightly spray paint to make the rays.  THAT takes some practice - use the cardboard to get a good idea of what to do before trying this on the poster!  As you can see, we still haven't perfected this - but we only painted two and she did this good!

The one thing we learned from doing this is that you cannot use cheap paint.  We got the all over the nation discount store crap and it did not cover at all.  We splurged and got a good name brand and it was great.

Another thing I would highly recommend is getting a spray can grip - oh my gosh would that make it easier!

Here is a great video to get you started.

We figured out it was easier to paint the under colors, add the circle objects (pan/bowl) then paint black... but experiment like we did!

And this is how good we would like to become!

Well, maybe it will never happen, but we can waste a lot of paint tryin'!  Right papa?


Hope you give this a try and we will be back with our results of our next trial next week!  We are going to add more planets!

But first we have to go garage sale shopping for those old bows, plates, pots and lids... lol... Granny and moma don't want to share theirs!

I Guess You Are Wondering...

I know, it has been forever since I blogged.  I do have my reasons, but just have not felt like sharing.  I love this blog and I feel like when I am depressed it carries through it, so I just don't blog.  However, I miss blogging - but like I said, I have my reasons... and I guess it is time to share.

Right now we are going through a transition time - and we don't yet know what we are transitioning to or how it will affect us.  Let me explain...

I have been ill for a very long time. Most will remember my side pain - since March of 2009 I have suffered with the upper left side hurting.  It started after a very bad bout of food poisoning I got in Korea and though I went to brazzions of Drs, they could not seem to find the source of it.  But I assure you, it bothered me.

My entire life I have been plagued with sinus infections, bronchitis and gut troubles of one form or another.  A few months ago, an ENT (Ears, Nose and Throat) Dr referred me to an allergy clinic.  The Dr he referred me to was an Immunologist.  

From there it went downhill... she has since diagnosed me with some form of immunodeficiency... though she is having trouble narrowing down exactly what form - as it seems to be rare.  However, she does think it is some form of Common Variable Immunodeficiency - specifically a t-cell deficiency - of which she says I have none of most of the t-cells that recognize infection.  Symptoms of this is - get this - sinus and lung infections and gut problems.   It is very difficult to find a link on CVID that explains it in layman's terms... so if you want to take a Google gander, go for it - I just linked to someone trying to explain in simple terms *I* could understand.

Anyway, the diagnosing Dr has referred me to yet another Dr whom I have yet to see, and I will have to have yet another Dr (an internist) to work with (the Dr I have yet to see) to treat me - a general practitioner will not be able to.  The symptoms of what I have appear to be other things and a GP cannot distinguish that, since they are not specialist in immune problems. 

Confused?  Yeah, now you know what I have been trying to wrap my mind around and come to terms with.  They do think this is genetic, but my body was able to cope until the food poisoning - and when that happened it threw in the towel and went on vacation... or something like that... hence the reason my health has been going downhill since 2009.

Right now, in addition to the sinus crap and gut pain, I am suffering with a very painful swelling of the hands and fingers, elbows and now shoulders; so typing, working or doing much of anything is extremely painful.  I am at the point of why bother?  The house is the pits, supper is often pulled out of the freezer and then 'ditto' of freezer foods.  I seldom have the energy to cook, clean, sew, or frankly, give a damn.  I never liked shopping so that is out of the question... I know I have to get over that, and usually I can 'pull up my boot straps' and do just that - but I just do not have it in me anymore.  Frankly, my dear, as I said, I don't give a damn.  And that scares the hello out of me.

Steve is such a patient and wonderful man.  I have no idea how he has tolerated me all these years, but he is so caring, easy going, forgiving and concerned - and I love him for that.  It hurts me to think what I am putting him through, but I know I have no control over it.  My yips of pain are now a common occurrence and though I try to muffle them, they usually happen anyway.  I 'muster' as much as I can, but lately even mustering is a dream.  Now I just shake my head and apologize - I guess for even living - because I certainly seem to have no control over this vacationing body. I at least wish it had vacationed some place less painful... and much less expensive.  Steve would be a multimillionaire if he hadn't had to pay all my medical bills that he has had to pay since we married...and we seem to be getting deeper into the medical oblivion. 

I *need* and *want* to get a job, but I have to feel like getting out of the recliner first...and instead I just keep sinking deeper into it.

Tomorrow, I made an appointment with a GP *gasp* and am going in to see if I can get something for depression/anxiety.  Maybe that will help until I can get into the other specialist. Not sure what is going on there... I just got a call from even a different Dr who says they will see me on Halloween day.  Skeery.  Maybe this Dr is a good thing.  At this point all I can do is roll my eyes.


So I patiently wait... and yes, worry.  There is no cure for an immune deficiency - and only temporary fixes like antibiotics to try to stave off the infections.  Ultimately, it will do me in I guess... or at least that is what they say.  I better find those boot straps!

And that about catches you up on me.  I know, a pity party and I am sorry for that.  I guess I needed to share.  Maybe now I can just move on.  Or better yet, curl up in my recliner now that I have posted on my blog.  Finally.  Promise I will not be so deep and dark next time...

Fall is here.  I am freezing!  Colors should be coming soon - right?  Moving on... 

Good Morning... My Brother's House Burned Down

I have not forgotten you.  I am still not well and have had a lot of big things happen and have been taking oodles of medical tests...  I have given so much blood this last month I think I am at the point I need to get blood to give blood!  Anyhoo it all caught up with me (mentally).  With me not feeling well, I just cannot post and make any reason right now.  I will be back.  

Among the other things that have happened, my brother's house burned to the ground.  They lost nearly everything.  I am so very sick with diverticulitis, blood problems and sinusitis that I can't help, which makes me feel so damned guilty...

Keep us all in your prayers.

I will be back as soon as I wrap my mind around everything and can find my smiley place again... 

It'll happen.

Worst Hostess of the Year Award Recipient - Me! :-(

Guess you figured it out, eh? I have been sick for 2 weeks now!  Thank God I am on the road to recovery finally.  It'll take me a bit to you catch up, but I will do my best!


We had some friends come over this past weekend.  I was so sick Saturday I was no fun - I had a bad reaction from a pneumonia shot, complete with high fever and soreness.  Laura and Mike were such good sports about it, they had left before the reaction started and got here just as my temperature spiked to 102.8! 

Thank goodness we got through it - I just stayed in my recliner under the covers all day and visited.  Sunday, I woke feeling better, so the guys went out for a bike ride:

Laura and I hopped on the 4-wheelers and took them out on the back 10 for a spin:

I  think she enjoyed herself!  I tried to upload a picture of her going over the ditch to the back property, but blogger wouldn't allow that... drats!  It was cute!


Many moons ago, when Steve and I were young, Steve called Mike (far left) and asked if he wanted to be best man in our wedding.  Mike said "Sure! When is the date?" 

Steve answer; "Tonight!"

Can you imagine that phone call?  Mike had to take off of work just after lunch and race two hours to where we were getting married.  No there were no real plans; just $50 bucks, a rose purchased at the flower shop and a ring a friend's mom had made... and a preacher.
We have been married  36 years now!  Guess you don't need a fancy wedding...


Laura and I also went to Raelee's 4-H meeting,  We got to see how she holds her chicken "like a pizza'!

That is one spoiled chicken!  Yes, that chicken is alive - and her name is Margaret. 

Thanks Mike and Laura for coming to visit. I accept the 'Worst Hostess of the Year Award' with 'precious moments' eyes... I am blessed for the precious time you spent with us and even those moments I was so sick, it meant the world that you were here with us.  Come back!  I promise next time to wear you out and show you what our life is really like!

Ugh...

Diverticulitis sucks!

Still sick.

Sorry, dear blog.  

Be back soon - I hope.

Random picture...

Fruit Sticker Fun

I am really feeling awful right now, but I am not going to abandon my blog.  Here is a random thought; have you ever looked at where your fruit came from?

Check out the stickers on each piece of fruit and take note:

It will probably surprise you!  Yeah, I am one of those random people that notices stuff like that... lol...

Going to the Dr today - hopefully I will be able to post again soon.

See ya!

Very, Very, Sad Eggs

Good morning!  

This is what my morning starts out like...  I get up, make Steve's lunch, walk him out, feed the horses then head to the coop.  


This is my view on the way:

Oh, darn, right?  Lol... As you can probably tell, this is well before 7am.  

Then on to the coop to do my chicken chores; clean their litter box, check for water and food then give them a bit of scratch feed.  My hens lay in the morning usually before noon.  If I am lucky, I will get 2 or 3 eggs a day right now, however, I have several hens trying to 'gear up' to give eggs.  

Their eggs are not very well formed to say the least:

Yes, I am giving them calcium fortified food, oyster shells and doing everything I am supposed to - they are just young and immature.  Soon their eggs will be show worthy!

I am still trying to figure out which chickens lay which eggs.  I have only gotten one white egg, several rosy colored eggs and lots of brown eggs.  I have one chicken that lays tiny brown SPECKLED eggs.  I love that egg!

Thought you might be interested to learn chickens do lay dud eggs - and they are very, very sad indeed.

'Cause I can't eat 'em!

I love my mornings - feeding critters, chatting with them, petting them and encouraging the chickens to lay beautiful eggs for us!  Some of them just aren't listenin' yet!


We are burnin' the wood pile this weekend. Don't know if I will have a chance to post or not,  so I will just say I hope you have a great weekend!

I will, I will be with my hubby.  I look forward to weekends.  :-)

Mystic Moon Shot

Herro... 

Not feeling much like posting, so I went to my 'great shots' folder and randomly picked a picture that made me have the warm fuzzies to share with you:

Today has been an itchy day... I have a rash and can't take antihistamines because I have skin testing scheduled for Monday.  Also, the Dr (the 3rd Dr actually) said my Lymphocytes in my blood very low so I an going in for more bloodwork - like 14 viles was not enough on Monday!  Lol... They think it has something to do with my immune system.  We shall see.  It is not seriously low, just 'concerning' she said.

Will post more tomorrow.  


Later gator!

Wordless Wednesday

 !!  

:-)

Natural Falls State Park

Less than an hour from our home, Natural Falls State Park is a nice little relaxing place to stop in and rest a bit.  On Sat August 10th, Steve and I were on a bike ride and decided to stop in for a break.  We had been there before - a very long time ago, but it was nice to see it again.  This time it was flowing really nicely!

It is such a small world, we were chatting with some people who were there looking as well.  They asked where we were from and when we told them; the wife said she used to work at the port near us - and after a little conversation, we found out she worked for the guy we bought the house from!  What are the odds?


They offered to take our pic and we took them up on it:

This past weekend we went to Lake Tenkiller and found this little pool of water to relax by:

I didn't take any pictures of the lake, but it sure is a pretty lake - maybe next time.  I hate taking my big Nikon camera in the bike - I think it would get bounced around too much, so I just have my point and shoot and while it takes good pictures, I miss the great pics I get with my Nikon...


While we were setting near our little water pool, I looked back and saw this picture of the man I love:

How did I get so lucky to have found this man?


Next weekend, I don't think we are going on a bike ride - I think we are going to burn a huge pile of wood that we have stacked at the back of the property.  I don't think we can get it done in one day, but who knows?  Maybe we can... 

If so, another bike ride may be in store for us.  Wonder where we would go this time?  I am sure enjoying getting back to where we started...  Many years ago, we rode a Honda 750 from Okmulgee, Oklahoma all the way to Destin, Florida and back for our honeymoon... and yes, we had a blast!

You didn't know that about us, did you?  

I must tell you, getting back to where we started is such a nice time in our lives...

And riding the bike doesn't take much money at all.

I am still a cheap date.  :-)

Jincy's Kitchen

At the end of a very long road...

Literally...

Well, maybe not literally - because you have to back up 50 ft or so...

But when you do back up, you will find Jincy's Kitchen.


Have you ever seen Where The Red Fern Grows?  The building Jincy's Kitchen is in was "grandpa's store" in the film.  Read up on Jincy's Kitchen...

When you walk in to Jincy's, it is like stepping back in time. Heck, when you walk up to Jincy's it is like stepping back in time...


Steve messaged me Thursday and gave me the name of a place he wanted to go - it was recommended to him by another biker.  Originally, we planned to go camping, but Steph and Todd weren't able to go, so we just opted out and hopped on the bike to his intended destination... Jincy's Kitchen.

When you drive up to Jincy's, you are certainly not sure you are in the right place.  Steve parked the bike and we glanced around trying to decide if this was it - or not.  I pulled out my cell phone to see if I could double check the address... no service.  I am not surprised since we are so far out in the middle of nowhere that even God would have to look for us...

But Steve came to the rescue by pulling out some papers we had printed.  We got the address and went to double check.  No address on the door.  We walked to the mail boxes and checked that out... only names and certainly no numbers that came anywhere close to what we had...

So, it came out to the art of deduction.  Checking out the picture it certainly looked the same, there were numerous cars out front across the street - too many to be just household guests... yes,  we were quite sure that was the same place in the picture... maybe we should venture in.  We got even braver when a new arrival went straight to the door and walked right on it.  This just might be it...

Walking in was a trip!  The old store shelves were piled with "stuff"- the kind of stuff that I love to look at - and we were definitely in the right place - there were tables ready to serve on!

 
There is the ice dispenser right under the tea pitcher - yup, an ice box!

They greeted us warmly, and brought us a nice, big menu to look at:

Once they took our order, Debbie went right to work making mashed potatoes for us:

Others were busy in the kitchen doing dishes, settling tabs and helping prepare meals...

... from scratch.


This is what the salads came out looking like!

We told Debbie that at first we were not sure we had come to the right place because there is no sign indicating that this was Jincy's Kitchen...  Double check the building if you don't believe me:

She assured us there is indeed a sign, right there above the air conditioner!


Well, heck yeah!  NOW we see it!  From inside!  :-)

I am not going to give you all the history of the place, I will leave it to this blogger to do so... They did such an excellent job...

So my blog is to tell you on one of the coming weekends, you need to drive out of your way, maybe even way out of your way, head down to near Keys, Ok... down a very long country road, to the very end of the road, back up 50 feet or so to the red painted old wood grocery store. 

Be sure and take a picture, because nothing else will clue you in to the fact you have made it!  Then, go ahead and venture inside to be greeted by some very down home country folk, cooking honest-to-God home cookin' meals, laughing with you while they do - and kick back to enjoy the chatter, music, atmosphere, the delicious food and fun banter.

Don't be in a hurry - they are not fast food, but they are definitely worth every bit of the wait.  We had the best chicken fried steak and mashed 'tators ever - and the home-made bread will be warm!  :-)

Find their Facebook page here - and be sure to check out their pictures!


One other hint - you should go when the Matthew's are playing - 'cause you won't be disappointed:

And you can talk (not yell) and listen to their amazing music at the same time.  How many places can you go with a live 'band' and do that?


Definitely off the beaten path:

JINCY'S KITCHEN

31455 S Burnt Cabin Rd Park Hill, Oklahoma 74451

(918) 457-5515

Definitely worth the wait.

Definitely recommended.

Definitely on our 'to do' list again and again.

Lexi Leaves Us

 This chick:

Who we loved beyond measure:

Who we all had to watch out for because she was blind:

And I do mean everyone had to watch out for:

Who Raelee even read books to:

Who always listened to what was going on around her:

Who amazed us with her survival determination:

Who always made us smile:

Is no longer with us.

Lexi gave us 2.5 wonderful years of caring for her, watching out for her, being her eyes, and loving her.  Steph and Raelee raced home from the ends of the earth every evening to be sure she made it in from the great outdoors.  Lexi taught us to have Easter Egg hunts daily looking for her randomly placed eggs.  And Lexi lucked out and found a place that would love her forever even if she was blind - with her very special kid. A mommy and kid that hand fed her, cuddled her, talked to her and a showed her where her water dish was; over and over again.  Yes, Lexi was our very special gal.

Lexi was attacked by an unknown something last Friday (the 9th) and though everyone tried to get her well again, she was just too weak and tired.

Lexi died Thursday the 15th.

We're gonna miss you Lexi Lu.  We will always love ya and we will miss ya - esp every evening when it is your bedtime!  I hope you are finally seeing all of God's green earth, I hope you can find a grasshopper on your own and I hope you can finally find a nest to put those eggs in! 

The Games We Play

 Everyone knows Steve and I love playing games; we play Dominoes, Yahtzee and cards. 

Since we love playing games so much, we decided to make games to play at our family reunions.  Steve made a Washer Game and  EVERY one loved playing it!


Steve's cousins Dwayne and Janine:

Marcus got really good at playing and landing the washers IN the holes!

And Aedan was really great at playing as well.  He loved when his washers went in!  The crazy thing about it is that the boys were as good as the adults!


I think Dwayne, Steve and Jeff played nearly every time!

I made an Angry Birds blowing game out of coffee cans and a volley ball;  it was terrifically cute, but a bomb. :-(   I don't think it even got played once! 

 Oh well, it is cute to look at.  :-)


Another bomb was the giant KerPlunk; not sure why it didn't go over, but it was a huge flop.  

Anyone need a KerPlunk game?  And I had such high hopes for these two games!  Lol...


And this game got played more than I expected once we moved it to the picnic table:

In all the games we made, the washer game was by far the most fun, the most played and the one everyone wanted to pull out when we had a few extra minutes.  Aedan shows his Washer Game excitement here when he scored!

Now I get to go on my favorite game;  The Easter Egg hunt!  So far I have gotten 5 eggs; 2 brown, two rose and one white:

I am pretty sure all my hens are laying, but I think I have to go on an Easter Egg hunt in the soy bean field to find the rest of the eggs. 

I really wish the Amish dudes would just chop all the soy beans down so I can see if they are really laying there... 

Still hoping for the blue or green egg... if that happens then I will have all the colors of eggs I want!  If not, Steph and I agreed we should swap my brown for her blues and we will have our perfect mixture of colored eggs.  :-)

Have You Ever Had One Of Those Sundays...

Where you were sure the preacher looked straight into your heart and preached to you?

Yesterday was that day.

Let me start with a bit of scripture:

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

Chapter 13 

 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  

³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  

⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  

⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  

¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 

¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  

¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


What a huge perspective!


The greatest of these is love.  

God loves me no matter what my faults are and even if no one else would.  

This post means nothing... 

Why am I worried about a few people that get their grins and giggles by their childhood ways?

I look at my reflection in the mirror and other than a few smudges, I am pretty darned proud of who I have become despite where I started.

I have made mistakes along the way, I have learned as I traveled and I can be honest with myself and others - and I don't have to hide a thing or lie about a thing.

Because I am happy where I am.  

I have faith, I have hope and I have love.

The greatest of these is love. 


And even as lost as I am,  God shows me in many ways I am loved... every single day.

Not everyone has to love me.  They obviously don't even have to like me.

And I am ok with that.  That is their choice - and their loss.

The greatest of these is love. 


Unconditional love.