what are you so afraid of?

Time for a little house cleaning!

How can I expect you to pick up your room when I don't?

Shower everyday when I don't?

Eat healthy when I don't?

Be nice to your brother & sister?

Love everyone?

Make good choices?

Recycle?

Try something new?

Trust and Rely on God?

The world is big and it can scare you, but I have to believe it is good, too.

Otherwise, we may as well be serial killers.

My son asked me some serious questions about Charles Manson the other day. Now, if you know me, you know that I do not condone what Charles Manson (did or) did not do, however you view it. The reality is my opinion is probably WAY different from yours. It is irrelevant because we all have our own perceptions. The question posed is why is he still in jail if the kids who murdered are not...

there is no easy answer to that.

I wanna say because he is a bad man.

(who says who is bad?)

His parents sucked.

(did they do the best they could?)

He wasn't raised well.

(what's the right way?)

He is crazy.

(aren't we all a little crazy?)

The best answer I could give was because everyone is afraid of what he will do if they let him out. Isn't that the truth? I don't know.

Fear.

It rules us, guides us, controls us if we let it.

Today, I am not afraid.

Today, I am Joan of Arc.

I am a Believer.

I am pure trust and love.

What are you?

Blood & Bone from Keith Neltner on Vimeo.

My friend, Keith Neltner and I traded some art. I think I got the better end of the deal! This video shows the print he gave me being made. It couldn't be more perfect for me....

Mr. Waits always just knows...and isn't that Arsenio Hall's show? I loved that show...

Concrete Blonde is the best, turned up loud so I can hear it over the vacuum...

Now, I promised a post about local businesses...and it is coming.

I want it to be more than just a list.

I want you to know that I love these places and then I want to hear about the places you love!

Where do you walk in the door and get giddy?

You all know my short list and, right now,

I can't get the idea out of my head of how important it is to support these wonderful local businesses.

Don't get me wrong- I am also giddy about the new Target around the corner from my house.

But not nearly as stoked as I am for The Factory Flea next Saturday.

Stay tuned for that post...in the meantime, let's get spooky!

Neltner's Farm Fall Festival

I am so in love with this place!

Goats=adorable!

You can feed the animals..

Go on a Hayride!

Shop for Folk Art!

Cruise the Haunted House...

Get Patriotic!

See me!

Take in the beauty...

Ride horses!

I mean, you can ride horses!

Run through the fields with flowers in your hair!

Pick a pumpkin!

Take it easy....

See Rock Stars!

See Bluegrass Stars!

Take a seat....I think this one is taken.

Look at everything- there is so much to see!

The Horses are big and beautiful!

The Crafters are small and nice!

Will found so many great photo opportunities at the Farm. Trust me, if an 11 year old boy can be entertained for 6 hours straight, there's a lot to do...and since he wants to go back, it must be a great time, right?!

I have been to many, many, many Fall Festivals. I have been disappointed and broke after many, too. I can assure you this is not only a beautiful family farm, they know how to treat a gal and her brood right! The food is delicious, the cider fantastic...it's a treat just to roam thru the store and look around. It's even better when you can purchase your hearts desires at great prices! We came home with wood Ravens and a small purse, thank you Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Will bought the Tillers new album and it is even better than the first one! A note to musicians: when you take the time to talk to an 11 year old fan, you make one for life.

Following Dreams Around

Raising children is challenging. Vividly I remember the day Will came home from the hospital thinking wait! they are just going to let me take him home? I have no idea what I'm doing here!

That sentiment has repeated itself over and over. There are plenty of opinions on the subject of rearing children, but no actual manual. No one told me I'd never sleep a full night again!

I have some friends with brand new babies who are in the same boat. My best friend is going to be a mom, too! I am excited and hopeful for them and I also know they will never sleep a full night again. Do I tell them? Not at first....why scare them while the baby is still novel and new. Once they realize the reality of being a parent, there is no turning back.

My children have gotten bigger, older and more fun as time passes! Here's what a day in our life kinda looks like....

We make pizzas! We all LOVE pizza! Ordering out is not always in the budget, so I get dough from Pipkin's and we make our own! This way, I know pepperoni fingers aren't touching all over my pizza and there is always the right amout of sauce. Kids like to make food.

Will checking portal to see what his home work is. Probably watching youtube, too...

Hannah loves rolling out dough!

See- perfect amount of sauce!

Our finished, delicious pizza!

This is my kitchen. I spend a lot of time in it, so it is full of things I adore. Like Ravens. Crows. Blackbirds. I dig 'em.

and lots and lots of skulls. See that Jack and Sally figure? That was our wedding cake topper. love!

MDH made this for me! It's a little shadow box with a skeleton singing to the moon! Isn't it dreamy? I love it so much!

You may think it looks Halloweenish in my kitchen right now, but I can assure you it's all year round....sometimes, I just can't bring myself to put it all away!

Hannah drawing in my art room/ bedroom!

Will painting a Robot!

This is Will's Robot he painted. When all the homework and chores are done, we go upstairs and make things. Each of them has a small table set up with paints and paper and fabric, They are allowed to make whatever they want to! Sometimes, they draw. Other times, they want to learn how to sew or paint and we do it together. I love it that they are like this- that their imaginations spin and whirl, they want to pull out those ideas and make them real. That's the best part of being a parent, the time we spend being ourselves, no yelling, no struggles, we just do something we all love together and enjoy each others company. Those moments spent are what makes 3 hours of math homework not so enraging.

Like all parents, I would like to think I am guiding and teaching my children in the ways of the world. More often, they are the ones teaching me- how to be patient and kind even when I want to scream! I have learned how to provide healthy meals, clean up our home, balance a checkbook, make better decisions for myself and them. I am more adept at choosing what's important over what's fun. I don't know if you can instill that in them any other way than by doing it myself.

I am leaving my job at Starbucks to be a full time mom and a full time fabric artist. The decision did not come easy and where there is change there is fear. I think Steve Jobs said it so well when he said your heart and intuition already know who you are. I want to follow my dreams! Please wish me luck on this endeavor, keep us lifted up in prayer and keep us in mind if you know anyone who would love a gift from a local artist. This is gonna be fun!

James 1:5, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." (NLT)