figures

These are the little figures that I had set my sights on finishing at Oolie's House..

I am sooooo happy with them!

Each one has a personality of its own, and they make you smile...

I just love when I am able to actually create an image that is in my head and sometimes make it even more wonderful than I imagine it.......  super cool!

Doesn't happen all the time and I have learned to really appreciate those "magic moments"...

Oolie's House Day One

On Wednesday, midday, we went a few blocks from Oolie's house to Dog Tooth Coffee for some coffee and chai. What a great little local coffee shop! Friendly people and yummy chai!

Inside on the wall is this wonderful painting that was done by two young brothers (aged 7 and 9?) in honor of their dog who died. I fell in love with this painting right away and had to have a photo of it to share with you. Isn't it charming? LOVE the mice sitting on his back.....

And on the way home...THIS IS THE VIEW! Pike's Peak! Right down the street form Oolie's house! It is incredible, really, to look up and see this 14,200 ft mountain RIGHT THERE!!!

...........absolutely fantastic.....

And, here is Oolie's backyard ..... looking at the house. Isn't it cute? The arched doorway goes into the room where we were working, and my bedroom was up on the second floor on the left.
The trees below are at the other end of the yard from the above photo... 

What you can't see is that Pike's Peak is right behind those trees in all its' glory (and snow!)
I bet that it is soo beautiful in the summer when the flowers are blooming. There are lilac bushes all along the edge of the yard. It is between seasons right now, so things are still a little brown around the edges. But, it's beginning to start sprouting and won't be long...

Oolie's House

So, I drove to Oolie's House yesterday (only 4 1/2 hours)

It was crazy-windy, but I made it intact.

We went to dinner at a little French Crepe place - yum.

Today, I snooped around while Julie slept in a bit.

Had to take a ton of photos (to be posted soon)

This fabulous "Arkell" is my absolute favorite thing in the house.

"Little Green Car with Bird on Top"

That is not the title, but it serves the purpose.

This home is filled with treasures.

I promise to post my photos one at a time..tee hee.

Cascarones!

As tradition would have it, my friends break cascarones on 

one anothers' heads on Easter!

Cascarones are confetti-filled eggs that you crack over

someone's head after sneaking up behind them...

The result is hilarious and it is sooo fun to watch

as someone is "sneaking" around..

Mother and daughter, here, had quite the battle going!

Sasha really got her mom good!!!

LizAnn took it in stride and walked proudly with her 

decorated head and shoulders!

Don't you love the colors of spring?

Happy Easter!

I hope the Easter Bunny left lots of goodies in your basket.

All the best to you on this Easter Sunday.

xo

Easter Saturday

TWINS!

I broke the first egg this morning and TWO yolks appeared!

It must be a sign.... that things are going to be great!

Grayson had his friend Bryce to spend the night last night.

This morning I woke them up with smoothies.

Start with a banana and some frozen fruit.

My favorites are mango (yum) and strawberries.

Raspberries are Grayson's fave. I add them, too, sometimes.

Add some plain yoghurt and some juice - your choice.

I find that cranberry or pomegranate work nicely.

BLEND....

Soooo yummy and fast.

We often have them for breakfast.

They are refreshing and an easy, healthy snack for

 growing teenage boys!

Teahouse Painting

Today I spent a few hours at the Teahouse 

painting a "closed up" doorway.

I thought that the stickers used were "less than attractive"

...so I asked if I could paint something in their place.

Below are the results.......

These are the stickers that didn't work....

I penciled the sketch of branches with birds 

and mixed up a neutral color to paint with.

I also did an outline of a frame, which I was not fond of later.

You can see why I did NOT like the frame (!)

I really should have left it simple and "open"..

It is so heavy and out of character with the overall 

light and airy feeling of the branches.

...so, I covered it up and am so pleased with the result!

It is unfinished,  but I felt the need to leave it "as is"

for a while.

I get a much better perspective when I can "walk away" from

a project for a day, or two.

When I come back to it, I can appreciate it much more 

and I usually give myself a bit more credit for a 

"Job Well Done"