Richmond rocks:)

Before school started we had one last hurrah and got together with my new adventure friend Maureen.  She had a whole fun day planned for us.  Did you know that Richmond has a level three rapid running right by the downtown?  Like in river rafting!  Who knew??




Maureen took us over to Belle Isle.  It's this little (54 acre) island that sits really close to downtown.  You have to walk over a suspension footbridge to get to it and there really isn't anything there now but trails and industrial ruins.  I guess during the civil war they kept prisoners on the island and then later it was used for some industrial purposes.  At one time there were 30,000 POWs there.  Kind of sad and creepy if you think about it's history.





Right by the downtown flows the James River and it really is quite amazing.  All those boulders just sitting out there are actually really really huge pieces of granite rock. 

People apparently just sunbathe out on the rocks.  It was kinda weird.  I'd never seen anything like it before.

Since it's within walking distance to downtown we saw a lot of runners on their lunch hour.  It was really bustling.

Then there was the paddle surfer.  What an adventure.  I can't even imagine trying to navigate through that maze of rocks standing up on a board.  CRAZY brave!

We hopped, skipped, and jumped across huge boulders to find our perfect picnic spot.  Now can I just say I've never had lunch sitting on an enormous boulder in a river before.  This new friend Maureen is good for me.  She's taking us out of our norm and I have to say I love it.

In various spots throughout the isle were sidewalk works of art.  It was really cool.  There is quite an art scene in Richmond.  I guess the VCU has the leading art school in the U.S. or something like that  Didn't even plan that in our move, but I feel like there is opportunity here.  I'm kind of out of the loop living out in the burbs, but it excites me knowing that the vibe is here and alive.

We found this cool graffiti heart on our walk.  Perfect backdrop for a pic:)

 

Found out some more info on my new friend.  Apparently she was on the Eco Challenge race.  Do you remember that?  It was a reality show produced by Mark Burnett before Survivor.  She has done so many adventurous things.  It's a smidgen intimidating. 



She asked me recently what we like to do for fun and I kind of changed the topic.  I mean seriously shopping, going to movies and eating out sounds a little lame compared to scuba diving in the South Seas of China.  I have to kind of laugh to myself.  I'm amazed by God's sense of humor.  How he paired the two of us up is kind of comical.

Despite our differences I'm just being me.  The only me I can be.  I'm embracing the new scenery.  I'm enjoying doing things other than shopping and going to movies.  Before we get together my main question is what shoes should I wear;)  I like having to think about that.  One of these days I will get it right and I won't slip and stumble around as we hop, skip and jump to who knows where.

Have a blessed day.

79.  exploring my new city

80.  picnic on a warm boulder

81.  coffee with a neighbor today

82.  my run outside

83.  clean floors and a new fangled mop

84.  making little chick's day when i volunteered at school.

walk on water

Last week was a bit of a struggle.  Not sure if it was the girls being back in school, the gloomy rainy weather, hormones or what but I was in a constant state of keeping score.  I've developed a bad habit of comparing Minnesota to Virginia all the time.  Shopping...MN wins.  Beautiful farm scenery...MN wins.  Sweet Frog...check goes to VA.  Comfort Food...VA wins.  It goes on and on.  I wish with all that's in me that I would stop.  It's not productive, but I have no idea how to turn it off.  I woke up one night this week in a panic.  Sweaty from head to toe...the homesickness so overpowering I wondered how I could move past it.

For some reason I keep thinking about Peter.  Remember in the Bible (Matthew 14:22-33) when Jesus walks out onto the lake and asks Peter to get out of the boat and walk to him?  Well first of all I think it took a lot of faith to get out of the boat at all, and initially he was doing it.  He was walking on WATER!!  Then all of a sudden he starts looking around...noticing the wind and the waves and it dawns on him that he is ON WATER and he starts to sink.  Jesus reached out his hand to keep him from going under and said to him "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"   He more or less scolded him. 

Now in my human capacity I'm wondering why on earth he was being so hard on him.  I mean if that was me my feelings would be hurt, but I have to remember that Peter had seen Jesus do countless miracles.  He had witnessed him heal the blind and sick...raise the dead...feed thousands with little to no food.  Peter had no excuses.  He should have had faith.  I haven't seen those things, but I believe with all my heart that they happened.  I believe them to be truth.  So why do I ever waver, doubt or worry?  Why do I sink?  I'm sick of sinking.  I want to walk on water.  I want with all my heart to run out to Jesus from that boat and say here I am Lord.  See I DID IT! 

(got the idea from this friend)

These are the scriptures we wrote on the walls of our garage before the painters covered them.  Just like these verses I want his truth to be on the walls of my heart.  I want his promises to be apart of my very being.  I know that in order for Virginia to become my new home I'm going to have to be patient.  I've had the fleeting thought of praying for patience, but we all know what happens when you do that;)  So here I am in my imperfect place...wallowing a bit.  Writing it out.  Praying for the faith to do the impossible and walk on water.  Trying so hard not to look to my right or my left.

Have a blessed day.

71.  a preacher who jumps up and down.

72.  worshiping free.

73.  blue sky

74.  my girls who go with the flow.

75.  lissa;)
76.  a country united.
77.  men and women who run into danger to save others.
78.  grace and forgiveness.

my studio

 

Good morning girlies.  I am finally posting some house pictures...yay!!  This one's for Sasha (happy birthday sweet friend) who seriously bugs me everyday to put some up.  Sorry it's taken so long, but it's a process and I didn't want to show you the in-between parts:)

 

This room is one of the main reasons we bought our house.  It's upstairs and is meant to be a bonus room.  It was perfect to store all my crafty stuff.  When I walk in I seriously have to pinch myself that I have all this room to myself.  Spoiled rotten...that's what I am! 


Those big shelves on the left are from IKEA!  Love IKEA.  I did a little happy dance when I found them.  They have that cool industrial look without the hefty price tag:)

See the floor??  We had that put in on purpose.  I make a huge mess when I create.  Depending on what I'm working on there are little bits of leather and metal all over the place, and when I frame paintings I have sawdust.  Which makes a huge mess.  Vinyl was just a no brainer.  At first I thought it was really ugly, but now I don't even notice it.

I have four work stations.  One for blogging, painting, jewelry making and sewing.  This girl is in HEAVEN!  The tables are from IKEA too and notice the oilcloth coverings.  Remember this post?  Didn't that turn out great??  LOVE!!!  Oh and see if you can spy my new header that I'm working on.  I have a thing for foxes.  Bet you didn't know that did ya? 


 

I knew I wanted a chalkboard wall.  I'm a little obsessed with black walls.  I bought chalkboard markers, so there wouldn't be any chalk dust.  They work wonderful.  You can get them at JoAnn Fabric or online at Create for Less.  Buy the eraser too.  It works like a normal eraser and is a must have with the markers.

 

 

I had two IKEA chairs that used to be in our office back in Minnesota.  I just made some new pillows and put wheel casters on the bottom and now I can roll them around wherever I want seating.  Oh and the slipcovers washed up beautiful.  I'm toying with the idea of sewing a new skirt to go touch the floor, but I kind of like the exposed roller feet.  In this picture you can't really see the feet, but what do you think?

Twinkle lights make me happy.  I found these fun and funky lantern lights at Target.  I draped them all across the room.  I originally wanted white, but they only had two strands, so I just bought all different colors.  At night when I turn off the lights it's like a party:)  Honey actually sings that old song celebration.  That's what I want...a celebration:)

Yesterday I started creating again.  Don't have any excuses now.  My goal is to finally list some of the stuff I've had made.  Maybe 5 things a day...and I have all kinds of fun new ideas. Now it's just a matter of time management and execution.  I'm working to get my Etsy store restocked and I'm starting up with the house paintings again.  So keep checking in.  I've missed that part of my life.  Can't wait to get back in the groove.  Okay so there you have it.  My favorite room in the house...tada:)

Have a blessed day.

 

63.  organization

64.  colors that ooze happiness.

65.  twinkle lights

66.  the joy of creating

67.  puff ball trim

68.  a space to call my own.

69.  IKEA

70.  chalkboard markers

 

3,2,1...it begins today

Okay this is the post where I talk about the kids going back to school.  I know I should probably be sad...and I am just a smidgen, but really I just want to whoop and holler!!!  They are actually more excited than I am.  It's time to make friends.  It's time to learn. YES!

It's time to get back into a routine.  Oh how I miss routine.  I NEED routine.  I've discovered this summer that I probably have SEVERE ADHD.  I have a lot to do...like I'm sure all of you do.  I can start doing one thing and get distracted and go off to do that thing, get distracted change to do the next thing and on it goes!  It's this vicious unproductive circle. 



So it's time to hopefully get some kind of routine and schedule down.  Maybe one day for cleaning.  Two or three days carved out just for creating.  Oh how I miss creating!  Gym time of course, and you gotta make time for friends.  I especially need time to invest in that.

Loved this chair in little chick's school.  Isn't that a great way to reinvent an ugly old thrift store chair?  Totally funky!

I had a flashback of my own childhood recently.  I remember like yesterday my momma taking me into our old farmhouse bathroom and showing me how to shave my legs.  It's vivid.  I remember the soap suds and the cheap bic razor that would cut you so easily.  I remember her instructing me not to shave above my knee because my future husband wouldn't like to feel prickles there;)  Now it's my turn...I took miss big chick into the bathroom recently and I passed on the age old tradition that all of us women have to succumb to.  We lathered and shaved and rinsed...and we went above the knee!  It was precious.  I appreciate these little things.  These special mother daughter rites of passage.  I know they are small, but that memory is forever ingrained on my memory.  I hope she made a special spot for it too.


I kind of chuckle to myself looking at her face in this pic.  She's trying to unlock her new locker.  UGH!  The frustration of learning something new.  I feel it.  I get it.  We are all in the same boat.  It's bound to be an interesting week.  I pray that new friends will emerge, that excitement will light up their eyes.  I pray that the hard and new will become easy and familiar.  I pray for good things.  I pray that this school year will bring blessings and joy and so much more. 


Our scripture verse this week was in Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”   Boy do I need this verse.  This is the week that I've had butterflies in my stomach thinking about ever since we made the decision to move to Virginia.  I can't believe it's finally here.  Time to be brave.  Time to set them free.  3, 2, 1...it begins today:)

Have a blessed day.

55.  red and white polka dots
56.  happy smiley teacher faces
57.  bright colored school walls
58.  hours of new time to get things done
59.  the gift of learning
60.  opportunity to make new friends
61.  rites of passage ingrained in my brain.
62.  a church we want to visit again;)

Their buses just picked them up.  WAAAAA!  Big Chick was so excited she could hardly contain herself.  Little Chick was really nervous.  She could feel her heart pitter patter;)  Oh my!