More Powerful Beyond Measure

PRAISES

2012-01-24T21:39:00.002-05:00


Just a little sunny smile for this rainy day.

You just never know

what moments will

make up the fabric
of an ordinary day.

These are the words of Suzanne from

Privet and Holly...

you'll want to read her post.

She shares a very uplifting story of Heather...

Be ready to sing praises,

give thanks

and

shed some tears.

Best, Vicki

SOUTHERN SNOWFLAKES!

2012-01-22T23:15:00.001-05:00

January and February

bring snow projects galore.

Since we hardly ever see snow here

in the deep, deep South

my art students

welcome

the chance to create

snowmen and snowflakes.

Most have never actually seen or touched snow and

some have no idea what a snowflake looks like.

Last week my K-2 art students

had a ball creating

snowflakes.

We used many different items...


We discussed SYMMETRY, but we also discussed ARTISTS' CHOICE	...reason some have 6, 8 or more sides

Come on now...stretch your snowflake imagination.

we junk it up most of the time in my art classes.

Guess you could say these are

Southern Snowflakes Y'all!

Best, Vicki

Good Girl, Zoey, Good Girl

2012-01-08T02:00:00.003-05:00

Wednesday night,
a week ago,

around 10 o'clock,

we said good bye to our Zoey.

Bill and Jared buried her out beyond the ivy.

Near the old compost heap

where she loved to bury

her biscuits and bones.

A piece of concrete,

I scavenged from the roadside,

now serves as her tombstone.

A few of the rocks that were lining my flower beds have been carted out there to edge her grave.

We placed a little concrete Dachshund statue

that was sitting near the shed

at the head of the grave.

It was a very sad night.

That night she asked to go outside, as she had done countless times a day and night over the past 15 years.

Jared let her out the side door,

and she and Gypsy went out

on one of their adventures.

Gypsy came back without Zoey that night.

That wasn't that unusual, but after a while

when there was still no Zoey,

Bill went to investigate.

He found her near my potting shed.

He came in, told me first,

then told Jared.

A neighbor gave Zoey to Jared,

when he was around 10 years old.

Even though he will be 26 next week,

the little boy and his dog bond
was still strong.

He loved her.

We loved her.

She loved us.

Oh, she had some deep dark secrets, as we all do.

She ate the heads off of some kittens once,

and she antagonized the moles in our yard,
as well as,
anyone walking by our property.

She chased deer, but those pesky, but cute, raccoons, she ignored.

She was stubborn, and very smart.

She loved our cats, and they loved her.

The day after she died, our cat Violet,
when asked where Zoey was,
walked straight to the grave.
She started rolling on the piece of concrete,

and rubbing against the rocks,

as if to say her Zoey was resting there.

I do believe the cats,

Violet and Duncan,

and our Yorkie, Gypsy

understand the events of that night.

I think they are grieving too.

We are all still expecting to see Zoey in her bed

or hear her scratch at the door.

She was a very good friend,

and a wonderful part of our family.

We'll always miss her.

FIRST POST OF 2012!!!!

2012-01-01T20:37:00.001-05:00

Whoa,

shut my mouth,

2012

already

!??!!!????!!

Just a few pictures...

Not the year in pictures...

Just,
a few pictures...

I think this looks like a wreath around the bolt.

This photo was taken by my cousin, Ronnie.
He lives in Nashville, Tennessee,
but he was home visiting for the holidays.

I think once you leave home,
when you return everything looks different.
Even moss on an old fire hydrant
can catch your eye in a special way.

I really don't believe you ever leave home...
you carry it with you.
(was that on Pinterest? It should be!)

These are a bit random...what's new?


One of the last covered bridges in Georgia...we just stumbled upon it one day.

A door, I just bought...beveled glass and probably close to 100 years old. What do I do first thing? Crack a couple of panes...I'm trying not to talk about it much... it hurts!!!

A memory of fall... Bill took this one.

Here's a few photos from Christmas...
boy it slipped by fast!

Front door wreath got all netty this year!

I took the bow off of this one,
and hung it on the side door
for a Winter wreath.

The bows on this tree really need changing,
but my mama made them,
and this was her tree.
I rework it almost every Christmas...
change it up a bit,
but those bows stay put!

What is that red container?
Well, just hold on I'll tell you!

It's the bottom of a grill...or maybe the top.

It dresses up well, dontcha think?

And now for these lovely lovelies...whatever they are!!??

I found them at a yard sale...don't act surprised now!

They are beautiful,

and I used them to add some height

to the mantle this Christmas.

Not sure what others thought, but I thought they worked really well.

I saw them as shelf brackets when I bought them,

but so far that hasn't worked out.

They are still on the mantle,

so they may have found their spot for the time.

BLESSED AND HAPPY 2012!

Best, Vicki

MY VINTAGE CLOTH...LOVELY!

2011-12-19T18:01:00.005-05:00

Oh my, it's been over a month since I posted...

just about forgot how to!

I am still absorbing that Jared will be

off to Colorado in the next few months,

I've had my entire family, on my mama's side,

for our Christmas get together and,

then of course there has been school, and

all that comes with the holidays at work and at home.

But here I am now

and

I've got great news...

I WON!!!

I did!

I won the Vintage Tablecloth from Amy at into vintage!

I love it and I am so excited to add it to my collection!

Well, I only have one vintage Christmas cloth,

so it's a small collection, you understand?

But now there are two!

The cloth arrived right smack in the middle

of all my family

Christmas festivities

last Saturday!

Everything came to a complete halt as we all

"OOooOOooooOOO'd and Awhhhh'd" over the cloth.

Amy is a beautiful soul!

When she emailed, to tell me I had won,

she said she was just going to

"wad it up"

and

send it to me.

You know I got a kick out of that!!

I would have taken that beautiful cloth

any way I could have gotten it,

but...

she ironed it;

she folded it beautifully;

and

she sent it wrapped,

and tied with a gingham bow,

adorned with a Christmas card.

How sweet is that?!

It really is a beautiful piece,

and I will enjoy it for years to come!

My Christmas is

off to a very blessed start!!

I hope you'll pop over to see Amy!

Amy has a beautiful blog, and a wonderful Etsy shop with lots of vintage items!

So...what do you think?

I hope you all have

a Christmas

filled with His love,
and joy!

Merry Christmas!

Vicki

I'M WITH THE BAND!

2011-11-11T13:36:00.003-05:00

When I was 32 years old,
life as I'd always known it
became amazingly more blessed.
A precious little boy
became my center of attention
and it's been one blessing
after the other since
that day almost 26 years ago.

Bill and I were married 3 years
before he was born,
but I had his name picked out
before we ever even started dating.

I knew one day I would have a Jared Micah,
even though the last name was up for grabs.

My Jared Micah is a dear, sweet,
typical boy in many ways.

He definitely has God's favor
and most things seem to go his way.
I truly can not think of anything
he has set out to do that he didn't achieve.

He decided one day
when he was in Middle School
that he wanted to play the bass guitar.

We ordered a very inexpensive one for him
and he never looked back.

While in high school
one of his band director
steered him in the direction
of an old Double Bass
being stored
in the band room attic.

Jared basically taught himself to play,
and it has been his
constant companion ever since.

He now has a
Masters in Jazz Performance.

However, for the last year and a half
he's been living back at home,
searching for a job in the music field,
and making my heart happy
every time I look at him
and think of all he has achieved.

Just before one of his symphony concerts.

He's never given us
any problems of any kind.

He was always an honor student
and kept a 4.0 or very close
all the way through college.
Even at FSU
while holding down a job
as a Grad Assistant
in the Jazz Studies department.

I'm certainly a proud and boastful mama,
but of course he is not perfect...
He does prefer to keep a messy room
and he tends to leave a trail
of empty glasses and shoes
throughout the house.
All things I can live with,
but a trait that I pray over for him.


Playing with the Encore Coda Band in Maine...	he's spent the last two summers on faculty there.

Now to the point...

My Jared has just recently
become a bass player for
the Air Force Band
in Colorado Springs, Colorado!!

My heart breaks that he will be so far from home,
but that does not take away
from the pride I have for him
and his new adventure.

Our Thanksgiving family photo from 2010...
we are all about 40 pounds lighter now...whoohoooo!

It's all been worth it, Jared!
I love you like a rock!

I hear Colorado is
a beautiful place to visit!

RACCOONS ARE STILL VISITING

2011-10-09T11:31:00.000-04:00

The two raccoons are still visiting and

still eating ALL of the cats' food!

I have to find the humor somewhere...

this is it!

Hope you got a giggle from it too!

It's the Georgia National Fair time here, and I am on Fall break. I've been home the entire week, cleaning and messing around. I have until Tuesday to play.

Bill works year round at the fairgrounds, he has a real job, but this is his play job...he got to be on stage with Blake Shelton last night, working the crowd, and the night before he escorted the Spinners...

the man has a tough life.

I won't go to the fair until later next week,

I'll post pics!

Have a great holiday tomorrow and a great week!

Keep your eye out for raccoons and cats:-)

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS!! WooOOOooooooHoooOOOooooo!

2011-09-24T14:34:00.000-04:00

It's time to brag...

My little Primary school is now in the

National Report

for the

National Council for the Arts!

We have our own page representing Georgia!

How cool is that?

Last March as part of our

Youth Art Month

celebration

we had Monet Day in the gym...

we had a blast!

The students drew and painted on

Promethean Board boxes,

as they watched

Linnea in Monet's Garden.

A box was used for Monet's boat

in front of the video screen,

so students sat in his boat

and watched the video.

The kids are always fascinated by his boat and bridge.

The students used the inside corner braces from the boxes

to build Monet's house

or the bridge

over the waterlily ponds.

One year we used these corner braces to create frames,

and the students posed as

the Mona Lisa or The Scream

inside the frames...

lots of fun!

If it can be recycled I recycle it!

Nothing is safe from the art room...ha!

I'm very honored that the

Georgia Art Education Association (GAEA)

allowed my students this recognition,

and that we have had a part in promoting

the ARTS!

I'm also very proud

to be an art teacher,

and have the blessing

of fostering

the love of art

in such a wonderful

group of little ones.

ART ALWAYS,

VICKI

I WALK THEREFORE I JUNK...

2011-09-17T16:30:00.001-04:00

I walk therefore I junk.

HA! crack myself up sometimes.

Thought I'd share a few of my most recent JUNK ANGELS...

I'm working hard trying to restock my booth a bit for Christmas and Fall shopping. I've been pricing my burlap sacks and bringing out the dried gourds, as well as, my junk angels. It's hard to part with the angels, but that passes

as soon as I have my little check in my hands...greedy bugger that I am.

I've posted pictures of the geese I feed when Bill and I are out walking, but our secret fetish while walking is junk hunting. Side bit...I've lost 40 pounds from walking and eating better...apologies for bragging and gloating will come later.

We walk from 2 to 3 miles each time, and as we walk we scout out the ground beneath us. We find all kinds of little junky trinkets, each with the vision of becoming an adornment for a JUNK ANGEL.

The rusty, smashed flat bottle tops are my favorites, with some of the twisty, bent up wire coming in a close second.

Right now, my dining room table is covered in bits and bobbles of junk pieces...actually that has helped in my weight loss...can't get to the table...HA! Not really!

Here's a couple that are still in the works...

2011-08-31T00:37:00.001-04:00

The thing is...

I'm in love

with New England.

As a mother weeps for the heartache carried by her child, I weep for the heartache that is now carried by the people of the place

I have come to long for.

Less than two weeks ago,

my family was traveling

the now washed out

roads of Vermont.

We crossed every state line,

twice,

between Georgia and Maine.

Most states belonging to those lines are now ravaged by Hurricane Irene.

Wilmington, Vermont,

one of our favorite burrows,

was likened to an island today on NPR.

Let us pray!

Today on NPR one of the town officials was describing all the damage, and things that are gone now. The interviewer said

"What about your Main Street?"

He replied "All of that was our Main Street".

So sad that most of it is gone.

I had my picture made sitting on this bench.

We ate here on our second trip to Wilmington. I almost bought a T shirt that read EAT AT DOTS...wish I had it now.

Irene's helper.

The bricks were on a path under the wonderful pergola and near the stone bench.

Are you listening Hurricane Irene?

Wilmington memories

Found this link on the Wilmington website...amazing photos of the devastation. The Baptist church and Dot's restaurant are shown.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2274706863833.129550.1133521629&l=1d2b3227f5&type=1

more later...

Best, Vicki

MAINE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR

2011-08-19T16:55:00.005-04:00

Is the Artteachergirl

ever going to blog again?

I hear all of you asking that question,

inquiring minds need to know, I guess.

I've been lazy this summer,

and we've traveled a lot...

I've been here, checked in,

and I've kept up some with my favorites,

but I've had the blogging was wells.

Just not in the mood, but I think I am coming out of my funk a bit.

I am back in school now and getting into the swing of teaching

my new little artists.

However, I did have to take

a week off from school,

and drive to Maine again to pick up Jared from his music teaching job.

What a fortunate boy he is to get to spend his summers in the cool Maine weather!

This trip was not as eventful

as the trip up to take him to his job.

There was no robbery this time,

thank the sweet Lord!

We stayed in Ludlow, Vermont this time and drove into Maine for a short bit to pick him up.

Our hotel for this trip was found on Groupon Getaways. You do Groupons, right? If not, you are missing out on some wonderful deals!

We also stayed at a sweet B&B

in Marietta, Pennsylvania.

Here we found the best pizza we have ever eaten!

On this trip we saw areas we had not seen before and got to know another little section of our beautiful country.

Our country really is a magnificent place!

I know America is hurting financially,

and I feel spiritually too,

but we are still a strong and wonderful land.

Without going off on a political direction,

I would like to say this...

I feel we should all stop saying how bad things are and start saying how wonderful things are here in the USA!

An Amish girl riding her bike along a road in Pennsylvania...

wonder where she was headed?

A bench dedicated to three young men who gave their lives for our country. We stumbled upon this in a park behind the Methodist church in North Conway, NH. A very touching tribute...made my heart smile.

A covered bridge not far from the spot where Jared teaches. He found the bridge with some of his friends and shared it with us. A beautiful area and a beautiful time spent together.

It was off of Frog Alley Road...love the name!

Hershey, Pennsylvania where the air smells like chocolate!

We only got to drive through Hershey this time, but we will definitely make time for it next trip up.

We are truly blessed beyond measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!

I feel terribly for all the Americans suffering now from the economy,

those experiencing the results caused mostly

by the greed of others.

However, Americans are strong,

and I have photos to prove

we live in a land that will survive!

Now for some funnies we saw along the way...

Things seen along the back roads.

The gnome made our day, he was a cute little surprise sitting in a car next to ours in a restaurant parking lot.

You can decide about the nude beach sticker...

Best, Vicki

SOUTHERN ART

2011-08-01T22:29:00.001-04:00

This is how we do ART in South Georgia.

I can not explain the feeling

I had when I first saw

this amazing grain silo turned canvas.

I literally lost my breath and

tears began to stream.

Such a wonderful breathtaking surprise!

An unexpected blessing to stumble on

when driving into the small southern town of Colquitt, Georgia.

This agricultural masterpiece,

soaring high towards the sky,

is an art experience

like none I've had in quite some time.

I could not look away.

It commands that you search each detail

of each farm scene.

It was truly a gift to find along

a south Georgia back road.

Enjoy!

Yet another reason I'm proud to be southern!

2011-07-29T21:44:00.004-04:00

Just a quick post to share the sweet jewelry on Laurel's blog...
Chipping with Charm.

Scoot over and join the give away!

Talk to you real soon...promise!!

FOLK MAGAZINE, A CONTEST, AND DONNA'S GOT A JOB!

2011-07-20T00:50:00.002-04:00

There's a new magazine about to hit

the streets in the next few weeks!

A few days ago, Donna, at Funky Junk Interiors...come on you know her...sent out a request. She asked that her Facebook, and blogging friends go over to the new FOLK magazine page and LIKE the page so that she and one friend could win a free year's subscription to this new highly anticipated magazine.

I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...

So guess what?

Sweet little Donna won!

And now because she won,

she is having a contest

for the other free subscription!

I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...

They also asked Donna

to be a contributor for the magazine...

smart folks at

FOLK!

So head on over to Donna's and join in the contest but just so you'll know...

I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...I'm winning...

All in fun Y'all!

Vicki

Before I close this post, I want to ask you to please pray for Aden. He is a former student of mine, and he is having emergency surgery tonight for a brain hemorrhage or aneurysm. He's only 9 years old, and I teach with his mother. Our lives can change in an instant! Please pray!

PORCH GUESTS

2011-07-10T15:10:00.004-04:00

THAT FACE, THAT FACE,

THAT BEAUTIFUL FACE!

I feed my sweet cats on my screened in porch,

knowing full well that I am offering up a feast to any creature

that wants to come in through the pet door.

It's not unusual for other neighborhood cats to stop by for a treat,

after all it is there in the two huge feeders,

sitting right next to the fresh water...free for the taking.

We are also visited by raccoons, probably more than we realize.

I have to keep the Koi food in a galvanized can with bricks on top or the raccoons would dine on fish food caviar.

A few years ago we had two raccoons that would come in through the pet door, and devour all the cats' food.

That's why I started putting the cat food in the huge feeders.

Their water, also, is in a huge bottle

that lets out fresh water each time they drink.

Duncan and Violet are two pampered cats.

They have free run of the screened porch and the entire yard.

They do come in the house, but only when it's their decision.

When the raccoons used to visit,

they would watch us through the big glass windows and doors,

that go out to the porch.

They would pose for us to video them,

stand up on their back legs,

and really put on a show...almost mocking or taunting us.

I guess they felt safe as long as we were on the inside looking out.

We'd laugh and say they were probably laughing at us

like we were monkeys in a zoo.

We were probably entertaining them as much as they were entertaining us.

Though we stopped seeing them at night,

we knew they still visited us from time to time.

We saw their tiny footprints

in the snow covered steps

leading up to the porch.

We are also having to buy cat food more often.

We have not seen them in probably a year,

heard them yes,

but not seen them.

UNTIL...

Bark, bark, bark

around 5 a.m. Saturday morning.

Gypsy and Zoey, out taking care of business,

discovered the raccoons at the cat food buffet,

and were sounding the alarm.

Up to the porch rafters went the raccoons,

and into the corner they squeezed.

I can just hear this one saying,

"Get that little yapping rat away from me!"

He was twice Gypsy's size, but she takes on the neighborhood Labs, and deer that live in the edge of our yard,
she surely ain't scared of no stinking raccoons.

Aren't they beautiful?

Hope he got all the cobwebs up there!

Do you think raccoons pray?

Vicki

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY 2011!

2011-07-03T23:54:00.005-04:00

From Georgia to Maine,

and back,

flags we saw along the way...

God bless the USA!

HAPPY 4TH Y'ALL!

VICKI

DETOURS, MAINE and BLESSINGS

2011-07-02T01:26:00.002-04:00

In God there are never any dead-ends, only detours. Don’t ever give up. Just keep trying until you succeed. -Joyce Meyers

So did they do a good job on my car or what?

God hands us detours in life. Sometimes the detour is simply an alarm clock that wakes us up late, thus making us rush. Sometimes, however, it is something that wakes us up to what is important, and brings to light how we react to certain events and others.

Having our car broken into was not at all in our plans of things to do while traveling to Maine. It happened, we can't change it, but we can control how we feel about it.

It's not that they took all my clothes and jewelry, or that they damaged my car, it can be fixed. It's not that they took my son's body wash, or my video camera that still had the shots of last year's Maine moose on it. What breaks my heart more than anything is the trust they took away from me. The person who did this did not need our things, they wanted to destroy. They saw us arrive at the Schenectady, New York, Holiday Inn,

and they decided to crush our world.

Well...not this time!

This detour has helped us to put things in perspective, it's helped to strengthen our faith and it has awakened a determination in us to not let the actions of others affect how we live. Others will not put a damper on things for us, they will not rain on our parade. In other words, others will not keep us from living and enjoying our lives. That's exactly what they were trying to do.

Again...not this time! Oh no! Not this time!

We traveled the rest of our trip looking like this...

We had a wonderful time, in spite of their attempt to destroy our fun.

We felt God's presence along the way, and knew He had a plan for us through it all.

Maybe He wanted to show us that we have too much, or to appreciate what we have more. Or maybe He just wants us to pray for others more...I've prayed for the thieves, but my whole heart was not in it...yet. So, I'm working on that.

I've tried to make jokes about it...

told my relatives and friends on Facebook that I was naked in Maine...

boy did that bring on the comments...

really stirred them up!

My relatives are a bunch of jokers...sarcastic humor is our specialty and they really brought it on.

So how about some pictures to show that the beauty of this trip far out weighed the ugliness?

View from the bridge in Wilmington, Vermont

The neatest Pergola I have ever seen...Wilmington, Vermont

Baptist Church in Wilmington...one Methodist standing on the porch.

Found my bridge again...Route 9, Keene, New Hampshire...I do love Rust!

View from our cabin, on a lake surrounded by woods...doesn't get any better!

Covered bridge near North Conway, Maine. Discovered during a detour:-)

A Tourist!

See I told you I was naked in Maine!

The reason for the trip...he's such a blessing.

Do you ever let others rain on your parade?

2011-06-20T01:53:00.005-04:00

I'd like to introduce you to my daddy,

George Erwin.

Or, as he always answered the phone,

"General Electric!"

That was his joke because of his

G.E. initials.

This was real humorous to him,

but for me

it was an eye rolling moment

each time he did it.

Oh, if we didn’t waste

so much time

being cool in our youth!

Now I treasure that little joke, and wish I had laughed more at it.

However, with my daddy

I had many more

opportunities to laugh,

and see the positive side of life.

Daddy had a BFF
long before
those 3 letters
would fly off the fingers
of texting teenage girls.

These two were quite a pair...

socks and shoes,

moon and stars,

grits and eggs,

that was Erwin and Cliff.

However, a better description
of these mischievous boys
would be…

Joker and Wild.

When they were together

you could be sure some trouble

was being made, and

some trash was being talked.

Though not related at all,
it was as if they were
brothers with one mission…
to have the time of their lives.

They grew up together, in the small town of Lilly, GA.

They lived their childhood days like Huck and Tom,

and as young men they joined the service together and fought in WWII.

They played baseball together,
and stood up for each other
at each others weddings.

They were at a dance together the night Daddy met Mama.

Mr. Cliff told me that when Daddy first saw her, he said he was going to marry her, and he meant that thing.

Through their friendship our families bonded like kin, a gift I count as a blessing each day.

Not a weekend went by that our families didn’t spend time together. Sometimes we children were put to bed on quilts, spread out on the floor, as our parents sat around the kitchen table talking and laughing way into the night.

Those weekends turned to vacations together with all the kids,
and eventually,
back to just the 2 original friends
and their wives
spending time together.

As always happens in life, happy times turn sad, and before any of us would ever be ready,

funerals started to take place.

Daddy left Cliff to hold down the fort, tell the tales and watch the weather.

He’s keeping mama company, visiting with family and friends, and planning pranks in his usual Erwin way.

This picture is poor quality, but it says a lot about my Daddy. He would take us out to our farm every Sunday to ride our horse, Apache.

He would patiently let

each of us have our turn,

and would stay as long as we liked.

He loved each of us,

and loved seeing

how we would turn out.

I imagine he is still enjoying

that part of his story.

Just a little side story…the sweet little boy in the cowboy suit, sitting a little nervously on top of Apache will be 50 this summer.

The gorgeous girl, who was real sure the pink sweater went with those red pants, will be 57 soon.

The little trouble maker in the striped shirt, who was probably about to goose that horse, he will be 52 in the fall.

We are all vintage now, I guess.

Vintage...things that endure because of good quality and that hold fond memories.

If you are wondering about that fuzzy, pink sweater I am wearing…yeah it was real cashmere…HA!

I miss you Daddy.

Happy Father’s Day in Heaven!

Possum

SUMMER TIME!

2011-06-09T12:45:00.002-04:00

Hey Y'all it's SUMMER!!

Here's what's going on with me...

Going to Jared's concerts,

and checking out festivals...

Feeding my geese friends when I go for my walks...

Trying out new restaurants

around town...

Taking time to smell the roses...

relaxing, creating and catching up!

What's happening with you this summer?

See you later...Goosey, Goosey!

HAVE SCRAPS...WILL COLLAGE!

2011-05-21T21:52:00.006-04:00

The school year is winding down...

Can I get a "WHOOT, WHOOT"?

Being the *hoarder* that I am

I save everything, and recycle

anything that doesn't

get out of the way.

It comes in real handy

this time of year

to be a junker,

and trash explorer,

because in my class...

HAVE SCRAPS...WILL COLLAGE!

My students have been creating

COLLAGES

out of any scrap they can get their hands on.

I have never heard so many

OOOOOHs and AHHHHs!

All over scraps of paper, and the thought of making anything their hearts desired from these wonderful paper treasures.

They were so amazed at all the

colors, patterns and textures

of the scraps in their scrap boxes.

I would have to remind them at times that the point of the project was to create something on their paper from the scraps,

not to just admire their scrap discovery...

They loved exploring those scraps!!

The primary age that I teach

tends to want to tell you

about their artwork plans,

instead of actually creating.

It's like they have to say it out loud to get their thoughts together.

It just goes with this age, and the excitement of creating their art.

Those that worked and didn't give a play by play really created some nice pieces.

Most could have used more time.

I had many disappointed students when their time was up on this project.

I will definitely do this project more than once next year...

I STILL HAVE PLENTY OF SCRAPS!

I love the tongue on this blue-eared puppy dog!

The black textured paper used in this flower is paper created by one of my high school students, around 10 years ago...

now don't you go judging my hoarding...

it's vintage!

How about this little person in space?

A Japanese girl in her Kimono...wonderful use of imagination!

Fun Houses!

A Very Happy Cat!

Some explored creating in 3-D.

Did I mention we didn't use scissors?

Not sure what the Kindergarten student intended with the doughnut piece,

but

I love the lion's face!

The Lion below is by a second grade student...

love it's face also.

If you have lions, you must have giraffes!

   I can feel summer vacation!
                                      Vicki

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2011-05-08T02:22:00.001-04:00

I WAS BORN, AND RAISED IN A SMALL TOWN IN SOUTH GEORGIA.

I CONSIDER IT A GIFT.

ONE OF MY GREATEST BLESSINGS.

I WOULD NOT BE THE PERSON I AM NOW,

IF IT WASN'T FOR MY SMALL TOWN UPBRINGING.

I ALSO WOULD NOT BE WHO I AM NOW, IF IT WASN'T FOR MY MAMA.

SHE NOURISHED MY ART TALENT,

SHE PASSED ON TO ME A LOVE FOR JUNK,

AND SHE RAISED ME TO BEHAVE AND ACT AS I SHOULD.

SHE TAUGHT ME TO CHERISH MY FAMILY AND MY LORD,

AND TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN FOR ME.

SHE DEMONSTRATED FOR ME HOW TO LEAN ON YOUR FAITH,

AND DEPEND ON GOD'S GRACE AND STRENGTH...

ESPECIALLY DURING THE LAST PART OF HER LIFE.

SHE WAS SO AFRAID OF BAD WEATHER

THAT SHE WOULD LOAD ALL OF US UP IN THE CAR,

AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A DARK CLOUD,

AND HEAD TO MY GRANNY'S HOUSE.

SHE COULD COOK ANYTHING,

AND TO THIS DAY MOST REMEMBER

HER CARAMEL CAKES.

SHE LOVED OLD THINGS AND BLUEBIRDS.

SHE HAD THE FEATURES I LONG FOR...

LONG LEGS,

ELEGANT HANDS

AND TANNED OLIVE SKIN.

SHE LOVED CHRISTMAS AND THIS WAS ONE OF HER FAVORITE DECORATIONS.

SHE LOVED TO HEAR ME SING, AND ALWAYS WANTED ME TO

"BE CAREFUL, YA HEAR!"

SHE HAD SEVERAL BOOKS GOING AT ONE TIME.

SHE KEPT THEM IN HER CAR, HER PURSE,

AND SOMETIMES HER BACK POCKET.

EVEN AFTER A STROKE LEFT HER TO LIVE HER LIFE DIFFERENTLY,

SHE READ A BOOK A DAY SOMETIMES.

SHE WAS MY MAMA AND I MISS HER,

BUT I AM SO THANKFUL SHE RAISED ME IN A SMALL TOWN,

AND TAUGHT ME TO BEHAVE MYSELF AND ACT RIGHT.

I LOVE YOU BACK, MAMA!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY IN HEAVEN!

A SCENE FROM AN OLD BUILDING IN MY SMALL TOWN...THIS SIGN IS STILL THERE.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!

VICKI

TRASH TO PLEASURES

2011-04-30T01:32:00.010-04:00

I know you have all been missing my randomness...

So here goes on a few trash finds

and

pleasure times...

This girl loves a good curb find...

AHHHHHHH...WOODEN HANGERS!!!

I'm trying to arrange them on the wall next to my Laundry closet, but so far every time I try they just look like a bunch of hangers spread out on the wall. I need something else with them...I'ma thinkin' on that one.

All these hangers were found in one of my curbside shopping adventures. I sort of stalked the Estate sale I bought my dining room suite from and when the time was right, I pounced on their trash!

These printing plates were in with the hangers...along with some Mustang Ranch souvenirs and rosary beads. Also several little pins of Jesus and a man's gold ring. These people had varied interests, you could tell. I hit the jackpot!

This picture is a bit blurred, but these plates seem to be made of copper.

Now in order to stay with the randomness I promised...

TA-DA!

My Laundry Closet doors!

Painted with Chalkboard paint.


Makes a wonderful Christmas card to my family when they come for our Cousins' Christmas Day!

Now for some of my pleasurable

times over the last few weeks...

Easter Sunrise Services on

Coleman Hill in Macon...

a blessing beyond words!

Here comes the sun, and I say "It's all right..."

Up from the grave He Arose!

Jared playing during our local Dogwood Festival...

a pleasure to watch my son,

and a pleasure to spend time

with friends around Perry.

Such a nice day!!


The Mona Woofa on Book Character Day!	You have to read the book! Note to self...never put black paint on nose again...itches!

Random Vicki...

WOOF!

I will probably scare everyone to death with such an all over the place post, but I am linking with

WhisperWood Cottage's Chalk Talk Party

2011-04-22T17:30:00.002-04:00

Crosses in a field near Roanoke Virginia

He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was on Him;

and

with His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Jesus is the reason for the season...

have a meaningful Easter.

2011-04-19T23:16:00.001-04:00

Can I show you something beautiful?

I wish I could claim this wonderful guy, Josh,

as one of my art students,

but I can't take that credit...

most of his talent is natural.

His brother was one of my art students,

and I work with his mother.

Fortunately for me

Josh stops in and shares his art with me.

Not only is he talented in art,

but he is a fantastic soccer player,

and an outstanding student.

He created these paintings

in his high school art class,

and to me this is proof

for the importance

of art education.

Josh will be facing major surgery this summer, so please keep him,

and his family in your prayers.

He is evidence of the

wonderful young people

all around us.

WIRE BASKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-04-14T22:52:00.001-04:00

I'm drooling over these wire baskets!

I have a small collection of wire baskets,

but none like these!

These are so cute!

If you would like to enter

to win these precious little things

visit

Homestead Revival,

and follow their directions...

though

I don't know why you would...

I am going to win!

Just kidding!!!

Go quickly!

I love a little competition!

The baskets may be purchased from

Forgotten Way Farms

They have many nice things

that you may purchase.

LoVin' these bAsKeTs!!