Nesting

Wrapping up my vacation week...getting ready for the coming work week. Cleaning.

Have a restful Sunday everyone and a great week ahead.

~Kath

Thank You's Galore to You!

First of all, I want to, need to, say thank you to all of you who wrote such kind and supportive comments to me when I was a little bit down yesterday. Wow. Sometimes I think I may let myself say/write too much, but I post it anyway and hold my breath, and...well, you all come gently flying in with more love and kindness than a girl can behold. I am flustered and rosy and full of moosh. I think I will keep posting my personal pages if you keep being honest, give me pointers when you feel it, and be supportive... if I deserve it...or really need it! Anyway, did I say THANK YOU?! I am feeling the love and am sending you all hugs and sunshine.

♥

Next, I have to share with you a Giveaway I won from Marsha at Tumble Fish Studio. I just ♥L-O-V-E♥, not only the present itself, but the way Marsha packaged it up. I honestly felt like it was my birthday, only without getting another year older already. The envelope was gorgeous and then inside was purple paper wrapped goodness, postcards of her work, and then ta-dah! my matted artwork! Wow....

Isn't this petite print GORGEOUS?

~K

Would You Go Back?

Do you have a day, or a moment, or a time, that you'd use a wish on, to go back to?

~unfinished spread.

Though I consider it to be a complete waste of time for me to be feeling panicky and anxiety-ridden, it is there all the same.

*

Some days are like that.

*

It's what I do with them that can make a difference.

*

I've been told by those close to me that I am extremely hard on myself.

I'll try not to be, today.

*

You try, too.

I Know I Need To...

...simplify. And it's even more apparent to me when I am home on breaks.

When every space is full, my mind is also cluttered.

I made a list of things to do this week...cleaning necessities and piles to go through...yeah.

*

On Tuesday, when I woke up so early and had a long day to fill, we went into the city to revisit a favorite spot, The Lake Effect Diner. I will greet my new diet and health program only after I enjoy macaroni and cheese.

After this, we crossed the street to go to a wonderful little city bookstore. I got lost...and came home with another art book.

Aaaaah, that was fun.


♥

"Simplify" stamp from lori of elviestudio.

Perfection is Relative

...and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Find your beauty today, my friends.

Peace be with you. ~K

Journaling Excitement

Lots of layers.

Beautiful Face Stamp handmade my lori at elviestudio : Framed Girl.

The cold is brightened today by the most wonderful sunshine.
I woke up so early this morning that I've already done a lot of house cleaning, journaling, and creating in the PaperPumpkin room, and it's barely noon.
I am a morning person, but never counted on waking up way before dawn on a vacation day.
It's been really nice though!
Lots of time for more fun now! What will I do?
♥
Wishing you a fun-filled, creative day!
~Kath

No, It's NOT Spring Yet...

...and this is who and what greeted me this morning! I just had to show you.

I'll be playing inside today, thank you very much. See, spring only snuck in one day last week so I would know what I was missing. I woke up on my first vacation day today to learn that my husband, Michael, had already been out for 5 hours snowblowing driveways. Can you see his hat all covered in ice? Ugh. Give me hot coffee...and that hot shower. I'll wake up my way!

~K

In Vacation Mode...

I haven't been around too much this week because of parent-teacher conferences, but now I am finished and getting into the groove of vacation!

Yes, I have all of next week off.

Aah.

I hear play bells ringing.

Though the stamps on the right are my own handcarved, the gorgeous one on the left is from

ro bruhn. I love it.

Spring peeked in the other day.

The snow melted in 55 degree, 45 mph wind gusts and the sun shone so brightly I almost fooled myself into thinking spring could really stay this early.

I looked out when I could, didn't wear a coat and 2 sweaters, and kept my classroom window open all day and evening during conferences for the freshness.

♥

This morning, we woke up to an inch of blustery snow.

All is white, but at least it's clean again!

I know that snow will blow for 2 more months, but this 36 hours or so was a sweet reminder of what can sometimes be.

Did you catch a glimpse of last night's full moon in all its glory?

Hope so...{sigh}.

Happy Saturday, friends!

Valentine Journal Love

Valentine's Day was fast and furious, especially with 24 second graders and a 10-hour work day, but good none-the-less. Some people may not think much of this red heart holiday, but I have always loved it. Little Valentine cards passed around and handwritten for friends, foil wrapped candies and lollipops, and frosted heart shaped cookies. So many 8-year olds saying "thank you". I love it.

Then Michael and I went out to dinner. We made the reservations weeks ago, and laughed that in all the years together, this was probably the first time we ever went out to a restaurant for dinner on February 14th.

An exhausting day, but heart filled. aaaah. Hope yours was happy, too. ~Kath

Making Fun of...

myself,

...because in a perfect world maybe I'd be neat enough to be able to find things in my PaperPumpkin room.

I should be celebrating right now because I located this stamp that I carved last summer,

after losing it all winter. yay.

And...

Making fun of this magestic little dog that I dearly love because how did she manage to balance this chew stick in her cheek so she didn't have to put it down to be nosy out the window??!!

She's chip off the old block, I say. (If she doesn't set it down, she won't lose it!!!!)
hahahaha

oh brother.

Journal Page: I Believe...

I'm home with a cold & fever, but at least I can rest today and have the weekend.

I did hear on the news that spring arrives in 37 days! Woo hoo!

Happy Friday- Happy weekend to you!

~Kath

Monday

Some days are like this.
Peace to you, K

Change is Good

I can't sit still for long and I've never been a status quo type person. If I'm unhappy with things, I have to problem-solve. I don't want to be a complainer, but a doer. It's not always easy being me. But then again, if it's easy, then I jump back out of that comfort zone anyway...

And the Winner Is...

Mary! From A Splendid Adventure !!!!! ~Lucky #17!

♥

Mia and I will get your Red Valentine push pin set out to you right away so you can have it in plenty of time for Valentine's Day, Mary! (Please send me your address in an email to thepaperpumpkin@aol.com) !!

Thank you followers! Thank you friends! Thank you again, Mary!

~Kathy

Oh Wintertime Sunshine...and Giveaway!

All is instantly better when the darkness and gray of this cold, cold winter give way

to Mr. Sun for the day. Ahhhhhhh
*****

And, followers, please remember to leave a comment on last weekend's post to win a thank you Valentine Present! Tonight's the drawing!! ~♥~ I'm so excited!

Music is so Inspiring

Some journaling to the music and lyrics of Bruce Springsteen...

I had already loved, saved, and glued this beautiful old house into my art journal

because it warmed my soul...but then the song blared!

The words rang out and I had to write them down as I sang.

(I laugh because my graffiti looks like a second grade teacher's writing!!!♥ hahaha).

Hey, I'm just me.

May music ring out and fill your soul today, too.

~K

Hardworking Word...

So, my word for 2011 is "Stretch" and boy oh boy am I struggling!




I had to put Yoga on hold because my back just couldn't move properly when I asked it to. I've always been a very flexible person, but for some reason, for the past four months, I haven't been myself. That's probably one reason I chose the word Stretch in the first place (or it chose me). I felt compelled to get back my fitness and flexibility after a lengthy struggle with health in 2010.


Well, I'm in physical therapy and am working hard. But every day, I move like I am 85 years old. My Stretch-i-n-g only lasts hours, then I am back to square one. Like a tight rubberband.

I laugh when I look at this photo. I could do this move a few years ago, no problem.

Ugh.

I am trying really hard to ***s-t-r-e-t-c-h*** my ***p-a-t-i-e-n-c-e***.

Finished Calendar and GiveAway Reminder! Woot!

Snow Day today!

Surprisingly, the first one of this school year, despite a lot of bad weather for driving and seeing!



I think I forgot, in my excitement the other day, to show you my completed January Calendar:

And, please remember to leave a comment on my Valentine ♥ GiveAway!! Woo Hoo!

Gotta LOVE an unexpected Day Off!

What are you doing today?

Seriously, Can You See Why...

...I am wishing and hoping for a snow day tomorrow?!!

I want to stay home and play.

(Ellie thinks she is a cat-dog. This is lovingly referred to as her Pounce Dance).

We are all waiting and wondering: Will we really get 16 inches of snow in the next 24 hours??