This. is. it.

Back to work in the morning.

Time flies...

Really, thank you for sharing summer with me.

~k

August Fiesta!

This centerpiece had to be inside, because of the bees.

•

Below, Grama Z and the birthday girl, my daughter, Mia♥

Below, Mia and Kevin:

Cousin Janice made these awesome Asparagus Appetizers:

Below, Michael, me, and my brother Jim "Hime":

 We had fun hanging our Poms in the tent outside!

Mia got these gorgeous flowers as a birthday gift:

Happy Birthday! Make a wish!

♥

~Last party of the summer over here.

I could make a very, very long list

of things I am grateful for this summer...

Actually, you know me, I might yet (!),

but I am so blessed

to have such wonderful family & friends.

And this summer I had my health.

A summer to remember.

•

I wish you all many joys and blessings,

mainly those of: good health,

the love of family & friends,

and the time to pause and feel the power of these blessings.

Much love,

~kath

A Funny Thing Happened Last Night

You may remember last month's annual Triple Birthday Party Luah...

That's every July.

In August, a Fiesta for my daughter's birthday happens here!

It will be on Saturday the 25th, and I love to decorate.

A colorful Fiesta it is!

My daughter and I collected materials.

I started making a bright orange Pom,

thinking I'd just see how many I could make that evening

and perhaps the next today (today now).

But a funny thing happened on the way to...

well, in the middle of my Pom, someone outside called to me to come look

at my Ellie Pup romping and playing with a new little friend.

I ran outside with my big, bright orange Pom,

(I couldn't exactly set it down or it'd smoosh!)

 and well, the rest is history as they say.

Neighbors were out front, and seeing me running barefoot

outside with a giant orange sphere was too much!

A Pom Party broke out!!!

Look what we did last night!

I hung them in my laundry room, on hangers!!

Best my laundry room has EVER looked!!

My son, Drew, even supervised...and helped his sister tie! 

Yay, Drew!

These, above, are smaller ones, hanging from my drying rack!

Ellie and I were exhausted after hours of laughing...

We wished the party was last night...

but then again, the best is yet to come!

♥

What are your weekend plans?

~k

Wander

Inspired by July's travels to San Francisco,

and all of the great graffiti and art murals

throughout the city...

Shapes and colors...

It was sooo good for me to get away, to travel across the country

and discover....

Close-ups of journaling with photos from my travels. Above, city art mural.

Below, a favorite sign in Haight Ashbury:

Where did you go this year?

Where do you wish to go?!

•

"I ain't lost, just wandering..."

~Adele

~k

Journaling Thoughts...

Still therapeutic.

Thank you for visiting.

Have a thoughtful day!

~k

Release...

Journaling keeps me {fairly} sane.

I have had anxiety lately, so I

worked and played much of it out this morning,

 like I love to do. It's in me. I gotta get it out!

I set my handmade mask down (above) and sprayed my favorite

Dylusions Inks in Fresh Lime and Crushed Grape.

Below, the mask is shown, on the right page:

Stamped the date and found washi tape

that did what I needed it to do at the top:

My mind needed my heart, though

so I punched one out ♥ and inked it purple & grungy

with a Staz On pad:

And without preconceived words,

took my favorite Sharpie black pen...

...and released.

And I can honestly say

I feel better.

Find something you love.

Just do it.

~k

Nurturing My Self

I find myself struggling to hold onto a

fleeting

summer vacation

by photographing the beauty in each of my days

and journaling it.

Permanent records

of something

only permanent

in my Self.

Though born in the winter,

I am summer.

~k

A View...

This garden view,

with butterflies and an occasional hummingbird,

can actually calm my monkey brain

...even if it's only for a moment or two.

♥

Cut Grass Dylusions spray ink calmed down with Sheer taupe spray

washi tape like a garden trellis,

stamps,

doodled edges,

peaceful, happy writing.

~k

A Very Happy Anniversary!!

One year for my daughter, Michelle "Mia" and Kevin!

I would love it if you would stroll 

down Memory Lane with me:

 My son, Drew, and me...

Groom Kevin on the right,

 his brother and Best Man on the left:

 Michelle with Daddy (Michael):

♥

I still cry

tears of joy

 a year later.

~k

Journaling Moments...

I have been lovin' gesso and painting with acrylics,

making textures,

stamping.

I LOVE this color palette, too!

Finding it hard to believe that my daughter, Michelle,

and Kevin will be married for a year already tomorrow.

Time goes faster and faster.

Enjoy each moment!

It's the moments that count.

~k

Words, Thoughts, Journaling, Connecting

~Golden Gesso (new and and lovin' it!)

~acrylic paints

~stamping with Staz-On Brown

~colored pencils

~washi tape

~Sharpie fine point brown marker

I had to remind my imperfect self

that when I journal,

I do it first for myself.

I share it because I love to.

I share it because I feel connected

to you.

♥

Thank you so, so much

for reading, visiting, commenting,

encouraging.

~k

I Don't Know Why...

...I don't do this more often.

 Got materials together and doodled my design.

 Rubbed design onto Mastercarve Block, using my fingertip/nail.

 Began carving

...changing my mind as I went along.

At first, I thought I wanted just 2 shapes,

with dots around the perimeter.

 Then, decided I could always cut away more later

because I wanted 3 shapes, and scallops around the outside.

I LOVE the color, cerulean blue,

instead of always using black ink.

This is fun,

gives me a new original stamp for my journal pages,

and helps me to embrace my imperfections.

All good.

~k