Creativity at it's best

 
Izy is the mastermind behind lots of things creative at our house. Anyone that knows her since she was little knows that she has had the creative streak since birth I think. She is always coming up with some new creation. I tried to be patient with the piles of papers and cut up pictures and creations she'd leave on the table. I also try to be patient with the creations that are brewing in her room on a regular basis. How dare I throw out something of such great importance and value. And most of this was during her pre-school years. Now I deal with her fabric creations.
She has claimed the basement living room space as her private studio and so I am continually faced with cut up pieces of pillows, jeans, shirts, bedding, etc...if she can visualize a use for it she will cut it up and recreate it. Yeah, yeah I know...I should feel so happy that she is creative and has so much vision and yes, I am very thankful for it. It just exercises my patience, you know that prayer a long time ago when I prayed that God would help me have more patience, this has been the answer. Not what I had in mind.
Anyway, most of the time it all works out and I get some more great pics to scrapbook or blog. After the fact I look back and thank God for my talented young lady and pray that someday it may turn into big things. At the ------ award ceremony she will thank her mom for being so patient with her all those years. But if not I can chalk it up to childhood and the beauty of exploring her world and making our lives more interesting and definitely more colorful.
In the spirit of Halloween (my least favorite time by the way) I found these pics of the kids that Isabel had painted one day. Some are from last year and some are from last week. This time it was paper plates with blobs of paint, soggy Q-tips and paint smears everywhere (even on the shower curtain!)
Hope you have a great day filled with creativity and joy in whatever you have been given.
  

Painted Faces

You know those comercials where the people look just like the food or the animal? Well, I was looking for something to remind me of this time of year, hunting season, and I found these instead. Last year at this time Rock and Riann (our South African hired man) took the kids to Hazel and toured Bob Adams museum. That's were these were taken. Mr. Adams has traveled everywhere to hunt and he has a small musuem that displays all of the animals. Quite amazing I guess (I have never been). Anyway, here are Sage and Rock looking like an animal. Cool...
 
 
  

My intention this morning was to talk about hunting season but alas, I have been distracted by one of the blogs I read (Stacy Julian in the sidebar) and her story about meeting her newly adopted daughter for the first time. Pretty amazing. Read it if you get a chance. Her family has been waiting for 2 years and it has finally happened. Addie is her name. I love it when something you didn't expect falls into your lap and inspires you or helps challenge your thinking a bit. Hope you have a great day.

Miss Kim's Kittys

 
 
 
 
This is beautiful little Emma. She comes to the farm sometimes with her brother to play with all the kids and she has discovered my cats. Originally she was not a cat lover, maybe from afar but all that has changed. She loves my three cats, Rudy, Bella and Sadie. They are so good natured that they will even allow her to carry them around in all kinds of positions, never complaining or showing any dislike for Emma and she loves them for it. She sometimes talks in a very sweet, quiet voice and says "I stay and pet your kitties". 

Here is a link to more pics of the kids from that same day.
They were worm hunting. Cool...

Worm Hunt

"One for all and all for one"

(Chloe in the spiderman mask with the viking shirt on; Caden in the western shirt, cool spy glasses and black batman glove; Nash in the orange shirt-he hadn't decided on an outfit yet; Sage in the red shirt, black ninja glove and sword topped with a baseball cap; Booker in the puffy spiderman suit that I am obliged to fake punch over and over to emphasis his massive new muscles)
 
 
This is the handful of kids that hang out at my house most days. They wander from my house to the farm (a few minutes walk) and most places in between. They were getting dressed to go on an 'adventure' which involved disguises today. The scope of their imagination is amazing and their ability to get along (most of the time) is also to be admired. They are an a great group of kids. I am continually in awe at their comfort level when they are at the farm. Growing up in a small town with very little family close by I didn't hang out with my cousins everyday. These guys are all first cousins and they go to school together! Very unusual and wonderful. I feel blessed to have so many kids that come to my house on a regular basis and feel right at home. They are all so wonderful and great. "Aunt Kim!!!" Gotta love it.
 

New 'Stuff'

I finally discovered how to add stuff to the side bar and it is a bit challenging. I consider myself a fairly good computer user but I have never delved into the whole 'computer language'. It is always a bit exciting to find something you didn't know and learn how to do it. I like that. It gives me that feeling of accomplishment but not in the same way finishing a load of laundry or cleaning the bathroom does. You know what I mean.
  
Anyway, I have listed some of the blogs/sites that I regularly (almost daily) read. Most of the time something within one of these will challenge/inspire me to think about things differently or even attempt something creative. That's a good thing since most days are so filled with 'stuff to do' that inspiration and creativity take a back seat. I really think these are the things in life that make it worth living. If they aren't the things they definately lead you to them.
A scrapbook page, a pic of a baby, a sunset, a scripture, a kind word from a friend, a hug from a child, you know the list...they make life meaningful. I really want to try to fill my days with what is important and not so much with the 'stuff'. I think the ride will be much more enjoyable.
  

Treadmills

This is great! You gotta take a look. If only working out could be this fun.
It is amazing that people have this much time on their hands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

Windmill

  


I realize that in this scrapbook layout there is a bunch of extra space on the right but I haven't figured out how to size the paper just right. It printed out great.
I have always wanted to scrap this windmill for my kitchen wall because it provided for the trade that we made to get our beautiful cabinets. I really liked the windmill and had wanted it to stay on Gjerdys (it is our dream spot to build on someday) but it was rather beat up and broken so it was probably good that we used it for something else.
I love it how the Lord works stuff out like that. Only he knew how much I longed to replace the old cabinets. I actually cried when our friend suggested the trade because it was so amazing. (That is Isabel next to them on her first day of school)
 

  

Together

This is one of my pics from our trip that I like of Rock and I. It reminds me of the early days when it was just the two of us and we had time to just take pictures and hang out.... Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to try and work a little of that into our lives today. Something to think about. 

Going digital...sorta

I am trying to teach myself to scrapbook digitally and this is my first attempt. I am discovering lots of sites that offer advice and instruction which is very helpful as well as inspiring. Have a great Columbus Day. More later.

Colorado Trip

http://picasaweb.google.com/kimjarnold

Here is the link for my pics from our Colorado trip. Enjoy.