There is a young woman who was a wife and a stay-at-home-mama.  She enjoys reading and working in her garden.  She frequently spends free time with ladies from church. Her and her family can often be found grilling and conversing on the patio with their neighbors. She reminisces old times with old friends and goes to bed by 11:00, even on weekends.  The woman enjoys cooking and finding yummy recipes that are also healthy for her family.  She is trusted by many to handle backyard estrogen levels and sort out kitten fights.  She does so with out a scratch.

But she’s happiest sitting on the patio with a sun dress on; happy little girls in the yard and her topless husband serving cold fruit and pouring her a fresh glass of sweet iced tea.

When did I become that woman?  So domestic and “simple.”  Being a grown up is so surprising sometimes.

While riding our bikes around the neighborhood, one afternoon, Billy and I found something.  Someone apparently had quite a bamboo garden and decided they wanted a new look.  A heaping pile of bamboo sticks.

*freebie* Mama can use that!

With visions of bamboo creations in my head, I planned to grab the car, as soon as we got home.  I started a list even: fence around the garden, a wind chime, perhaps tomato cages.  I was ready to get work.  Today, I want to share my wind chime with you.

Materials:

• bamboo
• hand saw
• drill
• twine
• fishing line
• paint & brush
• spray fix
• key ring

I planned out my design, before making any moves, to avoid mistakes.  I used the hand saw to cut all my bamboo pieces to size.  I found that when sawing bamboo, it works best to only saw in one direction.  Before I started putting anything together, I painted my bamboo pieces with acrylic paint.  After they were dry, I used spray fix {like clear spray paint} to lock and seal my pretty little design.

I used smaller pieces of bamboo, twine and a key ring to build the top part of my chimes.  Then I used drill with a tiny bit to make holes in the top pieces, as well as the hanging pieces.  I strung fishing line through the holes and tied to secure the chimes to the top.  I found that you could pull and turn the tied fishing line so that the knot was actually inside the bamboo and, therefore, unseen.

Now these pretty little things hang happily on my patio, where they sing soft songs to my herbs.  I’m not sure, really, though.  These little girls make it hard to hear anything other than their giggles and squeals.  Plus, their sounds really isn’t loud, so you don’t worry about it bothering any neighbors {I’ve really heard of people who can’t stand wind chimes}.

I have another one cut and ready to paint, but was home some little hands would help.  I’m also putting the finishing touches on the fence around our vegetable garden.  I’ll be sure to share photos soon, though.

Do you have anything handmade in your garden?  Or maybe plans for something?? Tell me about it!

I’ve finished my first book of the summer season and its one I must pass on.

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn is great for any woman who deals with men whether it be a son, husband or at work.  In her book, Feldhahn shares the finding from her extensive research on the inner life of men.  What they really think, how they really work and {more importantly} how they feel.

Feldhahn gets straight to the point, here, which makes for a short and quick read.  She’s real and honest, without any sugar-coating.  She covers subjects such as respect, sex and feelings.  And more importantly, she really does focus on men only.  Not how they should be, how we can make them do what we want, or even how to use them for our own happiness.  But how to understand them and know better what they need/want for their own true happiness.

There’s also a For Men Only.  I’m wondering if there’s any way I can get my husband to read that one.

If you do or have read this book, what did you think?  What sections were the most eye-opening for you?

Hey, darlin!  How’s the weather?  Grilled anything magical lately?

We came up with this yummy deliciousness, not long ago.  We picked up some fresh asparagus last time we were at the grocery store and wanted to try it on the grill.  I know, that’s not too creative, but it was new to us.  Since it was my first time, I didn’t quite know what to expect.

I rolled  the veggies in olive oil and generously doused them with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  I had some skewers from a past grilling experiment and used them to wrap and secure some strips of bacon around the spears.  Then we placed them directly onto the grill for about 10 minutes.

They were easy and delicious and we’ll definitely keep them on the menu for future nights.

This summer, I’ll be spending a lot of time in the garden.  I plan for this one to be the first of many From the Garden posts.  Some may be more on the ‘philosophical’ side, but most will be hands-on and how-tos.

Over the past month, or so, something has happened inside me.  Something wonderful and comforting.  Something I haven’t felt in, probably, a decade or more.  Locational peace.  What does that mean?  Well, the world to me, really.

Since right before I graduated high school, I’ve always been planning and looking forward to getting away.  Away from Kentucky.  Away from everything I know.  Away from my “comfort zone.”  Away from the familiar, really.  I wanted room to run, explore and go on adventures.  I’ve never been able to really settle, because I’m always hoping and looking for that ticket out of here.

About a year and a half ago, something happened that would change that feeling, and I didn’t even realize it.  Billy and I decided to partner up and get the heck out of dodge.  We reserved a moving truck and started scouring the internet for apartments in Wilmington, NC.  My heart is most definitely in the Carolinas.  They are constantly whispering never-ending sweet nothings, only I can hear, it seems.

I prayed and prayed about the move and whether or not it was truly for us.  Then, just two months before, something in my gut said ‘no;’ not Carolina.  Not yet, anyway.  But I had to get back in school and get that degree, because I was drowning in the salon world. So, we decided on Bowling Green {only an hour away} and everything just fell into place, from there.

We’ve been here over a year and I’m just finally getting that settled-in feeling.  I actually like Bowling Green.  We’ve found an awesome church body to be a part of and have started to really join the community around us.

Don’t get me wrong.  I still hear the Carolinas’ beckon call, but for the first time in ten years, I’m not rushing to get away.  I know we still have at least one more year here, and then its in God’s hands where we’ll be {here or elsewhere}.

I finally feel peace, though.  Even though some things around me are still out of whack and sometimes near unbearable, I feel peaceful, here, in this place.  I can really feel myself starting to trust Him more with my life, too.  He is faithful and He’s showing me just that.  He will get me where I need to be.

We just have to listen.  And with listening, comes peace.

And, oh, what a glorious feeling that is.

Have you had to make any big decisions lately?  Have you asked for help, yet?  What decisions are you currently struggling with?

This past weekend, my Grandmother and I threw my little sister’s wedding shower.  I think its actually the first shower I’ve ever had to plan.  She gets married in June and I am in charge of the hair, makeup and photography.  That will most definitely be a busy day for me.

I didn’t plan anything too fancy.  Her colors are blue and black.  I pretty much decorated the party with my bare hands.  The only thing we purchased were the groceries and eating ware.

You can only imagine how please I was when my sister gave the thumbs up on brownies instead of cake.  Brownies are most definitely above cake, on my list.

For our drink, we made up something new.  We brewed regular black tea {like making sweet iced tea} plus one bag of Tazo Vanilla Rooibos tea.  We then added Granny Smith apples, strawberries, mangos and fresh spearmint leaves.  Yum.  Writing that recipe down in the book.

The crowd wasn’t huge, which made for a more relaxed and personal setting.  We played a few fun games and some lucky ladies won a fabulous facial scrub I made.  I’ll most definitely  have to share that with you sometime.  Its truly amazing.

And then was the flower girl.  She is definitely my child. Haha I can’t wait to watch her perform her duties, next month.  This should be interesting.  Stay tuned, friends.

{ink pen}

My summer break has officially begun.  Happy day.  I don’t even mind all the house work I’ve added to my schedule.  Its been a gray, drizzly day.  I have covered it in flanel and filled it with coffee and photo editing, as well.

{ink pen, pastel}

While I was cleaning and putting away my school supplies {so they were no longer loitering by the couch}, I went through my work from drawing this past semester.  I did a lot of drawings over this past semester.  This teacher had us work more on speed.  We always finished at least one drawing in class {other than big project assignments}.  In my first drawing class, we would spend 3-4 classes on one drawing.

{inda ink}

I loved having so many to look through, this time.  Billy and I went through and picked out our favorites.  The class was broken up into three segments: still life, figure drawing, and landscape/spaces.  Notice you don’t see any figure drawings on the list.

{mixed media}

This one here {above} has probably gotten the most attention.  I shared some photos of it on Facebook and it received several comments.  She’s already been claimed and gets to go to her new home in July.

{ink pen}

{ink pen, india ink}

This was the second to last drawing I did this semester.  I finished it in one class sitting.  Its quite possibly my favorite.  Its sitting out for all to see.

{pastel, graphite}

This was our final project, which was inspired by Kandinsky.  I really like the bright colors and am generally happy with how it turned out.  However, I don’t know that I’ll be using oil pastels much, on my own.  Then again, maybe I just need to try playing with a more high quality product.  I just wasn’t too crazy about it.

This summer, my goal is to get my hands on some water colors.  After playing so much with ink washes, I’m dying to dabble in that colorful world.

Happy Mother’s Day, loves.  I hope you didn’t forget to do something special for yours.  I’m lucky enough to not only be a mama but to have a few very amazing mamma-figures to look up to in my own life.  Not to mention the honor of being one myself.

I have an amazing Grandma whom I’ve had the pleasure of spending lots of time with, over the years.  She is very much a role model in my life.  My Grandma has taught me a lot about being a woman of God.  She’s taught me that even if I am right, sometimes its best just to keep quiet and bite my tongue.  Living in the country, she’s taught me that we don’t always have to go, go, go. Sometimes, its nice to just sit on the porch and swing for a while.

Instead of being cursed with a wicked stepmother, I was blessed with a lovely one.  Teeyl has taught me so much over the years.  Growing up, I knew as a woman, I had to find a man and get married.  She taught me one of the greatest lessons of all: how to be an independent woman and live my life for myself.  She taught me about patience, making the best decisions, and what it means to be a lady.  One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from her is that in everything, there’s growth.  Bad things will happen, but life is more rewarding if I try to find the good in situations instead of sulking and complaining.  She taught me to have my own opinion and express it respectfully.  Teeyl also taught me that there’s no such thing as being bored.  There’s always something to do.

Then there’s my Mom.  The one and only.  She’s taught me a ton.  The most prominent in my mind, though would be about strength.  She’s taught me to stand up for myself and the ones I love.  She taught me if I don’t give up, but fight through, I will come out alive.  My Mom taught me to be careful with who I trust.  I learned from her not to be judgmental of people because of where they’ve been.  She taught me about tradition and power of love and family.

And then there’s my own experience in motherhood.  More than anyone else, lately, Lilie Jo has been my greatest teacher.  She has taught me about unconditional love and how amazing it feels to have it for someone else.  LilieJo has taught me so much about perspective and the magic waiting to be found all around us.  She’s taught me about adventure and has reawakened my imagination.  And don’t even get me started on how much patience she has taught me.  My daughter has taught me about what kind of woman I want to be, in order to set the best example for her to not only look up to but to be able to look back on and be proud.

This little girl has brought me more happiness than any other thing/person in this world.  I love watching her grow and become a little lady.  I can’t wait to see what other adventures lay ahead of us.

I know I’m a bit late, but I didn’t want to just pass over the Kentucky Derby.  I mean, we are native Kentuckians, right?  No, we didn’t go to any parties or drink mint juleps, sadly.  We really just browsed some yard sales and the flea market and went fishing.

However, I did attend a Derby race held here in town.  We created a most fabulous Derby hat for Lilie to wear for the occasion.  Her preschool class paired up with their reading buddies {4th & 5th graders} for a trainer/jockey duo.  They used tobacco sticks, paper and yarn to build their stick thoroughbreds.  Lilie and Tori {her buddy} named theirs ‘Gopher’.   I have no clue where that came from.  She thought it was great ’til she heard another horse was named ‘Stinky Feet.’

They had several races to avoid crashes and the winner even got to have their picture taken in the winner’s circle covered with “roses.”  It was cute and oh-so-funny to see.   There were some spills, but nothing major.  The first aid area was pitiful and somewhat amusing.  Not that the children were hurt, just… I guess you just had to be there. Yeah.

Do any of your celebrate for the Kentucky Derby?  Cinco de Mayo?  Or maybe you were one of the clever ones and celebrated Cinco de Derby.  Tell me about it!

You know how they say, “kids say the darndest things?” Lilie Jo is constantly coming up with the most random stuff to say.  Sometimes sweet, sometimes cute, but mostly just hilarious.  Her perspective on the world is ever so inspiring.  I thought it would be fun to share some of the entertainment from time to time.  I think I’ll keep a running draft to sporadically add her silly sayings to.  Here’s the latest batch of laughs.

Little boy: {loudly and slightly aggressive} Yeah, and I have a dog and he’s real big.
Lilie:  Yeah!?  Well, I have a cat, name Bogie, and he eats boys!!

Lilie:   I have magic, too.
Lauren:  You do?  What kind of magic?  Can I see?
Lilie:  Yeah, but not at the dinner table.

Me: I love you.
Lilie:  I love you more.
Me: I love you most.
Lilie:  I love you infinity plus three and a half!

Lilie: {in shower} Mom, when I grow up, will I have boobs?
Me: {laughing} Well, yeah.
Lilie: Oh.  So I’ll probably need to use your bras, huh?
Me:  I imagine you’ll have your own by then.
Lilie:  That’s ok.  I’ll just use yours.

Lilie: Mommy, what’s ‘faith?’
Me:  Its like… Well, you know how you believe God is there, even though you can’t see him?
Lilie: Yes, I can.
Me:  God?  Lilie.  When have you ever seen God?
Lilie:  He’s every where, Mommy.  In the clouds, the flowers…
{Wow.  Just wow <3}