Print Winner!

I'm a little late this week getting this posted. School started on Tuesday and I've spent most of my time getting the house back in order and making trips to the store for supplies that our son just seemed to 'have to have' for the next day. That's the one thing that I hate about the first couple of days of school. Why don't the teachers post a list of supplies needed when the students get their schedules for the year. Oh well.......

The winner of the print giveaway is Sweet Harvey. Please contact me with your mailing information so that I can mail out your print choice from my Cindy and Mindy shop.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Play dead!

Early this morning, around 1 AM when our son let the dogs out, I was awoken (is that a word), by my 15 year old, to inform me that our dogs were barking in the backyard. Now you have to understand that this is a big deal. We have two dogs and the younger one, Yeller, barks at EVERYTHING, and then the older one, Jake, only barks at the important stuff, so when I was informed that they were BOTH barking, I had to investigate.

When I got into the backyard, they were barking over the back fence. Of course, I knew that there had to be something on the other side, so I got the shovel and went to investigate. Lo and behold, there on the other side was a small possum. I thought, no big deal, the dogs are up to date with their shots, but I had to get him away from the fence, or the dogs would be barking all night, and I'd never get them back in the house, and the neighbors would NOT be happy with me. I got a pitcher of water and tossed it across the fence at the possum, which made him kind of mad, but it seemed to satisfy Jake, and he headed back to the house. I went back to the porch and as Yeller followed me, Jake tore off the porch and headed to the center of the yard, where Yeller was. He started growling at Yeller, and laid down on the ground. He was guarding something, and trying to keep Yeller away. (Jake is Yeller's dad, and he is a HUGE alpha dog!) Again, I went into the backyard to investigate, and saw that Jake was guarding a possum. NOT the one across the fence. This one was already in the fenced area! I had walked right by it when I went to the fence to investigate in the beginning, and had not even seen it. It seemed to not be moving, but I knew that it had probably been scared, and was playing dead, as they are so famous for doing. I took the shovel, hoping that the darn thing wouldn't suddenly decide to 'wake' up, and scooped him up, and put him on the other side of the fence, next to the road. It seemed to satisfy everyone, but I left the dogs on the back porch for the night, just to be sure.

Well, when I got up this morning, and it finally became daylight, I realized that in fact, he had been playing dead. He was GONE!!!!! I assume that it was probably the mother and the one on the other side was one of her babies. Oh well. At least she lived through the scare of facing two dogs in the night, and I was able to go back into the house and get my sleep.

Oh, and by the way. Neither one were as cute as the clipart I have posted!

Ready for a change.

Well, I've had some comments and requests about my original art, and whether I'd consider selling them. The answer is yes. I've already had some added to my shop, but this is the newest edition to that family. A Boy and His Mouse. I really love the look on Mickey's face. He looks so interested in what that 'his' boy is thinking. Don't you think?

I am working on many more designs, as summer is almost over, and I'm ready to get back in to the swing of things. Look for them soon.

End of Summer Giveaway!!!

Who doesn't love a giveaway!!!???? I know that I certainly do. Since I've been away and busy during the summer, I'm offering an end of summer giveaway. All you need to do, is leave a comment and you'll be entered to win. You get to choose any one item, excluding triple print sets from my Etsy shop. Choose a single print, card or card set. It's your choice! But remember, it's for a print only.

Happy Friday all!!!

The entry deadline is thru Monday, September 7th.

Off to School

Well, it's about that time, and sooner for some than others! Here in the Richmond area they still have until September 8th, but back where I grew up they start to school on August 18th. I'm most excited about the reality of cooler nights coming. We have truly been blessed by having what I would call a 'normal' summer. Now, I know we haven't gotten through August yet, and it usually is the hottest, but knowing that it's almost over, is great!

I did some of the first of the dreaded school shopping this past weekend. I don't mind the actual shopping, it's just the business of actually doing it in a crowd of people. Even though our son is 14, I still enjoy buying at least one pack of Crayola crayons every year, b/c I ADORE the smell!

I'm also not like most moms and dads when it comes to back to school. I really don't look forward to him going back. I do enjoy having the entire day to work without interruption, while he is at school, but overall, I miss him and wish that he could be here more. Maybe it's the thought of him being gone in a few years that makes me sad?! Also, being an only child doesn't help!

Oh well, I guess that's just part of being a mom! How about you. Are you ready to throw the kids on the bus?

Did you think?

I had died?

I thought I had! Not being able to blog has been the worst! After hubbies vacation, we started doing renovations here at the house, and taking time to spend with our son. I'm getting back in the swing now, so.....no worries. I'll be posting again on a regular basis.

Thanks for the emails. This is literally the first full 15 minutes I have been on the computer in over a month.!!!!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th everyone! I got up early this morning to finish my preparations for today. It's such a beautiful day here. Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous, and I'm hoping that today will hold the same for us. Little humidity and a temperature of 82, made it almost feel like a 'normal' summer! The feel of the morning reminded me of my 4th's spent with my family as a kid.

Growing up in a relatively small town, Staunton, Virginia, the 4th caused the town to probably triple in size because of the Statler Brothers. It was always so much fun. The day began for our family with the local parade at Gypsy Hill Park. The parade was your usual type, featuring the Shriners in their little mini cars, clowns, high school bands, police cars, fire trucks but or parades ended with the arrival of the Statler Brother's special guest float and then the Statler's themselves.

When the parade was over, we would head to the local Tastee Freeze to use the bathroom and then home for a day of family fun, including horseshoes, badminton, basketball, baseball and the big cookout. Later that evening we would head back to the park for the Statler concert and fireworks. I didn't listen to the show much once I hit the age of 13. It was then that I was allowed to go down to the 'fairgrounds' by myself where all the teenagers would hang out. We'd eat funnel cake, play quarter toss games, eat french fries and some of the best burgers that I've ever had. The night would end about 11 or so, with a grand fireworks show. Oh, how I miss those times.

The Statler's no longer do that show. I believe they stopped in 1994, the year our son was born. Oh, what I wouldn't do to go back and enjoy one of those 4th's just once more!

So........what do you do on the 4th? Do you have special memories of things that you did as a kid. I'd love to have you share them!