We're At It Again

Tis' the season for outdoor improvements.  My husband and I both think that outdoor space needs to be functional.  Since we moved into this house almost 6 years ago, we have been slowly transforming it to be exactly what we want it to be.  Last year brought the biggest changes with our slate patio and walkway. 

Can you believe that we took this nasty mosquito trap and turned it into the patio and walkway without having to buy a single piece of slate? 

After all that hardscaping, we still had slate leftover, and when unearthing all the stone, we also had concrete steppers as well.  We put them to use and took care of a spot in our yard that with every rain storm would do under water and become a lovely mud pit for the dogs.

Can you believe we still have slate leftover?  It's true and I have no idea how we are going to use it up.  I'm sure I will come up with something. 

Now, our next project involves this lovely pile of stone that my husband procured with some hard work and sweat from Lowe's.  They discontinued these, when my husband asked if they had any in stock and was told they no longer carry them, he asked about the ones being used on a display.  Well, they were tearing it down and let my husband help with that process.  YAY!  Free stone! 

Now, I am hoping in the next few weeks our next project will be ready for a reveal.

Anyone else DIYing their landscape?  Like up in the comments if you are, I love to get inspired, especially before it gets to hot to work in South Texas heat.

Happy Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!

I was just reading my usual blogs and almost forgot about wishing everyone a Very Happy Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!  Thanks Eric Carle for the reminder.  If you have followed my blog at all, you know that we <3 and="" carle="" caterpillar.="" eric="" hungry="" just="" look="" nbsp="" p="" the="" very="">

This comes from the Read Me Bookcase and if you haven't seen the entire bookcase, you can check it out by clicking here.

It's Bluebonnet Time!

I took the kids and went to scout out the bluebonnets.  I have seen them popping up alongside the highway here in Houston, so I packed up the kids and headed to Brenham, TX.  Brenham is famous for two things, Blue Bell Ice Cream and bluebonnets, the Texas state flower. 

The unusual part was all my favorite hot spots this year, very empty.  Hoping the next few weeks brings them out in droves.  A little rain might help, keeping my fingers crossed for that.

There was one spot that I hit that did not disappoint, a field behind a bunch of commercial buildings.  It's behind the La Quinta.

Somehow, Colton turned on the charm for the pictures.  It might have been the promise of ice cream later. 

Overall, a very successful day.  I cannot wait to go out again.  Nothing makes me happier than seeing my boys try to chase butterflies in fields full of flowers.

Throw Paint

I came across this quote and decided to start throwing some paint on watercolor paper.  Which, I then photographed, uploaded, edited and then photoshopped with the quote on it just for you!  Enjoy!

And if you really want to see the kids and I throwing paint around, check out the Jackson Pollock that we did a while ago.  They still love it and it's still hanging in their room!  

Showing this off at:
Sugar Bee Crafts: Take-A-Look Tuesday

Creative Exercise: Monsters

I have been crawling out of a creative funk and it feels GOOOOOOD!  I started with cleaning up and rearranging my craft/art room.  I have set forth a few creative goals.  I also just want to start drawing and painting for no real purpose other than to do it because, it makes me feel relaxed.

Today I decided to do a creative exercise.  I asked Colton what I should draw/paint and he said monsters.  Monsters it is!

I started out with a stack of ATC (Artist trading cards).  They are small pieces of art paper that are 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

I heisted the sticky googly eyes from the kids craft box.  I randomly stuck them on the ATC's.

From here, I took an artist pen and drew my monsters.  The inspiration for each monster was all about the eyes.

I then grabbed my watercolor paints and a few markers and brought my monsters to life with color.

I love all my monsters.  It was so much fun and relaxing to make these little monsters.

Does anyone want a monster?  I am willing to mail out monsters to the first six people who comment.  I will e-mail the first six for their addresses, so please make sure I have an e-mail address to contact you with.

Sharing this over at:
Tatertots and Jello:  Weekend Wrap Up Party 
So I Married A Craft Blogger:  Man Up Link Up XII

It's For the Birds

Since my son took an interest in birds a few years ago, I have in turn also taken a liking to them.  I like to photograph them and the two of them research to find out what kind we found.  I haven't done much with the photographs but decided that I would change that. 

I took a brand new watercolor journal and decided that I would fill it with sketches of birds from the photographs that I have taken.  Both of these were done with watercolor, colored pencil and pen.

This Yellow-rumped warbler is one of Maben's favorites, all because it has a yellow butt and he thinks that is silly.  I have to agree.

February Best

Top:  Maben hanging upside down, Faberge Egg, Red-bellied Woodpecker
Middle:  Colton devouring a cookie, A beautiful butterfly, Faberge Tiara
Bottom:  5 F-1 rockets on the Saturn V, Yellow-rumped Warbler