Taylor Swift - Never Grow Up - Music Video

Christmas List...

Is it too early to start a Christmas list?

Oh, well, I'm gonna anyway because notoriously, the time comes, people ask, and I I can't think of a thing. Before I do, let the record show that this I know:

So anyway, here we go:

#1

Columns from Hamby Mill

#2

I am in love with Roughlinen.com

Tricia sent me some samples, and I got a major hankering for her Orkney Duvet, and two of the King Orkney American Shams:

Alright, well, that's all I got right now.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

  

Yard Sale finds...

Amidst all the chaos of Saturday, I did manage to sneak of early for 2 hours of yard sale goodness.  I was pleasantly surprised to find exactly what I was looking for and then some.  Picture frames for our family photos that have been sitting there for a couple of weeks now, and a divider screen for a craft booth.  Total spent: $16.50.  There are good days and bad, but this was a good morning.  Can't wait to get painting.

Stopped over at this awesome antique catch-all in Bluff Park called On a Shoestring.  I love this place!

She's Got a Way

Press play

She's got a way about her.

I don't know what it is,

But I know that I can't live without her.

She's got a way of pleasin.

I don't know why it is,

But there doesn't have to be a reason.

Anyway...

She's got a smile that heals me.

I don't know why it is,

But I have to laugh when she reveals me.

She's got a way of talkin

I don't know why it is, 

But it lifts me up when we are walkin

Anywhere...

She comes to me when I'm feelin down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me and I get turned around

She's got a way of showin'

How I make her feel

And I find the strength to keep on goin'

She's got a light around her

And everywhere she goes, 

a million dreams of love surround her,

Everywhere.

She comes to me when I'm feelin down,

Inspires me without a sound, she touches me

And I get turned around

She's got a smile that heals me

I don't know why it is, 

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is, 

But I know that I can't live without her 

Any way.

--Billy Joel

Dear Diary,

  The name of my blog is 'My Slice of Heaven'.  I like this title.  I really do.  Honestly, that's the way I like to look at things.  My rose-colored glasses sit right there on my dresser.  I put them on, and go about my warm, fuzzy day.  

I avoid the news, usually the telephone, and roam about like an introverted hermit-artist. Occasionally I complain to Hubby that we don't get invited to many dinner parties, but then again, I know that if we did, I would have not much to contribute to conversation and would probably be horribly uncomfortable.  So, roses is the way life works for me, it's comfy cozy, and I like it just fine.

But, then again, do I?  Am I holding out on myself and the world?  

I received this comment on my blog post the other day:

Well. Pleasing Profile and the colourful template. Images enhancing words. Great Mom. Ideal wife. A social neighbour. An artist too. A reflective heart with wisdom. Lucky the acquaintances. Glad to visit and thank You for sharing. Best Wishes. Bye.

It is a really sweet thing to say!  I truly appreciate comments on my blog more than anything.  I think about them.  I ponder them.  I take them to heart.   This one is just above and beyond. 

But is the plastic impression I am putting out there, the complete truth of myself?

 I started thinking this morning about my creative writing professor in college.  She was the best.  Totally unstable, a recovering alcoholic, a divorcee with a troubled teenage daughter, struggling like hell to keep their little house and some food in the dusty cabinets (Lord know she wasn't putting it on the table in fancy dishes).  
But, she wrote.  And she taught us to.  By tapping into that dark part of your heart where the pain comes from, by having the testes to tell the world all the yucky rotten things you have done and people you have hurt.  By, just being real.  Her voice shook when she talked to us.  She had some pretty steep competition in her department, and some pretty nasty critics.  The Bible belt can be a tough place for a woman who knows nothing of Southern Hospitality, posh Sunday best, has no idea how to do small talk, thinks mostly about the burn of tequila, and really really really likes sex (usually in a self-destructive sort of way). 

It seems kinda strange to me that this woman, who has been so influential to me, feels the most safe in front of a computer screen turning her heart inside out for millions to read, and yet, here I sit in front of mine, hiding like a kitten up under my porch.  
I hide behind my pictures, only telling the good times, watching cheesy reality tv and pretending all of life smells like lavender I hope to plant in my backyard very soon?  

Currently, I am about half way through my 30th year.  I had a little mini-breakdown at the beginning of it, realizing how weird it all (you know, life) is and how truly out of control we all are.  I hear that's a pretty common thing to have happen at 29/30. But at the end of that, I told myself that this was my year.  My year to really get to know myself; to create myself, to stand back and watch it all happen;  and to dig deep and give it words.
  
So, here goes...
 And what shall I do with my rose-colored glasses you might ask?
Um...keep them close by for emergencies, of course.  
(Someone has to be the overly positive person in my life.)
But also, get out there, pick up the phone, accept that invitation, and simply let my voice shake too.    

  

More of Spring Break...

So, we are up to Thursday of Spring Break, and here's what else we have been up to...

Honestly, not much other than hanging around the house and trying to find fun things to do without a screen in front of us(not an easy thing for me or my kids), but we did make some muffins and tea, pick up sticks, take a nap on the porch, play with the kittens, do some art and hike, go to Mrs. Nina's (our neighbor) for some story time, create a kitchen garden, read The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and just love on each other in general.  All in all, it's been a good spring break.  I can't complain.

The nest.

I found a blog called Pretties and Posies a couple of weeks ago.  The author, Melanie, has some really great photography on there, which inspired the picture I did above.  

Now, just so everyone knows, I love art, took a little bit when I was a kid, but never really learned anything about it. I never even took art appreciation in school, so I am pretty much an idiot savant in that way.  But, just like they used to run the idiot savant out of town, I may very well get run out of the "art community" (whatever that means), when I tell you that I did this painting with my fingers.  Strangely, I thought artists were known for being non-judgemental and accepting, ya know, that sort of thing.  However, when an artist friend asked me the other day, "Is that Impasto?", and I had no idea what meant, I got a pretty cold answer in response (especially when she found out my true skill level is a little less than a toddler's).    

Haha.  Oh well.  All that to say, I am just a girl, with some paints and some fingers trying to make something pretty every now and again when I get inspired.  Take it for what it is.  

Parenthood...

Okay, where are my Parenthood lovers?

I usually try not to post about tv shows I watch, just because I am usually thinking, "Okay, what are my kids going to care about 20 years from now when they are looking back at this family album?" And usually the answer has nothing to do with the brain fluff I watch on tv.  However, I gotta say, Parenthood is not just brain fluff, and I am starting not to care so much about what my kids think I did 20 years from now.  Some posts have got to be for me, right?  Not to mention the fact that, in 20 years, if my kids even read my blog, they will probably not be shocked to learn that their mom watched rated R movies and had a sex life.  


Anyway, I love Parenthood, and unlike most of the frivolous brain candy I watch (Bachelor, American Idol), it really makes me think.
  
I posted something on Facebook about it a couple of weeks ago, how the show gets to my heart and makes me cry almost every time.  I love Mae Whitman's (Amber) style and the fact that she knits.  Mostly, I can feel where she's at with her dad, and really relate.  


The last couple of episodes have been about Adam Braverman's family, and how they cope with their son, Max's, autism (aspergers really).  
Not many people know this, but we actually had my oldest son tested for aspergers back in the fall.  It was a really scary time.  The doctor concluded that the tests were negative at this point, but he does have some personality tendencies in that direction.  For example, Elijah has a crazy good memory, and he has a tendency to fixate on one or two subjects and obsess about the facts surrounding those subjects (superheroes and geography).  At the same time, his weaknesses fall in the areas of coordination, penmanship, and social cues.  Right now, those things are minimal and just things we have to work on.  There are really too many qualities he possesses that are the opposite of a person with aspergers, to diagnose him.  


Nonetheless, I relate to what the Braverman's are going through.  
The thing I love most about the show is that no matter where you are in your stage of parenting, there is something for you.  And, while the Bravermans may not be the most functional family, (it's not really a place to get sound parenting advice), at the end of the day they all have each other's backs, and they all have a place to belong.  That is what I hope for my kids.  That they can just live, and know they can come home with their ups and downs, because they simply belong.   They belong to this family, to something bigger than themselves, they don't have to worry about what they do so much because they are loved just because they are.   So, check it out and enjoy:

Spring Break Day 1: The Boulders

What an honor to have a rest week with my wonderful boys and good friends. 

Spring break at home is not so bad after all.  In fact, it's quite lovely.  Check out our yesterday, which started with a picnic basket, and almost ended with Yogi bear, but the good stuff in the middle was just friends and fun and the beauty of God's creation...