The Documented Life: Week 30

I've been doing a little better keeping up with the Documented Life Project, but I'm still behind on blogging them (and, of course, there's the whole little issue of weeks 17-29 that I have to go back and do...). Week 30's challenge was to add receipts, labels and business cards, Smash book-style. So I added a whole little hodgepodge of things and am really happy with the way it came out!
Week 30-2 Kelly

Week 30 was a tough week for me as I learned I was not selected for the position I've been working towards for nearly 10 years. But, after more thought, I think it was a blessing. When the position was finally created, it wasn't exactly what I hoped it would be, and the funding for it was not guaranteed after the first year. Probably best that things worked out the way they did.  I keep reminding myself that everything happens for a reason. I'm simply meant for something bigger!

Week 30-3 Kelly
When I started grabbing things from my table to add in, I spotted my package from the sweet Liv Lane and had to smash her in on the tip-in tag!

Week 30-1 Kelly
The E for elephant card came from a stash of flashcards I picked up I can't remember where, and the elephant stamp came from my stamp stash (stamps are another little addiction I have). Olive Manna is a fun little shop on Etsy I picked up some twine from, and I cut the dream quote out of a 2010 Papaya journal I've had laying around forever for this very purpose! 

Week 30-4 Kelly

See more of my Documented Life Project posts here, and check out the whole project here!

Best Shot Monday: Making a New Tradition

St. George Island 
Since the girls were born, we've spent the second or third week of August visiting my Great Aunt Livy for her birthday. Aunt Livy passed peacefully in her sleep on the night of her 92nd birthday last summer, so we decided it was important to create a new tradition to celebrate her. Now, we'll spend that week on St. George Island, where we took this picture. I'm grateful that I have a friend who owns a lovely little cottage on St. George Island!

These past few weeks have definitely been ones of new adventures.  My blog absence has been due to getting the girls (and me!) ready for middle school!  They started 6th grade last Monday, and it's been quite the challenge for all getting adjusted to the new routine. Not only did the redheads have to make the transition to a new school, they also had to make the transition to riding the bus to school!  Thankfully, I was able to adjust my work schedule so that I can be home with them until the bus comes, though our bus adventure started off on the wrong foot. On the first day, as we stood at the end of our driveway waiting for the bus to stop (we live on a state road, so by law, the bus must stop at our house), the bus just blew right by!  We got in the car and chased the bus down at the next stop, and I had a little chat with the bus driver.  Though she told me we were not on her stop list, I assured her that I had already talked with the transportation department three times over the previous two weeks to ensure that we were, in fact, on her stop list.  When I called the transportation office when I got into work that day, they confirmed that, yes, we were on the list; there must have been a miscommunication with the driver.  Oh well, at least they got that challenge over on the first day, and the bus now stops at our house.

So now, summer's over. (Well, summer isn't really over in Florida until sometime in late October, but you get my point.)  It's been a whirlwind and another testament to that old cliche of time passing so quickly while your kids are growing up.  We're settling into our Fall routine, hoping for a little bit of cooler weather and getting ready for football season! 

Tuesday Treasury Shout Out!: Green Thumbs Up

Green Thumbs Up by KristisBeadsnBaubles 
Thank you to the lovely Kristi of KristisBeadsNBaubles for including one of my photographs in this beautiful treasury featuring Florida artists and members of the Florida Etsy Street Team.  My Queen Anne's Lace photo is third row, third spot.  Hop on over to Etsy to view this treasury in all its clickable glory here and be sure to check out all of Kristi's selections. 

Kristi makes beautiful polymer clay beads and includes them in her own jewelry.  Take a peek at her beautiful shop when you get a chance!  

Best Shot Monday: Zoey and Panda

Zoey 8-3-14
Zoey
Our fosters babies are coming right along! After we lost tiny Bella and Gracie went to Mega, we picked up a new foster to keep tiny Zoey company, sweet little Panda (below). At last weigh in on July 26, Zoey was 14 ounces and Panda was one pound 14 ounces. I'm sure Panda's gained two ounces and is ready for surgery and adoption by this point, but we'll keep him with us until Zoey is ready to go. She still has a pound to go, so we'll probably have her for another month or so.  Way too long to get attached...  Who am I kidding?  I'm already attached...  After losing her sister, she'll be very hard to give up.

These two love to play together, and they've finally gotten big enough to play with Spartacus Pete. Tink prefers to stay upstairs away from the youngin's. I had a bit of a panic moment the other night when I went downstairs to feed them and put them to bed. Benny had already let the dogs in and put them in their crates but left the kits out for me to feed. When I went down there, Zoey didn't come running like she always does.  I called her and called her, but nothing. I walked around the corner, and there she sat ... in Isabelle's crate, right next to Isabelle like they were the best of friends. Isabelle is a nearly 70 pound chocolate lab mix.  Zoey was tiny enough that she was able to squeeze through the bars of Izzy's crate. Izzy looked from me to Zoey and back again like she was saying, "Um, Mom, um, Mom, um, Mom...you do see that she is in here, right?"  I opened the crate, got Zoey out, and hugged and thanked Isabelle profusely for not eating the kitten.  Since then, Zoey can't get enough of her.  If Izzy is around, Zoey wants to sit next to her.  Isabelle's still not sure what to think about that.

Panda 8-3-14
Panda