Renaissance Soul

Happy New Year!! Welcome 2012

2012-01-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

I spent a very quiet New Years Eve by myself as I do every year. Don't be sad, it is just as I desire. When my girls were little, I told my Soulmate to choose something (anything) to do once or twice a year with his daughters (without me) that would last a lifetime. He chose skiing. Perfect, because I don't ski and had no desire to learn, lug all of that equipment around, be cold, have a snotty nose, go up and down a hill for no reason. So every year, he packs those two up and heads for Big Sky, Montana for 4 or 5 days of skiing. I'll admit the years when they were little were tough, lots of crying, lost mittens, frustration, but he persevered and now they pack their own bags, get their own gear on and look forward to that time with just their Dad. I don't go and look forward to the solitude of those days to recharge, regroup, rearrange and realize. I don't do much, read, rest, sleep (alot), take baths, eat snacks for dinner, answer the phone only if I feel like it. Lot's of people are appaled that I would be ALONE on New Years, but for me it is perfectly symbolic, we come into this world alone, we leave alone, and for me saying goodbye to the last year alone and welcoming the new year alone is just as it should be. As for the rest of my days, they are filled to the brim with so many great people, positive energy, lots of laughter, tons of love, and bright, bright lights!! I'm so excited for 2012 and will always look back very fondly on all of my blessings from 2011.

From our snowglobe to yours!! Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Just in case I don't get back here before Christmas! Which is entirely possible!!

Just when you think you don't do enough.........

2011-11-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a challenge for you! For some reason this morning I decided to go in and clean up my photo files. When I load my pics to my editing program they automatically go in by date. If I'm in a hurry, I grab the one I want and post it to facebook, my blog, or send it to a client. So at the end of each year I'm left with lots of files that just have dates on them..............come to find out 2011 was a pretty epic year for me!! It started out with me floundering for direction, ambition and ispiration.................then I took Soul Restoration 1 and 2, from Brave Girls Club, found this photo of my vision board which I LOVE!!

Then we all packed up and went to Sayulita, Mexico.....the whole crew and it was magical!! And WARM!!

There were graduations, first day of highschool, first day of junior high, therefore lots of lasts as well.....

We had lots of parties, birthdays and weddings, and some just for the heck of it!!

And I went to Brave Girls Camp in McCall, Idaho and came home with 30 plus new, amazing friends!!

Here's a pic of me and my roommate!

Kathy and Melody, the founders of Brave Girls and who made it all a reality!

The fall out from these photos was I realized how much weight I had gained, 30 pounds in the past three years......thus September 1st I went back to my trainer, cleaned up my food and started doing my cardio on off days, 10 down, many inches gone. 2012 will see a slimmer, fitter, healthier me!!

Another of my big dreams came true in October, Born in a Barn was birthed and what a great success!!

And what I've noticed about everything I write about this past year, it's not ever about things, but who was there..........because in the end you really do just remember how people make you feel!!

Buffalo Chicken Salad

2011-11-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

I have a few weaknesses...............okay, alot of weaknesses!! But one in particular is for the Buffalo Chicken Salad at the Rib and Chop House here in good old Sheridan, Wyoming. They take an innocent fat free chicken breast, cut it up in pieces, deep fry it, coat it in hot sauce, then into a bed of greens (the healthy part), sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles and bacon (cause, why not?) and two big fat sides of creamy blue cheese dressing. And oh ya, my girlfriend and I like to order a side of fries and toss those into the salad! In my quest to lose some pounds, (by the way I weigh and measure this Friday, so we'll see if this helped), I had to find an alternative to my weakness. After much trial and error......I have succeeded!! And here you go!!

Buffalo Chicken Salad

2 pound chicken breast, pounded and cut into pieces

2/3 c flour
6 T cornstarch
¼ t cayenne pepper
1 t garlic powder
2/3 c Franks hot sauce
1 T olive oil
Heat pan to medium-high, combine flour, cornstarch, cayenne, and garlic powder in a Ziploc bag. Toss in the chicken and shake it up to coat.
Add olive oil to pan and once hot, add chicken and cook on both sides.
Once chicken is cooked put it in a bowl and cover and toss with the hot sauce.
Serve 6.4 ounces of chicken (180 calories) on a bed of greens with lowfat blue cheese dressing.

Lowfat Blue Cheese dressing (best to make day before, tastes just like the really fattening kind)
½ c crumbled blue cheese
6 oz greek yogurt fat free
1 T lemon juice
1 T white wine vinegar
Combine all in a bowl and wah-lah!! Only 85 calories in ¼ cup!!
Total salad calories 265!!

There are just some battles I can't win and craving this is one of them, so why not figure it out!!
I don't have a photo but I'll take one of the real one and my reduced version so you can see it for real!!

Wings for Minnie

2011-11-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

A real sweetheart named Rach Rogers wrote to me on my blog about getting a pair of wings for her daughter, Minnie. I tried to e-mail her back but I'm pretty sure I've got something wrong with my blog settings because I can never e-mail back....this of course makes me all the more determined to find this person. I found her, and her sweet blog and her story about Minnie. Minnie has had many surgeries and her Mom, Rach, tell her that the scars on her back are her angel wings. I asked Rach why so many surgeries and her reply was,

"She was born with cancer, when they took her tumor out it caused her to get sever scoliosis.
I have almost everything blogged...
blog.rachelrogers.com
she had her first surgery when she was one day old.
her last big one one was last February, she has had a rough ride since this last surgery...",

I don't know if it is because I am nosy, or what, but I always have to know who I am making my wings for, so I can think about them while I am making them, and I like to write a personal note on the back.
These wings are for a very special little girl, and I'm pretty sure this is why they have so much spirit! I hope she likes them and she can fly with no more surgeries.

Just for you, Minnie!

Born in a Barn Photos!!

2011-11-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

This sale was an amazing success!! The vendors, the weather, the stock, the energy, everything combined to make our very first Born in a Barn an amazing event!! Stay tuned for our next one in June, 2012!!

Chicken, chicken, chicken..............I love chicken!!

2011-10-25T10:10:00.001-06:00

I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but I did see it! I baked 6 chicken breast at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. As soon as they came out I put them in the bowl of my kitchen aid with the paddle attachement (not the dough hook), turned it on to 4 speed for 20 seconds, instant shredded chicken!! I love, love, love it!! So here, is my new taquito recipe with shredded chicken. Yumola!!

Chicken Taquitos:

300 grams shredded chicken breast

8 T La Victoria green chili salsa

1/3 c. Greek yogurt

1 c. fat free cheddar cheese
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t cumin
1/4 t garlic powder

6 La Tortilla Factory low fat/low carb tortillas

Mix first 4 ingrediants together and spices, divide evenly between the 6 tortillas, bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes until edges start to brown. These are off the hook good. 187 calories each, 15 carbs, 6 grams of fat, 29 grams of protien. And then a little dish of greek yogurt to dip in or salsa.

And progress: I've been eating clean and doing cardio on my off days, the weight is coming off!!

My guitar and new soul sister!!

2011-10-18T15:39:00.001-06:00

I posted on September 25th about "There are no coincidences" and there truly aren't. We are all meant to come into each others orbits for a reason, a season, a lifetime........so.........the day before my very first Born in a Barn sale a mysteriously shaped box arrives for me, from Shelly in Texas.........of course I know what is in it but refuse to open it because I am so busy and I want to enjoy it, love it, welcome it to my world!! So I wait until Sunday, I am deliriously tired, exhausted, messed up......but I take lovely box into my room and open it...........just like the picture!! Yea!! And here she is, on my mantel in my bedroom!!

But that's not all!! My friend also sent me this fabulous bracelet!! That I love!

She wanted me to wear it for the show......thank goodness I didn't, the rabid crowd would have ripped it from my arm and ran! But I'm hoping she will send a bunch up for my next sale!!

I know I should be posting Born in a Barn info but I have to get all of the photos from my sister and then I can share my big fat successful 2 day sale!!

Born to be Brave!!

2011-10-07T13:53:00.001-06:00

Lady Gaga sings a song called "Born this Way" and if you listen really closely at the very end she sings, "Born to be Brave", that song went through Soul Restoration 1, Soul Restoration 2, the long drive to Idaho for Brave Girls Camp with 30 + women I had never met before and now when I start doubting myself with the Born in a Barn concept.....I play it too! Then my sister did this wonderful poster to sell at Born in a Barn.....think I'm on the right road???

This print is available for sale, high quality suitable for framing, 24x24, $44 includes shipping. Contact Mindy @ mindywilsonphotography.com or e-mail her @ mindywilson97@msn.com Get your Brave on my friends!!

Born in a Barn......WHERE ARE YOU???

2011-10-05T17:45:00.000-06:00

It has come to my attention that I have not posted the exact location of the first Born in a Barn sale on my blog. So this is for Anonymous who asked where is this sale! I couldn't respond to you via e-mail so I hope this will do!!

Born in a Barn was created by Shelley Kinnison, Jill Chase and Mindy Wilson to support our serious addiction to repurposing, refurbishing and refreshing all kinds of junk. Luckily, we have found some others with similar issues. Even when your house is full these behaviors don’t go away, so we are having a sale and inviting the public to come and take it away! Friday, October 14^th and Saturday, October 15^th we will open the gates at 10:00; there is plenty of parking in the field and Barn Boys to help cart your treasures away. Join us at 415 Highway 14 for our very first Born in a Barn Sale!!

Lot's of pumpkins from Jill Chase!!

Wings............

2011-10-04T13:27:00.000-06:00

The law of attraction is off the ricter scale in my little orbit right now! First, the guitar two weeks ago.....and it turns out she is also a big fan of Brave Girls, and was going to quit doing her beautiful guitars, and her name is Shelly (oh ya, I already said that part) and......ooops, off the train tracks. This post is about another connection that was AMAZING!! Last winter my friend and I did a makeover on another friends clothing store, she wanted more of an Anthropology look... so we drug in all kinds of stuff and I had been making angel wings ever since Brave Girls for all of my friends. So I thought, here's your chance to see if anyone will actually pay for your art. I made three big sets of wings......no one bought them....crap, everyone said they loved them, so maybe I over priced them? Oh well, alot of time and energy went into making them, I'm not going to pay people to have them. Then the store sold to a new owner and she is going for a totally different look so we need to go get our stuff. WoW, one pair of the wings sold....so I gather up the other two and bring them home. Then I have a baby shower for a friend and one of the guests asks if she can buy a set of wings..........WoW, a little more validation. So I gather my little artistic ego up off the floor and think I'll make some for the barn sale. One afternoon I'm sitting and folding to make wings and the phone rings, "Hi, this is Barbara from the Chamber of Commerce and I'm looking for an artist by the last name of Kinnison and just thought you might be able to help me?", I say, "My mother in-law does water color paintings, her name is Sharon, is that who you are looking for?", "No, this is a paper artist, she does things, with old books.", I actually laugh out loud.....there are quite a few people I consider artists, but I have never put myself in that category....."That's me!", "Great, there is a woman in town who is dying to find you and buy some of your wings, can I give her your number?", I say "Sure", still thinking this is so bizarre! Phone rings, "Shelley?", "Yes", some squealing and sounds of joy, "I can't believe I found you, I'm so excited, I need wings, don't think I'm a stalker, but I kinda of am, it was so hard to find you, I love your art...." , by now my head is so big I have to open double doors and go sideways to fit it outside.....but hey, you bet I'll meet you for coffee and let you adore me a little bit more! Next morning I get my butt up and out to meet for coffee and there is the sweetest soul I've met in a very long time and yes, she does need wings, because her name is Angela!!

Queen of a whole freakin lot!!

2011-09-29T14:37:00.000-06:00

My yummy friend Dana, who often puts lovely little suprises in my mail box, seems to be under the mistaken impression that I am going over and beyond when it comes to her boys, who by the way are AMAZING, so on her return trip from San Fran she brought me these two great prints that pretty much describe me to a tee!!

I love the "Yea me!" at the bottom of this one! It goes along well with my other post about being Awesome!!

This one is harder to read, but it is true...."there comes a time in the day that no matter what the question.....the answer is wine", yep, yep, yep. They are both from erinsmithart.com.

I love surprise gifts, they are the very, very best!!

A little bit of staging............

2011-09-26T16:20:00.000-06:00

Jill and I drug a few sale items out today and created some drool worthy photos!! All for Born in a Barn!!

There are no coincidences???

2011-09-25T15:11:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week on Pinterest, I spotted this most awesome, altered guitar, and pinned it. I don't play but it was so awesome, I loved it, maybe one day I would find a guitar and do something like it! It's gorgeous, right?

Then yesterday I was googling around looking for stuff for my sale, in the junk, gypsy, cowgirl type theme, didn't find too much, till about three pages in this guitar pops up with a link to Etsy......could it be true? Could delicious, eye candy guitar actually be for sale? I clicked.....thinking, this is a really old link, no way it will still be there, but what if it is? And since we live with the slowest internet in the land, I really and truly had the time to think all of this stuff......finallly the page starts to open and lo and behold there she is! Still available and at a price I could totally afford. In my giddy excitement, I send the artist a note, how I'm in awe, and can't believe I get to have this, and how much I love her work, and blah, blah, blah......afterwards, I'm thinking WOW you freaky Etsy stalker. Then I quickly buy gorgeous Soul Guitar, Paypal, so the money is there instantly. What a great day.

But wait.....it gets better!! I KNOW!!

This is the reply from my purchase:
You sent a payment of $XXX.XX USD to Shelly Boles (shelboles@att.net)

Are you freaking kidding?? Her name is Shelly.........my name is Shelley!!! I KNOW!!
Of course, I can't stand it one second and quickly send her another e-mail (this kind of harassment might cost me the guitar but I have to let her know!!):

"And then I get the confirmation and we are both named Shelley!! Sometimes stuff is just too freaky!! Can't wait to hear from you and see if you think this is amazing?? Shelley"

But she is a kindred spirit and replies:

Hi Shelly!

Im about to head out of town tomorrow or I might write a book here, but YES I think its amazing too. Love it in every way!! Can't wait to ship the guitar out to you! Of course I would love to do some wholesale for you...Ill email when I return home on Tuesday. Thanks so much for the emails. It just made my weekend fabulous!

WOW! WOW! I can't wait till I can really find out the whole story behind my guitar and tell her about being a renaissance soul and we have the same name and.........................................

Cast iron hearts!! LOVE!!

2011-09-22T12:50:00.000-06:00

Gorgeous!! Cast iron hearts, some painted white and red, others just natural!! My two favorite things, hearts and metal, combined!! For sale at Born in a Barn, October 14 and 15, Sheridan, Wyoming (my favorite place!).

It's out, it's public, no going back now!!

2011-09-20T17:58:00.000-06:00

My extremely talented sister did a logo for me and the ads come out in our little local weekly paper next Tuesday!! Seeing in in print and posters makes it feel very real!!

Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps!

2011-08-31T10:58:00.000-06:00

These are so good and it makes a TON!!

Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps

This delicious, healthy recipe can be served as a family-style meal, an appetizer, or a party buffet. It makes a big batch - enough to eat now, freeze more for later, or feed a crowd.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoon canola oil

• 3 pounds ground turkey breast

• 1-1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled (1 tablespoon minced)

• 3 garlic cloves (1 tablespoon minced)

• 4 medium carrots

• 10 green onions (white and green parts);

• 1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts

• 1 (8 oz) can bamboo shoots

• 1 cup hoisin sauce

• 1/2 cup soy sauce

• 1/3 cup dry sherry

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon Sriracha or other hot chili sauce or paste

• Boston Bibb lettuce (for a meal, allow 3-4 leaves per person); may substitute other lettuce with small, cup-shaped leaves

• Brown rice, cooked (optional)

• TOPPINGS (optional):

• chopped peanuts

• cilantro

• Sriracha chili sauce

• Asian Peanut sauce (recipe at www.theyummylife.com/recipes/16)

• Asian Spicy Lime & Ginger Sauce (recipe at www.theyummylife.com/recipes/138)

Directions

MINCE THE VEGGIES: Vegetables may all be minced by hand; however it's easier to use a food processor (FP) if you have one. Process in this order: 1. mince the garlic and ginger together in FP; 2. chop the carrots into 1" chunks and add them to FP and process until minced; 3. remove garlic/ginger/carrots to separate bowl; 4. chop green onions into 2" pieces and add with bamboo shoots and water chestnuts to FP; process until minced.

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS: Add canola oil to skillet and heat on stove-top on med-high heat. Add turkey, cook until browned with no pink remaining; break apart chunks with spatula as turkey browns. Add minced veggies (garlic, ginger, carrots, onions, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts) and cook 5-10 min., until tender. In separate bowl, whisk together hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sherry, sesame oil, and chili sauce; add to turkey mixture. Stir and cook until heated through, approx. 5 minutes.

TO SERVE: Spoon rice and turkey mixture into a lettuce leaf. Add toppings, if desired. Roll the lettuce leaf and eat.

TO FREEZE: Add turkey mixture to ziploc freezer bags - 2 cups of turkey mix per quart size bag. Flatten the bag, press out as much air as possible, and seal. Put in the freezer on a tray to keep it flat. Once frozen, remove from tray and stack bags in your freezer. May be frozen for several months. Reheats quickly in microwave.

FOR APPETIZERS: Use endive instead of lettuce. Fill leaves with turkey mixture and arrange on platter.

Egg cups and eating clean!!

2011-08-30T09:47:00.000-06:00

Eating clean, here is a great idea for breakfast! Packed with protein, quick to prepare an you are off to a great start!! Get a quart of Lucerne Best of the Egg, (15-1/4 cup servings) mix in 2 teaspoons seasoning salt, onion, green pepper, mushroom and 1 cup mozzerella or any lowfat cheese. Pour mix into muffin tins sprayed liberally with Pam, about 1/3 c. per muffin. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.....they will come out puffy but then deflate (ha ha just like about everything!). Have two with salsa and 1 cup of milk for a really filling 200 calorie breakfast! One egg muffin has 54 calories, 2 g carb, 2 g fat and 8 grams of protien! Fed it to my sidekick in crime and fitness, Jilly, and she loved it!! Now back to work!! And oh ya, don't forget, water, water, water to flush the FAT!!

Losing weight.....it's time!

2011-08-29T14:16:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture of me, cutting my nephews hair, 4 years ago when we moved out to our ranch. I lifted weights or did cardio, 6 days a week, I was eating good clean food and it showed! I kept at it sporadically that year after moving, then I had surgery, then I got this really bad cold that lasted a whole summer, and then I never got back to it. Well, that hasn't worked out so well for me. Because I went through menopause very early (at 38, the year after I had Sammie) and chose not to take hormone replacement. I'm am a walking magnet for pounds and have managed to attract 30 extra's!! Holy smokes!!

The picture below taken at Brave Girls camp was a real eye opener!! I'm not someone who gets dressed and looks in the mirror at all angles.....not much of my summer stuff fit, but I was okay with that , went up a size, and I must have my jeans really STRETCHED out or they are making those size 8's awfully big!! This is me now!

And the "L" sign we are showing is for "Lock it Up", that can mean pretty much anything, but for me it means I'm lockin it up and losing this flippen weight! And that little gem started today! Got me a new trainer, I know exactly what I need to eat to shed it. 30 pounds is my goal so lets go, lock it up!!

Barn Cleaning..........

2011-08-28T18:48:00.000-06:00

Every step we take brings us that much closer to our goal. This week, the mission was to clean the barn. This is not a very fun thing to do, so Jill came over and we literally puked the entire contents of the two bigger sheds onto the barnyard.............upon returning home with Mr Renaissance, oldest daughter Cloie dramatically rolls her eyes so she can see her brain, and declares our place a junk yard. We sorted, stashed, stacked and then power washed. Here are our empty spaces, on for me, one for Jilly!

I couldn't wait and had to have Mr. Renaissance put up these cute metal awnings, inside, yep, inside. Jill's space is on the left, mine on the right! Can't wait to transform them!!

Then these two little Renaissant's in training cleaned out and powerwashed the main barn, and here are all of the stalls, bright and shiny, ready to be filled with vendors goodies!!

It's all ready for beautiful, rusty, restored, refurbished, ready to be loved again goods to grace a new home! What a joy this is to work on, stay tuned for more news from the ranch, and Born in a Barn!

Blog LOSER!!

2011-08-14T15:20:00.000-06:00

I apologize for being so incredibly negligent of my blog! I promise after my Born in a Barn sale I will be better! I'm painting furniture, going to sales and ordering some goods wholesale to add to the joy of my world! We are filling garages with fabulous finds and meeting potential vendors when and where ever I can! I've wanted to do this for so very long I almost can't believe it is going to happen!! More later!!

Brave Girls Camp

2011-07-30T13:23:00.000-06:00

Brave Girls Camp July 2011, was everything promised and MORE! That's Miss Melody in the middle and who knows what the pose is about. She is exactly who she is on the video's. She laughs, she crys, she looks you right in the eyes, she is in the moment, and the next moment distracted by someone else's moment. There isn't a fake, mean, self serving cell in her body. She is truly on a mission to empower women and you know what.....she is succeeding!

When we arrived we were greeted with so much love and acceptance it almost felt surreal! As Miss Angel (in photo below) later admitted that she thought...."Oh great, beautiful fake people.....". It is sad to think we have become so jaded as a society that we immediately think a stranger couldn't embrace us and love us.

Also that first night, I was paired up with Miss Angel. As we got ready to try and sleep that night in our shared Queen sized bed.....she looks over at me and says, "I flew all the way across the country to sleep with a white girl from Wyoming! This better be worth it!". Turns out the picked the perfect ornery girls to share a room and our lives!

There were break throughs and break downs. But there was always the perfect person right there to listen and help put the pieces back together. Coincidence? I don't think so.

There was laughter, love, stories, history, culture, tales, more and more and more of the same! We learned to lock it down and Shhhhhhhhhh......both incredibly powerful tools. Thank you Miss Tanya!!

Some came with their best friends and we all got to share in their trust and love for each other, and then we found we could trust and love everyone there, instantly I had 20+ new best friends!

Some came with their mothers and we got to share in their beautiful relationship. We could celebrate the love we have for our mothers or mourn the love we never had, either way we were healed!

And then there was ART, everyone is an artist and this proves it. The art that was created was amazing and gallery worthy. But the conversations being held while the creating was going on was the real work and the real art!

Everyone was transformed from tired, worn out, distrustful, to rejuvinated, revived and loved!! In other word BEAMING just like the beautiful Miss Julia!!

There is move to come, but I knew I better get something up here! I stole all of these photos from my fellow campers, I know they won't mind.....I was just too busy to take my camera out!! I will truly remember this experience FOREVER, life changing, indescribable until you experience for yourself!! Be Brave, love Shelley

I've done it now...put it out there!!

2011-06-29T15:32:00.000-06:00

Born in a Barn

First Fall Sale, October 14th and 15th, 2011

I am currently in the process of putting together a sale that will be called Born in a Barn. This type of sale is very popular all over the United States, one of the biggest being Round Top Texas (go to http://www.antiqueweekend.com). I am not looking at doing something on this large of scale!! These sales enable people who love to collect, refurbish or make things to have the opportunity to retail their items in a supportive, collective environment! A couple of guys in Washington State have a sale called Barn House, they invite friends of theirs to set up shop for the weekend at their farm (go to http://www.barnhousebh.com), their friends in turn invite them to set up shop at their sale (go to http://retreatdesign.blogspot.com). And round and round they go! There is nothing except for the occasional craft show at a school gym or hotel around here. I want to put it together so we have a quality of goods similar to the antiques that Neltji offers (at prices regular people can afford). With out having to maintain a store front and no employee costs, the goods can be sold at prices that are reasonable. This letter is going out to a very few of you I have met here and there. Starting out small is fine with me, starting out big is fine with me too…..finding vendors to pack up and come to Highway 14 in Sheridan, Wyoming will be a little bit of a challenge, but I’m not scared! I’m hoping to have an organizational meeting around mid August. If any of you have people you think would be interested and would fit into this kind of sale, please let me know. I can make an appointment to see their goods and go from there! Any input is greatly appreciated and you can e-mail me at this address: shelley@tkinnison.com

So excited for this new adventure!!

Speaking of Abundance......

2011-06-24T15:34:00.000-06:00

When we lived in town we had a sheepwagon in our yard that the kids always played in and it was a focal point of my yard.......then we moved to a ranch? What better place for a sheep wagon.....the father-in-law had better ideas and wisked it away to somewhere else...... so I was very sad :( ......until one day we were touring the hunting land behind us with our neighbor who owns it, we went in a big ranch circle, opening and closing lots of gates, and came out up the road at his place. He's showing us around, and all of his tractors, and what's that right behind the tractors?? A fully restore, refurbished as good as brand new sheep wagon!! Why is it in the barn? Don't know what else to do with it, why? You want it at your place? Next to the bunkhouse for overflow kids and vacationers?? Why, yes, yes, I do! Great.....I'll just bring it right on over and you can have it every summer!! Well.......thank you Abundance!!

And here she is in all her glory! I haven't tricked it out yet......she will be magical then!!

ABUNDANCE.................

2011-06-24T14:07:00.000-06:00

Ask and you shall receive!! HOLY COW! Or I should say HOLY CANNING JARS! I was thinking I need a dozen or so turquoise blue canning jars for a little project I want to sell at Born in a Barn this fall......so I toddle into to town to help a friend with a garage sale.....scuttle and chat tells me of a huge, hord across town....not to be left out of the hord.....right over I go......and the objects of my desire, where waiting for me 10 fold!!

All of these so I can make these!!

This.....now this.......

2011-06-07T17:30:00.001-06:00

First I did this......in January and February of this year!!

Now I'm going to this...........scarey because I have to really decide who I want to be when I grow up......now that I am almost 50!

And the cherry on top is going to be this in July!!

If you haven't you should! You'll love it, you'll love it!!

Happy Birthday to Cloie!!

2011-05-30T15:48:00.000-06:00

Cloie, last years birthday, 13, got her ears pierced!

To this! A photo shoot with her Aunt, 14. I'm thinking we can just stop right here and now!!

FFF at Miss Mustard Seed!

2011-05-27T08:40:00.000-06:00

I'm linking today to Miss Mustard Seeds Furniture Feature Friday (try to say that 5 times fast!). It's an old post but I've never had time to send it! Can't wait to find more furniture to rehab this summer....if summer ever comes. More rain and snow forcasted for this week-end, but sunshine today!! If you are stuck inside this week-end get some furniture inspiration here:

Wing winners!!

2011-05-21T09:06:00.000-06:00

Drumroll!! Winners of the Wings! Lori Kindle and Kim Ryan!! Thanks to everyone who visited and commented!! Thanks! Shelley

Abundance.................

2011-05-20T09:06:00.000-06:00

Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.

Luke 6:38 RSV

Dressing Tables making a comeback!

2011-05-12T10:52:00.000-06:00

I have had a dressing table since I was in highschool......my Mom set both my sister and I up, so we wouldn't clog up the bathroom! I took it to college with me, to the first house I bought, and then the next and the next. I can't imagine my life without the luxury of sitting down to do my hair and makeup! I was looking at Liz Marie's blog and found her Vanity Closet make over @ http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2011/04/amazing-led-lights-question.html, I think dressing tables are making a comeback!! And here is mine!!

My life with metal!!

2011-05-07T09:41:00.000-06:00

I have a LOVE, LOVE, LOVE of metal! I love it in any form it comes in! So when I saw the metal Saturday at Freckled Laundry I was overjoyed! This is just a samll sample of the metal that abounds in my house!!

The HUGE table was found in an antique mall in Billings, Montana.....it wasn't metal then but 1980's glass with brass, the glass panels popped right out and it was instantly rustic with heavy sheet metal in place!

My counters in the kitchen are sheet metal with angel iron edges! I love how they patina are indestructable!

Vintage metal stools from the science lab in my old junior highschool, bought at auction.

Keys collected and saved in silver serving bowl, you can see more metal objects in the background, from door knobs to tea balls.....I'm fascinated with all of it's uses!

Vintage locks and door knobs sit right beside the bowl of keys....I've had kids spend hours seeing if they can get one to open!!

Salvaged tin roofing on the walls of my summer porch!

Dark metal diamond plate on the stairs of our home, continues to patina and wear with time.

An old store counter serves as our island in the kitchen. Sheet metal and angle iron serve as the top, supported by salvaged corbels and metal stools....we live around this island!

This antique tool box serves time now as a polish station, somone took alot of time to put metal tacks in to form the word TOOLS, on the left are more metal touches on corners and drawers!

I've got lots more but this is all I have time for right now!! I'm linking to

Sharing the Love!! Brave Girls Style!!

2011-05-06T12:27:00.008-06:00

Ever since I took the Brave Girls On-line Soul Restoration class....I've been making wings!! One of my favorite quotes is ""Inspiring you all to take a leap and build your wings on the way down"(Celebrate Daring) – Doré

So I've been building wings and giving them to all of my Brave Girlfriends!! And in honor of Share the Love at Bravegirlsclub.com http://bravegirlsclub.com/share-the-love I will be giving away one of each. Wings made from shredded pattern pieces:

And wings made from shredded book pages!! It's easy, just leave me a comment on this post and on May 20th I will pick a winner, winner, chicken dinner.....no pun intended concerning chicken wings!!

Stay Brave and Share the Love!! Shelley

PS: photos courtesy of mindywilsonphotography.com

PSS: if you don't win and just have to have wings let me know! $42 per soaring pair :)

Linking to Air your Laundry at

Winners of the Wings!! Kim Ryan and Lori Kindle! I'll be flying them your way!!

Friends............

2011-05-01T07:28:00.000-06:00

My sister took this photo of two beautiful white horses that we keep in the pasture for a friend. They are always together, with that communication that only two beings, having been together so long, have between each other. I love the symetry (sp) of this photo and the feelings it brings to the surface for me. Thanks, Mindy! If you would like to have your own.....prints are available at

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73104267/friends-12x14-fine-art-print, I would love to see it wall sized in a dining room!!

Painted Path: In Celebration of "Lose Your Little Mind"

2011-04-28T08:05:00.000-06:00

Speechless! This little video will forever inspire me!
Painted Path: In Celebration of "Lose Your Little Mind": "My eyes are fixed on the most gorgeous rainbow right now, its magical presence seems so appropriate in this moment when I've come here, wit..."

Welllllllll, hello, spring, where have you been hiding?

2011-04-25T08:35:00.000-06:00

The vase fit perfectly in this old bank bag! Filled with yellow and white flowers! Hello....spring!

On a wing and a prayer!

2011-04-18T19:28:00.001-06:00

I've had such a positive response to my wings that they are now available for sale! $42 for the shredded paper wings plus shipping. All are unique and one of a kind, just like real angels! Just e-mail me if you are interested, they are also available at Over the Moon, in Sheridan, Wyoming! Thanks for visiting!

I've got a thing for wings! These are made from shredded book pages!

Wings made from coffee stained muslin!

Shred wings outside....these are my favorite wings to date!!

I heart Sayulita, Mexico and the Heart Store!

2011-04-16T10:37:00.000-06:00

My favorite place in Sayulita, Mexico......this store has so much heart and soul!! Wish I was there for just a little bit today!!

Whip My Hair!

2011-04-14T11:44:00.001-06:00

Whip My Hair!, a set by boheemiannelife on Flickr.

My daughters (10) new favorite song is "Whip my Hair" by Willow Smith......so with tunes cranked up, sister photographer, we had us a little hair whippen photo shoot!! Makes ya feel good!!

First Estate Sale of the Year!!

2011-03-30T12:53:00.000-06:00

My sister and I, and our faithful sidekick, Jill, take on one or two, sometimes more, Estate Sales each year. It started because we were, and still are, doing interior painting. But this painting job came with a house full of stuff, lots of stuff. So we bid on the Estate Sale as well. Now we get lots of calls for estate sales too! Who knows where the road may lead? Here are a few little treasures from the one we are working on right now!

Love the deep blue color of this little makeup case!

Chicken painting!

Little pedestel plate!

Pedestel plate with my jewels!

No, I don't need another one of these, but isn't it cute!

What have you Mod Podged with book pages????

2011-03-29T08:45:00.000-06:00

If it isn't alive, I've probably Mod Podged it! This refrigerator was just too white for my liking, so I applied an old dictionary to it!

This old chair.....spiced it up with a few of my favorite things....it's been all over my home for years, and is still one thing visitors always pick out first!!

Another suitcase that met its fate with a dictionary!

And my angel wings, not entire modpodge but the edging is done with wet pages braided together and finished with mod podge!

And my latest creation, three ring binders spruced up with fabric, book pages, and of course, mod podge!

For more great ideas go to a favorite website of mine, http://www.modpodgerocksblog.com/

Re-habbed Binders!!

2011-03-25T11:13:00.000-06:00

My slick plastic binders, housing all of my favorite things, looked horribly out of place on my new, rustic shelves! So I re-habbed 'em, with mod podge, fabric, old book and letters! Love them!

ABC, all about me!!

2011-03-10T08:38:00.001-07:00

A-B-C, all about me!!
Age: Not 50!!
Bed size: King.....changed my life and my ability to sleep! Now I just wave at Mr. Renaissance in the morning!
Chore you hate: Cleaning the floors......will put it off til dust bunnies are as big as the dogs, so I hire it done and find a painting job to pay the cleaning lady!
Dogs: Two, large Germans! They are only 2 1/2 so still young. My best dog ever, was a Mutt from the pound, her name was Garbo and she laid across my lap through both of my pregnancies to protect my babies!
Essential start to your day: coffe, zone protien bar, and milk.
Favorite color: Right now turquoise blue, but could change at any minute!
Gold or silver: Always silver.
Height: 5’3" and shrinking!
Instruments you play: Does my I-pod count?
Job title: Mom, wife, sister, daughter, best friend, boss, Aunt, friend, servant of God.
Kids: Two girls, 13 and 10!! Lovely!
Live: Wild and Wonderful Wyoming
Mom’s name: Viola, nicknamed Gidget when she refused to answer to Mom anymore.
Nicknames: I don't think I have any, maybe just the naughty ones they won't say to my face!
Overnight hospital stays: (2) one for each girl, (1) for an elective surgery gone wrong!
Pet peeve: Wasting my time.
Quote from a movie: "You're never gonna make it" The Dewey Cox Story
Righty or Lefty: Right.
Siblings: Best ever Sister, 2 years and 2 days younger, and brother, 4 years younger
Time you wake up: depends on when I go down, I need 9 hours to be human!
Underwear: Yup!
Vegetables you dislike: Brussel sprouts
What makes you run late: Don't, being late is disrespectful.
X-rays you’ve had: teeth!
Yummy food you make: Love to cook! Love to bake! Too much to list!!
Zoo animal favorite: Not a fan of zoo's, always fee bad for the animals to be all caged and not in their own environments.

Pages from Soul Restoration with Brave Girls!

2011-03-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

Cover of my Soul Restoration book!

Back of my Soul Restoration Book!

My Truthteller page.

My weak and strong selves! Could move mountains if those two girls will work together!! :)

Soul Restoration Blog Hop!

2011-03-04T12:26:00.001-07:00

I was one of the lucky first class to go through Soul Restoration on line! I've done a few things in my life that I knew at the time were going to change who I was, thus change the direction of my life. Sometimes they were good things, sometimes they were bad things. But all combined got me to right where I am. Wouldn't change a thing because it would change everything. Soul Restoration, for me, is one of those "big" things. I have been blessed more than the average human being...I just didn't always know the "how and the why". Now I know, and this class taught me that. Mine is different than everyone else, so if you need to find out, this is a great path to take! I won't hesitate to take Soul Restoration 2, and I'm off to Brave Girls Camp in July. Melody and Kathy have had to put a price on their gift, but to me it is priceless! I'm looking forward to the second half of my amazing life, with more enthusiasm, gratitude, wisdom and knowledge and can only hope to encourage everyone I know to embrace the gift that these two Brave Girls and their cast of Bravettes have given to all of us!! Thank you, Brave and Awesome, Shelley

Resgister here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e39qbs048a48598d&oseq

Change your life!

Next blog on the hop is Deb at http://www.aswewalkalongtheway.blogspot.com/

Dick Blick Bliss!!

2011-02-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love, love...................Dick Blick! It is supply nirvana at great prices. And yes, Mod Podge by the GALLON!! So this morning at 7:30 I spotted the Fed Ex truck coming down the lane.....could it be? Yes, it was!

One gallon matt Mod Podge! Aint she purdy!

Sharpie mettallic paint pens, three sizes of White paint Sharpies, and the lovely, indestructable E6000 glue!

In my Dick Blick Bliss, I hoist said gallon of Podge above my head and sing the Hallelujah Song, which is just like the Shut Up song only with different words. This puts the 13 year soul right over the edge of her tenuous hold on a good morning and she say, and I quote......"Thanks Mom, the Hallelujah song is now responsible for the worst morning of my life!". Really??

Hit the Thrifts and found a few lovelies!!

2011-02-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Found such lovely things! The black leather coat on the left is J.Crew, fit me perfectly and is worn to a buttery softness! Who would give this up? It is hanging of this beautiful handmade crate.....I love old wooden boxes!

A worn, loved bible, smaller book is The Words of Jesus, two silver cups, one for Pat and one for Tim, a turquoise bottle and emerald green dish!

Little retro Avon bottles!

A trove of silver spoons, in a black Hagar planer, a silver footed canlde holder with another little Avon bottle in it!

Couldn't resist the best sport stories of 1963 (the year I was born) and I'm a sucker for worn out baseballs, my nephew Isaac plays and will be leaving for college soon on a baseball scholarship!

But the best find of the day was a perfect, gorgeous, light pink wedding dress for my sisters photo shoot to promote wedding photography! We had been asking the universe for one we could afford and there she was in all of her $25 glory! Thrilled!!

Bottles and Baubles!!

2011-02-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

While restoring my soul, and waiting for things to dry, I made a few of these for our Born in a Barn, fall sale!!

Did you know...............

2011-02-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

There may have to be an intervetion.....I'm obsessed and admitted it when I ordered an entire gallon of:

Everytime I pass through my work area, I grab a brush and start adhering something to something, when they break down the doors they will find me with bits and pieces stuck all over me, gluey, gooey brushes everywhere and I'll be elbow deep in my new gallon of Mod Podge! Who knew Soul Restoration would lead to this!!

Finishing Soul Restoration!

2011-02-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

Soul Restoration is a life changing experience, can't wait for my next chapter and those who will come on the ride with me!! Go to http://bravegirlsclub.com/ and sign up to change your life today!!

"Anyone who is not on your same evolutionary & spiritual frequency will distance himself from you, while all those who are on the same evolutionary & spiritual frequency as you will come closer to you; you will see how amazing it is to discover that everyone who needs to be by your side will ultimately appear in your life in the most spontaneous & divine manner. That's how powerful the mind is!"
-Ricky Martin

Pinterest.com

2011-02-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

Between Soul Restoration and this new little addiction I've had no time!! So far this is the funniest thing I've found on pinterest.com, fair warning if you go there, you may never come back!! Next to singing "the shut-up song" and letting my best friend get blamed for it, this made me laugh out loud!!

New to me.....Old shelves!!

2011-01-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

This whole wall of shelves was designed and custom built for this space. All of the boards are salvaged barn wood. The corbels on the ends were from Billings, MT and the drawers from a store counter that was used in the kitchen.

The top shelf is over 17 feet long! And holds photos taken every summer of my girls in 1940's art deco painted glass frames.

The corbels with white paint are the perfect contrast to the aged barn wood.

Could not be more pleased with this project!!

A beautiful friend going through cancer.

2011-01-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

A beautiful friend of mine has cancer and is going though treatment. She has lost her hair. She has bad days, and good days but her ATTITUDE is amazing......so I sent her this! Feel free to copy and paste to anyone you think might need it!!

Attitude

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?" So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
Attitude is everything.

A few blasts from my past showed up on my timeline!!

2011-01-21T13:29:00.001-07:00

My sister's one year old picture

My brother at one, check out my outfit in background!

Senior Highschool Graduation

8th grade......can't believe my Mom let me choose those glasses!

First guy I fell truly in love with!

Highschool

My one year old birthday!!

Time line Time

2011-01-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

This Soul Restoration class I am taking through Brave Girls Club is just so unbelievably eye opening, jaw dropping, inspiring. And it seems so simple....every week, a little craft project involving paper, mod podge, and glitter.....while you are doing the busy work, you think about the project and somehow at the end of it you have this beautiful art piece telling your story and healing your hurts. It is and will continue to be an amazing gift from God, Brave Girls and myself, beautifully presented and given to the only one who could ever understand it, ME!!

Closed for Restoration!

2011-01-16T16:03:00.000-07:00

Didn't think I would have to shut 'er down but this class is all that was promised and more!!

Girl of the year award.....ME!

2011-01-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

See this statue? She's only about 6 inches tall, but isn't she grand? Strong and regal? All alone in the kitchen department at a thrift store, she lept into my hand......surprisingly she is made of solid metal, heavy and solid! She is my new sponsor this year and look what her base says......

Yep, "girl of the year" 30 years ago some lucky girl got this and this year she's mine! Keep your eyes peeled, she'll be showing up in many of my posts!!

Eagles! Everywhere!

2011-01-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Hanging out in our tall cottonwood trees!

And another perched on the fence post!

We've had a couple of visitors for the past week.....oh, I hope they stay! To see them flying around is such a blessing. It takes your breath away!

Brave Girls Community

2011-01-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

http://bravegirlsclub.com/

Just joined the Brave Girls Community as the Soul Restoration class starts next week and I am so excited to get to communicate with so many others that maybe, think and create, the way I do! It's gonna be such an experience to restore my soul!!

A few little creations......

2011-01-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Lampshade Love!

Little Lampshade Love

Embellished a few bottles and jars.

This little short fat one is my favorite!

Bottles for Christmas and a big fat flower!

Soul Restoration!!

2011-01-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to start this Soul Restoration course on-line with the Brave Girls!! There is a new project every week and it starts next week!! Can't wait!!

Have your photo taken...........

2010-12-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

You've probably deduced by now that my sister is a professional photographer! I love, love, love her work! Her photo's of my children, friends, pets, Wyoming, everything. Not so hip on photos of myself. Ususally, she points the camera at me to check the light and I'm out of there! About a month ago, she laid down the gauntlet and demanded I bring it and have my 'own' photo shoot. There isn't much that I won't tackle and I had to go deep inside to figure out why this made me so uncomfortable! To make matters worse, she said nothing, zero, zip, nada about the resulting photos. Mindy is usually so excited aobut her shoots that she immediately shares a few of her favorites before finishing the edit. Me, nothing, so my worst fears had come true, I am not photogenic, none of the shots worked, she couldn't even fix it in photoshop! She's my sister, so you think I would ask, I'm not shy about touchy subjects, but nooooooo, I don't ask, I just stew, marinate and roll around in my own little sadness over my physical demise. Then on Christmas Eve, she hands me the photos. I'm no cover girl but these aren't bad! So I'm just saying, ladies, have your photo taken, for your kids, your husband, but mostly for yourself! You'll see you in a whole different light, like the rest of the world sees you, because they don't see all of the flaws we think the see. Just the good stuff!!

Sam Christmas 2010

2010-12-21T16:40:00.001-07:00

Sam Christmas 2010
Originally uploaded by boheemiannelife

Yet another beautiful picuture of my daughter, by my sister!! Thank you!

On Highway 14, pictures from my sister!

2010-12-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

Christmas at my House!

2010-12-16T08:10:00.000-07:00

Joy Williams - 2000 decembers ago

2010-12-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Holidays all!! Such a busy and beautiful time of year! I'll be back sooooooooooon!!

Sharing the kindness..........

2010-11-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

As a subscriber and fan of the Brave Girls Club, I embraced this kindness challenge with enthusiasm. I try every day to give a compliment to a stranger and love to see their eyes light up when you get their attention to just say something positive! This is just as fun, a little more tangible and by having the kindness slips in my pocket, everytime I put my hands in my coat I'm prompted to hand one out!! Try it, it will change your life and those you come in contact with!!
Here is the link to the post! http://bravegirlsclub.com/blog/?p=1724
And I've enclosed the link to the PDF so you can print your own pockefull of kindness!
Be sure to watch the video, it is beautiful!! Thanks, Brave Girls!! http://bravegirlsclub.com/blog/?p=1681

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!!

2010-11-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

Christmas lights on the barn and July in the tire! Lot's of snow on the ground today!!

Helping a friend!

2010-11-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine opened a jewelry store for the holiday season so I've been down there helping her get set up! A few pieces from her collection! Bella Bling!

A new favorite photo of favorite oldest daughter!

2010-11-22T13:44:00.001-07:00

Those big Wyoming skies! Cloie you are amazing!!Mindy Wilson Photography

The Innocence Mission - Bright As Yellow

2010-11-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

I've got a thing for wings!!

2010-11-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

This my mantel on the fireplace in my bedroom. Yes, I know!! Bedroom! I stripped it down to prepare for the arrival of my wings!! I've always had a thing for wings! I buy em, I design em, I find em in nature! Probably because my heart has wings!!

My latest paper creation! The heck with wreaths, I wanted Wings!!

Up close, my wings on a background of velvet! Love it!!

My talented sister and my girls!

2010-11-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

I have the luxury, and I do mean luxury, of having an unbelievalbly talented sister who is a professional photographer. And her favorite subjects are my girls! Some photos from a recent shoot! Wow! How incredibly blessed am I???

On being happy....................

2010-11-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

Was wallowing around feeling so wounded after the weirdest social experience last night, licking my wounds and trying to figure out why?? When I came across this at the Fancy Farm Girl, http://www.thefancyfarmgirl.com/on-being-happy/ whose blog I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! Now I'm off to turn my day around!! Thanks to the Fancy Farm Girl!! MmmmmmmWha!

ON BEING HAPPY…..

“Universally people think happiness is a stroke of luck……

Something that will descend upon you like fine weather if you are fortunate enough……

But that is not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You must fight for it, strive for it, INSIST upon it, travel the world for it.

You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings.

And once you have achieved that state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it.”

~ From “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert

Validation

2010-11-10T08:02:00.001-07:00

Not ready to put my pumpkins away!!

2010-11-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Halloween started with this.....spooky but a little bling! See sparkly black pumpkin!

So my SideSoul, Jilly, brought me home a slew of these from Billings!! Hobby Lobby!

And I blinged, beaded, and chained them, after I spray painted them all with metallic paint!

Close up!

Aren't they cute?

Love these!!

Family by marriage

2010-11-05T12:49:00.000-06:00

I've got some amazing women in my life, some are in my life by choice, others by marriage. In the marriage department I've been blessed. First, being loved and taken care of, by my Saint of a husband. When I got him, a few extended family members came along, actually ALOT of extended family members! But the best, and my favorite, is my husbands sister, Janelle. She is a dedicated Mom to her kids, Aunt to mine, friend to me and all around one of my favorite people in my day to day life! We've helped and been together thru thick and thin and still call each other almost every day. My real sister took this beautiful picture of her and I just wanted to share it!!

More Halloween at my house!!

2010-10-29T10:25:00.000-06:00

Napoleon Dynamite and Wilma Flintstone for Halloween!!

Napoleon showin his dance moves!! This kid should be in theatre!!

Wilma up close with her faux fur tunic!!

Too bohemian for you?....... Not me!! Love it!!

2010-10-24T13:55:00.001-06:00

This cute little upholstered VW bug and amazing furniture makes me want to add LOTS of color!! I've got a 1950 Dodge pickup I'd love to take down this road!!

Love everything from this blog I just discovered!! Gypsy Purple!!

Gypsy Purple: Gypsy Find: Too bohemian for you?.......

Picnik!

2010-10-22T08:10:00.000-06:00

It takes me a while but eventually I figure it out!! Picnik!!

About Sammie......

2010-10-19T07:50:00.001-06:00

Originally uploaded by boheemiannelife

This little girl came into my life having already lived many lives before. She is truly an old soul. And has been since I met her the first day she was born. She looked into my tired eyes and seemed to say, it's going to be okay, I'm here now and I already know so much. She never ceases to bring clarity to any situation and can hold her own with any adult with wit and conversation. It's a privledge to know her and have my sister capture her spirit with her camera. Love you Samantha Grace!

Book page wreath and spray paint!!

2010-10-16T14:22:00.000-06:00

Book page wreath, this one has a center of sticks

I tried a different center on this one, didn't like it so out comes the hammered silver paint!!

And wah-lah!! This book page wreath takes on a whole NEW look!! Who knew?

Creepy Halloween Eyes!!

2010-10-16T12:08:00.000-06:00

Just a few of my ancestors hanging out in the living room!

With a few buttons she's ready for Halloween!!

And so are these two lovelies!! Happy Haunting!!

Extreme Pumpkin makeover!!

2010-10-16T11:50:00.000-06:00

Three little pumpkins sittin on a box, cute, but typical!

Krylon hammered silve paint to the rescue!! Bling!

Halloween at my House!!

2010-10-15T09:48:00.000-06:00

Pumkins and Potions!

Bats and Bones!

Wicked skulls and pumkins with bling!

Scarey skulls!

Sweet bears and sweet corn!

Funny Face!!

Happy Halloween from the Funny Farm!!!

Saw it twice, RELOAD!!

2010-10-13T09:43:00.000-06:00

You have the power......at any moment

2010-09-27T07:54:00.001-06:00

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

Marcus Aurelius

Pearls from my Mom!

2010-09-17T09:45:00.000-06:00

Looks really pretty lit at night!

Vintage buttons in an old silver bowl.

A new little tablescape with lots pearls from my Mom, she had whole box!!

The turquoise ashtray on the left was always in our home growing up and the chunky one on the right my Mom found for me!!

I want to save this house..........

2010-09-16T10:22:00.000-06:00

This little house in Story, Wyoming just begs for me to fix it up and make it "alive" again!

Horse shoes above the door bring luck to the home!

All of the window have cute shutters and I love turquoise!

Kitchen has original cupboards with original smoke damage!

Scarey wiring with interesting instructions!!

Peeling paper and great wood floors.......

And frightened look on the face of Renaissance Soul Mate lets you know I'm serious about aquisition!! Going to wait til first of the year to make an offer though!!

Best Motivation Video Ever

2010-09-15T13:12:00.000-06:00

I got where I am by trying, trying, imagining, inventing, trying, trying.....my Mom always said, "Try, you'll never know if you don't try but will always wonder too.". Thanks Mom for giving me my try!!

idea one // take two

2010-09-15T07:37:00.001-06:00

idea one // take two
Originally uploaded by elise.blaha

"The photos you see here are a random selection of some of the interesting things discovered on Flickr within the last 7 days. If you click the RELOAD! button you'll get another set of random sprinkles."
RELOAD, RELOAD, RELOAD! on Flickr!!

Flicker reload!

2010-09-14T12:20:00.001-06:00

Originally uploaded by sugar++

One of my favorite things to do on Flicker is go to interesting photos in the last 7 days and click the "reload" button til I find something I love! Today it was this!

They came, three by three!

2010-09-14T12:16:00.000-06:00

Any one wanting to claim this crew?? One dog......two goats!! At large!! Just trip trapping down our lane on a Sunday afternoon. By Monday, I decided to post their picutres on Facebook! And it looked like this!

"Cmon people!! You would notice if these guys were missing from your home!! Escapee #1, looks innocent but is truly the leader of goat gang!!"

Accomplise (sp) number two, larger of the two goats and happily hoofing around and eating flowers, trees, etc!!

And, ths smallest member of the gang, but probably the most dangerous!! Follows the previous two but answers to no one!! Please share this all around the Facebook, as children are becoming quickly attached and you know who everyone will be mad at in the end!! End the crime spree of the goat gang on Highway 14!!

And it ended with this!!
Goat gang rescued!! Thanks to all who shared and forwarded dog + 2 goats on the loose! Their owner called and they have been picked up and spirited home.....but they really liked it here and I'm sure now that they know the route they'll be by for visits!!

Danny & Anne

2010-09-14T07:53:00.001-06:00

Danny & Anne
Originally uploaded by boheemiannelife

We'll see alot more of this face with Danny as his beautiful daughter Anne is just beginning to come into her own!!

My quirky fun beautiful niece Sheridan

2010-09-14T07:48:00.001-06:00

Sheridan
Originally uploaded by boheemiannelife

On our Labor Day week end trip to Minnesota, my sister took some great pics of our nieces and brother!! Family is family!

2010-09-11T10:36:00.000-06:00

After I tweaked my bathing arena....I moved on to the jewelry.....a few gypsy shoots had rendered the site a mess!!
I keep all of my bigger pieces and perfume in this old medicine cabinet. I kinda have a thing for those!

An old rake keeps all of my bracelets and bangles ready to jingle jangle.....I like a little noise with my decor!!

Two old glove forms keep my rings and the jewelry box next to them holds masses of earrings!

Not sure what this was originally for, but it twists and turns with all of my necklaces now!
I wear my jewelry if it is visible all of the time plus when it's all grouped together, it's ART!!

Brave Girls

2010-09-10T08:26:00.000-06:00

Signed, sealed delivered I'm going to be a Brave Girl!! I've never thought of myself as not brave, but I often let the tide of others needs sweep me away and what I need or want gets set to the side until everyone else settles in. Soooooo, I'm taking the 6 week online Soul Restoration class from Brave Girls, http://www.bravegirlsclub.com/onlineclasses.html , starting in January and then to get me out of my box even more, I'm traveling to McCall, Idaho the middle of July for a 4 day retreat with other Brave Girls, http://www.bravegirlsclub.com/aboutbravegirlcamp-main.html!! It's time for some changes and I'm gonna make them happen!!

A little bathtub tweaking!

2010-09-07T16:21:00.000-06:00

Bathtub area Before: Blah, blah, blah....

And Bathtub are After!!

Two coats of turquoise paint!

Handmade vintage light pink medicine cabinet, favorite piece!

Silver, turquoise and pink accessories and a mirror.

A bucket full of tea lights and vintage silver molds to reflect candle light and this is a bathtub oasis!!
I'll take some pictures in the dark when it is all lit up and bubblized!

Heart with Wings!

2010-08-28T12:22:00.000-06:00

I love hearts, but I really love hearts with wings. The other day Sammie came in with another version, one that wouldn't last, a leaf with two basil leaves............awwwww. Gave my heart a little lift that day!!

Not easy, but worth it!!

2010-08-26T08:56:00.001-06:00

Love this, my life is really changing right now and I feel slightly out of body observing it. Key players are coming and going . Due to changes in their own lives, but subtly effecting mine. It's not easy, it is worth it. But I have a really weird feeling is going to get alot more exciting???