these sheets...

make me happy...
and to be honest, i need it. i have been down for the past week or so. my best friend, in her infinite wisdom, got me these sheets as a pick me up. hopefully i will be out of this funk soon.
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

weekend recap...

we had our KLAM DIG (four friends from college who get together about once a month and take turns planning a day of fun that helps the other three learn more about the planner's interests) this weekend. i have had posts about these fun times before. like this one.so this weekend was l's turn. she is the vegetarian in the group so it was only natural that she would take us to richmond vegetarian festival. it was definitely eye-opening. i tried lots of different foods that were...interesting. and then i said a little praise the Lord when i saw a booth that had fries and funnel cakes. we met the big gobbler there.
he was in a pen with a small chicken who was not in the mood to be photographed. maybe it had something to do with the little kid that was throwing sticks at him. the irony of a kid torturing a chicken at a vegetarian festival was not lost on me. i guess he didn't read the literature.
the next day we went to church with our friends and although i am sure the message was great i was completely distracted by this amazing quilt that was hanging in the front of the church.
it was incredible. i had to see it up close. it is made of pieces that are about 2 X 3 inches. the finished quilt was easily 10 ft X 12 ft. i just stood there for a few minutes and didn't want to leave. it would definitely make me want to go to church each week...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

because i want to post but don't know what to say...

TODAY
June 23rd, 2009

Outside my window... the breeze is blowing.

I am thinking... that i need to make some big decisions.

I am thankful for... family and friends that are supportive and encouraging.

From the kitchen... we have an army of ants taking over... that is why we went to olive garden last night.

I am wearing... a skirt with cheating shorts attached underneath, a flower shirt and sandals.

I am creating... a dress for a sweet, beautiful little girl in denver.

I am going... to the grocery store. it is sad that that merits documentation around here...

I am reading... firefly lane by kristin hannah - good read.

I am hoping... that i can be brave enough to make the right decision.

I am hearing... the view ladies talking about jon & kate.

Around the house... there is laundry waiting, dogs outside and let's not even talk about the office.

One of my favorite things... ice cream.

A few plans for the rest of the week... quilting bee projects, finishing aforementioned dress, lots of doodling and of course work. oh, and the exciting weekend of cleaning out the tool shed. maybe my good friend will have her baby and save me from that last one...

whew!

it has been a crazy week! we have family coming in tomorrow so i am in the deep-cleaning-of-the-house mode and haven't had any time to blog or craft. that makes for a sad me.
but it will be so wonderful to see my dear sister (that's us-she is the one with the snazzy lapels. i am the cute one) who deserted me to move to texas to work on the stupid orion project. whatever. who really needs to go to mars anyway...
but we are nearly ready. the important things are done... the plans for a visit to busch gardens and new games have been purchased. it should be a really great week.
and i promise to keep you updated.
pinkie promise...
be brave, friends...
<3 anna

all underwear is not created equal...

i expect that when i embark on an new endeavor that there will be a learning curve. you know, little things here and there that you realize just by performing an action. by experimenting with different acrylic paints you can learn which ones are best for which applications. in sewing, after the first time one of your seams comes loose, you learn to pin your material or slow down and pay more attention. you know, life is just one learning experience after another.
the same is true for running...
and yesterday i learned that my snoopy underwear does not stay up when i am jogging. who knew? except the guy driving down the street as i was grabbing my shorts trying to keep snoopy from peeking out.
it made me understand the pain all those gangster-pants wearing guys must endure each day.
be brave, friends...

catching up in 12 photos...

first i need to say thanks for all the great encouragement for my 5k run. i can use it. i will keep you guys updated as i sink further into insanity.
so since i was gone for while, i thought i would let you know what i have been up to. and i hate posts without photos so here goes...


1. this was the view on my desk for the last month or so of tax season. thank you mr. bronchitis and your cousin ms. sinus infection. please do not visit again.
2. a rose from my mother's day boquet that olive gave me.
3. the elephants we saw at the zoo on the way home from the inspired workshop. they stood really still for the photos. we even got to pet them.
4. my VERY VERY VERY cool new friends that i met at inspired. big hugs to you all!
5. the heather bailey project that i did at inspired. this is her sample.
6. a close up of an iris from our front yard this spring.
7. olive enjoying a spring afternoon
8. purple flower from our yard. wisteria? lilac? purple flower.
9. my pages for the art journal swap
10. mel and i with our nephew, ben who is now deployed to afghanistan. please pray for his safety as he is in a high risk job. he is a big joker and we love him!
11. lily looking introspective.
12. a furry friend in the front yard on the famous purple flowers.

that catches you up with the exception of 2 weddings, an artist workshop (AMAZING!!!), a babysitting trip to houston, a 6 month old bulldog in heat, a 7 month old bulldog getting "fixed", 200+ tax returns, a best friend with a broken toe, a best friend with a pulled tendon in her back, a funeral, a bridal shower, a best friend's birthday, quiltfest, and a partride in a pear tree.
well, maybe not that last part but you never know around here.
be brave, friends...

in 88 days...

i might need cpr. just warning you.
in a moment of what can only be described as utter craziness i decided to run a 5k. and not only that, i actually told a friend about it. see, it isn't real until you talk about it - hence the delay in this post. but kristy is a really great friend who has been a runner for a while and has really taken me under her wing. and man do i need it! if you know me even a bit you might guess that running isn't one of my daily activities - until now. what was i thinking!!?
but my dear coach kristy has actually made me believe that i can do it. i got a lecture about the right shoes, how i am no spring chicken(how dare she!) so i need to listen to my body when i am running. little does she know that my body is going to be cursing me the entire time, but i digress. she even found a few training plans that might work for me. this is the one that i am doing. it seems do-able even for a couch potato like me. so on august 29 i will be joining other runners/walkers at the east coast surfing championship 5k race and i want to hear you people cheering for me.
and between now and then if you see a blond lying on the side of the road gasping for breath please stop and give me a pepsi... and some oxygen... and a ride home.