Thursday, already?

Sorry to be so behind with my updates! My digi camera card is almost bursting with fun things to add! I'll be working on that today. The kids and I set up our snow village for Christmas yesterday, need to take pics of that and put them here too! So, I've got work to do today. Stay tuned for the pictures.......

Yesterday afternoon I witnessed the destruction of a building in my neighborhood.

This building is as old as the house I live in. The house I live in was almost doomed to the same fate. Thankfully for me, someone thought my house was worth saving. So, a very long process of extreme makeover began. The walls were stripped to the studs, all the old lathe and plaster was removed, the walls were reworked and some repositioned, the wiring was updated as was the plumbing. The result is wonderful. We've lived in our house for two years now. This poor house in our 'hood did not see the same fate. The people who owned the house tried very hard to renovate it. But, they didn't have bottomless pockets and more problems were found than were worth fixing. Finally they received approval to tear down the house. Neighbors have not-so-affectionately named the house "The Shrek House" because it was so very ugly. It was a brick building that had been stuccoed over with grey stucco. One neighbor lady called it the old grey barn. It was pretty exciting to see the destruction of the building. Soon a new house will be built and a new family will join our neighborhood. In my slideshow at the right, you can see more pictures of the destruction. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Does this look better? I took my card outside for some natural light and like the results much better. I'm not sure why the one I took at my desk with my desk light didn't look right. I'm still learning the ins and outs of my camera.

Kristina Werner's Color Challenge #30 for today is: Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, and Whisper White. Not sure why my pic is not bright enough. I used Stampin' UP's Doodle This and Sweet Serendipity stamp sets, along with the new scallop edge punch, and the little three flower punch. I had some chipboard in my stash that I used for my sentiment.

Have a great Wednesday!

The kids and I met some friends on Saturday at the Red Barn Farm in Weston, Missouri. It is a super fun family farm. Sunday was their last day to be open for the season. The day we went was cold and windy. We enjoyed ourselves lots though. The kids got to feed a baby calf named Rachel. We met two sheep named Wendy and Peter. The goats were very entertaining! We saw lots of very interesting pumpkins and gourds. I think that while we were at the barn fall arrived. I love fall and am so glad that it is finally here.

I've got to do something to be a little more regular on this blog thing! I've got a cool idea. I really like to visit Kristina Werner's blog; http://www.kwernerdesign.com/ . Every Wednesday she's got a nifty SU color combo challenge. This week's colors are Taken with Teal, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie and Pacific Point Blue. Here's my entry. Very unique colors. Hmm...may have to play with them more.

If you want to play along with this challenge, visit Kristina's blog and post your entry on your site, link it to hers..heck, link it here too if you want!

Have a great Wednesday! Off to son's piano lesson....

windy weather??

How windy is it?? The turbine is not turning, so must not be that windy?? Saw this on a trip to my sister's. Listened to lots of talk radio on the trip and heard lots of Mr. Pickens talking about alternate energy, etc. But, if the turbine is not going, what good is it?

Webby Wet Morning

This morning we awoke to dense fog...only it wasn't really fog, it was just ultra heavy humidity. I love the Midwest!! NOT! But, it did make for some really cool pictures.

green leaf

I LOVE my new camera! I have no idea what this plant is. It just looked too cool for me not to take a picture of it. I love how fresh and new the green looks. I think it's also neat how it's still rolled up around the edges where it hasn't completely "bloomed" yet.

How cute is this mouse? He is so tiny. He lives in Florida at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

What makes you happy?

I took these pictures with my new camera, Nikon D40, which rocks!

Sock Monkey comes to play!

This last one is my favorite Sock Monkey card. Sock Monkey is a stamp set in the 2008-2009 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog. He's super cute! I did this card on glossy white cardstock and was pleased with the results. I did stamp Sock Monkey, color him, and then cut him out and added him to the banana background paper that I created with his little banana stamp. I used Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write markers to do the coloring.

The Beginning!

Eek! I've started this blog thing. I hope that I can keep up with it. A little explanation about my title, "Little Jewells". It bears explanation since it appears that "Jewells" is spelled incorrectly. Actually this "jewell" is not in reference to gems at all, but is instead after William Jewell, who was a real person. William Jewell was a benefactor who helped begin a four year college in Liberty, Missouri in 1889. William Jewell, the school, is my college alma mater. I currently live practically next door to the college, so that ties me again to the name. I also teach at Little Jewell School, the name of my at home classroom. So, no you know! I'll see you around this page I hope!