It has been a hard year for both the Greene and Fajardo families this year and we are hoping next year will be peaceful and prosperous. Those are our wishes for all our friends and family.

In 2011 we lost my uncles Isidro, Chilo and Kermit, great aunt Maria and father-in-law Larry. We miss you very much and we have great and wonderful memories that we will treasure in our hearts.

My good friend Tracy introduced me to this great sparkling wine, Rosa Regale, which I am enjoying at home. For those of you out celebrating be safe.

It's almost New Year's here in the central time zone and soon we will be getting ready to go to sleep after our toast.  For those who already have started the new year and for those to follow...

Happy New Year!!!

Be it a safe and prosperous 2012!

greetings

We are getting ready to lounge around and enjoy Christmas and all the goodness it has to offer; family, food and gifts. Hopefully all of you are ready to relax.

The picture was taken at the boys awards banquet, as much as I would love to take credit for the tree, its beautiful! This is not my tree or house, its a local church. The boys were promoted to red belts earlier this month.
Ram was telling me Christmas will fall on Monday next year, (Already planning it I guess, I should be happy he's planing ahead...ahem!) but I had to correct him since 2012 is a leap year Christmas falls on Tuesday. Sorry he has to wait one extra day...
Also, I just want to mention I closed up my shop until January 9th for the holidays.
No snow yet in Oklahoma...

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad!

xo,

estela

owls

Time is flying by and Christmas is sneaking up on me and I'm halfway done with my shopping. This is a lot better than last year. I managed to get Christmas cards out the beginning of December, a lot faster than last year...I didn't have time to send any, the year before I got them out a week before Christmas. Yeah! for me!

from My Owl Barn

I just wanted to share a calendar I found online it's free, always a good thing and if you are into owls it's all about owls.

Happy shopping!
xo,
estela

early celebration

We celebrated Ram's 9th birthday Sunday instead of Monday because Mondays are just too busy for us. He picked a space theme with an OU cake. All the gifts were opened and of he was very happy with them even though he did mention what he didn't get.

We all had chocolate cake and watched Denver beat Minnesota. YEA!

He had his choice of restaurants for dinner...Red Robin....Yum! hehe! He got a big fish pillow that was probably the icing on the cake for him. Loves to go fishing, he hooks his own worms and when he catches something he takes it off the hook himself...thank goodness because that's the part I don't like. ewwww!

He had a great day.

I wanted to thank everyone who sent me a text with birthday wishes he loved that everyone remembered him!

XO,

Estela

This month will go by so fast as it does every year

and there is so much to see and do.

So I wanted to pop in and wish everyone a

Happy 1st of December!

No pictures, only words

and greetings to all my peeps!!

(Okay this is no Haiku, guess I need to work on my poetry, hehe!)

xo

estela

Grateful...

Grateful for having a happy and healthy family.

Grateful for the food on our table without the struggle many face.

Grateful for my friends.

Grateful for a warm home.

Grateful to be able to hold, run and play with my children.

Grateful I get along with my sisters, brother, sister-in-laws and brother-in-law.

Grateful to have in-laws I get along with.

Grateful for the time to be grateful.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Veteran's Day

Remembering our hero's today, a very cute pillow on Etsy.

sing2mi53 on Etsy

xo,
Estela

happy halloween

Hope you all enjoy Halloween as much as I do. I will have pictures of the munchkins later [they are not munchkins for Halloween...just to clear that up]. I would love to see everyone else's pictures too. Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

[Think of Vincent Price's voice...]

HAHAHA-A-HAHA...HAHAHA-A-HAHA!!

printable

Check out this poster I saw on How About Orange blog, it actually belongs to Idea Oscura and you can read how she got the inspiration for it on her blog. There are so many talented people out there producing great work it is amazing! I just love the great job she did with the font and icons. It can be downloaded for free, and I love the last line of inspiration.

idea obscura

I've been working on a poster of my own because I love the different typesets and this is my attempt at it. It's simple, but the message is strong. I only have the limited fonts Word comes with and have spent waaay too much time looking at them all to make a decision. It takes me forever to pick something, I never would make it as a designer! The quote is not mine I cannot remember where I saw it, so if someone knows who said it let me know. Yup, tried googling it but it brought up two different names...??? Mine isn't downloadable and I'm having issues with my printer it keeps jamming. I really need to put up two; one for work and one for home... 

Hopefully you will find inspiration and goodwill. (Do I sound like I'm in the holiday spirit or what!)

xo,
Estela

this moment

from SouleMama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

getting ready for halloween

This year I'm going to try and stay ahead of the holidays. I know, I know, we'll see how far that goes! I want to enjoy them, not that I don't every year it's just so last minute and everything ends up working itself out, but it's a little stressful. Anyways, I have started on the boys costumes, but not L's still not sure what she will dress as. (I know this sounds like it will slow me down, but I've got all my limbs crossed that I will come up with something in the next few days...)
So in hopes of getting you all in the Halloween spirit along with me here is a peak of what I'm working on. (Hate to admit it but I started it last year and I had trouble deciding on the background fabric so it didn't get finished. The biggest reason is I didn't want to rush it and be only partially happy.) I'm so behind...sigh! Or if you are optimistic (like I'm going to be from now on...really!) I'm ahead I'm almost done with one of my project for this year. Sounds great, doesn't it? I think I'm convincing myself...hehe! This weekend will be dedicated to Halloween so I can sit back and enjoy until November, when I will freak out again.

musical

The weather is beginning to get cool actually feels great right now and it's beginning to feel like fall here in the Midwest. Today was the annual musical "Fall Festival" at the boys school. It's a small production usually one song per grade, two if we are lucky, but the boys love it. They usually have snacks and inflatables which the kids enjoy. This year Ram did the states song, all the states in alphabetical order...whew! Rem's grad did a blues recorder performance. He practiced before they started, it was cute! I don't remember him practicing so they must have told them to keep it a secret. It's always fun to see them perform...
All those pumpkins in the background are getting me in the holiday mood! Hope you all are too!

xoxo,

estela

pierced ears

It is so hard to take pictures of a two year old when you really want to take a good one, I think I took about 20 and only about half of those came out decent. We got L's ears pierced today. I have been wanting to do this for awhile but have been waiting for the right time, when she wasn't too tired, hungry, or just plain cranky. The lady at Claire's said they would do them simultaneously since she was little and she expected her to cry even though I told her she doesn't cry when she gets her shots. My little tough girl, did not cry she just gave a gasp in surprise. She seems to be doing ok when I turn her earrings around although she doesn't like me to mess with them too much. I'm surprised that she doesn't mess with them. The boys were excited because she was going to get shot with the guns...haha...boys!

I've had her hair pulled back all day so I can see them, cute!

10 years ago

Ten years ago on a rainy day I married my friend Roger...

Although we have known each other much longer than 10 years this is the day we made our vows. We have had our ups and downs with thankfully more ups. WOW! I still can't believe it! I do remember being so stressed out the weeks before that right after the wedding ceremony I was so tired I didn't care what happened next. I went through my pictures and noticed I was sitting down alot. (If you guys remember that too! haha!)

fred

In loving memory...
This weekend our family lost a member of our little family, Fred. You all know how much he was loved and pampered. It is hard for me to write this without getting a knot in my throat or a tight feeling in my chest, then the tears flow... Lately he had been moving and getting around slowly but still he would follow me from room to room. Even though he was 14 years old we knew it was coming but it is still shocking. I had hoped he would be around for a couple more years at least that is what I had prepared myself for. Although his passing is hard on us, we are all glad he was part of our lives. He was Rog's hunting buddy, my companion and heater...(hehe!) and the kids bouncy toy. L gave him lots of hugs and climbed all over him, which he didn't seem to mind considering his cranky old age. It's still hard at times when I forget and think he is in the other room or as I come out of the bathroom he will be waiting for me.
My heart feels a little broken right now and I know in the future I will remember him fondly.
He is now resting peacefully so we said good bye to...old man, buddy, numb-nuts, pumpkin...Fred.

8.28.2011

This photo was taken in July this year on Rem's birthday.

Estela

testing to high purple

Boys got promoted to high purple today along with some of their friends...

xo,
Estela

got some sewing in

It has been almost over 2 weeks since I have gotten to sew, kinda going through withdrawals...haha! Soo, last night I got the Bernina out and decided to sew the boys patches on their uniforms...that counts as sewing??? doesn't it??? it does to me. I already feel like I accomplished something. But, could I stop?? nooo I had to do something else...haha! I finished up the notebooks for my reading group to send and attached some labels I have been playing with that didn't turn out just like I wanted to and I'm still tweaking them.

xo,

Estela

book review - knitting

I have been distracted with our vacation to Branson, MO and cleaning my house are keeping me busy so I haven't blogged in a while. The house cleaning (more like a renovation but I'm not telling Rog that right now...shhhh!)is coming along but I have trouble doing anything creative when I know I could be cleaning...aug!

But, I found this draft of a book review I did and I just wanted to see how it looked when you blog it...so here it is a post to fill in the void of creativity!

Book cover was kind of small so I pulled a copy from Amazon.com which offers a preview. I'm currently on project 3 (fold-over pillow) and I'm working the book in order and logging it on ravelry. I love the look and feel of the neutral colors in this book, of course the content is great. Gray seems to be my favorite color of the moment and there are quite a few projects in this book suggesting gray as a color. Most people think of gray as gloomy and dull but I find it soothing and relaxing, very clean, maybe I can give it a new reputation...haha! One more thing, this post took me longer because I had to figure out how to spell gray...don't laugh..although I am...gray or grey??? I decided on gray for the spelling of the color, now if I can only remember that. It may help or confuse me that I drink Earl Grey tea...my brain hurts now and I've rambled on...

 

Simple Knitting: A Complete How-to-Knit Workshop with 20 Projects by Erika Knight


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great book for a beginner it takes you through 20 projects and adds a new technique as it goes on, puts them in categories such as basic, stripes, shaping, colorwork, fully fashioned shaping. Found the following sections very helpful; materials and techniques, explained along with pictures the different yarns and choosing them, author used drawings to demonstrate the techniques which I found easy to understand instead of pictures; in stitch library author has nice large pictures of each; and recommened yarns. Very simple approach to teaching knitting, the pictures are beautiful. Basic project seen in other books such as muffler (scarf), dishcloth, pillows, mittens, hats; more intersting projects such as notebook, shopper (bag), two-needle sock, four needle-sock, cable scarf, pincushion, teapot cozy, sweater and cardigan. Currently working through the whole book.

View all my reviews

It's the weekend and time to enjoy a slow pace.

xo,
Estela

new badge and new challenge

You may have noticed I added a new badge on the left side of my blog. (You will have to go to the blog to be able to see the left side, the e-mail updates don't show it.) The Sketchbook Challenge...yes! I joined another group...haha! No I'm not crazy. The challenge doesn't really have deadlines and no pressure on your work, but I do sketch every now and then and I'm trying to improve on them. You can get more detailed information about it here,and you do not have to sign up for anything. So basically they have a theme every month for you and you can post your pictures on their Flickr group. This is something for me and the boys to share since I figured they are not very interested in sewing...haha! But I am still working on that.

The theme for August is Everyday Objects and the post includes a tutorial to get you started. Below is a video from the sketchbook challenge blog that will inspire you to draw, it did me and I have been introduced to an artist, Danny Gregory (along with another blog!). I love, love watercolors!!! Check it out!!

The Art of Breakfast from DannyGregory on Vimeo.

xo,

Estela

working towards a wordless wednesday...

Happy Wednesday!

As I was browsing through the blog world I found this single picture with a single sentance that describes how I have been feeling lately...
"Sometimes I just want to start new – throw everything out of the house and re-decorate it."

- from b for bonnie :: a bonnie tsang personal blog

photo from b for bonnie blog

xo Estela

week of drawing and painting creatures

I have finished the first part of my summer online art camp and would like to share (show off, can't help it, I surprised myself) some of my art from the class I took this past week. I'm actually very proud of myself because I completed the work on time, learned alot and had more fun than I thought. I'm looking forward to next week's.

The classes are great and you can still sign up for the other two, Faces 101 and Junk Mail Artist Book. Carla posted tow videos for each day one for drawing and one for painting and warm up sheets to start the day. I really recommend taking one of her classes, I'm sure she will have more in the future and check her blog for inspiration. 

Here is the process of one of the paintings...

 

Finished piece.

The finished ones...they just created themselves I didn't plan what I ended up with.

Some of my drawings... 

I will take all kinds of comments because I pleasantly surprised myself (big grin on my face!).

Hope everyone had a great weekend and like I did got to spend time with their families.

xo,
Estela

staying inside

I just want to say that is has been really HOT here, right now it is 105 degrees, high of 108 and forcasted to stay above 105 for awhile, it does get a little cooler in the evenings I think we have gone down to the 80's. We are in a heat wave and voluntary water rationing, the trees are starting to get affected, which they have suggested you water your trees first then shrubs than any other plants. That would be a huge impact if we lost alot of trees this summer. We don't have any in our back yard so we try to get the shrubs in the front of the house. Everything is so dry that if a fire were to start I think everything will light up like a match. So we are staying indoors (Karla and Pia you are familiar with our weather...hehe).

On that note, since we are stuck inside I can work on projects...yea!

Do I dare?!?!?! Yes. I'm going to participate in this quilt along that Elizabeth from Oh, Fransson! is doing.
You can always jump in because she said there would be no deadline. Now for my homework until her next post on Aug. 8th to come up with a phrase....hmmmmm. Here is Elizathe's quilt.

picture Oh, Fransson!

One of my favorite online sites, great for buying earth friendly items, is trying to get lunch gear to those in need, so if you know of a school you can nominate them or help by providing items such as reusable lunches, read the post here. Maybe you can get inspired to bring your lunch to work.
 

reusit.com

I have this and this (of course orange and blue), that I got from them.



I was shopping around on etsy and this outfit would feel so good about right now, it's got an oriental style and made out of linen (which I love!!) but it's breezy...



One final thing, we will not make our trip to California before the kids start school this year, but Resurrection Fern just posted some beautiful beach pictures of the Oregon West coast, just a little more north but it does remind me of home.

All pictures below from Resurrection Fern blog

 

I know it's hot everywhere, so stay cool and hydrated and enjoy the weekend!

xo
Estela