In case you didn't

know already, we've been in the islands.

Craig had some work stuff in San Juan

so  I went along and

we extended the trip to enjoy a little time on St. Thomas and St. John.

Really beautiful, relaxing, and nice...

Do you have a summer

bucket list?

We've always made a little list of things we want to do 

-- mostly for fun -- 

during the summer.

Back in the day it consisted mostly of summer [camp] opportunities for the boys - 

They did everything from sailing to chess to bowling to tennis to swimming to... 

well, you get the idea.  

This year we went a little different route and documented 

what we really did during the summer months - 

It's been kinda fun to see this board get filled up with things during the last few months!

Livin' Life - 

that's what we do!

So KittyLou may

be getting ready for the new school year -

As for this 'empty-nester' I've completely lost track 

of any semblance of the school calendar...

And I'm good with that.

Although, I do still kinda miss buying back-to-school supplies...

Lottie Scottie Update No. 001-2017

Here's the deal - 

We bought our first little canned ham [Scotty] about a yer ago - 

and we adored her - 

But as we got into the re-furb, it turned out to be a little more than we wanted to do -

We [again, really, my sweetheart -] re-built the front wall, re- built the front benches, and re-built the slide out bed / couch... but there was still A LOT that needed to be done..

 Late in the spring we bought this jewel for parts - and cleaned it out, got a few things we wanted / needed and sent it on its way [for a profit.] 

It got us to thinking about how the extra height was pretty cool... 

I loved that there were windows  that let light in yet were high enough that people standing on the ground could not see in - 

 So that brings us to Lottie 2.o.

[Hereafter referred to as Lottie Scotty.]

You know, my sweetheart is always 'looking' for a good deal - so when he found this one and it was affordable and I saw THAT DOOR, I was all about going to see it before someone else grabbed it up -- 

 And then I saw THESE WINDOWS up front - oh. my.

I LOVE ALL OF THAT NATURAL LIGHT coming in!

 She needs a little work - but NOTHING like her cousin!

I'll be documenting how we're coming along with it all if you want to follow along! 

#LottieScotty

Soooo -- this also happened in July...

Joseph Brandt Bolton decided he would surprise us all 

and come into the world a little early - 

I was so happy I could be a part of their big day!

I told Kelly she should hold off for 12 more hours or so -- 

[so he could be born on MY birthday - lol]

she didn't go for that - ha.

 Needless to say The Sister [as she says she wants to be called] is THRILLED.

And while she may call him William, I'm thinking the aunts are going to have a hard time not calling him Brandt... but Joseph he is! 

Tiny and wonderful!

A gift from God, right on time -

Right here -

Right now - 

KittyLou is wanting to go outside every time the door is opened - 

only to want back in five minutes later...

Also - try as I might to remember to take a hat with me when I'm going to be outside it always seems to be hanging right by the door when I get back home. 

LOL

 I've resorted to keeping one in the car!

Hope your summer days are sunny and bright!

[We've had our share of rain 'round these parts!]

Hey! Did I share

with you that I finally got most of my scrapbook pages seperated 

 

and in albums so that I can find my photos easier? They're all on their proper shelf again and I love the way ti looks and the organization of it all!! 

[There's not rhyme or reason for the colors, though - ha.]

Here's a recent page from the class with CZ - her designs are always classic and timeless! [And no, I'm not above grabbing photos off the internets. ha.]

And here's one I did I with photos from our lazy river afternoon late last summer - I really hope we can get a trip in again this year, but August is looking pretty full right about now.

I did a sweet little book for our Division Director's Retirement. 

But I didn't take even one photo of it.

It was full of photos through the years and sweet notes from friends.

Just what a scrapbook should be!

What are you scrap booking these days?

Well. Goodness.

Do I go forward or do I go backwards?

It's been a while since I've posted... 

And try as I might to have some things pre-posted and ready to go, 

Life sometimes gets in the way - lol.

So let's see if this can be a little 'catch-up post - 

The day after we got home from Gatlinburg I headed to Montgomery for a week of work and mock-training for a course we hope to get out later in the fall. It was a productive week and I think we got a lot accomplished... and one afternoon I HAD to take the drive out to a sunflower field I'd heard about - turns out I found two gorgeous fields of flowers - so worth the drive to see acres and acres of these big beautiful flowers in full bloom!

 July has been a little over-the-top with artsy stuff for me - I've been involved with ReSet Camp with Cori - a fun little on-line camp where we've focused on getting ourselves back on track to take care of US. It was fun to see all the prompts and give some things a try - but I think what I learned most is that, try as I might, I'm just not a planner girl.

I mean, sure I use my calendar [planner] to track my life - but not to the the extent that these gals do. I just don't have that kind of extra time right now...

But I DID commit to completing the July Lister's Gotta List Challenge - and that's been fun! 

 I've also signed up for a ten week on-line class, Art Journal Summer School

 with Marieke Blokland -- in the Netherlands - 

And I can't tell you how much I'm loving this class!!

I'm re-purposing a little Bible Study book I did back at the beginning of summer and I'm loving the smaller format and weekly techniques.

 

And I couldn't resist taking another class from the talented Cathy Zielske!

She's my all-time favorite designer in the scrapbook world! So while I'm a little 'behind' with this on-line class - I know it will be there ready for me when I get back to it - 

And of course, I'm still plugging along [always a few weeks "behind"] with the J-52, Year Long art journal prompts with Effy Wild. I've committed to doing these in my inter-leaved Bible - 

and I have to admit that I love this one so, so much. It's inspired by a dream catcher I saw in google images - and I don't know... maybe I'm finally getting better at adding 'light' in the right places... I could just look at this all day long. . . [well, not really... but maybe... ha.] It stays open on my desk so I see it every time I walk by --

You should check out all of these artists - each wonderful and unique in their own way!!

And then, of course we [and by 'we' i mean mostly my sweetheart] have been busy planning and scheming and WORKING on this little jewel. Our first excursion is scheduled for October and y'all know, time flies - and we've got quite the list to accomplish!

But we already know we're going to love it!

So - that's the catch-up for July - mostly.

I'll do my best to plan ahead and stay on a schedule for August - 

HAPPY SUMMER Y'ALL.

We enjoyed a litle get-a-way

to Gatlinburg this past weekend for our niece's wedding -

I've not seen her post any photos yet, so I'll wait a bit for that ...

It rained off and on throughout the time we were there - 

but it was still as beautiful as always. 

We had a great time visiting and catching up a bit with family and little ones - 

 And walking up the parkway - 

We love staying across from the aquarium where

we hear their music each time we step out of the hotel -

We saw different ones at breakfast, and had meals with others - 

The wedding was at a beautiful log chapel out in Townsend...

Complete with a creek [river - ?] flowing behind it.

[You can see from our photo that when it wasn't raining 

the sun was CRAZY bright - lol.]

And the reception was just across the way at another great setting 

with pretty gardens and decor  surrounding it - 

Since everyone lives in different directions we don't get to see our GREAT nephews very often [these plus two others that really REALLY didn't like to have a camera in their face] - and y'all know - they grow up way too fast! 

On my shelf -

I've been hearing about GoodReads for a while now...

But y'all know I'm always late to the [internets] party...

Recently I joined up and am loving having a fun little app to keep up with the books I've read. [In the past, I've had a little tab in my planner and kept a list there...]

But, let me tell you -- this is SO MUCH easier - 

And if you read on Kindle, it links and records it all for you.

My goal for this year was to read 30 books - 

I LOVE to read, but I have a problem of getting so absorbed in a book that 

I. Cannot. Put. It. Down.

So, I've learned that I need to pre-plan some reading time.

I mean, it's not good to start a book the night before an early travel day 

and then be up until 3 a.m. reading... I'm just sayin'. 

So, I'm being more intentional about my reading this year, 

and I'm loving setting aside time to read.

 This is just a small stack of books I'm reading - 

you can see others on my list over on Goodreads -