New Blogsite at Word Press

To whomever might take a gander here. As of this morning, I have moved my blog to http://bluebellandme.wordpress.com for multiple reasons.

-Did not like where this blog
-Wanted fresh start
-Word Press has an iPad app
-No longer posting as Annie b.s.p. - my business - for now.

Happy Birthday, Whitney!

Over the weekend, I had a wonderful time celebrating my sister, Whitney's, birthday in Oklahoma City.  But in usual fashion, I did not take too many pictures.  But I did take some.

Whitney's friends the Penton's had an extra ticket for the Thunder game which we shared.  This is where I sat for the first half on Friday night.

And I saw a woman wearing a floor length fur coat, even though it wasn't cold outside.

Whitney got a fedora for her birthday, which she wore out to Dave and Buster's Sunday night!

How I spent my weekend.

I feel like I am surrounded by voyeurs: people who would love to watch me and see what I do, but don't bother interacting with me.  This thought just crossed my mind as I thought about writing a blog post. Should I go into detail, the grief of the past couple of weeks as the anniversary of my mother's suicide was coming to pass?  -- I could imagine people reading such declarations with sentimental faces, happy that I was able to talk about it and happy to have the information that they have been too hesitant to ask about.  But that would be a load of bull.  I've been talking about my mom's death and the effects on me and my family since she died.  It seems that no one wants to hear it from the horse's mouth.  I'm very mad at people.  Good thing I have Blue Bell.

The alternative to having a gushing confessional about how tough my life is dealing with family woes and mental illness would be to talk about THE FUN TIMES I HAD IN OKE CITY!

Driving through OOOOOOklahoma!

 Which is where my dad and I went for the weekend to get out of the house and spend time with brother Cullen and sister Whitney.  We had some good times despite Dad not feeling well and sticking around the apartment most the weekend.

When we first got into Oklahoma City, we went to Pachinko Parlor for sushi.  Cullen ordered a girly looking drink.  Unfortunately my iPhone camera was being weird and by the time it got to working, Cullen had removed the accoutrements that made it look silly.

This is the controversial picture I posted online, of Sam and Marty Penturf (cousins) whooping up in beer pong.  They are both of age, and their glasses were filled with water anyways.  AAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDD, they were the champions of the evening, shattering the glass ceiling!

Somebody's Getting Married!

Sister Sam is getting married... April 21st! Kids today, eh?


The young couple are looking at an Art Deco theme inspired by her engagement ring, so I've been on the lookout for ideas. I even signed up for Pinterest. Yesterday, while waiting outside the Gregg County Courthouse for sister Whitney - who was retrieving her birth certificate for the Bar application! - I was pleased to see some East Texas chic Art Deco.

One more note: I used to think iPads were a useless, waste of money... until Santa brought me one for Christmas.

Tis the season for giving, wait for it, THANKSgiving.

And so it is time to update our fall decorations...

I placed these beauties in the dining room.  You can probably tell that we've had these candles since long before I was born.

I made these these pictures for a day care lesson I teach every other week.  I didn't have to, but I wanted to because they could easily become part of our Thanksgiving decorations.  In case you cannot tell, each character can be placed around the table together.  Fun!

And I have many things to be thankful for...

I was watching An Affair to Remember the other day and was quite pleased when this young lad made his brief appearance as one of Deborah Kerr's students...

BECAUSE HE LOOKS LIKE MY FRIEND RACHEL MAREK!  Try to deny it.  It's not an exact likeness, but it's there.

And then later that night, I made a fire outside in our fire pot to burn up some dead branches.

And I used a "sepia tone" filter.  Ooo, nice.

Arguably, my number one thanksgiving is my precious Blue Bell.

Here she is doing her morning ritual of stretch crawling to the stairs.

But Blue Bell can be a capital "B" Buttface sometimes...

Of all things for her to get into, she chewed up my crayons.  I was able to salvage about half or so.  But, what the heck?  And she had a pile of chew toys right next to where she chewed them up. ... And, yes, I am aware that I am the childish one with the crayons.

 I am also thankful for the creative nature God has given me.  Shortly before sitting down to write this, I began planning a gift for a relative's of mine birthday.  The fabric below will be a useful tote bag in a few days.

While I was taking the picture of the fabric, Blue Bell was laying by doing what she does best.

This is her favorite chair and only chair she's allowed on.  She made a play for this wingback's neighbor, but I was like, "Uh-uh."  And she was like, "C'mon!"  But I did not waiver. 

 Also, I am thankful to spend time with my god-daughter Adelaide and her brother, Emery, my god-son.  And their mother...

The ginger is Adelaide.  I am her day care teacher sometimes.

I will end today with something I am NOT thankful for.  Earlier today, I was on the roof sweeping off some leaves...  You will not believe how much excrement I found.  And some of it was good sized.  What animal is pooping on our roof?  And people sized?  I can't imagine it's raccoons or possums.  It would have to be some tree climbing animal...  definitely not a squirrel.

I'm not a sicko.  The reason I took pictures is to show my dad later to see if we need to take action to try to get rid of whatever did this.  To help with perspective, the shadow is mine and the rectangular part is slightly larger than the iPhone I was taking the picture with.

AUTUMN BLESSINGS!

And so Autumn has begun!  Since the out of doors is not falling suit, I have taken to decorating the in of doors. 

My little coon dog calmly surveying the back yard amongst noticeably green foliage.

No corner too small for a decoration.

To round out the experience.

Everything is something...

Hello,

Surprisingly, I am not the avid blogger that I set out to be!  ...  There are two lies in that statement.  I am neither surprised, nor did I ever set out to be an avid blogger.  So any shame that you imagine that I feel in the time since my last blog post, you are presuming too much.  But let us leave those false musings behind us and move on.

Whenever I read blogs, I avoid wordy explanations of the authors feelings and mundane actions of the day, so I'll skip that on my part and only say this, I've been alright these couple of months.  I am becoming more busy with volunteering around town, which makes me anxious.  I went to the library for the first time in a long while and am pleased with the books I got.  Also, there is a blanket that is in process for charity, but it's a crochet stitch that I am new too (afghan/tunisian) and I am a little unsatisfied with my mastering of it.  We'll see where that goes.

And now, pictures:

Painted this picture of my mom a few weeks back.  Used a picture of her from last Christmas. 

Blue Bell in a T-shirt.  I need to get a smaller one for her.  She practically walked out of this one.

Blue Bell picture with help from Instagram.

The godkids.  I had just given a doll to Adelaide, which she loved.  Best godmother ever.  And obviously, Emery's happy about something...