Goodbye, For Now.

Upon reflection of the time I spend on the Internet learning about other's lives by reading their blogs and such I have decided that for now I am going to stop.

As I look at my own blog, it doesn't seem to serve much of a purpose. It is meant to keep my loved ones (and my husband's) updated on my life's (and my family's life) journey. I find that the people who I am close to in my family already stay in touch with me very regularly. If there are some who read this that I don't communicate with, it doesn't seem to be strengthening a bond. It is like reading a diary and knowing great truths about someone, but they don't know you know and therefore, it is awkward talking with them about it.
I write OK, but it doesn't always flow and I have a lot of trouble articulating my feelings when I am very passionate about a subject. plus, I'd much rather talk to you about how I feel than have you read it and me not know it. I prefer conversations and some of my feelings do not need to be pressed into this world.


I crave interaction with people and have been trying to make the blog world fill that void. Truthfully, it doesn't. I have learned ABOUT so many people and their beautiful lives, but I am not really a part of them. In my life, relationships have been the most important. I have been able to hide within my home because of the simulated conversations and relationships the Internet has provided me with. I don't want this. I want to be out in the world, learning from it and exploring it firsthand. There are a few things I have neglected because of my affair with the computer, including (but not limited to) my business and work, conversations with my family, exercise, meeting and helping others and taking care of the community in which I live. Most of the conversations I have with people (not including my husband) are through the phone, e mail or Internet. While not one of those things is "bad" what I have done with them is not good. Now, I can't visit or talk on the phone everyday (or every other day) to all those that are important to me, but I could do a lot more without this distraction. Don't get me wrong, I think blogging is wonderful and I have really enjoyed doing it for the pas few years. I have learned so much from others and read about so many people and their lives that I would not normally be able to "meet." My life will be forever changed because of people like Emily R. and Angela. Their stories are etched into my heart and they have caused me many sleepless nights and the need for a lot of prayer and reflection. It's a good thing in that sense.


So, those of you that I cannot see, please call and I will do the same. For those that I cannot talk to, please write and e mail and I will do that as well. If I don't have your contact information and you would like to continue corresponding, let me know and I will shoot you an email or letter.


We decided that I would start this business and work from home so that I could better care for my family (that will hopefully grow) and the people in my community. I want to be available in my spare time, not sucked into the computer. If I do come back, it will be through my old blog. And if I do, believe me, I will let you know!

So, hello, really. Not goodbye at all!


Here I go on my new quest, Esse Quam Videri.


~ M'elle

House of Blues...and pinks too, I suppose

I wrote a post yesterday, but it was yucky, so I took it down.
Yes, we are having trouble with some of the things with the money side of the house. We HAVE the money in a way. It's just the Big Bank's appraiser REFUSED to appraise our future home and they don't want to send out another appraiser, but hey, they want to charge us anyway. The appraiser didn't even go inside of the house and did a write up that basically said the house we want is a crack house and absolutely disgusting. It's dirty, it needs updates, but it was never a crack house and the problems are quite fixable and the house does have SOME form of value.

Anyway, I have been reacting like an angry pit bull locked in a room with Mr.Vick and my poor, Southun' gentleman of a husband has had to deal with an angry coona$$ of a wife.

So that's my update. My blood pressure is going up, so let's move on to a better topic.

My little neighbor friend came over this past weekend to spend the day with me one on one, and we had a great time. We had our "Pink Day" we talked about with my pink mixer, pink apron and pink cupcakes. Little Sally's demeanor is very much like mine, so we get along quite well.

We had fun watering my garden, making "Compost Stew" out of berries and grass, etc., baking cupcakes, painting and playing with the toys at my house. It was a good day, but I was ready for bed with not an ounce of energy left by the time 10:00 rolled around!

Here are some happy pictures of our fun times:
Think pink! It's much easier to smile if you are making cupcakes!

Wearing her hair "Miss Michelle Style" (pre-hair cut) while painting.While watering the gardens, Miss Sally got her clothes wet. The only thing I had was a dress that I saved that I used to wear as a little one - a perfect fit! Sweet memories...

Good Day, Sunshine...

Wishing you a weekend full of sunshine...
Laughter...


Twirls...
Innocence... and Wonder.
If help in this department is needed, consult your nearest four-year-old, sweetheart of a kid.

My Dirty Little Secret...

is this kitchen... Yeah. It's U-G-L-Y and it has no alibi. It's UGLY! Yeah, yeah, it's UGLY!

OK, I'm done now.

So, I have this ugly, horrific kitchen with no fridge, stove top and a double oven. It definitely lacks a plan. This picture actually shows its only good points. It has windows. It has walls of hideous green with palm tree wallpaper in spots. It's got a drop ceiling. It has fluorescent light fixtures. It's a Michelle nightmare.

The pictures below are of my current kitchen at the bitty house from about two years ago at Christmas time. It's an older kitchen, but it's cute. It's functional. I love my 1940s stove/oven. I learned to cook on that thing.

I've written a post about my kitchen before and all that it means to me. I believe it was one of my first posts on this blog, so look back in the archives if you want to read it. My kitchen actually inspired the name for this blog. It's literally the hub of my home and has twenty plus feet going in and out all day long. Neighbors and friends are welcome at anytime, including stray animals. I've always wanted to hang a sign above the back door (pictured below) that says "Grand Central Station." It's just that busy of a place. You should have been here before we put a fence around the back yard. It was super busy then.

Now, this kitchen was not always thought so cute by the Michelle International Kitchen Rating System Scale.

Yes. What you are witnessing is brown, scratchy grease laden paneling. Oh yeah, and faded strawberry ruffle curtains. Can you see Avi? That's my avocado green fridge from the early 60s. We have Sam's fridge now, but Avi is running strong as ever at my In-Law's cabin. I saved the antique ice cube caddies from it.

So, as you can see, give me a bucket (try four for the kitchen - paneling SOAKS up paint) of paint and some money for a flea market and I can make a kitchen look cute. It's just that I already did that four years ago and now I have more monetary obligations.

What I am getting at is, if you know of any websites or places nearby where I can get some liquidated/cheap supplies, appliances, flooring, sink, ANYTHING to "Save The Kitchens" please let me know. I am not above dumpster diving, scrounging and begging. I'll pick up pennies off of the ground, I'll eat dirt if I have to!

And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

It's Ours!

ALL OURS (well, God's, I mean...)! And I'd say (not judging from these pictures) that we have A LOT of work to do! Just keep us in your prayers that we may have sanity and use this house to bring God the glory. He has blessed us with SO much already. The inspection is rescheduled for this Monday, so I hope something big that we don't already know is not present, hiding in the foundation of this house.


I've been reading chapter 12 in Luke to try and find a little more insight into whether or not this house is definitely a good thing and/or how I can use this house and situation to better serve Him.

I wanted to put a piece of scripture from Luke 12 in here, but I can't single out one with fear of taking it out of context. So, I would recommend reading all of that chapter if you want to see where my mind is going.

However, I will leave you with this from Luke 12:

The Parable of the Rich Fool
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

And this thought, taken from the chapter, "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." ~ Luke 12:48b

I think I'm ready to give.

Christmas Portrait Blitzkreig # 1

I'm in the midst of a painting frenzy (and a creating frenzy for an open house next weekend!), all of which must be done by December 1st! It's great to be busy and have my work in demand. I think my favorite thing is seeing people's faces the first time they see a finished portrait. It's still quite a rush though since we have so much going on outside of work (old house, other house, travelling plans, Thanksgiving, Christmas and all that goes with it!).

So, what do you think? I still have about an hour's worth of work to do on highlights, shadows, nose (the nose always gets me) and landscape. The flowers are inspired by Gustav Klimt's style and colors.

Below is a photo of a photo that was printed out on paper..... just to give you an idea of what this guy really looks like.

Helpful hints on painting noses? Suggestions? Questions?