It seems that rock painting is all the rage now. I certainly was ahead of my time and ahead of this craze. I love painting rocks, river rocks are my favorite. Gathering them is a fun family adventure we all look forward to.
Sometimes I know exactly what size and shape rocks I want. This is due to the fact, that I have a specific project in mind. Other times, I try to find rocks that inspire me. You might not think rocks can inspire people, but they can! I see them as a blank canvas and they speak to me…well, some of them do.
I can clearly visualize the masterpiece they can become. Sometimes it is a fish, ladybug or owl, and other times it is a heart. One of my favorite projects was making rock candy corn.
It was so much fun to find the shapes I needed. Since I wanted to make a candy corn family that represented ours, when I found the especially tall and thin triangular river rock, I literally squealed with delight. That rock clearly represented my son Michael, it was so easy to see. I asked my youngest sons, who were gathering rocks with me, and they wholeheartedly agreed. It was definitely Michael, no doubt about it.
All you need is some acrylic craft paint, paint brushes, paint markers for detail painting and ModPodge sealer. If you want you can paint your rocks white on both sides first. It will take at least 2 coats of paint to get nice coverage.
When the tri color rocks are dry, you can then add personality with the paint markers.
Use ModPodge to seal and protect your creations.
Please let me know if you try this project, I would love to hear about your results.
The weather was breezy but nice in the Harbor Side Park in DUMBO. The bright orange yoga mats were set up directly across the Manhattan skyline with a perfect view of the Statue of Liberty.
I am used to taking power yoga at my home studio but have been craving a slower flow and the teacher, Kelly, absolutely delivered. The poses she recommended were perfect to completely stretch out the body no matter if you were a novice or a very practiced yogi.
The leaves are changing, the pumpkins are ready for picking, the apples are crisp and it’s a wonderful time to explore New York State. Fall is so beautiful in New York State, sometimes living here, we take for granted the beautiful change of seasons and the colorful beauty of fall. If you are living in New York State or visiting the area, I urge you to experience the beauty of Autumn with a trip to the Wright Family Farm in Warwick, New York
Try to find your way out of the Corn Maze, go on a hay ride, pick your own pumpkins, compete in the duck races, visit the animals in the barnyard, ride the pedal karts and have a picnic. Right now you can save 33% off admission to the corn maze and barnyard with a special US Family Guide discount coupon that you can get by clicking HERE. You can follow them on Facebook too to keep up with the newest happenings.
The Wright Family Farm is located in scenic Warwick, New York, just an hour north of New York City. This family-run farm stand offers a variety of seasonal family fun! During the fall, we offer pick-your-own pumpkins, free hay rides, and a corn maze. The farm stand features seasonal produce, fresh-baked breads, and cookies, as well as hot dogs and snacks.
A few rocks I made for my daughter.
And that led to this:
I have a neat project I am almost done with and will show you soon, it’s a great idea for someone who loves plants but has a brown thumb.
If you want to try this, it’s easy. Just collect your rocks, paint and seal them with Mod Podge. I just use craft paint you can find in any craft store or even Walmart. Also, for details you can use the Elmer’s Painter Pens. Share with me if you try this, I would love to see your creations!
Before even the official start of Autumn we have frost warnings, are using the heat and building roaring fires in our fireplaces. Sure there are some days when we have a taste of true Autumn but never a season of it. We seem to move from Summer right to Winter with a short stop at Autumn beginning late August. My husband laughed when I told him that he needed to finish the new porch railings a few weeks ago because we would never get to paint and stain if he didn’t because soon the snow would fly. Let’s just say he’s not laughing now.
Saturday was so cold and windy we cancelled a family photo shoot due to the conditions. Fall to me is one of the most depressing times of year, not true Fall but our Fall. Everything dying, the thought of a Winter that lasts to late May (I kid you not it snowed mid May here last year), is not uplifting for me. I love Spring (again if we had one) and Summer which is entirely too short since it ends mid August. So far today looks fairly okay outside, so I will enjoy one of the last days of true Autumn even though it’s technically still Summer and better fit that pumpkin latte in quick before the chance passes me by. That’s what you have to do when you live in the state of 2 seasons, Winter and Summer.
Enjoy some photos of Fall in upstate New York that I took in July (I jest a little). It is beautiful when we get one or two true days of Autumn.
OWN THESE TWO SPOOKTACULAR DVDs NOW
FROM SHOUT! FACTORY
R.L. Stine, the reigning king of children’s horror, is back with two all-new DVD collections from the award-winning second season of the Hub Network’s hit television series “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series.” Now available, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with the Hub Network, has unleashed R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series – Volume 5 and Volume 6 on home entertainment shelves nationwide. Guaranteed to excite kids and their families with creepy chills, each DVD collection is packed with spooky stories and all-new bonus content guaranteed to thrill you and your parents like never before.
Delivering spine-tingling tales, the award-winning “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series” features guest star appearances from some of young Hollywood’s biggest names, including Dakota Goyo (Real Steel), Liam James (The Killing), Joel Courtney (Super 8), Dylan Minnette (Awake), Riley Griffiths (Super 8). Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Kyle XY) and Frankie Jonas (Jonas L.A.) Join these talented young actors as they coax you through the creepy and crawly stories of The Haunting Hour’s outrageously fun second season.
“R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series” is currently presented Saturdays at 6 and 6:30 p.m. (ET) on the Hub, Network a television destination for kids and their families. The popular children’s anthology series recently received the 2013 Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Children’s Series from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and is a recipient of multiple Parents Choice Awards.
Setting the gold standard for contemporary horror for kids, world-renowned children’s author R.L. Stine has penned hundreds of horror stories and sold over 400 million books worldwide. Stine is the recipient of a Children’s Choice Award, and holds the Guinness World Record for the #1 best-selling children’s book author for three years running.
R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series – Volume 5 DVD
Episodes:
Scary Mary, Part 1
Scary Mary, Part 2
Swarmin’ Norman
Flight
Pumpkinhead
Bonus Features:
A Look Behind The Screams
Original Promos
R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series – Volume 6 DVD
Episodes:
Creature Feature, Part 1
Creature Feature, Part 2
Brush With Madness
Sick
Mascot
Bonus Features:
A Look Behind The Screams
Original Promos
Alexandra is still working in Potsdam but will be home next month!!! We miss her and she misses us! Ray had a meeting with the Navy recruiter and all went well, he took Michael with him because Michael wants to join as soon as he graduates this year. Ethan and Luke are having a good time as usual. Ethan is a great big brother to Luke. He tries to teach him the right way to eat with his utensils, play basketball and other things. He is always encouraging with a “Good Job Luke” even when he is less than successful in shooting a basket. Of course they still have their moments of bickering but it is better for the most part. Ethan is understanding that Luke is getting very wise and the idea of giving him a rock or a stick in trade for something like a tractor is not going to cut it anymore. He is also pretty receptive if Luke cries, he will say “Come on Luke, stop crying.” So for the most part he is a loving brother but there is still the occasional body tackle.
Jimi and I are very busy with the laser business and it is very time-consuming but we are so grateful for the opportunity we have to do something like this. Jimi had his birthday on September 15th. I made him a yellow cake with my signature dark chocolate buttercream icing and it was delicious!!!
I am missing the garden as it is past its season. I loved going out and having the inspiration for a zucchini, eggplant, tomato pasta right there in front of me. Oh well that is the chain of life and we will start planning for next year. I hope the winter is not too bad in terms of ice. Ice is the worst, no one can drive on it no matter if you have 8 wheel drive. I have a good start on Luke’s birthday presents, and not too bad of a start on both little one’s Christmas presents. I even have some stuff for Alexandra already.
Jimi and I and the little boys had a nice outing at local horse farm a couple of weeks ago. We went on a tractor pulled hay ride the boys just loved. They also had their first pony ride which was a huge hit. Luke is starting to talk more in sentences and is such a character, he loves saying things like, “Look, see the tractor!” He is really developing his personality. Ethan is having a great time as usual and enjoying playing sports and with his tractors and trucks. He loves phonics DVDs and I am going to start working on some preschool reading, phonics and math with him. He likes counting things but is that any wonder?
The boys are monkeys for Halloween, in fact the Halloween photo cards just came in the mail today and they are so cute. I hope it is a nice day on Halloween and not a deep freeze. I think Ethan will get a real kick out of it this year. Last year Jimi and I took them out shopping in their costumes, they were still too little to really understand. This year I know Ethan will have a blast.
Well, I better sign off for now as I have a thousand and one things to do. Hope everyone is having a wonderful, blessed Autumn!!! God Bless!!!