We don’t get too many awesome sunsets where I live. But this weekend we went to the Hill Country of Texas to spend a lot of time sitting in a tube floating down rides at Schlitterbahn. In my opinion there is no better way to spend a weekend.
I hope you enjoyed your weekend as much as I did.
I watched the movie Steel Magnolias with my mom last night. I LOVE that movie. I think that Ouiser is my favorite character.
I do not see plays, because I can nap at home for free. And I don’t see movies ’cause they’re trash, and they got nothin’ but naked people in ‘em! And I don’t read books, ’cause if they’re any good, they’re gonna make ‘em into a miniseries. - Ouiser
And then of course there’s Dolly Pardon’s character, Truvy. Have I ever mentioned how much I love Dolly Pardon?
There is no such thing as natural beauty. -Tuvy
And then of course there’s the scene where Clairee tries to get M’Lynn to punch Ouiser in the face. So funny!
But I think one of the best things of all is the armadillo groom’s cake. I’ve always wanted to make whoever I marry get one.
If you haven’t seen it, you’ve got to watch it on Netflix.
I’ll never forget one day in high school when I had a horrible day. I can’t remember everything, but I do remember that it started with finding a snake in my locker. Then I spilled my lunch on the floor in front of my locker, ended up going without lunch, and completely forgot I had a project due. Gross.
Well how ironic is it that today’s bad day began with seeing a snake on the front porch? Thank God it was just a baby snake or I would still be surfing the internet trying to figure out how to snake proof my house.
I tried to take pictures today for an awesome post I had planned, but I had shaky hands. (I’m way tired and super stressed.)
This is what most of the pictures looked like.
My computer froze. Twice. At really important times.
My camera froze. The battery wasn’t dead, the memory card wasn’t full. And it turned out it was a user error.
I walked my dogs who stopped and sniffed every tree in the stinking county. And one decided it would be a good idea to walk in front of me and stop randomly.
When we were finished I decided to work on the few good pictures I got. Only aparently my computer decided to take a vacation in Bermuda. I decided to restart again and here’s what I got:
(I phone picture)
Grr! While my computer was doing that, I decided to get a snack of cereal and spilled milk everywhere.
And today was the first day I had to break into my savings account even though I’m working a temporary job.
And my brand new sweater tore.
And I blew my diet out of the water. It went down like the Titantic. I ate two doughnuts for a snack. Plus Peanut M&Ms.
Plus a few other things I care not to mention.
Tomorrow I hope to post that awesome post I had in mind.
Tomorrow will be a better day because I said so dadgumit!
Alternatively Titled: Melissa Davis is becoming Picasso. Not.
Typically during church I pass the time by doodling on my programming. Yes I’m kind of listening, but I’m pretty bad at sitting still. Out of these doodles came an idea for a painting.
This is what the idea looked like. I envisioned something sort of like a wreath on a stand.
The problem with the idea was that (like we discusses previously ) I can’t do free form art. I began brainstorming various ways to use some object to help me. Finally I realized that I had left over mason jar lids from my candle making project I did awhile back.
This is the part that screws around the jar’s grooves. But I’m sure you know that.
So I took a canvas I had bought (once again 50% off) and tried to spray paint it, like I did the previous project. This time it didn’t work. I ended with one hot mess. Minus the hot part. So I went back to the store and bought paint. I painted the canvas this time, which is something I was terrified of. And as you’ll see it didn’t turn out too badly!
I then took the jar lid part and dipped it in paint. (This was after everything else dried.) I kept at tit until it looked like something I could be proud of.
This is the end result. It looks more like a tree. So I decided to create a trunk using the edge of the lid.
Tada! This is what we call modern art friends. And speaking of friends, modern art is my friend. I’ve been brainstorming for more ideas (during church of course) and can’t wait to give some of them a try. This one still needs to be framed though.
Do you have any creative painting ideas?
There’s a nature trail where I live. I love to go for long walks there, but typically I take a dog or two with me. This time I had decided to take a camera and a couple of people with me instead. These pictures are from awhile back, probably fall. Usually this time of year either it’s too hot or there are too many misquitos to go out there.
The mighty Brazos River is one of the first things you see on the trail. I know this picture isn’t all that great, but I still wanted to include the picture because of how much I love the fact that the trail is on the river.
Along the way we ran into some of these guys on a fallen tree. I love how mythical wild mushrooms look. It’s like I expect one of these guys to pop out of nowhere:
But instead of living in the woods he sits in a leaning birdbath in my backyard. Other wild life can be found out there though. Sometimes I get to see bunnies or armadillos.
I’m always thankful, however; when I don’t see any of these guys. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate snakes? One day I was out here walking when I little girl was bitten by a venomous snake. Poor girl.
Wild vines wrap around trees everywhere. Not snakes.
And colorful leaves find their way onto their path, which has since been redone. During the drought this entire path had humongous cracks in it. Thankfully, the city has already repaved it.
Where’s your favorite place to walk?
Look who was hanging out by my front porch today. It’s the Geico Gecko’s American Cousin. And he, much like his Australian (British?) cousin was quite the willing model.
That poor guy was in for some ride with the leaf blowing back and forth in the wind. But he just sat there.
Thank you Mr. Gecko for being such a good sport. As a result I will forgive you for looking a little bit like a snake.
Josh and Ruthie a couple of days ago.
Josh and Ruthie three years ago. Time flies friends.
1. The Beach. And the fact that it’s the beach in California makes it even better. 
Laguna Beach in Cali. I can’t get enough of this picture.
2. Being out in nature. Especially if the nature involves pine trees. Would you believe this is a rest stop? As in on the side of a major interstate.
Rest stop near Huntsville.
3. Anything and everything Disney. I have been to Disney World 4-5 times and Disney Land once. Sad but true fact: I still cry during the firework show. They make me believe I can do anything.
Disney California’s Boardwalk Area. Fact: I road that Ferris Wheel with a grown woman who screamed most of the time.
4. Christmas Time! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Even if you forget the presents, just looking at the trees and lights makes me gloriously happy.
Trees at the Denton Square, where they are decorated year round.
And last but definitely not least. Can I have a drum roll please?
5. Color. Where would the world be if it were all black and white? Some of my favorite colors are: lime green, orange and light blue.
These are the Rudbeckia flowers in my backyard. Fact: I thought all along people saying Rebecca when I asked what these flowers are called.
Fact A: I am not a fan of diets. I may even think they’re stupid.
Fact B: I typically eat twice the service size of Bluebell daily.
Fact A + B: I now weigh more than I have in quite awhile.
Don’t get me wrong I am not fat. I’m just a little too like Winnie the Pooh in the stomach area. Typically I just wear Spanx to cover it up. They work like a charm. Have you ever tried Spanx? I should have said they work like magic. Unfortunately, no matter how they make you look they can’t make you feel better. And well, you’re apt to feel a little sluggish after eating a whole bunch of ice cream and Double Stuffed Oreos (seriously, why even make the normal kind?). Plus I read that sugar ages you.
So today I starting dieting. I haven’t died yet. I ate the serving size listed on the side of my Mango Bluebell Ice Cream. Would you believe it’s only 1/2 a cup? That’s completely not fair. And it’s even less fair that I won’t be going back for seconds after dinner. God, when I get to heaven can I just eat chocolate cake and Bluebell ice cream all the time? Thanks.
I also gave up juice. I’ve never been a soft drink drinker thanks to not being allowed to have it as a child. So it’s just good old H2O and my before bed milk.
The next area getting revamped is exercising. Normally, I do exercise. I walk my dogs every day for 30 to 40 minutes, but I’ve decided to kick it up a notch. Literally. I’m taking kickboxing. I got the DVD from Target because I figured it is cheaper than the actual classes and I have a friend who wants to kick box with me.
So hopefully over the next few weeks I will start feeling better and my fear of getting diabetes will lessen. I’ll keep you updated on both.
In my backyard there’s a small pond dug by my siblings for my mother. It’s really a pretty place. There is a waterfall and fountain. There are even lily pads!
Much to my mom’s dismay, there is a creature that LOVES her pond as much as she does. This swamp creature has black shiny fur and can be found swimming in the pond on warm summer days.
It’s definitely not an otter. We don’t have those in Texas.
You think you can hide behind the bushes, do you?
Apparently he can walk on land too! Look at those cute paws.
Oh my goodness, it’s Scout! Okay, I know we all knew that all along but please don’t tell him. He doesn’t know he’s not part otter.
