Meet Belle in Country Grey by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Belle, my pretty little square table.

Pictures do you no justice.

I have painted your legs with Country Gray by Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Rubbed you until you are soft and smooth with the clear wax.

Your bare top with the natural wood really makes the edges stand out.



,
You are perfectly square little table that stands tall,
Taking your place in my foyer.

But do you need your top painted too?
Will it make you more complete?

What do you suggest?

What should I do?



She is not perfect.
She has a few flaws.

Please give me your suggestions.

I would really like to hear.

Getting Braces at 43 Years of Age....I must be crazy.

I did it.
I finally got up the nerve to get braces.
Well that is not exactly the best way to put it. I finally got up the nerve to spend that kind of money of myself.
My teeth were never really bad. I was lucky to go 43 years with fairly straight teeth. Unfortunately, like everything else when you hit the 40's things started going a little wonky...how is that for a word. Wonky.
Everything started to get really crowded and when I smile I am all teeth and gums. I started to see crooked teeth, especially on the bottom and that bothered me.

Lovely picture huh?
I took these with my cell phone. I am sure Kim thought I was losing my mind taking pictures of myself looking so "interesting". I have to say it is quite impressive just how much stuff they can cram into your mouth. And they tell you all about it as they are doing it......
These to pads go into your cheeks to absorb all the moisture in your mouth.
Then we are going to place the barrier between your lips and your teeth so that  you resemble a  golden retriever that is hanging it's head out a moving car window.

Yup, that is what it feels like.
 That is what it looks like!
In go the cotton  tubes under your tongue to absorb more slobber.
Then the suction tube with its cotton bladder over it to suction up anything that could possibly be moisture in your mouth.
Apparently I must produce copious amounts of saliva, drool etc. because they put ANOTHER cotton tube under my tongue.
Think you used to have cotton mouth after a night of drinking? PFFT! At least there was no hangover to go along with it.



 

Getting braces is definitely something that I could have easily elected not to do for myself. Something that I could have come up with a dozen reasons for not doing it.

They are not crooked enough. It is money that should be spent somewhere else. It is going to be inconvenient.  yada yada yada

Because I have been bringing Sam to see Dr. Keith Black it kept being pushed into the fore front of my mind.

Because when I bring Sam to his orthodontist appointments I have seen first hand what an amazing place Dr. Blacks office is.

Because of Sam's appointments and the atmosphere of the office and the amazing family he has put together you cannot help but feel like your are being well taken care of.

They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable, to make sure you are at ease with what is going on.

Even for a wimp like me.

Somoething tells me I will get no sympathy from Sam.

 

Fishing for Rocks

We went to the lake today and it was incredibly beautiful outside. The kind of day where you wear a sweatshirt and shorts in the morning and then a t-shirt in the afternoon.
A few of the leaves have started to change, but not many.
The pool was still open so the boys went swimming.
We have a few new neighbors that have moved in  and only a couple more needed until we get the new swimming pool.
We  brought the  chairs down to the lake to sit and read the newspaper and let Martha swim.
This dog lives for swimming in the lake.
She lives for 'fishin for rocks'
Most dogs fetch sticks.
Martha dives for rocks.
Not little rocks, BIG rocks.
Rocks she can barely get her mouth around.

She pulls them out of the lake and drops them at your fee.
If you are lucky she misses your toes.

Luckily there were three children at the lake that were more that willing to enterain her.
She is very persistant.

We had to remind them to be careful not to throw the rock on her head.
She get pretty excited about rocks and tends to run under  them as you are throwing them.

They asked silly questions like why doesn't she chase sticks?

I wonder if they caught any fish with us throwing such big rocks into the lake?

They loved how she would pull them to shore with her front paws.

When it was in deeper water she would go under.
Cracks me up how she blows bubbles.

She is determined.

Kind of like a bear.

What?

I am looking for rocks.

Did you call me?

What? Mud is my new color.

You called me.
You must want me to come and shake right next to you.

This line is in my way....must chew on it.

Yes we fussed at her and told her to stop.

Throw the rock!
What are you waiting for?

Such a rough life.

Carter's First Flag Football Game

Carter is playing flag football this fall. Talk about a sport that I know NOTHING about. Nada. Nil. Not a clue as to what is going on.

I do know that they are to pull the flags on their opponent who has the ball and they are to run to the other end of the field to score a touchdown.

But to know where they are supposed to be? Forget it.
Off sides? What the heck is that?

I know that I love watching these kids run their butts off getting exercise.

And that they play with their mouth guards during the entire game.
Chewing on them and generally messing with them. I don't think they really stay in their mouth protecting the teeth like they are made for.

Another thing I also know is the two girls on his team can RUN!

Mouth guard out of the mouth ...AGAIN.

Yes, his hair is blue.
 It was pink yesterday.

Hey dude, your missing a flag.

Mom STOP TAKING MY PICTURE!
Nope, get use to it kid.

She gets another flag.

Contemplating BALL.

Still has his hand to his mouth while tossing the ball?

He is thinking...Where did this girl come from?

A pretty impressive leap, unfortunately he didn't catch this one.

I love how they are all looking at their feet except for the girl, she has the ball in her sights.

They won.  Something like 7890 to 456.
I have no idea.
But they had fun.