Goodbye 2014...Hello 2015

I stopped making resolutions years ago.

It didn't make sense to only start something new at a set time or date. Don't wait till Monday. Or the beginning of the month.

If you want it and are inspired to do it, then DO IT!!

Pinterest sent out an email this year about posting images/links to a board for your 2015 goals. I liked that idea better. Some things you have to work towards. You might want them now, but they take practice, or time to work up to, or to save up for.

You can view my "Bucket List for 2015" by clicking on the link :)

I've already managed to accomplish a few of these goals before we roll over into 2015.

• 2014 was a very hard year and I spent the first half of it rehashing the past in my head. I tried working myself past it, but it almost seemed impossible. Little by little I worked through it, and finally had the epiphany to start working everyday toward the things I truly want. Part of that was learning not to have the same dialog of the past playing in my head each day. It doesn't change anything. I'm letting it go.
• There are a few goals on my board that are physical items. I'm going to buy a new dirt bike. When I bought my first one I figured it would last me forever. Hubby suggested I might gain enough skill that it wouldn't suit me anymore, and I laughed. It's time for a new bike!
• Technology skills. I'm spending as much time as I can each day learning. With a degree in education, I know how to set up a learning plan. I know where to find information. To save money (and speed up the process) I am using my resources to gain new knowledge and hopefully a new career.
• Yoga. It's become my stress reduction. My new form of fitness. And the way I clear my head and focus on thoughts that matter. Challenging poses or relaxing stretches. I'm in love <3
• Paddle boards. Time for playing in the hot sun and in the Montana water. There was a fantastic sale that popped up in my "inbox" yesterday. The plan was to buy them in the spring, but I took advantage of the sale. I'll be welcoming new toys in about a week :)

My plan is to add to that Pinterest board as the year continues, and by this time next year I will be able to look back and reflect on what I accomplished, what I let go of, and what I have gained.

Happy New Year lovelies. What are your goals for 2015?

Always,

Rhoda

Sprucing it Up...

Hello World!

Are you still out there reading? This place has been abandoned. I can't really say that my interests changed, I just lost my mojo.

Then summer came along and I decided it was time to take a break after I finished a few classes and just play.

And I did.

We rode our dirt bikes, went kayaking, played on paddle boards, swam at the lake and river, soaked in hot springs, did yoga, and lounged in my new hammock anyplace I could think to set it up!

Now that winter is settling in...I am doing some "house keeping". My shop is updated, the blog and my facebook page have a new look, and soon I will be offering my services for Web Design and Blog Templates. I have been fiendishly learning and applying some new skills and I am excited to be adding to my abilities. 

Hope you are all doing well...see you back here soon :)

Rhoda

Can You Hear Crickets...

Hi All,

Is January over yet? This really hasn't been my favorite month.

Between sickness, death, dreary days, and just all round "blah" I am ready to be moving on.

Spring is calling :)

There will be a freebie listed tomorrow. I had some ready to be worked up, and then forgot about them in all the chaos. They are still just sitting on my computer. Waiting to be finished. They were snow related. Hopefully I get to them before it's spring and I am drawing flowers :)

I did take some time to draw and color this past week. This picture was in my favorites over on Deviant Art. I really wanted to color something, so I drew it out on some 14 x 17 bristol paper and then colored it with Copic markers.

Today I matted it and now one of my art students will build it a frame. I am giving him the original :) I will probably get another photo of it or a scan and then make some prints for my nieces and anyone else who wants one.

I also started another drawing of some animals swimming in a pond. My niece requested it last spring and I am finally getting to it.

Here's to the end of January!!

Always,

Rhoda

You Can Do It...my version

I read this post, by Beth, a while back: You Can Do It...

And I started my own list. Then it just sat on my desktop. Up in the corner. Staring at me.

The idea was that I would add to it as my "Rhoda-isms" struck me.

Well. They have been really quiet lately.

Here's what I have:

• Do something nice, just because you can, not because you should. "The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway."
• If it is worth doing, it is worth doing to the best of your ability. 
• Besides "always kissing me goodnight" please be sure to continue touching when you roll over to fall asleep.
• Cherish the little things, they add up to be the big things.
• An instant can change your life.
• Don't strive for perfection. Strive to be the best "you" possible!
• You can't always get what you want, and that's probably for the best.
• Spend time doing what you enjoy. Not because you think you should, but because you truly want to.
• Create beautiful things, because you can.
• Breathe, and know, that this too shall pass.

There are many more, I'm sure. But they are the type of deep thoughts that strike while I am driving. My "ah-ha" moment...and then it's gone when I park the car. No chance to write it down or make note of it.

Happy Sunday!

Rhoda

100 Things...

Morning,

It's been awhile. We have been busy.

The good part of busy was we were spending a lot of family time together.

Time watching movies.
Time going for walks.
Time just being silly.

School. We have been super busy with school as well. A few weeks ago I gave my english class a lesson that was both writing and some creative art. I had them write a fancy title and then fill in the paper with images and words, listing 100 things they love.

I'm sharing my title with you...and then you get to be creative and find a way to color it and list your 100 things:

I've made a 100 things list a few times. It's fun to see the way it changes, or the the things you love the most each time you list them. There are way more than 100 things that I could list...but it's a nice start :)

You can either right click the image to save it to your computer or click "here" to download it.

Happy December!

Rhoda

Paper is Calling...

Good Morning,

We are almost at the end of July. How did that happen?!

Our days have been spent running around the state, riding our motorcycles, walking to the river, splashing in the lake, and taking advantage of every spare moment we have.

Summer at it's best!

I have neglected my blog. Ignored my paper collection. Avoided pencil and paper.

They are starting to call to me. Playing has been a nice break, but I am ready to spend some time being creative.

I did scrapbook...a little:

 Love Bugs on Etsy

And I made a card:

And a new design for the shop:

I have ideas for a few new designs...but I'm not sure how long I will hold still. The lake is calling. I'm sure that by this fall, I will be ready to settle down and spend some time creating. Maybe when the hubby goes MIA for archery season :)

Hope you all are enjoying the month of July as well. Let's hit the pause button...I really want it to last a little longer!

Always,

Rhoda

Making the Legs Shake

Sunday's are probably my favorite day at the gym.

Why?

Because no one else goes! It's like having my very own HUGE gym. No waiting for equipment. No "they're watching" insecurities. Just plug in the head phones and kick some butt!

This one had me in a puddle on the floor by the time I was done:

It was a Kettlebell workout that you did each exercise to failure. My legs were all wobbly on my cool down walk. I'll be feeling that one :)

Happy Monday!

Rhoda

Look I'm Still Around

Hi there.

I know. MIA again. Summer is like that :)

I've been playing. A lot. We were go...go...go for awhile there. Chris joked that we were fitting a triathlon into a 3 day weekend.

Day 1: mountain bike around Lake Como. A little over 7 miles.
Day 2: hike to Baker Lake. A little over 3 miles.
Day 3: swim at Lost Trail Hot Springs. Then we added our own twist and rode our motorcycles up to another mountain lake.
Day 4: Rest!! :)

 On a weekend before that we put in a 35 mile ride into some beautiful country over in Idaho.

So, if you are wondering where I have been...there you go. I'm sure there will be more pictures and adventures to come. We still have more than a month to play!!

And since I missed last Tuesday's fun freebie I will have an extra goodie for you this week.

Always,

Rhoda

Happy Mother's Day

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Filled with fun and activities YOU enjoy.

My brain has officialy moved over to "summer mode" after our weekend of fun. It's unfortunate since we still have 3 weeks of school left. Yikes.

We drove home to Salmon with our bikes in tow. And then we rode like crazy.

A full afternoon on the race tracks and dusty off roads. Sandy (my MIL), even challenged herself and learned to drive the 4-wheeler. Three generations out being motor-heads.

On Mother's Day, we did the same. A longer ride. Some fishing. A hot springs at the end of the day with my dad. A pile of worn out kids and mom on the floor watching a program on bears in Alaska. One of the best Mother's Day adventures so far!

I hope you all had a spectacular weekend!

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms :)

Rhoda

Making the Most of It...

We rode our bikes again this weekend.

Twice!

While we were zipping along a dirt road in the pines, I realized that we are already in summer mode. We still have 4 weeks of school, but we are already acting like it's summer.

Packing food and leaving the house on a moments notice.

Staying out late, sucking up the most of the sunshine.

Not thinking about the responsibilities and chores that we will have the following day.

Heck. We almost forgot about "school night bedtime".

When we were sitting around the table eating pizza last night, we decided that we are going to milk this summer for everything it's worth. And we started this weekend!! :)

Happy May. Bring on wildflowers, warm sunshine, the smell of hot pine, dusty roads, and high mountain lakes. We are so ready!!

Rhoda

How Do You Dress?

Just a quick photo post.

This is how he dresses to have a rubber band war:

#personalstyle #that'smyboy #really?ducklips

:)
Rhoda

Fun Friday Night

Our Friday night date nights just became a little more interesting.

Actually, they aren't really "date nights" any more. They are now "family fun nights".

A couple of weeks ago we took Chris' bike in to the shop to get it ready for summer. When we stopped to pick it up, there was a new bike outside. A new "used" bike.

We have been to a lot of bike shops together. We have looked at A LOT of bikes.

They all looked like bikes to me. Except this one. This one spoke to me. And it told me that it really, really, REALLY wanted to come home with me.

I listened.

That means that Kyla gets my blue Yamaha. And that Hayden didn't have a bike.

His question: "Does that mean I just have to chase after everyone on my pedal bike?" :(

Well, we couldn't have that. So I took all my hidden money and bought him a bike too. Now, we can all go out and play!!

And we will. Lots and lots of playing!!

Bring on Summer!! :)

Rhoda

White Christmas Fun...

I'm starting to dream of winter white.

When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is check to see if it snowed. So far...no luck.

Rain. There has been a bunch of that. Sunshine. Snow in the high country. But we just can't seem to make it stick here in the valley. Frustrating.

My solution. Draw it instead :)

I am still deciding how I want to color these. I've already painted a handful, so I will continue painting the rest for consistency. My other plan is to try to pain them digitally. That seems HUGE and very daunting. I'll get there, but I know I will procrastinate a little before I do. It's the way I work :)

Our Thanksgiving ended up being very non traditional, which I love. We drove about 70 miles North and swam in a hot springs. Then we ate dinner in the lodge. Stopped along the creek to take pictures. Hung out at Perkins playing cards and drinking tea until it was time for the early show, and watched "Wreck it Ralph".

A perfect day.

The rest of the weekend was uneventful. Reading. Playing. Working out with the hubby. More reading. And some designing.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend and holiday. I'm ready for the next one!

Rhoda

Winner Winner...Turkey Dinner?

Morning :)

I promised a few free digis...and I'm here to deliver.

Hopefully you all are checking back in, because I don't have emails for a couple of you.

Winners were chosen by a random number generator and the order of your posts:

#7 - Jacq:
Hi Rhoda, these new images are just so cute! My favourite things in all the world are bunnies (I have my own little guy called Robbie) and snowmen so you know I'm lovin' these! :)

#8 - Mandy:
Loving the new images, especially the snowman, I am a sucker for snowmen, they remind me of happy days as a child. We don't have snow very often in the UK so it always seems like a special event when we have some to play with :)

#5 - Gail:
Hi Rhoda - You have such a great talent in drawing! I can only draw stick people! I like the snowman drawing - I am partial to snowmen! 

Each of you can choose 2 digis from my shop. Just convo or email me with your choice and I will get them sent.

My Thanksgiving plans have changed :( A nasty stomach bug hit the house, Hayden and I have been stuck home for 2 days with it. I know we will be feeling better by this afternoon, but I really don't want to transport the "bugs" down to my sister. I'm staying home. Super bummed about it, but it was the right choice. She doesn't need a houseful of sick kids.

Not sure what we will find to do, but hopefully something fun will pop up.

I finished a couple more paintings before the bug took me down:

And a few more line drawings. So there will be more to come :)

Happy Turkey Day,

Rhoda

Home Again, Home Again

Well hello there :)

It's been a whirl wind the past few days. And without service (and too busy playing) I didn't manage any blog posts.

My sister trip was amazing. Again.

Lots of laughing. Mostly at ourselves. Silly pictures. Good food. Adventures.

I'm bummed that it's over. It seemed to go way to fast this time. Doubling the time would have been better...

We dropped the little sister off on Saturday evening. Sunday morning I drove the middle sister home to Salmon to meet up with her husband and kids and then I turned around to come home. I was literally in the house for 15 minutes and then gone again.

Two days with the Student Council kids in Helena, Montana. Busy chasing and shuttling, and sometimes just waiting. I did get to see the Capitol. Beautiful artwork. And this city has some amazing architecture and old old houses. Tons of history and character. I will be coming back to play again (with my kids and probably my sisters too!!).

I have a treat for you today...and some ideas for new ones coming up. Stay tuned :)

Here's today's:

Beach (click here to download). 

It's snowing here in Montana...and I am clinging to my last thoughts of warm weather. Let the countdown to warmer weather begin :)

Have a great Tuesday!

Rhoda

More To Color...

Good Morning!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

Mine was pretty quiet. We kept waiting for the weather to go all stormy, but it never really managed to make it.

Friday night I had a date with my hubby. We each grabbed our iPods, set up a playlist, and then went riding on our dirt bikes:

This is my "Mommy-Ha". Kyla was 2 when we first bought it, and she always thought we were saying Mommy-ha instead of Yamaha. It stuck :)

We rode until almost dark, came home and parked the bikes, and then walked downtown for dinner. It was a great way to start the weekend.

Saturday, Kyla was moved up to the 8th grade volleyball team and played in the season tournament. We spent the morning cheering her on.

And then Sunday was lazy day. We all found projects and things to do. I completed a few new digi stamps and did some coloring. Hopefully, I'll have cards to post later in the week.

Stay tuned for this weeks freebie. It will be posted tomorrow :)

Have a great day!!

Rhoda