where the heck did July go??

man....I cannot believe that it is August already! I am so bumming in a major way about it...summer is going by way to fast and in my wrecked mind that means that winter is getting closer...YUCK! I have given up the idea...well, let's not say given up, but rather put the idea on hold for now, about moving to Arizona. I found a beautiful house, totally great price but location wasn't the best and, well, quite frankly, with the housing market the way it is right now, I don't want to lose money on my home and then incure more expense to move across the country. Looks like I'll have to endure another 4 years of winters and then Miss Mandi will be outta high school and I'll be able to get the heck outta here!!

In the meantime, me thinks I'll just do a little bit of remodeling on this home...new floors, countertops, a back deck...some furniture refinishing and, then my sCRAP room!! If I can do some of these things, then maybe being stuck inside a home during the hellish months of winter here won't be so bad!

Not much new to write about....Mandi starts school in two weeks! Yikes!! again...summer is going too fast! this now means getting back up at the crack of dawn to get the kiddo off to school...another bite in the ass!! Aw well.....I still have two weeks to stay up late and sleep in...

Otherwise, it's been same ol same ol here.....played around with a photo earlier...not that I have one clue as to how to use these actions I bought LOL...but, playing with them is fun! This picture of Ozzi was victim to my playtime today! I used the Contra Soft and EZ Vignette actions...



Like I said, I don't know jack about hues, tones, saturations and all that crap but I just played with the sliders until I got something I thought looked pretty cool! Maybe that will have to be my goal...to learn what the heck all that stuff means and how to use them...or, is it really just a matter of personal preference? Is there a right hue? a right level of brightness?? I dunno...

I also played with an old picture last week. I'm currently working on a mini album and am using some old pictures for it...maybe I'll join the ranks of those who show only snippets of their work LOL..until it is finished...anywho, this is a picture of my grandparents home (one that I lived in until I was about 10 years old)..but, this picture was taken prior to my birth and before my grandparents had done any of the remodeling of it (they added a porch and built out a room upstairs)...again, I used a bunch of different actions to try and give it an old, dreamy sort of look...



So, that is pretty much what I've been doing.....we had a fabulous weekend of weather here and I was outside enjoying every minute I could of it! Today, it's hot, kinda cloudy at times and humid, but, I'll take it!!! In fact, I think I need to get in my pool for awhile....so....

until next time,
Blessings!