And now for a report on my big, big week (drum roll please.....)

Okay, people, when I said I had a big week coming up on my last post, I think I may have left you ya'll with the wrong impression! I mean, sure, it was a big week FOR ME, but not so much in the big scheme of things! It's not like I'm pregnant, moving or joining the circus! My "big week" was because I was getting an opportunity to meet two more blogging friends in person! I don't know about ya'll, but that definitely qualifies as big in my world. :) So why didn't I just come right out and say that from the beginning? Because geez people! I didn't want to announce on my blog that Randey and I were going to be away from the house for an entire week. You never know who's reading your blog, right?
So anyhoo...who did I get to meet, you ask? The lovely Lynne from Lynne's Little Corner of the World. This is us, at a charming little Denny's Diner at the Tanger Outlet Mall in Locust Grove, Georgia. Lynne drove down there from her home and I drove up there from Warner Robins. I had the most amazing time with Lynne. I felt like I'd known her forever. We had so much in common; crazy relatives, a loathing of mushrooms, wonderful granddaughters, a distaste for cooking (but a love of cooking gadgets!)...the list goes on and on. The afternoon went by way too fast for my liking. I hope we're able to get together again one of these days because Lynne is great fun to be around. I need more fun people like her in my life!
I also got to meet with Sandy from Dream, Create, Inspire. More than meet her, I also got to attend one of her art classes!!! Talk about a dream come true! I've long said that if I ever got to her area, I would definitely want to take part in one of her classes so getting to do so was absolutely amazing! Sandy is an amazing teacher (and positively STUNNING in person!). Look what she taught me to do in just 2 hours:

And, as an added bonus, I won her painting in the drawing that was held at the end of class. I had her painting framed and it's on my living room wall already. I'm debating what to do with my painting, though. I was thinking about giving it to my daughter or my granddaughter. I'm actually pretty proud of it so I don't want to give it to one of them unless they really, really want it. lol Sandy also gifted me with this beautiful clock she'd made:

I've hung right next to my computer desk so I can see it all the time. It's just lovely, isn't it? She also gave me this picture frame she'd made:

I haven't decided what picture to put in there yet. Maybe one of Randey and me from that Sky Ball we went to a few months ago. How lucky am I to own three pieces of original Sandy McTier artwork? I think she kind of scoffs when I say stuff like that, but I treasure her artwork - it's truly amazing. :)
Here's Sandy's painting, hanging on our living room wall:

And here's a long shot of the living room wall. I'm always saying I've never met a blank wall I didn't want to cover and this wall is proof of that compulsion. lol

Our visit to Georgia was a lot of fun. I missed the boys quite a bit so I spent probably too much time worrying about them, but getting to meet Lynne and Sandy was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up. I'm so glad I finally got to meet them in person and I sure hope I get to do it again one day soon. Randey's job is actually slated to move to Warner Robins in a year or so. I was kicking my heels, screaming that I did NOT want to live there (Sorry guys! I'm a cold weather person and the heart of Georgia doesn't fit that bill!), but I've decided that there might just be certain advantages to living there after all. :)

On the way to Georgia, I realized that our path went right through Selma, Alabama, where my grandparents are buried. Randey and I made arrangements to stop by and pay our respects to them on our return trip home. It was very exciting to get to do this. I haven't been to their gravesites in over 5 years, I guess. I can't believe that much time has gone by.

We brought them a little cast iron bird to leave there. My grandparents, particularly Grandma, loved to sit on the front porch and watch the birds. The whole family spent many a wonderful hour sitting in the rocking chairs on their front porch, enjoying each other and the sights. Those were good days back then. Here's the bird we left for them:

And finally, here's a crazy bird I got for myself a few weeks ago. I love this crazy chicken.

I found it down in Granbury and couldn't resist getting it. It just makes me smile everytime I look at it. Everyone should have a velvet crazy chicken, don'tcha think? Hope everyone is having a wonderful week! It's hard to believe we're already into the 3rd week in February!!