Don't feel bad... I still love you.

My poor little sweet blog... have we been feeling a bit neglected? Are we beginning to feel the sting of jealousy every time I post to Facebook or pin another something on my ever expanding this of fabulous bits of inspiration onto Pinterest? I know, I know.... it doesn't seem fair does it?

Well... I guess I have just been feeling as though I don't really know where to start! So much has happened this year... So sit back and relax so I can bring you up to date shall I? Seems fitting to recap the last year and start fresh anyways right?!!! So here it  goes ...

Last year brought a great many changes for me....

*I started doing more group shows with some wonderful Ladies of Lowbrow..... like Tanna Lee Hill and Amber Noel Parsons.... and just generally spending more time with my friends, peers, mentors.... 

(My friends are wonderful, crazy and extremely talented... I'm so lucky!)

*Resigned from Gallery 4 to focus on expanding my horizons and family!!!!!

(Yes, this is how I focus on family)

*My trips to Georgia, Florida, Colorado and the Cities kept me busy!!!

*Started keeping Bees.... it is amazing and a learning process that we have not yet mastered!! LOL

*Jeremy and I celebrated 15 years together which I think is amazing... I have been with him since I was 17 years old, crazy huh?!

(he is so bashful... and so cute I might add)

*Had a chili cook off... it was a tasty event! One word... YUM.

*Added onto the back porch , a craftsman style pavilion (my mister is quite talented, \(^.^)/ !)

*I started sculpting!!!!! I love it and am so excited for what the future may bring... I feel like my art is growing organically and just seeing where the journey will take me, just focusing on doing what I love!!!!!!

(as you can see I changed up my blog a bit to reflect my ever changing art!)

*Of course I took a bit of a sabbatical after I butchered my hand.... I still have some nerve damage, but that hasn't stopped me from doing what I love..... If you really want some advice... DONT EVER RUN A KNIFE THROUGH YOUR FINGER/HAND!!!!! It was a real pain, but also a blessing in that it showed me how grateful I am to have the use of my hands.... I can't imagine not being able to do what I love!

(It went through two fingers... yuck! Luckily it is almost better now.)

* My kids are getting to be young amazing people...

 who teach me daily the joys and pains of parenthood!!

Cass is a regular comedian as is her brother!!!

Did I mention they are both double digits now? 

I know, crazy right?

(Connor in Football gear, and enduring 'Phase Three' from Grandpa, awww life lessons are fun aren't they?! Cass in her autumn Head wreath and goofy bison hat! lol)

* Our newest adventure.... FLYING!!!!!!!

Jeremy asked me one day... 

'I am going to start taking flying lessons....Do you want to learn how to fly with me?'

Um, hello.... yes please.

So there it is ... well, the highlights anyways.

Now that we are all caught up I am going to try harder to share my daily inspiration, progress, and just some bits and pieces of my everyday life!

Hope your last year was full of fun and adventure!!

XXOO

Carrie Lee

Let the autumn days begin....

Enjoying the relaxing sound of my kids NOT arguing.... They started back at school.... Ahhhhhhhh



Picked some pretty flowers....







Working on my first ball jointed doll... Been wanting to do this for awhile!!! Hopefully it will turn out..

Just me sayin hi... How are you?




Xxoo
Carrie Lee

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Drowning in Domesticity....

Hanging Cassidy's blanket out to dry on the clothesline....Old school!

Yes... 

drowning in domesticity...

I mean that in a good way... Partial excuse, part ...Me, just sharing life.... finally.

 Sigh... these last couple months have been delightful. But, I know,  I have a 'lot of esplanin to do" , cue the I love Lucy music now. Well, hmmmm where do I begin? Oh yeah, no longer a member of Gallery 4. I wont go into too much detail, rather... just say,  it was my decision, they are still wonderful friends, I wish them the best.... they really helped me grow and now it is time to move on. So after leaving G4 I took some time to just be domestic.... enjoying my DIY life to the fullest. 

So I have been thinking about what I want in my life and where I want it to go. In the meantime, I am keeping myself busy with everyday life, taking time to smell the roses and reboot. I haven't been slacking.... no, no, no. I have been a Busy Bee ... actually a busy beekeeper! Yes... I am a beekeeper. Adding to the list of a girly girl, red lipstick wearing, mom of two not so little beasties (no... I am not talking about my two dogs or the bunny... I am referring to the human beasties running around calling me mom), wife to the true blue Brawny man, gardener, foodie, indie music lover....... and of course artist!!! 

OOOooooof..... oooof ah doooof. 

*sigh* 

Really, I could probably add to it but you get the idea.... 

I have added bee keeping to my long list of adventures....

Why? 

Because they are cool damn it.

Just look at them.....

Okay take a closer look...

They are crazy cool.... fascinating in fact!!!

We have two colonies... one is awesome, while...the other is struggling. 

It is all very educating, for sure!

In the meantime.... I have been baking nummy foods (Like this torte.... Evil!!!!), riding my bike downtown Fargo and everywhere else, swimming with the kids, giving hand building a go at Midwest Mud - a fabulous ceramic studio, planting a flower garden, and planting a regular garden full of wonderfully delicious things that are finally producing some goodies.... 

just look at my yellow beans...mmmmm...

A little olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper... toss them around in a skillet.. Sooooooo good!!!

I think the bunny wants some.... Sorry bunny-bunny.

I did already give you lettuce and a carrot.

No... sorry.. you can't even have some of these nummy berries.

mmmmmm..... my first berries of the season!!

I have been making sun tea and sitting on my porch... 

okay so most of the time I am drinking beer not tea...

I have good intentions.

Speaking of tea...

Best sun tea recipe ever....

Fresh Lavender and Mint from the garden..

Organic green tea...

set it in the sun...

 refreshing and cool.

So there you have it.... that is what has been on the agenda the last couple months. 

I guess I have been channeling my inner Betty Crocker. 

Don't hate me because I am domesticated... it happens to the best of us. 

It may seem silly to you, but this life of mine.... it is all I ever wanted. It is a perfectly messy, chaotic, adventurous life and it is mine. 

Ours really... I get to share it with him.... 

the Goofball....

Captain Jeremy on our 15 year Anniversary in Duluth, MN!!! Pahahaha

And girl beastie.....

And boy beastie....

Right now things are changing.. and wonderful.... I am excited about the tomorrows. Luckily I have lots of energy and passion....And I am especially lucky to have these two ladies in my life....

Tanna (that is me in the middle)and Amber...

We are heading to the cities this weekend...

making plans

Doing more art shows...

Living life to the fullest.

I am excited.

I hope you are living your dream.

I hope you are scratching things off the bucket list...

eating all the best berries right of the bush...

smelling the roses..

drinking a beer...

watching your family laugh and grow.

I hope.

I dream.

I am going to my grave with red lipstick on.

xxoo

Carrie Lee

Autumn (sigh)...................

 My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. 

 ~George Eliot

Did you know that Autumn is my very favorite season? Love, love, love it. 

We  can cuddle up by a warm fire outside and roast marshmallows. We can harvest apples and make pie. Not to mention fresh apple cider............. mmmmmmmmm. (Sigh) 

The cool breeze that blows away all the crimson and gold leaves. And the sound of leaves crunching under my feet makes me feel like a kid......... (giggle.....)

We went out to our family's place out in the country.

They have the prettiest little farm. A place I have always enjoyed going to. It is so peaceful. 

The farm sits along side a small river, woods and meadows. 

They have horses....

And longhorn cattle....the babies are the sweetest thing.

My little peanut was helping feed with the heavy hay....

and giving them apple and carrot treats too.

Shaylee, my niece, was clicking her camera even more than I was....we are kindred spirits. She is one of the best people I know.... and she is only 15.

She really is amazing. Love my Shaylee girl. I am such a lucky Auntie.

We went over and watched the kids run along the huge hay bails.

They had a ball..... running, playing, laughing.

They were invincible.

I had to capture a few of those moments... 

so I will never forget....

I must never, 

EVER 

forget.

Oh, Connor.

My little man... soooo serious.... I do wonder what goes on in his mind. He is ever so clever and brilliant and hansome and charming and................. you get the idea. He is my boy. I love him so.

"Wait... wait... 

hang on.... hat check, gloves check, check...."

Shaylee was talking me into a walk...

Down by the river.... 

Sunset was sneaking in on the day....

So we thought we'd go get a few more glimpses of seasonal magic.

There she goes just a clicking away again...

And again.... oh me too....

I was in my happy place.

Click, Click...

I found some pretty things..

Look, there is another pretty ~ pretty now....

OOOOoooooo a skipping rock!

KERPLUNK.

Okay so maybe that wasn't one of my best throws...

I did eventually skip one. 
(Yes, one. Whoever said skipping rocks is easy?
 Not me that is for sure.)

On our way back up to the house... 
Mr. Bluebird was wondering what we were up to.

I told him we were having a magnificent day
 and that if he would just hold still for a second, 
It would make my day complete.
 So he did. And I was... Complete. Happy. Whole. 

Now quick! Go skip through some crunchy leaves.

 I promise... it is worth it.

(Giggle..... tehehehehehe)

Come on... I dare you.

xo

Carrie Lee