Fwd:

Guess this is sorta a big fish.

Offshore - Venice, LA
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I've had a really busy week

which is to be assumed since I didn't have the kids really going to anything this week. Mason was at a church camp that has "tool time" in the morning and "sports" in the afternoon. He seems to enjoy it. In fact, he does the best when he has near constant activity.

I hope you will leave me a comment on how wonderful this picture looks. This is a finished product on a custom order, but it's also the first photo on my new "system" for trying to photograph my larger names and word wall art. I think that the pictures may be limiting the sales of these items. So, Mark had to go over to my dad's where there was a large pile of 4 x 8 (feet) sheets of drywall. We are borrowing it for now. He also borrowed some paint and he painted up this giant sheet of drywall, hung it up on his work area of the craft room (which I had already been inching my way into with my crafts, pushing the fishing gear and tools further to the edges of the space), and even mounted the display shelf right onto the board. 

I will now be re-photographing (for maybe the 5th time) the wood words. I'll let you know how it goes. If this is successful, this may have to be submitted to etsy for some sort of space make over or seller's tips  section. Heaven knows, I have been working on these pictures for-ever! 

King Fish, 48 pounds, Port Aransas

August 28, 2009

Guide: Billy Sandifer

Mark is featured in this article:

 Texas Saltwater Fishing, Gulf Coast Connections

http://www.texassaltwaterfishingmagazine.com/

Our last hoo-rah on the lake

Madox's cannonball; and his "YEAH!" after.

Madison driving.

Tillie on the front of the boat. Here she is reeling in a fish. She wouldn't touch it and Mark threw it back before I got a picture.

Mark's cannonball

Mason's cannonball.

Bunk Bed Progress

Coming Soon: Bunk Beds

In my new "Made by Mark" Series, you will see the construction of girlie bunk beds. Matilda is getting a little too big for her crib-converted-into-a-toddler-bed and so she and Madison decided to ask for bunk beds. Of course, Mark was happy to oblige his girls, and get a project in the process.

I'm including thisphoto to show the trailer in use. See "Made by Mark" post of
July 23.

Work in progress. . .

Made by Mark

Apparently every "big" family needs a trailer. Mark also had to re-do the work table in the craft room. It was made originally from 2 salvaged base cabinets with a top put on top. Well, it didn't fare too well being a "hide-out" for the kids and so Mark made a new bottom out of sturdy plywood, attached the doors and made drawers on one side. I also wanted little feet on it this time.

I Dare Say the Pool Is Done

We started (as in Mark started) remodeling the pool in November last year. It is impossible to convey the magnitude of this project for just one person (well, one person, a not very helpful wife and 4 small helpers) but here are pictures of the completed areas. Basically, everything you see has been redone


Safety fence: new


Flower bed, retaining wall and walkway in front of fence: new
Fence: new
All of the concrete on the decking: new
Slate tile: new
Rock accent along edge: new


Little stone patio: new
Fence: new

Best Kids on Mother's Day

You could say I had a pretty great Mother's Day. I went scrapbooking ALL DAY on Saturday while Mark took the kids to the lake. When I got home, the kids had made a card and picked a bouquet of flowers/weeds. They also wrapped up the items they had made at school/scouts for the ocassion. They were so sweet and cute about it - bringing my flowers to me and presenting me with their gifts. There is definitely something to be said about things made by their own hands.


(It is so hard to get them all looking and somewhat smiling at the same time!)

Mark helped with the card - the kids are not allowed to even breathe on my stamping stuff! (Can you even imagine the mess they could create with ink pads?)

Mark and Mason Slaying Fish @ Lake Belton!

This is only 1/2 pound shy of the Lake Belton record or as the kids refer to it: The World Record!