Summer Updates......

picture by Johnnie Snow

Well, where did this month go? I have no idea. Kids got outta school alright. They all got great grades and moved up to their appropriate grades. I now have a 12th grader, a 9th grader and a 5th grader and one college student.

Right after school Johnnie, Maddie and I headed off to girls camp to a place called Taylor Ranch up in Pine, Arizona. I went as a Stake Leader, it was great fun although it is the dustiest, dirtiest place I have ever camped at. The leaders arrived a day earlier and the dust was about 4 inches deep, by the time the other girls get there they had been watering it down regularly so it was a little better. All in all, it was a great time. I am so glad I have been lucky enough to be there with my girls.

We got home from camp and headed to Roosevelt, a big lake about an hour and a half way. We camped with a bunch of our friends for a few days. Had a ball but needless to say, when we got home the girls and I had our fair share of camping. I did not take a single photo to share of the lake. G-o-m-e-r. It is purely a boating trip, it is very hot and you want to be in the water the whole time or you die. You really do, just keel over and die. We are lucky to have friends with boats.

Upon coming home from the lake, we rushed around and got Scott ready to take his Young Men on a 3 day canoe trip down the Colorado river. He loved it, they had a great time. They take off in Blythe and take out in Yuma. I worried about him the whole time and shouldn't have, they were having a ball.

While Scott was gone I decided to have the house painted on the inside. It looks fabulous. It is creams and whites. I am ditching the red and green that I have had for almost 10 years. Yehaw! Now I am gradually putting the house back together. It is going to be a long project! I will have to post updates.

As far as my schooling, I was registered to take a placement test then canceled it because I was feeling overwhelmed. I have yet to reschedule it but I have to do so! I was thrown for a real loop when last month right before I was to leave to camp I got a new calling in church. They put me in today as Young Women's president. What? I was shocked and feel very inadequate but will forge through. They released Scott today, he ended it with a bang and is feeling relieved. I just don't want my calling to interfere with my school! And vice a versa. I am thinking I will just go at a little slower pace! But UGH! I was a lil frustrated! I hope this doesn't make me sound haggish!

Well, that is an update! I am busy planning the Snow family reunion at the end of July, and planning a short pilgrimage up to Idaho and Utah in the middle of July! Happy happy summer! Love to you all! Mamie

Oh Yeah.......

Aren't these wonderful? Sadly they are all spoken for. The Black one belongs to my friend Dawn at Sassy Talk. I had to fix it for her, One is my friend Kates, one belongs to my Auntie Kathy and the rest are headed down to Cali to Bonnie's shop, Junk in the Trunk. I blogged about it in my last post. Hope you are all doing great!

XOXO~ Mamie

Grass Valley California

my sister Connie, me, my grandma and my sister Lori

I haven't taken the time to blog about California yet. Scott and I went at the end of April to celebrate my Grandma's 90th Birthday. She is such a cutie. We had a great time celebrating with my family. My mom's family are a rowdy bunch. They can party with the best of them that is for sure! I think my grandma was pleased. It was fun watching her interact with friends that knew my Grandpa who passed away 26 years ago.

Scott and I took a lot of time together just to be alone. It was nice, we need to do that more often. We walked around the town of Grass Valley, went antiquing. Found some great spoons for rings and found the cutest little shop called Junk in the Trunk. The shops owner Bonnie is the nicest lady who is so talented. She has an eye for vintage and has such a fun way of packaging things. She wraps the item in a pattern instead of tissue and then her bags are paper popcorn bags. Everything in her store was like that. Just, unique, clever and so much fun!

Bonnie is going to start selling my bracelets in her shop as well as spoon rings. I am excited, as I consider it an honor that she approves of my jewelery to be sold in her darling shop!

It was hard to come home, we left the kids on their own for the first time and they did great. We just needed a few more days alone together. Scott take note of this!

Hope you have a great day!

XOXO~Mamie

Summa's A Comin

[photo from The Old Painted Cottage]

Ahhh, we are revamping our home. It is about time, I haven't really done much since the first year we have lived here. I am in love with this blog. Jenn's style is right up my alley, it's somewhere between Romantic Prairie and Industrial Vintage. I am excited to get going on mine. I splurged on Amazon and purchased this book, this book and this book. I love them all. I will keep you posted on the updates. Paint is first, and Scott is adding some moulding to our living room windows. It should look great! It is cool and stormy here today. I LOVE IT! Feels somewhat normal! Hope you are well!

XOXO~Mamie

Big Announcement......(.At The Bottom of Post)

golden scholar Johnnie

I have been having anxiety lately. More than usual I guess. I feel like I have a lot of irons in the fire, which I come by very naturally. My Dad is the worst at that. I am soooo much like him in soooo many ways, but this by far is our most similar character trait.

I love to create. I really do. I would love to be motivated enough to have one of those amazing blogs that I follow and be able to post everyday interesting stuff that people would love to read and follow me. It would be so fun to be the subject of conversation, "oh I got that idea off of Mamie's" but as nice as that would be, I do not think that is in the cards for me. Lots of reasons why that is, but I will spare you the boring details. You are probably thinking, so....you can still blog but not have to be a famous blogger. That is true, I agree, 100%!

I don't like feeling that I am doing this half way. I don't like feeling like it is not my best and it's not. That is honest.

I love this blog lately. This is what I intended mine to be, but instead I think I will just enjoy the many, many, many resources out their to inspire, encourage and uplift me on a daily basis.

So am I quiting Mamie's?

No, not really. I think Mamie's will probably go towards more of my real treasures and turn into more of my family blog. Because really, my treasures are those guys. I just have to watch myself with this, for being a person whose mouth runs constantly and who lacks a decent filter to say the least. I don't know how much personal I want to share. I know, strange, I don't get it either.

But, you still need to exercise your creative outlet you say?

Yes, therefore my facebook page and etsy shop will stay open. I still make my beautiful bracelets and have so many sitting on my counter right at this moment waiting to be assembled. And the spoon rings that are almost polished are to die for. Having a hard time parting with some!

And now for the biggest and best announcement for me.

This fall I will be going back to school full time. I have been fighting this for years and have had some rather touching, but strong personal revelation just as of late that now is the time to do this.

I don't know what kind of toll this is going to take on us. I am certain however that I need to get in, get out and get it done. I know I am not supposed to drag this out. Hence the full time.

What I am going to be?

A Teacher. I think kindergarten or first grade. I don't know why that age is important to me but it is. I think it is because I secretly still want to nibble their little fingers, although I would never do that. How embarrassing!

That is what I started 23 years ago and that is what I shall be. My patriarchal blessing told me that when I was 17 years old. If you don't know what that is, click here. I always just thought that by influencing children through church or volunteering at the school would be sufficient, but it is not. I am supposed to do more.

Now is the time.

Teacher, teacher, what do you see?

I see children looking at me!

XOXO~ Mamie

Can You Stand It?

I am a HUGE sucker for a royal wedding! I love all the hype and speculation that is made over this handsome couple! However I am out of town this week and am unsure if I will be able to watch the actual event. Hence the reason I just cleared a ton of minutes off of my DVR and have it all set to record. I just need to leave strict instructions for the kids, I can envision Corm coming downstairs and canceling the recording to get his daily Sponge Bob fix. The horror! So I think I may tape a note to the Tele (just getting in the mood) warning any who dare not to cancel The Today Shows 6 plus hours on Friday morning!

It was 30 years ago this July that one of my sisters friend who had HBO let me come over and watch Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding in the middle of the night. It pure splendor and what every little girl could ever dream of in a wedding. So glorious, I remember like it was yesterday! I also ached and wept all alone during the broadcast of the same Princesses funeral almost 2 decades later. Scott kept waking up and asking me if I was Ok, it just had an effect on me, I am not sure why, I just felt a certain attachment as did millions of others.

So yes, I am one of many who am anxiously awaiting this royal union. I wish them all the best. I really do hope they have much happiness. Their task is not an easy one that is for sure!

Love to you, have a wonderful week!

XOXO~ Mamie

Profound.....with a little brag.....

Ok, I am going to brag for a second. I have amazing children. I really do. They can be big pains in the rear sometimes but for the most part they are amazing and thank heavens they got their father's brains because they are all really really smart too.

Ok....enough bragging. I hate to do it. It is obnoxious but I needed to say it out loud. I came across this quote off a program for Ry's school the other day. (she was getting recognized for her smarts) more bragging, sorry, the smarts don't come from me though so is that really bragging?

Anyways, back to the quote.

"Keep people away who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain

Now, here is my spin on that. It is a great saying. But you don't want to go through life keeping "small people" away from you. Or even thinking that way. I don't think it is good for your soul.

Be great enough to be happy, love, encourage and want the best for all who come into your life. Stifle, the "natural" feelings of jealousy that come to you because you are in fact human and jealously is a part of being human.

About once a month or so, I have to do a re-check of my systems, to refuel my soul. If I don't I find it is experiencing feelings of jealously, anger, insecurity and I take offense way to easily.

By doing simple maintenance of my soul, heart and mind I am able to be great. Be happy. And love and support those nearest and dearest to me.

Just some food for thought. Now go have a wonderful day.

XOXO~Mamie