Featured Artist Today On *View From The Farmstead*

Today I am the *Featured Artist* today on a great girl named, Kiva. We met chatting on Twitter about Etsy!

Here is a link to Kiva's blog:

http://farmsteadlady.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/featured-artist-friday-a-giveaway/

There is also a give-a-way. Buy from my Esty site:

www.elizabethferraro.etsy.com

And be entered to win a set of 4 full sized handmade cards! This winner can chose the theme: Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthday, Thank-you, etc.

Good-luck and check out these wonderful sites!

Lyric Layout For *The Creative Type*

This layout is of my two boys; Tommy & Louie the day that Louie was born ~ May 26, 2004.

It's titled, "It's A Beautiful Day" with the lyrics to the U2 song, "Beautiful Day"...

And, that it was!

* * DAY 21 * * ~ Kat Von D

Today I received a new book. I pre-ordered from Amazon a few weeks ago, it came today! I love to watch *LA Ink* on TLC. Kat Von D is the owner, and a very talented tatoo artist. Her lifestyle is so different from mine, I think that's why I find the show so fascinating. I can't wait to get started reading this book by KVD.

* * DAY 20 * * ~ OBAMA

January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. It was an honor to watch the ceremony and I wish him the best of luck with our country. I particularly like his message to the citizens of the USA, GO TO WORK!

* * DAY 19 * * ~ Cards

A few days ago my Dad's uncle passed away. I decided to make a sympathy card. Creating a condolence card is very difficult. I searched online for hours trying to find a card I could copy, or for just a little inspiration. I ended up making three cards ~ two are floral and one has trees. The card with the trees is the one I like the best.

* DAY 18 * ~ Louie

Louie loves to come downstairs in my room and do *art*... Although we've set-up a space in the room ajacent to mine, he'd rather come by me, and sit on the floor to create! He has made some really cool things and is an excellent artist.

* DAY 17 * ~ Another One

Tom purchased two more wall hangings yesterday. One is fairly small, and the one I'm going to post a picture of is medium size. I am comparing these to the two other larger pieces he found and hung recently. The one above is very modern. I like the right middle leaf, it reminds me of an armadillo. And, the left lower leaf looks illegal. ya I have also ordered a standing book shelf from LLBean. Once it arrives, I will post a pic of it with the art on the wall.

* DAY 16 * ~ Lego's

My sons Tommy & Louie, are crazy Lego spaceship engineers. They will sit for hours creating ships, many of them mirror the fighters in Star Wars. Once they've completed a ship, they will then turn into actual flying fighter crafts. The boys will tour the entire house with them up and down stairs, room to room, sound effects and all. At the height of the *battles* a ship always destructs. Whether it be a crash or it being shot down. The most popular is when Tommy or Louie purposely destroys the others ship by throwing it on the floor or at a wall.

* DAY 15 * ~ Facebook

Late last summer I was advised by my friend Lisa to sign-up on Facebook. I did create an account, but kept it at that. I was doing MySpace already, and didn't know if I had enough time for both. Well, with the inset of fall & winter upon me, things started to slow down a little. I thought I'd pursue Facebook. So...4 months later, it has become tons of fun! I have been in contact with a lot of old friends, family members, high school buddies & several acquaintances! It has been great rekindleling old friendships.

* Day 14 * ~ GEESE

Today was a bright sunny & cold day. The lake by our house is starting to really freeze over. The geese have flocked there in HUGE numbers. I really don't know how many were there, but from the distance we were standing at, there were 100's!

* Day 13 * ~ Bowling Party

Last Saturday we had a Wii bowling party. Jenny, Jon, Taylin, Kaley, Shanda, Roy, Jordan, Michael, Savannah, Tom, Tommy, Louie & I all had fun bowling. We had pizza, pop, chips & queso, brownies & cake! It was a fun night.

* Day 12 * ~ Indie In The Snow

We have an outdoor cat named, Indie. He is a stray. He arrived at our house on May 23, 2008 after a tornado struck our neighborhood, and some nearby surrounding areas. We do not know where he came from. He was very skinny. Since then we have fattened him up. He has been checked for rabies, and he's also receieved shots. We would let him in the house to live with us, but he had problems with our other cats, and it wasn't a healthy enviroment for us. Here is a photo of Indie in the snow!

*Day 11* ~ A Winning Ticket!

Last night, we had our neighbors over for Wii Bowling. Before they arrived I took a ride to Hay's Market, in Johnstown. We needed a few extra things for the gathering. I bought a $5 Mistle Dough scratch ticket. I figured since the holidays were over, I should get one of these before they're all gone. In December I won on the $1 holiday ticket four times ~ $100 x 2 and $50 x 2! Buying that ticket last night paid off! I won $500, the most I've ever won playing the lottery.

*Day 10* ~ Kid Rock Tickets

On July 3, 2009 I am going to see Kid Rock, at the Greeley Stampede. I bought tickets for Tom & my brother Patrick, for Christmas. The three of us are going! I am posting a picture of the tics, and I also added a *countdown clock* to my blog for fun. Now it's visible to see how many days are left until the show! BTW, we have 10th Row seats. :o)

*Day 9* ~ Rocky Mountain National Park

The park isn't visible at all today, the foothills are black. On a clear day, it can be seen with all its splendor. The snow capped peaks are breathtaking, and I often wonder what is going on up there. Could there be areas of complete white-outs, is the Mother Nature taking its toll on the land? What are the elk, moose, deer, mountain goat, etc. doing? Are there any Eagles flying in the wind. It's all a mystery since this park is so vast. When I can only see the foothills, I become even more mystified of what is happening up there. It's hard to believe it's only about 65 miles to the top, from our front door.

*Day 8* ~ Kaley & Louie

Today it was unseasonably warm ~ close to 70 degrees. The sun was shining, and the winds were low, although the smell of *cow* did grace the air. There is a saying they use out here in the sticks ~ "the smell of money!" pertaining to the scent of the farms... I love that, and still find it humorous, ever since the first time my friend Jenny said it!

So, on a day of warmth, that is about 5 months premature, I thought I'd take a pic of Kaley & Louie after I picked them up from preschool. They are sitting on the rocking chair on our front porch. It's hard to believe they're approaching the age of 5, and will be in kindergarten in the fall! Big kids! :o)

*Day 7* ~ Boulder Fires

Today the wind was blowing at high speeds ~ at times the gusts were close to 90 mph. The winds in Boulder County, about 15 miles away caused major wildfires. The fires were started by downed power lines, and the embers blew to create new fires. They're spreading as I type this. 11,000 reverse 911 calls went out to residents in the area. Many people were forced to evacuate. I took a a picture of the coverage, that has been a constant on the news for the past 2 hours.

*Day 6* ~ Lucky Old Sun

The title today of my blog today comes from Kenny Chesney's new CD, "Lucky Old Sun"... He is one of my favorite artists. I love his music. It's not *just* country, no ~ not at all! Much of his music reflects life in the Caribbean, and the calmness and the laid back life they live down there. I have visited the area on several occasions, and can completely relate to island life. I especially love the fresh seafood. I have been to Puerto Rico, St. Maartin, St. Thomas, Aruba, Curacao, the Bahama's and spent a lot of time in Florida. This is why I find Chesney's music so extraordinary ~ the steel drums are so soothing. Which leads me to the *other* topic of today's blog and photo.

Yesterday, I described some of the projects Tom had finished over Winter Break. I mentioned the large metal Sun he had hung-up VERY high on the wall in the foyer. This morning I looked at it, and the real Sun was beaming right into the window, directly on it. Thank-goodness for our beautiful Colorado Suns! And, today was the kids first day back to school, whoo-hoo!!!

*Day 5* ~ Our New Clock

Over Winter Break, my husband, Tom worked very hard fixing up our home! He was the happy little homemaker that I wasn't. He always needs a project this time of year when he's off work. So, he took advantage of it. He cleaned out, and organized every cabinet in our kitchen, took all the old toys the kids don't play with anymore to the Goodwill, and overhauled their playroom. He organized their bedroom by putting all their books and educational toys together on their own shelf. He also reorganized his entire home office and his music studio. Wait, it gets better! :o)

He bought two cool (one Tiffany style & one lantern style) lamps for the foyer and kitchen. He got an awesome clock to hang in the foyer & a large metal square Sun to go on the wall opposite the clock. He went to Sam's a picked-up two huge palm plants for our bedroom and the foyer. He hung-up some sconces I purchased from PartyLite, and a 3D metal star (in the middle of them) that we found at Cracker Barrel on sale for $7.50 (at their 70% off sale)... I am posting two pics today of the clock for Project 365. Our house is ready for 2009! Now we just need some new furniture... sigh

*Day 4* ~ Sunday Dinner with My Family...

Today my Mom & Grandma drove out to see us from Highlands Ranch, CO. It's about a 55 mile ride. I cooked dinner; it took me 3 hours to prepare. We had potato & cheese soup, roast beef, mashed redskins & gravy, broccoli casserole, garlic toast and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup ice cream pie. It was really yummy.

While I was cooking my Mom & the guys played the Wii and then Tom, my Grandma & Mom played rummy. They had an interesting conversation from my standpoint ~ I'm not sure if they had much fun with that card game! LOL

*Day 3* ~ Max

My cat, Max loves to watch me create. Today he jumped right up on my cluttered workspace and sat while I made 12 cards for an exchange at my monthly, Stamp Camp. He walked around (or at least tried) and checked things out. Eventually, he just sat on the door of a bread box I use for my ink pads, it was open and the only clear spot he could find!

Day 2 ~ *Project 365*

Day 2: Christina, Shelby & Mickey Mouse @ Disneyworld ~ May 2008

Day 1 ~ *Project 365*

Day 1 ~ *Project 365*...

It's a photo of part of my craftroom!

*Project 365*

I am challenging myself to something I never thought I'd do ~ I am going to post a photo a day for the next 365 days.

Yesterday I took a pic of my craftroom, and today I'm posting a scan (which is a photo too, right?) of a 6x6 scrapbook page I made with my Cricut & the Design Studio Software. The scrap page is of my sister, Christina and her Daughter, (my neice), Shelby at Disneyworld. I am not good at my Cricut at all, I am mostly experienced at rubberstamping, my passion. I will post pictures of my work here, as well.

Happy New Year!!