Thank you for your patience!

To all... as you may have noticed, the blogger is on hiatus for a bit - I've been focused on juggling a hectic work schedule, a really brutal semester and now building a house (and possibly moving at the same time).  I shall return soon, sane, refreshed and with lots to say, I hope!

Thank you for your patience and for making it fun to write.

Carrie
xoxo

Update....

You may be wondering where the Tune went.... She started teaching art classes! This is tremendously exciting. Gainesville trips suddenly involve lots of stops at art stores. Texts include things like this: 

Yes, the creative juices are indeed flowing. Stay tuned...

Tunie, otherwise known as the Grand Poo-bah

This being a momentous day today; that is, the day that we celebrate the birth of Tunie, I thought it might be appropriate to take a moment and share a bit about her for the benefit of those who might not have the privilege of knowing her.

Tunie is full of color.  How else to describe her?  The funny thing is if you don’t know her well, you might be forgiven for seeing her in soft neutrals – gracious and gentle, soft-spoken, kind, content to stay in the background, out of the limelight… and yet… there is this… something… that makes one suspect that there is more to this story.  Sure enough, after many years of admiring her from afar, I was finally given the opportunity to really get to know Tunie, and lo and behold, all of those nice, pretty pinks and blues and beiges (very lovely colors in their own right) burst forth into a glorious, riotous rainbow of vibrant hues.

Tunie is an artist.  She’s one of those annoying people that masters every single mode of creative expression that she puts her hand to.  She sews, she knits and crochets, she beads and embroiders, she makes buttons and paper and lovely scrapbooks, she paints and cooks and gardens, and no doubt, countless other handicrafts that I’ve never even heard of.  (On the bright side, thanks to Tunie’s creativity, I am the proud possessor of the coolest afghan the world has ever known, not to mention several amazing articles of clothing, handcrafted and unique, and truly epic.)  Her home is full of those touches, unable to be purchased in any store, that come when a person creates beautiful things, and in the process, puts a little bit of herself, the love in her heart, into those objects.  I think her back door summarizes it very well.

Tunie is a character.  Don’t let that demure smile fool you for one minute.  This is the lady who rides up on my tail in order to make sure I can hear her cheerful whistle as I struggle in agony up the final hills at the end of one of our 35-mile bike rides. (Yeah, she’s super cool for jaunts like that.)  This is the lady who has been known to hide under the kitchen table, or play all manner of crazy games (in the house) or build tents in the living room for naptime, or rassle her kiddos, no matter that they’re pretty much all bigger than she is now.  Oh, and guess who’s never happier than when she’s up to her elbows in some madcap project?  Yep.  (Work all day, throw together some gourmet hors d’ oeuvres and then whip up a new outfit at 2 AM, all the night before a party, anyone?)

Tunie is a friend.  Really, all other qualities aside, it is that one that I cherish the most.  Yes, Tunie is full of really cool, admirable, fun-to-hang-out-with qualities, but it is her quiet, genuine, honest and heartfelt friendship that I treasure above anything else.  Here is a lady who has opened her heart and her home and her family to me, who has invited me to share in her dreams and adventures and quiet times.  How blessed I am to have the gift of a friend who loves life, loves the Lord, exudes an enthusiasm for living and experiencing new things, who offers a bedrock of love and support, who cheers me on and who fights on my side, no matter what.  Proverbs 31 asks us, “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”  Truer words are not spoken; so many of us harbor dreams of finding just one friend, one kindred spirit to call our own. I am blessed beyond description in that I have found that friend, and I thank my heavenly Father for the great gift he sent my way.

I am the Tune (Tunie) of this blog, and this is our sidekick, Natalie.
I am a wife, mother of 5, and Grandmother of 2.
Home is where I would rather be than anywhere else, and having family gather around the table is one of my greatest joys.
I love cooking! And more accurately, I love feeding people! I sew, draw, paint,  knit, crochet, attempt silk ribbon embroidery, and have flirted with stump work (which I love, love, love). I have a small garden, and I love working in the yard. Some day I would love to say that I quilt and weave.  
I have been a Christian for 34 years, and in all honesty, I love my Lord Jesus with all my heart.  Every year is sweeter than the last, wrapped in His arms of love.  He is my being.  He is my constant friend and help and comforter.  I give my life to Him.
He has blessed me with 5 wonderful children.  When my forth was ten, my husband and I were quite sure we were done having children.  Then we found we were expecting! Wow!

Natalie is that little bundle of joy that became part of our family.  She is loved by all, and she is a lover of life and people!  I can't imagine life void of her friendship and sweetness.  
She also is the "side-kick" of this blog.  She goes just about everywhere with Carrie and I.  And through the years, she has always been underfoot.  We wouldn't have it any other way.  After a long day of shopping, or cleaning, or cooking, there is nothing like snuggling in the arms of such a warm, sweet, darling little girl.  
We look forward to many more years of cooking, gardening , crafting, and traveling together.  We hope you enjoy a look into our lives, and we hope to be an inspiration to those who linger with us.

Care, otherwise known as Carrie

Carrie is a kindred spirit (this is very important).  I have known of Carrie for the last 29 years.  I have really known Carrie for the last 7 years.  Carrie is a wonderful friend.  Most important, she has become apart of our family.  Carrie is an amazing person, with many talents.  First and for most, she loves the Lord Jesus with all her heart, soul, mind and strength.  She gives other people strength and hope and encouragement just by the life she lives.  She has quite an amount of brain power working on her behalf; and excels in any task, or anything she sets her mind to...well...unless it involves art.  That's a wee bit more challenging!  We hired Carrie for our business 7 years ago, and it was through this that our friendship was born.  Since that time, we have cooked many meals together for family and friends.  In the kitchen, Carrie and I are good for each other.  Carrie is precise, and I am free spirited.  We have many great stories of our cooking adventures, which in time, we will share!  Carrie and I have rode untold miles together on our bicycles.  We have shopped and traveled together.  We have talked and cried and hashed out life's ups and downs.  And we have prayed together.  Carrie is an amazing person.  I feel very blessed knowing her as I do.  She is a gift from God.  Someone to treasure.  My husband and I have embraced her as one of our own.  She loves our children as her own.  She is always there if they need advice, or an ear, or a really good hug.  We love you Carrie!