These shoes are made for...dancing?

Oh beautiful, shiny, red patent shoes...how I love thee!  You were mine the very moment I saw you, and I've cherished you each day since.  Well...except for the first day when your stacked platform heel tripped me on the sidewalk at the post office.  But even the lady helping me up off the ground had to agree that you really are adorable.  You make me want to sing and dance each time I slip you on...except I can't sing...or dance...but even still, I tap you along to the music in my head.

Is it possible to have too many red patent shoes?  Andy says I only need 2 pair of shoes total - 1 pair of casual shoes, and one pair of what he calls Sunday shoes!  He even has a name for many of my shoes...he calls them the 3rd Row Shoes.  This title means that I purchased the shoes, tossed them into the third row of seats in my Tahoe, and brought them out later so I could say, "What?  New?  These shoes?  No, I've had them a while now!"  Oh to have a husband that never notices anything new!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

For most of the school year, I teach 4th, 5th, and 6th grade art in 3 different public schools.  The last 9 weeks of each year, however, I travel to a small community school that has Kindergarten through 6th grade.  It is an extreme culture shock for me...truly!  I still like to dream and believe that I am a young, energetic teacher, but these young children take that dreamy look right out of my eyes and stomp it to pieces!  Bending over and stooping down, wiping noses, and checking wiggly teeth becomes a regular part of my day.  And Oh! the stories they tell, each one bigger and more outlandish than the last.  If I had known how much a kindergartner tells their teacher, I probably would have much more careful with my words and actions when my boys were young.  I now need to apologize publicly to Mrs. Sumner and Mrs. Funk for anything you may have heard from Austin and Ches!

These kids are so adorable, and I sometimes feel like a rock star.  I walk down the halls and into the cafeteria and hear their whispers turn into chants.  "Miss Sherri is here...The art lady is here...HEY Miss Sherri...HEY MISS SHERRI!"  You've gotta love them, unless you're the teacher on duty in said cafeteria.

This will probably be the last year I work with this age group.  Our school system is realigning the grades, and I will be teaching at an all 6th grade school next year.  I've long wanted to teach at just one school rather than four, but it will be sad to leave these little ones behind.  Just imagine what they will be like when they're 6 years older and on the cusp of the teen years.  I don't think I can place bubble paint and straws in front of them then and get these same reactions!  What fun they are...

Open letter to Couch to 5K...

Dear C2 5K,

  I've missed you, and so have my thighs and calves.

I lied...my thighs and calves have taken this break and run with it (not literally of course!)  They've celebrated like there was no tomorrow.  The truth is, you make me feel old...and tired...and sore in places I never knew I had.  Heck, you make my 20-something year old friends feel old!  They now have bunions and bursitis thanks to you...didn't Aunt Bee have those on Andy Griffith?

  But really, I've missed you.

It's all Dr. Bowman's fault.  He said, "Sherri, no more running the rest of this week or next week until you can breathe easier and the pollen count is lower."  Who knew this would be the 2 weeks in which you would accelerate from little 5 minute jogs to 20 minute marathons?  Sadly, you left me behind.

  Even so, I missed you.

I have a plan for us to meet again...it's all right here on my iPod.  This time we'll go at my pace...okay?  We'll be best friends again...just let me finish this last piece of Toll House Pie!

Trip to the artsy-fartsy side...

Every now and then I have to get a little culture and this certainly means a road trip away from Tifton.  Even if I hadn't felt the need for an art-fix, my sister Delecta's birthday required us to travel to her home in Greenville, SC.  "Required?" you say?  By all means...a must.  We received a multitude of photos, texts, and voice messages from Marli Claire (Delecta's daughter) begging us to come see her.  Yes, Marli is only 2 and couldn't possibly have instigated these bribes.  Delecta is quite persuasive when her birthday and celebrations are involved! I won't complain...I was thrilled to see Marli AND a Dr. Seuss art exhibit.  What a weekend!  Here are a few photos from the beautiful downtown area of Greenville:

After a delightfully warm afternoon in the park, we made the necessary stop at Luna Rosa, a scrumptious gelato shop.  Obviously Marli Claire enjoyed it very much!

  

This sign immediately caught my eye as we searched for a parking spot (almost an impossible find in downtown on a Sunday afternoon!)  Thankfully, Andy the chauffer agreed to stop for a quick peek in The Midtown Artery gallery.  Dr. Seuss was quite an accomplished sculptor and watercolorist in addition to his whimsical illustrations.  It was a joy to get to see some of his work up close and personal.

We have a winner...I mean winners!

The voting was oh so very close and right down to the wire with an extra couple coming in a little late, but we'll excuse them since they are all the way in Africa! I'm pleased to announce that we have a tie: Hippity Hop Hip Hop (by Andy Youngblood) and A Spring Fling (by Delecta Rollins) both received an equal number of votes with all others following close behind. What do they win? Bragging Rights for one whole year...and for those two contestants, nothing could be more valuable! Delecta will have the video commentary and behind-the-scenes footage on her blog a bit later, so I'll share just a few quick snapshots as the competition was really heating up the kitchen. Already plans are being made for next year's cakes...

Andy in full creative mode

(Hippity Hop Hip Hop)

Ashli still smiling at this point

(On The Wings of Love)

Amanda takes her work seriously!

(Spongebunny)

Delecta can talk and work fondant

at the same time...multi-tasking!

(The Spring Fling)

Austin making just the right color

(Beautiful Disaster)

Ches working out his own pattern

(Squidbillies)

Matthew needed complete concentration for this task

(Yes We Can!)

Thank you Nunna for the cakes and frosting!

Morrison Kitchen Cakes Challenge 2010 - Vote Now!

I had the very distinct honor of being one of three judges in a prestigious cake decorating competition over the weekend( and yes, Dr. Bowman, I was completely resting while doing the judging!)  Well maybe it wasn't really quite so prestigious...okay it was just our family Easter cake decorating competition, but let me tell you...it's serious business! We are a very competitive family, and we have been known to turn anything into a battle for supremacy:  hula hoop-ing, singing, the chicken dance, water ballet (don't even ask!)  As an artist, I was automatically excluded from competing, as was my mom, the baker of all the base cakes.  Each member of the competition selected the size and number of cakes needed for their designs, and then the fun really kicked in.

Although we had our in-house judging earlier, we now need your help in deciding the ultimate victor.  Please select your favorite from the videos below based on three criteria:  creativity, theme, and difficulty.  Leave a comment with your choice below before Monday, April 5th, at 11:59 pm. Thanks for your help!

We'll be sure to announce the winner here on Tuesday, and you'll be able to see lots of behind the scenes action and interviews Food Network Cake Challenge style! Stay tuned...