It's me I think

Books and libraries......sweet words to my ears

2010-09-17T06:24:00.001-05:00

I love books..........I can't remember when I didn't love them (oh man, here I am back with the "love" word........sorry). I read anything and everything - hmmmm, well not EVERYTHING, but I read signs in store windows, ads, books, oh magazines, that is another whole blog day, cereal boxes, shoot I like to read. Now I am trying to broaden my reading.....I like the typical women type books and mysteries........love those mysteries. I joined a book club last year at the base library, much to my delight I was exposed to quite a few different genres........some I liked and some I felt like I was walking through wet cement to get to the end.........but I persevered and read each and every one of them.No, this isn't our living room, but my daughter and son-in-law (remember I live with them) have wonderful bookshelves and they are FULL to the brim. To me when I enter a house that has books, well first I feel automatically comfortable and it changes the word house to home (most of the time.)

Today my youngest grandson and I went to the base library, as "we" had run out of books to read. We have a little routine, when he comes home from school, he reads to me and then I read to him. He is now at an age where we can get books that can be read over a period of days and sometimes the same type of book, if really, really interesting and he is needing more quiet time, can be read all at once (not that Dr. Seuss and Bernstein Bears aren't wonderful, but you have to remember, he is my fifth grandchild.....been there, done that). Now I am not the hippest granny, no IPod, laptop, etc. etc..........so I have listened to books on recordings once.............in the car..........sigh...........driving home in WY and became so engrossed in the story, when I truly realized where I was (highway driving), it was at an exit waaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond the one to my home..........so no more listening in the car. Anyways, the librarian was returning from her lunch and she had a set of earphones on and I asked her if she had been listening to book...........she had.........and little did I know it, but the library have them!!!!!! So I came home with two different types, one is a set of cd's that I can listen too from my computer while I am crafting or working and the other is the little box type thing that you put your own ear phones in.............will let you know how I like them.

This is a picture of my very first library......Pepperell, MA. It's still in use and I truly have memories of going there with my mother. I was in total awe.......so many books. My mother always said " If you have a public library, you will never be lonely. Open up a book and you have an instant friend." I have found some wonderful friends among many librarians also..........books, libraries......sweet words to my ears.

Hope you have chuckle today........if not, just a smile of grin.........

What every woman............

2010-09-16T04:13:00.001-05:00

I know that I have shared this before..........but I truly like this and want to share it again..........

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

Enough money within her control to move out

and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

something perfect to wear if the employer,

or the date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to

retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,

and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job,

break up with a lover,

and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,

the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect, but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone, even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

whom she can trust, whom she can't,

and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...

be it to her best friend's kitchen table...

or a charming inn in the woods...

when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...

a month...and a year...

It's ok if you don't have any of these things, but a few of them would be nice to have tucked away somewhere..............
Hope you have a wonderful day, that you have at least one smile and better yet, a giggle..............love to giggle.

Fall colors on base...........

2010-09-15T00:34:00.001-05:00

Last week, I was invited to go with a friend to take pictures on base. The time period here is short to catch the colors...........one day they are full and showing themselves off , the next day it has turned cold and snapped the colors off.......in fact I am thinking I may take my camera out again today if I can.....still looking beautiful. I thought I would share some of the photos with you.

This isn't one of the best.......let me see if I can find one with the "wow" factor in it.

Hmmmmm, still not quite there.....I put these titles on the pictures when I place them in the files and when I do this I am thinking to myself......."Oh yeah, I will know right away what this one is." Sigh, doesn't seem to be working today........be right back and see if I can find the one I am wanting to share with you.

Oh look I found it............I took lots of artsy fartsy ones too..........but will share that another day..........

Hope at least one of the snapshots brings a smile to your day..........hey do you have fall colors in your neck of the woods?

Flowers..........

2010-09-14T06:02:00.002-05:00

In North Pole, Alaska (ok, I love typing that ...........I live close to North Pole, Alaska) there is a river that runs though part of it.............or along side of it.......trust me, I know I don't have the correct wording on it's location.........any ways, along one of the banks of that river in town, the most beautiful wild flowers appear. I have to assume that they were planted there, as they change according quite a few times during the summer. I love flowers (seems like I "love" a whole lot of things, huh?)

This summer, since it will be our last one here, I tried really hard to take pictures of the different flowers that bloomed. Sadly I don't know the names of some of them.........they just make me happy, so I take pictures of them.

I believe these are lupine? Yes - no? This particular shade was the most amazing deep lavender, my friend from Texas was here at the time and neither she or I got what I consider a "true" shot the represented the color - you can see in the background the pretty light blue ones.

Sweet Williams? I think so, they were just all over the bank.......here is a close up.

Then the poppies arrived...........oh I do love poppies.........they look so fragile and yet their color screams out "look at me. look at me!"

The day I took this picture, we had a very gentle breeze, something we have very little of in the inland area....wind..........these poppies just were waving so sweetly..............made me wish for a hammock, a good book and sadly some strong mosquito repellent.......mosquitoes are hardy up here!!

I hope that one of these pictures brought a smile to your heart............

MOOOOOOSE!!!!!

2010-09-13T06:04:00.001-05:00

How close can you get to a mother moose? Well trust me on this one, I wasn't this close. It's this new wonderful camera in my life. I saved and saved and then when I purchased it, I was hit immediately with the lens envy thing.......so I saved and saved some more and purchased a lens that brings things much closed. Now right now, my biggest obstacle is learning to change them out quickly. It never seems to fail, if I have the "normal" lens in, I think I need the lens that zooms the object closer...........and of course vise versa.........I will get faster........well never FAST - but faster for me........smile.

I am totally thrilled how close the lens brought this little girl to me..........

The twins are eating again and again and again........and then of course they like to sleep too.........

I have always had a fasination for moose, ever since I can remember, and trust me, I can remember a long long time ago, much better than I can remember yesterday............really. The first time I saw one, we were on our way to Yellowston National Park, we were pulling the camper and it was getting towards dusk..........we were in the Big Horn mountains and I looked over along side the road (well I guess that is where they would be, huh?) and there she was, a beautiful mother and her two little ones..........I was so happy, I was truly ready to turn around and go home. That was my one and only hope for that vacation, to see a moose. Everything after that was just extra (and there was a lot of extras too).

Hey I am sorry that I can't seem to get the hang of this new format.........I want the words to align to the left, but nope, the pictures are in the middle and so are the words..............give me time.......if I don't master it, I guess it won't be the worst thing to happen..........right?

Hey have you smiled today? Giggled? I sure hope so, a day without a smile or a giggle, well I just can't imagine it..............

Trying to come back.............

2010-09-12T16:47:00.000-05:00

Hello,
I am going to try this again.........of course the big or operative word in that little group of words is...............TRY!!!!! I have come to a rather larger realization while I have been away.........it takes me longer to do less. Amen. That is it............it truly takes me twice as long to do simple little daily chores.....now add trying something new to the equation...........well now we are in for some fun. Not fun for me, of course, but fun for those around me......

I have a new camera. I am in love. OOOps,in love with my new camera..........it's probably more camera than I will ever be able to master..........but I love it. It takes such wonderful photos...........and this wonderful state of Alaska offers such wonderful opportunities to use it. Now add to all of this, I am really trying my hand at the artsy fartsy type of photos......want to see some????? Sure you do.........you do, don't you?

Hmmm, guess the last one isn't very "artsy fartsy", but it sure is pretty, huh? This state is truly beautiful....and I am in hopes to share it with you.........occasionally at least.

They are completed.........

2009-07-31T14:21:00.015-05:00

Oh yes, that's me howling at the moon, because I complete my ATCs and they are in the mail and off to Albuquerque.......oh yeah me. I can't stand it.......and normally I don't give in to this type of excitement.......but shoot....forget it..........here they are...........

This one is ok........I liked the quote and of course the coppery leaf........

This one, well I found out the deadline and only had about 5 of the 11 of the cards completed, so I was on a midnight mission....now I look at it and I rather like it........bits of this and bits of that.........

This fair lady....again was done at my midnight session and wasn't sure about her......now I like her.........

This one is ok, I do like the colors......but otherwise, nothing to write home about.........

Same color scheme, I do like this one.......thinks I fell in love with that little leaf stamp.

This woman almost didn't get to go on the voyage........not sure if you can see it or not, but I used the fine netting on this one..........hey ladies, do you see the back round paper behind the lady??? A friend shared this with me, it is almost like handmade paper.....rather bumpy and rough.....then I can't figure out if they inked with an ink pad or with a brayer...........I would love to take a technique class of some sort........anyone know of something like this online???? If you do, could you please share with me? Thank you. Onwards..........

Totally out of my comfort zone here......and you know I do like bling and sparkle......but just couldn't come up with any ideas so I just started loading up leaves and more leaves........

Using the whitish leaves with the copper trim was harder than I thought it would be......I like the stamp image tho'............

This little gal----well it was getting late and I was determined to get done before I went to bed..........

Again I am going to repeat myself......this one I really liked.........stamped the little back round piece on what I thought was called mulberry paper........but guess that's not it's called.......it's like tissue paper, but has fibers though it........I like this stuff. Would have liked to keep this one too.........I did make one for myself and it's the least favorite......didn't take a picture of it........so, how do you think the ladies will like them......I'm like a little kid at a birthday party, waiting for the birthday person to open my present and exclaim " I LOVE IT".

Hope some of the cards made you smile..........

Hammocks

2009-07-30T14:03:00.014-05:00

The other day, I received on my computer mailbox a message from Real Simple Living magazine. I like that magazine.......we use to get it too.......hmmmmm, guess the subscription ran out. Oh, back to the blog.......one of the articles was about hammocks. Whoa, flashback.....warm, fuzzy, totally full of sunshine and laughter flashback!!!!! I'll share that later, but here are a few of the hammocks that they shared..........hold on to your pocketbooks, debit cards and your children's and your children's childrens piggy bank!!!!! Oooo, the following pictures came from the magazine ad and so are the descriptions.......I didn't write any of them.

For Small Spaces
Think of this polyester-and-steel Foldaway Hammock as a mobile bed in a bag: The body, frame, and foam pillow neatly fit inside an ultra-sleek tote―perfect for those who enjoy sleeping under the stars. To buy: $120, target.com.

2. For a Festive Look
The rainbow-striped, stretch-nylon Mayan Hammock will give your backyard a jolt of color. Its extra-wide size (60 inches) ensures head-to-toe comfort. To buy: $70, blisshammocks.com.

For a Classic Look
This hand-woven polyester hammock is large enough for two and features solid-wood spreader bars that help distribute weight and evenly maintain the rope’s resiliency. Mildew- and fade-resistant. To buy: $69.50, landsend.com.

4. For the Car
Water-resistant and easy to assemble, this polyester mesh Kelsyus Hammock features a collapsible steel stand and folds into a compact backpack for easy carrying and storing.To buy: $125, rei.com.

5. For Sun-drenched Spaces
Constructed of durable Sunbrella acrylic, this quilted hammock is made with quick-drying polyester batting, long lasting polyester rope, and rust-resistant hardware. Mildew- and fade-resistant. To buy: $200, llbean.com.

Ok, that wasn't all of them, but most of them.......if you want to see this and other good articles from the magazine here is the short cut........http://www.realsimple.com/

Now my sweet memories of hammocks go waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back........yeah into the early 50s.......I know, some of you weren't even a twinkle in your daddy's eye yet, but trust me, life was good. Oh, off the soap box and forward with my memories.........here is how I remember hammocks.

except instead of a dad, it was my Nana and I..........come to think of it, I think she must have been traveling that road of change.......with no chemical help.........but I don't remember any of the mood swings. We would often go out to the hammock, that resided under the huge and gnarly old apple tree that had been hit so many times by lightning and survived quite a few hurricanes, and drift off to a sweet nap. I can remember cuddling up next to her in the hammock and her smell......mostly Ivory soap but once in awhile........and now I just cringe to think of this, Evening in Paris.......

Waking up first and still finding her asleep, I would watch her and honestly it still makes me warm inside. Waking up and finding her watching me, well it gave me a feeling of security and love. I do remember many times swinging back and forth, her arms around me, sometimes nothing was said, other times she would sing to me, still others she would share stories with me and those were the times I treasured the most. Now no memory could be total without some laughter and boy did we have some giggles.........mostly when either or both of us fell out of the silly thing........if you were lucky, you missed the steel frame, if not, well you stopped laughing for a few minutes, but the giggles just popped back up and exploded all over again.......

I hope that if you have any memories of your childhood and maybe a hammock story or two, you will comment and share...........please. For those of you that don't have a hammock memory, well here is one for everyone........

see even fairies have hammocks.........smile

A give-away

2009-07-28T13:24:00.006-05:00

Miss Lola shared this give-away on her blog

http://ansewon.blogspot.com/ so I had to go and see and of course once I saw what the prize was going to be, well I had to enter too.

Here is the short cut to the blog.......

http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/

Hey, do you realize that I have posted twice again this week.........be still my heart!!!!!!

If you do travel over and enter into the give-away, please mention my name - please. Even if you don't enter, this is a nice blog and I think you would enjoy reading it.

Aphorism

2009-07-28T13:04:00.002-05:00

Aphorism: A short, pointed sentence expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth; adage --
1. The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.
2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all.
4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.
6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?
7. Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?
9. Scratch a cat and you will have a permanent job.
10. No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants to buy a car.
11. There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.
12. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. ... It could be a right number.
13. No one ever says "It's only a game." when their team is winning.
14. I've reached the age where the happy hour is a nap.
15. Be careful reading the fine print. There's no way you're going to like it.
16. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
17. Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos? (And rap music will be the Golden Oldies)
18. Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo.
19. After 60 if you don't wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead!
20. Always be yourself because the people that matter, don't mind. And the ones that do mind don't matter.
When I read some of these, well they just make me smile.........others make me shake my head with the complete truth of them..........oh well, I wanted to share these with you today......off to see G0Force with the boys today........I know I will smile and giggle in the theatre.

Bath tub races

2009-07-27T12:26:00.013-05:00

This is an annual event.....held at Pioneer Park. Whoa, that sentence sounds exactly like something that a second or third grader would write to start out their required essay.......oh well it could also cover two of the four "W's" where and what (who and why are hanging out there somewhere.)

The boys and I took off mid-afternoon and arrived to hear someone singing the Alaska state song.......it's really pretty.

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue - Alaska's flag. May it mean to you The blue of the sea, the evening sky, The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby; The gold of the early sourdough's dreams, The precious gold of the hills and streams; The brilliant stars in the northern sky, The "Bear" - the "Dipper" - and, shining high, The great North Star with its steady light, Over land and sea a beacon bright. Alaska's flag - to Alaskans dear, The simple flag of a last frontier.

It was also governor's day too.......of course in the current events section of life, we know that Palin is planning some changes in her life, so the Lt. Governor came.........we didn't stand in line to shake hands.........I do believe that there is a limit to a 4 years old attention span. We wandered the park, the boys played in the play area under my watchful eyes - I know I am protective, but good grief the minute you aren't, then something will happen and I just couldn't live with that and Nana sprang for some ice cream.

Off to find a spot to watch the race...........now remember I am no professional photographer......using a simple digital camera.....fighting crowds and watching boys..........so what I got, I got...........first the parade.

This team tied for first coming in at 30 seconds.

This team called themselves "the bag ladies"........see the gal in the pink towel...........she was loud.....no I mean LOUD. The kind of loud that would embarrass your kids kind of loud.......tee hee.
Not much to add about this team....except I like their antler head bands.
Again, nothing to share here either.....except the young lady in the "tub" had this horrible green oooooey goooooey stuff in her hair.......sure hope it came out easily........yucko!!!!!!!!! Glance over to right.........think I have a better snapshot later on, but something really different about this team.
Simple and plain and they just seemed to be having fun together.........now see the guys on the right.....keep an eye on them.
Oh look, here they are.........egads, a mind is such an awful thing to lose!!!! They were called "Noah's Ark" and also came in at 30 seconds.....so they were in the run-off race.
This is the only snapshot I got of the actual race........well no I got others, but this is the only one that is, hmmmmmm well here you look.
OOOOO, this isn't a good one, but this is the team that I told you had something 'unique'..........the young lady is sitting on ice!!!! You have to have x amount of water in your tub, but no rule about it being frozen.......her poor bitty bottom........
The road- what can I say...........the road.

There was a trophy for the crowd's most favorite. Noah's Ark won..........now the bag ladies put up a pretty good and loud fight. The two teams had their run off and Noah's Ark won.

It was a good time.......and the boys really got into the spirit.....especially Daniel.....he cheered and yelled and hooted for each and every team........it was good......a place to scream and yell without anyone telling you to 'quiet down'.

Hey Julie, hope you enjoyed this.........

We smiled lots and lots yesterday and today we giggled quite a bit already. The boys are watching some cartoon called Phineas and Ferb.........oh my some really good one liners.........

The atc experience continues.........

2009-07-26T15:19:00.009-05:00

Ok two posts in one day.......I think this qualifies for a few "atta girls" some brownie points and some forgiveness for being absent so long while traveling........please. I cut out the base for the atc. This is really necessary, but I was reading that the 'pros' like a nice heavy base to make their work sturdy...........alas, let me start out right.........tee hee..........I love it. The hardest part of this is remembering to put the blade back in - the littlest one wants to help all of the time and will just pop up and appear......I don't need to have to make a trip to the emergency room, that's for sure!

Here I have them cut out.........

2.5 x 3.5...........forget recycling for awhile........using old cereal boxes and cracker boxes..........man I hope the boys will eat more.

I have no idea where I am going with this thing, so I started to make a few back round papers........

This is mulberry paper, most of it ripped and some stamped on, then glued down to an 8 x 11 paper. I love mulberry paper...........used lots and lots of it when I was making cards to send to my daughter in Iraq.

This isn't the best picture.......it's a stamp of a butterfly made of words........remember this will all be cut, again into 2.5 x 3.5 pieces.....so you will never get a full butterfly on any one piece. Here are two pieces I like too......one stamped with a music sheet and the other a back round stamp in two colors............

This is my ultra most favorite..........tissue paper, stamped just with the ink pad and then the word "leaf" written on it in English, French, Italian and Spanish.............oh and a few squiggles too. I also typed a sheet of paper with the same words on it............

Now after all of this, and trust me it was no bother to do........I love doing this sort of thing.......I woke up this morning, again, none to early with a whole different idea...........oh well, just store these away for another project.........or maybe I will do a couple of different types of ATCs........

Hope this made you smile a wee bit............

Our forest adventure

2009-07-26T14:09:00.014-05:00

I shared with you the view from behind our home here on Eielson AFB. I know for many of you who are so lucky to live in area where there is lots and lots of lakes, ponds, rivers and be still my heart the ocean.......well I am sure you are wondering why I am so excited to live near this body of water..........it has always been a dream of mine and now it has come true.

The boys are participating in the summer reading program at the library and this week's craft are blank masks that they are suppose to decorate with things from nature..........so off for a nature walk we went. We didn't have to go far, just behind our house.......but low and behold what I thought was just a little secluded area, turned into a path and a great adventure.Most people wear tennies for hikes..........well one little fella, whose Uncle spoiled him with something special while in Wyoming, well his foot apparel....here let me show you.

Cowboy boots.........and as you can see, they are already taking on the true look of a cowboy, scuffed and comfortable.

Now we were suppose to be looking for things to decorate and adorn the masks......for some reason the boys weren't " gathering as they may".......it was like they had no idea what to collect (and they had seen 3 good examples at the library just a few days before). I too brought a famous plastic bag to collect and was picking leaves here and there and pointing out different things to the boys........look at this beauty.

Of course my young men are that, young men and were delighted to find moose poop!!!!! Good gravy, I think we introduced a new dance......"hop bop and skip the moose poop".........don't think you will be seeing it on "Dancing with the Stars", but we were getting pretty darn good at it. I of course had to do the famous "lions and tigers and bears, oh my" thing and quick as a flash this wonderful little hand found mine and said he would walk with me so I wouldn't be scared...........I love it. I was continually listening and looking for the moose too.........those mamas are something not to reckon with.

Looking, looking and wha-la.........look what I spotted:

WILD RASPBERRIES..........oh be still my heart. Later in the day, after spraying ourselves with mosquito repellent, we went back and just picked these little beauties.

The boys seemed to be happy with their slim pick'ns of mask decorating, so we continued on to the end of the path..........it comes out on one of the main roads leading to our street. Across this street is this pretty little pond.

There is a family of ducks that usually reside here, they must have been out to lunch right now.

Oh here are the masks........amazing aren't they? I love them.

Oh and least I forget, here is the bounty that we picked......oh we felt like the Pilgrims getting ready for the Thanksgiving feast........thank goodness we weren't collecting for the whole village.....just enough for breakfast today............oh yummmmm dilllly ious.

Have a wonderful day........if all goes well, we will be off to the bathtub races soon........bet that will make us smile.

Another first

2009-07-25T11:57:00.013-05:00

I am going to be in an ATC exchange........me. I have never made an ATC........ever ever. I love looking at them.......like always I am drawn to the colors, the little pieces of this and that and just the whole creative thought brought down to a 2.5 x 3.5 piece of paper just amazes me (we won't even get started on inchies!!!!). The theme for this exchange is 'leaves'. Now I need to get started and I do have a few products to work with, but not much in the leaf category........so off I trotted to Fairbanks. Now I have lived in an area where shopping was limited, then I went to a mecca of shopping, San Antonio, and now, alas I have again entered into the chasm of very little choices.............sigh. I did find somethings that perked me up........let me share.

Found this punch.........this could lead to some good possibilities don't you think? A strip with little leaves cut out and applied across the center??????

Picked up the papers under all of these items I am sharing. Saw these stickers and thought they might be a good back round.

I also picked up these stickers too..........goodness I might want to go with some color instead of the all neutral thing.........I could, but I doubt if I do.......then again you never know.

I love this soft netting......I know it has a name, but I'll be darn if I can remember it now..........but it is so soft and feminine. Really would like to work this in too.........
Purchased some regular netting too.........you never know, maybe this will work better.......or what if I laid some of it down and stamped over it......that's an idea for a back round.

Now I saved the best to last...........I saw these and jumped on them like a dog jumps on a bone.........now if I do figure out a way to use these, well they will definitely be the whole card......well the focal point for sure........but wait, look at them..........

Aren't these copper leaves wonderful? Oh I do like them............

On the home front I have these two pieces of wallpaper that have leaves on them.........this one is ok, but I do like the one below.....
I would have to resize this I know, but I like the swirling effect for a back round..........well instead of sharing, I better feed the boys and get going.......we do sleep in since we moved here.........and we better get out of the habit soon, because school will be starting in August............whatever happened to going to school after Labor Day?

Smile.......it is contagious you know.

Look who came to visit

2009-07-24T01:34:00.001-05:00

Each state in our great union is home to someone........and we are all proud of our homes, our towns and states.........which combined together makes this country one wonderful place to live. While growing up, I thought there was no place better than Michigan. Moved to Wyoming and found the wild west to my liking, all the while keeping my roots in Massachusetts. While I gave up my western ways and traveled to Florida and of course there was "my" ocean and was sad to leave after such a short stay........landed in Texas and was totally overwhelmed with the traffic in San Antonio and the intense heat, but I sure did fall in love with that town and surrounding area and the few people that I got to know there. So here I am in Alaska, and so far I am finding it beautiful and full of surprises...........the things that come to visit you are just amazing.

Arriving unannounced, this neighbored clomped none to gracefully right between our house and the neighbors.......the boys and I were out in the driveway and I was putting Andrew's helmet on his head so they could ride bikes.........my back to the area between the houses, but Andrew was facing this area and all of a sudden he totally screamed out "Moose, moose, moose!!!!!!" I almost knocked him unconscious, as I had the helmet in my hands putting it on his head and jerked around and of course the helmet with me..........poor child didn't even flinch. I told the boys to get into the garage and I ran (which is a cross between a heavy plod and clomping with a little skip added) into the house for the camera...........this is what I captured.

Mama moose and her two little calves. We have seen them before.......well I think they are the same ones. She wanders freely on the base and traffic stops for her and her little ones and we can be at a standstill for as long as she wants. Now with a forest full of trees and saplings, why did she chose this particular tree in the neighbor's yard, well I am sure she had her reasons........here is a better photo
I do realize that getting to close to a mother moose and her babies isn't a wise thing to do...........I do. I always kept either a pick-up or an open garage close by, so I could get behind it and protect myself.........when these ladies charge........well no match for me. She was very gracious and my snapping and stupid grin didn't seem to bother her or her calves.........
To soon for me, she had finished her snack and was off to roam and enchant other humans.......I wonder how often she will come by - I hope often.

Yes that put a smile on my face and through my whole body........

Lookee lookee

2009-07-23T01:12:00.001-05:00

Oh look at me........aren't I happy........I am dancing the happy dance, I am singing the aria of all arias, I can post photos again.........I can. I finally took the little contraption back to the store where I purchased it and my memory card and what I plug it into and handed it to the young man and just asked for help. Help he did..........it was broke. The End. He kindly and nicely gave me a new one and I went skipping off with a much lighten heart.........well goodness, I felt that I was totally computer challenged trying to get this gadget to work.

So onto the photos.

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quarterlychallenge/Get-Organized.pdf

Here is a short cut to the journal that I will be referring to. Let me show you a picture from the site..........

I have this wonderful friend in Wyoming who is a wonderful seamstress and quilter. I miss her so much. We have fun whenever we get together, share good times and bad and she is just darn special. Well I thought it would be fun to do this challenge from the site together - via long distance. She does not own a computer!!!! Ok I know this is unheard of this day and age, but she doesn't own one or a lap top either and has no desire to own one.........zilch. No matter how much I beg and plead with her........always a firm and solid........nope, nada, no way, not interested.........so be it. So I am sending her a little package, along with a thank you note for a beautiful quilt that she gave me when I moved (remember I stopped in WY for a two week visit), her birthday card (she too is an August baby), the instructions for the journal AND this:

I sent her half of this fat quarter.........I have had this forever and a day.........no longer than that I think.........why.........because like so many other things, I like it and don't want to use it. Why? Well if I use it, then I won't have it to dream and drool over, to think of the wondrous things to create with it...........come on, some of you do the same thing, please say you do. Since she doesn't have a computer I will share with you what I pulled out of my stash to go with it. I am sure that I won't use all of it.
I know definitely that I will use the floral, again another fat quarter that I have kept and kept......in this photo it doesn't look so compatible with the hats, but in person it sure picks out some of the colors and just sparkles. I will use one of the purples and then decide on either the small pattern or the larger pattern in the coral hues.........I know when I get it done in 2011 I will share the finished project.........right now I am so happy that I can post photos again, that I might just have to get up and do the happy dance again........what, they reported a small earth quake near Fairbanks.........oh come on guys!!!!!!

It's my first try

2009-07-22T13:32:00.006-05:00

Smilebox postcard: my first try" src="http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5441314d4451794f44593d0d0a.jpg" width=386>

Smilebox" src="http://www.smilebox.com/globalImages/blogInstructions/blogLogoSmileboxSmall.gif" width=386>

Make a Smilebox postcard

Still can't download pictures yet..............sigh..............thank you for sticking with me. I did find this wonderful little gadget on a blog that I was enjoying today........I had fun making it and hope that you enjoy it too...........stick with me gang, I am going to keep working with this computer memory card reader thingy and I will prevail.........I will. Is anyone out there? Did I lose all of you while I was on hiatus - haven't had a comment, you know how bloggers love a comment once in awhile.......see I have no problem hinting.......no I remember now......if you want something come right out and ask........don't hedge.............please, someone comment.............please

Have you giggled or smiled today? I did while I was making this postcard gadget..........it was fun looking through some of my older gathered treasures...........

Well guess I can't embed the code either, so if you click on it, it will take you to my little show.........man I am so CHALLENGED!!!!!!!!!!

sick and sicker......

2009-07-21T12:04:00.004-05:00

This is me..............

This is how I have felt since Sunday ........it hit me hard.....so cold that my teeth were chattering, every joint in my body ached ......no ACHED.....even my fingers. It was horrid. Today I woke up and feel like a myself again......so since I am so far behind in laundry, paperwork and crafts I am not going to write much.....just didn't want you to think I disappeared again......
Hey I have some photos to share, but for some reason this new gadget that I purchased to use isn't working......oh goodness could it be moi???? naaaawwwww.
Have look on Etsy today for a few minutes......the beautiful items on there always put a smile on my face.....I am so happy that there are so many creative and artistic people in this world.

Christmas wrapping

2009-07-17T12:18:00.014-05:00

Ok, I know some of you are just rolling your eyes and gritting your teeth and opened this blog up just to let me know that I have either totally gone off my rocker, pushed the season waaaaaay to soon, and or will share that you already HAVE your presents purchased and wrapped.........for the rest of us.....just sit back and enjoy, both the beauty and hopefully humor.

All of the pictures have been taken from my favorite spot BHG and if you find a particular type of wrapping to your liking, go to BHG, find the category for crafts or wrapping and click on it, find the exact photo and they will go into detail......some more than others. This particular wrapping is done with scrapbook papers.......which is fun, if all of you presents are small......but they certainly do make a pretty and attractive centerpiece.

This one I really like......just type a phrase or word-s over and over on the computer and then print it out........takes a little time, but just save it and once you have done it, it will be there forever........UNLESS, like me, you KNOW you saved it, but it disappears somewhere!

I have actually used this one, I think it was for my oldest grand daughter's gift. My youngest grand son, had a sheet of black construction paper and took colored glitter glue, he made the coolest design and I just couldn't "file 13" it......thank goodness I didn't, because it made the neatest wrapping paper. If you need something larger, if you go to the local newspaper, they usually have ends on a roll of blank newsprint and they are happy to get rid of it.

This was called natural wrap......I again, really like this.....simple and plain and it makes such an impact under a tree.......or for any occasion.
Now if someone made this and placed it on my package.......oh be still my heart!!!! Isn't it just to die for??? First who has the time, or the $$ for the material - well certainly not me......but I do think I might go back to the site and get the directions and try at least one......hey maybe if I do, I will take you along that adventure.......tee hee.
OH forget Christmas wrapping......I am in love with the color and prints of this photo.......these are all wrapped in material and for me and I bet some of you too, that would be like getting two gifts in one.
Again, I don't see this as Christmas wrap, but it was so pretty I wanted to share.......well you know me and flowers and botanical.

Now this one sounds quite easy.....think it was felt, three triangles, glue and decorations.......but man it has no bottom......so you would have to hold onto the bottom and when you hand it off, you would have to warn the recipient to hold the bottom too. Now this suggests that you would make these to make your holiday bottles pretty and attractive..........well as far as I am concerned, please don't put anything over the wine bottles......I want to know they are there when I need them.......holidays do seem to induce some stress and there are times I want a glass of wine and I want it NOW!

Now this one is the best of the best.......semi sarcasm here. You wrap the bottom in paper, wrap the top, put a layer of glue on the top and then roll in the beads.....now to me, these beads look way to "in line" to have been rolled....and putting them on one by one.......hello????? Ok, it is a beautiful presentation and something that I would keep forever......let me know if you do this.....please.

Do these look familiar? This seemed to be the popular wrapping under our tree lately.....and birthday gifts....and shower gifts......you get the picture.....sadly, gift wrapping and presentation of hidden goodies is disappearing. Now I have to admit that I have even sunk lower - the gift card. Since my biggest area of gift giving is to my family and they are long distance now, well the price of a gift, the price of postage, asking someone else on the other end to either wrap of stuff into a bag (when that person is already overloaded).....well ole' Nana has resorted to gift cards.....they seem to be going over rather well...but I do like sneaking in a wee wrapped item also.

What do you do? Especially if you are a long distance gift giver.......please share.

I hope this little tongue in cheek sharing today either brought you a giggle or smile.....life is to short to worry which month something is posted in...........

Little of this, a little of that....

2009-07-16T09:04:00.011-05:00

If you read my blog you know I love flowers....well I love lots of things....but whenever I see beautiful flowers I just have to snap them. In the middle of winter, and let's face it, I am thinking I am going to experience LOTS of winter here, I will be looking at these pictures a lot. This particular barrel were taken at the Pioneer Park in Fairbanks. Here is a link to their site:

http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/ParksandRecreation/

So while I was searching for this link, I came across an upcoming event

It's the annual bath tub race!!!! I am seriously thinking of packing up the boys and heading that direction on the 26th.....shoot I don't have to worry about night blindness that's for sure....tee hee. Read some of the rules for the race....they are funny.

One member will have to carry one large bar of soap, one must carry a washcloth, one will carry a bath towel and one a bath mat. Soap bubbles must be very apparent in the tub, if not overflowing the tub. All items must accompany the winning team at the finish line.

One member of the team must be situated in the tub with the appearance of taking a bath from the beginning to the finish of the race.

The bathtub must be full at the beginning of the race and have no less than one galloon remaining for the judges to inspect at the finish.

The Parade of Tubs line up and race course will be announced prior to the race.

This just sounds like fun to me......we'll see.

I was wandering yesterday in blog land and found a wonderful blog:

http://robynne-alchemyalaska.blogspot.com/

If you have a chance please go visit.....the photo taken on Tuesday will give you an idea of what our conditions have been on and off with the fires. Yesterday it was clear, well clearer than Tuesday. Today I woke up to fog over the lake..............oh, that' s right I haven't shared what a beautiful sight we have from our back windows......

Isn't it beautiful......I have always dreamt about living near some type of water.......so now another one of my dreams has come true. Can you swim in this lake? NO WAY!!!!! Someone shared the temperature of this man made lake with us and I just stood there with my mouth open.....I can't remember (add that to the list of things I can't remember) and truly doubted what this person was saying. So I questioned a few others and it was true.....chilly willy.

If you haven't smiled today or giggled, I hope this will pull those face muscles up

I am frustrated -

2009-07-14T19:38:00.005-05:00

Actually I think this female human looks better that what I do right now...............grrrrrrr!!!!

In the process of moving, my camera cord got lost......the one that I plug into my tower to download pictures. We have every box gone now, there is no last chance of "maybe the next box, ok, maybe the next box" and trust me you do find the strangest items in boxes. So in desperation, I purchased this thing that I have to take out my memory card and plug the card into it and then plug the unit into an UCB port on the tower.

Well folks I don't have any left...............that's right, every single one of those little hummers are used and abused!!!! I have a back up modem plugged into one of them, a cordless mouse plugged into another one, something else plugged into the one in back that is used for the wireless internet and so the one next to that, if I use it, well it does something to the thing-a-ma-jig for the wireless connection so I lose that ...................I wanted to share something that I was going to do, took pictures of some material and going to share a site where the instructions are........well forget it. I tried and tried and tried again and for some unknown reason whatever I unplug and try plugging my memory card thingy into won't read it.............I mean, hello!!!!! It was working a few days ago, that's how I downloaded all of the pictures I have shared the last few days. My sil told me that they make something that you plug into an existing usb port that has extra ports on it so you can use it...........will have to see if I can find one and the price............of course I know that will slow my machine down...........man, what did I do before home computers?????

Yes I did smile today...........Hobo Jim, a musician that travels to different bases here and abroad and performs came to Eielson and played for the youngsters today...........it was very enjoyable and even Jenn was able to take the time off and come be with the boys to enjoy it with them........big smile there.

What is a Winkie????

2009-07-14T05:50:00.002-05:00

picture taken from Google photos

I mentioned before that my oldest grandson was in a production of the Wizard of Oz. It was presented by the Missoula Children's Theatre - a production group that travels all of the United States and quite a few countries to put on plays with the local children participating in the play. It is a wonderful thing..........not only for the children that are luck enough to perform in the play, but also for the parents and grandparents to sit and watch their little honey bunnies act.

Now Daniel was given the role of a Winkie. Now we all "assumed" what a Winkie was and we were right, but this character is the equivalent of the flying monkies in the movie

Our young thespian remembered his one line " Oh o, you're going to get it!", his body movements and his mouth was moving during the songs, so hopefully he was singing and not lip syncing like Nilly Vanilla! When we questioned him about what his costume looked like, he was quite tight-lipped, but on the side he told me. "Nana, we are like the Flying Monkies, but we look like bats." They did...........here are a few snapshots of my young budding actor.

Here is one of the whole cast
Sadly, none of the snapshots are going to win any prizes at the local county fair........but that's ok....it was a wonderful afternoon and something that he will remember for a long long time.

It's Tuesday........have you smiled yet? The sun is shining here and it's not unbearably warm either, so that alone has put a smile on my face............

Yesterday's road trip

2009-07-13T17:22:00.006-05:00

Yesterday's destination was the famous Hilltop Cafe, known for it's pancakes and the last cafe before you hit that looooooong road that the Ice Truckers travel. Here is a little information about it.

The Elliott Highway
Excerpted fromThe Alaska Highway: An Insider's Guide by Ron Dalby
This road leads to some fairly wild and remote country. It also passes through active gold mining areas where owners are often adamant about their private property signs. Specific regions of gold-mining activity include the settlement of Livengood (no services available) at 71 miles from the road's start at Fox, and Eureka, 131 miles from Fox.
There are few services available at any point on this road except at the start and finish. Travelers should therefore start this trek with a full gas tank.
These liabilities aside, this is a beautiful drive through the heart of interior Alaska. Most of the route is forested with scraggly black spruce and stands of birch. There is some fairly open country at roadside about 100 miles into the route, country heavy with extensive fields of blueberries.
The Elliott HighwayLength: 152 miles (253 km)Gas Available: Hilltop Cafe, 5 miles (8 km); Manley, 152 miles (253 km)Lodging: Manley, 152 miles (253 km)Campgrounds: Lower Chatanika, 11 miles (18 km); Tolvana River (unimproved), 75 miles (125 km); Manley, 152 miles (253 km)Wildlife: Black bears, moose, wolves (rarely)Fishing: Northern pike and grayling Map
At the start of the road is a picnic area by Fox Spring. Area residents have long cherished the sparkling water that comes from the ground year-round at this point. Many make regular trips to the spring for drinking water, ignoring the relatively pure water delivered to the taps in their homes. It's well worth a stop to fill water bottles or just for tasting the water.
From the spring, it's little more than 4 miles to Hilltop, a cafe and gas station on the left side. This is a favorite stop for Haul Road truckers, and at any given time there will likely be several rigs parked out front. This is also the last gas available before reaching Manley at the end of the road, some 147 miles distant.
The first 73 miles of this road is an extension of the Haul Road, and truck traffic can be particularly heavy at times. Be exceedingly careful during dry periods, because these 18-wheelers kick up blinding clouds of dust. The majority of the northbound truckers turn off on the Dalton Highway 73 miles from Fox, leaving the second half of the Elliott Highway relatively free of traffic.
Prior to reaching the Dalton Highway junction, the Elliott crosses both the Chatanika and Tolovana rivers. There's a splendid campground and picnic area next to the Chatanika River bridge (11 miles). Fishing here is mediocre at best, except for a few brief days just after breakup when grayling are moving upstream to summer spawning and feeding areas.

Sadly we didn't make it...........someone, thank goodness it wasn't me, didn't check the gas tank and we started out on this little trip with only a half of tank of gas............so we will try this little trip another time. We did see some beautiful country and pulled off the road and went down to this little area.....here are some photos for you to enjoy.

I know for some of you, that the combination of the water and trees is something that you see often..........for me, well it is a true blessing and wish come true. Can you see far off on the left hand side of the picture, the area that has the purple tinge to it? That is a field of Fire weed. The saying goes, that 90 days after it starts to bloom we will have our first snow !!!!!!!!! So that would put us right about the end of September - first of October. Now for WY, that has happened before........but these kids have been Florida - Texas living for the past 7 years........and the boys have never really been in snow before........it will be interesting. Here is a picture of the Fire weed up close.

Here are a few more snapshots.........

I like this one too.........don't know why, just do..............

This is a picture of the river that wound it's way into this little lake.......the boys took off their sneakers and socks and went wading.....for all of 1 minute!!!! My daughter gathered up some river stones and placed them in the sink of our downstairs 1/2 bath.......it is having an outdoors look starting in it........they actually give it a little atmosphere.........I like them.

I am having quite a good day today.........getting a few more things accomplished, the sun is shining and visited with another young wife that lives this street. I sure wish there were a few more old coots for me to hang out with - but let's face it - unless a bazillion more Nanas, Grandmas, Memaws, Gigis, Mimis and any other name that we go by, do as I have done, the chances of two of us ending up on the same post is slim to nothing......tee hee. I have smiled and let out a giggle too.........hope you have too.

2009-07-11T13:05:00.010-05:00

Deadwood SD

While being with my children in Wyoming, we went to Deadwood, SD for a long week-end. Deadwood is full of history and the scenery, again to me, it is just breath taking. Now I have to admit that since I receive my camera I have become a total picture taking goof. I just love to snap and snap and snap and snap. I do seem to be fixated on nature, but I like taking other pictures too. So, while entering Deadwood, it was an overcast and foggy day........this time I was with my second daughter......she humored me a wee bit more than her elder sister, but then again, she isn't stuck with me 24/7 either..........she knew that sooner or later I would be leaving.

Tee Hee. Here is a photo of the fog...........

Here is a wonderful site to visit. This gives a good time line and some interesting facts about Deadwood and all of it's history.
http://www.deadwood.searchroots.com/index.html
The Black Hills of SD have such great history in them. Truly, when you approach this area, the hills truly do black instead of green because of the density of the forest.

I have always loved going to Deadwood.....The Days of 76, parade and rodeo, is a fun week-end and now they have types of events since the casinos have opened.

The reason that we went though is that my daughters and grandchildren were participating in a marathon that week-end. The grandchildren were doing theirs on Saturday and the adults on Sunday. My official role was to cheer on Saturday and watch grandchildren on Sunday........neither were hard to do. Here are photos of the grandchildren:

The girls before

The girls after:

My grandson, from Wyoming, also participated but since he hadn't done the required "pre-walking" he was in a different race.........here he is. I could almost swear I took one of him and his medal, but I can't find it on the camera anywhere.........sigh.

Well I just tried to find a picture of my daughters on line (man I do that all of the time, go off trying to find better pictures or more accurate information and lose track of time..........or become so fixated that I don't realize it would be better to just let it go.......sigh) and couldn't find it.......oh well they did complete it and I was terribly proud of my family.

I have no idea how I raised three such athletic minded children. Me, I am a sitter and cheerer oner........I have never ever like exercising and it shows!

Well today my oldest grandson is going to be in a play. The Missoula Children's Theatre is here on base and putting on the Wizard of Oz............our budding thespian is a Winkie......which is the equivalent of a Flying Monkey.

http://www.mctinc.org/index.php Here is a link to their home page. If any of your children or grandchildren have any desire to act or try acting out, this truly is a wonderful experience for them.

Well I need to shower and get ready to go........no need to tell you what I will be smiling at today....bet I will have pictures to share tomorrow........tee hee

I'm back - finally!!!

2009-07-10T14:15:00.005-05:00

Hello. I can't believe that it has been since May since I have posted.....I bet many of those that

put me in their favorites (ok, it's not called favorites in blogging and thank you for those that have put me there and for hopefully those that will) have either deleted me or given up that I would ever return.........shoot, I am just like the common cold.......I will return, just give me time.

Most of you know, but for those that don't, I live with my military children and we were transferred from Randolph AFB, in San Antonio, TX, to Eielson AFB, Fairbanks, AK. Before heading up the looooooong path between TX and AK, I stopped off for two weeks to see my other children and grandchildren. It was wonderful. Sadly tho', the expression about anyone that stays longer than a week starts to stink like dead fish...........or in my family, if they have to change the roll of toilet paper more than twice, they should be leaving. I was just getting back into the groove of being in WY, but I am thinking that my two grown children were ready for me to be tootling along. Tee Hee. I will be sharing with you some snapshots and adventures of those two weeks.....hope you don't mind.

We arrived here safely, after a good and safe drive through MT and Canada. Oh be prepared, I have quite a few photos of landscapes...........I would have had even more, but my daughter........well let me give you an example.

" Oh look, look at that view." I would exclaim.

My daughter would look and smile.

" It sure would make a beautiful picture."

My daughter would look at me and smile.

" We probably won't ever be here again. It sure would be a shame to miss this opportunity." I would hint.

My daughter would look and semi-smile.

"We didn't stop at the last place I pointed out." I gently reminded her. "I would roll down my window and try to take one from the car, but you are going a little to fast to get a good picture."

My daughter would look.

"Ok, maybe the next spot I see, you'll stop for me, huh?"

My daughter finally speaks. "Mother, the last spot you wanted me to stop at, was barely a mile back. IF I stopped at each place that you want me to, well we would get to Alaska in mid-August....I have to report to duty."

I pout........but not one to give up right away.... " Well would you consider just slowing down so I could try leaning out the window?"

My daughter doesn't even look.........she just asked if I had an Tylenol or Excedrin.......I did.........shoot I have learned being around my children either they need it or I do............tee hee.

Like most tourist traveling in the Yukon territory we wanted to see animals........and we did.....but we saw these first and bless my baby girl's heart, she did stop for me.

and then this one too

we didn't see any caribou and my daughter did spot a moose with her calf, but by the time we got to the spot where they were crossing, they were already into the woods and camouflaged.

Like I said, I am back will be posting as much as possible......ooooo, the lilacs were from my daughter's home in WY..aren't they beautiful. They were in full bloom while I was there and I was stopping and sniffing continually. Isn't if funny how certain 'things' remind us something........lilacs remind me of my childhood. My Nana had a HUGE hedge of them along her driveway and I can still remember parking in her driveway and getting out and smelling the perfume of those purple beauties.

Did you smile while I was gone...........I did........lots. I will be sharing some of those smiles with you.......so stay tuned.

T'is May, T'is May.........

2009-05-01T08:38:00.009-05:00

T'is May, T'is May, the lovely month of May.........does anyone remember that line from a song in the wonderful musical Camelot? I have always loved this month.........I really don't know why.........maybe it's truly (in most areas) the first month of spring....or spring like weather.

The sun seems to be waking up and sharing itself with us........and the occasional rain that falls, well it just adds to that delicious smell of freshness..........and if you are lucky enough to have children in your home or live in a neighborhood with children.........sunshine and rain, well it just draws them out and their wonderful giggles and laughter just spill over with life.

Does anyone remember the old fashion practise of May baskets? Oh they were fun.........making them, getting all excited with the thrill of running up to the door, ringing or knocking on the door, leaving the basket and hiding. If you were lucky enough to have a hiding spot where you could watch the expression of the people who opened the door, well that was just the frosting on the cake.

These photos borrowed from the following blog

http://flyingtimedesigns.blogspot.com/2008/04/may-baskets.htmlThe collage picture borrowed from http://blackberrycreek.typepad.com/blackberry_creek/

I have made many May baskets and have been blessed to receive them too..........both positions are special.

I do love the month of May.......do you have any special feelings about this enchanting and special month? A special memory that took place during this month? I would love to have you share your thoughts..........please.

Hey smile everyone..t'is May, t'is May

Balloons

2009-04-28T08:16:00.010-05:00

I love balloons. Do you? For some, balloons haven't been a complete thought pattern........me.......well like many things I could go on an on about balloons. I love going to party stores and seeing all of the different colors. Oh and shapes of balloons too.

Then you can add different colors of ribbons to them, so your choices are endless. I think if you are in the hospital sick, a bunch of balloons tied somewhere in the room just makes you feel hopeful, perkier...........ok, now adays if you are in the hospital overnight, it's pretty serious.........so maybe that was a memory lane moment, huh? Parties.......balloons can make the simplest things into a party........think about it..........a raise, losing 3 pounds, cooking good healthy dinners for the family for a whole week...........egads, that one would deserve bunches of balloons!.......finishing a project that has had you stymied for the last few months........(years?)..........a good report card........the list is endless. Even the most sour of sour pusses (even if they hide it deeeeeeeeep inside of them) will smile at balloons.

Aren't you smiling at this little guy and his balloon..........forget all of the safety things for a minute........just look at the photo......doesn't it make you just smile? Well it makes me smile........big time.

I like the idea of balloon releases too...........weddings, funerals, the ones that school children send with notes inside, in hopes that if someone find the balloon, they will send back a postcard or note to tell them.........it's a sign of happiness, hope......OOO, and parades and events..........I see this type of balloon type thing and it just makes me happy........festive........excited and glad that I am at that event.

I am one of the fortunate people that remember many of their dreams.........I know I have shared my dreams about flying............another one is being attached to balloons and floating.........like this person.

Here is a whole article about this type of thing http://www.clusterballoon.org/. I love it.

Well I better put on my school teacher mode and tackle another day......sigh........oh man, we still haven't had breakfast yet.........these guys just love hanging out in their jammies (so do I!), so maybe we better tackle the food thing first, huh? Oh wait, someone is at the door.........wonder who it could be

Can you guess what I am doing?

2009-04-27T12:43:00.004-05:00

We are in t he area in Texas that has had the three cases of swine flu. So far the cases have been in the high school and of the three, one is mending faster than the other two. Lucky for this young man, the other two cases had been reported already and his doctor was on the alert and started him immediately on meds. Our school district, in my opinion, wisely closed down all of the schools for a week. I have to admit that I will always side on the side of precaution......better safe than sorry. So where does this put me...............well I am homeschooling. Oh Daniel was so excited.........no school, no school...........I didn't even blink, look to his parents for confirmation, nope........I just blurted out "So that means I am the teacher and you and I will have lessons together." Oh my goodness, I have never ever seen a balloon deflate so fast!

Then, and only with the mind of an 8 year old boy, he comes and stand in front of me..........ooooo, kinda like the scene in David Copperfield, when he asks for more porridge......."Nana, will we have recess?" Oh man, what can a Nana do, but hug him big time.

I haven't done lesson plans in ages, in fact I was scurrying on the Internet this morning looking up appropriate words for spelling, math, science and what book we would read...........think I have a handle on it now.........

Andrew's preschool is remaining open, because they are in a different school district, plus they are a private school also........but since two of the three teachers have children in our school district, they would be short of teachers and we all decided together to keep him home too.........

At first I was thinking of trips to the zoo and museum............hello!!!!!! Just hit me upside the head with a face mask! I have no idea why I thought we could go out and about - well I suppose some might, but in all honesty, the young and hmmmmm, more mature get hit the hardest......not that I am that mature.........but not taking the risk either.

So if you have an extra prayer for patience tucked into your pocket, would you mind putting my name on it - please.

I've smiled quite a few times already..........some of the ideas and thought patterns of children just make me happy.

Dream homes.........

2009-04-25T10:21:00.007-05:00

Why the statue of liberty? Because she represents the land of the free and the home of the brave.....a land where even day dreams and fantasies can come true.

I figure at my age and my current state of affairs and finances, that I better settle for a dream or fantasy home. It's ok.......truly it is. Actually it's fun. You don't have to decide where you are going to build it........shoot, so far I have lived in 5 or 6 different regions of the United States in my fantasy home. I don't have to buy land for it........that alone is just taking so much pressure off of me. I don't have to deal with contractors, delays, bad weather, unforeseen problems that always come with any type of project this size. I have an unlimited budget to use. Since I posses so little that goes into a house now, well ladies, put on your sneakers or comfortable walking shoes and let's get going and decorate. I can and have painted different areas different colors and we won't even start what I would like to play with as far as outside.........I do know that if possible lilacs and hydrangeas would be a constant.

I have even gone so far to find two sets of house plans, so the following plans are designs of Donald A. Gardner Architects........so here they are:

Dream home #1

I actually found this picture and floor plan in a magazine a couple of years ago.........I have saved that magazine and treasured looking at the picture. Now this one is going to be really hard to believe.........in the frenzy of cleaning out........I tossed it............ME........I TOSSED IT!!!!!! Good gravy, I discover that I did this last night and I have been in a funk since.........so of course with a bazillion other things I should and could be doing.........yup, I'm on the computer determined as an over extended in girth Nana can get to find it.............and I did..........we won't share how long it took me. Here are the floor plans.

There are two additional bedrooms upstairs...........so right away, trying to be sensible about things.......I certainly wouldn't need the two bedrooms upstairs..........shoot I know I wouldn't have that much company.........and I wouldn't need the dining area......so I would turn that into my studio........

Now in finding this spot, I looked further and found this plan........it's small and probably would work for me to.........

Again it has an upstairs with just a one giant rec room.........not necessary for me. Take one of the bedrooms and change it into a studio or make the dining room the studio......who knows, my fantasy vision is a little cloudy now...........

I do love the world of day dreaming and "some day"..........makes me smile.........

I'm here

2009-04-24T09:20:00.003-05:00

Hello, I am here. I looked at the date of my last post and had to look twice..............what is going on with me?

1. We will be leaving end of May for Alaska....that isn't a news blast, shared that before........but egads there is so much to do. The military considers Hawaii and Alaska as overseas tours.....so there is more involved.......we all had to have medical and dental releases.......the boys and I were behind in shots (oh that was a fun time!!!! sarcasm is those words).

2. Because of the market, the kids are leasing the house.........so Queen of Piles had to declutter her room. Oh man, now those days..........yes I said days, I wasn't going to do the whole thing at once.......egads, I would have ended up in the hospital for a mental breakdown......sorting and donating and throwing away.............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. Now, we have had to keep it spotless...........oh man.......both dogs are shedders.........the other day Andrew took the Snickers, the blonde lab, out on the deck and brushed her. Now I am being as honest as I can be........there was enough blonde hair floating on the deck to make up a Chihuahua!! REALLY! Oh I drifted again, huh. The realtor is really good about giving you at least a 2 hour notice.......which is plenty of time..........except when I have beads all over the table and really really into making something.............sigh...........oh well, Andrew and I pack up and drive through neighborhoods and look at flowers and other people's gardens.

4. I have been sick again. At first I thought it was allergies......the oak pollen here is horrid. When I could no longer breathe I called the doctor.......no appointments for 4 days, but I could come in as a walk-in. I did. Now I am not being rude, but I only waited 45 minutes and that is truly just about what you wait with an appointment!!!! I have two infected ears, sinusitis, swollen neck glands and a runny eye.............no from the neck down I was a-ok. I think the scariest part of this whole thing is when I woke up in the morning, I couldn't swallow.....truly. I had to work and work to get my throat clear so I could swallow.........scary......well it was for me at least.

So I guess that is my excuse for not writing........I can't think of any others.........will try to do better.......like I said........try..........

Have you been smiling? I hope so, I've been trying and for the most part can say that I have managed a smile or two each day.

Happy Tuesday

2009-03-31T01:07:00.001-05:00

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.
— Victor Hugo

I'm not sure if I am going to even turn on my computer tomorrow........trust me, if something is going to get caught on a computer, it will be mine........and I have a GOOD security program too.....it's just some sort of dark cloud that hovers over me........oh well......we'll see.

Hey does anyone knit here? I use to do basics......once even did a pair of mittens that worked! They did. They fit me, had the thumbs in the right place, cuffs were as long as I wanted them to be (I like them so they stay inside the coat sleeve).......but never proceeded much farther than that.

I wander in the yarn department of any store that has one............why not, it is so warm and comforting.....well it is for me. Oh and the colors and textures.............

My mother was a knitter......she made all of my sweaters when I was little, vests and sweaters for my Daddy, and my Grampa, well he only liked wearing the socks that my mother knitted for him. She always looked so content and calm as she knitted........

No, this isn't her, I don't think I have a photo of her knitting......wish I did. I gave all of her knitting needles to a very special friend that is the queen of knitting.......waving to her right now in GA.....how are you?........to me it was a very special gift to give. I know that she uses them and if not, that she takes good care of them for me. I on the other hand am not a contented, peaceful knitter............I am uptight!!!!! First I don't get the counting the stitches thing.......I can cast on, and then I knit until I get to the end of the row.......the end. I know, I made the mittens, but I was younger and was able to concentrate better..............see I was thinking about doing that again.............but I just talked myself out of it...........reality check...........the end. Why in the world would I start up another "hobby"? WHY? Oh I had this little dream about keeping us all supplied in mittens while in Alaska.........get a grip woman.....we aren't in the 1950's sitcoms and I am sure there is a whole lot of other things that will have to be done other than knitting. Whoa, that was a quick dream........put a smile on my face.........yup it did........me sitting down trying to count with this going on " Nana, Nana......pease put in a movie...............Nana, Nana, come play wif me.................Nana, Nana pease I have a nack........nope, thinking that I will not venture down that road right now...............

Blah

2009-03-30T01:30:00.001-05:00

I have been sick all week-end............actually it is still Sunday and I am writing this quickly and will post it tomorrow.........just because I have a few minutes now, that I can sit here..........trust me, I have either been in bed sleeping or visiting the little girl's room..........

I have no idea what grabbed me.........I am thinking that this guy decided to visit

oh and then he or she liked me so much, that he or she invited these guys............

and then the word got out but sadly all of the reservations in the lower areas were taken so these guys decided that the head area would be a lovely place to visit...............

So right now my whole hotel of a body is completely booked!!!!!!

I don't know how you are when you are sick, but for me here are the rules.........

1. acknowledge that I am sick

2. go away

3. yes you can check on me once or twice during the day

4. the door is closed so that you won't come in and get what I have

5. if I am sleeping, do not wake me to see how I am feeling..........

Now those are simple things and my family understands and respects them...........we are all different when we are sick.........that is how I am. When we first moved here, I developed pneumonia........bad pneumonia.........I slept for almost 2 1/2 days straight.......day and night........the kids waking me up to take my meds. This is the first time my sil had been around me when I was ill and he was totally amazed that I could sleep all day and still sleep at night.........beats me, but when I am sick.........I sleep.

I know you are wondering........what about your "smile" thing..........well I did smile, my oldest grandson made me a get-well card and it was wonderful.........I smiled........and it did make me feel better and loved.............

It's raining, it's pouring

2009-03-27T01:13:00.000-05:00

It's raining, it's pouring

the old man is snoring.

He bumped his head

and he went to bed

and he didn't get up

'til the morning.

Yes it is raining here in Texas. I am really happy for the rain, for each drop means I just might get to see some beautiful bluebonnets one more time.........they truly are a sight to behold. I know our friends in North Dakota are dreading each and every drop that falls........my heart goes out to those in the flood area. I have never experienced a flood.........oh little things, minor creek over the banks, but nothing like a true flood.

I know I sound contradictory when I say that I like the rain.......and I like the sun.......and I like a good snow storm...........the wind is ok, a gentle breeze is more my style, but I have lived in Why-oh-ming for so long, that a day without a true blow you over gust of wind...........well you pinched yourself to make sure you weren't in OZ. What I like most about the rain........umbrellas. Ok, it doesn't take much to make me smile, we have established that already. I do like umbrellas.....they come in all shapes and sizes...........

Now reading in the newspaper today, the business woman of today should be dressing conservatively, having blue, black, grey and a few browns and tans.........things that will intermingle and make a good basic wardrobe. Ok. But surely they weren't talking about a business woman's umbrella........could they?

Surely she could break out of the mold and have a little fun with her umbrella?

If not, then I am glad that I am not in the 9 to5 business world any more..............because I like color and pizazz.......a little spark, some flair.........

My umbrella, what does it look like........well it's not quite what I am use to carrying around in my vehicle..........remember we all have to adjust to what is taking place in out life at the time..........my umbrella right now is a gift from my daughter after she heard me whine and be silly about getting my tush wet while trying to protect the boys........both grandsons have their own umbrellas, but there are times that Nana just doesn't have the patience or time to mess around with putting up and down three umbrellas and then carrying or keeping track of three................so here is my umbrella at the moment.

Yup. a multi-colored golf umbrella..........it's a big hummer. The three of us fit under it nicely and I love it. My day will come again for a brighter and more flashy model..........right now I like what I have and what is underneath it even more...........

Smile, I know I smiled as I was typing this........see it doesn't take much to make me smile.......hope this post helped you with a smile too.

Fireside3 -4422

2009-03-26T01:27:00.000-05:00

I am a phone person. Well I use to be. I don't use the phone that often now, I seem to be going here and there, a companion that truly doesn't like sharing me with a phone and so it goes.

When I think about it, the phone has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember........my Mom worked for the small telephone company office in East Pepperell, MA during the 40's. I can close my eyes and still see and smell the stairway leading up to the second floor of the building that housed the office. I can't describe it, but it was unique and something that remains with me........and I have never notices anywhere else. It truly was a small office........usually only one or two ladies working at the same time. East Pepperell was a small little town then, rather like Mayberry but Yankee all of the way. When my Mom had to work the evening shift, I would just pick up the phone at our home and if she didn't answer "operator", I would simply ask, ever so politely to "Please talk to my mommy, it's time for me to say my prayers." Yes, it was a small town and people knew who MY mommy was..........tee hee.

Growing up in Michigan, we went through a variety of different styles of phones...........but the thing I remember the most is how you "said" a phone number then - Fireside3-4422. Oh you always said the complete word........then we moved on to only saying FI3-4422 and yes eventually we just progressed into the modern 343-4422. Times they were a change'n. I grew up and after one year of college I came back home and went to work at the telephone company as an operator. We still had the old-fashion cords into the panel type board, filled in little circles on a card........I can only imagine how they process calls today...........are there still such things as person-to- person calls? I enjoyed my time at the telephone company and a wonderful group of ladies were there at the time............oh we had some characters, after all I was one of the "youngsters".

I didn't have a cell phone for a long time..........my ex-husband decided that since I was driving into town from the lake and bringing the new grand baby home with me so often, that it was a good idea for me to have one with me in the car...............oh I was hot stuff!!!! I seldom used it, but I had it and I thought I was sitting in tall cotton. Since that first cell phone I truly have had only two others, for a total of three phones (I can still add......) in eleven years. Compared to so many that is such an unremarkable number. This phone isn't fancy compared to what is out there........shoot it has more things on it then I will ever use..........I just learned how to use the little alarm clock thing on it.............oh, here is a good one..............the first time I flew with the new phone, you have to turn off your cell phones, I grabbed mine and just held it...........I must have had the deer in the headlight look because the lady next to me asked if she could help. I swear, I must have thrown the phone at her like a hot potato.........if it was going to be the reason we crashed at take-off, let her be holding it. Ok, ok, simple. it's the red button...............sigh...............whoa did I take some razing on that. I now have a bluetooth too............at first I thought it was a waste of $$, but truly, driving in traffic and especially having my two grandsons with me..........it really is a good idea and investment.

So there you go, me and the phone. I have no idea what made me think about this......for some unknown reason I saw the word Fireside printed somewhere and it just triggered this thought pattern.............spooky.

Hope you smile or giggle today.........it will make even the worst day a little bit better.

Ratatouille

2009-03-25T00:22:00.000-05:00

Cute movie, like most Pixar movies. We have it and the boys watch it..........you know it's funny, Andrew does the most movie watching. Like most four year olds, he watches the same movie over and over......two maybe three days in a row. Go ahead, ask me a line from Zathura, Indiana Jones (he watches all of these), Super Heroes..........I do know quite a few........see my conversation skills are headed south.........

Oh ratatouille
Daniel, the oldest of the two, came up to me a few days ago and had an idea. We could make ratatouille for the family. Ok, so I gave him this blank look..........hello? I have never considered the kitchen my most favorite spot in the household to shine in..........oh,my family never went hungry, but I am a pretty blah type of cook an if push comes to shove will have to admit that until recently not very adventurous either. Now I am thinking........nope, I am not a cook, but I did like to bake.........see past tense.........that doesn't tickle my fancy any more either.....

Ok, from my shadowy memory, I thought ratatouille was a French stew........what did I know. The first obstacle we had to jump was spelling it. Nope, we couldn't put our hands the DVD....no comment. So I grabbed my old, torn, and truly "I have seen much better days" dictionary and it wasn't in there. I tried phonetically spelling it and did a spell check........that wasn't working.........so I resorted to the online English to French dictionary and found the correct spelling. Onwards. I like the recipe site http://cooks.com/ it seems to cover everything quite well and prints out easily............and here is one of the recipes I found.

RATATOUILLE (VEGETABLE STEW)

1 med. sized eggplant

1 tbsp. salt

1/4 c. olive oil

2 lg. onions, cut into rings

3 cloves garlic, crushed

2 green peppers, cut into strips

4 med. sized zucchini, cut into bite sized pieces

2 med. sized ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges

1/4 tsp. salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. thyme1 bay leaf2 tbsp. parsley, finely chopped
Cut eggplant into thick slices and then into small pieces. Sprinkle with salt. Allow eggplant to stand for 30 minutes, then rinse and pat dry on paper towels. Heat the oil in a large skillet. Saute onions and garlic for two minutes. Add green pepper and cook for two minutes. Add eggplant and cook over high heat for three minutes, stirring constantly. Add zucchini and continue stirring for three minutes. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaf. Simmer uncovered for 40 minutes until all the vegetables are tender.
Remove bay leaf. Garnish with parsley and serve hot. Can be prepared in advance to this point. Ratatouille can also be served cold as an appetizer.

I read it, sounded good to me.........and then I started reading it to my grandson...........the look of excitement and anticipation was quickly running from his face...........VEGETABLES!!!! The boys do not eat vegetables..........oh Dan will eat peas, and raw carrots........Andrew like corn on the 'husk'.........in my most serious Nana voice I had to ask "You don't want to make this now?"

"No."

" Why?"

" Well Nana, it has tomatoes in it."

"You love tomato soup........you love Chef-Boy-ar-Dee spaghettios.........you love spaghetti."

" I don't like tomatoes, and the other stuff I just know are vegetables too."

Ok, the end of this adventure for him.............me, well I am seriously thinking about making this now..........it sounds good. I also liked where most sites recommended eating it with a good French bread............oh that alone will tempt me further. If and when I do find the way into the cooking part of the kitchen and make this, I will let you know..........

Smile......

Butterflies

2009-03-24T04:19:00.001-05:00

On spring break we went to the zoo. Sounds like the beginning of your third grade essay "What I Did on my Summer Vacation", huh? I am a Nana and trust me, I do something the easy way........Amen, so be it. I was no dummy, we had come to the zoo the day before and turned around and went to a park and had our picnic there and the boys played all afternoon......why? The line went around the block, once and started around again and people were still walking to get into the line.......no not just a few.........I am talking herds and packs of people!!!!!!! Entire families from Great Aunt Eula and Great Uncle Oscar to the new born baby, Isabella. Cars were circling.........there was actually a police car parked in front of the zoo parking lot!!!! One of the restaurants down the road started charging people to park in their lot.........guess if they couldn't get customers to come in and eat because of lack of parking it was their right........I don't know, I just looked at the boys, we circled once and I said........no go.............home. We found a park, ate our picnic and the boys played. Hmmm, guess I told you that already, huh? We went back on Tuesday and arrived just a few minutes after it opened..........it was sooooooo nice......still cool, no crowds........what's that song from My Fair Lady........"wouldn't it be luv-er-ly"

At the zoo, they have a butterfly habitat type thing...........you got it........we paid and we went in...........and I am soooooooo happy that we did. Are you ready? I sure hope so........because here comes the butterfly pictures..............

It was, it was........I don't know how to explain it to you........truly. Every where I looked, beautiful plants and butterflies......lots and lots of butterflies. I was snapping away like some sort of photographer that was possessed. Then I stopped remembered the words of the lady that admitted us.........watch where you step.......the butterflies don't know that we walk on the cement floor.........we are in their home and they can go anywhere they desire.......I can appreciate that. She also showed us how to try and get them to walk on our hands............it worked..........here is a picture of my hand...............

Here is another one........

Look at them eating.........well besides on the plants..........

They landed in my hair, my arms, my back..........I was in butterfly heaven. I have to share a cute story. We were getting ready to leave and both boys had held a butterfly, but you know how that goes..........one more time, one more time. Dan had another land on his hand...........

Andrew wasn't having much luck.........I was looking for a likely candidate and this wonderful little girl walks up..........now her mummy must have been a free soul..........she was dressed like a true hippie child..........free, unmatched......wild hair......a knitted beret........so of course I fell in love with her.........but she came at Andrew like someone on a mission.........she stopped quietly in front of him and said......."Wait."...........shoot we all stood there.......we did. Like some type of magic, the butterflies were coming to her..........she reached out and placed one on Andrew's hand. Look at this snapshot.

I think this shot means the most to me, out of all the shots that day............

I hope you enjoyed the butterflies.........they made me smile and hopefully they made you smile too............have a wonderful day.

Spring

2009-03-23T03:53:00.000-05:00

I missed the official first day of Spring.........sorry. Seems like I have missed quite a few good posts lately......well the topic of good posts. I am trying, but things just happen......many things.

Spring........of course for me it's the time of flowers........yup I have pictures to share..........sorry.

See the butterfly? Both of these snapshots I took at the San Antonio zoo last week.....during spring break. A pretty nice little zoo..........waaaaaaaaaay to crowded after awhile............come on people this Nana got up early, packed a picnic lunch, braved a trip into unknown territory on the highways and arrived just a few minutes after the zoo opened........and it was nice............11:30 and we were invaded!!! Tee hee.........sorry, crowds with lots and lots of children and me being responsible for my two boys............well ok, call me over-protective! I watch them like a hawk and make no apoligies for doing it. Ok, I took a longer detour..........

Texas in the spring.......well if we had the normal amount of moisture........well just look at this

Miles and miles of bluebonnets.........oh it is a sight to behold............the first year we were here we had a bumper crop of bluebonnets and took some typical "first time Texan" pictures...........

Thinking this year isn't going to be a good bluebonnet year..........

Spring, the birth of most everything in nature, this makes me smile........a new beginning and we all need to start afresh at times...........enjoy.

Trees

2009-03-22T02:57:00.002-05:00

As a child I didn't pay any attention to trees..........they were there. Now there was an apple tree in my Nana and Da's back yard that was just wonderful. It wasn't a climbing tree, but it gave the most wonderful shade in the summer........good shade. Oh many an afternoon playing dolls, sleeping in the hammock with one of my grandparents, playing cowboys and Indians. I remember one horrible night, sitting on my Nana's lap, a nor'easter turning hurricane blowing in, looking out the den window as my Mother drove up the hill to go to work at the telephone company........CRACK, noooo CRACK

Lightning hit that apple tree and shook the earth like a child has never felt it shake..........I remember looking at my Nana.....as scared as she was she just started laughing........the look on my face must have been one to behold. Yes, I guess in my own way I did appreciate that tree, just didn't realize it.

Fast forward a few years........Michigan. Oh Michigan has trees, those beautiful maples are a thing to behold .

These mighty trees gave me more shade as a child........remember I can't be out in the sun for a long time........zoom, dehydration and out I go........yup even as a kid! The neighborhood kids and I would put picnic tables together and we would head out west on a wagon train. Now it is muggy in Michigan, my goodness there are lakes everywhere............everywhere. Now did this mugginess stop us from putting old woolen army blankets over the picnic tables and hanging from the low branches of the maples to make tents, cabins.........you name it. It was lucky that none of us died from lack of air!!!!! Of course we are the same kids that rode bikes without helmets, roller skated in the streets without helmets, knee and elbow pads and didn't even know what a seat belt was! Sigh, sorry took a brief detour there. Across the street, there was a tree that had low limbs. The most amazing thing tho' is there were just enough limbs for ALL of us to sit on alone and ride horses, play like we were fairies and whatever else we imagined that day. We moved into a new subdivision and NO TREES...........what a shock. We went back to our old neighborhood and dug up little saplings (?).........they took............a few years ago I went back to Michigan and found those trees.........they are huge. I wanted to go up and knock on the door of the owners and tell them how we dug the hole, babied and pampered those little twigs of trees and how I was happy that they had survived.........I didn't, but I wanted to.

Wyoming...........ok, I lived in the area of Wyoming that is called the grasslands..............remember ole' Kevin Costner riding across the plains with his arms wide open in "Dancing with Wolves"? Yup, no trees.........I mean it was a shock........then we moved closer to the South Dakota border and were at the very edge of what is called the Black Hills.

Yes, the hills do actually look black, because of the density of the trees........it's just beautiful.

Now I am in Texas............and I have fallen in love with the oak. I truly believe that oak trees are one of the most imaginative trees ever. They don't grow straight........nope, they each have a distinct character of their own..........look.

Look, it's like each one has it's own story.........or they could be some mystical magical creatures in a fairy tale or Harry Potter movie. I am just in love with them. They are everywhere........when I first moved here, I was talking to a friend and said "I went to a mall today." She asked which one............I was just quiet.............shoot almost every mall in this area is "Oak" something..............and that was my reply........"Hmmmm, it was oak something!"............don't think that helped her out a whole lot.

I have no idea why I am going on and on about trees.........I guess having lived for so long without them, that I do truly appreciate them now. Amen.......

Smile, I just have to look out the windows and look at the oaks and a smile appears.........of course I am also making up stories about them too.........

I'm not lost..........

2009-03-21T14:32:00.004-05:00

Truly I have not been lost........or have I? Lost in a rather hectic and jammed full spring break week. I think Friday was the only day that we didn't venture out on an adventure.....and then it was designated "jammie" day. I have to keep reminding myself that I am NOT old, truly I am not.......and trust me, I will not use that phrase ...."40 is the new 20" ......40 is 40. Forty for some is a better shape 40 than others, but it is still 40. Tee hee, and we KNOW that I am not 40, don't we? I raised three active and adventurous children pretty much on my own.......I was married, but not a whole lot of help in the day in and day out type of thing.........so I know I can do this...............but egads..........
I don't seem to be sitting in any rocker and reading much these days..........I have been to parks, the zoo, bookstores, errands, the jumping place (you know those blow up rubber things that kids jump on) which my sil paid for......I sure couldn't have afford all of that and I treated for ice cream, packed picnic lunches and when things got tough, tried very very hard to keep them from attacking each other, while doing it in a calm and politically correct way so no one would report me !!!! Yeah, that last phrase stick in my craw, but that's all I need right now, having some governmental agency checking my out because I raised my voice in what some concerned person felt was threatening.......................egads, we are wandering down more paths and country roads. What I wanted to write about, is that I am here, just been so on the go, bone tired, road weary and just plain feeling my age..........so I will do better this week I hope..........but you know at this point I am not going to add that much pressure to myself and promise that I will write each day...........yeah, like I need another thing to make me feel guilty..........tee hee.

Smile today? You betcha......the sun is shining and I planted flowers in our pots outside........you bet I smiled.

Yesterday.........

2009-03-16T07:51:00.004-05:00

I took a little and much needed trip yesterday.........to a friend's home. I have mentioned that I haven't made many new friends here in Texas.......but that is a whole different post. It was a nice drive ( ok, no country lanes with beautiful panoramic views - highways and interstates and traffic all of the way - but I didn't get lost or panic) She lives in a town that is called Boerne. How would you pronouce this? Give up? Bur-knee. I am rambling again..........sorry. We beaded, we laughed, we beaded some more, ate Chinese take-out (I brought half of mine home, so I can eat it for lunch tomorrow). Her tax accountant also came, who is also a beader, so I met a new person and enjoyed her company..........all in all it was just a delightful day.

OOOO, before I forget, she has this really cool "thing" on her fridge. On the section above her water/ice dispenser are all of these itty bitty magnetic words.......oh my, a dream come true. So I took a break from beading and played. I left two sentences behind..........one involving a frill frog and some type of whale and the other about confetti and spaghetti..........you are limited to your choices!! All in all it was day that I needed and truly appreciated.
Today is the first day of spring break..........we are off to the zoo!!!!! So I know there will be smiles and cameras involved there......

A big thing in a small world

2009-03-14T10:33:00.007-05:00

Not the best picture of my little companion, but that's ok. Sometimes as adults, we forget how little things are really big things to our little children. He wanted his picture "wid the cirrrrrrcle awound it."

Yesterday when I went to pick up Andrew from preschool, I arrived early (I always do......it's a standard joke, if I am driving or if you ask me when we have to be somewhere, I always give a e time on the generous side..........) The children were in another room singing, so I stepped in and listened to the sweet sounds......... When they started to sing their "good -bye" song, I moved back to Andrew's room.......out came his classroom, teacher and a little boy and Andrew following. He had this look of despair and total abandonment on his face and he kept saying "no won list-ning to me, no won". By the time he got his backpack and coat, walked out the door and came to me he was in a full blown crying mode. The sweet tears of injustice were flowing and he was saying over and over........."Me was da wine weader." Apparently the other little lad was having some problems with sitting still, so he had to sit with the teacher and of course she still had his little hand in hers when they left the room to walk across the hall............not a big thing...........ahhhhh, but it was taking away my young prince's chance to lead his troops across the long hallway to slay the dragon, to deliver them safely against the perils of the hallway, kissing moms, anxious fathers, smiling Nanas........

After consoling him (to no avail) one of the teacher's came out and said that Andrew could be line leader again next Monday when they return from spring break..........still no reprieve from the tears......it was a long drive home. That's ok, I can think back and remember some of the hurt that I witness with my own children and experienced myself..........it hurts.

Took a good nap and I am thinking......ok, we are healing............yeah, me and my thinking. The minute Daddy walked in the door, he started telling him all about it and started to cry again. So far today, nothing has been mentioned and no tears...........let's keep our fingers crossed.

Have a nice day........smile, your smile may be the only sunshine someone has today..........

Spring tablesettings.......

2009-03-13T02:02:00.001-05:00

all pictures are from Country Living

I know I have talked about center pieces before and I know I will again........trust me, we do not set out table like this.........I would be happy if all five of us could sit down together and eat. That is another story all together, any ways, I found these photos on the Country Living site and wanted to share them with you........it was what got me started thinking about the pastel colors vs the darker shades.........

I know people use quilts as table cloths, but I would be scared to death that I would be the person that would spill something that wouldn't come out of it.........and watch it be an heirloom......but isn't this setting relaxing. I love hydrangeas. Last year, my daughter came home with a mixed bouquet from one of the big bulk stores........it had lots of hydrangeas in it plus lots and lots of other flowers. She always has me do the floral arranging.......and I love to do it.........so I took the hydrangeas and put them in a vase all by themselves........I was thrilled........it was the first time that I had ever had them to work with. The other flowers went into another arrangement........maybe two. The next morning I woke up and went straight to the dining room to see the hydrangeas...........deader than a door nail!!!! I didn't, but I almost burst into tears.......my daughter kept saying, "It's ok Mom, it's ok." Poor sil wanted to comfort me, but I don't think he knew what to say...............I just turned and walked out to the kitchen. It was a few minutes later and then I heard this giggle......then laughter. My daughter comes in with the vase and dead hydrangeas...........NO WATER!!!!! Shoot, I murdered the pretty hydrangeas........set me off on another almost crying jag, that led to uncontrollable laughter............

This isn't a total table setting, but wow.......cloth napkins and as a napkin ring, an old set of buttons.......still on the card!!!!! Oh man, I'd be blurting out......."Can we take the buttons home?".........I would, I know I would. Right now we are paper napkins.......mentioned someday would like to use the cloth.........the look I received from my daughter and the laughter from my sil tells me that until the boys are grown men it isn't going to happen...........tee hee..........
I saved the best until last............mixed match chairs, flowers, a chandelier !!!! and surrounded by flowers........it's like out of a novel. Now here I would have slathered myself with sun protection and just sit and sit and sit and sit....... I would probably wear my straw hat and have either tied a scarf around it or stuck some flowers on it.......others would leave and I would still be sitting there admiring the flowers and having a smile on my face............

I received an award.....

2009-03-12T13:20:00.011-05:00

I received this from Jan over at http://coffeyhousecollections.blogspot.com/ . Thank you Jan.

I am going to try and embed it onto my site, don't know if I can or not........sometimes I get it right and then other times I am just floating. The award comes with a request......

The rules are: List 7 things that you love and then pass the award on to 7 people...tagging them and letting them know they won! You can copy the picture of the award and put it on your sideboard letting the whole wide world know you are KReATIV!

1. All of my family......I have been blessed with some wonderful and supportive family......have some good laughers in the bunch too. Spell check said that there is no such word as "laughers" pbllllllttttttt!!! In my family there is!!!!!

2. Friends........some are newer friends, some are older, some are through the Internet.........but I am thankful for all of them and each one of them has a spot in my heart.

3. The ocean........

4. My computer........like Jan, I think I love mine toooooooo much..........

5. The movies..........the only genre that I am not into (and yes there truly are movies I wouldn't attend) are the horror, scary, chop you up type. It is amazing how many women I have met over the past years who really like them..........me, well I just know I would spill my popcorn and trust me, I sure don't want to waste popcorn, when I jumped every five minutes OR whoever sat beside me would be so black and blue from me squeezing them ................best to stay home

6. Books and magazines............my mother, rest her soul, told me as long as you had a book to read you would never ever be lonely. She then went on to add that even if you didn't have penny to your name you could have a library card and borrow books.

7. Pop corn and ice-cream........I am thinking they are in a food group all of their own............

Here are the seven ladies that I am going to pass this on too:

1. Dawn http://dawnieslifeifbythesea.blogspot.com/

2. Pea http://peascorner.blogspot.com/ (thank you Pea for the info on the http thing....)

3. Amy http://amaincollection.blogspot.com/

4. Lola http://ansewon.blogspot.com/

5. Joanne http://cottageinthemaking.blogspot.com/

6. Lori http://lori72.blogspot.com/ Check out her bubble pictures...sure looked like fun

7. Kim http://calamitykim.typepad.com/calamity_kim/

Remember to smile.........

soft colors............

2009-03-11T13:20:00.007-05:00

I was fooling around with the program on my computer, the one that I think only I know about......tee hee........and noticed that I seemed to gravitate towards the darker and more vibrant color families.............it kinda surprised me. Oh I know that I love red and put a good shade of orange out there and that makes me smile too.........but I always considered myself a pastel type gal.......... So as I was glancing at the newest copy of Country Living magazine, I stopped on a page called Supply Closet and had to email a friend that knits, about some yarn that was being advertised on this page..............such soft green and pink................really really soft. I then looked over at the photo next it and I just had to smile..........a beautiful and simple bouquet of flowers............Narcissus and primroses........but lo' and behold, they aren't even real.......they are hand made cotton flowers from the Czech Republic. Very reasonably priced too........the narcissus are $22/10 and the primroses are $8/12. Here is the site nicholaskniel.com Hmmm, wonder why that didn't do the color thing so you can click on it?

I am going to try and be more aware of what I pick out for colors and hues.........not that I am going to change............but now I will look at the softer hues and think if I could use them also........

Smile...........................

p.s. already I am back to the brighter shades......but he is a handsome and happy fella, huh?

Hello.........

2009-03-09T10:19:00.013-05:00

Hello, remember this not so artsy fartsy photo that I took at the botanical gardens awhile back..........well I've been playing with my new program............oooooo, look what I have done with this............I am so excited!!!!

I think this is the mirrored image thing...........when I looked at this the first time, a really quick look, I thought the middle plant was some sort of sci-fi monster plant........hmmmm, thinking I hadn't had my coffee.....
Have no idea how I did this particular thing........it wasn't a rotating thing i know.........oh well

This was a divide and conquer type of thing.......see the little box is on top and on the left side too.........but here is the bests one............
I love it..........but then again, I have always loved kaleidoscopes.........always. To this very day I can sit in front of a window or light and roll a kaleidoscope around and around and marvel at the color and shapes that it creates............

Ok, one more photo and then I will let this go.........see I didn't promise I would, but for today I will only do one more..........
This is a small plants in the front of the lawn.........it has colors from a yellow, green to this soft and yet vibrant red.

Still the same photo of the plant.........doesn't this one look like some type of tribal mask......you can't imagine how much fun this is for me...............
Look at the difference with the stripes/lines........it's ok, but not quite as dramatic......
Wouldn't this make a beautiful stain glass window? The end......and thank you for being so polite........if you aren't doing this type of thing yourself, I know it can be down right boring........ Now I must ask all of you for some positive thoughts and a few prayers...........I am going to the doctor this afternoon.........started out with a achy ear and sore throat last Wednesday...........today was the first appointment that they had open !!!!!! at 4:30!!!!! Since I grabbed this time slot, I have developed an impacted gland under my arm pit............oh it hurts, it hurts to move my arm, it hurts when my sleeves rub up against it............I know I am not the bravest person in the world, but I do so hope that the doctor will open this up today.......anything to relieve the pressure and soreness. Man I can't even imagine having a needle placed in this area while you are still awake........see that is how much of a baby I am!!!!! I have been saying little prayers all week-end.........asking for strength and not to act like a big ole' baby...........bad, huh?
Smile please........I have been able to turn the corners of my mouth up into a smile a few times already today..........

New creations.............

2009-03-05T00:49:00.001-06:00

This is riding on one of the canal boats on the River Walk in downtown San Antonio. I have been on three different boats for the tour and each driver shares different things about the surrounding area. So far I have had two fantastic and really enjoyable drivers......funny too.......the other gentleman (and there are lady drivers) was good, but very serious and he almost acted bored......maybe he was having a bad day........we all do once in awhile.

Now, the minute I share some of my new creations, I know that I am not going to get comments..........either my jewelry is boring or to far out or just there.........and guess there just isn't a whole bunch to say......"Yup, that's a bracelet." tee hee.

Here is a purple creation that took me forever.......not complicated, just never got around to finishing it.......it's long too.....

This next piece is not a choker, but a much shorter piece. It was made for someone and not available..........but wanted to share it with you.........black and white, you just can't go wrong with those basic colors.

This last necklace, well I really like it...........BUT..........after completing it, I realized that I had gone back into the aqua room again!!!! Sooooooooooo, I have made a promise to myself that I have to design and complete at least 3 pieces in other color families before I can go back to aqua land..........the funny part is I don't even realize that I am there, until the piece is done and I put it in my inventory.

It's not a choker either, but just hangs ..........hmmmm now this is sad......are you suppose to measure just one side of the necklace or the whole thing........well we will go with the whole necklace.......which measures 24"........

Need to work on my photo taking with the pieces, I can see that........

Please smile today.......it could make someone elses day too............

Color..........

2009-03-04T06:13:00.001-06:00

Aren't these colors just bright and happy? Come on, tell me that they don't make you feel better.......just a wee bit?

Kim over at http://calamitykim.typepad.com/calamity_kim/ is posting about color week......she didn't get it started, Lynn at Little Red Hen did.....
http://thelittleredhen.typepad.com/my_weblog/........man I am trying to give everyone the credit they deserve and since I am soooooooo computer challenged, I mess things up and then lose them and then I say rather unholy things that Andrew hears.............sigh.........I will get better I know I will. Any ways, Kim (now I post like Kim knows who I am and we are personal friends..........tee hee.........but I do love her posts and all of her photos are so clear, bright and inspirational.........well I read her religiously. Again, I wander off the road............she posted a fantastic photos of crayons...............to die for. I love crayons........just looking at this picture and the one below, puts the biggest smile on my face.

Just look at all of that color. It's a far cry from the box that I started school with. Well I take that back, I just went and checked http://www.factmonster.com/index.html and did a search of crayons and when I started school there were 48 colors in a box.......and unless the nuns said "no go" I am sure I had the box with the 48 colors. Now according to this page there are boxes of crayons with........are you ready............120!!!!! Man, I have got to go down that aisle soon at the discount store and see them..........we have such a good supply here at home (though I know that we have do not have that much variety!!!!!!!) that I haven't crayon shopped in a long time.
Listen to some of the names:
inch worm
canary
beaver
fern
cranberry
oh the list goes on and on............ok, I can see that you are sitting there and shaking your head. A full grown woman totally and completely excited over crayon colors...........sorry. Color and words, I can't think of a better combination.

Now as much as I liked the picture of Kim's site and the one that I shared, I really like this one:

These crayons have been touched.......they have beautified a piece of paper, cloth, a wall.........someone has used their imagination and made the day a better place.

Did you know that coloring is a good therapy? It is. Even if the person grabs black and pushes hard and viciously making stabbing motions on the surface........it is helping them. My first thought, even for an adult, when someone is recuperating from a long illness or surgery.........color book and crayons.........and it is especially a good "new big brother or sister" gift. Did you know that if a child uses bright colors versus the darker shades, that most likely, that child has higher artistic tendencies? I read that somewhere......years ago. I always liked watching my grandchildren color and tried to make note of what colors they used........we have one definite artistic one in the bunch.

I hope this made you smile.........check out Kim's blog and I am going to wander over to Lynn's too........so I am thinking that I am not going to get a whole lot done today, except wander in blog land..........

Not missing in action........

2009-03-03T08:47:00.011-06:00

I sure hope you don't give up on me..........I will rebound, I always do.........it just seems to be taking me a wee bit longer this time around..........I'm not unhappy, in fact life is pretty darn good........I just don't seem to get around to posting. Amen.

Now on Saturday and Sunday both I went to a bead show. Now before I go any further I will admit that the only other "hobby/craft" show that I have ever attended is the beautiful and highly acclaimed (and rightfully so) Houston Quilt Show. The people attending were very, hmmmm, lady like and the gentlemen that were there, well they were gentleman. On the vendor side of the area it was crowded at times, but not overly, rudely, panicy crowded. I will preface that I have attended bead show before......in the same building as this one was held. Many of the same vendors were at the past shows. I went with this heavenly, idealistic vision of me taking pictures of the various beads to share the color and mixture. SLAP ME UP ALONG SIDE THE HEAD!!!!!!

Well these certainly aren't from the bead show.............and I never even took out my camera! I attended with a friend and let me tell you the pre-bead show drama. Parking. Now I came off the interstate and looked over and almost ran off the road........honestly. There were vultures in the shapes of cars circling the parking lot. Really. I mean I could feel my heart start to speed up.....but I took a deep cleansing breath and drove over to the parking lot, slowly inched myself off of the street, now remember, I just turned into the parking lot......there had to be at least 20 cars behind me also wanting into the lot. I hear this honking from )(@%*&%@ and a lady was giving me a universal sign language for being number one in her book. Hello? I just pulled off of the street into the lot.......what great offense could I committed already? I am sure I gave her the " deer in the headlights look" and kept inching away. Now this is the miracle that occurred, I don't know if you heard of it taking place or not.............just as I was inching and crawling along, a car leaves.........not only does it leave, but it is the end spot. I hesitated, looked both ways to see if any other vultures...oooops, cars.... were getting ready to pull in........nope..........I put my foot to the gas pedal and grabbed it. I almost got out and started to sing "I am the champion!", but I remained cool, gathered myself together and waited to hear from my friend. I didn't wait long, the cell phone rings, and she is saying "What is going on? Who are all of these people?" She was lucky and found a spot at the end too.........so at this point I am thinking that maybe I had pre-judged the day wrongly. Alas, this fantasy was short lived and I glanced over at my friend and knew right away that we needed a plan!!!!!!

I truly believe that every woman who could spell the word B E A D was here.........and with a mission. Now I wore a red top.......easy to spot, right? Right. My friend, she wore navy blue, along with half of the people here..........sigh. Now I am not totally living in my own world.......I know that I have grown in width. Amen, no more to be said. I know that I am part of the problem in tight quarters........again, I know this. I stand aside to let others pass, I always ask if I can get through.........I do........" Excuse me, may I go around you? Pardon me, I would like to move around to the back of the table.", that sort of thing. Well ladies, I am now thinking that quite a few of these women needed Miracle Ear too!!!!

When you found a spot at a table, you better not leave it. You stood there and inched slowly around the table.......and if you picked up something and even thought you might want to purchase it...........well you didn't put it down! Now saying that, let me explain..........it wasn't that the booths/tables weren't stocked, they were........lots and lots and lots and lots of inventory........it was the crowd. I have never seen aliens that transformed so remarkably into human form..........seriously, these ladies were possessed.......totally had transformed themselves into human bead suckers.......they were out for blood. When I finally found my blue wearing friend, I just gave her that look and I could see the same thought reflected back from hers.................RUN!!!!!!!!!!!
The show continued on into Sunday, so I went to church Saturday night and was at the doors when they opened at 11. It was nice, from 11 to 12:30 I shared the show with the nicest, sweetest, most sharing and gentle females.........and I heard over and over again "Oh this is so much better than yesterday. " or " Did you come yesterday? It was scary."
Now I know this is a long post, but I have to add something, I have too. Sunday there were quite a few husbands attending too...........this is after the 12:30 time........now instead of sitting outside in the lobby where there are lots of comfortable chairs and couches or staying in the cars, reading the Sunday newspapers,they were following their wives around telling if they could or could not purchase items............man that just makes for one ticked off wife!!!!! or, they stood in the check-out line so when their wives were done finding items, they wouldn't have to wait. I guess that is ok, but it seemed like such an unfair advantage for us single shoppers.........tee hee.
Did I smile, yes. At one point on Saturday when I just stopped and looked around me, I just started to giggle.........the only thing I could compare this whole scene with : sharks circling and closing in...............of course me and my giggles did draw attention!!!!!

Sigh, waddling in...........

2009-02-27T17:42:00.007-06:00

Hmmm, this one isn't very artsy fartsy, is it? Well, maybe I can try to exhort enough energy to play with it and see what I can come up with............

A sure sign of spring in Texas is this sight............
It's the Texas Mountain Laurel.......oh trust me everyone, they are to die for. Beautiful and luscious clumps of purple splendor.......and the smell..........close your eyes and think back to when you were a little kid.........the smell of Grape Nehi soda pop............(now if you don't like that smell or the flavor, right away you will have a problem with this tree).........here is a picture of the blooms close up
Ok, the end for that little bit of information............on to my next comment..........and I sure hope I don't offend anyone.........

Why oh why, is it (and YES I know the answer before anyone thinks I am totally losing my mind) that public rest rooms insist on loading the tp dispensers with this paper thin product, that some snake oil salesman convinced them was toilet paper? I know, it isn't suppose to clog the toilet (or as I call in commode). Well I hate to blast you, but if the condition calls for it and sometimes no matter how hard you don't want it to, it does...........you have to use more than three sheets of this see through wonder. Ok, so it isn't going to bring around world peace, it isn't going to solve poverty or wipe out cancer..............but I am thinking it might make some of us happier and not feeling so guilty if we have to use more than we usually do. I know that cost has to be cheaper.......it has to be.........because if it isn't, then I am really going to be upset. Enough.....I shall proceed to my next sharing.

Has anyone heard of Clara Cannucciari? Well I hadn't, until I was reading the new articles on my home page. This woman is 93 and is sharing her depression recipes. http://depressioncooking.blogspot.com/ I hope this links you to her blog........and she is on u-tube too. I am enthralled with her. I want to find her home and spend a week-end with her. She shares stories about growing up in the depression as my mother did with me..........I have tried sharing them with my children, but they don't seem to be as interested in the history of the family as I was and am. Any ways, back to Clara Cannucciari..........her recipes seems worth trying and maybe I will sneak a few in on this family. Now be forewarned........heavy on the potatoes and pasta, so we aren't talking diet friendly.........but they seem tasty and filling and not that costly...........so maybe one or two nights a week you could sneak them in..........if you have a minute just go to her blog, better yet, look for her on u-tube.......I want to watch all of her u-tube shows

Hmmm, seems there was another thing I was going to ramble on about......but darn if I can remember what it was..........I have got to shake this blah, blue, pull me down and throw me about feeling that I have had.........it sure isn't for lack of sunshine, we have had a whole week of sun and warmth...........heaven.

Oh I finished two new necklaces........I will have to download them and share them with you...........

Smile.......just a wee one will do.

You wanted to know..............

2009-02-24T09:24:00.004-06:00

I am just loving this artsy fartsy type of pictures that I am taking. Guess because I never ever thought I would be able to take them.........ok, so they aren't going to wind up in the National Geographic, or Garden Beautiful...........but, I think once I get them printed up on photo paper, that they will make pretty note cards to use.

NO kissy face, huggy bear stuff.......just running, laughing, drinking, big group (guess there must have been about 12-14 of us) and of course I was just ga-ga and awe struck, like some little town spinster who went to the big city for the first time...................it probably was my only encounter with a movie star........ooooo, I saw Pat Boone driving out of his driveway and he looked REALLY mad, ugly mad and needless to say, he didn't wave to us........tee hee.

Today, if I can get myself into gear, my companion and I are taking off for the outlet malls. I need a few more tops for Alaska and another set of sheets for my new twin bed...........of course if I don't get going, I won't have enough time to get there and back before I have to pick up Daniel from school.........

The sun is shining and it is "suppose" to get up into the 80's today.........I am sure a smile will creep into my day soon..............

Here I am........

2009-02-23T07:28:00.013-06:00

I disappeared, didn't I? Sorry, I just seemed to slip into some type of slump..........no beading, no card making, no stitching....in fact I didn't leave the house at all Saturday or Sunday........nope, not even church..........I wasn't sad, I wasn't angry, I wasn't anything I guess..............just in a slump.

Now this is what I wish I could tell you...........I was in New Orleans, frolicking and dancing, catching beads, drinking hurricanes from Pat O'Brien, listening to good music, from jazz to Irish ballads, seeing beeeeeeeeee-utiful costumes and all in all having a care-free, fun lov'n time. Sigh, alas I can not lie............BUT............I did do that once. I did it, when I was young and single (well I was engaged at the time), when I thin, shoulder length, ash blonde (with a little help from a box) hair, no cares, no mortgage and I partied with a famous movie star.........for one evening........I had fun. Laissez Les Bon Temps Roule!!!! Let the good times roll!!!!

Which of course leads me up to what I wanted to share.........I didn't do the costume thing......but I drooled over some of the exquisite masks...........like the following.

Traditional colors of purple, green and gold.........I LOVE the feathers.

Now, here are some truly, ok what I think are truly beautiful masks.

Did you notice that the lady on the right is wearing matching purple lipstick.......

This last photo makes me smile the most......doesn't this lady just look like she is having the best time of her life..........I love it.

Mardi Gras has to be experienced first hand and I am glad that I have. I can sit back and close my eyes and just feel the happiness and total freedom that I felt while I was there. I went with another girl from work and we stayed with her great aunt. She was quite the character, and she lived in one of the typical bungalow type homes in New Orleans..........it was such an experience.

The sun is shining here.......but it is chilly right now.........I have smiled already...........how can I not smile when I start out the day with two little boys who come up with the most unexpected and wonderful comments.................

2009-02-19T14:48:00.008-06:00

Here she is, in all of her totally beguiling and wonderfulness.............Vera the Mouse. I in all honesty have never read a Vera the Mouse book............sigh.........see I am truthful to a point of I probably should have said nothing at all, huh? Here is a link to the authoress web page and a mini synopsis, hmmmm, mini and synopsis, makes this web site mighty small...............sigh.

www.marjoleinbastin.nl/vera/vera . Thinking that isn't going to work...............but type in Vera the Mouse in Google or whatever you use to find information that you can't live without...........and if love whimsy, the softness of watercolors and the "close your eyes and return to childhood" land...........you are truly in for a treat. Me, well I like the cards...........you know me and sending cards. Look at these

Ok, you know what is coming next, huh? I would frame these, or put them tucked inside my mirror frame, or in my new room, my cork board...........man I am truly a collector, a saver, a hoarder, the original bag lady of mish mash.............I am trying hard to improve in this area.........so far I taken a few baby steps.........hmmm, maybe it was more like an attempt at crawling..........yup, that's it, an attempt at crawling..........but it is a start.

Went to Andrew's second speech session...........I love it, it's like a small United Nations of wee little ones, instead of different languages, we just have different types lisps, stutters, and a few unknown to me as a Nana words............I do love it..........I end up talking and playing with some of them.........why do I bother bringing a paperback book?

Here is a wonderful give-away http://wsoapp-piecakeprimitives.blogspot.com/ Oh I can see this simple star hanging in my new bedroom in Alaska....among all of the red, black and red..........

Smile one and all...........it warms not only your heart, but others as well.

4 year olds and mucus.........

2009-02-18T12:46:00.005-06:00

I dropped off my little companion at pre-school and all is well. I stop and picked up my prescription re-fill papers, drive to the base, give them to the pharmacy tech and find a seat. I have done this process before, I am a wiser woman than the first time I went on this path. I have brought a paperback book. I always have a magazine in the car........always. It drives my daughter crazy.......it's me. I have to have(ok, so I don't HAVE TO - but wish to have) reading material available at all times. Now waiting at the pharmacy can be an author's dream; as is an airport. I am not a published author, but boy I wonder what the people would think if they knew the stories I have and do make up about them in my mind.............

I was driving to the pre-school, not enough time to go home and accomplish anything, not enough time to park and wander in a store..........and as I mentioned I had my paperback, the sun is shining and I still had water to drink..........so I would sit in the mini-van and read, waiting patiently for my companion. AH, the cell phone rings, and it is the director of pre-school. Andrew isn't feeling like himself.......no vomiting, no diarrhea, no fever, but he doesn't want to eat, he doesn't want to participate in activities......not Andrew.....he says he doesn't feel good. I am so happy that I was pulling into the drive-way of the parking lot when I received the call......went right in and picked him up...........there he was, just sitting like a little lost soul, while his classmates were dancing............nope, not Andrew. We gather up his backpack, sign out and head out to the car..........I'm waiting.........but not for long. What am I waiting for............well this is what I was waiting for.

Some type of reference to Mr. Mucus. My companion has adhered not feeling well to these rather nasty, yet colorful characters. He will share with you, how his head/stomach/stubbed toe/ bitten tongue/hang nail........all have "gween moo-cus". He seems to be totally enamored with these nasty looking creatures.
At the moment he is fighting taking a nap, but I am sure if I keep my strength up, he will drift off soon. I have explained that sleep helps the body move the "gween moo-cus" people out of our bodies. This helps............I hope so, as I do not like to see any of my family ill.

I did smile today..........chit chatted with another lady around my age at the base pharmacy.......they have CNN on the television there........something came up about the woman in CA that just gave birth to the eight babies. Oh my, this lady surely did have an opinion on this! She just had a solution and ideas all over the place........she was cracking me up...........I had to work very very very hard not to start to giggle, as I do believe she was quite serious with some of her ideas.............and some weren't that bad either.........tee hee.

A little photo fun

2009-02-17T10:02:00.010-06:00

Today my friends, will just be this picture over and over and over and over and over.........I am like a child in a candy shop..........I only have a few days left of my free download of Photo Pro Paint Shop, so I am trying to enjoy them. I have so much to learn and to remember..........think that is the hardest thing, remembering what I did or how I got there.........I had my one lesson with my friend via AIM and she capsulized it for me.............but still I stumble. Oh well, I am having fun..........here are a few examples of what I did this morning.........it is fun, fun,fun.

See, this one looks like the water is actually hitting the lens of the camera.........cool, huh?

This one almost look professional........well if you use your imagination and are really kind..........tee hee.

Isn't this one cool too? I will definitely have to look up an alternative to cool........but it just pops into my head right away. Oh I am going to have to try this with some of the family photos........

Different, huh? Rather artsy fartsy..............

OOOO, this almost looks like a stained glass window........I want to play with this one some more.............have no idea how to do it, but would like to play around with adding colors to it......we'll see.

This effect duplicates the image, over and over..........so in this photo, this wonderful piece of art is even more majestic and strong........wow, now I am thinking, doing this one in the sepia tone or in the kaleidoscope effect.................
Thank you for bearing with me, I know I am about 30 bajillion years behind in learning all of the artistic and fun things to do on a computer..........but I will learn.........and trust me, I will have fun as I go.
I have smiled today........just remembering how to load the picture into the other program brought a smile to me...........what brought your smile to you today?

Are you ready?

2009-02-16T07:26:00.013-06:00

Yowzers, I didn't think I was ever going to get pictures to upload.........will share some of the beautiful flowers and other wonders from the Botanical Garden...........won't be all of them........will sneak some in later, here and there.............
I like how this one turned out..........the little wisps of grass and then the small dainty pink flower popping it's self through all of the green.

To me, this purple flower makes the sand under it have a purplish cast to it........can you see it? Look closer, can you? Hmmmm, maybe it's just me. 0000100000000110220002255545

35455454 Well, walk away from the computer to make yourself a cup of cocoa and look at the wonderful comments........love it.

I have never been around orchids much.......so when I see one, I just have to stop and gawk......they are so delicate and the colors so vibrant. "They" say that orchids are easy to grow........never tried it, have you?

Isn't this cool? Oh I think I am just some sort of professional photographer...I like the shape of the roof and all of the little twist and turns.......here is another photo.....
I only have a trial edition of Corel Photo Paint shop.......so I want to try playing around with some of these photos before it expires...........if they come out, shoot, even if they don't, I will share what I do with them. Don't hold your breath........the ways things are going today, it isn't going to happen and when it does, well, remember I am just a beginner......no, think I am lower than a beginner...........but I sure have fun playing around with the photos.

It is such a gloomy and overcast day today........think it is effecting all of our moods.........not a good thing..........I did smile tho'........we went to find a business suit for my daughter and did find one at Macy's (good sale), she looked so nice...........had to smile..............

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T14:36:00.006-06:00

How ever you spend this day, may you know that someone loves and cares about you......

Today I want to share a wonderful and true story. I am sharing this story before I ask permission if I can.......hmmmmm, didn't someone once say it was easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. Mostly I know 99.99% that the person who shared this family story with me, will not care.

I have a dear friend in Why-oh-ming..........well I have quite a few dear friends there.........but this particular friend comes from a very large Catholic family..........I want to say that she alone has 8 brothers and sisters...........I truly don't know the exact count. Now her grandmother was dearly loved; by everyone. Not just her family, but apparently by anyone that got to know her, kind of special person type of love. This special lady ALWAYS kept her toenails polished..........always. In fact her words of wisdom to her daughters and grand daughters were to keep theirs polished too. Sadly, my friend's grandmother passed away..............now this part of the story is a little foggy, I am not sure if there was a formal funeral/mass or the farewell and tribute took place in the mountains...........but this is where I know the rest of the story clearly.

Everyone, young, old, teen-agers, men, women, relatives and non all headed up to the mountains..........we are talking everyone. When they arrived at the pre-determined destination, everyone............yes men too, took off their shoes and socks and painted their toes bright red!

Oh for me, that is the best Valentines Day story that I can think of. Oh I know, getting engaged or getting married on this day is mushy and special too.............but this type of love and respect.......whoa, it says it all to me................

Hope your day is celebrated the way you want it to be..........sneak in a smile if you can...........

Cool words...........

2009-02-13T10:05:00.004-06:00

A little black and white .........I like black and white. Do you?

I found the site, One World One Heart site on Tuesday...........I know, I know.....probably everyone BUT me knew about it in January. So I spent Tuesday and part of Wednesday going totally crazy. I entered some of the drawings and I actually won one too........one that I really wanted - oh man, that didn't sound nice. I wanted all of the items that I signed up for.........in fact if I knew that I couldn't use or wear a give-away, I didn't sign up for it.......so that others that would use or wear that particular items had a better chance..........oh aren't I the nice person.....(sarcasm)

Well this is what I really wanted to share.........the names. I love the written word........I love catchy phrases and names of things.........I know i shared this once before, but I like the phrase from Alice in Wonderland "it's time we spoke of important things, of cabbages and kings". sigh, ok I like it and have no idea why.....well maybe I do, but we won't go there. So here are some of the wonderful names of the sites that participated in this fantastic and wonderful event. Please oh please, do not be upset if your site isn't listed........I just don't have the time to list all of the names I found that struck me with wonder and smiles............so I just picked out a few.........I am going to see if I can put the short cuts with them so when you have time you can pop over and see them too.......ooo, I just noticed that the short cut is just going to be for the posting for the give-away.............but you can click on it and then go see the whole blog..........

Mealy Monster Land http://itsybitsyfunzyonesie.blogspot.com/2009/01/one-worldone-heart-giveaway.html

Creative Chaos http://creativechaos.typepad.com/creative_chaos/2009/01/one-worldone-heart-giveaway.html

3 Sides of Crazy http://www.3sidesofcrazy.com/2009/01/one-world-one-heart.html

The Lavender Loft http://jkbees.blogspot.com/2009/01/one-world-one-heart-giveawaydigital.html

Moonfairys Dreamland http://blogg.hobbyboden.com/manefeen/index.php/2009/01/19/p27117

King of Mice Studio http://kingofmicestudios.blogspot.com/2009/01/on-world-one-heart-giveaway.html

Faerie Window http://myfaeriewindow.blogspot.com/2009/01/one-world-one-heart.html

Ok, I have another huge bunch and maybe I can share them later in the week-end...........but I just love the names.....King of Mice Studio.........I can close my eyes and just imagine -if I could draw - what I would create and the colors I would use. Lavender Loft.........oh be still my heart......anything to do with lavender just makes my heart go pitter patter.......the color, the fragrance..........3 Sides of Crazy.........which totally got me giggling.......how many sides of crazy are there.......is there a definite amount.........shoot I don't know, but I know I could write about this and enjoy writing it...........

I hope you have a super day.........one that is filled with sunshine, either natural or imaginary........and as always......smile

I am not queen of.............

2009-02-12T09:03:00.010-06:00

It's getting closer, the day of sweethearts. I wonder how many couples will become engaged or marry this Valentine's Day? I have gone to one Valentine's Day wedding....sadly it didn't last.....

Ok, I am not the queen of..........driving to new areas of San Antonio. Amen. Truly, I start out with this Joan of Arc, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Park spirit. I can do this........I know I can - even tho' I know that I have never made it to my destination without at least one panic call. I print out my map, I look at the written directions and print those out too.......I study them, as I do have a problem reading the map and maneuvering in traffic..........and there is ALWAYS traffic here...........and remember, I came from Why-oh-ming, where more than 5 cars were considered a traffic jam. I make sure my cell phone is fully charged, I have plenty of 'nacks' and fluids for my trusty companion in the car seat and I do a little travel prayer....................

On Tuesday I had made my mind up that I wanted to go and visit a stamp store. The main reason is that I wanted to see a copy of the magazine, Artful Blogging. I truly love all of the Somerset magazines, but the price makes me wince........so instead of purchasing it on line I thought "drive to the stamp store - use the gas - and look at it". So I did all of the above..........and set off. I was fine, just fine until I got off the last highway..........this is where I went wrong............I wasn't aware I was wrong, of course, but I was. I drove and drove (and actually found a few stores that I would like to visit.......second hand, nice second hand stores, but trust me, I wouldn't be able to find them again.........shoot, I can't even remember their names!!!!!!!!!!!) and at some point I could feel my heart beating. Come on, you know the feeling........things are fine and then all of a sudden you can actually feel your heart beating, quickly, rapidly, waaaaaaaaaaay to fast!!!!!

(: www.englishrules.com/.../2006/kids-make-art.php).........see this is truly how my heart is beating at this point.........I was totally amazed when I found this picture........it says it all.........and it was done by a child............see old and young, they should stick together. I pulled off the access road and thank goodness I had written down the number of the stamp store - called and the lady says " Oh my, you are waaaaay beyond where you should be." I swear, I took the deepest breath there was to take............come on, isn't that why I am calling and asking for better directions? Did I not state that after I said hello? Why oh why is this lady reaffirming my total state of defeat in finding my way? Sigh, I do finally find the store:

and bless their hearts, they have a nice table and chairs you can sit and look at the different magazines and books...........oh man, I headed for that table and just sat...........Andrew was so good, he sat down too and waited for me to compose myself. I found the magazine, actually ended up purchasing one, it isn't the most recent, but thinking it was the summer issue. The store isn't large, but it is filled with wonderful items............half of which I have no idea how to use. I have no idea what ink goes with what type of outcome........how to make vellum stick to something else......but I did find that they have a beginners class and I might just invest in that for the month of March if they have the class again........February is this Saturday and I am booked already........'member the chocolate festival at the Botanical Gardens........I'm booked, I am cracking up here...........like I need a social calendar..........if I had one, I would have to write in the trips to school and pre-school to make it look active!!!!! Oh they have a nice blog too.......let me see if I can put the short-cut in:http://stampantonio.blogspot.com/. Down in the blog, they have a post about 'inchies' - I found them and took them to the table to look at them......now I wouldn't mind making some of these either......and trade them...........but what do you do with them afterwards? I like art for art, but I am thinking that this would become another one of my "Mom, what are you going to do with this?" or "We need to trim down and thin out." type of things..............but man, I would love to try making some. I would like to try my hands at ATCs too............

Today I had to take Andrew to his first speech therapy session............out of our neighborhood and comfort zone. WE DID IT!!!! I didn't call anyone.......of course on Saturday night, the kids did a dry run with me..........BUT.........it was dark and I have night blindness, I was sitting in the middle seat, so it's not like I could really "see" where we were going and the boys were screaming like baboons right behind me...........so all in all, it wasn't the best "here is where you are going" type experience. We did make it and I was just pretty darn proud of myself..........see it doesn't take much to make me happy..........or smile.........

Valentines day......

2009-02-09T14:05:00.004-06:00

On Saturday, after mass, my daughter and sil took the boys and I out to dinner. They treated us the The Melting Pot. I for one, had never been to this restaurant before......and oh what a delightful time we had. The service was super, our server was very personable and the food.........oh my goodness.......what can I say other than they could have rolled me out of there.

On the traditional Valentines Day, February 14th, sil and oldest grandson are going off for an all male bonding experience.........hunting.........oh be still my heart. My daughter and I are taking the youngest one to the following event

Chocolate Day

February 14, 10am - 2pm

Bring your Valentine to the Botanical Garden and enjoy luscious chocolate samples, hands-on kids activities, and more! Plus each visitor will receive a chocolate mint plant(while supplies last). Free with paid admission to the Garden.

The garden has promised the following flowers to be in bloom:Roses,

Plumbago,

Pavonia,

Wildflowers,

Desert Willow,

Esperanza,

Pomegranate,

Gingers,

Mexican Olive,

Vitex,

Crape Myrtle,

Lantanas,

Caladiums,

Salvias

Now I know what roses are (ooooo, aren't I smart?) Salvia, Crape Myrtle and wildflowers, but most of the others are new to me, well maybe I have seen them before, but didn't know their names..........so I am in hopes that I can snap lots and lots of photos............just a warning.

Not a whole lot to share........another Dick and Jane day here.........and as you know, I like those types of days.

Hope your day is proceeding nicely and you have had at least one opportunity to smile........mine came on the ride home from pre-school - out of no where comes this wonderful song " Mommy and Nana are cutie patooties." Now what more could a woman ask for.....to be some one's cutie patootie.

No Difference

2009-02-08T11:25:00.015-06:00

I am taking a posting a different way to day..........daring into the unknown (well not really, but at least as far as this blog is concerned.) I have always loved words......I enjoy writing....fiction, fact.......I like the written word and the power that it can invoke. I also love children's books......I love the freedom - the silly words in some - the magic of the story, because in so many children's books you do the most mundane things but in such a special and magical way - and let's face it...........I love the drawings and the colors used. I like to read an occasional poem too..........Shel Silverstein is a favorite.........again, the magic and whimsy. I was reading Calamity Kim's blog

http://calamitykim.typepad.com/calamity_kim/ and I read another one yesterday, but darn if I can remember which one, sorry, but they used the most wonderful technique of storytelling and I wanted to take a stab at it...........but.........I will be using one of Shel Silverstein's poems...........I hope you enjoy.

No Difference

Shel Silverstein

Small as a peanut

Big as a Giant

We're all the same size

When we turn off the light.

Rich as a sultan

Poor as a mite

We're all worth the same

When we turn off the light

Red, black or orange

Yellow or white

We all look the same

When we turn off the light.

So maybe the way

To make everything right

Is for God to just reach out

And turn off the light!

Hmmmm, it's ok........I think I should maybe stick to my story telling, my words.........we'll see.

Smile today........it's Sunday and like Andrew shared with me today......I wike, green, red, Fel-boo-ary, Sunday and cwauds (clouds)................not that put a smile on my face.

More new jewelry pieces.........

2009-02-07T14:10:00.004-06:00

Wouldn't you love to receive a hand made with love card? I know I would. I saved a bulletin board from the give-away bag a few weeks ago and going to paint the wood either white or black..........maybe do a crackle finish on it......and when I receive special cards or find wonderful magazine photos......just cool things...........you know like little Jackie Tabor and Puff would keep.....well this is where they will find a new home.

I love beading.........but I need to update my site and get to selling some..........it's becoming an out going of economy, instead of a two way avenue..........sigh...........

I made the following pins and wanted to share them with you.........

Now if you look closely, you can see a blue and soft pink bead plus a few lightly yellow ones also. In real life (not my special place that I go) they don't show up at all, but cast the most wonderful soft aura through the pin. It looks so old and sentimental. I put faux grey suede on the back and totally love it.

Next.................

The material set the whole feeling for this pin........I love pearls, all types of pearls and try to incorporate at least one into each piece if possible. This pin is for someone who feels confident and able to meet the world head on..........or maybe for someone that wants to have those feelings and qualities and needs a little something to help her achieve them..............

Ok, I wasn't going to share this, but whatever...............the last four or five days I would have killed for chocolate. Now I like chocolate - I eat it whenever it is offered - prefer white cake over chocolate tho', vanilla over chocolate ice-cream.................but for the past few days I would have knocked down a little child and taken a candy bar out of his or her hand and never felt a moment of guilt..........sorry if that upset you.........but it is the truth.

Smile please, your smile may be the only one that a person might see...........

Garbage or wisdom????

2009-02-06T13:00:00.004-06:00

Found this photo on Flicker........I love it........I like the fonts and how whoever created this, had the patience and talent to figure it all out...........if I received something like this, I would probably frame it. I like doing that , framing card covers..........instant art.

I received the following story via email three times................I like it. But you know me........I do this deep thinking thing, delve into the silliest things...........so three times, did I know that many people who think I needed this story? Is this a hint? Is it a pleasant sharing? (I'm going for that one........a pleasant sharing) So here is the story.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
Don't take it personally. Just smile , wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...
Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!Have a blessed, garbage-free day!

See, good story......hope you have found something to smile about.........maybe a nice word from someone, maybe a ray of sunshine coming through your window..........maybe you didn't have to shovel the sidewalk or driveway today...........maybe it's pizza night at your house and you don't have to cook.

Sign up for the lampshade adventure.

2009-02-05T10:13:00.008-06:00

OOOOOOO, I love this graphic. I am definitely going to go on a search for a poster or picture like this........to put in my new bedroom.........trust me, my walls are totally full.......I don't like bare walls.

I am so frustrated...........I was visiting Country Living early this morning and found THE most wonderful pictures of a cottage.........done in red...........oh be still me heart!!! Could I download the pictures, of course not! If you have minute, go to the Country Living site

http://www.countryliving.com/ and put in French Style Cottage in the search engine..........

Today, Andrew and I went in search for a new lampshade...........I want either red, red pattern, black, black pattern.........maybe white for my new bedroom. Well I am just starting out, but right now I know I went in the wrong direction. Isn't it funny, when you are looking for a certain item

and you haven't shopped for it before (lampshades aren't something that you change or look for on a monthly basis).........well it's a whole new adventure. Today we hit Hobby Lobby, and they did have one black shade, but will have to go back and see if it is the right size. I did have the shade out in the van, but didn't want to take the time to get my shopping partner in and out of the cart, well it just seemed overwhelming right at that moment. They don't really sell lampshades on their own........neither does TJ Maxx (but I think they have a good deal on a mattress cover) and World Market does carry some shades, but they are the mini ones. Next stop will be Target and I will call ahead before I venture to the mall and check out Sears and Pennys........

Have a good day, share a smile if you can..........hey let's hope that whatever I have been doing, doesn't happen again today........for some unknown reason I have this huge void at the end of my posts lately..............sigh..........

The easiet and least expensive way..........

2009-02-04T13:19:00.015-06:00

Did you know that I like Mary Engelbreit? Ok, so sometimes I like to throw out a little humor with sarcasm........tee hee.

The easiest and least expensive way to change your homes................PAINT. Now you either love to paint or you don't. More women like to paint the rooms inside of their homes than men do. I don't know how I know that, I just do! Me, I always liked the whole process.........thinking about it, going and getting the 403,872,633,843 paint chips and taping them to the wall, trying to remember to look at them both in the natural light and the lamp light (I am a big lamp person.....), now this part I wasn't thrilled with..........moving all of the furniture and piles, covering them and the floor...........and if I had plenty of time, I never minded taping off either. The last place I lived, well let me say, if someone had ever told me I would have been living in that particular area or in that run down of a place I would have fainted. I was determined........and determination paid off. The rooms that I was able to conquer and take on actually did improve.........oh, I am not patting myself on the back, but it is true, a can a paint, sometimes a wall paper border........and whoa, what a difference it can make.............sadly I have no pictures. I am thinking I was living in a no picture taking time of my life.............

I receive a weekly little newsletter from BHG and one of the sections really caught my eye........let me share them with you.

Fake Centuries of Wear
Trowel on thin layers of paint to create the timeworn look of aged Venetian plaster in minutes instead of centuries. It then give detailed instructions how to do this..........I love this look.

Mimic the Look of Metal
Layer a base coat, metallic glaze, and interference paints to get the shimmering effect of real metal on your walls. Now this isn't something that I would put in my home, but I do like this look........and it is so totally different for me.
Get Gingham Style
Can you believe a coat of paint and a notched squeegee gives furniture such a fabulous country-sweet paint treatment? Wouldn't this be cute in a little girl's room or a nursery?

Marbleize for Dignified Decor. I have always wanted to take a stab at this technique...........thinking it would take some practise, to make it look natural and not, hmmmm, cheesey?????? The next one I got a kick out of.........have you ever gone into a bathroom at a restaurant and one of the employees has offered to generously to paint it for the owner.........and did they do it???? Yup, you've there too..........the sponge two colors together technique.........I am not being a snob, but I know, this too takes practise.......it really does.............

This next one I had never heard of............

Watercolored Wall
Color-washed walls bring movement and drama to a room's vertical surfaces. The technique is simple to master and you can layer on as many tones as you like; the more layers you add, the more interesting the finish. It is done kind of like the sponge technique........a wee bit differently.......I like it.
I've never done this one either, but always wanted to.........maybe someday.
I love looking at the different sites and looking at rooms.........drifting away in my own little world, making up stories of who lives there, what they do, what I would do if I lived there..........one should always have a few dreams and special "mind" places to go...........
Smile........It is a beautiful sunny day here in Texas........not to hot, just right............puts a smile on my face for sure.

An exciting new site

2009-02-03T12:29:00.007-06:00

I love this one, almost looks like Shirley Temple........shoot, maybe it is, who knows, I just love the black and the red and the gold all together.

This morning I received an email from an Internet friend that I don't hear from much - so I was super duper happy to see her name on my email page. I clicked down to her name and she was sharing her daughter's new site

http://designsbyrene.homestead.com/

Oh I am so excited..........please take a minute and check it out. I think why I am so excited about this whole thing, is that I would never in a thousand years have thought of it. It is a totally cool idea...........let me know what you think..........

I finished two new bracelets.........well I thought they were new..........guess there just isn't a whole bunch left in actual beading that you can call "new"..........but in my dreams I thought I had.......for a few brief moments I was flying high..............here they are:

I sent pictures to my guru and teacher of beading to show her.............and I am glad I did. She emailed me back and shared that this technique has been around (well it just goes to show you that I need to get around more, huh?) and it has different names, but two of them are: Cha-Cha or Spangle dangle............sigh.........good names too. I actually purchased some more beads to make another one in a darker color..........will share it with you when I get around to making it. I have got to work on my site and start selling something.........I am not the best sales person. Now if I am at a bazaar, I can jabber jaw and talk to anyone...............but to promote myself...........nope, I never feel that I measure up.

Well that's it from me today............just sort of drifting along, singing my song............

I do hope you take a minute to look at the new site.........let me know what you think of her idea.....

Hope you can smile today..........think of something really special........something that just makes you feel all warm and happy.........see, look at that smile...........love it.

I like this quote

2009-02-02T12:54:00.009-06:00

This is a sweet valentine's day image......and it isn't red. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE red...I do. A change in color once in awhile is nice too, don't you think?

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.
— George Burns

And who better to quote from, than George Burns......I really do not feel like 60 most of the time......goodness, anyone who would actually put it right out there in black and white 60.......well what can you say. In my mind, I am still young............(and trust me, I know it is just in my mine.........shoot to many darn mirrors in the world for that fact to be hidden!) I "try" to make a conscious effort to learn new things.........tho' I am finding that some things are taking me longer to grasp........or in some instances I know that the person teaching me doesn't have much patience too. I sure am open to trying new things.......shoot, if it hadn't been so blasted hot and lack of rain this summer, I was wanting to try tubing down the river. Ok, so that doesn't seem like a big deal.......

Now these are actual photos of people tubing the Guadalupe River.......lots of young bodies........plus if I am out in the sun for more than 15 minutes I am either so sunburn that I blister or I dehydrate so quickly that I start talking deliriously (now that one is a judgement call, as I think my children think I talk that way most of the time!) All of that aside, I truly did want to try it once, I could have covered myself with long sleeve and some type of light cotton pants, and if you keep the water pushed on me, I 'll drink it..........but alas, it didn't happen.

The other day, my daughter treated me to lunch..........it was good.........and a group of ladies who had reached the age of deciding which supplemental health coverage they should be considering to match up with Media-care, were lunching too. I looked over at her and said " I don't look as old as they do, do I." Now did you notice, I didn't put a question mark at the end of that group of words. Well I am thinking that I shouldn't have even uttered that group of words...........because she looked at me and I could tell she was embarrassed.........I don't know if she was embarrassed that I was so lost in la-la land that I didn't understand what I was saying, OR was she deciding to tell the truth or fib............she didn't say anything, she didn't have to, her face said it all. Man, what a bummer. Now I do admit, that I have never been one of those ladies that have gone for the creaming at night and more creams on the face during the day.......I just wasn't into that sort of thing............now I guess I should have been, huh?

I am REALLY trying to keep myself from being one of those people who say "In my day......." like who cares. Oh the grandchildren like to hear stories about when I was little, but I am finding more and more that my own children talk around me, over me, in front of me, but not really to or with me............I don't like that. Oh I have mentioned it quite a few times (but see once you repeat something more than twice, well they get you for not remembering).......so I might as well be a nun that took a vow of silence sometimes. It's funny, because I do have acquaintances that are younger than me and they like being with me...............sigh...........

I guess doing this aging thing takes some practise.........sadly, you only get one chance at it. I don't know why I am so philosophical today.........maybe I saw that quote and it hit a nerve or pinched a sore spot.........maybe I looked into more mirrors today than I should have..........who knows..........please just allow me to keep my sense of humor and my dignity during this adventure........add some love, good friends and of course my family and I know I will enjoy the trip..........

Smile - your smile may be the only bright spot in some one's day.

Some sharing............

2009-02-01T14:39:00.009-06:00

Well I do seem to be stuck in a rut with the monthly theme thing.........don't have many heart and Valentine type things, so will probably run out before the 14th.

I mentioned awhile back that I found some discs that had some of my old crafts on them......thought I would share some of them with you........now remember, these were done a few years back and at the time they were "hot" stuff..........tee hee.

I have no idea where this fine gent ended up at.........I do remember that I cut him out........oh I was rather timid around those saws for quite a long time.........once I conquered that fear, I was ready eddy.

I loved this saying.........did lots and lots of these and they sold like hot cakes. I even received an order from the nun at our little parish, she gave it to another sister for Christmas.........I of course HAD to do one for her and give it to her..........you should have seen her face when she opened it.......

Found this cheese box at a second hand store...........knew right away what I wanted to paint on it.......found the pattern and away I went. It sold so quickly..........now I wish I had kept it for myself.............

I loved to tole paint, hmmm, maybe it was more decorative painting..........I don't know, but I truly had to follow a pattern, now I could use different colors that what were advised in the pattern, but I am no artist.........shoot even with a ruler I don't make a line straight.......one more and then I will not bore you any more.

Made lots and lots of these little pins...........great stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, just a little something extra to add to a package. Guess what they are made from???? Vinyl flooring.........would go and ask for old left over pieces and the flooring store would gladly give them to me............they were fun.
Hope everyone is having a good day...........we were treated to the movie "Ink Heart" today..........it was good. I smiled and laughed.........

And the winner is................

2009-01-31T15:28:00.003-06:00

Last day(Mary Ellen officially that is) for sharing snowmen..........will probably try to sneak some in here and there........hope you enjoyed them.
Well a winner has been picked...........Miss Peggy. Congratulations on adopting the two bears and the heart trinkets. Have another item all chosen for the next give-away, not sure when I will start that one.
A good day here......beautiful sunny day, put a smile on my face just to feel the warmth of the sun..........

The blackberry

2009-01-30T05:51:00.000-06:00

Aren't these handsome and prim snowfellas? Thank you Peggy for these gents.

Ok, on to the blackberry. I like fruit. I do, but to grab an apple, orange, banana during the day and eat one...........hmmmm, well that's not me. So my delightful daughter started me on this fine habit. Almost every Monday thru Friday I enjoy a beautiful bowl of frozen fruit for breakfast. I truly do look forward to it.........I do. I reach into the freezer and grab the packages of frozen fruit, put x amount of peaches, strawberries, raspberries, (this week we have pineapple too) and my beloved blackberries. It seems that my taste buds run towards the berry family, strong and true.
(ooops, sorry blueberries, I can eat you in pie or tart, but not in my bowl of fruit.....isn't that silly?) Pop them into the microwave........just for a brief time, and then take them out and enjoy.

Soooooo, yesterday I am sitting there at the cool round table that we found.......newspaper, cup of my special non-grown-up coffee and look into the bowl and what do I see..............YIKES

A blackberry with a stem on it.........ok, sadly we in America I feel, expect perfection in everything......especially if we put out cash for it. Me, well I am think I have gotten over this. So I pick out the blackberry with my spoon........now right here is the part that makes me wonder how my brain patterns wander. Would you not think that I would just place the blackberry directly onto the salad plate that held my piece of cinnamon toast.........it's ok to say "YES"......truly................but oh no, not me. I picked up the stem of the blackberry to take it out of the spoon and place it on the plate..........ok, now let's look at the photo again. Can you see it? Oh I hope so, as I just spent almost 5 minutes trying to zoom in on that #($*%&&@_@# blackberry to show you.............show you what..............THE STICKER!!!!! Yup, this beautiful blackberry not only had a stem still on it, but a sticker..........and did it stick me, well of course!!! Now unlike Sleeping Beauty and her famous spinning wheel prick, I am still alive and functioning, but for a few minutes the sharpness of this little appendage popped open my eyes!!!!!

So I took pictures of this little piece of fruit, shared it with you AND also wrote to the company that packaged it...........well I emailed them. Now I use to actually sit down and put pen to paper, but with the price of stamps, I now email. Actually I haven't contacted any companies in a few years...........but I thought they should know...........my daughter laughed........"Do you really think they will answer or care?"...........who knows, maybe, maybe not. I did check closely this morning to the famous bag of blackberries, no stems or little stickers either...........

Ok, so it's not the best post, but it did happen to me and I thought I would share it...........and if I do hear back from the company I will let you know.........

Have a good day, smile if you can..........it's such good medicine for the soul and body.

Cowboys

2009-01-29T08:42:00.014-06:00

I couldn't remember if I had used this handsome fella or not...........and to be so brutally honest, I was just to darn lazy to search back through January's posts to see if I had........man, so far this year is starting out rather rough for me...........I have confessed that I am slow, to lazy to look at some of my older posts, computer challenged......oh and as always, can't seem to remember much either...........oh well, honesty is the best policy.......right?I love cowboys. No, not your Saturday night dress up and pretend cowboy, but the real thing. I was married to a cowboy for a long time, and even tho' we are no longer together, he can still turn my head. When someone like me, sees a man dressed in western wear, oh be still my heart!!!!!!!!
Nice pressed jeans, a clean and ironed shirt, good solid cowboy boots, belt or suspenders, maybe a kerchief, but always always a hat.........hats alone will take another whole post. The photo above shows that a true cowboy only gets better with age.........

Either of these fine gents would turn my head......oh not that they are handsome, and to me they both are, but they are dressed so neatly. A cowboy doesn't always have time to spiff up on an everyday basis........trust me, I know. Yet, when a special occasion comes along, or church on Sunday, these gentleman clean up ever so nicely.

A cowboy's morals are steadfast. He will take on any job given to him and will not quit until it is accomplished to the best of his ability.......much to the patience of his wife or sweetheart...............trust me, I've spent a whole lot of time alone and waiting. They truly never look for trouble, but if it finds them, they will face it head on, with courage and dignity. He is there to help a neighbor or a total stranger. A cowboy knows when a woman, child or a man of the cloth is around and will bite his tongue so he won't offend them with his rough language. His vocabulary can be a little slower or not as elaborate as someone with an education from school, but you can trust that it is true..........sometimes painfully true.

A cowboy of any age will make me turn my head; they will make me find my camera and snap a picture; better yet, if I am feeling feisty I will get up my courage and ask to have my photo taken with them..........God love the cowboy.........and thank goodness they are surviving.

Now I just couldn't do this post without including one of the famous Wrangler photos.........

I won't ask if you have smiled today...........if you are reading this, you are smiling........tee hee.

Hey I am going to ask a favor........I am so pleased that I have seven people signed up for the give-away, but if you could spread the word please...........as the closing time is tomorrow at midnight.........thank you

Something useful.........

2009-01-27T10:54:00.007-06:00

I went missing yesterday.........honestly, I was still trying to figure out how to work some of the computer sites I found and were suggested to me.........sigh.........yes, I was missing, and it was for the better, as when I was found..........well, hmmmmm, I wasn't a nice lady. I am so uneducated, challenged and I think the best word is scared of these sites.........What if: i lose everything......what if: i freeze up the screen?......what if: what if:. Ok and I do not like to admit this, but if I don't pick up something and pick it up quickly and correctly........well, I have this total sense of failure..........what can I say.......I know myself. I am working on this......I am

I found a cool site for everyone........it's free and I am thinking it could be useful to many of you and for many reasons. It is called http://www.librarything.com/home . You can go to this site and it lets you categorize and catalog your books. You can create a "virtual shelf" with the covers of books you've been reading, or make a list with tags and information about how other users relate to a particular book.

I love this photo.......old books, flowers and a beautiful (what looks like to me) pewter bowl. The Zeitgeist section shows you how books are behaving across the site, with lists of top authors and books, most reviewed books, and more. You'll see users who own the same books as you and find out what they recommended. You can, of course, opt to display your personal library collection on your blog too. I haven't found that one yet......well I haven't listed my books yet.

Truly I don't "have" that many books...........I read lots and lots of fiction and buy them at the second hand book shop. It's a good deal.......I have started a little collections of quilting and jewelry making books, so I am thinking of doing this for them. I think I would like to try and list books after I read them too..........so I remember if I read them. I know, but sometimes I do forget the title of a book..........I do.

Well, thought some of you might be interested in this site.......

I love old books.........and I know this is going to sound funny, but to hold them and wonder......."who bought this and for what reason? Did anyone ever actually read it? How and why did it end up here?" I would like to find some old books that are falling apart.........so if and when I get back to making cards I have them to use on them and then, if I EVER get to make the paperdolls, it would be fun to incorporate some of the old pages into those also. Will have to check around.

Hope your day is going well.........I seem to be behind again.........well spent the week-end and then part of Monday on the computer and that will put you behind, won't it. Hope you can smile today........took Andrew to a play day with his little buddies from pre-school.........seeing the three of them together and being just silly four year old boys, sure put a smile on my face.

Crying out for help............

2009-01-25T10:14:00.006-06:00

Ok, I think I have established that I am truly computer challenged..........AMEN. I want so much to be able to fiddle around with pictures and fonts..........add a haze to a picture.......create a banner, learn how to add two of my photos together.........well, ok, I'll start off small.

I remembered that someone in a blog mentioned Scrapblog.com. I went and visited the site today.......oh they have lovely back rounds.......lovely. I could delete the pictures from the one back round that I liked.........I even knew how to insert a picture of mine.........ok, now things are getting harried!!!!! I tried cutting out part of the picture.......nope couldn't figure that one out........tried putting a shape on the picture and seeing if that would give me something unique......nope couldn't figure that out..........wanted to write something on the page...........nope couldn't figure that one out either............left, feeling defeated and unintelligent!

I think I have asked this before...........but I am persistent..........how or where would I find the information on how to "click on a picture and make it available to enlarge".....did that make sense? You know what I mean.......you click on the photo or item and after you click on it, it becomes larger so you can look at it more closely.......

This is how I am feeling right now.........all uptight and stiff............and this is how I want to feel

Alright, I will still have to maintain my "wings" under my arms.....goodness, they are becoming a trade mark now.........people want to see me fly!!!!!

Please oh please, if anyone can help me, send me in the right direction, offer suggestion, give me hints where to look..........please do so...........I am so frustrated......

Oh and I have smiled today.........it was a quick one, but it was a smile..........

Special moments

2009-01-25T06:20:00.002-06:00

Sometimes you read something and it just hits you.............this is what happened to me yesterday. I received an email from someone and it had quite a few cute little children stories.......the first one just grabbed me. It is funny, but more than funny, it is sweet. It is a true Hallmark moment............

While I sat in the reception area of my doctor's office, a woman rolled an elderly man in a wheelchair into the room. As she went to the receptionist's desk, the man sat there, alone and silent. Just as I was thinking I should make small talk with him, a little boy slipped off his mother's lap and walked over to the wheelchair. Placing his hand on the man's, he said, 'I know how you feel. My mom makes me ride in the stroller too.'

What else can I say..........

Smile today, if you can laugh or giggle, even better.............

VALENTINE give-away

2009-01-24T09:56:00.006-06:00

Valentine give-away...........yup doing another give-away. I like doing them, it's fun to share and each and every time I go to the post office or the little satellite mailing stations, well it's an adventure for sure..............

The following items are not new..........but, they have been treasured and loved and trust me are truly like new. I thought about this long and hard and just knew I had to tell you that they were something that my daughter was going to donate............I couldn't take it. When you see what the items were, well I just grabbed them and said " No way, I want to know that they are going somewhere, where someone truly wants them."...........yeah, sometimes my hormones get waaaaaaaaaaaay out of control!!!!!! So wha-la.........

Not one, but two cuddly orphan bears..........trust me, rather expensive orphan bears, plus a little ring holder and trinket keeper, both in the shape of hearts.........

Will do a random drawing next Saturday, the 31st of January........

Just leave a comment on this give away rambling and you will be entered.........

I really do want them to go to a home that wants them.......

An interview

2009-01-23T05:39:00.000-06:00

I think I am like many of you and enjoy the revival of black and white photos and sketches.......just a nice change of pace once in awhile.

Dawnie at http://dawnieslifeifbythesea.blogspot.com/ had an interesting post the other day....she was interviewed and then offered to do the same to others..........I of course waved my arm like some dis-jointed robot on it's last burst of batteries..........not a pretty sight, huh? So here are her 5 questions in the interview and my answers.........

1. How is your family feeling affects of our economy or if not--why would you say its not?

At the present time I don't think we are really being affected in a true sense. No job loss (daughter is an officer in the military and my sil has the type of job that can take him just about anywhere). I don't see them changing spending habits. Me, well the gas alone hit me hard, as I am responsible for the driving for all of the boys activities.......and I pay for gas for the mini-van. I have also not been able to offer to pick up misc. groceries as much as I use to. So I think we are a house divided........

2. What would be one thing in your life that you would consider a dream to come true if it were to?

To find someone to share the autumn of my life. A man that would laugh with me, like to do quiet things, but also enjoy a movie or a meal out. A person that wouldn't mock my opinions, but first would actually listen to them. I am not on a hunt for a partner, but if it were to happen and be a good meeting, I think it would truly be a dream come true for me.

3. What is your favorite part of the day and why?

I am not a ray of sunshine in the morning, but I do like morning the best. Whatever gets accomplished before noon, seems to be better in form and thought. When I was in college I took the earliest classes possible and my staff use to pray that I did their evaluations in the morning too.......tee hee.

4. Post one of your favorite recipes and the ingredients to make it!

This is going to be hard for me, as I just throw this together..........I do stick with a recipe for the sauce, but other than that.........I have no set amount of potatoes or ham to use.........so here goes my attempt at sharing

Ham and scalloped potatoes

WHITE SAUCE

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Dash black pepper
1-1/2 cups milk
Directions
1. In a small saucepan melt butter. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Stir in milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly . Cook and stir 1 minute more. Makes 1-1/2 cups sauce.

Now I triple this at least.......we like our potatoes creamy, not glumpy.

I then slice as thin as possible potatoes (I do use a shredder type gadget........took me forever to master it without cutting myself.......not a pretty sight at all)...as many as I think we will need for the amount of people I am feeding.

I then chop up the left over ham. Usually fix this after we have a ham for dinner.......if not, then I go to the deli and but a large chunk of ham and dice that up. I then slice at least one large onion.

I very very lightly grease the casserole pan.....not a whole lot tho'. Pour a think layer of the sauce on the bottom of the greased casserole dish or whatever pan you use, add a layer of potatoes, then onion, ham......some salt and pepper.......I do like to use white pepper, but regular is fine. Keep doing this over and over until everything is used up. If you do run out of sauce, trust me, it's worth your while to make up another small batch......if not, then just pour some milk over the mixture.

350 for the oven

I bake 1 hour covered, then uncover for usually an hour too......seems like a long time, but when I followed a recipe, the potatoes never seemed to get done........all ovens are different, so just keep testing.

This is what I take to some one's home for a death or birth meal, along with a salad and a plate of brownies...........no one has ever gotten sick..........tee hee.

5. Share one childhood memory that always makes you smile and why!

Now you knew it would involve the ocean, didn't you? Each year my parent's would save and save so that we could go to the beach for at least a few days. They would rent a small cabana type apartment.......nothing fancy, as we spent the day on the beach or the boardwalk, used it for sleeping and fixing easy meals. One year, my mum and daddy asked my aunt and my uncle to come for a few days........well they weren't married yet, so the ladies slept together and the men folk slept together and I have no idea where I slept..........I do know that it rained. Oh it rained from the minute we arrived until the day we were packing up to go home..............now imagine, four adults, the sleeping arrangements, a child who normally was content to color or play babies, EXCEPT when there was sea water available...........we are talking some tense moments here ladies. I can remember this as plain as if it happened yesterday..........I was holding my daddy's hand getting ready to get into the car to leave............I jerked away from him and took off like I had a hive of bees in my coveralls..........never looked both ways when I crossed the road, ran down the cement steps to the beach (all the time it is raining) and ran into the ocean. I was laughing and laughing with the sheer joy of being in the water.............I know that I had four scared adults and I am sure that daddy had quite a hunk of his buttock removed by my mum, but I do remember them, since everyone was soaked already, wading with me for a wee bit. Of course we had to drag out suitcases and change.............but golly, it was one of my most daring adventures. The total abandonment of not obeying rules - knowing if I could just break loose of my daddy's hand and run like no tomorrow, I could reach the ocean and be free............I am sitting here right now with the biggest smile on my face.............

Thank you Dawnie, good questions and it was fun to do.............as part of this interview here are the directions that go along with it.........sure hope some of you want to try this:

Here's the directions:1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Pretty easy peasey and fun...........hope to hear from some of you.............

Smile, I hope my ocean adventure brought you a smile or giggle.........