Monday fun...

Wait a minute it's Tuesday already!  I love, love, love short work weeks.  Doesn't everyone? 

So excited! (insert squeal here)  We are about to start planning a holiday vacation for myself, my daughter and grandson.  I know, I know we haven't even celebrated the 4th of July but I gotta get it going now for December because we are going to ...(drum roll please)............Disney World!  It'll be so awesome.  At that time my grandson will be about 3 1/2 years old, so for me perfect time for the total impact of the magic. 

This came about from a little conversation with my husband while watching AFV.  He asked me the next day to get it going.  He thought I should create the memories with my grandson while I could.  You never know what tomorrow or even next year will bring.  This trip is for me 1st, then my grandson and daughter,,sounds selfish but it's true. I've missed a chunk of time with my grandson and I want to create a wonderful memory of him during this part of his childhood, something I can hold close while we are apart.  Lots of pictures will be taken, of course, so he'll have something to look back on one day.  He may even get really lucky and have a few ghostly memories with his Nana at Disney when he is twenty something.  I have a few fragments of memory from that age, don't you, so it could happen.

I like everyone else just love the joy of innocence.  I absolutely love his face when something truly astonishes him.  You should have seen him this past Christmas when we watched the Polar Express.  Lots of oohs and ahhh's with little fingers pointing.  So adorably cute.  Much like this picture taken under his Great Grandmother's tree.  That train kept this little boy entertained most of the day, just going around and around the bottom of the tree.  The only trouble came when someone showed him how to turn on the train horn and whistle.



I've also been working in my art journal class/workshop, as I've mentioned.  On Monday's we get new videos.  I am so digging this workshop, http://www.scarletlime.com/3HeartsWorkshop.html.  Did you know you could use alcohol inks on gesso'd paper?!  I didn't.  I can't wait to give it a try.  Christy did make a note in this week's welcome about how another student is using a specific journal to document each technique we are being taught for later use.  We have access to the class material online for 3 months and that's plenty but I might want to do something in 6 months and the ole memory banks are getting kind of full these days, so a lot of stuff is falling out.  Anyone out there know what I mean?  Sure you do.  Any way it's something I plan to do. 

Check these out!

 

I'm also about to sign up for another series courses here http://www.donnadowney.com/ on Pan Pastels.  She also suggested a journal dedicated to just the different techniques being taught.  I just really miss living in a metropolitan area that actually keeps up with new products and such.  I have to order all supplies and just about everything online.  I am such a freak for instant gratification it's sick.  It's such a bummer to have to wait.

I've also been toying around with ideas for Christmas gifts.  I just can't decide if the family kids would really enjoy receiving charms or paintings or what ever else I create between now and then.  Only one kiddo really gives me any feedback, the others are fairly typical teenagers or young adults. Ah, what the heck they'll get what they get right!  They can be happy or just deal with old Aunt Kim's gift (same goes for the sibs).  Maybe they'll get both.  The thing is, a gift is about the idea of sharing, not the material or financial gain.  I think, somehow, we really missed teaching a whole generation about this value.

Here are just a few other pages from my journal.  One is finished the others are just the beginning stages.  Can you guess which one I walked away from last night?

I'm telling ya, you might not think you could do this but the hardest part is allowing yourself to let go and color outside the lines.  Go be creative and have fun!

~Hugs of love

Memorial Day Weekend

Well, Hello there my friend!  Where have you been?  I decided a break was needed from the blog.  I know, I just started writing but I found I wasn't writing anything new or all that interesting.  Even worse, I think, it was already getting into a rut.  Now that's just want you wanted to read isn't it?!  The same old crud just a different color, so to speak.

Sorry, but I still haven't found a great solution to this for you or for me.  I'm working on it with my puzzler and you'll be the first (actually the second-since I'll be first) to know when I figure it out.

We had a terrific weekend!  I hope you all did too.  Like I said before, we worked on the 'chores' Friday and first thing Saturday morning.  It's crazy, we've gotten into the habit of grocery shopping between three different stores.  Ah, I actually liked it at first but now, man, it's a chore for real.  We go to COSTCO for major meat purchases and fresh produce.  Not too bad except it requires a 25 minute one-way trip into Tumwater.  Then we go to Fred Meyer (Kroger to y'all in TX) for bacon, fresh pasta and my shampoo/conditioner.  Why? you may ask, well because the other two stores don't carry these products, except for bacon and we don't like the bacon at the other stores, yeah go figure.  Then the bulk of the shopping is done at Walmart.  I told you it's crazy and I used to think my sister was nuts for driving all other town to save money on the sales.  I gotta tell ya, I'm not digging this "country living", never did.

Anyway, we got it all done and in the car by 10:30 am Saturday morning on the way to play.  I took a picture of us departing but it's awful so just imagine two grown adults saying 'cheese' to a camera while sitting in the car. 

We finally went on our adventure of Westport.  Gotta say it was more like a shopping spree than an adventure but we still had fun.  Basically, the main attraction of town is the marina dock area.  One side of the street you'll find the marina the other side the shops and restaurants.  Most shops were busy, busy.  They have their fair share of closed businesses in the community and it always breaks my heart to see a closed out business.  It just seems I'm seeing more and more these days.  Anyway, we went in and out of all the little boutiques and gift shops.



Our first purchase of the day....a donut!  I'm not kidding and it was yummy.  We had our first fresh donut in almost 2 years.  I've only seen counting this shop, 3 donut shops in our area since July 2009.  Two of these shops are in Olympia (20+ minutes from me) and this one in Westport (about 1hr from me).  They were out of glazed so I had a lemon cake and hubby had plain cake donut both had a simple glaze so it wasn't all lost.  We really enjoyed.



As I said we went in and out of all the little shops.  Hubby has been wanting to decorate his home office area a.k.a. our dinning room in a nautical theme.  I've been really pushing back because I so did not want anything corny, cheesy or cliche.  And guess where his taste ran.  Yep, right to where I've been pushing away from.  I finally just caved, to a point.  I did gently and kindly state I did not like a few things and that was okay.  He did pick some really cute items with out going over the top.  We both loved a canvas piece.  It's a modern photo in sepia tones transferred onto canvas.  It's sort of huge maybe about 2 ft x 3 ft.  It's a picture of a ships sailing mast and rigging from a lower perspective looking upward.  I really liked it and so did hubby.  Surprisingly the price wasn't too bad either so on the wall it goes.  He doesn't have but maybe 6 feet of wall space that he can actually hang art work on so this is a good piece.  The remainder of his wall space is filled with windows and a slider.  Oh, and a very high pass through to the kitchen (it's weird to me).  Now if we could just agree on a decent dining table we'll really be making progress.

At the end of our shopping expedition we drove through a part of town that most tourist don't venture into.  We went in around the fishery warehouses.  It was pretty smelly.  Don't know what we were thinking other than 'let's go see what's down that street'.

We then headed over to the closet beach, Westhaven State Park, the first stop of our beach hop.  You'll see these pictures of us and think, 'crazy people, why are you bundled up like Nanook of the North?'  and I'll say because it was freaking chilly, fool and our Texas blood hasn't adapted to it.  The surfers you'll see are all wearing wet suits and dry suits.  We are NORTH and it's not warm water, it's all that dang water from Alaska and Russia-hahaha. (funny stuff huh?!)  No tropical gulf stream here, dang it.

Taken from the beach looking north to the marina of Westport.  The flag you see on the horizon is the same one in the photo above.



We remember from our first trip to this beach the messiness of the sand.  So we got smart and planned ahead this time with the rubber boots.  Once or twice a big wave splashed up and got my pants wet at the top of my boots and that was okay.  Over all, the boots kept our feet dry until the third beach when a pretty strong wave came in and swamped me a bit.  Once the water got my feet wet I was ready to be done with the water.



We just walked the beach, snagged about 2 dozen whole sand dollars, the place was lousy with 'em.  I'm used to finding only broken ones down in Galveston or at Padre.  I'm not sure what I'll actually do with them all but I have a few ideas.  All in all it was a great day.

Sunday we just hung around the house.  I did some laundry, hubby mowed the yard and the was the extent of our efforts.  Oh wait, I played in my art journal.  I'm still challenged with just letting go in there and letting things happen.  I feel a need to have a purpose, a start and finish, but the idea is to actually just let things happen.  I just keep plugging away at it, I'm beginning to think it's a control issue.  I did another page again today and purposely walked away with it incomplete.  Gotta say, it's bugging me right now.....

Today, Memorial Day.  I hung out by myself, as usual.  Bill went fishing, I just wasn't really wanting to spend the day on a boat.  So I went into Olympia to see if a few art stores I found online might be open.  They weren't and one had actually gone out of business.  Sad I'm telling ya.  Went over to Joann's for a few things, then stopped into ROSS for some jeans. 

Home again, home again jiggidy jig.  I began breaking down, cleaning, sanding and painting my $3 kitchen stool I told you about after one of my treasure hunts.  I got it all done but I can't put it back together again yet.  I need to decide on the vinyl covering color.  I did the structure metal in a cherry red, I was going to use stark white vinyl for the seat and back support but I'm now thinking it's to much contrast.  I was only going to use the white because we have some left from Bill's re-upholstery project of his boat interior.  Now I'm thinking of trying to match the cherry red or maybe look for a red gingham pattern, if such a thing is even out there.

Today is about remembering our fallen solders and I have in my own way.  I cried a bit this morning for the families who lost loved ones as recently as yesterday in Afghanistan.  I remember my grandfather who served in WWII he did his part.  I thought of my niece, nephews and young cousins who are now in the service and prayed they are kept safe from harm.  I hoped that some day soon the craziness of war will realized but in reality I know it won't. 

I love these kids.  I'm just as proud of them as if they were my very own children.

Our weekend was filled with sunshine, love and laughter.  I hope yours was too.
~Hugs of love


p.s. I forgot this....

Random Creativity and thoughts

I've mentioned in the last week or so a few things I've been working on.  Since I have nothing of real interest to share with you today I thought you might enjoy a peek into some of my recent efforts.  I hope you enjoy them.

I call this one, Patricia.  Happy Birthday Mom!

5x7 Mixed media canvas

My apologies to my kids, nieces/nephews & their spouses.

I just didn't have room on the canvsas for us all.

So I stuck to basics and the youngest.

Maybe another one with just y'all can be created!

Every gift needs a card right!



And as I've mentioned I've been taking an ecourse.  Here's a few shots of my first few pages.  I really want some Shiva Paint sticks and Pan Pastels.  Just thought you all would want to know that.  A girl can never have too many colors (hint-hint).

This didn't turn out quite like I had wanted but I had to stop.

I'll try again to create with the technique I had in my head.

But my message is pretty clear I think.

The sun is trying to peek out today.  That's always a good sign.  I'll be out and about this afternoon.  We are trying to get our 'chores' done today so we can play for the next three days.  Funny isn't it, that even at our age, we still have chores that have to be done before you go out to play.  Well, they don't HAVE to be done but we don't want to mess with it all later when we're tired, and then it HAS to be done.  Ya' know what I mean.

Well, ta-ta for now.  Please, please, please be safe out there this weekend.  No drinking and driving on land or water!  I love you all.

~ Hugs of love.

Come Ride with Me!

I'm new at this stuff, y'all got that in the beginning right?!  I am having to self teach about blogger and youtube.  Keep in mind please, I have little patience for reading technical jargon, so it's slow going here.

I've entered a youtube link here, because I couldn't seem to figure out how to upload the dang video through blogger.  I'm more of a emulator when it comes to learning, in other words, show me how and I'll do it like you.  I really need one of my kids to come up and teach me this stuff, mostly the youtube editing and uploading.  (hint, hint)

Should you get to the video a few explanations might be needed:

1. I didn't think to turn the radio on first, sorry.  I also still have to figure out how to overlay music.  Rihanna's 'Drive' could have worked really well here.
2. I do eventually start talking to you.
3. The town has an annual fund raiser to help pay for the beautification.  They hang these flower baskets along the road/streets through out town.  The baskets/flowers are kind of puny looking to start with but by September or October they are the most beautiful bounty and so colorful.
4. Oh, and it may not look it or feel it from your perspective but the fastest I drive is 30 mph, I swear!

http://youtu.be/HN7BgX9mzX4

I began working on my art journal for an ecourse I'm taking.  I'm finding the course very inspirational but the actual work a bit intimidating.  However, I am pushing through the fear and tackling the challenge.  I might just share a pages with you in the next day or two.

What are your plans this weekend?  If you're back home in Texas, I bet a lot of you will be in the water somewhere.  I never could stand the cold water at this time of year, it was always about July 4th for me.  I think we'll be heading out to Westport Saturday afternoon and explore around there for the afternoon.  Hopefully the weather will at least be clear.  Sunday and Monday I plan to create all day long!

I just checked the weather and Texas is looking okay for now but the further east you go the heavier it looks.  I have kids on the road out there, I pray they are safe and sound.  Keep you eyes on the skies my friends.

Hugs of love~

What do you ask for?

Have you ever just had a day were things were actually simple?  Well, today I did and it was rather refreshing.  Work was quick and easy while being fairly painless.  I enjoyed some creative time by learning, shopping then doing.  The sun is shinning, the birds are chirping, the sky is blue, and a cool breeze blows through.  What more can a person ask for you might think.

I ask for:

• Keeping my family safe.  Without any single on of them I would be lost.
• Continue to grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change.
• Help me to find the joy in life daily.
• Let the world know, I here and I'm gonna live my life as full as I can!
• Keep the sun shinning bright, the laughter rolling free and the love heartfelt.

I hope none of the these request are too much to handle.  I am really just a woman with simple needs.  In the last few weeks I just keep asking for my family to be safe.  They all live in the Texas area or what some know as Tornado Alley.  None of have yet to be impacted by the storms but a few have gotten pretty concerned.  Everyone has been glued to weather reports this evening.  My daughter is about to get in car to drive to Tennessee and with the storms still being generated, I am not to thrilled with her little family being on the road.  I have put it in God's hands and I'm sure all will be well.  This week's experience of the people in Joplin has just really touched me like none of the others.  I'm not sure why that is, but it is what it is.

Just keep my family safe please.

Westminister, TX  1-11-2004

The last picture with everyone in place.

We have grown considerably since, several new in-laws, and 3+ new members of a whole new generation.

And these are just my mom's kids, and she's one of seven (7)!

I promise something more uplifting tomorrow.

Hugs of love~

Rambling Monday

Not much happening in the last day or so.  I didn't ever make it to Westport this weekend.  Hubby and I decided to hold up and go together next weekend when he doesn't have to work.  I don't mind going some places alone but I just could really muster up the will to go there alone.  I really wanted to share it with someone. 

I did however work on a second gift for my mom yesterday (the first has been done for months).  Her birthday is next week and I had to get in the mail today since it had to cross the country.  I'd like to show you what I did but then her surprize would be busted.  So, it'll have to keep.  sorry~

Today is a great day!  The sun keeps popping out from the clouds and I can't get this song out of my head.  So here you go, I'm going to share it with you and you can then have it stuck in your head too.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are gray.

You'll never know dear how much I love you,

please don't take my sunshine away.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms.

But when I woke, dear, I was mistaken

So I hung my head and cried.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are gray.

You'll never know dear how much I love you,

please don't take my sunshine away.

That second versus is a bummer isn't it?!  Anyway, it makes me happy when I sing the chorus. 

We started the new Christy Tomlinson ecourse today.  Lovin' it! 

hhtp://www.scarletlime.com/3HeartsWorkshop.html 

There's still time today to get signed up and get to having fun.  She's doing a terrific job at explaining all the different media, how to use some why's and so on.  It's fun stuff I'm telling ya'!  And she's so cute to listen to and watch.

Well, that's about it today.  Hey, I do have video of my commute but it's kind of long and I haven't figured out the editing tool just yet.  Let me know if that song is still in your head.  LOL!

Hugs of love~

The Deal of the Day

Hey there world!  So, I didn't make it Westport today but that's okay because there is tomorrow and it holds unknown possibilities.  Today I went treasure hunting again!  I had to run into the office for a few minutes first but after that it was on.  I tried a few spots in what I consider 'up town' but nothing really worth the stop.  I call it 'up town' because it's up the big hill from us, thus....'up town'. 

Anyway, I ventured out to a local charity sale.  The local Kitten Rescue organization takes in donations of 'garage sale' items, then they hold a big sale about once a month or so when the weather permits.  I scored BIG time!  B-I-G!  I then went on to a few other household sales and picked up some more goodies.  Take a look at my loot.

There's a Sawyer's View Master in the loot with some disc from the 60's - 70's.  I just couldn't resist for $6.  The clocks and watches will be gutted for some Steampunk projects as will the ceramic pieces.  I was hoping the Monopoly game would have Seattle player pieces but it didn't.  Now for the BIG score... drum roll please......

That's right my friends a Dooney & Burke for $1.50.  Granted it's 'vintage' 80's- 90's but it's in terrific shape, black with the brown trim and all the pieces in place.  I couldn't read the label at the sale (old lady eyes) and my hands were full, so I couldn't pull out my glasses. I figured what the heck for $1.50 (if it was a knock off so what) and it was a charity sale, after all. I screamed for joy when I got home and saw what it was.  I found a similar one in an antique store in Texas right before we left. I debated getting it because it was the carmel and creme. When I decided to go for it I walked back around and it was GONE-In-Sixty-Seconds. I don't remember the exact cost but it was less than $20. So this one was meant to be mine.



I worked in the flowers for a little while after storing away my goods.  Then I wanted to finish my altered kitchen clock.  Do you remember?  I so forgot to take the before picture.  But here's the final project now hanging in my room.  I really like it.  I'm planning to use one of the clocks I found today to make a more masculine version of sorts.



ta-da!

I then began my work on my Art Journal for my up coming e-course/workshop with Christy Tomlinson.  If you read my post on a few days ago you'll know the workshop is about a Chinese proverb and the course is titled, "She had three hearts".  Well, that got me to thinking and wanting to stay within the area of subject about a woman's hearts.  I was really struggling with what I wanted to put on the front as the focal point.  I didn't want to put just three hearts but if done well it could work.  That idea just wasn't sitting with me very well at all.  I toyed around with using three different dimensional hearts but again I just wasn't feeling it.  Then suddenly it hit me, 'duh!  the tattoo!'

My tattoo.  I love my tattoo, it's very symbolic for me, but then most are.  I had wanted one forever but it's a big decision and until I found the perfect thing to last forever, nothing was going on my body.  I found my design by accident when surfing the Internet.  (Sorry but there is a lot of back story here.)  I have a weakness for fairies.  I'm not obsessed with them and I don't really collect a lot, although I have a few given as precious gifts from my kids.  I just feel connected to the lore more than anything. 

Anyway,  I found an artist here in the Seattle area, Amy Brown.  I love her work.  She had a fairy holding a grape and there were other grape clusters in the design.  Anyway it just struck me that it was as if the fairy was holding up the grape as if she was admiring or protecting it our something.  I thought about a story I had heard about how fairies guard the garden etc...  Well, to me this fairy could guard my heart.  So the tattoo artist modified the art enough to place a heart in her hand versus the grape, we removed a cluster of oak leaves through out but for balance we left the grapes on top (now I think it could've been eliminated).  It's placed on my left shoulder blade so that it's closest to my heart (and it's easy to cover).  I like many others have had a few too many seriously broken hearts.  For me there has been three major events that have harmed my heart. She's there now to protect me in the future (or so I like to believe).  Here's my tattoo.



So now you know the story behind my art journal cover.  Luckily I still had the original tracing the tattoo artist used.  I made a photocopy onto some white card stock.  Then used my Faber-Castel pens and did my best to match the colors.  I must say the shading done by the tattoo artist makes a world of difference.  Mine came out a bit more bold but I still like it.  Hubby was amazed so that makes me happy too.  Have a look.

That's pretty much my day!  Hubby and I got the chance to sit and watch a movie together before he had to catch a call for work.  So it was a wonderful day all in all.  How was yours?  Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs of love.



Fablous Friday

That title might be cliche but it rings true for the day.  I like every other person in this country love Fridays.  It's the time to exhale and let go of a weeks worth of tension because if you don't you might just explode.  For some unfortunate souls it's the beginning of their work week, I'll tell you now, sorry dudes that stinks for you.

I work in the personal lines insurance industry.  You know your local agent that you call and tell you bought a new car or maybe you'll be closing on this new house.  Yep!  That's me.  I'm also the one you call angry with because your monthly premium just jumped up by X amount of dollars yet you have a clean driving record, and all insurance companies are crooks.  Yep!  That's me again.

So imagine if you can what it's like to pull up to your refuge to find what I've been finding these last few weeks.

Aren't God's blessings just beautiful?  The smell, oh my goodness, it's so fresh and just a little sweet from the lilacs.  It does sort of make some many of those nasty rainy days worth while, key word here was some, ya'll.  Seriously, though I can have a miserable day at the office but as soon as I pull into the drive way the tension just flows a way on the breeze once I get a whiff of the lilacs.  We are so lucky to have a large one in the front and another on the side outside the kitchen window.

I started working on my art journal tonight, just like I planned.  I've pretty much done the background, take a look.

The workshop is about  an old Chinese proverb that goes something like... "She had 3 hearts; one to share with the world, one to share with her family and one for herself."  I may have it off a little but that's the jest of it. 

So I now need to decide how I want to depict that on the front of my art journal since that is the subject of the art to be found inside.  hmmmm what to do, what to do?????  I'm going to step away until till tomorrow and see if the day doesn't inspire me some how.  Thanks for coming around.

hugs of love.



Thoughts on Thursday

My thoughts on Thursday this week were centered around what I want to accomplish this weekend.  I have an online workshop starting Monday with http://christytomlinson.typepad.com/christytomlinson/workshops.html.  It's been a while since I've worked with any of my paper and paint supplies.  I'm really excited to begin getting all messy and colorful.

I took Christy's She Art Class back in February as something new to explore.  It was fabulous and helped me learn that is okay to color outside the lines.  I found it very liberating and the format of the class really couldn't be any more flexible.  I highly recommend you take one of Christy's workshops especially if you want to explore something new and creative.  The supplies are fairly basic art supplies, nothing you have to spend tons of money on and she's so fun!

I had purchased a sketch notebook a few weeks ago for the workshop.  Yesterday, I started my project by giving the cover a few coats of Gesso (primer).  Now that it's had some time to cure and dry I get to start playing after work.  I've purchased several new stencils and stamps from www.Scarletlime.com.  I also have some oil pastels I found on a recent Treasure Hunt and want to explore working with them.  It's going to be fun stuff!

I then thought about venturing off to Westport for a few hours to explore.  My son, James, posted a video on Facebook that he took at First Beach on a previous visit.  It made me crave the waves.  I'm a little hesitant about going on my own though, Bill is on call (yuck) and can't leave the house.  I will probably let the weather guide me in that decision, Sunny equals I go, otherwise I'll make art.  It's really a win-win situation for me. 

We first found Westport last July and although we've been to a beach here in the past it was still a little shocking.  You tend to think West Coast all sunny and bright,  but believe me it's pretty darn chilly and wet out there.  It's all good though.    For me it's the beautiful way the waves crash that mesmerizes me and draws me in.  I could sit for hours just watching the waves crash and listening to their music.  I'm that way about a campfire too, the way the flames flicker and jump while they pop.

Those were my thoughts for Thursday.  I'll let you know how it all works out!

Hugs of love.

Wonderful Wednesday

WoW!  What a day!  I sure hope you all had a beautiful sunny day where ever you are!  We tease each other here about how intoxicating the sun can be for us.  Today was one of those days.  Please don't get me wrong the rain is needed for world here to thrive and be so lush.  I just sort of expect it to be just a tad bit warmer when it does, that's all. 

I talk alot about the weather because it is such a large part of life.  I just never really realized just how much it impacts me until I made this drastic change, ie... move from North Texas to Western Washington.  I'm telling you it's actually very similar in a twisted way.  The volume of rain is about the same, honestly it is.  It's just in Texas you get it all at once about twice a year, in Washington it is rationed through out the year.  So far, my experience has been July and August are fairly dry with a few light showers here and there.  The winds in Texas will blow you down and turn your umbrella inside out in the Spring and Fall, then bite right through you in Winter.  In Washington, well, first of all you don't use an umbrella unless you want to be known as a tourist.  The winds here blow strong in the Spring, like a few days ago, then they gently billow the curtains as you sit quitely reading a book.

Oh my goodness ya'll!  I watched the sun go down tonight like I've never seen before.  Of course, I've seen a sunset before but tonight I watched it dip behind the mountains like I've never seen a sun set happen before.  It happens so fast!  I was totally amazed at the steady, smooth pace in which it just slide behind the Olympic Mountains.  It all happened in less than 1 minute, you'll have to come visit and we can time it next time!  I wanted to take a picture but I didn't want to move in case I missed it.  It just brought home to me how awesome a wonder this world really is and how it works.  It is  amazing!  You should've been here to see it!



This is not even near what I saw tonight but it gives you the point of view I had.

Not much more was going on today.  Watched American Idol and loved Haley's performances.  I also really like Lauren's show and Dance always makes me cry. 

I did video my commutes for you but I'm having a challenge getting them uploaded.  I'll try again tomorrow.  Did you know it's hard to record while you drive, no wonder hand free laws are in place.

Hugs of love to you.

Sunny Tuesday

Sort of lame title today.  I just can't seem to think of something unique and snappy.  Can you?  If so, please share.

Now for today's weather report.  For the moment at least, the sun is shinning bright, white fluffy clouds are in the sky and it's 10am.  I'll let you know how it turns out later. 
I worked on my altered kitchen clock last night.  It's going to be pretty cool, I think.  I got stumped and well honestly, my grandson called my name so I stopped for awhile.  Look what I've done so far!  Cool huh?!

I picked up these ideas & techniques from Ink Stains with Roni, http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/ she's pretty darn awesome!  I've got more I want to do, I just have to decide on my options.

Well, it's later 7:40pm and the sun is still shiny and bright with no rain at all today!  woo-hoo!  I actually sat out on the deck this evening soaking up some rays and reading a magazine.  Not much more going on today.  I've been thinking about videoing my drive into work so you all could get a sense of the commute here and just what I have to deal with Monday - Friday.  Are you interested?  Let me hear from you.  Hugs of love to you all.

Blustery Monday Ramblings

Back home (TX) I seriously do not recall Spring feeling blustery, Fall yes, Spring no.  Here in Washington, Spring is blustery.  I am now starting to understand the concern of windstorms here.  We were laying around yesterday (before nap time) when suddenly the winds came in strong and fast.  Don't ask me from what direction because without being in my Jeep I have no clue which way I face.  After 2 years you'd think I'd have it figured out but, no, not so much. 

Anyway, the winds have come in and blow pretty strong.  We keep thinking the reason they are so strong is because we are in a valley of sorts, so they come over and down between the mountains, then slap us in the face.  I'm back in a sweater again today. 

Last year Bill tried to grow tomatoes for the second year.  The poor things were whipped around and beat up pretty bad by these Spring winds, we even replaced the plants once or twice.  Eventually we harvested a couple of tomatoes but it definitely wasn't worth the cost of supplies or the frustration.  I don't believe he'll even try again this year.

Taken from our back deck.

I long for the warm Texas sunshine and the smooth Southern voice of my kin.  And I especially need to see this little guy for tons of love and loads of play.  We had a Skype date tonight, it'll be more fun in person!



Good new is I'll be around in July, bad part of that it's the beginning of what I like to call "Super Summer".  Hugs of love to you all.

Sleepy Sunday

Oh wow!  I can't believe I slept the day away.  I wasn't planning on using valuable time in this way but what else can I say, I did.  I was watching the NASCAR race, the weather was chilly and rainy then, before I knew it my eyes were heavy and off I went.  The next thing I know my phone is ringing and it was 4 o'clock. 

Some people would find this a treasure of a day, and I would too most times.  However, right now there are so many projects in my head wanting out I just didn't want to spend the day sleeping but creating.  I did get a start on a few things though.  I first covered an organizer with some pretty paper.  It was a 50 cent find yesterday and has 9 little drawers for my little holding some treasures!  I then painted the first coat of enamel on my $3 vise, not too sure this is going to work but we'll see. 

I then began the transformation of an old kitchen wall clock I had found at a charity sale the weekend before.  So all in all I guess I did do somethings just not everything I had hoped.  I know, I would've taken a before picture but I forgot, so this is what we will call the before.



I spent some quality time with my furry child, Rocky.  I used to never understand how people could get so attached to a pet but then that was before Rocky.  We laugh now at how much he is just like raising a child.  See, our children are grown and out on their own and all are far away.  So, Rocky and Winston (our other Cocker) are now our little ones.   Rocky is the youngest and has the most outgoing personality.  He's almost 4 years old and definitely has the mixed personality of a toddler and stubborn teenager.  It all depends on the situation but he does bounce between the two stereotypical character traits.  He's just hilarious mostly.  He'll bring his little ball to me like in this picture and lay it right beside me at the coach so we can play catch, whether I want to or not. 

However, he will not do this for my husband.  Rocky will bring the ball to my husband Bill and instead of placing it right beside him, he'll drop it at his feet and bark for Bill to pick it up and play.  Bill will try and try to get Rocky to lay the ball beside him on the coach, the same way I do but it just doesn't happen.  It cracks me up!

All in all it was a great lazy day here around the house.  I didn't do a lick of house work this weekend and will probably pay the price for that this week.  It's all good though.  The best part of the day though (other than the 4 hour nap) was the treat I gave myself after dinner.

Thanks for reading!  Hugs of love to you all.