pink house studio

Okay, So I Didn’t Win $1,000,000

2012-03-01T09:00:00.030-05:00

But, it was still my lucky day!

I won $20!

Not quite enough to spread the cheer (sorry Ann! LOL)

You win all 10 prizes listed if you get the little money bag symbol. Whoo Hoo! LOL

(Still 'better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick', as my mother used to say!)

BTW The winner of the Publisher's Clearinghouse was Jason Clark of Pocahontas, Arkansas

Today is My Lucky Day

2012-02-29T09:00:00.007-05:00

I have to get up and be dressed early today.

I have to be presentable to answer the door when the Publisher’s Clearinghouse people come to give me my giant $1,000,000.00 check!

Hahahahahahahahahaha!

Just thought I’d start out your day with a laugh! You're welcome!

More Word Verifications

2012-02-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Let’s try some more…

Mombel: A type of dance that combines mambo and belly dancing. (Try and get THAT mental image out of your head! You’re welcome!)

dinglyso: I have a great definition for this one but I’m afraid good taste (and morals clauses) prevent me from posting it! LOL)

Cremo: An utterly disgusting, non-fat, non-dairy cream substitute for coffee.

Tians: Natives of the planet Ti.

Comish: Adjective used to define an unmarried female (of a ‘certain’ age) who isn’t exactly beautiful but isn’t ugly. “You could describe Miss Emily as com-ish.”

What meanings would you give to them?

Mickey? You in There?

2012-02-24T09:00:00.008-05:00

Son1 loved Mickey Mouse.

I mean he LOVED Mickey Mouse!

He had a Mickey doll, Mickey sheets, Mickey clothes, Mickey slippers. He watched Mickey videos ad nauseum!

So when he was about four years old we went to Disneyworld.

He was pumped. (And we weren’t above revving him up for the experience either. LOL)

All he wanted to do was meet Mickey. He had no interest in any other part of the park. He just wanted to go to Mickey’s house.

When we got there, Mickey was nowhere to be found.

We walked through the house and on to Minnie’s house.

No Mickey.

He was crestfallen!

He darted around looking everywhere.

Finally as we were leaving, he spied Mickey’s little ‘playhouse’ in the yard.

His eyes lit up as he ran to it. For sure this is where Mickey would be!

He leaned his head into the window and called, “Mickey? You in there?”

Much to the amusement of all the people touring Mickey’s house.

Another ‘Mommy moment’ forever etched in my memory.

He finally got to meet his ‘hero’!

Close Up

2012-02-23T09:00:00.008-05:00

Close up of the spines of the up-cycled journals I’ve been making. The pile is growing!

You Know You’re Not In Kansas Anymore When….

2012-02-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

I realize I no longer live in an urbane metropolitan area, but still……I expect a modicum of intelligence.

Apparently this is too much to ask.

These are actual signs I’ve seen since moving here. (I never seem to have my camera with me when I need it!)

This was a handwritten sign at the side of a driveway, advertising his:

‘3 Peace Truck Top 4 Sale’.

I actually went around the block to look at it again because I couldn’t believe my eyes!

A thriving business in a small town in the middle of the state:

‘Coin Wash and Seafood Café’ (Frightening!)

Someone has a sense of humor:

‘Master Bait and Tackle’

This one boggles my mind:

‘Plastic Surgery and Pregnancy Center’

I just don’t see the connection! LOL

Every car ride is a new adventure!

So tell me, what do you do in your town for entertainment? LOL

Really?

2012-02-19T09:00:00.025-05:00

Along Sarasota's water front is a huge aluminum statue inspired by one of WWII's most iconic images.

Titled "Unconditional Surrender", the sailor and nurse from the Alfred Eisenstaedt photograph are instantly recognizable.

Husband’s first thought upon seeing this dramatic statue?

“I wonder what she is wearing under her uniform.”

Blink

THAT’S the first thing you think of when you see this?

Apparently he’s not the only one.

(disclaimer: that is NOT my husband, but obviously someone else is married to a twelve year old too!)

Hahahahahahahaha!

More Journals

2012-02-18T09:00:00.004-05:00

I thought maybe I could use these long envelopes as covers for another up-cycled journal. Somewhere to tuck little bits and pieces.

I’m not as pleased with these :(

I’ve Not Been Myself Lately

2012-02-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

Playing around in Photoshop and this struck me as EXACTLY how I’ve been feeling lately. I call it “Out of Sorts”. (I find it funny and sad at the same time. Not to worry though, I'm sure it's just the winter blahs and I’ll snap out of it soon! LOL)

I Didn’t Like High School

2012-02-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

I didn’t like High School. Not at all.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to learn stuff. And I’m a wealth of useless information but…..

If it’s not something that interests me, or if the teacher is a windbag that drones on and on, or it’s a boring topic and no amount of magic tricks will make it more interesting, you get the idea.

I just didn’t like High School.

So I didn’t go.

I would go to homeroom, so as to not be marked absent and trigger a call to my parents, and then I would go with my boyfriend to his college. Sometimes I’d audit classes; sometimes I’d use the library to do my homework.

Yes, I said homework.

I’d go to homeroom, then visit each of my teachers, hand in my homework, get that day’s work and be on my way. The teachers all knew I wasn’t there but I was doing the work and keeping up my grades, so what did they care?

I was on a work/study program. I would attend school (ahem) for half the day and then work for the rest of the day. I was working full time by my senior year.

I worked as a cashier at the neighborhood grocery store. My mother would shop almost daily. I think it was to check up on me, but I didn’t mind.

One afternoon I was sitting in front of the store on my break as she pulled up in her car. From across the street you couldn’t hear what she was saying but you could clearly ‘read’ the words on her lips,

‘I’m going to kill you!’

The school had finally caught on and called her. Nine weeks later! Yep, I had skipped school for 45 days straight!

The school threatened not to graduate me, on a technicality.

Although my grades were good and they couldn’t use them as the reason, they could use the fact that I hadn’t fulfilled my physical education requirement.

The principal called my mother to the school where he proceeded to lecture and denigrate both of us.

Apparently the fact that she didn’t know I was skipping school was unconscionable, but that the school didn’t know was okay!

After his little tirade was over, my mother very quietly said to him, “YOU didn’t notice she was missing for NINE WEEKS! A fact that the school board and the media would be VERY interested in, I’m sure. Her grades are good so you can’t say she flunking. And I’m sure if we discuss the problem with the physical education teacher we can come to a mutual agreement. If she doesn’t graduate, that means you have her for another year!”

Talk about threats! LOL

All I had to do was write a paper for the Phys Ed teacher.

I graduated with my class!

(When the boys were growing up she reveled in the telling of my little escapades! I think she hoped she was giving them ideas!)

Another One

2012-02-15T09:00:00.004-05:00

I Can't Stand Valentine’s Day

2012-02-14T09:00:00.004-05:00

Call me Scrooge, call me the Grinch.

(Is there a fictional character that hates Valentine’s Day?)

Or does this cheese stand alone?

I take great offense at a holiday that dictates when and how I should show my affection to the ones I love!

Is that wrong of me?

Kicking and Screaming

2012-02-13T09:00:00.027-05:00

Son2 is dragging me kicking and screaming into the 21^st century.

He established a Facebook page for me!

I’ve fought this since Facebook began.

I view it as just another ‘black hole’ that sucks you in, needs constant attention, PLUS people who have been long gone from your life reappear.

Don’t get me wrong; to reconnect with lost friends is an intriguing thought.

BUT…..

There are people I got away from the first time and I don’t relish having to escape them again. LOL

But Son2 has been hired by the firm he interned with (and he hasn’t even graduated yet! {Unabashed mama boasting!})

It’s a marketing firm, and he insists that for promotional purposes I NEED a Facebook presence.

We shall see. LOL

Husband Baked! YAY

2012-02-12T09:00:00.027-05:00

Husband baked this weekend! (It was too windy to go fishing so he decided to make his world famous French baguettes.)

I wish you could smell the house! Nothing says ‘home’ like the smell of baking bread!

French Baguettes

5-51/2 cups unbleached bread flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 package quick-rise yeast

2 cups lukewarm water

Boiling water, as needed

Cornmeal for pans

1 egg white beaten with pinch of salt for glaze

In the bowl of electric stand mixer, combine 4 cups of the flour, the salt, yeast and water. Stir until blended. Knead with the dough hook until the dough is elastic and pulls cleanly from the bowl sides, about 10 minutes, adding flour as needed. The dough will be very soft. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 1 minute. Form into a ball and place in a clean bowl. Dust lightly with flour, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 45-60 minutes.

Scrape the dough out onto a well-floured work surface. Press flat, knead for a few seconds and return to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 20-30 minutes.

Line each of 2 double baguette pans (4 molds total), each 18 inches long and 6 inches wide, with a kitchen towel and sprinkle with flour, lightly rubbing it into the fabric. Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface, press flat. Cut into 4 equal pieces, knead into balls and let rest for 5 minutes. Press each ball flat and then fold into thirds. Roll each into a rope 16 inches long with tapered ends. Place in the towel-lined pans. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled, about 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450°

Place a shallow pan of boiling water on the floor of the pre-heated oven. Pull the pans out from under the towels. Grease the pans and sprinkle with cornmeal. One at a time, flip the loaves into the pans, underside up. Brush with glaze. Using a sharp knife, make three ¼ inch long deep diagonal slashes on each loaf. Bake until brown and crusty, 20-25 minutes.

Transfer the loaves to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature (if you can wait that long, LOL!)

Makes four ½ lb. baguettes

Recipe from: Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library BREADS

Still More

2012-02-11T09:00:00.081-05:00

items used: found papers, magazine pages (some painted) packing papers, re-cycled cardboard boxes, old buttons, hair elastic as closure, assorted fibers on binding.
for the covers I used packaging paper that came in something Husband ordered online. I layered it, added bits of leftover fabric and free motion stitched to hold it together and then sealed it with Collage Podge.
for some of the covers I just painted and stamped on the packaging paper before sealing it.

Now THIS is a Useful Site! LOL

2012-02-10T09:00:00.023-05:00

My fairy name is Ember Rainbowshimmer
She brings good fortune.
She lives where fireflies mate and breed.
She is only seen when the first flowers begin to blossom.
She wears dresses that glow with fiery colours and has multicoloured wings like a butterfly.
Find out your fairy names with The Fairy Name Generator!

(Thank you Jo! This made my day! LOL)

What I’ve Been Up to Lately

2012-02-09T09:00:00.008-05:00

My studio was getting a bit messy. So I decided to purge.

I have a lot of ‘found’ papers, out of date atlases, old sheet music, and leftover colored paper from long ago.

Plus, for some reason, I’ve been saving old cardboard boxes.

At one time I was going to collage all this material into something. But as it often does, life has taken me on a different path.

So I’ve been making up-cycled journals.

I really like making the fiber bindings! They are just so ‘touchable’!

Farts Are Funny

2012-02-08T09:00:00.008-05:00

And if you don’t think so you’ve never had dinner at our house! LOL

I tried, I really did!

I tried to raise the boys with at least a modicum of respectability and manners. But it’s hard when you’re surrounded by all that testosterone!

And Husband was no help. He turned into a twelve year old as soon as dinnertime approached.

I would try and teach them the proper way to set the table, the correct utensils to use and when. To put the napkin on their laps.

They would always say, “Why do we need to know these things?”

And I would reply, “Because someday you might be invited to a State Dinner at the White House and you need to know how to act!”

It didn’t make much of an impression. They never were convinced that would ever really happen. (Someday though, I’m POSITIVE I’m going to be vindicated on this! LOL)

When they got older I tried appealing to their vanity and telling them, “Girls don’t like to hear burps and farts at the table, and someday you’re going to be invited to your girlfriend’s house for dinner and you’ll need to know how to act!”

I think they finally got it, but I have to say I really miss those dinners!

We ate and shared the day’s events and laughed until tears ran down our cheeks (and sometimes milk squirted out of noses, I’m ashamed to say)!

And to tell you the truth, (just between you and me and the lamppost) farts ARE funny!

LOL

Just a Silly Close Up

2012-02-07T09:00:00.012-05:00

Story Starters

2012-02-06T09:00:00.018-05:00

When the boys were in elementary school, getting them to write was like pulling teeth.

They were required to keep a journal (no spelling or grammar counted) because the school thought this was a good way to encourage creative writing.

They mostly drew pictures of ninja warriors and Mutant Ninja Turtles. (What can I say? They were creatures of their times! LOL)

Then the teachers thought writing and illustrating their own original book and reading them to us on Parent’s Night would be a good incentive.

Not.

I asked them why it was so hard to write and they told me it was hard to think of anything to write about.

So I started them off with the first line of a story and told them to finish it. They were off and running!

That’s how I came to invent ‘Story Starters’.

I would write the beginning of a sentence on a piece of paper,

"Once upon a time…"

"It was a dark and stormy night…."

"A long, long, long time ago…."

"In a place far far away…"

"Call me Ishmael….."

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times….."

(Adding the lines the little ones needed to write on) copy them, stack them up, add padding glue and viola!

I gave them to the teachers to hand out to the kids as needed.

The teachers were happy, the kids were happy, I was happy. A win win situation all around.

(It never was the ‘get rich’ scheme I thought it might be, because apparently, it’s not an original idea! LOL)

Look What I Learned to Do!!!!!

2012-02-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

My first animation! (annoying, isn't it?) LOL I'll have to work on this animation thing some more.Here is the tutorial I used.

Iced Coffee

2012-02-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

My mother LOVED her coffee! She especially loved iced coffee.

In the summer months she drank almost nothing but.

The trouble was most restaurants didn’t serve iced coffee.

‘Back in the day’ it wasn’t like it is now. No Starbucks on every corner, no gourmet coffees, just a plain ‘ole cuppa Joe.

She didn’t understand why a restaurant WOULDN’T serve iced coffee. (Plus she was a rather determined person and wanted what she wanted! LOL)

One evening, while eating out, she decided the time had come for her to set the restaurant industry straight about the whole iced coffee conundrum.

The waitress came to the table and my mother asked for iced coffee.

The waitress said they didn’t serve iced coffee.

My mother said, “Do you have ice?”

“Yes” replied the waitress.

“Do you have coffee?” asked my mother.

“Yes” said the waitress.

My mother said, “Bring me a glass of ice and a cup of coffee, please."

When the waitress returned with the requested items my mother said to her, “Watch.”

She proceeded to pour the cup of coffee into the glass of ice.

My mother looked at the waitress triumphantly and said “There! See how easy it is? Now you serve iced coffee!”

She was a woman ahead of her time!

(I wonder if my mother was Starbucks inspiration? LOL)

Norma Desmond

2012-02-03T09:00:00.048-05:00

I was surprised that not everyone ‘got’ my reference to Norma Desmond from the movie Sunset Blvd.

I thought it was iconic, but I guess not.

I’m such a fan of classic movies I just assume everyone is! LOL

So here is the clip from the movie. If you ever get a chance to watch it, I highly recommend it. It’s a good movie, in a creepy kind of way.

(You really need to know the whole plot line to get how disturbing this is!)

The Sketchbook Challenge—February

2012-02-02T09:00:00.011-05:00

The Sketchbook Challenge theme for February is ‘close up’.

The first thing that popped into my head was Norma Desmond! LOL

So here is my version……

“I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”

February

2012-02-01T09:00:00.032-05:00

A whole month with no doctor’s appointments!

Whoohoo!

No doctors,

no dentists,

no poking,

no prodding,

no tests,

no scans,

no blood work,

no follow ups!

Say it with me…YAY!

I know I’m probably jinxing myself by posting this but I got great joy out of turning the page of the calendar this morning and seeing a blissfully empty month spreading out in front of me!

Cheap Entertainment

2012-01-31T09:00:00.001-05:00

We used to go for car rides a lot when I was a kid. I guess it was cheap entertainment for our parents.

Sunday drives were the best.

One of our favorite Sunday drives consisted of cruising the neighborhood to watch a particular neighbor tend to his lawn.

He used to work on his lawn in his stocking feet. No shoes, no sandals just his black knee-hi socks (with garters!) Bermuda shorts and golf shirt.

He claimed it was so he wouldn’t ‘bruise’ the blades of grass.

But then he would take a bamboo stick, which he had shredded at one end, and BEAT the lawn!

Seriously.

He would walk methodically back and forth in a pattern across his front yard beating the lawn.

I don’t know why we found it so funny. (Well, okay, yes I do. LOL)

We would drive past his house trying to keep a straight face until we were several houses away and out of earshot, then we would all burst out laughing.

Like I said, cheap entertainment!

(Looking back on it now, I’m wondering what kind of example this was for my parents to set for us!)

Let’s Play a Game

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ann at StudioHyde said she likes the silly nonsensical words that one has to type in order to leave a comment on blogs too.

At one point she had the idea to compile them into a book and to come up with definitions for them.

A Blog Comment Word Dictionary, if you will.

Brilliant Ann!

So let’s play.

Here’s the word: apoging

Now your job (should you decide to accept it) is to come up with a definition for it. And leave it in the comment section.

No rules, no guidelines, just pure silliness and imagination!

(Also no reward or prize. Just the satisfaction of knowing you did a good job, as my parents used to say!)

Let’s see how long we can ‘pass it around’!

Go!

The Motel Chronicles, con’t

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

It’s Friday night, the first night of our week’s vacation.

We’re relaxing in the living room discussing what to do. We see a commercial advertising cut rate flights to California and discount car rentals.

Half an hour later we’re booked and on our way.

We fly into San Francisco and spend a few days exploring the northern regions of California. Every afternoon we find a pay phone and call the 800 number for motel reservations.

No problems.

I even make friends with the 800 operator!

After San Francisco we drive down to LA.

(FYI: if you ever decide to drive the Pacific Coast Highway, don’t do it heading south. That puts you on the OUTSIDE lane. And there are places where the pavement has crumbled away leaving no shoulder or even the white line designating where the shoulder USED to be! California doesn’t seem to believe in guard rails, and it’s a LOOOOONG way down to the ocean! Just sayin’.)

We don’t really like LA so we head to Palm Springs.

When we arrive we call ‘Jim’ to have him book us a room.

“Are you kidding?” he says. “There’s not a room for a three hundred mile radius of Palm Springs because of the International Date Festival!”

The what?

THE INTERNATIONAL DATE FESTIVAL!

Who knew there was a whole festival celebrating the DATE!?

(Preakness flashback!)

Jim was right. Every motel we stop at is booked.

At 3 AM we come upon The Bates Motel.

I kid you not!

BATES! (Someone had a very twisted sense of humor!)

But it’s late and we’re exhausted and they have a vacancy, so we get a room.

We didn’t sleep a wink!

We lay in bed staring at the ceiling waiting for Norman to show up dressed as mother!

The good news is he didn’t!

As the sun was rising we were dressed and gone!

We didn’t even ‘check out’! Just left the key in the room!

Do you notice a pattern developing here? LOL

The Red Corvette

2012-01-28T09:00:00.013-05:00

Husband and I worked for the same company.

A very large company.

Different departments, but we still ran into one another and had many, many mutual co-workers who knew we were married.

One year for Christmas I bought him a red Corvette.

(It’s a long and boring story so I won’t go into it, but the end result was I bought the car and gave it to him.)

The story spread like wildfire through the company. And I got a great reputation for being the wife who bought her husband a bright shiny red Corvette!

Everyone thought I was marvelous!

(The part I never told anyone was--- right after I gave Husband the keys to the car I also handed him the payment book for the loan!)

No need to shatter my image, right? LOL

Yummy Goodness

2012-01-27T09:00:00.015-05:00

Not that I want to rub it in to all of you living in northern climates (sorry!)

But this has become our favorite dessert. I requested it instead of birthday cake this year!

YUM!

Fruit Salad Recipe

Strawberries

Blueberries

Pineapple

Cut into bite sized pieces (well, except for the blueberries) place in large bowl, mix well.

Pile high into smaller bowl and consume with great enthusiasm! (I was going to say consume with relish but I thought it might make for misunderstandings! LOL)

When bowl is empty, lament woefully and lick the juices from the bottom of your bowl like an unmannered child!

Great Grandma had a Hatpin

2012-01-26T09:00:00.002-05:00

She gave it to my mother when my mother moved to Manhattan.

“For protection.’ said great Grandma.

My mother said it came in very handy on the subway, where she would use it on men who would get just a little too ‘familiar’.

Can you imagine this sinking into your thigh?

(You didn't mess with my mother! LOL)

I used to be Feisty

2012-01-25T09:00:00.004-05:00

When I was twenty, I got a job as a telephone operator. It was very regimented. VERY. You were timed for EVERYTHING. You had to wait outside the office door until precisely the time your shift started, and ‘plug in’ at exactly the minute you were scheduled for.

If you were late, they ‘wrote it up’ in your permanent record!

One day I knew I was going to be late so I called to ask for time off.

The supervisor said. “No! You’d better get here PDQ!”

I got in my little four cylinder Pinto and flew like the wind to get there on time. (And I’m sure I broke a few traffic laws!)

I was ONE MINUTE late.

The supervisor said she was going to write me up.

I said, “Okay, in that case I’m going down to the cafeteria and have a cup of tea and calm down from rushing to be here on time.”

She looked at me and said, “You can’t do that!”

I said, “Watch me! If you’re going to write me up for being late then I’m going to be good and G—D------ late!”

I wonder what ever happened to that permanent record? LOL

I used to be Feisty.

Now, I’m just too tired, LOL!

I Don’t Wanna Clean

2012-01-24T09:00:00.004-05:00

When Husband and I were both gainfully employed (and the boys were little and we were busy) we treated ourselves to a maid. Once every two weeks Nancy came and cleaned our house better than we did! She was the most amazing young woman.

It was heaven!

Then she moved.

So we hired another maid.

Her name was Ida.

She would come to the house, pick up a dust rag and proceed to lethargically run said duster over bits and pieces of furniture and a few flat surfaces here and there.

The WHOLE time she never stopped talking.

And for most of the time when she talked she stopped working!

Nancy didn’t have a time limit. She worked until the job was done.

Not Ida!

She had a strict time limit whether she was finished or not.

Husband dubbed her ‘Ida Wanna Clean’!

We haven’t had a maid since.

How I miss Nancy (because 'Ida wanna clean' either!)

No Thanks, I Just Had a Baked Apple

2012-01-23T09:00:00.005-05:00

My mother was unflappable.

Totally unflappable.

One day as she was walking to work, a man approached her, opened his raincoat and flashed her.

Without missing a beat she looked him straight in the eye and said, “No thanks, I just had a baked apple!”

It made no sense whatsoever, but it took the flasher by surprise that he wasn’t able to shock her.

She just kept on walking.

Unflappable!

LOL

It became another oft repeated catch phrase we used for any odd or awkward situation!

Sparks Flew

2012-01-22T09:00:00.032-05:00

As a kid I never passed up a dare.

Maybe it was because I was the ‘little sister’ and was always trying to keep up. Or maybe I was trying to prove myself.

Oh, who are we kidding, I did it because I was a jerk and as Bill Cosby says about kids, they’re all brain dead!

I was in seventh grade math class, being bored to death by the teacher.

The ‘rowdy’ boys decided to fool around. They made a ‘device’ (for lack of a better word) out of a plastic pen and a brass brad. They bent the brad into a shape like a plug and pushed it into the end of the plastic pen and dared me to plug it into the outlet.

I grabbed it and plugged it in.

The sparks were AWESOME! They spewed out of the outlet like a beautiful fireworks display! I mean they SPEWED! Really far!

Admittedly, I might not have thought it through.

After a moment of total shock and disbelief I thought perhaps I might have misjudged my decision and wanted to unplug the damn thing, so I grabbed the plastic pen and yanked.

The pen came off leaving the brad in the outlet.

Now, before you worry about me reaching to pull the brad out I’m glad to say I wasn’t THAT brain dead! I knew better than to touch the METAL part.

Besides, after a few more seconds the thing blew the fuse and blacked out the school.

Problem solved.

Or so I thought.

The teacher was so angry with me he actually put me in an empty classroom ‘for my own safety’ until he could calm down enough to deal with me.

I honestly don’t remember what my punishment was but it must have been a doozie!

Killer Tomatoes

2012-01-21T09:00:00.018-05:00

Not only is my hearing failing me, now my brain is too!

I was reading the news and came upon this headline:

“Killer Tornadoes Cause Massive Damage”.

But what my brain read was:

“Killer Tomatoes Cause Massive Damage”!

And I thought, wait, that can’t be right.

Or can it? LOL

Pink Tools

2012-01-20T09:00:00.003-05:00

Men are funny aren’t they?

I worked as a technician at one point in my career. Mostly with men.

I wore a tool belt and had tools.

When I would take a break, I would leave my tool belt on the table.

Every once in a while some of my tools would grow legs and walk away.

It was frustrating because you really did use these tools all day long. And if you ‘lost’ one you had to keep borrowing from someone else until the boss could get you another. (Kind of difficult when you’re twenty feet up a ladder to say, “Hey, can I borrow that?”)

Husband solved my problem.

One day he came home with a can of neon pink spray paint and painted all my tools pink.

Not one single pink tool ever disappeared!

Not even when they needed to borrow a tool did they ask to use my pink tools!

They worked exactly the same as the non-pink ones but they wouldn’t touch them!

Like I said, men are funny! LOL

I am Goal Oriented

2012-01-19T09:00:00.010-05:00

I am very much goal oriented. I once made 13 stops on my lunch hour and still got back to work on time. (I broke a motor mount in the car doing it, but still.)

I used to be able to write out my grocery list at work, go to the store, shop, pay, drive home, put the stuff away and still have time to make a sandwich before heading back to work, on time.

What I’m saying is, I’m goal oriented.

Left to my own devices with no to-do list or specific goal in mind I wander aimlessly around. Much like the ball in a pin ball machine, bouncing from one place to another.

This is how my day went today:

Got up

Booted up computer

Logged on, checked e-mail

Surfed blogs

Wandered into the kitchen, ate breakfast

Thought about what to make for dinner

Looked into the studio, thought about what I might want to work on….

Wandered back to the computer, wasted more time

Wondered if the mail came

Realized I never took anything out of the freezer for dinner

Re-thought about what to have for dinner

Remembered I never got the mail

Fed the cat

Wandered to my painting table…..stared at paints…walked away

Turned on the TV…..wasted more time

The next thing I know, Husband is home asking “What’s for dinner?”

Ordered pizza

Ate pizza

Watched more TV with Husband

Went to bed

Goals achieved today: GOT OUT OF BED! LOL

Gratitude

2012-01-18T09:00:00.007-05:00

Why is it that some blogs catch our attention and compel us to keep reading and others we just stop on for a second or two and continue on our way?

What is it that makes us stick with a blogger, even when sometimes the posts aren’t really about anything?

I find it quite amazing that even though we can’t see one another here, we still make that human connection. Something touches us in each other’s words and we come back time and again.

Thank you for coming back.

Here’s to our continued friendship. I am grateful and honored to call you my friends.

Our ‘Wedding Portrait’

2012-01-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

No formal wedding pictures for us! Oh no!

The perfect way to top off your wedding day.

Run into a caricaturist.

When we told him we had just gotten married he drew this and presented it to us as a gift! We had it framed and it hangs in the living room. (People think we're strange! I wonder why? LOL)

The Motel Chronicles, part one

2012-01-16T08:37:00.002-05:00

Husband and I lived together for several years before I finally came to the conclusion that it might actually work out. (I didn’t have the best track record when it came to relationships!)

One spring day I said to him,

“Hey, we don’t have any more vacation time this year but if we get married we get three days off. And with our regular days off it will add up to a whole week! Wanna get married?”

(Romantic aren’t I!? LOL)

There were other mitigating circumstances too.

Husband had been married before. I had planned a wedding, seen myself in a gown and veil, and lost an insane amount of money (without actually getting married.)

Also, by that time, my father was in a wheelchair and as lousy as this sounds, I didn’t really feel like being wheeled down the aisle. (Plus I don’t like being the center of attention very much.)

So, off we toddled to Maryland.

We had always been ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ kind of travelers. Never making reservations, just jump in the car and go.

We arrived at the motel.

No vacancy.

What?

How can a whole Holiday Inn in Towson, Maryland be full in May?

I’ll tell you how….

Preakness week, that’s how!

For those of you who don’t know, Preakness is the second horse race in the Triple Crown. And it's an EVENT! There’s the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. (How I could have forgotten that I'll never know!)

There wasn’t a hotel/motel room available for miles around. The desk clerk said he could try the motel across the road.

I used to live in Towson. And EVERYONE knew that motel was the welfare motel.

Where the prostitutes and drug dealers lived.

No thank you, I’ll find something myself!

Several hours later we were checking into the ‘welfare motel’.

Other than the mushrooms growing in the corner of the shower, the stale smell of cigarettes from all the previous residents and the mattress that sagged in the middle so we ‘rolled’ into each other all night it wasn’t so bad!

How many people can say they stayed at the 'ROACH MOTEL' on their honeymoon!?

(We still laugh about it and actually wouldn't have wanted it to be any other way. Where's the fun in a perfect honeymoon! LOL)

My Favorite YouTube Video

2012-01-15T09:00:00.004-05:00

The Moment I ‘Knew’

2012-01-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

We were standing in the living room, having a fight.

Yelling and screaming at each other. Okay, maybe not yelling and screaming. That’s not our style.

But it was definitely a big argument.

Right in the middle, Husband (this was before he became Husband) walks over to me, wraps his arms around me and very quietly says, “I love you. I’m mad as hell at you right now, but I love you very much.”

It stopped me in my tracks!

Took the wind out of my sails, and any other cliché you can think of.

I was dumbfounded!

Other than my parents nobody had ever said anything like that to me before.

It certainly was a great way to end and argument!

I don’t remember what we were fighting about, what was said in the heat of the argument, but I remember those words like it was yesterday.

And THAT was when I realized he was a keeper!

And Then The Mailbox Held This!

2012-01-13T09:00:00.021-05:00

Is this not the NICEST thing EVER?

From Jo at Gathering Wild

Thank you so much Jo! You TOTALLY made my day!

I grin from ear to ear every time I look at it. I love your collages!

(I have trouble expressing how much you guys mean to me without sounding all mushy!)

High Heels

2012-01-12T09:00:00.004-05:00

When Husband worked the evening shift, he would, upon occasion, come home for dinner (euphemistically speaking.)

He would drive the company car, so when he got home he didn’t have his house keys. He would ring the bell.

Our apartment was on the second floor, the back apartment in the last building at the far end of the complex. What I’m saying is NOBODY EVER came to our door uninvited. (We never even saw our neighbors in all the years we lived there! Heard them, yes, but never saw them!)

I had decided on this occasion to meet him at the door wearing high heels and a smile.

Since I was expecting him, when the doorbell rang, I didn’t bother to look through the peephole, I just opened the door.

The look on the UPS man’s face was priceless!

I often wonder how his version of the story goes when he retells it!

Scribbler

2012-01-11T09:00:00.004-05:00

This is so cool! You HAVE to try it!
Go to http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/

Learning to Read

2012-01-10T09:00:00.003-05:00

Before I started school I was jealous of my brother.

HE got to go to school!

He knew how to read!

HE got to carry big important looking books!

HE got to have homework! I thought it was all so cool! (What can I say? I was uninformed! LOL)

So on my first day of ‘real’ school I was so excited!

I was going to learn to READ!

The problem was I thought there was some sort of magic wand they waved over your head and ‘poof’ you knew how to read!

No one told me you had to PRACTICE reading! What was all this phonetic stuff?

Where was the magic wand?

I still remember coming home that first day and feeling sooooo disappointed and betrayed!

Snap, Crackle, Pop

2012-01-09T09:00:00.004-05:00

Are the sounds I make when I first get up in the morning!

Especially in this colder (okay, to ME colder) weather.

This is how old I feel getting out of bed! LOL

Perks

2012-01-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

Fresh strawberries in January! Life is good!

Somebody Does Want to Play!

2012-01-07T09:00:00.013-05:00

Ya’ know how I was complaining about feeling like nobody wants to play with me when I don’t get any mail?

Well, look what I found in the mailbox yesterday!

front

back

A lovely card from Yvonne!!!! (from 'muddle on through')

What a nice surprise!

Thank you Yvonne!

From the bottom of my tickled little heart!

(Aren't friends the BEST?)

Mail

2012-01-06T09:00:00.004-05:00

I feel so left out when I don’t get any mail.

Like nobody wants to play with me!

Or I haven’t been chosen for the team!

Even bills and junk mail are okay.

But when the mailbox is totally empty, it’s depressing!

LOL

The Sketchbook Challenge 2012

2012-01-05T09:00:00.010-05:00

A new year and the challenge continues.
This month’s theme is ‘doodling’.

I have a roll of aluminum embossing foil. (I’ve had it so long I don’t remember why I bought it or what I was going to use it for!)

So I thought I’d try some doodling on it and see if I can’t use it as journal covers.

We’ll see where this goes.

I’m an Inventor

2012-01-04T09:00:00.020-05:00

Really, I am!

I invented a balloon tie-er.

The boys’ birthdays are exactly one week apart.

When they were little we threw an all out, over the top, combined party.

And of course with ANY kind of birthday celebration you have to have a copious number of balloons.

The year I rubbed my fingers raw from tying hundreds of rubber balloons by hand was the year I invented the ‘Tie-er’.

Necessity is the mother of invention. (So are sore fingers!)

It was a simple little device but everyone thought it was pure genius. A friend even suggested that I patent it!

(What I really wanted to invent was a mechanized balloon tie-er but my genius is obviously limited in the ways of mechanics!)

So I guess I’m destined to become a millionaire from this!

You hold it between your knees and wrap the balloon end around the two spread out pencils. It gives you enough space to tie a knot and the aluminum foil is flexible enough to let you pinch it a bit and slide off the balloon.

(Hey, it worked! And served me well for many a birthday party! LOL)

A Tale of Four Kitties

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Husband says I have a neon sign on my forehead that only felines can see, which flashes ‘SUCKER” in giant pink letters!

(Paints quite a mental picture doesn’t it? LOL)

I’m afraid he might be right though.

And that is how we became ‘parents’ to four stray kitties.

And not all at once. No. They came to me one at a time.

I pulled up in front of our house one cold winter night and as I opened the door DC jumped into my lap and snuggled in. It was apparent he wasn’t going anywhere, and it was cold, so of course I brought him inside.

He was number one. (DC stands for dumb cat, by the way. He was without a doubt the ‘not smartest’ cat I have ever known. I don’t really want to call him stupid. That would be hurtful.)

Casey was next into the clan.

Casey was a Christmas gift from my mother to Husband, because, as she put it, “I don’t believe in ‘only cats’. (You know, like ‘only children’.)

Then came Cindy.

Cindy was a stray left at the building where I was working at the time. I tried (I really tried) to get anyone else in the building to take her.

So of course, she came home with me.

Last, but not least (and my personal favorite) was Tigger.

I was visiting my parents on a cold and snowy winter night. As I sat in their living room I kept saying “Did you hear that?”

Understand, we were inside, tucked in nice and cozy and warm and somewhat sound proofed from the outside world. And I STILL heard the meows.

No one else did.

I went outside and out of nowhere Tgger leapt into my arms.

I couldn’t just leave him to freeze to death!

Husband (as much of a critter person as he is) was not pleased with me that night.

So we became a happy and furry family of six!

Then came kids, but that’s a whole ‘nother story! LOL

If it’s Not One Thing, It’s Another

2012-01-02T09:00:00.035-05:00

My father had a great way of paying bills.

Actually he had two great ways.

He would say, “We’ll throw all the bills in the air and the ones that land on their edge are the ones we’ll pay.”

Other times, this was the idea, “We’ll throw the bills in the air and the ones that stick to the ceiling are the ones that we’ll pay.”

I think I might try that this year, seeing as how I just got notified that my mortgage payment HAS GONE UP $400 A MONTH! (insurance rates in Florida are astronomical)

(I have a feeling this illo is going to come in handy more times than I ever expected this year! LOL)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-31T00:01:00.003-05:00

(too lazy to make my own graphic! LOL)

May you have a happy and healthy 2012 and may all you dreams and wishes be fulfilled!

Swizzle Sticks

2011-12-30T09:00:00.010-05:00

I went to the restaurant supply place the other day.

I was looking for swizzle sticks.

I looked around for a while and couldn’t find any so I went to the counter and asked, “Do you have any swizzle sticks?”

The guy just stared blankly at me.

Then, an older gentleman standing behind him shook his head and said, “He doesn’t know what swizzle sticks are. And no, I’m sorry we don’t carry them.”

First of all…..

A restaurant supply house doesn’t carry swizzle sticks?

I guess I should have gone to a bar supply house!

My mistake.

But more than that….

He doesn’t know what a swizzle stick is?

You’re kidding, right?

Did you grow up in a bubble?

How can you not know what a swizzle stick is? Especially in your business!

But just as general knowledge, how can you not know?

Husband said he was too young.

Okay, but I know a lot of things that happened and were popular before ‘my time’ and that doesn’t stop me from knowing about them!

The boys know what swizzle sticks are. And they are half the age of the guy in the store!

I know I’m ranting, forgive me, but sometimes the stupidity meter just goes off the chart!

FYI:

Swizzle sticks

Swizzle sticks have 2 puposes. Foremost, they are used to stir the drink. Secondly they are used to pick up pieces of fruit or olives from the drinks without using your fingers.

Swizzle sticks

They literally come in all sizes or shapes and often carry a logo or advertisement at the top. They are usually made from plastic, but the more fancy places can use steel, glass or even wooden swizzle sticks.

(I now feel I have done my duty to educate the world about swizzle sticks!)

‘Nined’

2011-12-29T09:00:00.024-05:00

As opposed to ‘tened’? LOL

I am fascinated by the nonsensical words you have to type in order to leave a comment on some blogs. ('Nined' was one of them.)

I have no idea why I'm so intrigued.

But they set my imagination into overdrive.

I have always been fascinated by words.

Their little nuances, subtle changes in meanings when one word is used instead of another.

The ‘singsong’ alliteration of certain words (totally aside of their definition.)

Then there are the regional differences, not to mention the cultural differences of certain words.

The choices people make with their words says so much about them.

Spellbinding!

Nined and Tened

You have now been 'Nined' and 'Tened'!
(I have NO idea what it means, but it sounds like a verb doesn't it? LOL)

I Like My Kids

2011-12-28T09:00:00.005-05:00

Having the boys’ home for Christmas was wonderful! On so many levels.

Before I had kids I often worried that when I did have them, I wouldn’t like them. That’s not to say I wouldn’t love them. I knew I would love them, but would I like them?

There is a world of difference.

I am very pleased to announce that I like my kids!

I REALLY LIKE my kids!

They are intelligent, knowledgeable, funny, witty, great conversationalists, entertaining, and just generally fun to be around. (If they weren't my kids they would be people I would like as friends.)

We hadn’t seen them for a while so it was quite a treat.

We ‘talk’ aka text, im, and call each other all the time but it’s not the same as being together.

What was also very heartening was to watch them interact with one another.

They really LIKE each other!

There was much laughter and teasing, and you could tell they had each other’s back!

Not that I want to brag here or anything! LOL

But I have to say I’m very proud of the people they have grown up to be.

(Okay, all together now, “Awwwwwww” LOL)

Grandpa's Trains

2011-12-27T09:00:00.004-05:00

Husband is a model train enthusiast.

At least he was when he was a kid.

And when the boys were little we used to put them around the tree every year.

I think the two of us had more fun putting the elaborate layouts together than the kids did! LOL

Last year Grandma gave Husband his Dad’s trains from the ‘30’s.

So the two of us had a little ‘together’ time playing with them this year.

After all these years they still light up and run!

The Day After

2011-12-26T09:00:00.001-05:00

The day after Christmas and all is quite in the house.

I enjoy just sitting and looking at the tree all aglow in its feathery glory.

I made these ornaments a few years ago.

I had a lot of leftover feather boas from a previous project so I decided to add some glitz to the more ‘plain’ ball ornaments.

I love how they move with the slightest breeze.

A puff of air, a little shimmer and sparkle and all is well with the world!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T09:00:00.008-05:00

May your day be merry and bright!

Santa Claus

2011-12-24T09:00:00.006-05:00

One year, when my brother and I were little (and still believed) my father hired the Santa from Macy’s to come to our house.

My mother organized a party and invited all the neighborhood kids. She gave the Santa our names and a little information about each of us.

When it was my turn to sit on Santa’s lap he asked me if I had been a good girl. I answered yes. He looked at me skeptically and said, “So, you’ve stopped sucking your thumb then?”

I quickly put my hands behind my back so he wouldn’t see the callus on my thumb and then, looking him straight in the eye, I told Santa a boldfaced lie!

I guess my parents thought the threat of Santa knowing I sucked my thumb would be enough to deter me.

It didn’t.

All it did was make me worry until Christmas morning (when I saw my presents LOL.)

Valid Grounds for Divorce

2011-12-23T09:00:00.005-05:00

During this Yuletide season, certain situations arise that point out just how tenuous marriage really is.

I refer to the ongoing debate of the correct application of icicles on a Christmas tree.

In my humble opinion, this debate far outweighs the usual marital disagreements, i.e. seat up or down, leaving the toothpaste cap off, which way the toilet paper should come off the roll, all fade by comparison to THE GREAT ICICLE DEBATE.

I feel very strongly about this.

Growing up I was taught that the icicles should be painstakingly placed on the tree in a meticulous single strand application. My mother was very firm about this. (And I am my mother’s daughter, after all! LOL)

So when Husband and I set up housekeeping together I expected him to do things my way. (What can I say, I was young.)

When the first holiday season rolled around and we bought our first tree together all went well.

Until the icicles.

Now, Husband is usually pretty neat in his endeavors, so I was quite taken aback when he grabbed a large handful of icicles and proceeded to lob them at the tree!

Actually, I was horrified.

After much 'discussion' (and to avoid divorce court,) we no longer use icicles on our tree.

Life is Too Short to Dust

2011-12-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

And that says it all!

Yes, Virginia……………

2011-12-21T09:00:00.022-05:00

The boys were beginning to question if there really was a Santa Claus.

We tried to reassure them, but nothing we said would convince them.

Their friends told them there was no Santa Claus.

So Husband decided to prove the existence of the fat man.

He took his boots, dipped them in the ashes from the fireplace and made footprints leading to the tree and back again.

That was the year that they got Polaroid cameras.

They were so excited! They had PROOF that Santa existed!

They must have used two full packs of film taking pictures of the sooty footprints to show all their friends.

Thank goodness for childhood faith, (and brilliant husbands) because they kept believing for a few more years.

Standards

2011-12-20T09:00:00.022-05:00

Isn’t it funny how our standards shift over time?

I used to be such a stickler for being on time or getting things done ahead of time.

Over the years I’ve let my standards slip.

Just a bit.

When I was still a working person I was the first one to arrive in the morning.

Then I considered myself on time if I was walking into the building at my appointed time.

Then, if I was pulling into the parking lot, I was on time.

Then it went to—if I was getting into town at my appointed time, I was on time! LOL

Now I find that lax thinking is invading other parts of my life.

The Christmas tree has been up for days, with the boxes of ornaments sitting around it.

Am I in any rush?

Nope.

If it gets decorated by Christmas Eve before the boys get here I’m still on time!

I’m off to mail my Christmas cards now. Hey, if they get there before New Year’s Day---I’m on time!

I've Won an Award!!!

2011-12-19T09:00:00.019-05:00

My friend Ann at Ann's art @ Studio Hyde has just presented me with the Versatile Blogger Award!

I’m delighted and honored!

Thanks Ann!

Now the hard part, LOL!

According to the rules I have to:

1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers (I could only come up with 13)

2. Inform the bloggers of their nomination

3. Share 7 random things about myself

4. Thank the blogger who nominated me

5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award Pic to my blog post

So here goes:

Seven random things about me:

1. I am a compulsive list maker

2. I’m a sucker for old B&W movies from the 30’s and 40’s

3. I am left handed and have the brain to prove it!

4. I’d rather be at the shore than on a mountain

5. If I had all the money in the world I’d buy books, books, and more books

6. I don’t like crowds

7. I am a one year survivor of ovarian cancer

and now my nominations are - (in no particular order)

1. Pia Drent at liquidbrick

2. Marilyn at my magpie collection

3. CJ Kennedy at Pony Express Home Station

4. Carol at Tall Tales From Kansas

5. Timaree at Freebird Drawing

6. Kim Henkel Letting in the Light

7. Elizabeth Stanton at Penspaper Studio

8. Pat Elliot at Pat Elliot Paintings

9. Yvonne at Muddle on Through

10. Joanna at Gathering Wild

11. annie! at bohemiannie!art

12. Marianne Walker at I Like Markers

13. Dion at Dion Dior & More

Thank you to everyone who participates, who stops by to read my silly ramblings and who give their never ending virtual support! I am touched and grateful to you all!

Coal for Christmas

2011-12-18T09:00:00.024-05:00

Back in the 80’s, we were the only house in the neighborhood that heated with a coal burning stove.

It was amazing how popular we became every Christmas!

It Went Well

2011-12-16T20:04:00.000-05:00

Thanks everyone for all your virtual support! (I was nervous!)

Today’s the Day

2011-12-16T09:00:00.018-05:00

Wish me luck!

(I will dutifully report back after I recover! LOL)

Done and Ready to Go

2011-12-15T09:45:00.001-05:00

Inventoried, tagged and ready to go.

'Snow Chicks' it is.

Snow Chicks

Thank you to everyone who voted and helped with my indecisiveness! LOL

journals and gift card/$$ ornaments

Snow Peeps

gift tags

(Update: Husband found the plate rack! Whew!)

The House is a Total Mess!

2011-12-14T09:00:00.017-05:00

I'm going to have to clean all this up.
Eventually!

At least the glitter is done! (The ‘Snow Ho’s’ [as Husband has lovingly dubbed the luminaries] are all done.) Whew!
Only a few more journals to finish and I'm ready.

Brain Fart or ‘Old Timers’ Disease?

2011-12-13T09:00:00.009-05:00

I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to finish up for the sale on Friday.

Most of the items are finished, so I began thinking about how to best present/display them.

At one point in time we had a black metal plate rack (you know, the single kind for displaying an ornamental plate.)

I KNOW we had it. I even called Husband at work to verify I’m not just hallucinating.

Yep, we had it.

But where the hell is it?

I have been scouring the house. Every nook and cranny. Every hiding place, every drawer, every little place I might be tempted to stuff something out of sight until I can find a better place for it!

Nothing.

Nada.

Zero.

Zip.

I can’t find it anywhere!

And the thing is………

I know it’s right in front of my eyes…..somewhere………..

And I’ll be smacking my head (a lá ‘I could have had a V-8’) when I finally see it.

Do you have these moments too?

Please tell me you have these moments (please!)

Other Husbands Bring Flowers

2011-12-12T09:00:00.025-05:00

Except flowers make me sneeze.

Through the years I’ve often felt kind of sorry for husband. He can’t rely on the usual little gifts and assorted sundries most men give their wives.

I don’t like or wear jewelry. I’m apparently allergic to most flowers. I’m not exactly what you’d call a clothes horse.

But he has shown a great deal of imagination when it comes to surprising me with little ‘trinkets’.

Like this:

He said. "You can use it as a container for something or the top would make a cute hat on one of your 'little guys'."

And this:

He heard me say I was looking for something to make a 'travel kit' for my watercolors. When he saw this he thought it would be different than everyone else’s.

It’s not what most people would call a gift, per se. But it shows that he is thinking about me, he appreciates what I do, what I like, and who I am.

And isn’t that what gift giving is all about?

Leveraging Your Artwork

2011-12-12T09:00:00.023-05:00

This is what comes from working like mad at 3AM!

(I know it’s not good form to laugh at your own jokes but this just cracks me up! They will be cards and tags for the holiday sale.)

New Poll

2011-12-11T23:43:00.000-05:00

Words of Wisdom

2011-12-10T09:00:00.004-05:00

“When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college—that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared at me, incredulous, and said ‘You mean they forget?”

--- Howard Ikemoto

This is one of the BEST quotes I have ever read!

Why is it we ‘forget’ how to draw? Or is it we just bury it?

Remember how you felt when you were a kid and just drew for the fun of it? Before people criticized what you drew? Before you learned to criticize yourself?

Do you still get that unadulterated joy and feeling of freedom when you create?

My Father Had Magical Powers

2011-12-09T09:00:00.009-05:00

I believed this for the longest time growing up.

He used to say “I’ll make it snow tonight so you won’t have to go to school tomorrow.”

The next morning he would wake me to a world bathed in glistening white snow and say. “See, I kept my promise. No school today!”

He also had power over the brook that ran through our backyard.

It was called Troublesome Brook (a fact I was forbidden to mention when we were trying to sell the house, LOL) because when we had heavy rains it would rise and flood the neighborhood.

It would fill our backyard like a lake, threatening to flood the lower level of the house.

One time he took a piece of chalk, drew a line in front of the garage, pointed to it and said to the rising water, “You will NOT cross that line!”

And it didn’t!

I was in awe!

Ups and Downs

2011-12-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Some days I’m mired in self doubt and inaction. Other days I can’t get things down on paper fast enough!

Ain’t that always the way? LOL

He Likes Me, He Really Likes Me!

2011-12-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

Have I mentioned I have an older brother?

Growing up I idolized him. All I wanted was to please him. (A fact he took full advantage of!)

As we grew (and I wised up) his approval became less important to me.

Or so I thought.

He called the other day and as we were chatting he mentioned that he read my blog. (I was pleased and just a little surprised.)

He went on to say that he enjoyed it. He liked my style and thought the family stories were quite amusing. He said he was PROUD of me!

ME!

My big brother is proud of me!

I feel like Sally Field at the Academy Awards “He likes me, he really likes me!” (Paraphrasing, of course.)

Every 63 years my brother compliments me!

(Disclaimer: That is HIS age, not mine! Just to clarify! LOL)

Opinions Please!

2011-12-06T09:00:00.008-05:00

I’m making Christmas cards for the upcoming sale and I need your opinion.

I think this is funny (but we all know my sense of humor is a bit twisted, LOL.)

Husband says people who aren’t in the Sketchbook Challenge won’t 'get it’.

What do you think?

Funny or not so much?

Any and all opinions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Paint by Numbers

2011-12-05T09:00:00.003-05:00

When I was about twelve I was bitten by the ‘paint by numbers’ bug. I liked the paints in the little plastic pots. Go figure!

I was really enjoying the whole process so I was taking my time.

At night I would very carefully put the wet canvas board safely under my desk in order to protect it. From what I have no idea. (It’s no use to ponder the actions of a thirteen year old girl so don’t try!)

One morning I retrieved the painting from its sheltered confines and found …….

it was covered with teeny tiny little PAW PRINTS!

I don’t know which was more upsetting, the fact that my painting was ruined or that there was a mouse in my room!

EEEEEK!

It’s a Wonderful Life

2011-12-04T09:00:00.005-05:00

Is anybody else as much of a sap about this movie as I am?

All you have to do is say “To my big brother George, the richest man in town,” and I’m bawling uncontrollably!

I don’t often cry in real life but let me watch this movie and I blubber like a baby!

(And Publix commercials too! If you live in an area that has Publix supermarkets you know what I mean! LOL)

Snow Peeps

2011-12-03T01:41:00.001-05:00

I’ve been working on ‘Snow Peeps’.

I’m covered in glitter, glue and feathers!

The exhibitions coordinator from The Alliance for the Arts called two days ago and asked if I would be interested in participating in an expanded sale in the main gallery.

She paid me the nicest compliment saying I was one of their best sellers!

How nice was that?

Anyway, I need to have enough ‘stuff’ to display on a six foot table.

Now, I know that doesn’t sound like much, but the timing has caught me off guard.

She specifically asked for more journals, and I don’t have any on hand!

So…..I’m madly slaving away!

In the meantime I thought maybe these little cuties could help fill in the bare spots. It’s not an original idea (I think it’s from an old issue of Cloth Paper Scissors) but still has my ‘spin’ on them. I’m thinking of maybe naming them and adding a little tag on each one with their own stories.

What do you think? Too much? (LOL)

old bottles (courtesy of son2) filled with faux pearls, or glitter and embellished with bits and bobs and this and that

I'm kind of proud of these (sorry, shameless boasting!) I chew an inordinate amount of gum and have way too many old plastic gum containers. I've been racking my brain, trying to think of something to do with them. I came up with these, 'snow peep luminaries'. A little glitter, a boa and a battery operated tea light and violà!