29 December 2008

Egg Sandwiches, Paperwork and A Beautiful Day

Hello Good People!
I had company for lunch. My sister Susan showed up unexpectedly around 3 this afternoon. She's feeling a bit lost these days. Her husband passed away back in April and she's feeling the solitude these days much more than usual. She mentioned she was going to go to town for groceries cause she was hungry. I was hungry too so I invited her to stay for an egg sandwich and bit more conversation.
After we devoured our sandwiches she sat in the overstuffed chair in the livingroom with Doob on her lap. Doob isn't a social butterfly by any means! Most folks don't even know I have that third cat cause she hides in the bedroom when people come along. Doob likes Susan though and she didn't hestitate to climb right up in her lap and settle in for a good petting and some easedropping on our conversation. We didn't really talk about much of anything. Susan says Ma is feeling better today. She was sick the day before yesterday with a stomach bug of some sort. I saw Ma the day before yesterday when she came over with Monte and Elaine for them to unload their trailer full of their stuff that they are storing in my burned house until their new house is ready for them in P-burg. She seemed fine then. Susan tells me Linda was sick that day as well. They must of eaten something somewhere that didn't agree with them. It's good that Ma is feeling better though. She's not a spring chicken anymore even if she thinks she is!
I have paperwork that needs to be taken to Pburg in the moring. It was actually supposed to be there today but the bank has to fill out some paperwork that goes with my paperwork and they couldn't get it done till in the morning. So the folks in Pburg are just going to have to wait for it till then. One would think I would have had all that paperwork ready cause every January it is due again. I lollagagged around and didn't get all the stuff together that I needed to get together in time to have it back to them when they wanted it. I don't think one day is going to make a lot of difference in the outcome of it all though. Last December I was over a week late in getting the paperwork in. I had documents to copy for this paperwork and my copier ran out of ink before I was done doing that so I'll have to finish that up in the morning as well.
Fred has been outside most of the day and I've had both the front door and the back door standing wide open! It was almost 60 degrees outside today. The house needed a good airing out and it was a perfect day for it. Now that the sun is on its descent for the day, the temps are dropping and both the doors have been closed. I haven't been outside yet today.
Later...in about an hour I'll be headed to town to sit with the girls for the evening. That will be fun. It always is. Allison didn't call to say she wanted me to bring some art stuff along so I'll leave it at home tonight. I don't really feel like doing anything arty tonight anyway. I finished up one of the little books I've been working on and the other is all but done...just waiting on the glue to dry so I can bind it. Those need to go in the mail tomorrow along with three sets of chunky pages. I hope the trees and the snowmen (especially) make it to their destinations on time. The Star Trek pages aren't really on a schedule...they shoud have been mailed weeks ago! The girl getting them will be happy to see them finally arrive in her mail box.
I've been very unorganized here of late with mail art. I can't seem to get back into the flow of things where it is concerned. I have a couple of altered envelopes that need to be done and mailed off as well. Didn't even realize I owed them till I went through my stack of index cards yesterday and found it there. Those won't take anytime to do though and they too will go in the mail in the morning. Maybe I should take those to town with me tonight and do them while watching TV with the girls.
All in all it has been a fantastic day despite the fact that I didn't hit the sheets till 6:30 this morning! I stayed up all night playing games on this wretched machine. I got up at 1:30 this afternoon and have been on the go since then!
I shall talk to you all again tomorrow or the next day....
You all have a marvelous Monday evening and make sure you get your hugs for the day! I'll be collecting mine in about an hour! :)
Peace
831

27 December 2008

Saturday Morning...early

Christmas has come and gone. I am still thinking of the reason for the season though... That is not something we should think of only when the calendar reads December.
My house was full of little boys on Christmas Day. Between the four boys, 12 adults and that silly Fred dog, there was little room for moving about easily. A good time was had by all though! Christmas Dinner was had next door at Susan's house. We all traipsed to my house to open presents here after dinner. Before dinner we all went to Ma's house to open presents there. And right after dinner at Susan's we opened presents there as well. I won't go into detail as to all the presents I got. My people really love me! I always get more presents than anyone else. I think that is cause I am so easy please. Not cause I'm so loveable, though I am loveable too.:)
I'm drinking coffee out of one of my favorite gifts right now. It's a very large black mug with pretty gold swirls around the rim of the mug. It came with a saucer as well. RJ and Terah gave it to me. RW and Lou gave me a Crop-a-dile that I absolutely LOVE! It's a very useful tool for making little books. It will help me greatly in my art endeavors. Ma gave me many presents (she does every year for all her children-she has 9 of them!). I like the silver bracelet and the antique elephant match holder very much. My sister Susan gave me a mechanical antique elephant bank that is just too cool! It works for me in two areas! I collect both elephants and coin banks. She also gave me lots of other things as well. Sister Linda gave me an incense burner kit that consists of a tiny ceramic elephant to hold the stick incenses. I love it~!
Fred got a BIG beef knuckle bone from RJ and Terah. He got to play with RW and Lou's boys all day Christmas Day. He was a happy camper.
I am in need of a new keyboard! This one refuses to type right. The keys keep sticking and I have to keep backspacing to get all the letters to show up. Thss hat it looks like fI don't backspace occasionall. That is kind of hard to read~!
I have mail to prepare for mailing and beings this keyboard is beinga bear even after I've banged it on thedesktop to clear it out, I'm going to leave ou all now with hopes for a splendid Saturday!
Peace
831

23 December 2008

Donna Has Learned a Thing or Two Tonight!

And then maybe she hasn't learned as much as she had hoped to brag about....

I'm trying to add a link back to Jesse's blog for the award he gave me. It can't be done as far as I can tell. I'm sure it's got nothing to do with this wretched machine and everything to do with my technological difeciencies!
Thanks for the award, Jesse and as soon as I figure out those danged links...I'll add the pictures of the awards and link back to you, my friend! Bear with me, please.

It has been a learning day for sure! I did figure out how to add a list to the blog sidebar. Yeah! That surprised me to no end that it actually worked. This PC and me, we don't always see eye to eye. This wretched machine makes things so very difficult sometimes. I guess I shouldn't have wanted more than one gadget this evening... Check out all the books I've read thus far this year. I might get one more added to the list... all depends on how crazy it gets around here between now and the 31st.

I went to the bowling alley this evening with the girls and their mama and papa. I can't bowl. For various reasons I can't bowl.
1. I can't pick up a bowling ball and actually toss it down the lane for one. It's physically impossible for me to do that without hurting myself quite badly.
2. Even when I could pick up a bowling ball and toss it down the alley, I couldn't hit the pins at the end of the lane in a consistent manner. I hated bowling then cause I was no good at it and I doubt I would be any better at it now even if I could attempt it.
3. Bowling balls are only good for yard art in my experience with dealing effectively with the damn things. (Though they do come in many lovely colors... the better which to adorn your yard!)
I had a good time at the bowling alley despite the fact I don't bowl. It's not really a spectator sport unless spectators make it so. I tried my best to enjoy the view. I did laugh a time or two so it wasn't so very dull at all. Strikes bring out the animal in some people. I saw chicken dances, heard whoops of joy and saw terrible faces made when a ball didn't go quite where the thrower had intended. I did have a good time!
I didn't really sit with the girls...again someone forgot to call me and tell me the plans had changed. Had I known the girls were going to the bowling alley tonight I wouldn't have bothered to get dressed and go to town. I could have gone to Hays with RJ earlier today. I'm not really complaining ... I just wish I weren't so forgettable when it comes to changed plans, that I am a part of, and no one bothers to tell me the plans have changed. It's kinda rude. It hurts my feelings cause I am sure I should be thought much higher of. It wasn't all lost though. I made the best of the situation and I got supper for my trouble of getting out in the cold. It was only 11 degrees F when I left the house at 6:15 p.m. The meatloaf was good. I can't make a meatloaf to save my soul so I never pass it up from someone who does know how to make a decent one. There were green beans and mac and cheese to go with it too. Green beans are my favorite veggie next to brussel sprouts.
I'll be heading back to town tomorrow evening to deliver presents to them all. I don't know why this is such a sore spot for me, but it is. There are four of them. I give EACH of them a gift every Christmas. Four gifts carefully thought out and given with love. I get one gift and its chosen by only one of them. Should I feel let down about that? It's the same way with Birthdays... I give each of them a birthday present every year and I only get one present on my birthday. They have all been known to forget my birthday and run out and get me something cause they think it is necessary. I don't know... I probably make more of it than I should. The only time I really think about this is this time of year. It's when I'm wrapping four presents knowing I'm only going to be unwrapping one, I guess? I don't know. I just know it doesn't sit right with me. I also know how selfish it sounds and I don't want you all to think I'm just in it for the pressies. I'm not. It goes a lot deeper than just Christmas gifts... I feel I give more to this friendship sometimes than I get out of it. I love these people. I have loved them since I first met them. They have many good qualities and their gift giving regime is the only thing that really bothers me where they are concerned. Well, that and they forget to tell me when plans have changed. That doesn't bother me near as much as the present thing though. I just don't know. I'm not going to worry about it, not today.
I did get my present from the lady of the house. She's the one who chooses the presents. It's a nice thoughtful gift. Now all I need is someone to rub that foot lotion on my feet after I use the foot soak and the scrubber stuff that came with it! I can't easily reach my own feet because of my back right now. I play hell putting on my socks everyday! I also got a new bath poofy, two small candles in a nice little tin and a great big hot chocolate mug. I'm gonna use the mug on my painting table for some utensils that won't fit easily in my brush caddy.
I still have to wrap their presents. I do hope they like what they're getting. I give to them because I do love them, not because I want lots of presents for myself. I got more stuff now than one person really needs. I'll get a 'Merry Christmas' from each of them and that will be enough. I'm only human and we humans have a few failings. One of mine is that I get to feeling sorry for myself sometimes and I try to blame that on others when in reality I am the only who can change any situation in my own life.
I have to go to bed. It's a quarter to two in the morning and Christmas is the day after tomorrow. You all wouldn't believe all that I still must accomplish before then! I won't go into detail cause that would just take away from my beauty sleep! So....
Go get yourself a hug or two ( I got two of them today! :) Nice tight hugs, full of feeling!). I shall come yak at you all probably the day after Christmas. I'm gonna be way too busy till after then to get back in here to talk to you good people.
Merry Christmas and God Bless you all!
Peace
831

19 December 2008

And Now it's Friday


And Friday is almost done and over with.

Ignore yesterday's post. zo means nothing to anyone, not even me! I was going to write out a post yesterday but things came up when I first started the post and all that got out was 'zo'. I didn't have my fingers on the keyboard in the right position and I hit the wrong button somewhere and the post got posted. Then Susan honked her horn in the driveway and I was out of here to go have coffee with her in town. I forgot all about doing a post on the blog once I got back home. Yes. I was somewhat spacey yesterday! It happens.

RJ and Terah were here about an hour ago on their way home from Ness City. The had called earlier to see if I needed anything from Wally World while they were there. They brought Fred a bag of food and me a bottle of coffee creamer. They're both good kids!

They were telling me about their trip to Ness City. They took I-70 to Wakeeney from Hays and from there to Ness City. Somewhere in that stretch of snow covered interstate a FedEx truck pulling two trailers had somehow crashed. They said the cab of the truck and its engine were already on a flatbed trailer and the two trailers were in the median of the highway. Both trailers pretty mangled. I've no idea about the driver's condition. I am in hopes the person is fine after this ordeal. Two trailers can carry a lot of packages! Looks like there will be some late deliveries from that batch.

I don't have much excitement to talk about today. Those bitterly cold temperatures I told you all about the other day didn't come to be. Ma isn't always right any more than the weather gurus are sometimes. It did pour down freezing rain last night and then it snowed on top of that. It is indeed very cold outside though. Fred goes out and does his business and wants right back in the house, no lollagagging around for him! Billy went out this morning for about an hour and he'd had enough. Both of those critters like to go outside during the day for longer stretches of time than they went this morning. I took Fred to town with me in early afternoon. The roads were icy, but the sky was clear. It was actually a very nice looking day out there so long as you weren't out there in it! The picture I've shown you today is what it looks like out there. That picture was actually taken two winters ago but that's about how much snow is on the ground right now. The scenery is a bit different as there's now a rock garden between those two trees but you get the picture anyway. That's my front yard. The house you see is my burned house. RJ said he heard there was to be more freezing rain tonight. Guess we shall see.
It is more like morning to me than being 10 o'clock at night as I haven't been awake for very long. I'm trying desperately to turn my sleep pattern around so I can awake for Christmas Day. I don't know how well that is going to work though. I've been staying up later and later each day so I can get that turned around. I went to sleep around 2 this afternoon and was awake by 8:30 when the kids got here. I'm kinda bummed out these days. Spend way too much time alone it seems. Only I can change that though so I'll not whine at you good people!
I have presents to wrap this evening so I'm going to call this post done and get on with that!
Here's hoping that wherever you are, you are warm, safe, in the company of those you love and that you're happy today! I truly won't complain about my own situation!
Give and get your hugs .... we all need some every now and then!
Almost forgot..... it is official!!!! I have a grandbaby on the way! Due on the 4th of July. I'll keep you all updated!
Peace
831

zo

17 December 2008

Wednesday's Ramblings

Hello Good Readers! And you not-so-good readers as well! :)

It's cold in the land of Kansas! My weather guru....a.k.a. Ma.....says it is supposed to get down to -10F either tonight or tomorrow night. Brrrrrr~!

Water has been restored. I was without it for almost four days! The water pipes froze up and it took forever to get the water flowing again! I've left the space heater on under the house to prevent another freezing of the pipes. The kitchen was a harzardous zone what with all the dirty dishes sitting around for four days. I was somewhat of a hazardous zone too without a shower for two days running. All that and more has been remedied with Ma's help. Laundry is now washing and a shower is in my very near future!
RJ did his best to get the water flowing again. He worked out in the cold, under the house putting the insulation back up that the plumber didn't bother to do even though he said he'd be back the next day to do. That was a couple months ago when we weren't worried about the pipes freezing up and didn't really give it another thought until there was no water coming out of the faucets. It was one of those "OMG we forgot to fix the insulation! No wonder we've no water!" kinda moments. Had the pipes burst from freezing, the plumber would have gotten a call and I'd have had some free fixing of my pipes cause it would have been his fault cause he didn't put the insulation back where he found it when he checked for the water leak. He didn't even find the cause of the water leak. RJ did. RJ fixed it too. But all is alright cause the water pipes didn't burst, thankfully! What a mess that would have been! RJ put heat tape and foam insulating rods on all the pipes under the house and I do believe the problem is now solved.
The Christmas tree is up and all decorated as of tonight. It's been up and with most of the decorations on it since Friday. Brenton and I put more little red balls on it the day before yesterday and then tonight Ma and I put the rest of the little red balls on it and a hundred plastic ice cicles as well. It looks really pretty! Now all that's left to do with it is go out to the shed and retrieve the angel that's sitting on top of a box in the west room out there.
We have snow on the ground. (And everything else as well.) It was so pretty Tuesday morning when the sun came up. The snow was pristine...not a mark in it till I let Fred out for his morning constitutional and he tracked all over the field between my house and Susan's. It snowed roughly two inches...not sure what the official amount was...I'm just going by what I saw out there...eyeballing it if you will. Wasn't a whole lot of snow but enough to let one know it did indeed do so! I really wish the camera was working! I'd love to show you all pictures of my space on this giant ball we call home. It has been bitterly cold since Saturday. And it doesn't appear as if the warmth of summer is going to return anytime soon either! I prefer the warmth of summer over the cold of winter. The older I get, the worse winter is to endure for this old body of mine!
And speaking of that... my back and hip are still bothering me. Not as badly. I haven't found my cane but it's OK cause I haven't really needed it too badly in the last few days. I sleep alot-which isn't really anything unusal for me-but I really wish I could change around the nights and days again. I'm up all night, sleep all day. Like a danged bear hibernating. I haven't been in my van to go anywhere since Friday. It's still sitting out by the backdoor instead of out front in the driveway where it should be. I've not needed to go anywhere since Friday. There was no sitting with the girls on Monday cause they had a ballgame over in Logan. I was asked if I'd like to go to Logan but no one called me on Monday to arrange if I was gonna go or not, so I didn't go. It's probably best I didn't go cause sitting on those bleachers would have done my back absolutely no good at all and I'd hurt worse than I do already.
I have had lots of company even though I haven't gone out to see anyone. Ma comes most days just to make sure I'm still alive and kicking and to see if I need anything. RJ was here four days in a row. Three of them to try to get water restored. Terah came with him one of those days and Brenton came with him another of those days.
It is official!!! I am going to be a grandma! The baby is due on the 4th of July. There is a possibility Terah could have twins. That is just a guess though... that's not official. I say there is a possibility because twins do run in RJ's father's family. RJ's grandma is a twin and there are other twins from his dad's side of the family. We will just have to wait and see on that. It is good news! Doc says all should go well. Brenton tells me he wants a little sister. I'm hoping for him a little sister as well.
I did something last night that I haven't actively done since 19 August 1999. I chewed off a fingernail. Some would say, well that's not such a big deal. But to me, it is a big deal! It means my life is way too full of stress at the moment! I used to chew those things down to nubs. If you're wondering how I can remember the exact date that I stopped doing that, it is because of the circumstances that led to stopping that habit. And that's what it is. A habit. I won't be chewing off anymore of them though cause I'm aware I did it and I don't like one little bit how that particular finger now appears compared to the rest of them! It's an ugly thing now. It will grow back though in due time. What I should do is clip the rest of them quite short so they all grow back at the same rate instead of having that short one and the rest of them long. I'll think on that and perhaps that is exactly what I will do.
I've been busy with artwork at night. What else is there to do when you've no water and everyone else is asleep, snug in their beds? It keeps me out of trouble so it's all good. Well, the artwork isn't all good but the time is well spent. I made four ATCs, two Chunky pages and finished two little books last night. I did some cleaning in the deskroom the night before last and spent hours playing word racer on yahoo games. I made 17 little books (we are talking tiny books here) on Sunday evening. Time goes by too fast somedays and I haven't a clue what I've done for the days not accounted for here. Surely it wasn't anything too awfully productive... I did read in my book one night this week. A book called The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel. Fourth in a series of five. I won't start The Plains of Passage till after Christmas has come and gone.
Tomorrow I have got to get busy and make cookies. First I have to fire up that van and head to town for the ingredients I will need to make cookies. Ma said she'd come over and help me make cookies if I wanted her to. I like to bake cookies so I think I'll just make it a solo endeavor.
While cookies are making I'll be wrapping presents as well. They are strung out all over my bedroom still.
I'll be scanning all the pages and ATCs I've made over the last week here later this evening. I'll show you what's come out of the muse tomorrow...or maybe later after the scanning gets done.
Right now though... I need to get busy.
You all have a fantastic Thursday. Get you some holiday hugs. Give more than you take! I shall yak at you another day!
Peace
831

13 December 2008

Picture Saturday

Water lilies done in colored pencil on watercolor paper. ATC
Jars Of Clay done with a woodburning tool on thin cork. ATC

Jackson Jester- done in Sharpies on cardstock. The jester is separate from the backing. He has been cut out, colored with Sharpies and then glued onto the backing which is also cardstock. ATC



Kiss Me Quick- done in graphite pencil on watercolor paper. I've been told this looks like Ben Stiller. It very well could be him. I'm not familiar with the man myself but I found the photograph this is drawn from in a magazine. I paid no attention to who it was though. ATC


I See You- Black gel inki pen on cardstock. Zentangle. ATC

Kansas donein acrylics on watercolor paper. ATC
Fritz done in acrylics on watercolor paper. ATC

Hubert done in acrylics on watercolor paper. ATC
Harriet done in black sharpie on cardstock. ATC



Goliath Beetle done in fine point Sharpie on cardstock. ATC

The Gunslinger done colored pencil and sharpie on cardstock. ATC

Elizabeth done in chalk and acrylics on watercolor paper. ATC
Frieda Kahlo done in pencil on sketch paper with cardstock backing. ATC
Beverly done in fine point sharpie on cardstock. ATC
Fall Tree done in acrylics on watercolor paper. ATC
Barry Manilow done in pencil on sketch paper with cardstock backing. ATC
Ava done in sharpie on cardstock. ATC
Audrey Hepburn done in pencil on charcoal paper. ATC
Hello Good People!
I thought I'd show you some drawings and paintings today. All of them are mine. Please don't use them without permission. If you would like to use one of them for some reason, please shoot me off an email and I'll gladly consider your request. Thanks!
I've been drawing since I could pick up a crayon but painting hasn't been happening quite that long. I started on acrylics about 15 years ago. One would think that after 15 years of painting I would have hundreds of paintings to my credit. I don't. I don't have hundreds of drawings either but both have been added to since last November in greater numbers than ever before. All the pieces you see here are ATCs. Artist Trading Cards. They are 2.5x3.5 inches each. I like the small canvas that ATCs give me.
Since I discovered ATCs last November, I have branched out from paintings and drawings to include collage as well. I like the small canvas for collages also, but like 4x4s (which are 4 inches square) even better for collage. I'll show you all a boatload of collages in a future post.
I've been working on collages today. I am almost finished with my sister Linda's christmas book. It is called I Love My Cat. She does love cats! All the pictures are freehand cut cats with other embellishments added. She's getting a ten page book with actually 20 pages of my cats. I hope she likes it. I've spent a good number of hours on it. I started it way before Halloween. As soon as the last four pages dry I will bind it as well.
I also finished Allison's handmade book. It has a purple sunflower painted on the front cover. That's what she wanted! Iaim to please! :) Her sister's book is almost done. It will be done tomorrow. I'm waiting for the strings to dry and the fish to dry. I'll show you all a picture of both the books after I scan them tomorrow. I'm really proud of the fish book. I used US cancelled stamps (Liberty Bell Stamps) for the fish's scales and sandpaper for his fins, tail and head. It looks really cool! Sara wanted an abstract fish on the cover of her book. This fish fits that bill! :)
Needless to say I have been a busy girl today! Christmas is going to be here before I am ready! I still have two bowls to paint decorations on. I think they will both have cats on them. And I have another little book to make for Aunt Sherry. I need to call her tomorrow, forgot to do it today, and what her favorite color is. I have the covers and the paper already cut, just need to do the artwork and bind the book.
I have gone through the closet to see what I have for gifts for everyone I am giving gifts to. I have them all strung out in my bedroom on the book shelves, the dressers and on the floor in piles of who they go to. I still have no idea what I am giving to my mother! I know I'm giving her one of my little handmade bowls but I need to find a few other things...maybe a batch of cookies in that antique footed bowl I found in the dumpster at City Hall last weekend after an auction? I haven't decided yet. Something in that bowl though.
My friend Helena has a recipe for microwave caramel popcorn. I need to call her tomorrow too and get that recipe from her.
The weather is turning for the worse this coming week is what the weather gurus are telling me. I am not ready for ice and snow in abundance but whether I am ready or not, here it comes! Saturday's high is predicted to be only 15F. That is COLD! I am going to have dress in layers when I get dressed in the morning. I am a cold blooded old thing as it is and the weather turning colder only makes me colder! I am sitting here shivering even though I have plenty of clothes on. Even got my warm housecoat on!
It is 3 a.m. and I am cooking spaghetti! I'm not only cold, I'm very hungry too! All that artwork and I forgot to eat supper. I ate at about 4 p.m. but that's been quite a few hours ago. Time for some sustenance! I made spaghetti sauce to go over some spaghetti squash I cooked a few days ago. I'll have the rest of the sauce over noodles in the next day or two.
I got my Christmas Tree put up on Thursday with Ma's help. It would have never got up without her help. I was going to put only red ornaments on the tree but I grabbed the wrong box when I hobbled out to the shed and decided the ornaments that generally go on the little tree, which I could not locate, would work just fine for the big tree. I still have ornaments to put on it and I need to go get the angel that goes on top of the tree out of the shed where I sat her down and promptly forgot her.
All the critters are doing fine. Doob just keeps getting wider! She's a chunk of a cat! I don't think she's over weight, she's just big! She's in an uproar with me right now. I am dog sitting for Pug, RJ and Terah's little dog. Doob hates the dog she has to live with, Fred, and having another one in the house just upsets her routine all to hell! She has to take time out of her naps to whoop Pug just cause Pug is in sight! Miss Blue isn't real happy about another dog in the house either though. Billy could care less. He and Pug were playing in the front yard this afternoon. He would let Pug chase him up the elm tree and then when Pug lost interest in standing there with her head pointed heavenward, Billy would come down and chase her. Those cats may have to just get used to having Pug around though cause I think I am going to keep her. The kids don't really have time to have a dog and she does like coming to my house and the kids said I could keep her if I wanted to. Fred needs a buddy anyway. Gives him something to do!
It is not official yet----but... three pregnancy tests have come up postive and I think I have a grandbaby on the way! I won't say anymore about this till Terah goes to the doctor and confirms the diagnosis. She has had trouble in the past carrying a baby to term and I want to make certain this child is actually growing. Any prayers you can offer up would be greatly appreciated. I intend to offer up quite a few myself. I'm excited to have a grandbaby. Even though I already have five grandsons, they are not my sons' biological children. That in no way means I love them less...there is goodness in a child regardless who it actually belongs to in a biological sense... I am excited though!
And with that pending news I am out of here for a day or two. I'm sure I'm going to be one busy girl for the next few days.
Peace!
831





10 December 2008

Naveen Andrews in Pencil and A Lost Post


Hello Good People!


I did indeed lose a post yesterday. Thanks to that son of mine! He wanted to get on the pc when he got here and I said to him: "Open a new page!" He didn't. He went to another page from the page where I write my commentary to post it on this blog. All was lost! Not to worry though! :) I'll just start over today.



There is Naveen Andrews at the beginning of the post. I tried to show you that pencil drawing yesterday but you already know the story of why that didn't happen. This drawing used to be about 5 by 9 inches or so...I cut it down to ATC size a few months ago and traded it off for another ATC. I like to do pencil drawings of people but I know there is a lot of room for improvement in my portraits of others as well.

I'll be painting later this afternoon. I have another book to finish as well. Just need to punch holes in the blank paper that will be the body of the book and then bind it. The covers are already done.

I have been dog sitting for Pug since yesterday. Her people went off to Hutchinson and they asked me to keep an eye on her. She's a good little dog and she isn't a bit of trouble. Though she did do her business on the livingroom carpet in SIX different spots yesterday when I left her and Fred home alone, inside the house for four hours. I let them both out to do their business before I left them in the house for that long. And come to think of it... they really weren't in the house for that long...It was cold and windy out yesterday and that is why I made them stay in. Fred opened the backdoor sometime while I was gone and they both got out. It was cold as all get out in the house, the furnace running at top speed. I had said to my traveling companion that I hoped the stupid Fred dog hadn't opened that back door. He knows how to do it! He's done it before. And low and behold...that door was indeed standing wide open when we pulled into the drive. And there was Pug at the backdoor and Fred barking his fool head off, running towards the car as though he were happy as could be to be seeing us again! So I had messes to pick up when I got home from my travels.

It isn't nearly as cold out today. There was snow on the ground when I got up yesterday morning and the wind blew like crazy all day and night. No snow out there now and it's quite sunny and warm. The dogs both just came in from being outside for over two hours. Both of them asleep on the sofa as I speak! I need to walk over to the mailbox across the highway sometime today. My hip is killing me still. It's my sciatic nerve that is causing all this pain and making it so difficult to walk about. I'm unsure just what to do to make this pain go away. Pain meds don't help much. Sitting isn't good. Standing isn't good. Walking is really not good. Laying down isn't good. If I had wings to fly, that might work! I'm dealing with it as best I can.

The fibro is in an uproar as well and it isn't only my hip that is painful today. My arms hurt like crazy as well. Least I don't have a headache...yet. That could change at any moment. Fibro is a very odd disease. The symptoms change from one moment to another sometimes. I will have pain in one spot and the next moment it will be another spot and the first spot is no longer painful. The sciatic nerve pain is a constant though and it's got to be checked out by a doctor soon. I tried to find my cane yesterday. I thought it was hanging on the inside doorknob of the deskroom door but it's not there. I looked in the closet in the spare room, in the closet in my room. I don't know where it could be. I sometimes need it and now is one of those times! I'll keep hunting for it.

I don't really have anything especially entertaining to talk about today so I'll leave you now with hopes that your day is a good one filled with love!

Peace
831

04 December 2008

No News Is Good News, Fowl Play at the Convience Store and I'm Tired

Hello All!
My back is still giving me trouble but it is much better.
No news is good news cause sometimes that's just how it works out. I expected a call from a friend, but I never got a call. There was no indication a call was forthcoming, I just thought it might be...all is well on that front though as far as I know. I won't lose any sleep over it but I do wish the friend would at least call and let me know all is well.
Fowl play at the convience store? Strangest thing I've seen in a long time! I pulled into 1st Stop this afternoon and to my suprise and the suprise of my passengers, there in the parking lot was a little black hen walking around like she owned the place. I went inside to make my purchases and said to the girl behind the counter, "Did you know you have a chicken running around in the parking lot?" She says, "That's our store mascot. Someone dumped her off here about nine months ago. We feed her everyday." Then she handed my son a handful of catfood and told him to toss it down on the sidewalk out front and the hen would help herself. I've been in that store at least once a week all year long and I don't recall there ever being a chicken around anytime I was there. This store is in the middle of town, right on the highway. Granted, Stockton ain't a very big town, but still. A chicken as a store mascot? And she eats catfood? Strange, strange, strange! She is a pretty little hen, seemed to be quite content. I wonder though, where does she stay when the weather gets nasty? Cold? They don't appear to have a shelter of anykind for her but there are some rather large evergreen trees out behind the store so perhaps she roosts there? I really don't know. It was quite a sight to me to find a banty hen running around the parking lot this afternoon. I will now look for her everytime I go there.
I'm tired cause I didn't go to bed till 5:30 this morning cause I stayed up all night finishing book number three in the Earth's Childrens Series by Jean M. Auel. The Mammoth Hunters was an excellent book! At a little after 8 Evelyn came over and hollered for Fred to come get his dog biscuit like she does every morning and woke me up when she opened up the front door hollering, "Freddy! Freddy! Come get your bone!" Freddy was fast asleep on the floor in my bedroom at the time. Then at around 8:30 RJ showed and barged through the front door waking me up again. It is now 2 p.m. and I'm running on about 2.5 hrs of sleep.
I am going to take a nap and then finish the laundry I started yesterday. Only one more load to go! Yeah! Then I am going to start the fourth book of the series--Shelters of Stone. I have not read all that one. The previous three I had read years ago but they were still like new books, especially The Mammoth Hunters. There are five books in the series.
I just wanted to tell you all about the chicken in the convience store parking lot. How many convience stores have a chicken running around in the parking lot, I wonder? Not many, I'm betting! Leave it to the Stockonites!!!
I have to make a few little books later today as well. Christmas is approaching fast! I need to go through the mounds in the closet and see what I have and what I need for gifts this year. Two bowls are painted sans their decorations and one is still naked. I did make seven gifts the other day so that's done. I need to go out to the closeline and snag some clothespins off it to make a few more of those things to have enough for everyone I want to give one to. I also have a chunky book to finish putting together, but that can wait a couple days or so. I'll need it on Monday to give to Allison so she can give it to her mama for Christmas. She did most of the artwork in that little book.
I got another message in a bottle in the mail the other day. Filled to the brim with art goodies. Also contained in that water bottle was a very nice ATC! Good things do come in my mailbox! I'm still waiting on some things from Finland though...I thing the post office is holding them hostage somewhere along their route. It has been a couple months since they should have been sent. I need to check on them with the girl they are coming from. I hate it when mailart goes missing! Luckily I have only had that happen to one envelope that I sent out into the hands of the postal system. I'm still wondering, after almost six months where the devil those three ATCs have landed. They sure didn't make it to Wisconsin!
I have five things ready to be mailed to various parts of the world. Three postcards and two letters with ATCs inside the envies. One of them should have been mailed the week of Thanksgiving but the van wasn't working then and I had no easy way to get to town to mail any of those. Tomorrow I will make a trip to the post office and remedy that situation.
I got my first Christmas card from a real person today. I hadn't heard from my friend Cherri for a long time! She never forgets me at Christmas though. Never! I got a Christmas card from a corporation last week but I don't count them. They aren't very personal. Day before yesterday I got a postcard from South Africa. I'm hoping to get a lot of postcards this coming year from all over the world! I'll be sending them far and near as well.
Alrighty! I'm done yakking at you all for the time being! I need some sleep. A nap is in order!
You all have a fantastic Thursday and keep smiling at all you meet today. Get you some hugs from those you love! I got mine for the day! :)
Peace
831

01 December 2008

I feel like pastels today.
Actually I hurt like a big dog today! My back feels like it's been kicked by a mule! I know what it feels like to be kicked by a mule and that is what my back feels like right above my right hip. I've no idea what the devil I did to it. It's been this way since Friday. That is part of the reason I haven't been here to talk to you good people! I couldn't sit in my chair in front of this wretched machine. I didn't get much of anything done in the last three days. Read a lot. That's about it. Layed around and read my book. Read two books. Finished Clan of the Cave Bear and immediately picked up Valley of Horses. I finished it yesterday morning and I'm fixing to read the next one in the series...The Mammoth Hunters. I have read all three of these books previously but it's been years since that happened. The last two in the series- Shelters of Stone and The Plains of Passage will be totally new to me. Be forewarned that when that reading commenses...I will not be here to talk to you all for a few days.
Jesse gave me a couple of awards the other day. Thank you, Jesse. Now if I could figure out how to put them up here and link back to who needs to be linked back to I'd be doing great! I really don't know how to do either of those things though. Perhaps one of you could enlighten me?
Thanksgiving was a stellar day! We all stayed close to home. We had turkey and dressing, no mashed potatoes or gravy cause no one made any. We also had shepard's pie and a beef pot pie that sister Susan made. It was all yummy! Ma baked the turkey and dressing cause she says it just isn't Thanksgiving without it. There were lots of desserts as well. I made peach jello with peaches, peanut butter cookies and a walnut chocolate cake. The guinea pigs approved whole heartedly about that cake. There was also pumpkin crisp, apple pie and pumpkin pie to be had. I'm still eating on the peanut butter cookies and the walnut cake. Which is fine with me. That cake went wonderful with coffee this morning!
Fred pigged out on scrappings from out plates and the turkey bones. He's a happy canine. Scooter got a few scraps as well and he too is a happy little canine. The felines weren't so lucky. They got no scraps. Just because they did not need any scraps.
My scanner has gone wacko. I tried to scan some artwork earlier today but something went wrong and I now have the remnants of the window that opens to control the scanner still sitting at the bottom of the screen, along with two other windows that pop up to tell me I have emails coming in for MSN and Yahoo. I've no idea how to get rid of them. Will have to talk to Terah about that.
Good news!!!!! My van is now fixed and operational. It needed a new alternator. YEAH! Now I can go wherever I want and not have to ask anyone to take me there. The van has been fixed for two days now and I've not gone anywhere. I will be going this evening though. Going to town to sit with the girls. I don't think there are any games of anykind tonight so I won't be missing out on that.
It doesn't seem possible December has already rolled around again! Am I ready for Christmas, you ask? No. Not anywhere near ready actually. I'll be staying up late tonight to work on some little books and those bowls that have to be finished.
Looks as though I'm back in the swing of things for the time being. I shall show you all some artwork again when I get that scanner working. Until then...
Be good to one another. Smile. And go get yourself some hugs!
Peace
831

26 November 2008

James Lipton's Ten

I found this list on John's blog and had read it previously on Inge's blog. I'm sorry I don't know how to add the links to take you right to their blogs.
I liked the list and decided to add it to my own. Thanks to both of you!

1. What is your favorite word? Love

2. What is your least favorite word? Any word associated with taking the Lord's name in vain. God is for the good, His name shouldn't be taken in vain.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally? Many different things. Sunshine. Laughter. Tears. Sudden down bursts of rain. Lightning. Friends. Family. The list literally goes on and on!

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually, or emotionally? Lack of sleep. Sadness. Loneliness.

5. What sound or noise do you love? A cat purring.

6. What sound or noise do you hate? Yelling in anger directed at another person. Especially though if it is directed at me.

7. What is your favorite curse word? Hell

8. What profession other than your own, would you like to attempt? veterinarian

9. What profession would you not like to do? septic tank cleaner

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome home!


Peace

Sleep, A Pink Bird, Money Trees and Star Trek

I didn't make it back here on Monday. I slept Monday away. I missed the ballgame... two basketball games played by the two girls I sit with on Monday evenings. I missed sitting with the girls as well. The fibro kicked my butt royally on Monday. I couldn't keep my eyes open to save my soul! I'm still a might tired even though I've had plenty of sleep. That's the fibromyalgia though. It takes over and bosses my body around. I have little control over when it takes ahold nor when it lets loose.
Here is the artwork promised though...take a peek at what I have been up to. I have done more Chunky pages and another ATC since the last post and I'll show you those in my next post. Nothing spectacular, though I rather like the ATC I made yesterday.
Altered Playing Card (APC) Collaged-pink tissue paper, foil origami paper, the bird is cut freehand from a pc of scrapbooking paper, his beak is a trimmed pipe cleaner, legs are black cording and his eye is a seed bead. All attached to a playing card. Eventually the whole deck will be altered and traded. This APC will be headed to Finland.

Next we have the trees made for the Chunky Page Tree Swap. I made seven of them but I'll only be sending six of them. The other one will go into my own Tree Chunky Book once I get enough trees to assemble a book.
All of these are made pretty much the same. Various papers for the backgrounds, most of the green for the grass under the trees came a veggie catalog or magazine. The 'leaves' on all the trees is shredded US Currency that my 5 yr old grandson, Brenton, gave me this past spring from a field trip to the Dane Hansen Musuem over in Logan. The tree trunks are free hand cut from various brown papers. There is wallpaper, packing paper and cardstock among them. Each of the pages has the brown fibers and some multicolored fibers sandwiched between the fronts and the backs. Each page also has a glass leaf tied onto the end of one of the fibers. I didn't scan the backsides. They just have green backgrounds with a fabric leaf and green label with my info on it on the back. Nothing exciting! These will be sent to the host of the swap and will be divvied up among the players. I will get six pages back from six different artists who also participated in the swap.






I wish I knew how to make that scanner take only a scan of the item on the scanner bed instead of all that dead space around them each. Perhaps someday I will figure that all out. Until then, we'll just have to deal with these not-so-good scans.
The next two Chunky Pages were made for a Pass It Forward (PIF). Only one page was expected but she's getting two cause I was on a roll! Nothing spectacular about these two pages either. Two paperback novels were the basis of the pages. The text background is a page from one of the books. The color picture is from the front covers.
I wanted to make a model of the spaceship in miniature to add to the danglies off the side of the page, but I found a picture of that spaceship from Deep Space Nine and there is no way it would have worked. The post office's machinery would have annhiliated it! So I went with origami stars, plastic stars and plastic blue beads as danglies instead. The backs of these two are text pages painted blue with printers ink, there's a cutout from the back page of one of the paperbacks of a character from the series and my informtion to round it all out. The bottom page here has braided twine along the bottom edge to hide the author's name. It just didn't look quite right being there so I covered it up.

The only way I know today is Wednesday is that the calendar on this machine tells me it is. On the agenda this morning is a marathon baking excursion. I have peanut butter cookies, chocolate cake and peach jello salad to make. Yes, I know peach jello salad doesn't get baked! lol Tomorrow is Turkey Day and all these things must be done before then. The cake will actually be cupcakes I think. I haven't yet decided on that.
Before baking commences though I'll be finishing off some Chunky pages that Allison and I made a few weeks ago on a Monday at her house. Allison is 11. She made the pages to assemble into a book for her mama for Christmas. I'll be giving my three paper mache bowls another coat of paper as well before the day is out. All this artwork can go on while the oven is doing its job with the baking.
I woke up about an hour ago with a cat laying across the top of my head and tail across my nose. There was another cat asleep on my chest. Not sure where Miss Blue was. Fred climbed into my bed shortly after I climbed out of it. I need to go chase his hide off my bed and pull the blankets up over the pillows so I don't end up with a dog-drooled pillow! I also need some coffee in me.
Here's hoping you have a fabulous Wednesday wherever you might be and that you find the chance to smile at a stranger and maybe give some badly needed hugs to someone. You'll get some nice hugs in the deal for yourself as well.
Be good to one another!
Peace
831

24 November 2008

Ramblings and Old Artwork

Hello Good People!

It has been an excellent Sunday. The weather was nice, my son came to visit, I talked to Ma on the telephone earlier this evening and I saw my sister early this morning as well. I also did a load of artwork during the day. The dishes did not get done though. I will show you all what I was up to today, tomorrow night or Tuesday. I haven't scanned them yet as a few of them are still drying. I made nine Chunky pages and one ATC. All things that are due or were due weeks ago. I still have those cats to paint though. I got busy with trees and didn't get to the cats.

It is almost time I head to bed. I've been awake since 5 this morning and it is now after 1 a.m.

I'm sharing some old artwork with you all. I hope my memory is serving me correctly this evening and I have not shown you all any of these already.
My home state of Kansas depicted on an ATC that went to England of all places! Not very artistic really considering the only thing I drew on the card is the elevator placed near Colby. To give you an idea of the scale of the map, I live in Stockton. Hays is 38 miles to the south. Colby is about 100 +/- miles to the west.

This is an ink drawing done with fine point sharpie marker on slick cardstock. I forget where it went... New York state I think, but don't hold me that cause I very well could be totally wrong!

This is a failed photograph with the saying written on it with sharpie marker. I've no idea where this one went either and I won't even take a stab at guessing!


This is an acrylic painting on sandpaper. Surprisingly sandpaper is quite easy to paint on and it gives a wonderful texture! I've done a few paintings on sandpaper since this first attempt. I've no clue where it went either. I keep drawing a blank on the destinations these ATCs ended up at.


This is one of the very first ATCs I made and one of the very first I traded as well. I still have ATCs that were made back in Nov of 07 that have not traded yet. The card reads: A good reason to dream is that in dreams you don't have to have reasons.
November 19, 2007 was the day I discovered and started making ATCs for trade. I have come a long way in improvement from my first attempts. I've learned a lot in the past year about art and about myself as well.
I will come back Monday evening when I get home from watching the girls to yak at you all again. I have a ballgame to go to in the afternoon. Not sure what sort of ballgame. I want to say volleyball but for some reason my old brain is shut down mode at the moment! Might be cause I'm in need of some sleep?
You all be good to one another. Get yourself a few hugs anyway you can today.
Peace
831




22 November 2008

Cleaning, Rearrangements and Blood Letting

I have been steadily rearranging my deskroom for the last few hours. RJ and Devin moved the big pieces of furniture for me early on Friday while I slept. I can't find anything I need but that will change the more artwork I get done~! I can't believe how big this room appears to be after having rearranged. There isn't much less in here, it's just been moved around. The only two things that are missing were not on the floor to begin with. The little table that stood on top of the dresser went to the storage shed out in the yard and the slotted cabinet for papers went to the spare room where I sent my paper cutter as well. Though the cabinet the paper cutter was on is still in the deskroom. I still have a long way to go before all is in place where I want it. I need to get some labels to label all the little boxes, tins and jars that hold all those little elements I use in my art. That is part of the reason I cannot find anything when I need it.... I have to look through a dozen little containers before I find what I am looking for, if I ever find it!
The file cabinets really need to be cleaned out and reorganized as well. Especially the green one. It is all wasted space at the time being! The dresser with six large drawers needs to be organized in four of those drawers. I've really little clue as what those drawers house except for the one with ribbons and fibers in it and the one that houses the bubble envelopes. Bunch of useful junk in the rest of the drawers though that need to find a permanent home in this deskroom! We won't talk about the shelf by my computer... it's a MESS! I'm sick of cleaning though and I'm taking a break for the time being.
It's good to be able to see the floor! Wow! That carpet is really green! :) I haven't seen this much of the carpet in this room since the day I moved everything into this room over three years ago! I really can't believe how much ROOM is now available in my deskroom! Should have rearranged this mess ages ago! Thanks to Ronnie and Devin for moving all the big stuff for me. I couldn't have done it alone!
And now that the deskroom is taking good shape, I better get busy and get those cat portraits done along with the chunky pages due for a swap and the little books due for another swap and and and....I have lots of work to do! First thing on my agenda though is to get the Star Trek chunky page done that someone has been waiting on for weeks. I'll finish putting everything away a bit at a time. Someone needs to clean this desk off too. I think things live on this desk and carry things away in the night...day...I'm awake in the night...I'd catch them running off with things during the night. Must be daylight when the beasties come out! I'm only kidding there you know! This desk is a bigger mess than the shelf that sits beside it though. Feels good to have an organized spot in which to create again.
What this means for you all is that you'll again be seeing some new artwork in the near future! And yes, I CAN hear you all sayin' "Oh Yeah!" LOL I'm stoked. Can you tell? It's been far too long since artwork was accomplished in this room and I am ready to get going with it again! Does anyone know what happened to my water bowl for painting though? It seems to have been lost in the abyss and even though the abyss isn't quite so deep as it was the day before yesterday, that bowl has not appeared! I'm not even sure why it isn't on the painting table? I don't paint anywhere but there and that bowl's nowhere to be seen.
I must clean off the shelf in the closet as well. I've no idea what is on the south end of that shelf as I haven't seen any of that stuff for over three years. I doubt most of it will remain cause I have not missed any of it in more than three years. I'm figuring none of that stuff is real important!
Well now that I have cleaned out that shelf in the closet....I can't believe I hadn't missed some of that stuff! I didn't do away with any of it, just put in different spots with like items.
And while I was cleaning out that box I found some wooden embroidery hoops that I wanted to hang from a hook on the filing cabinet but the hook was too long and the hoops wouldn't fit on it without some surgery to the hook. I took it to the kitchen where my pliers were located and promptly cut a good sized hole in my left thumb and another good sized hole on the underside of my right index finger, both at the same time! I've used that pair of pliers a hundred times with no injuries! I'm now injured! I did stop the flow of blood which was quit large for the size of holes in my hands, but now I have pain. :( But it ain't like I don't live with pain 24/7 so I know I will survive and I'm quite certain my thumb and finger will fine in a few days time. Two for the price of one and I didn't get that magnetic hook to work for the hoops afterall. That plastic hook was tougher than I first thought!
Well, I've yakked at you all long enough for one post... oh the trials and tribulations! LOL Thanks for hearing me out... that is if you've hung around long enough to get this far. And if you didn't, well, you missed out on the laughs. I hope you all are getting a laugh from this rambling!
I can tell you I have confused the hell out of that silly Fred dog for the last few hours, running all over the house, fetching things from the spare room and taking other things there from the deskroom. He would get comfy on the floor of the deskroom and I'd suddenly run off to another part of the house and being the follower that he is, he'd have to get up and go with me. I've tuckered the poor fellow out! He's now asleep on my bed and has given up on me for the morning! He's going to be kicked out of that bed soon though cause I will myself be getting in it and he's not allowed to sleep on the bed while I'm in it!
Sooooooo..... Here's hoping you have a happy, productive Saturday regardless what your plans are! Be good to one another!
Peace
831

Things I Have Done

I found this list on my friend Maryellen's blog and thought it a great idea! If you want to play along you'll need to diffrentiate between those you've done and those you haven't. Those I've done have an astric beside them *


I HAVE . . .
*1. Started my own blog
*2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
*5. Watched a meteor shower
*6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
*9. Held a praying mantis
*10. Sung a solo (it was in the shower :) but a solo nonetheless!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
*14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
*16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
*18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
*21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
*23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
*24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
*26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
*35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
*37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
*41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
*46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
*52. Kissed in the rain
*53. Played in the mud
*54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
*63. Got flowers for no reason
*64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
*67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
*71. Eaten Caviar
*72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
*78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
*87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
*88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
*91. Met someone famous
*92. Joined a book club
*93. Lost a loved one
*94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
*97. Been involved in a law suit
*98. Owned a cell phone
*99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

That's all for the time being. I might be back later with another post. If not, then you all know the drill! :) Be good to one another an lend a helping hand where a helping hand is needed!
Peace
831

20 November 2008

Thursday Again...

It is again Thursday. I'm starting this entry off with a link to Wikipedia for John. We discussed Hutchinson, KS the other day and I think the link will be of interest to him. If you all go take a look there you may find it of interest as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutchinson,_Kansas

I was born and raised in Hutchinson for the first six years of my life and then moved back again when I was 14. My sister, Jeanny and her family still live there and I visit whenever I can. It is the best big city in the state of Kansas if you ask me.

I don't have any art to show you all today cause the deskroom is still in disarray. I was all gung-ho this morning to get it back together again but the vaccuum sweeper and the electrical outlet in the deskroom refused to get along and kept blowing the breaker so I gave up on that endeavor before I got so fustrated I wanted to throw the vaccuum out the front door. I didn't throw the vaccuum out the front door though, it's sitting over there in the closet waiting patiently to be put to good use. That is on my agenda for later. I have to go with plan B though cause I'm not fighting with that stupid machine tonight. I refuse! Wish me luck with plan B cause I haven't formulated a plan C yet. Plan A sure didn't work out!

I made the 'bones' of three more paper bowls. One this morning. I still have four more to go. I gotta get busy on that endeavor cause Christmas is going to be here before we know it and I want to have them all done long before that day arrives!

Nothing new on the home front so this is going to be a short entry. I'll leave you with a poem for now and wish you all a happy Friday!


The Old Man Next Door

The house had been in need of
a coat of paint for many years,
the man inside in need of a
woman's touch for many more.

An old man living alone in the confines
of an old house with weathering boards and
his heart weathering more rapidly then his house.
He went away one summer's dawn.

The house now sits lonely on the side of the road,
filled to the brim with things he collected
to fill up the emptiness he felt in his soul.
He looked all around and love was not found.

Honeysuckle vines climb the façade
where the front door is hidden from view.
There inside you'll find lonely old walls
adorned with lonely old photos of those he once knew.

His children, grown now, came to collect his
personal belongings the other afternoon.
They loaded up furniture, boxes and things
into the back of an old Chevy truck and drove away.

The house seems abandoned just like that old man.
And the weathered old house sits aging day after day
with no one tending the honeysuckle vine,
no one even taking notice of the life once lived inside.

The yard is over grown with wild catnip and
weeds of all kinds, reminding me of what once belonged.
I drive by there every single day and I wonder
what kind of people would abandon an old man.

He had grown quite deaf in his aging life and
he hollered when he talked, if he talked at all.
He was an auctioneer in his younger days and
all those things came about from the way he made his living.

Like the house itself, the things inside are of ancient times gone by.
When his children had taken what they deemed to be the best,
the old auctioneer's things
were put on the block to see what they would fetch.

Seems quite terrible to me that the things he held dear,
to his children, were a means to farther their riches,
to enlighten their senses and make light of
what the old man stood for in his life.

He lived in that old house with the leaky roof,
the seven out buildings and not a soul to share it all with
for as many years as I can remember.
He simply lived all alone.

His children appeared only after he'd died.
I didn't know he even had anyone in his life.
They buried him in the cemetery on the hill and
now he's gone to meet his wife in the afterlife.

I am in hopes she met him at the gates
and the reunion they shared was so full of grace,
it didn't really matter he lived all alone and
the years gone by were of the waiting kind.

Surely he smiles more everyday
with his love beside him on the hills where they can play.
His children haven't been seen for weeks
and that old house will someday fall in a heap.
2006

I'm uncertain of the date this one was actually written, but sometime in 2006 nonetheless. This old man really did exsist in my world, though I've embellished the facts in this poem. I hope you like.

Be good to one another! Smile at a stanger, lend a helping hand and love yourself as well as your neighbor! I shall yak at you all another day!
Peace
831

17 November 2008

Ramblings From Me and a Picture or Two

I have had a pretty good Monday. Slept most of it away though. Helena fetched my hide to town to watch the girls while she and Bob went bowling like they do every Monday from September to May. She got here about quarter to seven. They lost three games this evening. That's very unlike them. They usually kick butt at bowling. Was good to see the girls again. Allison didn't home till right at 8:30 p.m. She ate supper at one of her friends' houses. I ate supper with Helena. Everyone else, Kellen, Sara and Bob were done with supper by the time Helena and I got there. Helena had made Shepard's Pie. It was tasty! I was back home by 10:15 p.m.
Fred was a good boy and stayed outside the whole time I was in town. He let me know he wasn't real happy about that situation but he'll get over it. Matter of fact, he's already gotten over it! He's now asleep on the floor beside my chair here in the deskroom. I had to close the door to make him stay in here with me cause he was in the kitchen barking at the cats trying to convince them the canned cat food I had put out for them was really for him. He'd of stolen it right off their perch if I hadn't made him stay in here with me. He'll get the leftovers - if there are any - when those three cats get done.
I started reading a new book the other day. Not really a new book, I read it years ago. Ma found the entire Earth's Children Series by Jean M. Auel and I have started reading Clan of The Cave Bear again. First time I read it was back in 1983. I told you it wasn't a new book! lol Gary and I lived out in Goldfield, Nevada at the time. RJ was only a few months old at that point. Gary worked for Esmeralda County and when they decided to move the library to new quarters out there, he and I helped in that endeavor. That's how I came across the book to begin with. By helping to shelve the thousands of books we helped to move. It was a good book the first time I read it and the subsequent books in the series proved to be good reads as well. I'm kind of disappointed though that I know how it will end. I'll slog through it again though because it is an excellent story and I don't remember the whole of it.
Ma found all four books at the thrift store last week. All four of them First Editions as well! I used to collect First Editions but the house fire wiped out that collection. Or as RJ and RW called it: The Kids' Inheritance. Guess without even realizing it, I've began that collection all over again. That's cool though!
While Susan and I were in Hutchinson we hit the Etcetera Shop and I brought home about a dozen books from there. A few of those are destined to be Christmas gifts though. Do you find it find strange I give people 'used' things as gifts? Some folks think it is tacky, not right at all. But in my family if we find something that we think someone will enjoy, whether it's new or not, we buy it for them as a gift. Most of my elephant herd was acquired in that manner...from family members who found the critters and bought them for me. I look at it this way: A gift is something from the heart. It shouldn't matter how much money was spent on it or if it once belonged to someone else. What should matter is that the person who bought it for you was thinking of you at the time. I'd rather have something I liked that cost a quarter than something that cost $25 that didn't fit into my likes at all. There are folks I won't buy anything but something new for but those folks are few and far between in my circle.
And speaking of those gifts...do you realize how fast Christmas is creeping up on us? Linda and Susan have invited me to a gift wrapping party at Susan's house this coming weekend. Bring your own gifts and paper to wrap with. I can do that! That closet in my bedroom holds a bunch of gifts for others that I have picked up throughout the year. I still have some gifts to make though. It should be a fun time wrapping presents with my sisters this weekend.
I folded more magazine pages the last two nights in preparation of making at least two more paper bowls for gifts for my sisters. I've absolutely no idea what I am going to get my mother for Christmas. I'm thinking I will bake her some cookies and make her a few magnets for her fridge with frogs on them. My mother has everything she ever wanted and if she doesn't have it, she can and will go out and buy it for herself.

RJ was here this morning. He neglected to wake me up. I heard Fred barking to be let back in the house and got up to do so. RJ was here in the deskroom on the computer. I said hello to him and went back to bed. Before he left he said something about coming back tomorrow to build the shelve out in the trailerhouse shed for all that junk out there. I told him I'd rather he fixed the water pipes in the bathroom so I can get my deskroom back together so I can get caught up with the artwork I'm way behind on. He said, "Don't yell at me, Mom." I wasn't yelling. I was being firm about it. I think the deskroom is a bit more important then the shelving out in the shed. Both need to be done, but we need to get our priorities in line here! I really NEED my deskroom together. The shelving can wait a few more days. Either that or he can put Devin to work on the shelving while he fixes the pipes and then I can put this deskroom back together. I'm going to have to do that myself anyway. No one but me knows where I want all this crap. Hell, I don't even know where it all should go yet.

Sometime in the near future I should be getting a call from the weatherization folks about weatherizing this house. I'd like the deskroom back together by then! I'm not sure if I qualify for that service or not, but it was worth a shot to find out. I sent the application in a few weeks ago. Playing the waiting game on that right now.

This picture below is one I took about six years ago of a thunderstorm building at dusk. It rained to beat the band that night! What a pretty shot though, huh? The treetops you see in the picture are between the house I live in and the burned house I used to live in. Someday I will live in that house again! I am going to miss my woodburning stove again this winter. I could go over there to the burned house and fire that sucker up if I wanted to right now. Not that it would do any good...lol...there are few windows and make-shift doors in the burned house now. And not a lick of insulation in it either. I truly miss the smell of a wood fire burning on a cold winter's night. And if you're wondering if the wood burning stove had anything at all to do with the house burning, it didn't. The house burned on the 31st of May. A Tuesday morning in the pouring rain. Fire marshall says the fire started in the sofa but I totally disagree with that assumption. I don't care what the burn pattern had to say about that fire. When I stepped out of my bedroom that morning, the sofa was not on fire. The whole south wall of the livingroom was on fire. The sofa sat on the west wall. I think the house was struck by lightning but what I thought and what I saw that morning held little interest to the fire marshall. He said it started in the sofa and he wasn't changing his mind about it. I don't suppose after three and half years it really matters one way or another...the house is burned and the insurance covered it. That's how I ended up in this stupid trailer house I didn't want in the first place.
House shopping isn't for me. I don't like shopping of any kind actually. I am, however, thankful for a roof over my head, warmth in the winter and a place to lay my head at night to sleep. I chose this stupid trailer house because I didn't want to shop for houses anylonger and I didn't want to move away from where I live. A trailer house was my only option really.
One thing I wish this house had that it doesn't is a dog door. I've been begging for three years now for someone to put one in for me but no one thinks that is a good idea except for me. If we had one, I wouldn't have to play butler for that silly Fred dog! And he wouldn't have to stay outside while I'm away from home.
It appears as though I've written another novel this evening. I'll leave you with a picture of a sculpture I found surfing the net. I wish I could tell you just who the artist is but I did not save that information for some reason. Guess I wasn't thinking that day! Can you guess what it is made from?

Remember to give and get some hugs. Smile at a stranger and lend a helping hand where one is needed most. Have yourselves a terrific Tuesday! I shall come yak at you all again soon. Perhaps artwork and maybe a poem will be included next time!
Peace
831

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