Two in One...

Two posts in one week?!
What in the World is going on?!   =-)

I just *had* to share this with you...
And if this doesn't make you smile, then you really are having a bad day:


http://mensweardog.tumblr.com/

Go have a look.
It's the cutest dog, and he's wearing different outfits, kinda like a catalog.
I  LOVE it!!!


Hope you're having a Great Day today!
And here's to Smiling!
=-)


Here's one picture from the site,
just to entice you.
=-)

Wow...

Not much of a post today, but i do have some news.
No picture, just personal news.

...i went to the doctor Monday.  Her nurse called me to let me know that my doctor was "quite alarmed" with my bloodwork.
I'm anemic.
My Mother's anemic.
I've been anemic a long time now.
But yesterday, my doctor was alarmed by this.
(She's a new doctor for me; i just switched to her.)

She told me that a "normal" level for a menstruating female is 12 point-something.
She told me that mine is 8.8.
Then she told me that at 8.5 they give you a transfusion!


Holy Shit!!!

That really surprised me!
And i can't seem to get it out of my head.

I went to Yoga today, and i couldn't make myself do as much as i could do, because i can't seem to get over the fact that "that's" my number.

+_+    +_+    +_+    +_+    +_+    +_+    +_+    +_+    +_+

On to other news.

It snowed here on the 16th.  We took a few pictures.  I really like how the snow melted on the driveway, road & stones in the front.
It was so pretty.   =-)

Here's to hoping you have a Wonderful Week!

With the kind of weather you like, and loved ones in your life.

=-)

Give Yourself What You Need

So, a couple of months ago, i was wandering around on the internet, and i came across this poster (as in 'the piece of thick paper kids use for projects at school').  I don't remember what it said, but it had words at the bottom, and you could tear them off (much like the ads for "Roommate Wanted" that have that little strip at the bottom where you tear the phone number off and take it with you).

You know what i'm talking about?  'Cause i really don't know how else to describe it...

Anyway, this poster (the noun) was much like that, but it had Words at the bottom to tear away.

Words like "More Love" and "Less Stress".

Well, i *LOVED* this idea!!!

(And i apologize, but i have NO idea where i saw this, so i cannot give credit to the person who posted it...)

(I know, i know.  Truly a Web No-No!)

But at least i'm telling you that this was NOT *my* original idea!

But it *is* an idea that i Love.   =-)

So i made one of my own.

I took it to "my" Studio and hung it up outside our main Yoga room, and people are responding.   =-)

Wait.

Let me show you what i made!   =-)

Here's the poster i made.

A little closer so you (hopefully) can read it:

 

It says:

"Sometimes we are too close to a situation to see things clearly.

During these times, it may help to have a 'Visual Reminder'.

Please feel free to take what you need; 

put it in a place where you'll see it several times each day

to remind yourself that it's okay to 

Give Yourself What You Need!"

 And then the words/encouragement/Love

that each person can take with:

There are tabs that say,

"Compassion" "Less Self-Criticism" "Peace" "Joy" "Less Stress"

"I Am Whole" "I am Not Broken" "Have More Fun!"

etc...

The Studio owner, Kim, told me the other day that she really really loves it!

She loves the idea of it, and she loves that we are offering it to each other.

I haven't heard many comments from anybody else, but...

I Love It!

It made me feel good just making it!   =-)

It makes me happy just thinking about it!   =-)

Now, for the "nitty-gritty":

I used my sewing machine to "perforate" the poster board between each word/phrase, so they'd be easy to tear-away.  I didn't want it to be a "bothersome" thing and have people have to go borrow the scissors.

(If something's a bunch of trouble, people are waaay less likely to do it.)  (duh)

I didn't get any pictures of me making it.

That's kinda hard to do when you're all by yourself; holding the poster board at the sewing machine *while* holding the camera and trying to take a picture.

I just can't do it!

Maybe i'm not coordinated enough, or something, but that's me.

So you just have to imagine it!   =-)

I hope you're having a Fantastic Week!!!

Things here are "rolling right along".   =-)

Boyfriend had his Gallbladder removed last Friday (the 15th), so he's home with me all this week, recuperating.  He's doing better and better, but he's still not ready to try doing a sit-up or anything.   =-)

...maybe i'll post pictures of his bandaged and bruised belly, if anybody's interested...?

'Til next week!

Take care of yourself!

=-)

My Art Room (Finally!)

Guess what?! 

It's time for the post about my "newest" Art Room!

...finally.

I know, right?   =-)

I have a few "in process" pics, and then...

Well, i've hesitated in posting about my Art Room, 'cause i *first* wanted to get pictures of it "Clean & Pristine", but...

Well, that hasn't really happened yet, now, has it.

I just find that i have a number of projects going at one time, and it's never really "clean & neat" and "ready for it's Close-up".

So, here it is...

As Is.

As you would see it on a daily basis if you were to pop in for a visit.

=-)

Boyfriend, working on the 

wonderful Counter area:

This work-top is really 2 kitchen counters

purchased from Ikea.

They measure 8 ft long x 25 in deep, each.

The fronts are rounded over, so it's 

a beautiful working surface for fabrics.

In other words?

A Wonderful Working Space!

=-)

He's so Professional!  =-)

Note all the Natural Light pouring in through the 5 (FIVE!) windows.

Love!

=-)

(The windows are facing West and North.  

The 2 in this photo are the North-facing windows.)

Putting the third leg on.

(Oh, Pat!  I just heard myself say that, and i

thought of you!  lol!)   =-)

He put a shelf above the windows.

It's also from Ikea.

I wish i'd gotten a picture of it before he put the shelf on the holders.

I can't really explain how it just "floats" there...

But i really like it!

And now for the "After" pictures.

I put all of my projects in plastic boxes, purchased from Dollar General.

I got 2 sizes, but i don't think i have any pictures *specifically* of them.

I also put my Beading stuff in one box, and my Embroidery stuff in a different box, and etc.

Don't you LOVE being Organized?!

It just helps me not get "overwhelmed" when i try to go in there and 

Do Something.   =-)

I already had the lamp, the table in the corner, the cardboard on the wall (for  painting), the tall Drawer-thing, and the shelf.

The cardboard for painting is really two Dressmaker's "thingy"s, purchased from WalMart for around $5.00.  (You're seeing the back of it, 'cause the front is white and has a measured grid on it.)  Boyfriend has screwed it to the wall with washers & screws, and it works *Wonderfully*!  I love it.  I also keep cardboard on the floor for drips and oops.   =-)

 After

Note the books on the shelf over the windows.

Also, the tall shelf unit contains my "fabric stash".

That's what Quilters call it, anyway.

But compared to most Quilters,

i really don't own much fabric at all.

(I am *stunned* by some ladies' Stashes.

H-U-G-E!)

See the storage boxes below the counters?

And the shelves they're sitting on?

Love!   =-)

We hung some of my paintings up, 

and now i can stand back and look at my Artwork.

And it makes me feel like,

"Wow, i really *am* an Artist, 

aren't i?!"

=-)

This one was taken standing in front of the lamp, 

showing the back door on the right, 

and the door into the house on the left.

Plus, more of my paintings.

Love.

=-)

And that's my Art Room!

I haven't been out there a *whole* lot yet, but i've been doing this and that, 

here and there,

and i'm REALLY really Grateful that i have it!

It's where i work on Bunny's Bunting flags.

And, hopefully that'll be my next post...

Or...

Well, *soon*, anyway.

I have a BUNCH of them made, and i'm wanting to get to the store with Bunny so she can pick out the Bias Binding "tape"-thing so i can start putting them together.  And *THEN* i should be able to make a post about it!

Finally, right?    =-)

Well, i hope you're having a Wonderful Day!

And maybe you'll get the chance to start working on a Project you've been hoping to get to.   =-)

Take Care of Yourself!

=-)

Just Checking In...

Well, i meant to post *yesterday*, but...

I left my house at 5:00am on Tuesday!  Yes, Tuesday morning!
I am NOT a morning person, if i haven't told you that before.
But Boyfriend woke me at 4:30 Tuesday, and we left in our truck at 5:00 for Knoxville, Tennessee.
He had a job to do there, and i "volunteered" to go with him.
"Why?"
Well, because.
Because it's what a wife does after almost 30 years of marriage,
when Boyfriend's close friend and work-mate dies suddenly from a heart attack at the young age of 53.

Ricky was "the picture of health".  
Just turned 53 on January 1st.
Never smoke, never drank
in his entire life!
Rarely ate red meat.
Rarely ate dessert.
Ran 3 miles a day!
Knew his cholesterol & blood pressure numbers.
...had all the "markers" of a healthy person.

Went out on a run with his wife of 27 years, while the 20-something daughters (2, just like us) waited at home.

...and dropped dead on that run.
Massive heart attack.

It *really* hit Boyfriend hard.
Very Hard.

Ricky and Boyfriend had been on many road trips together for work over the years.  Probably 10,000 miles or more.
They had many similarities and many differences, but they respected each other.
They were mentors to each other, helping out where they differed, and commiserating where they had similarities.

Yes, it really hit Boyfriend hard.
Got him thinking about his own mortality.
Got him wondering what it's all for.
Got him thinking maybe he *should* have that Chocolate Nut Sundae once in awhile, after all.

And it got him thinking about how he never told Ricky that he loved him.
Loved him as he would a brother, if he had a brother.
But now he regrets that he never verbalized it.

So in my "being there" for my man,
and in my attempts to comfort someone who's not too good at being comforted and expressing "weakness", i told him i'd start travelling with him on his business trips.

So Tuesday, i drove to Knoxville, and he answered e-mails, texts and phone calls all day.  It's a FOUR hour drive, point-to-point.
Don't get me wrong; we stopped for breakfast; we stopped at Rest Areas.
But all in all, we were on the road for almost half the day.
I actually enjoyed driving.   =-)
And he enjoyed the fact that he actually got work accomplished instead of "wasting" that time by "only" being able to drive.
So...
Win-Win.   =-)
He got a bunch of work done, and we had each others' company.

But.
But!
That made me miss posting yesterday.
And my "latest" goal is to post every Wednesday.
And, in case i haven't told you, i'm not very successful at planning.
Oh, who am i kidding?  "Planning" simply doesn't seem to have a spot in my brain at all!
So i didn't have a post "pre-posted" for you.
I'm sorry.

So, here i am today.
Without a lot to say.
I have a *bunch* of Bunting for Bunny, but she and i need to get together at a fabric store and pick out the Bias Tape in whatever color she likes before i'll really be working on it again.
And i haven't really worked on any of my other WIPs lately.
So...
Nothing new to "report", really.

But i *am* feeling good today!   =-)
Which is Good News, since last week i had a little bit of depression going on.

And i hope YOU are feeling good, too!
It's been cloudy and raining and gloomy here all day, but i've managed to stay warm and keep busy and get a  few things accomplished, so.
GOOD for me!   =-)

I hope *you* are being slightly productive today, too!
And don't forget to tell someone how much you love him/her.  We won't be here forever, you know.
Take care!


=-)

Well...?

So...
I haven't taken the time yet to take pictures of my Art Room.
Big Surprise, right?
I'm sorry.
But i *do* have Good Intentions!
...I know, i know; "the road to Hell is *paved* with Good Intentions."

But i *have* been working on Bunny's Bunting, and i have a *bunch* of them sewn and ironed up!  (Or a "shit-ton" as Bunny would say.)  I'm so tickled about them!  And they make me happy, just looking at them!   =-)

So i'll soon take pictures of them and post about them, too.
I keep thinking about maybe doing a tutorial ("tute"), but then i just keep thinking about how there are already tutes alllll over the Internet for making Bunting Flags, so i keep talking myself out of doing a tute.  If you want to see tutes for how to make Bunting Flags, just go to YouTube and search 'bunting'.  That's how i got my courage up to do mine.   =-)

Work on the front yard has been going a little slow around here.  The weather hasn't exactly been co-operating, so.  Yeah.  It's been slow.
But it was *really* nice out yesterday, so i finally washed the truck in the driveway.  Because, MAN!, did it ever *need* it!  Boyfriend had driven it when it "snowed" here (i put it in quotes because it was really just 'snow-dust'), so my black truck was really grey.  But NOW it looks GOOD!  =-)

And i haven't taken the time to work on *any* WIPs because i've been having such a good time working on the Bunting.   =-)
And i think that's okay.

So that's my "check-in" for this week.
I hope you're having a productive week.
And if you're not, then i hope at least you're having a Good Week.   =-)

'Til next week!

=-)

Okay...

Okay, here's what i'm hoping to do in the next four weeks.
(I'm hoping that by putting it on my blog, it'll make me "obligated" to get it done!)

I've *totally* organized my Art Room (formerly the Art/Yoga room), and moved things around and made some changes in there.  It took awhile, as many worthy projects do, but i've finished getting it totally organized, and i want to share it here with you.  It's working for me.  I've already been doing stuff in there.  =-)

And speaking of "doing stuff", that leads me to another post i'm wanting to make soon.  I've been working on making bunting for Bunny's wedding.
...what?
Wait!
You mean i haven't told you about Bunny's wedding?
Oh shit!  "My bad", as they say.

Bunny (my 23-yo daughter) announced in June that she and her boyfriend, "AJ", got engaged.  Their wedding date is September 21st.  She wants to have her wedding in our backyard.  She wants a sort-of non-traditional wedding.  And she wants me to make bunting to hang from the house to the shop, and perhaps in the trees and/or on the fence.
What.  Not really sure what i'm talking about; "bunting"?

Check this out.
*That's* what i'm talking about.   =-)

So i had her go through allll my fabrics the other night and pull out the fabrics she wants me to use for her buntings.  So i've been working on that lately.  I usually don't post pics of Works In Progress.  I prefer to post about *finished* projects.  But for some reason i'm wanting to post about it.  So...

Okay.
Another post i'm wanting to make is about our front yard.
Yes, i know i *just* made a post about our back yard.
We did that work in July/August.
But now we're having our front yard re-done.
And i'm lovin' it!!!
And they're supposed to be finished fairly soon, so i want to post about it as soon as i can.
Did i mention i love it!?   =-)


I also want to make a post about all of the projects i have "in process" (Work In Progress), so *hopefully* that will get me motivated to get to work on them!  Plus, it'll help me to see just how many projects i have, and hopefully help me get motivated instead of depressed about them.   =-)


Okay.
So, to sum up, that means posts about:

1.  The Art Room
2.  Bunny's Bunting
3.  The Front Yard
4.  WIPs

Alright!
I have declared it.
Make it so.  (That one's for you, Pam.) (Who else knows what that's from?)

So.  What are you wanting to accomplish?  Craft-wise, Blog-wise, Organizing-wise, whatever subject.  Leave a comment and i'll come check out your blog too!
(Maybe one of these days, i'll figure out how to do one of those Link-y things...  Hmmm...)

I hope you have a Super Day!!!
=-)

Okay, Suzanne, this one's for you! (And About Time!)

So, this is the post about my backyard renovation.
And it's about time!  I know.  

I just don't take time to post.
I *read* lots of other people's posts, but don't take the time to make my own.

Frustrating.

Anyway, we did a major "overhaul" on our backyard this past Summer, and now it is Freakin' Awesome!  =-)  This is gonna be a picture-heavy post, so sit back and enjoy.
Here are some "Before" photos:

"Back in the Day" before we added the porch roof:

 Back before we added the porch roof, looking toward the backdoor:

 Looking from the backyard toward the Art room:

 Looking at my messy garden in front of the shop, 

in it's "full splendor":

I don't have the "just before" pictures that Boyfriend has on his computer, so these "right at the beginning of the work" pictures will have to do...

From the backyard looking at the house 

 From the back door looking toward the shop:

 From the back of the house (outside) looking toward the shop:

From the backyard looking toward the shop: 

 A different angle looking toward the house:

At this point in all of these pictures, the guys had already started hammering out the concrete that we had back there.  That was quite a job.  They used sledge hammers and beat and busted allllll day.  And they were young guys, too!  I'm just glad it wasn't me who had to bust out all that concrete.  It would have taken me a *week*!   =-)

So, now that you have an idea of what my backyard *used* to look like, here are the "After" pictures:

 Looking from the back gate toward the back door:

(and please disregard the furniture...

it's just there 'til we find something nice)

That's Italian marble on the "floor",

and Tennessee Field Stone coming up the side of the house.

Looking from the backyard toward the house:

 Looking from the back door toward the shop/gate:

 Looking from the gate down the side of the shop:

 Looking from the backyard toward the shop:

Those are Knockout Roses on the left, and

a Fragrant Tea Olive on the right.

 Sorry about this one;

the firepit (on the right) isn't quite finished in this photo

but you get the idea...

On the left is the water feature

It and the firepit are made from

Tennessee Field Stone

 Looking from the gate toward the back/side -ish:

 Looking from the back/side fence toward the Art room

(it's much neater now, and the bushes shouldn't get much taller):

The bushes are Azaleas and Hydrangeas

that bloom Spring through Fall.

 Japanese Maple and rock "wall":

 Steps into the shop, and future

bistro table area near the firepit:

And one Night Shot

It's really gorgeous out there at night too

since he put in such wonderful lighting:

We're really not finished.
We need to get some new furniture, and a nice metal sculptural art piece for that big wall space.
But we are really enjoying it.  We go out there quite frequently, especially in the evenings.  Even now, in the chilly weather.  We just turn on the natural gas firepit and enjoy its warmth while we bask in the serenity of our "new" surroundings.  
We are so glad we've done it!  We didn't really go out there much before.  
The environment just "wasn't right".  It wasn't cozy, like it is now.
We love it!!!


I hope you're loving where you are right now!
If not, maybe stop and look around and ask yourself what you can do to help the situation out...

I hope you have a Wonderful Day!

=-)


.

12.13.12

The Earth is so old.
I  typically tend toward thinking of things solely as they "relate to" me, but at times?  At times...

At times i have thoughts of
"I wonder if anyone has ever died on this very spot where i stand?"

It *could* be true.  The  Earth *is* very old.

This very spot could be sacred to someone i've never met, and likely never *will*, solely because of that "Time factor".



I try to think of People in that way, too.

I don't pretend to know *everything* that's happened in anybody's life, so i try to treat everyone as if they've had *some* sort of Trauma...  or Event...
*Something* that makes me treat them with a certain Respect, and a certain "Delicate-ness".


But i'm not steady and "predictable" in my ways,  so there are also times - *most* times -  when i treat people as if they're "just like me", and they just need a Good Laugh.

Getting ready for Senior Prom

& *wishing* my Mom would 

"just leave me alone for a minute!!!"

I  hope you're having a Wonderful Day!

And i hope your Tomorrow is Awesome as well.   =-)

.

I've Been...

wanting to write something, but i don't have a picture to go with it.
And when i say "something", i don't mean anything in particular.  Just "SOMEthing".  =-)
Just a blurb.
Just something for today.

So, here is *something*.

That's my dear "Assistant", Allie.
We've had her since Bunny was in 6th grade.
That's over TEN years!
I'm not really sure how old she was when we got her 'cause we "adopted" her when she was already an adult.
But she's SO SMART!
And she's been such an awesome dog!

...

She's getting so old.
She's also going deaf.
I'm certain of it, 'cause if i ask her, "You want a Cookie?" very quietly, she doesn't move a muscle.
And half the time when the doorbell rings, she just sits there silently, instead of barking like mad like she used to - which bothers me and makes me happy at the same time, because she wants to defend me. 
It's so sad.

And she carries her bowl around quite a bit lately.
I don't know if she just gets comfort from having it near.  I'm sure she's not *really* hungry; i actually think she's honestly *forgotten* that she's already eaten.

And she's losing her teeth.  
And she seems to be getting Arthritis, 'cause she sort of limps and halts and grunts when she gets up and starts moving around.

She's definitely not the Pup she used to be.

And she's started waking me up in the early morning 'cause she needs to go outside.

And her face is becoming more white than orange-ish.
And she has little cysts/tumors popping up on her in various places.
And she just lies around most of the time now.

It's sad, the slow "disappearing" of my faithful companion.

I'm gonna cry my eyes out when she passes...



But Boyfriend will be happy!  =-)


.