February 16th

It snowed here on February 16th, 2013.  I went out and took pictures with my phone, and it took me until a couple of days ago to *finally* figure out *how* to get them onto my computer!!!
Lame, i know.
But whatever.  I finally figured it out!   =-)  (And all by myself, too!)  (Go me!)

So when i drove out of my garage this morning and had tiny pieces of SLEET(!) pelting my windshield, i: 
1) freaked out! and
2) remembered that i *still* haven't posted about the "late snow" we had.

I'm over here rolling my eyes, people!  

February 16th = late snow {as to} 
April 4th sleet = wtf?????!!!

I can't even begin to bring up words to tell you how surprised i was when those tiny pieces of ice were falling from the sky this morning!

So...
I'm just gonna post the pics of the "late snow" while i contemplate words like  "snow" and "ice" and "seasons"...

I love how it  "highlighted" the stones.

The poor daffodils were already blooming!

(That's why i thought it was a "late snow".)

It snowed pretty hard (for here) for a short while, 

but didn't really stick on the roads, thankfully.

I love how this tree was gently covered in snow. 

The poor daffodil! 

"Oh, the weight of it all!"

I wish i had a couple of pictures from today...

The Bradford Pear trees are blooming and getting dainty green leaves, and yet!  Yet, we had sleet this morning.

I *do* have a picture of my "Jane Magnolia", though.  

We call it a Tulip Tree here in North Carolina.

Whatever you call it, 

I Love It!!!

My "new" Tulip Tree,

and my new front porch too!

(Yes, i still need to make a post about my front yard,

but the guy isn't *technically* finished yet!)

Close-up of a flower on the

Jane Magnolia:

(It's really not the best picture...  Sorry.)

I should go take some pictures of it today, 'cause "she's" blooming even more now!  But i really really need to get some housework done.  

Besides, the sun is *not* out.  It's raining/sleeting *still*!  (Off and on.)

Maybe tomorrow...

And maybe i'll update you on "her" next week!   =-)

I hope you have an AWESOME week!!!

=-)

p.s.  My sister's coming to visit!!!

I can hardly wait!

I haven't seen her in a *while*,

and it's been *for*ever* since she's been to my house!

I'm gonna *try* to get her to a gentle Yoga class... or TWO!   =-)

She really needs it...

.

Happy Birthday!

Today is my older sister's birthday.

My Sister, who's always been there for me.

There have been many times in my life when she was more of a mother to me than my own Mother.

Times where she gave me EXCELLENT "Words of Wisdom".

Times where she knew when to talk... and when to simply listen.

Where would the World be without Big Sisters?!?

My sister spoiled me so with all the care and love she gave me!

And she spoils and cares and loves me still today.

Thank you, Suzanne.

Thank you so much for being the BEST Big Sister any girl could ever ask for!

I'm not sure if that date is right... 

She'd only be 16months...

...maybe it was 1962...?

Anyway, it was somewhere in the 3 years before i came along.   =-)

"Smile for the camera!"

"The Loving Sisters"

=-)

...and she's beginning to wonder WHY her parents "wanted" another child!

Not sure if i was bowing, or simply looking at my shoes...

Who Knows?!?   =-)

But she looks like she's "DONE" with her little sister!   =-)

I am thankful EVERY DAY that i have you for my Big Sister, Suzanne!

...and *now* is the time i worry about you.

I worry that you work too hard.

I worry that you don't take time for yourself.  I know, you think you *can't*.

But somewhere in there, you just gotta!

I wish i lived closer to you so i could help you.

I wish i lived closer to you so i could actually *see* you on a regular basis!

But i am thankful that you are in this World.

It's a Better Place because of YOU!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Sweet Sister!

I love you more than words can say.

Always!

=-)

.

Today

Some days i have things to say.
And some days...
You know those days, right?  When you just have anything to say?

Well, today is Wednesday, and i *try* to post on Wednesdays...
But i honestly don't have much to say today.

I think i *might* have some photos in the camera that i haven't shown you yet...
But there are other things i *should* be doing.

So i just wanted to share something with you:
There's a blog i go to... almost every day.
I thought you, too, might like it.

But please don't abandon me for it!   

It's the sweetest thing, really.
It's three women who are friends, but they live in different states.
One of them wrote a book or two...
One works in an animal shelter...
And the other one...
Well, I'll just let you see for yourself.

Their posts are not planned or coordinated, but it seems, many times, that they serendipitously have something in common.
None of them makes overly long posts.
Sometimes it's just a sentence.
And a picture.  Always accompanied by a picture.
But i get *such* a feeling from their posts.

Here's the link:

http://3x3x365.blogspot.com/

I hope you like it as much as I do.   =-)


<><  <><  <>< <><    ><>  ><>  ><>  ><>   ><>

I hope you're having a Beautiful Day (despite what the weather in "your neck of the woods" is doing!).     =-)

Sorry 'Bout That!

Woh!  I went out of town last week with Boyfriend, and i missed making a post.  Sorry 'bout that!  I *intended* to post while we were on the road, but...
Well, you know.
"Stuff" got in the way.
As it frequently does.   =-)

Anyway, i went to Gainesville, Florida with Boyfriend.  He had a conference to attend for work, so i drove us all the way down there, and he worked on answering his work e-mails... All. The Way. There!  
Holy Cow, he gets a lot of e-mail!  
And all of it "needs" to be answered "right now!"

Anyway.  I'm glad i was able to help him by driving, so the 8 hours of drive time wasn't "wasted" for him.  =-)
It feels good to feel needed.  And to help him get stuff accomplished.

He works all the time, and i don't.  His days are filled with his job, and my days are at my leisure.  
Many, many times, i feel guilty about that...
But, hey.  That's just how things are for us right now.  
I keep waiting for the day he retires, and then maybe i can teach him how to 
s-l-o-w  d-o-w-n.  (That will be quite a feat!)

We left for FL  on Tues, Mar 5th, and on our way back on Friday, we took a "side-trip" to Beaufort, SC to see my Mom and her husband.

I don't mean to sound mean or anything, but i *always* dread that.
He is SO CONTRARY!!!
And he is such a contrast!
You never know if he's going to be an argumentative Ass,
or the joking, laughing old man.
But you *know* he's gonna be the opinionated, one-up, conceited Wanker
each. and. every. TIME!
Even when you're agreeing with him, YOU'RE WRONG!!!

Anyway, that trip is over for now, and i don't have to think about it again for at least 5 weeks or more!  "Tra-la-la-la-la!"  


Sorry i don't have any pictures for you, but Bunny came and "borrowed" *HER* camera from us, so...  The pics that i *have* taken are...
Yep. Still on the camera.
Sorry.
I'll try to do better next week!

Anyway!
I hope you're having a Marvelous Week!
Keep your head up and
"Keep on Keepin' On" (as we used to say waaay back when)!

=-)

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!

=-)