on-tiptoes

2009-05-28T14:04:00.001-07:00

This is our dining room, it had some awful wall paper on it. I am way more content and at ease in there now. Those window things came down too. I am a lose for what I will be doing in here... but then again, I am in no hurry. I like the room way better now than before.

Here you find my hubby and oldest.... taking down the paper in what we use as the TV room, I think it is supposed to be a study. This room will be painted next. I just don't know what color I want to use. For now the paper in the foyer/hallway and leading up the stairs and hallway will stay. There are way to many other projects to be worked on.

So this is our little garden. This pic. was taken a couple of weeks ago. I can not believe the changes going on at this time. I will have to take a new pic. You can see in the back ground our house. We intend to place a door in that first window to the left. It will give access to our garden, clothes line and the whole fenced in back yard.

Cardinals

2009-05-28T13:58:00.000-07:00

so it is baseball season around here. well, at least for my hubby. To bad, the Cardinals are putting up an impressive show... compared to his beloved CUBS. This is him and my little man taking in a game. What a way to sway a 4 yr. old. FIREWORKS... when Pujols makes a homer.

BTW - why is it that the Cubs do not have a website? They can't 3 W's in a row. I find this joke so funny and its one I can remember!

7 Years.

2009-04-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, today is our 7 year anniversary. sorta hard to believe that we have made it this far. This next weekend we are heading to a Cards/Cubs game to celebrate. Maybe I will post pics.

Nashville

2009-04-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

hold on there....

so lets see. My friend Kim and I were wanting to go to the Country Music Festival this year. With the down turn in everything. I had to back out. She said how about a road trip, of course I knew that it would be to see Dierks. Along with that we got to see Brad Paisley and Darius Rucker. It was a wonderful show. Along with going to the show, we had to hit the honky tonks. Although, a little disappointment set in. Not a single one had an ample dance floor. Now the cowboys to go on it. Of course Nashville is a tourist spot. What was I thinking? Well, heres to missing the starched shirts, hats, belt buckles and boots found in TX.

Ah, this pic. The close of the bars, the wet couple of blocks back to the hotel. Another fun road trip drawing to an end. Kim, we have so many more of these times ahead of us.

This my friends is a old dear friend Kristi. She lives but an hour and half south, down in Alabama. She and her hubby came up to Nashville, to meet us for lunch. It was such a nice catch up and I sure wished that we had more time to visit. I wish she would of been able to stay and roam with Kim and I. Love ya Kristi, thanks so much for adding to my trip! You are the best!
yes, yes, we were this close to Mr. Dierks himself. We were eating, not paying much attention to the annoucement that he had entered the building. There was Spartan fan sitting next to us, who of course was talking crap about the ILLINI. Well, when he stated that Dierks was there and playing, we did not believe him. Oh boy, he was there and that was the end to the eating. We were so close we could touch him.

potty training

2009-04-06T10:05:00.001-07:00

yummm, yes! you read that right. my youngest 23 months is fully potty trained. it started with her not wanting to poop in her diaper. I then decided to place her on the pot. we got her used to number 2 and then well, number one was accomplished in less than 5 days. I just had a pile of undies and pants. It did not take her long to realize that she did not like that feeling. so far, so good with the bedtime, other than she throws a fit when it is time to go.... even if she is wearing a diaper to bed.

projects on the finished list

2009-04-06T09:57:00.001-07:00

many of you knew that I was taking a painting class. It was a class on acrylics. This class tested me, I had to relearn what I had know at one time or another. The medium alluded me a bit, for the past 7 years, my choice of medium has been watercolors. Actually, you can see the same layout, in watercolor in a past post. Suffice it to say, I have yet to add the finish varnish coat. I am not for sure that I am done with it. Once I do decide that it is time to get it off of the floor. I plan on hanging it in my kitchen.

This is the as finished as it is going to get felt advent calander. I had bought it after Christmas so it did not cost me much money. BUT, it cost me a ton of time.... and pondering, do I really want to finish this? well, it is and I am so happy about that!

other projects needing attention. cleaning out closets, sorting out the ever growing piles of papers from the kids classes.

it has been a while...

2009-04-01T15:49:00.001-07:00

things have gotten crazy. my house, my kids, my job, my life. love it yes, want to leave it... sometimes. I really have let this go to the way side again. hopefully, I will get back on the wagon. I have a number of things to share from the going ons of my life as of late. BUT, it will have to happen when 3 kids are not fighting, running, tackling in the back ground.

Things keeping me busy.

2009-02-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

What I have here first is an Advent calendar. I bought it on sale after Christmas. There is a ton to do. I have not even really touched the tip of the ice burg. The hubby says that he will give me until 2011 Christmas to get it done. We will see. I still sit and work on it a couple of hours each week.

Another creative thing has made its way up onto my table in the dining room. I started these paintings, I would say a year ago. They are in watercolor. The most recent medium that I had taken up. I worked with oils in college and acrylic up until i picked up water colors. Well, so lets see. I have been away from acrylic for 7 years. I am taking a class for acrylic painting. Very informal class. Actually, I wrote about this in a previous post. My whole point is. I have decided to paint the same pic as above in acrylic and way bigger. 2'X2' . With watercolors you have to be cautious, ok I have to be cautious. There is no reckless abandon here. It is thought out. BUT with acrylic, you can go back in and alter your errors. The teacher wants the class to take it step by step. I want to get the paint on there... I want a finished painting. I want the instant gratification. I want to make my mistakes, and have the teacher help me figure out how to get back in and change them.

yes, and under all that stuff is a book on how to make aprons along with some fabric to do so. The thing is, I can't bring myself to do it, since I would have to follow a pattern.

The hubby hates my work area. I need my work area.

I'm a TIGER, but, most who know me......

2009-01-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

already know this!

Tiger Overview

From the outset, 2009 may present some true challenges for the Tiger. The year of the Ox presents an overwhelming influence upon the Tiger to maintain a steady and well disciplined pace. That is not to say that there won't be opportunities for achievement, but it would be more precise to say that this is a year that would benefit the Tiger in the areas of experience and possibly lay a solid foundation for the year to come. You will have to be resourceful and rely on your boldness and quick wit to ascertain anything in the year of the Ox.

Tiger Rating

27% (3 neutral and 9 unfavorable months)

Tiger Career

It would be beneficial to be cautious and careful when it comes to career decisions in the year of the Ox. It would be wise to be aware of the views of those around you, as this is not a year to be too independent in your actions or take any unnecessary risks. Be persistent in your responsibilities to impress others, as this will lead to progress towards your future. For the Tiger seeking a career change, tread through the rough spots and your relentless efforts will be rewarded in surprising ways.

Tiger Relationships

The Tiger's relationship may be one of the more favorable areas this year. You can look forward to some happy times with your loved one this year. Though your domestic life may be busy, it can bring you much satisfaction. Be aware of the fact that those around you hold you in high regard and you may not want to jeopardize these relations by your independence or by being too stubborn. Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings of others in your life and everything should work out well for you.

Tiger Health

The Tiger will not have any serious health problems this year, but there may some minor issues that you may want to pay attention or they could become much worse than originally anticipated. One area of concern is stress. There may be some situations this year that could escalate your stress levels and you may want to find some ways to alleviate this issue. The Tiger enjoys outdoor activities and this could provide an outlet to relieve your stress.

Tiger Wealth

Take caution when it comes to your finances this year, as it is not a time to speculate or take any unnecessary risks. Plan your large purchases carefully and avoid impulse buying. The best advice is to monitor your spending throughout the year and you won't have any problems. This may sound like simple advice, but due to your generous nature, it may not be as simple as it sounds.

Sitting and Listening

2009-01-23T06:51:00.001-08:00

well - I had Jacks Big Music Show on for Zettie to listen to. I was stopped in my tracks and pulled to the TV for an amazing show. AMAZING! I promptly looked up what I was listening to. Nuttin' But Stringz
I am not the only one to feel a pull when first hearing their stuff. This link was from the first search I did to find out the WHO.

Go listen, let your mind take it in. I am off to buy the CD.

two weeks.

2009-01-16T15:33:00.001-08:00

It has been two weeks since I last used my debit card. Hard to believe, but no card swiping for me. I have cursed the envelop system. At times, I have not liked it much. It takes longer to use than just whipping out a plastic card. BUT, I can already see, how I will be able to hold on to the cash for the extra things that I have budgeted in. I have one for the vehicle/tires. I have another for my Christmas fund. I am now pretty sure that I will be starting one for the replacement of my washer. There are so many other envelops that I would like to start, Disney, Ireland. Just to name a few. Tires and washer come before any of those dreams. But, if I were to take the $50 for the car tires the $10 for the washer, once bought of course. That would be 60 bi-weekly. $1500 a year. so in 3 years I would have the money for the Disney trip. Although, it would be time for another set of tires.

The Creative Person

2009-01-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Creative Person is both
more primitive and more cultivated,
more destructive,
a lot madder and a lot saner,
than the average person.
-Frank Barron

I read the above on a blog I visit. I believe that I fit the bill on this one.

A couple of weeks ago, I found out that my college art teacher will be giving a painting class, here in the small town that I live in. First thought, wow what a small world. Then really it is not all that small, seeing that the jr. college I went to is just 20 mi. east of here. Even though I paid thousands of dollars to study art from this guy.... I shall be coming up with the $20 a session he's asking for now. It will do my soul good! The beauty of it is, my world becomes more beautiful when I am creating. Although, I am a little worried about picking up the acrylics. I have not worked with them in a long time. I think at least 7 years. More recently, I had been watercoloring. In 2004 enrolled in a class taught by Jane Frey. (her site was not connecting at the time of this post, hopefully it will be back shortly) She is a wonderful artist and teacher. Oils really pulled me in while I was at ISU and after. Having three kids messing around makes it hard to work with them.

Well, I suppose I should be coming up with an idea for my still life.

Rozella is turning 6!

2009-01-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

these are a couple of pictures from the party we had for her with classmates. The theme was Wizard of Oz. We played twister, pin the heart on the tin man, balloon pop, limbo and then had a contest for Medals of Courage for the ????? Roar. I think that the kids had a wonderful time.

Great Finds

2009-01-12T08:41:00.001-08:00

Yep, this ugly thing was in my kitchen when we bought the place. A gas guzzling hog! I can lay a pound of hamburger on it and it will thaw in about an hour. (My hubby thinks that I am crazy, saying that this thing that continually takes gas to keep warm is wasting gas) Well, if you know me, I don't like to buy new, hardly ever that is. I could of easily gone to Sears and bought a new cook top. Since we are doing the debt diet and not using plastic any longer, I could not allow my self to do that. I just kept my eyes peeled, looking for that great deal. A couple of weeks ago I went into a thrift shop and found a two burner electric cook top, for $25. The problem was we needed something the same size or just a bit bigger to fill the hole in the cabinet. Now, don't get me wrong, I would of bought it and filled in the hole with a board, if the hubby would of let me. Cooking for a family of 5 on two burners, might be testy sometimes too. So I walked away from something I probably could of gotten for less.

So last week I had to go to Springfield for a dr. appointment. while in the city ;) I thought that I would do some running around. I came upon the Habitat for Humanity store. If you have a small redo project you need to go to one of these stores first. Things for all steps of the remodeling. I went in to see what kind of deals they offer for the many projects on our to do list. I of course was also looking for a cook top. Guess what, I found on. It was pushed back in the corner, hiding from me. I got in there and looked at the tag, $35. Yep, $35. This cooktop was originally marked $100 and I got it for $35 and who knows what the original price was. As you can see it says Kitchen Aid. The hubby says that it should not be to much trouble to change out the gas guzzler to this electric model.

On to another personal great find, that same day. I have been wanting to get a pair of Wellies, other wise known as rain boots. I just could not find ones that I wanted. I was in Target and found these. Although, they look to match my kitchen walls, they don't. The boots are robins egg blue, while the kitchen walls are vintage aqua.

BTW, I just went in and figured out how to resize the photos. Typical of x-graphic artist.... not giving a hoot. ;)

Christmas Card 2008

2009-01-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

To see full picture just click on it.

So this was our 2008 Christmas card. The photos were taken by my friend Amy Denney of Denney Photography. You should go and check out her site. Highly creative and willing to make you happy!

Amy is a woman on a mission. She has single handedly helped me in a number of areas this past year. Willingly offering up her husband handy dandy skills to get an office space started out in the garage. Talking to me about each others finances and monetary goals. She has introduced me to Dave Ramsey. Now, I don't follow his stuff to the tee, nor have I taken Peace University. I have read and followed, read some more. Watching Amy fill her envelops, hearing of the success has lead me to fill my own envelops. This is when you take cash from your bank account, allocating so much to each fund and pay those bills that way. When the money is gone there is no more until you get paid again. This system makes you think about where the money is going. It hurts more to spend $100 than it does $80. Because you are paying for it with cash. You are no longer whipping out the debit card and mindlessly paying.

Heres to a new year, one in a recession. Hopefully, one full of getting back to the basics. Hopefully, one no longer with credit card debt. Yes, it is my plan even in this recession.

Christmas card 2007

2009-01-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

to see the whole picture you will need to click on it.

This was our Christmas card from 2007. For your viewing pleasure, just in case I failed to send one to you. It was taken by my dear friend Kim. She came out to TX and visited me over Thanksgiving that year. On our way to take her back to the airport, we stopped at Cadillac Ranch. You are actually allowed to paint on these cars. The layers of paint are many!

I love this snap shot of my family. Hard to believe it is now past a year later and we are back living in IL. Although, there are many more things to see on the earth horizon here, we do not have a Cadillac Ranch. I never thought that I would look back and smile on so simple a memory, one formed while in TX. One of many I might add.

New Year, same old me...

2009-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

I guess. I have not really seen that same old me for some time. I hope that this year brings forth a ton of re-discovery. Not only for the me who I was. Also, for the family I have helped to create. Along with the rediscovery, heres to learning many new things about myself.

Yesterday I checked into the Oprah site. I came across a post on the Magic List. I saw this or something like it once before. I found my list, luckily, I kept it in a sketch book. I have it dated March 1st, 2008. On this list I have wrote:

• go to Ireland for our 10 yr. anniversary - 2012 (this will come off of the list once we get there, because it will happen)
• historical home or old house out in the country or edge of town
- one that needs love
- one with room for my art studio
- one for massage area and or to show work (my artwork)
(so we bought us a very old house, some say 1856, now that is old right? it is at the edge of town and actually, half of it is in town and from the bay window back it is considered country..... figure that out. I have an acre and half to produce a victory garden. Or have live stock. ;) Plans are already being thought up and talked over. Also, we started work on my massage space that would and could also show as gallery space.)

• submit to show work in juried show (this one will take a bit longer, I have to come up with a portfolio of work to show first... and before that, I have to find time to produce that work)
• serve those in need (although, I have done some very good small things, there is always room for improvement in this area. Although, helping those with aches and pains is a good way to start. I hope that our garden will help to feed those in need.)
• help @ my kids school (working on this one, but still would like to donate more time)
• read pride and prejudice (did this, why didn't I do that sooner?)
• start a victory garden (see above, we did try to grow some things in TX. Garlic did well, Onions not so. Our tomatoes did not mature in time for us to use nor did the green peppers. Although, friends back in TX said they had never seen such a big tomato plant. If you know me, you know I love my strawberries! I had two raised beds for them. In the two years we were in TX the plants were still maturing. Just a handful of berries came on. I suppose they will produce nicely this year. Hopefully, Sarah and Christine got over and took a number of them).
• irrigate garden with rain water saved from house gutters.

So four out of 8 things have already happened, or planned to happen. Suffice it to say, I believe that the "Magic List" does work. I have already wrote up my next one. What is on your Magic List?

Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz

2009-01-06T06:58:00.000-08:00

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

* Be direct and clear

* Listen to me carefully

* Don't judge me for my anxiety

* Work things through with me

* Reassure me that everything is OK between us

* Laugh and make jokes with me

* Gently push me toward new experiences

* Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

* being committed and faithful to family and friends

* being responsible and hardworking

* being compassionate toward others

* having intellect and wit

* being a nonconformist

* confronting danger bravely

* being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

* the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind

* procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself

* fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of

* exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger

* wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right

* being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

* are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn

* are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger

* form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent

* look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel

* are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

* are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty

* are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence

* worry more than most that their children will get hurt

* sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

three months...

2008-09-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

really?? Really, has it been three months? I can't even tell you where it went. Never mind me taking a bit over a month escape to IL. Then there was the packing of the house in TX and getting it ready for market. Then on to the unpacking in IL and trying to find some balance. Although the balance for the most part is there, we are still teetering back and forth. Never mind that though, the teetering back and forth. I am back close to where I was two years ago. I have many a new option opened up to me. So many a new option I am almost paralyzed by all the choices that are presenting themselves. I feel slightly stunned to take off and run with any idea. If you know me, I have never been afraid to jump in on something that I want to experience. As of late, I have been very cautious. Cautious to the point of annoying myself. Well, heres to a new beginning. New options and choices. New ideas and well hell, desires.

t-shirt project.....

2008-06-10T09:11:00.001-07:00

so what you are looking at is a t-shirt i bought at the local thrift store. i added all the shiny paint and the little crystals, cut off the neck and i have one hip shirt.

i have been working on another one, but as the hubby has pointed out the bull horns just don't look right. i will keep that blunder to myself. ;)

CASE IH

2008-06-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

so if you know me.... you know that i root for the RED tractors. International Harvesters..... boo the green. heheheh
my friend Christine showed up one day wearing a hat like the one below. i just had to have one. but, if you know me, i don't like to wear hats.... all that heat from my thinking brain needs to escape. so i managed to make it into a sun visor. i fretted over the whole project, i did not want to ruin my hat. but i finally decided it would not get wore as a hat so i might as well cut and try to sew it into something i would wear.

mexico....mission

2008-06-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

so my friend amy and her hubby will be heading out on their second mission trip to mexico. she asked me to provide two purses. what a simple request. i then was thinking what else can i send. lately i have been making tote bags from old pillow cases which have evolved into aprons. ahhhhh, i shall send aprons. maybe they would like to have that something to wipe hands on, carry things with and to keep the clothes that they are wearing clean just a bit longer.

the purses.

the aprons.

little bits

2008-06-05T14:03:00.001-07:00

zettie in her new beautiful dress from her aunt wendy.... bows included.

harvested garlic..... ummmmmm.

fresh picked strawberries...... ummmm too.

strange dragon fly type thing which i came across in our back yard.

look what i can do....

2008-06-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

already on to the next milestone. just a couple of weeks ago i took away the bottle. this week we are no longer taking formula. how is it the third one grows so much more quickly. she is only 13 months old.

i promptly got her down and up she scurried again. i even took her down one last time, with the camera turned to video, she started back up.... this time, no happy ending. ( are there really ever any happy endings) i have video to prove that i am a horrible mom whom did not stop her little girl from attempting to do what her two older siblings do everyday.

hail

2008-05-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

yep, this is what we saw once we came out of the bathroom. although my hubby thinks that i am a little to antsy when it comes to such reports, i am glad that we all waited it out in the bathroom. more thankful that we were not hit by anything worse. just click on the picture to enlarge.

for the daddy

2008-05-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

rozella sure has taken to drawing lately. we have post its stuck throughout the house. but, she saved her biggest one for her daddy. she even gave him a crown. she not only included herself but also the sun, the nickname we have for her.
sorry that you have to turn your head to see it.

smores

2008-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

yesterday we got the tent out.... bought some firewood, and had ourselves a camp out. granted we did not get it started until close to 10PM. smores were made, scary stories told and just a little bit of cuddling. hubby let me go inside the house to sleep, thanks dear.

the hats alright, but the head is to small.

2008-05-25T08:52:00.001-07:00

so my little girl is growing up so quickly. with three little ones in the house, it seems that it will never happen. hard to believe that it is all day school for her come fall.

homegrown... and we are not talking kids.

2008-05-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

so well... these hamburger buns are not home grown but they are made from scratch. wendy i want to thank you for making me think that i can accomplish many a different task. earlier this year i conquered home made pizza crust. in doing so i re-realized how much better made from scratch things are. the buns are to die for. i have never, never had a bun taste so good. now that i think i have my problem of killing yeast behind me, i hope for many another baked good thing to come from kitchen.

yummmmm, we managed to find four ready to pick strawberries this morning. i have been fighting the birds from the beginning of the week. they like the berries as much as i do. i have a net and now i have added chicken wire and some wood planks. i think there might be a full out war if they do not leave them alone. one thing is for sure, all the waiting and longing will pay off. rozella allowed me to have one of her two strawberries and although small... it was oh so good.

another good thing, is our patch of garlic. making my homemade pizza and sauce yesterday i need some garlic and although the hubby thinks that it should be harvested in july... i went ahead and pulled one head up. it was ready enough to use, and so comes the end of buying one more thing at the store.

well, heres to a wonderful holiday ushering in summer weekend.

a whole new world.....

2008-05-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

the recital, my little girl is getting so big.... as you can tell from the below photos. just a couple of years ago, was a trial, when it performing in front of a crowd. as you can see she sure shined in mine.

Change of Heart

2008-05-12T13:02:00.001-07:00

When i head to my local library i do not hold my breath in anticipation of finding something that i am looking for. last week, sitting on the new rack was Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. a couple of my friends have mentioned that they planned to read it. of course it made it onto my mental book list. i am so glad that God brought it into my life when he did.

a couple of quotes:

"This is my sinple religion.
There is no need for temples;
no need for complicated philosophy.
Our own brain, our own heart is our temple;
the philosophy is kindness."

-His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

p. 283

"An individual can have a religion," he said. "He can't have a religious institution. But it seems to me that Shay Bourne is standing in a tradition similar to the ones the Gnostic Christians did nearly two thousand years ago. He's not the first to say that he can't name his faith. He's not the first to find a path to salvation that is different from others you've heard about. And he's certainly not the first to mistrust the body - to literally want to give it away, as a means to finding divinity inside oneself. But just because he doesn't have a church with a white steeple over his head, or a temple with a six-pointed star surrounding him, doesn't mean that his beliefs are any less worthy." p. 316

"Religion often gets in the way of God"
-Bono, at the national prayer breakfast, Febuary 2, 2006 p. 343

"I personally feel that it's just as worthy on a weekend to rake the lawn of an elderly neighbor or to climb a mountain and marvel at the beauty of this land we live in as it is to sing hosannas or fo to mass. In other words, I think every man finds his own church - and not all of them have four walls." p.399

"There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein p.443

if you know me, you know that i face a personal fit with those around me. those whom have made it clear that my personal religion is not good enough. so to them, go sit on your ass.... i will just continue to do it the way i have. AND along the way i hope to learn more about the Gnostic Gospels.

definition of Gnostic Gospels

Gnostic Gospel Library

INTO THE WILD

2008-04-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

into the wild
YouTube Into The Wild

Where to start...... where to start.

this past weekend i picked up the movie and watched, heck the whole family watched it.. yesterday i picked up the book and tonight i finished it.

if you have not heard of the story of Christopher McCandless aka Alex Supertramp, it is one to be looked into. usually i am one to read the book and then watch the movie. in this case i am glad that i watched and then read. with the movie i felt so connected to what he was trying to do and gain. although i went to the book for more input it was very similar to the movie but with the movie Sean Penn did a great job showing us more of what could be going on in Alex's mind and soul. especially now that everyone should be on a bandwagon for conserving, conserving of almost everything. although i tend to think that i am at one with my consumption, it never hurts to ponder other ways to live, reuse, recycle, or to do without.

now for some of the quotes that i found to make me ponder... ponder my own existence here in a far off land.

"you are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in everything and anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living." p. 57

"But have you noticed the slight curl at the end of Sam II's mouth, when he looks at you? It means that he didn't want you to name him Sam II, for one thing, and for two other things it means that he has a sawed-off in his left pant leg , and a bailing hook in his right pant leg, and is ready to kill you with either one of them, given the opportuinty, The father is taken aback. What he usually says, in such a confrontation, is "I changed your diapers for you, little snot." This is not the right thing to say. First, it is not true (mothers change nine diapers out of ten), and second, it instantly reminds Sam II of what he is about. He is mad about being small when you were big, but no, that's not it, he is mad about being helpless when you were powerful, but no, not that either, he is mad about being contingent when you were necessary, not quite it, he is insane because when he loved you, you didn't notice." Donal Barthelme, The Dead Father p. 145

Oh, how one wishes sometimes to escape from the meaningless dullness of human eloquence, from all those sublime phrases, to take refuge in nature, apparently so inarticulate, or in the wordlessness of long, grinding labor, or sound sleep, of true music, or of a human understanding rendered speechless by emotion!

McCadless starred and bracketed the paragraph and circled "refuge in nature" in black ink.
Next to "And so it turned out that only a life similar to the life of those around us. merging with it without a ripple, is genuine life, and that an unshared happiness is not happiness.... And this was most vexing of all," he noted, "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED." p. 189

take the time to watch the movie. you will not be disappointed.

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind

2008-04-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

hahahah i think that it was about time that she spoke it. ;)

this book was wonderful, thank goodness there is a whole series and that my local library carries em.

just a few little bits....

"ever since then she'd flounced herself around anytime I was in her office, not that anybody with all that weight ought to do any flouncing." p. 56

"Get a hold of yourself," I told her as I snatched a Kleenex from the box and handed it to her. "If theres one thing I've learned in all this, it's that you have to stand up for yourself. Nobody else is going to do it for you, least of all the people you ought to be able to depend on."

Radar and the Rodeo

2008-04-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

so we have a new store in town.... Big R. along with the grand opening they had the worlds largest horse. Radar is his name. this picture does not do justice to how big he is. he is a Belgian Draft Horse. Radar stands 6'7.5" at the withers (if you know my hubby he is 6'7")just so you know the withers are at the top of the shoulder where the neck joins the body. The ‘lump’ seen on many horses is the top of the spiny process of the tallest thoracic vertebrae. This part of the vertebrae is quite high on some horses and shallow on others. this big boy drinks 20 gl. of water daily.

on to the rodeo......

this pic is of the wheel barrel races. you can see that Zettie was having a blast along with Rozella and her friend Chesna.

Rozella was not to sure this time about riding the horse, as you can see below William was loving it. by the way this horse was of regular size. ;)

why?

2008-04-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

why is it some people think that they have so much control over others lives. be it, thoughts, eating, breathing.... ya know things like that.

the world does not revolve around you. i will not change my mind or my opinion just to make you happy.

don't you realize that what you continue to try to do, is what has made me stand up for myself and my beliefs. made me remember my backbone.

just because you want it a certain way, i will no longer be the one to go with your flow. i have my own flow, i have wants and dreams too. no longer will i participate in making yours come true, since you have showed me how selfish you are with helping me obtain what not only i need for myself but also for my family.

so step back, shut up for once and realize these are my dreams, my hopes, my desires......

things to bloom

2008-04-14T12:40:00.001-07:00

these flower beds contain hopefully what will be a plentiful harvest of strawberries. we bought 50 plants last year. this year we have added another bed and separated them, we now have over 70. garlic inhabits the end of the first bed. we will be added onions, tomatoes and a green pepper plant. i surely would like to take a hand at that, seeing that the going rate for just one is 89¢. i should be able to buy a plant for 3 or 4 dollars. we will have to see.

the following picture is of the pear tree out back. beautiful at the moment.

this past weekend was a simple one. worked on my watercolors. pondered a couple of new ideas. finished pride and prejudice. and did many a load of laundry, it was great weather for hanging up outside. i hope you all have a wonderful week.

baked beans.. please

2008-04-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

here is my littlest, sometimes it is just such fun to watch her throughly enjoy her food.

watercolors and alone time....

2008-04-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

as many of you know. on Saturdays i head on over to the ArtCenter here in town. although i do not find much adult conversation, i do find solitude from little voices. seeing that all of them in my head are grownup. ;) below you will find a number of the newest finished pieces to my portfolio. maybe next year i will have enough to enter a show. as one can see i love using my nick nacks and of course the theme of five o'clock somewhere. well, i hope that you enjoy.

blue egg cup, 2008

untitled, 2008

my cup of tea, 2008

untitled, 2008

happy things, 2008

Charlie, the chocolate factory and a mouse

2008-04-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

so while watching the movie, i thought that i saw something move over by the entertainment center. i asked is there a cat over there.....since the hubby had a full view. nope. then i turned my attention back to the movie and once again i saw something. this little mouse decided he wanted to play cat and mouse with our two. matt successfully caught him with a cookie smeared with peanut butter. he had to take the picture to prove it.

another reason to like... IKEA

2008-04-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

just found this and it gives me another reason to like IKEA. not only are they not going to use plastic any longer. they are giving the proceeds back.

tree climbing & walking

2008-04-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

although we do not have big trees, we at least have one great for little one climbing.

they have an old jump rope tide to a limb. this helps with the ascend and descend.... and well the tricycle at the base of the tree does too.

One other note. Zettie is finally realizing that she can walk. how exciting is this? well, for me very. it means that i can gradually stop worring about what she is wearing. seeing that a ton of the clothes that she has are borrowed handmedowns. seeing that handmedowns are great on the pocketbook.

padding of the nests

2008-04-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

this is just a pic of a little sparrow collecting discarded samson fur. if you don't know what i am talking about, i am talking about my white german sheppard. it is now shedding season. and even though this fur came off of such a big beast... as i am sure the birds think, they are still picking it up and using it to pad their nests.

what a great reuse little birdies.

by the way the kids think that the birds have beards.. heheheh

8p.m. Saturday March 29th

2008-03-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

Earth Hour

came across the above in the news on my yahoo page.... i am glad that it is not to late to join. this site is full of information. when you get a moment check it out.

Go CARDS!

2008-03-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

well, here is my little man sporting his cardinals hat that grandma pam gave to him. daddy is a cubs fan so let the animosity begin. ;) isn't he just so damn cute?

along 287

2008-03-27T19:29:00.000-07:00

the following is what you can find here in TX.... well, at least where i live in TX.

this picture is the beginning of the new wind power. these wind farms are popping up everywhere and hopefully will lead us to a cleaner environment.

these are some of them already put up and ready to go... at last count there were 16. this is small compared to some wind farms. it would not surprise me if they keep adding to.

now these are pics of a someones ranch. i failed to get the real beauty of it... an old ran down building. i just know that someone a long long time ago lived there. but in these two pictures what you can't see are some horns... might i say in the midwest they don't grow em like this.... out on the open great plains.

some of the things that you will not find where i live in TX are mature trees.... at least tall mature trees. you don't see two story houses and well since we are onto no two story house... why don't they have basements? you would think that if you don't have two stories for tornado season. then why wouldn't you have basements for tornado season. also, you will not find corn popping up in rows, just irrigated circles. and if you want to have green grass, you have to water water water. oh and by the way... where i am at in TX, no one drives minivans. that is right.... i think that i can count a total of 5 in this whole town. we are big vehicle country. i suppose that i should not complain to much, for God will greet me with a marvelous sunrise. this morning i could swear that it was a rainbow.... it was magnificent. and her at 10p. i as i sit here typing this my bedroom windows are open, taking in the fresh air (since the wind is out of the southwest, not the north - feedlot) and well the sound of the sprinklers which will in turn lead to green grass. and hopefully many flowers.

how irish are you?

2008-03-17T13:20:00.001-07:00

You're 70% Irish

You're very Irish, and most likely from Ireland.

(And if you're not, you should be!)

How Irish Are You?

acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm

2008-03-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

"awakened doing is the alignment of your outer purpose - what you do - with your inner purpose - awakening and staying awake. through awakened doing, you become one with the outgoing purpose of the universe. consciousness flows through you into this world. it flows into your thoughts and inspires them. it flows into what you do and guides and empowers it.
not what you do, but how you do what you do determines whether you are fulfilling your destiny. and how you do what you do is determined by your state of consciousness." (p294)

"there are three ways in which consciousness can flow into what you do and thus through you into this world, three modalities in which you can align your life with the creative power of the universe. " (p.295)

"the modalities of awakened doing are acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm." "if you are not in the state of either acceptance, enjoyment, or enthusiasm, look closely and you will find that youa re creating suffering for yourself and others." (p.295)

ACCEPTANCE
"acceptance means: for now, this is what this situation, this moment, requires me to do, and so i do it willingly. performing an action in the state of acceptance means you are at peace while you do it. on the surface, acceptance looks like a passive state, but in reality it is active and creative because it brings something entirely new into this world." (p.296)
" if you can neither enjoy or bring acceptance to what you do - stop. otherwise, you are not taking responsibility for the only thing you can really take responsibility for, which also happens to be one thing that really matters: your state of consciousness. and if you are not taking responsibility for your state of consciousness, you are not taking responsibility for life. : (p296-297)

ENJOYMENT
"through enjoyment you link into that universal creative power itself. when you make the present moment, instead of past and future, the focal point of your life, your ability to enjoy what you do - and whith it the quality of your life - increases dramatically. joy is the daynamic aspect of being>" (p. 297)
"enjoy what you are doing already, instead of waiting for some change so that you can start enjoying what you do. don't ask your mind for permission to enjoy what you do." (p. 298)

"joy does not come from what you do, it flow into what you do and thus into this world from deep within you." (p. 298)

"you will soon find that what you do in such a state of heightened awareness, instead of being stressful, tedious, or irritating, is actually becoming enjoyable. to be more precise, what you are enjoying is not really the outward action but the inner dimension of consciousness that flows in the action. this is finding the joy of being in what you are doing. if you feel your life lacks significance or is too stressful or tedious, it is because you haven't brought that dimension into your life yet. being conscious in what you do has not yet become your main aim." (p. 299)

ENTHUSIASM

"enthusiasm means there is deep enjoyment in what you do plus the added element of a goal or a vision that you work toward. " (p 301)

"when you want to arrive at your goal more that you want to be doing what you are doing, you become stressed. the balance between enjoyment and structural tension is lost, and the latter has won. when there is stress, it is usually a sign that the ego has returned, and you are cutting yourself off from the creative power of the universe." (p. 302)

"the word enthusiasm comes from the ancient greek - en and theos, meaning God. and the related word enthousiazein means "to be possessed by a god." with enthusiasm you will find that you don't have to do it all by yourself. in fact, there is nothing of significance that you can do by yourself. sustained enthusiasm brings into existence a wave of creative energy, and all you have to do then is "ride the wave." (p. 302)

"enthusiasm knows where it is going, but at the same time, it is deeply at one with the present moment, the source of its aliveness, its joy, and its power. enthusiasm "wants" nothing because it lacks nothing." (p. 303)

the above are just some of the underlined words from Eckhart Tolle, a New Earth, Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. this part of the book really hit it home, how i have been dealing with being here in Texas, that is. and all of the changes that my life has seen in the past few years.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

from a house with reds.... we wish you all a day full of wonder. maybe you will find that pot of gold. did you remember to wear your green?

aha!

2008-03-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Keep your weakness intact. Don't try to acquire strengths, above all those that aren't for you, not meant for you, that nature has preserved you from, preparing you for something else.

aha!

well, besides that which happened just a couple of minutes ago... i fell asleep out side on my glider swing while listening to the birds. if you are reading a new earth and have made it to the 8th chapter you know what i am talking about. finding those spaces.

right now as i type this Sweet Home Alabama is on. i so love this movie. a great day to end the day. besides the above mentioned accomplishments, i repainted the front door... of course it is still blue, it just matches the soffit color of the house now. well... now that i think about it much of the other stuff is not really worth mentioning. all in a days work of a stay at home mom. by the way i just typed that with a smile on my face.

well, thanks for taking the time to stop on by. i hope that the rest of your week is a wonderful one. and i hope that an aha! moment hits when you least expect it.

just another manic monday

2008-03-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

nope, not really here in my world. although, it has all been about cleaning up, decluttering and making it look nice. we are in the throws of getting the house ready to be sold. now, who knows when this will take place, and it better take place. but, we are gearing up to get the job done and done quickly. if you know me then you know that our garage is full... a two car garage. so many a great treasure we just can't let go. we know that we will have to rent a storage unit once we put the house on the market. so since we are going to have to rent extra space, i have been decluttering within the house... this includes extra furniture. we have to up the visual especially showing the space. all of this hard work is making me tired. or is it all the thoughts of the impending move and the next step in our lives.

oh, it has been pointed out, i wrote the wrong weekend for Easter. wouldn't that be strange to have Easter one day and then St. Patty's day the next? have a wonderful day!

out being creative

2008-03-08T13:06:00.001-08:00

so, the hubby usually allows me to take Saturday and either go thrifting or to the art center and paint. of course it being the only time i am not around my kids, i have to take it. although, i would love to trek all the way to amarillo, to see what goodies i might find... gas is $3.15 a gl. and since we are watching all the pennies, i decided to paint. i will have to post at a later time of the newest finished pieces. actually at this moment i am giving them a bit more time to dry before packing up and heading home. i have hit a wall and well, it is time to stop for the day, at least on this one project. last night i transplanted my little starts to flats. lets see, out of a whole packet of lavender seeds, i only had 4 starts. those are some tough plants to start. my black eye susans will be in abundance though. well it is hard to believe that next weekend is Easter. Spring has to be right around the corner. well i hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

how many colors do you know?????

2008-03-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

so cruising around.... i found a site that tests you on how many 5 year olds you could take out. seeing that i have 3 under 5, i was able to take out 18. ;) i then saw this quiz. heheheheh you would think me being an art student would of helped. go see what you can do. then comment back.

25

easter pasts

2008-03-04T19:55:00.001-08:00

well, it won't be long before the easter bunny will be paying a visit. it is amazing how quickly easter has come upon us. the following are from years back.

my little red enjoying the coloring of the easter eggs.

oh those curls... where did they go? and the innocence?

carson - what a chunky monkey you were. do you remember this?

more time...patience

2008-02-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

P.S. I Love You

so i have read the book, seen the movie twice. actually, it will be bought once it hits stores. i wonder if my like is due to the Ireland infatuation or the jeffrey dean morgan. infatuation. no really i am not infatuation with either. just both are nice to look at. if you get the chance to see the movie, by all means do so. just remember to take some tissues along. the following song is one that i imagine my hubby telling me, one that says better days are coming and that Gods plan is way better than any of us can imagine. just one thing said... i have never doubted God and his work and time. i am just impatient. and well i am learning from the new earth by eckhart tolle that "apart from the obvious ones such as anger, hatred, and so on, there are other more subtle forms of negativity that are so common they are usually not recognized as such, for example, IMPATIENCE, irritation, nervousness, and being "fed up." they constitute the background unhappiness that is many people's predominant inner state. you need to be extremely aleert and absolutely present to be able to detect them." (p.112-113) so here i am, yet again working on patience.

Soundtrack: P.S. I Love You
Title: More Time (Needtobreathe)

I promised you the world again
Everything within my hands
All the riches one could dream
They will come from me

I hoped that you could understand
That this is not what I had planned
Please don’t worry now
It will turn around

Cause I need more time
Just a few more months and we’ll be fine
So say what’s on your mind
Cause I can’t figure out just what’s inside

I hoped that you could understand
That this is not what I had planned
Please don’t worry now
It will turn around

Cause I need more time
Just a few more months and we’ll be fine
So say what’s on your mind
Cause I can’t figure out just what’s inside
So say alright
Cause I know we can make it if we try
Cause I need more time
Just a few more months and we’ll be fine

We’re off to new lands
So hold on to my hands
It’s gonna be alright
It’s a whole lot brighter
So stand by the fire
It’s gonna be alright
Yeah, the road gets harder
But it’s not much farther
It’s gonna be alright
You know that it ain’t easy
Please believe me
It’s gonna be alright

Please don’t worry now
It will turn around

Cause I need more time
Just a few more months and we’ll be fine
So say what’s on your mind
Cause I can’t figure out just what’s inside
So say alright
Cause I know we can make it if we try
Cause I need more time
Just a few more months and we’ll be fine

true confession

2008-02-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

yesterday while my crock pot worked its magic, i noticed our fish popo enjoying the warmth off of the pot hitting his bowl. he was actually swimming around. i was so proud of myself for being so thoughtful to something so much smaller than i, something that swims, eats and poops. well, of course he went through the night without the warmth from the crock pot. this morning i thought poor fish i really need to get to walmart and find a warming lamp. so i turned the crock pot on again... but this time i place the fish bowl inside of it. yeap... you guessed it. i guess i let the water get to warm. thank goodness the fish nose dived to the bottom of the bowl and looks like he could be alive. at lunch i told matt the story and well, he should be bringing home another popo after work. by the way, if the kids are cold.... i don't put them in the crock pot. they are told to go put clothes on. ;) have a great day!

pics from home

2008-02-27T13:02:00.001-08:00

carson and rozella making snow angels. we all loved the snow. we were so lucky to make it back in time to enjoy it. i could have just curled up in a comfy blanket in front of the window.... it was just plain lovely.

matt and william out doing some good. they shoveled three driveways, for what better reason, just because.

my sister and i out and about.... we hit one of the bars that i frequented in my young adulthood.

the girls...zettie missing her ILLINOIS shirt.

last but not least my little man trying to say "i love you" in sign language.

back in TX

2008-02-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

just a quick update, a lengthy one will come later. we made it back in record time. it took us just 14 hours to get here. the kids slept most of the way which helped out considerably. i think that IL hit a mid 30's high, where at one point we were close to 65. Matt made another flower bed out back. this one will be in direct sunlight, now i need to get those strawberry plants moved. well, have your selves a wonderful day.

hello from IL

2008-02-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

that is right. we packed up the kids and the car to make a trip back home. i am so happy to be back. and, God has given me snow too!!! this trip took us a bit longer... freezeing rain. but, thankfully we made it safely. it seems we are all finally rested up. the one thing that is a bit bothersome is the fact that our time home is limited. i hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

in my next life....

2008-02-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

thanks terri clark!

well if you know me... then you know it fits me.

In my next life I won't cuss so much
I won't ever touch that first cigarette
In my next life I'll stay away from bad boys
I'll listen to that voice inside of my head
I won't wake up and look in the mirror wondering what I did last night

But in this life I want to have a good time
I wanna live fast
Hit it as hard as anybody has
'Til they turn out the lights
If I get to come back I promise you that I'm gunna walk a straighter line
In my next life

I'll keep my shirt on when i'm at Mardi Gras
Gettin' loose and free
In my next life I won't do body shots
I won't think i've got to try everything
I'm gunna be a little angel who gets her kicks flying right

But in this life I want to have a good time
I wanna live fast
Hit it as hard as anybody has
'Til they turn out the lights
If I get to come back I promise you that I'm gunna walk a straighter line
In my next life

But in this life I want to have a good time
I wanna live fast
Hit it as hard as anybody has
Til' they turn out the lights
If I get to come back I promise you that I'm gunna walk a straighter line
In my next life

I'll keep my shirt on when i'm at Mardi Gras
If I come back...

seeds to start

2008-02-19T19:40:00.000-08:00

so, i am already longing to see the green sprouts of new flowers. one of my next projects will be the planting of these little seeds. last year i made a green house of my back porch. this year will be a little different. i plan to have more than the black eye susans make it. along with the many drought tolerant flowers i intend to have an herb garden. talking of gardening, i have a big project for the hubby. last year we made a garden bed, built up walls and partially filled it with good dirt. not the red stuff found in these parts. well, we put it directly in the line of a shade tree. so this year we are making another one to the south of the first one. hopefully my strawberry plants will produce with all the sun and maybe a tomato or two.

on a side note, i am saving my egg cartons. normally i would send them to the recycling bin but this year i will be using them to start my seeds in. oh and i read that coffee grounds are good for the plants too. so hubby needs to start saving that, to help add to the great soil of TX.

the other boleyn girl

2008-02-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/theotherboleyngirl/

if you have not had the chance to read this book... one of a series. i highly suggest doing so, especially before hitting the theater. philippa gregory has captured many an hour of time from me. she is masterful in the historical/fiction realm.

http://www.philippagregory.com/

roasting marshmellows

2008-02-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

around here we like to watch fetch, it is a PBS show. highly educational, yet enjoyable. one of the recent airings they learn survival skills, for out in the wilderness. starting a fire was one skill... and making so'mores.

so, with plenty of begging we roasted marsh mellows in our fireplace. they turned out to be to gooey for williams taste.

happy valentine's day

2008-02-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

well, the kids are hyped up.... the candy is almost gone. is love really in the air?

we want to send out hugs and kisses to you all. the slobbery ones are the best!

daisies

2008-02-14T12:40:00.001-08:00

yes, yesterday it made it to 70. that is correct, 70.

i managed to do 3 loads of laundry and all three were hung up outside. i wanted to share another thrift find. i paid $1.50 for this lovely table cloth with daisies. makes me smile and well, i have been out front daily watering where my black eye susans will be coming up. can you imagine the time that it took to make this lovely?

seeing red

2008-02-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

so, i have been trying my hand at sewing....
although it is not completely like one i saw on another site, how could it be, i did not follow a pattern.

i made this from an old sheet and some left over red material, there is also a heart on the bottom right corner.

my red boots. they were a great find for $6. gotta love goodwill.

untitled

2008-02-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

wow! now that i can do this, that is upload pictures. i have to practice right? why not show off some of my recent works. this one is 4x6 and was sent into the same scholarship as mentioned below.

the yellow egg cup

2008-02-12T17:32:00.001-08:00

so will this finally be... could i possibly figure this out? if so, thanks wendy.

welp, i did not do it

2008-02-11T19:44:00.002-08:00

i will have to call my friend wendy
http://simplesnowstitches.blogspot.com/
see if she can help me.

this is just crazy seeing that i was a graphic artist for like 8 years and i have all the capabilities to do this. CRAZY! i wonder if it is something about my mac and all.

egg

2008-02-11T19:44:00.001-08:00

second try, of the egg cup

2008-02-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/nancyheb/yellow.jpg

the egg cup

the yellow egg cup

2008-02-11T19:32:00.000-08:00

well, i finally did it. i uploaded a picture. 4 months later, i finally accomplished it!

what you all are looking at is a 4x6 watercolor painting. i did the above painting for a scholarship thing for the college that i graduated from. i try to take saturdays and in solitude head to the art center here in town. since moving across the country, i have been allowing myself to explore this medium. i amaze myself with what i am capable of doing.

well, i hope that the above image puts a grin upon your face. such as it does mine.

so here i go again.

2008-02-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

with the first blog attempt. i wanted to upload a couple of pics. i failed four times.... i don't know what it is i am doing wrong. but, i feel that i need to follow through with this started project. a place of my enjoyments and all. basically the above is for myself and hopefully, it will push me to further my knowledge.

on that note, what are the things that i have learnt to do so far this year of 2008.

well lets see:

- i have learnt to make pizza crust with yeast, yes, i know. the thing is the rising just never worked for me.
- i have learnt to make baby bibs, easy you say, yes but still i have never tried it. now i have baby gifts sitting and ready to go.
- i made a pair of lounge pants from a pattern. if you know me you know that i do not use a pattern. at least not one with the instructions added to it. i find that i have a hard time following instructions. so this is the first thing i made with a pattern since 1986 (jr. high home education). by the way... i don't like the pants that i did make, and if i try it again, of course i will be following the pattern in my head.
- i looked up and found 4 more thrit shops in Amarillo. yippie!
- most recently i jumped right on to that country dance floor with all abandon. and let me tell you... this coming from a midwest girl considered a yankee here in the great plains of TX. i had a blast and even though most of the gals dancing was in constant contact with their partners.... don't they just want to let loose of the man and shake it on down.

well, there have be many other first to this year. at this point i need to sign off and tend to some serious pancake making. yes, made from scratch, is there any other way? and we can not forget the bacon.

i look forward to this outlet and God willing i will figure out how to make this spot mine and my own life.

Everyone is doing IT.

2007-10-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

that is right, i am joining the blogging band wagon.... take my hand at this and see what will come of it.