Last Day of January!

One month of the new year is coming to an end. I have a feeling this and every other year after this one will just go by faster & faster. I remember being young and it seemed the days just went on and on! Seemed like I would never grow up and now I look back and wonder where that girl is. I don't feel my age at all (well, maybe when I first crawl out of bed!).

I'm going to try to focus on some highlights for the month. When I first began that paragraph I had written that I really couldn't think of any but then felt really ungrateful, so I erased and started over. So let me dig deep. It was not a total wash...

My husband did get a nice bonus this month (that we were counting on alittle too much.)

We were all pretty healthy this month despite a few colds & upset stomachs.

My oldest son is still employed...hold your breath!

My youngest son is doing AWESOME on his job.

My daughter has not moved back home....again, hold your breath!

I started doing a weight lifting routine with my hubby so we could get in better shape.

I got together with my friends a couple times this month.

My little dog got a haircut this month.

My hubby was a cute Clifford for a night.

We bought a new car that gets better gas mileage.

The economy has not had too much effect on our jobs..yet anyway.

We refinanced our home this month at 4.25% interest!

I made some cool jewelry this month and was able to buy some supplies.

My hubby had a birthday this month.

My dog had a birthday this month.

I got to see a Clint Eastwood movie this month :)

I got to see my in-laws early in the month. (they moved out of town so we don't see them often)

I spent a fun filled day with my sister Shannon.

I made it to church once this month.

My facebook friends are growing and growing.

I'm writing again.

We have a roof over our heads & food in our pantry & we are warm!

I hope I can have a longer list in February!

I remember

This is a writing exercise. You start off with I remember. Make a sentence. Then begin another with I remember. Write what comes to mind. Try it! Here are a few things I remember:

• I remember getting into an old cellar during a tornado in Kansas, and being more scared of the cellar than the storm.


• I remember playing Barbies with my sister Shannon.


• I remember teasing my sister Debbie.


• I remember having lots different cats. "every life should have 9 cats"
I'm in the striped dress, then my older sister Debbie is in the middle and youngest sister Shannon on end.


• I remember the awe and wonder of having a baby.


• I remember being scared he would have my ugly feet and his dad's big nose.


• I remember being a single mother for many years.


• I remember swinging.
• I remember seeing my Mom cry.
• I remember my dad teaching me to paint.


• I remember watching my older sister get on the school bus and wishing I could go.


• I remember wondering what would happen if I swallowed a penny and then doing it.


• I remember the tick tree in my Grandpa's pasture.


• I remember my first real kiss.


• I remember seeing the ocean for the first time.


• I remember the excitement of my wedding day.


• I remember the excitement of owning my first home.


• I remember feeling fat when I know now I was skinny.


• I remember the times Grandma Lou would put special treats on my car when I had my first apartment and how special it made my son and I feel.


• I remember losing a friend to cancer.


• I remember losing a friend to murder.


• I remember my 40th birthday. It was great!


• I remember carrying groceries up 3 flights of stairs and my 3 year old helping me.


• I remember carrying laundry down 4 flights of stairs to the basement, hoping to get back to my apartment before my toddler woke up. (Not something I would ever do over if I had the chance)


• I remember getting pulled over by the police (alot!)


• I remember getting lots of speeding tickets. I don't know if I really drive slower now or I'm just not as cute & "noticeable" :)


• I remember the long drives in my dad's GTO.


• I remember pretending to be asleep after those long drives so my dad would carry me in the house.


• I remember my first dog. His name was Buddy. My dad got him from a guy he worked with and we went to pick him up in the GTO. Buddy rode in the backseat with us girls and we petted him all the way home. When we got to our house the palm of our little hands was completely black!


• I remember catching tad poles and wading in the creek.


• I remember learning to water ski


• I remember the first time I rode a jet ski


• I remember learning to scuba dive, getting certified at age 15 and then never doing it. Getting recertified at age 40 and now a little scared to do it.


• I remember seeing my husband when he wasn't my husband and wishing he was my husband. We went to HS together but never really knew each other too well or was remotely interested in one another. Then after his failed married at a young age and my failed relationship with my HS sweetheart we reconnected at our 5 year reunion and began dating. The first time I saw him walk down the hill at that reunion I wished he & his 2 little children could be mine. I pretty much got my wish! That is definitely a blog for another time! And I think I'll end this exercise on that note!

Creating with PMC

Yesterday I played with PMC. I was very happy with the jewelry I made, esp. since this is only the 3rd time I have ever done anything with it! The Yahoo PMC group has really helped me out with the learning curve. The 2 photos above is the clay in the drying stage. The photo to the right is the finished process after patina. (I didn't torch the smallest charm yet because I'm not happy with it.) I made a bracelet by using the oval floral trinket that you see on the coffee cup. I attached it to a piece of the army green auction belt that I cut apart from last weekend's auction. I had to solder the end to make a clasp. It's alittle "chunky" for my taste but maybe someone will like it.... I need to save more money now so I can make some more! Have to support my habit!

I think I like creating things because it totally occupies my mind. I don't think of anything else while I'm working expect the piece I'm working on. Well, I'm forced to think of my animals because they are always trying to help. Here they are supervising!

The bully- even picks on me! ALI- 8 years old Old grouch-Missy 16+ years Best Boss ever-Valentine 16 years

Anyway, it's a great escape so I guess it really is a "habit". Just a good one! :) Who knows where all this will go someday? It's fun to dream and think about it though.

Girlfriends

I am really lucky to have the friends that I have. Some of my best memories include them. The friend that I've had the longest is a girl named Brenda. She is only a year older than me but she was much wiser to the world. The first time I ever saw her she flipped me off. I didn't even know what that meant but could tell it was hostile! But we became best friends! She has been my friend since the summer before 2nd grade. We were VERY creative children. Which could all be topics for other blogs! ha. We live in different states now and I don't see her very often, I don't think we even talk but a couple times a year but that bond is there. We just kinda pick up where we left off. I think I'll give her a call!

I had a couple of friends from "birth", I guess you could say, but have lost touch with them over the years. Their parents and my parents were friends and then when my parents got divorced it made it hard for us kids to keep up with each other. Last time I saw them both I was in my early 20's. If I could see either of them today it would be great! I have a couple of friends from the 4th grade that I still see often and then one from 7th grade that was one of my best buds through out highschool. This is photo of us in 10th grade. We both wish we were still that skinny!They are all a hoot. We laugh so much when we get together. I've lost 3 of my friends. One died of leukemia at the tender age of 22 and the other was murdered a couple years later. The 3rd, I'm ashamed to say, we just had a big falling out and never have recovered from it. I have my friend that is my husband's best friend's wife. We had to learn to be friends since my husband was married before and they were friends with his 1st wife. (They love me now, I'm pretty sure, and visa versa.) This is their picture.

The group I do the most with is a group of girls that I worked (and a few I still work) with.

We try to get together as a group of 6 a couple times a year. But I'm usually always with 1 or 2 or more at least a couple times a month (outside of work) We have had some amazing fun times. We shop alot, we eat alot and we talk/laugh alot!! My co-workers dubbed us the "6 pack" in a sarcastic, jealous way. But we thought it was kinda cute and it stuck. We have taken a few road trips. We stayed the weekend at a lake and rented a pontoon boat for a day-that was a blast. I captained the boat (my first time driving and I did a fab job!)

We have went on float trips and vacations together with our husbands. In '07 we went to Colorado together. All of us made it except for 1.

I take a ton of pictures and I actually made each of them a book. It turned out really cute, although I took some flack about the bathing suit pictures that I included (I thought they were cute!) and so what if I had one underwear shot...you can't tell whose butt it was?! Except we all knew because the undies said "excessive talker". :) One of the ladies in our little 6 pack lost her son a few years back. That was a horrible time but it just amazed me how we all gathered around her and tried to support her and be there for her. I know if I face a tragedy that I will be well taken care of until I'm able to take care of myself. I know it tugs her heart still and I can not imagine that kind of loss. It's kinda scary as we get older. Each year I wonder what am I going to face this year? I lost my Grandma last year but she lived to be 93 and I think she was ready. I really miss her. This is her cute picture.

I know that if "God takes you to it, He will take you through it" but it's scary to know all the possibilities. I still have my parents and they are all getting older. My husband, children. And just the idea that I still have my 16 year old dog worries me because she has taken me through so many heartaches that I wonder why I'm still graced with her companionship. What does she have to help me through still? She has absolutely been the greatest girlfriend. I have so much fun with her, I think she makes me giggle every day! I know I have been blessed in many ways and I'm very thankful for all of them...especially for my girlfriends. They keep me young at heart!

INSPIRATION

I have been playing with metal clay since around Dec. 1st. (the above photos are not metal clay, by the way)I really like the possibilities of creating with it, designing my own vision. Someday I'll post some pictures of a few pieces I have made- I don't have a lot done yet though. Lots of ideas! I recently learned of the photo polymer plate process and can not wait to try it. (Like everything else it requires some cash to obtain the necessary supplies, so it'll be awhile!) I love to take photographs and I'm already thinking of what i may photograph to start this plating process. From what I understand you are basically making your own "stamp" so to speak so that when you stamp the clay it leaves an indention of all the raised areas. Neat huh?! The Internet has been a wonderful tool for me to educate myself. I realize it can be a blessing or a curse but right now it was been wonderful for me. I have really learned so much and found so many things that inspire me. I really like this one website called http://www.sallyjean.com/ . She is very, very creative and I admire her work so much (see pictures above.) I purchased her book on soldering several months back and then looked up her website from the info her book gave. She has a blog and her most recent entry said, "Sometimes it's fun to see into the lives and lifestyles of others. Like taking walks in the evening, when peering into windows is easiest. Not to see people (I promise), but to look at the decorating!". When I read that I realized that is why I enjoy blogging and reading other people's blogs. It's like peering into the windows and getting ideas for your own life. In turn I'm allowing a small part of me to be revealed to others and hope that they may get something meaningful from it. On her blog she had a list of her favorite sites to visit and I had to look to see WHO inspires someone already so artful and creative?! It was neat and I could see where she gets some of her ideas. I have been doing quite a bit of soul searching this week and have jotted down a few inspiring words. I really like this one by Noah ben Shea: In your life, you are the paint, the painter, and the painting. I still don't know exactly what I'm headed for but I keep smiling! At least my painting will have that...a great big SMILE. :)

Proud to be American!

"This inauguration is more than just the beginning of a new administration. It is the beginning of a nationwide spirit of unity and service.I hope you will stay involved in the effort to renew America together".Thank you,Emmett Emmett S. BeliveauExecutive DirectorPresidential Inaugural Committee

Never in my life have I witnessed such enthusiasm for change in our country. It's totally exciting! You can just feel the electricity in the air. I really lift up this new administration & all America in prayer because our country needs help! We need to start looking out for one another and taking care of our nation. I have always been proud to be an American but right now I am excited to be a part of the "United" States! The last time I felt this bonded to my fellow Americans was right after 9/11. Those days immediately following our country's tragedy were days filled with people looking out for other people, slowing down and really just being nice to one another, and helping where ever they could- people uniting! I remember feeling like no one felt like a stranger and people really talked to one another like never before. It was so sad that it took something so terrible to bring us together like that. I don't remember which president said it but I like the statement about, "it doesn't matter which political party your in because when it comes down to it we are all on the same side, we are all Americans". I've never been very political so I can't claim to know much, just enough to blog a feeling or two that maybe no one else will even read...but it feels good to write it all down the night before history is made!!

Clifford and me

Last night we helped my work with an event to raise money for a local dog park. They had the search and rescue dogs there & face painting and our hospital held a raffle and we did free pictures with Clifford. At the last minute our person who was to be Clifford cancelled. I was asked to take photos of people with Clifford (so I couldn't also be Clifford!) and without asking him ahead of time, I volunteered my husband. oops! He panicked at first at the thought of it, which was pretty funny in its-self. I knew he would have fun with it though so I kept begging him to do it and he did. He was dancing around and playing jokes on people. Once he got into costume he did a fab job!! This is me hugging my Clifford. :)

Yesterday was a fun day. Besides the whole Clifford ordeal, I got up early and went to an auction with one of my best buds. It was held in a very small town not far from where I live. Usually when they have auctions there the items go very cheap and yesterday was certainly the case! I think I counted about 52 people total in attendance in the afternoon. If I could ever get the finances, knowledge (and the NERVE) to open my own little store, I would of been able to really get some deals yesterday. My friend got a beautiful silver Christmas tree for $25 and the color wheel for $2! I got some antique jewelry for $6 for the whole lot. I don't know what I'm going to do with it all yet but it's fun to think about. I'll post any creations I come up with. Unfortunately, money is tight right now so I didn't get to really splurge and purchase the couple of things I really wanted. They went really cheap too! Both the dog picture & the orange flower picture went for around $17!! (I wanted the dog picture and I wanted to give the orange flowers to my sister who loves to decorate with the color orange.) There was a couple of dealers there buying the stuff up. I went just for the fun of going and to nickle & dime it.

I would like to have my own little shop someday. Take a little bit of old stuff mix with new for home decor. And I'd like to have my own creations for sale as I dabble in about everything including a small part of the store for photography fun. Have a few props and just take some photos at certain times of the year for holidays, etc. I could change the room accordingly. Of course, my store would have to have a lot merchandise relating to animals too. And my dream is that while I'm sitting in my store waiting for customers to come in I can be working on my art. Filling orders from on-line or whatever. Maybe one day. It's always good to have dreams.

Blog Crazy

I'm really enjoying this blogging business. Even to say the word blog is fun. I'm a blogger. I have blogged everyday for 12 straight days. And today I have blogged twice! It's fun to think about what am I going to blog about next and collect pictures to upload so I can put up a new blog, giving some a glimpse of my personality. (Too much caffeine today!) All this blogging is making me feel more creative and hopefully that will lead to something good though.

Today was a great day after a very stressful week. My sister & I drove out and met my husband for lunch. Then her & I got lost for a couple of hours running errands. That was even fun, although the roads were bad from the snow and there were a lot of accidents. When we were done with all the "must do's" we went out of our way to get a Frozen Mocha from Panera- Yummy. I don't even like coffee but those are so good & I'm sure so very fattening. (That is why they are a special treat and not gotten very often!) After that we went in this cute store called Il Bel Carrello. I think that means old cart in Italian but I can't remember if that is what the sales lady told me or not? They have a beautiful old cart in the store that was said to have been brought over straight from Italy and is one of only 4 still left in existence from a few centuries back. This photo really does not do it justice! It is so pretty. The store has it covered with items for sale so you can't see the paintings on it very well in this picture. I'll have to go back someday with my real camera (vs. my camera phone) and try to get a more detailed picture. Anyway, the store has some amazing decor and jewelry. I got some really awesome ideas for metal clay and hope to create some initial charms like the one's I seen today. They also have Italian murano glass rings and my sister surprised me and bought me this beautiful blue one. It is hanging on my snail tape dispenser in this photo. (I thought that looked better than a picture of my finger.) The light catches the blue and it is so very pretty. It is not even my birthday she just did it to spoil me. I am so rotten! So many great people in my life.

Who ever may read this please say prayers for my son. Tomorrow he applies for a job as firefighter. He would really fit into that role so well. Thank you! I'm off to blog again soon!

Why?

• Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are almost dead?
  
• Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they already know there is not enough money?
  
• Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars; but have to check when you say the paint is still wet?
  
• Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
  
• Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
  
• Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
  
• Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'lisp'?
  
• If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
  
• Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?
  
• Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
  
• Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
  
• Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
  
• Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?
  
• How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?
  
• When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, 'It's all right?' Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, 'That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?'
  
• Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
  
• In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
  
• How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
  
  This was an email sent to me- I thought it was clever & cute. I'm sure we can add our own whys.... like Why can't I think of clever emails like this? or Why does my dog want to bite my nose when I blow in her face but she loves to hang her head out the car window? (think I've heard that one somewhere before too..:) If you think of some good "Why's" or "How comes" then send me a comment, I'm sure I'd enjoy hearing them.

Vacations

I love the thought of a vacation. As a child I never really got to go on many. My first real trip occurred when I was in junior high and I was old enough to go to Illinois to my friend's grandparents house near Chicago. Her parents were kind enough to pull over and let me take a picture under each "welcome" sign in each state we traveled through. My eyes were opened to the wonderful world of beyond. On that trip I saw the biggest body of water I had ever seen (Lake Michigan), I seen China Town (which I thought was so cool!) , and the museum of Science & Industry (which was amazing!) I don't even remember what else but I remember just being in awe of it all & being totally HOOKED on that feeling of seeing things for the first time.

Since then I have been blessed with some pretty awesome trips. I remember planning our very first family vacation when our kids were little. We didn't go too far from home because we didn't have much money but it all turned out so wonderful. Then the trips got better as we saved and planned. It is a wonderful memory to be fortunate enough to have seen my own children's reactions as we all viewed the ocean for the first time together. We didn't get to go a lot as my kids grew up but we did take a few really great trips that I hope will stay with them their whole lives. I always planned the trips so it was a great and wonderful surprise to me, when for my 40th birthday a few years back, my husband totally surprised me with a cruise to the Bahamas. He told me on a Thursday evening and took me shopping the following Friday to get anything I might need (I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman!). Then we left on Sunday to Miami, FL and stayed in the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. We left there on Monday for the cruise. If you have never cruised, I highly recommend it! This particular cruise is pretty cheap- (you can find it on Royal Caribbean International). We went to Nassau, Bahamas; Cococay, Bahamas (pictured above with our cruise ship- the Majesty of the Seas in the distance); and Key West, FL then back to Miami. My first night I was sea sick (everyone on the boat was!) but we have heard from others who have cruised frequently, that what we experienced was really unusual. The ship was literally swaying back and forth and even though I was sick (I felt better after throwing up and was even able to adventure back out to take pictures of water splashing out of the swimming pools and no one on deck!) We woke up the next morning in Nassau. It was really beautiful. I had never seen water that color before. After that first night I thought, "this is really neat, and I'm glad I got to see it but I don't think I really would want to go on a cruise again." But after the next day I decided it was the best way to travel. All your meals are paid for that you eat on ship. You sleep (if you want- there is plenty of night life if you choose not to sleep!) but the coolest thing is, when you wake up your in a new location. You can see so much for the money that I am so eager to go again! We never did get sea sickness after that first night either. My husband can not even ride shotgun in a car without getting sick so this was amazing and he took no medication for motion sickness at all while we were on the boat!! It really was the neatest vacation and after I got home I got a sign for my office that says "spoiled rotten". I don't know how we top that memory but we are trying! I'm ready for some sunrises and sunsets and some fun and I'm really ready see beyond what I have already seen. Some of the places I'd love to go to: Italy & other parts of Europe, Grand Cayman, Alaska, Hawaii-well all 50 states before I die, Belize, an African photo safari- wow. I could go on & on. (And I hope to!) Very soon please, very soon!

Zumba

I take Zumba classes. I find them very hard, but very fun. I only go twice a week but one of the main reasons I love to go is my instructor. I don't know if I have ever met anyone like her. She is always smiling and cute and sometimes silly. You can just tell she is very caring and loves people and loves to dance. Her mom recently died of cancer. Before her mom died she shared alittle with the class about how she spent time with her mom each week and that her mom was dying and if one day she wasn't there to teach then that would be why and to not be sad because her & her mom talked about it and they were okay. It just really touched me. I wish I could be more like her. I don't know much about her because there is never time for chit chat. She has classes before and after mine but I can just tell that she is an awesome human being and I really admire her spirit. And Zumba really is fun stuff. In Zumba you have to wiggle your butt pretty often. I've been going for over a year now so my butt will actually wiggle now (but not as good as most!)but it's pretty funny to try to get your body to do some of those moves when you are not used to them. I have never been a dancer and would not say now that I am either- it's more exercise to me- I get tired just trying to keep up! My instructor says, "If you don't use it you lose it!" I believe that. When I first tried to wiggle my butt it actually hurt my knees! ha One of the first lessons is to do a "football run" then plant your feet but keep moving your butt. Try it! It's pretty funny to watch the 1st timers try to do some of the moves and I'm sure they get a big kick out of watching us "old" timers too. There is one older lady in class and she is really fun to watch. She totally gets into the dancing and makes faces & has some of her own moves. Makes me smile and I hope to be so bold in 15 to 20 years. She has to be some retired Vegas showgirl or something. Anyway, it's amazing how people can be such a small part of your life and make such a big difference. We just never know who, or how we may touch someone. I recommend you go out and take a Zumba class. Enjoy!

Pondering

I'm up early just pondering. I'd love to go on a photo safari. The Smokey Mountains, the farms in the upper Midwest, wildlife, my old childhood haunts, dirt roads, sunsets, sunrises, oceans, old boats, trees & plants, smiling dogs, people with character; Just anything that strikes my fancy. I love the digital camera and how you can just snap, snap, snap and it doesn't cost any money. I remember as a small child I took a whole roll of 125 film on my cat Lamar. My mom had a fit when she developed it and found 28 cat pictures from all different angles. She said she never would of paid for that if she would have known it was all "the cat" and I felt bad that I had wasted their money when it was so hard to come by. Of course, as a child I didn't really understand that it cost money to get pictures until that day. But I do still have some of those Lamar pics and I remember how much fun I had taking them and I wouldn't trade that memory for any amount of money. Now I have 1000's of pictures that I consider ART! And I had a ball taking them too! I'm really pretty spoiled, I have way more than I deserve & I have an amazing life. I have much to be thankful for and I am very grateful.

I know today will be a good day. I'm off work, my hubby is off work and today is his birthday. It's very, very cold today but it looks to be a sunny one. I found a great job ad for my son that I think he will be very excited about. He has often talked about becoming a fireman and there is an excellent opportunity right now in our local area. Now if only our daughter could find work somewhere out there before she loses everything she has.... not a good time to be unemployed. Keep my 3 kids in your prayers as they grow and find their way. May we all find happiness in all we do. God Bless and enjoy the day!

Frican Elephant

(Most recent charm I made.)

" A f r i c a n Elephant "

I love getting those really cute emails that you just have to share with others.

From the Diary of a Pre-School Teacher...
My five-year old students are learning to read.
Yesterday one of them pointed at a picture in a zoo book and said, "Look at this! It's a frickin' elephant!"I took a deep breath and asked..."What did you call it?""It's a frickin' elephant! It says so on the picture!"
And so it does... " A f r i c a n Elephant "
Hooked on phonics! Ain't it wonderful.

Anyway, that was cute and I thought that "frican" elephant was appropriate for today.

I just don't know what I want to do with my life. I feel so restless & unappreciated. I've been doing my job for so many years now that I don't know what to strive for. I feel sometimes that I'm that elephant in the room being ignored. (That's an English saying for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed.) The truth is I just don't feel like I'm on the same page as everyone else & I wonder how things can get so out of hand. People can be so mean. I just can't believe some of the things they will do to one another. I don't know if I believe my role there has any value anymore. I mean I value myself and I believe that I try to be fair and honest and have integrity in all matters & I think I do a really good job and could do a really amazing job (and have) but just not under these circumstances. Under these circumstances I feel ignored, I feel restless, cheated and in a way I feel kinda trapped. Maybe it's just my feeling today but I wish I had a few more options. I wish I would of gotten that BA and opened up the door to more opportunities in my field. I know it's not too late but financially it's not very feasible and so it goes. I will keep my eyes and ears open and take it a day at a time and maybe something will present itself to me. In the meantime, I'll keep crafting (it keeps me dreaming), enjoying my family, friends, my little Valentine (they keep me sane) and have a few deep conversations with God about all of the above. (He keeps me uplifted.)

Work Party

We had my work's 08 Christmas Party tonight. We always have it early in January so it doesn't eat into family time during the holidays. We have a better turn out that way. It was fun and we had a good turn out of 56 people! I had a bit of a panic when I put on my new shirt (that I didn't try on before buying) & the sleeve was totally ripped down the front- good thing I know how to sew so I had to stitch it back on before we left! ha. These are pics of me & my hubby & 2 of my close girlfriends. Nothing more on my mind tonight. Think I'm too tired to think really.

Clint Eastwood

We are going to the movies tonight to see Gran Torino. I grew up watching Clint Eastwood so I'm a huge fan. I even wrote in my 2nd grade diary that I was going to marry a man that looked like Clint Eastwood! ha I dated a guy once that looked very similar to him from his westerns but marriage was not in the cards for us. My hubby actually looks alot like Tom Cruise, (with alittle less hair now that he is "maturing") but he is very handsome, at least I think.

I went back to the library today and checked out some more inspiring books. I have 30 days before they are all due back so I'll have to pick a day and get started (or take some really good notes). I checked out Irina Miech's Metal Clay for beaders. It is awesome with great pictures and directions that explain everything so well. I'm personally not a beader- I've tried it & never really enjoyed it. But she has some great metal clay projects in this book. I still need to buy a few supplies before I can make some of them. A ring mandrel for one. I do not have a kiln either but may never decide to get one. I think I'd like to purchase some ZC also to embellish some charms. So many ideas.... We had a very beautiful day today for January Missouri weather! It felt like 80 although I know that it was not. My little dog kept wanting to run in & out. She peaks in the little window beside our door and I think it's adorable so I took a pic. I just love her! So darn cute!

Worrying

I know that we are not suppose to worry and give our troubles to God. Sometimes that is very, very hard! My oldest son moved back home in March '08 to get his life back on track. He is a really good guy. Got his heart really broken and still trying to figure out who he is without the girl he loved. They have been split up for over 2 years now but he still grieves. I see it. He didn't finish college but is fairly close (i think) and he has a lot of loans to pay for not to mention a credit card bill that is not HUGE but still needs to get paid off. That was part of the deal of moving back home. Quit drinking, get a job, and since he is living here rent free- get out of debt quickly so he can move on with life.... He still drinks more than I'm comfortable with, although I don't allow it in my home. (I'm not opposed to having a drink once in a while but if I think it's a problem then it's a problem for me) I feel he relies on it to much- esp. since the breakup. I told him at Christmas that was all I wanted for a present was for him to stop drinking. I think he is doing better. I pray, I hope. He has kept a really respectful job for 6 months now but he is spending every dime. This picture is one he sent me from his cell phone of his latest purchase. Today was payday and he bought his 3rd guitar. He already has 2 that he purchased with the maxed out credit card and they are STILL not paid for and to top it all off he doesn't even know how to play. God love him. I wish he would meet the girl of his dreams and learn to play the guitar and pay off his debt and start keeping house (and let's not forget get his own place) and just live happily ever after. Isn't that what we all want anyway? :) In the meantime, I'll try to busy my mind, find something to work on and let go and let God.

Today I went to the library after work and got a few books on metal jewelry/crafts. There is a really awesome solder book out called Simple Soldered Jewelry & Accessories by Lisa Bluhm. I can't wait until my day off to try a few of her techniques. I didn't have a lot of time so I just strolled the isle to find something interesting. I'd like to go back and check the card cat. for anything on PMC. There was a great book at Barnes & Nobel but I didn't have the extra $25 to splurge on it.
This charm is made using my great-great grandmother's antique lace. She was a short lady and had cut off the bottom of a skirt with this beautiful eyelet material and my Grandma saved it her whole life. She died a year ago so I made my Mom a few of these charms. I need to get my supplies back out and get busy and quit spending so much time on this computer!!

A new day

I felt so much better today and the day was long but a good one. My work at the animal hospital has really slowed down with the economy and all. We are seeing so many more in-heat spays as people are waiting until the last minute because of finances. It's sad & I really pray that Obama can really turn things around for the better. Just one of many prayers!

I thought you all would enjoy seeing a few of the many deer that frequent our property. We love to watch them (and photograph them!) Plus my little dog feels so big & mean when she runs off the "big dogs" as I'm sure that is what she thinks. It's pretty cute to see her strutting back after chasing the deer. I don't let her out to do this on purpose but sometimes I don't see them. They hide themselves well. Tomorrow is one day closer to a day off!!! Always true isn't it?

I'm not feeling the best today. Upper respiratory crud- thought I'd missed it as most everyone I work with has had it but then it got me! So now the only thing I'm missing is my Zumba exercise class tonight! I certainly do not feel like doing much so my new blog is going to suffer. I ordered some new PMC (silver) & it should be arriving any day now. I'm sure that will motivate me to experiment some more with that. I also have a soldered charm to make for a friend. In the meantime I'm just resting and hoping that I'll be over this bad cold by tomorrow...wishful thinking!! Some chicken pot pie and hot tea should have me fixed right up. I hope to post some more pictures soon. Here are a couple of my soldered creations.

My 1st Blog!

Wow! This was so much easier to do then I thought! I'm really excited to see where this little blog takes me. I'm excited that it will get me writing again. In the meantime, I'm keeping this short & sweet until I have a chance to have a looksie myself at my own blog. :)