Sunday, February 27, 2011

Happy Birthday

That's right...my baby turned 50!
It's like I told him...
don't think of it as celebrating fifty years...
think of it as celebrating your 10th birthday
for the fifth time!
(How true is that of men?
Some days they act like ten-year-olds...
some days like twenty...
rarely their age!)
When I dropped this photo off at the bakery...
the woman asked what he looked like today.
I told her the truth.
He's much better looking...
but he has the same hairline AND...
he still has that twinkle in his eyes!
50...
It's just a number...
and on you baby, it's lookin' fine!
I love you at every age.
Happy Birthday!
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Thursday, February 24, 2011

The New American Picker

After having lunch with Grandma the other afternoon
(aren't grandmas great...keeping the kids entertained while mom is sick)
James walked in the door long enough to say,
"I'm going to pick-up a rocking chair I saw along the road."
A half hour later he showed up flushed, a little bit winded, and
a whole lot proud of his find.
He couldn't wait for my reaction.
WOW!
That is awesome!
That is some sturdy chair.
I've got to get a picture of this.
Yessirree...
someone had discarded this treasure.
Left it abandoned by the side of the road.
My American Picker
(one of our favorite tv shows)
saw its potential.
He knew his mom would love it.
I keep saying that this fruit basket stencil looks familiar...
I remember my mom having a rocker with this design
when I was a kid.
For now, it got a quick dusting and is inviting company
to sit by the fire and warm their toes.
It looks like it belongs here.
Maybe a seat cushion would be nice...a multi-colored,
hand-knitted, spiral constructed cushion!
(my sisters will know what I'm referring to here...
mom made one like that for her chair.)
Way to go, James!
You make a mom proud.
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Last Laugh

We heard the icy pellets hit our windows all night long...
tap...tap-tap...tap-tap-tap.
Like a sweet lullaby.
Then their second cousins joined the chorus...
creak...thump...bumpity-bump-bump!
We knew that winter wasn't done with us yet
and when we woke...
it was to a frozen world.
Tree branches had fallen under the weight...
power lines were down...
everything was coated in a layer of ice.
Even my window screens...
The weathermen are calling these tree-cicles...
it works!
Oh how my view keeps changing...
just when I allowed Spring to spring into my thoughts...
winter has the last laugh!
But there is no denying the beauty of winter.
I will enjoy these last few precious days of winter.
I will not rush through them unnoticed.
I will not get caught-up dreaming of tomorrow when
beautiful moments are all around me...begging to be savored.
I will be like a child
who looks on this snowy scene and sees one thing...
fun.
With electricity out
I found myself turning back to a project that
needed nothing more than
my time.
Knitting.
With my cold still lingering on
and my energy level still not up to par...
this was about all the fun I could muster.
My sister Susie gave me this ball of Mini Mochi yarn
for my birthday (in August) in "beach comber"
shades.
She called them "my colors"
I must agree.
A scarf to enjoy knitting now in shades that will
look great on the beach.
Okay...
maybe I am still dreaming just a wee little bit.
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Friday, February 18, 2011

Garden Inspiration

I really loved this video clip and wanted to share it with you. It inspires me to get involved in a community garden (which is in the grass-roots stage at my church) and to get busy in my own garden as well. A little corner of beautiful can be achieved with seed, water and sunshine. I hope you find inspiration when you view this clip. After all, the garden is a place to grow, nourish and bring all of God's people together! I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get my hands dirty.

Inside Looking Out

Do you remember this picture?
I said this Christmas decoration wasn't coming down until spring thaw.
Guess what? It may look a bit lonely now,
but soon it will be filled with beautiful blossoms.
Spring is in the air.
Have you been seeing it? Hearing it? Smelling it?
When I ventured out my back door to take these pictures,
these chairs were telling of
a time that will come soon...when I can
sit outside with a cup of coffee and enjoy the warmth.
It's hard to believe that this yard of mine was covered with a foot
of snow just a few short days ago.
A few stragglers remain.
But I'm seeing it... a yard that needs to be tended to...
a little garden that needs to be tilled...
possibly enlarged a tad,
to accommodate the pumpkins I hope to grow.
Unfortunately, due to a whopper of a cold,
I have been watching the transformation from
the inside looking out...
seeing the subtle changes from the windows of my home.
A pool that sits in waiting of kids to play and splash and laugh.
A back yard that begs to have real grass.
Ha-ha...what am I thinking...Zoey and Buddy
rip it up every time I try.
Ever notice as moms we can't be sick without that list
of things that need to be done rattling around in our heads?
It seems that as you lie there on the couch,
the dust grows around you at an astounding rate!
My boys helped so much...but seriously they are boys
and they don't even notice the dust.
I guess it's natures way of pushing us through the
cold...seeing beyond the aches and pains...
knowing it will be there waiting for us when we are well.
Yep...something to look forward to.
Boo-hoo.
Here is my arsenal.
I enjoyed a few hot toddies along the way.
The lemon, the honey, the teas...
all helped ease the symptoms.
My favorite has to be...(that's a drum roll)
NyQuil...gasp!
It gave me the bestest of nights sleep.
I woke up this morning feeling like a new woman.
Today is a beautiful day!
Maybe I will be able to actually step out into it.
Stay well.
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Monday, February 14, 2011

The Three Layer Zafu

I know what you're thinking...
enough zafu already!
I could use the excuse that I am excited about them...
Others are excited about them...
Therefore, my life is filled with zafu meditation pillows.
(yeah...that one works, I'm sticking with it)
These were literally "sitting" around my craft room
waiting to be delivered to
Harmony in Life.
They were just begging to have their picture taken.
The title of the post was dancing in my head.
Probably a result of watching too many
crazy Cupcake War-type
programs.
Work with me here...
If you squint just right...
do you see what I see?
The Three Layer Zafu.
Kooky, I know.
Have a three-layer kinda Valentine's Day!
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Friday, February 11, 2011

My Simple Valentine

An Itty Bitty Heart Brooch
Recycled...felted...embellished with vintage buttons.
The question that begs to be answered...
How to present it?
Create a card with a little "window",
sew on a little "curtain",
fasten the brooch,
and you have a complete
Valentine's Day card with a small gift attached.
Paper crafting is far from my comfort zone
and yet...
there is something to be said for
sweet and simple.
With a single word that says it all...
love.
It wouldn't be me if I didn't get
a little jiggy with it!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Have a sweet and simple Valentine's Day.
love.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Rolinda's Zabuton

Rolinda's Meditation Cushion.
In fabrics hand-picked by...
Rolinda.
To create a little corner of peace in her home.
To utilize in her yoga practice...gently cushioning and supporting the joints.
Finding her zen in style and comfort.
Paired with a zafu
for the ultimate in seated stretch and meditation.
The flip-side...
showing the versatility of the
recycled denim and the beauty of her
Scrap 4 Art finds.
My prayer for you.
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Monday, February 7, 2011

Scrap 4 Art

Scrap 4 Art.

In my opinion...

one of Toledo's Best Kept Secrets.

Located at 1501 Adams Street in downtown.

They collect miscellaneous items

and sell them (on the cheap)

to people like me.

Now here's a sign that I just love to see. Fill a bag for $3.00! My kind of shopping.

My family waited in the back room where creativity blossoms.

Thanks for your patience boys...now get busy and make something!

I've seen this done before...just never actually being used as a cork board. Yep, you can find cork here...possibly the framing. they specialize in the unusual.

My reason for coming...this huge shelf filled with piles of fabric swatches. I think I'm dreaming...ZZZ... Zafus and Zabutons and zo much more!

I loved this window treatment. This just might find its way into my craft room. If you look closely you will see that it is made from household "trash" (treasure), i.e., lids, caps, colored plastic thing-a-ma-jigs. Hippie cool.

Here is the nice woman who was helping me...she is the artist of the following zipper tree. Yep...if you look close you will see it is made entirely of old zippers. Love it!
Talk about cool, they conduct classes for different groups turning trash into art! There are others like me...those of my kind. Here I thought I was the only one who couldn't throw "things" away. Brought a tear to my eye.
One of my favorites. Hands Around the World. A bottle cap work of art!
This pole puppet greets you at the door. I couldn't leave without getting her picture.
And...
I can't sign off without giving a BIG THANKS to
Rolinda , a new friend at Harmony in Life
for sharing this little gem with me.
It is people like you who make people like me so very happy!
Thanks for the gift of fabric as well...it was...such a Rolinda thing to do.
Creating Awaits!
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