Bead shows

Ahhh, bead shows are a thing of beauty. I made it to GemStreet USA yesterday and I wasn't disappointed. So many beads to touch! I spent more than what I had planned to spend too. I was told it was a small show compared to the one coming up in two weeks at the IX center. I'm glad I went to the smaller show first. Now I'm ready for the big show. It's overwhelming. I actually got to a point where I couldn't choose out which beads I liked out of a selection. I couldn't buy them all, so I walked away. That's when I knew I was overwhelmed. But it was fun ! and I'll definitely be going to the IX center show.

Like a virgin

I am a gem and bead show virgin. I have been tinkering with glass beads for the last 5 years (maybe 6) and have not made it to a real bead show yet. This year I'm going ! GemStreet USA is in town this weekend and I will be there (I hope). As if I need more beads. I don't have to buy any, but I'll be able to touch them all !!







I was planning to go yesterday - started the day helping my sister pick up a car - no I'm not that strong, I had to drive her to the mechanic's so she could drive her car back home. of course, we had to go to lunch together a grueling trip like that :) Chipotle and a beer mmmmm
~I digress ~
then I decided to do some errands real quick - stopped in JoAnn Etc. (have you ever stopped in a craft store and walked out "real quick") it's like a time warp, by the time I walked out, over an hour had gone by. Did the same thing at Walmart - another time warp.

My next stop was the library and I knew I was doomed. I love libraries. I wander around them like Alice in Wonderland. The only area safe in the library is the children's section (for now - wait till I have grand children) I even stop in the Teen / YA section since I've joined the YA book challenge. Then there's books on tape, movies, magazines that I don't get at home, cookbooks, diet books, beading and sewing books - I haven't even hit the fiction section yet and what time is it now?
By the time I leave the library - all thoughts of the bead show are wiped from memory. I remembered late last night that I wanted to go - what did I do all day?

So I'm going to try again today. I'll leave the house with a plan to go straight to the bead show - might need to put blinders on.




I made these two bracelets while sitting in the juror room waiting to be called. I don't have the style of clasp I want to put on these, so that's what I'll be looking for at the show.

Here are my favs from blog-hopping this morning...
The Romantic Home - I may have to take up soldering soon. I love Cindy's work with broken china.
Barbara Jacksier
Bella Pink Cafe
Gilding the Lily
Little Red House
My Lula Belles
Whispering Oaks Cottage

My book challenge dilemma.

OK. here's my dilemma. I've signed up for the Young Adult book reading challenge but I'm having a hard time finding GOOD, interesting YA books that fit into the open slots I have from my 52 book reading challenge. I'm looking for YA books whose title begin with the letter C, D, F, J, M, R, X, Y or Z. Plenty of books out there. But I won't waste my time struggling through a book that can't hold my interest. If anyone is out there reading this, and you have a book suggestion for me, I would be very happy to try it.

Update Saturday 3/29

I don't usually just add to a post, but I want to keep my request for book titles up for a couple of days - I've already got one great suggestion for an 'F' titled book.

BUT

if A Fanciful Twist isn't on your usual daily reads - you have GOT to see this today! Vanessa has created some magical people with magical mushrooms and teacups and a wonderful story to go with it. Make sure you get to the bottom to see the tiny teacup set - especially the one on her baby finger. Her work is amazing!

ABC Wednesday

It's ABC Wednesday at Mrs. Nesbitt's Place - we're at the letter J.

'G' helped me again and got me a super shot of a JET engine - now that's a JET!! he's playing along vicariously through me. He has as much fun thinking about and finding just the right photo for the letter of week.

Coincidence ? I think not --

What are the odds that I would have Jury duty during 'J' week at Alphabet Wednesday. it's true. I had to show up at the Justice Center this morning to start a week of Jury duty. Yep that's me. See my button ?

I used Jello to add to my cake layers for Easter dessert.

and when we were on our Sunday walk, we passed by the Jewelers - I love to stick my nose to the window and look in. If you want to see some of my jewelry, just scroll down a little. I uploaded some a couple of days ago.

HAPPY EASTER !

HAPPY EASTER World ! I hope the Easter bunny left everyone a wonderful basketful of goodies!

This is why I've been fairly quiet all week. I've been very busy. I completed some jewelry, 3 books for my reading challenges .

I did some Sunday morning blog-hopping. Here are some pretty new blogs I found for Easter morning.
Living Beautifully
Rose Breeze Boutique
She's Sew Pretty
Sugar Bear Designs
A Fanciful Twist
Everyday Beauty

HAPPY SPRING !! TODAY for REAL!!

I just found another great blog. This is Susan Wittig Albert's blog called "Lifescapes". She talks about herbs and flowers and has some fantastic photo's. Check it out if you have time.

HAPPY SPRING !!

I actually thought Spring started on Friday - since it's a day earlier, I'm even happier. I looked out the window today as the snow started to fall and saw my crocuses and daffodils starting to poke through the dirt. YA! Winter seems like such a loooonnggggg season!

I can't even muster up enough guilt to get myself to the basement to work out. I better hurry, everyone will be throwing off their sweaters and slacks and getting their shorts on. Just not today....

I nearly FORGOT AGAIN !! IT's ALPHABET WEDNESDAY at Mrs. Nesbitt's place.
Today is the letter I.

G helped me with this one. This is an Instrument panel from a Boing 737.

I also thought of Intersection.

Some great big Icicles starting to thaw from the big blizzard we had. not my house - fortunately.


and who doesn't have plenty of Ice - this is from our ice storm we were lucky to have just so I could take a photo for I day.

Signs of SPRING!

We heard birds singing this evening. G and I were in two different rooms and the bird song was so loud and clear we both heard it - through closed windows and doors. It brought such a smile to us. I ran and opened the door and the sweet song came in through the house. YA !!!- a first real sign of Spring - 3 days early - even if we do still have mounds of snow everywhere. we made it -phew.

Ides of March are upon us.

The Ides of March simply means it the 15th of March - it just sounds so much more poetic and ominus. Who knows if Julius Caesaar really said that - if he hadn't, would we remember is life and death so clearly?

Yesterday morning we woke to a beautiful fog that made you want to whisper.

What a different view from last weeks blizzard. Even though there is still a lot of snow on the ground, watching the morning dew drip from the branches









and watching the morning dove share breakfast with me is a reminder that Spring is getting closer. I am sooo ready for it!









I finished my fringed bracelet yesterday too. It ended it with a sparkly Swarovski button for the clasp. it's a lot of fun to wear. I'll bring it up to the Shoppe where I sell my work today.









G filled the M-n-M dispenser with Spring colors - I love the dark chocolate M-n-M's. They are THE BEST. I caught him with his hand in the cookie jar and he hadn't even finished filling the machine yet!









Here is the fabric I have washed and ironed - ready for my next creative project. I plan to make a grocery bag. Sometimes during our 5 mile walks - we stop at the grocery on the way home to pick up a few needed things and those plastic bags are so flimsy and rip easiy. Plus it'll be prettier and more fun to carry. If we can all start using less plastic it's better for the environment. Just trying to do my part. Also, those plastic water bottles are filling our land fills at an alarming rate, I've decided to buy less of those - kept only for emergencies now. -Can't keep them forever either, they have expiration dates so you have to watch them. {{ jumping down from my soapbox }}It

Here are my Sunday morning blog-hopping stops:

Old Red Barn - Dana is having a quilt giveaway - stop by to enter.
A Year of CrockPotting
Elegant Snobbery
Deep into the Darkness Peering

A Pleasant end to the work day

I had a great surprise waiting in the mail for me when I got home from work today. Pam from Art and Soul sent me this wonderful ATC for Spring! thank you so much Pam! I'm going to hang it right next to that darling kitty ATC you sent me in March 07. Mark your calendar... in March 09 I'll be looking for another sweet ATC !!!

So we finished the hard work week with a relaxing dinner at one of our Favorite pubs - The CornerStone Brewery in Berea. They make their own beer and it delicious.

They use antibiotic free - free range meats from our favorite butcher Chef's Choice just down the street.

When we got home I spent some time on a bracelet I've been working on. This is the first time I've created a 'fringe' style bracelet. I'm having fun with it. I like how it's turning out.

Then I went down and relaxed by the fire 'G' started up.

If you look to the left of the fire picture, you'll see our pig. It's an Iron Pig with Wings. He's a great reminder to dream the impossible because some pigs fly!

Like this blog, I never dreamed I could have so much fun and meet such great people when I started this blog over a year ago.

One of these days, I'll walk around the house and take pictures of the menagerie we have keeping us company. There is some kind of creature in almost every room in our home. They're excellent company and very entertaining for guest to walk around and check out our eclectic home.

A day behind

ACK!!! I've been running a day behind all week! I don't know where my mind is, but it's not on the day of the week! I totally missed Alphabet Wednesday and I've been having so much fun with it. Gary and I went out walking on Sunday and kept our eyes peeled for 'H' words. We found a bunch and were sooooo pleased with ourselves - and then I go an d forgot to load them up and send them in. I was going to put them on my page anyway, but I can't find them. I downloaded them onto my laptop and I'm working from my desktop tonight! ACK again! it just wasn't meant to be. I think I'll go bead, I have a bracelet to finish. THEN I'll have something to show.

Missed it - fooey

I can't believe I missed American Idol tonight! I was so caught up in finishing my latest book "A Study in Scarlet" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, that I forgot all about the one show I bother to watch. I love to try to pick who will be kicked off and who will win. Oh Well, at least it's on again tomorrow, but since I missed the boys last week due to computer problems I had to work on, I was hoping to see them tonight. I've heard they are pretty good. The girls aren't as good. OH NO, I also remembered I was supposed to do my ironing while watching TV tonight. - Well, there you go, my brain said no way am I going to iron and so the thought of watching TV never came up. huh. very freudian.

Motivation - that's all it takes

Sitting here with my cup of tea,

I was thinking of my plan that I started back on March 1.

My fitness/weight loss plan. 10 days into the plan and I haven't done much but made a bunch of excuses.

I started to write a depressing little dissertation on my sad state of a lack of motivation but then remembered - thoughts create energy. So instead, I'll turn it around an look at the positive. I've started my workout routine. I'm only one week behind my plan. I walked 2 miles today. I can do this. There are 11 weeks left until June. I will be strong and fit and 10 pounds lighter by June and I'm very excitied about that. I'm happy to be back on my treadmill. Tomorrow I'll do 3 miles - but there will be 1 minute of jogging for every 2 minutes of walking. since I haven't run in 4 months, I don't want to injure myself by starting up too fast.

Slow and steady - that's all it takes. A small increase every day - that's all it takes.

Soon, I'll be back to running 5 miles 4 times / week. and 2 strength training days. with a day for Yoga or Pilates.

When June comes around, I'll hop on my bike and fly like the wind! I'm very excited !!

The Blizzard of 2008

It finally stopped snowing. That was so much fun watching it snow for 24 hours! We had a blast getting out in it. I made a snow angel but by the time I got my camera to take a picture of it, the wind and snow had covered it up. Here are some highlights of the day.

The snow was so light, we could carry huge shovelfuls - We have a service that shovels for our development. We just get out and shovel for the fun of it. well, I was having so much fun, I couldn't stay concentrated on shoveling. I walked around and took pictures instead.

This cardinal must have been VERY hungry to venture out in the blizzard to find some food. A dove stopped by too - almost knocked on our door asking for food. stared right at us until we got the hint to put some food out there.

We went out again after dinner. I love how the snow turns into a million sparking diamonds in the evening light. So we walked around the neighborhood and listened to the quiet in the snow.