Thank God it's Friday the 31st! Family farms in my childhood, family farms today, and, something sweet for the bitter pill of a farm bill....

Today was the day to share: 

"A Vivid Memory"
.
Does it have to be happy?  Can it be one of the terrible ones?  You know, those that you swore you were going to forget and never remember again as long as you lived but have not managed to do?

Ok, I'll play nice today.  It won't be one of those. But, I never got to see the Budweiser Clydesdales. Merde!

When I was very small, I lived on my Grandparent's farm, and the next-door neighbor was a farmer from Italy.  On days when I visited my Uncle's farm( I used to walk up there from my Grandparents farm.  No one bothered little kids in those days).  On such days I would sometimes get to ride home atop this horse, back all the way to my Grandparent's farm from the farmer's fields.  This is where my love of horses started, I'm sure.  I was crazy about Pal.

One day we were invited to a family birthday party -Italians can throw the most amazing parties!  Anyway, Pal was a beautiful Palomino (Light Sorrel) Belgian and the pride of the farm.  Of course, his name was "Pal".

Pal was much lighter than this horse below( picture borrowed from the side along the bar) and looking like a Spanish Palomino in color, as does this Mare.  I SOOO wish I could have Sadie!  She comes with free shipping! 

Anyway, Back to the Party!  On the day of the celebration, there were colored streamers flying from the small balconies of the house, and some in the banks of cypress on each side of their driveway.  That day, Pal was shined up and glowing like he was made of silk, and his tail and mane were braided with colored ribbons.  He was gorgeous!  He was saddled and the little kids got rides the whole afternoon!  My grandpa had to carry me home that evening because I wouldn't leave!

Meanwhile, back on the Farm!

Who would have thunk it!

And now for something completely different:


Tracy Lee Stum's chalk Pix

Thankful Thursday: Thomas Cleary, and a music video of "Little Boxes", and Spoons.

I'm thankful for the good translations of Thomas Cleary.  Without them I wouldn't be where I am today, on the way to becoming what is called by the Taoists a "real" human being.  It's not as easy as you might think.  You really do have to change your thinking, and firm up your personality, battle dragons, and learn to slow waaaaaay down.

Bee sent me this cute and tuneful video, because she thought it was clever and because she remembered me singing it when she was a little girl.



Cute, isn't it?
AH!!  But, things are changing!



AS for my knitting/crafting/sewing/floor swabbing, plant tending, etc:

I've been fighting spoon deficiency  for about five or six days,  now, but, "This too shall pass."

 

I look forward to A full Spoon supply!

Post every Day in May

It's Picture my day Wednesday we are talking about here,  I go to my sister's house and will find out if she wants me to make her a pin cushion.  Making things is very soothing.

Hope you have a lovely day, one filled with Grace and good things. I'm getting really good at crossword puzzles.  They are fun time wasters for down times, if the fog lifts enough or the DH has the time to talk you through what you would normally know, like i after e except after c.  Alphabet Olympics!

I can put pictures in later that I take, if I remember to do this...

Stopped in for cookies

Ate my Cuppa noodles - the little earrings are a prezzy from sis

The magic of fabric draping on old furniture and cardboard

Another little pretty spot in my sister's sewing room.
Sadly, there is nothing pretty about my SR. 
It's Pure Bedlam and Utility in the face of no time or energy to change it.

 I didn't have time for more photos.  That was my day.  I came home, we ate dinner, and I wrote this and then collapsed with a crossword puzzle.  My sister was having a good today but I wasn't.  Funny old life isn't it?!?  But I got these pictures up! 

Every day in May-- photo only day

Music Monday

Memorial Day....Lee Brice, "I Drive Your Truck"

Get More:

Isaiah 2:4:

"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Sunday Stealing: the Sunday Brunch meme

I took this from Sunday Stealing, which got it from the place now mentioned. 


This week's questions come from Helena at Skyblue
and her now-defunct Sunday Brunch meme. It's been a few years since the Brunch folded but the archives are still open.

1}Which do you prefer in the am: Coffee or tea?
I would rather have coffee but can't drink it anymore.

2} Work has been cancelled on the spur of the moment: Clean house and do errands, Or just fun things?
 When I was working I was too worn out to do anything but clean.  When I was younger I would clean house and then did any fun things I could, like sewing, or making something.  Sometimes I would sew half the night.

3} Middle of the hot summer, vacation at: Mountains or Beach?
When we lived by taller Mountains, we'd go there.  Here where we live now the Mountains are generally hotter than the beaches in summer.  We go to the places where the crowds aren't congregating.  Secret Spots.

4}You have to travel at a leisure speed: Train, plane or car?
Car.  It's the only way to see anything.

5} To relax: A movie or a book?
I don't generally read for pleasure, so that's for movies.  Relax when reading?  Sometimes!

6} What kind of pets? Dog, cat, bird or fish.
I love birds but am allergic to them.  Cats I also love but I adore am madly in love with dogs.  The smaller they are, the more I want!

7} Dream home: Hard wood floors or carpeting?
Tile.  I would like to have a few carpets over the tile but I like tile.

8} a fun activity: cards, bingo or blogging?
No Bongo.  But, I play cards on the computer and I LOVE to read friends' blogs and write mine.

9} First date: Dinner, movie or a hike?
Sailing.  That was our first date- just the two of us.  I loved it immediately and wanted to have a sailboat in my life but it didn't work out for us.   Dinner is always a nice date, no matter how long you've been married.  I love to hike or did.

10}The first Kiss: peck on the cheek, or a long romantic one?
Mine?  It was a Long Romantic one.  A peck on the cheek?  It is to laugh.  

Saturday Komeekz and Viral Shark photo

People want to save me, presumably from slipping off the edge and out of " the one and only Church".

But, really, we all want the same things:

1. To calm down and be better, kinder people
2. To rest in the Arms of our Creator when we die
3. To know that all of the Universe wishes us well, if only we could stop killing each other and the planet.
4. That someone will remember us when we are no longer here

So, though I have no mantra, I thought this cartoon was very fun.  So, "Squeak" shall be my mantra.  I'm so glad I don't have to actually chew on a rubber bone, though, since I, like the doggie, can also "think" the word, "Squeak". 

Eat or be eaten:

It was taken in South Africa, and really spectacular!  So, it's safe to go back into the water now that it's eaten.

Hearts for June

If you haven't heard, there is a very sick little girl who loves heart shaped things.  Her name is June and her story is HERE

Her parents want to be able to surround their three and a half year old daughter with hearts, 20,000 of them by June 1st.

4x4 sized hearts, decorated in whatever way you would for a precious little child, and send them to this address:

  June Rudd, P.O. Box 992, Anoka, MN 55303.

 Pass it on.  Let's get her those hearts.

Good night!  Sweet Dreams!  Take care!

Thank you to Pina... ♥♥♥♥♥  I love you Pina!

Friday, May 24, for Blog Every Day in May...

I've been trying to do this, blog every day, but this is the first time I actually got it right and went to the webpage for instructions!

My three worst traits:

1.  I'm messy.  I used to be very organized and neat, and then I (gasp!) started a business that literally ate the house.

2.  I overdo EVERYTHING.  I jump in with both feet and a crowbar!  I'm working on this.  Gilding Lilies?  No problem!

3.  I never throw anything away:  I keep things because I see possibilities in the most mundane things, like brown paper bags.  Why?  Anyway, I've started letting go of the real detritus because, since last June, I know I'll just never get to make all the things I thought I'd make.  This includes big welded sculptures.  Yes, I have an industrial welding setup and wanted to make really BIG Objects for the garden, ones that also moved in the wind. 

When I asked DH about this little meme, I started suggesting things to him, like, "I scuff my feet".  He said, "No, I actually like that one because it lets me know you are coming."

Thankful Thursday...

I'm thankful for kind suggestions from readers!  This is something I never knew before.

"Hey there, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening
in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other then that, superb blog!"

Dear Anon.  Thank you for your nice comment and the IE helps. 

I looked at IE, and found a tool at the top that can cure overlapping for narrower or smaller monitors.  It looks like a torn in half page along with other icons on the top left hand side of the page.  It's called "Compatibility View".

Also, to make any page bigger or smaller, there is always Contrl+ or Control-.

Thanks again!

Small Dog in Rubble struggles out to it's owner...

This is amazing.  I'm sure you've seen it.  Poor Oklahoma....



This horrible storm was more than a mile wide.  My grandmother, who had lived through several tornadoes, was always watching the skies during storms.  She was so afraid of them.

Not a wordless Wednesday, again..... Flowers and some political stuff if - you can call Warmongering political.

I'll hit you with the Ugly later.  I would like to apologize for not reading all your blogs. Since I've been handicapped by an inability to read them on the netbook, my blog reading has fallen into the scupper.  Though there is a new log-in system in place, it only works for one computer.  So, I've had to figure a work-around to use the systemon the netbook. There is also a very naggy Google Connect that I'm not sure I want to let through the door quite yet. It seems like something very cool to use but then it just might be a little like opening the door to Godzilla.

First things first: here is a  "May You Walk With Beauty All Around You" part:

I found a tiny flower from the garden, the sweetness of which I wanted to share with all who read here. 

The flower is no more than 3/8th of an inch wide.
You can make it bigger to see details.
It is a work of Tiny Perfection.

Also, I would like to report that the blue eyed grass is making a lot more headway along the verges of the lawn at the rec center.  I'm just so happy to see it there!  I have no idea, besides from the friendly help of the birds, how it got there.  I'm collecting seeds again this year in order to scatter them ever farther.  They are the cutest little devils.  So tiny!  Smaller than those above.


Now cometh the "Big Ugly" Part:  Ahem!

As you know, I've been reading the new book, and it has made me wish I'd started reading the more "political" books earlier in life and had never stopped!

However, there were twins, which I never regretted but can you see me balancing a baby on each knee while reading heavy, wrist breaking, head splitting Tomes filled with footnotes?

The Big Sisters were readers, and, of course, they read to their Little Sisters.  I might have had more time to read if I'd thought to stay locked into the bathroom with my books, yes?  No, it wouldn't have worked.  There was Life to Live and a sweet family to raise and to Love!  They were the happiest of times.

Now, as an old Crone, (read Harpy?) I can read the "Big Ugly" stuff again (and swirl my brew with a cackle!?).

About the book, The Armies of Ignorance : It's heartbreaking to read because it answers some questions (in my mind) that needed to be answered.  The first being, why did we drop two different bombs on the Japanese, when they hesitated to surrender, when they were still negotiating to surrender?  And, why did we choose to terrify the population in Germany and Japan with an "unconditional surrender" policy when none of the Allies were informed about it, nor had yet agreed to it, when it was presented by FDR at the Casablanca Meeting as a done deal?  General Eisenhower - who knew better than anyone in Washington, DC what really worked -  had tried ( unsuccessfully) to have such a policy stopped or at least modified.  He knew it would cost a lot more lives. As everything unfolded, it is clear to me what the objective really was.

The book was written in 1977, by a man who was both a Military man, and a Scholar. 

Reading is the only way for me to stay informed and mentally alive.  I'm so glad we have the first amendment, and that it is almost still fully operational.   I feel it is one of the greatest blessings IN the Bill of Rights.  Thank you  James Madison!  (Yes, that link is a Wiki.. sorry..)

I get to stay home and rest today.  I think I'll keep my jammies on all day and KNIT!  I need to knit!

Tuesday Tails.. If you live in California, you can help the Bobcat, plus link to free endangered species ring tones.

This beautiful cat needs to be protected. Look HERE for information on how to take action to help save them. 

 

Photo of bobcat by Annica Kreuter.

You can also go to the Center For Biological Diversity, sign up there, and get some free, downloadable ring tones of endangered species. Cool, eh?

And a Rice Bear, Via Ann, in an egg blanket:

AND...the amazing and astounding Hamster, Smoke,  in his eating video!

Now if that doesn't cheer you up, I don't know what will do it.  Tomorrow, some flowers and then I slam you with some UGH! It's something political, sort of.  I'd say it's actually Historical.

Music Monday Guns N' Roses, "Knocking on Heaven's Door"

Real Rockers are hard to find!  Enjoy this!  I sure did....



Too Bad the lead singer is such a doofus, eh?

Fiary Tale Meme

fairy tale meme

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. 
Let's go!!!
Today we ripped off as a blogger named Patrice,  from her blog His Dark Beauty She says she got it from Melissa at You Must Be True To Your Heart.  Tracing back the thefts of those that we steal from could take a while. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!  



Snow White: Do you consider yourself pretty? Name the part of your body you think is the most beautiful!
I don't consider myself to be pretty.  But I think my feet are the most beautiful part of my body.

Aren't the beautiful?  LINKIE

Cinderella: What is your shoe size?
I wear size 7.5 EE, or sometimes an 8's if the shoe is wide enough, and too pretty to pass up!

Sleeping Beauty: How many hours do you sleep each night?
I hope, always, to get 6 hours of sleep.  Some of the time I can manage it.
Sleeping Beauty, my foot!  hehehe

Little Red Riding Hood: What is your favorite food?  
Chocolate is my hands-down favorite food. It is a food group, right?  And, I like it in anything at all - Chicken Molé, soup, you name it.

The Frog Prince: What do you find disgusting?
I have to say that Bigotry, Selfishness and Greed are terribly disgusting and very unattractive, too. 

Jack and the Beanstalk: What plants are in your room?
I have 5 African Violets and 1 sweet little Orchid.

Puss in Boots: Do you have a pet? Do you want one?
Yes, I have a dear little doggie, and I wish I could have 3 more of them, too.

Rumpelstiltskin: What is the meaning of your url?  
Once upon a time I was an avid knitter, and I thought this blog was going to be all about knitting.  Hahaha!  It is to laugh.

The Little Mermaid: Can you sing?
I sing quite well.  And I can remember songs and poetry better than anything else.  Sometimes it is maddening but sometimes it's bittersweet, too.  

Pinocchio: What is your greatest wish?
Oh My Lord, I wish all the people in the world would just stop fighting and start repairing their Mother the Earth!

Peter Pan: What is your (mental) age?  
I used to think I was always going to be around 35, mentally.  But as I've aged, I've been changing.  I'd say that reaching back into time to my spiritual roots has given me such a perspective that I feel, at long last, like an Elder.

The Star Money: What is your most prized possession?
 I'd have to say that it's something of my grandfather's.  It's an old cigar cutter that he kept in is pocket until the day he died.  I gave his Sunday Best one, and what little else of his I had, to my nephew, his GGS.

Saturday Komeekz, flowers and a Mooooooonnnnnn shot

I've been watching "Medium" and really enjoying it.
However, I made the mistake of looking up Allison Dubois!

Packed up the last of the Christmas ceramics, well, those that will fit into a box! 

So, we have almost a Half Moon, Beautiful and Glorious in the late Spring sky,

  And, I got this lovely little snap of a new succulent, blooming it's little heart out in it's funky little way.  And, we have the tiny star flowers of of mother earth.... Make it BIG!

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille"

The mother plant sent out this wonderful net work of stars

If your heart is aching, Look for the beauty that abounds
May you walk with Beauty all Around you.

Friday Go Active...

Okay I'm back to Simple is Beautiful.

HOT PINK HOT LINK

Honestly, this gravy train of defense dollars waved in the faces of  war contractors,

those salivating at billions of dollars going up in smoke, it just has to stop.

Just think of all the things that could be done to make the world better, and your country stronger.

President Eisenhower started back before the WWII ended to get us out and stop
The war before thousands more died.  He was met with opposition, and my guess is that
there is just too much money in making war.
Ike was right when he stood up to the television cameras and warned us about it.
And, So was General George Washington.  He knew human nature and the course it
would take us on.
He knew over two hundred years ago where we would be
if we didn't beware.

Thankful Thursday

The Pacific Ocean, over the railings near Point Reyes, at High Tide

 "When the Moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter Aligns with Mars

Then Peace will guide the Planets

And Love will Steer the Stars" 

~♥~From "Hair", the musical~♥~

I'm thankful for Song writers and Poets, for the Universe, the Oceans, and for the Kindness of Strangers.

Wordless Wednesday just isn't me...

So I've been looking for random Memes to capture and drag over here.

This one I picked up at Kwizgiver's Blog and will plug it in here...

If you want to PLAY too, <<<  there's the link.  It looks like fun to do.

Here are the rules:
To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently I am reading, "The Native Americans".  See it in the side bar.


I am almost finished reading, "The Beginner's Guide to Walking the Buddha's Eightfold Path".  I'll finish that  today, also in the side bar.


I know I will be reading William R. Corson's book, "The Armies of Ignorance".

There are pictures from Shelter Island today, too.  The Port District is putting some major moolah into spiffing up all of the public spaces of the Island.  Actually, they (we the people) own it all but put out long term leases on land for hotels and eateries, etc.

Sculpture at Humphrey's by the Bay

New sign (you can read it) to explain our hopes

Osprey Nest box and the (perhaps) spy palm near it. hehe

Have a great hump day evening!  I hope to watch a movie tonight, and maybe eat some popcorn, we'll see.

Tuesday Tails, Skywatcher Post, too hot to knit.

Alas, the Doves have failed again.  This time it was to some other predator, perhaps a crow.  The little family started again, in a place where they have been safe before, but it's a hungry world out there, and the birds have moved their nest away to another garden.  One thrilling thing is that the Allen's Hummingbird is back, actually two of them, and they are having a lot of aerial forays over the Cape Honeysuckle bushes.  I'm so happy to see the tiny Allens' !  A family of Anna's came in the meantime but I hope the Allens' win!

We had a hot Mother's Day, almost 100 degrees, and it's been backing down now for three days.  It's blissfully cool right now, and only got to 83 or so today.  Beautiful because if  May starts out with roaring temps it doesn't bode well for summer survivals.  I might have to buy a kiddy pool!

We went down to Shelter Island yesterday to escape the heat.  They are fixing the place up but there is one beautiful sculpture that is there, at Humphrey's by the roundabout, and of which I finally got a good picture.  Pictures tomorrow.

Sky watcher, along the 52 out of Santee Valley

Enjoy Spring while it lasts.  We are already gearing up for a hot, hot summer!  Hope I'm wrong because this time we aren't going to be able to get out of the weather.

Music Monday Van Morrison - "Bright Side of The Road"

I heard this in the soundtrack of a movie last night, and thought of Van.........



Live Long, and Prosper, poet to "The Nation".

There is a new flowering plant, and she fits right in.

Her name is "Angel"

Jana sings at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards + Sunday Stealing

Makes you think about the Real Mother's Day, the very first one.

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. 
Let's go!!!

Today we ripped off  a blogger named Danielle,  from her blog Sometimes Sweet.  She doesn't say where she got it--but it was probably stolen from somewhere cool.  Tracing back the thefts of those that we steal from could take a while. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!  


Thinking about:
Getting enough time to read all my books, finish the garden, paint the house, finish promised objects, cleaning up messy corners so that I can sew some pincushions to go with some sewing gifts, and getting enough time to just sit, think of nothing at all, and de-stress.
 
Feeling: 
I'm feeling nervous about the future.  I'm not worried about mine, I just put that into the hands of the Supreme Being, but for the World essentially.  I've been told by nearly every source that reaches my ears to stop worrying, so I'm working on that every day.  I can't think of a Western Religion besides the Quakers, that doesn't use our emotions against us, to get us to do some pretty horrific things.

Reading:  
I'm reading a book that tells me nothing ever changes as much as it remains the same.  Well, two books.  They are in the side bar.  Next up are some translations by Thomas Cleary as soon as I find them.

Listening to:  
I want to listen more on the nano.  I love all guitar and violin music, especially Hawaiian slack key guitar and Classical masters.  I love Country music and Olde Time music.  The list is just endless.

Wondering:  
 If there really is less violence in the world or if it's just in parts of the world that don't matter to certain academics who pontificate there being less violence because......?

Looking forward to:  
I'm looking forward to Fall, but meanwhile, by the end of July, I'm hoping we have the side yard finished.  I'm also hoping to get the hall and entry painted this summer and all baseboards painted and back on. 

Missing:  
I miss my girls and their smiling faces.  I miss making dinners with them, and all the excursions to interesting spots for treks and collecting rocks; I miss going to the thrifts with them, and sometimes to swap meets, and finding treasures with them.  I miss sitting in Elle's and Bee's garden while we are painting our nails, or at plant sales, sitting and knitting at Gee's and Jimmy's and watching happy people take the little plants away to their own gardens.

Watching:  
I watch Swedish movies when I can.  I love the language.  I am trying to learn it.  I also am a Birder, so I watch birds.

Eating:  
I'm so lucky to have a hubby who cooks and likes it!  He took over when he retired.

Making me happy:
I'm happy about a lot of things.  I love our daughters and think about them all the time, try to make things for them that won't clutter up their lives but something they may come to treasure in times to come.

I love to make things.  I love the beauty of Nature, Birds, and the stunningly beautiful Ocean.  I love music, painting things, knitting, hammering on metal, so many things to enjoy.

I feel blessed to be living with a man who loves me, cooks, makes me laugh, gives me lots of hugs, and one who rubs my feet when they ache.

I love going to the gym and meeting with my trainer.  I am so strong now it's incredible.  I walk mostly upright now due to my emulating his stance and carefully following his training.  I have this little Marine in my head who says, "now relax those shoulders." , "Remember, tight abs!" or, "Watch your head, oops!".  hehehe  We talk a lot about things of the spirit, too, as we are both on that long journey of wondering "why".

I love having a crazy little dog who is so darn cute it cracks us up when he does what he does: like whining piteously at the foot of the bed when I'm there knitting, and he wants up there, too.  Also, when he races around the house to find me and then cries to be picked up.  This happens every day when he comes home from a walk with DH.

I also love this mystic:

"I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels blest; but even from Angelhood
I must pass on: all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel-soul,
I shall become what no mind e'er conceived.
Oh, let me not exist! for Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones, To Him we shall return."

Jalaluddin Rumi, Sufi Mystic

Viral Baby Owl and Very Patient Annie Dog Video....

This is so cute!



And then there is this one:

This is why people like Sulcata's.
They are hyper tiny but OH to they get BIG!  150lbs.  You'll be sorry if one bites your toe!

Yesterday we went to my sister's to have an early celebration of her Birthday.   We celebrated with some cupcakes from Starry Lane:

I think my sister was happy, though she really needs something for her nerves.  I wish we could all tie one on but it's just not a good idea! lol

Saturday Komeekz

Sounds right to me.

A little Friday something or other

I've felt embarrassed that I haven't answered all my comments in the last several days.  I've been dealing, not drugs mind you, but just with, you know, some things.  I really do appreciate every look in and every comment.  Thank you all for reading my blog.

I'm knitting, painting ceramics, hunting with my dragons, pumping a little iron, actually the machines are made of steel, visiting my sister, and looking for beauty to share with you beautiful people.  I'm also looking for meaning in life - but isn't everyone?  Just kidding.  I know life is to Love others, make them feel better, and like it's all worth it - those things we do on a daily basis. It is.  If you feel disconnected, you aren't.  The Supreme Being is always there to cheer you on!

Here, just pretend you are a bee and fall into this rose.  Make it VERY big.  It smells better than the best rose oil.  Trust me.  Apricot Nectar is not misnamed.

An aside amongst the drift wood of thoughts:
I'm slowly learning Swedish from films.  It's been fun trying to trace the whole Germanic/Norse thing around the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway, maybe Iceland and definitely Finland just based on sounds.   See, there is always something to do.  I'll be learning body language next I think. 

Have a great weekend doing whatever makes you the happiest, I mean as long as it's not illegal or maiming.  That you can refrain from,  Please!  lol

=)

Thankful Thursday, Crafting, trying to get time to slow down. The Busyness Syndrome, say what??

 I'm thankful to be busy, but this busyness makes me uptight and nervous.   Like many, I need more down time to just sit and not think.  There is actually something called a Busyness Syndrome.  Who knew?  Actually I think THIS GAL has it!  She is in the business of getting people unhooked from the Busyness Syndrome, at least that's the way it looks if you go to her blog.

Maybe it's time to take Satchel Paige's advice....

Time, hands, mind, eyes: I haven't got enough of the first, time, to make, hands/eyes, all the things in my generator of tasks, Mind.  Also, Mind does not stop working 7/24 to let me complete a task, as it is always thinking of ways to improve the design.  This means that Hands have to work more and are just getting worn out.  Eyes, another player, are kicking up dust, too.  There it is....

Yesterday I went to see my sister.  She was feeling better so we talked about many things.  She showed me the mirror she made out of cardboard, a mirror tile I gave her, some fabrics, trims, and beads.  Another little "silk purse".   I think this gal could work for a designer.  Yes, she is addicted to Victoriana.

This goes with the gorgeous box she made from an old bible box.......

and it now sits on her amazingly beautiful cardboard, scrap wood, fabric-covered vanity desk she made so that she can sit down to put on her earrings and fix her hair.  She was finding it increasingly hard to lean over the bathroom vanity to see well enough to insert her earrings.  I think my sister is a fabulous crafter!

Something else I'm thankful for is that she still can find joy in making things from practically nothing.

So, m'friends, don't forget that cardboard is made of wood and paper and that it's really Tough  if it's thick enough.  Now, give it a try!  Go glue some stuff together and decorate up your life!

ETA:  Package arrived from China... DH joked that it looked like drugs.  Lol.. I'll bet it has been thoroughly vetted and xrayed!

Heart Mold sent well padded.  Excellent job in packaging my friend!

For Bee's wax, though it might be a little big.

Wordless Wednesday: Creative little Kidcrafts in the park, terrible last minute picture of knitting...

Tuesday Tails....bits of knitting blah blah

Here is a story about five dogs.  These stories are very hard to read.  The reason I am sharing them is because I wanted to remind myself that there are some really amazing people out there in the same world as the monsters.  These are people who pulled together to save five little beings. It is a blessing to know they are there to help other animals as well.

Link to Stories behind the saving of five very special dogs.  DH sent me this.

And, bottom photo:  I had to make a video to get a single of that incredible tongue of our little Hund.

Summer panting tongue

"That was great treat" tongue

I love dogs.  They make me so happy and make my world a better place, too!

Here's why I want a Chihuahua... Isn't she sweet?

I can knit her teeny tiny sweaters that her big brother Wolfie
would not deign to wear.
c/o of Pina- Good Gad, those cross word puzzles are paying off!
Deign, really? Lol!

The knitting is tomorrow.. I'll get the snaps of the ties joined to the sweater fronts.  It's getting done!  I knit with straight, metal ones for the first time in ages, and found out why you shouldn't do that with silk blends.  It's like knitting snakes as the stitches are slithering around when you try to pass them from one needle to the other.  I hope I've got a pair of bamboo circular 6's.  Gad I say!