Today we pause and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We are grateful for their service and devotion. Have a thoughtful Memorial Day!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Pause and Remember
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Lucky – I’m Yours
What a coincidence that two songs I like have such cool titles and videos. I could watch them again and again. Today they also seem appropriate for my best friend who has an anniversary today.
You can see the videos here and here.
I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love in every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday
~Jason Mraz
Have a wonderful day! Happy Anniversary!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Observations from a Small Bear
Yes, yes. It’s me – Frankie. I’ve been poking around the studio and thought I’d show you what I’ve discovered.
First of all, there’s all kinds of stuff around. One thing I found was a calendar that shows that all of us bears will be heading to Iowa in less than two weeks. Teddy Bear Reunion in the Heartland here we come. Awesome! We love to travel. But that’s not really news is it? You knew that already.
Next, I climbed up on the back of her chair and peered over her shoulder and saw her working on this – a new friend for us. She better get busy if he (or she) is going to be ready for the trip.
Then I came across this little fellow. Poor thing – he didn’t have any stuffing. And we all know that a teddy must have some, even if it’s a teeny tiny bit.
I can see I need to round up the gang to help me provide some encouragement for the engagement of the needle and thread. Oh, and by the way, no one knows I’m here so I’m relying on you guys to keep this visit confidential.
hugs & kisses -
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Menagerie Has Left
Last week our house was a menagerie of people and pets. Two days ago they all climbed in their vehicles to return to places far away. And I sit and think about how amusing both the people and the pets were while they were here. It was fun!
The dog had been here before so it was like ol’ times, but the kitten was new. And what I know about kittens would fit in a thimble. This one, being fostered by my daughter for the time being, is very photogenic. Just like the dog. It’s a talent. It really is. To never take a bad photo - even when you are sleeping. I have a lot to learn from these animals.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
This is fascinating . . .
My daughter showed me this video a while back (Thanks dear!) and I have finally gotten around to sharing it with you. If you have seen it already I hope you don’t mind seeing it again. And if you haven’t seen it, I hope you will find it as amazing as I do. If I had to choose a favorite, I might have to pick the polar bear, but they are all pretty cool. I think the fact that these pieces look like trash on the street until they are animated is a great concept. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading and visiting here!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Little Pink Houses
This seems like a good time to share with you some little
and some not so little,
pink houses located in a historic part of this city I call home.
I don’t live in this neighborhood but I do love riding through it from time to time.
This neighborhood is called Historic Oakwood and it is one of my favorite areas in Raleigh.
So put on your walking shoes and we will traipse through this district that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
These homes are all Victorian era homes and the ones I am showing you today have lovely porches typical of the era and reminiscent of days gone by.
These homes are built in different architectural styles but they all have details that are not so common in today’s homes.
In this quaint and unique neighborhood, seeing pink houses is not all that unusual.
Thanks for joining me on this tour of Little (and some not so little) Pink Houses.
I must give kudos to my chauffeur for this outing, my number one son who must have learned something from his dad. When I suggested this outing, he didn’t blink an eye. My, how I love an adventurous spirit! But then he’s also the one who has just travelled halfway across the country. Thanks dear! It is much safer to take photos as a passenger and not the driver . . .
For more pink things this on this fine Saturday, you can visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. Now I’m off to have mah-self a tall glass of sweet iced tea, sit on mah porch and put mah bare feet up. Y’all come back now, ya hear?
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Dog’s Tale
Today I digress from my usual subjects to share with you A Dog’s Tale. Herewith, I present this brief interlude with photos from my son and his wife’s recent move. While I wasn’t along for this journey, my husband was and he can attest to the truthfulness of the author’s tail . . . uh, I mean tale.
Let me introduce you to Little Bit. Some of you may have seen him here before. He’s a very go-with-the-flow kind of canine. Little Bit is a dog of few words so I will let him tell his own tale.
Here I am in charge of the boxes. Actually this is the best job of the bunch because all you have to do is keep your eyes open and make sure these babies don’t walk off by themselves.
This stuff is called Bubble Wrap. It is used to keep fragile things from breaking. Someone has gotten a little carried away. I mean - Really!Oh, boy! I thought I was going to have to ride in the back of the moving truck! Apparently, they need my eyes and ears up front to tell them which way to go.
It’s time boys and girl to get this show on the road! Only 1450 miles to go. Lickety split and we’ll be there! Texas to Florida here we come.It’s been at least fifteen minutes now. This is kind of boring. How much longer do we have to go?Could you scoot over just a bit? If I’m gonna ride a thousand more miles you gotta give a dog some space.Alright you guys can go and I’ll watch the truck. And, hey! Bring me back another one of those roast beef sandwiches.So this is Florida! Ah, sunshine and palm trees. Can I get out now? Huh? You guys are great and all, but it’s time I get acquainted with my new neighborhood.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
While I’m mulling over my next step . . .
on the box from my last post, I thought I would give you a quick peek at what’s on my desk at the moment. This bear was the lucky one tonight. He got his arms and legs. He is offering encouragement to the others . . .
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Mumbling Something
I was in the midst of what had begun as a fairly decent idea. It sure seemed that way at first, but there’s a stage to every box where it sort of looks like a disaster. And that is where the bears found me.
“What’s going on?” one of them asked me.
“Oh, just – you know – working on a box,” I replied.
“Hm-m-m. We thought we heard some mumbling coming from in here.”
“Okay. That was me, but it wasn’t mumbling. It is called a mantra.”
“What exactly were you mumb . . . uh . . . mantra-ing?” another asked.
“If you must know, I was saying things like: Keep the faith. Don’t give up. Have patience. Bide your time.”
“Ah, so things aren’t going so well then?”
“Uh . . . let’s just say I’ve adopted a wait and see kind of attitude.”
“You know we know about things like that – disasters and stuff.”
“You do, do you?”
“Yes, we do and we know the perfect remedy. Take my paw.”
So I did and he led me out onto the porch.
“Sit down and smell the rain,” he instructed. “See, this is called perspection.”
“I think you mean ‘perspective’ and of course, you are right.”
“A couple of chocolate chip cookies will help too.”
And he was quite right. Tomorrow is another day after all and maybe by then I’ll have a new perspection.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Word of the Day – Flocking
I was trying to figure out which direction I wanted to go with the faerie I was creating for my Victorian Tea Party on Monday.
I usually use sparkly glitter on my faeries’ wings to enhance their magical reputation.
But I decided I wanted to compliment the softness of the rose petals on the teacup faerie but how would I do it?
Then it occurred to me that I might try to flock her wings. After all, how hard could it be? I scrounged around in a box that contained some stuff I rarely use and found some flocking powder in just the right color. What luck!
It turned out that it is easier to flock than to glitter - to me anyway. A little glue and a little flocking powder and poof! You’ve flocked! Easy peasy. You too can flock.
But I must warn you that flocking is a bit like spray painting – it is so easy to get good results that you will want to flock everything.
You just have to remember that not everything should be flocked. A little flocking goes a long way.
And it’s relatively easy to find flocking powder. It seems everyone has a line of it. (I wonder if it’s all made in the same place, put in different containers, and labeled according to its destination.) Anywho, here’s a few photos of the variety, or not, of flocking powder that’s out there.
This is the Martha Stewart line that Michaels carries.
This selection is available at Archiver’s if you have one near you.
This is the Inkadinkado line available at AC Moore.
Now think. Surely you have some tiny little something that could stand a little flocking.