Day 528: Knit Wit

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, To The Point

To keep my hands busy, I've been knitting another scarf for my daughter Julie. I'm using a thick chenille yarn and some big fat needles.

This is as exciting as my day got today.
:: wry smile ::

A Word of Thanks

A while ago, I wrote about the day the St. George's Quilters gave away 101 quilts to our local food bank. It's great to be a part of a project that ends up helping so many needy folks in our community.

Well, last week our group received the following in the mail:


It's a rare treat to gets notes of thanks like this. Reminds me a lot of the parable of the 10 lepers.

We don't make the quilts to get the pats on the back, but it's awfully nice to get them anyway.

Book Review: The Vile Village

Here's the 7th book in the Series of Unfortunate Events.

It's criminal how much pleasure I get from the pain of these poor orphans!

Having run out of relatives that will care for them, the Baudelaire children are put in the the care of the town of V.F.D., a most vile village that is over-run with crows. After all, "It takes a village to raise a child."

Here they encounter yet more unfortunate events that put their lives in peril.

You can read my entire book review in my Bookshelf.

Sounds Like a Plan

I have nothing to add to this one today ...
Sounds like karma to me.

Look on the Bright Side

It's a sunny and cold day today in north Idaho. The temperature never got above the mid-20s this afternoon. But I wanted to take a break from the elliptical trainer today, so braved the icy air and took a walk around the neighborhood for my exercise today.

The call of the sun made baring the cold worthwhile. Just getting out in the fresh nippy air, soaking in some vitamin D and getting a bit of 'distance vision' helps clear my brain. The shadows do fall behind.

What's next?

Day 527: Budding Guitarist

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Jodie Plays Bass

Jodie used her hard-earned money from her job at Silverwood last summer to buy a pretty red bass. Today, she was accepted into the beginner's jazz band at school.

Lots of practicing goin' on here!

Sage Advice

Ah, the hard part lies in the middle:
Behave Yourself
I'll have to think on that . . . ;)

Day 526: A Splash of Color

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section,

Ink

theme this week: "Ink"

Other folks have great images of fountain pens, ink wells, signatures. We may yet see a tattoo. But the ink I know best, besides that from my fine tip ball point pen, is the ink for my printer.

Give Yourself a Pat on the Back

:: Grin ::

I think this is what my blog is about. Honoring my achievements ... especially in photography and needlework.

Day 525: Give me a Tip-orillo

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Smokin'

theme this week:
"Smoke 'em If You Got 'em"

I'm highly sensitive to cigarette smoke, so am not around smokers much these days. I just about stop breathing if the smoke gets even a little thick. But there's something about cigar smoke that draws me in.

As a kid, my dad's business partner always had a cigar in his mouth. Ol' Russ was a kind man. He had a lot of patience where my own dad had very little. When Russ bent down to give me a kiss on the cheek, I get a big whiff of his unique aroma.

Now, every time I smell a cigar, I look around for Russ.


[no ... this isn't Russ ... just an old friend of mine]

Happy Dance: 2007 Family Christmas Ornaments

Once again, Better Late Than Never!

I've finally finished my family's 2007 Christmas ornaments.

Sometimes the best laid plans still don't come to fruition.

This first snowman was stitched for my husband, Dale.





The cute penguin is for my middle daughter, Julie.

The snowman doing the
happy dance is for my
youngest daughter, Jodie.

And this gingerbread house is the ornament I stitched for myself.


You can read all my trials and tribulations about trying to get these done in Cameo's Corner.

Sunday Secrets: Jan 20, 2008

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. I find it to be an amazing sociological experiment. A number of today's secrets resonate with me:

I HAD an afro when I was a senior in high school!
I always wanted red hair
like my sister Eleanore and my brother Carl.

I had a dream this week about my first husband, Albert.
We were happy and playful.
It's the first time in a long time I could remember him that way.

... and politics.
Amen.
And amen.

I just take the phone away from my ear and make faces.
Sticking out my tongue, wrinkling my nose and shaking my head is a favorite.

Your Gifts

I've begun a new tool that I use to help me keep my brain chemistry in balance. It's a simple 3-ring binder. So far, it contains just a few pages:

• Two photographs of myself — one as a 10 year old child; one taken on a day where my girls and I had a memorable time of bonding. I look beautiful in both.
  
• A collage I made — some of my life goals in images and words.
  
• A list of things I can do that calm me, help me feel special. Any one item takes only 15 min.
  
• My Personal Mission Statement — something I wrote that speaks to the person I wish to present to the world, my truest self.
• A love letter from my husband, detailing what he finds unique in me.
• A collection of quotations — some of the nicest words people have ever said to me and some words I long to hear.

I've been glancing through these pages each night before I go to sleep. It's my way of fulfilling the phrase above. To remind myself each evening of the best I have to offer, then rest well, encourages me to live that life each morning when I awaken.

Day 524: Just Because ...

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey
in my Photography section,
Glow

Jodie lit a candle today and set it on the kitchen counter.

"What's the candle for, Jo?"

"Just felt like lighting one."

"Oh." Pause. "It looks like a picture."

"Go get your camera."

Promises, promises

Yesterday I wrote of having the integrity to follow through on the promises I make to myself.

A flip side of that is to not hold others to that same standard. Just because I keep my promises, doesn't mean I can expect that other folks will always keep theirs.

This was really hard to learn when I went through a divorce many, many years ago. Divorce always hurts. So much betrayal. So many broken lives. But the part that was hardest for me to come to grips with was the fact that my former spouse did not keep his promises.

Sure, his broken promises to me hurt. But even more, he didn't keep his promises to his kids.

I held out hope that he would pull though some day. But then he died ... and I was left knowing those promises would never be fulfilled.

Eventually, I had to let go of that pain and resentment. I had to learn to let go of the promises now broken. To do that allows me a more peaceful life.

Day 523: Laughter

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section,

The Best Medicine

theme this week: "Medicine"

The 'rules' this week state:

In this season of colds and flus, we have decided that rather than go out, you may turn to your medicine cabinets and show us what you have. Any images cold/flu/illness/medicine related are welcomed.

Well ... ok. This wasn't in my medicine cabinet ... but there's a mirror over the cabinet, right? And this could be in the mirror!

That's me. Pushing the boundaries again ... and dancing on the borders.

Integrity

This is one of the primary phrases I try to live by.

It's not that hard for me to keep the promises I make to others. Usually, I'll say "No!" rather than make a promise I can't keep.

But holding onto the promises made to myself ... that's a little tougher.

Like ... getting to bed on time so that I am rested and ready for the next day's activities.
Like ... taking care of routine duties before sitting down to check my e-mail.
Like ... getting my exercise in every day.
Like ... thinking and making a wise choice before I turn into the Monster Mommy

Sometimes, those are the hardest kinds of promises to keep. The ones made to myself.

Day 522: More Fun with Food

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Carrot Flower

I couldn't quite figure out what kind of flower cluster this is supposed to be. A lotus maybe? Not sure. But it's cool!

Here's another interesting-looking title about making these edible works of art.

The ABC of Fruit and Vegetable Carving


Just what I need! Another hobby!
Yike!

What is the Kindest Option?

Lesson learned.

I did take the high road with my friend. We had the best of conversations this morning. We'll temporarily part ways for the next six months, then see where we stand.

Apologies.
Atonement.
Affirmations.

Clear communication does a world of good. And if it can be delivered with kindness, the outcome looks a lot calmer and rosier.

Day 521: Mamma Always Said ...

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Potato Rose

Mama always said, "Don't play with your food!"

Sometimes I'm a rebel. It's fun to play.

Obviously, the chef at the Thai restaurant thinks so, too. When Dale and I tried a new place for lunch, the scrumptious dishes arrived with beautiful carved vegetable flowers. Mine was this rose. I'll show you Dale's tomorrow.




In peeking around 'the interwebs,' I found this book:
Vegetable and Fruit Carving


Intriguing, yes?