Day 501: My Kind of Stampin'

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

Mud Puddle Stamp

theme this week: "Stamp"

Seems I haven't done much with the MacroDay challenges for a while. But this week's theme seemed interesting ... or at least I had an idea for unique twist on the idea.

This is actually a close-up image from a favorite childhood hardbound book, If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover, copyright 1960. I looked for a copy off and on for years. In checking Amazon.com, I see it is back in print as a soft cover book!

Hooray! RUN! Get this one!

Oh, my gosh, this book makes me laugh! The premise is that if only one person did a *bad* thing ... like jump in the mud ... that could be fun. No big deal, right?

But what would our world look like if EVERYBODY did the same bad thing? Our world would be one heck of a mess!

You've really got to keep your eye on the cat in each illustration. That poor animal seems to get the brunt of all the bad stuff that happens.

Every house with a child needs a copy of this book.
Every grandparent needs a copy of this book.

Ah, heck. Let's get in the spirit ..
Buy this book?
This is what would happen if everybody did!

World Beach Project

I recently learned about this photography challenge,
the World Beach Project
which is sponsored by the
V&A Museums.

Here's the description:

The World Beach Project is a global art project open to anybody, anywhere, of any age. Building on the experience many of us have of making patterns on beaches and shorelines, this project combines the simplicity of making patterns with stones with the complexities of shape, size, colour, tone, composition, similarity and difference.

It seems like an easy project.

1. Find a beach and take a photo of the entire area
2. Start collecting your stones or found objects and arranging them in a design. Take some photos of the process.
3. Take a photo of your finished artwork
4. Post the images to the V&A website and put your beach on the map.

We've got lake and river beaches nearby. And I've got a tripod so I can take a photo of the process if I do the project alone ... or maybe I can get one of my family members to play along with me.

How many of you want to join me in this challenge?

Day 500: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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

Well, this is a milestone. My 500th daily photo!

Kind of an odd one, yes?

As I took a walk around the neighborhood, I decided to go on another slightly different route. This time I went by a couple houses that are going through some renovations. The first house enclosed the front porch, added a beautiful cove window, new siding, and paint. It's looking marvelous!

The second house must be having a bathroom redone, or maybe a back porch. Who knows. I can only guess by a nondescript company sign in the front yard and this pile of glass blocks that was sitting by a fence. It looks like the wall was carefully removed because all the blocks in the pile appear to be intact.

My guess is that the blocks will be used again, or maybe donated to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It also looks like they've been sitting in the autumn elements for a while. Moss is starting to grow. And they are covered by all kinds of interesting debris.

I liked the way the late afternoon sun was reflecting off the faces of the block and the ruggedness of the edges where the mortar had been removed.

Day 499: Texture of the Fall

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

Tomorrow is a milestone day for my Creative Journey ... 500 days.

So I've been asking family and friends for ideas of what the subject of my photo should be.

One of the suggestions was to look at Day 1 and recreate it ... but improve on it by using some of the techniques I've learned over the last 500 days. Using the core of that idea, I went out for a walk, looking for an interesting leaf.

I found this one in the street. I liked the shape. The color. The veining. The water marks. The bits of debris that had accumulated on it since it fell.

But I'm using it today ... and hoping the new day brings me an extraordinary find. Tune in tomorrow to find out what my lens spies.

Don't forget to bring the party hats, pinata, fruit punch and balloons. I want to Celebrate!

Sunday Secrets: Nov 11, 2007

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. Here are the secrets shared this week that resonated with me:

This one reminds me of my husband, Dale. He has a big brain and a big heart. He has great ideas. He believes he can make a difference. He'd love to work with others with vision.

When I went through the time of being separated and divorced from my alcoholic first husband, I was a single mom of two little girls who still wore diapers. Some people called me brave. I thought I was just hanging on by my fingernails. What other choice did I have? Give up? Where would we have gone? I didn't see myself as brave — just doin' what needed doin'. And scared shitless.

Today a well-meaning friend encouraged me to get off medication as soon as possible and allow my brain to heal itself. He didn't want me to be dependent on drugs. Would he tell a diabetic to stop taking insulin? Prayer, meditation, changing one's behavior ... all can help. But not if my brain isn't connecting synapses correctly. I believe God inspires those who make the medications as a way to help others. I'm glad I get the help I need. "Finding God" is not a magic trick that cures all ills.

Day 498: A Proud Mommy Look

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

My daughters say I get this certain look on my face when they've had an accomplishment that they demonstrate to me or the world.

They call it "The Proud Mommy Look."

I get it when I watch Jeanne or Jodie perform in band. I get it when Julie shows me her latest non-fiction writing. I got it when they "became women" and got their first periods ... their first kisses. (Stop groaning, girls).

Moms are weird that way. We like to see our kids in their milestones. We like to express our joy in what they can do.

Jodie said that in their 8th grade band concert, she and her best friend were sitting next to each other in the flute section. When they looked up and saw their respective moms, each of us had the same Proud Mommy Look on our face. They cracked up ... but I secretly think they were looking for it.

The other day, I popped over to Jodie's blog, A Lotta Waffle, to see what she's been writing. Imagine my Proud Mommy Look when I read her Halloween entry: My Mom is Awesome

Day 497: Chicks 'n Ducks 'n Geese Better Scurry

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section,
Stroll Through the Park

For the first time in months, I met Dale at his office in the Spokane Valley and we went out for lunch together. It was a brisk and breezy fall day. We enjoyed each other's company, then I headed home while he went back to work.

Since I had the day to myself and didn't have any pressing obligations, I took the scenic ride home on the country road that runs south of the Spokane River instead of the usual quick trip down I-90. The country is so pretty this time of year. The horses roamed in the meadows. The trees gently released their leaves. The haze of wood fires hung over the valley floor.

The back road ends at Spokane Street in Post Falls, which then crosses over the Spokane River right next to Q'melin Park — our main city park that lines the river just east of the falls. As I started crossing the river, I peeked down into the park. The site captured my attention!

There along the shore were about 200 sea gulls hunkered down in the sand and gravel. In separate quarters on the lawns were several flocks of Canadian geese, taking a breather before heading further south for the winter. I was struck by how they'd segregated themselves on the beach. It looked like a photo to me, so I turned around and headed down into the park.

The birds were not too thrilled to have human company, so it was tough to get a photo of them doing anything but waddle away from me, tails in the air. So I took a different tactic and walked toward the bridge just outside the park. From that vantage point, I could focus down the river and catch the flocks from a more interesting angle.

I loved how just as I took this shot, something startled about half of the gulls, and they started flying off the beach and swirling over the river. At the same time, some of the geese paraded in a straight line down to the shore, the leader honking out orders. All the while, the birds in the center of the beach huddled close to the sand, trying to lie low against the autumn breeze.

The seasons, they are a-changin'. So glad I get to be a witness to these small wonders.

Book Review: I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream

Here's an oldie title that I was recently introduced to. The genre is out of my usual scope of reading, so I didn't quite know what to make of the book.

That may be because I don't quite know what to make of this flamboyant and outspoken author!

I ended up giving the book 3 stars ... out of pure indecisiveness!

If you'd like to read my complete review, pop on over to The Bookshelf.

Day 496: Going Nuts

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

This photo has a humorous story behind it.

Once upon a time there lived three squirrels, Joey, Billy and Andy. These lively rodents dwell in our backyard and were named by my daughter Jodie.

Joey, Billy and Andy are frisky and fun and have kept us entertained all year. We watch them play tag in the grass, scurry along the tops of fences, and jump like Tarzan from tree to tree, swinging on the pine boughs. My favorite trick is when they hang upside down by their toes, looking for all the world like furry pinatas.

Last fall, the three thought it might be great fun to dig up my newly planted tulip bulbs and keep them as their winter food source. I had to go to extraordinary lengths to protect the bulbs so as to enjoy the spring flowers.

This fall, my mother-in-law gave us a big bag full of acorns that she had collected in her yard. We put the bag out on the back deck so they'd be handy for feeding our little squirrel friends.

Those squirrels got wise to what was in the bag! A few days later, we found a 5 inch rip in the side of the bag. We spied the critters scurrying off the deck, across the concrete blocks and into their hidey holes, nuts in their mouths.

Well, Joey, Billy and Andy have been quite industrious. Guess they figured out snow is in the forecast this weekend.

When I went out on the back deck this afternoon, this is the picture that greeted me. The paper bag was completely flattened. The acorn tops were scattered nearby.

Glad our little friends will have plenty to eat this winter. It's the least we can do as payment for the vaudeville show they enact all year.

Day 495: At Quilters

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Quilter's Store Room

I spent the morning with the St. George's Quilters yesterday. Will go again this afternoon. We are making great progress on getting lots of quilts done to donate to the food bank next week.

The food bank needs as many as possible. They hope to include one quilt with each food basket they deliver for Thanksgiving.

So far, we have about 70 quilts completed. The need is great, though. We hope to get even more done before the deadline, so we're working overtime.

This is our small store room at St. George's. What's pictured are some quilts that are all put together, ready to tie. A variety of yarn colors is available for color coordination. On the adjoining wall are the completed quilts — literally stacked to the ceiling.

Day 494: Quick! Before it Rains!

I added this new photograph to Creative Journey in my Photography section, Fall Clean-up Begins

A big storm will be rolling in this coming weekend. It will surely bring rain. May even bring snow.

So there are only a few days to get the back yard in shape.

I'm going to do the FlyLady thing ... clean it up in baby steps. I worked on the back yard for just 1/2 hour this afternoon and made a nice dent with the pine cones, pine needles and in the flower beds.

Tomorrow I'll work on the leaves under that tree in the background.

If I'm real lucky, I'll get someone to help me bag up the piles.

Margaret the Beautiful

A few weeks ago I ran across this website:
Marquardt Beauty Analysis

The website talks about aesthetic physical beauty ... what is culturally believed to make for an ideally beautiful face ... and to put that into a mathematical equation. It's used for plastic surgery and facial reconstruction. You can read more about that part in the introductory pages.

What I found fun and fascinating is that also on the website is a "mask" that you can digitally place over an image of your own face. Then using Photoshop, you can distort your own face to make it fit this mask that mathematically equates to this ideal American version of attractiveness and beauty.

Jeanne the Elf

For giggles, I sent the link to my oldest daughter, Jeanne, who is pretty handy in using Photoshop. She followed the directions and did two versions of her own face. She said the first one makes her look like an Elf, and the second one makes her look like a Vulcan.
:: grin ::

Jeanne the Vulcan

So I took some photos of my own face (on a bad hair day, as you can see) and sent them to her. She picked the one that would work best due to the angle and my expression, and started playing with my face, the mask and Photoshop.

Here's the result. A new an improved Margaret? (click for larger image)

Say! I look neither Elfish nor Vulcanish!

But seriously, I'm still fairly recognizable. The shape of my face barely changed. Who knew I was so close to gorgeous already???

And the changes? There is that gawdawful skinny nose. True, my own nose is rather Italian and bulbous, so something slightly more narrow might be pleasing. But how would one breathe through such a narrow thing as the ideal beauty? And would it affect my singing voice?

My eyes are definitely more upturned and wide open. They look less tired. And, ooooooooo, love the shape of my new eyebrows! But would those eyes get all squinty and crinkly when I laugh? That's one of my favorite qualities! (Drives photographers batty, though, to try and get me to smile and keep my eyes open at the same time).

My mouth looks smaller and more tame, too. Hmmmmm. Margaret without a big mouth and ready smile. Not sure I'd like that.

I do wish Jeanne had added in some more hair. Might be nice to be less bald. Could do the wig thing, I suppose. But that could get awfully itchy and hot — especially when extra heat waves are being generated by my extraordinary brain power. Purveyors of Possibility throw off an awful lot of steamy creative energy, you know.

All in all, this was quite a fun experiment. But ... I think I'll keep the face I have.

I've earned it.

Book Review: Life on the Refrigerator Door

This wonderful book is about 15 year old Claire and her single mother, a busy OB/GYN. School, boyfriends, babysitting and work keep them on opposite schedules. They have very little time when they are both awake and in the same room together. Very little time to talk. Instead, they leave messages for one another on the refrigerator door.

The entire book is made up of these messages between mother and daughter. They share news. They ask each other for help. They even fight with each other in these short messages.

I love this book. I read it with my middle daughter, Julie. The dialogue is incredibly real to life!

It's a 5 Star rating from me.

If you'd like to read my entire book review, check out The Bookshelf on my website.

Date Night

Last night Dale took me into downtown Spokane for a date!

We went to the INB Performing Arts Center (formerly known as the Spokane Opera House) to see a Broadway play, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Actually, it was sort of a "group date." The VP of IT at the credit union bought tickets for her management team, of which Dale is a part. So we got to sit with some of Dale's co-workers and enjoy this musical.

It had been quite a long time since I attended a Broadway show. Such fun! I forgot just how campy they can be. And how wonderful the voices of the pros are. Inspiring!

I tell ya ... makes me want to consider getting back on stage myself! I've started receiving the newsletter from our local theater, Lake City Playhouse. Perhaps I'll put my toe back in that water as part of my Creative Journey!

Now I want to rent the movie version of this show. Ought to be fun with Steve Martin and Michael Caine as the main characters.

Day 493: Horn of Plenty

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

This week I took down the Halloween decorations and put up the ones for my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.

The decorations include some pieces I've stitched over the years, of course:

• Autumn Cornucopia
• Count Your Blessings
• Tall Turkey Banner
• Pumpkin

I also set up this little display in the entry way. The wicker cornucopia was my mother's. I inherited it after her death.

Why is Thanksgiving my favorite holiday?

I was born on Thanksgiving!

(My siblings ate hot dogs that night).

Another 45 Min Day

It's the first of the week after Dale's vacation. I need another 45 min day.

That means, 45 minutes of concentrated effort, and a 15 min break. Today while I work, I'm listening to the audio version of Life on the Refrigerator Door: Notes Between a Mother and Daughter

Oooooo. This is a good one. The whole book is post it notes left by mother and daughter on their refrigerator. The daughter is just 15. The mom learns she has breast cancer. The story unfolds. I've already cried twice.

FIRST 45 MIN
* dressed, ate breakfast
* checked e-mail
* one load laundry (one washed, folded and put away)
* cleaned master bathroom thoroughly
* straightened kitchen
* swept wood floors upstairs
* watered and fertilized plants

Hope I have a productive day today. Will leave updates as I FLY through my day.

*Sigh*

SECOND 45 MIN
* washed my Eeyore stitchery
* one load laundry (one washed, folded, put away)
* swept front porch
* collected trash around the house and
   took it to garage
* dusted upstairs
* vacuumed upstairs
* cleaned out the litter box

THIRD CHUNK O' TIME
* shower / dressed / made myself beautiful   ;-)
* morning snack
* doctor appointment
* worked on counseling homework while in waiting room
* checked PO Box / bought stamps / teased Brad
   (added that note for his benefit)
* called Dale


LUNCH TIME
* mmmmmmm enchiladas!
* will also set up next stitching project





LAST BIT OF WORK
* Folded last two loads of laundry and put them away
* Ran errands
* Fixed snack for Jodie and me
* Taught Jodie to make enchiladas
* Made some homemade Tuscan Soup

A rather nice, productive day!

Happy Dance: Eeyore

I finished another quilt square for charity. This Eeyore is for the cartoon quilt.

You can get the details about the pattern in my Stitcher's Studio in Cameo's Corner.

Day 492: Demon Fiend

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

And here is the demon that laid waste to my cheek last night, Rolly.

As you can see in his eyes, he was none too happy to have me get this close to him this morning!


Ah, well. We'll end up making peace again before too long.

In the mean time, watch out for flying fingernails and claws!

Sunday Secrets: Nov 04, 2007

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. Here are the secrets shared this week that resonated with me:

When my elderly next door neighbor was dying, she asked me to visit her. I wanted to. I just couldn't. I didn't have it in me. Every time I spent time with her, it brought back too poignantly the feelings of watching my own parents die just two years before. I couldn't bear the burden of watching another death. I was grateful other neighbors and my daughter were able to spend time with her.

I have nothing from the car that my brother Carl was ejected from, that took his life. I have memories, though, of my brother laid out at the mortuary. I have a bit of his curly red hair.

And there's the memory of Carl's friend, the driver, laid out in intensive care in a coma with tubes poking in him and machines beeping and his sister sitting silently by.
His friend lived.

I do, however, have some pieces of stained glass from my parish church that burned down when I was in 6th grade. Quite different, but all painful memories none-the-less.

PostSecret is a finalist in the 2007 Weblog Awards. It's earned my vote!

Day 491: That Darn Cat!

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

Rolly (my daughter Julie's 12+ year old long-hair black cat) and I have a tolerate/hate relationship.

The cat has never liked me.

When he was a kitten, he fell off a desk and broke his hip. I was the one that rescued him. But I think he blames me for his pain.

Ever since he healed, he slinks around our home, hissing every chance he gets. Dale calls him the stealth cat because of the way he hides in the shadows.

But since Julie's been away at college, Rolly's come to accept me — a little. I think it's because when Jodie forgets, I'm the one that feeds him, gives him clean water, scoops out the litter box and gives him kitty treats. For those small kindnesses, Rolly now yowls at me and allows me to scratch his head before he eats. Every now and again, he'll deign to let me hold him.

That's what I was doing last night. Holding him. Brushing some of the mats out of his long fur. Talking sweetly to him.

Then he turned on a dime, jumped up, took a divot out of my face, and hissed curses at me once again as he strutted out of the room! Left a bloody mess.

This morning? No kitty treats for that monster.

Now we're back to hissing at each other.