old box addiction

Along with loving old paper, I love old boxes.

A few years ago, I decided my house was too cluttered. I put my old box collection away in storage where I promptly forgot about it until today. While searching for some elusive paperwork in my storage unit, imagine my delight when I came across my box of boxes! I'm obviously OK with clutter because the old boxes are once again on display - this time in my studio.

Our final 'she art' project is to create a scene with a modern day image of ourselves. Although I don't wear butterflies in my hair, this depicts me.



Waiting until circumstances are just right to pursue my perfect life is no longer an option. These words appropriately express my heart.....


I learned tons from Christy Tomlinson's on-line She Art course. She is offering an on-line art journal class next month. I've already signed up!

Sisters weekend

This is the second year that my sister Kim (and her girls) headed to Redmond, OR to say with my other sister, Debbie. Debbie's daughter, Jenny, surprised us on Friday night by crashing the party. Good thing Mel was gone - it was a testosterone free zone!

We lounge, laugh, eat, and shop. Here we are at a coffee shop having tried lavender lattes - a delectable treat!

Sophie, catching up on current events.

I made a gift bag out of waxed paper, ribbon & misc ephemera for Deb's birthday present. I think she liked the bag better than the contents!

Women (and sisters) need each other. We'll repeat our trip next year....

Gratitude

Hmmmm.... Perhaps I need to increase my gratitude factor as I seem to be forgetting my weekly gratitude post.

Around this time of year, most of us in the PNW develop an arch nemesis: the rain. Much like the neighbor in the cul-de-sac who lives like a pig & lets his young children run amok (yet smiles widely and waves furiously as he drives by and is the best 'neighborhood watch' a person could ever want) the rain moves in around late October. We expect it and drop phrases like, 'without the rain we wouldn't live in this virtual green paradise'.

By March, we are afraid to walk across our lawns out of fear of sinking into a quagmire of soggy topsoil. We keep our fingers crossed that March 'will come in like a lion and out like a lamb'...

.... so we can enjoy the bright spring days of April, vibrant with color from early blooming azaleas, camellias, daffodils, tulips, and the like.

So, rather than grouse about the continual rain and colder than normal temperatures, I do declare to be grateful for the wet stuff. My niece living in Midland, TX says they have not received rain there in over 7 months. My daughter in Colorado Springs claims they are in a drought and desperately need rain to dampen the earth ahead of fire season.

It's really all about perception and attitude. I am re-posting the following as a reminder that attitude adjustments really do help make life easier to navigate.

'There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well", she said. "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M-M", she said. "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed she had only one hair on her head. "Well", she said. "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"Yeah!", she exclaimed. "I don't have to fix my hair today!"'

Publish Post

No purse for my dog

Otis' sentiments exactly.

One day soon we'll see proof that our earth is indeed happy!

Look at this cute ring I bought from Etsy. I also bought some loose cabochons to somehow incorporate into my art.

All in a day's work

From this

to this
in 5 hours flat! (Don't ask about my achey-breaky arms....)

It might have reached 50 degrees yesterday but the cool air didn't deter me. I was determined to work in the yard because we were promised no rain until early evening.

I resolved many of the world's woes, my own included, while weeding.

It's all good.....

Pie all gone

I love pie.
The lemon cream pie made yesterday was divine.


I like these.

My dream cottage.


'nuf said.

May I blame the rain for an overriding feeling of blah today?

My chiropractor was feeling the same. Like me, he's off coffee and pointed out that drinking a cup of coffee equals the equivalent of 'happiness in a cup'. (Could this be why Seattle is the java capitol of the world? Rain/gray = a daily need for a quick shot of happiness?)

Rather than sit home nursing a case of the blues, I went to Joann Fabrics. (Allow me to insert an aside here. Shouldn't the store be called "Joann's Fabrics"? It isn't and it annoys me...) I've been looking for new throw pillows to spruce up my living room and refuse to pay $35 each for ones I found at Pier I. Instead I bought enough of this fabric to make 2 pillows for $15.


Part of caring for my beloved Otis involves occasionally taking him to doggie day care. My canine happens to be very intelligent and begins whimpering & whining with excitement as he recognizes en route that we are on our way to the K-9 Clubhouse! (I need a bumper sticker that says, 'my dog is smarter than your dog.')

Here are some of his buddies. Apparently Otis was a 'love magnet' today as Ernie, the lone pooch in the upper left hand side of the picture, was using Otis as his pound puppy. The attendant eventually had to put Ernie in 'time out' as his behavior was not to be tolerated.


Baking (not cooking) helps treat the blahs. We are having guests for lunch tomorrow so I had an excuse to bake a lemon cheese pie. That's something to look forward to!