Tuesday, January 31, 2012

If It's Snow...You Need A Hat, Some Candy, And Some Music!


    No, this photo isn't of Massachusetts, but it sure could be today! We're actually getting a light snow flurry right now. So romantic looking....Yes, "I" said that! ^_^ Go figure...I'm missing snow! Who woulda 'thunk' it?!! LOL Not me, that's for sure!
     I didn't know I was missing snow until yesterday afternoon. While the sunshine was beating down on my backyard, I looked out the window and saw a light snow shower floating by, and thought: "Ooooo! Snow!!" Then I looked around to see who said that! ^_^ Imagine my surprise that...it was ME!! LOL
      Don't get all excited though, all you winter "white stuff" lovers! When I'm talking about me missing snow, I'm talking about the kind of snow that floats lightly from the sky and makes all sound disappear. Not the kind of snow that packs your grass and barbecue under a snow drift the size of Texas, where you have to pull out shovels and ice scrapers, snow blowers and salt to throw on the ground for grip!...Thinking about that kind of snow almost makes me sorry I said ANYTHING nice about the 'white stuff'! LOL
     From a purely financial perspective, snow "would" make people think about covering their heads...Covering their heads with hats...Maybe MY hats! ^_^ That would be a good thing! I've been making so many of them, but not selling any. Well...not yet anyway. Although I do have a hat on reserve for a customer right now. 
     But not selling them is not stopping me from making them!...This is my latest 'baby'!...
         My hubby loves these hats! Not necessarily the turquoise, but he's been trying to steal the black one and the red one! ^_^ I've held him off with the promise that I'll finally make him a new pair of fingerless gloves...I made the gray pair he's wearing now last year, or the year before (I can't remember).  They're looking pretty frazzled right about now, but he absolutely loves them! He says he's getting a lot of questions from guys that see him wearing his too, as to where he got them. He says I should make some and let him show them off for me! :-)
      Okay...Men's fingerless gloves,...not to mention water bottle holders, and toilet tissue covers....back on the list! :-) But for now, onward to the next hat! ^_^ I started it yesterday...
     I don't know if I'll finish it today though. My girlfriend is coming over to have breakfast and doctor on my 'silent' computer! The speakers came in....YAY!!! I may be boogieing before sunset! LOL
      Okay....what else?!....What else?!....Oh! Yeah! I found a couple of shops on Etsy I think you'll like. One has a fabulous watercolor painter! She's been on Etsy for a year without a sale!! If you look at her shop, with the cutest cards and paintings, you won't be able to believe it either!...This is one of her paintings...
        It's an original watercolor painting...You know how fond the 'Wug' family is of sunflowers! :-) Please go by and check out her shop. She's worth a little 'look-see'!
      
The other shop I found myself wandering around in is VonDulce! I'm gonna let the following pictures show you why!! :-)

 (Pear Passion Candy)


(Creamy Mint Candy)

       Yep! A whole shop full of one of a kind tasting, unique flavored, Danish candy!!!...She's from Michigan though. :-) The profile in her shop says: "...carefully handcrafted hard candy, and an instant favorite among both children and adults! These tasty artisan treats, are as fun to look at, as they are to eat...a variety of unique flavor combinations, that will suit classic lovers, as well as sour candies, for those who live on the edge. This "melt-in-your-mouth" treat, is a common Danish candy, and has been a passion of its creator, who grew up in Denmark, learning how to make hard candy the old fashioned way, just like they did in the 1800s. Try one and you will be hooked! :) ..."
       I had to keep slapping my 'clicker finger' the whole time I was in her shop!! ^_^ That's all I need this morning to get me off to a good start...some candy to go with my light snow, crochet hats, and music!! :-)
      Lastly, the Giveaway winner for the fuzzy keychain will be announced tomorrow, so you have a whole DAY to add your "Enter Me" to the growing list...all two of them! LOL...And seeing as I'm approaching 300 followers to the backyard, I think it's time for a more.....ummmmm....substantial Giveaway. What do you think?.....Another afghan blanket perhaps?! :-) I'll tell you about that later too. For now....I'm out! :-)
     Have a good day everybody! :-)
That Something Different

I like things that are different.
Things that somehow catch my eye.
Things not quite 'Just The Same'.
Things that make me want to buy.

I can't put my finger on it
as to why they move me so.
They're not whimsical or gory;
And not lavish. This I know.

Sometimes it's just their color.
Other times it's how they're worn;
Or Sometimes it's just how beautifully
they're painted, sewn, or torn.

With 'Different' as the gauge,
it could be almost anything.
I guess that's why I keep on looking.
Hoping for that 'Different' zing.

When I find that 'Something Different',
I'll pay cash or click or dial;
Or I may just show it off;
(Like I just did) and sit and smile.

Monday, January 30, 2012

So THIS Is Why They Call It 'Blue Monday'!


      No more Australian Open until next year. :-( ...Boo hoo...Yes, I'm blue about it. But my 'blue-ness' about there being no more tennis for a couple of weeks is not gonna take me completely out of the sports game! ^_^ The football Super Bowl is coming up, and I have a little date with Wimbledon on my calendar too! :-)
    This weekend there was also figure-skating and basketball! :-)) But before I move on...let me say a big CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the Australian Open this year...Novak Djokovic!!!...He didn't waltz through his match the way Victoria Azarenka did for the women's singles match though. Rafael Nadal made him TAKE IT from him!!! It was a fabulous match, from start to finish! 
      It broke a record too, as the longest match ever! Almost 6 hours of fun...for those of us who were watching! They suffered....BAD! In fact, it was too bad there couldn't have been two winners this time!....Oh Well. They'll battle again, I'm sure of it! :-) And I'll be watching!
      Moving on!......My blue-ness today is for two other reasons too. One being the fact that my little blue crochet necklace was included in yet another treasury!...
     
     The treasury was entitled BLUE ON BLUE ON BLUE...

       It was curated by Ronnye and Stephanie of WeKnitWeBead. I'm very thankful to have my little crochet 'baby' in the company of all of those creatively blue fellow Etsians. :-)
     My favorite item in this whole collection...besides my 'baby'...


       Very pretty, right?! :-] ... I agree!

     Moving on to my last news of blue-ness, which is of a more personal nature.  On Saturday hubby ran out to grab something from the store. A quick in...and out! I was home minding my business. The phone rang...and he had 'THAT'' sound in his voice! O_O
     He was on the side of the highway. The car just died on him! O_0 He called a friend to get a ride home, and to help him get the car either to the shop, or home. As his friend was pushing the car, hubby turned the ignition ONE MORE TIME!...you know how you do that out of a wish for a miracle! LOL...and it actually started!!!
    So he drove the car home and parked it, and spent the rest of the day Saturday and Sunday talking with car people about the car....What to do with THE CAR!!! Aargh!...Here we go again with the car...Well, THIS car now!! Aargh!...Can somebody tell me when that Jetson's conveyor belt type travel system is gonna be installed?! LOL Right next to the highway would be good for me...with a slight detour to my house and his job! ^_^
    Yep! The car situation is making me blue today...And since I still don't have music on my computer now...the part didn't come in yet...it's a good thing I still have crochet! :-) ... I can't show you the scarf I finished though...or the turquoise blue hat and flower either! :-) because the car took precedence over taking pictures of my crochet items!....Stupid car! O_O ...Oops! Who said that?! LOL
    I'm working on a white hat today, and doing some studying. I may be able to show it to you tomorrow...but I'm not promising. O_0
     I have ZERO names in the bag for my Giveaway this time, so I guess it'll be coming out of the rotation. ^_^ ... I'm not blue about that though...because I like it myself! :-] ... Okay, Blue Girl....OUT! Have a good week everybody! :-)

Monday, Monday, Monday

Here comes another Monday!
Your frantic work week has begun!
Say goodbye to 'Take It Easy',
and all those things you haven't done.

Four more week days are ahead,
seeming like they'll never end.
But just think, before you know it,
"weekend" will be round again.

Lift your attention, all you mothers;
Week day workers, "Out The Door!"
Time to file, and diaper babies,
walk and scrape things off the floor.

Here comes another Monday!
Whether you want it to, or not!
Say goodbye to 'Take It Easy'.
You've got things to do...a lot!

Monday, Monday, Monday!
Why do you have to come so fast?!
And you stay so long! Why can't
the weekend 'Take It Easy' last?!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

What?!!....You Can Be Distracted Too!


       The header photo, a gorgeous abstract photo of Flinders street in Melbourne Australia, was the perfect photo to start this post off with today...because it is 'me' today.....abstract....and distracted!
      Of course you probably already knew that would be the case, seeing that I'm sitting here again this early morning watching the men's final tennis match of the Australian Open! :-) ... Yes! I'm terribly distracted...with TENNIS!! ^_^
       Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are really going at it! It's the beginning of the third set now. Nadal won the first set...7-5...and Novak won the second set...6-4. Djokovic won the first game of this third set already, and Rafa is serving for the second game. He's having a harder time holding his serve though...it's a nail-biter every time! O_O
     Please be patient with me. I'll be back to my 'non-score-calling' self tomorrow. :-) I venture to say, though, that given the right subject you could be distracted too! For instance, if you were tootling along doing something, and you saw any one of these (below), would you be distracted?!...




       See there!! ^_^ You're distracted right now, aren't you?!!!...Okay, so maybe it's not tennis! But we all have a point where focus is not our strong suit. And for me, in January, with no snow on my Massachusetts backyard lawn, and with nothing but lots of time...and 'in-the-bank' naps...on my hands......it's TENNIS! :-)

 
     Of course I do have a meeting this morning also. Nothing's gonna distract me from making that.....not even my beloved tennis! Even I draw the line somewhere!! LOL
      Okay...it's 2-2 in the third set. I have to go and enjoy as much of it as I can before the meeting.....Bye!........Oh Yeah! Have a good day everybody! :-)

 Distracted

I'm terribly distracted.
Watching tennis all the time,
I don't even wanna talk.
And it's a struggle writing rhyme.

And I'm wonderfully distracted.
Doing what I love to do.
Whoop and holler at the T.V.,
while I blog a bit for you.

I'm sorry I'm distracted.
And I hope you will forgive
that my mind can not be wrangled.
All my thoughts are in the sieve.

What I'll try to do tomorrow...
which I clearly can't do now...
is to give my full attention
to those who won't get it now!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Ahhh! The Blue Looks Good On You!

(Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images) 2012 AFP)

       I was up early again this morning... 3 a.m. ...to see the LIVE women's final at the Australian Open. As you can see by the header photo, congratulations goes to Victoria Azarenka!!! :-)

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) 2012 Getty Images)

       She truly played her heart out!!...I almost felt bad for Maria Sharapova, her opponent, because even though Victoria lost her serve right out of the gate, it was clear shortly after she composed herself that she was not gonna be denied the win!!
      It was well worth waking up before the sun to see! :-) Now I can hardly wait to wake up early tomorrow for the men's final! :-) That's gonna be a doozy of a match too...Rafael Nadal versus Novak Djokovic! :-) I hope Novak is all rested up by then, after that 5 set match with Andy Murray yesterday!! Good stuff!...He's gonna need every ounce of energy he can muster if he has any hope of beating Rafa again!
       Okay, on to more 'self-serving' news! :-) My baby blue brooch from my Wuglyees Etsy shop...
             ...made a Baby Blue and White treasury!...


        It was curated by RozelynnsNeedleArt..."Thank you for including me!" :-)

      Such cute blues!...






       There's other cute blues in this treasury too! If you wanna see the whole treasury you can click HERE.
           On to other news...date night last night consisted of complete quiet time, tacos, and Tony Bennett collaborations with other singers,...singing standards!...Trust me when I tell you, you haven't seen a standard sung until you've seen Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson singing 'Sunny Side of the Street', or Tony Bennett and Lady GaGa singing 'That's why the lady is a tramp'! 
       Oh Yeah! I almost forgot to show you my latest crochet project. Nothing spectacular. Just gray...
        I made it with the leftover gray yarn I had after I finished the scarf...

       I don't have any more gray now. This flower took almost every single inch of what I had!...Hopefully I can get hubby to take some photos of the scarf today, and I can show it to you tomorrow. But for now, on to the next project! :-) ...
        Another "Sack" hat!...But this time....turquoise!

        I'm gonna use up every bit of yarn I have in this house.......ONE DAY!!!! LOL In the meantime, I hear a western omelet, sausages, and a cup of coffee calling my name!...P-O-E-T-E-S-S-W-U-G!!!! ^_^
     Have a good weekend everybody! :-)

All The Things I Love

If I listed all the things I've loved
I could rattle on forever!
Whether by 'order of importance'
or by a poeticly quick endeavor.

Right now it's Tennis...Well, all sports,
and reading informative magazines.
And crocheting, food and music.
Well..that might be in my genes!

I've loved teaching and line dancing,
So many things in my short life.
But I've never jumped from a plane,
or wittled anything with a knife!

With every passing moon
I find some other thing that I love.
Whether grassy patterns on my lawn,
or phenomenal skies above.

Yes, if I listed all the things I loved
my words could fill all space,
It comes from curiosity,
and an Ooo-ing Awww-ing place!      

Friday, January 27, 2012

If I Had The Money......

       Sometimes I see things when I'm roaming around on Facebook, Twitter or Etsy that make me say: "Oooooo! If I had the money, that would be mine right now!"...And since I'm sitting here again today...at 5:27 a.m....watching another exciting tennis match...the other half of the men's semi-finals...between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic...and I can't concentrate on my typing enough to give you any focused conversation, I thought I'd show you some of the things that I've been 'hearting' lately. Things that, if I had the money, I'd be buying for somebody right now!
      The first thing would definitely be that gorgeous little necklace in my header photo! I don't know what a penny farthing actually is...I thought it was money (which is why I'm not sure why the necklace is considered a penny farthing O_0 Could it be made out of a coin or something?!)...but I don't have to know what it is. I have eyes! I can see that pretty bike with the flowers in it's spokes, and that would be all I'd need to shell out my farthing...if I had one...or some!..I think that's money, right?!! ^_^
     SPOILER ALERT:......Djokovic won the first set...6/3...and Murray just won the 2nd set...6/3! So while I'm showing you the other 'would be' purchases of mine, I'll be intensely watching this match! Murray has never beaten Djokovic in a semi-final, so he's trying to do the almost impossible!...But he has the great tennis player, Ivan Lendl, in his corner this year! :-) And Lendl's influence on Murray's thinking process seems to already be working! Murray doesn't seem as intimidated by Djokovic this time!
      Okay...I'm gonna stop talking , and start showing you now! ^_^ ...
        I'd hang this photo in my kitchen. Somewhere near the table where breakfast is eaten. It would make all future breakfasts an eye-pleasing experience! :-)

      My morning coffee would go in these!....Yes! I would be having me some piping hot coffee!! LOL

       I'd be wearing these 'bad boys' on my feet, under the breakfast table! :-] ...Or these, with the rose brooches on them! (also from her shop)...

       After breakfast I'd do a little crocheting. And I'd love to make some of my flowers in these colors!...
      
*** GAME UPDATE: Murray is up 2 to 1 in the 3rd set. He just broke Djokovic's serve!!! ***

      I'd buy this for my girlfriend's little boy. The less bow tying you have to do when you're a mom...the better! ^_^ {By the way, I didn't know it until I looked to see where the bow tie came from, but it's from CastAwayCollection , the same shop that I shared the granny square pillow cover from the other day! :-) She, Tracy Roul, did a post about my blog post, on her site HERE! :-) So nice!}

        I'd buy this for my 'baby boy' hubby! ^_^ I could just see this in his garden in the Spring!....which could be next week according to the kind of weather we're having lately! O_0

         I'd buy these to give to one of my girlfriends...and then I'd probably keep them for myself! LOL

       I'd buy this for my spur-of-the-moment gift stash! :-) Do you have these?! A few gifts on hand for when something unexpected comes along that you just need to give a gift for?!...I think it's great because any traveler or game player could appreciate it.

       I have just the perfect spot for this!...If I had the money to buy it, that is! :-)

      And lastly, if I had the money, I would buy these...JUST BECAUSE!!! ^_^ Just because they're pretty! And just because they have butterflies and music notes all over them! :-)

*** GAME UPDATE: It's 6/5 in the 3rd set now. Murray is serving to go to a tie-break. It's just been fabulous tennis!!! ***

     Hmmph!....Looking back up the post....I see I actually did find some things to talk about! ^_^ But I'm done now!....Bye! Have a good day everybody! :-)

  I Like To Talk

I like to talk;
I like to gab;
I like a girlfriend
free confab!

I like to chat;
I like to speak;
I find that words
are what I seek.

I like the chatter
of a crowd;
Not in a whisper,
but out loud.

But, please no talking
while you chew.
{Speaking does 
have manners too!}

I like the noise
that utterance does.
The constant
conversation buzz.

Maybe I need a
word-free diet;
No! I could not
withstand the quiet!

So, I will talk;
Oh yes! I'll dabble
in a constant
lingo babble.