Wuglyees Has Really Found A Treasure This Time!

      {Just so you know, tomorrow is the drawing for the 2 scarves. 2 winners. So, check back!}
    Cindy, of the Etsy jewelry shop CinLynnBoutique, has outdone herself with this beautiful REDS!! Warm Reds!! treasury!! When I saw it I almost couldn't wait to talk about it!...* Big Surprise, right?! ^_^ *...It wasn't just the color scheme that struck me though, although isn't that beautiful?!! With all those reds!! But, more importantly for me, there are some great Etsy shops here that I've never seen before, with the greatest items ever!! I'd like to share some of them with you.
     My Red Rose Angel Hair Button Flower Brooch ...

       ...was in such good company!!...I think you'll agree when you see these shops!!
   One of the first things that caught my eye were these baby shoes. The Evangeline Baby Shoe/bootie... by sugarplumbtree made me wish I had a baby!....Or much, much smaller feet!! ^_^

        I could buy up every pair of shoes and booties in this shop!! You HAVE to check it out for yourself! Seriously! I've NEVER seen baby shoes and booties like the ones she's made. I'd be looking for places to go just so I could show off my baby's feet!! ^_^
    Thanks to good friends and a good hubby, I always have flowers or plants in my house that need a pretty place to grow and be loved. They could really show off and sprout a big smile out of me in this beautiful Rhubarb Red Vase with Raised Branches by marymeestudio.

   But, as with the other shops Cindy picked this time, this WHOLE SHOP is full of unique, beautiful, well made, and nicely priced bowls and vases! The pottery she makes is exquisite, and unlike any I've seen anywhere else. Gorgeous shop!
   Am I gushing too much you think?! You won't think that when you check out these shops!...The next item was these Red Apple set of 4 Crochet Coasters by MonikaDesign.

    I've loved this shop for quite a while. I've been tempted so many times to get me some of her fabulous coasters as a gift to ME. But because I'm a crocheter myself, I keep reminding telling myself: "you can make your own coasters! Don't be lazy!" :-] So far I HAVEN'T made them though!! And even if I did, I don't know that they'd be as pretty as Monika's. She has a shop full of the most gorgeous coasters of all kinds of colors and designs that you'll ever see!
    Another love of mine, which those who follow this blog know, is photography. And one of Cindy's finds was a shop with Vintage inspired photography. It's buckscountyframes. Look at this Red Ride Fine Art Travel Photography . It's a bike that reminds me of ones from my childhood!

    But, once again, the whole shop is totally worth a 'Look-See!'
     Last, but certainly not least, is the cutest bears in the world....not including my Wuglyee bear, of course! ^_^ This one is Archie, the OOAK Handmade Miniature Mohair Teddy Bear by Lisabears.

    Unfortunately...or fortunately, for his new owners...Archie is no longer for sale. Someone snatched him up as soon as they saw how cute he was! I understand, because I had to stop myself from immediately clicking and taking home Ifor!!

    Little Ifor's face looks exactly like a dog we had when I was younger named Tracey! I loved that pooch. I'm afraid Ifor would get loved to within an inch of his life too! ^_^ I keep reminding myself: "I'm 50 years old! I'm 50 years old!!" {I'm actually older than that, but WHATEVER!! ^_^}
   Aren't these some great shops?!...And just so you know, the curator of this treasury, Cindy, has some red in her own shop too! I found this Cinnabar With Sterling Silver Necklace in there...and it's on sale too!

     In fact she's having a HUGE 3 DAY SALE!! 15% OFF EVERY ITEM NOW UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING! So, pop on over to CinLynnBoutique for some great prices...really great prices in her 'sale room'!
   Okay, my carrying on about this treasury is over!....Stop that clapping!!! ^_^ All that's left is a nap for me....after a poem, of course! :-) {Wrote it about my crocheted bear I made. He became the theme for my Wuglyees Etsy Shop.}

My Beloved Wuglyee

Crocheted with the greatest care.
Leaving off a tail and hair.
Button eyes that shine like coal.
Made from yarn, recycled and old.
Parts that spin, and dangle too.
Things they weren't suppose to do!
Took so much time. I could write a book!
Even made some clothes to hide his look.
He's just as ugly as ugly can be!
My beloved Wuglyees Wuglyee!!

My Friend...A Historical First!

      Before I do today's post let me first thank all of you who left comments for my hubby yesterday. He had a ball doing that post and then popping back and seeing what you all wrote. I could hear him howling with laughter! So, good job honey...and good job to you all too! :-)

   Today's post is to let you all meet, more personally, a dear friend of mine. I've spoken about her more than once over these last 8 months or so doing my blog. {8 months?! Is that all it's been?! WOW!} I've spoken about her daughter and her wedding, but I've never spoken about what she does! She's an oral StoryTeller!!
   She spent countless hours with her grandmother and great-grandmother...

    ....in Columbus Mississippi, where she was born. Her grandmother lived to be 100 years old. Her great-grandmother used to be a slave. She lived to be 125 years old!! Both of them were known storytellers, and they passed the gift of storytelling along to their granddaughter, my friend for many years now, Tammy.

     Tammy loves history and being able to tell people about the past. How great, to be able to do for a living what you love to do!
   In her series “Obscured Women,” she introduces you into the world of fascinating women who've been obscured through the annals of history, yet were instrumental as African-Americans in the American community.
     In her position of Museum Educator, she teaches children through stories of Colonial History, Health, Medicine, Slavery and Native American History. She's also a historical tour guide for local Colonial-American homes. Isn't that neat?! I marvel at her sometimes!
   As an accomplished Performing Artist/Storyteller, what she really specializes in is bringing to life the lives of very important, yet “obscured” women in history.

      Among her favorites, and the first one I ever saw her perform, was Bessie Coleman (the first internationally licensed pilot in the world). You can venture with Tammy  from the cotton fields of Texas to aviation history in Paris France with Bessie Coleman.

     The first time I saw this performance it was so funny, yet inspiring, to see my good friend transformed right before my eyes! And I learned a lot of stuff that I didn't know too!! That's always a plus for a active-brained person like myself!...If any of you ever catch her perform I venture to say that you'll learn something too! :-) {She has a performance coming up soon, I think it's in December, at Old Sturbridge Village}.
     She's performed other characters in history too, like Elizabeth Keckly (a former enslaved woman who worked at Lincoln’s White House). Through her performance you get to live the life of Elizabeth Keckly, struggling to purchase her freedom as well as her body to become confidante to the First Lady at Lincoln’s White House... 

    ...Sarah Margru (an Amistad captive), denied the rite of passage into adulthood. Experience her life as one of four children aboard the Amistad.

     ....and Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman – one minute a free woman. She had the determination to be a free person and fought for the right to be so.

         You can read a little bit more about each person by clicking HERE.
    Tammy does her performances in several different forums, including inter-district school assemblies.
In these settings she vividly tells folktales where she takes her audience into a world in which animals set the scene for life lessons. The oral tradition workshops and presentations engage her audience through folk tales coupled with hands on activities that leave her audience educated and eager to learn more.

    Can't you just see the kids getting involved with these?! :-)
    She's also a member of quite a few organizations. If you're interested in having her do a performance or you just want to know, you can check them out on her website, Historical Firsts.
    She's recently gotten a blog. But she hasn't gotten it fully operational yet. She will soon though. {This is the link in case any of you want to keep an eye on what she's up to.--> HERE.}
    Now, as a special treat, you can actually see a 3 minute youtube video of her performing and talking HERE! You won't be disappointed. I love the attentiveness of the kids.
    A little promotional piece was done featuring her on a T.V. show called Better Connecticut. It shows the Webb Deane Stevens Museum homes she works at --> HERE. {A little bit of banter between the show hosts comes first.}; Also a friend did a story on her. You can find it HERE.
    I am very honored to introduce you to my good friend. She is a very talented storyteller and a very good talker too...like myself! Imagine the conversations between the two of us!! ^_^
   I'll be introducing you to another good friend in a few days. I hope you enjoy visiting with me and my friends. Let me know what you think please! Bye, Bye! Have a good day!

History Told In A Story

A history of life
held in the mind and heart,
released for all to see
through storytelling's captured art.

Some things pulled from the past
will make you shake your head;
But revelations told
will bring new life from the dead.

Children Ooo and Awww!
Adults think hard and deep.
Oh! The knowledge now performed,
and the lessons we will keep!

Are You Kidding Me?!!!

                                           {Large 1920 Telephone Flash Card by PaperPicker}

       Hello Bloggers! Mr. Wug is back for a day! I thought long and hard: What will I blog about today? Here it goes...
    The other day I was servicing a store,...you probably know I delivery cupcakes and assorted pastries,..and I had to use the public bathroom. {Don't worry...I'm hoping Mrs. Wug will let me return again in the future, so...Keeping it sterile!! :-)}

                                            {HELLO BEAUTIFUL fine art print by boopsiedaisy}
  
      But while I was in the bathroom I heard voices in one of the stalls, and I recognized that they weren't LIVE voices. Come to find out that someone was using his mobile device to watch T.V.!

 

                                           {So Much Love print by xmagpie}

    Now.......ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! For those who don't know me, this was not a time that I could keep quiet! I had to comment while I was in there!
    I said: "Are you watching T.V...at work?!!!!"
    And the reply was: "Yes, I'm on my break!"
    What ever happened to reading a magazine?! LOL Or newspaper? LOL Boy has the times changed! We are living in a world that we can, with the touch of a button or a screen, get the weather, get stock quotes, check emails, or speak to a loved one face-to-face through a mobile device while sitting on the toilet in a public bathroom!!

                                                   {Keep Calm Text On-11x17 Pink Poster by vintagefineart}

      Hopefully they'll never come up with Smell-O-Vision!!! LOL

 {Gas Mask-Funny sticker for your toilet-vinyl decal-Throne Stickz by wallstickz}

        Don't get me wrong, I can see the usefulness of these devices, but when you have to come up with laws that tell you when you can, and cannot, use your device...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! So I hope none of you take this the wrong way, but when you want to use a public bathroom, and take along your I-Phone, your I=Pad, your HTC, your Blackberry, your Video phone, your texter, your Cell Phone, your Satellite dish or your Shoe Phone, have it play a little music please....so I can wash my hands in peace, like everybody else!!

                                       {The Concert-Vinyl Decal Sticker by buildyourownart}

         Have a fantastic blogging day. Blog you later!
{I helped Mrs. Wug write the poem :-)}

I Cannot Be Without It!

If I have to go to work
and my car's a piece of junk,
I carry my trusty friend
instead of a tire iron in my trunk.

If my sister has a cold
or my Papa needs some cheer,
I cannot be without
my little connection at my ear!

If I have to have a conference
I won't do it all alone!
With the flick of a switch
I have them all on video phone.

I cannot be without it!
Some emergency might arise!
"Uh Oh! I'm down to two bars!
What if my battery up and dies?!!"

Have You Read Any Good Books Lately?!

   Welcome to the backyard. I have news. I did it! I finished my book, The Help. 

   I'm telling you....that Kathryn Stockett is a WRITER!!!

    For those of you who are still planning to read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I read it out loud, using my most Southern,...Georgia Southern,...drawl,....with hubby hanging on every word at times. We giggled, and laughed out loud too! {Although he might not admit it!} ^_^

    I got mad at times, got inspired at other times, and went down memory lane a number of times, thinking about my own childhood growing up in the South. It wasn't Mississippi, but the South, unfortunately, was the South back in those days. Racism was rampant...and not discussed as such in mixed company.

   I have my favorite characters in the book, as most people probably will when they read it. But strangely, even the not so attractive characters taught me something about myself! I love Aibileen!! She had a kind of quiet, matter of fact, kill 'em with love kind of way with herself that reminded me of my relatives growing up. And the relationship with herself and Mae Mobley will at times make you want to wet yourself laughing, and other times...sob baby soft tears. At least it did me.

   If you thoughtfully read it, you may never be able to claim ignorance at the way the world works again,...or want to eat pie! {you'll have to read it to find out what that means! ^_^} From now on the color of someone's skin may not be the first thing you notice about them, if that has ever happened to you...and you can be honest about it! And you may find yourself a little quicker to champion things for the 'little guy'.

   What I want to do right now is tell you, in detail, some of the best things that happened.and Oooooo Whee!! there's some doozies!! ^_^ But I won't! I'll just tell you to read it. And we can chat about it by 'direct message' on Twitter or something when you're done!!! :-))

   Okay, I'm off to get some breakfast...NOT pie! No, it's going to be a little while before I get excited about eating pie again!! ^_^

{By the way, hubby will be guest blogging here tomorrow, so I'll be back on Monday with something really good for you!!} Have a good day everybody!  :-)

Read a Good Book?!

Have you read any good books lately?
Have you quietly sat all alone
and thumbed through the word-filled pages,
of a story your mind made it's own?

Have you drifted away to a place
where you almost could smell the sea?
Where you found yourself so out of sorts
that you didn't quite know who to be?

Has a character brought you to tears;
Made you think of a time long since gone?
Have you been so enthralled with a writer
that their every word formed a bond?

Have you learned new things for your future;
Remembered some things from your past;
because of great words put on paper
that made all the memories last?

Have you been so excited to finish
that you restrained the desire to look?
Have you told all your friends about it?
Well, it sounds like you've read a good book!

Country Girl...Country Living...and Country Eating!!

    I know...I know. It's wrong of me to put a Balsamic Rosemary Pork Loin up as my header picture and expect you to just read quietly without your stomach growling! But why should my stomach...and eyes...be the only ones who have to suffer?!  ^_^
   As I told you yesterday, my first issue of my new Country Living magazine came in the mail the other day, the first of a year's FREE subscription that I won as a giveaway gift. Just flipping through the pages I can see that this magazine and this country girl are going to have some good times this year! :-) Good times with "How To" things. Good times with needed information. And good times with FOOD!!! {Which, of course, because of being familiar with this magazine before I won this subscription, is why I was excited about getting it in the first place! ^_^}
   All those who celebrate Christmas and the holidays, which I don't, will probably be excited about all of the holiday decorating tips and stuff, or even just the cover of the magazine.

     But, all due respect to you, that didn't mean anything to me! I wanted to get to those recipes!! ^_^ But first, there were some really interesting articles in here too. Things I'll check into a little later. Like the article entitled Ask a Country Vet.

   No, I don't have a dog right now. But I have family and friends with dogs, and some questions that this article are talking about are things that have come up in conversation with us before. So, I'll find out from the Country Vet what should be done.
   Then there's an article entitled What Is It? What Is It Worth?

   It listed and showed pictures of some things you might have hanging around, things you might want to know what they are...and what they could be worth. If this is an on-going series, I'm definitely gonna keep my eyes on that! I have a bunch of stuff that I'm hoping will be worth a million smackeroonies...so I can retire and go do what I really want to do!! ^_^ ... Okay, let's face it, besides being able to buy out all of the insurance companies in the world and give people complete and loving health care, the only other things that I would be doing are teaching the Bible and crocheting! And since I'm already doing that....I'm good! ^_^ But it would still be fun finding out the value of my 'Laying Around' stuff.
    My hubby, Jeff, has his own favorite things in this magazine. I caught him glaring at them again last night. One of them was this...

    In his deep man voice he said: "Guess what?! They have a cookie app!!" Then he looked at me and smiled like: "Isn't that great?!" Of course, if I knew what he was talking about I would have nodded and seemed interested or something. But since I didn't I just stared off into space.....He didn't notice. I don't think he was actually talking to me! I think he was trying to remind himself that 'he gotta get him one of those!' I guess I'll find out what it is then! ^_^ Hey, if it comes with cookies....I'm in!
    The other thing he liked had him staring for the longest time! When I looked over to see why he had stalled so long, I saw this.

    Okayyyyyyy......Seriously men, what's up with that?!! ^_^ Men's brains baffle me sometimes. Especially my hubby's.............Moving on! ^_^
   I want to get to my FAVORITE thing about this magazine.....the RECIPES!!! Recipes that started, for me, with the Pork Loin that I showed in the header photo.

    Then there was recipes for Bacon-Cheddar Mini Loaves.

   For Onion Pies and Vanilla Yogurt and Berry Trifle!

     Trifle!!

    Trifle!!!

    Trifle....is trifling with ME!!! ^_^ Doesn't that look delicious!....But that's not all!!! There's a basic recipe for Quick Bread Dough, with variations of how you can make them. Banana....Brown sugar...white chocolate mini-Bundt cakes!!

    Speaking of chocolate, yeah! They got that too!!!...All kinds of recipes for brownies, in every shape and size!

     Looks like I'm going to be a pretty happy camper this year!! And so are my friends....because I can cook it, but somebody has got to eat it!! And since comatose people can't write blogs, I guess I won't be eating all of this stuff by myself!! {Although in years past I sure would have tried!....Oh yes! I would have tried! With a valiant effort, I might add!!! ^_^}
   Now, what's truly amazing to me is that the things I shared only scratched the surface of what's in just this one month's magazine!! I can't wait to see next month's!!! :-)
{Oh yes.....wait for it.....the COOKING Poem!!! ^_^}

Cooking

Flipping, Frying,
Flambeing, Filleting,
Burning, Browning,
Paring, Pureeing.

Boiling, Baking,
Mixing, Making,
Simmering, Scaling,
Sifting, Shaking.

Cooking, Crackling,
Cutting, Coring,
Sprinkling, Spattering,
Patting, Pouring,

Broiling, Battering,
Steeping, Steaming,
Timing, Tossing,
Cubing, Creaming,

Slicing, Scrambling,
Turning, Toasting,
Melting, Measuring,
Rinsing, Roasting.

Dipping, Dicing,
Skimming, Sauteing,
Poaching, Peeling,
Mincing, Microwaving.

Gathering, Grilling
Basting, Barbecuing,
Hacking, Heating,
Scoring, Skewering.

Standing, Stirring,
Rough, Tough,
Kitchen, Ditching,
Had Enough!

You CAN Teach An Old "Dog" A New Trick!!

    Okay, so I led this post with this picture because....because.....because I'm hungry!!! LOL Looking at pictures of food...especially Rocky Road Brownies...before you've had your breakfast will do that to you! I'll tell you more about that in a minute.
   First I want to tell you about this show I was watching on PBS {Public Broadcasting Station} yesterday that taught this 'Old Dog' a new trick!! The show is Knit and Crochet Today. I've watched it many times before. Not on any regular basis because, frankly, I've been crocheting since I was 9 or 10. They're usually teaching beginners how to do things that I already know how to do! {Although I do find it fascinating to watch HOW people teach others to crochet, and I have learned little pointers from them in that regard.}
   But yesterday they showed TWO different technigues of things I had never seen before!! One was how to make a scarf using a Hairpin Lace Loom and the other is a technique called Tunisian Crochet. Learning how to do the scarf on the loom is something I'm just thankful to know now how to do. I was given a hairpin lace loom a long time ago, in with a bunch of other crochet and craft items a friend 'just knew I could use'! I couldn't figure out what in the world it was...never mind how to use it!

   Now I know what it's called, and how to use it...if I ever want to...which I probably won't! I'm not a big fan of the look of the items they showed yesterday...But the Tunisian crochet technique?....Now that's another story!!
   As those of you who have been following this blog for a while know, I not only crochet but I also knit. I haven't done it for years, nor have I shown any of my knitting on this blog. The main reason I got out of the habit of doing it was because it's so S-L-O-W!!!!...And it's hard to keep track of your work...your rows and that; ...And when you make a mistake it's not easy to fix...not like crochet, where you just unravel to that point and redo it. One little slipped stitch in knitting and you could end up with a timely hole to repair!
   Well yesterday I found out that this Tunisian Crochet technique is sort of like knitting...but with a crochet hook! At least that's how I describe it. And I am almost kicking myself that I didn't know how to do this! It's obviously a well known technique. Look at the book I found on the web...

    I have some gorgeous baby blanket patterns that use an afghan stitch, using an afghan hook that looks like a long knitting needle with a crochet hook on the end. I tried years ago to figure out how to use it so I could make the patterns, and just could never figure it out!! I think this Tunisian Crochet IS the afghan stitch I was looking at!! When the lady on T.V. demonstrated how easy it was I almost wanted to cry at all of the wasted years of not knowing my craft like I should!
   So, Right away I pulled the crochet hook out of my black and red scarf that I'm making...which is coming along really nicely...and started a few rows of this Tunisian crochet, just to see if I REALLY DID know how to do it.

    And sure enough, 'easy peasy'!! And as you can see, the finished result looks almost exactly like knitting!! I'm going to have some fun with this I can tell!! I guess I'm not too old to learn something new! ^_^
    A couple of other things and I'm out. One being the two treasuries I was just included in. Mariann Rea, of LittleFoxPhotos, included my Green Harvest Hide Away Slipper Necklace...

     ...in her Gifts for Diabetics Treasury.

    How cool is it that she helped me think of how my necklace could be used for this purpose, and then she made a whole treasury of items just for diabetics and included it!! Now if that's not supportive I don't know what it!! :-) Thanks Mariann!
   Then Kim, of NeedlesAndKims, included my White and Purple Hide Away Slipper Key chain...

     ...in her Thankful for my Twitter Friends Treasury!

     I'm really partial to a few of the cute things in this treasury, like this lovely vintage Pink and Gold over White Demitasse Cup by MendozamVintage.

 This Purple Iris Hand Painted Silk Scarf by Julieriis.

   And this Textures of Nature Envelope Set by Maleaab.

     So, thank you Kim, for putting me in such good company!! :-)
   Two more quick bits of news: Hubby will be guest blogging this coming Sunday, November 28, 2010...I'm still SCARED!! :-} ... And I got my first copy of Country Living, the year's subscription I won on SnowFlakeDreams1 's blog! The Rocky Road Brownies in my header picture are one of the recipes in it!!! I'll share the other stuff I found in it tomorrow!!

    WHEW!!! Now that was a lot of work, putting this blog together, this morning! I hope you enjoy it. I'm going to get me a nap and some face time with the hubby. Have a good day now! :-]

Everything Is Getting Older

Everything is getting older,
past it's time, and rusting fast!
No matter how many times you oil it,
Somehow, still, it doesn't last.

Everything is getting older.
Even veggies just  from the store,
have now browned and withered up.
They're not all shiny like before.

Everything is getting older.
Old dogs included, people too.
Even babies, from the womb,
start gettig older, just past brand new!

Everything is getting older,
like real good books, with tales all told.
But, Wait a minute! Some books are good!
That's why "To read" will not get old.

Everything that's getting older
doesn't harm us and displease.
Just think of wisdom in the aging-
that's with people and with cheese!

All the things, those getting older,
showing marks and scars of time,
just need a tad bit more attention,
or just a small aged glass of wine!