Take A Flying Leap!!

(Flying Leap Photo by ElizabethZusev)

         Okay...so you know that we get an extra day in the year every four years...leap year...right?!...Well, this is the year! So we get an extra day this year...and that day is TODAY!...Whoop-ti-do!! :-)) ...I mean, did we really need an extra day to let gas prices go up?...Or to have to wait for Spring to finally get here?!...Which, thanks to 'Mr. Show-Up-When-It-Wants-To SNOW', it's REALLY gonna have to wait!!...We're due to have a 'substantial' snow storm starting today! :-( They're saying 1-3 inches by tonight, and it's suppose to snow into tomorrow evening!! We may get 6-8 inches!!! O_0

        Why couldn't 'the white stuff' take a flying leap.....right OVER us?!! LOL...I was looking forward to one of the Spring months officially being here. I mean...it's been sorta kinda feeling like Spring for a while now!

(Lone Daisy Photo by CarlaDyck)

 (Orange Blooming Blossom Rectangle Pillow by joom)

      I guess I'm gonna have to get over it!.....or LEAP over it, as it were! LOL And thanks to the creative people on Etsy, I have a way to get my mind in the right place about it! ^_^ ...

 (Leap Original Oil Painting by RozArt)

 (Leaping Frogs Brooch by PINSwithPERSONALITY)

 (Leaping Bunny Burlap Pillow Cover by NorthCountryComforts)

 (Leaping Horse Photo by HorsingAroundPhotos)

 (Leap Of Love Print by VickieWadeFineArt)

         ^_^ Yep!....I'm over it now!!...Moving On!!! :-)

       Did any of you see 'American Idol' last night?!...I haven't been watching it the last few years, since Paula and Simon left. I didn't think it would be the same show anymore, so I didn't even give the new people a chance. I'm loyal like that!....or stupid like that! LOL I guess it all depends on how you look at it! ^_^ 

       Anyway...when I was fishing through my recorded shows on t.v. a couple of weeks ago, looking for something fun to look at...something maybe with music...and I couldn't find anything else.....{I had seen all of "The Voice" show recordings....LOVE IT!!!!}...I decided to peep and see whether there was any new singers worth listening to on 'American Idol'. I mean....I was crocheting...and I had ears....and I wasn't doing anything else! LOL

     I saw the 'back story' for some of the kids that were trying out and I was HOOKED!!! :-]  Has the talent been this great the whole time?!...These people are true singers!!!...Me and hubby watched the show last night...(something we haven't done for a while...watching a show at night! He usually has to be in the bed by 8 p.m. or so, so he can get up at 2:30a.m. for work!)...and it was sooooo good! ^_^ 

       Every one of them was "On"!! They were prepared, ready to perform, and their voices were just soooo beautiful!....Oh! I love music!!!!...

(Music Note Earring Studs by studmuffins)

        They made my little music-loving heart take a flying leap!! ^_^ Here's a few of the performances from Youtube. (Sorry about the volume. It wasn't as loud as I like to hear it. ^_^)  Don't leap over these!!! LOL...

      
    Tomorrow I'll be showing you the new afghan blanket that I'm giving away as a thank you to all 300 followers of you! :-) And, of course, I'll be announcing the winner of my book of poems too!...

              If you're interested in winning it, today is the last day for you to comment and leave your "Enter Me"!!
      
        Okay....I'm off to have some breakfast with the hubby, do some studying, get our tax info together for the tax man, get back to work on that matching fingerless glove, and wait for the snow!...Oh yeah, and get myself ready for the decision that's coming today as to what we'll be doing for finances from today forward. :-/ ... Updates tomorrow...if I haven't leaped into a snow bank, never to be heard from again!!! LOL...Have a good day Everybody!! :-)

Decisions, Decisions

What should I do?
Don't know if I should go.
What should I wear?
I don't know, I don't know!

What should I say?
Don't need another foe.
Should I tell the truth?
I don't know, I don't know!

Which course should I choose?
The high road, or the low?
Will we be okay no matter?
I think so. I do think so!

Who should I be?
My peppy self or keep it low?
But can they handle it?
I don't know, I don't know!

Decisions, decisions.
Coming at you every day.
You will be just fine!
Come what may, come what may!

Unique, But Not Uncommon

(Happy 10th Anniversary Wedding Bells Love Poem in a Frame by Wuglyees)

     Yesterday was the big day...the meeting with my hubby's company and his job representative. :-{ I'll tell you what happened in a minute. First I wanna tell you why I'm leading my post with my own crochet/poetic item today...because I seldom do that!...I figure that you already have to be captured by my wordy 'carrying-ons', why make you have to be lured here by my self-promotion too! LOL...But today.......Well....I thought it was the best picture for the job! :-)

        It was the item chosen for The Unique Wedding treasury, curated by alegra85. And..I mean...what's more unique than my 'Ugly Wuglyee' crocheted picture frame?! ^_^ ... Okay,...so there "is" other, more unique, things out there...somewhere!...and I'm not averse to showing them off too! But....but....I wanted to show 'mine' off today!...Okay....I said it!! LOL...But so I don't have to feel so bad about it, here are a few of the other unique items in this treasury...

 (Crochet Bride and Groom by achira)

(Personalized Wedding Forks by RiverValleyJewelry)

(Wedding Ring Pillow by woomipyo)

(Rustic Wood Wedding Guest Book by breezemountain8)

(Crocheted Bride and Groom Champagne Bottle Covers by ChildhoodLand)

        Phew!...I feel much better now! ^_^ ....Well, better about showing off the treasury I mean. NOT better about how hubby's meeting turned out! :-( ...We knew going in that it was gonna be tough, because it's not uncommon for big companies to rake over the 'little guy'! But we didn't realize how sideways the whole thing was gonna be. :-(

       In the last few years hubby's company has been, in our opinion, very unfair as to what they expected their workers to do in a...what we thought!...10 hour a day period. We found out yesterday that it was suppose to be 9!....Really?!....Really?!!!!!!! Hubby has been killing himself on a route that was ridiculously large and time consuming, traveling all over the place, back and forth all day in this city and then that one...to meet the required times that each stop wanted him there!

      He was told to be patient. The stops were gonna be cut down...They never were! In fact, many were added over time.....He was told another method of doing the stops was gonna be implemented. Be patient...It never was!...The amount of hours he actually was putting in was being obscured because the time clock was never working....NEVER! And when they inquired about it over and over, it would be fixed for a day or two and then miraculously it would be somehow not working again....for good!

     My husband would never complain about these things...except to me. He felt that he didn't want to 'rock the boat'. He just wanted to do his job. He liked his job! He kept thinking that all the things they said they would do, would be done eventually...I was the HIGHLY skeptical, un-trusting one!...And now he sees why!! I feel vindicated after complaining about this for years!!!!

    But I also feel bad for hubby. :-( During the meeting the manager, boss, whatever he was!, implied that he doesn't really want hubby back unless he's willing to give the job 100 percent. In other words...'do whatever and for however long it takes...and don't complain about it!' (That's my take on it....but remember, I wasn't there! LOL) He also insinuated that hubby didn't care about his job. :-( He said this because hubby told him that he can't anymore be at work for 13 or 14 hours a day...That he has a wife to take care of...That he has a life outside of the job!

     The representative for my husband told hubby to take a couple of days to think about what he wants to do. He's willing to fight for the job for him. But he basically said that if he doesn't go back to it, he's pretty sure hubby will be fired and they will fight not to have unemployment pay him too! :-( Hubby might only be able to get his vacation pay...about 4 weeks pay...and an annuity that he's built up. Which won't hold us for very long.

      Soooooo, we've got two days to decide which direction to go in. It's kinda stressful to think about because I'm not physically capable of helping out much right now...except for writing poetry and crocheting. And, up till now, no one has paid me enough to even think about that being a real income supplement! :-))

     I'm sure we'll get the direction we need. We're still not worrying about it too much....not TOO much! ^_^ We know our situation is not uncommon in this day and age. Lots of people have been in similar circumstances and survived. We know we will too. It won't be easy, but we don't live very highly sustainable lives. We aren't in credit card debt. We don't have a lot of outstanding bills. Just a small amount left on a certain brand new clothes dryer we recently bought. And the phone, electricity, and cable bill!...I mean...even our date night trips are 'Virtual'! LOL

     We're trying to look at the positives. We'd be able to spend more time together. we'd be able to spend more time in the ministry. (We're both Bible teachers.)  We're in our 50s, so the lowered stress level will be good. And we won't need to worry as much about the fact that food and gas prices are going through the roof all of a sudden! YIKES!! O_O

     It's times like these that put your friendships and faith to the true test, right?!....I think we'll be alright. We're rich in other things besides money! :-) ... Enough about me now, what's going on with YOU?!! I have to go do some blog reading...Have a good day, Everybody!!! :-)

 I Am Rich

I am rich in loving friendships.
Rich in loyalty and love.
I am rich in deep emotions,
and in my love for God above.

I am rich in complications.
Rich in insight from my years.
Rich in belly folding laughter.
Rich in sympathetic tears.

I am rich as I can be,
in things not taken in a flash.
Not all abundance can be counted.
Rich is not always in cash.

Monday....The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life!

(Coffee and Pastry Necklace by shayaaron)

        Good Morning!....Yep! It's Morning here. Monday morning....again....already! :-)) I thought we might need some coffee and a pastry to help us get ready for it...unless it's in the middle of the night where you live! In which case....ignore the coffee! LOL

      I'm just happy to say that I had a good night's sleep last night! It's been a 'hairy' couple of days sleep-wise for me. A lot of that has to do with the weather the last few days...which didn't know whether it wanted to rain or snow or blow wind or WHATEVER!!....but at the moment it's cool and very sunny. :-) I'm gonna just enjoy it...and enjoy the decrease of pain!...OUCH!!!...because the forecast is that we have a boat-load of snow and bad weather coming for mid-week. :-( ...*shaking my head*

      So, I'm gonna have my breakfast and enjoy the sunny backyard view for a while...I'm not having coffee and pastry though...Hubby made me a pork chop and some oatmeal in bed....Holla!!!! ^_^ ...Is it wrong for me to want him to be home with me all the time?! I mean...why do we need money for rent and food anyway! Can't we just live on love?! ^_^ ....And then I REALLY woke up!!!! LOL....Oh! If only that could happen!!!!! I know I wouldn't be the only happy slug, hanging around my bedroom with syrup and butter smeared all over my lips,....and in our hair!! LOL

           The other thing I have to do this morning, besides hanging around looking out the window,  is finish the other matching fingerless glove I was working on yesterday!...Oh! O_O Didn't I show you the one I finished?....I didn't?....Well, let me remedy that right now!...

      The photos are making it look like a big glove, but it's actually a very petite glove...

         I think I'm gonna have to give them away on the blog. I only sell adult items in my Wuglyees shop, and these are definitely for young ones. I don't think they'll fit an adult hand. The opening wrist part is a little smaller than 6 inches (15.2 cm)!!...So look for that give away in the future...after I give away my book of poems this Thursday, for the first of March Giveaway. {I thought it was suppose to be Wednesday, but hubby reminded me that this is a leap year! So February has 29 days this year! :-) ...Had you remembered that?!...Okayyyyy, so it's just me that's all oblivious and stuff?! LOL

        Leave me alone!! LOL I'm trying to pretend Spring is just around the corner!! :-]

 

(Lilac-Spring-Summer Love Photograph by AliciaBock)

        Have a good day, Everybody! :-) YOU too number 300!!!!....WOW! I am so thankful that you guys have been so supportive of me with my talkie talkie...chatty chatty self! ^_^ Thank you!!!!

I Am Thankful

I am thankful I can breathe
when I wake up every day;
I am thankful I have time
in which I can spend to pray.

I am thankful that my husband
is a good, hard-working man;
I am thankful I can write
with a steady flowing hand.

I am thankful for good friends,
who are always there for me;
I am thankful for my ears,
and the sunsets I can see.

I am thankful for my life,
because without it I'd be dead-
I'd be breathless in my house,

with an indent on my bed.

I am thankful for this poem,
writing it was not a chore,
`cause it made me stop and think
of all the things I'm thankful for.

Black and White.......

(Black and White Fused Glass Draped Bowl by FusionIllusion)

      This fused bowl is beautiful. It kinda looks the way I was feeling this morning when I got up. But, unlike the bow...which is absolutely beautiful...I wasn't feeling beautiful! :-] I didn't sleep very well last night. We had rain and snow in our area yesterday...and I was feeling it....all....over...my...body! Therefore, it was a long, restless, sleepless, and painful night!

      This morning I was still hurting all over, but not the 'here we go again' kinda pain. It was more like the 'why were you trying to fight that 700 pound gorilla all by yourself last night' kinda pain. LOL I'm hoping that as the day wears on it'll ease up....We'll see!

       In the meantime, I had a Bible-based meeting this morning, and it helped clear away some of the mental cobwebs. :-) Now, I'm in the mood to wanna show you a couple of things! :-) ...One being a new treasury that my black and white men's boutonniere, from my Wuglyees Etsy shop, was put in...

         The treasury was curated by Janet Long of JanetLongArts. It's entitled ♥TY & PIF♥...

         Such cute items are in it, including the bowl in the header photo....And this...my favorite of the treasury!...

 (Rutilated Quartz Briolette Black Tourmalilated Gemstone Strand by somsstudiosupplies)

     Aren't those beads pretty?! :-) What beautiful creations could be made with those beauties!...I won't be making them though! I've got my hands full with the beads I already have! And I've been so involved with my boutonnieres, buttons and crocheting that I haven't even thought about doing anything with my beads!!...Can you say 'Mad Boutonniere-Making woman'?!!! ^_^

      But what I was working on yesterday wasn't a boutonniere. It was a fingerless glove!...

        I started it because I came across a pattern that I wrote up a while back, for a pair of custom ordered lacy fingerless gloves...

       ...I could almost see those gloves in my mind's eye, made out of this pretty golden hay colored soft yarn...

      ....and I just had to start making them!!!.....I HAD TO!! ^_^ 

      So that's what's on my agenda today. Fingerless gloves, clearing of the mind, and tending to this old rickety body! :-)) UGH!...Just when I've gotten past the angst of my teenage stupidities,...the distractions and fantasies of my young adulthood,...the stark realities of every day living in my 30s,...and the  drama of over-expectation in my 40s,....I mean, when I've finally gotten to the point in life where it all makes sense, and the ability to REALLY live my life with clarity and purpose!......my body puts up a 'Yield' sign...and my mind tries to follow it to a complete stop!!!!! Aargh! 

     It's not fair, I tell you!! LOL But at least I know it's not a permanent situation!...The Bible rightly says that 'faith is not a possession of all people', so I know that everybody doesn't believe what I'm about to say...and I can respect that...but I'm gonna say it anyway! LOL...."SOON...S-O-O-N!...God is gonna fix all this stuff and I'll be able to look forward to rain and busy schedules. I...Can't....WAIT!!!" ^_^ Oooooo! Where would I be without faith and something better to hope and look forward to?!!...Sooooo...this body and mind may not be in full working order right now...and stop laughing about it too! ^_^....but I do have faith....and I have it in abundance!!!  :-)

     Okay....Moving on! :-) ........Let me give a big whoop and holler about the 300 followers I have on the blog now!!! Welcome to each and every one of you!!! In honor of my thankfulness, next month's Giveaway will finally be that afghan blanket I've been talking about!!! :-) After I give away this month's book of poems it'll be ON!!!! LOL.........Have a good day, everybody! :-)

Before I Learned The Bible

Before I learned the Bible,
all my life was just a fog,
that consisted of 'Soap Operas'
and me eating like a hog!

Jeff would leave for work real early.
I would sleep til almost noon.
I would watch T.V. til four.
Every day the 'same old tune'.

Unhappy with my marriage,
with myself, and with my life,
was my constant state of being
as Jeff's nagging, cranky wife.

But then one day there came a knock-
The house was dark; The shades were drawn.
"Jehovah's Witnesses!" I said,
"But Ryan's Hope is coming on!"

It was a woman who was nice.
She started preaching at the door.
She showed me scriptures from the Bible
I had never seen  before.

I got excited, and I read
everything she left for me.
I started studying the Bible.
I had finally found the key.

I couldn't help but share with Jeff
all the new truths I had found.
He now saw his cranky wife
wear a smile, and not be down.

The Bible helped our marriage too;
There was more time we spent together;
And as we worked to make a change,
there was more love for one another.

Next year it will be twenty!-
Twenty years of serving God.
Looking back at where we started
kind of feels a little odd.

Sleeping til noon, and eating food-
these things were what I called 'The Rival'
to my Really living life-
But that's before I learned the Bible.

I learned to love Jehovah God
more than the choices I had made;
And now I'm happy with my life-
I think it was a real good trade!     

'Virtual Date Night'...Void Of Travel, But Dramatic!

(Crochet Baby Hat by zolayka)

         I love this hat! It's so colorful with all of the wonderfully dramatic primary colors. And it's pretty clever too...with the whole traveling train theme. I don't have a baby to give it to...although it could make a great gift, so onto the list it goes! :-]

      It did make me think of traveling though. And since Friday is our usual travel day...for our 'virtual date night' trips I mean...it did remind me that we hadn't planned a trip away this week...especially what with everything going on this week, and sucking the brains right out of our heads! LOL

     So, on a last minute's notice, we decided to just go out for the evening...instead of going away on a long trip. Just to do something fun, and quick! ^_^ Where did we go? And what did we do?!...I'll tell you in a minute! ^_^ ...First I wanna show you the orangy treasury I was telling you about yesterday!... 

 ("Things That Make Me Happy" Treasury by Robin of jarmfarm)

       Robin very graciously included my orange rose, glass shell crochet necklace in it, from my Wuglyees Etsy shop...

       What is it about citrus and orange things that make us so happy anyway?!...I don't know, but I know it just does! Just take a close up look at these other items from this treasury!...

 (Crochet Cushion Pillow Cover Set by zolayka)

 (Tangerine Crystal Beaded Stretchy Bracelet by cooljewelrydesign)

 (Butterflies Cookies by LindasEdibleArt)

 (Handmade Copper Sheep Brooch by Copperista)

     The whole treasury is beautiful (you can click the treasury itself to go and check out the other items), but these four pieces were perfect for our quick 'virtual' night out.  :-)

         Hubby and I went out to a theater Play! :-) We went to see the Tony Award winning play...Memphis! :-) ...

 (Wikipedia)

               And we had a good time too!...Before I show you a little piece from the play, let me tell you what it's about.
         It's a musical. It's loosely based on Memphis disc jockey Dewey Phillips, one of the first white Disc Jockeys to play black music in the 1950s...

                ...The North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts was one of the places fortunate enough to feature it. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical, along with three other Tony Awards at the 2010 Tony Awards...If you haven't seen it, I think it's a play worth a little look-see...if you like musicals that is, cuz oh yeah! it's got great music!!...and dancing too y'all! :-]

       Other news...hubby went to a class at the unemployment office yesterday...they give specific information for those in different situations. Hubby found out a couple of things he didn't know, so we feel like we have a direction to head in now! :-) ... Also he has a meeting early next week...to find out whether the suspension is permanent or what. Because of the info he found out yesterday, we're not sweating it as much as we would have been. 
       We're just gonna enjoy the weekend, do some things that need doing, and stay positive about the whole situation. Worrying won't change the outcome anyway, so why waste time!...Speaking of not wasting time...here's the other finished boutonniere I didn't show you yesterday....

       I put a little silver nail button on this one....made it more MANLY !...(said in a deep voice! ^_^) 

        After I finish the other two I already started, I think I'll move on to something else for a while. Hmmmmm....what would that be?!!....I'm sure I'll think of something!! ^_^
      Have a good weekend everybody!! :-) ...What are you gonna be doing?!

 Going Out With My Baby

Going out with my baby.
Or going nowhere, but it's alright.
Playing games and constant laughing.
I think it's gonna be a great 'Date Night'!

Going out with my baby.
Or staying in, and hugging tight.
Eating all the things we shouldn't.
But smiling through every single bite!

Going out with my baby.
And visiting 'virtually' every sight.
All dressed up or in our jammies,
We're having fun. You know that's right!!

Present Attitude?!...It Doesn't Matter Anymore!

(Yellow Cabbage Rose Photograph by JanetLongArts)

      Guess what?!...The beautiful header photo is where my good thoughts are today. Calm, colorful, taking it as it comes. :-) But outside right this very minute?......Aargh!...

       Yes it is!!!!!...Snowing!!...I tried to get a photo of the big flakes that are coming down, but my camera skills aren't that proficient! LOL

       Snow....job suspension....gas prices going up ridiculous amounts every single day!....*deep breath*...It doesn't matter to me anymore. I'm just gonna keep praying for endurance, reminding myself of the positives, and....keep crocheting my boutonnieres!! ^_^ ..

       See the little daisy button I put on this one?! :-) How could anybody be in a bad mood with these little colorful flowers staring them in the face all the time?!! ^_^

     I tried to take a picture of this one on hubby's suit coat...

       Hopefully...bad camera skills not withstanding...you can at least get an idea of what they look like!...Here's how the button works...

       What do you think?!....I finished 5 of them yesterday, but I only got to take photos of 4...nightfall happened. LOL But here's the other 3...

      Half the fun was choosing which button would go with which color!...Here's the orangy-yellow one...

      Here's the purple one...

      And here's the beige one...

       I'm mulling over in my brain the idea of making his and her sets. A boutonniere and a necklace or woman's brooch in a matching color...What can I say! I have to think about SOMETHING! And I don't want to think about cars or jobs anymore!!! {By the way, the header photo is from a treasury of orangy goodness that I'll share with you tomorrow...on 'virtual date day'. ^_^}

           The state of gas prices, jobs, heath problems, and stress is exactly what I was thinking about when I was looking at this rerun song from "American Idol" (below). If you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat! ^_^ I keep playing it over and over...even though the Youtube video's sound is not as good as it could be. It was great on t.v.! :-) These new kids are goooooooood!!!

        Enjoy!...And have a good day!...To me it's gonna be good, because all the other stuff...just doesn't matter anymore! :-)

 How Can You Be So Positive

"How can you be so positive
with everything so bad?
When folks are so unkind
and all those doctors make you mad?"

"It's easy!" I assure them.
'Cuz one thing makes it okay.
I wake up every morning,
and I'm breathing every day!

When I can't move a muscle
and can barely lift my head,
I think of all the folks I've known
who now are gone, yes, dead!

No matter what my problem is,
and if I stand or lay,
I'm thankful that my mind still works
and I'm breathing every day!

So how am I so positive,
When things sometimes seem bleak?
It's easy, 'cuz my breathing
keeps on going every week!

Oh yes, I have a choice!
I can be miserable and whine;
Be mean to folks around me,
Be demanding and unkind.

But who would make that choice,
when there's a better way to be?
I mean, who's breathing every day
and writing poems?...ME!