Yeah, I Know It's Late!...But......

(Letterpress Wood Type Greeting Card by HeartfishPress)

      Okay...so I know I'm late doing my post today. :-)) Sorry...sorta, kinda. But not really. ^_^ I just woke up from the best nap ever, after a night (last night) of watching a chunky 'everything-on-it' pizza and hot fudge sundae come back up the same digestive track it went down a few hours before with such ease!...Oh yes it did!!! O_O

      That's what I get for waiting for a Friday night to have both of the things I was craving all week!!... a slice of 'Uno's' pizza and a 'Friendly's' hot fudge sundae. Oh, they never tasted so good!...and they never looked so bad as when they were coming back up...three times!!! O_O ...Y-U-C-K!!!

       In their defense...the pizza and sundae's defense!...I'm not sure exactly why they didn't stay down. I haven't been feeling well for a couple of days. I attributed it to allergies, but who knows! The only thing I know for sure is that I'll never look at pizza and hot fudge the same again! LOL

      ANYWAY!! ^_^ I just wanted to let you know that I slept most of the day away...That's the reason I hadn't posted...And I'm not sorry!! ^_^ The only thing I've really done all day is sleep and post some lapel pin wedding packages in my Etsy shop, Wuglyees...

      This is only one of the packages. The others are HERE, if you're interested. And if you're awake! ^_^

      Okay...it's after 11 O'clock and I'm wide awake! O_O Now what do I do?!...I know! Wake hubby up and play cards or something! LOL Goodnight, Y'all!! ^_^

All My Plans Unfurled

With all my plans unfurled today,
and nothing urgent pressing me,
I might crochet another scarf
or have a steeping cup of tea.

I might watch an old movie,
or take a nap, just for a minute.
Or I might take out a book to read,
or jot a few nice words down in it.

When you don't have any children,
and no job to do from home.
You can stay in your pajamas,
and have hair that you don't comb.

Yes, with all my plans unfurled,
there could be lots that I 'could' do.
It's always true...I could be busy,
but kinda nice I don't 'have to'!

I Need A Hat For Today's Virtual Date! :-)

 (Custom Sun Hats For Women by LeopardValley)

      I usually try to be all coy and everything about where we're hubby and I will be going on our Friday night virtual date. But not today! :-) We're heading to France...Roland Garros to be exact. And you know why too, if you read my blog, that is! ^_^ 

      The French Open tennis tournament is heading into the round of sixteen, and we don't want to miss the next few matches! :-) It's already been a WOW!-fest at the French Open, with the numbers one, two, and three, on the women's side...OUT!! O_O Serena Williams, Li Na, and Agnieszka Radwan'ska are all gone!...It's the first time in the open era that all three of the top seeded players were gone before the round of sixteen!!

      I still have my eyes on a couple of players on the women's side...Maria Sharapova, Sloane Stephens, Sara Errani, and Garbine Muguruza to be exact. :-) ... And, of course, you know whose keeping my eye on the men's side of the draw: MY 'BABY BOY'! ^_^ That would be Rafa Nadal for those who don't know!! LOL Although with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, David Ferrer, Donald Young, Andy Murray, John Isner, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Gael Monfils all still in it, it's gonna be a great tournament anyway you cut it!! ^_^ ... And because the weather is pretty good in France...with occasional bouts of rain (the same as it's been here!)...I'm definitely gonna pack a hat or two! ^_^

 (Brimmed Floppy Women Sunhat with Butterflies by DILALOO)

 (THE CLOCHE SUN HAT by Malasa)

 (Wide Brimmed Summer Hat CROCHET PATTERN by TheHatandI)

      Other than snacking while I'm packing, watching tennis, and also watching the hummingbird battle the backyard wind...like a ♫ sparrow in a hurricane! ♫ (remember that song?! ^_^)...I'm not doing much else right now. With the wind tossing around, and the rain falling, it's hard to believe that just a few short hours ago my backyard looked like this...

      It was sunny and bright, and the lawn guys were having a good time trying to tame my backyard grass, while not disturbing the flowers!...

      Awwwwww!.....Sun! :-)

      But since we can't have sun all the time, we have to waste our time listening to good music, watching tennis, or eating good stuff! :-) ...

 (Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie from A Cup Of Jo blog)

      ...Until we leave for France I mean! ^_^ ... Hey!...Where's my hat?!! ^_^ ...

(Yellow Wide brim Sun Hat decorated with a two-tone braided ribbon & a bow by LeopardValley)

      Have a good weekend, Everybody!! ♥

Virtual trip

I really like to travel,
See the world, expand my mind.
But not getting on an airplane,
or hunting luggage I can't find!

I like a 'good ole' virtual trip.
Computer details. Music too.
Where you don't need a 'stinking' passport,
or have to wear a 'stinking' shoe!

But a little stay at home,
under covers, lock and key,
can also be expansive.
Even if it's 'virtually'.

Quotable Maya Angelou Inspiration

 (Vintage 1st Ed. Book by Maya Angelou "Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now" from booksvintage)

      I don't usually write about public figures when they pass away. But I always write about things that impact me...and the poetry and writing of Maya Angelou did. And in a much bigger way than I realized until I started to see her inspirational quotes being repeated all over the place after the announcement of her death yesterday.

      My first notice of Maya Angelou was in a movie about her life...I think. I say "I think" because I'm really not sure where I first became aware of Maya Angelou. Somehow the knowledge of her, her life story, and her writing...especially her poetry...has always been just a part of my awareness. 

      Probably because I saw so many similarities in our life stories. The good...and the bad, unfortunately. The movie version of her book, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" had me in those 'ugly' tears!...But, like her, "I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now"! :-] ...

 (booksvintage)

      The only book that I can quote with total belief and knowledge is the Bible. But I realized yesterday that I'm pretty knowledgeable about Maya Angelou's quotes too!...even though...I'm embarrassed to say...I didn't always know that it was her I was quoting! O_O

      I 'did' know this quote though!...

 (Made to Order Maya Angelou Quote Hand Stamped Necklace by DesignByAnyOtherName)

      I had to use this quote many times over the years, as I was learning to forgive myself and my relatives...and when I was trying to give advice to friends on how to forgive themselves and their friends and family!...Oh! How many times have I said to myself: "Okay, Girl, so you didn't do that in the best way you could have. But now that you know better, you can do better!"... Or... "No! They were not good people. They didn't treat you in the way that you should've been treated! But now that they know better, maybe they will do better!"

      I've also often repeated the quote: "When people show you who they are, believe them the first time!" But I didn't know that it was Maya Angelou that said it!! :-] ... And below are a couple of other great quotes of hers!...

 (Maya Angelou INSTANT DOWNLOAD POSTER by InspirationalQuote)

(8x10 PRINTABLE Maya Angelou Quote by jillmarie7276)

          In her life she was a dancer, a writer, a poet, she did movies, she loved her friends and family, and she loved music!!...She once said: "Music was my refuge. I could crawl into a space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness."

      She was also known to have said: "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it."...also..."If you have only one smile in you give it to the people you love."...and..."Life loves the liver of it." :-) I could be here all day! :-) But I won't!! ^_^ 

      Because of the Bible and Jehovah God's great love for me, I have become the woman I am today....But because of Erma Bombeck and Maya Angelou I was able to survive my childhood and get to a place in my life where I could come to know, and believe, the Bible's words and the great love that Jehovah God has for me. :-] ... So today I am feeling very thankful...all the way around. And I know that death cannot rob me of the words. They will live on in my heart. ♥

      One of my girlfriends gave me a book of poetry by Maya Angelou entitled "Four Poems Celebrating Women". Included in the book are the 2 poems "Phenomenal Woman" and "Still I Rise". My girlfriend paid me the greatest complement when she said, in her letter to me (which I have had tucked in the book for the last 12 years): "...naturally I thought of you when I saw this little book...She's one of my favorite people....the first poem not only reminds me of you, it sounds like something you even might have written!!" :-) ... I was very flattered because the poem she alluded to was "Phenomenal Woman". :-] If my poetry makes just one person feel the way I felt when reading things Maya Angelou wrote...YAY!! :-) ... Have a good day, Everybody! ♥

Poetry

Poetry, the gift of words,
that help you say whats in your heart;
that puts your thoughts of life together,
but pulls emotions all apart.

Poetry, your quiet friend,
that gives your voice a place to land;
that gives the things you'd  never say
a way to jump out from your hand.

Poetry, done to a beat,
a beat of words, said right in time,
without confusion of the music,
but just the rhythm and the rhyme.

Poetry, phrase harmony;
the way a noun and adverb meet;
the way they line up side-by-side,
and all Not needed they delete.

Poetry, the passing thoughts,
and all the others I hold dear,
of all the people and the places
that I've  written down right here.

Poetry, the gift of words,
and putting them together too;
Without the pen and paper
what in the world would my mind do?

Upsets And Blackness!!

 (Crocheted Black Shawl Pattern by etty2504)

      In light of the dark skies we're experiencing right now, I decided to go with black for today's post. ^_^ Besides...I don't have anything else to go on and on about! LOL...except for tennis. :-)) Speaking of which, there's a spoiler alert coming up below!...Anyway, in light of the dark skies I decided why not share Etsy's cute 'dark'...'black'...items?! :-)

      The shawl pattern in the header photo really got my creative juices flowing! Isn't it pretty?! It made me think that maybe that's what my next big crochet project should be....Not this particular shawl, but 'A Shawl'. And maybe 'a black shawl'. :-] ... After I finish a couple of other small projects, that is.

      I'm thinking about maybe bundling some of my lapel pins and boutonnieres into four to seven piece packages, instead of the one-a-piece way I'm selling them right now. Something!! The shop is as quiet as a mouse!!...sorta, kinda. :-)) I have to find some way to get my sales moving again!! O_O I'll be working on that on this dark day.

      Speaking of dark...

 (Black One-Shoulder Pencil Dress by marcellamoda)

      ...this black dress really caught my eye! Not just because it's black, but because of the interesting way it's cut...with the one sleeve, on a kind of halter dress!...Soooo creative! (Although personally I would go crazy with just the one long sleeve! It's a symmetrical thing. My brain would be yanking at the other missing sleeve all night! LOL)

      I would have no problem what-so-ever with sitting in this though! :-) ...

 (Black Hanging Chair Sitting Hammock by hamanica)

      Well, maybe that's not entirely true either! O_O I'd be worried about whether the strings would give way! LOL...Although, even if they did, I'd still be in a sitting position. So.....it's all GOOD! ^_^ (Side Note: I wish I had the pattern to crochet one of these!!)

      Now, look at this little cute beauty! :-) ...

 (Black Bow Tie Faux Leather Cuff Bracelet by caseclothed)

      It's the picture of understated cuteness! ^_^ And I can see this on a lot of women too!...Not like the dress above! The dress is for a confident, well-shaped woman...Uhhhh...I got the confident part down!! LOL

      As far as anything else goes on this dark and rainy day...

(Home Decor Art Print by WordsMakeaSentence)

      ...this art print says it all!! ^_^

      So, what is your weather like today?!...And what are your plans in it?! ^_^ My plans are to watch more tennis, and drink a cup of coffee!! ^_^ SPOILER ALERT: I already watched two matches this morning. Venus and Serena Williams both had matches that, if they won them, would put them into the third round...playing each other!! ^_^ YAY! right?!....WRONG! O_O They both were upset!!!!...Venus won her first set, and then politely got 'whooped' for the next two! :-( ...Then Serena's match started, and YIKES!!! O_O The girl 'put the beat-down' on Serena! It was the worst beating I've ever seen her get!! O_O

      Venus lost to 19-year-old Anna Schmiedlova, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. I had never even seen her play before! She was new to me. But not any more!! :-] I'll be watching for her in other matches now. She's good!!

      And Serena lost to Garbine Muguruza, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2!! O_O It was a young lady that I have seen play before, but never the way she played today!! She just 'ran over' Serena!!

      So congratulations to Anna Schmiedlova and Garbine Muguruza!!! YOU GO GIRLS!!! ^_^ ... Now?...COFFEE!!!! ^_^

Coffee

Why have I become
so addicted to your taste?
Why have I not noticed
what you're doing to my waist?

Why are you the first thought
that I have when my eyes open?
Why is your solution
part of how I now am coping?

I don't know the answers.
All I know is that I'm UP!
And I have to leave you now
and go and fill back up my cup!

A Little Color For The Boring!

 (Hand Knit Wool Socks by AnitasHandmade)

      Not the socks. No! The socks aren't boring! They're colorfully beautiful, in fact! ^_^ It's my life that's boring right now. :-)) In other words, there's nothing of particular note going on. Certainly not enough to warrant 'interesting' blog posts!...unfortunately for any readers of my blog. ^_^

      Although, today I could tell you all about the thunderstorm we're suppose to be having right now! ^_^ I say 'suppose to be having' because all I see out the window is that it's slightly darker than it was a bit ago, and the wind is moving the tree leaves around a bit. But.....that's it! O_O Not even a smidgen of rain is falling...YET!

      The storm was suppose to start around one O'clock. It's now 5:36 p.m. and.....NOTHING! Not that I'm complaining!! O_O I really could do without a thunderstorm...Really! I'm not 'that' itchy for excitement!! LOL

      A little color, that I found on Etsy, is plenty enough excitement for me!! :-] ...

 (Watermelon Handmade Circle Rug by irynabat25)

      Besides, boring is not so bad. :-) Boring is allowing me to sit and look at tennis all day...with short interruptions for reading, studying, talking to hubby, and napping! ^_^ I'm sure there must be other people who wish their life was as 'boring' as mine!! LOL
      Of course, those people wouldn't want the arthritic pain, and allergies that go with all of this boring! :-)) But you can't have everything just the way you want it, can you?!...If so, I'd be doing all of this boring tennis watching in France right about now!! ^_^ ...

 (Red Linen Tote Bag by lyralyra)

      Anyway, boring or not, here I am...talking my head off just the same! :-))) Sorry. Wanna see some flowers instead?!...Here you go! :-)) ...

 

      Hubby just took this picture. He wanted you to see how much we need the rain from the thunderstorm (the dry patch in the lawn)...but, at the same time, he doesn't want it to cause any damage to his beloved flower bush! :-) ... We're so boring!!! LOL

Ease, By Rhyme

To ease my mind,
I jot down a rhyme.

When forced to think,
my brain cells link.

With emotions on paper,
anxieties taper.

With the flow of my pen,
I'm  at peace again.

And to jot down this rhyme,
brought ease to my mind.

Tennis....Tennis.....And More Tennis!!

 (Roland Garros on Facebook)

      Soooooo...I guess you know what I've been doing! ^_^ It's been an all day tennis affair!...avoiding rain, body aches, annoying phone calls, and crocheting. O_O Nope! I haven't picked up a needle for a couple of days!

      Right now I'm more concerned with the French Open tennis matches than what my next crochet project will be. I think it's because picking up a crochet hook is painful...literally!...It's rainy, and my muscles and joints are in rebellion. Grrr! I'm not complaining too much about it though, because I'm still breathing. Hubby is giving me great body and back rubs. And I'm getting waited on hand-and-foot! ^_^ What's to complain about?! ^_^

      Before I go any further, let me tell you that all of the photos on today's post are from the Roland Garros Facebook site. They always have the best coverage of the French Open! :-) The header photo shot was of Novak Djokovic and one of the Ball-Boys having a chat during a rain delay. :-) The Ball-Boy was holding the umbrella for Novak, and he had the young man sit down. Then he gave him a bottle of water, or something, and they sat there for a moment...just chatting. :-) Novak said he made a new friend. ^_^

     Rafa Nadal, alias 'my baby boy' ^_^ played a great game today. In fact, two out of the three sets were 6-0!!...

 (Rafa Nadal on Facebook)

      Of course, I've never seen him play a bad match. :-) Even when he loses, he always gives it everything he's got!!

      Oh Yeah, Novak won his match today too...in straight sets...

(Novak Djokovic on Facebook)

      Something tells me that these two are gonna be meeting each other at some time or other. ^_^ ... And it's gonna be GOOD!!! ^_^

    Before I slink off, let me say CONGRATS to Maria Sharapova today too!! :-) She's moving on...and will probably meet Venus or Serena Williams down the road. They both won their matches yesterday. :-)

      As you can see, my world is very small right now. Sleeping...eating...watching tennis. :-) What?!!!...You got something to say about it?!! ^_^ Have a good rest of the day, Y'all! ♥

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 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! 

Focus........FOCUS!!!!!

 (Original Large Tree Ring Painting by focuslineart)

      It's a good day for focus, isn't it?! ^_^ I think so! And if you need to focus, this is the perfect piece of art to start with! (in the header photo) :-) Besides which, the colors are just beautiful!!

      The reason I need so much focus today is because for the last two days I've been completely UN-focused!...I think the rain did something to my brain!...I haven't done my exercises. I haven't been eating as well as I'd like. I haven't been crocheting...Ugh!...I didn't even do a blog post yesterday...AGAIN!! O_O

      I just need to wrangle my brain in and decide what I want my 'plan' for activity to be!...besides enjoying my meeting, I mean! Because enjoying my meeting is a for sure, sure!!...or, as us southerners say, a 'fa sho sho!' ^_^

      Since I finished my crochet tissue box project I haven't picked up a crochet hook! O_O Now I have to decide if I wanna just get some pancakes and 'go-to-town' with a fork!...or grab a crochet hook and make some more lapel boutonniere pins...

 (Pick 3 Men's Lapel Flower/ Boutonnieres by GettinGussiedUp)

      ...crochet some creative and useful project...

 (Crochet Owl Basket Pattern by CrochetEverAfter)

      ...crochet a large afghan or blanket...

 (Colourful Granny Square Crochet Blanket by CrochetObjet)

      ...crochet an intensely detailed bed spread...

 (Crochet Bed Cover by AnitasHandmade)

      ...Or just put away the crochet hook altogether, and watch out my window for birds! ^_^ ...

 (Woodland Acorn Birdhouse by CattailsWoodwork)

      I'm still getting an occasional cardinal or robin to the backyard...

(Original, Signed 8 x 10 Print by SmallMysteries)

      ...but mostly it's an all-day hummingbird show! ^_^ They zip in and out, chase each other, sit on nearby branches, and occasionally fly up to the window and hover and say: 'Hi! Whatcha doing in there?!' :-))

      The truth is, the hummingbirds have better focus than me right now!!...and, considering that the French Open tennis tournament started today, I foresee many an un-focused day in my immediate future!! LOL...*Congratulations to both Venus and Serena Williams, by the way. They both won their first round matches today! ^_^*

      That's why I already discussed with my hubby what I want my schedule to look like this week...starting, first thing in the morning, with doing our Bible text and reading, exercises, breakfast, and taking of pills and vitamins!! LOL...Ain't that a shame that I have to put 'taking my pills' on a list of daily 'To Dos'?!!...But if I don't...you know what'll happen!! LOL

      "Focus, Wug...FOCUS!!!" LOL...And Y'all focus too!...And have a good upcoming week! :-)

Catching Up

I see life from my perspective.
And it's always a full cup.
I rarely see the glass half empty.
I don't let much interrupt.

But now I find this needs a change.
I have some catching up to do.
I have some things that need updating.
And some family bonds to glue.

Some things have lagged unmercifully.
They need some tweaking, not too much.
Just need to get back some perspective..
Get some family lines in touch.

This catching up will be wide ranging.
Out with the old, in with the new.
But when you're catching up with people,
there's still some old when you're all through.

Catching up sometimes is tiring.
Maybe that's why I've been waiting.
And, besides, when I'm all done,
there seems there's more that needs updating! 

     By the way, big thanks to all of the above Etsy shop owners for letting me share their work as I was telling my story. :-] Check out all of their shops, will ya!...And buy something too, if you like! ^_^

YAY!! My Project Is All Done!!

 (Good Morning Beautiful Vintage Silver Plated Coffee Spoon Stir Stick by EveOfJoy)

      I have to start today's post with an apology that I missed my post yesterday. I was busy! :-] I'll show you what I was busy with in a minute. But first I wanna say: "Happy Virtual Date Day" to my hubby. ♥ And I also wanna share something really cute for you creative jewelry makers out there! :-) ...

 (Vintage Style Teardrop Bead Dangle Charm Drop Set in Black and Clear Crystal - 4 Piece Set by bountyofbeads)

      I found this Etsy shop, with the cutest drop charm dangles!!...

 (Vintage Style Czech Coin Brown Tortoise Edge Bead Dangle Charm Drop Set - 4 Piece by
bountyofbeads)

      They'd make some great focal points for any piece of jewelry!...but I can just see them...in my mind's eye...on my crochet flower necklaces! ^_^ How pretty they are!!...And so colorful! :-)

(Vintage Style Copper and Czech Coin Deep Red Tortoise Edge Bead Dangle Charm Drop Set - 4 Piece by bountyofbeads)

      I haven't been making as many crochet necklaces lately. But I have been re-fashioning some of my 'expired' brooches into crochet necklaces! Something.....ANYTHING!...to try to get that expired list GONE!! :-] ... I think I may need to have a 50% off sale!...SOON!!

      Okay...let me show you my latest finished product! :-) ... Last time I showed it to you, it looked like this...

      
       Obviously it's a tissue box cover. :-) But what I liked about this project so much was that after it's finished it doesn't exactly look like a tissue box!...I found the pattern for it in one of my old crochet pattern books. It's from the year 2000...14 years ago!
      Finishing it involved a lot of tedious, focused, work!! It also involved using fiberfill, some of my old vintage buttons, and some ribbon! :-) These (below)  are a few of the accessories!...

      But here's the finished project! :-) ...
 

      It's creation won a first prize, the magazine said. :-) I can see why!!...

       
      Crocheting the sofa arm, and sewing it into place, and then making those little decorative pillows, was INTENSE!!! O_O And, for me, a ONE TIME PROJECT!!! O_O It reminded me of the hard work I put into making my 'Baby Wuglyee' crocheted bear!!! YIKES! And you know I'm 'never' doing that again!! :-))

      The funny thing for me was when I went to do a 'crochet tissue box' search on Etsy...to get a feel for how much I should charge for my tissue box. O_O Wanna see what I found?!...
 

 (Sofa Tissue Box Cover Crochet Pattern by PaperButtercup)

      I saw the pattern being sold! O_O I didn't even know that the magazine that held the pattern was out of print!!...But I do now! :-) And if you wanna make the tissue box yourself, you can get the pattern by clicking the above photo and following it over to the Etsy shop that's selling it! :-)

        Something else that I found in my search is that I'm not the only one that had the bright idea to try making this sofa tissue box! :-) Take a look!...

 (Crochet Couch Tissue Box Cover with ruffle accent on edges (Color: Red and White) by JillieBeansCrochet)

 (Man Cave Decor Crochet Couch Tissue Box Cover by krochetlady)

 (Fun, Retro Doll Sofa - Crochet Tissue Box Cover Couch by TalulaCrafts)

 (Sofa Tissue Box Cover by Yanelley)

 (Sofa Tissue Box Covers by Yanelley)

      And every one of them is as cute as can be!! :-) Although I'm kinda partial to mine still. Is it any wonder?! I spent days on it!!! ^_^ ...

      Oh! The shipping of it is gonna be a challenge. O_O But ship it, I will!!! ^_^ ... After we get back from our trip I mean!...Yes! It 'is' still Friday!! ^_^ Have a good rest of the 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 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!