It's A Beautiful Day To Go Somewhere, And Do Some Stuff!!

 (So Are You - Counted Cross Stitch Chart by DUDADAZE)

      It's just a beautiful day today...so far, that is! :-] As DUDADAZE cross stitch says: 'The sun is up. The sky is blue...' And considering what my day was like yesterday...I'll take it!! It was...hmmm...how shall I say?....interesting!

      I was gonna try to give you the play-by-play of yesterday's activities, but when I was trying to figure out how to write it I realized that if I told it as it happened I'd have to give you details that might hurt someone's feelings. So...I won't get into it. Just trust me when I say: 'It was interesting.' And let's leave it at that!

      Instead of 're-hashing' yesterday, let's talk about what I'm going to do today...'Virtual Friday' Date Day! :-) Hubby has today off from work. YAY!! It's gonna be a nice long weekend...with NO STRESS!....I hope, I hope, I hope!!

      We're gonna just relax and smell the roses!...provided we can find some growing somewhere!...

 (Apricot Orange Rose Photograph Print by mookiejones)

      Then we're gonna take some time to laugh!...at each other, the television, the ringing telephone, our 'To Do' list, and at anybody who thinks that we're gonna be doing anything serious and important today! ^_^ Ha!... 

 

(Sterling Silver Wire Laugh Ring by SleekStyles)

      We're gonna do some Friday 'date night' dancing!...Or some semblance of said dancing!... ^_^ ...

 

 (Flamenco Dancer Illustration on Vintage Music Sheet by reimaginationprints)

      I can get hubby to dance with me for sure if I play some Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong! Oooo! He loves jazz!! :-]

       And I am gonna have a bit of chocolate today!...(Me, not hubby. He can't eat chocolate, or have caffeine, without it doing strange things to him!...Things that I don't want happening on my 'Date Night'!!! LOL)... :-) ...

 (Chocolate Piano by PanacheConfections)

      By the end of this weekend I hope that hubby and I are as relaxed and happy as pigs in slop!! ^_^ ...
 

 (Pot Bellied Pig Family Original Watercolor by pigatopia)

      ...Or, at the very least, somewhere with a 'virtual' sunbeam shining down on our 'flip-flopped' feet!! LOL...

 (Crochet Sandal Flower Flip Flop Clips by CraftsbySigita)

      As usual when it comes to my 'virtual Fridays', I'm sure we'll have a good time as long as we're together, and we eat something good, and listen to some good music!...because, if not, you really can't call it a date, right?!! ^_^ 

(Happy Near You - Counted Cross Stitch Chart  by DUDADAZE)

      Oh Yeah!...I didn't tell you where we were going on our 'virtual date'! ^_^ Here's a hint: half of the shops featured on the blog today are from the area that we're headed to! ^_^

      Look at that!...I hardly remember what yesterday was like now! :-)) Not really. But I've worked hard to achieve this level of memory loss! So don't you try to make me remember yesterday, ya hear!!!! I have to remember some steps so that I can do some jazz dancing!! LOL...Have a good weekend, Everybody! ♥

Dance

Life is a dance, they always say.
It has a rhythm and a rhyme,
It makes you set a pace for it,
while it flows in the stream of time.

And dancing has expressions
that I think are kinda neat,
like dancing eyes, and dance of joy,
happy dance, and dancing feet.

Whatever dance you do today,
I hope life pleases you.
It really doesn't matter how.
Just dance! I hope you do!

It's A "Show And Tell"..."What Are 'YOU' Up To?"...Kind Of Day!

 (Multi Color Decorative Vintage Button Mirror by MoonRayDesigns)

     Soooo...it's Monday.That's right, right?!...It is Monday?! ^_^ I've been kinda distracted and mentally M.I.A. lately....But, I'm back!!! :-) And to prove it I wanna do a little show and tell. :-]

      I wanna 'show' you this cute and creative mirror I found on Etsy!...from Rachel of MoonRayDesigns. Her shop intro says she loves art...loves to create...and loves to make her own things!...

 (MoonRayDesigns)

     And looking at this beautifully done mirror I would say Check...Check.....and CHECK! :-) It's like a mirrored and buttoned piece of handmade art!! :-) I love it because of all of the color too! 

     And if you're into art and color, like I am, let me 'tell' you about an artist I love...whose also a blogger! :-) It's Diane, over at Duda Daze! Check her blog, and Etsy shop, out. She's great!!

     If that doesn't fill up your 'color cup'...let me 'show' you these!...

 (Vintage 1980's Sergio Zelcer Shoes from MerrilyVerilyVintage)

     No...you can't wear them everywhere!...but everywhere you wear them you'll be like.....WOW!!! ^_^

      Something else that's like WOW!...is the easy caramel sauce I just saw on The Pioneer Woman blog!...I just had to 'tell' you about it!! ^_^ 

     Moving right along!...I'd like to 'tell' you about the cold and icy backyard I'm looking at right now. Ugh! And it's cloudy too! O_O AND we have another snow storm coming tomorrow!!...I know where I''d like to put some of this cold and ice!...in Florida!!! :-)) ... or here!...

 (Hand Painted Vintage Minnie Mouse Ice Bucket from VickiesCrafts)

     ...in this Minnie ice bucket! ^_^ ...Okay! It wasn't that smooth of a transition! LOL But I had to 'show' you this little cute bucket, and I was stretching myself to try to make it fit my theme. ^_^

     Making this mug fit won't be as hard...

(Small Rain Cloud Porcelain Mug by SilverLiningCeramics)

     ...we don't have any rain...So we needed some! :-)) ...in a mug, but not from the sky!! LOL...How was that?! :-)

      Be patient. I've only got one more thing to 'tell' you. I'd like to tell you THANK YOU for being so kind and patient with me over the last few days. Your comments of encouragement have been truly appreciated. :-]

     Today I'm gonna be all about schedule!...and that probably will include some crocheting! :-) I'm not promising anything though! NO PRESSURE!!!...Besides, I have enough inventory in my 'EXPIRED' section to keep me going for...Ohhhh...another year at least!! LOL

     One more thing to 'show' you...

 

(George Nelson Ball Clock from ReStyleGraphic)

     ...And to 'tell' you...*sigh*...Time gets away from you real fast!! Take time to appreciate every moment...and make it a good day!! ♥

Feeling Better

There's no card for "Feeling Better"!
But I think that there should be,
when my friends have sent good wishes;
and been loving up on me.

When they've sent good food to eat,
flowers, cards, emails, and calls.
When they've made it bearable
watching T.V. and 4 walls.

I'd like a card to send them back,
with a smiley face there too,
saying: "Feeling so much better;
and it's all because of you!"

Hubby's Home!

 (Miniature little village, five houses by Intres)

       I had quite a weekend!...of which I slept through most of. ^_^ It's a good thing I have hubby here today to help me take care of and put things back to their rightful place. Otherwise there's no telling what my house would look like!! ^_^ He's a 'good egg'! ♥

      What did I do for the weekend, you ask?!...Well, football...sleeping...eating...giggling with friends...surprises (not in a good way)...brain lags (LOTS of them! ^_^)...more football...a couple of old movies...and taking sand out of my 'virtual' shoes after a trip to the canary islands! ^_^ And did I already say 'Football'!!! LOL

       Ahead for today?!...Trying to finish my talk for the meeting later this week...more grocery shopping...crocheting (I have to re-make 3 lapel pins that sold overnight)...a hair washing...and some other odds and ends....Oh Yeah!.....and getting prepared for this week's cold, snow (maybe), wind, and rain!! O_O...

 (Man with Umbrella 8x12 Original Photograph by SonjaCaldwell)

      Yes, winter is trying to let us know that it's coming!...although it's still not that bad considering the time of year it is, and considering that the states to the south seem to be getting worse weather than us!!...What's that all about?! O_O Although, don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not complaining!!!

       Noooooo!...This lone half-brained Wug is just talking!...as usual! LOL...

(Baby Sand Cat The Totem Nursery by HandyMaiden)

      And you are my captured audience! ^_^

      By the way, some really great things happened over the weekend too! Like, for instance, my dad finished his bathroom remodel...including shower tiling, and painting! :-) I have pictures, but I didn't ask if I could share, so I won't. But trust me, it came out beautiful!! :-) ... And hubby made pork chops! :-) YUM!

      How was your weekend?!

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 poetically 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 whittled 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!

      Thanks to all of the Etsy shops for letting me share their goodies while I tell my stories...I just had to say that! :-] And have a good week, Everybody!! ♥

Anything You Can Do...I Can Do Better....?!!

 (Spiced Pumpkin Orange Earrings by TheJewelryChateau)

     Hello!...and Happy Saturday to you! :-] Easy for me to say, right?! I'm just getting up! ^_^ But not so easy. I actually didn't sleep restfully last night. It probably was the remaining jabs from all of that rain we got yesterday!

      Anyway!...this morning it's just beautiful!! Sunny, bright, 'hummingbird happy' weather! ^_^ Good weather to loosen muscles and bones, and digest pizza from a well eaten 'virtual' date night! ^_^ And on that note...*burp!*...let me move on! LOL

     I thought I'd just show you the three eye-catching items I found in some Etsy shops that inspired me to make three 'better'....well, I tried anyway!...crochet boutonnieres! :-) Starting with these gorgeous earrings!!!...

      They were so pretty that I had to show you them from three different angles!! :-) Soooooo pretty!!...And here is my crochet 'pumpkin boutonniere' counterpoint...
 

     I didn't try to put any Howlite color on them....that would've made them look like 'knock-offs'. O_O What?!......Are you laughing?!!.....Anyway! I left the white stone part to these cute earrings! :-)
 

 (White Howlite Natural Stone Earrings by AMWatelier)

      I didn't want to leave the white idea alone all together though...That's when I saw these!!...

 (Simple Daisy Shaped Sugar Cubes by WishingwellArt)

      Aren't they pretty?!....I'm sure they taste pretty good in green tea or coffee too! ^_^ ...But for the sake of my theme today, I won't talk about their taste. I'll talk about their look!!...So cute that I decided to do it 'better'...in my crochet way! :-) ...

      Okay! Okay!...It's not 'better'!!! ^_^ And trust me when I tell you...cotton thread...no matter what color it is!...doesn't taste good!...uhhhhhh...Don't ask me how I know that either!! LOL

     Moving on!!! ^_^ INSPIRATION!!!!...

 (Black Grey White Infinity Scarf Cowl Shawl by wishestogether)

      My attempt at 'better'..sorta, kinda!...

      What do you think?!...And yes, I know, there's no such thing as 'better' when you're comparing wonderfully creative with fabulously talented...which all of these Etsy artisans are!! :-) But the 'trying' is what gives me fuel...and direction....What else am I gonna do while I'm sitting and looking out the window, and when my stomach is so actively trying to digest some leftover pizza?! ^_^
       Have a good Saturday, and weekend, Everybody!! :-)


Backyard sounds

Flitting, flying, flapping, creeping.
Swaying, floating, chirping, leaping.
In our backyard sounds are heaping.
Me and hubby always peeping.

Creative...Things!!

(Raccoon Figurine by BonjourPoupette)

       Besides good sleeping, good eating...I got a gift of a box of Russell Stovers Chocolates yesterday!! :-)..., good watching of T.V. (I watched repeat episodes of 'Storage Wars' and stayed away from the news!), and a good time spent helping my girlfriend prepare a 5 minute Bible talk/performance that she has to perform this Thursday, my Tuesday was pretty uneventful...like I like it!! ^_^

      Today is NOT gonna be uneventful! We've got rain coming today, and snow and ice coming tomorrow! So I've got to get some crocheting done before my fingers get that gnarly mangled feel and I can't make my crochet hook do what I want it to do! LOL Who knows...maybe the weather will be good to me this time and just bother OTHER people!....Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking!

       You don't know how thankful I am that my eyes will still be working though!! :-) I love looking around and finding out what the creative people of Etsy are doing right now!...Do you wanna see what I'm loving right now?!....What?!...Your eyes are working too, right?! ^_^

       The raccoon figurine in the header photo was the first thing that caught my eye! Soooo cute!! :-) But as I continued to look around, my eyes had a feast..of things for my ears!!...

(Vintage Rhinestone Bridal Earrings by LaraLewis)

    

         Things for my refrigerator door...

 (Laser Cut Wooden Magnets by SweetWaterSprings)

        Things for my bedroom...

(French Credenza by JWhimsy)

      Things for my neck...

(Bridal Statement Necklace by treasures570)

       Things for my dog...Okay, not for "my" dog. I don't have one! LOL But I know someone who would love it!! :-) ...

(Pottery Dog Bowl Dish by LaurenBauschOriginal)

      Things for holding my jewelry...

(Keepsake Ring or Trinket Dish by mLindvall)

        Things for putting away all of my OTHER jewelry!....Shhhh! Hubby may, or may not, know that I still have more jewelry than he's aware of, and that I need somewhere inconspicuous to put it! LOL...

(Personalized Jewelry Keepsake Box by dunracin)

      Things to put on my feet....I don't really need to explain this one, do I ladies?! :-) ...

(Python Platforms by lookinglasshouse)

      Things to decorate my wall...and just to look at....

(Butterfly Wall Art Sculpture by PrinceDesignUK)

      And things for my hubby too! For his 'Man Cave'...

(Wood Burned Football Sign by PinkNeedleDesign)

       *hanging my head*....Okay...confession...that sign was for me too! "I love you Dallas Cowboys!!!!!" ^_^ *blowing kisses to the team*...Hubby's team is the Rams. This shop didn't have a sign for them. 

           But there was something else for him!...

(Trifold Leather Billfold Wallet by sewlutionsbyamo)

       And look at that! It's just big enough to hold all the money he'll need to carry, in order to get all the 'things' I've been spending my time looking at!! LOL

      I guess I better get back to work on my crocheting, so I can 'bring on some bacon' too! I mean...I still have to pay for my living! LOL Although it doesn't cost anything to look! ^_^

      Do something fun with your eyes and have a good day everybody! :-)

Eyes

We take our eyes for granted
until some 'boo boo' mars our view.
Then we find ourselves short-sighted
with less things that we can do.

The thought of losing sight,
and seeing life just like before,
is scary, and can shake our confidence
right to the core.

To make our eyes feel better
we would do most anything.
Some eye salve or a hot pack,
even ointments that will sting.

To, every day, appreciate
the eyes that help us see
(and keeping those sharp objects
out of their proximity),

That's what we should be doing,
give those 'Peepers' some respect!
Especially since they get it
when we're sticking out our neck.     

'Eclectic' or NOT 'Eclectic'?!...That Is The Question!

Don't ask me why, but sometimes words just make me 'giddy'! Maybe it's that 'Poet' thing! ^_^ But whatever it is, I like it!...Sometimes it's the use of a word, (like 'gotcha'!) or the sound of a word, (like 'flabbergasted'), the meaning of a word (like 'theocratic'), the way a word can be said with feeling to make it sound good or bad (like 'persuasive'), or just simply because I like the way the word evokes conversation...like the word 'Eclectic'!

I saw the word 'Eclectic' somewhere recently and I got that 'Grover-On-Sesame-Street' feeling. And after I got over that, I had to go and find out exactly what it meant!...Yahoo Answers had a whole lot of different slants on basically the same definition for it. And I found out that it was a much 'richer' word than I had originally thought!

I thought it just meant 'Different' or 'unusual'. I found out that something eclectic is "made up of what is selected from different sources."...Now, would the Mixed Media Painting by latienditadelmix in my header photo be considered 'eclectic'?!...I say yes! Cute AND 'eclectic! :-) But what about these items?!

A Tea Cup Ring by AnniePants.

This Beanbugs Art Print (Coffee beans I think! LOL) by dwitt75. {Which also begs the question: If it's a really true statement, does that make it more 'eclectic' or just more TRUE?! LOL}

And if the answer is 'YES' to the art print, then the answer 'HAS' to be 'YES' to this Coffee Pots Cushion Cover by maleenaevedesigns, right?! ^_^ ...

...Or this REALISTIC WOMEN Painting by evakuklica.

And how about this? Is this 'Eclectic'?!

It's a Geometric Floral Abstract Wall Decal by decalart...'Eclectic' or not, you probably could figure out why 'I' like it! The word 'floral' probably gave it away! ^_^

I'm sure this Art Deco Designed Necklace by Tapestry Beadwork would be considered 'Eclectic'...and beautiful! :-]

And last, but not least, I found a shop on Etsy, called WimsyDoodles, that puts a twist on something that I would consider 'cute', 'different', 'creative', and 'artistic'...but that some other people would consider 'eclectic'! Look!!!

You can even find a glass with these cute little 'babies' on them!! LOL

Believe it or not too, this shop doesn't have one sale yet!! I found it in the Pounce section. (New shops on Etsy without a sale yet.)

YAY!!! My journey through the question of 'Eclectic' is almost done!!

^_^ Couldn't help adding that one!! The visual was even better than whether it was considered 'eclectic' or not!! It's a Quilled Graduation Card by SweetSpotCardShopLD. {And it's description says 'unique', by the way! :-] Another word I like very much!!}

Now, I have been known to have some 'Eclectic' tastes myself! In music, colors, fashion, and in my choice of entertainment...In other words, I'm a little different from the average 50 something year old. :-)) I can use words like 'cool' and 'arthritis' in the same sentence, and sometimes interchangeably! And I can get into a deep movie like 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and a few minutes later watch this!!! LOL


Does that make me 'Eclectic' also?!! ^_^ At any rate, I know it makes my blog an 'eclectic' place!....If for nothing other than the amount of times I've used the word 'Eclectic'!!!...Have a good day Everybody!! :-)

And, Oh Yeah!...The winner of the Giveaway today, after shaking the box up, and shaking it up again, is...

Congratulations Cindy!!! You know what to do!!! :-) ... The new Giveaway, starting today!, will be posted tomorrow!

Eclectic Tastes

I've got eclectic tastes.
Yes I do! That's what I said!
I'm not afraid of being different,
Country raised and city bred.

If it's pretty, then I'm in,
but just as fast I can be out,
because I don't like what the hoopla
about some things is all about!

I think different can be cool,
in many colors, not just white.
And not just worn by 'one such person',
with a body shape just right.

It's good to have 'eclectic' tastes,
and to just be who 'you' are!
But be careful, because 'eclectic'
quickly can become 'Too Far'!!