Are You Thinking Pretty Thoughts Today Too?!

(Water Lillies Photograph by LovesParisStudio)

      I know! That sounds like such a ♫ 'woo hah' ♫ kinda question. ^_^ But why should I be the only one with my mind all ♫ 'woo hah' ♫ around here?!...And anyway, you may not admit it, but I KNOW you guys have had days when you were nervous about something that was about to happen...like I am this morning...and your mind just wanted to think pretty thoughts. Right?! O_O

       I have to do an interview about some financial benefits this morning, and with my "friend" visiting and having my mind all scrambled sometimes, I'm slightly worried that I'm gonna be asked my name and I'll say: "Refrigerator" or something! LOL

       So, I need to think pretty thoughts...and the best place to get a lead on some pretty thoughts is on Etsy! :-) ...and in my head, when I'm composing poetry. Just saying. ^_^ More about that in a minute!...As I was saying...pretty thoughts....Etsy...

 (Enameled Butterfly Necklace by GinisBoutique)

       Can you get much prettier thoughts than water lillies and butterflies?!...I think not! :-) ...Well, maybe if you added a fabric and paper flower pendant in 'Forget me not' blue, you could!!...

 (Kangas)

      Oh Yeah! I've got the pretty thoughts flying now! ^_^ Now, all I need is a little color and I'll be set!...

(Rainbow Crochet Circles Necklace by KhinsBoutique) 

       I think I'm ready now....Bring on the questions!! ^_^

      Oh yeah, before I go, I wanna share a little bit of a poem that woke me up in the middle of the night last night. It's only two lines. Two lines of inspiration that sent my mind on a journey of pretty thoughts about 'life'...I titled the finished poem: "A Thoughtful Life". I'll share the full poem with you tomorrow. I really don't have time right now. I need to finish my breakfast, relax myself, wrangle all of my brain cells together...in the same place! Ha! Ha!, and get ready to focus! LOL

       Have a good day, Everybody! :-) ... And here are the two poetic lines to my poem that woke me up last night:

Outer beauty has a short shelf life.

Inner beauty has a long pantry life.

If I Can't Have Hummingbirds........

(Ceramic Bird Feeder by EllensClayCreations)

      Here I was this morning looking out into the backyard at the rainless lawn and the leaf-filled tree where my hummingbird feeder used to hang...Yep! It had to come down. And not because of the neighborhood boys either!...It was the ants! They started taking the feeder over again....and we haven't even seen a hummingbird yet!...Bye, bye, hummingbird feeder!...I "DO NOT" want to start with the ant and wasp war again this season!!!! No! 

     But does that mean that I don't want to see birds?....No! It absolutely "DOES NOT" mean that! I definitely wanna see some birds!...besides my ever-present backyard robins, cardinal, blue jay and mockingbird I mean...How about some chickadees, nuthatches, or finches! :-) ... And wouldn't they be fun to watch coming to a pretty feeder like the one in the header photo!

      I'll have to give that some thought later...Today I'm all about maps and flowers! :-] Maps, because I'm working on some mapping in my spare time, helping to make some territory easier to access...Flowers, because...

(Alligator Skin Jasper Necklace by BlingbyDonna)

       ....Well,...because I'm always about a flower. Always! ^_^ In fact, that's all I've been doing lately, is crocheting flowers!...In a minute I'll show you the newest flowers I made last night. But first I wanna show you the two treasuries a couple of my items were chosen for!

      

         One was "Oh So Pretty For The Princess"...

      

          You can click on the treasury to go over and check out all of the different items and the shops they came from...My "Reasons To Smile" poem was what was chosen for this one...

(Wuglyees)

        The other one was "Purple Haze"...

         And one of my crochet flower brooches, my lilac purple brooch, was chosen for this one!...

        Thank you, very nice treasury makers! :-)

     And that brings me to the brooches I made last night. :-] I made a couple of crochet necklaces in the same vein as the above brooch...more petals. Instead of ending with the usual six outside petals, they have nine!...

        It's still not that big though. It's just a little bit bigger than 2 inches (5.1 cm)...

       I made two of them, in two different shades of purple.

       And with two different buttons...

       In the photos below, I laid them beside one of my 'Wuglyee' boutonnieres, so you could see the difference in the sizes...

      If I was listing these flowers as fast as I was making them my shop would be so full you'd have a hard time finding your way around in there! LOL In fact, I have a whole bag full of boutonnieres and necklace flowers that need to be photographed and listed! O_O

      It's not gonna happen today. That's for sure!!...I got my "Friend" visiting this morning...UGH! I guess the last time it visited, when I thought it was gonna be the last time it showed it's ugly face around here again, "wasn't" the last time!! O_0 The only good thing about it showing up, finally, is that it explains why I've been so exhausted, sleepy and hungry the last few days!...I mean I've been starving from the minute my eyes opened in the morning until my eyes closed at night!

      It was starting to worry me a little because, contrary to popular belief, I don't think about food that much, and lately it's been on my mind ALL DAY LONG!!...ANNOYING!!!...So here's hoping that this visit REALLY IS the last one!!! ^_^ ... Sorry fellas, sometimes a girl's gotta talk about what a girl's GOTTA talk about! LOL I'm done now though! ^_^

       Have a good day, Everybody! :-)

Contagious Annoyance

Are annoyances contagious?
Yeah, you heard just what I said!
There was one thing that annoyed me;
Then somehow it seemed to spread.

I was annoyed at my computer,
at my stomach, and at me;
Annoyed at why my written-worded
brain cells seemed to flee!

Annoyed at my 'To Do' list
never seeming to get done.
Annoyed that going shopping
wasn't nearly as much fun.

Annoyed at family members,
and at hubby's 'helpful' glee.
Annoyed at Blogger-dot-com,
and it's not letting me be me!

So, come on everybody,
Please! Today, 'throw me a bone'!
Just peacefully leave this annoyed
and crazy girl alone!        

Some Things Going Down...Other Things Going Up!

(Vintage Gas Station Pump Photography Print from MollysMuses)

       How nice, right?!....for drivers anyway! They said, on the news this morning, that the gas prices are lower than they were a year ago right now! And that they would be ten cents lower by next month!...or at least, that's what I think they said. O_O I could've been dreaming.

 (Color Matte Print from TiffanyDearborn)

       If I wasn't dreaming though, and the news is true, there's gonna be a lot more action at the gas pumps from now on! ^_^ And hubby will be right in the mix!...He's been fussing and complaining every time he filled the car up recently. Maybe a little less being shelled out of his pocket will make him happier about having to ride all over the place on job hunts!

        Speaking of job hunts, where are all of the 'full-time' jobs at?! O_O It looks like everyone wants part-time help, without offering insurance!...I guess that's the way it goes nowadays! Everybody is trying to cut over-head....even employers!

      The fight for hubby's unemployment pay is still on-going...*sigh*...We're answering everyone's questions...and waiting.  Hopefully we'll find out something soon. In the meantime we're taking it a day at a time.

      Hubby has been buying newspapers and combing the "Help Wanted" sections....which don't usually have much. And he's been going to the 'job center' in our town regularly. They post when new jobs are available, and they have classes to help you with things like...how to use a computer...how to write a resume...how to present yourself on interviews, and stuff like that.

      They have a class on 'how to use the computer' next month that hubby says he thinks he's gonna go to. He hardly ever uses the computer for anything here at the house. And usually I'm the one trying to help him out when he does....and you "know" I can't answer all of his questions!! ^_^ I'm amazed that I kinda sorta know what I'm doing on the computer myself most of the time!...with the few things I know how to fiddle with I mean!...And those are things I learned mostly by trial and error.....LOTS of error! LOL

        I do have a 'wheel-house' that I "do" know about though! ^_^ Crochet!!...Speaking of which, look at what I found in my stash the other day!...

       It's a purse I crocheted, sewed the handles onto, made and attached a brooch to, and then...put it aside to take pictures of and list later. And later never came!...

     Oh! If you only knew how many scarves, brooches, etc.... that I've done this very same thing with!...*shaking my head*...I get excited about the making of stuff...but not excited about the picture-taking, listing, and promoting of stuff!

       I'm not gonna list this one still. I'm giving it away!! ^_^ Hopefully the recipient will be happy when they get it...And off I go to make some more 'Stuff'!!! LOL...Have a good day everybody! :-) And if you have to drive anywhere.....go ahead! It's a few cents less...and a few miles more for all of us!! ^_^ ...I'm not driving anywhere, but I might take a spin around a poem or two! :-)

Living Are The Words

All Poets through the ages,
from Poe to Maya Angelou,
have known the power of a word
and what the written word can do.

Words, alone, or in a sentence,
camouflaged or on their face,
are living breathing things,
occupying time and space.

Left within the mind
no one can hear them swear and curse.
When you release them by your speech,
their jab can go from bad to worse.

A complement is like the carving
of a golden apple's peel.
Falling gently on the hearer,
making shiny words a meal.

Cutting words are like a dagger
seeking out the mind and heart.
of the innocent and sure.
Pulling confidence apart.

Living breathing, in and out,
causing havoc every day.
You could be their vehicle.
So, be careful what you say.

Let good words inhabit spaces,
(which inevitably they do.)
And in receiving minds and hearts?
Let them flourish in there too!

Who?!.......ME?!! O_O

(A Rainy Day Photograph by gigileonard)

       It's here!!!!....Rain!...I knew it would get here. I could feel it in my bones. Ugh! That's such an old lady thing to say...But guess what?...I'm an old lady! LOL...And I'll go you one better! My bones also feel like snow is on the horizon. And guess what?!...UGH!...It may actually snow here today too!!! O_O

      I couldn't believe it when the weather man mouthed the words "snow showers", talking about our forecast for today!...And here I was dreading the rain!...That'll 'learn' me!! LOL...Oh well, at least I have the memories from this past beautiful weekend to hold me over. :-)

      MOVING ON!!...

(Framed Cooks)

           ^_^ Okay.....NOW I'm moving on!!...{But if you're not quite ready to move on yet, and you want a delicious looking soft polenta with tomato sauce recipe for comfort, head on over to Framed Cooks blog! Just click the above photo}

        Usually I'd be roaming around Etsy...

 (Custom Name Letters by HookUUpCustomCrafts)

            ...and sharing with you all kinds of creative items handmade by all kinds of creatively talented people! :-) ...but not today. Today I'm going to show you what I've been doing!....Is that wrong?! O_O Do you have some days when you just want it to be about YOU?!...If not, please be patient with me for today, because I'm about to show off my latest crochet necklaces!! ^_^

       Not these!...These (above) are boutonnieres! ^_^ I know it's hard to tell the difference sometimes as to 'what is what' with my flowers, without me telling you! ^_^ That's because, really...with a little change of a button, comb, necklace, or pin...most of my crochet flowers can be altered to use any way you want!

        But I was a crochet flower making fool the last few days! And here's the ones I've taken pictures of so far....* rainy weather is great for taking pictures in...F.Y.I. ^_^ *...

          I love the midnight blue turquoise thread in this necklace!...And I love the vintage car button I put on it! I've been saving it for a very special flower...and I think I found it!...Hey! Cars are not just for men, you know! :-)

         It's less than 2 inches across (5.1 cm)!...All that wonderfulness in such a small place! LOL

        But turquoise blue was only one of the colors I was working with!...

         All of these will be listed in my shop some time this week...rain or not! ^_^ {If you're interested in purchasing any particular one, just let me know and I'll list it right away for you. All of the necklaces,...some being priced because of the rareness of buttons and materials,...will range from $13.00 to $18.00 dollars.

      If you're a regular jewelry wearer, you may not have given 'crochet jewelry' that much of a thought! But I'm here to ask you to!! ^_^ You can wash it even! How often can you say that about your jewelry?! ^_^

       And the colors and buttons you can accent your outfits with are endless!...

        You can go cream colored, with a touch of brushed gold on a button...

      Or go tangerine, with a rare tennis rackets button!...

       Or go tangerine AND gold...

      And yes, I'll still be making boutonnieres too! Especially when I have such interesting buttons to show off on them! :-)

         Phew!...I really 'have' been crocheting, haven't I?! O_O And these aren't all of them either! These are just the ones I've photographed so far...I'll be sharing the others as I list them. But for today...that's enough of me...talking about ME, I mean! LOL Even though you know...because I wrote a poem about it!...how much I Love Me! LOL

"I Love Me!"

I love me.
I love the happy me.
I love the fact of me.
I love the silly me.
I love me.

I love the confident me.
I love the cooking me.
I love the sexy me.
I love me.

I love the cuddly me.
 I love the caring me.
I love the beautiful me.
I love me.

I love the supportive me.
I love the sporting me.
I love the giddy me.
I love me.

I love the quiet me.
I love the talkative me.
I love the pensive me.
I love me.

I love the sensitive me.
I love the thoughtful me.
I love the world, with me.
I love me.

I love the patient me.
I love the stylish me.
I love the smiling me.
I love me.

I love the creative me.
And the one who created me,
because he helps relate to me
why I love me.
And I do love me! :-)      

Some Days Don't Go As Planned...And That's A Good Thing!

(Ceramic Planter by NelsonStudio)

        When hubby and I saw this planter we both fell in L-O-V-E! ^_^ The love was for two different reasons though. Hubby could imagine one of his porch plants in it, and it scaring off the neighborhood boys! LOL Although, knowing neighborhood boys, it would probably just make them more attracted to the yard! ^_^

      I looked at it and saw my own reflection. This is the face I made... ^_^ ... when I heard what the weather report was gonna be for our area yesterday.....RAIN! UGH!...I knew then and there that it was gonna have to be another day of painful balancing acts....just like Silke's squirrel! LOL...

 ("Metamorphosis", Silke's Blog)

       {She did a great blog about her bird watching...

          ...and the little squirrel had to get in on the action. You should go and see all of the other beautiful birds that she saw in her yard. --> HERE <--}

      But guess what?...The rain never came! :-) In fact, it was one of the most beautiful Saturdays that I've had in a while...

 (Paris Graffiti Heart Photograph by TheParisPrintShop)

           ...and not just because of the weather!...Here's how my colorful...

 (9-piece, Wood Circles, Set by AmyGiacomelli)

           

 (Full Spectrum Granny Square Crochet Blanket by babukatorium)

             ...rainless...

 (Granny Square Crochet Parasol by babukatorium)

          ...Spring Saturday...

 (Modern Nature Fine Art Photography Print by domatoma)

       ...went! :-) ...

 -- Hubby made me breakfast in bed...Honey Cinnamon Oatmeal with peaches and scrambled eggs!...and with a promise to make me a cake later.....which he did! ^_^

-- I finished crocheting, and then listing, my latest crochet necklaces! :-) ...

          {If you're interested in purchasing them, you can click on the photos of them and it'll take you to my Wuglyees Etsy shop so you can purchase them.}

-- Hubby and I watched a few episodes of the new show about driving instructors teaching "last chance" students how to drive....WOW! O_O It almost makes you afraid to go out on the road again, considering the kind of drivers that are getting their licenses!! LOL But it "was" entertaining to watch from the house...with the poor instructors in the cars hanging on for dear life! ^_^ 

-- Hubby and I had a nice lunch together, including home fries that he insisted on making himself. I was scared. O_0 ...but they came out great!...YUM!

-- I got square #10 from "Jo" {Blooming Lovely}, and, since I was having such a leisurely day, I worked it right up!...using some of my gray yarn...

          It worked up really easy...although these are time-consuming stitches to do, the back and front loop post stitches...

         It's a really pretty pattern when it's done too! :-]

-- I did a little bird-watching myself, in the backyard......and on Etsy...

(Hand-Painted Garden Bird Purses by lazydoll)

-- I conducted a Bible study with a really nice lady. She's a good student, and she kept me on my toes with some of her thoughtful questions yesterday. :-) ...I love questions!

-- Hubby and I did some laundry.....watched "Storage Wars" and "Parking Wars" (You see the theme here?! ^_^)...had a nice cheese chicken dinner.....with cake for dessert...and went to bed!.....This wasn't my first time going to bed, of course. I'd taken my usual nap earlier also. ^_^ ...

(Granny Square Mini-Blanket by CastAwayCollection)

        It was a very good day! :-) ...Today has already started off in the same vein. Hubby made grits, eggs and bacon for breakfast. And we had a giggle-fest of conversation about the new bacon-flavored ice cream at "Burger King"! ... O_O ...Yep! Bacon-flavored ICE CREAM!!!

     There will be no bacon-flavored ice cream in my plans today! Ha! Ha!...But there will be flowers!...

(Felted Pink Rose Brooch by Baymut)

       ...I'm working on some more crocheted necklaces. Here's hoping today is as poetically of a nice day as yesterday was. :-) Mine....and yours!....Come on rain! Don't you wanna hold off for another day?! I've got things to do!!

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.