Sometimes You Just Need A Representative!

(Handcrafted Wooden Owl Bookend by graphicspaceswood)

       "I'm up! I'm up!"...Thank you Mr. Owl, for helping me express exactly how I'm feeling this morning...Awake, and kinda looking forward to the day...Although Mr. Owl isn't showing the aches and pains I'm having!...Good thing! Some things should be left to old ladies! ^_^

     Mr. Owl also can't express how little time I have this morning...so I will. I have sooooo little time this morning! LOL I've got a friend coming over early, and after that, a lot of crocheting to do...if my fingers hold up! :-)

      I did find a couple of cool things to share with you from Etsy though. One being these really cute embroidered hoops...

 (Decorative Wooden Embroidery Hoops by ClassicByNature)

        I 'do' love a bird, ya know! :-) Even my book of poems in my Wuglyees Etsy shop has birds on the cover. :-)  

       And if you've been reading my blog for any length of time you also know how much I 'do' love a good bag! :-) Especially one with a lot of compartments!...

 (Felt Bag Organizer by samorga)

      And since I started the post with an expressive representative, I'll end the post with an expressive representative....

 (Vintage 1980s Hand Painted Resin Tortoise Figurine from madlyvintage)

       I'm like Mr. Tortoise on my way out....Slow....tired...but full of possibilities for what lies ahead for the day...as long as it doesn't come at me too fast!! LOL Maybe I'll just take a little quiet time this morning, sitting and pondering, before I get it started. Sometimes, when your mind is full, you just have to do that!...Have a good day, Everybody! :-)

Sitting Quiet

I love just sitting quiet,
letting silence be my friend.
I'm not afraid to be alone,
and hear my breathing out and in.

With no T.V. on, or music,
just some thinking done, with me,
In a world where quiet reading
is now called "activity".

There's no reason to be scared,
or to need all kinds of noise,
to create some kind of chaos,
or to look for games and toys;

Just a quiet low lit room,
where I ponder my life course,
where I think of plans ahead,
but no thoughts I have to force.

Just me, still, and sitting quiet.
Nothing altering my mood.
No smoke wafting at my sinus,
no one mad or being rude.

Can you turn off all the gadgets?
Can you hear your own-self sigh?
If you cannot take the quiet,
You should stop and wonder why!

It's That Time Again!...Treasury Time!

(Faceted Wall Clock by RawDezign)

      In case you were wondering...No! My fingers didn't fall off from crocheting yesterday! ^_^ In fact, I'm kinda in a groove with it!...Some would argue that I'd 'better' be in a groove with it...or else stop trying to sell boutonnieres! LOL

     The only bad thing about being in the boutonniere making business is that when your girlfriend calls you long distance to see if you can make her two blankets...like the one you made her as a gift for her wedding 13 years ago...you have to say: "Uhhhhh... :-( ...I'm sorry, but I don't have time to stop and make a blanket...or two...right now. Maybe when things slow down in the shop, but not right now...Sorry. :-(" ... She's gonna call me in a couple of months to see if things have slowed down then. She needs another blanket for herself, and one for her brother, who I think she said was retiring.

      Hubby said: "Maybe I can make the blanket for her...in a little while...when I get more practice...and speed." ... :-) ...That's what I said...NOTHING!...I just smiled...*Looking left and right*.....Shhhhh! YOU!....Blog reader!....Shhhhh!...*whispering in your ear*...Even though he is doing great on his scarf, I didn't wanna tell him that my girlfriend didn't wanna wait until the cows came home...^_^ ...or until 2085, when he would be better and faster at crocheting, in order to get her blanket!! Ha! Ha!...Okay....you can back away from the monitor now!!...Back it up!!! LOL

      Okay, moving on! :-) ... I'm having breakfast and typing as we speak...conserving time! :-) I've got a lot of crocheting to do today! Thankfully, I did all of my studying for our weekly  meeting yesterday. Today, after breakfast, and after I finish this blog post, I'll be able to focus all of my attention on boutonniere making, boutonniere photographing, and boutonniere listing in my Wuglyees shop! :-) 

     Before I take off though I wanna show you the pretty Etsy treasury that housed that pretty clock in my header photo!!...The treasury is entitled black rose...

     And yes...Galina did include one of my items in her treasury!...and it was a boutonniere too! :-) ...

 (Men's Tiny Basic Black Crochet Boutonniere from Wuglyees)

      And a couple of my favorite items from this treasury are...

 (IPad Laptop Desk Tray by EJbutik)

 

(Poncho with Felted Pattern by bluetwinkie1)

      Pretty, right?!...And if this was the only treasury I had to share it would be great!...but it's not! ^_^ 

        I also wanna share this new treasury by Mary, entitled "Crushed"...

        She included my gray, black and yellow headband...

 

 (Wuglyees)

       ...and these cute items too!...

 (The Argoflex Seventy-Five Messenger Bag by BucktoothedBunny)

 (Fence Bokeh Love 8x10 Fine Art print by Lori411)

     Okay, People!...Treasury time is over! :-) Now it's get-your-'oughta-be-crocheting-already'-fingers-back-to-work time!! LOL...After a little Thursday poem of course! ^_^ ... Yes, I know it's not Thursday. But everything else in the poem is true for us right now, except that it's Tuesday, not Thursday...so I'm sharing it anyway!! LOL...Have a good day, Everybody!!

 Thankful Thursday

The week is almost over.
That's one thing I'm thankful for.
Let me think about it,
'cuz there must be plenty more.

I'm thankful on this thursday,
that I have nowhere to go,
'cuz my husband will be home
and we're expecting loads of snow!

I'm thankful that there's tennis,
every morning around 3.
Australia's time is different
and sleep's always aluding me.

I'm thankful for new projects,
custom orders yet to do.
And thankful I crochet,
and knit and write a little too.

I'm thankful on this Thursday
to appreciate my gift;
And appreciate other people's,
and receive a little lift!

Yes, I'm thankful on this Thursday.
Also thankful, let me say,
that's this poem is not endless,
'cuz I'm thankful every day!

So Cool!...I Just Had To Share! :-)

(Book Art Sculpture by PaperStatement)

       Hello!!...I'm already off to a fast run this morning, so all I have time for is to show you this pretty paper...in the header photo....Yes! It's paper! :-)

     It's books sculpted into art! :-) It's also 'made to order', so you'd have to communicate with the shop owner about the details. I just thought it was pretty...and so cool!...and I just had to share it! ^_^

     The other thing that I think is so cool, and I just have to share, is my husband's scarf!! :-) ...

     Look how good he's doing?!!! :-] ...

     It's so soft...and his stitches are surprisingly uniform!! ^_^ I feel like a proud mama bird!! LOL

      I'm also a 'busy' mama bird!! I have custom orders to fill today, and a bunch of boutonnieres to make for the shop. {I sold a ton overnight!}...I also, more importantly, wanna get my week off to a good start by getting some 'spiritual food' up in this head!! ^_^ So I'm gonna get some reading and studying done before I get my fingers flying with that crochet hook!

       Hubby is sitting beside me crocheting. :-) .....Now there's a sentence I NEVER thought I'd see myself writing!....EVER!!! LOL...Have a good day, Everybody! :-)

Sometimes

Sometimes you expect a little 'This', and you get 'That'.
Sometimes you will wave away some dust, but it's a gnat.

Sometimes it's an image in the distance that's right here.
Sometimes all the straining isn't worth the things you hear.

Sometimes you will find that 'pretty bad' has got a perk.
Sometimes a vacation is the thing that you call work.

Sometimes conversation meant to heal can go too far.
and sometimes on reflection you are happy who you are.

Sometimes poetry can be so random, and yet deep.
And sometimes it's, upon reflection, thoughts you ought to keep.

Pancake Breafast Sunday...With Flowers!

(Vintage Metal Diner Tin Sign from vintagemetalart)

     Happy Pancakes day! :-) ...Okay! There's no such 'actual' day...for most people. But, in the 'Wug' household, that's what today and every Sunday for a while is! So humor me a little, will ya! LOL...I'm tired, and in pain (don't ask!.Ugh!), and pancakes sounded like a good way to lift my spirits, take away pain, and help me get a nap that I'm sorely needing. I've been up since around 2 a.m.!!...Hormones.....UGH!

    While hubby is toiling away over a hot skillet, I'll show you some of the flowers I made since yesterday...

      None of these are online yet. I may get them in the shop (Wuglyees) later today, after my meeting {at the Kingdom Hall.} I got side-tracked from listing them by having to re-make some sold boutonnieres {my basic colors are selling as fast as I put them in the shop!}, and by having to work on a large custom order that has to be listed for sale today also.

     Oh yeah...I was also side-tracked by watching tennis. ^_^ The Australian Open. The truth be told, I'm thankful that's it's on really early in the morning here. Otherwise I'd be up, all wide-eyed and in pain, twiddling my thumbs and looking for bad stuff to eat!! LOL...Bad stuff not meaning pancakes! Nooooooooo! Pancakes...on Sunday...are 'good'!!! ^_^

     'Bad stuff' would be my craving for 'Cape Cod' crunchy sea salt and vinegar chips!...or dill pickles wrapped in ham and cream cheese...or a box of Russell Stover's nutty, chewy, crunchy chocolates!!...*drooling*...YUM!....Nope! Not gonna have any of that!....I'm gonna have pancakes with a side of fried ham steak....and a nap! LOL

 (8x10 Photo by sundaykind)

      What are you having good to eat today?!...Are you having pancakes?!...Here's a recipe for you...I can't remember where I got it. O_O If someone knows, tell me so I can give them credit...

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 The Best Buttermilk Pancakes

You'll need:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 ¼ cup buttermilk, shaken
1 large egg
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a small bowl, measure out the buttermilk. Add the egg, melted butter and vanilla extract; beat until thoroughly combined.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, being sure to not over-mix. The batter should have small to medium lumps.

Heat up your griddle (or cast iron skillet) over medium heat and brush with 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Scoop the batter, using a 1/4 cup measure (or tablespoon measure), onto the warm skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until small bubbles form on the surface of the pancake, and then flip. Turn heat down to medium-low and cook on opposite side for about 1 minute, or until golden brown.

Transfer cooked pancakes to a baking sheet and place in oven to keep warm. Proceed with the rest of the batter until you're done. Serve with warm maple syrup.

Pancakes are easily modified, too. For heartier pancakes, consider adding ¼ cup whole-wheat, buckwheat, rye or barley flour, and decreasing the all-purpose amount to ¾ cup. If you'd like them a bit sweeter, simply add one to two more tablespoons of sugar. If you'd like to brighten them up, fold in fresh lemon or orange zest. If you're in the mood for fruit, add blueberries, raspberries or strawberries; instead of adding them to the batter—which will result in them sinking to the bottom—add them to the pancakes on the griddle.

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      And have some flowers with them too! :-) ... ENJOY!!! ... And have a good rest of the day, and weekend, Everybody! :-)

Have a good weekend!

Spend some time with your kids,
do the errands you been meaning to do,
do a little grocery shopping,
maybe make a chicken stew.

Organize your messy space,
clean the closets, throw things out,
watch a little mindless T.V.,
and replace the bathroom grout.

Take a walk around the park,
play some board games with your friends,
maybe even cut your hair
(but just a little bit, off the ends).

Take a trip to Grandma's house,
do some gardening in the yard,
give new projects a little finish,
but nothing that might be too hard.

It's the weekend, after all;
It's your week's tail, at a wag;
No need for scurry, hurry, rushing.
No! You want this time to lag!

Here Is Proof....!

(Australia Paint Splashes Map Art Print by artPause)

       For our 'Virtual Date Night' last night we wanted to go somewhere colorful...and warm! And as we do every year around this time, we headed for...

 (Melbourne Australia Map Pendant Necklace by PAPERandPLACE)

     ...Australia! :-)

     Why Australia, you ask?!...Well, it could have been the fact that we heard that they were having really hot, hot weather, and our weather here in Holyoke Massachusetts is anything but hot!...Or it could have been because of the song that keeps playing over and over on every commercial...♫ "I wanna know....I wanna know what you knowwwwww....I wanna go....I wanna go where you go when you're gone!"

       ...Or it could have been because we wanted to be able to sit somewhere quiet that had lots of crowd noise, but we could still be focused on our crocheting! ^_^ With the really good matches finally playing at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament, Australia seemed the best choice for a date!! :-) 

      I won't bore you with the details because...because I've done that before... HERE. LOL But trust me....there was a good time had by both of us! :-) Maybe not as much fun as I had yesterday, watching my husband so intensely sitting and crocheting!! ^_^ ...I have proof too!....Shhhhhhh!...

        I took these photos while he was deeply concentrating. :-] He didn't even hear the camera clicking!!! LOL Later, when I showed him the photos, he was like: "Hey!! When did you take those?!!!" ^_^ ... He gave me permission to share them, even though he's in his relaxed muscle T-shirt and he hadn't shaved. Just imagine him as his handsome self in a suit and tie and cleanly shaven....that's what I'm gonna do!! ^_^

     Okay...I've got some phone calls and letter writing to do! Have a good day Everybody! And if I don't catch up with you...have a good weekend too! :-)

 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!!

An Apple For The Husband Teacher!

(Apple Shaped Cushion/Soft Toy by studiomeez)

                I have always known that I had an irreplaceable love for my husband. :-] Here is why...because nobody else has ever laughed at my silly jokes as hard as him...Or has eaten all of my 'trial-run' recipe dishes (even when I wouldn't eat them myself! LOL) with more of an adventurous spirit...Because nobody has ever 'put me in my place' in the most loving and 'in-my-best-interest' way...Or has supported my creative endeavors with as much gusto!...

       Because he has listened to every poem, and read almost every blog post I've ever written...over a thousand now!! :-)) ...with a smile on his face and a giggle of understanding...And has held my hand through the hardest times of my life, and gave me a shoulder to cry my sobbing tears into!....And....and.....and..... I could be here all day!! ^_^

 (Set of Two Cozy Coffee Mug Coasters by DanasDarlingDesign)

       But last night I found out that there is another layer to my love for my hubby that I didn't even think was possible to achieve!...What level could that possibly be 'Wug', you ask?! O_O Well, the level at which I, with my sometimes loud and aggravated, but always loving and supportive assistance, taught him how to...at his request!... crochet!! :-)
      Yes...he did!! :-) He asked me to show him how to do it!...

        My first thought was: 'Uh Oh! We are gonna be fighting in here in about an hour!' LOL And truth be told, about an hour into the teaching process I was SURE the fight was about to follow in full force!...But it didn't! :-] He totally humbled himself, bowed to my extensive knowledge of this particular skill, and let himself be taught! :-)
      When he finished a row by himself, and there were 'NO' mistakes (slipped stitches, double stitches in the same stitch, uneven extra loops and knots that I had to pull aloose), he smiled, let out a yelp, said: 'I got it!! I got it!!'...

          ...and then he gave me a high five! :-) ...a 'correct' high five too! (If you don't know it...there is an incorrect way to do a high five. I wrote about 'his' previous wonky high five on a post on our 'couple' blog a while back. You can read it HERE.)...and I fell deeper in love with him. :-)
      It's so great seeing him 'understand' what I do...and loving it! :-) Watching his wide-eyed excitement as he saw his scarf coming together....yes! It's a scarf! LOL...or it will be...around 2017 or so! ^_^

           ...kinda reminded me of when I was younger and was watching football with my brothers and dad. For the life of me I couldn't understand why a bunch of full grown men would run and jump into a sweaty pile every time the guy in the striped shirt blew a whistle!! LOL
      It took my brothers deciding to stop laughing at me...or ignoring me altogether....and, instead, to teach me the rules of football to make me come to a true 'understanding' of the game. When I realized that the advancing team had four chances to move the ball down the field ten yards...and that every time they got to the ten yard marker they got four more chances for the next ten...AND that the guy in the striped shirt was the referee...I smiled, let out a yelp, said: 'I got it!! I got it!!' and gave my brothers a high five!! ^_^
     That began years of football games with me calling out flagged plays before the referee did...with my brothers and dad starting football conversations with me...and with a lot of loud Sunday afternoons at our house. :-)
      I suspect that it won't be as loud in the 'Wug' household now, with both hubby and I mentally, and intensely, focused on getting our crochet projects done... :-) ...but love?...Oh yeah! The love is deep and with full 'understanding'! :-) And the layers are building up more and more every day! :-)

           As a side note...as I was doing this post this morning a story came on 'Good Morning America' about a little notebook that was found outside in a 'Walmart' parking lot. Two little girls had lost their notebook full of over 150 'rules to live by' that they had made up. :-)

    The two that really gave me a smile were: 'Don't bite the dentist' and 'Don't color on people' {apparently they had a little sister that was in the habit of coloring on people! Ha! Ha!

    What's really cute about the story is that now that the 'Walmart' employee has gotten the little notebook back to it's owners, and the story has made the world news, they now have an publisher ready to publish their book! ^_^

     My sweet husband, after seeing the story, said in an annoyed way: "Hey! You write poetry! Why isn't a publisher coming to put your poetry in a book?!!"...Yep! Just one more reason for me to love him. :-] And one more reason to go somewhere fabulous for 'Virtual Date Night'! :-) Yep! It's Friday!!!...Have a good day, a good night, and a good weekend, Everybody!! :-)

What Is Love?

Love is doing the 'Loser Dance',
when your spouse beats you playing cards.
Love is flowers for no reason,
and a date, on the fridge...thats starred!

Love is saying that you're  sorry,
when every fiber says 'You're Right'.
Love is wearing your wedding band,
though you've  gained some weight and its tight.

Love is wearing cologne and perfume,
though you won't  be leaving the house.
Love is buying a top at the store,
'cause he'd  like the feel of the blouse.

Love is thinking of each other,
and then picking the phone up to dial.
Love is remembering it all,
and writing a poem, while you smile.

Coffee...Oranges...Banana Pudding...and Snow!

(8x10 Coffee Coffee Steamy Brown Print by artnewfaux)

        Ohhhh....coffee! I could sure use a cup this morning! I woke up with sleepy eyes, an ache in my body 'to beat the band', and this view (below) out my window...

      It snowed throughout the day yesterday. O_O Now the backyard has a blanket of the 'white stuff'. And it looks like we might have some ice on top of it this morning. I don't know for sure because...I'm not going anywhere near it!! LOL 

      Hubby will just have to tell me about it when he gets back. {He has to go out in it to get water for us this morning. (We drink bottled water...more for taste than anything. I don't like the creamy tasting water with the chlorine smell that we get through the pipes here at the house...except to cook with.)}

      Just looking at that snow makes me want a hot cup of coffee...and a vacation to sunny Hawaii! :-) I'm only gonna get one of those things today though...it's not 'virtual Friday' yet! ^_^

      I can get oranges though!...and you can too! Look!...

     It's a whole Orange treasury! :-) It was curated by Carla from KnitOneBead2...She included my latest necklace...

(Crochet Rose Shell Orange Yellow and Gold Flower Necklace from Wuglyees)

      Thanks, Carla! :-) ♥ 

     I also wanna share some oranges with you...oranges from the treasury I mean. :-) ...

 (Orange and Aqua Reversible Baby Booties by Molipop)

 (Fireball-Needle Felted Necklace by jessijewels)

 (Red heart Boutique Treasure Yarn from crochetgal)

(Orange Red Bikes Photograph by Raceytay)

      You can click on the above treasury to go over and see the rest of the orange shops if you like...Me?...I'm gonna move on to banana pudding! :-)

      Banana pudding, 'Wug'?!....Yes! Banana pudding! ^_^ My husband made some yesterday...between doing....Oops! I almost 'let the cat out of the bag'!! LOL I'll tell you all about what he's been doing tomorrow! ^_^ Right now I just wanna show you his banana pudding!...

      Have you ever had banana pudding?!...If so, you'll be able to see right away that hubby's banana pudding is not 'from scratch'. It's missing the bowl that shows you the layers of pudding, bananas, and vanilla wafers that normally go into a banana pudding. Well, honestly, it's missing the layers all together...and it's missing the real bananas too! LOL What can I say... 'From scratch' is up 'my' cooking alley, not his! ^_^ ...but even so...it was pretty good!! :-)

     He made it with a box vanilla pudding and a store-bought graham cracker crust! Look at him, being all creative!! ^_^ He's being creative in other ways too! :-) ...Tomorrow!...Tomorrow!...I'll tell you all about it tomorrow!! ^_^ ...Okay, that cup of coffee is calling me! ^_^ ... Before I go though, congratulations to crochetdyverse! :-) She was the only one to comment on my 1,000th blog post yesterday...and therefore the winner of my framed poem! :-) ... Just waiting for the shipping info and it'll be on it's way to you!! (I left you a comment about it on the comment you left yesterday.)

      Okay....talkie, talkie...OUT!! ^_^ Have a good day, Everybody! :-)

Reasons To Smile

I don't really need a reason,
to let out a great big grin;
But I do from time to time,
just to exercise my chin.

Sometimes I do it just to see
what reaction I will get,
in the places where I've gone,
and the people that I've met.

Sometimes it's just for me!
To amuse some silly thought;
Or to show just how excited
I have been at what I bought.

Sometimes a smile can change my mood,
when weather forecasts make me blue;
Or when I see a baby playing!
Oh yes! Oh Yes! I smile then too!

Truth is, I really don't need a reason.
Frowns, just frankly, aren't my style.
I could sit and write about it,
But even that would make me smile.