Nuptial Treasury...With Candy Mushrooms!

 (Nuptial-Etsy Treasury by Leslie of elbowsdesigns)

      I apologize 'right off the bat' to those of you used to reading my blog before 9 a.m. in the morning. I'm VERY late today! O_O And I'm not even gonna try to hide why. I slept in...a long, long, long time!! And that's because I took a nap yesterday afternoon that went for about four hours, having me waking up almost at 10 p.m.!!

      Then, after I woke up, I couldn't go back to sleep!... O_O ...until around 1:30 a.m. that is! UGH!...Soooo, here I am at this late hour this morning, trying to write something on the blog...and wipe the sleep from my eyes at the same time! LOL FORGIVE, please!

     Anyway!...I'm thankful to Leslie, the curator of the treasury that's in the header photo today, because without her treasury to share with you I might've been here talking about the details of how to wake your sleepy body parts up after sleeping too long! ^_^ Go ahead...'YOU' say thank you to Leslie also!! LOL

       I'd also like to thank Leslie for sharing my little mustard colored crochet necklace!..

 (Tiny Mustard Yellow Button Flower Dangle Crochet Necklace by Wuglyees)

     It's been in the back of my shop, underneath all of the back-stocked items I can't seem to move! :-)) She brought it out and showed it the light of day! :-) ...Speaking of light of day!...Look at the time!!!!!...Gotta go. But I'll be back tomorrow...more awake hopefully!!! :-] Have a good day, Everybody! :-) And click on the treasury and go check out the 'cool' items Leslie put together...like the candy mushrooms below. YUM!!!!!... WARNING though! Browsing through this treasury might keep you awake! ^_^

 

(Edible Chocolate Cluster Candy Mushrooms by andiespecialtysweets)

Logging All My Blogging

What will I talk about?
My camera's ready all the time!
Seems that everything's a subject,
whether ridiculous or sublime.

I upload all my pictures;
Head my post with one I like.
Put the title in the spot
that makes my story come to life.

Then I start the easy part,
talking til my face turns blue!
A little humorous bit of 'ME'!
(Is this what other bloggers do?)

After all my work is done,
and all my photos fit right in,
Then I hit to "Publish Post",
Well, first a "Preview", and a grin.

All that's left is constant checking.
Does anybody even care
that I'm nervous what they think,
and that my heart's all just 'Out There'?!

In the end, I have to like it!
Because it's done, won't hit "Undo"!
It's all fun and being me!
I leave the comments now to "YOU"!

How Do You Feel About Nurses?!

(Nurses Nurture 8x10 print by TrulyVeraDesigns)

           YAY!!! Strike up the band!...Jump for joy!!...Slap yo mama!!...Tell the fat lady she can sing now!!...I'm still alive!!! LOL....What?! Too dramatic?! ^_^ Okay...Okay! It's not that big of news. But I am happy to report that even though the nurse tried to turn me into a contortionist...and a human pincushion...I survived the medical tests!! :-)

(Polka Dot Tomato Pincushion by SeaPinks)

       That was not fun, Y'all!...But that's no surprise to anybody that's ever had to have blood drawn and fluids taken...and who would rather have had tea in a silver cup, finger sandwiches with shrimp sticking out of the side of them, or a hammer to the head at swift speed!!..ANYTHING would have been better!...ANYTHING!!! LOL

     Oh Well, it's done!...At least this round is done....YEP! One of the tests may have to be repeated later...*sigh*...but I'm hoping not! I'll have to wait for the results of the blood-work I just had taken.

       The positive thing out of all of this....and YES! there was something positive... :-) ...is that my faith in nurses was renewed once again! :-) I love nurses! They make it 'all better' somehow with all of the smiles, chitter chatter, giggling, sincere sympathy, nurturing demeanor, hands-on comfort, and attention to detail. I felt thoroughly cared about, and cared for. :-] 

(Nurse Nurses Text Saying Medical Bandaids Bandaid Embroidery Design 3 hoop sizes by Dave7867)

      Nurses should be getting paid doctor's wages...just saying!!...They have to 'make happen' everything the doctor is too chicken to tell you that he's making them do, and explain all of the details of what the doctor told them to do to you!! ^_^ And they're the ones left to try to explain 'why'...without being disrespectful to the doctor, or showing their annoyance that they're being made to do it!!!...Oh, the conversations nurses must have about doctors and patients after they leave them!! LOL...Whatever!...They sure never let on while they're contorting and sticking you!! LOL

     On a personal note, I had to be stuck 'A LOT' yesterday! O_O By the time the nurse left me I had band-aids on my left arm, on the back of my left hand, on my right arm, and on the back of my right hand too!...which was where they finally were able to get blood from me! O_O It was a painful, slow process. But at least they were finally able to get it!...That needle seemed to be growing bigger and bigger with every new stick!!!...You ever have a baseball bat injected into your veins?!...YIKES!...NOT fun!! :-))

(Baby Hedgehog Wrist Pincushion by FunCreationslab)

      
     On a really good note, the nurse said my temp and oxygen levels were normal. And although my blood pressure was a little low...Yatta Yatta Yatta and Blah Blah Blah...there was nothing that will stop me from singing, writing, or crocheting...So I'm good! ^_^ In fact, after I un-pretzeled myself and was able to chat with the nurse, she seemed quite pleased with my overall health!...Or she might've just been saying that because she wanted to calm me down because of the inquisitive "Am I dying" look on my face! LOL

 Only time will tell if the doctor is as happy with me too!... :-) ...after the results of my blood and fluid tests come back! So, the story is "TO BE CONTINUED"! :-)

 (Lavender Scented Hand Warmers by MyCuteIdea)

        For now, look forward to chatty 'ME', up to my usual silliness! ^_^ ...Okay, enough about me. How are you?!!! :-)

Tired
 
Sapped, low,
weary, slow.

Dragging about,
plum tuckered out.

Fatigued, spent,
No power surge sent.

Depleted, drained,
almost empty-brained.

Pooped, sucked dry,
out of gas, can't try.

Exhausted, fried,
 done in, mopey-eyed.

Tired? There's no doubt!
'Cause I'm all petered out.

Short And Sweet...And Thinking Elegant Thoughts!

 (Vintage Silver Teapot from gardenofsimples)

      Okay...it's a facade! I'm not really feeling all that elegant this morning. What I'm feeling is anxious...and nervous! O_O The 'elegant' thing is my way of trying to move my mind past the reality of the medical tests I have to get done today! :-) So far it's working!

     So, my post is not gonna be a long drawn out one today...and stop clapping!! ^_^ I just need to sip elegantly on some green tea with lemon, and wrangle my mind to a state of calm, so that all the poking, prodding, and sticking that's about to happen won't seem so bad. :-) Can you feel my pain?! ^_^ If so, wanna take the tests for me?! LOL...I didn't think so!

(Digital Art Print by hairbrainedschemes)

      If I'm still alive tomorrow, I'll tell you all about it! LOL

Balance

You teeter totter, in the middle,
Lean a little, OOPS! You're off!
Now you know that you're not balanced,
and you hope the ground is soft.

It's not easy to achieve,
and once you have it, to maintain.
In almost every part of life
our balance is so hard to gain.

You have to balance your emotions,
how you eat, and how you spend.
And when you're balancing your checkbook,
try to keep a level grin.

Staying somewhere in the middle
takes a conscious, careful touch,
because it doesn't take a lot
to go from balanced to 'too much'!

So try to keep a balanced eye,
 a balanced plate, and balanced life.
Keep your feelings all in check,
and minimize the stress and strife.

And don't compare your sense of balance
 to your neighbor's...you're alone.
Because your neighbor's also trying
to get some balance of his own!

A Quick "SHOUT OUT" To All The Snoozers!

 (Sunshine Snooze Eco Felt Owl Phone Cozy Blackberry iPhone Case by HappyFelties)

      Have you ever had one of those mornings when you just DID NOT wanna get up?!...One of those mornings where just 20 more minutes felt like it would be the difference between a 'good day' and an 'awful life'?! LOL...

     ...One of those mornings where you did'nt care how uncomfortable the position your back or knee was in...you just needed a FEW MORE MINUTES?!...

      

 (15 x 22" Snoozing, Framed Watercolour by barbarafarren)

     ...One of those mornings where you knew your brain wanted to get up...because it kept repeating the same dream over and over where you were trying to stop from going to the bathroom in all manner of not appropriate places...but you STILL don't wanna get up yet?! LOL...

(Vintage Sandicast Lil' Snoozers S73 Yellow Labrador Retriever by gunnelclifford)

 

    ...One of those mornings where the alarm snooze button's going off for the third time sounds like someone playing heavy metal music and dragging their fingernails across a chalkboard, but you don't care!..because you're still not ready to get up?! ^_^ ...

(Park Snoozers 8" X 10" Photograph by mljart)

    ...One of those mornings where, in order to get yourself to rouse, you had to remember that Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are playing a LIVE championship tennis match in a few minutes, and if you don't get up you're gonna miss it? O_O ...

(Snoozing Puppy Vintage 1980s Lidded Box from Kultur)

 

    ...One of those mornings where reality and dream world meet...and reality drags your 'snoozy booty' up!!! LOL...
 

(Pudgy Snoozing Owl - 6x6 Acrylic Painting by momentofstars)

     ...Well, reality...and some grits, bacon, eggs...

       ...a cup of sweet honey and lemon green tea!...

       ...and PANCAKES! :-) ...

        Yeah, that did it! I'm up now! :-) It's Pancake Sunday!!!!!! ^_^ Have a good day, Everybody!

My Brain, My Brain

My brain, my brain just does
what it wants and when it wants!
Some days, all of the positives
is what it flips and flaunts.

It triggers really fast,
and all my brain cells start to meet.
It stores all kinds of things,
and it just runs long, without feet!

It fires happiness,
is organized, remembers well.
But then that "Bing!" will come
as if someone just hit a bell.

It slows and starts to ponder.
And what it ponders isn't good!
Those days it might as well
be just a solid block of wood.

Can't remember what to do,
or worse, what it already did;
Thoughts are scattered everywhere
and all my memories are hid.

Yes, my brain, my brain just does
what it wants and how it wants!
My job is staying with it,
and responding when it taunts.

Did You Know You Could Do That With A Pecan?!!

(Sterling Silver Pecan Necklace by GurKimel)

       Now, I've done some things, in my day, with pecans. Georgia pecans to be exact! :-) That's where I'm originally from...Georgia. Pecan trees lined the streets in some areas in Georgia!

      That being the case, Georgians were required to not only love pecans, but to bake with pecans, eat pecans off the ground after their outer husk had fallen off, toast and eat pecans with a little salt and water sprinkled on them, and put pecans on top of ice cream and all manner of stuff good for the belly! :-)

       Okay...maybe it wasn't a requirement exactly! But considering the amount of pecans we ate when I was growing up, people might've thought it 'was' a requirement!! ^_^ 

      But one thing I've never done with pecans is make jewelry out of them! That's why that gorgeous pecan necklace in my header photo caught my eye! :-)

      Anyway!...I have pecans on the brain today because I've got to make something with these...

     My girlfriend, whose parents moved down to Georgia a few years ago, gave me these delicious pecans she got from her parents! :-) ...

     I've been eating a couple at a time, here and there. But I haven't eaten many because getting the meat of the pecan out is a process!...A painstaking, sometimes-hurt-my-fingers process!...I have to crack the shell, remove the inner woody pecan meat dividers, pick out the pieces of pecan with a nutcracker spike, etc. The only part that's not hard about the process is the chewing and the swallowing part! LOL
      So, I've got to do the time-consuming, painful, work of making something good to eat with them soon though, before they dry up and be no good for the 'chewing and swallowing part'! ^_^ So I went onto Etsy to get some ideas for what I should make. And, as usual, there were lots of pecan laden ideas...starting with my favorite, cookies! :-) ...
 

(Granny's Chocolate Chip Cookies With Pecans by OldTimeFavorites) 

       But then there were pralines...

 (Old Fashioned Southern Pecan Pralines by WildwoodGifts)

      ...an 'au natural' idea!...

 (Handmade Spiced Georgia Pecans by WildwoodGifts)

     ..an idea with a little 'kick' to it!...peach preserves and peach liquor!...

 (The Georgia Peach Cream Truffle by ChocolatbyAdamTuroni)

     ...An idea with a marriage of dried dates and apricots...

 (Apricot, Date and Pecan Biscotti by earlybirdcafe)

    ...and an idea that involved some Belgian chocolate! :-) ...

 (Pecan Caramel Chocolate Turtle Clusters by NicolesTreats)

       Let me just say, it's not gonna be as easy a process as clicking the "Add To Cart" button and ordering them, but my house is probably gonna be smelling pretty pecan good!! :-) ... But not today!

     Today I'm gonna just keep myself calm and pain free! It's been a pretty rough week for me...And having the television full of the chase to find the second suspect of the bombing incident in Boston...which, by the way, they did find and arrest him last night...hasn't done anything good for my state of calm!...It wasn't near where I live anyway. It was a couple of hours away. But it was the only thing on the local television stations most of the night!!

    My television was off this morning!...I plan to do a little crocheting and make some phone calls, and nothing else today! NOTHING!!! :-] What are you doing this weekend?!...Have a good one, Everybody! {By the way, the poem below is in reference to my upcoming medical tests that are 'upcoming' waaaaay too soon! LOL}

I Wish I Could Wave Off The Time

I wish I could wave off the time
the way you wave off a fly about to land.
Just 'poo poo' appointments I'm dreading
with a flick and a wave of the hand.

If only the time went unnoticed,
like 'extras' on some movie set.
One shot it's as if they were coming,
the next shot they've not gotten there yet.

I'm dreading the phone calls and chatting,
as if time has somehow just stood still.
I wish I could wave off the ticking,
and hours of quiet to fill.

I know soon the day will be over.
The consciousness is in this rhyme.
Still I'm dreading the fact that it's coming,
and I wish I could wave off the time. 

Foggy...Boutonnieres!

    As you can see, my backyard is not smiling as much today. It's wrapped in a bit of fog and cloud at the moment...but whatever! I'm still good! ^_^ I got my sun yesterday!
 

     I almost didn't noticed what was going on out there this morning anyway! I woke up and immediately hit the books!...I'm finishing up a talk for my meeting. I've been putting it together in my head for days, and I finally had to put it down on paper...so to speak. :-] I actually typed it out on the computer.
     The subject matter is 'will people of all races ever truly be united as brothers and sisters'. I put all of my thoughts and scriptures together already All I have to do now is make sure the timing is right. I have five minutes. It's a lot of information to shrink down to five minutes, but I'm on it!! ^_^

       I won't be going out of town for my 'virtual date' tonight, so I'll have time to work on the talk some more. I've got another appointment this afternoon that's keeping me close to home...And I've got more crocheting to do too! I showed you the start of this boutonniere yesterday...
 

     It came out pretty cute! :-) And all it did was encourage me to make more!!! LOL...
 

     Yes, I know I'm gonna have to stop making them eventually! ^_^ But right now the possibilities seem to be endless as to color combinations I can try!! ^_^

      In fact, I have some three-color combinations still on the table that I haven't tried...like this navy blue, turquoise, and olive green one! :-) ...
 

     Hey! I have to see flowers somewhere!! :-)) 

    That's all I got today, people! Fog...a talk...and more flower boutonnieres! ^_^ What do you have?!...I hope whatever it is, that it includes you having a good weekend! ♥

It All Went Away In A Fog

I dreamed I was writing my blog,
in the middle of an old Irish bog.
There came a woof! woof!
and the pounding of hoof,
and it all went away in a fog.

The next night I was out for a jog,
and again heard that same old dog!
I took off down the street,
hid in golden high wheat,
and it all went away in a fog.

I awoke eating just like a hog,
having wine with a spicy cheese log.
Giving numerous naps,
and the dog all my scraps,
it all went away in a fog!

I'm Determined To Smile Today....DETERMINED!!

         Yes...I'm sure you've noticed...that things over the last week or more have been testing my ability to find something to smile about! Yeah!...But today I am determined to smile....DETERMINED I tell you!! :-) And hopefully you'll be smiling with me at the end of this post. :-)
       The very first thing I found to smile about was the view out of my window early this morning...I saw sun!! :-) And to make it official, and not be the 'oopsy' that burst my 'sunshiny-determined-to-smile' bubble, I turned to the weather report. Yep! it's official! We're suppose to get up to 64 degrees of sunny skies today! YEAH!! :-) 
      I think the plants and flowers around here got the memo about the sunshiny skies too, because look!!...

      ...there are...all of a sudden!...little buds opening up on the trees!...
 

       ...and can you see them in the distance?!...

        You may have to click the photo to enlarge it so you can see them, but there are two little yellow flowers growing along the edge of the woods!! :-)...I could've gotten hubby to go out and get me some close ups of them, but that would've delayed my breakfast! ^_^ And since I'm actually keeping solid food down now, and I'm hungry!...I opted for my breakfast instead! LOL
        Grits, sausage, scrambled eggs, and cinnamon raisin English muffins!...

      ...and green tea, with honey and lemon, of course! :-) Breakfast wouldn't be totally something to smile about without my tea chaser!!
 

      Now, here's a little Etsy to smile about! :-) ...

 (Dreamy Blue Cotton Crochet Shrug by Starknitting)

      I know that I don't have the little shoulders, or physique, for a cute shrug like this one, but somebody out there does!! :-) That's enough for me to smile about...and enough for me to show it off so someone else can smile about it!!

     And this red and white twine made me smile......just because! :-) ...

(Red and White Bakers Twine by pixelspluspaper)

      I could almost see my packages wrapped up with it!...presuming I ever sell anything else! O_O ....DELETE PAST COMMENT!!! I'm keeping it positive...and smile worthy today!! :-) Speaking of which...

     ...I'm working on a couple of new boutonnieres today!...
 

     This one is gonna have a coffee brown center, with the rest of the flower being in this soft very light topaz color...
 

     I'll show you the finished result tomorrow. That way I'll have something to smile about tomorrow too! :-)

    As a footnote, my thoughts go out to the people who lost loved ones in the Boston Marathon explosion, and the Texas plant explosion this morning. :-( ...*sigh*...The news is really making it tougher and tougher to find things to smile about these days!...But I will!!!...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.