Life is way to short..............

I have come to the conclusion that life is just too darn short to write with an ugly pen!

Glad I bought all my pens before this financial crunch. I can be perfectly happy with a tablet and a good pen.....I can write and write and write!

In the long run, much cheaper than all the art supplies and dolls I was collecting and truly more fulfilling to write a friend to say "I am thinking of YOU today". After all, everyone needs a warm fuzzy hug.......especially nowadays.

I love pens so much and I have many and they all do something different for me. I have no favorite one in particular (I suppose) but I have learned one thing throughout my buying spree. You can get a really good, smoothe writing pen without spending an absolute fortune. I never would have believed it but it is true. I gravitate to my Pelikan Future pen more often than not. I only paid $25 for it and it is as smoothe as a baby's butt. It turned me 'on' to fountain pens. I recommend it to anyone who wants a nice writing experience. Mine has a Medium nib. I also like the Lamy pen for $30 and it has a fine nib that I 'smoothed out' and it is great as well.

For the more spendy ones, I find I love all of the Pelikan Pens and I get them from
printhardcopy on ebay and his name is Bill and he is in Singapore and have had many wonderful dealings with this gentleman. He frets until that pen is in your hand. Excellent man to buy from. I have had nothing buy wonderful dealings and emails from him. He is trying so hard to get his business going and he deserves a break.

Anyway, I am so hooked that I have all my pens inked and ready to write at a moments notice. I write with each one daily to keep the ink primed.....even if it is just the alphabet. I will eventually drain and clean them all and only use one or two at a time but I am drunk with power having all these fine instruments to play with. Eventually, I will learn to repair them and have a business of my own. :o)

Well, just writing about my beloved pens has cheered me up today. Last night was such a bummer..................Well, I am off to cheer up someone in my address book.

ELECTION DAY

I remember in days of old.......we would know who our new president was by midnight. Now it may take weeks if it is as close as the last election.

I went to cast my ballot and there were no long lines so I felt very lucky. I wouldn't have missed this election for nothing in the world.

There was only one hero worthy of the office and he got my vote. I was pleased to give it to him, and my trust as well.

My last wishes..........

My last wishes are well known and have been for years. I have never understood why we can't be buried with our beloved pets.........So having said that,

I will be cremated and buried in the back yard here in the "Luhman Cemetery" out back. It is quite lovely actually. All my babies are there and I want to be with them forever so cremation will allow for that. The last thing I would want is to be next to someone for eternity who doesn't care for animals! Perish the thought!

I think I have found a way to beat the system! If I haven't, don't tell me cuz I will go all nuts all over again!! :o)

I am also in my dream house and never want to leave it so maybe I can be here long after I make my departure from this old earth.

Everything else goes to the Humane Society and my church. Easy peasy!

"Eucharistos" (live in celebration of light and love)

So long Summer...............

With the Hurricanes and all, I guess we can kiss our sunny days goodbye and go ahead and welcome Fall. As I walked in the garden this morning it was still bursting with color but soon we will have to bring in the Tropicals for the winter and the color will soon cease. All will be shades of orange, red, chartreuse and gold and then poof the leaves will be all gone and nothing but a blanket of white will greet me when I pull the curtains back. Many long months of all white. Terrible for a Artist!!

I noticed the Golden Finches of summer are beginning to get their rather drab little costume of feathers for winter. Sad because they are like ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. They have been eating so much thistle seed the last couple of days.

This morning as I looked out upon my beautiful little 'secret garden' that few have been invited to see, I noticed on the fence a big, blue, Morning Glory. I thought for sure the dogs had dug them all up but no, they left me one plant. This true blue flower made me so happy. I just can't adequately describe my feelings when I saw my surprise today. I love that sort of surprise, I really do.

So, with the gloom hovering and much to do today I will close here................

I went for a blood test...........

After my routine blood test yesterday we were trying to decide what to do next.....he had taken a whole day off work just for 1 minute of blood letting......

So we thought it would be a good thing to go donate blood at Mayo Clinic. We did and it wasn't big deal at all. I had a good vein and the blood came quickly and when we were done we could sit out front and have fresh baked cookies and juice or coffee or whatever we wanted. They were so nice to us and gave us little gifts of tee's and pens and things like that. We helped 6 people just with our little donations. Felt good and hope it helps someone, truly. That is what is most important.

Later he took me to a salon and I got my first acrylic nails. What a fun thing to watch! I could do that all day long I think. I love the detail work and it reminds me of making temporary crowns years ago. Anyway, I have some nice white nail tips in a square shape and now I can't do a thing. I feel totally helpless. Luther! open this jar.........Luther, Open the baby gate........Luther!!! I will bet he will be cussing himself over and over and over for encouraging me to go through with it.

So many pens and so little time

Well, I have gotten in way over my head with the Pen collecting......Thanks to Robb.
I am enjoying all he is teaching me about flex and softness of gold nibs.
I have quite a few pens to choose from now....one for my every mood.
I have fun changing inks and mixing my own colors.
My latest acquisition is a Sailor Pro Gear with a 21K nib. Smoothe as buttah!!

It's Raining Pens Hallelujah....!!

I've gone round the bend this time with fountain pens. No I didn't get a Montblanc and that will most likely take me years (if ever) for that but I did get a Lamy and it is German and Grrr-reat! Then today, I received a cheap $10.00 Chinese Jinhao pen that is one that the dealer said was a smoothe writer or he would give me my money back. Well, how could I resist? He was correct. It is heavy and really weighs in my hand and it is smoothe as butter......AND a definate keeper even tho the Chinese and I don't agree on Tibet!!

Oh My!! It looks like a Montblanc except no snowflakes on the ends. So who really needs snowflakes on their dang fountain pens? Well obviously for the prices they are selling for, some folks just gotta have 'em. (???)

I have a decent broad point Parker on the way and of course my Pelican Souv.600 with double B nib is due to arrive from Singapore. I am up to my hip bones in pens now. All with wondrous jewel tones of ink. I bought good ink for them on Saturday.

I have been writing all weekend. I wrote 4 long letters and was so proud of my pretty letters and envies. Then I just grabbed my journal and wrote all the crazy stuff that was going through my head just to be able to give them all a good workout and loosening up. It was so fun. I wrote the abc's over and over and over again. Crazy but the pens are writing smoother than ever......

I began my drawing class today. I am not sure what the first class is really about so I will wait til someone posts their lesson and see if that makes sense to me. I think it is probably a very easy exercise and I am just trying to complicate the matter.

DON'T BUY ANYTHING FROM HAUTE DOLL.....EVER!!! THAT IS MY ADVICE THAT I AM PUTTING OUT INTO THE UNIVERSE. I HAVE BEEN BURNED BY THEM BADLY AND AFTER WAITING FOR TWO DANG MONTHS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WORD FROM THEM, I FIND OUT THAT SOME OF THE THINGS I ORDERED THEY SOLD TO SOMEONE ELSE. I CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY NEVER CHARGED MY CARD. IT IS JUST A CASE OF FAVORITISM AMONGST THEMSELVES I BELIEVE. WELL... EVEN THO I AM A CHRISTIAN, I DO BELIEVE IN KARMA. WHAT GOES AROUND WILL COME BACK AROUND AND BITE THEM IN THEIR GREEDY LITTLE BUTTS! BITE HARD KARMA MY FRIEND, BITE REALLY HARD!!!

I had Luther call and get on them this morning and tell them that he is reporting them to the Better Business Bureau and they didn't seem to care a bit...NOR did they apologize for their crazy office system. Never again. Not ever!!! Poor attitudes. My friend ordered over $1000.00 in clothing and they did the very same thing to her. We were both on line when the clothing/shoes/wigs became available. There is no way they sold out in the first five minutes. No way! So we are grumbling and spitting fire today. :o)

Last night, there wasn't anything on t.v. so about 10 o'clock we hit the hot tub. We had such a light show out there. Lightening bugs galore! They were out in force like I have never seen them before and I think after they mated they were going around hoping for seconds......Hmmmmm, little horn-dogs they are!:o)

It was so lovely and all I could think of as I sat there watching them and the shooting stars above us was that my God is an AWESOME God. I love you Lord, with all of my being. Thank you for the flowers, birds, trees, stars, lightening storms and every beautiful thing you created. You give me chill bumps daily.

Well, that is my side of the story and I am stickin' with it!!

I am on the hunt again........

Well, one thing always leads to another for me. As I was waiting on an auction for a doll that looks like the Olsen twins when they were babes, I began to research fountain pens and decided I wanted a Montblanc pen. Whoosh! They are some spendy... they are!!

After studying all day long viewing so many diff. sites, I finally decided on a really nice Pelikan Souv. 600 pen (German) because the cheapy one I have, ($25) writes like a dream so I figured if I get way up near the top of the line, I would have myself one smoothe write. Well, a guy in Singapore (with excellent references) sold me one and he was most excellent with e-mails back and forth and he told me this morning that he already mailed my pen this morning. How cool is that? Great service....especially since I ordered doll clothing from Haute Doll and it is almost a month and they still aren't here and they are really close to me in MN. Drat!

Anyway, I would not hesitate to order from him again. He sells pens that go up to many thousands of dollars so my Pen is like ordering a Bic from him!! sigh!! He treated me as good as if I had bought a highly sought after vintage pen.

My goal IS still a real MontBlanc even if it has to be a used one. I just gotta.....!!!

We Survived!!! (P.T.L.!!)

It was totally awesome. Saw many baby ducklings, and some butterflies that I have never seen before....Indigo blue and orange. Wowzer!

We ran into the river bank a couple of times.....barely missed two huge boulders in the river, and were a couple of clowns for a family having a picnic lunch.....sigh!

It was so quiet and serene and peaceful. (Awesome God we worship!!!!)

We were on the 5 mile ride at high noon, it was far enough! I was so slathered in Sunscreen that I looked ready to pop into the oven to roast. I didn't get sunburned, amen! Three of my meds. warn me about not getting into the sun......

I always tease Luther that there are no fish in the 10,000 Minnesota Lakes because it is all just 'melted snow'. No self respecting fish would ever live in that stuff... Well guess what! I was the only one that saw this huge fish jump straight out of the water. It was about 18 inches long....family feedin' size and it had a pink belly. That is all I saw.....and I DID see it....That is my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!

Gonna do it!!

Well, as time is running out for me I want to live my life with even more Gusto.
Tomorrow we are going to Welch and going canoeing. Yep! Me!! I am gonna do it this time. I am all prepared with enough 'skeeter stuff' to kill 'em or make them very very ill atleast! I have my sun hat and my beach shoes in case I fall in and I am planning to take my cheap camera (ahem! in case I do fall in...I am not taking my new camera!) I am told that we will see animals and deer drinking and that sounds good but I am terrified of the tippy boats so I am planting my big butt and will only take pictures if they are on my side of the boat cuz I ain't movin'. So what is the big deal if I fall into 12 inches of water or 12 feet you ask? Well this is Minnesota and all that water is is melted snow and it is colder than a witches tit! I don't want to fall in. As much as I love water, this stuff is not for falling into, trust me!

Next up, we plan to climb the bluff but I am not in shape for that yet. I will get there tho'.

Barn Swallows outside the Casino!!!

Imagine my surprise this afternoon when I saw SWARMS of Barn Swallows building mud nests outside the Casino. ALL AROUND THE CASINO!!! I could not believe their tenacity. People sure didn't bother them a bit. Some were perching above in their mud nests and others were in the process of building a nest one little mouthful of mud at a time. My gracious!! I stood there in sheer rapture. I just couldn't get over it. Normally to see them one must go in a barn....preferably a hog barn. Today, I got to watch them work in the daylight and it was nothing short of fascinating.

I will begin an altered book on birds and trees soon. I am deeply fascinated by both. I have begun to notice all the different trees in our area...and their way of propagating. The Cottonwood across the street is so full of fluffy stuff. Every time the wind blows, puffs of white stuff flies out of the tree looking for all the world like snow! My bedroom window is different every day. The scene changes all the time and I have been glued to that window since we moved in 4 years ago. One day the sky is pink, the next day it is yellow-green and the next day it is all blue skies and puffy white clouds. Everyday different birds perch in them. Have not seen Hawks before or since the one day two of them arrived and sat still for hours!!! That was the day Mom Luhman was buried. I think it was her way of saying that she was with Dad Luhman again and they were free to fly..........

Introducing Goober and Gomer

Look at my babies!!! Aren't they gorgeous? One is more rambunctious than the other and bites a little bit harder....that would be Gomer my first ferret. Goober is a little lamb in comparison. I love them both. I was born to be a ferret mommy. Their personality and my personality really jive! They are little rascals. I keep waiting for them to get big enough to play in the play-pen without 'slithering' thru the bars!

A little homesick.................

I miss 'Old New Orleans' and the way it used to be..... when we felt relatively safe walking the streets. That is strictly no more. As much as I want to go home again I remember the way my heart races when I am there. I am virtually scared S--tless the whole time I am there. Everyone looks scared to me! Afraid of being hurt by all the thugs running wild in the streets trying to take advantage of any and every one. I hate what they have done to my old stomping grounds...... I can go back..... but you can't go 'home' again. That is true. It will never be the city I grew up in and went to school in. Poof! Gone! History! But it was gone way before Katrina.

My mom and dad are buried there and I would like to go and 'visit' with them and spend some time with them in memory. I would be afraid to do that unless I was in a group.

It is such a shame.......I remember when our Grandma would say stuff like in the old days.....well, now I am old because all I can think of my city is 'in the old days....'

Meet our 7th child.....Nameless

I still don't know what to name my new little son. I call him all sorts of things but nothing sticks firmly....yet!! He is just adorable and is such a clown. As time goes by I am sure something special will come to me but for now, he is just mama's baby.

The Hot Tub is here..........

We had to hire a huge crane to lift it over the house but it is here and in the back yard waiting to be hooked up and for us to fix a drink and get in.........
Come on warm weather!!!!!

My 21 classes are done......

I miss my class already. Nice people and loved the lessons Jessica taught us. I think I will sign up for the second part of the 'Love My Journal' class. It is true that I worked on my assignments all-day-long. Nothing is easy for me, I have to really work when it comes to drawing........... I literally felt like I had been doing heavy labor by the end of the day. I would work up a sweat and I would be drained by the end of the day. The journaling daily will be hard for me because after so many years I feel as tho' I have said all I have to say but the drawing will be good for me. This journal is so full of color and will be fun to look at over and over again. I will be looking forward to the Como Park excursion to the flower gardens and the Japanese Tea Garden. Should be fun sketching for me while Luther gets a good snooze. :o)

That's my story...............!

'tis been a long, long, time

Oh my, where has time gone?

I have been taking a journaling class with Jessica Wesolek and enjoying the heck out of it. It is good to be back into my journal again and sharing with others. She is kicking butt with this class and she is making me look at things with new eyes. I want to take her drawing class.... and when I finish this 21 day session, I hope to take the second part.

I just hated school when I was forced to go but now I enjoy the learning process.

The weather: ENOUGH SNOW ALREADY!!!

I think I can hang on until Spring. I have hopes of planting a beautiful Butterfly garden this Spring. I adore them and want to have everything they need right here in our yard. I understand I need a mud puddle and some flat, hot rocks for them on chilly days and that they don't fly unless it is 60 degrees because they are cold blooded creatures. Well the fountain outside is made up of lots of flat stones and I will make them a mudpuddle if that will keep them here and happy! Something tells me that my camera will get quite a workout. I am ready to start a new Gardening Journal because it was my absolute joy last year to keep track of every new thing sprouting up and how it did, etc. Kept me busy all Summer. Soon, very soon, the Hummingbirds will be back and I am all ready for them except for the 'mister' that I am told will help to attract more of them. The experts say they love to fly in and out of it and that they actually drink while doing it.

Come on Summer. My old bones could use some warmth and hot sun for a spell.............
And a Hot Tub would be the icing on the cake!

Until later................

ERASER CARVING.........

Michelle challenged us to carve some erasers or make our own stamps. I have found that the kids fun foam can be fun and kinda funky but I also like to try my hand at carving. Of course, I haven't done anything as intricate as our Michelle. I don't have that sort of patience and that 'fancy stuff' doesn't usually wind up in my journals. Simple images are what I do.

I am not crazy about how fragile the erasers are.....especially after sweating blood to do 'em.
I just have to try everything atleast once.
The cutest one I have seen out there was a 'turnip'. One of our fellow artists had carved one and put 'Can't get blood (red drops on the page) out of a Turnip ( turnip stamp)" I just loved it because it was done at Tax Time. I am sorry I can't give her credit but she moved me, she reallllly moved me! :o)
That's my story...................you know the rest. :o)

Oh woe is me..............

I don't know but some days it just doesn't pay to get out of bed............I think I have a bladder or kidney thing starting up. Pain in front and back and everywhere inbetween. I have neglected the blog, the art, and almost everything else for days and days. So lethargic, and a kinda sad feeling has overtaken me as well. I have everything in the world to be happy about so who knows about this sort of thing really? I mean, the winter here is so dark and gloomy.......all the time. It wears on a persons last nerve! This last weekend is was really warm out....a whopping 42 degrees. Folks were all looking at the plant sections of the stores. Of course it will be well over a month before we can seriously think of planting anything but we can dream. I did put out my nectar for the hummingbirds. I want them to find food as soon as they arrive because they will be so tired and no doubt very thin. "So I am ready babies for you to come home to mama."

The dogs have been so happy to get out the last few days. They kick their heels up and are having a great time out there. It makes me happy to see them run like greyhounds in a oval pattern. The Cresties start it off and the others follow along.

Today on the news this elderly couple were found to have 800 dogs and birds in their mobile home. Lord have mercy, if I keep listening to the news I will get more depressed. I am sure they meant well but it was so way out of hand.................poor animals.....poor people who have clearly lost their minds. Animals are so innocent yet they seem to suffer so at the hands of humans. It just breaks my heart, literally.

Well, atleast I got this far. Maybe the sun will come out and I can get my sewing room finished. I made great headway in there but still more to do.........then the art room. I am going to be throwing stuff out right and left. So much stuff in here that I no longer wish to use. I am packing it all up for the Salvation Army.

Well, that's it til next time..........

Egads..........what is this stuff??

I have some sort of 'crud' that has been ongoing for 24 hours now. Caught me most unexpectedly. No sore thoat, no cough, no tossing my cookies. I just woke up dizzy and every bone in my body ached.....every bone! Even bones I didn't even know I had!!

I am better today and definately getting back to normal with only a little of the dizziness and aching. The hubster has been juicing for me so I have had plenty of Vitamin C in the last two days. I haven't eaten....just sipping stuff all day long. It seemed best to give the old system a rest but to keep drinking fluids.

I had begun to do a new blog just for my art but I made a mistake in the beginning and the printing was huge and no matter what I tried, it stayed that way. I pulled the whole site down and will begin again when I can concentrate better.

Lesson learned: never brag that you haven't been sick this year!!!!!!

I think I should have two blogs...........

Maybe I should separate my private thoughts from my artistic thoughts. I wonder why I didn't think of it earlier. My artistic friends wouldn't be interested in reading about how neurotic I am when it comes to cell phones and my doll collecting. Duh!!! It clearly is two separate things.

I will see if I can set up another blog just for art/journaling, and I will also fiddle around to see if I can get my photographs a bit larger. I have tried but it hasn't worked for me.
I like when one can put small photos that you can click on and they become larger. I don't know how to even begin to do that.......bummers!

I love all my interests with a passion. Please dear universe, don't make me choose my most favorite one because it will frustrate me no end. In everything I do, I do it with gusto.

Yes, two or three blogs........That's the ticket!

So many nice folks stopped by.............

After being so afraid to open up my blog to the public it has turned out to be a nice experience so far. Lovely, new, artsy friends and I am finally flying free! (thank you Michelle)
I have a problem tho'. With seeing so much art on the web, how will I ever know if my art is my own?
This troubles me a lot. I want to be totally original but since I have not gone to a professional art school, I wonder what is mine and what is a mixture of 'theirs' that I see. Anyone else struggle with this?

My words however, and the way I say them, are definately my own.....I have no doubts there but the visual aspects, I have to question. I see something and I want to go do it too. Whenever I take a class locally, I want to do what the teacher is doing....not trusting myself to experiment until I get home again. What she puts on her list is what I want to get. If she uses a stamp then I feel I must use that stamp even tho' I figure I will never use it again. (I HATE that about me!)
I heard (or read) one of the teachers complain about this once because the store didn't have enough of her suggested stamps and the ladies were in a blind panic. She figured they could just choose another stamp but they didn't want to. Has she forgotten what it is like to be so new and still wet behind the ears? Anywho, I digress............
I want to be original and unique. I love birds but everyone seems to be using them. They are what move me and I want to use them but fear my art will look like someone elses.................
Michelle Ward has a strong influence over me. I like many artist's work but I just adore hers. It moves me so much.......the architectual imagery, the birds most certainly and I have literally had a ball using her images of paint splotches etc. I have really used those a lot!
So anyway, I was just wondering if I am the only person struggling with this issue.
When Altered books were HOT, I got into those. So it wasn't my original thought.............
Same with ATC's.........I just had to do those too.............
And then the 4x4 pages. Loved those............still, it wasn't something "I" thought of..............
Do I even have original ideas anymore? I am wondering.............

All I can do right now is just give a big confused Sigh..................

That's my story..........You know the rest........!!

Journaling on the go...............

I am a total Mess in the studio and work on 6 square inches of space.... but... on the go, I must have my supplies NEAT.

I found this case at the Salvation Army store and it was empty at the time. I bought it for .50 cents and brought it home and collaged on the outside and sealed it.

Inside I bought matching cases and even scissors and labled everything so that it would always be neat and easy to find things. If it isn't, I can't journal in public. (I KEEP WONDERING WHAT THEY MUST BE THINKING!)

I mostly just write what I am observing when I am out. I always have my camera with me but sometimes I just like to try to sketch something I am interested in.

When I get home again (and I can get quiet and play my beloved Celine Dion's new c.d. 'Taking Chances') then I like to pull out all my colorful stuff and finish off the page.

If I am on a overnight stay, I have a little watercolor set and some magazine pictures and words and phrases to use.

I can't figure out how to get the photos under the post so if you look to the right side, that is where they are.

I guess I am not a REAL artist........sigh!!

So many dolls.....so why don't they come home to mama??

I can't wait for the day when the Asian Ball Jointed, resin, dolls are mass produced. I have 3 dolls ordered and it will be months before I get them. It is such a slow process, and the language barrier is a bitch. Jeepers, don't they know how very OLD I am???

Anyway, I am about done with the buying. I just wanted to do a diorama of a little nursery. I wanted some sweet kids and one rootin' tootin' fast shootin' highfalutin Fig Newton in there!! You know a fiery redhead with a face full of freckles. I can picture her with a stern look and hands on the hips. Afterall there is always one like that in any group. I found her but can't order her yet.....too many paid for and I am ordered to wait till next month. O.k., I can deal!

The ones I am collecting now are small enough to use doll house sized furniture but they are fatter than the traditional doll house dolls. I hope to get all my photographs into a proper book form at the end of the day. I don't want to die without leaving a 'little bit of myself' behind. I guess I feel a need to prove I lived or something.........since I have no kids. I have art stored away and I would like to have a proper bound book of my work. My photography is getting better and better and I am completely self taught. So, old dogs can indeed learn new tricks! :o)

When faced with the end of your life, don't you find that you are trying so hard to get it all done? I sure do. I have so much more I want to share and do. I feel frustrated that my energy won't keep up. But, God is good. He has richly blessed me with a wonderful furry family, artistic talent and a man to finance it all. Luther
has turned out to be a wonderful husband. The first 5 years were sure 'iffy' but once he got the hang of living with me and the other way around, we are good together.
His strengths are a comfort and I have taught him to lighten up and to HAVE FUN NOW!!
Right now!!! Some folks live like they have years and years and years to get stuff done but we are not guaranteed that time, ya know?

Right before Dad died he told me, "Boo, if there is anything you want to do, do it now, because old age ain't for sissies." I took it literally and began to FULLY ENGAGE in my life and not just drift along..........

Luther and I travel when we want and don't wait and wait. We are storing up many wonderful memories together. I want to do it all with him. I am not one to run with a bunch of little old ladies after my husbands demise. He is my bestest friend always and I want to see and do it all with him.

That's my story............you know the rest!

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN 97!! I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY AND WILL LOVE YOU 4-EVER. LUTHER SAYS I TAKE ON 'YOUR LOOK AND EXPRESSIONS' AND "I SOUND JUST LIKE YOU WHEN I GO ON A TOOT ABOUT SOMETHING.' :O) GOD KNOWS YOU HAVE ME EATING WAY TOO MANY MC DONALD'S PANCAKES FOR YA!!! I AM A BIG OLD GAL THESE DAYS!!)

Will it ever come?

Spring.....I am longing for spring! We have one color going for us at the moment...White! It is pretty but the grey days and the freezing temps. are getting hard to take. The snow we have had this year is not the pretty kind that comes down in big fluffy clumps the size of ping pong balls. No, we have had the dry snow that is so miniscule that I have to put my glasses on to even see it. It just looks sorta foggy but it is actually snowing. I really like the wet clumps for the fluffy stuff. It mounts up quicker and it is heavy to shovel but it is so pretty when it comes down. Seems to defy gravity as it comes down so slowly.

The dogs are tired of being all cooped up in the house for so long. They want to run and romp. When I let them out now they come in with snow packed into their feet and get it all over the house. Spike has no hair so it is really miserable for him out there but we dress him up well and send him on out too. The little Yorkie Tater, we don't let him out. We are afraid the eagles and hawks will snatch him up for a meal.

I long for my song birds and the beautiful flowers and the butterflies........I love Spring up here in Minnesota. Things 'jump' out of the ground so grateful for some warmth and sunshine again.

I hope I live that long.................

Well, what goes up MUST come down.............

I was high as a kite for several days. So hyped up by my ebay deals and messing up with my meds, I just couldn't seem to sleep. I would crawl into bed at 3 or 4 a.m. only to toss and turn.
All that ebaying and bidding and buying.........wore me out!
Finally, it made me sick. I had a headache and felt just terrible all day long yesterday but today I think I might live afterall.

I cannot take stress....good or bad. Happy stress is just as devastating to my health as the bad sort. I don't know how to live an even-steven kind of life. I am high as a kite or depths of despair it seems. I have been tested by a leading psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic and I took the test he gave me answering it all truthfully. He didn't think that I was bipolar at this point but it sure seems so. He did say I have a problem with anxiety and I know this to be true. The meds. I take may have to be 'tweaked a bit' to even me out but I am a gal that cannot tolerate boredom....not for long anyway. If it gets too boring I will stir up some trouble.

Anyway, it all caught up with me yesterday and I used the day to catch up on my rest.
The dogs were very good for me. Didn't bark at all until my feet hit the ground. I was so proud of them. Somehow, they knew I was sick. They just knew and that is what is so great about dogs. They know stuff because they are so attuned to what we are all about and our habits etc. Without anyone telling them they were quiet as little mice. (Highly unusual for 5 bored dogs!!)

Luther is very understanding.....which is why he is called 'Saint Luther'. That boy is gonna get lots of stars in his crown in the hereafter for the way he has cared about all of my needs. He is most excellent! (Love you babe!!)

The house is paid for. Praise the Lord!!!

We had our former home all paid for and it felt soooo good. Then, after having that nice contented feeling for a while we got a bug up our butt to go look for something more modern. Naturally we bought a house that was easily twice as much and it was kind of a struggle to pay that note every month and still allow Bonnie to shop for dolls, ya know? :o)

Luther's mom passed away and left all her kids some money. As much as he doesn't like having a credit card balance....I didn't want him to use that money to pay off 'MY' bills (I mean, afterall, that wouldn't be right!) and that darn credit card is all my doings, I have to 'fess up to that. So after talking it over, we felt mom would be happy to know that Luther has that huge house note off his back. Now he can breathe easier once again and retire if he wants to. He doesn't want to retire and frankly, I don't want him to because for some unknown reason to me he likes to 'hang out' in our kitchen....not doing much......just hanging around in there. I find him in there all the time. :o) Our kitchen is the size of one you might find on a boat. There is no room for him in there unless he is washing dishes!!! So, he feels lighter now and I know it would make Alice happy to know it and I honestly miss her. No one tells me how to live my life anymore and frankly, I feel a little bit 'off kilter'. I find I think of her more, and even 'mentally' ask her advice. (She would be so happy with that!!) I really do miss that old gal. She was quite sweet to me in the last few years. Once she got used to the idea that I was a 'very strange creature' but I absolutely ADORE her kid, we got along fine. She was losing her eye site and was feeling frustrated a lot. She experienced no pain at all but was really tired a lot of the time and I think ready to go be with Dad. She went to be with Jesus in the nicest way. Marla and Linda came to her place and took her to the dining hall to eat. They left her there and went home again to Rochester. She finished eating and just went to sleep in her chair. Just like that, she was in the arms of her Lord. Her faith was strong and we knew she and daddy were together again and that is the way it should be when a couple are married for such a long time. That is the first thing I will ask the Lord about. Why oh Why does he allow us to be separated like that? To my way of thinking, there is no more frightening thought than being alone on this old earth.

So, Mom, give daddy a hug and keep an eye on us and let us know when we aren't doing the right thing. This time I will listen. Oh and Mom, thank you so much for taking us to the Selah Concert. It gave me a peace that passeth all understanding. If you hadn't done that, Luther probably wouldn't have gone with me and that would have been such a shame. It nourished my soul. Hugs to you mom, and thank you!(Please keep an eye on Glenn. Travis is doing to him what Luther's boys did to him only Worse!! Poor Glenn)

Come on Spring..............

I have had enough of winter. At my age, winter and I just don't get along. I am sore and stiff from the cold days and the grey days are really beginning to get me down. I strictly try to avoid anything that will make me sad....so...... In order to not look at the greyness outdoors, I am FORCED to get on the computer and look up stuff to buy. I mean, I just gotta or else I will go nucking futs!!!

I have my eye on several things for my little 'dioramas'. I have two dolls ordered, a question left on another and waiting for her to tell me if she has it in stock and another one that I really want badly but they don't have them ready yet. COME ON SPRING....... before I wind up in the poor house!!!

Once the flowers come up and the birdies begin to 'hang' around and sing for me once again and my darling Hummingbirds return to me, I will be just fine. My ever present camera will be in hand and there will be photo ops. out the wazoo.......Ahhhh yes, I will be a happy camper once again. (So will the hubster cuz I will be leaving our bank account alone.)

When I am not perusing my beloved e-bay, I like to read my favorite blogs. Michelle Ward always gives me a creative jolt every single time and she causes me to go looking for grave dirt from Paris, bless her gizzard.....and..... sweet, gentle Nina always makes me feel like there is atleast one other sensitive person on this earth and therefore I feel somehow less alone. I never miss their blogs. That is a MUST everyday....there are a few others I visit once in awhile but this blog thing is a real hoot. It is lovely to read what is in someone's heart. Some are serious, some are funny, some are Arty, and some just breathtakingly beautiful. I am glad I decided to step into the 21st century afterall. And as I always say...... that's my story and I am stickin' to it................

Another dang birthday....but what's the alternative????

Since I am about to celebrate another year on this planet I decided to do a little scene with my Kish girls. I collect Re-Ment products and they are just so addictive. They come in little boxes and it is my understanding that they are traded with others that collect them in Japan...(much like our baseball cards). The food items etc. are so detailed that it is just awesome and you find that you want to collect them all. The Kish girls are having a birthday cake and pizza. The Re-Ment and doll collections are beginning to outnumber us and we are considering adding a wing onto the house.
Well, that is my story and I'm stickin' to it!!!

Hot Dog! I am in the 21st Century now!!

I don't know how I managed this on my own but I finally have a blog. Just what I am going to do with it is anyone's guess but it is like my cell phone, I have it but probably won't use it. I see folks out walking around talking on their phones and I can't figure it out....I mean....Why would I want to talk to anyone while I am eating, or reading in the park or shopping for groceries. Man, I just want to do my 'particular thang' and not be yakking whilst doing it. I don't get it. I go to the grocery just so I can get away from the darn phone.

So I am into the 21st century but I guess that I am just going to tippy-toe into it and not rush in foolishly. :o)

The only thing I have to say today that I really want to put out into the big wide world out there is if you want to buy a DVD that will knock your proverbial socks off, go and get Celine Dion's 'A New Day'
Talk about a lot of bang for your buck! It is her show in Las Vegas and it has lots of behind the scenes stuff as well. It is so wonderful that I cry the whole time. She is just the most marvelous entertainer that she brings tears to my eyes. Her new CD "Taking Chances" is also wonderful. She really gets to be herself on this one and tries all sorts of new styles and things with her voice. One song reminds me of Janis Joplin. It is a miracle that she doesn't ruin her voice. Anyway, I told the hubster that in case of a fire, grab the pets and I will grab the wedding album and Celines DVD. Well, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!!
Till next time folks..........................