I love Vera Lane Studio………can ya tell?

If only I could go back in time…………...

I found this wonderful little gal's blog and I just love going there. She does the things I would like to do but now I am too darn old. At my age I can't be running around with green hair ya know. I have this aging thing going on now and it wouldn't be becoming on me, but it sure is on her!

She has tattoo's and has brilliant colors  in her hair. The healthiest head of hair that I have Ever seen. It shines like diamonds.   She dresses so cute and girly.  Has a wonderful dog and a couple of cats and I just love fellow animal lovers. It is a bright spot in my day to check in and see what adventures she has had.  She has a wonderful collection of things as well. I love fellow collectors. (I. get. them!) She collects teeth and skulls and globes of the world.  I have to squint when I get to the skulls 'cuz they make me weak in the knees…and not in a good way. :-)  She is a fascinating young woman to me.

She rides a bea-u-ti-ful bike on a regular basis and finds fantastic places to take pictures of it. I love that idea.  She gets to see a lot of graffiti in her city.  I know a lot of older folks don't appreciate that kind of thing but I saw it as art and I love it…not the really foul stuff…..but good art.  Language doesn't bother me but I have seen some really bad stuff and it isn't for public consumption.

She and her friends visit and photograph deserted bldgs. and places and I find that most interesting as well. I think my favorite was an old planetarium. She took beautiful pictures there. It reminded me of a photograph I took that everyone loved. It was a church still in use that was covered in ivy or something. Just the red door was free of it.  I wonder what the congregation thinks of it.  Anyway, it is most unusual considering it is still in use!

Well, I have to do better with this blogging thing………I love to write so I wonder why this is so hard for me.  Maybe it is because I write everything in my journals and don't have much else to say in this place.  Maybe I am just lazy.

Isn't it wonderful when you find someone you really admire?   I admire the heck out of you Kayla.

Kerry is Sadie Sadie Married Lady!

What a good day for a wedding.

My best friends daughter married her long time boyfriend today. They have been in love for 12 years. (No one can accuse them of jumping into this marital bliss thing!)
Her friends used their cell phones to take pictures for those of us who couldn't attend. (Lovin' this 21st century!)  I met her mother (and much needed best friend back in 1985) It was the height of Princess Diana  and the Paparazzi's total love affair with her.)  We were working in the church library together at that time. I called her and told her I couldn't come in on the wedding day because I was getting up at 3 a.m. to watch all that was happening over in England.  Oh how I loved the whole thing. All the pomp and ceremony……and that first public kiss.

Many years later, I sat on the fountain in front waiting for the opportunity to see the Royal Family(Diana was separated from Charles) come out to greet the public.  We waited for hours out there. I saw the Queen! (and all the lesser Royals) Diana's boys were so young back then. The Queen was turning 70 at that time…………

Anyway, I digress, Kerry was always with her mom (and other adults) so she was a kid in which you could sit and have a real conversation.  We called her my adopted daughter.  I remember when she got her first bra and she will kill me when she reads this!  She gave this grown-ass woman her very first Barbie Doll. :-) I introduced her to the Ballet and we both collected our favorite dancers toe shoes. Then we would get on the phone and discuss the shoes and try to figure out where the injuries were. They would leave pieces of brown paper toweling in the toes of the shoes and other things used to make them more comfortable.  Oh those were the days……………….We LOVED our worn out toe shoes.

I took her and her BFF to one of the Disney movies that they were bringing back to the theater for a brief time, and before the movie they were showing R rated previews that were totally unsuitable for little girls of 10. I read the management the riot act for doing that. It didn't make sense to me because it was a theater filled with little kids!
Anyway, I just wanted to  acknowledge her special day………I wish you nothing but joy my friend. I miss your mom but I know God lifted the curtain up there and gave her a chance to see her little girl on her big day. God is love, and he would want her to see her daughter, I just know this in my heart.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!  

Since it has been my responsibility for 26 years to get the cards and or letters out I accept all the blame for not getting it done for Christmas or New Years.

I can explain, honest!

After begging and begging for a 'kitty' for all the years we have been married. Luther just resisted it firmly. It wasn't worth breaking up our marriage over it but in  my heart of hearts I really, really,  wanted one!  On Dec.6th it was our 26th wedding anniversary and he asked me what I wanted.  I said something alive!  Now there is the pitter patter of LOTS of feet around here but I knew that he knew I meant a kitty.

On Dec. 6th he went down to the Humane Society and picked out the most perfect little ball of fluff! (Amen, prayers answered!)  It is a little female that is ginger and white....mostly white with red on her head and tail and a few little spots of it on her body. She has peridot green eyes and did I say she is Perfect?  Her name is "Rosey Toesy". (Because of her coloring and the fact that she is polydactyl. This girl has so many extra toes! She looks like she has catchers mitts on the end of her legs.)  Well the reason I am late is because I have not been able to think of anything else since she arrived.  Don't get me wrong, I adore my dogs but the ones we have just aren't really cuddly and the one we do have that is very cuddly is a 84 pound yellow lab and she crushes the stuffin's out of us.  So I have been fully engaged in being a new mommy to a precious kitty and journaling all about it.

I was going to get 'round to it  in doing cards and letters.  Well, obviously I didn't and I am sorry I failed in my duties as a wife but I am a happy new mom and hope you will forgive me.  

Not too much going on with us. We have slowed down a bit.  I do art all day and night and Luther works when he can and when he isn't I have a long list of 'Honey Do's' on a list.

For his 67th birthday we went on a cruise to St. Thomas, St Martin and on to the Bahama's.  I didn't really enjoy it because it was too hot and humid. I am a Minnesota gal after all these years and frankly I like it nice and cold. (Who would have thunk it??) :-)

Luther liked all the heat so he was good to go but he had to drag me off to places. What I really did enjoy was Magen's Beach in St Thomas.  I floated in that gorgeous water for 2 hours. We both enjoyed that. You can't sweat and suffer the heat if you are in gorgeous water. 

Luther had surgery on both of his eyes due to cataracts.  I am really squeamish when it comes to eyes and I a begged him not to have them done if he didn't really need to but he was determined. He said it was painless and didn't complain at all and I was able to put the drops in his eyes  without falling into a dead faint. His big blue eyes are as gorgeous as ever.  I feared he would look so different with plastic lens in them. Like I said I have always been a bit squeamish on all things eye related that is why I still wear glasses.

And.................

After going a full year on a meatless diet and our blood work proving the advantages of such,  I went off the wagon with a bite of hotdog and took him with me (shades of Adam and Eve,yes?)  and we ate hotdogs every dang day for 2 weeks.  It was the only meat I craved the whole time. (A hotdog for gosh sake!)  We are both back on meat and both scared to go in for our physicals. I know our cholesterol has shot through the roof.............Well we both love the Lord with all of our heart and we know we are not getting out of here alive so there you have it. I for one am not leaving this planet eating like a rabbit!!  :-)

Gypsy

First Gypsy face

This is my first prisma  pencil / blender face drawing that will be applied to a canvas and then the details put in so that she becomes a gypsy. :-)  I used layer upon layer very slowly. This is for my mixed media class.

Introducing……..

Introducing…….

This is Mrs. Fortesque……or Miss Puss….or sometimes CAT!!     For our 26th Wedding Anniversary my sweet husband went an adopted a precious kitty for us.  He outdid himself he did!  She is a Ginger and white kitty just as I have longed for for over 30 years.  Prayer to God worked, (In His own time, of course!!) because the hubby's heart softened and on his own went down to the Humane Society and filled out the paperwork and the next day brought her home to my hopeful, waiting arms.  I loved her at first sight and we are bosom buddies.  She sleeps right beside me all night long.  Her hobbies? Sitting up in the loft area looking down upon the 7 dogs and driving them into a frenzy.  When she gets bored with them, she runs down the staircase and through the bars of the baby gate and straight to her mommy's arms. My hobby?  Kissin' her on her punkin head.   She is such a JOY to me and Lord knows Luther made me wait a lonnnnng time for her.

Amen, I have everything my old heart could desire.
Happy, Happy 26th Anniversary.
P.S. Her name has been changed to "Toesy" because she is polydactyl.  So she is my "rosie toesy"

It is well with my soul…..

NO MORE CRUISES…………..at least for a while.  I was miserable due to wonky foot and strained muscles in my back. Everything I attempted to do was SUCH an effort.

The ship was too crowded, unorganized, room was crazy!!, and the bed so hard the floor would have been softer! I so wish I was kidding.

Been to St. Thomas (my fav. island) 3 or 4 times but the ship took so long to get there that I do believe I could have walked the distance faster….even with my still achey foot.

The food was o.k. but I didn't eat much.  What's that you say? You don't believe me?  Well my friend I came home 3 pounds lighter!   I love to eat but I simply lost interest while I wallowed in my pain.

Just not used to the heat and the humidity any more since I have been Minnesota acclimized. The Caribbean is HOT and HUMID. Next trip will be to Alaska. I am ready to see the blue ice. Never had a desire to go until a fellow traveler told me of her trip and how close to God you will feel. Well sign me up cuz that is all I long for, to feel closer and closer to God my Father.

I appreciate the opportunity to travel but I really feel more like I am having a vacation right here at home. Home is where my heart is. Who'd a thunk??? Color me surprised.

They're Here...................!!!

The day has arrived. The Cedar Waxwings are passing through on their way south. They are in a Cedar tree right outside my bedroom window.  I have a ringside seat for all the shenanigans going on out there.  First they land and sit there resting for a long time. Next they commence to eating the fermented berries thus getting drunk as skunks and flying into my huge bedroom window!

I am usually here to witness this spectacle but if I should be gone and miss them, I know they were here by the butt feathers smeared on my window. Usually they fly away safely but now and again I need to go out and rescue them and wrap them in a blanket to warm them up and give them a chance to sober up and get steady on their feet again.  I have held some as they have gone on to 'meet their maker' and then they are all given a proper burial.

I learned the first year that we were in this house not to 'pray to hold one in my hands'.  God is so anxious to give me my hearts desire that I have held way more than I wanted to.

As I write, another batch are eating  and getting snockered so I am in for another long day of search and rescue.

I have computer paper taped up in my windows to discourage them but it just doesn't phase a drunken bird. I tap on the window to get their attention but they are busy and can't be bothered to pay attention to me.  Oh boy, this is going to be A DAY!

YES, I mark the arrival date in my bird journal and as you must have guessed, they come on a different dang day every year.  (Figures, right?)  I do paste up my windows the middle of September to get ready for them.  I guess folks wonder what is wrong with me but they are not my concern.

I am thrilled to see them again because it reminds me that God in his infinite wisdom is indeed in control and they follow what He has instilled in them.  They are awfully cute with those little waxy wing tips.  This will only last for a day or two and then once again they will be winging their way down south, but while they are here their presence is duly noted!

I have a huge window in my bedroom and everyday the scene out of it changes. Some days it is sun-shiny and some days black with clouds. I watch the leaves turn colors and then fall to the ground.  I see the trees all skeleton-like........yet with their bare branches reaching Heavenward knowing that they will leaf out again one day soon and be green once again. Returning from the grave, so to speak.

I watch the birds a few at a time flying in and out and I wonder what they are saying as I hear them chattering.

When Luther's mom passed away, after the funeral, I was lying next to him in a state of  total exhaustion trying to think of something to say that would bring him some comfort. All of a sudden I noticed that big tree across from me.  There sat 2 huge Eagles sitting there seemingly peering into our bedroom window. It was as tho' his mom was saying to him that she was once again with his father and they were happily together again. Eagles never come and roost in the city!!  This was a miracle as far as we are concerned.  They sat there for  at least  an hour and were such a comfort and yet a mysterious 'happening' for us.

This morning  we were watching one of our favorite ministers on T.V. and frankly, I was getting very little from it as it was way way over my level of understanding. Then I looked out at my favorite tree.  Just at that moment 1000's of birds flew out of it and right over our bedroom. It was such an awesome site....looked like a bit of vortex.  How one bird knew what the other bird was going to do is just so wonderful to ponder! We ooh-ed and aah-ed and got all excited watching the goings on then it died down........... only to start all over again!  How did that one tree hold all those 1000's of birds?  The sky was black with birds.

 For sure, one of the most breath taking things I have ever experienced! 

Classes

I keep signing up for Art Classes and I am loving it!  Learning lots of new techniques and having tons-o-fun. :-)

I am getting the face part down and now starting in on bodies............and fashions. Whoopee!

I need to post some pictures.......tying string to finger................

Hurt Hearts

I hate when someone you think is a friend walks away and you  never know why.  I try to be a good friend.  When they don't say WHY they are walking out of your life it really hurts.

It makes me wonder what I could or should have done differently.  As I was pondering the subject something came to mind.....People are placed in our lives for a season, to love us when we most need it and when we are on our feet again they quietly move on to someone else in need.  Makes sense.  It hurts tho' but if you love them you have to let them do what they were put here to do.......help others.

So I smile again.  I am no longer needy.  I feel  good about myself. In Christ I can do anything he wants me to do.  He is my rock. He is my safe place.  

So go my friend.....
I enjoyed our time.....
Be happy!
I am happy!
Thank You.

I cry UNCLE !!!

O.K.  I enrolled in a fashion design course and there is a lot to learn in it.  I do o.k. with my larger faces but the itty bitty ones.......not so much.  There is a lot to cram into a thumbprint size. Plus I need to watercolor it.  the paint looks all blotchy and ooky on such a small face.  I have literally been drawing night and day filling the wastebasket with tons of wadded up paper. I need a break from it before I flip my proverbial lid.

So I have decided that I will organize my gazillion art supplies and start over fresh in a day or two.

The Housewives of O.C. last night was beyond the beyond!  I have never witnessed such bad behavior before.  I can't wait to get on over to Bravotv.com and see what everyone has to say about that final episode.

Going to Duluth and I dread boarding the dogs. Especially little Tater.  He can't walk anymore and can only see out of the one eye.  Luther is his seeing eye human and he will be so lost without him.  The others will adjust, they always do, but I am worried about my 'babiest  boy'.  The woman loves animals so they will be in good hands and she took excellent care of my little one last year.

Well, That is my life lately so over and out!

Could I huh???

I would like to meet the individual that created one of my daily med's.  Now I ask you, who in their everlovin' mind would pick a triangular shape for such  a big ass pill????  It is  as bitter as gall and consistantly hangs up in my throat. That bitterness remains for atleast 15 minutes no matter what beverage I consume.

I  am simply asking a favor of the universe , a special dispensation if you will.  Could I please just this once squeeze his little testicles.....nice and tight? 

Now you see it ...Now you don't.

So.......I was out in the garden doing a little weeding but mostly telling him what to do and he asked me, "did you see the Ornamental Cabbage and how pretty it is?"  I went to take a look and sure enough it was a beautiful specimen and this fall we will have one beautiful thing of color in the garden.

Two days later he came in and said, "It's gone! Roots and all!"   Seems something moseyed into our yard at night and snacked upon it.....munched it down to the roots and ate the roots as well.

Am I upset?  For a brief second.  Then I pictured a deer smiling and having a full tummy and I smiled. The question is.....deer or plant?    Hands down, the DEER is my choice, every time.

You are welcome dear.

I have neglected this blog........

I need to bring this up to date!

I am grooving on: 

 Hot Dogs, Buttermilk w/ sugar in it. Learning more art techniques, my garden and my hound's, and planning a cruise.

Concerned about:
My ankle and the pain I still have. The fires and loss of life and homes taking place  
out west. The President and craziness going on in the world.  All the cruelty to          
animals that is blared each night on the news. It horrifies me each and every time.

I waste a lot of time on:
Blogs!!!!   I could read and read my art friend's blogs. Time flies!  The House-wives franchise.  I love them but so much of my life is eaten up by the shows and then following their blogs!  Pondering why I have not yet moved to the beach. I vowed to do that and yet, here I sit.

One thing I never tire of:
I love water. All kinds of water.  Puddles, bubble baths, oceans, even dishwater!  As a kid, after a good rain storm I loved to find tadpoles and       turtles.  I love a real hard  rain storm but the dogs go nuts.  I love the sound on the roof.  I could sleep and sleep.

Studying: 
 The octopus and Squid.  Fascinated by them.

Dreaming:
All night long and long, long, complicated dreams.  Not bad but confusing but my mom and dad are in every one so that is good.

Addicted to: Collecting!!  
I am a natural born collector.  Right now it is vintage leather hand bags from designers. Fun and way cheaper than new and some are so classy.



                                       

Jeepers Creepers!!!

Blogger wouldn't let me in to my own blog nor would it allow me to take the whole site down! I finally used another browser and it let me in.
I am back to collecting gemstones again. Unusual ones. I have always loved to find unusual rocks...for colors or shapes. So, why not collect the really unusual ones? My latest one I am searching for is called Andalusite Chiastolite with the shape of a maltese cross in it. Also a Watermelon Tourmaline....a slice that looks like a piece of watermelon. How cool is that?

I am trying to find a way to display them right now. I am wearing a meteorite around my neck at the moment an I have a fulgurite (caused by lightning) to wear as well and I have a Moldavite ring. I love the whole thought of outerspace! I am also studying the meanings behind the different stones.

I just find it so amazing that God hid all of this beauty beneath the earth, or in the sky or under the sea. All for us to discover and discovering is my passion. :o)

My story and I'm stickin' to it.

The Fourth of July

It has been so long since I visited my own blog that I need to get in here and knock the spiderwebs down and chase off the spiders! They have reallys set up housekeeping around here................

Happy 4th of July to everyone! T'is a great country we have here and believe it or not,even with all that is going on here in this country right now, we are still a "Blessed" nation. Of course there are still some folks that just won't beleive that.....they should go to Kenya where my little adopted daughter lives and see for themselves how good we truly do have it. It will get better here if we pray and ask for guidance.

Today sure looks dreary for all the picnicking folks..........It is raining as well. Sorry about that.

This afternoon Roseanne Cash (daughter of THE late Johnny Cash) will be here to christen our brand new bandshell here in Red Wing, MN. There will be other entertainment as well but she is the star that is coming. I hope the whole town turns out for her!! Tonight will be fireworks and we will enjoy it all from our kingsized bed. We can hear it all really well and sometimes see them from over the tree tops of the golf course. I don't want to go out and be eaten alive by mosquitoes, thank you very much! I had a stiff neck a few days ago. A powerful one with tons of pain and I also had a headache and I thought I had encephalitis. Perish the thought! I will stay indoors til they GO THE HECK AWAY!

I haven't introduced you to our new pup. He is 8 months old now and his name is "Marcello Luigi Pasquale" and he is a little Italian Greyhound. He is a powerhouse of energy and has a very very low threshold for boredom. (Witness our ottoman on the right side of this posting) They are strictly not for everyone. (Please read that last statement one more time if you think they are cute and you happen to want to run out and get one right this moment! They are a handful, Bright as a lightbulb but stubborn as heck! You don't really train them, they train YOU!

He is my joy and my inspiration. "I was born for him and he was born for me and we two make a happy family." :o) However, on the other hand, he drives all the other dogs and his daddy half nuts. His favorite game is grab a leg and drag the other critter across the room.......He is not particular, and ear will do just as well. As for me, he is a mommy's boy. He loves to jump up on his powerful little legs and bite the stew out of my bottom. I am sooo bruised.....(Really, do not try to picture this cuz it is NOT a pretty picture!!!

He is really something to sleep with. He will sleep for 8 hours at a stretch in bed but oh how he kicks the stuffin's out of me at night. I hang on the bed by 'one butt cheek'.....LITERALLY! Still, I firmly believe that God saved the best for last. He will romp and play where the others just want to veg out and sleep. If I try to rough-house with them they get all offended and get scared of me. So me and the 'Chello boy' will play and play and play until God comes to get us.

We are a rowdy little family and as happy as if we had good sense!

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.