I Heart Macro! Have You Ever Met a Bromeliad?

I Heart Macro!!!

Listing Saturday:: A Plan:: What I want:: How I will Do it!

I want to enjoy a rainy day
I will put aside everything else that I don’t have to do.
I will stop what I am “working” on that day.
I will not use the word work.
I will take five minutes to listen to the rain.
I will find that book I am reading, and pick it up.
I will make a cup of tea and put it by the table on the couch.
I will lay on the couch and read my book


I want to make lamp work glass beads.

I will go down to my studio.
I will dip mandrels in bead release.
I will clean up my work area while the bead release is drying.
I will turn on my oxygen generator.
I will turn on my kiln.
I will sweep the floor.
I will pick out the glass I will use.
I will begin to wind glass on the mandrels.
I will put the completed beads in the kiln.
I will work for one hour making beads.


I want to veg out.

I will turn off my phone.
I will turn off my computer.
I will turn on my music.
I wil pour myself a glass of wine.
I will not answer the door if someone knocks.
I will put a cool cloth over my eyes and forehead.
I will close my eyes.
I will sleep for as long as I want.
I will breathe deeply when I wake up.
I will take a warm bath with beautiful scented oils.
I will remain quiet.
I will breathe.

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.

1) I have found that I have friends who are true friends, and they are amazing friends!  I am blessed.

2) Watermelon is so good this time of year, well, any time of the year.

3) Today was a preview of all.  I'm ready!

30 Words Thursday:: Ragweed

Ragweed is blooming.

Allergy medicine,

here

I

come. 

Did you know that once upon a time,

Ragweed was considered a beautiful flower for an old, English Garden?

Now, it's not.

From Erin's Blog::

Treasures Found:: Inspiration is Everywhere.

The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...

Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).

Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.

Post it each Thursday.

Add your link to the InLinkz on my 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.)
Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Child of Medicare - I think I need a nap!

I'm finally at the age where I can pretty much do what I want to do.  (Notice the pink hair.)  People just think I'm sort of out of my elderly mind right now.  However, just because I'm on medicare, and we won't be discussing THAT, doesn't mean that I can't have fun. 

The only problem is that I am also finding out, I need to go to bed earlier at night, and

I. NEED. A. NAP. IN. THE. AFTERNOON! 

When did that happen?  Suddenly, I'm my own grandmother!

However, as difficult as it seems to me to realize that I don't have the energy I used to have, I'm sort of settling into a nap routine, and I'm starting to enjoy it a bit.  A bit?  Okay,  more than just a bit. 

Now that you have this worthless information about me, all I ask is that if you need to call me in the afternoon, please don't.  I'll probably be napping.

If you can't wait until later, and you decide to call, please don't be offended if I don't answer.

A nap is a nap, and it's getting to be an important part of my day!

So, talk to you later.

It's time for my nap.

Want Some Great Pickles? Make Them Yourself. Here's How!

Don't these look Great?

Well, they are.

They were easy peasy

homemade pickles.

Here's how.

Buy this!

It makes great pickles that last up to three months.

Took Less than half an hour.

I highly recommend this product.

10 Years Ago Today

Some things you never get over...

10 years ago, my life was changed in a way that I would never dreamed it could be changed.

You fought, but you lost the battle to that bastard cancer. 

You left me after 34 years of marriage.

You didn't have a choice.

It was just your time.  

Life changed to a new normal.

I held your hand as you grew cold.

Our home was filled with people in minutes after we made that first call.

I hugged our children, and we all wished that you were here.  You were gone, forever. 

Now, it's been 10 years.  I hope you found the best fishing hole in heaven!  I'm sure you did, but I'm sure it's catch and release. 

10 years is a long time, but we're okay.  We really are, it's just that there are some things you never really get over. 

I Heart Macro! At the top of His Tree!

 

He was at the top of his tree, and he cawed and sang.

He didn't like me coming into his territory.

He chased me away,

then he flew away,

Proud that he had done his job for the day!

I Heart Macro!

Listing Saturday:: Things I Like to do on A Saturday

1) Go for a walk with Pixie.

2) Make time to make beads.

3) Catch up.

4) Shop early and quickly.

5) Make beads.

6) If it's raining or snowing, make comfort food for the day.

7) If it's raining or snowing, read.

8) Pick  up.

9) Clean out the refrigerator.

10) Journal.

11) Update my blogs.

12) Watch TV.

13) Pull a few weeds in the garden, if it's warm.

14) Do one thing special for me.

15) Pay one thing forward.

Boring, yes, but satisfying.

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1) Some things were better than I expected, and that is an understatement.


2) Having friends who are willing to drop everything to help you or listen to you is a gift.  I have been blessed.


3) I made some jewelry this week.  It's been a very long time.  I actually liked it, too!

30 Words Thursday: Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Shhhhhhh!

Yes, they're asleep.

Each in his or her own spot.

No one is fighting. 

Everyone is quiet, except for the snoring and dreaming.

Now, I can get something done!

Taken from Erin's blog

Treasure's Found:: Inspiration is Everywhere

The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...

Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).

Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.

Post it each Thursday.

Add your link to the InLinkz on my 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.)
Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

An InLinkz Link-up

No, It's not Pixie Cuteness Day, It's Pixie Sweetness Day!!!

Now, Isn't that Sweet?

More Polymer Clay Work:: Experiments in Collars

I plan to drill holes and add chain to these.  They need a little bit of sanding and a sealer, but this is how far I've gotten.

Can you see these colors used in a collar with leaves?

Wow!!!

 My favorite!

 

 

This was fun to make, but it took forever!!!!

I really like it!

New Polymer Clay Beads - Happy Monday Morning!

I've been busy making polymer clay beads.  I haven't been able to get on my torch and make glass beads, but I do love polymer clay beads, too.

I call these "Rose Discs."  I'm hoping to combine them with fibers to make some unique necklaces and bracelets.  We'll see how they work out!

These are organic beads that I made using a tutorial written by Ginger Davis Allman of The Blue Bottle Tree on Etsy.  The tutorial I used is called, appropriately, "Organic Beads."  It's a great tutorial.  This is only one type of bead included in the tutorial.  If you like to work with polymer clay and make organic beads, this is a tutorial to buy. 

I used another one of Ginger's tutorials to make this faux sea glass beads.  The title of the tutorial is "Faux Glass Effects."  I like the results of the Faux Sea Glass.  I'm looking forward to having fun with these beads.


















These tutorials are well worth the cost if you enjoy working with polymer clay.  Thanks, Ginger!

I Heart Macro! Leaf Inspiration

Inspiration

I Heart Macro!

Listing Saturday:: Today is the Day

Today is the day::

 I will get out of bed with a smile on my face.

I will finish cleaning out my bedroom.

I will water all of my plants.

I will pack up the items for the thrift store.

I will cook a special meal, just because.

I will try new make up.

I will get ready to dye my hair pink.

I will make sure that I have everything in order.

I will pay bills.

I will finish the laundry.

I will give Pixie ten kisses.

I will tell someone how special they are to me.

I will hope.

I will be ready to make a change in something.

I will clean my bathroom so clean, you can hear it squeak!

I will organize my shoes.

I will dance to the music on Pandora.

I will sing as loud as I can in church.

I will be kind to someone who has not been kind to me.

I will pray for my friends.

I will stop and listen to the rain, if it does rain as predicted.

I will tell my children how much I love them.

I will remember my husband.  Today marks the day we were married 41 years ago. 

I will simply remember and be happy.

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1)  The "Chia Blueberry Jam" is delicious!  I'll make it again!

2) Lunch with friends is always wonderful!!! 

3) Looks like we're in a bit of a drought again.  The good news, the lawn doesn't need mowing!

30 Word Thursday:: Jam

Jam.

Fruit of the vine

Sweetened with sugar,

Sweeter than wine,

Cooked with love,

or not,

Who cares?

Jam tastes so good.

Can't help but love it!

'Tis the season!

From Erin's Blog

Treasures Found:: Inspiration is Everywhere

The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...

Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).

Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.

Post it each Thursday.

Add your link to the InLinkz on my 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.)
Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

An InLinkz Link-up

Here's What My Neighbor Taught Me Today:: 3 Part Pesto (You Finish it Later!)

I seem to be having a bumper crop of basil this year!  

Good thing that I love basil!!

My neighbor, an avid gardener, taught me how to make 

3 Part Pesto Today.

The reason it's called 3 Part is because of the 5 ingredients you use in pesto

(basil, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese,)

you only use

BASIL

GARLIC

and

OLIVE OIL.

Step 1::

You need a lot of basil to make one batch.

Sandy said that she uses 4 cups.

I just cut a lot of my basil.

You also need garlic.  I used an entire head in this recipe.

I filled my food processor with basil to the top of the bowl.

I also added the garlic and some olive oil!

I don't know how much olive oil I added, I just poured a thin layer on the bottom.

I pulsed the food processor until the basil was finely crushed,

along with the garlic.

 I also added more olive oil and salt.

 

 

When everything was finely ground, I put the 

3 Part Pesto

into an ice cube tray.  

I filled all the squares in the tray.

 

My 3 part pesto is now in the freezer.

I'll take it out of the cubes tomorrow and put the pesto in a plastic bag. 

It will be delicious when the snow falls and I'm making spaghetti or beef stew.

I'm only saying this now because 

I love pesto!

I can hardly wait for the first snow fall.

For Your Bead and Beading Inspiration....

This really is from nature.

Macro adds pixelation to this photo, but

I see inspiration here.

Here's a bigger version.

What do you see?

Add a little green to the mix.

Do you see this little critter?

Add the curb to the photo.

This little toad looks remarkably like the curb.

It was hard to get this little guy to hold still.

If I didn't know where he was, I'd think that the red rock in the curb would be interesting, too.

See the red rock?  That little toad would fit right there.

So, let's see how you use this for inspiration.

You could even write a story!

Walking with Pixie: Signs of Fall and Cheesecake for Breakfast

What a surprise this morning as Pixie and I walked!  Yesterday, this tree was all green.  Today, the first real signs of fall appeared, almost magically as Pixie and walked early in the day. 

I've seen the Sumacs change.  They usually begin to change at the end of July or early August.  Right now they are bright red speckled with brown holes where the insects have been feeding.

We walked until we were tired, and Pixie "did her business."  I had a big sack full to take home with me, and  I don't have to tell you what that was!

Then, it was time for left overs!
Oh, this cheese cake was delicious!
I'm glad I saved this from yesterday.
Made my breakfast.
Made my day.

I Heart Macro - The Center of a Rose

I Heart Macro!

Listing Saturday - Memories from Summers Long Ago

Now that I’m older, on those very HOT and HUMID days, I pray for a cool breeze.  When I was a kid, there just wasn’t enough summer.


I remember summers growing up.  They were so much fun. 

We played outside, and it didn’t matter if it was HOT or not. 

We slept in the front porch with only a single latch to keep us safe. 

We rode bikes until we heard someone yell that it was time to go home.  No, we didn’t have cell phones then, either. 

We played and played and played.  We only went home to eat and check in.

Not being able to go out and play was the WoRST punishment EVER!

We lived in T-Shirts, shorts and sandals.

Even a hot bath was cool and refreshing.

In the desert Southwest where I grew up, the days were HOT and the nights were cool.

Our Houses were HOT until the cool breezes took out the heat.

We rarely had a cooked meal in the summer.

We ate sandwiches and chips and salads, if we had to eat them.

Covers, who needed them at night?  A light sheet was more than enough cover.

The TV was hardly ever turned on.

If we were bored, we went to the pool or the library.

The library had air conditioning. 

The library was very popular in the summer.

You could always find friends at the pool.

I didn’t have a bike until I was nine, but I had fun with my friends anyway.



My feet burned on the hot pavement and asphalt since I didn't wear shoes.


Summer as over, then we had to go to school.

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1) Do you see these two 12 pound kittens?  These kitties rule the roost and Pixie.  (Pixie weighs 68 pounds!)  If they do not give her "permission" to get on the loveseat, she doesn't get on the loveseat.  Between the 3 of them, Jenny and I laugh a lot.


2) Pistachios.  I love pistachios, and they have been on sale this week.  Good!


3) I bought new shoes this week!  That is all!

30 Words Thursday:: Treasures Found

I love this blog!

Treasures Found:: Inspiration is Everywhere

Erin makes beautiful jewelry

and

she shares her life with us!

Erin focuses on

Simple Truths

Challenges

and 

Inspiration.

Thanks, Erin!

Take from Erin's blog::

Treasures Found,

Inspiration is Everywhere!

The premise of 30 Words Thursdays is simple...

Take an image (preferably one you shot, or have permission to use).

Write 30 Words about it. No more. No less.

Post it each Thursday.

Add your link to the InLinkz on my 30 Words Thursday post.
(InLinkz code will be open for one week.)
Enjoy seeing what others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Being Productive...How do you do it?

Bees are always busy.  They move from flower to flower gathering nectar.  They return to the hive and only to go out in search of more.  Their production rates would put us to shame, but, then, we're not bees.  We have to find a balance in all we do, at least, I do. 

There's work. 
There's play. 
There's a time to socialize.
There's a time for creativity. 
There's also time needed for rest.
 
I have some very big projects getting ready to go at home.  In order to meet the deadlines, I think I'm going to have to put in a lot of time working and very little time playing, creating, socializing, and resting.  I already feel unbalanced.   My one consolation is that when this project is finished, I will have more than enough time for creativity, play, and socializing.

Now, my challenge is this:: What is the most effective way for me to be productive?  After all, all work and no play...Yes, I have to sneak in some of what I like to do. 

An online friend of mine posted her ideas on being productive.  She said that this method works great for her.  I plan to use this method because,

IT MAKES SENSE.

The breakdown is simple:: 45 minutes of work

                                            15 minutes of relaxation.

During that 15 minutes she has pop, snacks, and the TV ready to go.  The timer is set.  At the end of 45 minutes, no matter where she is in a project, all work stops completely.  For 15 minutes, she rests.  She might have a glass of wine or a glass of water or a glass of pop.  She snacks a bit.   Then, at the end of 15 minutes, she's back to work.  She has reported that she can put in an 11 hour day and work very productively.  I'm giving this a try.  I probably won't put in 11 hour days, but I can put in an 8 hour day and accomplish a lot. 

So, what are your ideas about production?

What do you do and how do you do it?

I'd love to hear.

All of this can be used as beaders, bead makers, jewelry designers or just painting the house.

Let us hear your ideas!

A Bit of Inspiration

Walks Can Yield Such Beautiful Inspiration.

It was a beautiful walk!!!

So, What's so Amazing About You?

I think we tend to forget that

We

Are 

AMAZING!

It's easy to forget.

Some of us have husbands and families.

Some of us don't.  

Some of us work out side of the home.

Some of us don't.

None of this matters.  We need to remember what makes us AMAZING!

Let's make a list here.  I'm going to tell you what I think makes me AMAZING, then I want to hear what makes YOU AMAZING!!!!

There are more reasons than this, but I am amazing because::

I survived the loss of a spouse.

I raised two wonderful children and sent them into adulthood, and they have made me proud.

I make lampwork glass beads, and I'm pretty good at it.

I also make beads and sculptures with polymer clay, and I'm getting pretty good at it.

I'm good writer.

I had the courage to dye my hair PINK, my favorite color!!

I battle depression, and I'm winning that fight.

I'm learning to pay bills online!

I have friends who love and support me.

I am able to work hospice with my dog, Pixie.

Those are ten reasons why I'm amazing.

What makes you amazing?

 

I Heart Macro!!! - An Unexpected Visitor Last Night

I Heart Macro!

Listing Saturday:: Things I really Wish...

world peace

no hunger for anyone, especially  children

no sadness

no loneliness

no illness

no cancer

no violence

love enough for everyone

good food

no crime

heroes would always be honored

everyone would have a home

art would flourish

animals would be treated with kindness and respect

no unemployment

a just and fair wage would be given to everyone

illegal drugs would never find their way into the hands of children

all parents would be responsible parents

neighbors would get along

no waste in the world

our oceans and seas would be clean

our footprints would be minimal

when we die, we would leave the world a better place because we were allowed to be born

Three Beautiful Things This Week

Three Beautiful Things This Week was inspired by a wonderful blog that Three Beautiful Things. Everyday, Clare writes about 3 Beautiful Things that happen each day in her life. It's a wonderful blog! I can only hope to imitate her in a very small way.


1) I'm visiting Jenny for a few days.  She's very tired, so, we don't get to do a lot, but that's okay.  We are having fun being together.


2) The weather has been beautiful!
Nothing to complain about there, and, it's NOT snowing!


3) It's August 1st!  Another day!  Another day to make the world a better place in which to live!