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Thursday, April 30, 2015

30 Word Thursday: I think It's Really Spring!

Wouldn't these flowers make beautiful beads?
Nature is an inspiration with all its beauty and change.
I can hardly wait to melt glass again!
It's going to feel so good again!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
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 the verse and vision others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.
 
Come and Join the Fun!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Worth Repeating: Look Who I Met!

I've never met them before! I was amazed! Can you guess?

They are warm and fuzzy. They only have teeth on the bottom of their mouths. They don't spit often. They are very curious. On a cool morning, if you put your hands deep into their fiber, your hands will feel warm surrounded by their luxurious hair.












Their name? Alpaca.



Now, I don't remember the others' names, but I do know his. His name is Buck. Buck is very shy. He didn't like if picture being taken. He avoided my camera every time he saw it in my hand. He's a gorgeous creature, and the feel of his hair is amazing! Buck is 2 years old. Of the 3 alpacas I met, he was the oldest.









 This little guy is a year old. He was not as shy as Buck. He was very curious. Now, when you look at that face, what do you see? I see a great bead! I'm going to have to try that out. His fur felt wonderful! 



















This little female was as sweet as could be. She didn't like to be touched on the head, but I was able to dig my hands into her delicious hair. It was so warm and soft!

Other little bits about these wonderful alpacas are that they bleet very much like a lamb. When I returned their greeting, they simply looked at me. I thought I was communicating, but I guess that I wasn't. They didn't "speak" to me. The two younger alpacas are one year old. I'm not sure I'd like to own one, but I enjoyed meeting these critters.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Are Your Etsy Sales as Poor As Mine?

This is my
River Rocks
tutorial.
It's the best selling item I have in my Etsy store, 
and,
I've sold two of them this month.
Two.
That is the total amount of my sales for April, also.
Two.
Two.

If you want to see it,
click



If you are more successful than I am,
would you be willing to share the secret of your success.

After all,
Etsy is all about 
HANDMADE.

At least that's what they said when Etsy went public.

If you're sales are like mine,
I really wish you luck.

I just wish I could find the right formula.

Monday, April 27, 2015

How to Live Life Happily According to Miss Pixie Marie

1) When you're hungry, eat until you're full.  No more.
No less.

2) If you have a tummy ache, throw up what's in your tummy on the rug.
You then have the choice to lick it up or not.
For me, it just depends on the day and what I have eaten.

3) If you need an ear rub, put your head, with the ear you want rubbed, under your human's hand and move.   She will catch on--eventually!

4) If you have to go potty, and standing there looking at your human doesn't get their attention,
go to the basement and find that special place.
The smells are wonderful down there.
Eventually, she will catch on that what you were saying was that "I need to go potty, NOW!"
 It might take you a while to train your human, but it will happen.

5) If she makes you ring a stupid bell before she opens the door to let you out to go potty,
ring it.  She's happy, and you get an ear rub out of it.  I go for those ear rubs any time.

6) If you want a treat, stand in front of your human and lick your lips.  Remember, training your human takes a while, but she's so proud of herself when she realizes that you want a treat, your human will give you more than one treat and she will give you an ear rub for "telling" her that you wanted a treat.  I wish I could rub my human's ears.  It's a good way to train them.

7) If you have to go potty in the middle of the night, and your human doesn't see you standing there looking at her,  repeat step 4.  In the morning, your human will say that you left her a "present."
Presents are good.  I don't know why she's not happy when she picks up your "present."

8)  If you're tired, go to sleep.  My human seems happy when I sleep, yet, it's annoying.  She wakes me up to rub my ears.  I think she should wait until I'm awake to rub my ears.

9) If your human has decided to try to MAKE you play with toys, and why anyone would want to play with those things, I don't know, sniff that toy and walk away.  Your human will say, "Do you know how much money I paid for that toy?  Play with it!" 
It much more fun if you hit the toy with your nose, smell it, THEN walk away.
You take your owner from hope to realizing the money was wasted on a toy.
I'd rather have treats!

10) If my butt itches, I like it.
My human doesn't lick her butt, or, at least, that's what my owner says to me.
I'll have to watch my owner closely now.
My butt itches. 
Excuse me,
I'm busy now!!!

More lessons in life to follow, when I'm awake.
Maybe, maybe not.
Good night.
 

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Friday, April 24, 2015

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) This is the only red tulip in my garden!  It bloomed yesterday!
I feel blessed that it did!
Spring is surely on the way.


2) Saw the first red winged blackbird of the season two days ago.  It was resting on a plant next to the highway.
AWESOME!




3)  As I write this, the sun is shining.
It's warmer than it was this morning.
Turns out it was a pretty good day!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

30 Words Thursday:: Spring is Almost Here! At Last!!!!

I'm thinking of pies and cakes and cookies and bread
because of this plant! 
You know it's spring in Minnesota when these leaves
poke though the soil.
I'm so hungry!

Taken from Erin's Blog::

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 the verse and vision others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.
 
Hope to see you there!
 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Worth Repeating Wednesday: On Being a Fairy Princess

Do you see that little girl?
When she was six,
or, 
maybe a little before,
she realized that she was a fairy princess!
She loved to dance,
and 
she loved to sing.
Isn't that what all fairy princesses do?
She ruled over a kingdom
where there was so much love and laughter
that she was never sad.
She was loved by her subjects beyond measure.
She loved them back.
When she grew up,
she knew that she would always be a 
fairy princess,
and so it is today.
Because of love,
Because of joy,
Because of hope,
She is a fairy princess!
Dreams do come true!
Are you a fairy princess, too?

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

I Can Check This Off My Bucket List!!!!


I never thought I would make this!

I've made a lot of different foods in my lifetime.

I will check this off my bucket list.

HORSERADISH.

And I just about died!

It is amazing!

Here's what I did!
 
A friend gave me some horseradish and told me how to make it.
 
OH.
MY.
GOODNESS!!
 
I will NEVER be the same!
 
 
 

Here's the horseradish peeled.

It's really a rough root!






















It took a lot of strength to cut the root into manageable pieces, but I did it!!!

I think I developed muscles, too!





















I put the chunks into my small food processor.

I took the chunks out of my small food processor and put them into the BIG
FOOD 
PROCESSOR!

That machine worked hard cutting up the chunks!













I added a little vinegar to help
the 
Processor along,
and it thanked me!

I was warned not to open the food processor and stand directly in front of it.
I was warned.
I really was warned!

I opened the food processor and
DID
NOT
STAND
BACK!

I regret that to this hour.

I doubt that I will 
EVER
catch another cold.

My sinuses are clean,
and 
now I have fresh horseradish!


Monday, April 20, 2015

9 Things to do with your Unwanted Beads:: Like Anyone has any unwanted Beads?

1)
Make a
MOBILE!
Easy Peasy.
Bend copper wire.
Add beads.
You have a mobile!



















2)
Put those beads in a muffin tin
so you're ready for your next project!

It does help keep you 
organized.




















3)
Make a bookmark.

Hammer a length of copper wire, 
6 inches or so. 
Make sure you add a loop at the top before you begin to pound. 
Add beads on each end.

















4)
When a bead won't come off a mandrel,
turn that mandrel into a plant poke or
turn that mandrel into a tool
that pokes
your beads when you work in the fire.
















5)
Put your beads in a plastic bucket for safe keeping.
Bring them out when you need a bead fix.




















6)
Put your beads in plastic bags
and 
when you are finished,
put all those little 
plastic bags
into a bigger plastic 
bag
until you need them.


















7)
After you've run out of room with your plastic bags,
put all of your bigger plastic bags 
into
plastic bin
until you use them.
















8)
Hoard your most beautiful 
beads
like this oceanscape
made by 
Angie Gemsa.
I am 
HOARDING 
this one!















 9)
Other than those few beads you choose to hoard,
fill a box with beads for
and 
get them in the mail.
Your donations will be greatly appreciated,
and 
you will make so many children smile!

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Friday, April 17, 2015

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) See the photo on the left?  I made one of these this week.  It's called a kokedama bonsai.  Basically it's a plant enclosed in a ball of mud and moss.
The plant is supposed to stay small.
I'm looking forward to seeing it grow!

2) It really looks like spring outside.  Next week, well, that's a different story.
I'm enjoying my time for now.

3) Saw the physical therapist yesterday.  My hand just needs some strengthening and stretching.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

30 Word Thursday:: I Think I Need a Break from Social Media...


I spend a lot of time on Facebook.  
Maybe I just need a break.
Too much information.
Today, my head hurts.
Sometimes I wonder,
Is this high school again?

From Erin's Blog

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 the verse and vision others have captured by visiting them and leaving a comment.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Worth Revisiting Wednesday:: When we start to think the worst..

It's cold here. I mean, it's really cold. The longest night of the year is almost here. People are rushed and tired. Christmas is so close now. I just realized it's 9, count them, 9 days away. I decided that tonight I would blog. I decided that I would make a comment about another blog. I tried to log in. The message said, "user name and password don't match." I tried again. I tried again. I tried again. I thought, "Someone has hacked into my blog!" It didn't make any sense, but it was the only explanation. I tried to change my password. My worst fear was becoming a reality. An email had been sent to my gmail account. I don't have a gmail account. Why would anyone want to hack into my blog? Nothing had changed. Nothing had been edited. My password was considered strong. I began to think the worst. I knew I had to check on accounts to see if any had been hacked into. I tried the help center. No help. I tried to see if there was contact information. None. Why would anyone want to hack into my account? I decided to try one last time. The information asked me for my email address. My email address? Was that what I was supposed to log in with to my blog? Oooooooooooooooooooooops! I guess that I wasn't signing in correctly. I'm sure glad that no one can see my face. It's really quite red right now. I did log in with my email address. It worked.
Oh, well, goodbye and good night. I'll be back to blog another day.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Playing with Clay and Wire to Make::

Bobble Heads with Clay!

This was an exercise in fun!

 He's a Hoot Bobble

Ted-E Bear Bobble

Mouser Bobble

Spring Chicken Bobble

Now, how fun was that?
That was a lot of fun!

Monday, April 13, 2015

Pixie Had Her Teeth Cleaned, and She Didn't Like it One Bit, but They Did a Beautiful Job!



Friday was traumatic for Pixie.
We
Went
To
The 
Vet.
She was not happy.
She was drugged.
Her teeth were cleaned.
She came home with beautiful teeth,
but a painful mouth.
I tried to give her pain pills, 
but she would spit out the 
pill pockets
because chewing them hurt her mouth.
I tried crushing the pills and putting them in her 
soft 
food,
but they must have tasted bitter
because Pixie 
shook her head
and refused to eat.
I gave her applesauce.
I gave her canned food mixed with water.
I gave her hot dogs.
No,
she refused to eat.
Her mouth really hurt.
So, she spent the night
upset with me
downstairs.
She looked at me with the pitiful look you see in the picture.
It was like she was saying,
"How could you do this to me?"
Saturday, though, she woke up.
She ate.
She loves her canned food!
And now,
she has beautiful teeth!
We're all happy again!