Quote

This sounds like a good philosophy:

I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have
one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White

Your Insecurities Are Showing

I come from a long line of "misfits" from both sides of my parents. I have never felt like I belonged in most situations. This is due to my upbringing, my mental processes, my physical build, my religious beliefs, my situation in life, and the choices I have made up until now. I learned at a young age to be strong inside and not to let anyone know when I was hurt by thier actions. It was better/easier to act as if it mattered not in the least. And it left my pride in tact to some degree. Anyway, as I grew up, I became very cautious about becoming attached to any one person (excluding my mother and siblings, and even they were kept to a distance). Now, in my old age, I have very few people I trust. It took me years to trust my husband. Friends, over the years have come and gone. My family always said "you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family." Most of the friends I chose were not really friends but they did tolerate me so I guess in a way their were friends. I have no contact with any of my childhood/teen friends now even though some of them live here. I have no contact with people I thought were friends when I moved away from here after high school. I have no contact with friends I have had in the years I have lived here again. I replaced all the people who might of been friends with my family members. Now I have no contact with any of them, and not many are left anyway. I know that to have a friend you have to be a friend and that is the problem. i want to do what I want to do when I want to do it, and not have to defer to other peoples wishes. So, what this is leading up to is the company Xmas party. i am hating to go. I don't feel comfortable around a bunch of people that I don't really know. I should be happy to support my husband and he has to go, (he says) but I am resentful of this intrusion on my personal wants. I am usually torn between feeling picked on because I have to give up my time for his needs and feeling quilty for being selfish about my time. All this stuff gives me a headache. Guess i'll go excape into my world of art!

Old Dogs

Teeny left us last Monday. We miss her. Rosa now is showing signs that she may have to go too. She is having such a hard time breathing. She just works so hard at that. She can't jump up to sit by us either. Bubba is blind and sleeps all the time. He does not seem to be in pain as the girls did/do. I don't know how long they will last. The cold, cold winter is very hard on them.

Snow Snow Snow

We have lots of snow and we love it. i built a snowman on the deck but I guess the wind blew him over during the night. I would go out and put him up again but the wind is still blowing and I hate going out in a wind. I do need to clean out a path to the door tho so guess i will have to go out long enough to do that.

I have one more week of work and then I will be off until the first of the year. We are hoping to go south for a week or so to enjoy warmer weather.

On the down side, our oldest dog Teeny is not doing well this winter. She just this week has stopped eating and is losing weight. I can't tell if she is in pain but I think she is. We are heartbroken for her and for us. She has been a faithful friend and companion for many years, we think about 14 years.

My creative surge has died. Or maybe I should say resting. I go through streaks, and right now I am not creating. I have to design a tea box and I have been playing with it mentally but not doing anything yet. I have started some paste papers to use for it but, they don't thrill me, yet. Today, I will add another layer to them to see if they look better. Coming up with an idea is the hardest part to things like this. I decided I want to build a box that will hold a collection of tins I have. I want them to look altered, so have to do that somehow. They are all different sizes so that will be the challenge for building the box. I do have a plan B box if that doesnt work out. Getting started is the hard part I guess.

No voice-Some snow

I have lost my voice. I don't ususally do that. It is a strange experience. On the good side, it is snowing! We already have about an inch. We are thrilled. It is so dry here on the hill, and really, everywhere. My art work is not being voted on this week. I guess a perrson can't expect people to love all their work, but I did think I might get at least one or two votes. I have been doing zentangles this week for a swap, and they are a fun art activity. I am going to start on a tea box for a swap, maybe tomorrow! I have already been collecting stuff for the box. I have to decide what theme to decorate it in. I am sure there will be India, Chinese, and Victorian boxes. I just want to do something unusual, as usual. lol. I have to dig through my stuff to see what I can use. i have an old silverware box with legs that would be nice, but heavy to mail maybe. I did have a couple of other boxes, but I think I hauled them off in one of my "I have too much junk, something has to go" moods. I hate it when this happens!

Gratitude Art

Here are a couple of pics i sent in to the gratitude art contest.

Winner

I sent in a scan of the little moo dollies book marks at the bottom and they tied for first place. Then this week, I won first place again with the "family world" altered globe. I made a couple of pieces off art for this weeks gratitude contest but I don't know if I will send them in or not. Two weeks in a roll is pretty awesome!

Thanksgiving Poem

Thirty people!
Hungry souls.
Auntie Sophie, Uncle Paul?
Ninety rolls, fifteen bowls
Kills the hungrys,
Salves the foiles.
Gravy's gone-
Instant moans.
Veritable mayhem
In our home.
Nice to have you-once your
Gone. Happy Thanksgiving!

written 11-23-2007
copywrite privileges please

Inspirations

Have you paid attention to what inspires you to do thge things you do? I have. My "inspirational" daughter has helped me to be able to use computer possibilities more. Like this blog. Today, I am inspired by her blog with her posts of digatal pictures to try to post some of my "art". Hope this works!

On Break

Today I made a iris fold tea pot which I will use to decorate a tea box. It turned out so pretty. The ATC cards for the Gold swap are arriving daily. I found new "papers and decorations" for my art room supplies on our trip to the city. I won a first place on Artella art contest #4. My life has been artsy the last few days. I love it to be that way. I am, project-less at the moment and I do not do well when that happens. I am much more content when I have a project in process. I have been researching digital imaging programs so I will know what to buy for my new computer when I buy one. I wish I could buy it now so I could learn how to make digital art right away. Generally speaking, I have a pretty good set up now, but as usual, want more more more more more MORE!

ATC Swapping

I joined a swap using Gold as the theme. The cards turned out so beautiful I wanted to keep them. I didn't. I sent them out to others. So, when I was invited to host a swap...I used the theme of, you guessed it, Gold. Again, I love these cards. Gold must be a color I connect with somehow. I wanted to publish the cards on the website for others to see, but, haven't figured out the procedure for that. Maybe, I need another whoosh in my life. Hope it comes soon!

Weekend

I had plans to do two things over the past week end. One, I was going to finish a collage I started and tie up some loose ends on some ATC and post cards swaps. Also, I was going to communicate with Carol on 14 Secrets and learn how to post an ATC swap. I got to enjoy company (Ray and Vicki) and go to a funeral instead. We, myself and the company, put puzzles together, and enjoyed some great meals. They are not hard to have as company but, I did go back to work today feeling really tired. Hopefully I will be more rested tomorrow.

Saturdays

Today I wanted to work in my art room on some ATCs, postcards, and a collage I am creating for swaps. Life, however, decided that would not happen in the morning hours of the day. I would be required to talk on the telephone. A family situation neccessary for me to do this. I did finally get into the art and then my stomach, being used to breakfast and lunch at certain times, decided to ask hurtingly for food, since it was after one pm in the day. I gave it a couple of hot links. Now, I am ready to return to the mindless, worryless, enchanting, creative zone. My favorite place to be!

Victory!

I made it to here! I have a blog! How cool is that considering all things? It is rather amazing how life seems to be going along just normal, then suddenly there is a shift, and whoosh, you have a new outlook, or toy. Two weeks ago I was seriously wondering what exactly I would do when I retire. I should have something in place, right? So, I was thinking maybe I could work online doing something artsy. Then, whoosh, I get invited to host art swaps. Its like serendipity. I had already decided to buy all new electronic equipment just before retirement becomes final so I would be up to date with computer and peripherials. I know I will need to stretch my abilities to learn to scan, post, manipulate,my art and whoosh, I am shown how to get here, and here I am blogging! Hopefully, life will continue with this trend. Wish me luck!