Spring is coming! 

A little variety

This week I was asked to cover the reception desk at another program. It is a nice thing to have a new place to report to in the morning, and it is nice to learn a new job. I will be there for a week, and then am taking off for Oklahoma to bring my mom home from the nursing center. She is happy to "break of this joint" as she so aptly puts it. We will work on getting meals and services for her at home, and hope that she complys with others ideas of what is good for her. She is of sound mind, and at 96, is a formidable presence. What she wants, she wants.

We will be grateful today, for the nice Boston day, with no snow or rain, and for the beginning of Spring. Mom tells me that in Oklahoma the redbuds are in bloom, and I will have to remember that when I pack and not take my winter sweaters. No one wears brown, or black, there, and those are the staples of my wardrobe. I have to try to remember what 70 degrees feels like and pack accordingly. Spring in Oklahoma lasts for months and is really beautiful. Spring in Boston comes late and lasts about a week, and then it is summer. It goes from too cold to too hot. And that's a fact.

Have a great day. Take time to smell the roses.

Big Gamblers

George and I took a little weekend trip. We drove to Connecticut and stayed at a lovely Hampton Inn in Groton. It was a beautiful, sunny, winter weekend, and we had a lot of fun. On the way on Friday, we stopped in at Mohecan Sun, the casino near Groton. We had never been there before. Mohecan Sun is out in the woods, and the rolling hills are beautiful. And there in the midst is this huge copper building. It was fun, like the Wizard of Oz. We walked in through a huge wooden structure with stretched canvas and Indian artwork. And on through a richly carpeted hallway into the casino.

If there is a downside to casinos, and I'm sure there are many, the big downside for us is the scent of cigarette smoke. I have heard that in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, they have ways of filtering and blowing the smoke out so you really don't notice it. That is not true at the Connecticut Casinos. It wasn't horrible, but it was always there.

George and I galloped into the casino with high hopes. I put in the first twenty dollar bill. Pull, push the button through $10, cash out and move to another maching, pull, push the button for another ten spot....nothing. I would get a cherry or two, and a few extra turns, but basicly, the bad news is that we spent $60 and got...nada.

We went to another casino on Saturday, Foxwoods, and had much the same result. We stood in a line for a "wampum" card, which you put into your slot machine and in some way, it records your wins, and then you get a chance for discounts and a raffle type prize later...something like that. George had the card, he moved to two or three machines, and lost the card. Oh well. I had to laugh. One time on my machine, I had THREE BARS all across...and guess what...I made $2.50. Another time, George had three EXTRA WINS across, but since he had not played three quarters, he got...you guessed it...nada. At that rate, no matter how good our luck, we were not going to leave rich. The jackpots are smaller that they used to be I think. It all seemed a bit pointless I'm afraid.

There were long lines at the buffet and we were tired of the smokey smell so we turned for home. But it was fun to see what other people do, and fun to see people feeding hundred dollar bills into the machines and still not looking happy, and it was fun to leave the smokey den for the beautiful fresh Connecticut air.

Have a great day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

If you haven't checked out this web site, give yourself a little treat today. Guaranteed for giggles. 

A full moon

Last night, coming back from a lovely dinner out, George and I enjoyed looking a the beautiful full moon. There had been snow squalls in the afternoon, and one minute the sun would be shining, and the next it would be cloudy with icy snow pellets hitting you in the face. It was an interesting weather afternoon, and one of those Northeastern weather days that are so unique to this part of the world.

The moon was bright and the clouds were silver-lined and it was a night to remember. We had dinner at a local diner called The Blue Note, and they had a piano player who played Elton John and Billy Joel tunes. It was fun, and we enjoyed it, and we realized just how talented those two really are. The man at our diner was doing his best. The dinner was terrific and we both needed it after the week we've had.

I don't know if the fullness of the moon had anything to do with it, but this has been a challenging week. At work and at play we have been challenged. Some days I felt like it would be a good day to go hide under the bed. But it looks like we have survived, and today is another beautiful sunny day.

I have especially enjoyed Ebaying this week and have sold several of my necklaces and bracelets, and it has been fun emailing, wrapping and shipping. I love meeting new people, and everyone seems so nice! It has been the fun part of the week.

Have a good day, and keep smiling.

Abraham and Sarah

George and I both work up in the middle of the night thinking about the sermon yesterday and the story of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was 99 years old when God came to him and promised him a child. Abraham laughed. They had a child one year later, and a multitude of nations sprang from his offspring.

I don't know why we were thinking of that. Perhaps because we feel like we are 99? Perhaps because my mom is 96? Perhaps because we ate too much chili for dinner?

Some nights are like that. You just have to get through those early dawn dark hours, when things seem rather insurmountable, and move into the sunshine, where the world gets less scary. I heard the neighbor leave for his work. He leaves at 5:00 a.m. I always feel safe and secure in my bed when I hear him leave, and realize that I have two more hours before I have to get up.

Michael is in the midst of preparing for his upcoming wedding in October, and there is a lot to think about and a lot for him to manage. Like buying a home near Washington DC. I am not going to worry. And I'm also urging he and Michelle not to worry either. "Enjoy", I say. Somehow, like for Abraham, the happy promises will come true, and even things that seem insurmountable now will fall into place. Have faith!

Have a great day.

George bought this little pillow for my chair. How sweet! 

A candle holder that I think it especially cute. I'm saving this one! Oh dear, I see a problem. Some things will be difficult to part with--that's why I have so many things in the first place! 

Treasures From My Home

Today I started a new Ebay business called Treasures From My Home. I am going to sell some of the things I have collected over the years. There is a lot. I have teapots, china, candles, lace doileys, antique jewelry, rhinestone pins, tea cups, beaded evening bags...all kinds of things. It is going to fun to list them and see how they sell. I'm not looking to get rich, but I might as well get a few things out of my house and into the welcoming arms of someone else.

Too busy to write. Have to go photograph a teapot.

Have a great day!

No news is good news

I talked to mom on the phone last night. She said she had lots of stories to tell me about things around there, but she couldn't write them all down, and that she couldn't tell me on the phone. I told her to keep up her journal and we'd share them when I got there. Living around other people gives her a lot of stories to tell. She tells me what she says to crack up the other ladies at her dining table. She told me that the huge TV set in the main room by the nurses station fell to the floor and broke to smithereens. She said it scared everybody. I wonder how that happened. She told me that someone came and brought her more oranges, so she has them on her window sill. She said she is still working hard at therapy and is up to 2 pound weights on her ankles and arms. At 96, I think she is doing a lot more exercise than I do!

Winter is leaving and Spring is coming and it is time to look outside and see the birdies congregated around the seed feeders and dream of pretty plants out on the deck. Seed catalogs are arriving, and George and I are starting to plan our garden. Each year it is different. Last year we planted butterfly bushes and tomatoes. Soon we will see if Chuckie the woodchuck that lives under our garage is still here. He is a maddening little fellow, and I'm hoping that he has found a new home somewhere else.

No big news today, for which I am very grateful.

Have a good day.

Fat Tuesday

Last week, traveling through Newark from Oklahoma, I saw a couple of guys come to the gate. They were pink necked, (different from rednecks), hung over and blustery. One of them was bemoaning the fact that he really needed a drink and the other said that the drinks at the airport were a "rip off". They looked rather miserable. One was feebly trying to read an old circular about New Orleans. Yep, finally I caught on! It was Ash Wednesday! These two had the ol' Marti Gras hangover big time.

I was reading my wonderful book about Winston Churchill by William Manchester. It is called "Alone", and it is a weighty book that takes a lot of concentration. It also just plain weighs a lot, and I was determined to bring it on this trip home anyway. Mike bought it for mom to read, but she isn't ready for this book yet, so I borrowed it with her permission.

These two party boys at the airport wouldn't even be able to lift the book, much less read it.

All in all, it was a crowded, rather hot, and cramped flight back on an airplane that is really too small for a long trip. But I was reminded again how happy I am that I never drink, and that I can face anything at all and know I won't EVER have a hangover like those two.

Viva New Orleans. Viva Lent.

Scammed!

A few weeks ago right before our Sunday church service, I saw a young woman go into the sanctuary to talk with Pastor Keith. She had been crying. He went with her to his office, where he talked with her until just before he began the Sunday service. He started the service by announcing that she had come to our congregation to ask for money, because she was destitute, had spent the night outside of a shelter the night before with her two small children, and was cold, hungry and broke. The Pastor announced to the congregation that he would take up a special collection, and people reached into their pockets for extra money.

Since I used to work at a homeless shelter, I went to where this young woman was waiting in our library. I said to her that she did not have to talk with me, but that I would just sit there and keep her company. Actually, I wanted also to see for myself that she would not "bolt" or act out in some funny way. She didn't. She said that she would "like to talk to me". She cried, and talked about the shelter the night before and what a horrid experience it had been for her and her two small children. Another woman in our church who is a social worker came with the money that had been collected and counted: over $500.

The young lady cried and cried, thanked us, hugged us, and I walked her out to the car where she said a "friend she had met at the shelter, whose wife was now watching her kids" was waiting for her. I checked out the car, which was full of clothing and household items, and talked to the man who was driving briefly. He thanked me. I told him to be careful and to watch out for her. I thought that we had done as well as we could for these poor unfortunate...

scammers. Today this appeared in the Boston Globe. These people have been to many, many churches and organizations in the north Boston area, and scammed everyone for thousands of dollars. As it says in the article, they were really good! I never saw anyone cry like that on cue before.

Today our pastor said that we would all feel bad, that he was embarrassed, and that it would be hard for us to not to feel angry. Yet, he said that Christ wants us to take care of others, and that if asked if we had been bilked, we would say "Yes, and we prayed for them." And we did pray. And we all felt sad and unhappy that such a thing could take place right in our own church, in our neighborhood, in our town. But it did. They had me fooled, they had him fooled, they had many others fooled, and in the end...they are still very unfortunate and in need of Christ's, and our, forgiveness.

Nice to be home!

Boy, it is nice to be home! Back to the land of soft beds, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, fresh fish dinners (any dinners at all, in fact, and computer access at my fingertips. I like Oklahoma, and the weather was balmy, but it is nice to be back in the nest of one's own life. Mom is doing well, working hard at therapy, and living where the nurses can monitor her bad heart and her changing blood pressure. She still has fluid retention, which they are watching closely, and she needs round the clock care. I'm happy that she is there, even while I am very unhappy that she is there, if that makes any sense at all.

The high point of my trip was being able to spend time with my mom, and we had a lot of fun. She ran me ragged getting little things that will help her cope with the day. We set her up with writing materials, so she can keep in touch with people, and we got a phone card for her, though it seems unlikely that she will use it. She isn't interested on talking on the phone, for some reason I can't quite figure out. She has a TV and some books, and I got her some $16 magnifying glasses because she doesn't like her new prescription (at probably $500). She has books, and a new subscription to the El Reno paper so she can read the news. She is mentally lively, and capable of making decisions, so that is good. Her balance is very iffy, and standing or walking without her "cadillac" walker is out of the question.

For me, it is back to work this week, and then starting to make some new jewelry to please my customers. Spring is the time for arts and crafts fairs, and my inventory is depleted, so I need to get some new items made. And, I must admit, it is just time to get back to my life, whatever comes. It is nice here in Boston, and I intend to enjoy it!

Have a great day!

Greetings from El Reno

I have been in El Reno, Oklahoma for seven days taking care of things for my mom, who is in the skilled nursing facility for awhile. She is doing much better, but not well enough yet to live alone in her house, even with visiting nurses. She is well enough that she wants to write her own letters, read her mail, take care of "business" and paperwork, AND she is mad today at the therapist who gave her questions to answer about presidents and capitols of states, and things she said were "third grade stuff". She has a bone to pick with them about several things. She wants juice with her pills and will NOT accept water. I say? I say, "give 'em hell, ma." She is funny, cute, smart, determined, and practices standing straight and decided that one doesn't have to lean over the walker to walk, but can just touch it a little for a assistance. She is one wonderful lady.

The weather is 80. I enjoy it while I'm driving my brand new Buick Lacerne (s?)which is about as close to a Lincoln as I can imagine. I have decided that you know you are in a small town with you get to your destination before the seat belt alert starts ringing. My mom is blocks from her home, her church, and Wal Mart, and one block from her doctor's office and the hospital. Amazing. My cousin Gene from Minnesota was visiting here for two days, happened to come to see mom and found me here instead. We had two lovely dinners out and I really enjoyed the company. He helped me buy a new stove for mom's house so we won't have to use matches and gas ever again. Thank God. Lots of steps forward we have taken since January when she was sick in the hospital!

I am on first name basis with the clerks at Wal Mart while I lay in supplies into my mom's drawers. I will be back in a month. She misses me already. And I wish I didn't have to go home tomorrow morning at dawn. But I do. Life must go on.

Have a great day!

Buffalo Bill at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City 

Cold to Warm

On Wednesday morning I leave for Oklahoma to visit my mom in the skilled nursing facility. It has been really hard emotionally for me to handle the fact that she is there, and I am constantly concerned about her care there. I know they do their best, but "nursing homes" as they are called, are just not good places to be. I was very sad to have to see her there.

While I am in Oklahoma, we are selling a house that she owns and it is my job to go to the close and handle the business end of it. I'm just hoping that all turns out okay. I am a little nervous about this trip and don't know why exactly. I hope that I get to visit with mom a lot, get her more clothes if she needs them, get her errands done and still find some time to rest myself. I may find out when she will be able to return home, and will schedule a time to meet with her doctor. The last trip, when she was in the hospital, was much harder than this will be, so I am hoping to have some time to relax a little.

One thing I will not miss is the cold weather we have had this weekend in Boston. The house seems drafty, and I am just plain cold! I realized going out to the car tonight, that my whole body hurts with the cold. It will not be nearly so cold in Oklahoma, so I am looking forward to that.

George and I have had a good time this week watching the Olympics and I will be sorry when they are over. Seeing all those snow sports in such a cold country as the Italian Alps makes me shiver. Right now, I'm routing for SPRING!

Have a great day.

Dell Inspiron 6000 

My New Laptop!

Wow. I can't be happier about this. For three days last week, I surfed and researched and talked and talked some more. I decided I really wanted a new laptop so I could stay connected even when I am away from home. I looked at all kinds of models, and started thinking of a low-budget one, priced about $500. Ha! It wasn't long before I was throwing around gigs with the best of them, and on Friday I called Dell for the fourth time, and ordered a new Inspiron 6000 Notebook with extra memory (1Gb), extra big hard drive (60GB), extra special screen resolution (WUXGA 1,900x1,200 native resolution), and the 3 year warrantee on everything, including damage by dropping or spilling--egads!

It is a beautiful thing and I can't wait to get it. I decided NOT to force the issue by paying extra for next day delivery, so I will not have it for my trip on Wednesday to Oklahoma, but that is ok. I was watching the ca-ching of the register, and as it was, all my extras added up to more than I thought I was going to spend. Somehow, from the barebones prices quoted on my first call to the amount I ended up with---well you wouldn't know it was the same system! I told the salesman on the phone that I had learned a lot in two days of laptop shopping, and I was spinning off the terms with the best of them by our final conversation. Then it was just a matter of spinning off the numbers on my credit card and...voila, a new, beautiful, silver and white, fast and powerful laptop computer on its way!

I can't wait. Besides all the plans I have to keep better records, maybe write a book, play some games, watch DVDs, listen to music, keep up with Ebay sales and being able to email on the road,...I just plain love the looks of this one. I also bought a pretty red quilted bag to carry it it.

Oh, this is nice! I'm excited, and it feels really good!

Have a great day!

Dave's flowers 

The Storm

George and I survived the storm. Actually, survived is about the right word, since I came down with a flu-like symptom that I thought was food poisoning, but then had the same symptoms at work on Tuesday and had to leave early. It makes me dizzy, with headaches, and stomach grumbles and just general malaise. I'm sitting it out at home today and hope to be better soon!

My friend Dave died of lung cancer on Sunday. He had fought a gallant battle for almost two years, and had learned how to ask for help in getting to his hospital and doctor visits. He was an accountant, and every bit of his skills were needed to keep up with medicare payments, pharmacy charges and insurance billing. He even had to fight to keep his apartment and get reduced rent rates. Even though you get very sick, and have to deal with the sad facts, they don't make it any easier on you.

He was a lovely, dignified man, and we enjoyed having him here for Christmas Dinner. He was my "coffee buddy" at work, and we had a lot of fun and many laughs. He was a great supporter of my Ebay efforts and never seemed to tire of my talking about sales and jewelry, even though he had probably little interest in such things. He was just great, a really good friend, and I am going to miss him.

The picture here is of flowers that he sent to my home in appreciate for rides to the Doctors offices, since Dave lived alone, and did not drive a car. God Bless You Dave!

A Nor'Easter Rolls In

All day yesterday, as we heard the weather forecast for a blizzard today, George and I thought that we could still get to church today. I studied my Sunday School teachers book, and prepared the lesson. Today is a different story. The snow is blowing sideways, and the forecast is for the heavier snow to come about noon today, and pile up to 12 inches. That isn't exactly something I want to be driving in on the highway today. So, we decided to stay home. Church is probably going to be canceled, like many others, but we haven't seen it on the list of closings yet.

I talked to my mother last night at the living center, and she sounded fine, although not exactly "with it". She is tired, and seems ready to lie down most of the time. She said she watches TV a little bit. She said she is a lot stronger, so that is very good news.

George and I are facing another postponement of the church Hearts Party, because we scheduled it on a day when someone else had dibs on the fellowship hall. So I have to straighten that mess out by email tomorrow.

Seems like a good day to go back to bed.

Have a great day!

A conversation with my Mom

This blog might turn into a conversation about my mother and her recovery from pneumonia, but that is what I am thinking about, so that is what I talk about. I was able to have them bring her to the phone in the library of the nursing center last night, and I called promptly at 6 p.m. I hear "Hello!". It is my mom's strong voice. I was much relieved! She said that they never seem to run out of fruit cocktail, that they have that at almost every meal; that she had a delicious root beer float that afternoon; that she has almost too many visitors; that she walks crooked and they don't know why; that she had a nice bubble bath--all good things.

When I left Oklahoma, my mom and I said a prayer together, in which we said that we would ask for help finding the "good" in this place, and not concentrate on the "bad". I was very concerned about my mom losing interest or becoming depressed. She has had such a busy and full life in her own home. She said, "Did you hear about the nurse?" I said "no." Mom said that she ran into a nurse who refused her the juice she wants to take her pills, and she held her ground and refused to take the pills without it. The nurse got a supervisor, who brought the juice. Mom won. Hurray for mom!

Mike sent a big basket of flowers which made quite an impression. They are bright orange, pink and red carnations, a flower my mom likes because they don't die fast. I happen to be allergic to lilies and once was almost brought down by a bouquet of lilies that someone sent to my room when I was recovering from surgery. So, carnations seem to be the best choice to us. Thanks to Mike, mom has a really bright spot in her room. They also brought in a TV. Mom said the "man" came to ask if she wanted a TV, and she responded, "Well, I'd like to watch the news!". She is so alert and savvy for 96, it is not hard to see why I'm just crazy about her. The book she was reading when she got sick was the biography of Winston Churchill that Mike gave her at Christmas. She made a grand slam at the bridge table three weeks ago at the senior center. She is an amazing woman. I love her so much.

So, that is it from the homefront today. A big snowstorm heading for Boston this Saturday, so we postponed the Hearts (card game) Party at church for a week. I'm planning a quiet weekend of making jewelry and enjoying some creative moments.

Have a great day.

Catch Up

I leave again for Oklahoma to see my mom on February 22 for a week. I am counting the days and she is too. I haven't been able to talk to her, since they have to bring her to a phone, and her condition is such that she sleeps, rests, eats, and has her physical therapy. Phone time isn't included in her schedule I'm afraid. It is worrying and I am trying hard to find a place in my life where I can leave my worries behind. My friend said that when she took care of her aging parents, she found that the prayer and humor got her through. I will remember hugging my mom when she was holding a banana, and getting banana all over my glasses. That was a laugh we both shared.

In the meantime, I catch up with work, with bill paying, with house keeping, with jewelry making, and all the other aspects of life which are there--no matter what. Anyone know any good jokes?

Have a great day.

Mercy!

I just returned from Oklahoma where I spent five days at Mercy Hospital with my mother, who has pneumonia and had two heart episodes brought on by lack of potassium--a very dangerous situation indeed. She was transferred to a skilled nursing facility near her home, and I was without the internet while I was visiting her there. She is better. Neither of us was happy about her living in a facility for the time being, and both of us shed tears. But we lived through it, and her job is to work with the physical and speech therapists for two weeks and then I will go back to spend another week with her. Letting go and letting someone else take care of her was very hard for me. I hope and pray that she will be ok.

Living with the internet was almost impossible for me. If I have any "free" time, I like to commune with my friends on Ebay, and check my listings, etc. Not having any email or access made me feel very cut off. George and I are shopping for laptops so that won't happen again.

The weather is lovely and sunny in Oklahoma. The problem there is lack of rain. The grass is dry, the weather is dry, and there is no rain in the forecast. The farmers are hauling hay to the fields for the cattle and we saw many trucks with hay bales on the back. It is a disaster there if they don't get rain soon. And fire is a real threat. No smoking outside any facilities or stores, with signs of High Fire Alert all over the place.

I am home, where I hope to get a home-cooked meal for the first time in 9 days, and get a little rest as well as catch up with things at work.

Have a great day.

Much relieved!

I talked to the nurse at the hospital who went to my mom's room and helped her get the phone. My mom sounded MUCH stronger and better than yesterday. I am so relieved. She is such a trooper! The nurse said that she hadn't been my mom's nurse for much more than an hour, but it was her impression that she is "sharp as a tack." That's my mom.

Worried

It has been awhile since I wrote a blog entry and for that I am sorry. I'm busy at work, and when I get home, I get busy with jewelry and Ebay selling, and talking to my friends. I now instant message with two other beaders and it is so much fun to learn and offer each other sugggestions, encouragement and lots of compliments!

My mom is sick again. She was doing so well, and Tuesday was even out in the back yard, but she said she felt something in her chest and...now she is in the cardiat unit at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. After some soul searching, I decided to fly out there. I looked at airfares to see what the costs would be. From Boston, with short notice, it is about $700. I found a flight from Manchester NH to OKC for $279 yesterday, leaving on Sunday, and I grabbed it. At that low price, I can afford to go there again on Feb. 22 when I have another flight scheduled. Two trips is better than one I figure, and we all hope that mom can pull out of this. She is in a good hospital with good care, and I am turning the rest of it over to God. I am going to work today, and wish I could fly tomorrow, but...I decided to wait one more day. I hope I made the right decision. It weighs on me.

Sometimes I think that we just have to do the best we can, and bumble through, and try to do the next best thing.

I promise to write before I go, and also from Oklahoma.

Have a great day.

If you want to find me, here I am at my jewelry worktable. 

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Let's play more Hearts.

A few years ago, George and I started attending the annual Hearts Party at church that they hold around Valentine's Day. Since I was not a Heart player, I was slightly intimidated and wanted very much not to make a fool of myself. This feeling was accentuated by the fact that at the end of the evening, they crowed a King and Queen of Hearts, (people who had the lowest scores), and they announced the Joker...the person who had the highest score. They make these announcements of the winners in church and I desperately did not want to be announced the next morning at the church service as the "joker". I was so desperate, that it almost sorta ruined the fun for me.

I won't go into the long version here, but I played so well the second year that I attended, that I was the Queen of Hearts. It was incredibly lucky, since I am not an experienced Heart player. The third, fourth and fifth year of this event, the job of hosting this event has fallen to me by default. So, I made a few new rules: the evening would start earlier, at 7 p.m.; the evening would entail only three games instead of four, so we would be out of there long before 11:00 p.m., which was way too late for most of us; and there would be NO Joker. Woohoo. No one has to be recognized to the congregation as the worst card player of the evening. The person who had the highest score could leave merrily on their way knowing that their misfortune (or just stupid card playing) would not be announced to the whole congregation in the morning.

These were very good changes, and everyone likes them. Typically, about thirty people come, and this year it will be held on February 11th in the church fellowship hall. People bring delicious snacks and desserts, and we always have a really good time. George and I will set the tables and make up the score sheets and get out the Moon Hat the the person wears who "shoots the moon".

We are going out Saturday night to play Hearts at our friend's house. Pizza and cards. And a little much needed practice!

Have a great day!

Say yes to more time off

A few months ago, without me asking for it, my hours were cut from 40 a week to 30 a week. I get off Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 and I have Fridays off. There is a hit to the bottom line, that is for sure. My paycheck positivly creaks with lack of grease. However, I have come to look forward to each week more because there is a lot more time for what I really want to do--be creative.

I quickly learned that having a day off each week does not mean that I do more housework--although there is some time for that. Usually I spend Fridays creating new jewelry and listing jewelry items for my store in Ebay: Sparkleandcharm. This can take up most of the day, and in the afternoon I go shopping for supplies, or make something good for dinner. It is amazing to me how much time running my Ebay business takes. I spend almost one whole day each week, as well as at least two hours each day. This is not always selling, mind you, I wish it was. There is a lot of noodleing with listings, improving on pictures, writing to my friends, surfing to other sellers and buyers to do "research", and talking with my jewelry group. And, of course, there is always the purchasing from other Ebayers for beads and findings. I am always happy to support one of my buddies on the Bead Hive, the Ebay jewelry group that I enjoy so much.

We recently had four days off, and to show for them, I have a well organized beading area, a few new bracelets and necklaces, a new polymer clay area in the kitchen, and a few polymer heart pendants that are almost "sale" quality. I have been encouraged by my friends remarks that they think my polymer roses and hearts should be selling right now for at least $20. Nothing like a compliment to make you run for the work bench.

Tonight, after work, it is back to the clay table to perfect my polymer hearts. There is someting to be said for working shorter hours when I get to spend more time working at what I really love to do.

Have a great day.

George is in Hawaii so i had time to work with polymer clay. My first necklace. It looks rather elementary, my dear. But...maybe I'll wear it to the Hearts party at church. It is sorta cute...completely home-made. 

I went to K-Mart today for some beading organizers, and found this velour throw. It seemed like just the thing for Thunder to sleep on so that she wouldn't keep coming to my computer chair for a nap. She loves it. I love the color that matches her beautiful orange coat. 

George goes to Hawaii -- again

George left at six o'clock this morning for Hawaii on a business trip. He is coming back home on Sunday. Three days in paradise. Doesn't seem long enough to me, so I urged him to stay longer if he can. And I gave him my shopping list for fresh-water pearls, which they sell, and which I can make some lovely jewelry.

Kitty and I are alone and it is a long weekend. I should have time to make lots of pretty items for my next show, clean the house, and still have time left over to play Everquest and read a book.

Have a safe trip George!

Mike and Mommo 

Michelle and Michael

This weekend was an especially wonderful weekend. My mother is home safe and sound after a stay in the hospital. And Michael called to tell me he had given Michelle an engagement ring. I cannot be happier, and every time I even think of it I get tears of happiness in my eyes. It is amazing to have a wonderful son who found a lovely woman to share his life with who is just as nice as he is! They are a wonderful couple and I am thrilled beyond words!

Happy Engagement my dears, and may you live long and prosper!

A day of rejoicing

Today is a very good day. After several days of knowing that my mom was in the hospital with pneumonia, and not being able to reach her, I called this morning and she answered the phone. She is leaving the hospital today and going home. "Home sweet home", she said. She said she is steady on her feet now, although her back hurts. I'm sure she is looking forward to her nice soft bed at home. She is also looking forward to eating an apple, (she is 96 years old...one apple at a time), and putting a little salt on her food. They had her on a no salt diet because they wanted to get rid of the extra fluid brought on by the IV. She said she was going to go buy some Morton's No Salt. She is up on things, and ready to try to do what the Doctor orders. She checks her blood sugar each morning, and reports that today it was down to 100. She is a crackerjack at taking care of herself and I am so proud of her!

All I know is, this is a joyous day for me. I am home working on jewelry, and it is such a relief knowing that she is ok, and that she and I have a phone date for six o'clock this evening. I have missed talking to her, since she didn't have a phone handy enough to her hospital bed to answer it. Seems that hospitals could have cordless phones like the rest of us.

I am happy happy happy. Have a great day.

Blue lights!

I got stopped by the police last night on my way home from work. I had just crossed a railroad crossing, and I hadn't slowed down much. The police cruiser is always there, and lo, he pulled out quickly and followed me and pulled me over. Eeek. I was trying to remember if I was airborne when I crossed those tracks. I had no idea what I had done, but I thought maybe I didn't slow down enough or something.

Turns out, my inspection sticker on my car window reads 11. That is a no no. I Was going to tell him that I have been very busy with beading and Christmas preparations, but he didn't actually ask me anything or give me any time to talk. He was the nicest man! He said, "I'm not going to give you a ticket." Those were his first words. He said, "I'm going to give you a warning so you can keep it in your glove box, so if you get picked up, the next policeman won't give you a ticket either." He said, "Tickets go to insurance companies and then they raise their fees." Then he asked if I was related to a police officer named Danny Shea (I am not), who he particularly liked and said was "a hard working policeman, unlike most of them." Oops.

I like policemen. He could not have been nicer. It took a while for him to write the warning ... and needless to say, I am here happy enconsed at home this morning while the shining white knight George is off with my car to get the inspection sticker. An extra cup of coffee for me this morning. Two nice fellas!

Have a great day!

Back To Work

After all the holiday celebrations, it is back to work today. Seems strange not to have any holidays coming up. I'm making pink bracelets to sell for Valentines Day, but that hardly counts as a real holiday. Maybe for candy and flower stores it counts. I notice a lot of ads on TV for diets and exercise equipment. It is time to stop eating cookies and chocolates and pack up that lunch bag again with fruit and yogurt. I had fun, now it is back to reality.

Last night we did not achieve our goal of getting the Christmas tree undecorated. I'm reading a good book about the six unfortunate wives of Henry VIII, and I decided that was more important. By the time George came home from errands, it was already dark and time for a little soup supper. So we still have that to look forward to...blegh.

So, we get out our new 2006 calendars and start marking off the days with church meetings, board meetings, and hopefully a few fun nights out. I have not yet resorted to adding Weight Watcher meetings to the calendar, but the jury is still out. We will see how I do by myself.

Have a great day.

Is there such a thing as too much holiday?

I had four days off for Christmas and four days off for New Year, and only 2 1/2 work days. I hate to say it, but life will be good when it gets back to normal. George and I have been thinking about taking the Christmas decorations down, but we are only in the thinking and planning stages. We bought two huge red and green bins today, and that will help us next year. Last year packed things in boxes, and they were so hard to find in the attic that we never did find everything this year. But we had enough so that nothing was missed.

Today I made black eyed peas for good luck in the New Year, a southern tradition. They were delicious. I added sauteed vegetables, tomatoes, Cajun spices, and pieces of ham from the Honey Baked ham we had at Christmas. My New Year Resolution is to eat more salads, and the past three days I have served a salad. So far, so good.

Tomorrow we are going to the movies to see Memoire of Geisha. Then it is take down the tree decorations time, and then off to work on Tuesday.

A good thing. Have a great day.

My "christmas shawl". I started it on New Years Eve when Mike was here visiting and finished weaving the last thread in as the ball dropped on New Years Eve. Have a great New Year everyone! 

Happy New Year!

Another four days off from work, and I am thoroughly enjoying another long weekend. Our plans for a big New Years Eve centers around being together here at home, and George went to the grocery for some fresh fish and baker potatoes for dinner, and surprised me with a tray of bacon wrapped scallops ready to cook. Yum! New Years Ever is a good night to stay home and count our blessings.

My mother is coming home from the hospital today, and I am so grateful. Pneumonia bad enough for hospitalization is no picnic at age 96. I am thrilled that she is getting better, and there could be no better good news for me to round out 2005.

Best wishes to all and have a very healthy New Years Eve.

Christmas at our house

This Christmas, I really wanted to be relaxed, and not hectic and hurried. I think I almost accomplished that. Mike arrived on Thursday, and we had an easy dinner out. Friday was last minute Christmas shopping until the stores got crowded and the parking lots were filling up. We retreated to our house, and I made a turkey dinner with all the trimmings so that we would have yummy leftovers and I wouldn't need to cook on Christmas Eve day. George and I made two batches of cookies: spritz with color sugars, and a new recipe for date/pecan refrigerator cookies. Both were delicious. We ran out of time before we got to the sugar cookes and the gingerbread boys. Frankly, since I also made an apple pie, we didn't need any more cookies for three people!!!

We went out for a Chinese dinner on Christmas Eve and then to church for the 10:00 service where I played in the bell choir. We stayed up until after midnight! That is a big deal for George and I...the early to bedders.

Christmas Eve day I had a chance to knit on a new stole, and I continued with that relaxing project all through the weekend. I'm halfway done. Christmas Day, George went to church, and Mike and I had a leisurely breakfast, and then we opened some really beautiful gifts. George got a new digital camera, we got lots of wonderful movies and books, and I got a strand of beautiful pearls. There is more. The list is long. I knew I had accomplished my goal of a relaxing weekend, when I found myself lying on the couch reading my new book that Mike gave me, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, on Christmas afternoon. Bliss.

Christmas Day was a nice Honey Baked Ham dinner with cinnamon apples, tossed salad, baked potatoes, and Honey Baked beans, with a friend invited to help us eat it, and all enjoyed another day that seemed well-planned and not hectic at all. Christmas was like clockwork this year.

The whole Christmas weekend was like that. The weather was mild, the presents were plentiful and wrapped well before Christmas morning (unlike some years), and the food was planned to be delicious but not to keep a cook in the kitchen the whole time.

Tonight we have company invited for turkey and ham sandwiches, Baked Beans, Christmas cookies, leftover cheesecake and apple pie. We even have efficient plans for the leftovers.

Have a merry day.

Thunder found a warm spot. 

My favorite Christmas decoration. I like it so much, I leave it out all year. 

Christmas arrived on the 6:30 Delta Flight from Washington

Michael is here! Christmas has begun. He has been here for five hours and we have already cleaned out my computer files, wrapped packages, gone out for dinner, shopped at Best Buy and the supermarket and watched half a movie (Good Morning Vietnam). It is so much fun to have him here. Tomorrow is coffee at Barnes and Noble, along with some last minute Christmas shopping and cookie baking. Lots of recipes up my sleeve, and I can't wait to get started.

Have a great day.

Let 'em eat cake! 

Spilled Milk

I got up early this Monday morning, to work on my to do list for Christmas, and think about what needed to be done for our office open house tomorrow morning. I lit the candles, made myself coffee, turned on the Christmas tree lights, and was quietly enjoying dawn's early light. In a few minutes, George joined me, went to the kitchen to get his cereal, came back to the livingroom and spilled milk all over the cat. Thunder just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. After leaving a trail of milk drops across the floor, she is now in the kitchen busily trying to take a kitty milk bath.

It is a busy time of year. Yesterday I taught Sunday School, and the time I'm with the kids just flies. Looking at those pretty little faces looking up at me, and seeing how industrious they are about looking up the Bible verses and doing the puzzles and crafts, really brings to me the true meaning of Christmas. The last of the Advent candles are lit, and next week Christmas is here.

We are almost done with the wrapping and giving part and now we move on to cookies. My mother is not well, and is alone this year, so I especially want to get a pannetone bread and a box of cookies off to her. Micheal arrives on Thursday, and will help with the cookie baking part. (Right, Mike? hehe.)

Tomorrow is my office open house, and I have lots to do to pick up the platters of fruit, cheese and baked goods and prepare the coffee and punch and have it all set up by 8:00 a.m. It was my idea to have an open house, so I do it willingly and George will be there to help me do the schlepping.

It is hard to realize that Christmas Day is only one day, and a quiet one at that. All this bustle is the real "fun" of Christmas, and we might as well enjoy ourselvs in the process.

Have a great day.

A new cookbook! 

Christmas Cookies

George and I bought a new cookbook. I haven't bought a new cookbook in years I don't think. Now that you can get every recipe known to man on www.recipesource.com, cookbooks just weren't necessary. But we saw this beautiful cookbook at Barnes and Noble when we were shopping for Christmas presents and couldn't resist.

The book is called A Bakers Field Guide to Christmas Cookies by Dede Wilson, and has ALL the classic cookies, like Gingerbread, Sugar cookies, Springerle, Spritz, Pfeffernusse, Thumbprint cookies, Vanilla Crescents and Moravian Ginger Cookies. It is a wonderful little book and as George said this morning, "We gotta get going on them". We have the butter, the sugar, the flour, and the spices. Cookies are amazing little critters, since they are all just a variation on a wonderfuly sweet theme.

George and I were still Christmas shopping last night in a Kohls store at 10:30 p.m. It was midnight madness sale and we had a $20 Cash Coupon to use. We went to a Christmas Party first, and had dinner and cokes, and then people started smoking and the music (kareoke) got loud, so we said our goodbyes and and went shopping. We had fun at the party, but staying a long time at parties is not our scene. We'd much rather be up early making cookies and wrapping Christmas presents.

It is the Saturday before Christmas and there is lots to do.

Have a great day!

Cookies! 

Our Christmas Tree at night, with peachy pink poinsettias, white hydrangea blossoms, red roses, white snowflakes, lavender & pale green balls and big maroon and gold bows. This is NOT your traditional Christmas tree! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

George and I worked our little patooties off this weekend getting the house ready for Christmas. First on our list was some early Saturday morning Christmas shopping. We hit the stores at the right time and found many things that we think our family and friends will like. We had coffee and cocoa at Barnes and Nobel and I bought a fun book of Christmas cookie recipes that I just HAD to have. I plan on making candy cane cookies this weekend.

We went to the storage unit that we rent to get out the pre-lighted Christmas tree that we bought last year. It was big and beautiful in the store, and we set it up last year and really loved it. Then...reality struck when we had to take it down and put it away. These trees will NEVER again fit in the box they came in, so we wrapped it in three large black bags. As we were taking it out of storage on Saturday, we were amazed!! at how heavy it was. Somehow, when you are smiling up at these beautiful trees on display, you don't even consider whether you will be able to lift them or fit them in your car. But we got home with it, set it up and I decorated until my back hurt. We worked really hard on it, and I love my Southern Christmas Tree.

George put up lights outside to my "grand design". We decided that each year it is a little harder because I always come up with something different I want to do. This year we put two small trees on either side of the door, and a garland that frames the door, hanging on the posts. We have a big lighted wreath and I'm going to put small red bows on the trees--something I liked in a Martha Stewart magazine. We are going to skip the icicle lights this year.

Each year, when Michael comes, we have a "tradition" of driving around looking for droopy drawer lights. This may sound silly. It IS very silly. It just started when I was appalled at how many people put up icicle lights and drape them off their houses in a scallop pattern. Have you ever seen icicles hanging in a loosely draped pattern off a roofline? Not. Icicles hang hard, cold and straight across. So, now we drive around looking for these "droopy drawer" lights and have even though of surrepticiously leaving little flyers on doors that say, "You have Droopy Drawer Lights. Merry Christmas."

We are not finished decorating, and haven't even begun the wrapping and packing, but...Christmas is definitely here!

Have a great day.

Christmas Preparation Day

George and I went shopping this morning, and by 9:00 we were in the store with our list. We managed to get most of what we needed in three separate stores and had time to stop for hot chocolate, coffee and scones at Barnes & Nobel while we shopped there. We had a good time. I usually don't have problems with Christmas shopping. Maybe it is because I go with an idea of what I want for each person, but I'm open to suggestions. If the store puts out something that I like,...then why quibble. I buy what I see rather than shop for hours for something that I can't find. I think people on our list will like our presents, and we had fun doing it.

Afterwards, we made a trip to the storage unit to get our big Christmas tree. It is artificial, and suits us fine. I spent the afternoon putting on ornaments, and adding my special "southern" touch of silk and flocked poinsettias, roses and hydrangeas. I add the big maroon and gold bows, and...voila...a very pretty tree! I came up with this idea two years ago when we visited New Orleans and Mississippi, and saw the trees there that were decorated with flowers instead of tinsel. I loved it then, and came up with our own version. At a hotel in New Orleans, they had a white flocked tree decorated with huge navy blue bows and gold ornaments. It was a knockout.

Tomorrow we will decorate the porch, put up the new candy cane lights on the lawn, and make a batch of cookies.

Whew.

Have a good day.

Let it snow!!! 

Snow Day!

Today is one of those days that you dream about. A snowy day, and both George and I have the day off! We had planned to put the Christmas tree up this morning, but George reminded me that it is in its big box in the storage unit, which is a long snowy drive from here. We think the roads will be plowed by this afternoon and we will be able to do errands and some Christmas shopping.

This morning I made a pair of chandelier earrings before I even had my first cup of coffee. I have a lot of beads waiting, and today seems like a good time to get to it. We also plan to decorate the front porch railings. I bought artificial greens, large sparkly poinsettas and tiny red lights. The Christmas Tree will be in our southern tree again this year, which is covered with huge flowers and bows. I can't wait to get started!

God is good. Today is truly a blessed day, full of decorating, jewelry making, and cookie baking. What could be nicer.

Have a great day.

A view from the front porch. 

Holidays are here already!

The to-do list is getting longer, which means that Christmas is almost here. Besides the lights to be strung, the tree to be decorated, and the cookies to be baked, there is an open house at our new office, a Christmas luncheon, and special Christmas practices for the bell choir. At home, at work, and at church, things are very busy.

It is also "gift" time, and besides buying things for my family, I am making jewelry for other people to buy to give to THEIR families. Wow. Things get heated up aruond this time of year.

Michael made his reservations and gets here on the Thursday before Christmas. We have already bought the turkey for Christmas dinner, and I'm going to get a spiral baked ham as well. Time to invite someone else over to help us eat it.

Time to get started....

Have a great day.

Teaching the little ones. 

Sunday School Teacher added to the list

Today was my first day as Sunday School Teacher. I like it! I had four young people in the class this morning and we had a great time. They were eager to read and study the Isaiah verses and were wonderful at figuring out the puzzle in the workbook. We talked about darkness and light, and the promise of the Messiah and what that meant to a dark world. We strung Christmas lights on our table, and had a great time getting to know one another.

It was a good hour and I'm happy that they have accepted me as their new teacher. Sometimes blessings come to us when we are least expecting it. I never intended to teach, but answered a call to come in for two months, and today I asked to make it permanent. I love it and I'm sure I will learn as much as I teach.

Have a great day!

Breakfast at our house! 

Don't let the turkeys get you down!

George and I were leaving for work this morning, both of us going out the door at the same time. We came to a sudden stop. There, going down the front walk, were 24 wild turkeys. They looked like they were taking a leisurely stroll in the neighborhood.

I came back in the house to get something, since there was no way we were going to be pulling our cars out into a gaggle of turkeys. I went out later, and both the turkeys and George were no where to be found. As I got into my car, I see George standing in his white shirt and tie, pouring seed from a liter jar onto the driveway, surrounded by all 24 turkeys! He looked like he was feeding the ducks. He looked at me in wonder, and I had to laugh out loud. What a great sight to see as I was pulling out of the driveway.

We are wondering where on earth these turkeys go during the weeks when we do not see them. There is a small woods near our house, but development has carved away at it until it is almost non-existant. We talked about the fact that wild turkeys live in trees. They live somewhere nearby, that is for sure. And then, George was wondering why they don't come back more, since we are obviously soft touches, as we scramble to get another liter jug of bird seed every time they come to visit.

I have had a busy week, and there is another craft show on Saturday. I need to hurry and make more jewelry, since Ebay sales have been good, and my inventory is way down.

Too busy to talk more turkey.

Have a great day!

Long Drive Home

George and I left Michael's house in Alexandria at 8 a.m. on Saturday, and drove 519 miles to our house and arrived at 6:30 p.m. A very fast drive considering that it is one of the most heavily traveled days of the year. We came to a complete stop twice on the dreaded New Jersey Turnpike, but then the traffic cleared and we zoomed through the tolls with our new EZPass, and we zoomed down the Garden State Parkway, across Connecticut and into Massachusetts. Even the Mass Pike was no problem. During one of the rest stops, I had to wait in a long line of women to get to the ladie's room, but the line moved relatively quickly, we grabbed a Starbucks and were off again.

We didn't stop for dinner, but had a snack of cheese and crackers in the car. I'll be cleaning up the crumbs for days.

We had a great Thanksgiving Dinner, made some new friends, and had a wonderful time in Washington. On the day after Thanksgiving, George and I braved the crowds and went to Tyson's Mall in Arlington VA, and even there, we didn't have any problems. As we left the mall at noon, the crowds were coming, and we were having trouble walking the mall, so we went to the car the got out of Dodge.

We are very grateful that our ride there and home was so easy. One year, we got to the New Jersey Turnpike on Saturday, and found that it was stop and go all the way, adding at least two hours to our trip. This year, maybe because of EZPass, we made it there and home without any trouble at all: 519 miles exactly.

Now it's a downhill slide to Christmas!

Have a great day.

Thanksgiving Trip to Washington

George and I left on Monday afternoon for Washington DC, and I am writing this blog entry from my son Michael's house in Alexandria, VA. We had a good trip, after a rather rocky start. There seemed to be a lot to do to get ready, and I had several packages to get into the mail. It is my mother's 96th Birthday on November 30th, and I had several birthday presents, as well as Ebay shipments to get out to the post office. I had to go to work on Monday, because our office had just moved, and that was stressful. The house had to be ready for the house cleaners, the bags needed to be packed, and to top it all off, George had a toothache.

George called for an emergency appointment with his dentist for Monday noon, and when I called him later in the day, he was home. Guess what. He'd had a root canal! I thought that would lay one up for weeks, but George is a trooper. He and the dentist both decided that he was fine, and it would be no problem to leave on a long car trip, so that is what we did! What a guy!

We packed up the car, and left at 4:00, drove to Fishkill, NY and stayed at a nice Hampton Inn where we had made reservations, and then drove through New Jersey and Delaware yesterday and got to Mike's house at 3:30. It rained a lot both days of driving, but it didn't seem to dampen our spirits one bit. We were shaved, showered and breakfasted and on the road by 7:15 on Tuesday morning. It was a very nice drive and we enjoyed seeing all the ducks in the fields in Deleware. I hope they have a good Thanksgiving too, but they sure looked like cannon fodder to me. It must be hunting season there, and I've never seen so many low flying ducks and geese.

We drove into Mike's parking are, just as he came home from work to meet us. We always have a great time here. We went for Japanese food last night, and tonight will meet Michelle for dinner and have Thanksgiving dinner at her parents house in Maryland. I have not met them and I'm really excited! We stopped at an outlet mall and went to Pfaltzcraft for a gift. I bought a cheese tray and knife, and we bought several nice cheeses to go with it. Today we will go to Panera for bread and crackers. A visit to the flower store will be on the "to do" list for today for flowers for Michelle's mom.

I'm also baking an apple pie to take tomorrow and brought along the beautiful huge gold Mutsu apples form New Hampshire to make a pie that is really special!

Have a GREAT THANKSGIVING everyone.

Sparkle and Charm goes to the Craft Fair

The craft fair on Saturday was a success! It was not a great success for my friend who makes jewelry, and had a table across the room from me. But, people like the necklaces and earrings I make, and I sold as much as I could have expected to, and was very pleased. I had set my goal high for this one, and realized afterwards that I didn't even have enough inventry to meet that high goal. I sold at least 10 necklace and pairs of earrings, and people liked the beaded gold swirl ribbon bookmarks too. Some of my items I marked down at the end of the day, and that was fine too.

Craft fairs are not really all about the vendors. They are really all about getting the customers to come in a shop, but organizers don't know that yet. I think they put so much effort into the vendor side of things, that advertising gets second place and the crowds that we expected at this recent fair never materialized.

I have a lot of fun talking to everyone. Lots of people stop to stare at my necklaces, since they have never seen anything like them before. Then I tell them how they are made, and some people move on, and others love them too and want to buy one or two. I have even had some teenage girls buy them, which REALLY pleases me, since they are very sophisticated shoppers these days.

After the fair, George and I packed up the lamps, tables, cloths, inventory that was left, and baskets, and went home to a pizza and bedtime at 8:30 p.m. We were exhausted and happy. A good day.

A busy week

My office is moving this week to a new building, and all the packing was up to the seven of us. They brought in big orange bins, which are stackable, and are on wheeled carts, and we just put everything in the carts. It hasn't been hard at all, but it is still hard for me to leave the old office with the huge windows that I have enjoyed so much.

George is going to his flying club meeting tonight where he will be nominated for President of the club. That is exciting and I hope everything goes well. Go George!

Saturday is the craft show in Wakefield, and I have been making jewelry like a madwoman, and putting it in the "box" to go. I have about 30 necklaces and 200 pair of earrings, as well as 20 bookmarks, which I will sell for $4 each. My feeling is that not everyone brings a lot of money, and sometimes you just want to buy something that won't break the bank.

We are busy at every turn, and enjoying thinking about our drive to Washington DC on Monday for Thanksgiving. I went to a sale and bought five new sweaters in pretty colors, so I'm all ready for the fun week with Michael.

Have a great day!

Mug Shots

George and I had our picture taken yesterday at the church for the new church directory. Before we got there, we drove to New Hampshire to buy apples and squash. We stopped at a few stores, and then on to the church for our 5:15 appointment. When we walked in the door, we knew something was up. Everyone there had a dour expression and looked pretty unhappy. Turns out, the photographers were more than an hour behind, and everyone had nothing to do but sit there in their pretty dress-up clothes and visit. It was enforced visiting.

We drove off to a hobby store, and I looked at beads for thirty minutes, and then we went back to the church and I changed out of my Red Sox sweatshirt, and into a jacket and scarf. George changed in to a tie, shirt and jacket. We both were wearing jeans from the waist down, but the photo wouldn't show that.

Everyone laughed about being dressed from the top up.

They took our picture and we went into the room where the saleslady was. Turns out, they took lovely photos of us, and now all we had to do was choke down that the cost of the "lowest package" cost about $200. We didn't want to pay anything. In the end, the good pictures of me, and of us, spoke to us, and we ordered three 5x7's of one and one 5x7 of the other. We had already stood up to go when she offered us a lower price. She said it would be $90, but by the time she added shipping and handling and insurance, the cost flew up to $140. By that time, George and I had already invested about two and a half hours of our Veterans Day holiday evening into this production, and he handed her his credit card. We felt a little ripped off, but we also saw that the pictures were really beautiful and framable, and would be nice for...Christmas presents?

Get ready Mom and Mike. Santa's coming.

Have a great day.

A holiday on Friday, woohoo!

Today is Veteran's Day, and I am very happy. Even though I always have Fridays off, I found out yesterday that for every holiday that I am already off, I get a floating holiday, which means I can use that time any other working day. That seems like a pretty good deal to me. Of course, I'm not getting rich, but I do have a lot more time now to do the things I love to do, like make jewelry and list it on Ebay.

George is home today and we have no plans at all. He is going to work outside on the garden and I am going to clean out the pots on the deck and get ready for winter. We have a lot of bulbs to plant today, both here and at church.

Time to get started.

Have a great day!

Thanksgiving Plans

November is here. The trees in New England are not nearly so colorful this year, but most have changed now to a deep orange rust color. The air is crisp and people have gotten out their LL Bean velour I've noticed. The sky today is a white, cloudy sky that looks like winter.

For some reason, my calendar for November is filling up with appointments, dinners, and meetings. It is a busy time. Then, Thankgiving comes, and it all seems to start a fast slide into the hoiday rush. I am very excited about our Thanksgiving car trip to Washington DC for Thanksgiving. It is a crowded time on the highways, but we have decided to go anyway, and will make a stop in Atlantic City to put a few quarters into the slot machines. One year we did that, made a haul of quarters at one machine, and used those quarters for tolls all the way home. It was fun. I always have a box of goodies to cook with and a few extra pots and pans that I need at Michael's house. The doorman in Atlantic City that year didn't seem to mind at all when we had him park our car, and I said, "don't let anyone steal my turkey that is in the back".

We enjoy the drive through Deleware, and don't enjoy at al the drive home on the New Jersey Turnpike, but...we will allow for 2 days for a 1 day ride, and we will make it home fine I'm sure. No matter what, it will be worth it to see Mike at Thanksgiving!

Have a great day.

A little busier than I like it

Time to let my blogging audience, (if I have one), know what is going on. I have been very busy with my jewelry business. Over the past two months I have worn a path from the diningroom photo studio to the computer to list hundreds of pictures on Ebay. I do not have this down to a science. Each photo is labored over, edited, color balanced, thought about, and each description is hand written with a lot of thought. Ebay told me that when you open a store, it is best to sell items that are the same, so that you can write one description and then just keep relisting. I'm not doing that yet. All my jewelry is different. Each piece comes right from the heart, and I take a lot of interest in making each piece different. I am a jewelry designer and creater, not a robot.

Will this worn out patch of carpeting between the two rooms lead to anything? George said this morning, "well, you are having fun with it." "Trying to make money on your hobby is a little different". I'm not making money, of course, but I am making just enough to pay my Ebay bills. Urg. Not enough money to pay for the beads yet.

But my life has taken another turn I think, and I am committed to making jewelry and getting it out to people who love to wear it. I make far more than I could ever wear, and I love making something that someone else likes enough to pay for it. I lay awake and think about new designs, and I love shopping for beads, of course. Doesn't everybody?

My prices are low. My hopes are high. I feel like the hours that I spend doing what I really love to do are worth the effort. My favorite times are working quietly at the jewelry bench with a cup of herb tea and some classical music. Oh, and of course, when I do that happy dance when something sells!

Have a great day.

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Photo editing for hours and hours

Today I worked on new logos for my jewelry business on Ebay. I have Corel Paintshop for another two days from my free 30 day trial. It is a complicated program and gives me a headache. This morning Michael told me about another program that is free, called Gimp.org. I downloaded that and started playing with it. It took hours. I don't know what I'm doing, but...this is what I have to show for about two hours work tonight.

See Mike?

"More caffeine?" "Yes, please."

My mother took me aside when I was at her house in Oklahoma. Taking me by the shoulders, and looking at me square in the eyes, she said, "Yvonne, you are drinking too much caffeine." She really took exception to my preference for dark coffee. She likes her coffee rather caramel colored, so you can see thought it. I like mine so you can stand a spoon up straight in it, as they said in cowboy times.

I know that everyone in Massachusetts is addicted to Dunkin' Donuts coffee. It is not hard to tell that, since there is a Dunkin on every corner. I got used to having a medium tall coffee every morning, and now that is a very hard habit to break. Today I went until 10 without coffee, and then broke down and walked to the convenience store for a coffee. Aha! They had run out of regular roast, and had Pumpkin. It was GREAT! I now have a new addiction--pumpkin flavored coffee.

I take mine with a little real half and half. That too, is probably not a good thing, since that little bit of cream every day adds up in unneeded calories. But, that too is something I like which I am not ready to give up.

My mother is much better at giving up things than I am. Hence, she is going to celebrate her 96th birthday at the end of this month. She gave up sugar in her tea and cream in her coffee years ago. Now she uses plain iced tea, with nothing in it, a habit I can hardly think about. She gave up desserts recently when they started monitoring her blood sugar. "No thank you" are her favorite three words I guess. Mine are "Bring it on!"

Have a great day!