Made this postcard for a friend. The room is finished! I will post a photo later.

Stuff in a Bottle!

Sometime ago I joined a bottle-swap....I got it yesterday!!! All this stuff was stuffed into this bottle! It's amazing how much you can cram into one of these!!! Thank-you to Liz Curtain in New York for sending me some really cool and different goodies!

Things to Be HAPPY About FRIDAY!!!!!

It's Friday already!!!!!! Holy Smokes....I don't know where this past week went? I 've been buried in the art room sorting through piles and piles of paper! I took a break yesterday and went outside to take a photo of this lovely sage bush...it's always the last to bloom. I hope to finish the art room today.... I do have some errands to run...but...Here are 10 more things to be HAPPY about on this FRIDAY!!!!!!!
1. running down a beach.
2. sunrise at 5am.
3. turning a plush bath sheet into a sarong.
4. yard sales.
5. a silly bubble of anticipation.
6. carrying cups of coffee out to the porch to enjoy the morning sunshine.
7. dreaming on the riverbank.
8. late roses.
9. wet babies.
10. feeling witty, confident, devastatingly feminine.
And.......five more for good measure....
11. photography.
12. a rolltop desk.
13. imparting an aura of passion, childlike innocence, or serenity.
14. rural roadside stands.
15. a street full of bookstores and art galleries.

Think on these things for abit...they should bring a nod and smile to your face!!! Have a LOVELY Friday...EVERYONE!

I managed to create this weekly challenge theme card last night....It's the 5 of Spades...theme is cowgirls...cowboys...Western. I should be finished with the art room today...HOPE.....HOPE.....

A Little Bit of Yesterday.......

Here are the cabinet cards I found yesterday...I love this one...what a fine looking couple! On the back of this one is written..."I was 32 yrs. old"....I love looking at these cards...I always wonder about these people's lives....I especially love the baby cards...Do you ever wonder why these people never smiled??????

I love this precious baby card!

At least I have music......while working in the art room! It's all set and ready to go!

Okay.....The shelves in the hutch are "getting there"......I hope to finish that room today!!! (Except for all the paper I must go through)...If anyone needs any kind of paper item???!!! just let me know...I have tons of it...and I'm most happy to share! Background paper?????
I looked in some antique shops yesterday for cabinet cards...I joined a swap to alter 3 cabinet cards...If anyone has a surplus of cabinet cards I'd be willing to trade for something?????
I'm always tired at this time of year...the days getting shorter....getting darker earlier....the body is starting to adjust to daylight savings time right around the corner...makes it harder to get up in the morning....I don't know where the Summer went!????? It is still really warm here during the day....as soon as the sun goes down you can feel a tiny bit of Fall in the air...Fall comes late to Northern California...we see the leaves change colors...but...not for very long....and then Winter is upon us...which is usually pretty mild....Someone asked me the other day what my plans were for the holidays???? I'm NOT even ready to go there yet!!!! Part of me is still in that "Indian Summer Mode".....starting to think just a tiny bit about Halloween!

This is how I feel today because PROGRESS is being made in the art room....I will work more on it later and post a picture! I'm running late today because Blogger was being very stubborn this morning! I have to go run a bunch of errands...post office...etc. I was tagged by Lisa yesterday. Go check out her blog at http://handofenchantment.blogspot.com/

The Rules are:

1. Grab the book nearest to you...no cheating!

2. Open to page 123

3. Scroll down to the fifth sentence.

4. Post text of next 3 sentences on to your blog....name the book and the author. Tag 3 people.

I think it could be said that in the last decade of her life Teresia was in her old age. I do not know if elephants become senile. Teresia always seemed to have all her faculties intact.

Taken from...."INTIMATE NATURE" The Bond Between Women and Animals. This is a collection of many different stories about animals written by (just to name a few)...Dian Fossey...Jane Goodall...Barbara Kingslver...Susan griffin...Marge Piercy....etc.

I now TAG.....Maryellen.....Beth.....and Daisy........

The Arrival

We made it back!!!!! Safe and sound! The hutch is in the art room...WHAT A DAY !!!!!!! Button and Becca picked us up at 10 am...we thought we'd make it back by noon....HA!!! When I looked at the time it was 3pm...and that was only the beginning...Andy and I did manage to get that hutch into the art room....and inch it into place...that sucker is HEAVY!!!! Now my REAL job is about to begin!!! Clean the mess....I got up early this morning and cleaned the hutch with furniture polish... cleaned all the glass with windex...I even took cu-tips and cleaned in all the grooves...NOW...S-L-O-W-L-Y...I am working on it....doing laundry....I also need to go to the grocery store today....so..I am back and forth from doing things in the house...then the art room...on...and on! I'll get it done!!! It will drive me crazy until it's finished! I just have to learn patience...patience! patience! HELP!!!!

Movin the Hutch......checkin things out....

The MESS....hutch is in the room!

The mess in the art room....Yikes! The hutch is at least in the room....and ready for me to clean......

Kids and Cousins

I found this picture in the mess I created in the art room.....This was taken right after we moved out here to California...from left to right....Tina, Laura, Larry, Vicci Ann, and Maryellen holding Button on her lap.

YIPPEE!!!!!!! We are on our way down to Sacramento to get the hutch!!!!!! I will take photos....Hope everyone has a YUMMY Saturday!

Some Angels Live in Jars !!!!!!!!

Remember I was telling you yesterday about my glass assemblage that was lost in the mail...Well...I spent all morning yesterday tracking it down! I talked to representatives...managers...regional managers...neighbors...until finally I was told that the driver dropped it off on someone's doorstep...(not mine)...the driver's note said the house was across from a winery...had a wide drive-way...and was green in color....soooooo...since I had to go run an errand....I decided to look for this house myself! To make a long story short..I found the house! My package was sitting on their front porch....nobody was home...I took it! An hour or so later when I got home...here comes the DHL delivery truck...I told him I got the package....he was happy....I was happy.....and here is my precious little "Angel in a Jar"...made by my friend Barbara Smith...Isn't she adorable!!??? I just love her...I love how Barbara used cotton for the clouds...and the little gold stars, and wings... the look on the angel's face is so sweet...Thank-you Barbara!!!!! Talk about hitting the jackpot this week on getting "Goodies"...all the garage sales....thrift stores....packages....I made out like a little bandit!!!!

This is a little wonderful fun book that I've had for years and years....I just found it again ...(when cleaning the art room)....This is the cover of the book...and below is a page from the book. When your cleaning out drawers...and cupboards...and boxes...and closets...and shelves...ya never know what you might find! Kinda like Christmas all over again!
Getting ready for that new hutch...TOMORROW!!!!!!

10 Things to be Happy about Friday.........

1. spending the morning in bed, watching old movies, collaborating on the crossword puzzle, making popcorn, napping, exchanging long stiries of childhood, ordering in pizza, and just being lazy.
2. a cathedral of trees.
3. knee socks
4. seeing happy parents.
5. the brisk dusk of a late October evening.
6. the cool underside of a pillow.
7. tiger-stripe cats.
8. getting home, turning off the telephone, turning on the radio, and hopping into a scent-filled tub for one hour.
9. swingsets
10. crisp cotton dresses.
I decided to make it 15 things this Friday....(just for the happiness of it).....
11. whispering.
12. chicken-filled tacos
13. building a birdhouse.
14. making new bookstore friends.
15. wild roses over a cottage door.

Weekly theme card for the art challenge deck. 4 of Spades....theme is vintage Children.

I love getting mail! I've been expecting a package from one of my swaps...a glass assemblage. Barbara Smith and I swapped fairies in a jar....a package came yesterday...I assumed it was my little fairy...at the time I was busy baking cupcakes....so I set the package in the art room...
Well......SURPRISE!!!!!!!
Last year I made a trip to Modesto to meet a bunch of friends from one of my art groups...We each picked a name and traded keys...we were told to send something to our partner using the key. I sent my partner Penne an altered book...."Life things" happen...I never did get my key. Sooooo....yesterday when I opened my package I found this beautiful cigar box purse!!!! You guessed it! It was from Penne....see the key on the front of the purse (left side)....this only goes to show you that "good things do come to those who wait"!!!!! The purse is also covered with beeswax....sooo cool! Thank-you so much Penne! I LOVE it!
Now....about the fairy jar from Barbara....it was mailed on the 12th....I haven't received it yet...soooo....I get the tracking page this morning from DHL....it said they left it on my doorstep on the 18th! I don't know who's doorstep they left it on...but, IT WAS NOT MINE !!!! I just can't believe the mail systems and delivery systems around here at times....DUH!!??? My family has lived in this same house for over 40 years....you would think that by now...they could GET IT RIGHT!!!!!! Anyway...maybe my little fairy will make it to me one of these days.....on to happier things....I'm cleaning out the art room to make a space for the new hutch! I'm going down to get it on Saturday morning!!!! I can't wait to start putting things away!!!! YES !!!!!!!!

This angel and the vase below are two more garage sale and thrift store finds...the angel was 1.00...and the vase was 3.00...I am going to use both outside in the garden.

It has always been my dream to have a library! Book shelves from floor to ceiling.....this is one of the reasons why! I NEVER have enough book shelves!!!!!

I am actually making some progress in the art room...the desk is clean...and I'm working on a space for the new hutch! I plan on doing that...as well as some art today!

I made Andy some birthday cupcakes yesterday!!!!!!

An's birthday card.....

Happy Birthday.... My Love...My Heart...!

Happy Birthday...Andrew Bryan..."An"......Take a look at these photos...and Remember! All the GOOD....not so good...lots of great.....more great....hard times...happy times....sad times....magical times....all moments in time.....and....I wouldn't trade THEM or YOU for ANYTHING! Have a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY ....."THIS WOMAN LOVES YOU"!!!!!

June calendar page for Marcy.....

This helicopter went back and forth so many times yesterday...so low....everytime it went over it shook the house....Andy went outside and snapped this photo. I am not complaining...this helicopter is carrying water to a forest fire that broke out yesterday near the little town of Kelsey....September and October are the most dangerous months for forest fires in California....after the long HOT Summer... before the first rain everything is so dry.....the firefighters in this area do a excellent job!

Calendar page for Marcy finished...working on another one right now....

Are We Having Fun??!!!!!!!!

Me and the beautiful Amanda.....at the Elton John concert! Thanks to Heather for taking this photo!

"Still Havin Way Too Much FUN"!!!!!

Saturday morning after the EJ night....Mary and I drove around her neighborhood doing the garage sale scene....(believe me...Maryellen can spot a garage sale a mile away)! That woman has a nose for spotting the BEST ones! Let me just say....I CAME away from Sacramento with TONS more stuff than I came with!!! I'll put it this way...I'm making arrangements right now to go BACK down to Sacramento on Saturday to pick up a beautiful piece of vintage furniture that is in excellent condition....and was an absolute STEAL!!!! I almost fainted when I heard the price!
I am SMILING SOOOOO HUGE RIGHT NOW!!!!!
There are many things that I can do with this...but..I have decided to put it in the studio! (for now)....hey....who knows???? just maybe it will give me more space in there...so I am better organized!!!
No laughing now! too hard anyway!!!!
I've been really really cleaning the studio today to make room for this....that's it in the photo...I can't wait to get that thing home...and start in!!!
NOW....I'M downright GRINNING!!!!!!
I also managed to score some GREAT old prints and paper for my ART...lots of "little doo-dads" for embellishment...a really cool old looking urn that I'm going to use as a planter for outside...a beautiful table runner with lace on the ends that is in perfect condition...a smaller type cabinet with little doors and shelves....PLUS.....Mary gave me a HUGE bag of beads.....!!! and beautiful Amanda and Sara bought me my Elton John T-shirt!!!! My cup runneth over this weekend!!!! I am so grateful!!! and FULL of so much LOVE right now...I could burst!!!! Thank-you...Thank-you....Thank-you!!!!!!! XXXXOOOOOOOO

"Fantastical" FUN and The Captain and The Kid

Arco Arena....Sacramento, California...Friday night at 8pm was the ONE and ONLY place to be!!!!!!! Elton John rocked the place for a solid 3 hours!!!! (MAN!!!! can he whale on that piano...or what!!!?????) He opened the show with "Philadelphia Freedom"..and continued to play hit after hit song which included......Levon....Tiny Dancer....Rocket Man...Crocodile Rock...Daniel..Saturday's alright for Fighting...Yellow Brick Road....Candle In the Wind...Bennie and the Jets...Don't Let the Sun go Down on Me...The Bitch Is Back...Someone Saved my Life Tonight...Guess That's Why They Call it The Blues...and more!!!! He told everybody about his new CD...."The Captain and The Kid".....
This CD is about his relationship with his friend and songwriter (one of the best songwriters I might add), Bernie Taupin...and the wonderful music they both created over a span of 30 years. Elton played a total of 9 songs from that new CD...and they are awesome!
After rockin...for an entire 3 hours....and 2 encores...later...he finished off the night with "Your Song"....everyone was singing and "flickin the Bics" to that one!!! I personally danced...sang...clapped...screamed...yelled.....and downright rocked and rolled...for 3 hours until I was about ready to collapse...and I was LOVIN every single wonderful kick-ass music stompin bit of it!!!!!! I think I'm still on a "Too much fun high"!!!! I've been playing Elton John CDs ever since I got back home!
The girls dropped me off back at Mary's place alittle after midnight...(it took alittle longer getting home because we got LOST in the parking Lot trying to find the car after the concert)...maybe it was those 8.00 cups of Bud Light!....) haha! Anyway...I was one tired but HAPPY little camper!
My poor cousin...Maryellen...she didn't even go to the concert...after all that planning and looking forward to it!!!! she decided the day before the concert to come down with that same flu that Beth had!!!! She gave us her blessing...and told us to "Go...and Have fun"....and WE DID EXACTLY THAT!!!!! just for her!!!! Bless her for being so SWEET!!!!
Sacramento was the 1st stop on Elton's tour....he will be playing in Utah....Idaho...Seattle...Oregon...BC and AB Canada...PA....and Atlantic City New Jersey...If you are in those areas...and get a chance to go....GO!!!!!! You will not be disappointed!
*******"It's alittle bit funny....this feeling Inside"********
*******"I'm not one of those ...who can easily hide"*******
*******"Don't have much money....but...if I did"*******
*********"I'd buy a big house Boy...where we both would live"******
I JUST LOVE that SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS......The picture above is the cover of the new CD "The Captain and the Kid"...that's Elton on the piano...(of course)...and Bernie on the horse...He now lives on a big beautiful ranch...that is where this photo was taken!
The rest of my weekend...is posted above! (It ain't over yet!!!!!!)

Okay.....this should really give you a laugh for this Friday!!!! LOOK at my hair!!!! This style was called "The DoubleBubble"......my 8th grade graduation. Me and my Gram Klare....(my Grandmother made the beautiful eyelet dressing that I'm wearing).
Well kids.....tonight is the ELTON JOHN concert!!! I am excited!!!!! AND before I go get ready....here are 10 more things to be HAPPY about for TODAY!!!!!
1. cloudy days and sunny thoughts.
2. crocheted bedspreads.
3.frosted-glass ceilings and pin-capped chandeliers.
4. ghost stories and marshmallows by a fire.
5. working on a project.
6. 50s music
7. sauntering.
8. true, lasting values.
9. braking for rainbows.
10. secret love notes and candy hearts hidden all over.
AND......my HAPPY thing for today is....."That I no longer wear my hair in the "Double-Bubble style!"......AND....that it is CONCERT NIGHT FRIDAY!!!!!!!! Hope EVERYONE has a DELIGHTFUL weekend!

It's Raining Photographs....

I have never posted a pic of me and my brother!!!! So...here it is!!!!!! Taken moons ago...I LOVE looking at the pictures of our LIFE...
I'm still working on cleaning the studio!.....I have boxes and boxes of photos in the closet... I get side-tracked....start looking at all of them....there goes the afternoon....that's why I can't ever get that room cleaned!!!!
And...the big news today!!!! It actually RAINED!!!!! I went outside and played with my doggie.... got all wet...it felt wonderful...only thing is.... it didn't last long enough! It sure does smell good .... All clean and fresh!

Us 4

This was taken a few years back.....it's Me.....My sistah..Tina.....My Mom...and My sistah...Button. I posted this in honor of Button's birthday!!!! and My Mom...of course...who us girls MISS dearly!

For SAS....

I posted these pics before...but , I'm posting them again for SAS....and I threw Dave in..."just cause"........

Mr. Aaron Neville

Mr. Dave Navarro......

I'm off to the "Boob Squishers"......will post some later....oh...Happy Wonderful Birthday to my "Little Sister"...Button....I LOVE YOU tons Honey....Have a simply BEAUTIFUL day!!!!!