BloomingPink

I have recently decided I needed to add one more thing to the list of things I regularly do...demonstrating. I thoroughly enjoy stamping. The first time I saw the rubber and wood. When I started thinking about what could be done with just those two simple things (and, of course, thanks to the CREATOR of the artwork), my wheels just started turning. So, now I have gotten myself involved in Stampin UP. I thought it would be a fun way to get some folks together to make stuff...I hope they don't believe I just want their buck. There are too many people out there doing that. Really...I just want to have fun and spread the fun around. My husband was making fun of my confirmation, because he wasn't sure people would get my sense of humor. This is a confirmation of the workshop next Satuday, May 10, 2:30 p.m. at my house. I am really excited that you are coming to my house. It's been a long time since I've had a fun arts and craft party at my house. I hope that you have a...

My car gave me an engine error last week and also showed the indicator IMA.(integrated motor assist - I have a hybrid) Anyway, I thought, OH NO....Car problems are NO FUN anytime, but DECEMBER!!! YIKES. Well, the technician just called and said that it errored inappropriately and that everything was okay. The IMA just needed an "update" (whatever that means) It cost me only a little over $100.00. Thankfully, it wasn't much...in terms of cars I guess that's pretty low. It seems whenever my Mustang needed any work at all, it was always over $300.00. Thank goodness. I've already spent way too much money this month and didn't really want to burden it with car problems. Phew!

My sister, Rhonda, was up in NYC over Thanksgiving and dropped me a line to let me know she was coming. Since there was a strike in progress, we couldn't see a show, so we went to the Natural History Museum. It was nice. Really just visiting with Rhonda for a little while was nice. Here are a few shots:

My group of friends, the Rah-Rah's, plan regular visits about once every other year to one our homes for a short visit to relax, have fun, make stuff, shop and eat. Next year, we are thinking about visiting Jean at her Chicken Farm in Mississippi. We've never been there as she and her family just moved down there from the Baltimore area a few years ago. We were all shocked when she told us Dean had decided they was moving to become Chicken Farmers. You have to know Jean to understand. (and you have to know that coincidentally Dean only visits and has remained in the metropolitan area, while Jean and her oldest son and his family HAVE moved to the middle of nowhere and figured it all out!) But we did know that she could handle it. And she has. Anyway, we do have a lot of laughs making fun of what it must be like to be in the business of chicken farming. And we also have a lot of sarcastic laughter about why Dean has never really made the move. We had a lot of fun passin...

This morning as I rose from refilling a slow leaking tire with air, someone whistled at me. I turned around and with a snarl, looked to see who dared do such a thing. The guy getting out of his work truck was wearing a dirty T shirt, had a pot belly, and a ZZ Top length beard, disheveled, and gray. After a 3 second glare, I walked around my car to the driver side, got in, and headed towards work. My snarled reaction got me thinking. Should I feel insulted or should I feel flattered? I contemplated my age (I'm in my early 40's). Was this whistle a tribute to my regular exercise, style, grooming, and visits to the hair stylist? Or was it simply an unclassed cat call, from a socially ignorant man voicing his obvious objectification and disrespect? As a strong feminist, I lean towards the call as an insult and a vocal tactic used to show our lack of inequality. While, I don't mind someone taking a look quietly...EVERYONE (including myself) does this. Every person has seen w...

Got this quiz (Caring Quiz) from this site: http://www.blended-families.com/stephero/caring.php I regularly receive SterHeroes email and occassionally take the opportunity to read them. But everytime that I do, I find them very thought provoking. The article this time was a thought provoking quiz about how often I show love and appreciation to other people. I liked it. I reminded me of things I really need to work on. First, A Quiz from Charles Schultz Here's an eye-opening quiz for you, from the late Charles Schultz: Name the five wealthiest people in the world. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners. How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best ...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio. The West   The South   Boston   North Central   The Inland North   Philadelphia   The Northeast   What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

My DD was going on a "pilgrimage" with a few of her friends. She referred to it as a "Road Trip", but in the past, she had indicated that it was a trip to find and discuss philosophies with like minded individuals...like minded in the Anarchist / Down with Racism and White Privilege / Up with Fair Trade sense....She has quite the list of things she'd change in our society....in a big way. Anyway, she's in Boston now and has left the "Road Trip". It would appear that being the only young woman in a car full of young men left her feeling a bit ignored / out-voted. Also, it would appear that the "objective" of the trip had changed from all the above to something related to whole food / organic food farming. She was also tired of some of the sexual advances a few of them made towards her when they were all drinking....I guess reminding them OVER and OVER and OVER that you're not interested gets old. She may also, to some degree, push or e...

My husband, a friend of his, and I went hiking last week in Vermont, along the Appalachian Trail. This portion of the trail shares Vermont's "Long Trail", which is a 100 mile trail that stretches across Vermont. The trail wasn't steep anywhere, but was quite rocky and "wet". Lots of standing water even thought there hadn't been much rain. Boggy. No wonder people advice not doing this in June-July...when the mosquitoes and black flies are out. All that standing water is a wonderful breeding ground for those type of bugs. This was one of the few years where we saw quite a lot of people hiking. It was nice to run into fellow hikers a few times a day. Autumn colors were nice. Unfortunately, in several areas, we missed the peak of color as most of the leaves had already fallen. The weather was mild, and we got out before a big rain storm and a big chill down. My only disappointment was that I didn't see much wildlife (beyond the other hikers we...

I haven't posted here in a while, but I sure have been keeping my daily to do's up to date. It's funny how creating a list of things I'm supposed to be accomplishing doesn't really look like I'm accomplishing much at all. But I sure don't seem to have much spare time. I'm excited/apprehensive for my upcoming hiking trip. Excited because it's always beautiful and relaxing. Apprehensive because it's going to be cold, I don't like going 8 days without a shower and plumbing, and I believe the weather is forecasting a first day of hiking with lots of rain. I'll have to post a few select photos when I return. The leaves should be spectacular!

Your Rising Sign is Taurus You are the ultimate rock - stable and centered. People turn to you in crisis and count on you for calm. Stubborn and strong minded, you can't be pushed around. You are also tenacious, and you always will stick with something difficult. A bit fan of nature, you're attracted to the beauty of the outdoors. And sometimes, you find it easier to relate to animals than people. What's Your Rising Sign? Well, okay, I don't know about stable. And surely, my husband, at least, would argue about coming to me for "calm". But the rest, yeah.

I'm reading the book, Life of Pi Here is a quote that I found particularly noteworthy: To lose a brother is to lose someone with whom you can share the experience of growing old, who is supposed to bring you a sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, and creatures to people the tree of your life and give it new branches. To lose your father is to lose the one whose guidance and help you seek, who supports you like a tree trunk supports its branches. To lose your mother, well, its like losing the sun above you.

I went to pick up my taxes from the accountant. And when I left, I hugged him! Is that strange or what? I guess I did it because, well, if someone knows your financial information at the level of intimacy my accountant knows mine...he's almost family! Anyway, after leaving somewhat embarassed, I had a good chuckle at myself.

I was looking over my to-do's My Daily Dos and realized that nothing in my important list included making things. Which now has me a little sad and very frustrated. I think I have to change my approach to letting all the other stuff get in the way of one of my true passions. I am going to find a way to make art a priority.

She's a young adult (just turned 20 last year) and it's a real struggle sometimes to remember that she's still a young work in progress. Love her for all that she is Love her for all that she can be Love her for all the challenges she brings me - for I develop as a result See...I'm already a better person.

I have so much stuff. ALOT of stuff. I have a hard time letting go of things. For a person that used to be able to move easily during college, I have in the almost 20 years since, accumulated way more stuff than I care to manage anymore. This post is dedicated to all the stuff, by sell or gift, that I have been able to let go . I will try to keep it updated. Maybe I should make it one of my links..... Stuff Sold 8/2/06 - an old metal filing cabinet, in good shape, that set empty in my basement for over a year. 9/6/06 - My car! I was so happy. Now my insurance bill will also go down. Yipee! 9/12/06 - My fuzzy pink phone. It was hysterical looking, but worked great. I hope her niece likes it. Stuff Given 9/14/06 - Old lamp. The lady loved it and wrote me thank you. I was so happy she liked it. I have lots of other things I don't want that I also do not believe I will be able to sell. And sometimes, giving is fun to do. It increases the good Karma in my home (and emotional well-b...

The Five Love Languages My primary love language is probably Physical Touch with a secondary love language being Words of Affirmation . Complete set of results Physical Touch: 9 Words of Affirmation: 8 Acts of Service: 6 Quality Time: 6 Receiving Gifts: 1 It's funny that I came up so low on the Receiving Gifts scale. I like to receive gifts. They are always a nice surprise, but I guess the only time I really expect to receive a gift is on special occassions. Those special occassions for me are: Valentine's Day Mother's Day My Birthday Christmas And on those special occassions, I kinda DO see that the absence of a gift of any kind, small or large, as an absence of love or affection for me. And, finally, to clarify, I consider a gift as anything from a handmade card to an expensive toy. So, I don't expect MUCH in a gift, I just expect one... Take the quiz yourself!

Important Fun Things to Make and Give Select photos to mount / frame for friend's office Sister's birthday present - make and send by Sept 4 Create 10 ATC's to post on artcardswanted.com Finish painting the trimwork Create 10 pairs of earrings Send in registration for the Holiday Craft Fair Organize my House Mouse Rubber Stamps 27 Things to Give Away (from my back room) 27 Things to Throw Away (from my back room)