BloomingPink

We're sitting here waiting for the worst of Irene. We've hunkered down. Since noon, the rain has been steadily rising and the trees increasing their dance. I'm not sure my confident sump pump can take the load. They say we'll receive at least...did you hear that...at LEAST... 8" of rain. That means the little guy will be working constantly. Oliver, unimpressed, remains interested in the birds soaking on the patio, picking up the seeds I scattered earlier. He'd much rather be in the back yard illustrating his might with the squirrels.

Here's another photo of Oliver from our trip in town with Dave and family.  It's amazing how patient he can be when I have a bit of bacon in my pocket!

Pinhole camera shot of the falls, July 2011.

Oliver and I went around taking pictures while Dave and his sister, brother, and parents participated in the Tour de Lance 5 K run/walk tonight. He was so good, practicing his "stay"....Isn't he about as cute as he can be?

What, you say...at the end of August? Yes, my sweet little Oliver graduated from obedience training tonight....and no, outside of class, he's not that good. He has the cunning ability to understand when he's in school...and when he's not in school. Does that sound familiar? Kids, pets...the same? OK, all kidding aside, he really is so much fun....all that energy wrapped into a tiny 4.5 pound package...and his little eyes just express an enthusiasm that cannot be expressed in words...at least by me. So, yay. He's a graduate!

Motorcyclist seriously hurt as she hits truck in Schuylkill Above is the article of my friend, Joanne (pictured at top), that was in a serious motorcycle accident yesterday. Please keep her in your thoughts today. She is holding strong, but is in very serious condition. She came over a blind hill at 45 mph (in a 55 mph zone) facing the back of a semi that had stopped to make a left turn. Anyway. Please throw a good word her way. She needs collective, good, thoughts and prayers. It just breaks my heart.

We went berry picking again this morning. Raspberries. YUM.

I'm currently exploring / learning a little bit about myself in an effort to become better focused on my creative "career". I just bought the e-book above because it focuses on doing just that in a super fun, colorful way. I just started and truly enjoy it already. The exercises are excellent and they are structured in a way that helps me do them quickly, since one of my issues is finding TIME to improve as well as create (especially since I work 40+ hours a week). Anyway, I thought I would share it with you, because well, if you're like me - a creative person, at some point you might even consider (if you haven't already) trying to find ways to get out from under the day job and focus a little on work that really explores your creative talent. And this book just might help you do it. Click here to visit When I Grow Up Coach.

I love summer, don't you? Warm summer days make for dreamy fun. I remember when I was young spending alot of time during the summer months loafing in the woods amongst the wildflowers thinking about my future. Funny how I still do it. Really. When I jog in White Clay Creek here in Delaware and Pennsylvania, I still dream about my future. Anyway, here is a card celebrating summer...since for alot of the school bound...it's soon to pass. I used a new release from the Ippity Line....Make Your Mark ( Here ). Enjoy your weekend. I finally finished canning a bushel of peaches, so I WILL enjoy the weekend. Cheers.

I have been dabbling with some jewelry creations lately and love the beaded creations I finished recently. I have noticed that I naturally lean towards earthy colors like greens, browns, yellow ochre, and bone. Not only with jewelry, but I also see the same combinations in the colors I choose for furnishings and painting, my clothes, and even the paper arts I create. I especially love the ceramic peace bead that I purchased from BeadFreaky ( HERE ). I love ceramic beads and her selection is earthy and mother goddess and celestial. Just great. Anyway, the picture is a collection of beaded necklaces and beads and brass chain I created over the coarse of a weekend. Being inspired, I kept all my stuff out in hopes of having time to create several more.

For a meeting on Saturday, I prepared the above card using the new hostess set from the StampinUp! catalog called "Faith in Nature". It gave me a chance to do a little simple water coloring. The pear is stamped in watercolor ink on watercolor paper. I painted with re-inkers in More Mustard and the new In Color, Lucky Limeade. After the meeting, I headed back to my desk and worked on a few new beaded jewelry items. I'll try and post those later this week, because I used a couple beads I purchased from ETSY and I really liked her stuff...so I'll be sure and share all the deets when I get the images up. In the meantime, we're enjoying a bit of a break on the heat/humidity. Thank goodness, because I thought our grass would burst into flames at any moment. In fact, it was so hot this past weekend that I was able to wring sweat out of my shirt like I had dumped in a bucket(I KID YOU NOT). GROSS, yes I agree.... Well, with that, I'll leave you with ...

This was Oliver's disposition the entire vacation! He truly enjoyed being with us 24/7 having nothing but FUN FUN FUN.

It's been forever since I've been able to participate in a Unity Friends with Flair, but I finally was able to get just slightly ahead (just ever so slightly) so that I could this week. I created this card using two Ippity sets: How YOU Doin The Simple Things Included lots of little StampinUp! pearls, ribbon, glitter, brads, and a clip. This card is waiting to be sent to a friend that moved recently, following a brutal divorce. [really bad thoughts go out to her X, but good thoughts grow her way!]

This was the most amazing geyser we saw at Yellowstone. It was absolutely huge and the colors from the minerals and light reflection were unbelievable.

After we trolled around amongst the rock, I begged, and everyone conceded to a group shot.

Photo from the road. We tramped around on this rock for about an hour. This was traveling day 2 on our vacation and we were in real need for a driving break. Here is a copy in black and white. I like this one better I think.

Over the last two weeks on vacation I had more opportunity to watch Clyde. I feel sad thinking that at 18 years old, he isn't going to be around much longer. It is sad to to know that he can barely see, to know that his heart is so quickly declining, and to watch him struggle to eat and to move about... Despite his declining health and many issues, I was also amazed that he is still in the game! He still wants to move about. He wants to be around people. He wants to eat and drink. And he definitely seeks attention. So I think there is still alot of him there, which keeps me thinking that it's not yet time. We will know. He will let us know. Anyway, I love this picture. It was taken in March 2005, when we went for a walk in New Castle. He was 12. Bless his little heart.

Wonderful vacation. Highlight photos ensue. Except ... for some reason, industrial natured photos entice me..... So...here's one of Gary Indiana. While my child's view elicits good impressions (via the Music Man), Gary actually stinks (and I mean, really stinks) and is quite unapproachable (other than the great industrial photos) on a drive thru.

I loved reading this article, because I get testy when "artists" snot on about what is "real" art and what is only mere "craft". Anyway, offering it up for your reading pleasure.... http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/art-or-craft.htm