Saturday Salad Bar

Dane's new truck! His daddy couldn't wait any longer. I don't know who's more excited, Dane or his dad :0)

No pigeons were harmed in the taking of this picture.





A hand made sign in Monticello, Fl.

You order-we serves

Make, Creat & Inspire

A set of ATC's I made based on a challenge from Laura, Make, Create & Inspire. Each card has a quote using each word in it. I had alot of fun making these. Thanks for the challenge Laura! Not sure if you can read each one:
Pig: To be given the chance to create is the meat & potaotes of life. ~Bette Davis
Girl: If I don't make art soon, I'm going to have a hissy fit!
Butterfly: To succeed you need something to hold on to, motivate you, inspire you.

On this one, I make a little chipboard heart and covered it with fairy dust aka:glitter. I used a pot dot to attach it.
To cover the backs, I used a sheet of paper from K&Co. Brown and green polk dots. It blends in really well. Now. I'd like to get some pre-made stickers for the backs to fill in all my info.
Have a great day!
p.s. My friend Audrey isn't feeling too well. Say a little prayer for her :0) Thanks!

Saturday Salad Bar (LATE)

SATURDAY SALAD BAR (late)

My new shower curtain. I found it at Big Lots. I really like the way it helps pull out the red in the countertop. I wasn't sure if I wanted a floral, but after sleeping on it, I thought it would be fine.







My little "finds" from the Dollar Tree...ancient Chinese artifacts :0)





And now for a formal introduction...Meet Tito. The newest member of our family!!! My DH had played with a ferret awhile back at the animal shelter. Then on Father's Day, he informed me that he wanted one. But the one at the shelter had already been adopted. So we went to the pet store. At $99, w/out a cage, he said "no way." Then, the other day, out of the blue, a couple of friends of ours asked if we wanted a ferret. Someone they knew was getting rid of theirs and they really couldn't keep him. So they gave us everything, the ferret, cage, food all of it. I guess sometimes it does pay to have a little patience.

Also, last night we went to see "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby". It was really funny!!! If you go, don't leave when the movie is over, there are out takes afterwards and they are just hilarious!!

I found this leaf on my morning walk. At first glance, it just looks like a heart shaped leaf, but a closer look it shows black spots and rough dry areas. I thought of how much it was like us. Things in our past that are dark and rough. All of this makes up who we are and yet sometimes we wish these things had never happened. But we have to remember to learn fro these things and move forward. You never know when this experience will come in handy to help someone else who is in need of it. Okay, enough "Kristalism" for today :0)

I'm still working on some ATC's. Went to the office supply store and made photo copies of old photos. Then I don't know what happened to the rest of the day. Hopefully, I can get more done today.
I want to go back to Big Lots. Yesterday I found a beautiful shower curtain for the bathroom. Had to think on it, but I'm going to try it. DH hasn't had a chance to finish the bathroom yet still need to few more finishing touches.
The computer keeps shutting off on me, so I'll end now.
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SOUP OF THE DAY:
Find those places inside that jump for joy and do things that bring out your best, most magic self.
~Sark
DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Mingle some breif folly with your wisdom.
~Horace

Morning Walk

This was my view yesterday morning as I started my morning walk. I'm not sure what you call these kinds of clouds, but I love it when the sky looks like this. The sun was just coming up..it was beautiful.

In the last few days, I've meet some very interesting people on the internet. Because of my previous ATC fiascio, I've been prowling around trying to find some other people to swap with. One person, Kristy had some ATC's to swap, so I emailed her. She is going to swap with me, but she was on her way out of the country. So she sent me a link to someone who was hosting another swap. That lead me to Audrey. Not only does she also live in Florida, but her work is Amazing!!! I can't wait to do this swap!
I also met Laura who is hosting weekly sbing/ATC challenges on her blog. She sent me a link to a crafting website Craft Swap. I've already met two really nice people, Maggie and Michelle.
So, since I had all this going on, I need to purchase some supplies. I have lots of sbing pp, but I want some vintage photos. I knew I had seen someone on ebay, so I went back to check. She had so many wonderful goodies, I could figure out what to purchase first. I noticed that there was a link to a Yahoo group, so I clicked and joined. There was only one other person, the owner of the ebay site...and her name was... KRISTAL!!!! I've only met one other person that spelled their name exactly like mine!! Of course, I had to send her an email, and I think we both got a really big kick out of it! I know who I'll be ordering most of my supplies from :0)
I'm working on some cards today, hopefully I can post some pictures later.
Ciao for now!

Good Karma

Why is it that when you do something good, you always get something good back?
A few months ago, I signed up to a website called postcardx. You send random people p/c's and you get letters back. I was so excited that I sent out...one postcard. I started buying p/c everytime we went somewhere with intentions to mail them, but it never happened. Then a few weeks ago, Bonnie Rose had a challenge on her blog to mail out 10 items to people. It still took me a few weeks, but Friday I mailed out 6 itmes to family, friends and postcardx people. Saturday, I go to the mailbox, and guess what, two items from postcardx people!! And one of the items was an ATC!! If you don't know, I joined an atc swap a few months ago on 2peas, made my 10 cards and mailed them. But I never got any cards in return. I've tried to contact the coordinator, but no luck. So I was pretty upset. So when I got this little beauty in the mail, well, it just made me cry. Happy crying! It's from a very sweet gal named Jenn Erwin. Thank you Jenn! The other was a cool handmade postcard from someone in Wisconsin. I couldn't help but wonder as to the irony of me mailing stuff off on Friday and then getting more stuff on Saturday.
I got some really cool items from a y/s Saturday, but I'll post pics later. So far, my computer has shut off twice while trying to do this post. i've been sitting here for about two hours. So check back later for my goodies. I think I'm going to start calling my Saturday finds, The Saturday Salad Bar-a little bit of everthing :0)
Have a great Sunday!

What Best Friends Are Made Of

Last Sunday, my best friend, Kimberly called me. We had gone to the beach and I didn't take my phone, so I didn't get to talk to her. Then first thing Monday morning, she called again.
Now let me explain. Kimberly & I have been friends for about 13 years. At first glance, people don't think we have alot in common. She started going to college right when we meet and ended up with a degree in Art History. I learned more about art than I ever would have because of her. After we started being friends, we found that we did have alot in common, but I also think that we helped balance each other. Then, in May of 2002 she called to tell me that her & her husband were expecting their first child. A month later, the month Charlie & I got married, I called her to tell her I was expecting! We were both having our first child one month apart! It was so much fun having someone to talk to going thru the same thing. Her son, Aidan, was born January 27, 2003 and Dane was born Ferburay 21.
I have a Dream car that I want. My DH has taken me by dealerships and I've test driven them. But because of finances, (my current car is a 2004 Mazda-I love it-but we were upside-down in the last car and this was the only one we could afford) I told him that maybe next year we could trade. I was okay until then. But I printed out pics of my Dream car and have them on my wall in my studio.
Now, let me tell you way Kimberly called. She's not the type to brag or be a show-off, far from it. But she was excited and wanted to share her good news. She got a new car-MY DREAM CAR!!! An Infiniti FX-35!! Her and her husband had looked at alot of different cars, researched them on the internet and looked at all the financing options. Everthing lead them to this car. Now the really funny thing is, I like the pearl white and she got...Pearl White!! I did call her a few dirty names, but I was laughing. She keep saying "This is why we're best friends". I'm so happy for her. She really isn't into cars like I am, and she hasn't had a new car in a long time. It was just the fact that of all the cars out there, she picked the one that I want. The FX is a odd-looking car. You'll either like or hate it. To quote my husband "The front-end is extreme, kinda like you." Hubbys really have a way with words, don't they? :0)
Congratulations Kimberly-I'm so happy for you!
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SOUP OF THE DAY ;
Oh, the comfort -the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person-having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff & grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take & sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.
~Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Constant use had not run ragged the fabric of their friendship
~Dorothy Parker

Good Mood to Bad

Okay, I've been trying to upload a picture, just ONE picture onto blogger since 8 am and no luck. It's for a really cool story I want to tell, but I really need the pic to help with the story.
Then, I've been anxiously awaiting my ATC's to arrive. I participated in a swap w/ some ladys from 2peas. No ATC's. I emailed the co-ordinator for almost 2 weeks. but no reply. I send out an email to all the ladies, and guess what...Everyone has theirs! I can't explain how much I was looking forward to receiving these. Imagine your husband/boyfriend telling you he was sending a wonderful love poem he had written for just the two of you. And every day, you keep going to the mailbox looking for it. And every day that you open the mailbox and it's not there, just adds more anticipation to the next day. Sad..
THEN, I have tried to comit to listing items on ebay each Tuesday. I found some really great stuff over the weekend that would be great to list. But it's been raining most of the day and I was just dragging. But I made myself take all the pictures. Then, when I wnet to upload those to my computer, the program that normally opens the pictures wouldn't come up. I know a little about the computer, I found the program, but I couldn't make it work. So I couldn't get the pictures into a folder so I could use them on ebay.
WTF!!! Sorry, I had to get that out.
I've cried today. I just made a pot of hot tea and I think I'm going to take a bubble bath.
Remember...Tomorrow is another day :0)

Friday Finds

Look at my goodies from the Goodwill! I got four books, a little ceramic house, two pairs of shorts, two dresses, three blouses, and two skirts. All for $43! Not bad!

Hey Rachel! Love ya:0)

Overdue "Thank You"

Here are two beautiful cards that I have received in the last couple of weeks and I never shared them. So today, I would like to give a big heart-felt "Thank You" to Bonnie Rose and Jocelynne. Bonnie Rose is the sweetest person you'll ever meet(via internet :0) and Laney is just plain "Crazy" LOL! I'm glad to call them friends. They both have hearts of gold. Thank you to both of you {hugs}.


The colors in my geranium reminded me of the flowers in Laneys card. I loved these so much, I went back to Lowe's and bought two more. They were special for Breast Cancer awareness. They are called "Fantasia Strawberry Sizzle". Cool name. I've always loved geraniums. I know they aren't fancy plants or anything, but they have always been a favorite of mine.
Which brings me to my newest hobby-collecting Swizzle sticks!!! Yeah, I know they are kitschy,kinda like me. I had two(that's enough for a collection, right?) and then I read a magazine article about a lady in Clearwater, FL who has 60,000!!! So, I started searching on ebay, and I found a few that I bid on. I'm trying to get places that we've already been, like casinos from Biloxi and such. We've lived in Mobile, Al, Biloxi, MS, Pensacola, Fl, & Longview, TX. We've also been on one cruise and I've been to Canada once w/ my mom & dad. So I think it might be fun just trying to track these down, and in the mean time, pick up some new ones too. Anybody got any swizzle's they don't want or want to swap?
I walked again today-yippee! Now if the belly would just walk off of me, that would be great :0) Charlie has asked me about going to Vegas in October for the Semen's Show.Gotta look good for that! ( more swizzles :0) I've never been to Las Vegas. Sad I know, heck, I'd never been anywhere until I met Charlie and then we moved all over :0) It was fun, but I think I'm ready to get closer to family & friends. That's why we want to move to Pensacola. It's 60 miles from Mobile. Close but not too close :0) We're working on it. Hopefully by the end of the year. Lord willing.
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SOUP OF THE DAY:
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit.
~Aristotle
DESSERT OF THE DAY:
The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.
~Walt Whitman

Look what I found!

On Monday morning, while I was walking, I saw a small dag running in the neighborhood. Since I had Indy, my big dog with me, I just figured the little one was scared and would go on home. Monday evening, Dane was taking a nap and I was taking a bath, I heard all of my dogs barking & growling. First thought was, here I am naked, my son's asleep in another room and someone's trying to break into my house! As I tip-toed to the back glass door, I hear my dogs whinning and saw tails wagging. So I look out, and there's the little dog from the morning! He is close to the size of our small dog Belle-the Old Lady-so I put the other two in the garage & let Belle out. Of course, alot of sniffing and such. Finally, after much coaxing, I got the little guy calmed out.

There was no collar on him, nor does it look like he's ever had one. He is a chihuahua mix, very sweet. He was in desperate need of a bath. For now, I've nicknamed him Ricco(he keeps trying to hump Sasha, the Samoyed :0) I made two found posters and put up at the entrances to the neighboorhood, no luck. Today, we're going to go buy the Animal Shelter & see if he's been reported lost. I'm going to make some more posters and call the paper for an ad.

He reminds me of the "Taco Bell" dog. He jumps right up into your lap and looks at you with that pitiful expression.

Anybody need a dog? LOL

Snapshot of My Weekend

Good Morning! I walked again this am-yay! Now we'll just have to see if I get to say the same thing Friday morning :0)

On Friday, I decided to finish painting our bathroom. When we first moved in, I had painted it a light aqua blue called "Sea turtle". Then we decided to do some changes(I painted th vanity and we're replacing the medicine cabinet w/ a newer version). We realized that it would cost too much to replace the vanity top. It's a light red/mauve color. So, I thought "Why not paint the walls a light green and play up the red accents." Well, the first color, Palmetto, looked good on the paint chip, but oh man did it make the b/r look small!

So, Saturday, I ran back to W/M and picked out another color. White Wine. It looks alot better. I'll try to get a pic posted later today. Plus, I bought an over-the -toilet shelf that I'm going to try to assemble today :0) I have the whole look in my head, it's just finding all the right colors and accessories to pull it together.

On Sunday, I felt yucky all day. Argued w/ Charlie. We went to eat lunch at Smokey Bones and then to the park to feed the ducks ( & pidgeons, fish & turtles) then to Sonic for ice cream. It was all very nice, but I just couldn't get to feeling like myself. But thank goodness, I'm feeling better today.

Has anybody ever had ebay pull a listing off? They've pulled almosy siz of mine in the last week. The first five were because I had them listed in the wrong category. That was fine, they were some old copies of P/B that I just want to get rid of. I was supposed to put hem in an Adult/Mature cat. But nothing ever said so when I first listed them. I corrected it, but it still felt like being called to the principals office! Then today, I got an email about another listing, they said they pulled it because I had too much for s/h. They said I had $26, but if it's true, it must have been an accident. I have never charged that. I place mine where it calculated shipping based on weight to your address. And the thing was going to end tomorrow and I had one watcher! Argh!!!

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SOUP OF THE DAY:

Be not the slave of your own past-plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim fas, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.

~Raiph Waldo Emerson

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.

~Democritus

Ahaa...I did it!

Well, I'm on day two now (whahoo!). I set the alarm clock, and Indy(one of three dogs) & myself went for a walk at 6:45 am. Still humid outside, but we both enjoyed it.
Which brings me to another bit of news that I haven't shared. A couple of weeks ago, we took Indy to the vet for heartworm treatment.
When we adopted him from the shelter in Texas, he was already h/w positive. I've been wanting to get the treatment, but it seemed that something always happened. When I "retired" from Sam's, I told DH that I really wanted to get this taken care of. So, I called around to different vets. Boy, did the prices vary. The vet that we ended up using had originally quoted us starting @ $250 (ended being $430). Another started at $500 and another was $700-900 !! I really had a hard time with this. I've had a dog die from h/w and it is horrible. It bothers me that the vet's charge so much for something that can save a dogs live. And living in the South, mosquitos are a fact of life. I just feel that it should be more attainable for people who are trying to add longer, happier years to their dogs life and save them for a very painful death.
Okay, off my soapbox :0)

BTW, Indy is doing great. We've been walking a couple of mornings. He enjoys it and it gives me a reason to get out and walk.
(Indy is the one getting his ears chewed off by Sasha :0)


Hope everyone has a great weekend. What do you have planned? Share!!

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SOUP OF THE DAY:
Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold.
~Judith Obney
DESSERT OF THE DAY:
I expand and live in the warm day like corn and melons.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lots of Catching up

I know I haven't been a good blogger these last couple of weeks. I've been working on completing a project and it seemed that the few extra moments in the mornings were devoted to that. Once the rest of the household wakes up, I can't seem to ever get into the thought process to update the blog. And this week especially, I've noticed that I'm sleeping later than I should. So, maybe updating will be my motivation to get back into getting up earlier :0)
Here are some pics I've taken in the last couple of weeks. The flower is this scrawny looking yucca plant growing in our side yard. I was very tempted to pull it up when we first moved in, ...until it started doing this!! The top of this is well over 8 feet tall-you have to look up to see the bloom. Amazing that something this beautiful can come from something so ugly.




Here is a pic of my step-daughter,Krystin, my SIL,Angie and myself at the airport the day Krysyin was flying back to Lousiana. We only got to see her for 2 weeks this summer, but we had a wonderful time. Miss ya girl!



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SOUP OF THE DAY:
There's absolutely no reason for being rushed along with the rush. Everybody should be free to go very slow.
~Robert Frost

DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Some people like to make a little garden out of life and walk down a path.
~Jean Anouilh

ATC Swap

These are the very first ATC's I have made. I participated in a swap (Thank you Shannon :0) and we had to make 10. It could be about anything. I had seen an ad for a picture that had the ABC's of life, so that gave me the inspiration for "Life Lessons". Can't wait to get my return ATC's! I am just fascinated with this little beauties. And I love the fact that you swap with other people. Love seeing what other people think of.
I tried to cut all my words from old magazines (I have so many to choose from LOL) I painted the background with a creamy yellow and beige. Using a crumpled piece of plastic bag for a sponged effect, I painted some deep red.



Then I made a little heart from chipboard and pounced some gold paint on it then sprinkled with some fine green glitter.

I think they turned out okay. Nothing fancy. I got kinda nervous thinking about what everyone else was doing. But, they're mine. And I'm going to keep making more.

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SOUP OF THE DAY:

Long live the sun which gives us such color.

~Paul Cezanne

DESSERT OF THE DAY:

Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.

~Henry James

The Butterfly Effect

Yesterday, while out driving around, we found a butterfly that was injured but still alive. We picked him up and carried him around with us. Krystin started being silly with it!! And Dane was intrigued but wouldn't hold it. Charlie told me half-way through the day that he wanted a ferret that we had seen at the animal shelter. But it had already been adopted. We stopped by the pet store, but they were a little more than he expected.
So, to make it up to him, for Father's Day we went to see "The Breakup" w/ Jennifer Anniston. That made him happy!! :0)

Happy Anniversary

It was four years ago today that I married my sweetie, Charlie. I am so totally blessed to have this man in my life. He is truly the best thing that has happened to me. No, I'm not saying he is perfect, but then again, neither am I!!! He is just a wonderful man who makes life alot more fun to be with. And I know that he loves me, even now, four years later, after he's discovered all my faults. I thank God for bringing us together. I know people ask that ago old question, "If you could change your past, would you?" There are alot of things in my past I would like to change, but if it meant not being in the right place & the right time that brought us together, then No, I wouldn't change the past. I wouldn't give up being where I am right now.
Charlie~I Love You!!! Thank you for four wonderful years!!

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SOUP OF THE DAY:
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.
~Emily Bronte
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DESSERT OF THE DAY:
They say marriages are made in Heaven. But so is thunder and lightning.”
~Clint Eastwood

Pictures from Garden Tour

I thought I would post some pictures of the Garden Tour I went to a few weekends ago. It was in Mobile, Alabama. I took my MIL for Mother's Day. We had a wonderful day together :0)












SOUP OF THE DAY:
The true gardener soon ceases to be a man of rules, and becomes one of strategy, of experiments. Like the artist, he is ever seeking and acting upon hints from Nature.
~E.P. Roe,The Home Acre, 1898
DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Gardens are not made by singing "Oh how beautiful", and sitting in the shade.
~Rudyard Kipling

I found an Angel

Yes, I have found the most amazing person. She is truly an angel. Please meet Bernie Berlin. She does the most amazing thing. She rescues animals from shelters, provides them food and shelter and then finds them a loving home. All using her own time and money. This is a subjuct very dear to my heart. And to read about this beautiful person doing this out of the goodness of her heart is truly a sign that there are angels amoung us. Please read her blog and see for yourself all the amazing things she does. And keep her in your thought and prayers.

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SOUP OF THE DAY:

If there is anything that keeps the mind open to angel visits and repels the ministry of evil, it is pure human love.

~ N.P. Willis

DESSERT OF THE DAY:

You don't have to be an angel, just be someone who can give.

~Patti LaBelle

Oh, the irony of it all !!!!

Okay, let me recap for you. Last Thursday, I was getting ready to leave for the wkend. We were going to Mobile to see family and have a little mini vac. Also, I was taking my MIL to a garden tour for Mother's Day. To sum it all up, we had a great time (I have tons of pics to share), we stayed at the condo on Dauphin Island all weekend. The Garden tour was great. Everything was great. Dane was staying the week with family, so Charlie & I would have a week to ourselves, even though he had to work. Still, I was really looking forward to some major scraping time, going to the lss, getting some other projects finished AND some romantic time w/ DH :0)
Now here is the punch line...I have been sick as a dog!!!! coughing. and coughing.and coughing. Nightime is the worst. To the point, my voice is gone, my abs feel like I've done 1,000 sit ups, I'm tired because I can't sleep good.
Why? Why is it that you always get sick at the worst possible time. We're going to get Dane tomorrow ( I do miss my little man :0), and I have gotten some major cleaning done ( you can almost move around in the scrap room) but I've had no inspiration.
But today I'm going to do something. I haven't even been on blogger or 2peas (gone for a week and the whole format has changed!). I'm going to visit all my blogging friends & get some inspiration. Pull out all my books, get the creative juices flowing and make some layouts.

Before we left last wkend, I signed up for a ATC swap. Need to work on that. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I've never even made an ATC, but I've admired them and drooled over them on the meaasge boards and in mags. Now, I just need to see if I can make one myself.
Just so you'll know that this week wasn't a total loss, DH & I did get to see a movie. We went to see The Da Vinci Code. Loved it. Kept up with the book real well. Of course, I took some Hall's cough drops w/ me! We shared a popcorn & coke. Then afterwards, we stopped at Sonic for ice cream. I love their coconut cream pie shakes. Yummy!
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SOUP OF THE DAY:
If we make our goal to live a life of compassion and unconditional love, then the world will indeed become a garden where all kinds of flowers can bloom and grow.
~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
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DESSERT OF THE DAY:
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.
~ Anthony J. D'Angelo