Breathe!!

my little red heart lights at night...

2012-01-18T17:31:00.000-05:00

homemade GIANT cloverleaf hot rolls! YUM!

2012-01-18T17:25:00.001-05:00

January 2012 Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Wolf Moon

2012-01-18T17:24:00.002-05:00

I think you can say I am tired of pussy-footing around and am ready to grab it for all its worth! Time to take a big bite out of that pie in the sky....what have I been waiting for anyway?

I did this the night before the full moon sitting at my table using an old piece of cardboard. When I heard it was the full wolf moon this month this was the image that kept coming to mind. SO I decided to sketch it out fast before I fogot it. Not supposed to look real or anything...just what I saw in my head. I do notice sometimes I tend to "attack" my dreamboards...not sure why because usually then I have NO energy to actually CARRY out the things ON my board. lol

BUT...here it is anyway. I just have not had time to upload it till tonight.

.

Somebody I Used to Know..Walk Off the Earth

2012-01-06T10:48:00.001-05:00

LOVE this and how they did it too! awesome!

Project Life

2012-01-03T12:28:00.002-05:00

So...another New YEAR is upon us...and it has me thinking about a lot of things. Another year has gone by and I still have not put my photos into actual scrapbooking albums or even a plain photo album..although I could probably open my own scrapbook supply store with all the supplies I have purchased over time. I was thinking about that last night...wondering what you would do in an emergency..as photos are definitely things you would want to preserve..and I was trying to figure out how I would ever grab any actual PHOTOS in time of an emergency to remove from my home in physical form. I mean most photos now are digital and you only get them printed off if you want to...and I still think DIGITAL keepsaking is the wave of the future and is something we really should all undertake...and definitely STORE all our memories and photos in a digital manner...BUT...I still love the feel of real books in my hands and viewing memories turning an actual page. I was reading blogs today to catch up on my last official day off from work from a vacation and I discovered Becky Higgins' Project Life. If you have a lot of photos and want to get them into a scrapbook of some sort/album but have less time to really devote to it..this may be a great tool for you. I am going to be purchasing myself a kit or two or more...and start going BACK IN TIME putting all my memories into albums. I am also still investigating DIGITAL resources as well..although thinking about going back to SCAN all the old regular photos is extremely time consuming and daunting a task to me. It would become more than a full time job unless you had a new quick scanner system likfe "tryneat.com"....so anyway...if you want to actually produce a quick yet great physical photo scrapbook/album give this system a look. You may be interested too!

Premiere of Ron Howard's final Project Imagin8tion film

2011-12-17T11:58:00.001-05:00

only available until Monday, December 19, 2011

December 2011 Full Moon Dreamboard - the Full Cold Moon

2011-12-12T18:56:00.004-05:00

December 2011 Full Moon Dreamboard - the Full Cold Moon by postthelove

I am going through a period of sorting, sifting, holding on to the most treasured items I own and letting go of many others that are currently just taking up more space and not really being used. I am also working a lot on my art journals and learning/developing new techniques ....I think the green represents growth and the rest is pretty self explanatory...at least to me. I think this is a magical time for me in my life as I truly and finally begin this process of transforming my life....my environment is the start...my living space and creative space..choosing what I wish to surround myself with...and removing things that stagnate me. This I feel will ultimately lead to personal growth and transformation in myself...(hence the magic and waving overhead). It has taken me such a long time to even take the first BITE in this long project but I have accomplished a lot so far which is providing fuel for me to continue! AND this is all very freeing...hence the butterflies at the top flying free.

For more full moon dreamboards check out the link to Jamie Ridler Studios on my sidebar!

November 2011 - Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Frost Moon

2011-11-12T08:30:00.001-05:00

November Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Frost Moon by postthelove featuring sparkle jewelry

Jamie over at Jamie Ridler Studios prompted us this month on our moon dreamboards as follows:

"Under the Full Frost Moon it is time to deepen our dreams, to grow powerful roots of support as we move into the colder months. Allow that fresh chill in the air to wake you up to your dreams. Let’s choose to give our energy to the things that nourish our hearts and our lives, while releasing what no longer serves us. Let’s fill not only our dreamboards but also our calendars and lists with what we dream of.

This moon’s question: “What dreams would I like to grow roots for?”
What are you dreaming under this Full Frost Moon?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am not so much dreaming this month...but actually watching things begin to unfold in front of me....I see changes up ahead...BIG CHANGES! I very much feel like this girl on the raft....going somewhere....not exactly sure where I will end up...feeling a little scared...but somehow knowing it will all turn out for the best in the end! My experience with these types of changes in my life in the past has proven that to be the case at least 99% of the time at least...but they are still scary to go through. I can feel it....sense it.....see snippets of it beginning to happen...and my stomach is filled with butterflies of anticipation.

I am talking about BIG CHANGES...SHAKE UP MY SNOWGLOBE type of changes...where my world will be filled with tornadic flying debris like this snow here in this snowglobe....all swirling around me until eventually it falls and settles all around me to soft, quietness once again....

To check out more moon dreamboards please click on the link to Jamie Ridler Studios on my sidebar!

How to Stop Obssessive Thoughts?

2011-10-26T13:04:00.000-04:00

Written by: Sen - CalmDownMind.com

If you have reached a point in your life where you want to be rid of the continuous torture of the “thought generating” mind then it’s your good fortune. Obsessive or negative thoughts can make living miserable when you are plagued by them, but this very situation can become the invitation to transcend mind and be free of suffering forever.

Can you stop obsessive thoughts? – If you could it would be great, but the truth is that it’s slightly more complicated than just suppressing your thoughts which at-most you can do for a few seconds. Plus suppressing thoughts is even worse than enduring thoughts. It builds up a lot of negative energy inside.

So how to stop thinking horrible thoughts? The secret to stopping obsessive or negative thoughts is to detach from the mind. You cannot fight mind with the mind. That’s what this article is about. Let’s look at this in more detail.

What Causes Obsessive Thoughts?
If you generated thoughts, you could’ve controlled them too. The truth is that you don’t generate thoughts, the mind does. It’s on auto mode most of the time. You can see this for yourself, can you predict what you will think 30 seconds from now? If you can’t how can you assume that you are generating the thoughts?

If you believe that you are your mind, that’s a false notion again. If you are your mind then how can you observe the thoughts? So you must be separate from the mind to see what the mind is doing.

So the mind generates thoughts, which are mostly just energy forms. These thoughts pass through like clouds. We identify with some of these thoughts and obsess about them. So in truth all thoughts are just neutral energy forms, it’s “your” interest or association with the thoughts that makes them obsessive. If you can understand this truth, you have taken the first step towards getting rid of obsessive thoughts.

How to Stop Obsessive Negative Thoughts?
If you are asking this question, ask yourself another question – “is this question not another thought? It’s a thought about killing thoughts”. All your attempts at suppressing and stopping thoughts will fail because you will be using the mind to stop the mind. The police man and thief are both the mind, so how can the police man catch the thief?

So you cannot kill the mind by force. The mind dies its own death by the poison of disassociation.

What gives power to a thought? – Your interest. If you have no interest in a particular thought then it loses its hold over you. You can try this out now. Let the thoughts flow through your mind but don’t take interest in them. Just stay as a bystander or a watcher and let the thoughts float.

Initially you might have a hard time watching thoughts because of your inherent habit of associating with each thought that arises. It helps to know that you are not your thoughts, that thoughts are just energy forms created in the mind. Why does the mind create thoughts? No one knows – it’s just something it does, why bother. Do you ever ask why does the heart beat?

With a little practice you will get really good at watching thoughts and not involving yourself with them. You will stop giving power to thoughts by not giving them your interest. Thoughts die immediately when they are deprived of this fuel of interest. If you don’t associate with the thought or give power to the thought, it will wither away quickly.

What Are Thoughts?
Past events get stored as memories. Your mind conditioning and beliefs are also stored as memories. All this is unconscious storage; the mind does all this in auto mode. Perceptions and interpretations are created in the mind based on its past “external” conditioning and also its natural conditioning (genetics). These interpretations, perceptions and judgments come up as thoughts in the mind, and they can positive or negative depending on the mind’s conditioning. Thoughts are generated based on the past incidents/memories, future projections and interpretations on the present life situation. It’s like a computer trying to predict or conjure up projection based on the data it has collected so far.

When thoughts are negative in nature (thoughts of worry, anxiety, stress, lack, resentment, guilt etc) they produce resistance to the movement of your life, and this resistance is felt as suffering. Negative thoughts will always stand in resistance to the movement of your life, like blocks of stone in the midst of a swift current of water. Life is a stream of pure positive energy and hence any negative thought will stand in opposition to it, causing friction which is felt as suffering in the body.

The thoughts in your mind gain power from your attention and interest. Your attention is the fuel for your mind. So when you give attention to negative thoughts in the mind, you are unconsciously fueling it and thus attracting more momentum for these negative thoughts. The momentum of negative thoughts in your mind will slow down, and ebb away, automatically when you stop feeding your attention to it. Stay as an open space of awareness without contracting your attention on the negative thoughts of the mind, and soon they will lose their momentum.

You can focus on the positive thoughts generated in the mind, and thus develop a positive momentum in your mind. Every time your mind produces some positive thoughts, e.g thoughts of love, joy, excitement, abundance, beauty, appreciation, passion, peace etc, focus on it, milk it, and give attention to it. This will cause your mind to attract more positive thoughts and thus build a positive momentum. Whenever it thinks negatively, don’t give it attention or interest, this will cause the ebbing away of the momentum of negative thinking. It’s really that simple. Once you understand the mechanics of how thoughts gain momentum in the mind, you will be in total control of your state of being.

The Practice of Watching the Mind
All you need to do to get rid of obsessive thoughts is to watch the mind without getting involved. You will get really good at this with just a little practice. This practice, or “sadhana” as called in Hindu scriptures, is the root of awakening from the illusion of mind.

Without trying to understand this practice just implement it. The more you try to understand the more mind gets involved. Just watch the mind and you will soon see that you are not the mind at all. That the mind is like a machine in your head that generates thoughts based on your attention/interest. Be free of your mind by depriving it of your interest. This is the only direct path of becoming free of the mind.

Welcome to the Bewitched Moon Halloween party!

2011-10-22T11:23:00.006-04:00

Today is the day for the Halloween parties to begin! Welcome to mine and I hope you enjoy yourself...please go to A Fanciful Twist to check out more parties and fun..just click on the link above on the title! Click on my party play button below to come in!

Customize a photo slideshow

Halloween blog party!

2011-10-15T09:03:00.012-04:00

Want to come to an online Halloween Blog Party on October 22, 2011? A Fanciful Twist (link above when you click on the title)...is sponsoring online Halloween parties this year...please click on the link above and check it out. Meanwhile you are all invited to come attend my online Halloween blog party on October 22, 2011. I personally invite you to the Bewitched Moon party! Come back on the 22nd to check it out and have a good time!

October 2011- Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Harvest Moon

2011-10-08T10:45:00.002-04:00

Obviously I chose and was drawn to a lot of images of autumn... fall leaves, colors, and the abundance of brilliance we see this time of year.

I love trees...all trees....they are magical, majestic, living, feeling beings to me. They offer shelter, shade, sympathy, solitude, and strength.

All the fallen leaves here I think represent all the things I am trying to "shed" from my life to simplify it...to lighten my load in life....whether it be actual tangible things or excess weight or negative thought patterns, clutter, etc.

The tiny Beanie baby teddy bear just makes me smile...it reminds me of the polka dot elephant on the Island of Misfit Toys from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer which I adore. It reminds me to be as a child always.

The scene from the Great Pumpkin I chose because it reminds me to "keep the faith" no matter what...when all around me are doubtful and say negative things...to keep believing in myself.

The images of the 3 women within the circle of hearts represents all my selves...my past...present and future and reminds me I need to LOVE each of them. I am still trying to discover WHO I am NOW....and that actually means I have to delve into my past and present and even future a bit. I may not always like what I see...but I have to deal with it all with love to myself..always difficult for me to do.

The Neon sad smiley face I am not sure about. I think it represents a bit of melancholy...knowing I am leaving portions of my prior selves behind to move forward into a new chapter of my life. It is exciting yet a bit bittersweet and scary, especially as I face some unexpected health challenges...another reason I truly need to slim down and simplify all aspects of myself and life.

So as usual....this month's board has given me a lot to think about. I guess since I am basically IN the Autumn of my life...that is probably appropriate.

Dream Rangers...Awesome.....inspirational and a tear jerker....

2011-09-29T11:34:00.001-04:00

a great way to store your glitter...use salt and pepper shakers!

2011-09-18T14:07:00.001-04:00

isn't this a cool idea??

sums up how we should live our lives...with ZERO words...

2011-09-13T12:43:00.003-04:00

A Whisk and A Prayer: Cranberry Fritters

2011-09-11T17:42:00.000-04:00

A Whisk and A Prayer: Cranberry Fritters: Remember all those cranberries I bought? Well here comes recipe number two! And it's a good'un... You know apple fritters? You like apple ...

September 2011 Full Moon Dreamboard - the Full Corn Moon (or Harvest Moon)

2011-09-11T17:29:00.002-04:00

LOTS to think about here....I love this time of year...entering into autumn and fall....earlier nights....seems I lite more candles during this time of year...everything seems to be LIT and GLOWING everywhere...even though outside it becomes more dark and perhaps dreary. I think the woman behind the mask represents ME waiting to be revealed...or revealing the REAL ME...discovering who that is again....don't we always seem to be searching for the real us?? I chose long hair because I have long hair. I have had long hair since I was 13 years old. I am MUCH older than that now...and have felt an urge to make a BIG CHANGE....my body is a lot different now...not that I cannot still improve it...but it is CRYING OUT with bone issues...aches and pains (hence the crying out back-breaking skeleton)....and I so often just wish I could wave a magic wand to make it all better...all the aches and pains go away...my body to become whole and new and like it should be...for the real me to stand up and present herself. I say I am the real me....but how often do we really, honestly let the REAL US out for anyone to see..sometimes even ourselves? I am drawn to SCARVES right now...not sure why....they are cozy...they do not really cover you up as I am sometimes drawn to things for....(or have kept the hair- - to more or less HIDE behind). The heart bracelet I think represents how I should embrace myself with my heart and love....and the umbrella of course is offering me protection from everything....but a lighter method of protection over my excess poundage I have been hauling around. So...I am still searching and growing and it continues to come out in my dreamboards. Long ago are the dreamboards that contained material things....my search seems to run a lot deeper than that right now. Maybe it's time I harvest myself....

Like a Star - Corinne Bailey Rae...another amazing song....

2011-09-11T14:07:00.002-04:00

love this song...PUT YOUR RECORDS ON...Corinne Bailey Rae

2011-09-11T13:50:00.000-04:00

Maddi Jane...such incredible talent....

2011-08-24T06:15:00.002-04:00

Ryan Andreas...hope he gets picked up by someone soon....

2011-08-22T17:56:00.002-04:00

would love to be listening to a ton of his music

Full Moon Dreamboard - August 2011 - The Full Sturgeon Moon

2011-08-13T09:47:00.004-04:00

Well...I am in the process of sorting and organizing and trying to simplify my life and home. Part of this process is learning to let go....letting go of some things to make room for new....and letting go of some things to create a sense of peace and tranquility...and ability to move forward and no longer be stagnant. I feel a sense of rhythm and flow...much like the water and am looking forward to autumn and a time of coziness in my life and home. I want to attack it like a dragon and yet realize it is a process....like the ebb and flow of the tides...I can only do so much....and a little at a time adds up. Eventually it will all be complete....and a new season will begin.

When You're Alone....(from HOOK)

2011-08-04T07:57:00.003-04:00

I LOVE this song and magical movie too...

Abraham Lim.....awesome voice....

2011-08-03T13:21:00.003-04:00

my second rotisserie chicken...rosemary and thyme....wow!

2011-07-25T11:49:00.001-04:00

it was delicious! I then decided to make homemade mashed potatoes and fresh green beans..I even made gravy from the juices from the rotisseried chicken! It was one of my best meals and the great thing was I had a lot of leftovers!

some recent zentangles and artwork I have doodled out...

2011-07-25T11:21:00.006-04:00

This is a GIANT sized zentangle....it is like 3 feet by 3 feet.....takes up a lot of my kitchen table space....but I am branching out....would be amazing to do an entire wall! Here I have added some shading and details...trying to decide what all to add to the background and sides of the artwork...

see how large it is? This is on my kitchen table!

close up

Also made a GIANT SEA SERPENT....all with fine-tipped pen pretty much...this took a while and I have to admit my hand cramped up sometimes! lol

Was curious what my giant Japanese fish would look like colored so I made a SMALLER model in my small sketchpad and colored it in...I DO like the color too!

some of the "detail"
which led me to thinking about other fish...goldfish...and drawing more fish..

my little creature...

tried to make something from a kitchen magnet I have

not snakes on a plane...snakes on my brain! lol

another weird looking sea serpent/dragon...not a good one either

Full Moon Dreamboards - July 2011 - The Full Buck Moon

2011-07-21T16:00:00.000-04:00

Full Moon Dreamboard - July 2011, Full Buck Moon by postthelove featuring a silver chain necklace

lots to think about here.....

a sketch I did tonight...of a cemetery sculpture on a grave

2011-07-01T22:12:00.003-04:00

another angle....looking up at it...

it is a cherub/angel and the skull is under its right hand and the hour glass with sands of time that have run out under its other hand. I love going to cemeteries and seeing old sculptures there.....this was a pic of one I saw and liked it a lot...thought I would try sketching it out....

working on a gargoyle....

2011-06-30T19:50:00.000-04:00

all using lines and the number 6

Zentangled/doodled iguana

2011-06-29T17:42:00.001-04:00

I had the urge to do an iguana after I did that owl..so I did him today. I decided to try to use only circles, lines, and diamonds...and instead of zentangling the background to use my markers and blend to make clouds. I like how he turned out..but as usual...see some things I may still touch up.

some recent doodles...art journal doodles...and zentangles....

2011-06-27T21:06:00.005-04:00

Some of these are still works in progress...I am going to fine tune the owl for example....bring some more dark black around the head to make it more symmetrical and add more contrast....and there are a few others I am not quite finished with yet. I want to add some stones and detail to that one where it shows several different layers of dirt and little creatures....these are just some things I have experimented with and worked on recently that I wanted to share and post now.

drive to grandma's house....

2011-06-26T19:07:00.001-04:00

does this look spooky to you??

AWESOME SATURDAY!!

2011-06-26T19:03:00.001-04:00

AWESOME day on Saturday...I only had to work half day...and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Only low 70s...lots of big fluffy clouds in the sky.....cool breeze blowing...my perfect kind of weather for summer! We decided to go to Idle Hour Ranch in Troy, Ohio for a visit. It is an awesome place....where you can get up close and personal with many animals.....even feed them. It was a wonderful outing...and I am sure we will go back again! Noah's favorite part was mining for gems....where he could play around in the water...in fact..he liked this so much...he wants me to build one just like it in our backyard!

We saw elephants, kangaroos, parrots, horses, giraffe, camels, a yak, goats, llamas, pigs, coyote, cougar (forgot to snap a pic of him), elk, ostrich, tortoise, fish, owl, prairie dog, fox, dogs, just a lot of wonderful animals! You could feed them too if you wanted. They were giving elephant rides this weekend...the elephants are actually there for 3 weekends only visiting in between other shows they do somewhere else for another touring group.....soon some tigers will be stopping by the ranch for a visit...

here is a link to the ranch...

IDLE HOUR RANCH

After we left the ranch we went to CiCi's Pizza....Noah loves it and had been wanting to go there for a long time and a new one had opened in Huber Heights...it was fantastic food and wonderful restaurant. The pizza was excellent and they had some new kinds of pizza to try! I like the thin crust authentic Italian and macaroni and cheese pizzas the best! Noah liked sausage and sausage and ham pizzas the best. He was in heaven!

Then we drove down to hit up the Covered Wagon Farmer's Market in Union, Ohio.....wow...they had some amazing things there....anything from soaps, candles, candies, fresh homemade Amish baked goods and canned goods.....fresh vegetables...dried goods....etc....and flowers and plants outside.

While looking inside we saw a beautiful buttefly or moth that had gotten trapped down in a bin between some packages of crackers. I thought it was fake at first....looked almost like wood lying there...but Noah said no and touched it and it began to move around. I told him if he wanted to live he better get on my finger so I could take him outside..and HE DID! I had Noah open a side door inside the store and the moth/butterfly turned around and looked at me..and I said to "GO....GO...you can go you are free!" and it turned around the other direction and flew away towards the flowers. He looked like this...sort of....

I bought some peanut butter fudge, banana bread and pumpkin bread among other things...and even though I do not need another candle..they had some clearance hot buttered popcorn candles on sale and that is a discontinued scent and smells so yummy...I got one!

link to Covered Wagon Farm Market

Covered Wagon Farm Market

We saw my cousin and husband in the store while there and they invited us over to see their house down the road when we were done shopping...so next up was a drive over there....then we drove to Arcanum to see grandma C....had a wonderful visit with her as well....

Noah went outside to catch lightning bugs before we left....

The weather was gorgeous.....the night was just beginning...so we rolled all the windows down in the car/truck and drove around..the lightning bugs sparkled in the fields...it was almost like being in a convertible and Noah and I loved it! We will be doing that again for sure!

We had an awesome day...and it was even better for me cause I got to share all that with Noah! I have decided no matter how I may look or feel...this is our life NOW...and we better live it now while we can and not wait around until everything is just right with this or that or our bodies just to do something.

This is it.....wait...wasn't that Michael Jackson's Famous last words?

JUST DO IT.....stop waiting around....do it already...yeah...that sounds pretty good right about now..

June 2011- Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Strawberry Moon

2011-06-20T15:09:00.001-04:00

June Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Strawberry Moon by postthelove featuring hermes scarves

you simply must watch this about cancer treatment and a cure...and how our big gov is only worried about making the almighty dollar

2011-06-11T17:04:00.004-04:00

as I have said before....the gov is all about making money on the drugs it prescribes to its patients....and treatment it provides...they make very little for cures of anything.....I mean think about it...once cured....they are out of business .....this video is very enlightening....please give it your time to watch....you will be shocked...stunned..appalled...and some of us not surprised at all...but outraged. You think you live in the land of the free? yeah right...think again. Think gov won't shut you up or try to do anything to keep you shut up if you stand in their way of their pockets? Think again...cause you would be wrong....I urge you to watch and be informed.

Burzynski: Cancer Is Serious Business from BurzynskiMovie on Vimeo.

loving myself no matter what...

2011-06-06T13:29:00.002-04:00

what I need to try to always do...

Loving myself no matter what by postthelove on Polyvore.com

Don't Give Up!!

2011-06-03T19:58:00.003-04:00

homemade tortilla chips....

2011-06-03T19:36:00.004-04:00

Before baking....

AFTER baking...

I think I would prefer CORN tortilla chips...so next time I will use CORN instead of FLOUR tortillas...but that was all I had in stock so I used what I had.

I am sure frying these as most would makes these taste richer but...to save fat and calories I baked mine.

I sprayed a cookie sheet with cooking spray...you can use olive oil or butter...whatever you wish.

I stacked my store bought round tortilla shells on top of each other and cut into pie wedges...

I placed the wedges on the cookie sheet...gave them another spray...added any seasonings...and baked at about 375 till nice and golden brown. They are pretty good..but CORN would likely be a lot better. They taste great with salsa...whether they are corn or flour.

Quick, easy snack and you get a lot more than in the bags at the store and it is healthier for you.

my 2011 memorial day meal....

2011-05-30T17:07:00.002-04:00

I made homemade hamburger buns (I posted the recipe here a while back..check my sidebar)....and decided to add some chives...chopped onion and dill seed.....then I grilled turkey burgers...and whipped up potato salad and baked pinto beans. Pinto beans cause it was the only kind of bean I had in the house handy...and the potato salad I added ranch dressing and a dab of real mayo with hotdog mustard relish..wow..it was superb! BEST I think I have ever made! Here is my meal...which I am thankful for...and which was delicious!

We have had some really turbulent weather recently and lots of hail...wind and rain!

2011-05-30T12:25:00.007-04:00

GIANT tree down the road from us that just got sucked up out of the ground and tossed over....

Hailstones in Brookville, Ohio from my sister's backyard....

More hailstones from Brookville, Ohio

Hailstones from Miamisburg, OHio

More from Miamisburg, Ohio

Centerville, Ohio hailstone...

Parking lot filling up with hailstones in Centerville, Ohio...

Damage done to car in Bellbrook, Ohio...they said the hail had to be falling about 100 MPH straight down for this type of CLEAN HOLE damage to have happened...it was like a bullet being shot!

Bellbrook, Ohio hailstones part 1....

Bellbrook, Ohio hailstones...part 2...

Bellbrook, Ohio hailstones part 3...

I did not take all these photos no....I gathered some from family and the rest from Channel 7 iwitness news buddies online.....

What can I say? We could have had it so much worse..but the rain, wind and hail along with almost continuous tornado warnings recently have been a little stressful! The hail storms we had the other night brought us some of the most damaging winds and hail ever seen in this part of the country ever! Hail that was 2.5 inches here...but 3 to 4 almost 5 inches in other parts of the state. It was just surreal. Here are a few photos of the recent hail....which damaged my sisters' cars....and shredded their screens...broke skylights....just incredible the damage it caused...and the winds...I am very fortunate and thankful it was no worse up here than it was...or anywhere..and we are all okay...and feel blessed we still are intact...in one piece...with our house and roof over our heads!

Letting go....

2011-05-30T12:10:00.001-04:00

was just doing some thinking today being Memorial Day....about those who have passed on....and those or things we should really just let go of....this was the result.

Hula Hoop rugs....check it out.....

2011-05-24T14:25:00.003-04:00

This is a great way to make a homemade rug!

CLICK TITLE for link!

Homemade Soft Pretzels....best recipe I have tried...

2011-05-22T18:44:00.001-04:00

3/4 cup hot water (110 degrees)

1-1/2 teaspoons yeast (I used 1 packet)

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the above together..till all dissolved.

Add:

2 Cups flour

KNEAD on floured surface for 8 minutes...

Form into ball....place in bowl...put some oil on top of dough...olive or vegetable...your preference...and roll ball of dough around to cover with oil....then cover bowl and allow to rise and rest for 1 hour.

Remove dough from bowl and cut into 6 sections. Roll each section into a very long strip of dough.....rolling it out with your fingers like you are using it as a rolling pin....about 20 inches long....then tie into pretzel shape...place on greased cookie sheet....allow to rest for 15 minutes.

Heat oven to 400 degrees during this 15 minute rest time.

Get a bowl of hot water (110 degrees) and 2 Tablespoons baking soda....mix together.

Place each pretzel from the cookie sheet after its 15 minutes of rest into the baking soda water solution and soak each pretzel for 30 seconds....place back onto cookie sheet.

Melt about 2 to 4 Tablespoons of butter....brush tops of pretzels with butter and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Bake till golden brown...does not take long.

WOW they are yummy!

Full Moon Dreamboard - May 2011 - The Full Flower Moon

2011-05-17T15:01:00.002-04:00

Our prompt was: “Who are you when you are in full flower? What exudes from your personality? What’s possible for full-flower you? What colours shine? What dreams flow freely? What pours out of your heart and into the world?”

Right now I don't know who I am anymore. I am in a period of change...hopefully transformation. There are snippets and bits and pieces of me I remember or recognize that I continue to carry inside close and protected...then there are parts of me I do not yet know....or recognize. I think all the faces and eyes represent me searching for who I am right now. I know this will change again...and many times in my life I have felt I have died...only to be born again into someone knew...hopefully taking the best parts of me into the new me. The bird cages I think represent me guarding myself from pretty much anything right now that could shake my foundation I am trying to build....and also represents keeping myself trapped inside a cage rather than letting myself out? All this is no big deal and yet huge at the same time. I feel stable and yet torn....not just down the middle but often into multiple sections. So right now I cannot even begin to answer any of the questions above that were on our prompt...I only know I am seeking.

Full Moon Dreamboard - May 2011 - The Full Flower Moon by postthelove

some more zentangles and doodling

2011-05-15T14:19:00.002-04:00

experimenting with markers...

Sunday morning thoughts....

Thinking about all the sneaky snaked forked tongued liars from my past that could spew lies out of their mouths....

all the rain and storms inspired this one...but it did not turn out exactly like I wanted...

Once Upon A Time scrapbooking album and paper and trim

2011-05-14T11:04:00.002-04:00

WOW...I saw this online and ordered it all for me...and LOVE IT. The photos do not do it justice. Each page just about has GLITTERED embellishments or embossed designs and I LOVE glitter. It is all very magical and just beautiful. SO many ways you could use this. I also got the smaller book of card stock type matching paper....wow....I love it all. The album has GOLD GLITTERED EMBOSSED lettering but the photo does not really show that off well. I did not take these pics...I found them online. I will try to take pics when I use the papers for something soon I hope.

TAXI movie with Queen Latifah....

2011-05-14T11:03:00.002-04:00

I saw this movie the other day on television...having never seen it before. It was hilarious...had me laughing often and the driving scenes were funny and exciting too. I love Queen Latifah....and always enjoy the movies she is in. I would definitely buy this one or watch it again!

when you want a chocolate treat but not an entire pan of brownies....

2011-05-14T11:01:00.002-04:00

this is the perfect solution!

It is fantastic...and satisfies..and you won't have an entire pan of brownies waiting to tempt you later to eat! Cheap too...like 1.67 each.

a few more zentangles and doodles..

2011-05-11T17:41:00.000-04:00

part of a face.....crying a pool of tears...

a flamboyant bird...

done on a day when I was feeling really out of sorts! .... lol

some more zentangles and doodles....

2011-05-01T19:28:00.006-04:00

added some shading...I think it would look nice in shades of blues and greens too so I may color it...

Lux Aurumque

2011-04-25T19:46:00.001-04:00

Virtual Choir.....SLEEP.....

2011-04-25T19:38:00.001-04:00

Full Moon Dreamboard - April 2011 - The Full PINK Moon....

2011-04-25T13:35:00.005-04:00

Full Moon Dream Board - The Full Pink Moon - April 2011 by postthelove

not sure what any images mean yet.....lots going on right now

latest zentangle....

2011-04-20T22:58:00.002-04:00

my paper is curling up and this is not the best photo...and I think I may add a few more details...but this is it so far...

40-minute homemade hamburger buns!

2011-04-20T20:32:00.003-04:00

I saw this recipe on YUMMLY.com ...(Go here for the delicious recipe...I can't seem to get my link to work....but copy and paste it!)

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/40-Minute-Hamburger-Buns-Recipezaar

for homemade hamburger buns...and they looked so delicious...and it was such an easy sounding recipe...I thought I would give them a try. I only had enough ingredients to make half a batch...but WOW..they were the best, easiest, quickest recipe for any type of homemade bread I have ever made. They MELT in your mouth and would be good to use even for a hot roll!

INGREDIENTS
2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons of warm water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp salt
3 to 3-1/2 cups flour

1.In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.
2. Add oil and sugar and let stand for 5 minutes.
3. Add the egg, salt and enough flour to form a soft dough.
4. Turn onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 3 to 5 minutes, adding flour to get rid of excess stickiness.
5. Do not let rise.
6. Divide into 12 pieces and shape each into a ball.
7. Place 3" apart on greased baking sheets.
8. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
9. Bake at 400° for 8 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Remove from pans to wire rack to cool.

like this version too....fine point pen....my hand...zentangled

2011-04-18T10:24:00.000-04:00

more doodling...zentangling...and one with a FINE POINT pen finally!

2011-04-18T10:16:00.004-04:00

FINALLY a fine point pen...excited about using this again!

My sister had started this one...did not like it..so I tried to finish it....

I like the reds and blacks...

I like the black and white one so much better than the colored version...that ruined it to me...

a doodle mistake but decided to fill page...and it turned out okay!

2011-04-17T10:19:00.003-04:00

I started with a circle in the middle to do another zentangle...but I did not like it. Then I decided I could probably still make it work if I just kept going and do the entire page. This is the end result...and I decided now I like it!

More Zentangles and some art mixed in

2011-04-15T17:53:00.004-04:00

I am really loving and getting into Zentangles..it has really sparked some creativity and mood to be creative within me. I had lost that for a long time.

Sunday evening doodling/Zentangle....

2011-04-10T22:32:00.002-04:00

Sunday morning doodling or loosely zentangling....

2011-04-10T10:39:00.003-04:00

was thinking of the sea and a sea monster/dragon...like friendly one...sorta like PUFF the Magic Dragon...or Cecil from Beanie and Cecil...remember them? This is what came out of that....

more zentangle art and experimenting....trying to create something every day....

2011-03-30T18:10:00.003-04:00

Noah had requested I make a birdhouse...so he had specific colors he wanted me to use...and this was the result..it did not take but a few minutes...as he just doesn't hang around very long...lol...

this did not turn out exactly like I wanted but oh well...I am still experimenting

I need to get me some WHITE markers/pens! I cannot do details on black yet without them!

Playing with colors and experimenting with my new pens which contain India ink...I really want to do a realistic type drawing/painting in shades of blues....whites....greens perhaps...so I wanted to see what a small area would sort fo look like.

more Zentangling....

2011-03-28T13:37:00.002-04:00

ZENTANGLE....learning a new art form.....

2011-03-27T13:25:00.003-04:00

I have been trying my hand at learning how to ZENTANGLE.....I am not using fine-tipped pens or pencils yet as I don't have any handy....so these are not as finely detailed as they probably should be...but I am loving this new creativity format....and have had a lot of fun in producing some art.

What is Zentangle? Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being. Zentangle is enjoyed by a wide range of skills and ages and is used in many fields of interest.

Here are a few things I have created so far....I tried a colored one too since I had sort of ruined it anyway...

March Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Worm Moon

2011-03-22T19:07:00.005-04:00

March Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Worm Moon by postthelove

wow...lots of different images I was drawn to this month. I will have to think this over before I make any comments....

Remember.....

2011-03-17T06:58:00.006-04:00

1) Potassium iodide only helps prevent YOUR THYROID from developing cancer due to radiation exposure...it DOES NOT do anything else for any other radiation effects on your body.

2) When out of fear you stockpile something you do not need...you remove its availibility from those who really do need it.

3) Even when Chernobyl's fallout went around the world and over the US multiple times...we were only exposed to 1/10th the radiation in a CHEST X-RAY.

4) Winds are offshore...so there is little likelihood any radiation will even affect the U.S. in any capacity.

5) Radiation disperses over oceans and becomes inactive...most of it dissipating before it would ever hit any land or environment as it rolled around on the winds again, even if the wind direction changed.

6) You people who have bought a ton of potassium iodide and are now selling it on ebay for a ton of money per bottle should be ashamed of yourselves.

Radiation is all around us and it's perfectly normal and safe. Bananas are radioactive. So are microwave ovens, cell phones and X-rays, even people. Every year, just walking around on the planet, each of us is exposed to about 3.5 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation. That is the equivalent of approximately 94 chest X-rays.

In order to get radiation sickness you need to be exposed to 1,000 mSv at once. For most people radiation would be fatal at about 5,000 mSv.

To put this in perspective, the radiation levels at the nuclear plant in Japan are about 400 mSv. That means you would have to sit there for two and a half hours to get sick. (AND YES...those poor people in the immediate area and the workers IN the nuclear power plants are being exposed to toxic levels over a long period of time).

Many foods are naturally radioactive, and bananas are particularly so, due to the radioactive potassium-40, or 40K they contain. Bananas are radioactive enough to regularly cause false alarms on radiation sensors used to detect possible illegal smuggling of nuclear material at US ports. A medium sized banana contains about 450 mg of Potassium. 0.0117%, or about 53 μg of this being 40K. 53 μg of 40K produces 14radioactive decays per second (dps), or 0.00037 μCi of radiation. If the banana is eaten, the dose equivalent is about 0.01 mrem.[ 0.01 mrem is equivalent to 0.1 μSv.]

A radiation dose equivalent of 100 μSv (10 mrem, or 1,000 BED) increases an average adult human's risk of death by about one micromort – the same risk as eating 40 tablespoons of peanut butter, or of smoking 1.4 cigarettes.

Nearly all foods are slightly radioactive. All food sources combined expose a person to around 0.4 mSv (40 mrem or 4,000 BED) per year on average, or more than 10% of the total dose from all natural and man-made sources.

Some other foods that have above-average levels are potatoes, kidney beans, nuts, and sunflower seeds. Among the most naturally radioactive foods known are Brazil nuts, with activity levels that can exceed 444 Bq/kg (12,000 pCi/kg).

run to Webb's Antique Mall and flea market.....

2011-03-13T14:21:00.050-04:00

Friday Noah and I along with my uncle Sonny ran to Richmond, Indiana for an outing. I had run out of work so was able to flex my time and took some hours off in the daytime to enjoy a nice outing on a gorgeous day weather wise! After making a pit stop for coffees and snacks prior to our departure...haha...our first stop was Webb's Antique Mall in Centerville, Indiana. WOW we had a blast. I got some wonderful things there....I saw a gorgeous cedar chest that would absolutely match my bedroom set....would love to get it...my bedroom currently is so small...but the price is excellent on this waterfall cedar chest...I may have to go back and get it before someone else grabs it up!

My son had been admiring these old retro cars for a long time...so he finally bought the vintage Lincoln...

I found my marbles....normally the price on these old jars with marbles or buttons in them is SUPER expensive...I got these GIANT marbles all very old and wonderful condition in this old jar for under $5.00! This photo does not really show how wonderful they are...or I am just nuts...

I have a thing for SUN faces and moon faces too...but SUNS really draw me. I found this wonderful iron sun face....had to snatch him up...

and this cool retro suitcase....I love this style. I may redo it and gift it or keep it and make it into a cool makeup bag/kit for home...

I am redoing my bedroom to make it look vintage...a retro look....all vintage items when possible...I have been finding some wonderful things for it. I got my entire bedroom dresser sets at Webb's Antique Mall in the past there...a wonderful waterfall set....round mirror...vanity seat. I posted pics of that before. My uncle bought me this cool vintage lamp and picture from our local Goodwill to put in my room...

Then he called me from Goodwill Saturday and told me about a cool old cabinet that would look perfect in my living room....and it does....the price was excellent...had to get it...

but back to Webb's Antique Mall....I got a BUNCH of RETRO/VINTAGE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS! Like 2.00 an entire bag!!!! I grabbed them all. I am afraid a couple may have gotten chipped on the way home. They stuck them into a big grocery bag and I think well...they are fragile. The 2.00 a bag was well worth it...I mean some of these are super old...and the little Santa faced ones adorable. Cannot wait to make a vintage tree for my bedroom this year.....and/or a wreath too....I have seen some amazing handmade wreaths using vintage Christmas ornaments...

I found this vintage picture for my bedroom at Webb's....and I will probably GOLD LEAF the frame.....it is the same type of antique/vintage look that my uncle got me with the other pic above....

I was having a great day finding amazing deals..something usually only my Uncle does....I mean most of my items were only a few dollars each!

I got this candle holder at Good Will for 1.49...it actually would look super nice with that pic above if I left the frame black...hum.....have to think about it. OR gold leaf them both....

I love Lassie...always have...always will. I saw this retro pic of a scene from Lassie and I had to get it too....I know I know.....but it is so cool.....takes me back. My mom got me a Lassie book years ago...which I still have....and I loved reading that book....it brings back wonderful memories for me...

When I saw this cake carrier...I instantly thought of my grandma C....as she used to have one very similar to it. I had to get it....It makes me want to make a big double layer chocolate/fudge cake and take to someone's house for a treat!

I found a retro 1936 Mickey Mouse book....

I got these at Goodwill...the hobnail light will go in my kitchen..I like leaving a dim light on at nighttime in the kitchen....and the vase was just gorgeous. I love the glaze...these BOTH were under 2.00.....together!

this is the type of thing I have started to get and stick in little corners or unexpected placed in my house or outside....this will hang...it is so cute...very tiny....

I could not leave without getting some of their wonderful jelly and jam...I actually love blackberry jelly or jam WITH seeds...but seedless is easier on anyone's intestinal tract!

Then I figured after filling my shopping cart I better check out and stop. I did not even spend 75.00 for all my stuff...can you believe it? I got amazing buys....and will use everything I got....everything makes me smile.

We then went back to Richmond to go to Fazoli's for a late lunch/early supper....we had a wonderful meal and visit there....

by this time my uncle and I could barely walk...but we managed to get into the car and drive BEHIND Fazoli's to the flea market!!

AN AMAZING flea market!! I thought it was called Trader's World...but I think it may be Liberty Bell? I have no idea for sure now...but wow....I had never been there before and IT IS FANTASTIC! SO MANY things and SO CHEAP!!!!! We had a ball...and I got another cart...

They had an entire dollar section....found some more vintage stuff there.....vintage table cloth...wish it was material and not plastic....vintage organizers....so cool....

it will go perfectly with this 1.00 wicker lunch basket I got at Goodwill!

I love homemade soaps....I used to order these types of soaps from a woman on Ebay....I found the same types of soaps at the flea market..and they smell amazing....

Noah LOVED this flea market...he found Hot Wheels everywhere...and he had been looking for some Treasure Hunt hot wheels for forever...and guess what? He found a TON of them at the flea market...so he spent some of his birthday and Christmas money and got 5 of them! I know we will be going back a lot...so many amazing things there....prices great!

One of my favs he got was this cute beetle one...

I never thought I would like a yellow car but I even own one...and love it...mine is also yellow and black...well..an SUV/truck more than a car....

well I guess I had cake on my brain...cause I found another vintage cake carrier...had to get it. I just love them....and like them better than Tupperware ones.....and you can use it for more than cake....now I need to bake something..this was super cheap!

this one had latches which I like!

I found this wonderful summery tea light candle holder..will be very nice outside on my patio table this summer...

On our way home we stopped and got an ice cream cone....at the best little hometown ice cream shop....

I forgot to take pics of everything but snapped a lot regardless as you can tell.

And then we hit up Goodwill again before ending the day. It took me a couple days to recover ...my legs/feet that is. I mean I am actually supposed to get a knee replaced...but am trying to hold off as long as I can...so..I was feeling it to say the least...

We had a wonderful day together..so much fun....I could have used a scooter to get around by the end of the day....

Now I have to get back to laundry....take all the stuff off my bed I drug in to snap pics of and find places to put them for now.....and get with it. The day is almost over!!

Dayton's News Source :: Where You Live - It's Where You Live: Abe Lincoln, the blogger

2011-03-08T12:34:00.000-05:00

My dad was interviewed on tv....you can go here to watch the clip...I thought they did a nice job...give it a chance to load

Dayton's News Source :: Where You Live - It's Where You Live: Abe Lincoln, the blogger

a dog named Joe....

2011-03-06T21:32:00.007-05:00

Wen my son and I first moved back to Ohio from Colorado a few years ago....we moved in with my grandma until we could find a place of our own. She has neighbors next door beside her house who have a couple of dogs and cats...but their one dog Joe has always been put outside by himself in a pen behind their garage. His name is Joe....

Joe has lived through all sorts of conditions....rain, sleet, snow, extreme sun and heat....is usually by himself all day long...and has no interaction with anyone or anything except perhaps the few brief moments his owners spend when they drop off food or water in his bowls. No one from that house seems to play with him or spend time with him...take him out of the pen....care for him properly...nothing.

My son and I fell in love with Joe....even after all the neglect he was such a loving dog...always wagging his tail and so excited to see us...not a young dog but still so playful...and seemingly happy to always see us coming or going. We always made sure to go over and pet him...give him treats...throw a ball to him for a bit...etc.

I soon realized though just how bad Joe had it. His pen was mostly dirt...and his own urine and poop. While not chained...he was in a pen of filth. He had a dog house that was too small that sat over a huge hole he had dug in the dirt....which he probably dug to give himself more room to fit in the house because as I said..the doghouse was too small for his body. I think Joe has only tried escaping once....and they got him back...and he was stuck back in the pen again.

We soon could tell no one came to ever clean the pen....never clean up the poop...never put fresh sod or straw down for him to walk on or lie down on. These same neighbors had another dog INSIDE their home they treated like a king...as well as 2 cats...but Joe remained outside in the filthy pen. This is how his pen would look when it rained.....

I would find Joe out there in subzero temps....in that frigid water....freezing....his legs shaking and shivernig in the cold...because his back end would be covered with wet muddy/poopy water.....he would get sores on his legs from standing in the deep dirty water. I had to do something. I wished I could take him somehere else to live..but at that time I myself did not even have a place of my own to live.

I called the Humane Society...I complained...I sent pics in...movie clips in...of the conditions Joe lived in. I turned to 2. The Humane Society of Darke County sent someone out. She did not even get out of her car the first time. She apparently notified the owners they had to put straw down...make sure Joe always had fresh water and food...but otherwise...they could really do nothing...blah, blah, blah. I was stunned...not believing they could somehow think this was acceptable standards for a pet dog to be living in.

The conditions deteriorated...I called and emailed again to complain. Someone else came out again....the people put down a bit of straw ONE time.....never cleaning the poop and crap up before they even put the straw down. They also never came back to clean the dirty, poopy straw back out of the pen ...I soon discovered the only way the poop was ever cleaned out was by natural erosion from the rain and snow...no one ever came outside to talk to Joe or clean up his pen. He had to walk, sit, eat in his own feces and urine.

I was so disgusted..I continued to make complaints. Was finally told they were working with the neighbors to take care of the dog..that they had a statement from the vet that the dog was in good health...and he was getting fed....etc....there was nothing they could do. The owners did start to let Joe inside the garage sometimes after that in bad weather.

During the summer the weeds would get so thick in his pen...he could no longer even see out of the fence..or over it..or get air through it. My uncle went in and trimmed the weeds down for him numerous times...so air could pass through the pen...and Joe could see out of the fence again. The owners never said anything about this...never came out to address it themselves..nothing.

One day I was coming home from somewhere....back to my grandma's house...and I had gone over to Joe and was hugging and kissing him...and giving him a treat...when as I went to walk into my grandma's house....here came the neighbor lady coming around the corner to cuss me out and accuse me of being the one turning her in all the time for not taking care of their dog Joe. She started to tell me she would call the police on me if she ever caught me on her property again....I told her the alley was not her private property and I could be in the alley and talk to Joe anytime I wanted. I then asked her why she did not ever clean up the poop in his pen or put straw down for him...spend time with him....take better care of him..etc.

She looked incredulously at me and said as if I were some idiot, "It is only DOG POOP and it is on my property and if I want to clean it up I will and I don't have to if I don't want to!" I told her it was not healthy for Joe to be like that...walking around in his own poop and pee....eating nearby it..etc. I went in to all the things that had been bothering me...so of course she knew it must have been ME who had been calling and complaining about her treatment or lack thereof..of Joe.

After that my son and I were not supposed to go over to see Joe anymore....and I was afraid he would think we abandoned him...had forgotten him....so we would still sneak over to pet him and give him a quick kiss or treat.

BUT soon the neighbors out of spite ...decided to yank down the end section of fence between the alley where Joe could look across and see us...and us him...and they instead put up a BIG section piece of privacy fence.....so Joe would no longer be able to see us..but mostly so we could no longer see Joe..or the conditions in which he lived.

Of course this did not stop me...we could still squeeze in the corner gap and see him...talk to him...but not often....and we could still see the conditions he lived in...but it became very apparent to me Darke County Humane Society sucked as they were doing nothing to ensure Joe would get better living conditions.

This brings me to tonight. I have been thinking about Joe...every time we get rain or a lot of snow...extreme temps...etc...I think of Joe. I pray for Joe to be okay and safe and healthy. Tonight when I dropped my grandma off at her house after taking her with us on a family outing.....we got to see Joe. I did not get my camera out to take a picture of him. My son had yelled to me that he looked bad. I went over to take a peek in the crack of the fence....what I saw shocked me.

I have always been afraid the extreme temps one day would probably kill Joe...I mean he is getting older and I doubt he can handle dampness and rain/snow too much all the time outdoors. I was always afraid he would die out there and no one in that household would even know it....he could be dead for days and I doubt they would know it....

But tonight...here came Joe....looking like a dog zombie. In less than 2 years he has aged...looking like a ghost of the dog he had been not even a year ago.....his back end was full of wet, muddy water...and his hairs were all frozen and matted down..his tail did not ever come up to wag....and he was cold...shivering...looking like he was trying to get into the garage but they must have had it blocked off. Anyway here he came over to us...but his eyes looked funny.....he did not perk up his ears...and he acted like he could not see us at all..or only parts of us..maybe shadows...I think he may have cataracts...but in all honesty his eyes looked like a zombie dog...like his spirit has finally just been so broken ...that it had left the dog body and gone somewhere else entirely. He did not seem to know who we were...and yet sort of acted like he knew he should know who we were. He tried to sniff our fingers we stuck down in his pen...but then backed away and not sure....almost acted like he wanted to take a nip at us. He smelled a lot....trying to remember....but it was so pitiful....

Now I feel worse than ever. All my efforts have done nothing for this dog. His pen looks the same now as it did in the pics above...no straw down...mud and poop everywhere...he is all wet,muddy, poopy and shivering in 30 degree temps....outside....and now he is older...cannot get around well..and appears to be blind...and broken. I almost feel like maybe he thinks his last hope...us...abandoned him and he just finally gave up.....and now he has escalated to this condition...in a very short, fast period of time.

I want to call and complain to someone to do something. I want to take Joe away from the pen to live with me....but now I think he is afraid...cannot see well...and may be bitter and if not able to see well..nippy. He deserves so much more than the life he has known his entire life....which is one of isolation....and deprivation...and neglect. And yet through all this..he had always continued to be such a loving, sweet dog.

Some say his living conditions meet the conditions of LIVESTOCK standards for the state..so there is nothing that can be done....I think something has to change...this cannot possibly be considered an acceptable STANDARD for anything living...dog or other livestock. Maybe that is where the distinction needs to begin. This is someone's pet dog....and they are treating it more like livestock....and while it would not be a good life even for livestock....I definitely do not see how anyone could possibly think it is acceptable standards for a pet dog.

The Joe I know is no longer in that dog's body...or mind...or eyes...or spirit. I feel so horrible about this all. If I had kept my mouth shut...at least the fence would not be there and he could have continued to see outside....interact with us...etc.....and maybe his spirit would be better today than it is now.

I still pray for Joe....I pray for him knowing it will not do any good....not at this point....unless he can be removed and have cataracts removed from his eyes if that is what is wrong with him...and I am not sure about his mood anymore..if he can be or is even stable. This story is a sad one ...with a very unlikely happy ending.

I love Joe...I feel so bad for Joe...and I feel like I have really let Joe down. I Hope he can forgive me. I don't know what else I can do....I have called...emailed....and turned to local television stations complaining. I have contacted DOGS DESERVE BETTER...I got no response from the TV station or Dogs Deserve Better...I get a run around game from the Humane Society...they do nothing....very little...warn the people...fine them perhaps...and the neighbors only do the least amount possible...which is so very little...since as I saw again today...no straw is down in Joe's pen again....the conditions are the same.

It has been 5 years now since I have been back to Ohio....5 years since I have known Joe up close and personal....and in the last 12 months or so...he has aged 100 years. It is depressing and makes me sick. I am thankful that karma will get that lady/owner good one day. What goes around comes around..you do reap what you sow...and one day that lady may need people or a safe place....not isolation and deprivation..and that is exactly what she will get. Joe will be smiling and happy again on that day...or at least I will. I know that sounds bad...but I do find comfort knowing she will get hers one day. She told me that day she confronted me how much they LOVED Joe. I told her she had NO idea what love was....that was no way to love an animal.....no way to love anything. Not sticking them in a pen all by themselves all the time...no interaction...no proper care....never cleaning up their poop...etc. It went in one of her ears and through her hollow head back out the other side.

I have a movie clip of Joe...standing in this muddy, poopy water shivering with sores on his legs..I also sent that to the Humane Society...nothing....nothing done.

SO I end this for now..with no updated pic of Joe. It was depressing. His eyes and gaze to me reminded me of that movie that time called the Dark Crystal..when the life force is sucked out of that one main character....that is how Joe looked...even without a photo it is an image I will never forget....

sketch/drawing challenges....

2011-03-02T18:00:00.004-05:00

I have been trying to allow myself time every night to work on a bit of creativity...art...something. I have many little sketchbooks and art journals..and have new media I want to try working with...so I have been challenging myself...to produce something and turn something around in like 30 minutes or so.....every night...just doodles..something. I do not yet have all the pens and things I would like to have in order to finish some of my doodling..but..it is a start. Here are a few things I have worked on..all not taking very long....like 30 minutes to under 1 hour....The sea pic was actually the same shades of blues as the snowy one...but the camera did not show the colors that way. I was trying out colored pencil fast sketches.

The brush pen black and white sketch was a challenge where I decided to give myself only 30 minutes to create a completely black and white sketch of something. I was trying out new brush pens I had received in the mail. This is what came out. I have not completely finished it ...but it is what I got done in 30 minutes...and I know the scale is off....

I think the child reflects the child in us all....and the fact that the face ended up in a balloon just reflects the child being carefree....light....happy....and then there is the adult face....which turned into a tree...I think that reflects how as an adult we can sometimes develop roots that go really deep..so deep we become stagnant...and not willing to change...or move...or be free.....and darkness hovers over us all the time...and always in our thoughts...over our shoulders in the distance ...is the passing of time and what awaits in the future....death...the end of what we know on this Earth....weird how deep sometimes simple 30-minute sketches come out!

February 2011 Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Snow Moon....

2011-02-19T09:56:00.003-05:00

Again this month I have created MULTIPLE dreamboards....maybe they could be merged to make one giant dreamboard. I was pulled to a lot of FIREWORKS this month and explosion...ACTION....movement...strength....open mouths, exercise, commands. And an occasional softness here and there with the roses or words BE KIND...which I think means to not lose myself so much that I forget to take care of me and I need to be kind to me. I had seen a video of a school choir singing that song "FIREWORK" and it was so inspiring...and I could not get that song out of my head for a few days. I know I am getting many messages loud and clear recently and they definitely all came out on all 3 of my boards. I am sure I am headed into MAJOR ACTION on my part...in many areas of my life...physical probably being number one...but in other areas of my life as well. If you want to see more full moon dreamboards please be sure to check out the link on my side bar to Jamie Ridler Studios....I think the mouths on my boards reflects the fact that I have a lot to say. I do not always say what I have to say...and there is a lot inside of me right now SCREAMING to get said....

February Full Moon Dreamboard - the Full Cold Moon by postthelove featuring grey ankle boots

explode by postthelove on Polyvore.com

can't sleep by postthelove on Polyvore.com

START GIVING.....

2011-01-28T15:38:00.003-05:00

If you feel moved to help him help others... this is how.

Mr. Narayanan Krishnan

Akshaya's Helping in H.E.L.P. Trust

9, West 1st Main Street,

......Doak Nagar Extension,

Madurai 625 010. India

Ph: +91(0)452 4353439/2587104

Cell:+91 98433 19933

E mail : ramdost@sancharnet.in

We need to open our eyes and look at all the ones around us who are hungry too...not just in other countries....there are many in need....even in our own communities...maybe even our own families

Roots of She: LOVING YOUR BODY

2011-01-26T16:03:00.007-05:00

Jamie over at "ROOTS OF SHE" had a very good post about changes our bodies undergo over time...and her final thought provoking question was:

How has your relationship with your body changed over time? What has been important along the way?

WOW did her post open up the flood gates in my brain. I have been dealing with these same issues now for a while myself...and it has definitely made me step back and think about a lot of things.

Like Jamie started out...

I think I am still in the semi-pissed off stage, disbelief...something. I have never had issues with my body, even when I have gained weight in the past I would still be able to function and do anything I wanted. I could always rely on being able to do everything.

I have recently had a few health issues come up with my body I am being forced to deal with....one of them being issues with my knee and the simple act of walking and being able to get around well enough to do simple activities of daily living. I am still young and never honestly felt I would ever have any problems with anything like this. I have always been there for me...to do everything I needed done and for those around me...like my son. I was told I needed a knee replacement already...but I am too young..as I would outlive the knee replacement and have to have the surgery twice or even 3 times..and each time they are less successful. There are days I cannot even walk from my office to my kitchen (I work at home). I hobble around worse than my grandmother who is 88 years old. I wonder how I will be able to mow my yard this summer in this house I finally decided to commit to buying under land contract last April. How will I be able to physically do many of the things I will need to do? Things I have always done...but now can't. I can't even climb on a chair to change a lightbulb. I do not at this time have oodles of spare money to pay someone else to do many of these things for me...and I cannot imagine going back to apartment life.

I have issues too with weight that has been ongoing and OFF-going now for years. WHY I just do not get the excess off and keep it off is something I still work on. It ticks me off that I started out with my first job as an exercise instructor and always took care of my body and was in good shape and now I just don't give a crap. I mean I do..but I apparently really don't if I cannot manage to get my weight issues under control. Bending over is near impossible now because of my enlarging abdomen....I look like I am pregnant but I am not. Tying shoes is like holding a basketball in my lap and trying to work around that. NO fun...this alone ..these things alone...should make me want to change and while I DO want to change it all seems like such a big effort. It was not an effort before...or I had made it routine. Not sure. NOW everything is an effort. Not being able to move my body to walk let alone exercise is not helping. I have to plan simple outings on good days and now I never even know for sure if I will have a good day. Things I would like to do with my son already I wonder if I will be able to. This disturbs me..and yet I remain the same. I am not really even making little changes anymore. I have become a slug at best. I seem to be allowing myself to deteriorate. I have to ask myself why.

I have issues too with another problem regarding some glands....and different things in my body being out of whack....possible tumor...a rare disorder....and it gives me many symptoms too that I all along just thought was due to my being overweight or out of shape or my bad attitude.

Stress I know can take a toll and it is now more than ever with my body. I try to adapt and just breathe and go with the flow...just float.....but lately I feel more like I am drowning and no longer even floating.

I also go off on these incredibly long verbal/written tangents such as this...no explanations why. Maybe because I get out so little and have so little outside interaction with others....

Of course this can all easily lead to depression. So I struggle with that..and truly TRY to keep looking up....and knowing that somehow it will all work out. BUT my belief is being jostled a lot...and sometimes I don't think I really believe anymore. In a lot of things. This just makes me mad and sad that I cannot believe in certain things anymore or certain people anymore.

sigh......so my life is changing...always changing as is yours and everyone else who has managed to stick with this long tirade of words to actually finish reading it.

I focus on now...but also am anxious about my future...and know if I want to be able to MOVE and DO things in the future I have to make some serious changes NOW. I fight it I guess. I am the spoiled child stamping her feet...NO I DON'T WANT TO! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! but I know I have to...maybe I can change that word "HAVE" to another word....

I look at my 88-year-old grandmother and how all of a sudden now she cannot easily crochet...something she confided in me last night was the reason she kept living all these years....(she crochets things to donate for babies in hospitals and cancer patients)...that gave her something to do. ..but now her hands are really troubling her from neuropathy and her hands can no longer work for hours anymore to crochet. Her feet and legs have also developed the neuropathy in them..so she loses balance and falls. She has been so young and spry all these years and now at 88 she too is facing change where her body just won't do for her anymore what it always has. ALWAYS HAS....

Am I lazy? Too apathetic? Too tired? All the above? Something else?

I do not have a answer. If I did I guess I could easily become rich by selling it online as a $97.00 course....cause everyone is looking for THE answer..but THE answer will be different for each of us I think.

Hope we can all enjoy the journey. I am thankful at least..even if I struggle to move around..that I am still HERE to be able to make the journey!

To read more comments and stories check out ROOTS OF SHE here or press the button on my side bar. You will be glad you did!

ROOTS OF SHE

mini pumpkin muffins....so YUMMY!

2011-01-21T23:14:00.006-05:00

I decided to try a new recipe....this is what I will be having for breakfast in the morning. They are soooo delicious and will be even better with fresh brewed coffee! I will post the recipe if anyone would like it..

today was a perfect day for roast chicken....

2011-01-19T17:01:00.001-05:00

and boy does my house smell good now!

January 2011 - Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Wolf Moon

2011-01-18T17:15:00.003-05:00

January-Full Wolf Moon Dreamboard by postthelove on Polyvore.com

I think somewhere along the way I forgot these were DREAM boards and instead have been using them as a VENT board or HEALING board or transformation board...something. Lately I have not believed too much in dreams for myself and in fact have almost seemed to have lost touch completely in that regard. This in turn has made me a bit bitchy? A bit grumpy? A bit growlier? I mean I am nice enough to those around me and all that...but inside my head is burning ...my heart is about to explode...and I want to show my teeth and take back all I want for me and my son...before time runs out. Yes..there almost always seems to be a CLOCK in my dreamboards somewhere....so I guess this reflects all these pent up feelings I am experiencing now....hard to see the magic at the moment though I know it is still there...and maybe that is why I chose the cute little magical dolls and figures at the top left of the board. No clue yet..more to think about and ponder. And let's not forget...fire...we can be refined by fire....so...anyway...that is all I have to say this time round.

woke up this morning to a beautiful sunrise!

2011-01-17T11:15:00.002-05:00

Hallmark movie " Pictures of Hollis Woods"

2011-01-16T20:48:00.003-05:00

Local artists teach Sissy Spacek to carve for her latest role.

I SAW THIS MOVIE SUNDAY AND LOVED IT...NOW I WILL HAVE TO CHECK THE BOOK OUT AT THE LIBRARY. I LOVED THE CARVED DOLLS MADE IN THE MOVIE...THE ONE HERE LOOKED JUST LIKE THE GIRL IN THE MOVIE. IT WAS CARVED OUT OF A SMALL SECTION OF A LOG. I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO DO THAT...TO TRY THAT AND END UP WITH BEAUTIFUL CREATURES LIKE THESE DOLLS...

When Hollywood execs descended on the Canadian city of Victoria, BC, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that local artists could provide the support needed to bring their latest film to life.

The finished likeness of Hollis created by Michael Léger.In the made-for-television movie Pictures of Hollis Woods, Sissy Spacek portrays a retired art teacher with a passion for woodcarving. Although Spacek had virtually no prior experience in woodcarving, she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty preparing for the new role.

Pictures of Hollis Woods is based on the Newberry Honor book of the same title by Patricia Reilly Giff. Jodelle Ferland plays the role of Hollis, a young girl who has spent most of her life moving from one foster home to the next. Spacek’s character, Josie Cahill, bonds with Hollis and together they explore Hollis’ artistic talents.

Michael Lèger created working props for the carvings used on the set of Pictures of Hollis Woods.Throughout the movie, Spacek’s character works on several different sculptures, including a likeness of Hollis carved from Garry oak. The in-process scenes required several stages of carvings to be used as props. The movie also required Spacek to know some basic carving techniques for the scenes to be realistic. Luckily for the producers, carvers Michael Léger and Norma Lofthouse were there to lend their expertise. Michael Léger, a film prop sculptor whose work has appeared in X-Men 3 and the Chronicles of Riddick, discovered that producers were planning to shoot the movie in Victoria. As executives arrived to set up their office, Léger stopped in with his portfolio, introduced himself, and told them that he carves wood as a hobby.

“I talked to them, and showed them my portfolio,” Léger said. “They told me that I was a perfect fit!”

Léger created two sculptures used in the movie; a sculpture of Ferland’s character, Hollis, and a similar sculpture of another character, cousin Beatrice. The process of the Hollis sculpture began with concept sketches, then Léger created a 3D model from clay. The script called for the sculpture to be created from Garry oak, a protected species on Vancouver Island. The Oak Bay Parks Department gave Léger a piece of Garry oak from a storm-damaged tree.

“The oak was quite hard,” Léger said, “but at the same time, it takes small details well.”

Despite the hardness of the oak, Léger carved the pieces using hand tools. “This is the first movie that I had the opportunity to carve wood for,” Léger admitted. “Most other movie props are carved from Styrofoam.”

Filming for the movie is not necessarily done in a linear fashion, and the script called for progressive views of the carving, which had to match perfectly. To account for this, Léger made resin casts of the carving at various stages of completion. Oak was grafted onto the casts so Spacek could carve the sculpture on film. The movie’s paint department added a faux finish to make the casts match the original oak branch.

Norma Lofthouse provided specialized instruction to make Sissy Spacek’s carving appear authentic.

Léger demonstrated mallet and chisel carving techniques for Spacek, but the script called for her to spend more time whittling. With Léger’s limited experience in that style of carving, he called on local artist Norma Lofthouse for assistance. The two carvers met while demonstrating at a woodworking event and bonded while sharing adjoining booths. Lofthouse, who considers herself a “whittler,” specializes in caricatures and rustic carving. Léger recommended Lofthouse as a whittling tutor.

Lofthouse, a retiree who spends her time whittling and teaching beginners how to carve, relished the chance to share her skills with an Academy Award-winning actress.

“They checked me out beforehand,” Lofthouse said. “I got a call from the studio, and they asked to come and talk to me. We are working with sharp knives, so they wanted to make sure everything would be safe. They rented some of my tools to have them checked out.”

Lofthouse taught Spacek the basics of carving: how to carve safely with a glove, the basics of sharpening, and the basic cuts (paring, pushing, and stop cuts).

“Sissy was a quick study—a natural,” Lofthouse said. “She’s such a warm and gracious person. She was fascinated by the sound of the knife cutting through the wood. The tactile nature of wood really caught her attention. She told me she would like to continue carving.”

Lofthouse met with Spacek at a studio workshop in downtown Victoria where artists make props and sets. While Spacek didn’t ask a lot of questions, Lofthouse noted that she seemed to absorb everything she taught her. The producers of the film also commissioned Lofthouse to carve a primitive bird in different stages of completion. During filming, Spacek worked on the bird to add to the authentic artistic atmosphere of the movie. “They hired me to teach Sissy to carve,” Lofthouse said. “It was important for me to be as professional as possible. I didn’t even ask her for an autograph.” Lofthouse took home many happy memories from the experience and Spacek took home several carvings as gifts from other local carvers.

Sissy Spacek fills the lead role in Pictures of Hollis Woods, but woodcarving plays an important part in the movie. In the Hallmark film which airs at 9pm EST Dec. 2, 2007 on CBS, Spacek’s character uses art and carving to connect with a troubled youth and to forge a bond that transcends generations.

gorgeous sunset January 16, 2011....

2011-01-16T20:08:00.002-05:00

I was walking into my laundry room to do some laundry when I happened to notice some orange glow coming in my back window. When I looked out I saw this most gorgeous sunset...so I snapped a few shots. Isn't it beautiful??

made a delicious homemade quiche tonight.....

2011-01-12T21:23:00.001-05:00

and it was sooo good. My uncle Sonny stopped by for a bit so I invited him for supper. He loves chocolate so I also stirred up a batch of homemade Baker's One bowl brownies with fudge icing. Fresh coffee....quiche....brownies...snow outside.....cozy inside....it was a good night!

my 2010 full moon dreamboards....

2011-01-03T21:22:00.001-05:00

I made a new slideshow of my dreamboards as my first one did not really show my boards too well. This one allowed larger photos....

Another photo album by Smilebox

Illusions...to dust...to vapor...

2011-01-02T15:41:00.001-05:00

I spent years envisioning you
an imaginary you
until this past year
when I realized
once again I have been fooled
purposefully conned
diligently deceived

I never knew you at all
you were only what I thought you were
or thought you could be
hoped you might be
but never were
never could be

you were a mere illusion
a dream
purporting to be so big
so voluminous
so perfect

but in reality
so little
so minute
so flawed

so deficient

your vanity encompassed you
smothered you
instead of adding to your power and morality
your enormity
your strength
it paralyzed you
reducing you to a molehill

in my mind's eye you have become decrepit
incapacitated
passive
prostrate
impotent

you are so small
I can no longer see you
or any portion of you
not your imaginary eyes
or your imaginary heart
I no longer hear your imaginary words
or feel your imaginary longings

my incredulity has turned me into a crag
my skepticism into a scoffer
my cynicism into sarcasm

I am slightly Siberian
a bit frosty
almost apathetic
barely breathing
appropriately anesthetized

I complete the motions of my days and nights
I move forward not looking back
my brain rousing from its slumber
engorged with enlightenment
like a water balloon about to bust

meanwhile your brain
and everything you thought you were
lies shriveled at my feet
the size of a grain of sand
mere dust that I easily blow away

Copyright ©2011 man and Sipping The Vast Spring

Oreo balls....not just for Christmas....

2011-01-02T10:23:00.002-05:00

I can see these decorated for Valentine's day, Easter, or even July 4th and Halloween...these look pretty simple to make too! AND I think I would prefer calling them OREO TRUFFLES!

ENjoy!

Ingredients
1-18oz. pkg oreo cookies (regular size, 3 rows of cookies)
1-8oz. pkg cream cheese-block
4 oz white chocolate almond bark

Directions
1Add oreos to food processor and blend until fine. 2Add cream cheese to oreo crumbs and blend until dough-like. 3Chill mixture for 15 minutes then roll into bite-size balls. Chill balls for 15 minutes. 4Melt almond bark in microwave according to package directions. Dip chilled oreo balls in melted chocolate using fork so chocolate can "drip off". Set covered cookie balls onto waxed paper and let set aprox. 30 minutes. If using sprinkles or decorative sugars do so before chocolate sets. I usually do a dozen at a time sprinkling after each dozen.

I imagine you can use milk or dark chocolate instead of almond bark if you like.....I think that would be good too!

Sunrise this morning, January 2, 2011

2011-01-02T10:07:00.003-05:00

My cat woke me up to see this beautiful sunrise....

Sunset....January 1, 2011

2011-01-02T10:06:00.001-05:00

CLICK ON PHOTOS to see larger version...

We have been having some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets the past couple of days. This sunset was January 1.....have you noticed it is staying daylight a little longer at night?

sunrise on New Year's Eve morning....

2010-12-31T08:54:00.002-05:00

This morning I am trying to do something new...getting ready to really honestly sit back and reflect all that has come to pass in the year 2010 in my life. I want to reflect on what has happened, what I did, what I learned, and what I would still like to do or perhaps have done differently. There is always a lot to contemplate this time of year ...and I think that is one reason many get depressed.

But seeing this gorgeous sunrise this morning reminded me of how bright the future can be...our next days...my tomorrows, your tomorrows. We only have to take a brief moment to find a bit of beauty and light already within our immediate environment, each of our small little worlds. I just happened to be walking by my front door and closed window blinds when I noticed an orange hue peeking between the cracks..and when I looked out this was what I saw. Hope of a new, bright day.

So as we head into this new year, I want to remain focused on that. Lightness, beauty, brightness, hope.

I want to wish you and yours a very happy, healthy, safe, prosperous, and blessed new year!

My 2010 Full Moon Dreamboard review....

2010-12-30T22:54:00.001-05:00

This photo album created with Smilebox

December 2010 Full Moon Dreamboard - the Full COLD moon....

2010-12-21T15:41:00.004-05:00

Things Left Unsaid by postthelove on Polyvore.com

I guess I have been feeling a little of the COLD aspect of the Full COLD Moon this month. A few things have happened this year to really snap me back to reality in regards to people and how many are not whom they try to portray themselves as being. You would think one would learn this and remember it for future use...but...I guess I still believe in giving one the benefit of the doubt....or believe in honesty and integrity....truthfulness...only to find once again I know few around me that understand these qualities and characteristics. SO...I have had my eyes shaken open and now they are WIDE open.....my sense of dreams feels like a bug that has been stomped on...left with broken legs and body to wiggle around on and not get anywhere. Things are weird right now and I have a lot of things that have been left unsaid....for there is really no reason to say them other than to make myself maybe feel better....as it will not change a person....or reality...or even me. It changes nothing but wastes a lot of energy. Maybe I should record it on tape and burn the tape or something...I don't know. Part of me is a little ticked off ...not at the entire world...but a definite select few. I am over it though at the same time....because I realized it is their problem and only mine if I allow it to be and it is so not worth it. Life is too short....life has too many possibilities to allow creepiness and crap to seep in.

So...after spewing out this first December dreamboard....I went back to attempt another...one to maybe help me see my way into the coming new year....

okay...here is my second December moon dreamboard.

December Full Moon Dreamboard part 2 - The Full Cold Moon by postthelove on Polyvore.com

I know I still believe in magic and dreams and that I am the one in charge of creating my own reality. This is a very magical time of year and I absolutely refuse to let anyone destroy that for me. This next year will be a time of growth for me....of making dreams come true and accomplishing goals....of determination and hard work...of changes.....and to be honest...I am tired of waiting around for my life to sort of happen on its own....I gotta make whatever happen happen if I want it to....so look out 2011!

Christmas is coming ...the goose is getting fat....

2010-12-06T17:58:00.002-05:00

and wow...I have not eaten meat for a week! I have been craving more veggies ....and enjoying eating them more. It is very odd for me because for years I have been the opposite of a vegetarian...more a carnivore. BUT recently after thinking about animals again and how they are raised and killed and seeing some pretty horrific video feeds....and well...just NOT craving meat as before since I have been taking my prescription strength vitamin D....I have gone meatless.

I have had more energy had less heartburn and generally felt much better since doing so.

NOT sure I will become a 100% veg head.....but.....I now know I do not have to eat meat all the time and I am fine and feel good.

Meanwhile I got our Christmas tree up and decorated...my son's tree up and decorated....now to clean up the house a bit this week...and we are going into the holiday season simple.....slower...and enjoying it more. I am not overdoing the decorations....we are doing more local holiday events...and watching more holiday shows on television and listening to more holiday/seasonal music.

I have been accomplishing more at home...and slowing making huge changes. I am thankful.

My body is a little weird now...and I am still anxious about a few things pertaining to that...but I know longterm all will be okay regardless..one way or another.

How are you coping so far this holiday season??

The Fiction Project » Art House Co-op | We build art projects and communities

2010-12-01T18:03:00.000-05:00

The Fiction Project » Art House Co-op | We build art projects and communities

November 2010 Full Moon Dreamboard - The Full Frost Moon

2010-11-21T18:00:00.001-05:00

I am not sure what this board means....I just went through and picked some items that appealed to me....I see some magic in there....a few memories from the past....snowflakes..snow...glitter...snowmen....wishes...I have had a really hard time lately with my attitude and trying to hold onto the magic that I usually always have...especially this time of year.....but I think the DISJOINTED snowman is sort of representative of how I have been feeling emotionally lately...though I have not given up on my dreams and the magic of life itself....I do however realize there are a lot of people in the world who are just crap and do crappy things and well..enough said.

I made some more homemade cheese/spicy crackers...

2010-11-06T15:10:00.003-04:00

this time shaped like tiny turkeys!

sharing a blog I discovered today....

2010-11-06T15:02:00.001-04:00

FARMHOUSE COUNTRY STYLE

click on link to go there!

LISTING OF HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES!

2010-11-02T20:08:00.003-04:00

and they list a few older ones too...a great site for information!

go HERE and check it out!

HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES

Be Present.....

2010-11-01T13:06:00.001-04:00

You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.

Only in the awareness of the present,

can your hands feel the pleasant warmth of the cup.

Only in the present, can you savor the aroma,

taste the sweetness,

appreciate the delicacy.

If you are ruminating about the past,

or worrying about the future,

you will completely miss the experience of enjoying the cup of tea.

You will look down at the cup,

and the tea will be gone.

Life is like that.

If you are not fully present,

you will look around and it will be gone.

You will have missed the feel,

the aroma,

the delicacy and beauty of life.

It will seem to be speeding past you.

The past is finished. Learn from it and let it go.

The future is not even here yet.

Plan for it,

but do not waste your time worrying about it.

Worrying is worthless.

When you stop ruminating about what has already happened,

when you stop worrying about what might never happen,

then you will be in the present moment.

Then you will begin to experience joy in life.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

October Full Moon Dreamboard 2010- The Harvest Moon

2010-10-31T21:27:00.003-04:00

What can I say? I have a lot of issues going on in my life right now...many pertaining to things regarding my health that I have to take care of. Something I don't normally have any problems with...or at least not for a very long time. One big issue dealing with my bones....so bones have been on my mind a lot. My house and things I have to do with it have also been on my mind..and wondering if my body will be able to keep up with all the requirements of things needing done around here one day. I have always been able to do anything that needs to be done and always felt I would....but I do wonder now. All the while the ever present time/clock always tick tocking in the background.

I really feel the me I used to know has died multiple deaths...and a new me always emerges.... Sometimes better...sometimes not....and then usually at some point along the way that NEW me passes on too.....and another new me shows up. I continue to change and hopefully evolve...but there are times I feel like I am being slowly erased away. I feel like I am falling/failing in multiple areas of my life right now....not really doing all I can...and yet I take refuge in my home, in my room, in my bedroom, in the comforts I surround myself with in my environment that I am also slowly changing.

I love the moon and how it always seems to look in on me and make me feel better when I see it. It grounds me. I have talked about this before. BUT right now in my life I have many journeys to face, a couple of probable surgeries, and some major life decisions to make...all the while as I continue to transform my house and STUFF as I also transform myself. ALL hopefully for the better!

wonderful, delicious homemade CHEESE crackers!

2010-10-27T20:53:00.003-04:00

a great way to use your mini cookie cutters...or larger ones..or make cheese straws that look like French fries. I made a batch for the first time tonight and WOW...they are the BEST gourmet tasting cheese/spicy cracker I have ever had! I doubt I ever buy store bought crackers anymore! These are soooo good....the house smells so wonderful...and you could make so many varieties! I added cheddar cheese, American, Parmesan and dill seed to mine....AND pepper flakes. WOW!! Here is the recipe:

Here is the main recipe but feel free to change it up to suit your taste!

Cheese straw dough/cracker recipe:

•1 1/2 cups (about 4 ounces) grated cheddar cheese
...•4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 4 pieces
•3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
•1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
•1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
•1 tablespoon half-and-half

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a food processor, combine the cheese, butter, flour, salt and red pepper and process in five 5-second pulses until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the half-and-half. Process until the dough forms a ball, about 10 seconds.

(I do not have a food processor but you could use a mixer and/or bread machine ....I just cut in the butter like you do for pastry using a fork)

3. On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough into an 8-X-10-inch rectangle that is 1/8-inch thick. With a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut the dough into long, thin strips, 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide (dipping the knife in flour after every few inches ensures a clean cut). Gently transfer the strips to an ungreased cookie sheet, leaving 1/4 inch between them. The straws can be any length, from 2 to 10 inches.

4. Bake the straws on the middle rack for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the ends are barely browned. Remove from the oven, and set on a wire rack to cool. Serve at room temperature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OR USE your cookie cutters as below directions!!

Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s 1/8-inch thick, and cut as many leaves as you can. Transfer the leaves to a baking sheet lined with Silpat®, and chill them in the fridge for three minutes. Then bake them at 350 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes, until the edges are barely browned.

When the crackers cool they’re intensely cheesy, buttery, spicy, crunchy, addictive, drool-inspiring, and yes, lovely.

OH MY ...I cannot describe how GOURMET these crackers taste and how quick and easy they were to make! I did not use half-n-half as I did not have any..I used 2% milk and I used regular cookie sheet with NO Silpat...they still turned out soooo yummy and did NOT stick to my cookie sheets.

Take Me Out - Atomic Tom..live on a bus! using iphones!

2010-10-24T19:50:00.001-04:00

Song of the Seas by Ine Braat

2010-10-24T19:48:00.000-04:00

love this song and thought the video was nice too......

Mike Tompkins is incredible too...makes all the "MUSIC" sounds with his voice and mouth!

2010-10-08T19:21:00.005-04:00

this video explains how he does it!