Notes From the Voodoo Cafe: Duct Tape Christmas Tree

Y'all need to go on over to the voodoo cafe blog and see this guys tree.  He does amazing work with duct tape.  You would not even recognize that's what it is when you first see it.  The needles, the ornaments, starr, all done with duct tape.  Rice even show's some of his other work in the video she taped.  Just awesome.  Men and duct tape, go figure.

Notes From the Voodoo Cafe: Duct Tape Christmas Tree

Is there really a "perfect" Christmas?

Well December is here, Christmas is near,  I really do think there is some type of time warp as we get older that makes the days go by so fast that we miss most of the year.  I thought it was just last week I was complaining about not wanting it to be Summer.

As I was growing up I absolutely loved all the holidays from Halloween till Christmas.  New Years I could give or take.  That was just a day for too much football.  The others were filled with so many good things.  From all the new and old holiday shows on t.v., the wonderful smells in the air, people walking around ever so pleasant to one another and all the good food everywhere.  Even the holiday advertisments on t.v. made me feel good.  Why Santa riding around snowbanks on a Norelco razor made me feel good is beyond me.  I guess it was just all the good cheer and there was such a totally different feeling from the days prior.  The crisp cool weather and happy people just made things so magical.  Back then if you didn't get all your shopping done you were just S.O.L. on the day of because absolutely nothing was open except for very high priced "convenience" stores like 7-11 and you were lucky to find those.  Companies believed their employee's mattered and that they should be with their families just as much as everyone else.

Now the employees are made to feel guilty if they want time off with their loved ones and the merchandise show up in the stores earlier and earlier every year.  The only places that are closed are government offices, banks and doctors offices.   It's hard to find a store not open on a holiday anymore.  The whole thing is so commercialized and desensitized.  The warm feelings are only in movies and programs cashing in on peoples heartstrings by showing good deads for ratings...but I digress.....

I love the old mushy heartfelt movies like "It's a wonderful life",  "the preachers wife" (the original is the best), and "Miracle on 34th Street".  I know I 'm a sap but I believe in the things those movies instilled.  That there are good people out there (even though they're harder to find now adays) and that miracles do happen if you believe.  I've decided I no longer want to strive for a perfection that I cannot attain to make people that don't care happy.    Now I only take care of those that matter most and am slowly weening myself from over extending myself.  It felt better and more appreciated to give to the new homeless shelter while I was out shopping the other day then most people I have given gifts to.  Isn't it a shame when complete strangers can make you feel more appreciated then those you know and care about?

(I use to spend so much time decorating my packages)

This year I'm unable to do much for anyone, which really hurts me because I really love to give people things.  The one thing that is nice is that those that matter do understand and know I do things when I can.  One of the niceties of getting older is you learn who your real friends are and start learning to care less about those people and things that don't matter.  However if you are one of those people like me that worries about everything it's harder to shake old habits like that and so it may take me until I'm 100 years old to be completely...ummm.. careless?  No I don't think that's the word for it.

One of the selfish "me" things I've decided to do this month is take the last prompt class Kelly Kilmer is having.  I wasn't going to until I heard she's moving onto other things and decided not to continue this next year.  So I'm back to journaling for the month.  I think it's very theraputic, like blogging, for ones soul...even if no one else reads it.  So I'll be sharing what I do again. 

My first day was "Do you have anything natural (from nature) that was found and in your home?  Where did you find it?"

I didn't originally find this but what I wrote about is a rose quartz that I found in my inlaw's yard.  My husband had found this when they lived in Arizona and it went from location to location with them as they moved.  It always stayed out in the yard among the other rocks along with some pieces of turquoise also found in their yard.  Arizona has mining towns and is known for such stones being dug up there.  I love rose quartz and since they were tired of moving it around with them and were just going to leave it when they moved again I decided to take it home with me.  It's big and heavy so I keep it on the floor at my desk.   I wrote that it was 20+ pounds but I'm sure it's closer to 50lbs. since it's very difficult for me to move around.

It's still in it's natural form so it's not all polished and pretty like the stones you find in shops.  I like it that way.   The rose quartz is suppose to be that of emotionally healing of the heart.  I don't know how true that is since I am such an emotional person, but according to the healing directory it is.  The amethyst is to the spirit and the rose quarts to the heart.  Both stones I keep at my desk although my amethysts are meer peebles to the rose quartz. 

I hope everyone is having a nice commencement to the end of 2009.

Stephen King

Wow, is Thanksgiving 2009 already part of our past?    I just know one day I will wake up and a whole year will have passed, it goes by almost that fast now.  Our Thanksgiving was quiet and late since both of us weren't feeling that great and I spent the past couple of days reading.  I didn't even want to try and venture out for Black Friday.  As crazy as it gets, I have enjoyed some of them in days gone by.  My first were actually fun.  A lot of groggy people, standing in line with their coffees in hand, chatting and saying how crazy we all were for being up at 4:00 am to stand in a line to shop.  Now you have to stand in lines even earlier to be through the doors and be part of the first 100 of whatever the store super sale and gifts are.  I admit I have found some amazing sales at that time of the morning also.  A $150.00 silverware set for $49.00 and some great king sized comforters for $10.00.  Thank goodness I didn't live in a big city where they have to start lining up by midnight or earlier.

A couple of weeks ago I bought the new Stephen King book, "Under The Dome".  I just finished reading it and really liked it.  We had just found Jake so I didn't get much read until the past few days.  I've been reading King books since high school but had fallen way behind over the years when my back started giving me trouble and made reading uncomfortable. 

If any of you like Stephen King or that type of genre I recommend reading this book even though its 1000+ pages are a little bit intimidating. 

The story is about a dome that suddenly appears around a small Maine town and how people react to it.   The sad part is that the way the people in this story acted is very close to how people really can act during stressful times, which is very sad.  It is a mob rules type of atmosphere with a man who thinks he is God like trying to take charge of everyone and manipulating their thought process.  

I've also been listening to his radio station in Maine online, WKIT-FM...mainly because the music played reminds me of my earlier years.  A lot like what I use to listen to back when I was a teenager.  Very Rock and Roll, old and new.  If you like R&R you should give it a listen.

Today was our first good rainfall, complete with thundar, in a very long time.  It's so beautiful out.  I love days like this.  This was Jake's first rain I think.  He was very interested in it until the thundar started.  He's not one for loud noises.  I put his carrier next to the front window so he could look out better.  He looked so cute when he was trying to see outside from the floor.  Like a kid trying to peek over something but just not quite tall enough.

  Until next time I bid you all a happy weekend.  With Love and Light..... be safe.  K.

Unusual

I am not a winner by nature or even accident.   Normally my luck is pretty average and I never win anything SO when I find out I've won a contest for the second time within a couple of months from each other I am in shock.  Both were from craft companies on facebook so maybe that is where my luck is...(?)  Why can't the lottery be there? 

I had entered Tattered Angels giveaway for their new glimmer mists and screens that are coming out to promote the new release of their Timeless Romance line.  Then totally forgot about it until I got an message asking for my address so they could send my prize.  What a surprise that was.  This is a picture of what I won...

The mist colours are S.W.A.K. (Sealed With A Kiss), Dazzling Diamonds and Chocolate covered Cherries.  There is also a new rubber stamp set and calling cards in the collection.  The calling cards are similar to the bingo cards from what I read and have various romantic/victorian pictures printed on them that are similar to what is on the rubber stamps.  The stamps have hearts and key that match the screens shown above.
I received my prizes this afternoon and had to try them out to see what they looked like. 

The picture doesn't do them justice but you get an idea.  If you've ever seen metallic papers that is what the results of this spray looks like.  The sheen and sparkle are so pretty and subtle.  I didn't really notice just how much it glistened until I put it under the light.  It's just gorgeous.  Now I need to do something with these pages I sprayed.  I have some metallic papers from The Paper Palette of Hawaii that would look great with these sprays.

We've been adopted

For a couple of days last week we were constantly hearing this meowing outside.  We tried to ignore it but it became more and more consistent as the days went by.  After awhile it was a non-stop crying all day and night.  It started jumping up on our cooler and peeking into the window and then climing up the screen door trying to get in.  It was just the cutest little kitten and I just felt so sorry for the poor thing out there in the cold that I brought him in and fed him.  When it warmed up I let him back outside figuring with the daylight he'd find his way back home. He played and went away for a little while but continued coming back and no one in the neighborhood seemed to know him or claim him so we decided if he wanted to stay with us that badly we'd take him in.  So on Thursday we became cat owners. 

I have never had a cat in my life so this is all new to me.  John had one when he was younger that he really loved but it ran off and after that he'd vowed not to have another cat again.  Normally when strays come around, and they come around here a LOT, I get in trouble for talking to them but this time it was different.  The two of them seemed to hit it off right away.  This cat was so loving and affectionate, especially towards John that it was he that actually ended up letting the cat in for good while I was sleeping.  For the first couple of days "the cat" would constantly sit on John's lap and only come to me if I pet him.  As soon as I stopped he was right back on John's lap.  Now that he's become more familiar with us and had the week to roam around and get comfortable he's not as needy.  He does still insist that I not sleep while John is left alone to, go figure.  It took awhile but after a few days John decided to name the little fella, Jake.

We didn't have anything for cats so I covered a pillow and put it inside a box for him to sleep in.  It took a couple of days before he'd decided he liked sleeping and playing inside of it.  He's also become quite a ham.  He was down inside the box until he saw me with the camera then jumped up to pose.

Another place he likes sleeping is on top of my slippers.  I can kind of understand that but the foot rest next to him here is very bumpy and he loves sleeping on it as well.  To me that would seem uncomfortable but he will go up under the desk and fall asleep on top of it whether I'm here or not.

John sleeps in his recliner chair a lot because of his back pain and has a blanket that dangles over the edge of the leg rest.  This has become a favourite place for Jake to play and also nap.  He likes to wrestle with the blanket then ends up falling asleep curled up against it.

Yesterday was Jake's first trip in the truck and away from familiar surroundings.  We took him in for his shots then over to Petco for a carrier so he'd be more safe on outtings.  While at the shelter we were loaned a carrier to put him in so none of the dogs could get at him and he seemed to really like it.  So much so that I had to drag him out once we were done to take him home.  We decided it would be good to get one for him since he will be going back to get fixed next week and we plan to take him with us places once in awhile.  When we got home with it we thought we'd leave it out so he could get use to it but apparently that wasn't necessary as he jumped right in and made himself at home.  I tried to put a piece of carpet inside for him to make it more comfortable but that idea didn't fly with him.  He attacked it right off.  So he's a no frills cat I guess.

After his shots yesterday, Jake was the mellowest cat around.  I think I LOVE these shots.  It was the first time since Jake came to live with us that I slept without being awakened after an hour or so by a cat pouncing on me.  I went to lay down when we got home and woke up a couple of hours later to find him asleep next to me.  That was a first, he has NEVER slept on the bed.  He only goes up there to play and torture me.  The night before I woke up to his jumping up and down on the bed trying to get the light cord hanging from the ceiling fan.  I am amazed he didn't turn the light on as he got several good grabs of it. 

Today he's back to normal. I was awakened this morning by the nibbling on my ears and a cat face in mine.  The drawback to mellow kitty is that the next day he's super hyper kitty.  Thank goodness ( ? ) he's self entertained.... He's been zipping all over the place, playing with his ball, the bell on his collar, his tail, blankets, and attacking his imaginary friends.

  

DeNami Heads Up!

Just a little heads up to anyone that's interested.  DeNami Designs is having a give away contest.  Who doesn't like winning cool stuff?  To enter go to their site here and enter.  By entering you have a chance to win their cute little Christmas chickies stamps, holiday ribbon and buttons.  I love almost anything free especially if it's cool crafty stuff.   I'm not much of a winner when it comes to things like this but if you don't try you definitely won't win.  Hey, I've still got hopes of winning the lottery.  I DO believe in miracles after all.  Plus I've loved DeNami stamps for a long time now so got to at least try.

If you go to the DeNami blog they have some cute ideas and techniques they put up on a regular basis.  And you can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook. 

I hope everyone is having a good start to their November.  I'm coming down with a cold which will hopefully go away and not turn into my usual brochitis.  Three and a half weeks until Thanksgiving.  Wow where has the year gone???

Good Luck to everyone who enters!

Birthdays and Donuts

Today is my uncle Raymond's birthday so I want to wish him a very Happy Birthday!  He is having some health issues and I hope that he is feeling better soon.

It's also my favourite actor crush's birthday.  Viggo turns 51 years old today.  He is aging mighty nicely if I do say so myself.  This was taken during "The Road" promotions tour yesterday (Oct 19th) in Paris.

copywrite:abaca press

Who says donuts have to be boring?  I was looking online at art and came across this unusual shop.  I have never been to this donut shop but I'm plugging it anyway because I think the concept is BRILLIANT!  The name is Psycho Donuts and with a name like that I just had to take a look.  They are located up around the Bay Area, in Campbell, California and they truly lived up to their name.   With donuts named comfortably numb, the headbanger, the donut hamburger, donut fires and Jekyll and Hyde how can they be bad?   This is what a few of them look like.  The Jekyll and Hyde, Moodswing, Donut fries and Manic Malt.  Don't they look yummy.  Kinda reminds me of the donut version of my friend Mel's boyfriends krispy treats.

Not only does this shop have fun donuts but they also have art and music!  They remind me of the old 60's coffee shops that beatniks hung out to share poetry and music while having coffee, only moderned up.  This could be why I like the shop so much, I'm still a hippie at heart.  It definitely feeds my eclectic tastes for original and unique. 
This months art is a monster theme for October with artists like:

Gus Finkelstein

and

Christne Benjamin

Octorber and Halloween also hold events like psycho costume karaoke, a zombie nurse costume contest, bobbing for donuts which consists of bobbing for donut holes in a soupy glaze, and even their donuts will be in costume.  Jekyll and Hyde will become a protestor donut...and so on.  It sounds like they will be having a blast up there in the bay area.  I only wish I lived closer.  My hope is that they will franchise out and have a shop near me in Palm Springs.  The only problem with franchises is that they lose their originality and charm that makes them so good to begin with.  If you live or are visiting the area I hope you'll check them out and give us your opinion of them.  There is also a blog on what's going on if you care to check it out at http://psychodonuts.blogspot.com/   They really seem to be a fun spot to hang out at and have some cool munchies while you're at it.

Reflections

Our weather here in California has been so crazy lately.  It doesn't know what season it wants to be.  I thought I'd missed Fall since we only had a few days of nice crisp autumn like days then suddenly if felt like winter but now we're back to 100*F temps.  I finally had to break down and turn the air conditioner on late yesterday afternoon because it gets so hot in our livingroom with the afternoon sun pouring in through the window.  I feel sorry for those who had thought summer was gone and winterized their a/c's and swamp coolers already. 

The past week has also been kind of a wonky one for me.  I started new medication that the doctor told me would not make me as sleepy as Lyrica does but he apprarently doesn't know me very well because I've spent the majority of this week sleeping.   I kept hoping that once my system was use to them I'd be ok but so far no go.  I'm the first to admit I enjoy a good nap but this is rediculous.

When I wasn't sleeping, or trying out new recipe I did some reflecting about life and death.  Last year I joined Facebook at the urging of some friends.  Since it seemed to be the place I'd get to see them the most I broke down and joined.  What I thought would be a few minutes here and there to catch up with them turned out to be so much more.  Immediately I started getting some family members friending me that I didn't know were on there, which grew into more family.  Quite a few of whom I hadn't seen in years along with their children and extended families.  Within the past few months I've also been reaquainted with many of my old classmates which was a bit odd for me.  The first few were people I'd known only in passing so was surprised they even remembered me.  Those friends snowballed into more friends and people I'd known since kindergarten.  I've since met up with, Lois, whom I've known since we were 5, a couple of times and last month we got together with a couple of other friends, Valerie and Lisa, for dinner.  We had so many laughs while catching up on what's been going on.  I've reconnected with several people now that I hung around during my school years and had lost touch with and have been surprised at some of their journeys through life.  More surprised at some then others, but surprised just the same.  It's funny how you can see people's lives as being wonderful and so much better than your own and come to find out they are miserable or having the same sort of problems you are.  Some even doing things so out of character from what you knew them as. 

It made me think about my own life so the other night I baked up some peanut butter cookies and journaled.

This week started off on a sad note for me as I learned of the death of a sweet friend I'd met online.  Another friend hadn't been able to get a hold of him on the phone and became worried and called the police to check on him.  Unfortunately they found him dead in his home and figure he'd been there a few days.  As far as we know it was natural causes since he was in poor health.  Finding him that way reminded me of one of my fears which is being alone and wondering: " If I died, would anyone notice?" 
A couple of days later I got a message on facebook from a friend I'd hung out with as a sophomore and junior in high school.   She (Teri) and I had hung out with a couple of sisters and another girl, all of whom weren't the best influences on us.  We spent many a day ditching school and partying.  Her first message was to ask about a girl who contacted her and I informed her she was the little step sister of the two we'd hung out with.  Her next message was to let me know that the youngest of the two sisters has passed away last spring of an overdose and that the older had been in a car accident and now legally considered retarded.  They'd apparently had been unable to shake that lifestyle and paid the price.  Teri learned some years after she'd moved away from this valley that they were the reason her mother moved them.  She feared Teri would become like them and moved her away from the valley.  After an all day drinking binge that started at 7:00 a.m. and ended with me brutally ill and unable to remember driving home, I started to drift away from this friendship as well.  It was not a conscious effort but I think I knew that wasn't something I wanted to continue with.  I had become quite the drinker in high school and I'm sure had that day not happened, given my families history of alcoholics, I could very easily have followed that path.

A lot of times when I reflect on the should've, would've, could've's it consists of what could have been better in my life.  This time it was more of what turned out right.  As I say, I attribute that day as curing my alcoholism.  Not because of any revelations or will power, but the simple fact I just cannot drink like that anymore without getting sick.  So goes the saying, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger". 

I am grateful for changing my ways, concentrating more on my failing grades and graduating instead of continueing along that path.  I realize that often we do get what we need in life, it just isn't as obvious or come in the way we expect....

It's Celebration Time!

I'd like to give a shout out to Ro Jordan, one of my new friends from across the pond.  She is the Mistress of the Gramayre blog and today is her birthday

I hope you have a wonderful day Ro and many happy endings!!!

also on this day:

On October 15, 1999...TEN years ago...Viggo first arrived on the set of The Lord of the Rings. I just can't imagine the film with anyone else in that roll.  Though I like Stuart Townsend, I just wouldn't have enjoyed the movie as much if he'd remained as Aragorn.

 ROTK premiere

Let the holidays begin!

The holiday season has started... For me as soon as October hit it meant Halloween was near then Thanksgiving and finally Christmas and New Years.  When I was a kid it also meant NO SCHOOL!!!!  Halloween was fun if it fell on a Friday or Saturday but sucked if it was on a school night and you had to be in bed by a certain time.  When you're a kid those days at school between September and the four day weekend for Thanksgiving were an eternity.   Then the month till Christmas break wasn't quite so bad because people were happier and in the spirit of the season, especially towards little kids. There were class parties and Christmas programs to do so the school day went by a little faster.  Of course the Christmas breaks flew by back then, but nothing like the warp speed I encounter now.  As I get older time seems to zip by.  I never believed it till I actually started experiencing it.  The years go by so fast but the last three months, my "holiday season", go by in the blink of an eye.  One minute I'm thinking, "hey I should do some Halloween cards this year" and the next it's nearly Thanksgiving.  I have come to the conclusion if I expect to make anything for any of the holidays I must start a year in advance to maybe be done in time.  Rediculous as it may sound, it seems to be my reality.  I had planned to do some Halloween projects but have also taken on copying old home movies to put on DVD's for family Christmas gifts, which is turning into a bigger job then I had expected. 

I suppose I could always just go plant myself in the neighbors yard and relax instead.  One of the houses down the street from us has put up a grave yard for Halloween.  They have lights all around also that I haven't been by at night to see yet.  I love seeing the decorations this time of year.  It's one of the parts of this season I have never stopped enjoying.  Granted people didn't get as elaborate at decorating back when I was a kid and there wasn't all the cool gagets that are out now but it's still always been cool to see people's imaginations at work.

October has also been "try new recipe's" and bring back some of the old,  month for me.  I started off with baking cookies, something I hadn't done in years.  Not from scratch anyway, I've been using the premade doughs that you just heat up.  That got me going into other things and I decided I would try as many new recipes this month that I could and also make some old favourites that I haven't made in ages.  I don't like seafood but John loves it so I broke down and made him some clam chowder the other day, which he says turned out great.  I'll have to take his word for it but he did wolf down two huge bowls so I'm thinking he's telling the truth.  Tonight we tried out one of my aunts old budget favourites, jungle stew, which is basically a combination of 1 C. rice, 1 can red beans, 1 can corn, 2 cans tomato sauce, hamburger, onion and some seasonings.   It turned out pretty good.  Tomorrow we try out my friend Mel's ... well her boyfriend Phil's actually, chili recipe. Wish me luck! I'll include recipes for the clam chowder and jungle stew at the end of this post.

I'm thinking for my New Years resolution I should try something new every week.

Clam Chowder
6 slices bacon                      2 (8oz) cans minced clams
3/4 Cup diced onions           4 Tablespoons flour
3 Cup diced potatoes          1 (8 oz) bottle clam juice
3 Cup light cream or whole milk
1 Cup milk
1 teaspoon salt                     pepper to taste

Fry bacon until crisp and drain on paper towel before crumbling.  Fry onions in bacon drippings till tender then remove. (I cut the bacon into pieces and fried them with the onions instead of individually as the recipe suggests and left them in the pan to cook with the rest because I cook with the least steps possible.)  If you have too much excess grease you should drain the pan before going on to the next step if you cook in the same pan as I did.  Drain clams and add liquid to clam juice and potatoes and boil gently until potatoes are tender.  Mix flour with 1 cup of cream until smooth.  Slowly add flour mixuture to potatoes along with remaining 2 cups of cream, clams and salt and pepper.  Cook over low heat until thickened.  Stir in 1 cup milk, crumbled bacon and sauteed onions (I cooked the bacon and onions in the same pan with everything throughout the process to add more flavour instead of adding at the end).

Jungle Stew
1 can corn nibblets                            2 pounds ground beef
1 can red kidney beans                      1 can water
1 cup rice, uncooked                         salt and pepper to taste
2 cans (soup can size) tomato sauce   1 Tablespoon dried minced onion or 1 small raw onion

Brown meat and onions, drain fat and add tomato sauce, corn and beans with all their liquids, water, salt, pepper and rice.  Simmer until rice is cooked.

YAY FOR FALL !!!!

I know some people just love Summer and heat and can't get enough of it.  I am not one of those people.  I love Fall and Spring.  Winter is ok because we don't get snow here but it does get a bit nippy even without it.  If the power goes out and you're cold you can always put on more clothes and huddle up.  When it's hot and that happens there's nowhere to go from naked and you're still miserable.  I know my friends that live in snow country will have their arguments against that because they deal with snow shoveling, icy roads and frost bite.  I think snow and icicles are beautiful but I have never had to live in it.
It's started to get pretty cold here, down to 39*F which is actually Winter weather.  I've had to whip out the bootie slippers to keep my feet warm.

I have always had cold hands and feet when I get cold.  It drives John crazy because he's the warmest place to put them to warm up.  I found some cute skellie gloves at Target for $1.00 when I went on my last adventure there so figured I'd pick them up since I will be needing them.   I'll probably pick up another pair to cut the fingers out so I can use them at the computer easier.  I can splurge for a buck.

 

I really like this time of year with all the changes in the weather.  The crisp air and magnificent colours of the leaves as they turn on the trees.  We don't have as much of the beautiful Autumn foilage out here in the desert but we get some and up in the moutains there is more.  It's one of the few orangy things I like.  Nature orange = good.  Clothing, shoes, etc. = not good, unless it's Halloween.  For me anyway.   Too many years of Orange and Black from school I guess. 

This is beautiful Montana taken by my friend Michael

This is Woodland Cemetery in Ohio taken by another friend whose name is also Michael. 

And this is the California desert taken by my brother in law, Mike. 

Apparently there's a Michael in every state.  It's the law! lol

Actually there's more fall colour here than that but I don't have any pictures that I can find off hand.  I'm looking forward to seeing what we end up with this year as well as the areas my friends live in.  So if anyone wants to share pictures I'd love to see.  I just love nature in all her glory.

Updates

First off I'm posting the last of my journaling to date.  I didn't get the rest of September done because of my back issues and some of the questions were more in depth then I wanted to think about right now, politics, passions and such.  So I will probably do those at a later date when my head is a little clearer.   I miss the APAD group but with so many things going on and little fund$ I needed to take a short break.  My procedures have been taking up a lot of resources I didn't have to begin with but Monday will be the last one for awhile.  Hopefully I can get back to the group in the next month or so. 

This last page I did was about secret indulgences.  I don't think I have any "secret" indulgences anymore.  I use to sneak food or shop when I was stressed and/or depressed but I'm not so secretive about it these days. 

One of the ladies of my journaling group, Diana Wolf, is trying her hand at paper designs to sell online so she asked some of us to try them out and see what we thought.  I used her roses on this last page and some of her boarder pieces on my previous page as well as making a few birthday ATC's with her grunge sheets.

On the left boarder you will see my newest addition, a Messiest Art Table award.  I came in second place to a contest that Paper Imagery Designs was having.  I'm not sure if I should be sad because I'm only second messiest or happy that I'm not THE messiest.  At any rate I am happy that it means I win some cool stuff from paper imagery designs.  They have some awesome paper images and goodies. 

Looking at it here, it's hard to believe this table didn't have a thing on it earlier this year, before I started stamping and journaling.  I'm a out of sight out of mind person so if I don't drag things out I want to use I completely forget I have them.  One thing leads to another and I end up with something like this. This table is a bit extreme even for me.  I had left a lot there when I found out about the contest so that it would be at it's best messy appearance...apparently I should have embellished a bit more since it's only second best. Believe it or not, even though there isn't much working space I do seem to get more done.  Maybe it comes from my childhood.  I would have tea parties in the corners between the tables and chairs or behind the sofa with my imaginary friends and toys.  It  felt more comfortable I guess because I always ended up falling asleep back there and my parents would frantically search everywhere for me.  They finally figured out where to look first. 

 

7-11 has come out with a Domo promotion for October which I am loving.  They have these cool drinking straws that have little toy domo's dressed in different attire to collect as well as domo cups.  The whole store is Domo'ed out with things such as "Domo loves brownies", "Domo loves slurpees", etc.  I went in today to get my slurpee fix and was surprised that most of the domo things were sold out already.  I was just there yesterday and it was fully stocked. 

My friend Mel has also informed me that Target (who has been selling the regular Domo) is selling Domo in costumes for halloween.  Since I collect bats I wanted to get the one of him dressed as that but when I went in there was not a Domo in sight.  I mean not a single solitary one.  I don't shop at Target normally (this is one of the reason's why) so I was beginning to wonder about Mel.  The only trace I found was an empty display box that had his name on it so I know something existed.  Luckily for Target I could still leave being a happy camper because they had my skelanimals.  I love these cute little boney pets.  I picked up a Dax (dog) plush dressed up as a mummy to go with my Dax plush keychain.  They are happy together.  They also had a Diego (bat) keychain but sadly no other Diego items.  Someone has it out for me not to find bats. 

For anyone who might have wondered what happened to Mortie after I got him, he has been happily romancing Miss Eve L.  He spied her up on the shelf and they've been giddy and inseparable ever since.  Poor Aragorn had to move over. They hang out all the time and I hardly ever see the two of them...unless I go into their room.  They do make a cute couple I think.  Here's a couple of photo's they recently had done.

Check these out!!!

My friend Mel is down sizing some of her stamp supply so I'm posting links to both her EBAY and ETSY sites for anyone that's interested and would like to take a look.  She's got some cool stamps listed so far and has more to come.

Etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6159442&ga_search_query=loozianadesigns&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

EBAY:  http://shop.ebay.com/louisianabrown03/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

I've been slacking with my journaling.  I've done a few other things but for some reason I've not been in the mood to journal.  Not sure if it's the questions aren't motivating me or I'm just more into doing other things right now.  I have my last procedure tomorrow then maybe I'll be back to doing things again.

This is the last one I did.  Well second to the last, the last one I think I want to do some more too after taking a second look at it.  Who keeps you going?  Who is your life support when you're starting to go down?  My husband and friends have always been there for me and encouraged me when I needed them.  I've never been one for sharing bad things in my life to people so the past couple of years have probably been hell for friends that I've started sharing more with.

I've also been taking in more of other people's lives and it makes me appreciate the things I have and the people in my life so much more then I ever did.  Sometimes it even makes me feel ashamed for thinking things are bad or whinning when I remember that there are others that are dealing with so much more then I could ever fathom.  I am in awe of people that can pick themselves out of the rubble and keep on going. 

Enchanted Makeovers needs your vote!

Enchanted Makeovers

Source: http://www.enchantedmakeovers.org/

Enchanted Makeovers is a internationally recognized non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that transforms shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities—not just where basic needs are met, but spiritual needs for hope and beauty also.
 
The Martha Stewart site has a "doer of the week" contest which Enchanted Makeovers is in the running for.  If anyone should read this it would be much appreciated if you would go to the above link and vote for them.  They do many good things for women and children that you can read about on their website.  I only recently found out about this group led by Terry Grahl but already they have touched a special place in my heart.  I wish they would have been around when I was growing up. 
 
When you have endless resources you can have unusual tastes and be thought of as chic, but when you're poor growing up on welfare and have eclectic tastes people feel sorry for you.  When something turns your world upside down it doesn't matter if you have money or not, it's the people you are surrounded by that can make all the difference.  Being pitied instead of encouraged and guided can make a child doubt themselves and their self worth.  Terry's organization doesn't pity people for misfortune, she helps give them essentials for living and peaceful surrounding while they work at getting back to a place where they can feel safe and happy again.  It's a very scary thing to be displaced and not know where you will call home next.  I've lived in childrens shelters for a short time and was lucky enough to have people who cared and were very nice to me.  I also knew other kids that weren't so lucky and lived in homes where the parents only took them in for financial means and to have free help around their house.  Those that stayed and took the abuse were scared and frazzled while the others ran away and took their chances on the streets.  The type of environment can mean a big difference in how a person might end up.  You can hardly think about the future when you're main concern is surviving the present.   If you have encouraging surroundings you're more motivated to pick yourself up and move on with your life, do what needs to be done.  If you have nothing but dispair around you it will suck you right into it. 
 
Even if you could care less about what happens to these people, please take a moment and just click Terry's name and vote for her.  Make it your one good deed for the day.

Do you ever look through your eyes and see a stranger living your life?

That was our question of the day for journaling.  I think I'm getting stranger all the time.  I'm not sure but I think a lot of us see different people from time to time inhabiting our bodies.  Taking over and doing things we normally wouldn't do.  I use to catch stupid mistakes at work and know that I couldn't have done this because that would just be stupid...but yet, yes indeed I had done them.  What was I thinking?  Obviously I wasn't or I wouldn't have done whatever it was, but it still makes me wonder where my brain was and why it wasn't with the working half of me at that time.  It's sort of like invasion of the body snatchers.  I wonder if this is what multiple personalities is like.  I've never had total black outs where I lost big chunks of time, just did stupid things or my mind wanders but on the occassions when I find I've done something totally idiotic I do wonder about myself.

Peace Day !!☮☮☮☮☮☮☮

21 September is the UN International Day of Peace, a day of global ceasefire and non-violence: Peace Day.  I hope everyone will do their part to spread peace among their own environment.  I think people should try to do this always, not just one day.  I'm glad that there is at least one day where the world comes together to allow aid to those that need it without the people trying to help having to worry about being hurt. 
There is an organization called Peace One Day that  holds events and educates people about the various places in the world that are in turmoil.  Their site explains why just one day can make a difference to many. 
You can find out more about the Peace One Day organization at http://www.peaceoneday.org/en/welcome .  They also have a facebook account here http://www.facebook.com/peaceoneday  

Rough week

This last procedure on my back seems to really have taken it's toll on me.  I had a lot of different side effects this time around.  It kicked my butt the first day and I slept through most of it.  I didn't think I over did it but apparently somewhere along the line I did because I went from feeling good on Thursday morning to lots of pain and just plain feeling icky now.  My hand is even still bruised from the I.V.  It's finally starting to fade one week later.
I feel like I'm so behind with everything now even though I'm really not.  My lovely Aunt Patty sent me boxes and boxes of ribbon and craft goodies for me to sort through so I've been digging through them and putting things away.  I also managed to get caught up on my journaling again.  Oh how fast those days ahead dwindled away.  Since it's just past midnight I guess I'm really behind again.
Our last page was about Back to School Sales. 

I love basically any sale but back to school shopping is just different.  There's a whole different feel to it.  Maybe it's the memories of actually having to go back to school that comes with it.  Since I have this thing for paper, pens and all things of that nature it's the best.  And the after back to school shopping sales are even better. 
On Saturday we went to San Bernardino, CA for the annual Route 66 car show.  I think San Bernardino is the last stop on the route...it is in the song anyway.  Something else I just learned from the show is that San Bernardino is considered the birthplace of fast food.  It's the home of the original McDonalds.  Apparently the McDonald brothers were from San Berdoo.  I guess if you're into McD's you'd probably know all this.  I use to work with a doctor that had stock in McDonalds because he said you should invest in places you frequent.  He came from a family of doctors but hated spending a lot of money on food. 

The town blocks off a big portion of the streets next to their Carousel Mall (which sadly looks like a ghost mall with all the store closures since the recession) and the cars are lined up and down all of them.   It's about a 10 block square radius.   A few of the blocks have vendors and there's also a stage set up for entertainment.  One block has food and they hold a big bbq cook off during the event.  About 5 blocks from the mall there's a park where they've set up a small carnival with rides and games.   Even the businesses along the route get involved by painting their windows and having sales.  I suppose it would be a great time since you have so many people wandering around in front of your stores.

I love seeing what people do with their cars and just the nostalgia about them.  I'm still an old fashioned girl so old cars fit into that very nicely.  Throughout the day they have cars cruising the streets so even if you don't walk up and down every block you're bound to catch  a lot of extra cars driving around. 

Inside the Mall they also hold a model car contest.  They set up tables with catagories of models with voting boxes next to them so people can vote on what they like as they go by.  It's amazing the details these guys put into even a toy replica.

We went early to try and avoid the heat and I still managed to get my face sunburnt.  Unfortunately we didn't get to stay too long because my back was starting to make me feel sick but we did get to catch quite a bit and saw a lot of the cars coming in as we were leaving.   They spray numbers on the streets so that the entrants know where to park their cars after they've signed in.  The numbers by the park were in the 900's so there is easily 1,000 cars registered for this show.  That doesn't count the people that just show up and aren't a part of the judging and cruises.  Even the weinie mobile made an appearance.