I Have a new camera!!

I took the plunge...I bought a new camera...Canon EOS Rebel XSI 450D. Lily's picture was taken with it. I have so much to learn. I hope to post more pictures in the days to come.

June 12, 2008

Full swing of summer.....but officially not for over a week....High temps in the upper 80's, I know it could be worse. Michigan is humid, and it is HOT.....and muggy. We got our little swimming pool up, and it offers relief.
We have had a few storms blow through, some tornado watches but no warnings in our area. Some warnings north of us. We have a trap door to get into the basement. We have never had to seriously use it yet, I did once cram two dogs and four cats into the 6 x 6 bathroom.....durning a warning last year, until we all went crazy and I opened the door, and told everyone to fend for themselves....My husbands work had a lock down, mine advised us not to leave....but when I left it wasn't bad. Nothing happened that time, the storm passed with little damage. The year before we had a lot of trees down in the area, and I remember leaving work, (when they let us)...frantically driving home, seeing fallen trees all the way home, and turning down my road seeing a big tree uprooted in our yard and on our house. We were out power for four days, lost everything in the freezer and refrigerator. We went out and got a generator that storm. Haven't had to use it since, but we have it. We are lucky as I watch the news today, with all the tornado's and floods....to see those houses and lives touched.....how can you comprehend all of that, how can you have a house today, and all of its contents, and then tomorrow have it all wiped away...everything lost...how do you even sort it all out in your head. I think to my self, and I have been trying to do this...downsize, have less. Less to lose, less to keep track off. Less to be attached too....I have too many things, too many that I can't (and don't) use them all. Sometimes it get overwhelming, what to do. When I am not at my job and have the free time...seems like it all gets taken up with housework, laundry, lawn work....how do you decide in the down time what, out of all the projects, what to do.....There is so much I want to do....Its almost like I should set up a schedule and follow it, til things eventually get done...the unfinished afghan, the colored pencil kit, the soldered necklaces, the woodcarving, the wood burned gourds, the feltwork....I could go on and on.....several of these *crafts* are in various stages of completion....but I want to do them all....and then there is the Fair, have to pick up the tags the end of June....This year I plan to enter, well, I will get tags for 6 items....we will see how that goes....I will post pictures of what I entered.
I am planning, a quilted wallhanging, a painted rock, a gourd windchime, a welcome sign, and a photograph....I will get tags, doesn't matter if they get used or not....but you have to have them by the end of June...or you are out of luck....NO EXCEPTIONS.....

non artistic painting

I took a couple days off work, (plus the weekend) and painted the kitchen. It was a sage green, with gold curtains..I sewed a valance onto the blue tab top curtains, and the small kitchen window has the valance material curtain, that covers the whole window. It does freshen it up.
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As far as the outside...Have mowed the yard three times so far, and the temp. are more normal. We did have a bout in the 80's, but it is back in the 60's now...much more comfortable. The bleeding hearts are in full bloom, as are the tulips, irises, and the ants are working at opening the peonies. Hostas are growing and are going to be huge this year...stretching out and unfolding their leaves into large canopy's. I want to get a dogwood tree, and seen one I wish I would have bought...I love dogwoods. Their white flowers (I would get white) are like porcelain...crisp and sturdy, but delicate.
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Artistically I am working on a rock, with a picture of a dogs face. Progress on that will be posted on my other blog, speakswithpencil.
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Spring time......

Its been awhile since I posted, and no, its not because I have been busy drawing on my other blog... speaks with pencil .... Spring has come to Michigan (or has it). Weather Channel is calling for snow, 33* next week.... I have been busy with raking and hauling leaves and brush, trying to beat the grass, and today actually it looks like the lawn mowers will be out. After a long winter it is nice to get out and smell the fresh spring air, and hear the birds singing away in the trees. The trees are starting to leaf out, tiny little miniatures unfolding. My cherry tree has one bloom on it so far, last year the Japanese beetles got to it, this year I am prepared, I am hoping for some Cherry's. We moved into this house 11 years ago, and I wish I would have put in some apple trees, maybe a pear. I suppose I still could, I don't imagine we will ever move....As far as projects, I am experimenting with wool sweaters. I will post my finished item when I get it done...Not sure exactly what direction I am going but thinking mittens and purse sets....

a change is taking place

I decided to make a drawing only blog, so I will no long be posting pictures here, they can be found at; http://speakswithpencil.blogspot.com/
This blog will just be for the regular day to day........

Maybe its a sign....

Maybe its a sign....maybe I don't need what I lost....maybe its a sign to downsize. Many have lost more...I am over it. When you think of it, its just *things*, things can be replaced. I have lately been trying to downsize, to rid myself of material things that just sit around and collect dust. I am not fanatical, don't get me wrong, but the mindless collecting, and buying to buy....sometimes we go so long without buying anything...that we just say, I have been good, I need to buy something...do you? Is it something you need. Do you need it for survival? Most likely not. I have so many *pending projects* I would never have to buy another thing for years, I could draw, paint, crochet, carve, woodwork, solder, do clay work, mocacis...write....I have over the years collected many projects that at the time sparked my interest, my interest change with the wind...I am interested in so many things, that I can't settle on one...but I do have enough to keep me busy if I never buy another project...happiness consists not in having much,but in being content with little. It takes a little time to change a lifetime...but we don't have to buy into the commercialism, we don't have to keep up with the Jones', we don't need someone to tell us what we need. What we do need is to take a little time out and get in touch with ourselves in the quiet of our own souls....turn off the TV, turn off the computer....get outside, take a deep breath....and let your sense of smell, sight, taste and touch take over...get up....and do it all over tomorrow....take time to appreciate what you do have, not what you don't

US AIRWAYS--LOST LUGGAGE

Vegas Vacation.....I know I am not alone, but I never realized until I got home and read the horror stories, and unresolved intances of lost luggage with US Airways....

Here is MY story:

My husband and I planned our 10 year wedding anniv. to Vegas in October 07, at the time my dad was sick and concequently passed away in Sept. 07 because of this we cancelled our vacation until March 08. Like the silly woman I am, I overpacked and bought new clothes. I just wanted everything fresh and new. I had two perscriptions also in the bag, and our traveling partners had one of the same meds, so I was able to borrow pills until I got home.

I had just sent two large garbage bags to goodwill, and I bought these new clothes for the trip, and to wear to work, with spring coming on. Clothes, swimsuit, (80* in Vegas, was looking forward to some pool time...after the long Michigan winter), make up, toletres....my new Danny Gregory book, creative liscence...ALL LOST!..We called US Airways EVERY day, several times a day, as they told us to keep checking after each new flight came into Vegas from Detroit...still nothing.....I am home now, still no luggage. I filled out my forms, contacted the CEO, Vice President, Public Relations people of US Airlines...but again, I am not holding my breath, as I said I read as much as I could of the similar stories of lost luggage, with no resolution with US Airways. Thank god I packed my cameras and sketchbook with my carry on. The lesson I learned is this, take only what you can pack in a carry on bag!!!!! PERIOD. If anyone out there has any ideas of what more I can do please let me know....I almost feel like this is a criminal act that US Airways is running, go on line and read some of the stories and see if you don't agree. I never seen any money from US Airways. I went out and bought some basic tolletries and a shirt. I just refussed to go out and buy more clothes after spending so much for the trip in the first place. I was very upset the first day, but I kept hope up that the bag would be found and sent to my hotel room....We were only in Vegas 3 1/2 days, so I had to compose myself and put it behind me and enjoy myself inspite of it all....I will keep on bugging them until I get my bag back or the cash to replace the contents....

my ending comment..DO NOT FLY US AIRWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://usairwayshorrorstories.blogspot.com/