Flying Low Again

Page 1

2012-01-20T23:40:00.000-08:00

I finally finished my first page for the great class that Tam is teaching on Willowing Arts. The class is a year long and hopefully I will be able to draw enough to improve my drawing skills. How very slow I am. When I wake up and feel like doing something within in an hour I am exhausted and ready for a nap. Very frustrating for me. My brain is about as functional as a bowl of oatmeal.

I quite like my mermaid. Not sure how she turned into a mermaid but she did so I tried to make the best of it. Now I need to work on my dream board. That is another really fun thing to do.

Why me?

2012-01-11T17:52:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling with this ridiculous pain for months. Dx is Fibromyalgia. I'm pretty sure that is the dx they give you when there isn't any other reason for the pain. I can treat the pain but can't seem to get beyond the damn fatigue. Every day it rears it's ugly head. Maybe 3 days out of 7 are pretty good days. I feel well enough to actually do some cooking and art work but most of the time I am worn out just sitting and reading a book. How the hell do I combat this monster? I tried a high protein diet with very low carbs and I felt better after about a week but the better didn't last long. Of course I kept adding carbs to the diet. Protein is a difficult thing for me to get enough of. My brain is like a bowl of oatmeal. Just mush. I can't remember something for 5 minutes without looking at it again. I really hate this mushy brain thing.
Had my appt with Dr Peters yesterday but someone from his office called and said it was Wed and not Tue so I missed yesterday and showed up today. Now I am off until early Feb. Need to start tx for osteoporosis before I screw around a break a bone. Not my hobby of choice.
I am slowly doing my first page for my year book with Tam. I am enjoying the program she has put together and I do believe I will manage to complete the series. This is learning to work with water soluble crayons and pencils. It is a learning experience and I like that.
I want to get to my mojo bags too. I know what I want to make so getting to it is the biggest problem I seem to have. Very little motivation it seems. I don't even want to visit Michaels and that is really a serious problem. Back to my picture.

What a beautiful day

2011-09-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Yep it is or was a beautiful day. How does 88 degrees sound. Friday was the Autumn equinox and all day it was about 102 degrees. I must say, "where was Autumn?" But, Sunday turned into a nice cool semi cloudy day and Monday is great. Even my birds were happy with the cooler weather. I can hardly wait for the cooling down and the wispy clouds. My favorite time of the year. The air has a different scent to it.

I have been busy as a bumble on a flower. I have been making a beautiful little book for pictures and journaling. It is adorable so far and I'm not done yet. I have run out of tape dispensers and ordered one from Amazon. It will be here tomorrow and in the mean time I visited Michaels again and came home with a short supply of tape and more paper. I absolutely am addicted to papers. I just can't pass them up. My own form of opiates. There is nothing better than beautiful paper to hold and just stroke it. Is that a fetish?

My journals are coming along. I added two more pages today in my journal and the other journal for Elements is lagging behind a bit. I need to get into it and make a page for the element of Air. I still haven't done my mindless writing so that must be completed. I so want to sign up with Tam for her year long classes. The classes start in Jan of 2012. Then I really will be behind. I want to complete my books too. I would like very much to complete 4 of them before I give out. I plan on giving them to my grand kids. They are just beautiful when completed and I"m sure the kids will appreciate them. I completed the cutest little Halloween house. It turned out so cute. I have another one to make too. I have no idea what I'm doing sitting here writing with all this stuff I have to do. I must say that I am happy when I'm doing things. So get busy!

Journal pages

2011-09-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

I have been working very hard on a journal. Not having done any journaling prior to this year it is a little more difficult than imagined. I have taken a couple art journaling e-courses and they are very instructive and make me feel a little more secure in putting my stuff out there. It is a sure way to ignore the constant pain I deal with. It is almost like losing myself in a magnificent forest. So much to look at and explore that I lose my problems. Finally something I can actually say I love doing and it has really helped me.

Having a screwed up back was bad enough without the Fibromyalgia added to the daily stress. Some water therapy twice a week and changing my diet to high protein has really helped. Any one can smear paint while having back pain.............just ask me!

Now for the good news

2011-08-30T01:05:00.000-07:00

I am so happy. I had an injection for my flared up scaral nerve foot last Monday and by Thursday I was as painless as I will probably ever be. To wake up pain free, and best of all to actually go thru a day 90% pain free is such a wonderful relief. I have been able to stand and do drawing and gluing in my art journal, I have actually cook a couple meals with out any increased pain. That part about cooking is only good on days I don't have PT. Trying to walk back and for in the water really stresses my nerves and muscles. I don't get sore like some one with a build up of lactic acid in the muscle but mine just fatigue so badly that I can hardly walk. I'm like ole rubber legs after PT. Not real painful as much a terribly fatigued. But after the injection I feel oh so much better!

This hurricane Irene is going to be a whopper of a storm with a drizzle of a category. Looking at pictures of roads washed away and those beautiful bridges floating down stream is pretty sad. I really feel for those poor people. I am thinking that Mother Nature is really pissed and we are going to pay big time. I guess it is time for us to pay for our attitudes and destruction of this earth. It has been a long time coming. My cosmic justice theory...........works for me!

It is about time.

2011-07-27T00:46:00.000-07:00

I am really into neglect. At my age that is about the only way I can perform, since it takes less effort than throwing a snit. I've never been good at slamming doors because sure as hell I will knock something off the wall and break it. I own nothing of any value but I am too lazy to clean up the mess.
I have been struggling the last few weeks with this so called fibromyalgia. I think I would be able to tolerate the pain better if I wasn't already taking pain meds without any real improvement. And the fatigue is just awful. I wake up 3-4 times a night and I am so stiff I almost have to lift me to roll over, tricky I might add. I have stairs to trek up and down. 13 steps to be exact and some days it might as well be a mile. Rubber legs as though I had run a mile. It is hard to tell if the meds I am taking is actually helping or not. There is no consistency to the aches and pains.It takes me forever to accomplish anything. I start back at PT next week to see if that helps
I have started doing some journal pages in my book and find I really relax and seem to drift off the pain highway when I am cutting and gluing. Diversion really does work. I have a bunch of sewing I want to do also. It is such fun being able to switch back and forth and not worry about a time frame. It is impossible to get everything I want to do done but I am giving it one hell of a try. I just don't want any more diagnosis es to contend with.

I am posting the newest picture of my grandson Rufus. He is absolutely adorable, as all puppies should be. Maybe I can teach him to paint..........nice thought.

Art for the sake of art

2011-06-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

I watched one video about using the Derwent Intense pens. They are wonderful and the color is so vivid compared to a regular watercolor pencil. I decided to draw my face on paper before I tackled fabric. The class is part of a class with drawing a face on an apron. Using the pens on paper instead of fabric is a really big difference. As with most art techniques it takes practice and I am not very good at practice. This is going to require some discipline on my part. I'm pretty sure if I had to do art to be able to eat I would either get a lot better real quick or starve to death in a very short time. Of course there is always the option that Van Gogh took. Just keep smearing paint and wait until you die to become famous. Poor sap. I do love his art though. Well, back to the videos. One must strive for perfection............or some such shit.

A nice picture of a tree in a meadow in and around Medford Oregon. It is a beautiful place in the spring.

The arts

2011-06-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

It has been some interesting weeks since I wrote last. The political forum is just as screwed up as usual. Wiener is still holding onto his wiener. You would think as much as he liked to flash it around that he wouldn't be so attached to it. It isn't like we haven't had sexual scandals in the White House or in the halls of Congress. Where there is an abundance of testosterone and over inflated egos you will have people tripping on their willies. Why, who knows? It seems the Kennedys were the first family that almost flaunted the sexual escapades but at least it was semi covered up. Maybe what we need is more blankets. Or is everyone trying to compete with Bill Clinton? The man is a pro, leave him alone.
My son purchased me a new computer monitor. He told me he bought it for his fathers birthday for me. I like it a lot and it is so nice to be able to see more of an item without doing all that scrolling up and down. Thank you sweetie.
I have made a bunch of pillows for our living room so it would look cozier. The dog loves them but hates the furniture we bought which works out great. She stares at the pillows and won't jump up on the furniture. A dream come true. Considering she practically ate all the old furniture when she was a pup. Horrid puppy!

I decided to take a couple on line art classes. I am taking a face painting class from "All Norah's Art" and another mixed medium class from Tam at Willowing. I love both their art styles and I have nothing better to do so I am going to be busy for a while. I am taking a break from sewing even thought I have other stuff I want to make. I really enjoy sewing and painting. My two favorite things. I even have some pictures to show.
I made the really bright tote and my daughter snagged it. I really like the blue donkey on the fabric. The little dress I made for my great grand daughter. She is 18 months old and is adorable! and this is one photo of some of the pillows I made. I even french seamed them. They turned out nice.

Just Slow

2011-05-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

I was stumbling around the art site, Bonita Rose, when I spotted what looked to be an interesting e-course. The theme being color and where to put it. I like that and the course was on sale so I bought it and now have something to look forward to. Instead of wearing those pea green pants with that raspberry pink stripped top I can put all that color on my Flicker site. There is more ways than just water boarding to torture people. We can do it with color too!
I think the Flicker site is just amazing. The world is just running over with talented people and they have a place to put all that wondrous talent so all of us can appreciate the beauty they make. The rate the earth is flying toward hell it seems only right that we should have some beauty to stare at.
When I was growing up and roughly I might say, my mother was so Puritanical that I wore only matching. color coordinating clothes. From my fanny to the outside. Every thing matched or else. Else I didn't show my face out the door. She would not tolerate any embarrassment from me. Thus I was a tad rebellious with dressing myself. Other ways too of course.White underware and it had better be fresh and clean just in case I got in a car accident. It didn't matter that she nor I could drive and I did all my roving on foot. Years later working in the ER, every time an MVA came thru the door by ambulance I thought of them wearing panties that were not nice and clean and what a waste that was because of all the blood ruining them. See how our up bringing skews our perceptions as adults?
When I was about five years old I started hooking a rather large safety pen on the inside of my panties. I remember seeing my aunts panties and she had a safety pen hooked on them so I figured that was stylish. You might say we were raised a tad rural (hillbilly). Anyway, I started hooking this pen in my panties and remembering to take it out each evening. Yep, you guessed it, one evening I forgot and my mother found it stuck in there. My very stylish safety pen stuck in my grass stained panties. I had to wear dresses when I was young. I'm pretty sure it was so my mother could tell me from my male cousin. We both looked a lot alike. My mama called me into the garage, where the ringer washer stayed, and wanted an explanation for the safety pen. I was struck dumb because I had no explanation. When the questions erupted forth I finally told my mama that I saw my aunt Lucy with her underware on and she had a safety pen stuck in her panties and I thought it was rather stylish. The tirade started from my mother. That safetypen was to hold sanitary napkins and I damn sure wasn't old enough to worry about such things. I must have been too young for understanding what sanitary napkins were too. I came away without my safety pen and still confused.......I stayed that way for a few years. And, kids complain about how difficult growing up is today.

A picture of my adorable great grand son. They are all just as cute as a bugs ear.

A rough winter

2011-04-21T23:46:00.000-07:00

I have been having a really rough time with my health issues. I was so sure that once I had that horrendous surgery that every thing would just slide back to normal..........well almost normal. Since I have posted last I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It seems I stressed my poor body out for so long that it is rebelling now. It wouldn't be quite so hard to accept if it didn't add pain to my normal issues. I can tell you all that MS Contin and Norco doesn't touch pain from fibromyalgia. I just barely controlls the residual pain from my back. The Rheumatologist now has me on 120mgs a day of Cymbalta. I am not the least bit depressed but I probably should be.

I have been trying to get back into sewing. It has been 30 years since I actually did much sewing. I purchased a new machine and bought a bunch of fabric and so far I have made 2 adorable little dresses for my ggranddaughter and am now working on trying to deconstruct used clothing and make them into something else. It at least, takes my mind off my my pain issues. I will take a couple pictures and post them later. I need to get into another chair and relax my shoulders.

Until I can get my thoughts back to writing.

The Cape

2011-01-28T23:13:00.000-08:00

I have finished my cape and it has turned out great. After 30 years of not sewing I think I recovered pretty well.

What a shock the price of patterns turned out to be. I found a Burda and paid $15.00 for the thing. How did patterns become so expensive and why? They are just paper as they have always been. Thank goodness Joanne's has a brand of pattern on sell all the time.

I am going to take paper and pen and design the quilt top for Khole. I have until the 13 of March to get it done. The material has shipped and I can't wait to put it all together. I don't want to make any crazy mistakes since my material is limited, thus the pattern. I bought a DVD from Quilting Arts I need to watch also. I will need all the help I can muster. I have worked with paper for so many years that using fabric is almost scary.

I am going to try to turn my old sewing machine into a free sewing charmer. I heard someplace that I can use an old credit card to cover my feed dogs and it should work. I must give it a try.

A picture of my other ggrandson. Andy, is a chubby little guy with a big bright smile and always makes me feel better after looking at his picture. What a charmer he is.

Polished

2011-01-27T01:40:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last 2 weeks working my way up to the Atkin's diet. The good doctor wants me to change my radical eating habits and go for the very high protein and very low carbs. With plenty of fat in the middle. It has taken me the full two weeks to rethink my eating. Lordy I have a gigantic sweet tooth, maybe about 10 of the damn things. I'm not a very dedicated meat eater so protein the easy way isn't my ball game. Needless to say I am starting to find tuna and eggs looking better as each day goes by. I love eating crunchy things. My favorite being popcorn which isn't included in my diet anymore............boo hoo! I guess I am going to have to work up a love relationship with pork skins and radishes. I found on the Atkins web site some very nice sounding recipes and have copied a few to try this week.

Since I started this new diet I seem to have a lot more energy and ambition. Before it was a struggle just to lift my head and now I enjoy visiting the grocery store. Is it the new diet or is it the increase of Cymbalta? Anyones guess. What ever it is I do feel better this week, at least most of this week. I actually feel like sewing on my cape I am making. Normally I'm not into anything that requires thinking because thinking requires energy. Such a vicious circle to be running on.

I ordered some absolutely delightful material to make Khole a quilt. One that can go on the floor because babies need lots of space to ride the bucking broncos of growing up. I want to put pockets on it with little stuffed toys stuck into them. I haven't made a quilt in about 40 years so this should be interesting. A month ago I would have just shrugged off the thought. SEE I am feeling better. I hope it last, i hope it last, i hope it last............................

Another pic of my darling greatgrand son. He is the perfect example of the advantages of evolution. What a joy!

Waylaid tragedy.

2011-01-21T00:13:00.000-08:00

As usual my best laid plans have and do go astray. It has been months since I felt like actually sitting down and writing somthing on my blog. The last few months have been a tad like a whirlwind that forgot which direction to blow. Just about the time things started to mellow out I changed directions and was off and running again.

There is so much I can write about but primarily I want to say that I have been in pain for years now and was beginning to think it wasn't going to get better..............well let me tell you I was wrong. I finally visited a reumatologist and he increased my Cymbalta and withing 2 weeks the constant pain in my back and shoulders was gone. Just like that......I woke and it was gone. That drug is the lifesaver in my cabinet. Who would have thought that increasing an antidepressant would make pain go away? Not me anyway. Well now that I feel better I have more energy and am actually cooking and shopping without gritting my teeth and whining for hours. I'm not much on the conventional God we have in this society but I will say, God bless my doctor for giving me pain free days.

I have a couple pictures of my precious great grand son to post and a picture of my grandson with his hairy chest,wearing the blazer his sister is sewing. What happened to that beautiful bundle of joy that cooed and gurgled at me with his twinkling eyes? Well, he grew up and still coos and gurgles at me with a twinkle in his eyes. Don't keep your eyes shut for very long or you will miss that beauty of watching them mature. My grandchildren are such a pleasure for me to know.

My knitting is coming right along. I have one sleeve to do and I will be finished with my first sweater. It has been such fun when I could laugh at the missed stitches.

I have a beautiful piece of flannel to sew together for a cape. This is such a joy for me to do things I want without having to dread the consequences. Now I feel like I need to race around like a chicken without it's head to catch up with every thing I have missed. I'm not planning on living for another 40 years. That is asking way too much.

Remember to take deep breathes and be grateful you are alive.

We do

2010-11-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

Well after 18 years my youngest son married his girlfriend. Every one should try it at least once. I love her and she is beautiful and what she sees in him is beyond me. I'm his mother so of course I see things that aren't there but apparently so does his wife. Love is a wonder for us fools.

I have been knitting and making stuff for Christmas and neglecting my blog among other things. I am doing great with the knitting and I have started sewing a few things. I need to take pictures and post them of all the great toys I have been making. My g-grandchildren will enjoy playing with all the new things. It's not like they don't have every toy in the book already. It is wonderful to be able to spoil my grand children.

There are days that are evil

2010-09-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

Yep, I woke with my knees hurting.......naturally I assumed since I have arthritis that the problem lies with arthritis. Next, a few hours later, my knees and ankles started swelling. Like a beautiful bee sting, nice and soft and puffy. I couldn't get my damn shoes on! OK, now what is the cause of this? About 3 hours later my lower legs and feet and shoulders started aching. Like a really bad ache! So it is time to pop an extra pain pill and put my feet up. 3 days later I am still putting my feet up and popping an extra pain pill, without any success in the decreased edema dept or the pain. What the hell is causing this! I can't drive because I can't lift my arms and I can't wear shoes because my feet look like the over inflated Pillsbury Dough boy. And the ache, well it was terrible. Finally a visit to my poor doctor. On a good day with nothing wrong he doesn't know what to do with me, imagine a bad day with fat ankles. I get sent to the local imaging facility for a doppler test on my legs. Yep, just as I thought, no DVT (that is deep vein thrombosis) but I find out I have Baker's cyst in both knees. WHAT??? Who ever heard of Baker's cyst in knees?? I don't even like to make brownie mixes out of a box.........how do I get Bakers anything??? Thank goodness for a computer. I can put my Mericks on the shelf and look up the problem on a computer. Fluid filed cyst caused by trauma and other things. Well, now that helped a lot. What do I do about them. NOTHING until I return to see my doctor on Wed.

My question is.............what has baker's cyst got to do with achy shoulders? My shoulders are still painful and my knees are feeling better, until next time. I swear there is a conspiracy going on. I don't have a clue what the conspiracy is or what it is for but I'm sure it is going on. Of all the dumb diagnosis to have...................I feel that I am struggling a tad too hard to survive in this world. No one else I know has cyst in both knees and achy shoulders. I can't even wash my damn hair without crying.........Just not my idea of spending a beautiful few weeks learning to knit socks.

My life took a reprieve today. It was college football and I love college football. I can watch it from 9am until midnight. My feet swell whether I watch football of not. So I parked my butt on my chair with my Pilate ball to prop my feet up and watched football. Pretty good day and my ankles are only slightly puffy and my shoulders are only aching. Off to take another extra pain pill and read a dumb no brainer book.

Trials and Tribulations

2010-09-03T00:57:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know we all have them but do we have to have so many? Trials and tribulations that is. It seems that wrenches are flying into my happy little realm and messing up the cogs.

I am doing really well from the surgery last year even though I still have 6 months to go before I am considered healed. Yesterday I stepped into the shower when I awoke and felt a burning sensation in my belly. Right above my navel. I looked down and out popped a lump the size of my fist. I have a bloody hernia!! To state gracefully I am really pissed off about this new predicament.

So far no problem but how long with that hold out? Along with the bulge in my belly I have new pain in a different area of my back now. It must be connected, but , why I don't know. There went my nice slim waist line..........hee hee.

I am taking to knitting like a duck to a puddle. I have completed 3 hats and a cowl and a scarf. I am now going to venture at a pair of socks. I did a little research and found directions for doing socks with circular needles. It looks interesting and anything to keep from stabbing myself with the dpn. Those things are dangerous. A nice pullover is next. I hope I live long enough to use the yarn I have bought......wouldn't that be a kick???

I have let my paper art slide while learning knitting and am ready to tackle it yet again. I have a lot of ideas and only so much time but I believe I can get some more of it done. I do so enjoy working with paper. It is the most forgiving art I think I have ever done.

It is time to go to bed and get some sleep so I can tackle those circular needles.

Cheers

The Twisted Skein

2010-08-06T02:06:00.000-07:00

Yep, I can knit. I have decided to take on something other than another scarf. I bought some pretty durable yarn and decided to make a hoodie. Unbeknown to me that hoodie with alot of holes that one doesn't knit is trying my patience. Instead of knitting something of solid I seem to be knitting an awful lot of holes. I have holes traveling in every direction but fortunately they seem to make a pattern. I think that is the point of it all. Needless to say knitting seems to be one stitch forward and two stitches back. Iwill succeed if I have to eat the yarn!

I haven't tackled any new mixed media art in a few weeks but seem to be heading in that direction again. I feel the need to glue some paper together and create some cards. Ah the joy of it all.

My grand daughter came to play with me for the week. She is so artistic that at times I could just smooch her. I just love her talents. What a jewel she is.

It is late and I need to get some sleep so I can finish this hoodie thing.

A picture of Molly the stray cat that visited for 4 days. She was a sweety and then left me with a bag of uneaten cat food.

The purple thing is part of a play ground that is near my house. I love the colors of the equipment. It wasn't this way when I was young.

Until next time.

What is a knit?

2010-07-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last 3 weeks trying to learn to knit. I bought a few needles and some yarn and a book with pictures........what more could a person ask for? To understand the directions would be nice, or to understand the pictures would be even better. Lordy, did I open a bucket of worms with this little attempt. I wanted to learn to knit before I died just so I could say I knew how. Well, now I can honestly say I can knit and purl and that is about it. It is all of those sneaky directions such as S2KP or ppo, or M1. Does that make sense to you? With my memory which is about as good as a roadkill is alive I just don't grasp those silly initials. I actually should be knitting a sweater by know, if effort was what it should be.

When my grand daughter visited she wanted me to teach her to knit. I handed her a pair of needles, a ball of yarn and a book with pictures..........go get them killer! After a day of messing with her yarn she knits better than I do after 3 weeks............is something wrong with this scenario???

I am so relieved. I am finally thru at the dentist. That was a bunch of money exchanging hands and I have a dandy smile and really nice looking teeth. I suppose it is worth it since I can gnaw corn off a cob with my dignity in tact.

It is finally summer! We reached our first 100% day this week and I am glad to see it happen. I enjoyed our cook spring right up till July and was getting worried that I would start demanding that beautiful weather year round.

My art has taken a back seat to learning to knit so I haven't made anything new. I do so enjoy messing with paper and glue and would love to have the endurance to be able to enjoy both knitting and papering at the same time. Alas, I just can't do it. And I take my one a days too!

Little green apples and bird houses are in the mix this week. Enjoy!

Something new!

2010-06-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

Yes just what I need is something new. New as in haven't ever done it before and decided to do it now. I was wondering around in Michaels last week while my husband was in the hospital. I happened to notice some new yarn and just couldn't help thinking what beautiful colors and soft feeling the skeins were. I don't knit. I have done crocheting in the past, many moons ago. I can't say I liked it either. Well anyway, after looking at all the new stuff I figured I couldn't go wrong if I tried to teach me how to knit. I bought a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn and found a "knit by visuals" book at B&N. To my surprise it isn't that difficult to learn. I am still having a time with keeping my yarn tension like it should be, but that is something that comes with time. I found I actually enjoy learning. The book is great since it shows pictures of what every thing is supposed to look like. I am one of those visual learners. Don't give me written instructions because if I can get it backwards and upside down I will do it. I have realized that as I have aged I enjoy using my hands more than my brain............is that right?? Anyway I do enjoy using my hands doing things. I have no idea if I will ever make anything worth having but I am going to try. I have done and undone the same ball of yarn until it is coming unspun. I went back to Michaels and bought some yarn on sale for $1.00 a skein and as soon as I completely mangle the one I am torturing I will start on a project. It must be small and simple so I don't clinch my jaws enough to break them.

My dh is home from the hospital with 50ft of O2 tubing strung out all over the house. Something else to get used to. He is doing so much better.

We are finally having some summer weather. It has actually reached into the 90s this week. I do so enjoy summers but still love the rain. I live in the perfect place for both.

I am posting pictures of my little bird houses. I found them at Joannes. They were about $5.00 apiece and so much fun painting. They look just so cute hanging on my plant hanger in the back yard. Yep, I love summer! I could only find one of my birdhouses so I downloaded a couple shots of a note board I made. I saw the design in a Somerset magazine and thought it was so cute. I happened to have a well used canvas and used it for the base. The trims I found at Joannes and it turned out just as cute as could be. That is one I am proud of.

flu flu and more flu

2010-06-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

It has to be blunt, one hell of a month. My daughter brought home a flu bug from her work and my husband decided not to be out done so he caught it. From working in a hospital for almost 20 years I learned to take a flu shot each year just so I wouldn't have to put up with me being ill. I don't do illness well. Neither my dd or dh will get a flu shot so what do they get instead..........yep, your right, the flu. It has been a nasty little virus, as virus go. A wicked upper respiratory thing that drops right down into the lungs and with gusto. A bungi jumping virus all the way. Now, after 3 weeks my dd is getting a bit better and actually returned to work on Tuesday. My dh is another story. On Monday night about 10pm he decided he couldn't breath and I had to take him to the ER. His O2 sats were 75% on room air. If you don't know what that is, it is bad. We should all be 95% to 100% on room air. He was admitted into the hospital and is now being treated for sever COPD and pneumonia. You smoke for 60 years and some where along the trip you end up paying the piper. He will be 77yrs old the middle of June and has been hospitalized twice. Not bad for someone that abuses his body on a daily basis. Talk about very good genetics!

Last night a poor ratty looking stray cat found us. She is so skinny. I bought her some canned food and dry stuff today so maybe she will get fattened up and wonder on her voyage. Poor thing is just so sweet and likes sleeping in the garage. I guess you can't ask for a nicer cat. I can't let any animal go without food or suffer. It just isn't in my makeup.

I have a few pictures to post but haven't run them thru PS yet so tonight will be a beautiful cupcake and a neat little crapepaper flower I made.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day for my dh and me.

More art

2010-05-18T01:08:00.001-07:00

This has been a very fun time for me. I have been working on a collage and finishing my painting of a young Elizabeth 1. My collage didn't photograph very well. For some reason the black paper wanted to show up as blue. I'm not much of a photographer but I am better than I was 6 months ago. That is saying something for me. Trying to paint a portrait when I draw like a duck waltzes is very trying. I keep saying I'm getting better but sometimes I have to wonder at what.

I am taking yet another on line class learning how to do transfers. Such fun that is. I don't have the right kind of ink in my printer so I am using laser copies from Kinkos and the results are just wonderful. I have done transfers on canvas, paper and cloth. They have all turned out really nice. Better than I paint at least. Self learning can sure be tough. I love the ability to take all kinds of classes on line. It is almost as much fun as being in art school without learning art history...............dry subject.

Would someone please tell me why it is important to write a term paper on some art subject that has already been written a hundred times. It sure doesn't make anyone more talented but it does take up a tremendous amount of time. Time that could be spent learning art skills........but that is just my opinion!

It seems that I have finally decided to develope IBS. I guess every thing else wasn't good enough for me so I had to find something more to whine about. You would think that taking the amount of pain medication I take that I would be constantly constipated..............NOPE, not me. Needless to say it has been a very stressful two weeks. I am afraid to get more than 10 feet from a bathroom for fear of a really embarrassing situation. Talk about living on the edge!

My new great grandson is still in NNICU in Denver. It has been over a week and looks like he might get to go home the end of this week. This has been so stressful on my grand daughter. She is staying in Denver and lives 200 miles away in Wyoming and isn't able to see her 2yr old. Poor kid isn't having much fun. Motherhood can be rough on a woman.

I hope you enjoy the pictures of the cupcakes. They are so beautiful. And so very good to eat. We get them at the SweetSpot. They sell Gelato too.............so gooooood.

Art for Art's sake

2010-05-08T18:19:00.004-07:00

I really don't know any Arts but here are pictures of my half done art pieces for my classes and one of my beautiful mystical Borage plant. The flowers are so other worldly, I just love them

All over

2010-05-08T17:13:00.000-07:00

Last week I made my final trip to lay to rest the last member of my x family. My ex is still alive with his 5th wife but his mother, my kids grandmother died at 88yrs of age. I know feel that all of my obligations are over where they were concerned. The woman hated me while I was married to her son and actually called me her d-i-l after the divorce. But, she was good to my kids and that is what counts in the long run. She was soooo much better to them than their father ever was. It was nice to talk to her siblings after many years and I am glad it is over. Now, I don't have to dread it coming...........funny I should feel that way but I did.

I am having a lot of fun taking my art classes. One from Suzi Blu and the other from Julie Prichard. They are both great teachers and make learning a lot of fun. I have started on my first collage for Julies' class and on my second drawing for Suzi's class. I can actually draw a face now!! I will post a couple pictures this evening. I need to take them first. This has been a rough week for me with a lot of stiffness and pain.

The weather is changing with a bit of rain expected and I feel like a hurricane is coming. But, I can walk and that makes it so much better than it was.

My 4th greatgrandbaby was born Wed. They needed to do an emergency c-section because the baby was out of amniotic fluid. His poor mother was in so much pain. Thank goodness Andrew is finally here. A bit early but he is doing well.

I am going to end this note until I get off my butt and process some pictures.

Fun of all kinds

2010-04-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

I signed up for the Complex Collage class that Julie Richards is teaching. I love her classes and she is an excellent teacher. I can't wait to wade in with the gel medium and ripped up paper.

I am now working on my Queen Elizabeth the 1th. I have gotten the face close to finish and now to start on her wild red hair. This is so much fun for me. I am by nature very undisciplined and really need the push to get my drawings done. I do believe I was hatched out a tad lazy. Some past life thing I'm sure!

I need to order some liquid acrylics to work with. I have the tube paints and they can be a real pain to use. Too bad I don't have lots of money to spend. Alas, I will continue to use my tubes in hopes of winning some lottery that I never play. Now, that is wishful thinking.

I picked up my puny 4lb weights a couple days ago and with in 20 min of doing some 10 exercises reps I sent my back into a permanent spasm. I will be very glad when this is over. I'm not real happy right now and find it very irritating that I can't do what I want without having to be tortured. That must be another of those karmic things I need to work out...........I was a real bummer in all those previous lives. I have to wonder if I had any fun at all without causing someones demise.

I am posting my picture of Anne Boleyn from Suzi's class. I love that class by the way! My new drawing is of Elizabeth and her nose is a bunch shorter than Annes. Poor thing looks like she is contemplating her beheading.

Shock!

2010-04-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

There are few things in this life that can shock me. I mean truly shock me. That subtle face drain and eye bulgeing shock that leaves you feeling a tad dizzy and with the need to sit down. But, I have to admit that I have been shocked.

I visited the dentist to get an estimate on a broken bridge and a root canal and when I left the office I was totally dumb founded. The office handed me an estimate that would allow the paving with gold of the Market Street bridge. I do respect the training and cost of dentistry. Some what like the law books that are required to be an attorney. But $8,000 for the work is just a tad to much for my pocket book. I don't have any dental insurance and when I did it was awful insurance. The only thing they paid well for was the cleaning and I'm one of those lucky people that don't develop much plaque. I can pretty well take care of all my plaque with daily flossing. So off to another dentist and another $100 for a second opinion. Same check up and even took a couple of no charge xrays and handed me a cost of half. That is right! Half. Now, I don't know if I should be upset or suspicious of the second opinion dentist. What kind of work does he do and why such a difference. Is it true that you get what you pay for?? Will he do the repairs of my broken bridge and have it end up looking like the Bay bridge at rush hour. I had a horrible vision of me smiling and the hood ornament off a MAC truck popping out between my lips. I sure don't want to pay a huge amount and then not be able to afford food to go with my lovely new root canal and cap. I hate to have to make major decisions like this. I am a real woosy when it comes to this stuff. I should have been born rich so I wouldn't have to worry about finding a good dentist at cheaper rates. I was cheated!! Big Time!!!

I need some popcorn!

To draw

2010-04-16T00:40:00.000-07:00

Awe the confusion of the hand and brain when the eye see one thing and the hand seems to see another. I am taking a couple classes from the infamous SuziBlu and they are really great classes. One is to draw a front face and paint it and the other is to draw a couple of the characters from the house of Tudor. Dear old Henry the 8th and all of his merry headless wifes. Drawing is something I have wanted to do for a very long time and I am finally doing it. Well, not exactly drawing as in an artist drawing but rather as in me drawing. I finished an Icon with a female face on it. I like it a lot and am pleased how well it turned out. It is always so warm and fuzzy feeling when I do draw something that turns out well. This lady, SuziBlu might wear a wild pink wig and rant like some crazy Italian but she is a very good teacher. I am really enjoying her classes. A Leonardo I will never be but at least I can recognize what I am drawing.

I am finally using some colored pencils and watercolor pencils. Learning to use the supplies is more difficult than any drawing can be. It must be true that one is never too old to learn! I will post the icon pictures tomorrow when I get them off of the camera. I love those digital cameras!

To be afflicted.........

2010-04-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I am afflicted with MOD. Nothing quite like HIV or DIC or even CAD. These things are not something to be taking lightly. No, my MOD is an affliction caused by watching to much OWL. Yep, you guessed it. OWL. That is not an abbreviation, it is the word for owl, the bird owl. And the MOD stands for "Molly Obsession Disorder due to watching way to much owl. Molly is the female/mother of a pair of barn owls. McGee is the male/dad other. They are the proud parents of four owlets. They reside in an owl box in a back yard in San Marcos California. They are the most popular site to watch on "ustream tv. As of today over 6 million people have tuned in to watch Molly tend and feed their 4 owlets while McGee, does what any other loving father would do, and brings home the bacon, well you can make that mouse instead of bacon. McGee is a dandy hunter and makes sure that Molly and the kids are fed well.

Watching this video is not only educational but it has a stream of people, world wide people, that watch it 24/7 if they can. It is like a family reunion of thousands typing away the night talking to people they have never met and referring to them as friends. Molly and McGee and kids have drawn together millions of people into a family with only a family of birds in common. These people live all over the earth and yet they sit and take the time to really communicate with each other. It is probably the most loving and kindest thing I have ever witnessed. Yeah, I am a sap. I even shed tears when I see the Blue Angles fly over head. But, this isn't flamboyant like the Blue Angles, this is simple people that have found they all share a heart in common.

For the last couple of years I was starting to wonder if the ability to love and really care for each other was even alive. I have to say, YEP, it is still alive. People still have the ability to love a pair of owls and show that same love to each other. Its not a lot but it is just enough to make me feel like our souls are still healthy. Molly displays such love for her brood and Carlos has shown he really cares about people and owls for putting up the owl box. Small acts of love has caused a fountain to start dripping and hopefully it will grow into a river of love. If owls can bring a couple million people together there is still hope for humanity. Maybe all I have to do is just "Believe" in us.

My family of birds are just a tad different.

Wascally Wabbits

2010-03-28T23:25:00.000-07:00

It is getting to be wabbit season. This particular wabbit season doesn't require any hunting license or permission to hunt. All one has to do is visit the local grocery store or pharmacy. Yep, those big eared chocolate wabbits are running loose again. They are coming in multiple colors and flavors to entice a person to nibble on the ear tips or the big toes. I saw a wabbit this week that is a first cousin to our native jackrabbit. This guy had ears that were 10 inches long and came in milk chocolate and marshmallow stuffed. Forget hunting those darned hard boiled eggs that have residual red and purple color leaks onto the pristine whites of the interior, from the cracked shells that happen while preparing them to dye. All great fun hunting them down but then what do you do with this tie dyed egg white? Not for me! I will be the first in line though for the marshmallow stuffed ears, covered in the worst possible chocolate coating ever. You could even throw in a little pink or green, or even blue peep if you have one left over. I'm pretty sure that the only thing worse than blue peeps and overly waxed chocolate is some good year old, left over Halloween candy. The kind you sneak away from your kids after they fall asleep and you stuff it into a plastic bag and hide it in the back of a drawer that isn't opened but once a year. Yummmmmm. The season is approaching fast. Wabbit season that is.

This cute little wabbit is from Squigglefly. They do have some really cute digital stamps.

Another good day

2010-03-25T23:55:00.000-07:00

It was another good day with the exception of my tail aching. Yes, indeed, I am now the queen of weather prognosticators. Even with sun shinning and blue sky I know if it is going to change anytime soon. Having arthritis isn't much fun and weather lows make it a real pain in the butt. That is literal for me!

My day started out with my poor dog, Hera, trying to figure out how to fit under my bed. My bed is only about 7 inches off the floor and Hera weighs a hefty 35 pounds at least. I guess you could say she has that "middle age spreed" only on her it is from nose tip to tail tip. Hera does not like thunder and lightening. She dives for the space under the bed and doesn't fit. But, though her efforts are not successful at hiding she does give herself a headache. If she doesn't there is even less between her ears than I suspect. She just keeps boinging off the bed rail, time after time. This goes on until the thunder stops or I grab her and stuff her in my closet, which ever comes first. She wants to be covered when the thunder rumbles. Today I stuffed an old pillow over her head and wrapped her in her blankie and put my feet on top of her. This at least saved her forehead from trauma. Unlike Hera I love spring thunder storms. Even if they come with hail.

I completed and little set of collages to hang on the wall. I made them for my grand daughter to put on her wall. Bless her heart she seems to like the stuff I make. She reminds me of me when I was younger only she is sooooo much smarter than I was. Every thing I ever learned was by great difficulty. I guess you could say I was stubborn and not so very bright. In fact, I some times wonder how I happened to live to be this old. I'm sure it wasn't expected by anyone that knew me.

The pictures are the head from my drawing class. She is supposed to be a goddess. Mine looks a little more like perhaps a KGB agent, but she isn't so awful bad. The other pictures of of the thingy for my grand daughter to hang some where. I kind of like the seminudes. They are quite pretty and done is good taste. Or at least my taste!

I have finished two heads in my drawing class with Miss SuziBlu. She is a delight and is really quite an adequate teacher. She makes you believe that what you draw is ok, even if it isn't exactly what was visualized. Her class is really nice because you can download the videos and watch them any time you want. Over and over if necessary. If someone is trying to learn to draw a stylized face she is the place to visit. She used masses of mediums and when she is through her drawing like great. You do have to want to do that style but then I should think anyone would like to draw like she does. When she says, Mixed Media she isn't kidding. The nice thing I have learned is colored pencils don't work worth beans on water color paper. The tooth of the paper eats the pencils leads and you still have a lot of uncolored area. Live and learn. No wonder she suggest a Moleskine tablet. That and colored pencils aren't very good to obtain a good flesh tone. The pages of the Moleskine is tinted and suffices for the flesh tone. Smart thinking!

Tomorrow I will be searching for something else to create. I finally have the "want toos". About time.

A warm day

2010-03-17T01:16:00.000-07:00

I can feel my dark mood lifting. It was 72 degrees today and slightly over cast and it held me in it's grip. I didn't want to wear shoes or quit rubbing my toes in the grass. Sunshine has it's own magic for us night people. We don't rise until afternoon but still want just enough sunshine to make it worth the effort.

I finally put together a journal out of 90 lb watercolor paper and used a Wheaties box for the covers. It would have turned out perfect but some where along the Coptic stitching I managed to get the signatures switched around so half are aligned like they should be and the other half look like they are trying to escape. The book is still very usesable but still a tad off. I probably fell asleep while stitching the book.

I finished my shoe for my d-i-ls birthday. I wrote happy birthday on the sole of the little shoe. Posting pictures will be a challenge since I seem to like blurry pictures of late. I do believe it is time to buy a tripod that stands still. I did purchase a little gorillapod that has bendable legs and will wrap around a branch or fence. I'm just not sure why, other than it looked like fun to use. My camera is so old that it is heavy, durable but heavy. Old any more is 5 years for digital equipment. I can remember when old meant well used. Showing my age again.

I shall return!

Such a good day.

2010-03-12T00:48:00.000-08:00

I do hope every one has had as good a day as I have. I have had "only" two doses of pain meds today and I ran errands. Run is most likely a tad strong a word for the way I move. It has just been great to not need pain meds so often. Maybe I am healing, on my rough days I seriously wonder if heal is even in the mix.

I found the cutest "snuggle toy" for my ggs. I lucked out and was given a bunch of free small boxes at the UPs store and they came in handy for the little gift. I guess the toy can be used as a security blankey if baby needs it. It is just so soft and cute. My oldest had a security blankey but it was a queen sized comforter. He had the thing worn down to a 2ft X 2ft when I just had to toss it. He was about 3 years old and I had mended it and it was hanging on the clothes line. We had them then! He was sitting on the ground under the blankey and crying reaching up trying to grab on. He was so sleepy he fell asleep on the lawn. The next time it needed washing it fell apart in the washer and I had to toss it. He is 50 years old now and most likely still needs that blanket. Do we ever out grow that need...........nah, not my family anyway.

I am posting another digital picture I did recently. It was a lot of fun too. It seems that most of them are a lot of fun so what is my reason for stalling? Where is that psychologist when you need one. I can find more excuses to keep from sitting down and just doing something than any one I know.

We are in full bloom here. My ears are plugged up and my nose is either stuffed up or running off my face. Golly Gee, I love spring time. The trees are just so beautiful and so stinky all at the same time.

Went to see Alice In Wonderland yesterday. What a treat that is to see a 3d movie. Especially one that is so beautifully done. I wanted to take the white rabbit and the mad hatter both home. But then who wouldn't want to take the mad hatter home?

A new week....again

2010-03-08T02:12:00.000-08:00

I am astounded at how fast time seems to be flashing by me. I could swear that I have narcolepsy or a bad case of inattention to my surroundings. Either or, I suppose.

I spent the day working on some new flowers and trying to get a birthday card put together for my son. That is it! Now it is after midnight. But, I do have some petals and a few leaves ready to tape to a wire. My new form of therapy. I can call it Petal therapy for lack of a better name.

I really, really want to see Alice in Wonderland but the theater looks like a day care center for teeny boppers. A few hours with them and I might be tempted to imitate the Mad Hatter. I guess I will wait for school to resume and sneak into the movies. I love Tim Burton films.

I am so happy that I have had visitors to my blog. People are just so kind and I didn't even have to have an earthquake. My the world is rumbling a lot lately.

Pictures today are of a beautiful magnolia that is about a block from my yard. Beautiful blooms and it always lets me know that Spring is almost here. A new picture of my precious great grandson. He is so cute, but then I'm a tad biased too. My GGS is wearing the PJs just in case some one might ask!

journal and such

2010-03-03T01:27:00.000-08:00

These are a few pictures of the journal I have made out of Trader Joe paper bags. The pictures don't do it justice, as they seldom do. It is really cute and other than all the stuff I glued on the pages it is inexpensive to make.

I decided that the pictures of my flowers were just too drab for me so I took photos of them. They are so much better looking. I do wish the glitter stuff would show up better. No it isn't your eye sight, a couple of the pictures are just a tad blurry. I am still a nervous Nelly when it comes to taking pictures. Where is that tripod when I need it?

Now off to other things.

Tired fingers

2010-03-02T00:36:00.001-08:00

I have been spending all of my spare time, which is a lot of time when you don't do much, cutting out paper patters for flowers. I made four flowers out of some yucky looking card stock I had and they turned out really cute. I use some ink and glitter on them with a brad in the center and I am pleased with how they turned out. The paper left a lot to be desired but it made up into cute flowers. I was a little disappointed with the way the flowers scanned though. None of the glitter shows up and they don't look at all three dimensional. That is the way with scanners. If it would quit raining I could take them outside and take a camera shot. Of course I never finish making anything until midnight. Not much light them either.

I found a great little book by Susan Cockburn on making flowers but she uses punches. Thus my determination to make paper flowers with out spending a fortune on punches. Those things are almost $20.00 a piece if you buy large punches. I see no reason whey I can't cut the patterns and paper since I'm not going into assembly line flowers. I wanted a few to use on a card or two. Needless to say, my fingers are a bit tired from all the cutting. I have terrible arthritis in my thumbs and my fingers are working on matching them with the bony lumps in all the worst places. There is nothing graceful about aging. It is more like falling apart.

I am almost thru with the cutest journal. I made it out of paper bags from Trader Joes. The paper is really strong and the journal is working up to be just so cute. I even put a page in there for my great grandson that is due the very last of April. I called it the "new kid on the block" page. I am sending the journal to my grand daughter in Wyoming. I wish there was some way of showing the pages so I could post them. Drag out my camera and a lamp, rain or no rain. Thats telling the Gods whose boss!

Another devastating earthquake. This time in Chile. I do believe we have pressed our luck with Mother Nature. California is next. It should be one hell of a rumble. As awful as the quake was in Chile at least they had rebar in their buildings so thousands of people didn't have to die. Just no place to live. My heart goes out to those people and there is very little I am able to do for them. A few dollars here or there is about it. I am so very glad they have a stable government in Chile, unlike in Haiti.

I stopped at the local B&N to see if they had a new Digital Studio from Somerset Studio on the shelf yet. NO, but I did find a Victoria magazine. I used to love that magazine. The photography was just wonderful. Needless to say it came home with me. Speaking of beautiful pictures, I won a great book on photography from a contest on Harold Davis' blog. I was so excited. The book will be released in May, I think. I know so very little about photography that any book that isn't as dull as gnawing on a bale of alfalfa will be most welcome. I am looking forward to reading his book I recently purchased on Photoshop Darkroom. It is about different techniques using Photoshop to create arty type photos. I guess they don't have to be great photos to turn out fashionable...........little did I know. Photoshop can solve all your problems.

Off to read Victoria!

Being 2

2010-02-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

I have spent a whole day trying to figure out an appropriate card for Alec. He will be a whole 2 years old on the 21 of March. I haven't had a little one to make or do for since my youngest grandchild was that age. They are all over 21 years now. That is a long time. If I'm not to badly mistaken when my kids were 2 they loved to open boxes and tear up the paper. Maybe a card with a lot of things to tear off the front. That sounds like it would be a winner for him.

We are due rain again tomorrow. At least this year we aren't flooding one week and 72 and clear the next. CA. does have some dandy weather. And it isn't very far to drive for a change.

Yesterday turned out to be a bad day for me. About 9:30 last night my next to the youngest son called me from Boise Idaho. He has been in Oregon going thru rehab and job hunting. He made a couple of phone calls and spent the last of his money and took a bus to Boise. When he got there he decided to check himself into the homeless shelter. They were full and refused to let him stay. Now, Boise is a whole lot colder than Portland Or. Why he decided to make that ill fated move is beyond me, but he did. He call in a panic and it took me 30 minutes to get him calm enough to even listen to me. He has some Austism but not enough to be on disability. Attention deficit goes with his problems too. It ended up that K his sister sent him enough money thru Western Union to get him back to Medford. After talking to him I was like jelly inside. Being a mother of a child like him is always trying. He pushed every button he can and never thinks of the consequences. He is 46 years old going on 15. The older I get the less able I am in dealing with him. I want to cuddle and protect him and I know that is the absolute worst thing I could do. Very trying indeed.

I must get to bed and try to get some sleep. I am really going to be gray haired in a few weeks if I don't calm down and get some rest.

Springy

2010-02-22T00:54:00.000-08:00

I am posting my very first paper flower. I added learning to make paper flowers to my to do list. I am about to decide that I can add anything to the to do list because if I live long enough to complete the list Horray and if not, so be it.

I found a lovely book by Sandra Evertson on making paper flowers and fell in love with the book and her flowers. She also designs stamps and papers for Somerset Studios and have always liked her stamps. Talented people like her make me dance with joy. Just to be able to create like she does is pure pleasure. So many are so talented..........makes me wonder how it overlooked me. One of my very favorite things to do is surf around the world looking for art blogs. I am in wonder how really small our planet is and am thrilled that I am able to access it if only thru the computer.

I have finally gotten back to practicing my drawing unskills. I am sticking images of models from a fashion magazine up on my wall and using them for my learning. I don't know if everyone who decides to learn to draw struggles like I do, but, I always have such a tough time drawing what I see. I read that the more you practice drawing the deeper the groove becomes in your brain. You would call me ole slick top if you looked at my drawings.

I have been putting together a birthday card for my daughter. She is a leap year baby and will always be young, to me at least.

My children have finally reached the age that they are assuming I am too old to function without their input. It is lovely watching the facial expressions. I wonder if that is what I looked like when they were teenagers? All scrunched up and a kind of "OMG" expression. Pretty humorous from my perspective, anyway.

I must add a couple photos and then get back to doing what ever it was I was busy doing.

About time!

2010-02-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

I am delinquent in my duties. I started this blog to journal some and post my stuff and I am not doing a good job of it. I have a million excuses and non of them are worth a damn.

I am winding up with my physical therapy and getting stronger every week. It is such a surprise to actually be able to tell the difference. This week I have had to decline to play with my PT because I am harboring a nasty rhinovirus, cold to the normal people. My head roars and I feel awful and my nose is complaining by leaps and bounds. I just hate these viruses when they come around. I seldom get a cold, going sometimes a year or so without one. And now I complain.

I have been doing a journal. I really like making them and adding all the goodies to them is so much fun. This one is being made from paper bags. The paper is sturdy and a coat of gesso and some paint and you have a great background. I think this one will go to my grand daughter in Wyoming. She seems to like what I do or at least she lies well.

I finished a digital birthday card for my grand daughter in San Francisco. They grow up and leave the nest so quickly. I am pretty pleased with the card. I will post a copy of it here to remind me that , yes, it can be done. I also decided to play around with a couple digital stamps. One I colored in PS and the other I copied onto a medium glazed card stock and embossed it right out of the printer. It worked well and was fun to paint with water color pencils. The medium makes a great base for watercolor and the ink in my printer is water proof and I love it. Yes all of this between sneezing and blowing my runny nose. Ah, life is a party and if you dance to the music it is wonderful.

I used Windows picture thingy for the card and I don't like it much. The image is so small. Oh well. I won't do that again. Maybe I should learn how to use the program..........another thing on my to do list.

Fresh ideas

2010-01-31T23:53:00.000-08:00

I don't know about any one else but there are times that my brain is just shut down. I can't think of anything to make and when I try every thing comes out awful. I did a reasonable background yesterday and tried for hours to get a simple valentine card front out of it. Not having any of that folks! Nope. Any creative brain cells must have been on vacation..........maybe in Argentina with S. Carolinas governor. The longer I stared at the image the worse it looked. OK. I won't stare at the background any more because it is starting to look bad to me. I always considered those great ink pens that have the sparkly ink in them as a life saver............even that didn't help any. I guess I will just post the valentine and get over my failure as an artist. Not that I ever was one, you understand. It is just that I always thought it would be neat to be an artist.

I have finished about 30 hours of Photoshop tutorials and can actually remember where some of the stuff is hidden and can remember what to do with some of it too! Wow, that is an accomplishment if ever there was one. I am proud of me! The problem is, how many hours of tutorials and hours of actual labor does one partake in before one can consider them selves proficient at the program? I swear that the more I know the more there is to know. Well as long as I am paying by the month to view these tutorials I plan on viewing as many as it takes to not be intimidated by PS. Always easier said than done.

I received pictures of my great grand son, Kayden Ryu. Isn't that a grand name? The middle name means dragon in Japanese. From what I was told by his father he is living up to the name. The first few nights home he howled all night long. I figure he was just testing his parents to see if they were willing to stick with the chore of raising him for the next 18 years or run screaming out into the streets. I do believe that the little gremlin is going to be worth the trouble. He is so very cute and I'm posting a picture of him so every one else can agree with me. Kayden's beautiful mother is from Japan and is just stunning. Or at lest I think so. As a grandmother I can be biased. I must say that my grandson is very, very lucky.

I bought very yellow ball with 5 legs. It looks some what like a cows udder with the exception of being bright yellow and just a tad larger than most cows. Except for those wonderful California cows of course. I have been sitting on the ball instead of the chair and the purpose, you ask. Well I found out that sitting on the ball required me to tighten my core muscles (pelvic and abdominal) to keep sitting on the ball instead of flopping off onto the floor. This is a version of Pilates, well, maybe my version of Pilates. The ball also takes the pressure off of my tail bone.

I have a large screw smack in the middle of my tail bone and at times it smarts, as in when the weather is changing from sunny to rainy. I know this isn't supposed to happen but is does and sitting on a chair feels kind of like I'm trying to sprout a tail. A lot like teething I should think. I am getting pretty good at weather prognostication too. Back to the yellow ball. I also happen to have an extremely neurotic dog. She stays away from the living room now that the ball is there unless I happen to be eating something. Then she will walk right up to me and do her usual begging and as soon as I stop eating she is gone again. I have to wonder just what flits through her mind.

Complicated

2010-01-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure the cause but if I don't visit this blog every day I find out that my codes to signin are all skewed up. It will take me an hour of trying various passwords and e-mail addresses to get this thing to open. I know I'm not the best at posting frequently but this is ridiculous.
I have been working hard at learning Photoshop and I do believe some of the information I cover each and every day is starting to stick. And the information is endless. I'm not sure I can even realize how anyone can become proficient at this program. Just amazing to me. Know that I am starting to understand the program it is starting to be more understandable for my poor little gray matter.
I had a very pleasant surprise last weekend. A cousin I haven't seen in 22 years came to visit for a short time. It is always nice to see a relative on a short term stay. I looked at here and thought, gee, she is aging, is that a scream or what? I have managed to kind of forget the mirror when it comes to me. I try really hard to ignore the turkey waddle and the massive wrinkles I have sprouted this last summer. I can blame some of it on my surgery but I'm stuck when it comes to dumping the blame else where but aging. We have such a funny way of looking at ourselves compared to what others see.
My son made some very good beer. His first attempt and it came out quite good. I am looking forward to his next attempt. I love a beer with hops and this red ale was great.
My son's girlfriend has taken up knitting! I am thrilled and hope she knits me a scarf just because I'm a nice "mother-in-law"
I visited the surgeon and I am healing beautifully. I am so glad. There are days when I wonder if I'm healing at all. I ache head to toe and every time I move something shifts in my back. The shift isn't painful but it is kind of like being hit with a car. It literally rocks me off my feet. It feels like my spine is resettling where it should be in the first place. I have another year to complete the healing and I am so happy I feel so much better that I can't compare what it was like presurgery to now. The discomfort now is so minimal compared to presurgery that I am almost embarrassed to complain. I start back with PT on Monday. It is a good thing, as Martha would say.
I will post a couple pages of my creations just so my blog isn't so dull.
Happy Sunday!

A year ending

2009-12-30T01:37:00.000-08:00

I feel almost sad that another year is ending and I can't remember half of what happened during the year. At an average of about 12 hours a day that I am awake you would think I could remember a huge amount of happenings. NOPE, I seem to be lucky if I can remember what I had for lunch by 4pm. Is my mind fading or am I just like the vast majority of us humans. So much goes on we block out at least 2/3 of it to preserve our gray matter. I imagine we would short out pretty quickly.
This year hasn't been very kind to me but I am getting better and know that I will continue to improve. There are no more surgeries awaiting me and my pain is so much better controlled that every day I wake up thinking how grateful I am for my surgeon. If anyone needs back surgery I would suggest Redding Ca and ask for Dr. Lam. The man is genius with a scalpel.
I am taking a class working with Photoshop on using layers to build background or collage papers. I have learned bunches and am having such fun with what I now know. It always surprises me when I create something I really like. That evil critic that lives in my cerebellum is always giving me a hard time. Since the class I am now ready to actually create something with intent. Previous it was just blind luck! I am posting a couple of my creations and plan to make and post a bunch more.
I hope for a world with more peace and people with more forgiveness for the new year. I am probably dreaming but like dreams, some do come true.

Made it through

2009-12-26T00:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas is now over and maybe people will resume their niceness. Or, maybe not. We didn't have any one visit over Christmas and it was very relaxing and quiet. I think I'm getting to old for a bunch of rowdy kids ripping and tearing and fighting over the presents. I have to frequently wonder how I survived having and raising 5 kids. Somehow it turned out alright but by rights I should be frayed beyond recognition. Other than my back the rest of me is still functional and in tact. Still surprises me sometimes.
Since my last post I was blessed with a great granddaughter named Caroline. She of course is beautiful but the hopes of seeing much of her is really slim. Her parents live in Fresno and I hardly every get there. It still kills my back to do much driving. I guess it isn't a great big deal since that end of my family doesn't consider me very important because I don't always have my hand out with money. It is what you are worth and willing to give that they consider important.
I have another greatgrand child due in about 3 weeks and that one I will get to see. They live in Yuba City and that trip I can manage. That child is a boy. It looks like Mommy is going to have a Csection for her delivery since she has a blown disc in her lower back. Poor thing hasn't had a very good time with her pregnancy.
Time to head off toward the bed. Here is hoping for a peaceful night.

Outgrown?

2009-12-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

I was in the midst of the new Harry Potter movie when I suddenly realized that I just couldn't get into it. Have I outgrown it? What a dreadful thought that is. I had always hoped I would be a Harry Potter person for my entire life. Wouldn't life be a kick if we all lived life like that? Or maybe not, especially when the witches are flying and setting fires. I do love the special effects though.
I have been very studious lately trying to learn as much about PS as I possibly can and still keep my sense about me. I think I might know enough now to be dangerous. I found a site called "Shadowhouse Creations" and the stuff this guy does with pictures is just amazing. He can make a chunk of concrete look beautiful. I do aspire to do the same someday. Sooner than later hopefully.
Tomorrow are more college football games. I simply love them.
I hope for a very nice weekend for one and all.

Dec. and cold

2009-12-11T00:31:00.000-08:00

We have had some really cold weather this last week. There goes all my hard earned money to PG&E to pay for the gas. I was hoping it would warm up with the incoming rain........but, alas it is still cold. I just don't want any snow to have to deal with. Messy stuff no matter what the snowmen enthusiast say.
I am working hard at learning some PS. I hope some of it is sticking since my memory isn't worth toots. It is kind of like pounding ROTE into a brick wall and expecting it to regurgitate. Pain free or goofy as all get out.
I decided today to make a fantastic sounding cake I found in the magazine Savior. I soaked my raisins and dried apricots in Wild Turkey and rum and put the cake together. After an hour in the over I checked it and even after sticking a toothpick into the cake it looked done. I started to turn it out on a cooling rack and the whole thing just plopped out all over the counter, rack and me. Hot and very undone. I was really upset about my cake. I almost cried while I shoveled the whole mess off the counter into the garbage can. Now I have a clean counter and no cake. What a night for cooking. It was a good thing I did hotdogs for dinner. I shall try again tomorrow. It was Scarlet that said, "there is always tomorrow", or something like that.

The wonders of Photoshop

2009-11-29T23:29:00.000-08:00

I have spent 3 days going over and thru "PSCS4 Digital Classroom" WOW talk about cellular over load for the cranium. I am so happy that some of it is actually sticking. I have spent 4 years taking medications that screwed with my memory and now I feel like someone opened the door. It still isn't like it used to be but it is so much better than it was.
I found some great digital art sites today and will be cruzing around them picking up any knowledge I can find. I see so many wonderful artist and want to join the parade and I am determined that I am going to join in the march.
Thanksgiving was a nice day. My wonderful granddaughter came home from CSSF for 2 days. It was so very nice to see her. She is studying Anthropology and spending an awful lot of time with the monkeys. I have to wonder if she notices much change between them and us. Reading the news makes me think that we are going backwards and the monkeys are gaining on us.

Lets try this again

2009-11-25T02:02:00.000-08:00

I used to pride myself in my great memory. Not anymore! This has been just short of a nightmare. This being, trying to log into my old blog. I spent a month not entering any thing and now I can't remember my logins and I forgot where I put them when I wrote them down. Don't laugh too hard yet, since I decided to just start a new blog with my new address. I wrote down the address and passwords and this time put them in my address book. Frustration is not even a good adjective to use for me. Goofy as a goose is a tad better. Hopefully I don't misplace my address book.
Needless to say I need to find pictures and stuff to download to my blog. So where do I start you might ask...........I think I will start with my new PS CS4 and my new Dell Inspiron and as of tonight my new Epson printer. You ask if I have money............noooooooo, not any more that is.
I do have hopes of doing better with this blog since I am taking way less pain medication for my back surgery. Less, but not off of it completely and probably won't ever be. I try but I am so very tired of pain that I just want it to go away and consequently I still take pain meds. If you really want a laugh just try learning CS4 under the influence. Now, that is funny! I have never lost so many buttons in my entire life. I have gone so far as to try ZENTANGLE for a form of meditation. Does it work.........I don't know yet but I am sticking with it for a while. If nothing else I learn how to empty ballpoint pens. Bic is going to love me!
Now for entering my new blog address in the few Yahoo sites I frequent.
I shall return.