Another Post About Catching Up

It's nearly fall again, and it's alarming to see that this is my third Fall with this blog. When I began this blog, I was in a very different place in my life and it was easy to post regularly. In fact, I really looked forward to posting all of the fun things that I was working on. Lately, though, I've barely been posting. The fact is, I've neglected doing all of the fun things that I was doing two years ago. Lately, I've been doing my best just to keep things in order and that leaves very little time to be crafty.

Over the weekend, I traveled southward and along the way I was seeing more and more trees that had began the autumnal change from green to orange- red. The other day, while walking my dog, it was so chilly that I could actually see my breath. Things are changing, and the changes are inspiring me to change with it.

I've discovered that I need to stop focusing on the chaos around me, and to work to simply organize my own discord. If a plate is left on a coffee table, that plate was not left by me and it isn't up to me to put it away. As long as I am around to tidy up my surroundings for everyone else, those people never learn to do it for themselves. They won't even learn to appreciate the desire to have order if it is always done for them. I'm learning that, if disorder suddenly surrounds others, they'll begin to be unhappy about it and take the initiative to take control of it on their own.

I believe that, by allowing others to grow on their own, in their own way, it liberates me from chasing around clutter, allowing me to pursue the things that I enjoy. This being said, my creative wheels have been turning. I recently obtained an old window and stained glass. I have many crafty things in mind for these items. Also, with fall soon approaching, there are many crafts that I can do, now that it's cooler and not too hot to function in a craft environment. I look forward to tackling these crafts and other hobbies and sharing them, in color, on this blog. Until then~ Toodaloo!

Summer Goals

So, summer will officially begin tomorrow with the arrival of the solstice. I have been doing a lot of soul searching lately and I've decided on what my summer goals will be this year. Every year, a lot of us try to decide on what to do to maximize the summer weather. Some of us want tans, others want to shed a few pounds. Others hope to spend more time with their families and maybe have a nap, once in a while.

I think that all of the above options are great. I love the beginning of a new season, because with each new beginning is a sense of hope. Well, at the end of summer, when we look back on how we spent our time, we often think about all the stuff we wished to get done, but didn't. Then, we look forward to what the fall will bring.

I've learned that it doesn't really matter if we don't get everything accomplished. Most of us get eager and make our lists too long. As long as we have achieved, at least, some of our goals how can we be down on ourselves? As long as we take time to appreciate the summer, even just once, it won't be wasted.

So, this brings me to my summer goals. Today, while out with my dog walking, I enjoyed smelling the buttercup's scent wafting in the air and I took in the view of the green trees, the flowers, and the lake; observing how lucky I am. I have seen the same view for decades; and every summer when I see the green trees, or in the fall when I enjoy the crimson and bright orange leaves, it's as though I'm seeing it for the first time and I'm grateful every time.

I was grateful, today, to enjoy the summer experience with a new doggy family member, to be blessed with a new friend to love and to start anew.

Then I began to think about gratitude and blessings and what I wanted my summer goals to be. So, aside from wanting to read great books, having as much fun as I can, and being successful in the garden.. my biggest goal this summer is to do kind things for those whom I love. Random acts of kindness, in a way. I am one of those who believe that if God blessed you with a gift it's best to share it. So, I am going to use my crafty gifts and I'm going to make gifts throughout the summer for friends and family whom I feel very lucky to be blessed to know. Sometimes, I think I don't deserve such awesome friends or family and to thank them for their friendship, I'm going to do something random for them that will make them smile. It will be fun to surprise people too. I'll keep you updated on the process, and when I get new batteries in my camera, I'll post on the garden too. Until then~ Toodahloo!

It's June! I've Done A Craft!

So, in my previous post, I stated that I was working on a project. I am still working on the project, but so far, it has not come out the way I hoped it would. However, I did do another project, which I'm excited about. I made a handbag! I joined the Better Homes and Gardens website last year, and I love it. I get e-mails from them showing craft projects and gardening projects and recipes. It is really inspirational to look at some of the home decorating projects that they do, and the e-mails keep my creative energy flowing. Needless to say, I am a big fan and very thankful for this website! So, the other day, they showed how to make different handbags and they provided the instructions on how to make it. I went to the store, and I got cheap fabric and I made it, so here it is!

I added a pocket on the inside for money, and I took the advice from another who wrote that they added a button closure. I love it! It has six pockets on the outside; so, I can have my phone, my player, my sunglasses, etc. free and easy to find. This will be a great summer bag. The kicker is, it was so darn easy to make!

I'll post my other project once it's completed. Until then~Toodahloo!

Face, too Face

So, this weekend, I began a craft which I am still in the middle of completing. In an effort to be a better blogger, I remembered to take pictures of my progress. When I finally complete the craft, I'll post on that.

Lately, I have been feeling pressured by my loved ones to join a social network. Many have detailed the virtues of being able to get into touch with old friends past and to keep far away family updated on the goings on of my life. Many have gone into great detail explaining how to set my levels to extra private and that I can even block people from trying to find me and/or contacting me.

So, I'm on the fence. I'm not exactly one to post about my deep thoughts; and even though this is a private blog, I am still fairly vague when it comes to most things that I post about. I say vague meaning, that my posts could come from, pretty much, anyone.

One reason why I don't join other sites is because it is too open. You make it very easy for complete strangers to know more about you than they should. A lot of people don't mind that though, in fact, they sort of embrace it. A lot of people love sharing their thoughts on a public blog and have feedback from followers and in many cases friendships have developed.

As for myself, I've had to deal, in the past, with negative people who I ejected out of my life attempting to get information about me from friends that we have in common. Fortunately, my friends know better and they don't play along, because like me, they see how unhealthy it is.

So, the question is this, do I cave and join my friends, or do I stick to my guns? I'm still on the fence with this personal debate. I'll let you know how it all works out. Until then~ Toodaloo!

Spring Renewal

Ahhhh, at last, the clouds have parted and the sun is shining, once again! The rain, the rain was starting to be annoying. The other day I remembered how much I enjoyed rainy days at school. I loved the idea of wearing a rain coat and seeing what sort of umbrellas the other kids and teachers would bring to school. Even then, I loved to accessorize!

Now, however, the rain means very large puddles on the playground. When the rain stops and it's simply cloudy, we have outside recess and now I have to be the adult telling kids to stay out of puddles, when really, I'm thinking "that looks like fun."

With the sunshine and moist soil comes flowers and earth worms. Yesterday, I raked the garden and found the irises waiting to be exposed. I raked the yard of debris and raked so hard, my hands blistered. I transfered my green beans to a large pot and next week, I'll transfer my rainbow heirloom tomatoes. I'm really looking forward to having a vegetable garden again. It's so nice to walk into your back yard and pick fresh produce and cook with it. We have raspberries and herbs too. Having access to a garden makes me feel like such a culinary princess. Almost as though I have my own quaint cooking show on the cooking channel; where everyone marvels at my splendid, yet, simplistic creations that I made from scratch- from the ground up!

A few days ago, I raked the leaves out of the herb garden and I have yet to see what is to come of it. I have a gal pal who also grows herbs and I'll ask her about the status of her herbs. That way, I'll know if my herbs are done for.

So, today, I will be spring cleaning the inside of the house and organizing. Then, at some point, I have top make meatballs for spaghetti and then some sort of dessert; I'm thinking of making lemon chiffon pie. Then, I'd like to craft and then have a steam facial. I really need to treat myself to a steam and a mani. /pedi. before the work week starts. Well, if I manage to get even some of my "to do's" done, I'll try to post pictures of the results later. I really need to get back on the blogging train. The thing is, I've been busy just existing, so busy that I've forgotten to do the things that I enjoy doing; and therefore, I've had nothing to post about. Today the sun is shining and I'm feeling inspired, so I look forward to posting again. Until then~ Toodaloo!

Snow Daze?

Whenever my area has a really terrible snowstorm, school gets cancelled; which means I get a snow day! Most snow days, I try to stay cozy by wearing warm fuzzies and sipping tea. I read a book, browse through my magazines and I do the girly things, like have a facial. I happen to really love this facial sauna; it is very relaxing to use and my face feels amazing when I'm done with it. Any time I try to give Fred a mani/pedi during spa day, he hides under my bed. Yes, I need a life.

While I have my facial, I also put my feet in this handy battery operated foot massager. I purchased this after Christmas, when it was on clearance at 75% off! I think the zebra print is fun.

Fred also likes to take it easy on snow days!

On other snow days, I like to bake cookies and have lattes. Today, since school was dismissed early- due to wintry weather, I am posting on my blog and doing a serious cleaning marathon of sorts. I stayed up late last night watching Agatha Christie- Miss Marple: They Do It With Mirrors on CBC and then caught the end of the Oscar ceremony. I am very pleased to see Colin Firth win the Oscar for his performance in The King's Speech as it was a fantastic movie and if you get the opportunity to see it before it gets pulled from the theaters you should go to see it. However, I only slept for about five hours, so I was very tired getting to work today and got even more tired walking through about four inches of snow on the uncleared sidewalks during my commute home. So, my post is unforgivably dull and I apologize. Hurray for snow days? Tomorrow will begin March; which will bring with it St. Patrick's Day and daylight savings, which will further mean that winter and it's giant snow balls is nearly over! Until next time~ Toodaloo!

Cobwebs- Pt. 2

The super bowl didn't start soon enough! Now, I am home from work and continuing my laundry marathon which started over the weekend. I must wash some of my own clothing, I was stuck wearing a skirt to work today. Normally, I don't mind a skirt once in a while. However, the weather being wintry and all, I'd rather have some more comfortable pants instead. I must hurry with this post though, as I have a chicken roasting in the oven and it needs basting. So, here are some more of my thoughts.....

*I am really loving the ability to demand television shows on the television. Now, whenever I am in the mood to watch Being Erica, I can do it--without commercials!

* Whoever said that sleep was over rated, wasn't doing it correctly.

* I'm trying to become a vegetarian, once again, in a carnivorous household.

* "Bridget Jones", no longer a " love pariah", I find to be more insightful now than I did in my early twenties-- because I am a" singleton" burgeoning on becoming a "tragic spinster"

*cats are soooo much smarter than dogs, and therefore, mustn't be trusted.

*chickens don't bast themselves while in the oven.

That being said, I'm being booted again. More thoughts put forth coherently~ Toodahloo!

I See Cobwebs!

Okay, so I haven't posted in a long time and here's the deal.... I never get the time to do it. I have a lot of things to post on. However, when I get home from work in the afternoon, somebody is already on the computer and they stay there for quite a while. When they finally do get off the computer, I have just enough time to look at the blogs that I follow before another person ( higher up on the computer chain) comes home from work and boots me off. BOO! I say!

So, I am taking the opportunity now whilst others are distracted by impending Super Bowl/ Food feast to post but a morsel on my barren blog. I didn't bring my camera to load photos, I do hope to load some soon. Sometimes, I feel like I have to get up really early in the morning and make my way to the computer by way of suction cups attached to my hands and feet, thus undetected by sleeping computer thugs. Yes, I called them "computer thugs" as they are one key stroke away from stealing my milk money.

I will give a brief run through of my thoughts, with the hope of being able to elaborate on such thoughts in future postings.

My thoughts are as follows:

* I am loving Pretty Little Liars this season

crap, I hear a thug.. I'm getting kicked off. ~Toodaloo!