Waking Up

We made it to 70 degrees and SUNNY yesterday. FINALLY !!
I was so energized by sunshine that I washed the patio door and all the windows in and out on the back of the house. Then we kept the windows open all day and aired out the house.
My first tulips have opened. I really like that later tulips . But I didn't say it out loud - don't want to hurt their feelings. I like the great big tulip heads that have rounded edges. the traditional ones. I've decided White and Pink are my absolute favs.

I didn't jog like I should have since I plan on running a 5K on June 6 - that kind of slipped my mind. I used to have a lot more motivation to exercise when I was younger. I wonder if it's a vitamin deficiency or hormones hhhhmmmm. I'm mentally working on it - I WILL run that 5K.
I have a love/hate relationship with coffee. I love it - but health wise I've read it's not that good for me. I stopped drinking it for awhile and had an awful withdrawal headache. it can't be good if it causes withdrawal symptoms right??? So my plan is to drink less and enjoy it more. I'm starting a search for the BEST tasting coffee. Quality vs quantity, since I'll be drinking less, I'll be able to afford better coffee. And I truly believe you get what you pay for, even when its coffee. I'm finishing up my 8 O'clock which is pretty good, but I plan to purchase organic/free trade from now on.

Sunday Morning Blog Hopping !
Paper Dolls
The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Spring TIME

Time for growth. How do those little plants know it's time to start growing - all that cold and snow we had didn't mess up their internal calendars. It never ceases to amaze me.

I finished my setting up my studio. I added a bookshelf to get everything off the floor and a bit more organized. It feels great.
here are a couple BEFORE picures - pure Chaos:




























My AFTER picture is a bit more Serene:














Here is what has been keeping me busy. Still playing with polymer clay. I've used a texture sheet with mica powder - there is so much to learn! I've already glazed my bright red hearts and they are ready to use.Sunday morning blog hopping:

Confessions of a Plate Addict ** she has a beautiful Mardi Gras tablescape
Little Cotton Rabbits

Not quite ready for 3D

There is a new 3D movie out now. We went to see it and had more fun wearing the glasses than understanding the movie.
3D at the theater has come a long way from the first movies that came out when we wore the paper glasses.

Having things pop out of the screen at us is a lot of fun, but it's so much better when the movie makes sense. We had more fun goofing off then we did watching the movie. I wanted to love the movie but the story line kept losing ground. So I just enjoyed the graphics instead. Here is a perfect example of ADD - Adult Deficit Disorder :)A couple days later, we were still in the mood for 3D and watched Journey to the Center of the Earth - home version - it comes equipped with its own paper 3d glasses. It was an excellent book so the movie turned out to be very entertaining, but the paper glasses made the movie too fuzzy. We tried the glasses from the movie theater but they didn't work with the home version movie. Oh well, we still manage to have a good time together anyway.I'll be in line at the theater for the next 3D - hopefully it will be all I could hope for.

I just found out I won a Heart Quiltie from Java's Whimsy in her One World One Heart drawing.
I have a lot to learn about polymer clay. I spent an hour just trying to roll it and cut it into a symmetrical shape then I ruined it when I baked it. See all the bubbles - they aren't supposed to be there. :( I have a tiny toaster oven and I can't control the heat very well on it.

Here's some photo's from our bake sale. We had 2 more tables on the other side of the hallway also filled with yummies. There was so much support. Many, many wonderful bakers dropped off goodies for us and many more bought them all. We had this during the high school basketball games on Friday night. Many showed up in ORANGE to support our cause. All proceeds from our bakesale go to the Leader Light Foundation.
Our next event is a 5K run on June 6. As soon as my foot heals our start training for it.

Sunday morning scrambled eggs with mushrooms, onion and Franks hot sauce, OJ and coffee.
Join me for some Sunday morning blog-hopping.
Lucullian delights
Cottage Farm Villa
French Garden House
Scrappy Jessi

Itching to post

Sometimes I get so bogged down with just making it through each day that I don't take time out to blog. and then I miss blogging. So like Jeri at Artful Gathering, I'm resolving anew to blog more often. I feel so much more connected to the art world when I do. I truly enjoy blogging and reading other blogs - it's a shame there isn't more playtime for us all.

I have been very busy. I just had my baby toe operated on yesterday morning. I had a bone spur removed. it was between my baby toe and the one next to it and causing terrible pain. Fortunately it's a procedure done in the doctors office so I didn't have a huge hospital expense. Plus - even though he insisted there wouldn't be any residual pain afterward - I convinced him to give me a prescription for that wonder drug - Vicoden. So I may limping around, but I'm doing so with a smile on face.

That vicoden cam in handy last night. We had a bake sale / basket raffle fund raiser for the Leader Light Foundation of which I am a working member. We raised $1,800.00 that will go towards baseball equipment and sponsering a young boys baseball team. Next we are planning a 5K run to raise money for scholarships.

I was baking and decorating cookies for the 2 previous nights so I'm going to play with my beads and clay today.

I'll post pictures here a bit later today.

Taxes

I hate working on taxes. blechhhkk.

there, I said it.

Secret #6 - Conquering Saboteurs

This weeks Secret to ponder was a tough one for me. We all hear them no matter what we do, but when I hear them in my own head it becomes very personal and very real.
My saboteurs are internal. Family and friends keep me going with their wonderful support.

I hear "Do you really think anyone will like this?", "I hope your doing this just for fun, you're not going to get anywhere doing this."

and it goes on and on. I keep pursuing my interest because I remind myself of what I told my daughter over and over: Don't give up, the people that have succeeded spent hours and hours and hours practicing. The really great ones, each artist in their own fields didn't just show up one day and were wonderful - they worked their way up from the bottom, they struggled and kept at it not because they were perfect but because it was their passion.

A knitted didn't pick up needles and knit a sweater on the first try. A quilter didn't create an heirloom bedspread on the first try. A painter didn't wake up one day and create a masterpiece on the first try. A musician didn't sit down and play a symphony on the first try (ok, maybe Mozart did).

I am still a fledgling, I don't have a fear of success, I just don't think my work is good enough...
YET
but I have the determination to keep getting back to it and practice, practice, practice.

Sunday Morning Blog-hopping
A whisk and a spoon ** just the pictures alone will have you drooling.
Brown Dirt Cottage
Cottage Farm Villa