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Tuesday, 06 January 2009

TWO BLOG ENTRIES IN ONE WEEK FROM ME.............I MUST BE ON VACATION!
This is a meme I found on one of the many blogs I read recently. Unfortunately I can't find the blog now to credit the gal who I got it from.
Here is a list of activities/experiences. I have marked them according to the following:
Things I've already done: bold
Things I want to do: italicize
Things I haven't done and don't want to - leave in plain font

1. started my own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band
4. visited Hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than I can afford to charity
7. been to Disneyland/world (both!)
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped (and never will)12. visited Paris
13.watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught myself an art from scratch (Well I guess kind of… some crafts)
15. adopted a child (maybe someday. Lots of kids have adopted my heart)
16. had food poisoning (and it was terrible!)
17. walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty ( I have seen her a few times though)
18. grown my own vegetables
19. seen the Mona Lisa in France (she was very small)
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch hiked (and never will)
23. taken a sick day when I was not ill (mental health)
24. built a snow fort (Not very structurally sound)
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden a gondola in Venice (I passed this up…..what was I thinking?)
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or sunset
31. hit a home run
32. been on a cruise
33. seen Niagara Falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. seen an Amish community
36. taught myself a new language (some words only….this needs work)
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied (I am not dissatisfied or greedy.. I just want bigger cushion)
38. seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen Michelangelo's David in person
41. sung karaoke
42. seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. visited Africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight (I want to do this with someone I love someday though)
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. had my portrait painted
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the Sistene Chapel in person (it was amazing!)
50. been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling (I don’t know if what I did was technically snorkeling…..but I was in the water)
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theatre (When I was little, in my pj's and on a date… I actually watched the movie)
55. been in a movie
56. visited the Great Wall of China
57. started a business (well….I have sold my services and crafts)
58. taken a martial arts class (no thanks)
59. visited Russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies. (thousands of them)
62. gone whale watching
63. gotten flowers for no reason (The giver remains anonymous)
64. donated blood
65. gone sky diving (never)
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. eaten caviar (yucky)
72. pieced a quilt (a simple one)
73. stood in Times Square
74. toured the Everglades
75. been fired from a job (kind of)
76. seen the changing of the guard in London
77. broken a bone (just a toe)
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. published a book (I would LOVE this)
81. visited the Vatican
82. bought a brand new car (Olive Bernadette)
83. walked in Jerusalem
84. had my picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire Bible
86. visited the White House (Just from the outside. I would love to tour it)
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating (I have seen it done- gross)
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone’s life
90. sat on a jury (lame case)
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the Alamo in person.
96. swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee

Sunday, 04 January 2009

Reminders of what's really important...

During the last couple of months I have been filling frames around my house with pictures of the people I love and appreciate. I have also been displaying knick knacks and such in new places so every room is filled with memories. I am enjoying walking into different rooms and seeing things that bring back great memories and remind me that the people in my life are amazing and one of the many blessings I have.

Here is the happiness I get to look at...

My mantel has collages of flowers from my trip to London, framed photos of friends and gifts I have received from special people. I love the little girls from Melissa that sit on the ledge and the figurine of two friends from Jenni that looks a lot like us.

This is a collection of pictures from Trisha, Erin, Debby, and Shannon's weddings. It is pictures of my group of girlfriends. I love this reminder of being together with friends and celebrating my girlfriend's joy.

This amazing frame was from Kim. I filled it today with many lovely friends.

I hung it above my bed where it looks very cute.

Next up.... Framing the amazing collage of family pictures I have been working on.

Currently
Mamma Mia! The Movie (Full Screen)
By Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard, Amanda Seyfried
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Tuesday, 30 December 2008

It was raining snowmen at my house...

Every year I make a snowman craft to give as gifts to people. I made 100 men this year!!

All of the snowmen are at their new homes now.

Here is their journey...

I used wooden candle sticks for the bodies. I had to drill nose holes in each one before I painted them.

It took a couple of different attempts to find paint that would not run off. The one that worked was for metal. Go figure.

I used little wooden light bulbs for the noses... so cute and tiny.

Every little guy got his face painted on which is when their personalities come out. I find myself talking to the snowmen. Could it be because it was 1:00 a.m. and I was super tired?

I had to re-drill nose holes after I painted because the holes were too small with paint in them.

100 cute little hats made out of toddler socks.

Cozy scarves made from sweaters I bought at the Goodwill. I felted them in the washer and let them air dry.

Here are some guys all dressed up and almost ready to meet their new families.

The whole gang all lined up and waiting for their names. This year they were the "Cozy" family. Every guy had a name that started with the letter "C".

Wednesday, 05 November 2008

The Annual Soup Party...

Two weeks ago I took an extended week-end trip to Bend, Oregon to visit my dear friends and their kids. I went to enjoy some beautiful Fall weather and to attend/ help out with their annual Soup Party. Other than Jim and Lisa I am the only other person who has attended all six of the Soup Parties. When they lived in Santa Maria I would visit frequently, always during Soup Party week-end where each guest brings their favorite soup to share with everyone. When they moved to Oregon, I made a commitment to be there for the Soup Party. It is always a blessing to spend time with them.

Here are a few pictures from my trip:

Allie on our walk around Todd Lake where we had gorgeous views of Mt. Bachelor

Some pretty pumpkins posing for us on the kindergarten pumpkin patch trip.

And..... The MOST DELICIOUS Pumpkin Soup EVER......

Here is the recipe:

Spicy Chicken Pumpkin Soup
1 large pumpkin (without a large stem)
2 lb. Diced chicken
1 medium onion
1 7 oz. can diced green chilies
2 Tbsp flour
Salt and pepper
8 oz. can tomato sauce
7 oz. mild salsa
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
4 C. chicken broth

Directions-
1. Clean out the pumpkin. Be sure to save the lid.
2. Sauté chicken and onion together.
3. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Pour the soup mixture into pumpkin and place the pumpkin on a cookie sheet.
5. Place the lid on the pumpkin and bake in a 325 degree oven for 1 1/2--2 hours.
6. Scoop the sides of pumpkin when serving to add some cooked pumpkin to your soup.

If increasing recipe with a larger pumpkin, cooking time will be increased.

And finally.... here I am in the Corn Maize.......
I am fortunate that I made it home. That was a tough maze!

Currently Listening
Love On The Inside [Deluxe Fan Edition]
By Sugarland
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Tuesday, 14 October 2008

I wonder what the mailman thinks......

Today when I went to the mailbox it was chock full of goodness. I received 4 books I had been waiting for from Paperback Swap (http://paperbackswap.com), a card from a friend, and the following....

(I have covered up the names to protect the recipients)

This is mail for 5 different people... and I live alone....

~One piece of the mail was for me and since I live here, that's cool.

~One piece of the mail was for Melissa who now lives in North Carolina. When she was in the process of moving to N.C. from California she had her mail sent here for a short time. That was a few years ago... I still get things every now and then for her. It's cool because it makes me think of her!

~One piece of the mail was for Rusty, my landlord. I have lived in this house for more than 7 years and I still get junk mail for him at least once a week. He owns the house, so it's cool.

~ One piece of the mail was for Debby, my former roommate. Since she just moved a few months ago after she got married it makes sense that mail still comes here for her. I adore her so it's cool.

~The last piece of mail was for Steve, Debby's new husband. I think he used this address at some point during their engagement for something else. He married my friend and he's my friend too so it's cool.

The thing that made me laugh was that I wonder if the mailman thinks all of those people live here and that I am running some kind of flop house. Does he (or she) even look at the names? I am guessing not because I get my neighbors mail sometimes.

Anyway.... These are not earth shattering thoughts, just what tickled my funny bone on this windy Tuesday Night.