Patient Purple Haze Vase

 As I trek farther into discovery of my inner-crafty self--and hit my head and say out loud to any cat that purrs nearby: "Wow, if I knew I really could DO something crafty, I maybe wouldn't have gotten C's, D's, and "incompletes" in junior high art class. :)  OK, fast forward to 2013 and the

object of my attention this day: 

A glass vase from the Everything is a $1 Store painted 

with Martha Stewart glass paints. The entire vase was painted white. 

I let the vase dry for an hour or two. I've learned it is best to be patient (oh, I so detest that word!) before another coat of paint is added. For the purple paint, I dabbed my angle sided paint brush all over the vase. Usually, I like to use natural sea sponges, yet the brush dab gives a groovy kinda look too.

I let the vase dry over night, just to be safe. Once again, that whole patience thing--then the vase was popped into a cold oven, per Martha Stewart's directions--turned to 350 degrees and baked for 30 minutes. Once the time passed, I shut off the oven and left the vase inside to cool off.  

I realize I should have put some pretty flowersin the vase. Hmm.  Well, just gave myself an idea for another post... In the meantime, there is just something neat about painting on glass. 

So, I suggest grab a vase, plate, wine glasses--anything and PAINT--your imagination has no bounds!   :) 

Peachy Keen

I've lived in this house since 2008. Not until 2010, did I finally have proof of peaches out on them there trees.  The son, of the woman who lived in this house (and he grew up in this house too ) told me in 2008, I now had two peach trees.  Really? Heaven knows I couldn't tell. Honestly, I didn't know what I was looking for.

The Lady here before me, loved her plants. There's a circle of small trees, flowers, a rosemary bush and something else. She made sure something bloomed all year round.  Long story short, I finally saw something hanging down from the trees. And here in 2013, I can actually see the second peach tree. In fact, tonight, I noticed how tall this circle of trees and whatever else has grown.

This year I hope I can pick a few peaches all the backyard critters have their feast.

Stay tuned.

Realize

Some time
Make sure you just give 
Yourself the time--

To stop and smell the flowers--

'cause you never know 

What you might miss!

--and I painted the vase!--

Friday Fine Scent

More roses from my backyard.
Gorgeous.
Lived in this house since '08 and the blooms are the most bountiful than I have ever seen! Makes me wonder if the flowers finally got use to me?  Or perhaps my lawnmower guys pruned the bushes?  Might be a bit of both. Just know I love the flowers in my yard.  Even this little guy:

The backyard is the reason I fell in love with this house.

A house so stuck in 1975.

One of these days, I will finally get round to paint the walls--

In the meantime, I will continue to bask in my waltz with a rose.  

Stay tuned.  

Saturday Shines

This is in my backyard. Right now. Right as I type this. I think--key word--think, it's a tiger lily. Anybody want to confirm or tell me what it is? Today was a gorgeous day in the neighborhood! The sun did shine, no wind and about 75 degrees-just right, as the baby bear would say! One of the sweet things today, was going to a book signing for one of my writers' group members. She is 80 years young. Breast cancer survivor and just as vibrant as she oughta be. Very proud of her. As she is proud of her Scandinavian heritage, which is what her book is about. The life of a Viking girl name Gudrid. Have a I read it? Well, no--the author knows I haven't. I've read parts of it. We helped her tweak it. Nice lady. We all want to be like her when we grow up! Back to the flower. I've thought these last few days of somehow miraculously get another house. A newer one. With so many on the market, yet to sell mine would be hard. Then I look at my backyard, which is the reason--I bought this house, and wonder how I could even think about leaving? Then I ponder if some of these plants could be transported--if I did miraculously got another house? The little lady who lived here, with her husband and raised her 3 sons, loved her flowers. Where these flowers are in a bed, where she mix and matched flowers. Something blooms all year round. It ones of those things I ponder about. Oh well, when the time is right... In the meantime, I can say Saturday did so shine!

St Patrick's Day

Wish I could say I had really great memories of St.Patrick's Day partying. Hmm. Sure, I drank green beer, once upon a galaxy--far, far away. I even sipped a green screwdriver.

There was one St. Patty's Day a chum of mine and I met this one guy. He was of Asian descent, and said is name was Patrick O'Banyon. Well, it could have been. We all just laughed and toasted with a shot of some kind of alchohol laced beverage.

My mom once told me, I have ancestors from Ireland. Maybe I do. I've not had much luck with my 'roots' finding on Mom's side.

On St. Patrick's Day 2008, I closed on this house. What a day. Just situations--good and bad with the house. I've yet to paint the walls...

St. Patty's Day 2011--over 80 degrees, wind blows, windows open. College student. Making business plan--small, yet a plan. Leadership skills come more to the front. Cats purr. Good friends. Birthday on April 8.

Ahh, wish I could tell you more about partying on this Day o' Green.

In a way

I think I am~

Short Simple Sunday For Sure

Yes, I missed the Dallas Cowboys not playing today--however we still bask in the Turkey Day win. Plus, I miss Iowa Hawkeye football until whatever bowl game they go to. Then is no Dancing With the Stars tomorrow night. Alas no more excuse to NOT mop floors and tidy up.

Oh well.

Sunday is bout done. And I'm tired. Yet the Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream in the fridge and something about a flower bloom in late November makes it all good.

I am blessed.

Just So

Been asked why I don't just write a blog with just one theme and leave it alone.

Like why do I have to jump to:

John Madden who announced his retirement from the NFL broadcast booth? WOW. When has John Madden NOT been in the spotlight? I met him just shortly after I moved to Dallas, in 1988. I worked as a charter travel consultant for Greyhound then and John's bus (he refused to fly) was a custom made Greyhound bus. He'd come to chat with us employees for a few minutes. What a HUGE man! When John Madden shook my hand, I told how I always cheered for the Kansas City Chiefs --what still seemed like a giant rival then of his Oakland Raiders--John flashed a smile. "You rooted for THOSE guys?" We laughed. It may have been time for John Madden to hang up the mike--he is 73, yet I'll miss him. He's earned this 1st down and goal to go.

Or then I why would jump over to American Idol? Hmm. The judges used their one save of the season last night for Matt Giraud. He won't win, yet seems like a nice kid. Next week the Idols do disco--which I LOVED. No joke. My boyfriend and I made sure our outfits matched on Saturday Nights. He thought he was the black John Saturday Night Fever Travolta. I thought I was hot in my Candies or my 4 inch black heels. To me, disco, was the best dance music EVER.

Then why I might jump to I wish folks would leave President Barack Obama alone? He inherited the issues we have today. He's not quite Moses. Being so scrutinized -because he is the first Black Man to hold the highest office in the land. I STILL get chills. Sometimes, tho, I do wish his two terms were all ready done, and the second Black person was about to take office. By then not so much scrutiny--because they are the second...but if it's a woman....WELL! But President Obama did get his girls a dog.

Or I why I don't just just talk about my diet, my heart surgery, fiction writing, my hair or the sinkful of dishes? Sure, I could stick to just one theme and let that be it.

Why?

Why not?

I figure my life is my theme. Share thoughts from all of life's volumes. Variety. One thing can bloom into a bouquet.

Just so how I like it.

BackYard Beauty

Proud to say this wisteria is in my back yard.

Right this very second.

I swear it wasn't there two days ago.

Gorgeous site!

Its perfume waltzed with my nose.

Had to be careful tho. Bees buzzed from bloom to bloom.

Had to laugh, because last year Movie Man sat out on the bench.

Amidst the blooms. To take in the ambiance and about to get bee stung.

Then I zapped back to reality in time to spot a bee buzz too close to me!

I do feel stressed out today.

Thoughts of stuff I can't change.

Then I look at my wisteria.

Stress relievers come in all shapes.

Sunday Some

Gorgeous almost Spring Day!

However, I AM ticked execs at AIG will receive millions in bonuses. OK--didn't they get a bailout? Word is there are binding contracts. Gee whiz, there is nothing AIG's spin docs can say that will change my mind that these folks bonuses. Didn't their areas start this mess? What about conscious? Do any of those execs have a million dollar's worth of conscious?

I think not.

On to brighter things. Fellowshipped at Inspiring Body of Christ Church today, with Pastor Rickie G. Rush. Great sermon of if we consider ourselves as perfectionists we cannot fill God's expectations of us. Perfectionists are ones for control, combativeness, and criticism--and not in a constructive way. There's something inside of us already that can be triggered, hence we act in a negative way. Yet alot of our own problem is our inability to accept the way God has made us--we compare ourselves to others. Need to stop all of that. At service's end, Pastor Rush mentioned how we women seem to hold on to something so long. Something in our brains, just holds on to a memory, that a man has said good bye to long ago. All in all, Pastor Rush may have had a few thousand folks there, yet it felt he was one-on-one with me.

Lots of stuff on my mind. I shouldn't let this stuff get to me. That's where Satan (who is a liar, by the way) gets his jollies from. Need to be focused and always remember where my strength comes from. There are many good things in my life. Gotta remember all of it. Like the trees in my back yard that began to bloom. Little things.

I could go on and on--but ya know, I feel like starring at the newspapers I'll tie together and recyle. Not sure exactly WHEN I'll tie them together, but I will--maybe after I look at the brackets for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tourney. Sigh. I recall days of watching the Iowa Hawkeyes with my fave basketball player, Steve Carfino. Come to think of it, what ever happened to him? Or maybe after I catch Desperate Housewives---the papers will get tied together, just like the sinkful of dishes get washed.

Love me some Sunday

Shoes were made for walking....

Been in my bungalow for two weeks tomorrow. Had yet to stroll the streets of my neighborhood. Since this whole house thing started, it seems I've been every where but here. I've not had my daily walk in --well, about two weeks- So about 7pm, I put on the tenny runners and sought adventure.

I'm in love with my little neighborhood. Sure, it's older. Yet, the feel. Reminds me of the town I grew up in. I like that. The sounds. The sites. A cat sat on top of a VW and meowed at me. I stood by a bridge and thanked God for His blessings. He's shown me miracles. WOW--has He.

Made it to my street. I noticed a dark reddish/pinkish rose was in bloom, on the side of my house. I also noticed my seven year old orange tabby cat yowl from the window. Impatient was he, as I stepped in the house. So after a quick pet the cat session, I decided the rose needed to come into the house. I found container for the rose and went outside to pick it.

It's now on top of my fireplace mantel. Gorgeous. That was the only rose bloomed so far. The buds are every where. I'm curious what other flower this little lady who lived here had. I've heard nothing but good things about her. She passed away in November. Her sons sold the house--hence, it's now my home. I hope I make her proud of my own gardening.

Now--back to this rose....in the house where I grew up--we had rose bushes. One the color of this rose, and a yellow rose bush. My mom picked them so they could be on display in our home. She loved her flowers too.


Yes, this little neighborhood reminds me of home.


I am blessed.