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Apr 25, 2009

This Heart Tells a Story

This Heart Tells a Story
This Heart Tells a Story,
originally uploaded by creative breathing.
I still can't believe that this jar and everything in it were crafted for ME! I am so very touched by this and even more now that I have read the blog post.story about the inspiration for these items..Elizabeth of Creative Breathing is simply incredible all around! A beautiful artist, crafter, writer, photographer and friend..What more could anyone ask for! I am honored!

Apr 14, 2009

FRIENDSHIP!!!!

I am constantly speechless and amazed by the abundance of love and friendship I receive from people I have never personally met! I often complain about the internet as it sucks much of my time and influences my teenagers in a way that I don't like..BUT, that being said, the upside and equal balance to this thinking is the sheer joy and support I continually get from women I would not otherwise have known due to the internet! I have spoken of my friend Nancy a few times on this blog and she so deserves every recognition I give her here and she is always so proactive in being thankful to me. I LOVE to give..and it's even more special to give to those whom I know truly appreciate it! Nancy is at the top of that list. She had admired something I created and expressed an interest in purchasing one of them..Being that she is my friend and has done many wonderful things for me..I would never dream of doing anything less than gifting an item to her. I will be clear in saying that she has purchased items from my Etsy shop as gifts for her family..but something for her specifically...well back to the giving part..She is so enthusiastic over receiving anything from me so that alone is worth everything to me..Not only did Nancy express her gratitude to me..but she did it in great fashion! She set up a photo shoot for the piece..downloaded the pics and added them to Flickr along with a beautiful description..AND she took the time to create an entire blog post about the gift! I don't think she will ever truly know just how much that thoughtfulness means to me as I realize that the time alone this takes is a gift unto itself..So for you Nancy...my NJ counterpart..I love Ya to pieces and am so incredibly grateful that we were able to meet eachother and that we can call each other friend!!

Apr 10, 2009

7 THINGS I LOVE!!!

OK so I have to list 7 things I love...this idea came from my very good friend Nancy who received a blogger award and passed on her love to a few of her friends..me being one of them. So here it goes..I am going to attempt to list from the top of my head and see what comes out.. 1)I LOVE the rare occasion when I get to be in my house alone..no kids, no hubby and no dog! 2)I LOVE and adore dogs...and my favorite part of them is the smell of their peds..puppy feat! 3)I LOVE all things bird! Any type of bird, and time of year..real birds..fabric birds..bird beads..painted birds..you get the idea! 4)I LOVE sitting on my back deck when a load of laundry is in the dryer and I can smell the dryer sheet coming through the vent into the backyard. 5)I LOVE the exact moment when you realize that Spring has finally arrived..and you look up while driving and all of the trees have green budding leaves on them. 6)I LOVE thinking back on the days when my kids were younger and enjoying their company and all of the great parent moments..like Little League, early Sunday morning soccer games..visiting the gyms of opposing basketball teams and watching all of the kids enjoy themselves. 7) I LOVE knowing that I have met so many wonderful women through online venues and that each and every one of them are always just a mouse click away if I ever need anything..and are always there to help, listen and support all of my life moments, good and bad!

Apr 6, 2009

Beyond the Box banner-2nd Etsy shop

OK..so I finally took the plunge and set up a 2nd Etsy shop..I know, I know..it is difficult just keeping up with one but I feel the additional shop will greatly help me to get and stay organized with my crafts and crafting. I needed the 2nd shop to begin showcasing and selling all of my paper-type creations..Fingers crossed! This Beyond the Box Etsy shop banner was created by me using Picnik..go to www.picnik.com to make your own..Totally FREE and quite easy!

Think Outside the Box Etsy shop banner

New Etsy shop banner created using Picnik...It was SO easy and totally FREE! I highly endorse this website..get your own at http://www.picnik.com/

Think Outside the Box Lollishops banner

New Lollishops shop banner created using Picnik!

Apr 5, 2009

Spring has almost sprung!

OK...I can feel the breeze of change...literally and figuratively! Boy that word looks funny when typed, no? Anyhow, I am proud to say that finally the huge heaping mounds of filthy frozen winter snow have met their maker..and their maker is the sun and the temperature beating down upon the earth. Thee biggest sacrifice we have made throughout the winter months has to be the lack of outdoor space because of all that snow. When it falls, and it did quite often this year, there is no where for it to go except onto all of our available outdoor spaces. My poor pooch has endured a very long winter of discontent as she was not free to cavort and romp. She is a great creature of routine and as hubby puts it, fiercely independent! Our routine in the 'nice' weather is to have an early evening cup o' joe on the deck while pup gallops like a mini horse around the yard chasing an array of tennis,rubber and inflated balls. This is what she does and when that is taken from her then depression hits like a bag of cement. This year hubby did snow-blow a path from the deck steps to the other side that we fondly referred to as the 'racetrack' but that didn't produce much elation..especially considering that the racetrack quickly turned into the 'poop track' when poor pup had nowhere else to 'go'...she did attempt the impossible on many occasions..lifting herself up onto the snow piles in a futile effort to leave her 'behinds' away from areas that she could step upon. On a sidebar note here..3 hours and a dozen plastic bags later, hubby and I had the distinct pleasure of removing all of those winter landmines that embedded themselves deep into the snow and eventually popped up onto the ground once the snow melted fully. Hours of fun I tell ya! So now we have assessed the winter damage now that we can fully view the remnants of what should be grass and have to say that it really isn't that bad. Granted, we had many impressive ice storms this winter and did lose quite a few branches and some bushes but during all of that we (and when I say we I mean hubby) made the effort to stay on top of any issues, damage and the potentials for disaster. All of my nagging at hubby to get out and take care of things while they were happening really paid off now that Spring is here. All over this tiny wooded town there are echoed sounds of chainsaws and leaf blowers from others who were NOT proactive through the wintertime. We lost a lot as a town and many of the carcuses of Oaks and Pines that did not fare well in those stroms, lay alongside the roads awaiting further demise..chopped up inot manageable pieces and hauled off to that place they take dead trees to lay in rest. All this being said, I am happily enjoying the dancing and mating rituals of my many feathered friends in my backyard. I got smart already this year and decided to strategically place bird seed and a few extra special birdie treats right onto the railing of my deck so that I can watch them at close range and when real lucky I can actually snap a few photos of my elusive and camera shy flight friends. AHHH ..today..yes my friends..life IS good!

Apr 2, 2009

The Elusive Cardinal!

I am in the middle of a great flirting affair with my Cardinal friend. He and his wife come around every year. I have seen him through the winter months as well but now I see him everyday. Often he leaves the little woman 'at home' and comes to my deck for some cashews but he has been quite elusive these days. He can sense when I am reaching for the camera..and then hides among the branches so I can't snap a shot of him.

You can see my attempts on the left and then..voila! I caught him off guard as he was reaching for a golden raisin I left out for him. You can see from his expression that he was a bit peeved that I won this round!