tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10224141311294323112024-03-05T07:32:07.412-05:00Turn left at the pigsTurn Left at the Pigs.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-24710543378521127582011-06-16T22:20:00.002-04:002011-06-16T22:23:55.404-04:00Get your BoHo Bliss on<a href="http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/jewelry_works/bo.html"><img src="http://somethingsublime.typepad.com/boho%20bliss%20badge%20150px.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Deryn is teaching an online jewelry class that is sure to be a ton of fun and a true learning experience.<br />Click the picture above to check out the info to sign up.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-29909674430143042752011-02-17T22:37:00.004-05:002011-02-17T23:38:50.802-05:00Facebookin',shoes and sharks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUHJboSiCgT9vDjASktCxR84FgTZ-h2awdHjjA4eh1U63fTMQ2PrCyFdz47S9e_AjcAyJUgiXCP5Mg6bTEfiss63HaoJ9rKNuhraLeFWiNeaWPPP3S_oW0XAXwOo8pnPZnCrCORiYh7w/s1600/b4ypet.JPG"><br /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS5hDPTsc7k9bWLRsKTyD51cz9hq_5F6SHpVzqSeZxtieNO6GPZjAxnf15CwUQC1hVcqiPEaIE0u1piJhLW35rymOaIIx9VZjRdwXMMD1bRfXVrtRUXwWmoqAKwmeFlxzt_Wuh0SUl5o/s1600/IMG_2464.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS5hDPTsc7k9bWLRsKTyD51cz9hq_5F6SHpVzqSeZxtieNO6GPZjAxnf15CwUQC1hVcqiPEaIE0u1piJhLW35rymOaIIx9VZjRdwXMMD1bRfXVrtRUXwWmoqAKwmeFlxzt_Wuh0SUl5o/s320/IMG_2464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574870723586878706" border="0" /></a><br />Facebook been berry berry good to me. (Old SNL joke).<br /><br />I have reconnected with some old friends and family members of the foster kind.<br />Also some old classmates. One of my classmates from my time at Oak Hill Academy boarding school and I are doing a seed swap. She actually owns a tree farm and we got to talking about my greenhouse and heirloom seeds.<br />Today, this came for me and it is just the bestest package of seed I have ever recieved.<br />Look at all those little envelopes filled with future deliciousness. There are fruit tree sedds, nut tree seeds, herbs and vegetables. And some flowers. She also sent a bag of black walnuts to eat, and some of her favorite recipes to use them in.<br />And a sweet card with a pup and a kitty on it. Thank you so much Elaine. I'm so happy to have gotten in touch.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BrMjXBEj3jfZPlyWh2PD3ryXuILvhPkQK0oqrwRb3GdeOdzcC_xD39ZYtnplQfIPrU2NHt3CXv-XiskWWMPxO__YAprZNn3AXPVckLoM7SJdehaDVPLVGk6AOM8SisdxOoq85r_wShk/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BrMjXBEj3jfZPlyWh2PD3ryXuILvhPkQK0oqrwRb3GdeOdzcC_xD39ZYtnplQfIPrU2NHt3CXv-XiskWWMPxO__YAprZNn3AXPVckLoM7SJdehaDVPLVGk6AOM8SisdxOoq85r_wShk/s320/IMG_2462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574871755960279442" border="0" /></a><br />Went to the big city Tuesday and bought these on clearance. I'm rockin' now baby.<br />Danckins, hey for 11 bucks I'll teeter around like I've been drinkin' till I get used to them, heck I teeter around for a lot less than that deal.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay now ya gotta hand it to this guy, He lost his arm, probably to a shark. Now did he just mope around feeling like "oh I lost my arm, I'm gonna hide my hideous stump?" Nooooo<br />He totally OWNS that shark !<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUHJboSiCgT9vDjASktCxR84FgTZ-h2awdHjjA4eh1U63fTMQ2PrCyFdz47S9e_AjcAyJUgiXCP5Mg6bTEfiss63HaoJ9rKNuhraLeFWiNeaWPPP3S_oW0XAXwOo8pnPZnCrCORiYh7w/s1600/b4ypet.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUHJboSiCgT9vDjASktCxR84FgTZ-h2awdHjjA4eh1U63fTMQ2PrCyFdz47S9e_AjcAyJUgiXCP5Mg6bTEfiss63HaoJ9rKNuhraLeFWiNeaWPPP3S_oW0XAXwOo8pnPZnCrCORiYh7w/s320/b4ypet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574884168174132002" border="0" /></a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-75796578982589096752011-02-03T14:08:00.004-05:002011-02-03T15:03:23.732-05:00Erma Sez......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVAaiUSt8C_G0gnUtiyCqujf1R-1Ne6yGmuRCJGahhpWiVSPu9fMIlExSnDUNA1dgl9z80ZQlk6KkMPAUIyVo4LoCAzhI1VIzPTf2a86oRW0aAsNiKCCGseNn28zhieNVUSpZtIPF-5c/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVAaiUSt8C_G0gnUtiyCqujf1R-1Ne6yGmuRCJGahhpWiVSPu9fMIlExSnDUNA1dgl9z80ZQlk6KkMPAUIyVo4LoCAzhI1VIzPTf2a86oRW0aAsNiKCCGseNn28zhieNVUSpZtIPF-5c/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569551832214662978" border="0" /></a><br />"These earrings look so juicy, I could just pop them in my mouth".<br /><br />A few months ago I was flipping through a beading magazine and saw an ad for these lucite beads that just popped off the page. The color was so rich and vibrant.<br /><br />I immediately thought "I wonder if I can get them in a rainbow pack".<br />And golly gee if they did not have them packed just like that.<br />Orange, blue,deep pink, light pink,green,yellow and white.<br />Bad thing was they have a minimum order or they throw an extra charge on there, and their shipping was high. But I had to have them so I ordered. They are gorgeous.<br />Good thing is, I have been seeing other lucites that are pretty juicy too.<br />They are fat beads, but being lucite, they are light. Even when paired with all brass findings as these are.<br /><br />Erma is sporting "Orange ya glad to see me"? in the first photo. And in the second she models, "Lollipop Hearts".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZOGPP_vsicZSSEf-aD1BUb9B6gbGv7VNQHgk6BoC_VpQJj6uOpHq1og2H_PAyqt_8a-Ls0ASeHcyxleCNVLyBSJH8sUcobw0VoqkuOFIIR0mtvUGc0fS5cJCQ2xWThLnd8bQXaTHdks/s1600/IMG_2428.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZOGPP_vsicZSSEf-aD1BUb9B6gbGv7VNQHgk6BoC_VpQJj6uOpHq1og2H_PAyqt_8a-Ls0ASeHcyxleCNVLyBSJH8sUcobw0VoqkuOFIIR0mtvUGc0fS5cJCQ2xWThLnd8bQXaTHdks/s320/IMG_2428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569554333365307890" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8LFQ_8ksD4zcCsiSD_oDMYW1cytwdVFEG6LG53ECyixBOsXbKjyKIH1aiASm_QyvrD7JQCXSrYqftyEn1N69DLCa7wYVEVEzO6rkXdzs8vc5bCwrkTwHIK4yZ6ZxdwnRyMDC5ZhxKJw/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8LFQ_8ksD4zcCsiSD_oDMYW1cytwdVFEG6LG53ECyixBOsXbKjyKIH1aiASm_QyvrD7JQCXSrYqftyEn1N69DLCa7wYVEVEzO6rkXdzs8vc5bCwrkTwHIK4yZ6ZxdwnRyMDC5ZhxKJw/s320/IMG_2435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569556107168944258" border="0" /></a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-50770521462492568312011-01-31T17:28:00.009-05:002011-02-18T00:10:07.626-05:00One World One Heart Blog Event<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yAU0WJX_Ka6pgSy734SkuCvWj48HU3R9SaLa1ilddfD0tzBXSPe0SqnGuNhIf3rIchVGCcbg4vBV7LytIcHoDthvtOW7MA5ZqG19ymXopvTU8k0ip6ergBqVZw8B9GwyUs0Q56wZS0E/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">CLOSED. Heidi # 142 from Digital Misfit is the winner of the door prize.</span></span><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicfIUjmHXshPoL_X-6xLKSvGnCvymnKWk-ZG1Cb1A5LgLVJCI4l1uGvRT6gK3puw7hRz9bGpbnGZEQ1Nc1X3BStfg1YyLepK25qsjw8ElISVQNa6J4o2HDoXHm6jqYpyFHDnY5ktSFr2A/s400/oneworld.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568502733457871826" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpIda2pson2Fdl9alZlZtr0CqIhWqY2eVqjPntTpE1OE2hjHlvdSm09nBQgxdUPb0A8elIbDyJpNvn9_XtEbXjMmR9cXsJOvhehEDmaRh-EhaYeByqI_L2KhY-2AVsr4v2-kjEEgPztw/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG"><br /></a><br />It's that time of year again peeps, time to wing our way around the blogosphere. Stop in and look around. Introduce yourself and say something about each others blog. A worldwide event to bring us bloggers a bit closer and to share a piece of each others hearts.<br /><br />Lisa over at A Whimsical Bohemian has generously hosted this event each year and this will be the fifth and final year. So please try to visit as many blogs as you can, and please visit<a href="http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html"> HERE to read the rules about this event and a link to all the fabulous blogs all ready to be visited.</a><br /><br />Here is a bit about what we are doing :<br /><br /><p style="text-align: center;">"One World One Heart is a worldwide event <strong>for bloggers only</strong>. It gives all those who blog a chance to meet and mingle and form connections with those they may not have otherwise met from all over the world. In the past 4 years this event has grown to over 1,000 participants with lasting friendships (and even one love connection) formed along the way. Think of it as a GIGANTIC open house allowing you to travel without ever leaving your home........going from blog to blog(in various countries) seeing the wonder each one has created and meeting all the fabulous people behind those blogs. As a bonus each blogger participant will offer up a "door prize or prizes"....just for dropping by, saying hello and seeing their world. It's really that easy."- Lisa</p><p style="text-align: center;">Last year there were hundreds of blogs signed up you could visit and I got to a few hundred but could not make it to every one, this year I have a personal challenge to try again.</p>Sooo please look around my humble blog, I took a bit of a break from posting for awhile, but I am back.<br />My blog generally deals with our life out here in the woods. We have 4 Jack Russells, and there is my husband Larry and me, Diane.<br />We live in a house the two of us built and we try to live as richly and frugally as possible.<br />I am an artist and I also design and create jewelry. I love to cook, although I am a low carber mostly now. We also have a garden every year and I grow in my greenhouse also.<br /><br />For my fellow bloggers I am sharing a chance to win this necklace,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpIda2pson2Fdl9alZlZtr0CqIhWqY2eVqjPntTpE1OE2hjHlvdSm09nBQgxdUPb0A8elIbDyJpNvn9_XtEbXjMmR9cXsJOvhehEDmaRh-EhaYeByqI_L2KhY-2AVsr4v2-kjEEgPztw/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 392px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpIda2pson2Fdl9alZlZtr0CqIhWqY2eVqjPntTpE1OE2hjHlvdSm09nBQgxdUPb0A8elIbDyJpNvn9_XtEbXjMmR9cXsJOvhehEDmaRh-EhaYeByqI_L2KhY-2AVsr4v2-kjEEgPztw/s400/IMG_2362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568501823709024978" border="0" /></a> "Have a Little Heart"...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yAU0WJX_Ka6pgSy734SkuCvWj48HU3R9SaLa1ilddfD0tzBXSPe0SqnGuNhIf3rIchVGCcbg4vBV7LytIcHoDthvtOW7MA5ZqG19ymXopvTU8k0ip6ergBqVZw8B9GwyUs0Q56wZS0E/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yAU0WJX_Ka6pgSy734SkuCvWj48HU3R9SaLa1ilddfD0tzBXSPe0SqnGuNhIf3rIchVGCcbg4vBV7LytIcHoDthvtOW7MA5ZqG19ymXopvTU8k0ip6ergBqVZw8B9GwyUs0Q56wZS0E/s320/IMG_2370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569188096120780946" border="0" /></a> thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment about my blog to be entered for a chance to be picked by random number generator. Please be sincere in your comment, and please do not cut and paste the same "hello, I like your blog, bye" comment on each blog.<br />We be VISITIN' don'tcha know.<br />Oh, and if your contact info is not active on your profile, leave it in your comment....let the winging around commence...alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com161tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-71004042862107783732011-01-16T21:02:00.008-05:002011-01-16T22:53:32.551-05:00Teddy Tucker has settled in<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfaRgNuFbHtLAMWEtMlq_pnRp2-VOZfHIyp2IeTN8cR1JsIYbvlQc5MZp0hpDMGesxb4vwcMnvBY_XY3INsokixRNF4cBsfuxIFqww5-0P1kLwaiG_z4F8f1V9HUrkNwI1aLH-LQZKj4/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfaRgNuFbHtLAMWEtMlq_pnRp2-VOZfHIyp2IeTN8cR1JsIYbvlQc5MZp0hpDMGesxb4vwcMnvBY_XY3INsokixRNF4cBsfuxIFqww5-0P1kLwaiG_z4F8f1V9HUrkNwI1aLH-LQZKj4/s400/IMG_2273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562997471246938594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qbtUu1oVYcWOVFxTh7MqruYRDp_OCaC6zeFyfaT2W75ga259Y2J_DVT0hnJJO0dFpdCl0ndjWJYHYbIkr5QN2qFHDhouIW_X6i5Zhyphenhyphen4_EgFF2EJfvL7y8t8-S5mxeyqfqZhW28CSlB4/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG"><br /></a>Teddy has a name we didn't even know about. Last summer when we got him, the vet handed me a little envelope with his tags in it. I didn't look at them until a few weeks ago when I thought I should put his shot dates on the calender.<br />Inside I found an ID tag with "Teddy Tucker" engraved on it. hahaha Little Teddy Tucker is what we call him now.<br />He has settled in very nicely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qbtUu1oVYcWOVFxTh7MqruYRDp_OCaC6zeFyfaT2W75ga259Y2J_DVT0hnJJO0dFpdCl0ndjWJYHYbIkr5QN2qFHDhouIW_X6i5Zhyphenhyphen4_EgFF2EJfvL7y8t8-S5mxeyqfqZhW28CSlB4/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG"><br /></a><br />I've been working on some items for the shop and finished this today.<br />I love old watch parts.<br />This has small pearls, tourmaline rondelles and metallic seed beads.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cyCzgtvyRcuipXiRsuBACWrGqKoMJcAvkH2AkBttvS_dTiKSvCNcrsuUE1YXqM4tm1KSWj3h27E-m7V6jC2ZNra40fBvXGpgwA7_JbS2xQbor6DIKDox8qBN3u98Am1xQbCRfT4dff4/s1600/IMG_2285.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0cyCzgtvyRcuipXiRsuBACWrGqKoMJcAvkH2AkBttvS_dTiKSvCNcrsuUE1YXqM4tm1KSWj3h27E-m7V6jC2ZNra40fBvXGpgwA7_JbS2xQbor6DIKDox8qBN3u98Am1xQbCRfT4dff4/s320/IMG_2285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562995993038842626" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qbtUu1oVYcWOVFxTh7MqruYRDp_OCaC6zeFyfaT2W75ga259Y2J_DVT0hnJJO0dFpdCl0ndjWJYHYbIkr5QN2qFHDhouIW_X6i5Zhyphenhyphen4_EgFF2EJfvL7y8t8-S5mxeyqfqZhW28CSlB4/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qbtUu1oVYcWOVFxTh7MqruYRDp_OCaC6zeFyfaT2W75ga259Y2J_DVT0hnJJO0dFpdCl0ndjWJYHYbIkr5QN2qFHDhouIW_X6i5Zhyphenhyphen4_EgFF2EJfvL7y8t8-S5mxeyqfqZhW28CSlB4/s320/IMG_2288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562996308800959250" border="0" /></a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-69325310846174493082011-01-12T00:05:00.003-05:002011-01-12T00:13:48.371-05:00Metal Head<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NhgLHCaW0ioB-vsCJCFWAYEWfTZ3_qpYSrrucPZTIUj806PqvxTR6PPSXo5xS_AxdKePE_2vwx3F51LAPfKpTT3dRcQvPD8DYMSO1djrP6d3Be4-GR2BEF2VMi35lr5DPmuR-dkcrfM/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NhgLHCaW0ioB-vsCJCFWAYEWfTZ3_qpYSrrucPZTIUj806PqvxTR6PPSXo5xS_AxdKePE_2vwx3F51LAPfKpTT3dRcQvPD8DYMSO1djrP6d3Be4-GR2BEF2VMi35lr5DPmuR-dkcrfM/s400/IMG_2270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561163038538589938" border="0" /></a><br />Been working in the studio. I love to work with metal even though I don't have the "right" tools.<br />I cut copper pipe and pound it flat. I use leftover romex (copper electrical wire) from when we wired the house.<br />But as one of my internet idols said, it can be a good thing to be challenged like that.<br />I sure would like one of those dapping blocks though....<br /><br />Made these today, I'm thinking something along these lines for One World One Heart blog event starting the end of this month.<br /><br />Turquoise scarabs, garnet chunks and green agate.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-83024458694900809842011-01-04T00:20:00.004-05:002011-01-04T00:30:12.654-05:00I have this friend.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq3gUrJRvOQgB41MWAVGu0vxKNadR3LdYlEAIssuzcd2pXVBu_493gAQUGFbnOsGFP-dYi15hlcUfgHvh10elbV9GO69cnNzNgz7lnjDqe_YzOHGqD8BwOaAJ4dDsCZ6WjWBxFEh2MtI/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwgzYicHMpppjxbCnfowYwRKjzpUymlKubAm52bvZ89FDb9Aif1Q-5ZI14xgLl-nsrvDAJWlrazA7hSa7UdkfT5w6A4lBm-eyDMPyXm-yNzQ47jdBt3NIcDAmqKRKlS6tZkeDvtk5a_w/s1600/earlybird.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwgzYicHMpppjxbCnfowYwRKjzpUymlKubAm52bvZ89FDb9Aif1Q-5ZI14xgLl-nsrvDAJWlrazA7hSa7UdkfT5w6A4lBm-eyDMPyXm-yNzQ47jdBt3NIcDAmqKRKlS6tZkeDvtk5a_w/s400/earlybird.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558198031715620706" border="0" /></a><br />She is such an inspiration to me. She is a survivor.<br /><br />When I made this piece, she fell in love with it. Then I added the necklace parts. So she wears it now, around her neck. I am honored. 'Early' has a special meaning here. It is very important to be early sometimes. I love you, my suzyQ sista.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq3gUrJRvOQgB41MWAVGu0vxKNadR3LdYlEAIssuzcd2pXVBu_493gAQUGFbnOsGFP-dYi15hlcUfgHvh10elbV9GO69cnNzNgz7lnjDqe_YzOHGqD8BwOaAJ4dDsCZ6WjWBxFEh2MtI/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq3gUrJRvOQgB41MWAVGu0vxKNadR3LdYlEAIssuzcd2pXVBu_493gAQUGFbnOsGFP-dYi15hlcUfgHvh10elbV9GO69cnNzNgz7lnjDqe_YzOHGqD8BwOaAJ4dDsCZ6WjWBxFEh2MtI/s400/IMG_2179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558198358846915250" border="0" /></a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-48344316230861706062011-01-03T22:55:00.004-05:002011-01-03T23:36:12.449-05:00I gave up "low fat" and lost 38 pounds.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtoHgGOM5noz1t7CzFt06ZHGX_lt_PC8fo45GK-bGhPt6IpLLgWqahm-attYUf-m9OUrXAd9C0NAX-tVN3MgtYSgUKlq_xt7pHW8lhq3nDnsFZaZcvUOi4XmNzHdH_ZlcUtitw4tRnwM/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG"><br /></a>I gave up trying to lose weight with low fat and calorie counting. I found it kept me way too focused on food. And being focused on food was one of my problems in the first place.<br /><br />You know how much I loved to cook. And I still do. But I needed to lose some weight (still need to lose more) but I am pleased to be unfocused on cookbooks and tons of recipe sites.<br />Yes I have cookbooks for sale...if you want to learn more, email me.<br /><br />I am low carbing and loving it. I read about insulin resistance, and it fits me to a T.<br />So sleepy after eating, craving carbs, scale goes up and down, a real chunky monkey around my tummy, butt and thighs.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Most common signs that may mean you are insulin resistant:</span></span><br /><p>These depend on poorly understood variations in individual biology and so are not found in all with insulin resistance.</p> <ol><li>Fatigue.</li><li>Brain fogginess and inability to focus.</li><li>High blood sugar.</li><li>Intestinal bloating – most intestinal gas is produced from carbohydrates in the diet, mostly those that humans cannot digest and absorb.</li><li>Sleepiness, especially after meals.</li><li>Weight gain, fat storage, difficulty losing weight – for most people, excess weight is from high fat storage; the fat in IR is generally stored in and around abdominal organs in both males and females. It is currently suspected that hormone production in that fat are a precipitating cause of insulin resistance.</li><li>Increased blood triglyceride levels.</li><li>Increased blood pressure. Many people with hypertension are either diabetic or pre-diabetic and have elevated insulin levels due to insulin resistance. One of insulin's effects is to control arterial wall tension throughout the body.</li><li>Depression. Due to the deranged metabolism resulting from insulin resistance, psychological effects, including depression, are not uncommon.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthosis_nigricans" title="Acanthosis nigricans">Acanthosis nigricans</a>.</li><li>Increased hunger.</li></ol> (<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">info list taken from Wikipedia)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> So after doing a bunch of research I decided to cut the carbs. I never ate a LOT of sugar per say, but the thing is even brown rice is pretty carby. Also most breads that you buy from the store and even if you bake your own, the flour you use can be carb laden.<br />So I have been learning to cook in a bit of a different way and to just eat what I know I can eat.<br />Basically I cut rice, potatoes, wheat and corn flour, oats, any type of sugar ie: honey, syrup, molasses.<br />And some veggies, like corn, limas, peas, onions.<br />I limit some of these foods to just once in awhile while others I do not eat at all.<br />But I eat. I love the food I eat. And I have lost 38 pounds since July while not counting calories or measuring anything.<br />Here was my dinner tonight.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNQnSKw59ioxQ8_-e3d2ucTu9nxCw0GmuAc_Ok_KjHSWy-zxLlXnwNIN__L4sH9iCH4qSAyYMKzeU8HPmHb8RSBDEaU660w2lJP78r8wl7BvKQSkvxzCZIrKin1tdwz1hF4nPxbHzotc/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNQnSKw59ioxQ8_-e3d2ucTu9nxCw0GmuAc_Ok_KjHSWy-zxLlXnwNIN__L4sH9iCH4qSAyYMKzeU8HPmHb8RSBDEaU660w2lJP78r8wl7BvKQSkvxzCZIrKin1tdwz1hF4nPxbHzotc/s400/IMG_2234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558181675797248402" border="0" /></a>PIZZA!!!<br />This I made on one of these:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtoHgGOM5noz1t7CzFt06ZHGX_lt_PC8fo45GK-bGhPt6IpLLgWqahm-attYUf-m9OUrXAd9C0NAX-tVN3MgtYSgUKlq_xt7pHW8lhq3nDnsFZaZcvUOi4XmNzHdH_ZlcUtitw4tRnwM/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtoHgGOM5noz1t7CzFt06ZHGX_lt_PC8fo45GK-bGhPt6IpLLgWqahm-attYUf-m9OUrXAd9C0NAX-tVN3MgtYSgUKlq_xt7pHW8lhq3nDnsFZaZcvUOi4XmNzHdH_ZlcUtitw4tRnwM/s400/IMG_2237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558182036709529890" border="0" /></a>Each one of these tortillas has 12 grams of fiber and just 5 net carbs. I eat 2 a day. In the morning I eat one with a scrambled egg, mushrooms, spinach sausage or bacon and some cheddar cheese. Along with a protein smoothie.<br /><br /> Then maybe one for lunch with turkey or ham, chipotle mayo, lettuce, banana pepper rings and cheese. Or one for dinner with pizza toppings. That right there is 24 grams of fiber, just in the tortillas. I have not really upped my exercise that much. I get on the treadmill a couple times a week, play with the dogs, stack wood, do stuff around the house. I have some little Dickie Simmons Sweatin' dvd's that I do once in awhile.<br />Oh, and one of the perks is, Larry has lost 10 pounds.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-57483956828881670752011-01-03T22:25:00.005-05:002011-01-03T22:43:58.697-05:00One World One Heart coming soon !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihK9ushyphenhyphenE_PhO5tLCrus0YITTEtPhcg4E5A-IA5_FFk0Jo2rN1XK7-9ALioB1h9o4tg-18mVkFKM8_6dwwI2hUvoGW3k9KjNDTSTfFBZeLHfVCYlYD8Q5S9ylbCAAx358hfy4L5uWpvNA/s400/zzzzzzone+world.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558169905383519554" border="0" /></a><br />Lisa, over at <a href="http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html">A Whimsical Bohemian</a> is once again for the 5th year, (sigh* for the LAST time) the ONE WORLD ONE HEART Event.<br /><br />I participated last year, along with over 1,000 other bloggers worldwide and had a blast. I met the most wonderful fellow bloggers and quite a few are followers of my blog now. And I theirs.<br /><br />Follow the link above, to find out more about this wonderful blog hop party. There are a few rules, but not many and I promise you will have a blast if you join up. Come visit beautiful, creative bloggers. Get to know them through their blog. Visit a little piece of their world. See what they are up to. And there will be door prizes!<br /><br />So if you are a blogger, come get in on the action. The whole shebang starts on January 30th and ends on February 17th. There will be places to visit all over the world. And tons of eye and heart candy.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-1965714158561553242010-05-22T22:46:00.003-04:002010-05-22T22:55:34.063-04:00My Immigrant Mother loved this country.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLU5EHxb4bopAm0EKkgbXcRgliHhqiqtnx9vr2gyh939FhO9KcwpEbnm05j0mvLwcFCb75JCYX63g8y82c6qU2ZTR9MkyQZDWx1rSvFYhyphenhyphenjHRjosydyis1TfEAqIXttBPVK17T1RRuD-8/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLU5EHxb4bopAm0EKkgbXcRgliHhqiqtnx9vr2gyh939FhO9KcwpEbnm05j0mvLwcFCb75JCYX63g8y82c6qU2ZTR9MkyQZDWx1rSvFYhyphenhyphenjHRjosydyis1TfEAqIXttBPVK17T1RRuD-8/s400/IMG_1659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474292274741698114" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" > 'I recognize you in my dreams' </span><span style="font-size:85%;">by Diane Wagner</span><br /><br />This is a mixed media piece I did to honor my mother on Mothers Day this year.<br /><br /><br />When I was growing up, I never thought much about patriotism. I just went along, taking this American way of life for granted. I learned about the Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights in school, but did not pay much attention, maybe just enough to cover my ass in case of a quiz or test.<br />As I got older, I went about my life, at times happy and at other times not so happy. I've been dirt poor, and at times pretty well off. I lived most of my "under 18" life as a ward of the state. Tangled in a system that gave me a number, a social worker, court dates, foster homes and I thought, not much else.<br />School was a blessing to me. Something that I could excel in. I loved learning about some things. I felt that it was something constant in my life when not much else was.<br />I even got accepted on a paid scholarship to a private boarding school. I never did graduate though. I went back to my old stomping grounds on a school break, and never went back. I often wonder how things would have turned out if I had.<br />I took some college classes, at a community college that accepted me without a GED, saying they would help me acquire one. But I never did. I left because I was raising two small children without much help from anyone. I made some good decisions and plenty of bad. But I look at it as a life. We all have one, and this one is mine.<br />I also look at my life in this country now. The other day some friends were talking over on facebook about how people define themselves by their race. And that your heritage should never be forgotten but that once you are born here or become a citizen here, you are an American. I am happy to live in this country where our fore fathers had the wisdom to pen the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Where I can be free to live as I want, say what I want and worship as I choose.<br />I am made of multi-cultural stock, 1/2 Cuban, 1/4 English and 1/4 Irish. But I am 100 % American.<br />My mother came here from a Communist country. She was able to marry my father and come here. Just in the nick of time, or she would not have gotten out. She came with the promise to bring my sister here, leaving her with her father, my mothers first husband. But then things shut down. No one else was allowed to leave, and my mother never saw her first daughter again. my sister was 7 when my mother left her, and I was 7 when my mother left this earth. I have never been able to find my sister. As far as I know, she is still in Cuba.<br />My mother loved this country. And even though I was young, I knew this.<br />She studied and took the test to become a citizen, she struggled with the language, she took the Oath of Allegiance. She was so proud. I know very little of her language as she wanted to only speak English in our house. Except when her Cuban girlfriends would come over to play Canasta. Then she would make an exception. I would sit and listen to them. Strange sounding words and sounds flying off their tongues at it seemed 90 miles an hour.<br />I know a song, how to count a bit, and a few phrases. I took some Spanish in high school but I left school early that year.<br />When I was little I would not eat the Cuban dishes she would make. My dad liked Cuban food so she would cook black bean soup, Cuban pork sandwiches, and every once in a while she would take a whole day and make tamales. She would stock the freezer with little foil packets. Inside would be the meat and ground corn wrapped in a corn husk. I refused to eat any of it.<br />Now, I can't get enough.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-65063157286151571522010-05-18T23:15:00.002-04:002010-05-18T23:26:30.380-04:00Blog Scam going around. DO NOT open links.I received two of these emails today. At first I was not sure what it was so I wrote to Shannon, and then I got another one saying it was from another blogger. I looked up the group sending it and it is indeed a scam.<br />Apparantly they are going around to blogs and getting emails from comments left then mailing you with an offer and saying the blogger who owns the blog where you left a comment recommended you.<br />See below:<br /><br />Hello D W,<br /><br /> Your contact Shannon Steen-Larsen invites you to participate in an <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1274239750_0">iPad</span> review program.<br /><span style="cursor: pointer; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1274239750_1">Marketing research companies</span> are looking for individuals who are interested in reviewing the new Apple iPad. The testing period lasts one month, after which reviewers can keep the device as a reward.<br />To see more details or to register to our program, follow the link below:<br />http ; // www. btinc group . com<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />The Beta Testing Inc Group<br />___<br />This message was intended for ( they put my email addy here) then gave Shannons fake email here.<br /><br />Please be careful and if you get any of these send them on to your spam folder or delete.<br />Why oh why can't people leave other people the hell alone?alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-33995449028612801682010-05-14T22:38:00.019-04:002010-05-14T23:10:05.516-04:00Still Alive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETRvv2WlbDmyXnyyACMQdWTA-GokfxfczH_V97Tm2zjz07BQHXhIdtIAQp76exD7ReSVb1twEKaL17kFwKl4fQtnUVfTkFPujlQotUoemvONceYTLJN8_c9W6SCdoOc_GQCWLEURr7fU/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG"><br /></a><br />Oh Internet, I am so sorry for not being around lately. A lot is going on this time of year and we have a new member of the family, so I have not been typing much.<br /><br />I do have some pictures to show you and that will have to do for now, but I promise to return soon. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETRvv2WlbDmyXnyyACMQdWTA-GokfxfczH_V97Tm2zjz07BQHXhIdtIAQp76exD7ReSVb1twEKaL17kFwKl4fQtnUVfTkFPujlQotUoemvONceYTLJN8_c9W6SCdoOc_GQCWLEURr7fU/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETRvv2WlbDmyXnyyACMQdWTA-GokfxfczH_V97Tm2zjz07BQHXhIdtIAQp76exD7ReSVb1twEKaL17kFwKl4fQtnUVfTkFPujlQotUoemvONceYTLJN8_c9W6SCdoOc_GQCWLEURr7fU/s400/IMG_1572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471325971784832674" border="0" /></a> Teddy .<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSGDj8J3zEFi9wyIZ8ung7kESOBC1dJYcDNZ9FOIQvt5Lj3Gw1xpHCftYxKD8FUODiDE5ueJ6RL2EQhlq3VRdxMz1Qv9PmrGA6WSd2HeEGw9IgMILCDULDCio3RKRvLCnaMM2G36q8aY/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSGDj8J3zEFi9wyIZ8ung7kESOBC1dJYcDNZ9FOIQvt5Lj3Gw1xpHCftYxKD8FUODiDE5ueJ6RL2EQhlq3VRdxMz1Qv9PmrGA6WSd2HeEGw9IgMILCDULDCio3RKRvLCnaMM2G36q8aY/s400/IMG_1564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471324479046279698" border="0" /></a> Teddy, Ricky Pickles and Mikey in their poopin' pen, they have a pet door<br /> on the screened porch to go to their pen so they can go out at night to do<br /> their thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilO8SXx8tdiExgJvSHjIgavy6XJrsKTqwlk8zeBGt4gJpXqaL1nwdtOXBaZjCV4sPthEmxD1HQusyGv-goGM5eqn6XqLV2TFRfiJ3U2IjX2j4YSB0gnjuTkeHjzne9xjD4JPOuSrXzt6I/s1600/IMG_1570.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilO8SXx8tdiExgJvSHjIgavy6XJrsKTqwlk8zeBGt4gJpXqaL1nwdtOXBaZjCV4sPthEmxD1HQusyGv-goGM5eqn6XqLV2TFRfiJ3U2IjX2j4YSB0gnjuTkeHjzne9xjD4JPOuSrXzt6I/s400/IMG_1570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471324222898738658" border="0" /></a> Ricky Pickles posing.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUegqWbT4jOkfrAo3yN22N4v450KtMlCbZSDoqCF6hiU2kG94pu3ftztie8qEDlh49C1o1Ub-H-rUOcBDpy5lswj-YpXkFASsRLo7BOdlJam4n28FbYLwcbcYhZVWvgvbj_NVwiYhD81Q/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUegqWbT4jOkfrAo3yN22N4v450KtMlCbZSDoqCF6hiU2kG94pu3ftztie8qEDlh49C1o1Ub-H-rUOcBDpy5lswj-YpXkFASsRLo7BOdlJam4n28FbYLwcbcYhZVWvgvbj_NVwiYhD81Q/s400/IMG_1569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471323981432070642" border="0" /></a> These two big leafed plants are wild rhubarb. I did not plant them, a birdie<br /> did it for me.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mYPQonWCr0iN7OQUC6NIXVjcAMnC-Wq7ZMlWlAtkNDiQGtgvuBvzdcFrMVWRMIEXTj2G0hBeVgEY9v7NiAPfFI4jUSGBp_B9jHaMQAoTnbcYI6lDL7tm_q7MjW9RKs_wM3I6cHZNG4U/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mYPQonWCr0iN7OQUC6NIXVjcAMnC-Wq7ZMlWlAtkNDiQGtgvuBvzdcFrMVWRMIEXTj2G0hBeVgEY9v7NiAPfFI4jUSGBp_B9jHaMQAoTnbcYI6lDL7tm_q7MjW9RKs_wM3I6cHZNG4U/s400/IMG_1565.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471323767532566962" border="0" /></a> That Brown door goes into my studio, we will be building a small deck<br /> next week in front of that door so I can paint outside.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M1bJbs-0obd4qgyO9sO3y73Sru3kvu8taPuenMw3YCgZ_TajRy3VQX_DVk3-q4LA3nyQs09gMktgsIMHlHGMuqxvpsNtZCBxodNj6sE1IagNb-S5vMGL0MPcQBDoXBfavGUbBZ9GJpw/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-M1bJbs-0obd4qgyO9sO3y73Sru3kvu8taPuenMw3YCgZ_TajRy3VQX_DVk3-q4LA3nyQs09gMktgsIMHlHGMuqxvpsNtZCBxodNj6sE1IagNb-S5vMGL0MPcQBDoXBfavGUbBZ9GJpw/s400/IMG_1562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471323568800248690" border="0" /></a> These are leeks left from last winter.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KrvKy3VlWecSodWG7QjbJ0KD8a2jJBteKApzt5eavqpm-0d5jHevAWtt_YC0SoXv9MhQLF2mi3WZXNmQQj-M9uZpKbkljpqG_NZG5yXueP8o7YxQrMU0z1_tBBrdU9TyXQww2uk2pKw/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KrvKy3VlWecSodWG7QjbJ0KD8a2jJBteKApzt5eavqpm-0d5jHevAWtt_YC0SoXv9MhQLF2mi3WZXNmQQj-M9uZpKbkljpqG_NZG5yXueP8o7YxQrMU0z1_tBBrdU9TyXQww2uk2pKw/s400/IMG_1561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471323388879876418" border="0" /></a> Foxgloves and hyssop.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKm8v2PLow-O5LdDuZhGxUUYo7QOV70FTyO-dsrsfYvAPkke80bgJ_OiuJYN7KiEGZwdmJGk2Iremmh3CsQI8BuXw3gXQuGIbc7gFPq2eirgXxWGI1hKNs2dWJ112ekIZQhuu_5aJ5gM/s1600/IMG_1559.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoKm8v2PLow-O5LdDuZhGxUUYo7QOV70FTyO-dsrsfYvAPkke80bgJ_OiuJYN7KiEGZwdmJGk2Iremmh3CsQI8BuXw3gXQuGIbc7gFPq2eirgXxWGI1hKNs2dWJ112ekIZQhuu_5aJ5gM/s400/IMG_1559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471323224800669714" border="0" /></a> Iris I planted last year.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTqucgauWC153U7dXCp0B6GMlnbjXliswhTU89YinlaJcUk96tY1LT70c2TeD7l8lRQMDTNNsel6EwuNWrO4deLrkzBo38QvcQnx-60RyjfPyVkJa6PtdOwvxyUFRRQVCFo3vZYQi6j0/s1600/IMG_1557.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTqucgauWC153U7dXCp0B6GMlnbjXliswhTU89YinlaJcUk96tY1LT70c2TeD7l8lRQMDTNNsel6EwuNWrO4deLrkzBo38QvcQnx-60RyjfPyVkJa6PtdOwvxyUFRRQVCFo3vZYQi6j0/s400/IMG_1557.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471323024951449154" border="0" /></a> Potatoes I grow in bags.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkdt8FxACCe__YrxET2Bo2zWOrHe0BE6GxuquC9_D0T1uEn3wY-nOtMQGlXYwK9pZqZV6Sz5dVOknqah8PC6gJcdI0ctwl3yyDoSbjDqqX6lkn7TiM0rXVJM3O-nN7BDf_4kCn_6-rx8/s1600/IMG_1556.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkdt8FxACCe__YrxET2Bo2zWOrHe0BE6GxuquC9_D0T1uEn3wY-nOtMQGlXYwK9pZqZV6Sz5dVOknqah8PC6gJcdI0ctwl3yyDoSbjDqqX6lkn7TiM0rXVJM3O-nN7BDf_4kCn_6-rx8/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471322777925196578" border="0" /></a> Columbine.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePBnqohSYy7Um22jVlwJ-ksLNhWld5xAdJxvvLHFDBYfVL4bXtugfmiD3W23E6zeFHcmvnYiBkc9Po-OMu6UbzW4pQzRr9MWSVfB8eInoaYt-3bzL_etTL5wQybWfM5AvllT6_OrXmo8/s1600/IMG_1553.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePBnqohSYy7Um22jVlwJ-ksLNhWld5xAdJxvvLHFDBYfVL4bXtugfmiD3W23E6zeFHcmvnYiBkc9Po-OMu6UbzW4pQzRr9MWSVfB8eInoaYt-3bzL_etTL5wQybWfM5AvllT6_OrXmo8/s320/IMG_1553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471322585051016322" border="0" /></a> The Clematis has totally covered St. Francis.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnwqknAoVgTksFvDTPPyVp6VWDIz9s9_J94V2aRrSAR07UriaYGsjxQBLOIKNb-A3y311vwzZ7WYmyavglCtVKrk7qSW-ddxinlj8cerhWoI5it-6dCK16JZE9e61wzwV1LaT98EQzfk/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnwqknAoVgTksFvDTPPyVp6VWDIz9s9_J94V2aRrSAR07UriaYGsjxQBLOIKNb-A3y311vwzZ7WYmyavglCtVKrk7qSW-ddxinlj8cerhWoI5it-6dCK16JZE9e61wzwV1LaT98EQzfk/s320/IMG_1555.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471322416781279570" border="0" /></a> Poppy, I planted this 4 years ago.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAETipF31CNPvvoiYwlHFB3yv-cpapii1eHPKQqXiJzfEsu7z9qbwVG326xgxskwRTgwraNOR0waACB695vaz32ImWWER1zmNp4NfimBPIOwyeJXBG-cPiVyRtFNzDtKqy8LrWSgZSNF0/s1600/IMG_1550.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAETipF31CNPvvoiYwlHFB3yv-cpapii1eHPKQqXiJzfEsu7z9qbwVG326xgxskwRTgwraNOR0waACB695vaz32ImWWER1zmNp4NfimBPIOwyeJXBG-cPiVyRtFNzDtKqy8LrWSgZSNF0/s320/IMG_1550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471322259911270050" border="0" /></a> Poppy plant.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3EKxpK4wyUZLGtjN-xyWCbz7_bzY4eEDwWawFk_IjA4aADn8HrYCwod-1sL_3epencZEPxNvIVOfY7igTBqprEr0YGy4S21nWT8_Qdr6d6jqGrQzHrYeZgZfu45MQOueHeWbXigqUeg/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3EKxpK4wyUZLGtjN-xyWCbz7_bzY4eEDwWawFk_IjA4aADn8HrYCwod-1sL_3epencZEPxNvIVOfY7igTBqprEr0YGy4S21nWT8_Qdr6d6jqGrQzHrYeZgZfu45MQOueHeWbXigqUeg/s320/IMG_1549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471322009100641346" border="0" /></a> Teddy loves his new Dad.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvveR-9kT0N-xQ2DLZ7YMcIlMteJaUYwyNkkJN-gAIedORF6Y1NpRWLoQhVxXE67hcJuFdrNHnIF1dpXVwWdz29lE0oi0H6IAdZYG3ddFQvCbxi2q_QOhhbS4glQ0OPUEqiSKvvdfCEEA/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvveR-9kT0N-xQ2DLZ7YMcIlMteJaUYwyNkkJN-gAIedORF6Y1NpRWLoQhVxXE67hcJuFdrNHnIF1dpXVwWdz29lE0oi0H6IAdZYG3ddFQvCbxi2q_QOhhbS4glQ0OPUEqiSKvvdfCEEA/s400/IMG_1543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471321747429959890" border="0" /></a> Just plain wore each other out.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bQrcFrijIe-op-mLrq-OJ_darhGB310uj2ykehX4YQAP_nylHaVmzA9a-JUkwXWHtzBne5Qug0TcqZ-ch5fM4sTeFPkc3lpn3bqUbdxRa4pEc6bt6qYBi5QxwfXDRG3FHRr3uraKKGk/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bQrcFrijIe-op-mLrq-OJ_darhGB310uj2ykehX4YQAP_nylHaVmzA9a-JUkwXWHtzBne5Qug0TcqZ-ch5fM4sTeFPkc3lpn3bqUbdxRa4pEc6bt6qYBi5QxwfXDRG3FHRr3uraKKGk/s400/IMG_1526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471321600071871842" border="0" /></a> Teddy is happy to be home.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-35364655856521832292010-05-02T12:21:00.005-04:002010-05-02T12:57:57.113-04:00Ricky Pickles gherkins removed. Getting ANOTHER JRT !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHgSXkYmvWLAaOvWoIYBp7E4Gg_1qbrSugJMSWmWDYk91I1msnRr9oByY3MfBtBES775vXC2mBQsudrdsH_eP_ZCMZh5RK0ZH0RFcn0fF5QoJNZEpthZ47gyTXdWYc2DufB3H_XiaJUQ/s1600/IMG_1380.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHgSXkYmvWLAaOvWoIYBp7E4Gg_1qbrSugJMSWmWDYk91I1msnRr9oByY3MfBtBES775vXC2mBQsudrdsH_eP_ZCMZh5RK0ZH0RFcn0fF5QoJNZEpthZ47gyTXdWYc2DufB3H_XiaJUQ/s400/IMG_1380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466717289030806114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Last Monday Ricky Pickles went under the knife and they took out his little gherkins. He wasn't happy about being at the vets. After thoroughly giving the nurse Holly all the Hell he could muster (wagging his tail the whole time) he allowed her to take him to "the back".<br />I hate the sound of that. You know back where all the "stuff" happens.<br /><br />We dropped him off at 8 am. and I called at noon to check on him. He was awake and Holly told me she had never seen a dog look sadder than when he woke up and we were not there. She said we could pick him up after 3:30.<br /><br />We both went in to get him, although I am the only one who did the dropping off. I think it was a guy thing. Larry did not want to be in on sending Ricky to "the back".<br /><br />When we went into the "sleeping it off" area, there he was, in a cage, sitting on a blanket. Looking like he did not have a friend in the world. Then he looked over and saw us and his little face lit up.<br />He slept the whole way home just about and Jack and Mikey were very glad to see him.<br /><br />Yesterday was a bad day though, he threw up the night before and laid around all day. I called the vet and she said it might be some gas buildup as he was crying a little when he would go up and down stairs and when I went to put him down off my lap. So we gave hime a tiny bit of pepto and he is a lot better today. Ran after his teddy bear about 10 times through the house.<br /><br />So while I was talking to the vet I mentioned that we have the 3 of these guys and she asked if we would want one more......ACKKKK!!!!!<br />I said "my husband would kill me, tell me more". She said "Teddy" is a short legged JRT that has a little problemo with small children. And is 10 months old, White with red hair on his head, neutered, short haired, a total sweetie that loves to give kisses. His owners have a small child and just did not have time to help him get over the jealousy thing.<br />I said I would mention it to Larry but I could make no promises.<br />I kiddingly said to Larry "well, the vet tried to pawn another dog on us, but I said you would kill me if I said we would take it". And I started to walk away......<br />"what kind of dog"?<br />"oh, a jack russell, very sweet she said, I'm starting dinner now".<br />"wait a minute, how old is the dog"?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN82ZyDVaTkZSXhU1pyvuVg9uhsL6vOmen7RQv02RkQ6WtnLn7CwFWI0ubUe8GNDEDLH12UBuoMZTMEi0eCvlniAXkNqcg2vDM6qpn9E8r1gmVsg0dCAwHUls3PEGCMe5suKGetWFDBc/s1600/OH692_16294632-2-pn.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN82ZyDVaTkZSXhU1pyvuVg9uhsL6vOmen7RQv02RkQ6WtnLn7CwFWI0ubUe8GNDEDLH12UBuoMZTMEi0eCvlniAXkNqcg2vDM6qpn9E8r1gmVsg0dCAwHUls3PEGCMe5suKGetWFDBc/s400/OH692_16294632-2-pn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466714825051082738" border="0" /></a>Well it went on from there, and we are picking him up tomorrow. Good thing we just bought 250 feet of new fence.<br />These are pictures of Teddy from the rescue site. His owners brought him in and asked that he be put down if the vet could not find a home for him.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbk0r1uNOL8QaCIRQYUDX3D3aNewOwqJQ1rk1TXV0trplGVY04k0CnXlCFjV2yCqFccdbqh-EtibX-gZtip0U9J8_f4gVRtzIOqSEGMFoUlappk3e7OyS9rlJuyfFcyBleta_Of4bPpQ/s1600/OH692_16294632-1-pn.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbk0r1uNOL8QaCIRQYUDX3D3aNewOwqJQ1rk1TXV0trplGVY04k0CnXlCFjV2yCqFccdbqh-EtibX-gZtip0U9J8_f4gVRtzIOqSEGMFoUlappk3e7OyS9rlJuyfFcyBleta_Of4bPpQ/s400/OH692_16294632-1-pn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466714458845205810" border="0" /></a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-2653073978331318632010-04-30T22:17:00.010-04:002010-04-30T22:32:54.640-04:00Totally Affordable Custom Clothing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpXJYHYa3yGp0ST8ckQ2UbzupMCiihn4xL86Rej0kxLqSwzX_DtqHSKqf2Ctpcde1llqigDR-Ra2LSXqvAP43DVGYzwwzb0RUnCX5QNr2XMBK9_SvN53KSxTsbJB6orIec2FESLyIjss/s1600/CL0015262.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpXJYHYa3yGp0ST8ckQ2UbzupMCiihn4xL86Rej0kxLqSwzX_DtqHSKqf2Ctpcde1llqigDR-Ra2LSXqvAP43DVGYzwwzb0RUnCX5QNr2XMBK9_SvN53KSxTsbJB6orIec2FESLyIjss/s400/CL0015262.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466123340848457554" border="0" /></a><br />Awhile back I was contacted by <a href="http://eshakti.com/">eShakti</a> inquiring if I would like to review an article of clothing from them. "OF COURSE" I said after checking out their website. I was impressed with the designs. Very cool stuff. But what REALLY hooked me was the fact that they will customize any piece of clothing for only 15.00 Totally an awesome thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxtRqRT6y0OZygh3HXH9loSj1PhD95o3nH0N4tu2xArLiEKMkLedhIOXf59mAWfDL2-eAPJt7ZAni7n-841-1oYWJGsjoBRwfOhflUYSiy5zgLkLjr2n2CnVgZw_OtgL2yJilxgOfCBI/s1600/CL0019104.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxtRqRT6y0OZygh3HXH9loSj1PhD95o3nH0N4tu2xArLiEKMkLedhIOXf59mAWfDL2-eAPJt7ZAni7n-841-1oYWJGsjoBRwfOhflUYSiy5zgLkLjr2n2CnVgZw_OtgL2yJilxgOfCBI/s400/CL0019104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466123035531962818" border="0" /></a>I know so many women, myself included, that are just not a specific size. Long arms? Not a problem? Big butt? Hey, that's Okay ! Short torso?<br />Pear shaped? How about finding the perfect dress but you want it sleevless but it has long sleeves? Well <a href="http://eshakti.com/">eShakti</a> will just send you one without sleeves. See some pants you love but the legs are too short? Send your leg measurements. Customize it Baby!<br /><br />I chose a beautiful cotton tunic with embroidery. You know the hippy in me. I received it promptly. And I tell you, it is such a beautiful color.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaHXRrz0zshL8pE5NABURQdqdx-Oqld5TNAcrNrnNod7mS5HGAWx_7n40y4u-BdBOVgfTIjy0702aU2SPALctNvGFb4QnkvIPoxvOs6ItjbtRWQgV_JRXHy5DHu1-4XHuo548GraWZE8/s1600/CL0018849.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaHXRrz0zshL8pE5NABURQdqdx-Oqld5TNAcrNrnNod7mS5HGAWx_7n40y4u-BdBOVgfTIjy0702aU2SPALctNvGFb4QnkvIPoxvOs6ItjbtRWQgV_JRXHy5DHu1-4XHuo548GraWZE8/s400/CL0018849.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466122417670299842" border="0" /></a><br />A dusty rose with gorgeous roses on one side. I have worn it a few times now and had three women ask me where I bought it.<br />The cotton has a silky feel to it, and the overall stitching is very sturdy. I have hand washed it, hung it to dry, and ironed it without any problems.<br /><br />They also sent a really chic natural jute flower pin for my jean jacket. Made from jute, burlap and seed beads. I love the natural color and feel of this unique piece.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sJv1J8V4nvBVHGvTWZ0UhlQYZ_PJpK4tIMytn1arux3o5DATiGA6G79wjSiYJpIq2MCgunDJfwA-nqfD5u2Y4Lb0zgiWJaga_qbG-gNTveC8gQyDlaMjs1KpjbOfoHImp7qSIuFSs10/s1600/CL0018451V.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sJv1J8V4nvBVHGvTWZ0UhlQYZ_PJpK4tIMytn1arux3o5DATiGA6G79wjSiYJpIq2MCgunDJfwA-nqfD5u2Y4Lb0zgiWJaga_qbG-gNTveC8gQyDlaMjs1KpjbOfoHImp7qSIuFSs10/s400/CL0018451V.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466122146831531362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLw36-7j2IovTRQ27FtyTVIk1EknVichW1iAgPkyI3tc0u8sra0WyPRwjohxqGB_aWukJ-maWSSg1fJGn0L07k5691LcriI8f3LIu6Kh_3LqKF6d72RcIM4FfKedwJ-TvA5fGoI9q0r4/s1600/CL0019071V.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLw36-7j2IovTRQ27FtyTVIk1EknVichW1iAgPkyI3tc0u8sra0WyPRwjohxqGB_aWukJ-maWSSg1fJGn0L07k5691LcriI8f3LIu6Kh_3LqKF6d72RcIM4FfKedwJ-TvA5fGoI9q0r4/s400/CL0019071V.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466121854755073090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.eshakti.com/">eShakti</a> has quite a bit to choose from slacks, blouses, tunics, dresses (in different categories), skirts, and accessories. Any clothing article can be customized. They also have items in different colors that you can choose from.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD0MYLqtVsA-Z3LiNS7jZaHmi5HPZOY1mcSrxuBeHt0MNtoPNyhH3laKG_pJZqIsoWLV5ehRM-JZqqub1i5MwarI7q9dyveV85Wt6tgZWeb81oz-2LPwnYV9YQmP8VUr07_r_1ab5ycs/s1600/CL0019195.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvD0MYLqtVsA-Z3LiNS7jZaHmi5HPZOY1mcSrxuBeHt0MNtoPNyhH3laKG_pJZqIsoWLV5ehRM-JZqqub1i5MwarI7q9dyveV85Wt6tgZWeb81oz-2LPwnYV9YQmP8VUr07_r_1ab5ycs/s400/CL0019195.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466121503877899426" border="0" /></a> Sizes range from 0-26W. But anything can be customized according to your measurements. shipping in just 3 days. They also have a no-questions-asked refund policy.<br /><br /><br /><br />So if you want something to fit just right, just for you. Check them out, customization has never been so affordable.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I received a tunic and pin from eShakti for review purposes)</span></span>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-83576413198205132442010-04-14T21:07:00.021-04:002010-04-14T22:43:52.742-04:00An Arm and a Leg vs. Peace of Mind. Catfish, Shrimp and Bleeding Hearts.Back sometime in the 80's a friend of mine was laying on his bed, underneath a skylight watching TV. Some high winds blew in, not unusual in Virginia Beach, and toppled a tree in the next yard.<br />The whole tree fell on my friends house and a huge branch came right through the skylight and speared the bed right next to him.<br />Aside from needing a clean pair of pants and a good stiff drink, my friend was fine. Nerves were rattled for a few days, but he was fine.<br /><br />To this day, I have a huge fear of high winds when I am near trees. So when we built this house we were going to build it further back on the property. What is now our house started out as a garage. It was going to be a nice big garage. One room.<br />But sometimes the best laid plans change.<br />What we started building as a garage became over time our house. We keep adding onto it and it ended up on one side right under a couple of trees that started to lean...and lean...and lean.<br />Until I found myself a nervous wreck everytime the winds would blow.<br />So this is what happened around here this past week...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBTqBB_uaTHDwcCdCvW_6KMhyphenhyphenyLNyWcqPDHyP5Nip2dDSDK9Gp6pNc-EjQU2dN5ghGZZvBpd96mpLjfHhV6G1onpPdk9zK3tIjslTQA56TYqVPin8Wk5VCapzVDBo_JH22YLLNfXg0qg/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBTqBB_uaTHDwcCdCvW_6KMhyphenhyphenyLNyWcqPDHyP5Nip2dDSDK9Gp6pNc-EjQU2dN5ghGZZvBpd96mpLjfHhV6G1onpPdk9zK3tIjslTQA56TYqVPin8Wk5VCapzVDBo_JH22YLLNfXg0qg/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460169100218864722" border="0" /></a>He took the first one down little by little using the bucket truck.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bOmOA8Oz5ybSlGL9VFeto7_My7h0Foxzw56DRSpMpXiuG3Vf1f0v7mpK38ZThTv3GOmeg_BEv4evRTUOd7MIGvEAvprU12NpFAqL5e4TiFmAoRJnMvbnzj5cw-oGJbJ93sNUscxr_wM/s1600/IMG_1506.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bOmOA8Oz5ybSlGL9VFeto7_My7h0Foxzw56DRSpMpXiuG3Vf1f0v7mpK38ZThTv3GOmeg_BEv4evRTUOd7MIGvEAvprU12NpFAqL5e4TiFmAoRJnMvbnzj5cw-oGJbJ93sNUscxr_wM/s400/IMG_1506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460169431806461170" border="0" /></a>TIMBER !! This one he pulled down using cable and the truck as a pulley.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGWzaONk43b0jq6anRXSYg3obSesZUB0DESUNSMt_BRAb3QHMLNGbFlQZOp2BxzQTqd5v92B8oOV3Fb5nbgtWHB1g6Anab7zZLP7nFmwWjH61AlHKH0lm-S54xlBJ5H3Nrsc00FJx18U/s1600/IMG_1509.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGWzaONk43b0jq6anRXSYg3obSesZUB0DESUNSMt_BRAb3QHMLNGbFlQZOp2BxzQTqd5v92B8oOV3Fb5nbgtWHB1g6Anab7zZLP7nFmwWjH61AlHKH0lm-S54xlBJ5H3Nrsc00FJx18U/s400/IMG_1509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460170231209157042" border="0" /></a>Right where he wanted it to land..YAY !!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN3bz0kUkS8NbSFsmQffWQ2HJKusjcOyzF0yqBeHMvmzHFaOcW9NYzMqHyPTtOplJbnScFI30_fJM3dWLJRhAhUXD4iOtGb39hPFSl_bastq7JE1kLG3z6iKQzUYGIP64_5DX3jzD7IA/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN3bz0kUkS8NbSFsmQffWQ2HJKusjcOyzF0yqBeHMvmzHFaOcW9NYzMqHyPTtOplJbnScFI30_fJM3dWLJRhAhUXD4iOtGb39hPFSl_bastq7JE1kLG3z6iKQzUYGIP64_5DX3jzD7IA/s400/IMG_1511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460170724145499938" border="0" /></a>Tree Service for 2 Trees- 450.00<br />Trees Down in Yard- lots of clean up work<br />No More Frazzled Nerves- Priceless<br /><br />________________________________<br /><br />A Few Pics...<br /><br />Bleeding Hearts<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7AEDtUiuBH5jY10UcsyM4AC216VhlyL6qaAa0UksBT3C4uSCZsc8or7h3JutBcW772grrIo-QjkEnyPgIybq4VbQASqZOBKitFZjr5ZdSlNXkOe1xkz61IoaegqgMdVRWjjFupqpiF8/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7AEDtUiuBH5jY10UcsyM4AC216VhlyL6qaAa0UksBT3C4uSCZsc8or7h3JutBcW772grrIo-QjkEnyPgIybq4VbQASqZOBKitFZjr5ZdSlNXkOe1xkz61IoaegqgMdVRWjjFupqpiF8/s400/IMG_1514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460172759509306978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbi66nQ_9nX2UaGNBeElQUEFndQvog_FZdeLk5Rk0AULb-kB7Lmo3FKTvPS3Cdv0-qkOyUcJFnrpZ4Tq21gqoVOt0VDx3T5pgzRw3fgxlrWGjyaeozKdb41bxqNSUL0sJSNrVYGidGcQ/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbi66nQ_9nX2UaGNBeElQUEFndQvog_FZdeLk5Rk0AULb-kB7Lmo3FKTvPS3Cdv0-qkOyUcJFnrpZ4Tq21gqoVOt0VDx3T5pgzRw3fgxlrWGjyaeozKdb41bxqNSUL0sJSNrVYGidGcQ/s400/IMG_1513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460173070063565570" border="0" /></a><br />Lunaria or Honesty or Silver Dollar Plant...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0153J-qyY4ywqMjCNwUtXSZZsxXjoobb8shYNioHay8S3Lbt0M1e32DVgR4NgArx2lNxJAH6TP6FZJ7mrRuwmAO8ugD-GgIVq6vQ3klux36ulqt-cieN0vuXwo3vVSlMct-aMqbdq8c/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0153J-qyY4ywqMjCNwUtXSZZsxXjoobb8shYNioHay8S3Lbt0M1e32DVgR4NgArx2lNxJAH6TP6FZJ7mrRuwmAO8ugD-GgIVq6vQ3klux36ulqt-cieN0vuXwo3vVSlMct-aMqbdq8c/s400/IMG_1515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460172905597581218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0153J-qyY4ywqMjCNwUtXSZZsxXjoobb8shYNioHay8S3Lbt0M1e32DVgR4NgArx2lNxJAH6TP6FZJ7mrRuwmAO8ugD-GgIVq6vQ3klux36ulqt-cieN0vuXwo3vVSlMct-aMqbdq8c/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG">This is why it's called silver dollar Plant.....when dried...</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvCTsGqQL3VtJ2WDhD14vns5XKo4ilgLCunYD-F6oNEveBK3H2mNQWwbWkZIjpnzlB7KrSAt8nE2Lj_CPTp2chvwpmAKE7R2_EzZIqLcHwi1CsFv1zO6ZxhjgmWzqlbeaOyzdtwqSoHI/s1600/400px-LunariaAnnua1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvCTsGqQL3VtJ2WDhD14vns5XKo4ilgLCunYD-F6oNEveBK3H2mNQWwbWkZIjpnzlB7KrSAt8nE2Lj_CPTp2chvwpmAKE7R2_EzZIqLcHwi1CsFv1zO6ZxhjgmWzqlbeaOyzdtwqSoHI/s400/400px-LunariaAnnua1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460175962264493298" border="0" /></a>Tarragon...I like to plant herbs in cinder blocks at the ends of my garden beds...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqre6zbST-k8s4keVc-yVQowE9Xufar-hXv0UziGQe1kAHPjACuZggLeYv6cA85ChgNO3D6auS0p1CT1p6oX9L7zh7TbAx1SqbDHRF3iuPqxlCsgirHJ0Lj4Og62CvRzxzMcc5zxkV6M/s1600/IMG_1501.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 334px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqre6zbST-k8s4keVc-yVQowE9Xufar-hXv0UziGQe1kAHPjACuZggLeYv6cA85ChgNO3D6auS0p1CT1p6oX9L7zh7TbAx1SqbDHRF3iuPqxlCsgirHJ0Lj4Og62CvRzxzMcc5zxkV6M/s400/IMG_1501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460173428739866306" border="0" /></a>Broccoli in the greenhouse....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFd8ydVZzkUoYAAgFM6IKCakSaYIhGihZNLBXJCUfUcFyGn2Lw_r6R5BAEh07EKskYa6HKhagAZw_hPuODda7zi6wOJsy9UwmTfDHRuEUREmdMAAPQyx-op4MmiZLp4K4FHnU2EBpwzso/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFd8ydVZzkUoYAAgFM6IKCakSaYIhGihZNLBXJCUfUcFyGn2Lw_r6R5BAEh07EKskYa6HKhagAZw_hPuODda7zi6wOJsy9UwmTfDHRuEUREmdMAAPQyx-op4MmiZLp4K4FHnU2EBpwzso/s400/IMG_1500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460177171480401298" border="0" /></a>An apple tree I am growing from an apple I ate last year...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2m3ldBePBWg8eVJkF2Avq026dWdvBDcXcyPLs0M2MHTfnbgqF3w5G9hZXFpKdsu9PGvDX1mfAWvANmqTO9RFDdnS_oLCNkpkf8nIgPpJnotDyui6btqSZCO6uDI0xjgTsZl7OCmQh_Q/s1600/IMG_1499.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2m3ldBePBWg8eVJkF2Avq026dWdvBDcXcyPLs0M2MHTfnbgqF3w5G9hZXFpKdsu9PGvDX1mfAWvANmqTO9RFDdnS_oLCNkpkf8nIgPpJnotDyui6btqSZCO6uDI0xjgTsZl7OCmQh_Q/s400/IMG_1499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460177604846559362" border="0" />__________________</a><br /><br />I made some catfish and shrimp the other night.<br />My new breading mix;<br />Crushed potato chips<br />Panko bread crumbs<br /><a href="http://www.mossybayou.com/bayou_blend.html">Bayou Blend Seasoning</a> or Seafood seasoning<br />egg<br />1/2 c. water<br />1 lb. fish fillets, I use catfish<br />1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled and butterflied.<br /><br />2 cups peanut oil.<br /><br />Heat oil in wok or frying pan.<br /><br />I just eyeball how much. About half and half on the chips and bread crumbs.<br />About a tsp. of seasoning. Mix together.<br /><br />Put egg and water in large bowl and stir. Put fish fillets in egg mixture and coat letting excess drip off.<br />Roll in crumb mixture.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-aaYB85eg9Z0d766VkSlWvzgdNbysh4WGKHaxaPVXNQMyWEtpT6RRf_2r39jUmb2a8URL7q-8mpjOFjgMRz2pypZhvHiB069nZSmfn1PfZ7tZubLDDpNbCqyHw6H1vhiRJNm8jQYUAE/s1600/IMG_1492.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-aaYB85eg9Z0d766VkSlWvzgdNbysh4WGKHaxaPVXNQMyWEtpT6RRf_2r39jUmb2a8URL7q-8mpjOFjgMRz2pypZhvHiB069nZSmfn1PfZ7tZubLDDpNbCqyHw6H1vhiRJNm8jQYUAE/s400/IMG_1492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460186936914629826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Place in hot oil and fry until golden about 3-4 minutes per side.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWCKa24gaIJZWgSrqvKnEfD15RDIMqADua6WI_dHspJNjXQebG4Fzksg8JEo9LBWhl_-0Q4pxqHomBFoP3NWAQN0pf86dV4VMYr6-BFDVcM9SfyeJvryTk3aUKmOZWQTrAPvY4RMquwY/s1600/IMG_1493.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWCKa24gaIJZWgSrqvKnEfD15RDIMqADua6WI_dHspJNjXQebG4Fzksg8JEo9LBWhl_-0Q4pxqHomBFoP3NWAQN0pf86dV4VMYr6-BFDVcM9SfyeJvryTk3aUKmOZWQTrAPvY4RMquwY/s400/IMG_1493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460187229586272082" border="0" /></a><br />Do same with shrimp, but fry about 1-2 minutes.<br /><br />Drain well.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmM1cLIyOARnbf665xiM3bTP1JSpewQlzKkYHGfIxSrPKw4bJXdbAamGR7iGjnUowD7WI5Tbw1S2JqjSQHSfkpMTNqpeHZ6rMpjL7QN6sUq1brMkLaDzrbA8QpHwZDeAbfpbGP92ZbiA/s1600/IMG_1494.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmM1cLIyOARnbf665xiM3bTP1JSpewQlzKkYHGfIxSrPKw4bJXdbAamGR7iGjnUowD7WI5Tbw1S2JqjSQHSfkpMTNqpeHZ6rMpjL7QN6sUq1brMkLaDzrbA8QpHwZDeAbfpbGP92ZbiA/s400/IMG_1494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460187634282160594" border="0" /></a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-22258363976296320912010-04-09T19:50:00.006-04:002010-04-10T14:29:02.495-04:00Ultimate Blog Party !! Giveaway<a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/19667/ultimate-blog-party-2010/"><img src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k210/5m4m/buttons/events/blog_party_banner_horiz.png" title="Ultimate Blog Party 2010" alt="Ultimate Blog Party 2010" /></a><br /><br />Loads of Prizes. Loads of FUN !!<br />This is a great way to meet other bloggers and a chance to win some cool prizes.<br />I love cool prizes. I love prizes that might not be cool, like socks. Remember getting socks for Christmas or your birthday? It was a real bummer. But I'd love to win some now, cause I'm old.<br />And old women sometimes have cold feet.<br />ANYWAY....<br /><br />Click on that colorful BANNER above and head over to <a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/19667/ultimate-blog-party-2010/">5 minutes for Mom</a> to leave a comment with your prize picks if you do not blog, or to grab a button and post it on your blog along with prize picks. There are loads of prizes, some for US, some for Canada and the US and a list for international prizes too. All the rules are there. And the Grand Prize is.... A Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025<br />Laptop.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRSh0BJyIXrupunP3w2F7dnWOuXqRU6FpAFBAa4M4BRHFxeS4l5jbzWZuOKv79nOEURBTAjEDNmRDgdcjR988kNpwHW6XlMKo-xO2r_C5H_9lO5lU1fdJXjUihTN80IWbX6H19AZ2rgA/s1600/L505D_Open_Rt.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRSh0BJyIXrupunP3w2F7dnWOuXqRU6FpAFBAa4M4BRHFxeS4l5jbzWZuOKv79nOEURBTAjEDNmRDgdcjR988kNpwHW6XlMKo-xO2r_C5H_9lO5lU1fdJXjUihTN80IWbX6H19AZ2rgA/s320/L505D_Open_Rt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458291754166436418" border="0" /></a> BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE !!!<br /><br />I'm giving away a little something too.<br />Leave a comment on this post about my blog and you<br />will win a 15.00 gift certificate to use towards jewelry in my<br />Etsy shop. US and Canada only.<br />Make sure you leave your email in your comment,<br />or in your blog profile.<br />Thats all you need to do to win the gift certificate to my Etsy shop.<br />But Make sure to click the banner when your finished here cause it all ends on the 16th.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am liking the following prizes to win myself, <a href="http://www.blissworld.com/">34 the” Lemon and Sage Body Butter, from Bliss</a><br /><a href="http://aproverbswife.com/2010/04/ultimate-blog-party-2010-ubp10.html">70- the Kroger card from A Proverbs Wife</a><br /><a href="http://www.stompermom.com/">75-GC for Camping Gear from Stomper Mom</a><br /><a href="http://www.blissworld.com/"> </a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-11885662025695894012010-04-08T19:49:00.010-04:002010-04-19T15:42:18.556-04:00Lemon and Thyme Cleans Up. Giveaway of 7th Generation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkn7UjrF1utfGt3gYun8LWFmrUZ5S53wp31hdvtKR7DGSIHNJ_sQfIyOeVbeLAdsKbdqHVKdHalOvP0ps5sZxEfm5Nlvk3J8Na9zpJ-PyQrIvjulTwxpSSacWrSz-qJbTdIsxpHQyXLw/s1600/prod_disinfectant_multispray_145x171.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkn7UjrF1utfGt3gYun8LWFmrUZ5S53wp31hdvtKR7DGSIHNJ_sQfIyOeVbeLAdsKbdqHVKdHalOvP0ps5sZxEfm5Nlvk3J8Na9zpJ-PyQrIvjulTwxpSSacWrSz-qJbTdIsxpHQyXLw/s200/prod_disinfectant_multispray_145x171.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457971388301413138" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="profile/14698801749067092572" rel="nofollow">Whimsey Creations</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> is the winner of this Giveaway.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://seventhgeneration.com/">7th Generation</a> Disinfecting Products.<br /><br />I have not cleaned my home with store bought cleaners in over 10 years. I can't. Larry has breathing issues with any kind of chemical cleaners. Also most laundry soaps, stain removers, perfume, lotion, exhaust fumes etc. He painted cars and motorcycles years back and now he suffers from all those fumes he breathed. He's even had to leave the line at the grocery store because someone took a bath in their cologne and he could not breath or stop coughing.<br /><br />So I have been making my own. I buy vinegar by the gallon, large boxes of baking soda, borax, castile soap, orange oil...etc. to make my own cleaners and bath products.<br />When I was contacted about reviewing products from 7th Generation, I was apprehensive and I had to ask Larry if he would be willing to be a guinea pig for the cause. I really wanted to try this stuff. And I figured if it did not send him into the yard with coughing fits, it was a winner.<br /><br />The box arrived and WOW, what nice items they sent. A full size bottle of Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner, Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner, cannister of Disinfecting Wipes, two huge rolls of Unbleached Recycled Paper Towels, the book ' The Conscious Kitchen' and a Recycled Plastic Tote to carry cleaning products in.<br /><br />The Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner - I decided to tackle the sink first in the bathroom. I figured I could shut the door if it started to bother Larry and I could flood the sink if need be with enough water to quickly get rid of the smell.<br />No need to worry, I sprayed down the sink with the foamy cleanser, let it sit for a couple of minutes....no yelling or coughing...okay...in the clear. I started wiping and rinsed. The sink sparkled. The smell is of thyme and lemon. Not overpowering at all. So next I did the shower stall and no problems. I keep a squeegee in there and it was cleaned and sparkling in no time. I went to the studio to check on my <strike>delicate</strike> manly husband.<br />"Is that smell bothering you"? I asked.<br />"What smell"? he replied.<br />YAY !!!<br /><br />I slipped the container of wipes into the glove compartment in the truck. The next day we went to the big city and did some shopping. I got in the truck while Larry took the cart back, and I wiped my hands with one of the wipes, I have a small bottle of some hand sanitizer in my purse, but I really like the way these wipes smell so I used one wipe instead. Larry got in the truck and said " smells like you've been cooking something in here " hahaha. No coughing, choking or cussin'....just getting hungry from the yummy smell. This stuff is a winner.<br /><br />The Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner- I used this in the kitchen after dinner to wipe down the stove, the fridge and the counters. Love it. Smells the same as the bathroom cleanser but not thick and foamy. Cleans great. And I am not afraid to use it in the kitchen.<br /><br /></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJw39gElYIon1p7YpFrG8M8Y_P61UTnOaadMx3yDByBl3Nb29x1quC7oW2qLO1UbYuQFk7HcQ5K_QR72ZpxdszA8VEyY2bOaahlVakt5vmrJ9dLR0XwefBWoq0XlAyo-X-f05vBNzS-c/s1600/prod_disinfectant_multispray_145x171_0.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJw39gElYIon1p7YpFrG8M8Y_P61UTnOaadMx3yDByBl3Nb29x1quC7oW2qLO1UbYuQFk7HcQ5K_QR72ZpxdszA8VEyY2bOaahlVakt5vmrJ9dLR0XwefBWoq0XlAyo-X-f05vBNzS-c/s200/prod_disinfectant_multispray_145x171_0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457971688771224738" border="0" /></a><strong>Disinfecting Wipes- Good and saturated so they go a long way in wiping up after raw meat, bathroom seats, doggie accidents, sickrooms, toys,public washrooms, doorknobs etc. These are great to keep in the car for trips.<br /><br />The disinfectants contain thymol, a component of the herb thyme, and can be used on hard surfaces including counter tops, plastic cutting boards, highchair trays as well as children’s toys. Best of all, they kill over 99.99 percent of germs naturally and are effective against the Influenza A Virus, including H1N1 along with a host of other germies.<br /><br />Unbleached Recycled Paper Towels - I like unbleached. Bleaching is a chemical process that is not good for us or the environment. And there is no need for it other than cosmetic. We use unbleached flour, coffee filters, cheesecloth ,wax paper and other products so why not paper towels? I like these. They are very thick. And I like brown. They hold up quite well.<br /><br /></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcn0K4dCcmy2s-TeJMgHt0u8iQSNZwd9MHfhPDf0oI9zRDLt8rmuw-ysOG3i4_sbluHDuGX95a3y8IhvRt7pRx4aqqlAumXcYjBbYFSoboavofgFEqAHGYAzgbb3Y9iBjMvaHaUscKAs/s1600/the-conscious-kitchen-lrg.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcn0K4dCcmy2s-TeJMgHt0u8iQSNZwd9MHfhPDf0oI9zRDLt8rmuw-ysOG3i4_sbluHDuGX95a3y8IhvRt7pRx4aqqlAumXcYjBbYFSoboavofgFEqAHGYAzgbb3Y9iBjMvaHaUscKAs/s320/the-conscious-kitchen-lrg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457972200531285570" border="0" /></a><strong>The Conscious Kitchen by ALEXANDRA ZISSU - This is one great book. Full of tips for the kitchen and other areas of your life, like take-out food containers where you want to go more green and be safer. Did you know that in order to decaf coffee the beans may have been soaked in solvents? There are chapters in detail plus little tips in the margins of the book that are quickies to read.<br />This is one of the best written informative books on how to keep your family in the know about what you are putting into your body, what to do if you cannot find organic items to buy, the safest fish to buy, the low down on plastics,plus so much more... along with some recipes sprinkled in.<br /><br />Handy Recycled Carrier - I love this thing. Handle in the middle with room to store rags, cleaners, brushes and rubber gloves.<br /><br />This has been one of my favorite experiences with store bought cleaning items ever. I will buy these wipes and the paper towels. I recommend the cleaning sprays if you buy cleaning products.<br /><br />WIN SOME: The Generous people over at 7th Generation through MyBlogSpark are providing one of my lucky readers a box of products just like I received. You are going to love this stuff.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >MANDATORY ENTRY: </span>Please do this one first before any of the Extra Entries.<br />Answer this question: What is the best thing you’ve done for the environment this year?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Extra Entries: PLEASE DO THE MANDATORY ENTRY ABOVE FIRST.</span></span><br /></strong><ul><li><strong> Tell me something you like to make that saves you money or relaxes you - 2 entries</strong></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Go to the </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://seventhgeneration.com/">7th Generation</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> site and tell me something you learned while there. It is a very interesting place - 2 entries</span><br /></li></ul><ul><li><strong> Follow my blog over on the sidebar through Google...PUBLICLY. - 2 entries</strong></li></ul><ul><li><strong> Stick my little "shortcut" button of the pigs, on your sidebar- 3 entries</strong></li></ul><ul><li><strong> Tweet about this giveaway...daily tweet = 2 extras each day, leave me the link to your tweets</strong></li></ul><ul><li><strong> Blog about this here giveaway with a link back to this post - 5 entries</strong></li></ul><ul><li><strong> Produce a one minute youtube video talking about this giveaway, my blog and the environment, leave me the link - 15 entries</strong></li></ul><strong><br />Giveaway open to US residents. 18+ Ends Midnight April 15th. Please make sure I can easily reach you with an email addy.<br />MyBlogSpark will mail the winner their package.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;">I received a package with these products from 7th Generation through MyBlogSpark for review purposes. All opinions are my own.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></strong>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-24946624467848923752010-04-08T14:25:00.003-04:002010-04-08T14:34:41.484-04:00Winner for Tricky Trainers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekSTKmn2dq_WMWunu6mHl3yHMQw6Scn-y27vl-4YsWNmWPQzKTztralqsgnuztUeyKtRWA5qw0PuwF0gt-yIUdnlZtBgiB7oXClhk0EFPXHWDKsJqdnhA_RPjIPGynKkj1EMyrtmHd0M/s1600/IMG_0347.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekSTKmn2dq_WMWunu6mHl3yHMQw6Scn-y27vl-4YsWNmWPQzKTztralqsgnuztUeyKtRWA5qw0PuwF0gt-yIUdnlZtBgiB7oXClhk0EFPXHWDKsJqdnhA_RPjIPGynKkj1EMyrtmHd0M/s200/IMG_0347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457836238766290642" border="0" /></a><br />We have a winner ! Number 28 Ms. Magpie.<br />Winner has been contacted.<br />Thank you all who entered. Please come back again to read my blog and enter more giveaways.<br /><br /><br /><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><a href="http://www.violetcottage.com/random/">Random Number Generator</a><br /><blockquote>Random Number Generator<br />This page simply picks a random number, within a range you specify.<br />For example, to pick a number between 1 and 100, set the Lowest Number to be 1, and the Highest Number to be 100.<br />Then click on Pick a Number to pick the number. That's it. Have fun!<br /><br />If you found this useful, consider visiting the main Violet Cottage website. Thanks for visiting!<br /><br />The randomly picked number is: 28<br /><br />Lowest Number 1<br />Highest Number 28<br /> <br /></blockquote></div>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-6548166025316826752010-04-07T13:48:00.007-04:002010-04-08T23:39:17.619-04:00What's that Smell? Get Serious. Giveaway.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7-nTpgvwYht4IAG0F-DhWSxZLB-deCtMD5LqXoeO8ELVRJEJjkBanWHyqTnj-tTWphzvqo9B_t1-SJqq3btQM8iPXMUJq9tCxPf7rtAi7cTnxfE3iIj7gGNt62erdSXO1d1ZlPOoZKM/s1600/IMG_1378.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7-nTpgvwYht4IAG0F-DhWSxZLB-deCtMD5LqXoeO8ELVRJEJjkBanWHyqTnj-tTWphzvqo9B_t1-SJqq3btQM8iPXMUJq9tCxPf7rtAi7cTnxfE3iIj7gGNt62erdSXO1d1ZlPOoZKM/s320/IMG_1378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457458169511435410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.getseriousproducts.net/">Get Serious</a> Odor, Stain and Pheromone Extractor for Dogs and Cats.<br /><br />Little Ricky Pickles has a dirty little secret. He gets called "Mister Pee Pee Pants" sometimes. If he were human, he would be called a "bed-wetter".<br />Because he would not be walking around at night peeing on things. He would be in the bed peeing on things. But he's not human, so our fan stand got branded and Larry's boots got an endorsement also.<br /><br />Larrys' boots got the Heeve Ho... they were old and he can stand to get a new pair anyway. The floor fan got wiped down, but Ricky Pickles gets it confused with a tree I suppose. Maybe because Larry made the base out of a scrap piece of OSB that was outside for awhile. Perhaps Ricky thinks he IS peeing outside when he cocks his short little leg and waters it.<br /><br />Seems no amount of "RICKY NO NO" works. This is said in a loud stern voice. But it's not when he is in the act. He does the act at night, when he can sniff at his leisure, walk around it in circles, take his time, savor the moment. Everyone's asleep, it's his tree. Private tree. He marks it and it works. No one else has dared to challenge his essence. He OWNS that tree.<br /><br />So I was so happy when my sample of Get Serious arrived for me to try. Get Serious removes odor, stains and pheromones, the nifty stuff that stays around when your pet "marks".<br />A virtual "calling card". This is what makes them come back again and again to the same spot.<br /><br />We needed this to stop because we use the fan to circulate warm air from our wood stove. Larry screwed it to a wood base because these three Jack Russells are nuts when they play and we did not want it to fall over on them.<br />I cleaned the stand and the base really well, let it dry then applied the Get Serious straight from the bottle with a damp cloth. Working into the wood with a squishing motion. Then wiping dry.<br />We all went to bed. Got up and YAY ! No midnight "tree" tagging. I still was not ready to call it a success though. Ricky Pickles has had other nights when he did nothing but dream puppy dreams, waiting till the morning to go outside and pee. I put some Get Serious in a spray bottle and each night for a week sprayed, scrubbed and blotted. And each morning woke up to a dry fan.<br /><br />Moving on to the carpet. We have wall to wall carpet in our living room/Larry's studio. It is a beige color and it has some spots. Pee spots. Because no matter how diligent you are, when you have pups and they pee, it stains. We have a carpet steamer and we have tried to steam the stains out to no avail. It looks good when its wet, but then it dries and lo and behold...it's a stain.<br /><br />I applied the Get Serious full strength to the stains,I microwaved it for 30 seconds first, stepped on the rag to mush it in, and scrubbed a bit. I then took a dry rag and stepped on it to blot. YAY ! When it dried, the stains were gone. Whooo Hooo. Enzyme cleaners can cause mold and mildew to form under carpets and padding. Get Serious has no enzymes and virtually "lifts" the stain out.<br />This product does the job of 2 of those other cleaners and you only have to use half as much (no need to saturate like those enzyme based cleaners). It has also saved people money on many occasions by not having to replace their carpets after really bad pet accidents<br />Maybe we won't have to replace the carpet this coming year.<br /><br />Now <a href="http://www.getseriousproducts.net/">Get Serious</a> states on their site that they have not tested it in steam machines, but they have customers who have good results. So I am doing the whole carpet this weekend. Now that it is warm enough to open windows and have the fans running. They even had one customer use it with success on her husbands pants, on a beet stain.<br />I also treated an oil stain on Larry's parka before washing and it lifted that out...wow. Larry is so sensitive to cleaners and I had to give away some laundry stain remover because he could not handle the chemicals in it.<br />.<br />I am proud to report that Ricky Pickles is doing so much better. He no longer has accidents on the carpet. And the fan/tree has been totally dry since the applications of Get Serious.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Win Some ! :</span></span><br /><br />The generous folks over at Get Serious have offered a sample pack to one of my readers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">MANDATORY ENTRY:</span></span> Please do this one first before any of the Extra Entries.<br /><ul><li>Go to the <a href="http://www.getseriousproducts.net/">Get Serious Website</a><a href="http://%20www.getseriousproducts.net/"> </a>and come back to tell something you found interesting.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Extra Entries: PLEASE DO THE MANDATORY ENTRY ABOVE FIRST.</span></span><br /><ul><li> Tell about a tip or trick you used to get rid of a stain or a funny story about your pet and a stain. (or a funny one about your husband/wife/partner/friend and a stain) 2 entries</li></ul><ul><li> Follow my blog over on the sidebar through Google...PUBLICLY. - 2 entries</li></ul><ul><li> Stick my little button of the pigs on your sidebar- 3 entries</li></ul><ul><li> Tweet about this giveaway...daily tweet = 2 extras each day, leave me the link to your tweets</li></ul><ul><li> Blog about this here giveaway with a link back to this post - 5 entries </li></ul><ul><li> Produce a one minute youtube video talking about this giveaway, my blog and Get Serious, leave me the link - 15 entries</li></ul><br />Giveaway open to US residents. 18+ Ends Midnight April 19th.<br />Get Serious will mail the winner their package.<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I received a bottle of Get Serious for Dogs and one for Cats for review purposes. All opinions are mine. I liked this product, so I wrote about it.</span></span>)alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-4303089656010479472010-03-27T23:03:00.002-04:002010-03-27T23:19:55.260-04:00What I've been working on<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOcmovr9XtQgwI_6PnNUaXhNbTvMz9yqwfFMQJXlnBUcxPnKS8G4k0kURUBQ84-yMYxpB1Nnnhoj1XV8oetxU16kDDKNi3aTUguvM2VFA5JG9gRFZSaPIq6i8GqMoKjIzxJQNXs2kThA/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG"><br /></a><br />I took a break from painting for awhile. And now I am feeling the urge again. I was mostly painting small illustration type stuff, you can see some of it all at the bottom of my blog in a handy little slide show.<br /><br />A few years ago, Larry retired and I was working part time in a little Deli in town. And I wasn't really making any money so I started selling my little paintings on Ebay. Larry joined in and sold a few too. Then Ebay started getting too big for it's britches and a lot of people started calling it "feebay" and I scaled back my listings until I just wasn't doing it any more.<br /><br />Then summer before last I painted a few angels on large pieces of wood and sold them but still not happy with Ebay, by then a LOT of Artists had moved on and there just isn't the same customer base there. So I stopped. But now I am feeling it again, and will probably start putting a few small ones in my Etsy Shop.<br /><br />Anyway, this is what I did today. It is mixed media on an old book cover. I am going to add some beads on the bottom and a nice ribbon hanger.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"this magic moment</span>"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOcmovr9XtQgwI_6PnNUaXhNbTvMz9yqwfFMQJXlnBUcxPnKS8G4k0kURUBQ84-yMYxpB1Nnnhoj1XV8oetxU16kDDKNi3aTUguvM2VFA5JG9gRFZSaPIq6i8GqMoKjIzxJQNXs2kThA/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOcmovr9XtQgwI_6PnNUaXhNbTvMz9yqwfFMQJXlnBUcxPnKS8G4k0kURUBQ84-yMYxpB1Nnnhoj1XV8oetxU16kDDKNi3aTUguvM2VFA5JG9gRFZSaPIq6i8GqMoKjIzxJQNXs2kThA/s400/IMG_1479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453518996304571618" border="0" /></a>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-42875585212822277182010-03-27T22:27:00.004-04:002010-03-27T23:02:05.484-04:00Earth Hour No Sweat Here.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeKRrdEXwkhOOmkYC6bf8CgW6F8vjUiqLNkrbl476WjJviKoUiDcz-pncWRfkYmqU4qrsCYfnIj8HNU_kykVZn0E37XFbFMG-pVnUHvOP_mYiyiRQUUbTa1hcfd1f5HzDjDM8WUnrxUk/s1600/oldpics+118.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYeKRrdEXwkhOOmkYC6bf8CgW6F8vjUiqLNkrbl476WjJviKoUiDcz-pncWRfkYmqU4qrsCYfnIj8HNU_kykVZn0E37XFbFMG-pVnUHvOP_mYiyiRQUUbTa1hcfd1f5HzDjDM8WUnrxUk/s320/oldpics+118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453514270813448274" border="0" /></a><br />So did you turn your electricity off? Or just the lights? Or did you just have it all going as usual but you thought about turning it off?<br /><br />We turned it all off, but mainly out of respect. Respect for those who did turn it all off and had a hard time being without it.<br />We don't mind, and kind of like it all off. And as far as calling attention to climate change, well I'm not sure what effect one hour is going to have an attention to the concern.<br />I try not to debate politics on my blog. I have places I go to do that.<br /><br />When I met Larry he was living in a tipi and building a house in Vermont. After I left then went back almost a year later he was living in the house. There was no electricity, running water or telephone. It was in the woods. And here we are 40 years later, in the woods of Ohio.<br />We do have electricity and phones. We do not have county water or sewage.<br />And when we first came out to these woods, we lived in a tent for 3 months camping first on a friends land while we searched for our land. Then we moved our tent here while we cleared an area for our house and started building.<br />We had a nice set up, tent on a wooden platform, mattresses on the tent floor, a grill and a nice camp stove, kerosene lamps, a shower made with a 5 gallon camp shower bag hung in a tree, the stars and the crickets. We don't need no stinkin' electricity.<br /><br />I admit we do like having it though. But like the previous winter when a snow storm hit hard and a tree pulled the power line off our house and we could not get them out here for 10 days. We didn't freak. I keep a well stocked pantry. And we have a screened in porch so food can stay cold and away from the wildlife. We heat with a wood stove that we can also cook on.<br />And I welcome the break from the phone, the internet and the TV. Larry plays guitar, we both sing, love to read and we love to talk with each other. We also use the kerosene lamps at times for a break from electric lights or candles if we are feeling romantic.<br /><br />So to us, an hour is no hardship, but we respect those who have a hard time with an hour. And we hope that an hour can teach a lesson. Now, anyone up for a month?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(painting of Owl by Larry)</span>alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-41089279596734221112010-03-27T20:32:00.002-04:002010-03-27T20:33:26.490-04:00Electric Off for Earth HourSee you in an hour internet.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-73952069006152430252010-03-25T13:00:00.012-04:002010-03-28T11:50:55.334-04:00Biga** Hot PocketsLarry calls these Bigass Hot Pockets. He is so funny. He renames things all the time.<br />I just call them,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxKs-LwZzA-PBJqqlYbNysKJhLZS3yCKE9X6rizdSLGFoIXward0L6X8C9gYFu47TVI9bPuDO8XY6RS3nXDaA9Ubln8QY4ejlQMExwWhNIq3KXm1vSHsbdeRq1SY6MAaBd7iuF4wuGX0/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxKs-LwZzA-PBJqqlYbNysKJhLZS3yCKE9X6rizdSLGFoIXward0L6X8C9gYFu47TVI9bPuDO8XY6RS3nXDaA9Ubln8QY4ejlQMExwWhNIq3KXm1vSHsbdeRq1SY6MAaBd7iuF4wuGX0/s320/IMG_1222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453705259213305218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Easy Chicken Turnovers.<br /><br />2 pie crusts. (Homemade or store bought).<br />1 Tbl. Olive oil or canola oil<br />2 chicken breasts.( Boneless skinless is fine, but bone in has more flavor when cooked).<br />1/2 tsp garlic powder<br />1/2 tsp. oregano<br />1/2 tsp ground black pepper<br />a nice sprinkle of sea salt or 1/4 tsp regular salt<br />3 nice carrots chopped. (about 1 1/4c)<br />4 medium potatoes cut into bite size pieces.<br />1/2 can of peas, fresh or frozen or canned.<br />2 cups of chicken gravy. Thick. Homemade or store bought.<br /><br />I use bone in chicken with the skin on because it has a lot more flavor when cooked and makes a good gravy. Season chicken with seasonings and cook through, about 15 minutes on the skin side then turn over for 10 minutes on the back side. If you are using boneless skinless, cut into chunks first and pan fry until all pink is gone. About 5 minutes.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0zw4tIcNbsINQXNqo3y4IeFgX7pP7UcX0sA8-_IAB6As5SP7lsXWnm07OZQUG1GplMQM033FvHRvdBazwvbItsEuh2Z2llOxKUdo8FL7AiLe2IkXqA9-db1R6xCxotVYG552SG7BlIA/s1600/IMG_1210.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0zw4tIcNbsINQXNqo3y4IeFgX7pP7UcX0sA8-_IAB6As5SP7lsXWnm07OZQUG1GplMQM033FvHRvdBazwvbItsEuh2Z2llOxKUdo8FL7AiLe2IkXqA9-db1R6xCxotVYG552SG7BlIA/s200/IMG_1210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453706831547663346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.<br />(If using homemade gravy, use chicken drippings to make a gravy at this point and steam potatoes and carrots in a small amount of water, in another pot just till done, then add to gravy, I am using gravy I had left over from a previous meal). Take pie crust out of fridge so it can come to room temperature.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI06JyRZO-NLpIU9womV5LNb4LOSHAWAPNY3USqbxPFlm858_qpR-t_mBzkEaLW3gOsI1vwXhhFpxrAupsscg5xSYlv8nlMdUz0y3D5hvPPelEcyEz2zfDjJ-E1jdU7b4X0rWOowAfgM/s1600/IMG_1212.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI06JyRZO-NLpIU9womV5LNb4LOSHAWAPNY3USqbxPFlm858_qpR-t_mBzkEaLW3gOsI1vwXhhFpxrAupsscg5xSYlv8nlMdUz0y3D5hvPPelEcyEz2zfDjJ-E1jdU7b4X0rWOowAfgM/s200/IMG_1212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453707220081140002" border="0" /></a>Add potatoes and carrots to skillet with a small amount of water and cover to steam, While veggies are steaming cut chicken up into chunks if on the bone, give skin to dogs.<br />Add gravy and peas to steamed veggies, stir well.<br />Add chicken chunks. Turn off burner and preheat oven to 375'.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Unroll 1 dough and fold gently in half to make a crease so you can see where the middle is. Lay out flat on cookie sheet. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUGerqpniOECuCRwNWEurKkjrJxjYZZXvs7VOsbItoDie3ROst6npXgsBT-GGIm03uOrGq6xj6hmarQT6_hBuCIRHDdBFsTeOQpJKwK5MJ_H2u07RFP2Oa7POMmkOc4vIlFsFEpQ2AqQ/s1600/IMG_1216.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUGerqpniOECuCRwNWEurKkjrJxjYZZXvs7VOsbItoDie3ROst6npXgsBT-GGIm03uOrGq6xj6hmarQT6_hBuCIRHDdBFsTeOQpJKwK5MJ_H2u07RFP2Oa7POMmkOc4vIlFsFEpQ2AqQ/s200/IMG_1216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453707573603205010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Spoon filling onto one half and gently fold dough over and crimp edges.<br /><br /><br /><br />Poke a few fork pokes into to to let steam out while baking. Lay the second dough next to the first, fold and crease, open up so half lays over onto 1st dough, fill, fold over and crimp, poke with fork.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6fFRNg3Az6awD6j5usM9-YooEMoegxp5HyM4FA1jYNq3nS5-HPuaJUwR-A-6kbhHlk3rCqVEQiqWjJHRAwLcroUCqy_lfbrRg6SU27VE3jE4vBF6Kywwnfzd-xB-INW4NqwVIj_ySjs/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6fFRNg3Az6awD6j5usM9-YooEMoegxp5HyM4FA1jYNq3nS5-HPuaJUwR-A-6kbhHlk3rCqVEQiqWjJHRAwLcroUCqy_lfbrRg6SU27VE3jE4vBF6Kywwnfzd-xB-INW4NqwVIj_ySjs/s200/IMG_1218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453708233459958114" border="0" /></a>Place onto center of rack and bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes before cutting.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpMdvWW5ujgK8kn6wNVWk39K2sMfGRHJ2ucTNBPAu7FhyphenhyphenNyjQcossQcstJN0AfDAaA-TKevtNeuF19znBvAucTNE5PKOGVcF7PJi7BO7LPJlrzJ7v5oHJ5LhojdnyWmxtUVAG8ZX4Poc/s1600/IMG_1220.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpMdvWW5ujgK8kn6wNVWk39K2sMfGRHJ2ucTNBPAu7FhyphenhyphenNyjQcossQcstJN0AfDAaA-TKevtNeuF19znBvAucTNE5PKOGVcF7PJi7BO7LPJlrzJ7v5oHJ5LhojdnyWmxtUVAG8ZX4Poc/s200/IMG_1220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453709329931245698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6fFRNg3Az6awD6j5usM9-YooEMoegxp5HyM4FA1jYNq3nS5-HPuaJUwR-A-6kbhHlk3rCqVEQiqWjJHRAwLcroUCqy_lfbrRg6SU27VE3jE4vBF6Kywwnfzd-xB-INW4NqwVIj_ySjs/s1600/IMG_1218.JPG"><br /></a><br />I like to serve with a salad and applesauce.<br />You can also make this with chicken, potatoes,broccoli and cheese.<br />Or ground turkey, onions, peppers, pinto beans and cheese.<br />Or Turkey pastrami, drained sauerkraut and swiss cheese. Sprinkle 1 Tbl. of flour on crust before filling to soak up any moisture from sauerkraut.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-25248639695851567022010-03-24T13:27:00.014-04:002010-03-25T14:32:18.963-04:00Tricky Trainers Do the Trick - Giveaway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxca0T9M6d-kaYqhZkTfT9vfBpu2gLCk0Mdrwjm1ACpAbc6svrQw_9M24sUc99lKq1v5d_fz3xyTHlCTlyxVY7GCz9nVYv9_y6hQUzrsIAD83tX1A7x0bibcBwdiwOovUgznxdUwx5_OA/s1600/Cloud+Star+Kibble.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7W0IfdVbLeMdTJLICXWyA9nrlA6NKj1psA-Lq-Sjdl6P6N2ZKNvbqo3HUYROb32H3EusYvAM9mRl7hKeNNXahhG2WMXaY4Zs-Rhl1SBjkPcPYE_XPpHAr6qn6JSoMRnrEznuDE9cu1Q/s1600/TTS3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7W0IfdVbLeMdTJLICXWyA9nrlA6NKj1psA-Lq-Sjdl6P6N2ZKNvbqo3HUYROb32H3EusYvAM9mRl7hKeNNXahhG2WMXaY4Zs-Rhl1SBjkPcPYE_XPpHAr6qn6JSoMRnrEznuDE9cu1Q/s400/TTS3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452268268774546738" border="0" /></a><br />I have three smart dogs. Smart because they have figured out that they don't have to do tricks to be spoiled rotten.<br />I have tried, at times, to get them to do certain things, like sit, stay , lay down, roll over. But basically they look at me as if to say "hey, this ain't no circus". Now, they do mind. But it seems like that only happens when I am being stern and they know to "go get in your bed" or " get out of my chair, before I sit on your head". They will move, reluctantly, but they will move. Well, all except one little stubborn all white doggie who will remain nameless. He talks back. Always has to have the last word.<br /><br />But the times, they are a changin'.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TRICKY TRAINERS HAVE ARRIVED !</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkidOKifDuRrNHANzMOa3Q90V6W2sVQaFvbqMGYNHNu2VZ9MdoD-jPW0kytxZ-iboKePQ7sE74Vxt9Bn6O3xElxlLzIrrFv2p52yiReklcU-DEVU7o-PjTdzO_wXrRmyZSGoMteVVSY8/s1600/IMG_1422.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkidOKifDuRrNHANzMOa3Q90V6W2sVQaFvbqMGYNHNu2VZ9MdoD-jPW0kytxZ-iboKePQ7sE74Vxt9Bn6O3xElxlLzIrrFv2p52yiReklcU-DEVU7o-PjTdzO_wXrRmyZSGoMteVVSY8/s200/IMG_1422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452265133823165138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Gosh I love these things. I have made my boys treats, but they have never gone crazy like this over anything I have made.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66uu9mg5KQv9IQNr5NhVvUwWlwCmUM9GT_cKEFYc-QZwTrV1xS1R2p_mbIHGmSesHHBaLncNhY6E-AHEs4B5Mz_98mkeaURVE4331nIpP20Abv699oA-Y0Gg7uWve92DQfeBQtSe8KaY/s1600/IMG_1438.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66uu9mg5KQv9IQNr5NhVvUwWlwCmUM9GT_cKEFYc-QZwTrV1xS1R2p_mbIHGmSesHHBaLncNhY6E-AHEs4B5Mz_98mkeaURVE4331nIpP20Abv699oA-Y0Gg7uWve92DQfeBQtSe8KaY/s320/IMG_1438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452264071527434642" border="0" /></a>Mikey and Ricky Pickles sit for a Tricky Trainer.<br />***<br /><a href="http://www.cloudstar.com/">Cloud Star</a> sent a bag of the Cheese Flavor and the Salmon Flavor. And you know how when you read a food label the ingredients are listed in order of the amount, from the most to the least. Well in the Salmon ones...Salmon is the FIRST ingredient. WOW. No wonder Larry calls them "stinky trainers". My boys are nuts over these.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWv3GOAOtDhuT5MkOUh9Udtne5wAgYjpBGMObUy4Tvui7QX2ZEcXJmHEEmi9u37-6PvblcP3W6o5aHI0FQpDLfdM4lDrF0dMrWL776Itn0wmj4B8PGzA7gZST8m7-eQvBPqYU00zNCeo/s1600/IMG_1445.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihWv3GOAOtDhuT5MkOUh9Udtne5wAgYjpBGMObUy4Tvui7QX2ZEcXJmHEEmi9u37-6PvblcP3W6o5aHI0FQpDLfdM4lDrF0dMrWL776Itn0wmj4B8PGzA7gZST8m7-eQvBPqYU00zNCeo/s320/IMG_1445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452263572100842242" border="0" /></a>Mikey "speaks" for a Tricky Trainer.<br /><br />And the great thing is, I can actually pronounce everything in them. The only thing on the ingredient list I did not know was "tocopherois". So I looked it up.<br />It is a series of organic compounds consisting of various methylated phenols. Many of which have vitamin E activity. And are used in pet foods to keep oil from going rancid. Okay,I am good with that.<br />I love that they are small. So you can constantly reward without the fear of too much of a good thing.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRc2cZnNtz3iHBA8NSyn5nsz2H33pSGJR9iUO57u9qcbMBx5urb-CrHuHz2n1hVgbROowPBsKhQ4QvsVbPn4cFQ3wmmdv3S-gnNs_x4D3gG5U1MUqZ3zMTu-tYyXerqTCAI9aVVWofBY/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRc2cZnNtz3iHBA8NSyn5nsz2H33pSGJR9iUO57u9qcbMBx5urb-CrHuHz2n1hVgbROowPBsKhQ4QvsVbPn4cFQ3wmmdv3S-gnNs_x4D3gG5U1MUqZ3zMTu-tYyXerqTCAI9aVVWofBY/s200/IMG_1447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452262778372925298" border="0" /></a><br />Their products are also geared towards pets with allergies. It was Jennifer and Brennan's pup Samantha, back in 1998, who inspired starting <a href="http://www.cloudstar.com/">Cloud Star. </a>The first Buddy Biscuit was made for Samantha because of "allergy issues". They started making all her treats and food with just the goal of bring her back to health. In 1999 Jennifer was volunteering at an Animal Shelter that held a bake sale and instead of making something to sell for human treats Jennifer made up a few batches of the treats she made for Samantha and their other dog Nala. These treats were a hit, they started getting calls asking for more, and the rest is dogstory.<br /><br />I first became aware of <a href="http://www.cloudstar.com/">Cloud Star</a> last year when I signed up on their facebook page and received a free fold-able water container that I keep in my purse. It has a handy pouch and is a really good size. They also sent me a bumper sticker with their motto "Wag More, Bark Less" and I just fell in love with that. It's a great motto for all of us. And this is printed on apparel and accessories they sell on their website.<br />They also have quite a few other treats, kibble and grooming products. (The Holistic Baked Kibble Dog Food is back after being out of stock due to being mentioned in Costco Connection magazine and thus bombarding Cloud Star with orders).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxca0T9M6d-kaYqhZkTfT9vfBpu2gLCk0Mdrwjm1ACpAbc6svrQw_9M24sUc99lKq1v5d_fz3xyTHlCTlyxVY7GCz9nVYv9_y6hQUzrsIAD83tX1A7x0bibcBwdiwOovUgznxdUwx5_OA/s1600/Cloud+Star+Kibble.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxca0T9M6d-kaYqhZkTfT9vfBpu2gLCk0Mdrwjm1ACpAbc6svrQw_9M24sUc99lKq1v5d_fz3xyTHlCTlyxVY7GCz9nVYv9_y6hQUzrsIAD83tX1A7x0bibcBwdiwOovUgznxdUwx5_OA/s320/Cloud+Star+Kibble.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452640418891627538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNn1m_JIwBpvigVhAiUwMlDQD1y869PlFZAek9kE3Ud-SdbzYxUWfQqwQbtO_ftLXtEproTtZfG8z-puTLcQ2wF957Hj7NuB8XJg84zTD4lO1WMGi29obnBqsGy6gVey2NxjFC1PDdFbg/s1600/DFB3.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br />I like <a href="http://www.cloudstar.com/">Cloud Star</a> very much. I like that they give back at least 10% of their net profits to support and assist non-profits organizations that benefit animals, women, children and the environment.<br />I like that all their products are made in the USA (all ingredients are USA grown too) and I like that they truly care about animals.<br />Oh, and I like that my boys are crazy about Tricky Trainers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh_XvcRJsC7fpmJ46EcvZM6MgRHIxMno7DMoZtRjP8WEcMshtFrAq1ac577RSysq3_y6NLgUP9OpMn6ovEywaV-0tkfHUmtjYliXQ21475npJqJ545KYDNIf6Xv5tAjT1k1oOnC0inis/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhh_XvcRJsC7fpmJ46EcvZM6MgRHIxMno7DMoZtRjP8WEcMshtFrAq1ac577RSysq3_y6NLgUP9OpMn6ovEywaV-0tkfHUmtjYliXQ21475npJqJ545KYDNIf6Xv5tAjT1k1oOnC0inis/s320/IMG_1451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452262314351768706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiE-Otn61j5hozwEOeFRgQr3DMuiIQs4C0I0E0DqdXRQ84_Em6zCkyXulDkbMiEMCueei1PNqR0Z86ajiQpAxaSk00I4mxhecMVETQvyKDmtoJuf_iIxQRQHFY89hjRyDF2fVmwya2Gxw/s1600/03005_s.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiE-Otn61j5hozwEOeFRgQr3DMuiIQs4C0I0E0DqdXRQ84_Em6zCkyXulDkbMiEMCueei1PNqR0Z86ajiQpAxaSk00I4mxhecMVETQvyKDmtoJuf_iIxQRQHFY89hjRyDF2fVmwya2Gxw/s400/03005_s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452267771220495074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(I received two bags of product for review purposes. I was pleased with the product very much so I wrote about it)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">WIN SOME:</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.cloudstar.com/">Cloud Star</a> wants to send some Tricky Trainers to a lucky reader of this here blog.<br />To win a 3 pack of Tricky Trainers Liver flavor, Cheese Flavor and the Salmon Flavor please do the following:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">MANDATORY ENTRY:</span></span> Go visit <a href="http://www.cloudstar.com/">Cloud Star</a> and come back with something you like about their site, blog or products.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra Entries</span></span> (do the MANDATORY first please): leave seperate comments for each,<br /><br /><ul><li>Leave me a comment about your pet. Something funny they do. Or how wonderful they are, anything about your pet.- 1 extra</li></ul><ul><li>Follow my blog publicly, or tell me you already do - 2 extras</li></ul><ul><li>Subscribe in a reader - 2 extras</li></ul><ul><li>Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link - 2 per day</li></ul><ul><li>Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post - 4 extras</li></ul><br />This giveaway ends at midnight April 3rd. Open to USA only.<br />Winner will be notified by email. And will have 48 hours to send me shipping info.<br />Please make sure email contact is in your comment or your blog profile if you have a blog.<br />Cloud Star will ship prize.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1022414131129432311.post-81237477524594298232010-03-18T12:03:00.007-04:002010-03-18T12:39:46.707-04:00Total Library Score, You May Be Able to do the Same.Larry and I live outside a very small town, so the people who work at the library know us. One of the women there has brought in beads for me to use in my jewelry and she orders books for me because she knows my reading habits and knows I will like what she orders.<br /><br />So this past week when we went, she told me they had put some books on the sale shelf...Cookbooks!<br /><br />The sale shelf is an area they have set aside with shelves going floor to almost ceiling that holds books they have replaced with newer editions, books that are outdated or have slight damage.<br />But still great books.<br />There is an honor box that you can slide a few bills or some change into to support one of the few free public services we have left. ( a pretty wonderful public service)<br /><br />Anyway, here is the Library Love I scored this past week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIGozFSbJwI0oY_qOBqR2Rk9b9XLKmsXQckIzw189M-d7rCxJD2d0MkqZNzvIMSKDZf_MyuxsjGfa2NJozmi9tYTi1pOBSGciwFeB3j8dzveEnzM1rCi1hBeQn7AwZP6YE8IrcsBrlpI/s1600-h/IMG_1366.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIGozFSbJwI0oY_qOBqR2Rk9b9XLKmsXQckIzw189M-d7rCxJD2d0MkqZNzvIMSKDZf_MyuxsjGfa2NJozmi9tYTi1pOBSGciwFeB3j8dzveEnzM1rCi1hBeQn7AwZP6YE8IrcsBrlpI/s400/IMG_1366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450009901915398162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA4kgqHh0STuCoeSAHxBuqO3ZGL1aX1eij5naTj68ylSI47tUGoJsn_uuMgoFJKVObWBJeAVtNZJ0kTR-54grTHIfAf2jesoDn7RDOQEGpbGFLJyGlAWggjAJcXO8r_BbfP-o2kt0-6o/s1600-h/IMG_1369.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA4kgqHh0STuCoeSAHxBuqO3ZGL1aX1eij5naTj68ylSI47tUGoJsn_uuMgoFJKVObWBJeAVtNZJ0kTR-54grTHIfAf2jesoDn7RDOQEGpbGFLJyGlAWggjAJcXO8r_BbfP-o2kt0-6o/s400/IMG_1369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450010220994583506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1A2BMHEbd5yoo3nCKdJctFY7JyNleFYKuVcplppSMnxjmSr61osR0xgE3ytUuSpN5HFrXscgoHSkJ-xuCx8QNodL6xvJJgMQoy_3jaObMdZYb7GqnnXwXiSdhuctRzG3d0qKHahyphenhyphenmlI/s1600-h/IMG_1371.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1A2BMHEbd5yoo3nCKdJctFY7JyNleFYKuVcplppSMnxjmSr61osR0xgE3ytUuSpN5HFrXscgoHSkJ-xuCx8QNodL6xvJJgMQoy_3jaObMdZYb7GqnnXwXiSdhuctRzG3d0qKHahyphenhyphenmlI/s400/IMG_1371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450010579469620034" border="0" /></a><br />So if you love books, please support your local library. And if you like to collect books, ask if they have a discard cart or a library sale or shelf.<br /><br />Also another thing I do, I check out books from the library and if I love the book, I go to Amazon or half.com and buy it.<br />A great way to get a list of books that you may not have heard about like craft books or cookbooks is to go to Amazon and do a search. I search in the book category for "jewelry" and page after page of jewelry making books pop up. I copy down the titles, then go to my library's online site and order the books.<br />If my local small library does not have it on their shelves, they will order it from another library to be delivered to my library and call me when it comes in, or they can email you.<br /><br />Now, I'm not saying "kill the Kindle", but it is mighty hard to curl up in bed with your four year old and look at the pretty pictures in a book when they are on a 5" screen.alovelymadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08406822064258819690noreply@blogger.com4