Mowing and Fishing and Crafting too!

Hi All, How was your Memorial Day weekend? Mine was great, busy and relaxing all at the same time. Last Friday I took the lawn mower over to Bobbie's place and we mowed her yard. She wanted to do it herself but I noticed she kept shaking that left hand. She did finally agree to help with pushing the mower now and then. Luckily it is self propelled or it may have been even harder on her. So we took turns and she had a friend that was over help. We picked up the trash that had blown into the yard and sticks and stuff too.

***

Hubby and I went fishing both Saturday and Sunday. The weather was hot but not too hot. We tried Milford Lake and Moon Lake. I didn't catch a thing and Chuck only caught 2 small fishies. I did have lots of nibbles, little fishies stealing the worm. I did get to watch the turtles playing and sunning at Moon Lake.

And this beautiful bird was real busy out on the water. Didn't seem to be very good at fishing either. Kept dropping them. Funny!.....

These weed/flowers were all over the place. They are really pretty...


I managed to get some crafting in too. I made my first ever wall pocket. It was lots of fun coming up with a design and experimenting with the placement.

I took a few pics with different items in it to show what it could be used for.

Stationary pocket...

Garden pocket....

I put it up for sale in my etsy shop. More photos there.

I took my granddaughter to see Night at the Museum on Monday. She loved it and I did too. We seen the first one together so I knew I wanted to take her to see this one. I highly recommend it.

I got 2 more slide shows up on my AC site of the Run for the Wall visit here. I've been viewing some of the events in DC on the net. Wow, awesome!! Remember our vets not just on Memorial Day but always. And remember that our Freedom is not Free!!

***

I'll close this post with a prayer request. Bobbie and Robert have separated. He left about a month ago. Last time this happened he was back by now so we figured the same would happen. This time she has told him not to come back. He went to see Chuck yesterday and told him he was leaving in July for Arizona. Bobbie knows this and seems to be ok with it. There was a lot of shouting and arguing in that household. Robert has anger control issues. He agreed to go to counseling and we thought it would help but he quit going. With her bi-polar this was a bad issue. Bobbie seems to be more relaxed now but still is having some other issues. She is going to her weekly counseling sessions as she is suppose to and this is good. She does need prayer though, to get through this trying time. My granddaughter does not know yet that daddy will be leaving the state. So far she sees him a couple times a week briefly (Bobbie is his ride too and from work) and every other weekend. Bobbie told him it will be his responsibility to tell her. They have a mutual friend that lives in Arizona so he will have a place to go. My initial thought was at least he stayed through the surgery ordeal and until she had received the all clear from the doctor. Still it's hard. July would be there 11th Anniversary.

***

So what wonderful creative things did you do during the long weekend? Do tell...

Tess

Wow, I don't know about you all but I sure have been busy.

Saturday Chuck and I put all new knobs on our granddaughters dresser, cleaned it up and delivered it to them.

Then Sunday I got into a sewing mood and since we had missed going to potlatch at Camp Hansen to do a service project I decided to get started on a project from home. We are members of the Tribe of the Golden Eagle and to help out the camp some of us make things to sell at the Camp Trading Post. I found a great fabric in the remnants bin at Walmart and remembered I had it. I bought a bag of remnant materials at a yard sale months ago and decided to look through it. This is what I came up with.

I made two sets of breech cloths and they are fully reversible. The solid colors went perfectly with the colors in the patterned fabric. I did not have a pattern either. I just remembered what one of the other ladies at camp had told me and I looked at Chuck's breech cloth and started cutting. The ironing board and iron were a big help too. Front and back and a casing for the boys to put a belt through or a rope or strip of leather to secure to the waist. I have enough of the patterned fabric left to make two more sets and I found a nice brownish red solid color in the bag that matches. These will be my service project for this year. Well these and working staff for a week counts also. I will take them with us when we go to camp in June. We never seem to have enough breech cloths to sell in the Trading Post. Chuck makes eagle claw necklaces to sell and while in camp he usually makes at least one beaded chest plate to leave to sell the next week.

After I finished sewing I headed over to Heritage Park to watch the Run for the Wall ceremony. I had never witnessed it before even through it comes through our town every year. It was awesome. All of the veterans were so friendly and the event is very well organized.

This is the broken spoke wreath that was laid at the base of the Kansas Vietnam Memorial in our Heritage Park. If you would like to see more pictures please go over to my AC site. I took sooo many pictures of sooo many awesome people and motorcycles. :)

Run for the Wall

Part 2

Part 3

I have lots more photos to download and post and will probably do a part 4 and part 5 this weekend.

Tonight we are going over to Chapman to help a Troop with getting organized for their first ever week long camp at Camp Hansen this summer. They will be going the same week we do and we have been working with them for several years trying to get them to go. Their leadership has dwindled so we are needed. Tomorrow night we get to dress up in our regalia and attend a crossing over ceremony for a Pack we work with here. I love seeing the little guys eyes (cub scouts) when the leaders walk in dressed like Indians. Lots of fun......

I hope you all have a good rest of the week. Just 2 more work days to a three day weekend. Woo! Hoo! I wanna go fishing.

Tess

Wild and Wacky Self Portraits

Who says just because we are all grown up we have to act grown up. Having fun with these wacky glasses hubby found in his stash of things.

Have a great day,

Tess

A Gift from Nancy

Look what I got in the mail this week.

I had forgotten that Nancy requested my snail mail address. I was surprised and delighted to receive such a wonderful piece of artwork from her for no apparent reason. A just because she wanted to "Random Act of Kindness".

I had so much fun holding the package and guessing with my Mr. what could be inside.

And then the unwrapping and unveiling of the most inspirational and beautiful painting.

Prayer has been constant in my life lately as I suppose it should be.

This angel, a guardian angel I am sure, will remind me to pray in the good times also, not just the bad. I must remember to send up thankful prayers too. I have decided Nancy's gift will be that reminder for me. A reminder to pray through the good times and the bad. To pray with a quiet mind and a thankful heart.

This piece is so beautiful. I believe the term is encaustic. It feels smooth to the touch and the image seems to be sitting on top of the paper. She is real, it's the feeling I have when I look at her.

I have so many questions to ask of Nancy or any who may know the answers. How do I care for this wonderful piece of art? Can I frame it? Can the glass touch the wax or should the glass be above the art? And if no glass what about dust, cat hair? Will it melt? I love it so and I want it to last forever.

Thank you Nancy for this beautiful and inspirational gift. I do promise to pay this generous Random Act of Kindness forward one day. If you haven't lately please visit Nancy's blog. She is always posting such wonderful photographs and lately has been making some really beautiful new pieces of jewelry.

I am wishing all of you mothers, step mothers and "surrogate" mothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day tomorrow.

Tess

The Kreativ Blogger Award

As I mentioned in my last post Peggy Gatto has bestowed upon me this wonderful award.

I am honored and humbled to know that someone would think I am a Kreativ Blogger. Wow!

So now to the fun, here are the rules as taken from Susie's 1st floor flat blog (she gave the award to Peggy):

The Rules:
List 7 things that you LOVE.
Link to the person who has tagged you.
Choose 7 more bloggers to give the Kreativ Blogger Award to.
Comment on those 7 blogs to let the recipients know you chose them.

The 7 things that I love are:
1. My husband, who was my love when I was still but a child. The one who never betrayed my trust and remembered that even if I didn't look like it I was still a child. The man whom found me (or did I find him) and renewed that love as an adult and married me with my troubles and all. I love you honey.

2. My daughters, two young ladies who have seen awful things with mom and still survived. One who was raised by a mother who was also still a child and yet still today calls me mommy and has forgiven my faults. And one who has grown to become miss independent but still remembers mom needs to hear her sweet voice now and then. I love you my daughters.

3. My family, a large extended group of people. Mother, siblings, Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and an honery and lovable granddaughter. These people that I can be apart from for days and weeks and months on end and then sit down to chat with as if we had just seen each other yesterday. Yes, blood is thicker than water and I love them all; even the ones that tend to get under my skin.

4. I love the smell of fresh cut grass, always have. There is no smell as inviting to me than the scent of freshly mowed grass in the air. Even now with allergies and asthma affecting my senses I still enjoy that wonderful scent even through watery eyes.

5. I love how my husband smells after he has grilled our supper. That smokey, charcoal scent of an open fire or even when he's cooked over the gas grill. There is just something about that wonderful scent that increases my appetite. And I love the smell of the big camp fires at Boy Scout camps too.

6. I love poetry. The mixing of words to create images in the readers mind has always intrigued me. Reading poetry, writing poetry, there is no better companion when one is ill or hurting. No better therapist when one is trying to figure out an inner haunting.

7. I love the Internet and all of the wonderful blogs I have found. Believe it or not there was a time I argued the point about getting a home computer or the Internet. "We don't need that". "It'll cost too much." Bah!! Now I have seen places I had never imagined existed. I have found poetry and art and museums so wonderful and magical. I have made friends in India and Australia, Canada and Finland. And Hawaii, oh I mustn't forget Hawaii. And here I found wonderful souls willing to pray for my Bobbie, for me, and offer me strength in the form of words of encouragement. I love this thing they call the Internet.

And now for some blogs I believe deserve the Kreative Blogger Award also:

1. Mamta over at glimpes of me is a new friend I met at poetrydances. She is one of my favorite poets and I love reading her posts. I am sure you will too.

2. And then of course there is the wonderful arteology blog. I believe I found Jamie through this years OWOH event. She is such a sweetheart and I love all of the vintage pics she finds. She must have helped create Photo Shop because she sure knows how to use it. :) Her wonderful images never fail to make me smile.

3. Misty Mawn definitely deserves the Kreativ Blogger Award. It was Misty's January Journal challenge that really got me to experimenting more with paper, crayons, paints, fabric and learning how to just play and not worry about what others might think. She wears her emotions on her sleeve and if she's having a down time she just says so. I think she gave me the courage to be able to send out a prayer request for Bobbie. Misty's art is so inspirational to me. I love it and how she mixes words, thoughts and quotes into the mix.

4. And if you haven't yet you really must visit the evolution of nancy. Nancy is an exceptional blogger, mixed media artist and photographer. She is another blogger I found through the OWOH event I believe. She always has such interesting content on her blog and often tells the stories behind the photographs or artwork. (She also sent me a surprise gift by snail mail. I'll be blogging about it later this week.)

5. It's Turquoise Cro Thyme. I like making collages and I like seeing what others do with the art of collage. This blogger has some really fun and interesting collage ideas and I love seeing what she has come up with next.

6. Aimslee of the Paper Paisleys blog is so talented and comical. I love visiting her blog as I'm always guaranteed a good laugh or just a feel good smile will come over me.

7. vol.25 is one of the first blogs I figured out how to follow. Jessi is so very creative. She is a stay at home mom to cute Trinity and Journey and she sells her wonderful drawings and such in her etsy shop. I own an original she made of an idea I offered to her. A wonderful car with a wonderful quote.

I could blog about so many more wonderful bloggers out there that I follow; like Lori and Diane and Jude and Nina and, and, and. There is never a lack of creativity among my online friends. Painters, crafters, sewers, bloggers, poets, sculptors, photographers and so much more. I found some of these people by following links on comments on other peoples blogs. It's fun and a great learning experience, following blogs. Now go say hi to all of these fine bloggers and find some new ones to follow too. If you're feeling blue you just might cheer up and if you're feeling sunny you just might cheer someone else up. Go ahead, browse around, you know you want to! :)

Bye for now,

Tess

A Recycled Denim Bag

Look what I made...

It took me about 2 weeks working off and on when time allowed to put this cute little purse/shoulder bag together. I have some of my granddaughters old jeans and some that were a teenagers that were given to me for my granddaughter or niece. The hand-me-downs are either wayyy too big (niece) or wayyy too small (granddaughter). A few pair are in pretty bad shape. I couldn't stand the idea of throwing them away so I've cut them up.

I really had fun making this and working out the details and have already started another. I put this one in my etsy shop. There are more pictures there too. I'm not by any means a seamstress but I think this will hold up pretty good. It would be great for a pre-teen or teen.

I also wanted to share that I received the Kreativ Blogger Award from the wonderful Peggy Gatto. I feel so honored. :) I usually visit Peggy's Mixed-up Art blog and found she has another blog called My Coloring Book too. Or maybe I have been there and just don't remember. Anyway, I like both of those blogs and really enjoy visiting her mixed-up art blog. I'll be back later this week with my picks for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Who will they be?............

Happy Cinco De Mayo tomorrow,

Tess

Playing with Picasa

Hello, I'm playing with my Picasa program. I got it as a free download a long time ago.

I know, I know, I should be playing with my Photo Shop Elements but Picasa is easier and I'm wanting easy right now. Just playing around, goofing off really. I took this picture back at the end of March. Leaves were just starting to produce and green on my honeysuckle bush. The birds love my honeysuckle bush all year round.I thought they needed some color so I gave it some blue (below).

See that mystery spot next to the top bird near the upper right? (above)

Now it's gone. First time I had accomplished that effect. Cool, huh!
Then I decided to give it a graduated color. (below)
Then I decided to play with the black and white focal effect. (below)

Then I thought why not try a really bright color. (below)
I noticed the birds seem to show up better with this color wash.


But what if it were starting to get dark outside? (below)

I hope you had as much fun viewing as I did altering these little feathered friends.

Happy May Day!
&
Have a great weekend,

Tess

Ominous Oracle: Something to think about.

This was posted by a fellow member of poetrydances.ning.com on the ominous oracle website. It should be read by all:
Ominous Oracle: Something to think about.

Blessings,
Tess

A few of my favorite things...

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things...

This Man (My one true love and husband of 19 years.)

This photo of Billie and Raven in my mom's daisy field.

Jude Hill's Spirit Cloth blog.

A Camp Fire At Camp Hansen

Nina's jewelry and her Ornamental blog.

The gals at Red Velvet Art.

The owners of these little feet (even though they are bigger now).

Jodi Ohl and her Sweet Repeats blog.

My youngest brother calling me when it's storming to make sure I'm ok. (Yes little brother you can come over anytime, and especially when the weather gets bad outside.) :)

The smell of rain....

The smell of fresh cut grass...

A smiling baby...

Cats playing...

The sound of children laughing...

etsy.com

The color purple/lavender.

These are just a few of my favorite things for there are just too many to list here. Do share some of your favorite things....

Happy Sunday,

Tess

A crafting question...

Hello fellow bloggers,

I just realized I've been so busy I haven't had time to update my blog recently. Everything is fine. I trust you all had a good Earth Day yesterday and did something to better our environment. You can read my Earth Day poem over on AC.

I have a question for you all. My granddaughter would like to change the color of her bedroom. Bobbie says she wants hot pink walls. We've agreed no to paint her walls hot pink but to compromise. The walls will be a pale pink with one contrasting wall in hot pink. Then she can use hot pink decorations on the pale pink walls. I found some wonderful big paper napkins in the perfect shade of hot pink and I had a brainstorm. What if we "wall paper" the wall with the hot pink napkins? Would it work? There would be some seams yes, but that would just add texture to the wall. Then I thought of a dilemma. What glue to use? So this is my question to all you artistic and crafty people out there. Woulds this work and what type of glue would I use? I had thought maybe modpodge, hmmmm.......
What do you think?

Tess

A walk along a country road.....

The weekend was bright and beautiful and full of spring. Sunday after our annual Woodbadge Reunion Dinner was a perfect time for an early evening walk along the road leading to the turn off to Camp Brown. I love the scenery along this road and wanted to share a few unusual sights with you.

I've posted a slideshow with even more pictures on my AC site. Do take a look when you have the time.

I'm making a small jean pocket purse and I am almost ready to further embellish it. I'll post pictures when I'm finished. It's just an idea I had.

I managed to respond to both AC poetry challenges over the weekend. See them here and here.

So how was your weekend?

Hugs,

Tess

Ambitions Design: More Proof The Handmade Movement Continues to Thrive!!

You just gotta see this:Ambitions Design: More Proof The Handmade Movement Continues to Thrive!! Really fun video and the creator/founder of etsy is on here. He's just a kid!!
Soooooo Cooooool!!!!

Poetrydances Network Blog Jog

I recently joined the poetrydances network. I've really enjoyed the site and have made some new friends there. If you are poetic at heart or just enjoy reading poetry I invite you to join us. To celebrate National Poetry Month the site coordinator has sceduled a blog jog. Stop by and get in on the fun.

Friends
Special friends are sometimes
Lost,
But never truly
Forgotten.
So come into the present
from the past,
And from the present,
Walk (with me) into the
Future.

~Jan. 1986

Let's Play Dress-Up

She started this fun by putting my fake hair pony tail thingy on her head.

The above picture turned out rally blurry so I changed it up by applying a sepia tone to it and it doesn't look nearly as blurry now.

My fun wig from this past Halloween. She loved this look.

Ahhhh!!! :-(

Buy wigs when they go on sale after halloween. I paid 1.00 for this one. These wigs are so much fun to play with and Bobbie is such a good sport.

Now what did you put up there?
My tribal head gear. I never let them touch it. (I'm a member of the tribe of the Golden Eagle in Boy Scouts.) Don't you just love that look on her face?! I do!!

Two of my favorite people.

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

Hugs,

Tess

Bobbie Update and Other Stuff

Just a quick howdy before I get busy with dinner prep and some yard work and then back to some crafty creating...

Bobbie did great with her procedure on Monday. The doctor said the filter came out no trouble at all. They went through a small cut in her neck. She was partially awake through the whole procedure. Just the thought of that creeps me out. They said she was chatty and she said the nurse standing closest to her head smelled wonderful. Silly the things we remember when we have medical procedures done. All she wanted Monday was coffee. Coffee, coffee, coffee!! :-) There was a fresh hot cup of coffee waiting for her when she returned to her room from out patient surgery. Wasn't that nice? There is such great communication among the nurses at St. Francis.

~~~~
Yesterday was my birthday and I had surprise phone calls and surprise gifts from many. Hubby took me to supper at the IHOP that just opened here. Good food and good atmosphere, we'll go back, next time for breakfast.
~~~~
I've joined an art swap and have been working on the "painting" I am swapping. It's my first real swap so I want it to be really nice. I just feel bad that I didn't get anything posted here about it before the entry deadline. I promise to do better next time. The Spring theme was easy and I even drew out something to create, however I was having trouble deciding on the medium. I finally decided and so far it really isn't looking anything like the drawing. I like what I'm creating though and how it is turning out so far. I just hope my swap partner will like it. I've really enjoyed the 6'oclock stitch blog and just wish I could remember who sent me her way so I could thank her (or him).
~~~~
Oh, and since April is National Poetry Month I've been doing poetry challenges over at Associated Content. I've done two so far and would love it if you'd take a peek.
Just click on Chocolate and Remember Those 80's Shows to read.
~~~~
That's about it. I hope you all have been having a great week so far. Blessings to you all until next time. (I think I'll do some blog browsing this evening, I miss you guys.)

Hugs,

Tess

Ready...Set....Go...

And there off...............................I spent Saturday at the races. The Pinewood Derby Races that is. I am the Unit Commissioner for the Chapman Pack and we were invited to come and help as race officials. What fun! :-) I have been working with this Pack for the past 7 years. It's built up enough now that our weekly help is no longer needed but I stayed as the Unit Commissioner and help out with paperwork and fun stuff whenever needed. The tornado that tore through Chapman destroyed the Pack track and the Cub Master found time to get the track rebuilt just in time for the races. It's not painted yet but no one seemed to mind one bit.

These are just a few of the 21 cars that raced yesterday. See that mouse trap on the far upper right? That car won most original for the Pack. The genius of one of the Wolf Den scouts. And what about that second car from the left on the upper row? Looks pretty primitive doesn't it? Ah, but every cub scout knows to just "Do Your Best". Well he did do his best and his car was fffffffffffffFast. (Recognize R2D2?)

The Webelos Den leader and Tiger Den leader took turns setting the cars on the track. Mike eyed them carefully to make sure they were lined up just so. We always have so much fun at a Pinewood Derby Race. The big race is in May. All of the 1st and 2nd place winners from every Pack Den goes to the District race. Fun, Fun!!
~~~~~

And who might this be?

None other than Bobbie of course. Her hair is coming in really well. It seems to be thicker in the back than the front but we think it's coming along nicely.

And here she is with her little sister. Billie (yes, Petticoat Junction was my favorite show) came over to spend some quiet time with mom and pamper me a bit. She dyed my hair, no more grays, yippee!! Now I'm Mexican Red Brown, and believe me it's more red than brown. Billie picked the color and I enjoyed the attention and conversation. Bobbie and Robert drove by and seen her car and stopped to say hi and get a big hug. I insisted on a picture of the two of them. They are 6 years apart and not the closest of sisters but they get along and are there for each other when needed. I do believe this health issue with Bobbie has brought them a bit closer together. They seem to be in contact more now. I am glad as they are each others only sibling. Bobbie can't wait for her hair to grow long enough to spike it like her sisters. I can't wait for that picture, it'll be cool!!! I had fun playing with the pictures in Picture It and realized I really should be playing with my PS Elements or I'll never get used to it.

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend. We are off to St. Francis again tomorrow. This will be her 3rd surgery. This time to take out the heart catheter that was placed during her 2nd surgery. She really is doing good.

Tess

Through Hard Work and Perseverence...

Bobbie has yet again bestowed a wondrous gift upon me. With a shining smile and giggly, wiggly step we made our way back to St. Francis Hospital today (actually yesterday as I just noticed it's past midnight) for a post-op cat scan and a visit with the neurosurgeon. The cat scan is clean, yep, it looks good. No trace of the tumor attempting to regrow. Yippee!! She goes in 6 weeks to visit with the rehab Dr. again and then has another cat scan 6 months from now. Dr. Ebeling said if that one looks good then there would be another every 2 years for a while just to keep an eye on the area and to be sure it's not trying top come back. Oh and the line between the two hemispheres was straight as it should be. Wonderful news.

And that gift I mentioned, well it seems a fellow blogger found need to bestow an award upon me in honor of Bobbie. So it is to Bobbie I dedicate the awesome

Bestowed upon us by none other than "Distracted By Shiny Objects" over at the A Tiding of Magpies blog.

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

Now I am certain that the fact that I am a fan of zombie movies, as is Bobbie, and the fact that I watched the movie "The Land of the Dead" with my husband this evening had nothing to do with this award. Or did it! So as not to incur the wrath of the zombie chickens I too shall choose to pass on this amazing award to 5 unsuspecting souls. Who shall it be? Let's see.....

How about

1. Turqouise CRO Thyme

2. Misty Mawn

3. Lori at elvie studio

4. Diane at Duda Daze

And of course

5. Marilyn at As Seen Through My Eyes

All 5 of these wonderful bloggers and so many more have laid words of wisdom upon my heart these past months and I just couldn't think of any better way to say Thank You.

And now it's their turn....

Who will they honor with the

??? :-)

Hugs and Good Night,

Tess