31 July 2007

It's Paying Off...

I went on two walks yesterday...

One in the AM and one in the PM. I seem to have a lot of extra energy coming from a lot of life events and feelings to walk off...or through...or just utilize them as fuel for:

Project Reduce the Ass (2007)





It had rained quite a bit yesterday in between my walks, resulting in the loss of power downtown at one point even...and as I ventured outside in the evening, I witnessed a wet and beautiful world...green carpeting covering the Prescott earth. And it smelled like...

well, quite like...

Tea.

Comforting in the being embraced by the Earth type of thing...having the mother invite you to sit down for a cuppa'?





I had about a million thoughts swirling around in my head, I have to admit that it's been like that lately...presentation of scenarios with no solutions...

things drifting in and out...
I am trying to let them all go...those thoughts...like sand slowly slipping through my fingers, not knowing what's going to happen next, and trying not to grab a hold too tightly...for fear of strangulation...




I thought a walk
would help to clear my head, switch directions...let go of unattainable focus. Plus, it indulges one of my rather voyeuristic habits...

I have to confess that I enjoy walking in the evening because I can peer into people's windows. Walk by a lot of my favorite Prescott homes and gawk. Congratulating myself on how I've decorated my home...and enjoy what other people have done to theirs...

Peeking in the windows (OK...let me clarify, I'm just walking by, I don't sneak across lawns...) of the homes that sell every other day (every community has those right? Homes that make you say, "good heavens that house is for sale again? What idiot would buy that?")

Then, I came across a home with two people in the kitchen together...dancing that dance of making dinner after a busy day...helping each other out. I don't know, maybe they were arguing too...but it didn't look like it.

It made me feel a bit lonely.
For that. For that easy dance you share with someone sometimes in your kitchen, knowing exactly how to help...and what to do. When someone knows you so very well, a secret glance and a happy smile. The sharing of how your day was...while you nurture each other.

Serves me right for peeping doesn't it?

And, I watched the clouds turn to pink and light up the trees and the horizon, and reached for the hand of the person beside me...and realized that I was walking this one alone tonight. Then, the iPod played Il Secondo Giorno, from the Marie Antoinette soundtrack for me, and I felt a little wooed and flirted with. Then David Bowie stopped by singing Golden Years, which made me pick up the pace a bit...and smile, cause' I love me some David Bowie (Love Soul Train...my mom and I used to watch it all the time when I was little...and isn't he super young in that video?) Sigh.

And I came home...

And, I know I'm Ok, always have been, and will probably continue to be...

Of course, after the peeping the best part is?

My walks are paying off on so many levels...
Not only the obvious ones like exercise and fresh air certainly,
but, between the two walks?

while looking down on the ground?

I found 26 cents...

30 July 2007

Weekend of Rest...

?
Well, it was restful for me, lets put it that way. I am finding that it is indeed hard to keep a good woman down (although I almost was down cause of all the dairy and wheat on that pizza "treat" of mine) My big plans were not to do much of anything this weekend. Since I can't just laze around (I don't have a couch, so it's hard for me to lie around in the living room...good excuse eh?) So, let's just say that I didn't do anything stressful..

I woke up early-ish on Saturday morning with sewing on my mind. I thought for my little lunch and movie date, that I would try to look nice (one always should on a date, even if it is with oneself) So, I tootled into the studio and discovered a rather large pile of almost done sewing projects and things I needed to mend. I dove right in, and it took all of 5 minutes to fix the things in the pile (rolling my eyes at the level of procrastination)


Then, it was onto the skirt. That was an easy project that took all of about a half hour...I've made so many skirts, it's kind of old hat by now. I put an elastic waistband in this one, so that was easier than my normal waistband, which I have never mastered, and can not for the life of me get it to turn out to my satisfaction, so usually is sits on my waist gaping open, or held together with safety pins...

Such levels of perfection, eh?









I was trying
to take some arty pictures of myself to shake it up a little...I like the first picture, although it looks a little blurry, which is weird because I was sitting still, so I added the second one so you could see the skirt better, but I think my face looks odd and I'm not to impressed with the way my body looks either...Plus, I was happily surprised that all my running around launching myself at my rather vintage kitchen table didn't result in the table collapsing into a heap of matchsticks.

I also had some pictures of myself taken while holding the camera above my head...with more of my torso in the shot. And let me tell you, that perspective makes me look really thin...it also affords you a great view down the V-neck of my tee...so those pictures were cut from the final choices.

My sushi lunch and viewing of the latest Harry Potter movie was divine! I also, enjoyed the previews of new movies coming up: Across the Universe, Stardust, Enchanted, Beowulf, and Get Smart (one of my favorite shows when I was a kid)

Then, I came home for a leisurely rest of my day sitting and enjoying the overcast, cold and rainy weather, chocolate covered raisins...and watching a bunch of movies here at home.

It was so cloudy...I decided to turn on my little fireplace...and light a ton of candles. I've been doing that lately at night when I get home and relax...light candles. Between that and the twinkle lights I have set up all around, it's quite romantic...



...and Sunday? Well, I woke up to 24 hours worth of warnings for flash floods (it's been about 48 hours straight of warnings) but...it was sunny. Quite sunny as a matter of fact...when I walked to my mom's to collect the Sunday paper, I was quite sweaty...Which made me wonder about making the chicken in the crock pot like I planned, but I did it anyway...

And later?
Oh boy, did it cloud up within minutes and thunder and lightning so much that the cat took one last look at me for the afternoon before she jumped off the back of my chair and landed under the bed...

Look at all the lovely rushing water in the creek...



Except the creek is the road to my house (yes, a dirt road in the middle of downtown) These pictures were taken after the torrential downpour. It was blowing in one side of the house so hard at one point (it's always been like that during the monsoons...we would often leave the dry house in the morning, to come home to wet carpet in the afternoons) that I had to beat closed a couple of windows with my hammer (just the frames, not the glass...and this was after there were several deep puddles on the kitchen floor, which was good cause' I needed to mop)


And we know what happens when it rains like this
...I run from window to window checking the water level. I had a small water problem last year...under the back door of the basement...not good. So, I ran out with a metal hoe and a pissed off attitude of "bring it on", and dug a bunch of little water troughs to divert the water...which has helped the problem immensely...I cleared them out the other day after a big rain...and was excited to wait until the middle of a huge downpour and lightning, to take up the metal hoe in hand once again (wearing pink sandals I'll have you know) and do some more water diversion. You just can't tell where exactly the water's going to go until it's barreling down both driveways...

So...this weekend was my little version of relaxing...I am working 6 days in a row this week...so I am going to need to do some extra resting (I am planning on posting...we'll see what weird ramblings I come up with)

Oh...I vacuumed too,
but it wasn't nearly as fun as being out in the rain with metal in my hand...

27 July 2007

OK Carol...

This is for you...

Due to an early morning conversation after I got the phone call...

Oh yes, Nebraska it is for now...

So, Velvet Brick (another wonderful friend I've made from the blogging community) suggested that look into the mirror at who I've become...

I decided to document it with a picture.







...And, since I could not join the Ya-Ya's down at Nando's for margaritas...I am celebrating...or trying not to crawl into a hole.

And Rich, I apologize in advance because I know you can't eat any of this food (I can't either, and maybe someone will remind me when I'm getting sick later)

Pizza...Ground Coffee (cause' I'm a lazy git who can't seem to get the energy up to grind my beans every day, which results in really strong coffee one day...and weak the next)...chocolate covered raisins (I may be the only person in the world who considers those a treat, and I may take some to the movies with me tomorrow...shhh)...Coconut Kisses (cause next to the real things, these are darned good...and movies....lots of movies....

The Entire Thin Man Collection (love Nick and Nora)
What The Bleep Do We Know? (could use a pick-me-up)
The Devil Wears Prada (makes me feel like I can do anything)
A Room With a View (My all time favorite love story)


And a small water toast (cause' with all that crap, I'm not drinking wine too)

To Me...and the places I've been
To You...for joining me in the journey
To Us...for everywhere we may find ourselves in the future...

(and to utter sleep and relaxation...laughing and crying...and everything in between)

Did I Make It?

Is this the weekend?

Oh, yeah, almost...I get to live through this day still. I'm wondering what the day will bring? News? Decisions? Closure?

Yeah...something I'm sure...I hope at least.

I've had a bit of a weird week at Snap-Snap, and I've decided that I am about ready to call it all off and join the circus...I have no special freaky circus skills that I can think of off hand...I am not double jointed (I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue) I can't grow a beard (I don't think...I've never put my mind to it though) clowns are a bit suspect (although I used to own a Volkswagen Bug and hauled most of my friends around town in it) and I am a little wary of heights (I just pictured the trapeze and the the mere thought worked up enough sweat to cause my hands to fly off the keyboard and hit the cat)

But, I do have this lovely frock...well, it's more of a silk mu-mu, but look at the fabric!

And speaking of fabric...

I was quite naughty the other evening...


I had to go to JoAnn's for some, um...paper? You know? For all the ephemera pieces I've been creating? And I had a little teary moment when I walked into the store and saw all the fall things that were already out...cause' I've really been wanting it to be fall year round (boring? Perhaps...I just happen to love the fall) and to cheer myself up, I decided to meander around and look...just look at the fabric...
Um-hmm...

OK...it was on sale, and I sooo need a skirt made out of this.

The plans this weekend are to rest. And then rest some more. No weird shopping ('cept to CostCo to get my salad for the next week) or running around for no reason at all only a quick pop out for a movie date.

I've been invited on a date...by?

ME!
(sexy huh?)

I haven't been on a date with myself for such a long time (I may even go to lunch) and I haven't been to a movie in ages either. I'm thinking Harry Potter...as I've been reading the book all week and the theme song has been running through my head. Luckily I'm not too annoyed with it rattling around in there while I read.

And since I am only about 100 pages away from the ending, my heart has been beating quite fast for a few chapters, and I've already had to put the book down and cry several times...it may be in my best interest to read the ending of the book when I'm not in the public eye. I actually had to put the last book down and cry for quite a while when I read the ending...and wasn't quite sure that I really wanted anything more to do with Mr. Potter.

But, I need closure.
And Hope...
everything really is going to be OK in the end, isn't it?

update: I finished the book last night...I promise I won't give anything away. I shouted "NO!" a couple of times outloud, and had to get up and walk around after bursting into tears...and yes, I did cry (so much so that the cat came over and licked my hand)

Thank You JK Rowling for the amazing gift...and for helping bring magic back into the world
for many people...


26 July 2007

Misc, Employment

Every week, I run to my mother's house and get the Sunday paper. I don't actually take the local paper myself, as I only enjoy reading the Sunday edition, and I don't figure it's worth the extra money to take it full-time, especially since my mother so kindly shares her editions with me...

So, I usually grab and look at all the sale fliers to see what's going on in the local shopping world, lightly skim through all the sections, and usually land on the Classifieds. I have been looking at the Classifieds more lately for that special someone, just in case there was some sort of great tech job that materialized up here. So, I was checking computer jobs last weekend and then decided to check miscellaneous employment as well, because sometimes interesting things end up there as well...

I saw the above ad. Now, I know that it is a little fuzzy, so let me read it to you:
(hold on...got tot get my glasses, ooops...already wearing them...um, ok...)

Slumber Parties By Dawn. Why spend another evening sitting around complaining about men. Redefine the usual Girls Night Out with slumber parties and live your fantasy. For Women 18 and up.

Um, What?!

No really, WHAT?!

Now, I just had a little girlie night last weekend, and yes, I suppose we did talk about our relationships...but the entire evening didn't center around complaining about the men in our lives. We certainly discussed our current life situations, and our reactions to them, and our subsequent feelings about them...but, I don't remember complaining. And, even if we had, would an all girl's slumber party solve anything? Cause, if I need to be over 18, to have someone host a slumber party to make my fantasies come true...with my girlfriends...I may have a whole new set of problems in my relationship. Or, does this Dawn person provide the girls...I mean, my head virtually swirls with possibilities and not any of them seem like attractive alternatives to the relationship that I am currently in.

Lord, what has happened to this small town? Am I reading too much into this ad? (and I always used to complain there was nothing to do here...ha!) I mean, it's bad enough that there will soon be 3 WalMarts no less than 40 miles from each other, we have an Old Navy and Kohls...

Besides, the only slumber party I ever remember anyone getting their fantasies fulfilled happened on one of my birthdays when my mother started a chocolate ice-cream fight in the kitchen and she finally had a reason to replace the ugly drapes that she always hated that were covering the sliding glass doors...

She was super happy.

And, we didn't even need Dawn.

25 July 2007

Look! Look!


I do other things besides taking pictures of other people's children to post on my blog...really, I do. I realized after a phone call from a devoted and loyal blog reader yesterday at Snap-Snap who said rather excitedly, "are you OK? What's going on? I can't tell from your blog...", that my plan of blogging about seemingly inconsequential things is working to lead you off the path of what your questions about my current life situation may be...

And don't you just want details? Well my little monkeys:







  • I'm fine, emotionally all over the place...and my life just got busier than I was anticipating.
  • All I want to do lately is eat chocolate and sleep (and I'm fine with doing them simultaneously)
  • I've been thinking that I would like to move to a place that had the season Fall all the time
  • Rich hasn't heard anything about the CO job.
  • Everything is fine with us....







There, will that hold you for a while? You can always call me for the full rundown if that isn't enough...but, I'll let y'all know more as soon as I do. Meanwhile...

So, I have been collecting vintage books, children's and otherwise, not in the best of shape, and ripping them all up to pieces so that I can alter the pages into art. I've made most of the pieces for friends and family members...as cards, or double sided pieces of art.








I create a lot of the pieces in Snap-Snap while I should be doing other things...I mean, when I have a lull in business, or need a little pick-me-up in my day. Plus, the amazing thing about creating is the simple fact that I entirely loose track of all time.

The day goes by superfast, and I forget to eat.

And, it's all in the name of art and creativity!
(can you think of a better reason?)








Well, a couple of weeks ago, a long time customer, and now good friend came in with a request...

After she and her husband built their own cabin/home (which I followed the whole process because, what a great thing...to have a husband who would help you do that? Or even be interested in doing that with you?) and later putting up a yurt onto the property...well, recently there was a death in the family and they inherited a house, so they will be splitting their time between Prescott and N. California...






Now, if I understand correctly, this was her childhood home. Well, she's decided to decorate the walls with pieces that inspire her...

So, she came in and asked me if she could buy a piece from me.

Yes, because she wants to be inspired when she looks around her new home.

And she wants my art to be a part of that.

So, I let her go through my stash...and she couldn't decide on one, so she chose all the ones you see on this page...



(she's putting the last 2 in her bedroom)

She picked them up today and was over the moon about them...so much so, that she chose 4 more, and wants to come in and get some for her daughter too...

The greatest thing is that I had just been tripping over this stuff for weeks and feeling sad that I hadn't done anything with it...and was wondering what direction I should take this in...

So, the answer is?

I'm an artist.

Oh yes, I am...

I'm going to do more pieces and put them up in the shop, to see what they'll do in there...

Oh yes, I am...

24 July 2007

Rats Bats...

During the car ride up to the lake the other day...we adults were having a discussion. Zora was calmly sitting in her little seat having a snack as she watched the world glide by out her window. We were all excited and talking about something (probably extremely important) And I exclaimed,

"Rats!"

As, I was turned around talking to Kate in the back, I happened to glance in Zora's direction...












I sat watching her puzzle this exclamation out...I mean, you could actually see her take it in roll it around in her mind, going through all the things she's heard people say...and not be able to put it into any context...upon which she promptly asked me,












"Sadie, why did you say Rats?"


although, it came out more like:

"Sadie, why you say wrats?"











And, I explained to her that I was disappointed about something, and that's what I say when that happens (well, to be fair...that's what I politely say when that happens)














She seemed to take this all in stride, nod her head...and replied,

"Rats Bats!"

23 July 2007

Goldwater Lake...



As foretold...Saturday morning while finding me up and about early on a solo hike, I came home quickly showered and got ready to go out again, only this time to Goldwater Lake. I was the guest of Kate and Zora, and Kate's mom.


Part of Kate's plan while she was up here was to go out into the forest or some of our other varied bits of nature up here and introduce Zora into the great outdoors of our youth.







Zora didn't have any problems feeling immediately comfortable out in the woods. She kept walking right off the path to find her own way, and yelling at us that she was going to,

"...hike in the lake!"

We tried to tell her that it was against the rules to do that, but she would just turn away from us and explore on her own. We didn't actually let her go in the lake, as we have been warned all our lives that we're not allowed to do that. None of us could really figure out why we're not allowed to swim in any of the lakes here, but the local legend of this particular lake is that they use it for our drinking water.


Which is odd, because we were sitting remembering that up until a few years ago the city used to let the triathletes swim in it...hmmmm. I'm feeling a bit like a gullible native. I'm thinking at this point that it has less to do with drinking water and more to do with liability...

Anyway, this lake is wonderfully maintained and has the nicest bathrooms (cause there's nothing like teaching a toddler that really clean bathrooms are naturally occurring in nature)








She was fascinated by the bark she found on the ground, and I showed her that it belonged on the pine tree once and had fallen off. What I didn't tell her was that it was probably because of the bark beetle problem we have up here...

I didn't want to scare her. Or myself for that matter. There's nothing worse in the last few years than watching so many beautiful pine trees turn brown and die up here.












It was so fun to watch her gently explore in her pink Converse high tops...when she wasn't shredding off on her own trail...



























She loved the pine needles too, and I showed her where they came from...and she immediately made me lift her up so she could pull them off their branches and throw them on the ground.

That absolutely cracked her up!








She and her mommy spent quite a bit of time picking up bark and sticks for future plans to make fairy houses when they go home...

I can't wait to see them!






























...And, after a while, it was time to pack it up and go home.

How nice it was to be part of Zora's first real hiking adventure in the woods...

Thanks guys!







Ok, is it just me or did anyone else find the first chapter of the new Harry Potter book disturbing? I was having a kind of out of it afternoon on Sunday because I hit naptime pretty hard and could not for the life of me come back from it...So, I thought I would read. I hope the rest of the book isn't going to be like this cause' I had to get up and take a walk to clear my head (ok, there's other stuff going on, but still...) Then I came home and had to make myself a special treat...

Cause I finally found coconut Torani syrup at CostPlus! It's made me gasp and do a little happy dance right there in the store, which amused my niece to no end...so, I ended up making a coconut cream Italian soda...

Sparkling water in about 3/4 of the glass you're using
A generous dash of coconut syrup
and top with soy milk

It was an instant pick-me-up...

ohhh...I should try a Hazelnut one too!

Maybe I'll need it after chapter 2?

20 July 2007

And The Earth Is Warmer...


When You Laugh...

Especially with a girlie group! More on that in a second though.

Saturday started early as I jumped up out of bed and did a quick 6 miles on Peavine. It was a wonderful morning, overcast and cool...which morphed into a wonderful day infused with little rainstorms throughout.









I'm sure I got a lot done, in between running errands (had to pick up the latest Harry Potter don't you know, even though I don't know when exactly I'll read it, as I cried through the last 2 chapters of the previous one...and I'm wondering if I'm not just a bit to angry to care about what happens in the end of this series?)





I also headed up to Goldwater Lake later in the morning with Kate and Zora...but I'll be posting pictures of that later. Gotta' love the suspense don't you?

The outing to the lake wasn't that long, and since it was overcast, I neglected to wear sunscreen thinking that I would be safe...needless to say, I got a little pink. You'd think since I've lived here so long...and I know that I can't handle the sun, that I would've thought of that.

You'd think that right?

Sigh.




And, I know you're on the edge of your seats for the chosen high fashion of the evening, but pinkness made me rethink my outfit for the evening (as I had something else totally picked out) That and Ms. Dina informed me since she was wearing jeans, that I should too, and it was colder by the time we left the house, so jeans it was!

Along with a new velvet long top (that I got during the Phoenix trip) and haven't worn yet..and this really was the perfect night to wear it

(plus, it brings out the lovely pink glow on my skin don't you think?)

sigh.


The girls, Kate, Megan, Dina and I met at the Raven Cafe for a little beverage, and then came back here to laugh and talk the night away.

I fired up the speakers on the patio, and we got right down to it...all the while enjoying spontaneous rain sprinkles. Can you tell the AZ people by the fact that it's raining and we all say, "cool, no problem...I'll sit out in the evening air being rained on"

Truly lovely...Laughing and solving the worlds problems. All in a nights work really, and I think we were all needing this evening of relaxing and letting loose.





And...I am a bit sorry for the darkness of the last two shots. I'll tell you, what did I do before the blog? Not stand around and take pictures of myself. I love the fact that I try to make all these faces...smiling and broody...and then am surprised at the results I see in the end, considering I think I look wide eyed, angry and confused most of the time... It really leaves me asking, do I look like this in real life?

oh my.

I am also apologizing that while I did have my camera the whole evening, I sometimes forget to whip it out and continue to photograph the rest of the group.

Can I use the excuse that we were having so much fun that I forgot?

I think so.

Thank you girlies...
I'm excited for our next get together...


19 July 2007

The Squirrel Report...

There has been a lot of activity here of the Nature Kind...

Now, you know I have a little squirrel that has lived next door for quite some time, and I have to say, with real estate prices being what they are up here in exclusive Northern Arizona, ahem...I am actually excited that the squirrel bought into the market when he did. He makes a great neighbor, no loud parties, keeps the place clean and tidy...and he enjoys cultivating the outside nature areas in the neighborhood.

Well...recently, he moved in his new wife. And again, they are really the ideal neighbors, no loud fights, and they seem to do everything together. They are a lovely couple, and never are the type to be stand-offish because I don't have a live-in. Every once in a while they come over to enjoy a meal on my patio (spilled birdseed you know)







Well, they've been busy indeed because I've noticed ton's of extra activity in their yard lately...

Cause' 2 adult squirrels apparently result in 2 baby squirrels...




And, with no tacky brightly colored plastic baby toys littering their yard...they play with what they have, the perfect environmentalist parents really...

I do hope they ask me to babysit soon, you know, in case they want a date night sometime soon? I just love babies...and these one's look extra cuddly don't you think?




Oh...speaking of date night, it's a Saturday night out with the girlies this weekend. You know, something in me has changed. I used to look scornfully down my nose at women who went out together and called it Girls Night Out. I would make one of those half laughs and get quite haughty. Well, I take it back...I'm noticing that I'm having to take a lot of things back. Things I've found myself making fun of other people for, or thinking in the back of my mind, "that's crazy, why are they doing that?" or " Don't they know that it will never work out?" I figure that it's the universes way of giving me new reality and different experiences, otherwise known as smacking me off my high horse. So, in the spirit of being forced, uhh...experiencing new things, I've started doing the girlie thing more. And you know what

I'm loving it.

I am loving spending time with the groups of women in my life. Loving throwing all of us together in different combinations to see what we come up with. There are so many similarities between women, and so many differences...but in the end, we all love to get together for support, howling with laughter and tears...The connection is wonderful...

Plus, I get to wear all the fancy digs I have in my closet...
(so, I'll take pictures for sure)

Have a wonderful weekend!!

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