Old dogs!

It is pretty cold out there this morning.  The old north wind is blowing pretty hard, so I bundled up extra warm for my bus trek to work this am.  I was still kind of cold when I stood out at the stop waiting for the bus, but once I got on it, and settled my wide rear into the seat I was toasty warm. 

I think I felt somewhat like what a child in a snowsuit must feel like.  I had my parka zipped to my nose - my wool gloves (real ones from New Zealand) on my hands, and my ipod was playing a Christmas Harp album.  The bus was crowded and very warm and lumbered along in the dark morning and yup - I fell asleep.  Good God, I hope I didn't snore.. or slobber!!!

The next thing I know some kindly old gal who volunteers at our hospital was pulling at my sleeve, asking me if I was getting off at the regular stop.  I almost swatted her - that's how comfortable and cozy I was!  The bus stopped and I sprang off the bench seat and almost tripped in my haste to leave the bus... talk about embarrassing moments!

How on earth will I get on that same bus with those same people again tomorrow???

Then as I was walking into office I had a thought - (my mind had finally awakened).  I must be comfortable with riding the bus now!  Well I'll be!!  Never thought the day would come when I could say such a thing, but I do believe it's true....

See.... you can teach an old dog, new tricks!

Have a great day everyone!

Christmas Reading

Have you ever spent time in the Christmas section of your local library?  It it one of the best places (for me) to waste time, dream, plot, and plan... and yeah - waste time! 

I go to 2 local libraries regularly, and they both have a bunch of wonderful things in the Christmas section.

On Saturday I stopped in to return some doll clothes books I had renewed 5 times, and couldn't renew again.  They were overdue by 1 day so I had to pay my .80 fine as well.  While I was there I decided to see if there was anything new in the Christmas section... hubby was right on my heels.

I wasn't disappointed.  There were several new Christmas editions of craft magazines, cooking magazines and decorating magazines.  Lots of new Christmas CDs - which hubby grabbed and wouldn't let go of - and many new Christmas novels and books.

I so wanted to take out a stack of stuff... a little of each  - but darn it all - I have only 3 weeks till my sale, and I really can't afford to get side-tracked.  Still - I did snatch a few of the magazines - those I can thumb through quickly without actually reading!!!

I did find some post sale reading material which I fully intend to pick up the day after the sale - I can't wait!

Here are some terrific "Christmas reads".

If you have a library close by and wish to read something in season, check out these great reads.

THE CHRISTMAS BOX.  by Richard Paul Evans.  This tiny first novel from Richard is a quick read, but worth the effort in every way.

THE GIFT by Richard Paul Evans  This one, a more popular novel is centered around a man who witness a series of miracles performed by a terminally ill boy... it is filled with lessons in love, giving and forgiveness... have your box of tissues handy, if you intend to read this one.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL CHRISTMAS by Jack Canfield. - like all the Chicken Soup books, this one focuses on genuine stories - this time of hope and kindness and the true meaning of Christmas.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SANTA CLAUS by Jeff Guinn
This is a must  read for anyone who loves the Christmas Season... it is full of hilarious events, history and magic - and if you don't believe in Santa by the end of this book... well then there is no hope for you....

Jeff Guinn has also written  HOW MRS. CLAUS SAVED CHRISTMAS and THE GREAT SANTA SEARCH.  I have not yet read these - but they are on my post-sale list of reading for this Christmas season.

So there you have some inspiration for the Christmas Season... hope you get the chance to do some reading in the coming weeks.

Christmas Thinking

How can time be flying by so quickly?  Here we are into the second week of November already, and my brain is still thinking it's September.  I think I will blame the lovely weather - fall has extended itself way beyond what is normal for us for this time of year, and while everyone truly is enjoying the warm temperatures and the absence of snow - folks like me, who rely on the "normal" progression of fall to winter are procrastinating big time.

I happened to be in one of the larger shopping malls on the weekend, and it was wall to wall people.  I kept thinking, "Why are all these people here?"  Well I guess they would be Christmas Shopping already?  Keeners!!!

I am thinking about Christmas - well sort of - I'm thinking about my Christmas Sale - and I'm thinking about how to rearrange my living room so I can put up my tree - eventually  - I'm even thinking about decorating the outside of the house with lights and such - but that is pretty much the extent of my Christmas "Thinking"!

So as nice as it's been - we now need some cooler temps, and a little skiff of snow.... then my brain can get in the right gear for Christmas Thinking!

On a totally different subject...

I need to share something wonderful, heartwarming and just plain awesome with you.  This came to me this morning, and I know you are going to enjoy it.

The little girl in this video, is spectacular...

Give this a listen - you will be in awe of this little 5 yr old.


Stay Calm Dad

TGIF!

Happy Friday, everyone!  Glad the week is over and nice weather is predicted for the entire weekend.  I plan to get my outside Christmas lights and swags put up over the weekend, work on some more sale items, clean my house, do my laundry, make some meals - and by the time that is all done, it will be Monday and time to return back to work!  But - next week  my work week in only 3 days long, so all is good!

I spent some time taking some photos of finished projects last night, but when I actually loaded them on the computer, didn't like the finished product of most of them, so I will try and remedy that this weekend.

I did manage to get a few good ones so here are a few more of my finished bears.  The novice skier - like I promised yesterday, a ballerina, and a skater... hope you like them.  I also am posting one of my Victorian ladies hats, will post the Man's hat in the next batch.

So here they are... 

Ballerina



Novice Skier

Ballerina

Have a great weekend Everyone!

New colors, new bears, and a good friend...

I hope you like the new colors on my blog - I find it nice and restful on the eyes...

I am trying to add some new pictures of my items as I complete them.  This past week I have been concentrating on finishing all the bears I have started as well I have crocheted some little soldiers.  I usually only did these in white/ivory or ecru, but this year decided to color them up.  So I have one for Breast Cancer (2 colors of pink); one in red and navy; one in traditional Christmas red/green... and one in blue and gold.  I won't make too many of these, but it's nice to have something to sell that is suitable for men or boys.

This year I have paid particular attention to that... I have tried to make more bears that could be given to men or boys... so I have done some extra sports bears than I usually do.  They have turned out really good, and tomorrow I will post a picture of the not-so-great skier.  I had some fun trying to glue all the bear parts together to make the bear look like it had fallen to the ground - and I think I just might have pulled it off... I'll let you be my first critics....

On a different note, I'd like to take a minute to tell you about a very special man... his name is Gordon, and he is a cancer survivor.  A couple of years ago Gordon was diagnosed with Colon cancer.  He received chemo and radiation, and then had surgery which resulted in a permanent colostomy.   He had more chemo and radiation again after the colon surgery... and then about a year and a half when he went for a follow-up screening CT they found some tumors on his lungs - so this past January he went in for surgery on his lungs to remove this cancer. 

Recently he had another follow-up CT which found more tumors - again on his lungs, so this past Tuesday he returned to the hospital to have yet another surgery.  He is an amazing survivor - even jokes that they should probably put a zipper in him, so they can just get in there do what they have to do, and then zip him up again.

If you are the praying sort - could you please say a special prayer for Gordon... as he recuperates yet again from a disease that just does not want to let go of him.... we don't either.... so the fight is on.

Thank you, my friends...

How many dolls have you crocheted?

This was sent to me this morning in an email from my sister-in-law.... Obviously my sister-in-law knows me much much too well...

I thought it was quite funny, and yes, okay it does sort of sound like me.... in a way....

But I must say, if I were counting on my Gary's ability to make me angry in order to crochet - I would almost never crochet!  aaaaawwwwweeeeee..............


So here you go... this is funny!  And yes - I am still crocheting like crazy for my sale....

Pictures coming soon.... I promise!




A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.

When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.

He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she said, ' my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue.   She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.   The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness. 'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?'

'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls!'

A Prayer.......
Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods;
Because Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death, because I don't know how to crochet!