cabinet makeover

The color is deceiving! I'll add more pictures when we are closer to completion.

happy feet

These are our extremely happy feet in the great St. Augustine. A day here of shopping and food was my birthday treat. I wish all roads could be bricked because I love this look!

gephetto takes skating lessons

Trying out his skills on Michaels longboard. Next step, surfing.

head to toe

Sporting my new bangs and old feet. For the safety of all involved, please do not zoom. :)

my heroes....

Every now and then, I will probably post something about the people that inspire me. Today...Amelia Earhart. There's just something about her story that fascinates me. I hope that one day, we will be able to know what really happened to her on that last flight in 1937.

the office...

This is my old office.......and it looks a mess. The place where I spend most of my waking moments. My lunch spot. My nap room. My headache. But it's not all bad. I get a leather chair :).

would you believe amnesia?

Yes, I know. I feel guilty....again. But maybe I had gone somewhere (nope) or done something (nope). Or I might have holed myself up indoors and not wanted to come out (most likely). Life sure has been busy here. I'm still acclimating myself to the new job. But, rest assured, I am alive and well. :)

Mountains from above, mountains down below. The first is a view from the airplane. I don't know if we were flying over Colorado or Utah. The second was taken right in front of my aunt's house. Bonita, verdad?

yet another guitar....

This steel bodied guitar belongs to my mother. The neck is a little warped so it's not playable. But it is displayable, lol. No pun intended.

A picture of mom's flowers from a recent trip to Oregon.... I don't have to tell you how much I miss it, you already know.

feeling neglected?

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while! I feel like I'm a mother who has realized that she left her baby in the car. All is well with me, I've started a new position at work and I haven't had as much time....you all know how it is.

Now that that's out of the way, on to other things. Has anyone else noticed how fast summer is approaching? Walking around I catch glimpses of flip flops, shorts and tank tops. I am still in jeans , a long sleeve shirt and tennis shoes. No wonder my legs are brighter than the noon day sun! lol Enjoy this time of relaxtion everybody. No more winter blues. Take the time to beach comb, garden or exercise (if you so wish to torture yourself). Don't waste a minute of it! :)

a week in color

I saw this idea on several blogs and it looked really fun! Hopefully, I can keep up. For every day of the week, there is a corresponding color. I'll be taking a picture to every day to capture color. This goes as follows;

Monday = Yellow
Tuesday = Blue or Turqoiuse
Wednesday = Green
Thursday = Whites, Browns or Blacks
Friday = Oranges
Saturday = Red or Pink
Sunday = day off, lol

rooted........

made in the home of lisa

Perhaps you'd like to zoom in...keep zooming....a little more......there. And I am, most assuredly, the worst photographer ever. Michael helped me with the pliers :) as I did not have the strength to twist the little tiny, itsy bitsy, piece of wire.

i think we've been robbed!

The floor is finally finished. Doesn't it look beautiful? This is my parents living room in Oregon. Thought I would show it off :)! I love the view through those large windows (the Hawthornes are in bloom). I say leave the furniture out because I want to take a nap in the little patch of sun.

pyramids in europe?

Well, thats the word on the street. Check it out here. You have to admit that this is pretty exciting! Never say that something is impossible until you can prove that it's not.

label...

Like many many people, I've spent a lot of time trying to define myself. Or label myself, if you will. I never could figure out where I belonged and still to this day don't really know. There are so many things that I love and enjoy that are on opposite ends of the spectrum from each other. Like movies. I love chick flicks and some days I have to wind down with one after work (Emma, Pride and Predjudice, About A Boy). But I also love action movies (anything Bond, Jackie Chan, Equillibrium, The Transporter) and when I'm feeling particularly excited I just have to sit down and watch one.

I love watching the grace of ballet and the all-out energy of martial arts.
I love celtic music and techno.
I love skirts and overalls.
I love cowboy hats and berets.
I love vegetarian sandwiches and a nice juicy steak.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I don't have to fit in with just any one group. There's a line from one of my favorite movies (Anne of Green Gables, don't you dare laugh :) that goes like this;

"It's not who you are but what you bring to the world that matters."

Think on it...

homesickness...

No matter how hard I try to not think of it, my thoughts always drift towards home. This isn't a picture of my parents house or anything...it's just an old homestead that has been run down. Cows wander in and out like they own the place. But I always remember seeing it and loving it for what it was and is. I've penned it and maybe i'll post a picture of that one of these days. When I think back on memories of growing up, this place pops into my mind. I think that all of us can have a connection with a place or a thing as well as with people.

more shoes...

Yes....I've caved once again. They were on sale, how could i not buy them? I've been lining up outfits in my head too. Silly me, so silly.

castle for sale

Looking to relocate? You can have all this for only 25 million euros. 450 acres of stunning scenery in the heart of Ireland. I'm bidding...who's with me?

Warning; Paper Jam

This picture cracks me up. I sometimes think this is what really lives in my copy machine, shredding all of my hard work to bits.

Best Wishes

Tonight, my little sister will be performing in a stage production of Steel Magnolias. I am so proud of her! She's also pregnant and a full time student at SVU and a wife. I would say break a leg Beck, but I don't want you too. So best wishes, greatest of luck and congratulations for what I know will be a magnificent show!

I love you :)

I Apologize in Advance..

See what I mean? I am an uber geek. Anywhere from fashion to costume design. I think I need to invest my time in a new hobby. And notice I shy away from drawing hands....I never really could.

Net Worth

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16


What is your value...your self worth?

two steps forward, one step back

It's progress. Sometimes you think life's not happening the way that it should. But if you look at it with a different perspective, you'll realize that you've gone further than you thought you had.
If you want to change, change. No one else can do it for you.

Sketchy

My favorite medium has to be pencil (think of all the erasing possibilities!) but I'm also a huge fan of pen and ink. My hand has never been steady enough to hold a brush, although I wish it were. But to each his own.

Off the handle

Out of boredom, I painted the door handles in my home. Sounds odd, I know, but I really like the way they turned out. What do you think?

Spoiled - part II

Yeah....do you remember when I referred to myself as being spoiled? Well, it's just been proven true. My hubby, Michael, surprised me with tickets to the Celtic Woman concert! You wouldn't even believe how excited I am. I watched a performance of their's on PBS months ago. I fell in love with the music and bought the CD as soon as I could get my fat little fingers on it. But to know that I'm going to watch and hear them live?? It gives me goosebumps! Only 3 weeks to go, lol.

New Hand Bag

This is an official shout-out to my mom and her uber impressive talents. I received this beautiful little bag in the mail a couple of weeks ago. It's really quite shameless that I haven't posted any pics until now. The first picture is of me, obviously lol, holding the purse. In this second picture I've folded the sides down a little so that you can take a gander at the awesome lining. She is always picking up scraps of fabric at garage sales. Anyway, thank you mom...I LOVE IT! :)

New Sig

A friend of mine created this for me...isn't it great?

Indecision

I'm heading to the bookstore on my lunch break because I am all too eager to start reading something new. But I've limited myself on purchasing to two books. How can I decide? They all sound good and I am terrible with making even the most inconsequential of choices. I will provide my list for you and perhaps you can help me decide?

1. Dune by Frank Herbert (first in a series)
2. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield (also the first in a series)
3. Game of Thrones by GRR Martin (again, first in a series)
4. The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy (*shock, not a series)
5. Italian Fever by Valerie Martin

And I know that once I set foot in the store I am liable to start a whole new list...But I'm determined not to until I've finished with this one~

Hair Cut

Don't you just love going to a salon? They sit you down in that little swivel chair and proceed to hail you with compliments about how great you look today. They brush through all of your tangles and walk you over to your next chair. Then you are given a very enjoyable hair washing/head massage and you almost fall asleep because it is soooo relaxing. You're towel dried and herded back to your original chair where your hair cutting commences. And then when that's all through, they blow dry you and style you until you're absolutely sure that you could give Heidi Klum a run for her money on any given runway? You pay your money and you don't really care that you could have put a down payment on a house for that amount. And you fall asleep feeling wistfully gorgeous and utterly spoiled to pieces.

Then you wake up and you can't remember how they styled your hair at the salon so you trudge off to work looking the exact same way that you did the day before. Lol......but it was all worth it anyway.

My Guitar

This is the best picture I could find on the web of my guitar. Only difference between this one and mine is the fact that I have a 3/4 size. She's an Ibanez acoustic (although I do have a pic-up amp). I haven't been playing her as much as I should and I'm thinking about starting lessons......yikes, I'm a little nervous. But if you really have a love for something, you should not let fear stand in your way.

Don't Cry For Me Argentina.......

Okay, I won't. :) But every so often I look at property for sale in Argentina. Why? Because I can. Yesterday I found this beautiful spot....it had fruit trees and olive trees and a view of the mountains and...and...and....

It just looked like bliss. So I've provided a picture and you can judge for yourself. I won't tell you how much the property is going for because you would sneak in and snatch it up from underneath my feet. Actually, I'm sure that it is already sold....but I can still live here in my dreams, can't I?

Looking at Life Through Rose-Colored Glasses

I think that we are all entitled to happiness in life. Getting joy and satisfaction from even the smallest things is entirely up to us. Have you ever noticed that when you serve someone else you feel great about yourself? I have, but it can take me a while to catch on at times. So today, compliment or serve someone...make their day and in turn it will make yours too. That can be all it takes to turn a person from despair. And don't forget to appreciate what you have, whether it be good health, great friends or the fact that you are alive~

The Minack Theatre

A co-worker of mine is a retired member of the US Navy and was stationed in England a couple of years back. And since I have a fanatical interest in all things "Great Britain", she is always kind enough to bring in brochures, catalogues and the like. What really caught my eye was a brochure from The Minack Theatre. Check out this site, you will be blown away by the view! It makes me want to hop on a plane and go......

Jenny O' The Braes

My friend Rachel and I use to "jam" together (if you can jam to classical music? lol). She performed vocals/violin and I did vocals/piano. Anywho, she introduced me to one group that I liked particularly well, and that was The Battlefield Band. She and I sang a wonderful song off of their CD (and quite well, I'd like to think). Here are the lyrics and keep in mind that some of the words might be different....(i'll give you some hints :)

Jenny O' the Braes

The people cried her Jenny o' the braes
And she was kent untae us a' (kin to us all)
Her ginglin' body hingin out' her claes (ganglin, hangin, clothes)
Made her staun oot when she strode doon the braes (stand, down)

Twa days a week she'd come visitin' the toon (two, town)
She'd tak the braes rain, hail or shine (take)
Her silver hair wid be fleein' in the win' (would)
And folk thought her a creature mad or wild

When ice and snow gripped a' the country (all)
Ye'd see the smoke rise frae her chimney (you'd, from)
The world ablow could then rest easy
For Jenny o' the Braes

The wind blew a'weys roon the muir (always, round, moor)
It rattled on her cottage windae (windy)
She sat inside close by the fire
She was content wi' her ain' company (with, own)
And if ye asked her if she was weel (well)
She's say 'Ah'm grand, sir, how's yersel (I'm, yourself)
And then she's trudge on up the hill
Jenny o' the Braes

She'd nae concern ower want o'gear (not, over, ?)
She lived on cheese, breid oats and barley (bread)
She winae fashed wi' trouble or care (wasn't, ?, with)
She'd spurn the knock that brocht a helpin' hand (brought)
Sometimes she'd wonder over the muir (wander, moor)
Collectin' heather, plants and floo'ers (flowers)
And singin' softly to herself
Jenny o' the Braes

Last year she bided mair at hame (much, home)
Her cottage door was seldom open
And when the spring floo'ers cam tae bloom (flowers, came, to)
She hardly ever ventured doon the braes (down)

One day when someone was out walkin'
They saw her chimney wisnae smokin (wasn't)
They found her sittin' in the kitchen
A smile upon her face
Jenny o' the Braes

I found it!

Okay everyone....I found it. My dream cottage. I'm inviting you all over for a house warming party!

St. Augustine, George and Francis

One of my favorite places to go and it's only 45 minutes away! This is the Oldest City in America. It's easy to soak up all of the rich history here. If you want some good shopping and food, head down St. George Street. And if you need a place to stay, my favorite is St. Francis Inn. It's especially nice to stroll around in the evening when you can hear the water beating against the sea wall. You can smell delicous food being prepared and the lights are beautiful! I never get tired of coming here....

New

I'm sorry...but if you don't find this picture cute, you are heartless. But certainly, I mean that in the best possible way, lol. Babies are so sweet and pure, blameless and new. Devoid of careless thought or deed. Perfect in every way.

Uber....

Just uber....that's all.

Weekend

Ahhh, weekend bliss. I'm not doing anything particularly special but the fact that I do not have to work is all I need to be happy. It's been raining for a couple of days straight, but I'm enjoying it this time. It's Mother Earth's way of taking a shower I guess....

Paper Mania

I work in an industry where we use a lot....A LOT...of paper. We use anything from vellum to mylar to cardstock. Anyway, the whole point of all this useless information is that I've been experimenting with different kinds of paper (see Japanese Prints). So I asked the man in charge of reprographics here to send any scraps that we couldn't use, my way. A couple of days had passed and I forgot all about my request when, in comes Ralph with a 20 ft. roll of rag vellum and all for me to create with. I guess paper companies send out "sample" rolls that never get used. Which is fine by me because I am now the proud owner of a 5 by 20 foot roll of paper. Now how am I going to get it into the car?

Spoiled

That's it, I'm spoiled...but you probably already figured that out for yourselves. This is my new dress. I love it so much that I feel like sleeping in it. Thanks to Michael for surprising me with it~