Potpourri

This vintage looking postcard was printed in China for the Lillian Vernon Corporation.

I think dancing sounds like a good way to welcome St. Patrick's Day!

A big thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

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Sometimes ....
it's just nice to kick back and nap!
I was up early as usual, had breakfast, sat down on the couch with the kitties and fell asleep! After I hit publish for this post, I think I'll go back and try a nap again.


I'm celebrating....
the sun!
The sun is shining.
It's not too cold or too hot.
It's work in the garden time!

I love ....

Daffodils!

Every March I watch the advertisements waiting for daffodils to appear in the ads at the supermarket.

I was so excited when I saw them appear this week.

I went over and, talk about disappointment, no daffodils.

They hadn't arrived yet.

I almost cried! 

I'll try again next week.

Easter 2013

I'm sharing ...

Poppytalk.

I think I've shared the link to Poppytalk before,

but I want to share again.

I was visiting over the weekend and was reminded of all the 

beautiful colors and wonderful features.

Founded in 2005, Poppytalk is a lifestyle blog dedicated to supporting the beautiful, the decayed and the handmade. More about Poppytalk here.

Away ....
The Rice Owl Baseball team is away this weekend for three games in Florida.
Good luck Owls!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thank you to Nancy for hosting.

Potpourri

On this last day in February
 I decided to go to my box of kisses to pick out a vintage postcard.

 

I laugh every time I see this postcard.

No artist or publishing date listed.

It is from a collection of postcards called 

A Box of Kisses published by Chronicle Books:

Charming vintage postcard reproductions of all sorts of smooches.

Mwah!

Thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday. 

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Outside my window...
It is cloudy today.
The last week has seen summer, winter and spring.
I'm not fond of guessing which season will appear each day
and would really like to enjoy a little spring before the dog days of summer arrive!

I am thankful...
for the nice soaking rain we got this week.
We need the rain. It's so easy to drop back into drought.

I am creating for...
Another postcard swap at June's.

The card on the left is from June and the one on the right is the one I made.
If you like swaps, check out June's blog, A Creative Dream.
She has a swap schedule for the year! 

One of my favorite things...
Is Terri Windling's beautiful blog.
Her name may be familiar to those of you who read fantasy.
Terri is a writer, artist, and book editor interested in myth, folklore, fairy tales, and the ways they are used in contemporary arts.
Myth and Moor is a daily journal for musings about art, myth, books, village life, and the world-wide community of folks who create and love Mythic Arts.
Full of beautiful words, beautiful art -- I could spend days there.

A peek into my day...

I'm missing my tulips.

A trip to Trader Joe's for flowers is in order!

Thank you Nancy for hosting!

Thanks for visiting.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Blog Love

First, let me say that I love awards. But they embarrass me.

I enjoy blogging. It brings me pleasure. I've met so many wonderful folks and made some very good friends through the blogging world. Friends who have been very loving and supportive throughout our recent adventure with the Big C.

Debra at She Who Seeks sent me The Versatile Blogger Award awhile ago.

I did thank her when I received it, but didn't post. I had to think about it!

I love the idea that my blog isn't just about one thing. That I do try to post on different things -- books I've read, things I've crocheted or knitted, photos I've taken, spots in the Houston area that we really enjoy, some of our real life ... the cancer ... our enjoyment of the zoo ... our furbabies, THE grandson.

I'm supposed to list a bunch of things about me that you don't know ... it was hard coming up with a list ... I've shared just about all the interesting stuff!

My favorite movie may be Enchanted April. It has no blood and gore, no swearing (that I remember). It has beautiful scenery, nice music, a fun story about 4 women who rent a villa in Tuscany for one month after the Great War. It's about change, friendship. For me, it is a magical movie. I loved the last scene when the older woman drives her cane into the ground and then, as the seasons change, we see the cane sprout into a tree. YeeHaw!

My favorite musical score for a movie has to be The Last of The Mohicans. It brings tears to my eyes.

I don't care much for dark chocolate. Of course, that's the chocolate that's good for you. When I was growing up my Granny gave my Mother a box of chocolate covered cherries every year at Christmas. I looked forward to the gift almost as much as my Mother. When Granny died, my Daddy took over making sure there was a box of chocolate covered cherries under the tree. And when he died, I made sure Mother had her box of cherries. Both of my parents have been gone many, many years and last year I felt the call of chocolate covered cherries once again. Good thing CVS is just across the street!

That's all I could come up with that was, perhaps, new and different!

The hardest part about awards is the passing them on part. I'm not good at that. I don't want to hurt anyone's feeling by not picking them. In fact, I think all of you should share this award. There are many of you who don't receive awards and I understand that. So, here are a few of my favorite blogs that I think are worth a visit from you and should have the versatile blogger award. Please take some time to visit them and say Hello.

Jinksy at Napple Notes

Kelley at Dragonfly Reflections

Sarah at Cottage Garden Studio

Noni at Peacock Blue

***

For a little more Blog Love, have you visited with the Country Girl? If you haven't, you a missing a good time. She had a meme on her blog this last Friday. Here it is for you to do or pass on ....

"And now, folks, because it’s Friday night and because inquiring minds need to know, here’s a few questions for you:

1. When is your usual bedtime?

2. In the past month, what was your biggest OOPS?

3. How many relatives do you have named “Bob”.

4. Tea, or coffee, or juice in the morning?

5. Right now, I hear __________________ ."

Here's what I said:

1. When is your usual bedtime? We wonder up the stairs about 9.Get settled in by 9:30 (have a new kitten), a little weather on the news and perhaps some Tonight Show. Sleep by 11.

2. In the past month, what was your biggest OOPS? Amazing! I don't think I had one ... does that mean in July I'll have a real whopper?

3. How many relatives do you have named “Bob”. One ... brother-in-law

4. Tea, or coffee, or juice in the morning? Tea, juice or just milk.

5. Right now, I hear the shower running.

Happy Blog Love Everyone! Here's to All Of You!

Catch Up!

We all know about the generosity of the blogging community. I've been remiss in acknowledging two gifts I've received in the mail. They both arrived within a day of each other and I've thought everyday that I have to say "THANK YOU". So, here's a big THANK YOU to Kelley and Donna.

Kelley at Dragonfly Reflections gathered a group of women together - women she felt safe with and invited them to come and watch the Brene Brown video with her. At the end of the evening she shared a copy of Brown's book with them and had two copies left over. Those two copies she offered to her blog readers and I was fortunate to receive one.

I knew the first time I visited Kelley that I would like her. How could I not like someone whose blog was named Dragonfly Reflections!!!! Kelley has done some major remodeling of her blog and it's even better than when I first *met* her. Kelley also likes working with paper. The wonderful "Celebrate Spring" is one of her creations that she included with a little note in the book. Thank you Kelley!

My second thank you goes to Donna at Brynwood Needleworks. I don't think there is anything Donna can't do with a needle -- of any kind! She recently celebrated her first Blogoversary and I won one of her fabulous Alice In Wonderland Bookmarks. The bookmark was packaged so beautifully I almost didn't want to open the package. But I did ... ripped it open with one move! I believe you can't have too many bookmarks or too many books. Thank you Donna.

I hope you'll drop by the blogs of these lovely ladies and say "Hello, Snap sent me"!

Mail Call!

I won a book from the folks at Craftside. All I had to do was post an answer to a question.

Simple.

Look what arrived in the mail!

The purrrrfect book for a cat lover: Cat Lover's Daily Companion:
365 Days of Insight and Guidance for Living a Joyful Life with Your Cat
by Kristen Hampshire, Iris Bass and Lori Paximadis

Monday listings provide practical information, from welcoming a cat home to understanding his basic needs.

Tuesdays (like the one below) contain engaging tales of cats in history and literature.

Wednesday (like the one below) explore feline health and wellness topics, from acupuncture to the zodiac.

To find out about Thursdays, Fridays and the weekends -- you'll need to find your own copy! I can't share everything! I'm going to enjoy every single page and so will my kitties.

And, last but not least, gorgeous photos of cats.

If you don't regularly follow Craftside, you should. They have almost daily reviews of books on all kinds of crafty subjects -- you name it, they've done it. Try it. Leave a post and win a book! Books are good for you. You can never have too many books!

(Special thank you to Lindsey at the Quayside Publishing Group. Lindsey, the book arrived!)

Shout Out!

When I first started blogging, once a week I'd post a Blog of The Week. It was loads of fun visiting new to me bloggers to find special ones to introduce to you. But, I was spending all my time out in cyberspace and not enough time in real life, so I slowly let the blog of the week drop. I also decided that every blog I follow and all that follow me are the REAL blogs of the week!

So, what am I doing today? I'm giving a shout out to someone I met in 2009 during the One World One Heart blogathon. Kate, at Shibori Girl, and I have become blogging buddies. We share a lot of things in common: we both love to cook, we both love animals, we both love art, she makes gorgeous jewelry, I wear jewelry -- you get the idea.

This is what Kate says about herself: " I started this journey as a shibori artist, making beautiful patterns on fabric. Many years (and injuries later) I find myself making beautiful patterns with beads, or cooking ingredients."

Kate recently started working with polymer clay and OH MY! You just have to see. This girl is flying high!

But first, when I say Kate is an artist -- she really is!
Look at these drawings.

Wonderful, yes?!!!

A couple of Kate's beaded necklaces.

This special bead was made using the tubular right angel weave method.
Once the structure was made, she added layers of czech beads, Swarovski crystals,
and seed beads. In addition, little silver-lined seed beads add sparkle.

The bead is strung onto a hand-dyed shibori ribbon with sterling silver end caps
and silver toned clasp.

And, last but not least, here is the cuff Kate made with polymer clay.

Gorgeous!

Please visit Kate's Blog Shibori Girl, introduce yourself and have a look around. Kate has two Etsy shops: one where she destashes (is that a word?) her beads, and one where you can buy her fabulous jewelry.

All of the photos belong to Kate and were used here with her permission.

Mail Call!

I've told you that I have a *thing* for calendars.

When I saw this on my travels during OWOH, I knew it was meant for me!

And it was!

Today it arrived in the mail.

Patricia is a wonderful artist.

Her illustrations are great. They make me smile.

Please visit Patricia at My Cosmopolitan Diary. You'll be glad you did!

Mail Call!

I just LOVE Mail Call! This week, the book I won over at the Craftside Blog's Holiday Goodness Giveaway arrived. I won The Crafter's Devotional by Barbara R. Call and I'm thrilled! I want to thank all the wonderful folks at Craftside (Lindsey, this means you) for their generosity.




From the back of the book: " Crafters dabble, collaborate, muse, and make, all in their own way on their own timeline. For all crafts, there are established techniques ... and innumerable ways to experiment.

No matter your craft of choice, you'll find daily inspiration in the pages of this book. Author and crafter Barbara R. Call understands there is something elemental shared among artists and crafters, regardless of their chosen medium: creative energy. For each crafter looking to hone a favorite skill, there is a dozen who are waiting for that certain spark of inspiration or sinuous root of an idea to take hold.

The Crafter's Devotional uses interdisplinary exercises, nuggets of wisdom, brainstorming triggers, and how-to techniques to inspire, enhance, and motivate you to create."




"Inside you'll find the following categories:

• Monday/journaling
• Tuesday/recycle,reuse, or revive
• Wednesday/collection,stash, and materials
• Thursday/personal history
• Friday/noncraft inspiration
• Saturday and Sunday/collaborate, gather, and experiment

I'm going to have lots of good reading, inspiration and fun ahead!

Thanks again to Craftside.

Genteel Your Cup of Tea?

Is genteel your cup of tea? Then you'd probably enjoy novels by Georgette Heyer. Heyer wrote over fifty novels, including Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. She was known as the Queen of Regency romance, and was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. She also had a wry and well-developed sense of humor. Her books are being reissued.

Spending so much time at M. D. Anderson, we are getting a lot of reading done. The Talisman Ring was the first Heyer that I read. "When spirited Eustacie stumbles into a band of smugglers, she is delighted to be having an adventure at last. Their leader, young heir Ludovic Lavenham, is in hiding falsely accused of murder. Pursued by the law, Eustacie and Ludovic find refuge at an unassuming country inn. And the delightfully sensible couple who try to keep them out of trouble -- the resourceful Miss Sarah Thane and the clear-thinking Sir Tristram Shield, gamely endeavor to prevent Ludovic's arrest and Eustacie's ruin as the four conspire to recover the missing talisman ring that will clear Ludovic's name."

Totally entertaining in a very *old-fashioned* way -- "a story in the manner of Jane Austen, of domestic comedy and love affairs."

Why Shoot a Butler is one of Heyer's detective novels. Her barrister husband, Ronald Rougier, provided many of the plots for her detective novels, which are classic English country-house mysteries reminiscent of Agatha Christie. "On a dark night, along a lonely country road, barrister Frank Amberley stops to help a young lady in distress and discovers a sports car with a corpse behind the wheel. The girl protests her innocence, and Amberley believes her - at least until he gets drawn into the mystery and the clues incriminating Shirley Brown begin to add up."

"In an English country-house murder mystery with a twist, it's the butler who's the victim, every clue complicates the puzzle, and the bumbling police are well-meaning but completely baffled. Fortunately in ferreting out a desperate killer, amateur sleuth Amberley is as brilliant as he is arrogant, but this time he's not sure he wants to know the truth."

I read 108 pages of Why Shoot a Butler and wondered why I was continuing to read. And then, suddenly, on page 109 -- the book took off and was a race to the end. I guess it just took 108 pages to get all the characters and background in place!

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I have a couple of Blog Shout Outs for you. First, visit with Calamity Kim. She is celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas with a crafty pattern a day. Fun! I also found, thanks to Calamity Kim, Freebies for Crafters -- a blog full of free craft patterns and blog links. That should keep you crafters busy for awhile!

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A big THANK YOU to all of you who are sending good thoughts, prayers, vibes, juju et al, to Mr. Dragon. We spend every day at M. D. Anderson, some days much longer than others, and I'm happy to report that he is handling his chemo and radiation very well. Thank you for your emails, telephone calls. Know we appreciate all of you. I don't have much computer time (or crafty time) right now, but try to at least check in with all of you and read what you are up to. I may not comment, but I've been by to visit. Keep blogging. I love visiting! It is fun therapy for me!

Have you Visited?

Have you visited Craftside?

It is a "behind the scenes look at the crafty world."

I've been following them for a few months now.

If I bought every book that they reviewed
that I was interested in,
the bank would be empty!

Just look at the variety!

Can you believe it? This is just a sample!
A new book everyday.
WOW!

Check them out.
You'll be reading for days!