Mail Call!

I was one of the winners of a give-a-way at Olde Thyme Prims and my gift arrived in the mail yesterday. I just love Mail Call!

I was so excited when I saw this was one of the give-a-ways.
First, it is by my buddy Sarah at Cottage Garden Studio
and, second, it is from a series of hers of different shops
and places to visit in a little magical town filled with witches,
unicorns, dragons, owls ... you get the idea.
Anyway, The Zoo is perfect for me!
It combines one of my loves (THE ZOO)
and fantasy!
Thank you Sarah and Olde Thyme Prims!

But that wasn't all.
I guess Sarah was feeling sorry for me after Rocky's death.
She included this wonderful little ATC.
Isn't this little lady with her magic wand fun?!!!
She looks dressed up for a special occasion.
Halloween isn't very far away!

Joy!

Mail Call

A month or so ago, Karen Harvey Cox had a give-a-way on her blog, the beautiful Scrapbook of Inspiration. The winner received a custom water color painting by Karen. You can go here to see the winner's painting. It is amazing.

Karen decided that everyone who entered the give-a-way should receive a gift from her -- a miniature water color of their favorite flower! Picking my favorite flower was the hardest part. I finally decided on the pansy because of their happy little faces and wonderful color.

My pot of pansies has arrived. What a mail call! Karen is talented, generous and sure knows how to spread the joy around!

Thank you again, Karen.

Joy To You All On This Beautiful Friday!

To Mull

Mull: verb. Mull over, ponder, pore over, consider, reflect on, deliberate, think about for a while, give thought to, study, meditate, weigh, ruminate.

Here are my Monday Mullings for July 20, 2009.

***

I do love when the post arrives. On Friday, I made a trip to the post office to pick up a package from my friend, Kim. Inside was my Pay It Forward prize and I had such fun opening everything. I saw the collage first on Kim’s blog. I loved it there and I love it even more in person. The birds and the bees in a garden with a kitty. Couldn’t be more perfect. (Kim said she couldn’t get the thought of Musashi’s Garden out of her mind).



The meditation string of beads is in my pocket. She based them on the 17 bead bookmark she saw at the Daily Om. Every time I touch the beads (each one different), I smile and spread a little joy out into the universe.



Thank you so very much, Kim. Everything is perfect and sooooooo me! You aren’t late. Everything in its own time and I get to celebrate a little more, my good fortune in knowing you.

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Do you remember where you were when Apollo 11 landed on the moon? I was at university. I do remember watching and crying and being amazed that we were on the moon. Amazed that we got the men there and we got them back home -- all in one piece. The whole world seemed to hold it’s breath and watched as one, the trip to the moon.

I watch each and every shuttle launch and watch the NASA channel to see what the latest news is or to watch a space walk. We seem to take so much for granted now. Everything is old hat. Where’s the joy, the imagination, the knowledge, the excitement, the fascination that life seemed to have *way back then*?! Was going to the moon the last frontier and now there is no interest in science or space? Ruminate on that!

There was a lot going on in 1969. The Jets won the Superbowl and the Mets won the World Series. Nixon was sworn in as president. The Beatles’ had their last public concert. Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel. The premiere of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh In was in 1969. That’s just a few of the happenings in 1969.

***

It is still hot. The weathermen promised us rain. Actually, I believe they said 60 percent chance for two days and then chances would lessen. Well, we got one day of a 20 minute gully washer. In other words, didn’t do much good. We need a day long, soaking rain. I’m afraid I may have to resort to a rain dance. Not pretty.

***

You might have noticed on other Mondays, I have said prayers for Ann Marie and Cydney Marie. I am happy to report that after 14+ weeks in the hospital Ann Marie, by C-Section, gave birth to Cydney Marie on July 17 (also Ann Marie’s birthday). The story of Cydney Marie and her big brother, Coy is an amazing one and I invite you to visit their blog to read more.

***

The piglets are finished. Mrs. Piggy and the little ones will be traveling to California this week for a birthday celebration at the end of the month.

***

I haven’t decided what to read next. I finished The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz and really enjoyed reading this novel. Here’s info from the back cover: “In 1959, a young woman, Haruko, marries the Crown Prince of Japan. She is the first non-aristocratic woman to enter the mysterious, hermetic monarchy. Met with cruelty and suspicion by the Empress, Haruko is controlled at every turn, suffering a nervous breakdown after finally giving birth to a son. Thirty years later, now Empress herself, she plays a crucial role in persuading another young woman to accept the marriage proposal of her son, with tragic consequences.”

***

On the calendar I have a dermatology appointment and we have an Astros baseball game. Still trying to stay cool!

***

I’ll leave you with this picture thought:

From The Stitchery

I am thankful for another day on beautiful Mother Earth.

Have a beautiful week.

Joy to You!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Woman’s Daybook

For Today...July 13, 2009

Outside my window... the sun is shining brightly. Not a cloud in the sky.

I am thinking...that I’d better get a move on. Off to the gym.

I am thankful for...another day on Mother Earth.

From the kitchen...bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. Still using home grown tomatoes. It has amazed both of us how long our tomatoes have lasted on our balcony in all this heat. They came to an end today when I picked the last one.

I am wearing...my standard gym clothes - red shorts, gray Planet Hollywood T-shirt, tennis shoes

I am reading... Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B. Ross. This is the second book in the Miss Julia series. It is a southern cozy with just a little bit of mystery. Quoting from Publishers Weekly “Imagine Aunt Bee from the Andy Griffith Show with a lot more backbone and confidence and drop her smack in the middle of a humorous, rollicking plot akin to that of the movie Smokey and the Bandit and you have the tone and pace of Ross’s entertaining second novel.” What’s funny -- Ross’s characters remind of people I know (or have heard about)! Great summer reading and I have 8 more in the series before I’m caught up.

I am hoping...for a break in the heat! We did have some rain last week -- one day when it rained in the morning, stayed cloudy, and broke the heat advisory (feels like temperatures are between 105-110 degrees F. or more). Wish the high pressure would move on down the road!

I am creating...Mrs. Piggy is finished (crochet), but I have to get some more yarn to finish up the little piglets. Here’s the finished Mrs. Piggy. Piglet photos to follow when they are done.

I wanted to make sure you saw her tail. She makes me laugh out loud!

I am praying... for Anne Marie and Cydney Marie, Jean and Carol

Around the house... it’s too quiet! I wonder what the kitties are doing? Mr. Dragon has feed the birds -- I can hear them outside talking to each other (Mr. Dragon and the birds).

One of my favorite things...rain!

A few plans for the rest of the week...staying cool is big on the list. I need to get to Sam’s Club. Make a dermatology appointment. Mr. Dragon has two more color pencil workshops. I need more pink yarn to finish the piglets -- Michaels here I come. Otherwise, stay at home and stay cool.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...I’ve always had a fondness for Mary Engelbreit and this card was in my mail this week from my Saurian Sister in California.

To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook. While Peggy is on summer vacation, more Daybook posts can be found at Grandmother Wren’s

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...July 6, 2009

Outside my window... the sun is shinning brightly. There are a few wispy clouds in the sky.

I am thinking... yikes! Half the year is gone. How time flies as you get older (have more fun, are busier -- take your pick).

I am thankful for...another day on Mother Earth.

From the kitchen... I am going to make one of Mr. Dragon’s favorite meals, Red Curry Beef stew. We don’t eat a lot of meat and this will be a special treat for him.

I am wearing... gym clothes - red shorts, gray Planet Hollywood Paris T-shirt, tennis shoes.

I am reading... The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz. Marie at A Year from Oak Cottage mentioned this book in her Daybook post last week. It looked like something I would enjoy and I put it in my amazon stack. Lo and behold (some things are just meant to be), I found a much cheaper copy at Costco. No waiting for shipping. I’m really enjoying it. There will be a short review when I’m finished.

I am hoping...the weathermen are correct and we get a little rain to break this heat cycle for a few days.

I am creating... I finished the counted cross-stitch and should have the pig done this week (crochet).

I am praying... for Anne Marie and Cydney Marie, Debbie, Jean

Around the house... I can hear the water running. Mr. Dragon is outside watering the plants in pots.

One of my favorite things...seeing what the postman has left for us! This came in the mail from Kelley at Dragonfly Reflections. Isn’t the card fun?! I do love birds and this is just perfect. I also enjoy the list of easy ways to move from autopilot to mindfulness. Thank you Kelley for all my goodies!

A few plans for the rest of the week...staying cool is big on the list. Mr. Dragon starts a color pencil workshop this week. Staying cool. We have a baseball game on Wednesday (good thing that Minute Maid stadium has a roof that closes and air conditioning). Hair cuts. Staying cool. Off to Hobby Lobby with a coupon to look at color pencils and rubber stamps. Staying cool. Sending off a few packages. Staying cool.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...


Isn't he a little doll? This photo and a few more came in an email - one of those emails that gets sent to everyone on your list type emails. I couldn't resist sharing!


To read more Daybook posts or learn how to participate, visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook. While Peggy is on summer vacation, more Daybook posts can be found at Grandmother Wren’s.

Joy to You!