On Vacation!

Ira- My husband's grandfather
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

I've taken the week off of my day job . . . so I will probably not be posting anything new until after I get back to work next Monday :* ) Hopefully I will also have a fresh supply of art to show you too.

Until my next posting!

Love ya, love your art . . .

ja-who-dee

Ride On Uncle Jack

ride
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

This is a picture of a greeting card I made some time ago. I am blogging it today in honor of a great man and wonderful uncle; Uncle Jack. I choose this picture of my la paix d'art, as he was a collector of antique cars. There is also a story my mom tells, I think, maybe I dreamed it, about Uncle Jack trading a bicycle for a car. I shall find out today if that is true. I dream many strange things. No need to go to the movies when one dreams like I do

I'm getting off subject of my entry. Let me get back on the road, so to say! Today we celebrate Uncle Jack's journey to be with our Lord and Savior. The ultimate journey for Uncle Jack was on Christmas. A bittersweet day for all of us still here on earth, but a day of joy and jubilation for those waiting for him in heaven.

What more can I say than we will miss him now, but meet him again at a later time. Happy trails Uncle Jack!

Loving you,

ja-who-dee

Gothic Arch

GothicArchFront
Originally uploaded by lapaixdart.

This is the cover for my book which will be made from a round robin I am doing with some wonderful art friends. My theme is ARTIST CHOICE using the colors of brown and blues. We are all using the same gothic arch template to make one page, front and back with each other.

This time with the RR, we will be sending pages to each other, technically known as a tip-in. And, as we are sending to each other, it must really make this a mingle hey? whatever the PC name for this exchange is, it should produce some wonderful art.

I do believe the days of me sending whole books around may be numbered. The postal costs are just straining my pocket book for RR, and I do love the exchanging of art . . . so this should be a grand alternative for me. I thus far have my hand in . . . one, two, three, four . . . I believe 4 of these tip-in exhanges . . .

it's gonna be a grand new year for me!!!

Happy Horn Blowing Toots and Hugs,

ja-who-dee

This is the inside of the
cover for the book.

Bittersweet Christmas . . .

We celebrated Christmas with my mother and my sister and her family. Christmas Eve was dinner at the Pasch's and then a short church service at Sis's church.

It was a nice quiet evening. Just as I needed as the day had been filled with work and some radiology diagnostic testing. So after being poked and prodded . . . I was ready to just sit and relax. So once we got home, it was early to bed for this chix!

Christmas morning we woke to find that Santa had come to our house after all! Phew! I had been a little worried about his apperance as Hazel has been wishy-washy about whether he was real or not . . . smiles . . . plus Hazel had been leaning heavily to the "naughty" side of things . . . school work . . . seems some of us don't like to do school work . . . but anyway, Santa arrived on schedule with lots of nice things for us all! I believe in many things, and one is that Jolly Ole' Saint Nick lives within all of us . . . just gotta belive!

Later in the afternoon, we went into my mothers house and had a nice lunch with mom, sis and family. We didn't stay a real long time, I haven't been feeling real perky lately. Hopefully it's all just because I am in need of a nice vacation, which I will have next week.

Now for the bittersweet part. My uncle who has been very sick for a long time passed away Christmas afternoon. It is with sad hearts that we celebrate his journey to heaven. His suffering in this life is over, and his new beginning as started. I will miss his wonderful gift for laughter. He was a very kind and generous soul. Happy Trails Uncle J!

Love you all, and remember . . .

All you need is a little bit of faith . . .

till next posting,

ja-who-dee

What was inside . . .

those little gifties I posted on Friday? Well, there were book laces . . . 8 little book laces in all! I will give you a quick and dirty low down on how I made these . . . if you would like a full scale tutorial, please go to


http://www.alteredchix.com/

and see featured artist Angie for the full scoop.

Your will need:

Omni Gel
Paint Brush
images
bamboo tiles
foil tape
waxed linen
beads and wire (optional)
tools for the wire if your going to use it!


I used images from Paper Whimsey. These particular ones were from a set that is sold there. I used Omni Gel and applied one coat, let it dry, then added a coat in the opposite direction, let it dry . . . did this about 4 times, changing the direction I painted on the coat each time. When it was all dry, I cut out the images into individual rectangles, then placed them in water. Now, I'm not really hooked on the idea that hot water really makes a difference. I think the biggest thing about the water soaking, is that the longer it soaks, the easier it is to get the backs off. I usually start out with the hot tap water and just let it soak until the water cools as a self timer thing. Don't be too impatient with this step! After your images have soaked a good amount of time, at the very least 10 minutes lets say . . . then take one out of the water, and gently using your finger, rub the paper off the backs. Work patiently and gentley now, as it will tear! If paper seems to be sticking, put it back in the water for a while!
When you have the paper off to your liking, let the artwork dry. Then, using a little of the Omni Gel, adhere it to the bamboo tile. triming as needed. Then, wrap the tile in foil tape, use a pointed tool to poke holes through the tape where the holes are in the bamboo tile, string with waxed linen, and add beads to your liking . . . that easy, peasy . . . you all know I like to make it easy on myself :*) :*)

Anyway, the bamboo tiles can be found at

http://www.collagestuff.com/

or at

http://www.artchixstudio.com/

I shop often (probably WAY to much) at both places, and besides the bamboo tiles, they also have many other wonderful items for sale . . .

Enjoy!!!

ja-who-dee

Little Gifts . . .

all wrapped up and ready to go. Tonight is the Evitts' Family Christmas. These are just a sampling of my wrapped up gifts, and even the names on them are not necessarily for the Evitts'. . . and this is a similar wrapping I did for the disc ornaments for my co-workers. Simple, yet elegant . . . as the Blakeslee gals would say . . . oh my, that was a little blast from the past there hey Siblings? LOL, I got it from Karen when she received her little ornament!

But anyway, I ran out of time to make one for ALL the Evitts' and was going to restrict to the female gender of the clan. Marv and Ellie had 9 children, who went on to have several children, who then turned around and had more children, so they are a large group. I had to set limits :*) :*) I only had so many supplies too . . . so Dale's sisters that are there will be getting one. Then the others are earmarked for the gals I see at Mom's house on Christmas . . . . I don't have any good male gender items . . . sorry, I'm a sexist crafter this year!!

This year will be a bitter sweet time at the Evitts' gathering. It will be a blessing to be together, and yet we will greatly miss Ellomae and Denise. Such a hard time to lose them both so closely this year. I also know that neither of them would like us to only remember them with sadness. They would want us to remember them with light in our hearts to chase away the darkness of sorrow. And so I shall. But not to say I won't also carry a little tear in the corner of my eye though. I also cry at weddings and school programs . . . I'm such a softy . . .

Now, as to what's in those little gifts . . . well, tune in again on Monday to find out! Now don't peek, or Santa will only leave you coal and reindeer poop in your stocking!

Red Reindeer Nosed Smoochies!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

More Kelly Snelling Inspiration . . .

As with the Disc Ornaments I created, I also drew some more inspiration from Kelly Snellings wonderful art techniques found on her blog

This time I utlized her idea of using a circle template, charcoal pencil, and paint for the backs of these star ornaments.





http://soulhumming.typepad.com/soul_humming/2007/12/hope.html



The base of these ornaments are a cardboard star form from the craft store.

I covered them with Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paints, and then used the inks to color them. Collaged images on top of a strip of torn strips of vintage music sheets. The red Madona on the left is an Omni Gel transfer.





I made sure to cover the fronts and the backs well with Gel Medium to seal. Especially the backs because of the charcoal.


A couple of times I had just finished darkening areas with the distress inks and it hadn't dried yet. When I put on the gel medium it gave the gel just the slightest hint of color. It was a wonderful "mistake"!




These ornaments have helped to get me into the Christmas spirit!



Holiday Sugar Cookie Crumb Kisses,



ja-who-dee

Ornaments for Co-workers 2007

Oh the weather outside was frightful . . . but the art inside was delightful . . . and since I'd no place to go . . let me glue, let me glue, let me glue!


Here is the result of MANY of my projects I had cooking up this weekend. I actually got to use my dremel for the first time, and hey, it's only just about a year old!!! These little round disc were so easy to make, and turned out so well. I just used torn pieces of sheet music or old book pages, and then added some color with inks or paint, and then collaged imges and some scrim on some. Finished them off with gold paint on the edges. The backs are simply stamped with PEACE or with the year written on it with a calligraphy pen. A simple ribbon at the top for a hanger.

Easy-Peasy and pretty!

Happy Holidays,

ja-who-dee



I got my inspiration for my disc ornaments from Kelly Snelling. At her blog http://www.soulhumming.typepad.com/ she has a tutorial on how she made her ornaments, plus you get to see several more, as she was in a 12 days of Christmas Ornaments exchange.

If your looking for some inspiration, check it out! Kelly has lots of eye candy to please even every pallette!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments both her and in my email :*)

And a special thanks to Kelly Snelling for the inspiration for the project!

holiday egg nog hugs!

ja-who-dee

Angels We Have Heard On High

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Shiver, shiver, shiver . . .

It's cold outside! Actually, last night it was predicted we get more bad weather than what we did. I am ever so grateful, as I have to drive in the early am whilst it is still dark out to get into work . . . and although it isn't a long ways, I know people who commute farther, it sometimes can be a very white knuckle drive to work.

And today I was very sad about going to work. My husband gets to stay home because of the bad weather . . . . and I have to get up and still go to work . . . sigh, very heavy sigh. I can't remember the last time I got to have "a snow day".

. . . ages and ages I tell you . . .

Good thing Santa has Rudolph so he doesn't have to have a snow day too! hey?

Happy Holidays!

ja-who-dee

Yes Hazel, There Is A Santa Claus . . .

Hazel: Mom, Christine and Mary don’t believe in Santa Claus. They say it’s the mom’s and dad’s that buy all the presents.

Mom: Good grief, you don’t think I’d go out and spend all that money of that stuff do ya? And when have you ever seen your dad go shopping????

Hazel: That’s what I thought.

Mom: Yeah, it’s kind of hard for Santa to be real if you don’t believe.


I THINK THE GIG IS UP!!!!

I remember when I knew there wasn’t a Santa, but I oh so didn’t want to NOT believe. Know what? I still believe in Santa Claus . . . he’s right here in my heart!

We talked about Christmas being about giving, and not just the giving of commercial presents to all our friends and relatives. And how we need to remember that all year round, not just at Christmas. It was a nice talk, yet I still never answered her one way or the other about the man in the red suit.

Remember: If you believe, it’s real.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Ja-who-dee

Count Down to Christmas . . .

Count down to Christmas is going on at Lisa Vollarth's Studio!!!

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/index.html

Yummy????

I have decided that I must cave in to my desire for frosting that I have had for a couple weeks now. Now mind you, it's nasty outside. It snowed, then It rained, now the fog is as thick as pea soup (eeewwwweeee) so it's not like I'm gonna hop in my car and drive into town to the store . . . so I dig around in my cupboards . . . oh a carrot cake mix . . . hhhmmmm, okay, it's a dry good, I rather remember buying this, can't be too old . . . okay, we got eggs, oil. . . good to go . . . Now I wonder if I moved things around enough if I would find Frosting? . . . Oh man, no can of frosting, well, okay, we got powdered sugar, I can do it. Been like 30 years, but I could do some frosting . . . .

Then Dale pipes up . . . my mom . . . yeah, yeah, yeah . . . your mom made the BEST, isn't that what they all say . . . smiles . . . in all fairness she was a very good cook. Had to be, she had nine kids to feed! But anyway, Ellie always made cream cheese frosting for her carrot cake . . . well, I'ms sure she did. . . pretty sure she probably didn't open a box of cake mix to make it to .. . . but I'm game . . . I think I saw some cream cheese in the fridge . . . so I dig around in there.

Wah-la, cream cheese I jump up after only a 10 minute search. HHhhhmmm, I really don't remember buying this . . . wonder how old it is . . . how long does cream cheese last . . . flip the box around looking for the magic date. I start laughing . . . .

Dale says what? oh, the date . . . let me guess, '04 . . . ha! No, nothing that fresh in my fridge . . .

It expired July 2003 . . . I'm pretty sure cream cheese isn't like a fine wine that only improves with age . . . is it? . . . well, no, I didn't even open the package to look at it . . . some things are best left alone . . .
so if you come to my house, don't eat the cream cheese :*) :*)

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Happy Festivus!

My siblings and families got together yesterday at my mom's house. We have stretched out the Thanksgiving Day celebration to include any other holiday we don't get a chance to be all together on. My bro and family live in Tennessee so thus we see each other live and in person usually in July and Thanksgiving.

Thus we did a big blow out yesterday and had a grand time. Good eats to top off just the pleasure of being all together again.

And that folks, is the best.

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Thanksgiving Greetings

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I’m having a need for an attitude adjustment, so I think I will list all the things I am thankful for, and then it will change my outlook today!

My family
My husband’s family
That my mother is healthy. She may not remember what she had for lunch, but she is healthy!
That my daughter is so loving
That we have a house to call our own
That we have jobs
That we have vehicles
That we don’t over do so we don’t live pay check to pay check
That my immediate family will all be together for Thanksgiving again this year!
All the extras that my sister Mary does
That I have so many wonderful friends in this world!
Our health is good.

Okay, there are at least 12 positives. That’s a lot said there.

I always try to think about what is going on that I deem so horrible, and then do a reality check on it all. Makes me realize that although at the moment the event that stressing me out, the reality of the situation is that things could be worse. And, after the late summer we experienced, what with losing sweet Kit and dear Ellie, things can only move forward and more positively!

And it is always so good to be so loved!

Loving hugs and kisses to you!

Ja-who-dee

Then When Jesus Calls Us . . .

Then when Jesus calls us
to our heavenly home
we would gladly answer
"Savior, Lord, we come"

how ya like them apples

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Royal Highness Judy the Ambidexterous of Lower Beanthrop in the Hedge Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The Gales Of November

Hello everybody . . . well it looks like the gales of November are to be upon Lake Superior any time now. Hopefully there will be no sad events for anyone to put to tune. Of course there will never be any recording of the Gitche Gumee like Gordon Lightfoot recorded. Here's a tid bit of it to spark yous memory, Or perhaps yous don't need the spark, hey? I's remember the song well.:

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

I've seen the lake in winter . . . oh man, when the wind is blowing and the waves are crashing against the rock shore at Presque Isle Park, which is near Marquette Michigan . . . wow, what a site.

I never saw it during as strong of wind as the glale that sunk the Edmund, I can't even begin to imagine the waters then . . . and bbbbbbrrrrrrr talk about cold . . . makes my nose hairs freeze together just thinking about it!

heck, I better go have a hot chocolate now!

Love ya!

ja-who-dee

ELLOMAE EVITTS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007

Hopefully this will be the last sad news from the Evitts' for a good long while!

Thursday morning after a month long losing battle with ARDS Ellomae passed from this earth to be with her Lord, the Angels, and those who have gone before her. Once again she will be able to dance the polka with her husband, see her daughter's smile, and reunite with her parents and oh so many others that have gone before her. We will miss her greatly, but with sad hearts celebrate that her suffering in her earthbound body is over.

I want to thank you all for the wonderful prayers, comforting thoughts, and heart warming words. You are all such wonderful friends. I am sure God smiles when he looks down upon all of you.

It is nice to know that in this cyber world where you hear of so many scams, threats, and evil doing that there can be and is inexistence a group of truly united cyber friends. I am so proud to call you my cyber-family.

And to all my friends and relatives I actually get to physically hug, thank you so much for all your support, prayers, kind words and deeds. It is truely a blessing to know so many wonderful people.

Love you all,

Ja-who-dee

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN!

I haven't forgotten about this blog, just have some life crisis' taking precedence right now!!! Hang in there, I hope to be able to blog sometime soon!

Gone Fishing . . .

well not really . . . but I will probably be silent for a bit longer . . .

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns . . .

Sometimes I read a book that sticks with me for various reasons. Sometimes I just have to share when I read such a book, or in this case "books". So for what it is worth, here is my recommendations for reading.



I just finished "Kite Runner" and then "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. Now both of these are not for the reader looking for some "light" nor "comical" reading. Both books are about war and horrific challenges that face the characters in these books. They both are set in Afghanistan through the fall of the monarchy, Soviet invasion, and the regime of the Taliban.

If and when you read the books, I suggest you read them in the order of "Kite Runner" and then "A Thousand Splendid Suns". Not that you have to read them in that order to follow either story. They are actually two different stories of the same horrific events. It is just that is you do read them in that order you should pick up how the two stories cross each others paths. Then let me know if you found the links too.

I warn you again, the books are not easy to read and not feel the horror of the events. I teared up at various times in both books. They are excellently written novels I recommend them highly.

Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Days

Of non-smoking . . . which calculates to be roughly $2421.90 in some savings, figuring one and a half packs a day at $5.40 a pack. (Yep, cigs are expensive in Michigan, and remember, it's been 299 days since I've purchased, so the price may be higher!) Course the $$ isn't really in my pocket per say, but my new car payment doesn't really hurt so bad, and well, I do have a few new art supplies here and there . . . and well, the diner does make some pretty great coconut cream pie . . .


love ya,

ja-who-dee

Skedaddle

I’m sad.
I’ve been sad for what seems like forever now.
It’s really only been weeks.
It’s not easy having the grief monkey on your back.
I’ve never had the little fellow hang around so long.
I’ve always before mourned and then moved on to fond remembrances that would make me smile and perhaps form a brief tear in my eye.
It now seems as if I move in a fog of tears.
It’s as if the sadness magnifies and seems bigger than life.
It seems to make me see molehills only as mountains, hurdles to big to overcome.
I’m sweating the small stuff.
I catch myself with free time, only to waste it with mindless activities not dealing with the tasks I need to get done.
I don’t want to start a project, as I’m afraid I won’t find the joy I used to feel when I allowed myself to submerge into them.
I wish the grief monkey would scoot away . . . shoo, be gone, it’s time for you to take your sad organ grinder tune and skedaddle.

My Momma . . .

always told me if you don't have anything nice to say, then you shouldn't say anything. Therefore I am going to wait a while longer before I blog. Things have just been frustrating for me and I don't want to post something publically that I might wish I didn't later, and since that one issue is on my mind . . . well . . . well . . . well . . .

I will just zip my lip until another time :*) :*)

Just wanted to let ya all know I haven't forgotten to blog!

Love ya,

ja-who-dee

Get Rhythm . . .

I always hate the thought of leaving you all hanging for days on end. So, I thought I would give you some Johnny Cash to get your toes a tappin' and blast a grin upon your face!


Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Yes a jumpy rhythm makes you feel so fine
It'll shake all the trouble from your worried mind
Get rhythm when you get the blues

Little shoeshine boy never gets low down
But he's got the dirtiest job in town
Bendin' low at the peoples' feet
On the windy corner of the dirty street
Well, I asked him while he shined my shoes
How'd he keep from gettin' the blues
He grinned as he raised his little head
Popped a shoeshine rag and then he said

Get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
It only costs a dime, just a nickel a shoe
Does a million dollars worth of good for you
Get rhythm when you get the blues

Well, I sat down to listen to the shoeshine boy
And I thought I was gonna jump for joy
Slapped on the shoe polish left and right
He took a shoeshine rag and he held it tight
He stopped once to wipe the sweat away
I said you're a mighty little boy to be-a workin' that way
He said I like it with a big wide grin
Kept on a poppin' and he said again

Get rhythm when you get the blues
Hey, get rhythm when you get the blues
Get a rock 'n' roll feelin' in your bones
Get taps on your toes and get gone
Get rhythm when you get the blues

Stuart Little

Hazel started 4th grade yesterday. My baby is growing up quickly, too quickly I should add. I'm sure many of you know that feeling with your own children and time. Somedays you wish they would grow up and then the next day you are sad they are growing up so quickly.

Anyway, back to Hazel and the 4th grade. This year Hazel's teacher is Mrs Hoffman. My niece Sarah had Mrs Hoffman when she was in the 4th grade also. She really has rave reviews about her. I brought up Sarah at the teacher meet and greet . . .okay, so the school calls it the "Ice Cream Social", but I like the way meet and greet sounds . . . and Mrs Hoffman said, "Oh yes, I remember Sarah well. I gave her a Stuart Little doll when she graduated so she would remember what is important in life".

Okay, I admit it, I've never read Stuart Little. I of course know who
Stuart Little is, we do own the movie with Michael J Fox being the voice for Stuart Little. I've watched it a couple times, probably coming in and out of the room during various parts, but I couldn't tell you for certain why Stuart would remind any one what is important in life.

Then Hazel comes home yestereday after noon and hands me a letter from the teacher. (It rather makes me sad there is no longer that minugraphed smell on papers from school anymore, I'm sure many of you remember that smell!) and Mrs Hoffman is going to be reading them the book throughout the year.

Okay, so now my curiousity is peeked. I've now ordered Stuart Little by E.B. White to figure out what it's all about. It should be here in a few days. Then I should know . . .

what the heck the important things in life are too!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Honey I'm Home . . .

Well, my vacation is over. I'm sure it flew by more quickly for me than it did you . . . smiles . . . I would love to be on vacation for longer . . . as in . . . never have to go back to work . . . okay, reality check . . . glad to have a job, don't get me wrong, but it sure would be nice not to have to have a job know what Imean bean?

It's not like Haze and I did a lot on vacation (Dale was working) . . . we pretty much gadded around here and there and did the girly shopping and hair diddling thing . . . but it was so nice to do what we wanted to when we wanted and not have to worry about schedules and such. Now that was a grand thing.

perhaps I shall stop and buy a lotto ticket on the way home tonight. That would be the answer, win the lottery! Then I could retire early and have enough money to keep me gadding around it style . . . yeppers, that would be so grand . . .

after all, I'm a Thursday child with far to go . . . I do need the funds to get there!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

OFF ON VACATION!

POST WHEN I GET BACK!

Time In A Bottle . .

If I had a box just for wishes

And dreams that had never come true

The box would be empty

Except for the memory

Of how they were answered by you

~Time In A Bottle. . . Jim Croce

This is a picture of my dad and I. This was taken back in the later 80's, I think. Pretty sure around then anyway. This was at my parents house for a Hawaiian themed Christmas party.

My dad was the type of dad who truely tried to make sure we had what we needed, when we needed it, and to try his darndest to help us get our wishes. Of course, I know and appreciate that much more now that I am older than I did at the moment. You know, being just a kid and all . . .

My dad was a very good egg. I miss him.

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Now I see the world . .

Now I see the world as a candy store
with a cigarette smile
saying things you can't ignore . . .

The first time I took the "inner rock star" quiz I chose these as what I would sing. There was another phrase that I was drawn to, and I wanted to answer the quiz with what I would wear if I could, not how I dress now (there ain't no flat stomach to show off folks!). So I went back and redid the quiz. My dress a tad bit differently, and my lyrics now being:

And I use my ddress
to wipe up my drink
I care less and less
what people think . . .

okay, so jumping from "saying things you can't ignore" doesn't necessarily mean I can't "care less and less what people think" . . . does it?

Oh heck, who knows, I'm wacky. I think you've all figured that out by now!

But the result of the change was . . . nothing! My inner rock star is still Ani Difranco, who Kaleigh believes to be awesome, so what the heck, I've ordered up "Not A Pretty Girl" CD by Ani. I'll give you my review after it comes.

I also decided to try to find a good book to read. Right now I am reading the book "The Perks Of Being A Wallflower". Not my favorite of books. Oh, I'll finish it, but I won't give it a rave review. The book reminds me of "Catcher In The Rye" and actually the book is mentioned more than a few times. I favor Wallflower over Catcher. But neither will I ever read again.

I think I shall try a couple books from the author JoAnn Mapson. I am looking at reading "Bad Girl Creek" and "The Owl and Moon Cafe". She has several books, but I thought I'd start with those. Hope they are two thumbs up. I could really use a good book right now!

love ya,

Ja-who-dee

My Inner Rock Star . . .

From a quiz this is who my inner rock star is I haven't a clue who this is but I will find out

You Are Ani Difranco!

Honest, real, and well liked. You're not limited by any boundaries. "And you can call me crazy But I think you're as lazy as white paint on the wall"

Who's Your Inner Rock Chick?

what European city . . .

I took a little quiz, this is the European City I belong in.

You Belong in Barcelona

When it comes to Europe, you don't want to decide between culture and fun. You want art by day and a big party by night. Barcelona is ideal for you. You can check out some Picasso, eat some tapas, take a siesta, and then dance all night!

What European City Do You Belong In?

Where have . . .

all the days of summer gone? Wow. Yesterday and this morning it has felt like fall is in the air. We've needed rain for some time now, so I'm not complaining about that, but a little warmer temperatures with it sure would be nice.

The art today is a little 3x3 I made for my friend Paula. We are doing a swap with a total of 13 artist. Each artist creates a little 3x3 for the others. Each artist has their own theme, and when you receive all 12 3x3's, you then put them together to create one big collage.

Paula's theme was "white caps" . . . whites and sepia . . . a beach thing. I found the little advertisement for girls camps, and this old photo (the date on the back said 1912) and the gal is in a "sailor suit". And then of course, you have to have shells . . . perhaps this young miss went to one of these camps in her day?

Some Karla today . . .

I'm in the mood for a little Karla Bonoff today . . .

I've got something I'd like to tell you
Something that happened to me
I'd been feelin' thoroughly lowdown
So I went to see the gypsy

She sat me down by her candle
She said she had the powers that be
And she looked me in the eye and took my hand
And this is what she said to me

She said, now you're flying high
Tomorrow you might be low
The same thing that makes your baby cry
Might make him get up and go

She said this would be all for now
But that you might come back
If you find it hard to understand
Simple little words like that

So I gave her all of my money
And took off for Singapore
But I couldn't unravel those words of hers
So I went back to the gypsy for more

She said, now you're flying high
Tomorrow you might be low
The same thing that makes your baby cry
Might make him get up and go

Well, just about this time my luck changed
And fortune did roll in
Well I learned the meaning of happiness
And the value of a friend

I met a fine young gentleman
As fine as a man can be
But I never forgot that gypsy girl
And what she said to me

She said, now you're flying high
Tomorrow you might be low
The same thing that makes your baby cry
Might make him get up and go

~Flying High . . . Karla Bonoff

Don't Count Your Chickens . . .

before your egg hatches . . . .

this is an older musing of mine, but I hate the thought of you all coming to visit and there not being anything new! And, with this being Friday, there definetly wouldn't be another posting until Monday.

Keep safe until then!

Love ya

ja-who-dee

Far To Go . . .

As I have written before, I don't remember much of my childhood. I don't know, perhaps because I was the youngest there are many things my sister Mary would remember that I wouldn't because of the age difference? Who knows. I think it bothers Mary more than it does me sometimes . . . What do you mean you don't remember that?! . . .

Any way, yesterday bits of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" ran through my brain. Today I kept thinking of bits of the childhood poem about the day of a week that a child was born on. Sure I wasn't getting it all right, I had to ask my old friend Google for some help.

This is the poem:

Monday's child is fair of face;
Tuesday's child is full of grace;
Wednesday's child is full of woe;
Thursday's child has far to go;
Friday's child is loving and giving;
Saturday's child works hard for a living.
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
is fair and wise, good and gay

So, I suppose with out looking it up, you all know what day of the week you were born on? Sigh, not I. But poking around on the internet, I found that on the day I was born, it was a Thursday. I guess this is better than a Wednesday and being full of woe . . . But Thursday's child has far to go . . . to where? For what? Am I half way there? Almost there? Just more questions to ponder!

I also found that David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels did a tune titled "Thursday's Child". I haven't a clue how the tune goes. I kind of can't get passed picturing David Bowie in "The Labyrinth" with all the little muppets and puppets. I just really was never a big fan, but the lyrics of the song "Thursday's Child" do interest me enough that I may just have to find a copy on CD to play.

Or actually, probably Mary knows them, she remembers everything ~smiles~

This is the refrain of the song:

(Throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Now that I've really got a chance
(Throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Everything's falling into place
(Throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Seeing my past to let it go
(Yeah, throw me tomorrow..oh,oh)
Only for you I don't regret
That I was Thursday's Child

Enough for now lovies. It's Thursday, I have far to go, so I best get going and get 'er done!

Love ya,

ja-who-dee

Fleetwod Mac is in my head today . . .

Oh, mirror in the sky

What is love

Can the child within my heart rise above

Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides

Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, Ive been afraid of changing

cause Ive built my life around you

But time makes you bolder

Children get older

Im getting older too

~Fleetwood Mac . . . Landslide

Mystic Hand . . .

This is a book thong I recently made. I got the idea from the talented artist Angie http://angiehallhaviland.typepad.com/angiesartfulllife/ she uses a bamboo tile and makes a transfer to lay on the tile. They are ever so awesome!

I gave this particular one to Robin whom I have known forever as my parents and her parents had a lot of grand times together! We actually all have many stories we could share about those times!

My mother's cat, Rosie, is named after Robin's mom as that is who gave mom the cat. Fortunately Rosie the human has a much kinder and gentler way about her than that darn cat!

love you all,

ja-who-dee

romper bomper stomper stu . . .

Okay, I'm pretty sure that isn't how the "Romper Room" little saying went, but hey, I don't really remember to much from my childhood . . . which drives my sister Mary nuts . . . How can you not remember that . . . she'll say . . . but anyway, it went something like that.

My friend Barb Burkard over at 123 Lavender Lollipop Lane http://www.123lavenderlollipoplane.blogspot.com/

nominated me to be a Rockin' Girl blogger . . . . now I'm suppose to nominate 5, but to tell the truth . . . just about all the blogs I visit regularly already have been honored! What's a girl to do?!

I just think you ALL ROCK, whether you have your own blog or not!

love ya,

ja-who-dee

Takin' Care Of Business

You get up every morning
From your alarm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city There's a whistle up above
And people pushin',
people shovin'
And the girls who try to look pretty
And if your train's on time
You can get to work by nine



this is a recycled collage. I made this quite some time ago for a lottery drawing at ARTchix Studio Ya-Ya-Sisterhood group. To tell the truth, I don't even remember who I ended up sending it to . . . . someone very awesome I am sure!!!!!!!

Denise Barclay Video

An on-line obit/video for Kit. It is very nice. Awesome song choices!

http://videos.yourtribute.com/viewtribute.asp?fh=keckcoleman&mv=Denise_E_Barclay.html

Bye Bye Sweet Kitty . .

My heart swells with grief, but my mind cannot find the path to my hands to type out the words to express my grief. I found comfort in the below poetry, and hope that those of you who knew and loved Kitty can find some quiet peace in it too.

Bye bye sweet Kitty, I will miss you, but know that you are no longer in pain, and you have taken the hand of God and will be waiting for me when I too must take his hand and begin the journey.

Hugs and Kisses,

ja-who-dee


Don't grieve for me,
for now I'm freeI'm following the path God laid for me
I took His hand when I heard Him callI turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,
to laugh,to love, to work or play.
Tasks undone must stay that way
I've found that peace at the close of the day.

If parting has left a void,
then fill itwith remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much
Good friends, good times,a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and share with me,
God wants me now,
He set me free.

~

Colors of the Wind . . .

Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind

Hazel sang the song "Colors Of The Wind" for her very first Talent Show at Fulton Elementary. She was in the first grade. We got her a little white "Indian Dress" and had to put her red hair in braids because "That's how
Pocahontas wears it mom". She was the cutest little red headed Indian :*) :*)

In a few weeks Hazel will be begining the fourth grade. sigh. Time passes by so quickly!

HEALING . . .

Whatever you ask for in Prayer with faith you will receive.

Matthew 21:22

Hope . . .

Keeping hope alive is based on remembering how we made it through the past with God's help.

~Sister Joan Chittister

Again, I would like to thank you all for your wonderful emails and prayers during this difficult time for my husbands family. Your prayers are felt and greatly appreciated! I for one am not giving up hope!

Love you all,

Ja-who-dee

Whispered Wishes

Inside this little house is a little girl with a bottle filled with glittery glass that represent the whispered wishes and prayers for Kitty that Hazel and I uttered inside.

Although I haven't had a chance to answer so many of your emails, know that I feel the love and comfort you have sent. I also can feel the warmth of your wonderful prayers. We are very blessed to have such loving family and friends. Thank you all so much for your continued support in this sad time.

Love, kisses, and hugs

ja-who-dee

thirsty soul

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"

J.K. ROWLING - Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

The Dirigible Plum

In JK Rowling's supposible last Harry Potter book . . . Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows . . .

Rowling writes about the drigible plums which are described as looking like orange radishes. These little plums are worn as adornments to . . .

. . . enhance the ability to accept the extraordinary . . .

Oh how I wish I had a bush outside my door!

Back from Vacation

Time sure flys by when you are using your vacation hours from work! I had 17 days off, and man, it seems like that was just yesterday. sigh. Back to reality. Had to happen.
We had a wonderful time on vacation! Got in our new car and traveled up to Higgins Lake, my most favorite place in the whole wide world . . . and spent a good week with my Bro Fred and Sis Mary and their families. Well, minus Sarah! She is off traveling the world this summer. Sure miss her, but she should be home soon. We also missed my Sis Barb by a day, but did get to see Ca-ca and her family. And of course mom got to go too! I think mom had a grand time. She went out fishing several times, which I do belive she went more that week than she did the last couple of years.
Fishing, wow! The fishing crews caught enough fish that we actually had 2 fish fries this year. Oh man, there is nothing like the fish that comes out of Higgins Lake. Lots of Rock Bass and a few perch here and there. Yummy. Nice mild flavor . . . oh man . . . sssslllllrrrruuupppp . . . .
If you've never been to Higgins Lake, Michigan, man you are missing out on seeing one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. There used to be a sign that said "6th most beautiful lake in the world" . . . I remember that from when I was a kid. I don't know who did the ratings, but in my book it is THE most beautiful lake in the world. It is a deep, spring feed lake, about 35 miles around, and has the clearest water! The north side (which is the side our cabin is on) has this nice smooth sandy bottom, and the water is so clear you can always see your feet. No weeds until you get out so deep you couldn't touch the bottom anyway. But it is cold, cold, cold! You have to be brave and get all the way wet, other wise you'll dance around on your tip toes with each cold wave of water that hits you! I love the color changes the water takes on as it goes to different depths. Once your past the drop off it goes from a light blue to a dark blue . . . . the darker blue the water looks, the deeper it is . . . . it's always a blast to take the pontoon out just to dive off into the deep water . . . . aaahhh . . . nice and refreshing once your heart gets over the shock of the cold :*) :*)
Anyway, it all went by so quickly, and now I am getting sad that I am writting about it instead of seeing it, so I shall close for now!
Love ya all . . .
ja-who-dee
The art with this post is a Birthday Card I made. The image is from Paper Whimsy . . . The crown is a stamp from Lost Cost Design.

My New Ride . . .

Imagine this vehicle being dark blue . . . now you know what my new ride looks like . . . it's awesome :*) :*) Man, vehicles have changed a little in the last 9 years! Imagine that . . .

My new ride even has washer fluid squirt out onto the BACK window! Holy Glock! And by pushing a button I can adjust the gas and break pedal . . . and no more having to stop to turn on the 4x4!!! Yeah ha!

My Calendar Girl . . .

I love, I love, I love my calendar girlYeah, sweet calendar girlI love, I love, I love my calendar girlEach and every day of the year . . . sing it Neil! . . . This is my calendar page for a project through Paper Whimsy Yahoo Group. www.paperwhimsy.com is a very awesome site for the lover of collage sheet images!

My Explorer Took A Dump . . .

yes it did. The poor thing. I've had that baby for 9 years. Sigh. I haven't had a car payment in like . . . 5 years I believe. Bought the SUV when Hazel was 3 months old. It's a 1993. Now also, it pukes and of course Dale is out of town for the week!

Hazel and I got home Monday night, pulled into the garage, turned off the vehicle, got out, was going to go in the house and thought, man, what stinks . . . turned around looked . . . heart leapt into my throat, adrenaline starts pumping through my veins . . . thought my engine was on fire!!!! Oh my gosh! Hesitantly opened the hood, no flames, thank God, but man . . .. wwwaaahhhhh. Now I have very limited knowledge of vehicles . . . and I mean limited. I know how to put gas in one, and that I do. In a pinch I will put air in the tires. I do know where the oil goes, the radiator fluid goes, and the wiper fluid goes. But I leave the filling of those to the paid professionals, or whatever person may want to do that for me. So really, other than to make sure the engine isn’t truly on fire, to open the hood is just wasted movement for me.

Called BIL one, had to leave message, called BIL two . . . he came over. I think if you asked both of them I sounded rather panicky. Well hell boys, I thought my car was on fire . . . Helllllooooo!!! But they can tease me all they want about that . . . . They’re sweethearts to help a damsel in distress.

BIL two, takes a look around in the engine. Radiator fluid looks dry (well yeah, I’d seen that too, first thought I had was why to engine heating light coming on) and he looks in the actual radiator . . . I know where that is too, but no way in hell I was opening that little pressure cooker cap, I’ve seen the damage a pressure cooker can do!! He looks some more, and there it is. A hose blown right off. On a coupling? Something like that, remember I just put gas in. He is pretty grim about the prognosis of the Explorer. The poor thing.

So, he is willing to give me a ride into borrow my mom’s van. Okay, mom isn’t home, but I will just leave a note. Wouldn’t matter if I called and talked to her first anyway, she probably wouldn’t remember the conversation when I get there. But her van makes sense, because she can’t drive it! So off we go into town, which is about 15 miles away. Halfway there I note I don’t have my keys. I said well, there is a possible place that I could find a key. We took a gamble didn’t turn around. Get to mom’s, she isn’t home. Okay, my hand at breaking in . . . nope, no key, nope no unlocked door. Back into the car and back we go to my house.

Now were back to mom’s. house key in hand. Get up to her door and there she is to meet us. EEEyyyyyyiiii. Okay, by BIL, thank you so much, what a sweetie to put up with me!

I get mom’s vehicle, write several notes around her house that I have the van. I write notes on her blackboard, put one on her kitchen table, one in her calendar that is looked at daily, put one in Jane’s note book . . . all over . . . Judy has van . . . and off we go back to my house.

I get there, and there is BIL one. Oh man, I forgot to call him back and let him know the Calvary had arrived! Yikes! But BIL doesn’t mind, he looks things over a little more. Nope, the radiator was not completely dry, fluid steamed out when the hose broke. Probably a pressure had built up that blew the hose when I turned off the car. . . he checked the radiator fluid for oil or the oil for radiator fluid, however that may go . . . he’s prognosis for the Explorer is better.

Whelp, I have been putting it off for over a year. I’ve known I would need to buy a vehicle. I just don’t want the car payment. . .sazlefrazzz . . . so off car shopping this weekend we go . ..

Now, here are the good things about it all . . . it puked in my garage, not on the side of the road . . . it was only steaming, not flaming, in which case my house would have burnt down also . . . which reminds me . . . fire extinguisher needs to be put on my shopping list too. I don’t believe we don’t have one!

So, hopefully soon I will be telling you about my new-to-me-vehicle, because I doubt if it will be a NEW vehicle!

Oh yeah, and by the way, I did call City Hall and tell my friend Cindy that if my mom called because her van was missing . . . I had it! She understood completely . . . I could just invision that phone call happening, even though there is a note every two feet in the house. . .. smiles . . .


Type at ya later . . .
Ja-who-dee

The Mouse House

This is a long story, but one to be told as it actually provides some comic relief in the daily struggles of dementia. I laugh out loud everytime I think about this story. I hope you get a chuckle or two also!

As most of you know, my mother has dementia. She is doing as well as one could possibly expect, and we are fortunate to have lots of loving and caring friends and relatives to help us through all this. One person who is especially a blessing is mom’s daily caregiver, whom I shall refer to as Jane to give her some anonymity. My mom also has this huge, lazy, fattest cat I ever saw in my life. I always refer to this cat as “Psycho Rosie”. It looks like a Siamese cat, but has the same body shape as that famous cartoon cat Garfield. I think Psycho Rosie maybe the first cat to ever be buried in a piano case when it dies . . . it's one big fat cat. Going back to the Garfield comparison . . . Psycho is as lazy as Garfield is too! A very pamper cat to say the least.

One morning Jane was finishing up a chore from the morning routine before mom and she left for the post office and to drop mom off at McDonald’s for coffee with her many friends. Jane hears mom calling from the kitchen, “Jane, Jane, my cat, my cat, come and get my cat”. Jane enters the kitchen to find mom standing with the door to the basement open and mom pointing down the rickety steps leading into a very dark and dank basement at the bottom. Now Jane has never seen this basement before, and probably at that point didn’t even realize it existed. Mom doesn’t turn on a light for Jane, and she doesn’t know where it is, so using the light from the open door, she sits on the steps and proceeds to go down one step at a time on her bottom end.

When she gets about half way down, the cat, Psycho Rosie, bounds up over Jane, runs into the open kitchen door, and boom, mom slams the door shut leaving Jane sitting in this dank, dark basement. Oh my. Could you imagine, remember Jane is using the light from the open kitchen door to make her way down into this scary basement! Well, Jane being the resourceful gal that she is opens up her cell phone (do you suppose if you make a living as a caregiver you always keep a cell phone on your person?) and uses the light from that to make her way up to the top of the stairs. When she makes it to the top, not wanting to just open it up and scare mom, she knocks on the door and calls “Sally, Sally, would you open the door”?

Well, Sally opens the door. Looks at Jane with a puzzled face and says. . . “Well what are you doing down there”?

The girls then proceed out on their trip to the post office. When they get to the parking lot of the post office, Sally looks at Jane and asked “Did I just lock you in the basement?” and they had a good chuckle over the whole event. Chuckle, heck I about peed my pants when I was told the story! And the great thing is yes, Jane came back to work the next day.

Now, the story continues a few days later. Jane arrives to find Sally trying to find a mouse. Eek, a mouse in the house you say, for real? Well, yes, there is a mouse on the house, because it chooses to run right over Jane’s foot in their search of the kitchen. Poor Jane. Did I mention that she truly is a blessing to us to come and help Sally? Now, I called at that time, and they were telling me about the great mouse hunt. I asked of course about Psycho, isn’t the cat helping chase the mouse? Nope. The fat thing is laying there watching the two of them scamper around for this mouse. Mom says it’s because she doesn’t have claws. Yeah, right. It’s because this is the world most spoilt cat, it get's about 40 square meals a day, why in the world would it bother with a mouse? But okay, it’s her cat. Anyway, Sally and Jane decide they need traps. So off they go to the store, get traps and set them. One at the top of the basement steps, and one trap is set just outside the attic door.

Jane arrives early the next day, as is the routine. Jane and Sally go about their normal routine, and then later check the traps. Well, the one at the top of the basement steps is gone. Sally decides that a mouse has set off the trap which causes it to fall to the bottom of the steps. Of course, you can’t see the bottom of the steps because, remember it’s so dark, and Jane doesn’t know where the light switch is. Anyway, Sally says to Jane, “your going to have to go down there and get that trap. The mouse will start to decay and it will get stinky”.

Jane looks at Sally and says “Well, put on your nose plug, because there is no way in hell your getting me to go into that basement again”!

Can't blame Jane . . . I haven't gone down to look for the trap, and I even know where the light switch is!

Cards For Sale!

I've decided to sell some of my Greeting Cards. You can see them in the folder "ART FOR SALE" at my picture trail http://www.picturetrail.com/my_peace_of_art

All the prices for the cards include shipping and handling too! For those that live outside of USA, please add $1.00

Somerset Studio Gallery - Summer Edition

I have been fortunate to be published again! WoooHoo! This time I have a piece in the Gallery Issue for Summer '07.

http://www.somersetstudio.com/html/gal_summer07.html

The piece I had published in a collage that I sent in for the call of art for "Blue".

This is a 6x6 " collage that was first painte with teal paint, then a layer of red-oxide paint with most of it being rubbed off before it dried. I then altered up German scrap and sequin waste with the same paints I used on the canvas.

The image is a transparency from ARTchix studio. And I got the kewl beads from Top Hat Design Works.

Dale's First Field Trip!

Dale is on his first field trip with Hazel and her class. Today the class is going to Heritage Village and then . . . . the highlight of the trip . . . McDonald's!!! LOL! Heritage Village is a kewl little artsy place by the community collage in Sidney, Michigan. Sigh. I know, I should be there, but it is the first of the month, so that means a few extra jobs need to be done at work, plus it gives Hazel a chance to spend some time with daddy!

The picture today is also another of my Relay For Life cards . . . . This is for Alice.

Relay For Life

Carson City Hospital here in Carson City, Michigan is hosting a Relay For Life (see

http://tinyurl.com/bvubk for more information on Relay For Life). They also will be having a silent auction with the proceeds to benefit the Relay for Life organization. I made a series of greeting cards for the auction. This is one of them. This is my Kelly card. I started to make one card for each person I know that has been diagnosed with cancer. I ended up stopping at 11 cards . . . there are still more names on my list . . . wow. But the good news is that then number of survivors of the disease on my list out number the number of loved ones that passed due to cancer. This is a good thing!

All of the cards made can be viewed at my picture trail http://www.picturetrail.com/my_peace_of_art

Pita Pizza . . . quick and easy . . .

I have been into making quick and easy pea-less-easy meals for Hazel and I. I am also trying to stay SOMEWHAT healthy. I do need to shed more than a few pounds since I have stopped smoking . . . ask Hazel, she will be more than happy to let you know that!!!! For example, I had the following conversation with Miss Hazel the other day:

Mom: "Ah man Haze, I feel so fat and ugly"

Hazel replies " well . . . big pregnant pause . . . you aren't ugly"

Which kind of explains also my bad day in the previous post!!!

Anyway, this is one of my favorites, but then made this way, Hazel doesn't care much for it. But I must say, it doesn't take a lot of time, and gets me back to arting!! Give it a whirl, and let me know what ya think . . . always can make improvements! I got wonderful ideas for the smoothies!!


Pita Bread
Olive oil cooking spray (or some other type of spray stuff :*)
Garlic powder
Mediteranian cheese blend (Kraft crumbelievables) – or some other type cheese you like
Slices of Plumb tomatoes (or hey, any tomato ya got!)
Red onion slices
Black olives at least cut in half so they don’t roll
Mushrooms

(Change around the ingredients however you like! Heck, use pizza sauce instead of the tomatoes and make it more Italian with pepperoni and mozzarella!)


Pre-heat your oven to around 350 degrees.
Lay out the desired number of pita breads onto a cookie sheet.
Spray the bread with the oil spray
Sprinkle the bread with garlic powder
Put a few tomato slices on top of the bread now, and then layer on the rest of your toppings.
Sprinkle with the cheese
Put them in the oven until the cheese is nice and melted. I like my cheese with little brown bubbles, but not to be careful not to overcook, don’t like burnt cheese . . . It takes about oh 5 minutes or so to start melting up.

When they cheese is melted to your liking, take them out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes and then cut into wedges with a pizza knife.

That’s it, that’s all. Make a few, make a lot!!!!

Think Your Having A Bad Day!!!

this is my day thus far:

First thing I do this morning when I get up . . . stub my toe . . . not just a little "Ouch that hurt" . . . but the good ole make your butt cheeks pinch together and say something like "Firetruck" . . . I think I may have broken my little toe . . . then moving on . . . get to work, bend down to pick up a report that is shoved under my door . . . thought I heard something, but didn't really think much about it until later if I did . . . when walking down the hall to go to the supply department to order paper for the printer passing by the cafeteria and dinning room mind you . . . a gal that works here says . . . Oh man Judy, I don't think that's a slit on the back of your skirt . . . . right-o she was! a rip . . . a big ole fat ass rip . . . from hem to hip . . . so I flip the skirt around to the side so it's more my thigh showing than my ass . . . . and home I went to change clothes and come back . . . yep . . . all this done before 8:00 AM . . . just let me say it again . . . TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUPER EASY SMOOTHIE!!!!

Hazel and I are into smoothies big time! We were buying little powder packages to make them (adding fruit to the powder and ice and blending) . . . but then we thought, hey, why do we need this powder stuff?

Well, I googled, because google is my best friend when I don't know something. Of course I found 5o million types of smoothies . . . that's also a problem with google, it may be my friend, but may sometimes it just gives to much information!

So knowing I wanted something somewhat healthy, I discarded all ice cream recipes. Then, because Rachel Rae and I are so much alike (okay, only in the fact that neither of us really care to have to measure when we cook. and she has "Rae" in her name and so does Hazel, and oh yeah, we're both cute, hey I must be, Hazel said I wasn't ugly ttteeeehhhhheeee!) I found one using yogurt, strawberries, and sugar . . . . I read it through, went to the store, and then I ended up doing this:

1 - 6oz serving vanilla yogurt
1 - 60z serving lemon yogurt (this was originally suppose to be vanilla, but I grabbed a lemon by mistake and didn't realize until I'd dumped it in . . . . it was a yummy error on my part!)

dump these into the blender

fill one of the now empty containers with milk (I use skim milk, but just heard from sister Mary that she puts Soy Milk into hers . . . now there's a healthy twist too!!)
fill one of the empty containers with ice (crush it up first if you have big cubes, I used the bag ice from the store, so I don't know the number of "tray" cubes)

dump the contents into the blender

throw about 16 small sized strawberries (hulled of course!) into the blender, and then peel and break up a small banana putting the pieces right in the blender, just break it in thirds or such . . .

Now, you can add about a tablespoon of sugar at this point, but what the heck, blend it without first . . . it may be sweet enough for you . . . if not, throw some sugar in and BLEND, BLEND, BLEND . . . . make it a smoothie baby!

Pour it into glasses and enjoy! Hazel and I consider this recipe to be TWO SERVINGS . . .


Think of the different variations you could make with this! Let me know if you come up with some good combos!!!

SSSSlllllluuuuurrrppp