Golden Oasis

MORE than just a "C"

I want to take a moment today to honor Coretta Scott King....she has passed at 78 today- her spirit will live on...the 'Section-Black History Month' link in the upper right hand box is full of great information with a wonderful time-line.  Just yesterday, my son brought home a three week African-American biography project..he and another child were able to do their report on Dr. Martin Luther King...I think it will be a nice touch to add some information about Coretta Scott King. As many of you may know,  with children's books there is something called- The Coretta Scott King Award....some wonderful books are listed there (not only for children)!

I will also take a moment today to honor the Columbia STS-107...please take a moment to click on the "Remembering the Columbia STS-107". In 1999 or '98 I remember when Micheal Anderson (Payload Specialist aboard the Columbia) came to speak at my college during African American History month. His excitement of his up-coming launch was apparent, his life story was so inspiring, so energetic, so encouraging, so full of hope... that day. I went away from his informal speech and Q&A session..which I think he loved more...with a sense that I had listened to someone that could be labeled a 'hero' in today's world!  We look too often in wrong places for hero's today....yes, there has been great sports hero's, but lately I wonder...we honor materialistic ways of entertainers......but few hear from the people we really should be calling hero's...........             and then that fateful day over TX & LA.....

it really touched me in ways that is hard for me to write about it....

Now to my original "C" picture that I have had for awhile...my daughters friend made a beautiful "C"AKE...from the cake to the frosting....and it was soooo yummy, too! I've promised her to post it for everyone to see! (with her permission) She has taken up the hobby by taking classes at Micheal's...and certainly, in upcoming high-school years I think any Von's or Albertson's would be lucky to have her as a part-time apprentice :)

 

...and last but not least....

CROCHET!!!!   Life line for many!

Wee One

Let me introduce my Wee One named "Chi". I had always wanted to make myself one from seeing them at Wee Wonderfuls and her gallery of Wee!  Anyway, Chi is a very happy one- she enjoys tea and I can imagine she sees the 'good' in each day!  I just thought of it-I suppose this can count as my "C", but that wasn't the intention...more "C's" to come! Happy Monday!   Quote from my son: "What is THAT?" 

4 Things

4 Jobs

Navy, accounting tutor at a college, dental assistant, & bookkeeper  (most importantly- MOM!)

4 Movies rewatched

Officer & A Gentleman ('Way to go, Paula'!), Sound of Music, Shawshank Redemption, & Finding Nemo (HA! JK...but I really like it lately...)

4 Places Lived (only?)

Hendersonville-NC, many places-CO, Jacksonville-FL, Great Lakes Naval base-IL

4 TV Shows

Little House on the Prarie reruns, Trading Spouses, Nanny 911, er...Amer. Idol  YIKES- bad tv life..not much to chose- for me personally..

4Vacation Places I've Been

Antiqua, Alaska, Oylmpic Nat. Park (WA), Sanibel Island (FL)

4 WebSites (only 4?)

Bloglines, recent earthquakes USGS, Weather Underground, Jet Propulsion Lab.

4 Fav Foods  (ditto above)

Homemade cookies, skim plain yogurt w/nuts, coffee (food?), chicken (all diff. ways)

4 Places I'd Rather Be

Sante Fe (the gallery road), "Taylor Lake" snatching trout (CO), inside an Aspen grove (summer), & in the mountains getting lost

CARDS!!

[click on images]

My first card I want to share is an absolutely beautiful card from my Brazil friend (I hope you can see how the stars dangle within the front of the card)! The two post cards are from the random pick from Postcrossings- Ireland and Brazil! The last picture shows my "Love Hurts" ATC card for TravelersHart yahoo group. I couldn't help but to share my hurt for missing my Sally!

Golden Blur

THANK YOU, Joleen! I was so excited I had won something and this is what I recieved!

Thank you so much! Can't wait to start!

For my friend over at Are We There Yet- my five quirky habits (not sure how 'quirky' they are, but here goes):

1. All 'crumbs' must be picked up...I dislike to the point of... hate CRUMBS!

2. I have my bedding opened up ready for me (ya' know the triangle formed) before I take a shower for the night!

3. I must always have lotion on my feet before I put socks on.

4. I must always say 'Nite-nite Nugget' before going up the stairs for the evening.

5. I open blinds while my coffee is perking.

I know tags are annoying to some...(I like them- LOVE to meet other bloggers!) but this time I think I'm going to leave it at that and if you care to share that would be great!

With a show of hands, how many of you read your bloglines BEFORE posting? I'm just quite frankly, exhausted! After reading all my favorite (ever growing) list...I think I pale in comparison...that is not my intent at all to keep up and I don't ever feel I'm competing with anyone...I just see such beautiful things and my creative juices get flowing that by the time I get to posting my own...I'm just- worn out and some of my ideas to post seem so frivolous!   Lesson learned. One must POST before reading!

Now to the promised Golden Meetup! Meetup is another avenue to meet people with similar interests! This group was for the Golden owners!

I was so proud of Nugget at she stood readily by my 'side' as we were in our groups introducing the humans and the dogs! She was just beaming so happy to be there! (click on to enlarge)

This was Nugget with a friend who was the eldest at 14! She was still in good shape and owner was very open to talk about her....well, I think it goes without saying..all dog owners love to talk about their dogs! It's kind of like parents in a toddler play group talking about when their kids started walking! Funny how that just doesn't matter anymore! Ah, the journey through the stages of life!

Love this blur of Golden..and you know what? They all act alike! Actually, I'm finding Golden are kind of stand offish to other dogs and do not play chase games and really don't like other dogs jumping at them! (Nugget is in the right corner)...and finally this is what you get at home (excuse the pose)!

I've finished some ATC's, but I feel like Nugget right now, I'll have to share later!

"B" is for.....

My sweet BOY! I was thinking....when a person has a baby you make such a big deal and then when they age, the cuteness and the 'big deal' wears off- the baby blue stuff goes away....after all, they start having a have a mind of their own ;) When I think of "B" I can't help but think of BOY!  Boy's are special...especially at this age- they have the 'snips and snails, and puppy dog tail's...' mode! I think this is the most important stage...learning about themselves and the world around them..where you have to make sure they are following the right track! To take the time to talk and listen to what is and isn't said! I even get out there and toss the football with him in the back yard when Daddy isn't available- I was surprised I can even get a spiral going once in a while... A boy means 'to DO'...!

Keeping with the topic of "B"....I have some BOOKS to show you- These are the books I'm lookin' to sell at a yard sale or possibly trade with anyone reading this that shows interest! Just go ahead and email me (my email is in the 'About' me area) ...if you have any questions or want to see various pages of any of the books just ask! Remember to click on the photos to view bigger-

Also I'll show you the Quilting Arts magazine I have available and some other patterns books.  Enjoy- and if there is ANYTHING you want- just ask...perhaps there is something in your stash that you would like to trade ;)

Stay tuned...I can't wait to show the pictures from the Golden Retriever Meetup that we enjoyed this past weekend!

The Courage to Lead

Today and everyday we remember....

A wonderful website to visit is Martin Luther King, Jr. National historic site in Georgia. Scroll down and on the left hand side you can tour his birth home, the King-Carter Peace walk, and the International Rights Wall.

We still have a ways to go....racism is still alive and comes in many different forms today....

....we must remember.....

For this we do celebrate today his willingness and courage to make this a better day!

I WON!

This morning with my coffee (Seattle's Best) in my favorite cup reading my bloglines I came across THIS!   I just couldn't believe I won! I just love {love,joleen}'s blog! She is super creative! Can't wait to see what is in the surprise bag!

On this cool day --just now reaching 53 degrees (no complaints here!)...with my hands wrapped around my cup, I thoroughly enjoyed every ones 'corner'.....some embodied their dreams at Four Sweet Peas or Enjoying The Journey ...and I just have to share this one reminding us of the beauty around us Too Much Wool!

This is my corner I would like to share- that desk was my mothers when she was a child doing her school work in her room, our boomerang that my husband brought back from Australia, some lacquered brass stamp boxes that were my Grandmothers, my first doily that I made back in the 80's, a ceramic pig that my husband brought from overseas, a Colorado postal stamp highlighted in a frame and easel from my brother (he works for the Postal Service and his wife is a Postal Inspector), let's see....some ceramics bought in Mexico, some wooden Totem Poles purchased in Alaska.... it is a corner that has my small items that I cherish from my family.               ....and some dust!

The purging of my house is almost done. I'm very proud of myself...truly after 16 years I've really 'gone through' all my stuff...my hands have touched almost everything in my house....these are the piles of trash/old stuff that I have formed in the garage x 4 ...(we have had four trash days)

I'm not a yard sale type person, but I have enough that I have promised my family one! ONE MORE place....my computer desk, and INSIDE the lovely desk I just showed... everything that was 'questionable' (of where to put it) ended up onto of my computer desk and this is where it dead ends! Some true decisions...some things REALLY needing to be completed! Time is now! This is it!      Truthfully..I feel the apprehension. So, let me dive in and you guys hold me accountable..please! Tell you what...I will take a before picture to really push me...

...er...no kidding...the dog walked on by just as I shot!!!!! Let's try this again!!!

That's better.....or worse...which ever way you want to look at it!!! I think I like the first one better ;} 

New Year Zeal

Wow! Where do I begin? My 'zoning' is continuing....it is amazing how emotionally draining it really is to completely go through things!  One of the zones I just tore through was the Craft Zone!     ...oh my...I'm sure you crafters out there know exactly my expiration exasperation in doing that! Not only do certain crafts/patterns signify certain times in your life, but it really makes you put that mirror up to yourself!  It exposes something of yourself.... 

I've learned that I'm still intrigued with 'lettering', color, crocheting & knitting (I can hear a sigh of relief out there!!!), old fashion quilt patterns, painting (still really want to dig into water color), home made journals, book art, and a strong urge to do 'jar art'? After all, when you really take a look at some of your jars your throwing away or recycling..it really gets you thinking!

I'm no longer intrigued with beads, fabric art, art quilts, and crazy quilt (which includes embroidery). I suppose it's a good thing that this list is shorter than the first. Needless to say I didn't throw too much away..and even have some 'Quilting Arts' magazines to trade if anyone is interested?

Now to the 'ring thing'! After days of trying to figure out the format of getting that darn nabbing ring on my blog. It was a simple format error of clicking a config box in Typepad..showing text  (verses picture) which with our beloved host Anne's help I will get that nice little ABC's picture soon. She has been such a great help and very patient with me. But I didn't want to post my letter picture until I had the ring up! After three days of thinking and looking..I don't know why I was at such a stand still for about three days.....

...but here it is:

STOP...not another click!

I want to draw your attention to my book list and a little cleaning up. I absolutely love America Knits...to the point of calling it my book of the year so far! ;}  I love going into artists studios, lives, places they live.... A reader comment at Amazon said it was a reprint of Knitting in America, but it's the first time seeing it for me and I'm in love with it!

Last night I designed a knitted pillow: (click on to see a closer image)

I have a small sketch book in my bedside drawer when I have an idea! I feel lost when I don't have it... I wonder how/where do others keep there ideas?

Finally, I'm a day late at getting my calendar up on my wall! This year I have chosen  Vermeer ...the master of light! The Lacemaker is the January picture! Love it! It's a tradition to have a special picked out calendar for my wall, so I have an idea....I'm tagging a few people! "What Calendar is on YOUR Wall This Year?" I'm going to tag Tweety's Nest, Are We There Yet?, my little mochi, & KnitDoc-KNIT!