little messy missy

Valentine ATC's & Rolo's.

2012-02-08T16:39:00.000-08:00

Two of my altered Rolo Dex cards for Valentines Day Swap. I have about 2 dozen saved from all different people and all different themes. Altered Rolo Dex Cards are awesome.

How could it be the month of February without making some Artist Trading Cards..think pink!!! Can wait to see what comes back in the mail to me.

DRESS

2012-01-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

I just bought a darling dress. A Gil Elvgren original! Cant wait to wear it. I will post some pics!!!

This is the dress! I have a blingy yellow vintage sweater to wear it with, now I just need a picnic to go to.

DEAD BIRDS

2012-01-11T15:15:00.000-08:00

So sad and so tragic. I am so upset!!! Let me backtrack to a few days before Christmas. My husband and I and our two teenagers were in the car driving to grandma's house when we passed a local park. It is two blocks from our home. I was SHOCKED and UPSET to see hundreds, HUNDREDS of dead birds under the pine trees. Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE birds. I have about a dozen bird feeders in my yard, raise chickens and even collect glass white birds. I adore birds. To see so many dead birds was very upsetting. We saw a very brief local story on the news saying the birds were water birds and had crashed, mistaking the frozen ground for water. I know that this happens but this was not the case. They were Starling, not water birds and they were under pine trees, not in an open field. The stories that follow are from the news papers.

The Salt Lake Tribune

First published Dec 21 2011 04:23PM
Updated Dec 21, 2011 09:23PM

About 400 starlings have been found dead in Kiwanis Park in Clearfield.

Clearfield officials said they don’t know what led to the deaths or why the birds gathered at the 300 N. Vine St. location. J.J. Allen, assistant city manger, said municipal workers have picked up the dead birds and will keep the park up to city standards.

Dead birds were first noticed at the park Sunday, Allen said. More dead birds have turned up through the week.

Officials from the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources collected four of the dead birds to determine whether they were poisoned, Allen said.

An unnamed government official told an AP reporter to “expect dead starlings to fall to the ground for a few more days.”

On Saturday, December 17, hundreds of starlings fell from the sky. It was believed the birds were dead before they even hit the ground.
The Standard Examiner reported that a variety of explanations were being given by various officials. “As to why they died, the answer depends on who you ask,” reported The Standard’s Jasen Asay.
JJ Allen, Clearfield’s assistant city manager, said parks department employees have been gathering dead European starlings since Sunday. Birds were first noticed Sunday, but more had been turning up dead since then.

“Our parks department has cleaned up a total of 380 birds,” Allen said late Monday afternoon, “mostly on the north end of the city by Kiwanis Park.” By Tuesday, December 20, Phil Douglass of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources said the information he received was that the dead birds were part of a population control effort by the Department of Agriculture.
Douglass said the treatment took place in western Weber County and involved 15,000 European starlings. In other words, he’s saying that he was told that another government agency had killed off the starlings as part of a poisoning campaign.
However, Mike Linnell, federal program director at Animal and Wildlife Damage Prevention Services, said they had nothing to do with the dead birds.
“We have not treated any birds in Clearfield,” Linnell said. Animal and Wildlife Damage Prevention Services falls under the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. So Linnell would be the one to know.
A post at The Republic is suggesting that it could be that the birds were indeed poisoned as part of a kill-off campaign, but no government agency wants to take responsibility for it. After all, as soon as a government agency takes the blame, an individual at the agency would be asked to step up to allow environmentalists point a shaming finger at him or her.
It could be, too, that a landowner set out poisoned bait in an effort to keep hungry starlings away from food stores. (Starlings are an unprotected species.) However, environmental officials have commented that they did not think local farmers would have poisoned the birds, because there are several other bird species in the area that look like European starlings that are protected by wildlife laws.
The very strange thing is this: Why would so many starlings be dropping from the sky only over the city’s park, dead before they hit the ground, for a few days or more? Seems pretty odd.
What’s even weirder is a comment made by an unspecified official. Utah’s Local News 8 posted an AP story that included this: “Officials say they expect dead starlings to fall to the ground for a few more days.”
True, the unnamed official might have been trying to support the “poisoned birds” story, and that statement was merely one more nugget of b.s.
“We are not sure if that [the previous report of baited birds] was the case or not,” said Assistant City Manager JJ Allen. “Clearfield city is not aware of how or why so many birds died or were found dead at one of our city’s many parks.”
By Thursday, December 22, The Standard went back to representatives from Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources.
DWR officials retracted their story.
“It is definitely still a mystery,” Justin Dolling, DWR regional supervisor, told The Standard. “We don’t know what happened. Unfortunately, there was some speculation, and we can’t say that was indeed the case.”
Dolling said DWR officials have collected four of the birds and sent them to a lab in Logan. He said he hopes to have an answer as to why they died in the next few weeks.
“Sometimes it comes back that there’s enough uncertainty that we don’t know what caused death,” Dolling said.

This morning while driving to work, I witnessed a few dozen birds fall from the sky. Most crashed into the road barely missing my car. Others, the less fortunate ones flapped around on the street until they stopped moving. It was so upsetting. I am angry, hurt, sad and scared! I never get angry but this has to stop! Who and why have they been poisoning our birds?

As of today there has been NO follow up. I wonder if there ever will be?

Line Work

2012-01-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

Finished another picture. This one took forever but was very relaxing. I have not named it yet. It is done in ink. Not sure how to mount it because I generally use canvas, this happens to be on very thick card stock. Any suggestions would be awesome.

The Swing

2012-01-05T07:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a new water color painting I made. It is entitled "The Swing", it is based off a photo my daughter took of my beautiful little niece.

Here is a pic of it up close.

I LOVE water colors. I love the layering effects you can make. It is very different from my regular bright and rich art.

Closed Mouth.

2011-12-30T10:06:00.000-08:00

Words have been quiet within my mind lately. I have been worried about my little sister who was just diagnosed with aggressive MS. The treatments have wonderful side effects...losing hair...moon face...etc. I have not felt like writing but I have felt that my soul has missed being able to pour itself out onto these pages. I love life but the tragedies, injuries and illnesses seep into me and take my words away. For the last three months I have worked, worked a lot. Created a lot of art. Made handmade Christmas gifts and read a couple of books. I have decided to come back out of my shell and write.

Books I have read the last three months.

Family Pics

2011-11-22T16:27:00.000-08:00

Woke Up To Snow...

2011-11-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

Brrrrr... I am sooooo cold!

xoxoxoxox

Cemetery In The Fall

2011-11-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

My friend and I went on a drive and ended up in a small city cemetery. It was such a beautiful fall day.

October...

2011-10-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

This month has FLOWN by. I have spent it either at work or standing in the kitchen canning all of our fruit and veggies. Tomorrow is my birthday!!! I bought myself something I have ALWAYS wanted, really wanted...but that will have to be another post. My best friend is flying in from Texas today, to meet her friends family...we get to sneak away on Monday for breakfast! What an awesome gift to me! I cant wait to see her and hug her! This month I have made swans, zombies, bloody vampire bookmarks, and a zentangle or two! The Zombie Doll Swap was awesome. My partner sent me a wonderful package with a very cool handmade zombie doll.

We made the cupcakes for the season premiere of the Walking Dead.

Christine was my zombie doll swap partner and she rocked!

I have spent a great many hours canning this season. I love that kind of hard work because I am providing food for my family year round.

Plum Jam

4 batches of salsa

Peach jam

2 dozen stewed tomatoes

Apple Pie in a jar

Strung up all my peppers

4 batches pickled jalapenos

2 batches jalapeno jelly

Ghost Tour!

2011-10-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

I went with some friends and family to the Ogden City Ghost Tour. It was fun. I got to see historic 25th street and tons of old buildings on the main road. I love learning the history of the big beautiful buildings.

My daughter and her date.

The bunch of us, except my friend who took the pic.

My best friend Karen and me.

My son and his date.

Didn't see any ghosts but after we went to our house and had hot apple cider and donuts. It was a fun night!

Art

2011-10-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

I just finished a new painting. The colors in the picture I took of it don't do it justice. It is bright and thick. I am happy with the way it turned out. It is of me and my sisters.

Here is the picture that was my inspiration.

Fall Is Here

2011-10-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

Son's First Dance

2011-10-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

My son, my baby, went to the Homecoming Dance. Guess he is not a baby anymore.

New Art

2011-08-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

So I joined an Altered Rolodex Swap and had so much fun doing them that I am now hooked. They are a little bigger then Artist Trading Cards and easy to display.

Pink Rolodex cards.

The next few are my newest Artist Trading Cards.

The Lined Tree

Poppy

This is my niece. We were in a strawberry field picking berries but all she would pick up were the bugs.It is a 5x7 piece of art.

This one was a challenge. It is for a swap called Pretty Little Swear. It is an ATC that has to have a swear word on it. It can't stand out and at a quick glance it has to be pretty and look like something that would never have swear words on it. Hehehehe.

Sigh...

2011-08-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

It is canning season!!! So far all I have done is pickles and jelly, but boy, time is racing by. School started last week so back to work I went. This year the class has 11 boys and 1 girl. In a traditional classroom that would be a problem but not in Functional Skills. Each new face comes with such a great personality, I cant wait to see their progression throughout the school year.
Most of my days I am at school, in the garden or kitchen or can be found at my art desk. I seem to be sitting there at all hours of the night. Later this week I will put some pics up. My daughter is a senior this year and my son is a sophomore, I feel like they are so close to becoming adults that it scares me. It scares me to think they don't need me as much.

Dill pickles.

My art desk.

Ghost Towns

2011-07-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day with my best friend, my daughter and her boyfriend. We took a 12 hour round trip drive and went to a couple of ghost towns and some old mines. We were also on a rockhounding exhibition and even managed to pick up tons of old glass, even purple and turquoise!! I am still tired today, but we had a blast!!!

Frisco Mine

I have been to quite a few mines/ghost towns but this by far is the best within 10 states!

Beehive Kilns

These next pictures were a little "accidental" find. We went down a wrong road and came upon some beautiful old homes.

While walking up to the back door of this house my daughter and I were surprised by a huge deer that was snoozing in the shade of the house. I really don't know who jumped worse, us or the deer!

I love the bricks above the windows.

This house was so over grown this is all that showed.

We finally found the Frisco Cemetery, it was so worth it. A dark rain cloud moved in while we were there and it made everything feel spooky.

This is made out of very old wood. No name.

See you can barely see the cemetery, no wonder why I couldn't find it last time.

I really like this one, Gone But Not Forgotten. There were an awful lot of children in this cemetery.

Last we stopped in Eureka, my great grandfathers home town. My great grandfather ran a dairy in Eureka and my grandfather work in mine. My father lived in this little town until he was 1 years old. It is "almost" a ghost town. Only a dozen or so people live there.

I loved this trip, next time I am bringing my metal detector!

Summer Days...

2011-07-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

This is how I have been spending my days...

Visiting friends in Texas.

Capturing smiles.

Watching my nephew discover the garden hose.

Taking cute kids to air force museums.

Rediscovering how wonderful snow-cones are.

Watching my flowers grow.

Finding dragonflies.

Feeding Koi fish.

Eating.

Laughing at my chickens.

Finding beauty.

Making lots of egg rolls.

Missing my son.

How is your summer going???

Vintage Earrings

2011-07-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

While out thrift shopping with my daughter we ran into 2 lovely pairs of vintage earrings. We had to have them and at $1.00 a piece they were an easy sale!

Now off to find a vintage little black dress!

Cupcakes and a Little Sorrow...

2011-07-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

I recently returned from a trip to Dallas. I spent 10 days in the suffocating heat, and if it wasn't for the cupcakes I may have withered up and died.
Sprinkle Cupcakes are the BEST sweet to pass by my lips EVER!!! I am NOT telling a lie!!! If you get a chance to visit one of their brillant little shops, eat the red velvet one, it is the BEST!

I ate 4 while there and brought back 6 on the airplane for my family. I had at least 6 people ask me if I would sell them one of my cupcakes. (I wonder if their main ingredient is crack..lol!!) They really are that good!

I need to write down this next little tale. It is not a happy story but one that keeps replaying over and over again in my mind. I am hoping that putting words to it will make it somehow easier to move on. I will shorten the tale and spare the details. I happened to witness a woman in the grasps of extreme pain, uncontrolled emotion and amputee type loss. I was in a furniture store in Texas when I watched a woman go through a terribly private moment. She had just been told of a loss, a loss of her teenage child. Words are all I can use to describe the amount of emotion and energy I witnessed... animal, guttural, drowning... by the time help had arrived a coworker had her in clutches screaming "Gidget I Love You", over and over and over... I will never forget her name, her face or the moment we stood trying to help a beautiful woman start to breathe again.
I took something away from that moment, and learned something about myself too. I find myself saying words to the sky that include her name.

*changing subject on purpose now*

Well, I hear in a neighboring city there is a new cupcake shop open... guess who is going to go find out if they are any good???

Cutsie Cakes in Layton Utah

Water Color...

2011-06-24T06:42:00.000-07:00

So I have really enjoyed using water colors. I have never tried them before because I was afraid of not getting deep rich colors. I am not afraid anymore. I LOVE them!!

Camping...

2011-06-21T05:34:00.000-07:00

1961...Such A Good Year!

2011-05-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Melinda restored a 1961 Deville Camper...and guess who bought it??? Me!!! Check out her blog HERE to see all of the work and art she put into the camper. I LOVE it!!!! My aunt in Idaho gave me one of her dresses from the 1950's...it was perfect for my retro look/photos taken from inside "The Tumble Weed"!!

(My daughters shoes, not mine, I only own Converse and flip flops!)

I don't like having my picture taken but my daughter made me feel comfortable while taking them. I even like a few of them!!

Happy Trails!

The KO Hip-Hop Cello-Beatbox Experience: Julie-O

2011-05-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is AWESOME!!!!

Custom Zombie and Batman Shoes!

2011-05-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

Custom Night of the Living Dead Shoes. I LOVED the way they turned out!

Custom Batman Shoes. She wanted them splashed with green and purple paint. I think they are awesome!

I have quite a few orders..Twilight Shoes, Hellboy Shoes, Pin-Up Girl Shoes and some Pirate Shoes. I can't wait to get started. Who knew...people like to have there favorite things on their feet!

I See Spring...

2011-05-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

Flowers waiting for it to warm up enough so they can be planted.

Lupines, my favorite.

Bleeding Hearts.

Mini Iris.

Ruffle Tulip.

Lovely Greens.

Lilac buds.

Japanese Maple and Quaking Aspen.

Hollyhocks.

Fruit Tree.

Fiddle Ferns.

Hosta.

Creeping Jenny.

My back yard pine trees.

Chives.

National Lupus Day

2011-05-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today is National Lupus Day!!! Here is a self-portrait I made this weekend to send to Germany for the Lupus Art Exhibit. About four weeks ago I had a flare, the first one in five years. My postcard will be shown in exhibits and then will find itself into a hand a another person with this disease. After this last flare, one that was not just on my skin but in my vascular system I have changed the way I look at Lupus. I have decided it can be beautiful!

I Spy Spring...

2011-04-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

Some of the flowers are finally starting to bloom. Between the snow and rain all my gardens are soaked.

We took the kids to Lava Hot Springs for Spring Break and had a great time! These pics are my little family.

Young...

2011-04-11T07:14:00.000-07:00

I have been married to a gorgeous red head for 18 wonderful years! Happy Anniversary to us, and many happy more! Yes we were just babies when we got married...but nothing could separate us now or then.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Artistic swap: Clearfield woman teaching class on artist trading cards - Standard-Examiner

2011-03-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

Artistic swap: Clearfield woman teaching class on artist trading cards - Standard-Examiner

Books and Birds...

2011-03-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful drizzly day. The snow has finally melted off the ground and I am starting to believe that spring may actually be around the corner. This month I have had my head buried in books and my hands stained by paint. I have started flats upon flats of flower seeds and they are laying next to my husbands vegetables nice and warm under the lights. Our little chickens now have combs and the poor momma has to sit on top of her water to get away from the chicks trying to fly onto her back.

The days seem long with work, childrens sports, tending and art....I find myself grasping for daylight at the end of the day to accomplish things. I am teaching 2 art classes starting next month at our community center and am getting really excited. Our newspaper came over to interview me and take some photos for a write up on the classes. I can't wait and I hope all the seats fill up quickly.

Some of the books I have been reading this month.....
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Black Hills by Nora Roberts
You Suck: A Love Story & Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story by Christopher Moore
I am just starting Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
xoxoxoxoxoxo

I Spy Feathers...

2011-03-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

Our chicks now have feathers!

Snow, Seeds and Swaps!

2011-02-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

It has been busy at our house. The baby chicks are doing great, running around everywhere. We had a big snow storm last week. It was so beautiful, it felt like I was in a snow globe. I love it when it snows and I am staying home. This particular storm had me and my little car trapped for a good hour about 5 miles away from my nice warm house. My brother in law was going to rescue me when the snow began to lighten up and I tried one last time to get up a nice big hill on sucky tires. I made it home and ate some chocolate...all was well again.

This week we started our garden seeds. With all the snow on the ground it is nice looking at the bright green seedling emerging from their soil. We have 24 flats of veggies, flowers and herbs.

***SPOILER ALERT****

If you are expecting a swap from me don't read any further!!!

So my friend Val over at Hot Mama Apron Swap is hosting another great swap. Chicken themed swap...how could I not join. I have to say I am so proud of this apron. I hope my partner will like it. I think I chose the kind of print she would like. I also used a vintage apron pattern and even made peekos form 1 inch fabric. I even hand embroidered chickens and found a vintage glass chicken and turned it into a pin cushion for her. She also collects cupcakes so I made her one with the chicken theme.Here is some of her package I will be mailing out today.

I joined a Voodoo Doll Art Swap. It was a challenge for me as I have never made a Voodoo doll. We were given a basic pattern and then let loose with our own imagination. I used a vintage potato sack, paint, alcohol inks and seagull bones we found at the Great Salt Lake. When I package it I am going to lay it on a pile of peacock feathers.

I also made a Pagan Whimsy Jar for a swap. It is filled with objects from the earth. I even wood burned a tiny gourd for her.I really enjoyed this swap. It was my first experience making a Whimsy Jar.

Last but not least I have been doing alot of art for swaps. I am hooked on inchies even though I tend to work with dark themes.

Tim Holtz ATC Swap.

Dark Inchies #1 Swap

Tim Holtz Swap.

Dark Inchies #2 Swap.

Paint Me A Post Card Swap.

Tim Holtz ATC Swap.

Babies In The House..

2011-02-22T17:01:00.000-08:00

The Hen house that is!!! Our tiny Malaysian Serama has hatched 4 baby chicks! We could hear the little chicks peeping inside the eggs right before they hatched. If you don't know much about the chickens, the Malaysian Seramas are the smallest chickens in the world!! Their babies are extra tiny and so cute.

This is a pic of the first chick.

Two more hatched and then a 4th the next day.

Now we have 4 baby chicks running around eating and sleeping (sometimes at the same time)! We plan on keeping one hen and selling the rest. We are the only breeders of this type of chicken I have been able to find in Utah.

peep peep

New Art and Cup Cakes...

2011-02-08T17:25:00.000-08:00

My hands have been busy... I am in several art swaps on swap-bot. I am having way to much fun. Truth be told it helps me stay balanced while working outside my home.

Fire Element Artist Trading Card, mixed media.

Mail me Art Swap, pen, colored pencils and oil pastel on a empty envelope.

Tentacle Bookmark, wood burning and colored pencil.

My friend Melinda and I are making and selling the cutest Valentine cupcakes. She has a wicked Cricket machine and has been cutting out fondant hearts...fondant that tastes so good. We go a step further and put them in little boxes and gift wrap them. So cute!! I have tried a couple of different recipes and settled on two, red velvet with melt in your mouth cream cheese and butter frosting and a beautiful soft white cake with butter, cream cheese and a hint of cinnamon and cocoa frosting. We have sold around 60 cupcakes so far. Sunday we will get together back and decorate them. We got together and made samples so we know about how long it will take. Can't wait. If you have time check out her blog...way cool!

YOE and Mama Bird...

2011-02-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

My partner for Year Of Enchantment sent me a wonderful package filled with snow themed items. The ornaments are to die for and she even sent me a scarf. I wore it all day today and I am simply in love with it!

My Malaysian Serma is sitting on eggs!!! She is the smallest little hen you have ever seen and up until yesterday you could hand feed her or even pick her up. I wanted to see how many eggs were under her so I tried to peak and about got my fingers pecked off. I waited until she got up to drink and took a peek. She have 5 tiny eggs. They are all about the size of a nickel. I can't wait to see if and when they hatch. It takes around 21 days for an egg to hatch so we have some waiting to do.

Tragedy For The Toes...

2011-01-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

I needed a pair of brown shoes. I walked into DSW shoes and fell in love with all of the selection. Soon I discovered they do NOT carry my size, and I was heart broken. Alas, all those sparkles and straps that will never be on my feet. The next day I set out on a mission to find a pair of brown shoes. I looked and looked and found nothing. After six stores I surrendered and went to Payless. I found a pair of brown clog shoes. They would work and they had size 3 1/2 (yes, in the little girls section). I was a little disappointed in the fact the back ankle strap had little pink flowers on them but at least it wasn't Snow White or Dora The Explorer, and besides, no one will ever see the flower strap as I plan to remove it. As I proceeded to the checkout to pay, my husband gave a little laugh. I looked suspiciously at him as he pointed to the box. Well, it seems I was buying "Wizards of Waverly Place" shoes. It's a Disney show. Life sucks for small feet. :o(

(They are not too bad with the flower strap removed.. hahahahaha)

Woke Up Singing...

2011-01-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

Saw this band live in August...Love them!!!

Altered Fairy Book

2011-01-27T07:33:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a Vintage Altered Fairy Book for a SWAP I am in, here is some of the progress...

I hope my partner will like it. I have spent many hours on this little book. Almost done and I am popping it in the mail on Friday.

Keeping My Hands Busy...

2011-01-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

I have been doing a lot of art for swaps lately and I thought I would share some.

Altered Vintage Spoon Swap

Bloody Valentine Post Card Swap

Some fabric post cards with my grandparents on them.

Altered Art Shrine Swap ( this is an Altoids tin)

I love swapbot...if you like to create art and trade check it out. Starting in May I am teaching two art classes at our local community center...YEAH!

I Love The Mail Box And Other Nonsense...

2011-01-24T18:26:00.000-08:00

I spent a long day at the hospital today with my 2 sisters, tormenting my dad while waiting for my mother to have surgery. All is well and she is fine. I walked into my house very tired and found the mailman once again left me a lovely box. Inside it was an Assemblage Shrine my trading partner sent to me. I was so happy to get it and loved what she made. I hung it on my bedroom wall.

Another bit of news: I start a new job tomorrow. Can't wait. I work in Special Education and the last job I had was a sheltered work-type atmosphere for 18-90 year old people with disabilities. Tomorrow I start working at an elementary school in Special Education. Change is good.

So my mini chickens are laying eggs but not sitting on them yet, so if anyone needs a miniature omelet feel free to let me know.

My 17 year old daughter has graduated from cute little headbands with kitty cat ears attached to full fledged fox heads...

VERY COOL MUD FLAPS!!!!!!

Vintage Laugh...

2011-01-21T14:40:00.000-08:00

I love vintage advertisements and these one about baby's and birth control crack me up!

I know plenty of parents who think this is okay!!!! (Blahhhh)

Babies + beer = blitz mom!

Her time may have expired ;o)

Keep swinging folks...the bird will still come!

Damn Bird....

2011-01-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

Monday, while in the car going to pick up my kids from school, the story begins...
I had a day filled with house cleaning and was dressed in sweats, flip flops, sweat shirt and my hair was piled into a nice big old bun on top of my head, the best clothes for cleaning. When I looked at the clock and noticed it was time to pick up my children from their long day at school, I grabbed 2 out of the 3 kids I was tending (the littlest one was napping with Uncle Todd), and quickly piled everyone into the car. Off we went. When we turned the corner what pray tell did my little eye spy but a CHICKEN in the middle of someone's front yard. I quickly pulled over knowing damn well I also have a Rhodle Island Red and this looked like her. I turned off the car, locked the kids inside and took off like a mad woman trying to catch her. She would come really close and take off and I swear she knew what she was doing. My toes were exposed in the 4 inches of snow and the bun was bouncing, threating to spill out from on top of my head. I made a grab at her and missed but got a good look at her: she was NOT mine!!! I wasted a good 10 minutes chasing someone elses chicken.... I bet I looked so sexy!!!!
Have a laugh on me and my cold little toes.
When I got back to the car the kids were laughing their heads off at me...damn bird!!

Fabric Post Cards...

2011-01-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

I spent the evening at Melinda's house and we made fabric post cards. I am so addicted!! I love mixing fabric and paper together...I love all the possibilities!! Thanks Melinda for a great evening!! It has been fun meeting up with a blog buddy...I so want your madeover trailer Melinda. Go take a peak ay her blog and find the trailer pics, they are to die for!

Crap In The Breezeway And Let The Breeding Games Begin...

2011-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

This is a picture from inside my back door. I have a little breezeway between the back door and the door to go outside. I keep my seeds, pots and shoes etc in the the little room. We have 2 pets doors, one from the kitchen/computer room into the breezeway and the other from the breezeway into the back yard. Well guess what....my chickens have learned to go through the outside pet door and come into my breezeway, hence the title..crap in the breezeway. I am lucky they only free range during the winter months.... frozen chicken poo is not fun to clean up!!! The best part about all of this naughtiness is that sometimes they trap the cat into the breezeway with them..hahaha. The creepy part is that sometimes I look over and see ONE eye starring at me!!!

This sassy looking couple is our breeding pair of Malaysian Seramas. We now have two females and one rooster. These awesome mini chickens along with their custom built polygamist coop was my Christmas gift from my hubby. My son named the rooster The Kernel and we are still in need of two hen names (suggestions please). They are the smallest breed of chickens in the world and we do not know of any breeders in Utah that offer them. I hope they lay some eggs real soon.

Art...

2010-12-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

Here is some of my latest art. Most of the items are for SWAPS. I love to swap because it is a challenge for me. I didn't get to pick the theme or the deadline and I like working that way. But the best part of the swap is when a strangers art comes in the mail. This week i have had packages from Australia, Africa, New Zealand, New York and Mississippi. I LOVE looking at what other people create.

ATC "The Hermit" Wood burned and oil pastels.

ATC "The Hanged Man"- hand drawn- pencils and pen.

Handmade Post Card- Hand drawn - oil pastels and pen.

Handmade Post Card- collage- this is a picture of my daughter feets. She took this photo while camping last summer.

Handmade Postcard- Altered paper and oil pastels.

Orange Lady ATC- wood burned and oil pastels.

ATC- Migraine- hand drawn, paint, oil pastels and pins.

ATC- Hand drawn- pencils.

Hand drawn- oil pastels, pencils and pen.

ATC- Bay Leaf- mixed media collage- oil pastels.

ATC- "The High Priestess" - Collage and 4 small raw garnets in her crown.

This and That...

2010-12-29T14:19:00.000-08:00

My daughter and her friend on the hayride in the snow at Wilard Bay Christmas Lights!

My son did my nephew's hair...I so could just eat that baby up!

My son and daughter on Christmas Eve.

My chickens enjoying their Christmas treat of oranges.

Mr. Sparkles McGee playing Christmas morning.

My beautiful new hat my sister made me!!! I LOVE it!!!

My finished Altered Shrine for a swap I am in.

My husband and son at the KISS Concert!

Today's fresh snow!

Thankful for...

2010-12-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for the wonderful harvest this year brought. Thankful for the hours of hard work and the earth for giving us so much. My cupboards are bulging and my heart is full.

(Home canned goodies make great Christmas gifts!)

Vintage Swans....

2010-12-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year I made each of my sisters and mom a pincushion to go along with their aprons. I used vintage swans vases. I really liked how they turned out.

Sleigh Rides In The Snow...

2010-12-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

The Lady Eve

2010-12-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

I love Barbra Stanwyck and this is my favorite love scene of all time. Get past her scream and just watch how she makes Henry Fonda melt into a puddle!

Birds Made From Paper and Oranges...

2010-12-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

This is a ATC....Paper Bird. This is for a swap called Painted With Paper. No drawing allowed.

This ATC is wood-burned and then colored with oil pastels, pencils and pens.

Mornings Filled With Snow...

2010-12-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

Artist Trading Cards...

2010-12-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

This is a peacock Artist Trading Card I made. It is on wood and is wood burned. I then used pencils, pens and liquid silver to color it in, I like how it turned out!

This is my Pop Art Chicken Artist Trading Card. They are hand drawn and then I used oil pastels, pens, markers, pencils and paint to color it.

I entitled this Artist Trading Card "Study of Red". I used paint, oil pastels, ink. thread and maple leaves to make this one. I feel like something is still missing on the piece. It is for a SWAP, and it has to be red. Any suggestions?

Chicken Coops Made Of Gingerbread!

2010-12-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

Every year I make a gingerbread house. I finished today!

Front view. The windows are made by making hard candy and pouring them into the window spaces.

Side view.

Close up of the chicken coop. Of course I have a chicken coop!

Giant Pods of White...

2010-12-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

It happens every year when the winter sets in . The bigger than life snowballs standing by the dozens in school yards. Driving and seeing them at night can produce a creepy feeling that always makes me smile. I love seeing them. I love thinking about how many little hands it took and how many recesses it took to create the pods of snow. I always wonder if someone put a scarf or a mitten in the center of the ball and will check on it daily for signs of life as the great balls begin to melt. In the spring, when the grass turns green you can still see evidence of the beasts.

Art...

2010-12-02T07:38:00.000-08:00

I have been busy working on handmade Christmas items. My bedroom has a long table filled with art, jams, jellies, salsa and sewing projects. Here is a sneak peak!

This last one is for a swap....it is entitled "Orange Kitty". So I have found a new love: oil pastels! I love how rich and dense the colors are. I love using my fingers and smearing the colors together, now I just wish I had a box that contained more than 12 colors.
These last 3 pics are a sneak peak at my Assemblage Art Shrine I am making for a swap. The pictures aren't that good but after all it is just a sneak peak ;o)

Hand Drawn Owls Artist Trading Cards.

2010-11-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

Pysanky Owl

Winter Owl

I am doing a hand drawn owl swap on Swap-Bot and finished these up last night. The Pysanky Owl is all full of symbols and meaning and the snow in the Winter Owl is three-dimensional! They were a lot of fun!

Happy Turkey Day!

2010-11-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

November Blissfull ATC

2010-11-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

My partner this month for Blissfull ATC was Sharon. She is such a great artist and sent a great ATC! The back has a tiny envelope filled with poppy seeds! Even her card was handmade! xoxoxoxo

Snow, Red Inchies & Bountiful Baskets Co-op!

2010-11-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

Fresh Snow

Close up of some of my red inchies for a swap I am in.

I participate in a co-op during the winter months when our garden is covered in snow. It is called Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op. I believe a couple of states besides mine, Utah, offers this great program. My 15$ contribution bought the basket filled with fruits and veggies. They also have breads, granola, beans and grains. It is weekly but I tend to go every other week. Check your state for co-ops. It keeps my family eating fresh all year round!!!

Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op

Yarn Nests and Christmas Aprons!

2010-11-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

My sister made me this lovely Robin's nest for my birthday, I LOVE IT! She said it is a pin cushion but right now I have it on my night stand. I hold it every day! Each little egg even comes out!!! I don't know if it is crocheted and knitted I can't do either...isn't it sweet!

I have been busy sewing lots of Christmas Aprons for all the ladies in the family. I have used 3 different patterns and am very happy with the way they turned out.

Tuesday I made my last batch of jelly for the season. I am so grateful for the abundance our garden yielded this year! I have bottled for 3 months solid...I am so done and welcome the snow. We have weatherized the chicken coop, burned or composed all the garden waste and leaves. Raked, put the koi fish pond to bed for the winter and this week my son is going to hang the outside Christmas lights! I am so ready for the holidays....bring them on baby...I can take it!!!

Fall At My House- A Picture Post

2010-11-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

Lingerie For Perry Mason!

2010-11-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of Perry Mason. Late nights during the week I have spent many hours with him. He and Della make such a great team. Her giggle, his almost grin, her "I told you so look" and him paying for dinner! That being said, while rummaging through my old 1950's Good Housekeeping magazines I ran into a advertisement with Della, um I mean Barbara Hale in lingerie!

Have you ever seen lingerie made with so much material, so long and so blue?? I can just picture Della bringing Perry some hot tea, stirring the fire and tucking a sick Perry into the couch with a big fluffy blanket...oh wait that WAS an episod but Della had on a smart 2 piece outfit... it was gray I believe. Well really wasn't everything she wore gray!

Self Portrait

2010-10-22T15:29:00.000-07:00

Giant Marigolds, Cave Man Club Gourds and Green Salsa...

2010-10-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

It was a great season for gourds. I have a lot and some of them stand as tall as my waist. The cave man club gourds did exceptionally well.

My marigolds grew over for feet tall this year, it is crazy.

I am off to make green salsa!

Green Salsa

5 cups diced green tomatoes

3 cups diced Anaheim chilies

1 cup seeded jalapenos

2 whole chopped jalapenos

8 cups chopped onions

2 cups vinegar

1/4 cup lemon juice

12 cloves garlic minced

2 T. cumin

5 T. cilantro

2 T. salt

1 T. black pepper

Bring to boil, then simmer at least 1 hour.

Process 25 minutes.

Blissful ATC SWAP

2010-10-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Patti is my partner this month for my Blissful ATC SWAP . The theme was "Dark". I love her work. This particular piece is digital art. She did a fabulous job!!!

Muffin Pan Advent Calendar

2010-10-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

I have been working on an Advent Calendar for a SWAP I am in. I am almost done I just need to add the numbers. I used a mini muffin pan, card stock and magnets. I will fill each little space with a cute little gifts and chocolates. I love the way it turned it! The hardest part was making the pattern that I needed to follow when cutting out the heavy duty poster board. I kept the pattern...I may make a few more.

Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland

2010-10-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite Sufjan Stevens song. It does not have a video but a talented person made one and put it on YouTube.....enjoy!

Cat-and-Mouse With a Chicken...

2010-10-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

This morning my husband and I went to breakfast, three different stores for birthday gifts, and then the post office. We left our little house in the pouring rain at 7 am, and we finally dragged ourselves home at 1 pm. As we approached the back door with armfuls of grocery bags, we could hear the dog inside jumping up and down. Not a good sign. As we opened the door he came racing out, running toward the back yard while knocking me over. I got my tired body up and quickly followed him. Two chickens had escaped while we were gone. One was just eating tomatoes in the garden, while the other one was in my neighbors yard!!! I was so tired from all the shopping, but off I raced. I grabbed the Koi fish pond net to help me and I ran into my neighbor's back yard. I am in this neighbor's yard a lot because I help with his fruit tree irrigation, so it wasn't a big deal to run into his yard, but...when the chicken took flight, YES, TOOK FLIGHT, into the next neighbors yard I was stunned. I have NEVER had any of my chickens fly that far before!!! Oh from time to time they will get the "grass is greener" inclinations and hop a six-foot fence and fly down, but not like this. This was flight like an airplane. It was amazing, and for a brief moment I could almost hear angels singing and distant trumpets playing praise as she flew over the barbed-wire fence covered in beautiful ripe purple grapes.

After spending about five minutes unsuccessfully knocking on the door of the house that my chicken was now hiding in the back yard of, I gave up and just went into their yard. The hen was hiding in a patch so thick of poky bushes, grapes, and over-grown pine trees, I feared I may never get her out. I would come within five inches of her and she would bolt either right or left. I would then proceed to dislodge the pine tree sap from my hair and remove my now purple jeans from the barbed wire fence to go in at a different angle. We played cat-and-mouse for a good twenty minutes before I started calling for my hubby to come help. By this time my glasses were steamy and I couldn't see, I was dripping wet from grape juice, mud, sap, rain, and chicken poop!!! It took Todd and I another fifteen minutes to catch the damn bird. I am afraid my converse shoes my be purple forever, a haircut may also be needed and I just noticed on the grocery list my husband has added what looks like enough chicken wire request to put a cover on the chicken run...or should I say chicken runway!

Gifts...

2010-10-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon to great big package came to my door! I waited until dinner when my little family was all together to open them. This first one is the Alice In Wonderland Apron Swap. My friend Melanie C. sent me a great package! My teenage daughter is claiming the apron, but I am sure she will share! I also received a fabulous headband, 2 note books and two great big coffee mugs (just in time for chai and pumpkin spiced coffee)!!!! Thank you so much Melanie!! (The mushroom card is all hand done!)

The next one is the Altered Edgar Allen Poe Box SWAP. Ramona A. out did herself!! I choose the Pit and The Pendulum as my theme. Pictures just don't do it justice!!! Beautiful altered Poe locket, witch girly, altered purse and the Pit and the Pendulum altered box. (It is so cool, creepy little mice climbing all over, chains and the pendulum and pit made all out of an oatmeal container!) Not to mention skull bracelet, crow and candy corns and pumpkins (my favorite)!!! Thank you so much!!! I am a lucky girl!

My mom is a corn thief, grandma's wedding dress and a groping in Idaho!

2010-09-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

My mom, my two sisters and I drove to Rupert, Idaho. It is a pilgrimage we make every year. We park our car on F street, then like crazy stalkers, we walk around the little block my mother grew up on. We go down the alley so we can peak in her old back yard, we look at the bomb shelter her dad made, and the wood shop where he made his beautiful grandfather clocks. My mother told us about the summer she kept sneaking over a neighbor's fence to steal his corn. She was almost always too fast to be caught, but one evening as she was in the process of taking more corn the farmer came out with a gun. As she climbed over the top of the fence he was shooting at the ground next to her. She never took corn again. My mother the corn thief, who knew!

This is my baby sister wearing my grandmother's wedding dress. My sister is a petite size 5 and the dress is a little tight. The dress is being kept safe by our Aunt Frances. While we stayed the night with her she gave us all some treasures from our great grandma Bailey.

This is my Great Grandmother Ida Bailey Culley and my Great Grandfather Franklin Culley. She had very long hair. My aunt Frances said they knew when they were going somewhere nice because grandma would have the girls help wash her hair. When standing up it went to the ground. She wore it up in a tight bun her entire life.

This is one of her her clips. Aunt Frances gave this one to me and one to each of my sisters. I wore it home. She also gave me a dress she wore in the 1950's. I love it and it is the perfect fit!

This is going to be my new shirt when I venture out to yard sales from now on. We were at an estate sale on the outskirts of Rupert when a man and his young son went right up to my little sister to touch her tattoos. He was asking about them, etc. At that point I went down stairs, and when I turned around he was standing behind me. He grabbed both my arms/shoulders and asked where were all of my pretty tattoos while his thumbs moved up and down my arms!!!! I coolly looked at him, straight into his eyes and while I removed his right hand from my person I said "My tattoos are where only my HUSBAND can see them." He dropped his other hand and backed away quickly. So gross! The worst part was he had a 5 year old boy with him. Nasty creepy man!! So I was groped in Idaho!

Witch SWAP

2010-09-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

SIGN UP'S END SOON!!!!

The Great ATC Witch SWAP is here!

So simple , so fun and so easy. Just send me an email if you would like to play along. Here are the rules.

1. You will have two partners and will be required to send each of them 1 Witch themed original ATC, postmarked by October 23, 2010.

2. Have fun, be unique and creative.

(An ATC stands for Artist Trading Card. It is an original piece of art work that is the size of a playing card 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches).

That's it folks, that's all! Sign ups are until October 1st and then I will be emailing everyone their partners information.

toddmissy@q.com

Hope you join us!

Ditching the Gym!

2010-09-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning when I woke up, I just wasn't in the mood for the gym. The sky was a bright blue not a cloud in sight. So I decided to take my run outdoors. My little sister went with me and at the last moment I grabbed the camera. We did a 5 miler...but we ended up stopping a lot to take pictures. It was beautiful.

This thistle is as big as my face!! It was so beautiful.

I loved this old barn. Look at the rock foundation.

I spy 2 peacocks.

This is the trail we followed. It passes wet lands, farms and pastures.

I may go back today and see where the path ends.

Salsa and Cigar Boxes!

2010-09-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

Harvest time. This is a pic of my garden. The structure in the far corner is the chicken coop and run. I could not fit in the pumpkins, gourds and squash into the picture, they are far left.

So far we have 4 dozen jars of salsa. Even the cilantro is home grown! This has been the best pepper year we have had in awhile. I love the heat!!!

I am in a Edgar Allen Poe Altered Cigar Box SWAP, can you guess the theme?

I will only give a sneak peak of what is inside because my partner will not recieve it until Thursday and I don't want to give anything away. The box is filled to the top!! It was a lot of fun!

Inside the heart locket is a blood splattered Poe! Can't wait to see what my partner has created for me.

Well back to the kitchen I go... today I am canning Pear Butter and Pear Honey.

xoxoxoxoxo

Sunday is for the Cats! LOL

2010-09-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is so funny, I had to share. I have no idea how they did this without laughing!

The Great ATC Witch SWAP !

2010-09-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Great ATC Witch SWAP is here!

So simple , so fun and so easy. Just send me an email if you would like to play along. Here are the rules.

1. You will have two partners and will be required to send each of them 1 Witch themed original ATC, postmarked by October 23, 2010.

2. Have fun, be unique and creative.

(An ATC stands for Artist Trading Card. It is an original piece of art work that is the size of a playing card 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches).

That's it folks, that's all! Sign ups are until October 1st and then I will be emailing everyone their partners information.

toddmissy@q.com

Hope you join us!

The Great Sandbur Incident of 2010!

2010-09-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Field sandbur (grassbur) is a summer annual grassy weed that can be found in home lawns, sports fields, parks and along roadsides. This weed is especially adapted to dry, sandy soils but can be found growing in other types of soils as well. The big problem with this weed is the sharp, spiny burs that are part of the inflorescence. These burs can be painful and are difficult to remove from clothing material.

I hate sandburs! Friday my cat came home covered in these nasty little guys. I mean covered. From time to time my big fat orange cat will have a few in his tail but Friday it was horrible. I heard him crying on the back porch, and he wouldn't stand up or make any movements to come inside. As I got closer to pick him up I saw...I cried. He was in so much pain. I put a towel over him and carefully picked him up and brought him inside. I grabbed the scissors and kitty comb and went to work. The easiest way to get them out was to pick them out, but the problem was they were in his skin, not just his long fur. I worked for about a half an hour and my fingers were puffy, itchy and swelling up. I noticed my cats face was swelling up and quickly called the vet. He advised me to bring him in and have him tranquilized and shaved, but not having an extra $200.00 around left me with option two. Give the cat a Benadryl (vet gave dosage amount) and shave him myself. Let me tell you, shoving a Benadryl down a cat's throat is NOT fun. Within about 40 minutes he was groggy and we spent the next 3 hours cutting, pulling and shaving bits of our cat.

Well, it is Monday and my fingers still have the sandbur spines in them and still hurt! My cat is better and has stayed really close to home the last couple of days. I am not sure if it is because his "neither region" is shaved and he is embarrassed or the thought of being drugged and shaved is still prominent in his mind.
I hate snadburs!

Mr Sparkles McGee

Gourds

2010-09-09T08:40:00.000-07:00

Bird Egg Gourds

Swan Gourd and Bird House Gourds.

Crown Of Thorns Gourd.

Bird House Gourd

Cave Man Club Gourd (Just the bottom It was too high for me to get a good pick).

Long Bottle Neck Gourd

Small Bird House Gourd

Bottle Neck Gourd

Bird Egg Gourds

I LOVE gourds!!! I carve or wood burn them when they dry. I have many different varieties these are just a few. Here is a picture of one that has been wood burned.

The Passage

2010-09-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading The Passage by Justin Cronin. WOW! There are 766 pages in this huge book. It took me longer then normal to read, but I LOVED it. If you are into vampires (not the pretty boy kind), human experimentation in medicine and a great cast of charters then this book may be for you. It kind of reminded me of the series Uglies by Scott Westerfeld but for a much more grown up audience. The book is big, heavy and long and I will not lie, sometimes I wish he could have hurried it up a bit. Overall it was a great read and I have heard a 2nd book will show up in 2012. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Now back to Hautman his book Rag Man came in my mailbox today!!!

Best Bjork Cover Ever

2010-09-04T18:19:00.000-07:00

I love Bjork but this cover rocks! He sings and plays so well!

Antelope Island

2010-09-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

Sunday my husband and I went hiking and rock climbing on Antelope Island. It is surrounded by the Great Salt Lake.

It happened to be Bison mating season so the big beasts were everywhere!

Little desert lizard.

That's me!

My hubby over looking the Great Salt Lake.

Beautiful rocks.

Antelope prints in the salty desert floor..

Wedding Dress ATC

2010-08-30T12:12:00.000-07:00

I am participating in a Wedding Dress ATC Swap. Here are mine. Of course mine can't be just a normal wedding dress, I have one from the 1300 A.D. , an a Apache Indian bride, traditional Japanese and my favorite... jumping over the broom stick. I had a lot of fum making them.

A little too excited over a bag of dirt!!!!

2010-08-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

My partner for this month's YOE sent me a wonderful package!!!! Ramie knows me well! Her package included an octopus magnet, 2 octopus ornaments, 2 power bars, a beautiful sliced stone, and the topper...the gift that made me squeal...a bag a Garnet Gravel from Emerald Creek Idaho. I can't wait to sift through that later today. Thank you so much Ramie, you really made my week!!!!

Sage...

2010-08-26T05:41:00.000-07:00

Purple Sage and Lavender Before

Purple Sage and Lavender After

I love making sage bundles. Now I need to go on a nice long hike up in the mountains and gather white sage and make some more. This is a great place to read about Sumdging. Also a blog a follow called Dancing Beneath The Moon has a great little page about it.

It's Not Over Until The Fat Lady Sings...

2010-08-23T20:21:00.000-07:00

I am sharing this image of myself, at my heaviest, to show you my motivation to run.

This picture is 7 years old.

This picture was taken in May of this year. This is me. I run for her.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I Am Purple

2010-08-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Today I am purple, well my hands are at least. I am canning plum jam, plum jelly and oriental plum sauce!

I am using the deep purple plums for the jam and the dipping sauce and the little plums for the jelly!!!

So today I will be purple!(And maybe tomorrow too because it stains!)

ATC

2010-08-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my ATC, Artist Trading Cards I am getting ready to send out. I LOVE making them!!

Pink Surpise!

2010-08-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

I am so spoiled!!! My SWAP partner for the Rosette SWAP was Joanna check out her web page, it is fabulous!!!!
The little rosette package was NOT little!!! It contained not only a beautiful pink rosette but also an vintage embroidered apron. beautiful headband for when I run, pin up post card, vintage button and some cute sewing findings. I am spoiled!!!!! Thank you soooooo much!!!!

I SPY...

2010-08-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

I Spy a western tag SWAP, of course I made mine with pin up girls on them!

I Spy my little niece playing with my chickens!

I Spy crazy tall flowers!

I Spy gourds that have gotten away!

I Spy a pond with way too much water lettuce in it!

I spy a big old garden that takes up most of my time!

I Spy some beautiful green beans!

I Spy some jalapeno peppers that are being pickled!

Sweaty Little Girl!!!

2010-08-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

This past week I have been canning. I made Rosemary Jelly, Triple Berry Jam, Pickled Jalapenos and Pomegranate Jelly. It has been hot here and standing over a hot stove makes me feel as though I have been in a sauna all week.

Best part of the week was by far last night. And where was this sweaty little girl? A concert. We saw Dead Kenny G's, Gogol Bordello and Primus. We were smashed on the front row and danced for 4 hours straight. It was fun up until a big mosh pit started and little me was pinned up against the grate that separates us from the stage. A nice big security guard effortlessly lifted me up so I could escape the craziness of 20 to 30 year old men bouncing and slamming against each other in a frenzy of music. I waved goodbye to my hubby, bought a drink and sat and watched the concert from the balcony. What a great concert and a nice sweaty night! I love loud and live music!

Bookmark Swap!

2010-08-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Here's just a little hint of what I'm sending out, hope you guys like them! Everyone did a great job, start looking for your packages in the mail!

FAIL

2010-08-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

I do not compete. I do not like competition. That being said, I have a little story about me, failure, and competition.
This tale starts out like a typical day in my world. I walk about 2 miles to the gym, and then I run on the treadmill. I put my earphones in and run. Well yesterday, when my run was over, I decide to get onto a stationary bike and do a ten minute ride. It's the kind of bike that has a screen and you can race or play a game while riding. I usually play a nice little game of "Catch the Dragon", but yesterday I chose to race. I have no idea what came over me, but for the first time in my life (all 35 years of it ) I felt like winning someone at something. So there I am, riding my bike, my 10 other computer characters racing and buzzing by me. I feel like I am in the middle of a hot sweat and am afraid I may be permanently suctioned to the seat...but I keep on going. I am in the middle and everything is going fine. I'm not first and I'm not last. As I watch the scenery pass by I notice that I am in a park on an evening ride. Next thing I notice is that I am all alone and the track is way off to the right....I am riding towards an animated Cola machine!!!!!! FAIL!!!!!! Those designers that make up the game sure know how to throw a girl. Total fail, see why I don't compete?

(Today I drank a coke. It was fabulous and now I won't need another one for a couple of months.)

Licking Rocks!

2010-08-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

I am a rock hound. This past weekend we were at the family cabin, spending time with our kids, hiking and playing in Bear Lake. Saturday afternoon, while everyone was napping (except me of course), I was off hunting arrow heads on the family property. When I pick up a rock and can't decide what type of stone it is I lick it...I know, pretty gross, but it totally pays off. I would have left the tan pointy rock right there in the dirt if I had not been a licker!!! I found a beautiful tip of a arrowhead. It is probably Shoshone Indian.

*If you are interested in collecting Native American artifacts THIS website will give you the rules and explain when it is legal to collect.*

Old School, Skies On Fire, Bathroom Doors Made Of String and Cannibal Road!!!

2010-08-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Very cool school. I didn't break into this one, it was sealed up tight!

Beautiful skies this past weekend, they look like they are on fire.

This is a door to the bathroom up at the camp my son is working at. A STRING!!!! REALLY!!!!

I would be interested in finding out why this street is named Cannibal Road!

Stuffed Church and a Raspberry Tart!

2010-07-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

In all the time we have taken the curvy little canyon road to the cabin, how could this stuffed church escaped my eyes??? There it stood, back off the road about a quarter mile. I saw the 2 chimneys from the car and my sweet hubby turned right around and took us up a dusty unpaved road. It was so worth it!!!

1950's truck nestled inside a church filled with a hay.

Talk about a re-purposed building!!!

After canning raspberry jam I had some raspberries left, so into some homemade pie crust they went and we had raspberry tarts!!!

Timber and Frangelico...

2010-07-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

A huge branch of my neighbors apricot tree fell onto my chicken coop!! No damage and when we hauled the limb to our back steps the apricots were hanging heavily waiting to be picked. So I started my canning season early this. I have made strawberry and raspberry jam and now I was canning apricots! I tried a few new recipes out this time and was pleasantly surprised.

Apricot Mango Salsa

Makes 6-8 pints
2 diced mangos
5 cups diced apricots
1 1/2 c. bell peppers
1/2 c. diced yellow onion
1/2 t. red pepper flakes
2 t. minced garlic
2t. ginger
1 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. vinegar
1/2 water
( I added 2 anaheim peppers, 1 jalapeno pepper and salt to mine.)

Combine all ingredients in stock pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce and simmer for 5 minutes. Ladle into prepared canning jars. Process in boiling water for 15 minutes.

Next I made...
Apricot -Frangelico Jam
1 1/2 lbs. apricots
3 c. sugar
2 T. lemon juice
4 T. Frangelico

Peel pit and dice apricots. Combine apricots, sugar and lemon juice. Let marinate for 4 hours. Place apricot mixture in saucepan bring to a boil and continue boiling for 20 minutes until jam reaches 220 degrees. Stir in Fragelico and boil for 1 minute.
Ladle into prepared jars and process for 5 minutes.
(I added some cinnamon and nutmeg to mine.)
Make 3 half- pint jars

For my favorite apricot cookie recipe go here !

Washing My Hair In A Stream, Night Rolling In and Birds!

2010-07-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

We spent 2 days at the cabin. One day consisted of dropping off our teenage boy back at camp, and the other consisted of mowing a huge bit of earth. It was fabulous, and I love being there. I even washed my hair in the stream. I took the time to....

Lay in a field of flowers.

Watch a beautiful sky melt into night.

Find a birds nest.

Buy raspberries by a big blue lake.

Breaking And Entering and Bloody Fingers!

2010-07-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

What do you suppose a girl like me does when she see a very old and very abandoned school house in the middle of nowhere???

I climbed inside and took pictures!

And now onto the bloody fingers. I will NOT post a picture. I will spare you!! I got a call from my son. The son that is away at camp working for the summer. The call came in at 10:30 PM and I was outside in the back turning off hoses. The first thing he said was, "Mom don't worry". It turned out he almost took the entire top of one finger off and they were driving him to the nearest hospital 35 min away. He ended up with stitches and some pain medicine and back to camp he went. Boys!!!!! Jeeeeeeeez!!!!

little messy missy

Valentine ATC's & Rolo's.

**DRESS**

DEAD BIRDS

An unnamed government official told an AP reporter to “expect dead starlings to fall to the ground for a few more days.”

Line Work

The Swing

Closed Mouth.

Family Pics

Woke Up To Snow...

Cemetery In The Fall

October...

Ghost Tour!

Art

Fall Is Here

Son's First Dance

New Art

Sigh...

Ghost Towns

Summer Days...

Vintage Earrings

Cupcakes and a Little Sorrow...

Water Color...

Camping...

1961...Such A Good Year!

The KO Hip-Hop Cello-Beatbox Experience: Julie-O

Custom Zombie and Batman Shoes!

I See Spring...

National Lupus Day

I Spy Spring...

Young...

Artistic swap: Clearfield woman teaching class on artist trading cards - Standard-Examiner

Books and Birds...

I Spy Feathers...

Snow, Seeds and Swaps!

Babies In The House..

New Art and Cup Cakes...

YOE and Mama Bird...

Tragedy For The Toes...

Woke Up Singing...

Altered Fairy Book

Keeping My Hands Busy...

I Love The Mail Box And Other Nonsense...

Vintage Laugh...

Damn Bird....

Fabric Post Cards...

Crap In The Breezeway And Let The Breeding Games Begin...

Art...

This and That...

Thankful for...

Vintage Swans....

Sleigh Rides In The Snow...

The Lady Eve

Birds Made From Paper and Oranges...

Mornings Filled With Snow...

Artist Trading Cards...

Chicken Coops Made Of Gingerbread!

Giant Pods of White...

Art...

Hand Drawn Owls Artist Trading Cards.

Happy Turkey Day!

November Blissfull ATC

Snow, Red Inchies & Bountiful Baskets Co-op!

Yarn Nests and Christmas Aprons!

Fall At My House- A Picture Post

Lingerie For Perry Mason!

Self Portrait

Giant Marigolds, Cave Man Club Gourds and Green Salsa...

Blissful ATC SWAP

Muffin Pan Advent Calendar

Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland

Cat-and-Mouse With a Chicken...

Gifts...

My mom is a corn thief, grandma's wedding dress and a groping in Idaho!

***Witch SWAP***

Ditching the Gym!

Salsa and Cigar Boxes!

Sunday is for the Cats! LOL

The Great ATC Witch SWAP !

The Great Sandbur Incident of 2010!

DRESS

Witch SWAP