Rain is in the near future... very near future.  I hope it doesn't storm.  Looks like there are severe storms all over the map.

I went to T.J. Maxx today and found lots of little things I wanted but didn't need.  I did get some cute p.j.s though.  People have their weaknesses... p.j.s, flip flops and Dr. Peppers are mine.

Nothing to talk about, just wanted to drop in and say hi. 

Habits are so hard to break.  Once I was in the habit of blogging I couldn't stop but once I did stop and get out of the habit it has been so tough to start back again.  I've been enamored with Facebook and trying to learn to love Twitter.  But... here I am... back with the blog.  I've got all my software working on this computer now, still don't have the printer working but that will happen soon. 

Thank God we made it through the Winter.  Spring has been so wet here in Alabama, it seems like it rains at least once a day.  My back yard has really suffered from too much rain.  The ditch behind our property hasn't been large enough to contain the water and our yard has flooded.  Some of the trees' roots are exposed now and there are lots and lots of low spots in the yard.  I'm just hoping I don't break an ankle or knee stepping in the holes when I mow.

Sydney doing what she does so well.

Katie observes from one of her favorite spots.  From here she can see the bunny with a death wish that keeps getting inside the fence.

Oliver with his curly tail.  He's such a little man.

Don't you just love this little bird thingy?  I found it at the Pottery Warehouse and just had to have it.

I'm off this weekend.  It's the first weekend in a year that I've been off both Saturday and Sunday.  I'm getting the driveway and porches power washed tomorrow.  I'd also love to get up in the morning and check out some yard sales.  I'm back in the shabby chic mood of decorating and want to find some junk things to use. 

Until next time, and I promise it won't be months.... tata...

I had planned on leaving Xanga and starting a blog elsewhere but Xanga re-upped me automatically via my credit card so I guess I'll hang around for another year.  I still don't have all my graphic programs on my new computer so I've got to get all that together before I post any pics but I promising myself to get my butt back to work and post some pics and use my blog again. 

I miss all my Xanga friends.  How are you all doing????

Ah, this song takes me back to the traumatic days of growing up, first love, a time when everything was dramatic.  The Beatles.... I loved them so much.  I miss John and George.  I used to listen to them on my little pink transistor radio.  AM radio.  Static and all.  Wow, it's amazing how technology has come so far in my lifetime. 

I went to the thrift store today and got 4 paperbacks (a really varied group):

• The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel
• SS-GB by Len Deighton
• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
• Under the Beetle's Cellar by Mary Willis Walker 

I wanted something different, another kind of genre than what I usally read.  Oh and I also got a couple of handmade pottery cups and an old photograph of a baby sitting on a pony.  I'll scan it when I get the scanner hooked up to my new (old) computer.  The scanner and my camera aren't compatible with this new computer that has Vista on it.  I don't like Vista so far... it's only been a pain in the arse so far.   I got a new widescreen monitor to go with the old computer.  We still don't have all the drivers loaded on the computer and so my new monitor looks like crap.  I hate computers when they aren't working correctly.  So frustrating.  But I have faith we'll get it all worked out.... some day...some way...

Now I'm off to do some house cleaning and watch some court TV while I work.

Try to stay warm... (brrrrr... it was 20 degrees at 9:00 this morning)

Wow... January 8 already.  I've started on one of my new year nonresolutions.  I've been working on the house.  I have my studio looking so much better.  I can see the desk now.  And the room is relatively clean.  I still haven't purged all the stuff that I want to get out of it but I have a good head start on my way to organization in there.  The fact that the guy was coming in there to hook up my network card on the old computer kicked me into the mode.   It feels so much better to walk in there now. 

I bought a frame today to put my piece of artwork from my friend Elizabeth (remember the black bird painting?).  But now that I've got it in the frame it's not right.  I need to have a light mat to bring the picture out with the dark frame.  My sister gave me a painting for Christmas.  Of a black bird.  Once I get the computer working with my camera again I'll show you all a picture of it.  It's so me.  Oh, oh and today in the mail I received a wonderful little canvas painting from the artist Angela Rockett.   I'm not sure yet why she sent it to me.  I don't know if I won it or what.  I've emailed her to find out before I get too excited about it.  I keep thinking it was sent to me in error.  How I don't know?  It's a wonderful abstract. 

Ok, I'm off to take a little rest before I get back to cleaning.  Whew... I'm tired. 

The New Year... 2009... Wow... time goes by so quickly.  I've been torn over whether to make resolutions or not.  I think... or not.  But here are some of the things I would like to be better at this year:

1. Less colas, more greens, less carbs.

2. Join the work out center and get more exercise.

3. Simplify and organize.. my house and my life.

4. Finish some of the things I start.

5. Worry less about things I have no control over.

Well, that's a start.  If I could accomplish just one of these, it would be great,

I just heard about John Travolta's 16 year old son, Jett, dying.  John has always been one of my most favorite stars and I feel so sorry for him and the rest of his family.   

I've been busy, just like the rest of the world, the last few weeks and have got so behind on reading my favorite blogs and posting here.  But now that it's a new year and it's time for a fresh start and all the holiday stuff is in the past, I am looking forward to having time to do all the things I love, like keeping up with what my blogger friends are doing, creating, reading, cooking, thinking etc. 

Let's hope the world has a happier new year. 

PEACE!!!!

Not much time to write but I was thinking about you all and just wanted to get in one last

Merry

Christmas !!!

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with lots of great food, great friends and loving family.  And hope you get and give the perfect gifts..

Hugs to all!!!

Happy Holidays

from my house

to yours

Are you all in full force holiday mode now?  My brain is but my body hasn't caught on yet.  I'm just dreaming of wonderful decorations and evergreen smells and enjoying looking at the wonder other people have created with twinkling lights. colorful baubles, greenery and ribbons, little snow covered villages and trees loaded with shiny balls and crystal.  It's such a magic time of year.  I love the creativity that comes along at this time of year when people make their friends and loved ones special gifts.  A handmade gift is the ultimate gift from the heart.

Do you remember when I shared the little bird art that I got from my friend Elizabeth?  Well, this is what I made and sent to her.  It's a mixed media piece.  I forgot to take a picture of it before I mailed it off so I stole this copy from her blog.  Have I mentioned lately how much I like birds... especially black ones and red ones.

"Cozy Bird" (mixed media)

I've been working a LOT at my job.  I've worked 5 days in a row now and had company here at home all that time too so I've not had time to do much of anything else.  Today was reserved for laundry and a bit of house cleaning.  You can imagine what the floor is like with having 6 dogs in the house, a pet door and rainy weather.  I still wish I had concrete floors with drains in them so that I could just hose them down... lol..

I'm reading a great book right now.. See below... The book started out exciting and after a few chapters in I'm still caught up in it.  I like how this guy writes.

Just dropping in to say hello.  My stepdaughter was here all weekend, went back to Memphis yesterday and will be back here Thursday.  She's officially moving to Huntsville Dec. 11.  So we had 6 dogs in the house.  Her dogs were a little intimidated by our 4, ours are so rambunctious and loud.  

I finally found the living room furniture that I want.  The store had the sofa but not the loveseat so I ordered it.   It's slightly contemporary.  The color is called ice... it's a creamy white.  I've been looking for a set that looks like it online to share with you but haven't found one.   It's a manufactured leather, supposedly tough stuff that will stand up to 4 dogs use and abuse.

Happy, happy Thanksgiving to you all.