Thursday, November 19, 2009

Have You Seen My Keys?

Seems to me this is a question I’ve been asking a lot lately…. Along with “where did I park the car”, “what was it I needed at the grocery store” and what was I looking for in this closet anyway”? Ahhh the memory…. sometimes it just doesn’t kick in the way I would like it to. I’m not talking about or making light of the more serious memory problems than can affect people. I’m talking about the kind where your head is so chock full of useless stuff, like knowing all the words to Petticoat Junction, that there is little room left for facts, facts like this Friday is the day I have to write the team blog post. Yes, I almost forgot it was my day to post. And then I remembered…. And then I forgot again….. and then…. “and that’s Uncle Joe, he’s a movin’ kinda slow at the junction….. Petticoat Junction"….. and here we are.



Maybe if I had worn a cute hat like this as a baby my memory cells wouldn't have frozen.


or maybe if I wore a cute hat like this now...
BagsnMorebyPam



I should write things down and and carry a cool looking clipboard
MisterPenQuin



if my keys were on a fabby keyring I'd never misplace them. Oh wait, my keys ARE on a Katzie keyring.... I forgot. :)


I should put a note on the fridge with one of these fun magnets from Joon.
Joonbeam


or use a pretty glass magnet, that might help.
DesignsbyChristine



Is it tue that elephants never forget? It might be nice to be an elephant.
FireflyGlassDesign

But if all else fails..... sing it with me......



Come ride the little train that is rollin' down the track to the Junction.Forget about your cares, it is time to relax at the Junction.Lotsa curves, you bet 'N even more when you get to the Junction,Petticoat Junction!There's a little hotel called the Shady Rest at the Junction,Petticoat Junction!It is run by Kate, come and be her guest at the Junction,Petticoat Junction!And that's Uncle Joe, he's a-movin' kinda slow at the Junction,Petticoat Junction!



Sorry to my UK friends if this makes no sense at all. Just fill in a TV show from the 60's and sing that theme song. Works just the same.


Have a great weekend. Life is good.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Cold Autumn and Blue Winter

Feather Dreams
Breathtaking ACEO by SixSisters

This is the fourth ACEO in a series done by SixSisters. I tell you, this captured my feelings of the last week perfectly! Though I love the colors of autumn, the colder weather and the rainy days make me feel a bit blue. Especially as I get older and think about how fast the seasons have passed this year – and every year before. I am a bit creaky, my cat and dog are a bit creaky, and I find that I can be prone to a little bit of emotion. I try not to let my family see my blue funk, and in an attempt to shake myself out of it, I keep myself busy. I read, I spin, I write, I hang out on the internet. Being an introvert, I tend not to call my friends and confess my “blueness,” but instead try to get out of it myself. We might debate whether that is a good approach or not, but I can tell you about what worked for me this week, as the rains came down day after day and we felt the aftermath of hurricane Ida followed directly by the first nor’easter of the season. Looking out the window at the grey skies and wrapped in sweaters against the cold, I browsed through ETSY and found what the talented BBEST team had done with the cold autumn and blue winter at hand.

I was inspired – to smile, to create, to make something wonderful. I wonder if, when I am feeling so blue, I can find a way to express myself as in such a lovely way as the Feather Dreams ACEO. Thank you Six, for a perfect look into the complex feelings of a blue day!

It is fantastic how a look around ETSY can improve your mood. Take a look at some of the other great things our colleagues have created, and see if it doesn’t inspire you as well!

When sitting alone at my computer feeling down, I came across this fabulous photograph of a Lone Leaf by Beth Peardon. I considered how a single leaf can make such a beautiful statement, and want to thank Beth for the reminder.


And then we have Blue Winters Night , an Original Water Color Painting by Mystic Silks. This painting helped me recall those wonderful crisp cold nights when everything is beautiful and silent, yet somehow filled with breathless life. Thanks, Mystic, for reminding me that there is always something to look forward to as the seasons continue to advance!


Watching the grey rain pull all the colors of autumn from my trees and deposit them on the lawn, I found all those colors captured in this beautiful piece by Magdalene Jewels, November Rain. I just know if I had this around my neck I would look at the rain in a whole new way!

And then yesterday, the rain began to let up a tiny bit. We still had cloudy skys and drizzles, but I had a chance to see the wet earth in a new way, again inspired by my ETSY friends.


Yankee Girl encouraged me with a reminder to take a closer look at the beauty of our foliage, even when wet, with her great print "Wet Leaves," part of her TWINS series of creative photographs.


And dear KnottySheep reminded me of the beauty in the cloudy skies with her aptly named Sleepy Clouds. This great looking yarn made me want to create a shawl to remember the cold days AND the beauty of them!


Finally, I even found an expression of grace, another gift from my BBEST friends, as I smiled upon this beautiful Schrenschnitte Blue Angel piece by Janine Maves. What a lovely example of beautiful craft and inspiring detail. Thank you Janine!

And thanks to all my BBEST friends, for the wonderful inspiring creativity that you show every day. Without a doubt, you all lift up my moods and light up my life.

Monday, November 16, 2009

L is for.....

The holiday season is fast approaching, and the time to search for gifts is well and truly upon us. You will find some ideas for gifts here, but I have to admit that gifts aren't the only thing on my mind!

Today - L is for


LEMON!

Hmm, I wonder what I have on my mind?

Well, could it be that lemon is considered to be nature's gift to mankind? It is credited with healing properties for complaints as varied as ear-ache to digestive problems. 'Lemon juice is sour in taste, quenches thirst, helps in digestion, increases perspiration, cleans kidneys, acts as a diuretic, cures disease of the alimetary canal, purifies blood, imparts strength to the heart and controls bile, cough and wind'..... It is also helpful for colds and 'flu and an absolute necessity for scurvy..... if you do a google search I can assure you the results will sometimes surprise you, and also occasionally give you a giggle....

So, now that you have decided that you can't live without it - is any of this what was on my mind?

Let's see.....

What did I find by searching through the Bbest items?

First, I found





Maybe you are searching for a bag


Lemon Ice Cotton Bag from BagsandMorebyPam could be just the thing.

More minerals, but this time Lemon Quartz



This pretty little cluster necklace is to be found at Annasjewelry

If lemon is a little too sharp for your taste why not mix it with butterscotch?


Here they are mixed to perfection by luckygirltrading

Or maybe you would prefer a different mix



Lemon Verbena Hand Made soap from inalather looks good, and I bet it smells good too!

If you are looking for vintage look no further than this purse


This sunny lemon yellow purse dates back to the 1960's, and it's just waiting to be rediscovered at bytheway

Let's face it. Lemon is usually associated with the summer. We are well and truly heading towards winter here in the northern hemisphere, and it is the time for comfort food. but you can even find that with Bbest!



However, the nearest that I can get to my original thought is this




So have you guessed why I chose Lemon? We are heading for the time of drinks parties - and where oh where would they be without the gin and tonic? And, apart from ice, of course, what do we need for a perfect G & T?

Why ..................... LEMON slices of course!