It's been a long time

First of all, let me say that I am so surprised that anyone even still bothers checking my blog.  It has been about forever since I have written.  I am always so bogged down with stuff to do, things like this just fall last on my list.  I don't know why that is, because as soon as I start writing, it just feels so good.  I just get hung up on the little things.  My camera takes quite a while to download these days now that I download directly to a hard drive, and by the time I have the pictures that I want to post downloaded, it's just not as exciting to write about it any more.  I don't know... it's a constant struggle.  

So, in order to drag myself out of this blogging drought... I just started looking through my many downloaded pictures from the recent past and came across one that just stopped me.  It is so darn cute and just made me smile and made me grateful for my wonderful camera.  I got this camera as a gift from my parents for Christmas last year and I LOVE it.  I just noticed today that I have taken nearly 7,000 pictures just this last seven months!  Are you kidding me?  That is an average of 1,000 photos a month or rather 33.33 pictures a day... about.  (Yea, I pulled out a calculator... for very simple math :).  Okay... that's a lot of pictures right?  No wonder it's a challenge to get them all downloaded all the time.

So, back to the picture I found.  Here it is.

This is my parents' dog Rudi.  She is still a puppy and she is not mine.  But for a while I did babysit her and took a lot of pictures.  She is a lot of work, because she is indeed a puppy, but so much fun too.  I had her in my care for about a week in June and it was amazing how much you have to do for a dog in compared to a cat.  I was sleeping on the couch for only a few hours at a time and had to keep the cats mostly oblivious that the dog was a member of the household for those few days by trapping her in one room with a sideways door.  Luckily she is easy to contain being only about seven inches off of the ground.  :)  Puma, my bengal cat, was really the only member of the cat household that knew Rudi was ever there.  Puma got a run for her money that week and it was so much fun to watch her get swatted a bit by a creature.  (For those of you who don't know Puma, she is sortof a bully... and by sortof... I mean a total bully.)  Bottom line, I love that dog.  And I love this picture of her.  Let's see how long it takes my mom to read this blog and request this picture in a larger size... I give it about a week or two.  :)  Yes mom, I will print this out for you.  :)

In conclusion, it's great to be back.  I have so much to write about and so many pictures to share.  Right now they are mostly all downloaded, and right now I have the time.  (Today was the last day of teaching summer camp)  Hopefully I can find the time to get it all out and posted.  And to those faithful blog checkers (Eryn I am talking to you)... whoever posts the first comment, gets a little gift from me... maybe one of my necklaces.... :) 

Now That's What I'm Talking About

Okay... so many of you don't know this, but... wait... you all know this. I hate to cook. Many of you also know that due to a Christmas morning pipe explosion at Justin's place, he has been staying with me since "Arctic Blast 2008" reared it's ugly side. It has however been everything but ugly at my house... especially in the food/dinner department. Justin enjoys the art of cooking and as a bonus, he is also very good at it. The knives had never been used much, let alone sharpened. The oven had been used only a few times, for frozen pizzas and cupcakes. I didn't have many of the cooking essentials, had never heard of panko bread crumbs (is that how you spell it?) and really... didn't even own a satisfactory cutting board in Justin's opinion. Now... my kitchen is in top cooking condition and I am loving it. Not for me to cook in, but I love knowing that it being cooked in. :) So, I guess that's all I wanted to say. I'll leave you with one more photo... of a lovely dinner.
(Hey Kathy... notice the Gatorade I tried to crop out of the picture... I promise, this was taken weeks ago... baby steps. :)

Fulfilling my promise

Okay. So last night I made a promise to cyberspace that I would download and then upload at least one picture from the last months or so. So here is one of my favorites.

This is Lybbi. Most of you have never seen her. She is my elusive kitty. I bought her from a pet store about six years ago. I actually drug her out from the back of a dirty cat box. She was terrified and wouldn't dare come out to visit with the rest of the 15+ kittens also in the same space. She is frightened by nature and goes through life honestly believing that 90% of anything in sight is about to kill her. To me, this characteristic is mostly endearing. I am usually not the one she runs from. Because of this, she has a way of making me feel special in some way. In reality I'm sure the only reason is because I feed her and pick up after her, but I like to believe it's because of my kind spirit. :) Right.

The downside to Lybbi is her bathroom habits. I mostly keep this little issue quiet because frankly, it's frustrating and annoying and really it's not much to talk about. But the darn cat just refuses to use a cat box. After writing the last paragraph though, I'm starting to wonder if dragging her out of a dirty cat box just before choosing to take her home, might have something to do with it. Maybe it's some sort of ptsd or something that she carries with her. Some of you may think that is funny, but I'm serious. That cat just simply won't use a cat box... period. So how on earth does this work you ask???? Let's just say it's been a long long road finding something that works for both of us. I use a wonderful thing called puppy pads. They are easy to use... easy to clean up... and keep any smells to a minimum. I believe that most people who purchase these wonderful things, only do so for a few months... until puppy is trained to pee wherever necessary to go about life. For me... I have been buying them for about five years. It would be shocking to see what I spend on them. I think it is similar to having a baby in diapers for... well... forever. (okay probably a little cheaper... I've never had a baby in diapers. :) As for #2??? Well, that usually just ends up right on the floor... about a foot from the cat box. Seriously? Yes... seriously. So... I'm not telling you all this to gross you out and make you all think that I am dirty and crazy for tolerating this. Honestly, I figure if she continues to use the pads, it's just a compromise. And really, I just love her too much. Plus... when I look at a picture like the one above... it makes it all that much easier.

Any comments on other cat issue solutions would be very much appreciated... until then. It's business as usual. :) Aren't you all glad I decided to post a blog... especially one like this. He he... yuk. Sorry. :)

I know... it's been way too long

I decided to check in on my blogs that I read this evening and really just had the guilt take over me. I haven't posted in two months! Yikes, that's embarrassing. Part of the problem is that I got a new amazing camera for Christmas, but my computer is so bogged down with crap that I'm almost scared to download the hundreds of pictures I've taken for fear that it's going to make it worse. I know that is a silly reason, but the truth none the less. I need to start a massive computer re-haul and hope that I can fix it up enough that I don't have to buy a new one just yet. I'm putting off the inevitable... I really don't want a two thousand dollar bill to pay on right now.
So, I am working on the struggle of digital image storage... what to do. Is it CD's? DVD's? A hard drive? Online storage? or is it best just to do two or three of these things and hope that at least one method won't fail you? I am one of those people that live and breathe the ability to make and capture and retain as many "memories" as possible. So now that every memory I have made for years is now just a blip on the computer, I'm consumed by the idea that my computer might one day just blow up and all would be gone. So... I just bought myself a fire/water proof Honeywell little safe for a great price and I'm thinking of storing DVD's of my pictures in there and then keep my harddrive out so that I can store them there as well and get to them easily. That is the plan for now. I'm hoping it works. I know this is a silly thing to blog about after two months, but honestly it is consuming my life right now.
So, I'm going to make a deal with you that actually still even bother to look at my boring blog... I plan to upload some of my new pictures from my new camera and will get them posted for you this week. I really like some of the new pictures I've gotten and would love to show them off. So that's the deal... download and blog. I'm working on it... I promise. :)

Holy Snow!

Okay... first of all, let me tell you that this is the SECOND time that I have attempted this post. I tried to copy and paste what I had already done, but my "copy" got erased so now I have to start over. My friend Amy lives in Hawaii, and after talking to her today several times, I promised her pictures of our "Arctic Blast 2008" scene at my house. I have been taking pictures for days. I have always been a huge fan of snow. My childhood love for a snow day has shifted into a teacher's love for a snow day. This last weeks has been such a treat for me. Not because I missed school, because luckily for the most part I didn't, but because I love the peacefulness. I love be stuck here. I love the quiet, the glow off of the white, and the giggle that comes out of me each morning as I look out the window. So... Amy... here they are. Enjoy.

It started snowing last Sunday. Look at how pretty it is.
Monday morning we didn't have class because we just didn't want to risk it. Because of this, our Three-year-olds didn't get their holiday party. I know, it's very sad. For all of us. But we really didn't want anyone to hurt themselves or their cars trying to get to school so :( Tuesday was super cold, but not very snowy. Then Wednesday I woke up to this. Yippy!
Puma was loving the new sites. I was like a little kid on Wednesday morning and just couldn't help myself. Yep, I did that, in my pajamas... I made a snow angel on my back patio. :) On Thursday it was more of the same and I even had to miss a Blazer game I had tickets for :(. But on Friday I went out again and this time made a tiny snowman to start my day. Yep, I was in my pajamas for this too. He's maybe about 8 inches tall.
So then by Friday afternoon, my snowman had a little lean. We had gotten a bit more snow, but nothing like what we would be seeing.On Saturday it snowed and snowed and snowed all day long, and then it turned into freezing rain. Here's me before the rain hit... look at all the snow! I went out in the evening because there were all of these weird drifts of snow. Some were almost a foot tall. (that is a bad picture... it's at about 10 inches) Crazy. And look at my sad palm tree... wondering what the heck is going on here. I wrapped him up in a towel. Hopefully he will survive this cold.So this morning everything was covered in a sheet of ice. So now we have about 6 inches of snow, topped by about a 1/4 inch of ice and now topped again with another inch or two of snow. It was so much fun to stomp around my yard this morning. For no reason other than getting pictures and just hearing the ice crack. It was so peaceful out there this morning. There were no cars really on the road and everything is coated in a deep blanket of white. Here's the rest of my ice pictures. Each blade of grass was coated in thick ice... I should have zoomed in better. Here's my rhododendron... it looks like it's going to die. These are the berries on a tree in front of my house. I love this picture. And finally... here is my snowman today... nearly buried. I wonder how many inches we've gotten. Can you tell it doesn't snow often here? I love it!

I can't believe it's been so long...

Oh my... I'm terrible at doing most computer related things on schedule. It was only about two years ago that I finally made it a routine to check my email daily. :( So... here I am... and as the snow falls creating a beautiful scene out my back patio doors, I sit with coffee in hand and a fridge with enough food to last me a week. AHHH... it feels great. School got out yesterday for me and luckily that was the case because today school was canceled and this way we were able to have our holiday parties for at least two of our three classes yesterday. I have most of my Christmas shopping done and all of the supplies I will need to craft the rest of them. My house is decorated and thankfully warm and I am feeling generally pretty peaceful. :)

I am sorry that I have done such a terrible job at keeping you all updated. For those of you who have been reading my blog you know that I have been going to an event in Eugene the last few months that is hosted by Ali Edwards (my scrapbooking idol:) and a few other wonderful ladies. Last month I went down there to be part of a "Creative Boutique" and although it was somewhat of a bust financially speaking... it was a lot of fun and the little publicity that it got still managed to get me my first sale on etsy just the other day. Yea! It was great to be able to send something off to someone's mother for a Christmas gift. It feels good to know that someone finds my creations worthy of such a thing. :)
So at the event in early November, Ali did a talk about her "December Daily Album" and it was such a treat because she did her talk to only me and one other gal. It was great to get her one on one and needless to say, I was very excited to give this album a try for this year. So, that is why I have been lacking in the blog department. I have however been documenting each and every day of December in some shape or form. Perhaps (but no promises here :) I will be able to post some very soon. I lost my memory card from my camera about a two weeks ago, so I have been a little down on digital because of the upset. It literally was just gone, removed from my camera sometime in a 24 hour period. GRRR. Hopefully, with any luck at all, it will show up, but I'm thinking it won't. I haven't remembered all that I am missing out on just yet, but each day or two I manage to remember at least one picture that I have lost. :( SO... I will try to update more soon, but for now I wanted you all to know that I am well, and that I plan to update more soon. Happy snow day!

Getting ready for the Creative Boutique

Oh my goodness. I have been working my tail off for a few weeks now getting ready for a little show thing that I am bringing some of my hand crafted goodies to. I have worked a little bit each day and have almost managed to reach my goal. I wanted to bring a little bit of everything that I make. I have some holiday frames, some beaded silverware, and lots and lots of my soldered pendants. I managed to finish over 50 necklaces and Justin was wonderful in assisting me to come up with some amazing packaging for them. It looks all professional and stuff. I love it.

The show is in Eugene at a lady's house that I met about a month ago. She is really fun and her, Ali Edwards (a scrapbooking genius), and two other fun gals are putting on somewhat of a garage sale/craft show that they are lovingly referring to as the "Creative Boutique". I don't know how much traffic it will attract or anything, but it's just been so fun to have a reason to get my act together and get things made! I've also set up an etsy store. For those who don't know what "etsy" is... it's a wonderful website that is sortof like an ebay for hand crafted goods. There is no serious bidding like on ebay, but you can post all handcrafted goods on there and it is amazing. I have bought on there several times and have found out how fun it is to get handmade goods as well as give them. It just makes you feel good to hold something in my hands knowing that it was crafted without machines and has minor imperfections here and there. The site is www.etsy.com and you should really check it out if you haven't already. As for finding me on there... it's possible, but I don't really have anything on there yet. The ball has started to roll, but I need another few weeks to get it totally up and running. Right now I have one, yes one, frame on there. I'll be adding much much more soon. Oh... it feels so good to get going on things like this. It's inspiring and great for me to get out there and try to make this whole thing work for me. Those of you who know me will tell you that I have tried to make a business out of crafting, but honestly, I just can't find the time to make it work. This craft show has given me a reason to get my act together, and even if I don't sell a darn thing while I'm there, I'm just thrilled that I have stuff made up and ready to go. So check me out on etsy in the next few weeks... I'm looking forward to that first sale :). It's www.creativeleighchic.etsy.com YEA!

And now I have put off my crafting for long enough... it's back to work for me in the frame room for another hour or so before bed. Yikes...