doodlebug

when I grow up I want to be a graphic designer. I will never possess the talent to draw beautifully, artistically. but in this day and age of computers there is so much opportunity to create using this new fangled electronic box, a keyboard, a wee little mouse and a bit of software.

as I happily click through link after link of lovely blogs and websites, I find more resources to inspire me. and yesterday I came across DigiscrapDepot. a huge library of imagery, many of which are freebies (thank you talented sharing artists). you just download the free image and start playing.

so I have been experimenting with my blog title. and have found these little sticky notes that I have been filling with a multitude of miscellany and tidbits of nonsense and then adding to my blog header. as I get braver I will be to attempt to design my own blog page (presto chango - watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!). but baby steps.

so please bear with me while I tinker and craft and scribble and putter. you will be seeing a variety of test patterns in the next few days and weeks as I try my hand at this wonderful world of clipart possibility. I know just enough to make me dangerous.

'life is about using the whole box of crayons.'

why ask why

I was talking with a friend today and was asked why did I blog. I know I have had this conversation with you before, yet it seems to pop up in my head (and conversation) frequently. simply I blog for me. it is a way to put my thoughts down on paper (so to speak) and share them with anyone that stumbles across my musings.

it is easy to let the days speed by letting one moment meld into another. so it is with thoughts and miscellaneous ponderings. an idea will come and go in a wink. and occasionally in that fleeting instant I am inspired enough to jot down a few words. sometimes as a message to someone somewhere. but most often just as a reminder to myself. to not take the moment for granted. savor the experience. sit in contemplation. feel the love. relax and enjoy the inspiration.

if you find comfort and compassion and joy in my words - so much the better. for there are so many wonderful folks out there that I lean on. turn to. laugh with. cry with. thank from the bottom of my heart. so let's all keep up the good work.

'we write to taste life twice, once in the moment and once in retrospection.'

all about me

I have a dream. it involves converting a little storage room next to the garage into a 'me' room. my inspiration comes from my good friend L, who has a lovely garden room with big comfy chairs and her craft table. I could move into that little space, lock the door and be quite content for the rest of my days.

my room is not nearly so big. or charming. but it holds great potential (two words that strike fear into the hubs). as Dr. Seuss would say 'oh the things we could do'. I could read. and write. and think. and plan. and scheme. and doodle. and dream. and yes, I could, she happily admits, nap when the mood struck.

I have been gathering ideas for how to decorate that little corner of my world. fake wood paneling now covers the walls and acoustic tiles the ceiling. the floor is cement. I would put bead board on the walls about 3/4 of the way up and paint the remaining quarter. install a wide ledge to display gathered treasures. I would paint a black and white checkerboard on the floor. and get two overstuffed chairs - one for me and one to share. for lighting I want to group several mismatched funky pendants or chandeliers to give a warm glow (the picture is courtesy of a little shop in Hico, TX called Homestead). I would have a big big big bulletin board where I could pin and post snapshots of places, clippings and cuttings, random things and favorite friends. and a small cabinet that I can neatly store what ever I wish.

so I will add this little room to my ever-growing fall wish list. first I have to clean it out because it is full of stuff and I can barely get the door open. and that presents a whole 'nother set of challenges. perhaps I need to add purge to my list as I fear I am on the brink of hoarders disease. but that is an entirely different blog topic.

'in quiet places, reason abounds.'

wedges

today I wrote a letter to a friend. we keep in touch regularity through email and facebook but there is nothing that surpasses a hand-written note. do you notice it is difficult to write for a lengthy period? my hand hurts and my words become unreadable. I am just simply out of practice. I can type with the best of them. my fingers fly across the keyboard (those days in high school typing class have paid off). but I stall and sputter with pen in hand.

so I wrote a little note. way past due. just to tell her I was thinking of her and that I missed her and that I loved her. not difficult to say. and I feel so much better for taking the time to send my thoughts her way. and I know that she will smile when she sees the letter. and think of me. and that makes me happy.

so as I am on my 'just choose' kick this week ... take time and pass it on. no matter what the 'it' is. love. regret. apologies. friendship. sorrow. kindness. sympathy. empathy. congratulations. happiness.

don't think I'll do it tomorrow. the smallest hesitation leads to procrastination. don't regret the opportunity. forget the fear. choose love baby.

'if two people who love each other let a single instant wedge itself between them, it grows - it becomes a month, a year, a century; it becomes too late.'

the power of love

'all that I love is loved by God. each person that I cherish is in God's heart. there is no beloved whom God cannot aid. there is no difficulty, no barrier which God cannot dissolve. in the heart of all life is the heart of God. whoever we are, however we pray, our prayers are heard. I pray with confidence for God to act effectively in (my life and in) the lives of those I love. I trust that situations and opportunities will unfold for (us) in divine order, leading all to the greatest good.'

these words are from Julia Cameron in Prayers to the Great Creator. her words give praise and understanding through 'prayers and dedications for a meaningful life'. I find comfort and peace reading her devotions. they are gentle reminders of just how blessed I am in my life. and more so, how I need to pass along those blessings through my words and actions.

a few blogs ago I talked about the need to reduce negativity in our lives. and the key to that control is simply to choose. and the strength to choose comes from inside. and inside we find the strength that comes from faith.

'I am still learning.'

on the road again

the hubs is on vacation this week so we decided to take a little overnight outing. I usually get to choose the vacation destination. but this time he suggested Booked Up in Archer City, Texas. not one to rain on his parade I said sure.

we love to take driving vacations. it is a lovely time to catch up. talk about everything. or nothing at all. and during this just short of 5 hours in the car we enjoyed each others company immensely. I learned that he wished he had taken flying lessons during his college career - as they were offered as an elective at Purdue University. you would think after 32 years of marriage I would have known that at some earlier point. but better late than never. I love the fact that there are still new things to learn after all these years together. but I digress.

Archer City has four warehouse spaces filled with books. Larry McMurtry (author of Last Picture Show, Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment and more) has opened these storefronts that are literally filled wall to wall, floor to ceiling with books. every shape and size. content and character. and to my delight, the hubs was not disappointed. he found a set of Lincoln biographies by Carl Sandburg. a book written by the lady in waiting to the Empress Dowager, who ran China in the early 1900's. and a book entitled Unvisited Places of Old Europe purchased simply because of the personalization 'To my dear Coleman. Whose place in my heart is very large and whose friendship is very sweet to me. Octavia', dated December 26, 1921. charming. romantic. endearing. traits books and husbands share.

the second day of our adventure was mine. an upscale antique furniture store in Hico stole my heart. a charming photograph of a man with two dogs taken by a photographer in Camberley, UK (where we lived for a while) was sentimentally snatched up. and such nice folks at the register. true Texas hospitality.

the hubs is a good guy. he patiently takes me on adventures. pokes around in dusty shops. smiles when I get excited unearthing treasures. it gave me great pleasure to return the favor.

'there is no such cozy combination as man and wife.'

dog days of summer

time to turn to the happy. and nothing makes me smile more than to talk about my children. so I know you will indulge me as I stretch the family ties to share a few stories about M & J's child, my granddog, Watson.

now Watson is a character. he is as lovable as he is cute. a cross between a cocker spaniel and a golden retriever, this little bundle of energy is the apple of their (okay, our) eye. I told the kids when I first saw him that they should have named him Fabio - because the long wavy locks on his floppy ears remind me of that samson-ish hair on the cover of a romance novel. but as we've gotten to know this little darlin', his curious nature and investimagative (as his daddy likes to say) prowess makes the name suit him to a tee.

our darling M volunteered at a local rescue shelter. and that is where Watson was discovered. 'love at first sight' is an understatement. not sure who stole whose heart, but they were all goners from the get go! Watson has been through obedience training, agility training and now is in training as a therapy dog. as all grammies will attest, my granddog is quite gifted.

his talents do not end at being lovable. let me share a few of my favorites ...

1. Watson can imitate Tigger. he can leap from the floor onto the kitchen counter or dining room table in a single vertical bound. very handy when the table is set for Thanksgiving dinner.

2. Watson can turn a corner and still be in the same room. his body is long and lean and much like a slinky he can be in two rooms at once.

3. Watson knows how to get his way. when he first came home he was not allowed on the furniture. then he was only allowed on the furniture if he was sitting on you. now he is allowed anywhere he wants to be. and believe you me, we all clamor over who gets to snuggle with him.

4. Watson loves presents. and he is quite talented at opening gifts on Christmas and assorted birthdays. usually when given permission, but not always.

5. Watson is a good teacher. the love I see between parent and this furry child reassures me what loving, patient and adoring parents my kiddos will be.

'happiness is a warm puppy.'