Friday, October 19, 2012

Friday-9:15am

The days have been looking like this since Wednesday.
Before that we had a couple warmer days.  You know I was feeling crummy if I was too exhausted to go out and kill the flies so I could open the porch door when it was near 70 degrees.  Yes, the flies knew it was probably the last hurrah, too, and flocked to my porch--LOL!  Saw a wasp out there, too, that I haven't seen again since Monday.  *shudder*  And some kind of gnats?  We never have gnats up here.
****
I've been all out of whack!  Monday night was the first night since I started taking melatonin (end of February) that I couldn't sleep all night long.  I've had nights where I don't get much sleep, but I wasn't able to sleep at all till after 7am.  A nap was all I got that morning.  I've still been sleeping at night since then, but one night it's very little and the next night it's nine hours or more...like a sleep see-saw.
****
Since the rain, I think I am sneezing less.  So my guess is allergies or hay fever.  I haven't had to deal with it being this bad for many years.  But it hasn't been this dry.  I've heard that is where the weird little speckled wings flies are from--the prolonged dry weather.   
****
Anyways, sorry.  I actually do have entries for the art challenges this week.  This was the zendala template from over at The Bright Owl.  You can pop over there and see people who had a lot more energy than I did--LOL!
I notice I tend to do these first because they are relaxing for me. 
Just did my own thing and doodled away.  Nothing fancy.
The theme for this week's Artist's Play Room challenge was "celestial/stargazing".  
I wanted to make an attempt at northern lights and stars. 
Some of the white paint markers have chiseled ends and so they look more like flying saucers up close--LOL!   
I used rubber stamps for the trees along the bottom.  Tried to kind of rub away some clouds and added a full moon. 
It's been so dark in here that it was hard to get pictures.  I actually liked it better without the flash. 
Anyways, I am still on the zombie side, for sure.  Dagan and Leah have ValleyCon this weekend.  Karma had her first tablespoon of the new Felidae canned food.  She gobbled it up...but then she's almost always interested in something brand new.  The test will be if she is still eating it in a week--LOL!
****
Karma says hi! 
I say hi!
****
Enjoy your weekend!  :)
****
"What is a soul?  It's like electricity--we don't really know what it is, but it's a force that can light a room."
Ray Charles

Monday, October 15, 2012

Monday-9:45am

Truth.  
I was catching this magnificent sunrise while I was chatting with you on Friday.  ;)
I'm not always up this early... 
...and the sky was filled with October colors. 
This is the best my camera zooms, but I almost missed the moon and a bright star in that morning sky. 
In ten minutes--the sky was blue.  Not a hint of color remained.  I share with you the brief sunrise miracle display. 
Well, Friday I got mail and packages galore!!  First a surprise from Felicia over at Mouse Potato Designs.  She's a "neighbor" to the west in Montana.
She even decorated the bubble envelope!  
We had been chatting about card making.  You may recall the birthday cards I made for 2012 with the caulk frosting.
 Well, believe it or not, the lauded ScorTape has buckled away from the embossed blue paper over time!  You can press it back down and it just pops back up again.  ScorTape is touted as being so sticky and so permanent...I was actually shocked.  And disappointed.  
Felicia was telling me about the similar Scrappy Tape she uses that is cheaper.  Lo and behold...I get one of her beautiful cards with the elaborate packaging AND a package of Scrappy Tape to try!!  She made my card with Scrappy Tape so I can see what happens over time. 
If it sticks to this corrugated card stock six months from now it's definitely a winner! 
Felicia even decorates the back...
...and the inside.  So pretty. 
Karma had to check out the envelope, of course.  ;) 
Then I got another envelope from Connie over at Far Side of Fifty...a "neighbor" to the east in Minnesota.  I won her "guess when we will have the first snowfall" contest (was on the 4th, as you may recall, and I was the closest guessing October 11th).  I was expecting some cards.  But then there were two wrapped packages inside the envelope?
The first one I opened--I just roared with laughter!  Connie had also sent a gift for Karma!!  Cat treats and a buggy-eyed fish on a bouncy string toy!  
I really got the prize!  Look at these lovely cards made from Connie's wonderful photography!  
So thanks so much to both Felicia and Connie!  
Bloggers are just the best people!  I feel blessed to have met you all.  What better time to get wonderful things in the mail than when you are feeling crummy, right?  You gals really made my day!!  :):)
****
Oh, and I didn't get pictures of Karma leaping about after the fish--yes, she does leap--lol!  But I did get pictures of her with those treats in her treat ball. 
The treat ball is supposed to give her exercise... 
...but she figured out after the first day that she can lie there and roll the ball back and forth to get the treats to fall out.  I'm not the only one who's efficiently lazy around here--ROFL! 
The Amazon order arrived, too, on Friday!  I got the new phones basically set up and working on Saturday.  Still some tweaking to do--ringer volume, my own message, etc--but they are up and running. 
I ordered a headset, too (because I can't grip a phone very long with my bum arm).
The new little battery alarm clock works fine.  No chime--but is quite startling!  It flashes red when it goes off and demands attention in erratic beeping and increasing volume.  Quite dramatic, I tell you!  I can almost imagine it bouncing up and down, waving tiny clock arms, and stomping its feet for attention--LOL! 
Karma's case of canned food arrived...with three dented cans.  I'll use those first.  She's still using up one and it will be a few more days before we will open our first Felidae can.  I'll let you know the Karma verdict.  ;) 
I did order a bottle of Collage Pauge.  Now it's true--I've not been impressed with Traci Bautista's online class at all.  There's been zero involvement from her except to announce she's posted the videos each month.  No students have posted comments since June.  Her videos could put you to sleep.  (But then so could Bob Ross's and I loved him--lol!)     
But--I have seen several mixed media artists and crafters on youtube use Traci's Collage Pauge.  They say it is a little thinner and more transparent than other mediums.  So, I thought I'd try it.  Just because she's not a very good teacher doesn't mean she doesn't know how to create a decoupage medium, right?  She's an excellent self-promoter, that's for sure.  But I believed the people on youtube over her--LOL!
****
Finally...I got the last of the clear tubs for the wall shelves! 
The little white baskets are now being used here and there in drawers and shelves around the apartment. 
I love these clear tubs for the shelf unit. 
I got some 6 X 6 inch smaller ones, as you can see. 
Did I say I love these tubs!  They can hold heavier jars and bottles... 
...or a mishmash of stuff. 
And I still love my Artbin Prism clear containers I've had for years.  Might have to add a few more of those, too.  ;) 
Anyways, I am still blowing my nose, sneezing, have the unrelenting sinus headache, and all the rest.  So, my guess is allergies.  I haven't had this bad of a hayfever type reaction for many years, but it's been so dry for months and it's always so windy up here...not a surprise, I guess. 
****
Meanwhile, Karma and I are just hanging out.  Supposed to be near 70 for the next two days...could be the last hurrah!  I had a visit from the lady who oversees Caroline (cleaning girl), paperwork to fill out for the office that I need to walk over this week, and the usual laundry & cooking & such...nothing too exciting, but just nice.  Every day has something to offer, right?
****
Enjoy your week.  
Smile.  Laugh.  :) :)
****
"To bring the sublime into the mundane is the greatest challenge there is."
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan

Friday, October 12, 2012

Friday-7am

Good Morning!
Most of this week has been dark and chilly.  I have been tired, sneezing, blowing my nose, rubbing my burning eyes, and have had a headache all week.  I'm not sure if it is allergies or a cold but, as we say in the Midwest...whatever.  No challenges done this week.
My mouse for my laptop has been dying and I wasn't sure if it was the mouse or the old rechargeable batteries.  As soon as I pulled out the top tub from inside my desk to dig out other old mice (up on the desk there) Karma jumped inside and made her self to home. 
If I would have squirted that can of air (and I confess that I was tempted) she would have bolted.  You think she looks big now--you ought to see her with all her fur puffed out--LOL!  She hates the air cans!  I don't think it registered to her that they were sitting down there in the corner just waiting to hiss at her.  ;)
What I did locate was my fancy McMouse that I had purchased when I first got my McLap about 2 1/2 years ago.
 I was having enough trouble figuring out how to use my fingers on the rectangle to scroll, let alone figure out how to use this sleek McMouse that didn't work like any other mouse I had ever used--so it got put away and forgotten.
But...now?  I shouldn't have so much trouble with it, right?  I am so used to scrolling and doing everything with my fingers that using the regular computer on the TV is frustrating to me--LOL!
****
  Aside: Dagan and Leah told me I am using Media Center to watch TV and not Media Player.  I never seem to get any of the labels and terms correct.  *sigh*
****
Anyways, I decided that I should try the white McMouse again.  But I couldn't get the laptop and mouse to recognize each other.  Dagan did when they stopped by Wednesday night.  I needed the blue tooth turned on, I guess.  
****
Okay...I'm a bit wander-mindy this morning with my stuffed up head.  So, I mostly have pictures for you.  
****
We did have one day this week with some blue skies for most of the day. 
Karma spent a lot of time snoozing. 
She was just as glad we were lazy bums this week.  Well, except for the explosive sneezing jags that startled the heck out of her every time--LOL!   
BTW--her beloved, favorite cat food--Felidae--is made in the US.  You can read about it here.  They make dog food, too.  Karma get the Platinum for older and overweight cats.  
****
Of course, she may change her tune.  She was loving the canned pumpkin with her moist food in the mornings--gobbling it down--until a couple weeks ago.  Now she won't touch the pumpkin--at all--walks away.  Dagan and Leah said their cats (well, it's mostly Sammy) do the same thing--get bored with it and go off it once in a while.  I'll try her again with it down the road since it's supposed to be good for digestion and all. 
****
Dagan and Leah were here briefly on Wednesday night.  They didn't give notice yet.  The last they were told was beginning of November for move-in.  Actually they were happy with that because every year they run a suite at ValleyCon (gaming convention in Fargo) the end of October--so they're swamped with that, too, at the moment.  Now they don't have to worry about moving until after that's over and done with.     
****
I said I'd like to wait and go tour the house again when they are getting the kitchen put in and the bathrooms, etc.  I was thinking maybe I'd make a video!  Whoohoo!  In the meantime, here are more pictures.  The sheet rock has been going up. 
****
front door 
entryway-other direction 
living room 
dining room 
kitchen 
(love that archway into bathroom and pantry!) 
 stairway to the upstairs
upstairs-one direction
upstairs-other way 
 not sure which bedroom Dagan is in
I see a bathtub! 
 no-they didn't fix the landing  :(  said they couldn't 
 then looks like they're finishing off the sheet rock 
covered all the windows 
maybe primer? 




So, things are moving along.  Looking more and more like a house every time I see new pictures!  Next time I am showing you the house maybe I'll have a video tour!
****
Meanwhile--27 degrees this morning and the sun looks like it is going to make an appearance!  My Amazon order is due to arrive today, so I will be figuring out the new land line phones this weekend.  Not sure when I will get back to the Tangle Binder.  Hope to be feeling better soon.  :)
****
Karma says hi!
****
"Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length."
Robert Frost