When the Lights Go Out....

We had quite the storm pass through last night, the power actually went out and there all six of us sat...in the dark in various parts of the house- except for the glow of my four near adult children's hand held games they used as flashlights to find the family room where I was...somehow it wasn't real cozy feeling that way!

I tried to remember where I stashed my candles but since I couldn't remember right away, I broke down and lit the decorative candles that have been sitting on our mantle. So much for keeping them in perfect decorative shape for years to come. I had to light them so I could make sure we didn't stumble and fall on each other. Husband sat next to me on the couch as we all sat watching the candles flicker, and I told him how romantic it was sitting there in the glow of the candles...but somehow he didn't buy it since our four children were crowded on the couch too, playing their electronic gadgets. (Sigh, oh well..)

After an hour and the power was still off, husband gave up and went to bed, even though it was only 8:30 (according to our trusty cell phones). So there I sat with everyone silently playing games and I couldn't do anything else to do for lack of sufficient light.

I finally decided to pull up a chair at the dining room table and began to read part of Dickens's ' A Tale of Two Cities' by the glow of a small candle- no easy task mind you. I had to keep turning the book towards the candle light just at the right angle to be able to see what I was reading. And if it did anything, it made me appreciate all the more the modern conveniences we take for granted. I kind of liked reading by candle light, but I sure do like a good lamp much better!

Thank goodness for the privilege of living in the 21st century!



Charles Dickens himself!

Buck the Patient Hound Dog

We got our dog Buck way back about 10 years ago when he was a little pup sitting in the corner of a pen at the Humane Society. Little did I know how big he would get, but now I don't care. ..I am actually glad he was a good sized dog, he has done more than his share of scaring off strangers who walked behind our house on occasion!

He is an outdoor dog, and with good reason- his fur is that of an Alaskan Husky in the winter and sheds tremendously in the summer. (And may I add, he is a spoiled mutt at that. He has a super deluxe well built solid wood dog house with tiled roof, built-in heater, patio chair cushions, the best dog house I have ever seen - all designed by my engineer husband, (who tries to pretend he doesn't like the dog, but I think he does!)

At any rate, the thing I enjoy most is his very patient disposition. As you can see by posted pictures, he allows us to dress him in the most ridiculous hats and other costumes, and even holds for pictures. (One year we even made a full calendar of him in different themes for each month...not easy, but a lot of fun (for us anyway!)



If only we could all be so laid back!

What's the Weather Report?

Here in Illinois, we are getting a supposed really 'bad weather coming our way' report. What is the first thing people do when they hear that?

Well, they make a run to the grocery store of course! And not to be out done, I got up with my husband at the crack of dawn, (here that would be around 5:30 a.m.) and made a beeline for town. With it being 25 minutes away, I don't often make random, impulsive trips- so I make sure I get what I need to survive... I now have enough chocolate to get me through a big blizzard...

I noticed that there were actually a substantial amount of cars there, and 99 percent of the customers in the store were elderly...so I joined in and told my son, ( who was with me), that one more old lady at the grocers won't hurt! And wouldn't you know it, he agreed!

Now I am back home, watching intently for the ice storm and then the piles of snow we are supposedly getting- and knowing Illinois weather , that prediction could change to a sprinkling of flakes or springlike temperatures by nightfall. But just in case we DO get the bad weather that is gloomily being forecasted, I am very well stocked in food and art supplies- enough to make a whole massive army of characters should the need arise.

Actually, I don't think I hardly enjoy anything more than to sit by my picture window in the work room and watch wild weather happening outside. (Either that or watching the shenanigans of the neighbors perhaps...) It feel cozy to be working on some fun art project all nice and warm with a glass of tea while large white flakes of snow fall heavily outside...or a good thunderstorm.

And now, I am ready, so bring it on!




My latest project, the cast of characters from Gone With the Wind

Vanity Fair on the Upcoming Royal Wedding

Well, it is one of the hot topics of the media, the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate...I imagine it will be THE wedding of the year by far!

This article on Vanity Fair.com shows some of just a few of the items that can be bought commemorating the big event, including (much to my surprise) my own pair of the famous couple in miniature clothespin form.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/01/royal-haul-middleton-merch-edition.html

Will I be watching the events of that day? Maybe, if I can remember to turn on the television when I get up. I am not much of a television watcher at all, so it would be a big event in itself if I remember to even turn it on!

January- The Start of New Opportunities!

The beginning of the year almost always makes one think of a new year of possibilities. I found myself in December wondering what kind of doors would open, and what doors may close.




At any rate, I take the month of January and do several things to get a fresh start- one of them is to beef up my supplies with things I know I will need- and toss the things haven't used since I had it in my stash for over a year and it's covered in dust bunnies.The other thing I like to do is make a long list of new ideas to work on and set a schedule for myself to complete them. (It can't hurt to plan, can it? Even if we don't always stick to the program!)






Already my year has started off with unexpected and fun opportunities- one of them is I have the honor of being featured in the At Home in Illinois magazine as a local artist. (There' something strange about opening up a magazine and seeing your face staring back!) I also will be a featured artist in the online art magazine at www.lovenuart.com starting January 7th. So take a peek at them if you can get a chance!



Mu husband commented that he didn't really understand the big deal of people getting excited about New Year's Day, to him it is just another day and no different. I suppose in one sense he is right on that...but I still like to picture things as a gate has been shut on 2010 and now I am going into a new year of 2011. I like to think there is a possibility of new chances, happenings, and opportunities that will be different and exciting than even 2010. Attitude is everything I think, and I for one hope to have a good one for this upcoming year!

A King Henry VIII Christmas

It is a cold and snowy Christmas morn at the castle. Once again, King Henry and his 6 wives gather
about the toasty fire and exchange heart warming gifts that bring tears to their eyes.

(Nothing like a gift that
touches one's heartstrings...)

To each of his wives Henry presents a copy of a book entitled, "How to Not Lose Your Head", and a framed picture of
himself with the caption, "Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I am angry".

(Fair warning Henry, thank you...)

To Henry his wives present two special books entitled "How to Make Your Marriage Last", and "1001 Ways to Curb Your
Temper".....not that you need the help Henry, mind you...


Well, that's it- a small glimpse into the lives of the Tudors on Christmas morn...kind of gets you right in the heart, doesn't it?

Friendship, Friendship....

Have you ever watched that episode on I Love Lucy where Ethel and Lucy put on a show together to sing the song, "Friendship" and end up buying the same dress? That episode always makes me laugh because I think it is SO true- no matter how much you may like others, if they show up at an event in the same outfit as you, there is a slight "well how do you like that!" attitude that one feels that you now no longer look original!

And what's more, this type of situation DID happen to me in my college days. I spent hours looking for a formal dress that I was sure no one else would wear, walked in on the arm of my escort, and voila! There in front of me was a girl with the exact same dress on. I was embarrassed, and so was she, and everyone seemed to notice we had the same dress on! I couldn't decide if I thought it was funny or irritating, but to be honest I think I felt both!

(Luckily we didn't start ripping things off each other's dress as Lucy and Ethel did in this particular episode!)
Now that I think about it, I don't think any of my friends would want to dress like me anyway! So I have nothing to worry about!

Just for fun, I found this version on Youtube, although I have no idea who "Bumpy" and friend are... enjoy!