I posted a few days ago about the going-out-of-business sale at the local bead store.  I believe I said I was going back one more time with a list.

I lied.

I went there FIVE times in all.  When I wasn't at the bead store, I was wishing I was at the bead store. 

Today was their last day of business.  I am kind of relieved in a way.  I need to stop buying beads.

Photo by Jody

My friend Jody was there almost as many times as me.  Here's her loot:

Photo by Jody

The only thing better than a super-duper clearance sale at a bead store is being at a super-duper clearance sale with your creative friends!  And if they would serve cocktails, as Jody suggested.

I've been having a ball with my new beads.  Made some artsy free form bracelets while I watched the Royal Wedding live on TV. 

To Patti, who told me about the sale...much bead love to you, my friend.

These little pretties were brave enough to bloom in my garden this week!   

Today I'm celebrating the first garden bouquet of the season.

Bring on the blooms, baby.

I'm SO ready.

SHE NEEDS BEADS

I should lock myself up in the studio and get some things made.

I'm getting twitchy.  Itching to create.

Have some projects and deadlines coming up, need inventory for this summer's craft sales.

This week a local bead store is having a retirement/going-out-of-business sale.

It's a BIG sale.

I've already been there two days in a row.  Tomorrow I'm going again. 

This time I'm sticking to my list.

I didn't have a brother the first half of my life.  But then I got a big brother when my sister married Mike.  It's strange to think that we've both been alive longer with him in our lives, than without. There is no doubt that I would be in an entirely different place in my life, without his influence.   We've been able to see the world - literally - because of him.  I rarely make a major decision without asking his advice, or at least considering what he would think.  We haven't always agreed on everything - believe me.  But isn't that the way it is with brothers?

So, what birthday gift do you get a guy like that, who means a whole lot to your family?

HOMEMADE SOUP!

He and my sister are health-and-fitness-conscious, so I thought it would be a fun gift for his birthday to give him a sampling of some healthy low-fat homemade soups.

 Sweet Potato Soup

Vegetable Soup

Cheddar Cheese Soup

 And some baked tortillas for dipping

All wrapped up and ready to go

The low-fat brownies just came out of the oven.  They are made with apple sauce instead of butter.  They came out of the oven with a row missing!  Just kidding.  I had to do a taste test, to make sure they are gift-worthy.  I think they are.  Maybe just one more taste, then I'll know for sure.

I'll be delivering my gift tomorrow.

I put my foot down today.

I walked out of a step aerobics class half-way through it.

My cue to leave wasn't when I tripped over the step while attempting the Straddle Down.

Or when I looked up from my feet to realize I was the only one in the room facing east.

My cue came when the instructor said "Ok, let's put it all together now!"

I sheepishly picked up my step, returned it to the closet, quietly exited the room.

I so did not want to be THAT woman, giving up before the class was over.

But I could not take another eight-count of it.

I had forgotten that my sister warned me about step aerobics.

Oh how I wish I would have remembered that this morning.

Apparently the aversion to step aerobics runs fairly deep, genetically.

This is the start of my third week of "EXERCISING". 

I'm now a card-carrying member of the YMCA.

I've fought it as long as I can,

despite the advice from a doctor, counselor, and my sister,

that exercise would change my life.

I'm keeping an open mind, trying a variety of classes and fitness machines.

I'm in the learning process. 

 This morning I learned that I do have standards.

This is NOT what I envision my garden path looking like this time of year. 

The snowpiles had finally melted along our driveway. 

Once in awhile I could catch a sniff of fresh rain and wet dirt.

A few spots of green were poking through the mulch in my flower garden.

And this morning I awoke to see it all covered with fresh snow.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

My miniature violets are happy in their spot on my kitchen windowsill.

About five years ago, I bought a miniature violet at a backyard plant sale.  I had never seen such teeny little leaves on a violet plant.  I admired its dark green velvety leaves with purple undersides, and I told it so.  All the time.  It rewarded me with an enormous amount of mini buds that bloomed into mounds of lavender and purple flowers.

I think it liked being talked to.  Ok, I admit it also sat in an ideal east facing window.  And was watered from the bottom in a saucer lined with pebbles, fertilized with African violet food, and pruned with manicure scissors.  But it also received a lot of good karma.

Eventually the little violet outgrew its pot, and I had to divide it.  I fretted that it wouldn't survive the transplant shock.  It surely won't ever bloom again.  Where was I going to find another miniature violet around here to replace this one? 

Well...                             

Not to worry.  The little violet survived.  And thrived.  And multiplied.  Like bunnies.

I gave a mini violet offspring to my friend, where it sits in an east facing window, in a saucer lined with pebbles.  But the little plant hasn't grown or bloomed.

She just laughed when I asked if she talks to it.

Want to hear a joke?

Ok, this guy here will tell you one...

"How do trees get on the internet?"

"They log in!"

 

HaHaHaHoHoHoHeeHeeHee

I took these pictures on my walk today.

The lighting was just right to see these 'faces' among the trees.

They just made me smile.  I hope they did the same for you.  :o)

Joke from:

http://www.ducksters.com/jokesforkids/tree.php

I saw green! * I saw green! * I saw green!

I saw it today!

The first peek of green in my garden!

Glory Hallelujah!

I'm in charge of the family vacation goodie bags.  This task I take quite seriously.

Everybody gets a bag filled with their favorite treats and trinkets.

I keep my eye open all year long for items to put in the goodie bags.

This year I went a little nuts* on the amount of candy I put in my three nephews' bags.

*(Note to their parents:  Next year I'll be better, sorry)

The six-year old said, "thank you so much for over-doing it on the candy!"

Today I got this letter in the mail from his five year-old brother:

The boys love when we do art projects, particularly when I let them use my

permanent paint pens and acrylics.

One morning on our trip, we sat outside and they each created an itty-bitty painting: 

Permanent Paint Pens & Acrylic Paint on 2.5" X 3.5" Canvas

My little heart melts.

I've come down with a pretty bad case of post-vacation blues. 

Had trouble adjusting to a quiet house today, without my family peeps.

This morning there were no iguanas or tiny lizard-looking thingies sunning in my yard. 

Missed the yellow-eyed bird picking up my breakfast crumbs.

Outside my door there are no blooming flowers in my most favorite color.

I live too far from the sea.

I did take a picture of the snirt during my walk today. 

Snirt:  The gray-brown piles of snow and dirt found along roads

and in parking lots in cold and snowy places.

The colors....I miss the colors.

Maybe if I put on these sunglasses,

I'll be back there again...