Valentine Retro Redo

Will you be....
















my Valentine?

Remember elementary school? Remember decorating paper sacks or boxes early in morning on Valentine's Day so that your classmates could drop your Valentine inside during the party that afternoon?

Well, this is the virtual box of Valentines that I am sending each of you!

Bee Sweet Valentine!

Real Simple

Real simple window display-cardboard cutouts of birds in flight suspended on monofilament teamed with cute spring outfits.

Anthropologie January 2009

a guilty conscience needs no accuser

I bought a bag of my favorite Swedish chocolate covered almond toffee candy, when I went to Ikea a couple of weeks ago.

Upon returning home from work one night last week, I noticed this scene on the table beside my big plaid chair.

Me thinks the hand doth accuse me.

There is no witness so dreadful, no accuser so terrible as the conscience that dwells in the heart of every man. -Polybius

Haiku

How about a little challenge today? Just for some completely off the cuff fun, write a haiku inspired by this photo.

Here is the way Poetry.com defines a Haiku.

Haiku is a Japanese verse form that relies on brevity and simplicity to convey its message. It is usually three lines of five, seven, and five syllables, and frequently includes natural images or themes. It is believed to have been first written in the seventeenth century and is based on a Zen Buddhist philosophy of simplicity and the idea of perfection that excludes the extraneous.

Post your entry in the comments section. I'll be back in a little while with mine. Don't be shy. Play along for something adventurous to do on this cold winter morning.

Pretty In Pink

When did I quit noticing that the world was a magical place?

Or seeing the little things?

Or taking the time to wonder at slimy stuff?

Grandchildren open your eyes again. Maybe that is why old people revert back to their childhood....their grandchildren reminded them how much fun it was.

These little ones are tucked into their own far away beds tonight.

I miss you.

My Epiphany!

e·piph·a·ny A comprehension or perception of reality by means of
a sudden intuitive realization:

I just had an epiphany! I may not have gotten around to baking cookies this holiday season, but I sure have whipped up a lot of royal icing. While I was in Texas, we made graham cracker houses. This was my first time to do so with these granddaughters.

The elves were happy to help with this task.

It takes a lot of concentration to build a masterpiece.

We managed to put almost every bit of candy bought on these pieces of cracker real estate.

It was fun for me to be able to carry on this family tradition with my Texas cowgirls.

Practical Magic?

I found this article today over at the National Geographic site fresh from their " believe it or not" files.

Invisibility Cloak "Feasible Now"

The latest milestone in the quest for a Harry Potter-like invisibility cloak has been reached: a way of bending the geometry of space so that light from all directions travels around an object, rather than hitting it. Unable to interact with light, the hidden object is therefore invisible, a new study found.....The science behind his study isn't new. "If you look at a fish [in an aquarium] it's not where it appears to be," Leonhardt said. That's because our brains insist on viewing light as having traveled in a straight line, when in fact the water has bent it. Glass does the same thing, which is why telescope lenses make objects appear closer.An invisibility cloak would simply replicate this process in a more sophisticated way.....

Just thought you might like a peek at what might be coming down the pike in the future. Think of the possibilities!

Just Some Nonsense!

There was an Old Man with a beard,

Who said, 'It is just as I feared! -

Two Owls and a Hen,

Four Larks and a Wren,

Have all built their nests in my beard!'


-Edward Lear, "Book of Nonsense"

Today was almost unbearably long.  So glad it is over!  How about your day? Got any
news to report?

Random Thoughts on a Sunday Afternoon

I'm off today to celebrate the birthday of my first grandchild. I remember being so excited when she was born. They lived 12 hours away from my home. My divorce had just been finalized, but my ex-husband paid for me to fly there when she was three weeks old. I was still so angry at him that I really wasn't able to fully appreciate his kindness in doing that for me at that time. But it was kind. It's a wonderful thing for a first time grandmother to hold her grandchild. So happy 9th birthday Aubrey. I love you.

Isn't this the fattest chicklet you've ever seen?

This sweet young man called and arranged a lunch date with me this week. In my humble opinion, I have the best children in the entire world. I hope you think yours are too.

Yummy, chicken roll-ups! If I could replicate their slaw with Greek dressing and
feta cheese at home I would be in heaven.

Since Artober ended I haven't been sketching as much as I would like. This book is due back at the library soon. I read and sketched some of the patterns in it this week.

I've been quite taken with drawing that rooster. My work calendar has a couple of pages devoted to more roosters and my reports have had numerous rooster bits decorating them this week.


I took part in a mock trial at a local university's law school Friday evening. I might blog more on the experience so I won't say more than I enjoyed myself. This photo is the only one I took while on campus, since I didn't want to be late. I don't know if you can tell, but the tower is filled with bells that chime out the hours. I loved that.

The view from my kitchen window gets prettier each day. The trees have arrayed themselves in their fall finery at last.

One of the things I love the most about being home during the day is seeing the play of light and shadow on my living room walls. It says "here's a brand new day of promise...see what you can make of it."

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
Psalm 72:18

How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!
Psalm 144:15

Blessed be the Lord from everlasting to everlasting. He alone is deserving of our praise.

Ode To My Flattening Iron

Your ceramic plates,
copper objects of beauty to me.
More expansive by far
is my love for thee.
Than the simple curling iron
which languishes in your shadow.
Never used, forgotten now.
Unruly waves vanquished,
when weather permits.
Humidity, the last enemy of
straight flat hair.

Disclaimer: Don't hate me because of my poetical talent!

....I just needed to express my love for the greatest invention of my times.

It's A Pirates Life For Me!

"Ahoy there, Matey! After a voyage filled with pillaging and plundering, The Jaded Jewel--a pirate ship captained by Redbeard, an old but dangerous pirate--is docked in a cove near Port Royal. As the pirates head into town to celebrate their homecoming and spend their gold and goods, a night of turmoil and trouble is sure to transpire."

The late brother of Cap'n Redbeard, Toothless Willie.
Don't be frightened!

And so the party begins.

Better familiarize yourself with the Pirate's Code of ethics (isn't that an oxymoron). You will certainly need to know your rights before this night is done!

Do you recognize this scallywag standing next to Jolly Roger?

It's Cap'n Redbeard himself! He's a fierce, but fair pirate, who runs a tight ship
and won't have anyone overthrowing it!

It's time to meet some of the scurvy crew of characters that attended the party.

Governor of Port Royal-Governor Napier and his wife Juliana. The governor's job is
to keep this town safe at all costs, but his fair lady Juliana is tired of living in terror.
She is ready to take matters into her own hands if need be.

The governor's family portrait. Shiver me timbers, don't they make a fine bunch!

Here is Cutthroat McPhearson, the scourge of the Caribbean. There is a rumor out that
Cutthroat is scheming to incite a mutiny before the night is over.

Cap'n Redbeard knows evil plans are afoot and threatens
Cutthroat's life if he's part of the villainy.

One Eyed Wanda(otherwise known as my daughter) and
her henchman, Buccaneer Bradshaw (my son-in-law).

Thumbless jacky and Rovin Reynolds, fearless treasure hunter.

Mad Rose-Serving Wench and Commodore Clearing.

Sharktooth Brandy-Saucy Sea Mistress and Shoutin' Roger Dagger-Innkeeper.

The governor's daughter, Antonia Napier, threatened by two suspicious characters.

Everyone sits down to a night of feasting and revelry. But beware the innocent talk and sly smiles of your dinner partners, danger is afoot!

As The night quickly steers out of control one guest meets a tragic demise and ends up in Davy Jones' Locker leaving the rest of the party goers to bring the guilty to the gallows. But first who is the murderer. Everyone is suspect!

The lights go out and when they come back on my first mate, Merciless Morgan
is found with a knife in his back!

Is the culprit the profiteering pirate who is organizing a mutiny? Or, the saucy sea mistress who wanted more than a casual commitment? The perpetrator could be the swashbuckling swordsman desperate to win the love of the governor's daughter, or possibly the treasure seeking seaperson who's incapable of sharing. One thing is for sure, this party is filled with backstabbers and buccaneers looking to get ahead. There is little reward for honesty and a high price to pay for deceit.

Yo-ho-ho, get to work and discover who's the murderer. Someone will walk the plank before this night is out!

Take another look at these miscreants. Any one of these scoundrels and knaves is capable of this evil deed.

Is it this one?

Or maybe this salty dog?

I think this one is trying too hard to maintain his innocence. What do you think, could he be the guilty one?

Maybe the Governor did it!

Or maybe his fair lady!

Perhaps these two are in cahoots!

Don't be fooled by the look of these rascals. They are armed and dangerous.

Discuss it among yourselves and we'll take a vote. Information can be brought for a price. Get your doubloons out mates.

Mystery solved! It was Sealegs Sam, who I don't even have a picture of....we were in such a hurry to keelhaul him and then make him walk the plank. I'm afraid there isn't a bead or button left of him....since he was thrown into the shark infested waters of the harbor.

Beware if you come to Port Royal with mayhem in mind...
justice is swift and savage in these parts!

The whole motley crew!

The End....until next year!