A Succulent Life

Some love from Dubai!!!

2012-01-28T09:25:00.001-08:00

My blogging pals, Deepa and LiL A sent me such an amazing package all the way from Dubai. Thank-you both so much!

The package itself has stamps from there that I can add to my stamp collection!!! I am super excited about that!

I hope I can tell you everything she sent. The finger puppets were a big hit with the kids. The story of these characters was on the back of the package...so cool.

They sent cards, a beautiful bookmark that is so neat...I am already using it in my new book.

A Christmas card and fishy magnet that Deepa made herself...love that Deepa!!! Thanks for sending the card I had picked as my favorite on your blog...that was a sweet surprise.

The little blue pouch had a sweet bracelet and cute little star earrings that LiL A sent to Emily!!!

You cannot believe how long I have wanted to try quilling...and now I have no excuses...since they also sent me a book on how to!!! I must try before I have to get back to work!

I cannot tell you a bigger thank-you from all of us to you, Deepa and LiL A!!! We just love everything!!!!!

X o x o...Julie, Emily and Donovan

Oh...and the peacock card with hearts was drawn by Lil A and sent to Emily...is that not the sweetest card ever??? We love it Lil A!!!!!

Side note: Please don't look at our old diningroom table turned crafting table...complete with holes, scratches, paint, markers, glue and everything in between on it. We love that we are not careful with it...having fun just beating it up even more.

A little birdie love!

2012-01-25T07:58:00.001-08:00

This little sugar lives at my old job location. I am here now turning in my supplies, (my last day was yesterday) and seeing this bird makes it all bittersweet!

I pray you are all happy and well. I am! Heading out for some freedom sunshine and lunch with daughter.

X o x o Julie

Here is a question for all the women out there...

2012-01-23T21:01:00.000-08:00

Have any of you ever (over your lifetime) wish that you had or had had a place where you could go late at night, maybe after the kids were asleep, or husband was asleep...or maybe just wanted a place if you were single...to go and meet with friends (or stranger, soon to be friends) to craft late into the night???

I have always had this idea that I wish there was some amazing place to just take my craft and go...after the world had quieted down in the evening, just to work on ...laughing and having fun.

If you had something like this right down the way a bit, would you be tempted to check it out, alone or with a friend???

My daughter in law had an idea for a shop I could own, and that brought out the memory of what I longed for over the years! I would like to see a crafting space, available from around the time people get off work, until about 3am. I believe a juice/coffee bar would be involved...and snacks!

What would you think of this? I would love to hear your ideas! Any crafty guys would be welcome as well.

Garden fun and an awesome handmade beer chandelier!

2012-01-20T16:21:00.001-08:00

Today I took out all my corn plants, and planted a lovely mix of looseleaf lettuce seeds by Burpee. I'm gonna have a ton of lettuce.

I planted a huge 3 ft. tub, 3 five gallon buckets and 2 tires worth! Should be salad heaven here shortly!
Here is what my package says:
---------------------------
Lettuce, Looseleaf Blend
Five favorites in one pack.
Burpee Exclusive
Five classic lettuce types and textures in a range of colors: Black Seeded Simpson, Lolla Rossa, Green Ice, Buttercrunch and Mighty Red Oak. These lettuces are all as beautiful as they are delicious and make for delightful salads, rich in color, flavor and texture.
---------------------------------------
How do you like the white Gretel eggplants...they really do grow in clusters!

The experimental potatoes in a tall outdoor garbage can, using sawdust as a growing medium is approaching the top of the can! They are getting bushier, and I can't wait to see them all bushed out the top in their glory. I will wait until they flower and completely die....then harvest whatever might be in there. Can't wait!

My kale is finally starting to grow...it just sat there for a month...I was starting to wonder if it was ever gonna start movin!!!

We are having dinner here tonight and discovered these chandeliers made by the owner of the BBQ place, called Park Ave. BBQ. He has made two of these babies that he has hanging up in his restaurant...the bulbs inside change colors too! They are so awesome! I just had to show you this!!!

Well...hope everyone has a great weekend...think of me out there working away!

X o x o...Julie

Something made of felt that I can never part with

2012-01-19T20:32:00.001-08:00

With my newly re-kindled love for felt projects...I suddenly tonight wanted to show you a project I worked on with my daughter years ago in her 9th grade biology class. I was so pleased with how our giant cell pillow turned out...it is proudly displayed in our livingroom...never to be moved...at least until I die! Hehehe. We actually did this the night before it was due...and we used what we had around the house. The nucleus used to be one of those squishy rubbery rings that flashed lights when you squeezed it. We cut off the ring part and glued it down. That was one awesome nucleus...(I just sat a rock in it's place as it probably disentegrated over time....

The key as to what every part was is still attached!

Just thought some of you would enjoy seeing it, and of course now it is preserved on my blog!

With the last day of my work coming up...I first intend to thoroughly clean my house...fix up my garden and succulents, search for a job...and sew some cute felt projects! In that order. :)

Xoxo- Julie

A cute heart for your sweetheart!

2012-01-15T15:55:00.001-08:00

I found the cutest idea on a blog I read daily (she makes crafty items out of things around the house, and I'm telling you I think she is a genius)!!! Here is her post about making a heart from a tunafish can, and under that a picture of the one the kids and I made for their Mom. Cute is all I can say! Thanks Camilla!

The “Uncanny Heart” Bowl | Family Chic by Camilla Fabbri

This little heart...

2012-01-15T10:43:00.001-08:00

Looks some better...has more of the shape than the previous ones and it is done a little tighter for a neater appearance. I always have a love/hate relationship with crochetting...I want to keep forcing myself to learn...I mean really learn (so I could be like Vanna White)...but then it pisses me off so badly, I stop again. The good news is that I do keep giving it a go at least once or twice a year.

A new cell phone sleeve for....

2012-01-14T20:14:00.001-08:00

ME!!!

It did not start out this way...to be a well recognized character...but one thing led to another...and viola...

Of course you may not recognize who this is because I think she ended up with a sort of pig nose due to stitching! Oh well...I love her anyway...

She was a co- idea with my grandson, Donovan! The best part is that even though I have a rubbery feeling Otter Box cover on my phone, it still slips in and out with ease due to the smooth nature of the felt. Very cool.

What do you think...should I add a little detail (like lace, ric-rac, etc.) around the top or leave it plain?????

Thanks...Julie

Random stuff...

2012-01-13T15:11:00.001-08:00

Check out this huge lemon...someone gave it to me from their backyard tree...it has a few seeds, but it is solid juice. I made a lemon pie and only used the little section and had enough! Now what can I make with the rest of it???

Check out this awesome eel we saw in a tank at a restaurant last night! I was mesmerized by it. Just so you know, Beluga whales do that to me too!!!

Anyone know what kind of eel this is???

Oh, now what???

2012-01-12T19:04:00.001-08:00

Well, as some of you may have heard, yes, I quit my job yesterday...well, gave my 2 weeks notice anyway! Now I can't sleep wondering what I will do from here. I don't have a new job lined up, but we can live on one salary for a while. I have applied for one, now if they would just call me and love me...I think it would be a perfect job for me...it is a teaching job. I won't say much yet, so as not to jinx anything...but keep your fingers crossed!

I felt the weight of half the world lift off my shoulders from the moment I knew I would give my notice! Today I actually went out to visit my plants and I enjoyed spending time with them (I had no time before). I find everything seems like brand new again for me...like seeing the night sky, noticing small things again.

Life can be absolutely ruined when you get too busy and over stressed to enjoy it anymore.

This, after 5 tries with different patterns!

2012-01-08T06:30:00.001-08:00

I have been working on this since before daybreak...it is so hard for me, but I am determined that before this day ends, I will crochet a perfect small heart.

Here is the one I used for this particular one!

6pm setting south Florida sun/sky!

2012-01-07T16:05:00.001-08:00

I bought myself some pens!

2012-01-03T18:43:00.001-08:00

I couldn't resist! I was at Michael's with my friend, Karen tonight. I saw a cute flower stamp on sale. Then I saw these LePlume II pens. They are double ended with an ultra fine tip at one end and brush tip on other end. Not on the same level as the Copic, but a lot of fun, none the less!

I have not ever been a stamper, but figured I could get a few that could be versatile and use in different projects.

I had gotten my new issue of Organic Gardener today and decided to gussy up one of the subscription cards.

Looking forward to more cheap, trampy art in the future!

Oh...I had to call off work for tomorrow...I have laryngitis! Gonna go play with my Mom's new Nook Tablet instead...and rest my voice at the same time!

X o x o- Julie

Garden shots on 1st day 2012!

2012-01-01T21:19:00.000-08:00

I missed posting these this morning after I walked around and took a few shots outside of some of my treasures. The day passed by, and it has slipped over into Jan. 2 before I could make this post. Oh well...had a wonderful day. Perfect weather here in south Florida...cool, breezy, and clear skies. I just had to show you all a few things...
My blooming Kalanchoe blossfeldiana:

A vine that is growing on the porch...I've been training it in and around and through the chairs! Ha! The silly part of me (a big part) loves this so much!!!

My hibiscus are finally blooming!!!

Some freeloading white periwinkles coming up in between my tires...but do I mind? Naw...

A few succulents shots:

I believe these are blooms on a "Mother In Laws Tongue". Anyone know for sure? I couldn't get close enough to see what they were coming off of, but husband said he saw some earlier in another location in the yard. These are along my back fence.

A few last blooms on a chysanthemum:

The ti plants are blooming too!

These fall out nearly year round from our back yard Sapodilla tree:

Some new eggplants coming along...Gretel variety:

A day late and a dollar short...these beautiful bells came just after Christmas...maybe to ring in the new year??? This is my Kalanchoe tubiflora.

Zinnias and Impatients in two tires:

And, last but not least...my potato experiment...which is going very well so far! This shot is looking down into an outdoor plastic garbage can with potato plants inside. I have 6 inches of Miracle Gro soil in bottom of can (there are drainage holes covered with screen in bottom of can). Then as the plants grow taller, I am putting all natural pine wood shavings (instead of soil) in there to give the plants a medium to grow tons of potatos in. I fertilized with Miracle Gro Liquid water soluable stuff, and they grew about 6 inches in 3 days!!! So far, so good. Am really going to be hoping for an awesome haul from this can in a few months! I will have pics and lots of friends and family for the unveiling!!!

Happy upcoming week to you all! xoxo- Julie

Happy New Year to all my blogger pals!!!

2011-12-31T15:37:00.001-08:00

A cake for fun!

2011-12-27T08:14:00.001-08:00

My mom had given us some bananas from her tree, and today I made a cake from the over ripe ones. I had a half a bag of butterscotch chips, so I threw them on top after it came out of the oven, waited a few minutes, and spread them, and added sprinkles...and we have a cake to celebrate Tuesday! (AND a day off from work)!!!

Back to making birdseed cakes again!

2011-12-27T04:44:00.000-08:00

My Catbird and Painted Buntings are back!!! As soon as I saw that Catbird yesterday I sprung up from my chair and luckily had all my birdseed cake makings were available in my pantry.

Here is the recipe I used:

Warm 1/2 cup water in microwave till boiling, add a package of plain Knox gelatin, stir and add 3/4 cup flour, , 3 Tbsp. corn syrup. Add 4 cups birdseed. You can also add peanuts, fruits, berries, or raisins.

I did not add any extras.

Here are my molded ones ready to stick in my large wire holder. I need to pick up a bag of straight sunflower seeds to add more into the next batch, cause guess who loves them best??? The Cardinals!!!

Next Day After Christmas Morning Quiche

2011-12-26T05:09:00.001-08:00

I just made my first ever in my life handmade CRUST! Can you even believe I have been so afraid to try it. It was such an easy thing...a 3 minute thing at best. I'm a little scared now...I could probably do without ever eating any crusts for the rest of my fat life!!! LOL. Oh well...just had to share just how lovely (mind you I did not do a fancy edge...this is just a rustic crust) it turned out. This is a turkey and cheese quiche with herbs de province for seasoning, and a pinch of nutmeg, and on top a sprinkle of paprika for color. Hope it tastes as good as it looks!

This is the beginning of two days off from work. I made fresh orange juice in the Vitamix too. Wowzers!

Have a great week everyone.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T18:22:00.001-08:00

Goofing around in a Sketch and Draw App...and a Christmas tree showed up...that was fun!
Holiday love to all!
Julie

Passing of a dear friend

2011-12-23T23:07:00.000-08:00

Our dear friend, Taco passed away peacefully yesterday. He had grown a tumor and had to be put to sleep. He was a most adventurous cat, and the whole neighborhood just loved him. He had nine lives, supposedly, but he outlived them all, as he was so crazy and daring, I know he must have escaped death many times! He was my cousins cat, who lives next door to my Mom. He would hang out mainly with my Mom and she would find him in her house, or garage, popping up in her hedge, laying in the middle of a busy road sleeping, etc. My grandkids just adored him, and many times they just wanted to walk over to find Taco so they could feed him or play. Taco played with the dogs, he was just a part of all the action, wherever it was happening. We will miss him so much. Here are a few photos I gathered together of him. Rest in peace, dear Taco!!!

Christmas shining!

2011-12-21T19:55:00.001-08:00

We went to a local street that has been taken over by decorating elves! We had to drive through this wonderful wonderland twice, just for 3year old Emily. Well...maybe for all of us! :)

Oh gosh, I'm tired...

2011-12-21T04:29:00.001-08:00

I've had a grueling week at work...and am not ready for Christmas, which seems to be overtaking me!
I took a few pics in garden last Sat...you can see the three heirloom tomatoes are doing great...the corn is actually growing large ears...and can you see the 2 Mr. Stripey tomatos on one bush? I am posting from my camera so don't know what order pics will be in. Still learning!
I will show you a pic of our tree, to lend a festive flair. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas and Chanukah.
Love, Julie

2 crafts today

2011-12-18T19:35:00.001-08:00

This morning, I helped my grandson build this train engine from Lowe's. They have kids building seminars every weekend and he wasn't there, so they gave me a kit to take home to him. He loves to build wooden things with hammer and nails! He has built 2 planes, a bulldozer, a race car, and a birdhouse.

The guy at Lowe's told me they had built different train cars the past 2 weeks, and they all stick together with magnets. This engine could be made using the regular decorating stickers or the Christmas ones, so he used the Christmas ones, of course. I want to see if I can purchase the other ones for him to make too.

We did have one kinda bad problem occur while building it today...we accidently nailed the train to the table! Hahaha...we could not get it off. Finally my husband woke up and he pried it off using a heavy thick screwdriver. What was funny was that we had several sections to today's newspaper under the train, so they were nailed down too!!! Fortunately, hubby got to read his newspaper, and Donovan got to finish building the train!!! The holes in the tabletop add to the beauty of our craft table!!!

Then later this evening, I found a sweet tutorial for how to make this paper star!!! I found it over at I Like Paper Cutting and Craft! Go visit her to see how to make this amazing star! It is so easy...Donovan and I had one done in 10 minutes!!! She used double sided origami paper, but I just cut about 5" squares from construction paper. I think I might try a smaller one using two kinds of Christmas wrapping paper stuck together, for the double sided effect. If it turns out really gorgeous, you will see it here, for sure!

xoxo- Julie

Which street would you live on?

2011-12-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

I have come upon three street names that I just chuckled over recently...2 of them just yesterday! I wanted to stop and take pictures, but of course, I was working at top speed and determined it would not be a good thing to stop! I thought I would take a little poll:

Which one would you prefer to live on?

1. Pot of Gold Street
2. Shangri La Lane
3. Yellow Brick Road

Leave a comment. I think I might have to pick Yellow Brick. It's just too cute...and you know...there really is no place like home!!!
xoxo- Julie

Some homemade stockings!

2011-12-11T07:12:00.001-08:00

The kids and I made some Martha Stewart inspired paper Christmas stockings. Since we live in south Florida and we have no chimney..."the stockings are hanging on the back windows with care...in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be here"!
Xoxo Julie

Yearly Christmas cookie party

2011-12-09T08:59:00.001-08:00

Here is the tray of cookies I took...I fell asleep on the couch yesterday evening, and never woke to make my toffee cookies. I bought these from a little French place...so pretty!!!

My Baby cat, and a gorgeous fence!

2011-12-06T19:08:00.001-08:00

Baby is laying on my chest (just jumped up) and being very lovey-dovey! This is rare...so I took a few pics.
This beautiful fence is at one of my stops during the day. I have no idea what this pink gorgeousness is, but wow...it is stunning!!!

New plants and some organized effort.

2011-12-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

Today I cleaned out two tires of some old marigolds and zinnias that had finally tired out. I also cleaned out all my okra plants (from 3 of my 5 gallon buckets), as they are fizzling out too (they only do well in hot weather).

In one tire I planted a taller beautiful pink zinnia, and in front some smaller different shades of orange zinnias. I LOVE zinnias...they are about the sweetest thing in the universe!

I also found a 9 pack of started kale, so I gave three plants to my friend, Karen, 3 plants to my Mom, and I am hardening off my 3 before planting them into a couple of tires. It is called Winterbol Kale.

I planted three heirloom tomatoes: Cherokee Purple, Black Krim and Black Prince, which were available at my Home Depot. Isn't this just grand?

Has anyone ever grown a red kale, called Red bor? It looks green and with purple hues. Interesting!

I am having a GREAT BIG urge to go buy about three more tomato plants, which would give me a total of 8. I want some cherry or olive sized tomatoes...all hanging in clusters! How fun would that be??? I can taste them now.

Oh, BTW...I have taken three cuttings from my Mr. Stripey tomato plants and have them in water in my kitchen window to see if they will root. A fellow gardener swears this will work. Can't wait to see! If it does, I will have 11 tomato plants in all! Woo-hoo!!!

Some Santa Activity Fun

2011-12-03T21:28:00.001-08:00

We visited a local shopping area today where the kids took a train to see Santa, and they had a little barnyard animal petting zoo...even a few little cute reindeer!

Another pretty house all lit up!

2011-12-02T19:04:00.001-08:00

We've got corn!!!!!

2011-12-02T14:25:00.001-08:00

I actually got home before dark and walked back to the bucket garden...and I found 2 developing corn cobs!!!!! I nearly wet my pants. Can you see the silks???? Tomorrow will be fertilizing day!

Happy Florida Christmas season!

2011-12-01T17:43:00.001-08:00

While driving around with the kids tonight, looking for some lights (well..entertaining them a while), we came upon this really colorful home...we all agreed, our favorite of the night.
Are you seeing a lot of beautiful lights in your area yet???

The first Mr. Stripey's and corn tassels!!!

2011-11-30T18:41:00.001-08:00

Went out to check the corn, and we are at a new stage....the plants have made tassels. Is that the right name for them?? No ears yet, but should be soon. Corn has been a lot of fun to watch. The first two Mr.S tomatoes are shown here...finally tomato production is underway!!!

Doozey Wednesday!

2011-11-29T22:03:00.001-08:00

I think 2 people have seen this photo via E-mail...but wanted to show you my sweet girl laying out next to me on the couch. What a life! Don't ya love that bent little back leg??? So sugary! I would like to tell my brother hello, as he tells me he reads my blog daily! Wow...he is a great guy I tell ya...he tells me it is the only way he can keep up with me. That's true. :)

Thanksgiving weekend

2011-11-27T21:38:00.001-08:00

Here's a few things I am grateful for!!!

My husband came home from a week in Louisiana, and the grands had a ball at the airport waiting for him to arrive. They have a small play area next to a toy store, and a large area there where you can watch the planes land, take off and taxi. We went down an hour early, and had lunch there too...at one of my favorite restaurants...California Pizza Kitchen!

Earlier Saturday morning I got pictures of what they were doing at the time...Emily had her new s i m b a
from recent Disney trip, and Donovan was building a helicopter with his Erector set.

These kids are the best thing that ever happened to me. Yea...I am very thankful. :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend..xoxo Julie

A new school for my friend Karen's Christmas village.

2011-11-21T18:59:00.001-08:00

Daughter and I spent some time this evening (after sleeping all day with a cold and asthma). It turned out so cute. It is made from 3 different boxes...one a Toy Story bandaid box, one was a Toy Story gummy bear box, and one was a frozen popsicle box. I have to say that when I started out I intended to make a church...but once it was shaped...we decided it looked more like a school.

I put the prices of boxes together using masking tape...then covered the whole think with masking tape...painted blue with acrylic paint. Daughter decorated the trees for Christmas, and we decorated the windows and shutters with Christmas touches as well. Candy cane doors. A bell above the door, and the sign"The Wacky school for Toys".

It is slightly off kilter...but it adds to it's handmade charm. Karen is leaving parts of her boxes showing, so we left the Toy Story guys showing.

This was fun. We may need to do another. I hope Karen will love it. Oh...and no snow allowed since we live in south Florida!!!

Happy Thanksgiving week, from tropical south Florida!

2011-11-20T17:13:00.001-08:00

When I saw this beautiful palm full of rusty orange seeds just dangling from it's core...I knew that had to be my Happy Thanksgiving photo for you all. Isn't it just gorgeous?...and they were hanging all around the whole tree. It stopped me in my tracks to photograph it.

Regarding my previous photos about where we had been...you were right...we had been to Disney World (you saw the castle all aglow at night)...absolutely stunning to see...We went for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. A fun event from 7pm-12 midnight. We like riding roller coasters after dark! (I say "WE" in the most lose way...I only ride one...Thunder Mountain Railroad).

The pic of Emily in the rock (previous photo #2)was taken from the base of Hogwarts Castle while we were waiting for a few folks to get off of that ride. And speaking of the castle, here it is in all it's glory with sunbeams cascading down on it:

Here is a pic of a very sweet wizard holding Hedwig over at Harry Potter World.

And one in front of the combined owlry, wand and broom shop.

We did get to eat at The Three Broomsticks there in Hogsmeade...and it was delicious. We had smoked turkey legs, mac n cheese (the kids), and fish and chips. We drank Butter Beer (non alcoholic) and Pumpkin Juice, which was delicious I thought. The pumpkin juice tasted very refreshing and like pumpkin pie in a glass! The ingredients are simple...I would say it was half and half pumpkin puree and apple juice, and also a portion of pineapple juice, and some pumpkin pie spice. I will try it in the Vita Mix and see how it comes out on Thanksgiving day...for a bit of fun.

The more exacting recipe is HERE.

The last photo of the kids in front of the buffalo topiaries (previous photo #3), was from out front at the Wilderness Lodge, my favorite Disney Hotel (although we still haven't stayed there due to price, but we hang there to eat at Whispering Canyon, and observe the geyser that shoots up randomly out back.

The third day there, Emily got to ride a pony over at the campground area in Disney, with her 2 mothers by her side (my daughter and DIL).

Here are a few shots from Universal Studios...first Thing 1 and Thing 2 (and their daughters,Things 3 and 4 were there too)! We were in line right in front of this really neat family and the Mom and Dad had their wigs on too...and we shared our car with them through the ride.

And Emily June by her favorite car...the big shiny pink one outside the diner!

Here are two pics of a couple of birds just hanging out during my work day last week...one was by a front door to a building, and one was next to my car as I was getting off I95.

Have a happy Thanksgiving week! xoxo- Julie

Corn plants and others.

2011-11-16T09:15:00.001-08:00

Some shots of my little cute plants outside today.

First the big Mexican Sunflower bush between my neighbor and I...it is just covered in blooms right now. They seem to form on the bush at the top and on the side that gets the most sun (mainly the side facing south) on most bushes I have seen. This bush is actually my neighbors, and it is on the left side of my house, so we see all the blooms! The bushes on the right side of my house along the fence line on the other neighbors side...he gets to see all the blooms. That really irritates me too!!! :)

My corn plants are doing really well in their buckets.

The Gretel eggplant is growing well...soon to make some eggplants for us!!!

A cute little top to one of my gorgeous kalanchoe.

The Drift Rose is putting on a great show right now...there are two of these big flushes of flowers on the one plant, and a few other singles around too!!! Isn't it just so pretty??? WOW! Kinda makes me think of azaleas. They look so old fashioned to me!!!

Thanks for stopping by to see some of my little cuties!!! Have a wonderful rest of the week!
xoxo- Julie

Guess where we were in these three pictures!

2011-11-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

We were in three different places in one city. If you have been there, you might guess #2 and #3. You can probably all guess #1. That will be the big clue as to what city we were in, based on the closest one of these (castle) to where I live! I will give you the answers in a few days!
#1 Castle

#2 cute girl in rock

#3 topiaries shaped like buffalo!

Fresh, homegrown, flash-fried okra for breakfast!

2011-11-14T06:22:00.001-08:00

Say that fast 3 times! This is nearing the end of my okra season. Sadly. Will show a few picks of my corn plants tomorrow.

Hello my friends!

2011-11-08T17:07:00.001-08:00

The birds are back here!
Their route is south once again.
My heart is singing!

In every sky,
And in rows upon the lines,
You give a great show!

Thankful turkey, and thankful me!

2011-11-01T15:43:00.001-07:00

Emily's class at school made this awesome turkey on the wall, and each child said something they were thankful for...each was written on an individual tail feather! I cried when I saw what my precious granddaughter had said she was thankful for. I am thankful, so thankful for all of my family, and all of my blog friends and readers. Thanks for always being there.

This is a beautiful fast motion/time lapse flower video!

2011-10-31T19:09:00.001-07:00

This, to me, confirms there is a God. WOW! It arrived in my e-mail today, and I found it on YouTube to share with you!!!

Halloween sugar!

2011-10-31T18:38:00.001-07:00

Zombie transformation!

2011-10-29T19:02:00.001-07:00

My normally beautiful DIL was transformed to a 50's housewife zombie by my daughter...she is heading out to a costume party tonight. Pretty cool...and a lot of fun!

Beautiful mosiac work!

2011-10-25T16:49:00.001-07:00

I walked into the main county library in PB, and they had recently refurbished it. When you first walk in, these absolutely stunning mosaics greet you. They appear 3D too!!! My phone whipped out immediately to share it with you all. WOWZERS!!!

A cute gift bag...

2011-10-24T18:49:00.001-07:00

Perfect for slipping someone a new smart phone or tons of cash!!! I just made this from a junk envelope. Dang...this is fun! This one has a window on one side and a lovely sailing scene on the other! Now to win the lottery so I can buy more gifts!!! :)
See my previous post on how to make these, if you missed it.

A sweet pumpkin carving...

2011-10-23T13:15:00.001-07:00

Donovan and I outdid ourselves this year. We threw in string lights, and Viola!

Turn your gosh darn junk envelopes into gift bags!

2011-10-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh...last night I stumbled upon this video (below) on how to make a gift bag from an envelope. Well, I had a 5x9 envelope, so I just knew I had to try it! I made a tiny bag with not much depth to it, on the first try (the one in front that I stamped with dragonflies)....and then today I got a really big junk envelope in the mail (with a window in it), and I tried again. This time I made deeper folds and it turned out a great size! I did some simple doodling on it with my new cranberry colored calligraphy pen. I stuck some gold and silver tissue paper inside to show off the window, but I think a solid color would really be great! Now I am gonna be obsessed. I think I need to start buying gifts for everyone I know, so I can keep pumpin these babies out from my junk mail. Just open those junk envelopes carefully, so you can re-glue down the flap. Oh dear...I am wondering about my mental health now!!! :) If you dare to watch the video, you better be worried about your mental health too!!! (You are welcome)!! Hehehehe.

The YouTube video on how is HERE!!!

Grandson learns to sew!

2011-10-21T14:09:00.001-07:00

Today my grandson and I were both not feeling well. He and I were both home, and to keep him occupied, and to teach him a new skill, I taught him a basic stitch. We drew out our design, which was to be a pumpkin, but he thought it looked more like an apple, so he chose red. I think it turned out so cute. I helped by sewing it onto fabric, then making it into a little 5x5 pillow. When we got all finished, he asked "Do you think I can sleep with my head on it"? I looked at him and answered "...well, maybe an ear"!!! We both had a good laugh! He really loved making something out of nothing, and deciding what design to make. I might have a new sewing buddy. YES!!!

Cactus and Succulents for ya!!

2011-10-20T20:25:00.001-07:00

I went over to the college garden the other day and found cactus in bloom, some multi-colored Crown of Thorns, Stapeliad in bloom, and how about this plant that has green and yellow on the top of the leaves, and the undersides are blood red!!! It was I.D.'d for me by the one and only Mr. Subjective over at Plants Are The Strangest People, as Excoecaria cochinchinensis. One of the common names is "Chinese croton". Thankyou so much, Mr. S!! This plant is really cool for a little blood red Halloween touch too, don't you agree???

My birthday!

2011-10-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

Today was my birthday and I recieved many surprises and cards, calls and e-mails. Thanks to all of you who KNEW about my birthday (although I usually try to keep it a secret because I don't feel like celebrating much anymore, being 55!! Anyway...I just wanted to show you what my friend, Karen brought over and surprised me with. You can go Here, to Karens Kale to see! She made a really pretty hand made card, and stamped and used her new Copic markers to color it. It is so pretty!!! Check it out, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Another year older, fatter and happier!
xoxo- Julie

A few fun things...

2011-10-17T22:11:00.001-07:00

We went to the Fall Festival at Mounts Botanical Gardens, in West Palm Beachon Sunday, and of all the 6 photos I took...these 2 were most interesting to me. They had the Poultry Fanciers out there...and they are very nice people with a very strong interest in turkeys and chickens, quail, etc. ONE LADY HAD HER ROCKING CHAIR OUT THERE HOLDING AND ROCKING, AND PETTING HER CHICKEN. This could be a strange group to take up with. I considered it for a few minutes when I saw all these beautiful eggs...but the Turkey wearing a bandana and ribbons on his ankles made me pause. (Wish now I had gotten a picture). Seriously, though, these were some really nice poultry loving folks!!!

The other photo is of a Rainbow Eucalyptus!!! Have you ever seen one before??? I don't think I had...isn't it just too cool. From afar it looked like Army fatigue. Really beautiful trunk.

Gigantically fat okra!

2011-10-16T06:01:00.001-07:00

Here is a few of this years okra variety of which I do not know. If I wait one (only one) day too long to pick,they are huge!!! I just had to take a photo, to remember them by, because nextsummer I will be growing red ones!!!!

A Night Walk!

2011-10-15T18:06:00.001-07:00

Well...the fingernail art needs more practice (by me)...not photo worthy yet. I had talked about this in my last post.

The grands and their Mom and I went for a walk tonight. I saw the tree my next door neighbor keeps lit year-round, and I noticed it was draped with vines...it was glowing, and had a beautiful, veil provided by nature. She doesn't have her Halloween decorations on it yet...but I almost hate to see this loveliness disturbed.
The other pic is my front Halloween garden that my DIL surprised us with her addition of the pumpkin lights. The orange marigolds have filled in quite a bit already and should be perfect in another week or so!
Happy cooler Fall, ya'll!
Xoxo Julie

Carving and fingernail fun!

2011-10-15T11:18:00.001-07:00

This is a silly, yet entertaining APP for you. Since it carves what you write or draw, the results can be strange...yet I am enthralled and keep experimenting. Hope you can try it.
It is called "Halloween Pumpkin Carving".
I am also trying out some fingernail ideas. Have you seen how you can transfer comics or newspaper words to your nails by dipping the image in alcohol then pressing on your nail for 30 seconds??? I have found that words from my printer work better...you just have to do mirror image to make them transfer correctly. I may do a second post today showing some of this. An overcoat of clear polish will keep the art protected.
A really great set of cute fingernail tutorials is on YouTube. Go there and do a search for "Cute Polish". Fun for girls and teens, and even old 55 year old grandmas like me!!!

Purple lantana???

2011-10-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

I planted 5 of these plants behind the orange marigolds in the Halloween garden...are they lantana or what? I can't remember the name! What a dummy...I should have written it down. I think the leaves are different from the pics I see online of Lantana. It looks pretty with the orange...they are all blooming again now after the rains had washed all the flowers off. They seem kinda fragile.

Haunted house additions

2011-10-09T22:02:00.001-07:00

A skeleton, just hangin around...

A huge spider web with glittery purple host...

A cute banner made my moi...

We are continuing to add things...I need furniture and a few zombies I think! If you missed the post that told about our making this house out of an empty diaper box, you can go HERE.

Surprise nighttime visitor in the Halloween garden!

2011-10-08T18:10:00.001-07:00

Oh, gosh...I went out to take some nighttime pics of the Halloween garden, with the addition of some cheap black fake roses and spiders from the dollar store (since my dark purple lantana blooms all fell off)...but ya know...I kinda like the look of the black in there for Halloween ( think I will go get about 10 more), and then eventually we will have some new lantana blossoms!!! Ceramic bunny's gotta go....and be replaced with a witch!

I can't wait to see it all filled in! As I was sitting there, my cat, Baby, ambled into the picture! He looks all innocent in this picture, but then....

He became possessed.....(Hey, this is the REAL flower color...they are orange marigolds...the other pics don't do them justice)...

And started to scare me with alien glowing eyes! Hehehe.

You never know what we happen when you plant a spooky Halloween garden!!! Baby cat...are you seriously possessed???????

It's time for Doozey Tuesday!!!

2011-10-03T21:14:00.000-07:00

I love my human sisters new pink sherpa blanket...so jump back jack...it's mine. Do not touch!!! Well, I will share if you are very nice!!

Crassula clavata!!!

2011-10-02T18:21:00.001-07:00

I did a post already featuring my new succulent (found at Walmart)...Crassula clavata! It has red edges, and much more delicate leaves than Jade Plant. I love it!
HAPpY cACTUS MONDAY everyone!!
Xoxo-Julie
To join Cactus Monday, please visit our leader, Teri over at www.painteddaisies.blogspot.com

Saturday Yard Oct. 2011

2011-10-02T10:01:00.001-07:00

Some random yard plant photos from yesterday...finally go tthem uploaded to Flickr and what a difference! Thanks Flickr...
Pretty orange daisies that just suddenly took off this summer in one tire.

saturdayyardoct2011 035, a photo by xmasgirl43 on Flickr.

My one and only semi-decent looking pepper on two bushes!!! Darn.

saturdayyardoct2011 033, a photo by xmasgirl43 on Flickr.

The yellow marigolds also started taking off all of a sudden mid-summer.

saturdayyardoct2011 031, a photo by xmasgirl43 on Flickr.

I have only two eggplants hanging on the remaining three plants. They are looking very sad, and I think I will pull them after these two are off...time for some new cool weather crops!

saturdayyardoct2011 038, a photo by xmasgirl43 on Flickr.

My newly planted orange marigolds HALLOWEEN garden near the front door. All along the back are these very pretty plants that have a ton of dark purple blossoms, but we had hard rains a few days right after I planted them, and they all fell off.:(

saturdayyardoct2011 043, a photo by xmasgirl43 on Flickr.

And last...my windowsill African Violet. It had a few month period of no blooms, and then it really started up! I love this dark purple (they look pinker in the photo, I suppose due to the flash, but they are really much darker)...I think I am in a love of dark purple phase right now...!

saturdayyardoct2011 046, a photo by xmasgirl43 on Flickr.

Tonight, I will have a few pics for CACTUS MONDAY posted for tomorrow!!!! Yippee!!!

A bud on my Golden Rat Tail cactus!!!

2011-10-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

I have spent a whole day trying to upload pics from my camera. Again I got them too large, and my daughter was able to resize them, bu they are now being uploaded onto Flickr. I have tried to upload to Photobucket and also set up a Picasa account, and tried there, and it has just turned into a nightmare. To the point of my thinking I would give up blogging. Gone are the days when I would snap pictures, and easily upload to Blogger. Gone, I tell you. I am at my wit's end. It is midnight now, and I started all this crap around 9am. Well, I did take a long break to go shopping in another city...AND that is the good part about my day!

Mom, daughter and I drove to Jensen Beach to visit a Hobby Lobby! There are, I believe, 14 stores in Florida, but none south of this store in Jensen Beach. That is a cryin shame! We have to drive about 35 minutes to get there. We have been to the one in Ocala, Fl...and the one in Stone Mountain area, Georgia. That was a fun time...that store was right across the parking lot from our hotel...oh...what fun!!!

I am trying to get three pics of the Golden Rat Tail Cactus my blogger pal, Claude, from Random Rants and Prickly Plants sent me back in 2009!!! It is finally branching and flowering! It seems happy out in the tire in full sun! Yippee! The flower is a gorgeous salmon pink too! I am watching the bud closely to catch it when it opens.

Today was my husband and my 22nd year wedding anniversary. We did not realize it until we were driving to dinner, and I started checking e-mail on my phone, and suddenly I see an e-mail from my brother and SIL titled Happy Anniversary! I had to really stop and think "anniversary of what"??? Then I turned to my husband and said Happy Anniversary to him...and we burst out laughing because we needed someone else to remind us!!! Hehehehe...I guess we are getting old.

Home Companion Magazine may return!!!

2011-09-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

Oh my God...if any of you ever appreciated Mary Englebreit's magazine, Home Companion....she has decided to try and publish it again!!! If you would like to have that happen, please leave a comment on her blog!!! It will not allow me to link directly to the exact post, but please go to her Sept. 23 post to leave a comment.
xoxo- Julie

A Little Swimmin and Book Makin Fun

2011-09-25T04:01:00.001-07:00

OK...here's something a little crazy for you! I was thinking I might take the grandkids down (2 hours one way, and 2hours back) to the Miami Seaquarium on Sat., but when I added up gas, admission prices, and misellaneous other things, we decided a stay at the local hotel for swimming would be much better. My friend, Karen came over and swam with us. We ordered pizza by the pool, and later, after the kids fell asleep, daughter, Karen, and I made mini books from soap boxes! My DIL had to meet some friends so she missed out on making one. I was secretively hoping to get her crafting too!! The tutorial is:

Now we are on our way to visit the new pancake machine this hotel has! Yee-haw! :)

My best friend is blogging!!!

2011-09-22T18:58:00.000-07:00

I called my friend, Karen tonight after I got home from work, and she said, "How come you never visit my blog"??? I said, "What blog, girlfriend"??? Of course, I really thought she was teasing me, because blogging was NEVER anything I really thought she would do....but guess what...I whipped out my phone and voila...I found it. It is called Karens Kale! She has tire gardens too...and she grew the most amazing, fantastically large kale in there last cool season! My Mom and I were very jealous of her talent! I guess her love of vegies goes right out to the plants she grows, and they just respond!!! Anyway...she has done three posts and she really shocked me with the most recent one...she is making a Christmas Village out of food boxes...OMG...you must go over and see her first completed building for the village!!! If you leave a comment, tell her Julie sent you!
xoxo- Julie

Doozey in a meadow!

2011-09-21T20:34:00.001-07:00

Oh, goodness...is this not a cute little sugar dog? My daughter took a picture of Doozey that I had taken in the house last night, and using Gimp, she placed her in a meadow! Doozey says hello to everyone!!! Especially sending get well wishes to Teri!

Need ideas for my house shaped mini book!!!

2011-09-17T05:26:00.000-07:00

Here is what I have gotten together so far. You may remember the envelopes that we got folded at my first Mixed Media group of women who meet at Crafts N Stuff store. It has been 4 weeks since that first meeting, and I haven't come up with much. The biggest idea I have it to make a book that reflects how my Grandma Dora, my Mom, and I are alike.

My Grandma was a farmer/nursery woman, cook,seamstress,quilter, had deep faith in God.
Mom loves being outside in her yard, sewing, quilting,and my husband says we are both hardheaded...hmmm...can you imagine.....
I and my grandma both picked out the same dishes, we both like growing vegetables with flowers, to drink coffee out of a glass mug, PLUS, I have some letters that my grandma wrote...one to my Mom which talks about me and my son, and one that she wrote to me, which I would slip into a pocket in the book.

I picked up the house shaped back and front covers that one of the members husbands made for me.

AND...I have found these cute country items at Micheals the other night. Micheals sells these cute cut out thin peices of wood in different shapes...kind of a more filagree look. They are plain wood. I asked my daughter to color it with our new collection of Copic markers, and it turned out really pretty. I think I will seal it with something to preserve the color.

Then the cut package of roosters and little cute bits, and a journal that has a front cover I would like to use in the book somewhere.

Anyway...I need ideas for what to do. I am not a scapbooker. I have to cover the envelope pages with paper of some sort...and you know me...I am wanting to use my homemade paper mostly...which I think I will for the basic pages...then comes embellishing. I don't own a cricut, or any of the cutting machines...but would prefer to make my own embellishments...like this flower I made out of a newspaper, etc.

If you guys know of any online tutorials for any good ideas, can you tell me??? I will let you see what I get done today after class, OK???

More crystal fun!

2011-09-14T18:01:00.001-07:00

This really has been fun! One night after the whole tree was covered with crystals, I bumped it ever so slightly, and a lot of the crystals fell off...I threw them make in the tray below and added a little water. The tree grew back, just minus a lot of color! It is all full again now.

If you want to try making some homemade crystals...there are a lot of recipes HERE!

Did you know you can make some from sugar and some from Borax? I am thinking of making some rock candy sugar stirrers for Christmas gifts! Inexpensive, but really SWEET!

Growing a pretty little crystal tree!

2011-09-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

My daughter found this little box with a paper tree where the ends of the branches had been treated with a chemical. There was a paper tree, a stand and a little tray to place saturated fluid into and then sit the tree in it. AND then you wait (not long) and crystals start forming on the ends of the branches...thicker and thicker... This photo shows the growth after around 10 hours later...but it was quicker growing, for sure! Looks like each "side" of the tree is a different color. Pretty fun. It worked so fast, it could be done during a day at a child's school, if the teacher would set it up for the kids.... It was amazingly FAST!!! If you find one at your local Dollartree...I say to go for it!
Julie

The little pianist!

2011-09-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

I am sorry...I had published this post and then decided to make the pics larger, but I see Mandy and Cindy had left comments, and I think I have lost them now. Anyway...just wanted to tell the story of how Emily discovered this piano in the back of a restaurant, and she touched a few keys and it made sound...she was surprised. I was watching her from our table...she immediately came running over and said, very excitedly "Grandma Julie, come see this big black thing"!!! We laughed so hard.

Anyway, she charmed the manager and we had the best time watching her...she played it very theatrically (just banging on the keys)and cracked us all up!

Here are the little musicians pink toes in her newest pair of thongs!

So sweet!
xoxo- Julie

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T15:27:00.001-07:00

Today Donovan was at his cousins house, so we had a holiday with Emmie. First she played in the zebra pool, while Grandma Julie watered and picked okra. Then I put a few natural elements together for some art fun outside. (Pics to come). We all went to the Ale House for lunch, then to get Emmie some new shoes. She got a pair of Croc- like Tinkerbell ones...purple with sparkles...and a sparkly pair of flip flops. Then we took a nap and. ..oh...the two shots of the stump with flowers growing out were found outside the Ale House...I just thought they were beautiful...such a lovely surprise to add to our already perfect day! Hope everyone had a great weekend too! P.S. The cute grasshopper came to visit us on our balcony in Orlando Saturday night.
Xoxo- Julie

I'm in Orlando!!!

2011-09-03T23:01:00.001-07:00

Newly refurbished Lego World one place we visited. Here are a few pics of some Lego statues outside. I drank a rum runner, and 2 beers and now my feet and ankles are swollen...I am to be up ay 7am when the pool opens. This trip is grownups only...starting early with a few laps in the pool before breakfast.

After dinner fun!

2011-08-29T18:30:00.001-07:00

I raced home from work, and made a stop at the scrapbooking place for some Halloween papers to use to cover my mini book that I am making in the shape of a haunted house. Oh yes...I found everything cool for it. Then I raced home to find my DIL had made dinner. I raced in to eat. Then...the most amazing thing happened...

The kids and I started turning an empty diaper box into a haunted house!

I used all my papers to decorate floors and walls. We have one outer wall of the house that has a spooky black tree and owl silhoutte, and my daughter made windows for the outside that showed ghousish figures inside the house. I cut out big blocks of one paper that had different characters on them, and glued them to the indoor walls. We got this far in about 2 hours...and we have a pretty cool looking haunted house! Now each day until Halloween we are making paper furniture and I think a black chandelier, and a few hanging spiders would be cool. Donovan really had fun watching it come together. It's a group project and we are all contributing. Daughter is making an orange couch as we speak! What a really fun evening! Gooooooooooooooodnight!

Emmie turns 3!

2011-08-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Emily turns 3 on this upcoming Tuesday...she had her birthday in advance at a park yesterday where there is a little water play area attached. Loads of fun for the kids, for sure. Her Mom made a butterfly cake for her. Pink and purple, of course!

HOME FROM HOSPITAL

2011-08-25T15:55:00.000-07:00

Daughter home after surgery...doing well...taking lots of icy cold stuff. Thank God...it,s over. No more tonsils.

Earthquake, mini album, and the ATC's I recieved at my 1st monthly meetup this past Saturday!

2011-08-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

I was in such shock when I heard about the earthquake today on the EAST coast...I felt tears coming!!! It made all my troubles feel small. It is an amazing thing how you can be feeling such strain and anxieties from everyday matters, and then when something really terrible happens (by terrible, I mean a disaster of any kind)...it just puts things into perspective really quickly!!!

The hurricane threat is looking less and less here...thank God. I keep praying it moves further out to the ocean and never hits the U.S. coast. Looks like the Bahamas will be hit though, sadly. As far as I know right now, we are still on track for my daughters surgery on Thursday. One more day of work, and I will be off 4 days...good thing too...sounds like it may be a little rainy, and windy. We shall see.

I wanted to show you the three ATC's I got at the ATC, inchies and altered book meetup last Saturday. I had only made one, but the lady I gave mine to, gave me one of hers, and the other two gals who had made some, also gave me one of theirs. I will not give their names out, as of yet...but if I get permission next meeting, I will. These are the three I received:

This sandcastle was made out of sandpaper! Cool!

Ship in a bottle tossing on ocean waves! Love it!

The creator of this one took a photo of her own feet at the beach...sweet!!! Don't you love the fancy cut edge on this one...looks like waves washing onto shore to me! PLUS, a real tiny shell in the corner! Brilliant!
You can see I was lazy and took the pics with the ATC's in the pocket protector!

I can also show you the book we are working on.

So far all I have is the folded 6x9 manilla mailing envelopes we got hinged together in preparation to add the back and front covers. It will have a house shaped cover and I am thinking maybe I will make it into a haunted Halloweeeeeen book. I went ahead and bought these cute stickers just in case!

These envelopes will be covered back and front with scrapbooking paper...I am thinking maybe it is scrapbook cardstock weight paper. I still need to find out.

Speaking of that...you have got to see this video of a book I can only dream about ever making! This thing is awesome! Check it out!! The fence and gate binding it are just fantastic!

Everyone be safe wherever in the world you are!
Love, Julile

Hurricanes Suck!

2011-08-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Lord,
Please take this hurricane out into the Atlantic and not get anywhere near it's projected path (over us). Daughter needs to have her tonsillectomy on Thursday, as planned. My vegetable garden is thriving, and is begging not to have to be all moved indoors...especially the pole beans who are already climbing up the fence and trellis. I am already crying over the thoughts of Irene who is heading right for us!
Love, Julie
ATC was made by me back in 2008.

My new baby!

2011-08-17T19:11:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone on Thursday evening!
It has been a busy week, and I am still washing clothes, gosh darn it, at midnight...the fun never ends. A few days ago I rescued this pretty little AF at Lowes! I would say 75% of the African Violets they had there, had dried up to nothing! This one was begging me to save it! The color of the flower is actually much darker, and very beautiful! I wanted to get one that had a frilly edge, but then this color just stuck out so much for me, I had to get it! I used to grow them all the time in my kitchen window, but then needed a change so gave them up for something else...probably when my succulent addiction started!!!

Is anyone out there a stamp collector? I got my stamp collection out tonight just to look through it. I collect used world stamps, and I decided many years ago that I would mainly collect beautiful stamps of my choosing...called TOPICAL stamps, there are so many featuring animals, plants, mushrooms, etc...your hearts desire really! Anyway, with the advent of Ebay, you can really find more or less many of these and I think I want to have a few goals in mind when choosing my stamps. I would like to get at least 1 stamp from each of the countries I have pages for, and I would like to concentrate on stamps that might have meaning to me. For example I have many nurse, dog, cat, plants, flowers, mushrooms, insects, reptiles, birds, Harry Potter, chihuahua, U.S. Army tanks, and famous people stamps. I believe the one stamp I came across tonight that seems very special to me is an Abraham Lincoln. Then I do enjoy getting big batches of all sorts of world stamps to sift through and find spots for in my book. I have a huge book that I made myself from a gigantic binder, with tons of countries (some of which I know not where they even are in the world), and also added blank pages in some countries because I have so many for that particular place. One example is in my U.S. stamps, I have so many LOVE stamps, and Christmas stamps, that I had to add extra pages just for those!!!
I am rambling on tonight about this, only because I had pulled it all out tonight to look for any extra water bird stamps that I might use for ATC's. Sometimes you get multiples...but I could not find any water birds. Poo. I did find about 10 blackbird stamps from Ireland that I did not realize I had. I think it is time for a blackbird ATC swap!!! LOL.
Well, anyway...this is what I have been up to tonight. Trying to keep up some sort of personal time, even with the grandkids here...once they get to sleep, I can have an hour or two to myself...if I can keep my eyes open!

Solitude At The Beach

2011-08-15T20:18:00.001-07:00

I am going to be attending an ATC, inchie, and altered book meeting on this coming Saturday... I am supposed to make 10 ATC's, and 10 inchies...but guess what...I won't have time, so I decided to make just one for the lady who told me about the class. I will meet the others, and be an observer for this one, then start full fledged next time. The theme is BEACH. I think it turned out kinda cute... I had all the ingredients around. The water and sand part of the card are made from my homemade paper, as well as the sea shells on the bottom. The only part I don't like are the footprints. They are messed up. Oh well...I think, all in all, it's pretty cute. I really love that most of it came from recycled paper. That is awesome.
Sorry...am posting from my phone and can't figure out how to turn the photo...so look at it sideways, OK????? :)
UPDATE 8-18-11...lookie...I got the picture turned the right way once I could get on my gosh darn desktop!!! The only thing now is that I am seeing a mirror image of the real thing!!! Oh good grief...I give up! :)

A few shrooms for ya!

2011-08-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! In place of Cactus Monday, I bring you Mushroom Tuesday! LOL. I am so bad...it seems impossible for me to keep up with CM anymore. I worked the weekend too, which made it even harder.

I found these mushrooms that I had seen, on my camera, and wanted to share, as they are such a lovely shade of O-R-A-N-G-E!!! Yeeeeeee!

And as I looked down through my steering wheel yesterday at the end of a hard day...this is what I saw (and see every day as I am out driving for work)...my cherished succulent cross that my friend Mary, over at Pokeberry Patch made for me many moons ago! Lovingly made with skilled hands, carved and colored and waxed. I love the rough twine that hangs it too...isn't it just the best??? Thanks Mary!!! It gives me peace, comfort, and happiness each time I see it!!! It sure brightens up a dirty steering wheel too!!! (EMBARRASED).

Doggy Chop Up, Revised

2011-08-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

I continued to play around with my abstract doggy, which I had started on last night (see last post). I chopped up his legs and tail more, and then scanned it into Paint program, where I added color and background. I think I kinda like it. This was a fun little project to work on. It appeals to my cut and paste personality!

Puppy Chop Up!

2011-08-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

Don't ask me what came over me tonight whilst I was just sitting around for 5 whole minutes!!! I decided to try drawing out a puppy from a coloring book (belonging to the grands) by Lisa Frank, and cutting him up a bit to make a sort-of Picasso-ish thing out of him...well, I got his head chopped up really well, I thought, but the rest of him needs more chopping. I was going to color him in some way, but then I liked the white on white and the outlining of all the bits of paper after I glued him back together. I tried hard to think of another place I could stick his tail, but my mind won't let me go to crazy. This really aggravates me. I wish I could be wild. I'm going to try this experiment nightly until I can be happy with it. Just a little something different in a few moments of time I catch here and there...

Pokemon sighting at the beach, and EDM # 125...draw a bird!

2011-08-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

We had a Pokemon sighting down at the beach here (OK, I made that up)...but here is my childish drawing of Pikachu. I used some Crayola watercolors to paint him after I drew him with my thin Sharpie. My first time watercoloring...pretty fun!

I decided to do an EDM this weekend, so I drew the bird on my husbands beer box! It sure is a beautiful bird, the Heron! Done with thin Sharpie and colored pencils. I have enjoyed some small and quick moments to sit, draw and color this weekend.

New way to fall asleep instantly!

2011-08-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

Lay down anywhere and read an e-book on your electronic device...and you will be asleep in 5 seconds...at least I am!!!

As much as I love downloading new e-books from my public library...I seem to have trouble staying awake for them!!! No problem if I am sitting upright, but don't let me try to lay or semi-lay down somewhere. Oh no. Asleep again!

Yesterday morning, I woke up and could not find my new phone. I called it and it was ringing from inside the couch (yes, I had fallen asleep on the couch)...

My DIL and I both tried to reach down the back of the couch and couldn't get our hands through far enough...so I had to cut the underside of the couch to reach in and pull it down and out.

You wouldn't believe what I found in there. 5 binkies (pacifiers), whole sections of newspaper, tons of dog chewy sticks, and crayons.

We were really wondering where all those binkies had disappeared to.....I've got to guard my phone!!! Wish me luck!

Sunday night

2011-07-31T19:40:00.000-07:00

We are back from our small trip across Florida to Sarasota. We went over just for a little get-away. We ate, and mostly checked out the area. We visitied this neat shopping area on St. Armands Key just off the coast of Sarasota. We ate at Barnacle Bill's. I had crabmeat stuffed rainbow trout and it was heavenly! We were going to visit Ringling Museum of Art, and MOTE Aquarium, but talked ourselves out of it. We did drive out to an Amish and Mennonite community of approximately 3000, in east Sarasota, and attempted to eat lunch at one of several Amish restaurants, but discovered they were closed on Sundays, which made perfect sense once we thought about it...
We also drove through Ringling College of Art and Design, and was hoping to inspire daughter...it was a lovely school...closed until August...I got a pic of the entrance, but my e-mail is not recieving for some reason (I am waiting for pics from my cell phone), so can't show you anything yet.
It was a fun trip, and we hope to go back soon. Oh....and in case you are wondering, the Amish there do not ride horse and buggies, they use three wheeled bikes! You can read about this Amish and Mennonite community HERE.

It was fun, but we are glad to be back home.

Hotel time wasting...

2011-07-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

I am using my new phone to post a little sketch done in hotel room...in the style of Gustav Klimt...read a book about him and his art on the way here...amazing man. Love his work!!! I am home now and got the picture rotated. Yeah. If you can make it out, the hotel pad of paper has in small print in the top left side the words "Catch Wandering Ideas". I thought that was a really cool pad of paper!!!

A Blast From The Past on Cactus Monday!

2011-07-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

I got a very pleasant surprise when I sync'd my new phone to Google, and it brought all the photos, even from my past blogs that had been deleted long ago, into my gallery! The photos from my first blog, which had been called "Succulents By J", showed up...and I was so amazed at the beautiful succulent photos I had back then! I had my pretty succulent tires all arranged with shiny glass pebbles or shells...and they just looked so colorful and fun. Now, they are all looking frazzled, worn and tired. I need to make a commitment to update them when the weather cools down here, for sure...

In honor of CACTUS MONDAY...here is a little look back at the past (I believe it was approx. 2008):

A Few Highlights of the Past Few Days!

2011-07-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

I got two new plants...Melampodium paludosum, or otherwise known as Medallion plant, Butter Daisy, or Star Daisy. I found them at K-Mart...so sweetly sitting there begging me to take them home and add to a bare spot in my tire gardens! So now, they are home, and I love looking out the kitchen window seeing them all yellow and cheery!

PHOTO FROM FLORIDA FRIENDLY PLANTS

I made some homemade bread. It started out in the bread machine, but it looked like it was going to overflow before it even started to bake, so I poured it out on a cookie sheet, let it rise again and baked it in the oven. Delicious with just old margarine!!!

The best thing of all though, was that today my old flip phone went dead, and I actually moved into the 21st century and got a smart phone!!! It is an Android, Galaxy S. That's about all I know. It was a free upgrade on my ATT plan. I was a little jealous of my kids abilities on their IPhones, so I splurged for that gosh darn data plan. What can you do??? Now all I have to do is learn how to use it. The kids are showing me how, thank goodness for them!!!

And here are a few pics of things blooming out in the yard:

Pole Beans A Risin on Cactus Monday!

2011-07-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

My little pots of pole beans are rising up!!! After just 4 days!!! Maybe we will have some to eat after all!!! They look good and sturdy/strong too!!! I will be a little scared of losing them all the way up to harvest! My fingers are crossed!!! Wish me luck!

AND...just for the pleasure of our Cactus Monday leader, Ms. Teri I, sadly am unprepared for CM, but would like to share a little OKRA story!!! Hehehehehe....as I know how much pleasure she gets hearing about my okra adventures!!!

I found out that my dear sister-in-law, Lynn is someone who has been buying from and working for (for free vegies) this organic fruit and vegie group out at the greenmarket, where I had found those RED okra...well, she worked this past weekend for free radishes and carrots (for herself)...and guess what??? She brought me two bags of red okra!!! Pic below!!! Enjoy TERIII!!!!!!!!!
xoxo- Julie And seriously, a happy Cactus Monday to all who participated and I will be stopping by to see your cactuses!

Grands at the Beach Today!

2011-07-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

While I was slaving away today at work, 2 cute little kids were playing at the beach with their Mom and friends...

Baby Gift Box Decoration

2011-07-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

Early in the evening tonight my DIL announced she would be stopping by a baby shower for a friend (a different one) tomorrow. She had bought a gift already, and I asked if I could make a personalized gift box decoration like the one I am already making, but about 1/4th size of the original. She said yes, so I spent a couple of hours and here is our finished product! The individual letters are strung on a lime green rope from a gift bag handle (one of my favorite crafting items)...and I had wanted to sort of drape the thing like a banner, but we had a few obstacles. One was that the box was just a tad too small, and the other was that it had a ribbon and sticker dead center from the store it had been bought from, which would have shown if it had been hung in a draped fashion. Finally we opted for straight across on a diagonal. It is cute, I must say...and covers that sticker in the middle. How do you like this cute baby name...Coral??? Isn't that sweet? I heard that she has an older sister with a "C" name also. Very cool.

Baby Banner Making!

2011-07-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

I found a banner online, over at Creative Jewish Mom's blog that inspired me to make one for a baby's room decor. Colorful cards or cardstock, crocheted around the edges, with a ribbon strung through the top to hang on a crib, wall or over a curtain.

My DIL's best friend is due around November, and I wanted to make something handmade, so this was a a sort of perfect fit for me. I hope she will like it. It's always fun to have personalized decor for a baby. I think so anyway!

I bought this pack of baby girl themed cardstock, called Nanna's Nursery, and cut each card in half, which was the perfect size! Then I punched holes evenly around the edges, and crocheted a border with a variegated baby yarn.

I bought a pack of rather large glittery green letters...the are kinda puffy and self adhesive. Nice and easy...my motto!!!

I am making each card a different background card, with a letter on each to spell out her name which is CHARLOTTE.

The crochet and the letters unify the whole project. I will run a ribbon through the tops of the crocheted edge of the cards to make the banner. I am thinking I may get that sheer, shimmery ribbon to make a few simple pink bows... I am trying to decide if a bow between each letter would be too much, or just go for a bow at each end?

I like how she will be able to move the letters farther or closer together to make it fit any space. I may have to make a few more banners...some for birthday's around here!!! It is fun and easy...I just make a few letters each night, or whenever I feel like it.

Here is what I am thinking of giving her for the rest of her gift. A giant box filled with nothing but diapers and wipes!!!!! Wouldn't that be fun???

Sucky Seed Situation

2011-07-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

Out of 24 pole bean seeds planted, so far (after a week and a half) only 6 have come up! I just tried the Jiffy Quick Soil Mix in 4 inch pots and placed three more pole bean seeds in each cup (total of 15 more potential plants)....they are on a strip of double thickness aluminum foil on my kitchen windowsill and I am giving these babies another go. I will not quit till I have some pole beans!!! Go beans, go!!!

The Jiffy Soil is really great to have around for seed sprouting emergencies...which could hit you at any given moment!!! These things are so cool...just soak in warm water and in 5 minutes you have soil!!!

I am off today, and my hubby took the day off too, so we could have some fun. Gonna take the kids and grands to a little fun rehab hospital/zoo locally, go to lunch and play all day. I'm happy!

Hope you all have a great Thursday too!
xoxo- Julie

I've Been Chipmunk'd!!

2011-07-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

Seems like Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor have taken over my house!!! Here is their ring leader! Just doodlin around with the kids tonight!

EDM # 26 - Draw anything you like. If you want to draw a vegetable, that's fine, too.

2011-07-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Just a fun little quickie today! I couldn't believe there was an EDM for a vegetable! Yeah!!! Do my red and green okra look a bit zentangly??? Sorry... I know I am a bit out of control here with my darn okra!!! Sorry. :)
EVERYDAY MATTERS LIST TO DRAW

Organic "Red Burgundy" okra

2011-07-09T10:09:00.001-07:00

OMG...I have recently been wanting to try growing some red okra. There are a few different red varieties! Mom and I went over to a new greenmarket this morning, and an organic grower there had the variety "Red Burgundy". I bought all that she had, to taste it. There are a few green ones mixed in as well, but are they not beautiful??? I want to eat some raw too as several people there told me they are great sliced in salads! I am so excited!
UPDATE just a few minutes later: I just did a quick stir fry of these cut up in a touch of olive oil, with seasoned salt, and my husband and I both agree they have more flavor than the ones I grew last year! I am growing a new variety of green ones this year, so hope they will have the higher flavor level!!! Oh, and just to let you know, these turned a dark green when cooked!!!

2011-07-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Good morning Sunshines from around the globe!!! It's Saturday and overcast with off and on rain here. Kinda gloomy, but still wonderful to have the rain as we have been in a long drought! I have 4 bean plants popping up so far (after 3 days)...but planted 24 seeds, so hope more action soon follows!
Blooming outside are red hibiscus:

and some other things which I did not take pics of since you have seen it all before...like my Mexican Sunflowers, hanging frilly red hibiscus, red passion flowers, white Vincas, and I have another good sized eggplant...but I'm waiting for it to get a bit larger. The tire gardens are so happy in this rain...even the succulents...they look perkier, and are in cactus soil, so they will drain fast anyway. They deserve a few good soakings.

I will show you the starts of an paper mache alligator Donovan is making,

and a rat I am making. If you can envision a long black tail (from the ropelike handle of a gift bag) hanging out the back end of this rat...he looks more realistic. My lovely wild child grandson pulled the tail out for a second time and has thrown it somewhere...remind me to give him a "what for" when he gets back from his Dad's. Why I decided to make a rat is beyond me, since I can't stand the sight of a pink tail on a white rat...uuuggggggh! This rat will be brown with a black tail for Halloween! Much more acceptable. I think I will find a way to give him whiskers too (not painted ones). My rat will have a cuteness factor about him! :)

The grands have gone with Dad for the weekend and we are planning a movie adventure to see the Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts movie this afternoon! Can't wait, as there are two of my favorite actors. Tom Hanks is just plain devine in my book.

We are halfway to Christmas, and is anyone already thinking about this??? I told my family we either have to find our gifts at a thrift store, or handmake them, and guess what...EVERYONE agreed!!! We have found some amazing items for the kids at the thrifts lately (stuff they really love and were wanting)...in great shape too. I am a huge thrifter...the only way to go in this economy!

2011-07-06T04:30:00.000-07:00

Here is a kind of optical illusion...in my travels yesterday I found these 10 birds sitting along this stretch of fence. I had to take the pic with my crappy cell phone...When I first saw it on the monitor, I couldn't see the birds at all...I made the picture large, and I still had to stare at it a while to see them...some are nearly invisible because they are in the shade of the tree...but seriously...there are 10 visible birds sitting along the top of this fence!!! See if you can find them all.

Happy 4th of July pancakes (just for you)!!!

2011-07-04T05:50:00.000-07:00