birthday boy . . .

yesterday was the 9TS's birthday. He turned 39, or so he says. That's fine with me because that would make me 33.5.

Being Friday, we planned to go to dinner at Carrabba's as usual and I was going to take my camera and catch our rituals . . . and Richard . . . and celebrate. But our duo got a little larger and I didn't want to be THAT woman with the camera, so I left it at home. There is always next week . . .

The 9TS got THE absolute perfect card from Joanie and Eddie, our neighbors. On the cover is a little black cat with a band of light crossing his eyes, very ninja like and the caption reads: Ninja Cat . . . don't turn your back. Inside: Watch out . . . another birthday's creeping up on you! The 9TS actually giggled. He is not a giggler. It touched his funny bone. And mine. And Ninja's when we showed her.

speaking of ninja . .

I used a shot of her pudgy body for my Saturday exercise in my Pen Tablet class:


credits: Template: Jessica Sprague, Papers: Amanda Taylor, Cat: Dawn Inskip

productivity . . .

I woke this morning resolute in making this day more productive than those of late. It started out badly as I drove Kaitlyn to school while still in my pajamas . . . the bed having been so warm and inviting. One of these days, I am going to have to explain to the officer I just went screaming past that there is no way I can step out of the car, sir . . . I am not adequately dressed for the job, sir.

Things improved once back home on the range. I finally hemmed the 9TS's new khaki's, emptied the dishwasher, did the ironing, and vacuumed the downstairs. Then I picked up 'Tis by Frank McCourt, and starting where I had left off last night, lost all hope of doing anything else even mildly smacking of productivity. What a wonderful read.

As the 9TS made the trip to retrieve Kaitlyn, I pried my nose out of the book long enough to throw some brownies into the oven.



How can a day with Frank McCourt and Ghirardelli Brownies be a bad day!

Lesson 4 . . .

Of Jessica's pen tablet class . . . minus the extractions. It seems I went a little crazy with the brushing and didn't leave enough room. That and I have always been intimidated by them.


Credits: Template: Jessica Sprague, Papers: Amanda Taylor

I also, it seems, am intimidated with my own handwriting. It displeases me. Chicken scratch. Bah! But I was delighted that my wild child actually laid still while I clicked away, some almost in his face. How things have changed from when he first arrived fourteen years ago. Crazy man has finally mellowed. Love him.

cat bytes . . .

Spring has sprung . . .

This little tree is around the corner from us. WOW!



So since I had my camera, I scrambled up close,



I absolutely adore the pale pinkness of these buds. And then I noticed that I had company.



Bees! Lots and lots of bees. Too many bees. Time to leave . . . quickly. But I had to try and get one close up.



Sorry for the fuzz but this wasn't a macro situation, the branch being way over my head. But, look at those honey sacks!!!!! Dinner's coming!!!

Renninger's - part 1, getting there . . .

Today the 9TS and I piled into the Vette and headed to Mt. Dora, home of Renninger's Antique and Flea Market Extravaganza. It's held three times a year and is a favorite place for us to nose around.

Mt. Dora is pretty far out in the woods. A little boring on the interstate but once you are on back roads, it is a fine ride. This time though, I started to notice a pattern of signage. The first was a deer crossing sign. I missed a shot of that one, but everyone has seen one a time or two, unless of course, they are in downtown Manhattan, in which case, believe me, there are much more interesting sites to see. Any way, after the deer crossing sign, came the bear crossing signs. Lots of them. This one even had a number to call.



Then I noticed these babies. Not sure if you see them outside of the state of Florida but they are pretty common around here. You can click on the picture to see it better but remember we were doing 55 at the time . . .



But it was this one that got me thinking . . .



I mean really!! Doesn't it make you wonder just a little???

Renninger's - part 2

We actually go to Renninger's for a bunch of different reasons. Mostly, we just like to run away. It's a great place to nose around other people's junk. Oh, and the pulled pork sandwiches and smoked turkey legs at this little shack. Doesn't look like much, but the dear man is sold out early every afternoon. Yum!



I also like to take my camera and catch oddities such as these:













and this



One of the things we don't come for is this.



Parking is a mess. Acres and acres of mess. It's easy to lose your car. Or, lets say, um, bury it almost up to the axle's in sand. But we lucked out and on our second try, scored a really close spot.

All and all, it was an excellent day.

Friday . . .

FOR TODAY 2:19:2010 at Or Just Me

Outside my window: I can more than wish for Spring. The sky is clear and bright and my neighbors have pansies!!!! I think it is coming!

I am thinking: I am stopping this little feature on my blog. It's not cutting it.

I am thankful for: Good grief. What am I not thankful for today. The weather, the 9TS, LL Bean's slippers, plentiful food, thin mints, my Wacom, lessons learned . . .

From the kitchen: I can actually see a clean floor. I know, who am I and where is Jeanne!!

I am wearing: a cocktail sheath, stiletto heels, Winston diamonds, a beehive, Revlon: Fire and Ice lipstick. Just kidding, I am still in my p.j's and a T. You knew that.

I have been creating: layouts!!! Basic Grey came out with a new digital kit. Long live Phoebe!

I am going: To Renninger's tomorrow with the 9TS and my camera. So many photo ops at that place. And BBQ. Happy. Happy.

I am reading: 'Tis by Frank McCourt is next on my list. I read Angela's Ashes and loved it.

I am procrastinating: Cleaning the rest of the house. What did you expect? This is me!!!

Around the house: The 9TS is reading the paper. I just finished my Webinar class with Jessica Sprague, Snoop is curled up in his bed pretending to sleep. But I know he is awake, he is purring so loudly . . .

Say goodnight Gracie!

I was over at Sue's blog and she had this amazing link for Sarah Milne. Of course I had to follow the yellow brick road, so to speak. Wow. Check out OZ!!!! Sarah has some super sketches. And, of course, thief that I am. I borrowed this one:



and turned it into this one:


Credits: Basic Grey - Phoebe, Stitches: Anna Aspnes.

Life is good.

Card chaos . . .

We have two birthdays this week. The 9TS asked for two cards. Thanks to Karenika, I made a two minute, down and dirty for Stephanie. The 9TS liked it but didn't think Colin would appreciate the flowers. I was bemoaning the fact that all of my punches are rather feminine in nature, and the 9TS wanted a plane. So draw one, said I. And so he did.



Happy Birthday Stephanie and Colin!!!

self indulgence . . .

blogs are by nature, a very self indulgent tool. I mean really . . . they assume that you have something of value to voice and indeed, many people do. All manner of facts, creativity, and awareness are shared. Blog hop and you will see what I mean.

But so are the meanderings of minds such as mine. Useless fluff bantering and clogging the bandwidths of cyberspace . . . internet flotsam and jetsam. And just why have I blogged for the last four years? I was pontificating about this a lunch on Tuesday. Gawd, I hope these women, these friends of mine, know when to tune me out.

I do it because it keeps Katie attached. It helps me focus by laying things out. It lets me leave a trail of tidbits I might never otherwise remember to share with my family . . . old stories, old photos . . . It satisfies that urge to write. Yes, it is self indulgence at its very best.

So if you read my blathering, thank you for indulging me. If you don't, don't worry . . . I get it.

new kit, new layout . . .

Credits: Mat, star, tag, frame, staples: Dawn Inskip. Fonts: Heidis, Lily Paige. Papers: Katie Pertiet.

The light bulb that is my Tablet Class at Jessica Sprague.com, has finally stopped flickering and gone off, and off and off. So much to learn, so much to do, so much fun. Yep, I made the scallops, yep, I traced the title letters and made them into .png files. (and yep, I know it would have been easier just to stroke the letters . . . but, ya gotta learn sometime.) Yep, I played with the photograph. And, yep, my kidlet gets very tired of posing for my ever attached camera.



I am really jazzed about all the old stuff from paper scrapping days that I can now recycle. I knew being a pack rat was a good thing. Technology . . . ain't it a pip!?!?!?

who is Katie . . .

Nothing like a new rule to make you more productive.


Credits: Papers: Something Blue Studios, Fonts: Georgia, Lily Paige, LB_Typewriter, Grunge Brush: Anna Aspnes, Flowers: Vinnie Pearce.

rules and regulations . . .

I have a new rule. For every new kit I buy, I have to create something with it before it is allowed to go in my stash and a new goodie unearthed. This kit is from the Art_Play_ Palette series from Anna Aspnes called 10things2heart and was . . . oh happy day . . . a freebie!!!! The brushes alone are too yummy.

The reason for this new rule in my unregulated life? I have in my stash some 2054 sheets of digital paper, 301 alphas, 187 brads, 650 flowers, 188 hearts and stars, 335 journaling blocks, 450 ribbons and bows, 199 staples, 132 stitches, 576 pieces of word art, 273 overlays, 492 frames and that doesn't even begin to count templates, brushes, actions and miscellaneous .png and .jpeg files. Excess. Gluttage. OK, so gluttage isn't a word but it should be. You get the idea.

This rule will be written in stone and scrunched in among the following:

Always wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident.

Always put toilet paper on the seat in a public toilet before doing what you went in to do.

Brush your teeth twice a day.

The only thing you should put in your ear is your elbow.

I can handle five rules.

Friday . . .

FOR TODAY 2:12:2010 at Or Just Me

Outside my window: It is still dark. I can see the night lights of my neighbors, telling me all is well in the cul-de-sac. You can almost see the cold.

I am thinking: That I woke this morning after a very strange and haunting dream. The type that you can not just roll over and go back to sleep again, kind.

I am thankful for: Matching silverware . . . it has to do with the dream. I am still rattled.

From the kitchen: I know my sink has the remnants of last night's dinner. I am usually quite fastidious about cleaning up after dinner. Counter tops have to be scrubbed, stove top wiped clean . . . but my make-up yoga class was last night and I came home hungry and drained at 8:3O. Reheated some baked ziti and slid under the covers.

I am wearing: p.j's and a T. I do wear clothes. Really. I need to stop blogging at 5: a.m.

I have been creating: New layouts with the Grace kit by Dawn Inskip. Love it. Also downloaded and Art Play kit by Anna Aspnes, so that will be today's playtime.

I am going: Insane. Sorry, couldn't help that. The dream still has me rattled. Can you tell?

I am reading: Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther. I found it in a used bookstore. It made a HUGE impact on me when I read it the first time circa 196o. All these years later it is so interesting to read from a totally different perspective. Note: It it is not a warm and fuzzy read . . . or is it?

I am procrastinating: calling the dentist before my teeth turn green and fall out. Gaw, I hope not.

I am wondering: Why one cat has to be alpha. Why can they not just all be beta's. When Ninja comes to snuggle, Bear gets jealous, comes over and bites Ninja's ear until she leaves, then settles down, purring, in her stead. There is snuggling room for all, my furry friends.

Around the house: Katie's vacuum cleaner is fixed by the amazing 9TS. And ready to be picked up by the wandering student.

camp Po-ne-mah. . .

my one adventure into girl's camp . . . was the summer after my mother passed. I guess she and my father had this preplanned . . . something to keep me occupied and a break for my father. My sister stayed home.

there was swimming, canoeing, horse back riding, crafts and the obligatory Wednesday night letter home. No letter, no dinner. The best vanilla pudding . . . ever. I felt the tugging of homesickness every day until we passed the mid point of my stay. Then like some tiny switch had been flipped, I no longer had that constant ache in the pit of my stomach.

One night, the sheer weight of being motherless descended in crescendos. Wave after inconsolable wave washed over my body and shook me. I was beyond bereft. My cabin mates were uneasy. I knew this and still I could not stop the wailing from some well deep inside me. A counselor was called and slowly, I re-entered this world. The next day, the camp owner, Billy Williams, called me to her cabin. On the porch were five musty old cartons of 8 x 10 camp photos. "Look", she said, "see what you find." And I did. I sifted through them wondering why until I picked up the first of the photos of my mother at that very same camp. And then later, the second. She had been here. She had known the ancient Billy . . . she had slept in the cabins, maybe the very same one in which I lay my head . . . played tennis on the same courts . . . road the same trails . . .

I had known she had attended the same camp, but here on this porch, it was finite . . . a connection made.

While I enjoyed my time there, I never returned. There was no need.

My mother died on February 10, 1962.

playing with grace . . .

it's a new kit by Dawn Inskip over at Catscrap called Grace. Love it. Added lined paper by Katie Pertiet, Staples by Pattie Knox and film overlay by Lynne-Marie.

P.S. That's my mother on the right. Cute shoes . . . not!

Pandemonium and pain pills . . .

Two little known facts about the 9TS: He was a street corner singer in his youth. And he is currently inching his way through life with a miserable aching back. These factoids will come in handy in a moment.

Last night the 9TS, his brother Joe, Jackie and I went to Carrabba's for dinner and then to the local auditorium to see the Harvey Robbins Royalty of Doo-Wopp show. Both the 9TS and his brother are, ahem, of that vintage. Jackie and I were still in grade school, thank you very much. The show was fun. And of course, knowing that we would be seated for two + hours, the 9TS had remembered to pop a pain pill after dinner.



We sat and watched a variety of acts, some imitators, some originals, the crowd was relatively contained until the final number when all of the singers in unison sang a rousing version of the Temptations SHOUT.

Well, you know you make me wanna'
(Shout) Kick my heels up and
(Shout) Throw my hands up and
(Shout) Throw my head back and
(Shout) Come on now
(Shout) Don't forget to say you will

Don't forget to say yeah x5
(Say you will) Say it right now, baby
(Say you will) Come on, come on
(Say you will) Say that you
(Say you will) Say that you love me
(Say) Say that you need me
(Say) Say that you want me
Say) Don't ever leave me

Pandemonium broke out with people standing, stomping, clapping and singing right along. Some were even dancing in the aisle. Wait!!! That's the 9TS, bad back and all, doing the South Philly Shuffle in the aisle, singing along . . . . dancing his happy heart out. WOW! In all the years I have known him, I never saw him dance like that. He had a ball! And those close to the aisle were cheering him on. He was a STAR!!!

But, I think I am going to have to renew his prescription for pain medication this afternoon.

Friday . . .

FOR TODAY 2:05:2010 at Or Just Me

Outside my window: The rain is on pause. The northern blizzards are to bring us more wetness today. The pool is full. The ground soggy. But this rain is a blessing before the coming dry season. I love the rain.

I am thinking: How much I love the 9TS.

I am thankful for: Snuggling cats, the 9TS's odd sense of humor, a visit from Katie . . .

From the kitchen: I made a huge pot of pasta fagioli for dinner last night and left three individual containers on the counter to cool before refrigeration. At 2 a.m., my best thinking time, I remembered them and scampered downstairs to pop them in the fridge. Is eight hour old pork based soup still good? I mean really. Please leave me a comment and let me know!

I am wearing: p.j's and a T. Are you starting to see a theme. And yes, I do get dressed.

I am creating: Doodles. Pages and pages of doodles. I started my Pen Tablet class Monday. And am having a ball. And so it seems is the 9TS who told me to scooch over and immediately drew an airplane. He cracks me up.

I am going: The 9TS and I, and his brother and his significant other, are going out on the town tomorrow night. Dinner and then to a Doo Woop show at the arts center. Fun. Fun. Fun.

I am reading: Nothing at the moment. And I am hungry for a book, so I have gathered all the old paperbacks and am planning a trip to the used book store. They have a swap program. Makes me happy.

I am procrastinating: Filing. I am so far behind. The clear plastic boxes full of bank statements, insurance policies, instruction manuals, tax folios and the like are still sitting in the loft mocking me. They need to be culled and put in the rolling cart and then into the attic. But space needs to be made by cleaning out the attic first. It is an overwhelming concept. Or why the clear plastic bins have been where they are for well over two years. GAW.

I am wondering: Why I am so lazy lately. I need to get my body moving. This state is totally unacceptable.

Around the house: Our neighbors are out of town. They left us a message asking if we would pick up a package they were expecting. Our front hall is now full of boxes and post office bins. Oh and Katie's dead vacuum that I need to get to the repairman. It's getting crowded in that little area.

OK, so I never claimed to be an artist. But it is fun playing with my pen tablet.

drawn . . . .

aphasic! dyslexic! paralyzed! All the while tippy tapping around the loft in glee . . . a new class. A pen tablet class. It's like learning to write with my left hand . . . I being a confirmed righty. To forgo the mouse for a pen . . . Like driving an automatic after years of a stick shift. Your hand reaches out into nothingness to change gears. It is akin to tossing away an old friend, I still yearn for. But I will conquer. The new possibilities are calling to me like sirens of the sea. I am drawn!

yoga. Was so good yesterday. I missed last week terribly. I missed that feeling of release . . . of feeling ever so slightly disconnected in a very grounded and earthly way. I realize that sounds like the antithesis of yoga but for me it works. I am hooked. Tethered. Drawn!

good food. Since I am forced for another four weeks to forgo fat in my diet, I have had to reevaluate what goes in my mouth. I have become a more directed label reader. A junk food junkie in remission. I feel so much better. More energy. More clarity. And losing ten pounds . . . extreme bonus! I think I will continue in this venue even after the first of March. Drawn!

(Or at least until I run into my first slice of chocolate on chocolate cake . . . it having powers far beyond those of mortal men. Drawn!)