Quote

It was then I knew that success, not greatness, was the only god the entire world served.

Quote from Elizabethtown--my new favorite movie

Old habits die hard

Ever since the beginning of the year, I've been trying to essentially "relearn" how to throw on the wheel. With lots of reluctance, I have changed the direction of the wheel from what I first learned 14 years ago and am trying to get the proper techniques down that my instructors use. When I have the wheel going the other way, they can't help me much and not every wheel goes "backwards". I thought I just learned how to do it left-handed before. Anyways, if I get this down, I should be able to throw bigger and better. It's frustrating, but there's something about clay that is soothing to me. I still call it circular therapy.

Updates on life

What I'm giving up for lent--feeling guilty. It is still creeping back in and I am trying to nip it in the bud. Decided that food wasn't the thing for me to give up due to underlying reasons, so I'm reading The Purpose Driven Life again. Also will be journaling. I found the Purpose Driven Life leather journal at a garage sale last year for $1, and decided I will use that also. So far I have done it for three days...only 37 more to go.

My mom--Next week is her last week of chemo/radiation for this round. My two sisters and brother-in-law are taking turns staying with her, since they feel she shouldn't be left alone. She has bad mouth sores, and they have cut out one of the chemo drugs this last week. After this week, she has four weeks of rest. With me being three states away, it's easy for the guilt to creep up of me not being there.

First crocus

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Galanthus or snowdrop

FIRST BLOOM! The bulb fanaticism has started!!! Last year the crocus were the first to bloom on February 3rd. My dog and I will be out scouting daily now for the next bloom.

Happy 25th!!!

Happy Anniversary Jackie and Mark!

If I was to post a picture, any picture, it would be your wedding picture where Mark has the red handkerchief with his tux or the one with his nose-warmer on that you (Jackie) crocheted for him..but I only have my box of pictures that Mom gave me of me or the ones that I took.

Thanks for all those nights you let me sleep over and feeding me and not making me milk the cows for my supper.

You will be getting something in the mail, but in honor of the presidents it will be a day later (no mail delivery). It will also be another day later because I was thinking your anniversary was on Wednesday instead of Tuesday...

Oh, and I'm so impressed that you figured out how to leave comments on my blog!!!

Photo Friday--Self-portrait

Why is this so hard? This is me, no muss, no fuss.

Giving up anything for Lent?

Had a conversation again with my husband regarding giving up something for Lent. We're not Catholic, but I've never done it except for fasting for 30 hours with the help of many, many shakes when helping out with the church youth group for 30-hour famine. It was hard not consuming more calories then I normally would with food.

Anyways, he decided to give up french fries. On first thought two days ago, I didn't want to give anything up...but since he could do it I thought I HAVE to now! So I suggested chocolate...He responded with an adamant "NO!!!", meaning I would probably not be fun to live with. I don't usually eat french fries, so that wouldn't work for me. Then I commented, "Do I drink enough wine for it to even be a sacrifice?" He agreed that I only drink it every two or three months anyways, so that wouldn't be a good thing. Coffee wouldn't be good for my work production. I mentioned only consuming chocolate in liquid form, but he thought that was weird. We finally concluded with possibly Dove Milk Chocolates, since I often eat two small pieces after dinner, especially when he gets his chocolate out!!! I have one more day to decide...Have thought of only whole-wheat carbs or something like that...We'll see.

p.s. I have never fasted on my own because I use the excuse that my underlying objective would probably be to try and lose weight and not listening to God, but may try it in the future. Also, I can't give up anything my dog eats with me like animal crackers or baby carrots or tortillas because she would be abstaining also (okay, that's a bad excuse). Yes, my dog is spoiled!

p.s.s. or p.p.s. Thought about fasting from blogs...my husband calls me a blog addict..don't know if I could do it.

Fun character-creators/time-wasters

Wee World

Become an M&M

South Park character

Know of any others?

Presidents' Day

Watched a show Saturday morning while on the treadmill called "Decisions That Shook the World". Being born in 1970, it is weird to think that 40-some years ago black people couldn't vote. It talked about LBJ going into a depression after his term was up, thinking he didn't do much. He even started smoking again. It made me think how much more he could've done if he didn't just give up, not dwelling on himself but others. It's easy for me to think that but not do anything myself, dwelling on my insecurities and my issues of the day.

Then went to church Saturday evening, and the verse below was discussed.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28-29

Then it made me think of this verse:

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

What can I do today to help justice prevail? I have these feelings, but then get wrapped up in my own life. Hopefully I will notice more opportunities when they come along.

Song lyrics by America

This is for all the lonely people
Thinking that life has passed them by
Dont give up until you drink from the silver cup
And ride that highway in the sky

My heart goes out to those who are lonely today...also those that work in offices where the challenge is who gets the biggest bouquet of flowers...been there, done that,didn't get any, etc.

Happy Valentine's Day

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:34-35

This is my attempt at watercolor Valentine cards, but didn't get any further. Also had glue issues. . . I love you even though I didn't finish the cards. Does anyone else still feel burned out from Christmas? Maybe I'll be ready for Easter or Spring cards.

Hope you feel the love and warmth today!

Hair care products

Has this ever happened to you? You haven't used a hair care product for about a year and decide to use it today...It smells good...After it's already in your hair you remember that it makes your hair look greasy. That's why I put it up today...not enough time or energy to wash it again. Glad I just did the ends and not the roots. Even though the bottle cost $20, it's better in the trash than on my shelf.

Photo Friday--Sky

Can't pick just one and am making up for a few Fridays--

Burgundy shoes

I'm in love with the new Patty Griffin CD! My favorite right now is a song about her reminiscing about a day when she was a little girl called Burgundy Shoes...brings back memories.

We wait for the bus that's going to Bangor
In my plaid dress and burgundy shoes
In your red lipstick and lilac kercheif
You're the most pretty lady in the world

The leaves are green and new like a baby
Tulips are red, now I don't miss the snow
It's the first day I don't wear my big boots
You hold my hand, I've got burgundy shoes
Burgundy shoes, burgundy shoes

Well I did have plaid Toughskins and didn't ride the bus, but I remember my momma putting lipstick on all the time. I would also STAND next to her shoulder while she was driving, back when people didn't where their seatbelts. Mom used to go to the beautyshop once a week to get her hair done. I loved that she used to let me play with her makeup because I didn't make a mess. I also used to have one of those blonde head dolls to practice doing hair and makeup--Do you remember what I'm talking about? That's how I learned how to braid hair.

Evolution of dance

Click on Evolution of dance for six minutes of dancing fun and reminiscing. As you can see, it didn't work to embed the youtube video. Oh well. Thanks, Marci, for sending me this!

testing,testing

Okay, I'm not smart enough to figure out myself how to post youtube videos....

Note to self regarding sock lint

Don't wear your dark grey socks and jog on the treadmill and then take your socks off and walk on your off-white carpet that you just vacuumed, okay?

Paper whites

I love the miracle of bulbs! But ooh,my husband's right. These paper whites stink!!! Don't tell him I said so. I started them a couple weeks ago to help with the winter doldrums.

Here's your first warning. I love spring bulbs--daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, crocus, scilla, muscari, galanthus, alliums... so I'm sure I'll be posting some pics this spring.

Keeper of the Plains

On my way back from going a family meeting for my husband's guard unit in which I was the only one that showed up, I finally stopped and checked out something I have been driving by about twice a week, everytime saying "one of these days I'll go look at that". For you out-of-towners, I should say that they moved 44-foot statue by Blackbear Bosin for the proposed "Riverwalk" they are in the process of building. I am glad I looked at it, because from views from the roads around it, it looked like they morphed it by some weird arrow sculptures which I thought was disrespectful. I was happy to see that they are bridges. The stones around the sculpture to me look pretty fake, but it's still under construction so I hope it looks better when they finish in 20--? (Can you tell I don't read the paper that much?)

Did happen to meet a gentleman named Gary who was out trying to capture a picture of a bald eagle. He saw one earlier in the day. We don't usually have them here; they think it's because of the cold. He was kind enough to give me tips and even let me shoot his DSLR Nikon camera! Cool!

Funky crenulated pot

This was fun. I knew it was off-center and so just did "whatever" to it and used low-fire glaze. When I brought it home, my husband reminded me it was crenulated (one of the new words I learned in December--see here).

Speaking of words, here are some words rarely used in my vocabulary:

--Succint
--Nascent
--Sexton
--Fortnight

You may use them in a sentence in the comment section for fun if you'd like. The first two are courtesy of Paul Hill. The last two are courtesy of Year of Wonders, the book I'm reading that takes place in 1666.