Pictures for Mom

Hey Mom, here are some of the pictures I took while I was on the phone with you. I'll post the butterfly pictures later.

On the "Mysteries of the Bible" program this morning, the topic was on miracles. One rabbi mentioned that we see miracles all the time...we just get used to them.

Pottery again

May make a saucer for this cup someday...

Ode to a Walt Disney movie or some edible fungi...






Found this color combination in Better Homes and Gardens and thought I'd give it a try. My husband thinks I should've put XXX on the bottle.

Flower kaleidoscope

Addicted to blogs?

I just spent a couple hours catching up on blogs, updating my blog, and looking up things on the internet while watching "North by Northwest". Was it time well-spent? You bet! Now I need to go exercise. I love Sundays!

Feel free to take the quiz below if you'd like. I think I know my answer; however, I did survive over a week without my computer.

How addicted to blogs are you quiz

Sense of Community

Been thinking lately about the line in the movie The English Patient where the "English patient" asks, "How come people get excited when they meet someone from their hometown when if they would've passed them on the street at home and wouldn't have given them the time of day?" --or something like that.

Think that's why I'm annoyed at all the big radio stations buying up the little ones. Is that why people are annoyed at all the Wal-Marts popping up and eating the "little guys" up. Isn't that why some people need to watch the local news?

Why do we innately long for familiarity?

Pottery pictures

Above are some of my pieces waiting to be bisque fired (first firing without glaze). Am still waiting on a couple of the pieces that I glazed and are in the kiln now.

Below are some of the finished pieces. A couple of them turned out the way I expected, and others I'm learning to like. That's what this hobby is all about, though--sometimes frustrating, sometimes relaxing, sometimes rewarding.--always requiring a lot of patience.



















Checked out some ceramic/pottery books while my computer was in the shop, and now I have a lot of ideas running through my head. Seems like I can't produce fast enough to try them out. I'm still going to class only two days a week, and our session ends on November 17th.

Got my computer back!!!

Just got back from getting my computer...thought I would be more productive if I waited to pick it up until I finished work and started my 8 hours at 5 a.m. this morning. Am needing a nap and then will post new pottery pictures!

p.s. Now our air-conditioner isn't working ;o( Oh well, it's only 91 degrees; it could be worse.

Circuit training revamped

I've been waiting to share something, but it may never get on youtube, so thought I'd mention it now since I'm on the exercise subject. I have a silly new circuit training workout.

Before I left for my vacation at the beginning of August, I was going on my treadmill and trying to do at least 20 miles a week, either jogging or walking. Needless to say, I was burned out. But my brother unknowingly solved my burnout problem when he and his girlfriend brought along a Dance Dance Revolution game to my mom's house. My nephews even made two videos of me doing it which are silly and I look like a dork, but I really like them. One day my brother will get around to posting them on youtube, and I'll be semi-famous.

Now at least once a week I do circuit training by "dancing" one song, doing a set of free weights, "dancing another song", and back and forth.

So...if you are tired of your current exercise routine, I'd suggest DDR. Loved all your comments on the last post!!!

The body of an athlete?

After still being overweight after exercising two to three times a week, I've come to the realization that I really do have a body of an athlete, just not the athlete I would choose--a bowler. I figured this out after my husband left the TV on and the "U.S. Women's Open" came on. I thought it was only tennis, but guess bowling has one, too. Can you guess that I'm sport-illiterate and proud of it?

p.s. Hope I didn't offend any bowlers out there; it's just that this one particular bowler looks heavier than me.

Messaging the Beatitudes

Brought home my mom's "The Message" Bible she gave me and looked up the Sermon on the Mount since our church sermons are going to be about that in the next few weeks. Here's a contrast of versions of the first three verses of the Beautitudes:

King James--
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

The Message--
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

Why did I used to stereotype "The Message" and say I didn't like it before? Guess I better do more comparison. Think these verses are enough to chew on for today...

Computer service

My computer is going to a service center for a new motherboard...It might take two to three weeks, so won't be posting pictures until then. If I look like I'm going through withdrawal, please be kind to me.

Computer update

Hello,

My computer is still in the shop, and they think there is a trojan that my anti-virus program didn't pick up...So after having just washed my hands, my husband is letting me use his pristine instrument. If you know my husband then you know what I'm talking about.

Computer blues

Having computer problems...will get on when I can...

Bye bye little butterfly/Canned butterfly

The cocoon hatched!

Birthday pics

Thought I'd share my pictures of Mason'sbirthday party on Sunday. What fun! Melanie has some lovely pictures on her blog. The theme was Aliens, hence the masks. There was making of a sand castle as well as a sand angel. What an awesome party!!!

Fortune cookie

Last Friday my husband and I went out for Chinese food. Here's what my fortune cookie said:

You find beauty in ordinary things. Do not lose this ability.

...just what I needed to hear to confirm my weirdness/uniqueness. My mom was just asking me why I had all those insects on my blog (it was in a nice way). I stated, "Because they're there."

The first picture is of a bean blossom, and the others are morning glories.

Caterpiller

My little catapiller is changing before my eyes all in a matter of 16 hours! I feel like a proud parent or else a kindergartener being so fascinated with this. Yes, I am calling it MY catapiller since it ate ALL my flat-leaf Italian parsley I planted and its siblings ate ALL my dill. Needless to say, I saved it from the black wasps that come and eat them...Then I'm usually left with no herbs or catapillers...thus is the cycle of life.

Insects

Lately I've been interested in the intricacies of insects and particular patterns. Here are some from pictures from our yard. Did you know cicadas sometimes live for 17 years? The yellow spider is an Argiope. We've had some in the summers before, but never this big. The body is at least an inch long.

He (Solomon) produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing animals, birds, insects, and fish. "NET Bible version of 1 Kings 4:33"

p.s. Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post!!! I'll have to remember them when I have a bad day on the wheel.

Lidded flower vessel

Was wondering where my piece was because it wasn't on my shelf in the kiln room and the kilns were empty. Then I just happened to glance at the display case of the students' artwork while leaving, and there it was! Guess my instructor liked it.

Family hats

My mom bought the green hat as a joke. Seems like one of her grandsons has to get that hat out every once in awhile at family gatherings. In a couple of the pictures, my great-nephew is trying on my dad's cowboy hat. Then there's one of my sisters and me in our grandma's hats.

My Oklahoma nephews taught me about flat-bills and that you are supposed to keep the stickers on and wear them crooked. Too bad I lost the picture when they dressed up their father and pulled his pants down to hip level. He was stylin'.