Mini Pedestal Cake Stand

I have been wanting a small cake stand to serve cookies and petit fours to my guests when they come to tea.  I looked everywhere but never saw anything near to what I wanted.

I was about to give up searching when, a few days ago, I was reading one of my favorite blogs (Bee in My Bonnet http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com) and there was my mini cake stand!  Lori had purchased a beautiful dish and a candle stick holder at a thrift store.  After viewing cake stand, I  just had to run right out to my local thrift store to see what I could find.

Here are my beautiful pieces.  The dish was on half-price sale so I got it for 32 cents and the candle stick holder was 60 cents.  So for a total of 95 cents, including tax, I finally got my mini cake stand.  I'm putting it together with a glue named named E-6000.  It's supposed to be very strong.

A Lovable Eccentric

Last year I did a layout of a relative of my ex-SIL.  His name is Mervin and he is a flea market hound.  Every Wednesday he goes to the Leesport, PA flea market and searches for treasures.  His house is filled to the brim with all his finds so he tells the vendors he can't buy any more until his house expands.  He is just so lovable, I want to squeeze him.
We met Mervin again a few weeks ago at that very same flea market.  I almost didn't recognize him because he had on a new hat and a brand new pair of overalls.  Still the same Mervin and still looking, wanting to buy,  but not buying.
I'll do an updated layout using this photo soon.  I think I'll leave the other people in the background because the theme will be about his flea market buying.  What so you think?

Christmas Values

One of the things I value most about the Christmas holiday is peace.  Growing up with an alcoholic father, we didn't get much peace, we got chaos.  After getting married and having a child, my goal each year was to have a peaceful, loving Christmas holiday.  I know that has been accomplished.  I forgave my father a long time ago and hope he found peace.
A tradition we have is that no matter where our daughter is on Christmas Eve, she calls us and we unwrap our gifts together while wishing each other Merry Christmas.  It sort of makes up for not being together during Christmas.
Friendship is something I value most.  My friend, Rochelle, was born on Christmas day.  Growing up she never actually got a birthday gift.  All her gifts were wrapped  in Christmas paper and she was told the gifts were also for her birthday.  How unfair is that?  So each year I make sure she gets at least one birthday gift from me.  I wrap it in cheery birthday paper, and then another gift is wrapped in Christmas paper.   I know she appreciates this.  My birthday is June 25 so we always kid each other that our birthdays are six months apart in either direction.
As I mature (I'm getting old!) I am appreciating more of what the holidays are all about.  It's not really about gift giving and great foods; although, that is very nice.  It's about a feeling of wonder, warmth, and sharing, while savoring that feeling all through the year.  And, remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.

Bought on a Whim

I should never watch QVC (a shopping network for those not familiar with it.)  I always get sucked into buying something I really don't want or need.  That being said, I have bought things on a whim that really helped improve my life. 
Did I buy something a couple of weeks ago that will  improve my life?  I don't know yet, we'll just have to wait and see.  What I bought is an HP net book in pink!  It comes with its own pink and black sleeve, Windows 7 Starter, Adobe PSE 8.0 and various other software packages.  The only thing it doesn't come with is a CD/DVD drive.  The software came on a little bitty disc like cameras use.  Fortunately, I already have an external CD/DVD burner drive.   Sigh, another thing bought on a whim.  I haven't used this much since I got my new desktop computer earlier in the year.

The net book is the cutest little thing ever.  It comes with Wi-Fi and a webcam.  Gee, I don't know anyone else who has a webcam, and I'm not even sure what Wi-Fi is or how to use it.  I do know I don't want another monthly charge on top of my DSL.  I'm told I can go to Burger King or Starbucks and latch onto their Wi-Fi system so I may do that for updates and such.


The reason I bought the net book is so that I can do my digital layouts in PSE8.0 while watching TV or out on the deck .  That way I am not holed up in my office room all by myself feeling isolated from hubba. 
Has anyone else ever bought anything on a whim?  I'm sure I can't be the only one to do this.  Let's hope I'm happy after having the net book for a while.

YEARLY REMINDER

Today was the day for my yearly mammogram.  While never pleasant, it is a necessity.  By getting these yearly mammograms, a fibrous adenoma was discovered followed by an ultrasound, and a biopsy.  Thankfully, pathology came back that it is benign.  My mammograms determine  the fibrous adenoma is not moving or getting any bigger.  If it does, then it will be removed.
Image from Google Images
OK, the serious stuff is over and now I have some observations to make on getting these yearly mammograms:
1.  Why are the gowns provided always so big?  By the time I find which string has an opposite partner to tie, the gown has fallen off my shoulders and is in a pool around my feet.
2.  We are told to place our outer garments in a plastic bag and then leave them in the dressing room.  Has anyone ever been tempted to look in the bags?  I hope not because my only clean bra this morning was rather worn--clean but worn.
3.  It is pathetic to see all the women in the waiting room trying to keep some form of modesty in these gowns.  We are all pulling them back onto our shoulders and grasping them in front so everything isn't out there in the open.
4.  Why are the waiting rooms always so cold?  If I had a thermometer with me, I am sure it would have registered in the low 50's.
5.  Speaking about cold, why are the technicians hands always so cold?  It is bad enough that the equipment is sub-zero against my warm skin, but her hands are like ice cubes.  She spent a lot of time saying how sorry she was that her hands are cold--I know!
Like I said, this is something women go through every year so we must have a sense of humor about the process.

UPDATE:  I got notification today that my mammogram was normal.  Yippee!!!  Now I can be worry-free until next year.  Sigh.

JUST A BIT OF FUN TODAY

I took this photo last week while at a farmer's market.  A pen of goats were waiting to be auctioned off.  I started taking lots of photos but  had no idea this photo was going to be so cute.

Sock Project

Knitting socks are such fun.  They really do go quickly if you keep at it but sometimes life gets in the way.  I started this pair of socks on November 1, 2009.  I may complete them by Thanksgiving.  Yes, I know those of you who knit would have had them done in a day or two.  However, I do have an excuse for not getting them done more quickly.
The day after I started knitting the socks I got a huge floater in my eye with flashes of lights.  No biggy, I've had this before but thought I should go to the ophthalmologist to make sure there are no holes in the retina.  There aren't any holes but this huge floater is taking up most of my right eye.  I never learned how to knit just by feeling the stitches so it's difficult for me to focus my eye.  The floater will diminish somewhat in time and surely will fade from black to light gray.  I'll just have to wait it out.
In the meantime,   I'll knit an hour or so a day and with any luck I'll have a pair of colorful socks before Thanksgiving.

UPDATE:  I finished one sock and found it was way too big.  I ripped it out and started over again.  This time, I am doing k2, p2 for the cuff instead of k1, p1 because that ribbing is tighter on the leg.  I started it over again on November 25, 2009.  My new goal date to finish the pair is by Christmas.

Eerie Quilt

I took this photo at a recent quilt show in Pennsylvania but neglected to write down the artist.  I think it is eerily interesting and quite beautiful.  I believe the artist named it metamorphosis.

Enjoying My Life

I have started taking the attitude that life is what you make of it.  You can either be miserable or start to enjoy life.  I have been trying to find fun in everything I do.  For example, yesterday we went to a farmer's market.  You think, what's so much fun about that.  Ah, but we found several things that just made our day.
This particular farmer's market also has a flea market.  While walking up and down the aisle of vendors, I happened to look to my right and saw two horses galloping in the pasture beside the flea market.  Ah ha! I thought to myself.  This is a photo opportunity I am not to lose.  I walked over to the fence, and stood there focusing my camera.  The horses saw me and came running over to the fence.  They must have thought I had carrots to fed them.  Unfortunately, I only had a camera in hand.  My husband came over and they nuzzled his hand hoping for something to eat.  Nope, he didn't have carrots either.  They did pose nicely for me so I got a couple of photos there.

Later, we came across a cousin of my ex-sister-in-law that we had met several months ago.  He is such a unique character -- and I say that in the most loving way.  His house in town is filled to the rafters with finds from this very flea market.  While we were chatting with Mervyn, one of the vendors came over and asked how come he wasn't buying anything.  Mervyn answered, "because I don't have any more room to put things!"

I then ventured over to the animal auction holding pens.  I love cows so thought I could get a couple of photos of those up for auction.  No such luck.  They were all the way in the back of the barn and it was too dark.  They were going to auction next so I couldn't even go into the barn.  Since I was not a buyer, I couldn't get into the auction either.  So no photos of the beautiful cows.
However, I did get a couple of shots of the cutest little goats.  One of them tried to eat through my bag to get to a sack of sesame sticks I had just purchased.  Guess he smelled them right through the bag!

After purchasing a lot of fresh vegetables, some freshly baked breads,  and a new, smaller, case for my camera.  We drove home very tired but simply alive with all the sights and smells we had witnessed that day.

Five of my Favorite Things

I like lists.  I always have.  I start writing them early in the morning, and before I go to bed I write a list of things to do when I wake up.  So having said that here is a list of five of my favorite things in the world--well, at least right now.
1.  My Sansa Fuze MP3 player.  I take it with me on my walks and listen to my favorite podcast--Coast to Coast AM.

2.  My camera.  I take it everywhere with me just in case there is a photo op--don't want to miss that.

3.  A good cup of tea.  Why does everyone suppose coffee is the only hot drink?

4.  My computer.  I think I would die without it.

5.   Taking digital scrapbooking classes.  As someone on the Jessica Sprague forum said, she is a classaholic.   I think that just about says it all!

OK, I did my list for today and now I'll scribble my list for tomorrow morning.

DECEMBER DAILY

It's a funny thing about intentions.  We all have them and many succeed in actually doing them.  Every year it is my intention to do an album leading up to Christmas like Ali Edwards does.  Years have gone by without success.  This year I really do intend doing it.  I am so sure I will succeed this year because I already have the album made.  All I have to do each day is take a photo, write a bit of journaling, and embellish the page.  Sounds easy, right?  Wish me luck!
Here's a photo of my album just waiting to be filled with gorgeousness...sorry it's so dark.

...here's a couple of the pages--

It's a great way to use some of those swap items that have been stashed away waiting for a good way to use them.  I only hope my album turns out as nicely as Ali Edwards's always does!

How will I remember everything in 2010?

I'll be using my newly downloaded ebook Scrapbooker's All-in-One Memory Log Book for 2010.  I downloaded it last night and spent most of the morning printing it out.  I opted for the ebook because I wanted to personalize it.  I heard about the book from members on the Jessica Sprague general forum.

I love things like this but sometimes I get overwhelmed and don't carry things through -- like the 2009 365 Project.  I had good intentions but life got in the way.

This book, however, is perfect for me because all I have to do is actually use it.  It lists weekly challenges, has questionnaires, monthly and daily calendars, log sheets for jotting down memories, and layout planning pages among other goodies.  I have no association with the designer of this ebook, but if anyone is interested check out www.logyourmemory.com and check it out.

What we did on the night of Halloween

Since we only had two kids visit our house last Halloween, we decided to go to the mall instead of waiting an eternity for the doorbell to ring.  I've been wanting to buy a new camera for a while so we visited the camera store at the mall.  I have a wonderful Nikon CoolPix S7 now that takes great photos but there is no view finder on it.  Taking photos in bright sun has been a challenge for me with that camera.  So, I decided to get a Canon PS1200is (one of the last cameras to have a view finder.)

Our mall usually has something going on, and on Halloween they had exhibitions of hand-crafted items.  We just fell in love with the display of wooden hand-tooled bowls.  We must have spent 15 minutes just looking at and feeling the wonderful smoothness of the bowls.  After a bit, we chatted with the artist and found out his studio is only a few miles from us!  In fact, we both moved to Chalfont in 1976.  I got to ask his wife what it was like to live with a true artist, and she just groaned! 

My husband, always thinking ahead of me, said why don't you try your new camera out by taking some photos of these wonderful bowls?  So I did, and here they are... 

Day One

I haven't quite decided yet where this blog will take me.  Do I make it public or private?  Do I dress it up or leave it just as it is?  Hard decisions for me to make when my Blogging for Scrapbookers class hasn't started yet.  I think I'll wait until tomorrow and see what Shimelle is going to teach us about blogging.