tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78236683933212486302024-03-13T09:37:14.849-05:00M.T. Pocketts -- At Home and AbroadLiving life in a very small place... <br><i>& making an escape every now & then!</i>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-83388016485841234242012-06-17T11:51:00.004-05:002012-06-17T11:51:54.520-05:00Honest Abe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4bbhkSatls16EyvSFl0mlk8y5bMyqjBqgOs1OsPNAg5iWzOcowkZowvy7ijXsMq4Kt3a8QDG5m-SNK42s3ddDuZbdRUfPHmwFBxcChjVRYikEiVdDqy-YEilx3j_248lnI_cvbVA-BTx/s1600/abe+lincoln+internet+mbp+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4bbhkSatls16EyvSFl0mlk8y5bMyqjBqgOs1OsPNAg5iWzOcowkZowvy7ijXsMq4Kt3a8QDG5m-SNK42s3ddDuZbdRUfPHmwFBxcChjVRYikEiVdDqy-YEilx3j_248lnI_cvbVA-BTx/s640/abe+lincoln+internet+mbp+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><b>He's not going to lie to you!</b></i></div>
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<i><br /></i>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-13217427701455470552012-05-31T08:41:00.000-05:002012-05-31T11:14:35.723-05:00The Chi Hua Hua<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #990000;">Coco & Lola</span></i></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-_pSZJul88IK862V8bNkF3ZIeJguWDw8BRCg8wr85IrEB4fjSpvGGs_IbtQXMdUZYAuoKy0axYER_znLteK_3OyLGYCqR61Rcsvx_VXStQ_XF_BeaGi7-Xdlh2GlRpZeWVZxzS9eVvif/s1600/Lola+Coco+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-_pSZJul88IK862V8bNkF3ZIeJguWDw8BRCg8wr85IrEB4fjSpvGGs_IbtQXMdUZYAuoKy0axYER_znLteK_3OyLGYCqR61Rcsvx_VXStQ_XF_BeaGi7-Xdlh2GlRpZeWVZxzS9eVvif/s320/Lola+Coco+bathroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversations as a dog does.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> --Christopher Morley</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"> (1890-1957)</span></div>
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It's my privilege to introduce you, Gentle Reader, to <b>Coco</b>, the <i>Chi Hua Hua</i>. That's an easy way to remember how to spell Chihuahua, which would have been beyond my simple abilities to spell only weeks ago. Incidentally, this is <i>Mr</i>. Pocketts standing in for Mrs. M.T. Pocketts for a one time guest shot.</div>
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The story of Coco begins in Mexico where Mrs. Pocketts and I spent our usual relaxing two months of February and March at a very old Mexican hotel right on the beach in Puerto Vallarta. When the end of March began to roll around I told the Mrs. that indeed it might be time for us to acquire a new dog to replace our dear devoted friend, Punch, who died two years ago. Although <i>Punch</i> had been a 95 pounder of doubtful parentage, he'd been so central to our lives that his demise ate a hole in our hearts. It was time to mend that hole.</div>
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A week before our return home, Mrs. Pocketts got onto her fancy modern phone and texted our daughter in San Diego. Could she find us a dog like hers to take home with us? Five, that's <i>5</i>, hours later our dutiful daughter texted back that she'd found a Chihuahua on Craig's List. A Navy family had to move and chose to thin out its animal population. A timid, 10 month old female named "Peaches" proved the expendable member and went on the auction block, rather unceremoniously. Our "Girl Child" drove with a friend to inspect the little creature and reported to us in Mexico with words of encouragement and pictures. We accepted.</div>
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Still via texted messages, we all decided on the new name of Coco. "Peaches" just wouldn't do.</div>
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So, with excited hearts we strolled out that evening to our favorite Mexican restaurant, where we celebrated quietly. That's when two men at the table near us began to talk loudly in a jovial manner. (They had large margaritas in front of them) (and so did we). Perhaps it was this similarly jovial nature of our two tables that prompted one of the two men to lean toward us and ask Mrs. Pocketts a question. "<i>How you you spell Chihuahua?</i>," he proffered. Rocked back on our metaphorical heels, we both gaped open-mouthed at him. "<i>Isn't it Chi Hua Hua?</i>" he shouted over the restaurant din! "Yes, yes it is Chi Hua Hua," responded Mrs. Pocketts. And a fine informal conversation commenced during which we explained the improbable nature of his question and our current state of Chihuahua excitement. Turned out these two fellows were from the sunny state of California; high school buddies on holiday together. In any case we all enjoyed our meals and the M.T. Pocketts pair returned to their hotel to ponder their Chihuahua future.</div>
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A week later saw us in San Diego and face to face with the little creatures you see pictured above. A week following that saw the three of us; Mr. and Mrs. and Coco Pocketts, headed for our lost village in the Midwest via air travel with Coco tucked away in a carrier in front of Mrs. Pocketts' seat. Since then Coco's recovery from the shock of being twice removed from familiar homes has abated and she now rules the roost at the M.T. Pocketts estate. I'll let our chief author re assume control of her Blog at this point with a hearty thanks to all her fans for reading our latest adventure from the pen of Mr. Pocketts, Guest Columnist.</div>
</div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-7819550656988963472012-04-27T09:24:00.000-05:002012-04-27T09:24:22.225-05:00Waking up....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbCMbPl-vc9p4Ql-1C8UYkfgWeit3Onynu2jROOPKyv8F_YGelply82cz47Yh4NucXJjl1Fb29_AXWz4CKS6XI8aqz-UAVCn_Yc7F7ofQFGnaXmN7TI92PmytkjLzkdjQSJJTZb-tLgoD/s1600/36535_3798029317662_1485145086_4458980_771627447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwbCMbPl-vc9p4Ql-1C8UYkfgWeit3Onynu2jROOPKyv8F_YGelply82cz47Yh4NucXJjl1Fb29_AXWz4CKS6XI8aqz-UAVCn_Yc7F7ofQFGnaXmN7TI92PmytkjLzkdjQSJJTZb-tLgoD/s400/36535_3798029317662_1485145086_4458980_771627447_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">April is the cruelest month,</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">breeding lilacs out of the dead land,</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">mixing memory and desire,</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;">stirring dull roots with spring rain.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"> T.S. Eliot</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta;"> <i>The Wasteland</i></span></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-48925458867350136992012-02-17T16:02:00.000-06:002012-02-17T16:02:20.984-06:00Bienvenidos mi amigos!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i>Greetings from Puerto Vallarta!</i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-tMac1YURFO-T8HOZlr0ZaPkSaJHJLiFvzPUfK9USdzPkZ2D8qdbLk7Z3b_lkKg2Uu0YyA8G_aMKh0VLcXZtLJWAyYA6NRzboDeE2QjIH7-KFU4CDoUdaaniH4goOhAGUo1jsd54TIoU/s1600/20120204_133619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-tMac1YURFO-T8HOZlr0ZaPkSaJHJLiFvzPUfK9USdzPkZ2D8qdbLk7Z3b_lkKg2Uu0YyA8G_aMKh0VLcXZtLJWAyYA6NRzboDeE2QjIH7-KFU4CDoUdaaniH4goOhAGUo1jsd54TIoU/s400/20120204_133619.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Yes, my temporary address is a bit farther south than usual. It is warmer here. I like that. Mr. P likes that.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnMheToEoGgj0YKFmfLCiRvOOe96SWJVw3wDtzoIrZJa8bSBK-lc_86os0YHAu8qRkcRVvyC02N9W65hv9y9hRwMc8dZ-w27cu8iK9PlrU6T5JVvMB0Snpzll4MmJFWUnuu3FZndO5cmB/s1600/2012-02-05+18.55.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnMheToEoGgj0YKFmfLCiRvOOe96SWJVw3wDtzoIrZJa8bSBK-lc_86os0YHAu8qRkcRVvyC02N9W65hv9y9hRwMc8dZ-w27cu8iK9PlrU6T5JVvMB0Snpzll4MmJFWUnuu3FZndO5cmB/s400/2012-02-05+18.55.46.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Really, what's not to like?!<br />
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Hasta luego!M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-45949666136915040352012-02-06T16:38:00.000-06:002012-02-06T16:38:49.661-06:00I love the smell of casino chips in the morning!I have not been able to post anything for awhile....<br />
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2 reasons:<br />
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Lethargy<br />
Very busy<br />
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These are not mutually exclusive situations!<br />
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I have had to put away my ongoing projects (really, will I actually live long enough to finish all of them?!) and, excitingly, pack up some new ones for the road! (More on that later when I have something to show for myself!)<br />
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So.....<br />
I have been here:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO8tQNPYy-f-osi9pHiJFM6qkqehfqc6lHa-juF0iV9jke64yc30G-itauQXSy0ISnqaFYKwwu_cfBb2lp9qeEcaJJkQo216sVYFzZXNKN15jml3oTmK-DQWWyG0AajXD6nMglHJzUynJ/s1600/Vegas+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBO8tQNPYy-f-osi9pHiJFM6qkqehfqc6lHa-juF0iV9jke64yc30G-itauQXSy0ISnqaFYKwwu_cfBb2lp9qeEcaJJkQo216sVYFzZXNKN15jml3oTmK-DQWWyG0AajXD6nMglHJzUynJ/s400/Vegas+at+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Yep, <i><b>Las Vegas</b>!</i> Love this town! This is the view from our room at Caesar's Palace, Forum Tower, 18th (???) floor.... (not sure about that, as we always punched in "68" on the elevator....whatever that means!).<br />
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And here's the view one morning before my slacker husband and daughter ever rolled out of their beds to save me from being all consumed by the double draperies that covered the entire outer wall of our room:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kQHg1fISwpA_-4TjE-maXs4N-RuKh5iU_pdNLFdtgGnQxHjT9yuITZFB2zJ7vAomYc4LMcnGFF3SFJeRpIchiLYeV_8E7xKFBnBEHFG2d05G-VcFBV9JtHTMNpeZP7pBv4iPPZCqjy_a/s1600/Vegas+Morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kQHg1fISwpA_-4TjE-maXs4N-RuKh5iU_pdNLFdtgGnQxHjT9yuITZFB2zJ7vAomYc4LMcnGFF3SFJeRpIchiLYeV_8E7xKFBnBEHFG2d05G-VcFBV9JtHTMNpeZP7pBv4iPPZCqjy_a/s400/Vegas+Morning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Did you know there's such a thing as remote controlled draperies?! You know, when you're too lazy to get up and <i>walk 2 feet</i> and pull a drapery cord?! Mr. P was quite emboldened by this state of affairs and found it necessary to <strike>bark orders</strike> nicely ask that I "close the drapes/open the drapes/close the drapes/open the drapes" (take your choice)....always while he was less that <i>2 feet away</i> from said drapes.<br />
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And did you know there are miniature television sets in your bathroom mirror?! Mr. P rightly pointed out that they are exactly in the proper position for watching whilst your face is at exactly the proper angle for shaving? Goodness, those casino folks think of everything! Either that, or I just don't get out enough!<br />
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And did you know that I spent 3 days in Vegas and never so much as put a <i>quarter</i> into a slot machine?! Geesh! I'm losing my touch--usually I can be found grudgingly heading to a Blackjack table at some point.....(I love to play Blackjack, just I hate to lose money more.) Why was that, you may ask?....<br />
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Lethargy?<br />
<i>Nope</i><br />
Very busy!!<br />
<i>Yep</i><br />
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More to come.....M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-75781093693372375082012-01-21T09:33:00.003-06:002012-01-21T09:46:59.641-06:00O Winter! = Snowy EveningWe had our first big snow of the winter yesterday! It was light and powdery--Mr. P., still transfixed by the beauty of it all, (as is always the case this early in the season), said it was easy to scoop.<br />
Sitting upstairs in our TV room, which looks out over our backyard, I noticed the snow looked so magical in the light coming from our neighbor's yard. I just had to grab my camera....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcvdAXaJ_ABUU4byZchfJLbR2roINEH9573d8PtrLtEpc1zcXPL3K4oCUWpTQAH1djHvWfm32b8DSJUjUxpAhAFLRlgcg03RGkEbSnJ5jmI_0IhKzqYumszw_xR0TSZb80FdA4yDXWIwA/s1600/Winter-deer-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcvdAXaJ_ABUU4byZchfJLbR2roINEH9573d8PtrLtEpc1zcXPL3K4oCUWpTQAH1djHvWfm32b8DSJUjUxpAhAFLRlgcg03RGkEbSnJ5jmI_0IhKzqYumszw_xR0TSZb80FdA4yDXWIwA/s400/Winter-deer-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">I should have known they were there, but I didn't realize all the deer were enjoying the backyard, too, at the same time. When cranking open the window to get a better view, I unwittingly interrupted their evening snack==our </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">bird feeders</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">! Although my camera wasn't steadied yet, I snapped a couple photos. I actually like the blurred effect; it shows their motion and </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">indecision</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">... </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Is this a threat? I can't leave now, I haven't cleaned out the entire feeder yet!</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby4h6dGGcGJLlkTn-i7iX3bmd8alS2PaVJn6vs2bC1bn_7EKQbPlsbHXoWzZlo41TFLKStaXSxQIBJSDOd90t2Ivm_4_GdZ46jEZW3r8xG1ynuixwl5pEWoUVoIzCjqPZ2KD1sHl9YlSX/s1600/Winter-deer-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhby4h6dGGcGJLlkTn-i7iX3bmd8alS2PaVJn6vs2bC1bn_7EKQbPlsbHXoWzZlo41TFLKStaXSxQIBJSDOd90t2Ivm_4_GdZ46jEZW3r8xG1ynuixwl5pEWoUVoIzCjqPZ2KD1sHl9YlSX/s400/Winter-deer-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the deer left and I got my camera steadied....here's what I was talking about:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-Ch_iHdsfpmISNox2m-3Ru2xGrs0GOSmMyZML0CqMQToEraUtvn0t33PTSp6zeugpHR74EsvuWG6SZDtTAZPx6P35ZR-MwKWFy1YX2kgyLEtDYOwKyST-4fD8CQwoCWSjf39BhOWm3Ax/s1600/Red-Buddy-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-Ch_iHdsfpmISNox2m-3Ru2xGrs0GOSmMyZML0CqMQToEraUtvn0t33PTSp6zeugpHR74EsvuWG6SZDtTAZPx6P35ZR-MwKWFy1YX2kgyLEtDYOwKyST-4fD8CQwoCWSjf39BhOWm3Ax/s400/Red-Buddy-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a volunteer Redbud tree on our patio; an offspring of a much larger Redbud further up in the yard. To differentiate between Redbuds (and if you're not careful, you could have dozens of them--those little trees pop up like mushrooms!), this one is known as <i>Redbuddy</i>. (Corny, I know.) A couple years ago I hung Christmas lights on it--they've been up ever since, no matter the season. We like the ambiance! The lights also help detract from how funny this tree looks in winter, as every year it has a "haircut" to remove the branches that are blocking our view from the upstairs windows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, here's the view out my bedroom window:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSq53cTmdbGVX-YDMsVRV72_JUZC7rICHc4PG27jFqH1zPNi9Kw6jRi53j9nOPHWyZojLCAKunURSLJjcngel4WFet5osP1DFsx2SXiDR4AuE3ht-XEDdbjq8CH5TJDXgdiBPDqICX6d4/s1600/Winter-garage-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSq53cTmdbGVX-YDMsVRV72_JUZC7rICHc4PG27jFqH1zPNi9Kw6jRi53j9nOPHWyZojLCAKunURSLJjcngel4WFet5osP1DFsx2SXiDR4AuE3ht-XEDdbjq8CH5TJDXgdiBPDqICX6d4/s400/Winter-garage-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many a time I have been asked who lives there... it's our neighbor's <i>garage!</i> Lovely in summer and winter: grape vines grow on the arbor in front of the screened in porch, cardinals nest there every year, clematis vines grow along the sides. And in winter....a lovely, peaceful little cottage tucked behind the snowy rock wall. O Winter!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><b>O Winter! ruler of the inverted year, . . . I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturb'd Retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted evening, </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 19px;"><b>know.</b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">--William Cowper, </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">Task (bk. IV, l. 120) </i><i style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">English poet & translator (1731 - 1800)</i></span></span></blockquote><br />
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Linking to:<br />
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<a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx89/cindy95131/showandtellfridays.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad357/NoMinimalist/houseart-2.jpg" /></a>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-74875566570200608492012-01-13T12:59:00.006-06:002012-01-17T08:19:40.833-06:00Bicycle PillowYou know when you have a whole bunch of projects to do, and it looks like you'll never, ever get it all done?... <i>well</i>....this may seem counterintuitive, but I've found I actually get more done if, instead of attempting to tackle the biggest project on the list, I start doing the easiest stuff first and work my way up from there. <i>Try it</i>--you'll feel good about your accomplishments which in turn (ideally) will give you the motivation to work on the harder stuff! <br />
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And speaking of projects, here's one of the "easy" ones....<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iiPRGTdiIChMhkomqbpSdLHWOO0GEOSY8KXUo6ssGS4X8PFv9VXUD2nRDl4Rs1tGLrRARKp3OtUVmNBSonkKOKwQCIogvbuZhl9e_ldxQ2hUdmJDD9WTDKUGeSTMhtSv3hN7dORyuYsl/s1600/DSC_5105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iiPRGTdiIChMhkomqbpSdLHWOO0GEOSY8KXUo6ssGS4X8PFv9VXUD2nRDl4Rs1tGLrRARKp3OtUVmNBSonkKOKwQCIogvbuZhl9e_ldxQ2hUdmJDD9WTDKUGeSTMhtSv3hN7dORyuYsl/s400/DSC_5105.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Bicycle Lumbar Pillow</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>After doing that stunt, he's probably going to need a lumbar pillow! The picture is from <i><a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Graphics Fairy</a></i>, part of a series of circus acrobats and performers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj_w_D_DMK5FSp1AJ73BYpkrUKFaXuTENfB9BJFjJsSf1wCa5VTQggNEGTzefB6Iact3NHQcscuu5fLYrjQiwreYacQBW1c_rPGU22sqUUNvHsb5k3TDDnLVEGOuEnOJIwB7lVvCHrHhh/s1600/velocipide+bicycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxj_w_D_DMK5FSp1AJ73BYpkrUKFaXuTENfB9BJFjJsSf1wCa5VTQggNEGTzefB6Iact3NHQcscuu5fLYrjQiwreYacQBW1c_rPGU22sqUUNvHsb5k3TDDnLVEGOuEnOJIwB7lVvCHrHhh/s320/velocipide+bicycle.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><br />
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Here's a closer look:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfOJx7Yx870nZipkuwQszVjk3s4Tg4muQoVRdKWNiJzpl5MvSdlhCXG5-KNZupA-fbbAObDiQv878CAR0EHPJ0z9-3DeNii2pCjbDHw-2xasE-Wa-nCofqzgVNagWxyJYp0oo-c07R2f0/s1600/DSC_5101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfOJx7Yx870nZipkuwQszVjk3s4Tg4muQoVRdKWNiJzpl5MvSdlhCXG5-KNZupA-fbbAObDiQv878CAR0EHPJ0z9-3DeNii2pCjbDHw-2xasE-Wa-nCofqzgVNagWxyJYp0oo-c07R2f0/s400/DSC_5101.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I used an iron-on transfer for the design--you'll notice that the original has him facing the other way around. <i>Oops!</i> Forgot to flip-flop the image before transferring it. Oh well, <i>does it really matter which way he's facing?!</i> The red material is <strike>faky</strike> faux suede material. It was the strangest stuff to cut out; it kept wanting to "stick" onto my cutting board. The braiding was purchased awhile back at Michael's clearance aisle--one of those happy coincidences, as it happened to match just right!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuCUPd0wA3HA9naXsRiZCGYLFoZvaO4Gd-dTKvrLWl1LVcoPmyV79hyphenhyphenh_Gydw2Xgt67Oc0H1pdgHonQtDIGP-yD0FcuYKCXLuIzhoNAu2xMike9rT_rZ1L-5LfnrCoXrFLzQv_Fak9dl2/s1600/DSC_5097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuCUPd0wA3HA9naXsRiZCGYLFoZvaO4Gd-dTKvrLWl1LVcoPmyV79hyphenhyphenh_Gydw2Xgt67Oc0H1pdgHonQtDIGP-yD0FcuYKCXLuIzhoNAu2xMike9rT_rZ1L-5LfnrCoXrFLzQv_Fak9dl2/s400/DSC_5097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I originally had the corners squared, but the pillow insert didn't seem firm enough to fill it out. So... I decided to gather the corners.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gB-E98lIDZGwoI8rgDH8WWyqzkYnYSIXcJoTsOtMVPGuAoEbdR7-xUUYTfMJkLYr2bAdsfK-9twwb-E2ZA3UIL5hw-Qu6-prDP30auufl38GtNWNhfLUQ1yL6COBEpwC77voGugcC_Fh/s1600/DSC_5099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gB-E98lIDZGwoI8rgDH8WWyqzkYnYSIXcJoTsOtMVPGuAoEbdR7-xUUYTfMJkLYr2bAdsfK-9twwb-E2ZA3UIL5hw-Qu6-prDP30auufl38GtNWNhfLUQ1yL6COBEpwC77voGugcC_Fh/s400/DSC_5099.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
If you've never done this before, it's actually very easy:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8QBFwUi2L26UDWk16F2PzkebAxw3rEpq4s4C1Qf2L4EHl92qdlHf8Q47zx_T-qFFBemEc7FQcT7xZOl65s1K3KSMbsFo9-FJcDTmz3mH2ctuRUBkkwm9znzBtVB_B1ZgnShyu3haxL_s/s1600/corner+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8QBFwUi2L26UDWk16F2PzkebAxw3rEpq4s4C1Qf2L4EHl92qdlHf8Q47zx_T-qFFBemEc7FQcT7xZOl65s1K3KSMbsFo9-FJcDTmz3mH2ctuRUBkkwm9znzBtVB_B1ZgnShyu3haxL_s/s400/corner+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Working on the inside, just gather the corner together between your fingers and tie dental floss around it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q9up-xA9qXhzQp0rKbDiIMeD7UAL_5MJVzJV2Q4DMc4z1OEmEjCJKidx44K_sFBvTihiSuxmk4JAU-SDO4cDVhnttscdgalx_ydJ3uIkCielUl9A1DgRczage0breBw0xDy-VAvA5iyK/s1600/corner+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q9up-xA9qXhzQp0rKbDiIMeD7UAL_5MJVzJV2Q4DMc4z1OEmEjCJKidx44K_sFBvTihiSuxmk4JAU-SDO4cDVhnttscdgalx_ydJ3uIkCielUl9A1DgRczage0breBw0xDy-VAvA5iyK/s400/corner+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Your corners will then look like this. And if I change my mind, or get a better pillow insert, I can always have it back to square corners.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WPGQHErRxZFrAnKcGPsgc6PZEzR51TO2_NafWPRsdYfhIOR5bM5e3qjOvxiSZWQ1uz1CSPESPAN5qGoxW4y-SdICklctneGpz13uf-JLheW1Nmv7Q60pkDJMFOkFZf37SWtLeh2jqBvX/s1600/DSC_5098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WPGQHErRxZFrAnKcGPsgc6PZEzR51TO2_NafWPRsdYfhIOR5bM5e3qjOvxiSZWQ1uz1CSPESPAN5qGoxW4y-SdICklctneGpz13uf-JLheW1Nmv7Q60pkDJMFOkFZf37SWtLeh2jqBvX/s400/DSC_5098.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The back is simply a slip cover style; the idea of trying to sew in a zipper with this fabric did not fall into the category of "easy"!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq-w4R_ebpBio-5FA7GQcR6MWP3SAVaUqbIH8hYoaw7rItR7xAUnPUzd5O-FFSbTOM76tCqf30gNDkkf0d21m-r4FAGK6F_2sJ1qZMb1kNt4XeKTr2CTXDwyLvzneNqzLg6nbK5uQC7ns/s1600/DSC_5100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq-w4R_ebpBio-5FA7GQcR6MWP3SAVaUqbIH8hYoaw7rItR7xAUnPUzd5O-FFSbTOM76tCqf30gNDkkf0d21m-r4FAGK6F_2sJ1qZMb1kNt4XeKTr2CTXDwyLvzneNqzLg6nbK5uQC7ns/s400/DSC_5100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Cross that one off the list.... on to the next (easiest) thing!<br />
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Thanks for looking!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">******************************</span></div><br />
You can see my project & lots of other cool stuff here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The Shabby Nest" src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j480/theshabbynest/Shabby%20Nest%20Blog%205-2011/ShabbyNest-GrabButton.png" /></a> <a href="http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com//" target="_blank"><img alt="The Thrifty Groove" src="http://i965.photobucket.com/albums/ae139/stoneshy/Sherry%201%20Blog%20Photos/ttf.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx89/cindy95131/showandtellfridays.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad357/NoMinimalist/houseart-2.jpg" /></a> <a border="0" href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZ3G0v18azblHwXR9nxSjsCAp1RRgmZgoBndWHbDSREBtq2MGORyyqZKlOE1jpHZn1ZmdiJ4Mh5AGGyskfxWxxv0H2phsO_oARZNEc3zy_8xmqdIu0fImAQhI_yY1aSsFWBhAv5php81_/s800/takealookbutton.png" /></a>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-40283459915839937692012-01-07T16:31:00.003-06:002012-01-07T16:44:31.730-06:00A Gift of StitchesSeveral years ago I read an online list of contributed bits of wisdom and quotes from fellow needleworkers and cross-stitchers. The one that stayed with me was, <i>"Never give a stitched gift to a non-stitcher!"</i> This person went on to describe her heartache after she stitched a beautiful and complicated Christmas stocking for a friend as a gift and discovered it at the friend's garage sale the following summer. (Dealbreaker, if you ask me!) It drove the point home--unless you are a stitcher, most people simply cannot appreciate the amount of time and effort (and love) that goes into a completed project!<br />
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However, there are exceptions to the rule....<br />
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I purchased this pattern, <i>"Animal Samplings,"</i> from Hillside Samplings a few years ago:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImGuQeFWBb8/TwW7frBY5ZI/AAAAAAAABBI/_M8R0v-frq4/s1600/Animal_Samplings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ImGuQeFWBb8/TwW7frBY5ZI/AAAAAAAABBI/_M8R0v-frq4/s400/Animal_Samplings.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo as seen on the pattern cover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>She has a website, www.hillsidesamplings.com, but I am not sure if it is active. This pattern is still for sale at Stitchery shops, if you're interested. (I checked!)<br />
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I've mentioned before that my daughter, Sorena, loves squirrels. (This <a href="http://mtpocketts.blogspot.com/2011/11/squirrel-season.html" target="_blank">squirrel pillow</a> was another Christmas present this year.) Therefore, a slight change was necessary....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAoWOfpM0iA/TwW80FyT3MI/AAAAAAAABBg/N22Q8ZPxZHw/s1600/crosstitch+alphabet+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAoWOfpM0iA/TwW80FyT3MI/AAAAAAAABBg/N22Q8ZPxZHw/s400/crosstitch+alphabet+2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here is my customized version: can you tell the difference? Hint: <i>ghijklmn</i>. As much as I liked the deer, he was replaced with a squirrel eating, <i>what else?</i>, acorns. And, most importantly of all, I think she really liked it! I know it won't be seen on any garage sales either!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclaimer:</i> It's my understanding that some designers are touchy about their designs being altered, while others are more than happy to be the inspiration for further creativity. Let's hope it is the latter in this case, if not, I'll let you know!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NaB9ZiKV6g/TwXBhffDsYI/AAAAAAAABB0/amlm6z7u_TQ/s1600/DSC_3846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0NaB9ZiKV6g/TwXBhffDsYI/AAAAAAAABB0/amlm6z7u_TQ/s400/DSC_3846.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy New Year!</b></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharing with:</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://romantichome.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx89/cindy95131/showandtellfridays.jpg" /></a> </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<center><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/"><img 2"="" border="0" src="http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd492/Honey2805/027.jpg</font></p><p><font size=" />"/></a></span></center><center><br />
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</span>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-80138164722872651502011-12-31T09:40:00.000-06:002011-12-31T09:40:33.803-06:00Happy Holidays!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YO65y4t69K95hIHgD3S7-EcnV3QVo5OX7UeJmGuTSX3cvloXGOs7P0TNdW9nhAZlOguznwyRgSj2EDeMgsFgZ_Qq3PZd-GWx1x7LlU52InspCMDH4VeJtQtGs7NbAb6TlN2Q-YFkRhjC/s1600/ecard+xmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YO65y4t69K95hIHgD3S7-EcnV3QVo5OX7UeJmGuTSX3cvloXGOs7P0TNdW9nhAZlOguznwyRgSj2EDeMgsFgZ_Qq3PZd-GWx1x7LlU52InspCMDH4VeJtQtGs7NbAb6TlN2Q-YFkRhjC/s400/ecard+xmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-10759489183916771222011-12-23T10:26:00.000-06:002011-12-23T10:26:06.385-06:00Happy Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We didn't put up a real Christmas tree this year,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">as we're spending the holiday with</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Girl Child and her family in California!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(70 degrees & sunshine is the weather report for today!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm missing our tree though...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I found myself looking through some of last year's photos:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpSam3zarUbVQmq5yv6YWurOokKlhQXOcH31KeeuyuAu70l34C-IkCW0CKw1PAiGsw8eR27QY1cVgbpWSXD1VxV_FsIsIjxmHvnh9bqHOPpDjK80hZ_FwsOE7i995VjvsZyhnyCPpxQzZ/s1600/blog-lamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpSam3zarUbVQmq5yv6YWurOokKlhQXOcH31KeeuyuAu70l34C-IkCW0CKw1PAiGsw8eR27QY1cVgbpWSXD1VxV_FsIsIjxmHvnh9bqHOPpDjK80hZ_FwsOE7i995VjvsZyhnyCPpxQzZ/s400/blog-lamp.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Most of our ornaments are decades old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the oddball subjects....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>a lamp!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now who would think of a lamp for a Christmas tree?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKDn_mk-vexf8YhaPiF512BozCNCKYn_kPB7EVewN9fpgVfdHE_tK1P1Vf40XuvNyrfy5LlFxUt0BYF9OBcYCJzxKW2tBDFBEroDF3_vSVto3S4srW2e4-Y5O5JKJ_ePkGVYmlXkCYXAd/s1600/blog-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKDn_mk-vexf8YhaPiF512BozCNCKYn_kPB7EVewN9fpgVfdHE_tK1P1Vf40XuvNyrfy5LlFxUt0BYF9OBcYCJzxKW2tBDFBEroDF3_vSVto3S4srW2e4-Y5O5JKJ_ePkGVYmlXkCYXAd/s400/blog-head.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or a <i>head?!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have a few heads hanging around the tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They always creeped our daughter out</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">--she would never hang them herself!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglZsz9BjtUKcNs2xjOurl1vXGdw-mdr8sBKIsBcDzHBoRF_4pz0qFJWfetQOAdt1odglC8HKCOEnVo7fyYs_81jzsGH3F-Qm4cGK3lcVpAlZAK8GE_hX5Gq-IEtb0j1EtfL7eauhjCMOV/s1600/wizard-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglZsz9BjtUKcNs2xjOurl1vXGdw-mdr8sBKIsBcDzHBoRF_4pz0qFJWfetQOAdt1odglC8HKCOEnVo7fyYs_81jzsGH3F-Qm4cGK3lcVpAlZAK8GE_hX5Gq-IEtb0j1EtfL7eauhjCMOV/s400/wizard-head.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this guy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part Santa?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part Wizard?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga1-PP6PmnSb9O6UnE2eQMfY2wvR9xKWdUVNUpVCC-TA_r7t1E9BOF0d1T620KhEEgVkSNbyJ0BcEdn2QW4a1SXs8cgBaQ-1uEwBQSduUc7wjfpnx-qiY4Gw4xELG5En8XgOf2MSpOYJ5/s1600/blog-peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga1-PP6PmnSb9O6UnE2eQMfY2wvR9xKWdUVNUpVCC-TA_r7t1E9BOF0d1T620KhEEgVkSNbyJ0BcEdn2QW4a1SXs8cgBaQ-1uEwBQSduUc7wjfpnx-qiY4Gw4xELG5En8XgOf2MSpOYJ5/s400/blog-peacock.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or a beautiful peacock sitting on a ball.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Don't particularly know why he's doing that;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">he just is!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMA9SSJeFgHDVUf_XDFEhRLonRcD7EZ0ok8BpGjIjipoz1EjlUL_Yr7UQje-QUF1jxBQ_cExlwFNlK4Z_bLYINudXMY-3FU3AD8oCb63Rkcma_gvCd3OZXwZc7aHQ3Aw_OClCiHlnbA4G/s1600/blog-puppy-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMA9SSJeFgHDVUf_XDFEhRLonRcD7EZ0ok8BpGjIjipoz1EjlUL_Yr7UQje-QUF1jxBQ_cExlwFNlK4Z_bLYINudXMY-3FU3AD8oCb63Rkcma_gvCd3OZXwZc7aHQ3Aw_OClCiHlnbA4G/s400/blog-puppy-1.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if you want something really weird....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Get a look at this one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We call him</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"The Fetal Puppy"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(I know, gross!)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIDEZK1oSKNx3owP2CMCfRxIlGyyoBAgyMLfcAeD2Vx6PmofLObubh7lA5sokwFz85Vs1Op9IKMcneegK3Rme41ttA_wAKuz2wWu5teCohBU9AopkoIbba0GiOoe8RDyJSZtMwR53jo6x/s1600/blog-puppy-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIDEZK1oSKNx3owP2CMCfRxIlGyyoBAgyMLfcAeD2Vx6PmofLObubh7lA5sokwFz85Vs1Op9IKMcneegK3Rme41ttA_wAKuz2wWu5teCohBU9AopkoIbba0GiOoe8RDyJSZtMwR53jo6x/s400/blog-puppy-2.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's so weird, he's worth another look!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh my!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS7FAPYbRG1DzgA5-D_Hqy7fpUpfJoPtERHO9_t15o8JzUILH2ivT7TEAj5aQmWL2NX-CzLe9gfSBKcas7GQ2fQNu0Fceqeqwhq2439pKWzET4EAphdPYSd3iNg9OZ_9ggrawHDwoxc_c/s1600/blog-pincushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWS7FAPYbRG1DzgA5-D_Hqy7fpUpfJoPtERHO9_t15o8JzUILH2ivT7TEAj5aQmWL2NX-CzLe9gfSBKcas7GQ2fQNu0Fceqeqwhq2439pKWzET4EAphdPYSd3iNg9OZ_9ggrawHDwoxc_c/s400/blog-pincushion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is actually a fairly new one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A pincushion!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every crafty seamstress needs a pincushion</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on her Christmas tree!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo3aln4QPVO-IKkbKMKxwuMAFzo21zc-vL_EmQsoTQhAMCNa7hvL3fgfqy1VbOw6zr1uXFbJqh6bBuFrzFMV1SnqU-5yJuRiZExhiF0hwYx_PTyA1HAYB5AH2POiATO3mg678tPILLiXp/s1600/blog-ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo3aln4QPVO-IKkbKMKxwuMAFzo21zc-vL_EmQsoTQhAMCNa7hvL3fgfqy1VbOw6zr1uXFbJqh6bBuFrzFMV1SnqU-5yJuRiZExhiF0hwYx_PTyA1HAYB5AH2POiATO3mg678tPILLiXp/s400/blog-ornament.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there's just the downright pretty ones</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that have been with me my entire life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I get them out of the box, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I feel so at home, surrounded by comforting familiarity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnH-Yz1TfSBjXU8tATjitkypXh2TCsogYrCkXsKpGepqvLf9vu9rqlRZMGv2C7Lgbj34kIxVq1MbEdKKEnoupeS9Skik9f3XSWNzZwyKY7XMZYvuZEP1eZpeWm1mEKikO7Ukq494dO7jA/s1600/blog-pink-ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnH-Yz1TfSBjXU8tATjitkypXh2TCsogYrCkXsKpGepqvLf9vu9rqlRZMGv2C7Lgbj34kIxVq1MbEdKKEnoupeS9Skik9f3XSWNzZwyKY7XMZYvuZEP1eZpeWm1mEKikO7Ukq494dO7jA/s400/blog-pink-ornament.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu6r3OXVcWogmk-MTUhQf3HmzsO5CUDa1hjmBt74dwAQHOMgQeS3zrN34hcTOVd1cGb72BchL89XCFVAIvSUNlaySVo5VTcSFtX5oC3NLSSTrdbxZfutB3G1jQvmmE-15My7lUnagTutY/s1600/orange-ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwu6r3OXVcWogmk-MTUhQf3HmzsO5CUDa1hjmBt74dwAQHOMgQeS3zrN34hcTOVd1cGb72BchL89XCFVAIvSUNlaySVo5VTcSFtX5oC3NLSSTrdbxZfutB3G1jQvmmE-15My7lUnagTutY/s320/orange-ornament.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfL5e9xxHcc8pP6P905A5yObcXNboJlmsxHZ53VVldspCpyH0zNTVG_C50o5rAObK5Sm0l36g-fogasjDP1QmzHXOGHpShSD4mb-Sl44NI1pIlbXmRo4w4QvJV_xYRegKUEOskd124SPJQ/s1600/blog-santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfL5e9xxHcc8pP6P905A5yObcXNboJlmsxHZ53VVldspCpyH0zNTVG_C50o5rAObK5Sm0l36g-fogasjDP1QmzHXOGHpShSD4mb-Sl44NI1pIlbXmRo4w4QvJV_xYRegKUEOskd124SPJQ/s400/blog-santa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmcI7eNo70j24_8frdAqR8zKVCFXLLbV7hxsQSUifoOITCxxHKpjdEmGtCtELkseALSLI-Me8hLDDu2qiKNJSzjjSpY0bwvXqhbOmhhyphenhyphen0k33r65_HeEXeNkoGR9oXEDP11CMuP3ufc-eP/s1600/red-ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmcI7eNo70j24_8frdAqR8zKVCFXLLbV7hxsQSUifoOITCxxHKpjdEmGtCtELkseALSLI-Me8hLDDu2qiKNJSzjjSpY0bwvXqhbOmhhyphenhyphen0k33r65_HeEXeNkoGR9oXEDP11CMuP3ufc-eP/s400/red-ornament.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">May your Christmas be one of beauty, love, & peace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Wherever you are!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB9w4RkCDusg_kqkp7psFXNJuqJB9NL26mDo0OgDl7vHvTG0E37s5Q-K8wsxZTlo9rYQGJg-aaNEYY_fCL1w4s239-s6xmtblt3bOcdZSNir2qBUOQN1yXhuDPv9wYwm9c52HFU5wb1cr/s1600/DSC_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB9w4RkCDusg_kqkp7psFXNJuqJB9NL26mDo0OgDl7vHvTG0E37s5Q-K8wsxZTlo9rYQGJg-aaNEYY_fCL1w4s239-s6xmtblt3bOcdZSNir2qBUOQN1yXhuDPv9wYwm9c52HFU5wb1cr/s400/DSC_1185.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: #274e13; color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Let there be Peace on Earth.</span></i></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-78441500093124817222011-12-20T16:51:00.000-06:002011-12-20T16:51:56.384-06:00Holiday Hand TowelsIf you've got a hand towel...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYMBmr0XqPtmu0ZEmLBfhJlPEX3PMNBzXRucQ9uBhkfHXAULCltXqBdfYMlN45S0YZBrnRCRt-AIeqDWF1Xe5mTmzygH0PE8mT3wnk8VEayXCMiJPeSomvlkDDFEOfnZH6e6aSQMrftsM/s1600/towel+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYMBmr0XqPtmu0ZEmLBfhJlPEX3PMNBzXRucQ9uBhkfHXAULCltXqBdfYMlN45S0YZBrnRCRt-AIeqDWF1Xe5mTmzygH0PE8mT3wnk8VEayXCMiJPeSomvlkDDFEOfnZH6e6aSQMrftsM/s320/towel+1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
and some leftover Christmas material....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwa3k_qqNtYOcTiPoKP1-BJrJ3f91SUjWFmZEzBrk4J78wWIObJoEK8TLmxk8t41O_yEsalBhZ1nT_Lc3psUmhMP0bqu_uvLffwb2nAfFAJ3D8ABrpMwrUCRMylrkNmJrXwounq3IXmL-/s1600/towel+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwa3k_qqNtYOcTiPoKP1-BJrJ3f91SUjWFmZEzBrk4J78wWIObJoEK8TLmxk8t41O_yEsalBhZ1nT_Lc3psUmhMP0bqu_uvLffwb2nAfFAJ3D8ABrpMwrUCRMylrkNmJrXwounq3IXmL-/s400/towel+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
you can make a simple, decorative towel for your guest bath or a hostess gift or a stocking stuffer. <i>(Why is it when I type this, I hear this uber-perky voice in my head, getting all excited about.... a towel?! Such is my life!)</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b8rCg4AsbyJl2_kOSK0h-iscM97hEgUsZv2At-b-kedOc60dTsFFr8tOc5Kk-HILYblVTOiGsZmS3zt-5FGB-rnUOhZVSXJdLG7AVQqwyHk9-AeyLBrcLlXeTlWcdVn4UoxBVMDOrxNG/s1600/towel+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b8rCg4AsbyJl2_kOSK0h-iscM97hEgUsZv2At-b-kedOc60dTsFFr8tOc5Kk-HILYblVTOiGsZmS3zt-5FGB-rnUOhZVSXJdLG7AVQqwyHk9-AeyLBrcLlXeTlWcdVn4UoxBVMDOrxNG/s400/towel+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Using the lines that are already in the towel's design as your guide, just line up the material, tucking all the rough edges under, and stitch along both sides and the ends. I didn't even bother basting or anything like that; it just depends how free-wheeling you feel and your sewing experience. (Make sure your bobbin color is the same as your towel, regardless of what the top color is.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGz2KUnQbxfqjvnDHnBsEGl6AViJ-SjwhPihwuJDYfM25x0Vx7gXjwxEHccMKJ2C-sUpr6Sfzmj185zTdUJWeqUsUDhRRGwM0gZxBF6CpF2GbX3wIvGMoPtiSpKSeumvRb4HFjMzM3kEL/s1600/towel+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGz2KUnQbxfqjvnDHnBsEGl6AViJ-SjwhPihwuJDYfM25x0Vx7gXjwxEHccMKJ2C-sUpr6Sfzmj185zTdUJWeqUsUDhRRGwM0gZxBF6CpF2GbX3wIvGMoPtiSpKSeumvRb4HFjMzM3kEL/s400/towel+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I had enough material to make two of them! And, really, it didn't take that long.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRl6QXav-20uObiB8ZAN3vCzL64Z7ed1nTQV9HUSEwOqyoMXqwItirIKZeyHQPMF2FGidAmHtDWWSqav6V3A46xflrTYyja6Jc4DdxZmkTAUf3ucbMexO4TqKYd_nSukzQY1rPL-KuZwW/s1600/towel+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRl6QXav-20uObiB8ZAN3vCzL64Z7ed1nTQV9HUSEwOqyoMXqwItirIKZeyHQPMF2FGidAmHtDWWSqav6V3A46xflrTYyja6Jc4DdxZmkTAUf3ucbMexO4TqKYd_nSukzQY1rPL-KuZwW/s400/towel+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The material is a remnant from my daughter's Christmas stocking that I made for her when she was about 5 years old. She'll probably freak when I give her her towel, thinking I disassembled her beloved stocking! (I like to keep her on her toes!)<br />
<br />
Now to go through that bag o' scraps I have.... surely there's some "hearts" print in their somewhere for Valentine's Day? Or some bunnies for Easter? Or... or....!M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-70387869227875229002011-12-18T17:31:00.003-06:002011-12-18T18:02:50.480-06:00And 3 not-so-tiny Reindeer...I fell victim to holiday marketing this year, thanks to those cunning folks at the <i>Barn</i> that is full of most everything except <i>Pottery</i>. Usually I manage to take only an occasional peak at their stuff, primarily just for a little look-see; it seldom gets beyond the drooling stage. Until this year, that is.<br />
<br />
It was one of their ever-changing, Christmas "One Day Sales" they've been pushing for many, many days now--I have an overstuffed in-box to prove it. I'll grant them this--<i>they are savvy!</i> I can't decide if I was truly enchanted by their product or if they just wore me down. (I know for sure they couldn't care less which one it was--the end result is what matters, right? <i>Ka-ching!</i>)<br />
<br />
This is what I fell for:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yvJSPj9ufZmyniQ-Y-NcXQVsEU_9BNKHO6S_Y7hpHF_y9R9GEyQLcXRvg1u1EQZRbPTYUuqKCx0eWjG0bZDbswo8FAnvpRXwjsfv4h9plFbYMVOAqfztehvpK8QHGPwEAw0h3z5LH0P8/s1600/3+reindeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yvJSPj9ufZmyniQ-Y-NcXQVsEU_9BNKHO6S_Y7hpHF_y9R9GEyQLcXRvg1u1EQZRbPTYUuqKCx0eWjG0bZDbswo8FAnvpRXwjsfv4h9plFbYMVOAqfztehvpK8QHGPwEAw0h3z5LH0P8/s400/3+reindeer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Aren't they sweet? Aren't you just enchanted?<br />
<br />
Firstly, I pictured these guys as being somewhat more diminutive. And secondly, they should have come with a warning about sharp edges! Geesh--it was <i>dangerous</i> pulling these skinny bad boys out of their boxes and untangling their "antlers."<br />
<br />
Once I finally got them out of their boxes, I couldn't decide what to do with them. They look different in person and not quite so enchanting-- <i>but I think that's more a lack of imagination on my part than on theirs!</i> Frankly, they look like some metal-work sculpture I would have seen at a Mexican bazaar. Now don't get me wrong, I love Mexican bazaars! It's just that if they had indeed come from a Mexican bazaar, they would have cost a whole lot less! (Apparently they come from a<i> Chinese</i> bazaar--the "made in" sticker indicated as much. <i>How exotic</i>.)<br />
<br />
So they sat under a table in the livingroom for about a week. Mr. P walked by one day and asked where they came from. I told him not to ask.<br />
<br />
I walked past them, too, wondering just what I was going to do with them!<br />
<br />
They needed <i>something</i>...but what?<br />
<br />
Ribbons? Colorful ribbons? There's 3 of them...what is Christmasy and comes in 3's? <br />
<br />
How about <span style="color: #cc0000;">J-O-Y</span>?<br />
<br />
Round 1 with the <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">Graphics Fairy</a>, I downloaded some of her Christmas sheet music ("The Christmas Tree") and made a star cut-out. Working with 3 of the same cut-outs, I added red letters. Though you wouldn't know it, all 3 of the starts are the same size in my computer file, I just printed them out in proportionate sizes to match the deer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3e1iO8o5l_OFWYLVlxGLfsWnAEzYH04bKNGcyZEf7xmQJRWl0Nul3igUuDUD9a5Iu6pLVf5jtKadgRxlvctmxkUOpSkFTHwOn63huLfwCtAnUsMDS9hquwcXI0iqXROGWWVtyRBckpWN/s1600/joy+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3e1iO8o5l_OFWYLVlxGLfsWnAEzYH04bKNGcyZEf7xmQJRWl0Nul3igUuDUD9a5Iu6pLVf5jtKadgRxlvctmxkUOpSkFTHwOn63huLfwCtAnUsMDS9hquwcXI0iqXROGWWVtyRBckpWN/s400/joy+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
At this point, perhaps I should have punched holes in the tops, put a ribbon through them and called it a day? (As in, <i>sometimes less is more?!</i>)<br />
<br />
But <i>no</i>.....I wanted some bling. <br />
Round 2 with glitter glue:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQjBYcpZvgEJmDUDc-AG1C4b0aKOkAcBNuOi3DpvJgxo61F1XHumlMoA63bDv4vPzVUnrl4CXFkDr102A14FLTMe_I4H6C-CeJ-ncV3QpfxN8-_en_Q9GSujfSX8xmYkz30uliKgGPRgu/s1600/joy+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQjBYcpZvgEJmDUDc-AG1C4b0aKOkAcBNuOi3DpvJgxo61F1XHumlMoA63bDv4vPzVUnrl4CXFkDr102A14FLTMe_I4H6C-CeJ-ncV3QpfxN8-_en_Q9GSujfSX8xmYkz30uliKgGPRgu/s400/joy+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I had a bottle of <span style="color: #cc0000;">red</span> glitter-glue. Well, as you can see above, glitter-glue isn't quite as snazzy as regular old hard-working glitter, nor does it go on evenly. Grrrr!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP8a8FIa7sPFqYihfVbcGekgiM7BmMBvOlWg-zFBSyMZ7n5FPbYqdWwNjB8W2jgBsw33pQLBdnq00qe-381ey5egma3Z-11vQKplVPz6UfcFSF-vA25QycphL3L4I2hTMZpYsyPSfMqjJ/s1600/joy+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP8a8FIa7sPFqYihfVbcGekgiM7BmMBvOlWg-zFBSyMZ7n5FPbYqdWwNjB8W2jgBsw33pQLBdnq00qe-381ey5egma3Z-11vQKplVPz6UfcFSF-vA25QycphL3L4I2hTMZpYsyPSfMqjJ/s400/joy+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So I added multi-colored regular old glitter (didn't have any red). Oh Joy, so nice and sparkly!<br />
<br />
And the final result?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITUv2ZXwQBJvY8gA1BtWkN6ZTh8BwveVi3cYcL7hzq-hI4ocyy9QgHDsNf5E-7GN0YcN-URIHWulzFl0RVDd-lokJV8nUd-qSZwuDtacBep6ecLFFswqazTZ8mRBeymOhja-x79evs5xw/s1600/reindeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITUv2ZXwQBJvY8gA1BtWkN6ZTh8BwveVi3cYcL7hzq-hI4ocyy9QgHDsNf5E-7GN0YcN-URIHWulzFl0RVDd-lokJV8nUd-qSZwuDtacBep6ecLFFswqazTZ8mRBeymOhja-x79evs5xw/s400/reindeer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Having made their way to the <i>top</i> of the table, here they stand, paused, not sure what to do next.<br />
Find some fake snow perhaps?!<br />
<br />
In retrospect, I think I should have given the tags a white background to make it pop out a bit more; but that's getting a little fussy. They'll do for now. I'll figure something out....any ideas?!<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,</span></i></span> <i style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gave the lustre of midday to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">reindeer</strong>.</span></i><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> - Clement Moore, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><reference year="5941822"> The Night Before Christmas.</reference></span></span></i></blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-30836206408701573032011-12-10T16:35:00.002-06:002011-12-12T08:01:07.391-06:00More Christmas GlowA couple weeks ago I made some Christmas candles, using little more than a dollar-store candle. (If you're curious you can see it <a href="http://mtpocketts.blogspot.com/2011/11/candles-light.html">here</a>, or you can probably just keep scrolling down....) This week I finished up another simple one, using this graphic from, <i>where else?!</i>, the <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">Graphics Fairy</a>:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4jfTopNWJ2VYA_pk5DRx0qjbwl50PwefdMkThm4CMiTGgtb0yTN8G8KtBVv-uunQcndu-DmPNmkBr2BZlAD0qTKcZ4fgUSV7u3A7CIHjw90Zindl4rptExMjHIiZ42vJ_A8_7eBZy5ls/s1600/christmas+ad+vintage+image+graphicsfairy005b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4jfTopNWJ2VYA_pk5DRx0qjbwl50PwefdMkThm4CMiTGgtb0yTN8G8KtBVv-uunQcndu-DmPNmkBr2BZlAD0qTKcZ4fgUSV7u3A7CIHjw90Zindl4rptExMjHIiZ42vJ_A8_7eBZy5ls/s400/christmas+ad+vintage+image+graphicsfairy005b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">The <i>Graphics Fairy</i> has other designs that sort of match this.<br />
I may have to make a<i> <b>set</b></i>!<br />
<i>(That's where the madness starts.....)</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Along the bottom, in matching green, I added the inscription:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b><i>Joy to You at Christmas</i></b></span></div><br />
I think it sounds quaint and, well...joyful!<br />
<br />
After sizing my image to only be as tall as the wax (leaving the top part clear), I printed it out onto Decal Paper, etc. etc. <i>etc</i>. Here's the result!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4awvhZq3RYExje1jUdI_v243RmOfQNDQjvnpupTiEDxuSX4WS6LcY578EYGkoVwzZOEkvFBlbfBl3Y0rV_mWOEW13kjj7I2XzSHlk31wpvSeD5XZ6TGmGiTa4medUK_X344XcO4cj9zu4/s1600/Candle+Joy+1+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4awvhZq3RYExje1jUdI_v243RmOfQNDQjvnpupTiEDxuSX4WS6LcY578EYGkoVwzZOEkvFBlbfBl3Y0rV_mWOEW13kjj7I2XzSHlk31wpvSeD5XZ6TGmGiTa4medUK_X344XcO4cj9zu4/s400/Candle+Joy+1+B.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The bow is just twine, combined with a couple jingle bells I found lying in a box of Christmas sequins, glitter & doo-dads; along with two leaves that fell off some "holly" holiday lights we bought this year (literally found them on the floor and thought, "these might work!"). See how well thought-out this whole process is? ha!<br />
<br />
And here's the backside:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgET0oYP2G9KteojeoPrhRH1GJ15KPwX2LX-QuuCspUWaP2GAlnkCQ5fXMc3YHhIYzEueWkw5JTimZIsesJ0yIZjW9_MKbrjoIgkr59LTA4GWmpd8WdaNiF5KPEkxxRw6cn9hyQOkGEOsU4/s1600/Candle+Joy+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgET0oYP2G9KteojeoPrhRH1GJ15KPwX2LX-QuuCspUWaP2GAlnkCQ5fXMc3YHhIYzEueWkw5JTimZIsesJ0yIZjW9_MKbrjoIgkr59LTA4GWmpd8WdaNiF5KPEkxxRw6cn9hyQOkGEOsU4/s400/Candle+Joy+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My quasi-lame attempt at "staging" has given the photo a sort of golden glow. The colors are actually a little more vibrant. I'll just call that soft light!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oq9TW3oBMFE0HrUKbIemB-mlpmXZ8fICzizIkQIm8Y97Dz_0z3Iw4GP6G4WpNzW-fqUVKPhhuD2UM4aQSRfYKJFPSeWORGBofN4eZoFzMO6m9IwPe0CwFgPWEOnEAVe10_Kuf1rNs3ZL/s1600/Christmas+presents+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oq9TW3oBMFE0HrUKbIemB-mlpmXZ8fICzizIkQIm8Y97Dz_0z3Iw4GP6G4WpNzW-fqUVKPhhuD2UM4aQSRfYKJFPSeWORGBofN4eZoFzMO6m9IwPe0CwFgPWEOnEAVe10_Kuf1rNs3ZL/s400/Christmas+presents+2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>And now, dear readers, if you are still with me....I have to come clean. This is what my dining room table has looked like the past couple days. Aaaaarrrggghhh! This is pretty much what it looks like right now, as I am typing this. I have just received news that we are having guests dropping in for lunch tomorrow. You know, <i>lunch</i>--where you sit around <i>the table</i>.... Yikes!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">.........................................................................</span></div><br />
<i>Update:</i> Never let it be said that I can't rally when called upon!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWsa5iVAvlwuBO3km1J6CKgF-Az4Cn-8-bcBSDt977cKQ6kZuklZtpnXwBemoZZ9kwnFb7d9Q2cOuKLeOY2x6UH9rkJhMgsc1_JEG_J3tG2kCWrbZxzXhyphenhyphen6YdltSDmjB8QXAR7BGahcWQ/s1600/xmas-brunch-table-12-11-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWsa5iVAvlwuBO3km1J6CKgF-Az4Cn-8-bcBSDt977cKQ6kZuklZtpnXwBemoZZ9kwnFb7d9Q2cOuKLeOY2x6UH9rkJhMgsc1_JEG_J3tG2kCWrbZxzXhyphenhyphen6YdltSDmjB8QXAR7BGahcWQ/s400/xmas-brunch-table-12-11-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">xoxoxoxox</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><i>Have never joined anything like this, but thought it looked fun.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;"><i>Wow, there's a whole lotta creative folks out there!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"></span></div><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><a href="http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/CalamityAnne/debbiedoosnewbieparty1.jpg" /></a></span></center>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-36319959821945345842011-12-06T11:46:00.001-06:002011-12-06T11:47:02.291-06:00The Loveliness of Snow (When Not Scooping It)<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had our first snow of the season this week! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ_7_wA1oW9CUt7HSvI_55VPs-f0yUVV_8cT2fXKApJoKFSITgYa4tSzCeZqc_AZKjZ2iUeL8_cUEpWVfQeWL6CAil2GZrE0vDQgihW9XevneryuwB-YFwaX9TOyZqt-XjfQ2GJ4yTQoa/s1600/blog-lights-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZ_7_wA1oW9CUt7HSvI_55VPs-f0yUVV_8cT2fXKApJoKFSITgYa4tSzCeZqc_AZKjZ2iUeL8_cUEpWVfQeWL6CAil2GZrE0vDQgihW9XevneryuwB-YFwaX9TOyZqt-XjfQ2GJ4yTQoa/s400/blog-lights-1.gif" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was a soft snow. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlIdE5U4ykYNoilhszCAeWK7s21f26r270-3_tYXX4cZbmOCNBY08McS6B82htfHoiUjyOr9cShDFDAgnxOVDcYnUfqbFyYQdIOH5HO8LTXVEfOvHjsyYqWWRTGUNcrXqoCVLnJvaT4D-/s400/blog-lights-2+%25282%2529.gif" width="400" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was enchanted.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRrjSZeGSqOelqN7VEdDbzO1mmT24KdzCztSQ8ew_Om67hY0eJIxAa-pjVR5xZ80xI6er_AAHMs8eZPBs0XZHMDai-iYvGx-_KGTN5Q8Vj9WEhW9Hp0RnxzkLSD2pJ4ICiXBzN9ljW7YQ/s400/DSC_5004.JPG" width="400" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<i style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was not scooping it!</span></i><br />
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</div></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-62461895378518027592011-12-05T07:56:00.001-06:002011-12-05T07:58:26.003-06:00Milk Can ChristmasLast time I posted, I showed you this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIASjqD_UAwf7yPq32ksOZlumIx5OfmmkvVEYa3LRYEojVLD89EU7wYGXjVlsy0MI9uDInb0RCPCcgzXGkj68Y5jsXjxLHu5lNz3vPwt2NIEyDFvj0hG3O9aeyNinFjwFRm5suAfmt67IQ/s1600/blog-Milk-can-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIASjqD_UAwf7yPq32ksOZlumIx5OfmmkvVEYa3LRYEojVLD89EU7wYGXjVlsy0MI9uDInb0RCPCcgzXGkj68Y5jsXjxLHu5lNz3vPwt2NIEyDFvj0hG3O9aeyNinFjwFRm5suAfmt67IQ/s200/blog-Milk-can-1.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br />
And I claimed that I had some big plans for it...oh yes, indeed!<br />
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It is with a sigh of relief that I can post an update on my progress.<br />
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Here it is in stages:<br />
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1) This is really an ugly, old milk can.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIASjqD_UAwf7yPq32ksOZlumIx5OfmmkvVEYa3LRYEojVLD89EU7wYGXjVlsy0MI9uDInb0RCPCcgzXGkj68Y5jsXjxLHu5lNz3vPwt2NIEyDFvj0hG3O9aeyNinFjwFRm5suAfmt67IQ/s1600/blog-Milk-can-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIASjqD_UAwf7yPq32ksOZlumIx5OfmmkvVEYa3LRYEojVLD89EU7wYGXjVlsy0MI9uDInb0RCPCcgzXGkj68Y5jsXjxLHu5lNz3vPwt2NIEyDFvj0hG3O9aeyNinFjwFRm5suAfmt67IQ/s320/blog-Milk-can-1.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br />
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I cannot even remember where it came from. I'm thinking maybe it was in an old garage in our backyard when we bought our house. (The garage was a remnant of an old, 3 story barn that sat upon the hillside behind our home, long before our arrival upon the scene. We're told it had entrances on 2 levels. Sadly, that garage met its demise the day one of its stone walls collapsed--the result of an overly industrious groundhog undermining its foundation. That also happened to be the very same day my cat nearly died in surgery and our daughter broke her arm rollerskating! <i>Ever have one of those days?!</i>)<br />
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<i>Good grief, I digress!</i> Where was I? <i>The milk can</i>-- it is terribly dented, and horribly rusted; it has been painted over several times. The bottom is rusted and distended to the point where it will not stand flat anymore. (You, nor anyone else, will <i>not</i> be seeing that!) I cannot imagine what makes an old milk can bulge like that? Perhaps water froze and expanded inside there?<br />
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2) The milk can needed a paint job!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER8n_5gSJPZep19GuuTGvaegvipgPklF3KYwIG9R34U2igjqBk-P9N8ByIhwpA_AH6y16mn6KerzKKVdHElHK4MJwhjb9rq3rK5DgI8v0ZZrV92kV5FnoJRsZSEGjeg4YegPborK_IgFf/s1600/milk+can+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER8n_5gSJPZep19GuuTGvaegvipgPklF3KYwIG9R34U2igjqBk-P9N8ByIhwpA_AH6y16mn6KerzKKVdHElHK4MJwhjb9rq3rK5DgI8v0ZZrV92kV5FnoJRsZSEGjeg4YegPborK_IgFf/s400/milk+can+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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Christmas<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <b>red</b></span> was in order. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Please forgive the photo quality--quickly taken with my phone.)</span> It's amazing how many flaws a good can of spray paint can cover! Remember, I'm not talking sophisticated restoration here--we're just skirting along by the skin of our teeth.... <i>(Is that not one of the weirdest sayings ever?!)</i><br />
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It looks like I forgot a part, doesn't it?!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIIQSKBoHKUR2q_EqBEA5j_MgtS792czJH850i8w33TUweRQiF7Dd3PGj6HJdfJvP3VNSeMgM6uL2nCUDhgjl_gNhIulPfZJcsTxGOgTlWEFFbBJEKVahziXihUOekwAvrYX8O5PVxA1q/s1600/milk+can+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIIQSKBoHKUR2q_EqBEA5j_MgtS792czJH850i8w33TUweRQiF7Dd3PGj6HJdfJvP3VNSeMgM6uL2nCUDhgjl_gNhIulPfZJcsTxGOgTlWEFFbBJEKVahziXihUOekwAvrYX8O5PVxA1q/s400/milk+can+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
3) When you use decal paper, it will not transfer onto a dark background. I have no idea why exactly; I just go with it (and it wasn't a suitable project for a modpodge transfer, in my opinion). Therefore, I had to paint a white background the same size as the design I was planning to affix. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeQVTBdwigQ3nB_4QWdNykbEEXAlxGi96NtQlr7LeRPA-EcC9JiV1sDRBI5uYaowYnfRMINKCPz4XVTX5TSloCS7cRuM0FlK0fbt41xFuCdaOdzchswni_j-x-l-LiikAGmMjLnN4rO2G/s1600/milk+can+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVeQVTBdwigQ3nB_4QWdNykbEEXAlxGi96NtQlr7LeRPA-EcC9JiV1sDRBI5uYaowYnfRMINKCPz4XVTX5TSloCS7cRuM0FlK0fbt41xFuCdaOdzchswni_j-x-l-LiikAGmMjLnN4rO2G/s400/milk+can+4.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Here it is with a white rectangle suspiciously the approximate size of an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper.<br />
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4) I downloaded this antique postcard from the <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">Graphics Fairy</a>. (I'm developing a serious girlfriend crush on this woman--her site is so amazingly fun to delve into!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrAjwkgfEzzaKA1cQmOx4GUQG4aLDEc0YlPpU57VHFC562I0ySyXv3ifjmbObJNwdkgf9z7Bbi4lQrtXwWhfbaGPla4uVL1Ky9IRnASlyDSDI6-92iWtr_7rcIz9im2oz6Ze6QFGL7kw3/s1600/victorianchristmas-clipart-graphicsfairy010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrAjwkgfEzzaKA1cQmOx4GUQG4aLDEc0YlPpU57VHFC562I0ySyXv3ifjmbObJNwdkgf9z7Bbi4lQrtXwWhfbaGPla4uVL1Ky9IRnASlyDSDI6-92iWtr_7rcIz9im2oz6Ze6QFGL7kw3/s320/victorianchristmas-clipart-graphicsfairy010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">This scene reminds me of Mr. P and myself<br />
with our daughter when she was little.<br />
Yep, we looked just like that!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>With my computer, I enlarged it to fit onto a sheet of decal paper (8 1/2" x 11" standard size).<br />
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5) Miraculously (from <i>my </i>point of view) it fit into the white space provided! And because the decal is initially pliable after you remove the paper backing (and before it dries), I could adjust and straighten it, while also making it adhere nicely to what is definitely an uneven surface. I'd like to be able to show you a photo of this phase, but it's kind of intense-hands-on for that brief period; and I was alone. Nobody to man the camera....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QpgMqqPIVRiP8Yp9VzWscHL3Zq660FCpYL1lu7kH9fWhqgwP_OHdP1ukIru6EpTxMjyuS8DFdo0dkekeYM-TPHzXQS0fla4W1NXBWDX25t_cUj-d9_1gMDiiBWZC-qkQLvENWiybDtlx/s1600/milk+can+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_QpgMqqPIVRiP8Yp9VzWscHL3Zq660FCpYL1lu7kH9fWhqgwP_OHdP1ukIru6EpTxMjyuS8DFdo0dkekeYM-TPHzXQS0fla4W1NXBWDX25t_cUj-d9_1gMDiiBWZC-qkQLvENWiybDtlx/s400/milk+can+5.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So far, so good!<br />
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6) Let's put it outside, where it belongs!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlaUK_bplMq4nmpO_p-5cAPZ1wKqbZbZmCvQdRPg4nDpbiAJ2OBxRca9F25NsMqt2jjCNeZakDu3qFtS5uknIlb5Wyd8BkCBwDe5q7T7PhbIjq6ycMm_aZyPGknox_Z1vYUQe5r6hedrH/s1600/milk-can-7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlaUK_bplMq4nmpO_p-5cAPZ1wKqbZbZmCvQdRPg4nDpbiAJ2OBxRca9F25NsMqt2jjCNeZakDu3qFtS5uknIlb5Wyd8BkCBwDe5q7T7PhbIjq6ycMm_aZyPGknox_Z1vYUQe5r6hedrH/s400/milk-can-7.gif" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was actually snowing when I snapped the picture!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The greenery is actually some of those mini LED lighted stalks, made to look natural (<i>well, as natural as lighted up plants would look, I suppose</i>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsDyDeqEMEuivItCY86mgG9xeUqmIuzkPcB-K9E0W-dGm1PhpbpZ-dWoTysO7Z1D9YRuBe7FMFynyfX0Bk0aLd2Dd01JfVq5mgm6I4tr6PAFVRUHLiPHpPLYXhwL0yjtHO5GEX_zhR5RM/s1600/DSC_5033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsDyDeqEMEuivItCY86mgG9xeUqmIuzkPcB-K9E0W-dGm1PhpbpZ-dWoTysO7Z1D9YRuBe7FMFynyfX0Bk0aLd2Dd01JfVq5mgm6I4tr6PAFVRUHLiPHpPLYXhwL0yjtHO5GEX_zhR5RM/s400/DSC_5033.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
Here's the final version of how the front porch now looks.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrxZjqNNPe4557GHfdbM4KxEKF6HDrxyhLLWB0rMtnCl-vqKEZs9JYYqGoE71IlgfoTrntX-P0fMIB5e4lIJJAVlBt7iFUNUrnUzrtHkmzihnl9kNa-W1zSG4R_mDRAhw8Ws7MUmB6zK_/s1600/milk-can-11.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrxZjqNNPe4557GHfdbM4KxEKF6HDrxyhLLWB0rMtnCl-vqKEZs9JYYqGoE71IlgfoTrntX-P0fMIB5e4lIJJAVlBt7iFUNUrnUzrtHkmzihnl9kNa-W1zSG4R_mDRAhw8Ws7MUmB6zK_/s640/milk-can-11.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Thanks for looking!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. That's not my cat!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-33562245576082047822011-11-28T10:55:00.001-06:002011-11-28T10:56:18.498-06:00Candles & LightCombine a cheapo candle and some inspiration from a dangerous domestic anarchist (you can see her blog <i><a href="http://www.domesticanarchy.com/2011/11/christmas-candle-tutorial-and-printable.html">here</a></i>!),<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaERVlpY0WqNuah7BisfeTpL1yB2cbkEv-BtUHeE1PahwnizMV2IyyPQQv5-k39Yukwju8in2xG98ql-rvVbUr8AvOGlSxaPXQQfDqe5Ff5ws5epKMCxN5PoARYIorAuDgJOLZJPPgXHaB/s1600/DSC_5001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaERVlpY0WqNuah7BisfeTpL1yB2cbkEv-BtUHeE1PahwnizMV2IyyPQQv5-k39Yukwju8in2xG98ql-rvVbUr8AvOGlSxaPXQQfDqe5Ff5ws5epKMCxN5PoARYIorAuDgJOLZJPPgXHaB/s400/DSC_5001.JPG" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Cheapo candle -- a contrast study.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>then add a sprinkling of fairy dust from <i><a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">The Graphics Fairy</a>... </i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EDQ0cH1ya_79hXoqKePtCYS52OeE_UKZh8pLk3nVTmKabA84ERbkyodVJx-Lv1PAShZMnlDy4WVyQYT11t9IZ0PWLz0hkYjULL1VxeRdRIoJsURRkx_7_E-NJj3wJAE18iiP4URnKKRG/s1600/01+DSC_4963+copy+sheets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EDQ0cH1ya_79hXoqKePtCYS52OeE_UKZh8pLk3nVTmKabA84ERbkyodVJx-Lv1PAShZMnlDy4WVyQYT11t9IZ0PWLz0hkYjULL1VxeRdRIoJsURRkx_7_E-NJj3wJAE18iiP4URnKKRG/s400/01+DSC_4963+copy+sheets.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Combination of 2 images:<br />
"The Christmas Tree" sheet music<br />
&<br />
an antique postcard cutout.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
and what do you have?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxalMPFoT4YDhw-3Dlr5CkLfjKBr9rdO5C_V5aZgtj1_dbMLtOdBN8Ikjve5QdfQYp9M4ANobf_KAIzP8iysY3Xy1x2yUYBjPN9xvMsz9aGx8SPD6WkHnUPVIXx2PgVzQw3MNk0xnPA9g/s1600/02+DSC_4986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxalMPFoT4YDhw-3Dlr5CkLfjKBr9rdO5C_V5aZgtj1_dbMLtOdBN8Ikjve5QdfQYp9M4ANobf_KAIzP8iysY3Xy1x2yUYBjPN9xvMsz9aGx8SPD6WkHnUPVIXx2PgVzQw3MNk0xnPA9g/s400/02+DSC_4986.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<i>This! </i>As I mentioned in the caption above, this is comprised of 2 layered images. The postcard cutout was originally round, but I stretched it out a bit because I thought it suited the design better. Not sure it would have made any difference really. I also tried to get the song title at the top so that when the candle is lit, presumably, it would show. The images were printed out on decal paper and then affixed onto the votive. <i>(Note to self: when using decal paper, you don't have to reverse the image! Duh!)</i><br />
<br />
Here it is, all dressed up in its native habitat:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNZz-QkfsfHfdWz6F0FEMXV2cYWbaJUEtS74ZHmjAJ5_P7dcfVF5dRnqYPp1QZUfB5oEC8MpUiqcyjZwYKTIc8hkNlowKNo1jIa4gW1F0CC8ZaLYoKNxRsy2duvYMadVouERpn2iRatYJ/s1600/blog+03-DSC_4989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNZz-QkfsfHfdWz6F0FEMXV2cYWbaJUEtS74ZHmjAJ5_P7dcfVF5dRnqYPp1QZUfB5oEC8MpUiqcyjZwYKTIc8hkNlowKNo1jIa4gW1F0CC8ZaLYoKNxRsy2duvYMadVouERpn2iRatYJ/s400/blog+03-DSC_4989.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">That's a twine bow & a sprig of "holly" around the top.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZE1jm_LHQ50yHbKb_Z2u1lb2HbPyugsfBYGVScW7o8hBBGotYjOuggyA3MQRY5GFIlYREm3ZNY-KhQKw0CadJF6YOjc3n5cFmzfDcpWzLSlfAzFJSl4p66KwnOkOvTdVdFWnzqm1a-CH/s1600/blog+04-DSC_4991-me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZE1jm_LHQ50yHbKb_Z2u1lb2HbPyugsfBYGVScW7o8hBBGotYjOuggyA3MQRY5GFIlYREm3ZNY-KhQKw0CadJF6YOjc3n5cFmzfDcpWzLSlfAzFJSl4p66KwnOkOvTdVdFWnzqm1a-CH/s400/blog+04-DSC_4991-me.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">I added this one because I thought it was funny...<br />
can you see me?!<br />
<br />
(Humor me a bit...)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>But wait, there's more! I couldn't limit myself to only 2 images:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWAqG5p7JSFhBv__f_4wxGmV3aboutIv48_d_R4CFlg-nY2MunucWHPwXHY-Y5bublC5SSn6S7nAf7Ra4Z2BR03tANeerg5V_eBKeDm2HU1_OFCRvHASudm51QQz2jRGUjRJcMaBk0vYN/s1600/blog-06-DSC_4980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWAqG5p7JSFhBv__f_4wxGmV3aboutIv48_d_R4CFlg-nY2MunucWHPwXHY-Y5bublC5SSn6S7nAf7Ra4Z2BR03tANeerg5V_eBKeDm2HU1_OFCRvHASudm51QQz2jRGUjRJcMaBk0vYN/s400/blog-06-DSC_4980.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This was a plain, glass candle holder--the kind where you're supposed to fill it with water and put flowers & stuff in the bottom and float a candle on top (I think). The back layer on this one is an antique advertisement for Christmas toys from a toy store in Boston. Overlaid on the ad is a cutout of Santa from a postcard (both images also from <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/"><i>GF</i></a>).<br />
<br />
I just couldn't seem to get the photography right, but I kept trying! Here's a sampling to show you all sides:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuYmO6rsFneIj9jBJI8_e0SH61QSiLxEedI1tCgyKdbgplEAAGsuQFD1jhV6jkxBcKZcSRzE6IFlMjwLmlyGTtpUZBYqSLfcKMmzv3HIzmKIM60DaPxKYVyG6HaEfUbZnU4_ChwnIw9FN/s1600/blog-07-DSC_4983-left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuYmO6rsFneIj9jBJI8_e0SH61QSiLxEedI1tCgyKdbgplEAAGsuQFD1jhV6jkxBcKZcSRzE6IFlMjwLmlyGTtpUZBYqSLfcKMmzv3HIzmKIM60DaPxKYVyG6HaEfUbZnU4_ChwnIw9FN/s400/blog-07-DSC_4983-left.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Left side.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2bVctVoDP7HbMh5-cogC9r_lE0AGJPTD9NAjfgqduhlHgmlD8riVuNe5woj6LcY_RmrK6OeewMbxZ-pZ4SdS8SSY4ftL38mLnqPHf04fZiRXNg05LGnwk9GbKTNhY17zR4d4qCVmf93K/s1600/blog-08-DSC_4981-right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH2bVctVoDP7HbMh5-cogC9r_lE0AGJPTD9NAjfgqduhlHgmlD8riVuNe5woj6LcY_RmrK6OeewMbxZ-pZ4SdS8SSY4ftL38mLnqPHf04fZiRXNg05LGnwk9GbKTNhY17zR4d4qCVmf93K/s400/blog-08-DSC_4981-right.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>Right side.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHN8f2Q_kOcjqyvZZT48U4a_XrRId86HPMsmmavI0rZtkufzZ7JDCOFLHPzLJwSJoPaqZUu4dp9H5SXSfCKhyphenhyphennTlzLWI1Rd5LGzbzR2RHztx9ywt30GkWeIUrrE8tViPMbeKImWhKSO9Jk/s1600/blog-10-DSC_4998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHN8f2Q_kOcjqyvZZT48U4a_XrRId86HPMsmmavI0rZtkufzZ7JDCOFLHPzLJwSJoPaqZUu4dp9H5SXSfCKhyphenhyphennTlzLWI1Rd5LGzbzR2RHztx9ywt30GkWeIUrrE8tViPMbeKImWhKSO9Jk/s400/blog-10-DSC_4998.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">I wanted to show it lit up,<br />
so I went to the windowless downstairs half-bath.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjcomve2hnDIvQARIpKa71ZjiocoJ8M49W1g2xhxfswNYuhJX7T2GzEhW3RM6dG1lRPMfEjIpOYG2IhtpfAfxIHUllZ4voOOl-IN7YifkRPFi7Rp3zSlkTmENBnEV69M38V0q_pROeMF2/s1600/blog-11-DSC_4999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjcomve2hnDIvQARIpKa71ZjiocoJ8M49W1g2xhxfswNYuhJX7T2GzEhW3RM6dG1lRPMfEjIpOYG2IhtpfAfxIHUllZ4voOOl-IN7YifkRPFi7Rp3zSlkTmENBnEV69M38V0q_pROeMF2/s400/blog-11-DSC_4999.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><i>One more time...</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUNPTj3KD5YVv4xg_PkfzZTuakAJkLEXyHDRtHemfk2TfqLHng19HJkoDsAcfqzxa1ID-T2ShlQ-6NhPst6qybR6ynBuXQb3wSZIbPW6nwXgI2teW7hzBWxoM0r0vQXtipBJEMHnZzses/s1600/blog-12-DSC_5000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUNPTj3KD5YVv4xg_PkfzZTuakAJkLEXyHDRtHemfk2TfqLHng19HJkoDsAcfqzxa1ID-T2ShlQ-6NhPst6qybR6ynBuXQb3wSZIbPW6nwXgI2teW7hzBWxoM0r0vQXtipBJEMHnZzses/s320/blog-12-DSC_5000.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDgBfWzpPevUoLyGOXRG4C7P343JjYe3PQgIX4eF0lmUvpoD7aqxq6JXR6HHi1qLt2jzgKA6EFgn7quW0pN95d8r9q1OYj2R19FwCHnARufdTE6rU-X-ZdiZFPmJjX82kDjxMFZAkcQyL/s1600/blog-13-DSC_4997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDgBfWzpPevUoLyGOXRG4C7P343JjYe3PQgIX4eF0lmUvpoD7aqxq6JXR6HHi1qLt2jzgKA6EFgn7quW0pN95d8r9q1OYj2R19FwCHnARufdTE6rU-X-ZdiZFPmJjX82kDjxMFZAkcQyL/s400/blog-13-DSC_4997.jpg" width="351" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Spooky Santa!?</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I still have a few more images dancing around in my head...mixing with some glitter & ribbons & holly & such. Oh yes, there will be more to come--my kitchen table will not be seeing daylight for perhaps a week or more! However, this one's next in line:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0TI2gB-eClxGMGlUH7raii8NA13SajjlNVbBsNMHyp5iDSgLEjb_CyqImNrOD41Kz2gCKIVSY0alQsJ5VGKRnCVQ01RW0qzeCEFV9TgI6FCDfmA7lnjCNI9vfBDyDLSeKSGbdy_1fmSK/s1600/blog-Milk-can-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0TI2gB-eClxGMGlUH7raii8NA13SajjlNVbBsNMHyp5iDSgLEjb_CyqImNrOD41Kz2gCKIVSY0alQsJ5VGKRnCVQ01RW0qzeCEFV9TgI6FCDfmA7lnjCNI9vfBDyDLSeKSGbdy_1fmSK/s400/blog-Milk-can-1.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Help?!</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And if you're still with me at this point, thanks for indulging me! Really.M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-50241910160107113552011-11-22T15:51:00.001-06:002011-11-22T15:56:00.329-06:00Can we have a DO-OVER please?Mr. P and I <strike>celebrated</strike> experienced another wedding anniversary! We share our anniversary with the Queen of England -- I'm sure that was unplanned on her part, as well as ours. And I'm not sure at all what they did to celebrate, but I'm pretty sure it was better than what we ended up doing!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93Jbo3l-LKS78v1L3rp-7QWu-uHQtk4hIguhW-a76rLeUrSj_nMV5Da5bZ2GxLjZRQyF4Pl7a3AlIz1mYjM9kOIHGNYPGN7cXkAWcLTodiLBG6hpm3vdAj9UcbDu7Fc5y7rOBWUoK5X0p/s1600/anniversary+pc+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93Jbo3l-LKS78v1L3rp-7QWu-uHQtk4hIguhW-a76rLeUrSj_nMV5Da5bZ2GxLjZRQyF4Pl7a3AlIz1mYjM9kOIHGNYPGN7cXkAWcLTodiLBG6hpm3vdAj9UcbDu7Fc5y7rOBWUoK5X0p/s400/anniversary+pc+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
In the early days of our courtship, we spent an annual long weekend in Madison, Wisconsin, attending a "conference." So, in a spirit of nostalgia and anticipation, off to Madison we went! On a friend's advice, we were booked at a refurbished bed & breakfast hotel, originally built in the Victorian Era. It's had its innings (haven't we all?!), but has survived an era of "squatting transients" (as the historical brochure curiously phrased it) to once again be used for its original purpose. It was quaint, but not too quaint--nary a doily in site; not even an antimacassar! Though, in hindsight, we could have used one...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDfN47aJzzWF29Li3PNHy_u2K2qnDfQ2dcRlWjXwAOfSMgWB7fhaLMM3UvTi0fO_xutoMdVnz7ktUdzaBuSQ6LQ2zzxz2uvXRw0EzvWsu-ubntOvKkNvOlIoArwD2FqcBM91jhDBGKx7z/s1600/anniversary+3+pc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDfN47aJzzWF29Li3PNHy_u2K2qnDfQ2dcRlWjXwAOfSMgWB7fhaLMM3UvTi0fO_xutoMdVnz7ktUdzaBuSQ6LQ2zzxz2uvXRw0EzvWsu-ubntOvKkNvOlIoArwD2FqcBM91jhDBGKx7z/s400/anniversary+3+pc.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br />
<br />
On the bright, sunshiney morning that was our anniversary, I sat in the hotel's restaurant having some of the best Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict I've ever had in my life!....<i>alone</i>. Later, I went to a movie that has yet to see national release, but it is playing in Madison because, well, Madison is cool like that. I sat <i>alone</i>. After that, I wandered about an upscale shopping mall (we don't have that sort of thing out here in the sticks!), popping into this store and that, buying this and that....<i>alone</i>. And even later, I sat in my hotel room and pretty much downed an entire bottle of wine...and I may as well have been <i>alone</i>. And even later than that, I sat drinking in a bar...<i>alone</i>...waiting for my takeout meal to be ready.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoNz4PeZEbzGs4hvyN7fcrLrxM76HMoO94TOoLJV7VSsLPMoPAWG-y3O3fTe8xsO1_Xq2jwDQKjSS2Ku0yIwOoaM_PL9-_xg9E41JbWtbyANAK5suza0L9cWlN2qk5g_LlaJU2b177V6Z/s1600/anniversary+4+dream+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoNz4PeZEbzGs4hvyN7fcrLrxM76HMoO94TOoLJV7VSsLPMoPAWG-y3O3fTe8xsO1_Xq2jwDQKjSS2Ku0yIwOoaM_PL9-_xg9E41JbWtbyANAK5suza0L9cWlN2qk5g_LlaJU2b177V6Z/s400/anniversary+4+dream+man.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br />
Meanwhile, Mr. P spent our entire anniversary sitting in a chair in the corner, leaning his head back (antimacassar anyone?) with his eyes shut, or holding his head in his hands, <i>in</i> <i>agony</i>. When he wasn't doing that, he was horizontal, <i>in agony</i>. And when he wasn't doing that, he was too too too well acquainted with that little room with those quaint, antique-style hexagonal black/white tiles....<i>bathroom</i> tiles...<i>in agony</i>.<br />
<br />
Don't think it was all fun and games.... when I wasn't busy spending our anniversary <i>alone</i>, I was out purchasing pain killers, Imodium, 7-Up, Ginger Tea; and bringing back food carefully packed by sympathetic cooks and waitresses (most of which, sadly, remained uneaten).<br />
<br />
A horrid flu-bug (as if there's any other kind?) descended upon my beloved and, beyond <i>the tincture of time</i>, there just wasn't much we could do about it. He needed rest, darkness and quiet. I needed to save my sanity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4KzWxIl1jCFHRFK75ocrUM0B38bkWFiQ979bg7ROdZh2cH8sqezjgNn4PqVMlVL3eeAUGleicxu8AjkH88PLW1t-pC0Jyycxip-_eFMdM61N769Qjcm5fP1EepAW_39tnaNbtQBfv-Jl/s1600/anniversary+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4KzWxIl1jCFHRFK75ocrUM0B38bkWFiQ979bg7ROdZh2cH8sqezjgNn4PqVMlVL3eeAUGleicxu8AjkH88PLW1t-pC0Jyycxip-_eFMdM61N769Qjcm5fP1EepAW_39tnaNbtQBfv-Jl/s320/anniversary+5.jpg" width="169" /></a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
It was a very, very long day....for both of us<i>, but especially for Mr. P.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">xoxoxox</span></i></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As I write this,<i> the tincture of time</i> has indeed worked its magic. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We are home again and Mr. P, while not exactly being at 100%, is doing much better. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Life for us, luckiest of all, goes on.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBaTXdHjVAztRY48Jr6kAZxEQuH8t3FRCTspHPP75lBaZxGb2YoH2WWIMhUlICxYXUMgAu8ad3SYkBA3e8nTVDBgXgUHqwM6NL4D9MVcb39ZrD5E4jD3ggkveIX5Zy91nIU8bxUoNskZo/s1600/anniversary+pc+2+asunder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBaTXdHjVAztRY48Jr6kAZxEQuH8t3FRCTspHPP75lBaZxGb2YoH2WWIMhUlICxYXUMgAu8ad3SYkBA3e8nTVDBgXgUHqwM6NL4D9MVcb39ZrD5E4jD3ggkveIX5Zy91nIU8bxUoNskZo/s400/anniversary+pc+2+asunder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Yep, we're still afloat!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><br />
</span></i></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-12175757505735274292011-11-14T07:31:00.002-06:002011-11-14T07:38:17.042-06:00Squirrel Season<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b>My daughter absolutely loves squirrels. Her Christmas Elf has been busy this week, with a little help from <i><a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">The Graphics Fairy</a>!</i></b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTj3xj_mLVuNq4bYSHhVuKFrlBxisEbTOXJJZ1mI2sHj3PDRJEgeJKyZo2ALPIbYyjTfVTH7nRepwVrI58W6pqz4bPRB91DMfi1HG1WOlxo0s5YBRVZTnDPvJ937ObAiz_ifcGLhVq74N/s1600/squirrel+pillow+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTj3xj_mLVuNq4bYSHhVuKFrlBxisEbTOXJJZ1mI2sHj3PDRJEgeJKyZo2ALPIbYyjTfVTH7nRepwVrI58W6pqz4bPRB91DMfi1HG1WOlxo0s5YBRVZTnDPvJ937ObAiz_ifcGLhVq74N/s400/squirrel+pillow+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><i>16" Pillow</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><i>Mattress Ticking Material</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><i>Iron-on graphic stitched onto the pillow.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWWDKxHqadV4ZRYyVf5aVEL-XCtsLfA8UxMuFBNS9oRYVbiRs8LEx-jcXOxDdmYuY9qeSX3l77ClnHGU0b2ha5W9EDYMgSxg7wP_5PpB0N95S85iS_uOgFttNcxzaB2xxtI_vJB-pCCAY/s1600/squirrel+towel+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWWDKxHqadV4ZRYyVf5aVEL-XCtsLfA8UxMuFBNS9oRYVbiRs8LEx-jcXOxDdmYuY9qeSX3l77ClnHGU0b2ha5W9EDYMgSxg7wP_5PpB0N95S85iS_uOgFttNcxzaB2xxtI_vJB-pCCAY/s400/squirrel+towel+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><i>Hand Towel</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><i><br />
</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_pM586WBi59yqvuJx1yMajP8RyNuwNiQvFcnNvlJ68cTexvTJIn7XjcYxc8imfplLTs5iXqLhODEYOKTr2-z5jbiR6azTrgXBoABcRoRAZMi04bSPs7r6G70Y02sMXnt0tL04Q15F2M9/s1600/squirrel+pillow+towel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_pM586WBi59yqvuJx1yMajP8RyNuwNiQvFcnNvlJ68cTexvTJIn7XjcYxc8imfplLTs5iXqLhODEYOKTr2-z5jbiR6azTrgXBoABcRoRAZMi04bSPs7r6G70Y02sMXnt0tL04Q15F2M9/s400/squirrel+pillow+towel.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>"When the trees their summer splendor</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>Change to raiment red and gold,</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>When the summer moon turns mellow,</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>And the nights are getting cold;</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>When the squirrels hide their acorns,</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>And the woodchucks disappear;</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>Then we know that it is autumn,</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i>Loveliest season of the year.</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><b><i> --Carol L. Riser</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-2925974723463154732011-11-11T10:41:00.000-06:002011-11-11T10:41:45.811-06:00Have a WALE of a good time!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>11-11-11</b></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Otherwise known as <i>"The Date Which Most Closely Resembles Corduroy."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is National Corduroy Appreciation Day!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If in doubt, check with the folks over at the <a href="http://corduroyclub.com/">Corduroy Appreciation Club</a>.</div><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">"The time has come.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">The Wales are aligning.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">The date which most closely resembles Corduroy,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">EVER, 111111 is upon us!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">Rejoice. Rejoice! Our day has come."</span></i></div></blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBU5HL_8Hr-RCQevVOItxyfTx2wJmN-TzHAtMr7vewICgXY3KroYm0PwE6RJv-MBIzn0d8kEk67WK6UDk-ZMDse4Xho07rSvmMgosBlYGpdaycT27To-sGXMoc6E8SqNLBoRSsODxImu8/s1600/Doc+smiley+face+corduroy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBU5HL_8Hr-RCQevVOItxyfTx2wJmN-TzHAtMr7vewICgXY3KroYm0PwE6RJv-MBIzn0d8kEk67WK6UDk-ZMDse4Xho07rSvmMgosBlYGpdaycT27To-sGXMoc6E8SqNLBoRSsODxImu8/s400/Doc+smiley+face+corduroy.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />
As you can see, Mr. P is very happy to celebrate the spirit of the day! After all, not often does a retired Professor get to bring out (and celebrate) his work uniform. Trust me, these corduroy coats have the required leather elbow patches, too.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>11-11-11</b></div><br />
And, as if that weren't enough, the Corduroy Appreciation Club is searching for its Messiah--an 11 year old child born on 11-11. Says Club founder, Miles Rohan, <i>"The parents need to be amenable to this sort of thing, and they need to explain to the child the lack of responsibility that comes with the title."</i><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">You can read all about it<i> <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/york-corduroy-appreciation-club-searching-11-year-olds-born-11-11-article-1.969587">here</a>.</i></span><div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div><span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">We'll be going out to dinner tonight--you know what we'll be wearing!</span></div><span style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-3978499563036203592011-11-03T17:37:00.001-05:002011-11-03T17:38:50.151-05:00All Hallows Eve<i>Is there anything quite as thrilling as your candy haul at the end of a long Halloween night?!</i> I remember my triumphant return home, walking into the living room and dumping the contents on the floor for sorting. I smile now thinking of myself separating out the candy I wasn't quite so enamored with--specifically the Milk Duds (they always stuck in my teeth & that bugged me....don't get me started!) and the Bit O' Honeys (do they even make those anymore?). I would oh-so-generously share these with my parents; my Dad especially liked Milk Duds. Win-Win! Really, who was I fooling?! I'm guessing they thought it was funny (and predictable) too!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7bKKJ9MQUUBfvUGlLf0-NusNX6UQArtMBdEOc0basHdvmv-C7W6s4GOVOL30lptnp9zVcBqi3Sr879KAywH3ljQOL5TJ5e-u1HUfQrXc0u7wzR10VQ6yz9NkpsDQgvaVjZ7jBR-gq21l/s1600/Halloween+witch+owl+pc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7bKKJ9MQUUBfvUGlLf0-NusNX6UQArtMBdEOc0basHdvmv-C7W6s4GOVOL30lptnp9zVcBqi3Sr879KAywH3ljQOL5TJ5e-u1HUfQrXc0u7wzR10VQ6yz9NkpsDQgvaVjZ7jBR-gq21l/s400/Halloween+witch+owl+pc.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />
I don't recall there being any sort of brakes put on my candy consumption. My parents pretty much had the attitude that if I ate too much of it, I'd start to feel sick and hopefully I'd have the good sense to stop eating! And maybe I'd remember that next time?! (Of course this was coming from my Dad who, as a boy, loved chocolate pudding so much that his older sister decided to make a huge bowl of it to see if he'd ever reach his saturation. He ate the whole thing and asked for more!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjKX9I09bkda76sh0UoDUUZ7WP8ZL0kJOcRN3K5g93gvkci4pQ6f1PtM5Gp-XZivB5SDV-YHoX9MbUMeI6VjcIo2g2c-eMJ3w0mhtsJgpbxBMObvBk3StJXt1DgOM7KoxLVI1HE7cmKOA/s1600/Doc+ghost+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjKX9I09bkda76sh0UoDUUZ7WP8ZL0kJOcRN3K5g93gvkci4pQ6f1PtM5Gp-XZivB5SDV-YHoX9MbUMeI6VjcIo2g2c-eMJ3w0mhtsJgpbxBMObvBk3StJXt1DgOM7KoxLVI1HE7cmKOA/s400/Doc+ghost+2011.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>Many of the kids forgot to say "Trick or Treat" when<br />
they saw this scary guy at the door!</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We did our bit to help the little urchins of our little village--full size Hershey bars at our house! Fun to hear their gasps of delight when they spied them or to watch them skipping down the sidewalk exclaiming about getting a BIG candy bar! A woman in my hometown did the same thing every year--nobody passed by her house. (It was rumored that some of the boys would switch masks and go back for seconds--<i>boys!</i>) I was so impressed that I vowed to myself that I was going to do that someday, too. And here I am, doing just that! Yay!M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-76803754702072455312011-10-09T11:11:00.000-05:002011-10-09T11:11:31.078-05:00What a Crock!Ever start a project which then leads to several more projects? That's pretty much the story of my Summer (and Fall!). <br />
<br />
Allow me to start with the easy ones (a.k.a....the <i>finished</i> ones):<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, Mod-Podge remains my dependable, long-time friend & helper....we go back a number of years. (Just the name alone conjures up visions of tie-dye & hirachi sandals--it's obviously been around for awhile!) However, somebody <i>new</i> is in town, threatening to usurp MP's dominance for my attention. This new relationship was quite transparent from the get-go; allow me to introduce.... <i><a href="http://www.decalpaper.com/">Decal Paper</a>!</i><br />
<br />
With the use of Decal Paper and the ever-satisfying<i> <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">Graphics Fairy</a></i>, here's what I came up with:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pSs3e8DtwxSaPz4tTJpBqi7VWSV0FjHY9vx6ZP26028iNhZWur1VCqv9t1fEERoXDMP5uYeVKy8bscLwUx9MNrJsgROo41mGXThhVecvNVCOrxb-mylYcWH8fQiRvRf3Tvf0JOpwPfbN/s1600/Decal+Pottery+2+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pSs3e8DtwxSaPz4tTJpBqi7VWSV0FjHY9vx6ZP26028iNhZWur1VCqv9t1fEERoXDMP5uYeVKy8bscLwUx9MNrJsgROo41mGXThhVecvNVCOrxb-mylYcWH8fQiRvRf3Tvf0JOpwPfbN/s400/Decal+Pottery+2+2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This crock, which stands about 8" high, is actually used as a wastepaper basket in our downstairs bathroom. The era of the sign matches well with the age of the crock. So, what was a boring old crock, is now a stylish accent! You'll just have to trust me when I say it fits in well with the room decor. I also like that it's not too cutesy or froo-froo. I actually think when people see it, they assume it's original to the crock! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoH3kpVL2CTJCpSb6Jqh_-oEjevkk8RvZNq4dyVZs42R2JsjYK1vmUHLU_-xK2lxpyjL8d9oMEY58la98iaUM9m-ePBIE6fnWahKrEq7VahMkEma1DkloTQoQNgDznsFXMHuZoLYj0Huq/s1600/Decal+Pottery+5+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoH3kpVL2CTJCpSb6Jqh_-oEjevkk8RvZNq4dyVZs42R2JsjYK1vmUHLU_-xK2lxpyjL8d9oMEY58la98iaUM9m-ePBIE6fnWahKrEq7VahMkEma1DkloTQoQNgDznsFXMHuZoLYj0Huq/s400/Decal+Pottery+5+2011.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
Another label from<i> <a href="http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/">The Graphics Fairy</a> </i>and a smaller crock. I'll probably end up putting a plant in this; in the meantime, I just like looking at it! Again, the graphic seemed to match the crock so well. Timely for Fall, right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Co9x_hyphenhyphenZ8SH5nSWG8hTULuZPpgoVb8EDnbwe1ym8sWFNZ4Ryw9W9-JKgWBWi6feVnlmE1Fq-znsJ3gzxU1xKQs8hD-V7mSyTZav5NZvSPstzT22lhBGxYw-X3K3_UWcHMGqqvnIkmT6Y/s1600/Decal+Pottery+4+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Co9x_hyphenhyphenZ8SH5nSWG8hTULuZPpgoVb8EDnbwe1ym8sWFNZ4Ryw9W9-JKgWBWi6feVnlmE1Fq-znsJ3gzxU1xKQs8hD-V7mSyTZav5NZvSPstzT22lhBGxYw-X3K3_UWcHMGqqvnIkmT6Y/s400/Decal+Pottery+4+2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The white terracotta pot with the bees on it is a product of messing around with Mod-Podge. Again, with a contribution from <i>The Graphics Fairy</i>, I used a bee graphic and experimented with 1) painting the pot beforehand with some leftover housepaint, 2) adhering the bee with MP, 3) letting it dry, 4) gently peeling/washing off the paper the next day while, <i>hopefully</i>, leaving the bee graphic on there, and 5) coating it with some clear poly.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJJhxG1p71loySIQS6BXQCAS7zLgyjuBXa_cSlnEMsm1U-_l59LSFoHFmIYxc4IoQlCACPZjOEy7jXee0B90K8hKQitgqBMpJKOSQeJaH029oBj8698fnxxU25JDg6GUCFs5tBMYOc8zg/s1600/DSC_4797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJJhxG1p71loySIQS6BXQCAS7zLgyjuBXa_cSlnEMsm1U-_l59LSFoHFmIYxc4IoQlCACPZjOEy7jXee0B90K8hKQitgqBMpJKOSQeJaH029oBj8698fnxxU25JDg6GUCFs5tBMYOc8zg/s400/DSC_4797.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bee design replicated multiple times to create a border effect.</i><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-URvpOqujsq5w3veMQv5JNfEsdn-gT8Co22NJYFa71TzSi8j3JaAbAzJX_MA9hbkzaOGyvwrgLPW_VsVnoQ8zudOWxztcT2b4FzGDqUTUo6ORZJWL_KABhqjWA-PJNS35_mhyLI4IWUEl/s1600/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-URvpOqujsq5w3veMQv5JNfEsdn-gT8Co22NJYFa71TzSi8j3JaAbAzJX_MA9hbkzaOGyvwrgLPW_VsVnoQ8zudOWxztcT2b4FzGDqUTUo6ORZJWL_KABhqjWA-PJNS35_mhyLI4IWUEl/s400/photo+%25283%2529.JPG" width="228" /></a></div><br />
And while we're on the subject of projects, thought I'd throw this in for good measure.... last week I attended a baby shower for my nephew's yet-to-be-born <i>son</i>. (Apparently everybody wants to know ahead of time these days? <i>What's wrong with a surprise now & then?</i>, I ask!!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vOcBiAYauagvYaOVFV8TqQ989I_msFpwL_tpYVVsXt0zqp5v6HURsza6yj8bnrA8tpHKqH_SGIX64qyK_RNmHonGll7AGp1MY_DmHIslboy0EpOZSubokeJP3LJez62CnA0MNHI9p9Py/s1600/DSC_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vOcBiAYauagvYaOVFV8TqQ989I_msFpwL_tpYVVsXt0zqp5v6HURsza6yj8bnrA8tpHKqH_SGIX64qyK_RNmHonGll7AGp1MY_DmHIslboy0EpOZSubokeJP3LJez62CnA0MNHI9p9Py/s320/DSC_4858.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
I figured <i>Gabriel</i> might need some formal attire now & then. His new onesie was quite the hit. I didn't tell them (but I'll tell you) that the tie was made from an old pair of Mr. P's boxer shorts! Waste not, want not!<br />
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Next I'll attempt to show you the <i>big project</i>....the one which makes Mr. P nervous about ever getting his garage back! <i>Really</i>, it's winding down....it's almost finished....M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-30741712716321630222011-09-25T06:59:00.000-05:002011-09-25T06:59:21.668-05:00That Grand Old FlagWe had a grand time in St. Louis recently. Though you might not guess it, besides getting some psychologically much-needed dog time with Klaus, we really did do other things. An unexpected pleasure was seeing all the September 11th Memorial flags at Art Hill in Forest Park--the green expanse in front of the Art Museum leading down to the reflecting pools and fountains. We saw them on the news and, since we were mere blocks away, we figured a quick cruise through the park was in order. Everyone else (and their dogs) in St. Louis had pretty much the same idea! But a good idea it was--they were beautiful--even brought a lump to my throat as we walked among them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-V7bo_1Lgb1QpEEwxXtVCWIuNuxGxAhINCwURKe1gbZgVRg2AEerRglbYYKLEfqDGDE5Nmx-pLnnoOXKBN1ASgsAbMFVkXRa6PmsE2C4a-oUJ_vhBBYHr9WHYX3ilkt1O5OpWQ9NTECl/s1600/art+hill+flag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-V7bo_1Lgb1QpEEwxXtVCWIuNuxGxAhINCwURKe1gbZgVRg2AEerRglbYYKLEfqDGDE5Nmx-pLnnoOXKBN1ASgsAbMFVkXRa6PmsE2C4a-oUJ_vhBBYHr9WHYX3ilkt1O5OpWQ9NTECl/s400/art+hill+flag.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3UXTYhxx3FmTWYzNJdDO0kut5apr8OlD1E8gHdOD3cq94pn30oRWxX_NzLxPK5JMwcz9NleJng2Mv710QGJtaNHjKoBcxsfdmXV4W8bBhEqBmEq-dU2U2bOk64QR2it2sk1fKYkCbXx3/s1600/art+hill+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3UXTYhxx3FmTWYzNJdDO0kut5apr8OlD1E8gHdOD3cq94pn30oRWxX_NzLxPK5JMwcz9NleJng2Mv710QGJtaNHjKoBcxsfdmXV4W8bBhEqBmEq-dU2U2bOk64QR2it2sk1fKYkCbXx3/s400/art+hill+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Though it hardly captures it well, I tried to take some footage with my iphone:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22420%22%20height=%22315%22%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xdj9cXGLZQc%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xdj9cXGLZQc" width="420"></iframe></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The mood was not somber; more of joyful contentment. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. And I mean <i>everyone</i>.....look again, you may have missed this the first time around (I did):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjwxHrbjg6dgKKH2tA8vAD4umVDmWayhXxQxOwgvwNmKPMcd4VMQ2tBDmkiK1f0Ujl8uYOp38OvycLFY63F8EzBqGlTOUtXNsE3xdgPyTGzA-uo6SzNC1inxcK12CLqa5RBWBEIdJpNJV/s1600/art+hill+1+squirrel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjwxHrbjg6dgKKH2tA8vAD4umVDmWayhXxQxOwgvwNmKPMcd4VMQ2tBDmkiK1f0Ujl8uYOp38OvycLFY63F8EzBqGlTOUtXNsE3xdgPyTGzA-uo6SzNC1inxcK12CLqa5RBWBEIdJpNJV/s400/art+hill+1+squirrel.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The viewfinder on my phone is relatively small, so I didn't see him!:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGz1JU0R6-ofIDXnR-N5P6BPz4djmgKQ1FzeRXr_FsUCrQqG0syw_EUenZ8lbQt-_QvfDKVw4qi-bazvnL1EjqlFxmEBdO_3NLhCTCRHZod8Mq7wrMAIAjz-7pJMRNqEyCRZdeeybFwaY/s1600/art+hill+2+squirrel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGz1JU0R6-ofIDXnR-N5P6BPz4djmgKQ1FzeRXr_FsUCrQqG0syw_EUenZ8lbQt-_QvfDKVw4qi-bazvnL1EjqlFxmEBdO_3NLhCTCRHZod8Mq7wrMAIAjz-7pJMRNqEyCRZdeeybFwaY/s400/art+hill+2+squirrel.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
How curious...he's kinda hard to miss!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>Such a glorious day!</b></span></i></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. Who needs traveling gnomes?!</span>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-73204911748284197562011-09-21T08:29:00.000-05:002011-09-21T08:29:47.842-05:00I love hummingbirds!We still have our hummers....they've been tanking up the last couple weeks, getting ready for the big trip south. Usually they leave around the 24th of September, so it's only a few more days now.<br />
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A friend sent me this video of a guy who raised a baby hummingbird. Very sweet.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://youtu.be/LvrcdQWzH-8"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LvrcdQWzH-8" width="420"></iframe></a></div><br />
He adds a post-script:<br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">This is a baby hummingbird I rescued after it was attacked.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The song is "Better Together" by Jack Johnson.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">UPDATE!!! when she thought she was ready to leave (and she was) she flew off to her favorite patch of the back yard, and her instincts instantly kicked in, and now she's just like all the other hummingbirds. for those that are concerned that she has imprinted on humans and wouldn't survive in the wild, don't worry, she is thriving. she has even successfully migrated and returned back to my yard. and for those who think i didn't know what i was doing, i did NOT feed her plain sugar water. i went outside 3 times a day and caught flies from my compost bin in big bags, crushed them, and mixed them in as well. I also helped her learn to catch flies while flying (not in the video because you obviously wouldn't be able to see the flies). in the end, i don't think it could have worked out any better</span></span></blockquote>I notice one of the comments said there's nothing more s*xy than I guy who has a soft spot for animals. I concur!M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-35815234929270245002011-09-18T10:08:00.000-05:002011-09-18T10:08:32.680-05:00Klaus: He's worth another look.<div style="text-align: center;">Back home again to my dreary, lonely, <i>pet-less</i> house.... </div><div style="text-align: center;">really, a great visit with friends and family, but it's nice to be home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Sigh*</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I still miss him....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Klaus....ahem....Klaus!....hey, you!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2Jq3cUK06S0uSeSZwljY403uGzRCeKQ9jv1m0VsPTzz0Z8nMW48y8fyMAWfiXLzpmb3LNZZAgFuD0ywAyBoD8ov1Qfj2kDTjaTnkQblhHg68Sdvfr9DjnhcFwmuwuVnbr-R1MAFEXiHX/s1600/klaus+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2Jq3cUK06S0uSeSZwljY403uGzRCeKQ9jv1m0VsPTzz0Z8nMW48y8fyMAWfiXLzpmb3LNZZAgFuD0ywAyBoD8ov1Qfj2kDTjaTnkQblhHg68Sdvfr9DjnhcFwmuwuVnbr-R1MAFEXiHX/s400/klaus+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i>Are you talking to </i>me<i>?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZSiX3Z6AM-tt_GP9i2cLsAuWTpoURfR-V0qPUqggyWm5wQGyw_0d-lPJsFQJPhMVHYjil7IVs2wwsasi_jdUsXRY6yhIOyiQvxDiPkPFIAiJ77Xj7VnzwlNQmQaC7e_JsCCU8bFwgZkN/s1600/klaus+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZSiX3Z6AM-tt_GP9i2cLsAuWTpoURfR-V0qPUqggyWm5wQGyw_0d-lPJsFQJPhMVHYjil7IVs2wwsasi_jdUsXRY6yhIOyiQvxDiPkPFIAiJ77Xj7VnzwlNQmQaC7e_JsCCU8bFwgZkN/s400/klaus+4.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Why, yes, I am! Klaus, I'm over here!!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL7yAxSubIeNZhrn-UWjFx5054PWUvZwQVm6idzM2BT3pCIQM5sficaNC7qB33ScXlt82wjCgLySvWSQJSpCibVVOSvK5OWcMvxjshBxtGUUo0os6-OH9x_GQGKJDJMsKszsMgKfkPVkp/s1600/klaus+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmL7yAxSubIeNZhrn-UWjFx5054PWUvZwQVm6idzM2BT3pCIQM5sficaNC7qB33ScXlt82wjCgLySvWSQJSpCibVVOSvK5OWcMvxjshBxtGUUo0os6-OH9x_GQGKJDJMsKszsMgKfkPVkp/s400/klaus+2.JPG" width="356" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><i>Oh, you </i>are<i> talking to me! Wanna go for a walk?!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1hxbAHBAKx40oFJ08Tf4BQzOAEHVybCy_NA7CRSgDr-TvM9Gq1tbDTkbzD1BQW6zydx36z58puzog4ONkSKoe21gnousLMMn2Y8w2aubidhFHfeaWDDC2SXDdVWLIU1wj6xdOtGCwgMu/s1600/klaus+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1hxbAHBAKx40oFJ08Tf4BQzOAEHVybCy_NA7CRSgDr-TvM9Gq1tbDTkbzD1BQW6zydx36z58puzog4ONkSKoe21gnousLMMn2Y8w2aubidhFHfeaWDDC2SXDdVWLIU1wj6xdOtGCwgMu/s400/klaus+1.JPG" width="340" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">You got it, buddy! Let's go!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7823668393321248630.post-19213231051616586452011-09-10T16:24:00.000-05:002011-09-10T16:24:41.501-05:00Klaus' House<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-size: large;">We're spending a few days with Little Klaus (as I invariably refer to him). That's <i>Klaus</i>, which rhymes with <i>House</i>. He's named after some film director or philosopher--I don't recall which. However, no philosophers named Klaus come to mind, so it must be the film industry....?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgOX9Ug51C8AnfbY5cyy_YXscEoIdtVm7Jad6d1BiHdRAIeEuSE7kDSRi8mrqw4S5RXMRZDbPiR0IEJ3UOqbUd9xhyphenhyphenUQpRybLpVztcL7dsoQFf1t6x8NE_YwdKvRuETE583vCW9Cm1Gv5/s1600/Klaus+2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgOX9Ug51C8AnfbY5cyy_YXscEoIdtVm7Jad6d1BiHdRAIeEuSE7kDSRi8mrqw4S5RXMRZDbPiR0IEJ3UOqbUd9xhyphenhyphenUQpRybLpVztcL7dsoQFf1t6x8NE_YwdKvRuETE583vCW9Cm1Gv5/s400/Klaus+2011.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll have my people talk with Klaus' people and get back to you on that</span>!</span>M.T. Pockettshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05616198476812634048noreply@blogger.com2