steve the cat . . .

Steve is sort of an odd cat . . . I appreciate that about him.

He always seems to be there in the middle of the night when I can't sleep. 

You will always be lucky if you know

how to make friends with strange cats.

                                                  ~ Proverb

 

smile . . .

I finished dressing this set and they are on their way to Arizona.

All dressed up with someplace to go.  

To succeed in life, you need three things:
 a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.

~ Reba McEntire

the skeletons are out . . .

It's the most wonderful time

of the year!

Cousins . . .

This makes me smile!

button love . . .

"Be the person who can smile 

on the worst day."

~ Cate

gonna be all right . . .

This is another doll that I started some time ago.

I just need to figure out what I am going to do with her 

now that she has this crazy smile stitched on her face.

Never give up on anything that makes you smile.

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

Were there any good things today?

There had to be - right?

It doesn't take much to be a "good thing" . . . a cup of coffee, 

a smile from someone,  a good book,

finding joy in the every day stuff . . . right?  

So, why has today been hard for me?  I do know why . . . and I am stronger than that!

So . . . 

Coffee . . . and it tasting better when Richard makes it

Finishing a book - which ended so much better than I thought it would

Walking in the rain . . . even if it was just sprinkling

Working through a rough day . . .

Recording a lip sync video of myself for a project.  LOL  (Bob Marley , Three Little Birds)

"Don't worry, about a thing, 

"Cause every little thing is gonna be all right."

together forever . . .

I decided that my ladies needed some companions.

I have also decided that I probably need to go buy some more skeletons to dress.

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Friday!

“For a moment at least, 

be a smile on someone else’s face.” 
― Dejan Stojanovic, The Sun Watches the Sun

A day with Avery . . . Best Day Ever . . .

 I watched my youngest granddaughter Avery over my Thanksgiving break.

The day started off with crazy hair and a big bear . . . .

 . . . being a unicorn was next . . . 

. . . sleeping . . . 

. . . SMILING . . . 

BEST DAY EVER!

How to make a four year old smile . . .

. . . throw Grandpa in the pool with her.  

I'm still here . . .

 It has been a crazy couple of weeks . . . and I just haven't made time to post and be online much at all.  I also haven't taken many pictures.  I hope to change that.  

So much going on . . . much that I won't touch on here, except for a few pictures I did take.

We had Kasey's baby shower.  It was one of those occasions that I chose to enjoy rather than take pictures.  Only a few more weeks til we get to see our new granddaughter in person.  

 This little guy turned 5!  He is such a sweet little guy!

This was taken on his actual birthday.  He had a wonderful party with a lot of kids and chaos!

Just what you would expect at a 5 year old birthday party!

This was my great find at a thrift store this afternoon.  Thirty-three stamps . . . for $12.

I don't do a lot of stamping, but I could not walk past these for that price.  There are a few Halloween stamps and somewhere in there is a peace sign stamp.  I figure the ones I don't really like I can let the kids mess with.  

Christmas Spirit . . .

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer,

 is singing loud for all to hear."

~ Buddy the Elf

 I haven't posted my skeleton and elf photos here for a few days . . . 

I also update them daily on 

Facebook, Instagram, and a separate page - Skeleton and Elf

A bit much?  Yeah - but fun for me and I have different people who follow 

the shenanigans of Skeleton & Elf on different sites.   

I've decided that they really do have their own way of showing some Christmas Spirit . . . because no matter what Skeleton dishes out . . . no matter what he does . . . that little Christmas Elf just keeps on smiling.  There is no getting rid of his Joy . . . and he remains happy and enjoys the holiday season - every day of it.  So . . . when you find yourself tired and cranky and maybe a little stressed from shopping or whatever else the holidays have you doing . . . just remember Elf.  

Remember to smile, be patient and kind to everyone you encounter, be filled with JOY . . . 

Believe in the MAGIC and be filled with Christmas Spirit!  

If you just can't figure how to do that . . . then work at it!  Put on some Christmas music, sing along,  attend a children's holiday performance, watch your favorite holiday movie, help someone less fortunate than you, drink some eggnog, smile . . . better yet laugh, bake some cookies, eat some cookies, wear a Santa hat, have your picture taken with Santa, take a small child to look at Christmas lights and watch their excitement . . . then get that excited yourself.  Most of all . . . remember why we celebrate this season! 

back to school surprise . . . doodles . . . and the force

 I received a wonderful "Back to School" surprise in the mail this week from Lorraine at Paper Vernissage.  I can't wait to put this peace sign fabric and Day of the Dead buttons to use.  Thank you so much Lorraine!  A few years ago I stumbled upon another blog that Lorraine kept . . . each Friday she would post about something that happened at the school where she worked.  We may live on opposite coasts . . . and very different parts of the country, but some things are the same.  I would find myself laughing every Friday with my principal over her stories.  I miss that blog . . . but enjoy following her at Paper Vernissage.  

 Just a few August doodles . . . most of them unfinished it seems. 

I guess I have been busier than I realized.  

Yes, these are August doodles . . . with the Sanderson Sisters - I tend to get into the spirit of Halloween rather early.   I suppose it is too early to start decorating though.

Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.

Hmm.  In the end, cowards are those who follow the dark side.

Many of the truths that we cling to depend on our point of view.

When you look at the dark side, careful you must be. 

 For the dark side looks back.

Do or do not.  There is not try.

Fear is the path to the dark side.  Fear leads to anger.  

Anger leads to hate.  Hate leads to suffering.

Happy Wednesday!

good things today . . .

GOOD THINGS TODAY . . . 

1. A great day at work!

2. Dinner with this guy!  

3. Thinking it was about 1:00 . . . and it was time to go home 

4. Watching the Olympics

5. Old friends

6. Making fun plans

7. Painting . . . even if only a little bit

8. Coffee!

9. St. Louis Cardinals 9th inning comeback (yesterday) . . . I love baseball!

"It ain't over 'til it's over."  ~ Yogi Berra

10. Going to bed early . . . 

think happy. be happy.

happy weekend!

fun stuff this week . . .

 Paper Cranes and buttons . . . 

 her little hand that makes a peace sign 

when she tells me "Peace Amma". . . 

 notes for Papa . . .

little paper cranes and cupcakes for room 12 . . . 

all ready for a field trip to the zoo . . . 

hydrangeas appearing on my desk . . . 

 getting hair put on a new doll . . . 

sunflowers . . . 

little smiles . . . 

Some weeks are just full of good stuff . . .

HAPPY FRIDAY!

love . . . pink . . . a paper crane . . . silly girls

Today there was time for crocheting . . . and being silly. 

 There is nothing quite like a couple of silly little girls.