Age - Bring it On!

So yesterday got away from me. I seem to be playing fast and loose with any sort of schedule.

I went to get my hair done. I have always found this to be a monotonous and mundane task and most of the time I just let it slide. The whole girly girl regiment is one I never really bought into. But the older I get, the more I totally swallow the hook, line and sinker.

This is a war. Age and me are in quite a battle. Right now I feel it is a tie, but it can easily turn against me. Age is devious and it cheats ALL THE TIME.

It is a battle to lose weight. It would be super if the weight came off, say, in my ass or my thighs but no, Age, makes it come off on my knees, my fingers, my earlobes. Cheater, I tell ya!

When I was young, showering was a easy affair. In, lather, rinse, repeat, out. You could practically set a stop watch on how fast I could get ready. Now if it is any later than 9:00 am, I don't brother showering at all. No real point, since it will take me forever to get ready and then it will just be time to remove the day products and slather on the night products.

Now it is in, lather, rinse, shave, condition, floss, deep condition, cellulite condition, body scrub, deep deep condition, rinse, repeat. Get out. Stare in the mirror and over analyze every nook and cranny on the body. And at my age, there are more every day! Try and decide how much ground you lost over the night and exactly what your body was doing when you were sleeping. Getting old is like having toddlers, they are cute and nice to your face, but as soon as your back is turned, all hell breaks loose. During the day, your body is nice but as soon as your eyes close, all hell breaks loose.

Then it is powdering, lotioning, moisturizing, spritzing, and this is on the part that is going to not be seen by human eyes. Don't even get me started on how long it takes to do my face. Tightening this and that. Moisturizing this and that. Base coat. First coat. Second coat. Third coat. Final coat. Move on to eye makeup. Lip makeup. Then on to hair. Leave in condition. Mousse. Blow dry. Straight iron (truly my dream date). No fly aways cream. Hair spray.

Good Lord, I'm exhausted already and I haven't even dressed yet. Or left my bedroom. Hell, I'm still in the bathroom and I need a nap. This is what I do just to enjoy a normal day. Going out, adds all sorts of additional prep time. And wine.

I feel I am standing tall these days only because the amount of product has made me unable to bend in the middle.

But I do it. I have bought into the show and I'm not leaving now. Sure I know Age will get me in the end but it will be a knock-down, drag-out fight and I am going to get my punches in.

This ain't no wussy girl!

Necklace Giveaway

There is a great giveaway going on on one of the blogs I follow. I have put a link for you to enter and try to win.

Good Luck!

Click here to enter contest.

Book 'em Sunday - Arthur Conan Doyle - A life in letters

Today for Book 'em Sunday we are doing Arthur Conan Doyle, a life in letters. This was written by Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower, and Charles Foley. It was published in 2007.

Arthur Conan Doyle was most famous for his Sherlock Holmes writings. Before he started writing though he had had a most fascinating life.

He was sent away to boarding school at the age of eight and was an extraordinarily avid correspondent, mostly with his mother. Arthur came from a long line of artists. His father was an artist as well, but become a drunk and his mother took over the burden of supporting and raising the children. His mother, Mary Foley, was remarkable in her own right. She was better educated than the woman usually were in Victorian Britain, spoke French and was interested in history and genealogy.

Arthur was trained as a physician and was a ship's surgeon on an Arctic whaling ship at only twenty years of age. He also was a war correspondent and military historian. Ran for Parliament twice and became the world's foremost spokesman for the new religion of Spiritualism.

This book is a excellent read. It is a little more pricey than most books I buy, but it may be out in paperback by now. I loved Sherlock Holmes when I was a kid. I reread them a few years ago and they are even better now. I found that to be true for most classic books. When you have to read them in school it seems more of a punishment than a treat. But taking a second read when you are an adult, they are almost without a doubt, absolutely great.

Conan Doyle had a huge fight with the Sherlock Holmes stories. He wanted to be a "serious writer" and didn't feel that Holmes provided this platform. The dismay he felt is evident in these letters. He even went as far as to kill off Sherlock Holmes. The outcry was tremendous and he reversed the decision in a later book, but he never really embraced Sherlock like the public did.

Arthur Conan Doyle was born in 1859 and died in 1930. Was married twice and had 5 children. He was knighted and became Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

This is a book that you can pick up and read a little at a time. Arthur had a wonderfully witty letter writing style, as did his mother. The descriptions of the time and events are entertaining. I feel that through private correspondence you really learn the true makeup of a person. What they are feeling, and seeing becomes more real in their own words.

You should take a look at this book and if you can pick up a Sherlock Holmes book while you are at it. You will be super glad you did.

Random bits of life

I skipped Collectible Friday and let's just say it was because yesterday was "Stay off your computer day." That sounds like I actually had a plan for the day and stuck to it, as opposed to the damn day just spun out of control and I was too frazzled to care.

Today lets just have random thoughts that are living in my head at this exact moment.

My car is back! And lets just say why in the hell do they give you estimates if they plan to just blow by the estimates and reside in the YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! price range. So after selling the kid, the dog, and half of my bodily organs, we now own a car. A running car I hope.

Where is Spring? Where is anything besides bitter cold, pouring rain, wind, and just the ugliest weather EVER. I feel like why even get out of bed. I shower, put on make-up, do my hair, wear my cute shoes, open my front door and receive a face full of water. Close the door. Trudge back upstairs, dripping, and start all over again. Remove make-up, put hair in a bun, put on industrial strength waffle stomper shoes and head out. Really, why bother.

Why does waxing feel like I am being burned alive? I'm not sure which is worse the hot, molten lava wax, or those small but incredibly deadly tweezers. Good Lord, those tweezers hurt. Yank, Yank, Yank. I cringe just remembering. Then cover me in boiling oil, add tape, pat down, grab and Yank off! Oh, Sure, today I look fine and am glad I did it, but yesterday I was learning some new swear words. Went to lunch with the kid afterwards, who stated I had a very red face. All I could think about was you wouldn't be red if you had just gone through what I did, You would be DEAD. Being that guys are giant babies about pain. I just smiled.

Low Flow Toilets. The logic is seriously lost on me. How do you save water if the tissue you just took your eye make-up off with, needs four separate flushes to even attempt to go down the drain? Last week I made the mistake of trying to flush two tissues and a cotton ball. I paid for my error with a date with a plunger. I know, you are thinking "What a fun house you have. You truly are living a life dreams are made of. "

So there ya go! Random bits of excitement in this life I lead. Today I need to get ink for the printer. Pay bills. Wash clothes. The fun never stops.

Car Woes - Part Two

So my car is still in the shop. I still have to deal with the service department, which I still haven't gotten any better at. I am still driving the lovely little loaner car.

I blew out the radiator. I needed new valves for an oil leak. All just a giant ball of fun.

My service representative, also called idiot boy, is never available. I'm sorry he is away from his desk, I'm sorry he is with a client, I'm sorry you are not important and he really can't be bothered with you AT ALL. The excuses are never ending and I find that I start to have a voice that only dogs can hear whenever I call the dealership.

Sure, when I bought the car, it was explained to me how wonderful the service department was. They would be at my beck and call. My car would be treated like the princess it was and I would be the Queen. Then they cashed my check. And the fairy tale balloon popped and I was left with the pumpkin and idiot boy. Not a match made in heaven.

It was supposed to be done yesterday at 5:00 pm. Now I live in Seattle. The pumpkin palace is in Bellevue. All which means I need to drive over across Lake Washington, in rush hour. So calling me at 4:45 pm ON MY HOME PHONE is really not the way to go. Even in the middle of the night, it will take you longer than 15 minutes to drive to Bellevue. So I don't get the message.

We take a lovely drive to Bellevue for no reason. I fume all the way home, in rush hour traffic.

Of course idiot boy, who had asked for the best phone number to reach me and was given my CELL number, but he had neglected to write it down. As he explained, most of the time his memory is just super Thank you very much, but he was having an off day. PENCILS, people, PENCILS! I will not hold it against you if you whip one out and jot down a note. In fact, I will probably hug you IN PUBLIC.

So hope springs eternal that today will be the day I will take possession of my car, new radiator, new valves and I can finally leave idiot boy in the dust. Lets just hope.

Fashion Plate

Since I have become thinner, I find I love fashion magazines. When I was heavy, I just bought the first thing I saw in the largest size they had. In a multitude of colors and called it a day.

I have never really enjoyed clothes shopping. In high school, because I was the world's biggest dork, I bought 3 pairs of pants (all the same) 3 shirts (all the same) 2 sweat shirts (all the same) some socks (all the same) and a pair of shoes. I could do all my school clothes shopping before the rest of the family even entered the store. I know, it is a gift. Then I would find the book aisle and promptly sit down and read. Amazing that I got married at all.

It would drive my mother absolutely insane. I didn't care. Then I would go to school and look like some sort of nut job who only owned one outfit. I'm sure the entire school body thought I wore the same clothes day in and day out. Because, seriously, there was no difference. A fashion plate I wasn't

It never really changed. Clothes didn't matter that much and I could hardly be bothered to even replace items when they wore out. Now I'm making up for lost time.

I love shopping. I go at least once a week, oh, I hardly buy anything but I love to look. I buy all the magazines and drool over the designer clothes. Some of these outfits are seriously strange and I really think normal day to day people couldn't wear them, but that doesn't stop me from imagining the dress in my closet.

Shoes, dresses, jeans, purses, I just love it all. It is like I am making up for lost time. I have fashion blogs that I read. Vogue and Harper's Bazaar live by my bed. I am ripping out subscription cards right and left. I keep a stack of post it notes on every flat surface in case I need to flag something.

And yet, the geeky girl is still here. I never pronounce the designers name right, which delights my kid to no end. I make fun of the little tiny models and there way over the top hair do's. I laugh at the interviews of which high heels would go with which itty bitty black dress and whether they are a supper heel or a nightclub heel.

But I won't be stopping anytime soon. It is an addiction and one that I happen to do well. Plus, it carries no hangover or weight gain.

Car woes

Well, in the little shop of horrors, or also, my life, I got to take my car to the service department.

Yesterday, the little warning light came on with a message to "Check Coolant Levels." No idea what that is, where it might be located, or even if I own the correct coolant. So I called the service department.

Dealing with the service department is a talent I do not possess. Really dealing with the public is a talent I do not possess. Just let me call up and get a service appointment. Let me drop off my car, pick up the loaner car, and go about my day. Later on, you call, say car is fixed and we reverse the day. It seems so simple. Yet, it never works out that way.

First, I need to have rapid fire questions shot at me. What kind of coolant? What is the engine doing? What is the mileage? Has it gone Four Wheeling? My answers are always the same. "Who in the Sam hell knows!" If I knew the coolant it wanted, I would certainly provide it. I have no idea what the engine is doing, I assume it is running the car, but again no real clue. Since the car is still in the garage in the morning, I can safely say that it doesn't appear to have gone Four Wheeling in the night. But it may be living a secret life. My ex was and I didn't know about that one, so we can say that I may be unaware of activities that take place right under my nose.

Finally, we get an appointment and are set up for a loaner car. Drive over there. The kid goes because for some strange reason, HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES THE DEALERSHIP. The same questions are asked. For Pete's sake people, write it down. And for the record, if you work at a restaurant, write it down. Your mind is never as good as you think it is. Pencils were invented for a reason.

They try and give us a Hummer for a loaner. No thank you. We get a snazzy red jag. Very nice, though I feel like I am riding in a hole. I am a big believer in getting that insurance that is like a giant invisible shield all over your car. Where no matter what happens to you, you don't pay. Sweet! I always get it. It drives my kid nuts and he will have a long conversation about the waste of money that feature is. I don't listen. If there is a meteorite heading for New York, it will veer off course and hit me in Washington. I am a serious magnet for weirdos. Not just ones in cars either, they find me on foot as well. It is quite a talent.

So I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is something simple. And it will be done today. Let's all hope.

The Stunt Girl - The story of Nellie Bly

On Friday night, the kid and I went to the theater. We saw "The Stunt Girl" which is the story of Nellie Bly.

I love the theater. We have gone in New York to see Cats and The Lion King. We have gone to the 5Th Avenue Theater and the Paramount in Seattle to see many shows. This theater was in Issaquah, which I had never been to before.

Nellie Bly was an American journalist. She is most famous for her undercover expose in which she faked insanity to study a mental institution from within. She also is known for her record-breaking trip around the world.

She had a fascinating life. I am a huge feminist and I love to read about the accomplishments of women. So when I saw that this was playing, I bought tickets for both the kid and I.

It wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It didn't help that I had a ear infection. And that the kid and I were horribly overdressed for the Issaquah theater. That in and of itself is a tale for another day, what is it with people and not getting dressed up? The kid ahead of me was in shorts and two different t-shirts, one that he needed to remove right in the middle of the play. Plus, he needed to text on his cell phone the entire play.

With all that Nellie Bly accomplished in her life, the overwhelming theme of the play, was WHEN WAS SHE GOING TO GET A GUY! Granted, I may be a little sensitive to this subject but it just seemed to beat me over the head with the message. Be anything you want, be very successful, and then get your ass in gear and get married.

I was expecting more of a tale of a woman making a success of herself in a male dominated field. Not so much batting of the eyes and stroking the male ego when she started to do better than he did.

I would have left at intermission but we stayed for the whole play. The actors and actresses were very professional. This is a musical and it was well choreographed. The work that goes into a production is awe inspiring and they should be very proud.

I just think that in the future, I will read about Nellie Bly in her own word's.

Book 'em Sunday - A Bit of Velvet & A Dash of Lace

Today for Book 'em Sunday we are going to do a wonderful decorating book. The book, A Bit of Velvet & A Dash of Lace, by Robin Brown, was published in 2008.
Robin Brown is the creator of the couture business named Magnolia Pearl. In this book, she shows off her own home and how you can create the look for yourself. There are fun and inexpensive projects throughout the book.

I do have to say, some of the ideas are a little over the top. In one room of her home, she used carpet on the walls, which I don't think would work in my home but to each their own.

The book is a joy to look through. The photos are beautiful and the home is wonderfully decorated, especially the outside spaces.I can't imagine having a lot of this in my own home. The couches and chairs are covered in velvet, French brocade, antique crocheted lace, and the like. With a kid, and a dog (soon to be two) I can't imagine how I would keep this looking nice. In my own decorating, I like less worry not more. But it is nice to see different styles.So if you run across this book in your travels, I would give it a look-through.

Collectible Friday - Vintage Phones

Happy Spring!! Oh, Thank God. Though it looks a lot like winter but it is Spring. Oh, Thank God.

For collectible Friday, we are doing vintage phones. I love vintage phones, especially pink vintage phones. Oh sure, they don't have caller id, and sometimes they have temperamental wiring, but they work when the power goes out. And they are fun to look at.

With the exception of the black one, all of mine actually work and are in use. I have a cell phone, which I love, and in the kitchen I have a modern one but other than those, I use vintage.

The black phone is a ship phone. It was made to hang on the wall and you have to depress a button to get the handset off. This was so during rough seas it won't fall off. Plus, if you got hit with that handset it would HURT, that thing is heavy. I am going to have it rewired and hung up in the kitchen at the beach house.
The black and pink one is my favorite. It used to be by my bed. But both of my upstairs phones do not have ringers and so I needed to switch one out, so I put another pink one in my bedroom. The black and pink one hasn't found a new home yet, but it will. The little accessory laying next to it, is a dialer. Mine is a black poodle. These were made so that dialing wouldn't ruin a woman's manicure. You can find all sorts. I used to just use the end of a pencil but this is so much cuter. They come with a little clip that you can attach to your phone so they don't get lost. It is a very heavy phone.The two pink ones are from the 1960's and are commonly found, as is the yellow one.
The minty green one is a fabulous find. This is a Ericofon made by the L M Ericsson Company of Sweden. 1954 marked the beginning of production of the Ericofon. They were made for mostly industrial use, in particular hospitals. It was a one piece design which made it easier for patients to use. You pick up the phone and dial from the bottom. When you set the phone down, it hangs up. You just pick it up to answer. I love this one. Though it doesn't have a ringer, so you need another phone in the vicinity to know when to answer it. These are harder to find and slightly expensive. If you want a pretty color, you will pay more. I believe you can buy a ringer box at Radio Shack, but I haven't checked that out yet. They run in the $100.00 range to find one that works.

The yellow phone is what is known as a trim line phone. The smaller pink phone is called a princess phone. I know I feel like a princess whenever I use it. In the photo it is a little dirty. It is the phone I can get to the fastest upstairs, and since I am always decoupaging something, the phone is decoupaged as well. Someday soon I will fix that.

I also own (not shown) a bulldog phone. It is a big dog with the receiver being a bone. The dog barks instead of rings. It is cute but I find it hard to use, so I have it stored away.

The more common phones start about $25.00 and run up from there, depending on condition of phone, color of phone, and rarity of the phones feature.

You should give these a try. They are a little temperamental but overall fun to use. Plus, you can't go wrong with the color pink.

Goodby - Thank Goodness!

No more in-laws. One of the best things about losing a husband, besides the extra closet space you get, is the family you finally get to get rid off.

My family is no walk in the park. I have a fantastic sister, but I don't really have a relationship with the rest of the family. It is my decision and one I am happy with. I couldn't live without my sister and would do anything to keep that relationship alive and well. The rest, hard to get along with and better when they are not in my life.

My in laws, gone and I am better for it. Finally, holidays that won't end up with crying and someone going home mad. Finally, another meal that won't end up made with food I do not eat, and which they have known about for 23 years and chose to ignore. Pointed digs and sly comments that I won't have to listen to.

With my in laws, we have nothing in common. Not how we feel about politics, or food, or holidays, or fun, or my son. My son, the one person in this world I love unconditionally. The second person in this family that my in-laws can't stand. The first being me.

My ex chose to ignore it. The bad behavior, the veiled insults, the hurtful remarks, were always something I was suppose to disregard. Aimed at my direction, sure. Aimed at my son, no way on earth. The interactions between us and them, became less and less.

Now, there is no interaction at all. For the first time in over 23 years, Christmas was nice. Music played, the food was good, neighbors stopped by with gifts, people were laughing and enjoying themselves. I loved it! My son loved it! His father was no where to be found and we loved that! The in-laws gone and Oh! How We Loved That!

I'm sure it must be hard for my son, for I know deep inside he wants to be part of a family. I can see the way he tries so hard to buy the perfect gift for birthday's and holidays. How he loves when we would have pool parties and his grandparents would come. How his school essays would be written for the grandparents he wished he had, not the ones that he did have. But it is not to be, not for grandparents, not for aunts or uncles, or even cousins. Hell, not even for his own father. Not one of them sent a card, a gift, a email, or a phone message on Christmas or his birthday. His 18Th birthday went unnoticed by people that had been in his life every moment he has been alive.

So, I'm glad they are gone. Maybe that should have been my first clue as to what kind of life I was stepping into. What can I say, I was 22 and pretty stupid.

Would I do it all again?

Yes, in a heart beat! I would still step up and take the disappointment. I would take the betrayal. I would take the humiliation from a man who said he would always love me, protect me, care for me. I would take the horrible in-laws. All of it I would take again, for in doing so, I would also get the one thing I love so much. The one thing that also loves me so much. My son.

It was so worth it.

The most hated craft EVER!

OK, this is my last Easter project. I hated this one and I don't recommend anyone ever do it.

I had planned to do two of these but only ended up doing the one. It still needs some more of those nuts but it is good enough for now.
If you could do this project on about three glasses of wine, it may be alright. Since I didn't have any wine, I substituted water and it was SO not the same.

With the wreath laying on a table you just start gluing nuts in a giant circle. I know, it seems easy, I think it should be easy and it may be easy for someone else. Everything started in a nice circle and then those nuts just broke rank and went every which way. I like to think of it as living outside the circle.

It is hard to place nuts when your fingers are covered in third degree glue burns because the hot glue is EXACTLY the same color as the wreath, so you keep putting your fingers in hot glue. Over and over again. Soon you have quite the collection of nuts stuck to your hands and not so many stuck to the wreath. If only I could have found a way of hanging my hands from the front door in a less than painful way, I so would have.

Round and round and willy wonky we went. Those nuts and I. Then I ran out of glue. Go figure, this project takes at least 15 glue sticks. I had twelve. Off to suburban hell, the kid went. Glue returned (and the kid). Back to work I went.

Tried to keep the kid from eating those stupid nuts but I had to bribe him to hold the, by this time deeply hated, wreath. I needed to do the edges and that was next to impossible with the wreath laying on its side. So now it is done.

I wrapped the ribbon around the wreath. Resisting the urge to wrap the ribbon around my neck for even doing such a stupid craft. Hung the wreath on the front door. When I regain my love for either crafting or hot glue, I will finish adding the rest of the nuts.

But for now, it is fine. I tell you though, one outdoor animal attempts to eat a single nut, he is SO going down.

Cake Stand Craft

I have finished another craft. No, it is not those super expensive Jordan Almonds wreaths. They are taking slightly longer than forever. Plus side though, I can rob banks undetected since the hot glue gun has seared off my fingerprints. More on those later.

This project was not my own idea, I found it on a blog I follow, cherrysjubileehome.blogspot.com.

I took two unmatched candle holders. These I already owned, but they are readily found at the Goodwill. I was there today and they had two aisles full. I resisted buying anymore since the wreaths are staring me in the face. I bought the two wood circles at Michael's and the ball fringe at a fabric store (Calico Corners).
I spray painted the bases white. I wanted mine to be more shabby, so I didn't do a super good job on the sanding. You can certainly make yours anyway you want. Left those to dry.

I cut out the paper I wanted to use. This I already owned. Got out my trusty decoupage and went to town. You can just use glue and it will be wonderful. I like to have the option to wipe it down if need be, so that is why I used decoupage. I sanded between each coat so it will have a smooth finish. You can't see this in the photos, but I also did the bottom of each circle.

For the scalloped one, I took a glass, turned it over and traced circles on my paper of choice. Then I cut around the bottom of the circles, taking care to not cut the circles from each other. Found the middle of the circles and cut a straight line through them. This will create two sets of scallops. It took a little over three to cover the edge of my circle. There may be a easier way to do this, but I don't know it. I sewed some beads onto a button and adhered the flower to the edge of the circle.
For the little cupcake holder, it was the same process, only I glued fringe to the edge. The little glass dome, I bought today at the Goodwill for .49. They had lots of the small ones but no large one for the cake stand.
I glued the bases to the circles using Gorilla Glue, let them dry for a few hours and now they eagerly await a baked product.

As soon as I hire a baker, they shall have one.

Sick!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

We are sick at our home. I blame it on the LONGEST WINTER KNOWN TO MAN. I know colds are viruses, I just don't care and prefer to blame it on Winter. And the ex.

I am not a good sick patient. Being a mother you never really get a sick day anyway. You just do the regular day with periodic intervals of illness. I assign sick days to hours. I will feel bad for 3 hours and then it shall be gone. It never is.

The kid and I are pretty healthy in the overall scheme of things. It is his school that brings us down like wounded wildebeests. With the homework and in class assignments, if you miss even an hour, you are about a day behind. Miss a whole day and you may never see daylight again. So kids go to school sick and then the rest of us get sick and then we infect some more people and eventually the original kids are sick again and the whole process starts all over again.

A giant circle of sickness. Fun times I tell ya.

The kid is the perfect sick patient. He lays in his bed with the dog, watches TV and drinks cranberry juice. Takes hot baths, eats his soup, takes his aspirin and drinks lots of water. Of course, he charts his progress on Web MD and provides hourly updates of his symptoms. He is the opposite of me.

So now I am off to play Florence Nightingale. I role I wholeheartedly suck at. Wish me well.

My! You're a tall drink of water

Do you think tall people should wear high heels?

I am fairly tall. A little over 5'11. Being tall has many advantages. Reaching the top shelves in grocery stores. Seeing over the heads of crowds. It hides weight gain.

When I was younger I hated being tall. I wore flats because I towered over everyone. Shirt sleeves were always too short. Dating someone taller than me was a challenge.

Now I like it. In fact, I love it. But now I wear high heels, nearly every day. The heels put me a little over 6'1 and I like how I feel.

The other day I was in the bookstore and a lady approached me. She patiently waited until I looked her way and then she stated I shouldn't be wearing high heels. It made me too tall. I won't repeat what I said and she went away.

I can't stop thinking about the comment though. I have had people come up numerous times to state I am tall. As if I didn't notice, thank you very much. So now I wonder, do I look less like a woman if I am tall? Do I intimidate people because of my height? Should I only wear flats? Spend my day hunched over.

Being tall isn't something I had any control over. It wasn't like I was in the womb with a card checking off boxes like a room service menu. Tall, Medium Tall, Extra Tall, Giraffe Tall, oh yes, Giraffe Tall, exactly the one I wanted, check. My kid is tall and gets far less comments than I do. So it is OK for men to be tall but women should be short?

I like being tall, comments and all. Sure it has it downsides but I think everyone has something they consider to be a downside. And if being tall is my only downside, I have it pretty easy.

Book 'em Sunday - Early Autumn

Today for Book 'em Sunday, we are doing one of my favorite mystery books of all time, Early Autumn.
This book was written by Robert B. Parker. Early Autumn was published in 1976 and won the Best Novel Award in 1977.

This is a Spenser novel. Spenser, named after the poet, is a private investigator located in Boston. There are roughly 36 Spenser novels. This one is number four. The first one, The Godwulf Manuscript, was published in 1971, and there has been one nearly every year since.

I own multiple copies of this book and it is packed in all of my luggage. This book goes everywhere I go. It is by far the one book that has truly influenced my life, more than any person or event.

I can't say really why it is so wonderful to me, but I think it has to do with my family situation growing up. I read this book for the first time, in 1982 when I was working at a used bookstore. The story features Paul, a fifteen year old boy whose parents are using him as a pawn in their bitter divorce. Spenser takes him to Maine to give him a crash course in survival.

The one passage that has stayed with me every day since I first read this book so long ago happens when Spenser is talking to Paul:

"I mean you don't have anything to care about. You don't have anything to be proud of. You don't have anything to know. You are almost completely neutral because nobody took the time to teach you or show you and because what you saw of the people who brought you up didn't offer anything you wanted to copy."

"It's not my fault."

"No, not yet. But if you lay back and let oblivion roll over you, it will be your fault. You're old enough now to start becoming a person. And you're old enough now so that you'll have to start taking some kind of responsibility for your life. And I'm going to help you."

It helped me understand no one was going to be there for me, but me. I could whine and moan about what I didn't have, but that wasn't going to change a thing. It would only slow me down in achieving what I wanted, who I wanted to become. I didn't have to be my parents. I still had time to change into a good, kind, and decent person.

This book like all the Spenser novels, are written with a code of character, integrity and honor. Plus, they are funny and the plots are excellent.

I used to hope I would find someone like Spenser in real life. A man with character and integrity who would do the right thing when times were hard. A man you could depend on. A man of strength and kindness. I didn't know one growing up. I didn't marry one. But I believe my son will end up being one, thanks in a large part to this book.

All of the Spenser novels are still in print. They have been republished over and over again. Thank goodness, in case mine wear out. You can buy them at your local bookstores.

I am showing you my pride and joy. This is a signed first edition of Early Autumn. You can only find this edition on a used book site. Or you might get really really lucky and find it on your thrifting expeditions. If you bought it off of a used book site, it would run you between $66.00 anywhere up to $250.00, depending on the quality of the signature and the condition of the book.I bought this years ago for $4.95 and then later on, Robert Parker was signing books in a bookstore in San Jose, CA and I brought this in to have it signed. I don't know if he still does any public signing.

On a side note about finding used books. I was at the Goodwill about 6 or 7 years ago, and I was looking through the hardback mystery section. I found a book called "When the Bough Breaks" by Jonathan Kellerman. This was published in 1986 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. I paid .99 cents, it is now worth over $175.00. It is a first edition and it was signed. So the rare jewel is still out there. You just need to search.

If you can, give the Spenser novels a read, especially Early Autumn. It will definitely enhance your life.

Easter crafts - hopefully

OK, this is a short post because I am crafting. Easter crafts.
I found this cute Easter project in a magazine. Today I drove to the hated suburban strip mall to purchase supplies. seventy-nine cents for the Styrofoam wreath, fifty-nine cents for the ribbon, and 65.00 dollars for Jordan almonds.

Good God, this is something they should mention on the Easter craft page. I'm pretty sure I could hand dip them in gold bullion and it would be cheaper than the Jordan almonds were.

I had to spend quite a bit of time at the grocery store, which just sucked. I must have covered that store five times before I found them. They were right next to the other exorbitantly priced bizarre foods. Funny how I didn't look there right from the beginning.

All I can say, is this had better turn out to be the be-all-end-all of wreaths. I will let you know.

Collectible Friday - "Miss Cutie Pie"

Today for collectible Friday, we are going to do the "Miss Cutie Pie" collection.
These were produced by the Napco Company. The Napco company, National Potteries Corporation was begun in 1938 in Bedford, OH. They were very prolific during the 1950's and 60's, along with the other big pottery companies.

The "Miss Cutie Pie" was manufactured during the 1950's.
Again, I have to go with the I-have-no-idea-what-they-were-thinking scenario. These are cute but I have to say, also a little creepy. Maybe it is the fact that you are drinking out of someones head that gives me the willies. Or, if you own the cookie jar with the lid, taking off the top of someones head to grab a cookie. Anyway, I own four of the collection and they live in the top of a bookcase. I have two creamers, one pink and one blue, one egg cup, and one coffee cup.
There are quite a few pieces in the collection. This was true for most kitchen pottery. I guess it was if you had the cookie jar, it made sense that you wanted your entire kitchen surrounded with the same theme. Some themes had more pieces, while others just had the bare bones. In this collection you could own, salt & pepper shakers, teapot, spice shakers, cookie jar, sugar & creamers, egg cups and mugs.

The attention to detail is wonderful. The little girls (I'm going with girls here) have expressive faces with little freckles dotting their cheeks. Cherry red lips, some open, some closed. Different colored hair and eyes. The little faces are surrounded by either pink, yellow, or blue color with little white flowers. The little white flowers are on all the pieces.

They have a nice shiny glaze and the colors are nice and bright. The prices range between the middle of the road to the higher end, for more pristine pieces. The cookie jars are hard to find with the lids intact, as is the teapot. This is true for most pottery as well.

You will find glaze bubbles, missed glaze, and crazing on some of the pieces. This just adds to its vintage charm though.

So if you like this kind of stuff, and a lot of people do, take a look around an antique store and see if you can find a "Miss Cutie Pie."

Cleaning will kill you!

Being single has many perks. I have a lot more closet space. I don't have to do laundry as much. We can finally eat grilled cheese sandwiches. All the tivo shows are mine. The bathroom sink is SO MUCH cleaner.

It also has the downsides. I have to change the outside light bulbs, which means touching horrible spider webs and some sort of disgusting bug that likes to live next to light bulbs. The rear view mirror is falling off of my windshield and I have absolutely no idea of how you fix that. I'm thinking super glue is out. I might try that fun tack stuff. Or just some gum.

It was made apparent to me yesterday just how fun some things can be when you are single. I got a splinter. We live in an old home. For some reason, the floor nails will just fling themselves up and out of the floor. Oh, not all the way, just enough to rip your sock, put a run in your nylon, or my personal favorite, gouge out your foot so you get to limp around for a week. Feet issues take forever to go away. Especially since it is impossible for your body to let one leg off on a sick day. With your arms, you have some leeway, not so with feet. Poor design there.

So when I clean, which lets face it, is not that often, I go around with my handy dandy craft hammer and pound them all back down. Another plus on the single side, all the tools are mine. They finally get to be used for what ever purpose I deem fit. No longer must I endure the discussion that starts with "What am I doing with so and so tool? Did I not know that it was to be used only for the screw that is in the kitchen and not the screw that is in the dining room?" Because as a matter of fact, no I did not know, and no, I don't even care.

So yesterday I was pounding away and then because I was day dreaming about all the fun that my life entails, I smoothed the floor and buried a splinter deep into my finger.

It hurt. Badly. Now before someone would have helped me get the giant log of wood out of my finger, now it is me. I was up to the task. I couldn't find a needle, so I used a pin. I couldn't find tweezers, so I used my craft ones. I had to find my glasses, so I would be able to find my finger. Turned on all the lights, so it looked like I had landed on the sun.

My God! I could not get that thing out. The kid came to help but that didn't work. Finally I no longer had just a splinter, I was starting to get an actually wound. One that could require stitches. It hurt. Very badly.

I ran out of patience, dug to China and finally I got it out. Bandaged it up and called it a day. It hurt. Very, very badly. I was stoic though, I am just that way.

I think it just goes to show that being single is fine, it is cleaning that will kill ya!

Customer Service is Dead

I think customer service is dead.

Not dying but full out dead. People used to be so friendly, courteous, helpful. Not so much now.

Yesterday, the kid and I went out to lunch. The kid ordered a cinnamon roll (being 18 you are allowed to do that) I ordered a half of a sandwich with no mayo and a water (being 45 I was barely allowed to do that). Waited for my food. The kid received his cinnamon roll and I could see my sandwich waiting on the counter. And waiting. And waiting. Finally, I went up to inquire about the wait time.

The lovely sandwich boy, all of 15-1/2, explained that I was cutting in line. As if he hadn't been the exact same sandwich boy that had just waited on me 3 MINUTES BEFORE. I pointed to my sandwich and asked if I might have it. Lovely sandwich boy picked it up and as I went to take it, moved it out of my reach. "Where is the beeper we hand out?" he explains to me. "I didn't get a beeper." I answer. "We always hand out beepers." sandwich boy states, holding my sandwich hostage and high in the air, as if that will stop me. "I have NO beeper and if you look at the receipt, you will see my name." Slightly snotty me, snaps. So he looks at the receipt and back up at me and then asks "You're named colon?" All I can do is stand and stare in almost total fury. "Seriously? Do you think someone in the entire world would name their kid after a bodily organ? Give me my sandwich right now!" I think at this point I have frightened sandwich boy and he promptly hands it over. I march back to my table and eat the little half of sandwich, glowering at said sandwich boy whenever he moves into my vision. The kid of mine laughs.

At the grocery store, I got to bag my own groceries. Always a fun experience. Plus points though the cleaning supplies did NOT ride home nestled on top of the deli meat.

At the coffee store, they added vanilla to my latte and then wanted to know "If I was sure I didn't want a vanilla latte, since it was you know, ALREADY MADE." I was sure as it turns out.

The bookstore did indeed carry the magazine I was searching for IN THE BACK ROOM, BEHIND SOLID WALLS. And since my x-ray vision was on the fritz I had no way of knowing this and proceeded to search the entire magazine section. Including the lower shelves, which involved me on my hands and knees. Never a pretty sight.

Dead, I tell ya! And I want it revived. Please!

Danger is Everywhere

We have exciting news in our household.

Our dog has found out, after only 5 short years, that we have windows to the outside world. Now you might not see the excitement in such news but trust me when I say I SURE DO.

Every twenty minutes or so, I get to have a small heart attack. This happens more often now thanks to Daylight Savings Time. So that just totally ROCKS.

Before we all lived in a state of semi-bliss. The dog, Herbie, only knew the sound of someone knocking at the door. Now this was bad enough, for he would bark at the door and then the next 3o minutes. Even though the person had been gone for 29 of those 30 minutes. Then we would have lovely quiet, until a light bulb would go off over his head and he would remember that someone had knocked on the door and off he goes again. So most of my day is spent yelling "SHUT THE HELL UP."

But now we get to add in the ENTIRE OUTSIDE WORLD to my day.

The dog was in the living room when he thought he saw food on the window ledge. We don't normally keep food on our window ledges, but pugs are not the brightest bulb in the dog world. And since he has no idea where we keep the food, he will spend his entire life seeking it out. This is second only to sleeping, which takes up 20 hours of his day and the other 4 is spent on tables, couches, my craft table, our beds, the kids desk, in all garbage cans, the recyclable containers and now window ledges, looking for food.

He didn't find any food but he found a million more things that are coming to KILL HIM. The ENTIRE OUTSIDE WORLD is coming and how we never told him this, is a giant mystery and we are paying a pretty steep price.

Now he stands in the living room and stares out the window, growling, whining, and my personal favorite, BARKING HIS FOOL HEAD OFF. Cars parked across the street. The outside illumination (or as is known to the rest of the world, Christmas lights that I am too lazy to take down). Squirrels. Birds. Leaves. Branches. Dust. Invisible things. Clouds. The evil mailman. Dogs that are eying his property with the intention that it looks like a fine place to relieve one's self. People with small children that are mocking and teasing him in ways that only he can see.

All day this goes on. Occasionally it is offset by a nap or a drink of a beverage. Yesterday, it was my coffee the day before a diet mug root beer. I now speak in a throaty whisper and am thinking that phone sex girl could be a new career opportunity for me.

There is some good news, in our little house of horror, so far he has only discovered that we have living room windows. Woe to me when he finds the dining room ones, the bedroom ones, or the family room ones.

Thank God, I was already on blood pressure medicine. But now I know for sure it is working.

Random photos

Today I thought I would do random photo shots. I know exciting but it is still winter here and I have no motivation whatsoever.

This is the view towards Bellevue and Mercer Island from the Seattle side. I am lucky enough to live by Lake Washington. We have a lovely paved sidewalk around a good chunk of the lake. The dog and I use to take our 3 mile walk there every day. He has since slowed up, so I do the treadmill and he sleeps on the couch. He thinks it is a good compromise.
The next one is the view from the Beach House in Seaside, Or. The beautiful home I will live in starting in July. The town you can see is Seaside. At night the lights twinkle and it is the most spectacular place ever. At least to me.
This is Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Or. Cannon Beach is a wonderful town on the Oregon Coast. It has a very excellent bookstore. Which makes it a perfect place for me. It has quite a artist community as well. It is a very pricey place to live.
This is the wonderful kid on the beach of Manzanita, Or. I love Manzanite. Before my marriage went south, I had hoped to trade the Seaside house and move here. It is a small town with a wonderful beach. It is more laid back than Cannon Beach and Seaside. It also has a nice organic grocery store. Again, it has a wonderful book store. Score!
Last, but certainly not least, the kid standing on a rock wall with the beautiful Oregon Coast in the back ground. This looks more dangerous than it is. There was ground behind the wall. It was a very windy day and he looks like a goof ball. I love him!

Book 'em Sunday - The Happy Hollisters

Today for Book 'em Sunday, we are going to do something a little different. We are doing a set of children's books called The Happy Hollisters.
These were written by Andrew E. Svenson, under the pseudonym of Jerry West. They were illustrated by Helen S. Hamilton. The series was published between 1953 - 1970 and it included 33 titles.
The family, which includes Mrs. Hollister, Mr. Hollister, 12 year-old Pete, 10 year-old Pam, 7 year-old Ricky, 6 year-old Holly and 4 year-old Sue. They also have Zip, the adopted collie dog and White Nose and her five kittens.

This adventurous family goes around solving mysteries and having all sorts of family fun. Mrs. Hollister is always ready to lend a helping hand or prepare a surprise picnic. Mr. Hollister owns the Trading Post, a combination hardware, sports and toy shop. He is never too busy to play ball.

I could not make this description up if I tried. It is actually listed on the back of each book.
I read these when I was little, along with the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames and my personal favorite, Trixie Belden. Though I was older for some of these series.

These are a very enjoyable read even for adults. The times were so different then and it is fun to see what was popular. Considering what is out there today, though, these are very tame.

I own 23 out of the original 33 that were published. These are not the ones I had as a kid. With the exception of my Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, none of my childhood books came with me when I left home. As a side note of stupid things we did and wish we hadn't, I owned all the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. I sold them one month when I was eighteen to pay my trailer rent. Oh, I needed the money but I really miss those books.

Anyway, these were purchased for me as a gift about 8 years ago. I really need to find the ones I am missing so I can have a complete set. These reside on the library mantle and look adorable.
These have not been reprinted, so you will need to find them at a used bookstore, Ebay, or a antique store. I waffled about including them for Book 'em Sunday because they are not easily found. I don't know why that is, unless it is just because they were generally sold through a subscription and they are kids books, which are handled less carefully. But I ended up doing a blog about them due to the fact that they are from a different time and really are just cute.

So if during your travels you see one, pick it up and prepare to giggle your way through a mystery.
P.S. - Congratulations Huskies on winning the Pac 10 Championship. Go Dawgs!

Bed

One of the best things about being single is getting the whole bed to myself.

I adore vintage linens (well, I just adore vintage anything) and have quite a stash. You can pick them up at garage sales, Ebay, antique stores and estate sales. They are usually very inexpensive. A little soaking, a little sun, a little seltzer down your pants (just kidding about the seltzer) and they are like new.

So I like a cozy bed. Almost like sleeping on a down filled cloud. I use a new fitted sheet. The old time mattresses were not as thick as the new ones. Especially mine, since it is a pillow top. So the old fitted sheets don't really fit. But you can use vintage top sheets and vintage pillowcases.I have vintage top sheets that are monogrammed, embroidered, crocheted, and just plain hand made. This week I am using an embroidered one. I use six down filled pillows. Two have vintage chenille pillowcases, two are cotton embroidered ones and two have a patchwork pillowcase. I have a 1920's Amish quilt on top and folded at the end of the bed is a comforter that is encased in a velvet duvet cover. It is new.
The dog likes to lay on the bed with me at night while I read. Since he is black and hairy, I need something that can go into the wash pretty regularly. New linens are great for this.

Large pillows, small pillows, a long pillow, and a lovely red heart shaped pillow reside on the bed during the day.

I used to sleep just in one spot. Always on the left side of the bed. But now I take the whole thing. Delicious! Right in the middle of the queen size bed. I can still reach the clock radio to beat it to death for the extra five minutes the snooze button allows. The bedside lamps now all have lower wattage bulbs in them, since I look prettier in 40 watt bulbs than I do in brighter than the sun bulbs that the ex liked.

No one breathes on me during the night. The dog doesn't count since he doesn't spend the night with me. He sleeps with the kid. No one kicks me, or hogs all the covers.

I turn on the pretty pastel lights on the mantel, have the fireplace going and sink into a down filled hug. Lucky me!

Collectible Friday - Victorian Motto

First before we do collectible Friday. We need to do cupcake Thursday.
Yep, it is true, I have finally had my cupcake. The wonderful, thoughtful kid of mine drove out of his way to find cupcakes. And they were awesome. I hugged him, that's because I was on a sugar high. Which by the way lasted all night, not the hug because that would be strange, but the high. It was great.

On to collectibles.

These are Victorian Punched Paper Motto Samplers. During the 1800's these were sold as kits. You could also buy the pieces separate and make your own, but by and large they were kits. The overwhelming themes were religious in nature and I try to stay away from those. I am not a religious person and I leave those for other people to collect.

The motto's are done on a heavy paper. It is a lot like Aida cloth that you can do cross stitch on, but it is paper. The floss they used was a variegated thread, which means it is a multitude of colors ranging from light to dark. The most common of frames are the criss-cross ones, made of walnut or another kind of wood. I own two with the original frames and two more that in some point of their lives were reframed.

One of mine, In honor shall wave, is not really considered a motto but I love it and so I will include it here. It is done in soft muted colors and the stitches are so precise.

The other motto's include, Learn to do Good, Kind words can never Die, and the one I love the most, Peace Be Unto This House. Both the Peace one and the Kind words one are done on a glitter paper, which makes them sparkle when the light hits them.

Considering how old these are, they are in very nice condition. They have some water spots and the frames are a little nicked up. But these were made between 1850 - 1890, and I can only hope that when I am this old, I too will only have some water spots and some nicks.

These can be found on Ebay and you can find them in antique stores. The religious themed ones are more plentiful and the prices reflect this. I paid the most for the Peace Be Unto This House and it took me quite a long time to locate it. The other three were found on Ebay and were middle of the road in price.

Some of the other sayings include, Home Sweet Home, Forget Me Not, No Place Like Home, Peace Be Still, Nearer My God To Thee, Remember Me, and Welcome. There are quite a few more.

As with most craft projects, you can find these in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some women did the basic design while others added embellishments. I have seen these with photos added, with dried and pressed flowers, and with names. The same is true of the framing process. Some frames are basic but some were built with real attention to detail.

The good news is that there are companies that make these as kits today. You can pick your saying and you will receive the kit to complete. I am going to try one of these, as soon as I pick my new last name.

Victorian Motto's are beautiful. During a time when life was certainly harder than today, women (and maybe some men, they aren't signed, so who knows) took time to add a little beauty to their homes.

My own Report Card

So today is my 43rd post. I would like to celebrate with a cupcake. I have cupcakes on the brain and I will not be denied a cupcake. I have no idea why the universe is not allowing the cupcakes to flow my way. But damn it, I WANT A CUPCAKE.

My frig is fixed and I have cold empty storage. But it is cold, so I am looking on the positive side. If I was less than a positive person, I would focus on the fact that I have to go back to the hated grocery store, but I am not.

Today is our Friday. Finals are over and I lived through them with very limited blood shed. The kid and I are still speaking to each other. The world is a lovely place.

I have a pile of books that look like excellent reading. I still have six seasons of the West Wing to go, which by the way, is the best show EVER! I have lost 5 more pounds. And I broke a nail.

So I am random today.

I would like to know, because this is my 43rd post, if this blog is enjoyable to you. Could you drop me a note to say "Why yes, I do enjoy your tales" or "no thank you, this blog is not for me." If you could let me how I am doing, I would be appreciative. It would be like my own Finals week.

Just so you know, I am hoping for an A+.

Hugs all around

Today was my last day of therapy. I doubt I am really all the way fixed but I am well on my way.

Plus, my therapist is going on maternity leave, so it was a good time to end. I will probably pick up some more sessions in September when the kid heads to college.

So I don't know if Wednesday will be the day of pain anymore. It may become the day of going to a movie, a day of reading, a day of anything goes. It seems exhilarating! I celebrated with a day of coffee and a lovely piece of lemon loaf.

Tasty! I really wanted a cupcake but I guess the entire Seattle area did as well, since I couldn't find one. Lemon loaf was second choice. Poor lemon loaf, always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

My therapist hugged me and said she was proud of all the work I had done and how far I had come. My doctor also spends quite a bit of time hugging me. I am not a hugger by nature. In fact, I am not a toucher by nature.

I think it has something to do with how I was raised. My family was not a feel good family. We were more like a don't do better than your parents because you will be consider uppity and will need to be ripped right back down family. Praise wasn't handed out. I can't remember the last time I was hugged by my parents. It was just the way it was.

The kid I hug all the time, even if I have to tackle him to do it. I say I love you all the time. His father will offer to shake his hand, as if to say "Hey! nice doing business with ya." He is strange that way (and many other ways that we will save for another day).

So I am always a little taken aback when someone hugs me. What is the hugging protocol? How long is too long? Where do arms go? It is all confusing to me. I like things to be written down, instructions to be known to all parties involved.

My therapist asked before she hugged me, my doctor never does. The first time my doctor hugged me, I almost injured myself leaping backwards. I'm sure it seemed rude but I actually had no idea it was coming my way. I need to plan for things, especially touching things. It is my way. Now I am used to it and know it is coming at the end of each doctor visit.

I am almost comfortable with the doctor hugs. The first few times it was like she was hugging a fence board. I just stood there, immobile and slightly terrified. Now I am no cooked noodle but I am not ramrod straight either. A few more years and I should be almost normal. Well, in the hugging department anyway.

Now I think I will go and hug the dog. I would hug the kid but this is finals week and that will be like hugging a very pissed off grizzly bear. No matter how much strides I have made in the hugging department, I am so not ready for that.

Change, Growing, Moving On

Today I am tired. Yesterday I was tired. If all goes according to plan, I will be tired tomorrow.

I live in a state of Limbo and it is exhausting.

I will be moving on from this house, and this life by July 1st. The possessions have all been divided. The books have been parceled out. A life of 23 years has been boiled down to a few sheets of paper and a signature.

The wedding pictures, the wedding dress, the anniversary cards, the mementos of funny times, of loving times, have gone to the landfill.

All that is left to do is pack it up and move it out.

And I can't wait!

I see freedom, joy, and happiness coming my way and I wish it would get the hell here! The waiting around is a nightmare. I can see the rope tethering me here start to fray and I want it to break and let me go.

The ex uses the excuse that "People change" "That things just end." I disagree. Oh sure, I believe in endings and in change. But I also believe that you can lose yourself if you are not careful. The sign of character is not shown in what you do in when eyes are upon you but instead in what you do when no one sees. When times are hard, do you rise to the occasion? or do you fail?

I am rising to the occasion. The friends and family who know me now, see a different me. A happy, peaceful person. I am growing and changing. I am getting stronger and the life around me is rapidly becoming confining.

It is like the kid and his senior year. While he is happy to be the king of the hill, college awaits and he wants to bolt. Classes and homework have become chains that hold him to a life that he is ready to leave. Change, Growing, Moving On.

Sure, I want to keep him with me. To hold on to him just a little longer, but I can't. Just like I can't hold on to this marriage and this life any longer. I can't be the person I once was, content to let those around me achieve their dreams, while mine were put on the back burner. Change, Growing, Moving On.

So in June, two caterpillars will emerge into butterflies. They will take off together and head into the unknown. The uncharted. The future.

The bonds of the past will hold them together but it will no longer be a rope that keeps them captive. The future will shine brightly and it will be calling our names, loudly. Just like now, only now we have to resist the calling but soon we will be able to answer.

And answer we will, just as loudly.

Revamping old Letter Trays

So since yesterday I did where women create, today I thought I would show you what women create.

I love to remake things. To take something that was broken, old, or out of date and rework it into something new. Some things just need to be spruced up and they can go on their merry way being in use again.

These are letter trays that were used (and still are) on desks in offices. I find these all the time at the Goodwill. I like the wood ones but I also own a few metal ones. With the metal ones, a quick coat of spray paint for metal and they can be any color you want. The wood ones you could paint as well.
I like to go a different route and jazz them up. I use one to hold magazines and the other ones hold papers that I need in the home office. Anything goes when you are creating. Don't be afraid to be bold.

The letter trays were purchased for .99 a piece and everything else I already owned. Paper scraps, paint, letter decals, stickers.

The green set was a two piece set that I bought a few months ago. First I took off the hardware and set it aside. Then I sanded, primed and painted the trays green. I also changed the color of the hardware from brass to chrome because I can't stand brass, but you don't have to do that.
Then the fun part, the theme! The theme was travel and I had some wrapping paper that was a map of Paris and a map of London. So I cut to size and decoupaged the paper to the inside of the paper tray. One note about decoupaging, when you lay down the item you are decoupaging, put a layer of decoupage medium on top fairly quickly. Then you will need to push down the air bubbles and have it lay flat. If you allow the bottom layer to dry before you have covered the top, it is very difficult to get the air bubbles out. Just a helpful hint. Then I took some rub on letters and created the words. Added some stickers on the inside and some accents on the sides. Put another coat of decoupage medium over the whole thing and assembled it back into a double decker letter tray. Easy!

The pink tray was done the same way. Only I used paper scraps and did the inside sides as well.

My favorite is the Nancy Drew letter tray. I sanded, primed and painted the tray white. I had a old Nancy Drew book that was falling apart and had some pages missing.

I have to say that I would never want to destroy a antique book for a project like this. I am a big believer in books staying intact. It breaks my heart when I see books dismantled and the pictures removed and sold. That being said, you can find reprints of older books at the Goodwill, garage sales that will be perfect to use in crafts.

Since this book was not an antique and was in pieces, I thought it was fine to use. I removed the pictures that were in the book and set them aside for the time being. I trimmed the paper and laid out the pattern I wanted. Then it was the trusty decoupage and a paint brush. I covered the entire tray with pages. I sanded between each coat of the decoupage because I wanted a smoother surface.

Then I moved on to the pictures. I hand-tinted them and used a sealer to hold the color. Then I took an exacto knife and removed all the excess paper around the picture. I wanted the words to show through. I decoupaged them on top of the pages. I cut out the title of the book and also added that. I finished the project with rub on letters that say Nancy Drew and A Clue on each side. Sealed it all with a couple of coats of decoupage medium and then a coat of clear sealer.

So there ya go! Some easy projects that will make doing paperwork almost fun. You can make any theme and color that appeals to you. There is no wrong way to do a craft project.

If you need any help, just contact me. If you have done some craft projects of your own, lets see! I love to look at other peoples creativity.