CURSES

Yes. I'm back. SORT of, but not really. This is a SUPER quick post because - well, let me just pull a small portion of an email I sent 3 close friends and it will explain.

I'm back from MaryBear's as of yesterday afternoon. Why? My 'vacation' was cut VERY short when Ray - who came back here Sunday night - let me know the tree trimmers our sweet lil' landlady hired, cut a wire to the dryer. An electrician from Ray's church came out to fix it and before he COULD, he noticed the outside electrical wiring to the house was FRIED to the point of being MELTED. They had to IMMEDIATELY call the electric company who DID come out & replace them within the HOUR. They said it's a miracle (1) we had power at ALL, and (2) this house hadn't burned down. OMG. THEN the electrician said the breaker box was REALLY old & NOT up to code. Sooooo he spoke with our landlady who is having it replaced along with some other stuff that goes WITH the job. It's at LEAST a 4 hour job, then we have to make sure none of the appliances besides the dryer were shorted out by the old breakers. Once THAT'S done, because we have ATT UVerse, THEY may have to come out & re-set ALL our stuff - tvs, phones, internet - because their services MAY not re-set automatically. Who KNOWS how long they'll be getting out here? Sigh. To add insult to injury, the INSTANT I returned, I started to feel odd. My breathing was shallow & my chest ached. I started coughing up green & black gunk then shaking violently. I am beginning to shake again as I write. Why? Because the tree trimmers were asked to remove a HUGE number of border plants (we didn't plant them - they were here) BY DIGGING THE OUT & GETTING RID OF THEM FAST. (I'm severely allergic to these things.) Instead, they used a weedeater, then WATERED them to loosen the dirt, spreading the 'poison' and FINALLY dug them up & LEFT them there. Ray didn't KNOW they hadn't removed them. So I am extremely ill, very tired, & WAY stressed. I had to reschedule my appointment with the oral surgeon (I was lucky & will be able to go FRIDAY!) The electrician will be here to start HIS work but not till 7 A.M. Monday, then ATT, then I have to get a new dryer. Once all that is done, I am going straight BACK to MB's until the Thursday before Easter. She will be working days but will be there nights. For the rest of today, tomorrow, Friday AFTER the doctor, Saturday, & Sunday, I will do ALL of April's editing which will be due the last day of the month. WHEW.


See what I mean? CURSES!!!! Anyway, this post is my way letting everyone know. I hope all of you are doing GREAT! I MISS reading & answering your blogs! I will do a MAJOR catch-up when I get back. In the meantime, have the BEST April! Big hugs to all of you in Blogland! NOTE: 'Scuse any mistakes. I don't have the energy to edit myself! LOL!

JULIAN SMITH - I'm Reading a Book

BWAHAHAHAHAHA ... GASP!

Sometimes I just HAVE to do it. You know, actually ACT on a cornball idea I have. This was ONE of those times. I was thinking about how much my round body has begun to resemble all the  foods I eat, and ...

... this saying came to mind! LOL! What can I say? Hopeless, aren't I? Heeheehee ...

COFFEE, COFFEE, AND MOOOOOOOORE COFFEE!

I am, without a DOUBT, the original Coffee Monster! I live on the stuff. It's in my blood, I guess.

My people are HUGE coffee drinkers. We laugh when 'outsiders' try 'our' coffee and their faces turn pale, then pea-green, and their hair stands on end! Oh, okay! A SLIGHT - but ONLY slight - exaggeration! Indian coffee is like that old rhyme:
Peas porridge hot,
Peas porridge cold!
Peas porridge in the pot, nine days old!
Some like it hot,
Some like it cold!
Some like it in the pot, nine days old!
We like it HOT and SUPER strong. Anyway, I saw these graphics recently and HAD to put them to use!

So I made myself a lil' sign. My uncle just looked at it awhile ago and said, "That's good stuff, Ijapuh!" Not sure if he meant the sign or the cup of coffee he was drinking. But I THINK maybe he meant BOTH.  

Either way, it suits ME! After all, it's ALL about the COFFEE!

CELEBRATING!

Tuesday will be my daughter Leah's 40th birthday. FORTY? How'd that happen? It just hit me awhile ago because my uncle was remembering the crazy thing she used to do when she was learning to use a fork. She'd pick up her fork in her chubby little toddler hand, and with the OTHER hand, pick up a piece of food from her plate, plop it ON the fork (still holding it steady so it didn't fall) then transfer it to her wide-open bird mouth! LOL! I hadn't thought of that for YEARS. But that IS how she got the nickname, Lil' Bird!

A TODDLER

 It started me remembering other things. For instance, the way she followed her grandmother around, 'helping' her cook, trying to sweep with her, and wanting to do everything SHE did.


GRANDMA AND LEAH


 How she would get annoyed with her cat, Tarbaby for playing too rough and biting her. One day my daughter said, "STOP IT, Tar! If you bite me again, I'm going to bite you back!" I heard her, and laughed. Then I heard, "MOMMMMMMMMMY!" and went tearing upstairs. She was sitting on her bedroom rug, wiping her mouth and indignantly sputtering, "Mommy, Tarbaby got FUR in my mouth!" Ooops. She DID bite her.



TAR AND HER RAWHIDE STRING





TARBABY AND LEAH


 I started remembering how there were so few kids around the area and how she would entertain her little self. I'd feel sad for her and tell her, "You know, I do believe Mrs. Smith would like to invite Mrs. Jones to a tea party. Do you think she could attend?" And she'd put on what she supposed was a very grown up face and answer, "Yes. I think she will be free to attend." Off she'd go to put on a hat, some old 1" heels, and grab a purse before trotting back downstairs to join me (Mrs. Smith) in a quickly pieced-together tea party (usually tea and cinnamon toast, or if I'd had time, tea and popovers.) Those were beautiful times. A few years ago, she touched me by remembering those tea parties and letting me KNOW they meant a lot! See the card she sent me? NOTE: 'Wha' yo name is a private joke/catch phrase between us! And the mall reference is to an open coffee place where she LOVED to sit and have breakfast so she could watch people.



THE CARD THAT STILL TOUCHES MY HEART


I recall picking dewberries in the empty lot behind us, and coming home, mosquito bitten, sunburned, and very purple, to make something yummy. Or spending HOURS in the pool till she was dark, dark, dark and I was red, red, red!


FROM THE DEWBERRY PATCH TO THE POOL


 My daughter was an awesome student, a caring child, and a REALLY funny, inquisitive lil' thing! She LOVED big words and insisted on using them, much to everyone's astonishment. 

A RARE FEMININE POSE

She spent several YEARS being laughed at because she was the ONLY Native American not only in her school but in the entire area, and I learned - far too late - that some of the parents were highly upset because a 'little Indian child' was receiving the highest scores of anyone IN her school. She never TOLD me that. I had to learn it from some of my own students.  

ONE SMART LITTLE INDIAN


And she definitely went through a stage where she was something of a tomboy! I wanted to buy her a new bed when she was around 5, and I asked her what kind she'd like. She said, "A race car bed!" I laughed (though I suspected she was serious) and instead went out and bought her the most beautiful girly white canopy bed with matching dresser, nightstands, and chest of drawers. She ABSOLUTELY loathed it! But she figured out how to make the most of it. Yep. She and her long time best friend, Tanya Lynne, used the canopy as a trampoline. A broken wrist and VERY broken bed later, she had WON the battle. Just because I'D always wanted a pretty, feminine room DIDN'T mean SHE did. Sigh. 


TANYA LYNN AND LEAH


Come to think of it, in fifth grade, her basketball coach teased her and said she looked like a pretty lil' girl when she wore a (mandatory) dress for Awards Day. She came home, LITERALLY threw the dress in the trash, and announced, "You can call me BUTCH from now on!" BWAHAHAHAHA! (Trust me, THAT wasn't happening!)

BASKETBALL TEAM

I MISS my little girl. There were YEARS we butted heads. My sweet little girl went to school one day and someone ELSE came home in her place; a surly, disagreeable, STAYS in trouble teen.

THE CYNDI LAUPER STAGE

Sad to say, that girl stayed around for YEARS.

BLOND HAIR???? WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?

 Today, there's a middle ground. Leah is still a rough kinda gal. But she's my daughter, and I love her so much! We mommies overlook a LOT where our kids are concerned. I wish she were here so I could make her the angel food cake she always requested (NO ICING - she STILL hates icing - a thing we ALWAYS agreed on) and so I could hug her and tell her, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Baby! Mommy loves you!"  

FORTY























LISTS, LISTS, AND MORE LISTS!

I'm a list maker! Oh, for SURE! If it's NOT on my daily to-do list, I'm likely to forget it! Currently, my list is out of control! I have a very busy 6 weeks ahead! This week, after having the 3 adorable little senior ladies here from Wednesday through Sunday of LAST week (You remember - the ladies I 'adopted' from 2 nursing homes for the holidays?) I had to play catch-up. Why? Because my uncle will be in town as of Friday (or possibly Thursday - he's on Indian time - LOL!) and he will stay here through the following Friday. During that time, the ladies will return Monday and Tuesday to see him (they LOVED my silly uncle) and Friday morning Uncle D., my housemate, and I will head to my friend MaryBear's for a big weekend get together/pow wow till Monday. (Unc will go from there to the rez to visit other friends before heading home.) Just as I get back, I will have a HUGE amount of editing arriving. I am SO glad for it because, in these times, receiving work is a WONDERFUL thing! At any rate, Spring really IS coming in like a lion around here! Not because of weather, but because everything seems to be on fast forward! Don't imagine I'll get to do a lot of creating (WAAAAAHHHH!) OR a lot of posting to my blog or even commenting on others until I've caught up with myself. DEFINITELY won't do much emailing! Tho', if anyone really needs me for something, by ALL means email and I'll respond asap! Promise! I hope all of YOU are pacing yourselves a LOT better than I am right now! Relax, enjoy the season, and create some whenever you can! I'll pop in with mini-posts whenever I'm able. HUGS! HUGS! HUGS!   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FRIEND!

Please, meet my beautiful friend, Susan Cleveland! Tomorrow is her birthday. Isn't she a beauty? Susan lives in Leeds, Alabama (WITHOUT a banjo on her knee - LOL!) and she is just an absolutely amazing person!

About a year and a half ago, my wonderful friend lost her sweet husband, Vann, to cancer.

 She has gone through a rough time, but has come out a shining example of someone who is sustained by her strong faith. I admire her even more than she knows! Susan currently resides in THE YELLOW HOUSE as seen below!

Her companions there are the darling and almost always well-behaved little lady, Ms. Sophie who, as you can see, is quite laid back, and

Skipper, an aspiring world traveler. Currently, he is trying to save airfare by digging his way to China! Now, I call that industrious!

Susan is, besides a lovely person AND a dear friend, a cook whose recipes leave me drooling.

And she is a marvelous quilter who turns out gorgeous pieces despite having Fibromyalgia, one of THE most annoying, insidious things EVER!

I wanted to spotlight Susan today because I'm hoping you will go and visit her at http://blackberrycreek.typepad.com/blackberry_creek/ to wish her a big old HAPPY BIRTHDAY, then stick around and get to know her! Did I mention that she's also smart - REALLY smart - and VERY funny? Well, she IS! So, definitely don't miss this chance to make a lovely new friend! I LOVE her! And there's NOTHING better than sharing friends!  

TWO IN ONE DAY!!!!!

Okay! I know I'm silly but I had to show you the LAST 2 Springy things I finished! These are just plastic-over- styrofoam eggs which I glued onto a wooden wheel base (painted pink) & onto which I added all sorts of doodads. Ta-da! It's such fun to have a crafty afternoon! Now! I bet you're all SICK of me so ... toodles! I'm off to drink a cup of tea! 

SPRING, SPRANG, SPRUNG!

  Shhhhhh ... it's not REALLY Spring yet. In FACT, it's still wonderfully cool and crisp out (at least for now) and I know we will continue to have a few scattered cool fronts between now and the middle of April. But the signs are all here: trees have begun to leaf - some already have pink or white buds - I have seen Robins, the grass is growing, my housemate's garden is flourishing, and all the stores are arrayed with Springy/Eastery stuff! So, while the official DATE is actually 2 more Sundays from this one, I'm CALLING this Spring. And with that SAID, I will show you all what I've been doing. Let me first say that I am a bargain hunter to the nth degree! For instance, the minute I enter Hobby Lobby, I go straight to the back wall of the store where all the marked down stuff lives. Or in Michaels & Target, I head immediately to the dollar aisles. I like to buy strange lil' doodads to put together with OTHER things and create an entirely different something. For these, I already HAD a BUNCH of bunnies. I keep a HUGE jar of bunnies, teddy bears, etc. for various projects. I got the spoons at the Dollar General. Some of the cups, too. The other cups are from Michael's dollar aisles. The eggs from Hobby Lobby - $1.29 per package of 20. I'd bought some for a clear dish to decorate my dining room table. The rest (I got 3 packages) for whatever! And the clothespins were 10 for $1 on the Michael's dollar aisles as were the flowers ON them! I laid everything out recently and thought, "What will I do with these? What will bring them all together?" LOL! A hot GLUE gun, of course! And here are the results.

BUNNIES IN A CUP

MORE CUP BUNNIES

DISH CRITTERS



TEA? EGGS? SPRING!



PEEK-A-BOO!

A FLOWER FOR YOU!



LITTLE CLOTHESPIN CLIPS




SHEEP IN A DISH!

 I love making crazy things so much that the title of the craft class I just taught yesterday at Barnes and Noble (I teach there twice a month) was JUNK IN YOUR TRUNK! I have a LOT of junk in MY trunk - both craft-wise AND ... well, you know! Anyway, over here, Spring has definitely SPRUNG!  

ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL BLOGGERS!

Today I had time to checks all the blogs I love to check. I try to comment on them when I read them because we ALL like knowing someone looks at our blogs, right? Well, I commented on one I discovered just a couple of months ago and the owner of that blog posted a comment to MY blog today! It started me thinking. (Hey - I heard that, you stinkers! It's not ALWAYS scary when I think! LOL!) Seriously, it started me thinking of the amazing amount of artistic talent in blogland! And you know the funny thing? The very people who make the most incredible art don't always even REALIZE how amazing they are! Hmmm! I've decided that I will start spotlighting a few of those people on MY blog each month so that any of YOU who may never have encountered them can go and visit. And I'm going to begin with the person who started this line of thinking. Her name is Patricia Cabrera, a very sweet lady from Brazil. Her blog link is http://woolytalesminiatures.blogspot.com/ and your eyes are going to pop right out of your HEADS when you see her creations! REALLY! I go over there only once a week now because once I'm THERE, I have to STAY and revisit every single piece she's DONE since she began her blog. Trust me - you will, too. I would give you a peek HERE at her charming pieces, but I have not asked her permission. You KNOW me - I shoot straight from the heart - so I just this MINUTE decided to feature different bloggers and haven't had a CHANCE to ask. Therefore, you will need to follow the link to her blog and see what I mean! But I'm warning you: When you first look at the tiny perfection of her dolls and animals, you are going to run straight for the EYE DROPS because you'll think you're imagining the size. They look 100% ALIVE! I'm blown away by the talent, the kindness, the generosity, and the fun spirit of all the creative souls who blog! Please, go and visit Patricia's blog and see what teeny beauties she's made! Oh - and take a bucket! You are SO going to DROOL!