sunshine on a cloudy day

a quiet little corner where I started my day with a cup of coffee. A bit rainy this morning but this is my own bit of sunshine. Now off to start the rat race!

{precious}

He has brought me so much comfort, joy and laughter. ...and to think, he only came into existence one year ago. Happy birthday little Ernie!

random thoughts

these are the days -

- must be getting used to my glasses because I just thought, "where are those things", not because I couldn't see but because they are finally becoming a part of me and not feeling obnoxious.

- makes me irritable signing and sending in my tax statement. Bush.

- speaking of $$ - why is gas $2.67/gal??

- room-darkening blinds are new and improved since I had bought them years ago, I can't even tell it is daylight (well, I can't tell it is daylight alot of these dreary days but these are helping and I say, yeah!)

- however, why do so many appliances/electronic devices come with clocks and why do they have to glow in the dark??

- today I ate 'breakfast' for all meals, cereal, waffles, and lots of orange juice. I am so loving SILK vanilla soy milk.

- I feel I am becoming a putterer, spending ridiculous amounts of time arranging and rearranging - it is a luxurious feeling to have unlimited time to do mundane things.

- Ernie will be one year old tomorrow, do dogs know how old they are without having to convert it into "dog years"?!!

- Hey Luke, did you wonder last week why, if they are called "wisdom teeth" they get pulled out??!

music

I finally got my mp3 player up and running - right, Luke did (he also bought it for me for christmas), he showed me the ropes last week and I have hundreds of songs I'd like to get on this thing, and I'm well on my way. I'd been peacefully lying in bed reading and listening to music when suddenly I got a bug I needed a particular song (eva cassidy's Songbird) and was at it nearly an hour again this time around. Music is one of my basic necessities of life. I can't believe it has taken me so long to get one of these things.

progress

I've gotten much unpacked and am to the point I am starting to hang pictures and art on the walls today, finally - in some ways I can hardly belive a month has nearly been spent in this house but in others - well, I'll just say I am ready to be settled! This should improve my general frame of mind and bring this house all together, make it HOME. I have a room full of boxes of books and such upstairs yet but waiting on IKEA to deliver an identical couple sets of bookshelves to those I had to leave behind as the new owners of my NC house wrote them into the contract (I think they lusted after them as much as I do); they are for a full wall so as to convert a bedroom into a library. So, still lots to do, but am putting as my next plan of attack the art studio - I am so ready. Cross my fingers - by week's end I might be able to lose myself blissfully in creating some art - oh happy day! (was unable to add my pic yesterday, something wrong but I've amended it as today seems to be, indeed, a new day!)

bridal shower

From the left - Becca my neice, my sister Peggy, and her soon to be daughter-in-law Heather. My nephew Rick is the first of our kids to be getting married, he and Heather are both 21 and students at GVSU, they are planning a June 3rd wedding. All the aunts (all seven of his!) gave a bridal shower this afternoon. I know I was feeling my age!

trying my {patience}

Today was cold and gray, I look forward to the little bits of color popping out of the snow, that hint of hope this won't last forever. This picture was taken by a wonderful photographer, Al Hyams, who specializes in photography of the northwestern half of lower Michigan - many places which are very dear to my heart.

the itch

It has been waaay tooo long since I have had the opportunity to make art and I am starting to feel the itch in a very big way. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I spent the weekend trying to come up with an idea for some twenty bridal shower giftees as "the aunts" are giving a shower this coming sunday for my nephew's fiance'. After some trial and error I decorated some votive candle cups which I finished this (past, is it really nearly 4am??) evening, wish I had a picture to share with this post but the camera battery died and I have to find the charger tomorrow somewhere amongst this chaos. They did turn out cute, her color for the wedding is hot pink and they sure look springy and fun with the ribbon I found, a few patterns of the pink. I added a button (surprised?!), a bead, some lettering. I guess it has gotten to the point I am looking to create in unexpected ways - that bruise on the side of my head/face I mentioned the other night? It has turned into a black eye for god's sakes. Not really black and blue but the most interesting shades of black, yellow, brown I have worn in a very long time! Magnify this behind my new glasses, and it really is something to see. Wish I had a better story to share - I fought off a boogey man or something - but I clunked myself quite hard on the edge of a cd cabinet as I was bending down to plug in the iron saturday morning. Note - things are in different places here, watch what you are doing or you are going to hurt yourself repeatedly! I am excited, tomorrow (make that today) Luke is coming for a short visit as he is on spring break. We will do a little heavy lifting together (move this desk which weighs an estimated gazillion pounds, and the bookshelves) so I will be able to start unpacking the art supplies by weeks' end - hurray!! I am sure we also will EAT, as that is a favorite passion of this nearly 23 year old's, and probably snuggle in and watch some March madness basketball and a movie or two (complete with snacks)! He hasn't lived in Grand Rapids since he was in the third grade, and although we've visited many times we were always very busy with family activities so he is also wanting to do some exploring. Alot to cram into a short time period but that's what we've always done, and I miss these boys and all the action which was our way of life.

glasses

My new specs, transitional lenses, getting used to them makes me feel the ground is rising up too fast, what I probably have looked like all day is drunk! This self-portrait doesn't show the whopping headache I've gotten wearing them since picking them up this morning (nor the bruise which is developing due to my plugging in the iron and whacking the side of my head on a cd cabinet - but that's another story). In addition to being able to see much better, I hope it will help to minimize or slow down the progression of those deep squinty wrinkles between my eyes I have acquired as a result of this diminishing eye sight. Turning 40 my eyes began to deteriorate, I have a couple years before hitting the next decade marker, wonder what will be next?!!

{bright and beautiful}

Although I tend to like sepias, faded prints and all the romance of the shabby chic look I have never used it in my house except in extremely limited ways, I guess given I lived with all males and tended to want them to feel comfortable in their own home (not withstanding the wearability/dirt factor of boys!), I tended to lean more towards a sort of muted jewel tone palette. Thinking this house through I still do not see myself going in that direction when furnishing and decorating it, and that's a good thing I guess as my bedroom did not turn out to be the soft soothing yellow I envisioned but slightly more BRIGHT. It took three coats of paint to cover that gray and I am not in the mood to repaint so have been looking for a way to tie this altogether into a look that will be comfortable and fun. I happened across this pattern at The Company Store and think I am going to go with it - the newer, bolder, wilder side of me just may be emerging!

a new day

Today's view of my backyard (taken out of a very dirty window I will add) - one thing I do remember is that March is a very fickle month! Lots to do inside though(including window washing as blinds will be installed thursday) where it is warm and toasty and smelling heavenly with the folgers chocolate-flavored coffee I've got brewing in my new braun coffee pot. All in all it will be a GOOD day!

making ourselves a home

What a weekend in western michigan, a place where the average temperature is 40 degrees at this time of year, it was in the 60's this weekend. Not only did I get a few things done inside but a very dear friend came and helped put up a temporary fence so Ernie could enjoy our new backyard until the lawn and such can be put in a couple months from now (he loves it so much I cannot get him inside right now, even the temperature has fallen almost 15 degrees in the last couple hours - our taste of spring about gone for a bit - as he is fascinated with chasing leaves and all the new smells here).
Still stacks of boxes all over the place and tradespeople in and out of the house but we are starting to feel it a home. Very comforting.

hmm...

Two things I don't like - being cold and sweating. Well, one thing I've learned along the way is that there is no such thing as perfect, or at least not on an every day basis. But right now I am having a hard time typing my fingers are so cold. I am not going to be a whiner or complain, I made this choice to come north for reasons other than the weather obviously (either that or my mental capacity has deteriorated more than I thought it would before the age of 50). But did you know that you cannot buy an electric blanket in Michigan, or at least not here in Grand Rapids, much after christmas - a place where it is now at this minute on March 7th just barely above freezing (35 degrees and falling) and where it won't truly be open your windows warm until May or even June?! So I'm wondering on my chances of finding a space heater for this new downstairs office/studio space as I certainly don't relish paying a heating bill as high as my mortgage. Thank goodness for the internet, I need to do some online shopping right now. Nite.

we aren't in "kansas" anymore! (and it's good to be back home)

Originally uploaded by blubird Ernie and I are here in Michigan, truly a "winter wonderland" (only isn't it almost time for spring?!!). His favorite treat is an ice cube, when we got out of the car at my sister's house he acted as if he was in paradise, running and eating all his little tummy could hold of the snow covering the ground! He continues doing this and is going to be pretty surprised as it is starting to melt and we are to have warmer temperatures and rain by week's end.

Moving is an experience I hope not to have again for a very long, long time. Things went well all things considered with a few minor glitches here and there, but there are just so many details to attend to in getting a life in order in a new place. I believe it is finally catching up to me, last night I slept for ~twelve~ hours, absolutely unheard of in my life - but oh, it felt great!

I am now back in the 21st century as yesterday was a busy one - appliances were delivered, a mailbox installed, although still somewhat temporary as the ground is too frozen yet to do it properly, so I could have mail delivered to the new house (why can the mailman come to the door, ring the doorbell and tell me I have mail accumulating but cannot give it to me until he can put it in a box at the end of the driveway - truly a government agency, is it not??), I got cable tv and my internet access and was able to put my computer together and get it up and running this afternoon - quite proud of myself for this as two years ago when I moved things didn't fare quite so well in this area (and I have a mere 337 email messages to peruse). And I shoveled about six inches of snow at 6:30 yesterday morning - not warm yet. OH, it's great to be HOME (really, it is)!!

Made it to Michigan yesterday in very good time, twelve hours with a puppy - I was quite impressed with us both! The first time we stopped to potty ourselves it was a twenty minute stop (and this after only an hour on the road), at that rate I felt it would probably take us until March to get here. Mr. Ernie tends to have what I equate to my own irritable bowel when excited so when I went to pick him up from the vet where he was being boarded for a few days prior to the moving van and all I had to wait and we were late by about an hour getting started on our adventure while he had an emergency bath and some medication - not the best start to our morning! He's never had a pill before and the vet told me to give him another about 5pm - I thought RIGHT, in a car stuffed to the gills, I am to try stuffing a pill down a squirmy puppy's throat?! Needless to say, I waited and he was fine anyway, had calmed down and slept much after awhile. And he seems to love my sister Cathy, I came back home and they were taking a nap, he curled right at her side on her bed - and barely raised his head to look at me! It must be kind of a strange thing for him, I have heard my voice on video and such and it sounds just like her, wonder what he thinks?!

The house closing today went well, had to sign about 50 papers and give a pint of blood (I'm sure I don't know why this really didn't happen as they require everything else) - and I am now a new homeowner!! I went directly over there then and checked it out - last time I saw the house just before christmas when I decided to buy they hadn't yet laid the carpet, put in sinks or toilets or mirrors, hardware on cabinets - so it was very exciting to see it completed! We are (me and family) going to paint my bedroom and master bath tomorrow a nice sunny yellow as I felt the gray that was in there was too much like the sky here nine months of the year, and then my stuff will arrive via moving van on tuesday.

Everything going like clockwork and too well - I am almost holding my breath waiting for that other shoe to drop as this isn't the way my life has been transpiring the last few-plus years. Maybe my luck is turning! Although I did have to stop on the way back over here to buy a snow shovel, I am going to remain optimistic there will be no blizzards until wednesday at the earliest!!

heading home

Originally uploaded by blubird.

I am just about ready for the movers which means it's time to pull the plug on the computer.

It has gone from a gorgeous 73 degrees here in North Carolina friday to a bone-chilling cold hovering right around 42 degrees. I have to keep reminding myself this will be a warm day up north at this time of year, and it's going to be a bit of an adjustment. I was told the other day to look at it on the bright side, I will get to see two springs this year as it is just arriving here and yet to come up there (like May?!). Well, there are tradeoffs to everything in life, right?!

Next entry will be from Michgan, just hope it doesn't take me too long to figure out how to hook all this back up!

good friends

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Spent a good part of the day with two good friends, Cathy and Marie. This picture was taken this afternoon at Winthrop University where we went to view Cathy's photography she currently has displayed there. Her grouping of photographs is called, The Children of Ixopo: Hope and Survival in a Time of Aids. It is part of a larger exhibit entitled South by South Africa, Crafting Cultural Understanding (comparing the American South with that of South Africa). She is SO TALENTED, these are very powerful and poignant pictures.

I will greatly miss these warm and artistic women, it has been THE highlight of my time here getting to know them (who would have ever thought that myself, a native of Michigan, would find so much in common with women who landed in Charlotte from different countries on the other side of the world, South Africa and Australia - just goes to show you it can, at times, be a very small world, indeed). xoxoxo to you both!!

dignity & respect

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Well, got through that day yesterday, not the easiest one of the year.

I caught part of an interview on Oprah with Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood (wowza, there is a man in love, the way he looks at her there is no doubt he adores her - a very lucky couple). Anyway, he said something which sums up what I wholeheartedly believe of life:

"Whatever we do in the future is not a denial of the past."

I try to keep dignity and respect in the forefront of my thoughts and deeds and hope I live to that as I certainly not only strive and work hard to do so but believe it vital to my peace of mind, and owed those who helped shape my life.

a face like this just melts the heart

Originally uploaded by blubird.

A little freaked out by the noise of the blender, Ernie hightailed it out of the kitchen and ran to a chair and comforted himself with his favorite toy. He won't let me out of his sight so was just hanging back, waiting for things to calm down! Looks like quite the valentine shot with the red dog I thought.

yummy

Originally uploaded by blubird.

Just itching to make more valentines today - I've been so inspired by all the cool ones I've viewed made by art friends, but all my art supplies are now boxed and ready to go, not to mention the couple I did manage to make last week got out of here without pictures being taken - sigh. So instead just made a "valentine" for myself, a wonderful orange-strawberry milkshake (gotta clean out that freezer)! I happened upon these cool towels yesterday when I ran into walmart to get a couple things.