~ Time . . .

. .. flies.

Time ... is on my side.

Time ... is of the essence.

Time ... is money.

Time.  Time.  Time.

 

Do you ever wish you could save time ...

... in a bottle?

Freeze time?

Do you ever wish you could go back in time?

Time seemed like forever when I was a kid. 

A month felt like a year!

The older I get, the faster time seems to go by.

A month feels like a day!

I feel like I don't have enough time.

Not enough time to do everything that I still need/want to do.

Sometimes I waste time ...

Sometimes I wish I could borrow time ...

They say that time heals all wounds.

I used to wear a watch every single day, especially when I was working

 ... I felt naked without one.

I haven't worn one in 3 years.

No need to watch the time ... keep track of time ... be on time ... leave on time.

Time.

 

"There is only one you for all time.  Fearlessly be yourself." ~ Anthony Rapp

 

♥

 

 



~ "Catch a falling star . . .

. . . and put it in your pocket.

Never let it fade away."

Last Saturday we had a "play date"

with our very good friends.

We met up in Mystic, CT and planned our day.

We had lunch at Mystic Pizza (yup, same as the movie).

We took a scenic drive through Essex and Haddam

and stopped by Gillette's Castle.

Back to Mystic and had a nice dinner at Kitchen Little.

It was a wonderful day with wonderful friends

and it went by way too fast!

We didn't want it to end.

We said our goodbyes around 9:00 pm

and headed back home.

Along a stretch of road on Rt 2 it's very, very dark.

Tom and I had been going over our day and how much we enjoyed it.

And then .... it happened!

Simultaneously spotted!

(not my photo)

 

He said: "Was that a......"

I said:  "....shooting star!!!!!"

He said:  "Do you think it was fireworks?"

I said:  "No, definitely a shooting star!"

I was giddy!

My heart was racing!

I couldn't keep my eyes off of the sky in case it happened again!

This was only the second shooting star I've seen in my 60 years!

It's been said that if you see a shooting star with someone else that you

should both make a wish and that it would come true.

I quickly said "Make a wish."

I closed my eyes and made my wish.

My wish was that some new medication would come about that would take

all of my husband's health problems away.

A wasted wish?   Not in my heart.

I looked over at Tom and was so happy that

we saw this shooting star together.

It was a magical ending to a wonderful day!

 

♥

 



~ Hello, my name is Diane .....

... and I'm a Craftaholic!

Yes, that's right.  I'm a craftaholic.

I don't know how it started.

I only know that I can't stop.

I have a closet full of craft paraphernalia.

Did I say "full"?  LOL  That's an understatement.

I should have said that I have a closet stuffed with the aforementioned.

Stuffed and shoved into every available (and unavailable) space.

So stuffed and shoved that I have lost track of what I have!

I have large plastic bins full of jewelry findings, beads, tools, etc.

I have large plastic bins full of yarn.  Every kind of yarn in every color imaginable.

So, why is it that when I find a pattern that I think I'm going to knit,

I don't go into this large bin and use what I have in my stash?

Why is it that I must go out and purchase the perfect skein of yarn for the project?

After all, I'll have a 40% off coupon.

Lord knows I can't waste a good 40% off coupon, right?

I have a bin full of micropens, sharpie pens, colored pencils

and special paper to do Zentangle!!!

Have I done Zentangle?  NO!

Will I ever? 

I recently bought a Sizzix Big Shot die cut machine.

So, of course I had to go out and buy every die that called my name.

Then I had to buy felt squares to die cut to make brooches.

Oh!  and then I had to buy tags to make for the holidays.

And then I had to buy stamps.

I have a bin full of stamps.  Rubber stamps.  Clear cling stamps.

Stamp pads in various colors.

Blue, red, green, black, orange, purple, white.....

I'm getting dizzy just thinking about all this stuff!!!!!

I need help.

I can't control this urge to run into a craft store....

coupons in hand....

running up and down the aisles.....

breathing heavily......

and I can't leave....no, I won't leave....

without a purchase!!!!!

Somebody stop me!!!!!



~ 10 Sounds . . .

. . . that drive me bonkers.

Over at Northwest Mommy they're playing "Monday Listicles"

and I've decided to join in.

Her list for this week is "10 Sounds That Drive Me Bonkers".

So, here's my list of 10 sounds that drive me bonkers:

(In no particular order)

1.  Barking dogs ... especially yippers ... one neighbor seems to put their little yipper out at 6:00 a.m. to do it's thing and then forgets about it ... and it barks.  And yips.  And barks.  And yips.  

2.  It's 2:00 a.m. ... you're awakened by the LOUD sound of a motorcycle going by.  Very.Loud.  Why? It's twofreakino'clock!  In.The.Morning!

3.  The sound of someone spitting irks the heck out of me.  Not to mention the "yuck" factor!

4.  Slurping.  Pullllleeeaase don't slurp in front of me.  I may have to hurt you.  Someone very close to me slurps when he eats soup.  I've mentioned it.  Many times.  Still slurps.

5.  The sound of someone dragging their feet when they walk.  Pick.Up.Your.Feet.  

6.  Air sucking through teeth.  That sound makes me want to scream. 

7.  The sound of firecrackers going off.  4th of July or not.  Don't like that sound.  It's annoying not to mention illegal here. 

8.  The sound of a snow blower.  Freakin' irks me as much as the sound of ...

9.  ... the town snowplow trucks. 

10.  The sound of someone farting ... in the kitchen ... at the table.  Okay, call me crazy but this really troubles me.  It's a rule in my house.  No farting in the kitchen. At the table.  Someone let one slip the other day.  I looked over at him.  He was ignoring me but had guilt all over his face.  I gave him the stink eye (no pun intended).  He continued to ignore me.  I was fuming (no pun intended again).  It makes me crazy!  Irrationally crazy!  Just don't fart in my kitchen...at the table...and I won't put up a stink.  ;-)

~Scavenger Hunt . . .

I haven't participated in the Scavenger Hunt in .... well .... forever!!!!! 

Shame on me! 

So, here I am .... playing along .....

Behold my interpretations .....

PATRIOTIC

Stars and stripes forever!!!!!

VIEW FROM ABOVE

Don't want to fall on top of this!!!!! 

MOSAIC

The bottom of the pool .....
well, it's kind of mosaic, right????


SOMETHING TINY

Tiny pine cone.
My neighbor's 2 1/2 year old loves to find these!


VIBRANT

Well, the colors are pretty vibrant.......
this is the best I could come up with ..... LOL!!!!

So, there you have it .... my finds for the Scavenger Hunt.
Don't forget to stop by Ashley Sisk's to meet Felicity.
She's absolutely beautiful!!!!

♥

 

~ The First Man ....

... I ever loved.

My Dad.

 Dad was one of 7 children.
He was a quiet man.

He rarely showed his emotions.

But the love was there and the love was felt.

My brother and I were the two youngest (of six) 

and Dad seemed to have mellowed a bit
by the time we came along

and he enjoyed watching us play

(and at times joining in)

This photo was taken in June 1974.

My parents were celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary.

My Dad was crying in this shot.......

he was overwhelmed that we were all there

celebrating with them

and

a few days earlier he was diagnosed

with mouth and throat cancer.

This shot was taken before the cancer got worse

and Dad had to have his jaw removed

and have a tube placed in his throat.

He rarely complained.
He died in 1978.
He had been feeling worse and worse every day
and so the doctor insisted he be admitted into the hospital.
He usually resisted but this time he didn't.
The night before being admitted
my Mother said he went into their bedroom and closed the door.
When he came out he told my Mother
that when he was gone
she should open their lock box
and that he had put something in there.
He died a few days later.
On the night that he died,
my Mother retrieved two handwritten letters from the box.
The first was addressed to my Mother.
It read:
"Dear Rita,  In case I don't come back I want you to know that I love you all very much.
If God wants me I am ready.
Don't forget me in your prayers and tell the kids too.
I have been in pain for a long time and I never told anyone.
I love you.
I hope the kids take care of you when you are old and sick.
God will bless them.
Please forgive me for all the trouble I ever gave you.
Once again, I say I love you all very much.
So Long,  Dick"
The next letter was addressed to "My Children".
It read:
"Something tells me I am not coming back.
If I did something to hurt any of you I hope you will forgive me.
I try to be a good father and a good husband. 
If I did something wrong, please forgive me.
I love you all.
Take care of your mother.
God will take care of you.
So long, not Goodbye.
Daddy
PS  I love you all!"

What I wouldn't do to have just one more day with him.

~

"It doesn't matter who my father was;

it matters who I remember he was."  ~ Anne Sexton

♥

Happy Father's Day!

~ Arrogant Frog ....

I am bad at picking out wine.

I don't know Merlot from Grenache.

I don't know Pinot Noir from Shiraz.

I usually stay away from red wine ....

just never found one that I liked.

So, I usually grab a bottle of red if the label speaks to me.

This one spoke.

How could you resist that froggy grin ....

and he's wearing a beret for crying out loud!!!!

Kind of resembles Maurice Chevalier, eh????

This wine surprised me.

It was good!!!!!

I would buy this again.

So, if you like red wine .... give this one a try.

C'est bon!!!!!!!

♥



~ I've Got That ....

..... covered.

My sister-in-law phoned me about a month ago

and asked me if I would be interested

in knitting some hats for preemies

to donate to our local hospitals.

My response was

"Heck Yeah!"

Anything to help cover

those precious little preemie heads

to keep them warm and safe.

Besides, I love to knit!

So, I made a dozen of these!

I enjoyed this so much

that I think I just might make more!!!

♥



~ Centered .....

....NOT!!!

I had just gotten home from my 4.5 mile walk .....

sweaty .... hair a mess .....

and I decided to grab my camera

and get my shot in for "Now You".

Not an easy task holding that camera steady

with one hand

and trying to get myself in the frame .....

but I wasn't in the mood for multiple shots,

so this is it.

Not centered....

Not glamorous....

Just me.

Heck, if you look closely you can see the peach fuzz

on my chinny chin chin!!

I don't mind making eye contact with the camera

but I still want to hide my nose .....

my mouth .....

my neck .....

my jowls ....

It was difficult for me to not put my hands over

at least one of those "features".

But I didn't .......

~ Happy Mother's Day ...

"The death of a mother

is the first sorrow wept without her."  ~ Unknown

I lost my mother in 1984, six years after losing my father.

I miss her.

She loved me unconditionally.

She didn't have it easy ... but she didn't complain.

She lost her father when she was 5 years old.

She lost her mother when she was 12.

Her uncle and his wife took her to live with them.

Her 3 brothers were separated from her ... each living with different relatives.

I can't imagine the pain that must have caused her.

My heart aches now when I think about the rebellious things I did that hurt her.

But she never let on that I disappointed her or hurt her.

She just loved me.

Unconditionally.

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom, Rita Leblanc Auger, at the age of 16.

My mom and yours truly .... circa 1971.

Look at the way she's looking at me.

Can you feel the love??????

Wow!!!

My mom, circa 1980 .... visiting her brother (and flying to Florida....ALONE....which

was a really big deal for her) and

cuttin' loose with Minnie!

I would gladly give up a day of my life

just to see her one more time.

♥

~ Happy Birthday Claire ...

Today would have been my sister Claire's 70th birthday.

In her regular "Claire" fashion, she would have insisted that no one made a fuss ...

but would have been delighted that we would.

I would call her and sing "♫Happy Birthday to you...♪" as I did every year before.

But she is not here.

On Christmas night in 1995 she ended her battle with uterine cancer.

Taken too soon.

So many birthdays ago.

On her first birthday without her I wrote a very small sentiment....

"It's hard to let you go, sweet Claire.

Springtime is not the same.

The warm May breeze and ladybugs

Keep whispering your name."

I recite it on her birthday every year since.

Happy Birthday Claire.

xoxo



~ "The Need" . . .

"It's nice sometimes

to open up the heart a little

and let some hurt come in.

It proves you're still alive.

If nothing else

it says to you,

clear as high hill air,

uncomfortable

as diving through cold water,

I'm here!

However wretchedly I feel,

I feel!"

~Rod McKuen

I simply ♥ Rod McKuen's poetry.

It speaks to me.....deeply.

I have most of his books.

I sigh when I read them.

Anyway, this is for my "NowYou" project.

I was feeling cranky .... really cranky .....

and I didn't want to take these shots....

especially with no photoshop!

I thought "How can I?" 

But I'm committed to this project

and so I did.

This is who you'd see if you came knocking at my door.

Voilà.....c'est moi!!!!!

~

~ Straw Flower Cactus . . .

I've been in a slump lately ......

my relationship with my camera suffered.

I can't quite put my finger on the reason.

It's just the way it was.

So, while out shopping the other day

this little fella jumped out at me

shouting

"Take me home, I'm photogenic!"

I loved the little straw flower poking out of the side of the cactus.

I found the perfect spot for it.

Indeed, it is quite photogenic.

I love taking macro shots and this little cactus didn't disappoint.

I just loved the straw flower on it ....

it made me smile.

So, snap~snap~snap went the camera!

Then I decided to read up on this lovely plant.

Well.......

I have finally stopped laughing at myself enough

to tell you what I found out......

Did you know that the little straw flower is not really part of the cactus?

Here's what I found:

"Straw flower cactus plants make a beautiful addition to any house. Upon first glance, they appear to be normal cacti with bright, vibrant flowers growing out of the top. However, the flowers are glued to the cacti and not an actual natural part of them. While the flowers are technically dead, they are still capable of opening and closing with moisture and temperature changes, which gives them the appearance of being alive. When properly cared for, a straw flower cactus can last several years."

Glued?
Really???    What the heck?????
Are you laughing, too?????

Am I gullible or what?
LOL

Oh well........
 I did get a good laugh (at my own expense)
and I did get some decent shots.
So,
I'm happy!
And out of my slump!

:-D

I decided to play over at SueLovesCherries' "Rednesday"

~ If Not Now . . . . Then When?

♪  Ta-da  ♫

 Crap!

Is that me?

Yup! 

One click of the camera.

No second, third or fourth shots.

As is.

No photoshop.

When I uploaded this image, I stared at it for the longest time.

I so wanted to click "delete".

I so wanted to smooth my skin out.....

get rid of the wrinkles.....

I've always disliked how I look.

My nose is too wide!

My lips are .... well .... non-existent!

I've inherited my family "jowls".

Should I go on????

I walked away from the computer at least five times

and each time I came back

and looked at myself

I panicked.

But then I thought,

well if I can't let you see the real me

and be true to you

then how the heck can I be true to myself??

So, here I am ....

in the "raw" so to speak.

And I'm scared!

This is me!

It's the first step

to seeing myself

in a whole new light.

~

This shot brings this song to mind ....

"The morning sun

when it's in your eyes

really shows your age.

But that don't worry me none,

in my eyes

you're everything."

Consider joining "Beyond Layers"
Today's challenge is "Now You".
Also, consider joining
Now You Workshop
with Shutter Sisters

♥

~ It's Time To Meet . . . .

. . . Sassy Sadie.

My alter ego.

She's a dame.

In fact, she's a Private Eye.

Not a Dick.

Must be a Jane.

She's as smart a dame as they get.

She's got stories as long as her legs.

She's got a raspy voice

not due to smoking

but because she talks ...

a lot.

By the way, she does not smoke.

She has someone else light it.....

she just likes the smoky haze it makes around her

to camouflage her fine lines and wrinkles.

So.....

meet Sassy Sadie.

Kelly and I decided to have

some fun with B&W .... Film Noir

for our March selfie

so you should head over to Kelly

and see what B&W self-portrait she came up with.

~ The Sky Is . . .

. . . BLUE

and so is my balloon!!!

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon."  ~  Winnie The Pooh

Join the fun over at "Beyond Layers"

~ In The . . .

. . . PINK!!!!!

Raise your hand if you cannot control the urge
to pop those little bubbles
whenever you see bubble wrap!

I'm guilty of that!

Heck, I've even wrapped things in half popped bubble wrap!

There's something theraputic about bursting those little things

and I kind of like the sound they make.

So, go and find yourself some bubble wrap.

I'll wait . . .

Found some?

Great!

Now . . .

1 . . .

2 . . .

3 . . .

POP POP POP POP POP POP POP

:-)

Have some fun over at Beyond Layers

~ A Week Of Color . . .

. . . this week

over at "Beyond Layers"

it's a week of color...

wonderful, bright, vivid color.

Yesterday's color was Green. 

Behold my green ice cream scoop.

Look closely ....

.... it's a frog shaped ice cream scoop!

Today's color is Yellow

Lemon Verbena Yardley Soap!

The scent is wonderful.

The color is delicious!

And it lathers up wonderfully!

Hmmmmm......I feel like taking a shower!

:-)



~ Green . . .

. . . like Gumby.

Yes, Gumby believes he's Irish.

This morning he woke me up

singing

" ♫ When Irish eyes are smiling  ♪ . . . "

Anyway,

he wanted me to tell each and every one of you

"Happy St. Patrick's Day"

If you have some time,

head on over to

"Gumby's Adventures"

and find out how this little guy

came into my life.



~ Music . . .

. . . is today's "March Photo A Day Challenge" prompt.

I love music.

Any kind of music.
Music makes me happy.

Music can alter my mood ....

happy ....

sad ....

melancholy ....

excited ....

I love music.

If I didn't have music in my life,

I believe I definitely would be depressed.
I've got the music in me!

I'm also a closet singer.

Oh yeah!

I sing in the car and in the shower.

In my mind I'm a rock star

singing loud and proud

and

not always getting the words right!

LOL

And....I've always had a weakness

for bass players.

My favorite genre?

Blues.....

...down and dirty blues.

Lay it on me, baby!

♫    ♪   ♫

~ Dream

Today's March Photo A Day Challenge prompt is "Dream"

There are different kinds of dreams ....

When I fall asleep at night

I sometimes wonder

what kind of dreams I'll have.

I love to dream.

I even have a book on dream interpretations.

Unlock your dreams ....

Dreams .... as in hopes and wishes.

A wonderful friend gave me this pocket charm.

I keep it with me constantly.

It reminds me to not lose sight of what I want....

to wish it....

to dream it....

to do it....

Dream

"Only as much as I dream can I be" ~ Anonymous

~ March Photo A Day Challenge .....

I'm all for trying out things

so

when I saw Kelly playing along

then you just know that I had to join in on the fun!

Today's prompt challenge is "Fruit".

I'm ashamed to say that I don't usually have

fruit in the house.

It's not that we don't like fruit

but

whenever we do have fruit in the house

it's a real treat!

I did have an apple.

 

There's nothing quite delicious as a

crisp, tart, juicy apple......huh?

I also had some dried apricots.

I don't eat these ....

but my husband devours them.

I do have to add that he LOVES

chocolate covered apricots!

With that said.......can we talk about other fruits.....

the kind that I usually eat.

Like .......

lemons .....

and cherries ....

and oranges .....

and strawberries .....

What?

These are fruit flavored and fruit filled

so why can't they count?

Or

better yet

how about

my all time favorite ....

(Kelly, are you ready for this?)

Ta-da ♫ .....

Oh yeah!

Go ahead ......

throw your head back

and scream with delight!

You know you want to!!!!!!

LOL

~ Girls Gone Wild .....

.... that is the theme for my and Kelly's February self-portrait!

I have to tell you that when Kelly first came up with this theme

I thought

"easy peasy".

Hhhmmm.....not so!

I just couldn't figure out what the heck to do with this.

The winter doldrums seem to have frozen

any creative juices that I might have.

So the other day I just plopped my camera on the tripod

and let myself get silly.

Yup!

Girls Gone Wild!

Don't forget to head over to Kelly's

and see what she came up with!

~ Betty Crocker....

... I am NOT!!!

But I try.   And try.

I decided to "try" to make some cookies

while my husband was napping.

I thought "Heck, he likes cookies....

...I'll make cookies."

So, off to the kitchen I go.

Ah! Yes!

Cookie mix (not from scratch

but "à la Betty Crocker".....

....looks something like this....

"The Mix"

Next I'm thinking I should add some flavoring ...

...hhhhmmmmm....

maybe I'll make a few different batches

and just add some extract for flavor...

I pat myself on the back.

....looks something like this.....

"The Flavors"

I'll do a little vanilla....

a little almond....

a little peppermint....

a little orange....

and for sure a little Amaretto.

My ♥ for Amaretto is a whole other blog!!!!

Anyway, those are the flavors I chose for my cookies.

Yah!!!!

I get my cookie mix and my egg and my butter

(actually, I used margarine).

I get my ingredients in the mixing bowl and use my hands to mix it all up.

"Hey", I think out loud, "this isn't so bad."

I'm smiling and mixing.

And mixing.

And smiling.

And mixing.

What.The.Heck????

I've got a gooey mess going on....

....looks something like this....

"The Mess"

It's stickin' all over the place ....

I.Can't.Get.It.Off.My.Hands.

I'm tugging.

I'm pulling.

I'm waving my hands over the sink.

I'm adding flour and more flour.

I'm beginning to panic.

I plop the goo down on the counter figuring I'd roll it out.

Not.A.Good.Idea.

I don't own a rolling pin

so

I used a bottle of wine.

Cookie dough stuck to that vintage in no time.

Dang!

Now I've got a gooey bottle of wine in my gooey hands.

I scrape up the dough and plop it back in the bowl.

I stare at it

for what seems like forever.

I'm also staring at the bottle of wine.

I shake it off .... bits of cookie dough flying off me.

I mix the dough up some more ...

add more flour ...

and decide that I'm done.

Let's get this on a cookie sheet before my husband wakes up.

Now, be forewarned ....

if you have a quesy stomach I advise you to look away.

.....looks something like this.....

"The Cookies"

Well, they're not totally horrible ...

but they are so not what I was hoping for.

Anyway, my husband gets up from his nap and

finds his way to the kitchen ....

sniffing ....

proclaiming "I smell cookies!"

I had to remind him

that

I am NOT Betty Crocker ...

....looks something like this....

"Not Betty Crocker"

~THE END~

P.S.  I won't let this discourage me....

I will bake again!!!!