~ Dang it ...

... is it Friday already? 

I wasn't prepared for this.

So, I'm going to have to fly by the seat of my pants here and indulge in

.... drum roll please ....

Nancy's Random 5 Friday

 

Oh.  And Gumby Friday (snort!)

 

1.  For the love of all creatures ... big and small ...

Punxsutawney Phil

and Connecticut's own Chuckles

are mere rodents.

They both predicted 6 more weeks of winter.

We got "blessed" with 11 inches of snow yesterday and are expecting

another 1 to 6 inches tomorrow.

Sure...sure.  It looks pretty.

It almost hypnotizes you as you watch all of the little flakes

fall from the sky.

But I'm here to tell you that it sucks!

Especially when you (me) has to shovel it and/or drag the dang snow blower out.

I'm done with winter.

With that said ....

 

2.  Who's up to trying some groundhog stew?

Mmmmm....mmmm.

Lots of protein.

Punx Phil, I'm talking to you.

 

3.  Gumby wanted to go outside to play.

But Miss Procrastination (yup, she's still around)

hasn't knitted him a scarf yet.

So, we decided to watch the snow fall together.
From inside.  Where it's warm.

It was nice for a while but looking out at all of that white stuff

started to give us a headache.

Not to mention how irritating the sound of the plow trucks were.

Don't get me wrong ... they're just doing their job.

But still ... they are my enemy!

 

4.  Gumby insisted on standing by the window for a pose.

He was amazed at how much snow was out there and how cold it looked.

He was grateful that I insisted that we stay inside.

We had new windows put in a few years ago.

Best thing ever!

They're the type that you just pull in to clean.

I'm telling you, I've got the cleanest dang windows in the neighborhood!

It's a pleasure (well, almost) to clean them.

 

5.  Gumby has been trying to get me to try Nutella.

"Nuh-uh" was my response.

Finally, I gave in.  Bought some.

Gumby was so happy.

He couldn't wait to dig in.

I tried it, too.

And you know what?  Dang if it isn't bad!

It's rather tasty! 

What have I been missing?

As you can see....Gumby loves it.  Loves it!

Made a little piglet of himself ... yes, he did!

Which led to giving him a bath.

And then a nap.

 

So....there ya have it.  My randomness and my Gumby-ness!

 

Gotta go!  Gonna get me some Nutella!

 

 



~ Procrastination ...

... at Random 5 Friday

 

1.  Procrastinate 

verb

to be slow or late about doing something that should be done

to delay doing something until a later time

 

2.  That's me.  Miss Procrastination.

I do it ALL.THE.TIME.

I cannot figure it out.

It's not like I don't want to do the things I need/want/should do.

Like my craft projects.  I WANT to craft.

In fact, the other day I organized all the craft paraphernalia that I had thrown

into a large bin and I patiently sorted through it all and

put all my jewelry stash in one smaller bin ...

all my charm bottles in another bin ...

all my charms in another bin ...

well, you get the picture.

So you'd think that I would just pick a project and jump right in, right?

Nah-uh!

Miss Procrastination.

 

3.  I love browsing here Antique Farmhouse Décor.

See that file box ... lovely, huh?

I did my hem and haw ... haw and hem.

I put it in my cart. 

I took it out of my cart.

I did more of the hem and haw.

Haw and hem.

I put it back in my cart and smugly thought "I'll get back to it later."

Miss Procrastination.

 

4.  Later came .... went to check out.

It was SOLD OUT!

What???  What???  What???

Geez Louise!!!!

How could that have happened in just a few hours?

Miss Procrastination.

 

5.  I found some quotes on procrastinating and I'd like to share some with you.

 

The best way to get something done is to begin. 
 

Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday.
 

Procrastination is the thief of time.

 

and one that made me laugh out loud ...

 

Procrastination is like masturbation ...

in the end you're just screwing yourself.

 

 

It snowed on Monday and again on Wednesday.

Dang!  I am getting weary of snow blowing and shoveling.

They are predicting more snow for Sunday and Thursday.

(Shaking My Head)

But I do enjoy taking some shots of snow.

Here are a few that I took this week.

 

 

 

 

 

So there ya have it.

Winter in my backyard.

 

Now, I've got to go to the market and hit the craft store.

Or maybe hit the craft store and go to the market tomorrow.

Or maybe go to the market and hit the craft store tonight.

Or maybe ...

Miss Procrastination!

 

 



~ It's Friday ....

... and guess what that means?

Woot-woot!

It's Random 5 Friday!!!!!

Let's get random.

 

1.  I'm trying to become a morning person again.  So far, it isn't going so well.

I'm sleeping until ... are you ready for this ... 10/10:30.

Dang!

Maybe once the weather gets warmer I'll get up and start walking again.

It's just been so dang cold and it makes it hard to get my arse out of bed.

 

2.  When I sleep until 10/10:30 I'm kinda irritated  pissed at myself.

I feel like I've wasted the morning and I feel like I have to rush

through the day.

I really have to change that.

 

3.  I have to get all the craft ideas out of my head and bring them to life.

What am I waiting for?   An invitation?

From who?

The Craft Fairy???

Does anyone else do that or is it just me?

Geesh!

 

4.  Can you believe that today is the last day of January?

Can I say "WTF"????

 

5.  Can I also say that I'm glad to see January in the rearview mirror?
It's not that January was super stormy.  We had 5 snow "storms" this month.
I had to use the snow blower for 2 and the other 3 I got away with shoveling.

If we can get through February with minimal snow I'll be happy.

With that said ..

they are predicting a storm for Wednesday.

Bleh!

I wanted to thank all the new friends I made at the Grow Your Blog party last weekend.
I really appreciate all the kind words and pats on the back that were given!

 

 

So, on Friday I was feeling a bit funky all day.  

One of those things where I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Woke up Saturday and I had a full blown cold.  Or did I have the flu?

I wasn't coughing.  

I just had a stuffed up nose ... a runny nose ... scratchy throat ...

aches and pains.

So, was that the flu?  Or a cold?

Anyway, I wasn't the only one who woke up that way ...

nah-uh ...

Gumby had it, too!

So we spent the weekend just chillin'.

 

We napped ...

 

We had story time ...

 

We sipped tea with honey and lemon ...

 

And Gumby insisted that I put some Vicks Vapor Rub on him ...

He wasn't coughing ... but he insisted on having it rubbed on his chest.
He just loved that stuff ...

couldn't get enough of it!!
I fear he may be addicted!
 

It took until Wednesday to start feeling better

but we're both back to our ole' selves.

 

Uh.....gotta go.

I smell Vicks Vapor Rub!

♥

 



~ Grow Your Blog ...

 

I was so excited when my friend Kelly told me about this event.

What a great idea!

I've been looking forward to this date ... and ... here it is.

Thank you Vicki for hosting this wonderful party!

 

Let me tell you a little about myself and my blog.

 

Hi! My name is Diane.

I guess you can say I'm "retired" since I just reached my 62nd birthday last month.

I treasure my camera ... I have made the decision to make sure

that I have it with me at all times so that I don't miss

any opportunities (as I have in the past).

I enjoy knitting and crocheting.  Need anything?  LOL

I love crafting ... everything.

Jewelry ... making tags ... making notecards ... sewing ... working with Polymer Clay ...

I am even in the midst of teaching myself Zentangle!

Oh! and I really love a good flea market ... yes, I brake for flea markets!

Show me something vintage and I'm putty in your hands.

Yup, I've got a lot going on!

I'm pretty new at blogging and to be quite honest I've been struggling with it.

I think I know what I want to do with it but I'm having a bit of a battle

getting it there.

I have all these ideas swirling in my head ... blog about my crafts ...

blog about daily ups and downs ... blog about Gumby (wink-wink) ...

blog about photography ..

blog about nothing! 

Anyhoo, I'm here to learn ... and I'm here to grow.

I want to enlighten ... I want to participate ... I want to inspire ...

I want to entertain.

I'm very excited to meet some new bloggers.

I have been inspired by so many before that I can only imagine

what creativity you'll conjure up in me.

I hope you'll visit often.

 

Now, I'm off to "grow my blog"

♥

 



~ Hello Friday ...

... and Random 5 with Nancy!

 

I'm a sucker for this meme.  It is my favorite because I just love

all the randomness that you all post and because

it's pretty much the only one I participate in.

 

1.  It has been colder than a witch's you-know-what!  Holy Frigidness! 

You go outside and you feel like you can't breath.

Thanks Polar Vortex!

 

2.  With that said ... I can only imagine how high our

heating bill will be for this month.

And not because I want the heat cranked up.

Au contraire! 

If I had my way the thermostat would sit nicely at 68*.

My husband prefers to see that baby sitting at 71/72*.

It doesn't sound like much but trust me ...

those few degrees have me perspiring like a marathon runner!

 

3.  With that said ... I sleep with a fan on 365 days a year!

Yup!  You heard right.

I NEED that white noise to fall asleep and to stay asleep.

If the power should go out during the night ...

this gal bolts upright in a nano second!

 

4.  My husband hates that I need the fan's white noise to sleep.

But hey ... he knew that when he married me!

So he sleeps with his side of the electric blanket on high 365 days a year!

Thank goodness for dual controls, huh?

 

5.  We've gotten six snow storms since early December.

I guess I shouldn't complain.

Could be worse ... they were all pretty minor.

Nothing above 10 inches.

 

Which brings me to .....

 

I have given Gumby permission to just roam around the house

and entertain himself when I can't be his playmate.

The other day I could hear him talking and laughing

and telling tall tales.

When I turned around the corner to see what he was up to ...

there he was

on the steps

with dust bunnies captivated by his every word.

I'm thinking "Rut-row" ....

maybe I need to pay more attention to Gumby!

So, I asked him what he wanted to do ...

his wish was my command.

He wanted to go outside .... in the snow!

I explained to him how cold it was and that I didn't have a scarf for him.

He didn't care.

So ... outside we went.

He loved it!

He was fascinated by the snow and how it felt.

He was a little disappointed that the snow was too fluffy

to make a snowman ... someone he could play with ...

but then I told him about snow angels.

I can't tell you how many snow angels he made ...

too many to count!

He had fun!

 

Now I probably should go and knit him a scarf.

♥

 



~ Say "Hello" . . .

. . . to my little friend.

I promised Gumby that I would introduce him to all of you.

I want to share with you how this little guy came into my life.

 

I had been wanting to get a "Danbo" ... at the time he was all the rage!

So I went ahead and placed my order for one.

Or so I thought!

I waited very patiently for his arrival.

When the box arrived ... I was absolutely giddy.

I couldn't wait to open it.

 

Here's who popped out of the box!

As you can see ... he is NOT Danbo!

I was shocked ... dumbfounded ... surprised ... annoyed!

How the heck did this mix up happen?

I wanted to fix this immediately.

So I picked up the phone and called the seller immediately.

Gumby was not happy.

I think he cried a little.

The seller reminded me about something ...

"No Refunds"

Now I was the one shedding a tear and Gumby was quite thrilled.

I didn't know what to do ... do I keep him?

Do I give him away?

Do I just stick him in a drawer somewhere?

 

I decided to give him a chance.

But there would be rules.

So, I sat him down and we discussed the rules.

He could stay with me as long as he stayed out of my hair

and he had to stay out of trouble.

He was very willing and appreciative.

Okay.....so Gumby stays.

 

He proved to be quite the little helper.

He enjoyed going outdoors with me and helping me do some yard work.

He never really complained about the labor ...

he said it was "a labor of love".

Oh yes!  He is quite the "ladies man".

Gumby also proved to be quite sociable.

He is very eager to make friends.

One day he stumbled upon Jacques Croissant.

Never shy about a photo op, Gumby insisted that I document this acquaintance.

Here's how it went:

Jacques Croissant did not speak directly to Gumby

but addressed his questions/comments to me.

Jacques:  Who eeez this?

Gumby:  I'm Gumby!  Who are you?

Jacques:  Madame, je suis Jacques Croissant.

Gumby:  Whoa!  Really?  The underwater guy?

Me:  Gumby, that's Jacques Cousteau.

Gumby:  I know!  Nice to meet you Jacques Cousteau!

Jacques:  Je m'appelle Jacques Croissant.  Mon Dieu!!!

Me:  Uh, Gumby ... I think you're bothering Mr. Croissant.

Gumby:  Tell me some of your deep sea stories Jack.

Jacques:  @#&%

Gumby:  Whoa!

Me:  Uh ... guys ... let's break it up!

Jacques:  Allez.....allez you little green #$&%.

Gumby: Are you sure you're not Jacques Cousteau because you sure talk like a sailor!

At this point ... I had to physically remove Gumby from the area.

So, since that didn't work out so well

Gumby was determined to find someone else to hang out with.

And then ...

... he found Woody!

They became fast friends ...

getting into all kinds of mischief.

I can't tell you how many times I told them not to play on the stairs.

It's all fun and games until someone falls and gets hurt!

 

But the real issue ... the straw that broke the camel's back ...

was on New Year's Eve two years ago ...

when they got into the liquor cabinet.

Yup!

Gumby and Woody got drunk!

What else could I do?

I had no choice.

I had to discipline Gumby.

I banished Woody from the house.

I told Gumby that he would have to face the music ...

that although I had grown attached to him ...

he was going to be put aside.

Well....quite some time has passed.

Gumby has been allowed to venture out ... again.

This time he tells me he will be a very good Gumby.

I believe in second chances.

So,

say "Hello" to my little friend ...  Gumby!

I'm sure he will keep us entertained.

 

And now ... for my Random 5 Friday...

here are 5 random facts about Gumby.

 

1.  Gumby was created by Art Clokey in 1955.

I was 4 years old! 

2.  Gumby is the Latin diminutive of "Gumbo", Gumby's father's name.

Gumby's mother's name is Gumba.

3.  "Gumbo" is oil-driller lingo for the sedimentary layer of clay on top of a petroleum field.

4.  The trademark "bump" on Gumby's head came from

an old photograph of Clokey's father in which a cowlick appears to give him

an unnatural bump.

5.  A few years ago rap fans were sporting "The Gumby",

a hairstyle with the sides shaved and a tilted bump on the top.

 

Now, excuse me while I go and see

what Gumby is up to!

♥



~ 2014 ...

Happy New Year everyone!

Whoa!  Where did the time go?

The holidays came and went.

They were crazy and hectic and a little stressful but we survived.
We spent the 20th with Tom's family celebrating.
We spent Christmas Eve day with my family celebrating.
And Christmas day was just the two of us ... quiet and wonderful.

And now on to a new year.
I was so wrapped up in the holidays that I didn't have time to visit blogs
and/or make comments. 
Sorry!
I will be better at it this year.
 

And now on to Random 5 Friday.

 

1.  Between Christmas and New Year I had a birthday.

Yup!  This ole' gal is 62.

We just got a teeny little cake this year ... enough for two slices each.

It was chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting

with chunks of chocolate sprinkled on top

and .... oh yeah .... a cherry!

 

2.  I wasn't sure if I was going to choose a "word" for 2014.

I thought about it long and hard and just couldn't come up with anything.

I went through the whole alphabet thinking of a word

that would ... well ... grab me.

Nothing.

 

3.  And then ... it happened!

A word.  Jumped out.  At me.

Challenge.

 

4.  This will be the year when I challenge myself.

In every way possible.

 

5.  I have so many ideas swirling around in my head.

I really want to run with my blog ... grow with it.

I want to challenge myself to blog more often.

I will be introducing you to Gumby soon.

He has been pestering me to blog about him and his friends.

I may even have a "Gumby Tuesday" or something like that!

I want to take my camera with me when I'm out and about as much as possible.

Tired of seeing things and saying "Dang, if only I had my camera."

I want to open an Etsy shop.

I have so many craft projects just screaming at me to be accomplished.

From knitting to crocheting to sewing to jewelry making to tags to notecards ...

well, you get the idea!

I am actually excited ... YES! EXCITED ... about all of this!

 Oh yeah!

 

I want 2014 to be fun and productive and challenging!

I've been "blah" for too long.

So come along for the ride.

 

Now, which project should I work on first?

♥