wasn't it just yesterday?

I was just sitting here thinking about Niki, She was our first dog. She has been gone almost nine years and we still think about her everyday.   I posted this poem a few years ago and thought you might like to read it again.

 Wasn't It Just Yesterday

wasn't it just yesterday

 we brought you home from the shelter?

you taught us how to raise a puppy "your way"

no crates or leashes for you

oh and would you mind putting

chicken in the bowl and not that regular dog food please

wasn't it just yesterday

you waited patiently on the stair?

you taught us that a daily walk was good for the soul

no leash required

and would you mind telling

those other dogs at the park that I am alpha please. 

wasn't it just yesterday

we drove cross country with you by our side?

you taught us to take the back roads

and leashes are sometimes required 

and would you mind telling  

the national park service that dog paw prints are more natural

than people foot prints please.

wasn't it just yesterday

we held you so tight while saying goodbye

you taught us how to let go and hold on at the same time

no leash is required

for the ties that bind our hearts together

is stronger than ever

and would you mind telling

people to hug their dogs please

 because they never know

when it might be their last day.

Niki

Jan 1, 1991 - August 31, 2004

we miss you

paintings by rachael rossman

WOYWW #203

Time to jump back into WOYWW on a more regular basis. This week I am showing you where I have been hanging out lately.    This is my Nook.  When we remodeled our kitchen last year I decided the half bath had to go. So now it is a nook. I spend a few hours a day in here .....mostly online. I am taking an online art course ( 21 Secrets ... link on my sidebar) and the videos are amazing.

Last week  Kay , aka, "505Whimsey Girl" shared a pattern for an easy lace stitch so I made a green one for my daughter, a lavender one for a gift for a friend,  and a pink one for the Pink Scarf Project.  It is a very easy pattern. Kay has it on her blog if you are interested.

Thank you so much Kay !   I love it.   The green one is done and my daughter took it before I had a chance to take a pic. The lavender one needs a few more rows and the pink one is half done. Love the pattern.  Not paper but fun just the same.









  In other news... I was reading the latest issue of Best Friends Animal Society magazine and saw this:

That's my Bosley. I guess they took the photo before he came here to live. I love it when one of my "kids" gets published.

Well enough about me.
There are so many blogs for you to visit.
Clck here to go to Julia's blog for the list of blogs.
Have a great week 

Time to tame the wild child

You know how parents have to keep their  kids busy and focused. 

Well my inner child has become wild and definitely
 needs to be cornered and contained.

 She's so out of control.
Two years ago I "retired" from working for my husband.
Last year I was busy with a total gut and remodel of our
 kitchen, foyer, and laundry/mudroom.

This year I have the freedom to do what ever I want.

The Inner Child is aware of this.
So far April has been a blur.

She has been dragging me to Art Fairs, Craft Shows,  Galleries,

 Yarn Shops, Quilt Shops, Rubber Stamp Stores

.....Lowe's, Ace and Home Depot.  

She's hungry. She's obsessed. 

She's a Wild Child.

 She's insane. That inner child.

A few of you have had the pleasure ? of meeting her.
How many times have I heard...
" Marianne have you had enough coffee?"

funny thing is  coffee or tea or chocolate is not needed to set the inner child into a frenzy.

But color, craft supplies and  her friends here in this computer.

That combination of stimulation can be hazardous.

So I have found several activities to hopefully keep her satisfied this Spring and Summer.

While she is occupied I might be able to get to all that garden clean-up that I keep talking about.

So here is my plan. Yeah I know I failed miserably with the "29 faces in 29 days" back in February.
       I still might surprise you and complete that challenge....but maybe not.
                                    But I think I came up with a plan that I can stick to. .....casually.....
                                                                                                  a girl needs breathing room , right?

 So over in my sidebar I have buttons and links to my chosen activities.

                     Here are the six fabrics  I have chosen for a quick project for a  Blog Hop

I will also be participating in:

    

 21 Secrets - Artist Workshops.

   This actually started a few weeks ago.
but you can still jump in. 

I have a few more scarves to make for The Pink Scarf Project

              

Paint Party Friday...not every Friday....once, maybe twice a month.

 Shopping our Stash Challenge...

yes I need this. I have some great stuff gathering dust that must be used.

I am cleaning and organizing my craft room ( again) 

Yes Summer is not all fun and games.

So I have a few Giveaways planned.

Remember the 5 boxes of treasures I gave away a few years ago?  

Well it's time for another Huge Giveaway like that. 

( stay tuned for more info later this week )

In real life I will be taking a pottery class once a week.

I joined a knitter's gathering that meets once a week.
And another knitters group that meets once a month.
I love these two groups and look forward to my time with them.

Aaaaand a once a month I'll attend  Photo Art Journaling class. 

YES !   My Inner Child and I will be playing with 

REAL LIVE PEOPLE ! 

Whew

That should keep the Inner Wild Child  busy.

Do you think it will work? 

  I've said this before and I'll say it again.  I love this community and I feel I've been slacking in my end of the deal.
                    You all inspire me
                                    I want to inspire you
                                                    perhaps enable you,
                                                                   maybe I can make you laugh once in a while

Either way....I want you to have fun while you're here and even more fun creating whatever it is you do with your Inner Child.

So tell me. What are your artsy crafty plans this Spring and Summer.
Let's cheer for each others creative inner child.






 

Wordless Wednesday

hitting the links

 No I haven't taken up golf. 

I have no time for golf.

 I've been completely sucked into yarn and weaving.

(no this post is not about weaving)

 but I am obsessed.

Today is Friday and it's time to share the Link Love with Tammy
over at Daisy Yellow.
I have to keep it short because I am running out the door to the vet.

So here is this week's list.

I spent an entire afternoon in awe of Irina's Art

You won't believe what Trish has turned into an Artist tool. I love her!

I have a pretty awesome crafty space but Beckie's Craft Room knocked my socks off this morning.

And since I love useless knowledge I enjoyed this article about the phrase "hitting the links" 

Now if you'll excuse me ...  all of sudden I am craving sausage.

???

Wordless Wednesday

The Traveling Stash

 I was the lucky winner of the Traveling Stash Box. This box if full of fabric, patterns and notions and is making it's way through the US, leaving smiles along the way.
when you receive the box you may take out anything you would like to keep and replace it with stuff from your own stash.  Then you send it off to the next winner. That winner could be you.



There is very little room in the box for me to add alot of fabric...... but I can squeeze in this:
40 5"x5" batik squares and a $25 dollar Joann's gift certificate.     The gift certificate is my gift to the next player.                If you win, you are not required to add a gift certificate.   

 and here's  the rest of the stash:

This box is packed tight.

Want to win the Traveling Stash? Here are the rules.

1. Be an active blogger. Post about receiving and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.
2. There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been. Please add your info and place the note back in the box.
3. There is a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box. Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
4. You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken.
5. Write a post about the Stash and choose a recipient from the comments.
6. Ship the box  in a reasonable amount of time.
7. Due to the amount of postage shipping is only within the USA

Leave a comment here if you would like to participate.
 Please make sure you are not a "no reply" blogger.
If I can't contact you I will choose someone else. Thanks.
I will choose a winner this Thursday around 6 pm (east coast)

Thanks for stopping by.
Hope the rest of your day is happy one.
***********************************************************************************

update

4/11/13

The winner is:

Katie

Just a quick update  to let you know the winner of the traveling stash box.
Tonight "the lifeguard" drew the winner's name and that winner is  Katie  Snuggle up with a Dish from Karma

The Pink Scarf Project

 Pink Alert!  

pink 

pink

 pink

Lots of pink in this post.

While I was in Florida this past winter I saw Vicki's post asking us to

 make pink scarves and send them to Kentucky, where they will

 become gifts of hope and given to women who are battling cancer.

I am not a fan of pink. 

It is one color that I rarely reach for. But this project tugged at my heart.

When my daughter came to visit, she snapped this photo of me, 

knitting,

 in 80 degree sunshine....

 of course I did have a cool drink.

When I came home I continued to knit. I also bought some pink fabric. 

I decided to make more than one scarf. A few knitted. A few sewn. and a few woven. 

 

I am still adding the finishing touches to the woven scarves....I'll show you when they are done.

Oh and I used the leftover yarn to make a banner for a local chemotherapy lounge.

I need to add some charms and beads and a few words of hope and it will be finished.

 

I like it so far. What do you think?

oh and can you believe I actually posted a photo of myself here?
  brave?  or stupid?   time will tell.

a Little Link Love

I haven't been around because I have been knitting and weaving and taking dogs to the vet and I was  lured into Pinterest and Instagram.  Yes the truth..... I was sucked into two  great places for inspiration and connections.

But they just don't have the same friendly feel blogging has.

Remember when bloggers used to link to each other to spread information and inspiration?

Well Tammy at Daisy Yellow has started a campaigne to brink back Link Love.

 She has asked us to share 5 links a week.

Here are my five links this week:
grab a cup of something , get comfy and visit a few of the bloggers who fill my head with wonderful ideas.

for a dose of color, whimsy and bunnies visit Mandy at- Bijou's Whimsy 
for quilt inspiration, doodles and great tutorials - The Quilt Rat
for a good cause -  Vicki at 2 Bags Full is hosting the  Pink Scarf Project
for great painting techniques and thoughtful posts go see Kristin
for loads of inspiration for your home go see Heather

I'll be back with two more posts today.  Yeah....when it rains it pours . But I scheduled posts and they didn't show up so I need to edit them and post manually.  Someday I will get the scheduled post feature figured out. sigh.