Fired up

I have got to get my @%& in gear this coming week!
My shop is down to 5 pieces...F-I-V-E!
The fired copper earrings sold the other day, they had SO many hearts :) I had spent so much time getting those "just right", so it was nice to hear the buyer was happy with them.

Time to *make time* ...

Another late nite

I should be in bed, but I was unwinding from a looonnng exhausting week. I signed into my blog and started to mess with the background again, and decided I like it better white :) I hope everyone had a nice week ~ enjoy your weekend!

Leaving you with a few of my favorite photos above, from
countryliving.com ~ gnite ~

Friday Road Trip

We had a graduation to go to Friday at 6:30, three hours away. The forecast said it was going to be a "cloudy day with no rain", but that turned out to be wrong! We had showers off and on all the way there... I find it SO hard to wake up on rainy days ~ they suck for me! Having an exhausting week didn't help.
By the time we got there, the sun came out from between the clouds, so the event took place outside, which was nice ~ (they were set up for inside just in case). We left there and went to dinner at a restaurant with high prices and *#@^ for service, and the food was nothing to write home about(although some liked it)...reservation was at 8pm ~ got our food at around 9:45 ~ asked for warm bread for the table and the waitress acted like it was a crime! Mumbled it was "for the salad bar", which is what I got, but I saw NO rolls...why?, because they were hidden in the warmer *under* the salad bar! Anyway...glad it's over :)

Sorry for the rant ~ I felt awful the whole day ~ so much stress & worry has built up ~ I guess I just needed to vent...

The drive home was the best part ~ Jamie and I talked about our childhood all the way home ~ I love times like these :)

The bugles I grabbed at a store on the way...I wanted sweet & salty caramel chex mix, but this was all they had. They're not bad...a cross between regular bugles and caramel popcorn.


I did wake up to 2 sales Saturday morning :)
I need to get more in my shop!... a busy week ahead may hold me back on this, but I'm going to try hard to get something done!

words from a blog friend

I had a real busy day today (Wed)...(it's now going on 2am Thursday) came home exhausted, and didn't get online until late. I went to my etsy shop and found a nice note from Pix @ Pixie's Purpose

:"I wanted to thank you for putting the recipe up on your blog the other day. I made it tonight for dinner. Even my 17 year old picky eater son commented how good it was and had 3 helpings of it. For the first time in the 7 years my husband and I have been together I did not have to feed the trash can any leftovers." :)

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know this Pix!
I'm glad everyone enjoyed it :)
I have a couple other recipes that are simple to make, that I'll post when I have time.

Right now I'm heading to bed ~ Gnite and sweet dreams everyone'~.~'

Manic Monday

I woke up feeling a little PMS-E this morning, but did survive the day!
We had some pretty strong thunder storms blow through here off and on today, but I managed to dodge every one of them! Once I got home from ~W~, we went right back out the door to get a few groceries. Jamie is starting to feel better (a little each day) ~ I'm SO glad :)
We went down to the farm stand b4 we hit the grocery store...I purchased a big juicy tomato, a raspberry pie, a quart of strawberries, and some rhubarb 4 Jamie to try (he's never had it).
He grabbed some *GIANT* molasses cookies ~ no surprise! :)
He cooked burgers for dinner; he does the BEST burgers, using 85% lean.

After dinner, I got into a cleaning mood, which I took upstairs once the downstairs was done, and into my studio space. I emptied a bin on wheels w/drawers that I couldn't stand looking at any longer, and sorted things into three wicker baskets, that will go on a shelf above one work table. Mika (my cat) loves to climb things, so I'm a little worried she may try to climb onto the shelf...wicker baskets or not, she'll try!
My "studio" is coming together S-L-O-W-L-Y...time, is not on my side...

Serene Sunday

countryliving.com

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

I found this on recipezaar.com and thought I'd share ~ it's a great pasta dish that's easy to make. To print click here www.recipezaar.com/Creamy-Cajun-Chicken-Pasta-39087

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breast cut into thin strips
4 ounces linguine cooked to your liking
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons butter
1 thinly sliced green onion
1-2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in butter or margarine until chicken is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Reduce heat add green onion, heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and heat through.

4. Pour over hot linguine and toss with Parmesan cheese.

We like a good crusty bread heated in the oven with this dish.
Enjoy!

Vintage

I found this "Vintage Harley Davidson Motorcycle Couple Photo" on etsy last night, and purchased the 8x10, (which is actually an 8x8) for Jamie, (one of his Fathers Day gifts). I think he'll get a kick out of it. Now I just have to find the *right* frame!

KathysDreams.etsy.com is the shop I purchased it from.

Hyperthyroidism

Jamie got a call from the doc's office on Thursday, telling him his blood work showed he has hyperthyroidism, and they scheduled him an appointment with a specialist for Friday.
I came home early so I could go with him to the appt. After looking at his "numbers", she said he was pretty sick. He got a script for beta blockers (to slow his heart rate), and anti-thyroid medication. He also had to go for more blood work, so we can see how his liver is functioning.

I new something was going on as I watched him lose weight(40 lbs)over the last few months, but he figured it was just his *lunch time* eating habits, he had changed for the better, and less food at dinner. I didn't buy that. He went from 220 lbs husky/muscular, down to 180, so I scheduled him an appointment for a physical (he was a year past due). For the last month or so, I noticed every time I hugged him, he had this internal shaking all over. I first noticed his hands shaking, which he said was probably the caffeine (he does drink his coffee quite strong). Enough to make him a little hyper, and shake all over?... We've been together 10 yrs, and this is the first time I've seen him like this. Thursday night, I laid in bed until 3am watching him sleep ~ my hands on his chest, listening to his heart beat, feeling the tremors, waiting for the calm. He's going through this with a "it's no big deal, I'm fine *smiles*" attitude, which is SO like him. He looks for the good in everything :) I'm so lucky to have him ~ he's my rock. I can't stand seeing him in pain.
He goes back to see the specialist mid July, to see how he's doing on these meds, and to get another blood test to check his liver again.

On a happier note ~ check this out

I came across her on youtube ~ she's pretty good!

You can learn more about her and hear all of her music here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ReinaDelCid

Do you remember this song from the 80's ?

~ I always cry when I hear this song ~ My mother was a victim of child abuse. Her mother (my grandmother), died while giving birth to her sister, when mom was just 3 yrs old. Moms father left after that, never to be seen again. She then went to live with her grandmother, who abused her often, until the state stepped in and took her away. If only I could go back in time...

Slapping on the paint

Jamie started painting the spare room b4 he left for his physical today, and I finished the cutting in when I got home. After dinner, we both went upstairs and rolled the rest of the primer coat on the 3 walls left. Hopefully, by Friday it will be done. Saturday my DD's furniture gets moved out, and our BR gets moved in. THEN, my studio can be put together!
It's funny ~ now that I don't have a place to create my jewelry; I'm not tired, and I want to be hammering!

My baby ~ all grown up

My 23 yr old daughter

Economy hits home

Jamie was laid off from work on Friday (he builds custom homes) ~ they do have a "return to work" date, which is set for July/Aug right now. So he'll have some time to get a few things done around here...like painting the spare room (back to apartment white) ;( where our bedroom will be going once done.
The larger of the 2 bedrooms (which is our BR at the moment) will be my studio space.
There's a spare cedar shelf from the armoire, that needs 4 legs, so I can make use of it in the studio.
I give him 2 weeks before he starts wishing he were back at work, lol.

I'll be helping him with the painting when I'm home. I want it done asap so I can get the studio organized. We have to repaint this whole place before next spring when we move ~ I just can't live without color on the walls (we rent), so we paint w/COLOR :) Now I wish we would have bought a home when we talked about it a few years ago but, I walked away from one when I divorced, and was a little unsure about buying another. At this point in our lives, the only way we will own a home, is to win the lottery. Could happen I suppose :) Kind of sad, seeing Jamie builds beautiful homes for a living...

We've been together for 10 years; both have a child the same age ~(he a boy ~ me a girl). Now they're both in their 20's beginning their own lives, and we're living life one day at a time, trying to enjoy every minute we can...

Oh ~ I recently decided, I am DONE painting (with color) when we move, I will decorate with color instead, and repaint (if ness) with the color already there (or very close) ;o)

I'm rambling, thanks 4 listening...hope I didn't bore you!