I am so sick of rain

We have had so much rain and dreary weather I could scream. It is June and I want warmer weather and sunshine. I have lots of new summer clothes I want to wear. I admit it does feel strange seeing my sister wear clothes that I wore last summer, although she did have some of the same items in a larger size. Of course her goal is to have all new clothes next summer. Since I am pretty much where I think I will end up, she won't be getting too much more from me.

A lot has happened since I last wrote

The wedding went quite well. There were a few glitches, but that was to be expected. The weather was good. even though rain was predicted it held off until the reception was over. Our son-in-law learned that he needs to leave a set of car keys home. They had to come home a day early because we couldn't move his car for street sweeping. We are still waiting for the proofs from the photographer. I hope they are online by the end of next week.

We had company from British Columbia for the wedding. While she was here we did some tourist things including Boyd's Bear Country. We also went out to eat almost every evening.

School is over for the summer, at least until summer school begins. I was pleased that I had all my work done and could leave as soon as we were dismissed. I do need to go in to water my plants though.

Becky's was in an accident on June 3. A woman up the street ran a stop sign at the end of the alley. Her car was totalled. I must say that Progressive, in spite of commercials I personally find annoying, gives good service. Their adjuster was here the day after and waited for her to come home to sign the title and he cut her a check at that time. the car was picked up the next day. Becky ended up buying a new car, a Pontiac G3. She is now in debt for 6 years. She had some problems since she had changed her name some places and not others. Keith's car needed over $1300 worht of work and his car was worth only $100. He bought a used car, a Pontiac Grand Am.

This past Monday and Tuesday I attended a 2 day conference for school. They were 2 long days, but I'll be glad come August and there will be 2 days I don't have to work. On Wednesday, someone Ken knows from his message board and her husband came for the day. We took them to Gettysburg and Hershey, even though the weather did not cooperate.

Tonight was support group for gastric bypass. My friend Linda rode with me. It was nice to have company for the ride. They had the body analyzer scale there. I had mine done and was pleased. Kathy did not go because her knee was giving her trouble.

We have had so much rain lately. Even so, we have managed to get some time on the scooter.

Another step closer!

I had another nutritional appointment in my quest for lapband surgery. Three was a SNAFU in scheduling, but I still will be seeing the surgeon next Friday and hope to have a surgery date! Three will be one more appointment after the surgeon appointment before surgery. at this appointment I learned more about what to expect and about the 8 day fast prior to surgery and the recovery immediately following surgery and why the diet will have to be what it is and why there won't be a fill when the band is inserted. I'm having a problem with billing and need to call Hershey again on Monday to straighten things out. I'm hoping that won't be a problem.

Today was a family reunion at my sister's house today. Most of those there were from my mother's side of the family, but there were a few from dad's side, along with a couple of my my sister's close friends, both of whom I know. As usual, there was way too much food and lots of time spent enjoying each other's company. For today, the diet went out the window. As Scarlett O'Hara said, "Tomorrow is another day."

I hope the weather is nice tomorrow so we can go for a ride. It has been a little cool this week; when we rode the other evening, we wore sweatshirts and I was still a little chilly.

I really ought to go and work on some beading. I have 2 pieces going and really need to get the one finished, especially since I know exactly how I'm going to finish it.

90 features in 90 days, slowly catching up!

It is so hard to believe that Easter is tomorrow. It is just too cold and yucky outside. It won't be this early for another 200 years I've been told. As promised, I am doing double duty so I am not so far behind. This will be # 48. My 1st feature was on January 31. I should be at #52 I think, and since there are not yet 90 shops on the list, I am doing well. Today's feature is SimplySaid by Sarah. If you like to put a little goodie into someone's lunc , briefcasse or backpack to brighten their day you need to visit her shop, http://SimplySaidBySarah.etsy.com She has inexpensive goodies like decorated sticky notes that will do just that. She also has a blog http://SimplySaidBySarah.blogspot.com

A new week!

Over the weekend the weather was so nasty. We had 60 mph winds that made it seem really cold and some areas had hail. It was cold this morning, but did warm up a bit as the day went on.

I've been a little lazy in doing my features so I need to get with the program. Today I am featuring art2theextreme. In her profile she writes, " I am an elementary art teacher from Indianapolis, Indiana. I graduated from college with a Visual Arts Education degree and a Ceramics concentration. Travel is a HUGE part of my inspiration to create art. I have been to England, Scotland, Mexico, and lived in Italy for a short period of time to study art.I love working with ceramics, printmaking, and fibers most of all! In my free time, I create art to share and sell, as well as scrapbook.Art is all around us. It is everywhere and in everything. " Wouldn't you like to color with the pictured crayon? You can check out all of her offerings at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5429966 She also has a blog http://art2theextreme.blogspot.com/

90 features in 90 days #36

More wintry weather is on the way so I am less than happy. Of course I am wondering if school will be in session tomorrow? I'm actually hoping for a 2 hour delay so we get the day in and it counts.
In spite of taking a day off here and there, I am making my way throught the list Today I am featuring allyon67. "Deep Blue" is my favorite piece from her shop. To see everything she has to offer, visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=57441 You can also visit her blog at http://pmillerabstractart.blogspot.com/

Back to School

Due to bad weather and scheduled vacation days we have been off a week and the day was wild. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but still had the energy to go to my first knitting class. I didn't do too badly.

Today I am featuring arosebyname. In her profile she writes, "I am a self-employed wife and mother of two teenage daughters. I enjoy beading and find that it is my therapy for stress!My daughters and I first tried beading many years ago. Over the years, the beads have gotten smaller and the designs more intricate. Although my girls no longer bead, they enjoy wearing the pieces that I have created. Etsy Street Teams are awesome and I have become a part of this fantastic group!Etsy BeadWeavers Street Team: http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/ " I just love the bracelet I pictured, but you might prefer something else, so check out her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5049143 and her blog http://arosebyname.blogspot.com/.

Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!

However, the weather is just lousy. I'd almost prefer snow. On to more pleasant things like th e 90 features in 90 days challenge. Today the lucky shop is littlebrownbird. Before I do her feature I must mention about a missing person notice posted on her blog. http://thelittlebrownbird.blogspot.com/ Please read it and if you know anything, please call 911. If nothing else, please pray for his safe return to his loved ones.

Excerpts from her profile include. "Hi! My name is Mary Ryan. I am an Interior Design Consultant by day and a Jewelry Artist every other waking moment. I have a variety of collections to complement any style and price point for young girls to women. I will happily accept orders for custom sizing or a change in clasp or ear post/wire on any of my pieces." I love her bracelets and can't decide which of the 2 bracelets I pictured is my favorite. Visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5106927 to see the rest of her profile and more of her work.

It is still REALLY cold!

I'm tired of being cold every time I have to go outside. It was HOme Ec. today for my class and we made funnel cakes. Everyone really enjoyed them.

Today I will feature Bella Dio. She writes in her bio, "I am a SAHM and I started making jewelry years ago. My friend and I would get together and bead, while our little ones napped. Two years ago, I started playing with polymer clay and I really enjoy the opportunities this opened up to me. I slowly started adding in twisted, bent and curled wire to my designs." Visit her shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5408087 to see items like my favorite that you see here. Check out her blog at http://belladio.blogspot.com/

It is REALLY cold...

... and I don't like cold weather, but all errands have been run so I am home to stay for the evening. I'm seriously thinking about a nap, but thought I'd do my featured shop so I don't forget.

Today it is LIZSTALEY. Here is an exerpt from her bio, "I grew up in Baltimore, but am now living in Greenville, NC. My mom got me into arts and crafts when I was really little (I wanted to help her paint ceramics when I was a baby, so she'd give me a paintbrush, a cup of water, and a rubber ducky. Took me awhile to figure out that it's supposed to change colors when you paint it though!). Ever since then I've loved to draw and create things.I love to crochet, make buttons, do drawings, sew, and come up with new ideas! " To find out more, you'll just have to visit her shop http://tinyurl.com/3bpd8n and read it for yourself.

She handcrafts a variety of items, but my favorites are her gloves. This pair is my favorite http://tinyurl.com/2vd2nc

To find out even more about her, visit her blog http://livewirechick.blogspot.com

Snow Flurries Today

Alas, that was the extent of it.

Today the shop I will be featuring is onathousandhills

She writes, "My name is Cheryl, and I love the outdoors! I also love playing with my beads and seeing what I can come up with to make.I can't remember how old I was when I first did any crafts, but I know it was pretty young. I went to a vocational high school and took 4 years of Clothing Shop there. I have always done a bit of different crafting hobbies, but found beads in a serious way about 5 years ago. My daughter was given a bead kit for recuperating after surgery, but wasn't very interested in it. I took it over and took off with my beading. I've had to put them on the back burner at times, when homeschooling and work got in the way. Now I am dedicating more time to be able to learn and grow in this art form. Yes, it IS an art form.God's creation is one of my favorite themes for my work, and I think everyone would have to agree how wonderful nature is."

This is my favorite piece from her shop, http://tinyurl.com/35hbyu is a beautiful Christmas ornament and it is not too early to be thinking about Christmas 2008!

She is a member of Proud member of Christian Artists Street Team http://castteam.multiply.com/ and Etsy Beadweavers http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

Check out her blog at http://onathousandhills.blogspot.com/

No Delay!

The weatherman was calling for a little snow and I was hoping for a 2 hour delay so I could sleep in, but no such luck. I much prefer 2 hour delays because the day counts so make-up day is necessary.

KatrinLermanJewelry

For my featured shop today I selected a relative newcomer to our ranks, KatrinLerman Jewelry. After you read her bio you'll see how interesting her background is. She writes, "I come from a family of makers and have been doing jewelry since I was a little girl (if making friendship bracelets is considered jewelry ; ) Originally from Germany, I settled in Massachusetts, US almost ten years ago. I can’t believe it has been such a long time already! Nonetheless, I draw inspiration from my German childhood as well as from the time spent here and from every little moment I can remember happening in between. Sometimes, photographs of finished jewelry pop into my mind and I have to quickly run to jot them down before they are gone. Other times, I have an idea in mind and it takes a lot of drawings until I have figured out how to best do what I was thinking about. Of course, those sketches are not written in stone and I often change a design while I am making the piece to arrive at the best end result possible. I graduated from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston with a Degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Interior Design is all about color, form, and texture – and that’s what I’m integrating in my jewelry designs.Now that I have a beautiful baby girl, I try to spend every free minute (and those of you who have a baby know that there are few) creating jewelry. Naturally, I have lots more time thinking than creating and so my sketch book is filling up with ideas for years to come. I can’t wait to get working on all those ideas and designs!!!"

Visit her shop http://tinyurl.com/23gpwl to see her wonderful pieces. This particular one, http://tinyurl.com/2dbdxs is my favorite.

To learn more about this talented designer, visit her blog at http://katrinlermanjewelry.blogspot.com .

Returning to Normalcy

It is a relief to be getting back to some kind of normal. I feel like I have abandoned so many things for the past couple of months and now I need to catch up and reconnect. The weather has continues to be warmer than normal and that just lifts my spirits.

I've got a mentor from etsybead and I need to email her with what I need help with. Hopefully I can get soem more traffic, which would lead to increased sales.

I talked to the deli manager about cutting back my hours on Saturdays. That should start when the one person returns from surgery. I hope is that I won't be so tired when I come home so that I have energy to do things that make me happy instead of being so tired all I want to so is sleep.

Happy New Year!

Not really. I have been sick as all get out for 2 weeks. My sister and I just passed the first anniversary of Mom's death. My father-in-law died last week. Hopefully, things will start looking better in the coming weeks.

On the brighter side, the weather has been unseasonably warm, which has helped to lift my spirits. My husband has the cast off his foot so we went for a ride on the scooter. We were able to take the grandpuppy for a walk without heavy winter outerwear.

I'm hoping to be more active on the etsy street teams that I belong to, etsybead, and BBEST. I just hope my jobs don't take up too much time and energy so I have the time and energy to devote to crafting my jewelry.