~~ Today I've been playin' around with some collage papers and just haven't decided where I want to set down 3 sheets that have me absolutely dumbstruck...the colors in the papers are just wonderful, and I want to use the whole sheet..but then with only a specific space to work with, it's just a tad bit difficult to use a 12" X 12" sheet on a 9" board...And, if I use an entire 12" X 12" sheet, what will I do with all the others? Leave them out on the curb to rot and float away with the wind? Wait a minute...I can't leave anything on the curb...I have to notify the City first before leaving anything for Pick-Up with the Recycle Center or Refuse Department...sheesh..

I also got a little bit of sewing done on a blouse this morning, before driving the youngest to another interview at an employment agency. While I sat out in the car waiting for him, I shetched some little fishies again. They seems to be hounding me everywhere I go these dayz. But back to the blouse...I found some fabric the other day like I said here yesterday...Got the fabric washed an' tried on the blouse with just some pins along the seams. The fabric is a nice and soft cotton. I nearly gak when I try and wear certain polyesters ..they make my skin sweat just looking at some of them. But, there are blends that are wonderful, and I never have a pip of a problem with them. Go Figure. Anyway -- got the youngest to the interview and when He got back in the car he didn't have much to say. Seems the job the agency has lined up for him also has 11 other people that are picked for the same position...as in his words.."Is not lookin' so good here..." Poor Guy...


The Husband had one of those dayz yesterday that makes one wonder what our government is ttrying to accomplish. Because of 9 - 11 there are a gazillion new Security Checks that all the drivers at the Port's have to go thru, plus several new badges that all drivers must wear, an' several new cards that have to be scanned and verified before freight leaves each and every spot then out the gate and down the road. Which ~~ to make a long story short ~~ makes for a long day and not much freight being moved in literally the right direction. The security cards don't want to be scanned..some of the ultra-uber cameras that Film Everything aren't filming a fly, let alone anything else. And the New Security badges sometimes need to be viewed 3 or 4 times, leaving the drivers sitting in the sun, baking away in the afternoon heat and contemplating a career change . Usually The Husband moves about 8 or 9 freight loads a day..but with some of the new Security Measurers, he's lucky to make 4 or 5. Nothing like Better Efficiency for the Good of Us All...He was so tired to sitting and getting nowhere fast, he said he almost took a nap at one of the Ports yesterday, but couldn't get comfortable enuf to stretch out in the cab of the truck...sheesh...

I've got a bottle of paint that I rediscovered over the weekend. I've been trying to get it back to life, as it somewhat dried out during the heat of the summer out in the studio. I think I may try in just a little bit to get it shook up one more time before giving it a shot on the piece I'm workin' on now. The color is called "Bright Blue" and at first glance it doesn't seem like much...but when positioned next to a more light blue, it absolutely pops!! Whoa!! Suprised me when I first slapped some on a used sheet of paper. Well...so much for a color fading away into nothing-ness!! Now I'm excited an' want to go play. Whoooppiieeeee.....

Lady of The Tulips -- who now has to decide whether or not her one last old thrift-store shirt is worth salvaging after splatering paint all over it...Oh Blast..It'll get painted on!! Only cost $2.95 in the first place!!

"Tropics" 2007 Spring Bay Studio

I wanted to make sure the stains from my work table didn't get in the picture, but there they are for all the world to see...Sorry that they look even worse in a picture than I thot they would. But at least there is some kind of proof that the table is actualy being put to use!!

I got this done just in the nick of time..as it were...The Husband was sleeping the afternoon I got this done ( Sunday ) an' was laying down to get some sleep before goin' up to the Shanandoah Valley the following morning to get a load of chicken: so when he said he'd take me to the fabric store an' that was all for the day..Boy Howdy...I haven't gotten pattern numbers -- fabric choices an' free give-aways-all packed together in my bag SO FAST..in a looong time. But I got it all done..this collage..bought the fabric..got 2 patterns ( 99 Cents Each!! ) grabbed a spool of new thread..grabbed 2 free sewing magazines and payed for it all an' zipped out the door!!! I'm suprised I'm not still tired from it all!! But am glad it all got done...

The Youngest is waiting for word on another job..the one employment agency told him today that they will have something for him in the morning...so he's chowin' down on some sausage and red rice, then he'll get ready for a softball game later this evening. The Husband sez he'll take The Youngest over to the baseball field 'cause he knows I'm havin' trouble seein' at night now...hmm...irritates me. But anyway...I've got a couple other pieces in the studio waiting for a couple extra papers to get cut out...along with part of a blouse to finish this week. So much for layin' low an' takin' it easy...I'm still waiting for Mr. Doc to tell me somethin' -- I may be 120 before I find anything out at the rate it's goin' --

This is all for the moment -- Have-ta go an' get dinner from The Youngest before he eats it all...he does love that sausage an' red rice..my oh my...

Lady of The Tulips -- who is wondering where her other hot pad in the kitchen has gone..it either ran away over the weekend or somebody threw it away...hmmm...

"Self Titled" 2007 -- Spring Bay Studio

I worked this out the other evening while sitting at the dining room table waiting for the youngest to get dinner finished. At the same time, The Husband was just home from work and was layin' on the couch, watching a movie on one of the independent film channels. The film, which technically was a documentary, was about the train that took the Grateful Dead, The Band, Janis Joplin and various others, across Canada to do a concert somewhere, but I'm not sure exactly. Anyway, with the music blasting out of the stereo, The Husband shouting over the music "HEAAHH!! YA HEAR THAT??!!" ~~ Somehow I was able to sketch out these little guyz...I've no idea where they came from...what made me sketch them At All ~~ But they were an awful lot of fun to make!! An', well, yeah, the music probably had a lot to do with the whole thing. After I got done, the youngest comes over to where I'm sitting at the dining room table an' sez, "What're doin?" Took one look at this an' said, "..hmmm..." I'm still not sure what THAT meant..

I got a couple things drawn up yesterday, and by this evening I hope to have my newest piece layed out!! It's taken me what seems like forever, but it finally came together. I was gonna pop it on here yesterday, but the youngest got off work earlier than I thot he would, and promptly overtook the computer. So much for getting pictures done on here...I Did Have The Best Intentions, tho. Just couldn't do anything about them!! I also discovered a 1/2 off coupon at one of the area Art & Craft stores, so tomorrow I'm off to get some dried leaves and other dried flowers. I've come with an idea for one of the projects that's waiting for just the right little something, an' I think I know what it needs. Something along the line of "real" seaweed. No -- I'm not gonna go over to the shoreline an' try to dry seaweed, but I think I can find "seaweed" at the craft store...detail will follow...I think...

Got the largest Basil plants dug outta the garden, and now all the leaves and stems are somewhat dry in the studio. In the morning I'm gonna dry all of it, an' get it into some canning jars or freezer boxes...whichever is on sale. An' since there is one of the various "Dollar" stores a few blocks away,AND THEY HAVE A SALE...what can I say? The store opens at 9:00 in the morning...I should be there by 9:15...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ who can hear The Dog...an' it doesn't sound just right...I think she's up to something, and it's giving me that uneasy feeling...

>>> Somebody asked me not too long ago how I was feelin' -- I didn't want to sound alarmish or go overboard with anything, so I went with the ever - so - safe - "I'm doin' pretty good..." That usually does the trick. >>>

But if you happen to take a look at Mrs. Claus for jus' over a second or two -- well -- you can see that even tho she IS trying to wave and appear all happy and cheerful ~~ ahhmm....she jus' isn't lookin' all that spiffy. An' that's pretty much how I've been this last month or so since I had my mini-stroke. The first few weeks were the shakiest...but the last week or so it seems that I'm beginning to get my feet under me a little better. An' that's when I started to get the earlier pieces finished up that I've posted on this Blog. What seems so odd is the woozy - ness I feel every now and then. 'Course, with a new Dr., and paperwork to explore and interviews to be had..it's gonna be sometime before I get any kind of answer to what's what. Do Not Be Alarmed...that screaming sound you hear is only a little person contemplating throwing something off the pier over at Ocean View.

Mrs. Claus is Also something that I felt like during the last heat wave we had. It'd been over 95 Degrees for nearly a week, and I kept feeling like I was melting. Mrs. Claus had been up in the attic, and for some reason one of the boys went up in the attic to get something down..and poor Mrs. Claus was discovered and brought down into the front room. Oh Man...That was the hardest I laughed...the minute I took one look at her poor little self. Then I remembered how dangerous it truly is to try and work under intense heat conditions. The Youngest lost a few days of work because it was over 100 Degrees a couple times...and over 95 at least twice. But now, I am too happy to say that it is actually cool enuf that for the first time since I Don't Know When...we aren't running the air conditioning!!! So Take That Electric Company!!! HA!! No big bill for YOU!! We're actually in the 70's and it's suppossed to stay like this for the next couple dayz. I'm too happy and want to dance a little bit -- ok -- now I'm better!!

My camera will get a new batch of batteries tomorrow - I discovered the pak I bought last spring an' will get them set up in the morning. I have to go get blood work done first thing..so after that ordeal I'll pop some pictures on here. I've got some more work done on my recent project, so that relieves some of the angst I was dealing with. Ssshhhwwwooooo...The Husband wasn't too sure if he should get near me these last couple dayz...I'd been flinging papers and stamps and tissue and all-sorta-stuff in the studio an' I think he was jus' a little scared. Well...ok...actually he was disturbed enuf that he walked away an' never said a word...I know when he does that it usually means, "Oh Lawdy..best get away from That!!" Poor Guy...never knows whether to go this way or that sometimes...

Well -- off to inspect some transplants out in the garden. The youngest worked up a new bed of collards, an'I wanna see how their doin' -- Also got all the Basil pulled and ready to dry this week...hope to end up with at least a couple bottles of dried basil when it's all said an' done. The whole house smelled like Basil last night when I brought all the leaves and small stems in the house...yuuumm!!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who is wondering what else is lurking up in the attic as I sit down here in the cool shade...my ooh my...

>>> I know I said a couple dayz ago that I'd download a picture from my files for a post...but not only did the batteries die in my camera...but the new batteries that I put away Very Carefully have absolutely disappeared..I mean, that flat out went somewhere and Did Not Even bother to leave a note >>>

So -- the little picture that I was going to somewhat brag on and premere will just have to wait till the first of the week when I get a chance to get to the store. I was going to pop over after my Dr. visit but was so hungry and tired that I absolutely forgot all about goin' The visit went well...even if there aren't any answers yet. The Dr. said he cant do anything till he gets all the other paperwork from the Teaching Hosp. an' then can go from there. He didn't seem too impressed with the hosp., or the fact that the lead professer was who I had been seen by. The new Dr. just sort of shook his head like it didn't mean a hill of beans...or anything else for that matter. I'm too tired these dayz to get worked up about anything...and will just have to wait..an' wait...6 weeks 'till my next appt., and in the meantime it's off to get blood work done. The Ins. Co., made it Very Clear that there is only one specific lab that they allow to read any of the work. I was told a number of times, "If you choose to have this work taken to another location the entire cost will be yours to pay..." As if I'm the one takin' the little vials or whatever they are to some kind of secret location..jus' so I can have another bill to pay. Where do these people come from, and will Somebody Please Take Them Back???


I'm nearly finished with the current project -- been a couple dayz since I did any work on it...and am having a devil of a time trying to set down some painted and stamped tissue paper...I just can't decide where I want to lay it out, and it is giving me fits, spits and probably ulcers. I've gotten it set down on the darn canvas panel so many times that I thot my eyes were goin' crossed. But I had to walk away from it, and then spent the better part of yesterday driving all over creation w/ my youngest. He had 4 places to go and had to pick up paperwork from a couple temp. agencies so he can get paid. He's got a temp job for 3 dayz next week, so I'll have to decide which day to go and get my bloodwork done in between shuffling him back and forth to wherever it is that he needs to go. I just wish the local bus system had a somewhat better coverage of some of the larger blvd's -- they don't cover some of them after a certain time in the evening, so you're stuck standing at a bus stop with no where to go...leaving you not feeling your best. BUT-- back to my project. I've been contemplating it and fumbling and mumbling with it enuf, so that I am nearly beside myself. I think I've had a better time deciding which kind of ice cream to buy on sale...

Lady of The Tulips -- who now has to go find out what happened out in the garden with the collards..it doesn't sound good from here...

** I was going to have a picture on here for this morning, but after I got it onto my blog, I discovered something amiss in the shot, so eliminated it. And, being the good little doobie I am, I tried to take another picture of the item I wanted on here..only to find out that the batteries in my camera "!!EXHAUSTED!!" What the $}&*{%*??? I just bought them not 3 months ago...but then after doing some searching, I also discovered that my youngest had used the camera for some of his work with baseball cards, and all of those shots ate up the batteries. Hmmm. Whatta kick in the head THAT was to discover.

So -- back to the store tomorrow after my Dr. Appt. ~~ I'm kinda nervous about the whole thing...and hopin' that something will be found out. I still get tired pretty fast and never was told anything from the Teaching Hosp. about how long I'm supposed to keep feeling this way. I'm just suprised I even got a call from the first Dr. at all. But, I know that there are schedules to keep, people to meet, places to go...blah. I just wanna find out what the tar is wrong with me. So -- along with going to the Dr., I'll make a quick trip over to the store across the street from the office and get more batteries. The little things just didn't last as long as I thot they should, but I'm too tired these dayz to get too worked up about anything.

Am very close to getting the last portion of a new project completed. I've got 5 papers that I'm cutting and applying with matte medium onto the canvas board...well almost have them applied. I've gotten into a dilemna with deciding which of the papers I want to use for a good contrast with another patterned paper I already have cut out. This shouldn't be a big deal, but it's brought me to a screeching halt!! It's one of those contrast/compliment decisions that I was getting into last night before I left to go pick up the youngest at his work, an' take him to his softball game. The trip went well..got him to his game an' all. But in the back of my mind was this little nagging THING -- which of the 2 papers to use as the final ones?? Go with a big contrast with hues of blue/green -- or go completely in the other direction and use something out of the same color tone?? sheesh....

** Lady of The Tulips ** who had The Very Fine Automobile start to stall at the next to last traffic light by the house..I automatically put on my flashers so the cars behind me would know something was wrong...an' then discovered a police car directly next to me...yeah...my hands were shaking...my knees went weak...an' the police car sped past me onto something more important. Needless to say I was a wreck by the time I got home...

~~ I've been sitting at this old computer for almost a half hour, trying to get directions for The Husband so he can go get some paperwork done that he needs for his CDL -- No easy feat to try and find just the correct state office..not so easy trying to find the correct directions, or a link that works so you can get directions...blah...My head is trying to ache and after all the playin' around, The Husband sez., "Well, I know where that is..it's really easy to get to.." Please do not become alarmed when you hear screaming from this direction...it's only me and my last good nerve giving up the ghost...

I've got a canvas panel just getting dry with a couple shades of blue for a new project. I'd started the project before my mini-stroke, and now I'm getting the energy to get it finished. I found 3 canvas panels that I wasn't even aware of!! Sitting very nicely on a shelf in the studio...boy don't I feel like a dummy! So, one of them now has a mellow blue on it...combination of a turquoise blue and a bright blue...sounds kinda jarring, but with a little blending, the colors come together really nice. I've got some sketches of fishies that I'll copy onto some paper that I have from another abondanded (would you believe I do know how to spell?) project...not too heavy and isn't too thin so it'll take some inks and watercolor pretty well. I'm gettin' to where I can work at some stuff without getting incredibly tired within 45 minutes. But I can't work out in the studio 'cause of the heat..too much out there. So I've moved a conglomeration of goodies into the dining room and have them waiting for me to get crackin'! It's over 90 degrees in the studio right now, and w/high humidity I'm not gonna take any chances and work in that swampy environment.

The oldest called to say he's goin' to the movies this afternoon. The last movie I saw was "Lion King" with a group of kids from the little town church where we used to live. The Husband isn't one to go out to dinner or movies, so I'm somewhat behind the times when it comes to new flicks. My middle one gave us a pass for one of the theater chains, but The Husband hasn't taken me to see anything yet...what's a year among friends, huh? Anyway, the oldest is pretty jazzed 'cause he has the day off, so he's goin' to have some fun instead of gettin' last minute phone calls from co-workers who claim their too sick to come to the restraunt to work...one of the Asstistant Managers just plain didn't show up one night...needless to say she's no longer working at that location.

Well -- it's off to do some painting and cutting out little fishies for my project. I'm gonna sit down and get a quick rest afterward...the youngest has a softball game this afternoon, so Yours Truly has to go pick the guy up from work and take him over to the ball field...the bus won't get him over to that part of town in time for his game, So I'm gonna go play Let's All Drive Safe and hope that no jerk smashes into The Very Fine Automobile. ..besides, it's got a Brand New Grateful Dead sticker on the back window, so I don't want That ruined!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who has decided to go with a completely different color for one of her fish now that she's had a chance to sit and mull it over...whoo boy...watch out!!

"Tropical Dream" 2007 Spring Bay Studio

This is another piece that I worked on off and on for the last couple weeks while I was literally trying to get my feet under me...the fun thing was rediscovering some pieces of paper that I carefully buried in a box near my work table in the studio. I'd bought a pak of shaped pieces some time back, but they didn't really do anything for me till recently. I'm glad I "found" them the other afternoon.

We were really waiting for the Tropical Storm to come roaring up the coastline yesterday..but all we got were a couple sprinkles and some wind that maybe was 15 miles an hour..nothing like the 40 that was predicted. We were also suppossed to have up to 3 inches of rain, but if we got .309 tenths of an inch I'd be suprised -- no, I don't think that's actually a number over there, but it looks kinda official..

I've got to get some fabric this afternoon while there's still a sale at the fabric store. I was all set to go yesterday, but never made it. I think the "storm" was keeping The Husband from getting off the couch and driving down the road. Right now he's off down the interstate delievering little girl dresses for a department store chain...I won't say which one, but suffice to say, that these dresses were made for about $1.25 and they sell for Over $50.00 -- No -- as truckers he and some of the other drivers don't get more than $4.00 for the delivery...some guy in an office gets the mark-up...But...The Husband did say that they are awfully cute for little girls. I'm just glad we had all boys..I couldn't stand all the noise a girl would have made in our house...3 boys was bad enuf...

Anyway -- I also discovered some VERY bright papers that I also got on sale...my little pea brain is contemplating a way to get those into another piece this week. Somewhere down the Highway I know something will pop in my head...humm...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who has to decide whether or not to buy some more paints or to buy some other stamps while there's a sale over at a Grand Opening Sale for a place down the road...Yikes...my nerves are fraying over this one...

** WELL NOW **

It Has been sometime since I got my little self to sit down and do something here, now, hasn't it? I've been trying to feel better and at the same time, was somewhat hitting myself over the head with my cast iron frying pan. By that I mean, I've been battling between 2 very large Companies, and I've been the little guy stuck in the middle. Trying to get answers from the Teaching Hosp. I had chosen as my "Primary Care" group, and the huge conglomerate, The Ins. Company. I've literally lost track of the amount of time I've spent on hold with both of them. At one point, while on hold, waiting to find out what one of my appointments was going to be about, I did the following:

!. Painting the inside of a window frame

2. Mopped the kitchen floor and dusted around the dining room table.

3. Sketched out some little odds and ends in my sketch tablet.

Finally I got some twit on the other end of the line from the Ins. company -- only to be told that she didn't have the information from the Teaching Hosp. and said that I should try again at another time.

I know that there are people who do wonderful and terrific things at both of these facilities, but by gosh and by golly, I'd SURE LIKE TO FIND THEM!!!

The good thing is, that I did get some ART done thru all the nightmares and Bull**** ~~ While listening to a Mets baseball game (I had the game on the tv, but got too involved with my pens and watercolor paper to actually watch the game) and chuckling to some of the text messages my oldest son sent me at the same time, I was able to get a couple new collages done. The one that had been sort of slapped together earlier, got something of a face lift, and seems to have much more life to it. I got into this Tropical Feel one afternoon, (Probably because I was desperately wanting to get the He** outta town after fighting with the above jerks...) and the whole thing just sorta took off from there -- So that's the new shot at the start of this post. I wanted to get some other fishies into a piece, so that one is getting itself together too. It'll get on here probable tomorrow. I got the middle son's bedroom painted at the same time as all the Waiting For An Answer ~~ There are a couple spots along the ceiling that I have to get some fixing done...missed a couple spots with a final coat of paint, and also slopped some color on the ceiling after I got that painted. Naturally the youngest had to come home from work and retort, "You Missed Some Spots!!" Never assume....never assume...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who heard The Husband switching the cable channels between a U2 concert and a Funny Car Race Competition...with the sould up LOUD -- the U2 part wasn't so bad: it was the sound of those funny cars at a volume of over 12 on the stereo that threw my into fitz...

~~ Well ~~ It's been a couple of dayz, and a LOT of haggling and screaming shouting and altogether Being Ugly to Me by Other People, but I think that for the time being I'm up to snuff on tests tests and other Assorted Things for my Health. Now -- after saying that, I'll probably get a call first thing Monday morning by one of the Yelling Schedulers at my new Dr's office telling me that I've done something wrong...man oh man ... these women are some of the Rudest People I've ever come across. And they work in a DOCTORS OFFICE!! So much for keeping the Blood Pressure Down!!

To date nobody in the Medical Field has a clue as to what's wrong with me...and after a battery of tests on Thursday afternoon, it will be sometime before I get a chance to find out what it is that has suddenly come upon me. I fought thru the traffic and drove all around the new local Heart Hosp. thursday and got into one of the new fancy uber clean offices and filed paperwork and more paperwork and was directed to all sorts of offices, Dr. rooms, super collosial x-ray machines (But I'm not sure if they also have Ship to Shore Radio capibilities...) an' all sorts of other things Useful to Mankind. Wayyy back in the back-most part of my brain, the Arlo Guthrie song was humming around..."An' they had all kindz - a - groovy thingz..." -- Yeah -- it was all so super overwhelming for me. Not to mention all the horrible people who make the decisions as to what is best for me...or...rather who is going to PAY for all these tests and other assorted THANGS...Now ~~ I must admit that I am not one to take a nap ~~ But after over 3 hours of tests and negotiating Traffic around a large construction project in the midst of downtown...Yup -- after I got home, called The Husband an' told him I was home an' safe, I literally layed my head down on the loveseat and Promptly fell asleep for over an Hour....An' within a couple minutes after The Husband got home, he took one look at me on the loveseat an' said, "Why don't you jus' go to bed?" SO ~~ No complaint there!! An' I went in to the bedroom and fell asleep for ANOTHER 2 hours!! DAYUM!!! Worn-Out-An'-Wanting-All-This-To-Be-Over!! Then ~~ I slept the next morning 'till almost 8:45!!

Anyway -- there has been a little in the way of Art getting done!! I'm gluing down some beads and fabric today on a project I'd started in one direction and it has completely gone into some other mode. I mean to say ~~ It's still within that Fishie-Sea-Life theme that I love to pieces, but this collage has somewhat taken on a life of it's own. An' that's fine with me. A little weird as for the Fish...but that's what came outta the gel pens and watercolor paper. So there ya go.

Along with the super tired feeling I've had since my ER visit, I've stayed outta the studio, an' tried to get my work done on the dining room table...it feels really strange to me, but I have gotten some stuff done. An' my wonderful friend has been right next to me all along the way ~~ My little puppy dog..Well -- ok, so she ISN'T so small an' is a LOOOONNNNGGGG was from being a puppy, but you get the idea. She has started this thing of laying RIGHT next to me on the floor in the dining room while I sit at the table an' do my THANG. I can look down an' see her big brown eyes look at me an' I just HAVE to give her a nice little pat on the very tippy top of her head. And rub her super soft fuzzy ears..how can somebody Not do that?? The dining room isn't quite as light-filled as the studio, but it works for now, since we've had the same HEAT that a lot of the country has been melting thru.

The youngest has been outta work for a few dayz because of this horrible heat wave that's been so horrible for a large part of the country ~~ at over 97 Degrees, the 2 farm owners that he works for have been Very careful and made sure there's been no work out in the fields...no risk at having somebody fall over an' have something Very Bad happen. Today it's been somewhat cooler, so there should be some work done...I think some more of the Fall field crops are being planted, or finishing being planted. My youngest & I went to buy some seeds for the same things..our tomatoes developed some type of fungus and hauled off and died...so no pictures of them. With the heat so bad, I've not been able to get outside and do anything, let alone take pics of the garden. Hopefully this evening I can get out there an' get some shots. I think we have some more corn getting ready to bring in, so that'll be fun.

The Husband has been bizzy driving all over the place...and this time of year is so crazy for shipping....Christmas orders have been coming in for the last couple weeks, and he's delivered some girls dresses to a warehouse lately. He said they look very sweet for little teeny girls...Bright greens with lots of glittery fabric. Somebody will be very happy come December!! I think he has another load this next week too..it's all been so much to try and keep track of!! He also had a load of freight that really made me pause...over 75,000 pounds of Turkey Hearts...the math at trying to figure out how many of those little things could fit into a container and come up to that weight was WAY OVER MY HEAD!!! He just said that once he got thru the factory gate and got weighed the total with the tractor and container was over 90,000 pounds. Let's just say that he wasn't exactly tearing up the road on the way back down here...I remember he did say that he got "up" to 45 mph on one stretch of the Interstate....sigh....

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who has also got a picture that makes me smile...it'll get put on here in a day or so...it has to do with the Heat...Christmas ornaments ...and what happens when Things Aren't Taken Care Of...just wait and see...

"Gift Box" -- 2007 ~~ Spring Bay Studio ~~

This is a little box I made for a friend that needs some light hearted color and fun ~~ This should make up for some of her pain and grief that family and other assorted Thangs have combined to smash her nearly to bits.

I'm just about over the irritation of going to the Dr. yesterday ~ There are so many other people involved in MY health needs, and none of them have any other interest except the almighty dollar. My gut feeling is that some of the really needed tests are not going to be covered by the Ins. company -- little tests like a Bone Density Test -- that has to be ok'd by some call center cubicle sitter....other tests for blood pressure..tests to see whether or not there are blockages in my main arteries on the left and right side of my neck ~~ All to be decided if they are "necessary" by some Cubicle Sitter looking at some laminated sheet of cardstock. I'm getting furious just thinking about it, and in the meantime I can feel my blood pressure starting to rise all over again. Ok -- I'll breathe and calm down now.

The heat out in the studio has been so stiflihg (I don't know how to spell that but you get the idea...) the last week with these terrible HOT temperatures, that I've not had the umph to make any art AT ALL ~~ There is one project that only needs one strand of beads finished on the right side of the piece, and another that is Finally layed out on the canvas board and will need to be set in matte medium in the next day or two. I'm thinking I will bring them all into the dining room and mess up that room for today and tomorrow, just so I can get my Art back into my life. Maybe that's why I'm not feeling good ~~ I've been letting everything rule me for the last month or so, and have completely put my Art out of my life. That can't be good, and now it's time to turn THAT around. My little pieces of cardstock and little fishies are waiting very nicely for me to get them together, so I think that's what I'll spend the day doing. I was going to try and finish my middle son's bedroom today -- buy the wall color and get another extension rod so I can get the ceiling painted with the primer. I'm totally sold on the primer my daughter in law told me to get -- I think she is still my daughter in law...she and my middle son haven't finalized their divorce yet, so I guess she's still the dil...ANYWAY ~~ she turned me on to this one brand of primer, and even tho it's about $8 more than the primer I've used before, the results are fabulous. And Especially since I'm painting over BLACK paint...well, there's a reason I've had to go with 3 coats to cover that stuff...

The Dog is sitting very nicely next to the vent for the air conditioning...she really is so very funny about finding just the right spot on the floor where the air comes thru the vent system. She has this spot that I had no idea about -- the air comes from the vent on the other side of the room, But it passes behind one of the couches, so the couch acts like a funnel for the air, making the air move faster into the room..thus creating a little space where the dog can lay down and be very comfortable and is also where the breeze is quite nice from the ceiling fan. I never figured it out till not that very long ago...I was down on the floor picking up some bits of paper that fell off the side table, and I suddenly could feel this air coming from the vent on the other side of the room...Wow! It felt really good, and then I realized why The Dog had herself planted there 95% of the time...No Dummy She!! I was the Dolt for not realizing it earlier!!

So ~~ It's out to the studio to get my little pieces that have been good and are waiting for me to get them finished. I thik I'm also going to add some brighter pieces of cardstock I picked up last week when I was in the process of making posters for The Dog when she was lost...Man-O-Man are these things bright!! Whoo Hoo!! Should add just the right Zip that I need for some tropical pieces...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who just got a call from The Husband who raved on & on about the Tire Pressure Gauge he bought at the store...amazing what a little $3.00 tool can go for somebody...

***The Dog ***

This was taken of my little puff not too long ago...and she has been such a wonder since then. Actually she has been something of a little brat..while I've been recup-ing (that isn't spelled right but you get the idea...) from my mini-stroke, we've had some thunder storms, and since this little animal has an absolute terrible fear of thunder, naturally she made a big mess of things and escaped thru our wooden fence no more than ..0394 seconds after there was one boom of thunder one afternoon 2 weekends ago. I went out in the backyard to bring her into the house, and after looking looking and LOOKING The Husband and Youngest and I made the discovery that The Dog had torn a huge hole in one part of the wooden fence, and disapeared into parts unknown...

Needless to say, I was an absolute WRECK for the time that she was missing. It's amazing how an animal can become so very intwined in ones life. And this Dog has become so much a part of our family, that it was absolutely wrenching when she disapeared. 4 days of wondering where she was...driving over to the Animal Management Center to see if she'd been turned in..filling out endless paperwork to make sure she was listed as missing/lost and she needed to BE HOME WITH HER MOMMY!!! On the 5th day the management center called to say she'd been turned in...she only got as far as a block away, but the people I guess thot she would be better off somewhere else. Well..she is LAZY, so I suppose that if they tried to get her to chase a stick or ball or toy, they realized she just DOES NOT RUN AFTER THINGS..she does, however, take quite an interest in watching a ball roll past her, an especially enjoys watching toys fly thru the air across a room. But chase after them?? Ahhuuummmm.....Les' just say that it's a good things Dogs cant talk -- I know she'd say, "You want me to do WHAT?? RUN AFTER THAT??!!"

So -- we're all safe and sound in our little house. I'm feeling somewhat better and am now somewhat nervous, as I finally have a Dr. appt. this afternoon. It's been some years since I've gone to a Dr., mainly because at over $160 for a visit, this lil' trucker wife just does not have THAT kind of money. And in case anybody thinks that truck drivers are the cause of prices going up and up pleeezzee think again. We've had weeks with no pay...weeks where we've mae $120 and no insurance to cover anything...so NO -- that is a realy piece of poooheeyy...

Anyway ~~ There is just too much heat in the studio now for this little girl to attempt any kind of painting or cutting of paper or gluing of any kind. I'm tired a LOT more than I thot I'd be, so creating has been put on the back burner for now. The Youngest also got a new job working out on one of the larger farms in the area, so Yours Truly is driving him out to go to work every morning...The Husband has been pretty good about picking him up in the afternoon, but the drive for me has been this side of Hell -- Rush Hour in this area is always bad, and the road to the farm is mostly a two-lane thin road, and now that a lot of the farms are being torn up and made into Yuppie Mini-Mansions, the owners of said Mini-Mansions feels it's their right to race down the road at 10 miles an hour over the speed limit...making it quite dicey for me in The Very Fine Automobile to make it a safe journey. I'm a wreck by the time I get back in the City and sit at the dining room table an get over my shaking...My question is ~~ If these people with more money than they know what to do with...If they drive those stuiped $60,000 vehicles 10 miles an hour over the speed limit...wouldn't it make sense to drive that expensive of a vehicle a little slower and safer?? On Average, to repair a small fender-bender in one of those is OVER $10,000!!! -- Maybe becoming a auto-repair-guy is the way to go....

So --- I'm off to get some lunch...do some reading and get some laundry finished before I get to the Dr. office....My oh My -- and the Heat just keeps on melting things...as of 11:00 a.m. the temp. was reading 94 Degrees....yee gads...

Lady of The Tulips - who is wondering where her new shiney glitter pens have gone and expecially wonders if they've dried up in the studio in this spiffy heat....

Gift Box - 2007 -- Spring Bay Studio


This was another box I made for a friend...she's goin' thru some stuff I wouldn't want my worst enemy to have to go thru, so hopefully the little fun and stuff in the box will cheer her up.

I'm not going to be able to get a lot on here today...I had to go to the ER yesterday, and don't want to bore all of you with the details. But I'm feeling better today, and will go to our regular Dr. this next week to get an answer to what literally hit be between the eyes. The ER doc feels that I had a "mini-stroke" and so has told me to take an aspirin a day, and check with my own DR. -- I'm dreading the Hosp. bill...ambulance bill...by the time it's all said and done, I'll probably be paying for some guys kid to go to private school for 2 years...hope the brat's happy...We're one of those families without insurance, so, yeah...it's gonna be an ugly letter that arives at Ms. Tulip's doorstep. Maybe I can finally go on that vacation I've been wanting to go on for 5 years. An' I'm not even talkin' something Fancy..I"d just like to go back up the mountain and chill out next to the campfire!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who has to go lie down now...and I never like to sit still...uhhmmm..this is driving me nutz..

Gift Box -- 2007 -- Spring Bay Studio

I made this little box for a friend of mine not too long ago ~~ She'd had some weird things happen to her house while it was getting remodeled, so I thot this little "girl " would cheer her up. I'm considering remodeling our place, but after some of the horror stories my friend told me, about things some of the workers did to her place...wellll..maybe I'll take another look at how to get things fixed here.

The heat has made me feel literally weak in the knees. I got The Very Fine Automobile today. Actually I was suppossed to have The Husband's car, but when he & the youngest got out the door to go to work, they both realized The Very Fine Automobile was out of gas, so they took the saturn, and didn't let me know anything about my car. I wasn't exactly pleased when I got in the car and saw that the fuel indicator was in the box reading EMPTY and the cute little light on the dashboard was saying LOW!! LOW!! This and the fact that there is no air conditioning in the vehicle, and the fan doesn't always work with the vent system on...Minor Problems in Life, but it makes it difficult to drive when I'm melting too much, and it makes my glasses steam up so I can't see clearly. Very Exciting driving down the Blvd.. So ~~ The 2 errands that had to be taken care of today were done without too much melting..plus there was only 1 vehicle that had a desire to crash into the back of The Very Fine Automobile, so all in all it wasn't such a bad morning.

Since I've brought my Art Stuff into the dining room, I'm probably going to be able to get some more collages finished. I worked out in the studio the other afternoon, but it wasn't quite as hot as it is today...so with The Dog laying next to the dining room table keeping me company, and Bluegrass playing on the speakers, I'm sure something will Happen!! I think that there are 5 files with collage bits and pieces in them waiting their turn at getting their finishing touches put on. I'm having some fun with some new paper I got on sale...12" X 12" sheets for .25 Cents!! Oh Buddy, you gotta know I made a trip to the Art store to get some of Those!! And I also found some new watercolor pencils that I'll experiment with...hopefully they will proove to be The Thing for me!!

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who has now discovered a Christmas ornament that went thru last summer in the attic...but it aint quite lookin' the way it's suppossed to...I'll get a shot of it an' post this week...shwoo boy....

I was minding my own business the other day, while searching for a coffee cup. I couldn't find the one I wanted, but decided that I wouldn't be lazy and resort to using a plastic cup from the dollar store. There must have been smoke coming out of my ears, because my youngest took one look at me and said, "Look, if you want a REAL coffee cup, I got just the thing for ya...use the one I got from work..."

Now, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I nearly jumped up and down when I remembered just how BIG said coffee cup was/is ~~ this thing isn't quite as big as some that I've seen in truck stops, where coffee cups are a serious matter. After all, when most truckers are looking at driving a minimum of 11 hours, a driver absolutely takes coffee cups/mugs quite seriously. So, I took the mug/cup from my son before I really took a close look at it. I beamed and said "Thank You!!" and proceeded to pour the measly little cup of coffee I'd been fumbling with into this quite large coffee cup...and had plenty of room left over. I even got more coffee out of the coffee maker into this monster and STILL had room to spare. Its a magnificent wonder.

The heat is making it a little difficult to Create today...and it's actually cooler than it has been for the past week or so. My thot for the day is to complete the 6 projects I've got stacked next to my work table ~~ But every time I walk out into the studio, the blast of hot air from that room just makes me change my mind, and I turn around into the dining room and consider something else. I feel like a cat....want to go out....want to come back in the house....want to go out....want to come back in the house....

Lady of The Tulips ~~ Who is considering a trip up to the Blue Ridge just to get out of this blasted heat...but is scared to pieces that The Very Fine Automobile won't make it up the mountain...

Jus' a rough piece sitting on the work table in it's little folder -- I got color happy the other day with some new pens I discovered when I should have been buying Needed Supplies for the house. But then -- there are other things that NEED to be Bought and my Inner Critic screamed at me the entire time I looked over the color markers, colored pencils...baby size crayons...an' don't EVEN ask how hard it was to walk away from some color papers that werent really that good of quality but had some pretty snazzy zip to 'em. Talk about having a Difficult Moment on isle 5...

It's been Way too hot to do too much in the studio, but I decided that maybe the dining room table wasn't so bad after all to use for Creating Things. The other day I had the Mets baseball game on at the same time I was making other little fishies. The Husband had the chance to be home early...he had to make a run out of town, so was back home by 1 p.m. -- course he'd had to leave that morning before 2 a.m., so he was snoring on the couch in the living room by the 2nd inning of the game. I just kept coloring and playing with my pens, scissors and papers....the funny thing was that when I got these pieces set out in the studio, the temperature had climbed so bad, that when I opened the french doors, I was literally hit with a wave of hot air...an' it wasn't TheHusband making noise from the front room, mind you...

So now, it's off to get some other papers cut with the spiffy paper cutter I bought last year from one of the chain office supply places...I won't say their name, but when I used to ride with The Husband across country, we did some pick up and deliveries to one of the big chain stores (office supply) and once when we got to a distribution center with a Buttload of stuff...I had this stuiped moment to decide and see what the temperature was outside...Duh...middle of winter and I wanna see how "warm" it was in Feb. ~~ it seems like it was a whopping 15 degrees or so...I've never got back into a vehicle SO fast as I did that morning...ok..so it WAS 4 a.m. , but Still -- you'd think it would sink in my head that it'd be COLD....

An' since the temp in the studio was a "cool" 82 degrees at 10 a.m. this morning, I'd give my eyeteeth for some cooler temperatures right about now...Uhh ~~ maybe not the 15 degree range, but something a little less that the 95 degrees we've been having...

Lady of The Tulips -- who has this sinking feeling The Dog is up to something, as it seems kinda quiet in the back yard...usually I can hear her snuffling around by the window...hummm....

~~~ Just a quick note to say that there are some projects sitting on my little work table out in the studio. ~~ They haven't got a real home yet. but they do have their very own file folder so they have a nice place to stay till their home gets built. Or, being applied to a canvas board, whichever pops into my head.

The reason the projects are still in the Workin' On It mode, is because the studio doesn't have air conditioning, and with the summer gettin' going, the weather has made it just a touch too uncomfortable to stay out there for too long. Thursday I checked the thermometer and it was 90 Degrees (This before Noon) and the humidity was over 80% -- Not the best working conditions for concentrating on Art. So, I brought in as many things as I could fit on the dining room table, and made some small collage pieces. These are now joining the others from last week, and once it all gets organized to where it makes some kind of visiual sense, then they'll get onto a canvas board. I've got a good idea of what I want to do, but right now it just isn't jelling for me. It's the Heat. Yeah, that's what it is. Sounds like a good excuse for now...

The garden got a good soaking the other afternoon. Somewhere between 1 1/2 " fell in a couple hours so the Corn really took off. I'm gettin' the camera ready to take some shots of the vege bed. The 2 extra plantings of green beans have finally sprouted, so we should be in good shape for those. And for some reason, the spray that I got from the hardware store has withstood the big storm we had at 3 a.m. yesterday morning. None of the little aphids or whatever they were, are still around the plants. Maybe they drowned. Really got no clue...just as long as they're gone who cares where they went?

Lady of The Tulips -- who discovered why The Dog likes laying under her favorite bush in the backyard..it's nice and damp mud, and never gets any sun on it AT ALL...when she stood up and I petted her side, it was as cool as can be. No wonder she looked at me like I was the dolt in the yard...

Have these little guys sitting on my work table out in the studio, and am having a time just deciding if there is something more that needs to be added to either one. I'm sure that when my back is turned Something will pop into my head and say "HEY!!" and let me know.

Does it look like some more pieces of whatever need to be added? I haven't decided whether or not to take off little odds and ends on each piece...Decisions ~~ Decisions...

Lady of The Tulips ~~ who walked out into the studio where the current temp is 92 with over 70 % Humidity...I think I just melted but don't quote me on that...

One of a few w.i.p. that are waiting for me to do something with them -- What needs to be done with them? Let me know -- Lady of The Tulips

~~ OK ~~ First things first ~~ If any of you read my post yesterday, and looked at the photo of the lil' mermaid an' thot that you were having a deja vu moment..well, you weren't -- Actually it was the same picture I'd posted a few months ago, and of course, since I'm getting more and more drifty these dayz, I didn't check any of my earlier posts to Actualy SEE if I'd put that particular shot on here before. AND to top it off..the earlier photo was much better -- go figure!! So -- here and now I will say I am terribly sorry for any anger you felt during those moments when you thot there was something amiss. My brain jus' isn't functioning the way it should these days, and I'll be the first to appoligize for any inconvience my dolt-ness may have caused you...

Now -- on to other things....there are some pieces of paper that I splurged and bought last week that are calling my name this morning. But they'll have to wait for a bit, because The Dog is having one of her early mornings that are just like having a 3-year old. The Dog has this uncanny sense when I'm working on a project, or even if The Husband and I are sitting on the couch having a discussion...she will absolutely get her face right up close to me, and either hit me with her front paw, or jump up and down like she just HAS to let me know there is someting she;s thinking about. And, in the mornings, she will do a similiar thing..stand in front of the french doors that lead to the studio, which in turn goes out to the side yard. She makes these little squeaking noises to let me know that RIGHT NOW is when I have to get my self together AND PAY ATTENTION TO HER!! Or like just a bit ago, bounce around in the dining room, run around the dining room table, make a bunch of rattling-bumping-into-chairs-kind-of-noise, just to make sure that I realize she has to go outside and literally smell the flowers. I've given up on the idea of coloring my hair, because between The Dog, The Husband and other assorted things, my hair would fall out at the rate I'd need to color all the grey hairs that pop up on my poor head every day. Sorry all you corporate people who sell hair color, or whatever it is you do...my spending on your products has come to an abrubt (is tht even close on how to spell that word?) end and I'm so sorry if I've let your company down.

In just a minute I'm also going to make another post to let all of you see what I finished in the bathroom the other week. Now my eyes are on the Black-painted bedroom of my middle son. I still have some Kilz on the storage shelf, and I'll probably need to get another gallon -- maybe 2 to cover those walls. I found a similar color as in the bathroom to paint my son's room. He recently DID CALL ME (!!!) to say he's now working STEADALEEE and is actually sharing a new place with a couple of his friends. I'm optimistic that this will last... But back to the topic...The new color will make the room much more mellow, and with maybe a little curtain (he took the old one down) it should make a great deal of difference!! Those black walls...my word...now way can I say how they look...well, I mean, naturally they look BLACK...but oh my, how depressing they are!! Onward and upward to new color!!

Lady of The Tulips -- who has to decide now what type of color to paint the kitchen...the old wallpaper from the 80's is REALLY getting to me...Pink and Blue...how have I not had indigestion immediately when I walk in that room??