Trouble Sleeping

I'm tossing and turning tonight. I don't have any friends or relatives in Joplin but after listening to stories all day and experiencing a range of emotions, I'm feeling on edge with nothing to be done in the middle of the night.

I dropped my glasses earlier and the lens came out so I have to run to get those fixed tomorrow. Bother!

It doesn't help that Petey has decided to perfect her Flying Walenda skills tonight. She fell off the bed with a loud crash, then she tried to scale the wall off my nightstand and fell. Then she finally landed in my laundry basket with a crash. I think that might have been the intended target all along. Unfortunately I'd finished laundry earlier tonight and it was further down than she thought it was going to be. There's something wrong with that cat.

Guess I'll try this sleeping thing again and see how it goes. My thoughts go out to all those folks who aren't in their own beds tonight. They've got a rough road ahead.

Phase III of summer tent fun

I started off the weekend with a bit of a disappointment - Seraphina was down again. Didn't get out to survey the damage until late Saturday, in between a weekend of rainy annoyance. The center section was down and filled with quite a bit of water. I couldn't reach the water to start bailing so I thought about it for a bit and then came up with a solution. I tied a string to a bucket and then, since my twine was pretty rough to the touch, I tied the other end to a small stick. This allowed me to toss in the bucket and then wrap the twine around the stick to reel it in. The first bucket worked but I found that it was a bit heavy to pull up. So I switched to a smaller bucket and used the same method. Interestingly enough it confirmed the idea that what I really like about fishing is the casting part. I found it to be quite a satisfying rhythm to toss in the bucket, reel it up, dump it, and toss it back in. It will be interesting to see if I can lift my arms tomorrow. Anyway, once I got that accomplished, I was able to get into the tent and assess the damage. I was afraid it would be much worse than it was. Of course there were puddles in the tent to clean up but not too bad. The chest had fallen over and it took a bit of propping up to get the roof back where it should be. My next grand plan involves six foot rebar on all four corners and bamboo across the top.Course I could use rebar across the top as well but I don't want it falling on my head. I wonder if lightning will be an issue? Probably not, it would be grounded after all. Off to the hardware store tomorrow evening. Rhi and I checked out rebar at Lowe's yesterday but I think I want to check out Ace Hardware as well. I'm really liking Westlake Ace Hardware on Campbell right now. Rhi wants some of those scary little lighted nomes that they have.

The next craft project for the tent is going to be painted floor rugs. I've always been intrigued by the idea and I've found that the tent floor holds paint very well. I think this would give me that layered rug look I want without having to actually do multiple layers of rugs. I'll have a couple of painted ones and then layer with a material rug. Still looking for the perfect garage sale find on that. Ooh and I can plant some flowering vines to grow up the rebar.

We had our ballet class Sunday instead of our usual Saturday to accommodate Marie's schedule. It was good. Still taking baby steps but I feel just a little bit more flexible and am following the steps just a little bit better. We worked on pretty arms today. If I keep at this I may someday be graceful which will be also be nice but the major benefit I expect to derive is that I will be more flexible. Ballet is awesome for increasing flexibility.

I'm watching River Monsters while I type. What is it about this show that is so fascinating. Maybe it's the guys accent or maybe just the excitement of the unknown. What could it be that killed those cowboys or what was it that ate that guy over there. Could it be piranhas, could it be giant stingrays, no it's giant electric eels. I'm not going in the water ever again. But I have a strange urge to be out there throwing out a line with that guy.

My Starry Night

I've just about finished tinkering with the chandelier for the tent. My camera is not taking the best of pictures - everything is much more sparkly in real life.

Not that the tent has anything to do with real life mind you. It's purely for relaxing and dreaming.

Twinklies without flash.

Twinklies with flash. You can see some of the draping here but not the way the drapery glitters. I think I need another couple of yards to be satisfied.

Lighted stars without flash - lighted stars with flash. This is the section over the table and I wasn't sure they were going to work.

Apparently they needed to be jiggled.

The table is a work in progress. I just finished my second coat of gold on the top and need to touch up in the daylight and think about which pattern I'm going to add. I have a couple of Morrocan furniture designs for inspiration but I think I have an idea. I may start with a sun to match the little lights overhead and build on that.

Yep, I'm liking this idea. 

Also, I'm giving some thought to some painted floor cloth rugs. They wouldn't be as tactile as a real rug hmmm. I'll have to give this some thought.

Reincarnation

It's been a good day today. I went a little crazy on the shopping but oh the goodies I've found. I started at Target this morning since I was up way too early for my ballet class. Tried on some shoes cute little metallic sandals but I was being good. Made it out of the store with just an exercise mat and the water bottle Mom wants for Mother's Day. Went on over to my class and got my work out in. We did some new stuff today, something called a Tondeau and something that sounded French. I don't know, I just try to do my best. Anyway there's this one move where everyone sweeps their toe across the front and then back. There are five of us in the class and it makes the most relaxing little whispering noise as the ballet shoes move across the floor. It's sort of mesmerizing to be listening to the classical music and concentrating on making the correct movement. I feel transported.

After class I turned down a little side street and stopped at a garage sale where I found two very lovely gold sheer curtain panels. Score - only $5 for two panels! Then I decided I was annoyed with my hair and went to the Mall to see if I could get it cut. They had an immediate opening and I now have a cute little bob. Ran by FM material store to look for stuff for the tent after the haircut. Oh my gosh, there were wonderful things in every nook and cranny. Not only did I get some lovely sparkley gold and pink material but I found a wonderful deep purple silk for my chaise. I also found some very pretty trim for my chandelier.

Boy have I been busy this afternoon with draping and decorating. I haven't been inside all afternoon. I also popped into Big Lots and bought some solar lights. They're not charged up enough to show in the pictures yet but hopefully by tomorrow evening they'll be shining through the sparkly fabric. I couldn't resist sharing pictures, just keep in mind the pictures aren't nearly as pretty as the real thing.

Everything is all a glitter in my little retreat.

The Return of Seraphina

I've very much enjoyed having an extra day this weekend. Yesterday I visited hardware stores and gathered pvc  pipe and joints for my tent repair project. As you all know I had a tentastrophy last week and Seraphina was down due to high winds. After much aggravation searching on-line and talking to service hotlines I found out that replacement parts were not available. So of course jury rigging was the next step. Men have tools - women have ingenuity. A generalization I know but definitely true in my family. Anyway I spent yesterday evening putting parts together with my handy dandy roto tool and pvc glue and got her back up. She's not quite as straight as before but at least she's up. We'll see how she holds.

One casualty of the storm was the hand-beaded chandelier. The frame is intact though so I believe I can start over. Que Sera Sera. I don't know why but I must sing that when I say it. Maybe I need to watch Doris Day on Netflix today.

I was leaving for ballet this morning when I realized Rhi had taken my truck but not left me her car keys. Fortunately my mom was willing to pick me up and drive me over. Alas my ballet slippers were in the glove box of the truck. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Bonus, mom got to watch the ballet class. She said we looked like little fairies dancing across the floor. Gotta love your mom! She'll lie to you with a straight face when you need her to. I actually signed up for more ballet lessons with Marie. Next week is our last Ballroom class and I don't think I can do without some form of movement over spring break. I figure I'll work on flexibility first, then coordination, and then grace. This could take a very long time.

We're going to have Easter dinner with the parents this evening. Dad's been looking at recipes on line and is cooking a ham. He said something about a blow torch so Rhi and I decided to come home and go back over when it's done. Mom's rosebush is starting to bloom and the buds look really cute in the little vase Susan gave me.

How sweet is that!

I'm stretched out in my comfy chair with the front door open and my bare feet hanging out in the breeze. Think I'll watch a little Doris until dinner time maybe, Glass Bottom Boat, or Pillow Talk. Or maybe I'll take a little nap. My chair has that effect on me, sometimes it's just too cozy to resist curling up with my little fuzzy blanket and nodding off.

Like Sand Through the Hourglass...

I feel the precious moments of vacation time trickling away. I've done not much of anything for a week, I've read, I've lounged. I've put up a tent and hung out in said tent. I've weakened in my resolve in the dog free tent zone. I decided  I liked having one dog out in the tent with me when the others were inside so no one can sneak up on me. So this has become Lady's haven as well. She has spread herself across the lounge like the Queen of Sheba for most of the afternoon. I've been decorating a bit, still not exactly the palace I envision or that Seraphina the tent deserves but it's coming along.

As many of you know, I've been working on the chandelier for the tent. I've still got to add my light and I'm not sure I'm happy with the amount of bling yet, but it's coming along. I'll know it's finished when I lose the urge to fool with it anymore.

In a burst of energy today I sanded and painted my ugly little chest and have turned it into a Moroccan themed (loose interpretation) treasure. I'm pretty happy with the result in spite of the fact that I free handed most of it and it's not as crisp as it probably should be. Oh well. I'm mostly happy with it. Also I got to use some more of my Robin's egg blue paint - and I've still got some left. That can has more than paid for itself. I think I have enough to do one more bookcase when I get energetic again.

I've also brought the little gate leg table out (don't think I'm going to do anything to it just yet) and I've spray painted my little green chairs in champagne. They actually look more interesting in person than in the picture. They were originally green and I've lightly spray painted, so they have sort of a mottled pattern that I think is eye catching. Next for these is cushions. Oh and I'm still looking for rugs. The green air mattress under the table is temporary.

Of course I found the chaise a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to Teresa's eagle eyes. This fifteen dollar beauty has been the greatest find. My gosh this is comfy. Lady thinks so too! My make do on this piece is an old green striped twin sheet covered by the silky room divider that came with the tent.

I've also added my little fuzzy purple throw as a rug. Found the little table at Hobby Lobby and couldn't resist. A girl's gotta have a place to put her beverages you know.

I definitely need more pillows scattered throughout. I'm not normally an orange person but I've got my eye on some luscious silky material in a lovely orange with gold roses scattered on it. Also some very nice blues and purples at the material store.

Here are more pictures of the chest. Again think Moroccan inspired. 

Of course the gold is more shimmery in person than in the picture. I also turned the handles upside down when I put them back on. They look more like genie lamps that way. Ha! Those were all tarnished and ugly but a nice copper paint made them look like new.


I've also ran my extension cord from the garage to the tent so when it was so hot the other day, I had my fan going and was still able to enjoy my retreat. It's getting harder to leave the tent and come in.

Seraphina Has Arrived from Pakistan...

Seraphina arrived around 2:00 today in all her 62 lb tent glory. She has wheels. Rhi says we're not naming the tent. Too late! I was very anxious to get her all set up but so much to do today. Had to go to core abs where I had an excellent workout. Can't have that mood getting out of whack from lack of exercise during the vacay. Worked on my chandelier for the tent until the wee hours last night. Just putting the finishing touches on it, so no pictures yet. Went to Waffle House for cheesy eggs and bacon for lunch - yum. Went to Walmart to get tent sealer and ran by Big Lots to look at tent lights. Got home just in time to relax for a few minutes before my 3:30 massage. I know  - right. The luck of the draw had me with Frank today. I was a tad nervous about a male masseuse but sucked it up and just relaxed into it. Now I'm glad I did. He made me feel very safe and comfortable and wow did he work all those little tense muscles in my neck and shoulders. I tend to lead with my neck when I'm doing ab stuff. Anyway I felt like I was in a wonderful altered state when I was finished and kind of floated back home. I emptied out the little tent and it was time to take off again. Rhi wanted me to go to the Nature Center before she ran out of light to take photos. We actually ended up going to check out Ingram Mill Park instead. I think they still have some work to do on it but it's really coming along. There's a nice woodsy trail around the lake with some really cool bridges that they've put in and lots of nice scenery. We headed back home with just enough light to get the little tent down and the big tent up. Rhi did most of the work. She figured out where all the multitudes of tent poles went and got it staked down for me. We finished up just after dark so not much rearranging and decorating yet. I can hardly wait. Seraphina has two, count them, two closets and a little three tier hanging shelf for the corner. There's also a cute little battery operated light that is velcroed to the ceiling, not to mention four great big windows. Rhi has banned me from running an extension cord from her bedroom but I think I can make the garage work. The tent is supposed to have a port for electrical but it was too dark to find it tonight. I can hardly wait to get started in the morning. I think I'll start out with a nice relaxing lounge in the morning and then figure out how I'm going to arrange the furniture in the tent. Then I may run off to the thrift stores to look for textiles. Ah we'll just have to see what the day brings.

Let the vacationing begin...

Mrrrwhaaaha, yes this is me, vacationing, in the tent, in my new ballet slippers. Which by the way I had to fight my way through a screaming hoard of tiny ballerinas for. They only have little girl items on display in the front of the store. The crazy big people stuff is hidden away far in the back room. I think I saw her blow dust off the box. Many questions were asked, what type of shoe are you looking for? Do you want cloth or leather? Standard answer, duh I don't know. What do you have in a gargantuan size 10. Width, um maybe medium. Anyway I tried on three pair to discover that I wear a size 7C in a ballet slipper. Laaaa! I have the petite princess feet in ballet. Shut up, all of you, I hear you laughing. I also looked at ballroom slippers, they were pretty cute too but I didn't want to spend the $40 bucks for them. Besides, Marie said I could wear my ballet slippers in ballroom too. Woohoo.

Good news when I checked my emails tonight. My 16x12 Olympic Cottage has shipped. I could be putting that baby up in the next day or two. So that's part of the plan for the vacation. Am I gonna stay up till I feel like it - are you kidding? Am I gonna sleep as late as I possibly can in the mornings - you know it. I'm also going to read, and surf the net, and play and relax and craft; or I'm going to lounge in my chair and do nothing. We'll see how the mood strikes me. By the way, this is a freakin' comfortable lounge chair. I can just see the last bit of pink in the western sky from my chair through the tent flap. The neighbor's dog and I are going to be come best buddies this summer. Just as soon as I stop freaking her out. Well time for a little cat nap and then I'm off to Hobby Lobby to look for tissue paper for the making of paper flowers. If I make it outta the chair of course.

Time flies...

Here it is Sunday evening all ready. These weekends go by too fast. Friday was Google Reader review night. Love to get caught up on all that interesting stuff out there. Of course by the time I finished with that it was 3:00am. So naturally I slept till 1:00 the next day. Just in time for Rhi coming in from the barn. I must have been out, I didn't even hear her leave. Such a rainy gray day that we decided to stay in. Just a quick run to the Quick Trip for soda. Saturday was catching up on Hulu and Netflix. I watched a movie with Liam Niesen and Sandra Bullock called "Gun Shy" it was about an undercover DEA agent who'd almost been killed during a bust and was having post traumatic stress issues. He ends up going to group therapy while still on a case and getting all the  guys in his group involved in the case. It was pretty cute and had a good ending. I went out to check on things in the tent and it had fared pretty well. I did discover why the chaise was so cheap though. The tent reeked of cat pee so I've got the cushion out in the rain and air. As soon as it's decent enough to be out there I'm going to use the hose and some detergent on it and let it dry in the sun. I think it's recoverable, it's just going to take some work. Sunday I decided I'd been enough of a slug this weekend and talked Rhi into getting out with me. We went by the gym, but of course it wasn't open, so we went to the mall and made a brisk trip twice around. By the time we were done my lower back hurt, my left shoulder hurt, and I had a sharp pain in the ball of my foot. Jimminy Crickets it's hard work to get back in shape. I found a new app this weekend to help with fitness. It let's you put in your weight and your goal, how much you want to lose a week, and tells you how long it will take you to get there based on what you're telling it. You also put in your meals and your exercise for the day and it calculates how many more calories you can eat after you've put in each meal. In other words it's just another fun toy to play with to keep things from getting boring. I like changing things up it keeps me interested. I decided to be a little crafty today as well. It was nice. Rhi and I both sat at the table, she worked on the paper she has due and I worked on beading this necklace. The colors aren't showing up that well in this picture. There's actually a lot of red in it. Rhi said she'd pose in it as long as I didn't include her head in the picture. I'll have to wear it tomorrow to show it to you guys.

Petey had to go in her cage while I beaded. She would not be deterred from helping otherwise.Just as I was finishing up Mom came for a visit. We were all over at the table sipping tea when she asked up to go to Mama Jeans with her to pick up ginger chews. I came into the living room to put on my shoes and thought, what the heck is that fuzzy stuff all over the floor. That's when we discovered that someone had attacked the rabbit fur collar of my mom's coat that she had left on the chair. We were all right there in the dining room I don't know how we missed that massacre. Fortunately it's thinner but still wearable. Rotten little monsters. We don't know which one did it but we have our suspicions. Picked the last of my jonquils on the way back in from our outing. No point in leaving them out for the frost. They sure are pretty on my table.

The babies are out cold on the couch, I'm finishing up my weekend with a little blogging, doing a little laundry, maybe doing a few dishes. Or on the other hand maybe I'll just go read a book.

Last Tango in Tandem

It was a good day today. Started the day off with a positive meeting. Spent my lunch hour garage saleing with Teresa. Just kind of looking around, I'm looking for decorating items for the tent. We were going to go by Funtiques (which for some reason, I can't stop calling Good Ju Ju). I think I'm just going to give up and start calling it Lauren's place. So anyway we turned down this side street and Teresa spotted another garage sale sign. I didn't think much of it when we pulled up. It looked like clothes and crap from the street but I'm so glad now that we stopped. Look what I found - this is going to be so perfect for the tent when I get it fixed up.

I need to go the material store this weekend and look at outdoor fabric. I'm torn between two visions. Either a neutral pallet of light colors with different textures or an Arabian Nights fantasy with pinks, blues, purples, etc. I'm just going to have to see what they have at the material store. White has always been impossible in the house but in the dog free zone...  Let's just say it has some appeal.

I don't know what's going to end up appealing to me the most. It could go either way. I'm a woman of many whims.

If I go with the color pallette I'm influenced by my Lavender Buttercup graphic maybe in somewhat more subtle shades.

Now on to dancing. Tonight we spent most of the evening on the Tango. I really like the Tango. It makes me feel like a real dancer. Not only a real dancer but a very feminine dancer. Hard to explain. Then we switched back to the waltz and I lost it. Apparently my brain can only hold one dance at a time. Some sad news tonight as well. Robin's rehearsal schedule starts back up next week and he won't be able to come back to class. I may be back to dancing with Marie next week. That's okay though Marie always makes me feel more competent. I don't know how she manages to teach both parts though. That switching from leader to follower and teaching both parts would absolutely fry my brain. You're my hero Marie!

Not So Hot Weather

So it's 56 and a bit nippy with the wind tonight. Still not bad in the tent. Yes, yes I am still in the tent. It does make a nice quiet place to blog here in the dog free zone. They're being too quiet though, I've got to peek out and see what they're up to.Yep they were digging something up had to put the little monsters in since I've got the tent flaps up and can't watch them. I discovered something important today. Had a little relapse on my anger management. Finally figured out what's different this week so I think I can address it. I haven't had my wellness classes this week and I think my endorphins are low. If that's what it is I don't think I should be missing any more classes even if it is spring break. I did do a bit of exercise in the floor yesterday and I walked with friends a couple of times today so I hope that gets me back on track. I'm also really happy to hear that we are having the ballroom class tomorrow evening. Tammy and I went for a long walk after work tonight. We were really engrossed in our conversation and I was watching the bush growing over the sidewalk to get around it and completely missed the tree branch hanging over. I about poked my eye out. The crafting bug has bitten me again, I just hope it lasts through the weekend when I can actually spend some time on things. I found a really pretty candle holder in a magazine that will require some handmade blossoms, a piece of wood and some glass candlesticks all in neutral colors. There are so many crafting ideas out there on the blogs that I could have a new project every weekend for the rest of my life. It's so satisfying when you actually complete something and really like what you've created! I can't wait to get started.

Bustin Thru

The dogs have discovered my tent in a big way tonight. Lady and Bobby are insisting on being in the tent. I made the mistake of letting Lady hang out with me yesterday evening and now she thinks it's a given. Of course Bobby wants in on that as well. With Bobby and Lady in the tent Dixie wants in too. Trouble is she doesn't know how to get in and is just attempting to plow her way in the screen. I didn't let any of them in by the way. That was all Rhi! Ah they're all shooed out and it's quiet in the tent once again. Rhi also brought Petey out for a visit. I'll get even somehow. I have set up a little folding card table and two lawn chairs in the tent so I'm typing at a table. Not pretty, but functional. That's okay though this first tent is all about experimentation before the arrival of the cottage size tent. Teresa has intrigued me with pictures of handmade chandeliers today. One crystal beauty has particularly caught my eye. But the more I think about it the more interested I am in a stick chandelier strung with white Christmas lights. No telling what will develop. I was leaning toward pinks and greens and purples and an Arabian Nights decor but upon further reflection there are merits to an all white scheme with various textures. Further dog bans must be issued for that to be a possibility though. I didn't zip the bottom of the tent door and Bobby has just figured out how to get in. Crafty little devil. They don't think being separated is at all right. I think finding the right indoor/outdoor run will key. I think I'll work on finding that first and then decorate around it. T. also suggested redoing the old chest-of-drawers and using it for storage in the tent. Definitely an idea worth considering. After all I do intend to set it up so I can do crafting out here. Sage is over there peeking in the window. I think my co-workers were skeptical when I first hatched this plan but they're coming around to diggin' the idea. So far so good on the placement. The tent is far enough from the house but angled for privacy. I wonder how difficult it would be to make a little platform bed, hmmm....

Arabian Nights Phase I

Much better day today. I've successfully picked up the bulk of the sticks in the back yard (in spite of the snake).
Peace brother, be on your way. Have made it half way through the annual poopage cleanup festival. Have discovered if I tape a trash bag onto the frame for my hamper, it is the perfect tool to carry around the yard with me in this endeavor. That much being accomplished I elected to move on to my real mission in the yard today. I began with laying out the tarp and figuring out where to set up so I don't block Rhi's window. Then I made Rhi come out and help me set up the test tent. It's smaller than my summer tent will be, only one room but works as a test case. For those of you who haven't heard my grand scheme... I ran across a big tent on the website at Sears that looks just like a little cottage and hatched this plan for the summer. I have a book called sacred spaces that shows the special get a way places that women design for themselves to meditate or read or just take a break from everything. While Ali McGraw's adobe bungalow was cool, what really caught my eye was an Arabian tent complete with a desk for writing and a lounge chair for relaxing. Beautiful! Now I'm convinced that I can have this too. I don't have a big beautiful Arabian tent but a cottage tent is just as appealing. I feel pinks and purples and greens coming in my design scheme. Definitely an outdoor chandelier, maybe a hammock and probably a craft table of some sort. The test tent today is to test whether I can keep a tent on the ground with wind. Again with Rhi's help, I have it firmly anchored with stakes and bunged to the chain link fence so we'll see how it fares. Meanwhile, no furniture yet but Lady and I are lounging on a blanket while I work on my blog. I haven't run an extension out yet so I've got an hour before I run out of juice. So far I'm loving it. I've got the windows open so I have a nice breeze but there's enough privacy that I'm relaxed and at ease with no neighbors in sight. Unfortunately the white German Shepherd next door just figured out I'm in here but hopefully she'll settle down in a minute. Rhi is a little annoyed that I text-ed her to bring out the mouse for my computer. She said "I'm right here". How did I know she had her window open! I think I'm going to stretch out and take a little outdoor nap now. Or maybe watch a little Hulu. I think I have enough power for a thirty minute sitcom. :)

Back on Track

Well I have some lingering congestion from flumageddon but am feeling much better. Went to all my classes last week and only coughed in the first one. That first one is kind of a blur. The Wednesday class was all about walking lunges and Friday with Ginnie was some really good stretching. Just wanted to lay there and go ahhh after the Friday class. Saturday I let myself get talked into trying Marie's ballet class. As it turns out it was pretty cool. It's a small class with about five or six women of various ages just there to get a good workout and have some fun. Not a lot of moves I could do, it's pretty complicated but man did I get some good stretches. This could be really help me with my flexibility. I just have to figure out if I want to give up a chunk of my Saturday running around day for it. 

Today Rhi and I were all about the cooking. I ground up some rosemary 

and Rhi grilled some garlic and we mashed that up and put it all over some potatoes drizzled with olive oil. 

They're in the oven roasting as we speak. I really like using Rhi's mortar and pestle for grinding up the spices - fun! 

I ground up some peppercorns and celery salt and onion flakes and pounded those into a couple of really nice Venison round stakes which we cooked on the grill.Yum. The dogs are going crazy over the smells. They kept trying to sneak into the kitchen to be nearer the lusciousness. Top it off with a really good class of sweet tea and I'm good to go for the day!

If only it had distract Sage longer. He's curled up on my lap this evening hiding from the thunder.

Day 2 of Flumaggedon

Interestingly enough this variety of flu doesn't seem to affect my appetite. Other than making me crave cold and fresh. I'm sending Rhi out for a pickle. The headache is persistent and annoying and I have a persistent raspy noise behind my sinuses that's very disconcerting. I had a 102 degree fever yesterday which is minor for me. I use to scare my mom with my fevers. When we lived on Kentwood I had the chicken pox and topped out at 106. I remember laying there in my little bed with the frilly yellow bedspread waiting for my mom to get home from work and watching little pigs dancing across my bed. When mom got home and was taking my temp I bit the thermometer and she had to carefully wipe the glass out of my mouth with a washrag. Here's an interesting thought. Sometime over the last few years we've switched from mom coming over to check on me when I'm sick, bringing me 7up, maybe putting a cool cloth on my head to "don't come over mom, I don't want you getting this crap". Just the teeniest bit of sad there. Rhi's taking good care of me though and Dixie just threw herself on top of me and said I wuv you. She's keeping a close eye on me this week. I didn't need that spleen anyway.

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Passing Twinkle

I'm having trouble sleeping tonight. Listening to my tunes usually puts me to sleep but tonight I'm Foxtrotting to the music. Its heady stuff to get a taste of feeling graceful. I noticed tonight that I was dancing on my toes in the ballroom class. I started dancing on my toes in kindergarten at Evangel. I don't remember the play but I was the fairy in a pink tu tu with a magic wand tapping the toys (other children) on the head in the train. I was on my toes then and I felt beautiful and confident. About 4th grade my inner sense of grace went flying out the window when we moved, I started wearing glasses, and I was taller than everyone in my class. Nothing like being called Jolly Green Giant to give a girl a complex. I'm not even that tall as an adult, 5'6" is not even average any more. Amazing how those childhood taunts stick with you long after you've outgrown them. Tonight we Foxtrotted for awhile and then we learned a passing twinkle. In this move the girl steps across her partner on the inner foot with a twirl, then back on the other foot with  a twirl, couple of twirls in all, then back into the Foxtrot. It's a little like flying with someone to catch you on either side. I'm feeling a need for dancing shoes. I think I'm becoming addicted to the adrenaline high. Grace Kelly I'm not but wait a minute could she even dance? I had my head tilted up looking over my partner's shoulder and R accused me of watching myself in the glass window. Wish I'd thought of that and who would have ever thought someone as self conscious as me would make a statement like that. I confess I did do a couple of twirls in the parking lot on the way to the truck after class. Maybe I'm a dance junkie - I wonder if there's a group for that?

Weekend Wind Down

I wish every weekend could be as nice as this one. I put all my should of's away (should have done laundry, should have worked on the yard, etc.) and played the whole time. Ran around with friends and family, found a new flea market, gathered some treasurers. I saw a sign at Wickman Gardens which is the perfect expression for this stage of my life.

I also worked on a couple of projects this weekend. I found an adorable rustic wooden box at the flea market for $1. I had an idea in mind for it, hence the trip to Wickman's.

 

I knew it would be perfect for some little succulents. It's going to look really good on my porch post in the spring but for now it's tucked safely away on the top corner shelf in the dining room. I just want to sqeeze them they are sooo cute!



My other project involves my alarm clock. It has a plastic outer shell and paper inserts so you can change the look of it. So I had this idea to change it to something I really like. Rhi and I spent some time at Michael's deciding that we both love scrap booking and we need to develop a storage system for it before we get heavily invested. Anyway I found a couple of pretty papers to work with. I traced around the template onto the paper and then cut out the clock face portion. Then I used my new hole punch tool to punch out the area for the speakers. It turned out just the way I wanted and now I can change it up with new paper whenever I get tired of the old.

I also played around with a trial version of Corel Draw this weekend and drew a little picture. Good golly I'm feeling creative lately.

  

Another Snow Day

I got some sleep last night and it's amazing how much better that can make a person feel. I also got my exercise in today. I walked over to the gym for the Cardio Sculpt class wondering if anyone would be there. As it turned out I was the only one there. That worked out really well for me. I had a personal training session with Marie. Did some sit ups on the bench (more than I thought I could do) lifted weights for the chicken wings, did some push ups. I was sweaty and a bit shaky but felt good afterward. On the way back I was walking through the snow, watching the flakes come down all toasty warm in my double layers and I think I entered an altered state. I was several feet past the crosswalk before I realized I needed to turn around and go back in. I was thinking about Diva while I watched the snow coming down. Diva was a little quarter horse that I leased a few years ago. She was with me for three or four years before her owner took her back and I wouldn't suggest that arrangement to anyone. Even though I knew that would happen eventually, it still broke my heart to see her go. I was way too attached right from the start. Diva had a big personality, she liked to boss the other horses around but was gentle and loving with me. She lived out in the pasture and I would walk out and get her when I went out to the barn in the evenings. Usually it was just Diva and I coming in at that time of night. If the flies were out and one was after her Diva would come barreling to me and swing her butt around for me to kill it for her. Not something I would ever have thought I would do but you learn to kill them quick when they're hurting your baby. When we came in after dark I would sing out loud to scare off anything lurking in the dark. I remember walking Diva through the snow with a full moon up in the sky and just standing out there in the field, watching my breath, appreciating the beauty of the night. Not being cold at all because I could lean into her soft, warm coat as she nuzzled my shoulder. Caring for Diva was an experience I will always treasure.

Food for Thought

I've been dancing with the dark today. Feeling down, feel sad, feeling left out. Just feeling. I don't feel 100%, fighting a cold/sinuses. I haven't worked out since Wednesday. It's been too cold for too long. In other words I've been all over snarky today for no damn good reason. I think I either need to cry it out or lay down and go to sleep to hit reset. Not sure which is the better option. I am by nature a mercurial personality. Then I checked my google reader and ran across a concept. There are bloggers out there today thinking about, writing about their last post. If this were your last post what would you write? I agree with the blogger who wrote that he hopes the last thing he would be doing wouldn't be blogging. I think that's a given and you have to take that out of the mix for this to be an introspective assignment. One would hope for something profound to spew forth in infinite glory but maybe it would just be sweet or simple or full of a life well lived. My life has had light and dark, profound and silly, happy and sad like most people. I know I've wasted too much time thinking too hard about slights, allowing my feelings to be bruised. It is my nature to ponder from all angles rather than brush aside that which does not fit. I know that my skin is thicker now than it was - but sensitive is not a bad thing. It's just part of who I am, and sometimes it just takes a little bit of thought to turn it around into the light. However, a little nap never hurt.

Lavender Buttercup

I left work today feeling jangly, tired, a little bit achey - like I'm coming down with something in other words. I was dragging myself on home when my alarm went off. Time for my monthly wellness massage. Laaaaa, angels sang, the clouds parted, and my inner voice said, get thee to the massage center. This was my second massage in the program. I went in and they were ready for me. Jennifer was my girl. I'm now in love with Jennifer's hands - I'm somewhat concerned that I'm a fickle massage junkie. I may like each session I experience in the moment. I was pretty much in a happy disassociative state when I got out of there. I would be a good masseuse if I had stronger hands and less carpal tunnel. I could use my newly discovered hippy name - Astilebe. That doesn't sound quite right. I really feel that deep within my psyche my hippy name should be Lavender Buttercup. It just feels right. I can see myself in a forrest green peasant skirt and Birkenstocks, white gypsy blouse with midriff bare (shut up). Long hair flying in the wind. This may be my new spring look. Hey I practiced my jaunty dancer's walk today on the way back from Burnham. It did make me feel better. I've gotta get to that core ab class tomorrow. Wonder where I can find an ankle bracelet with little tiny bells?

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