The Night is Mine!!!

Once again the DH is staying over night for a customer that's in downstate Illinois, which means, I have the whole house to myself! Yeah! I love coming home late, if I want. I love eating whatever I want for supper (usually popcorn). The thing I don't love is knowing he's not home "watching over" the house as I sleep.
The DH and I are on completely different body clocks. Because I get up oh so early for work at 4:15, I usually go to bed around 8 o'clock. The DH on the other hand is a night owl, occasionally crawling into bed just before my alarm goes off. But that's OK because when I wake up in the middle of the night because I heard something (I'm a very light sleeper), I can fall back asleep knowing he's there to take action, if action is needed. In other words get the raccoon out of the bird food.

Not sure how I'll spend my time after work today. I don't really need to do any shopping, most the Christmas present are bought. I learned along time ago, if you go to the mall just to look, your coming home with "stuff". I don't really need anymore "stuff", unless it's a pair of cowboy boots that is.
I could lose a few hours at Barnes and Noble, but we did that just last week so I'm kind of caught up.
I could just go home and finish knitting my scarf, or figure out what to do next on the necklace I'm beading with "Beading with Friends" at NanC's.
But I'm free to do whatever I want, I want to be adventurous! I want to go somewhere fun, new and exciting!
I guess you'll just have to stay tuned to find out where my freedom leads me!

Another Birthday Shout Out

Today is my sister La's birthday. I'm so happy she was born, for lots of reasons. She is one of the most generous people, ever. So much so that every year for her birthday I try to come up with something to give her that she just can't help but keep! This year, once again I'm hoping my gift will be a "keeper". If what I have planned works out it definitely will be! I'll keep you posted!
If you just happen to mention how wonderful something is, she wants to give it to you, so others have often ended up with gifts meant for her. Not that it's talked about, it would be rude to ask "if you still have the so and so I gave you for your birthday", it's just a given. JW and I were just laughing about it yesterday, at first it used to bother us, but we realize it's just part of her nature. As with all of my sisters they are generous to a fault, it's good to be one of the sisters!
Way back when we were small, I picked on her. A lot. I know with 5 siblings someone is always getting picked on, but I was a jealous snot and picked on her more because I thought she was Momma's favorite. Always wanting to help Mom, clean or cook or whatever, a kiss ass in other words, so I was mean to her. A part of my childhood that I am not at all proud of. Ever so thankful that she doesn't hold a grudge, and has forgiven me for my mean and unkind ways!
Again, now, I realize that was just part of her nature. She is one of the sweetest, most sincere, kind people you will ever meet. Really, she is one of those people that when you meet her you can't help but fall in love with her. It could be because she is unpretentious or her relaxed dispostion, which is amazing all by it's self, since she raised 6 children (and what wonderful children, now adults they are)! She is down to earth and non-judgemental. She loves the simple things in life, money and the riches they bring matter not, more important is the time spent with her kids or friends. She is head strong and tenacious, but she is also a push over.
She has this innocents about her, it's kind of hard to explain, she has this way of looking at you when you are talking to her that lets you know she hears what your saying, kind of like little kids do (sometimes) then you talk to them one on one, if you know what I mean. And it always takes her a minute longer to "get" the joke, which is not to say that she's dumb, because she absolutely is not, it's just that innocents "thing". She always sees the good in people, and hardly ever talks bad about anyone.  Traits I wish I possessed.
I am forever grateful that we did not lose her to cancer, so many years ago, now. Her going threw that taught me not to take my life or my family for granted. That family is most important, spend as much time as you can with them. Wether it's just sitting on the front porch with a glass of tea, or around the table with a good pot of soup. That's where the best memories are.
The best time I will ever have is time spent with my sisters. Talking and laughing like we did when we were young, minus the mean!
Happy Birthday little sis, I love you more than you know.

Good Vibrations...

Could it be the "new" outlook on my life with beads has worked it's way into the cosmo's?
Yesterday someone in Florida bought a necklace on my etsy site. Woo Woo!!!

What a wonderful weekend I had.
Saturday I stayed in my PJ's all day! And cooked, but more about that on Foodie Friday.
Sunday I spent the whole day beading at NanC Meinhardt's.

Mother Load Mask by NanC Meinhardt

Once a month she has beader's that she likes come over and bead-all-day-long! She likes me she really, really likes me! Actually she had asked me a few years ago to join her monthly group, but I was insecure and thought I wasn't good enough to be included with such talented artists.
Well I got over myself!
When I think of how I would love to spend a Sunday afternoon, it will always be beading the day away, taking the DH out of the equation of course! So to be invited to NanC's, well it's just crazy not to accept. That and everyone brings a treat, so you basically snack and bead all the live long day! Is that not a dream come true, or what?!
I've been thinking about my beading lately. The making, the selling, the buying.
I started beading because I loved doing it. Starting with one tiny little bead and sewing into another and another, until you've created an actual object. People often ask "how do you have the patience to make all these things"? To me it's a form of meditation. To just sit in the quite (mostly) and create something.
Well it didn't take long before I had more than a "stash" of beads, and jewelry I made with them, so I decided to do art fairs. Why not make some cash to replace all that I've spent on beads already. All summer I would bead like crazy to sell my wares at various shows around here and my hometown. And now when winter comes, the winter that I use to hate because of the cold and wet and cold... I actually like it. I get to bead at my own pace, and whatever I want. No pressure to work in the garden, I stay nice and cozy inside.
Something is wrong with that picture, I live for summer it's my favorite time of year. I end up hardly enjoying it so I can make and sell my jewelry. And that's a lot of work, in other words the thrill is gone. I'm also tired of making lower priced pieces so I can hopefully make a few sales. I miss beading just to play with beads. So guess, what life is too short, I'm going back to playing! I'll still try for my favorite art fair in Milwaukee, but I'm not missing out on summer anymore.
I'm beading what I want when I want. If I die with a barrel full of jewelry, so be it, at least I know I had fun making them. Better to have a barrel full of beaded jewelry than a boat load of beads waiting to be beaded!

Weird and Wonderful all at Once!

Although these houses are amazing, I don't think you'd catch me dead in one! But they are fun to look at, click on image to see more.

I found them looking for pictures of siding, why would I want that you might ask? Oh just you wait and see!