Wednesday May 29, 2013

Memorial Day has come and gone... it was rainy and quiet around here, so I worked in the artroom.

My memorial Day tribute:

And if you can stand one more birdhouse for another charity auction for a friend who is throwing a birdhouse auction for her friend who has cancer...did you follow all that?

I think I have everything caught up that is nagging at me now.  Will post new things as they happen!

Sunday, May 26, 2013 Memorial Day weekend

Remember a few dozen posts back when my Hubs was sanding something in the driveway, and I said stay tuned?  Well, today, it transformed!  FINALLY had some nice weather and open schedule to do what I wanted to do with it...  so.... Voila!

Whadayathink?

Saturday, May 25, 2013

I showed you last weeks shots of the garden, now I'll show you this week out in the yard:

My Snowball bush towers over me! But its beautiful!

Every year, my annuals are a different mix... this year seems to be neon pink and dark purple!

Spirea bushes are in full bloom between the neighbors and our property...

This little pink azalea bush was given to my Mom when my sis passed away eight years ago.  Then when Mom passed, and we were selling the house, I couldn't leave it in her yard, so I brought it home.  Almost lost it last year, but moved it this year, and worried, but it looks like its gonna be ok!

The farmer planted corn in the back field last week and this is what we see already!  I am hoping to take a pic once a week or so.  This is from our property line out back.

I think we are losing this old lilac bush.  Its ancient!  And has been whacked and hacked at over the years but is a double flower and smells better than any other lilac... I don't want to lose it, and if anyone knows anything about lilacs, help!

May 25, 2013 Memorial Day weekend

I always buy a package of the tulips they sell for Breast Cancer Research.  This is the tulip for this year.  I think its supposed to be Pink and White, or at least its pinker on the package from the bulbs.. Anyway they are stunning!  Our granddog Luna was sniffing this one just before I took the pic, so now it looks like GIANT TULIPS!

I think these are some previous years Breast Cancer Tulips.  Still pretty!

 

My flowering crab tree in beautiful bloom! Love the rosiness of it!

A peek at last weeks garden.  Most of it is gone already to this weeks loveliness that I will take pictures of and post along the way.  Will be enjoying planting more this weekend, although it should be safe to plant on Memorial Day weekend we have had frost warnings for the last two nights, so we have been covering the annuals and tomato plants at night.  Looks like the farmer planted corn behind us last week and its already starting to show, want to take pics of that field as it grows too.  There is a beauty in even corn growing!  I can sit on my deck, watch the sun  go down and listen to the corn grow!  Its been a bean field for a few years now, not as much fun to listen to! ;)

May 21, 2013

Hello, Its been awhile.  Not much, How bout you?... been such a long time I guess I really just wanted to talk to you...

Our boys were home for a few days.  I love having them home.  It's just a sense of our family all together again.  Makes me want to cook and plan the whole time they are home.  Of course, they have their agendas too, and want to see their friends when they come home too.  OK, I'll share.  :/  It's particularly nice when their friends come here to visit!  So many of them we got to know well while the boys grew up, that we miss them too!  So we cram what we can into the few days they are home!  I kinda go through withdrawls when they leave and the house gets quiet again.

Therefore, its a damn good thing I have an art room.  Not that it solves the worlds problems, but if I keep myself busy, I am not thinking about how much I miss my boys, and if I am going to get that job I interviewed for, and all those people in Oklahoma.  I have been praying many times a day for all of that.

My friend Terri needed a baby shower present, so I made up a couple of these for her... they are curing before I bake them to make the paint permanent, and we'll add a bow to the stem to finish them off...

Then I remembered I started this for the Bird house auction.... so I finished this:

Then I had a kitchen drawer front that I did this to...  upcycling!

And I found a cool picture on the web for a travel destination that I just HAD to try to paint.  I think I like it... its still drying, and I have touch-ups on the boats in the background, but for the most part, I think I am done.

Spring has finally sprung and I have been spending time in the garden, and there is a ton of outside jobs to do, so painting the fun stuff will probably slow to a stop for the next few months.

I am going to display at our local First Fridays in June, but not July, but will in Aug, Sept, and Oct.

Join me in prayers for the folks in Oklahoma.  We should all do what we can... the only difference between them and us is geography.  That could happen anywhere.  And has.  What would you need to have in your life if you just found your world flattened?  

Take care.  Hug those you love everyday.  Call home often. You just never know.

May 10, 2013

My friend Beth has been doing my hair for about, hmmmm 30 years now?  Yeah, about that!  Her creativity has been taking different avenues and she is making a great splash with photography and fashion.  She was out walking with her kids and dog the other day and took a pic of her dog that made me say, "Yeah, I have to paint that!"  So I did!

I am sooo pleased with how it turned out. The photo of this artwork was taken while wet, so when it dries, there is some touch-ups and other things I have to do (like add whiskers!)

That was fun... NEXT!

May 8 2013

I am currently interviewing for two jobs.  I have been a temp for two years in a place, where there are now two full time positions (with benefits, sweet benefits!) open in two different departments.  Both of these departments know me.  In fact, one is for the exact job that I do now.  I feel lucky that they want to interview me.

I haven't interviewed for the second one yet, and the first one is history.  I was telling my husband about it and apparently, I have said everything wrong in that first one.  Fact is, I had a banger headache that day, and no excuses, but it was bad enough that I just didn't have patience. But the two in the interview were ladies I would joke around with anyway at work, one had a sweatshirt on, and it was a very informal interview.  They know me, and asked questions and we laughed and had a good time. God forbid I said something wrong.

Today you can go out on any number of websites that will tell you what questions they are going to ask you, and how to answer in 'your' best light.  Say this, but don't say that. Do this, but don't do that. The fact that I have been here this long, says that they know what I can do, they must be ok with that, as I am still there, and they are considering keeping me around after two years.  So interviewing is going to be a formality among friends. 

So, I wonder sometimes: is Corporate America asking about you?  Or just how you have studied for the right answers?  I have heard recently how one interviewer, after throwing a bunch of questions, in which the interviewee had answered everything as she should, threw in something she wasn't prepared for and the girl flipped out.  I'm sure she didn't actually say it, but the interviewer noticed a look of panic on her face, like, "This wasn't on the test!  Why would ask me something that wasn't on the test?"  Bless her, she almost got an A on that one.

So, I assume that with 5 interviewees, Corporate America and The Way We Do Things Here will have five very studious people saying the same 5 answers in the same robotic way.  How do you pick anyone from THAT?

Then there is me.  Which, I realize, may be the reason I am still a temp.  If they ask questions, they get my Shoot From The Hip answer.  After all, are they interested in ME, or just the cookie cutter?

And have you seen some of the questions they ask these days? The smartass in me wants to say one thing, and I know I should answer the RIGHT way, and I end up in somewhere in between.  You kinda know what the job title is, but I have been in enough jobs to know that its usually WAY more than it states. "Define this job you are interviewing for?" (My smartass would answer: Um, I don't know, don't YOU know what I should be doing?) "What would YOU bring to the job?" (Lunch, probably food for the team)   "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" (Lady, I've been a temp for so long I have to go where I can to put food on the table for my family. Any 5 year plan I have ever had, disappears when life throws me a curve and shoots me elsewhere.)

At any rate, I want to walk out of the interview so they know a little about ME.  Yep, I am a free thinker.  Yep, I have color to add to your team.  Yea, I didn't study for that test, but even back in school I didn't test well, but I can still do that job well.  I think from the other side of the brain but that side works and better, sometimes than most.  I am artistic and creative.  Nope, didn't learn THAT out of a book either, but I am me.  There isn't another like me, and I am proud not to be out of the same mold.

So take THAT, Mr and Ms Interviewer.  You are getting me as I am, and if you don't get the answers you are looking for? Then you are missing out on ME.  I hope I can be something refreshing, and different.  If its not what you are looking for, then, have fun picking from all those people that were answering the way they rehearsed. 

Sat. May 4th, 2013

Well, the Birdhouse Auction was last night.  We were able to set up on the sidewalk downtown, in glorious weather, (thank you God!) where people attending the First Fridays event were able to walk by to stop and bid.
We ended up with 49 birdhouses of different tastes, colors, themes - something definitely for everyone!  Some people got some pretty good deals.  Had two bids from long distance.  We met some people, we laughed, sold every last one, and made about $700.00.  That should buy a tool or two for our local Habitat for Humanity!
Tonight I am whipped and allowing myself just to kick back and look at the dust and housework I have neglected lately.  But you know what?  It stayed right there until I could get around to it.  And maybe, while it was waiting, the world is a touch better off than if I said that I didn't have time to do something that might benefit someone.  I am not tooting my own horn,  just wondering why more people don't get out and do something for the things they feel passionate about?  The afterglow of a job done makes a difference!  There is not only a sense of pride to help someone else, but its good therapy too.  It gets your head out of your own little world and at the same time, gives a hand up to someone that could use it. 

I moved our son from one place to another today. so tomorrow is cleaning day at home.  I have about three things running around in my head that are crying to be done in the art room, that DOESN'T require a birdhouse, but I really need to catch up on housework first.  Its driving me crazy. (crazy-er)

So tonight is a glass of wine, a hockey game and baseball game on TV, (flippin back and forth) with my feet up. I'm taking five for myself.

Have a great weekend, all!  Go do something good for the world.