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My dog is super handsome.  Don't bother to argue.  I know I'm right.

Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark.
~ Rabindranath Tagore

Rain

Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really. ~ Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Happy Birthday, Margaret!

My sister in law, Margaret, called yesterday saying she got her birthday package.  If anyone's counting, its a month late.  Yes, I'm a slacker.

But....I can finally tell you what her present is - mentioned in a previous post....

This is the picture I showed before.....its actually....

This....



Added to this....












































With a liberal dose of time....

But it made this. 

Still guessing? 

Its homemade vanilla extract!!! 

Thanks to this blog.

I thought I took some pictures of the vanilla before I strained it and poured it into individual containers, but I can't find them.

Margaret also got these - 2 bundles of reusable fabric ribbon.  Made from a wide variety of scraps. 

Happy (extremely belated) Birthday, Margaret!

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~ Jim Davis

Tuesday round-up

This is what happens when I wake up early with a boatload of motivation....

It was a beautiful day.  Atticus did this for most of it.  (Hes that blonde-ish blur in the background).

New shoes were delivered!!  (Online clearance shoe-shopping is my new 3am activity.)

Could you tell I was in a turquoise mood when ordering shoes?

My friend Jayme is leaving for 6 months to go to physical therapy school in Texas.  We had a going-away dinner for her tonight.  I made this for her - a reusable coffee sleeve.

And this card. :)

A dark and blurry picture of me and Jayme.  Not taken tonight...its just the only one I have to post. 

My most exciting thing I made today.  This is what I started with:  a tea-towel from 1979.  My mom is awesome and finding these at yard-sales.  I have a stack of them.  This one was originally on a hanger type thing - I cut that off and washed the towel - hence the fringes at the top. 



The final product!!  Yes, its another purse.  And probably the world's worst picture of it.  Its not really that wonky in real life, I just couldn't figure out how to take a good picture.  The handles are dark brown vinyl that I picked up from the remnant bin yesterday at Joanns.  (Thanks mom!)  The button is an antique from my button collection (Thanks again mom!).  I got a lot of compliments on it tonight.  I should take more pictures and post the back (it has the kitten on it) and the insides.  And maybe just a general picture where its not hanging sideways.


If you give what can be taken, you are not really giving. Take what you are given, not what you want to be given. Give what cannot be taken. ~ Idries Shah

Monday morning

My time clock is all messed up...coming back from vacation and because I switched days off.  It was a long week at work:  2 12 hour shifts back to back.  Sandwiched between 2 10 hour shifts. 

After lazing around all last night, I feel motivated to do stuff today.  We'll see how that goes.

Last week was Washington Telecommunicator's week.  One of my incredibly talented co-workers drew the background for this.  Freehand. 



I smudged the city name for privacy.  The sign actually looks better in person.











Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world. ~ Lily Tomlin

A rainy day fashion statement

Ever wonder where you'd end up if you took your dog for a walk and never once pulled back on the leash?  ~ Robert Brault

Back to....reality

First night back to work in 2 weeks.  What a wonderful 2 weeks its been. 

I'm sad.

This guy is sad...

Yes...another Atticus picture. 

Off to Zumba first, though!

By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day.  ~ Robert Frost

Just like the butterfly

Just relaxing after a couple of fun days:  girl time yesterday and today I hung out with the board-gamers group. 

Now just eating nachos and starburst and watching Fringe with him:

Just like the butterfly, I too will awaken in my own time. ~ Deborah Chaskin

Vegas: re-capped

Here's a little picture tour of my vacation...

The day we left.....a typical rainy WA day



Me and Katie - as seen in a mirror near Caesar's Palace



The view from our room (we stayed at the Excaliber)

View from my chair by the pool.  I committed a beginners mistake and did not use any sunblock, just knowing that I've always tanned easily.  *shakes head*  I got an extremely painful sunburn that I still am taking care of.  Yikes.

Rainbow in the watershow at the MGM Grand

Several casinos

The strip during the day

And at night

The picture that speaks 1000 words....this is Katie taking a picture of some girls.  Notice the difference in clothing.  Katie and I dressed fairly practical the whole time:  jeans and sweatshirts.  The girls dressed like 75% of Vegas:  what had to be uncomfortable glitz.  I'm glad I'm old enough to be practical. 

We did a lot of window shopping.  There's store a-plenty, of course.  I think you could literally buy anything on the strip.  This clothing store had TONS of antique sewing machines in the front of the store.  It was cool.

Up close and personal with one of the sewing machines

Katie taking pictures

Part of the spring themed flower displays....I forget which casino

Same place - overhead butterflies

And the balloons.  I was having fun with my Retro-cam

A cafe we ate at.  The service sucked but they served pickles along with our drinks!!!!

I think thats all I've got! 

Had lots of fun, stayed way under budget (yay for me), and even bought myself some clothing at Urban Outfitters. 

I am glad to be back though...after awhile the crowds and the lights and the constant noise drive you crazy. 

Still enjoying the rest of my vacation though....have 4 more days to myself!

Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend. ~ Plautus

Back from insanity

Readjusting to:

humidity
temperatures below 70 degrees
lack of billboards and marquee lighting
the quiet

Will post more later.  Now its off to shower and pick up Atticus!

Maybe this world is another planet's hell. ~ Aldous Huxley

Part 2 Day 1

Part 2 of my vacation.

In 12 hours I will be landing in Las Vegas.

A fun new purse I made for myself to take along....It zippers and everything.

Las Vegas: all the amenities of modern society in a habitat unfit to grow a tomato. ~ Jason Love

Day 7

Another finished project under my belt...

Dino baby legs and freezer stenciled onesies to match.  The orange onesie is from my kitchen experiment the other day.  I heart RIT dye.  These are for my coworker.



I haven't gotten much done this week but I refuse to feel guilty for it.  Its tough work trying to decompress from work:  takes many naps and much junk food.  :)

Going shopping with a pal this afternoon.  Getting last minute Vegas stuff hopefully.  I need a pair of flip-flops.  Thank you Atticus for chewing all my other pairs into oblivion.

For me, Vegas is a vacation from being overinhibited, in the highly overinhabited yet uninhabitable city of complete uninhibition. ~ Tammy Bloemzaken