tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48043519921909002502023-11-16T07:43:17.534-08:00The Corporate CogA journal of a woman's fight to escape the business machine and return to a life with art.The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-67095464840497936912009-03-11T18:21:00.000-07:002009-03-11T18:27:37.531-07:00Auntie<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBg1YJELmHRxsW_FOeKcE4KNZlgwgQnR_lE8QnaZYxRl1iNGcOpHQL2jbjSxCFyfKryHTulmFhvupUvu-hrsFYgzy_qUvb6q9gDKk_2RjmBwTTfvXr9pujncO04Hp1qea9LqFiaYKVQEX/s1600-h/DSC03028%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312105389916748530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBg1YJELmHRxsW_FOeKcE4KNZlgwgQnR_lE8QnaZYxRl1iNGcOpHQL2jbjSxCFyfKryHTulmFhvupUvu-hrsFYgzy_qUvb6q9gDKk_2RjmBwTTfvXr9pujncO04Hp1qea9LqFiaYKVQEX/s400/DSC03028%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">I am an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Auntie</span>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">Little O.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">So new.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">So soft.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">So full of warmth. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">So full of hope.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">This tiny life has just added a fresh purpose to my own.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">So amazing.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">So thankful.</span><br /></span></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-60123731788146481152009-03-03T17:15:00.000-08:002009-03-03T17:26:47.013-08:00Sister<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-NBOeB9bFN52qcWs-0RunPkzx9Z0FHrldB2w2ys8zyeWTUaU-LT8SoDsCxLytmHlUEQ20YWacyPlnzSATMHzJnvwVjSF2xeNmm_g0QBuFIX3t5EQAOg5gs1mpL2WK9N3oG75KjAEhJ7l/s1600-h/DSC02906.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-NBOeB9bFN52qcWs-0RunPkzx9Z0FHrldB2w2ys8zyeWTUaU-LT8SoDsCxLytmHlUEQ20YWacyPlnzSATMHzJnvwVjSF2xeNmm_g0QBuFIX3t5EQAOg5gs1mpL2WK9N3oG75KjAEhJ7l/s400/DSC02906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309135760418258066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EVQgnezIdLEDi9AJqZTxZ-ocDraCUXjB7GO1tAJMoxCev9GRsKwgKKKgSZkajCFEuU2jyVZn0hNMLd02FzfkQ1297vjyJAwUn2_wTOQNNQ-vsHOJWwf6PVT3RHdV1P2qiiWdBSq1Xr35/s1600-h/DSC02903.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EVQgnezIdLEDi9AJqZTxZ-ocDraCUXjB7GO1tAJMoxCev9GRsKwgKKKgSZkajCFEuU2jyVZn0hNMLd02FzfkQ1297vjyJAwUn2_wTOQNNQ-vsHOJWwf6PVT3RHdV1P2qiiWdBSq1Xr35/s400/DSC02903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309135756682056162" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: arial;">For the past few weeks I have been a guest at my sister's home. It has been </span><span style="font-family: arial;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wonderful</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> to have such time to hang out with my little sister....doing things like grocery shopping, cooking, watching movies, and waxing poetic about life. In the best and worst of times it is a blessing to have such a sister. It is a bonus that she comes as a package deal with her loving golden </span><span style="font-family: arial;" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">retriever</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a style="color: rgb(102, 204, 204);" href="http://whosaysdogsdontblog.blogspot.com/">Mason Dixie</a>. She brings extra warmth and goofiness into any situation. I love my sister and her furry partner.</span></span><br /></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-67106810246763201402009-02-25T08:50:00.001-08:002009-02-25T09:57:43.012-08:00A-hoy!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtum9GaBejkZt-fB1HJGBXHM1_dLVwHS6LsEniGu6OfrY1ecPVeFUyd1QAjyDe5z1AhayoQDYnrm3AZO1AS1a0wo814IQUm5EpLEiqNRnBcvHFikH0uWDt4Oq5A80Jzodurxq3XKqXRgv/s1600-h/CaptBear.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306779936950594642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtum9GaBejkZt-fB1HJGBXHM1_dLVwHS6LsEniGu6OfrY1ecPVeFUyd1QAjyDe5z1AhayoQDYnrm3AZO1AS1a0wo814IQUm5EpLEiqNRnBcvHFikH0uWDt4Oq5A80Jzodurxq3XKqXRgv/s400/CaptBear.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4NPc5_E1RruCiEk2RtmpjO5FXS5-VocqnuySrTS4O6K-QVb4t0JavMERKf9z8nQ4mBDix35BM5T_i8hhhjs01oyH8AP9noZJ6yTrKV2SAV6I7aNnQelONVKaysFBmMFxEfFHDW9QiZEo/s1600-h/piratelife.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306782185504445010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4NPc5_E1RruCiEk2RtmpjO5FXS5-VocqnuySrTS4O6K-QVb4t0JavMERKf9z8nQ4mBDix35BM5T_i8hhhjs01oyH8AP9noZJ6yTrKV2SAV6I7aNnQelONVKaysFBmMFxEfFHDW9QiZEo/s400/piratelife.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJBXNNbC1nU4AoBrHoG-nlfPvyPcXvuBNr4UpV8IiBNx80nu55bZTeq_QIJ9bJBK6r1n2bqLOY1VagtEnKzEDqWgHH4Pn9CM6OgStkZvCy8lelw2JRpqV79Ua0xGflmQaUhyphenhyphen_QhukStXl/s1600-h/theloot.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306780264517224562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJBXNNbC1nU4AoBrHoG-nlfPvyPcXvuBNr4UpV8IiBNx80nu55bZTeq_QIJ9bJBK6r1n2bqLOY1VagtEnKzEDqWgHH4Pn9CM6OgStkZvCy8lelw2JRpqV79Ua0xGflmQaUhyphenhyphen_QhukStXl/s400/theloot.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nFarYylN8JuR44E8aQt76nYBk7BOjlzIEidtHBvzSD8330pRS6Id28Ddj1nmMk9JkmBc0kpey78UCuQ7x3V3dhTpwR2SEMQ1BXsbn0wYn9PrntBKIrq0Pvciz25hMi7Y5vf2kFD7an2w/s1600-h/treasure.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306779942143679106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nFarYylN8JuR44E8aQt76nYBk7BOjlzIEidtHBvzSD8330pRS6Id28Ddj1nmMk9JkmBc0kpey78UCuQ7x3V3dhTpwR2SEMQ1BXsbn0wYn9PrntBKIrq0Pvciz25hMi7Y5vf2kFD7an2w/s400/treasure.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;">Ahoy there matey! It seems that I have been a bit lost at sea as of late. And for good reason...my first nephew, Baby O, is on his way. I have had so many ideas running hurry scurry through my head it was tough to batten down the hatches to get the baby shower presents finished on time. Between work and life I could only squeeze so much time into creating all the wonderful odd stuff filed in my silly aunty head for the new baby boy in the family. My goal is to give Baby O a chance to see the world as a beautiful and adventurous place. The presents that made it to the shower included: First Mate P. Bear, a treasure chest full of goodies, and the pirate ship bookends (the matching bookshelf is still in the making....with hopes of a delivery to the nursery before the stork arrives ;).</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div><br /></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-85537497630293300602009-02-11T08:38:00.000-08:002009-02-11T09:08:16.392-08:001260<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFdPFDMCdr_5kKEzvPB26MYw3LpveAySWXkm-5d7DFlKAwYjKUmCx6KqcHVxVycGrRwg1SAMV9-Mt7bK_O2gxzCvlfvL7k9dZRPEU9Co_TIO96BnpwE464PdRGU7Cr9RVKVPCmEergnmt/s1600-h/1260.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301584462672595634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFdPFDMCdr_5kKEzvPB26MYw3LpveAySWXkm-5d7DFlKAwYjKUmCx6KqcHVxVycGrRwg1SAMV9-Mt7bK_O2gxzCvlfvL7k9dZRPEU9Co_TIO96BnpwE464PdRGU7Cr9RVKVPCmEergnmt/s400/1260.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ksaOB04YX79e6hzArVzrhFg-qujBVsgTxm4FajXDJWKZJA2uZtE86v77RLlsOm0pkP52JEplPp5hwVe2DJZQSdIc4d1yp8RCtRpUGFI1uejBCgnCdiCygBLv3JOCkAfUysOB-SXi4fPH/s1600-h/DSCN1016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301580853528495170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ksaOB04YX79e6hzArVzrhFg-qujBVsgTxm4FajXDJWKZJA2uZtE86v77RLlsOm0pkP52JEplPp5hwVe2DJZQSdIc4d1yp8RCtRpUGFI1uejBCgnCdiCygBLv3JOCkAfUysOB-SXi4fPH/s400/DSCN1016.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;">1260: how many times a humming bird heart will beat in a minute. My grandmother loved her hummingbirds. Many humid summer days were spent waiting for their arrival on the perch of the feeders that hung from her magnolia tree. We would sit on her glider and drink sun tea out of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aluminum</span> cups. My grandmother must be on our minds lately. Last week I doodled the above hummingbird, and then ordered a new necklace from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5753249"><span style="color:#33ccff;">Home Studio</span></a>. Yesterday in the mail arrived a Valentine from my mother...featuring, yes indeed, another hummingbird. I miss my grandmother and watching for the hummingbirds...</span><br /><br /><div></div></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-40086583107607271532009-02-11T04:58:00.000-08:002009-02-11T05:16:53.942-08:00Reading Rainbow<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUL1yw2qUsZnNCXkFWFNw616vi9Wkq66dE6S-Y7UytG08H_NY_rtpYoZpk86UQmrsWTjPZR0YP5RgyaY3LRZnuu_4zQhvR48K82bzsNEURQCP-hIxnICyxfH2XgP9Xn3fZf01mh0h1vYX/s1600-h/DSCN0971.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301523613014465426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAUL1yw2qUsZnNCXkFWFNw616vi9Wkq66dE6S-Y7UytG08H_NY_rtpYoZpk86UQmrsWTjPZR0YP5RgyaY3LRZnuu_4zQhvR48K82bzsNEURQCP-hIxnICyxfH2XgP9Xn3fZf01mh0h1vYX/s400/DSCN0971.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKigwmZOFVJjrBaTXsnsiRBRZMxfo01m3ENLcfv-XBAvCsrOAjfhFD4o9vBPdcvkrYktdS1TnuFo0avFkY2_1md1cTWbX-ztnCMEkC93TknGtYP_VcjvZ5U08mJk66IA1gbnBMHsrfvKS/s1600-h/DSCN6084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301526160448500946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKigwmZOFVJjrBaTXsnsiRBRZMxfo01m3ENLcfv-XBAvCsrOAjfhFD4o9vBPdcvkrYktdS1TnuFo0avFkY2_1md1cTWbX-ztnCMEkC93TknGtYP_VcjvZ5U08mJk66IA1gbnBMHsrfvKS/s400/DSCN6084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;">My friend is such a clever creative girl. She is quite the bookworm, just like me. We both have a slew of books and very very full book shelves. During a recent shindig at her lovely abode I noticed her new arrangement of her books. They were sorted by color. How beautiful! Such a slendid idea made me quite envious. My own library is arranged alphabetically by chaos (the white shelves below her rainbow shelves).</span><br /><br /></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-62908088038736267512009-02-06T08:55:00.000-08:002009-02-06T08:56:32.850-08:00Albert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xmekt-MNGnnvMvZGIvNDUn-ltxFVzT5j1Mwjh00046NoRUnl_LxVZ8KG5tduLsSnphijjX0OHLRaIgwaxOoowiXU_LVgpRCKJ0EaZSn8MGVf5zXd8pI9RlOs5hGdQ4fyl_pOZYpiXO58/s1600-h/Albert+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299729291870265074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xmekt-MNGnnvMvZGIvNDUn-ltxFVzT5j1Mwjh00046NoRUnl_LxVZ8KG5tduLsSnphijjX0OHLRaIgwaxOoowiXU_LVgpRCKJ0EaZSn8MGVf5zXd8pI9RlOs5hGdQ4fyl_pOZYpiXO58/s400/Albert+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-21015164754562854952009-02-04T23:08:00.001-08:002009-02-04T23:08:24.212-08:00Morning<embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/2348361/oren_lavie_her_morning_elegance.swf" width="400" height="345" wmode="transparent" allowFullScreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br><font size = 1><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2348361/oren_lavie_her_morning_elegance/">Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">Celebrity bloopers here</a></font><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTIzMzgxNzYyOTEyMyZwdD*xMjMzODE3Njk*Njg5JnA9MTcyNDAxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTImdD*mbz*yYmY2M2E1MWJiNDU*Yzc5OGZmYjFhZWQ4ZDk1YTlkZg==.gif" />The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-90852384463906009162009-02-04T07:12:00.000-08:002009-02-06T09:00:19.741-08:00Mark and Marilyn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYksU30sZ9XMJdpZVYjZiw-1vEVVh0GaP1ypYnCtkjBGEfxRbR7W3kUv2ZcOpDrgeigKZuKDdCAHZmi9oQOAIukk6uDnUZzEMcvvalzJobHBo9pp4r8kX4mKJkicKuScU3QMQ6DWkpSKoE/s1600-h/twain+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299729704926351714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYksU30sZ9XMJdpZVYjZiw-1vEVVh0GaP1ypYnCtkjBGEfxRbR7W3kUv2ZcOpDrgeigKZuKDdCAHZmi9oQOAIukk6uDnUZzEMcvvalzJobHBo9pp4r8kX4mKJkicKuScU3QMQ6DWkpSKoE/s400/twain+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjJ_mjNBEgNx8CxHKgDQMhX5ORrGaqbjYuatARFevym-1LKtITtPaoSFMzW6obLWiu5bL1315pO9vPhTQuAtcDV5unF1BFAucZTD7sOjVLBo6TQJiIiDOCJs-tmyNq0xmRGhmOQet7kfN/s1600-h/marilyn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299729708703702626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjJ_mjNBEgNx8CxHKgDQMhX5ORrGaqbjYuatARFevym-1LKtITtPaoSFMzW6obLWiu5bL1315pO9vPhTQuAtcDV5unF1BFAucZTD7sOjVLBo6TQJiIiDOCJs-tmyNq0xmRGhmOQet7kfN/s400/marilyn.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">There was a glitch on the schedule at work...and miracles of miracles, wonders of wonders...over the next eight days I only work once before I get back in to the routine of the work schedule. What a happy overlooked error on behalf of my manager. I was clueless of this news worthy event until yesterday. Thus I have an open calendar...books to read, drawings to hang, baby shower gifts to be made, a party to attend, brows to be waxed. I am giddy. Above are two new portraits of Mark and Marilyn. For one of my New Year <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">resolutions</span> I vowed to take more pictures of those I love...I believe I am going to make an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">addendum</span> to that...to include drawing more portraits of people I love and those who inspire me to be more with my life...</span><br /></span><br /><br /><div></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-67416594073765444542009-01-27T09:09:00.000-08:002009-01-27T09:19:06.613-08:00The Girls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcHMzYnea3f__dxh1YBR5A-Jfc-eOop9Im99rrIeos8u0fFSgZw5OMTBkbF0WYWP8hvT3xXMBi6uuHPmzdHzowFM6EoqaSyx66pWRVVi9XKxIfUE52tqQFIgnW5Rv4qlGpLq-xWoz-jTe/s1600-h/The+Girls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296021925470968850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcHMzYnea3f__dxh1YBR5A-Jfc-eOop9Im99rrIeos8u0fFSgZw5OMTBkbF0WYWP8hvT3xXMBi6uuHPmzdHzowFM6EoqaSyx66pWRVVi9XKxIfUE52tqQFIgnW5Rv4qlGpLq-xWoz-jTe/s400/The+Girls.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;">The Golden Girls Necklace from </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=70694"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;"><span style="color:#ffcc99;">Trashed Clothing</span>.</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;"> It is currently a new favorite conversation <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">piece</span> at work. Who knew there were so many Golden Girl fans? I guess you have to love them and all their fancy pajamas and midnight cravings for cheese cake. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Television</span> inspired me to have a life like Rhoda in my 20's, Kate and Alley in my 30's , Elise from Family Ties in my early 40's, Murphy Brown in my late 40's....and later a life much like the Golden Girls. My new assistant on overnights would like to get one for himself....Which Golden Girl are you ?</span></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-78076924381397661282009-01-21T15:26:00.001-08:002009-01-21T16:07:00.826-08:00Witness<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nDLt90X-uD5qKvSy7JPOV8-UFvW9__RH0Jr6bQNYqgxQmwPtVjFxjFeDskZcGnW15iCd79PuG9OhieI3NANPSMzGu4t8CH2vYU-K5JM-n-pY0TWDP5t-mjz3wclWsX1aCUeq03GyfErP/s1600-h/DSCN0018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293892712289562338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nDLt90X-uD5qKvSy7JPOV8-UFvW9__RH0Jr6bQNYqgxQmwPtVjFxjFeDskZcGnW15iCd79PuG9OhieI3NANPSMzGu4t8CH2vYU-K5JM-n-pY0TWDP5t-mjz3wclWsX1aCUeq03GyfErP/s400/DSCN0018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The metro was crazy.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">My toes and nose froze.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">After the third hour I was starving.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">My scarf was cute and useless.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The port-a-potties were out of toilet paper.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">He arrived.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">He took his oath.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">He spoke to us.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The benediction was great.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The poem kind of sucked.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">My nose was still froze.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">I gave up on the scarf and feeling my toes.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The stomach growl was fierce.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">The metro was even crazier.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">When we finally arrived to my friend Jason's home...I fell asleep mid sentence on the couch.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">It is the most amazing thing I have ever been a witness to...</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;">I am so thankful.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></p><p></p><p></p>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-37283148357953545272009-01-17T07:29:00.000-08:002009-01-17T07:37:30.268-08:00Self<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0LJugV97XnzL2dA2kGq4tVeafTny0QHODWtWJ_Fyv-Y41PjUV8ndxyw7bEa-YOPWbPen3sGe7ZKIpt1-TUVW3FVM9-bqnTwges8GJZ43P3GrwM-1pvSm6WQ2X94z4ajgk-S8vvAkgf2S/s1600-h/DSCN9516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292285562113144082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0LJugV97XnzL2dA2kGq4tVeafTny0QHODWtWJ_Fyv-Y41PjUV8ndxyw7bEa-YOPWbPen3sGe7ZKIpt1-TUVW3FVM9-bqnTwges8GJZ43P3GrwM-1pvSm6WQ2X94z4ajgk-S8vvAkgf2S/s400/DSCN9516.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff6600;"> It is so hard for me to draw a self portrait...my mother tends to appear on the page before I am done. I thought it only right to apply the memoir <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">assignment</span> to myself and to see what would happen. The words were submissions from my little sister and a dear friend. And I really love how my glasses turned out...so very wicked and nerdy! Just like me...</span><br /></span><br /></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-42739073184791942582009-01-14T07:56:00.000-08:002009-01-14T08:45:28.116-08:00Mrs. Fruit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgntSLFeUc3EEuSWWT1LIwNk0gOrRewTLrufJsePX8onKVlKALXTppjkQ7Ofp-ZwwejGGvDLL7-kUdg1JaHGwNCugF34tdyG3imrt9ypVcNb1hLN8UtHA-kvgRCjpsIZQAdloguXcd6xL/s1600-h/DSCN7323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291179136332704626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgntSLFeUc3EEuSWWT1LIwNk0gOrRewTLrufJsePX8onKVlKALXTppjkQ7Ofp-ZwwejGGvDLL7-kUdg1JaHGwNCugF34tdyG3imrt9ypVcNb1hLN8UtHA-kvgRCjpsIZQAdloguXcd6xL/s400/DSCN7323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Ah, Mrs. Fruit... ...the older lady that abides in the downstairs half of the our rented house with her daughter Lump.I should pause to say that those are not the real names of my neighbors. They have simple respectable names, such as Edith and Renee.But Lump is kind of loud and oafish. Her bottom is wide and looks as if the potatoes still need mashed when she wears her stretchy pants. And Mrs. Fruit has always been a bit out there with her Einstein hair and matching velor jump suits. She had a tendency to repeat the same story over and over and over again, the little scratched record in her brain was never righted. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">We have not always been good neighbors.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">They are loud. Sometimes very mean to Mrs. Fruit. The conversations from down stairs are heard quite clear when I am in the bathtub.A few times I had the notion of elder abuse cross my wires.But there was the good daughter that would visit below, often. She was the order to the odd couple chaos. I had trust in her. And she always liked my flowers. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">I have a green thumb. When the weather warms up it itches something fierce. My place has a huge yard, but alas, I do rent. There are to be no perennial flower beds, herb coves, or vegetable gardens for the likes of me. Thus my thumb gets a bit bloom crazy for the front porch. It borders on a bit of madness. I will put off food and laundry monies to plant just a few more begonias for the front steps.Two summers ago I decided to give the front porch a fresh coat of paint. And I tacked on to the agenda the picnic table that sat off to the corner. It was a sad table that saw very few fried chicken and watermelon type get togethers due to wobbly benches, a loose plank or two, and the chipped redwood paint.Three gallons of paint later the porch looked spectacular. The picnic table was now officially cute and fixed. I put off the water bill and purchased two white rocking chairs for the front porch and a new American Flag.I knew Mrs. Fruit would love these additions. She would often wonder out to the front porch and prune my flowers all the while the scratched record about her father's garden played and played. Before the rocking chair additions she would sit in the plastic camp fire chairs on the front porch and watch the traffic and the foul mouthed town teens go by. As for the new flag, I knew she would be over the moon. She loved to fix the little grave marker flags I put in the planter for Memorial Day and then would leave out for the rest of the summer so she could move them from planter to planter. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">And I was right.Oh, how she loved the big flag and would stand next to it and watch it wave every morning.Oh, how she assumed those rocking chairs were hers all along.Oh, how she rocked her day away.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Then came the note, from Lump.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">There was trouble.How dare I have painted the picnic table. HER picnic table. She would not have chosen those colors. How dare I! Our house was a shared house!At this point I could regale you with the rant that all my family and friends had to deal with. I was pretty perturbed.In the end I took a very deep breath and did the following.I wrote a brief letter back. I included an apology. That I had thought the picnic table belonged to the house not to her. That I fixed it so all could use it. That I planted the flowers to share with her mother, that her mother loved the front porch as much as myself, that the rocking chairs were for her...and that I was only trying to be a good neighbor. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">I left the note with a new flower box full of pansies and a mini American flag on the back stoop (their main entrance to their half of the house). </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">A month later I ran into Lump at the mail box.She apologized and hugged me.And then told me all the things going on with her mother's declining health. In the time that has followed Mrs. Fruit came out less and less. And then Lump's yelling at Mrs. Fruit became more and more.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">This past spring I was planting marigolds and using THE picnic table as a work space when Mrs. Fruit bolted from the front door. First she went to the corner to inspect the flowers and then to rock in her chair.I tried to start a conversation but her skipping record was playing to loud and she tuned me out.My arms were elbow deep in a manure bag when she went for the stairs. She has never attempted this by herself...I tried to get after her before she took on another step...and thenWOOSH. Renee was there yelling and screaming at her mom.And Mrs. Fruit just kept yelling back that she was sick of her and taking off for the woods and not coming back. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Aye.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">What an intense and personal family moment to be witnessed to. Renee took her back inside and came back and explained how her mother has been having mini-strokes and has been very difficult to handle. And that was why she has a day sitter during the week when Renee worked.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Poor Edith. Poor Mrs. Fruit. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">This morning as I was making my bagel, there was a knock at the door. The last time there was a knock our pipes had burst and flooded the apartment below. I hate early morning knocks.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">But it was Lump, Renee.She came to tell me that Mrs. Fruit died on Monday, that she knew we didn't get the paper, that was why there has been a lot of family coming over, and that there would only be simple services on Saturday.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Before I could say anything, she looked at me and said "...thank you for all the flowers, she really..."and then she broke into tears.I wanted to hug her, but thought better of it and let her get her burst of tears out of the way. I think she was embarrassed and did not see the tears coming in such a manner with me. </span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">As she waddled down our stairs back to her apartment, I felt my own tears coming.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">And I let them come.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">For a woman who was a bit crazy and drove me a bit crazy too.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">I do not believe in much.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">But I do hope that where she is there are flowers to prune, an American Flag to admire and rocking chairs to rock...</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">and that someone has righted her skipping record...</span></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-34673235786719674732009-01-13T08:12:00.001-08:002009-01-13T08:20:19.738-08:00Memoirs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcEX_BgUSjSG6fomDNSQ82KIDGxPvE3FaN4vJGb885s3zgWAaINnT_zj9vbKBZ_BcSbR6wnaYXrXvdXMucqZJdYzeXosjWKKVQ0a25hJk_JH1iZG-XWVzXiA2rXeoUT15B2E6Uwdvudk0/s1600-h/DSCN9484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290812510398564098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 372px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcEX_BgUSjSG6fomDNSQ82KIDGxPvE3FaN4vJGb885s3zgWAaINnT_zj9vbKBZ_BcSbR6wnaYXrXvdXMucqZJdYzeXosjWKKVQ0a25hJk_JH1iZG-XWVzXiA2rXeoUT15B2E6Uwdvudk0/s400/DSCN9484.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaDWu-1tzseyOCM5_xtJj1qoAg-auNitGQ9PhLAGZ5LNA_fqmvZ_y6GbIsWNDoLot_T3oCeTj0Q0qH_nuobY53pfIItnT7wgBCTDFREYvEMfgR7SgamwjEyd4XWieDWYZxGehuQX-RvRT/s1600-h/DSCN9482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290812500925725042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaDWu-1tzseyOCM5_xtJj1qoAg-auNitGQ9PhLAGZ5LNA_fqmvZ_y6GbIsWNDoLot_T3oCeTj0Q0qH_nuobY53pfIItnT7wgBCTDFREYvEMfgR7SgamwjEyd4XWieDWYZxGehuQX-RvRT/s400/DSCN9482.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitINsHK0uDJpt1aGdYD6_ayyGOrsOKVT4DegXxmqy_PDb-YoH2dFomRwZV5emLTBw924dXnaSEybZxKGfMGJ1g8JjLjF1L8S-8_h1ZNpaoWTyB2702PxdIpTbNyWZK0VYrVw1Y-egF0rau/s1600-h/DSCN9477.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290812499443429058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitINsHK0uDJpt1aGdYD6_ayyGOrsOKVT4DegXxmqy_PDb-YoH2dFomRwZV5emLTBw924dXnaSEybZxKGfMGJ1g8JjLjF1L8S-8_h1ZNpaoWTyB2702PxdIpTbNyWZK0VYrVw1Y-egF0rau/s400/DSCN9477.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGghJsJe6qq592hXU4ByibRPfpCoBkFQXpZIhS664HIi0mkMLHCQOzuhGNR-CeGhMoXGZ4PGS6Jj79fynFSNCc35I8PFemNXfjayT2z7hvoDmMx0lDlnRt9d6SqyX70v0e1E0TFCPOlsz/s1600-h/DSCN9475.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290812490435714722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGghJsJe6qq592hXU4ByibRPfpCoBkFQXpZIhS664HIi0mkMLHCQOzuhGNR-CeGhMoXGZ4PGS6Jj79fynFSNCc35I8PFemNXfjayT2z7hvoDmMx0lDlnRt9d6SqyX70v0e1E0TFCPOlsz/s400/DSCN9475.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdnPG-5Tq74CPj9xX2no0bxMSSUe4Js2J6eK3r4YjZq24n03p4M0eNCaLVWpyvEIgwmlMdy5zqxX9HKO2GDI-xfR89ljl9aezb-XKyWyBdiWd-M6Qv1pEmG8m4qyzwJ0NOVwp-cj08BfF/s1600-h/DSCN9469.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290812487549462866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdnPG-5Tq74CPj9xX2no0bxMSSUe4Js2J6eK3r4YjZq24n03p4M0eNCaLVWpyvEIgwmlMdy5zqxX9HKO2GDI-xfR89ljl9aezb-XKyWyBdiWd-M6Qv1pEmG8m4qyzwJ0NOVwp-cj08BfF/s400/DSCN9469.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">My second swap this month has to deal with writing five memoirs using only six words for each person. Honestly, I loved this assignment. Even though things took a turn and each memoir ended up with a matching doodle portrait of some of my most favorite people. (Perk up mate!...if your doodle portrait is missing there is an entire batch on the back burner in my dear head :) ). This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">assignment</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">also</span> revealed that I do indeed need to finally purchase a scanner in order to make my images appear more crisp for your viewing pleasure...What would be your six word memoir for your self? Or yours for me</span>?</span><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-17164242182628886532009-01-11T09:01:00.000-08:002009-01-11T09:12:51.516-08:00List<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Sb8P0NmaVR-SMe1pd8AgbtMymYF-tFNmQxiK6WJ22jGWfSwMA2HZMLsHgB8QASNLftPNvHChilSoZ79U0anZlWOXFRMa8m76ECv6Xhs9i9k3J2e64IIPgPnF_1bp2Mvqnn3DGIhn8MXe/s1600-h/DSCN9340.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290082726327066898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Sb8P0NmaVR-SMe1pd8AgbtMymYF-tFNmQxiK6WJ22jGWfSwMA2HZMLsHgB8QASNLftPNvHChilSoZ79U0anZlWOXFRMa8m76ECv6Xhs9i9k3J2e64IIPgPnF_1bp2Mvqnn3DGIhn8MXe/s400/DSCN9340.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Sometimes it can be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">difficult</span> for a bookworm such as myself to find good recommendations. Over at </span><a href="http://leishacamden.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-reading-year-2008.html"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#00cccc;">L's</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"> site she recently listed a slew of books that have quickly made it to my reading list this year. Above is a list I compiled as the sun came up this morning. The list is for my current swap...listing one hundred books to pass on to another reading lover. It turned out to be quite the mix...and, I , um noticed that I guess I have a thing for stories with magic...or magical realism. Who knew?</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Have a read that changed, challenged, entertained or educated you last year?...please, do share!</span></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-52737852430866317712009-01-10T09:01:00.000-08:002009-01-10T09:12:50.742-08:00Wonder<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxb10kT9Nykr7PKqH-TCO1830RC0DG7d5eMUzso5RLloacm0RG8Ek5Rx9lK1zSy1zkhC6Dy25KzSKjRB4I7Yg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cccccc;">Sometimes nature is such a wonder to behold....from within the coziness of my flannel pajamas inside my home. Such a day stirs my memory. My inner child is pleading to go outside and play...sled...make snow angles...snowballs...attempt a fort... come home an hour later in order to get broomed on the front porch (my mom used to make us stand just outside the front door while she used the broom to remove the snow off our clothes..)...then stand over the heat run for one blow cycle while hot chocolate is being made (with extra marshmallows). I would love to go outside and participate in this day...but, um, I lack adult sized snow bibs.....and I am out of hot coco.</span></p>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-53608983245726783612009-01-10T07:05:00.000-08:002009-01-10T09:15:50.824-08:00Reincarnation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFsez7Cfz7uLpE5bLB0yQ2yje79U-YgS92Kq-xtJz4wunELHbJC-k6EpgwQJ7sZOHlSaTvZHuIBZaPBw3SH6k3MTjcBKM2LDYSKBkxQpKvDy7nQVt2NdaVnYUQs4UPEkLwkDsLIncZ04N/s1600-h/DSCN9283.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289681426613353810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 145px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFsez7Cfz7uLpE5bLB0yQ2yje79U-YgS92Kq-xtJz4wunELHbJC-k6EpgwQJ7sZOHlSaTvZHuIBZaPBw3SH6k3MTjcBKM2LDYSKBkxQpKvDy7nQVt2NdaVnYUQs4UPEkLwkDsLIncZ04N/s400/DSCN9283.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><div></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#cc33cc;">267.51</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;color:#cc33cc;">Any guesses?</span></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#663366;">This is the amount it took to get my windshield washer fixed for my car. I am content with every penny that was spent to get her going again...since this weekend calls for quite the snowing. It also makes me more determined to learn more about the beautiful mystery of my vehicles mechanics. If I happen to have the chance to be reincarnated I am going to stand in the line for the mechanically inclined...until then I plan to sign up for a Mechanic I class at the local adult learning center.</span></p>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-38060787490666029432009-01-05T07:34:00.000-08:002009-01-05T07:56:08.542-08:00Caution<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMq0peCMc1M9S5y1mDJX0upaVsmHH10YbNVa5ReDodVW46szQxV6kLTo_tp0GLWeJCHN4RwEZnm3f2566hq8nO54DwZrvFcBY07FwEzBPHz-VBCgYRCNJ235D2vObGlEPIcj7V6Qb2_ib/s1600-h/DSCN9118.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287833711886070082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYMq0peCMc1M9S5y1mDJX0upaVsmHH10YbNVa5ReDodVW46szQxV6kLTo_tp0GLWeJCHN4RwEZnm3f2566hq8nO54DwZrvFcBY07FwEzBPHz-VBCgYRCNJ235D2vObGlEPIcj7V6Qb2_ib/s400/DSCN9118.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> <span style="color:#ff6600;">This year I will use Caution in my life choices. This year I will throw Caution to the wind. Either way he will greet me each morning of 2009 in my studio. Caution was a holiday gift from my dear friend C....with her psychic friend powers she new exactly what I needed to help me stay on track...or adventure off onto the unbeaten path. And now for the odds and end of my New Year's resolutions...</span></span></div><ol><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Keep going to the gym (and add the spinning class once a week). Since July 45 pounds have went MIA...and I am curious what can happen in another six months...</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Time to grow up (a bit) and find an entire house to rent.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Remember the birthdays of others...and get the cards purchased or made into the mail on time.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Donate blood.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Get my teeth cleaned and a real physical.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Start my etsy store.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Participate in the Renegade Festival in Chicago.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Finish my short story about Eve in the garden.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Publish my children's book on LuLu or Blurb...and see what happens.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Plan and execute three dinner parities...one per quarter (is that too dorky?)</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Learn how to do my own oil change.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Payoff my medical bill (finally!)</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Start a real savings account...and leave it alone.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Adopt a dog and a cat.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Grow my own herbs.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Cook more. Eat out way less.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Pay more attention to the needs of my family and friends.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Finish my first felt book before the nephew is born.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Find my Aunt Charlotte and my college friend Yolanda.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Take more pictures of people I love.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Participate in more art swaps.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Post art more often.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Buy my own truck, couch, scanner, and printer...all for my art of course ;)</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Go on a canoe trip....and a bike trip.</span></li><li><span style="color:#6600cc;">Ride a horse.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">What are your plans?</span><br /></span></p>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-56092863715340399582009-01-04T07:58:00.000-08:002009-01-04T10:49:29.368-08:00Paging Dr. Bronner<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U_P6iBy4C5qe3XxQSpnc2G7sdMCsDKizxaeuADRhdZMv-8Z7OGwt4qTFrRpZtZOw_9_hqMwikOjlC6AZs7UoqEOsQ54AlrBZ336JUVkIi1V5QenZilZ3UMxb1ymwF34zVenKaldtsJ05/s1600-h/DSCN9062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287469803792810866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4U_P6iBy4C5qe3XxQSpnc2G7sdMCsDKizxaeuADRhdZMv-8Z7OGwt4qTFrRpZtZOw_9_hqMwikOjlC6AZs7UoqEOsQ54AlrBZ336JUVkIi1V5QenZilZ3UMxb1ymwF34zVenKaldtsJ05/s400/DSCN9062.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;"> First it was Burt and his Bees. And now </span><a href="http://www.drbronner.com/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;">Dr. Bronner</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#33ccff;"> is living in my shower. The label on the packaging is a bit creepy, weird, odd, and way amusing. A few months ago this product was featured in my favorite magazine in the know written universe...<a href="http://www.bust.com/"><span style="color:#33ff33;">BUST</span></a>. My sister can tell you that we are both suckers for "new-to-us" products, even though we usually resort right back to our toiletry staples that we have been using for, um, decades. Sometimes we hit pay dirt. This liquid soap smells a bit on the hippie side...IE very natural instead of artificial sweet. So far I have scrubbed my face with it, made a bath soak, used it as a shower wash...and used it to wash my sensitive hair. It super cleans the hair, thus I have been using it once a week. It makes my scalp tingle....and so far that is the best thing to happen to me this new year. In other news my schedule changed big time at work (I start a seven day stretch on Tuesday night), a flu bug has found my nose, and the windshield wipers have stopped working in my car (so I am clueless as how to get them fixed over my seven day stretch...). I do have a few resolutions this year and I will reveal them with my next post. ... :)</span> </div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-18220234626793976162008-12-29T09:23:00.000-08:002008-12-29T09:37:53.436-08:00Gnew<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZrTo4BEmsFDY7JKit1Kodzay9c7VC8-veR2qOSohG3LPv-AifguR9nQrRCnE_xSmYm-m90zafVgAQMSHEUI9If1hVZtGpDs8nNNjvJLCVegwhcM9ERdiW-t8ia-D13iNC38Z2cpxSlTn/s1600-h/DSCN8974.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285266975077960050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZrTo4BEmsFDY7JKit1Kodzay9c7VC8-veR2qOSohG3LPv-AifguR9nQrRCnE_xSmYm-m90zafVgAQMSHEUI9If1hVZtGpDs8nNNjvJLCVegwhcM9ERdiW-t8ia-D13iNC38Z2cpxSlTn/s400/DSCN8974.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#33ff33;">My new Gnome (a Christmas gift from the in-laws). He looks so calm and collected. As if he would rock back on his heels and start whistling as soon as I would leave the room. Note: He knows not that he is a cookie jar ;)</span><br /><br /><br /></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-25658509447645526572008-12-24T00:48:00.000-08:002008-12-24T00:58:35.348-08:00Rex<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr6WMv4fI5jW9pblnJYj4rWSlXu8hp5jpq6r1dEeUJJd1eqpW28GqIFKKQ9uANqRNgiDN3_EkwCJov4l7r0Tk-zj1aPAhHU1mHfUuTtHIhKWaG1O63G67y0_sjB9z8pp4g1veda2Ca1bg/s1600-h/smekday_card%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283275985039092946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr6WMv4fI5jW9pblnJYj4rWSlXu8hp5jpq6r1dEeUJJd1eqpW28GqIFKKQ9uANqRNgiDN3_EkwCJov4l7r0Tk-zj1aPAhHU1mHfUuTtHIhKWaG1O63G67y0_sjB9z8pp4g1veda2Ca1bg/s400/smekday_card%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#990000;">Adam Rex: his</span><span style="color:#ffffff;"> </span><a href="http://adamrex.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ffffff;">work</span></a><span style="color:#990000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"> </span>makes me smile. And his little take on the holidays does just that. And for one that is a bit blue this holiday season because her tree stayed in the box in the attic, this illustration helped put things into a lighter perspective.... just a bit. May you find a reason to smile this holiday....</span></span></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-34461983230950267302008-12-22T08:08:00.001-08:002008-12-22T08:27:41.172-08:00Magic<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg29j0A64l8ji1yydCyVPyu2BO5U5ihtD_dckPAXSqHbBP2hKpl11OyG0RrRRp-2oqXlY5OHxFrbSdW39lv3AcP-q_EkzxOrxNElVdNAo51yty4iSZ2s8pBjIlDE6kjqeFxTySpnXxTaMC/s1600-h/P426~Tuesday-s-Child-Posters%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282647273163720546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 347px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg29j0A64l8ji1yydCyVPyu2BO5U5ihtD_dckPAXSqHbBP2hKpl11OyG0RrRRp-2oqXlY5OHxFrbSdW39lv3AcP-q_EkzxOrxNElVdNAo51yty4iSZ2s8pBjIlDE6kjqeFxTySpnXxTaMC/s400/P426~Tuesday-s-Child-Posters%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;">There are some little magic things that are helping me get through December so I can start again. </span><a href="http://www.theworldofmichaelparkes.com/html/home.asp"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffcccc;">Michael Parkes</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;"> happens to be one of those things. Pictured above is his painting of Tuesday's Child. His work is described as magic surrealism...something I thought I would typically stray from. Alas, his lovely work has eased my troubled brow...just a bit. How I love the light of his skies and the weight of his forms. The other is the joyous writing of my favorite author in the whole wide know world of fiction, </span><a href="http://www.jeanettewinterson.com/index.asp"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffcccc;">Jeanette Winterson.</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;"> This season she has written a few superb words about her thoughts on Christmas....plus a new short children's story that was featured in Time: <a href="http://www.jeanettewinterson.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=521"><span style="color:#ffcccc;">The Lion The Unicorn and Me</span><span style="color:#ffcccc;">.</span></a> She is one that I would love to sit in front of a fire, sip tea, and have her read to me the thoughts that roam her mind....</span><a href="http://www.jeanettewinterson.com/pages/content/index.asp?PageID=521"><br /></a><br /></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-8844281772459143062008-12-10T02:58:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:14:06.511-08:00Pledge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWDgXhuYRgKUQWPqMzuetnmw6LcLmrJngs458s1K-GXF4V6lRfSgDKQ_md7wwj258YjB_c6qnv4yw3Ama4JNxVgumQaqLOkmzJlyvZxeWMkLgAstDfOZezmZxOC8KHsamaVmBn9HZxBGe/s1600-h/DSCN8013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278114696298525138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 389px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEWDgXhuYRgKUQWPqMzuetnmw6LcLmrJngs458s1K-GXF4V6lRfSgDKQ_md7wwj258YjB_c6qnv4yw3Ama4JNxVgumQaqLOkmzJlyvZxeWMkLgAstDfOZezmZxOC8KHsamaVmBn9HZxBGe/s400/DSCN8013.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">Dear Friends and Family,</span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;">This year I am taking the <a href="http://www.buyhandmade.org/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Handmade Pledge</span></a>. This is my promise to the world of arts and crafts that I will support the creativity in others as well as myself. Trying to budget the time for inspiration is tough this time of year. I feel it will be worth the challenge for you and for me. It is with this hope and promise of art working that I plan to stave off the holiday blues. Wish me luck...Oh, the goodies that await each of you!</span><br /></span><div></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-42686052571100309802008-12-10T00:58:00.000-08:002008-12-10T01:23:09.695-08:00My Honey Bee<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZbRWxjDBK5GvyViDptyQUoIXwv5NMQD_Ttu1HDd8vrS6QNGRnzW5xDl-3psfcpNFu_aViB4Gv3iY4YQ-DCCqe4Ol3QdSFOCxw0Sze4xCzHjdr7g1O3BZmYzAMZYT7l7sk4UUB1JsgW2l/s1600-h/DSCN8003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278083258921432098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZbRWxjDBK5GvyViDptyQUoIXwv5NMQD_Ttu1HDd8vrS6QNGRnzW5xDl-3psfcpNFu_aViB4Gv3iY4YQ-DCCqe4Ol3QdSFOCxw0Sze4xCzHjdr7g1O3BZmYzAMZYT7l7sk4UUB1JsgW2l/s400/DSCN8003.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffcc33;"> <span style="color:#ffff00;">Ohio winters crack my hands. Sounds painful, and it is. To boot my skin is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">uber</span> sensitive to just about everything (from lotions to types of fabric blends in socks...weird, huh?). Lotions for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sensitive</span> skins usually induce horrid winces of agony on my flesh...so I would rather have the cracks ache. Until today. I was out on a quick errand to grab </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Life-Inspiration-Sketchbooks-Illustrators/dp/1600610862/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204991959&sr=1-5"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffff00;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">The Illustrated Life</span> </span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffff00;">by Danny Gregory ( an inspiring <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">journaling</span> man) when my poor hands had had enough. I knew the book store sold lotions and I braved the frilly section by the checkouts to seek <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">something</span> for relief....even if it would sting like crazy. What I discovered <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">was</span> </span><a href="http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;">Burt's Bees</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffff00;"> Beeswax Hand Cream. I was doing the <em>I am in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pain</span> dance</em> while I waited in the afternoon holiday lines at the checkout. And once I forked over the money...I opened the jar to find a bit a Bee Heaven. OH! It is the best stuff ever! It soothed and conditioned my poor chapped hands. AND it smells like bananas (a scent that I typically believe should be left in bread and ice cream pops). But in this little jar and on my hands the aroma was quite pleasing and calming. Oh, how I love my little honey bees....pray it may be fiction that they are in trouble</span><br /></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-37697871078052564202008-12-09T03:01:00.000-08:002008-12-09T03:11:03.619-08:00Sweet Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtOCL45Bj4elqyTf0XLKG0rvcBo13dzCkbJznSl1sIkguekbsFZ4aq4Nu3Hl2XAyWF_32FOiIYOGT2XkIKzWreaCME6TlVwJLRagZJYd-gDa3-7Q68ylxe2mgc7CcG_x8ZfThyK3ICZMM/s1600-h/DSCN7930.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277744052801807250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtOCL45Bj4elqyTf0XLKG0rvcBo13dzCkbJznSl1sIkguekbsFZ4aq4Nu3Hl2XAyWF_32FOiIYOGT2XkIKzWreaCME6TlVwJLRagZJYd-gDa3-7Q68ylxe2mgc7CcG_x8ZfThyK3ICZMM/s400/DSCN7930.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrKRsJ25I0u3X7LSWtM0gyMclPZuz7JIfznZ6Y-5YdprL8hNcjnKV32soWxJowR8FnkB-p89tBH8XTMfgpg23rw4LVhb80jZJk2XhZQw4cF_WrcG8rFznzTYarjbV6BGqK7OwR7GLmgCD/s1600-h/DSCN7931.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277744052682732370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrKRsJ25I0u3X7LSWtM0gyMclPZuz7JIfznZ6Y-5YdprL8hNcjnKV32soWxJowR8FnkB-p89tBH8XTMfgpg23rw4LVhb80jZJk2XhZQw4cF_WrcG8rFznzTYarjbV6BGqK7OwR7GLmgCD/s400/DSCN7931.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFud3-NsT_LUmUq2vjXJT2fhLENqE2_t7tsbBXvVQ8TrpCII_2Km00TOH8mokL4wzUyE-BSEOCDxhX76ytNXcC84v1BW2tpHdzLGiip1be0dtKZ4DM2X43dIXHcYdI-MkHq2E17N8GGfMV/s1600-h/DSCN7933.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277744047040288594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFud3-NsT_LUmUq2vjXJT2fhLENqE2_t7tsbBXvVQ8TrpCII_2Km00TOH8mokL4wzUyE-BSEOCDxhX76ytNXcC84v1BW2tpHdzLGiip1be0dtKZ4DM2X43dIXHcYdI-MkHq2E17N8GGfMV/s400/DSCN7933.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">This is my very first gingerbread house (kit). It looks completely different than the picture on the box. Surprise. I wanted to make my own house from scratch and thought it wise to pop $10 in order to experiment with a kit on the first go around. I was a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">disappointed</span> when I opened the box and the house was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pre</span>-assembled and only awaited decoration. My favorite things are the gum drop trees and bushes I made to animate the flat space on the house's little acre of snow. Even though the house was pre-assembled this sweet little house took me many many many hours to create. And it is now waiting for tomorrow in order to go outside and get sprayed with glitter and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sealant</span>.</span></div><div></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4804351992190900250.post-74426962023630345902008-12-03T12:01:00.000-08:002008-12-03T12:16:58.321-08:00Comet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHvxk4a1yYw8-k7nd_HSXEDJvndVwW1K5MT7eJc0Sz6Njcfahq__AfbV99W-PlRDoAwBIN8SexfPGnYolXQX3B__5bdSFH6W5-ubzYBaduij58cBII4TRoQ8OXWltPuRckGLIaJiKBy8b/s1600-h/DSCN7837.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275656597316698946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 278px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHvxk4a1yYw8-k7nd_HSXEDJvndVwW1K5MT7eJc0Sz6Njcfahq__AfbV99W-PlRDoAwBIN8SexfPGnYolXQX3B__5bdSFH6W5-ubzYBaduij58cBII4TRoQ8OXWltPuRckGLIaJiKBy8b/s400/DSCN7837.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfSHn65SVZmF4cYn_IPPA5BM0KNLZQQAKOrzaLB2hyJa5B78M3o2nFRl-xb-ulbz7ZXToeRmgRSIKogKdSK7dhyphenhyphensCQc7Wm58Fis879co73us9sQVuUzL0I9tRlbliqvrPPx4GOMBUUtvp/s1600-h/DSCN7839.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275656595522543970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfSHn65SVZmF4cYn_IPPA5BM0KNLZQQAKOrzaLB2hyJa5B78M3o2nFRl-xb-ulbz7ZXToeRmgRSIKogKdSK7dhyphenhyphensCQc7Wm58Fis879co73us9sQVuUzL0I9tRlbliqvrPPx4GOMBUUtvp/s400/DSCN7839.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#ff0000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-family:arial;">Many apologies for my break in blogging. Please note that I did meet the November Blogging Challenge---and made posts (big and small) for every day of my birth month. Understand that this is the most hectic and tiring month out of the year for a veteran retailer....thus my post will become more sporadic. For those who read and watched for the entire month----Thank you! Merci! I really do adore being a blogger---and using it as a way to keep in touch with the friends and family while I haunt third shift.</span></span></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffcc66;">Above is the b-day present from my mom. He was waiting for me on the front porch on the b-day. Officially he is Comet...member of the </span><a href="http://www.angelicdreamz.com/store/krinkles/"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Krinkle</span></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc66;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"> </span>Reindeer club. To me...he is my new Harlem Globe Trotter Reindeer. The sneakers are splendid! (Note: I used to love when the Globe Trotters made a special appearance on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Scooby</span> Do...did you?)</span></span><br /><br /></div><div></div>The Coghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08518576130229329179noreply@blogger.com2