tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40167878516095785072023-07-18T23:44:03.883-07:00Cross my Art and hope to Fly... ©AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-9259349934811529242013-01-28T12:00:00.000-08:002013-03-26T08:39:12.434-07:00Hiatus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well now... let's see if I remember how to do this......</span><br />
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I've never wanted to blog "down" so to speak... that's one of the reasons I haven't posted here. I'm not a good fake happy person. I can manage it from time to time... like at a house party or a resturant dinner, but not here. I've<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"> </span>always written from the heart when I post here.<br />
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So I thought jeez silly... it's just real life, so what the heck... we all have our woes, and times of trouble, realizing all the while, my problems are petty in comparison to sooooo many other people in the world, this I know and am <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">grateful</span> for.<br />
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Of course.. everyones's problems are relative to their own lives and circumstances, and there's no need to apologise for them or the crappy feelings that come along with them. Life has problems! Every single solitary person has their own and can relate to this subject matter. So why not write about it? Why not write from the heart about it...<br />
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I feel vulnerable, and humbled... but will bravely and plainly say... this last year has been the hardest<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> yet</span> in my 47 years.<br />
My husband and I have had numerous hardships to deal with, many being crammed down our throats one right after the other, or even at the same time... with numerous challenges to overcome ahead of us. We are having to adjust to many new situations we find ourselves faced with, and we are finally coming around to doing that peacefully.<br />
None of this has been between us personally, we are stronger than<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ever</span> in spite of our circumstances, and actually more so because of them.<br />
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But as one might imagine... the experiences from this past year has often led me down the indigo path quite a ways.... I've been " in the red" emotionally on and off so much and in turn this has left me feeling void creatively, with a lack of inspiration and motivation on many levels.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Not totally without, just not enough to spare or share, if that makes any sense?</span><br />
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Some of you who may read this know this past year I had a very difficult time taking care of two wonderful.....but aging and ailing Jack Russell's that meant the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">world</span> to me.<br />
At times I was basically house bound with them for numerous reasons and we knew our time to do the right thing for them was coming soon. The thought of having to "schedule" such a thing was more heart wrenching than we could bear.... but all the while knowing that's what we had to do. It's been 9 months and my heart still bleeds everyday...<br />
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Cobia dealt with the blindness fairly well at first ,especially for an OCD type of dog. She had cataract surgery and it was successful but only lasted for about 6 months. Poor sweet thing didn't do so well losing her sight the second time, and after about another year she began circle walking alot. But it got worse and soon all she did was walk in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">tight</span> circles any time she was up. The sweet little soul was just held hostage in her own personal torture chamber and I couldn't bear it for her.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The sore above her eye was from bonking her noodle over and over in the same spot : (</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">poor thing got sooooo skinny too : (</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just the sweetest girl....</span><br />
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I think we relate to dogs just like we do people in our lives... you know how we have a different chemistry or connections with different people? Or we love them differently <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">but not less than</span>... simply due to the different inherent nature of people. Devil has always somehow been different for me.<br />
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I love my Cobia like crazy mad as well... she was certainly the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">sweetest</span> natured of them all. (AxL is justa' hot mess) But from the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> first </span>day I got Dev... I felt something different about her. And I found it the hardest thing for me to do... to fathom the thought of her not being with me anymore.<br />
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Old age caught up with her, and her<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> "ruff and tuff"</span> lifestyle.... <b>no holds bar</b> was the way she rolled... and her 16 year old spine was giving up on her because of it. (surprised it held up that long) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The dog ran up a trees, launching over a 6 foot fences FLYING up and over, getting at least 12 feet in the air I swear! </span>And that's just a glimps of her type of escapades....there simply was no stopping her,<b> EVER. </b>Always up for an adventure, getting into trouble was her favorite thing to do. Life was <b>NEVER</b> boring or normal, she always kept us on our toes... it was wonderful!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Life with a dog named Devil"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> memoirs might be in my future. Oh! The stories I could tell.... I don't even know the half of them though! She went on so many walk abouts... comin' home bleedin' and what not... I might of even sold my soul to the Devil if that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">dang dog</span> could have talked : )</span></b></div>
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Yes... she even pulled the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> roaster pan</span> off the pantry shelf!! And mind you, these two "pantry parties" where only a couple months before she passed away...crazy sly dog till the end!<br />
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Cheeky Monkey!!<br />
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Due to her lower spine problems she was slowly losing use of her back legs... this was also slowly causing her more and more discomfort. We managed her pain for about a year... but when it became apparent that there were more bad days than good, we knew what we had to do.<br />
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A not so good day....<br />
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I found myself so <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">angry</span> and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> bitter </span>at first that this was happening to both of them at them at the same time. Different issues, but both declining together. The decision to euthanize a beloved pet is difficult enough, but to have to do two at the same time... my mind just couldn't process it, I knew my heart wasn't ready for the loss. But we did it, they went together at the exact same time...and I know absolutely with every<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> fiber</span> of my being it was right thing to do. That part I am at peace with.</div>
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Here's a poem I wrote about Dev.. </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">With a Heavy Heart </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She fell in the pool last night.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It's January.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Her gait isn't what it use to be. </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The strapping muscles have left her frame.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It takes 30 minutes and a heating pad to bring calm.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This makes an imprint on my mind...it's getting closer.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You rest at my feet as I write this prose...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You have loved me for 16 years.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You were meant to be mine.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The most sane would not have tolerated your tenacious nature...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">you kept me on my toes.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But you give me the purest sense of of unconditional love</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I've ever known, and I return it.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I struggle with knowing... that soon... there will be many seconds, of
every hour, of every day, of every year of missing you ahead of me...</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But you are my true friend.</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You have shown me and given me all the love and strength I need to bear it.</span></b></div>
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We only had them 4 months after I wrote this and as of two days from today... its been nine months since we lost them and still feels soooo fresh.<br />
We had to leave our dream home and the place they grew up... which cuts deep. We are learning to live in a new strange place with only one of our dogs, but <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">happy</span> to be together....<br />
This year has to turn a corner, personally and creatively.... I know we are going to be better and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">stronger</span> for all of this, and I know I have art in me!!! Just waiting to spill out...........<br />
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and that's all I got to say about that..... <br />
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<br />AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-51839372598364085712011-12-13T21:11:00.000-08:002011-12-19T07:33:53.629-08:00Today I choose simple.The older I become... the less complicated I want things to be.....<br />
All things...less complicated. <br />
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I want to be free of the all the noise in my head that accompanies complicated. I think when things are<b> simplified</b>... the noise in the head gets a reprieve, almost always a much needed one, and it frees the mind up and that allows space for all the <b>good</b>, <b>important</b> things to flow in.... the things that can go unnoticed when the mind is preoccupied and all filled up....<br />
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Focus on the good I say... Life is tough enough without our minds being cluttered with nonsense that won't ever change the outcome of any particular situation at any given time.<br />
This is hard to do sometimes of course, and I often have to stop myself ...and remind myself of this when I feel myself getting bogged down.<br />
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<b>Simple</b> is good.<b> Simple </b>gives you time. <b>Simple</b> isn't selfish...it allows you to get the<b> real </b>things...</div>
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And so on that note... here's my <b>Simple</b> Christmas tree and how it came to be. Typically I have it all decked out...with a gazillion things. Not this year.... we are <b>simply</b> all things nature. I even had a friend jokingly ask me when I was gonna finish my tree. I said "it's done!" <br />
I almost just left it with just the lights... I love to look at it with just the lights on.... and usually do for a few days. But anyway......<br />
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First things first....<br />
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"You might be a redneck if "..... you take a few beers to the Christmas tree lot to pick out your tree Oh... and your dog.... NIIIIICE : )<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn8bg6-FrVv7AR2MBIbZaVegVCnnPXge27iooL-QgyKE3YF4qbsaFzwSWd6f235rYWIh_SQuzhq_vibvOqwU6G7-AN990SdvcIUuUI6ALDFeU95DgivA6yIi558C7w9s3q5v1bWrEZBQK/s1600/Nov.+Dec+2011+286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn8bg6-FrVv7AR2MBIbZaVegVCnnPXge27iooL-QgyKE3YF4qbsaFzwSWd6f235rYWIh_SQuzhq_vibvOqwU6G7-AN990SdvcIUuUI6ALDFeU95DgivA6yIi558C7w9s3q5v1bWrEZBQK/s320/Nov.+Dec+2011+286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It was a beautiful afternoon for tree shopping....<br />
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This is my niece Maria , Axl and me : )<br />
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Guys are always sooo excited...right?<br />
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I swear .... there were absolutely NO new curse words invented between <b>here</b>....<br />
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and <b>here</b>... : )<br />
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Then the fun part!<br />
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First the cross, then lights.......<br />
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Grapevine.....<br />
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Cranberries... lots and lots.<br />
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and curly raffia.... thats it!<br />
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And I think it's one of the prettiest trees I've ever seen... <br />
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Xo'sss ajae<br />
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<br />AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-54752924892302950612011-08-26T09:09:00.000-07:002011-09-24T08:02:54.915-07:00FoToFridaY.... : )<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"> DeViLDoG</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">say's....</span></strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Is Mercury Retrograde over yet?"</span></span></strong></span></span>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-852955903160310942011-07-18T13:13:00.000-07:002011-08-24T11:29:07.690-07:00Where O' where ... and life's curve balls.....<em><strong> A note to reader's... I started this blog draft post before July 4th with intention of posting it before we went to the cabin for the holiday, but I got in a rush and didn't get it posted. Since then life has taken a few turns.....so it's a little jumbled, but I'm still going to use it, but add revisions up to date. </strong></em><br />
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Goodness gracious... we just stay too darn busy this time of year!! Always comin'-and-a-goin'..... here, there and everywhere!<br />
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Summers for us tend to get crazy. Seems like there is always something going on. We're going camping tomorrow for the 4th holiday. We went camping in Eufala last month... I l♥ve being outside so I enjoy those trips. Just alot of work preparing and then recovering!! Hahaaa! We've had weddings, concerts, boating excursions, visiting to friends, and plenty of house gatherings. Speaking of concerts... so far we've seen Amos Lee in Birmingham, AL. He was amazing..... if you care to, take a listen below. <br />
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I LoVe music, I can't live without it. When I get to live shows I just get so mesmerised and caught up in the experience that I rarely remember to takes pis or videos... and they hardly ever turn out very well......like this next one, we saw Billy Currington in Biloxi, MS. It was suppose to be a Father's Day gift for my Dad, but my Mom got sick and they couldn't go<br />
:(<br />
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And in 3 weeks were going to see The King's of Leon (again) in Gulf shore's, AL. : ))))))<br />
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Directly from the concert we're headed straight to stay with friends for 4 days on Lake Martin! We've dubbed it "Lake Fest" and has become an annual thing. (<em><strong>well, this has unfortunately changed...)</strong></em><br />
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Next week we're gonna miss a canoe trip due to hubby's high school reunion, which will be fun of course, but I'd rather be canoeing!<br />
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**But anywayyyyy.... I guess my point is we've been running crazy and my poor little blog has been neglected. I've often wished I could post more shorter posts and more often, but that just doesn't seem to suit me for some reason. Maybe that will change at some point, who knows, but now I just go with what feels right, with out berating myself too much....<br />
It kinda makes sense, it's like my mo I guess, because I'm the same way with my art projects... Slooow and steadyyy! ( well, maybe not so steady... but definitely slow, hahaa)<br />
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<strong><em>*Sad update... While we were on our way home from our July 4th holiday camping trip, (it was Sun. July3rd) I got a phone call from my mother ( who had been looking after my dogs for us) that my oldest jack ( Devil 15yrs) was acting strangely. When we got home we found her very agitated and uncomfortable, but with out showing any other signs. But sadly as the day progressed it became obvious that she seemed to be losing control of her back legs.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>She continued to get worse and was in terrible pain, since all the vets were closed , we decided to give her a 1/4 of a lortab. This settled her and she finally began to rest. This is how we kept her comfortable till Tues. July 5 when we could go see our vet. </em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>Not a good report, she has 3 collapsed disc's in her lower back. Eventually it will cause her to have trouble walking to a degree, or cause paralysis. Also as an incidental finding... a mass on her lung.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em> But we are extremely thankful because we are seeing some improvement. It has been tough, and we are on pain meds, muscle relaxers and steroids. The plan is to keep her comfortable enough to see if the steroids would reduce the inflammation enough for her to continue to have quality days, and it seems to be working!!!!! We are hoping we're over the hump for the time being : )</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>We've gone from this... ( how sad )</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>To this : ) How fab!</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>It's very difficult to decide what the right thing to do is when things of this nature happen with our pets. Especially our older pets. I spent the first week crying like a baby... trying to make her comfortable. But I have to say... even though the med regimen is taxing for us both, it seems to be helping. It's soooooo worth it to me.... especially when I see her so happy still, like the picture above.</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>She still has moments of difficulty, not with the legs so much.... but with some signs of pain. But NOTHING like before. Just short panting and trembling episodes here and there. Devil is an amazing and extremely tough dog, and as long as she has more good days than bad, we'll hang tough with her. Excluding that first horrible week, we definitely are having more GOOD days : ) </em></strong><strong><em>SOooooo.. wish us luck gang!!</em></strong><br />
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Now then... ( from pre- July 4th draft) about a little art play!!!!! I've been meaning to show you what I've been up to... that brings me to our new little, fun, goofy collaboration of <a href="http://yousuckmonday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: red;">You Suck Monday</span></a>! We started it back in April, just kinda goofing off together and then decided we would also blog about it.... But here is my first YSM blog entry below, and it basically sums up what it's all about....<br />
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<em>YSM POST Monday, April 25, 2011 And then there was Ajae.... </em><br />
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<em>You Suck Monday has changed my life... hahahaa! Seriously though.... I NEVER did ANY art on Mondays before Goog and Kel decided to include (drag) me. I always go straight into a funk on Mondays and promptly throw a personal pity party because every week my husband has to leave because he works out of town every week and it totally blows, ...blah,blah..that’s another story.</em><br />
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<em>Anyway... I knew my friends, Goog and Kelly, had come up with the YSM concept and were having alot fun with it. They knew that I knew about it.... but I just thought I’d be a debbie downer and ruin for them. But you know what? That didn’t happen... they let me play anyway! Even when I’m kinda quiet and don’t always follow the rules : )</em><br />
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<em>But that’s the whole point of YSM.... Your totally off the hook, always with a “get out of jail for free card”...no matter WHAT you do or try!! This is such a freeing concept, especially for those of you who may be like me, I struggle desperately with "perfectionist syndrome". This is an awful characteristic for artists because it can stop you dead in your tracks. When I start really liking something I’ve done, I totally freeze up, terrified that I’ll ruin it for sure! </em><em><br /></em><br />
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<em>What YSM has done for me is, not only does it get me out of my funk on Monday’s... I’m actually doing more art and trying new things. It’s helping me learn to get over the hurdle when I feel too terrified to make another mark. I’m soooo glad that Goog and Kelly didn’t give up on me : ) They are truly good, silly, easy, fun friends!</em><br />
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<em>I hope all ya’ll decide to give YSM a go! I know you’ll like and it can really help you grow!!! Try something new for the simple sake of trying it... it may turn out dreadful... or it may turn out mediocre... or it may turn out great! Either way it doesn’t even matter...because it’s YOU SUCK MONDAY!!!!!!!!! But one thing is for sure, you are guaranteed to learn something from each and everything single thing you try! xo's... ajae</em><br />
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<em>Here is a YSM project that I ended up really liking! The theme was trash art, it was suppose to be done on a brown paper lunch baggy, but I had to break the rules and do it on an old envelope. ( I swear I didn’t have one ya’ll ) I’m still playing with her and will probably put her one of my journals : ) ***************************************************************</em><br />
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** Since then it's kinda morphed into this thing, I'm not sure what it is really! Probably because Suzi touched it with her magic wand! Suzi loved the idea and started to play along and prompted us to start the linqto pod casts... which has been a little nerve wracking , but we're having fun with it. And I think alot of others starting to also. We also started a facebook page for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/You-Suck-Monday/113703602054463?ref=ts"><span style="color: red;">YSM</span></a> : ) Here are a few peaks at some suckage from our projects....<br />
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This was a dripage journal page.... <br />
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From this to this... FUN!!! This is still not finished, but I will definitely do more box trash art !!<br />
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This is a transfer onto a journal page. That is my niece and I...<br />
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Starting silly with potato stamp carving : )<br />
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And here's the real deal...</div>
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This was last YSM... we decided to do Mail♥ArT... we're all exchanging addy's and sending out are post card size works of art!<br />
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Plus now... a Devil Art Doll, complete with moving parts, and she stands alone !!<br />
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Today's YSM project is just plain, silly, simple fun with shrinky dinks and atc's... and of course always any show and tell any one has to share........... Come join the shenanigans!!!</div>
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If everything goes off without a hitch, you should be able to check out our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1820014456#!/pages/You-Suck-Monday/113703602054463"><span style="color: red;">facebook page</span></a> at 8pm CDT for the link. (we had some hiccups last week, but hopefully all is well)</div>
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I wish for everyone a creative, artful, peaceful week! Xo- ajae </div>
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<u></u>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-71661653631464225722011-05-04T19:40:00.000-07:002011-05-04T21:36:59.864-07:00Late Bloomer... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGTjTDvLYyTNTcBxeMPdldAVWiL_LYM5PilnolUVyN5z1mTK8f8JvYZZ9eVhIKaE4UYDraysifqc-9mstkEZCXKo-zLwwddlyVtTwnz1812ghqdWodr3PBkkKa9VsoDIfiI-OL82RTFvi/s1600/Photo1-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGTjTDvLYyTNTcBxeMPdldAVWiL_LYM5PilnolUVyN5z1mTK8f8JvYZZ9eVhIKaE4UYDraysifqc-9mstkEZCXKo-zLwwddlyVtTwnz1812ghqdWodr3PBkkKa9VsoDIfiI-OL82RTFvi/s400/Photo1-6.jpg" width="311px" /></a><br />
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These words resonate deeply with me about so many different times and areas of my life. I'll forgo the really long version, but the short of it is...when I was young most of my new classmates each year couldn't figure out if I was a boy or girl until the 6th grade. They seriously would tap me on the shoulder and have to ask.<br />
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Truth is, it did hurt my feelings, but I was a tough cookie and rolled with it. Truth also was, I was quite the tomboy and more interested in athletics, not the typical girly nonsense. So I understood the confusion... add in a very short pixie hair cut and whalah! But another thing I knew for sure was... I was an artist.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO4SmUISZJHanjlNC_Gi92p8GVjOC4c7CeYCTC7MwkJEW75ks5w_HVDY2_G0Ij_bGqzmjEFS-EkkxdLJWz066BESPWpA_Cbos2hztYFjv11v23SkgNwkiBUgDPbsmScAwUYmLkQPom_Ec/s1600/Photo1-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO4SmUISZJHanjlNC_Gi92p8GVjOC4c7CeYCTC7MwkJEW75ks5w_HVDY2_G0Ij_bGqzmjEFS-EkkxdLJWz066BESPWpA_Cbos2hztYFjv11v23SkgNwkiBUgDPbsmScAwUYmLkQPom_Ec/s400/Photo1-4.jpg" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moleskine journal page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As I continued through my middle and high school years, I continued to run track and swim. I also started to "bloom" so to speak. Funny how a girl that was mistaken for a boy in 5th grade can become the homecoming attendant in the 10th grade. I also continued to be an artist. By this time I was winning high school art shows and exhibits. <br />
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After high school, I took the "safe" route (like many artist's tend to do) and went into the work force. Then later, (at 26) back to school so I could "learn" something and make a decent living. Because my goodness, haven't you heard .... you can't JUST be an artist?! How sad is it that... I let the artist in me just wither away and get all rusty!<br />
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Fast forward 20+ years.... and I am a late ArT bloomer, but I am now bravely beginning to excavate, dust off and rediscover the artist that I know lives inside of me.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjdU07txQ53T71NtlzjZx18ESP55DRR9R0XbD6fBUhOdQYKJM1UMVwiPVQsI4HkBBxtVqHJpfdGT8_3Nhby0q22U5OJe9WtAEvIpbTXBnUxshPjX9cB7P4qPFdnIA7KOfa7KATCtL9FYU/s1600/IMG_2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjdU07txQ53T71NtlzjZx18ESP55DRR9R0XbD6fBUhOdQYKJM1UMVwiPVQsI4HkBBxtVqHJpfdGT8_3Nhby0q22U5OJe9WtAEvIpbTXBnUxshPjX9cB7P4qPFdnIA7KOfa7KATCtL9FYU/s400/IMG_2602.JPG" width="400px" /></a><br />
But I can't take all the credit, because in 2008 I had a little push from someone.... her name is <a href="http://www.suziblu.typepad.com/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><strong>Suzi Blu</strong></span> </a>. <br />
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Funny how someone you don't even know can have such an impact on you. I feel so grateful to have found her, especially since I was just beginning (latebloomer) to learn how to use a computer. I never even took typing in highschool. But I started plunkin' around on it and managed to find youtube... typed in mixed media and whalah...there she was!<br />
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I was smitten right away, she's SO engaging, passionate, funny, generous and never stagnate. She was a huge motivating factor in getting me to actually pick up a frickin' pencil again. Of course there are others that have imprinted on me as well... Pam Carriker, Tascha Parkinson, and Misty Mawn to name a few... But Suzi was "my first" : ) Fast forward 3 years... and although we've never met<strong> yet</strong> in person, I'm happy to call her a friend.<br />
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As I became a little more comfortable online, I started to realize the opportunity available for learning and connecting with the online art community. I finally got brave enough to jump in. I didn't let the fact that I couldn't type or keep up in art chat rooms stop me... I plunked and hen picked my way through anyway... and it was like a whole new world opened up to me.<br />
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I do live with some regret though, because now I know... living my life through ArT is what I was meant to do all along. But the fact remains... I didn't... till now, but that's okay... I can be a latebloomer. In fact, I've become pretty good at it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQJ5Uz6kWki1TRGPRdmGJCQxca66RUAxDZ4XLgqbCPRK7E_CU9kAp6bvoA_25Kd49N3EHN89tW7RUbjjbupXza7NPVw6pPzB55lu7V4znx4cxnmSLFzSZSeZ0oTdq9pv1JuF3vdfF0iAe/s1600/Photo1-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQJ5Uz6kWki1TRGPRdmGJCQxca66RUAxDZ4XLgqbCPRK7E_CU9kAp6bvoA_25Kd49N3EHN89tW7RUbjjbupXza7NPVw6pPzB55lu7V4znx4cxnmSLFzSZSeZ0oTdq9pv1JuF3vdfF0iAe/s320/Photo1-8.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I learned this from Suzi... : )</td></tr>
</tbody></table> If someone would have told me a couple years ago that I could or would make <strong><u>real friends</u></strong> online, I would have thought ...yeah right... whatever. Don't get me wrong... I <strong>have</strong> met many wonderful like minded souls and have enjoyed making online friendships.<br />
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But it has been kinda' strange for me because in person... I am always friendly and outgoing, but I discovered that online I am a fairly shy and it takes time for me to open up. I think it has to do with the rawness of exposing something as personal as your art work, or even your thoughts in words... and also because of(especially early on) my lack of computer skills. <br />
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But surprisingly a few friendships have really evolved over time. They liked me anyway : ) and now we correspond pretty much on a daily basis, usually through texting and skype dates. We are all very different and help each other through our many art challenges and sometimes even life's challenges. <br />
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This is something I never expected to happen, and I am so happy and grateful for it. Thank you so much Goog, Kelly and Suzi : )<br />
Also, if you feel so inclined you can check out our new blog titled <a href="http://yousuckmonday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><strong>"You Suck Monday"</strong></span></a> . It's the blog with a funny name but an awesome concept! Go check it out... you know you want to, with a name like that!<br />
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Even as I type this today, (you do NOT wanna' know how long it took me) I feel like a late bloomer... I'm too meticulous, and self critical....I get in my own way alot, but I'm getting better and learning so much from my new found friends.....<br />
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In 2010 I started this blog, flickr, facebook, and finally in 2011 an Etsy Store! I must confess it has been overwhelming and I feel the last year has been a huge online learning experience. <br />
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What takes my friend 5 minutes to do on a blog takes me an hour....so I've spent alot of time in front of the computer rather than the art table, but I realize this is all part of the process. Now that I'm getting my sea legs so to speak... my hope is to be more prolific artistically this year, through my art and photography, and even more blogging!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA78H6sNmWKfhn_aKKDCHVvkKcw4C2zr93xfvq8o4G_79vuMAc19tiUqfFimoZGBhElBPecgifUiL23QSE3eACGVPChwBaiwz3ylMoE6P8LVipg6s9odMGTaLed0YHlX0ijsBNAKCC8PI/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA78H6sNmWKfhn_aKKDCHVvkKcw4C2zr93xfvq8o4G_79vuMAc19tiUqfFimoZGBhElBPecgifUiL23QSE3eACGVPChwBaiwz3ylMoE6P8LVipg6s9odMGTaLed0YHlX0ijsBNAKCC8PI/s400/photo-1.JPG" width="316px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am a bird now...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But I know that late bloomer's still eventually bloom : ) I don't know how close I am or what I will be... but it's all part of my artful life journey, and I'm cool with that... xo ajaeAJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-24692710076649817642011-04-15T13:40:00.000-07:002011-05-04T15:03:40.970-07:00Guess what the MagicaL CoCooN did......... ♥ <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">IT</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">HATCHED</span>!!!!! </strong></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaArx1PwOCmF-dppoE0TFyJH61DcMA5P6epUK3q3WpR7A_nxm3IpNKauTOkiLiC0nKkx75Hbir42lJI2EhZuoWzRSoja1OCYDMnXbCVs9I5U9V4dc8l_tb1RIUXyV3YlMV-jWlFxnGxBy/s1600/IMG_5126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaArx1PwOCmF-dppoE0TFyJH61DcMA5P6epUK3q3WpR7A_nxm3IpNKauTOkiLiC0nKkx75Hbir42lJI2EhZuoWzRSoja1OCYDMnXbCVs9I5U9V4dc8l_tb1RIUXyV3YlMV-jWlFxnGxBy/s400/IMG_5126.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><strong>Can you believe it.........</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm <strong>sooooo</strong> sad though, because I missed the magic show!!! I had been checking most everyday, in fact I was starting to get worried because I read that you could gently shake the <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">cocoon</span></strong> and sometimes feel some movement inside. But when I tried, it just felt like a hard little butter bean in there. I was beginning to think he didn't make it through the winter. (some don't)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">BUT, on a dreary rainy Tuesday morning.... <strong>tadaaaaah!</strong> Who would of thought.... all along I assumed it would emerge on a perfect spring/summer day. ( My father suggested maybe the moisture in the air helps them to bore out of the <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">cocoon</span></strong>. Makes sense...) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><strong>Well... I just happen to look up and here HE was!!!!!!</strong></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnpvCWBB2m-6duiSBcbHOnIlRRGrL4znpGEWbTykJAPM2OkkNeVEHPbgW04UUgotbEI6M-vYd4N5XAZKz8k-JCrd2Ia2OIXP_OoVRRle4hN9qKSqKvdOuryROxZ7NUKCYamqjbKGoPPwl/s1600/IMG_5111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnpvCWBB2m-6duiSBcbHOnIlRRGrL4znpGEWbTykJAPM2OkkNeVEHPbgW04UUgotbEI6M-vYd4N5XAZKz8k-JCrd2Ia2OIXP_OoVRRle4hN9qKSqKvdOuryROxZ7NUKCYamqjbKGoPPwl/s400/IMG_5111.JPG" width="308px" /></a></div>I was just <strong>awestruck</strong> at what I was actually seeing!!!! Then I ran over to check the <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">cocoon</span></strong>... I was actually moved to tears... happy tears!<br />
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For those who may be reading about this for the first time, here's a quick recap... ( if your a nature lover and want to read the story from the beginning go back and first read <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">"Forever Grateful... and the Magical Cocoon"</span></strong> <a href="http://ajaeunleashed.blogspot.com/2010/10/of-my-mornings-last-week-was-just-so.html">here</a> and then <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">"Spring Update: Oliver and the Magical Cocoon" <a href="http://ajaeunleashed.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-update-oliver-and-magical-cocoon.html">here</a></span></strong> ) Anyway....some of our dear friends found this <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">huge magnificent caterpillar</span></strong> on my street last Sept. on the day of their wedding party. They brought it in so it wouldn't get squished by all cars fixin' to pull up....and we "let it go"... in my screen enclosure. It spun a wonderful <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">cocoon</span></strong> 3 weeks later. Soooooooo, we've been on the "cocoon watch" for 7 months...wondering if it was gonna make it through the winter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Oliver and the Magical Cocoon</span><span style="color: #e06666;">♥</span></span></span></strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's my first attempt at getting him on video..... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <strong> Jinx -Part 1</strong></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw_98AY1Z9tvxZO1IlqV0MtGwa_Q2wfkf7EdnJ4P5IIvXAObGU9IfaqqzLoIDpNDqTKsVAWXSq9VSygWWkz6Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xzGEhXavSAzh6yeNAZgqGrctPRsNTBfQOTh0OylnDSL055llKHQyM_vuh53MMSHOLxI5IDjictzOxOcV0uEmQJtzlxtHjNn_D7vKJRW4Tpd6DGX3X28i0AxhtfVkKBA536Yez423F4zo/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xzGEhXavSAzh6yeNAZgqGrctPRsNTBfQOTh0OylnDSL055llKHQyM_vuh53MMSHOLxI5IDjictzOxOcV0uEmQJtzlxtHjNn_D7vKJRW4Tpd6DGX3X28i0AxhtfVkKBA536Yez423F4zo/s400/IMG_5169.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Meet Jinxy...</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, it took days before I could get a good look at him because he stayed so far up on the screen enclosure. But I finally did... and then ran to research and found out that he in fact was a male <strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #274e13;">Polyphemus moth.</span></strong> He was<strong> glorious!!!!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MMdzJ-d-bE8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" height="266" id="BLOG_video-FAILED-2" width="320"></object></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a closer look at him.... by this time I was beginning to have some concerns over his well being.... and how I could catch and release this <strong><span style="color: #660000;">magnificent</span></strong> creature..... </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8YgVtKrFHZhGJ6vXksHLhDeTp5dUyPs8bo6gGl9nrRn0ukqYu2pmIKBTKw3TBy0yXIWn-3DIYsIyDogMACDDn2maGtOV7wBnUdbStmp4J4GWsuKkj-EzZP-LdznmMsqQB0mWZNlgfajh/s1600/IMG_5182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8YgVtKrFHZhGJ6vXksHLhDeTp5dUyPs8bo6gGl9nrRn0ukqYu2pmIKBTKw3TBy0yXIWn-3DIYsIyDogMACDDn2maGtOV7wBnUdbStmp4J4GWsuKkj-EzZP-LdznmMsqQB0mWZNlgfajh/s400/IMG_5182.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c; color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><strong>He was soooo pretty..... 6" wing span!</strong></span><br />
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</tbody></table> Well, as you heard in this last video.... I was filled with regret for not being able to let him go sooner. Especially after doing more research and finding out where he was at in his life cycle. Had I known this...I certainly would of tried to keep it outside in a safe place of some sort, so as the critters couldn't eat him. <br />
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Oh well... I can't take it back right? I choose to believe he indeed fluttered off into the evening..... and found the perfect female and managed to finish his life's work.<br />
I also like to think that I had a part in him surviving winter, as we had had several hard freezes.<strong><span style="color: #274e13;"> Ollie</span></strong> and <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">Jinxy's cocoon</span></strong> shared the same plant, so numerous nights I put a heat lamp out for them.<br />
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I was extremely grateful to have this experience. I often feel like people don't "get" the things that I am enamoured by.... oh well, poo on them ! I think it's important to follow what brings you peace inside.... and I love what I love : )<br />
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More art related post coming soon... I promise! <span style="color: #e06666;">♥</span> <strong>ajae</strong><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #fff2cc; color: #38761d;">Polyphemus Moth Fact:</span></strong> <strong>The males have such large feather-like antenna's in order for them to pick up the pheromones released from the females. They can detect and travel up to 5 miles in search of Love<span style="color: #e06666;">♥</span></strong><span style="color: #e06666;"> </span> AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-86705520525450219652011-03-01T19:09:00.000-08:002011-03-02T15:20:59.502-08:00Spring Update: Oliver and the Magical CocoonWell... I'm happy to report that our winter is coming to a close here in North Florida, and I for one, am soooooo relieved as I tend to suffer quite well with the winter doldrums. I don't think I would survive very well at all in the colder, longer winter climates. (shout out to my northern friends, ya'll are tough cookies) Not only do I not handle the cold temperatures well, but I think I get that seasonal depression junk. I NEED<span style="color: #f1c232;"> </span><span style="color: #bf9000;"><strong>sunshine</strong></span>... and I am extremely grateful to be <strong><span style="color: #274e13;">planted</span></strong> in Florida : )<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bzStbhF0dYaKXQwIPzV9mKJzyh7hPBA7-XYsrA0lMRPy08Hjyew19b4NmyCc_pywtePKMjzWIpBO8EgZAza0cmZtpxEy070GZR8rizTR52H7hR3Y_HU0JLRlPu-np91GMmTwG0A-twfb/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bzStbhF0dYaKXQwIPzV9mKJzyh7hPBA7-XYsrA0lMRPy08Hjyew19b4NmyCc_pywtePKMjzWIpBO8EgZAza0cmZtpxEy070GZR8rizTR52H7hR3Y_HU0JLRlPu-np91GMmTwG0A-twfb/s320/photo.JPG" width="275" /></a></div><br />
My <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>weeds</strong></span> are always the first to let me know winter is officially almost over...<br />
I think <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>weeds</strong></span> get a bad rap... and even though I also tend to rid my garden of most of them, they are just another flowering <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>plant</strong></span> for peats sake!! And you don't have to hunt them down and pay for them at the nursery. They just show up allllll by themselves<span style="color: #e06666;">♥</span> and offer up their enjoyment and beauty for free... I even press them and use them in my art work : ) <br />
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<strong>My best of all news is...</strong> I'm thrilled to say that <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Oliver</strong></span> did well and made it through our freezing temperatures this year. The <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>plant</strong></span> he was residing on is another story... which is also the <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>plant</strong></span> the glorious <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>caterpillar</strong></span> decided to <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>cocoon</strong></span> apon. Well... it was a <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>money tree</strong></span> which is a tropical <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>plant</strong></span> and I couldn't bring it in doors because of <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Oliver</strong></span>. The warmer house temperature would have brought him out of his brumation (a type of hibernation) and when that happens they begin to move around more, and if he got loose in the house and I couldn't find him, dying from dehydration would be almost a certainty. <br />
I have known for weeks now the <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>plant</strong></span> was not gonna make it. I had hoped the heat lamps I used on it to keep <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Oliver</strong></span> safe would save the<span style="color: #274e13;"> <strong>plant</strong></span> too, but Saturday I noticed the poor<strong> <span style="color: #274e13;">plant</span></strong> was seriously dropping <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>leaves</strong></span> by the minute and fixing to be bare... I <strong>had</strong> to go find <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Oliver</strong></span> a new home. And what to do with the <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>cocoon</strong></span>? <strong>Oh my.....</strong> I was totally fretting over it : (<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-gNsLgC3RWXKDT4ZS7BYP61Zz9tcpT_1nKf4lgGD8V9Me1N_6YBgyWH_P1LLjquIFx5_TlgttQxyLt2GgLndNuZdZXaLV5tyXfVpgGDbAMCwbAk8Os0RxFzYIkiBZ-lHBdc0yQYKyhnR/s1600/IMG_4731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-gNsLgC3RWXKDT4ZS7BYP61Zz9tcpT_1nKf4lgGD8V9Me1N_6YBgyWH_P1LLjquIFx5_TlgttQxyLt2GgLndNuZdZXaLV5tyXfVpgGDbAMCwbAk8Os0RxFzYIkiBZ-lHBdc0yQYKyhnR/s320/IMG_4731.JPG" width="240" /></strong></a><br />
Here is <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Ollie</strong></span> and the <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>cocoon</strong></span> on the healthy <span style="color: #274e13;">plant</span> last September.<br />
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Here it was on Saturday morning.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34kPSu34dKqs14n-DCKwXz_nxRxTxbEPouBzjQa-XlEesYPgdfn905lt2-Uoy5023T4Qng1XI-xqUWXkwz3qFME5qkeMtvml8twwQxEutHs46cAx_0PQZMPnbFr2oF_DTAAjmwo6TnEvL/s1600/IMG_4922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34kPSu34dKqs14n-DCKwXz_nxRxTxbEPouBzjQa-XlEesYPgdfn905lt2-Uoy5023T4Qng1XI-xqUWXkwz3qFME5qkeMtvml8twwQxEutHs46cAx_0PQZMPnbFr2oF_DTAAjmwo6TnEvL/s320/IMG_4922.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs6dub5ra9h5NkcSMcNlaLQ094l6Dh4b1tdyT-KyUNv-4l61TvjF9etkw92RVFin8GGR4JvqhIDNFGPtRApACcDskGonxdChLcqp4_M9PSLqA9zKFLO3wlLQoEfml7lBNrqUziIPpDlda/s1600/IMG_4912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs6dub5ra9h5NkcSMcNlaLQ094l6Dh4b1tdyT-KyUNv-4l61TvjF9etkw92RVFin8GGR4JvqhIDNFGPtRApACcDskGonxdChLcqp4_M9PSLqA9zKFLO3wlLQoEfml7lBNrqUziIPpDlda/s320/IMG_4912.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So... I went plant shopping Saturday and decided on a <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>loquat tree</strong></span>. They are a slow growing<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong> tree</strong></span> that is <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>evergreen</strong></span> in our area. This way, I won't have to worry about this next year...and so on ..... Here's a video I took when I got home and put the new <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>tree</strong></span> out. I apologize about it being quite blurry at times.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3dU0KbmPVY_GZE2KQ06FYCo5xhpf0wxrgEi0cKPPqp2jutlRVTBN94CFSi-nlupqIDXfyvd0GMnfNKvhmyw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below is a clearer picture of the <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>magical cocoon</strong></span>.... I soooo hope it's okay : (</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YyX1skPX4GB5RtcmUpQaj-cvMc4LCYSeq6CcfMB1FvaQTGl0Zcj0WV9udECD9lFdAwli8IGSqxLbYwu70MtMrns-I7DM6oonXJEDDMNxJ1A_YyJiKWSB26b4CuLzYx3wTABYelD3YgDY/s1600/IMG_4982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YyX1skPX4GB5RtcmUpQaj-cvMc4LCYSeq6CcfMB1FvaQTGl0Zcj0WV9udECD9lFdAwli8IGSqxLbYwu70MtMrns-I7DM6oonXJEDDMNxJ1A_YyJiKWSB26b4CuLzYx3wTABYelD3YgDY/s400/IMG_4982.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Well... my hope is that this is of some interest to others. I find myself wondering, but I'm determined to stay focused on things here that really mean something to <strong>me</strong>. Things that I feel to my core... and the things that bring me my peace... Oh, and by the way... he moved into his new condo shortly after I shot the video : )<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;"> ♥</span>ajae<br />
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<strong>ps</strong>. This will be my 4th year with <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Oliver</strong></span>. If you are just now reading this and intriqued, I first posted about <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Oliver</strong></span> and the <span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>magical cocoon</strong></span> last Oct. here: <a href="http://ajaeunleashed.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-10-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&updated-max=2010-11-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1">http://ajaeunleashed.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-10-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&updated-max=2010-11-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=1</a><br />
<a name='more'></a>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-6962986553214378962011-01-01T12:27:00.000-08:002011-01-01T19:01:00.886-08:00Lighten up♥<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFVNUciqzzgzmAZFRlcBo7cHpUj7UfgDEbsCe_oQqAWtv8yW13ckMpKQV9Wk2-Ws6i-X97XVG6iA4kvrUCsyN63CjKnZnHzY_CRRNhA0rLZhjWmBKxsr8vX0tQNVEpB4tDg31fRyoNYzV/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFVNUciqzzgzmAZFRlcBo7cHpUj7UfgDEbsCe_oQqAWtv8yW13ckMpKQV9Wk2-Ws6i-X97XVG6iA4kvrUCsyN63CjKnZnHzY_CRRNhA0rLZhjWmBKxsr8vX0tQNVEpB4tDg31fRyoNYzV/s400/IMG_0998.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stampcarving LoVe....<br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I've never been a resolutionist...Hahaaa! I think we're too hard on ourselves this time of year. Often times, I think it just sets us up for failure, and then we kick ourselves when were down! A whole new inner dialog (indigo) starts within about how lame we are for not following through...<br />
I prefer to try and "work" on my self-betterment all year through. Wow! I can't quit making up words today.... I'm on fire!<br />
<br />
I always feel more invigorated and optimistic about my life in the spring time, not dreary-*ss January. Even so...I give myself permission to not be so hard on myself. (till it's time to put on the bikini anyway, now that's a scary thought.)<br />
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So anyway, enough about crappy new year traditions. It's a little late... but here's a little peek in to my Christmas Cheer : )<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIdaDHz5hVpJsMr3nLVnH_Bg7fzYRu4ctkXSdEYiwY2huLR1NHVoi9uTUryZmIM_zhq-QNRObLaEdHKTyGpNN_n65yythh_fZFW6IeLJWfi_4IVcfl3mzftsHlEG3ulecOP30MGMRDY18/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIdaDHz5hVpJsMr3nLVnH_Bg7fzYRu4ctkXSdEYiwY2huLR1NHVoi9uTUryZmIM_zhq-QNRObLaEdHKTyGpNN_n65yythh_fZFW6IeLJWfi_4IVcfl3mzftsHlEG3ulecOP30MGMRDY18/s320/IMG_2008.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always, always a real tree....I love it with just the lights on it... I usually leave it like this for a few days. I love the simplicity of just a glorious glowing tree.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zHSmWIa362Vaf4OQYTBxQwpSyTzkc5crKIsaGUlMqJcSuPeEJS_UItl_qfWeiFZ_4GqRvMuRQkXka55U_Msp6Uoz5oIQqfw_l_OOGkoSChsIL1YFoou2mySS6l2WAyaTgMVPF3fIlJ6P/s1600/IMG_2092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zHSmWIa362Vaf4OQYTBxQwpSyTzkc5crKIsaGUlMqJcSuPeEJS_UItl_qfWeiFZ_4GqRvMuRQkXka55U_Msp6Uoz5oIQqfw_l_OOGkoSChsIL1YFoou2mySS6l2WAyaTgMVPF3fIlJ6P/s320/IMG_2092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After some friendly advice ( thanks Kelly) I decided to string fresh cranberries this year for the first time ever! It was so fun and I loved it! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvrwkzSSlBpL0uHvvgGQ_-0XEM88haAD-AmV5AcXnRM1rzXCDwhb5oH-ReGZhORY2hKDg8WWO6GeVXjDj4Bye39iTYSQYZJ03-HZ3R7sfEt0V7H-tejCY7hwFqodwkez9mP1k6X5rRJlz/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvrwkzSSlBpL0uHvvgGQ_-0XEM88haAD-AmV5AcXnRM1rzXCDwhb5oH-ReGZhORY2hKDg8WWO6GeVXjDj4Bye39iTYSQYZJ03-HZ3R7sfEt0V7H-tejCY7hwFqodwkez9mP1k6X5rRJlz/s320/IMG_2089.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same shot as above, just playing with my hipstamatic... I'm sooo hooked on it : ) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXaf8i5WWCkc8Psp0DTZAba1C1vP7ckYnV7uvgu6WTgtP12wZy0AjTkhvRT8_CiQCkfMaWAiGqrKtki57xjUl1OSRRCRIAfqfRs2tNXil11ws8Lbs-y4wGBiVqlSOZGLjME1wBnS2WFaT/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXaf8i5WWCkc8Psp0DTZAba1C1vP7ckYnV7uvgu6WTgtP12wZy0AjTkhvRT8_CiQCkfMaWAiGqrKtki57xjUl1OSRRCRIAfqfRs2tNXil11ws8Lbs-y4wGBiVqlSOZGLjME1wBnS2WFaT/s320/IMG_2028.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It doesn't take long to notice, my house is filled with what I love.... nature and animals.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bKvfEXhKZhqqA-Dk8SDCfxznkB-1ZrBdpHAeDf3NgxiQmVFLV3N5WbcudoMxgj7NJ4X4hzfTqY6RRFQoicAYyAWSjpRbBTAsFqiGCzFD5GBF5JdFEcVTHV0DcTSVg0w3URRURaBflLrD/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bKvfEXhKZhqqA-Dk8SDCfxznkB-1ZrBdpHAeDf3NgxiQmVFLV3N5WbcudoMxgj7NJ4X4hzfTqY6RRFQoicAYyAWSjpRbBTAsFqiGCzFD5GBF5JdFEcVTHV0DcTSVg0w3URRURaBflLrD/s320/IMG_2050.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr7zCZyblJbkpf8B0l87wXX1EgPJ4kiPkQsJn01xTIFCGK2raIE-ukFiXQb1i_P-lgtHwWCi4YR9y4090fdqV5CSoAxzmoLn3NeKD3PkJ7ObT3pgA9kIkUe3_gRmcTOHo7DI9WeuSGHkO/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr7zCZyblJbkpf8B0l87wXX1EgPJ4kiPkQsJn01xTIFCGK2raIE-ukFiXQb1i_P-lgtHwWCi4YR9y4090fdqV5CSoAxzmoLn3NeKD3PkJ7ObT3pgA9kIkUe3_gRmcTOHo7DI9WeuSGHkO/s320/IMG_2114.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedDbDxJYUuJhiYL3KctEwlhyaZqT-F-yupwoVd9IGjhhL1VJXrDYlihIfgegt2OqUZfMHuKgEKBD9ZseYQESWILjPsb3B7d8W9lsfbNa1KQ2NDM5iHSPkl96b1FVACwryNYBZlzQaTKdo/s1600/IMG_0193-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedDbDxJYUuJhiYL3KctEwlhyaZqT-F-yupwoVd9IGjhhL1VJXrDYlihIfgegt2OqUZfMHuKgEKBD9ZseYQESWILjPsb3B7d8W9lsfbNa1KQ2NDM5iHSPkl96b1FVACwryNYBZlzQaTKdo/s320/IMG_0193-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tree also is very nature inspired... I use grapevine,curly raffia, feathers, fresh sunflowers, babies breath and english ivy. The fresh cranberries were the perfect new addition. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSVqOKt9sjQmu8h0HIW-PGpxzY6msICKByZlZIPJWf-kJFwkjtOMXYCOMar4DwmWdPFbYvpHyLNvYKUALsAFvGvlL6_Stj4rRTi5hZr2HrfDIlB0cOh_4dG9wKvWoSSZtv7no8TtONUTe/s1600/IMG_2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSVqOKt9sjQmu8h0HIW-PGpxzY6msICKByZlZIPJWf-kJFwkjtOMXYCOMar4DwmWdPFbYvpHyLNvYKUALsAFvGvlL6_Stj4rRTi5hZr2HrfDIlB0cOh_4dG9wKvWoSSZtv7no8TtONUTe/s320/IMG_2117.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Goog taught me how to make cakeball yummies♥</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGdnEtb88RwDIZZe5pvxaw7fE3djwl-whwz0B5ZC8LSSpik2Sh_Jr9nh8XaSl6jvPMP-ef3dnfjepx-cJ6sNscbqK1eautO5L2Jao_lZT0biYyQjyAcSB097cap0PAvVHmVtsElrqD4ao/s1600/IMG_2149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGdnEtb88RwDIZZe5pvxaw7fE3djwl-whwz0B5ZC8LSSpik2Sh_Jr9nh8XaSl6jvPMP-ef3dnfjepx-cJ6sNscbqK1eautO5L2Jao_lZT0biYyQjyAcSB097cap0PAvVHmVtsElrqD4ao/s320/IMG_2149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Rudolph collection... I love them all but am especially fond of the vintage cut out (on top of that red tree) I have no idea how old it is, but found it at an estate sale. It was in their trash pile!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkXBvgY9d6ydKXANS8JNPQ2He0pB-vhNn98oPj_0QX1XLB6NNu7pzJr741E7LG5mJdELTZdbHZsFMKwwTBXkHFTb9m9hyn0AbWPlqNp8BWTqtdqEYFpQe9PBlt2Fs0ItfBr8UtZ0nuXae/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkXBvgY9d6ydKXANS8JNPQ2He0pB-vhNn98oPj_0QX1XLB6NNu7pzJr741E7LG5mJdELTZdbHZsFMKwwTBXkHFTb9m9hyn0AbWPlqNp8BWTqtdqEYFpQe9PBlt2Fs0ItfBr8UtZ0nuXae/s320/IMG_2173.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got Jack?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoPgrRlGle4O28bfSBhbHP-9Ufb-bRzNCj_njvxJYUM6gJy85TH6HZDz7F1fLdYu3y_K1hE5sdj6dcq3m-YWc8b8SFamvnRiZFjzCbkJfVcqGXVRkt9x1oZZeVyGvvvZGFWUHlpQ_J_Ha/s1600/IMG_2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoPgrRlGle4O28bfSBhbHP-9Ufb-bRzNCj_njvxJYUM6gJy85TH6HZDz7F1fLdYu3y_K1hE5sdj6dcq3m-YWc8b8SFamvnRiZFjzCbkJfVcqGXVRkt9x1oZZeVyGvvvZGFWUHlpQ_J_Ha/s320/IMG_2165.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vintage ornies.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFBrdD8J7AvXmmpJk1RRvfS8YAAunVpkdJOJfb2qVk27vqpIHnb1s0ieU_6XR8RkGzSQzYObt-DeArPt1qboEfM6SwD3Qomgn6s3Ew6exMzE0YX__2x_yx9GJn-X-W29cvZfbwwal5T-g/s1600/IMG_2194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFBrdD8J7AvXmmpJk1RRvfS8YAAunVpkdJOJfb2qVk27vqpIHnb1s0ieU_6XR8RkGzSQzYObt-DeArPt1qboEfM6SwD3Qomgn6s3Ew6exMzE0YX__2x_yx9GJn-X-W29cvZfbwwal5T-g/s320/IMG_2194.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Christmas Mermmmie : )</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcEjkTxxGYH6FfWc3qJGssKwcOYJiosDcDnCkiWKmEkVKBceBT7cToKMRef-ou7fVrOl3AK8nWgC8khjPD3dRuVjhtrwPN6npDKqismhove3JFVcNI7a7Fjal09CE5G2R_46YO0Vd0ZzR/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcEjkTxxGYH6FfWc3qJGssKwcOYJiosDcDnCkiWKmEkVKBceBT7cToKMRef-ou7fVrOl3AK8nWgC8khjPD3dRuVjhtrwPN6npDKqismhove3JFVcNI7a7Fjal09CE5G2R_46YO0Vd0ZzR/s320/IMG_2208.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some outdoor garland...complete with redneck miller light lights!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs6Obdymg9WUS2tSHV7t9iNBRPd-iIrS5Z1FAknj_3OB2-v6t7k8x3CD9iUqcDoD1IiXtQtxDhVSBoRHbZiCEP1fDmrawSi3w1uN_5XuNSXQTx3Gd0gud3Q_ywnIiRo5w-CY3myCLKMIW/s1600/IMG_2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs6Obdymg9WUS2tSHV7t9iNBRPd-iIrS5Z1FAknj_3OB2-v6t7k8x3CD9iUqcDoD1IiXtQtxDhVSBoRHbZiCEP1fDmrawSi3w1uN_5XuNSXQTx3Gd0gud3Q_ywnIiRo5w-CY3myCLKMIW/s320/IMG_2213.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil dog... my very own Christmas grinch♥</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljsH8cmI_mgn_JwXzIvPEbrQcmOAupSEq1pjItEHalaJbEZFxvF0nBivXqUb1GSqjHgIxUYEGoQ2xhqYs3t5Spgc1z8ZY75hKKdvjOvqg95vPyZfEKNZz8wXQnSaSBk-DAg_YkTxUkQ39/s1600/IMG_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljsH8cmI_mgn_JwXzIvPEbrQcmOAupSEq1pjItEHalaJbEZFxvF0nBivXqUb1GSqjHgIxUYEGoQ2xhqYs3t5Spgc1z8ZY75hKKdvjOvqg95vPyZfEKNZz8wXQnSaSBk-DAg_YkTxUkQ39/s320/IMG_2218.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My vintage Christmas apron</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPD6YBVriUXPXKvFbglZEMUgMsItDGPcfVAyN2Th0RclQdRNaQzNJ24n-jGB47tsYLkDRGWHmakZv55aGYVkKhbhnKISDH4EmjtGzwdp5XXd0TJ811YpSxIt-lrQurngKMiLjL-dI1hVp/s1600/IMG_2243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPD6YBVriUXPXKvFbglZEMUgMsItDGPcfVAyN2Th0RclQdRNaQzNJ24n-jGB47tsYLkDRGWHmakZv55aGYVkKhbhnKISDH4EmjtGzwdp5XXd0TJ811YpSxIt-lrQurngKMiLjL-dI1hVp/s320/IMG_2243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9w7xv75TZ3BcQlCtrdytpqt37wunSiVCPvBHwezOQobs66Vt6QV7roh_St_rOfMS7-H-71Wx8B61cIh3qZqzxbVjYR_9ahaNQ-qVtq34VXfiq7SAuWl-Uvw-z0h42-eqJvpOeeq0JRwm/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM9w7xv75TZ3BcQlCtrdytpqt37wunSiVCPvBHwezOQobs66Vt6QV7roh_St_rOfMS7-H-71Wx8B61cIh3qZqzxbVjYR_9ahaNQ-qVtq34VXfiq7SAuWl-Uvw-z0h42-eqJvpOeeq0JRwm/s320/IMG_2204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_37tQvXLZj5xiIYPnzhJm1OhGPqM0PPi08_zDY0K-tKbJMGvGTH_zeYCR9CFnn5O7EPkUR8Kr_poIaFA9eKCGGd7nC0-ucBRjD3JA0Iv1QLG86lKyfbVAAUy-QRscLfsd6aKWRh_3w0lS/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_37tQvXLZj5xiIYPnzhJm1OhGPqM0PPi08_zDY0K-tKbJMGvGTH_zeYCR9CFnn5O7EPkUR8Kr_poIaFA9eKCGGd7nC0-ucBRjD3JA0Iv1QLG86lKyfbVAAUy-QRscLfsd6aKWRh_3w0lS/s320/IMG_2275.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We eat ALOT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglws2ftJrfcrboWx9AuGLUj3XuuRq3Q9maZBseu3C3yfSg5BLplUwG5yCh_CAX6XCunPhwm4eGv_rbgeWlS1prDfKDox_6STMyBBSfo6dNsCEsK5FjYYPmbkbGQ4ge6uOuaiciY-w6vnxm/s1600/IMG_2279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglws2ftJrfcrboWx9AuGLUj3XuuRq3Q9maZBseu3C3yfSg5BLplUwG5yCh_CAX6XCunPhwm4eGv_rbgeWlS1prDfKDox_6STMyBBSfo6dNsCEsK5FjYYPmbkbGQ4ge6uOuaiciY-w6vnxm/s320/IMG_2279.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFfrJ0Ds-wptAmhkjnimKejx4bvJjYreBUI7fGezkiheHWeDidn21R5_SOb0wNzkbNW1vFNF81QCfdnKpGoUsTi5pFsQu99E36kfHru_HjOhHf1ODteFcEFowYSOi4qV_M5Z_wY_n-BM1/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFfrJ0Ds-wptAmhkjnimKejx4bvJjYreBUI7fGezkiheHWeDidn21R5_SOb0wNzkbNW1vFNF81QCfdnKpGoUsTi5pFsQu99E36kfHru_HjOhHf1ODteFcEFowYSOi4qV_M5Z_wY_n-BM1/s320/IMG_0201.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We drink ALOT</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClIureY94kgnIXyipjCjiieWeG_HfZTs1FNJPmfFlQDJss-GoYKhRDEMst9NKGWhLyFcRQLWh4rINgKjhk7FG-ocEjXHymC6VuxzId-DtEkw_VMosbvF28uIm170EFNHorPcQN17XzPRP/s1600/IMG_2272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClIureY94kgnIXyipjCjiieWeG_HfZTs1FNJPmfFlQDJss-GoYKhRDEMst9NKGWhLyFcRQLWh4rINgKjhk7FG-ocEjXHymC6VuxzId-DtEkw_VMosbvF28uIm170EFNHorPcQN17XzPRP/s320/IMG_2272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4zCLFyATGh6TffOwOxPRQxmW8fjr9-DJYCmmhGVbUPDBTAV57liwr9SOOC0-sg41Wa79CYC7Z4MGi7sUkxCxuFAhP-dUYba8fZiv7XYq7pt8pjZiB2OV-N2l5w7gr9zm7oV_JskotsYf/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4zCLFyATGh6TffOwOxPRQxmW8fjr9-DJYCmmhGVbUPDBTAV57liwr9SOOC0-sg41Wa79CYC7Z4MGi7sUkxCxuFAhP-dUYba8fZiv7XYq7pt8pjZiB2OV-N2l5w7gr9zm7oV_JskotsYf/s320/IMG_2297.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">play games ALOT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsomaGjxw55arWlYyNf0UJsShNvh159XZ7NCqWC0RhDKORVw4HMbT0J-HVBUZLN8pydts73_u2N_xShH00C-MsHtQz1TFSxQkmpKX3Yw5Mf2s0SzJJd7c9AdxKKpYfsD1F156Rgg6A9pEM/s1600/IMG_2269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsomaGjxw55arWlYyNf0UJsShNvh159XZ7NCqWC0RhDKORVw4HMbT0J-HVBUZLN8pydts73_u2N_xShH00C-MsHtQz1TFSxQkmpKX3Yw5Mf2s0SzJJd7c9AdxKKpYfsD1F156Rgg6A9pEM/s320/IMG_2269.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and of course... we text ALOT.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cheers to 2011... clink! love ya'll, ajae</div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-78347673712528114622010-11-24T10:22:00.000-08:002010-11-24T10:22:06.135-08:00Fall Ya'll......<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thanksgiving is tomorrow!! The house is already starting to smell like it, yummmmm. I hope everyone has an enjoyable and relaxing one. Yes, I said <strong>relaxing</strong> one. I think we can all agree that we're thankful for all the things were suppose to be thankful for : loved ones, being loved, a roof, good health and the like....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But one of the things I'm thankful for is learning how to <strong>enjoy</strong> the chaos that the holidays can and usually bring. I haven't always been able to do this ( perfectionist qualities suck), and it has taken me a long time. In many holidays past, I have had a tendency to get waaaay to caught up in the<strong> "what's wrong "</strong> ( house not clean enough, burned casseroles, a forgotten gift.... etc...) than the <strong>"what's right."</strong></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This year we expect approx. 24 for dinner... And I love it and can't wait! It's just not worth stressing yourself out over the details so much. Sure, everyone wants it to be perfect, but it <strong>never</strong> will be. I have learned that I enjoy the occasion soooo much more when I just chill and let it <strong>manifest</strong> the way it just does. Even better if you can find your sense of humor when things really screw up! Which also serves well to help relax everyone! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>So don't sweat the burnt rolls, the late dinner guests, or the drunk uncle.... I know I won't : )<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's a short vid of my "forever grateful" mobile in action... and my glorious hickory tree's fall leaves. I failed to mention it was 78* outside when I shot that yesterday, and all my lizards were out... so I took a quick vid of Scarlett, my unique red head! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Looks like we'll have a warm Thanksgiving this year, oh well it willl be a relaxing one.... hope yours is too : ) XO'ssssss~ ajae</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0M9D6oVc1Wk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;"> Scarlett</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="266" id="BLOG_video-FAILED-1" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" width="320"></object><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx1IMxtSDgmzmAwG6Ag0BWhpt2fwyuDxtpI3HZd_fi79danGvhw8xc2lFD12Kf9UdNrfOXlu0GIPV7f6g_ZRQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="266" id="BLOG_video-FAILED-0" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="FAILED" width="320"></object></div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-70352279185741944072010-10-27T10:25:00.000-07:002010-10-27T23:03:42.671-07:00Forever Grateful... and the Magical Cocoon♥ <strong>O</strong>ne of my mornings last week was just <strong>so</strong> amazing! I usually spend a fair amount of time in the mornings in my backyard with my dogs and the yard critters that frequent there. But this particular morning was different. Well to start with, our fall days have been far and few... and it was a glorious fall day here for us, so I think that had a lot to do with it. I felt like the birds were actually serenading just for me. Truth be known, I'm sure they just love fall weather as much as I do<strong> : )</strong><br />
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<strong>I </strong>heard this one sweet little song ♪♫ in particular that was new to my ears. Try as I might... I couldn't spy the little beast! So I just enjoyed it's lovely tune and choose to imagine that it must be a passerby, stopping to hang out and catch it's breath, have a little seed and a quaint birdbath before passing through on it's migratory journey further south. And then I choose to believe it decided to sing me the proper thank you for the nice little rest stop.....<strong> ; )</strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM6LqLXMTYakvvA1CWBXzJrUzNN7OGwbga2m9GLqAsy-rcHQqPPAte7oeebsLZPXMAXIcgpjVYW6E_aeN0tYBSiwiQmFWY-pAFdGCtYRV5GWpZwmA4ML1C6j6T3GttaX98C2ttOfaRTbb/s1600/IMG_4720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvM6LqLXMTYakvvA1CWBXzJrUzNN7OGwbga2m9GLqAsy-rcHQqPPAte7oeebsLZPXMAXIcgpjVYW6E_aeN0tYBSiwiQmFWY-pAFdGCtYRV5GWpZwmA4ML1C6j6T3GttaX98C2ttOfaRTbb/s320/IMG_4720.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHiaP_bwTi2ZX9vMQ1wAbK6RMQ5xzuXiteFg9Lhq5fGa2dFCHIpL1ayKZJgOzwfr96A5_-5l3kGZw6fCBxrqW069Jb4ToUsDzWXRfOQiPiOtRXhZOy83sGVd99IeGYg07bRLSSedT89yt/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHiaP_bwTi2ZX9vMQ1wAbK6RMQ5xzuXiteFg9Lhq5fGa2dFCHIpL1ayKZJgOzwfr96A5_-5l3kGZw6fCBxrqW069Jb4ToUsDzWXRfOQiPiOtRXhZOy83sGVd99IeGYg07bRLSSedT89yt/s320/IMG_4763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong> I</strong> wish the sweet little lovlie knew how happy it made me. I wished that it somehow knew that because of that beautiful song... it made my morning, and set the mood for my entire day! Because of that one little gift from nature, I smiled more and had a constructive and more productive day.... all because that sweet birdie's song was music to my ears and cheered me right up!<br />
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( <span style="color: #cc0000;">♥</span> <em>As long as I can remember..... I've always been my happiest self, most centered and at peace when I'm outside appreciating what's naturally around me. I can become completely enamoured simply by watching and ant carrying something 10 times it's own size over leaves, twigs and such.... it's like <strong>magic</strong> to me! )</em><br />
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<strong>S</strong>peaking of <strong><em>magical</em></strong>....(<em> to me anyway</em> ) On one verrry fine day this past September , we hosted a wedding reception party for some dear friends of ours. They had just eloped the week earlier down in the Florida Keys... how cool huh?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyfaRf9L-NjZxSHXgWmljbmaX7qLpGNLBM9JkA3TECKFduNjSXgDk8CXdEm_BWL6Lgt-CEHKNwCDhqZajzcHm7fypQzXlBQnBBNrKAJgpddJIqG4qfkq15LdQNR6DVvVx1F1tN0avBgJl/s1600/Steve+and+kim.jpg1.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyfaRf9L-NjZxSHXgWmljbmaX7qLpGNLBM9JkA3TECKFduNjSXgDk8CXdEm_BWL6Lgt-CEHKNwCDhqZajzcHm7fypQzXlBQnBBNrKAJgpddJIqG4qfkq15LdQNR6DVvVx1F1tN0avBgJl/s1600/Steve+and+kim.jpg1.bmp.jpg" /></a><br />
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<strong>A</strong>nyway, Just as the party was fixin' to get going Steve-O and Kimmy (<em>bride and groom</em>) came running up to me with this most amazingly huge <span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>green caterpillar</strong></span>!<br />
<em>( I'll insert here that nature lovers know other nature lovers and we keep each other's company : )</em><br />
<strong>W</strong>ell.... Steve-O found the <strong><span style="color: #38761d;">chunky fella</span></strong> out in the middle of the road , where it would of surly been squashed by all the cars fixin' to show up. So we collectively decided to "free" him (<em>or her</em>) on the largest tropical tree in my screen enclosure, (<em>which is a very large area, not just a typical screened in porch</em>.)<br />
<strong>I</strong> can't believe none of us had the mindset to take a picture of it then, but I think we all had party festivities and preparations on the brain..... but he looked just about like this guy below!!!! As big as your finger, no joke! <br />
<img align="left" alt="Luna Moth, Actias luna, caterpillar" border="1" height="213" src="http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/MothLunaCat02.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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<strong>F</strong>or days and days after... I kept looking for our <span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>freak of nature.</strong></span> Other than a few munched on leaves...no sign of it. Then FINALLY one day... I spotted<strong><span style="color: #38761d;"> IT</span></strong>. It had been verrrrry busy spinning up a <strong>fantastical cocoon</strong>!!! Oh how I wished I could have witnessed that amazing feat! Talk about <strong>MAGIC</strong>!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIki29mPgG3jRwcesFG9THtMTlsSaCT4w7HH05FYMwUc-k8p9L2ftMQiR5L-q6UwW_83RhqBPchXDsShOAKgx-JU2MbYOH-OOm3vNnyZzoGGdvDwlEWIYPkQfP-MpDCVvEag-xGXIj4596/s1600/331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIki29mPgG3jRwcesFG9THtMTlsSaCT4w7HH05FYMwUc-k8p9L2ftMQiR5L-q6UwW_83RhqBPchXDsShOAKgx-JU2MbYOH-OOm3vNnyZzoGGdvDwlEWIYPkQfP-MpDCVvEag-xGXIj4596/s400/331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<strong>S</strong>o now........we wait. We're all joking now about how like, Steve and Kim are going to be proud parents : ) I've declared myself the God-Moth-er..haha! Being the nature lovers that we are... we proceeded to the internet to research what kind of moth or butterfly we have and when it may emerge. Steve believes it's a silk moth, but since it <strong>cocooned</strong> so late in the fall, we suspect ( <em>from what we've read</em> ) it will over winter here till spring. We all are hoping for a light winter, as we're not sure how it will effect him. (<em>or her</em>) <strong> : )</strong><br />
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<strong>H</strong>ere's the funny part... this is hilarious....my pet lizard <strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Oliver</span></strong>, has taken it upon himself to "babysit" the cocoon! (<em><strong>hehe</strong></em>)<br />
Seriously... he's there <strong>EVERYDAY</strong>!! I'm so curious about his behavior. My best guess is that somehow, he recognizes the cocoon as food and he's waiting for it to hatch and to try and gobble it down!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHwYLIRg-mOO9bBzil0PVmuWOt6rxcZk1ppOh0yZfzcSx0b1lH1TRLIsiQcqWPGp4h_6uK7g53AG-DYevE_Ni6V4ElkncX6qq0sPjDkou8vleqVLrL3SGPgLYEiiguA0crkvk024A8ZIg/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHwYLIRg-mOO9bBzil0PVmuWOt6rxcZk1ppOh0yZfzcSx0b1lH1TRLIsiQcqWPGp4h_6uK7g53AG-DYevE_Ni6V4ElkncX6qq0sPjDkou8vleqVLrL3SGPgLYEiiguA0crkvk024A8ZIg/s400/IMG_4701.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<strong>M</strong>y hope for next spring is... that I get to witness this<strong> magic</strong> in action, and catch the process in time and be able to cut the branch it's on ( <em>before it's all the way out </em>) and take it out to the backyard. I'd love to save him (<em>or her</em>) from the fate of meeting <strong><span style="color: #38761d;">Oliver</span></strong>, and I'd <strong>really</strong> love it... if the timing was such that Steve and Kim could come and watch it get ready to fly....<br />
Another reason for a partay!! But usually though... we don't need much of a reason <strong>: )</strong><br />
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<strong>L</strong>ast thing I'd like to share is this amazing gift Steve and Kim <strong>MADE</strong> for Harvey and I as a thank you for hosting their celebration.... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Df3ph_cj4gd16S7p7nKjMwC6w7QgsnSPAOf-tKt29mejX19cbmq7i16_GhlMeRemaFiIbZXNG6Y4gdsmGBQ2FthXUnVoAKgehjydEV34dz55WnHvFoGMAvsj1LFrpBf8I54c7ZsDxfU/s1600/IMG_4757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Df3ph_cj4gd16S7p7nKjMwC6w7QgsnSPAOf-tKt29mejX19cbmq7i16_GhlMeRemaFiIbZXNG6Y4gdsmGBQ2FthXUnVoAKgehjydEV34dz55WnHvFoGMAvsj1LFrpBf8I54c7ZsDxfU/s320/IMG_4757.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><strong>I</strong>t is<strong> sooooo</strong> pretty! They made it out of stamped metal, fishing line and swivels and little round mirrors.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FnyNw0MCmksU04aXisiX0kokRcswqzJsQsMA9KuxBox6jFxAywJ3QyMUONUkWl9cN_hDYA36NNTsvaauTpmypfZT2szq6vHMm6ICUnSf_fu3mHcy-DF2p0A06zGE-IVn1eO54qyVYEsq/s1600/IMG_4750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FnyNw0MCmksU04aXisiX0kokRcswqzJsQsMA9KuxBox6jFxAywJ3QyMUONUkWl9cN_hDYA36NNTsvaauTpmypfZT2szq6vHMm6ICUnSf_fu3mHcy-DF2p0A06zGE-IVn1eO54qyVYEsq/s320/IMG_4750.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Y</strong>ou should see the light show it gives you at different times of the day...... flecks of light all over the yard! It makes the garden even more <strong>magical</strong>. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">♥</span> And then the best part..... Isn't it lovely<strong> : )</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy_z563EgQsRm6kKRWh8YbMtkR7O_sbCSORS-kuh9FXf4aoIRk3YH1XG3TdWsazR3JYCYUNT4zSBn1gyFXyor7JW6_Tm5t-OkytvZyldPcOGRfrIBmoqIe8-_tVLfhhk4kL3QiaH9seTl/s1600/IMG_4743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy_z563EgQsRm6kKRWh8YbMtkR7O_sbCSORS-kuh9FXf4aoIRk3YH1XG3TdWsazR3JYCYUNT4zSBn1gyFXyor7JW6_Tm5t-OkytvZyldPcOGRfrIBmoqIe8-_tVLfhhk4kL3QiaH9seTl/s400/IMG_4743.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>W</strong>ell thanks so much if you stopped in to hear me ramble... I realize I was a little long winded, but I just love stuff like this<span style="color: #cc0000;">♥</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Xo'sssssssss ajae</div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-82513675472857839672010-09-08T15:15:00.000-07:002011-05-04T19:44:16.730-07:00E is for Empathy...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG-3_iEiOmHg6steNOr5UYQgap78dsaaDQPHyORrpzYgAKzbV1lwYrYNLHEtCgzttmHux1NlPVV3_gfhrnWgRbWgBxdsDTUa13LB0nVW_X-JsB__5ppDiXnudktex1YUAccBs62wTwMTc/s1600/IMG_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG-3_iEiOmHg6steNOr5UYQgap78dsaaDQPHyORrpzYgAKzbV1lwYrYNLHEtCgzttmHux1NlPVV3_gfhrnWgRbWgBxdsDTUa13LB0nVW_X-JsB__5ppDiXnudktex1YUAccBs62wTwMTc/s320/IMG_0090.JPG" width="254px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><strong>"E" is for Empathy</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<strong><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">*</span></strong> I've always been quite infatuated with the sky, clouds, the play of light, sunrises (although I don't manage to catch many of those, and need to rectify that) and sunsets....<br />
My husband and I are lucky enough to live on a beautiful, quaint bayou with our 3 crazy jack russells.<br />
It's pretty much a daily ritual for me and the jacks to enjoy our late afternoon/early evenings in our backyard romping around, pulling a weed or two, taking down laundry, and of course... feeding and playing with my lizard friends. I'm so amazed how the jacks have actually figured out that they are off limits. It's like they sense that I love them and therefor don't mess with them. Every now and then Devil can't resist, but never follows through with the deed, she just wants to see them scatter I think. Years ago, they wouldn't have stood a chance and all of them would have been goners in no time.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyeC8jT__kldst0hT6cVmyxuN20kBAPzQ9iCH0mu_4mzzbDaPOzW-80C_quCW3sfc5m84uiLmlRca12QOkoQw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;"> <strong>Pistol Pete, AxL and Cobia on a typical afternoon...</strong></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><strong>*</strong></span> Anyway... the dogs and I love, love our ritual eves, which also includes a photo session with my Dad if there happens to be a gorgeous sunset. We both scamper to get our cameras and start snappin' away. Often after, we sit with a beer and compare our shots. Critique each others perspectives and later email them to each other. Even though we do this often, it's something I treasure and don't take for granted. I feel very lucky to have my parents so close. They only live 5 houses down from us, and my daddy keeps his boat at our dock. I know many people would fine that a bit trying, but my parents are wonderful, and never busy bodied or obtrusive.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE4Fx17fVl-RY71pVegajvz43VZV31RuMye999jKCaRH_WKXN_7mH3OaqaC9kaGWQIvP3gNB_KwodHkK0pP8evdwNEQt9oXRdKSJo6lQaFuQlaPh3ZSNuiIbrQnNzrvbvSw4Ztagk-e5c/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE4Fx17fVl-RY71pVegajvz43VZV31RuMye999jKCaRH_WKXN_7mH3OaqaC9kaGWQIvP3gNB_KwodHkK0pP8evdwNEQt9oXRdKSJo6lQaFuQlaPh3ZSNuiIbrQnNzrvbvSw4Ztagk-e5c/s320/IMG_2822.JPG" width="320px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgejgU25y4G56UhqZPxnboUqYX8s-IhhBU9DXs_KdAmgSp65HaKfdBBByple2Lco_U0gUaJ0Y5ZD1ZUXLAxp2UD9DHy7VITNvBdXcUvoTdyAfW2tY1qQ1d6pEpn2XV7rsC61JF6tcUwQA/s1600/IMG_3649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgejgU25y4G56UhqZPxnboUqYX8s-IhhBU9DXs_KdAmgSp65HaKfdBBByple2Lco_U0gUaJ0Y5ZD1ZUXLAxp2UD9DHy7VITNvBdXcUvoTdyAfW2tY1qQ1d6pEpn2XV7rsC61JF6tcUwQA/s320/IMG_3649.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #073763;">Here are a few fav's</span></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"> from this summer...</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><strong>*</strong></span> But... back to title of this post... Here's a couple definitions for the word Empathy. (This is for you Maria!)</span><br />
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<strong>EMPATHY</strong>~ Identification with and understanding of another's situation, feelings, and motives.<br />
~ The intellectual identification with, or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thought, or <br />
attitudes of another.<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><strong> *</strong></span> Goodness knows how... but my niece, (she's 22) her boyfriend and I got into this conversation about a month ago. (there <em>may</em> have been a few cocktails involved) hahaaa! But she was quite humorous to listen to as usual... especially so, when discussing things of this nature. I suspect she is alot more empathetic than she leads on. But her rambling was entertaining to say the least!<br />
I was even more amused when I saw this cloud formation in the shape of an "E" in my own backyard, exactly one week after our conversation. I believe we get sign posts in life, and I try to take notice of mine. I'm not sure who helped who during that conversation, but I am sure it was suppose to take place, and we probably both helped each other! <br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><strong>*</strong></span> On a quick note, my Cobia's health is still not great. It has begun to seem as though her little body is tuckering out. In a very short period of time she's developed multiple issues besides her eyes. On top of her vision regressing again, she's developed a uti we can't seem to clear up, pancreatitis, and some very weakened, wobbly hindquarters. We are still hopeful, as she is still in good spirits most the time, just a little slower getting around. Thanks for all of you who have continued to care and ask about both of us<span style="color: red;">♥ </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><strong>*</strong></span> I hope everyone is ready for fall, it's one of my favorite times of year. But we don't really get any till later in October, even then it's sporatic. As I type this, it's 5 pm, and still 90' outside! My hickory tree doesn't even lose leaves till early December... <span style="color: #e06666;"> XO</span> ya'll... ajae<br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><strong>* p.s.</strong></span>~ (relating to empathy) I can actually come to tears watching an old person that has lost their car at Walmart, and always stop and help if I can...</div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-17161938035155808292010-08-05T13:51:00.000-07:002011-05-04T19:43:48.832-07:00Summer Has Gone To The Dawgs....Seriously y'all... has your summer been like mine? A huge blurr... (sorry Cobe, no pun intended) I mean really... was summer here at all? Seems all I can recall from summer is the extreme heat of it! Wowza, can it get any hotter? Our heat index today 110! Geeeeze! The second you walk out the door, your bra gets soaked. Yuk...I hate a soggy bra. <b>G-R-O-S-S </b><br />
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But yes indeedy, my summer has literally gone to the dogs...particularly one sweeeet little jack named Cobia. Poor thing has had a<b> ruff </b>few last months, and we're not out of the woods yet. I'm actually feeling really sorry for both of us! My summer was spent being an eyedrop administering machine!!<br />
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Her cataract surgery was in May...she did great, but a huge part of the success rate is the after care. For a month I had to give the sweet little soul 25 drops a day! I've been relentless about it as her sight depends on it.<br />
Her lens replacements have done wonderfully...and her sight is still amazing to me.<br />
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She went from doing fine to bumping into walls, falling down stairs, into the pool, off the dock...and the worst event was running smack ass into a tree, head on, running at full stride. She instantly hit the ground, was flailing and screaming unconsciously for about15 seconds and couldn't get up. She's lucky she didn't break her neck.<br />
Strange thing is... her sight failing seem to happen soooo fast! I mean, we knew she had some cloudiness related to cataracts, and had them looked at... but you know, that's typical for a twelve year old dog. And she was getting around perfectly, not skipping a beat. It literally seem to go from her seeing fine to blind...overnite.<br />
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It was heartbreaking to watch. The thing was, she's a very "young" active 12 year old dog with no other health issues... and the kind of dog that <b>LIVES</b> for a tennis ball... I couldn't see <b>NOT</b> doing it. So we did it...and it's been amazing!! The first time she got her tennisball after surgery, I started crying... I was so overwhelmed and happy and relieved. Mostly for her precious livelihood , but also cuz now, we didn't have to worry anymore about her getting hurt. (We were at the point where she didn't go outside without a life vest on). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>What has happened since is secondary to the lens replacements. She is seeing fine, but has developed corneal ulcers in both eyes. Trauma to the cornea from the surgery is probably the cause, but the actual cataract surgery has been a complete success, so I still consider us way ahead of the game. <b>BUT</b> ...the ulcers don't seem to want to heal properly. Enter here... two more months of major drop therapy. I literally have been kinda house bound with her. Although my mother Helen, and niece Maria, (and friends who have had to put up with and listen to us) have been super supportive and stepped in when we have had to be out of town. (a gazillion thanks y'all ♥)<br />
<br />
SOoooo, We went back to Birmingham (her eye doctor, 4 hrs. away from home) this past Tues. and the poor thing had to get corneal grids on both eyes, and now I have my little <b>CONEHEAD</b> back...<br />
<b>: ( </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhaJ15mcnz3uPbR0PPETzAGMQ9Nthig86AoYsxvyvWAqfbKEhnTY_nhkzzsike8f4Z6KCtGYvFCTRf3ZssXwcrLHFbOTIeFbm8dxnYNLY7-5a47Pzeb27OC_plLAFKY83NA48GHBwrywf/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhaJ15mcnz3uPbR0PPETzAGMQ9Nthig86AoYsxvyvWAqfbKEhnTY_nhkzzsike8f4Z6KCtGYvFCTRf3ZssXwcrLHFbOTIeFbm8dxnYNLY7-5a47Pzeb27OC_plLAFKY83NA48GHBwrywf/s400/photo-2.JPG" width="312px" /></a></div><br />
They basically re-texturize the surface of the cornea to help promote new cell growth. They said the next few days would be tough, (imagine having your cornea sandpaperd) and it has been, even though she is on an oral pain med twice a day. Today we are on day two, and she's still uncomfortable, but it's a noticeable improvement from yesterday. Yesterday she was pitiful, she broke my heart. She wasn't in this much pain even after the cataract surgery. One eye drop in particular seems to send her through the roof, I hate giving it to her <b>: (</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAyI42f1Q_afKx6LFciDmEOW9olTFM-3etI9uJ0YZajb1N1roNLZCttZpRWNe9EilNkpU8hqEfoDPBeqeQeNcYY4BT2aFDkR0MWGaw8oMXHIuP2YIExvQqmWsmni1CaV87fEsuyStchU4/s1600/image0-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAyI42f1Q_afKx6LFciDmEOW9olTFM-3etI9uJ0YZajb1N1roNLZCttZpRWNe9EilNkpU8hqEfoDPBeqeQeNcYY4BT2aFDkR0MWGaw8oMXHIuP2YIExvQqmWsmni1CaV87fEsuyStchU4/s320/image0-4.jpg" width="280px" /></a></div>Here's a gander at our med schedule for the next two weeks... I make a schedule and make copies so I don't miss any, and start a new one everyday. If you count both eyes, we're doing 27 drops a day!! We head back to Birmingham on the 17th for our recheck, and hopefully we'll be on the mend.<br />
She's such a fabulous animal and has really been a trooper through it all. I think we both are just ready for some normal... <b> </b><br />
<b>Normal would be good. </b><br />
<br />
<br />
Be Fabulous... because you are♥ <br />
X to the O.... ajae<br />
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p.s.- duh...the soggy bra thing, bleck!<br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-92147976487292159392010-06-28T21:51:00.000-07:002010-06-29T06:49:06.685-07:00SpeNt.... but notice the beauty left behind..........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKE7DAGQ-7XgYU880gbq8MvwAmbM3RPZpWVrRfh5LoZCsdWtc-dt4KNu2cCWxsGvNdgZY6Sx9NPug0BJSz9L98m9gSxgjcaaCAJTcf5UdpHjlFjVZjFZ2X0IU7cxt09MxXFxzEuB2umnB4/s1600/IMG_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKE7DAGQ-7XgYU880gbq8MvwAmbM3RPZpWVrRfh5LoZCsdWtc-dt4KNu2cCWxsGvNdgZY6Sx9NPug0BJSz9L98m9gSxgjcaaCAJTcf5UdpHjlFjVZjFZ2X0IU7cxt09MxXFxzEuB2umnB4/s400/IMG_1812.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This photo is from my yard.... and the roses that I grow and get to admire. About a month ago...I remember thinking in a very selfish way... " Dang... I wish those blooms lasted longer." But then I looked again, and noticed how perfectly perfect those "stars" were......... hidden underneath all the lovely.<br />
Wow... beauty beyond the flower. Shame on me for not noticing it before.<br />
<br />
Everything has a shelf life... : ) <br />
<br />
We rarely think of our own , and rarely think of those of others in our lives, unless we know it's near by...<br />
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The part that is so difficult, of course is experiencing the actual loss of a shelf life... period. No matter of circumstance... but it becomes a different kind of loss when that shelf life was cut in half... out of the blue, with no rhyme or reason that can be assigned to it.<br />
<br />
I want to say that... the reason I feel like this now is due to an abundant amount of grief ( in a bizarre short period of time) shared by some of the people I care about most on the planet. <br />
<br />
I want who ever reads this to know that the loss I speak of is personal to me, but not necessarily my personal own... and this is in the order of events.... <br />
<br />
Many people don't relate to this... but I'm in love with my hounds beyond.....<i>whatever</i>.......<br />
Some of our closest friends have had to euthanize two of the most fantastic animals within a year. <br />
Dogs shelf life ... one of my main beefs in life... don't even get me started! Shanna and Maggie ♥<br />
<br />
<br />
The closest to my extended family , is my brother in laws mother... who was an inspirational woman who I unfortunately did not know well enough... the loss is mine, I'm certain of this. Nora's shelf life was cut in half by a disease, not necessarily age... she had many grand years ahead of her, that were robbed of her by alzheimers. I grieve her death mostly for my brother in law, and my precious niece and nephew, as they were also robbed... due to her shelf life.<br />
<br />
<br />
Most tragic to me was the loss of a wonderfully, innocent, extremely pleasant, and talented young lady. Alayna Bowman...a 16 year old with her whole life ahead of her. Her shelf life was cut waaaaaay short due to a young 22 year old drunk driver. Alayna was one of my nieces childhood friends. She was destined to , and most certainly would have had a wonderful life ahead of her.<br />
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And then we have Big Jim... who just happens to be the father of one of my dearest and most cherished friends...EVER. What a shelf life he had!!! If anyone was the recharger bunny... it was Big Jim. And deserving so... doesn't even begin to describe it. He always had a goal in life and met every one of them... He fought the good fight... all his life and WON. <br />
His legacy will be forever lasting....and how could it not with 13 children!! : ) But I need to add how... his legacy will live on, with bravery and honor... for all who new him, and were better for it.<br />
<br />
With a heavy heart... I respectfully love and cherish all my friends and family thru this difficult period of time. And I embrace evermore, the reminder of our "shelf life" ... that we all have one, but that there is always the beauty <b>forever</b> left behind....the SpeNt.....<br />
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xoxo ~ ajae<br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-23360575375247825372010-06-08T21:26:00.000-07:002011-05-04T19:42:54.208-07:00Neat is... as Neat does....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupJEMj6RNeIJzvikSXL9gikmXcabVMieLfabEKkLXFNdq-hgZf-OXDudJu4v-y1SJJQE7DJSmfggGxGAceElR1f8PC4qe5iLD6zxvc3wfALGs5j0uiJu1FPOzgFL1WHr8b9JdK_ONA_Wn/s1600/IMG_3767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupJEMj6RNeIJzvikSXL9gikmXcabVMieLfabEKkLXFNdq-hgZf-OXDudJu4v-y1SJJQE7DJSmfggGxGAceElR1f8PC4qe5iLD6zxvc3wfALGs5j0uiJu1FPOzgFL1WHr8b9JdK_ONA_Wn/s400/IMG_3767.JPG" width="300px" /></a></div>Well now... let me just start with a<b> </b>true confession. I've never been one with <b><i>great</i> </b>organizational skills. Ok , who am I trying to fool here, <i>(myself?)</i> The<b> </b>truest<b> </b><b> </b>confession is............... I've never even<i> </i><b><i>had</i> </b>organizational skills. None that last anyway<b>.... </b><br />
Sure, I get on kicks and organize this and that, but sooner or later I slip back into my old ways.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong... my house isn't a pigsty and I don't live like they do on the show Hoarders. ( but I admit I love that show!) My main issues are with my own personal areas... like... my studio, closet, bathroom counter, my car.... ( the car part is cuz I vendor at a fleamarket, so it's kinda the nature of the beast) but none of it is really <i> <b>that</b></i> bad because I ... <i>"me , myself and I"</i> seem to manage just fine. I think alot of arty folks are just like me....<br />
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<b>"Creative Chaos "</b> they say, right? Really though ... who wouldn't agree that sometimes, in the<b> </b><i>thros</i> of it all... it's just too hard to<b> stop</b> and pick up .... cuz crazy good stuff is still <b> <i>floowwwinngggg</i></b>.............<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9fSt622zLdHYGwB9EXyTx8VnAZ7Tm4yCLRihNEypkAF_wHLpG0RwRHWBbSSloa8Iitd_iH06SYJOO8KmdUmjau-HPiq_JkhA--_7Wwn5HbHNsDRbAWS9zVHTQ4c3eD6lcrbEGhO1_0jV/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>I do know some "arty's" that are pretty darned organized, or at least alot more than me. Oh, how I admire them! This is when I <b><i>pretend</i></b> to be like that.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9fSt622zLdHYGwB9EXyTx8VnAZ7Tm4yCLRihNEypkAF_wHLpG0RwRHWBbSSloa8Iitd_iH06SYJOO8KmdUmjau-HPiq_JkhA--_7Wwn5HbHNsDRbAWS9zVHTQ4c3eD6lcrbEGhO1_0jV/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9fSt622zLdHYGwB9EXyTx8VnAZ7Tm4yCLRihNEypkAF_wHLpG0RwRHWBbSSloa8Iitd_iH06SYJOO8KmdUmjau-HPiq_JkhA--_7Wwn5HbHNsDRbAWS9zVHTQ4c3eD6lcrbEGhO1_0jV/s400/IMG_2572.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
This is Slydog Studio on a "good day".... notice of my peep in the window! I call her Jezebelle♥ she keeps me company on most days.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj9EVEziXe5F7vi9nM4ovqbFOZY_zX14gp4Oyvr9vG-khUapo5_Tmh-MIp8vChRyC1X0g3us3lN8cgj0vOz1pOxyRG4rzkjWUTayEPHPCebp9frDdoW7lsTUAnZfmkPshczFL_lYM-_R6/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUj9EVEziXe5F7vi9nM4ovqbFOZY_zX14gp4Oyvr9vG-khUapo5_Tmh-MIp8vChRyC1X0g3us3lN8cgj0vOz1pOxyRG4rzkjWUTayEPHPCebp9frDdoW7lsTUAnZfmkPshczFL_lYM-_R6/s400/IMG_2567.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div>And hense... one of <b> "the" </b>slydogs, (AxL) in the foreground.... again, on an extraordinarily good <b><i>pretend</i></b> day. This is <i>sooooo</i> not my normal! Hahaa! It just dawned on me that many of ya'll may think this (a good day for me) is a wreck!<br />
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Even though I've made peace with this aspect of me.... I will still strive to improve this area of my life, on my terms when the notion strikes me. <br />
I've become very aware and realize the fact that, I've been this way my whole life..... and <i>accept</i> this about myself. I do it <i>graciously</i>... so as to stop with the inner struggle. It's really such a non-issue in the<i> big scheme</i> of things. <br />
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<b>"That's good... one less thing"</b> - Forrest... Forrest Gump.<br />
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xoxo ya'll.... ajae <br />
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<b>ps ... </b> I<b> </b>love mater, mayo and potato chip sandwiches.... my first tomatoes of the season are almost ripe : )<br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-18661790209096723112010-05-24T20:33:00.000-07:002011-05-04T19:42:33.196-07:00May Oh May... Where Art Thou.... ?And ooooh my goodness... where the hell did April go???? We've been craaazeee busy around here with this and that. No time to<b> balance</b>, I miss <b>balance</b>!! (not that I've ever been good at achieving it!!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qh96_ZvCEBOm5gkx_u0sm5_MlPCRChWpWbAWpERODTJVT_0pjwFpFk2sT_jSWmVKMsfpPbAnxGBfS3MIhNxFMFiDCn5OmVWOs9960xSRwNIvsRN18kOKy7pPGXGvtrjroLjnrfZmDTf4/s1600/646+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qh96_ZvCEBOm5gkx_u0sm5_MlPCRChWpWbAWpERODTJVT_0pjwFpFk2sT_jSWmVKMsfpPbAnxGBfS3MIhNxFMFiDCn5OmVWOs9960xSRwNIvsRN18kOKy7pPGXGvtrjroLjnrfZmDTf4/s320/646+006.jpg" /></a></div>With numerous planned events to host or attend, out of town guests and travels, and dealing with a dog needing cataract surgery (5 hours away from home).... eyedrops, eyedrops... and more eyedrops, and then throw in life's everyday requirements and duties equals NO ART or BLOG TIME!<br />
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BUT.. I did finally manage to open an EtsyStore!! It was a goal for April that I refuse to give up on, even though I'm techno challenged and don't know what I'm doing!<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ajaemccain"> www.etsy.com/shop/ajaemccain</a><br />
But I decided to go for it anyway... what's the alternative.... <b>not</b> doing it? Were would that get me?<br />
I've only listed a few , and have only sold three. Funny... but two of the sales were people I know, but I'm still counting it ! : )<br />
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Lately though, life has been a whirlwind, and two months have seem to pass in a blink. But don't mistake my whining... we've had alot of fun, and created memorable moments through it all... just not enough <b>normal</b> ♥ Sometimes, just normal is in order... <br />
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My intention was to follow through visually... with photos of our latest <b>loved</b> mayhem, ( and still plan too) but alas... this evening is as well on the eve of yet another planned Memorial Holiday trip out of town.<br />
But I felt really <b>uneasy</b> knowing I didn't even post here in May. But then I realized... life is more important than blogging.<b> Duh</b>!!<br />
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And as happy and excited as I am to be here, doing something new... with all the possibilities that await me through this experience... life will always interrupt me.<br />
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<b>So be it</b>... it will unfold the way it is suppose to.... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWwhwSaFeoL1tHAJof2zF_LceoMJ_C_syhdy6g19xTEpdVi5JakSomCJfX0cSEDKlHj-Cq_7Jsa5TTWoWOPSKmn7j7JprSjt6oduZjRmgUQu-8o-qx7nZqsbOFnzauaiiv2x5aTAg0diR/s1600/646+140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWwhwSaFeoL1tHAJof2zF_LceoMJ_C_syhdy6g19xTEpdVi5JakSomCJfX0cSEDKlHj-Cq_7Jsa5TTWoWOPSKmn7j7JprSjt6oduZjRmgUQu-8o-qx7nZqsbOFnzauaiiv2x5aTAg0diR/s320/646+140.jpg" /></a></div>I did manage to work on her some... <b>BALANCE</b>.... hmmmm? elusive....... isn't it?<br />
<br />
xo ya'll... ajae<br />
<br />
ps- I heart Goog♥my best, good online art friend.<br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-91477603297253495942010-04-05T11:00:00.000-07:002011-05-04T19:42:13.822-07:00SprinG has finally SprunG.....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1M4vFcZnBjKA6c0ePDl2DCIAYJS3Afxzsj7xNqyo1o5NOnxozNM92Yv9JJ08hnDtTH-ifP57AkdK_Gu5WTEiOqvrC1ETfOAUYveyUvDkqVrL1Y9jyP55prrQj4frYI-NWA1K1hKlveHQ/s1600-h/DSC06338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1M4vFcZnBjKA6c0ePDl2DCIAYJS3Afxzsj7xNqyo1o5NOnxozNM92Yv9JJ08hnDtTH-ifP57AkdK_Gu5WTEiOqvrC1ETfOAUYveyUvDkqVrL1Y9jyP55prrQj4frYI-NWA1K1hKlveHQ/s400/DSC06338.JPG" width="300px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love you spring!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After a looooong, dreary drawn out winter, (and I don't just mean the weather) I'm <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> feeling a little more <b>spring</b> in my step. What a relief!<br />
For me, the "new year" seems to start more like when spring arrives, not so much in cold, dreary January. I find it difficult to be excited for a "new" year until like...now. Warmer temp's, sunshine, baseball, longer days, seeing your plants emerge from their somber sleep, all the critters seem frisky... the birds sing more. Even my dogs can feel it, and act differently.<br />
Everything seems new again. Everything seems refreshed and get's a chance to start over. I love it!<br />
Except for bathing suit season.... aaaahhh, could do without that challenge year after year. Probably because it get's harder year after year. Well...I will quickly get off that vain sentiment, as I am a healthy, mostly happy girl with a full, and very blessed life, surrounded by family and great friends constantly. (did I mention constantly, ha!)<br />
<br />
As timing would have it, my spring has <b>sprung</b> in other ways as well. I want to share something I'm soooo happy and proud about and extremely thankful for. I've known about it for a while, but wanted to wait for it to come to fruition and get a copy of it into my hot little hands.... My first painting to get published!!!! Thanks to the fantabulistic Suzi Bluuuuu♥ <object height="330" width="440"><param name="movie" value="http://www.lulu.com/viewer/embed/EmbeddablePreviewer.swf?version=20100323130016"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="flashvars" value="contentId=8339402&endpoint=http://www.lulu.com/author/previews/preview_endpoint.php"><embed src="http://www.lulu.com/viewer/embed/EmbeddablePreviewer.swf?version=20100323130016" flashvars="contentId=8339402&endpoint=http://www.lulu.com/author/previews/preview_endpoint.php" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowscriptaccess="always" height="330" width="440"></embed></object><br />
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This link above only shows a preview, but here is my page... :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P7z5h4PPHYcFZtLszRRQtHTeNx3F3Dlzw3t_kPtZQ6Unu_JWalhpCxVn07ARjfd1EldsJschlg4kEKJkXR3vpRp7bXT__11Ag-jzxSRkb_XDeKtW1kMRXZD_pXzxcji9F4kfKrKELn-A/s1600-h/IMG_3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1P7z5h4PPHYcFZtLszRRQtHTeNx3F3Dlzw3t_kPtZQ6Unu_JWalhpCxVn07ARjfd1EldsJschlg4kEKJkXR3vpRp7bXT__11Ag-jzxSRkb_XDeKtW1kMRXZD_pXzxcji9F4kfKrKELn-A/s400/IMG_3617.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div>I would like to point out the title is <b>"Respect Diversity"</b> not Respect & Dignity. No biggie tho.... I'm still a happy camper!<br />
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<br />
<br />
I'm so grateful that Suzi Blu included me in her book. She has so many students, and wonderful artists that sent submissions for the publication. At Suzi's Les Petit Academy, (aka Art Skool Underground)... where <b>everyone</b> is an artist, I have met many wonderful like minded souls and have made some lasting friendships there.<br />
I truly can't sing enough of her praises. Suzi is so fun to watch and learn from. She is an exceptional mixed media artist. She very engaging, passionate, funny, generous and never stagnate.<br />
Her style of teaching really suits me, and I thank her for being a huge motivating factor for me actually picking up a frickin' pencil again. She actually has helped me realize that this is what I was meant to do all along.<br />
And even though I'm slow, too meticulous, and self critical.... it's all part of my artful life journey, and that's okay...<br />
<i>xox ~ ajae </i><br />
<br />
<br />
ps- I LOVE to hang clothes out to dry on a clothesline, but have a fear of putting my hand in a clothes pin basket, so I just leave the pins on the line all the time :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgYiuPteSNStOiGDfAB1N0x2I9eX7_9xpGzGKyo1u2_XxCZ2d2dEh577AcXTLUz1MI_AIIemBdy0V4MzJryzy1dXBt8gSgG_LDBlitS1sNsi3mcQzMK7tqDEHjrjjqmJSalOAh0LBpDCN/s1600-h/IMG_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgYiuPteSNStOiGDfAB1N0x2I9eX7_9xpGzGKyo1u2_XxCZ2d2dEh577AcXTLUz1MI_AIIemBdy0V4MzJryzy1dXBt8gSgG_LDBlitS1sNsi3mcQzMK7tqDEHjrjjqmJSalOAh0LBpDCN/s320/IMG_0821.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-43609304518993732542010-03-01T14:45:00.000-08:002011-05-04T19:41:47.844-07:00Blog Worthy... ?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4tXlurLy6ZPtbiDv2XB_nCm5nxgAf6b9_MgJm-RJQpOhIe3jEZuiYFQatSOKw9_pLgLow6byrNS30e7nOeiRayWDnLInkqzn1k5a5hg4hP6jS_H2O1dU1ZDHCE7BmsAyIn7TLTLMW6pi/s1600-h/IMG_3493.JPG" onblur="function onblur()
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}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441672733520720242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4tXlurLy6ZPtbiDv2XB_nCm5nxgAf6b9_MgJm-RJQpOhIe3jEZuiYFQatSOKw9_pLgLow6byrNS30e7nOeiRayWDnLInkqzn1k5a5hg4hP6jS_H2O1dU1ZDHCE7BmsAyIn7TLTLMW6pi/s400/IMG_3493.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Let me start by saying this is a new work in progress, no name yet. I quite like her though, and hope for a good out come...<br />
<br />
Now... down to the business of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Blog Worthy-ness" </span>...<br />
<br />
This is where I've let my insecurities take hold lately. <br />
I mean come on ya'll... <br />
there are sooooo many really cool, insightful and interesting blogs out there. <br />
It is easy to blog surf all frickin' day, if one had the time. You find a fav that you love and before you know it ... your following your favs's..... FaV's. <br />
I know we are are all guilty of going to someones awesome blog that leads us to another awesome blog and then down the rabbit hole we go... getting lost and even forgetting where we began!<br />
<br />
Interesting to me though.... is that some of my favorite artful bloggers and blog posts are polar opposites of each other. So really whose to say what is <span style="font-weight: bold;">blog worthy?</span> What appeals to one, may not to others. And even that can vary depending on one's mood at the time.<br />
<br />
Ultimately it's the reader who decides. They decide when they check in on a blog on any given day and then get lost in the authors insight, art, photographs, wit, humor or whatever it may be.<br />
<br />
And then there's the actual purpose behind one starting a blog. Or is there? Or does there even have to be?<br />
Since beginning this adventure in January, I've found myself really close to adding more pictures and posts. But my inner critic keeps asking me "is this even <span style="font-weight: bold;">blog</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">worthy?</span>" How dorkey is that! <br />
I've been trying waaay too hard to determine what "direction" I should take with my blog. Who the hell say's there has to even BE a direction...the <span style="font-weight: bold;">blog police?</span> Geeze, how goofy have I been? <br />
<br />
Originally, I "planned" on it being mainly art based, with a little life thrown in. But have struggled with this idea since... and found myself over analyzing every thing I considered putting up. The point being, I have wanted to post about little things sometimes, mundane even...nothing earth shattering, or necessarily "deep".<br />
<br />
Hense....over thinking and micro-managing this "perfect blog beginning" in the right direction has not helped it at all, only deterred. It's that whole learning curve thing, not only in <span style="font-weight: bold;">bloglandia</span>, but about myself as well.<br />
<br />
So, in an effort to push aside the darned perfectionist bullsh-t... (I wish this quality carried over to my closet and studio tidiness, no such luck, I'm a messy mess plain and simple) I hereby "expel" the the perfectionistic demons. (swig... inside joke, tx trisha!)<br />
<br />
I hereby declare, reader beware...<br />
I'm not going for <span style="font-weight: bold;">blog worthy</span>. In fact I'm pretty sure I'll be all over the map. I'm gonna stick with me, myself and ajae...no rhyme or reason will be found here. Blog posts may include but are not limited to;<br />
<br />
ajaeart, mundane life occurrences, dog stories, tyrants and ramblings, family, music, nature photos and stories,things that make you go hmmmmmm? friends, inside jokes and what have you. And sometimes I do drink and <span style="font-weight: bold;">blog</span> :) <br />
<br />
Just sayin'... xoxo ajae<br />
<br />
p.s. I am owned by 3 wild and crazy jack russells. And here they are...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3odc_1M9Zd6PqUUY1mTb0SvMS3tFAns9-3JnYi2RIWB1sJ6947MCkUVDdE1BoAC_fe9JWrCtAaF_iRjtmbIF-J0rdxI4Mg51BfOkkWQHWcfjNUJf5GpBnVQfo0wAU2MtLw9qLWYorFGq/s1600-h/IMG_0867.JPG" onblur="function onblur()
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}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443758304207494386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3odc_1M9Zd6PqUUY1mTb0SvMS3tFAns9-3JnYi2RIWB1sJ6947MCkUVDdE1BoAC_fe9JWrCtAaF_iRjtmbIF-J0rdxI4Mg51BfOkkWQHWcfjNUJf5GpBnVQfo0wAU2MtLw9qLWYorFGq/s400/IMG_0867.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 382px;" /></a>AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-85665687982428007762010-02-02T19:47:00.000-08:002011-05-04T19:41:22.693-07:00"AxL's Blustery Adventure"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1TZ15SseV6AALqDDXJoFLQAukiLkWoKMQZN0Li8xznrex1LaudyVMwCa4DFeuXSxh-aidbUz7PWF1SMBBsuejidWOeMYdmPYvwiyM7gNhFPYKOq26Y9cXCuac791bjxHL7C8hTdwi2Hu/s1600-h/IMG_3056.JPG" onblur="function onblur()
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}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433862878393526082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1TZ15SseV6AALqDDXJoFLQAukiLkWoKMQZN0Li8xznrex1LaudyVMwCa4DFeuXSxh-aidbUz7PWF1SMBBsuejidWOeMYdmPYvwiyM7gNhFPYKOq26Y9cXCuac791bjxHL7C8hTdwi2Hu/s400/IMG_3056.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 296px;" /></a><br />
<br />
This mixed media piece was inspired by my Jack Russell Axl. I live a full and crazy life with three of them (and a husband). All with different personalities that keep my household in a semi-spastic state most of the time. Life is never boring for me that's for sure, a surprise at every turn...more about the JR shenanigans later! <br />
<br />
A little more about me and my artwork... Most often my work reflects my personal joys and passions for nature, and all living things. I love to include outdoor elements, such as leaves, twigs , flowers and even weeds. :)<br />
I'm definitely the outdoorsy type, and would usually choose to be outside than inside on a computer. I've always felt a calm and at peace outside exploring and observing more than anywhere else <span style="font-weight: bold;">ever</span>, since I was a child.<br />
<br />
Several of the online art communities have embraced me , and inspired me so much in such a short time. For someone like me (waay computer challenged) it's truly opened up a whole new world to me. So much kindness and support has been shown to me, and I am extremely grateful.<br />
So, even though I don't particularly enjoy the learning curve of how to become an online artist,( I'd rather be outside remember) I feel compelled to do so. I'm ready for the hit and misses of it all. I'm just ready ... Etsy store in progress, hope to be selling sometime next week :) <br />
<br />
Wish me luck...xoxo ajae♥<br />
<br />
ps- Lizards make me happy :)AJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4016787851609578507.post-74257016112643902082010-01-05T09:31:00.000-08:002010-01-05T20:09:47.065-08:00The leap...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTFiIJR-LEVS_DfUbmc4DRRJfBS6kzXDUhCp7p1nJjxofeE_14VUPgJPfiiN8uRtxAJOUJPnmGIwDw6KztRPWItZxiMpCLFf-dSVIM5ZioGwKS-s1Wk5OzCQpw9v-eP49QStX217LqR_m/s1600-h/IMG_0897.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTFiIJR-LEVS_DfUbmc4DRRJfBS6kzXDUhCp7p1nJjxofeE_14VUPgJPfiiN8uRtxAJOUJPnmGIwDw6KztRPWItZxiMpCLFf-dSVIM5ZioGwKS-s1Wk5OzCQpw9v-eP49QStX217LqR_m/s320/IMG_0897.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423465948743146738" /></a><br />As many may surmise... <br /> This is my first blog post. Let me go ahead and clear this up right now... I seriously don't know what I'm doing. Hahaha, for real... I am so computer challenged it's ridiculous. I don't know how to make my page pretty, add links or badges and the like... So, although this may seem like a boring blog to follow for a while. My hope is to get all snazzy with it, like so many of the ones I have begun to admire, visit and or follow. At this time I would also like to disclose that my grammar will be poor, and my spelling even poorer, and run-on sentences are my specialty... so if you are a stickler for that kind of thing, well... thanks for stopping by ;)<br /> <br /> I think my timing for beginning this adventure is weird sorta, being the New Year and all. I'm not a resolution making kinda of girl, so it has nothing to do with that. This is something I've been contemplating for some time. What's been holding me back was knowing I would totally have to mutter through the process, and risk looking like a dork. I have no "in life" person that can offer me much help with this sort of venue. (meaning none of my family or personal friends have ever had a blog)<br /> I slooowly started thinking... so what! It dawned on me that until I started plunking around on the damn thing it would never happen. Was I willing to risk not ever doing it ... just so I could <span style="font-style:italic;">look</span> cool doing it? NOPE.<br /><br /> <span style="font-style:italic;">"Everyone starts somewhere"</span>... We've all had this banged into our heads and have repeated it to ourselves through out our lives... yes? And so many times though, we let our fear hold us back from starting... anything! It's sooo easy to let fear of looking like a "dork" stop you. Especially in the face of many who you admire and who have mastered what you are trying to achieve (in your own right) or hope to become a part of.<br /> <br /> I believe that doing it wrong until you get it right is a very brave and admirable thing to do. So... in summary, take your leap! You simply cannot fail... due to the fact that you <span style="font-style:italic;">WILL</span> learn something on the way down or up ♥ xo~ajae<br /><br />p.s. "The Leap" inspired by a jr with NO FEAR! featuring AxL mccainAJAEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06607887010757966387noreply@blogger.com8