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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Random Tuesday....and the fall winds do blow!!



Welcome again to another fun and fascinating excerpt of  another Random Tuesday!!  Woohoo!!  I know you are so excited to hear my ramblings!  I just bet you are!  Ha!

If you remember?  Dr. John and I were going on a traveling vacation through the many states of the union.  Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and New Orleans (I know, not a state but it should be).  Then we decided to not do the trip this year and stay home...a STACATION!!  And that still holds true.  We are doing that!  And I will take copious photos to share with you our adventures.

But along with Stacation, was my mom visiting in October during the Balloon Fiesta!  We were flying her in and back again.  The only prerequisite that she had was no plane changes.  No problem!  NOT!  I checked every airline known to us and not one of them has a direct flight for the dates we wanted her here. October 4th through October 11th.  NOT ONE!  Great!  So, I am flying there with a lay over in Atlanta.  So see!!  I will be visiting Georgia!!  LOL!!  I have to say mom is ecstatic; 1) because she doesn't have to fly, and 2) she will have me all to herself!!   For one whole week!!  And guess what?  She has no internet!!  What??  So I am working on a way to have internet for one week.  This ought to be interesting!

Mom (Ilene) lives in Lancaster, Ohio.  Population 36,000 approximately!  Located near the Hocking Hills.

Lancaster, Ohio by Tim Kiser 2006


Mt. Pleasant
A famous Lancaster landmark is Mount Pleasant, a 250-foot (76 m) high sandstone bluff called "Standing Stone" by earlier Native American peoples. It is located in Rising Park, a large city park on the city's north side. It is possible to climb to the top of Mount Pleasant by following a short marked trail from the park through the woods that cover the bluff's other sides. There is also a cave known unofficially as "Devils Kitchen" in the front in which braver people are willing to climb about 20 feet (6.1 m) using only shallow "bear claws". Experienced rock climbers have climbed the sandstone face of the bluff many times as well. Once one has reached the top, there is a lookout area from which one can see over great distances, and take in not just a panoramic view of the nearby Fairfield County fairgrounds and much of the city of Lancaster, but the changing landscape of Central Ohio as well—from the relatively flat farmlands north of Lancaster to the wooded hills lying south of the city. (from Wikipedia)

Anchor Hocking Glass

Home of Anchor Hocking Glass.  I am sure you have all heard of this company and might even own some of their pieces.  I can get good deals in Lancaster on glass!  Kind of cool!!  

Lancaster...well, Ohio in general, is known for it's sports.  Especially football!!!  I mean, who hasn't heard of the Ohio State Buckeyes, The Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengels??

Akron Beacon Journal


So anyway, I will be flying on October 6th and returning October 12th.  My hopes to have internet are maybe pie in the sky.  But I refuse to say die yet.  I mean, how can I keep in touch with you.  I will have serious withdrawal for sure.  I will let you know!  A trip to Verizon is in my near future.

Speaking of internet!  I was down for one whole day and I just about died!!!!!  Comcast showed up early the following day of my internet death and fixed the problem.  A connection wire on the pole was fried, due to weathering.  So they replaced that and I was up and running in no time.  What a relief!  Did you notice I had disappeared for a day? 

I took down my 4th of July/Labor Day decorations.  So now my tree is naked again.  Next holiday...one of my favorites.  Halloween!!!  I am busy getting out all my decorations and will take some pics once it is done.  I got a couple of new things for this year and I am excited.  One is a 6 ft. ghoul!!!  Scary, huh?

My pumpkin patch is doing so well!  Well the leaves and flowers are amazing.  And I have one...yep you heard me...one glorious pumpkin!!  He is so beautiful and growing at an amazing rate.  I may have just discovered the Pumpkin King!  Exciting, yes?

Pumpkin King

Isn't he gorgeous!!??  All shiny and bright and still very green!  Dr. John took some fabulous photos of, what I call, Pumpkin World and I will be sharing them on Silent Saturday.  Wait till you see...gorgeous!  And I am sure I spotted fairies in there!  Some of the leaves are 14 inches in diameter!!  Huge I say...HUGE!!

Now we have some possible sad news.  My dryer began to act up.  It kept making a lot of noise...like there was a bag of gravel inside of the drum.  I thought maybe a coin or something like that.  But then it started grabbing onto my clothes and there would be stuck between the drum and the doorway!  And would get a huge black mark where they were hooked!  So then we noticed a black gasket was falling down between the drum and the doorway.  I called the repair man because now the noise was louder and black marks were appearing (and ruining) more items of clothing!!  Not good!

I have a Maytag like this...



Boring but efficient.  I heart this one....



Isn't she gorgeous.  So if the dryer dies...which I am so sad about (NOT)!!  Then I might become the proud owner of the above!  Woohoo!!  Doing the happy dance here!  My dryer was purchased in 2002 and even the service department said I should come and look.  What ever happened to appliances lasting for 20 years???  And it is a Maytag for heaven's sake!! 

The service guy showed up yesterday...on time I might add...go Baillos!!!  He took one look at the gasket hanging down and said, "I need to order this!  I don't have it on my truck or in my inventory at the store."  Then he said, "It will take 5 to 10 days!  I said, " WHAT???"   He said, " 5 to 10 days!  I have to order it!"  I said...(oh yes I did)..."SHIT!!"  That means no dryer for 10 days??  You have got to be kidding me.  Oh how I was tempted to tell Dr. John that our dryer was truly dead and go and get the red babies.  Who call to me and my heart!!  But I didn't do it and told the service man to order the part.  He was hear all of 5 minutes!  Cost me $140.00!!  Of course, when he comes out again...they will not charge me travel and a service call again.  Big deal!!  I still have to pay for the part and the labor to install the part.  And we still don't know if that will fix the problem!!??  He didn't take it apart.  Soooooo...the saga continues and I may or may not get a new dryer (and washer of course).  (They have to match don't ya know!)  Ha!  Sorry Dr. John!

So these are my stories and I am sticking to them.  Anyone in Atlanta??  We could do lunch, an early lunch at the airport?  Let me know!  That would be so cool!

Make sure and drop over to The Un Mom and visit with Keely!  You will find more fabulous Randomness there!  And tell her I said hi!!  She is sharing about some strange urges..so you have to hear this!!

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn


  

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Silent Saturday ~ Part Twenty nine

The clouds beckon to us this morning!


Calling us to watch the fiery display




We watch the skies as the fire rages on


Watch it travel through the clouds


Then as quickly as it showed it's glory


It dissipates and slowly fades away


One parting glimpse


And His glory filled the heavens-it is done


Have a magical and blessed weekend!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Random Tuesday....I'm just saying!!!!



Just had to show of this spectacular sunset.  That cloud was really glowing.  As if it were lit from the inside!  So awesome!!

Well I bragged on the fabulous vacation we were going on!!  Notice I said "were"!!!  Dr. John has been so busy...well he is just physically and mentally tired out.  So all that driving was not turning him on.  And the expense was more than we could handle right now.  So....we decided on a Stacation instead!!  Playing around with our garden (which is non-existent right now) and relaxing in the late summer sun!  That is what we will do!  Relax!  Both of us have been pretty busy so we will chill for three weeks!  Starting September 2nd! 

There is the Southwest Home and Remodeling Show to go too!!





There is the New Mexico State Fair as well!!!





And of course...FOOD...FLEA MARKET..FUN!!!  A place where you can eat your way through it.  But I can't do that much anymore.  Ha!  But I will try anyway!!  Caramel apples here I come!!!

Then we can go to Santa Fe and see all the shops and restaurants!  It is only 40 minutes north of us!  And I need some clothes!!!!




Fun place to go and visit!  So Southwest and great shops!  We might even stay at a bed and breakfast and spend the weekend!!!  That would be cool!  Of course I will take lots of pics and share!!!

Then there is my outdoor hottub room!!  We definitely will spend time out there...soaking...laying out in the sun...reading books and magazines and snacking!!  A must on any stacation!!!


Ha!  Looks like our tub but who the heck are they?  Actually I couldn't find a pic of our tub so I got one from the net.  LOL!!  You get the idea!?!

So we will have plenty to do and the actual time allotted to enjoy ourselves!  I will take pics along the way and keep you all posted.  I am so looking forward to this!  So is Dr. John!!!

Still holding at 155 lbs. lost so far!!  Here is a pic of me taken three years ago.



Here is one taken just this past weekend!!



Can you tell the difference?  I am still rather chesty!!  Ha!!!  But definitely lots smaller!!  And I had to shamelessly plug my fiber sculpture...which is now installed!!  Woohoo!  And Bob wasn't there to see it put up.  He say it later on Saturday.  He called and says he LOOOVES the piece!!  I am so thrilled.  We are getting together today so I can get paid.   LOL!!  And talk about marketing this piece and maybe adding some more of my work to his office!!  That would be so cool!!

I am now going to try to put my studio back together!  That is going to be a huge task!  Everything has been moved around and piled high!  Plus I have all this handmade paper to store??  Not to mention all the fabric left over!!  Oh dear!  Guess I need a new project...preferably a LARGE one again!  Got to work on my portfolio and get my work out there!!  It isn't quite my cup of tea...marketing...I just want to work!! 

Yesterday I got a manicure and a pedicure and it was so relaxing.  Dr. John met me there and we walked over to The Salad Bowl for dinner.  I got the Napa Valley Salad Bowl....cranberries, walnuts, almonds, spinach, leaf lettuce, grilled chicken, bleu cheese crumbles, celery and green chili ranch dressing!  Oh my!  It was delish!  Dr. John got the Popeye Salad...spinach, leaf lettuce, mushrooms, grilled chicken, almonds, baby corn, celery, with oriental balsamic dressing.  Also, yummy!!!  I had half left over so I have lunch for today! 

I think I have Randomed you enough...yes?  Don't forget to stop of at The Un Mom and visit Keely!  She always has wonderful Randomness and many join her in this adventure.  Makes for some fun reads for sure!  Me?  Well I have to get ready for my walk!  Working up to 5 miles now!  80 pounds to lose!!  So I have miles to go!!  Ha!

Have a magical and blessed day!!
Hugging you,
SueAnn

Sunday, August 22, 2010

WIP ~ Fiber Sculpture ~ Installation Day

Woohoo!  It wasn't easy but we got her installed!  She is up and hanging and looking great!  Here are some pics of the day and the final piece!!  Enjoy!

installing canvas number one!!  Ceiling height 14 feet!




Dr. John adjusting the canvas!





installing canvas number three




adjusting canvas three; Cheri (friend), Dr. John and Lee (son)


all done!!




Canvases and me!!



I am so glad it is up and looking fabulous!  I sure hope you can tell with these pictures?!  Getting the first canvas up was the hardest part.  The ceiling height is so high and we had to get canvas number one up as high as we could get her.  So we ended up having to go get two 12 foot ladders and Dr. John (with Cheri and Lee holding outside edges) walked the canvas up on his back to get it on the special hooks!  It was touch and go; but finally he got the wires of the canvas onto the hooks!  Whew!  They worked hard folks...I held ladders!!  And supervised!!  Ha!

Canvas two and three went up relatively easy and finally we got her done!  Canvas three (the long narrow one) you  have never seen.  I wanted a natural break between the two large canvases...so this is what I designed.

You can tell with the people handling these canvases how big they actually are!  I have to say that I am so proud!!  And I wouldn't been able to do this without Dr. John, Lee and Cheri!!!!  They were fantastic!!  Thank you guys!  Thank you sooooo much!!!!!

As you can see by the pictures with me in them...I am definitely proud of the piece.  Thank you all for coming along with me on this journey!  Your encouragement and comments along the way were amazing!!  Thank you!  Thank you!!

Hope you enjoyed this journey!  After a two week break; which I so need...I am on to the next project!!  I have two doll shows coming up so I have babies to make! 

I will be updating my portfolio and visiting some interior designers and the like to attempt to obtain another large project!  My goal is to get another one before the end of the year!  Prayers being said!!

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Silent Saturday ~ Part Twenty eight



Sunrise in New Mexico!  Today is installation day....so I wanted to share some textures, in celebration of a project now completed!!
















Have a magical and blessed day!  Think of me!!

Hugging you

SueAnn

Thursday, August 19, 2010

WIP ~ Fiber Sculpture ~ Day Twenty-One

Sunrise artfully presented!


Well, Saturday, August 21st is installation day and I am hard at work.  Nothing like a self-imposed deadline to get the old body moving!  Ha!  So at 10AM MST think of me!  As we try and figure out how to hang this piece.  Yikes!!

Here is canvas number two...completed...





Pretty cool huh??  I am pleased with the way it all turned out.  What do you think?

Here is canvas number one...still in process...





Should finish up canvas number one today.  Then all that is left to do is edged the canvasses in handmade paper.  Whew!!  I better get a move on!!  Enjoy!!!!

Have a blessed and magical day!
Hugging you
SueAnn