Our trip to Las Cruces!!

Just had to share this. So I used Smilebox again! Makes the pics entertaining! Enjoy!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugs
SueAnn

Newest Award!!

Dani Tietz shared her award with all of us and I thought I would take her up on it. She posed some interesting questions. You can do the same as well!! Just grab the award button and answer the questions on your blog and leave a link here so I and others can see your answers. How fun is that?? Click on her name and you will be able to see her answers as well!!

Who was your favorite teacher in school? Mr. Pond without a doubt. He was a history teacher; but not mine. LOL! I had him in study hall and he was the coolest teacher around. I used to get into mischief all the time and he would pull me aside and just talk to me. Calmly and sincerely. He never talked down to me and always encouraged me to be the best person I could be. He helped me grow up and quit being such a trouble-maker. LOL! I loved Mr. Pond.

Do you have any hidden talents? Well, I can sing operas! Yup! I sure can. I took singing lessons for several years and my teacher, Mrs. Green, was an opera singer. She was a wonderful teacher and helped me so much. I really enjoyed those lessons! And the singing too. She made us perform on stage! That was scary; but I did it and it really boosted my confidence. I used to be terrified of doing anything on stage. Doesn't bother me now.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Well I have two actually! Having my son, Lee Sr. He was and always will be the light of my life. I am so proud of him! He is 41 years old and now the father of five fabulous kids. They too light up my life. I am so blessed!
Also, the weight loss of 115 pounds is by far another of my greatest achievements. I am proud of myself! I did it!! And I have more to go! Woohoo!! Go body, go!!

Do you believe there are aliens or life on other planets? Well, I don't really know. I agree with Dani. It is one big universe and if we are the only ones...WOW...are we special!! But it wouldn't bother me or shake my faith if we did discover other living beings on another planet. Our God is a big God and He can handle it

If you could go on a road trip with anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and where would you go? There are six people I would travel with and all at the same time. I would travel with my husband, John and my five grandkids, Lisa, Cassie, Emma, Georgia and Lee, Jr. I would travel to South Carolina so they could meet their uncle Gary for the first time and his family. Then I would go to Ohio so they could me their Great Grandmother Ilene (my mom) and my brother, their Uncle Mark and his family. Onward we would go to Indiana to meet up with their Uncle Jack and his family. All three are my brothers and they have never met them. And of course they need to meet my mom for sure!! This would be a trip of a lifetime!!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? LOL!! I wanted to be a rock star! I used to practice with my hair brush in front of my full length mirror, singing!!! Of course with my 45RPM records! I grew up in the 60's and the Beatles were just becoming big big big!! I was madly in love with Paul McCartney and daydreamed all the time of becoming his "girl". And we would sing together forever!! Well, he is still singing but I never did get to meet him or hear him in person. I hope to change that one in the future. But alas, I won't be a rock star!! So sad.

Do you have any phobias? Sure do! Heights! Deathly afraid of heights! I can climb a ladder okay because it has sides I can hold onto...but give me a step stool and I feel nauseous! We went to the Grand Canyon and as I neared the edge, I got dizzy and felt like I was going to fall over it. Scary!! Felt the same way at Niagara Falls! So horseback riding is out for me and that makes me sad, I love horses and my best friend has two...but I just can't get up on them. Sigh!!

Take these questions and post your links and answers here so we can all enjoy them. It will be great fun and we get to know each other a little better. That is my favorite part. Have fun with it.

Have a wonderful and magical day. Create and be filled!!

Hugs
SueAnn

With a touch of His brush!

Yesterday I woke up to a winter wonder land! We had a fine mist that covered the mountains and the adjoining valley. It was freezing outside so the effect was amazing! Of course I didn't realize this until I got into my car and was heading into town at 10AM!! And no camera!
I was hopeful it would stay until I got home..two hours later! Some of it did and I rushed to get my camera. But the sky was so bright...the photos are hard to read as "frozen" branches and shrubs!
Sigh!
I need to get a small digital camera to carry with me at all times. That way I am prepared to get these kinds of surprises on disc. Here are some of the shots I was able to get.



See what I mean!! And the cold remained! My hands where freezing as I was trying to get these shots. It stayed below 32 degrees all day!!!!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Glad I have my Snuggie!! One problem having a Snuggie though. People steal it!! My granddaughter, Lisa!!! She loves my Snuggie! LOL!! I am going to have to get some pics of it and spread the love around.

Went to Olive Garden yesterday and got the Shrimp Caprese!! Oh my! TDF!!! Grilled shrimp on angel hair pasta with Parmesan cheese and tomatoes and such!! It was divine!! Lisa got Ravioli with portabella mushrooms and a cheese sauce...also TDF!!! For dessert, a chocolate tie-dye mousse! Oh my! I only had a bite and it melted in my mouth! As for my lunch...well I took 3/4 of it home with me. Having the small stomach does the trick, I will tell you!! Yay for weight loss surgery!!!
Here are some pics taken last night! Frost gone and a beautiful sunset!! But cold...I will tell you!!! 8 degrees!!! Yowzer!!!

Today, we take Lisa back to college. New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is about 3.5 hours south of where we are. It will be a nice ride. I have a J.D. Robb, book on disk! "Born to Death". We are all fans of J.D. Robb so that will be fun. Then, John and I are going to our favorite hotel in Las Cruces....the El Conte!! So beautiful! I will take pics and post them when I return. They also make the best Mojitos around! Yum!! So we will have a romantic weekend for sure!! Hehehehehehehehe!!!!!!! And hopefully it is warmer there too!

Well I am off to find my Snuggie before Lisa gets up and snatches it away from me! Thank you ever so much for stopping by! You have a magical, creative day!

Hugging you
SueAnn

Pic of the Tattoo!!!

Well....here it is!! My tattoo!! And I love it! I thought it was going to be very painful to get. But it wasn't!! It was uncomfortable...but not excruciating like some people said it might be!
Tammy, at American Women Tattoo and her mom, Rita, where very good. They made me feel very comfortable and her work is amazing. I was able to view hundreds of her designs! Very cool!! It will be very colorful, once it all settles down. But I am very happy with it.
I also did my eyes, with permanent eyeliner!! That was very interesting. It didn't hurt at all but I felt like she was going to tattoo my eyeball! LOL! I know that sounds gross and I apologize for that. LOL! But now my eyes are permanently lined and I love them too. I will take pics of those at a later time.
I have been having trouble getting eyeliner on. My hands shake at times and I can't see well enough without my glasses; so putting on eyeliner was a frustrating affair. Now I don't have to worry about it. Just add my shadow and mascara and I am good to go!!
So, all in all, it was an exciting process and I enjoyed it very much. I am ready for my next tattoo!!

Hugging you all
May you have a magical day filled with much creativity!
SueAnn

Random Tuesday~Sort of!!!

How can it be a bad day when you have a sunrise as spectacular as this?!! I ask you!!!!!



I have never done a Random Tuesday; but today feels random! My mind is all over the place.
I joined a Suzi Blu class called Goddess and Poets! Click on her name and it will take you there. I have been looking forward to this class. Her work is amazing and she is such an fabulous artist. The only problem is that I haven't started my work yet. So many things have interfered with my starting!! Sigh! So I am determined that Wednesday is the day!!! That is my story and I am sticking to it!!

Today will be a momentous day for me. I am getting my first tattoo. My good friend, Cheri and I have been shopping around for a tattoo artist and we found two women at a place called American Women Tattoo Shop!! How cool is that? They also do permanent makeup tats and I am considering doing the eyeliner. Since my vision sucks, I have a heck of a time putting eyeliner on and I love to use it. So this could be my answer. I will take pics when I get my tat. It will be around my ankle! So cool!!

My dh and I have been helping our 10 year old grandson do videos. He has been putting them on YouTube and having a blast. He is so funny and creative. So we got him his own video camera for his birthday (Jan. 13th)! He will be so excited!! I think we may be creating a future Steven Spielberg! Ha! But one never knows, does one?



Dh and I went out New Year's Eve with three other couples. We had champagne at one couple's house and then proceeded to dinner. The restaurant we went to is right here in the East Mountains and has an Italian cuisine. Dinner was delicious and we all enjoyed it. But service was extremely slow....I mean extremely!! It took one hour or more to get our entrees!! They apologized and gave us desserts and then we found out that this was their last night to be open. Now that is sad!! I hate to see a business close...all those dreams and hopes flushed down the drain! The staff was visibly upset!


As you can see; my Christmas decorations are still up!! I must confess that I don't take them down until it gets close to Valentine's day! I just can't bear it....it looks so empty when you put everything away. Plus I love the glow of Christmas lights at night. So magical!! Most people are blogging or posting on Facebook that they are done with packing everything away. Guess I am the odd duck here! LOL!!

So far I have lost 115 lbs.!! But I am stuck....hit a plateau and it is not moving. Guess I have to start exercising on a regular basis!! I hate to exercise but I have come too far to quit now! So onward I go and downward I hope to go!! Wish me luck!

I am entering an art exhibit in Texas in March. Here is the piece I am entering. It is pretty good size too. About 3' x 4'!! I will let you know how that goes too!



Oh and last but not least! I have to confess something. It is hard for me to admit it; but......I got myself a pink SNUGGIE for Christmas! Yes, a Snuggie!!!! Sad but true...I bought into the ads and purchased one. And guess what? I love it!! It is so warm and I can snuggle up into it and have my hands free!! Super!! Great for reading in my comfy chair! Just thought I would share!

Thanks ever so much for your visits. I really appreciate them! Have a magical day and think creatively!! Make time for art and for love!!

Hugging you all
SueAnn