Monday, February 22, 2010

Just Your Every Day Front Door.....NOT

In an effort to brighten up my offerings with a picture or two I have gone into my disorganized files to see what I could find and, sadly, I have not been able to find any of the smashing photos I was looking for, so I finally settled on these two which you must admit are
not your every day photos.
In fact, I defy you to come up
with another blog displaying pics
of a front door.   Oh, hell...I guess there very well may be one somewhere.  But not like mine!!
This happens to be what I consider one of my greatest design     achievements.  I have mentioned in an earlier blog my inability to conquer my character flaw of                  Packratting.This is a prime example of same along with a demonstration of what can be achieved by putting  together a bunch of disparate collectibles and salvaged items into a unique production.   By the way, I am totally at a loss to control the placement of the type in this effort........I do not know where my next word will fall and it is extremely disconcerting so forgive me if I end up with a page that is an utter horror.                                                                

Anyway, the story that goes with these illustrations is that when I was having a bit of remodelling done on my beloved house I decided that I wanted a front door that I could see out of rather than just a lovely slab of wood.  That the balance of the wall in which the door was set consisted mostly of glass was beside the point.
I started  to cast my mind over items that were living in my garage just waiting to be resurrected into some thing of beauty and remembered a set of wooden shutters that I had built to close off a door to my living room  in  an old apartment.  When I dragged them out and dusted them off I found that parts of them     would  do wonderfully well but there was not enough to make a complete door so I did what any red-blooded  packrat would do....I went to Ebay and found a few wonderful wrought  iron items to complement my fragments and came up with what you see above.   I have rarely been so happy with one of my revamped creations and folks have been known to come from blocks around to view my magnificent effort.    

Of course things like this are what make it all the more difficult to give up packratting....just one success can set you back months or years in your efforts to break a                                                                                bad  habit.   Sigh.                                                              .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Sunday, February 21, 2010

No, No. Don't Take Back My Award

I just realized that I have one more task to complete in order to qualify for the Bloggers Award......to list or describe 7 things about myself that have not already been revealed.  (is it possible that I have any secrets left??)  Let me peer into the barrel and scratch around a bit at the bottom.

1.  In my lifetime I have probably lost about 500 pounds. (no not all at once...just the same 40 lbs. over and over and over again).
2. One unfulfilled dream of mine was to live for a while in England, France or Italy.
3. Another one was to go to New York City, become a huge success at something or other and live in Manhattan.
4. My very first serious boyfriend asked me to marry him and then jilted me practically at the altar.......Tenks Gott !!!!  ( Though it was a tough blow to take at the time I am grateful to him to this day)
5. I would sell my body or even kill for Red Licorice Twizzlers.
6. When I had to replace my beloved Toyota Camry after 18 years I went for a jazzy red Saturn Ion with a spoiler and I love the funny looks I get in it.
7. When I was about 12 I suddenly realized to my horror that I would soon be too old to roller skate in the street and cried for 3 nites.  (they didn't have rinks in those days and by your teens your roller skating days were over.)

Hmmmmm, what a strange assortment of confessions.  I can hardly wait to see some comments about them.
C'mon you guys.

Persian Proverb and other Quote References

I recently read a quote which, in my usual fashion, I can't remember precisely, nor can I remember where I saw it.......(yes, I think I can remember my name, but don't ask me to come up with it too swiftly, please.)

However, I think it dealt with the fact that one should try to be aware of what you know and what you don't know which reminded me of one of my own favorite quotes.  It was an anonymous Persian Proverb and it smote me between the eyes the first time I encountered it.

                HE WHO KNOWS NOT
                            AND KNOWS NOT THAT HE KNOWS NOT
                                       IS A FOOL -
                                                             SHUN HIM.

                HE WHO KNOWS NOT
                           AND KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS NOT
                                       IS A CHILD - 
                                                            TEACH HIM.

               HE WHO KNOWS
                          AND KNOWS NOT THAT HE KNOWS          
                                      IS ASLEEP -
                                                             WAKE HIM.

               HE WHO KNOWS
                           AND KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS
                                        IS WISE -
                                                              FOLLOW HIM.

Mmmmmmmm.....it still knocks me out.  Years ago I lettered it calligraphically over a small water color I had done and it has been hanging on my bathroom wall ever since.  Sadly I have encountered many an example of the "He-Who #1" in my lifetime........and probably #2 as well (even though I am known  not to have much to do with children) , but  I am still looking for a real, well rounded #4. Needless to say, I have never been able to figure out how to identify a #3.

And while on the subject of quotes, I must report that my incredible British pal, St. Anne of Devon, has come up with the author of one of my favorite quotes, one  that I mentioned in an earlier blog......I don't know how she did it, but I am ever so grateful and am thrilled to be able to give credit where credit is due.

"Man is born protesting, lives complaining and dies disappointed."  
                                                                                                                                      Thomas Fuller

Quotes are great for bloggers.........you can fill an entire blog using other peoples' words embroidered all around with a just a few of your own.  What more could a tired blogger ask?

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Loose Ends

I am still trying to cope with the requirements for having been nominated "Beautiful Blogger" by CatLadyLarew.  Before I continue I must apologize to CatLady for having misspelled her name these past many moons....by George, I think I've got it now.....it is Larew not Larue!

Next I must see if I can figure out how to link to her blog......I wonder what will happen if I click on the word
"Link"  in the header....here goes.http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com/

Ah, so!  Making progress.  One of the stipulations was that I thank my benefactor and I have already done that in an earlier blog, but in a case like this repetition does no harm so thank you again, CatLady, for your kind words and actions.

Next I think I am supposed to nominate 7 of my favorite bloggers for the award and that will not be easy because I have discovered so many incredibly talented and interesting people during this adventure.  However, I will give it a go and will honor some of my other favorites next time I get the chance.
1. I.B. Grumpy           Dr. Grumpy In The House
2. Kelly                      Kelly's Kvetch Of the Day
3. Nathan (?)              Mr. London Street
4. Pearl                       Pearl, Why, You Little....
5. Anna                       Life Just Keeps Getting Weirder
6.     ?                         UberGrumpy
7. Alan                        News From Nowhere

I believe that now my final obligation is to notify my "winners" of their prize.  That will be a pleasure.

This highlight to my short blogging career has been a fascinating experience.  I actually feel like I am a part of a greater entity and it is wonderful.  For the first time in my life I think I have found a group to which I am happy to "belong".  Never was a joiner till now......see, take note all you young 'uns....... you are never too old for new thrills and adventures.  Thank you fellow bloggers....I love ya all.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Ta Dah !!

Ah, I have just remembered how to get images onto my blog and have
successfully managed to coax the beautiful blogger award onto the page.

Isn't it loverly? 

I am still quite overcome.

Thanks again, CatLadyLarue

P.S to "Who?? Me??"

In my haste to go and put cold cloths on my head after the confusion and exhilaration of being nominated for a blogging award, I failed to post the most important thing about the event......the blogsite of my wonderful benefactor, CatLadyLarue. Without further ado, here it is and, by all means rush, do not walk, to sample her delightful musings.

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com

Who??? Me???

I am flabbergasted! The wonderful CatLady Larue has nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award. Not only am I flabbergasted but I am nonplussed.

I know from reading her blog that there is a whole plethora of things I have to do in order to successfully accept this honor....the only one I am fairly sure I know how to do is to thank CatLady from the bottom of my heart. As for linking......If I type "consider yourself linked" will that perform the link step?? I can see I need lots of guidance about this.....among many other things.

For instance, I have been trying to copy the pic of the award and plunk it down here for all to see but after a hundred or so failed attempts I think I will just give up for the moment and go put cold cloths on my forehead.

Sometimes I think I am getting the knack of using this here computer thingy and other times I can see I have been deluding myself. However, I am still basking in the glow of being chosen for an award, even if, a lot of the time, I really don't know what the hell I am doing.

Huzzah, CatLady, you are a darling!