Creativity, Crafts, Books, Movies, Greyhounds & Favorite Things

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A few of my favorite jokes:

1.  Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a state police officer sees a car puttering along at 22 mph.  He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!”  So, he turns on his lights and pulls the driver over.  Approaching the car, he notices that there are five little old ladies, two in the front seat and three in the back, wide-eyed and white as ghosts.  The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand. I was doing exactly the speed limit!  What seems to be the problem?”  “Ma’am,” the officer replies, “you weren’t speeding, but you should know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.”  “Slower than the speed limit?  No sir!  I was doing the speed limit exactly — twenty-two miles an hour!”  the old woman says quite proudly.  The state police officer, trying to contain a chuckle, explains to her that “22” is the route number, not the speed limit.  A bit embarrassed, the woman grins sheepishly and thanks the officer for pointing out her error.  “But before I let you go, ma’am, I have to ask…is everyone in this car OK?  These women seem awfully shaken, and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time,” the officer says with concern.  “Oh, they’ll be all right in a minute, Officer. We just got off Route 119.”

2.  A burglar broke into a house one night.  He shone his flashlight around the empty room, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, “Jesus is watching you.”  He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.  When he heard nothing more after a bit, he shook his head and continued.  Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard “Jesus is watching you.”  Freaked out, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.  Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.  “Did you say that?” he hissed at the parrot.  “Yep,” the parrot confessed, then squawked, “I’m just trying to warn you that Jesus is watching you.”  The burglar relaxed. “Warn me, huh?  Who in the world are you?”  “Moses,” said the bird.  “Moses?” the burglar laughed. ‘What kind of people would name a bird Moses?”  The parrot replied, “The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus.”

3.  A guy was sitting quietly reading his paper when his wife walked up behind him and whacked him on the head with a magazine.  “What was that for?” he asked.  “That was for the piece of paper in your pants pocket with the name Laura Lou written on it,” she replied. “Two weeks ago when I went to the races, Laura Lou was the name of one of the horses I bet on,” he explained.  “Oh honey, I’m sorry,” she said. “I should have known there was a good explanation.”  Three days later he was watching a ball game on TV when she walked up and hit him in the head again, this time with an iron skillet, which knocked him out cold.  When he came to, he asked, “What was that for?”  She replied, “Your horse called.”

Daily Inspiration

Humor is the great thing, the saving thing.  The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.

Mark Twain

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I still have an owl painting to finish, but I didn’t want to get too far behind in my Artful Gathering class…Crazy Quilting 101.  This week, I did the piecing for my crazy quilt pouch.  The piecing was done in two rounds.

Round 1

Round 2

Next week, I’ll apply lace and trim and add some embroidery stitches.

Crazy quilting refers to the patchwork that lacks the repeating motifs of traditional quilting.  Crazy quilting has a haphazard look to it.  Another feature of crazy quilts is the addition of embellishments on the patches and seams.

Session Two (July 15-August 25) is now open for registration.

Make sure you check out Dip-Dip and The Bridge.  Lynne is featuring pictures of The Blogville Ladies Crochet Society members’ first project…the cotton dishcloth.  Grab a crochet hook and join us!

One last thing…I heard about this from Dip, Bridge & Elliot.  Pedigree is sponsoring a “Write a Post, Save a Dog” campaign.  For every blog post about the campaign between now and June 30th, Pedigree will donate a 17 pound bag of food to a shelter.  One bag per blog up to 450 bags.  Now how easy is that.  If you have a blog, grab the badge, post by Saturday, June 30th, and add your post URL to the linky over at Tales and Tails.  You’ll help feed a pup who is waiting for their forever home.

Daily Inspiration

Some colors exist in dreams that are not present in the waking spectrum.

Terri Guillemets

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I’m working on my “heirloom album.”  This is a photo book I’m putting together with pictures of heirlooms and things that are special to me.  I’m also writing down what I know about these items.  I thought it would be fun to share this process.  Here’s what I’m doing…I’ll pick three items; the first week, I’ll tell you what I know and the next week, I’ll tell you what more I find out.  I’ll do this “back and forth” during June and July.  Here are the heirlooms I picked last week.  The text in black is what I knew; the text in red is what I found out.

Lucy Pin 

This pin was given to me by my mother’s sister, my Aunt Alma.  This was a special gift because although I never considered her stingy, my Aunt Alma was a “collector” and didn’t part with her treasures easily.  It belonged to my maternal grandmother who received it from my grandfather.

My mom didn’t even know that I had this pin.  Since my Aunt Alma passed away years ago, the only additional information I’ll get on this item came from the “Antiques Q&A” in the Country Sampler May 2011 magazine.  Carnival vendors fashioned these souvenirs from carved shells and gold-filled wire.  The vendors could bend the wire into any name you wanted and you watched the person make your pin.  They were from the 1930s and 1940s.

Class Ring

This was my mom’s high school class ring.  It has a “D” on it that I believe stands for Decherd, Tennessee; however, I know that my mom graduated from New Carlisle High School in Indiana.

This is my mom’s high school class ring from Franklin County High School.  There is a little FCHS under the “D.”  The “D” could stand for Decherd, Tennessee or their mascot, a Red Devil; however, as I thought, she graduated from New Carlisle High School in Indiana.  When she turned 18 years old, she decided she didn’t want to stay at home any more.  Probably had something to do with not wanting to listen to her parents.  She had a sister in Indiana (my Aunt Alma) and a sister in California who told her she could come live with them.  She chose my Aunt Alma, hopped on a bus and moved to Indiana.  And she was surprised when I enlisted in the Army.  The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree.

Sonja Henie Pin

I remember this being in my mother’s jewelry box.  I loved it when my mom would let me get in her jewelry box.  I would take everything out and admire all the pretty things.  Sonja Henie was a famous ice skater.

My mom got this at a church rummage sale.  It was in a box of jewelry.

From Wikipedia:

Sonja Henie (April 8, 1912 – October 12, 1969) was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic Champion (1928, 1932, 1936).  Sonja Henie won more Olympic and World titles than any other ladies figure skater.  At the height of her acting career she was one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood.

Sonja Henie is credited with being the first figure skater to adopt the short skirt costume in figure skating, wear white boots and make use of dance choreography.  Her innovative skating techniques and glamorous demeanor transformed the sport permanently and confirmed its acceptance as a legitimate sport in the Winter Olympics.

Daily Inspiration

It is not down in any map; true places never are.

Herman Melville

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This is one of my favorite steps in making flowers…adding the centers.  Here are just a few ideas for flower centers.

Buttons

Yo-Yos

Another Flower

Jewelry

Pom Poms

Beads

 Daily Inspiration

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.

Iris Murdoch

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(source)

Recently, the Wakarusa Dime Store opened a new location close by me.  The Wakaruse Dime Store is home to the Jumbo Jelly Bean™ but they also have a great selection of nostalgic candy.  Here are some of my favorites:

Smoothies are my favorite, but you may recognize this company’s more famous product, the Mallo Cup.  According to the company’s website, the Boyer brothers started their candy company in their mother’s kitchen during the Great Depression.  The brothers wanted to cover marshmallow but were not able to get the marshmallow to stiffen.  Their mother suggested using cupcake papers and the Mallo Cup was born and became the first cup candy in America.

No surprise here…my favorite is the chocolate Necco wafers.  Necco wafers date back to 1847 when Oliver Chase invented a lozenge cutting machine.  They were even carried by Union soldiers during the Civil War.  They were called “hub wafers” then.  In 1901 the company became the New England Confectionary Company (Necco).  The traditional Necco wafers roll contains eight flavors: lemon (yellow), lime (green), orange (orange), clove (purple), cinnamon (white), wintergreen  (pink), licorice (black) and chocolate (brown).

The Sky Bar is also a Necco product and has been produced since 1938.  It was announced to the public with a skywriting advertising campaign.  The Sky Bar has four section, each with a different filling: vanilla, fudge, peanut and caramel.

The Zero candy bar was introduced in 1920.  What makes it unique?  The body of the candy bar (caramel, peanut and almond nougat) is covered with white fudge. Originally produced by Hollywood Brands, the company was purchased by Hershey’s in 1996.

Moritz Ice Cubes hail from Germany and have been around since the mid-1930’s.  What makes them unique…they live up to their name.  They have coconut oil in them which means that they begin to melt at temperatures over 75°F.

Beemans Gum was invented by an Ohio physician, Edward E. Beeman in the late 19th-century.  It was originally marketed as an aid to digestion because it was made with pepsin (an enzyme) powder and chicle (a natural gum).

Yum Yum Candy Cones have been made in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1936.  According to the company’s website, the recipe for the marshmallow filling and cone have remained the same since 1936.  The company that makes the Yum Yum Candy Cones, Marshmallow Products (Marpro), was started by a tailor named John V. Arbino during the Great Depression.  He noticed that while people mght not spend money for tailored clothing, they always seemed to have money for candy.  No surprise to me!

Daily Inspiration

Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.

Doug Larson

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Here’s what’s been happening in my studio:

I made melted petal flowers for Wednesday’s “Try This” post.  This technique gives flowers a feminine, vintage look.

I finished this colorful little owl.

I had one of my card clubs this past week.  We made two cards.

This card features a flower stamp that is done in two steps.  First, the color is stamped (the lighter blue), then the details are stamped over the top (the navy blue).  We used a clever little device called the Stamp-a-ma-jig from Stampin’ Up! that helps you position the top image exactly where you want it.

This card featured a lot of hand cutting.  Not my favorite thing but something I’d like to get better at. 

Daily Inspiration

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A few weeks ago, we asked for questions for Freedom, Casper and Nikki.  We had a wonderful response and thank everyone for their questions.  I’ve decided to split this interview into two parts.

Freedom:  WHAT!  Two parts!  Why two parts!?

Well, after I typed up the answers, it was close to 2000 words.  That’s almost 4 times a typical What Remains Now post.

Freedom:  Yeah, but a typical What Remains Now post is about all your boring creative stuff.  Our fans have been waiting for this!

Think of it this way…double the fun.

Freedom:  We’re being robbed.

Casper:  Yep, robbed.

Nikki:  Totally robbed.

Regardless, let’s begin.  Amy (Casper and Nikki’s foster mommy) and Sue of Suzy’s Sanctuary asked how and why did your parents choose each of you?

I’ll start…After my human kid went off to college, I was very lonely.  That’s when we got our first greyhound, Paloma.  We lost Paloma six months after we got her, and we were devastated.  As sad as we were, we knew that we needed another greyhound in our lives.  We had talked about getting another greyhound when we had Paloma, but hadn’t taken the leap, so we decided to get two right off.  Kids…I’ll let you take it from there.

Freedom:  I was picked out by my Daddy.  He picked me, sight unseen because I was related to Paloma, and I looked like Paloma.  When our adoption group representative described me as being “like Paloma, without the crazy,” they knew they had to have me.  Do you see a disturbing amount of references to Paloma in my precious little adoption story?  The funny thing is, Paloma was Daddy’s dog, but I’m Mommy’s dog…even though Daddy picked me out.

Casper:  Mommy picked me out.  A couple weeks after they lost Paloma, they went to a Meet ‘N Greet because they were going through “greyhound face kissing” withdrawal.  It just so happened that I was at the Meet ‘N Greet with my foster mommy, Amy, who was also the mommy of Zonda, who was Paloma’s sister.  Mommy wanted me right away because of the weird Paloma connection.  Daddy had his eye on a really big boy named Skittles.  I wasn’t even two years old, and I was still kind of little, plus I was really shy.  Fortunately, Skittles was not cat-safe and Mommy wanted me, so Skittles didn’t have a chance.  The funny thing is, I’m Daddy’s boy…even though Mommy picked me out.

Nikki:  They didn’t even see me coming.  My foster home was with foster mommy Amy, just like Casper.  I think I went there in March 2011.  In May, at the Spring Fling, a lady came to look at me and Mommy didn’t really like the idea that this lady was looking at me.  Mommy didn’t tell anyone, and I just mentioned it because that’s the first time Mommy started thinking about me.  That lady didn’t adopt me.  I even went to another home visit but I didn’t get picked because I’m kind of shy.  Sometimes people don’t like black dogs (or cats) or shy dogs, so my awesomeness was pretty well hidden  FINALLY in July 2011, my Mommy and Daddy realized they couldn’t live without me.  Thank goodness they came to their senses.  I love both my Mommy and Daddy.  They consider me their “baby” even though Casper is younger than me.  I don’t mind.

Our next question is from Bunny of Tales and Tails and Jay from The Depp Effect.  They asked what are your “official” names.

Freedom:  My name is Free Spitfire and my litter number is 42469.  My birthday is 5-14-07.

Casper:  My name is Try N Ryan and my litter number is 47558.  My birthday is 7-7-08.

Nikki:  My name is Silver Nikita and my litter number is 42995.  My birthday is 6-20-07.

Sue of Graceful Greyhounds and Nola of Dachshund Nola asked if you all get on together?

Freedom:  I get on with Casper and Nikki as long as they act right.  I keep a sharp eye out in case they don’t and then I correct them with a sharp bark.  The only thing I don’t like is Casper ALWAYS wants whatever bed I’m on.  It drives me crazy!  Nikki’s pretty cool with me because she knows how to act (if you could see me right now, you would see that I’m looking in Casper’s direction).

Casper:  I get on with everyone.

Nikki:  I stay out of the Casper and Freedom thing.  I’m a very laid back hound and don’t want any trouble.

Nellie of Cat From Hell asked what nationality you consider yourselves to be.

Freedom:  100% American…goes with my name.

Casper:  I consider myself American, but I feel I possess a sophistication that would make me at ease in Europe, both in Britain and on the Continent.  I think my Man of the World aura would serve me well anywhere on the planet.

Freedom:  He’s a Fruit Loop.

Freedom, no commentary on Casper’s and Nikki’s answers.

Nikki:  I consider myself American, but since my name is Nikita Silver, I sometimes play like I’m a Russian princess.

That’s very sweet, Nikki.  On that note, we’ll close and answer the rest of the questions next Sunday.

Daily Inspiration

 Lots of people talk to animals…Not very many listen, though…That’s the problem.

  Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

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I got a little behind…so last Saturday and today, I’m responding to comments that were left for me and included a question.  Last week, I focused on questions about my creative work and this week, I’ll answer the remaining questions.  Let’s get started:

In May, my girlfriend and I went on a bus trip to Long Grove, Illinois and The Chocolate Festival.

Winnie of Winnie’s Dog Blog asked if the Long Grove Covered Bridge was in a film? 

As far as I know, it has not been featured in any films.  The film that comes to mind when I hear “covered bridge” is The Bridges of Madison County.  That bridge is located in Winterset, Iowa.  If anyone remembers seeing the Long Grove Covered Bridge in a film, let me and Winnie know.

Roseman Bridge, Winterset, Iowa

Every Tuesday, I talk about something I love.  A couple weeks ago, I mentioned my enthusiasm for the miniseries Hatfields and McCoys.  When I wrote the post, only Part 1 had aired.

When it was all over, Patty from Two Greyhound Town asked me if I enjoyed Hatfields and McCoys.

I DID!  For me, Hatfields and McCoys worked on many levels:

1.  A good blood feud is always interesting.  For the story alone, Hatfields and McCoys had compelling action, conflict and emotion.

2.  If you wanted to consider deeper issues, Hatfields and McCoys offered food for thought about the effects of the American Civil War, the personalities of the two patriarchs, the nature and dynamics of family, and how choices take on a life of their own and spread out in a variety of expected and unexpected ways.

3.  The cinematography was interesting.  I enjoyed the grittiness of the film.

I’m looking forward to the DVD version because I know they’ll include a lot of additional content that will add even more to my enjoyment and appreciation of this miniseries.

Every Thursday, I write a post that deals with subjects I wish I’d taken care of “if I died today.”  I often feature some of my special things and heirlooms.

Patty of Two Greyhound Town asked where I display my heirlooms.

Some things I have out and on display…bookshelves, side tables and walls.  Some things are still packed away, willy nilly.  One of the goals of the “hoarder reform program” I’m on, is to know what I have and if I love it, get it out so I can enjoy it everyday, or at least know where it’s located and properly store it.

Patty of Two Greyhound Town also asked if we had instructions for what happens to our dogs if we die. 

We have discussed this with our friends who own Miura, Zonda and Eva.  We have agreed to take their pups, if anything happens to them. and they will take Freedom, Casper & Nikki if anything happens to us.  With that said, we have given them permission to find our pups new homes.  We selected them because they know and love our “kids” and have the ability to care for them.  We trust them to keep them or move them to the best possible home.

I’ve also received comments speculating on the cleanliness and organizational perfection of my house.  One thing you may notice is that there are no comments like this from folks that have been to my house.  I am making an effort to lighten my load and get rid of things I don’t want or use.  I am not a good housekeeper, so less stuff = easier cleaning.  I’ll continue to share my little victories, but in the spirit of honesty, remember…I control what goes on this blog and more often than not, I pick the “pretty” stuff.

Daily Inspiration

What may be done at any time will be done at no time.

Scottish Proverb

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One owl down and one owl to go.  I’m finishing the paintings I started when I took Juliette Crane’s How to Paint an Owl E-course.

Before

After

I struggled with this owl because I never was sure who she was or where she was located.  I changed her color multiple times, and I couldn’t settle on a background.  To get her finished, I decided to stop.

Daily Inspiration

Best way to get rid of kitchen odors:  Eat out.

Phyllis Diller

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Every Thursday, I take a look at things I wish I’d done “if I die today.”  One of those thing is pass on the stories of special things and family heirlooms.  The problem is, I don’t know many of the stories.  So, to get me going on this project, here’s what I’m doing…I’ll pick three items and tell you what I know and the next week, I’ll tell you what more I find out.  I’ll do this “back and forth” during June and July.  Here are this week’s heirlooms, and what I know about them:

Lucy Pin

This pin was given to me by my mother’s sister, my Aunt Alma.  This was a special gift because although I never considered her stingy, my Aunt Alma was a “collector” and didn’t part with her treasures easily.  It belonged to my maternal grandmother who received it from my grandfather.

Class Ring

This was my mom’s high school class ring.  It has a “D” on it that I believe stands for Decherd, Tennessee; however, I know that my mom graduated from New Carlisle High School in Indiana.

Sonia Henie Pin

I remember this being in my mother’s jewelry box.  I loved it when my mom would let me get in her jewelry box.  I would take everything out and admire all the pretty things.  Sonia Henie was a famous ice skater.

Next week, I’ll tell you what I find out about these pieces of jewelry.

Daily Inspiration

Sorrow makes us all children again – destroys all differences of intellect.  The wisest know nothing.. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson