Feel My Felt

A Telling ...Tail

2012-01-21T01:16:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T22:39:00.003-05:00

One picture is photo shopped and the other is as is.
They both are sending a message of peace.
Peace to all my blog visitors...
Happy New Year ~Love, Elaine

O' Holy Night

2011-12-25T22:12:00.003-05:00

O holy night!

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night

Of the dear Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appear'd and the soul felt His worth

A thrill of hope

The weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks

A new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

Oh night divine

Oh night when Christ was born

Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine

........good-night all.

Love you.....Elaine

Advent is slipping by

2011-12-16T09:22:00.001-05:00

Needle Felted Tree

2011-12-16T00:00:00.005-05:00

This is hardly worthy of a post but I promised a tree and this is all I came up with ...so far.

The second picture is a play with the hue............ This tree is only 3 3/4" .

10 Ways to Love

2011-12-12T20:01:00.001-05:00

Life Lesson

2011-11-29T08:55:00.000-05:00

When you love someone, you tell them everything there is to know about you... the good and the bad. And then you let them decide if they will still choose to love you. If they do, then good for them. If not, then good for you."~ Mary Anne E. Delos Santos

Oh Dear...

2011-11-28T11:44:00.005-05:00

This is my newest creation. I was inspired by a vintage plastic deer. She's needle felted from 100% pure wool roving. Now I'm working on a pretty little felted Christmas tree. Thanks for stopping by!

Antique German Doll Furniture

2011-11-22T01:42:00.004-05:00

I'm such a kid at heart.

When I found this antique doll furniture, my heart swooned.
The armoire opens and the table is actually a blanket chest.

I especially love the sweet baby cradle.

Hillbilly Art

2011-11-12T12:41:00.001-05:00

Nuf' said.

Indianmeal Moths

2011-11-07T13:17:00.011-05:00

hi everyone!
I was just at the hairdressers and overheard an old man talking to his hair stylist. He said his food cupboards were infested with little moths. Leave it to a guy because us ladies don't usually bring up such topics. Which is exactly why I am bring this up to you now. Yes it is gross but it happens to the best of us. He explained how their larva crawled across and even hung off the ceiling and it was becoming a real pain in the neck. Until they purchased some traps at the hardware store. I listened with full attention because I too am having the same problem. In fact the woman styling his hair said that she was also having the same problem. Then a customer looked over her magazine and chimed in that she too was having that same problem. Now it has occurred to me that the food we are buying from the market is the source of these pesky culprits. I came home from the salon and googled moths in food. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianmeal_Moth The link to the left is a description of the little trouble maker that we are talking about and has been causing such a drama trauma in my hometown.

I heard the traps are $25. each. I can't afford that. Well...maybe I can but I won't. Instead... I have a long stemmed glass that I have delegated for this dirty task it reads Happy Anniversary. I'm recently divorced and won't be needing this glass again. (For those of you who didn't know about the divorce ...yeah bummer... but I'm ok now.) Just one drop of dish liquid and fill it with warm water. It makes a nice frothy foam on top of the glass. I reach up to the ceiling and cover the maggot like larva ...
(UGH O ---K ---I'm digusting myself here, how are you?) Anyway ... Voila!
The bubbles make the slightest contact and gotcha! It disppears into the water. Cover a moth with the glass and poof... bubble magic! Then I take my bubbly cocktail and heave it out my back door which is onto my driveway. They're almost gone I hope. I do this whenever I see even one. I have removed all old food out and the buggers are coming from the very top of the cupboard. I now keep all of my flour, rice, bread crumbs, open crackers and cookies in the fridge. That's not so bad because it was kind of empty there anyway. Storing the food in the refridgerator has an added bonus. The crackers stay crunchy. I live on the east coast and here we are accustomed to keeping rice in our salt shakers to keep summer's humidity in check.

Well... thanks for listening to my rant. I hope you don't have to deal with these little humdrums in your life but in case you do, please remember. -- You are not alone!
p.s. I have never seen them go after clothing.

Getting Over It...

2011-11-03T11:18:00.005-04:00

I'm always glad when Halloween is over with.

Halloween makes me dizzy, much like this video.

Father Mychal Judge, Patron Saint of 9/11/01

2011-09-11T22:18:00.004-04:00

I went to church today. It was a commemorative mass for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
Now in all this time I hadn't heard about Father Mychal Judge.
He is thought to be the first person to die and is indeed the first body to be carried out at Ground Zero, September 11, 2011
A New York priest known for his ability to love.
I can't think of any greater honor.
Our pastor Fr. Mark gave an eloquent homily and in it taught us the prayer of Father Mychal.

MYCHAL'S PRAYER
Lord, take me where You want me to go.
let me meet who you want me to meet,
tell me what You want me to say,
and keep me out of Your way.
***************************
How funny is that? I love it. I can totally relate.
I'm reading up on Father Mychal Judge and have come to learn that he is indeed a saint.

He himself clamed he was the happiest man on earth.
He didn't need a thing in the world.
He felt so blessed because of all the things he had and yet he had nothing.
What's more he also felt so undeserving for having such abundance.
He wasn't counting his blessings of material things...
Father Mychal Judge's cup runneth over with love.

He died doing the Lord's work...he laid down his life for another.
I never met you Father Mychal, but feel your love right through your death.
I love you too. Thank-you.

The 4th of July in Hyannis

2011-07-26T01:14:00.006-04:00

Here's a little bit of our 4th.

Better late than never. (wink)

NO! Don't throw out your broken patio umbrella - fix it with a zip tie!

2011-07-24T21:55:00.020-04:00

Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without. This is a good idea that will help you to make do and not have to do without. A strong wind broke the cord inside the pole of my big patio umbrella. The cord is what makes the hand crank operate.

The picture above shows what the snapped cord looks like.

FIXED WITH A ZIP TIE !

Can you see a zip tie in the picture above? It's just barely showing under the white shaft. I'm holding the broken cord to the left. (This can be cut away now.)

I had to buy a whole bag but really just one is enough. It slides up and down fairly easy.

Maybe it's hard to see from the picture I show above because the shaft of the umbrella falls over most of it. But, it works great.

The bag cost inder $5. and I have used them for other jobs as well.

It could happen to yours.

I hope this post will make somebody happy.

A pretty palette...

2011-06-02T00:18:00.013-04:00

I wish I had the talent to paint these flowers.

They look like blobs when I do.

Maybe someday, I'll share my blobs with you.

Pennies from Heaven

2011-05-25T23:26:00.004-04:00

When you have only two pennies left in the world,

buy a loaf of bread with one and a lily with the other.

~ Chinese Proverb

***

( Thank-you Tom and Nora for my flowers. )

A Sampling of Splendor

2011-05-24T23:44:00.011-04:00

The white Liliacs out my bedroom window

this warm evening in May,

fill the air with sweet perfume.

***

A little while earlier I saw...
wild fern tip toe through the periwinkle.

***
Bully, bossy, Boston Ivy running amuck way out back.

***

Always welcome Ajuga was standing at attention for my camera.

***

The blueberry bush all heavy with blossoms,
happy in a bed of blue speedwell.

What is there not to love about spring on Cape Cod?

***

A Little Chipmunk Stayed Very Still.....

2011-05-18T21:24:00.008-04:00

Maybe thinking I might not see him there.

: )

Wild Comlumbine

2011-05-04T12:14:00.004-04:00

3 years ago I was walking into the food market and this little columbine attracted my eye. It looked so lovely to me. It's the small flowering type that I've always known as being called wild columbine. I chose one little pot and put it in my cart. When I got home, I put away my groceries and went right outside to find a home for my new friend. I planted it here and as they say if it isn't the right spot it will at least be a decent burial. As it turned out ..it was the perfect place. I instinctively knew what was just right for this little thing. The soil could be a little bit richer but it seems quite happy the way it is................ All it needed was a place to live.

Making Madonnas

2011-04-11T09:46:00.005-04:00

Making Madonnas...

....it's what I "do".

Irish Blessings

2011-03-17T10:01:00.005-04:00

***

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

***

and

May you be dead a half hour

before the devil knows you're gone.

***
Like the warmth of the sun

And the light of the day

May the luck of the Irish

Shine bright on your way.

***

May your blessings outnumber

The shamrocks that grow

And may trouble avoid you

Where ever you go.

***

May you live as long as you want

And never want as long as you live.

***

May your pockets be heavy

And your heart be light,

May good luck pursue you

Each day and each night.

***

May your troubles be less

Your blessings be more

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door

Needle Felted Panda

2011-03-10T00:22:00.003-05:00

Pretty Polly Panda Bear

Dances on Her Toes

Holds on to a Red Balloon

Everywhere She Goes

Everybody Knows

That Polly is a Princess

As Polite as You'd Suppose.

How NOT to sell your Antique Quilt on Ebay

2011-02-24T01:11:00.006-05:00

If you have a dying old quilt.... and you want to sell it on ebay.

Perhaps it's not the best idea to compare it to rotting flesh.

My artistic muse gets in the way

Crazy Quilt
Undated - unsigned
Early American
45" x 56" not counting the frayed border
Condition - Good

This poor tired tattered quilt....

A collage of exhausted fine fabrics, velvets and thread bare silks

with muslin exposed like skeletal bones through rotting flesh.

The mass of pretty embroidered stitches are like

little colorful soldiers in an army

rallying the war against decay and deterioration.

They are holding their ground.

Mouse earred edges are worn and torn

like broken teeth in battle.

While hand painted daisies and little stitched pictures

help to soften the field.

This quilt has had a life of hard work.

Yet remarkably the back of the quilt is strong and undefiled,

it seems to defy age.

Strong vibrant rich red fabric is the life blood of what keeps this rugged relic alive.

***

Please excuse my grossly artistic description.

This really is a lovely antique and all original piece of folk art.

By the way...it does not smell like rotting flesh!

In fact it has no offensive odor at all.

Many of these examples of the Early American Quilt

are in the same boat so to speak.

They are becoming quite scarce.

In generations to come I suspect only pictures and

silly descriptions like this will survive.

***

feel it

2011-02-14T00:35:00.006-05:00

Lost and Found

2011-02-12T01:05:00.007-05:00

Dylan lost Mario at my house. I found his beloved toy and put it up high where it would be safe until Dylan would come back again for a visit. A week later - Now, Dylan is back and I forgot that I have his toy. I pass by the funny looking little character all afternoon without a thought or notice. Until the very late afternoon sun comes around to the west side and streams bright rays through the two little window panes of the back door. The sunlight is like a spotlight shining in on little Mario. Sometimes all it takes is a little light on the subject to see what has been there all along.

Antique Towel Rack

2011-02-08T16:14:00.004-05:00

A needle felted chickadee perches on an antique towel rack.

Mantle Today

2011-02-03T15:35:00.002-05:00

How times have changed...

2011-02-03T12:44:00.006-05:00

There are a few variations of this New Era Potato Chip tin.

This one is from 1937. The later years toned it down a bit.

Eat all you want is a little misleading.

Now available at my Etsy shop.

What's for dinner?

2011-01-30T14:20:00.002-05:00

last nights ...chicken stew.

Dish Racks

2011-01-19T14:27:00.010-05:00

I bought this vintage wire dish rack at a yard sale... years ago with thoughts of keeping my bills neatly organized. The shelf on it could be a handy little compartment for desk supplies.
( Or-so I thought) However, within weeks it was looking stuffed and messy. I really have no flat surface large enough to keep it and it was constantly in my way. It soon ended up hanging on the side of a broom closet down in the basement. There it gathered dust and more rust being neglected and forgotten. Today, I decided to drag it up, wash it off and pass it along to someone with more room and less bills. It's over at my Etsy shop

My latest

2011-01-08T23:56:00.005-05:00

My hands just want to make more and more of this theme of Mother and Child.

1/1/11

2011-01-01T10:46:00.013-05:00

Happy New Year

I listed these Smurf people on ebay in December. The guy that was the highest bidder didn't pay. I reminded him when you bid it's a contract ...and he was sorry. This buyer had what they call "buyers remorse" So...grrr I let him off the hook, reported it to ebay so I don't pay twice for them and them relisted them. Sellers don't have much choice these days. It's a buyer's market.

If nobody buys them these will be my mascots for 2011. : )

About Christmas ....

2010-12-27T08:24:00.002-05:00

With Jesus among us ...

I'm trusting you had a great Christmas, I love you.

Week 4

2010-12-19T12:59:00.002-05:00

This is the fourth week of Advent.

Week 3

2010-12-12T22:02:00.004-05:00

Nothing is small is done out of love.

week 2

2010-12-05T23:41:00.001-05:00

Morning Star Mary

2010-11-30T21:34:00.012-05:00

SERIOUSLY... I see a face in this picture. Can you see Her? This image was taken during the same photo shoot as the picture below only with no flash....I almost deleted it but it caught my eye. I showed my family and they all see Her too. I'm in awe at it. It's a big deal to me anyway.

ADVENT...has begun

2010-11-29T22:55:00.001-05:00

This is the first week of Advent

Shadow Play

2010-11-23T13:36:00.008-05:00

Halloween 2010

2010-11-02T01:16:00.014-04:00

This years costume...Link

A character from the video game The Adventures of Zelda.

(thank-you Tom)

***

What do you do when you run out of candy to give on Halloween night?

You could do what one of our delerious neighbors decided to do.

Give away your personal belongings.

She gave my 7 year old grandson

a pillow with a catchy saying.

~" Of all the things I lost it seems I miss my mind the most."~

*******************************************************************************

Seeing as how Halloween was just yesterday.... reminds me of this little bat that flew into the car and crashed into my husbands ear as he was driving! This happened on a warm September night and ok so I didn't go blogging it right away but I'm telling you now aren't I? It was so eerie. So it flies in and he's thinking it must be a bird. He feels it on his ear and he grabs it and flings it off. It goes to the floor of the car and stays very still....he thought it was dead. He pulled off the road and sees a brown lump on the floor and gets back to driving the few blocks home. At home he notices it's a bat not a bird at which point he calls us out to see it. I grab an old glass jar with a cover and my plan is to bury the little creature. I reach down and he flinches. We are both startled. ...So anyway now this bat is in a jar....what to do next? Take a picture of course!

Bat's eat bugs and I give him a grape...he snarls at my gift. Soon I let him go and he flew away.
It was a whole lot more drawn out...but I'm sparing you the drama.

I Love You with All My Art....

2010-10-21T21:40:00.010-04:00

Feel My Felt...

with your whole heart and soul.

Trying to get back on track...

2010-09-20T00:29:00.004-04:00

...but it's so hard to get back. There are a lot of changes going on in my life. C'est lavie.

I find that art helps to soothe my weary soul. Needle felting is still my favorite way to express myself. Although - sadly I can't seem to get enough definition of detail without making it look like some sort of a cartoon. I can imagine my subject themes much better than my hands can create them. So I at least try to capture the essence of what I'm thinking.

The love between a mother and child is the strongest love I've ever known. I first felt this unconditional love with my own mother and then I didn't think it was possible but I feel it even stronger with my own children. As they grow and leave my arms I can't help but miss the years I held them so close. Is it any wonder why I am compelled to recreate this tender feeling in my art? As I was shaping this latest sculpture with my hands...the mother's head leaned, the child's head leaned and as they both leaned foreheads together it brought a smile to my face and I knew it was done.

When you calculate a math problem or a figure out a puzzle or something tangible like that you know when you're finished. But my art is something that ...honestly somethimes I never feel as if I'm finished with it. I want to tweak it here and there and ugh.... I have been witness to some things getting ruined right before my eyes. I've decided at least this time to just let it go imperfect as it is. Simply because it says what I want, much better than I can.

Holiday

2010-09-06T15:29:00.003-04:00

Happiness is getting onto my Blog again!

2010-06-26T11:57:00.006-04:00

I've been locked out of my own blog!

For some reason all I ever got was a white page...

But today, I checked for the umpteenth time and it was working.
I don't know why....either way ....YAY!

Here is a bluebird I needle felted.

Pentecost

2010-05-23T22:11:00.000-04:00

Can you tell I love religious art?

The Ascension of Our Lord

2010-05-13T13:13:00.003-04:00

Siohban Magnus

2010-04-08T21:05:00.002-04:00

We LOVE SIOHBAN!

He Is Risen! Alleluia!

2010-04-04T02:54:00.003-04:00

Good Friday

2010-04-02T10:00:00.002-04:00

Agony in the Garden

2010-04-01T23:50:00.004-04:00

Little Flower

2010-03-28T23:22:00.006-04:00

Little flowers in my yard.

Remind me life is not so hard.

If only we could have no bills...

Like the croci and the daffodils.

If only we could feel no pain...

Like the breaking earth.

Or the falling rain.

Elaine '10

Xavier's Eighth Birthday

2010-03-23T00:28:00.008-04:00

Before Xavier went to sleep I took his picture because it would be the last time I saw him as 7 years old. I'm sentimental that way...................................................................................................

Then while Xavier was at school I baked a chocolate cake and blew up 4 punching balls that look like big balloons I hung some crepe paper and wrapped a few small gifts to surprise him.

Tom frosted the cake and put a little plastic Mario, a number 8 candle and way too many sparklers! If I did this myself I would have only put 8 sparklers..........but it was very exciting to see all those tall sparklers shooting sparks at once. I couldn't get it on camera. Speaking of not getting a picture. I didn't even think to take a picture of his classroom treats this year. They were so pretty too. Ice Cream Cone Cup Cakes. I used wafer cones with flat bottoms. Inside each cone I put 8 M&M candies then I peeled the paper off of a store bought mini cup cake and placed it right inside the cone. It was just the right size and the way the store swirled the white frosting it looked like ice cream. They even had colored sprinkles on top. What kind of a blogger doesn't get a pictures of that? Oh well.....I live for the moment. Oh and when you make these be sure to find a pretty box to send them off in. (presentation!) Size is important these fall over unless they are packed tight. I lined the bottom with a sheet of waxed paper and covered the treats loosely with another sheet of waxed paper. Xavier told me that all of the kids loved them except Olivia complained the cone was stale......... but he told me she still ate it just the same. I imagine the cones sat in that box all day and the frosting probably was softening the cones where it touched. I will keep that in mind next time I make these and brainstorm a way to keep the cones crunchy. I know what Olivia means. There must be a way to keep that cone crunchy. No more birthdays in our house for a good while.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T19:47:00.001-04:00

Another Birthday...

2010-03-11T23:08:00.008-05:00

We had Chinese food for dinner. Emma is wearing chopsticks in her hair.

Tom made Papa a King Size Cake!
( Lemon cake with butter cream frosting.)

Xavier's birthday is next week!
***

Happy Birthday Emma

2010-03-07T13:31:00.007-05:00

Emma is 19 now.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2010-02-27T20:37:00.004-05:00

click to see larger image:

It Doesn't Take Much to Amaze Me

2010-02-23T22:58:00.003-05:00

So...this evening I'm at my sink doing dishes and I'm looking at my rose. The same one Tom gave me for Valentine's Day. Then I start thinking wow this flower is really lasting a long time. Hmmm it was the 14th and today is the 23rd. That was 9 days ago! Look at it. Of course it's hard to see because as always I just grab the camera.............point ---> shoot and then subject the world to my poor photography skills. Oh well. What a Rose!

My Rose

2010-02-15T17:29:00.004-05:00

My Single Valentine's Day Rose

from Tom. xox

More of the ark animals

2010-02-09T20:55:00.005-05:00

I know you might have been hoping that I change the subject...but I promised some people I would send some more pictures here. Just bear with me. Enjoy the cuteness. Thanks you guys.

I know I mentioned this but it bears repeating. The animals need a good preening. If I didn't already have so much on my plate I would be happy to take on the task. I guess you would need to use tweezers and a magnifying glass. Then finish off with a gentle artists brush.

I'm sorry to my blogging friends...I haven't been to visit you in a while...but thank-you for stopping by to check up on me. It seems since I left my job I've been busier than ever. I think it's because when I worked late at night I lost so much sleep that I was a zombie. Now that I get more sleep..I get more done.

Now to get a quick game of scrabble in before sleep. xox

Just Noah Alone

2010-02-08T23:19:00.003-05:00

A little bit of yesterday....

2010-02-08T14:25:00.009-05:00

I listed this antique set of toys on ebay...
but I wouldn't mind if they didn't sell. I love 'em!

Christmas needles stuck in them and all.

I even started naming them.

I call one sweetie pie.

The 5th picture down on this page.

What animal is that?

bbye for now

The Empty Dinner Table

2010-01-30T23:53:00.005-05:00

I'm having so much fun going through 2 little boxes of antique toys to sell on ebay. Setting them up to get their pictures taken allows me to play with them. I wonder how many other people imagine this little couple talking to each other....like I do. I would love to set this table.

Sadly... another dealer will probably scoop this couple up for resale. That's usually what happens.

Most likely they will end up on some lonely dusty shelf. Or worse still...go back into a box where they'll sit for another 100 years.

What I hope would happen is that they would find their way to a little girl's hands.

And she will make them come to life with her imagination.

She will set the table with a table cloth made of kleenex and bottle cap dishes filled with meals prepared with love. For dessert she would make little chocolate cakes out of mud, decorated with flower petals and cooked dry by the sun. The dolls would tell eachother all their deepest thoughts and dreams.

.................... Words that could only be uttered by a 7 year old.

I have a 7 year old boy. He wouldn't care one bit to play with this set. It doesn't "do" anything. Besides, it would require that he take his eyes off his Mario game. oh well.

Winter is ....

2010-01-29T01:57:00.002-05:00

A time for planning.

These are all books on gardening.
That's not counting the magazines...
Like a garden the shelves need to be weeded out.
The next yard sale....purge!
I spend so much time at this computer I hardly even open them.

A Closer Look

2010-01-25T22:37:00.010-05:00

For me, taking good pictures is pure LUCK!
Most of the day the sun is too bright.

Or the day is way too gray.

Sometimes....

when I wake up in the morning the sun is just coming around to my window.

One morning I laid in bed thinking of how pretty the light was

as it streamed through my window panes.
I didn't waste another minute more just thinking about it.

I got up,

took a piece of art paper and made a small stage for the animals.

and Noah.

I clicked and clicked on my camera.

This angle and that angle.

People buying things from me on ebay

want to see as much as I can show them.

I thought I would be able to do ALL of them...

but the striking stream of light was soon gone.

***

Daily chores, errands, phone calls, emails and

if I'm so lucky to squeeze in some Scrabble

before the school bus comes then my day is well rounded.

Then comes another special light.

The late afternoon.

It's so fast and fleeting I sometimes miss it all together.

The animals you see above are going to be listed on ebay.

I'm in no hurry to get this project listed.

(only 12 different animals)

Because .....

I like having their little smiles around.

Trying to sort things out...

2010-01-24T15:30:00.003-05:00

We have this small stash of antique toys.
Here's what it looks like trying to take an inventory.
Each item has to be photographed and listed for sale.
These will be going on ebay this week.
...( I hope )...

Something New ...

2010-01-18T02:44:00.005-05:00

Please welcome Monica Monkey. Monica is needle felted with 100% wool rovings. She measures 6" long and has no wire armature. All day long she lays on her tummy with her legs in the air and reads a book that she just can't put down. (because it's permanently attached!) Monica is wearing a red short sleeved sweater with white peter pan collar, a pair of old faded blue jeans and colorful striped stockings. The title of this creation is "Many Hours of Enjoyment".....as reading a good big book is. Plus - I had many hours of enjoyment creating this O.O.A.K. doll.

***

That's what I put in my Etsy Shop today. I really need to start creating things that don't take so long. It took me a very long time to call this monkey done. For example... I gave her socks. That wasn't enough I wanted more. So I added stripes to them and that pleased me. I won't bore you with the details but there are many. If I figure out how much time went into making this one little monkey and then charged by the hour for my time..... oh ..... it's better that I can't even keep track. It's true that I enjoy needle felting, but I was so hoping that finding my niche would be easier. I suppose speed will come with more practice. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

A Parent's Prayer

2010-01-12T13:16:00.003-05:00

Heavenly Father, make me a better parent.
Teach me to understand my children.

To listen patiently to what they have to say,
and to answer all their questions kindly.

Keep me from interruping or contradicting them.

Make me as courteous to them
as I would have them be to me.

May I never laugh at their mistakes,
or resort to ridicule when they displease me.

Bless me with the confidence to grant them
all their reasonable requests and the courage
to deny them privileges I know will do them harm.

May I not rob them of the opportunity to think,
to choose and to make decisions for themselves.

Make me fair and just and kind.

And fit me, O Lord, to be loved and respected
and imitated by my children. Amen.

Cary C. Myers

<3

2010-01-09T11:17:00.001-05:00

Be awed by the newness of each present moment.

Hand Book 2010

2009-12-31T21:53:00.003-05:00

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Insteadinvest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything..

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come..

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

*I received this as an email from a very close friend...

Wishing a Very Happy New Year to ALL

If it wasn't for bad pictures I would have no pictures.

2009-12-27T21:34:00.018-05:00

* * * * * * *

The pictures below are random and my usual poor quality photography.

The picture of the door opening to the bright outside,

was my attempt to take a picture of the guys going out to shovel.

First Tom bundled up and went out then Papa followed after.

(I would have my turn after the snow stopped.)

Look how bright it looks outside.

It looks like a sunny day.
...

But when I opened the door to click some more...

this is what it really was like...

it was a blizzard.

then the battery on the camera died

( so typical)

and even though I charged it right away

Quite a few days would go by before I used it again.
Christmas came.

Some pictures are too personal to show.

Some pictures are too blurry.

Doesn't it seem as if all these boys do is play video games?

Emma was feeling a bug coming on but she still smiled for us.

She called it Merry Sickness.

Nora was so relieved to have passed another semester in the nursing program.

One more to go. We are all so happy for her.

I don't know what's going on in this picture,

but it's Tom with Nana and Grandpa.

Just some dark and blurry memories...

but they shine in my heart.

Behave or bee-have

2009-12-09T00:57:00.005-05:00

This started out to be a cat but it looks very much like a dog.
Also, I tried to make him look scared. The bee skep is added just to give him something to be worried about,
but sometimes he seems to be saying...
I couldn't care less, it's a bead not a bee!
All depends on how closely you look.

2009-12-07T23:24:00.003-05:00

This is my desk top picture now a days.

So you can imagine my shock...when I got offline and saw THIS!

THANKS TOM!

(yes it's quite an amazing resemblance)

you have much prettier eyes.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-28T20:04:00.014-05:00

Here's just a glimpse, so many pictures came out blurry. I don't want to make you dizzy. We had a wonderful turkey dinner with Nana and Grandpa. So thankful to be alive and together. The kids were awesome. Pat and I danced. I wish I was a better photographer and writer. Just want to share some good times here...

The Holy Family

2009-11-13T18:41:00.007-05:00

This came out blurry but I love it.

Time keeps on slippin'...

2009-11-02T02:08:00.015-05:00

Tom is a good man.

Here he is getting the flashlight ready to take his little brother out

for the time of his life... trick - or - treating.

This year 2009, Xavier is Superman.

Here he is in action, first stop, our house!

2 hours later...

What an awesome memory.

Plenty of Peppers

2009-10-05T22:54:00.008-04:00

Heirloom California Wonder Peppers

These peppers grew beautifully.

***

During the first week of June...
I purchased 3 individual seedlings from my local farm stand.

(Crow Farm in Sandwich)

The healthy little seedlings were about 6" tall.

I planted them in the evening beside my patio.

Exposer: full sun

I would faithfully

water them every late afternoon.

(unless it rained - which it did a lot!)

Around each plant I sprinkled fresh coffee grounds.

Every other week I fed them with

Cockadoodledoodoo tea.

(I've stopped feeding them)

We haven't had a killing frost and they're still growing strong.

I just love when they turn sweet red.

The more the peppers ripen the better they are for you too.

***

Nutrition Facts that I googled ...

Peppers are full of vitamins C and A,

as well as folate.

They are also high in fiber.

Peppers consist mostly of water so the added bonus is they are low in calories.

***

Mark This Day

2009-10-03T20:32:00.004-04:00

I guess it's your turn to play huh?

Forget me ... You're great. I wanna watch YOU play.

Playing and...

2009-09-25T04:57:00.006-04:00

... relaxing after school.

Winding up Summer

2009-09-23T01:24:00.020-04:00

The Clematis is still willing to flower.

This bucket left over from a live Christmas Tree,
came in very handy to grow cherry tomatoes.

Pretty Bell Peppers.

A bumper crop of string beans stretches over the bricks.

One tired Geranium.

These photos were left in my camera from the past 2 weeks.

What a difference even a day makes.

Now things look like the last picture...very tired and spent.
***

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. -Celia Thaxter

Climbing the Tree

2009-09-20T01:10:00.009-04:00

Through the years this old apple tree has seen many children climb it's branches. This summer the boys figured out how to climb.
Some things just come naturally don't they?

Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918
Trees

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

I scream, you scream, we all scream....

2009-09-19T00:08:00.004-04:00

Just so you don't think that I live the life of a saint but as you know I wish that I did. After dinner tonight Papa wanted to take us out for ice cream. The kids were so excited and wanted monster mash sundaes and that made me want a hot fudge sundae too. I was in my pajamas so I stayed in the car while the guys went up to the take-out window. Papa knows exactly what kind of sundae I like (that's one of the perks for being married more than half your life). I closed my eyes and waited patiently for my treat to be brought to me. I really felt like a queen being pampered.
The kids come out squealing with excitement ...I sit up and grow a big smile. Papa hands me a LARGE sundae. The kids are so happy.
What kind of cruel person am I? Looking at this LARGE sundae in my hands should make me giddy. But my stomach starts punching me just looking at it. I open my mouth to say it's LARGE! I must have said it just the way I meant it.....because little daggers fired out Papa's eyes and I realized I was complaining.
He agrees...yes it is.
I don't stop. I add fuel to the fire... Have I ever ordered a large?
Don't eat it all.
What a waste.
It was on sale.
I pick at it with my plastic spoon. Then I dig looking for some hot fudge. Honestly there was just a sick amount of ice cream and only about a tea spoon of hot fudge.
Is there any fudge?
The girl is new.
Did you get any fudge?
Not much ..hey the girl is really nice she's just new here and doesn't know how to make a sundae very good.
oh.
By now the kids are sugared up, and cooped in the back seat. They're playing tug of war with a sweatshirt or something. One is laughing, one is crying...both are loud. Something is spilled...more laughing and crying. Papa gets out and fills a brown bag with everybody's bowl ready or not. We leave with both kids crying.
On the way home we stopped at a non demoninational church, ( see , I'm open) because I saw a circle drive. In the dark, under many bright parking lot lights we let the 2 boys out of the back seat to run the circle. It took 3 times around to tucker them out. They got in the car panting and friends again, too tired for horseing around.
My theory is if I'm going to consume 1,000 calories it better be just the way I like it. Which I would never want to anyway! What a waste.

100th post

2009-09-16T23:59:00.014-04:00

Alright, because this is my 100th post ...I'm sharing this with you.... this is me.
I have on a Cape Cod Times T'shirt but I don't work there anymore I just like wearing free clothes. Speaking of free, I think it's a blogging tradition to have a give away for the 100th post. Sorry...I'm not having a give away. (this time)
I'll tell you some more things. I'm 54. As the earlier post says I've been married 36 years. That means I've been married since I was 18. I'm a mother 4 times and a grandmother once. I have grown up children and I'm also blessed or cursed depending on the moment with a younger child. So I'm starting all over again with the elementary school horrors. My family is basically my whole life. My grandson and son are 18months apart. They spend so much time together they're like brothers. I'm very thankful for everything. I don't want to take anything or anyone for granted.
I'm a Roman Catholic. I would like to say that I'm a devout Catholic but I'm sorry that I do miss Mass quite a lot. That makes me a very bad Catholic. In my back yard there's a little garden statue of Mary the Blessed Mother. For those of you who wonder about what these little statues are all about ... no they are not for good luck. No, they are not to worship either. Statues are not idols. Idols are worshipped and statues of Saints and Mary are just reminders of the person. They're called shrines. They are not graven images. For example..when you hang a photograph, you know very well the picture is not actually the person...it's only a reminder of the person. The feelings you have go much deeper than the picture itself. Same as a crucifix too. We do not worship the cross by itself. It symbolizes the greatest act of love ever known to man. We don't worship the image itself, because that would make it a god. Some people adore money. It's not money that's bad it's the way you perceive...........................
OMG what am I talking about here? I'm supposed to be telling you about me....not all of this.
See????
This is so typical. This is me....it's so much a part of me.
And I'm really - not even a holy person. I just am so aware of another realm.
When I was a little girl I wanted to be a nun when I grew up.
(Thank-God for the church's sake that I didn't!)
You know I didn't get these kids by being chaste.
Ok let's see what else ...........................................................I guess that's it for now anyway.
Except, one of the reasons that I do enjoy blogging so much is for this reason. I'm free to express myself without forcing my opinions on anyone else. I can feel free to be me and that's a great feeling. I love that we can all celebrate our differences.
Thank-you for listening to me. I appreciate every single visit. xox~Elaine
.............. With that said, I bet you can't wait to see my 101st post!

September 15th

2009-09-15T10:40:00.007-04:00

Today is our 36th wedding anniversary.

nine eleven

2009-09-11T22:43:00.003-04:00

One nation under God ...

September Mayfly

2009-09-10T03:12:00.007-04:00

For those of you who are not acquainted, this is a Mayfly .

Considering a Mayfly has only hours to live,

together with the fact that this is not May,

makes hanging out on my door extra special.

Developing Patience

2009-09-04T01:06:00.009-04:00

This is the kind of thing I have to look out for as I turn a corner in my house.

( It reminds me a previous post ... refridgerator art )

Xavier is carefully balancing each action figure.

This may look easy but it's not.

The slightest vibration ~

can cause a domino effect.

And that's just what happened as I turned away.

Senator Ted Kennedy

2009-08-28T02:01:00.021-04:00

During these Harvard days, Ted was more interested in football then politics.

Last Year we sold a Harvard/Yale college program on ebay and this picture of Ted Kennedy was in it. The scan is still in my archives... so I'm sharing it.

I have a personal Senator Kennedy story....
Years ago I worked at the Snack Bar in the Hyannis Airport . One Sunday a familiar looking young man with strawberry-blond hair came up to my counter and asked for a newspaper. We had about 5 different newspapers in stock, so I asked which one he wanted. The kid called out right across the terminal to his Dad...."Hey Dad, what paper do you want?" I saw that his Dad was Ted Kennedy and he gave me eye contact .... Then he called back to his son Patrick --- loud and clear ........."Cape Cod". Even from across the room he was an amazing presence.

Yep that's it! I got eye contact!
I didn't say it was an exciting story did I?
(Although it was quite exciting for me.)

this is random but-
Recently, I wrote that my sister Marjorie died. What I didn't mention, was that Marjie underwent the same type of malignant brain tumor as the Senator.

***

Missing someone gets easier every day because even though it's one day further from the last time you saw each other, it's one day closer to the next time you will. ~Author Unknown

A Warm August Evening...

2009-08-24T21:19:00.018-04:00

walking the beach,

Xavier takes a moment to daydream.

And as the waves reach closer to him

he plays tag with the sea.

Gotcha!

All the rivers run into the sea;

yet the sea is not full. King Solomon

Fair Winds

2009-08-20T08:57:00.010-04:00

Marjorie McLaughlin died August 7th. I'll always remember the date because it's my oldest daughter Nora's birthday. It was a year ago when we went to Florida to attend Marjie's wake and a beautiful reception the day after. I didn't "blog" about it then because during those days it hurt too much to think about, let alone write about. On that day, there was a huge bouquet of blue balloons tied with blue ribbons. Each person took 1 balloon and a sharpie marker. We each wrote our own personal last message to Marjie and then we gathered together outside and waited for the cue to let our messages soar up to the sky all at once. One of Marjie's grandsons named Owen who was very close with his "Nana Kitty", just couldn't bare to let the balloon go. He carefully ripped the ribbon down the center and as the ribbon tore it weakened. The last balloon was on it's way. A thin strip of the ribbon was left in Owen's hand and he held it like a treasure as if it were somehow a direct link to heaven. Marjie didn't have a funeral because it was her wish that her ashes be brought back to Cape Cod and immersed in the waters off Nantucket. Her daughters are the kind of daughters that would make sure their mother's dying wish be granted.
Just a few days ago they made the trip up from Florida carrying the "box". They hired a private fishing boat with a captain, who brought us to a certain spot off of Nantucket Island. Captain Joe dropped the engine and we waited for the boat to ease up. The longitude and latitude were duly charted and recorded and it was right there where we finally laid my sister to rest. Our brother Jack had the important task of making sure the job was done right. From the starboard side Marjie's ashes fell to the water and took to the wind. A sigh of relief mixed with pangs of loss came over me. There was a lull of contemplation as we gently rocked at sea ...before we headed ashore under an orange sunset.

***

Hard To See Shells

2009-08-17T02:05:00.004-04:00

My son Tom brought me a gift from the beach...

he calls them "Hard to See Shells" ... thank-you Tom. xox

Ephemera

2009-08-13T22:04:00.013-04:00

When I first heard the word EPHEMERA ( pronounced like if ) I thought it was a kind of glass. My husband the collector has since showed me otherwise. Ephemera has to do with collecting paper artifacts. Anything paper or paper related can come under the heading of ephemera, the word is a plural term. Love letters and diaries are wonderful examples and are treasured of course for their sentimental value. But when you really think about how much paper is thrown away it makes sense that something like the 100 year old Heinz pickle die-cut trade card would now be worth more than just a few bucks in this condition.
At first I laughed at how bizarre collecting paper is. I couldn't understand why anyone would care about or even put value on something so simple as a candy bar wrapper or an old ticket stub... but now I look at these items not only as art but as pieces of history. Each item is unique. Some items are common and easy to come by while others are harder to find, scarce or even RARE. The thrill is in the hunt. It's fun to find. The category is so open that inside the category are subcategories. A collector may concentrate on a specific topic for example trade cards or post cards. I'm particularly fond of metamorphic cards. These were advertisements that showed one picture but the same picture transformed into another. I have a collection of several antique trade cards that have frogs on them. Each one is different and they all are fun.

Through the years I've learned a great respect for this field of collecting. I hope this little chat has broadened your horizons. I'm not saying to save every cereal box...just one of every kind. ~wink~ Of course if you did, that would mean you are a " TYPE " collector.

to see more go to http://www.capecodcollectorsshop.com

New Online Shop

2009-08-12T03:05:00.017-04:00

For a long time I've been toying with the idea of having an online shop for my husband. We have a little Maw and Paw shop here on Cape Cod. Actually...I guess you could say it's just Paw's shop because the only thing I do is occasionally dust and decorate. I tried to get our shop name for a web address, it's called The Collector's Shop. Although that url is available it's a premium name and it would cost a lot more than we can afford. So, instead of being The Collector's Shop it's called http://www.capecodcollectorsshop.com/ .

You are all invited to come see.

But the only thing is...there's really not much to see because I haven't added anything for sale yet. I'm just excited and wanted to share the news with you.

Super Hero

2009-08-05T23:56:00.003-04:00

My Super Hero Son,

The strong and silent type.

Making Madonnas

2009-08-04T01:18:00.010-04:00

In my profile I declare "I'm just me." Do you wonder what that means? If I went to your blog and I read that you were "Just You"...I wouldn't have a clue as to what that even means; unless I knew you already.

In my case it means that I'm kind of shy. I'm reluctant to tell you what a weirdo I really am so I just try to keep it short and to the point thus hoping you will think that by stating "I'm just me." I mean that I'm just like you too. I wish it were so. .... sigh ....

Anyway... there's no use trying to explain who I am because it doesn't matter. Like I said -- I'm just me. All that really matters is that you are welcome here and I'm very happy to share.

Now about this post....it was supposed to be about my art work and not about me. I like to needle felt. I'm so passionate about my art that I get a little insecure when it comes time to show it. I know I'm not alone when I tell you my feelings here, that it never seems done or ready or good enough or in the case of making Madonnas -worthy of it's subject matter.

These ornaments are inspired by the whole concept of unconditional love. This is my impression of our Blessed Mother Mary and Lord Jesus. I like creating this theme because it's soothes my soul. I'm more aware of my own creation. Much of my time creating anything is spent with hymns, prayer and supplication. Needle felting takes a lot of time and the mind does wander. So creating a theme like this helps me to focus on something of substance and to forget for awhile all worldly cares. I'm always amazed to witness clean, carded, raw wool be transformed from pure fluff into an object of art. In this case the object is also a soft reminder of tender love.

Tom's Big Catch

2009-08-01T21:42:00.008-04:00

We were all excited for Tom when he caught this fish and cooked it up for dinner.

*******

Just imagine how many dinners this latest catch provided!

Tom's Large Mouth Bass

38" long weighing in at 20lbs

caught using a jig

This is the Grandpa who taught son Tom how to fish,

many years ago.

2009-07-31T23:34:00.005-04:00

I'm sitting here on a rainy summer night snacking on these delicious salt and pepper pistachio nuts.

I have memories of eating the red kind of pistachio nuts and getting the dye all over my fingers, lips and tongue. Ugh! I can't stand that. I used to suck on the whole nut and crack it open with my teeth. Dear friends, no matter how big and open the nuts appear to be please resist the impulse. Do not use your teeth as a nut cracker. Here's a tip. Take an open shell and stick it into the opening of the hard to open nut and then twist it open. Voila! My sister Carole taught me this valuable lesson many years ago and I'm happy to pass this tip to all my fellow pistachio loving buddies.

Cut Flowers

2009-07-16T16:09:00.005-04:00

Mmmm Mmm Good

My Back Yard

2009-07-11T01:22:00.012-04:00

Summer School

2009-07-10T20:26:00.005-04:00

I almost forgot the hours of fun I used to have playing school when I was little. Propping up stuffed animals as my students. My classroom was at the very top of a staircase and I used a Romper Room toy blackboard. My name was Miss Jean and at the end of each class I would recite the Romper Bomper Stomper Boo chant while gazing through a badminton racket for my magic mirror. .......sigh....... That was back around 1960.
I'm not sure how many of you can relate. Excuse me for reminiscing.

Here is a recent picture of Xavier and Dylan playing school in their own way.

I wonder if they will remember their soft cuddly students 40 or 50 years from now?