My Hang Out

Outside our home we have 2 storage sheds, one for my husband and one for me. This is my shed. I share it with the kid's toys. (check out the loft) It's an 8x10 place where I can sometimes find a moment of solitude when the weather is warmer. Right now it's January, it's freezing out there and I can see my breath. Plus the bikes are taking up space along with some other things that have been brought in for the winter. Everything changes. Things look different from one day to the next around here. Things change from sunup to sundown. Oh heck...even from one minute to the next they change. At the end of a warm day the bikes always get jammed in here anyway. And..since this day we've had a huge yard sale. In it we sold some of those watering cans and that old red metal bouy up there on the right. Plus I've added a few things. In that yard sale there was an old green porch rocker from our basement which we "tried" to sell. We got a few low offers for it but nothing close to the $45 slashed from $60. on the tag. So at the end of the sale I folded my step-stool up and put the said rocker in it's place. It is bigger and therefore does take up more floor space but it's so much more relaxing. Somedays I drag it out of the shed and sit under the trees with an ice cold lemonade in my hand. Brrr ... I don't even want to think of cold right now though.
See the rototiller on the front left? That was a wise purchase. I had my mind set on a little Mantis for years. But when the time actually came at last for me to plunk my hard earned dough down ... I then saw this beauty instead, on sale at Sears. It was 20lbs vs 99lbs. At that time the Mantis was running close to $300. and this was $179. when I got it. It has 7.5 hp vs the 2.5 of the other and goes much deeper then the Mantis can handle. I'm sorry I can't slide a link in there. I tried to but Sears doesn't have the same exact model available anymore. (Everything changes) I still love the idea of the Mantis being lighter weight and easier to maneuver. I also like that it can fit in small areas of the garden bed. Smaller size is important when you have limited storage area too.
But the truth is I needed a big job done and the Mantis just wouldn't cut it.
I've gotten a lot of use from this baby already and I hope she'll be with me a long time. Well...... this is my night off from work and I plan to use it wisely. I'm so close to finishing up my long term needle felting project. Maybe tonight's the night. Thanks for hanging out a bit. love~elaine

Dream by Priscilla Ahn

I was a little girl alone in my little world who dreamed of a little home for me.
I played pretend between the trees, and fed my houseguests bark and leaves, and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream
That I could fly from the highest swing.
I had a dream.

Long walks in the dark through woods grown behind the park, I asked God who I'm supposed to be.
The stars smiled down on me, God answered in silent reverie. I said a prayer and fell asleep.

I had a dream
That I could fly from the highest tree.
I had a dream.

Now I'm old and feeling grey. I don't know what's left to say about this life I'm willing to leave.
I lived it full and I lived it well, there's many tales I've lived to tell. I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now to fly from the highest wing.

I had a dream

Pepper

From my youth---
Peel an orange round and round.
Peel a banana upside down.
If you count to twenty-four,
you may have your turn once more.
(now peppers, which means as fast as you can go) 1-2-3-4......

( this one starts slow side to side then over the head)
Texaco, Texaco over the hills to Mexico.
Spanish dancers do the kick, the kick, the kick.
Spanish dancers just like this, like this, like this.
Spanish dancers turn around, around, around.
Spanish dancers touch the ground, the ground, the ground.
Spanish dancers get out of town. (jump out)

Down in the meadow where the green grass grows
there sat Pepper as pretty as a rose
Along came (YOU) and kissed her on the cheek,
how many kisses did she get this week?
(peppers) 1-2-3-

Pepper and (YOU) were sitting in a tree,
K-i-s-s-i-n-g
First comes love,
then comes marriage,
then comes baby in the baby carriage.

Fudge, fudge call the judge...
Mama's gonna have a baby.
Wrap it up in tissue paper
send it down the elevator.
(peppers) boy, girl, twins, triplets.

I'm a little Dutch girl dressed in blue,
These are the things that I like to do.
Salute to the Captain,
Curtsy to the queen,
Turn my back on a wicked submarine!

Hey I'm not making this stuff up.
These were the songs all we jump roping girls knew from my neighborhood back in the 60's.

Do any of these jog your memory?

For me it was a long long time ago.

The coolest girls knew how to "Chinese Jump Rope" I couldn't get pass the first few moves. Chinese jump rope is complicated. It's like playing cat's cradle, with your feet.(sigh) I did love watching those cool girls play. I wouldn't have dared to foul up their fast moving games. Nobody ever offered to teach me, and I didn't know anyone personally that knew how to play. So, I practiced alone at home, by having two dinner chairs hold the rope open for me. But the empty chairs would inevitably keel over with my not-so-fancy footwork. Besides... skipping rope was what I liked best and I was pretty damn good at it too.

A my name is Alice
my husband's name is Andy
We come from Alabama,
Where we sell apples.

I made this chickadee.
And named her... Pepper.

She likes jumping very fast!
I'm taking her over to the shop.

Hope you can visit there sometime. <3~elaine

A Visit from Spiderman

Ever since last October we've been having special visits from the Spiderman.
Today he showed up for about an hour of crime fighting around the house. After he had been told not to jump off our couch and chairs, not to stand on the bed and not to throw "webs" around he settled down and had some toast and juice.
The next time I looked...he was gone again.

Before Spiderman used to make the rounds.... it was Woody, the cowboy sheriff from Toy Story who came to spend hours with us almost daily.

I'm sure that Sheriff Woody would come back if only my son XL could fit into the costume again. He's really living up to his initials X.L. by being Xtra Large.

Oh...FUGGETIT!

I've decided it's way too depressing to actually know that I don't have many visitors. So I nixed the counter. I'm more relaxed already. I had even signed up for a free traffic counter which was installed for all of 3 hours. That meter basically was informing me that I, myself alone had visited this blog 13 times in 3 hours. It was like a moron meter to me. I don't need to know that. I already know that I'm eccentric but I don't want to see the stats of how neurotic I can be. With all that said....now I can get back to enjoying life the way I did pre-statistics.
And to enjoy this little place I'm making here called a blog.
And not to worry about who is visiting or not visiting for that matter.

Oh and about that STORM that I mentioned in my last post. It wasn't anything much here on our part of the cape although everything is still up in the air so to speak, and it sure is FREEzing.

Hey- my latest issue of one of my favorite magazines arrived in the mail.
Birds and Blooms. I'll be enjoying every page of this for days to come. Maybe there will be something esp. nice to share with you here. That's a picture of a Baltimore Oriole, but I bet you knew that already.
This is just what I need to get through these cold New England times.
One good thing about winter is that it makes me appreciate spring/summer and fall all the more.
see ya later <3~elaine

Signs a storm is coming

One part of the sky looked gray and ominous while the the rest of the sky was bright and blue. In general it was a mostly sunny, pleasant day with a brisk breeze that felt good on my cheeks.

You probably should know that I'm an "outdoors" kind of girl. We went to the beach to stretch our legs with a quick walk and to take in the crisp salty air. The picture above is of my 2 boys. My 2 girls weren't there today. Nana & Grandpa were there but my ol' camera's battery died right after I took this shot of a lonely gull. I would have taken pics of the crowds he left behind.

Anyway...my reason for telling you this is when we got down to the beach the seagulls were congregating in large numbers. They lined themselves up on the sand and in the center of the parking lot. Grandpa says that means a storm is coming. Hmmm guess I better add that idiom to the other weird & wonderful weather folklore I've heard of like---

1. Red skies at night, sailors delight.

Red skies in morning , sailors take warning.

2. When the leaves of trees start turning over ---

it's going to rain.

3. A circle around the moon means rain is coming soon.

4. When the clouds look like a herd of sheep it's going to snow.

I wonder how many meterologists pay attention to the signs that nature gives us.

One summer afternoon my husband came home for lunch. Instead of me staying and having lunch with him, I stepped outside to the garden. The baby was taking a nap and I was thrilled to see that I could have a little break of my own. I started yanking out weeds and wishing I had hours instead of minutes to spare. The mosquitos were biting that afternoon. I remember slapping them off me and looking upto the sky for sun. All of a sudden the sky looked like rain. I went in and announced "IT'S GOING TO RAIN ANY MINUTE!" I grabbed a long sleeve shirt and went heading back out. He so smartlyand so matter-of-factly calls back ... "No Elaine it's not going to rain I'm watching the weather channel right now and there's no rain in sight."

huh? I don't get it ...I insisted he come outside with me and see the clouds. He doesn't budge from his lazyboy and clicker .. just laughs and says so confidently "I was out there 20 minutes ago!" Well....I'm sure that you've guessed by now that it did in fact rain. And it wasn't just a sprinkle either. It was a downright downpour!

I came in with my hair and clothes dripping wet...I went to change and he says... I guess you were right. I didn't even reply. He had to get back to work and not long after he left the sun came out strong again. So another way of telling the weather is look over your head!

I went to google and got a list of those weather folktales to share--

you decide if they're true.

5. When you see birds flying close to the ground this usually means that rain will come soon. When seagulls fly to land, a storm is at hand.

Remember the following: Seagull, seagull sit on the sand It's never good weather while you're on land

6. If a cow moos three times in a row, rain will come soon.

7. Wide brown bands on a woolly bear caterpillar mean a mild winter.

8. When you see bees out flying, there will be good weather. But when they stay close to their beehive, a rainstorm is coming. Bees never swarm before a storm.

9. Keep an eye out for anthills. Ants always cover their entrance to their home when a storm is approaching.

10. Look out for clouds. The higher they are in the sky, the better the weather. The more types of clouds in the sky, the greater the chance of upcoming rain or snow.

11. When smoke floats towards the ground you can bet that a storm will soon come. Keep your eye out for toadstools and mushrooms. Usually when they spring overnight a storm is coming.

<3~elaine

Page Counter

I added a page counter today. It registers unique page visits and declares with a screaming odometer how unpopular I am. It reminds me in a quiet, reflective way of this poem that I love by Robert Frost. There must be a reason I chose to be here, if not for you then certainly for me.

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear

Though as for that, the passing there

Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet, knowing how way leads onto way

I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence

Two roads diverged in a wood

And I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference

Robert Frost

Prayer vs Physics

There are 2 lawn mowers out back behind the shed. Neither one of them work for one reason or another. The lawn needs mowing and has gone to winter's nap without a final cutting. But today the weather is warm for a January day. Short sleeves are enough and comfortable to work around the yard. But I can't do what really needs to be done. The leaves are difficult to rake because they're entangled in the long grass. I wish I could take care of the lawn.

I look at those 2 rusty broken lawn mowers and wish for 1 that works not 2 that don't. Wishes are fine but actions speak louder than words. So.....I attempt to start the one that doesn't have a broken cable. It sputters and poops out. The sputtering was like a promise to me. I wouldn't give up. This goes on for several minutes. I pray out loud ...God please help me. I pray the Our Father in my heart. I summon on St. Jude out loud to intercede my prayer for me... because he's the St. to pray for in hopeless situations.......Please! I pull that rope , I pull that rope I pull that damn rope all in vain. My arms start hurting and I'm all out of breath. It sputters --starts and then stops. .. Damn it ....! Over and over. Well it has oil it has gas maybe it's the spark plug. My son says if it were the spark plug then you wouldn't get a spark. But I was getting a spark. It's primed and it's on the right setting...what the heck? I remember I gave up on this thing long before the cable broke on the other one. I needed a lawn mower so bad and saw a man at the dump hover over to the one I was junking at the time and he said he would sell me one real cheap. I bought this stupid ol' rusty thing from him. I paid him 50 bucks...why then won't it ever work right? I got ripped off. I was doing the Christian thing by helping him out, jeesh now i got nothing to mow this lawn with.

My son tries with his strong arms... nothing. I kept at it saying to him I'll just keep praying it will start. I assured him....."You should never under estimate the power of prayer."

Then Tom gets an idea and he tinkers around with the one I've given up on because after all It has a broken cable and not a chance of a sputter from that one. He bypasses the cable and rigs it to work with an old shoe lace cut down tied with a simple bunny bow to the throttle, as if he had tied his shoe and the lawn mower started. He said "Mom....never underestimate the power of physics."

I was so happy I wanted to dance.
And THEN...he mowed the whole entire lawn. How sweet is that?
Now I ask you...... was my prayer answered?

Amen =)

Undone

One fine day I will finish these for my Aunt Mary. She asked for 6, there are 7 here and 1 on etsy. Plus I've made 2 others before. That makes 10. I wish I had more time to myself...I would make dozens of them. Just for the record I haven't spent more than half an hour in a row on these in days.
( to be continued )

A corner of my room

Smile

I Love this song, I've been singing it to myself today.

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though its breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you.

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

-instrumental interlude-

Thats the time you must keep on trying

Smile, whats the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

Courage

When I'm feeling really bummed out, like as if --- who cares? I read this little verse and it always cheers me up. I should share this with you and then when it's your time to feel blue you just might remember this too. Besides--- "I care."
Until next time, GOOD LUCK! <3~elaine

Courage

When all of life looks dark and blue,

Keep on hopin'!

Smiles will always help you thru,

No use mopin'!

Thinkin' Fates hard knocks are due,

That's poor dopin'!

Someday Luck will come to you,

Keep on hopin'!

Home Sweet Home

This is a picture of the entrance to my living room. I still haven't put Christmas decorations into boxes yet. I'll miss that old tinsel garland. The sign stays up always. By having this blog I'm welcoming the whole world into my humble home. I'm glad that you happened to find this page. Not everyone is able to have their own house. Whether you live in a palace or a shelter or anywhere in between I hope that there's love. If not...then I've got plenty to share. So just keep coming back and I'll share mine with you.

'Mid pleasures and palaces Though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble,
There's no place like home.
A charm from the skies
Seems to hallow us there,
Which seek thro' the world,
Is ne'er met with elsewhere.
Home, home, sweet sweet home,
There's no place like home,
There's no place like home.


I gaze on the moon
As I tread the drear wild,
And feel that my mother
Now thinks of her child;
As she looks on that moon
From our own cottage door,
Thro' the woodbine whose fragrance
Shall cheer me no more.
Home, home, sweet sweet home,
There's no place like home,
There's no place like home.


An exile from home,
Splendor dazzles in vain,
Oh, give me my lowly
Thatched cottage again;
The birds singing gaily,
That came at my call:
Give me them and that
Peace of mind, dearer than all.
Home, home, sweet sweet home,
There's no place like home,
There's no place like home. --Payne & Bishop

My Desk

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they keep their desk. I just cleaned mine up the other day and I can't say how long it will be until papers start piling up again. I don't know what this picture says about me but I'm sure if you enlarge it and see my glass of pepsi... it's definately saying that I like ice! The bottom of my bed is right beside me to my right. This area is also where I do most of my needle felting. I use a gardener's kneeling mat for my table. It's just the right size for my long arms. I added a picture of the project I'm working on now and a close up of the bajillion tiny holes created by the felting process. The project is one I've done before. In fact I'm working on 7 of these at once.

Until next time...cheers! <3~elaine

Starting 2008 with a blog.

My oldest daughter Nora has me pegged pretty good. She made this collage for me 10 years ago and it's still "me" today. Even with the floppy! I still use an early digital Sony camera requiring these floppies. We paid so much money for it way back when and I'm not about to switch until it breaks. Welcome to my blog I'll be sharing my life with you. bbfn <3~elaine