Visit to the Summertime Market

A stop at a road-side market,..certainly brightened my day!  I brought home a small bunch of my favorites...sunflowers, zinnias, and gladiolas! 

The process of bead-making...

Soooo,...it all begins with a bunch of coated mandrels...and,....

lots of beautifully-colored glass rods! 

These glass rods are melted by a torch and fired to become unique, one-of-a-kind beads!

As they "bake", I anticipate the final product, and I'm always anxious to pull them out of the kiln! I love having something to look forward to!

The tough part comes when they're sitting on the table. Black and white and sunny yellow beads; great combo!  So,...what shall I create with them? 

Summer Sounds...

Searching for great summer tunes this evening.  Just took a long walk with Charlie, and I'm beat! I realized that I need to download some summer tunes on my mp3.  I'm certain a new playlist would motivate me to walk longer,  maybe even a jog...yup...MAYBE! 

What a beast that dog is...all ninety pounds of him pulling me this way and that!  Oh well, at least I made it outside for some exercise on a beautiful summer evening.  So, I'm goin' create a super-hot summer playlist for my walks and visits to the beach.

This song, by Keith Urban, ranks up there as a favorite.  "Here's to a better life!"  Even if you're not a country fan, this one is upbeat and makes one feel optimistic! Keith Urban's not bad lookin either. :-)  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buRnPSlWQHk&feature=player_embedded

The first ten choices for my summer listening pleasure...
1.  Better Life - Keith Urban
2.  New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
3.  It's a Beautiful World, We're all Here - Jim Brickman
4.  Where you Lead - Carol King
5.  You Give me Something - James Morrison
6.  For the Love of You - Isley Brothers
7.  Is This Love - Bob Marley
8.  How Deep is Your Love -  The Bird and the Bee (or the Retro Version - Bee Gees...the BEST!)
9.  Sand in My Shoes - Dido
10. Sail Away - David Gray

My puppy is the smartest animal in the entire world!

So, the other day I was makin' peanut butter blossoms for my wonderful neighbors (delish) http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=5191, when this pathetic but awfully cute creature gave me a look that I couldn't resist.  While I'm cooking, HIS typical routine not only includes a sad stare, but a walk around the kitchen island a million times with his nose scanning the edge of the counter.  He's into scents,...big time!  Just like me I guess. I'm all about things that smell wonderful!

Well, I had to give him a cookie,...but only if he earned it!  Isn't this the greatest trick?  He's the smartest puppy ever!  He'll wait until you give him the command, "okay, Charlie." before he gobbles it up.  He just sits there patiently with a treat (of any kind...he's not picky) on the bridge of his nose until we release him to enjoy.  No worries, we didn't give him the chocolate kiss (it's bad for animals), just the cookie part...and, we did give him a big smooch on that big nose for how smart he is!  Good Boy, Charlie!

...Everybody say,...."Awwwww!"

Tick Tock..."Time" will Tell...

Don't you enjoy when a package arrives in the mail, one you've been waiting for, and anticipating it's arrival? I love to come home from work and find a package that I know will make me smile!  It's certainly better than opening those envelopes I unfortunately recognize from the credit card company!

Well, my first Allen Design purchase arrived! Isn't it adorable?!  Check out Michelle Allen's blog and her shop! http://allendesigns.typepad.com/blog/

She's become a favorite designer of mine! I've been admiring her talents for quite some time AND her endless ambition!  I finally ordered one of her unique clock creations, and I couldn't be more satisfied!  She's a cheery cupcake lady painted in some of my favorite colors; pInk, TuRqUoise, REd, blAcK! She made me smile as soon as I pulled her out of the box.

She's found her perfect place...in my laundry room to cheer me when I head in there to conquer the dirties! 

She also serves as a reminder to keep creatively dreamin' of that charming cupcake shoppe I would love to open! I envision looking at her hanging in a quaint, downtown bakery as I'm preparing delightfully-colorful little cakes!  I dream of not counting the minutes to "get out" of where I am!  She's a cheery reminder that time passes by very quickly,...so, try to find that which you love doing! She looks pretty cute in there, don't ya think?

 

Revision...a dream is a wish your heart makes....

Well, I had to revise my wish list.  I simply had to...I turn 45 next month, and there are far too many wonderful things on that list that I wish to still do!  So, it's now become the "45 things I wish to do before I turn 46" list. Now, I have a complete year to ease into the many, many things on that special list...and this way, I'll be able to share all the joy I experience from my accomplishments with you.  I knew, when I created the list a month or so ago, I was being a bit TOO optimistic. I did, however, cross off one more item yesterday. I randomly visited my sister at her office with a bouquet of red tulips. She's been having a difficult time...life sometimes gives us a lot to handle.  So, feeling helpless that I couldn't change what was happening around her, I could at least bring a smile to her day!       
http://penelopesbeadboutique.blogspot.com/2010/01/so-i-turn-45-this-april-first-step-is.html

Coffee "Chat"

Stopped by my favorite coffee place (Biggby) for a cup of joe on a cold, winter morning. As I waited in the drive-thru for my usual,... tall, skinny, decaf, vanilla bean latte, I was pleasantly greeted by a friendly, miniature snowman.  As much as he made me smile, bringing me out of my morning coma,...I have to say I was even happier to see the sun shining this afternoon. I'm quite certain that friendly guy didn't make it through the day considering his petite nature but he was a nice start to my day.  I hope you're fortunate enough to have a Biggby in your town, but if you don't, be sure to visit one. http://www.biggby.com/