Christmas Crafts One Month Later...

I try to make my own Christmas presents as much as possible because I can't bring myself to spend wads of cash on something that will be thrown by the wayside at the end of the day. Sometimes I'll spend months racking my brain for ideas and then sometimes the ideas hit me like a ton of bricks. Over the summer my husband's grandmother gave me a jar of beach glass that the grandkids had collected for 30 years at their cottage on Lake Huron. I felt bad taking it but I knew I could do something with it. This year everyone in my husband's family got a set of beach glass ornaments for their Christmas tree. The picture isn't very good but it's the only one I've got. I took the glass, wire wrapped it and then added beads and other things to spice them up a bit.

In doing research for this project I realized that sometimes it's referred to as "sea glass" and other times "beach glass". (It really bothered some people that I called it "beach glass" instead of "sea glass".) Honestly, can you really call it "Sea Glass" if it was found on a Great Lake? We are nowhere near the "sea".....

Update on the burial ceremony: It was probably the best, laidback, most enjoyable funeral service I have ever been to. Every man got a pinch of tobacco while the women got a pinch of cedar which we were to hold in our left hand while thinking good thoughts about the deceased. One by one people would go up front to say a few words and then drop what's in your hand into a handkerchief to be used in a fire ceremony later. It was great to hear all of the stories. There was even a 21 gun salute after the ceremony.

My Plans for the Weekend

Unfortunately, my friend's father died this week and the funeral is on Saturday. It will be my first Native American Burial Ceremony I've ever been to. I'll let you know how it goes.

I Met My Man

Some of you are aware of my mini-obsession with Henry Rollins. Wellll....I actually got to meet him AND get his autograph. He was on tour last fall and I met him after his show in Ann Arbor, MI. It was awesome. He is SUCH a nice guy. My heart completely melted when I asked him to sign my ticket stub, he signed it and then wouldn't give it back to me until he fanned it a few times to let the sharpie ink dry. *sigh*

The silliest things melt my heart.......

Gotta Give Up Something....

I've realized over the last year that I dabble in way too many crafts. I've been crafty my whole life so I have tons of supplies for a.) crafts I don't do anymore, or b.) crafts I started to get into but never got really good at. For example...tatting, anyone? Yes, I know how to tat. (Older people are flabbergasted by this.) At one time I lived near a Joann's store that was offering a class so I took it. I also ended up with a TON of tatting supplies when one only needs a shuttle and some string. What started out as a big, plastic storage box has now been whittled down to what can fit into an envelope. And I'm good with that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I have decided to put all of my artistic focus into quilting. Preferably, art quilts. I've sewn since I was eight and started my first quilt when I was 16. It seems to be the "craft" I lean towards and enjoy the most. I am currently in the middle of making an art quilt for an exhibit in a couple of months. I just hope I can finish it in time and that I'll be happy with it. After that I have another quilt planned for a different exhibit that is based on "stars"- the judges have to be able to find a star somewhere in the quilt. Makes sense due to the fact the exhibit will be at a planetarium.

Wish me luck and when I finish them I will post pictures. I also like the fact that a lot of these exhibits have "themes" you have to follow. I'm definitely the type that needs an idea so that I can run with it. But hey, that's just me.......

Is it just me?

I can't read a "Ron Paul" sign without thinking about Ru Paul. And then breaking out into song- "You better work it, girl."

Looking for a job sucks.

Some of you may actually be curious as to why I was MIA for practically a year. Well folks, it's like this- real life got in the way. Last January both my husband and I were unemployed and in need of jobs. A friend who works at a real estate office called me and said they were desperate for help in the foreclosure department. Considering I had no other options at the time I took the job and started the next day.

If you don't already know, Michigan has the highest rate of foreclosures right now in the country. Michigan also has the longest redemption period in the country. Meaning, you have had to not made a payment for nearly a year before they will start the foreclosure process on you which takes another 6 months to a year. So, yes, it was sad to be working in that atmosphere but on the other hand they all knew it was coming.

To top it off, the job was about an hour away from my house. I was leaving by 7am, worked a long day and wasn't getting home until 7 or 8pm. It really sucked. Plus I was putting in some Saturdays to boot. Needless to say I hardly had any time for my real life let alone time to blog. I know a lot of people work many more hours than I did with no complaints, but I hated the job. It completely sucked. If I enjoyed it at all I wouldn't have left.

So that's what happened, I left. I couldn't take it anymore. I quit at the end of August with no job prospects. Lucky for me I found a job during my two week notice. I'm back in my field of study and am working in the education department of an art museum. It's pays well but is only part time and grant funded. Which means my job expires at the end of June unless something else comes up. We'll see.

Maytag Blue Cheese

Did you know there is a Maytag Blue Cheese out there? Yes, that's right, the same people who make the appliances. Back in November I took my mother to the Taste of Home Cooking School for her birthday. (This was the 3rd one we've been to and I think I'm getting more and more dissappointed each time.) Anyways, the cooking instructor started talking about Maytag Blue Cheese. Apparently the children or grandchildren (or whoever they are) of the original Maytag family started a dairy farm nearby in the 1940's and their blue cheese has been a hit ever since. Go figure.

I also think it's sort of odd that both Maytag and Amana come from Iowa. Amana.....boy, do I have some stories to tell about being in the Amana Colonies back in college. But I'll save those for another day. :)

Who Wants Some Pie?

If you haven't seen the movie Waitress yet, you need to rent it. I have been inspired to make pies ever since I watched it. Keri Russell's character comes up with some real doozies in the film, one being "Marshmallow Mermaid Pie" of which I'm still trying to find the recipe.

Go watch it. It's all warm and feel good and all that crap, but if you really want to be hit hard by a film then go read about the woman who starred in it and produced it. That will surely bring a tear to your eye.

My baby, my precious baby.....

Since high school I have wanted a green Jeep Cherokee. When my car died a couple of years ago I broke down and bought myself one. I absolutely loved it. It was great for garage saling, carting stuff around and it had 4 wheel drive which I had never had before but absolutely loved since it helped me with the snow. (See post below.) Last March I got up to go to work and my Jeep was gone. Someone had stolen it from in front of my house. Mind you, I know I live in an extremely high crime city but we've never had any trouble here, it's a great neighborhood. They had to pass by 3- 2007 trucks to get to my Jeep with 160,000 miles on it. I was heartbroken. After talking to people I found out that Jeeps get stolen all the time- their parts have a high re-sale value.

After a month my car insurance settled with me and I bought a silver Saturn Ion. Nice little car, great gas mileage, has absolutely no room but it works for the mean time. Oh, and take heed- I WILL NEVER BUY A SILVER CAR EVER AGAIN. NEVER. EVER. More on that later.......

They found my car 6 weeks later abandonded in a neighborhood in Ann Arbor. From my high crime city to the elite college town of Ann Arbor. (You might have to be from Michigan to get the irony in this.) Above is the pic I took of the interior- stereo and steering column are GONE. I had no rights to it at that point so all they let me do is look at it. they were supposed to offer it back to me before they put it up for auction but they never called me back. So sad.

Snow from New Year's Eve 2008

I'm glad we didn't go anywhere for New Year's Eve because this is what we woke up to the next morning. It's kind of hard to see but there is about a foot of snow on my car. (Look above the headlights.) Before nightfall on New Year's Day I attempted to un-bury my car. By the time I went to bed it looked like I hadn't cleared it off- that much more snow had fallen. *sigh* Every year I realize how much I hate snow.

BTW, some of you may notice that what I refer to as my car is not my beloved green Jeep Cherokee. I was forced to get a new car this year but more about that later........

Let's Try This Again, Shall We?

I know I've been MIA for 5 days short of a year (see post date below), but I miss my blog and I know a couple of people who miss it, too. So much happened in 2007 that I really don't know where to begin. As things pop in my head I'm sure I'll talk about them here, but until then please be patient with me. They've changed a few things on blogger and I'm trying to re-acclimate myself as well. Please drop me a line or comment or something to let me know who's still out there.

Thanks in advance.