Christmas...

It is 85 degrees and I am working on ornaments... and feeling like I am behind.

pendants

pendants, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Soldered like a maniac yesterday...

pink fairy shoe

pink fairy shoe, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

little fairy nook

little fairy nook, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

tagged

I have been tagged by Lori http://faeriewindow.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about YOU: some random, some weird
...all devastatingly interesting.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their
names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by comment to
their blog.

disclaimer~ weird, random... maybe.... Interesting... doubtful!

#1~ My middle name is Zan. In high school a few people called me that. My dad was an artist and my parents were trying to impress their artsy friends by giving me an interesting name. My family is chock-full-o-weird names... Otis (my grandMOTHER), the twins~Brad & Frad, Omie & Lomie, Madie & Vadie, RuBert, Donzie (a man), R.B. (no name-just the initials)...

#2~ I love lamps and hate overhead lighting. My neighbors leave a hideous pseudo-chandelier light glaring in their foyer 24/7 and just last night I was discussing with my sister a way to disable it. It makes me nuts! I wanted to omit the overhead fixtures when we built our house, but the builder thought that might not be the best idea... I have 8 or 9 lamps in my living room.

#3~ I used to own 2 alligators. My brother thought it would be hilarious to bring them back from his spring break trip to Florida. They were 12 inches long and very fierce. I named them Haywood & Leroy. My brother built them a plexiglas tank and they lived in our basement family-room. When they got to be about 2 feet long we sent them back to Florida in a friend's Winnebago. They hissed and ate raw hamburger meat. Not good pets...

#4~ I cannot go to sleep without a glass of water by my bed.

#5~ I love to eat ice. I know it probably means I'm sexually repressed or lacking in vitamin XYZ... whatever. Sonic has the best ice on the planet. Trust me. A Route 66 cup of Sonic ice is a wonderful, cheap treat.

#6~ I would live on a ship if I could. Or a houseboat. Or a few boards tied together. Nothing on this earth compares to the feeling of the being on the water. I adore any floating vessel and the feeling of the wind off the water. Ideally, I would live in southern Caribbean and spend at least part of everyday on those exquisite turquoise waters.

#7~ I nearly worship scissors. I use them everyday. I once wrote a poem in their honor. But, I have the crappiest, cheapest scissor... many pairs, but all pretty lousy. I am undisciplined in their use, cutting wire, wood, anything. I'd ruin a good pair, so I just use cheap ones.

Sorry, that's all I've got... and I think I'll tag... Izabella~http://izabella.typepad.com/, Andrea~ http://www.velvetstrawberries.typepad.com/, Jo~http://oldflowers4me.blogspot.com/, Kristin~ http://krishubick.blogspot.com/, Gina~http://lillysoflondonish.blogspot.com/, Shelley~http://samplesforkimemories.blogspot.com/ and MaryEllen~http://www.an-artkissed.blogspot.com/. So, there you go...

home...

baby bird, originally uploaded by a certain slant of light.

Will survived Sky Ranch and is home... fast asleep in my bed (Mark's in Toronto). He wanted to eat orange chicken and watch "Elf" (a Christmas movie? weird...). He tells me he was only a little scared at night and had a great time. I am so glad to have him back home.

sunset at the lake

sunset at the lake, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Took this in early July. I want to rewind and have some more summer...

I hate nostalgia...

...but this was irresistible!
Check out these
pages from the
1966 JC Penny
Christmas catalog.
There is my future
in the first photo.
And that rocking
horse page... See the one called "War Cloud"?That S.O.B. left me with a lovely 5 inch scar after I tried standing on his back at a full gallop. Ah, yes, those were the days...
Check out
Click here: Welcome to WishbookWeb.com
for more things to make you feel old...

long night

How did my little Will do last night? in a cabin? in the woods? Two long hours away from home?? I hope he was so exhausted he slept soundly. I kept thinking him waking up in the night, in that deep darkness that we never have here in the suburbs of Dallas. Oh, my baby! I know Sky Ranch is a nice place. All of my other kids have been there and loved it. But what if Will was in the haunted cabin... oh, crap! There is no haunted cabin!! right?
Today he'll be orienteering (whatever the *&%$ that is!), swimming (I forbade him to jump on the big inflated water pillow thing with horrible tales of paralysis and death) and who knows what other hideously dangerous activities they can conjure!!

I miss my Will.

ready to go!

ready to go!, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Here's my Will ready to leave for Sky Ranch.
http://www.skyranchcamps.com/index.cfm?i=1998

bird blank book

bird blank book, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

This is a blank book/journal that I am working on.

Flickr flowers

beautiful flowers, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Flickr is so full of eye candy! Look at all these gorgeous vintage millinery flowers. Delicious!

sweet bird

sweet bird, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

Birds are fast! LOL! I had to sneak up on this one... not an easy task holding a full cup of coffee and a Canon Rebel!

What do you think?

Does this boy look big enough to go away to camp for two nights? in the woods? without his mom? where there are ticks and spiders? and a LAKE? sigh... Will is my baby. Yes, he's 11, but a very young 11. I have to pack his things for Sky Ranch today. I have sent my other kids on a zillion trips... everywhere from NYC, to DisneyWorld, to Juarez and Pike's Peak, etc... But not Will. He was oxygen deprived at birth and has developmental issues. He receives a lot of help at school. He is a happy, clever boy, but not quite as mature as his classmates. I HAVE to let him go on this trip and he'll be fine... but will I??? These are the things you never think of when you have little babies... dark cabins in the woods, an 11 year old that can't tie his shoes or read very well, letting your baby grow up...

So, instead I will think about flowers.

flickr seahorses

flickr seahorses, originally uploaded by Sea Dream Studio.

I found the most wonderful seahorses on Flickr!

studio snaps

This is AFTER I've cleaned up and rearranged and tried to restore a hint of order to my workspace. I can't help it... I love my stuff!

flea market find

Ah, look at this gorgeous vintage paper ribbon I found at Market Square! Can't wait to use it!

making crowns

What could be more escapist, more frivolous than making paper crowns?? Nothing legal, that's for sure!

I am searching for sticks for my magic wands... hoping they will magically appear, but thinking I am going to have to order them online. I want them NOW!

So, that's my life right now...

And packing my youngest for a 3 day camp with 5th grade. EEEK! My baby! I am NOT loving it...

not the least little bit.

in the works...

Oh, delight! Many arty things are sprouting up on my work table (along with the usual glittery chaos)!! I resent sleep. I could be making art !!! A soldering day looms on the horizon... ugh.

But, it must be done. I need, not only an art maid, but a solder maid, too. Where, oh where, do they hide???

remember

Went to the Patriot's Day celebration at Will's school. He was lost in the sea of children, so no photos of him, but these little ones were so endearing, so sincere.

When I got in my car to leave NPR was airing Gen. David Petraeus speaking before the Senate. My, my... where do we go from here?