Sometimes I wish I were a tree. A big, old oak or maple, that stands through time and weather. Watching how the world grows and changes through time.

It is cold here today. Yesterday was in the 60's and I thought today was to be just as warm. It is currently in the low 40's. I feel the cold all the way into my bones. I usually enjoy the cold, but today, I'd rather have warmth. It has also started to rain. We desperately need the rain, so I can't complain about that.

Today I have spent the day working on a new super secret project. It is something I have been interested in for a while, but didn't think I could do. I have been researching and realized that it might not be as hard as I thought and decided to go for it. I'm starting off small to see if it is really something I would like to pursue. It has the opportunity to become something big, something that could supplement my income and maybe work towards becoming a full time thing. I'm very excited about it. I promise to reveal details once I've finished the first couple of runs at it.

Another new thing is that I'm going to start doing tarot readings professionally. My friend that has a shop has given me the opportunity to read there once or maybe twice a month. I'm quite looking forward to it. Ever since last Halloween when I read for my co-workers I've been debating of whether or not to do it. I finally decided to just go for it. I that that is going to become my new motto. :-)

Tonight is dinner with my dad and stepmum, sil and brother. My sil turns 30 tomorrow. We had our celebration dinner with my mum on Friday. Tyler Florence's Horseradish and Garlic Prime Rib, Irish Potato Casserole, Green bean casserole, Caesar salad and yeast rolls. It was divine! We had the roast at Christmas and we all fell in love with it. There is a wild mushroom sauce thing with that recipe, but we didn't use it. We love Paula Deen's Brandied Steakside Mushrooms. That woman is just fabulous!
Oh, back to dinner tonight. We are going to Bravo! Italiana Cuisine. I like their food okay, but it would not have been my first choice.

I'm having a craving for cupcakes. I bought cake mix today, triple chocolate, and cream cheese icing. I might make them tomorrow night after work. If not then, it will be next weekend. This week is already set up to be a doozie. At some point I plan on making a batch of cupcakes from scratch. But right now I just want to have cupcakes! We really have become an instant gratification world, haven't we? :-)

Last night I finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl. It was excellent. I can't wait to see the movie. :-)

Well, I'd best be off, I need to try and warm up before changing for dinner.
Blessings,
~*~

Has anyone seen my heart?

No, I don't think this is it. I found this in the snow on valentine's afternoon. Is it irony, coincidence, a sign... I don't know. Sometimes I feel like my heart is encased in ice and that is why I haven't found anyone for me yet. I like to think it is a sign. A sign of love to come? Maybe...

Did anyone see the eclipse last night? It was beautiful!

It is getting closer to the spring equinox. Signs of spring are everywhere...



The weather people are calling for sleet and freezing rain tonight and tomorrow. I wouldn't mind a day of bad weather so I can stay home and finish my book. I'm reading Phillipa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl and I absolutely love it! I can't wait for the movie. I will probably go to see it when it comes out.
Blessings
~*~

Playing with Photoshop

I've spent some time in the last month playing around with Photoshop. I have no idea what I'm doing and can't seem to find a good book that would teach me how to use it properly. Above is the photo I took that I used as my base photo. It is just an old barn on the side of the road that leads to my dad's place at the lake. I love it though. Sitting there looking at it, I can see from the edge of my vision the things that have happened here and it has been used. Such character they have.

Anyway, with this photo I played with the charcol tool: (It looks kind of otherworldly...)




I really like the way this one looks. On the next one I used the graphite pencil tool. I really love this one.




The last tweak I did to this photo was with the glowing edges tool. It looks kinda funky to me, but I like it.


I really want to find a book to give me some direction. If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Also, I'd really love some feedback about what you think about the photos.

Blessings,
~*~

Happy...day...

We had snow last night. Yes, I said it, SNOW! We accumulated about 2 to 2.5 inches. I went to take the beast out around 9 pm and it was really coming down. It has already started to melt, boo hoo. I really still want a storm that will basically freeze the city. I would like to experience that at least once! :-)

I've been so busy and wanting to post here but just haven't been able to find the time. I went shopping on Saturday with Mum, the first time in a long time. We had fun and I got a few things that were kind of neat. One is a "Love Stinks" valentine voodoo doll. He is so cute! Yeah, V-day is not really my favorite time of year. Tonight I'm having dinner with mum and two of her single friends. Both of her friends need me to help them with their computers so I figured I'd be better off to get it over with tonight. It isn't like I have anything else to do.

I'm also starting to get the crud. That is what we grew up calling it. When you have a bad cough or congestion and just generally feel like death warmed over. I started noticing a cough on Sunday and each day it has gotten progressively worse. Today I can feel it really bad in my throat and chest and my nose is constantly stopped up. Ugh!

I have been knitting. I made a fun fur scarf for my friends eldest daughter who turned 10 at the end of January.



I'm also continuing work on the never-ending afghan. I'll try to get a picture of the progress up soon.

Well, I'd best get back to work. Hopefully, I can get back to regular posting now.
Blessings,
~*~

The whirlwind continues...

Whew... I'm tired! It has been an unbelievably busy week. Work has been very crazy busy and I've been helping a friend do some painting which is taking a lot of time. I've missed writing here and reading the blogs. I've been so busy I haven't been able to really check the blogs out to see what is happening with everyone else.

It is hot here today. I'm hanging out inside, working on a spreadsheet and watching movies and basketball games. I've also got some laundry going. I'm supposed to go paint tonight and I spent over 6 hours yesterday painting. It's been kind of fun and is making me want to paint my house. I'll have to do some work to it before I can paint. Stuff like fixing the cracking ceilings and the walls. I want to restore, not renovate.

Anyway, on the knitting front I've been working on a basic fun fur scarf in pink for a birthday gift for a 10 year old. I just need to bind off and work in the ends and I'll be able to mail it to her. It's late, but I hope she'll like it and be able to think of me when she wears it. :-)

Work has been a little better this week. Had a talk with the teammates and explained how I felt. It was going better until late Thursday, when the same old stuff started happening again. Friday I was out with a migraine so I'll see what it is like on Monday.

I really don't have much else to talk about right now. Time to get caught up on the blog reading. :-)

Blessings,
~*~