Red ribbons

In case you haven't heard, today was World Aids Day, and sections of the Aids Memorial Quilt were being displayed on the lawn of the Clinton Presidential Library. Volunteers had started reading the names of people who have passed away from HIV/AIDS some time yesterday and had been reading names through the night. They were reading names when we got there, and still reading when we left.

Thanks

It is a busy weekend here, with much celebrating going on. We are remembering all the things we are thankful for, and gathering with our family and friends. We are also in the midst of a days long celebration of my sweet son's birthday...

One of two birthday cakes...


Some of the family that can to celebrate.

Our Thanksgiving table.



My daughter's first pumpkin pie. (It was delicious!)


The Thanksgiving cactus, in full bloom.

I am thankful for so many things....my children, my mother, a wonderful, warm home to live in, a good dog, my health and my friends. Thanks to all of you who give me something to be thankful for!!

Wow...

it's been a few minutes since I've been here, huh? Did I mention I have a huge crush on facebook...but you may already know that, if we're fb friends. I have been having such fun connecting with people I haven't talked to in 20 years!! I haven't been doing a lot of art lately, due to other distractions in addition to the whole facebook thing but I think my muse has returned, thanks to a little help from my friends. I signed up recently for an online class with the ever so sweet Misty Mawn, whose talent and artistic generosity I had the chance to witness first hand last year at ArtFest (and have TWICE for classes this coming spring at the same location!). So far, she is doing the same bang-up job she does IRL, and I am thoroughly enjoying the class!! These are some of the pieces from week one (backgrounds)...

On a roll

I managed to get August's charm done, and a whole 16 days early! The theme was "blue dreams". I used a hand made (by me) polymer clay bead, a couple of of tiny washers and some of the prettiest blue glass beads from my collection.
Two necklaces, on their way today! YAY!

Red button charm

In typical Ellen style, I started late, spent a bunch of time making some red buttons for my charm, didn't use them and just now finished up....only 13 or so days after I was supposed to mail! YIKES!! Angela, if you're still reading here, it's on it's way tomorrow!!

Made with two vintage button, a lamp work bead, silver wire, washers and silver tone bells.

Happy Independence Day; or Mini-vaca, Day 2

Walkin' in Memphis

We are finishing up day one of our little mini-vaca today. Made the short, two hour run over to Memphis for a weekend getaway/Independence Day celebration. We got a late start due to last minute packing but traffic was keeping up a mighty fine pace and we had a slammin' rental that was so smooth I hardly noticed I was going 90! Luckily, I had Sweetie Pie there to remind me...when he wasn't dozing~~now that's a relaxed passenger!!


Of course, we had to test the firmness of the beds first thing!


On the way to dinner....


Dinner at Huey's downtown with my aunt and uncle. It was delicious. We had a blast shooting toothpicks at the ceiling and Dar wrote her name on the wall.


An after dinner stroll down to the banks of the Mighty Mississippi.


And, to finish out the day, an evening swim!


Tomorrow, who knows...but I have a feeling it will involve the pool, and we've got tickets to see the Red Birds play!
Happy 4th, y'all!!!!!