Jots in June - 2018 #SoCS Cheers

Cheers to the end of June.  We've had a busy month here with our roommate moving out and our daughter moving back home and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next month will bring as we are heading off to Oregon to see the mother-in-law who has been under the weather lately.  Hope to bring her some cheer. 

Cheers also to me for my Sketchbook Project book which is now up to 254 visits and 2 favorites!  I also found out that it is going to be part of the mobile tour that goes into Toronto next month.  I've put the word out to any of my blogging/online friends who live in Toronto to go visit it and look for my book.  I know there will be many other books to choose from as well so it should be a fun thing to do.  I think I'll get a notice if someone looks at mine so that will be exciting. 

I would be remiss if I did not also mention that I am a Creative Memories consultant and they have a new product out which would be great to easily document your summer vacation plans.  It is called the "Be Happy" album and comes in a convenient drawstring bag with a bunch of cool stuff and ready made pages so all you have to do is jot down some memories and slap in some pictures of that vacation you are taking.  Lots of times people don't want to mess with making a "scrapbook" but this one is really easy.  I love the "cheery" colors too.  If you are interested, it will be available on July 2 to order. 

 

You can get more info on my Creative Memories website.   If there are any other kind of memory keeping things you need, Creative Memories has them too.  I will cheerily help you find what you are looking for :) just let me know. 

This has all been part of the Linda G. Hill's Stream of Consciousness Saturday which you can find the details about here and that is also where you can see contributions from other cheery people. 

Have a wonderful Saturday! 

Jots in June - 2018 Vision Card update

It's been six months since I made this year's vision cards.   It's time to revisit them and see if there's been any progress.  If you are asking me off the top of my head, I'd say sadly no.  This year it does not seem like I've accomplished anything so far.

Money:  I started out the year working at Michaels but that only lasted a total of 6 months and I left there in April.  Instead, I am collecting Social Security now and we are doing okay.  We did get a final settlement from Workers' Comp for my husband's injury that went back to 2010 and a surprise check from his former employer for uncollected vacation pay so that was a great boon to the bank account.  I've paid off some credit cards and money juggled on some others so we are in a little better position than we were before but there is still work to be done here.








House:  We totally gutted the backyard and painted our daughter's room so there has been some progress made.  I still want to make a room by room list of things I'd like to get accomplished that way we can work on them a little at a time.  Funny that I picked the picture with the gnomes on this card before I saw the ones at Michaels that I fell in love with.  See how those vision cards work?

Health:  This is the one area I have done the poorest with I think.  Not only have I not been eating smart, I haven't been taking my walks or anything.  Some of that weight I lost last year has found its way back so the next six months I am going to make this area my prime concern.  I can't make any excuse.  Having the Home Chef deliveries has been a definite help in the "What's for dinner" challenge but I need to be more disciplined in the things I eat the rest of the day. 










Creativity:  I am doing well here I am happy to say.  I've sold some big things through Etsy and of course there is my Sketchbook that is so exciting to me right now.  It is going to be included in the tour that they do too!  I am trying to blog more and learn some new things with making videos, etc.  My next project will be to make a slideshow of my 365 pictures from last year.  I should be able to manage that.  It's just time consuming because I wasn't thinking ahead so I didn't put the numbers on the pictures as I was taking them.

Next is travel:  We went to Reno earlier this year and we are going to Oregon next month but I still want to look into a train trip down the coast or go on the Big City Hunt in San Francisco like we did last year in Reno.













Last but not least is connecting with family and friends:  We did go out to dinner with some friends and then to the beach to watch the sunset which was really fun.  I've also had breakfast with my girlfriend and gone to visit my sister and her family.  We still have our concerts to go to and a couple of them are with friends as well as our annual Boulder Creek golf tournament. 

After going through each one I guess I have done more than I thought.  It is interesting to me that a lot of the things that got accomplished were not really planned but happened more spontaneously and as they were happening I wasn't really thinking about the vision cards (the dinner out with friends and trip to the beach to watch the sunset is the one that stands out the most).  I'm looking forward to the rest of the year to see how much more will happen that way. 

Side note:  I have just found out that Blogger stopped sending me notifications when someone comments on my blog so I've taken steps to correct that (see this post) and I apologize to anyone who commented on a post recently and I did not respond.  I get so few comments anyway, I certainly don't want to be known as someone who does not engage! 

So, how has your half year been?  Accomplish things you wanted to accomplish?  

Jots in June - 2018 - #SLS Song Lyric Sunday

This week's prompt in Song Lyric Sunday as orchestrated by Helen at Helen's Words Of Life is Dreams.

There are a lot of songs out there about dreams and it was almost too difficult to choose one and then this popped into my head and of course it makes perfect sense to me!

Runnin' Down a Dream - Tom Petty

It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin'
Trees flew by, me and Del were singin' little Runaway
I was flyin'
Yeah runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream
I felt so good like anything was possible
I hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes
The last three days the rain was un-stoppable
It was always cold, no sunshine
Yeah runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream
I rolled on as the sky grew dark
I put the pedal down to make some time
There's something good waitin' down this road
I'm pickin' up whatever's mine
Yeah runnin' down a dream
That never would come to me
Workin' on a mystery, goin' wherever it leads
Runnin' down a dream

Songwriters: JEFF LYNNE, MICHAEL CAMPBELL, TOM PETTY

Runnin' Down A Dream lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Gone Gator Music

And here are the guys...sing along!

"Runnin' down a dream...workin' on a mystery...goin' wherever it leads..."These are the feelings I get when I am working in my craft room, making something new or exploring the different opportunities I can find to expand myself.  I'm at the point where I would really love to devote a lot of time to this and I just need to find a way to make it happen..."There's something good waitin' down this road..." 

Tom Petty is another one of those "gone too soon" performers.  I was in a state of shock for a while.  It will be interesting to see how Mike Campbell does with Fleetwood Mac when we see them later this year. 

Side note:  Tom Petty is one of the People I'd Like to Meet in my Sketchbook Project contribution which is up to 195 views!  I'd love to make it to 200 before the weekend's over...hint hint.  :)

Be sure to visit the other participants at Song Lyric Sunday.  There's some good music out there!

Jots in June - 2018 - The Sketchbook Project

A while back I posted my contribution to the Sketchbook Project.

I am REALLY excited to share that it has been added to the Digital Library and is now available for viewing!  The last time I looked there were about 60 views AND THEY WEREN'T ALL FROM ME!

I would love it if you would take a look and tell me what you think.  On the Sketchbook page if you scroll down under the pictures there is a little spot that says "favorite" and it would be so cool if you could make it a favorite of yours.  I'd get a notice and little things like that make me happy :)

I've gotten another book to submit for the February 15, 2019 deadline.  There is still time to get one for yourself to submit, in fact today they are giving a 20% discount.    You have until November to order one.  The possible themes for this one include:  "A visual short story of the day we met," "Things I've left behind," "City Streets," "Stitch & Story," "Homonyms," "Rituals," This one thing..." "Burdens and brushes," "Melancholy," "Go-between," "Disconnection," "Bizarre," "Standstills," and "Infinite sketch." 

I haven't decided which one to do yet.  Any suggestions?  I know I will have an easier time of it this time since I know I can do it.  The blank page won't be so intimidating. 

Jots in June - 2018 - Father's Day and #SLS

Today is Song Lyric Sunday again and the prompt from Helen is: seconds/minutes/hours.  Today also happens to be Father's Day so here is a little ditty that makes me think of my dad, not so much because of the words but because of the times. 

Dean Martin - Every Minute Every Hour

Every minute every hour
My love grows in every way,
Every minute every hour
That's the way it goes everyday.

How I wish the days were longer
Every minute one more thrill,
Every hour it grows stronger
And it always will.

I live for tomorrow
For I know what's in store,
I can be sure that tomorrow
Will be sweeter than before.

I'll do all that's in my power
Just to keep the old ways new,
Every minute every hour
I'll spend loving you.

Every minute every hour
I'll spend loving you

Songwriters: Taylor Lane

Every Minute, Every Hour lyrics © Barton Music Corporation

My dad was the original selfie taker.  I really wish we had been smart enough to know that selfies were going to be a "thing" and patent or copywrite the word.  He'd get a kick out of that for sure.  Every roll of film we had developed had a selfie of him.  Not many pictures of my mom or us kids.  Mostly him and flowers.     

He did love my mom though.  We were all sure of that.  You could see it in his eyes when he looked at her.  He would usually go along with whatever she said, although she always told us girls HE was the "master of the house." 








There were four of us girls and I know he loved us all equally but I always said I was the favorite because I was born three days before his birthday and got to come home from the hospital on his birthday.  I said I was his birthday present. 












His other love was flowers.  He was a florist all of his life and we had such pretty plants around our house.  His pride plant was a poinsettia that was in a corner of our front yard. 










One of his talents was barbecuing.  He built a huge barbecue pit in our backyard and a long table with benches and would have the neighbors over every summer for a big shindig. 
        








He was a joker too.  On one of their bus trips to Reno he talked the bus driver into letting him sit behind the wheel.  He always wore a cowboy hat and that would be a fun (?) shopping trip to go and get him a new hat. 




His real name was Italo John Stagnaro but everyone called him "Bash" for who knows what reason (there were a couple of different stories I heard growing up but I'm not sure which was the truth).  He was fond of making little double meanings as on this shirt he wore on another bus trip.  Obviously the B. S. stands for Bash Stagnaro to us kids but I'm pretty sure his friends on the trip had a different take on those initials.

Dean Martin and the Rat Pack era reminds me of my dad.  That is what I grew up with in our house and they are such happy memories for me.  I really miss my dad and hope that I continue to make him proud.  Happy Father's Day to all the other dads out there!   

And here is Mr. Martin:

Thanks again to Helen for her Song Lyric Sunday blog fest.  Please go over and check out what songs others have picked.  

 

Jots in June - 2018 - Crafty work for Father's Day

Father's Day will be here before you know it so I've been busy adding some items to my Etsy shop:

A few cards:

And a mini-album for the sports enthusiast:

This is about 8 x 8 inches and it will stand on its own when opened.  

There is room to add a couple of pictures and write a note or two and in the back there is a pocket to add a gift card or tickets to see his favorite sports team.  I am in the process of making a similar one for the handyman, complete with tool belt and tools.

What do you think?  Visit the Etsy shop to see the rest of the things I have for Father's Day.  

Jots in June - Escapist Coloring Club -

A few days late but here is my contribution to the Escapist Coloring Club this month.  I've actually had a chance to do a lot of coloring in the past couple of weeks.

This one I'm going to use as the background for a card.  I used markers to do the outlining and then pencil for the inside.

Same with this one.  It is actually meant to be a card as you can see the possible sentiments across the top.  Not sure which, if any, of those I'll choose.  This one was pretty simple.  I just used one color for the flowers and outlined the leaves.

These are a little different.  I was commissioned to do a scrapbook album for a friend and I found some papers that I thought would go really well in the book since it was to be a keepsake using school work from when she was a child. 

I am happy with the way they turned out and fortunately she was too.  It gave me the idea to offer to do similar albums as an item in my Etsy shop.  We'll see where that goes too. 

Thanks again to Linda G. Hill for coordinating this fun club!

Jots in June - 2018 #SLS Song Lyric Sunday

I had to participate in the #SLS Song Lyric Sunday today because the prompt is...SMILE.  (On reading the comments, I see that it was supposed to have been "simile" as suggested by Jim Adams but I am much happier with "smile!"

The song I chose is "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars.  I love Bruno Mars and he is definitely on my list of people to see if he comes around our way again. 

The lyrics: 

Just The Way You Are

Oh, her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shinin'
Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful and I tell her everyday
Yeah, I know, I know when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me "Do I look okay?"
I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change 'cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
Yeah

Her lips, her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh she hates but I think it's so sexy
She's so beautiful, and I tell her everyday

Oh you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking if you look okay, you know I'll say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are

The way you are
The way you are
Girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause, girl, you're amazing
Just the way you are

Yeah

Songwriters: Khari Cain / Peter Gene Hernandez / Philip Martin II Lawrence / Ari Levine / Khalil Walton

Just the Way You Are lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, Universal Music Publishing Group, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs, BMG Rights Management US, LLC

I think this is a wonderful song.  Often there are things we don't like about ourselves, the way our hair looks, the way we laugh, etc.  It is sometimes hard to accept compliments from people when they tell us we look nice or that they like our smile.  I am not happy with my hair, too thin and too fine, but I think I have nice eyes :)  Conceit is not a good thing either but we should be able to be proud of ourselves.  We are, after all, unique and perfect in our own way.   

Here is Bruno singing his song.  I love the way they did this video too. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday and remember to share those smiles! 

Thanks again to Helen at This Thing Called Life One Word At A Time for organizing this fun way to spend a Sunday!