2011 year in review

i don't live by horoscopes...

Year 2011 Overview

'Change' is your middle name at this point, Capricorn. You've been through more personal transformation in the past two years than perhaps in your entire life. The upside is that you're getting used to the intensity of it all. It helps that you're realizing the futility in holding on to people and possessions that only stunt your growth. So many layers continue to be shed on a daily basis but this also gives way to unquestionable personal power. Pluto in Capricorn will carry on for another 14 years; so if this is just the tip of the iceberg, imagine who you will be on the other side of your metamorphosis.

This year the focus shifts from a lifestyle focused on gadgets, information and social networking to introspection, home and family. You are about to encounter your most uncensored raw self on levels as of yet unprecedented. Ready yourself, Goat, because this spring an explosion of fiery planets in Aries sweeps the very base of your horoscope getting you back in touch with some of your most primal instincts. Competition, aggression and the need for plenty of physical outlets ensue.

Some long-standing money issues are finally coming to a finish as the planet of illusion and delusion gets ready to move on to your communication sector. You've learned to use your discrimination in choosing where to invest and where to spend. For the next 14 years, instead of worrying about money leakages you'll be working on mindfulness to avoid spacing out. In any case, your way with words is apt to become poetic and inspired, which can only make the world appear infinitely more beautiful.

...yet last years predictions were so spot on, i would not have been able to write it better myself.  so looking forward to what 2012 brings along...

funny friday...

simply sweet...

when i finally

awoke

from my nap...

.

...i realized there

 were cookies

 to bake

i hummed and

 i hawed

and realized

the one's they really

want

 take no time at all

peanut blossoms

and gingersnaps

sure enough

baked and gone

in no time at all

enough said...

even for me

this is unusual

but then...

.

...i've never ever

worked in retail

for an entire year

in my life

wishing you all

 a very merry christmas

new traditions...

this little blog

of mine

has morphed into...

.

a personal diary of sorts

a place to write

my thoughts

in addition to

sharing creativity

it is also preserving

memories

in an electronic format

and this pic is one

i never wish to loose

julie and tj

how i love these two

they have been

 growing up before our eyes

for several years actually

high school sweethearts

college comrades

and now

apartment dwellers

establishing

 new holiday traditions

of their own

it's a marvelous sight

for this momma's eyes

and heart

the best kind of christmas gift

efaith restored...

it's such a euphoric

feeling

 to end the year...

.

...with my faith restored

in mankind

do you remember

my tale

of the broken smoky pfaff

with the seller

from h e double hockey sticks

then the ten paragraph

email from the attorney

at ebay

when i escalated a claim

that could have been

summarized

in one sentence

the ebay buyer protection plan

doesn't cover broken

stinky sewing machines

well believe it or not

after my ego recovered

i bid again on a pfaff 1475

and lost

so i sorta gave up

but oh how i love

 that machine

best one ever made

i have a few groups

of young teens

 waiting in the wings

for sewing classes

i can't wait to

get started

one more machine

 would be ideal

in sarah's sewcial lounge

so i bounced back onto

ebay

and found one

i bid and i won

it arrived today

packaged perfectly...

in the best

 of condition

even better

than my own

and included

a nice little note

from the seller

thank you mario

you made my day

and restored my faith

in mankind

ebay should thank you

i certainly do

making progress...

i'm so very far

behind

in my paperwork...

.

...but it's quite boring

so to reward myself

each month i finished

i stitched one more row

i'm up to november

which means

ten more rows

of x-rated

 are complete

loving luscious...

and making some

progress

with the hand...

.

stitching

one of the most

frequently heard

comments

when i announced

i would be opening

 a quilt store

nice

you'll be able to sew all day

not

doesn't happen often

until i started

my hand stitching project

i'm addicted

once again

the purple knickers...

twenty years ago today

that's how sarah and i

often start posts over...

.

on her blog

it's fun to see what

we were up to

twenty years ago today

at times i think

twenty years is so long ago

and then i look

 at the photos

and it seems like

just yesterday

tonight

as i looked at what

we were doing

i huge wave of emotion

comes over me

first off

it's the purple velveteen

the true color doesn't shine

 in the pics

tj's knickers were made

of a rich deep

luscious purple

the top of sarah's dress too

the matching plaid

 was heavy, gorgeous taffeta

brought in especially for me

by jay broida the owner

of cutting room fabrics

he knew about my obsession

 with purple

so on one of his

 new york city buying sprees

he had me in mind

and my little girl

he was so excited to show me

i couldn't bring myself

 to tell him

that sarah was not doing well

in fact

the doctors were

starting to loose hope

her lungs were

continually collapsing

filling with fluid

she was aspirating liquids

to cause pneumonia

that would not respond

 to medicine

still i sat in my sewing studio

in the wee hours

 of the morning

to stitch up this

matching ensemble

for brother and sister

today as i look at

these photos

i recognize there

was a greater journey

one of immense teaching

the brother

the one who stood beside her

who protected her

without question

is right beside her

nearly every single day

i truly could not be more proud

of the man he has become

my heart swells with pride

each time i see the two of them

i hear them

engaging in grown up

conversation

yet my heart allows them to go back

to the day they

were wearing

taffeta plaid and

 fancy purple knickers

when life comes...

together and

things start

to make sense...

.

have you ever

 experienced

one of those times

i think i did
 today

all those years of

snow plow sam lessons

followed by

hockey, hockey and more hockey

and then it ends

or so you think

a few years later

sitting in world history class

only by a series of very

unique circumstances

boy meets girl

hearts go pitter patter

girl is nationally recognized

ice dancer

without a partner

sounds like a movie

sarah and i have watched

over and over again

wonder how this one

will turn out

sure is fun watching

i always thought

 a toe pick

would have been

 a fine choice

angelina needs a family...

it's the time

of year

when the angel...

.

...tree goes live

over on the

reece's rainbow website

it's the time

of year

when hearts soften

and funds are

raised

to help get the

sweet adorable children

born with down syndrome

living in orphanges

into the loving

caring homes

of a family

sweet

 adorable angelina

with her beautiful

red hair

and big brown eyes

is almost four years old

she needs a family

now

or she is in danger of being

transferred

where her life

will be even less than it is now

and death

is likely

please help pass the word

angelina needs a family

if you can't be her family

will you please

consider making a donation

 to her fund

by clicking here

familes are often out there

it's just the expense

 of the adoption that

holds them back

help us give a holiday

miracle to angelina

i love december...

it's the only

time

of the year...

.

...i can have

 two heaping scoops

of my all time

 favorite flavors

peppermint stick and

mint chocolate chip

i think i'll go

 curl up

next to the warm fire

to eat my ice cream

delicious

funny friday...