Sample Cards

Two of the sample of the cards we will be making down at the AWC.  I'm working with supplies I have on hand so the cards anyone can do at home. I don't have access to my studios anymore, so I'm back down to basic equipment. Really have to think about what I'm doing now since I can't just open a drawer and pull out what I need. We make a total of four card in an hour, which is pretty fast. Class is the second Friday of every month at 1:00.

The Birthday Girl turns 2

 It's Annie's birthday today!  She is on her new doggie bed and wearing her birthday crown. 
No big plans today since I have to work and Annie only wants to chase her tennis balls. I do have to say, she already has a date for Christmas eve, Christmas day and New Year's eve. She is very popular!

Annie on her new bed

Blog Moving

I've set up my new blog. It's a private blog (more from the heart postings) so you will have to email me to sign up to view it. I will continue postings on this blog for events and classes but the good stuff will be on my new blog. Hope to see you there!

Re-Birth Glass Tree

Kitras Art Glass Inc.

This was a very thoughtful gift from my good buddy Toni, who flew out to help celebrate my Spiritual Death Wake this past weekend. It's a giant hand blown glass ball called
"re-birth" by Kitras Art Glass.

"Throughout our lives we journey through many different cycles of renewal. Whether it is overcoming a difficult challenge and emerging from it ready to start over or an exciting new beginning that will lead to great happiness.  Just as a tree goes through cycles of death and then rebirth so do we, each time growing stronger. Whether we are standing before a new pathway or reflecting on a journey taken - the themes of Creativity, Passion, Happiness, Freedom, Re-Birth and Giving helps us to move forward and celebrate the many pathways of life."

So thankful there are word people out there who can express what I feel.

Moving Again - New Blog

Spiritual Death Wake Bonfire

I made it through some very difficult times with the help from my good friends, but big girls have to know they can also go it alone. Find out who they are now and not live in the past. I will be switching to a new blog site soon so I can post more personal things to help me go through the challenges I will be tackling in the coming years. 
When I started my blog all those years ago, it was for the general public but my life has changed so much. To help find out who I am after ending a long term marriage is a little more private. I'm still willing to share but only to those who can help encourage, challenge, keep me focused and maybe even inspire other on the their own path.
I will post here when my new blog is ready and if you request it, email the link to you.  You will have to subscribe to my new blog (sign in) so I know who is visiting.
Had a great time at my Spiritual Death Wake Weekend at the beach. Made some very tough decisions and plans for my future. It was also fun to talk about our silly dreams and hopes between the tears and sadness.

Crafty Friends

I may not be able to do as much crafting as I have in the past but I still have some pretty talented crafty friends. Marcia B made this cute little Santa box.  Love all the little details that gives it a personality.
It's been another whirlwind morning with tons of things on my ever growing to do list. My spiritual mentor told me keeping busy helps keep the negative thoughts from creeping in.  I still will have to deal with them, but I can make the choice of when I want to do that. Much healthier way to go. Getting ready for my spiritual death wake weekend at the beach is keeping everything in focus. Friends flying in for the weekend, bonfire plans all set, Annie's babysitting arranged and the run to the liquor store done. I'm not a drinker so it was entertaining trying to figure out what to buy at Bev Mo from the list everyone sent in. Have to say, some pretty hot guys shop there and are very helpful if you have no idea what to buy.  You can tell from the picture below my drink of choice requires no ID. :)

Staff Pot Luck

Good eats at any pot luck at work. Almost everyone knows how to cook and makes the best homemade Japanese dishes.  It was the first time in a long time I made of full plate and ate everything on it!

Just to show you why I'm called the "tall one" at work.  That's me in the back row with the Santa hat on. I'm not kidding when people can't remember my name they say "you know that tall one". I'm only 5'7" and in the Japanese world that super tall.

One big tree for the Yu Ai Kai

 I've done a lot of Christmas tree decorating in my time both for my home and for companies. I really wanted the Yu Ai Kai to have a BIG tree this year. It takes man power and with my loss of muscle mass, I'm not able to handle a tree this big anymore. The massage guys were good enough to help cut one down, get it in the truck and carry it into the building.  That's Glenn in the photo, who is a triathlon kind of guy and even he said it was a good work out going up and down the slopes looking for the right tree. Don't think he broke out into a sweat like everyone else. Nice to have these very fit young guys at the AWC! Now the task of getting it decorated. Too bad all my Christmas ribbon was thrown out during the big move.

Normal Day?





I think today was one of the first days in a long time I haven't had to pack, throw out or move something. My life is slowly getting back into a semi normal routine. During the Big Move Out, I was carrying so many keys, I had to have one purse just to hold them all.  Now I'm down to only 6 which makes my purse much lighter.

During those time when things get over whelming, I have to think about all the things I'm thankful for. So here is this week's list.
1) Super great place where I work.
2) Great boss who is supportive and understanding when I'm not on top of  my game.
3) Former neighbors who let me use their super sized truck during the big move. I was finally was able to give their keys back last night.
4) Friends who share not only the joys in my life but help support me through the tough times too.
5) Strangers who's kind hearts help me continue on the path to a more positive light.
6) Strong young guys always willing to do the heavy lifting, run errands and misc. handyman work at a moments notice.
7) My volunteer cookie baker who makes awesome cookies every week.
8) Pants that fit - not as easy as it sounds.
9) Washers and Dryers (yes, I have access to more than one) since I'm not a clothes horse, I have to wash clothes everyday.
10) Cheap airline tickets making my trip to Hawaii possible.
11) Annie who is always happy to see me in the morning when I pick her up. To her foster parents who love her almost as much as I do.
12) For the warm bed I have and the flight of stairs I have climb every night, which is helping my weak leg recover.

Tis the Season

How can you not love where you work when people walk in the door with homemade cookies (thank you Emily), bags full of hand knitted baby caps and staff coming by to fix broken sprinklers?

The Wellness Center is jumping with activity.  People chatting in the iPad class, Zumba teacher shouting out directions, knitting teacher calming knitting in the coffee room, the ED working in the Pine room banging out our newsletter and the massage guys off  hiking in the mountains cutting down a HUGE  Christmas tree for the YAK.

Great to be around all this positive energy again!

Christmas Tree 2011

It's great to finally see all my Christmas ornaments out of the packing boxes. We had our staff and board holiday party last night that included a tree trimming party. My building looks very festive now!
As always the pot luck food was super good. With all the Japanese cooks running around how could it not be?  Had 3 hot King Eggs Rolls for starters and it was a high calorie food fest after that. :)

Easy and Quick Christmas Gift

There hasn't been a whole lot of crafting going on in my world lately but as I unpack all my Christmas ornaments for tonight's tree trimming party, I came across this one done in 2003. It's a great idea for a quick but personal holiday gift.  It does mean that you have to know the person well enough to write some of the highlights for the past year. I had one made for my son and daughter. Seeing it again, it's like reading a mini journal of some of the highlights that happened in his life.  His first big halibut, getting his driver's license and signing up to join the Navy etc... Now I wish I had one made for every year.  The one I had made for my daughter was taken doing a demo. Not sure why someone would want someone else memories but it's gone.
 Anyways, all you need is a glass ball, glass marking pen (any craft store will have it) and some ribbon. Sure is fun doing a quick read on what happened in 2003!

Brown Cows Rock!

My work day starts super early. Usually I have Annie with me so in between throwing the ball for her and getting her breakfast ready I have to allow extra time to get all the other things done before I open my building. Since there is a party at my building today, I didn't bring Annie in, which means I can run around even faster.  There is a small gift exchanged planned for tonight, so I wrapped my present this morning and got these cow scratchers. My mom's lucky charm was brown spotted cows. When I saw these I just had to get them to put on the top of my gift.
What would you do if you won $500.00?
For me that would be my plane ticket to Hawaii and new pants that fit. :)

Brown Spotted Cow Bell I made a long time ago.

More random Christmas

Driving in today to work and thinking about all the things that I have to get done today before the staff and board holiday party I thought of all the random things I'm thankful for. One of the silly thoughts was how thankful I am for my soon to be ex's angry and nastiness toward me. Whenever I feel sad about the end of our relationship or in doubt, I just call him. It doesn't even take a full 30 seconds for him to go postal and for me to remember why we are getting divorced. :)

But on to more positive thoughts.

Love coming into work and seeing all the holiday decorations up and playing holiday music.  

Santa Tree Topper

The Santa tree topper is like the one that was on my family tree when I was growing up. Every year my mom would decide what color light bulb would go behind Santa. One year the bulb got too close and burned a little hole in Santa's face. My mom just called it a liver spot. Not sure what happened to the tree topper (I'm sure it's stored away somewhere) but when I see this one I think of my mom.

Looking forward to making more happy Christmas memories.