Fleur de Aleta

Jen got me and in response.... Four Jobs I’ve Had: 1. Taught Piano 2. Substitute Teacher 3. Clerical 4. Office Manager (current) What are four ways you know you are living your life’s purpose? 1. I try to be kind to people and believe we are on this earth to help on another 2. I’m finding happiness in the little things and appreciating things that was once taken for granted. 3. I’m truly happy in my relationship with Greg, healthiest relationship I’ve ever been in! 4. I have goals. What are four things you do to take really good care of yourself? 1. I get plenty of sleep. 2. I’m going to doctors appointments (something I always used to put off) 3. I’m starting to cook and plan healthy meals 4. I’m starting to exercise in the morning What are the four events that have most formed how you live your life today? 1. When my brother sat me down and said I was smarter than just "riding with the tide" and that I could be an honor’s graduate from high school. I didn’t believe in mysel...

Pictures don't do it justice. This design looks like and feels like lacy that shimmers. The seed beads are irridescent, rainbow hues and the Swarv. crystals are a delicate purple.

Today we (Kristen and I) celebrated Gwen’s birthday, and in the process of doing so ~ accomplished another 101 thing on my list ~ to play tourist in the French Quarter. It was Gwen’s idea and we couldn’t have asked for a more lovely day. We walked around the French Quarter, starting at Petunia’s. You could pass by it and not know a restaurant was inside. The Quarter has many such hideaways. Though the menu called for the typical breakfast, I figured "what the heck, let’s make this a day of unique food." I had what is best described as an Egg’s Benedict over Fried Eggplant. My taste buds started off saying, "Yumm, and oh, hey, what’s this, oh, Good!" Gwen told me that in Europe, breakfast is not a frequent meal. That's where the "continental breakfast" came from, simple pastries, nothing more. Our next stop was the St. Louis Cathedral. I was delighted when Kristen asked, "Do you mind if we pray for a few minutes?" She follow ed it up after th...

I love working with gemstones. To see what nature created and be some small part of fixing it into a design ~ it's a satisfying feeling. I've heard of people who believe gemstones represent various aspects of life. Recently, I read an article of such and listed a few gemstones and their meaning. To share... Amazonite: prosperity Crystal quartz: harmony Jasper: grounding Lapis lazuli: intuition Onyx: balance Pearl: purity Peridot: health and wealth Rhodochrosite: love Serpentine: clarity Sodalite: wisdom Tourmaline: strength Turquoise: peace

A conversation came about, regarding the California debate of civil unions for homosexuals. My general view is live and let live. That said, the topic brought on an interesting aspect that I hadn’t thought of. It appears that Europe has embraced the civil unions for homosexuals. Granted, I don’t live in Europe and I don’t know the stats involved, this information coming from a friend who has read up, just by keeping in check with the topic. By having a civil union, it’s saying "you aren’t really part of the club" but to make this fair, we’re going to offer something new, this civil union idea. Hence, civil union is something altogether different from marriage, but similar. And now, the findings are that the civil unions have a negative impact on marriage! Heterosexuals in Europe aren’t getting married at the same rate as in the past, rather they are opting for civil unions as well. After all, this new idea can’t just be for homosexuals and in creating it for couples ~ it’s ta...

Well, I really didn't think it would happen, but I made nice with the barbecue pit! From start to finish, I barbecued chicken. Yes, folks, I even started up the pit. Greg found these candle lighters with a long neck and that's the way I am able to feel comfortable with the gas flame. I also tried out a neat side dish ~ yes, a new recipe. I saw it on one of the cooking shows and thought, "Hmm, simple enough, I can do that!" If you're looking for another option with veggies, give this a try, it's tasty! Roasted Broccoli and Tomatoes Preheat oven to 450 degrees Cut up 3 cloves, minced, cut up green onions Cut up 2 florets of broccoli into bite sized pieces Put all of the above in a bowl along with a pint of cherry tomatoes Mix ingredients together with ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes and 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Spread the ingredients out on a roasting pan and cook in the oven at 450 for 18 minutes. It came out great, though I’d probably do more green oni...

This is a neat site where you can combine elements, creating wall, wax, spouts, fire, etc. Greg loves to play around with the chemistry of it, go figure! Hell of Sand

Ok, I’m trying to be better about updating the 101 list. I completed two bracelets, but oh, the first one was a challenge! I finished it just in time before I was planned to instruct a beading class on a different bracelet. I enjoy instructing and watching members of the Beading Society as their bracelets come together. I was tickled that Greg's sister, Madelyn, came to the meeting. She was a natural and worked the braided bracelet very quickly. I hope she joins us again! Greg came by and helped me pick up the tables and chairs after the meeting. Then we went to my parents’ home. The pool water was cool, but Greg wanted to go in. My parents went to Mississippi for the weekend. I told Greg that if he went in first, that I would join him. He said it was cool and refreshing. He had to coax me in, because, folks, let me tell ya, no matter how hot and humid it gets in this area, water is still cold! Lol. It was great though, once I acclimated to it through tears and laughter. I hope to ...

Greg bought a cat fence. It's has a base that you station where you don't want the cat to go around. He was trying to stop Tigger from running out the door the minute it opens. So, there's the base of this thing and then a collar. I told Greg I didn't want anything to shock Tigger, because it would hurt him. Greg told me he found this cat fence where the collar makes a static sound and it doesn't shock the cat. What the advertisement doesn't tell you is that the static sound is only level one and the rest of the levels are... shocking. The collar has two probes that stick into the fur. We thought it was tight enough, but even on higher settings, Tigger ran by, even stood over the base, like there was nothing to it. But when Greg pushed that collar in slightly and those probes made contact, "MEOOWWWWWEEERRRREEEEEWWWWMMEEOWWEERRR" He zapped my cat and Tigs TOOK OFF! No No No No NO, that was all I needed to hear; the collar came off! We'll have to be ...

"The Sky is Falling" Out of character and needing a step ladder to get on the soap box ~ What's this nonsense about a shortage of food? In America? Go ahead media keep up the nonsense and you'll find more people growing veggies in the backyard and not participating in the grocery store market. THEN what will you do? This is yet another excuse to accept higher prices, by jumping on the bandwagon and blaming the gas hike. It's bad enough that politicians have banned access to our own national resources. The green folks out there (I have a great respect for Mother Nature, but not when people use it as scare tactics) are saying we're in a Global Warming situation. Huh? Global Warming my foot! The Earth is cooling these days, not warming. The last mini-ice age was around 1850 in the amount of one-degree Fahrenheit and supposedly we are over due for another ice age about 100 years ago. Scientists say there is a perceptible cooling occurring worldwide, including ocea...