It appears blogging is only getting harder on my old desktop that I feel so comfortable with. I visited an amazing blog this morning and wanted to add it to my interesting sites list, but alas I cannot not. So I will post her link here: http://mylifeonebitatatime.blogspot.com/ Susie is giving away a super beautiful gift and another one of Christmas Memories today. I loved reading everyone's comments. Sorry I have not been around of late. Life is super busy and time is tight. I will be doing a giveaway after the first of the year, as I have over 100 followers and promised I would do this. It's amazing to me that I crept over that threshold and didn't even realize it. This little blog used to be something I cherished and visited so often to post. I will have to re-evaluate my life as I always do at the end of the year and find sometime, somewhere to bring this back into my life. As I do miss it and my interactions with all of you. Have the best Holiday Season and we'll get together soon!

New art journal pages

Created these pages to remember my weekend in May with my sisters & mom.

May Backpacking Trip in VA on AT

Found a Great Little Company for Smoothies

Wanted to let you all know about a great small company based in Oregon. They make an awesome product. I love them because I can have a smoothie while out on the trail backpacking now!!

I really missed having my smoothie on my last backpacking trip and was determined to find a way to take them with me. I found a heavy packaged 4 oz smoothie that did not need refrigerated, but I knew this was not going to work for my desire to be as light weight as I can be. So I kept looking.
I found the Sherwood Valley Juice Company's website and a great offer of free shipping to give them a try. So I sent away for their trial offer and the small little packages were at my house in just a few days. I tried them and was so happy to know I had my "smoothie fix" for the trail! They are not a replacement for what I fix myself every morning, but they do help out when I am on the go and need to get my fix on the road or trail. And they are very economical to boot!
So I urge you to give them a try and tell them I sent you!

Sherwood Valley Juice Company blends fruit and vegetable powders into delicious, nutrient rich single serving meals. These whole-food instant smoothie blends are freeze dried and dehydrated at low temperatures; this means your smoothie is alive with raw, plant based, whole food nutrition. Simply add one of these blends to your water bottle or blender and 15 seconds later enjoy your smoothie anyplace, anytime.
FREE SAMPLE OFFER: http://www.sherwoodvalleyjuice.com/shop/category/special-offers/4-pouch-sample-box-1-2-oz

First Retreat

I have completed my first retreat and am so happy!!!!

The group of women were so inspiring and we had a great time.
Click on the title of this post to find out about my next retreat.

Here's a slide show.

Women's Spring Retreat

RETREAT IN FULL

How about a "just before spring" retreat? We would begin at 3:00pm Friday March 16 and the retreat would end at noon on Sunday, March 18th. We will plan dinner time for once everyone let's me know when they can arrive. So taking Friday off isn't necessary.


The place I have scouted out is a cabin just outside Rushville, so it's about 30 to 40 minutes from Columbus. They offer the whole cabin for rent. This includes use of the kitchen, indoor pool, hot tub, rec room and their Netflix account. One TV is 3D. There is also a fire pit. http://cabinatthecrossroads.blogspot.com/p/amenities.html

We would learn together about healthy eating, exercise and do some mixed media art projects too. They have about a 2 miles of hiking trails that goes through the property. Plenty of time to just chill and get to know each other better. There are sleeping arrangements for 11. The cost is $195.00 for the weekend. This includes all food. Bring your own beverages if more than soda, coffee and tea are wanted.

We will cook together some and some will be prepared ahead. Mixed media art projects, such as collage and recycled materials to make a "Smash" type journal will be included in the cost. Of course we would have some kind of decadent dessert one night.

A deposit of $65.00 is needed by January 15th. Then another payment of $65.00 by Feb 12th. The last payment of $65.00 would be due by March 4th.

Please email Deb to arrange payments and to ask any questions.

A New Year's Thought

Dear Extraordinary Person,

As the year draws to a close, beautiful friend, please remember that you get to decide what heads into the next year with you and what doesn't. It would be worth some of your precious minutes to sit down and really think about the baggage that you have been carrying around that you just don't need anymore....and then decide that it is not invited to come with you into the next year...and that it will no longer be a part of how you view yourself, your possibilities, your commitments, the way you spend your time, and what you have to give in the world.

We often are taught to collect, collect, collect, gather, gather, gather, hoard, hoard, hoard...that we never even consider the possibility of starting over with a clean emotional slate by letting EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF BRAIN BAGGAGE GO and starting over with fresh hope, fresh faith, an open mind and endless possibilities. Some things that would be wonderful to leave behind are shame, blame, specific expectations, outdated beliefs, outdated identities and a scarcity mentality. It would be wonderful to let go of grudges, fears and beliefs that make us feel stuck.

When we decide to spend our time on loving others, and feeling loved...there is no room or time for feeling angry or for being worried about unkind things others may think of us. When we decide to spend our time working towards the life that our heart is yearning for....there is no room or time to think about things from the past that have been holding us back.

So please decide, amazing person.......YOU GET TO DECIDE!!! Decide what you will focus on, what you will think about, where you will spend your time and how you will think about everything and everyone around you. This could be the best year of your life! Make it so.

You are filled with endless possibilities!

from Your Daily Truth by Brave Girl's Club

My Hiking Journal

I have created an album on photobucket of my latest art journaling. It is about hiking and being outdoors this past year. I have more pages started and hope to finish them soon. I wish there was more time to do everything I love. But I am doing the best I can with the hours in each day to enjoy each and every one. Hope you are too.
Here is a link to my slideshow

The Happiness Project

I have borrowed this book from the library and am just starting it, but it seems like it goes hand in hand with my life the last 12 months. I have been really working on my happiness day to day. It seems like the more I take care of myself and those closest to me, the happier we all are. I am not saying I am responsible for the happiness around me, but it is contagious. So if you want to learn more about this project click on the title to this post and check out her website. There is a cool toolbox for creating your own happiness project.
Lot's of things in the works right now for getting art back into my schedule. More on this soon. Thanks for stopping by . . . only 7 more followers and I'll draw from everyone and send out a nice little prezzy!

I have started a Meetup group

I created a Meetup group for getting together with other women who are mixed media artists or who want to learn more about this type of art. Our first meetup is scheduled for Nov. 5th. I haven't found a meeting spot yet, but am working on it. I am going to provide workshops for those interested in learning and kits for those who do not want to invest in supplies. We have 4 members as of today. So if you live in Central Ohio and want to join us, we can be found by clicking on the title of this post.

90 Followers woo hoo!!

I posted a while back that I would have a drawing of my followers once I reached 100. Only 10 more to go. I want to make something awesome . . . any suggestions??? Take a look through my older posts and if anything looks interesting let me know.

I took my first spinning class today. It was HARD!! But fun. A new goal for the month, to stand for a whole class by the end of the month. I did get my cardio in, just need a stronger core. I am so glad it is Friday!! Can't wait to relax for a few hours at the pool this weekend. I love summer! Hopefully we can pick another couple of buckets of blackberries this weekend too. Hate the stickers but love the berries in my smoothies.

I'll try to post Sunday some new art. 

My Dad's ROD Journal

I made a slideshow of some of the pages in the ROD journal I am making for my Dad. (Click on title of post to get to slideshow) I'm keeping it pretty simple. I do want to embellish a bit more. But it's a guy's journal so I don't want to go over board. I'm making it with the same purpose in mind as I made my mom's. For him to write about his life & memories. It will be a treasured keepsake.

Thanks for looking  . . . now I'm off to the gym :-)

Update: This "not buying anything except gas" is HARD!! I forgot my flip flops at home so now I have to wear my gym shoes all day at work. Any other day I would have run to the dollar store and bought flip flops, ugh!! I did my first Pilates work out today. It wasn't real hard but I can already feel my body responding to the fact that I have given it a very different work out . . . so this is good . . . I think??

I have scheduled time off in September to hike the AT for a long weekend. I am so excited. My oldest son, Chris, is coming with me. I hope to get to the summit of Mount Rogers in VA. So all this extra training will help me I am sure and makes any discomfort so worth it, when I get to top. :-)

OK now it's time to work . . .

My New Art Studio

Here's my new sunny art room . . . well part of it.

I LOVE IT!!

I'm working on a type of ROD journal for my Dad to journal about his life. I will take some pics soon.

I plan to post a picture and how I am doing on my journey of consuming less this month . . . in all ways!!

My August Self Challenge

For the month of August I am challenging myself to not buy anything except gas. I have to pay my bills too. My DH pays for the groceries so this is something I can do, if I put my mind to it and have self control.

I am also going to move my fitness journey to the next level by using a personal trainer for the month. Provided by my DH for my birthday this month.

I am planning on organizing my new art studio and making some awesome new art too.

So I will be kept busy and do not think I will miss shopping in the least. And once I get down a few more sizes I can have lots of fun buying new clothes. I have been doing my best to take in what I have so I can continue to wear what I have.

I will be posting my new art and about how my self challenge is going all through the month . . . So come back and see me in August!!
The picture is a close of my art desk in my new sunny art room. More pics to come  . . .

Got my new art room(s) set up

I have my new art rooms with all my stuff in them... yeah!! I am so happy! My DH and oldest son helped move desk and go get a desk from my mom & dad. So I have two desk now and lots of storage, but way too much stuff. So it is time to organize and trim down my supplies. I cannot create in chaos!!
So I have about another week of work of ahead of me, but it will be so worth it to be able to have a true guest room for family & friends to visit more often and to be able to CREATE more art!!
I will post pictures when I am done.
Have an awesome rest of the weekend!!

Why I am not posting as often

I am so happy to have 83 followers. I am not sure you all are so happy with me lately. I am sorry for not posting more often. Life is very busy these days and I have not been creating much art.

I am doing very good on my journey of weight loss and exercise. I have lost 45 lbs and want to loose at least another 30. My energy level is awesome and I am having fun hiking this spring. I enjoyed a hike and camp out in Cuyahoga Valley National Park just up the road from us. My husband went with me. We hiked 9 miles Sat morning in about 3.5 hours. A little faster then I like, but I did it. There were awesome ledges to walk up to and beside. We camped overnight and had to suffer through a half hour thunderstorm. But campfire time was fun. Got a good 5 hours sleep before things got uncomfortable. My DH says this is not for him. He likes the hiking but wants a real bed at the end of the day. So I will have to find someone to backpack with later this summer.

Right now I am getting the house ready for my youngest son's visit with his wife. They will be home the first part of July. So I have to move my art/scrapbook room back downstairs. Having it in the guest room is not working at all. So besides working full time this is what I have been up to. Hopefully I will have fun creating some things with my DIL and I'll post about that soon.
Thanks for following and I'll try to post some creativity soon . . .

My Planes & Trains Adventure

I recently went on an adventure with a friend. We went to Minot North Dakota by way of planes to Minneapolis MN, then train to Minot ND. The first leg of our journey went pretty smoothly. Only an 90 minutes late into Minot. She was going to surprise a friend from grade school and I went to surprise my son who serves in the Air Force up there. We both had wonderful reactions to our surprise visit.

We went our separate ways for 4 days and had a wonderful time with family & friends.

We met back at the train station at 9:30 pm and then began our real adventure.

You see I had wanted to take the bus from the airport to the train station, but we were told this was too dangerous by a kind gentleman at the airport info both. So we took a taxi.

Well our journey home was not to be that easy. We ended waiting until 3:15am for our train to arrive into Minot. We then slowly made our way to Minneapolis. The train was already 7 hours behind schedule for those that had started in Seattle WA. I knew we would never make our flight at 10:30 that morning, so we contacted Delta on our trusty cellphones to see what we could do. Everyone flying was having to re-book their flights. Some had to pay over $200.00 for this. Delta was very easy to work with. We just had to know what time we would be at the airport, which we didn't. So we said our prayers and waited until we arrived in Minneapolis. We met a gentleman that also would need a taxi to the airport, so we shared a cab with him. This turned out to be a little tricky. I went to the first taxi van in line and asked how much to get to the airport, he did not speak English well and I thought he said $35.00, which was 10.00 more than when we took it to the train station. I asked why and he said it might be $40.00. He had already started the meter and grabbed my bag and put it in the van. I went to the next car taxi and asked the big burly white man how much to get to the airport and he said $20.00 at the most. I went over to the van and grabbed my bag out of it and said no thank you. He got upset and I then said I did not feel like getting screwed that day. The poor gentleman sharing our cab just watched . . . I got his bags and threw them in the back and he got in the front seat and said what just happened? I said I saved us $20.00. He laughed. We were on our way to the airport . . .

We arrived just before 3pm and made our way to the Delta counter to tell them our sad story and hope for the best. It was just like you see in the movies, he tapped on his keyboard for a few moments then said I have 2 seats on the 3:55 flight, do you want them? How much? $50.00 each. Praise the Lord!!!

We then breezed through security and what pull sup as I am putting my shoes back on . . . an airport taxi thingy . . . you know the ones that fly you through the airport . . . He asked if we needed assistance and I looked at him and thought why not. Never had this luxury before. It was a good thing, because our gate was clear at the other end of the airport. We arrived in time to board and be seated right next to each other.

Home by 8pm. Slept like a baby. I love a good adventure!!

Art paper scrap collage

          I loved doing this page.

First I covered the background with black gesso.

Then I tore my paint paper scraps. (These are the papers I put behind the pages in a book when I paint them. I use them over and over again so they are very colorful.)

Then I used gel medium to adhere them to my book pages. I allowed everything to dry overnight.

I came back with black acrylic paint and painted the words. I used painted stamps for the word believe.
       Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. I have been trying to get our huge lawn mowed and also keeping up with my 60 minutes of hiking and exercise each day. Doesn't leave much time for anything else before I head into work for the afternoon.
        I posted a slideshow of my North Carolina hiking vacation on the side bar of the blog.

Remain of the Day Slideshow posted

I finally got around to creating a slideshow on photobucket of my ROD journal. I made this for my mom, so she can journal about her memories. I am making one for my dad too. But I am taking the idea and using double sided tape into a blank journal I have. It's somewhat bigger. I will post some of it when it is finished. The slideshow is only of about 1/3 of my mom's journal. I ended up making 3 signatures. It went real fast. I do love this format.
I used wallpaper from a sample book. Love it!! Lot's of scrapbook papers.

WooHoo!! I am up to 79 followers. When I get to 100, I'll be sending one of them an altered composition book. I haven't made it yet. I may even wait to interview the winner so I can make something with them in mind. You are all so wonderful to drop in now & then to leave comments.
Take Care.

My first ROD journal

I finally made my first Remains of the Day journal / keepsake.

I made this for my mom. I will make a slide show in a few days to show the inside. It has pictures from her childhood and young married life. I left lots of room for her to write her memories. She helped me with the cover. She knows how to sew, I do not. But this kind of sewing I can do. She pressed the slipcover before I made it into the cover.

Anyways  . . . it's late and I have to get to bed. So I'll do more later.