Trying to figure out which way to take this blog

I have a feeling it will be a link to my artistic endeavors or to my charitable contributions - or possibly both as they are usually one in the same.

Karen

really disappointed

Today I made a mistake that lasted for less than a minute and will cost me at least a whole day to clean up.

I made a trip to the grocery store today and somehow I managed to leave my purse in the cart when I returned it. About 30 seconds later I figured out what I did and ran back for the purse that was already misappropriated. In less than a minute, literally.

The police were called, panic ensued and as of just a few hours later someone has been arrested and I have my purse and ID back. Of course the cash was gone - Merry Christmas, and I'll have to spend an as yet undetermined amount of time trying to figure out which credit cards are gone and cancelling a bunch that I should have cancelled a long time ago. But even worse than the cash, which was not a tiny amount is the feeling I have that just isn't right. It feels awful and makes me nauseous.

I'll post more as soon as I figure out how I really feel about the situation. My emotions are conflicted right now.

Actually making good on the promises I made below

One down and one to go. Today I learned how to add links to the blogs I read. For me this is quite an accomplishment. Wander over and have a look at what Beki, Marilee, AJ and Lora are doing. And have a wonderful day!!!

Karen

Excited to find her blog linked on another site

So excited in fact, that I had to blog about it.

I was reading my friend Beki's blog this morning and noticed that the had linked to me. This is a first for me, and it honestly made my day.

Please give Beki a look here, she's featuring an AMAZING charm bracelet that she made from PMC. Her charms are truly beautiful, each one unique and full of texture and spirit. Many of them are set with gemstones adding flair and individuality to her already incredible dangles.

I'm going to have quite a lot of time to fill over the next month and intend to update this blog with photos (I know, I already promised that below, but I really am going to do it.) as well as try to figure out how to add links to the blogs that I enjoy reading.

Wish me well, I'm going to need it.

Karen

Playing with something she knows very little about

Today I updated all the items in my Etsy store. Not very many items in there, it sure took a long time. *sigh* Anyway, I thought I'd update my blog include a link to my Etsy store. I really like the things that I've created, and am offering other things - BEADS - that I've got an excess of.

Etsy Buy Handmade beadcause

Paying it forward

On one of the forums that I read each day someone posted a link about the concept of paying it forward. I've always been fond of RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) and after watching several people play tag I decided to get in on this one. I tagged my beady friend Beki (see her beautifully embellished blog here) and now it is my turn to "PIF."

Pay It forward rules: I will send a handmade gift (something beaded) to the first 3 people who leave a Comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange (and email me their mailing address), and who make the same pledge on their own blogs. I don't know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward meaning you will do the same for three people who comment on your blog.

Full of soup and feeling charitable

Today I enjoyed my dinner at a fund raiser called Empty Bowls. I met my friends Jenni, Paul, Emily, Heather and Pam at the Masonic Temple in Racine. We each chose a bowl made by a child specifically for the event. Mine is a really cool ceramic bowl shaped like a leaf and glazed in white with aqua and pale purple spatter. It is lovely.

After we made our bowl selections we moved downstairs to pay for our meal. Purchase of a bowl and soup is $15, soup alone is $7 and is also available to go. Next it was on to the serving area. One side was a large room filled with a variety of soups and breads all donated by thoughtful business and people in and around Racine County. Across the hall was a banquet room set up with tables and a very smooth jazz band. There were also bowls made by talented artisans that could be bid on in a silent auction.

I chose a Mediterranean Chicken soup and it was lovely. It had chicken, orzo, rich broth and lots of herbs. Paul had Creamed Corn soup with ham. It looked delicious. Pam chose a Beefed Up Tomato soup that she said had lots of kick. The other soup I noticed was a Chicken Curry. We arrived an hour before serving stopped. Throughout the day there were many more kinds of soup available usually there were more than 10 varietys at a time. Truly there was something for everyone.

Proceeds from this event go to fund all of the soup kitchens in Racine County. Businesses all over Racine donated soup, bread, coffee, money and time to this cause. Even the band donated their time and talent. It was an evening full of good food and good company. I'm looking forward to attending again next year.

Excited to get outside today

Oh, the weather in Wisconsin. We have had the longest, snowiest winter that I remember in all my 39 trips around the sun. Honestly. There is so much snow piled at the foot of my driveway that I cannot see over it to tell when it is safe to pull out into the street. I believe that we've had more than 60 inches so far this season. Thankfully the last 12 inches we were supposed to receive passed over into the lake.

Today it is bright and sunny outside and I am anxious to finish my household responsibilities so i can get outside to enjoy that glorious solar expression. I need to go to the grocery store, so it is the perfect excuse to take a little ride. While I am out I might even stop and pick up some Chinese food to enjoy for lunch.

Have a great day everyone.

Behind on her blog already

And, in all honestly, I'm a bit embarassed about it too.

I have a terrible time trying to decide what is appropriate to post and what is not. How much is too much personal information? This is hard to tell since I haven't even told anyone I'm blogging as yet.

Since I shared that, I'd like to thank those of you who are reading this already. I do appreciate it. Feel free to leave me a note as well. I'd love to hear from you.

Hanging out with her son

He is very entertaining. And fairly talented with a felt tip marker.

At Christmas he asked me what I would like to have for a gift. I know that he isn't in the most flush position, and for me the joy is in giving and not receiving. So I asked him not to buy me a gift. Of course, he was insistent. At that point, reluctantly, I asked for a holiday video.

Then I told him that for my birthday all I wanted was a drawing of a dragon. The only specification I gave him was that it should be the same size as the painting he made me when he was in 5th grade because I wanted to hang them side by side.

He said, "No problem mom, six weeks is plenty of time for me to draw you a dragon." Well, five of those weeks have gone by and tonight we were talking. When there was a lull in the conversation I decided to ask how the dragon drawing was coming. He replied by telling me that first he needed to get a piece of paper. I burst out laughing and he demanded to know why.

My husband is always telling me that I have more paper that Wal-Mart, so the needing paper comment was truly funny to me as there is definitely no shortage here. I explained that when I was selecting his gifts I almost bought him an artist pad and a selection of drawing implements. He replied that I should have since I was going to be so picky about the size. Then he prattled on about how he could have drawn the dragon on a napkin or a piece of toilet paper, but no, it had to be the same size as the sunflower painting. He followed these comments up with, "That's what I should do, fold you an origami dragon from a square of toilet paper for your birthday present."

It's been an hour and I am still laughing out loud over this.

About the 5th grade painting:

It was inspired by Van Gogh's Vase with Twelve Sunflowers and was done in tempera paint on a piece of manilla paper and measures 12" by 18". It has been hanging prominently on a wall of our home since the day he brought it home - more than 10 years ago. He is a bit embarassed about this, but I truly love the painting so it is going to stay there until the end of time.

It is heart warming to me when he has a friend over who hasn't been here in a while and they see the painting and then remark that their mom still has the painting they did as well.

Wanting to start a blog

So I did.

I'm not sure I have anything to share that anyone else would be interested in, but I am going to do this anyway. If you read this and like it, great - please tell your friends. If you don't like it, sorry, but I'm sure there are many other blogs out there that would interest you. Keep looking, you'll find one.

Right now my goal is to add to this at least once a week. It could happen more often if I have something blog worthy to say.