A good book.

I was quite excited to hear last night, Joe DiLalla has a new book in the works. Should be out soon. Haven't heard what the title will be, but once I do, you will be the first to know.. I know some of you, have not heard about Joe or his last book, Bloodlines..It is a great mystery and one you should read, if you enjoy mysteries with twists and turns..You can get it at Amazon..Now,if I could just get Oprah to put it on her book list, you all would believe it was a good read..Right? Funny how that works.

Know what is great? Joe is doing something he really enjoys..and since I enjoy what he is doing..we all end up winning..Thanks Joe.

Till next time, keep looking up.

More snow in the forecast..

It looks like we will be getting more snow..I am so sad, since it is coming on Saturday and we were going to go to Portland and meet Etsy sellers from Maine. I was looking forward to this trip and meeting everyone..I hope they will try this another time.
This has been a snowy winter and one that is making spring look better every day, black flies and all.
I think this winter is a test for me..If I can keep writing positive and using my own advice, I will have beat the odds of getting depressed.. So back to the paint room I go and it will be more angels to paint. Why angels, you ask? That seems to be what is inspiring me and I keep going with it. As I have said and I repeat, "Go with what makes you happy"..
Till next time, keep looking up.

More Ideas.

As you noticed, the last few blogs are about Easter/St. Patrick's Day. Now today, I am going to tell you where to get good recipes for those holidays.
Go to www.recipegoldmine.com. They have fun recipes and if you look to the right side of their page, you will see message boards..Make sure you go there also, there are a lot of wonderful recipes from people that write on the message board.
For Easter last year, I made Resurrection Rolls..Everyone enjoyed them..You put a marshmallow in the middle of your roll and close it, then bake and when you eat the roll, it is empty..like the tomb on Easter morning, ..The marshmallow melts and leave a big hole ..There are different ways to make this, so check out all the recipes on their page. It is a great site and one I go back to all the time..

Till next time, keep looking up.

Cute idea for Children .

Here is another cute idea for children to make..an Easter Egg Tree..Go outside and get a branch from a bush/tree, about 12-16" high..one with little branches sticking out. If you want to spray the branch a different color, do that..Make sure you do it where you have proper ventilation. Now stick it in a pot..You can put dirt in there to hold it or fancy stones.. Now cut your paper into the shape of eggs..Have the children color the paper eggs..Let them get creative. Put a small hole in the paper and use yarn/string, make a tie and hang them from your tree..Each child can make his/her own and put it in their room or display in your home for everyone to see..These are so cute and it takes nothing but materials you usually have around the house.
It keeps little ones busy for quite awhile and again, they are using their creativity..Have fun.

Till next time, keep looking up.

Thank you.

Today, I just want to thank all of you that visit my blog and for the wonderful comments that are left..I can not tell you how much I appreciate it..Just knowing you enjoy reading a little note I leave pleases me to no end.
My goal is to leave you with a little enjoyment for the day..
With so much negativity in our lives, my idea was to pull out the positive. If I have made one person happy, just for a few hours, I have succeeded..
May each and everyone of us, be blessed with the gift of enjoying what we have and not with what we don't have.

Till next time, keep looking up.

Heard the cardinal this morning..

What a beautiful sound..It is the excitement of spring. I enjoy hearing the birds so busy getting ready for nesting..Something so wonderful about spring. I just can't wait for flowers to start poking their heads out of the ground..Now I have to tell you, I am a lousy gardener..I try, but I don't do well..In fact my husband calls me "black thumb"..The flowers I wait for ,have been planted by people that lived here before me. Anyway, I look for them every year..I did plant chives and they keep coming back, so I did succeed with that little herb.
I keep looking for the bluebirds, so far nothing..One person commented on my blog, how she sees the bluebirds flying around her area..How lucky..For some reason, here in Maine, the bluebird count dropped. About five years ago, I saw so many..the last couple of years, haven't seen one. Maybe this year they will nest in our bluebird houses..if so, will take pictures and put them on this blog..You know, that is why we should never take anything for granted..enjoy these gifts when we see them.
Till next time, keep looking up.

Did you decorate for Easter?

I haven't started to decorate yet, but Easter is quite early this year..Right now I have my Shamrocks on the doors..Might mix the two together, since Easter is the 23rd of March.
First, I will give ideas for St. Patrick's Day. These ideas are for children and the young at heart..On the morning of St.Patrick's Day, the children see green glitter and follow it to the living room and in the center of the room, they find gold foiled candy coins..as they continue on, the milk has turned green, dash of food coloring..The leprechauns have visited..It is so much fun watching the children..I always made green shakes on St.Patrick's Day..My theory in life is, let children be children, bring as much fun into their lives. They have plenty of time to be adults.
You know what is very rewarding, watching our grown up children, doing the same thing with our grandchildren..
Till next time, keep looking up.

Fun sites to check out.

My youngest daughter just started a blog and it is about fashion..I think you would all enjoy it.
Very interesting and informative..fun to read and see what is new in the fashion world..check it out
http://bella-rosebud.blogspot.com/, she also has the shop BellaSakura at Etsy..I have the link at the right of my blog.
The other blog is by an Australian jewelery artist..she sells beautiful work also..
I think you will all enjoy these sites..
How about you, do you have a blog? Maybe you felt like starting one, but not sure..Get going..
I always try and keep my blog on the positive side, since there is so much negativity being pushed on us. There is just as much good in this world, as bad..so lets work on the good part. Have you ever noticed how reading something positive, give you a boost? Pull out the good things in your life, and try and take the good from the negative..Oh, it is hard, no doubt about that. Everyone of us is fighting a battle, but it is what we do in battle that will change our outlook.
Till next time, keep looking up.

Lunar eclipse.

Did anyone see the beautiful lunar eclipse? I didn't make the whole thing, since it started late..I am always in awe of God's greatness.
One of the most beautiful things to watch, is the sky..When there is a meteor shower,( check out www.SpaceWeather.com, for the dates) I get so excited when I know we are going to have one.
What a beautiful show to watch and it is all a free gift to us.. Never take these things for granted.
When I know one is coming, I call the girls and if it is summer time, they get blankets, take the children outside and camp out on their decks/yards to watch. Try this, if you haven't already..
You will be pleasantly surprised.
We get so carried away with things, we forget to be thankful for what we have..and as they always say,"the best things in life, are free"..

Till next time, keep looking up..

I'm late this morning..

I have some of my girls with their families here,for a couple of days..so I am kind of slow today.
With my oldest granddaughter, I was showing her a fun gift to make for friends..
A beautiful bookmark, very simple and one you can do as fancy as you want.
Take a piece of ribbon, about 12" long..on each end put on some fancy beads, maybe three or more depending on the bead, tie knots before the beads and after. You can decorate any way you want.
Hang a few charms from the ends..I used ribbon that was 1/4" wide..but really do your own thing.
Use your creativity...Have fun and if you are like me, love to teach the grandchildren a way to have fun by using their gifts...

Till next time, keep looking up..

Mercury goes direct.

As you know, Mercury was retrograde, till the 18th..Then it moves direct..
Things should move a bit smoother for some of us..Depends where it is in your chart.
I don't do Astrology, but I like to watch Mercury..since it goes retrograde three times a year.
They always say to watch your computers, don't buy anything new , not a time to start things new either..but good for redoing..As I have said in one of my other blogs..always remember, "You rule the stars, they don't rule you"...Doesn't it come back to "Choices"?
That is why, what we choose in life is so important..negative or positive? So even though Mercury goes retrograde, you have the choice..we might hit a few bumps, but may we learn from them..
Till next time, keep looking up..

About making the wind chimes.

As you can see I put a picture(not that great) of the wind chimes..I quickly made them yesterday for all that wanted to see what they looked like..You can use a ring and hook the chimes to it or us a piece of wood and drill holes through. String the chimes through the holes and tie all together and hook to a small ring for hanging..This one you will laugh at..I used dental floss for the chimes..Yep, that I did..I glued it to the glass with a good glue..something for glass. Then let it dry and painted little flowers all over the glass and over the floss..You can do it so much better, but I was in a hurry to show you. I have made them and spray painted all the glass pieced, then painted blueberries/boats/strawberries on the glass..some I used jewelery findings, glued them at the top of the glass and hooked them up that way. That was when I felt like being fancy..I hope you enjoy this little project and hearing the glass when the wind blows, will bring you happiness..

Till next time, keep looking up..

Wind chimes..

You know something that is really happy, wind chimes..I use to have glass ones, which you don't see anymore..so I am using my old broken glass to make one..
Whatever you do, if you try this, make sure you wear gloves and file all glass sides/ends. This way you won't cut yourself. I won't drill holes in the glass, just glue the string to the sides of it and then put a nice flower sticker or something else cut out of paper, to hide where I glued the string. Just hook all the strings to a metal/wood ring and go from there.
Use your imagination.
I have many chimes, but there is something very peaceful about glass ones..Good project and simple..Talk about recycling..

Till next time, keep looking up...

Beautiful day.

I keep looking for bluebirds..sometimes they have been here in February. I have two houses in the yard and hoping they will nest there..There is something magical about bluebirds. Maybe it is me, but they do bring so much happiness. Actually, all the birds bring me happiness..something so peaceful..almost like watching fish in a fish tank.
When the weather gets sunny, like today, they are out in force. You start seeing birds you haven't seen in awhile..they know spring is coming. Oh happy day...
What is bringing you joy today? Even if you don't feel like being happy, look around you..there has to be something..I know there are days, it is so hard to think positive..just ask me..I have made up my mind this year to be thankful for the little things I have always taken for granted..just being warm, having a roof over my head and food in the fridge..now isn't that a good reason to be happy?
May we all keep thinking good thoughts..
Till next time, keep looking up..

Etsy forum, a great place.

I have to say this about the Etsy forum..It keeps me going..They have little notes about, getting your blog done this morning. Makes me move along.
The forum isn't just about blogs, but great information on many topics..Please check out Etsy and all the wonderful artist/craft people there. Have a couple of good links on the side of my blog..check them out.
Okay folks, on to other things..Spring is coming, are you getting in shape? Get your body moving..Of course you know, I am trying..Just keep on visualizing a great body, toned up and feeling great..I can't get out for a walk, so the treadmill is good for that..If you can walk, the benefits are worth it..You get the "cob webs" out of your head and will make you so much healthier.
There is a very positive feeling when you do this. I mean mentally. It lifts the spirits. Get the headset on and get going..
Till next time, keep looking up..

Happy Valentines Day .

I send you all, many hearts..Have a wonderful day and show those that are in your life, how much you love them..Be happy where you are, you are meant to be there.

I use to waste so much time, wishing I was doing this, going there, etc..And you know what? It was a waste of my life..I realized, I am where I am suppose to be at this time and I better make the best of it, just in case I don't get another chance. So be happy and take all the good from each day. Even lousy days, have something good in them.
So on that note, Have a wonderful Valentines Day and much love to all...

Till next time, keep looking up.

Valentine fun for children and young at heart..

This is a fun project for Valentines Day. A beautiful heart bookmark.
Cut a valentine out of material/felt. Make it a size that will rest easy on the pages of a book, glue a ribbon to the valentine..You can have so much fun with this project. Everyone can be as creative as they want.
What I liked about it, you will always keep it..Sometimes cards get lost, but this is always in a book..One of my daughters made me one, I still use it and it brings back many happy memories.

Till next time, keep looking up...

Today is the day.

Couldn't get the treadmill yesterday, but today is the day..Look out body, the mean machine is coming.
Hope you all are doing something positive this new year..I keep stressing "New Beginnings"..and remember, It is "never too late, to start something good".
It isn't easy to keep the positive outlook and I am working hard at it, like all of you.
Just so you all know, you are not alone...

Till next time, keep looking up..

Now I will try and exercise..

Well, it just kept snowing..So now ,I will try exercise to keep me going..
You may think that isn't a hard thing to do. You don't know me..I will do anything to get away from it. Just so you realize, this is really using the negative and making it a positive.. We are getting a treadmill, which should help..In case you don't hear from me for a few days, you will know the treadmill and I are in battle..but always remember, I was using the positive.
My "snow angel" is coming along nicely. Painting angels gives me great peace..that is why I put them up on Etsy..sharing my gift.

Till next time, keep looking up...

More snow for today..

Ahh, more snow. Not my favorite stuff, but trying to go with it. So with that being said, what are my plans for today.
Well, I want to keep trying to use my positive side..thankful I have a home and keeping warm.
Next I will go up in my studio and paint another angel..This time it will be a "snow angel"..how's that for using the positive in a negative situation?
Don't misunderstand me, snow is beautiful and so happy for the ski resorts..without it, they would be broke.
I just have a hard time getting out and about in it and it is selfish on my part.
So, on with the positive ...till next time, keep looking up..

Fun project

Did you ever make your own knit dishcloths? It is a fun project and doesn't take long. Something about seeing results quickly. The one dishcloth that everyone does is simple and you use a #10 1/2 needle..cotton yarn.
Cast on 4 stitches
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit 2, YO (yarn over),Knit to the end, turn.
Row 3: Repeat row 2, until there are 45 stitches on needle. You might like more.
Next row you start decreases.
Row 4: Knit one, knit two stitches together, YO, knit two stitches together, Knit to end of row.
Continue this way until there are only 4 stitches left on needle, then bind off.
These are wonderful dishcloths and you can even give them as gifts.
On knitting pattern central you can find many dish cloth patterns..They even have them with hearts..Have fun.
Till tomorrow, keep looking up.

I just keep on painting..

Looks like another storm will start tonight..I just keep myself busy painting and thinking spring.
I do hope you check out the Etsy links I have posted..Wonderful work and I am thrilled to have their links with mine.
You know a fun thing to make for Valentines Day..little hearts cut out of heart material, or red/white material. Sew the two pieces, right sides together and leave a little opening. Turn them inside out and stuff them and sew up the opening. Join with a simple stitch to make a row of hearts..It can look so pretty. Try each heart a different material..Put a ribbon on each end and hang as a swag ..I think you will enjoy this little project.
To me, anything you create, makes you happy. Try it and you will see what I mean.
Till next time, keep looking up.

Some things are so sad..

The case of Britney Spears is such a sad case..That is all we will be reading about for the next few days..People are using her for their own advantage and she just doesn't get it..All the money she has and she is really poor. I do hope she will get the help she needs and realize the people that do care for her.
Everyone can take a lesson from her life. What is important? Money? Fame?
The only happiness here on earth, as I see it, is peace within yourself..If you haven't got that, you are always looking for something to fill the void. That is when drugs and alcohol come into the picture.
May we all find our peace. Be happy where you are, you are there for a reason.
Let me just say this, I have had to learn this lesson too..so it is not just words I am writing.
Till next time, keep looking up.

The Patriots and their loss..

I feel so sorry for the Patriots and their loss in the football game..but isn't that the way life goes..You think you are on top and next thing you are brought to your knees.
For the Giants, it really didn't look good, but they won in the end..
I find this the way life goes for all of us..Some times in our life, it looks so bleak and the next day, everything changes for the better.
Our life is a roller coaster and I hope we all enjoy the ride, some of it is frightening.
Never give in to the negative..Even in the negative part of life, there is some positive. Keep focused on the good and keep looking up...That is way to your joy.

Good cookie recipe

This cookie recipe is fast and good..it is a Sugar Cookie and you can have fun with it by adding chips, nut, coconut..

2 eggs
2/3 cup oil
21/2 tsp van.
3/4 cup sugar (if I use choc.chips, coconut/I cut it to 1/2 sugar)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour

Mix first six items together, then add the flour..drop on a greased cookie sheet. 375 oven till brown.

Now for Valentines Day, flatten with a fork and add red colored sugar or push one of the candy
hearts on top..wouldn't the children like that?
Have fun and let your creativity flow...

Till next time, keep looking up..

Ahh, getting closer to spring..

February 1, what a happy ring to that month. Even though it can get nasty, I am hoping for a mild month.
I hope you read my blog about making a little heart out of a pipe cleaner and crocheting all around it..The children will love it and what a cute thing to give them on Valentines Day..I was always trying to surprise the kids on holidays. Just a little something I made..Means so much more, than a bought item.
My youngest daughter has a beautiful web site on Etsy, BellaSakura.etsy.com. She has some lovely pendents there and very reasonable. Worth a visit.
Another jewelery place is Themumandtherose.etsy.com..These are just a few ideas for Valentines Day..Will try and think of some everyday.
Till next time, keep looking up.