Happy Valentines Day!

I hope you're all having a day filled with love and lovely things!  We aren't doing much today since it's a Monday.  We are going to have steaks and hang out at home.  But somewhere along the line my darling R learned that despite Valentines Day not being important to him, it was to me.

So we decided to celebrate on Saturday.  It was SUCH a beautiful day.  Nearly 60 degrees, completely unheard of in Colorado this time of year.  We headed up to Denver and had lunch at La Hacienda.  It's one of our favorite restaurants.  I could eat Mexican 6 days a week and so could he.  It's one of the few food choices we don't clash on.

After that he offered again to take me shopping.  I declined again since I felt I had spent so much on Thursday's little adventures, plus he always says he would rather get shot in the foot than go shopping because it would be more fun and he would get more sympathy.  But he took me anyway. 

He has been mooning over a smart phone, (which I sorta suspect had something to do with his being determined about the shopping trip) so I decided since he was being such a sweet guy we would go get him one.  I on the other hand, was behaving myself pretty well...I found a cute embellished tank top at Urban Outfitters, and some lovely coffee mugs at Anthropologie, but beyond that I was keeping my purse tightly shut.  That's no easy task for a nearly reformed shopaholic, believe me!  I even made it out of Sundance without buying anything AND they were having a sale.

Then I discovered that one of my favorite shops had returned to Park Meadows mall.  It's the least likely sort of shop to find in a mall, but yet there it is.  It's locally owned; Cali & Mo.  This shop is so wonderful.  They have a mix of unique items and antiques.  The owner has a wonderful eye.  I had actually made it out of the store without indulging myself, but I spied the bracelet above in the window.  R felt that was the perfect Valentine present and bought it for me straight away!  Isn't he sweet!

I got to have a second adventure and come home with a few more little treasures and trinkets...all in one week.  What more could a girl ask for!

I wish you all lots of love and hugs and goodies!  K. <3

Montana

My dear patient friends!  I have been trying so hard to get a blog post done the last few days but every time I have come to the computer and sat down, it made my head pound so hard I just got back up again.

To be honest things haven't improved that much, but I did think I should make a post so you know I haven't deserted you!  I was actually feeling a little better today despite a rocky start this morning.  I managed to get to the post office to send off a little bear who has been waiting patiently to go to his new home.  Then I came home and started unpacking all the boxes with my dining room things in them.  I also cooked a nice salmon dish for dinner, harvested a few things from the garden, cleaned the pantry, repotted a couple plants, and a few other little chores.

By this evening I felt as if I was starting this thing all over again, and R yelled at me for trying to do too much too soon.  I think he knew I couldn't argue because my throat was sore and I could barely talk.  But you know how it is when you are sick and bored and can't stand the idleness that goes with it!

At any rate...I went on my trip to Montana for two reasons.  One...I hadn't been to visit my parents in a bit and I wanted to go.  And two...R was going to put a hardwood floor in my dining room, which is why everything was packed up.  I can't stand the mess and clutter that goes with renovations so he just sends me off when he does them.

The first day after I arrived my Mom was scheduled to do a little craft show for York Days, so she suggested I bring along some of my small pieces.  I came home with three less things.  It was kind of a fun event.  They had a pancake breakfast and rubber ducky races.  I bought five ducks since it was for charity but they didn't win.

There was a park that had a bear statue in it, and you can see my Step Dad being funny with it above!  I love that picture. 

This is a pic from their back porch.  It was raining over the mountain range.  The weather was much colder than I had expected and I had to buy a fleece lined hoodie just to keep warm!

We drove to Missoula one day and did some shopping.  That was fun too, they have a really cute mall there.

I took this one evening, you can see the city lights from their house.  The orbs are dust particles in the air.  It snowed two days after I left!

When I came home I had an amazing new floor in the dining room.  R does such good work!  My puppies aren't nearly as impressed though, they can't get any traction and keep falling down. I had to put down a rug so they could get in and out.

It was a nice visit, but I was happy to come home too.  I just wish I hadn't caught what ever was going around up there. 

If I feel even remotely human tomorrow I am going to work on one of the two pieces I have started.  Just don't tell R, he will probably yell at me again!

I hope you all had a lovely day!  Hugs, K. <3

The Concert

First of all I would like to apologize for missing the Second Star To The Right blog party put on by ...Fawndear...  I have never not done a party I have signed up to do and it was disappointing.  But my little mishap with my shoulder prevented me from taking pictures.  Be sure and visit all the other posts from the lovely bloggers that did participate though.

The concert was amazing.  If you can go VIP, do it.  We went to a pre-show party.  The band was very friendly and just lovely.  We got all sorts of goodies and we had front row seats.  I even got flirted with rather hard to R's dismay.

I have to say though, I was apprehensive.  They have been putting on concerts for 45 years, so they aren't young any more.  I was nervous that they might not sound as good as they did 30 years ago, or maybe they were simply burned out since this is their farewell tour. 

The opening act was Cinderella...another band that was popular in the 80's if you aren't familiar.  I wasn't that enthused to see them to be honest.  I used to like them until I had an up close and personal episode about 23 years ago with Tom Keifer and it left me a little sour on them.  Let's just leave it at that.

When they came out to preform, they sounded rather poor...and Tom's attitude didn't seem to have improved any. 

But when the Scorpions came out to play it was a world of difference.  If they are in fact tired of preforming, you would never know it.  They sounded incredible, they looked like they were loving every minute of what they were doing, and they really drew the audience in.  Their show was truly amazing, and I didn't want it to end.  I really did feel young again for one night.

The next morning however...I was back to being old again.  My ears were ringing so hard I could barely sleep.  I felt like I had a hangover even though I had only had one g;lass of wine.

R took me shopping in Denver and spoiled me a bit.  But despite the thrill of shopping, it took me two and a half days to completely recover my hearing.

After we got home on Thursday, my friend who had been house sitting and I went to see "Eat Pray Love,"  I wasn't sure I liked it as much as I thought I would.  I am not sure why.  She thought it was wonderful  Something about it left me feeling a bit bereft despite the happy ending.   I can't quite put my finger on it.

Later that night I pulled my shoulder muscle and haven't done much since then until tonight.  I finally forced myself to cut out two new pieces.  So...those should be along presently. 

Other than that, Verdigris will be heading out to his new home in Pennsylvania shortly. 

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Hugs, K. <3 

What's In A Name

If you had been given a different name, would you be the same person?  I have read several times that our names influence our personalities to a degree. 

From what I understand, my Mother wanted to name me Alberta because she is from Canada, and my Father wanted to name me Ruby because it's my birthstone.  My Grandfather stepped in and chose Kelly, a good Irish name.  Thank goodness he did, Alberta sounds like a lady truck driver and Ruby reminds me of a...um...well lets just say, for the sake of keeping my blog rated G...of an elderly soiled dove.  I couldn't imagine going through life being nicknamed "Al!"  (Sorry Mom!)

Another bear artist told a story the other day, apparently a customer had wanted a bear but chose not to buy it because even though she liked the name, the spelling was wrong.  While I felt bad that the other artist lost a sale over something so small, it was kind of funny.  That would certainly never stop me from buying a bear since I have the power to change it. 

However I was looking at a catalog last night and I got to thinking about that a little bit.  Sometimes a creative name will push me that much closer to buying something I already liked.  The item in question last night was a very pretty piece of jewelry with a romantic name that stirred up all sorts of delicious images.  As soon as I read the name I wanted it even more.  I didn't buy it though since my checkbook is ruling me more than my over active imagination this week.

There have also been several instances of shop names on Etsy or places like that, that have kept me from buying things because I felt they were less than tactful, and it seemed a reflection on the person I would be purchasing from.  One name in particular still resonates in my memory.  I wanted to buy some supplies and couldn't do it.  The shop name was in such poor taste, and when I read that her profile expounded on it, I couldn't bring myself to give this person my money.

I found myself wondering how many other people were like me in that respect?  Do names of things have an influence?  To what extent?

I know when I make a bear I think very carefully about what I want to name it.  Sometimes they tell me right off, and other times they are a bit shy and wait a little while til I get to know them better.  I want to convey as much of the bear's personality as I can.  I also like to leave a little for the adopter to learn on their own as well.

In many ancient cultures people believed that knowing a true name of something gave you power over it.  In our modern society, I think that still may still hold true...although not in the way they intended back then.  Think about it, if you know and remember another person's name you have the power to make them happy and feel special, develop a relationship with them, and maybe even become friends.  It's important to human beings to feel as if we are seen, and having someone know our name reaffirms that we are alive and that we matter.  That's a very great power indeed.  I always try to learn people's names and remember them.

In "Romeo And Juliet," Shakespeare penned the phrase "That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet."  But I am not so sure...

Hugs, K. <3

Fending Off Commercialism

This morning I was wakened out of a sound sleep by the phone ringing at 8:30 am. Actually I had two phone calls. But the one I want to talk about was a credit card company. I had gone a tiny bit over my limit because I forgot that I charged something when I charged a large vet bill last Friday, and they wanted payment NOW. My bill wasn't even due yet, but they had to have that over the limit bit immediately or actions would be taken! Nevermind that I am never late and always pay my bill in a timely manner, and nevermind that I frequently pay more than they ask for. Apparently this huge company that keeps raising their astronomical interest rates was going to go broke if they didn't rudely wake me up to get their 58.00 at 8:30 am this morning.

Aside from my annoyance over being treated like a criminal first thing in the morning when I have always been a very good customer, a certain horror hit me. I had gone over my limit on my credit card, and I had done it Christmas shopping. I never go over my limit! Maybe one other time in ten years and that was an emergency.

I have stated before that I like Christmas shopping. I love all aspects of Christmas, both the celebration of Christ's birth which is the reason for the season and the gift giving/Santa Claus fluffy side of it. I like the shiny, nicely scented stores with their decorations and music playing in the background, and finding that perfect little treasure for someone that will make their heart happy.

But it struck me that I have bought into commercialism...literally. I like to make people happy by buying them nice presents, but do they really need so many retail things to feel loved? Of course not.

So in an effort to fight off the commercialism of the season I have made a vow to myself. For the month of December, I am not buying anything else commercially made as a present, for my house or clothes. I still have to buy food of course, and the exception to the rule would be an emergency like say...the washing machine or coffee maker blows up, something of that nature.

I am going to take a stand against commercialism. Anything I have left to get for anyone, I will either buy from another artist or make it myself. Anything I need to buy for the house or myself I will either get used or go without.

It's a tall order I have set for myself because I am a bit of a shopaholic. But I know I can do it!

Friday Through Monday Sale!

Since it's Christmas shopping time, I decided to have my annual sale. I am offering 10% off of anything $50.00 and under and 20% off of anything over $50.00 on my website. There are two ways to get the discount, either e-mail me (put blog sale in the header) and I will adjust it for you on the Paypal invoice, or you can go ahead and use the purchase button and I will give you a refund for the amount.

Happy Shopping!

Christmas Present Woes

I really love Christmas, and I love shopping for presents. This year however, I am not loving it so much. I have had a hard time getting people to tell me what they want. I think when you get to a certain age you have everything. Most of the people in my life are at that certain age.

R has always been difficult to shop for. I had thought about getting him that Powermat. If you aren't familiar with this thing, it's a cordless mat that resembles a small surfboard. According to the commercial...which they have been showing over and over on TV...you just set your electronic gadgets on it and it charges them cordlessly. Since he has two phones and a Zune I thought this would be perfect. It wasn't perfect though, it's a lie.

I went to Best Buy yesterday and was thrilled to see they had quite a few of them. It retails for 99.00. So I grabbed one and charged up to the counter all set to buy it. I asked the guy if he knew anything about it. He said yes, what did I want to know? I asked it if was compatible with all brands. He said as long as you have the holders for those items. Holders??? What holders? The ad didn't say anything about holders. As it turns out you have to buy the holders for each individual item you want to charge at 29.99 a pop, and they only have them for a few things. The only thing I could have gotten one for is his work phone. His personal phone and Zune don't have holders available for them. Needless to say I was a bit unhappy. This borderlines on bait and switch if you ask me!

The other thing I wanted to get him for Christmas is proving to be even more challenging simply because I can't find any available.

I just wish he would tell me what he wants...and not 3 days before Christmas like usual! My step dad and mom aren't really being forthcoming with what they would like either. Sigh~ Wish me luck, I am not sure I am going to survive this shopping season.