A.........ging gracefully, graciously, and gratefully!

Part 1:

I'd like you to meet an extraordinary group of people who work out together several times a week. Under the direction of our fearless leader (aka "Eight More Ellen"...of course names have been changed to protect the innocent...and the guilty), we move through our paces for an hour. What's extraordinary, you ask? The average age of these folks is just under 70 and their positive attitude is astounding! The time flies by and often we forget about how much we're really doing.
We begin and end with great stretching and fit in aerobics, strength training, balance, and fun as well. Please join me (and us) tomorrow for Part 2!

N.........o friends like old friends

It is always so good to get together with the gals I worked with in my teaching career. Today a few of us had lunch and it was such fun to catch up. I've laughed and cried with some of them for more than 35 years and they are all as delightful as when I first met them. Obviously none of us has changed a bit! They're each holding a little scrubbie that I hope will clean up some of the dirty dishes of life!

I.........tty, bitty baskets

Some of the most difficult pine needle baskets to do are the tiny creations because it's difficult to maneuver in such small spaces. Those pictured here are from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2" in diameter. The regular size jeweled apples are another way to check the size. I find these baskets useful for all kinds of tiny treasures. The two smallest are done around tiny wire rings, and the larger around a walnut slice. The long leaf pine needles are tightly coiled and hand stitched in place with natural raffia.

Y.........ellow going green!

Just finished crocheting a new eco-friendly shopping bag. It seems to hold a lot and is quite sturdy. After I give it a few tries on my own, I'll probably make some for my etsy shop. I remember years ago my grandmother always carried what she called a "string bag" in her purse for shopping. So this also reminds me of her. . . another example of life coming full circle!

H.........appy Easter!

Easter, for me, has always been the most important Christian holiday because it symbolizes the core of that faith. Christmas seems to overshadow Easter in its celebration; but the true glory of eternal life is Easter, itself. We wish you all a most glorious Easter and all the hope that is inherent to Christianity.

C.........asablanca meets Bangkok

For those of you who asked...here is our den, also my favorite place to craft. You'll usually find me curled up on the futon with one of the cats next to me, and David in the chair across from us! When he and I were married, we combined his love of Asian art with mine of the Spanish and we're both happy with the eclectic mix!

W.........ith abject apologies to Johnny Cash

I've crafted everywhere, man,
I've crafted everywhere, man,
Across the deserts bare, man,
In the mountain air, man,
Anywhere I dare, man,
I've crafted everywhere!

I've crafted in:

Texas,
South Dakota,
Illinois,
Minnesota;

Wyoming,
Missouri,
Idaho,
North Dakota;

Iowa,
Nevada,
Wisconsin,
and also in:

Canada,
Colorado,
Oregon,
and Washington;

Mexico,
Both Old and New
Wait a minute,
I'm not through;

Massachusetts,
Utah,
Montana,
Nebraska,

In a car,
On a plane,
At a camp
in Down East Maine,

Californa,
Arizona,
New Hampshire,
Oklahoma,

(Glad I'm home...ahhhhh)

I've crafted everywhere, man,
I've crafted everywhere, man,
Across the desert, bare, man,
In the mountain air, man,
Anywhere I dare, man,
I've crafted everywhere!

This is by no means a complete list, but I'm saving the rest of my energy for crafting! If you count soaking raffia in the bathroom sink, I've crafted in every room of the house and out on the patio. My favorite place to craft is the den my husband and I share which we lovingly call, "Casablanca meets Bangkok". As you can imagine, the decor is quite eclectic!