I'M GOING BLIND!!

I have just spent the last 4 hours trying to organize my computer.  I have "stuff" sprayed all over the place and half of the time, I can't find what I'm looking for or it takes me way to much time searching for it.  I have a new Mac computer and I am experiencing quite a learning curve - to say the least.  I suppose it will all fall into place eventually but today was a blinding experience!!

On top of that adventure, I have spent the day trying to organize myself.  I say "trying" because I seriously think I am suffering from SADD - senior attention deficit disorder:O)  I start doing one thing then ten minutes later, I'm off on another project.  One minute I am taking pictures of my jewelry, the next minute I'm cleaning my studio, and from out of nowhere - I'm now on my computer.  I need to start a list and follow it - that's the only answer I can think of.  Any suggestions?

I'm kind of in a funk today anyway.  My class is having our 50th class reunion July 1st and I can't attend.  We have never had a reunion in all of these years and now I can't go!!  Why, you ask.  Because John and I are leaving on a 2 month RV trip in our Airstream Trailer June 27th.  We are headed to Camp Perry, Ohio again for his shooting competition.  We will be visiting friends along the way and when he is finished, we will go spend a few days with Dave and family.  I'm looking forward to that part but will miss not re-connecting with my classmates after all of these years.  I'm putting together a goodie bag to send to each of them and I'm going to include one of those cheap, disposable cameras.  I'm thinking that they will take lots of pictures for me and mail the cameras back so I can develop them and enjoy the moment that way.  I am planning a trip to Idaho next year sometime and hopefully will be able to connect with some of them at that time.  I love Idaho and there is so much beauty to be enjoyed there that I think it will be a great trip.

Here is a project that I'm working on.  I've been playing with these two pieces of sterling for weeks and just can't seem to come up with a good idea.  I think I am on the right track now and will be working with it some more tonight.  What do you think?  Any design ideas for me?

I am going to add silver balls along the right side of the oval where you see the black dots.  I am just trying to thing of some other way to connect the 2 pieces other than a jump ring......HELP

The silver was hand etched with a random pattern, but I see a coyote howling in the top piece and the swirl pattern is his tail - ok, maybe I have a big imagination but it looks like that to me:O)

Just received an email from a dear friend in Dayton, OH.  She already has a party planned for us when we arrive July 3/4.  We have several military friends in the area so it will be a good time.  Can't wait to see them.  I miss our military days.  We had a wonderful career and made the best friends in the world.  On a sadder note, I also received an email from John's secretary - when he was on active duty at Edwards AFB, CA - that another dear friend is in serious condition in the hospital.  No one seems to know what the problem is but she on a feeding tube and being given radiation.  It has something to do with her throat, and I hate to say this, but she has been a lifetime smoker.....Please say lots of prayers for her comfort and recovery.  I am just sick about this news;o(

Well, I guess I've rambled on long enough now, I need to refocus and get something done before it gets dark.  Thanks for reading and if you have a minute, I would love to have your feedback on this piece of mine.  Hugs to all.

Sedona and Her Beautiful Red Rocks

We arrived here late Monday evening.  I don't like driving through Oak Creek Canyon at night.  It is very twisty and turny.  We got settled in our room after a fashion.  The first room they offered us was small and dark.  John asked for a better choice and this is the view from our deck!

Beautiful

The weather is cool and breezy but after the storm passed over, it is pure sunshine and calm today.  Here is what we watched from our room last night;o)

Yesterday, we walked around town and checked out all of the new shops.  I stopped a minute to talk to my friend and share some chocolate.  He was most generous as long as he was in control.

You meet the nicest people in Sedona;o)

We spent the remainder of the day relaxing and enjoying the beauty of this awesome land.  It is truly incredible and something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.  We try to come here often and never get tired of the scenery.  Stay tuned for more.

Gathering of Friends

Tonight was a special treat.  We enjoyed a gathering of my husband's high school friends in North East, PA.  We haven't made it back for the last few reunions so it was nice to reconnect with everyone.  So many had suffered health issues, loss of a spouse, returning to the nest children/grandchildren, and just generally letting themselves become out of shape.  It is sad to see these things happen to your friends.  It makes it even more apparent to us that if we don't take care of our bodies, who will.  I have become one of those people.  I am out of shape and overweight and my goal is to take control of myself and become a healthier individual.  I am commited to becoming a healthier eater and more consistent exerciser.  I will write these goals down on paper and initial them every morning and night just so I am accountable to myself.  I have 4 grandchildren that I want to be around to watch grow up and enjoy their pleasures.  Watch out world, I am on the way to becoming a healthier, happier me and I will not let anything get in the way.

I am enjoying my Artful Success Program so much.  If you are interested in learning more about this fabulous opportunity, please check out this website for more information.

Artful Success Program



I have also taken advantage of the extra time while we are traveling to listen to the wonderful downloads from this program.  I pop my little ear buds in and close my eyes, concentrating ever so hard on all of the information that Tonya Davidson has spend mega hours co-ordinating for us.  She is a remarkable mentor and I seriously wonder if she ever sleeps:O)

Until tomorrow, remember this:

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
Pablo Picasso

As always my friends, nothing but love and creativity from my soul to yours

Life is full of adventures

Can't Wait to Make Music With My Friends

It has been awhile since we had a visit.  I have been on a road trip now for about six weeks.  John and I left Pinetop, AZ on July 1 and our first stop was Pie Town New Mexico, Americas Friendliest Little Town on The Great Divide.  It's All Downhill From Here- literally.  We had lunch at the famous Pie Town Cafe.   

From here, we toddled on down the road to Tucumcari where we spent the night.  It was a beautiful day, weather was perfect and traffic was light on the interstate.  It was a long 10 hours of traveling, but the scenery was great and we had the first day of travel under our belts. 

Until tomorrow, from my soul to yours, nothing but love. 

A Stitch in Time.......

I've been away for a few days.  John and I took a trip to Sedona via our mountain home in Pinetop,Az.  Some good friends of ours were visiting from Georgia and we wanted to spend a few days with them.  Had a wonderful trip.  The weather couldn't have been nicer and we enjoyed our dear friends as always.

We returned to Green Valley tonight and I was checking my messages on the computer and I had one from ArtFire informing me that I had been selected by a fellow artisan to appear in one of her collections.  That is such an honor because as any of you that participate in these online shops know, there are millions to choose from.  I posted it here on my blog for you to check out.  It is on the sidebar so please check it out and let the artists included know that you saw their work.

I'm off to finish unpacking and get ready for the next few days.  Hugs to all of you and have a great evening;o) 

How To Steal Like An Artist

http://www.austinkleon.com/2011/03/30/how-to-steal-like-an-artist-and-9-other-things-nobody-told-me/

This is an interesting article on the artist in our lives.  I'd be interested in your thoughts and opinions.  There were over 200 comments on his site last time I checked so it definately invoked some serious thoughts. 

A Senior Moment

The cute young officer told me that I should slow down on the frontage road today. ME, of all people.  The person that ALMOST always obeys the traffic laws.  The one that is constantly nagging DH to slow down and not follow so close behind the car in front of us.  I ALWAYS, well, almost always, maintain the 40 MPH speed on the frontage road.  Mainly because I am a law abiding citizen and also because I know that this cute little motorcycle officer sits in this one little out of view spot and has his radar going.  Well, today was my day.  I'd had a nice shopping and lunch date with my girlfriend who leaves Wednesday for Ohio.  I'd made my bank deposit and was on my way home to work on some projects.  I'm just humming along, minding my own business when out of the corner of my eye, BAM....there he is and he's starting his cycle up.  I'm had, I thought.  No point in even trying to adjust at this point.  Sure enough, I pass him and he pulls in behind me.  No light yet but he wouldn't pull me over on the frontage road - too dangerous.  I make my right hand turn to go up the road and sure enough, he follows.  About 30 seconds later (the first opportunity I would have to pull over safely) blip, blip, blip go his little blue lites.  I pull over and start looking for my paperwork.  He appears at my window and we begin the polite conversation..."how are you today?"  I reply, "great, how are you?"  "May I please see your lic. and reg."  I've never had to show my registration before, where would I look for it?"  He smiles politely and replies, "Wherever you put it, there is no designated spot:O)"  I look and I find it in the glove box where I knew it was all the time.  He takes my paperwork and informs me that I was going 53 in a 40!!  Yikes, I'm dead!!.  I spend my time while he's away preparing paperwork putting my papers back in the glove box.  Oops, here he comes and I fumble with these damn automatic windows until I find the right button.  He smiles, hands me the paperwork and tells me he is only giving me a warning and nothing will come of it.  I breathe a sign of relief and return the smile, along with a pat on his hand.  I said, "you know, if people go the speed limit on the frontage road, those old people about run you over."  Again, he smiled and told me that that was why he was there and to have a nice day.....vroom and off he went.  I made sure before he got away that I thanked him for his services to the community and I would slow down - really, I will.....I felt lucky today and I'd rather spend my money on beads and silver that speeding tickets. 

I came home and finished my projects.  Here is a picture of the clasp I made for a new necklace - I love it.  It was a silver disk that I cut the hole in, stamped, domed and textured.  The bar is a silver tube that I added the beads and wire to.   What do you think??  This project was in the April issue of Step by step Wire Jewelry and the author is Cassie Donlen.

IT WAS TIME

It was time for a change-a makeover-a new blog and it was time to re-brand myself.  I've had the official title of The Bear Affair for 20+ years.  It all started out when my sons gave me a gorgeous bear for Christmas one year.  Her name is Gloria Vanderbear and she still holds a place of reverence in my home.  I was doing alot of crafting in those days and bear collecting became my addiction.  At one point during a family visit, my grand daughter exclaimed to everyone in sight, "Grandma, I counted 450 bears upstairs last night."  I quickly redirected her conversation to another topic and off we went.  After all, if I kept moving them around no one would be able to keep track, right???  Well, over the years I have amassed quite a collection. 
Some of these bears are very rare and collectible.  One of them roller skates and another one marches along while beating his drum.  While on a visit to California one year I spotted this HUGE brown bear in an antique shop and, well, I just had to have him.  His name is Benjamin and I flew him home with me......well, not on the same plane but he did go by air.  I have a lovely collection of Robert Raikes bears and in future blogs I'll include some pictures of them.  For now though, it is all about changing and updating.  Silversmithing is my game now and I figured that I needed a name that would do justice to my art so now you know the rest of the story - MY ART AND MY SOUL will be my new business name and I love it.  What do you think?  Tell me how you chose your business name.  I love hearing from you so please leave me a comment or two before you leave the blog. 





Friends from childhood

Hi everyone.  We had a wonderful day today with friends from John's childhood.  He and Tom grew up together in Pa and I've been friends with Charlotte since John and I met in 1962.  They visited us two years ago in Green Valley and we all went to Mexico together and really enjoyed ourselves.  This year they came with their Airstream trailer and are staying in the local RV Resort.  They've been here for 3 months and we have had such a good time together.  They will be leaving in 2 weeks and I'm really sad to see them go.  John and Tom have had such a good time shooting together and Char and I have never been at a loss of things to do.  We've checked out all of the quilt shops locally and enjoyed many great lunch dates, both with the 2 of us and several times with other friends.  It will certainly be hard to bid them farewell but we know they will be back next year so we have that to look forward to.  We are beginning to get ready for our trek to the mountains for the summer.  Pinetop is calling us and I'm ready.  We are so very lucky to be able to enjoy all of the opportunities that life has presented us with and we are happy to share.  We certainly wish our children and families lived closer and could enjoy this time with us but that is not the case so we will continue to include our friends in on the roster of activities and live life to the fullest. 

Have a wonderful evening and enjoy the huge moon looming over us tonight;o)