YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN GONE TOO LONG WHEN......

You know you've been gone too long when....

1. Blogger.com asks you to identify yourself

2. A reader asks, "is something wrong, you haven't posted for awhile."
3. You have to read your own blog to figure out where you left off.
4. You realize how much has gone on since your last post.
5. You go to read other blogs and you have 4 days worth of daily blogs to read!



Wow, I was amazed that 4 days had blown by, just vanished. I sometimes wonder how come these days go by so fast, but when I worked full time, the days couldn't go fast enough,,,



So here is what I have been doing since my last post .



Took my daughter in law shopping all day Friday for her birthday this Wednesday. She found an arm full of clothes and a pair of shoes and I found 3, HOLY MOLEY, 3 pair of shoes/boots. Anyone who knows me knows I hate buying shoes! I am not a shopper for myself. I would much rather shop for others... oh and by the way, I hate clothes shopping worst! I know, not the normal typical girl I guess!!






But then I got to go to the Candy Store, in my mind!!!


I got to go to the Glass Blast, Bettendorf, IA. This is by far, much better than any shoe, clothes, or purse fix!


Look at these beauties!!! and all 12x16 huge pieces of glass! I may be a little warped, but this was a heavenly load of glass. I just can't tell you how thrilled I get over glass. Hey, you glass people out there know exactly what I mean....




Then, remember this place from my post re: Atlanta airport, Charleys' Grilled Subs. Well, to my surprise, there is one in NorthPark Mall, Davenport, IA. I love the Philly Chicken sandwich. So lunch with Ami (d-i-l) was awesome!!!




Then home for a nap, I was pooped from all the thrills!!!


Saturday,,,,, painted the kitchen at church with a few other people.
went to a 4pm wedding
went to a 6:30pm retirement party


Sunday,,,,,, church, my turn to usher and I do children's sermon each Sunday, lunch, nap (I love
naps), grocery shopping (uck!), Menards (better!), came home and started working
on another idea I picked up re: bottles, copper wire, candles....
oh I will show you as soon as I figure it out!!!!


Monday,,,,, I need to play catch-up on the house and laundry. Got apples to work on (I make
apple pie filling and freeze it for the rest of the year). Still need to plant all those
mums..... and the list goes on and on and on....


See how fast that went..... time, such a funny thing....
When you want it to go fast, It doesn't! When you want it to slow down, it goes faster...


So what is your next project. Are you working on something fun to share???

Let us know, fill us in on your days that whizz by......

THE HUGE FLOWER THAT COULD....

Last year a friend said she had this HUGE FLOWERING PLANT outside their house that she didn't know what it was, but if I wanted a piece of it, to just come over and dig it up. Well, you don't have to tell me twice when offered outdoor plants!!!

(I can't have anything inside. My cat thinks it is a new source of food. He WILL TRY TO EAT ANYTHING RESEMBLING A PLANT, even if it is fake!!!)

Well, I have been known to put plants in the yard in the Fall and by Spring, I have forgotten I did it. I know, I know, make a diagram.... hey, that would ruin the surprise!

ANYWAY....

I forgot about this one!

This Spring, I saw this THING growing and for some reason I didn't pull it while weeding.

I just thought, let's see what this is and left it. Never watered it, just let it go...

And boy, am I glad I did!!!!!

This Hibiscus flower measures 10 inches across. I can't believe this made it through the winter, that I didn't pluck it when weeding, and that it sprouted this HUGE flower on hardly any stem. I marked it with a stick so NEXT YEAR, I will remember I put it there and it will have a chance once more to utterly astound me!!

This is a regular 8" brick just to show you the size of this flower. The whole stem is only 20" high and there are two more buds... WOO HOO!!!

ASTER-tastic and MUM-alisious

I love all seasons, but fall is my favorite. Cool, less humid air is a welcome change from the hot steamy summer and flowers!!! Oh flowers!!! I LOVE, LOVE the colors of fall. The mums and asters.... did I mention the colors!
Here are a few pics from yesterday, just me and my camera, taking it all in....

DAYDREAM - Aster

PRISCILLA - Garden Mum

TANAGOR?- Aster

PUFF - Aster

PRISCILLA - Aster

GINGER - Garden Mum

DAYDREAM - Aster

TANAGOR ?- Aster

So guess what I am doing today???? PLANTING......... outside all day.... just me and my flowers! Have a wonderful, colorful day!!!

TWO NEW......

I have been promoting the blogworld to two people that have enjoyed reading blogs and wanted to get started with their own. When I started my blog back in April, Sharon at Sweet Repose, held my hand for a bit while I was getting it set up and helped me tweek all the little parts that nearly made me cuss.
Since April, I have met some of sweetest, kindest people, who have literally become my cyber friends.
So, in order to keep the circle going, I have tried to spread my passion for this extension of friendship to others.

Piper, at Friends Candle Shed, had a blog started and just needed a little nudge to take some pics and get going. Please stop by her blog and see all the things that are flying out of her head and into wood, jars, etc. She is one of the most talented people I know in the creativity dept. Ya know, Sharon at Sweet Repose, and how talented she is...... yea,,,,, Piper, is her little apple that didn't fall far from the tree..... These two people ooze talent!!!! and humor comes along with it... I like being around them, they keep the spirit positive and their energy and passion for fun is inspiring!

Maria, at Hilltop Greenhouses, is the same fun loving kind of person. She is full of ambition and is in full swing with Mum Season. Her place is so inviting and her spirit is fun to be around. She was so excited in getting a blog started, we carved out a little spot of time last week and got her up and running in no time. Because she always has 5 things going at all times, she may not be able to post as often, but, I think you will always find her posts to be enjoyable.

SO GO TO THESE TWO NEW BLOGS, SUPPORT THEM WITH COMMENTS (we all love comments) AND ADD YOUR NAME TO THEIR FOLLOWERS LISTS. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

WHEAT STONE

I have been wanting to post this stone for some time, but because it was a commissioned stone for a gift, I held off until the gift was given. This stone was my biggest challenge yet. The request was an anniversary gift stone for a family that raises wheat.


I found this clipart and blew it up and asked if this idea would work. Then I found the color of glass that I thought I could make work.


I started cutting, cutting, and cutting. The more I did, the more I liked how it was coming along. This is after all the pieces were cut.





I held my breathe, said a prayer, and poured the cement. Oh,,, I was nervous!!!!! But I was pleased with the outcome. This is a 12 inch stone....


It was shipped and received and I am so glad that the person who ordered it was happy that it turned out the way she wanted it to.


If anyone is interested in a stepping stone, please email me at lrick4444@yahoo.com with your request. I like to have a month in advance notice, so I have time to create the design, cut, pour and cure the stone...

SHOUT OUT SATURDAY, KATHLEEN DALRYMPLE-GLASS ARTIST

This is Shout Out Saturday, and I would like to feature an artist from Texas who I have discovered in this blogworld. Kathleen Dalrymple - Glass Artist.
Kathy is a member of the Society of American Mosaic Artists, the Texas Glass Artists Association, the International Guild of Glass Artists, and the Weatherford Art Association. She is also represented by Artisans of Rocky Hill Gallery in Fredricksburg, Texas, and by Studio 2600 in Dallas, Texas.
Kathy's art is absolutely amazing! She does many things, but what attracted me, was her glass on glass work. I have had the great fortune of Kathy contacting me after I emailed her with some questions. Not only is her talent so extraordinary, but she is as sweet as can be with a real passion for glass work.
As many of us say, I sure wish I lived closer to her. I would love to see her art in person. Maybe someday! But for now, please go to her blog and view her incredible work!!!!

So this little 5x7 was my first attempt in understanding the art of glass on glass. I had so much fun, but there are some tricks and some kinks to work out...

I love it when the sun shines through...


I just love learning new ways to do ALTERED GLASS!!!

Please visit Kathy's blog. You will be amazed as much I was....

If you have a new way to feature stained glass, please contact me at lrick4444@yahoo.com.
I would love to learn something different and feature you on Shout Out Saturday.

EVERY YEAR AT THIS TIME MY HEART HURTS SO MUCH FOR THE TRAGEDY OF 9/11.
I HOPE EVERYONE REMEMBERS THE FAMILIES IN PRAYER.
I DECIDED NOT TO POST REGARDING THE EVENT THAT CHANGED SO MANY LIVES, BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW IT IS MY MAIN THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!
GOD BLESS AND BE WITH ALL THOSE WHO ARE AND WERE AFFECTED BY THE DAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.