In the Meantime...

Hi! and Goodbye!

Yes, yes. I know I haven't been posting lately. I'll get back on that horse soon, I hope, with fresh inspiration and creative energy.

We leave tomorrow to visit our friends in Germany and we are sooooo psyched for the trip. As long as I can contain my anxiety about being thousands of miles away from my dogs for ten days, everything should be fine. Actually, more than fine. Rachel has every minute planned and I know that we are in for a fabulous time.

Jon rented a wide-angle lens for us to take so that will be super fun to play with as we are tromping around the German countryside. We figured it was a good way to try out the lens before we plunk down the hefty $$$ to buy it!

But, I'm still loving my macro lens...

So, hasta la vista, babies! Catch ya' on the flip side!

Give it Away, Pass it On; Random Act of Kindness Alert

One of the blogs I check every day is Daily Vignette. Toni is a gifted photographer and I simply love checking her blog daily to see the images she posts. She lives in Washington State (jealous!) so, she has plenty of interesting and beautiful things to photograph.

Toni is also a fused glass artist. My favorite piece on her site is on this page. It's called Cranberry Reaction and it reminds me of tiramisu with raspberries on top.

Geez. Now I want some tiramisu.

And raspberries.

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.

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Anyhoo...

When I stopped by Toni's blog today, I saw this post. I thought it sounded like fun, so I left a comment and now I'm participating in the Give it Away, Pass it On; Random Acts of Kindness Alert!

Here are the rules - they are really pretty simple:

The first five (5) people to comment on this post will get something from or made by me. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:    

•  I make no guarantees that you will like what I make (if I decide to make something).

•  What I create or give will be just for you.

•  It’ll be done over the next 12 months.

•  You have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be something I knitted, wove, or sewed. Or a photo in whatever size I feel like giving. Could be a piece of jewelry. Might even be a book I think you will like or it could be a painting - mine or someone else’s. It may be a gift certificate from someplace fun or some cupcakes delivered just for you. You just won’t know until you get it!

•  I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

•  I reserve the right to change the rules!

And in return, all you need to do is post this text into a post of your own and make or give  5 things for 5 others.

Of course, you’ll want to send me your mailing address…

Sound fun?  Comment below, but if you aren’t interested in participating in the Random Act of Kindness, please let me know in your comment, otherwise you are committed!

It's here! And a contest!

 A couple of people have emailed me that they are having trouble posting comments. I have TypePad looking into this. In the meantime, if you'd like to leave a comment and are unable to do so, email me at inthemeantimeblog at gmail dot com.

2009 Art Book ...

37 artists raise fu...

By pawsforcharity.bl...

Book Preview

And to celebrate, I've decided to have a little contest.

I know you will all head right over to preview and buy the book either by clicking on the badge above or here, right?

RIGHT?

After all, you can get a beautiful, soft cover copy for less than $20 (plus shipping) and all proceeds go to the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade.

So, after you've purchased a copy for yourself (hint, hint), come back here and leave a comment for a chance to receive another soft cover copy to give as a gift!

If you'd like two chances to win, also post about the book and /or my little contest on your blog (and come back here to let me know).

I'll leave the comments open until noon, central time on Sunday, April 12th. Then, I'll have Lucy pick a winner! I'll use that random number generator thingy to choose a winner.

Seriously, though. You don't have to buy a copy to enter the contest, but I sure would appreciate it. (Did I mention that ALL PROCEEDS GO TO FUND BREAST CANCER RESEARCH?) Just leave a comment on this post for one entry. For an additional chance to win, post about the book and / or my contest on your blog and let me know you've done so.

Whether you do it for the love of pets; or for our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, please consider purchasing this book.

Filler

I'll be back to regular posting soon.
Really.
I will!
In the meantime...
(I crack myself up)

Sara posted a teaser for the Paws for Charity Art Book Project today. I can only say that I am humbled to have a photograph (the one of my sweet Lucy above) included with such amazingly talented people. I don't quite know what Sara was thinking, but I'm honored she allowed me to participate.

If you are interested in reading a blog written by military wives who are wicked smart, with razor sharp wit, LeftFace is the place for you. As the name of the blog alludes, the contributing writers are left of center, politically speaking. This makes them a little different from the majority of blogs written by and for military spouses. They offer alternate positions on various issues that affect military families and establish the fact that the military community is comprised of people from all walks of life, with different points of view. They are open to civilized discussion. Read the comment policy if you have any questions.

That's it for today.

Regular programing to resume at a later date...

Where I distract myself with bloggy give-aways.

Things with the house are at a standstill (or should I say standoff?). So another day of waiting. While I wait, let's see what wonderful free stuff is out there on the world wide web!

My friend, Christine, is having a little give-away on her blog. Leave a comment, 20 words or less, on this post. The subject of the comment? I am...

(Yes, Christine makes you work for your prize. Nothing like a little self-reflection first thing in the morning!)

What can you win? One of five U'phoria candles! Read about Michelle on Christine's blog. She sounds like a remarkable woman.

Christine sure knows how to hook me. She sent me an email, pointing out Michelle's Yes We CANdle (also here). How cool is that?

Of course, I submitted my comment before my tea kicked in and it's kind of lame. I've since had much better ideas rumbling around in my head. Oh, well...

Our second fab give-away comes from Grosgrain. She has done it again with this romantic little cardigan.

 

I know! Cute, cute, cute! And it only cost her $6! Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.

We all know that I never win anything. So, go enter both of these give-aways with the knowledge that my entries will do nothing to lessen your chances.

*sigh*

I promise that I'm not turning my blog into a vehicle for links to give-aways. I just thought these two were fun.

And Christine's my pal. I am nothing if not a supportive friend!

Save for a rainy day.

This is one of the things you save to watch when you''re having a really bad day. Because you cannot watch this video and not smile, laugh, and have a little of your faith in humanity restored (if even for a short time.)

Go on. Watch it and try not to smile.

Go on. I dare ya'.

Good times.

Jon is coming home from Miami today, and, since I need to make it look like I did something other than catch up on my blog reader while he was gone, I don't have a lot of time to put a post together. But I wanted to share something.

I was going through my photo files yesterday, looking for a photo of me to send to Sara for her Paws for Charity art book project. (It's coming, Sara. I just have to write something about me. What the heck am I going to say?)

Anyhoo, I came across this photo

and it brought back such good memories.

Pete and Rachel lived right behind us in Altus and we became fast friends. (We're going to visit them in GERMANY this summer!)

Before this picture was taken, Jon and I were sitting around their kitchen table, probably on a Friday evening, for a beer and conversation after the guys got home from work. It was a tradition of sorts. And one that I miss terribly.

While we were talking, their daughter brought to the table a basket of hair doo-dads and climbed up on a chair next to me. She then started putting these little clip bows in my hair. G was very methodical. Concentrating on the placement of each bow. Gently turning my head, this way and that, to make sure she put each bow in just the right spot.

The funny thing is that we all just kept talking. Like nothing was going on. (I wonder what we were discussing that kept us from paying attention to what G was doing?)

When G was finished, she just stopped and looked at me. I think that's when we all realized what she had been doing. We stopped talking and took a good, long look at Ms. D (that's me). And then we started cracking up. Oh, man, did we laugh! I don't know if Jon or Rachel took this photo, but I'm so happy that someone did.

Good times with dear friends.

I'm so thankful. So blessed.

Unexpected treasure.

As I scurried up the street into the biting wind yesterday to the mail box, I was expecting the usual batch of catalogs and junk mail, and maybe a magazine if I was lucky.

I unlocked the box and stood on my toes as I reached in for the mail. (Our box is at the top and I am not the tallest person in the world.) I pulled out the requisite fliers for pizza joints, requests for money from any number of organizations, one of Jon's smarty-pants magazines. But then, as I turned against the wind, hurrying back to the warmth of the house, I noticed something else. It was an envelope with Canadian postage, addressed to me. It was heavy and a bit bulky. And it was partially ripped open.

What could it be, I wondered. I had not won a single thing in all of the One World ~ One Heart event. I hadn't recently bought anything from a Canadian on Etsy.

Then I remembered. Nancy from All Pulped Out generously created art cards for new followers of her blog during OWOH. She gamely produced 150 little, individual works of art and mailed them out around the world.

I couldn't wait to see what was in the envelope, and as you can imagine from the envelope's condition, I hoped that whatever it was would be undamaged.

I tore the envelope open the rest of the way and this is what I found.

Isn't the photograph on the card cool?

Here's a closer look. Check out the stitching around the edges.

Inside was a sweet thank you for visiting Nancy's blog. This card is going on my "inspiration board" tout de suite! (You're not the only one speaking French today, Joan Marie!)

Next I tore into the other little package. Just look at what I got!

It's a mini (3" x 5") canvas collage from Nancy's Country Roads series. Isn't it great? I absolutely love it. And it had not one scratch from it's rough journey to Nebraska from Canada.

Receiving this treasure just brightened my whole day. Thank you, Nancy for your creative spirit and your generosity. You're a gem!

Whew!

Well, the One World ~ One Heart event is over for 2009.

It was my first year participating and it was a blast. I received more comments on my give-away post than I have ever received and I hope that some people will come back for a visit.

 

Lisa had 911 participants this year and I tried, really tried, to visit them all. But, did I mention that there were nine-hundred and eleven participants? I will keep going back to the list until I get to them all, though, because I have "met" some interesting, talented, funny, odd people. My google reader is bursting at the seams with unread posts from the new bookmarked sites.  Now that the craziness is over, I look forward to getting to know them all better.

All in all, I'd say this was a huge success and I will participate again next year.

So, for the winner of my earrings!
Drumroll, please!
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.
.
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Jenna Z at CorgiPants!

Check out her site. She is a crafter, a baker, a dog person - really, what more could you ask for? 
Jenna, I hope you like the earrings! Thanks for playing.

The eyes have it.

My aunt Mj emails me this morning.
Did you watch 60 minutes before the Grammys last night?  If so, did Chris Martin remind you of anyone we know around they eyes?

My response.
Who are you thinking of?

Mj.
JON! I know Jon's eyes are not quite that blue but there was something about his eyes that reminded me so much of Jon.

And I guess my uncle agreed with her.

It never occurred to me. I did some research, looking online at photo after photo after photo of Chris Martin. (It was VERY difficult research.)

I'm still not sure. What do you think?

Here is Gwyneth's very cute husband.

And here is my very cute husband.

Just so you know, this is what Jon was doing right before the above photo was taken.

 

He has Guinness foam on his lip.
Mmmm, Guinness.