Leaf Letdown.

The weatherman is predicting snow this weekend.  

I hate the weatherman.

In any event, thought I'd scan the leaves one last time before the snow falls.  Walked around in the cold rainy 42 degree weather to collect them, probably ruined my scanner scanning them. Saw all kinds of beautiful trees and leaves during my frigid leaf collecting.  

Unfortunately, I did not choose to observe any of those leaves.

No, as you can see I managed to choose all the ugly brown ones or the ones that stay completely green.  Note to self: cross botany off list of back up career options.  

The top right leaf is beautiful, if I knew what kind of tree that was I would plant more of them. Bottom middle yellow leaf is pretty.  The tree it came from?  Not so much.  

All in all, leaf scan project was a total leaf letdown.

Tales From a Fifth Grade Diary.

Oh my, the goodies I found while cleaning out my basement last week.  Who would have known an unmarked container could hold such treasures from my past.  A month's worth of blog posts could be written based entirely on the contents inside that plastic green box.  

The first thing I picked out to examine was this:

Behold, my 5th grade diary. 

Looking through, I can't for the life of me figure out why my younger sister would have spent so much time prying open the lock to read my entries.  The one about the time John Z. tried to set the school on fire and "almost got away with his stupid idea", was admittedly interesting.  You would think I would have a better recollection of that day.  Lots of entries on boys, pets, dancing and my best friend Carol.  No clue who Carol is, but the big fight with her led to my favorite entry in the diary.

Wednesday the 12th, 1980

"Today I made up with Carol just because she cried and her nose ran."

We're talking Pulitzer Prize material inside that little red book.

We Now Return to Our Regularly Scheduled Program.

Happy to report I had a glass of wine over the weekend with no hideous, rashy side effects.  It was a boring name with an ugly label that I have had countless times before, so I won't post a review.

But next week, don't despair, I'll be back on track with my "Cheap Wine with a Pretty Label" series.

See you then!

A Photo for My Future Self.

Four months from now, in the dead of winter, 

I am going to need a reminder of why I choose to live up north.

This photo of the view outside my kitchen window should help.

I like fall.  Fall is pretty.  Fall is good.  

Remember that, future self.  

Paying It Forward on My Etsyversary.

Next Thursday, October 15th, will mark the anniversary of my very first sale on Etsy.  Listed my first item on August 28, 2008.  And let me tell you those were 48 excruciatingly long days.  Waiting, hoping, nearly giving up and closing shop altogether.  When I finally got that Etsy transaction email announcing I finally had made a sale,  I stared and stared (and stared) at the computer screen in shock.

A photo of my first item sold 

(don't worry, the name and number are fictional).

To see a "1" for sales instead of that big old goose egg I'd been staring at for 48 days gave me an incredible boost of confidence.  It made me believe maybe I really could make a go at this.  If one person would buy from me--surely someone else would as well.

It was a huge turning point.

I've thought long and hard about how I would celebrate this day.  And I can't think of a better way to mark it than by "paying it forward".  So in honor of my first sale, I will be giving an Etsyian their first sale.  I want to give someone else a boost, maybe give an artist a little bit of hope.

I have been searching and pouncing and will post in the Etsy forums as well for that special something.  My purchase will be $50 or under, and I am looking for something that I personally can not do (i.e. no papergoods, wedding items, stationery, baked goods).  

What do I like?  I love ceramics/pottery, jewelry, photography, handbags.  I am more of an artsy person, rather than crafty.  I am not particularly girly and not interested in baby or children's items.  And I do not have pets.  I love the beach, the ocean, the color blue.  Maybe this helps you if you happen to be waiting for that first sale.  

My purchase will be made on Thursday, I'll share the item with everyone on my blog on Friday.

Please don't be shy.  Take a chance.  Post a comment if you would like me to browse your shop.  I will happily check out your listings.  And if I don't select my purchase from you, maybe one of my readers will.  Keep working hard, don't give up.  You will make that first sale.

And what about you?  Made a sale and looking to pay it forward?  I'll give you a head start--my sister's shop "Lark's Nest".  I know she would love and appreciate a (non relative purchased) first sale of her own.  Or feel free to choose a listing from the comments I hope to receive. 

I truly can't wait to see what you're creating!

"Get These Mutts Away from Me...

 you know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore."

Can't get these lyrics out of my head today.  It's only fair that they should be stuck in yours as well.   "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon-- such an entertaining, classic song.   I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but I would love to have been a fly on the wall when they were written.  The entire Graceland album is beautifully written, come to think of it.  Definitely one of my favorites.

 

You know you're looking for a diversion, go ahead, watch the video.  Chevy Chase's subtle dance moves and silly facial expressions will have you smiling the rest of the day.

"He looks around, around
He sees angels in the architecture 
Spinning in infinity 
He says Amen! and Hallelujah!"

Domino, I Miss You So.

In my mass cleaning binge last week,  I recycled 6 bags of magazines I'd been holding onto.  I saved several garden magazines, a few organization publications made the cut as well.  But every single issue of the now (sadly) shuttered Domino magazine remains in my home.

Premiere issue on the left.  Final issue on the right.

Nothing like a stack of Domino's on a Baroque coffee table lacquered with 1970 Dodge avocado green automotive paint.  

I'm a Domino gal alright.  

It has been 8 months since my favorite magazine of all time ceased publication.  And I still miss receiving it. I was a loyal reader from the very beginning, subscribing shortly after that.  It was a unique magazine that I instantly connected with.  The one magazine that when it arrived in my mailbox each month, everything stopped.  I'd curl up on the couch and read all the articles, check out the website, enter the contests.  The homes featured were always unique, personal artistic places.  Not perfectly decorated symmetrical rooms you were afraid to touch anything in.  But homes comprised of pieces lovingly collected over time.  Pieces that told a story in warm, artsy welcoming spaces.

There's nothing out there like this awesome magazine, and believe me, I've certainly tried to find a replacement.  As for me?  Still working on creating that warm, artsy, not so perfect home of my own. 

So sad it will never have a chance to appear in Domino.