What are Friends for Anyway?

Whenever I learn to make something new, I always include my friends to suffer along with me. Remember the WonderUnder sweatshirts with the fabric design cutouts and glitter glue or puffy paint trim? I made dozens of them and gave them away - I'm sure my friends wore them, maybe not in public, but at some time. I knew they liked them by the deer in the headlight look they had on their faces after opening the packages. And the Christmas I made stained glass boxes for everyone ... I didn't intend for the lids eventually fall off! I'm still wondering what happened to that guy I cooked Swedish steak for during my "learn to cook" period. Hopefully he's out of the hospital by now.

This year I tried wood burning images of my friends' children onto plaques then painting and decorating them with lots of sparkles and shiny paints. The shiny paints look kinda funky with the camera flash reflecting off of them and look much cooler IRL.

I hope my new friends like them and don't mysteriously disappear off the planet like all of my old friends. But, where ever the old ones went, they sure had some spiffy sweat shirts to wear!

Hi, my name is Becky and I'm a gameaholic...

Dishes are piling up in the sink, science experiments are growing in the corner of the shower, and the Christmas tree is still in its box in the basement - and what am I doing???? ... playing this goofy hamburger building game! I've played under my name, my sister and her sweetie's, all three of the dogs, and several friends - Marti is in the lead, Maynerd is a close second. I'm running out of names.

If you would like me to play under YOUR name, send me an email. Chances are I already have so I'll just send you your score.

Until then I'm off to look for my high school year book - there's that fuzzy haired red headed girl who sat behind me in biology who I'm sure will want to play - just can't remember her name...

I Love Painting!

Believe it or not - two- count 'em TWO commissions for Christmas presents! The first picture is Hadley who LOVES Fancy Nancy. Maybe you can see her in the wings. What you can't see are all the sparkles and shimmers and positive affirmations written in the flowers.













The second is Jack and his grandmother sharing a picnic basket (one of their favorite things to do together) and sharing the affection they have for each other.

Thoughts Really are Things!

Nothing mystical about it. The Universe works just like a computer - what ever you program in, you manifest. Simple? YES! Easy? Not really.

I have learned over the past several years that changing my thinking really does change my life. I had to learn what to think, how to think, to believe and be consistent. Weed out the thoughts I don't want (some are familiar 'friends' and pretty hard to let go), and saturate my world with reminders of what I DO want.

Now, off on what seems like a tangent: Last summer, my good and lovely friend Tracy (who has a heart of gold and is just an all around wonderful person) expressed her desire to travel to Italy and take cooking classes. Well, needing a purpose to paint, I decided to make an artful, visual affirmation for her.

The first layer of paint has positive thoughts and prayers written on with the back end of a paint brush. You are able to see some of the impressions of script if you hold it just so. The next layer is a brush of pastel paints to create a background. Then the paper doll of Tracy (or at least the best I can do). Her wings are pages from an Italian cook book. She's eating a plate of pasta done with puff paint to give it texture. Written next to her left arm is "Tracy the Culinary Fairy". I added stencils, sparkles, and tissue paper cut outs. The final layer is melted bees wax to protect it, and make it smell real earthy and yummy.

Tracy keeps it in her office at work, and low and behold, I've started getting commissions to do other positive affirmation paintings! More pics in the future.

Wiiiiiii!

No pain, no gain - grab the Ben Gay and a heating pad for I spent last evening playing on the Wii at the Morley's house! What fun! Dinner was great! Turkey enchiladas (what else on Black Friday?) and all the diet Coke I could drink.

Maynerd and Bella were also invited. They had their friends to play with, a big back yard in which to run, and a bunch of new people to get to know, but true to insecure doggy form, they spent the evening trying to sit on me. On my lap, on my feet, on my shoulder, and on my head. I guess we need to watch fewer episodes of The Dog Whisperer and more Dr. Phil.

But that Wii! What a BLAST! I'm sure I need one just like I needed the PS2, VCR to Disk burner, or the Roomba (still in the box). Thinking, thinking, hmmmmmm........

Tribute to Chili

There is a lot of sadness in the doggy community this week. Bella's friend, Chili, made her transition this past weekend. She was very young and had been quite ill. We will remember Chile as an energetic little girl who stole the hearts of everyone she encountered with her smiles, kisses, and wagging tail.

I can imagine Beau greeting her along her journey as they both happily bounce around in their new happy home free of earthly boundaries.

Bless you Troy, Moe, and Kinsey. You made a wonderful home and family for little Chile.

Super Heros to the Rescue!

Faster than speeding bullets, Super Heros came to the aid of this scruffy mutt and her doggy family! Gretchen and the Beacon children raised $$ for the vet bills, and Bob with "He Who Shall Remain Nameless" are busy building an enclosed dog run!

Bella is doing GREAT, but Maynerd has cabin fever because his mommy dearest won't let him out to bark at fierce urban predators.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Super Heros! It's a wonderful feeling to know that the dogs will be safe ,and that I can continue to afford buying them dog chow. I am truly blessed to have you in my life!