The contents of my purse after our walk

We did finally get around and out to get our walk late this morning/early afternoonish. This is the contents of my purse after our walk. I love walking by the CitiPlex towers so I can pluck pinecones from the trees! I'll use them later this year (don't worry--you'll be seeing them again).

(Yes, I am carrying the SALE flyer from Bath & Body so if I make a purchase I can get a free item from their signature collection.)

Mailings, gift tags, and morning walks

I got hit this week with several things at once. I was finishing up a 358 piece mailing for my part time work when yesterday I got asked to do another mailing with at least 207 pieces. Those take some time to do! Plus, I've still been working on getting the things I have made on Etsy and trying to take care of odds and ends around the house. Whew. It's been a busy few days. Posting, unfortunately, was further down on my list since the mailings are pretty time sensitive.

To relax a bit between all the work, I sit down and make more of my gift tags. I thought these "happy birthday" ones were really pretty. I did them on a variety of colorful cardstock and put two sets of them on Etsy to see how they sell. I really love making gift tags, especially making something useful out of odds and ends.

I need to get ready to go for our morning walk so we can squeeze it in between all the other things. Looks like it is 18 degrees outside with the high of 30 today with lots of sunshine and light winds. Should be a beautiful 30 degrees (I hope).

Study in Red

I found this leaf on one of our walks and brought it home. I loved it because of all the different colors in one leaf and because it had dew drops on it. Even the shape of it is interesting. I proceded to place it around the yard, even holding it up in my hand, to try to capture those beautiful colors and those drops. Magnificent!

Eye'm watching you!

Honestly, it really looks like this tree has eyes. I noticed it from a distance and had to get closer so I could confirm that it had eyes and it sure looks like it does, multiple eyes. There's really nothing creepy about it, just that it looks aware and watchful. Nothing wrong with that. Intriguing and quite interesting.

Have a ball

I know it isn't unusual to find golf balls outside, but I like taking pictures when we run across them. It isn't like we are at a golf course--we're in the park. The ones that are whole, I pick up and take home with me so I can put them in Pooker's golf bag (not that he golfs much, but he does have some old clubs and a new bag). I leave the broken ones for someone else to discover.

Me, I'd be afraid to golf in the park. Sure, I'd putt in the park, but not rear back and swing the club at the ball as hard as I could (which is what these guys are out there doing). I wonder if they are concerned about hitting someone (or something or a car or an animal) or if they are just that good. Maybe they really are just that good. Still, I'm not totally sure that a park is the best place to practice your swing but I can see that the appeal would be that it is free. And honestly, some of the best things in life really are free. (Like me being able to get free golf balls for Pooker!)

My Sweeties

These are my two sweeties. Brownie loves to crawl on Pooker and give him kisses. She's such a sweet girl and loves to show her affection.

Sand Art

I could not decide which picture to show you, even though they are basically the same. I just love the lines made by the water and left in the sand. I'm not even sure why it appeals to me so much. I just find it beautiful.

All work and little play

Well, I still haven't downloaded all my photos from Christmas but it is okay as I have a few odds and ends to show you to finish off last year. Plus, I've (we've) been working hard on getting items in our Etsy shop (continue to check it out as we've only just begun to get our stuff on there--it takes a while). Although we haven't had a sale as of yet, we do have people who love some of our items and some who have marked our shop as a favorite! That's pretty encouraging!

I've been working on getting the house cleaned up today and trying to get caught up with my part-time job. I've got lots of projects I need to work on, but have got to finish both the aforementioned things before I can immerse myself in fun.

Brownie and I have been continuing on our walks, but we usually drive to where we are going to start walking and then walk from there. I just don't feel comfortable walking out the front door and heading down the street as I'm still not sure those dogs who attacked us have been picked up yet. I'm not going to take a chance. Besides, there just isn't that much to take pictures of at the moment (although I do carry my camera just in case).

My Grandad is not doing well and he is (and has been) weighing on my heart. To see and hear of him doing and saying ugly things is so not Grandad. Dementia and Alzheimer's both (not that he has both, but both those diseases in general) rob the person and their loved ones of so much. It breaks my heart. I'm needing to put these feelings to paint so I can express them and get them out. I've really got several things to paint, but have to wait until I get my art room cleared up. I'm currently working on gift tags and those tend to be spread all over. The room isn't big enough to do both.

It was such a beautiful day today--sunny and warm with a light breeze, just enough to keep it from being too hot. No wonder the geese haven't left town yet.

Just wanted to update you on where I'm at, in case you've been missing my almost daily posts. Never fear, I'm still here! I'll get caught up with all this and be back to posting more frequently before you know it!

The last of the Fall leaves

Here are the last of the beautiful Fall leaves I had on my camera from our November and first part of December walks.

Happy New Year!

I'm back again! We got back late Wednesday afternoon. I was so tired that I wasn't even able to stay up to welcome in the New Year. I haven't gotten the pictures off my camera yet (but I do have people in my pictures from this trip!). When I download them, I will get them posted (although I may need to post the rest of the leaf pictures from last year first!).

I'm still tired (haven't seemed to catch up on my sleep yet), so this won't be a long post. I need to shower and get ready (admittedly my first shower in several days) because Pooker and I are going out so he can spend some of his Christmas money. Not sure what he is looking for, but I'll keep my eyes open for a pair of furry boots. Not overly furry, just the cozy and warm type of furry. If I don't find any, no problem! My sister and I are going out shopping on Tuesday so I don't have to jump on the first pair of furry boots I see (not literally).

Anyway, hope your Christmas was filled with beautiful things and that your New Year will be too!