Sunday, November 22, 2009

I am still here! Are you?


I just looked at the date of my last post... September 24?!!!? Yikes!

I seem to be slowly emerging out of my fog. I have lots of photos to post and I have been working on bead projects - maybe not as much as I do when the weather is colder, but I tend to keep my hands in the beads as often as time allows.

Speaking of weather - I heard a mention of snow flurries on the news last night, so I am going to do my best to enjoy what little bit of blue skies we have left



I have also joined Facebook and that seems to take up more time than I would like, but most of my family, my long time friends and many of my beady friends are there - it is a nice way to keep up with everyone in one place. I resisted joining for SO long.

There have been a couple of people that have checked in on me privately through email and that truly warmed my heart. Thank you - you know who you are.

With Thanksgiving coming up, I am feeling thankful about many things - I believe I might even have a little something for a drawing. I'm checking my 'stash' of goodies now to see what's there.

I hope you're all enjoying the beginning of the holiday season and finding many reasons to be thankful. I wrote down my Thanksgiving dinner menu yesterday and got most of the shopping done last night (what a zoo that was!). Speaking of that - I recently watched the movie "Food, Inc." It reinforced things I have known and felt for quite some time, but man it sure is difficult, not to mention expensive trying to eat 'right'. We looked at turkeys and at this particular store, there were no organic/free range turkeys (I did want to at least price them), so we looked at the next step down from that with no additives including the dreaded 'injected solution to enhance juiciness'. A 10 pound bird was about $45. A regular bird with the injected solution (and probably all the other neat stuff like hormones and antibiotics) was $9. for 15 pounds. It infuriates me, but I will stop there.

Here are just a few reasons I am thankful...

Chief


and Jimmy (hunting leaves)


And one last thing, because the focus of this blog IS beading - a peek at my Use the Muse III entry


Photos have been sent in, deadline has passed - the winners should be announced soon.

Be back soon... no REALLY!

11 comments:

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Well, I'm not too big on cats since you know I love birds and they don't mix, but yours are pretty. Our neighbors just got one that goes in and out. It is the most beautiful black cat with unique color eyes. The color of celery but a darker green around the pupil. Wish I could have taken a pic.

I'm lucky just to be able to buy groceries for all of us. Two teen boys and their mother, another dog makes three and Ter and I. Holy cow...errrr...chicken if you must be more healthy.

Glad you're back here, but you know I follow you on FB.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your growing family.

Dulcey said...

It's nice to see you posting! And I'm looking forward when we all can post our Muse piece - I can see how yours will look wonderful with it!

Timaree said...

I came to see if you even had a blog anymore! I think alot of people are abandoning blogs for Facebook.

What a gorgeous cat Chief is. Jimmy looks like he is enjoying himself. I like red cats.

Can't wait to see the whole beaded piece.

Happy Thanksgiving! Yes, eating right is good and expensive but not always too bad. Basically it's not expensive if you give up meat and most dairy stuff. Hmmm, I know, that doesn't sound like fun either.

Anonymous said...

hello... hapi blogging... have a nice day! just visiting here....

abeadlady said...

Glad to see you haven't forgotten your blog. I'm on FB too, but haven't gotten into it seriously yet. Love the Muse piece.

Your furry pals are beautiful. They look happy and healthy.

Phyl said...

oh,YES, Grace!I'm still here checking your blog; it's so nice to see you back!And thanks for sharing the beautiful photos of autumn and those gorgeous CATS!(I'm a "cat person" also!)Your beaded Muse piece is fabulous, as usual...I don't know how you accomplish all the beautiful, large beaded pieces you do, but you are an inspiration to others like me, so thank you!
Happy Turkey Day!

KV said...

Good to see you post, Grace. Don't know where the past few months have flown to, but I do check in occasionally to see what you are up to. My blog is even farther behind . . .

Kathy V in NM

*~tabby~* crooked heart art said...

hi grace!!!
there you are :) so happy to see you back
i hope things are going well in your little corner of the world
thank you for the beautiful pictures and as always your stunning beading,,sigh,,,, :)
happy thanksgiving to you and yours grace
many thanks
tammy :)

Lynn said...

Hey there! Your muse piece is looking spectacular......and your kitties are gorgeous!!

I joined FB awhile ago and also found myself sucked into the cyber blackhole for what seemed like days on end. Very addicting. I have avoided it simply because I really want to spend my time beading and knitting and by the time I log off, I'm ready for nighty-night :)

Thanks for the post - looking forward to all those pictures you've promised.

pam T said...

lovely pics, Grace! (especially the cats!) :)
have a great Thanksgiving...
I am thankful for friends like you...

Pursuing Art... said...

Hi Grace!

So happy to see that you posted! Have been thinking of you.

Love the pictures of Chief and Jimmy...can see why you are thankful for them...they are such cute kitties! And, yummy shots of the maple tree leaves and sky too!

Very sad about the cost of a free range bird...pathetic! I don't understand why...it's more natural. Same with organic produce. They aren't spending money on sprays/chemicals, so why should it cost more. Wish we could enjoy our garden here all year long...

Sneak peek of your muse looks wonderful...love the colors too! Looking forward to seeing it soon.

I hope you and yours had a nice Thanksgiving!

Leaves of Grass

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body - Walt Whitman