tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65817508585932332572024-03-13T11:26:33.008-04:00PoppylovesapartySpecializing in whimsical adornments for every occasion. Polymer clay Christmas ornaments and non seasonal pins, birth and birthday signs, you ask for it and I'll do my best to make it!poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-12625427884647630162011-08-28T17:40:00.000-04:002011-08-28T17:40:39.560-04:00Pinterest<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/supermar/"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7Yab1DsSyfavcBbaluHArwcVTjxg_OjAGCRNO4LXhqdWGnNgIhI0HvkH-0WIwcu2qNpiqU1Th0i8aGARUJHrslYQxz_CE0HfEqSIZVNFtq2exvL0qvFV_dl4JeCGO5Ez1VebHb8dD-aE/s200/Pinterest.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
How many of you are as addicted to Pinterest as I am? If you don't know what Pinterest is go straight to <a href="http://pinterest.com/about/">http://pinterest.com/about/</a> to learn all about it. Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars, go straight to Pinterest. It might well be the most brilliant addition to the internet in years. Pinterest is a wonderful world of make-believe where you can share photos of things you love, ideas, and recipes and at the same time discover wonderful things that other "Pinners" have posted. I have found great recipes, craft tutorials, home decor ideas, etc. in just the few weeks that I have had an account. The great thing is that with Pinterest you can save all of those things that you find on other boards to your board. That's called "repinning". Rather than saving each item to your computer files your personal boards become your saved files. Pinterest is far better than I have described. If you would like an example feel free to check out my boards at:<br />
<a href="http://pinterest.com/lisakenn/">http://pinterest.com/lisakenn/</a><br />
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/lisakenn/">http://pinterest.com/lisakenn/</a>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-84187498329138835772011-07-26T14:37:00.002-04:002011-07-26T14:46:30.114-04:00Back to School Printables<strong>This is ADORABLE!!!</strong><br />
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I ran across this on the I Heart Naptime and Chocolate Sundaes blog today. I'm well past needing it for my daughters but I can always hope for grandchildren. I wish I had them for the traditional "back to school" morning pictures that my kids started to hate by fifth grade. I still love the sour faces of disgust the last few years of pictures display.<br />
<h1 class="entry-title"> </h1><h1 class="entry-title">Back to school printable</h1><div class="entry-meta"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/07/back-to-school-printable.html" rel="bookmark" title="4:00 am"><span class="entry-date">July 25, 2011</span></a> <span class="meta-sep">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/author/sugartotdesignsgmail-com" title="View all posts by sugartotdesigns@gmail.com">sugartotdesigns@gmail.com</a></span></div><div class="entry-content"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7w4NpMPoBOA/TiMTTW1o6dI/AAAAAAAADQ4/FUmiMTqT0C8/s1600/FirstDayofPreschool.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7w4NpMPoBOA/TiMTTW1o6dI/AAAAAAAADQ4/FUmiMTqT0C8/s400/FirstDayofPreschool.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hello again! This month’s printable was inspired by those ever popular “first day of school pictures.” This is my little mans first time going to school (Preschool counts right?), and I wanted a way to look back at these pictures and instantly know what grade he was in.</span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">So, I created these back to school printable posters for my kids (and yours) to hold as they advance through school.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN"></span><a href="http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/07/back-to-school-printable.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartnaptime1+%28I+heart+naptime+with+Chocolate+Sundaes%29"><u><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN">http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/07/back-to-school-printable.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartnaptime1+%28I+heart+naptime+with+Chocolate+Sundaes%29</span></span></span></u><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div></div></div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-70380994052347427022011-07-11T18:21:00.000-04:002011-07-11T18:21:47.531-04:00There Are Good Things Going on in Georgia SchoolsI'm sure by now that all of you have heard of the cheating scandal in the Atlanta Public School System. I have my own opinions about what might have created an atmosphere where cheating was considered acceptable but much prefer to share what great things are happening in public schools all across Georgia and the rest of the United States.<br />
I consider my two daughters to be amazing educators. As their mom I can brag that they were each honored as Teacher of the Year at their schools within the first four years of their teaching careers. They work an inordinate number of hours after the school day ends to be sure that each of their students not only understands a new skill but that they also know how that skill might be used to accomplish other tasks. They are teaching children to think by using the information that they have learned. How many teachers do you remember who did that for you? I can remember every single teacher who helped me understand the importance of learning.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KDB2OkpvRzGGVPbuVoVK9HQxiWvhVBZOrtlPBdUsQ4NXjGM4UI_Phha9IHU9afh-ACLlkLlwXBoGGASCZSmnkHQAVmzuWMPBTJYjQBrpH2to2HObFwAtxbZTJkByixn6FrRPXI8thVBM/s1600/P1000258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KDB2OkpvRzGGVPbuVoVK9HQxiWvhVBZOrtlPBdUsQ4NXjGM4UI_Phha9IHU9afh-ACLlkLlwXBoGGASCZSmnkHQAVmzuWMPBTJYjQBrpH2to2HObFwAtxbZTJkByixn6FrRPXI8thVBM/s320/P1000258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My amazing daughter, Betsey, and my very tall and proud husband.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sorry, Emily, I don't have a photo of your classroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>There are so many unsung heroes among the teaching profession that I want to share with you an article written by one of those very people. I feel very fortunate to have worked at the same school as the author, Lyssa Sadahevan, for two years. Her abilities to engage students in learning, exploring, and creating are what we would wish for all our children in every grade. Please read Lyssa's article at <a href="http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congress/lyssa-sahadevan/working-georgia-state-school-team">http://www.parenting.com/blogs/mom-congress/lyssa-sahadevan/working-georgia-state-school-team</a> and then check out her blog <a href="http://mymommyreads.blogspot.com/">http://mymommyreads.blogspot.com/</a> . If Lyssa suggests a book or an activity I can guarantee you that "It's a Good Thing."poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1Acworth, GA, USA34.0659329 -84.676879634.0403119 -84.711836600000012 34.0915539 -84.6419226tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-21798923333204878892011-06-28T17:18:00.001-04:002011-06-29T16:33:28.464-04:00Maine - Should I Share?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAf7DTUO27cHt65Y3o2JpBF0oztNN9O8C6Yujwyja9_oC69Mg3oEuAMk5gYAAcMMpZFPxei_EiYTckK5Sh079sqKav9jAOwTMgOMTswD39Bw3m0JyySMtucogVTEoeB4OiOq8adokHnY6/s1600/P1020696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAf7DTUO27cHt65Y3o2JpBF0oztNN9O8C6Yujwyja9_oC69Mg3oEuAMk5gYAAcMMpZFPxei_EiYTckK5Sh079sqKav9jAOwTMgOMTswD39Bw3m0JyySMtucogVTEoeB4OiOq8adokHnY6/s200/P1020696.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENo7PG_fatcCJLMmyhRxExMoOdEeRV-gAPimAE-F-gpwcig1IgC7sF895MN-Z94sOG-Er855wDZNYqtyps3oEkpTeIGrkCS3a8Rgw1w3Md5Fn31Dn4LUmKMkFxYzFC6-z0UfSotIx9cbE/s1600/P1020656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENo7PG_fatcCJLMmyhRxExMoOdEeRV-gAPimAE-F-gpwcig1IgC7sF895MN-Z94sOG-Er855wDZNYqtyps3oEkpTeIGrkCS3a8Rgw1w3Md5Fn31Dn4LUmKMkFxYzFC6-z0UfSotIx9cbE/s200/P1020656.JPG" width="200" /></a>I have never considered myself to be a selfish person. At times I have been accused of being overly generous. For that reason I have surprised myself by not wanting to share with you my new secret garden. It is the State of Maine and in my mind the most glorious place in the world to visit when the sweltering heat of the south is just about to bring you down. We arrived to temperatures in the low 50s the week before Memorial Day. To most people that would be terribly cold especially when accompanied by an ocean breeze. I found it to be exhilerating. Everything in Maine was so different from anything I had ever experienced. The rocky shores created imaginary rock sea creatures, the light rain (almost like England) allowed the grass to be the greenest I had ever seen, the forests provided sanctuary for animals that can not live in the south, and the people, oh the citizens of Maine are so kind and helpful! The reason I have postponed sharing the photos and information for so long is that by visiting during the low season we essentially had Maine to ourselves. We never waited for a table at a restaurant, there were no traffic jams, the beaches were empty except for us, and the shop owners were pleased to take our money for the numerous souvenirs we purchased. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJf_9d_kJtCSxUGh2eZ_kaYdgaAKvxTX0M40lUrwJtICT4Fj_uCDCjpGyfD2HqNChfTcnJ7OcfZmexRI_Gq9I7ct7Hm_FrL0oEYmvc3kxoLL0EAVdH-yo3KGuX5RVE4pptuFTgAGDIok1/s1600/P1020745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJf_9d_kJtCSxUGh2eZ_kaYdgaAKvxTX0M40lUrwJtICT4Fj_uCDCjpGyfD2HqNChfTcnJ7OcfZmexRI_Gq9I7ct7Hm_FrL0oEYmvc3kxoLL0EAVdH-yo3KGuX5RVE4pptuFTgAGDIok1/s200/P1020745.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
We saw the claw of a twenty-six pound lobster that had been caught in Massachusetts. A lobster that weighs three pounds is estimated to be 15 - 20 years old. That makes a twenty-six pound lobster to be .......over one hundred years old! I didn't feel quite so badly about eating fresh lobster when I learned that lobsters do not feel pain as we do. They have no cerebral cortex, which is the area of our brains that gives us the sensation of pain. Lobsters also have no vocal cords, the hissing sound that you sometimes hear when they are cooked is the sound of air escaping from their shells.<br />
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We laughed at the directional signs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJExZIAnEH_0JI7g4H-H2Fi1qnwLrIDrNp2_vo89jOzSqav4ZlNNvXnUPlUwsIo3fUbIGJ_P3UEARhfVmML0ZePDIshKs22u61V1UiWJOIGnGkVrogd_JHlJX0mDwLAqgFsp9OOzav8X4/s1600/P1020904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJExZIAnEH_0JI7g4H-H2Fi1qnwLrIDrNp2_vo89jOzSqav4ZlNNvXnUPlUwsIo3fUbIGJ_P3UEARhfVmML0ZePDIshKs22u61V1UiWJOIGnGkVrogd_JHlJX0mDwLAqgFsp9OOzav8X4/s200/P1020904.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
We were enthralled by the beauty of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and our second spring season of 2011. All the bulbs were blooming and the droplets of moisture from the earlier rain created the most stunning photographs. <span class="f"><cite><span style="color: #0e774a;"><a href="http://www.mainegardens.org/">www.<b>mainegardens</b>.org/</a></span></cite></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUmbuhumQd1tZ-q1qy8wPt97lsidavww10Q9GIXhKl1ihvrYrmgIypHalQn32LbSyDBRH1svOxxTR8eqZECIY_5Riy2uADur2_z4aHlU-Z0OXKdElw2mGxsdlXcQyBJjb5o8m-o-fcNS1/s1600/P1030162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUmbuhumQd1tZ-q1qy8wPt97lsidavww10Q9GIXhKl1ihvrYrmgIypHalQn32LbSyDBRH1svOxxTR8eqZECIY_5Riy2uADur2_z4aHlU-Z0OXKdElw2mGxsdlXcQyBJjb5o8m-o-fcNS1/s200/P1030162.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>We watched lobstermen bring in the fruits of their labor to the lobster dock where we were eating the freshest lobster available. When they say fresh off the boat they're not kidding.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJT4UpoL6xzD6PHo-50NVQzgieUlvlO2rvGCmWi_O3f3U8e7aULH2g4D2iFxtw-SdKYjmjWG-jQXd8ql_Z5oGTQLCTLuBWu2VlX4oP7JXaYhAAZEeMXqfCrNfPoJWQBBJLdgNhEcAYpij/s1600/P1030254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJT4UpoL6xzD6PHo-50NVQzgieUlvlO2rvGCmWi_O3f3U8e7aULH2g4D2iFxtw-SdKYjmjWG-jQXd8ql_Z5oGTQLCTLuBWu2VlX4oP7JXaYhAAZEeMXqfCrNfPoJWQBBJLdgNhEcAYpij/s200/P1030254.JPG" width="150" /></a>We had hoped to see puffins on a boat trip to a protected island sanctuary where the puffins live but rough seas prevented that part of our adventure.<br />
We ventured on to the northwestern mountains of Maine around Moosehead Lake. You'll soon see why it might be called Moosehead Lake. The town we visited was Greenville, Maine. It was the only truly sunny day of the eight that we were in Maine. The colors of such carefully protected land and water are beyond discription. The lake water was so clear that I would not have thought twice about dipping a cup in it and drinking it. <br />
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And then we accomplished exactly what we had come to this part of the state to do - WE SAW MOOSE!!!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmwwaQA9CXLel9o_lIaY0p3GjFiFycIu2Y6GKSSVTFGOUg9BRm0iP111dKNDHMTaNXSAFD3ajjOWc3MDBL-QjHoWz8zidutVv6tT32DaPI0KCgyj31__9quGVEWUb1ZLrAC5rEot0od0Y/s1600/P1030802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZmwwaQA9CXLel9o_lIaY0p3GjFiFycIu2Y6GKSSVTFGOUg9BRm0iP111dKNDHMTaNXSAFD3ajjOWc3MDBL-QjHoWz8zidutVv6tT32DaPI0KCgyj31__9quGVEWUb1ZLrAC5rEot0od0Y/s200/P1030802.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Two males were eating from a salt lick at the local DOT. It seems they like the remains of the many tons of salt that are needed to keep snowy roads passable. Soon there will be plants enough in the lake for them to go closer to the shore to eat more nutritiously and cool off should the weather become too warm.<br />
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On our mountain safari we saw one moose (gender not identifiable) standing among the trees eating whatever green he might find.<br />
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju54DMvzug-xNykOGsBF1msY-6orv5oznqUcgD72EJa4oP6x9rm_mF7vrjCL29DV81ZtgPWBSVgJh8qz-724uDCyDMFDzlYUR7dWPcg-FH9KKuLkHpGrwFhnFsd5ct8UEbtw7qbhGbPK2N/s1600/P1030792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju54DMvzug-xNykOGsBF1msY-6orv5oznqUcgD72EJa4oP6x9rm_mF7vrjCL29DV81ZtgPWBSVgJh8qz-724uDCyDMFDzlYUR7dWPcg-FH9KKuLkHpGrwFhnFsd5ct8UEbtw7qbhGbPK2N/s200/P1030792.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span class="f"><cite><span style="color: #0e774a;"> </span></cite></span><br />
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We have only two regrets concerning our trip:<br />
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1. I discovered the best lobster roll ever the night before we were leaving.<br />
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2. We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDahjFl0XEKb3AFCeR2tetRQW6H1stiSiP6lHS79jPBgI8FKfcwFku2psU17YYrMBLUNI0a8lB6ZtQF0b3E8eBqnEuUKsF0U0KUJGyAXIC0bnujImDkev87gx8ms7oBIXz-2YwfxYB-wnI/s1600/P1030352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDahjFl0XEKb3AFCeR2tetRQW6H1stiSiP6lHS79jPBgI8FKfcwFku2psU17YYrMBLUNI0a8lB6ZtQF0b3E8eBqnEuUKsF0U0KUJGyAXIC0bnujImDkev87gx8ms7oBIXz-2YwfxYB-wnI/s200/P1030352.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Our last stop was in Kennebunkport. We stayed at a spectacular bed and breakfast called The Maine Street Inn. <a href="http://www.mainestreetinn.com/">www.mainestreetinn.com</a> Check the website to see the magnificently decorated rooms and learn more about the history of the house.<br />
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We didn't see former President Bush but we did see the family estate on Ocean Ave. We could have touched the fence protecting the home from the beachcombers (us) but were afraid it might be electric. It's such a problem when you're electrocuted far from home that we chose not to take a chance. While the weather in the late spring, summer, and early fall are exactly to my liking when I learned that Kennebunkport had received 10 (yes, ten!) feet of snow this past winter I knew that we would be vacationing elsewhere in the winter.<br />
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I hope that you are able to one day enjoy the splendor of Maine just as we did. Do me a favor though, please, don't tell anyone about this glorious place. We'll keep it our little blog secret!<br />
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For lodging in Boothbay Harbor - <a href="http://www.thompsonsottages.com/">www.thompsonsottages.com</a><br />
in Greenville - <a href="http://www.mooseheadmaine.com/">www.mooseheadmaine.com</a><br />
and in Kennebunkport - <a href="http://www.mainestayinn.com/">www.mainestayinn.com</a><br />
Tell them that The Kennedys sent you.<br />
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We had a wonderful time staying at each of these places and have plans to do the same on our next trip to Maine. My hope is for tomorrow.poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-21587358677870237662011-06-25T07:10:00.000-04:002011-06-25T07:10:00.662-04:00Unbelievable! There are no other words to describe a talent like this<div style="margin: 1em 0px 3px;">Many thanks to All Things Paper for sharing this amazing artist's work! Be sure to check out her blog at <a href="http://www.allthingspaper.net/">http://www.allthingspaper.net</a><span class="url" id="yui_3_3_0_1_1308999657129203"><span style="color: green;"> </span><span style="color: black;">I am forever amazed by her talent and that of the artists she shares on her blog.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 1em 0px 3px;"><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AllThingsPaper/~3/vBb73f_NBSo/calvin-nicholls-paper-sculpture.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" name="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;" title="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AllThingsPaper/~3/vBb73f_NBSo/calvin-nicholls-paper-sculpture.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email">Calvin Nicholls - Paper Sculpture</a> </div><br />
Photos of magnificent wildlife and and nature scenes created by award-winning Canadian paper sculptor, <a href="http://calvinnicholls.com/" target="_blank" title="http://calvinnicholls.com/">Calvin Nicholls</a>, have been sweeping the internet in recent days. Taking the risk that you've already been introduced to his work, it's simply too extraordinary to not be showcased here as well. For this Fab 90 degree Friday, I'm going with polar bears on the icy tundra.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCss7jw9X4n8GeF_GV-DEVmWyiI9NJMfP3Xb1P_y9Mpamaek_OMKsHqJJxWYVL3O7D2HcTSxCexu3wvnkqz7J14y2BQFmEZf_XjhaT74B1ntfuJDGDBYMpMB8zoitJ2bgkzQwWgV2usk/s1600/polar-bear-calvin-nicholls.jpg" title="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCss7jw9X4n8GeF_GV-DEVmWyiI9NJMfP3Xb1P_y9Mpamaek_OMKsHqJJxWYVL3O7D2HcTSxCexu3wvnkqz7J14y2BQFmEZf_XjhaT74B1ntfuJDGDBYMpMB8zoitJ2bgkzQwWgV2usk/s1600/polar-bear-calvin-nicholls.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619207670448830850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCss7jw9X4n8GeF_GV-DEVmWyiI9NJMfP3Xb1P_y9Mpamaek_OMKsHqJJxWYVL3O7D2HcTSxCexu3wvnkqz7J14y2BQFmEZf_XjhaT74B1ntfuJDGDBYMpMB8zoitJ2bgkzQwWgV2usk/s400/polar-bear-calvin-nicholls.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 318px;" title="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCss7jw9X4n8GeF_GV-DEVmWyiI9NJMfP3Xb1P_y9Mpamaek_OMKsHqJJxWYVL3O7D2HcTSxCexu3wvnkqz7J14y2BQFmEZf_XjhaT74B1ntfuJDGDBYMpMB8zoitJ2bgkzQwWgV2usk/s1600/polar-bear-calvin-nicholls.jpg" /></a><br />
The majority of Calvin's work is white on white, which leads one to better appreciate the astoundingly realistic fur and feathers via the play of light and shadows.<br />
<br />
He begins his sculptures with a drawn pattern, traces each component of the scene, transfers these to sculpture paper, and then cuts each one with a scalpel or X-acto knife on a cutting mat. Calvin uses very small amounts of glue to assemble the figure piece by piece, likening the process to shingling a roof.<br />
<br />
Calvin offers something that sounds ideal for you serious paper cutters ... schedule a Skype session with him to discuss materials, techniques, and tools of the trade. There's no better way to learn than a private lesson with a master in the field.<br />
<br />
Really... take a moment to visit Calvin's <a href="http://calvinnicholls.com/" target="_blank" title="http://calvinnicholls.com/">website</a>. I guarantee you'll be amazed by his awe-inspiring paper sculptures.<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 140%; margin: 0px;"> </div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 140%; margin: 0px;">First posted on All Things Paper blog 24 Jun 2011 06:06 AM PDT</div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-83898615240297775602011-05-08T15:02:00.000-04:002011-05-08T15:02:51.130-04:00Happy Mother's Day<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aT7wkuXMpZKHEbi5s5l79sHZzWRcZ3k0-3KIAlgZ32MTZASDL1onERQnbUfNccIlx1JjaE1TqoejT9HNlM-mtT-LJTWSWI9Rvb6gnSvirbHx8Yk3Z_TD-yXV0RmVEJAvuFvVEmHe7cPB/s1600/P1020538.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aT7wkuXMpZKHEbi5s5l79sHZzWRcZ3k0-3KIAlgZ32MTZASDL1onERQnbUfNccIlx1JjaE1TqoejT9HNlM-mtT-LJTWSWI9Rvb6gnSvirbHx8Yk3Z_TD-yXV0RmVEJAvuFvVEmHe7cPB/s400/P1020538.JPG" /></a> </div><br />To all the moms in my life I wish you a day of wonderful memories,<br />love, relaxation, appreciation, hugs and kisses.<br /><br />HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-75185810627067273472011-05-03T12:46:00.000-04:002011-05-03T12:46:49.901-04:00Poppy and The Bard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://www.tewahanui.info/wordpress2/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/041106bloggersdilem-x.gif" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">Due to my lack of knowledge, otherwise known as ignorance, of the world of blogging I find the above cartoon very appropriate. Wouldn't it be interesting to know what the great writers in history might provide the world of literature via their own blogs? My guess is that they would be overwhelmed by the possibilities just as I am. Of course, they would figure out all of the intricacies of the blogging world far faster than have I. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">After months of searching I have learned how to add an email subscription option to Poppylovesaparty.blogspot.com. To most people this would seem a simple task. To me, a person whose only true computer education was three days in a computer science class in 1975, the possibilities might as well be presented in Martian language. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">Oh yeah, the three days in computer science was shear misery. I dropped the class, added Art History and remember only that the computer was in an entirely different room than the classroom due to the size of the computer. I suppose I should have paid closer attention to the professor for those three days. I'm sure every bit of what was taught would be pertinent to today's computers. Or not! My art history knowledge does help me answer the occasional Jeopardy question. Obviously, I made a wise decision in my drop/add choice.</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">If you would prefer to receive up to date blog notices via email please enter your email address in the appropriate space on the blog page. </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">Thanks for your interest in Poppy Loves A Party. Each of you has helped me learn something new today.</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-43829633716046855922011-05-02T17:45:00.000-04:002011-05-02T17:45:58.409-04:00Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q9TJS7chTqoS2j6QGOb7hU3n_iXMIY7JfGr4xxiQnF6_IL0b-DrWn1LAQwUqdO5EjMLLr39IpscjRGJFs5DgO1C9Zj0q4MTgf66NnKgOYnFL7RzQaPkjcjCWaUJCNsFzL-sX5PbFdwjb/s1600/P1020533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q9TJS7chTqoS2j6QGOb7hU3n_iXMIY7JfGr4xxiQnF6_IL0b-DrWn1LAQwUqdO5EjMLLr39IpscjRGJFs5DgO1C9Zj0q4MTgf66NnKgOYnFL7RzQaPkjcjCWaUJCNsFzL-sX5PbFdwjb/s320/P1020533.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqCep58gbaIzsk1Dv9Cgo7599zfbJBTTACpIvlwhaX_K-EpMahKMSHzGrkYdrUU0uaTO2EmjpJ5itHHchtGK4IBbQbdzA26zSFzmcOSSRvtrPgK1vB8zAAT5i0aXFjpfCUMxlVe3zWoPV/s1600/P1020550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqCep58gbaIzsk1Dv9Cgo7599zfbJBTTACpIvlwhaX_K-EpMahKMSHzGrkYdrUU0uaTO2EmjpJ5itHHchtGK4IBbQbdzA26zSFzmcOSSRvtrPgK1vB8zAAT5i0aXFjpfCUMxlVe3zWoPV/s320/P1020550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbwKhryjEs2yrjLeJt9wHIqv8fT3ITyBuXsJGPgq57ukPBoQ6b-PtsDD9AKDSOI5Heuvr3go3hSkI5_NIGMhIdcJO2_fg9v6kEdBX16IaJpHevwh1gEVdySPpPDltkMf32DcWeqQ_w4y-/s1600/P1020538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbwKhryjEs2yrjLeJt9wHIqv8fT3ITyBuXsJGPgq57ukPBoQ6b-PtsDD9AKDSOI5Heuvr3go3hSkI5_NIGMhIdcJO2_fg9v6kEdBX16IaJpHevwh1gEVdySPpPDltkMf32DcWeqQ_w4y-/s200/P1020538.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4Sk811-kq0kJYdjFW08p-sv0D14X3mJgU-bETND93fyOgvIMcGA_WHAzRPblMa2xiLLd5Lycm5CaPYJbEE6-BIkoTF0jgnjjNopqO7HcqjdDY2_zw4bSfZQjxaLitW2EiLupKm09PulG/s1600/P1020578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4Sk811-kq0kJYdjFW08p-sv0D14X3mJgU-bETND93fyOgvIMcGA_WHAzRPblMa2xiLLd5Lycm5CaPYJbEE6-BIkoTF0jgnjjNopqO7HcqjdDY2_zw4bSfZQjxaLitW2EiLupKm09PulG/s320/P1020578.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>For more than 25 years I have used Fimo clay to create detailed jewelry and Christmas ornaments. Unfortunately, being a huge procrastinator, I found that for eight months of the year I was not in the mood for making holiday items. I remembered a customer from years ago who had told me that she framed my work so that she could enjoy it year round. At my age it's hard to remember my name much less something I was told years ago. That dim lightbulb in my head had a power surge and that memory gave me the inspiration to try something new. I would love to hear your thoughts on the new framed miniature art sculptures. I will be adding more on my Etsy shop soon but I wanted to give you guys a little preview. Thanks for looking.poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-32783362908117942522011-04-12T20:02:00.000-04:002011-04-12T20:02:21.688-04:00Party Planning for April 29, 2011If you're in the mood for a good royal wedding celebration be sure to check out the blog Design Editor at <a href="http://designeditor.typepad.com/design_editor/2011/04/free-royal-wedding-party-printables.html">http://designeditor.typepad.com/design_editor/2011/04/free-royal-wedding-party-printables.html</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Everything you could possibly need for a royal celebration except perhaps some royals. Maybe this will help.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://designwedding.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/prince-william-e-kate-middleton_280x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://designwedding.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/prince-william-e-kate-middleton_280x0.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ladies start your printers! Thanks to Design Editor for the terrific free printables.</div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-62199842672720043582011-04-07T23:50:00.000-04:002011-04-07T23:50:04.984-04:00I'll Share I Share<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9YInA&m=JkGZO0d_QVTIft&b=oIvcLE.lh4uFRkst8xdycw" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank" title="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9YInA&m=JkGZO0d_QVTIft&b=oIvcLE.lh4uFRkst8xdycw"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJdW8339TIg/TZOekjOVfdI/AAAAAAAABlU/A2CLcYGmtzw/s200/IMG_0740.JPG" title="http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9YInA&m=JkGZO0d_QVTIft&b=oIvcLE.lh4uFRkst8xdycw" width="150" /></a>If you are unfamiliar with I Share this is the perfect time to check it out. Free spring and Easter printables and craft ideas. I love when I get an I Share email! It means I'll be on the computer for a while downloading all kinds of great freebies. Be sure to sign up for the emails.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.isharecrafts.com/">http://www.isharecrafts.com/</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.ishareprintables.com/">http://www.ishareprintables.com/</a> </div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-79273242456310968882011-03-18T19:45:00.000-04:002011-03-18T19:45:41.550-04:00Don't Know Much About History or Where Did That Saying Come From?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; color: black; cssfloat: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="102" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUj3B2XWm6q_OdV-6ScLi9c2kQgZ6ERAxr76beMtzYyfC5ZbJCqSEEAoSVrtbWTrb0KG9r1omeRwqhRxXEjj-fyHUZEFs4_Ic4RUXGdRIUDpzGrzv2Kn5D9OWgaF5AzVGYu_x2O5DfH0/s1600-r/hooked-history-med2.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></span></div><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #660000;">And Etsy</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families<br />
used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken &<br />
sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive<br />
you were "Piss Poor"<br />
But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't<br />
even afford to buy a pot......they "didn't have a pot to<br />
piss in." They were the lowest of the low.<br />
<br />
The next time you are washing your hands and complain<br />
because the water temperature isn't just how you like it,<br />
think about how things used to be.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> <img alt="Peonies, Roses, and Plum Flowers Clay Floral Arrangement" height="135" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_170x135.198293168.jpg" width="170" /> Wedding bouquet of clay flowers</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> by <span style="color: blue;">simplybybex</span> on Etsy</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Most people got married in June because they took their<br />
yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by<br />
June.. However, since they were starting to smell, <br />
brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor,<br />
hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting<br />
married.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img alt="white wash tub, metal with shabby chipped enamel, 1/12 scale miniature" height="135" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_170x135.210165444.jpg" width="170" /> Wash tub <span style="color: black;">available</span> from </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span style="color: blue;">honeyandbee</span> on Etsy<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man<br />
of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then<br />
all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the<br />
children, last of all the babies. By then the water was so<br />
dirty you could actually lose someone in it, hence the<br />
saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<img alt="It's Raining Dogs . 8x10 Art Print" height="135" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_170x135.132127124.jpg" width="170" /> Print by <span style="color: blue;">3crows</span> on Etsy</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no<br />
wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get<br />
warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs)<br />
lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and<br />
sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof,<br />
hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There was nothing to stop things from falling into the<br />
house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs</span></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and other droppings could really mess with your clean bed. Hence a bed with</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">canopy beds came into existence.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<img alt="1:12 Scale Dollhouse Miniature Haunting Canopy Bed" height="135" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_170x135.217383509.jpg" width="170" /> Dollhouse miniature bed </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> by <span style="color: blue;">huesdesign </span><span style="color: black;">on Etsy</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">than dirt, hence the saying, "Dirt poor." </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">winter, when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">entrance way, hence, a thresh hold.<br />
<br />
(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><img alt="peas porridge hot, painting" height="200" src="http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_570xN.226120872.jpg" width="176" /> Peas Porridge Hot painting by</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="color: blue;">hyfunda</span> on Etsy</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big<br />
kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit<br />
the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly<br />
vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the<br />
stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold<br />
overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew<br />
had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence<br />
the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas<br />
porridge in the pot nine days old</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><img alt="Bacon Soap Strips 5 Slices Bacon Scented Soaps" height="135" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_170x135.224300653.jpg" width="170" /> Bacon soap strips by </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="color: blue;">Michellesthisandthat </span><span style="color: black;">on Etsy</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home<br />
the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests<br />
and would all sit around and chew the fat.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt<br />
bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests<br />
got the top, or the upper crust.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><img alt="3 Tomato Plants- 'Giant Belgium' - ORGANIC Spring '11" height="135" src="http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_170x135.199687855.jpg" width="170" /> Three tomato plants available</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> on Etsy from <span style="color: blue;">JBFFarms</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high<br />
acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food,<br />
causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with<br />
tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were<br />
considered poisonous.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination<br />
would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days.<br />
Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and<br />
prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen<br />
table for a couple of days and the family would gather<br />
around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake<br />
up hence the custom of holding a wake.</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="St. Mary's Church, Goudhurst" height="135" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_170x135.136313442.jpg" width="170" /> St. Mary's Church, Goudhurst<br />
print by <span style="color: blue;">boodlyhead</span> on Etsy<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">England</place></country-region> is old and small and the local folks started running<br />
out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins<br />
and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the<br />
grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins<br />
were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they<br />
realized they had been burying people alive... So they would<br />
tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the<br />
coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell.<br />
Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night<br />
(the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone<br />
could be saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How's that for some fun history? School's out. Have a fun </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">weekend wherever you are!</span><br />
<br />
<img alt="The I-want-to-have-fun Bowtie" height="135" src="http://ny-image2.etsy.com/il_170x135.222686022.jpg" width="170" /> The I Want to Have Fun Bowtie <br />
is available on Etsy from <br />
<span style="color: blue;">AnnaLisaTitolo </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-63932673019897434472011-03-04T14:01:00.000-05:002011-03-04T14:01:32.970-05:00Friday Giveaway on Children Inspire Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLtJ6Oh49839IdaYHORbvKXI4LUV6Yz_pIvvs0gbVHEaWSUWdP19HdQ6q1FKt70_Cf74lFITY2AxRacWx57XveZ9QCRWetGmZaYrBoR2QPSAG_z6tN3kdUH8ox-vQTJ2tZOOLdoJwgu1/s1600/giveaway+Children+inspire+3+4+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaLtJ6Oh49839IdaYHORbvKXI4LUV6Yz_pIvvs0gbVHEaWSUWdP19HdQ6q1FKt70_Cf74lFITY2AxRacWx57XveZ9QCRWetGmZaYrBoR2QPSAG_z6tN3kdUH8ox-vQTJ2tZOOLdoJwgu1/s200/giveaway+Children+inspire+3+4+11.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I love giveaways and Children Inspire Design has started offering a giveaway each Friday. Check out their site. There are loads of cute items and the possibility of winning a prize!<br />
<a href="http://childreninspiredesign.com/blog">http://childreninspiredesign.com/blog</a>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-16362056670557074002011-03-04T00:40:00.000-05:002011-03-04T00:40:46.373-05:00A Spectacular Party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlNKhVYYtSVifI0EA5cpb9zy0I-TZD2-gRYcIZkrgtqadJKCDskRFgcT1b9QkUUd8EvSN48xHcCVo9qFap1kL7yjHWNFoll_8gURajoGa35WVWHycDrPw1VKrVCSbdYLNickgb1ou7uCp/s1600/Owl-invitation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlNKhVYYtSVifI0EA5cpb9zy0I-TZD2-gRYcIZkrgtqadJKCDskRFgcT1b9QkUUd8EvSN48xHcCVo9qFap1kL7yjHWNFoll_8gURajoGa35WVWHycDrPw1VKrVCSbdYLNickgb1ou7uCp/s200/Owl-invitation.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>THE </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>CUTEST PARTY, EVER!!!!</strong></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BS5C3r_J4USKvhHLubcmKwLTqJgeE1FSxNzB8yD-gAK3W1OOvmM6WW6Spda2urG8vKbg2E4lS5OOVmC4bzbtvTg0FCYmbdW1WvN1Wg7bNw7ewo-PX8wMHGT_5DL_kEYmRcXxUT-F94SS/s1600/Owl-decor-bed-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BS5C3r_J4USKvhHLubcmKwLTqJgeE1FSxNzB8yD-gAK3W1OOvmM6WW6Spda2urG8vKbg2E4lS5OOVmC4bzbtvTg0FCYmbdW1WvN1Wg7bNw7ewo-PX8wMHGT_5DL_kEYmRcXxUT-F94SS/s320/Owl-decor-bed-3.jpg" width="227" /></a> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I adore this Night Owl Party idea!!! Would it be inappropriate for my 55th birthday? I think not! Let the planning begin!!! Be sure to check out Snowy Bliss' blog.poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-48671942222113030552011-02-23T11:16:00.000-05:002011-02-23T11:16:27.995-05:00How to Create a Birthday Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">How to Create a Party with a Theme You Know Nothing About</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL0C824thmLQAomVhYAgrcIU_WUQcg4K4NZ3PZhUcokcglGAs79a_jQOVcI6kDSWXcUfB6lev3C0ulvS6DVpp3DE4D4lZCDxUw-mB_I9erYMYc3dbRXOoIGh_-9tHhVnkswRdkswGOikZ/s1600/P1020121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPL0C824thmLQAomVhYAgrcIU_WUQcg4K4NZ3PZhUcokcglGAs79a_jQOVcI6kDSWXcUfB6lev3C0ulvS6DVpp3DE4D4lZCDxUw-mB_I9erYMYc3dbRXOoIGh_-9tHhVnkswRdkswGOikZ/s200/P1020121.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In my ongoing attempt to determine what career path lies ahead for a 54 year old woman with a degree in Interior Design and experience only as a mom and crafter I have offered my services in a number of different LEGAL ways. It was with great surprise when a young mom I know called asking my help in planning her daughter's ninth birthday party. The theme - <strong>The Sisters Grimm. </strong>Hmmm, I pondered and finally asked "who or what are The Sisters Grimm?" It seems they are the direct descendants of the Brothers Grimm living in today's world and encountering the many characters, with a few modern day twists, included in the stories of their ancestors. Never being one who learned to say "no", I agreed. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">I researched the series of books by reading every, and I do mean every, review of each book on Amazon.com taking copious notes as though I were preparing for the best term paper of all time. With each tidbit of information I determined that yet another task should be added to the plan. I might say that by this point I had long since stopped making any money and had not even created the first item for the party. This became a labor of love, a mission to be accomplished, a party to beat all parties, and the lowest paying job I have had since I tutored for my dad at the unbelievable hourly rate of 50 cents an hour. The week before the party I went 31 hours without sleep and then two nights later 34 hours with no sleep. I decided at that point that this was not a wise career path. My husband did note that I seemed to be having fun creating my masterpiece party and he was right. I delivered the decorations to the mother of the birthday girl on the Wednesday before the Friday evening event. She didn't seem overly enthusiastic and I felt very let down. On Friday afternoon I delivered the cake topper and was invited in to see how the house had been decorated. The birthday girl and her sister more than made up for the mom's initial reaction to my offerings. The excitement was palpable. The younger sister asked every ten minutes, "how much longer until the party". As The Sisters Grimm series does have mystery, danger, and adventure some of the stories can be a bit dark and so the color scheme was black and white. The birthday girl wanted only to be assured that there would be a "Pin the Tail on the Wolf" game. Is it wrong that the wolf I created had eaten Red Riding Hood? The menu for the evening was equally as interesting "Squid Ink Pasta with Green Gravy" and Ada's Happily Everafter Dream Cake. I have yet to receive a report on how the black pasta (food coloring) and green gravy (Alfredo sauce and more food coloring) was received. I based the cake topper on the cover picture of one of the books and included the "birthday girl" with the Sisters Grimm from the illustration. Hopefully, my party design caused no traumatic psychological damage to the party guests. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">My biggest fear now is that the younger sister is going to want a party "just like her sister's!" Aaarrrggghhh!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7-nPcdczytNcwtvu6vX4T9ox2gFBGXUkknCe4zOfWqkpi7RbYEbdgFJ2lYNh9N78GYfO6viwhRTirSTM8n3CHnBkE0uIhNhgo0SQcPHOrRSwzAdVtjp33ryFmOfRqqCZaFbEwb8sOVRh/s1600/P1020109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7-nPcdczytNcwtvu6vX4T9ox2gFBGXUkknCe4zOfWqkpi7RbYEbdgFJ2lYNh9N78GYfO6viwhRTirSTM8n3CHnBkE0uIhNhgo0SQcPHOrRSwzAdVtjp33ryFmOfRqqCZaFbEwb8sOVRh/s200/P1020109.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squid Ink Pasta and Green Gravy, YUM!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Party!</span></strong> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrBVKgQZyqUT3H7TMB8UFz09HsxykImiLQlXAcegf5pL1L95bBm0SX2cvcenKipGAFIvx6qJtohvzKthX_ks39e5Bu5yImeOxRALPr48Er3BzUuJu94D_BBl3APYBmbnxP4ZTfmktK_0d/s1600/P1020108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrBVKgQZyqUT3H7TMB8UFz09HsxykImiLQlXAcegf5pL1L95bBm0SX2cvcenKipGAFIvx6qJtohvzKthX_ks39e5Bu5yImeOxRALPr48Er3BzUuJu94D_BBl3APYBmbnxP4ZTfmktK_0d/s200/P1020108.JPG" width="200" /></span></strong></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">The Sisters Grimm - Book 8 </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: small;">Cake Topper</span></strong><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6X5eZcL4kZkC8ZLusnA4TjEW_dxpd6pLRaYJqDu2HBb4gR21F0WZLiV2vrYTClXdPt9WIu9o4aw5Onvi1FfQ5I27d2GkbaHREW2aEcFjrsQkTXRJ-Pq0vpzPNmdneeQeEtoy7Fz8WoUI4/s1600/P1020113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6X5eZcL4kZkC8ZLusnA4TjEW_dxpd6pLRaYJqDu2HBb4gR21F0WZLiV2vrYTClXdPt9WIu9o4aw5Onvi1FfQ5I27d2GkbaHREW2aEcFjrsQkTXRJ-Pq0vpzPNmdneeQeEtoy7Fz8WoUI4/s200/P1020113.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin the Tail on the Wolf Game</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-2532253715521743212011-02-22T13:57:00.000-05:002011-02-22T13:57:23.146-05:00A Story to be SharedAs I was creating a polymer clay treasury for Etsy I discovered this profile of D. Antonia Truesdale. For some reason I began reading her profile story and am compelled by something much more than myself to share it with you. While you read and cry your heart will become full of appreciation of this lovely young woman and her young friend. Please feel free to share the story with others.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Why I Sculpt Child Angels</strong></span><br />
<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINPiSVOdQuv6sD3L4ov2arcO9L-nGpYeQ2NcY8WV2L-hUlqN7_WT0_bWMnz2CfdH4I4cFSngE-6zFAQwQSwpNQQueR3zrA9_mLIpioPQ4C7Sv2ErAizYIWzHpuEDeX5RpIeZ5aOva071w/s1600/angel+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINPiSVOdQuv6sD3L4ov2arcO9L-nGpYeQ2NcY8WV2L-hUlqN7_WT0_bWMnz2CfdH4I4cFSngE-6zFAQwQSwpNQQueR3zrA9_mLIpioPQ4C7Sv2ErAizYIWzHpuEDeX5RpIeZ5aOva071w/s200/angel+baby.jpg" width="200" /></a>Christopher Brown was really little. In a class of third graders he was teeniest among all of us. He was also the most spirited. I adored him, so we fought constantly. I was a masochist for those bickerings and used to stare at the small gap between his front teeth as his mouth moved around them proving me wrong in little bursts of animation.</div><br />
This is not a story about childhood love. It is not a story about friendship. Despite the presence of these things, this is pure ache and a lesson I wish I never learned. I will not go into sharing the details of what made Christopher a spectacular being wrapped up in the package of an 8 year old boy. I trust you find me credible and will believe this. I also ask that despite the longevity, in Chris' honor you read this.<br />
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On the first day of summer vacation in 1989, Christopher was playing baseball with his brother, sister, and babysitter in his back yard and the ball went over the fence into a neighboring construction site. He climbed his swing set onto his father's shed, then jumped from the shed roof over the fence to get the ball. I cannot picture this in my head (either because the logistics are not clear or because my mind is protecting itself from this visual) but when Christopher jumped the fence his hand hit a latch on a crane which released two cement highway dividers. He fell and they fell on top of him. A very cherished 8 year old lost his life that day.<br />
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There was no closure. My mother felt that attending the services would be too traumatic and kept me from saying goodbye in person. I understand, but still. I agonized for years about this, even into young adulthood. So many blanks I could not fill in. I did not know where he was interned, when his birthday was. The specific day he died. Every milestone I had, I wished for him. On first days of school I would find his seat in class and then mentally spite the child who sat there. On last days of school I would be sick at the excitement around me. I'd imagine Chris's thoughts as the final bell rang and he dreamt of ponds and trails and popcorn at the drive-in, not knowing he would die by next nightfall. For years I just carried him with me. The night before my high school graduation I dreamed of him approaching through the crowd, as grown as I, and hugging me. In tears I type this.<br />
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In my second year of college I became desperate, not for closure, but for closeness to Chris and wanted so badly to connect with his family. With such a common last name they felt impossible to find. All I could do was speak of him often and hope someone connected. One day this exact thing happened, and by fate a woman scrawled an address on scrap paper and sent me away with it. I finally had a portal to his family and despite years of longing for contact, I had no idea how I could begin to express my heart to them. <br />
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Honestly I do not recall the specific details of the sentiment that I poured into 7 handwritten pages, but my message was strong and clear. I missed Christopher, I loved him still, and I REMEMBERED. Always I remembered him. The letter I received back I held with trembling hands, but never could I have been prepared for what Christopher's mother would share with me.<br />
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She spoke of the myriad of emotions that my letter brought forth, and I expected that would be the case. She broke me down entirely when she went on to write that receiving my letter was a true miracle that had breathed new life into their son. She shared that tragically, the loss of Christopher was so painful for others that he became rarely spoken of.<br />
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To hear that Christopher not only lost his life but also his legacy was the greatest shame imaginable. My small but bursting childhood friend had become lost to the world. Was truly buried. I cried for days. She later wrote that the greatest gift I had given them was sharing his memory with other people and allowing him to live on in this way.. Mary and I stay in touch and I am smiling this moment over the profound friendship I found in Christopher's mother.<br />
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I visit his grave when I am happy and seek to share that with him. I go there when I am hurt so I can have solitude but not be alone. My husband and I picnic with our young daughters there and they like the bells that softly chime in the fir overhanging his grave site. He is truly my forever friend, and my gift to him is ensuring that despite his life being stifled, his legacy never will be. Now you know Christopher. He was small, mighty, and magnificent. I would be beyond humbled should anyone repost his story as daily I fear that in his 8 short-lived and bittersweet years of childhood, not enough people had the chance to know his name.<br />
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Christopher's mother shared with me that one of the greatest gifts I gave to them was sharing his goodness with others and allowing the memory of him to live on. This was a gift I could not stop giving to Chris and his family, and with it I achieved the opposite of closure. It burst open a door for me and truly inspired fire in my heart, because it was then that I saw a very clear window into the lives of bereaved parents. One of the things that stood out profoundly to me was need. The need for their children to be acknowledged, celebrated, spoken about. The need to know others remember. The need for a LEGACY.<br />
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Sculpting the ever-present bond between parents and children who touch the stars too soon is truly my heart's work and daily I startle at the extreme honor of being so blessed to be able to do this. My goal was to create something for parents to display for others which would then evoke conversation. I really wanted to be able to create some tangible way for parents to show others that it is okay to talk about their children and for my sculptures to be a “starting place”. In my heart of hearts I pray that people see these pieces and realize that despite the overwhelming pain in losing a child, there is healing for parents to simply know people remember.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINPiSVOdQuv6sD3L4ov2arcO9L-nGpYeQ2NcY8WV2L-hUlqN7_WT0_bWMnz2CfdH4I4cFSngE-6zFAQwQSwpNQQueR3zrA9_mLIpioPQ4C7Sv2ErAizYIWzHpuEDeX5RpIeZ5aOva071w/s1600/angel+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINPiSVOdQuv6sD3L4ov2arcO9L-nGpYeQ2NcY8WV2L-hUlqN7_WT0_bWMnz2CfdH4I4cFSngE-6zFAQwQSwpNQQueR3zrA9_mLIpioPQ4C7Sv2ErAizYIWzHpuEDeX5RpIeZ5aOva071w/s320/angel+baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-63419760415440277232011-01-25T11:18:00.000-05:002011-01-25T11:18:30.813-05:00Valentine Fun<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3356" height="246" src="http://onecharmingparty.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/valentinesintro2.jpg" title="valentinesintro" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">For those of you who still have children at home or are fortunate to have grandchildren</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>One Charming Party</strong> </span><span style="color: black;">has some wonderful ideas for Valentine fun. I'll have to pass on the Valentine Pickup game. I've yet to master the art of chopsticks. Thanks to </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>One Charming Party</strong> <span style="color: black;">for sharing wonderful ideas all the time. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Please check out <a href="http://onecharmingparty.com/">http://onecharmingparty.com/</a> . It's one great blog!</div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-40185534804044862232011-01-17T18:30:00.000-05:002011-01-17T18:30:11.112-05:00It's All About Helping<a href="http://www.triplem.com.au/brisbane/shows/thecage/photos/your-flood-pictures" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="13.1.11: Brisbane Convention centre under water. dougoldmeadow@TwitPic"><img alt="13.1.11: Picture taken of Rocklea markets from Chopper. TheQldPremier@TwitPic" height="265" id="mImg" src="http://images.triplem.com.au/2011/01/13/517353/brisbane-flooding32-600x400.jpg" title="13.1.11: Picture taken of Rocklea markets from Chopper. TheQldPremier@TwitPic" width="400" /></a><br />
I received an email from Etsy today about a wonderful Etsy team working together to help those affected by the horrible flooding in Australia. This is a photo from Brisbane. The team is offering different items for sale with all or a percentage of the proceeds going to <a href="http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/index.aspx" style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Premier's Flood Relief Appeal</a>. On this day of remembrance let's help those in need.poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-26414396962182860162011-01-14T14:55:00.000-05:002011-01-14T14:55:53.954-05:00Still SurfingAs I continue to spend the day surfing, internet not ocean, I have come across a giveaway with a simple entry. <a href="http://www.childreninspiredesign.com/blog">http://www.childreninspiredesign.com/blog</a> is starting a Friday giveaway. This week in particular I believe that their prize is important. The question to answer is "Which of the manners we learned as children could change the world?" Please take the time to go to the site, answer the question, enter the contest and mention that you learned about the blog from me. Even if none of us should win a bit of thought on this topic can benefit everyone. Thanks guys and Good Luck!!!!poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-14249584960283126742011-01-14T14:04:00.000-05:002011-01-14T14:04:47.215-05:00You Just Have to See These!When you can't leave your house and you really want to enjoy what others do - it's time for an Internet Surf!<br />
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<a href="http://kingofmicestudios.blogspot.com/">http://kingofmicestudios.blogspot.com/</a> <span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Isn't this beautiful?????<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561139568764754674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouDICuCDmC3uoTImApVad_Fed9NIERvXt-FPFR0j27Lhy9weqc-T73L-Z1ukiIUJ_05n2Lk8ZDAyMFjGJNKMw-TLzhe2Lfly7SZ7txQQLWrF7wURXto66poyN9h8pq6lkTYarV_P5Dqo/s400/valtrayblog.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 277px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouWtduR1jLRIPwQXPThCu-GXmIpiIGbL_2xXALy3MsaTFviQTihnkLUd-cLZad_6_JL0au9zcIORy2wVyukbRglHHX0qIwhaQUjCsoypTxMJCZ4ga67vWDW3WehhNJUixoAA4RSf7jyw/s930-r/NewEveryday_banner_rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Get Your Daily Snips....Snippet Girl talks Art and Animals" border="0" height="193" id="Header1_headerimg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouWtduR1jLRIPwQXPThCu-GXmIpiIGbL_2xXALy3MsaTFviQTihnkLUd-cLZad_6_JL0au9zcIORy2wVyukbRglHHX0qIwhaQUjCsoypTxMJCZ4ga67vWDW3WehhNJUixoAA4RSf7jyw/s930-r/NewEveryday_banner_rev.jpg" style="display: block;" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Don't miss this one either <a href="http://www.snippetgirl.blogspot.com/">http://www.snippetgirl.blogspot.com/</a> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>So cute you'll just have to smile!</strong></span>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-65996132993956246612011-01-14T13:13:00.000-05:002011-01-14T13:13:12.562-05:00A Little Recognition for Those Who Are HelpingI totally forgot to give links to the downloads. Thanks to <a href="http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/">http://www.yesterdayontuesday.com/</a> and <br />
<a href="http://www.thegivingmadam.blogspot.com/">http://www.thegivingmadam.blogspot.com/</a> . Be sure to check out both of these sources for great fun and inspiration.poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-42564946731894003682011-01-14T13:04:00.000-05:002011-01-14T13:04:12.149-05:00Distractions from the Snow <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYBFeyGZVkv_vUC4T7ckHojX-WEeK6ikMx2M7T85nU2WB6d7u9tPgg7i9C3aeXFEfra5jJszl6W7pvoudb1fgGqe4iqdyGsEkFBIx7rRnyzpaevrQTrAoly1qLUaVj7H6Xvkf2XF8u1Zj/s1600/168906_10100195145388920_4932658_60064787_2056162_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYBFeyGZVkv_vUC4T7ckHojX-WEeK6ikMx2M7T85nU2WB6d7u9tPgg7i9C3aeXFEfra5jJszl6W7pvoudb1fgGqe4iqdyGsEkFBIx7rRnyzpaevrQTrAoly1qLUaVj7H6Xvkf2XF8u1Zj/s200/168906_10100195145388920_4932658_60064787_2056162_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not an ice skating rink <br />
except for this week</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxQEEvpJ1Y59HoQ9ve8ZY_o0GSIPTRdoz2O4Utq8-ZVKn4wSuZ3zlnfQqIgRuuDeSdqq5eJ1IrX9rhao2zglzuRrhToZ9Z3dd_eM0OsFMy4ZxvUN15-j3s7TCfQLmXqCz_AJvT-1IcD5h/s1600/167411_10100195156945760_4932658_60065193_3397997_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxQEEvpJ1Y59HoQ9ve8ZY_o0GSIPTRdoz2O4Utq8-ZVKn4wSuZ3zlnfQqIgRuuDeSdqq5eJ1IrX9rhao2zglzuRrhToZ9Z3dd_eM0OsFMy4ZxvUN15-j3s7TCfQLmXqCz_AJvT-1IcD5h/s200/167411_10100195156945760_4932658_60065193_3397997_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, yeah it's pretty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4cC7yS8UgwGLS-mgVLRCB5Ok9ps4Wzvp6wwjMnIzEeYL0_2jl_Jq3OJC0hPikL1q769Jny108qZCz0Z_Jb0-SxpekD4jOWThyQmr3DjcBQm7RuFyuxWE-ISB2hd76-8r2jwarajly2fx/s1600/167180_10100195148562560_4932658_60064892_4331628_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4cC7yS8UgwGLS-mgVLRCB5Ok9ps4Wzvp6wwjMnIzEeYL0_2jl_Jq3OJC0hPikL1q769Jny108qZCz0Z_Jb0-SxpekD4jOWThyQmr3DjcBQm7RuFyuxWE-ISB2hd76-8r2jwarajly2fx/s200/167180_10100195148562560_4932658_60064892_4331628_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Major Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am not a lover of snow. I make that statement happily and with no guilt. I moved south to avoid the possibility. Little did I know that Atlanta was not far enough. I am now considering a move to the Galapagos Islands. It's always warm there! I have not stepped foot outside since Sunday morning, January 9, 2011. Cabin fever has long since left my mind and I am now but a prisoner in my own home. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYluj-f_mYRePEhUoWGnlhdScrvaXdsefMjvXz3_B2u35WMkI1Cfm5oNvyi7MAv2Mbd6nhOom824fA7D765vu9ELlkdefvzc7LtK98-CSCI8okfVmCYsm0NHcmS68R9474uJJj8XYsvQ/s1600/044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYluj-f_mYRePEhUoWGnlhdScrvaXdsefMjvXz3_B2u35WMkI1Cfm5oNvyi7MAv2Mbd6nhOom824fA7D765vu9ELlkdefvzc7LtK98-CSCI8okfVmCYsm0NHcmS68R9474uJJj8XYsvQ/s200/044.jpg" width="200" /></a>My day was brightened by a wonderful post on the blog Yesterday on Tuesday. Loads of fun, free, downloadable Valentine printables. I can't wait to get started!</div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-17893891964170480332011-01-06T21:14:00.000-05:002011-01-06T21:14:24.603-05:00Sometimes A Mom Just Has to BragI had intended to share a photo of the magnificent art my daughter created as part of my Christmas gift but this afternoon I learned that an item from the Etsy shop she opened on January 1, 2011 has been included in an Etsy Treasury. <u><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/tr4d237242757a6d91b6d657ee/leafyeasury/">http://www.etsy.com/tr4d237242757a6d91b6d657ee/leafyeasury/</a></span> </span></span></u><br />
She has a lot more to add to her shop. She teaches high school math and only has a little time on weekends to really work on her shop. Check out her shop: <a href="http://www.epkart.etsy.com/">http://www.epkart.etsy.com/</a> Her photography is fascinating. She and I can take a picture of what I think is the same thing but she sees it from an angle that I never see. Be sure to look at the photo titled Amicolola Truck - every time I look at it the music from the movie Deliverance starts playing in my head! <br />
A mathematician's brain and an artist's brain combined in one brain is an amazing thing to watch develop over the years of a child's life.<br />
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<div align="center">This is what I received Christmas morning</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQchq12OC-tUGAsQEhwq26jhfVYEQDEkvDB0LS2UJHXFE5qZOPmteaT61Adu2FKylJ9-lZ5z9wSb_TlOP2o1IhAyJm2QdoRZPb_VM_LyhV3fwHBnZNkupkwRxebj0VV5-pQdOlTZQq1JRK/s1600/P1020095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQchq12OC-tUGAsQEhwq26jhfVYEQDEkvDB0LS2UJHXFE5qZOPmteaT61Adu2FKylJ9-lZ5z9wSb_TlOP2o1IhAyJm2QdoRZPb_VM_LyhV3fwHBnZNkupkwRxebj0VV5-pQdOlTZQq1JRK/s320/P1020095.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is what I received on New Year's Day</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh358MZc1o8moykUj-H-jKC1p__ydu2zupFVSP52-HyYWfyJyAvPcQ1QD908PlaDTAcrBCvlJePSJetGDHscld-_lBAtcolAC8EAuCo6r8VkdmcWqB9U9JAgNncWQlq3VaKAjjDyT0_8Vxb/s1600/emilys+photo.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh358MZc1o8moykUj-H-jKC1p__ydu2zupFVSP52-HyYWfyJyAvPcQ1QD908PlaDTAcrBCvlJePSJetGDHscld-_lBAtcolAC8EAuCo6r8VkdmcWqB9U9JAgNncWQlq3VaKAjjDyT0_8Vxb/s320/emilys+photo.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handcut layers of matboard between three layers of glass. The bird appears in one of her photos.<br />
You can notice some of the dimension in the second picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA8M1CMvHiiZiea2C5lLVHDBS0D2IeDVU_kTOfCtf2IhZS_fZZLonlj3Etyhywg9FcR3phCZTJBGgXXvyIe3fU7frqovf5vY_59hPXmfY0nSIEU0aqYEm5AQUmLr6nEb9YD-j49Nu8ksN/s1600/165147_10100190675087440_4932658_59929099_5559016_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOA8M1CMvHiiZiea2C5lLVHDBS0D2IeDVU_kTOfCtf2IhZS_fZZLonlj3Etyhywg9FcR3phCZTJBGgXXvyIe3fU7frqovf5vY_59hPXmfY0nSIEU0aqYEm5AQUmLr6nEb9YD-j49Nu8ksN/s320/165147_10100190675087440_4932658_59929099_5559016_n.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kZYLTcKFyiWap52xA5KtIfhKnefNsI7dyzxC6ZaozkrNtU1fyP-Yd4Q-_cgY6AhtbrLiECDNpjtVfDhdoRTD-2JtF-sPYTPSU_zc8lq8v8y1Ya8tfc0y8qfYNPBGVHkj7oGYMmMGMshD/s1600/155391_10100171056982280_4932658_59368437_8234052_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a>I am a seriously proud and happy mom! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-42597070873544744342010-12-28T20:40:00.001-05:002010-12-28T20:42:34.313-05:00Who is Martha Stewart and why is she ruining my Christmas?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At what point did women sell their souls to Martha Stewart and her like? She's not known for being nice or for playing fair. She is not someone our mothers would be proud for us to emulate. We are strong, independent women living in a time when those qualities are admired and appreciated and yet, when Christmas rolls around we all want to be Martha. We have been bitten by the evil little Martha </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">bug. It's a horrible creature that drills itself into your brain boring ever deeper convincing you that you must be like Martha all the while knowing that it is an impossible task. In my quest for Marthadom I now have half of a two car garage filled with Christmas decorations. Trees for every room. Ornaments collected from around the world. Even a giant Santa chair. There is no vaccine for this bug only a series of painful shots after you have been bitten. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My New Year's Resolution is this - Martha Stewart will be gone from my Christmas season brain. I will endure the painful anti-Martha shots, I won't even peek at a Martha magazine after July, and above all else, I vow that all future Christmases will be non-Martha like.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Join with me as I say farewell and good riddance to excessive Christmas stress caused by my need to be</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">like Martha. One tree, loads of ornaments, a wreath and a lot of guilt for not being Martha will become my Christmas of the future.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
I had considered going so far as to merely post a Word document stating a simple "Merry Christmas" only later determining that even if Martha were to do it I couldn't.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i5ppUHi4VJVhAC2L8GUY6u9lAP5ve5QL-JzZ6J9nnQ-VLA1UZ-r-a8-5yWyHkQvl_QuUKosL4ypKxydOkg2QUvT-J2Qe_URo0VoKYkhWCB4rCVAzjBJxk9RsyHzbgFJ1Id3K8HtWxGUu/s1600/P1020017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-i5ppUHi4VJVhAC2L8GUY6u9lAP5ve5QL-JzZ6J9nnQ-VLA1UZ-r-a8-5yWyHkQvl_QuUKosL4ypKxydOkg2QUvT-J2Qe_URo0VoKYkhWCB4rCVAzjBJxk9RsyHzbgFJ1Id3K8HtWxGUu/s320/P1020017.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">History making White Christmas in Atlanta<br />
First in 128 years</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3PzObEKvtV3E3xiS4JQCbhIbqVMjG-Ui5tiHdv3jv-hST6nKuo_36kNpTBLoANNs2yrZYYhi1Jb793fRnA3ZaSohW8GQ6lauxJYPlE0l89NDmrRqTtglypMsGVVnHYvQ9noTjNsbCYMY/s1600/P1020023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3PzObEKvtV3E3xiS4JQCbhIbqVMjG-Ui5tiHdv3jv-hST6nKuo_36kNpTBLoANNs2yrZYYhi1Jb793fRnA3ZaSohW8GQ6lauxJYPlE0l89NDmrRqTtglypMsGVVnHYvQ9noTjNsbCYMY/s320/P1020023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garland ornaments purchased from Rafe on Etsy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4BKY7cWZb2dVFP-N3ArmcdUeEYXdEsY9egLv_LHz1P615GGSIrJHdx70lsZtSYK5DsLzL4FKVJSU0hDqcxfO1-8QA0uABXAOBa_Egci4WAWheedxPBFMsMDGD8ajMyt7afdCovlaO1CT/s1600/P1020037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4BKY7cWZb2dVFP-N3ArmcdUeEYXdEsY9egLv_LHz1P615GGSIrJHdx70lsZtSYK5DsLzL4FKVJSU0hDqcxfO1-8QA0uABXAOBa_Egci4WAWheedxPBFMsMDGD8ajMyt7afdCovlaO1CT/s320/P1020037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa's giant chair, who needs an elf on the shelf <br />
when you have this?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3UafuHmBwuz7KAdJlVN2K8AzAvicdHmwFfkazIvnc7qpwY815sdnnUzY9M7ZH8UMiH0e1HGytwHFDts37oAdaNC7ekJMFjbvwLEAMgR03zl2xoUhiyF1v4Mm4RziEFg_DaLCXL0ullJM/s1600/P1020072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3UafuHmBwuz7KAdJlVN2K8AzAvicdHmwFfkazIvnc7qpwY815sdnnUzY9M7ZH8UMiH0e1HGytwHFDts37oAdaNC7ekJMFjbvwLEAMgR03zl2xoUhiyF1v4Mm4RziEFg_DaLCXL0ullJM/s320/P1020072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite gift! I love unusual nativity sets.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIxkXdtN7cs1veOfiAvskO4h4Il8mIHHGG8W8XVwT2FVVdVvpOFmOCqw8u-NFtZEJKEuh2qbVpyesPle3tqdA9JETkhbe9A3eLGY658vEJVm2jXY6QiuML1IU2PLQXG5HFHp9APSgrbpb/s1600/P1020086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIxkXdtN7cs1veOfiAvskO4h4Il8mIHHGG8W8XVwT2FVVdVvpOFmOCqw8u-NFtZEJKEuh2qbVpyesPle3tqdA9JETkhbe9A3eLGY658vEJVm2jXY6QiuML1IU2PLQXG5HFHp9APSgrbpb/s320/P1020086.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My creations only tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTUtf5z-j-OKO-CqqqDvCJiKzx6zsjlL36lRqKBXCszQLUSWbSFKQuSbneH3S_QMSex0CL8Pyfi4e-MoApcYtFlsZp7NxR-RuASninwdNyKGzhA4ciIH4L3iv7sOnjtYcqmtxrHs-7nYx/s1600/P1020043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTUtf5z-j-OKO-CqqqDvCJiKzx6zsjlL36lRqKBXCszQLUSWbSFKQuSbneH3S_QMSex0CL8Pyfi4e-MoApcYtFlsZp7NxR-RuASninwdNyKGzhA4ciIH4L3iv7sOnjtYcqmtxrHs-7nYx/s320/P1020043.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martha made me do it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFwdbGT4S0orbN5pY8joq_IB4DMYksyv7R5N24oIi0C33fSpT2UVOgKtaNw9ZjCqQzVBFy4sOMmhZb0L3HLunTR_hmqlEVeH_BjJI7iSr3DDvJXImJwBPaEI9bre6HRc5Ss6_pVIA0iU1/s1600/P1020044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFwdbGT4S0orbN5pY8joq_IB4DMYksyv7R5N24oIi0C33fSpT2UVOgKtaNw9ZjCqQzVBFy4sOMmhZb0L3HLunTR_hmqlEVeH_BjJI7iSr3DDvJXImJwBPaEI9bre6HRc5Ss6_pVIA0iU1/s320/P1020044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tree that decorates itself! This actually started as less<br />
than a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. I purchased it as an<br />
orange stick potted in a VERY small pot that all fit inside a<br />
twelve inch by three inch box in 2004. I don't have a <br />
green thumb. I think it's one of those plants that thrives<br />
on neglect. This has been its most productive season.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcydmgF2xmSXqNSjnLQS2lYeXnR5DxqqntB7tt6VCG7QTU8Z6ssxUIGs5kv3XxZZVKQ7BEA08QN2Z2Oi6fVUy6iVZhblxc5llpe1c4A2dAr-yaBph-Qgwagdaw9NxySJxYoOtbeebJQtG/s1600/P1020054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcydmgF2xmSXqNSjnLQS2lYeXnR5DxqqntB7tt6VCG7QTU8Z6ssxUIGs5kv3XxZZVKQ7BEA08QN2Z2Oi6fVUy6iVZhblxc5llpe1c4A2dAr-yaBph-Qgwagdaw9NxySJxYoOtbeebJQtG/s320/P1020054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All of my Christmas decor should be put back in its non-seasonal home by March 1. I'm sure Martha has a rule about putting away decorations by a certain date but I don't have a staff to boss around with harsh criticism and lack of appreciation and as of January 1, 2011 Martha will be vanquished from my life.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">To each of you I wish a very happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year and easier Christmas decorting in the future! Thanks for being a part of my life!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="right" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-27316091688750416842010-12-28T09:57:00.000-05:002010-12-28T09:57:40.490-05:00A Most Amazing Discovery - Papercuts, sketches, and travel<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The blog world is an amazing place for discovering spectacular creations of artists. Thanks to Becky at</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="http://www.hopewellcreek.blogspot.com/">http://www.hopewellcreek.blogspot.com/</a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I learned of yet another fantastic blog and project. Please take time to visit </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="http://www.isabellasart.blogspot.com/">http://www.isabellasart.blogspot.com/</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">to see the Isabella's beautiful art and learn about a fascinating project. Isabella is participating in the Artists Journal project, a collection of almost 30,000 artists from more than 90 countries. When complete the collection will become a traveling exhibit throughout the U.S. with its final home being the Brooklyn Art Library. Isabella's journal would be worthy of an exhibition on its own, but thinking about an exhibition of so many talented artists, their thoughts and sketches in a traveling exhibit throughout the U.S. is mind boggling. I am so looking forward to visiting the exhibit! Be sure to check out both of the above mentioned blogs for an amazing view into the lives of two wonderful artists.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyygsRIIh_DkMlmdRn5-6438YnFjGELIhb75Efmom2FYd-nDGI756yC_MQ0EvMBxq3kB1my63gDE2aZvu_tQLrhIvFZgXvEE7IQJ0VKum5vyOKFKBewvBPJ6lORZEaS9BIOQ1B375nmo/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542024424928444770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyygsRIIh_DkMlmdRn5-6438YnFjGELIhb75Efmom2FYd-nDGI756yC_MQ0EvMBxq3kB1my63gDE2aZvu_tQLrhIvFZgXvEE7IQJ0VKum5vyOKFKBewvBPJ6lORZEaS9BIOQ1B375nmo/s320/4.jpg" style="height: 258px; width: 320px;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a small example of the amazing entries in Isabella's journal.</div>poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581750858593233257.post-66635390951648766732010-12-23T01:33:00.000-05:002010-12-23T01:33:29.335-05:00A Few Keepers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiZzgs7oaDMJm6my43gAhwtTI4vD3-KFbVSj7JO07aXdZ6S_52wLRdxzJbxHocFgkz3Wz8u_FpBRM9indRF0_IDHFTYGcv8kaHrkw70d0_J4l2j59Q57X3S8DqqVoSGqUIM52_OYjKIm1/s1600/P1010976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiZzgs7oaDMJm6my43gAhwtTI4vD3-KFbVSj7JO07aXdZ6S_52wLRdxzJbxHocFgkz3Wz8u_FpBRM9indRF0_IDHFTYGcv8kaHrkw70d0_J4l2j59Q57X3S8DqqVoSGqUIM52_OYjKIm1/s320/P1010976.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Sometimes it's difficult selling certain ornaments that I know took days to make. Those ornaments very often stay with me and are added to my "Poppy Tree" decorated with only ornaments made by me. This Santa is less than four inches tall! It's all tiny pieces of Fimo clay, no paint, and probably a lot of my fingerprints. It is by far my favorite ornament of any I've every made.poppy lovesapartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057497355195425391noreply@blogger.com4