Friends

As I mentioned in my gratitude post yesterday I received some mail love this past week. I couldn't find the card online but it is similar and from the same series as this one.

It said on the front:

"Awake, my dear.
Be kind to your sleeping heart.
Take it out into the vast
field of light
And let it breathe."

Inside she just wrote a very touching message. I have been having lots of insomnia and her words were a comfort.

Beautiful Day

We have had a lot going on here lately. So we just needed a little break. After making a delivery to a neighboring town, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up impromtu picnic supplies. And took the long way back to Grand Junction stopping to have a picnic up on the Mesa. There is still snow up there but it wasn't too cold. Just a cool breeze. And a beautiful view of the San Juan mountain range.

On our way up we stopped in a little town that had a distillary. We took a little tour and the owner was very passionate about it. And we could relate as we are pretty passionate about our business too. Michael had a drink of the whiskey and he said it was incredibly smooth.

While driving up, I had one of those moments that choked me up. Because I realized how blessed I am. I was able to spend the day with my love in our beautiful state just enjoying a nice spring day. It was truly a beautiful day in so many ways.

Leaving for Keystone

We are leaving this morning for Keystone. Keystone is a beautiful mountain ski restort. We have work there so will be there until Friday. We both are getting over colds so although we are looking forward to getting away (even work-related) - I know it will probably set us back in our colds as we be so busy.

When we get back, I have several projects to work on. But hopefully I will get back into blogging more consistantly.

Christmas Ornaments - Part 2

Just a few Santa ornaments...which seem to be a favorite of ours. The one that my Aunt and Uncle gave us is a favorite of Michael's and mine. The 2008 Santa is called the Magic Man. We also have another yearly ornament coming but it won't be here until Wednesday. It is one that we were really searching for and having some problems. But did find one we liked on Cafe Press.

Just some daily stuff...Thursday night I made several batches of candy and then got dough ready to bake today. I made chocolate caramels, maple fudge, chocolate fudge and festive bark. I mixed dough up for molasses cookies, sour cream cookies, cardamom butter cut out cookies and cream cheese slice cookies. I haven't baked the cardamom cookies yet but will tomorrow. The sour cream cookies totally flopped. It seems to be an altitude issue as I never had this problem before living in Colorado. They just are flat and melt. I think I need to cut the sugar down but not sure. I still want to bake peanut butter blossoms and the cardamom tomorrow. Oh and the Ritz cracker mint thins - I need to make them too.

Christmas Busy in Full Force

* We sent off a BUNCH of packages today. The clerk at the post office was amused that all our packages went to different places.... California, Idaho, North Carolina, Washington, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas.

* Our neighbor had Christmas carolers earlier. I think they were from her church. I was hearing fa la la la la la la and I couldn't figure out what I was hearing at first. But then muted everything and finally figured it out.

* I am utterly exhausted. Going to bed.

Christmas Ornaments - Part 1

Michael and I buy one (or sometimes more) ornament a year. We haven't got ours for this year yet as it is kind of specialized and we are having problems finding anything like it. I think we are going to have go to cafepress or etsy to find it.

Gone in 60 Seconds

I just haven't had time to write as my parents were here Friday to Monday. Then it was catching up on work Tuesday and Wednesday. And now today leaving for Denver. But will be back tomorrow night. So hopefully I can do a post this weekend about all the fun we had when my parents were here. It was great to see them!

So for now off to Denver.

Somersault

Monday we left to go to a meeting in the afternoon and forgot the keys so locked ourselves out of the house and car. So we had to break into our house. Be prepared to giggle as you read the rest. I scooched (more like ungracefully heaved) myself through a window that we got open. As I hit the floor in a full somersault my leg got caught into the curtains but I made it in. Thankfully no injuries occurred during this amazing acrobatic exercise. Oh and all this was done in a skirt. So now I am sportin some wicked bruises because of it. Just sayin that we need to train the cats to unlock the door for us.

Michael kept saying he wished he had a camera...I was thankful there wasn't one around. I hope our neighbor didn't watch!

We are leaving to go out of town so I didn't get to do a blog hopping today because been busy packing. And hopefully tomorrow I can take time to do my weekly gratitude list. Otherwise...we will be back on Sunday.

A Bit Sleepy...maybe more then a bit...

Okay so late Thursday afternoon we were suppose to leave for Denver. We were doing a live webcast on Friday for a conference. Michael decided to test one thing before we left...well...it didn't work. And it ended up messing up something else which would end up messing up something....you see the pattern right? So he spent all afternoon and evening trying to fix it. We were suppose to be setting up at 7am on Friday morning in Denver. We live in Grand Junction 4 hours away. So 10:30pm comes and I finally say that it is probably best we go to bed and get at least some sleep before getting on the road at 3am and lets pray for it to work in Denver. Michael agreed so we went to bed and slept until 2am. Got up - showered, loaded the car and started towards Denver. We got to Denver a little before 7am.

Michael figured out a way to patch things together to make it work for the conference. So we did the webcast until 3pm when the conference ended. We packed up all the equipment and got out of there about 4pm to head back to Grand Junction because we had a wedding to film on Saturday. We arrived home about 8:15pm on Friday and went to bed by 9pm. Saturday morning wedding day filming started with the being at hair salon at 10:30am to film the bride. So were up about 8am to get some things done before heading there. We then were on the go and working until 11pm last night.

So needless to say today we are kind of tired. We did manage to drag ourselves out of bed to go our favorite breakfast splurge that is only available on Sunday at Rockslide Brewery (they don't have a website or I would link to it). It has really good food fresh food. So we went there this morning and toasted with mimosas for surviving the weekend.

After we came home, I did a few chores (dishes starting to stack up from our grabbing quick bite and then running out again) and then I went to crash. I slept all afternoon. And really felt like I could have kept on sleeping but I worried that I might not sleep tonight. I made a lasagna the end of July and put half in the freezer - let me tell you how thankful I am for that lasagna today so I don't have to cook dinner tonight. We have a busy week ahead of us too so I am hoping that this day of rest helps me get through it.

In the busy....

I have been working so much that I haven't had time to really slow down and write/think. The graphic art side of our business is usually a smaller side but right now it has been extremely busy. So I have been sitting at the computer a lot more then usual but not able to surf, catch up on blogs, email and so on. I just am working working working. I been snappy and having a few melt downs but luckily I have Michael to help calm and center me again.

It feels like I am saying I am busy a lot lately which is a mixed blessing. Good that we are have our business going good but sad that I haven't been able to create art.

Artful Weekend

We had a really good weekend. Artspace was having the Open Art Studio Tour. It is where you can tour local artists studios. See them work, see their work hanging in their studio and of course buy their beautiful art work. We usually go to two places because one place has several artists. It is a Bed and Breakfast with a gallery and it has out buildings with studios on the property for artists. The people there are lovely. We have worked with many of them too so know them fairly well. The other artist we go to is a good friend. But this time around she decided to go over and share some space at the Bed and Breakfast. So we were able to see 8 artists there. The feel of the place is just so serene but with this funky fun side too. This year they did a postcard project - decorating postcards. They then hung them up on a clothesline and then people could bid on them. The postcards were AMAZING. I told the organizer that if she does this next year I would be interested in participating.

We ended up buying a 2-tone pottery bowl from Damian Rice. And then a small acrylic piece by our friend. We don't have anything by her because well although her pieces are breath-taking we just can't afford her bigger pieces. She told us she was going to do some smaller pieces for those that can't afford the big pieces. Well she did and they were just as great as her large pieces. It is kind of a different style then she usually does but still amazing and of course we found one we really liked (okay several but picked one). Then the artist she was sharing her space with -- I just love to pieces. She has this energy that is contagious. Have you been around those people that are just up beat,excited and full of goodness/kindness -- and you start to feel everything they give off just by being around them....she is exactly like that. We got a piece of hers last year but I was looking for a piece of hers to give as a gift. And I found a little print but I really want to keep it! When we asked how much it was, she was very sweet and told us to take it. The other day she had been scolding me about not wanting to charge for something and then she was wanting to give us the print free. Michael has a bill for her for some website work for around the same price so he is going to rip it up.

We would have loved to buy from another artist there that we really enjoy. Her work really feels so earthy and warm to me. There was one piece I really fell in love with but we just couldn't afford it at this time. Her postcards she did were so beautiful too. One postcard by Dianna Fritzler was called Hanging Barbie Out to Dry. It was all about the the dislike of barbie because of the image she gives off to young girls about being perfect. But the title and the just look of the piece -- Michael LOVED. After he asked her about it and she explained why she did the piece -- he loved it even more.

There was also another little pottery wall hanging that was done in this technique that I can't remember the name for but you pull it from the kiln while it is on fire. And stuff it in a metal garbage can with lots of newspaper, put the lid on and the fire from the kiln sets the paper on fire burning around the piece. It creates this really interesting affect with the glaze. Michael really like one of those so when we went back on Sunday (to discuss something with Dianna about a project we are doing for her), I urged Michael to stop and see if it was still there. And it was so he picked that up too!

I hope to take pictures of everything soon. I really love filling our house with art.

Purple Hair

Michael had a meeting today at Borders coffee shop so I went to Michael's Arts and Crafts and Sally's Beauty Supplies which are nearby. I want to dye my hair purple so I went to check out the dyes they have...I found one that really is the color I want. And then another brand that was more pinky then purple. I am going to google reviews on the brands to see what I find about them. But hopefully soon I will have purple hair. I got done with Michael's Arts and Crafts and Sally's before Michael's meeting was done so I grabbed Eat, Pray, Love and camped out in a chair for a while. I really enjoyed what I read.

Everyday

Amanda Soule is doing 30 days of shooting photos of just everyday things in her life over on her blog. And I really like the idea and I think I want to do that....maybe start February 1.

No Focus

I am just not focusing well. Really I think both Michael and I are off our game right now. Really feeling out of it and tired. I had to re-measure flour the other night 2 times to get it right...I kept losing track. That is always frustrating.

Hmm what else...Just a little bit about Christmas presents...
I got some really great presents...not going to list them all or anything like that but I did want to mention a few! Michael and I did lots of movies to each other (that we bought together) but then our stocking were surprises. Michael gave me Big Love both seasons. We haven't seen season 2 yet. He also gave me The Princess Bride book, Godiva chocolate bars, a cute set of bowls with snowmen on them and then these really cool stickers. The images are taken from vintage luggage labels. I can't wait to use them but really would like to get an old suit case to use some of them on and then use it for storage.

Out of Town...

This will probably be quick post as I am out of town and not really a lot of free time.

We had a good day although very long. We are just ready to go to sleep for a few days. We went to bed at 12:30pm and got up at 5:30am. Then it has been a day of celebrating with family. Although very good.....very long.

We had a TON of food. Really I think I am going to suggest a change for next year -- that we all bring less. As really the food could feed all 13 of us for weeks I am sure. But it was all great!

I mentioned on Friday we went out looking at lights and that is one of my favorite holiday traditions with Michael. Really Christmas Eve traditionally is my favorite time/tradition. We have a really nice dinner, wine, at times dance and then go out and look at lights. We come home and just enjoy the time with each other....knowing how blessed we are to be together enjoying this journey. So although we aren't going to be home tomorrow....I know I will look at him throughout the day tomorrow and still reflect, remember, and remind myself how truly blessed I am.

Enjoying Christmas!

I talked with my Mom on the phone tonight. It was a long and good conversation. We hadn't talked in a couple of weeks so glad to be able too just chat. She told me I was on the ball this year as they got their present and card early. I told her I really thought it was because the tree and decorations around the house were up earlier then usual. Most of the time things kind of fall all together...where I am rushing to decorate, shop, do cards and bake all within a short time frame of each other. But this time it was like one thing ended the next started and it wasn't a rush between. Last week was pretty busy but it still wasn't like years past. So I got cards out, did letters with a few of them, got shopping, baking and mailed out packages and this week really I haven't had much Christmas stuff to do. I actually have had a pretty laid back week - and thank goodness for that as I had 2 migraines.

So it has been a very pleasant Christmas season for me. I have been enjoying it thoroughly. Tonight was one of those things I always enjoy of our Chrsitmas season together. Michael and I went out looking at lights! We got some starbucks, turned on XM Holly, sang and went looking at all the pretty lights. There is one neighborhood that really has great lights. They have a pond and the lights reflect on the pond.

We reflected on the last year a bit. It has been busy. I do remember though last year at this time he was just starting to use a cane after his knee injury. So I am glad his knee healed and is better! Another I am thankful for is that it has been great year for his business. It just keeps growing and I am VERY grateful for that! We got to go see my family this past summer and have a celebration that was incredible. One I know I will always remember and cherish. There are many more moments of course. But I should wrap this up...

Tomorrow is packing and just getting ready to leave on Sunday for Michael's parents.

(photo of kitchen table while I baked during this Christmas season -- covered with cookie sheets, a place to roll out cookies, cooling racks, containers filled with cookie and all the things needed while baking LOTS of cookies)

Silly Tired

I am silly tired today. Where nothing is making sense. I am dropping things. I just can't focus. I went to bed stupid late last night but my mind was just kind of going and going so just not ready to go to sleep. I also am getting really caught up in the
Drums of Autumn. I had been only reading a few pages before I hit the pillow but right now it is so good I can't put it down.

We leave Saturday for Michael's parents so I have some things to get done before we leave. But for the most part I can say most of my major projects are done. I have a gift I making Michael but we aren't having our Christmas probably until New Years so I will have time if I need to finish it when we come back. But I am hoping I do get a chance to work on it this week some.

Today is cleaning yay! I need to wash the kitchen floor after baking the end of last week it is needed. I had been wrapping presents in the living room on Saturday so I have to vacuum and straighten up in there because I have Christmas wrap, ribbon and tags scattered about. And I have ironing/steaming to do and clothes to fold. So not a huge day. Tomorrow I need to get some goodie baskets ready for neighbors and friends. I am sure we will need to run out and get some last minute gifts. And then I will need to pack us.

Michael unfortunately has a very full and packed week. He has a ton of work and not much of it I can help him with so it will be very busy for him. And I know stressful to get everything done he needs to before we leave. And I am sure he is going to stress over leaving some of it until we get back.

Time - Yesterday, Today and This Week

Michael and I had work yesterday that required us to be up at 5:30am. That was a little insane. We worked really hard plus the room where we were working -- the heat was broken so it was 85 degrees which is quite warm for when just sitting but we weren't just sitting we were working are asses off. On our way home we stopped for Chinese take out so that we could just go home and collapse. We ate and then took showers as we were beyond the expiration date of our deodorant. After showers, we just relaxed and watched movies. We watched the animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I was singing along with the songs -- it was fun! And a nice way to unwind after a long day.

It was our annual parade of lights here in Grand Junction but we knew after having such a busy morning there is no way we would be able to make it. And thank goodness we didn't as the weather got horrid just as it would have been starting last night. Ice hitting the windows and forming on our deck. Baby it's cold outside!

Today I have been doing some cleaning and then one of my eyes all of sudden started acting up. I am still having problems with. It was like the lids stuck to the eye so when I opened my eye it felt like ripping across my eye. Michael looked at the eye after - so did I and it looked fine but at one point today the only time it felt okay was closed. It is like a film is over at at times and also is pretty red tonight. I have been having allergy issues and goopy eyes so not sure if it is related.

This week is going to be very busy for me. Tomorrow I am going to start Christmas decorating. I am sure with other things I have to do I won't get it all done. So I will finish it up on Tuesday. Tuesday we need to do some grocery shopping and I need to finish shopping for his birthday. And then Wednesday finish any cleaning and get ready for Michael's parents to arrive on Thursday. It is Michael's birthday Thursday. I am not sure what I am going to make for dinner on Friday but most of the other meals are planned. Though we did get an email from Michael's parents tonight saying lots of snow in the forecast for the week so that could mean they won't make it over the mountains to our side. Either way my plans for this week will still be busy.

Well I am off to finish cleaning the refrigerator and then fold clothes. We are recording Tinman but probably won't watch it until after all 3 parts are recorded. While I fold clothes, I am going to watch Project Runway as I haven't watched this past weeks episode yet.

Exciting I know.

all the above was written early in the evening...I just forgot to hit post.

What else can I babble on and on about...

We have a new Goodwill here that seems like really well run operation. They have a drive up which is great. People meet you to help carry in your stuff and have real receipts (other place just hands you a little slip with their name on the top and lines to fill out what you brought). We got rid of so much -- it was nice to get rid of it. We were trying to find out if there was a local coat drive too as we have 11 coats and jackets but we couldn't find one. So those will need to be dropped at Goodwill now too.

I am reading the 4th book in the Outlander series. I also have the 2nd book in His Dark Materials series. But I am really enjoying the 4th book. I love that Brianna is in this one. I really hope that continues on as it seems like it might. I am only a little ways into the book yet so don't know how much she is there. But enjoying it so far. I am actually thinking I will go read a bit before bed.

I feel really tired today but I don't know why I do.

Bringing on the Busy...

I have felt kind of down this weekend. But today I finished up something for a friend and that actually helped me feel better knowing we will make her smile. I don't feel I accomplished much else though this weekend. I have 2 websites that I need to work on...changes to one and finishing up the other now that the client decided what template she wants. I also need to finish up an article. And then prep for Thanksgiving this week.

Michael's parents are coming for his birthday (Dec 6th) so I need to finish the autumn cleaning I started a few weeks ago (when I was steam cleaning). I would like to wash and press all the curtains and steam clean the hallway and Michael's office before they come (then all the carpet in the house would be done). I have bunches of stuff to go to Goodwill but I need to get it all together (one spot) and then typed up for taxes.

I started making our holiday card list today, got out the cards and labels so that I can try to get those out early this year. Maybe I will even get a letter done this year.

(The photo is one Michael took of our tree a couple years ago - the ornament is one his Grandmother made.)

Deep Thoughts...Okay not really...

Sunday
I thought my day was going to go bad. Once a month my cooking skills go out the window. For brunch I burnt our turkey bacon and then the biscuits were more ummm blackish-brown on their bottoms then they should have been. Luckily Michael took care of the eggs or we wouldn't have had anything that was -right-. I forgot a few things that day too - like meds.

I did though get lots of work - coding websites templates - done. I really kicked ass on them actually. They look really good and I need to keep them in my portfolio because I might be able to modify them for another client. It really made me want to redo Michael's work website to though because I just was really in a groove -- so I jotted some notes down to redo his -- this will be version 3 now. I just redid his probably 6 months ago though. I need to start also working on a holiday banner for our blogspot.

Monday
Sunday night I think we went to bed close to 2am. And I read until 3:30 am and then got up fairly early so I was dragging ALL DAY. You would think that last night I would have slept soundly but I didn't. I didn't do a lot yesterday - some chores, laundry, a little graphic thing Michael needed me to do and that was about it.

Tuesday
It is only 12:45 and we have been really productive but just got home a bit ago. We left the house at 7:45am. I had to go get blood drawn. I have border line high blood pressure. Then I have white coat syndrome - meaning as soon as I set foot in the doctors office my blood pressure sky rockets. But because I am a big girl my doctor always worries it is just not white coat syndrome and that I have heart disease. So I get to go do blood test every so often for a lipid panel. It always come back in the acceptable range but I guess it is better to have her care enough to do it then not.

When we got there, I was freezing. I said to Michael I bet it will be a hard go on my vains today because I am so cold they all are shrunk up and hiding. He laughed and nodded his head like my girl is silly. I get back in the nurses chair and she is saying how busy it has been and everyone has been a hard stick. And I said you will probably have problems with me too. My doctor walked by as I was getting it done so came to see how it was going and both the nurse and I said not good. I said I am so cold this morning it is hard to get one to come up the surface. They both commented that my hands were ice. So I get to come back as she didn't want to stick m again...she only stuck me 2 times. Thursday morning I have to be back at 8:10am -- I told Michael that I probably should get up and get moving around more so that I warm up long before we leave the house. We woke up, showered and left so I know my body wasn't awake at all. Even my usual for sure place on my hand wouldn't pop up and that vain always springs right up with a few times of clenching/unclenching my hand.

Getting stuck this morning though reminded me of when I was getting married. I was having lots of asthma problems - in and out of the ER several times right before our wedding. I knew it was probably just stress of the wedding. Our honeymoon was going to be in Colorado...going to high altitude with the asthma problems - made me a tad bit worried. So I made an appointment with my doctor to maybe change my inhaler or do something to help me out while there. My appointment was 2 days before my wedding. And they wanted blood. The nurse stuck me once, twice, third time...I threw up. By the 6th time she knew I was on the verge of getting sick again she is trying to keep my mind off it by engaging me in conversation where I then tell her - I am getting married in 2 days. She went white and looked like she was going to get sick. She blurted out in a very worried tone.."omg does your dress have long sleeves?" Because after sticking me that many times I had bruises on both arms appearing before I even left. I told her yes it was long sleeves but after that she was so nervous she ended up sending me to the hospital lab...which they stuck me once - barely felt the needle go in. It actually was one of the best blood labs I have been too. Oh I guess the nurse in Cleveland too was good too but she had to stick more then once sometimes. But her attitude and energy were so great...she was funny and just so nice. She usually had me crying - not because of pain but from laughing so hard.

I guess back on track of daily report....so had the lab appointment this morning, then after we went to breakfast, target, grocery shopping, library and post office. I am starting to stock up on stuff to make Christmas goodies. Library didn't have the next in the Outlander series ready for me yet. Someone was suppose to return it on the 8th but well that hasn't happened. I never read The Golden Compass before either so I requested that one and there is not even a waiting list on it. I figured there might be since the movie will be out soon.

I need to do some laundry today and I need to finish some work.

(from an ATC - Monster Joy)