A One Time Thing

We went to Barona Casino yesterday & Daryl joined us. I got a detail a little confused though. The 2 hour thing. You have to play for at least 2 hours not up to 2 hours. Duh, that makes sense. Why would I think they'd want you to stop. So you've gotta make your $200 last for 2 hours or else you've gotta put more money in that they won't cover if you loose it. In the end we lost all of our money but it only cost us the atm fee (we didn't stop to get cash & their atm has a $3 fee). We had lunch in the food court (delicious burgers & pizza), parking was free & every employee we spoke to was super nice & courteous.

We did have to laugh at ourselves because once we got all set up with our cards we all sat down & had no idea how to work the stupid things. What dorks. Of course the boys weren't gonna ask so I flagged down a cashier lady and said with a laugh in my voice, "Hi, I'm new. How do I work this thing?" What a lame-o. She explained it, I got it & explained it to the boys. They had a harder time grasping the bet 1-20 lines & bet each line 1-5 times.

2 hours on a slot machine is alot like playing scratchers for 2 hours so it got a little old but we had to have 2 hours on our card so we kept pushing the buttons. I'm glad we did it for something different, even more glad we didn't actually loose $400 but since that's only a first time visitor thing, we probably won't go back.

Good to know that I could never get hooked. It was hard for me to play it all even though I knew I'd get it back. What can I say, I'm a cheap-o.

Kenny Sold Us

So Kaisara & I are trying something different this weekend. We're going down to Barona Casino to play the slots. They've got this thing going 'til April that they'll cover your losses on the slots for 2 hours up to $200 and they'll double your winnings for 2 hours up to $200. So worst case scenario, if you don't put in more than $200, you break even. Best case scenario, your $200 grows to $400. Of course they count on you losing more than your $200 and that you'll drop more money in their casino, restaurants & the like. But they don't know us. We're driving down. Gonna have some lunch (a cheap one) & see if we can't leave with 400 of their dollars (200 for me, 200 for Kaisara). Mostly it's a good excuse for some time together & do something different.

Anyone wanting to join us, give me a call. Just remember, "you gotta know when to fold 'em."

Sew What

A reflecting post that might go long and/or be boring to most of you.

I hold a sewing class/group at my house once a month called Sew What. It's usually the 3rd Saturday of the month but I had to move it up a week this month so it was today. The ladies just left & I'm putting the living room back together while thinking how blessed I am to know these ladies & to have a home to open to them.

Sew What was born out of Sewing Circle. My once-a-month group of ladies that usually meet at Cal Poly's costume shop. While it is often a two hour drive for me to be there for an hour and a half & then a 45 minute drive home, I only miss it when absolutely necessary. Sewing Circle includes former classmates of mine, other alum, & faculty (past & present). We've been meeting for eight years with people coming and going. Sewing Circle has awakened me to how meaningful "community" is for us, especially women. We're just wired for it. Even when I'm dreading the drive to or I'm too swamped & shouldn't go because there's too much to do, I go. I always, every single time, leave feeling refreshed, uplifted, encouraged, totally blessed & ready to face the world for another month before we get together again. It's priceless for me & I know for several other members of the group.

That's why I started Sew What. I wanted other ladies to have & feel what I have at Sewing Circle. I had several friends wanting to learn to sew, I offered to teach them. They've mended clothes for themselves & their families. They've made gifts for others. They've made things for their homes & blankets for babies. My prayer is that they leave feeling the way I do after Sewing Circle, "always, every single time, feeling refreshed, uplifted, encouraged, totally blessed & ready to face the world for another month before we get together again". I guess it's not really fair, I've now got two groups of community that make me feel that way.

Getting things done isn't even the point. More times than not, many of us are packing up our things realizing we haven't finished two stitches but have spent the time chatting, laughing, show-&-telling and even sometimes crying. That's the point. Community. Sharing our lives with others. In this "I'm fine. How are you?" "Fine" society we have GOT to make a consious effort in being part of a community.

At both Sewing Circle & Sew What people come, people go, people invite others, people invite themselves. That's awesome & how it should be. When as kids did we loose the ability to ask, "can I play with you guys?" and as adults just wait for an invitation that may or maynot arrive. When does that happen? Why does that happen?

Thank you Sewing Circle ladies for what you do for me.

Thank you Sew What ladies for what you you do for me.

A sense of community is so meaningful & priceless it should be sought out if you don't not have one (or in my case 2!). What can I say, I'm a blessed girl.

Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday Melissa! I'm wishing for no birthday snow for you! I hope your day is a happy one. Thanks for being my friend. You're a great one!

Amazing & Awesome

Cavalia is a show that should not be missed. Think Cirque Du Soleil with horses & less bizzare.

Given, I'm a horse person. Always have been, always will be. But you don't need to be to enjoy this show. As a theatre "techie", this show is amazing. But you don't need to be a techie to enjoy this show either. This show has so much to offer everyone. The horses were awesome, beautiful & such gentle giants even when racing acroos the stage flat out. The human cast members were amazing in their tricks & athletic ability. The musical score (performed live) was moving & perfectly fitting. There wasn't anything I didn't love about this show. What a magical thing to witness & as an audience member, be a part of.

I was a little wary of going. Oh, I was going all right. But how would it affect me? Often thinking of my horseback years & all of the great memories saddens me (a fact that frustrates Kaisara to no end). But this show didn't. Watching the performers & because of sense memory, I knew exactly what those performers were feeling on & in their bodies. Horses are magical.

In Melissa fashion I will close with a quote:

"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." --Winston Churchill

Bring on the Freebies!

If the first week of the year is any indication, 2007 is gonna be a year full of theatre. Free theatre too!

I found out on the last Friday of 2006 that a friend of mine is now the graphic designer for OCPAC. Cool! I was so pleased that he got what I would think to be a great gig. When I told him we should go out to lunch sometime since I'm literally right across the street he asked me if I liked shows & would I ever be interested in his comps that he doesn't use. HELLO?!?!?! I laughed & of course said yes to both questions. Seven days later he calls & wants to know if I'm interested in seeing Pippin that night. Sure! All I know is that's it's a Broadway musical. That's it, but hey, it's free.

I took my mom & Lydia with me. I'm glad I went but I have mixed feelings about the show. Overall I guess I'd say I didn't like it. I could have DEFINITELY done without the dance-y orgy scene. It was five minutes that didn't add anything to the story & was just too seedy for me. The actor playing the title role was rather pitchy & not a very good dancer. (How do these people get these gigs?) I would have loved to see William Katt do the role which apparently he did many moons ago. On the other hand the Leading Player was, in a word...AMAZING! What a voice, what moves, what a fun character. His costume was amazing too. The role was originally played by Ben Vereen & I would LOVED to have seen that but given that was in 1972, alas, it would have been impossible. Pippin tells a story in the same fashion as Chicago. It glamorizes immoral behavior while telling you "this isn't how this should be". So the moral of Pippin's story (or what I got from it) is good it just leads you to that point by making some bad stuff look like the good. It's conflicting for me & I still haven't processed it all.

So today John, our prop master at work, came in to our shop to see if anyone wanted to see Cavalia tomorrow night. OH MY GRACIOUS!!! YES!! I said I wanted it & how much, can I bring you the money tomorrow. No, it's free. I'm SO excited! I can't wait. A friend of mine at Pageant saw it a few years ago & couldn't even talk about it without getting choked up, she thought it so wonderful. Did I mention I get to go for free! I don't even need to pay for parking. It's at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre so Kaisara's gonna drop me off after work & pick me up after the show (he's rad).

Movies

I hadn't seen a movine since July when we saw Superman Returns. I really liked it & have seen it again since on DVD. It's very exciting, as I find most comic book movies. Of course it didn't hurt that Brandon Routh isn't hard to look at. I'm looking forward to more Superman movies.

After a six month hiatus of not seeing any movies I've now seen two within a couple weeks. The Nativity Story & Night at the Museum.








I really really liked The Nativity Story. I thought it was very well done & a beautiful movie to look at. I thought Keisha Castly-Hughes did a great job as Mary but I enjoyed Oscar Isaac's performance as Joseph even more. He always had just the right look in his eyes. I thought he was amazing. I was also relieved that the intense parts of the movie were very short. Herod's masacre of the young boys & Mary in the river after falling off of the donkey were very short. The scenes were there but didn't take a whole lot of screen time. Which was a pleasant suprise. I feel Hollywood often dwells too long at an intense moment forgetting that that scene is not what the movie is about. Well done.

More recently we saw Night at the Museum. A fun & entertaining movie. Not a work of art but I'm a firm believer that not all movies & theatre should try to be. Entertaining for the sake of entertaining is important to me. The movie was what Daryl called, "an easy paycheck for Ben Stiller" but that's o.k. It was a cute film & I'm glad I saw it. It was fun to see good ol' Mickey Rooney back at it. I have an afinity for him since falling in love with The Black Stallion, another beautiful movie to look at. The first half of the movie has hardly any dialog but tells a wonderful story. Mickey Rooney is great in it.

Oh Yeah, I Can Post This Now

Now that it's been delivered to the mother-to-be, here's a photo of the 3rd baby quilt of 2006. The two print fabrics in the pinwheels are scraps from Bunnicula, a children's book that's been adapted to a play & SCR put on I think last fall. I'd never done pinwheels before but have always loved them. They're so happy. The striped fabric that I used for the sashing & the back matches 1 of the 2 fabrics on big brother's quilt.

Happy Baby Geoff & Melissa. And you know the rules... if he likes it & if it's not wore out & stained up by the time he hits kindergarten, you're toast.

My Favorite Photos of 2006

Happy New Year everyone. I was looking over old posts & decided to make a 2nd annual post of photos for the year. In no particular order here are my favorite photos of 2006:

A self portrait of Kaisara & I at Kyle & Lydia's wedding.










On a boulder in Boulder, CO while visiting Geoff, Melissa & Elijah.






Taking in a movie with the cutest godson that's ever been.







Our newest nephew, Savelio, checking out Zelda on Christmas day.






Driving from Winkler to Winnipeg, Manatoba with Brody, Amy & Daryl.






A group shot at Cat's suprise 30th Birthday party. Dani, me, Cat, Kathy & Shera.






Elijah's sunny smile.










Kaisara & our nephew Jet.







Walking around Assinboine Park in Winnipeg, Manatoba.









Another shot in Assinboine Park.










A man in front of me in the Race for the Cure.










Me in Cat's birthday wig.











2006 was a good year with lots of ups & downs. I'm ready for you 2007! Show me what ya' got!

Wow! It's Been Almost a Week!

How time flys huh? I emailed a friend today to check in on her & gave her the scoop on me as of late. Later in the day I realized I haven't updated the ol' blog lately so here's a copy of the email & then some:

Kaisara & I have been coughing in technicolor for a few weeks now & let me tell you, that's getting old. The lack of sleep, the sedentary days. I'm getting cabin fever but still feel to crappy to be active. Why do I always want to get active when I'm sick & can't?

I was fired for 1 1/2 weeks, was back for 2 days then fired again for 4 more since the mucky-mucks push the start of rehearsal back 2 days & I don't even have measurements for one of my actors I need to build for. Aahhh, the life of free lancing! I'm sad to say i haven't been very productive with my time off. Just finished all of the Christmas stuff. Ya' know? Today i'm working on one of my several dead soldiers (an unfinished project that's lived in the closet for years).

We got a few home depot gift cards for Christmas so I started ripping apart our master batheroom. Base boards, gone. Door molding, gone. Towel rack, gone. Outlet covers, gone. Nasty covering off of the nasty light fixture, gone. Two layers of disgusting lanolium, gone. I guess I haven't done much this whole time but caught up today. Watch out! I've still got tomorrow.

Our pastor made an annoucement week before last that his last sunday is the 7th. Kaisara & i are so bummed. We love his teaching & our going to miss him big time. After our other pastor left this summer we were thrilled to be sitting under Brian's teaching again. Oh well. After 6 years of church transition I guess we're still not done yet. Crap-tastic. And yes I do count all 5 years at The Gathering transition.

Tomorrow I've got to go to Woodbrige & steam Becky's wedding gown for her & Erik's big day on Friday. I realized this morning while coughing in technicolor that I've absolutely nothing to wear. I've gained back all of the weight I lost 3 years ago & apparently haven't had to dress up in a while to have fancy fatty clothes. Oh well. I'll come up with something.

Melissa's coming into town for the wedding & she goin' to church with us on Sunday. We're hitting In-n-Out on the way to the airport to take her back to snow covered Denver. I can't wait to see her.

Well that's all for now. I'll keep you posted of anything else exciting or otherwise comes to pass.

It's Your Birthday

Happy Birthday to my friend Kathy! Kathy's a friend from the good ol' college days. She an actress. I a costumer. It's great how much those 2 positions require one another.

Kathy is a whole-lotta fun to be around & always super great for one's self esteem. May your day be fun filled & one of many that is chalk full of blessings for you in the year to come. Love you girl! You're bitchin'!

This is Four

Here's a photo a my fourth & final baby quilt for 2006. I gave it to my new niece this Saturday. Seeing how she's already slept on it, I guess it's a winner. Needless to say, she's a lavender baby, not a pink one.

The solid was left over bride's maid dress fabric & the floral was a little scrap I got from a coworker. I usually machine quilt my projects but I tied this one. I used thicker batting & used cotton pearl to tie it. It's alot poofier than my usual quilts which is nice & comfy. I'm going to keep tieing in mind for future projects. It's super easy & super fast. I felt like I was cheating. Like I told Luanei, it had better be wore out with love by the time she hits kindergarten.

I haven't posted a picture of my 3rd quilt of the year as I haven't given it to Melissa yet. She'll be out for the Cramer/Marlow wedding & I'll give it to her then. Hope she likes it. I'll post a photo of it after it makes it's way back to Colorado.

I'll also add them to my "Things I've Made" album so feel free to check out that link to the left. BTW Cat, you still owe me photos!

The Brady's We Ain't

My nuclear family is the greatest. Not the Brady's but AMAZING. My extended family on the other hand...

Let's just say that if you never have to go to a funeral where there is yelling at the top of one's lungs complete with cursing (the f-bomb a familial favorite apparently) that is loud enough to disturb the entire funeral home, including the other service right across the hall, you'll be o.k. You're better off than me anyway.

I think that was one of my worst days. Let's just hope the mental scar heals & disappears quickly. Not so sure...

Another Goodbye

Grandma died yesterday morning. It wasn't a suprise as she's been in a hospital or nursing home for a month now after a fall & wasn't doing well. My mom, my sister & I went to the mortuary yesterday to make the arrangements. We've known for years how grandma wanted things handled so that made things alot easier.

We're having a visitation on Friday & I've been working on the photos to be displayed with her earn & the flowers we've ordered. Along with the photo at the top of the post, here are the other ones:







My Mom is certain that Grandma had a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ & we are grateful for that. God is good & God is just. All the time.

I love you Grandma! I'll see you later!

A Peak Backstage

I came across this cool "Audlio slideshow" of work's "A Christmas Carol". There are some really cool backstage photos of the production. Feel free to take a look.

That'll Leava a Mark!

We all know I'm not the most graceful one in the bunch. How I ever did so well at ballet is beyond me. Today...I topped even me. Did you break another toe on the coffee table you ask? Nope. Did you bruise your tailbone again while roller blading you ask? Nope. Let me preface it by typing this...Them things are dangerous.

It all started this morning while walking from the parking structure to the theatre. I've got a couple things to carry but nothing out of the ordinary. While walking down the sidewalk (operative word is "while") I was noticing the "Laurie's Kitchen" type lady walking down the sidewalk across the street from me. Man! How's she ever gonna pull that off? She's got a flatbed hand truck (that's dolly for all you sissies) that's loaded with two coolers, she's got a pitcher or something in her hand & she's trying to maneuver around the driveway apron. Well I gotta see this!!!

Then it happened. Happened so fast I knocked myself forward at the waist to a 45 degree angle. Yep! Walked straight into the fire hydrant I did. You gotta watch it for those things! They're made of metal & THEY HURT when you walk full speed into one of them.

Bauble Update

Today was the craft show. I actually sold some! Three to be exact. My Mom & Dad stopped by. That was great. Mom wants 11 baubles to give to her people at work. I better get to weaving!

Again

So this Sunday is my second & final craft show. It's in Orange & I'll be selling my "baubles" along with my co-worker Bronwen who's selling her dolls & other baby items. Her aunt is an herbalist & sells delicious spices/rubs & teas. There will also be pottery & other items for sale. Again, this very small event is free but I'd love it if you could swing buy.

The address is 1420 E. Mayfair, Orange & is in a women's front yard so dress weather appropriately.

The Most Beautiful Thing I've Ever Made

So here it is. The dress that almost didn't get built. It's for SCR's "A Christmas Carol". The actress plays Uncle Scrooge's Niece In-law. The actress that had played "Sally" for 15 years didn't return this year & since there's no way to have made her size 14 gown fit the new 5'0" actress, I got to make a new one. That's write people! No pattern, no instructions, nothing but a rendering & the old gown. I started with a blank piece of paper & armed with my Hunnisett book I ventured out into the world of a cutter.

Here's the back view. The gown is made of embroidered silk, with silk organza oversleeves. I made silk piping for each of the seams in the bodice & made her hoop petticoat too!

The designer opted out of the butt bow (which thrilled me) & wanted what I soon named a "butt corsage". But I didn't want stupid looking rosettes that I already knew how to make (although very poorly) so I taught myself to make ribbon roses only used the silk fabric rather than ribbon.


Those are hand beaded sleeves caps, thank you very much!

Needless to say I'm tremendously proud of this gown. Mostly I'm proud of the patterning I had to accomplish & that even my mock fit great. Making the finished gown was just the icing on the cake.

Thanks for letting me brag. I LOVE my job!

I Fondue. Do you?

We threw Daryl a 30th birthday party tonight. It was fun. I love throwing parties for people. That was the idea behind my "Food Survey" post. I offered Daryl any meal he wanted for his birthday but he needed to decide. He didn't. He said having an blank slate made it too hard. So I finally decided for him.

I decided on "Food on a Stick". Which thankfully Daryl really seemed to enjoy. I served fruit skewers & meatballs (no, not on the same stick) for appetizers & a build your own kabob with bar pita bread wedges on a stick for the main course. I left the pitas in the over too long so they were like pita chips but they still tasted okay with the dill sauce I made.

For dessert we had fondue. That's more work than I thought it would be. Apparently if you double a chocolate fondue recipe it more than quadruples the cooking time. I also made a marshmallow cream fondue. Tasty. Now that I've fondued, I'll be a little better at gauging how much time I need. Regardless, it was tasty. More importantly the food & company was enjoyed by all. (Not to mention a game of pictionary with minimal mocking).

Happy Birthday Daryl! I hope you know you're loved by many.

So This time I'm Early

Happy Birthday Dani! I know I'm an hour early but I'm usually at least a day late with these. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day & an even better Birthday! We miss you! Happy Birthday, girl!

Food Survey

I've a question for you all. Here's the scenario: A good friend has offered to have a dinner for you. The only catch is you need to choose what to eat. That friend has offered to home cook or order in anything you'd like. What do you request and do you prefer this home cooked or order in?

O.k. this is where you all comment back with an idea.

Is My Job Great or What!

Here are some photos of my Earthworm for James & the Giant Peach. The show closes this weekend so I'm glad I finally remembered my camera to capture it on Tom. It's just not the same on a dress form.


















You can see that the designer made several changes from her rendering to the final product but I still think it's fantastic. Angela always has great designs for the children's shows. But that's not pre-quilted & ribboned fabric my friends. No, no, no. That's shiny, salmon spandex quilted onto muslin over various levels of batting. Yes I made a sleeping bag. Poor Tom is going to die of dehydration after wearing this thing for 3 weeks. He's a great sport though.

Here's a photo of Di as the spider. I made her costume too.
Tom & Di are significant others & their baby's due in Febuary. I'm going to make a baby worm hat out of left over pieces from Tom's costume. They're gonna love it.

Sorry for the brag session but I'm really pleased with these ones.

Grandma Fell

Ok guys my family needs your prayers. My 83-year old, 89 pound grandmother fell on Saturday. She broke her wrist & really hurt her pelvis (hospital 1 said it was broken, hospital 2 said it wasn't). She's been transferred to a care facility really close to her home & my mom's. Please pray for the Lord's will in Grandma's healing & pain & for peace & strength for my mom.

Thanks!

Other than the nurse, social worker, teacher thing, okay

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first. A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change. You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project. You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher.

What's Your Personality Type?

Can't Complain to Me

Every year we all complain that everyone else is hard to Christmas shop for. I'm breaking the trend this year & letting you all know what I want: Home Depot gift cards.

Kaisara & I have one last room that's nicotine stained from the previous occupant of our condo. Sad, I know. We've been here almost 6 years & we're still wiping brown crud off the walls of our master bath walls after a shower. Sick dude! That crap's in your lungs!

ANYWHOOOOO, I want the brown crud gone & covered with new paint, I want the yucky linoleum replace with new tile & I want to hang a decent light fixture & towel rack. I ain't gots the dough for any of that let alone all of it so my solution is Christmas. Bring on the gift cards!!

Yum

Just so y'all know...this stuff's AWESOME

Especially over warm homemade-from-scratch brownies.

Happy Birthday, Nei!

Today is Kaisara's sister, Luanei's, birthday. I think this is only the second or third year that I've gotten her & her mom's birthdays straight. I guess I'm a little slow.

Here's a picture of her when she was the age that her oldest son, Sai, is now. Cutie huh?

Happy Birthday girl! I hope your day is a happy one. I love you!

Great Show

A group of us went to see Jars of Clay perform at Biola University last night. I haven't heard any of their new stuff other than a hymn CD they put out last year (which I love). Other than that, I've only got their first 2 CDs that were out in 1995 & 1997. I love them I just haven't kept up with them. Regardless, it was a great show with great friends & I'm now I'm off to use up the last of my birthday iTunes gift card to download their latest CD of which a portion of the proceeds go to provide clean drinking water to Africa through their charity Blood Water Mission.

Third Grade Geography

I didn't pass this test until my second try. How 'bout you?

Yesterday is a blurr

The day started at 6:30. That's A.M people! Dana & I have gotten up for 7 mornings (in a row, thank you very much) & walked before work. We decided that since it was Saturday we'd sleep in a little & meet at 7:30 (again, that's A.M.). While setting my alarm I somehow turned my clock an hour earlier. So I was up at 6:30 & didn't know it until I was out of the door. Back in I went to kill an hour. I thought it best not to go back to bed 'cause that'd be murder trying to get up again. I got the car loaded with my craft fair stuff, 2 loads of laundry going, & wrapped a "welcome to the country" present.

After our walk I readied myself for the craft fair & headed out. I didn't sell anything but 1 of my coworkers showed up & ordered a buable in purple.

I left the show early to pick up Kaisara & went with our wrapped gift to Sharon's welcome to the country party that she & Steve threw for her sister, Ruth & family. Delicious burgers grilled to perfection I might add ;-)

We left the party & I dropped Kaisara off at Dana's for band practice & picked up Lydia to hang out. We made caramel apples for the whole lot of us. The band picked us up for their dinner break, we went back home & watched "Big Fish" then went to Dana's to enjoy caramel apples with the group, drop Lydia off & pick up Kaisara.

We arrived home & collapsed.

Wow. I Think I'm Embarassed.

Orange County

You're rich, pretty, and living a charmed life. (Or you seriously wish you were.) From Disneyland to Laguna Beach, you're all about living the California dream life. Just make sure to marry rich - so you don't have to work for it!

Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?

Words Cannot Express

Dana's my friend. As many of you know, for years now she's been "my Dana". That's who she is to me. I temporarily revoked the title once just to get her goat & it worked so she became mine again. She has gracefully moved roles in my life from one of my core group girls during my stint in youth ministry to now a priceless friend. She's also a total sneak. Here's the story:

I make baubles. Technically they're called woven dragon boats. That's a long name so I shortened it to bauble since that's what they are. When at a Diedrich show with Kaisara & the band I make baubles. It doesn't take alot of mental capacity & it keeps me from buying cookies. Dana has always been intrigued by the bauble. Last year I gave her one made of varigated pink thread. You'da thought I'd given her $50 in cold hard cash. But no, just a bauble. I continued making them. It's a good mobile project. You all know I'm never doing nothing.
This summer I mentioned to a few people (Dana included) that I was interested in making a few baubles to try to sell to a local boutique or two. Too scary. Didn't happen. They could've turned me down you know so it's better no to have tried very hard. ANYWAY...Dana, ever the encourager, periodically asked me how that venture was going. Yesterday she calls me asking if I had any baubles made because she had a coworker interested in maybe buying some & she wanted to show my product. Sure. "Can I pick them up now?" "Okay." Later that night she calls & asks if I could come over for 10 minutes to help her with a costume she's making. "Can you bring it here since all my stuff's here?" "No" "O.k., let me finish putting dinner in the oven & I'll be right over"

Here's what I came to her house to find (only displayed much prettier)

That's right folks! I've now got a tree to display my baubles on. She also designed & had made a rubber stamp with my logo on it, printed cards for bauble customers & printed cards for clients of the clothing variety. Wow. I didn't cry just then. I think I was too suprised. I did however weep myself to sleep thinking about how much she put into this & how I could never express it's meaning to me. I'm truley blessed.

So all of this sealed the deal of a prospect I was given last week. A coworker is selling some items in a craft fair & invitied me to participate. I thought about it but really what was keeping me from jumping right in was how I would display my baubles. Well Dana solved that for me didn't she? So I'm selling my wares at craft fair this Saturday the 4th in Yorba Linda & also on Sunday, December 3rd in Orange. I better get winding & know that I'm loved not because of the things I make but because who I am to others. Makes me tear up again just thinking about it.