tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84875517664265440382024-03-05T19:23:31.301-06:00So, That's Why!Family updates, photos, random thoughts and inspirationsCindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-23739799895442405362012-01-15T19:09:00.002-06:002012-01-15T19:09:54.601-06:00<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3383835/so-thats-why?claim=khj5cez9wsn">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-71008516595588413152012-01-07T09:57:00.000-06:002012-01-07T09:57:06.947-06:00This year, the choice of my One Little Word, has caused me<i> far too much</i> stress. Here it is, the seventh day of the new year, and I'm just settling on a word. And I can't really say, I've settled on a word either, since it's really a word with a bunch of words associated.<br />
<br />
Ready?<br />
<br />
My word is IMPROVE. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">woohoo</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-RQPcvfQ3zbZlmzhvLPWZPqCpJbWoHtSqOfhSrJ_0kupT6SkRMYQKVk7PWJWLJ7R5Svy8VNf4VyWKklmAF-GnOgyFf7wyBp1gXsfz-9uRdwBK5ZnVSBCBARix0By2BPJVtj0RBIxr9lK/s1600/improve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-RQPcvfQ3zbZlmzhvLPWZPqCpJbWoHtSqOfhSrJ_0kupT6SkRMYQKVk7PWJWLJ7R5Svy8VNf4VyWKklmAF-GnOgyFf7wyBp1gXsfz-9uRdwBK5ZnVSBCBARix0By2BPJVtj0RBIxr9lK/s200/improve.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo from Link-Assistant.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Well, I thought that was kind of lame because I'm <i>always </i>trying to improve.. To me, the <u><b>point</b></u> of living is to improve. Every little decision I make is based on this idea anyway, so it's no big revelation for me. The thing is, though, this year I intend to IMPROVE with INTENTION. In keeping with past years words, I've decided to FOCUS and ORGANIZE my year with 12 areas that I intend to IMPROVE. (And, if you believe the Mayan calendar, which I DO NOT, this is my chance to do it.)<br />
<br />
The 12 areas (12? Hmmm....like 12 MONTHS!) are:<br />
<br />
1. DIET - By diet, I mean, food, not weight loss. Essentially, my intention is to not eating things that cause me to feel ill. I know I can't tolerate wheat and lactose, and yet I've continued to torture myself out of sheer stubbornness. No more in 2012. I've already started this improvement with much success. Much as I ended my smoking addition in the past, I'm shunning all foods that make my body miserable.<br />
2. STORYTELLING - My hobbies revolve around storytelling, mostly about my kids, our family and our life together. In 2011, I shifted the focus off those things and this year, I will return to them. There are countless stories that I didn't record from last year, and I'm bummed about that. My scrapbooking will shift back to the basics of storytelling and the paper and glue variety.<br />
3. FINANCIAL - Finally on the right track, now I need to sustain it and keep improving.<br />
4. TIME MANAGEMENT - Our lives have been sucked into mindless games and pursuits again, much like in 2010 when we went <a href="http://www.theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-2010-plainfield-ericksons-go.html">internet candy free</a>. So much more time can be added to my days by improving how I spend my time....which leads to ....<br />
5. FAMILY - The most important thing in my life. I need to spend more time with them.<br />
6. PHOTOGRAPHY - Ana is taking a class at school this year, so we'll get to share in this joy.<br />
7. HOUSE and HOME - Projects of home improvement mostly are surface in my home, or left incomplete - with the help of my sidekick, Invisibob, things will get DONE!<br />
8. SOCIAL - I'm happy to sit on my couch with my nose in a book most times, but that is not always a good thing. <br />
9. CURIOSITY - Matt asks me dozens of questions a week (a day? an hour?) that I don't have an answer to. My response is usually, "We should look that up!" and we don't. This year, we will (and not get sucked into stupid computer games before we get our answers, ahem...)<br />
10. ADVENTURE - I need to invite some adventure into my life this year - my kids are going to France with their father for 3 weeks - what an adventure! Since I'll be here, I need to plan an adventure of my own with Invisibob (within driving distance, of course).<br />
11. REFLECTION - I need to take the time to reflect on what I'm improving this year, by writing in my blog or my art journals.<br />
12. RELAX - Finally, this was my dear Invisibob's suggestion. In fact, it's his suggestion <i>every year</i> for the last five that he's been my sidekick and best friend. My usual response is "I can't". There's room for improvement.<br />
<br />
So, that's it. IMPROVE. I'll see where it takes me. And I intend to share it here, to tell my stories to friends and family and reflect with a little photography thrown in. See, that accomplishes five things right there! Piece of cake!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">*****************</div>Why Invisibob? This was my dad's nickname for him and also because he refuses to be photographed, so I used the <a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=com.google.android.apps.androidify&hl=en">Androidify </a>app and came up with this: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Sy-TKexuYCBMp_zKd3vkfXiIjOjhmMhz33niYUmvVlB_uoBfiRl8TTTFknjBc0izFDcsZOpZImmicrCmIOo0r2CL-4hqGsw11kmfT1hanh-FEq1scXQMPvmtoNwIJytTt1_6JJOtvKEf/s1600/09+08+11_9824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Sy-TKexuYCBMp_zKd3vkfXiIjOjhmMhz33niYUmvVlB_uoBfiRl8TTTFknjBc0izFDcsZOpZImmicrCmIOo0r2CL-4hqGsw11kmfT1hanh-FEq1scXQMPvmtoNwIJytTt1_6JJOtvKEf/s200/09+08+11_9824.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-15946132409560739732012-01-03T08:00:00.001-06:002012-01-03T08:00:02.499-06:00Favorite Photos of 2011 (a bit late)Despite the fact that I have a camera in my purse at all times, my good camera (the DSLR that no one touches but me), a camera on my iPod touch AND one on my phone, I seem to have lost my mojo for photos some time last year. Maybe it was because I started to trust my memory and didn't need pictures (not at ALL!), or because I feel the need to "enhance" every photo I share with Photoshop (what a drag!), or it might be because my teenager who used to see a camera and smile instantly now subtly and not so subtly moves out of the shot, looks down, covers her face... much to my to my dismay.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jp_K91zt4b__jdv_UDfYpXftwzg6CYmV2SZjW333GD2AcuZRo0d88WzzousOJEXF6_vqNy7AHlbRduTktsGj-BZQIUsblFhGBzotVFkmDWzc9KV8SZ3192TyJnbPfsuNU84DBQL5ZxdT/s1600/analooksaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jp_K91zt4b__jdv_UDfYpXftwzg6CYmV2SZjW333GD2AcuZRo0d88WzzousOJEXF6_vqNy7AHlbRduTktsGj-BZQIUsblFhGBzotVFkmDWzc9KV8SZ3192TyJnbPfsuNU84DBQL5ZxdT/s1600/analooksaway.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I do have a few good photos to share...</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qBbgBYUXnUiQbgZT1zqsBxs613Ev_6He34u8G2v1snsF-4bUSiCTQ29mnTWDD9TFo7w4SbdGhyphenhyphenKvZ5n2rJW6p7N7wKBi2NdcuGH9oXE3voOMzyq_0SfQBisaeFvcS29EK5f9wAAXRM0K/s1600/01+24+11_7528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qBbgBYUXnUiQbgZT1zqsBxs613Ev_6He34u8G2v1snsF-4bUSiCTQ29mnTWDD9TFo7w4SbdGhyphenhyphenKvZ5n2rJW6p7N7wKBi2NdcuGH9oXE3voOMzyq_0SfQBisaeFvcS29EK5f9wAAXRM0K/s320/01+24+11_7528.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Sleepy Jack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P5LAeuwHVSmxyYHwK4BKTPoaT01jEJpKlBssVJADBYrb3ZuNWR5Sf0NzwhbTN2vRGk7UTYkeMFVnsh8J0_NoxgeHzsRFpQXbVN8PMRb91bTE-GC-86aCtdjEoL4UJpdw7AR4RIc_cA9G/s1600/02+20+11_7598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P5LAeuwHVSmxyYHwK4BKTPoaT01jEJpKlBssVJADBYrb3ZuNWR5Sf0NzwhbTN2vRGk7UTYkeMFVnsh8J0_NoxgeHzsRFpQXbVN8PMRb91bTE-GC-86aCtdjEoL4UJpdw7AR4RIc_cA9G/s320/02+20+11_7598.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack on the landing overlooking the computer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTFL_4-ivf-EahHHMX8WhpAgwKOx-y3oV-wMVvUQPtGndgHSYX55qi64nCS0gE2Qc5H862-ERRKPIzyG26bvzMOGrnhn7BxbN_8zrRiUZC5jf_0nY9mZBVmLnVTtteIPQTTTNXW55Poey/s1600/02+26+11_7770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTFL_4-ivf-EahHHMX8WhpAgwKOx-y3oV-wMVvUQPtGndgHSYX55qi64nCS0gE2Qc5H862-ERRKPIzyG26bvzMOGrnhn7BxbN_8zrRiUZC5jf_0nY9mZBVmLnVTtteIPQTTTNXW55Poey/s320/02+26+11_7770.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dmitry on the way to causing trouble</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4J52mOdYjHPr7-9EW45_Q6H8cTFsIvZnJZ5FLZB4dyww4WaEn2qcWMt_KMZR1EKpaFGA9O0sMZ7EWPbqOe5-pzPiKRwS-QFrWmQvSBVTnYC4R7KjrYG0ETu5RqfcJPVEpKgsUCs7raZBt/s1600/03+17+11_8159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4J52mOdYjHPr7-9EW45_Q6H8cTFsIvZnJZ5FLZB4dyww4WaEn2qcWMt_KMZR1EKpaFGA9O0sMZ7EWPbqOe5-pzPiKRwS-QFrWmQvSBVTnYC4R7KjrYG0ETu5RqfcJPVEpKgsUCs7raZBt/s320/03+17+11_8159.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girl broke her collarbone in track. Repeat after me: Track is NOT a contact sport!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-0uuAKdRw3eXk2dFgv-iro7NsmdWTziK8Auea9FyJNmR2hjUpwA9TmXlHorC-T7Cy6Oq9oGgCuJyX9u3sN9Pan10OSbhOFpkrQGbUJC2XjPuhriYISOlegECEUk4tu-I7wHgImqV3-gD/s1600/04+23+11_8021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-0uuAKdRw3eXk2dFgv-iro7NsmdWTziK8Auea9FyJNmR2hjUpwA9TmXlHorC-T7Cy6Oq9oGgCuJyX9u3sN9Pan10OSbhOFpkrQGbUJC2XjPuhriYISOlegECEUk4tu-I7wHgImqV3-gD/s320/04+23+11_8021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crosly entertainment center I bought for $7 at Goodwill....not a scratch on it and everything works. Dug out my old records...that's a post for another time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n0jd6F7RWAwCYHInmLj8ZEgW5_gstSxBxzrntWqwZhnpeRrMJv4I_lMT-I_26jT-sDL1LiKN43B2ic2OB_oWn_zWfs0I4ve82xTCfF2PSRSmH1H3QyU-dLxSD6glOpJqXVWpQ9pW0-Cu/s1600/04+24+11_9501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n0jd6F7RWAwCYHInmLj8ZEgW5_gstSxBxzrntWqwZhnpeRrMJv4I_lMT-I_26jT-sDL1LiKN43B2ic2OB_oWn_zWfs0I4ve82xTCfF2PSRSmH1H3QyU-dLxSD6glOpJqXVWpQ9pW0-Cu/s320/04+24+11_9501.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt teaching his Great Uncle Don about Pokemon. This picture is precious to me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CjQ4oWO5tpDF8Ar5PIOjAQFOI2dgiQcEEaEsbdRpM7c2E273-aYkJPN2fONGDfQsIZP81EXrQt9KpBYIW8IgzN8l7lkht8ezOljo5i-cfDymHG4pgORjqURv4G2JcEhcC75RgyIEEB6u/s1600/06+18+11_8978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CjQ4oWO5tpDF8Ar5PIOjAQFOI2dgiQcEEaEsbdRpM7c2E273-aYkJPN2fONGDfQsIZP81EXrQt9KpBYIW8IgzN8l7lkht8ezOljo5i-cfDymHG4pgORjqURv4G2JcEhcC75RgyIEEB6u/s320/06+18+11_8978.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a sucker for these twinkling blue eyes and those freckles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj017EQ0cZcGqy110n_ITafgwZ75xEuv1ejNsmo21vFk4XSVe4ZGpO1ArGHapMFmRIQprcYH8lorEfBMX0JsFYP08z_WI_JSmQWoD3JonMIOt9xDt5Kz0yQEYvphFHPUdDSGvY9CZBeBf8A/s1600/06+23+11_8703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj017EQ0cZcGqy110n_ITafgwZ75xEuv1ejNsmo21vFk4XSVe4ZGpO1ArGHapMFmRIQprcYH8lorEfBMX0JsFYP08z_WI_JSmQWoD3JonMIOt9xDt5Kz0yQEYvphFHPUdDSGvY9CZBeBf8A/s320/06+23+11_8703.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt selling raffle tickets for Hope 4 Paws</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDcm9kJR8wZkxNGXE_uAi1sID1CMlA4eYGTjitCfQLVsz6bB5X3_DHGGBRjigDLa66mY1etg6_63EaqFyaJgON1Xdgbu5ce7MW7zL-uD1Szj4XFhAcf1OKZ11jSl3tpFLscTxJtIsJj53/s1600/07+02+11_9100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDcm9kJR8wZkxNGXE_uAi1sID1CMlA4eYGTjitCfQLVsz6bB5X3_DHGGBRjigDLa66mY1etg6_63EaqFyaJgON1Xdgbu5ce7MW7zL-uD1Szj4XFhAcf1OKZ11jSl3tpFLscTxJtIsJj53/s320/07+02+11_9100.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm related to these crazy people!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9UkyVWiD8aXNpR47BH0yWo2BYxjZwYnNzuT1bsjwZ3cTmRTAyOJfOXVNXIQmxbvhTAJmpOcjejkd_sUA1B_jCC5SxHcXihhj2OuKvoRuvLnErApTOcCGuYvoQ9Rk1GDTGydbAVudgRiJ/s1600/07+12+11_Summer_9276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9UkyVWiD8aXNpR47BH0yWo2BYxjZwYnNzuT1bsjwZ3cTmRTAyOJfOXVNXIQmxbvhTAJmpOcjejkd_sUA1B_jCC5SxHcXihhj2OuKvoRuvLnErApTOcCGuYvoQ9Rk1GDTGydbAVudgRiJ/s320/07+12+11_Summer_9276.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....and this crazy little duck, too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8cSdSk6BgJjuto_tRusVUcUsaU-_M0qtA7sM5QOInzkv9qp1mQurGMGC2NuHjqePnu6wOiAD9u0WX96aGjQbmvb-l2yD72uAAp1J6UAYJpn9X4_lEGXNXhcp4TYF56xltm7peTqTfwC3/s1600/08+21+11_9699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8cSdSk6BgJjuto_tRusVUcUsaU-_M0qtA7sM5QOInzkv9qp1mQurGMGC2NuHjqePnu6wOiAD9u0WX96aGjQbmvb-l2yD72uAAp1J6UAYJpn9X4_lEGXNXhcp4TYF56xltm7peTqTfwC3/s320/08+21+11_9699.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention he's crazy? What a sense of humor this kid has!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9SvRAtdAT4fpeDpxS2jXcs91Mqum_JM6hN2HyX7uDCumgiaXnAYnZnraBmg_oqmwisWClNw7STSMEGI78PS2oOaY3niOTzqw_QyTdk4rc-Nn24e1aJJT_9gUlVHeC3iHGek7WDZP_0H5/s1600/09+23+11_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9SvRAtdAT4fpeDpxS2jXcs91Mqum_JM6hN2HyX7uDCumgiaXnAYnZnraBmg_oqmwisWClNw7STSMEGI78PS2oOaY3niOTzqw_QyTdk4rc-Nn24e1aJJT_9gUlVHeC3iHGek7WDZP_0H5/s320/09+23+11_1516.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And now he's an orange belt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zGiw_ay6grjKjZmpb3M5ZRuqW0vHqycR65Ia63Db2q2SG36IPMeRM4rByQ6MOnYee7QTM3Ym155htIId_xjUS0D_CkIck100E0h50WKpBKR5CNPE1aokjMAqkaMQ2P6cn4Cv8RQpicqn/s1600/09+25+11_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zGiw_ay6grjKjZmpb3M5ZRuqW0vHqycR65Ia63Db2q2SG36IPMeRM4rByQ6MOnYee7QTM3Ym155htIId_xjUS0D_CkIck100E0h50WKpBKR5CNPE1aokjMAqkaMQ2P6cn4Cv8RQpicqn/s320/09+25+11_1306.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ana went to homecoming</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA6_kX8i8hmTEVkJB9s6M9kWLyjZZ8MCvpUcejXxoDgftJpUGm3ycUGTmRBvpKXKbtnroYLwYW8wXu-wfea9hWvbBYyPwHL0kz8H2F6mMC4bZr1yC93zdzCS33G2oVVmzHmXRRq4XnhlS/s1600/10+05+11_1428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA6_kX8i8hmTEVkJB9s6M9kWLyjZZ8MCvpUcejXxoDgftJpUGm3ycUGTmRBvpKXKbtnroYLwYW8wXu-wfea9hWvbBYyPwHL0kz8H2F6mMC4bZr1yC93zdzCS33G2oVVmzHmXRRq4XnhlS/s320/10+05+11_1428.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt's birthday pizza was bigger than him</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuFcta2nPxs6NJ1wbpJCxYyU6gB8jDCNlk1l_XAcRasl-4pObK1eaxTagWciqoA-0QM4NYayovCFg8yblx7asWwFwJpcUOBaRiaiy9WJlvI_6juYZ30WaCN7bMutHad0ZD-zeNdUdDeBJ/s1600/10+05+11_1429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuFcta2nPxs6NJ1wbpJCxYyU6gB8jDCNlk1l_XAcRasl-4pObK1eaxTagWciqoA-0QM4NYayovCFg8yblx7asWwFwJpcUOBaRiaiy9WJlvI_6juYZ30WaCN7bMutHad0ZD-zeNdUdDeBJ/s320/10+05+11_1429.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I can't believe I ate the whole thing!" (we helped)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHID_Byx_iz0fUYQl7SgxY_ULkPf2hqcU9NYmKWABQlOtDv6HdeLPCWLmtsCnB1bewwkJoRC9iiUdsVr8yXEhRBuJ3nTxrEDNxWClXuSSepycwUcqAz62W002ij-ToSeXJE2In_YBgeFNs/s1600/lighkimsdki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHID_Byx_iz0fUYQl7SgxY_ULkPf2hqcU9NYmKWABQlOtDv6HdeLPCWLmtsCnB1bewwkJoRC9iiUdsVr8yXEhRBuJ3nTxrEDNxWClXuSSepycwUcqAz62W002ij-ToSeXJE2In_YBgeFNs/s320/lighkimsdki.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aww...my babies</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Thanks for sharing with me....hopefully I'll get on the ball and tell a few stories! And I still need to find my One Little Word...Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-62091439530437415952012-01-02T10:59:00.000-06:002012-01-02T10:59:35.944-06:00Can it be 2012?<div style="text-align: center;">Can it be 2012 already? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Can it be that the last time I wrote in my blog was July 16th!?</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Can it be that I haven't been here for 6 months? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Uu40xTFO9ZCO2ylrglrdg1aLqA608XYRtvxiwREvuU2go0sZerxhUO4RjJwcL_JHRyDYuE5Q-RPg0Kqwkst-NXfaJ6X7bN_UFjUrNq3bxOWRNOfPhIEWTe6z2HWLnDt5pPLflEthd6HY/s1600/PB060028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Uu40xTFO9ZCO2ylrglrdg1aLqA608XYRtvxiwREvuU2go0sZerxhUO4RjJwcL_JHRyDYuE5Q-RPg0Kqwkst-NXfaJ6X7bN_UFjUrNq3bxOWRNOfPhIEWTe6z2HWLnDt5pPLflEthd6HY/s320/PB060028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yes, I'm afraid so.<br />
(Dmitry says, "It is <span class="bigger">170</span> days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date<br />
Or <span class="big">5 months, 17 days</span> excluding the end date. But who's counting?")<br />
<br />
<br />
And even though I have good intentions of being back here, truth is, I'm not sure how consistent I can be. All I know is I'll try.<br />
<br />
I look back on the end of year posts from 2009 and 2010 and see that I did favorite photos of the year....and I know that I have barely picked up my camera in the second half of 2011. Not because I don't want to enjoy my photos and my memories, but I think I lost my artistic way a bit. Around about August 2011, I hit the brakes on my creative life and shifted gears and my energies to my new job, because, for the first time in over 6 years, I genuinely liked my job and every person I work with. Not since I was teaching at Westwood College, have I felt that I was in the right place career-wise. Not since Westwood and my <a href="http://theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2009/10/life-is-shorteat-dessertand-grab-some.html">dear Frank</a>, have I had a boss who appears to care so much about her employees that I really wanted to work hard. And when you consider how much time you spend working, it's so good if you want to do it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcoqV9UxzjAog5SLSM59lSIe3u7lIuu7IiEtWnEyzbyW4g23mICl93LJH_Eghm3WggWDyNNONPKw3wH2qbQ9vCfNMAGvty-4b7wriaNzlXCdc4bgVpB0x-NZkNTXNc6oidEB2OtC-1ymN/s1600/nicework_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcoqV9UxzjAog5SLSM59lSIe3u7lIuu7IiEtWnEyzbyW4g23mICl93LJH_Eghm3WggWDyNNONPKw3wH2qbQ9vCfNMAGvty-4b7wriaNzlXCdc4bgVpB0x-NZkNTXNc6oidEB2OtC-1ymN/s400/nicework_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I've made about 4 digital scrapbook pages in the past 6 months. If you've been here before, you know that is basically nothing compared to 2010 and early 2011. <br />
<br />
I took some online classes, Soul Restoration II (yes, I'm a <a href="http://bravegirlsclub.com/">Brave Girl</a>, too), 21 Secrets, and <a href="http://www.janedavenport.com/2011/08/29/supplies-me-online-workshop-is-here/">Supplies Me</a> with Jane Davenport, and In the Sun and I'm proud of the results. I've grown my drawing skills and my mixed media repertoire. But, sadly, I fell of the Art Journal Caravan, after 2 years. I traded pixels for pencils and have gotten back to basics. The resulting art work has been harder to share, since I never like the way they photograph and there are many more steps to sharing my art than when I was doing the digital pages.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVA0Fgv0vfPzfqb7AefMcpFB013jpzZ6WoWvhyphenhyphens4AT9OuVnIbRIypi5Am5LUF0a8-oHpKDxJwKNS9QMC4HzNrICocX8JWdWR05tMrkjIrcmvfwOOvGEPGOLas1VcmXGq-6HFt3oQ3aFr7/s1600/09+09+11_9733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVA0Fgv0vfPzfqb7AefMcpFB013jpzZ6WoWvhyphenhyphens4AT9OuVnIbRIypi5Am5LUF0a8-oHpKDxJwKNS9QMC4HzNrICocX8JWdWR05tMrkjIrcmvfwOOvGEPGOLas1VcmXGq-6HFt3oQ3aFr7/s320/09+09+11_9733.jpg" width="192" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i2DnfWcBS4msfwb73YsavSS-ymeIcSVjfpNYBYJYTkx4IbT7EBIqL2GWqmNWvCCr2qbj_Tj1io7EY3odt-pfMQ-CyUf0Fx-CxGOZzhezmSw30UR_jo81wpt79iiL2X3s-Xj8sezL3lcw/s1600/09+08+11_9759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-i2DnfWcBS4msfwb73YsavSS-ymeIcSVjfpNYBYJYTkx4IbT7EBIqL2GWqmNWvCCr2qbj_Tj1io7EY3odt-pfMQ-CyUf0Fx-CxGOZzhezmSw30UR_jo81wpt79iiL2X3s-Xj8sezL3lcw/s320/09+08+11_9759.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />
<br />
And finally, it's January 2nd, 2012 and I have yet to share my one word (details for Ali Edwards One Little Word are <a href="http://aliedwards.com/2011/12/one-little-word-2012.html">here</a>) for this year. But, that's what has steered me back here. Because it's important. It's important not to beat myself up for not blogging the last 6 months of my life (mostly because I was focused on my new job and my family).<br />
<br />
It's important to me to choose a word that will guide my year, as I have in the past. 2010 had me <a href="http://www.theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2009/12/whats-word-part-2-unveiling.html">focused</a>, 2011 was <a href="http://www.theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2010/12/one-little-word-2011-edition.html">organize</a>.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And this year? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow, this has been a tough one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiCQrVdBTOzMErZTnHIH1n73E_eUPgvjbjWUm6L2jl2qcRiALaYXuYrGEfjxu2NbwtFdSPcdahIhL639rFe9R9GkqDlrxzgFMT4tTZUafBw_aG7Go-87d29xer3pSjeCwY6q1tPCpCPio/s1600/08+15+11_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiCQrVdBTOzMErZTnHIH1n73E_eUPgvjbjWUm6L2jl2qcRiALaYXuYrGEfjxu2NbwtFdSPcdahIhL639rFe9R9GkqDlrxzgFMT4tTZUafBw_aG7Go-87d29xer3pSjeCwY6q1tPCpCPio/s320/08+15+11_1631.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>There were so many that I wanted to choose, for several reasons. I need to think a bit more about it and I'll here be back to share what I've decided.Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-47716359148951553832011-07-16T08:29:00.000-05:002011-07-16T08:29:00.717-05:00TalentedWell, we know <a href="http://theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2011/02/dmitry-russian-blue-retriever.html">Dmitry plays fetch</a>. He comes when he's called and wags his tail like a dog. But, did you know he can Macarena?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialk7yWHn2RaTAWBz_kyE8IXCSvqSPtgMEbDq3E3e-mq3McZCwzOP-f0tZ2OiEvSMxSYlHf89xKaDIL7yNjPNGyhESIR4Z0i3PitWQy-WHWizCecky4sbgMgfS7BInaqyHUTanPdm-9aM5/s1600/07+07+11_9128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEialk7yWHn2RaTAWBz_kyE8IXCSvqSPtgMEbDq3E3e-mq3McZCwzOP-f0tZ2OiEvSMxSYlHf89xKaDIL7yNjPNGyhESIR4Z0i3PitWQy-WHWizCecky4sbgMgfS7BInaqyHUTanPdm-9aM5/s320/07+07+11_9128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iBa7_GRUef8ebQI_KUPWIskcq5kBs3p7oj0aGp7J89PUQ25mLGjNjB0nwWm8XedWqPYk2P7Bx8Gw2nFirbLsL9mHTP2m2krDrtKmbOiRjxLb1nPb2z6umFtBZI01l2lRXV8dq5cBil_P/s1600/07+07+11_9129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iBa7_GRUef8ebQI_KUPWIskcq5kBs3p7oj0aGp7J89PUQ25mLGjNjB0nwWm8XedWqPYk2P7Bx8Gw2nFirbLsL9mHTP2m2krDrtKmbOiRjxLb1nPb2z6umFtBZI01l2lRXV8dq5cBil_P/s320/07+07+11_9129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6fa4AijDI0MQgkMTAbt909WpH7s39jJdeLfcj_CgqaSbr8ya3lAj1j-1kUSnKwuv-evlJIAhYUnSkgj-nXJepN5gda3ItpJjcnhHkeoVLvSVVfBKM4T9gb9d7d7yxj4M8Bl9xWKuU0xm/s1600/07+07+11_9130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6fa4AijDI0MQgkMTAbt909WpH7s39jJdeLfcj_CgqaSbr8ya3lAj1j-1kUSnKwuv-evlJIAhYUnSkgj-nXJepN5gda3ItpJjcnhHkeoVLvSVVfBKM4T9gb9d7d7yxj4M8Bl9xWKuU0xm/s320/07+07+11_9130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Lwxlt29Vj1tReMmGdWdwyH0bJja8p_LlgP-uyWl6_I1mPG8Y7VodTTrEGpNijGYCLr_1l6Bu8xYuiaX-HbmRXMtQs4TxlXYcqLXXMBzxIGjbjl9WlqXcfvoMN8wlWTM1x8IQXE-6Fbqi/s1600/07+07+11_9131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Lwxlt29Vj1tReMmGdWdwyH0bJja8p_LlgP-uyWl6_I1mPG8Y7VodTTrEGpNijGYCLr_1l6Bu8xYuiaX-HbmRXMtQs4TxlXYcqLXXMBzxIGjbjl9WlqXcfvoMN8wlWTM1x8IQXE-6Fbqi/s320/07+07+11_9131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-23512933086987009092011-07-15T08:42:00.000-05:002011-07-15T08:42:00.663-05:00My Soul is Filling.....At the end of May this year, I was laid off of work. This wasn't the type of layoff that one would expect to be called back from, so I'm not sure why they call it a layoff....I guess that's to cushion the blow. Anyway, I was stunned. Knew it was coming, but my emotional self took over for several hours. And then, I was ok. Really, ok. <br />
<br />
I felt ok. I got my ducks in a row. I started applying for jobs immediately. I made a list of all the good things that might come of having this time to be home and I must say that helped me not to panic. I'm a silver lining girl all the way. I know many people who are out of work right now. I hold each of their stories in my heart and root for them to get back to work, too. I feel guilty that I am making the best of this time off. I don't make light of anyone's situation and I feel the pain, my friends. But I want to share my list. My good things list. My silver lining list. <br />
<br />
1. I've accomplished stuff. My hall closet is clean and functional!<br />
2. I've enjoyed whole days and not worried about having enough time to do things.<br />
3. I've finished reading one book (Freakonomics) and have two more cued up - 1. Fiction-The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood and 2. Non-Fiction - I Love it When You Talk Retro - both of which I found for 89 cents at Goodwill (see #6).<br />
4. I've made my yard lovely again - with the help of my sister, her hubby and my dear, Invisibob. <br />
5. I've been the "driving mom" for the first time in many years. And I've been happy to do it.<br />
6. I've wandered around the Goodwill stores in my neighborhood, finding treasures. Don't scoff, my money supports their mission and the treasures look great in my yard!<br />
7. I let my kids have sleepovers - heck, I don't have to get up for work in the morning, why not?<br />
8. I've gone to Thursday morning matinees with my dear, IB. (See #4, Bob is known as Invisibob because 1. He does not appear in photographs willingly, and 2. He didn't start appearing at family functions until we'd been together for a while. My dad dubbed him "Invisibob" as a joke, and it stuck.)<br />
9. I've stopped eating fast food and started cooking again -can't say that I don't have the time to cook!<br />
10. I've taught Matt to cook English muffin pizzas (at least I'll know he can make something!)<br />
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11. Ana and I pulled out the food processor and made a cantaloupe granita this week- yum!<br />
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We're also growing our own herbs: lots of basil for pestos and pizzas, cilantro, parsley, and dill. And, our cucumber plants are coming along nicely.<br />
12. I've indulged myself in art and music - something I haven't had time for in a long time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcHA4Mnv9RbBuuM0vfWP7tS5LURAW2lL0PuIoF1LBKhYswnoM3VpRfLmBojLlp45nWWiLJTPLUTx4DpDDndM8iJuIWTiQp7y4DcyarpCNr-CoCehgxZ_9Are6i8nIe8RLw5_fF6ezkBPB/s1600/07+12+11_Summer_9253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcHA4Mnv9RbBuuM0vfWP7tS5LURAW2lL0PuIoF1LBKhYswnoM3VpRfLmBojLlp45nWWiLJTPLUTx4DpDDndM8iJuIWTiQp7y4DcyarpCNr-CoCehgxZ_9Are6i8nIe8RLw5_fF6ezkBPB/s320/07+12+11_Summer_9253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
13. I had a picnic in my backyard for the first time in the 7 years I've lived here. Ok, I kind of had to <i>force </i>the kids to join me, but it was a good time, nonetheless.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQn3EfLpa84EwllEO9u5547Ckt7SOLJ1PbN6H3hhkVuAAWzY4W1jeVOrTOQKN9V_tyGXs7U8M5AyAssfjs0e2Av_-lBM2OeZr9EqcSj9taDfTaHVL9JaZrvdIgXpXMyS28zQ1J298B7b_8/s1600/07+12+11_Summer_9210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQn3EfLpa84EwllEO9u5547Ckt7SOLJ1PbN6H3hhkVuAAWzY4W1jeVOrTOQKN9V_tyGXs7U8M5AyAssfjs0e2Av_-lBM2OeZr9EqcSj9taDfTaHVL9JaZrvdIgXpXMyS28zQ1J298B7b_8/s320/07+12+11_Summer_9210.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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I'm so thankful that I have a family who is there to help me out and be supportive as I look for a job. I have a second interview with the same company next week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm ready to go back - my soul is filled up again.Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-24950694869767596662011-07-14T19:40:00.000-05:002011-07-14T19:40:59.432-05:00And the cat came back.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aMIEdRpCh4o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Fred Penner - The Cat Came Back</div>Gone for two weeks, then on the 4th of July, Melanie appeared at the door. I saw her first and then called upstairs to tell Matt she'd come back. He yelled for Ana, who was in the shower, and there was great excitment.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The Cat Came Back</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUn37TPj0zIZ3Jz7wPd98QFBQ7x7W6XfKTsCx0MTtz60S8z6ZFxUK9zEyE_LHPS6bO181R_dtzl5MovPWdDpNLrIt5SuWOW6Z4hsgMHFxilzse6YHm1erH3SEDmkXrLJxmEBx3kAtDzPX/s1600/07+12+11_Summer_9202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUn37TPj0zIZ3Jz7wPd98QFBQ7x7W6XfKTsCx0MTtz60S8z6ZFxUK9zEyE_LHPS6bO181R_dtzl5MovPWdDpNLrIt5SuWOW6Z4hsgMHFxilzse6YHm1erH3SEDmkXrLJxmEBx3kAtDzPX/s320/07+12+11_Summer_9202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Naturally, she read my blog post and was so moved that she found her way home. We theorized that she had been shut up in the house across the street for the 2 weeks since that house was being renovated and there were workers going in and out all day.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The Cat Came Back</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Not a scratch on her. That was my biggest worry when I saw her. But no, she was in one piece, nothing wrong. She did run right to the food bowl and chow down.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The Cat Came Back!</div><br />
Yep, the power of blogging is proven once again...like I said, she must read this blog. Maybe I should write about other things that I've been missing, like.my baseball card collection that was stolen by a boyfriend almost 20 years ago? Think that might bring those 1960s rare cards back? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-55863795915866031352011-06-29T09:39:00.000-05:002011-06-29T09:39:06.969-05:00And then there were 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP_7LRfQJdXBi4eAP7hCsWsn8Hu9Z00v9R945bLQvkAjbNNUeY0dORRGDuEug-6r4pW5AUMCHlOZ1BJIxaZo5joAyKW7My3YY8cn_0COGReuDAX0bKYQBzy59qpiT3RAWp-JBTSJRAbxD/s1600/melanie+story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP_7LRfQJdXBi4eAP7hCsWsn8Hu9Z00v9R945bLQvkAjbNNUeY0dORRGDuEug-6r4pW5AUMCHlOZ1BJIxaZo5joAyKW7My3YY8cn_0COGReuDAX0bKYQBzy59qpiT3RAWp-JBTSJRAbxD/s320/melanie+story.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br />
Once upon a time, a little girl was out in her yard cutting flowers and a cat appeared. The cat was a tabby with beautiful markings, but no collar, and she seemed a little confused.<br />
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She thought the little girl was her own, so she lay down on the ground near where the little girl was trimming back the peony bushes, and she stayed there all day.<br />
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Inside the house was a great big black dog,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyydgWEnwo5Blo967OwOY-Qb6P1bQY60szH-_hZH5u_pvsJ0o4pSVWQrj3fGWvx6Syvc30LI_MfHJy99Br69TkAjxRm3g0S9m4tlDPs7Og22HrrEcP2JLuh-4n0JPUxO-K-l9YTmYTiImE/s1600/1650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyydgWEnwo5Blo967OwOY-Qb6P1bQY60szH-_hZH5u_pvsJ0o4pSVWQrj3fGWvx6Syvc30LI_MfHJy99Br69TkAjxRm3g0S9m4tlDPs7Og22HrrEcP2JLuh-4n0JPUxO-K-l9YTmYTiImE/s320/1650.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
but the cat didn't know that or she didn't care, because she seemed to just want to stay with the girl.<br />
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Even when the girl went into the house, the cat stayed. The girl would go outside and the cat would return, nuzzling into the little girl's arms.<br />
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The girl's mom was reluctant to like the cat, since she already had a big dog and 2 kids to care for, but then it started to rain.<br />
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The mom and girl hardened their hearts and went inside, leaving the cat outside where it belonged. That lasted for about 2 minutes. And then cat was part of their family for 4 years.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzI3X7FpvySzuO-irXvbDx4N81QMu7ocIhOBW5cKcn8ZGsE419i_8I-DP3hJPVBAb_7FFpzPVUzMUtiYxYk-CS9OKXn-ER0y7_nz3C8s4QoMltrEz39weNbFA4hAo8Sox8tsgVN0dOAlJ/s1600/2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzI3X7FpvySzuO-irXvbDx4N81QMu7ocIhOBW5cKcn8ZGsE419i_8I-DP3hJPVBAb_7FFpzPVUzMUtiYxYk-CS9OKXn-ER0y7_nz3C8s4QoMltrEz39weNbFA4hAo8Sox8tsgVN0dOAlJ/s400/2181.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And soon joined by another cat, known as Dmitry.<br />
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And Melanie served her family well for her 4 years there- she stayed an inside cat for 3 years and got all chubby and comfy, but the lure of the outdoors was still strong. And so were the bunnies.<br />
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This spring, she presented her family with 4 dead mice, 1 dead bird and 8 decapitated bunnies. And the mom cleaned up after her killing spree. Ewww.<br />
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And then, it was time for the first cat, now named Melanie, to move on.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And then there were 2.</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLx6iCCMI_FdMY7YwhIItYpEQxp8cR4nurFIv6Ka0erIDIj6KytCPTfnL3tnGTntCGC1ecjAizYRx6IuRBGvJMEeJLdGkMTUmVwdBOktIJY92Jb_AJDa_yw5Y9LdUqwDuEtbcHeNyUk65/s1600/08+24+10_4457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLx6iCCMI_FdMY7YwhIItYpEQxp8cR4nurFIv6Ka0erIDIj6KytCPTfnL3tnGTntCGC1ecjAizYRx6IuRBGvJMEeJLdGkMTUmVwdBOktIJY92Jb_AJDa_yw5Y9LdUqwDuEtbcHeNyUk65/s320/08+24+10_4457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcB9KpqQ_UUQPeBt75riCbYjhyphenhyphenvSe-tLdK1yC9YIGT5KhVeyxI_tV27xVtRoow-jIxsu1Y1C72uEiYmt0bwLZ36DxQHT3Q8ARa9gUPpJ1333APSODKofmgpQF-uVVhyphenhyphen6aJ04bjZWcJcq8a/s1600/08+24+10_4462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcB9KpqQ_UUQPeBt75riCbYjhyphenhyphenvSe-tLdK1yC9YIGT5KhVeyxI_tV27xVtRoow-jIxsu1Y1C72uEiYmt0bwLZ36DxQHT3Q8ARa9gUPpJ1333APSODKofmgpQF-uVVhyphenhyphen6aJ04bjZWcJcq8a/s320/08+24+10_4462.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>And life goes on. Yes, I'm sad. Yes, the kids are sad, but we had 4 good years with her. And we all still hold hope that she'll wander back to our home someday, but we like to tell ourselves that she's found a new family with a little girl and boy who need a cat. We are optimists.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5wD4SpJlRYu2QUh1nFb9hGosKyYMFUu6TLJA6u4lOOqqpPyfxu5CzbTtI0Ge6VXA8J7L0kpiFen6UbxLvy3UObVY3aDMihhVk_APdtGtULsG2tLMfq8ZA0Dnk6CZs_hHs9zhXsQRPOR4/s1600/02+03+11_7508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5wD4SpJlRYu2QUh1nFb9hGosKyYMFUu6TLJA6u4lOOqqpPyfxu5CzbTtI0Ge6VXA8J7L0kpiFen6UbxLvy3UObVY3aDMihhVk_APdtGtULsG2tLMfq8ZA0Dnk6CZs_hHs9zhXsQRPOR4/s320/02+03+11_7508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNynY64Je1v3Y5LOPQzUZP4K87IShW8I735aubGtUgD57V-Af1E4ib9NSlB_Jj6z1EOG-_JWThq8BKHWOEPShqFHBiR31a6z7XefIUqTm-mHAIl2bZTaCaFsC_skr20spMKmrrxVKz-lx/s1600/melaniebrights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNynY64Je1v3Y5LOPQzUZP4K87IShW8I735aubGtUgD57V-Af1E4ib9NSlB_Jj6z1EOG-_JWThq8BKHWOEPShqFHBiR31a6z7XefIUqTm-mHAIl2bZTaCaFsC_skr20spMKmrrxVKz-lx/s320/melaniebrights.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bye Melanie - hope you are somewhere safe.</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-42645075832593647462011-06-12T10:55:00.001-05:002011-06-12T11:06:05.980-05:00Attack of the SHOULDsSo, I see it's been some time since my last post. You would think that after I was laid off my job at the end of May, that I might have had a little more time to post to my blog, and you would be right. However, I think I've been avoiding it, just as I avoid cutting the grass or doing the dishes (I'm avoiding the lawn mower as I write this post). This shouldn't feel like a chore, right? Not that anyone is holding me accountable to post, that's all me.<br />
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That's me in the guilty chair.<br />
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All me.<br />
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Like how I feel that I should my household under control by now (I don't) or have found a job by now (I haven't) or slimmed down and gotten healthier (not yet). Seems to me that my life is full of SHOULDs right now. My 40th birthday is in 23 days and I feel like I SHOULD have it all figured out by now (I don't).<br />
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What I need to do is give myself a break - it's not like I'll become a superhero in 23 days, capable of turning myself into a swirling ball of energy and tying up all my loose ends and finishing all my unfinished projects so I could start my 40th year fresh and in control (though, that would be awesome). I have limitations and need to set my goals and expectations back to the human setting (not superhero setting).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsob9UudLgy_HkAnPD8GnyPgqgK0vCc4PGm3VTuycBp6HnvWUpVq41DfLPUsJtfPT9YpqJRt-engyjw_WHbPBmuhspU1Y7M_-14jM5JND5Mt18BPoFYrqhrmcnn43wJa3wsRudyUu9ZY5/s1600/superhero+dial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsob9UudLgy_HkAnPD8GnyPgqgK0vCc4PGm3VTuycBp6HnvWUpVq41DfLPUsJtfPT9YpqJRt-engyjw_WHbPBmuhspU1Y7M_-14jM5JND5Mt18BPoFYrqhrmcnn43wJa3wsRudyUu9ZY5/s320/superhero+dial.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'm also not likely to win the lottery (I don't play), so I don't think my financial woes will be resolved in 23 days, either. I may find a job in the next 23 days, but if I don't, I'm not a failure, I just need to be persistent, stay positive, and keep trying.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aSTQjZgOX9qxZVgfa_PR4266fi34wbqy-4e5eJI7GlJ_KXF5vd2mPuKzquc2c9qN3o73Miztqd0yMjZJYROq5e6-OB6HZU1Dc_VjxnhI4_q7faaMrYvUIclbscePdzEHvgzm3qga1Uj3/s1600/jack+with+try.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aSTQjZgOX9qxZVgfa_PR4266fi34wbqy-4e5eJI7GlJ_KXF5vd2mPuKzquc2c9qN3o73Miztqd0yMjZJYROq5e6-OB6HZU1Dc_VjxnhI4_q7faaMrYvUIclbscePdzEHvgzm3qga1Uj3/s320/jack+with+try.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I created this digital art journal page to remind myself of what I SHOULD be doing:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysgDiNV-9TGyxgXi1uCpobe5SbWX6w_E36v573Fp9Nl3rvixUYzqdkERPLRmPGTZPBHjfwHMsqw-_yI_xtx7NMgxN1tmwZweFu3yXHTvJIh9ZsU6Oao5KnKCgz0Ds3xbX2i3pxxqSjcC2/s1600/Laugh-week-2472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysgDiNV-9TGyxgXi1uCpobe5SbWX6w_E36v573Fp9Nl3rvixUYzqdkERPLRmPGTZPBHjfwHMsqw-_yI_xtx7NMgxN1tmwZweFu3yXHTvJIh9ZsU6Oao5KnKCgz0Ds3xbX2i3pxxqSjcC2/s640/Laugh-week-2472.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And since it's the first cool day, non-rainy in my neck of the woods, I have to go cut that grass!</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-83924727725994567002011-05-15T21:08:00.000-05:002011-05-15T21:08:24.218-05:00Some new pages...checking inHaven't been here in a while ... still painting .. all of us are healthy and still wishing for the warm weather to stay a bit longer. We had 2 teaser days in the 90s last week and we are back to the 40s again! Oh May, you are such a tease!<br />
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I'm taking a lot less photos than in previous years. Or, maybe it just seems like that since I now have 4 devices to take photos: my iPod Touch, my phone, and 2 cameras.<br />
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How about a page of my beautiful girl....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEhPWQH85Xf4KK08itSdOTZRb4V-5q3DC0ZO9VOjdJnGtyJ-cr2NsCrxkykLSlKf6ozrwcy90AJC4Ue957kisbswveL3UryI5s4cQD24CiolUIew4MHT5_IurR6CmNk0-MkXeJLJlb3F_/s1600/facesana725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEhPWQH85Xf4KK08itSdOTZRb4V-5q3DC0ZO9VOjdJnGtyJ-cr2NsCrxkykLSlKf6ozrwcy90AJC4Ue957kisbswveL3UryI5s4cQD24CiolUIew4MHT5_IurR6CmNk0-MkXeJLJlb3F_/s640/facesana725.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2kCrnPsnwEyRJx2oarz36OeyCfU6BU-XerjD3-lbz4_pSlyQuWpITlDDsJfGw-YpWCj3DFY8WFjsmuXLyiP30T29jM-saors2lgwO5L98fKyFfAf7k3RRnwwMSOdXqvLTqEUsSc8uwsh/s1600/she-had-a-few-things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2kCrnPsnwEyRJx2oarz36OeyCfU6BU-XerjD3-lbz4_pSlyQuWpITlDDsJfGw-YpWCj3DFY8WFjsmuXLyiP30T29jM-saors2lgwO5L98fKyFfAf7k3RRnwwMSOdXqvLTqEUsSc8uwsh/s640/she-had-a-few-things.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An experiment with Photoshop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8_1j0poPZfylF0dBxRU8anT_myQGkQYquzrxHx1Fd1rCfrakgFCYLFIXnCHOpPn_a63fe279xSsWFAli9Dkci7Q2oZRh_2Bu1303iyNr2AIKJ0yTpccSFo735LlQFFBT-UvtWQVwrZYe/s1600/try+being+me72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8_1j0poPZfylF0dBxRU8anT_myQGkQYquzrxHx1Fd1rCfrakgFCYLFIXnCHOpPn_a63fe279xSsWFAli9Dkci7Q2oZRh_2Bu1303iyNr2AIKJ0yTpccSFo735LlQFFBT-UvtWQVwrZYe/s640/try+being+me72.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Journal Caravan page on the word TRY</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6s025SPYRBAQjzy0_iGNx3lDTH85_iV4UEg3d3f2gv46nxRiIFvWDpiO8qwPZIgJMm5xczmFPF6H8CfGQDn32Uo2U2pL9zGLhL254aFV8heJZ3DcoTEKxfZsfaMjSnHpl3wRJASjouPE/s1600/you+dig72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6s025SPYRBAQjzy0_iGNx3lDTH85_iV4UEg3d3f2gv46nxRiIFvWDpiO8qwPZIgJMm5xczmFPF6H8CfGQDn32Uo2U2pL9zGLhL254aFV8heJZ3DcoTEKxfZsfaMjSnHpl3wRJASjouPE/s640/you+dig72.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art Journal Caravan page on the word UNDERSTAND</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-37687979392868009772011-04-28T11:47:00.000-05:002011-04-28T11:47:51.315-05:00Spring Shoes and Colorful Toes<div style="visibility: visible;"><img border="0" caption="04 24 11_7987" height="360" id="slideshowPicture" imgid="230517177001" imgoid="230517177001" incart="false" isfavorite="false" isownedone="true" isvideo="false" lrp="232323232%7Fjwvs%3C%3E%3Dzi5%2Fotf41jrd40vhr31uqcshluk0fqp%3C%3A2%3B2%3EfiuBRdvk%3F%3Enu%3D3256%3E797%3E452%3EWSNRCG%3D34%3B276%3A%3A75324nu0mrjAVvrtdihEhnoPdoh%3Fofp43348" name="slideshowPicture" pictureoid="230517177001" pictureowneroid="24565220" src="http://images.photo1.walgreens.com/232323232%7Ffp43348%3Enu%3D3256%3E797%3E452%3EWSNRCG%3D34%3B276%3A%3A75324nu0mrj" tnurl="http://images.photo1.walgreens.com/232323232%7Ffp43348%3Evq%3D3256%3E797%3E452%3EWSNRCG%3D34%3B276%3A%3A75324vq0mrj" tnwidth="96" width="480" /></div><div style="visibility: visible;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~ Robin Williams</span></strong></div><div style="visibility: visible;"><strong></strong> </div><div style="visibility: visible;"><strong><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-87321201319876700452011-04-27T12:27:00.000-05:002011-04-27T12:27:13.615-05:00Collage PaintingsI've been plugging away on one of the 21 Secrets classes: Collage, Paint and Soul taught by Tamara Laporte of Willowing.ning. Here are a few things I've made so far. I can't take any really good photos though...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAC8vFKPpMRde5cnmpU0SwJY8PI_FjdTZZQd8ZF4VQCYnluJ2SMaBfyE-fpQSxuBU1nZYrj425AD0FvVWqr8EwaCksdgc41UthAUstWr_o8miJ8KY3wGIr3LNTDOk_ZghnDNvvewoWlhv/s1600/04+26+11_8311_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAC8vFKPpMRde5cnmpU0SwJY8PI_FjdTZZQd8ZF4VQCYnluJ2SMaBfyE-fpQSxuBU1nZYrj425AD0FvVWqr8EwaCksdgc41UthAUstWr_o8miJ8KY3wGIr3LNTDOk_ZghnDNvvewoWlhv/s320/04+26+11_8311_edited-2.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHrOeqV4DtLwQskkcpW4dQU3EHz0CaFd5mzsAjRjYuwpjFq6_WoXDw1QAcg1VrAl9hkDvw_xXj5k_Se8LvhZ_KYwFFGKJ6rMU_LxfuicfYqi4i0Jm_pCmxg2UnBZ-jO_U9I9N1quxY7w-/s1600/04+26+11_8309_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHrOeqV4DtLwQskkcpW4dQU3EHz0CaFd5mzsAjRjYuwpjFq6_WoXDw1QAcg1VrAl9hkDvw_xXj5k_Se8LvhZ_KYwFFGKJ6rMU_LxfuicfYqi4i0Jm_pCmxg2UnBZ-jO_U9I9N1quxY7w-/s320/04+26+11_8309_edited-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBGYrePPMkO7dUHcqAxPgMT2tSO1bjRMoRZNEY9mpsFdKILtDe4AcTaoIRgq7UsY44ZkvxPGysr3-3Oa1wA4bmyZbTwHilNxDJsRhqfQ7JPb3Y_WoAW4dPR_P3oSHWdiKA0cvNGzX9hpp/s320/04+26+11_8320_edited-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYnT1fIrRGrLrZ71vT8dby-ePMisXKns1eW_jIAePnKkI1MudH8kDppGceYa19xJIaw6x0ctU4ICIM4_LNyNFKU7K5d1ARsiZmsn6O0lTUJZBTkQMJZrtOW3neUSHHAIGnSz9vlK0iTme/s1600/04+26+11_8325_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYnT1fIrRGrLrZ71vT8dby-ePMisXKns1eW_jIAePnKkI1MudH8kDppGceYa19xJIaw6x0ctU4ICIM4_LNyNFKU7K5d1ARsiZmsn6O0lTUJZBTkQMJZrtOW3neUSHHAIGnSz9vlK0iTme/s320/04+26+11_8325_edited-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Became this...</td></tr>
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</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-81036747759120477462011-04-20T11:19:00.000-05:002011-04-20T11:19:02.412-05:00I'm Still Here Having Fun with PaintI'm on the computer less and less these days, but that's because I don't want to get paint on my key board! Here's a peek at what I've been up to, and a peek at my biggest fan, Dmitry, the art cat (I'm sure he was more interested in the bird outside the window than in me.). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt0pot7fzpSSaFDooSMeCVV6k9pu8Fytpi-r91KRfGv8Hw-TgjbSAsrG6Mp5g_JsxLRQK_OQyj-riWpV1TNjDgUnkGP1l748vgVbNXTY2JBJK9MxRnoJpyMoSjuP9FAMhbYoE-_7viVI_/s1600/04+21+11_7883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt0pot7fzpSSaFDooSMeCVV6k9pu8Fytpi-r91KRfGv8Hw-TgjbSAsrG6Mp5g_JsxLRQK_OQyj-riWpV1TNjDgUnkGP1l748vgVbNXTY2JBJK9MxRnoJpyMoSjuP9FAMhbYoE-_7viVI_/s400/04+21+11_7883.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpbR8lg3Jx5Zg4XszJOqkynPskYnX1H473nPTiLdUvwZaJ6zkjQPk88emtXQl5UxG_l8IBsHnXpaRjexNb7_JIYva4Bcpt_3ptTSJ6FkP2zcr_UmMtwSam-gbniNv9FULeF18J2Fb9Fg9/s1600/04+21+11_7881_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpbR8lg3Jx5Zg4XszJOqkynPskYnX1H473nPTiLdUvwZaJ6zkjQPk88emtXQl5UxG_l8IBsHnXpaRjexNb7_JIYva4Bcpt_3ptTSJ6FkP2zcr_UmMtwSam-gbniNv9FULeF18J2Fb9Fg9/s320/04+21+11_7881_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Wednesday!</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-5723215443629340832011-04-03T21:39:00.000-05:002011-04-03T21:39:57.169-05:00Sign of SpringIf you live in my neck of the woods, this is just as much a sign of spring as the little buds on the trees and the flowers poking through the ground....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWViK6mEBBArmZSdJmip5sbRQ9s5koDBp-3kIogTfTXgFOjHwkjeCrAzx4YAKU7JzbPi1QbOHspD_FjvYp7E9Sqg7frL2jHf2zp6WtZMerAW5hYby-GEEOZ-BE1JeLZe7tRt4Ukt0gP7f/s1600/04+03+11_7684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWViK6mEBBArmZSdJmip5sbRQ9s5koDBp-3kIogTfTXgFOjHwkjeCrAzx4YAKU7JzbPi1QbOHspD_FjvYp7E9Sqg7frL2jHf2zp6WtZMerAW5hYby-GEEOZ-BE1JeLZe7tRt4Ukt0gP7f/s640/04+03+11_7684.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jewel's Garden Center is up!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Thanks to my mom for mentioning this...it's true!)</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-15750084401295721532011-03-31T13:33:00.000-05:002011-03-31T13:33:53.811-05:00Changing CourseSo, I was doing the digital thing...now I'm like, eh. Time for something new.....I'm going to be hanging out on the playground. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dirtyfootprintsworkshops.com/2008/09/21-secrets-art-journal-playground.html"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk115/DirtyFootprints/IMG_0597-1.jpg" /></a></div>I've been digging art journals for some time now, but I try to do them and I get stuck more often than I get something I like. <br />
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Hmmm......I thought to myself....same thing happened with the digital scrapbooking prior to last year, and when I devoted my energies to learning that, I was thrilled with the results of my commitment. So, I'm here, committing to a new art form - art journaling. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting messy. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Getting expressive. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh...</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-45147782646446915092011-03-29T16:50:00.000-05:002011-03-29T16:50:20.513-05:00Just a thought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN9cAOu49v9BhXCFJoATGWL1jhcUz8Fg-jMdYw5lNv9c8NAyBENk29KFTXWu8th2Uo3673KpSyWBgSZsQK8GalQxVD6UWsrQFdct3dO-hMrrjgWWMw0wbUij7bRPRoNe1N4QUW5e8Q-H2/s1600/hope_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxN9cAOu49v9BhXCFJoATGWL1jhcUz8Fg-jMdYw5lNv9c8NAyBENk29KFTXWu8th2Uo3673KpSyWBgSZsQK8GalQxVD6UWsrQFdct3dO-hMrrjgWWMw0wbUij7bRPRoNe1N4QUW5e8Q-H2/s640/hope_edited-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-5444425405701894182011-03-23T09:57:00.000-05:002011-03-23T09:57:53.572-05:00Why I Smell Like Coffee Today<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfbu6bDn1Z1qa1saxo1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lfbu6bDn1Z1qa1saxo1_400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://polastre.tumblr.com/post/2918535404/drink-coffee">Source unknown: Found on tumblr</a></td></tr>
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The first time, I thought it was just the coffee on the rim of the cup.<br />
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The second time, it was because I thought it was just on the rim of the recycled McDonald's cup and took another sip (coffee from home, in a McDonald's cup-I thought I could trick myself into thinking it was "not from home" coffee - the joke was on me).<br />
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The third time I spilled, was just dumb - I forgot about to first 2 spills and wanted another sip on my way to work.<br />
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THE FOURTH TIME was REALLY dumb! With full knowledge that my cheap McDonald's coffee cup had been compromised and that the lid was CRACKED, and now out of my car and on my way into work where I <i>knew </i>I had a nice Starbucks mug on my desk into which I could decant my now cold coffee, I took another sip. And now my purple sweater smells of coffee.<br />
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And I will smell of coffee all day.<br />
And there are worse things, I guess.<br />
And have a good day. Whatever you smell like.Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-16355668395971846042011-03-20T10:18:00.000-05:002011-03-20T10:18:05.695-05:00New PagesWhile on this Art Journal Caravan that I've mentioned many times before, we have an monthly assignment, of sorts. This month to illustrate 4 word phrases based on Patti Digh's book, 4 Word Self Help (love <a href="http://37days.typepad.com/">Patti's stuff</a>). Here are a couple I've completed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb0E8kBsP0jaYsVXZYNU5e9Edw3QV65Tb9ay_9UA13id6kQ_PHGKzCpSzBHnh5D_3xYkrtO8cf8aLtEM2znJxd9pAyrYTEpfN-G4ZlyHNoouajjsHh_wyQvz5WpTJyJiIwTAYXL2iu696/s1600/life+is+a+celebration72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWb0E8kBsP0jaYsVXZYNU5e9Edw3QV65Tb9ay_9UA13id6kQ_PHGKzCpSzBHnh5D_3xYkrtO8cf8aLtEM2znJxd9pAyrYTEpfN-G4ZlyHNoouajjsHh_wyQvz5WpTJyJiIwTAYXL2iu696/s400/life+is+a+celebration72.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVkjeAW7RNJcurUnfr7xEpzkKZ0jU6ea4g-ZfHxfmIfVSQIhn8mfUeCygfrBF-PfjOkCy5EyYXa4xiijKPbbIX8T7KaX4rAM4zPZaVK00OQDNW-iW660kdJFWXPH-l9cEY_dpP_1k9KdQ/s1600/show+them+your+sass72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVkjeAW7RNJcurUnfr7xEpzkKZ0jU6ea4g-ZfHxfmIfVSQIhn8mfUeCygfrBF-PfjOkCy5EyYXa4xiijKPbbIX8T7KaX4rAM4zPZaVK00OQDNW-iW660kdJFWXPH-l9cEY_dpP_1k9KdQ/s1600/show+them+your+sass72.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGDjNAhjNFMVn2PImvk6U1vlxTBBunSKTOkwTvmHHVboc6eNMC7bhKj49ZsIJBdzXq1evT6YrZivmwvUSCvJ716bORgAAdhFpi2yrH4YQCaxH_X3P0wkb2931wcjfIghV4t2sPGne7Oha/s1600/teach+them+to+fly72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGDjNAhjNFMVn2PImvk6U1vlxTBBunSKTOkwTvmHHVboc6eNMC7bhKj49ZsIJBdzXq1evT6YrZivmwvUSCvJ716bORgAAdhFpi2yrH4YQCaxH_X3P0wkb2931wcjfIghV4t2sPGne7Oha/s1600/teach+them+to+fly72.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOJy_ZTULZdDPrWo4EJvk7sxFTwpq8yIoIuex588t1i9m5gcmq_27LecCn2EqpK7q1RWXam828eZMj5sj6Ei1WliamgbSYKhhGR7zgmke_BuNXrxfZKyHflZP2mJmZ4qZWN7SOJPI6f8C/s1600/fight+for+your+dream_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOJy_ZTULZdDPrWo4EJvk7sxFTwpq8yIoIuex588t1i9m5gcmq_27LecCn2EqpK7q1RWXam828eZMj5sj6Ei1WliamgbSYKhhGR7zgmke_BuNXrxfZKyHflZP2mJmZ4qZWN7SOJPI6f8C/s640/fight+for+your+dream_edited-2.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fight for Your Dream</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My next project is to create an altered board book with some of my favorite 4 word phrases - with actual materials, not digital. I stopped in my favorite used book store and picked up a little board book for this purpose - My First Word Book - a favorite of my Ana's when she was a baby. In fact, her's was so loved, it's in pieces in a zip lock in her keepsakes. I couldn't think of a better book to alter, and I think today is a great day to start working on it. Hopefully, I'll get around to sharing my progress on that when the month's over. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Anyone have a 4 word (inspirational) phrase to share?</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-58007668223429156142011-02-23T21:06:00.002-06:002011-02-24T07:31:58.556-06:002 New Digital Art Journal Pages and some Good News I'm SharingHere are my Art Caravan Journal Pages for Weeks 7 (theme was Wonder) and 8 (Reinforce).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwiqhIFc1UeXjwgFNDNymY7e26IhvvnxopKYMdFiPzNOsCt6jdoj-1PqKy7v2QmHszQHSLx8wmtI_BLTkZNn-oB56KM2ajWpZjrzq0oaJyEpDgRdYmbywuYSG7wZ5Oeg3GJTBusxvuZdx/s1600/wonder+approved72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwiqhIFc1UeXjwgFNDNymY7e26IhvvnxopKYMdFiPzNOsCt6jdoj-1PqKy7v2QmHszQHSLx8wmtI_BLTkZNn-oB56KM2ajWpZjrzq0oaJyEpDgRdYmbywuYSG7wZ5Oeg3GJTBusxvuZdx/s640/wonder+approved72.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDO8FDMUHsTKOr_6Jh-rgJjXxV8UTw8WabQxXqp2B-5ROKDQX-wKd17jwsLTmO7uJk_f-T7fVo0nmoHSOne6md6nJsZqmU0UDqY34vTTFjb6adNoLFsN8leCt2ph2ZB4KnmtIol2nfT9g/s1600/reinforce872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDO8FDMUHsTKOr_6Jh-rgJjXxV8UTw8WabQxXqp2B-5ROKDQX-wKd17jwsLTmO7uJk_f-T7fVo0nmoHSOne6md6nJsZqmU0UDqY34vTTFjb6adNoLFsN8leCt2ph2ZB4KnmtIol2nfT9g/s640/reinforce872.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br />
Also, I've been taking a few new classes at Big Picture Classes and I've been playing more with my paper scrapping materials lately. Here are a few tags I made as creative jumpstarts in May Flaum's Creative Retreat class:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJncJwdUafxrbtJGir-LZr-tnvn3tVTw1sQ5f2i_OaQiwurHtzt-fDn4UzWNV9zevA6TjphMEFYGWLLrUuXvjWNJObmPMLgp1wSrunkmf9OCrKsElYWuN6S6tdu1k_Vodm9Arv68Ng-To/s320/02+07+11_7420.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Get it?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBI-AMkkZuRRh-3z9P8IumMQQEl_WORBwE-NlCxfPW0_5qNrkojF9JVM3WN6ZN3NVbti6XrNon0uAVeEEsS78pkP5vjgbf6PYwVXR-QNMp9-FFoiLxxJhDWjaFQQpADC4P-cg0YR7MzCE/s1600/02+07+11_7433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBI-AMkkZuRRh-3z9P8IumMQQEl_WORBwE-NlCxfPW0_5qNrkojF9JVM3WN6ZN3NVbti6XrNon0uAVeEEsS78pkP5vjgbf6PYwVXR-QNMp9-FFoiLxxJhDWjaFQQpADC4P-cg0YR7MzCE/s320/02+07+11_7433.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">True, right?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZuokw2othGVARtIWjGEjqvwTCehSd0OoAbhC6SMXbR3WC_aJFsGpNJNgzx1Jkk5VYUDSvl5b05djEyYU2IB65_rga-kcBW_Jq6PWYIWL-54dxQAF0l5QRPAJcJIpnsYPg2aSfRgCe5D7/s1600/02+13+11_7558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZuokw2othGVARtIWjGEjqvwTCehSd0OoAbhC6SMXbR3WC_aJFsGpNJNgzx1Jkk5VYUDSvl5b05djEyYU2IB65_rga-kcBW_Jq6PWYIWL-54dxQAF0l5QRPAJcJIpnsYPg2aSfRgCe5D7/s320/02+13+11_7558.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9K4QF76vaodc5RILvxwgfn4wSijzbKJA4nyyYc4Bx3QPWwdY3PK160sw6NMnlKWm5oOoGzqmHZuX-edgu5VyT96fFsNUsc3jot5O9oeQaXmtu4DEo5y-2KYa9TboWjyzjbaVR94R2Z_f/s1600/02+13+11_7563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9K4QF76vaodc5RILvxwgfn4wSijzbKJA4nyyYc4Bx3QPWwdY3PK160sw6NMnlKWm5oOoGzqmHZuX-edgu5VyT96fFsNUsc3jot5O9oeQaXmtu4DEo5y-2KYa9TboWjyzjbaVR94R2Z_f/s320/02+13+11_7563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And finally - my digital layout of Bloom Where You're Planted will be published in the Spring 2011 edition of Somerset Digital Studio! I can't tell you how excited I was to receive my copy in the mail. I opened it with my dear ScrapCellar Girls (my wings) and my dear Peggy took a photo of me posing with my copy. I'll be crossing that goal off my to do list now!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQJ__3XAKzp4aZ9vM7ecIz0lBoXIkFg4-CgKznbTZy-6_UbvngLHlM-AmREWK8xi8i-w_kDkmaEDd-g40xqsWBDElyOvi49mUu5AmX1fTwy8ZAIyf5BD5EVCcKFElQTL0yLLJUMuEiNrS/s1600/IMG_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQJ__3XAKzp4aZ9vM7ecIz0lBoXIkFg4-CgKznbTZy-6_UbvngLHlM-AmREWK8xi8i-w_kDkmaEDd-g40xqsWBDElyOvi49mUu5AmX1fTwy8ZAIyf5BD5EVCcKFElQTL0yLLJUMuEiNrS/s320/IMG_0786.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Thanks for letting me share! Have a fantastic week!Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-35869180370844581702011-02-10T19:25:00.000-06:002011-02-10T19:25:27.399-06:00Sharing - Art Journal Caravan Week 6My Week 6 Art Journal Page. This week's word: Live<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQSZ4zckbxt2upWBitRXrm9MRt-XShe3lMWvGI06-C3pZAXdPC4lYm9J0HgdCS4aKThEU68JmQmqLULxjLXTaEdGmLBWTe5RCPonO8X1Cuq9j9-5-OunA9SqY458q_Recr4E-I3yOr01z/s1600/Choose+Miracles300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQSZ4zckbxt2upWBitRXrm9MRt-XShe3lMWvGI06-C3pZAXdPC4lYm9J0HgdCS4aKThEU68JmQmqLULxjLXTaEdGmLBWTe5RCPonO8X1Cuq9j9-5-OunA9SqY458q_Recr4E-I3yOr01z/s640/Choose+Miracles300.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-82511563100354620652011-02-05T18:50:00.000-06:002011-02-05T18:50:00.359-06:00Found: More Ana first day of school photosOk, I'm obsessed out of season. It's not back to school time, but I've found some more back to school photos of my daughter. I've been scanning and correcting photos...oy, I took lots of photos of this little girl! So, here are a few to share:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi1dpBzAafcpno47jfu0cTGlS69nAy3JMjQbOySREJUFsQGELojlyP5pzV06lMDonl89J9C_05RVDQ71unlW7aw1mUjs0QVqVK-7uHjzNu6oE8xrzaIKG3mBciinaoeNxlpeO1rwIK8xZ/s1600/Anakindergartenp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi1dpBzAafcpno47jfu0cTGlS69nAy3JMjQbOySREJUFsQGELojlyP5pzV06lMDonl89J9C_05RVDQ71unlW7aw1mUjs0QVqVK-7uHjzNu6oE8xrzaIKG3mBciinaoeNxlpeO1rwIK8xZ/s320/Anakindergartenp.jpg" width="157" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBm9SheOBvLwsNjwVNxLAVS7UtGg6cocI8daqXNGjdd7UrvxjalhtFZAvutBTFj0L52EIFI2XVj-YSpPSGdxThLajPYDri8uZMkyKBia3Mij4Zy7zLI2Ti1Q08dfExLyEdGbPeDmP2f60Z/s1600/anais3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBm9SheOBvLwsNjwVNxLAVS7UtGg6cocI8daqXNGjdd7UrvxjalhtFZAvutBTFj0L52EIFI2XVj-YSpPSGdxThLajPYDri8uZMkyKBia3Mij4Zy7zLI2Ti1Q08dfExLyEdGbPeDmP2f60Z/s320/anais3.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1lxRhIdK8UR5U4rWwDrtvpDMu96bhsqb6k6AjUsWattcF0if3b7suPI5qablynHC6qm5rzEx7ZC2xtiob8kUs7EXoQxn4fJ2Af8Gk3F1leYT5_0Fz21VtDRn_ZUBVJVcc4BuwbU6Qnpo/s1600/first+day+2nd+grade+ana70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1lxRhIdK8UR5U4rWwDrtvpDMu96bhsqb6k6AjUsWattcF0if3b7suPI5qablynHC6qm5rzEx7ZC2xtiob8kUs7EXoQxn4fJ2Af8Gk3F1leYT5_0Fz21VtDRn_ZUBVJVcc4BuwbU6Qnpo/s400/first+day+2nd+grade+ana70.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>So, there is preschool, kindergarten and 2nd grade....Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-81977682358203824602011-02-04T21:28:00.000-06:002011-02-04T21:28:34.373-06:00Dmitry, the Russian Blue Retriever?So, I've shared some of my cat, Dmitry's eccentricities here before ... <a href="http://theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2010/05/have-you-ever-dmitry-style.html">his ability to fetch</a>, his hoarding of old <a href="http://theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2010/02/same-chaos-different-day-or-finding.html">Fisher Price Sesame Street characters</a>, his destruction of my <a href="http://theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2009/12/deck-halls-with-kitty-chaos.html">Christmas decorations</a>, and why he is <a href="http://theplainfieldericksons.blogspot.com/2009/08/5-reasons-why-my-cat-dmitry-is-crazy.html">crazy</a>. Today's story really has me concerned.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqYV_flYUBIeyl0eQRJn0a38LqrKEuYkjw_V4mciBRZTdG-tNYKz6P-kewhN2OfDfY_1_EhD9o4INRDxnO2PppjX37Gk2IIyZjgaO2qDj38MvwvFqPUl-EODgsKKPV0v1mSMbpU93Cgmm/s1600/12+19+10_6774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqYV_flYUBIeyl0eQRJn0a38LqrKEuYkjw_V4mciBRZTdG-tNYKz6P-kewhN2OfDfY_1_EhD9o4INRDxnO2PppjX37Gk2IIyZjgaO2qDj38MvwvFqPUl-EODgsKKPV0v1mSMbpU93Cgmm/s400/12+19+10_6774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqYV_flYUBIeyl0eQRJn0a38LqrKEuYkjw_V4mciBRZTdG-tNYKz6P-kewhN2OfDfY_1_EhD9o4INRDxnO2PppjX37Gk2IIyZjgaO2qDj38MvwvFqPUl-EODgsKKPV0v1mSMbpU93Cgmm/s1600/12+19+10_6774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>My son came down with his first cold of the year. We dug our way out of the house yesterday to get him some cold medicine yesterday. I bought the kind that loosens everything up for him. Anyway....if you have or care for kids, you know the liquid medicines come with a special measuring cup (we always used a spoon...I wonder if that means we didn't get enough or if we got too much?). This particluar brand measures in mL, rather than tsp, so the cup is special for this brand of medicine.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Ok, following me? </b></div><br />
So, I'm at the computer this morning, doing my makeup and reading email and I realized that I left the medicine bottle up in my bathroom, so I sent Matt to get the bottle so I could give him some of the medicine before school. He returned a few minutes later with the bottle, but without the cup. Well, he's nine, so I figured, the missing cup was just a slight - he probably didn't realize that I would need the cup. So, I asked him to go get the cup and he say, "I didn't see one". Well, we already tease him for having "little boy vision", so I realize that I have to go find it myself.<br />
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One second later, something fell from the staircase landing right above my computer and landed with a dull CLINK on the keyboard. I picked it up and .... it was the cup. <b>THE CUP</b>! The goofy mL measuring cup literally fell from the sky, onto my keyboard. Stunned, I look up and there is Dmitry, sitting on the landing, head between the posts on the staircase above me.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>No kidding.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For real.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The crazy cat RETRIEVED the cup. </b></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-krTnWthT1oaP84FUKSM788HxRXwFUw-Ojodgwtkh3diLUFUHcfl4UtFp2oonMmrwVVfcWfRJ5gfzR-SXbo__wDc6C99MWZtQ15ofiXYNC2A8PrqD4kNp1renfzKqQmvgCkIi7KyvWCuo/s1600/12+19+10_6788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-krTnWthT1oaP84FUKSM788HxRXwFUw-Ojodgwtkh3diLUFUHcfl4UtFp2oonMmrwVVfcWfRJ5gfzR-SXbo__wDc6C99MWZtQ15ofiXYNC2A8PrqD4kNp1renfzKqQmvgCkIi7KyvWCuo/s400/12+19+10_6788.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This cat is SOMETHING!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good kitty!</div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-75402534337055668282011-02-03T15:56:00.002-06:002011-02-04T07:27:21.098-06:00Peeking over the piles of snow to share some random stuff!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZgXk68D2bWL8zR5hObKJYx7upO-NIFqFjjFoCjl6EgaHIJlJpggjsjzO8pAbM4GWV2Esv-1sP0Qso5tkKzJHBR_TsUtiZSMucwGJX2Fr8L-nPUIDnYL_-pBDqrLn611m95-AAwjtn-OG/s1600/02+02+11_7413+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZgXk68D2bWL8zR5hObKJYx7upO-NIFqFjjFoCjl6EgaHIJlJpggjsjzO8pAbM4GWV2Esv-1sP0Qso5tkKzJHBR_TsUtiZSMucwGJX2Fr8L-nPUIDnYL_-pBDqrLn611m95-AAwjtn-OG/s320/02+02+11_7413+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>So, I'm snowed in. Actually, I can probably leave now, but I don't really feel like going anywhere.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNouEu4x2Zua8h8wnSIdqt79zhSbWZnQNwbLD7FYKBL_tEY3YQ49jFVazwlrEbFqed5hj2AN_-NWsJyRPXMNMofB6QcFUsXUuoZnz7_ocRfvHQzEGslofBz-hwBSVxRYcm0paCNwYgEL9/s1600/jackplays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNouEu4x2Zua8h8wnSIdqt79zhSbWZnQNwbLD7FYKBL_tEY3YQ49jFVazwlrEbFqed5hj2AN_-NWsJyRPXMNMofB6QcFUsXUuoZnz7_ocRfvHQzEGslofBz-hwBSVxRYcm0paCNwYgEL9/s320/jackplays.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack the Dog frolicking in the show</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My daughter does, but she is always on the go. Her 2 "snow days" off of school aren't turning out like she'd like them to: shopping and some more shopping, and maybe even a little more shopping...and listening to her iPod and some more shopping. She's done some baking, made Snow Ice Cream, played lots of Super Mario Galaxy, but now she's had enough!<br />
<br />
But, what neither kid understands is that I've got cabin fever myself. I'm cranky (need my Get Out of Crankville card) and I feel like doing everything and nothing all at once. I hate feeling this way. Very frustrated.<br />
<br />
I used my time today to locate pictures that I've been asked for (like, a long time ago)....first day of school pictures that were "missing" from the set for their stepmom...Ana's first day of 6th grade and Matt's first day of Kindergarten (he was only there for a month before moving up to 1st grade, but I have the pictures from both of his first days). Once I discovered them, I realized why they hadn't be distributed as eagerly as the others...they're BAD. The kids are cute, the photography stinks...they have shadows on their faces and they are overexposed and the angle is crummy...I'm being hard on myself, right? It's the memory that counts. I played around with them in Photoscape (because, while I have Photoshop CS5, I have only a vague clue as to what I'm doing). Here are a few photos from 2007, first day of school:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dgraPNQI5DmYDCgz_3Yn_2aCkRpj0P9XgldRiS_I2ZqOR8SyASmI827aftJpwT4T2JT1yhDREIAm1DKUbpJ-qCM5ax7LdFMyFXZsTP7sGUmHj4N613J5OQpdf-tBPLq4alARAY1xelQ9/s1600/firstday2848copy+copy12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dgraPNQI5DmYDCgz_3Yn_2aCkRpj0P9XgldRiS_I2ZqOR8SyASmI827aftJpwT4T2JT1yhDREIAm1DKUbpJ-qCM5ax7LdFMyFXZsTP7sGUmHj4N613J5OQpdf-tBPLq4alARAY1xelQ9/s320/firstday2848copy+copy12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyeVmn8sMB8m_Cs5nWEgN_ptUXjnhl9jvExRu9kn5A4MNeQV5D7QyGCqsdhg_k7kABZxwENACb_59q70Ogt65jBUDm7MBB3DJe-bKM_BXsjR_s2T5zVstYRn9ia-_4KFWnG0ypNxDwhJV/s1600/ana2007first+dayp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyeVmn8sMB8m_Cs5nWEgN_ptUXjnhl9jvExRu9kn5A4MNeQV5D7QyGCqsdhg_k7kABZxwENACb_59q70Ogt65jBUDm7MBB3DJe-bKM_BXsjR_s2T5zVstYRn9ia-_4KFWnG0ypNxDwhJV/s320/ana2007first+dayp.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxRFl8jrfcriM1kx1hKna1FQBh2XPIYIAvabDUnQAcD5T_gDazwtZHBNp_58hzegupWlyUGim0ZRw13Q5hwptukLjIl2OOcwJMpyjE1m0wb3KsBwVcAi6w3SIgFjXgKE4mgilbQT2Yrjr/s1600/mattfirstdayk2007styl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxRFl8jrfcriM1kx1hKna1FQBh2XPIYIAvabDUnQAcD5T_gDazwtZHBNp_58hzegupWlyUGim0ZRw13Q5hwptukLjIl2OOcwJMpyjE1m0wb3KsBwVcAi6w3SIgFjXgKE4mgilbQT2Yrjr/s320/mattfirstdayk2007styl.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> I've since learned where to stand the kids for the first day "photo shoot": 2008, 2009, 2010<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_13wVz4GaAgyNWK7gduhwy3yQtqzapYdC3-MytFdrd1hCnV5XiM__H_RvLEmPC6lRf6F4egVjP155NhGfDXcSQY2W31_e7Hf-eR4xtU5ZhomDuJ-vgEK60_15J3bo19C3UietU9o_qApv/s1600/3922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_13wVz4GaAgyNWK7gduhwy3yQtqzapYdC3-MytFdrd1hCnV5XiM__H_RvLEmPC6lRf6F4egVjP155NhGfDXcSQY2W31_e7Hf-eR4xtU5ZhomDuJ-vgEK60_15J3bo19C3UietU9o_qApv/s320/3922.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ8wm59B3Y4axv_BA-pXfl488UCDIPsZZ_mWr_oj9wkvaRn4FEH_BsU0Fb_kVLNy5PP_yLoP66brGfEoLupGlldGckO5nUDYdRgdjps2jJ0mnrAajn39blpT7D2fr3eCNDhtVJlZj7qi1/s1600/3923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJ8wm59B3Y4axv_BA-pXfl488UCDIPsZZ_mWr_oj9wkvaRn4FEH_BsU0Fb_kVLNy5PP_yLoP66brGfEoLupGlldGckO5nUDYdRgdjps2jJ0mnrAajn39blpT7D2fr3eCNDhtVJlZj7qi1/s320/3923.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE-SbTQEwRpvhDykm1H1hdycwA3k-M7hpJhnS8rJFdSyMUfGlUodWW0_L0nRlZouKFz7SdBypXSYRRJ4nh9Wun_ARtrBcLWjbXHTNAhTRrtdDAMh1ahxi-F8tIl4PhhCIvGWOuN8uHwQR/s1600/7928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibE-SbTQEwRpvhDykm1H1hdycwA3k-M7hpJhnS8rJFdSyMUfGlUodWW0_L0nRlZouKFz7SdBypXSYRRJ4nh9Wun_ARtrBcLWjbXHTNAhTRrtdDAMh1ahxi-F8tIl4PhhCIvGWOuN8uHwQR/s320/7928.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQGkf0VkNrduXs97cV989jsKpLLctkPofoeCsLZ2dV42yETRyRM66-c9wvNWbUfdoyGpwusk_Dr7w6ZEYYKSTTo0FIGJ9RG25MusD6MehzvGpZse9a7yHh_crqOXRak_gvPOrqpOAaUKa/s1600/7932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQGkf0VkNrduXs97cV989jsKpLLctkPofoeCsLZ2dV42yETRyRM66-c9wvNWbUfdoyGpwusk_Dr7w6ZEYYKSTTo0FIGJ9RG25MusD6MehzvGpZse9a7yHh_crqOXRak_gvPOrqpOAaUKa/s320/7932.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSC2xiMG-fy3Vwlk6dvo6X6JO8xszZ5-4rQaXn0r-nfqxsLOEtojOryugyTx74Ut4s9TUAYc5nM4krgROw0mF2kxySscLv0w0V56X6uCB8uBqb7V_YV3BqLzB87jdzKvO_FYEU6p1no_ZK/s1600/08+24+10_4474+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSC2xiMG-fy3Vwlk6dvo6X6JO8xszZ5-4rQaXn0r-nfqxsLOEtojOryugyTx74Ut4s9TUAYc5nM4krgROw0mF2kxySscLv0w0V56X6uCB8uBqb7V_YV3BqLzB87jdzKvO_FYEU6p1no_ZK/s320/08+24+10_4474+copy.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsw0w3cqMWTUP6knUdVZdRIRHfQ0M0cidWKSY-uA85UWStzFtJ4kL3OwU9uwtwDW3CKCBlNT7-rMmBO7Ga32s431OtB_-XbVi7zRYikPqnqb4Aoxcne44GE1ojXrrBRGiWUkIeytzL6O9/s1600/08+24+10_4475_edited-1vint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIsw0w3cqMWTUP6knUdVZdRIRHfQ0M0cidWKSY-uA85UWStzFtJ4kL3OwU9uwtwDW3CKCBlNT7-rMmBO7Ga32s431OtB_-XbVi7zRYikPqnqb4Aoxcne44GE1ojXrrBRGiWUkIeytzL6O9/s320/08+24+10_4475_edited-1vint.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Every year I learn a little more. Every year, Ana is elegant and fashionable. Every year, Matt's a goof!<br />
<br />
Ok...now I'm going to find something else to do...what are you up to?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-64161841632792499262011-01-23T20:26:00.001-06:002011-01-23T20:28:10.895-06:00An Affirmation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/photopost/art-journal-caravan-2011/p107902-my-heart-is-open.html"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYQ37zdaZygUbk01FjNPnsZ6kwd23XXyEUjyKVttMd-OLvkiTQXfmRe_MWKGnO9bUTGYV1k3beBzBz-uksWpk2a92BIbae_Bj4vuzUFADcy9AQ8-wi7EVHGs5zNVtLKJlwWPY_3DJxX9a/s640/My-Heart-is-Open.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487551766426544038.post-1339950332094640322011-01-17T12:04:00.000-06:002011-01-17T12:04:18.686-06:00Altered Artspiration #63I played along with a challenge at <a href="http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/">www.scrapbookgraphics.com</a> - the challenge was to use this ad as an inspiration for a art journal or scrapbook page. Here's the ad:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4KuTCnZIOf-7lu9brg5fv9vf3QslxPiqpOCg2tgyCm6FtLb5GlC04R_D1asZfZB4D842rf4TjYpzmjgNd3SGvnjrMk_AUr_yzU8tqpLPcBTedrYIeXyC5rw-1AeYNYHoYxHOTB19kKkW/s1600/tangie_LOVEthisad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4KuTCnZIOf-7lu9brg5fv9vf3QslxPiqpOCg2tgyCm6FtLb5GlC04R_D1asZfZB4D842rf4TjYpzmjgNd3SGvnjrMk_AUr_yzU8tqpLPcBTedrYIeXyC5rw-1AeYNYHoYxHOTB19kKkW/s320/tangie_LOVEthisad.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here's my entry, "I Am Captured"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/photopost/altered-artspiration/p107116-i-am-captured.html"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2Cim1h7hdW5rlTJCzKdfeBf4DiFajUOlmKmyng23UzC9WqhOuEj6_nrwDQAXEta4arvbdrW36PI4bM8rh0gfod-zWLH7xW7wlcdsdJlgXUegSw2JW2SG4SGanXyFDQLcPSBTbekmvAcf/s640/iamcaptured.jpg" width="492" /> Credits here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/photopost/altered-artspiration/p107116-i-am-captured.html">Credits Here</a></div>Cindi aka Ericksochttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08385967292877706775noreply@blogger.com0