talking heads

~ HAPPY HALLOWEEN ~

from three scary dudes

and from three even scarier dudes

there's one in every crowd...

Have a frightfully fun weekend!

finally!

Davy and his band, A Basement Rendezvous

performing one of his original songs, "25 Year Old Moses" (my personal fave!)

10/15/10 at Rock Candy Records in Valencia, CA (copyright 2010)

A Basement Rendezvous is:

 ~ Davy Walker, Jimmy Melnarik, John Sanchez, and Henry Webster ~

A Basement Rendezvous has a Facebook page also - be sure to "friend" them!

They sound a bit tinny here - taken with my little point-and-shoot camera!

I'm just so excited I can finally post them since so many of you have asked!

And okay... I'm kind of proud of them too :) Anyway, ENJOY!

So focused, hehe

Davy Walker - vocals, mandolin, guitar

Jimmy Melnarik - bass guitar

 John Sanchez - guitar and sombrero

Henry Webster - maniacal violin

LOVE. YOU. GUYS.

list Tuesday... #2

 Hola and welcome back to the 2ond installment of List Tuesday,

created by Aimee@Artsyville for any and all obsessive list makers,

which may or may not include me and my countless bins of Sharpies...

I fear I failed to mention last week, that ALL are welcome to join us!

You can make a quiet and shy list here in my comments (I won't tell), 

or blog your list and paste the link in my comments so we can see it!

No rights or wrongs, so just list whatever you darn well please!

My list this week consists of ideas for new photo vignettes for Zagg.

I'm also going to begin a *huge* undertaking of making all new notecard sets...

I pulled my remaining sets from Etsy, and have COOL ideas leaking out my ears!

So stay tuned for that, but if you know me, don't hold your breath yet - lol!

When they're finally done, you'll be able to view/purchase them right HERE!

Confession: I'm writing this post in the wee hours of Tues. morning

cuz I know all too well that by the time 5:45AM rolls around...

my world is going to very much resemble the photo below, hehehe :)

Not prime condition for being creative... or for anything else really!

Happy listing!

blog birthday winners

Alrighty friends! It's time to announce the 5 winners of my blog b-day give-away! 

 I documented the choosing process to make sure everything was fair...

There were 11 people who commented (thank you all again... SO MUCH!)

so each person had almost a 50% chance of being picked... (so close!)

After writing all your names out and giving my jar some really good shakes,

I actually took the jar to Davy and he chose 5 papers out of the jar.

My 5 winners are: Maria Nissen, Alissa Wilkinson, 

Hilary, Heather DelHoyo, and Bev McKinley

YAY WINNERS!!!

You will each receive a 5x7 original photo of your choosing :)

Now click the gumball button on my right side bar -------->

and you will be taken to my 6 page photo portfolio at Zagg.com -

(and no, I'm not having you do this so you'll buy Zagg stuff)

You'll find a large variety of my photos to choose from - over 100 I think!

I posted 2 more examples here today - "Big Orange Heart" and "Crayon Tips".

Reminder: they are sideways in my portfolio to envision them on a cell phone!

You'll need to *click* on a photo you like, to see it larger and as it really is!

If you don't see a photo you thought was there, or have any questions, ask me!

Otherwise, HAVE FUN and I look forward to hearing your selections!

And to ALL who made the effort and took the time to comment, THANK YOU...

like I mentioned in the comment section, it really DOES mean the world to me :)

XOXOXOXOXO

*winner update: choices so far........

Heather chose my Button Bouquet pic :)

Bev chose my Gummy Yummy pic :)

Hilary chose my Glass Flowers pic :)

Alissa chose my Paris Red & White pic :)

Maria chose my LOVE pic :)

*PICS MAILING OUT TODAY! 10/2/10*

miniature marvels

~ Meet Lu Lu ~

I don't usually post much on the weekends, but when I saw Lu Lu I just had to!

Lu Lu is a miniature pinscher (min-pin) who resides in China with her owner.

And as you can see, she LOVES to walk on her two hind legs instead of all fours!

Walking this way leaves her arms free to carry her tiny little purse of course :)

Lu Lu's owner says he does not know why she chooses to walk this way.

It's not a trick he taught her, but rather something she does instinctively.

He did say he thinks it adds to her charm though, and he loved her instantly. 

The people in their province are used to seeing Lu Lu out walking around.

Everyone smiles and enjoys watching the little min-pin strut her stuff!

I think it's adorable and hysterical :) Who needs a cat-walk with Lu Lu around!?!

Speaking of adorable and unusual things in miniature........

I STILL WANT ---------> EINSTEIN!!! <----------

click the link above to see the cutest little guy ever!!!

P.S. DON'T FORGET! Just one more day to comment on my blog b-day post!

I want to be able to enter as many names as possible for my give-away!

mysterious ways

❤ An injured and ill former soldier finds new life and hope through his dog ❤

Time for another human interest story - this one was so heartwarming to me.

You all know how much I love dogs and am always fighting for animal rights...

This is a true, inspirational story of how God works in mysterious ways,

always watching over us and reaching out to us through the love of others.
Sometimes they just happen to have four legs and fur :)

*video made possible through CNN, article posted by Jessica Ravitz

Man is Saved by God, and by Dog Who Says Grace

The video was meant to simply make some Facebook friends, and his mother in particular, smile.

Steven Boyd, 39, had taught his dog Djaingo how to "say grace," and one late September morning, camera in hand, he coaxed the sleepy pup out to the living room and into prayer.

Front paws on Boyd's thigh, head bowed, man and dog offered up these words:

“Thank you for allowing us to be the man and puppy you've allowed us to be. Father, thank you for our friends and family, their prayers and support and energy that they give us… Father, I do ask a special prayer that you help me to not chase the neighbor's cat and to listen to my master whenever he asks me to do anything.”

What began as a post on Boyd's Facebook page was passed on and shared. It's popped up all over YouTube, appeared on numerous other sites, and it even got play on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

But the story behind Djaingo the praying dog is deeper than it is cute.

Boyd found his way to the dog just when they needed each other most.

The man was sick - had been for more than a year and a half - when he strolled into an animal shelter looking for a temporary escape. It was September 10, 2003, the day before the second anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the memories of that day weighed heavily on him.

For 12 years, Boyd says, he served in the U.S. Army. He says he was, among other things, a sniper, a paratrooper and, subsequently, a counter narcotics operator. He'd been fearless professionally and personally. He'd jumped out of planes, rappelled down cliffs and mountain biked his way across dangerous terrains.

Now, though, he was losing everything. The hospitalizations kept happening. His career was shot. The relationship with the woman he thought he'd marry had ended. The medical questions loomed large. He was dying.

At the pound that day, he simply offered to walk some dogs. He had no plan to adopt an animal. But then, three hours into his visit, his eyes and the dog's locked. He knew, in that instant, they were meant to be together.

The only problem was the dog was already scheduled to die. It was set to be euthanized the following morning. It was too aggressive and could not be trained, the shelter workers insisted. Boyd didn't care.

He begged. He pleaded. And $75 later, the best investment he says he ever made, the duo went home.

The former military man, who lives in Austin, Texas, put that pup through its own boot camp. The dog began to trust his owner, show affection and within six months he'd been transformed. He was happy, loving, sweet.

"He saved my life as much as I saved his," Boyd says.

Along the way, the Australian Cattle Dog was given a proper name - rather than his given name, "Chip." His owner thought back to the time when he'd done some training with the 3rd Royal Australian Airborne. The men had taught him the term "djaingo" – to "go djaingo," Boyd explains, means to go out, get drunk and rowdy, pick up women and have bar fights. And so that tough little dog was named.

Since he first was hospitalized on February 19, 2002, Boyd has struggled. Because of multiple traumatic brain injuries - sustained through military exercises, a car wreck, a rappelling accident and a grenade detonation - he says he suffers from gastroparesis, a paralysis of the gastrointestinal tract. It makes eating and drinking a form of "Russian roulette," he says. It can cause food to sit in his stomach and rot. He has starved himself, unintentionally. For days on end, he can vomit 10 to 15 times an hour. He's broken ribs in the process.

As a result of this illness and repeated, extensive dehydration, he says his weight - 175 when healthy - has dropped to as low as 98 pounds.

By his side, in sickness and in health, has been Djaingo. Boyd's parents live three hours away, and his mother, Cheryl, says she takes solace knowing the dog is there.

He sticks by her son and keeps watch. When Boyd is too sick to take the dog out, he can leave the apartment door open. The dog will run outside on his own "to do his business," she says, and then guard the open door. If her son is in need of medical attention, the dog will alert neighbors.

Having Djaingo has been source of comfort to Boyd. But there was one time when the animal just wasn't enough.

After several days of vomiting four years ago, he thought he'd end it all. He'd had a friend who years ago had committed suicide by drinking Clorox, and from the bathtub's floor, where he was curled up, Boyd eyed the nearby bleach bottle. With the cap off, he prepared to drink.

"I heard it as distinctive as I hear your voice right now," Boyd, his own voice shaking, says by phone to CNN. "I heard, 'Don’t do this.' It was my father God, and I broke down. I get teary-eyed now talking about it."

He'd grown up in a Christian home, "a proverbial 'Leave It to Beaver' family," he says. His dad had been the deacon of their church. His mother is a Sunday school and Bible study teacher. And though Boyd always considered himself Christian, up until that moment he realized he'd been living the Christian life, as an adult, on his own terms.

The debilitating illness that can leave him homebound much of the time, the loss of everything, had in fact saved him, he says.

"It changed everything. I truly feel as if it was God using a 2-by-4, smacking me in the head and telling me to wake up," says Boyd, who described himself as "callous" after his years in the military. "It's softened my heart in so many ways. It's made me realize the things you take for granted in life are sometimes the most important things in life."

He got involved in church. He attends Bible studies when he's able. And as last year's Christmas gift to his mother, who describes herself as a "prayer warrior," he taught Djaingo how to say grace.

"He's a disabled veteran on a very limited income," his mom says. So in lieu of buying each other gifts, she told her son last year that instead they'd "do something, write something or make something" for one another.

What her son and Djaingo did for her touched her heart, she says. And, with the release of the recent video, she's not alone in receiving this gift.

The response has overwhelmed Boyd. He's received more than 5,000 messages from around the globe - including Australia, Russia, Thailand. The friend requests on Facebook have poured in by the hundreds. Djaingo, now with his own Facebook page, is racking up new friends, too.

Boyd has gotten marriage proposals. A grandmother who is going through chemotherapy and lives alone says she watches the video every morning to help her face a new day. A mother whose son has lost faith is hoping that by teaching the dog to pray, her son will feel the connection again, too. Pastors are using the video in sermons.

And all of this, including what it's done for her son, Boyd's mother says, is proof of "God's hand" at work.

"Steven told us he was so lonely. So much of the time, he's apartment-bound. Now he's getting emails from all over the world," she says. "It's given Steven such a boost to his morale. God can take the tiniest thing and use it for good."

Every evening, Boyd and Djaingo say grace together. It's not that the man believes the roly-poly dog, who's actually been mistaken for a pig before, is actually praying. He knows his faithful pet is just doing what he's told so he can get his dinner.

"But it's an affirmation of my faith to have my dog be able to participate," Boyd says. "Who would have thought God would use my fat dog to spread His glory?"

Now if THAT doesn't make your day, I don't know what will :)


P.S. Don't forget to comment so I can add your name to my blog b-day give-away!!!

blog birthday deets

Birthday deets for my peeps :)

 Remember how my blog just turned 2 last week? It's time to celebrate!

(many thanks to those who wished me a happy bloggie birthday!!!)

I'm delighted, and grateful to all my readers who have been awesome!

In fact, more than awesome - you make my day every day :)

I'd love to give 5x7 photographs away to some of my readers!

And it can be your choice of what you'd like to have - you choose, I deliver!

I posted a variety of my photos here today to give you all kinds of examples.

But the best place to go to see them ALL, is to go to my Zagg portfolio!!!

There you will find 5 pages of my photographs to look at and choose from,

and I just sent them more, so more pics should be turning up this week!

Reminder: they are sideways in my portfolio to envision them on a cell phone!

You'll need to *click* on a photo you like to see it larger and as it really is!

Starting today - Wed the 20th - 

Make a comment *in this post* about why you ❤ LURVE ❤ my blog!

Why do you come here? What keeps you coming back? What's your fave thing?

You can even tell me what bugs you about my blog and post ideas for change!

And I'd like to hear one more thing: something about YOU - anything!

And you loyal silent lurkers out there... this is the perfect time to say hello!

You will need to sign up with Google/Blogger to be able to comment on my blog, 

So if you haven't yet signed up, come on out of your shell! Just do it - it's easy!

Ending Sunday the 24th at midnight -

I will then collect the names of all those who have commented *on this post*

 and randomly choose FIVE LUCKY WINNERS to receive one of my 5x7 photos!

I will announce the five winners on my Monday blog post :)

Am I the bomb or what!? No, YOU are, because you are my PEEPS!!!

❤❤❤    

Happy commenting!!! xoxoxo

list Tuesday

❤ My Gratitude List of Things I Love ❤

My friend Aimee of Artsyville has a fun new thingy on her blog: List Tuesday

Aimee loves all kinds of lists, and is going to share some every Tuesday.

She's invited her readers to enjoy hers (which I know I will) and join in too!

Being a *huge* list lover myself, how can I pass up this opportunity?

~ Above is my GRATITUDE LIST of things I absolutely LOVE ❤ ~

(click on the image to see it larger so you can actually read it! lol)

It's all full now, so I'll have to start a new one... but that's just fine with me -

there are a LOT more things already waiting to be made into a new list!

I am a tried-and-true believer that the small things are not so small -

I think life's small things actually add up to life's biggest things.

Think about it. The happiest people find joy in the little things.

So here's to life's lovely little pleasures :)

Thanks Aimee!

fantastic

This picture speaks for itself - my cousin Shell and I had a fantastic time together!

Our first official order of business after she arrived was, as usual, pedicures!

And you already know I'm obsessed with cute feet and toes, so just get over it. 

We also listened to a lot of great records - that's right, I said records! As in vinyl!

On a turntable. Through speakers. And mostly our old faves, like Elton John :)

And it goes without saying we talked NONSTOP the entire 4 days Shell was here!

Look at my gorgeous cousin - lovely inside and out - petting my silly Luna!

(Luna performs the "Easter Bunny" - her devious no-fail plan to get tummy rubs)

No one is more animated or has a more beautiful smile than my Shell :)

Let's see... we were the *nonstop* taxi service for 2 carpools, 2 vet appts,

1 orthodontist appt, and taking Davy back and forth to his classes at the college.

All that besides grocery shopping, a certain runaway who shall remain nameless, 

 multiple loud band practices, scooping the Poo Garden... all my fave things :/ 

So of course, we needed a *lot* of shopping/diet Coke therapy! 

And don't even *think* that we didn't make a run to the Beverly Hills Sprinkles!

Shell had never tried a Sprinkles cupcake before, so this was her initiation.

She bought a dozen cupcakes for us, and she even got a cute Sprinkles shirt!

Pumpkin, strawberry, lemon-ginger, and their famous red velvet... oh baby!

We may or may not have been in a sugar coma the rest of her visit...

Sugar coma or not, it was SO WONDERFUL to have Shell here!

 ❤ I LOVE YOU MY PRECIOUS SHELL!!! ❤

P.S. Don't forget that it's my blog's 2ond birthday - stay tuned for give-aways!!!  

the silvery moon

Supposedly, the last month was one of the best harvest moons we've had.

Here in California, I'm not sure we would have seen the entire beautiful effect,

but I did happen to catch a few neat pics of it soon after sunrise a few weeks ago.

The full moon is my connection to my dad, who has been gone for nearly 15 years.

He used to sing the sweetest little song about the moon all during my growing up.

Every time the moon is full, I think of my dad watching over me and feel he is there.

~

By the light of the silvery moon

I want to spoon, with my honey and croon love's tune

Honeymoon, keep a'shining in June

Your silvery beams will bring love's dreams

We'll be cuddling soon, by the silvery moon.

Today is my blog's 2ond anniversary!

Fun things coming next week in honor of that milestone!

For now I'm dedicating my bloggie birthday to my dad and his silvery moon ❤

cloud 9

That's right peeps, it may be Monday, but I've got my head in the clouds! 

And the goofy smile on my face will not be coming off any time soon.....

because my *beloved* cousin ❤SHELL❤ is coming to visit me today!

She will be staying with me all week and I can hardly wait! YAY!

We're going to have a great time ignoring everyone talking and laughing!

Shell is no stranger to my blog - see HERE, HERE & HERE among other posts!

She's my partner in crime - we do tend to get ourselves into lots of trouble :)

I get to have her go to antiques stores with me, and get cool pedicures,

and go to lunch, and maybe a movie, and decorate for Halloween,

and watch all my favorite shows that my boys mercilessly make fun of!

So speaking of clouds and things... aren't these clouds just gorgeous?! 

Last week we had some amazing cloud activity that we don't normally have!

Everyone knows how much I HATE. THE. HEAT. (SOOOOO MUCH!!!)

but I could never hate a turquoise sky, and sunshine, and those brilliant clouds!

Well, I'm going to ascend back up to cloud 9 while I wait for Shell's plane.

Have a great Monday and try to do a little cloud jumping yourselves :) 

nope

I don't get it. I've tried to get it, several times in fact. But I just don't. 

I know Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles has had a cult following for decades,

with several locations all over Los Angeles. And I know it's a southern thing.

They make everything fresh, they have their own special recipes, mixes, etc.

I even get the syrup-oozing-onto-the-meat, giving it a sweet burst of maple.

Like when you have some bacon that gets a little syrup on it and oooh, yum.

Or the recently popular maple donuts sprinkled with crispy pieces of real bacon.

But try as I might, I can't get the chicken & waffles thing. Maybe it's the menu. 

Have you ever been offered so many body innards to go with your meal?

They've got chicken liver and giblets and gizzards all out the yazzoo.

A fresh chicken liver omelette? I'll say it's your own private mix...

My gag reflex was on stand-by just reading the menu.

I began reflecting upon another chicken... incident... of times past,

but I quickly forced it from my mind with my cat-like mental reflexes.

Here is the traditional chicken and waffle plate that my family loves.

It looks really innocent, I know. Until your family grow fangs and horns

and start ripping it to shreds, and making yummy noises like Bill Murray,

and making piles and piles of chicken bones right there on your table.

Here are Davy and Matthew ~ Matthew's 15th birthday

(which is why we were here in the first place - it's all his fault)

Cute pic - what you don't know is that it was like, the fourth try.

One or both of them were finally not crossing their eyes or drooling.

John anticipating his chicken and waffles and me being a really good sport.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm Mother of the Year. Yeah, I'm almost positive.

That bright light above me? That would be my halo.

Davy pretending to be polite, before the shredding began.

See?! I told you - this is what it comes to!

I opted not to take an "after" photo for obvious reasons.