Pardon me Roy, is that the cat that chewed your new shoes?

You'll get the title later.

So one of my Surrey Gathering in Canada stories is about shoes. Every year we get Diana a gift for taking the time to be with us. It's getting harder and harder to think of things to surprise her with that are fun. But earlier in the year, one of the sites I make graphics on was now selling Keds you could customize yourself! Cool! So I asked the Surrey group and we decided it was a go.

So I first had to come with a graphic to use. Recently a friend(Hi Janice) asked me to make Diana's family crest for a gift, Diana had mentioned in one of her novels what hers would be if she had one. The motto being "Cur Non" meaning "Why Not", with three hippogriffs and some standing stones.

I started with this...

and made this....

(that's actually finished and framed on a tile Janice and I gave her for her b-day)

So I wanted to use that in a graphic for shoes that wasn't obnoxious and you could wear with jeans. I came up with this...


Then you make all the sides, the top, heel, all according to their specifications, and load them up and zazzle will give you an idea of what they will look like...



And here is how they turned out...



Will she ever wear them? I don't have a clue! :-) But... I bet if she stands very still, closes her eyes and concentrates of Scotland, clicks her heels, one, two, no three times and then opens her eyes, she will be standing in the same spot where she started from!

The title...When ever I think of shoes, I think of this punchline to an old joke...

Roy had a brand new pair of shoes. He goes to visit his friend. Being polite, he removed his shoes and leaves them at the door. While visiting with his friend, the friend’s cat discovers Roys new shoes, likes the smell and proceeds to chew them up. Roy goes ballistic. The friend, feeling very bad, has a dilemma: he has two cats. One of the cats enters the room at that moment.

The friend then asks: Pardon me Roy, is that the cat that chewed your new shoes?

Repeat the punch line to the tune of the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

When I went to Florida with Gretchen and her family when I was.....10 or 11 I think. We sang that punchline while in the car all the way from Chicago to Florida, and I would guess very loudly while going through Chattanooga, TN. It is truly a wonder we both made it alive till the end of the trip, no bruises or anything!

That's all from a rainy cold Indiana Saturday,

M

Busy as a sick bee!

I know I haven't updated in a bit...

The Author's Attic page has kept me busy. Since I last updated they have created a new Claire's pendant and earrings.


I've made a webpage. Fairy Door anyone?

They are too cute, and it comes with a little story about the fairy that lives there. Friend Cindy who wrote Exit Unicorns, makes these.
Hidden Realm Fairy Doors

I went to Vancouver to hang with my net friends, I will post separately about this one, too much to tell. Always too much fun.

Came home from Canada and got hit with the flu and cold, and now a sore throat. It seems that eating left over Halloween candy all day does not cure all. This was our first year none of our kids went trick or treating. :-(

Was feeling sorry for myself and made the mug cake posted below. Didn't care for it, it's easier just to make a pan of brownies I thought. Gotta share the brownie pan again just in time for your xmas giving!
Baker's Edge Brownie Pan!

Now I admit I was praying for rain for walking the mini-marathon, but the flu took care of that for me and on the mini morning I couldn't even walk up the stairs and missed it. Although extremely happy to report, neighbor Robin triumphed! Walked the Hospice walk with Fr. Bill in October, and he was very interested to see if I was going to make this 13 mile walk, and was under strict instructions to "let him know". Well, I sent him my number!

Caught up finally with Grey's Anatomy! Missed the season premier, it was off the website before I could watch. Blond dude Kevin McKidd (or something like that it's early) from HBO's Rome is on it now, he has a way of playing soldiers. :-)

As far as movies, saw The Dutchess, it was good. We will all go see Bond this weekend. Going to see The Changling (I think) tomorrow.

Read three books-two with Henry the VIII connection. "The last wife of Henry VIII", who was Catherine Parr it was pretty good. Had the feel of "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Virgin Lover", by Phillipa Gregory, it's about Queen Elizabeth's relationship with Robert Dudley. Actually I have about fifty pages of that one to go, it's not too griping, wouldn't recommend. "Bet Me" by Jennifer Crusie, I usually enjoy all of Crusie's books, but this one I couldn't recommend either.

Was working on Nancy E. Turners webpage last night and something is in the works there, she won't tell more than that. :-) I tell you authors can keep secrets! It's not a movie but I'm guessing a mini-series of her Sarah Prine books. Fingers crossed, these would be a great series! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these books!


I activated my Facebook page, that thing drives me nuts, but since Colleen has to keep sending me pictures separately, Mandi starts every email with "this would be a lot easier if you were on Facebook", guilt won out and it's under email lolmichelle at yahoo dot com So to those that have been posting for the last......I dont know how long and it looks like Ive been ignoring you, I haven't, it wasn't activated, but it seems people can still post.


God is in his heaven, Obama won the election, Sarah is back in Alaska ... all is right with the world!

M

Happy Birthday Montana!

I miss my puppy boy!

Promises and Pups

Sunday...Brian and I celebrated our 23rd Anniversary! He surprised me with peanut donuts from Dunkin' Donuts. Halloween will be the 31st anniversary of our first date! LOL Shit were getting old, and I still have that navy sweatshirt jacket, just had it on the other day.



Lola is six months old!

She is getting really stocky in the chest. She is an extemely calm labrador! She loves to ride in the van. She has just been incredibly good...still bringing mulch and sticks in the house but not as much. :-)


Most importantly.....her nose is still shaped like a heart! :-)

I have been missing Montana like crazy lately. Pumpkins make me think of him, and pumpkins are everywhere this time of year, he loved them!



It's a wonder we ever get another dog, losing them is so hard.

I'm off to Canada in a few, have a good week, and better weekend!
M

MMMMMMMMMMMug Cake!

Okay I just saw this recipe on one of my reading groups (Thanks CathyS!), I haven't tried it, and prolly wont till I come back from Surrey. But I can't wait! I guess it's going around in emails, I havent received it from anyone yet though, so it was new to me. I'd like to figure out the WW points on it too, maybe I can do it a bit less calorie wise and see if it's a nice subsitute for dinner! :-)

Enjoy!
M

(This is my favorite mug to drink out of.....or maybe to eat chocolate cake out of!)

CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
1 large Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg - slightly beaten with a fork
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) (I used a few chopped walnuts instead)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug, (I actually use a bowl and then dump it into the mug,sprayed with PAM to bake.) and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips or nuts (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! It will sink back down as soon as the micro stops.
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share-it's really too much for one person - unless you're having a really bad day!)

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Change for a five?

Friday, picked up Ian for fall break, and he was home till Tuesday. You can tell he is in school and getting a ton of homework, he made use of his time at home. Lot's of visits to the pantry and went to the show twice, was out every night. Nice to see Collin and Ian together again. Yes, I did his laundry.

Sunday was the Hospice Walk in South Bend with Fr. Bill. He is 84 years old, and we walked maybe a little under a mile. He is slowing down a bit, but just a couple of months ago took a trip out west to see Bryce and the Grand Canyon. Even walked about a half mile down Bryce, and said it was a bit tough. Which means the people that he was with were hoping he wasn't going to keel over on them. In his words....I'm not much for old cathedrals, all that history, nature is where God's presence is. To which I always reply...I'll take the old cathedral. I had to brush two eight legged things off me, I was natured out. It's a bit like the movie Ground Hog's Day sometimes with stories, but always worth the trip.

Went to visit my Granger neighbor Patty, and her new yellow lab puppy Ellie. It's a bit sad to go now and see all these houses where your friends all lived, and most have moved on, and think of all the laughs you use to have. Even sadder to see the house you put so much into taken over by rednecks with wishing wells!

My jewelry site is up and running as of yesterday! I have been just crazy lately with finishing the site up, reading and re-reading for typos, trying to remember which is reverse and regular etch, and getting the photos together, checking every link to make sure it goes to the right place. Making a silver bracelet copper, because the copper sample isn't done yet. Sending out about 900 emails from my Claire's Ring inquiries, I'm at about 300. OMG I'm working! :) I did make a couple husbands day, since I just helped them figure out what to get for their wives for Christmas.

Here it is in all it's glory...

The Author's Attic

Yesterday Ian forgot we had a puppy in the house and left a five dollar bill and two quarters on the stairs. I found a chewed up, well part of a chewed up five dollar bill, and only one quarter. So in that irritating mom yell, called for Ian to help me find the other quarter, hoping it wasn't in Lola's stomach! Envisioning large vet bills or a dead puppy from blockage, we looked everywhere. Finally I found it on the door mat next to the doggie door. Phew!

Next week Surrey!

Sunday in the Park with....

We drove up to see Ian for lunch on Sunday. It's no surprise to any of us left behind that Ian misses the dogs more than us. So the three of us humans, and two canines took a little road trip to see Ian.

Brian had found a nice little county park with trails, so after lunch we took the dogs for a walk.


Ian said his roommate was a bit messy. This is when I nearly fainted. He said he leaves food wrappers around and doesn't put stuff in the garbage. I think I did faint after that comment. I cannot tell you how many pop cans and Li'l Debbie wrappers I have picked up from my dear son.

Payback is sweet!
M

.......it's happening again. Collin went for a hair cut with Brian last week and asked to start growing it out.

Under Where?

I was out shopping last night and my phone rings, which is sort of a rarity with me, seeing that either I can never hear it, or I forget it at home.

It's Brian. He says, "Lola has graduated from socks, she's got a pair of your underwear."

I said, " Where did she get those?" I bundled up laundry that day so I know there wasn't any on the floor at least. "Did you get them?"

Brian says, "No, she's outside in the backyard with them."

"You got to be kidding me, go get 'em!" I paused. "Is there a soccer game in the field, are there any neighbors out? Just go get 'em!"

Well, I was hoping if Lola was gallivanting around the yard with a pair of my panties they were at least a pretty pair with lace or something, thank God I don't own any thongs!

But no, just a CLEAN pair of plain cotton hipsters, not white, but almost as boring.... off white! Did I mention they were CLEAN!

(CLEAN objects in picture are most likely larger than they appear)

Puppies.......gotta love them!
M

It's getting close!

The website has landed!

The Author's Attic

deSignet just sent some final drawings to be approved before they make the samples, some of my designs and some of theirs. It's pretty neat to sit here and make a graphic up and then seeing the final product all finished. I'm anxious to see my "Mrs. Darcy" bracelet.

They basically have given me full reign on picking what to sell, coming up with any designs I think people would like, and best of all I get to make my own webpage and graphics. And if it does well, we will just keep adding more, there's a whole library to explore!

I'm starting out with jewelry relating to these authors/books:

Charlotte Bronte-Jane Eyre
Anya Seton-Katherine
Jane Austen-Pride & Prejudice
and the gracious Diana Gabaldon, my favorite you know. :-)

Here's a litte quote bracelet...


Can I hear a little Woo-Hoo please! :-)

M

Li'l Lola Update!

The mornings have been cool, so Lola and Lego go out and sit a spell. I took this through the blinds, if they see me they get up, but you can see how big she is compared to Lego.



She's losing that little puppy face.



But still looking still looking like a baby compared to Lego. She's five months old and about 45 pounds.


She's been really good! Not one accident in the house since about 6 weeks old, we can leave her alone in the house and doesnt chew a thing.

Oh and I have to tell you.....way less hair in the house since The Furmintor came! :-)

M