Sooth My Savage Soul

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Today's KIOS prompt is:

Share with us some of your favorite songs!

So here are a few of mine:

"How" - Regina Spektor ...she's great...basically all her songs...

"Wagon Wheel" - Old Crow Medicine Show ...the song not the video...the video is stupid...  But I really like the line "But if I die in Raleigh, at least I will die free."

"Fool For You" - John Butler Trio ...basically anything they do is great...I WAY dig these dudes.

"Copenhagen" - Lucinda Williams ...again, everything this lady does is gold in my eyes.  Her lyrics are so good it hurts...

This post could go on and on and on.  I love music.  It's often the way I get inspired to create.  I've always got something playing in the background.  But if I don't sign off now, I'll be late for work and if I wait till tonight to post this, it will have a bajillion more songs added to the list, and the page will take forever to load...  So I'm out with four songs on my list of favorites...

Till tomorrow...

A Book on the Shelf and Who do You Love?

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I missed yesterday.  Again...but I'm not gonna let it freak me out...I'm just going to calmly catch up and that's ok.  Breath in, breath out...quit being such an OCD weirdo!  

Day 14: 

Grab the third book in on your top shelf of books. 
Share the first sentence.

I really liked this prompt!  Surprisingly, the third book on my shelf was not art or crafting related!  

It was this book:

The Old American by Ernest Hebert

The first sentence in the book is as follows:

"I wish to learn here on earth, not in heaven, why my husband visits Mount Hope Bay every year." -Elizabeth Blake, on her deathbed, July 19, 1804, Keene, New Hampshire

I even made a page in one of my art journals with this book in mind:

Originally, I had gotten The Old American in order to make an altered book.  It had a hard cover and sturdy binding.  But I always read the books I get for altering before I do anything to them.  Sometimes I go ahead and start flinging paint...other times, I think the books are too good to be lost to alteration and I keep them for reading purposes.  That's what happened with this book.

I had thought it was going to be a snooze-fest, and it's not really a topic I'd generally go for.  (You can read a synopsis HERE.)  I'd have definitely overlooked it if I was looking for a book for reading purposes (as opposed to altering purposes).  But it turned out to be pretty good!  The way the character Caucus-Meteor is written was very interesting.  The way his thoughts and reasonings were portrayed...I don't know I guess he was a person on the fringe of something...I really identified with his struggles.  His life was not the one he expected to have, situations did not work out according to his hopes or plans, but he was resilient...I think I found myself having a lot of respect for him by the end of the book.  Pulling the book off the shelf and thinking about what to say about it made me want to read it again.

Day 15:

Who do you love?

A lot of people, I suppose...but I think that it would be easier to show you a picture of Leonard, who was the person who made me know what love is, who made me KNOW that I was loved, and who showed me that I was actually capable of loving.

He was my favorite person...

...and any good that I see in the world, I only see it because he showed me how.

Maybe one day our whole story will be written.  But I think that there are not enough words in the world to describe him in the right way.  I will just say what I can:  He was the best man I've ever met.  And, no matter what I ever say, the truth is that I will always love him the most.

Playing Catch-Up

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Before I start, I just want to say thank you to everybody for all the kind comments from yesterday.  I appreciated them very much.  Thank you. 

Abruptly moving on, I missed several days of KIOS and I'm gonna try with all my might to fit them in today...we'll see how it goes.

Day 9: Share your favorite movies:

In no particular order:

"Amelie"  I loved this movie.  I have a thing for foreign films, and this one is just amazing...I loved everything about it.

"The Goonies" Because Sloth loves Chunk and always will. 

And pretty much every movie with Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.  "Pat and Mike", "Desk Set", "Adam's Rib" ...just watch all of them, they're fantastic...Love, love, LOVE these two together.

Day 10 Show and Tell

Well, you've seen some of my art journal stuff...and there's a bunch to be seen in past posts...so how about some of the soft toys I've made?

Giraffe for my Mom (they are her favorite animal).

Green elephant for my nephew Michael...green is his favorite color (mine too!).

TN Vols doll for my work mom, Miss Lettie.  She loves the Vols, so I made this for her...and check out my crochet skills...

And this monkey (who's name is Alphie...and look, crochet skills again...) for my nephew Remy...this picture is at his baby shower.  That's my mom...isn't she cute?

Day 11: What makes you weepy?

For most of my life, I've not been a someone who cries very much...even at appropriate times...but the movie "Dumbo" makes me cry when I watch it.  When Dumbo's mom is in the 'mad elephant' cage and she reaches out and rocks him in her trunk and that darn 'mothers love their babies' song (I don't know what it's really called...that's just what I call it.) is playing in the background.  That always makes me weepy.  I didn't cry when Bambi's mom got shot...I generally don't even cry when people die in real life...but stupid "Dumbo" makes me tear up every time.

Day 12: Ten things I know for sure

1. Trust is precious.  It's easy to lose, and it's hard, if not impossible, to regain once it's lost.
2. It's harder to quit smoking the second time around.  If you've managed to quit, don't take it back up again...I went for several years without smoking (after quitting cold turkey from smoking more than two packs a day), and picked it up again when my friend died.  I only smoke about a pack a day now, and want to quit, and it's way harder this time than it was the first time.
3. No matter what you're going through, there's a song that fits the situation/mood...and if you find it, it will make it all easier to deal with somehow...
4. Words are powerful...you never know how one kind word can help someone.  Conversely, you should be aware that it's almost inconceivable (till it happens to you) how much you can regret something you've said.  It's important to choose words wisely.
5. It's easier to like people you might not otherwise care for if you can find their motivation.  People generally act a certain way for a reason.  If you see where someone is coming from, find the reason they are how they are, it's not as easy to dislike them.  Of course, sometimes you just don't want to like a person...but this whole "look for the reason/motivation" thing is helpful when you're stuck with someone and can't do anything about it (like a co-worker...)
6. Don't put things on people that don't belong to them.  If you're mad at a person, don't take it out on everybody else.  It works the other way around too.  If you love somebody, don't give that love to other people who don't deserve it...more on that later...
7. If you're sick, you will feel better if you watch old-school Price is Right (Bob Barker is the One True Host...don't forget it), QVC/HSN (I don't watch it any other time...you'll end up with a whole lot of expensive crap that neither you nor anyone you know will ever need...but it always puts me to sleep when I'm sick!), or Bob Ross videos (for some reason, watching him paint always makes me feel better... *insert 'happy little trees' reference here*.)
8. Time will always be more important than money.  You can always get more money...you only have so much time.  This is why work-a-holics will never seem reasonable to me...once you have the basics (and art supplies are included in that...just so you know...), what else do you need?  I'd always rather have the time than the cash...unless it's like a million dollars for five minutes of time...in that case...I got a little time...just saying.
9. Surprise kisses are the best...you're walking along and then BLAMO!  Surprise kiss from someone you love...that's awesome.  But I could also see how they could be the worst...and awkward..."GET OFF ME, WEIRDO!!!"  ...if it's just some weirdo, then probably not awesome...I suggest perfecting what I like to call 'double high-fives'...and develop your cat-like reflexes.  If somebody you don't want  is trying to smooch up on ya all stealthy like, you'll be ready with a double high five.  Because no one can feel bad after a double high five, even if said double high five is a not-so-subtle rejection...
10. "The right time" doesn't exist.  If you really want something, go for it.  If you start waiting, you'll be waiting your whole life...and going back to #8, you only have so much time.  If it's that important to you, do it before you lose the chance.

Day 13: Share a first

This goes back to #6 on the above list.  I'm going to tell you a cautionary tale:

After my friend Leonard died, I found myself looking for a replacement Leonard.  (That sentence should warn you of the vast stupidity that's going to follow.)  People are not replaceable...I understood that.  But I thought if I could just find someone like him, similar to him, with some of his qualities, it might make losing him a little easier for me.  I didn't know it at the time, but that's what I was doing subconsciously.  Looking for pieces of him in everyone I met.  And so, I eventually found what I was looking for (or so I thought) in a guy I work with named Chris.  He was nice, he was funny, he was like Leonard, even down to his mannerisms and the way that he talked/things he said.  Over the course of at least a year, we got to be pretty good friends.  Chris reminded me of Leonard so much.  Finally, I realized I had developed feelings for Chris...and I reiterate that I am not one who is used to having feelings, so this was really something for me...real feelings too.  I didn't even think he was good looking (unlike Leonard, who was a fox and a half)...but the more I liked his personality, the better looking he got.  And I (ingeniously) ended up telling him how I felt (in my own awkward way).  I believe the exact words were "you know I like you right?  I mean in the kiss-your-face kind of way."  And that was a mistake.

The thing about it, the thing that I lost sight of, is that, while Chris had a lot of similar qualities to Leonard, he wasn't Leonard.  I had let myself take everything I felt for Leonard and put it on Chris.  I gave all this love I had to somebody who didn't really deserve it.

Chris basically hasn't talked to me since that happened.  I can't blame him, I guess.  I was so angry and sad when the whole thing first happened...it was like losing Leonard again.  That we don't talk anymore still bothers me now, almost a year after the fact.  Chris is a good guy.  But he wasn't my guy...he wasn't what I was looking for.  Nobody is going to be that guy.  I get that now.  No matter how much I want to find Leonard in another person, I'm not going to find him.  Even Leonard couldn't live up to the memory I have of him, because memories are always rose colored.  You gloss over the not-so-great things about people in your memories...eventually, those people become 'perfect' and no one could live up to that...not even the original.

This was the first time I understood the phrase "Follow your heart, but take your brain with you."  My heart wanted to find someone like Leonard, because I loved him so much.  My brain knew that wasn't going to happen, but I just didn't listen.  I guess the lesson learned is to love people for who they are, not who you want them to be.  Don't put things, good or bad, on people who don't deserve them.  It's not fair to them or to you.  

And on that note, I'm caught up and I'm going to bed.  Love and smooches to you all...

Where You Used To Be

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I missed the last couple days because my Uncle Paul passed away on the 9th.  He was 79 years old.  

"Where you used to be, there's a hole in the world,"
This is part of a quote from Edna St. Vincent Millay.   The whole quote reads: " Where you used to be, there's a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell."

I mentioned before that my father was not a nice person.  But because of Uncle Paul (who was my father's brother) and my older brother Glenn, I was fortunate enough to have positive male influence growing up.  They taught me what a real man is...and I know I'm lucky for it.

Uncle Paul's going to be buried today in a flannel shirt and blue jeans.  This makes me smile because I can't remember a time I'd ever seen Uncle Paul in something other than blue jeans, a white undershirt, and a flannel shirt (or just the white undershirt in the summer).  It wouldn't be fitting for him to be in a suit...that wasn't him at all.

I won't be at the burial today, just like I wasn't at the viewing yesterday.  I think that funerals are very much for the living, not for the person who died.  For me, I think that everything we can do for a person, we can only do it when they're alive.  Once they die, it's too late to do anything differently.  

The last time I saw Uncle Paul was, if there is such a thing, a perfect good-bye.  I want to remember him in that way.  I don't want to think of him in that box.  Uncle Paul was a man of action...hunting, fishing, taking care of the farm...always in motion.  I feel like whatever is in that casket...that's not my Uncle.  Not really.  When he breathed out for the last time, he just became a body.

I don't know what happens to us when we die.  I know what I've been taught.  I know a lot of various versions, differing beliefs...and I know what I want to believe.  But the truth is, I don't really know...not for sure.  I suppose one day, I will find out...we all will.  

It would be nice to think that when the people we love die, they're not gone forever.  That instead, they are still out there somewhere watching over us.  I would like to believe that, but I don't.  

Maybe in a way, they are though.  I've learned so much from loved ones who have passed away...they've all taught me something...and maybe that's how they watch over us.  By teaching us how to watch over ourselves.  That I can believe.

I will play catch-up on KIOS tomorrow.  I just wanted to let everyone know what was going on, and that I'm ok.  Now go kiss the people you love and let them know you love them.

Until tomorrow, friends...

where

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Today's KIOS prompt is:

We hope you don't mind if we invite ourselves over. 

We'd love to see where you blog!

Sorry for the grainy photo...I think it's the light from the window that made my phone's camera refuse to cooperate...

You can see that the Butler and I clearly didn't get around to cleaning the studio yesterday...FOR SHAME!

Despite the fact that this desk is 'L' shaped, therefore I should have lots of work surface, the other part gets the brunt of my artistic fury by catching all of the sundry bits and I end up doing the actual drawing/painting/gluing/spraying in that little spot in front of my keyboard.  Which is how I always end up having colorful sleeves and arms.  But, for the most part, it works for me.  One day I'll figure out a system for keeping things neat and tidy...but it hasn't happened yet...

Friday was my anniversary (10 years married...crazy) but we both had to work and so we didn't celebrate till yesterday.  We went out to eat and then to shop for pants for me...that was my present.

On the positive side, I got some new pants...on the opposite side, after ten years, I was kind of hoping for a little more than some pants.  Oh well, I did need pants...and I'm not surprised, because my husband is a notoriously bad gift giver.  One year I got a used washing machine.  I wish I was joking.  This is the same year I got him a Playstation 3 (when they first came out) and a bunch of games and extra crap that goes with it.  I had saved since the first time he mentioned the thing was coming out and was so happy to give it to him!  He loved it (of course) and then I got my fabulous used washing machine.  We did need a washing machine...but that's really not what I was hoping for on my anniversary...  The hubs just got the Playstation 4 and accoutrements...what do I get?  Three pairs of jeans...  This is a disturbing trend.  Next year, I think I'll give him some dented cans of corn and see what happens...

I might make some cookies today...and then eat all of them...but there's also some rum sitting on the shelf that needs some attention.  Maybe I'll hit the rum first and then make cookies all tipsy like.  Who knows, this might be the most entertaining way there is to make cookies.  I probably won't do either of those things, but they do both sound like winners in the current moment.  I'll let you know what happens...

Just One Little Sentence?

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Today's (ridiculously hard for me) prompt is:

As best you can, capture your day in once sentence!

(Especially on days the Butler's here...)

Today is...cleaning day.

First Post

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The KIOS prompt for today is: 

Whether you've been blogging for 5 years or 5 days, share with us your first post. What inspired you to start, what have you've learned or how you've changed since then?

The first blog post I can remember is THIS one from my poetry blog, Ice And Sparrow.  I know I blogged a little before that, but I can't remember what the site was!  Crazy, because I do remember it was very important to me at the time.

The first post from this blog you can find HERE.  

With the poetry blog, I think I just wanted a place to put my writing...and possibly to know if other people thought it was any good...  I had written a lot of poems and was looking for a place to keep them so that they wouldn't be lost in case of a fire or something.  I doubted anyone would read them.  I ended up with 56 followers, which might not seem like a lot, but it really was to me!  And then I stumbled upon art journaling and that was pretty well the end of Ice And Sparrow...although I do still love the name and the poem that inspired it (which you can read HERE if you'd like).

For this blog, I wanted an easy way to share my art with my older sister (who is a spectacular artist) so that she could critique it.  So that she could tell me how to get better at the actual art...  And Ice and Sparrow was solely for poetry in my eyes, so Sweet Red Clover was born.  I thought I'd keep up with both, but once I got going with this one, the poetry writing and Ice and Sparrow fell to the wayside.

What have I learned?  What's changed since then?

I learned what a big deal visual art is for me.  I feel more like a human being since Sweet Red Clover came into being than I ever did before.  My real name is Amy, but I feel more like my genuine self as Sweets.  Like how I imagine Superman/Clark Kent/ Kal El feels about his multiple names...  Sweets is who I truly am...Amy is just what the humans call me.

I talked about it a little bit yesterday, but the art let me find a way to deal with emotions and to keep my sanity.  At first, I just showed pictures of my art (my horrendously ugly art)...but since then, I've began sharing what goes on behind the art.  My thought process and emotions...and just some ranting and raving on various topics.  That's a huge change for me, because I've never been emotional, and I've always resisted sharing my true thoughts with people before.  I was under the assumption that there was no way people could know who I really was and still want to be around me.  But for some reason, they do!  It's amazing!  On a personal day-to-day life level, I'm a completely different person now than I was just a few short months ago...for the better.

Another thing that's changed is my art has improved dramatically since I first started this blog...I make a lot less ugly pages than I did when I was first starting  (seriously, go check those hideous suckers out!)...  And I'm a lot better at looking at the art I make with a realistic eye...instead of an overly critical one...

Blogging has become a way for my true self (Sweets) to meet amazing and like-minded people.  I finally feel like I don't have to hide who I am.  When I blog, I can say exactly how I feel and think and that's a ridiculously wonderful achievement for a chronic people pleaser like myself!

I've learned so much and changed so much since I started blogging that I'm like an entirely new person...or, at least, a better version of me.

Weather

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The prompt for KIOS today is:

What's the weather like where you live today?

It was unseasonable warm today...it got up in the 60s, and it was sunny all day, despite the weather app on my phone insisting that there were supposed to be scattered showers.  I think I'd like to be a weather girl, because it's the only job I can think of where you can be wrong more than half the time and still not get fired.  

It's supposed to rain the rest of the week, but according to my phone (aka the LIAR) it's going to be 70 here tomorrow.  If that is true, I'm going to be annoyed, because it's DECEMBER!  That should mean sweater weather, not sweaty weather!  I want cold weather...waa!!!

Also in the forecast is creativity...but that's pretty much every day for me...

I'm still working on the bunny page from a couple days ago, but I did make this little washi tape bound book:

I have no idea what I'm going to use this for...but it was easy to make...

I made it out of a piece of  9x12 watercolor paper that I had collaged some bits of paper on, then stamped over...

I don't know what the deal was with the color scheme...it's not my usual fare, but it seems very cheerful, doesn't it?

I like the taped binding.  I've not done it before, and it was so simple that I may have to make up some more!  I love washi tape, but, egads, I wish it was stickier.  I cheated and used matte medium to glue the washi to the pages so that it would actually stick.  And I went over the whole book with clear gesso when I was done with it, just for added stability.  All in all, a cute and easy little project.

I'm so happy it was a short prompt today!  I spent FOREVER with yesterday's prompt (because I am a blabber mouth...) and didn't get to do hardly any art...so I'm chomping at the bit tonight.  

I'm off to work on the bunny page...maybe I'll have that done by tomorrow and be able to share it with you!  Till then, my friends...

You See My True Colors Shining

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Questions based on colors is the topic today...ooh lawdy, I can feel the extreme babbling coming!

The first thing I thought of when I realized it was color-based questions was this song:

Her hair...good grief...it's been a long time since I saw that amazing catastrophe...hehehe

Anyway...here are the questions answered:

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of red?

It was a tie between my blog handle/alter ego, Sweet Red Clover and red hair.

2. Closest red thing to you?

The skirt on my Strega Nona utensil holder...she's sitting on my desk watching me work...you can read more about her (and see a picture) HERE.

3. What's the last thing that made you angry?

I don't remember specifically, but I'm going to say my husband...he's always the one who just burns my biscuits!

4.  Are you a fan of romance?

Um...I want to say yes...but since it never happens to me, honestly I'm kind of bitter and cynical about the whole thing...  I'm a fan of romance in theory...

5. Do you have a temper?

Again, I want to say yes (especially the older I get)...but honestly, when I get mad it's more comical than anything...like when Miss Piggy karate chops Kermit...  I get mad and get over it really fast, I think...things aren't usually so important to me that I get all hot and bothered about them.  But when I do get really mad, let me tell you...I can passive aggressively hold a grudge like nobody's business!

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of green?

Four leaf clovers...but not because of my blog.  My little sister and my grandmother both have (or had in my grandma's case, she passed away many years ago) this incredible knack for finding them...seriously, they could walk outside, look down and pick one up...just like that!  It's crazy!  So my little sis has a tattoo of a four leaf clover (with a lady bug on it...my mom always called her "Lady Bug" when we were kids).  And someone else who I loved very much had a four leaf clover tattoo as well and would always wear a ball cap with one on it...(that or another Notre Dame ball cap)

2. Closest green thing to you?
An awesome turtle bank that one of my older sisters gave to me

3. What's your favorite green environment? 

My kitchen, because it's where the food is.  On a side note, it's painted the most horrible color green you ever saw in your life...one day it will be repainted, but the horrible green of our kitchen has been a running joke in my family for some time now...

4. Are you jealous of anyone right now?

Yes.  I'm jealous of my younger self.  I had a lot of good things going in my life for a while that I've lost and can't get back.  I'm jealous of younger Sweets because, somewhere out in there in the stream of time, maybe she is still living those good things that I miss so much...

5. Are you a lucky person?

No and yes.  No, because a) I never win anything...no lottery tickets, no giveaways, no nothing and b) I don't know that I think 'luck' is a real thing...a lot of 'luck' has to do with good decisions, the choices we make, etc.  You make your own luck.  Sometimes good/bad things happen, but that's more random chance than anything I suppose.  And yes I am, because I feel lucky/undeserving to have experienced some of the really great things that have happened to me in my life.  There is a reverse side to that, where I feel 'unlucky' because there have been a lot of very not nice things that have happened to me by chance or by the choices of other people...but I've been working through that stuff and have mostly come to terms with it.

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of purple?

A purple table my mom gave me

2. Closest purple thing to you?

Purple fabric (among other colors...it's patchwork-ish) on my inspiration board

3. Do you like being treated like royalty?

I don't really know...but probably not.  I think it would make me feel awkward and bad for the people who had to treat me that way...

4. Do you like mysterious things?

Sometimes...  I like puzzles, riddles...that kind of mystery.  I don't like mysterious people.  I don't mind having to figure people out (although I do enjoy straight forward people)...but I don't like it when people  pretend to be something they're not.  That's not really mysterious...that's basically lying.  Two entirely separate things.

5. Are you intuitive?

I'm learning.  I've been analytical for most of my life, but I'm learning to go with my gut a little more.  I honestly think that being intuitive has a lot to do with simply paying attention...even if it's subconsciously.  That being said, I have the uncanny ability to tell when someone I'm close to is pregnant.  I don't always know who it is, but I always get this weird feeling and just know that someone I know is pregnant.  

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of blue?

When I hear the word, I think of feeling blue...but when I see the color, I think of blue eyes.

2. Closest blue thing to you?

Cap and label of a bottle of water

3. Are you good at calming people down?

Yes...when people genuinely need someone to calm them down.  I have learned not to waste time on people who are drama addicted...when you try to calm people who are like that, you're not helping, you're enabling... And I refuse to enable that crap!

4. Favorite body of water?

Lake Watauga here in Tennessee...just gorgeous...

5. What was the last thing that made you cry?

My co-worker for telling me the truth about something I needed to hear...I got misty eyed.  But if we're talking about full on sobbing, it would be the last bad day I had dealing with the loss of someone I loved very, very much to suicide.  He's been gone for a while now, but I still have bad days.  By nature, I'm not a cryer...I've never cried so hard or so long or so uncontrollably about anything...There are days I can't help mourning the loss of him, and I suppose there always will be.

6. Are you a logical thinker?

I tend to be...I'm good at figuring things out, figuring people out...I tend to make fact based decisions.  On the opposite side, I can with 99.9% accuracy tell you if I'm going to like someone within the first five minutes of meeting them...it probably doesn't even take that long.  I always go ahead and give everyone an equal chance, but I'm almost always right about what I initially feel.

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of yellow?

My mom (that's her favorite color) and a yellow kitchen...the perfect kitchen color!

2. Closest yellow thing to you?

Juicy fruit gum, which I am NEVER without.

3. What was one of the happiest times of your life?

After I met my Leonard, and before he committed suicide...it was the only time in my life that I ever felt...that I ever knew beyond a shadow of a doubt...that someone truly loved me. There were no family ties, there was no motive, there was nothing to gain from it...he loved me just for me. I was happy with him.

4. What's your favorite holiday?

The ones where I get to stay home from work and they still pay me for it!  Screw you, Arbor Day!  I love trees as much as the next person, but I don't get to stay home from work because of you!

5. What makes you happy?

Art makes me happy...being creative in any way I can...that's my happy these days.

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of pink?

Perfume...I don't know why...wearing perfume is the girliest thing I do...maybe that's it...

2. Closest pink thing to you?

Scrapbook paper pad with tea and bird motifs throughout...pink, but not disgustingly so...

3.  What sweet things do you like?

Ice cream should be it's own food group...I'm not big on sweets...  I like it when people are genuinely sweet...genuine being the operative word... 

4. Are you sensitive?

Personally, no...it takes a lot to upset/offend me...but I do try to be sensitive to the needs/feelings of others.

5. What is your favorite flower?

Geraniums.  I've loved them ever since I was a kid...sometimes I think they smell like carrots, and I've always found that intriguing...because I think I'm the only person who smells them that way...

6. Do you have a crush on someone?

Yes, unfortunately.  (Don't tell my husband...meh, go ahead, he won't care...)  I get crushes on dudes that are nice...and they get extra crush love if they are funny too. You could be the Swamp Thing, but if you're nice and funny, I will find you insanely attractive.  I've always been happy that looks aren't super important to me, but I do tend to make strong mental attachments to nice/funny guys...it's awkward...

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of orange?

Juice...and my friend Miss Lettie, who is a huge UT Vols fan...she has a whole room full of Vols stuff and so many shirts that she could wear a new one every day for at least a year...

2. Closest orange thing to you?

There's orange in the pattern on my underpants...the next closest thing is orange yarn.

3. Do you dress up for Halloween?

No.  I have worn costumes for other occasions in my life, most notably I once went somewhere in a Dolly Parton costume that I put together myself...I looked like a really bad transvestite version of Dolly Parton...I wish there were pictures, it was hilarious.

4. What gives you the warm fuzzies?

Having a really good day creatively...and art supplies...

5. What would your superpower be?

I'd like mind control...I know that's not very PC, but I'd totally love to be able to make certain people think what I want them to.  I'd also like to be telepathic, because I always wonder how other people's brains work...I think mine is abnormal, but I won't know for sure until I can read other peoples's thoughts!

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of brown?

One of my dogs...Fusco, the drop off wonder dog is a brindle boxer (and someone just left him at our house!  He's an awesome dog too...I have no idea why someone would get rid of him!)

2. Closest brown thing to you?

My desk is dark brown stained wood and my arms are currently resting on it as I type...and Fusco, who's got his head laid on my foot.

3. What is your favorite type of chocolate?

Lindor truffles...they are AWESOME!  I like the white chocolate ones the best.

4.  What makes you feel grounded?

Talking with people who won't lie to me even if it's to save my feelings.  Better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie. 

5. Paint the wood or always leave it au naturel?

Um...depends...I think both have there place in my life.

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of white?

That I need to stop washing all my clothes in one load...all my 'white' clothes are really dingy grey...on the positive side, they are clean with minimal effort on my part...

2. Closest white thing to you?

Bottle of gesso

3. Do you always try to keep the peace?

Yes.  I didn't have the nicest father growing up, and I really, really hate it when people argue or get mad.  I try not to always be a 'people pleaser' in everything anymore, but there are still times I struggle with it.  I generally don't care about things enough to argue about them, but if I do care, I'm learning to stand my ground, despite the fact that my inclination is to back down.

4.  Do you like to play in the snow?

YES!  Winter is my second favorite season after fall, and I grew up in a snowy, snowy area.  I LOVE IT!  I do have to say that as an adult, it's not my favorite thing to have to drive when it's snowing, because people in Tennessee have NO idea how to drive in it, but even still, I love the snow...

5. Are you afraid of going to the doctors or dentist?

No, not afraid...but I do hate going to the dentist.  I have bad teeth and am spending a small large fortune on trying to fix them, when I really just wish they'd pull them all and let me have dentures.  The dentist (mostly, and to a lesser whatever small amount of vanity I have) is the only thing stopping that.  

1. What's the first thing you think of when you think of black?

Sleeping...

2. Closest black thing to you?

My soul...bwa-ha-ha!  And then my phone.

3. Are you sophisticated or silly?

Silly...do you even have to ask?

4. Do you have a lot of secrets?

Yes, but mostly because no one really asks.  There aren't a lot of things about me personally that I wouldn't talk about if someone really wanted to know.  I am good at keeping other people's secrets though...  I don't tend to tell things that aren't mine to tell.

5. What's the new black?

Black.  And if that's not acceptable, I'm gonna go with green...just because it's my favorite color.

I was right, that was long and ramble-filled!  I'm off to eat some cheese on crackers and go to bed...

What's the 411?

Go HERE to find out more...

Today's prompt for the KIOS Blog-A-Thon is "Time Capsule"...capturing this moment in time by answering these questions:

1. What are you reading?

Blogs...I love being able to see what my pals are doing...meet new friends (hello, all my fellow KIOS-ers!)...and there's always something to get me inspired.  I am also re-reading (for the ten millionth time) The Collected Poems of Edna St. Vincent Millay, who is my favorite poet and a total genius in my eyes...I love her and I could read her words every day for the rest of my life and still not get tired of her.  And I'm re-reading The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly.  A friend introduced me to his Charlie Parker series (which is great!) and then gave me The Book of Lost Things and it's different and wonderful!

2. What are you watching?

Art Journal workshop videos...yay!

 Donna Downey's Inspiration Wednesday videos on YouTube are always a good thing to have on in the background when I'm working (I love how she goes off on tangents...it's hilarious and it's good to know I'm not the only one...)

I just finished watching "The Vicar of Dibley" on Netflix recently (which is funny...oh English people...I love your comedy...) and am on the lookout for something similar to fill the void.

"Sleepy Hollow"...I've only seen two episodes and we DVR-ed the rest and haven't watched them yet...it's driving me crazy!

and "Person of Interest", which is also DVR-ed...

3. What are you listening to?

My Spotify stuff...always something new and interesting on there...

Spotify led me to find The Haunted Windchimes (that is a GREAT name!):

And Audra Mae (one day this song will become the inspiration for a fantastic art journal page...):

And on the way home from work today, I was listening to The Black Crowes, who are just classic in my eyes  (I love the line in this song "When you're up just remember I am down. Who's down?" I totally sing that as loudly and obnoxiously as I can every time I listen to this song...):

I feel like Chris Robinson (lead singer) is kind of a freaky weirdo...it makes me like him more...but if he is too freaky weirdo for you, enjoy this other song without his freakishness interfering:

I just love his voice...and the band...their lyrics are so good, and the way he sings them...I don't know soulfully or something...I love them.

4. What are you loving?

ART!  In my art journals, perusing art online, and in the form of mail art from my fabulous friend Pamikins:

Wonderful ATC!  I love that quote...fall is my favorite season!

And the four amigas from the Paperbox Playhouse! I'm very happy I get to be the black cat!  And I am so excited about the fibers on this...in my favorite color (green) no less!

Thanks my Pamikins, I love them!!!

5. What are you wearing?

Jeans, the best green shirt ever, a black hoodie, and in with the theme, my old school grey suede high top Adidas.  I am not a shoe person, but these Adidas make me fulfill me like no other shoe ever has...they make me understand shoe people at last...

6. What are you creating?

As always, I am in the throws of art journaling...the page that's on my desk at the moment is this one:

Don't know why I wanted a bunny, but there he is...in his incomplete glory...

I almost always have multiple pages going on at one time, he just happens to be the one I'm working on right now.  I'm also in the process of trying to use up some cotton yarn that I have in my stash, so I've been crocheting wash cloths for a friend at work, and eventually for my mom to (hopefully) sell at her little shop/booth.  Note to self, cotton yarn is not for me, despite the pretty colors it comes in...unless dishcloths happen to sell really well, in which case I may rethink that...

7. What are you looking forward to?

In my immediate future, food...I haven't eaten supper yet.  And, honestly,  I do always tend to look forward to food...   

I'm also looking forward to the 6th, which is my 10 year wedding anniversary...because there will be presents...bwa-ha-ha!  I go back and forth between not being able to believe it's been 10 years already and not being able to believe it's only been 10 years.  Sometimes (aka the days my husband is irritating the crap out of me) it feels like FOR-STINKING-EVER!  Today, it's leaning towards the "already?" end of things...it doesn't seem that long ago.  I'd like to also throw in there that it's hard to believe we haven't murdered each other yet...there are days, let me tell you... (haha...make sure you mention the 'haha' when the cops come asking questions...).  Egads, we were so young and stupid when we got married...we're still relatively young and probably still a little stupid...but we're WAY smarter than we started out being!  And we were so skinny!  I know, vanity, thy name is Sweets...  But I look at the pictures of our wedding day and wonder what happened to that girl...and then I remember I ate her...  Maybe one day I'll get back to that size...like when food stops being delicious...  I've already trapped a man, I don't have to be cute anymore...or shave my legs if I don't feel like it...that's a benefit of marriage no one tells you about...  Hehehe...

And the last thing I'm looking forward to tonight is the KIOS prompt for tomorrow!  So until then my friends...