It IS July!

I guess I missed it! I have been off work for a few days - and I can't keep track of the dates when I'm at home. But I know it's the 3rd because tomorrow is the 4th and by all accounts - it's a holiday! Stuff blows up in the sky and everybody oooooh's and ahhhhhhh's over it. Okay, I do too. Who isn't a little kid when watching fireworks?!??

I should mention that "day dreamer" over there at Candid Yammering nominated me for Rockin' Girl Blogger! Thanks so much! I STILL have to find out what that is - but it sounds good - I can't imagine it's secretly the geekiest bloggers ever award - so I am happy for the nomination!

One thing that has come out of blogging - is being able to take that peek into other people's lives, make new friends and have some laughs together. I think most people think they are a bit weird, their family is the wackiest or most dysfunctional. But everybody has something. So we write and let other people in and they respond - "oh I know what you mean" or "been there done that" - and it makes you feel a bit more normal. On the other hand - it might make you feel like everybody is just freakin' crazy!!!!! :) But whatever it does for you - it doesn't do anything bad. It's a good thing.

I was going to introduce one of the cats tonight, but I really think I need to throw a load of laundry in and then head to the bead room. Spent yesterday afternoon and then today too - out at the picnic table in the backyard taking pictures of jewelry. Did you know there are things that fly and crawl around out there? And things that bite sometimes? Ee-e-e-w-w!

When I came in today I went through all my pictures and updated some of my older listings with better pictures, but the job of sorting, sizing, cropping etc - all of those pics got a bit overwhelming so I have pushed it aside for the moment. I tell you what though - the digital camera and memory card are things of beauty! Add to that a laptop, a wireless connection and an awesome printer too - and you have all I need to list all the jewelry in the world in my shop! Now I just have to make it!

The pictures here are all from older listings - pics I took today in the backyard, and then updated in my shop. There is just something about that natural light to bring out the beautiful colors in stone! None of these have had the color altered at all - and if you click on them you will see how beautiful the colors really are. And if you notice - they are all necklaces and they are all being modeled by Roberta. She is here, lower left. What a wonderful investment she has been! She doesn't usually wear glasses but I was just showing that if you're beautiful - you're beautiful with glasses or without! Okay, I was really just trying to show that Roberta is one of us - not glamorous at all when she's not working!

OH! How could I forget an update on the diet! Dani and I have been following the Nutrisystem diet, eating out of the massive boxes of food sitting right in the living room, and I can't speak for her but - what the hell? You've seen the commercials - "I'm a size TWO!" she says in that most annoying really thin person voice. "All I did was eat the food!" I can almost feel her finger poking deeply into her cheek. Well I've been eating the food! I've been eating the salads and the fruit and the freeze dried concoctions I am paying about 10 dollars a day for - and I don't think I've lost a pound! Of course I was prementrual last week so that was hard to judge, and still menstrual this week, but still!!

This has not been incredibly fun.

It might be different if before you started the diet you already knew what foods you would like and which foods you wouldn't. Everything you order would be something you know you will like. Not knowing ahead of time makes it a real crap shoot. Really, just because it says tuna cassarole - who says it will really taste like tuna cassarole? Plus - you get a week of food for free - but THEY pick the food for that week. I figured though, they would know that if I didn't order any split pea soup - it would be because I don't like split pea soup! Or black beans and rice! Yuk! Okay, so I'm a picky eater. But - still!!!

There is one food that is exceptionally good - and that is the lowfat granola. I mixed it into my lowfat yogurt this morning and didn't even feel like I was dieting! Num! The chocolate chip pudding is okay, the chips save it. The reconstituted all beef patty I had for dinner this evening was quite interesting - a science experiment in rehydration you might say! The texture was a little weird but it tasted okay. Most of the food is just that, okay, and a lot is Chef Boy-Ar-De-like too. All in all it has been difficult to eat this food day after day - I feel I have been on it a lot longer than I actually have. My daughter and I both agree that lunch is our least favorite meal of the day. The whole thing would be easier to tolerate if I felt I was getting some return for my effort. Hmm. Well - maybe tomorrow I will weigh myself and get a good surprise.

But then again - maybe not.

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Maybe I should have just introduced one of the cats. God knows that will be a show stopper! :) One thing I haven't done for a while is close with a pretty picture. I am going to do that tonight. It's raining outside, there is a cool breeze and I can hear distant thunder. It's gonna be good sleeping tonight!!!

TOO Long!

It has been TOO long since I sat down and did this! I meandered off in a different direction, beading in my mind while I made pot holders! Actually, I went up to Michigan to visit my Mom, and while my son was driving - I made pot holders. Then when I got to Mom's house - she said thanks - so I guess I had been making them for her! When I got home I still felt the urge to use the loom - so I made more. I ended up listing them on Etsy, even though I feel like a bit of an artistic whore doing it. :) But they ARE nice potholders! Besides. They put me into housewares and may bring some different people to my site. If they don't sell at all I will take them off, lower my head and avoid all eye contact.

I love the photo of this necklace, the picture of the woman in the center is a vintage ad for some product I can't remember. I just thought it was so beautiful and feminine. Obviously I am still searching for who I am on my site. I like being funny, but I also like a bit of an edge and out of the ordinary. On the other hand I am very aware of not being 'out there' - I need to be what sells. Still - I very much want to be me. There's an honesty I want to show - I don't want to play at being something I'm not. Sigh-h-h.

In that way I guess I'm floundering a bit, trying things that occur to me - and then the next. I wonder how come other people don't seem to have multiple personalities like I do. Hmmm. Might need to check into that.

I DO have some wonderful ideas for some bracelets that I am dying to try - that will be next. I have ordered the beads that I need, have rec'd some and I am sure I will get the rest in a day or 2. Yay! Can't wait. Problem is - if these bracelets turn out the way I am thinking - I may not want to sell them! :)

Well, Sanjaya finally got sent home on American Idol, so did Phil and Chris this week. Elvis sang with Celine Dion - look at what has happened since I was in here last!!! My girlchild is almost done with school for the year - I am proud of her - all A's last time we talked about it. My boychild is in the midst of finals and writing papers too - but he never talks about his grades. When we went to Michigan - he took off to go to Meier (sp?) Gardens and then to the Gerald Ford Library. He is SO interested in museums and art and things I never associated with him in the past. Funny - the kids we think we know. Proud of him coming into his own and understanding his interests.

The Boyfriend is out of town for a few days, family stuff he needed to attend to. I miss him while he's gone, totally, but it always feels so good when he comes back I think it's good to be separated now and then. I always get a lot done too, although I never get to bed early enough. Night owl that I tend to be.

So, the dishwasher has finished running, I am off to get my tea set up for the morning and put together some kind of lunch. Although the boss was talking pizza today. Oh everything is so complicated. :) If that's the least of my worries I guess I am doing pretty well.

Nite!

BetteJo