Green Car Club

 
    I have joined a club without realizing it, or maybe I originated it.  I'm not sure.  Back in September of 2012 I traded cars and bought this little bright green Ford Fiesta.  There were only two in town like it.  But then a few more appeared.  And a few more.  Now the town has about 10 to 15 of these little green cars in two different body styles.  Ironically, all with women owners.  When any one of us see's another one of us on the street driving by, as we pass each other, we always smile to ourselves, smile at each other and wave.  We don't know each other but it's just so much fun to see another bright green color car in the midst of all the boring navy, white, red, brown, gray, black and yellow cars.

What Are Friends For?

      I was at Wal Mart today and saw a woman and her friend going into the store, they crossed in front of my car.  One of the women had her hands full of receipts, the wind caught them and they went tearing down the drive.  There were a lot of receipts, flying through the air, like snow.  She went tearing off after them as her friend stood there looking embarrassed, and watched her as she dashed around in obvious distress.  She kept looking back at her friend by the door, and waving her arms around as she grabbed up her receipts.

     A couple of fellas saw this and began helping the frantic women gather up the receipts.  They went down aisles, went between cars and gathered all of the receipts up for her.  Her friend continued to stand near the doors. 

     Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers!

    

Embroidery

This is from an internet pattern; check out: Do Small Things With Love

A Funny Thing Happened . . .

     

      I was feeling pretty low and lonely one evening, it was cold and expected to get colder.   I was tired of the never ending snow and ice.  Another winter storm was on its way.  The sun doesn’t seem to shine enough to suit me and I was feeling crabby.  So I decided to head over to Sonic to use my WOW! Coupon.  (I’d won a free Route 44 drink).  I ordered some tater tots and the drink.  I usually go for a sweet tea, but I decided tonight I needed something stronger, so I ordered a Coke.  The carhop came to the car with such a pleasant personality and a big smile on her face.  She introduced herself and repeated my order to me.  Then she began to laugh as I passed her my WOW! coupon.  I had won another WOW! coupon.  Needless to say, my whole attitude changed.  Coincidence is God’s way of letting us know he is with us.

January-Finished!

It's finished!  

However, the design seems lost in this 9 x 9 frame, so I may have to go with a 4 x 4 frame.  

I will "shop at home" and see what I have there before I go out and purchase something.

My Personal X-Stitch Challenge

     One of my cube mates at work has this black framed art work sitting on an easel on her desk.  She changes it out every month.  It features colorful words that describe the month.  For December it had Christmas words like “joyful noise” and “noel”.  I really enjoy seeing what each month will bring, I got really inspired by this and decided I’d like to do something similar for my cube. 

      I picked up a copy of one of my favorite magazines and found that they are featuring a monthly design series this year.   

      So, I decided to make this series and feature it on my desk, in a frame, on an easel.  I’m almost done with the first design, “January”, I just need to add the white touches of snow fall and the snowman, and I’m done. 

     The "white" snow is proving to be a bit of a problem.  I tried white, but that didn't show up on the natural/ antique white fabric that I chose.  I switched to whiter than white, and that looked like it would work when I laid the skein up next to the fabric, but when I stitched with two threads, it didn't work either.  So I went looking for something close to white but not white.  I found what's either a pale blue or a pale blue gray, I'm not sure what it is, but it looks good on the fabric when stitched.

     I found a black square frame at Dollar Tree and a silver easel.  I’m all set.  When it's all stitched I'll post a photo.

Out to Breakfast

     I try to go out to breakfast once a week.  I use to go out on Friday mornings.  But since I've changed jobs, I never know when I'll get the chance to go out to breakfast.  I get up early and head out, first to Sonic for a large sweet tea

 and then across the street to Taco John's for a potato ole's breakfast bowl with sausage.

     Then I swing through the park, and if it's warm, I sit on a bench under the trees and have my breakfast, then walk around the garden path up through the gazebo and back to the car; then off to work.  If it's cold or rainy, I sit in the car to eat.  It's a great way to start the day, especially if I have a chance to take that walk.

     There are always people walking in the park early in the morning and I've gotten to know most of them and they've gotten to know me.  We always stop and chat when we see each other.  And the birds provide the background music. . .

10 Resolutions for a Creative New Year

     I saw this post listing creative resolutions for the new year on "Strangling My Muse".   I thought these were terrific creative resolutions for 2014 (or any year really) and so I'm re-posting them.  Check out the site.  You might be surprised by what you find there.

What are your creativity resolutions for this year?

1. Do something creatively inspiring every day, even if only for 5 minutes.
2. Forgive yourself if you miss a day—and then get right back on the creativity horse.
3. Cultivate an attitude of play when you’re writing, painting, singing or creating in any way.
4. Let go of your inner perfectionist.
5. Don’t blow off your muse, even if he/she starts tugging on your arm at an inopportune time.
6. Share your creativity with people who appreciate it.
7. Don’t listen to people who discourage you (including your inner critic).
8. Believe you deserve to take time for your creativity, in spite of all the demands in your life.
9. Enjoy the creative journey instead of focusing only on the destination.
10. Realize that every time you make space in your life for creativity—even if it’s just a sliver of space—you’re making yourself a better person and the world a better place.

A Simple Act of Kindness

      Yesterday I was at the library working on my blog (I don't have internet at home, it's so expensive), and this fella was leaving whom my son and I know.  People really don't know how to take him, around town, he's a different sort of person.  But we have always been friendly and welcoming to him, even when he has not always been so to us.  He seemed to be feeling lonely as he walked out of the library but he brightened up when he saw me.

     Tracy gave me this big smile and he stopped to chat, when he saw me and then went on his way.  He came back about 15 minutes later with this huge white bakery box of donuts.  He came right to me and asked if I'd like one.  There is no way that I'd turning down a donut.  I said thanks.  He went into the library and walked all around handing out donuts to the staff and patrons.  I could hear people saying "thank you" and calling him by name.  When he walked out of the library, I told him thank you again.  Many of the patrons followed him out, congregating out where I was and also thanked him again.

     You never know what a simple act of kindness, just speaking to someone, can do for a person.  I brightened his day and he in turn brightened the entire library.

     *there's a heart in the center of the donut; can you see it?!

Resolutions

Christmas market Luxembourg 2, a photo by Christian R. H on Flickr.

My New Year's Resolutions for 2014 are:

1. Smile More

2. Find the humor in every situation

3. Eat what I want, enjoy it, and not feel guilty 

4. Get back to my daily walks around the neighborhood

5. Smile and speak to everyone I walk past

It believe these are resolutions that will be easy to keep.

What are your New Year's Resolutions?