QUESTIONS...AND ANSWERS...

TAKEN FROM THE AWESOME BLOG: "Ink on my Fingers"...
I couldn’t resist doing too. I haven't even read the questions yet.. so here goes....


*a special talent:
I can turn one eye in, and keep the other straight. Amazing isn't it?

*a secret nobody knows:
Sometimes when I'm craving Chocolate late at night, I will take a giant swig right from
the bottle of Hershey's Syrup.... tell me you've never done it!


*a personality trait you find attractive:
confidence.....it's sexy don't you think?


*a personality trait you find unattractive:
conceitedness

*a song that melts you:
"You Send Me"... by Michael Bolton


*the biggest truth you have learned this year:
That things don't always go the way you plan them, but God will guide you.


*an item you are currently coveting:
My Sterling Silver "Artist Palette" necklace. I just got a new chain for it, and I can finally wear it again. It's my most favorite piece of jewelery.

*what gives you peace :
My Faith in God


*what perfume are you currently wearing:
"Celine"... by Celine Dion

*do you dream much?:
Yes... awake, and asleep

*what word(s) do you tend to say too much:
" Oh Shit" "no kidding"

*in school, what kind of teen were you?:
The Class clown, friendly, and an insecure extrovert!

*describe yourself in 5 words:
Creative~witty~worrier~loyal~procrastinator


*have you ever been in love?:
yes ...and I really believe "It is better to have loved and lost, then to never have loved at all"

*a weird quirk?
I can't clean the house if I'm wearing slippers, or just socks, I have to put on "real" shoes.

*Has your heart ever been broken?:

Yes.. a few times.. but I got through it.

*favourite things to wear?:
My Artist Palette necklace.. (again)... and anything comfortable.... like what I have on right now. A pair of Black sweat pants, and an over sized sloppy paint stained sweatshirt, socks, and slippers. My regular "at home" attire.
So... you might want to consider calling before stopping by... or what you see is what you get!

ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN, AND THE SKY IS GREY...

Another fun weekend with my sisters!

We were out celebrating sister Susan's 58th.

We all met at her house, for coffee. For her birthday, I gave her a really old purse that once belonged to our Aunt Ruby. Ruby was a very colorful character, and liked to "tip a bottle." She was a quirky, nervous person, with very distinct mannerisms, that Susan had learned to imitate PERFECTLY!... Watching Susan "do" Aunt Ruby, was exactly like looking at Aunt Ruby herself!!.... it's uncanny!... and wildly hysterical! So, when I came across the old purse, full of papers, I knew Susan should have it. I don't even know exactly when or how the purse came into my possession. I made a Tag collage, with a picture of Aunt Ruby, and tied it to the purse handle using some old twine that I found in the purse. Susan loved it. I suggested she create a dried flower arrangement in it, and display it proudly! so that's what she's gonna do!

I also gave my sisters a collaged Christmas ornament, using a photo of our Grandfather Vernon (Ruby's father) as a young boy. It was a photo they had never seen before, nor I, till our (long lost) cousin Aristide sent it to me, along with lots of other never before seen photos of family. What a treat that was!!

We had a late breakfast at a cool place called
"My Friends Place" We visited a few art galleries, hit "The Flower Factory" and "Pat Catan's.. local craft stores here in Cleveland. Debbie ran into an old friend, Bernice, who coincidentally looks a lot like her! They were even wearing leather jackets! Weird! Even their daughters look alike! We ended up at one of our favorite restaurants called "Cheddars".. (formerly called Snickers) And I had my usual favorite Burger and a beer.

The day just flew by!... wayyy tooo fast. But we had a great time!

The leaves turned late this year, and they color was brilliant!

I was surprised that they weren't all blown away after last weeks high wind.

So I had fun taking a few pictures before they were gone for good.

I got sent home from work early today, because we were slow.

It gave me a chance to catch up on cleaning, and to get ready for Thanksgiving.

... and as luck would have it, Oprah was doing her "Favorite Things" show. So I could drool over all the great gifts.

Now I'm sitting and having a midnight snack. A Spam Omelet, with Cheddar cheese, and a can of Pepsi. Yes.. it is a Gourmet lover's delight!

It feels like a Friday night, and I have to remember to get up in the morning and head in to work!

I'm kinda hoping work is slow tomorrow too. It will be nice to come home early again, and start my sausage stuffing. .. Not good for my wallet though. Oh well what can ya do right?

Sooo. I'd like to wish you all a very Happy, Blessed Thanksgiving,

I have so much to be thankful for!

~MaryEllen~

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

Well.... another weekend gone.
It's 12:50 a.m. I had a cup of coffee earlier, and it will probably keep me up, but I really wanted it, and it hit the spot.
I had to work on Saturday, 3-9p.m. it was the slowest I've ever seen it!
Worse, was that up until Friday, I thought I was scheduled for 9-3p.m.... and made plans to meet my girlfriends for dinner. I was so disappointed that I had to cancel! Oh well.
So... I stayed up all night on Saturday, not going to bed till 6 a.m. I miss pulling an all nighter! I spent the night doing art. Well most of the time I was working on the Ruffled Card ornament above.
I really like the way it turned out. A few last minute touches, and I'll be listing it on ETSY.
I can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving where did those last few months go? WHOOOOSHH! I can only hope the Winter months go as fast, and it will be Spring again soon.
I'm mourning the leaves leaving the trees. I hate when the trees are bare.
And, I hate the time change, leaving us to drive home in the dark every evening. Ahh ok, ok... I'm done Whining.
I have to remember to close my storm windows, and take the screen out of the front door, oh, and put in a new furnace filter. The Rites of Winter.
My house is still a disaster. I still have boxes that I packed, and a sheet hanging on the front picture window. .... Thinking I would be moved out by now. Ah so, I've put that dream on hold till Spring.
But now I have to get the house in order for Thanksgiving.
We had a great time, at our last PSMWG gathering. We held our last "Coronation" as "S".. Sheila turned 50. I was so excited that I was finally able to give her my gift. An old children's storybook called "365 Bedtime Stories"... It was a book I got for Christmas in 1964?.... I LOVED this book. There was a story for each day of the year, and the stories were all about the children that lived on "What a Jolly Street" I found the book on Ebay a couple years ago, and I hugged it like a long lost friend. When Sheila saw it, she teared up too, saying she had that book and loved it too. Of course the light bulb went off, and I was on a quest to find her a copy too.
I finally found it last December, but I had to wait almost a year to give it to her!
She was very choked up when she opened it, and couldn't stop crying! I know how she felt, seeing this old friend.
She got great gifts from the other PSMWG's.
I made her a special "S" shaped Pizza!
It's always fun when we're together.

So now another week ahead. I'm wondering if work will be as slow as it was on Saturday.
I've been told many times, that catalog sales drops off In December, and to be prepared for getting sent home, during that time. Cool... I'll do art... not cool... .. I'll be losing some $$$. But, I'll get by as always, with God watching over me.
Have a great week!

LAST DAYS OF SEPTEMBER..

Well it was a great end to the month.
With Friday's cloud show. then meeting with my buddies the "PSMWGS" on Saturday.
Here we are in order of Initials:

Patti,
Sheila,
MaryEllen (me!)
Winnie,
Gloria.

We all met at Cleats, a local sports bar. Winnie missed dinner, she was home with a Migrain...but was going to try and join us at our hostess Sheila's house. The food was great! I had a giant, and I mean giant Sampler platter. The bottom of the huge platter was covered with fries, then topped with Onion rings, Zuccini sticks, Mozerella stix, Fried Mushrooms, and Potato skins... healthy.. I know. Well, we headed to Sheila's and got word from Winnie that she'd be joining us!.. Yay! because it's just not the same when one of the PSMWG's are missing! Sheila's husband Ron came home just to build us a fire, and just after dark we headed outside. It was a perfect chilly evening for sitting around a fire with friends and a glass of wine. After a few hours, and lots of laughing, we headed back in, for Cheesecake, Carmel apples, homemade Pizza, and coffee. ..... yes.. more healthy eating!
I love my girlfriends soo much! I'm soo lucky to have this awesome group of women in my life, for nearly 40 years.

So Sunday... was another sparkly cool Blue day. I watched the Browns beat Baltimore.. YAYYYYY.. Then headed in the artroom to work on a puzzle piece for the Puzzle swap. I started with one of my own pieces. My theme is HALLOWEEN.. .. but of course!
I decided it would be fun to use a photo of me as a child, instead of the vintage images I usually use. I like the way it turned out. What do you think?

Another fantastic end the day.
While I was out snapping the sunset, I turned to my art room windows and thought it was a lovely sight.
So here, They are, all signs of Autumn.
Back yard fires with my friends, Halloween, Candy Apples and amazing skies. MMMmmmm. Life is good.

So... ugh.
Back to reality. Work tomorrow.
I'll be working on the Mother' and Daughters day stuff during the week, then Daughter Allison's best friend Sabrina & Pat's wedding on Saturday.

I love weekends.
but now another is gone.. ahhhh.

Have a great week, and take care of yourself ok?

AMAZING CLOUDS...AND A WATERSPOUT!

What a great day for cloud watching!

Leaving work on Friday, my eyes went to the sky. I could see just above the trees, some cool billowing clouds. I headed up Engle rd, and as I crossed the tracks, and came around the bend I saw it....and the very bottom edge of a mass of clouds.... a little "tail".... is that?... could it be?.... a.... waterspout?... hmmm. I kept watching, as the clouds morphed, but the little tail didn't change. I turned on to Brook park rd. and I could still see it. Hmmm. Is it?... Finally, after a few miles, the little tail was still in view! It has to be! I'm getting a picture. I pulled into the first parking lot, and realized now, the building was blocking my view. No where to go.. blocked. Damn. Oh well. I pulled back out and headed home.

Now the little tail was gone. But the clouds were getting wilder, and wilder North over the lake. To the South was crystal blue skies. It was beautiful. I couldn't stop wondering if what I saw really was a little waterspout. It was in the right place... right over the lake, just about 10 miles away. Finally closer to home, I pulled into what used to be my old work place, and took several pictures of the amazing clouds. I got home, and turned on the tv. Just then, the weather came on, and the weatherman says: "Did you see it?.. did you see the Waterspout over Lake Erie?"...... YESSSSSSS I did!.. dammmmmit!... NO PICTURE THOUGH.

Now... some of you may be thinking I'm a little crazy, obsessed, or whatever, but this was a big deal to me. I have a fascination with clouds, and especially Tornado's. I know this isn't uncommon, but my chances of ever seeing a Tornado are probably (hopefully) very slim. And this little Waterspout was as close as I'll ever come. It was exciting. So, I went on the TV channel's website, and there was a photo of the little Waterspout. So... see it below... I don't think the photographer will mind. After all, I would have had the same photo, had that damn building not been in my way!