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We had too much fun!

The Proposal

This is sooo Chris and Sarah! They got a new puppy (sitting at her feet) and Chris told her they needed a picture of the three of them for the puppy breeder. He set up the camera timer and when he rushed into the shot he got down on his knee and surprised her. They love to go to the Oregon Coast with their Quads and ride in the sand, so the beach at sunset was perfect for popping the question! Our hearts are so full right now...a perfect Valentine's Day!

He Did It!

...He popped the question! We are so excited that our son is engaged! We absolutely love Sarah and her family and are so glad she'll be joining ours! My son arranged to have a picture taken at the moment of the proposal...and I'll post it as soon as I get it. But for now...we just can't stop grinning.

Portfolio...check, business cards...check...

...projects...check (mostly) I had to throw in the towel on a few things I'd hope to accomplish, but for the most part I'm ready to go! I just need to put a few things in a suitcase, and I'm on my way...almost! Candice reported in earlier today and claims they made it through L.A. traffic with their ginormous rig with only one near miss and one middle-finger greeting! I hear there is a palm tree next to where we'll be parked...and I think I hear it and an umbrella drink calling my name!

Four o'clock AM will be here before I know it so I'd better get my clothes packed...I know I'll have lots to report when we get back. Electric light parade....here we come......

Perspective

Nothing like a natural disaster to put perspective on things! I've been so wrapped up in getting everything ready for the big show...then mother nature blows up a storm to change my focus. The weather people made statements like..."this is SEVERE and we don't say that lightly. You need to take cover immediately! Put your shoes on and take your ID to the center of your house, NOW!" Take my ID? Who am I going to show it to? I guess its in case I get knocked in the head and forget who I am. Fortunately our home was just outside of the danger zone, (people say my small town is protected by a ridge that runs along the mighty Mississippi)...so I just watched closely. I grew up with an occasional rattle from an earthquake, but these tornados FREAK me out! I gathered the necessities into our half-bath...just in case the three dogs and I had to take cover. The best place to be would have been under the staircase...but that would have meant cleaning out all the stuff I store in there. We have a couple more rounds of tornados to get through over the night, but I think the worst has past. Now we're hearing reports of damage, injuries, houses that have disappeared, mall collapses, a roof on a freeway, overturned trucks and packed emergency rooms.... I need to hear from my friends! I want to know that everyone is OK...so for now I just pray and wait. All of a sudden it doesn't matter so much if I get my portfolio updated. A wake up call to give me perspective about what is REALLY important!

Showcase Peeks at Art Recycled...

Here are a couple of projects that I made for my Designer Showcase at CHA. I packed them, along with LOTS of other display pieces, and sent them on their merry way. I'll meet them all in Cali on Friday. Candice and Larry pulled out today for the cross-country trek...I assured them there was dark chocolate packed amongst the projects in case they need a little personal "fuel" along the way.



My cute Momma and Auntie in a collage under glass. I used a recycled clock that I've had hanging in my kitchen for many years. I was sorta glad when it finally died...I had plans for it's afterlife!



I used Polymer clay and beads to jazz up this mini-cupboard. Behind the doors you'd find a hand-bound dream journal made with pages of an old Italian-English dictionary.