He thinks he is Farmer John (aka KoKoBean) - he is not - just saying - he is not.  This is our morning as I was "weeding" out the grass in the rocks in the backyard.  I do love the "surround" area of the patio that hosts all these beautiful river rocks. How old it is - don't have a clue - but..... grass grows thru the punctured lining and so we "weed" - 

Our pre-4th of July activities will hopefully be mostly indoors. It is hot and humid already out in the wild where this little renegade (sorry butt he would turn to face so you get the "butt view" - it is cute)

loves to "adventure in." I want to get out at some point and re-pot some of the flowers. The squirrels love to dig in the pots and just wreck havoc with the pansies. So time for me to play "Farmer Jane" and get my assistant "Farmer John" to leave my gardening gloves alone. Like he listens to me.  Stay cool, calm, and at be peace in our topsy turvy world. Happy Fourth of July America!

My Mornings in my Nest

I love my life in St. Louis and adore my backyard. Having NEVER owned a single dwelling home in my working life, I was surprised that I bought the small bungalow for retirement.

After living in apartments and condos, taking care of the "outside" was new. Yes, I have my yard mowed every two weeks - but I have a small battery operated lawn mower for the "off" week to use in the back yard.  My grass grows fast and KokoBean is small.

He can terrorize squirrels, bunnies, and birds. He storms out first thing in the morning to announce to all that his day has started and we are on our toes until it is time for him to have a nap. I have been able to get some creating in. 

I have now created another "small book" inspired by my Seth Apter class and am sending it off to an Instagram friend.  I called it "Secret" --

 Just a sample of the pages.  I'm trying to keep these posts short here in the beginning as I get use to playing with the Blog again. The days during the Pandemic has been like a sci-fi movie I have seen in the past - especially in the beginning when we panicked in our search for toilet paper, sanitizers, etc. I also did a class with Quinn McDonald entitled "DiaryMay2020" - all about keeping a diary during Covid 19 days. It really helped and I am still using the book I created to write my thoughts in - who knew - the need to reactivate this blog is a result of this class with Quinn.

One my recent posts in this diary:

"When the time is right and be the grace of God, 2020 will realign for the better good of all the Universe." We can hope! You all have a wonky doodle rest of the day - we have had rain on and off all day. I leave you with a look of my craft table.  ;  )

Hugs and puppy kisses, we will get through this!😘

Good Afternoon from St Louis

Yes, it is me after a very long absence.  I've been debating if I should start this blog up again since I retired March 30, 2018 and relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, to be close to family.  And might I add, thank goodness for that especially in this time of Covid19.  In a sense I am relearning Blogger. Oh Boy, indeed, so be patient. I'm trying to link a photo and we will see what in heaven's name appears.

It worked.  This was the day I arrived here and my 1947 bungalow is behind. I love it! Who would have thought I would ever buy a single dwelling home after living in apartments and condos all of my adult life. Love my fenced in back yard and my flower garden.

Also added to the my family has been an incredible pup known as KokoBean, aka The Bean.  He arrived on my birthday in February 2019 and is growing into an awesome little guy.

He is my little mutt - Toy Poodle, Yorkie, and Maltese - and my constant companion to say the least. Right now I'm working on a project creating a "small book" after having a great online class with Seth Apter. I've done one and now doing another as a small gift.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you again and may also update the second blog which focuses on my Nest. Will have plenty photos to add over there. Stay safe and Hugs from a Distance.

Altered Book Lovers - Hello

My blog buddy Elizabeth over at Altered Book Lover can guilt me better than anyone else I know. Love her blog. Have had such fun over the years emailing (when she had an email), sharing art, sharing cards, and just laughing over the blogland universe. Recently, I sent her a small box that included a number of items such as one of my notebooks I make and call  "make it your own," a DVD, a book, etc. In her note on my blog, she once again implored me to please post more often.  Since she is not on the social media, she does not catch me on Facebook or Instagram where I post a lot.  The blog, unfortunately, has taken a back seat to the other social media.

I am not the first to note this. I have had other friends who have left Facebook and Instagram in order to focus on other projects - which could mean their blogging.  Is blogging a thing of the past.  I don't really think so. My problem is that I am literally using my iPhone to take all my photos and these are not downloaded to my computer automatically.  When I was using my digital cameras - I would literally plug that into the computer and just use what I wanted. Now I am not that apple savvy and do not go back and forth between a PC and iPad or iPhone but - I should just suck it up and do what I usually do... I really love my iPhone photo apps - I really do.....

OK - hold on I'm getting back to the main thought -- And that is going to my iPhone and sending photos to my AOL account and then opening those and saving to my computer.  Do you hear me whine? So here are a few photos from the holidays.... Yes, two glorious weeks off and over the holidays, I was able to organize and clean up my craft room.  Will post photos later since they are not downloaded onto this lap top. And after the cleaning, I made a lot of art in two weeks. Oh my was that liberating. Mess upon mess downstairs as I watched and streamed Netflix old TV series to my TV. Have I told you how much I love the 70s show Kolchak - The Night Stalker? I watched all 20 episodes while "creating" -- which meant I also then had to clean up the downstairs mess:

Made two little altered books and got them sent off. The one below was for my blog friend Diane over at My Art Journal as a "trade" for a beautiful Poppy Box she made for me.

And then - I had been saving this box since 2009 when I traveled to NYC and bought a Dunder Mifflin shredder. Been saving it for someone who would appreciate it.... and Elizabeth was lucky "winner."

Also on my two weeks off, I cooked and had a ball doing it.  My friend/neighbor gave me a wonderful rough linen pinafore apron.  Overall it was a fantastic time off, created a lot of art and just want to say Happy New Year to all of you.  Love you all! And as a final note to Elizabeth - you guilt really well, girlfriend! LOL

Merry Christmas to all

Merry Christmas to all of you and have a blessed day!



Marlynn

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Snowy Icy weather all over

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Ice here yesterday and today snow moves in. OK -- you might say it is December! LOL. Thanksgiving came and went. Fun time with family as always. Life is good.




Yesterday worked on some cards and yes broke my sewing machine. Oh well, still playing with the cards. And planning on dismembering the machine.




Wishing you all a snowy day. Yes, this is disjointed but I wanted to get something posted so you know I haven't deserted you.

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Lazy Early Wednesday Morn

And all through the morn not a creature was stirring, not even the boys. And me? Up in my room with SyFy showing Haunted Highway and sipping a cup of Java. What a wonderful time in my world! The day will bring other adventures once all are up and awake.