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

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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. 

On this Tuesday night, I am sitting here watching the Big Bang Theory waiting for family to arrive in order to begin our Thanksgiving Celebration.

Been a busy few days preparing for this annual visit when my brother and nephew drive from St. Louis. This year they have been driving in rain but are not that far away.

Wishing all of you a blessed Thanksgiving!  More later when the chaos begins. LOL

Quotes Illustrated

100 Works of Art inspired by 100 Words authored by Lesley Riley.  I don't think I can share with you how excited I am that one of my art pieces is one of the 100 Works of Art.  For many months we were not able to let anyone know that a work of art we submitted to illustrate a specific quote picked out by Lesley was going to be published in a book.  I was so excited when Lesley put out a call for artists to illustrate a quote she would select for you. I created a collage and when we can order the book and it is out there, I will show you a photo of that work of art and lead you to the order form.

Although November 22 has always been a reflective day for me - this 50 year anniversary is made less somber with Lesley sharing the news that the book proof is in and we will be able to order maybe by next week.  As we head into this Thanksgiving week, let us all be reminded and grateful for all we have. My brother, nephew, Larcy, Phil, and Oliver we all be over at the Nest for Thanksgiving. I will keep you posted on my progress this week (yes I am off) with preparations!

Oliver is suppose to come over tonight and be with me to help with cleaning and shopping.  He is such a great help in the craft room as he lies on the desk and directs me to what to do. Most of the craft room is cleaned up and Aaron will have a bed to sleep in but now we (read in here - Oliver and me) just need to refine more space for Aaron to toss his luggage.

Happy Friday! Don't know where you are - but where I am, they have started their Black Friday sales today. If you remember, retailers are losing a whole week from the shopping spree before Christmas since Thanksgiving falls in the last week of November. Last year, literally, this Friday would have been "Black Friday." Be kind to those shopping who get in your way. I will try to keep this in mind when I am driving my grocery cart around the aisles.

Mail Art

Foggy gray Sunday here and I did manage this weekend to make one more mail art post card for a dear dear friend.

And, how exciting! received my very first swap mail card from Colorado. Love it.


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Going to be busy headed into Thanksgiving. Planning menus, making grocery lists. Love this holiday. Have a quick day and a half business trip, workouts with James, tennis and boxing. Oh boy what a week ! And hugs to all. Don't let time get away from you.




From my honeysuckle world to yours -




Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Veterans Day

How appropriate that my last update was Fathers Day and my dad's photo has been up all this time.

It has been busy this summer and fall. I just completed 10 postcards for a mail art swap. They will be put in the mail tomorrow. Also I've bought an iPad to see how easy it might be to work on the blog from here. We will see.







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This photos are the front and back of the ten cards. I did decide to put these into envelopes instead of mailing as cards. Not sure I like the medium matte to really "glue" the clip art and old papers. Should have used my heavy matte. Enjoy your evening. I'm headed out to play indoor tennis - every Monday night. PS - last weekend I did a wonderful workshop with the one and only Seth Apter. Geez - he rocks!







It was called "I Witness"



See ya soon, Marlynn

Father's Day 2013

Tomorrow is Father's Day and I love my brother's quote on FaceBook.
"Treasurer your father before he becomes a buried treasurer."

With my brother, you sometimes don't know how he would say this if her were in the room.  At first, I did laugh out loud and trust me, our dad would have done the same.  As a matter of fact we had a grand time at his grave site burial - yup laughter and tears especially when my brother and I started to break out in song (always sung on the road when we were young and encouraged by Dad) 99 bottles of beer on the wall . . .   My aunt called a halt to that "celebration" - yes, a good time was had by all.



So I just wanted all of you who still have your Dad around  -- cherish the time that you have them. Yes we have all been through good times and bad with our parents. I choose to honor his time here on earth. I'm sure him and Mama are having a fine time in heaven watching their two children (my brother and me) trip through this life with laughter and still trying to one up each other.

Don't let me get started on brothers! OK, love you baby bro!

The Dark Side

Surprise! Here I sit in my recliner typing on my new little iPad and my little keyboard.  This offers some exciting possibililities and much easier than doing on my iPhone.  I have been fine and have also been creating. Yes, I gave gone to the Apple Dark Side.  The iPhone sucked me in Oh No.  But I love this iPad.  This is a quick post to see how it would go.  Been missing you all!

Been immersing in my SmashBook which I am finding to be very freeing.  Been extremely busy at the office in anticipation of preparation for meeting the end of June. I finally admited I had to let some things "rest" for a while such as my workouts and tennis.  Yes, I still play tennis but not getting up at 6am on a Saturday moring to go play. I was working out three times a week mostly right after work and called a half to that since there were more times than one that I needed to work a little later.

All in all this has not been a bad thing and three weeks out I feel very calm and good.  Sleep is fantastic LOL.

You all take care and I will be back soon! I know, promises promises!  *wink*