MondayUPs

Monday's can be rough... But I'm here to help.

In celebration of my 15th year selling my handmade stuff... 
I am going to be featuring things I've seen on blogs, on the internet, in books

...wherever inspiration strikes! On making new items from old goods..

hence, MondayUPs (upcycling)...

***

These past few days; I've been researching telephone plans 

so that we can get a phone for our house.

In Albuquerque, we had 2 SPRINT smartphones...

but we are no longer in "SPRINT country"

---sol even though the early termination fees are rediculous... 

we need to go with a company that serves the area better. 

We have decided to get a single "landline" phone for our house...

as it is both affordable; and allows us to "downsize" a bit.

Anyway. So I've been thinking alot about phones.

Years ago, my favorite uncle worked for the Bell of PA... 

and one of the things I liked about going to  his house was to see some
 of the (now vintage) style phones he had around the house.

And I got to thinking about recycling/upcycling old phones,

phone wire, and phone books...

so that is the theme for today's post.

Here are some things made with old phone books:

Here are some things made with telephone wire:

and here are some awesome things they did over in England with 

some old phone booths!

 (a free library, a cool pub couch, and an aquarium)

______

And here are some links that offer info on recycling your 

"no longer used" phones:

from AT&T

from Apple

from Vintage Tech (a recycler)

for the weekend

well... it's the weekend already. .. .and I am grateful.

Let me preface this post by saying; that my laptop has died (as of last night)... and taken all my info with it. 

What I usually do... is keep a running bookmark list of cool things I see on the internet during the week....
and come time for the weekend post; I have lots of ammunition--- so to speak.
Well... that is gone.
And so I am winging it. 

I am also winging the photos.
I am working with cell phone pics... random shots taken over the course of the past couple weeks.
And so... they are not "the best" either. But alas. It is what it is.

The photo above; I took 2 weeks ago while briefly stopped at the red light (we have 2 in town). 

Fall at it's finest in small town America... and today (as below) it is snowing.

It's also the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Who... and frankly, that makes it something of a major holiday around here. Even Google.com has a cool (very cool) graphic and game you can play. Then there is Wiki, BBC, and this...  all cool sites. Needless to say, we are having a TV marathon. Yes, TV. We got it installed this week... after being without for 3 months. And to give you an idea of our "tv watching" ... the first 3 shows we watched were Dr. Who, Project Runway, and CSI. 

This am, we had a visit from one of my cousins... who is something of a financial /insurance dude... and while there were moments of talk about economic apocalypse... wall street doom and gloom.... and a recurrence of 1929 and the aftermath thereof... it was a good visit. And while I have long likened our current state of affairs to that of the dustbowl times... it is still shocking to really let sink in.

I was reading earlier this week about Dorothea Lange... and loved this article about her most famous photograph, and wanted to share it with you.

And speaking of  "a chicken in every pot" times..... today I made garlic roasted chicken in my new small tabletop convection oven. I had one when we were first married... and used it 'til it died... and was never able to find another... until a week ago. I am a happy girl.

Also this week... we managed to settle some of our financial affairs.. paying off everything... save the "new" house... and one credit card. And while that one card still has a significant amount of debt still on it... it is good to have just the one open account. It is strange how things can change in a minute. And while we were fortunate to have some warning... I couldn't have imagined that we would go from "comfortable" middle class (with a ton of debt---which was the kicker) ... living in a big city... would end up... without jobs... without savings... without alot of things... and in the backwoods of PA. Not a bad change; mind you.... but a big one.

And I am happy to be here. I am very happy with our house. And while it needs lots of TLC... it definitely feels like home already. We see lots of birds, the occasional deer, and just last night... our local bear (he's fairly young) came and decimated my bird feeder. I'm not upset at him... just surprised he came so close to the house.
But then... it was empty for over a year... so I think nature is still getting used to us being here.

~~~~~

And so I am settling in. Trying to get ready (at least mentally) for the holidays.

I had a big scare this week when a close friend fell... it could have been so very bad...
and I am grateful for so many good friends here... family... and how precious dear ones can be.
How we need to tell them.
How we need to appreciate them.
How we need to cherish them.
And not just at holiday time... but all year long.

...and I am grateful for you all too.
Best wishes... and see you all on Monday.

Friday Finds

I read... alot.

I love the written word.

I have decided to feature some of the blogs I read on friday's... hence the title... Friday's Finds.

I have about 250 blogs currently on my reading list... and I'm going to be sharing those links over the course of this year... on Friday's.
(plus any more I come across).

If you have a blog.... or have a favorite blog that you want me to feature...
just shoot me an email (moongipsies@msn.com).

***

Thanksgiving is fast approaching...
and I am so thankful for SO very many things.
One thing I am thankful for though...
is for all the cool blogs I get to look at
each and every week.

And so... without further ado...
here are some more links from my bookmark list:

Pixie Campbell
Queen of Arts
Riihivilla
Sara Belham
Sew and Sow Life
SF Girl
Shorpy
SmogRanch
Kim Unscripted
Squam

and
Speak Without my Voice 
(yes, I know this blog is dead... but I still love the photos)

.

his cheeks over-filled
with oiled black sunflower seed
--enough for supper

.

dusted in the night
on each and every loose leaf
like frosting on cakes

.

sunsets in puddles
takes away life's sadness
and then makes it sing

.

((I missed posting this weekend... and I'm sorry.

I've no excuse... except that I was busy, and yesterday I was sick.

Instead of my usual Monday post on recycling... I will do a catch-up post))

~~~~~

“Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.” ― Doris Lessing

I love the quote above. I saw it the other day, and intended to use it for a post... and then today; I saw that the author had passed... and it seemed even more appropriate.

I've re-opened up the Etsy shop... and am in the process of re-listing everything that once was in there... back in there. I was fortunate to be invited to a meeting yesterday of local entrepreneurs, and it was both enlightening and encouraging. I feel blessed to be living among such talented people.

BAJ has been here for a couple weeks now; and we are getting settled into something of a routine. The daughter is enjoying her job, and I need to get to work on the list of things to do so that I can get my RN license reinstated. But alas. Things are moving along.

We've given up on the thought of painting all of the interior walls... and instead are concentrating on the cleaning of it all... and the putting away of "stuff". We can decorate a bit at a time. And while that in itself in frustrating... it will be OK.

And so... while I've been on the internet this week.... I've gathered some interesting little tidbits to share with you all.

-I like this one: 14 tidbits to stir in your coffee while the sloth visits (the title alone is awesome).

-This post on an awesome creative idea

-OMG... such cuteness.

-Two things I would love to cook someday... HERE ... and HERE

-Just coming from the great southwest USA... this was really interesting... as is this.

-this was sorta funny... and yet... sad.

-This was a really good article... especially in light of the disaster in Asia.

-Something to ponder...

-Some really awesome art... HERE and HERE

-and then there was this article... forwarded from a friend.

~~~~~

I hope you had a wonderful weekend... especially with that gorgeous FULL MOON out there.
(as shown in the photo for today's post)

Friday Finds

I read... alot.

I love the written word.

I have decided to feature some of the blogs I read on friday's... hence the title... Friday's Finds.

I have about 250 blogs currently on my reading list... and I'm going to be sharing those links over the course of this year... on Friday's.
(plus any more I come across).

If you have a blog.... or have a favorite blog that you want me to feature...
just shoot me an email (moongipsies@msn.com).

***

Winter is definitely on it's way.
And this week has gone by waaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast.
Here are some more links off of my bookmarks
to help slow things down a bit.
So ... sit down... put up your feet
and have a nice read...


Lara Cameron
Lynn Hoppe
Andrew Samolinov
Matrilumina
Maya Honey
Love, Meri
Oh Happy Day
Paradoxical Gypsy
Paul Murray
Pia Jane Bijkerk

.

I was prompted in a Facebook post to make 13 comments about myself... and to try to include things that people may not know. It seemed like a cool exercise... and so I did it. And... I thought I would include it here on my blog as well.

This is what happens when you find yourself liking another friend's status… 
13 things about me that you may not know:


1. I believe in love. I married my best friend, and we have had a wonderful time… with much more to come.
2. I believe in taking life by the horns. I went to Germany as an exchange student when I was 17... not knowing the language... or anyone there.
3. I believe in the impossible. I've been shot at, held at knife-point, chased by a crazy person with a sword, been on a plane with a live bomb, in a restaurant with a bomb, in a near fatal car wreck (broke my neck), and have had cancer several times.
4. I believe that you can’t always trust what you are told. I was told I would never have children… and yet I have two wonderful kids.
5. I believe we are all given fabulous opportunities… if we are willing to see them. I was fortunate to help run a gallery for a couple of years… and it taught me some wonderful lessons.
6. I believe that the best things in life… are sometimes the simplest “things”... which was an impetus for us to move back to PA and live in Allegheny Mountains.
7. I believe in life after death… and hope to see many people I truly care about… when I pass.
8. But I believe in life FIRST. As in … live this life to the fullest you are able! To this end, I try to make art each and every day.
9. I believe in nature. I feel closest to the powers that be when I am in the woods… or working in my garden…. Or near the water… just out in nature.
10. I believe in people. I think most of us are pretty decent human beings… if given the chance.
11. I believe animals are truly angels on earth… trying to teach us about real love… patience… perseverance... trust… and what it means to be human.
12. I believe in the future. I think we can…. And will … do amazing things as a species if we can get past our own selfishness.
13. I believe in good coffee, fresh flowers, and lots of books. OH~ and Art. Lots of art and music.

.

winter is coming

painting frost on the trees, and

snow on the pumpkins

frosting on the panes
mirror to my frozen heart
re-kindled once more

MondayUPs

Usually on Mondays... I do a series called MondayUPs
where I feature items made from recycled, re-purposed, and up-cycled goods.
ie: cool "new" stuff made from "old" stuff.

Anyway.
It is Armistice Day.
And while I could do a post on crafts and such...
I thought it was much more important to do one on this day of remembrance.
And so...

...because I couldn't say things anywhere near as well as what has already been written;
I am going to put a list of some awesome links instead.

Wikipedia: All about Armistice Day
Veterans Day: from the History Channel
History of Veterans Day (from the US Dept of Veterans Affairs)
News from the UK (today's news)
Fabulous photos from the Huffington Post

for the weekend

It is such a relief to have dear BAJ here now (*he arrived late Monday evening).
The house is still a mess... there is still a TON of things to do...
and it's ok.

And... despite having a migraine for the last couple of days...
and missing a local art show that I was scheduled to vend at...
it's all good.

So ... here are some links to ponder over this weekend:

Here is some good news! for a change
This is a neat site that was passed on to me from a friend.
I thought this was cool...

I loved this article. I'd seen it long before... but it still warms me.
Earlier this week; I came across a link for THIS GUY.... and I hope to get one of his books or CDs sometime.
I was listening to this while cleaning my basement the other night :)
And then BAJ pointed this out to me... awesome!

We are coming up on the season of giving.
Be sure of who you are donating to! Look here.
And along with the holidays... can come anxiety and depression... so look here.
And I thought this was kinda funny ...

so enjoy... and I will see you all on Monday.

Friday Finds

I read... alot.

I love the written word.

I have decided to feature some of the blogs I read on friday's... hence the title... Friday's Finds.

I have about 250 blogs currently on my reading list... and I'm going to be sharing those links over the course of this year... on Friday's.
(plus any more I come across).

If you have a blog.... or have a favorite blog that you want me to feature...
just shoot me an email (moongipsies@msn.com).

***

It's been a full week here...
and I am loving reviewing some of the blogs I have saved in my favorites.
Here are some more I have on bookmark:


Fanciful Devices
Gerdiary
Golly Bard
Goth Cupcake
Hooptacular
Horseflesh Productions
Izabella's Blue
Heather Smith Jones
Kagit
Kim Unscripted

.

I thought I knew myself well.
I thought I left all my troubles
neatly in piles
in the dark corners
the recesses of my mind
not disturbing anyone
not in the way
neglected
forgotten
dusty with age
cobwebs intact...
yet staring out this window
as life goes blurring by...
I realize that
silence sometime deafens
eyes cannot always see
worries... left at the door... don't always stay still.

.

ever so quickly
these final fall days will cease...
but for now... the sun.

.

autumn's sweetest kiss
tinges the edges of these
sweet crimson berries

MondayUPs

Monday's can be rough... But I'm here to help.

In celebration of my 15th year selling my handmade stuff... 
I am going to be featuring things I've seen on blogs, on the internet, in books

...wherever inspiration strikes! On making new items from old goods..

hence, MondayUPs (upcycling)...

***

It's deer hunting season here in PA.
I grew up with a family of hunters;
and while I no longer participate, I spent many a time in the past
walking in the woods with my father, rifle in hand.
I remember dragging animals home... dressing them out myself...
always mindful of the concept of not hunting unless you could actually eat and fully use what you got... 
not wasting anything... 
and being respectful of the land--- and the animals that live there.
Now... I just love to "shoot" with my camera.

But in PA, and so many states... 
hunting is a major source of income for lots of stores,
restaurants, bars, hotels... and so much more.
As well as supplying income to better care for the animals in protected areas
... and preserving space for them to grow and prosper.

But hey... it's MondayUPs.
And so I thought I would feature crafts and items of art
that employ the use of deer antlers.
Here are some cool things I found on the internet:

for the weekend

“and the leaves were telling secrets to the wind.” 

― Peter Mulvey

I am tired.
But it's been an interesting week... full of good times, crazy times, frustrating times,
times of reflection, times of rest, and so on it goes...

I feel overwhelmed by the in-between-ness.
Not really fall... not quite winter.
Not yet working ... and yet, busy all the time.
Not totally "moved-in"... not unpacked... in limbo.

And then... BAJ should be here in a few days... and I'm sure things will begin to feel a bit more settled.
Until then---

Here is some good news for a change
Here is a cool story... HERE
---just something FUN

This is an awesome site on the book arts
Cool stuff you may not know :)
THIS! completely made my day. So fabulous.

Music I am listening to today...
This is what I am thinking about for spring

This is a movie I watched the other night... so fascinating...
and then, of course--- I had to look up THESE on Amazon.

...and I will leave you with this SCRUMPTIOUS little bit...

Hope you all have a great weekend.

friday finds

I read... alot.

I love the written word.

I have decided to feature some of the blogs I read on friday's... hence the title... Friday's Finds.

I have about 250 blogs currently on my reading list... and I'm going to be sharing those links over the course of this year... on Friday's.
(plus any more I come across).

If you have a blog.... or have a favorite blog that you want me to feature...
just shoot me an email (moongipsies@msn.com).

***

Like the photos above... that show the comings... and goings of Mill Creek here in town...
sometimes I get so busy that I don't know if I'm coming or going.
It's a choice I suppose...
one that I was reminded of by a dear friend today.
The lesson being... you are (ultimately) in control of what happens to you during the course
of your day... in the sense of ... taking responsibility for what you allow IN...
and what you choose to allow others to foist upon you...
as well as how you respond to it all.
And I know this... but ... it never hurts to be reminded.
Especially when I --oh so-- need to be reminded.

Nothing to do with today's blog links...
just some thoughts rattling round in my head.

The first several blog links here below are mostly all art related; and
the last 3 are more like resource sites ...
I hope you like them.

Accidental Mysteries
Adventures of the Striped Stockings
Artsy Forager
BlaBlog
Circles of Rain
Collage pdx
Muddy Foot

YaY Retro
Colossal