13's are 1/4th Gone

Yeah, if you avoid 13's because of superstitions, you can rest easy.  This year's 13's are 1/4 behind us as of now.  

 I know a young mother who will not get pregnant this year, because of her doubts about the number13.  My son-in-law is pretty suspiscious of many different things that could give him bad luck.  You may know people like this.  I heard of a person last month that quit their job because of the number 666 cropping up at work.  I run across it all the time.  I would have been out of work long ago because of the number.  

Who knows you can never be too careful or you can always attribute day-to-day experiences to just about anything and call it an omen.  Who makes the rules? 

Bumptious Bathrooms

It felt like we were in a parade as we pranced up and down, in and out of hotels on the Las Vegas strip.  Along the way several potty breaks took us to amazing restrooms.  I was more enamored by them than many other parts of these great behemoth hotels. 

The Bellagio beats 'em all.  Talk about crown mold and can lights.  Mirrors reflecting mirrors.

Notice the plain John door in the photo below.  The men's entrance on the left and the women's is on the right of Cesars Palace.  Talk about a grandiose doorway and first class treatment or snub. 

  The Venetian with Venus.  This vivacious view (below) shows a very welcoming vanity with vigorous colors.

The full-time polishers keeping everything primped and proper at The Mirage.

   Love the gold crossed mirrors at Treasure Island.  Or it could be a different hotel.  I really got them all mixed up.  Perhaps we will see any one of these on the National Bathroom competitions this year or last. 

Digital Delights

February thru March 15th is sure to be full of digital delights because you can purchase any Studio J® layout for only $5—that’s a savings of $1.95 per layout! This is a great opportunity to try Studio J for the first time.
 
  Create adorable baby layouts with the Wishes and Fishes kit (shown), or use the new Express Collections with collections of 10 ready-made layouts plus a front and back cover that are easy to use and professionally designed. Preserve your memories at a low price for a truly digital delight!

Heart Hunting Hound

Do you ever run across a shape that catches your eye in unlikely places?  Quite by surprise I noticed this double heart in our driveway a few evenings ago made from pulling forward and backing into a parking spot.   Yes, it's a little late for 'heart day', but who cares. 

  Our little five year old grandson, Jacob, placed these two hearts on our bed pillows, just before they went home to Washington after their Thanksgiving week visit.

This was so close to a heart in the grass from melted snow, I couldn't resist putting a few plops of snow here and there for it to really shaped up. 

Left over Christmas lights that didn't fit in the storage boxes, holding out for another holiday. 

Sometimes we have to blatantly make the shape of a heart out of items we have on hand from the USPS.

Next hunt is for shamrocks, pots of gold or rainbows.   Be on the look-out.

Plodding on the Piano

I passed!  That is correct I passed my two assigned music pieces at piano lessons yesterday.  It felt so good.  I am still plodding along with the two from the week before.  It is so hard to master those sharps and flats.  Especially if there is two at the same time. 

Elizabeth, my teacher, is really helpful with tips on how to hold my hands, count to the beat and sit up straight.  For one of her Personal Progress value projects, she is giving me lessons.  We both are using this time to improve and add to our PP.  How generous of her to share her talent with me. 

Yes, I'm a late bloomer, but it will be worth it the first time I volunteer to accompany a group of people while singing a familiar hymn.  Try something new this year.  It will open old horizons you thought were done and grow more brain cells, too.

Chantilly Lace & A Pretty Face

These Chantilly paper crafting pages really do have 'a pretty face' from the '70's hit Chantilly Lace by Jerry Lee Lewis.  Using fabric, scoring, sanding and soft pastel colors makes spring feel like it is just around the corner.  Good ole Punxatawney Phil proved that on Saturday, Feb 2nd, when he couldn't see his shadow.  I, along with most of the wintery north states, am ready for spring to come or at least clear skies and warmer weather. 

Drop by on Wednesday, Feb 6th at 7pm to scrap the night away.  With Valentine's Day little more than a week away, make a FREE card for your sweetheart, too.  This definitely will give you 'A wiggle in the walk and a giggle in the talk will make the world go round.'

Potential Piano Player Presses On

For some unknown reason I sat down at the piano on New Year's Day and began playing from a remedial hymn book.  My meager younger year's lessons helped restore what little knowledge I had learned.  Fortunately my fingers found the keys and it sounded so-so.  From that day to this without missing one single day of practise, time has been spent plinking out songs and familiarizing the fingers more to the ivory than the past twenty years has had. 

 It is starting to sound more like music than a toddler's noise or a child's banging and how good it feels. For years I have pondered what to do with a silent piano slowly wandering farther and farther out of tune. If one could practise every day for a year, would they be good enough to perform? In public? Scary? The last time was at twenty something and I forgot the memorized music. Fetching it from the floor I began again, finishing fretfully.

What is it about finding the keys correctly and matching them to the black spots on the paper?  Why do I freeze up.  That doesn't happen when I type.  Is it because of the hours and hours of repitition at such a young age?  No matter.  This 2013 resolution will continue to play until it wears out or I get more comfortable with an old new goal.  Do you know a good piano tuner?