Banshee Reeks, The Little Orange Man and the Sharing of a Nut...

Last weekend The Bear, Beanie and myself all went for a stroll at one of our favorite haunts, Banshee Reeks State Park. It's a lovely old farm that we enjoy roaming around on it's many trails. There was plenty of color to soak in and my camera was out almost the entire time as fall produces my favorite colors, orange and lime green!

Here we are as we paused from strolling down the path to document our visit! Aw, what a cute couple you say? I agree!

As I was walking these leaves caught my eye. They not only are huge but seemed to be cuddling next to one another for saftey. Nature is a hard place to made a home.

A leaf the size of your head you say? No, it can't be, you must exaggerating! Well, I happen to have proof right here!

As we were hoping down the bunny trail something bright orange caught my peepers. Why it's a little man with a walking stick. I wonder if he's lost, or if he thinks I may be lost. I paused to ask him directions but he just stood there frozen as if frightened. So I just quietly backaway and proceeded to hop in the direction I had been hopping. Poor fella, hope he found his way home.

The Bear is always pausing to show me new and interesting things in the woods. He's great at tree identification and what kind of nuts are on the ground to eat. I will be the first to pick him for my team if ever anyone tells me that I will soon be stranded in the woods and I can only take one person with me. Well baby, The Bear is that person. I know with his MacGyver skills we will make it through anything. Here he is after finding some walnuts along the path. He kelt down and with a large rock bashed open the nuts and of course like the gentleman he is graciously offered me the first one. It was so delicious. You truely can't buy that in a grocery store.

You may notice a little black and white head at the bottom of the picture there. Well Beanie never misses a chance to learn a new skill and The Bear never misses and oportunity to educate the next generation! If we were to get stranded in the woods, believe me, Beanie would have to learn to pull her weight somehow!

A Homework Assignment that ended in Tears!

Okay, most of you are now realizing that I am indeed a slow reader. I mean a snail could probably circle the earth before I finished this book but the good news is that I did indeed finish it. The Bear is always teasing me because normally when it comes to books I have ADD and never seem to finish them. In most cases it's not that I wasn't enjoying the book or that it wasn't well written, it's simply that my brain is able to move on to something else and never feel guilt or remorse for having abandoned the characters. Maybe I need therapy to better learn how to treat my literary relationships. I love them and leave them so easily. Don't judge me! Really I'm a good person! After recently joining a local book club I have been determined to finish what ever book I start. I am proud to report that last evening I finished Owen Meany! Yay! Now I feel the need to give an honest report of this book. I have encountered many people who give either John Irving in general or this book in particular a glowing review. Therefore I really had high hopes and dove right in. I am here to report simply that reading this book felt a little like a homework assignment. I was compelled to read on to see what happend but I never found myself getting though a daily chore quicker so that I could return to it as I did with "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn". However, that said, when the end finally came I found myself in tears, reaching for a tissue and thinking that all 548 pages just may have been worth it after all.

With the well creased book in my lap, the last page turned and tears in my eyes, I sat there wondering just how long the mourning period is for a book. Do I have to wait a day before moving on to the next book or do i just jump right in? I think I may have to write Dear Abby on this one.

Stupid Stabbing, An ER Visit and the Hot Dog that caused it all...

Some of you may have heard about my unfortunate Stupid Stabbing Incident last thursday. Yep I was home alone and began my day as usual, feeding the dog and giving her allergy meds in pieces of Hot Dog. Well I ended up Violently Stabbing myself in the left hand with the knife while trying to open the package. It was one of those violent stabbings where the knife didn't stop till it hit bone! Yeah there was lots of blood. Now when it's someone else's blood I am totally cool and can take charge of the situation. But in the case of my own blood I imediately get dizzy and pass out. Not good when you are home alone. Luckily I was able to get to the sink and rinse it out while kneeling on the floor. I called my mother and she talked me through getting it bandaged and she stayed on the line while I drove myself to the ER. Now you may be saying to yourself, not really a good idea at this point to talk on the cell and drive but hey, you weren't there. A girl needs her mommy in times like these! She wanted to make sure I didn't pass out while on the way. Here is proof of just how very pathetic I can be! I just had to snap a pic of myself as proof to all my loved ones of my sad incident. Thankfully the ER was very empty. I barely got this pic taken before my name was called. They probably thought I was a loony. I guess that's why they asked me "Are you a danger to yourself? Is your home environment safe for you?" Well it is when I'm not busy stabbing myself. I don't think she thought that was very funny!

I sat alone on the bed waiting to be seen. I did have the fore thought to bring a book along with me. I never leave home without one. For those of you who are paying attention, yes it's been almost a month now and I'm not finished with John Irving. but hey, cut me some slack it is almost 600 pages! Here is a very bad pic of the hole I made. I reported that my pain was a Solid 7 on the pain scale! GIVE ME PAIN MEDS! I'm such a wuss.Here is a picture of the knife, the hotdog and my ER bracelet along with my antibiotics so I don't get an infection! Luckily I stabbed myself with a CLEAN knife BEFORE it had Hot dog on it! Atleast I have that to be thankful for.Here is my hand as it looks today. I took the bandage off and just need a bandaid I think. The scar will be almost invisible and I think I'll heal quite nicely. Just no door knobs or opening jars for a while.

Don't you just feel sorry for me? I thought so. In lou of donations to any charities on my behalf we are excepting card of sympathy!

Thank you to all of you out there who have called to check on my over the last few days. My recovery wouldn't have nearly as complete without all of you!

The "PURCHASE NOW" button has been pushed! It's official, I'm goin to Ireland!

Well last weekend while out walking Weiner the Wonder Dog I picked up the Sunday paper which I almost never do. While fliping through the pages of the travel section this is what I found. It might as well have read "Rachel, here's you ticket"! I couldn't belive it. I just couldn't pass this up. I looked over at The Bear and declared "I'm goin to Ireland"! He just smiled and said "Happy Birthday babe". How cool is that?
Here are the two Fabulous people I will be traveling to see in Feb. My best gal pal E who 3 1/2yrs ago left me here all alone in the states for the Fabulous D! These two are wonderfully remarkeable people who I just can't wait to travel 7hrs by plane to see! Woo Hoo, Kiltimaugh here I come.
Also while there here is the Mac Daddy Mini I'll get to ride in. I can't wait to sit in the passenger seat on the Wrong Side of the car! Yippie!
Also I hope to get to ride on the back of E's hog. She says she's asking for the seat for christmas so fingers crossed that I get the privilage of riding in the B&*ch seat! E, I can't wait to have the wind in my hair while seeing the sights around town!
You just can't go wrong with this kind of Birthday present, can you?

Day at the Beach!

For those of you unfamiliar with Weiner the Wonder Dog...here she is at her FIRST EVER beach visit. Saturday Brian had an all day class on Maryland Boundary Law (yeah I know but he LOVES that stuff) in Ocean City. So, of course Weiner and I decided to tag along and spend the day relaxing and enjoying the sights. She had a wonderful time smelling all of the new and exciting smells and trying to figure out just how to run up a sand dune. I'm not sure she ever really figured out why the ground moved beneath her feet as she tried to climb. Really funny watching her figure that out!
She wanted to know if we could stay there forever. I think she gets that from her father, he LOVES the water and salty ocean air.
Since we spend most of our time indoors and in a basement apartment to boot we don't get much sun. So to make sure that we didn't get sunburnt even on this beautiful October day Weiner and I spent our time under an umbrella. The weather could not have been more perfect. Clear blue skies, 70's in the sun, breezy and cool in our man made shade. Oh how relaxing.
These are some of the treasures that we came across during the afternoon.
Nothing sums up our day more than this picture. It was so nice to just sit relax and kick off the shoes and dig our toes into the cool sand. Nope, it wasn't warm enough even to get the sand warm. All in all you couldn't ask for anything more and I think even Weiner the Wonder Dog would agree. Well I guess she did ask to move there. Maybe someday Weiner my babe.

World's Greatest Birthday Card from my Biggest Fan!

Yesterday I recieved in the mail the single greatest birthday card I could ever have hoped for. Back in my hometown of North Canton Ohio, there is a very special little girl that I just adore. I send her little letters and postcards in the mail and the occasional t-shirt that I've painted on. Well she made this oh so special card just for me. I was informed by her most wonderful mom that Kayleigh picked out the construction paper color herself and all the crayon colors as well. It was quite the serious art project that I as a fellow artist can totally appreciate.
I will forever cherish this handmade card as long as I live. It just goes to show you that making something yourself for someone you love is well worth the time. This treasure literally brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much Kayleigh. You will forever have a special place in my heart! Hugs!

Better One...or Two? How about now?

Yesterday I had my first ever eye exam. I have never needed glasses and prided myself on being The Bear's long range eyes. For example when we are driving down the road he'll see a sign for something of interest and quickly turn to me and ask "What did that say?" Well most of the time I'll have caught a glimps of it and distractively (is that a word?) replay what the sign stated while looking out the opposite window at what ever else caught my eye at the time. Ok, I'm rambling here. Anyways, over the last year I had noticed that I was holding things a tich farther away to read them. Example: why in the world do they make the labels on pain reliever bottles so that only microscopic amoebae can read them? Well, to make an already long story slightly shorter, I got a very thorough eye exam including dilating my eyes so that I looked like a HUGE pot smoker. Making The Bear breakout into belly laughs whenever I looked over at him. Well after the exam I ended up with RX reading glasses. I hadn't really realized just how fuzzy the words had gotten over the years. WOW! It's like a miracle! I could read for over a hour today without a headache or neck strain! Aren't these the cutest glasses ever? One of my two favorite colors is Lime Green! Yay! The other color as you no doubt are asking, is Orange.
Now I can finish A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY with ease!
Here's a look at me The Bean with my new glasses. I think they look pretty snazy! What do you think? Is it just me or did my IQ just go up?

Slimy Slugs and Slug Slime

The other night while letting The Wee go out for a potty break I discovered this little or not so little guy/gal. I had to go grab my camera to capture this amazing creature! Also I knew no one would belive it's size so I grabbed this match box to show you perspective! Neat huh? I'm sure that my flashlight and the flash from my camera must have totally confused him/her into thinking that the world was coming to and end. Imagine some giant thing standing over you and throwing your world into blinding light!
I followed it along it's slow but steady escape out into the yard. What an amazing creature. It still amazes us, all the creatures that we encounter here in the city from our little apartment porch.
What little creatures have you encountered in your neck of the woods?

Moleskine's Day Out!

While at back home in Ohio for a my visit, the wonderful Moleskiner's took a day to have a creative adventure! The day started out at a wonderful coffee shop in Canton Ohio called Muggswigz! Some time ago my friend Barb gave me some fresh roasted coffee from here and I have been craving it ever since. I just had to go there and get some more to bring back with me. Here is a picture of my oh so yummy spiced latte. Oh the creamy goodness! Here is a picture that Barb took of my mother and I enjoying our drinks. I with my latte and my mum with her Jasmine tea which she let me taste and oh how delicious it was. You must go check out Muggswigz.
Here is the wonderful Barb taking time over our coffee and muffins to actually pull out her Moleskine and sketch the tea pot. It seems to me that for some reason Barb is the only one to pull out her Moleskine and do any sketching that day. Hmmm, note to self, be more like Barb!In the bathroom at Muggswigz I made an awsome discovery! For all of you fellow art/color/coffee lovers out there isn't this thing just the greatest? Where can I get one? It's a color wheel of taste. How cool does that sound?

After Muggswigz we went down to New Philly and wandered around the largest Antique mall I have ever been to. I just LOVE this place! I now totally regret not getting this dress. I LOVED it and never should have passed it up. Oh well, maybe next time. Okay, here's the back story...I had been told about this plastic inflateable stool with the tackiest flowers inside. Well what do you know, it was still there when we went! It's the greatest tackiest thing I have ever seen. I just LOVED it. No one however remembered it being so expensive, the tag currently reads $75. I was so upset. I would have loved to have bought it just for the story alone and made all my friends share it. It could have spent the rest of it's life traveling from house to house, making fun stories all along the way. Thank you Barb for ever so carefully sitting on it to give the world perspective on the greatest little stool alive!
Here is a close-up of the wonderful stool. I just think it's ever so adorable. If anyone wants to go in together to get this for me as a house warming gift I will squeal with glee!
After hours and hours of wandering around the antique mall we of course had worked up an appetite. So we wandered into a little cafe for some nourishment. This was the cutest little place. The photo above their heads is of a man who looks like Einstein surrounded by pigeons! It was totally out of place since ALL the other pictures that were hanging were posters. We took it as some sort of sign that we sat under it as Bruce (in the picture below) raises pigeons! Does anyone notice that yet again, Barb is the only one sketching? Boy she makes us look like slackers! Keep up the good work Barb!
After filling our tummies we had more energy and wandered over to a used book store which we never seem to keep out of. This place was so neat inside. I just love little places with tons of character don't you?Here's the group again! They always find the nature section and fight for position to find the best books. But it's all in fun because they always end up sharing what they find anyways! Part of the bookstore used to be an icecream parlor. I can not express just how much I loved the colors in this room. Do you think The Bear will let me paint our house like this? Fingers crossed!Here's the children's section. Oh what a feast for the eyes eh?
And here we are full circle back to coffee again. Don't you just love a great day with great friends? Nothing can be better than that.

Her First Photo Shoot!

The day after her party I took my mother to buy her the camera that she had been waiting so long for. After purchasing it and waiting what seemed like an eternity for the battery to charge myself and Bob took her to her beloved park Quail Hollow for her first photo shoot before the last rays of light disapeared. Here is her first picture she took. That is Bob up ahead walking Casper the wonder dog and myself with my own camera ready to capture the moment.
I'm sure that everyone heard all the OOO's and Ahhh's as she wandered around the Herb Garden capturing everything in sight with the satisfaction that can only come from instant gradification of a high end digital camera. Finally I no longer have to watch her use film!

Here she is running off the trail into a dry stream bed to capture some Cardinal Flowers.
Here are some more of her first ever digital pics!


As the light began to fail, I took her camera and snapped this shot of her walking off into the sunset at the end of probably the best day in a long time. Congrats Mom. I hope you enjoy the new universe you've found yourself in. Enjoy every single pixel.

Surprise!! It's a Party!!!!!!

To celebrate the my mother's Graduation and upcoming 50th Birthday we decided to throw her a surprise party. Everyone came together beautifully to make the occasion oh so very special. In lou of a cake I chose to hire the wonderfully fabulously talented Sabrina to provide cupcakes! PLEASE go to her website Sabrina Cupcakes and if you are anywhere in her delivery area you MUST get some for yourself. They are soooo mouth watering! ! And here she is. After 2 months of careful planning the moment finally arrived! Surprise! Doesn't she just look like the happiest woman alive?
It took her a few minutes to catch her breath and take it all in. Everyone had the most wonderful time coming together for this occasion. Who doesn't like planning a secret party?
Instead of everyone giving her individual gifts everyone donated towards the purchase of a Nikon D80 SLR camera. My mother's long time dream gift that she thought was still atleast a year away from being purchased. Trust me, there were tears, hugs and more tears and hugs. This is a picture of me presenting her with the names of all who made the camera possible and the check she would use the very next day to purchase it!
THANK YOU EVERYONE who came together and helped make this party and gift possible. I could never have done all of the work myself. It was a great party, one that won't easily be forgotten. You all are so very precious to me. I thank each and every one of you.