It's a Kitty World

I was going through my vintage patterns and noticed a theme.The majority of my patterns center around the following:  kitties, puppies, pin up girls and food with faces. Hmmm...I bet a Freud would have a field day with that. Anyhoo..whether it include biking, baking, walking in the rain or swinging-these kittens are just too adorable. Enjoy!

Wild Card Wednesday-A Leap of Faith Part Two!

I was overwhelmed by how many of you took leaps of faith by going to school, getting your GED or just putting yourself out there for a new love. Everyone is so inspiring! My friend Melissa has a wonderful story about her leap of faith.


When I went to college, I was a pre-education major. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, though, and romantic and other interests sort of distracted me from school. After my 2nd semester, I quit school with the intention of it being temporary and went to work at a preschool, which was my most likely candidate for an age group.

I loved my work and I was good at it, but I was pretty young (19) and I wasn't really mature enough to detach in a healthy way. I fell in love with my kids, and cried at night over things that happened to them. After about 2 years, I realized I couldn't do it. Not then, anyway. I was too close and wasn't sure I was capable of distance. I was giving away little pieces of myself, and felt tattered.

I had no idea what I was going to do. I put in my 2-weeks notice and cried all night because I wouldn't get to see my kids anymore. And the whole emotional mess destroyed for years any ideas I ever had of being a teacher. That had been the only thing I seriously considered majoring in. Wishy-washying back and forth between biology and theater and a dozen other fascinating subjects wasn't helpful, and teaching was a good way to get a little of everything plus a feeling of having done something worthy, and without that goal, I was floundering.

While I was in high school, I had taken a silversmithing class. The class wasn't a school thing, but was run by an ex-boyfriend's mother. I loved it. So here I was, soon to be jobless, recently robbed, by my own emotional immaturity, of the only goal I'd ever been able to finally light upon. And all I could think of was silversmithing. And also how ridiculous it was to think of that as a career possibility.

But, one afternoon I opened up the phone book. I turned to jewelers in the yellow pages, and I started down the list. "Hello, I'm a semi-trained silversmith and would like an opportunity to learn the trade. Do you do your repairs in house?" Most of the jewelers in Lincoln do NOT work in house. Those that do are owned by their smiths and don't hire much in the way of outside help.

But somehow, I got two interviews, with the request that I bring a portfolio. And then came the man who said, "Oh, are you calling about the ad in the paper?" What? There was an ad in the paper? A month earlier he had run an ad looking for a full-time apprentice. I never saw it, and it hadn't been run for over two weeks. Today, I was calling every jeweler in the phone book, just on the chance that someone might want an apprentice, and there he was.

I went to my interviews. I took a portfolio made of things I created for my family over the years I took the silversmithing class. I took a letter of recommendation from my instructors. He met me at his shop in the morning, looked at my things, told me I was lazy about under-side finishing work but that my things were lovely, especially considering the tools I had to work with. And then he said, "Come back on Saturday afternoon. I won't be here, but Sue will. She'll point you to the silver stock, and give you 2 hours to make something. If I like what you come up with, you're hired."

And that's what happened. I made a pair of textured hoop earrings that Saturday afternoon, and I started work on Monday. I worked as an apprentice goldsmith for just over 2 years, and I was very, very good at what I did. An unfortunate mis-match of personalities led to my eventually quitting that job, but it is the one job I have ever had where I felt my skills were really showcased, and if I had to pick one thing that I was good at and do it the rest of my life, it would be smithing. And all because I opened up a phone book.

What an amazing story. I have a piece of Melissa's jewelry and it is beautiful. One glimpse in the phone book changed everything for her-what a great leap!

Beyond Clouseau

BIRDIE NUM NUMS! If you've heard this saying than you know I am talking about a great actor. If you haven't heard this saying than you are in for a great treat. Peter Sellers was an enigma wrapped in a paradox. He was a genius with his voice, mannerisms and most importantly his acting.

The Party is one of the funniest movies you will ever see. There is hardly any dialogue but Sellers is brillant as a movie extra who gets to go to a Hollywood party (strictly by accident). This is also one of Blake Edwards' greatest movies. There are sexual innuendos and yet no raunchy humor, slapstick and my favorite exchange between Sellers and an intercom -BIRDIE NUM NUMS! It is a classic that shouldn't be missed.

Speaking of a classic-Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb shows Peter's versatility as an actor playing 3 different roles. His  exchange over the phone with the Russian president is hysterical. I am constantly quoting that dialogue and luckily I have a wonderful husband who understands. There are several stories going on here but all centering around an insane commander's attack on Russia. George C. Scott and Slim Pickens are flavorful characters that just help drive the vehicle on  this bizarre ride. 

The last movie really shows Seller's diversity as an actor. Being There is a sad story of a gardener who has never left the estate he has worked on. Once his employer dies, he is thrust unto the real world. By acts of fate, he becomes a celebrity, much to his chagrin. This is one of his last roles and certainly one of his most poignant.

Just as diverse as Peter Sellers was himself, so were movies. He was so much more than Inspector Clouseau. Many times he would go out into public and people did not recognize him. It is very interesting that someone who brought so much laughter and entertainment was filled with so much sadness.I think his quote, "If you ask me to play myself, I will not know what to do. I do not know who or what I am." pretty much sums him up. Check out these amazing movies, you will laugh, cry and be slightly confused-I'm sure he would have wanted it that way.

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Hi all! Today's gonna be a short Scrappy Dog Sunday. I'm taking care of a little hurt boy. Poor little Pete sprained his neck. First off, I had no idea that dogs could sprain their necks and second of all, I really don't appreciate getting laughed out of the doctor's office asking if they making tiny neck braces. So, while I'm treating Pete's neck with kisses, enjoy this super cute video of Lola and Jujube chasing water.

Sweet Saturday

Have I ever told you I have a sweet tooth? Oh, I have? I love sweets so much, that yesterday I was in the grocery store and saw the most decadent dessert on the cover of a national family magazine. So, thinking to myself-"I could so make that!" I bought the magazine and went back for the ingredients. When I got home, OMP looked at me, the magazine and the ingredients and walked away slowly. I made a few changes to the original recipe cause I'm kind of lazy, but I'm sure my version is just as good.

Cheesecake Brownie Bars
Cheesecake
1/4 cup corn starch
1/2 cup sugar
3 packages (8 ounces each) 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a large bowl, whisk cornstarch and sugar until blended.
Add cream cheese and beat until smooth
Beat in eggs, sour cream and milk
Stir in vanilla and set aside

At this time, the recipe tells you how to make brownies from scratch-whatever! I had some in a box down in the pantry and I whipped those babies up. Make up the brownies according to the box - the cake like brownies, not the fudgy ones and  DO NOT BAKE YET!

Heat oven to 350 degrees, line a 13x9x2 baking pan with foil. Coat foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Spoon in brownie mix and then the the cheesecake over that.

Bake for 30 minutes-check to see if center is set, if not, check every 5 minutes. Trust me, you do not want this to turn brown or get a crust on it-that means you burnt it.

Cool on wire rack for 2 hours then transfer to refrigerator for another two hours

I made homemade whip cream by taking heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Whipped it up and spooned it on the cheesecake brownie. Cut up some strawberries and spoon those on, drizzle with chocolate sauce. One thing I think I would do differently is I would make a nice strawberry sauce with confectioner sugar and strawberries and drizzle on.

My conclusion? Don't go baking this one if you've got to be down at the church or school bake sale in an hour. This thing is time consuming but it's worth the wait. See ya later you sweet things!

Feel Good Friday!

Oh my! Am I late with Feel Good Friday! Sorry! I've been out all day running around, taking care of a hurt puppy and having yummy cocktails with friends. Whew! I'm ready for bed! Don't worry my faithful followers, I have a few things up my sleeve before I head into to la la land.

It was beautiful in the rose city today so the shorts were on, the flipflops were flopping and I was looking for a yummy tiki drink to wet my whistle. Well, I found the tiki drink but you can not have a fruity cocktail without a stylin' mug. Munktiki is your place for the most amazing tiki mugs known. A lot of these are collector's items but once you are finished with your drinky drink, you can display and the ladies and gents will think you are the coolest.

I just love this sassy girl. lagidgettet's work looks like it was taken straight from a teen girl magazine. Just too adorable.

I came across Scoutie Girl one day and was instantly in love. I can not believe how amazing this blog is.  The crafts range from sweet to edgy, the writing is so personable that you feel like your best friend is giving you the inside scoop. There is a ton of information on this site so sit back, fix yourself a glass of iced tea and enjoy great inspirations

BABY DUCKS! I would be the one with the 'tude in front. 

Okay, I am going to get off this computer for the night and kick back with OMP and the pups. I think Pete needs more kisses to make him feel  better. 

Don't ask yourself what the world needs;
ask yourself what makes you come alive.
And then go and do that.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
-Harold Whitman

Wild Card Wednesday-A Leap of Faith

 Special thanks to Maeve Holler

Lately I have been struggling with what to write about on Wednesdays so instead of sticking to one thing-I'm going to have a Wild Card Wednesday. Basically, anything I want to write about-I will. The next couple of weeks I will be focusing on Leaps of Faith-both with myself and all the wonderful peeps out there. So....sit back and enjoy the ride. I guarantee your stomach will drop and you will feel a little woozy but you will beg for more.

I'm not sure if many of you know, but I worked for a crisis line for almost 8 years. I have seen and heard just about everything. I saw the worst in people-literally. Recently I decided to leave. I didn't leave because I was burned out. I love helping people but decided that I wanted to do something different in my life. Now, here's where the crazy part comes in. For the first time in my life, I didn't have a solid back up plan. No solid job to go to, not a huge year amount of savings. Just an idea to venture out to a new life and an awesome husband supporting me. It is the first time that I didn't have a plan "B". I know it seems scary and sometimes it is to me but it has also renewed my faith in myself, my family and friends. Because I don't have a lot of extra cash (really, who does these days) it makes me appreciate what I have more and is allowing me to rediscover what and who are important to me. I am taking time to spend with my husband, my dogs and myself. It is a beautiful feeling.

So, when I said I didn't have a plan "B", I wasn't completely honest. I do sorta. Actually, I have lofty ideas. I want to go back to school and get my degree in Spanish/Rural studies. I want to work with family farms and farm workers. What I really want to do is to show the connection between rural and urban communities and how we can work together. I also want to preserve the history of the family farm/rural community.

Am I scared of what's around the corner? You bet, but I'm even more excited! Will I stay this positive and level headed? I hope so. I know there will be rough days and I'm this is a huge thing for me to jump into. Sometimes you just need to take that first leap and see how you land.

Do you have a leap of faith story? Something you just dived into? Let me know! I want you to inspires us.