WWDD part 2

I emptied a check book today... on the way to the trash can, WWDD popped into my head again.  What Would Dad Do?  He would find a new reason to KEEP this little piece of cardboard with  a nice gripper edge to it... he would make a nice thick black line across the bottom...

then flip it around to become a place marker for the ridiculous amount of entry work I have to do!  The raised edge where checks were torn out make a good "gripper!"

 

I have 470 forms like this one... each is seven pages long.  One form for each of our churches in the state... I need to compare chairpersons in a variety of roles.  New this year?  Continued from last year?  Changed seats and is doing something else now?  Oh, a new cell phone... and they've changed their email address again?  Hm... winters in Florida... oh - do you really think I can read this handwriting?  sigh... (happy thought: Job Security)

 

My handy-dandy little place marker/empty checkbook tool is going to be just right for the job... Believe me, I've tried various things over the years.... this will work perfectly!  On to the database I go!



Just thinking....

...about gathering tax information
...about putting laundry away
...about emptying the dish washer
...about how dirty my car is
...about my friend Mary recovering from surgery
...about my shopping list for tomorrow
...about the growing stack of data entry on my desk
...about the splattered bathroom mirrors
...about the cat's new passion for canned food (thanks Judy)
...about changing sheets
...about what a good mommy my daughter is
...about Facebook friends
...about the DH's medications
...about two cute little boys
...about two little girls asleep in the next room
...about paying some bills
...about how much I love my iPad
...about being unfaithful to my beloved iPad as I contemplate getting a new one
...about an experimental craft project I started last night (anxious for it to dry)
...about mom and dad and how much I miss them
...about my friend Lynn who lost her DH one year ago
...about balancing my checkbook
...about my son painting his girls' fingernails and toenails with such loving care
...about Jimmy the Groundhog
...about cleaning my purse
...about my "drawing a day" project (on schedule)
...about upcoming doctor appointments
...about needing a haircut
...about Andy going back to work after breaking his leg in November of 2011!
...about how badly my living room needs to be vacuumed
...about clowns
...about homeless and abused animals
...about how dumb Grey's Anatomy is
...about how dumb tv is in general
...about Draw Something
...about three separate email accounts that need checking
...about Florida and Hawaii and great vacation memories
...about the friends I love and have never met (yet)
...about the fantastic nurses we met last month in the ICU
...about writing thank you notes
...about juicy-red, tender steak
...about the holes in my socks
...about how random my thoughts are....

W.W.D.D.*

My dad was some sort of genius. He had a brain that never stopped thinking... and he never stopped inventing and was probably the first "re-purposer" on the planet. It got more pronounced as the years went by.

Really, who would take an empty cardboard brat box and reuse it?

Who would wrap an old piece of paper carefully around the pendulum of a clock so that it could slide up and down to adjust the swing - causing the clock to slow down or speed up to get the exact precise time? I have that clock now - and continue to slide that little sleeve of paper to get it "just right..." :)

Dad saved empty boxes... well most people do, but an empty Preparation H box? Empty toothpaste boxes? Really? He would find something to fit inside and wrap it up as a Christmas gift... the perfect "fool" of a gift! I thought of him as I tucked "Ugly Dolls" into a Pretzel Hot Dog box from Costco to give to the girls for Christmas... yes! They thought they were getting a box of Pretzel Hot Dogs... (They are still young enough to fool in the old Great-grandpa tradition).

As I delivered mail around the office today, I spotted a bowl filled with foil wrapped chocolate hearts. I took one and popped it into my mouth, and then examined the foil for the "fortune" often found inside Dove chocolates. Disappointment... Not Dove. No Message!

As I crumpled up the foil and stuck it in my pocket --- dad's voice popped in my head.

"Don't throw that out! Save it! You never know when it might come in handy!"

*What Would Dad Do?

Hm.... dad would fashion this into a new nose for Rudolph... a segment for a miniature stained glass window... an embellishment on a Birthday card... an identifying new lid on a medicine bottle... gift wrap for nickels... to cover the lid of a ketchup bottle...

Who knows! I tucked it in my pocket and in time - I will find the perfect way to reuse it - just to honor my dad...

I love how my parents pop into my head, my life... I sure do miss them!

Moms....

There is nothing like the love between a mom and her new baby....

Except the love a mom of grown-up babies! My heart just grows and grows... Love you Ben and Lori.... And thank you for the new loves in my life! I am so blessed!

2013 Goal: A.D.A.D.

A Drawing A Day! An intentional time to draw each day with the goal of trying new tools and techniques in my favorite app, Art Studio. I am excited and confident I can meet or exceed this goal!

Ho Ho Holy Chocolate!

My goodness! The biggest chocolate Santa on earth arrived under our tree for Christmas this year! We stared at him for two good long weeks, and then came up with a plan...

we chopped him up and brought out the good old double-boiler...

Then we raided the pantry for fun stuff to dip and coat. The choice options were strawberries and marshmallows.

So where was my camera when I needed it most? The Grandma in me sent this one off to wash up before I had chocolate covered furniture, carpet, walls... This is the 2nd best way to share the outcome of our project!

Fire Crackers!

Yum! And EASY!
I found this recipe on Pinterest this fall. Just in time for a non-sweet holiday snack! I was a little bold with the first batch, adding a very healthy 3 Tablespoons of the crushed red pepper.... I cut back on the next batches!

Enjoy!

--------------
1 box mini Saltines
1 box mini Club crackers
1 box Cheese-It's

Mix together

Blend 1-1.5 cups Canola Oil
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing
2-3 T crushed red pepper

Pour oil mixture over crackers, stir several times in the next hour or two.

Store in an air-tight container. No need to refrigerate.

Styles evolve...

I have set this image as my wallpaper... It is seasonal, but will last for the next few months! I tried new tools, avoiding my normal "coloring book" style... Love the way this one turned out!

Ok, enough of my rambling on about my artwork... On to share the great things that happen to me, that inspire and amuse me...

:-)

 

 

Discovering Little Secrets...

I think I found a way to set my images to appear smaller, so this is a test!

This drawing was inspired by one I've done in DrawSomething... The word is "whisper." have you played DrawSomething? The tools and palette are limited. Very limited. I have found that it has encouraged me to draw quickly and freely.... My style continues to evolve! The tools and layers and features in Art Studio allow me to grow... Watch my blog to see!

Yippee!

I found the "Blogger" app for my iPad.... Maybe, just maybe I will keep up with this blog better in 2013! It's a goal!

I have also challenged myself to draw everyday... Like that's hard to do! Lol! I will be more intentional about it. I discover new things the the app all the time. Seriously, I feel like I should send the developer money. This app is worth so much more than the $9,99 I paid! Art Studio... Love love love it!

Now let's see if the Blogger app is worth the price... "free" is free...