Freaky Friday



It's Friday!!  What's Freaky?

 

 

 

This!!  Zulily is calling today (July 31st) July-O-Ween and it is almost too much for me!!

Halloween in July??  YESSSS!!!  When I woke up this morning, I had no idea I would be able to celebrate Halloween today.  What a pleasant surprise for me!

 

All the Zulily Halloween deals are about too much for me, though.  I really can't shop today, but I want absolutely everything!!  I guess I'll just have to dream.

 

Zulily July O'Ween  Click on this link, sign up or sign in, and find the "Host a Monster Mash" deals of the day. There are also some great Halloween costume deals, too.  With our first ever Silent Supper coming up this year, I want to get all sorts of great Halloween hosting items for the event!

 

The other deals that looks great are under "Whimsically Witchy Décor".  Such cute décor items!  Here are a few of my personal faves.  I'm not actually buying any of them today, but it sure is fun to look at them and dream of Halloween.  Happy freaky dreaming, everyone!

 

 



Witchy Wednesday

Hey there!  It's Wednesday!  Are you wearing black?












Occasionally I like to look at what zulily.com has on sale.
If you have never checked out zulily, you should.  You can get some really great deals there.  Essentially you subscribe to their service and every day they send you an e mail with their daily deals.  The deals are available for a few days.  I ordered this fabulous skull tee-shirt from their site.  It arrived yesterday and I love it!!  It actually came from a company called kidteez.com.  While they have a lot of tee-shirts for kids, just like the name would imply, they have a lot of other products as well. This tee-shirt is an adult medium.  Fits great!








Speaking of sales and cute tee-shirts, Hot Topic is having a great sale on their "Skelanimals" line.  Check it out here:
http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/PopCulture/ShopByPopCulture/License/Skelanimals.jsp?cm_sp=Homepage-_-Hero-_-SkelanimalsGWP

I love this cute unicorn tee-shirt.  I think I especially like the collar.  Perfect for a witchy Wednesday!




Well, that's it for Witchy Wednesday today.  I'm very excited to watch auditions for "Dream Within a Dream", our devised play based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe tonight.  I am going to be the assistant director for this production, which makes me even more excited.  Can't wait to watch it come to life.  Enjoy what's left of your Witchy Wednesday!

Tarot Tuesday, July 28

On Wednesday, when I was at Kristin's watching the Ragbrai riders ride by, we were discussing the last couple of tarot cards I had drawn and how they applied to her life.  She suddenly turned to me and said, "Crystal, what will do you if you draw the Death card?"  I replied that the Death card simply referred to life changes and new beginnings.  So, what card did I draw for today?  Of course.  The Death card.  Kristin, are you psychic?

So, first let me just say, don't panic!  This card does not mean that you or anyone is going to die soon.  It can actually be one of the most positive cards in the deck.

There are a few things the appearance of this card can mean.  First of all,  it indicates a time of change.  A situation that has been a part of your life might be ending and new circumstances will be beginning.  Do not fear change, as this generally points to positive change for the better.

It also means to let go of those things in your past that might be holding you back or preventing you to move forward.  If you are unable to let the past go, then you will make the new beginnings more difficult.  The past is just that.  It's gone, it's over, there is nothing you can do to change it, so let it go.  Move forward with a positive attitude and don't let past experiences hold you back.

The third thing this card can mean is that it's time to let go of unhealthy habits.  This is a good time to start exercising or looking at a more healthy diet.  Still smoking?  It's a good time to stop.  Any unhealthy elements in your life need to go.  Let them go.

The Death card can hold elements of a sudden change.  You might feel that you are caught up in the path of change and that you cannot escape its effects.  It could be a series of unexpected surprises that bring an end to a period of bad luck and problems.  Many changes are going to take place to enable a new direction to emerge.

I had four Monarch caterpillars which I found in our backyard.  To keep them safe, I bring the ones I find inside to keep them from meeting an untimely end and help insure they will become butterflies.  Those caterpillars are now in their chrysalis form and will remain that way for a couple of weeks.  They epitomize letting go of the past and moving forward with new beginnings for me.  When they have finished this stage, they will no longer be what they were, but will be something more beautiful and wonderful to take wing and start the whole life cycle all over again.  If you are afraid to change, you might not ever know what you could become.

Monday Musings

 

After a weekend like I've had, Monday seems like a nice holiday!  I took Angelle on the road to do 3 Bill Riley talent shows in a row.  One in Des Moines on Friday night, one in Webster City on Saturday and one in Monticello yesterday.  These three shows resulted in one 2nd place win for her and a lot of great judges comments.  I'm so proud of that girl for doing the song that she wanted to do.  I know that she is really enjoying performing it and she always gets some fantastic audience compliments at every show she does.  I have to say that three shows in as many days is a bit exhausting!  It's nice to have a day off.

Going back further in the week, Wednesday saw the Ragbrai riders coming through our town.  Our friend, Kristin, invited us to her house as the bicyclists rode right by her house and she was giving  free tours of her exceptionally beautiful garden to any bicyclist who stopped.  While we were there, we recognized KD's viola teacher on her bike and called her name.  She pulled in and stopped to chat and to get a nice photo with the girls.

Kristin's gardens are truly spectacular.  While standing on her front porch, I took a good, long look at this tree.  It stands right in the middle of her beautiful garden, so I had to get a picture.  I love the color of the sky and the greenery setting up a nice frame for it.  I have no visual artistic talent, but really would love to see someone recreate this photo in a painting.  

While we were there, Kristin's husband, Scot, caught a very nice young fox snake and let the girls hold it.  They were both very brave and very willing to hold it.  It obviously realized they were no threat, and it was fairly comfortable with being handled.  After the girls were done with it, it was safely and gently returned to its wild habitat.

RAGBRAI kept us so busy that day, that I didn't get around to doing a "Witchy Wednesday" post.  And on Friday, I didn't even get a "Freaky Friday" post done because I was taking the girls to Des Moines for the Bill Riley show there.  How did summer break get to be so busy?

Even though I didn't get my blogging done this past week, I did try my hand at writing a short story and submitting it to a magazine for publication.  I had a little editing help and got some suggestions from two wonderful writing professors at UNI.   They say it can be a few months before I will hear anything, but I will wait to hear before I share that story here on my blog.

 I am continuing to feed the two crows who I call "Lenore" and "Nevermore".  They visit the front yard daily, and sometimes I think they call for me to come feed them.  I feel like they are getting a bit more brave and comfortable around me.  I was sent a link to a "TED" talk about crows and conditioning this week.  It was very interesting and makes me wonder just how smart these crows really are.











I will leave you today with a close up of Kristin's beautiful lilies.  Have a marvelous Monday and check back as I draw a tarot card tomorrow and interpret its meaning.

Tarot Tuesday, July 21

Today's card drawn is the King of Cups.  It looks as though the reign of the Queen from the last two weeks is over for now and a masculine energy is stepping in.

The King of Cups represents calm and emotional stability.  He is the master of his own emotions and feelings.  He doesn't repress these feelings and sentiments, but he stands for a balance between the emotions and the intellect.  This card can indicate strong bonds in a relationship based on temperance and understanding.

The King of Cups tells us that you feel a good balance between emotion and intellect.  You understand your own feelings and emotions and are able to connect to them when necessary.  Recognize this balance as a gift that you have and be open to sharing your calm approach and emotional stability with others.

If you are facing challenges in your life, then this card tells you that you should work to create balance with your emotions.  Be compassionate toward others without getting drawn into their emotional drama.  Be the calm force on the outside of the abyss helping the one who fell in to climb out rather than falling in yourself and getting caught up in his/her dilemma.

The King of Cups can also represent an older male who may appear in your life.  This could be a man of business, law, or a spiritual leader who is kind, considerate and who will take responsibility for his own actions.  He is a fatherly figure who is sensitive, generous, and who enjoys providing loving energy to others.  He is a good listener and responds calmly in an emergency.  He is diplomatic and seeks to help out in situations.  No power struggles with this individual!

If you are facing a personal challenge, this suggests that you will need to be emotionally mature because negative energy from others will be all around.  The King of Cups is level-headed and in control of his emotions.  He is able to use his emotional intellect to make level-headed decisions and does not let other circumstances or negativity sway him from what he strongly believes in.

Monday Musings

Hello, Monday!  What a fabulous weekend it has been!

If you've been reading my blog, you know the girls and I have been preparing for the opening night of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at the Waterloo Community Playhouse.  Specifically, we were preparing our "Putnam Art Club" booth for display in the lobby to help make money for the theatre.  We displayed a lot of artwork by both Angelle and KD, Shelby Davis (a cast member), and also by a couple of Angelle's friends.  This art work is also for sale during performances.  We are also selling raffle tickets for a Buddha Board mini, acrylic painting kit, and a couple of the larger pieces of art.  Opening night was a great success and KD sold her first work of art ever.  As it sold, I thought to myself that I should get a photo of it since it was her first ever art sale.

Here is the very sweet lady who purchased it, and KD holding "Seaside Dream", KD's first art sale. The nice lady asked KD to sign it on the back as well and was so happy to be able to meet the artist.

 Angelle sold several necklaces, too.  I love her rock and wire necklaces and wear the one she made me quite often.  Here is a picture of our art club booth set up.
















KD's first art sale was quickly followed by a second as another
patron purchased "Mystical Christmas" and also had her sign the back of it.

And of course, this was quickly followed by a 3rd sale.  I enjoyed watching this sale.  The lady looked at all of our artwork for awhile, then stopped and really looked at this one and then kind of giggled.  She picked it up and said she loved "Bird Forest" and just had to buy it.  She said she loved birds and loved the pink and green bird in this painting.  She also said she loved that KD had titled it "Bird Forest".  KD had already signed this one when she painted it (the signature is in the middle, kind of hidden, just KD), so she didn't have to sign this one!








We couldn't staff our booth ourselves Saturday and Sunday as we were off doing a "Bill Riley" mini tour so Angelle could get some practice performing.  I've heard that two more of KD's paintings sold; "Neon Dragon" and "Centerpiece".  She is very proud of being able to sell her art work and I am incredibly proud of her.  At age 11, she is constantly discovering who she is.  KD the actress?  KD the singer?  KD the musician?  KD the coder?  KD the artist?  Right now she is all those things and more.  And no matter where her interests take her, I will be here for her and am so proud of that girl.

I am equally proud of our oldest daughter, too.  Angelle has this beautiful voice and sings like an angel.  She is beautiful both inside and out, but what usually gets me with her is how kindhearted and humble she is.  She has an incredible act this summer for the Bill Riley talent shows.  She is singing "Diva Dance" from the movie "Fifth Element".  Very difficult to sing!  And she's knocking it out of the ballpark.

Saturday night she performed in Marengo for the Iowa County Fair.  There were several technical difficulties throughout the show and when her mic pulled out from the cord they had to start her song over.  There is a 3 minute time limit for Bill Riley show acts.  We have hers at 3 minutes exactly.  However, when they started her song over, the judge who was timing didn't re-start the stop-watch.  She also apparently didn't realize she didn't re-start the stop-watch, so Angelle's song came in at 4 minutes.  Angelle got 2nd place and the judge pulled her aside and told her she would have had first place, but her song was 4 minutes long and she needed to cut it to 3 minutes.  Angelle very politely said that her song was indeed just 3 minutes long, but the judge was insistent that it was 4 minutes.  We could have been really angry about that, but I just very nicely thanked the coordinator for putting on the show (they don't get enough respect....it's a lot of work to put one of those together), informed her that Angelle's song was 3 minutes long but that it wasn't a big deal and she was fine with 2nd place.  I again thanked her for all her hard work in putting on the show.  Plus, the girl who won 1st place (also a beautiful singer) had not yet qualified for the State Fair so this was her qualifying show.  We were extremely happy for her, too.

Besides, the human experience of this particular show is what made it all worthwhile.  It was nearly 100 degrees in that shelter.  Everyone was hot and uncomfortable.  A very nice 83 year old man asked if the seat next to Angelle was taken and she said no so he sat by her.  The next thing I know, the two of them are deep in conversation.  Both were enjoying each other's company and laughing.  The man was there to see his granddaughter dance in the sprout division.  He had fought in the Navy in the Korean war and been to Japan and Hawaii.  He loved fishing.  Angelle enjoyed talking with him so much.  The really weird thing is that I just happened to have some fishing lures in our talent show bag because one of the girls had recently gotten them in a grab bag.  Once I learned that he enjoyed fishing, I got the lures out and gave them to him (we don't fish).  He was surprised and happy especially because it was a type of lure he likes to use.

I just had to get a photo of them together.  His name is "Dave".  He reminded me a bit of my dad, who also was in the Navy, but who fought in WWII.  Angelle really enjoyed meeting and talking with this man.  Sometimes in this life, we get to briefly encounter some truly amazing people and make some great connections.  That's why we go on the adventures we go on.  That's why we spend most of our summers traveling around the state and doing the Bill Riley Talent Shows.  That's what life is all about and so we say thanks to Dave, for some great conversation and for your entertaining stories.  Hope you are out fishing today and catching lots of fish!

Freaky Friday

It's Friday!  What's freaky?  This:  Being on vacation the last week gave me a lot to think about.  Some people do truly amazing things with their time, and sometimes for no return other than their own or their family's enjoyment.  Hobbies can be freaky!  Here are a few that are freaky.







This:  Andrew Clemens made works of art by pouring sand into bottles.  Some of his bottles are in the McGregor museum.  These are not your ordinary pour sand into a bottle pieces.  Freaky!

This:  The Bily Brothers from Spilville, Iowa, and their clocks.  You are not allowed to take pictures of the clocks in the museum, but I wish I could have.  I can't even tell you how freaky they were.  Huge, beautiful, intricate, made by hand.  And to think they almost burned them when their sister died.  They were offered one million dollars for one of them, but refused.  They created these just for their brother and sister and their own enjoyment, not for any money at all.  Amazing.  I have a picture of a postcard, but this is definitely not one of their most impressive clocks.

This:  Before KD (our lawkeeper) informed me that I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the museum, I did manage to snap this shot of a two headed pig wet specimen, just because, well, it's freaky.

This:  Our last freaky family trip during our vacation was to the "Matchstick Marvels" museum in Gladbrook.  This artist creates amazing works from, you guessed it, matchsticks.  He has a few pieces in Ripley's Believe it or Not museums around the country.  The train will be going to a Ripley museum the end of July.  You need to see it!  If you can get to Gladbrook before the end of the month, do it!


This train is HUGE and interactive, too.  You can ring the bell, turn on the light and pull/push some levers.  And completely made from matchsticks.










This:  Tonight is the opening night for "The 25th Annul Putnam County Spelling Bee".  We are not in the production, but since I am on the theatre board, we have been put in charge of the "Putnam County Art Club" booth.  This got the girls off their phones and creating new and choosing old works of art to sell.  Nothing out of sand or matchsticks, but I think their artwork is pretty awesome nonetheless.

The bees are just 2" x 2" and are very cute.  Angelle made those and the necklaces.  She made more than 20 necklaces in the van on vacation.  The other works are by KD.  "Neon Dragon" and "Too Goth for Prom" are two of my favorites.  They are excited to sell their art work (proceeds will go to the Waterloo Community Playhouse/Black Hawk Children's Theatre), but I am a little sad to see them go.  My kids make me so proud!  If you get a chance, you really need to come see the musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at the WCP.  Before the show and at intermission, visit the art club booth and maybe purchase an original work of art or buy some raffle tickets.  I promise the art will be reasonably priced.  Have a great weekend!  Get your freak on and have a Freaky Friday!!