As Mattie and I were entering the park trail, a homeless man stomped up from behind us. Dressed in a tattered navy sweatshirt with olive colored rubber knee-high boots. He was in a hurry and carried a bundle under one arm. His face was narrow with a greying, pointy beard. Thick glasses with big 80's style frames solidly attached atop his nose. I was startled at how quickly he was at our backs.  I turned to face him as he approched and guided Mattie to the grass off the trail head. He never looked up or even acknowledged our presence despite passing within inches of my body. I let him pass. Knowing it is not safe to be a woman alone on a trail in the woods in the first place, I turned and took another path leading in the opposite direction as he was heading.

It is an uphill trek taking that path. At the top of the hill is a bench with a boulder inscribed with the founder of the nature area. The name I've read numerous times but what it is, I don't recall. So we then head downhill. There is a crossroads...you can take a left or right. We go right because I know this part of the trail and after some turns and hills you come to a clearing. On top of the highest part of the park is a shelter with picnic tables and benches in the lawn. That is were I want to go. As we approach the crossroads I hear footsteps. Heavy stomping footsteps...I turn and it is this guy again. In my head I'm thinking "Oh my God, this is the most secluded part of the woods that I know of and if he wants to kill me or worse...it could be done here". I slow down and stop and let Mattie go into the woods off the path a little. I again turn to face him...not wanting him to be unseen. This way also, I think I will appear unafraid and bold...not an easy target. Again he gets inches away...I am looking right at him...he passes and as I say "Morning", he raises his arm with hand waving in a shoo-ing manner as if to shield himself from me so I wouldn't look at him. Quickly he passed.

It was a weird encounter. And I wasn't scared of him any longer. After that we passed him two more times. Was he just looking for a place to live for a few days? Who knows. On the way out of the woods I noticed quite a few women walking alone with their dogs like me. I passed be two of them as the homeless man was also leaving the park...right behind me. The looks on some of the woman's faces were the look I had in my heart when I was scared and alone in the woods with him. You could see the look of "Oh my God" in their faces.


This structure was seen beyond the trail in the woods...was this were the stomping man went?

Time to put away those winter boots!!!!

This is a slice of my work table. I was blocked as far as what to do with the actual "book"...but got inspired by browsing some art sites. So there is an idea I'm going with to make the book pop (Hopefully...).


Today I was in the spring cleaning mood. Rich brought home a couple of things his friend gave him. One is an old bookcase/secretary. We put it in the living room and so I moved all the bills, writing materials...ect...into it. Plus some books. It fits fabulously!

Also, made a chicken stock today. It is still cooling. Should get a few quarts out of it to freeze. Oh...hung laundry on the line too!!

Tomorrow will be a short work day as will Wednesday. And the weather will be WARM!

Thank you for reading...cheers!

Recently, I made a vow to not drink coffee ever...in my life, again! Upset stomach and heartburn followed by fatigue are the undesirable after-effects. I reckoned that since I never even tasted coffee until I was in my 30's anyway, I Would be able to Live without it. So I made the vow.

This Wednesday was a long work day for me. I was out of town and no time to eat lunch. On my way home I was weakened and craved a cup of warm, spiced, creamy coffee! Remembering I had a $10.00 in my purse I drove the long way home as to stop at the local coffee shop (I am known to frequent this place enough that they remember me. And usually ask, "You like extra cream with that don't you?"). Always, I check my purse for whatever money I will need before I even get to the checkout of any store. Just my COD kicking in. So, I check my purse. I'm digging and opening wallets and moleskins (yes, more than one moleskin...I keep multiple "diaries"...Lord help the Emergency Responders trying to find my I.D., should That time ever come). No money was to be found.

By this time I was at the coffee shop. In defeat I turned toward home. First I was pissed off that I wasn't able to have the refreshment. Then I was pissed off that now I had to take the long way home. Ultimately, I realized that I was helped by an invisible force to stick to my vow!!!

So this morning, I was cleaning out my purse and there crumbled up on the bottom was a $10.00 bill.

We had a 90% chance of rain my noon today. Current weather, SUNNY and 50's!! Snow is predicted for tonight...1-3 inches.

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

Signs of spring. We set our clocks forward tonight. These came from our lovely neighbor, Wendy. She is just like these...sunny and bright!

Another cloudy, grey day in Iowa. Mattie has been sleeping all day...and even the cat has been in hiding.

This is our first spring in this house. I don't know what kind of flowers/if any, will appear in the yard.

Ok, so, we live in a college town...when students leave or move out of a place...you should see what they throw out (things like new)! We are frugal people. My hubby is driving around town most of the day (due to the nature of his job). He sees all kinds of things and brings them home. Some things we keep and others we take to the goodwill (most of the items are of this latter catagory). So this morning I go to the basement to bring up some laundry that was drying on the line down there. You know, wool sweaters and delicates...well as I was pulling unmentionables off the line, I come to a black bra that doesn't look familar...I look it over...It looks like new and is my size...but I KNOW it is NOT mine! So I call him (my hubby)...most women would be thinking, another woman!! You know like a wife finding some woman's undies in her husbands pocket or something...But me, I know....he picked it up from some dumpster or parking lot and brought it home for me. And yes...that is what he did...he found it laying in a parking lot. Brought it home and washed it! He doesn't care if someone were to see him pick up a woman's bra from the parking lot and put it in his pocket...I think I'll keep him! haha..

Kind of tired tonight. But here is a sneak peek at what I'm working on...

Isn't this a fun home? I slipped and fell on a patch of ice in front of it...and while checking to see if I was seen (doesn't everyone do this? haha...) this figure was standing there...I thought it was a real person and was almost going to say something...haha...so instead I snapped a photo.

Short day at work today. And the day was warm enough to wear only a light jacket!! Mattie wanted out most of the day.

Last night I salvaged what I wanted from 8 antique Encyclopedias...they have/had lots of cool illustrations. I'll use the embossed (in gold) spine covers too. Hope the board I'm using for mounting everything on will be large enough for this project.

So I have some ginger root , green tea brewing...we started watching, "Faust (a 1926 silent German film) on Sunday and still have the last hour to watch (it is a 2 hour film). So Tonight we will finish it...

Love and Beauty...

Here are some weathered sheds/garages in our neighborhood.

shadows on the snow....

Listening to old Cat Steven's...rainy, cloudy day today. I'm home working on art project...due to an understanding client... (I'm so blessed to know).

My little grandson called last night and asked me some questions about my life. He is doing a time-line project at school and needs to ask a person special in his life about their life. And then do a time-line mapped out showing that person's important accomplishments. I am honored he called me!! Though my "accomplishments" may not be considered GRAND according to anyone else's standards. Birth/fatal truck accident (I had to put some "gruesome" episodes for the 2nd graders interest...ha)/graduation/birth of sons/near drowning (another shock value occurrence...lol)/art show ribbon/birth of said grandson/marriage. That's my life on a time-line.

In the neighborhood...I LOVE this entryway! So bright and cheery. (could do without the trashcan however...haha).

It's Monday and my day off without any obligations or work!!! So I am revamping the blog.

There are lots of photos that I took over the weekend while walking in the neighborhood. We live in an old "Bohemian" section of town. Where immigrants put down roots. It is characterized by small cottage like homes with large yards. The early inhabitants here had little money for a prestigious home and were eclectic and diverse in their "lifestyles". There were huge family gardens in yards along with chickens and small livestock. How I would love to be able to see this neighborhood how it was back then!!

Here are some photos so you can get a feel for the area.

I haven't blogged for a long time. It seems that once I get home from the work day I'm just beat and need to relax. Now that the weather is warming up (40's today) hopefully my spirits and energy levels will increase too. There are lists made and only partially completed.

"The rays of the sun give life to all living beings. The heat of the sun is energizing. It removes all kinds of ailments." Swami Chidvilasananda