I had three of my photos printed 16" x 20"

at the local UPS store.

(Bonus - it's right next to the Starbucks)

They have a new large-format printer . . .

This morning's sunrise . . .

(straight from camera, no edits)

In person . . . awesome.

The closer a cloud was to the sun, the more vibrant.

The closer we are to the Son, the more vibrant.

Last song sung in church yesterday:

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Link here

So true, so true.

Yesterday was my family's Thanksgiving at my house.

I loved seeing all of you.

Abigail received her Christmas stocking . . .

Anya fell asleep on Vince's leg . . .

Ready for winter . . .

Thanksgiving was at Jeanne and Barry's house.

Door greetings from Jackie, Marci, Holly and Justin . . .

Some of the desserts . . .

The main course fresh from the oven . . .

and carving by Barry . . .

The ever-lovely Miss Jen

moonlighting as Lady Liberty . . .

Anne and Ian in Anne's hammock

on Thanksgiving morning . . .

Getting close to dark and I'm outside in the rain yesterday . . .

Anne is home on Thanksgiving break.

We had lunch together and shared this . . .

If you have built castles in the air,

you work need not be lost;

that is where they should be.

Now put foundations under them.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Under the burning bush with CoffeeShop's Orton action . . .

Today I spent some time on garden maintenance.

John did some weed-eating on the perennial beds

which saved me hours of hand cutting.

What did have to be cut by hand was easy

because I had an excellent helper

to fill the sled, haul, and dump the refuse . . .

Once back inside, Ian helped me remove most of the screens

from the windows and brush them clean.

He then handed them up to me as I stored them in the garage attic.

This evening, I plan to get back to the re-organization

of the library which was started yesterday.

Anya is MOBILE

and lots of shelves are now reachable by her.

I've been using this pomade (define + shine)

for a couple of months.

It works well and my coarse gray hair feels soft.

But until this morning, I didn't see the face in the German "o" . . .

Which way should she go?  Which way should she go?

An Instructional Story

I learned a lesson in 4th grade which I've never forgotten.
It was about following instructions.

Prior to 4th grade, I was not a lover of school.
My mom told me that she took me to the bus for 1st grade every day,
and every day I cried.
Every day.
By 2nd grade, we had moved and I went to a different, new school.
No more crying.
But I didn't start loving school until 4th grade.  My teacher, Miss Hayley
and then Mrs. Harpe when she married, had a reputation as mean.
The fact that someone wanted to marry her was shocking to a 9-year-old.
She was old (maybe 40ish?) and mean (strict?).
However, she became my favorite teacher.

I think my mom conspired with Ms. Hayley/Harpe because
Ms. H/H seemed to pay special attention to me (and several others).
She encouraged all of us to challenge ourselves.
We had a timed quiz daily on the multiplication tables.
As soon as we could get 100% correct in 60 seconds or less,
we were exempted from taking that quiz again.

The lesson I learned on following instructions came from a quiz
she gave.  It was non-graded although we didn't know that at the time.
It was a one-page list of questions, all of which had easy answers
such as What is your room number at school?

Ms. H/H reminded us to put our names at the top right,
to turn our papers over when we were done,
and then to sit quietly until everyone was finished.
She told us to carefully read the directions at the top of the paper
and then, the quiz began.

The instructions said to read each and every question before actually
going back to #1 and starting to write our answers.
Somewhere near the end of the questions was a question something like this:
"As soon as you read this, you are done.  Turn over your paper."

So, did I follow the directions at the top of the quiz paper?
Nah.  I skimmed the questions, went back to #1 and started answering.

To my amazement, a couple of classmates turned over their papers
while I was still answering the first questions.
Do I remember smug looks on their faces?
I kept scribbling furiously and then I read the "As soon as you ..." question.
I stopped.
I looked at Ms. H/H.
Our eyes met and she smiled that little "gotcha" smile.
(Okay, I'm making that up, but it could be true.)

I turned over my paper and watched as others kept hurrying to get their answers down.
And then watched their faces as they, too, learned this lesson.

To this day, I read, then re-read directions and
then re-check the directions again after I'm done.
This includes recipes, PhotoShop instructions, and tasks at work whether the
instructions are from a boss, a client, a vendor, or a government agency.

Lesson learned.
Thank you, Ms. H/H.

Before the rain came . . .

All from a cemetery . . .

Using Coffee Shop's Orton action . . .

It's done, though I can't show it to you.

Here are the most of the others . . .

Aunt Kay . . .

Helping with Kids' Church - not for the faint of heart . . .

I went crazy yesterday evening . . .

(should I stop there?)

. . . with textures again.

All use Shadowhouse Creations textures.

I'll list each one's name and how I used it.

Oil cloth 7 using Overlay

and the only one I named:  Dawn lifting the curtain of night . . .

Bokeh 1 using Overlay . . .

Scratch Box 4 using Multiply . . .

Square 155 using Linear Light at 70% . . .

Uber Grunge 1 using Overlay at 60%. . .

Square 170 using Linear Light . . .

All photos were taken yesterday

as I walked around the yard after work.

Stone face . . .

I’m looking for a full-time job

With my eclectic work history and experience,

the job possibilities are diverse.  This is good, and bad.

Since what I’m looking for doesn’t fit a specific category,

I’m looking and have an interest and experience in many areas:

     book editing,

     graphic design,

     library science,

     organizing,

     as well as bookkeeping-related areas.

I take enormous pride in my work and I'm passionate about quality work.  I am ‘low-maintenance’ and require little guidance.  In addition to my logical mind, I am creative and can offer valuable suggestions to improve whatever job I am doing.

My degree is in Computer Technology and I worked as a Programmer/Analyst for 13 years, as a full-time college instructor (in Computer Technology) for 4 years, and a stay-at-home homeschooling mom for 18 years.

I worked seasonally part-time during 10 of those stay-at-home years.

Now, I’m working two part-time jobs, both related to bookkeeping.

I’ve also worked an occasional short-term job as an organizer.

For my hobbies, see the Artsy-Crafty and Reading Log posts (look under the Label “Musings”).  And I’ve gotten fairly knowledgeable in PhotoShop Elements (see Label “Photography”).

If you know of a job opportunity,

or know someone who knows someone . . .

please let me know.

I’m on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com and

my resume is available on Google Docs http://tinyurl.com/2dmgkxc

Centerpiece from "A Toast to Rotary" . . .

From my special order at McDonald's in Martinsville . . .

I made a collage of Justin Garrett Aydt performing. . .

From the rising of the sun . . .

to its going down . . .

the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

The last three Spring Mill photos . . .

Looking into the creek . . .

Zinnia with PSE Dry Brush effect . . .

Door with corn decoration

using a couple of ShadowHouse Creations textures . . .

From a Dove dark chocolate wrapper . . .

"Never stop learning."

from Carletta, Aliquippa, PA

Theresa's group photo at Spring Mill . . .

Me and my sister, Pam . . .

"We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us;

we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."  -- C. S. Lewis

This is exactly what scares me when I pray for my kids.

Let's be truthful - I'm scared for myself, too, for what God may ask of me.

Scared that I'll fail.

Scared of the fallout.

Scared of what others will think.

Scared.

And yet, listening for God's leading.

(Thanks to Traci Michele of Ordinary Inspirations for putting a quote to my thoughts.)

Collections

I started thinking about the things I collect

after finding the blog A Collection a Day.

I have collections.  You probably do, too.

Sometimes we purposefully collect . . . 

sometimes we purposefully "uncollect"

(see the Great Santa Giveaway on December 15th of 2009),
and sometimes we are taken by surprise

that we have been unconsciously collecting.

I collect sets of 5 dice.

Playing Yahtzee was fun and a way to make learning enjoyable.

Probability, patterns, quick decision making.

It was easier if all players had their own dice.

I have dozens of sets and it's gotten difficult to find something different.

I still look.

I also collect blank books,

although I didn't realize I was actually collecting

until Anne pointed out that I love blank books,

but rarely actually write in them.

She told me I was collecting them.

She was right.

The feel, the colors, lines or graph or nothing.

They pick me, I think.

Nail polish - I ruthlessly keep these down to just a dozen or so;

they do go bad after a while.

My hands-down favorite:  Rimmel's Zeitgeist.

It looks bronzey-gold until you see it at an angle

and then it's a greenish-gold.  Wonderful effect.

Birds seem to be calling to me (no pun intended).

I only have a few.

I really do resist.

I started collecting tea cups 40 years ago.

I've stopped collecting,

but still have my original 15 and a few others.

Colored pens and pencils and markers - there is a gene for this.

I have it.

My sisters both have it.

My daughter has it.

All the items in my collections have a very low dollar value,

but they provide me with pleasure.

They make me smile.

And speaking of smiling,

I guess I also collect faces.  I have for years.

Family and friends send them to me (see sidebar Label "Faces").
[2012 Update - now combined into Label "Everyday Life"]

What do you collect?