Valentine's Day Already?

The old saying that time goes faster the older we get is certainly true in my case! It seems like only yesterday we brought in the new year and here it is, February 9th already. Where does time go to?

I know I was quite busy during January. Here's what I accomplished last month:

• I applied for and was chosen as webmaster for our towns' website and was busy giving it a complete facelift to bring it into the 21st century. I hope I succeeded in my task. You can view the site at Larderlake.net if you wish.
• Completed the Valentine's Day section at Dreamland Magic
• Created 3 new abstract pieces for the Visions of Fantasy shop
  Blue Serenity
  Spring Bounce
  Abstract Romance
• Gave Gave Lakeshore Pines Mall a facelift and added in some beautiful photographic Keepsake Boxes, Framed and Decorator tiles
• Started working on a watercolour daffodil picture that should be finished tonight.

Now, Thursday is Valentine's Day! As I said, time is flying by! At A Dreamland Magic Valentine's Day, there are some free Valentine's Day Colouring Print Outs for the kids to give to their friends at school.

In the Valentine's Day Gift Shop there are some beautiful gifts for you to purchase for your valentine. Some examples are below.

Always In My Heart Diamond and Ruby Pendant Exclusive necklace features two connected heart pendants - one glittering with 20 pavé-set diamonds, and the other with 18 rich rubies. Features a tender engraving on reverse and includes a gift box.

Ultimate Disney Charm Bracelet 2007 Customer Favorite! Disney fans will love this fine jewelry design that features 37 full-color character charms, plated in 24K gold. From Mickey to Winnie the Pooh, they're all here! Includes custom-crafted gift box.

My True Love Diamond Bracelet A Valentine's Day gift glittering with diamonds! Richly plated in 24K gold, this exclusive fine bracelet design sparkles with 19 genuine diamonds and a loving inscription inside. Includes gift box.

Well, that's all for now. I'm off to get ready for work, then tonight will be spent in my art room creating some pretties for you all. Happy Valentine's Day to all!

YOU Need to make the changes!

First off... Happy New Year to one and all! May 2008 bring to you good health, happiness, love and peace.

Now, the niceties are done, it's time for me to get to the point of this post... People that bitch all the time about their situation, yet do nothing to change it.

If one is not happy in their current situation, there are five things to be done:
- Determine the problem
- Research solutions to the problem
- Implement the solutions
- Evaluate the result
- Find another solution if the previous one did not work out and repeat the steps until a solution is found.

What I really detest hearing are those people who moan on and on about their problems, yet continue with the same behaviour, lifestyle, etc., and do nothing to solve their problem. One cannot repeat the same steps day after day and expect a different result.

If you are moaning about the lack of finances available to you, take on a second or third job! Determine your talents and utilise them to earn money. Going to the coffee shop every day and spending money on take-out dinners or beer in the hotel is not going to change your financial situation.

If your relationship is stagnent... do something to liven it up! Do not depend on other people for your happiness. You have to create your own happiness.

If you are unhappy, stop thinking negatively and start to think positive! Be thankful that you are alive! Take time to enjoy small things such as a fluffy cloud, a rainbow, a bird's song in the morning.

Smile at everyone that you see each day... the mailman, the person walking along the street toward you, smile at every chance you get and you will soon find that the world is a brighter place because of it.

Be the change that you want to see. Live your life in the manner that you want it to be. Negative energy will only draw more negative energy toward you. Be positive and positive energy will come your way.

^_^

The Commonly Confused Words Test

Your Score: Advanced

You scored 92% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 93% Advanced, and 66% Expert!

You have an extremely good understanding of beginner, intermediate, and advanced level commonly confused English words, getting at least 75% of each of these three levels' questions correct. This is an exceptional score. Remember, these are commonly confused English words, which means most people don't use them properly. You got an extremely respectable score.

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

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Wild Horses of Newbury

Some people in my community, and my family think I am, at best, a nutter. I love my trees. What can I say?

When there is a storm brewing, I will go out and bless my tall stately pine trees with herbs, give them a hug and whisper a prayer of saftey. I do the ritual with each tree, and give each tree a gentle hug before I move on to the next. At night, I look out my window and whisper to my trees, "be safe". Does that make me a nut? Mayhaps it does, mayhaps not. But I do care about, and love, my trees.

Each morning in the spring, my trees are alive with the songs of mating birds of various species, from robins to mourning doves.

In summer, younglings are hatched in their nests in the pines and call out to their mothers for food. Atop the tall trees, the young Ravens call out with hoarse caws for their mother, while squirrels and chipmunks scamper about playfully. At night, the trees are often alight with thousands of fireflys, looking as though the branches are lit up with fairy lights. It is beautiful to see!

In Autumn, the trees are alive with Nuthatches, Northern Flickers and Grosbeaks pecking at the pine cones and insects in the tree, fattening themselves up for winter.

Then comes winter. Every morning when the sun comes out, dozens of Bluejays, Grayjays and Nuthatches appear from the protection of the thick branches to peck at the pinecones. These birds bring joy to me and joy to the trees, I am sure.

I am sure that trees, and all plants for that matter, have feelings too. When I speak with my trees, they seem to give off an aura of peace and protectiveness. When I am sitting under my trees, I feel as though the tree is welcoming me. When I hear of people cutting down trees in the forest or the city folk that move up here and kill every tree on their property so that they can get a better view of the lake, I cry.

We are the keepers of the trees. without us, they have no protection. In return, trees feed us, give us oxygen and protection. Why would someone purposefully kill them?

I dare you to watch this video without shedding a tear.

Visions of Fantasy - Dreamland Magic Newsletter - December 10, 2007

Hi Everyone!

I bet you are all busy with the hustle and bustle of the holidays! Soon, school will be out and you'll need something to keep those little hands busy while you finish up your last-minute Christmas preparations.

Well, take a look at this week's newsletter and you will find a simple craft for the kids to keep them busy for an hour or so (and longer if they want to make more).

Don't forget to enter this week's holiday give-away!

Have a great week and I'll see you all next Monday (or sooner if there is any interesting news)!

Santa Claus Banned From Saying Ho Ho Ho!

Well, if that isn't the stupidest thing I've ever heard, I'll eat yellow snow! What am I talking about?

Surely you have heard the buzz about that idiotic company in Australia that trains Santa's helpers? You know, the Santas that work in the department stores? It seems that this company in Sydney, Australia would prefer that their Santa Clauses say "Ha Ha Ha!" instead of "Ho Ho Ho!". Their reasoning for this is simply ridiculous, IMO.

1) When Santa says "Ho Ho Ho", his deep voice might scare the children.
Well, in all of my 50 years, never once have I seen a child scared of the words "Ho Ho Ho!". What does scare little children is being forced upon the knee of a strange man with a long white beard and wearing a red suit. If parents took the time to familiarise their little ones with Santa Claus before the event, then there would be less tears when the child is on Santa's knee. Ho Ho Ho has absolutely nought to do with it.

2) The word Ho has become a derogatory slang word for prostitute (whore) in America, and some women may be offended if the word Ho is used.
Another case of political (in)correctness gone crazy. Ho Ho Ho has been said for decades and not once, that I have ever heard of, has a woman been offended and thought that Santa Clause was yelling out "Whore Whore Whore!" to her. Are these people nuts?

I think it's time to come to the defence of Santa Claus and tell this company, and everyone else who wants to mess with long-standing Christmas traditions, to "Give Santa Back His HO HO HO!" Let the world know that you support Santa Claus and his HO HO HO!

All of the designs below are available on a variety of products from t-shirts, sweatshirts and underwear for men and women, to bags, buttons and magnets.

Visions of Fantasy - Dreamland Magic Newsletter

Visions of Fantasy & Dreamland Magic Newsletter

Well, since this blogger won't let me post the newsletter in the format I want to post it, I'll give you the link instead. :)
Newsletter, December 3, 2007
Where there is a will, there is a way. ~~grins~~