tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82712314600481035102024-03-06T00:57:57.721-05:00FUSION ART JEWERLY BLOGTHE FUSION OF MIND, ART, AND DESIGNFusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-52984162367983914832010-07-30T00:11:00.000-04:002010-07-30T00:11:00.275-04:00Friday Funny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1t0SWZhOhYpDaDa0tbN1uip-Nh4gIgTfPPdGQoarenk16aKXDym1xnC00shI-D-pl7I5OXWE5y7jl7p2ryp1nxgShwvQgEEoGbYaYAVP7iR_F4NsRnX3AnAuJhzJ2oi164U4jt56-JKA/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1t0SWZhOhYpDaDa0tbN1uip-Nh4gIgTfPPdGQoarenk16aKXDym1xnC00shI-D-pl7I5OXWE5y7jl7p2ryp1nxgShwvQgEEoGbYaYAVP7iR_F4NsRnX3AnAuJhzJ2oi164U4jt56-JKA/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" /></a></div>
An older gentleman had an appointment to see the urologist who shared offices with several other doctors. The waiting room was filled with patients. As he approached the receptionist's desk, he noticed that the receptionist was an ugly looking, unfriendly woman. He gave her his name.<br />
<br />
<br />
In a very loud voice, the receptionist said, "YES, I HAVE YOUR NAME HERE; YOU WANT TO SEE THE DOCTOR ABOUT IMPOTENCE, RIGHT?"<br />
All the patients in the waiting room snapped their heads around to look at the very embarrassed man. He recovered quickly, and in an equally loud voice replied, 'NO, I'VE COME TO INQUIRE ABOUT A SEX CHANGE OPERATION, BUT I DON'T WANT THE SAME DOCTOR THAT DID YOURS.'<br />
<br />
The room erupted in applause!<br />
<br />
DON'T MESS WITH OLD FOLKS.<br />
<br />Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-47566986639344152152010-07-24T08:33:00.001-04:002010-07-24T08:34:32.870-04:00Caturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOGX6H7nTb44PmoZEzjmbiIHbS03oEKw_DzU1mHfrOBgapMkR0-XYVdam-BnG9H47yB-d0kT-OMCV84dTgezKSv49Nju0e6xGadrajUY0Dh_JRVse8NrsateV5T4iN-xQta29ZCMU5m0/s1600/Caturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOGX6H7nTb44PmoZEzjmbiIHbS03oEKw_DzU1mHfrOBgapMkR0-XYVdam-BnG9H47yB-d0kT-OMCV84dTgezKSv49Nju0e6xGadrajUY0Dh_JRVse8NrsateV5T4iN-xQta29ZCMU5m0/s400/Caturday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-48543184558535098992010-07-23T11:52:00.000-04:002010-07-23T11:53:04.823-04:00Contemplation ...<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejhGb6UT5QFEqg9FnmA8iD7um-1WJ0BUJeAKOP43AeUMo2i4hQ9-j327DT618BKbNWEA0_jt_XjjyG8J0R8L5EBr7krBzoe-rfzMMhk2eAxRdmHvfWqOANtfK6UaRnvC3lxRtZkpMnhM/s1600/DSC_3745.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejhGb6UT5QFEqg9FnmA8iD7um-1WJ0BUJeAKOP43AeUMo2i4hQ9-j327DT618BKbNWEA0_jt_XjjyG8J0R8L5EBr7krBzoe-rfzMMhk2eAxRdmHvfWqOANtfK6UaRnvC3lxRtZkpMnhM/s400/DSC_3745.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-81115480796654760582010-06-25T00:11:00.000-04:002010-06-25T00:11:00.634-04:00Friday Funny<br />
A woman decides to have a facelift for her 50th birthday.<br />
<br />
She spends $15,000 and feels pretty good about the results.<br />
<br />
On her way home, she stops at a newsstand to buy a newspaper.<br />
Before leaving, she says to the clerk, 'I hope you don't mind my asking, but how old do you think I am<br />
'About 32,' is the reply.'<br />
'Nope! I'm exactly 50,' the woman says happily.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
A little while later she goes into McDonald's and asks the counter girl the very same question.<br />
The girl replies, 'I'd guess about 29.'<br />
The woman replies with a big smile, 'Nope, I'm 50.'<br />
Now she's feeling really good about herself... She stops in a drug store on her way down the street.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
She goes up to the counter to get some mints and asks the clerk this burning question.</div>
The clerk responds, 'Oh, I'd say 30.'<br />
Again she proudly responds, 'I'm 50, but thank you!'<br />
<br />
While waiting for the bus to go home, she asks an old man waiting next to her the same question.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4z4Olq15c7c1nI8twemrnmjiAi-iLYCcTl-XHzVITRX_DZ-5Xp-GuX2uxCtdb0EIm2eoR9ud8imk18lfriT9Iy4cjZau-b_GdHIKw669NDgb7WVeZ5WTfNpYNhrYhDjmXmUg5yISGNM/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4z4Olq15c7c1nI8twemrnmjiAi-iLYCcTl-XHzVITRX_DZ-5Xp-GuX2uxCtdb0EIm2eoR9ud8imk18lfriT9Iy4cjZau-b_GdHIKw669NDgb7WVeZ5WTfNpYNhrYhDjmXmUg5yISGNM/s200/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" width="200" /></a>He replies, 'Lady, I'm 78 and my eyesight is going. Although, when I was young there was a sure-fire way to tell how old a woman was.</div>
<br />
It sounds very forward, but it requires you to let me put my hands under your bra.<br />
Then, and only then can I tell you EXACTLY how old you are'<br />
<br />
They wait in silence on the empty street until her curiosity gets the best of her.<br />
She finally blurts out, 'What the hell, go ahead.'<br />
<br />
He slips both of his hands under her blouse and begins to feel around very slowly and carefully.<br />
He bounces and weighs each breast and he gently pinches each nipple.<br />
He pushes her breasts together and rubs them against each other. <br />
After a couple of minutes of this, she says, 'Okay, okay...How old am I?' <br />
He completes one last squeeze of her breasts, removes his hands, and says, 'Madam, you are 50.'<br />
<br />
Stunned and amazed, the woman says, 'That was incredible, how could you tell?'<br />
<br />
The old man says, 'Promise you won't get mad?'<br />
<br />
'I promise I won't' she says.<br />
<br />
'I was behind you at McDonalds'Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-25826732131131410692010-06-14T09:16:00.001-04:002010-06-14T09:17:18.026-04:00BP buys Google ads for search term "oil spill"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gPUilrNfjRwf-SgGmTgy8ldeOC7NOsr8EwRUc3I9ECBJOi7LEiWvkb8Wui_hQnFEtz95XXnsxZ5TJdfYl2N6ib3QRqX8lvECF0zauab-dm4wpfMIYKIDLHgJag8J1tL_ayc47DSASTY/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gPUilrNfjRwf-SgGmTgy8ldeOC7NOsr8EwRUc3I9ECBJOi7LEiWvkb8Wui_hQnFEtz95XXnsxZ5TJdfYl2N6ib3QRqX8lvECF0zauab-dm4wpfMIYKIDLHgJag8J1tL_ayc47DSASTY/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65833720100609?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r4:c0.043076:b34697544:z0"><span style="color: red;">BP buys Google ads for search term "oil spill"</span></a><br />
<br />
BP/Google is trying to block the following page: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://renergie.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/bp-is-not-the-only-responsible-party/"><span style="color: red;">http://renergie.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/bp-is-not-the-only-responsible-party/</span></a> <br />
<br />
An Ongoing Battle:<br />
<br />
This page is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 when it appears. However, for no apparent reason, it is being completely removed from Google search on a continuous basis.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://renergie.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: red;">Brian J. Donovan</span></a> - Introduction below, click on < BJD link if you are interested in this entire story ... very interesting! It is very long, however well worth the time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCutTtPfLl1ChLb0mLvhoqL7glutVc0slDFIyAKuZDNJ53tdorxiE9kMQpXTj17VRiJ6SmvhSR-5r8vY2vMwROJZFpDXBIPYjLiNb4lpiO94i1W5nfgJmwNeIWZtMz-ft4JXROdHy9s_4/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCutTtPfLl1ChLb0mLvhoqL7glutVc0slDFIyAKuZDNJ53tdorxiE9kMQpXTj17VRiJ6SmvhSR-5r8vY2vMwROJZFpDXBIPYjLiNb4lpiO94i1W5nfgJmwNeIWZtMz-ft4JXROdHy9s_4/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" /></a></div>
BP is Not the Only Responsible Party<br />
<br />
<br />
By Brian J. Donovan<br />
<br />
May 24, 2010<br />
<br />
INTRODUCTION<br />
<br />
The U.S. Coast Guard has named both BP (owner of the well) and Transocean (the owner and operator of Deepwater Horizon) as “responsible parties” in the oil spill that resulted from the explosion on April 20, 2010 and subsequent sinking of the oil rig Deepwater Horizon on April 22, 2010. Cameron (the company that manufactured the blowout preventer that failed to function after the explosion) and Halliburton (which performed drilling services like cementing) may also be found to be legally responsible. Since April 20, 2010, “BP is the responsible party” has been repeated so many times by President Obama, Secretary Salazar, Secretary Napolitano, Admiral Allen, and NOAA Administrator Lubchenco that it has become the truth. The truth is, in addition to Transocean and possibly Cameron and Halliburton, the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) are also responsible, although not legally liable, for heavy crude oil entering the Louisiana wetlands and the loop current.<br />
<br />
Recently Renergie, Inc. submitted unsolicited proposals to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), the Governor of Louisiana, and the USCG for the purpose of: (a) collecting the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico with three Panamax crude tankers; (b) separating the oil and water onboard the tankers; and (c) transporting the separated crude oil to a shoreside facility. The three tankers employed by Renergie, Inc. would be capable of collecting 1,419,000 barrels of the BP oil spill; and, via a series of onboard skid-mounted three-stage oil/water separators, be able to separate a combined total of 432,000 barrels/day of the BP oil spill. <br />
<br />
To date, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has not responded.<br />
<br />
The Office of the Governor of Louisiana forwarded Renergie’s proposal to BP and the USCG for their review.<br />
<br />
The USCG response, sent via three emails, stated, “The Coast Guard is not currently hiring contractors. BP, the responsible party, continues to handle all contracting requirements.” and “Unfortunately, the Coast Guard does not currently have a mission and is not hiring contractors. However, if BP requests names, I will recommend and forward your company.” As the BP oil spill continues to wash ashore in Louisiana, USCG futher explained, “I am the POC for unsolicited proposals for the Coast Guard. A valid unsolicited proposal must be an innovative and unique product or service that is not commercially available to the Government. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.603 provides the specific criteria that must be met before an unsolicited proposal can be submitted. It appears that your product better fits the description of a commercial item offer, which is therefore not suitable for submission as an unsolicited proposal. We appreciate your interest in U.S. Coast Guard requirements.”<br />
<br />
This article briefly discusses how MMS, NOAA, and USCG have abdicated their responsibility; reviews current oil response efforts; presents an overview of the Oil Pollution Act; and suggests a viable strategy for moving forward.<br />
<br />Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-69004819918196079042010-06-12T10:00:00.002-04:002010-06-12T10:00:54.419-04:00Warning! Like 9-11 we shall never forget...<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mwkFO9UDpjg&hl=en_US&fs=1&">
</param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
</param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always">
</param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mwkFO9UDpjg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-58268031149894246052010-06-08T10:11:00.000-04:002010-06-08T10:11:55.109-04:00From a long lost EtsyBlogger ....The following is scheduled to be installed by the end of this week. Hope to be back to ?normal? by next week. I sure miss everyone! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH0YfvNu-GIRLnUrMJ-UjSg5ieU6Wu197ZQLlHaFELKdoNwgBuPFj1LQieowaKtw8kxcdjBXjt7vs1SSPNX2Svso_39UIDq3rmgIYcWOOvhkZIWHJGSb7GVAhiOH_DGBZYjM1Y_x_NE8/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH0YfvNu-GIRLnUrMJ-UjSg5ieU6Wu197ZQLlHaFELKdoNwgBuPFj1LQieowaKtw8kxcdjBXjt7vs1SSPNX2Svso_39UIDq3rmgIYcWOOvhkZIWHJGSb7GVAhiOH_DGBZYjM1Y_x_NE8/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AzwCC9iFXFgYLh8YQszO0pf-_o3VaSThfQlqjzMBD-IyQYD2r-iGOjUJNJ57hLEOpMYFApROICHNZGaz7HNJQ7aMXqdLwSy67gaXvYug-OqNuid21r39RiYDMWW2XKCukICJt32iYO0/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AzwCC9iFXFgYLh8YQszO0pf-_o3VaSThfQlqjzMBD-IyQYD2r-iGOjUJNJ57hLEOpMYFApROICHNZGaz7HNJQ7aMXqdLwSy67gaXvYug-OqNuid21r39RiYDMWW2XKCukICJt32iYO0/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Good news is that DD come home for a visit and we are having loads of fun together!</div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-28850976658130661472010-06-01T12:05:00.000-04:002010-06-01T12:05:01.404-04:00Tuesday's Tip<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Drivers License Search Warning!! DO NOT DELETE!!!</span></strong></div>
<br />
<br />
Hey Everyone, <br />
<br />
<br />
This is upsetting, thought I should pass it along. Check your drivers license... Now you can see anyone's Driver's License on the Internet, including your own!<br />
I just searched for mine and there it was...picture and all! Privacy, where is our right to it? I definitely removed mine, I suggest you all do the same..... Go to the website and check it out. Just enter your name, City and state to see if yours is on file.<br />
After your license comes on the screen, click the box marked "Please Remove", this will remove it from public viewing but not from law enforcement.<br />
<a href="http://www.license.shorturl.com/"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong>http://www.license.shorturl.com</strong></span></a>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-45955039731552722802010-05-28T04:49:00.000-04:002010-05-28T04:49:27.281-04:00Friday Funny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpAaerxTDq_fBPjuiHloJ0lg1jGy1pK1Gu0ly-qtQiqec6DLq_UMNSQ4GAAK6SjQZYiB_hks6JtPkbWcmzTs3HFEFxVnpyNye56FWKQsKKs5yS138rusm7KRZgZlZ27XEslsIH-gQhNI/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpAaerxTDq_fBPjuiHloJ0lg1jGy1pK1Gu0ly-qtQiqec6DLq_UMNSQ4GAAK6SjQZYiB_hks6JtPkbWcmzTs3HFEFxVnpyNye56FWKQsKKs5yS138rusm7KRZgZlZ27XEslsIH-gQhNI/s400/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-959072082390782262010-05-27T08:04:00.000-04:002010-05-27T08:04:42.250-04:00Follow Beaded Tail's ... tails ...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Today is a very Thankful Thursday in honor of the selfless assistance of Theresa Thompson of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TiLTcreations"><span style="color: #990000;">TiLT Creations</span></a>, who helped me by improving my blog!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFHGKlLJzAGSKdQ7vw0LqceQ0JhN48f9JShxSWPsDcC1vzgFe6jTzKNG5w6WfM48-UCYyeuf2PTow5u8jJV78rrRvFe0ZkHAvpa6Wro1XjvfTics_BRHnVdLUy4Y5g-7JU0HpsM1k_0A/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFHGKlLJzAGSKdQ7vw0LqceQ0JhN48f9JShxSWPsDcC1vzgFe6jTzKNG5w6WfM48-UCYyeuf2PTow5u8jJV78rrRvFe0ZkHAvpa6Wro1XjvfTics_BRHnVdLUy4Y5g-7JU0HpsM1k_0A/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEACoklbOtUqyRmaXVzgDITcqahdITwqUUc_43phIdxmv-jdOktCIphBCvyVTV_vPo7wSLxBiz3QOQb3qc_yEn4zgHAehkXMBnLOeIl7bDQFCOLhPuKoHBRhLfyP0S6_6sGeTDtSGHj8/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEACoklbOtUqyRmaXVzgDITcqahdITwqUUc_43phIdxmv-jdOktCIphBCvyVTV_vPo7wSLxBiz3QOQb3qc_yEn4zgHAehkXMBnLOeIl7bDQFCOLhPuKoHBRhLfyP0S6_6sGeTDtSGHj8/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrwMyFsGRBv_WB6EAobayi3R5Rwag4meklZksA-hLAbUMuPQYZVXxFSGVqysR2lOlw_As7ARLqFViTPJi4O-_m5WHPtpRgUVx4o-dU4vcHbJoHkkpKBfoLKTnYsifBiiPv7xw-bm4udU/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrwMyFsGRBv_WB6EAobayi3R5Rwag4meklZksA-hLAbUMuPQYZVXxFSGVqysR2lOlw_As7ARLqFViTPJi4O-_m5WHPtpRgUVx4o-dU4vcHbJoHkkpKBfoLKTnYsifBiiPv7xw-bm4udU/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
I suggest you hurry on over to her shop... why? </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
Because look at her banner below!</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherrH7LhyffNs4NJceVPV21Nxb1yp10dpAFpnTEj8FohqxTa2qLZoh5YphXFEAdQieXh8Zr9yf_-_j0J-qFgmwIihmb6CKVftFrraCKCfcn-Fqe83bJeKYSgMOmnEKvQiQ1AixUPgNdA8/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherrH7LhyffNs4NJceVPV21Nxb1yp10dpAFpnTEj8FohqxTa2qLZoh5YphXFEAdQieXh8Zr9yf_-_j0J-qFgmwIihmb6CKVftFrraCKCfcn-Fqe83bJeKYSgMOmnEKvQiQ1AixUPgNdA8/s400/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-31394601672398030912010-05-23T10:43:00.001-04:002010-05-23T10:43:14.580-04:00Sunday Morning May 23, 2010 South Lido Beach Park ...<div style="text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<embed height="360" src="http://w442.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw442.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fqq141%2FTuLipsTalking%2FSouth+Lido+Beach+Park+Sunday+May+23+2010%2F4c469a69.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="transparent"><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" /></a><a href="http://s442.photobucket.com/albums/qq141/TuLipsTalking/South%20Lido%20Beach%20Park%20Sunday%20May%2023%202010/?action=view¤t=4c469a69.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" /></a></div>
Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-36572494077374176102010-05-23T09:51:00.000-04:002010-05-23T09:51:51.008-04:00Where have I been?<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8HIWSGDq4OyQ605gBWErGm7S0A5-8ZqIc8JpLySpDL3UrlCFkJfzjS2mS-XtPY9-XyuFwWbn2jiBdyKwqDSqSRSihibNRZI_c1AnYGm9YpcbUgPvzZCJ-z3vabxT02VZBHQjemHshvk/s1600/1.+My+New+Studio+after+carpeting+and+glue+removed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8HIWSGDq4OyQ605gBWErGm7S0A5-8ZqIc8JpLySpDL3UrlCFkJfzjS2mS-XtPY9-XyuFwWbn2jiBdyKwqDSqSRSihibNRZI_c1AnYGm9YpcbUgPvzZCJ-z3vabxT02VZBHQjemHshvk/s320/1.+My+New+Studio+after+carpeting+and+glue+removed.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
My Studio </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
after carpet & glue removed</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjCgpXEU5HMZ1yXeQUs6E0Dyi2Aq7mapUY6zFx3XJ8aJIcINfxq9sSi2rBytOP3I3F7RYvLHVbX7T7_cVKYhlFr0jB0jG8rt9uVx3IRMviEYqn1sXd0_qzbrWQ76MWvkWEIDmrek-YPQ/s1600/5.+View+down+hall.++My+studio+door+on+left.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjCgpXEU5HMZ1yXeQUs6E0Dyi2Aq7mapUY6zFx3XJ8aJIcINfxq9sSi2rBytOP3I3F7RYvLHVbX7T7_cVKYhlFr0jB0jG8rt9uVx3IRMviEYqn1sXd0_qzbrWQ76MWvkWEIDmrek-YPQ/s320/5.+View+down+hall.++My+studio+door+on+left.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
View of the hall. </div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
That's my Studio doorway on the left.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
The two open doors down the hall are "her's" & his".</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoia1KOWGuAR7qdvjJSThhM7cQLY2g0Fd7PF4pO5D30HbA7woiJI3HV9xkyIzhxpAcM9blCMmghAK22PGT4nGMoPehsDUTIx8wbax7aNhRxR3tDOmzw8ae1eqbC85jx36GPcG90HGuIY/s1600/2.+Then+the+contractor+added+this+window+as+seen+from+th+from+door+of+THE+STUDIOS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoia1KOWGuAR7qdvjJSThhM7cQLY2g0Fd7PF4pO5D30HbA7woiJI3HV9xkyIzhxpAcM9blCMmghAK22PGT4nGMoPehsDUTIx8wbax7aNhRxR3tDOmzw8ae1eqbC85jx36GPcG90HGuIY/s320/2.+Then+the+contractor+added+this+window+as+seen+from+th+from+door+of+THE+STUDIOS.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
My Studio</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
View from the front door, after contractor</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
installed that window.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
See the paint swatches on my wall...ugh!</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG28U4KylJWkh1pdDd5yhin0EwDJNj05NGkkf4VYsoVL3RmSPV87UE_xsJNTUAu1SpOstZVyHF3xvCLml57Mn8cPogDGkFL6gLZddCCp2GS-IlhBu-OV7rSNWCcvzaRTkPT6PLQAjiJ4/s1600/4.+We+went+ahead+w-+Wed.+Bead+Group+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyG28U4KylJWkh1pdDd5yhin0EwDJNj05NGkkf4VYsoVL3RmSPV87UE_xsJNTUAu1SpOstZVyHF3xvCLml57Mn8cPogDGkFL6gLZddCCp2GS-IlhBu-OV7rSNWCcvzaRTkPT6PLQAjiJ4/s320/4.+We+went+ahead+w-+Wed.+Bead+Group+.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
We decided to have our Wednesday</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bead Group at The Studio's "as is".</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
With champagne to celebrate!</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES0zeckZ3w22IgevEWzmwH8xTs5N4LIhjrJvD_rYq5vaBqDi_XTIV2CDBXQ_vw1c_6bKE4RT766HMh88ukDlhlZ-Rv7iyfP-4w6rYj7M2ESs22qzeY5Vq0-L4yEfxcb_Z3dzNkxRAoeU/s1600/6.+Color+of+my+Studio+walls+now.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES0zeckZ3w22IgevEWzmwH8xTs5N4LIhjrJvD_rYq5vaBqDi_XTIV2CDBXQ_vw1c_6bKE4RT766HMh88ukDlhlZ-Rv7iyfP-4w6rYj7M2ESs22qzeY5Vq0-L4yEfxcb_Z3dzNkxRAoeU/s320/6.+Color+of+my+Studio+walls+now.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
My Studio</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
After being painted.</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
More to come...</div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-71180364217955409742010-05-13T00:11:00.001-04:002010-05-13T00:11:00.986-04:00Eggs? Do I feel dumb ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UGSKusa3FCJEC5It0vA-ySysf25vg4a6MJ23-FUvsy2fRn4BG5eMeM0o2PLDluc5HlDsieIFfBJR4CTdBL95xnER4IsXF01ZBn82yiKDYJUFIcdjN0oPMjsWjLp49Nz0vY5KYPdrbvY/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UGSKusa3FCJEC5It0vA-ySysf25vg4a6MJ23-FUvsy2fRn4BG5eMeM0o2PLDluc5HlDsieIFfBJR4CTdBL95xnER4IsXF01ZBn82yiKDYJUFIcdjN0oPMjsWjLp49Nz0vY5KYPdrbvY/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div>
Choosing eggs is not nearly as simple as it should be. After all, the average egg weighs about 2 ounces. How many decisions can you possibly have to make for something so small and seemingly simple? Well, let’s see: Brown or white? Large or small? Organic or not? <br />
<br />
<br />
And those decisions are just the tip of the iceberg. Egg cartons can be stamped with any number of labels, some meaningful, others not so much. <br />
<br />
It's not always easy to separate fact from fiction when it comes to eggs. Below are some of the most common misperceptions. <br />
<br />
Myth: Brown eggs are different than white. <br />
<br />
Fact: The only difference between a brown and white egg is the color of the shell, which is merely a reflection of the breed of the hen. In general, but not always, hens with white feathers and earlobes lay white eggs and those with dark feathers and red earlobes lay brown eggs.<br />
<br />
One isn’t healthier, more “natural,” or more eco-friendly than the other. There aren’t any differences in nutritional quality, flavor, or cooking characteristics. <br />
<br />
Myth: Free-range eggs come from hens that roam freely outdoors.<br />
<br />
Fact: The claims are not regulated for eggs, according to Consumer Reports. So there is no guarantee that the hen that laid the eggs ever saw the light of day. Of course, it may have spent time outdoors, but the “free range” label doesn’t mean anything. The following labels are also meaningless when it comes to eggs: “free roaming,” “hormone free,” and “raised without antibiotics.” <br />
<br />
Myth: Organic eggs are healthier. <br />
<br />
Fact: They certainly can be, but it all depends on the chicken’s diet. Organic eggs come from hens that are fed a 100-percent organic diet. However, what really matters when it comes to nutrition is whether the hens were raised on pasture. Studies, such as those conducted at Penn State University and by Mother Earth News, found that eggs from chickens that ate grass and insects contained higher levels of omega-3 fat, and vitamins E, A, and in some cases D. <br />
<br />
If you want eggs from hens that are raised on pasture or spend a lot of time outdoors, then you’ll have to find a farmer you trust at your local farmers’ market.<br />
<br />
Myth: Egg substitutes are simply eggs (or egg whites) without the shells. <br />
<br />
Fact: Most products have added stabilizers, thickeners, vitamins, carotenes, and, sometimes, spices, according to Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat. She also points out that they cost about twice as much as real eggs. (A pound of egg substitutes weighs slightly less than a dozen small eggs.) <br />
<br />
Of course, if you can’t eat egg yolks for health reasons or have no use for them, egg substitutes are a good option, and most products only have a tiny percentage of additives. Just read the labels before buying.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/132/four-myths-about-eggs.html">Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.</a></span><br />
<br />Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-40981797997230516632010-05-12T08:58:00.000-04:002010-05-12T08:58:59.494-04:00Wordless Wednesday ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw0vWx8JNzW3DO1W3E3bLa1IiDnzSFBYFmWg8jkcsi6PLZjq9A12v6Cjeu0LB3oqpatoIcYNOb9Ra-hOR9Ucb2XUoc8lm8NgNkdx-oX6wxnMd4w6hlHVA1Y7_rbHOIlqeBS1qe0KrIwg/s1600/100_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxw0vWx8JNzW3DO1W3E3bLa1IiDnzSFBYFmWg8jkcsi6PLZjq9A12v6Cjeu0LB3oqpatoIcYNOb9Ra-hOR9Ucb2XUoc8lm8NgNkdx-oX6wxnMd4w6hlHVA1Y7_rbHOIlqeBS1qe0KrIwg/s400/100_0825.JPG" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;">(Mother's Day from our dear daughter)</span></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-61258683282143454152010-05-12T08:48:00.000-04:002010-05-12T08:48:14.525-04:00Etsybloggers May 2010 Featured Teammate<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
If you take the time, you have the opportunity to learn much, as I did today! Sandi, you are not only a sweetheart, lady...you are a powerhouse!!!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /> </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadebysandi"><strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Handmade By Sandi</span></strong></a></div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.sandists.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Sandi's T's</strong></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<strong><a href="http://www.sandists.com/Wordpress"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sandi's Blog</span></a></strong></div>
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBMXTusLTTAx0Zd3t9XatPlVOaP9cD-c4LAt6Aq6_kJvopWs2kg8o98Ak1VmuHwzOnAGQzvPzCJ5E_C1KI8XehQaPKYtqzewMIsT4uKfpXKzhx3dI2I2QhsyDRu7d45CPV8ofN5dSJec/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBMXTusLTTAx0Zd3t9XatPlVOaP9cD-c4LAt6Aq6_kJvopWs2kg8o98Ak1VmuHwzOnAGQzvPzCJ5E_C1KI8XehQaPKYtqzewMIsT4uKfpXKzhx3dI2I2QhsyDRu7d45CPV8ofN5dSJec/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The "T-Shirt Lady"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sandi Myers, the owner of Sandi's T's, does all the sewing herself. She has been sewing for more than 35 years. My nickname is "T-Shirt Lady" which came from my husband. He goes hunting a lot, and didn't want to use his cell phone to stay in touch with me. So he bought us a pair of CB radios and decided on my 'name'!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"I love to make my house as nice as it can be, and so I'm always searching for nice things at affordable prices that allow me to change my home's "look" for the seasons, plus each holiday. In my search, I found wonderful companies I'm so impressed with that I decided to represent them on my website so that YOU have easy access to them as well, without all the searching! While I continue to search, you can enjoy,,,"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Most fulfilling of all is offering opportunities to other artists to share their talent - like denim purses, glass pendants, tennis bracelets, and others too numerous to mention. Talented artists offering unique handcrafted items you love!"</div>
<br />
"We also have a farmette, raising melons and vegetables for foodbanks. Actually, my husband does most of the farming - grin - I just get on the tractor every once in awhile!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbCSqtjj9R0HD_hCVBm3TqF-8eg_5yf3iElD0vg63Jlvh81tXXRpGsn6JYle-xu1qpn-SMt6t3hCXLaeHvwJBTT3I3KYXL0ebTFccXLAnxcTUPVcfU88R-_pA_yQdLFFoLR4SUrChzYg/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbCSqtjj9R0HD_hCVBm3TqF-8eg_5yf3iElD0vg63Jlvh81tXXRpGsn6JYle-xu1qpn-SMt6t3hCXLaeHvwJBTT3I3KYXL0ebTFccXLAnxcTUPVcfU88R-_pA_yQdLFFoLR4SUrChzYg/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You must stop by her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HandmadeBySandi"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong><em>shop</em></strong></span></a> to celebrate her birthday and her wide variety of creativity with her 50% off sale.</div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-22430729580561607072010-05-11T14:31:00.004-04:002010-05-11T14:38:58.518-04:00EtsyBloggers Team May 21, 2010 Blog Carnival<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hosted by teammate: Elizabeth, Teacher, Crafter, Reader, Auntie, Daughter, Sister, Cancer Survivor, AND Designer/Artisan of </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ebogie"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">ebogie</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a href="http://ebogie.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Thoughts From An Evil Overloard</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">, AND </span><a href="http://costrong.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Coming On Strong</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Elizabeth's two choices for this Blog Carnival are:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1) By mid-May most people in the northern hemisphere are working on their gardens and starting to have some things sprout. Share any gardening, flowers, vegetables, or even containers on the deck, that you are doing this year, or that have been successful in the past.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">2) This is also the time of year many of us have children getting out of school and we're planning a summer vacation. Write about a wonderful family or group vacation from your childhood, or more recent years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">As I do not live in or near the northern hemisphere (anymore) *sniff*, 2) will be the subject for which this blog post will be about, as I write with trepidation about the teacher correcting my work! :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Growing up in New England with a step-father who had his own construction company building new homes, remodeling, and such, winter work was slow as digging a basement/cellar was impossible, we would pack up for a month and come to Florida to visit my mother's relatives. Bringing our school work with us Elizabeth!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">The good things that I remember the most is the beautiful Clearwater Beach and Pier 60, swimming in February, foods we did not normally eat, thunder like I had never heard, sharing a room with my cousin who is four days older than I, and collecting things to bring back for show-and-tell. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">My Aunt Kosha worked at the Safety Harbor Spa and always had spa bags full of little goodies from the spa, and her husband, my favoritest Uncle would pay me $10 to comb his hair. Needless to say, I was his favorite and I miss him terribly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Aunt Betty, married to an Italian, would cook huge pots of homemade pasta sauce as the men played horseshoes in the empty lot next door to their home, and if we were lucky, us kids (my 1/2 sisters & cousins) were allowed to swim in a neighbors swimming pool while they were out of town. We would swim until we were purple and pruned, the heat up in the hot Florida sun, then beg to go back again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Visiting Florida from a small town in Cape Cod I learned of air conditioning, huge rain storms, hot white sandy beaches, wearing shorts in the winter, being with my mothers family, flamingo's (tropical birds) was introduced to my cousins friends mother who was bald from cancer and wore a wig, swinging from a tree branch on a tire swing, having my first big girl drink, having a crush on one of my older male cousins, spanish moss/chiggers, red clay dirt in Georgia, and so much more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Traveling by car or truck all of those miles in each direction, my step-father was a CB freak talking to the truckers fascinated me totally. Especially at night when everyone else but he and I were sleeping and it was just he and I...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Sitting here, the good memories have me smiling and feeling wonderful in remembrance. Thank you Elizabeth for the opportunity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Reminders from the EtsyBloggers Team, please visit their shops by clicking on the link and enjoy:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEmS3HYlc_m_ZhlPTg1rWerB_t986P31h1Rph0wBI0j_D69W9fuw304ut6z0wuI6HodJBalg1KEbSaFwCC9VUawTedY8sBhvU8gBd8pt6PeFfMPmiRAYG8skmN0tuFJzaGtGDbSPBma0/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEmS3HYlc_m_ZhlPTg1rWerB_t986P31h1Rph0wBI0j_D69W9fuw304ut6z0wuI6HodJBalg1KEbSaFwCC9VUawTedY8sBhvU8gBd8pt6PeFfMPmiRAYG8skmN0tuFJzaGtGDbSPBma0/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/26090204/5x7-photo-vintage-camera-argus-c3-35mm?ref=sr_list_7&ga_search_query=etsybloggers+team&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=5&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Donna Pool</span></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #999999;">(not just the camera, but the "pool" too)</span></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;"></span></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIF8rpwhueNc7Zxk0hyphenhyphenmZCvqdeY7hGUCkLLtBaUq2cnFWLfbgTpF09-V7ka5sZvV4qHSUuhyMzlhV0kFpNgW2-7iif0-vHTETRHCOUUM6JGyQGMu48X2Z4Lug21HWW1aVLI3xW35chAI/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIF8rpwhueNc7Zxk0hyphenhyphenmZCvqdeY7hGUCkLLtBaUq2cnFWLfbgTpF09-V7ka5sZvV4qHSUuhyMzlhV0kFpNgW2-7iif0-vHTETRHCOUUM6JGyQGMu48X2Z4Lug21HWW1aVLI3xW35chAI/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/24571477/sale-priced-celebrate-card-set-dots-n?ref=sr_list_8&ga_search_query=etsybloggers+team&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=8&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">ebogie - Dots n Drinks</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #999999;">(my first big girl drink)</span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitabCzYq2ZSHxytUXfq0r0GQFAUBHHbWXHMUSSq0b8qSnuu5NgPhuMROCUjic6eSM3oUxm_ZnoSr4r7UGycQEgk32dsWO78d32LUZuoZPOXupUZsSt2xecLtgkxMwTCnKadaPPMHo2amQ/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitabCzYq2ZSHxytUXfq0r0GQFAUBHHbWXHMUSSq0b8qSnuu5NgPhuMROCUjic6eSM3oUxm_ZnoSr4r7UGycQEgk32dsWO78d32LUZuoZPOXupUZsSt2xecLtgkxMwTCnKadaPPMHo2amQ/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/24571477/sale-priced-celebrate-card-set-dots-n?ref=sr_list_8&ga_search_query=etsybloggers+team&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=8&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Punky Jane - Mark Your Calendar</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><em>(our month in FL was always February, believe me when</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;"><em>I say that we counted down the days)</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBJx1kehAael8CWHM7iqlSstxTYObJXNcl0DTFziGsZFxch-hbxdqtuhS0DbwR7-ZbeQ62cCuE33BkOUt-e6xJkWnclXXoegb0Bbq5jvZMMO8b11GcNrWB7RFHyF03UhgEiHDMVNJAQg/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBJx1kehAael8CWHM7iqlSstxTYObJXNcl0DTFziGsZFxch-hbxdqtuhS0DbwR7-ZbeQ62cCuE33BkOUt-e6xJkWnclXXoegb0Bbq5jvZMMO8b11GcNrWB7RFHyF03UhgEiHDMVNJAQg/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/35337876/memories-scrapbook-photo-album-simply?ref=sr_list_12&ga_search_query=etsybloggers+team&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=28&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Memories Scrapbook Photo Album</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: #999999;">(this one speaks for itself)</span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-68284165947111653222010-05-08T06:34:00.000-04:002010-05-08T06:34:51.125-04:00Caturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ62aEKyFWBVrhyurCB0YBym-j4jdOv0sM5ybgSYSYLg9vFrCY8ZSxb3TWtrTXlL4Zi1v7VRBvb3YLM3I4EDZypivTcsLKU8_s3wyszPmTMleFaDrzoxr5CDK4qcYiKEqgI62EW7Dk9Ko/s1600/100_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ62aEKyFWBVrhyurCB0YBym-j4jdOv0sM5ybgSYSYLg9vFrCY8ZSxb3TWtrTXlL4Zi1v7VRBvb3YLM3I4EDZypivTcsLKU8_s3wyszPmTMleFaDrzoxr5CDK4qcYiKEqgI62EW7Dk9Ko/s400/100_0755.JPG" tt="true" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjccyGjJ26rIXcEfv4qmH0zV5m2VnInlJUTHpgI-wVpAIoGU8tDZtJXxkh3mpSsKLhtrcxHdJvmu_ltahty6u7QR1ycMx19B8unD1Tlv1ZirDDplVsX90EbSgp4jH0YscwXVMibZ7f8Y/s1600/100_0754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjccyGjJ26rIXcEfv4qmH0zV5m2VnInlJUTHpgI-wVpAIoGU8tDZtJXxkh3mpSsKLhtrcxHdJvmu_ltahty6u7QR1ycMx19B8unD1Tlv1ZirDDplVsX90EbSgp4jH0YscwXVMibZ7f8Y/s400/100_0754.JPG" tt="true" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Who said it was a ruff life?</div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-2373341432906366572010-05-07T16:52:00.000-04:002010-05-07T16:52:04.134-04:00Well you've come a long way since the beginning ....<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">That is what my wonderful daughter said when I told her that I am moving into a real, genuine brick & morter!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoEpxhx17QG4fUmgIv4Jds7D8GEV6doQCG7bGEqUKFcpSVIW9TO1eit_gLGDoVpRn-qlDZlyohaKPgFOnUKUGYPmW5TaQSQHxIPxpfzlPK4geBKoRhR0kBaWiENZq_0_iu0gy7Ip3eko/s1600/100_0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoEpxhx17QG4fUmgIv4Jds7D8GEV6doQCG7bGEqUKFcpSVIW9TO1eit_gLGDoVpRn-qlDZlyohaKPgFOnUKUGYPmW5TaQSQHxIPxpfzlPK4geBKoRhR0kBaWiENZq_0_iu0gy7Ip3eko/s320/100_0761.JPG" tt="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Later this month I will be moving my studio into a B&M!!! Sometimes things happen so fast, and sometime those things have such great potential.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Two of my friends from our Wednesday beading group have rented out a gigantic warehouse space. This is a photograph of the store front, which is a total of (I think) 5,000 square feet. </span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">To let you in on a bit about the ladies, one has her own contractors license, is a master potter, fabulous interior designer, who used to have a business w/her former husband where they traveled the world in charge of building water theme parks such as Sea World, and on her own more recently, was building "very" high end homes. </span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The other is a retired art teacher who continues to teach. She teaches at a local bead shop, at FSU, oversees the grants for the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center, and is a painter as well as jewelry designer and artisan, specializing in middle eastern design. They both do classes for children in local schools and have traveled the world. And that’s not the 1/2 of it. Am I in good company? </span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The place, already given the chosen name "The Studio" by the two "J's", is in the beginning area of a gynormus uber upscale area, and across the street from a private special kind of school. It has its own water fountain in the lake in front, that is framed by the window in one of the studio rooms, within The Studio!</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The two "J's" are ever so generously and unconditionally offering me what is the opportunity of a lifetime even if only to be more involved within their lives. I'm so blessed to have been lead into the lives of the women of our bead group, which continues to evolve. When we open in 2-3 weeks, the bead group will start meeting at "The Studio". The Studio will rent the main space for artists to teach classes, and likely the three of us will be teaching classes too!</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The three of us have our own spaces, I will be sub-leasing my space from them. We here at home are going to rent out what I've been using for my studio (apartment/large efficiency), as was done for many, many years before we tired of it and eventually this became my studio. The rent for this place will cover the cost of me moving to The Studio and then some, therefore will not be a burden.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">So, on the 15th, we will start some minor renovations as we each begin to move our “stuff” in.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">They both have awesome contacts that will be invited to our open house, and the exposure as a selling venue in a B&M is hoped to fair well for us all!</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">And get this... the numbers in our address add up to my lucky number!!! Speaking of lucky, below are some interesting idea's:</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloQoJI5Y6eKbz5WXxYBpvFxecICvzRrwy-xIRewu-1c9447dVy0Q2TyxNK3kLA2Tac-9L3yLyVpIZdO87E1UVQeMeRWf5esu-x0acZRojn6eXe5GQDnre-IOwrfKfzfMS64PFGpP8ADQ/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloQoJI5Y6eKbz5WXxYBpvFxecICvzRrwy-xIRewu-1c9447dVy0Q2TyxNK3kLA2Tac-9L3yLyVpIZdO87E1UVQeMeRWf5esu-x0acZRojn6eXe5GQDnre-IOwrfKfzfMS64PFGpP8ADQ/s400/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/43125338/upcycled-green-number-11-tshirt-purse?ref=sr_list_28&ga_search_query=number+11&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=7&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span style="color: #990000;">Upcycled Green Number 11 Tshirt Purse</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKmGdyS5FPP8G_B_rEld5RGXvnQnyCr7gmQs8GvHIFhZklK1HlAE2PzikMTiwo8qmgkQ9Kl4fyfuCxrY2VkUJW6zZBaxPO0uKaNklZH7dhua98L1h8ClNOS2qULIsz7Alw-I5MjByD7Q/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKmGdyS5FPP8G_B_rEld5RGXvnQnyCr7gmQs8GvHIFhZklK1HlAE2PzikMTiwo8qmgkQ9Kl4fyfuCxrY2VkUJW6zZBaxPO0uKaNklZH7dhua98L1h8ClNOS2qULIsz7Alw-I5MjByD7Q/s400/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/26923811/denny-hamlin-nascar-dangle-earrings?ref=sr_list_29&ga_search_query=number+11&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=8&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span style="color: #990000;">Denny Hamlin Nascar Dangle Earrings</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGITIWEQE8NZUe9YMkx9UBPaH-o4aj6g9tLOyA2rciT2mwvDwM57_ykUqCT0l21H-VsiEtH-8NKYtPQ_7o_o2JNyzei490_S5Dg85V1FXH32VNQDcEaWoUa7jFdVtTRvhbUZ6zSM3yuCM/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGITIWEQE8NZUe9YMkx9UBPaH-o4aj6g9tLOyA2rciT2mwvDwM57_ykUqCT0l21H-VsiEtH-8NKYtPQ_7o_o2JNyzei490_S5Dg85V1FXH32VNQDcEaWoUa7jFdVtTRvhbUZ6zSM3yuCM/s400/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" width="322" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/42291635/i-ching-number-11-prospering-peace?ref=sr_list_33&ga_search_query=number+11&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=8&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title"><span style="color: #990000;">I-Ching Number 11 - Prospering, Peace</span></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-76150472540549889292010-05-07T00:11:00.003-04:002010-05-07T15:29:09.057-04:00Friday Funny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTLtt_ngZn64Dbd3x4grYPUab0uI2FVQyD19c2aHcoo63FMO16EmHciGTQJ-wiF73G13EyCqZhatBgWXTvBlkofVQFey5OaoaK83pjdwyARrVZBwa2bt4di22c2gflzR14Y7vfj-QwX0/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTLtt_ngZn64Dbd3x4grYPUab0uI2FVQyD19c2aHcoo63FMO16EmHciGTQJ-wiF73G13EyCqZhatBgWXTvBlkofVQFey5OaoaK83pjdwyARrVZBwa2bt4di22c2gflzR14Y7vfj-QwX0/s400/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></div>
<br />Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-71461166355334014172010-05-05T11:24:00.000-04:002010-05-05T11:24:11.251-04:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRT4sZduMipvMHCrrYc6v8jaF1nJsmvEpeCKpObmyG1MFIjUGr2tGG_fqVS9GKbO4KkpEfrfsfVm5hKGAQ2PnLQSlSxewh53sK0kr5cKQkxv4EqmgKMp97rvpRuD4xtPuSjJJEpoh8X8/s1600/SNAPPER+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRT4sZduMipvMHCrrYc6v8jaF1nJsmvEpeCKpObmyG1MFIjUGr2tGG_fqVS9GKbO4KkpEfrfsfVm5hKGAQ2PnLQSlSxewh53sK0kr5cKQkxv4EqmgKMp97rvpRuD4xtPuSjJJEpoh8X8/s400/SNAPPER+necklace.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fish necklace...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, thats my hubby!</div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-53066741800203833682010-05-02T08:45:00.000-04:002010-05-02T08:45:55.338-04:00Sundays Silence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAvaSQvrKDYHiMeAHDZu9LT-w0OmpU4RJ-uwXUy-RrGnnHmNn4tv1JIxT_o9oSz2XTUIi0zFbUZPJ9Xk0qADDdbh7ahNj7NglJGDfLB0nMvfG_AUj0q0UeGcKPNlndc3EuIFjqMwx94g/s1600/scales2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAvaSQvrKDYHiMeAHDZu9LT-w0OmpU4RJ-uwXUy-RrGnnHmNn4tv1JIxT_o9oSz2XTUIi0zFbUZPJ9Xk0qADDdbh7ahNj7NglJGDfLB0nMvfG_AUj0q0UeGcKPNlndc3EuIFjqMwx94g/s320/scales2.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-79229907950004066082010-05-02T00:11:00.002-04:002010-05-02T00:11:00.352-04:00What does your sleep position reveal about your personality?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA0rcMKlqmLX4hqCDli1sM6oTSa_u-DR0pEjmBRtp3T_L5wC-EoijMyYWvcOoYaB7k7lA729MzgJOueULOwMzm0dIiuom8DCJ5WZLERBQ_py4LDpXRoWkKlGcSxpWG5CB4grbUdzXNQE/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCA0rcMKlqmLX4hqCDli1sM6oTSa_u-DR0pEjmBRtp3T_L5wC-EoijMyYWvcOoYaB7k7lA729MzgJOueULOwMzm0dIiuom8DCJ5WZLERBQ_py4LDpXRoWkKlGcSxpWG5CB4grbUdzXNQE/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">These days, the way that I sleep simply says, "I am happy to be single and spending five to seven hours sprawled out in the center of my bed alone."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">At other points, my tightly squeezed eyes and curled-up body would have screamed, "I know the baby will wake up/someone will start snoring/the alarm will begin blaring as soon as I finally, finally, finally get to sleep."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Years and years ago, the corpse-looking college student still in her clothes would have mumbled something like, "Finals. Boys. Beer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our lives, the amount of sleep we get, and how well we actually rest during those nighttime hours may change drastically over time. However, one sleep researcher says that our body position in bed could say something about who we are, not just what else is happening in our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 Brits revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If this sounds ridiculous (and honestly, I'd love to see information on this study and the analysis fleshed out further than any of the reports I could find), consider that Idzikowski says it comes down to body language.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us," Idzikowski said. "What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7bBhlcp8c_RwkPQ6joTM0tUVsxTAVeu5yfOzvaATaPT303lttIBN-hMxTaQeULzSmR1pKFgOzWqHVUJ23sRkc1ev7M4mu9RxOAZ7PdZBdBXxc24FeAPEMDhSMKmfiiFrkKeS-kI3YEw/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7bBhlcp8c_RwkPQ6joTM0tUVsxTAVeu5yfOzvaATaPT303lttIBN-hMxTaQeULzSmR1pKFgOzWqHVUJ23sRkc1ev7M4mu9RxOAZ7PdZBdBXxc24FeAPEMDhSMKmfiiFrkKeS-kI3YEw/s400/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here are the six common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Let's see how the Shine readers are resting these days. No need to get yourself to a sleep lab or set up the video cam to run all night. We'll take your word for it on our own not-so-scientific but still fascinating research.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What position do you sleep in? </span><a href="http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/what-does-your-sleep-position-reveal-about-your-personality-1338293/#poll-00F628E0516E11DFA207A34EA49182FB"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Use the poll</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> to tell us and the comments to reveal whether the personality traits linked to the way you sleep are right on or really off.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cccccc;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">by Jessica Ashley, Shine staff, on Mon Apr 26, 2010</span> </span>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-5406630250549218862010-05-01T00:11:00.002-04:002010-05-01T14:43:41.727-04:00Caturday - being attacked by one brave bird!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSswzyW0uEEDymxHoCXRXvZ0LR_5CjLmscg-x3NOi0BvdTWIZZ2YnyPUyRJKkviHc_eBq-8r7o1POldJfDaAX3dsq9ernE_rcbKVacQu8beMOUyekAThQKQP19dwWt8t1kGBKvs50VjVE/s1600/May+56+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSswzyW0uEEDymxHoCXRXvZ0LR_5CjLmscg-x3NOi0BvdTWIZZ2YnyPUyRJKkviHc_eBq-8r7o1POldJfDaAX3dsq9ernE_rcbKVacQu8beMOUyekAThQKQP19dwWt8t1kGBKvs50VjVE/s400/May+56+020.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A bird a day keeps the doctor away...</div>Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-75473298225663067362010-04-30T13:27:00.001-04:002010-04-30T20:16:16.320-04:00My box of tissues are soaked!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSG_xjzAt4leaiSgeLih65GHrcuQy2DlizQIY8XGWyc87stNDCNe0ntMS3TgB-6uC45QCxjqLxG2vENaetpNUis3SwwXw3-sAMG7tMMF8lEuM61vQvhg4o52eMRLlU5vA7ZO8RTpOCRk/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSG_xjzAt4leaiSgeLih65GHrcuQy2DlizQIY8XGWyc87stNDCNe0ntMS3TgB-6uC45QCxjqLxG2vENaetpNUis3SwwXw3-sAMG7tMMF8lEuM61vQvhg4o52eMRLlU5vA7ZO8RTpOCRk/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>
My dog & me, well we just laid on the bed and cuddled listening to birds rejoice. Reminding me how much I love the stolen songs of the Mocking bird.<br />
<br />
That was the day that the lights went out in our small part of Florida. Our small grid of nineteen where electricity was lost in the wee hours of the night.<br />
<br />
So here I am now sitting, using natural light from a window hearing the raindrops, a plane flying nearby, cars passing by the house and Hobo, forever cleaning his adorable self. Oh, and writing this letter with pen on paper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8L4buvPeCPqRd1Gy_asjuHyumxqEDpF41CDyOc073s68rRTYMRA7F7eFqi3GFjRU2EL4aP6FZXgFmTNCaEDlpQhZgztQq0aBK2BMddDJjeuMAXsnevOdd6Z3uFlv2hyJqoPeIhjBWj8/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8L4buvPeCPqRd1Gy_asjuHyumxqEDpF41CDyOc073s68rRTYMRA7F7eFqi3GFjRU2EL4aP6FZXgFmTNCaEDlpQhZgztQq0aBK2BMddDJjeuMAXsnevOdd6Z3uFlv2hyJqoPeIhjBWj8/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>
I am reminded that the ice on door of the refrigerator does not work without electricity, nor does the telephone. Which leads to an entire other list of realities. Here is a tip for all: we have an old fashioned orange telephone, the cord actually prevents you from walking around, almost everyone I could call to chat with this morning is programmed into the cordless, that does not work in a power outage. Ok, two duhs! However, when in need ... keep on in a drawer and tell all of your family members where it is. You never know when you or a neighbor may need it during a time such as this.<br />
<br />
Of course, there is my cell phone. However, it is in the car and its raining. And, I'd have to get out of my night clothes. I just thought of something. I really cannot remember what it was like before technology permitted us to screen our calls, and the answering machine before we decided whether to answer the call or not...could you just let it ring?<br />
<br />
Have you ever heard the saying, "If you want to hear God laugh just tell Him your plans"?<br />
<br />
Later...<br />
<br />
As it turns out, I realize the peace of sitting in one place, in my quiet home, listening to the world outside, and within my head.<br />
<br />
~<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmPHzn24iYPepkEv8OUgSa3fNuMeCQXMt9T5hlgN45Q8G7ZEqyhH2ftKWJkqdEECT-5I8p-EoZtwOVVN0ZeP6MHKK4-4Qn0cFiK6jCoOrG5_My8N1RQ5QlRkrGcbeI65wlN_2jdlBmaA/s1600/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmPHzn24iYPepkEv8OUgSa3fNuMeCQXMt9T5hlgN45Q8G7ZEqyhH2ftKWJkqdEECT-5I8p-EoZtwOVVN0ZeP6MHKK4-4Qn0cFiK6jCoOrG5_My8N1RQ5QlRkrGcbeI65wlN_2jdlBmaA/s320/BLOG+TODAY.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div>
Oh the tissues? I had moved some items out of my car to make room for traveling buddies. My small trash basket, a shirt to return, and my box of tissues... left outside with the intention of returning it all to its rightful place.<br />
<br />
I see the sun, an awesome opportunity to get dressed and get to photographing. After all, I have been complaining to myself the need , without seeming to have the time due to allowed distractions.<br />
<br />
It is another perfect day...Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271231460048103510.post-83212901534883032942010-04-29T13:44:00.003-04:002010-04-29T13:47:51.406-04:00Tibetan Monk Workshop & Performance - Van Wezel - April 2010 - Sarasota, Florida<span style="font-size: x-small;">In the wake of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, a Tibetan diaspora has made Tibetan Buddhism more widely accessible to the rest of the world. It has since spread to many Western countries, where the tradition has gained popularity. Among its prominent exponents is the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. The number of its adherents is estimated to be between ten and twenty million.</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">On Wednesday April 21st, my awesome friend Judy Levine did a very informative presentation on Buddhism and the Tibetan Monks. Eight years ago, she and a friend traveled to Tibet, Nepal, and surrounding countries. They were able to visit many Buddhist monasteries and other buildings in Tibet, Nepal, India, and Indonesia. Judy included many of the photos she took during that month-long visit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">At the same time, the visiting Monk's were spending eight hours a day, over a period of five days constructing a sand Mandala. The creation of a sand mandala requires many hours and days to complete. Each mandala contains many symbols that must be perfectly reproduced each time the mandala is created. When finished, the monks gather in a colorful ceremony, chanting in deep tones as they sweep their mandala into a jar and empty it into a nearby body of water as a blessing. This action also symbolizes symbolizes the cycle of life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">During the evening of April 23 at this same venue, following dinner with friends, the Tibetan Monks performed for a packed audience, teaching us through this performance, about their culture, history, ceremonies, and so much more. Their colorful garments memorized, while the guttural throat singing captivated.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;">Wikipedia: Also known as overtone singing, also known as overtone chanting, or harmonic singing, is a type of singing in which the singer manipulates the resonances (or formants) created as air travels from the lungs, past the vocal folds, and out the lips to produce a melody.</span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-small;">The partials (fundamental and overtones) of a sound wave made by the human voice can be selectively amplified by changing the shape of the resonant cavities of the mouth, larynx and pharynx.[1] This resonant tuning allows the singer to create apparently more than one pitch at the same time (the fundamental and a selected overtone), while in effect still generating a single fundamental frequency with his/her vocal folds.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">After the performance, everyone was invited to see the Tibetan Monks hold the special ceremony and then they deconstructed the manadala. The sand was placed in small ziplock type of plastic bags and given to participants as a blessing. What was left was carried to our local bay, an open, flowing body of water to be dispersed. The mandala represents life and its impermanent nature.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This was such a special experience for my husband and myself. There are so many things that remain with me, such as one of the Monks in particular who had the gift of throat singing, the community mandala for which I was a participant, the lenght of the horns, and the ceremony of giving the sand back to the earth via moving water.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"The creation of a sand Mandala requires many hours and days to complete. Each Mandala contains many symbols that must be perfectly reproduced each time the Mandala is created. When finished, the monks gather in a colorful ceremony, chanting in deep tones as they sweep their Mandala into a jar and empty it into a nearby body of water as a blessing. This action also symbolizes the cycle of life."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Research: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tibet, you will learn how to be happy and live a life full of contentment without a complaint. Just pass a smile to a Tibetan who is looking at you and believe us you will get an even bigger smile in return. This is the way they are much warm, caring and full of hospitality towards their guests for whom they will go out of the way to help. To learn the simple courtesies of life and to acclimatize moral values there is no other place better than Tibet where one can learn the best of it. They seem like a new breed of humans, happy the way they are, totally unperturbed by outside world. Come to Tibet and get to know these wonderful people, from whom we can still learn a lot about life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Drepung Monastery was established near Lhasa, Tibet in 1416 by Chojey Tashi Palden. It had four departments, of which Loseling, or "The Hermitage of the Radiant Mind," was the largest, housing more than three quarters of Drepung's ten to fifteen thousand monks. Drepung Loseling was especially close to the Dalai Lama incarnations; the Second Dalai Lama made his residence here in 1494, and subsequent incarnations maintained this link. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">After the Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959 and the forced closure and horrid destruction of its 6,500 monasteries, some 250 monks from Loseling managed to escape the holocaust and rebuild their institution in Karnataka State, South India. The traditional training program was thus preserved. Over the years many more young spiritual aspirants have fled Chinese-occupied Tibet and sought entrance into the monastery, thus helping to preserve their traditional culture. The number of monks presently in the re-established Drepung Loseling has increased to more than 2,500. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In 1991, as a result of The Mystical Arts of Tibet tours, the monks were invited to establish a seat in North America. Thus </span><a href="http://www.drepung.org/"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drepung Loseling Monastery, Inc</span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. A non-profit organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of wisdom and compassion and a center for the cultivation of both heart and intellect, Drepung Loseling provides a sanctuary for nurturing inner peace, community understanding, and global healing. In 1998 Drepung Loseling and its North American seat established academic affiliation with Emory University with the objective of promoting transcultural understanding and scholarly interchange. This historic affiliation between two major institutions of learning was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 12, 1998.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In addition to its academic and spiritual programs, Drepung Loseling is committed to helping preserve the endangered Tibetan culture, which today leads a fragile existence in the exiled refugee communities in India and Nepal. In conjunction with Richard Gere Productions, it coordinates The Mystical Arts of Tibet World Tours and oversees the Drepung Loseling Educational Fund, a sponsorship program for the adoption of monks in training at Drepung Loseling Monastery.</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<embed height="360" src="http://w1000.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw1000.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faf127%2FFusionArtJewelry%2F2010+Tibetan+Monk+Presentation+and+Performance%2F67dd5f9d.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" wmode="transparent"><a href="http://photobucket.com/slideshows" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" /></a><a href="http://s1000.photobucket.com/albums/af127/FusionArtJewelry/2010%20Tibetan%20Monk%20Presentation%20and%20Performance/?action=view&current=67dd5f9d.pbw" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/slideshows/btn_viewallimages.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; float: left;" /></a></div>
Fusion Art Jewelryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413634955853170718noreply@blogger.com2