Hey! Look! I got an award!

Wow! I didn't know my blog was so fascinating, but I am thoroughly delighted to be nominated for and win an award!!!



Thank you Pam for nominating me for this award. Her blog is The Blue Between and she has fabulous photos of her home and surroundings, and inspiration for us bead enthusiasts. Thanks, Pam.

Thanks to all the little people, my cats, my children, my grandchildren, my cousins, and my dad, for making my life interesting enough to need my own blog.
Thank you Pacific Grind, Beach Dog Cafe, and Pirate Pastry for serving me wonderful food to write about. Thank you Tanger Outlet Mall for giving me a setting for many tales of shopping and dining with my wonderful grandgirls Cassie and Athena.
Thanks Momiji's and Lee's for allowing us to include your Chinese food in our diet.
Thank you Wet Canvas for giving me a world-wide circle of friends.

Here's my list of nominees that I'd like to receive this award as well:

1. Life on an Island
2. Elaine Magliacane Journal
3. Nancy's Craft blog
4. Ramblings of a lunatic mom and lampworker
5. Sueze’s blog - Vox
6. Luke-a-do
7. For the love of beads

Here are the rules for this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.
6. Write an acceptance speech in the style of the Academy Awards, thanking every body's mother, father, sister, brother, aunties and uncles and the kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant!

Cats are definitely crazy

I was trying valiantly to take Koala's picture this morning after she had, once again, foiled my cat prevention measures at the front door. I figured since she was in the house I might as well take advantage of the situation and show you how pretty she is, too. Baby, meanwhile, had been nibbling on catnip and decided he didn't like the idea of my taking "her" picture.
He is the self-appointed king of everything and has suddenly decided "he" is the one to be photographed. I suppose what cracked me up the most was the lengths he went to prevent my taking her photo. He kept walking in front of the camera, and when that failed he would butt it with his head to move it away from her.



Little did he know she is difficult to get a decent picture of anyway. If the lighting isn't right she is so dark it is hard to see any details, and she won't hold still for more than about two second intervals.

I finally had to follow her to the bathroom to get a decent photo. She loves to go in there anyway because she is obsessed with drinking from the bathroom sink.



She has a perfectly good cat fountain beside it, but that is obviously "different" water. I don't know what flavor the faucet has that is so much better, but she certainly likes it better. Here is the lovely Koala in all her glory. I called this shot "Princess Koala." She has assumed the position of cat in power. It didn't last long, but she was satisfied for a moment.

More Charms and Charming Baby

Today was intended to be a day of actually starting to pre-assemble earring components. Somehow it turned into a day of housework, charm hunting and naps.

I am including a photo of my beautiful boy, Baby. This is his attempt as hypnosis. isn't he a pretty boy? (click to enlarge photo)

Having changed the sheets on my bed first thing this morning, and getting dad up and fed to start the day I began doing laundry. Oh boy. Then tackled the pile of dishes that always accumulates on days I work. I can't seem to find the energy to do them on days I have already put so much effort and energy into. I had to figure out what to make for three meals today, which is a shock to my system after the weekend where we pretty much have leftovers and take-out. Then I had planned to work on earrings. That suddenly changed when Tess called and we went to the local Joann's Fabrics and Crafts in search of fringe for a new sarong for Athena. Tess found a really beautiful one at the bead store south of us last time we were there. Beautiful batik fabric and a generous cut so she had options of how to wear it. She said Cassie has commandeered it quite frequently and Athena really wanted one, too. She took Athena to Joann's a couple days ago, but couldn't figure out what to do for fringe. Hence the trip back there today. We found exactly what Athena wanted . . . rainbow fringe. While we were talking about Cassie stealing Tess's sarong she decided the way to remedy that would be to make one for Cassie, too. So she also bought fabric for that. Of course what she really meant was for me to make them both sarongs, since Tess can't sew in any way shape or form. While we were there I also found head pins and earring stoppers at great prices and the head pins were on sale at 30% off. The stoppers were a package of 300 for $3.99, and at the bead store they are $3 for 100. You do the math, but I think I saved a bunch of money. We also stopped at the bead store in the middle of town since I had a $10 off coupon I had earned with previous purchases. So I spent a total of $4 out of pocket for a bunch more charms for the earrings.
I am ready to start fresh tomorrow, and grateful for the day off today, and especially grateful for the 2-hour nap. I really needed it badly.

Here is another photo of my wonderful kitty Baby, I call it "puddle of cat." He is sleeping in dad's wheelchair.

My Zazzle

If you like my Baby cat he is now available as a T-shirt on Zazzle.com at
http://www.zazzle.com/ritazart

The adorable Baby

Each night when I get home from work I am greeted by the most wonderful sound. Some folks upon hearing it would exclaim, "What the heck is that? Did someone step on something?" I would say, nope, the crazy "MMMRRRRAAAAP" is the sound of my buddy and nighttime nemesis, Baby, my 11 year old red tabby point siamese cross. He is my pal and has been since he was a diminutive 6 weeks old. The little white kitten I wasn't supposed to have, who I had sworn not to love or keep. Of course that lasted about five minutes. By then I was hooked, and he was definitely mine. He is the most devoted friend and midnight snuggle buddy. He is tucking my dad into bed each night and sleeping between his knees until he is fast asleep. Then he saunters out to the living room and joins me, his mom, until I head off to bed. He then commandeers my chair in the living room. He wakes me around 2:30 or 3 am and goes outside for the rest of the night. If he had his way he would have a revolving door he could exit and enter at will all night long. Especially if the door made some obnoxious sound to wake me up every time he went in or out. He is definitely a nocturnal annoyance, but also worth it. The first photo was outside greeting me, then his handsome face indoors trying to figure out why I was showing him the camera.

Newest New Earrings

My newest earrings, my take on jellyfish!! Enjoy!!

Newest Earrings

Here is what I spent my day working on, sorry for the bad photos of the gold plated ones. They are made with gold- or silver-plated findings, a variety of charms, mother of pearl, fresh water pearls, shells, and hours of work: