Beginning Newest Design

Just got new fabric today to begin working on my latest project. Working on a fashion apron, a new design for a friend. Haven't done the sketch yet, too tired tonight, but will work on sketch for this design Wednesday night. I have choir practice tomorrow night. She's emailed me what she wants the apron to look like ultimately, but given me LOTS of room to be creative and make the design fun and fresh. Here's a photo of SOME of the fabric. The color is a bit different in person than shown as usual for a computer screen w/o fixing the color, but close enough.

Quail

I cooked Quail for the first time. Yes, maybe I should be embarrassed that this is my first time cooking it, but I cooked Quail for the first time and made up a recipe that I will post sometime in future on my culinary shop. It was successful. I pan seared it in olive oil, herbs, chicken broth, and other things, etc. It was delicious! Here's a photo of it.

Mango Peach Smoothie Delight

I tried my hands at creating a new smoothie recipe with two of my favorite fruite flavors.....drum roll.....Mango Peach Smoothie Delight! I'm happy with it. I like to make my smoothies as natural as possible with no ice. Ice waters down the fruit flavor. I have listed this recipe In my Culinary Elegance Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CulinaryElegance?ref=pr_shop_more

Here are some photos of my latest food creating fun!

Oklahoma Wind Storm Damage Photos

Drove around different neighborhood taking photos of wind storm damage. This tree had fallen on 2 cars in these people's driveway

Wow, can't believe I slept through this storm


Down tree in someone's yard

I stopped while driving on a main street, not something I do everyday!, and got a picture of this torn down privacy fence

See this bent street sign

Tree equipment cleaning up a neighborhood

You can see a downed small tree in the back of this house

Poor tree, Peace Out Tree!

Wow, this brings new meaning to "branching out on a limb" Wow!

We had a major wind storm last night....weird, like a tornado with strong, destructive winds, but with no funnel. I LOVE taking candid shots, so today, since we were out of electricity for most of the work day, I went out to nearby neighborhoods and shot photos of the damage. Everyone was telling stories of how last night when the storm came how they were taking cover, well, silly me, I slept through the entire storm and only found out a storm had been through when I noticed the electricity was out...and as I was driving into work saw downed trees, yeah, full trees, not just limbs, big trees were completely uprooted. I can't believe what a deep sleeper I must be! Wow, glad God proctected me in my deep sleep. Here's some candid shots of the damage around town! Not best, I took with my cell phone.

Another Gift--I'm so blessed!

Even the Gift Box was neat!

I think it's so neat that the cup WITH SHOE FASHION all over it has a lid on it. Wow!


Today, a great couple that I admire and really look up to b/c of their amazing character, example, and leadership, gave me a gift that they had bought me in Australia on their latest trip there. I can't believe they thought of me. I love it, yes, by now all reading this knows I love shoes, and this is the gift I was given today. I love it, thank you so much!!!!

Fashion Apron Finished Today

Today, Sunday, I got A LOT done, but NOT everything that I had on the agenda, but the week is still young! I have been wanting to sew myself a fashion apron that I designed last year that a friend bought from my shop. I really liked my design, I know that sounds vain but it's true, i really liked it, anyway, I wanted to make one for myself, so I did this weekend, and I didn't feel like pulling out my sewing machine, so I sewed the entire fashion apron by hand. My thunb is numb since I was dumb and didn't use a thumb thimble while hand sewing. Oh well, after putting a callus on my thumb, and "stabbing" myself a few times in the finger with the needle, I got my design sewed! Kind of ironic that my design is black and pink mostly and ironically I had on a black t-shirt, a pink pair of summer shorts, and even pink shoes today when I sewed the pink and black apron. Made modeling it easy...didn't have to change as shown in the pics! This week I will be finishing up projects, designs for my own closet that I've been putting off. I usually put myself last to everyone else which I guess is a good thing, but I do have to take care of me, so this week will be dedicated to finishing things for me. That just sounds wrong, but y'all know what I mean! :-)!

A VERY FUN Music Practice Session!

Only almost 10:30 and done, stick a fork in it with this weekends music blog! I'm making headway, but still a loooong ways to go in the music practices.

However, on one song, I got so into it, a total music drama queen, that when I hit the last note like a crazy woman, ha, ha, I nearly knocked over the piano bench and I had to catch myself so I didn't fall. Ha, ha! I laughed sooo hard when I watched my own practice session. I also went ahead and posted two other songs I've worked on. Go ahead laugh at me, I sure did! You can find all of my music practice sessions on my music blog at the address of: http://community.webshots.com/user/ccladybug5




This is a "normal" video, no drama of me playing Alla Tarantella by composer MacDowell. Been working on it when I can, and this is the end result, moving on to another song now.

This is me goofing off practicing my flute. I was totally rocking out on this one when the music started. I didn't realize how much I was into the song until I watched the video back. Totally busted up laughing at myself!

AND HERE IT IS!!! The very dramatic drama song, entitled, Tarantella, A DIFFERENT song from the othere one I played above. This one's by composer Pieczonka. When I hit the last note, I was so stoked into this fast paced song that I almost knocked the piano bench over backwards and had to catch myself. This is a classic of me being a piano drama queen. I love the flashy tunes though I need to practice this one a lot more to not miss any notes here and there, but not bad for a practice session. Enjoy and feel free to laugh at my dramatic self!

Crazy Weekend!

At the end of last week I started coming down with a cold, yeah, hottest summer ever and I catch a cold, so this weekend to keep from "sharing" my germs I've quarantined myself to my house. I'm not bored at all though....Today, on Sunday, I'm feeling A LOT better, congestion almost gone, so 2morrow on Monday, I should be A-OK. Today on Sunday I have soooo much to get done! Too much to do 2day! Exercising (I've already finished that yeah!!!), Piano practice 2 hard pieces I might add that are mentally wiping me out on the piano!!! (halfway there already this morning), finishing 2 fashion designs HOPEFULLY!, finishing a pencil rendering, creating new recipe for my culinary shop(it's about time) and above all of those things getting in personal study time. I've been up since before sunrise, so I've already accomplished some PARTIALLY, but still a long ways to go and it's already 9AM. AHHHH!!!!

Herb Design Update

My cilantro is beginning to look like cilantro! I took a photo of it this morning before exiting my house. Once I left it alone it started thriving, definitely a loner herb! I'm learning so much from growing herbs, how each one is different and takes a different kind of TLC to grow and thrive. Some herbs take a lot of attention, some take moderate, and others like the cilantro, well they like to be left alone to thrive. In a way people are kind of like this it seems. It really takes the way of give to help others, extend ourselves to their needs to help them grow. Lessons from my herbs! :-)

Gift From a Friend

One of the biggest blessings in life is family and true lifelong friends. Well, a fantastic, fabulous friend bought these shoes for me and presented them to me yesterday! (She knows I'm a shoe addict. :-) ) I'm very blessed, and I always do my best to share what I can share as well. Physical things don't last, but it's more of the gesture behind sharing things. Sharing is great. I love the way of give! Thanks for the shoes to add to my "shoe collection"