Crafty

I love to make beautiful things.

My first adventure in crafts was making bows. It took lots and lots and lots of practice, but I have conquered to task. I can make beautiful bows. Thank you very much.

Then I started making wreaths. Well, my mother is far better at making wreaths than I am. I just had to find my niche. So, when Halloween rolled around, I make the coolest, creepiest Halloween wreath. It had spiders, spiderwebs, black and orange gunks of glitter, black tulle ribbon, and a big raven. Too, too cool.

Then I discovered scrapbooking. It wasn't too far a leap to stamping. We, okay...my husband, call it crap and stamping. I have accumulated an entire closet and a dresser full of crap and stamp stuff. I am such a sucker for colorful paper.

Just when I became comfortable with that crafty medium, I decided that I could make gift baskets. In a shop where I worked last year, there were small wicker baskets for sale. They were nothing special and were selling for $10. I thought that was outrageous, especially since yard sales are the best place to buy baskets. BING. A light went off inside my head and I said to myself, "Self, you can make cuter baskets than that and for a lot less money." So, out on adventure to find good baskets, cheap. Those yard sales were a goldmine. Nearly all of the baskets I bought that weekend were 25 cents. The most expensive one, which was also the biggest cost 75 cents.

Fall theme, for me, is easy. So, I picked up thousands and thousands of acorns off my lawn. I also picked up about a million of these prickly, seed pod, ball things from one of the trees on my property. Then, I invested a couple of bucks on spray varnish and glue. Wouldn't you know, my baskets are beautiful.

Soooooo, I mentioned all of this to my beautician. She requested I make her a spring wreath and a gift basket. She said she wanted to get an assortment of greeting cards to put in the gift basket. I chimed right up and told her that I make greeting cards, too. She was thrilled and told me to make a stationery gift basket. No problem. Cake and pie.

I'm hoping that she'll be thrilled and tell all of her friends about it. Then, I just might be able to make a few bucks to support my crap and stamp habit.

Many fingers in many pies

And another adventures....

Last week, my amazingly wonderful husband and I were interviewed to become sponsor parents for a foreign exchange student. As we have a lovely daughter (age 16), my husband, the very protective father that he is, laid down the ground rules, namely NO BOYS. I readily agreed. The last thing we need is a budding romance.

We were given a choice between three girls. The first one was from Czech Republic. Her initial profile was interesting. She sounded like she would fit into our family quite nicely. The second young lady was from Belgium. She had some emotional baggage that we just weren't keen on inviting into our lives. The third girl was from Germany. Her profile sounded like she would be perfect for us. She seems to be outgoing, but then again, anyone who would sign up to be a foreign exchange student would have to be outgoing. She indicated she enjoys sports, horses, and watching TV, especially Friends. She is also excited about cooking a typical German meal for her sponsor family. Cool deal. Since we lived there, we know what she's talking about. I'm excited for her to come, which won't be until the beginning of next school year. We'll have her for 9 months. Yep, my husband and I are actually inviting another teenage girl into our home. Just a couple of gluttons for punishment.

As of today...my 16 year old daughter got her driver's license. That's a whole different set of worries. Yikes. I sent her on her very first solo drive today. Granted it wasn't too difficult a task, but she was sure excited. I'm happy for her. Nervous, but happy.

Wait, there's more.
This past Saturday, I went to a horse show. In one arena, folks were competing in dressage (that's the fancy pants and horse dancing) and in the arena across the street, cowboys were doing rodeo. Two totally different worlds of horses, but I loved every second of it.

I visited the stock pen and checked out the horses, steers, calves, and bulls. Two bicycle policemen came over to get a closer look at the bulls. Turns out they had never seen bulls and had some questions. As I have been to several rodeos in my time, I explained to them about the different animals and what each would be used to do. Just so happens that I know more about rodeo than I do about dressage, but it's the dressage I'm learning to do. Yep, I'm expanding my horizons. Just one more finger in one more pie.

Because I think that all animals need to enjoy a treat, I asked the stockmen if it would be okay to feed the stock horses a carrot.

They chuckled to themselves and said, "If you think you can get them to come close enough, sure."

With a bit of encouragement and the natural curiosity of horses, several came over to investigate. I suspect none of them had ever eaten a carrot. My friend who was with me asked the stockmen if the horse ever came inside. I knew those horses had spent their whole lives outside. The stockmen looked at my friend like she was from another planet.

I explained, "We take care of the barn babies across the street. Those guys are spoiled on a daily basis."

They nodded.

Then I asked if it would be okay if I were to give them apples. My friend asked them if the horses had ever eaten an apple.

"No. Apples don't grow in North Dakota," one cowboy said.

I replied, "The only thing that grows in North Dakota is snow." I went back over to the dressage arena and obtained two Red Delicious apples.

Once the rodeo stock horses tasted the apples, there was no hesitancy anymore. Turns out, they LOVE apples. I suspect I turned them into sissies.

Wait, there's more.

So, today after scooping lots of poop, I mounted my big girl, Blue and began my lesson. I walked her around cones in a circle and then in figure eights. Eventually, I got the hang of what I was supposed to be doing. When the instructor would give me some direction, I stopped concentrating on the horse and focused on the instructor. As soon as I did that, my horse stopped working. Blue needs a constant, consistent rider else she just stops. Basically, she's on the lazy side.

As if I don't have enough going on in my daily routines, on April 1st, I'm sticking my finger into another pie. Auditions for the spring dinner theater productions are that afternoon. I'm hopeful that I'll be cast.

The fellow who runs the theater troop mentioned an October job. He said he would refer my name and give me kudos to conduct haunted home tours. He said the money is good and thinks I would be good at it. That's encouraging.

There's always something on my plate.

Break a leg

My actor bio went something like...recently discovered for her effervescent enthusiasm as a murder mystery theater audience member and makes her theatrical debut with the Leavenworth Players Group in Murder at Paddy Kelly's Irish tavern or a St. Patrick's Day to Die For. The well-traveled, published author thanks her husband for his undying support in her eclectic endeavors.

Opening night went extremely well. I made two mistakes. The first one was in the end of the third section. I stepped on a laugh line. The second mistake was at the very end. I totally dropped a line, but I don't think anyone even noticed....except for other cast members.

I was supposed to serve for Table 10. I had expected 8 people. When I showed up for the call time, I discovered that my 8-top was down to a 7-top. When guests began to arrive, the number 7 guy wanted to sit with his friends at another table. So, my 7-top was now down to 6. By the opening act, two of my patrons had not arrived. So, I ended up with a 4-top. That was very disappointing. It also meant that my tip potential was, in a word.......pitiful. Lucky for me, one couple seated in my section was my personal guest and they tipped me well. Had it not been for them, I would have ended up being able to afford only two chicken soft tacos and a medium drink from Taco Bell. Even then, I wouldn't end up with any change.

There are two more shows. One is on March 16th and the last one on March 19th. Hopefully, I'll have more folks to serve. More folks = more alcoholic beverages = higher tab = more tips.