tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56343699056240176622023-11-16T10:59:14.742-05:00Lolly's Nest EggLollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-17436669432526115962011-02-26T00:11:00.000-05:002011-02-26T00:11:59.722-05:00I'm a Proud Sister and Daughter!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exciting news in the Busey family last week with the long awaited release of the product of the last 4 years of my brother Travis' (and father John's) research.....................their book was officially released. It is not a novel, but a historical reference book...information that has never been compiled in one place before! Woohoo!! This reference work chronicles more than 23,000 Union casualties at Gettysburg by generlas and staff and by state and unit. Thirteen appendices also cover information by brigade, division and corps; by engagements and skirmishes; by state; by burial at three cemeteries; and by hospitals. Casualty transports, incarceration records and civilian casualty lists are also included.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some publishers thought this work could not be done....it would be too large....but Travis connected with McFarland Publishers and they were supportive and excited about this 3-volume set. This is definitely not a novel, but geared to historians, schools, and genealogists. The guys have another contract and are hard at work on the companion book of Confederate casualties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Union-Casualties-Gettysburg-Comprehensive-Record/dp/0786448008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298695642&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/Union-Casualties-Gettysburg-Comprehensive-Record/dp/0786448008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298695642&sr=8-1</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And another great thing for my brother, Travis - his artwork (the tattered flag) is on both the front cover and the back cover. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am the proudest sister and daughter in the world! Way to go, guys!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Lolly</span>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-11189713489572722242011-02-05T15:25:00.000-05:002011-02-05T15:25:07.677-05:00Oh, yeah, I do have a blog.......<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My how time flies! :) With the holidays and work and work and more work the months have gotten away from me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have been busy with my day job, trying to find a new day job (please, universe!), my home businesses (ebay consignment and craft business), my beloved four-legged furry children and so, sadly, my blog took a back seat. My intention is to blog more intentionally and with some regularity. I think I tend to get so overwhelmed that instead of doing anything, I just stand still. I am working on that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">First and foremost, please meet Zeke, the newest member of my family. He came to me on Thanksgiving weekend and is just a real lovebug.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbShWpn2aW80mTkHyKjt_jQL4-zd01pqD9h-hB1p0RDMRSvjPPYD1hqVb_H8KHiaKXE2ZY1FOZ-hFejmYMMOjqcFWxGAHszZjfpCPuXenYMe-dcShp3rO8Uxhk_VvMR3d3ADzq5pjle21R/s1600/100_6266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbShWpn2aW80mTkHyKjt_jQL4-zd01pqD9h-hB1p0RDMRSvjPPYD1hqVb_H8KHiaKXE2ZY1FOZ-hFejmYMMOjqcFWxGAHszZjfpCPuXenYMe-dcShp3rO8Uxhk_VvMR3d3ADzq5pjle21R/s320/100_6266.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is a real sweetheart and likes to stay super close to me, much to my sweet little Freida's dismay (Freida is my shadow). They have learned to tolerate each other...they can both touch me at the same time as long as they don't touch each other! LOL. Speaking of touching, this is a usual scenario as I sit and work at my laptop in the evenings...(excuse the blurry picture)..</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir5gfsP-qrlhMaKIA5KjwC8sP9eHjx5MuWSmRgvQ11xSJszJZCOGKmpgk1jxBfFcMGhniEetw5fR9gtGcI8fBtPoR8xZnrvsARrXV9yDGOaXw7WJQ-SDheNb2sKi8xlc1tb-QUHku7Tvo/s1600/100_6612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjir5gfsP-qrlhMaKIA5KjwC8sP9eHjx5MuWSmRgvQ11xSJszJZCOGKmpgk1jxBfFcMGhniEetw5fR9gtGcI8fBtPoR8xZnrvsARrXV9yDGOaXw7WJQ-SDheNb2sKi8xlc1tb-QUHku7Tvo/s320/100_6612.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And my beloved Freida looking on from behind my head.....she looks as though she is saying "oh mom, what have you done and why is he here?" :)</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e5wIRaa7pL2iqFeeYmvOLBHcfU42791jZPJOzYQX_a6M8FitwuqS2Q3xbEi8qy27MXF6yiXDfzR-_t6Hd8SuOe6YvSmZrwNai18NE-WD_YsDKUcLZLloR5LRO7fOsj2eIyMAxeyB__Uc/s1600/100_6433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_e5wIRaa7pL2iqFeeYmvOLBHcfU42791jZPJOzYQX_a6M8FitwuqS2Q3xbEi8qy27MXF6yiXDfzR-_t6Hd8SuOe6YvSmZrwNai18NE-WD_YsDKUcLZLloR5LRO7fOsj2eIyMAxeyB__Uc/s320/100_6433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally a bit of a picture marathon to catch you up on my life of late....I am still eating well, but have incorporate aspects of <a href="http://crazysexylife.com/">Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet</a>, and am including lots of green smoothies, juice and raw foods. I made an amazing creamy raw ranch dressing....yummy! I love the taste of my green smoothies and coming up with the different concoctions, but I must admit that I do have a hard time getting past the color....is that normal?</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJHirDUacRXUAarz8XswfZ5l85TvpPWzDFGR7bnmkmO2aSmrzUAVEY5cxXQqR734SNOExvoacAFxXYdPHWYH5-uWavzQcxkTZjX7Z22ly19LVLh7Zaq7mWBr4cWhryoWyivZliJmpzh5-/s1600/100_6614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJHirDUacRXUAarz8XswfZ5l85TvpPWzDFGR7bnmkmO2aSmrzUAVEY5cxXQqR734SNOExvoacAFxXYdPHWYH5-uWavzQcxkTZjX7Z22ly19LVLh7Zaq7mWBr4cWhryoWyivZliJmpzh5-/s320/100_6614.JPG" 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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6L1AdZNa5EE0JHstfl9fyvjkSsDFUp-oVvdMFzFosmVLb2rpLWl_bFm8KfG0jdXKmYTwtFfOD3u-6vIJzL_eAB_a_wnatJFvpl5c20uuNnOU4cO_D3ZVIKagKgK4kRmzscLwvZgMhEFW/s1600/100_6615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ6L1AdZNa5EE0JHstfl9fyvjkSsDFUp-oVvdMFzFosmVLb2rpLWl_bFm8KfG0jdXKmYTwtFfOD3u-6vIJzL_eAB_a_wnatJFvpl5c20uuNnOU4cO_D3ZVIKagKgK4kRmzscLwvZgMhEFW/s320/100_6615.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me at an almost 70# weight loss....</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oR9pNx6-WBfhzCtN5SIDVBzPVLc7n9lCNTwSiENf3TeQ6AiW4-GW636RpHwb-DomMnC3XWU_PI5FOQI5xygqAORm2s5Lcul10XNZ0lGQ1xmQQ_iMDmLMw15RQzKiw65rszosKgJq2fC_/s1600/100_6425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oR9pNx6-WBfhzCtN5SIDVBzPVLc7n9lCNTwSiENf3TeQ6AiW4-GW636RpHwb-DomMnC3XWU_PI5FOQI5xygqAORm2s5Lcul10XNZ0lGQ1xmQQ_iMDmLMw15RQzKiw65rszosKgJq2fC_/s320/100_6425.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What to do if you get a cute rug for Christmas but with so many cats, you can't use it as a rug or the cats would use it as a scratching post.................well, you hang it on the wall of course!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCltObpo6aRWV_Z9br346xam1JOm_I_PmLL6VJgW4WO86625sQIQcbkOLfuDSeKDuhk34GEa7F3wX3RZBwCQeSclnmRJyEuU55USWGNdcDZvRMEZKizMryB4XWQcLSwZXu65Xlzrw_FwPc/s1600/100_6428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCltObpo6aRWV_Z9br346xam1JOm_I_PmLL6VJgW4WO86625sQIQcbkOLfuDSeKDuhk34GEa7F3wX3RZBwCQeSclnmRJyEuU55USWGNdcDZvRMEZKizMryB4XWQcLSwZXu65Xlzrw_FwPc/s320/100_6428.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am in my studio creating new crafts all the time....here are just a few...</span></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/AVvXsEiGmny-b_JWwiJpkmBdh3s9UcF2joPWJyv9Z_BvOcZltJMpY8CVc4Gu9IKZNK1bW7kl7tgBJ_LAvEoZes5rUJQlkLfnkE7jxGruw0m55TG5hvo2z0LkUtQvgX3L2uZbPHqlwBxmdwoqcmbL/s1600/100_6336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmny-b_JWwiJpkmBdh3s9UcF2joPWJyv9Z_BvOcZltJMpY8CVc4Gu9IKZNK1bW7kl7tgBJ_LAvEoZes5rUJQlkLfnkE7jxGruw0m55TG5hvo2z0LkUtQvgX3L2uZbPHqlwBxmdwoqcmbL/s320/100_6336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxve9_urnp4IGCM3tH2py5OTeV278JrS-FVtCQFC99mgTTcx-BrOp3gHJ7gMbuKE8kj8O9_hIYh7LV8hZl-mkF3SNIUr1V1oxbTBGnOP6Ujo1MseHdMy-VetF_176639HugfxD-LF_eO7/s1600/100_6452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxve9_urnp4IGCM3tH2py5OTeV278JrS-FVtCQFC99mgTTcx-BrOp3gHJ7gMbuKE8kj8O9_hIYh7LV8hZl-mkF3SNIUr1V1oxbTBGnOP6Ujo1MseHdMy-VetF_176639HugfxD-LF_eO7/s320/100_6452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxYtBKC3z6UCfth86R23-rAo0k39SZJMWGpZgq_Zl3_YQFCb6w3n_Y9WW5-o7BA01crlKOBP45iGtGNkiZ3zCxUwfqvJ3n_23d49NXtPKStjeTVBkhKWOQu2kIVSGhL246tLMs8-AMsSA/s1600/100_6453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxYtBKC3z6UCfth86R23-rAo0k39SZJMWGpZgq_Zl3_YQFCb6w3n_Y9WW5-o7BA01crlKOBP45iGtGNkiZ3zCxUwfqvJ3n_23d49NXtPKStjeTVBkhKWOQu2kIVSGhL246tLMs8-AMsSA/s320/100_6453.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I guess that is the update for now.....I am off to a get-together with friends this evening and then to Walmart (I know....the excitement is killing me!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">See you soon!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>LOLLY</em></span></div> Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-66019536857507079842010-10-29T20:34:00.000-04:002010-10-29T20:34:59.741-04:00My sweet dog-child, Lily<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sweet dog-child Lily passed away when I was at work yesterday. I had my TOPS meeting right after work and after that my mom followed me home to see her - but she was already gone. She had been going downhill this week. I had told Lily all morning and she knew that my mom (GaGa) was coming over and I believe that she waited to pass until she knew that I wouldn't be alone to find her. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsoIYf0IED_D2CiTCvKC3WVE9LVMoUZeZws-fpcBwTw1lLCgY8hzdiwV4JWioj2IVI2bO1Mk5sqhR5ha8QYL59A_iviWQIZYGmr1Zi1Lilt7KQ9Yy7ZJrtjXNg2k4cFfbdSaNuLd6ZS0U/s1600/Lily+haircut.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsoIYf0IED_D2CiTCvKC3WVE9LVMoUZeZws-fpcBwTw1lLCgY8hzdiwV4JWioj2IVI2bO1Mk5sqhR5ha8QYL59A_iviWQIZYGmr1Zi1Lilt7KQ9Yy7ZJrtjXNg2k4cFfbdSaNuLd6ZS0U/s320/Lily+haircut.bmp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My girl was so amazing...she fought back from heat stroke, hydrocephalus, COPD, enlarged heart, arthritis... but her little 8 pound body just couldn't fight anymore. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My heart is broken and I can't stop crying, but I am also remembering how very lucky that she and I found each other and that I had her in my life for 7 years.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGB5DVCIp_pGm2E1sYAp-Qsgv1epHnNch4hzavi8ILDCOsfwtNnVkUc_4yyAGVWjcdTVPK_QWiTONQAqPhPwZqLQ5hO6qmpoJGZKzTCjTF01n0qxTzbOR7c6IEeqduu-P5sh2nZX1c4TwH/s1600/LILY.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGB5DVCIp_pGm2E1sYAp-Qsgv1epHnNch4hzavi8ILDCOsfwtNnVkUc_4yyAGVWjcdTVPK_QWiTONQAqPhPwZqLQ5hO6qmpoJGZKzTCjTF01n0qxTzbOR7c6IEeqduu-P5sh2nZX1c4TwH/s320/LILY.bmp" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A quote that I love that gives me comfort in times of loss of my 4-legged children:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"We who choose to surround ourselves </em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>with lives even more temporary than our </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>own, live within a fragile circle; </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>easily and often breached. </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Unable to accept its awful gaps, </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>we would still live no other way. </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>We cherish memory as the only </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>certain immortality, never fully </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>understanding the necessary plan." </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>— Irving Townsend </em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span></em></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em> </em></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em></em></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-59793996052610330932010-10-12T19:04:00.000-04:002010-10-12T19:04:34.945-04:00Etsy, Cat Illness, and Cat Bite!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love the Etsy website for handmade goods. Soon I will open up my store again and I just reopened my mom's Etsy store (she is a brilliant artist, but not good with the online business aspect of it so I am her business manager!). I am so proud of her and her creations that I just wanted to share a few here.......her etsy site is </span><a href="http://gagassewingroom.etsy.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GaGa's Sewing Room</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I just love how she combines cool fabrics and vintage lace, doilies, or hankies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some of her latest aprons......love them!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOjYQIFkbq-HJLxMkeQlh1eOHovBCT9Rpf2E84hDmfd9X9V_4PSMejE07inzQOZLNS6-tWIlDk3X9EhyphenhyphenF07mcSYC58uJHFT2YAoLkvGZgme1qtS1Xosb3Y-3SaDkRttmony0lQkavV-td/s1600/100_4100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOjYQIFkbq-HJLxMkeQlh1eOHovBCT9Rpf2E84hDmfd9X9V_4PSMejE07inzQOZLNS6-tWIlDk3X9EhyphenhyphenF07mcSYC58uJHFT2YAoLkvGZgme1qtS1Xosb3Y-3SaDkRttmony0lQkavV-td/s320/100_4100.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, one of my dear sweet cats, Buddy, was hospitalized with a complete blockage - he was near death. He survived and came home and on Friday morning, I was trying to pill pop him his meds and he gave me a big, strong bite on the finger....OW!!! I was happy that he was feisty, but OMG, the bite REALLY hurt. By Saturday morning, it was swollen and bright red and had spread to my whole hand (pictures below are on Friday night...by the following morning, my right hand was twice this size). My doc on Saturday morning took one look and told me that this was VERY serious. I guess that cats - all cats - have a specific bacteria in their mouths (Pastuerella). I was given a super strong big dose of antibiotics in a shot in the behind :) and was told to elevate my hand and put on a heating pad all weekend. If it was not better on Sunday, I was to go immediately to the hospital to be admitted because I could lose sensation in my hand or worse! Yikes....this was scary stuff - all because of a cat bite. I am happy to report that I am now on the mend, although I am on strong antibiotics for 10 days and will have to continue to have the area monitored. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolCv6jVoX_6LHV7oAgUb4IeQxybqHfv6_LQ3XEPQnMc7h6Q4R-zrQz84flv3awOQDKCJ70GGJPpnJHh3csB33GW3KwPgBz2-3Gh_mvYzV8n5Dod5KiotngOBoTEUVPS1TIlvpDmzUY2x9/s1600/100_5625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolCv6jVoX_6LHV7oAgUb4IeQxybqHfv6_LQ3XEPQnMc7h6Q4R-zrQz84flv3awOQDKCJ70GGJPpnJHh3csB33GW3KwPgBz2-3Gh_mvYzV8n5Dod5KiotngOBoTEUVPS1TIlvpDmzUY2x9/s320/100_5625.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ojJ4YZ1uEua2uK8nx8nMAawyqkY-3J1og9npxIP634IZwiabXRLN2p4qLkuC4q7NBHw7Qg5rQnHXs7LpK9kkQ5De-_gkVE8RSVtjTHAUPDIEqotNRfTJJoJ14PNlpyyyePC2dYAKryu1/s1600/100_5623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ojJ4YZ1uEua2uK8nx8nMAawyqkY-3J1og9npxIP634IZwiabXRLN2p4qLkuC4q7NBHw7Qg5rQnHXs7LpK9kkQ5De-_gkVE8RSVtjTHAUPDIEqotNRfTJJoJ14PNlpyyyePC2dYAKryu1/s320/100_5623.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And this is my beloved little culprit, Buddy. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be back more regularly with blogs on my weight loss (more than 50 pounds so far!!), recipes that are super yummy, crafts, giveaways, and of course more beloved cat photos of my four-legged furry children!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessings, </span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Lolly</span></em>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-3794278732904601242010-08-01T20:15:00.000-04:002010-08-01T20:15:52.006-04:00I am a work in progress...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a work in progress... in all aspects of my life - health, weight, happiness, hope.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rqMOLZkmT8NbjZ4sRGYcSXLhxZmtKqG1rMP7FH5z9mmOJHpvAqCXD1bnOcWjrl2m303hXYhWEcHr3KtYigofhPdUK6ERwt2fr4b6eS8xZYTs6YvL2eFV0VvLLDffZgQpntUW5iFanIvA/s1600/100_4808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rqMOLZkmT8NbjZ4sRGYcSXLhxZmtKqG1rMP7FH5z9mmOJHpvAqCXD1bnOcWjrl2m303hXYhWEcHr3KtYigofhPdUK6ERwt2fr4b6eS8xZYTs6YvL2eFV0VvLLDffZgQpntUW5iFanIvA/s320/100_4808.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been on Dr. Joel Fuhrman's Eat to Live eating plan for not even two months and I have lost almost 40 pounds. I truly feel that I have found the perfect way to eat for me. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwrPK1VKA6W3qMQH7gFos-_S8GvG8piU2eYxD4BN2I9KJYCoCw-d2zbHX3h4EZ8fLJrif3BusCw_N_PQ7uyIzEb0bqrETX0qrBt7WAtMFo54MXoncgaXVcuI8oRuLWEB4plisttOadJqV/s1600/eat+to+live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwrPK1VKA6W3qMQH7gFos-_S8GvG8piU2eYxD4BN2I9KJYCoCw-d2zbHX3h4EZ8fLJrif3BusCw_N_PQ7uyIzEb0bqrETX0qrBt7WAtMFo54MXoncgaXVcuI8oRuLWEB4plisttOadJqV/s320/eat+to+live.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I have had many scale victories, which is great, but perhaps the most exciting thing for me right now is the non-scale victories I have had. Specifically and most importantly, my health is getting better. While I don't want to admit my weight here yet, I do still have more than 100 pounds to lose (that's the not the health news :) but just an FYI). For many years, I have been on the highest dose of an expensive blood pressure medicine that also contained the highest dose of a diuretic. Well, several weeks ago, I was feeling dizzy a lot and nauseous for reasons I couldn't identify. I went to the doctor, and he feels that my blood pressure meds were too high and it was making me dehydrated and my electolytes were all off. So, he put me on a new medicine, HALF the dose and NO DIURETIC. While not super low, my blood pressure is 120/70, which is the lowest it has been in at least 10 years. WOOHOO!! So far, no more dizziness. I go back to the doc on Wed to confirm that my blood pressure is still under control but I think it will be good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another great victory occured at my TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meeting a few weeks ago. This is a weekly weight loss support group and we meet every week and weigh in at the scales. Well, I hit a number on the scale that I haven't seen in more than 15 years. I'll give myself another WOOHOO for that!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc_g4ubLIeAH6QSTsMm9Erk3MF6wI1l0G6c8Tp6paKTE7HYOstsrj2OlPy6kTclcieHK0CaYTnnnU71UHk7uRWf9KBVsytB0D7vVtJp8grMbRuwK3MDz4aDS_TV8rhwxwxHGN0oduH24C/s1600/100_4768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc_g4ubLIeAH6QSTsMm9Erk3MF6wI1l0G6c8Tp6paKTE7HYOstsrj2OlPy6kTclcieHK0CaYTnnnU71UHk7uRWf9KBVsytB0D7vVtJp8grMbRuwK3MDz4aDS_TV8rhwxwxHGN0oduH24C/s200/100_4768.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial;">I love this eating plan. I am eating three big and delicious meals each day (no between meal snacks) that include wonderful fresh vegetables, luscious fruits, yummy beans, plenty of water and more!. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I feel energized lately which is fantastic and has also been a long time coming. Seriously for the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful! Hopeful to lose the remaining weight, hopeful for today, and hopeful for what the future may hold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In previous "diets" - and believe me, in my 45 years there have been too many to count - I have initially done well and if there was a setback, or whatever, I would give up and go back to my old eating patterns. I have gained and lost so much weight over the years that I have lost count. At times, just thinking about the amount of weight I need to lose has been overwhelming but no more. I am taking one bite at a time, one decision at a time. And this amazing Eat to Live plan is helping me.....I no longer have insatiable cravings, no longer have the desire to be obsessive compulsive with my food. I am learning to feel at peace and at home in the body that I have right now at this very moment. I am learning to cultivate kindness toward my body not only in the foods that I feed it, but in the thoughts that I have about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">My next step in this journey to wellness is to start exercising. Any movement is better than no movement! :) I have osteoarthritis in both knees and currently use a forearm crutch. As the weight comes off, I have less and less pain. Although I know that cartilage won't grow back, my goal is to put off knee replacement for years and years and build up the strength in the muscles around my knees. Actually my goal is to not have to use the crutches except for when I have flare-ups. So...movement starts this week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now that I have rambled on, I will leave you with another gratuitous cat picture. This is my sweet Marty sharing a joke with Baby Spike. LOL.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRd2Rq6WejpevRruTw98Mbp8r3LEaKkIc67FaUYusS84l6iMe_MQUC6fMzADpRpgA_iEDAaoBRL_-3MG5c78Y56R2wVdC9g-_kmeIDheE5Z73EJ6gNFkVyCQ6pkq_clSspoygMTvU_RgK/s1600/100_4889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRd2Rq6WejpevRruTw98Mbp8r3LEaKkIc67FaUYusS84l6iMe_MQUC6fMzADpRpgA_iEDAaoBRL_-3MG5c78Y56R2wVdC9g-_kmeIDheE5Z73EJ6gNFkVyCQ6pkq_clSspoygMTvU_RgK/s320/100_4889.JPG" /></a></div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-16421360453461365922010-07-10T22:42:00.000-04:002010-07-10T22:42:45.286-04:00HOT, HOT, HOT<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My house a/c is broken and I am not a happy camper. It broke last night and they can't come to fix it until Monday afternoon. I just had a brand new a/c heat pump etc put in 3 years ago (thousands of dollars!) and now this. Ugh. I am lucky, however, to have a home protection insurance that no matter what needs to be done, I only pay my deductible of $75. That is such a provision right now. Three years ago when my a/c broke and I got new, I bought about 4/5 fans - luckily I kept them (note the massive dust on the black one...clearly I never thought I would use them again!). But that is another thing I am grateful for...the fans not the dust! :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCYdGCe6OSVQ-vHT2tlROmtw_UVFZ0bF8w1fAN3mOYKNpy_P_jGI8i4P7YdP8t9GAYy4uPlujxYWSszwNmS7CMWyB-VviESRp90hv8tIT1JJVnVmWP8WOnK__eOED3BK63jjVqrbdcY5w/s1600/100_4759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCYdGCe6OSVQ-vHT2tlROmtw_UVFZ0bF8w1fAN3mOYKNpy_P_jGI8i4P7YdP8t9GAYy4uPlujxYWSszwNmS7CMWyB-VviESRp90hv8tIT1JJVnVmWP8WOnK__eOED3BK63jjVqrbdcY5w/s320/100_4759.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLfHT_gRSBkR1fHxFQvBPYFMIZqSrnw_7qQkLHSSWB29FOIlTaw-RHKn5thnNxaksqo98oGau9IldJYXIQhwCWIqUVG2NRthVQ9t8W8vBZi9FAduxhmG0wTaY3MFsQMah5Yb81e5yA9Dc/s1600/100_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLfHT_gRSBkR1fHxFQvBPYFMIZqSrnw_7qQkLHSSWB29FOIlTaw-RHKn5thnNxaksqo98oGau9IldJYXIQhwCWIqUVG2NRthVQ9t8W8vBZi9FAduxhmG0wTaY3MFsQMah5Yb81e5yA9Dc/s320/100_4760.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cats, pup and I are too hot to do anything today but lie around the house. Being hot = no energy. I had big plans to get things done around here, but they will have to wait! Oh darn, I can't do laundry tonight! LOL</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVzXbtrXopBKUQf3Fzy3_s9m18_GAnZNVRYfTxqWu3b1r818pCWcX4dnWFhj7f1D1LFjj2sAbQ0L44nEArfmwXRwZySabdTiXKcKlZZO2KV5UtLBuP4IUMXxuKii8wEnxSziG1Lr5jZJl/s1600/100_4754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVzXbtrXopBKUQf3Fzy3_s9m18_GAnZNVRYfTxqWu3b1r818pCWcX4dnWFhj7f1D1LFjj2sAbQ0L44nEArfmwXRwZySabdTiXKcKlZZO2KV5UtLBuP4IUMXxuKii8wEnxSziG1Lr5jZJl/s320/100_4754.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2d5gP85rswFLPsHYZEKoPCkpCKEuRW9UPczL0WFQvqkDgThDZKLWhtpfjAV0rECZPJkFMjEHTX1XGwDFC3xQRU7HeuLVSPvlqksURE3wD6jbduFfEMpVYk77VeYxdMjkLlBIOl5qubZ8/s1600/100_4752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2d5gP85rswFLPsHYZEKoPCkpCKEuRW9UPczL0WFQvqkDgThDZKLWhtpfjAV0rECZPJkFMjEHTX1XGwDFC3xQRU7HeuLVSPvlqksURE3wD6jbduFfEMpVYk77VeYxdMjkLlBIOl5qubZ8/s320/100_4752.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4zlQdGjGYtIeCVLsye8VuaPTNjNbU2Zqp6-v-3nZfVVIKCkuEbK95-DkrzFyxkogWgvIIpnd8zdfJORw06TvyT8fQ8eEUZ217KcA9KpJZxEgTEqYIxRKAgx7OPdo1lx_KlEkLMDgHxOC/s1600/100_4753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4zlQdGjGYtIeCVLsye8VuaPTNjNbU2Zqp6-v-3nZfVVIKCkuEbK95-DkrzFyxkogWgvIIpnd8zdfJORw06TvyT8fQ8eEUZ217KcA9KpJZxEgTEqYIxRKAgx7OPdo1lx_KlEkLMDgHxOC/s320/100_4753.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been enjoying lots of fresh fruit today! These strawberries and blueberries are just AWESOME and so wonderful. I bought so many that I am freezing some as well. I used to just stick them in the freezer and they were just never right. I read on another blog to put them on a cookie sheet/tray and stick the sheet in the freezer. Then once they are frozen put them in their individual baggies and freeze them. Works like a charm....who knew (well probably everyone, but now I know too!!).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4drC2q9UACibWh9qDdcIYfCsrqbII7GXXb6CM7nNh_WxHcScDRIGFy3IIA9Fagfe1Y0I3nQrH3C5RGOoSTwFL0NRh9nM3VnwMeVa9cyIBwa7q908934FIO4WeS-aiAGP6AKj1CxXINCw/s1600/100_4767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv4drC2q9UACibWh9qDdcIYfCsrqbII7GXXb6CM7nNh_WxHcScDRIGFy3IIA9Fagfe1Y0I3nQrH3C5RGOoSTwFL0NRh9nM3VnwMeVa9cyIBwa7q908934FIO4WeS-aiAGP6AKj1CxXINCw/s320/100_4767.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhWP2TBwykd5tdouV9BN7A_8dNuMkuMSPBUlFD6Wq2woi_0Vv7hEOSiHqrivr6EaedLoMRHV-5eIqkbenE3lHkSG0ChtESx0nuG9vApoQ2fFVeUzhl1PDAEmDUVZBj_KUhROsKzawn3Wf/s1600/100_4766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhWP2TBwykd5tdouV9BN7A_8dNuMkuMSPBUlFD6Wq2woi_0Vv7hEOSiHqrivr6EaedLoMRHV-5eIqkbenE3lHkSG0ChtESx0nuG9vApoQ2fFVeUzhl1PDAEmDUVZBj_KUhROsKzawn3Wf/s320/100_4766.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you all stay cool and I hope come Monday eve I am cool again too! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lolly</span></div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-75754971113645075972010-07-05T19:15:00.001-04:002010-07-05T20:57:14.812-04:00Staycations are great...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, the weather here in Virginia is brutal today. This is the last day of my 4-day *staycation* and I have literally not left the house...it is about 98 degrees, with tomorrow and Wednesday expected to be in the low 100's. Ugh. Even the squirrels are hot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7w2nU07tF6blZvA6QjqUqUk_fvYLewXFjndFaYLuE-rwldQl2vUnbc8ZHe2aAniV-CYaZSQQ-C4Z_hS83_lacXLpRXjTm3w7V3kf2niPz7wS6SsMz_r4N7PTckhjT36MHt5h2glfH7Zy/s1600/100_4611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7w2nU07tF6blZvA6QjqUqUk_fvYLewXFjndFaYLuE-rwldQl2vUnbc8ZHe2aAniV-CYaZSQQ-C4Z_hS83_lacXLpRXjTm3w7V3kf2niPz7wS6SsMz_r4N7PTckhjT36MHt5h2glfH7Zy/s400/100_4611.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, I had the girls - my nieces Mallory and Courtney, and my mom - over for our monthly scrapbooking party. This time we concentrated on making their mom and my other sister birthday cards (my sisters are twins) as well as lots of fun bookmarks. These girls - all three of them - are so talented and we have such fun!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-L6OMSzx9YbxmR9zIIwG7b2nE3mBqnQ72r-j85zxPuphsI622WvbYLLuff9ABsKPmQle9Qn3yoVem2JzkNYDMzoPZZDCDg9MmyHqAhKPRp15r0byeKkRsbWtTSY5cwZrTccxDznJM9Mg/s1600/100_4660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-L6OMSzx9YbxmR9zIIwG7b2nE3mBqnQ72r-j85zxPuphsI622WvbYLLuff9ABsKPmQle9Qn3yoVem2JzkNYDMzoPZZDCDg9MmyHqAhKPRp15r0byeKkRsbWtTSY5cwZrTccxDznJM9Mg/s400/100_4660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Mallory (age 9) being silly. She is just learning cursive writing - note the sweet sentiment she wrote on Amy's card.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjCsLjG6SXQKoEGqnZDWiqkWVHxkngQrFgFgDay1KzhBO1urLkxB50AYqJJtL8_WtLMLnKFZswn8Tu7a7S0jMZ5hcrVfYnC68fjDS_nukZgttx1Xvyr952PfpuHrAhn65IVr730IxWbc6/s1600/100_4649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjCsLjG6SXQKoEGqnZDWiqkWVHxkngQrFgFgDay1KzhBO1urLkxB50AYqJJtL8_WtLMLnKFZswn8Tu7a7S0jMZ5hcrVfYnC68fjDS_nukZgttx1Xvyr952PfpuHrAhn65IVr730IxWbc6/s400/100_4649.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sweet Courtney (age 12) contemplating her next creation.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsDfwJkB9WY-o_cAbP8N2jyIJjicLptC4iYd6oZT7_qZgRrCoKs6WeXKU1L1uea2MtpzCGD_4dOAACsGuJLGKdM5dw1f0Bc86Z-JjIwPT_6E8wxlUIDJOPCmg2KBq-IWn3yTnq6IJbMp0/s1600/100_4659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsDfwJkB9WY-o_cAbP8N2jyIJjicLptC4iYd6oZT7_qZgRrCoKs6WeXKU1L1uea2MtpzCGD_4dOAACsGuJLGKdM5dw1f0Bc86Z-JjIwPT_6E8wxlUIDJOPCmg2KBq-IWn3yTnq6IJbMp0/s400/100_4659.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My beautiful mom (who is also my best friend!).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuE4BPUQVHvNL7Uj30Ixxt9pVi2XILI5xVvvWSy0o8SMc4UULnLhgrkUv8HoLccGrsZE8thYVJFzfWaU5DdTqBLthnG1d836XRpSJamlsDfnH2dPiCyut0s7qpwm0gNAYgqYpYrRpRyMi/s1600/100_4648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikuE4BPUQVHvNL7Uj30Ixxt9pVi2XILI5xVvvWSy0o8SMc4UULnLhgrkUv8HoLccGrsZE8thYVJFzfWaU5DdTqBLthnG1d836XRpSJamlsDfnH2dPiCyut0s7qpwm0gNAYgqYpYrRpRyMi/s400/100_4648.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sweet little girl, Lily. She is getting so old and has so many medical issues (COPD, Hydrocephalus, Arthritis, enlarged heart) and yet she just keeps doing so well. She had her regular checkup at her vet on Friday morning and she is doing great. She is 9 pounds, a little heavier than she should be, but that is due to the prednisone that she takes and is to be expected. Boy she is such a little lovebug and so devoted to her mommy. I literally stayed home Saturday, Sunday, and today so when I head back to work tomorrow, she will definitely be sad. She is having a bad hair day here, but boy is she cute!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI5CenwZAK4i3_FU7MLJB-C1EYbBTb8g65_5eTomABXAWUHHW1gxzKEJctOiQ25EpWQK0BLDPsUbxTnZ9imbNm7LOwuAIZ5x68cuGilsTPFQsh-Z6xpZbTcwqRLTbxyi3n9w0oXRyiYzy/s1600/100_4680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeI5CenwZAK4i3_FU7MLJB-C1EYbBTb8g65_5eTomABXAWUHHW1gxzKEJctOiQ25EpWQK0BLDPsUbxTnZ9imbNm7LOwuAIZ5x68cuGilsTPFQsh-Z6xpZbTcwqRLTbxyi3n9w0oXRyiYzy/s400/100_4680.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lazy Monday at home....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5FsTDxUsYHXvWN5jkFRNG7G_0DP1EMvWe9O9OW5NUNoRpbqi7n2h1P7vfWZd3Wzxb7s3n_rvygWYOsb6Xq3KRxH0gBLh1AnOYlQoJEeFUM2Aw4FoQAqs8FXxFUi5359FVFZz8ESVBVj8/s1600/100_4691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5FsTDxUsYHXvWN5jkFRNG7G_0DP1EMvWe9O9OW5NUNoRpbqi7n2h1P7vfWZd3Wzxb7s3n_rvygWYOsb6Xq3KRxH0gBLh1AnOYlQoJEeFUM2Aw4FoQAqs8FXxFUi5359FVFZz8ESVBVj8/s400/100_4691.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and finally....at this moment as I sit in my big overstuffed chair with my feet up on the ottoman, this is what I see (my sweet Freida)....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nK22mKND3nTv7tGkxIMTNkg3yFh9bENBn0R28dyzFAdU-RM05xjbVgHXVsklssYvw0rT8XWk3GBa4xQjsc2rcA8L0m1XbxNY64Gxaxc3f75JerA7K4HAAKNVxNz1Q01wR3MCM6j1Eeli/s1600/100_4687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nK22mKND3nTv7tGkxIMTNkg3yFh9bENBn0R28dyzFAdU-RM05xjbVgHXVsklssYvw0rT8XWk3GBa4xQjsc2rcA8L0m1XbxNY64Gxaxc3f75JerA7K4HAAKNVxNz1Q01wR3MCM6j1Eeli/s400/100_4687.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-61950332041123411982010-06-29T20:37:00.000-04:002010-06-29T20:37:53.229-04:00Books, Books, Books<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/AVvXsEh01peop1jPGY06w5DmycPUQWufB1Hv4gW02Sj_cJtIJ2OtIGl1NTD7KfUNRpg2d0HqER56uC3F9lVs9s92KiyDxDJfYbmZQz0X0-_WRWFBzHGO6jAH8VYZjlTfT4zCic1_8eS-DNXKeRlS/s1600/100_4452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01peop1jPGY06w5DmycPUQWufB1Hv4gW02Sj_cJtIJ2OtIGl1NTD7KfUNRpg2d0HqER56uC3F9lVs9s92KiyDxDJfYbmZQz0X0-_WRWFBzHGO6jAH8VYZjlTfT4zCic1_8eS-DNXKeRlS/s400/100_4452.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yikes. I have so many books that I have purchased in the last year to read and yet...here they all are (and I am sure there are more in a few other piles or drawers around the house) - still unread. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been so stressed this last year and have had so much on my plate that I just would tell myself that I "can't make time to read." Yet, I believe that is exactly what my soul needs. There is nothing better to me than to curl up in my big comfy chair and read a great book. So, starting now, I am going to set aside time each week to do just that - curl up with one of my neglected books and take the time for me.</span>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-5615860834385395762010-06-23T20:33:00.000-04:002010-06-23T20:33:20.544-04:00Feeling Great...Eat to Live Update<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously, I am so pleased with my new Eat to Live diet (I hate that word...diet). I have been doing this for not even two weeks, and I have already lost 15 pounds and I eat a LOT. Unbelievable. Now I have a lot of weight to ultimately lose, so I'm sure it will come off faster at first, but the success has been even more of a motivator, not to mention that I am just feeling so much better!!</span></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think for a non-vegan or non-vegetarian, this would be a hard way of eating to start...very extreme. Luckily I have been a vegetarian for more than 15 years and have been a complete vegan for a year and a half so the transition has been very easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I haven't started making any special recipes, etc....still looking forward to that. Right now I am doing the strict 6-week aggressive program....programming my mind and body to get past the food addiction. If you had told me three weeks ago that I would not be able to eat some of my planned foods since I was full I would have laughed out loud. And if you had told me that I could not have any between meal snacks, I would have said HA! I would have said..." I can't go that long between eating." When in actuality, I am NOT hungry between meals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Breakfast and Lunch today (ignore the ugly paper plates and plastic - I was at work)....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMawnfBVXqj71GVbyYY-11hWyx6qmkhVQ_Y6IbccGQjgWTWvUR7cRuk1W_Ybrh_HQePX0rlDrxxYSlDIpFGFJ1GQmDNU_jDFYDDOfAfgxtJq23kAAy40oWVQfzCOsDBXHVErassWLFBE-/s1600/100_4453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMawnfBVXqj71GVbyYY-11hWyx6qmkhVQ_Y6IbccGQjgWTWvUR7cRuk1W_Ybrh_HQePX0rlDrxxYSlDIpFGFJ1GQmDNU_jDFYDDOfAfgxtJq23kAAy40oWVQfzCOsDBXHVErassWLFBE-/s400/100_4453.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp64tcNhv0Xf-z6bOfDt7GWKJosM5b4N6h_ASt2lasxCZQcLcm6wUweRLFG9pGHGxURbsX9GWeodnvVhTAT-6BIxJvLlgs-nMFTbaSYKG1zIFLya2C_ftOZYqgo2pKVwjDTc8wCP1c9cs/s1600/100_4454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp64tcNhv0Xf-z6bOfDt7GWKJosM5b4N6h_ASt2lasxCZQcLcm6wUweRLFG9pGHGxURbsX9GWeodnvVhTAT-6BIxJvLlgs-nMFTbaSYKG1zIFLya2C_ftOZYqgo2pKVwjDTc8wCP1c9cs/s400/100_4454.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenzeajK7a7eOxxc0ogxVf6F4lsbIpChXfWPgWtMMpu0w718fEs1MEREN-GgOkW-I72CpRDk-m_mU9uN6ijbuxQuXAGsV5kKEx-Q4GFu9gyI2glwMmW7qI6cFoRYDBEty3fp5W6OdsfyMy/s1600/100_4455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenzeajK7a7eOxxc0ogxVf6F4lsbIpChXfWPgWtMMpu0w718fEs1MEREN-GgOkW-I72CpRDk-m_mU9uN6ijbuxQuXAGsV5kKEx-Q4GFu9gyI2glwMmW7qI6cFoRYDBEty3fp5W6OdsfyMy/s400/100_4455.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvlgog4RFLvazfmsVu2LrlbvGzdSceRk8A83IFDg18xOHDTtpbry0qPoqdcPJQ6O0zLYt4u0NQwvnxU2WeVothA-JS9RZ_73Si0uVzo0pw170xfdU0zNZF_K4bNcxvTEu6CITWrUadWQc/s1600/100_4456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvlgog4RFLvazfmsVu2LrlbvGzdSceRk8A83IFDg18xOHDTtpbry0qPoqdcPJQ6O0zLYt4u0NQwvnxU2WeVothA-JS9RZ_73Si0uVzo0pw170xfdU0zNZF_K4bNcxvTEu6CITWrUadWQc/s320/100_4456.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Is there a secret to peeling a pretty orange....my oranges are always so messy looking.....but at least they taste super yummy!!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Until next time...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79wN2Bo8lbwSXBFCiKCcj5gB-BeCpK3XCET_6JyAApTGCxU8hXyBdrW6AsD0Rw-z03OGk116BWL7Ni40recLGZcS8woE-5xyOkytEaap-iILnNWZfqOnea96MJXO6tvlc15JAtD3oytkI/s1600/100_4528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79wN2Bo8lbwSXBFCiKCcj5gB-BeCpK3XCET_6JyAApTGCxU8hXyBdrW6AsD0Rw-z03OGk116BWL7Ni40recLGZcS8woE-5xyOkytEaap-iILnNWZfqOnea96MJXO6tvlc15JAtD3oytkI/s400/100_4528.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Peace.</span></div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-1516938087296803722010-06-13T14:01:00.000-04:002010-06-13T14:01:09.156-04:00Eat to Live and a Lovely Farmers Market<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lovely friend gave me the Eat to Live book by Joel <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Fuhrman</span> and I love it. Officially started that eating plan today. I have been vegan (and before that vegetarian) for a long time, but I always add way too many processed foods, etc. This feels right to me. Prior to this, I have lost 30 pounds so far this year, but at my current weight, I have so much more to lose.....more than 100 pounds. But actually, even more important, or at least equally as important, I believe that this will improve my health (high blood pressure, severe osteoarthritis in both knees, etc), and even prolong my life. That's a <strike>good</strike> <strike>great</strike> amazing thing!!</span> <div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq3UeausNqS20TeBC3OIxqLX2qnwRrusdI4dx_m8-DhQ-25G9Um7gMjFA1Ts6SNYHl76lwVml0EBQ_Hz8ZTqDR0ELDW0F_5p1tBQsfeF6uEbSO4_q09Jr4qObTQkLo0amYyDeMt7ySrFP/s1600/eat+to+live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div><img border="0" height="200" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq3UeausNqS20TeBC3OIxqLX2qnwRrusdI4dx_m8-DhQ-25G9Um7gMjFA1Ts6SNYHl76lwVml0EBQ_Hz8ZTqDR0ELDW0F_5p1tBQsfeF6uEbSO4_q09Jr4qObTQkLo0amYyDeMt7ySrFP/s200/eat+to+live.jpg" width="160" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To that end, my wonderful mom ( who is also my best friend) and I took a drive down to my aunts in <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Gordonsville</span>, VA (about an hour and half from my house) and about a half hour in found this fantastic farmers market. <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">YAY</span>! Luscious vegetables!! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGXIuwK-UlukgQRtK-fZ4YQDOwunSx2hOhh1VwCu3OEUQHcWwNmB_0P80CJx9mt4fSkMZVXr_S6pKXDNmfMUkiTDgcZrEcPjwYlfKsxV_1Xjd5yOYqSCoiPxRlQ57ywzI2_cVNRTDYPQC/s1600/100_4428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGXIuwK-UlukgQRtK-fZ4YQDOwunSx2hOhh1VwCu3OEUQHcWwNmB_0P80CJx9mt4fSkMZVXr_S6pKXDNmfMUkiTDgcZrEcPjwYlfKsxV_1Xjd5yOYqSCoiPxRlQ57ywzI2_cVNRTDYPQC/s320/100_4428.JPG" /></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/AVvXsEj7oZeD0A4PxmmY_15c1F_TJnOnafCO9NPoWpoBAaghwuLaubsANB0ThyphenhyphenCvoU1CMzEPQxSedvwMCCrD-MY3vQ2gmsW2G_vv62EoU75x3VbJQTZLGm3FsToX08Ggtu28xdo-H7eKym2MyXfD/s1600/100_4429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oZeD0A4PxmmY_15c1F_TJnOnafCO9NPoWpoBAaghwuLaubsANB0ThyphenhyphenCvoU1CMzEPQxSedvwMCCrD-MY3vQ2gmsW2G_vv62EoU75x3VbJQTZLGm3FsToX08Ggtu28xdo-H7eKym2MyXfD/s320/100_4429.JPG" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I am so in love with both these large cherry tomatoes and the amazing tomatoes below!! YUMMY!)</span></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/AVvXsEjX_6r506KHvb2WI9CVmSv5xjraF_x2ucBtypHyiQbE9arTq4_Q2ceZEfVr4AIrE1WcYnR7FiwQC9Q7dPjMVrBVcmdrU2_oZnEMIk01Jg-MN3h1Wc5oqN45BivXDJvToYyLoVHrSNSlRmw_/s1600/100_4430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_6r506KHvb2WI9CVmSv5xjraF_x2ucBtypHyiQbE9arTq4_Q2ceZEfVr4AIrE1WcYnR7FiwQC9Q7dPjMVrBVcmdrU2_oZnEMIk01Jg-MN3h1Wc5oqN45BivXDJvToYyLoVHrSNSlRmw_/s320/100_4430.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am continually amazed and just in awe of how beautiful Virginia is. I am so happy to have been born, raised and still living in this beautiful state!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLmTUBKw51GHzJMjh3P4p0ijlnpxfU1rjfvsmsrmNPRZgpIIuFG8WLzZJLZjY3ihN-wB5UQ3taHn9BxX-9fkMfGvRfv051KukBRa8G76IfKriohXn806qxRqWIkdKvB_XYFP6aVzN7997/s1600/100_4443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLmTUBKw51GHzJMjh3P4p0ijlnpxfU1rjfvsmsrmNPRZgpIIuFG8WLzZJLZjY3ihN-wB5UQ3taHn9BxX-9fkMfGvRfv051KukBRa8G76IfKriohXn806qxRqWIkdKvB_XYFP6aVzN7997/s320/100_4443.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, I have to leave you with a few pictures of some of my beloved 4-legged children......no reason....they just make me so happy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Baby Spike....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwI3SLzNQJJIxiSOq-hcwOV0aPHT6IrvuX_EEgJCiMGOxOo2MeymaCiPtt4CnL58tq4sqJ4FGIQzrkpFmJczc9bhkqnWkCHyVYQNzMb5p6VsfQU_oyTqyzOr1mqr8VI9tVB-YCNpRFAjA/s1600/100_3271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwI3SLzNQJJIxiSOq-hcwOV0aPHT6IrvuX_EEgJCiMGOxOo2MeymaCiPtt4CnL58tq4sqJ4FGIQzrkpFmJczc9bhkqnWkCHyVYQNzMb5p6VsfQU_oyTqyzOr1mqr8VI9tVB-YCNpRFAjA/s320/100_3271.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marty...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPAWbhtZE3iitKA2wI21-6YceJFiXlZEA7kVAKeTvAvkrsBoA1idEft_9glSe16u5dv2sr95BeL1Iyhe9xXPE1-VcBMqK-XTmvV33ae-FYgEPFWg7_OFSKv-QHskGULVrlj_dkicxo9OU/s1600/100_4336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPAWbhtZE3iitKA2wI21-6YceJFiXlZEA7kVAKeTvAvkrsBoA1idEft_9glSe16u5dv2sr95BeL1Iyhe9xXPE1-VcBMqK-XTmvV33ae-FYgEPFWg7_OFSKv-QHskGULVrlj_dkicxo9OU/s320/100_4336.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and dear Henry as I try to work (well, okay, I am really on <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Facebook</span>, but I had intentions of working!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ4DqxAuR3yEJoe_m-TSSxgPlf8CFAQOsYx8casVJLgyhnLRvFOy9MfsdBAksQA3lH0baXphannSlle1KEbYPKjB3cxPX7DHPHB51K0CxxlRzQ4qq1JnsmDfL69QXVohv1anxdPlqm7E8/s1600/100_4402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQ4DqxAuR3yEJoe_m-TSSxgPlf8CFAQOsYx8casVJLgyhnLRvFOy9MfsdBAksQA3lH0baXphannSlle1KEbYPKjB3cxPX7DHPHB51K0CxxlRzQ4qq1JnsmDfL69QXVohv1anxdPlqm7E8/s320/100_4402.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could go on with pictures of my furry 4-legged children, but I'll save that for another day!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace my friends, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Lolly</em></span>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-76238140755670630092010-05-12T21:45:00.000-04:002010-05-12T21:45:11.390-04:00I try, folks, I really try<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My goal, truly folks, is to be a good blogger and blog regularly. I will get there soon, I am hoping. I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> think of things to blog about constantly but somehow lately, life has been getting in the way. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past weekend, I was happy to get some cooking done. I like to cook things on the weekends that I can freeze portions of for future use and dinners. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a really great homemade vegetable broth that I then froze in individual 2-cup containers. It smelled WONDERFUL and I am really happy with it since it has no sodium and just fresh vegetables and water! Lovely.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75DlVKr9Csa8Eo_2bZF8lrN1jVnNnTuQwFFo2m06U6V0XL8Kdr2Ff84gZ4WwjoZv6aipfTD_UwyOQwiNZUe_ACXayl82Zk6Amteo8XPFy_AvDy2j8MM1wUcdq9MQnW-8YtHooM4kt_yfn/s1600/100_3973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75DlVKr9Csa8Eo_2bZF8lrN1jVnNnTuQwFFo2m06U6V0XL8Kdr2Ff84gZ4WwjoZv6aipfTD_UwyOQwiNZUe_ACXayl82Zk6Amteo8XPFy_AvDy2j8MM1wUcdq9MQnW-8YtHooM4kt_yfn/s320/100_3973.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I made two tofu loaves - soooo good and so low calorie. I froze individual servings and was also able to share some with my mom, who had her first taste of tofu. She loved it, so YAY!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LZBkO4_QSRGN_NT9oP2hlf0xroaKOznylubj5B3AJBOwOIi0eNN5Rswa1J60UZwpqkymCAubqsSp67qJEgp5pArDmnj-Qdc5lWEhHG9yYYS3NBELhccDYeYEfK3sINLWn_Ifht5eQvZ4/s1600/100_4029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LZBkO4_QSRGN_NT9oP2hlf0xroaKOznylubj5B3AJBOwOIi0eNN5Rswa1J60UZwpqkymCAubqsSp67qJEgp5pArDmnj-Qdc5lWEhHG9yYYS3NBELhccDYeYEfK3sINLWn_Ifht5eQvZ4/s320/100_4029.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, on Sunday, I made a really tasty black bean soup in the crock pot....and got to use some of my homemade vegetable broth!! Delish!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislH-qo6c635jbpYUAsWOyUe_9YG6HzHvDoR8TxaTxUU6TWX2vBdc0GvT9nQZL1r5nkaEs0lt7PffkuAjOfYg0WtuyyRgL0mRSL3qJDhknksdDm8URJHG_mpGOgwNL9kuG_UPcMKgp0qb8/s1600/100_4028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislH-qo6c635jbpYUAsWOyUe_9YG6HzHvDoR8TxaTxUU6TWX2vBdc0GvT9nQZL1r5nkaEs0lt7PffkuAjOfYg0WtuyyRgL0mRSL3qJDhknksdDm8URJHG_mpGOgwNL9kuG_UPcMKgp0qb8/s320/100_4028.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And I would also like to share with you my beautiful grandmother, who just celebrated her 93rd birthday on Sunday. She lives in a wonderful nursing home about 10 minutes from me. Although she can be stubborn and spoiled sometimes, she is an amazing woman. And heck, if you get to the age of 93, you can be stubborn and spoiled....you've earned it!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e_mPQ5ZyBDMFFzv2Ba3rj7BAjyQMiQ2MzprJrs8URN397ocM0QTUGcUdVFnNTumKoj3hQLwAlIRgA_iuaU6RQjlPC-5O6gpxa1GPDnZYFJeWphO3Mc2VooladooSLuTeUIews5WcEs_8/s1600/gram_on_easter%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e_mPQ5ZyBDMFFzv2Ba3rj7BAjyQMiQ2MzprJrs8URN397ocM0QTUGcUdVFnNTumKoj3hQLwAlIRgA_iuaU6RQjlPC-5O6gpxa1GPDnZYFJeWphO3Mc2VooladooSLuTeUIews5WcEs_8/s320/gram_on_easter%5B1%5D.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">See you next time - hopefully with not such a big gap in between blog posts!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">~Lolly</span>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-18537784317734640242010-05-01T13:54:00.002-04:002010-05-02T17:35:45.479-04:00Saturday...and the livin' is easy!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good afternoon, folks! After a long week, the weekend is here! WOOT! My mom and I are meeting a group of our wonderful friends tonight so that will be fun. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lost about 2 pounds this week (I have my weigh-ins on Thursday nights). Not as much as I had hoped, but considering my weekends are usually spent eating too much and all the wrong things (my obsessive compulsiveness rearing its ugly head). Yet, when I plan and pack my breakfast and lunches during the work week, I eat very well and in moderation. This weekend, so far, I am eating only healthy, good for me foods in all the right portions. I know it's only Saturday, but normally by this time, I would be up probably a few pounds between Friday morning and Saturday morning. I really have a food addiction and it is truly a day at a time. I want to be healthy and happy. If I can live with my conviction of being vegetarian for 15 years before going vegan a year + ago, I can do this too. It's all connected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had planned on doing only a whole foods diet , but have adapted it a bit for what I know will work for me. I will still do mostly whole foods, but will include Ezekiel Breads occassionally, Gardein products occassionally, and the cereal I eat for breakfast during the week (with raw almonds and either sliced banana or strawberries). So, not exactly all whole foods, but I think this is what is going to work for me.</span><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/AVvXsEgozQl1pRyh8Eq6QKnofQN7Qzhl7l0JOPVbzeajQ7sny2i6mze4Ni96xxqBttq9cw3nywz84mh54Rt0Vae97R2_D1cuiLoG_KsKs7dgRVxm5-NFetIalSXXVKRRwAAt4QDEIkl9ZOaemrvt/s1600/gardein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozQl1pRyh8Eq6QKnofQN7Qzhl7l0JOPVbzeajQ7sny2i6mze4Ni96xxqBttq9cw3nywz84mh54Rt0Vae97R2_D1cuiLoG_KsKs7dgRVxm5-NFetIalSXXVKRRwAAt4QDEIkl9ZOaemrvt/s200/gardein.jpg" tt="true" width="168" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_1VGjleY3iZLmYSbxYT4TLnHprkyj2dvSFYw07c6l6CSFkUvs7RZSoeWXf9EzfXiZLaFhTJGpdeJJaYE_vV20q9oZ11_VaSBHHdH0LRHzJ9IBt40RweWhd8SXxf3KfJsXj_tRXgdzvq8/s1600/puffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_1VGjleY3iZLmYSbxYT4TLnHprkyj2dvSFYw07c6l6CSFkUvs7RZSoeWXf9EzfXiZLaFhTJGpdeJJaYE_vV20q9oZ11_VaSBHHdH0LRHzJ9IBt40RweWhd8SXxf3KfJsXj_tRXgdzvq8/s200/puffins.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div align="left" 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: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, for now, this is what I think will work for me and I am pleased with it. Always a vegan diet, but not all whole foods! Healthy, yes, and that is most important for me right now.</span></div><div align="left" 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: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lunch just now was super yummy....a sprouted grain english muffin toasted, 2 tbsp hummus, with some Mediterranean tabbouleh added on top. It was REALLY good and quite satisfying. Who knew....a measured portion would be enough....took me a while, but for today, I get it. :)</span></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: left;"><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: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13VLJUAGowabWF6GbbIsUmBrgGWDVHRrxQDTdbzCtIHz9lb0cpr-Lekr0MplHxw0s44RdfDrhRmgAwmoUyP6SzMEm6DmCD0cGx4__nWHKzDbYvxNf6mTYuVnkIBPS9-dbtopeG7GcVwRq/s1600/100_3907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg13VLJUAGowabWF6GbbIsUmBrgGWDVHRrxQDTdbzCtIHz9lb0cpr-Lekr0MplHxw0s44RdfDrhRmgAwmoUyP6SzMEm6DmCD0cGx4__nWHKzDbYvxNf6mTYuVnkIBPS9-dbtopeG7GcVwRq/s320/100_3907.JPG" tt="true" /></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: left;"><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: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a wonderful weekend everyone!</span></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: left;"><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: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lolly</span></div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-9738798170971285112010-04-26T23:13:00.000-04:002010-04-26T23:13:26.440-04:00All Locked Up, Safe and Secure<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stressful day today. I was leaving for work early this morning - had brought my stuff out to the car and then had to go back in the house to check on my old pup Lily. Well...I couldn't get in! The door lock was broken. We had a ton of rain so I waited a few minutes, thinking maybe it had something to do with being wet. No. I was locked out of my house. <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">OMG</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I had to go to work (Mondays are very busy). I called a local locksmith and arranged to meet him at my house after work. Of course I freaked out all day at work. My crazy brain was convinced that the unknown locksmith was going to rob my house before I got home (nothing against locksmiths....it was just my weird brain!) and the alternative, I was then convinced that my front door would suddenly unlock and all my animal babies would escape. Yes, I was a basket case!!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEqdyv9K6zmvD2PDRifivV6HW0CBmMpfmeVb3z1CPsy1-5tswQVGgYr8DKaMlClkBQHDowaSOK7g6QuC7KBTPNMv2zUYsGp9bzAQ4OjRgHrkXug9CgBNDKdfxfeNkhRMkwbLvvDtpKDht/s1600/100_3881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEqdyv9K6zmvD2PDRifivV6HW0CBmMpfmeVb3z1CPsy1-5tswQVGgYr8DKaMlClkBQHDowaSOK7g6QuC7KBTPNMv2zUYsGp9bzAQ4OjRgHrkXug9CgBNDKdfxfeNkhRMkwbLvvDtpKDht/s320/100_3881.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Finally, I got home and met the locksmith. It took him more than an hour to even get the door open. Apparently the latch or something had just disintegrated. I just had the lock installed 4 years ago when I bought my new front door. Frustrating, but at any rate I am all locked up safe and sound - and $100+ lighter in the wallet - and am grateful that everything worked out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On a happy note, Mom and I went to Snow Creek Farm about two months ago (our friend opens her home 3-4 times a year to sell her amazing crafts, art, etc) and she gave us some pussy willow stalks for decoration. Well my mom had mentioned that when she was young she stuck a pussy willow branch in the ground and watered it religiously and a pussy willow grew. I wasn't sure, but thought, what the heck.I stuck some in a large Grecian pot and some directly in the garden area. Well..........................<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">tada</span>.....................I actually have pussy willows growing............take a look.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9gs1FpXBOFJmRt8aIvjK6-ARmlIfPWaKETlkaU9ltFnGp0qmXGmT8gnr4ueEvV-Sjlt0TgrnSIS8NR5072R3gxkOI4Mgc7KFUvuhzArb5C-utdmoExmjUXapvH7DYhTR6YvA_EdaFbSZ/s1600/100_3772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9gs1FpXBOFJmRt8aIvjK6-ARmlIfPWaKETlkaU9ltFnGp0qmXGmT8gnr4ueEvV-Sjlt0TgrnSIS8NR5072R3gxkOI4Mgc7KFUvuhzArb5C-utdmoExmjUXapvH7DYhTR6YvA_EdaFbSZ/s320/100_3772.JPG" tt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HLk-Wcy_XPdjhSPagPrBa3nFIcLqJI0si-KotFV6REFVcdW3mdlkGLiLFKPGnIiJoscDBGqWCpQYaU5U5eIO4LL38pA_x4IMhf19RSudBaKj9jnAyehQNVUvddT5uZSm2rrgusBz6Lun/s1600/100_3771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5HLk-Wcy_XPdjhSPagPrBa3nFIcLqJI0si-KotFV6REFVcdW3mdlkGLiLFKPGnIiJoscDBGqWCpQYaU5U5eIO4LL38pA_x4IMhf19RSudBaKj9jnAyehQNVUvddT5uZSm2rrgusBz6Lun/s320/100_3771.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am happy to report that even more are starting to *bloom* in the ground. Who knew, but I am thrilled.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And finally, another picture that makes me happy. As I sit here at this moment in my big comfy overstuffed chair and ottoman, this is what I see at my feet just beyond my laptop - my sweet heart cat, Freida (ignore my funky foot).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH8L73IZzoeoW7mWV_LLUeG6piEQJBo030cBwrOY5KGnrDAAdqyBjGVcrZOg6Gy198_Eug2LXHXbK1x2-afSplz-PLJND5Bnkz84zj8MawdbaIUyiC_-JUihqc-YFrbRgHCEMEP9CkcSS/s1600/100_3875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH8L73IZzoeoW7mWV_LLUeG6piEQJBo030cBwrOY5KGnrDAAdqyBjGVcrZOg6Gy198_Eug2LXHXbK1x2-afSplz-PLJND5Bnkz84zj8MawdbaIUyiC_-JUihqc-YFrbRgHCEMEP9CkcSS/s320/100_3875.JPG" tt="true" /></a></div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-30171397257183660712010-04-24T11:50:00.000-04:002010-04-24T11:50:09.686-04:00The Cove<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I saw the creators of this documentary called The Cove on Oprah on Earth Day and was literally sickened. It was created by dolphin activist Ric O'Barry,director Louie Psihoyos and co-produced by Fisher Stevens. I haven't seen the whole movie but just the Oprah Show and the trailer was a shock to my system. I know I should watch the movie, but it is just so disturbing I am not sure I could physically get through it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After watching The Cove, Ric O'Barry says people will be shocked by the slaughter and inspired by the magnificence of these mammals. "It's not about intelligence. It's about consciousness. They are self-aware like humans are self-aware," Ric says. "I don't believe that the fishermen are aware of that."</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfGulubYDygIgfTpT6Thbbu_407Nbas2xyJbDajncPuemxy5Q8xX9Xl0tPunUKK80iAcloT4xgLrfEUfNeXy1DW3jRhazN5vS5t5n9IJNwnhMATGL72T-FvqKWZpTq5ZTYY-cI0C8KYml/s1600/The+Cove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfGulubYDygIgfTpT6Thbbu_407Nbas2xyJbDajncPuemxy5Q8xX9Xl0tPunUKK80iAcloT4xgLrfEUfNeXy1DW3jRhazN5vS5t5n9IJNwnhMATGL72T-FvqKWZpTq5ZTYY-cI0C8KYml/s200/The+Cove.jpg" tt="true" width="134" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KRD8e20fBo"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KRD8e20fBo</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I understand that there are atrocities everywhere, even in my own area, but I think it's important to talk about all of them and to share what we learn.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the trailer and I would love to know if you have seen the documentary. The slaughter begins again in September. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lolly</span><br />
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</span>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-11069687595952992442010-04-22T22:08:00.000-04:002010-04-22T22:08:09.358-04:00EARTH DAY AND A RENEWED COMMITMENT...IT'S A NEW DAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd3xRA_AiLSxyl-HZWScUCbtTCJMqZb6pCzLacbYrwddcbpvhtoiFzCA5hwTJbLpp2J1kMKmUjvbfWo0Z0NaPWRNsrmQ21KWtkTNLhw2-z1QBIUuY0M_w2jJtTlc9rLiU7-ERsNk4A_43/s1600/earth+pic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd3xRA_AiLSxyl-HZWScUCbtTCJMqZb6pCzLacbYrwddcbpvhtoiFzCA5hwTJbLpp2J1kMKmUjvbfWo0Z0NaPWRNsrmQ21KWtkTNLhw2-z1QBIUuY0M_w2jJtTlc9rLiU7-ERsNk4A_43/s320/earth+pic+3.jpg" tt="true" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What better day to renew my commitment to blogging than EARTH DAY. Although I will occasionally share things I make, animal pics (well, probably more than occasionally), and other miscellaneous items on this blog, for right now I am going to devote a lot of time to my vegan life (vegetarian for 15 years, and made the switch to veganism in March 2009) and my switch to all whole foods (starting today) and my main focus right now of NEEDING to lose more than 100 pounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People always seem surprised that I am vegan – “how can you be a vegan and have such a weight problem?”. Well, duh folks, if you are eating too much, eating processed a lot, have major portion distortion, don’t exercise, etc……the weight piles on. I have gained and lost and gained and lost so much in my life and really that stops now! I have osteoarthritis in both knees (very painful and I have to use forearm crutches to walk) and I have extremely high blood pressure that is only regulated with a high dosage of medication ($60 a month). CHANGE STARTS TODAY. I need to get healthy for me, for my beloved four-legged children and so that I am here to try to make my mark in this world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I belong to a weekly weight loss support group, TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) so will have a weigh in every Thursday night. So far this year I have lost about 18 pounds, but that should have been more, since I would lose 4 pounds one week, gain 2 the next and so on. I am all about consistency now. A friend in the group took me aside the other day and said, “What would it take to get you to eat a piece of meat?” I was shocked by the question because this friend knows how passionate I am about my veganism. I immediately said “Never – that will never happen.” She then asked me, then why can’t you apply that same passion and resoluteness to your weight loss journey? Hello, folks, lightbulb *AHA* moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I am going to share my journey with you and hope that I will have your support. I will also be more than happy to hear any tips, suggestions, guidance you all can give me on this road. I am hoping to post something every day. Change is hard, whether you choose it or not, but I am worth it. OK, I am going to be brave here and insert a few current pictures of myself…most were taken at work over the last few weeks (clearly I don’t have enough to do – lol) so let’s consider these my “before” pictures (no full body shots, though – don’t think they even exist).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for listening and I look forward to getting to know you all!!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDuScNlJzU-xHNWkpTt-HYzp3Q5yQcq_QdUCmSgcQbEC_zKCcd5j47iVuu1qwS1tDwJt0trv628yXkpzLMJDJ5X2UvF0FPx7qVxfWYe8qpTiEMIJCiZuG4QSFvxl6JIkefSsJ7v8WtiM-/s1600/Marty_contest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDuScNlJzU-xHNWkpTt-HYzp3Q5yQcq_QdUCmSgcQbEC_zKCcd5j47iVuu1qwS1tDwJt0trv628yXkpzLMJDJ5X2UvF0FPx7qVxfWYe8qpTiEMIJCiZuG4QSFvxl6JIkefSsJ7v8WtiM-/s200/Marty_contest.jpg" tt="true" width="150" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(my sweet boy, Marty)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lolly</span><br />
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</span>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-77471528282327967682010-02-14T18:38:00.000-05:002010-02-14T18:38:31.948-05:00I Survived the Blizzard of 2010!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, as the title suggests, I did survive the Blizzard of 2010 here in Virginia! Will I ever see grass, pavement or my back yard again...well, that is the question! On the 6th of February, we had 32" of snow............and then before we could even dig out of that, on the 10th, we had another 12". I was literally stuck in my house for 6 days.....this stuff has never happened in my neck of the woods. The area was paralyzed. Schools are still closed tomorrow. Last week, the Federal Government offices were closed for 4 days....also unprecedented! Here are some pics of the *excitement*....</span><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/AVvXsEjTE5BvRWs8P9VZBTbYKX30FZpEW3zBsa8tEMTVpP8osbwOIm06Sj9P7OmSzgrfOtPAcEZz_XSP6oCRncTVwuE1UxVbt8DRLpiHlUzDgV2aRG3AbySvAQcmrWezc4TmhYhNH0tLas91XSNN/s1600-h/snowy+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE5BvRWs8P9VZBTbYKX30FZpEW3zBsa8tEMTVpP8osbwOIm06Sj9P7OmSzgrfOtPAcEZz_XSP6oCRncTVwuE1UxVbt8DRLpiHlUzDgV2aRG3AbySvAQcmrWezc4TmhYhNH0tLas91XSNN/s200/snowy+tree.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vjfTq5WGq6LV5FhjhIKp7UQ92b9nAsjo8xSkIhQWdjWhyphenhyphen4CpLRSkp5-dG_2yiSNrL2PXPw7ZlDv01-9eW4uqNHNzhdwHRjMVbt4IOZfuDMPEm_PHSVbucR-dioInyQSmwbY9oRZb27qb/s1600-h/my+backyard+blizzard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vjfTq5WGq6LV5FhjhIKp7UQ92b9nAsjo8xSkIhQWdjWhyphenhyphen4CpLRSkp5-dG_2yiSNrL2PXPw7ZlDv01-9eW4uqNHNzhdwHRjMVbt4IOZfuDMPEm_PHSVbucR-dioInyQSmwbY9oRZb27qb/s200/my+backyard+blizzard.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IR4bso37oRw3Go46YkekrkCSoOBJ7kr_yWqsvkCCIuW3xfu0ebFP8SAtGQQG5FXIX4T4DgYmFHGUytuPtJVTxJ4ZYaEiJCr3pogrA3DcrzbjJBApmOCeJby8Mf0qlq583mAfPkDXo-zu/s1600-h/100_2979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IR4bso37oRw3Go46YkekrkCSoOBJ7kr_yWqsvkCCIuW3xfu0ebFP8SAtGQQG5FXIX4T4DgYmFHGUytuPtJVTxJ4ZYaEiJCr3pogrA3DcrzbjJBApmOCeJby8Mf0qlq583mAfPkDXo-zu/s200/100_2979.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW75IFRsB5jiEMAZRIHTnH2ggwU6q-oGd4rxOOUzMw9UvWBjNhLQjU6Z141nI4ZHWjmAvJB2tfZ-T9Gjje31w-8Kb_zqouPmFIwjzeboGlM1mOdIWMygvWlVL7qpiRkVNBKeCIzJyoumy/s1600-h/Lily+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmW75IFRsB5jiEMAZRIHTnH2ggwU6q-oGd4rxOOUzMw9UvWBjNhLQjU6Z141nI4ZHWjmAvJB2tfZ-T9Gjje31w-8Kb_zqouPmFIwjzeboGlM1mOdIWMygvWlVL7qpiRkVNBKeCIzJyoumy/s200/Lily+snow.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIhhJOs3ldDVCCUT1VolUnSLwHd8Gji8sdsqtW-3mbONUrUpvl3kaw-oqzcVXgoNL1KFXZg97coyy4ZtNW96Nne-ThW7dY-2lyVVaNCBg6ZTjEyrPF4SKsQXAiTEz7e8QPmUvzfLRQZXt/s1600-h/100_2984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIhhJOs3ldDVCCUT1VolUnSLwHd8Gji8sdsqtW-3mbONUrUpvl3kaw-oqzcVXgoNL1KFXZg97coyy4ZtNW96Nne-ThW7dY-2lyVVaNCBg6ZTjEyrPF4SKsQXAiTEz7e8QPmUvzfLRQZXt/s200/100_2984.jpg" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm2iH5rugnM-T72HFVxt3YWcn4Lno96i17ZRXDvl6u73uio50x18bI13X9vo8EuJYKf2uUdggn93pzWbRS25nVNC3KZIxkRyl-Jt8bFoDYhtR63coAwyxRcuFfQQSa7wh9Ipbx7I_B1q5/s1600-h/100_3021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm2iH5rugnM-T72HFVxt3YWcn4Lno96i17ZRXDvl6u73uio50x18bI13X9vo8EuJYKf2uUdggn93pzWbRS25nVNC3KZIxkRyl-Jt8bFoDYhtR63coAwyxRcuFfQQSa7wh9Ipbx7I_B1q5/s200/100_3021.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily, even though I was going stir crazy by this past Friday when I went back to work, my beloved four-leggeds and I were hunkered down safely at home with all that we need...</span></div><div align="left" 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 align="left" 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/AVvXsEjvz341hpc6-iqFJPwt4JAZCqum02XwxBjQy5HetYIYyiASYk-umuYI2i2G2ljBrZb4d_Yr61sg90b6SOW4CF9qD2BlTXwpsHvz88RORN_n1g5S4Xev_S9kpCKKabwFC8HuzLrxvERRtyqy/s1600-h/100_2974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz341hpc6-iqFJPwt4JAZCqum02XwxBjQy5HetYIYyiASYk-umuYI2i2G2ljBrZb4d_Yr61sg90b6SOW4CF9qD2BlTXwpsHvz88RORN_n1g5S4Xev_S9kpCKKabwFC8HuzLrxvERRtyqy/s200/100_2974.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6dHnwFrdMuW8gAYOHiS06t1mniquccHm2Wb1zYVtHl6kVPob5bIIgqJ7qq8BPwGtITORQ9P37_4SQN36MPNLtEFjp9QdhJPvIAlJ9ktQO8xcOv4gQK2UaVHNfpSNOIl2sr5UMniONGh9/s1600-h/100_2960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6dHnwFrdMuW8gAYOHiS06t1mniquccHm2Wb1zYVtHl6kVPob5bIIgqJ7qq8BPwGtITORQ9P37_4SQN36MPNLtEFjp9QdhJPvIAlJ9ktQO8xcOv4gQK2UaVHNfpSNOIl2sr5UMniONGh9/s200/100_2960.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_HZ5NNvqcNe9lAp10YzvTaf2HF7Ap-ZeEhznBZF6BInu69v-wkmEr76-V1QLWKwG6KYPQnBybEuZF7p7Pbd11R0uwejZnyWWNAdoyJT9fIDxoUGji-BqcX_gSX8lNPBmy-nw0zmwhol6/s1600-h/Baby'.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_HZ5NNvqcNe9lAp10YzvTaf2HF7Ap-ZeEhznBZF6BInu69v-wkmEr76-V1QLWKwG6KYPQnBybEuZF7p7Pbd11R0uwejZnyWWNAdoyJT9fIDxoUGji-BqcX_gSX8lNPBmy-nw0zmwhol6/s200/Baby'.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0u4cZ9stFXXEnLsEtTdRTJw_qR2Ehn-fWGu8uii1TNRLABNTaVKD67uy6_OV5nvMtzZdcczaGpUHw1DjSO3bbhRJVJ-tzgqWjAJcnQArxrAW4H3IbAq7OvTz28ULmYS1z80crtiK8UH8/s1600-h/teddiecalendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0u4cZ9stFXXEnLsEtTdRTJw_qR2Ehn-fWGu8uii1TNRLABNTaVKD67uy6_OV5nvMtzZdcczaGpUHw1DjSO3bbhRJVJ-tzgqWjAJcnQArxrAW4H3IbAq7OvTz28ULmYS1z80crtiK8UH8/s200/teddiecalendar.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still haven't given up on attempting to blog on a MUCH more regular basis....it really is my goal!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-69137228638552340082010-01-30T15:53:00.000-05:002010-01-30T15:53:11.614-05:00In love with...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all, so much for my resolve to blog more regularly...yikes. I do intend to be better about this. I have a million things in my head that I need to blog about...but first...</span><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I celebrated my birthday this month and my beloved mommy :) bought me my new love...</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBRBYF4Tq_XM-AzjFz2pSRlIUTFiLj-_HR_yH_Lw1LSoj0ivyXPvB9teiuINUeA-ZAMDPMtzhUm38e2UzV6b17lOT4Dwz8ETVXg59x_RiVwjo8Z6RCNZL-fO4QbCjyqjKc8Yyc8s8JNNl/s1600-h/Paula+Deen+cookware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBRBYF4Tq_XM-AzjFz2pSRlIUTFiLj-_HR_yH_Lw1LSoj0ivyXPvB9teiuINUeA-ZAMDPMtzhUm38e2UzV6b17lOT4Dwz8ETVXg59x_RiVwjo8Z6RCNZL-fO4QbCjyqjKc8Yyc8s8JNNl/s320/Paula+Deen+cookware.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I am in love with my new Paula Deen copper bottom stainless steel cookware. Oh, be still my heart! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">It's funny, really, because Miss Paula couldn't be more non-vegan based, but I just think she is adorable. Seriously, her products rock and are absolutely high quality. I swear my food tastes better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">One more thing I am loving at the moment is the wonderful new book from Alicia Silverstone</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA1Gpt77pCSUZ54ttd9Ed6M8H1PaLKUGVKBTH-ljx_llZN31gkEhqd133aRez_PHNKT6Rl30454SHoKXPAuvF0wzrDNfdi0P2CIG9LjpVPl5ux_qwD2RhhgYeY72Ee5YIxgJ8fj0vj872/s1600-h/the+kind+diet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA1Gpt77pCSUZ54ttd9Ed6M8H1PaLKUGVKBTH-ljx_llZN31gkEhqd133aRez_PHNKT6Rl30454SHoKXPAuvF0wzrDNfdi0P2CIG9LjpVPl5ux_qwD2RhhgYeY72Ee5YIxgJ8fj0vj872/s320/the+kind+diet.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no earth shattering new information or anything, but it is just a beautiful book that reaffirms the reason I am vegan and how proud I am to be just that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And finally, I am loving the fact that I have lost 15.6# in the last 3 weeks by recommitting to a healthy me. Only 100+ pounds to go, but hey...I am a work in progress.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Love, Lolly</span></div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-61422546882311743452010-01-09T21:08:00.001-05:002010-01-09T21:15:28.936-05:0010 Things I Can't Live Without<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inspired by some of my fellow bloggers who have done this, I thought I would list the 10 things I can't live without.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1. My family - I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family. I am super lucky to call my beloved mother my very best friend and confidante; I have a fantastic younger brother who is a wonderful friend; I have younger sisters (they are twins and only 18 months younger) who are good friends; I have a really nice stepfather; and an extended family of 92 year old grandmother and lovely aunts and cousins!</span><br />
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<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/AVvXsEhA7DZKYATCiKbsnV-VGGg22LZEKXg6fACy8XlxAsvCLKAhBwoU-mspvQ-29vy_38I6cMYj8G0bXOKmFW_TjbFAHrJ4v20RMvhocnRqnO_fugrCCDuxhNXf-oCAs-0Y1Ph_qplSo2thB3Hp/s1600-h/mom+and+tra+-+30th+bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7DZKYATCiKbsnV-VGGg22LZEKXg6fACy8XlxAsvCLKAhBwoU-mspvQ-29vy_38I6cMYj8G0bXOKmFW_TjbFAHrJ4v20RMvhocnRqnO_fugrCCDuxhNXf-oCAs-0Y1Ph_qplSo2thB3Hp/s320/mom+and+tra+-+30th+bday.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(mom and brother)</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">2. My beloved animals - They truly make waking up each day worthwhile. They inspire me with their unconditional love and total devotion. I can't imagine life without them.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tYJS9pb9h6EY5P9IK-CnUBdWGbdmSM3NB4897_vjk051Dpf52VVJ80-G5otp66JwHRypsMec2tKSN9_HCGjTkKF_Q261rtI1Idb0BElk5M-Fcr7Qepp3dVGQGAUPmmidadI6g_rsxhpG/s1600-h/Lilyadorable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tYJS9pb9h6EY5P9IK-CnUBdWGbdmSM3NB4897_vjk051Dpf52VVJ80-G5otp66JwHRypsMec2tKSN9_HCGjTkKF_Q261rtI1Idb0BElk5M-Fcr7Qepp3dVGQGAUPmmidadI6g_rsxhpG/s200/Lilyadorable.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp3keg04Dh4yuMWNOLesf4oOosWFODUp91FXGwEfD3qf90-hklF_3PL69DBaMQ-pRHOGBcVLH7xcD9rxUKYklAhW-2IccxIV1I57fS2nMkM5XR6tUHlyuP-noP6m76YYnugNojjAhOdlb/s1600-h/henry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp3keg04Dh4yuMWNOLesf4oOosWFODUp91FXGwEfD3qf90-hklF_3PL69DBaMQ-pRHOGBcVLH7xcD9rxUKYklAhW-2IccxIV1I57fS2nMkM5XR6tUHlyuP-noP6m76YYnugNojjAhOdlb/s200/henry.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfGWKAfek2IFFqiO3FUqYVYY9GlUKHlxxAg91FWqUsSmBSCg7Ks5m7PuGebA5CfCEjKeo4losT5fAMDWiUj-mcaWrAV6Ms77fwj8NudjO_5O4gm0sc-rW_abjkw2eAtSFpOnYz4f6o9Jl/s1600-h/Martyhuggingbaby2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfGWKAfek2IFFqiO3FUqYVYY9GlUKHlxxAg91FWqUsSmBSCg7Ks5m7PuGebA5CfCEjKeo4losT5fAMDWiUj-mcaWrAV6Ms77fwj8NudjO_5O4gm0sc-rW_abjkw2eAtSFpOnYz4f6o9Jl/s200/Martyhuggingbaby2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(some of my beloved furry children)</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Technology - computer, cell phone, etc - What would I do without the convenience of my cell phone and also texting? Or how would I do without blogging, Google, Facebook, email, etc.? Oh and I can't forget how happy my digital camera makes me!!</span><br />
</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: Arial;">4. Daytimer and To Do Lists - Despite my love of technology (see #3), I still love a good paper trail. And I really love the concept of my paper to do lists and post-it notes! I also have and will probably always have and use my beloved daytimer. I am a very visual person.</span><br />
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</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/AVvXsEgv5KDyoQs_eEmo8PT22GlE5mhzrqO9Kw9EBXBLxz1evnF1TUKnv0h3PY0KKtN0jKWP7r2FlFKijyA81Y7wE2PP1YyIJGGE4E_1Mkav5_b49B2TlZ6kZBSCqhkwDCy90IQ0Yt1wPKU6kFFE/s1600-h/daytimer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5KDyoQs_eEmo8PT22GlE5mhzrqO9Kw9EBXBLxz1evnF1TUKnv0h3PY0KKtN0jKWP7r2FlFKijyA81Y7wE2PP1YyIJGGE4E_1Mkav5_b49B2TlZ6kZBSCqhkwDCy90IQ0Yt1wPKU6kFFE/s200/daytimer.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCbjBsczGMSQM_UAGWg7XFx5iXYzwuvxTZzP2hN2K7_axvITI9yb_xIl4WNAb8tW5MysNSVhdc8mvLXXBVgzDE9NJuinN8wTrEULXH2F83jkkuCIL2pPw0FJHXkLOL49ZxXFXnKMRnA-o/s1600-h/to+do+list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCbjBsczGMSQM_UAGWg7XFx5iXYzwuvxTZzP2hN2K7_axvITI9yb_xIl4WNAb8tW5MysNSVhdc8mvLXXBVgzDE9NJuinN8wTrEULXH2F83jkkuCIL2pPw0FJHXkLOL49ZxXFXnKMRnA-o/s320/to+do+list.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">5. Hot Showers - There is nothing more comforting to me than a long, hot shower. It is my meditation and singing time. :) It eases all my aches and pains - both physically and emotionally.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHqT_jTddls73MYvBwp6B9iJelCKgRJSlFuqpuHzIg13htZDclHTa3UpxZfrvPBXwZGyuZCjE-gnIbbUTay6Cxn3IzkzYhEo530Lv_lfbGdZ1rDhO1ffqZL84LhYfHsLU_37bbEaJJUxc/s1600-h/hot+shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHqT_jTddls73MYvBwp6B9iJelCKgRJSlFuqpuHzIg13htZDclHTa3UpxZfrvPBXwZGyuZCjE-gnIbbUTay6Cxn3IzkzYhEo530Lv_lfbGdZ1rDhO1ffqZL84LhYfHsLU_37bbEaJJUxc/s320/hot+shower.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">6. Merle Norman Make-up - What can I say - I am vain and want to look good. I've been using Merle Norman foundation for more than 25 years. Bamboo Beige rocks!</span><br />
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</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/AVvXsEhCQJ3GWjHP04iWZ_Q89MZ95hDi-GNs8rwGrGxUoQh7lotiLt1sAegS7gDtmMoJy7-QNvwgdlcwHtKoyznzffmWsZKFj1HbKHDldXB-bKu8NibbeRHT-Uzh7mPqH0edH-NCRIoQ5y3OxEqu/s1600-h/merle+norman+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQJ3GWjHP04iWZ_Q89MZ95hDi-GNs8rwGrGxUoQh7lotiLt1sAegS7gDtmMoJy7-QNvwgdlcwHtKoyznzffmWsZKFj1HbKHDldXB-bKu8NibbeRHT-Uzh7mPqH0edH-NCRIoQ5y3OxEqu/s320/merle+norman+2.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYSkKj5gWVj53w9nEjS68dcXnQ3-B9ZeDjEs48dukpeHvv0knyFQMCvsNGC1lPnh-0O4NWhnScO2ullol5nWRnXzdqw5lvVXVn9Mks9mrRKo0_k0W2AQkY2DmfB5ZiCk1XZ1SN8aQ-XNs/s1600-h/merle+norman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYSkKj5gWVj53w9nEjS68dcXnQ3-B9ZeDjEs48dukpeHvv0knyFQMCvsNGC1lPnh-0O4NWhnScO2ullol5nWRnXzdqw5lvVXVn9Mks9mrRKo0_k0W2AQkY2DmfB5ZiCk1XZ1SN8aQ-XNs/s320/merle+norman.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">7. Air Conditioning - I can't stand to be hot (except in the shower ~ see #5). I have been known to have my air conditioning still running in late November. Enough said.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaVktNsPG9qMCJS9eoazDK6DhAK6AxdAVBmg4OH9Es6LGCorqd7ulrr6xgH7lXj8W-weqlUZ8dg_SO34GoTdZI_eoaDqLoPD2grHgDXzktd6ytaBojp5JKjR8dHmKQf0PhgflV0R9SHo5/s1600-h/air+conditioning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaVktNsPG9qMCJS9eoazDK6DhAK6AxdAVBmg4OH9Es6LGCorqd7ulrr6xgH7lXj8W-weqlUZ8dg_SO34GoTdZI_eoaDqLoPD2grHgDXzktd6ytaBojp5JKjR8dHmKQf0PhgflV0R9SHo5/s320/air+conditioning.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">8. Entertainment (TV/DVR and Music) - "Hi, my name is Lolly and I am a TV/DVR-aholic." I admit it - I love television. I am hooked. I love comedies (Modern Family, Big Bank Theory, to name two); I love dramas (Bones, CSI, Burn Notice, White Collar, to name a few); I love reality shows (American Idol, Biggest Loser to name some fun ones); plus so many more including Food Network shows, HGTV, etc. There is hardly a show I don't like and with DVRs I can watch what I want without commercials. Woot!!</span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">And Music - well, I just love it and it feeds my soul. My music tastes are so eclectic - I love everything from Top 40 to Country to Oldies to Gospel; I love everyone from my beloved Adam Lambert (I heart Adam so much!!) to the late great John Denver to the Black Eyed Peas to Elvis.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVKw5310UNzKbe2hP0Qpo3N0HMY1A8Da9GSpouywYodn9koGj0HMSUBw39RuNNozT58YXZ2DO7JPoSqJlKIAKY6J8YD0ahVf8xHswRX_5y6LyciVo5JpFjKzMgIioUE2cFG8VNeOynslD/s1600-h/adam5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVKw5310UNzKbe2hP0Qpo3N0HMY1A8Da9GSpouywYodn9koGj0HMSUBw39RuNNozT58YXZ2DO7JPoSqJlKIAKY6J8YD0ahVf8xHswRX_5y6LyciVo5JpFjKzMgIioUE2cFG8VNeOynslD/s200/adam5.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">9. Jewelry, Perfume, and Clothing - What can I say? I'm vain and proud and I want to look nice.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRZebuGpX-uFIsQ-dPmn3ffg_MMWaYLn8x2ExUMYaX4HFCpoZg8cF4uFq1ev4tr10HkeDzb1cmi8PWqtyiVUqcxmonkeH2R5WKttIP4VXgZA5uQ70vhIHoIu9vFdGI2aG0e6rVg5SckrX/s1600-h/timeless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRZebuGpX-uFIsQ-dPmn3ffg_MMWaYLn8x2ExUMYaX4HFCpoZg8cF4uFq1ev4tr10HkeDzb1cmi8PWqtyiVUqcxmonkeH2R5WKttIP4VXgZA5uQ70vhIHoIu9vFdGI2aG0e6rVg5SckrX/s320/timeless.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(I love Timeless perfume from AVON)</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">10. Water - I love it. It's all I drink. I do also think it's been my secret to smooth skin and few wrinkles, even in my forties. I gave up caffeine and sodas about 14 years ago. I love water!!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Hlcv4CRkxD2G2wCbvTGuzJR7JY9ao1sILCRho90XLoLQtMioGmiw6T64pAyHSNw_GDkf5jRGzzuhuAJJXXQN37fMv-NrbMxevRZOxEC_70-0pe27zcufjengd-unQGgr-Tv4qGU8d7C/s1600-h/glass+of+water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3Hlcv4CRkxD2G2wCbvTGuzJR7JY9ao1sILCRho90XLoLQtMioGmiw6T64pAyHSNw_GDkf5jRGzzuhuAJJXXQN37fMv-NrbMxevRZOxEC_70-0pe27zcufjengd-unQGgr-Tv4qGU8d7C/s320/glass+of+water.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">That's my 10! </span><br />
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</div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-34976303491441676582010-01-03T17:25:00.000-05:002010-01-03T17:25:16.897-05:00Resolved...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNwdgI51tbZ_g1akCtRuzCrmORvcEoWRUDt-u1yuywS6KiYpWqHTilhlpHkkO1A0wKMpYRrwQL7CyFnzWWGaxhwBncbEaWHHGYPr9si84OGnam42aH-u_DEBFwaE2wDDAwHeYOXLgrIih/s1600-h/2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNwdgI51tbZ_g1akCtRuzCrmORvcEoWRUDt-u1yuywS6KiYpWqHTilhlpHkkO1A0wKMpYRrwQL7CyFnzWWGaxhwBncbEaWHHGYPr9si84OGnam42aH-u_DEBFwaE2wDDAwHeYOXLgrIih/s640/2010.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2009 was a hard and long year in many aspects. 2010, however, is here and holds the hopes and dreams of the life I want to create for myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have many things - both profound and fun, big and small - that I want to get done this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, in 2010, in no particular order (well, except for the first one which is pretty critical), I resolve to...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...lose at least 100 pounds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...live more <strike>frugally</strike> smartly</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...continue to pay down debt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...grow my emergency savigns account</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...learn to love myself now - as I am this very moment - and to continue the self-acceptance as I move forward</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...continue to grow and market my home businesses - and mom's and Travis'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...continue to nurture the relationship with my nieces and nephews</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...blog regularly at least 3x a week</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...learn to quilt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...create more scrapbook pages and do some legacy scrapbooking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...work on my book ideas (secret for now)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...no longer wear my past hurts and disappointments like a suit of armor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...organize all photos on my computer on CDs as back-up</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...be creative on a daily - ar at least weekly - basis</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...set up at craft shows this year with mom!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...redecorate guest room</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...enter photo (specifically pets) contests, etc. - get my photos out there</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...paint living room and make new curtains (I have had the fabric for almost a year! -- it's time!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...add exercise to my daily routines - ANY movement is better than none :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...learn to crochet and knit</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am so excited to see what I can make of this new year. For all of you, may your 2010 be filled with peace, wellness, joy, laughter, and love.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6KuQJLKqH8hRKaDXkEJEQHrhPjPHHbFJGZHs-L1rS_C9y0aXw5A6jUOk2wqFSMoRa_CqKD6qLUHErYsAMRGDSNjpgEn21eML-8QedEJuN1J-DBM-YdbehyphenhyphenSljRHmIQa_Ea_Gqjt_kuvu/s1600-h/Freidalaughingatmyfunnyjoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6KuQJLKqH8hRKaDXkEJEQHrhPjPHHbFJGZHs-L1rS_C9y0aXw5A6jUOk2wqFSMoRa_CqKD6qLUHErYsAMRGDSNjpgEn21eML-8QedEJuN1J-DBM-YdbehyphenhyphenSljRHmIQa_Ea_Gqjt_kuvu/s320/Freidalaughingatmyfunnyjoke.jpg" /></a><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(My sweet kitty, Freida (to the left), says Happy New Year!!)</span></em>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-78099861366580101742009-12-19T19:39:00.000-05:002009-12-19T19:39:14.871-05:00Rest in Peace, my little cat-child, Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEMnL4PzFL1K0hEsgpVeA4dJmgFFDbf1vgqi1XZRN8A3d9FdoJKYoBodDQ-DRdKijlZlKfTDkKeBRzhEkm8j9u1PfkDv3ZO5PkicRjJ5lhUEo131pNyyeIh8b215_VB7XVD8FR0xvpPVf/s1600-h/Joy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEMnL4PzFL1K0hEsgpVeA4dJmgFFDbf1vgqi1XZRN8A3d9FdoJKYoBodDQ-DRdKijlZlKfTDkKeBRzhEkm8j9u1PfkDv3ZO5PkicRjJ5lhUEo131pNyyeIh8b215_VB7XVD8FR0xvpPVf/s320/Joy+2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>I am so sad to tell you that I lost my dear, sweet cat, Joy, today. Earlier this afternoon, she lost her very brave, but oh, too brief battle and passed away. I knew this day was coming but your never really prepared, are you? My beloved animals are my children and Joy was the perfect cat-child. She had such a big personality for such a tiny little girl and she will be missed so much. As I write this, her BFF, Henry, is roaming the rooms up here as if he is looking for her. She wasn't with me for long enough, but the time that I did have with her is indelibly etched in my heart and soul. It was a privilege to love her and a *joy* to have her love me back.<br />
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During her last few weeks, her favorite spot was to sit behind me on the back of my big comfy chair and place her hand on my back or shoulder.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7bXICl-TltalI5LgjBc6WyFY0A-qO08qMXbEtwtvkrd3r-4ZHzuckCeY0egcnuOWfJtVDhpPvhnf934EdzWDGVLwb7ZFhVIQoNni-fozpWP6qs9fWK_NKoWJHD_jpo8nUa-_wpICbn7F/s1600-h/Joy+sitting+behind+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7bXICl-TltalI5LgjBc6WyFY0A-qO08qMXbEtwtvkrd3r-4ZHzuckCeY0egcnuOWfJtVDhpPvhnf934EdzWDGVLwb7ZFhVIQoNni-fozpWP6qs9fWK_NKoWJHD_jpo8nUa-_wpICbn7F/s320/Joy+sitting+behind+me.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>The picture below is Joy on the right, laughing, and her BFF, Henry, on the left.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qIpMDrKUfxmslzZpvku2YI1PafPlCIWAgbFFcG3xfj6DqntJ_pIG_dJSxnEewMRb5hEp9juifCJabClc2rB7BIARp4G3z44JH3a7pp3FFSuJmDxsGN2dsZffAJmoLdM89f1CtB_nIiC6/s1600-h/happy+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qIpMDrKUfxmslzZpvku2YI1PafPlCIWAgbFFcG3xfj6DqntJ_pIG_dJSxnEewMRb5hEp9juifCJabClc2rB7BIARp4G3z44JH3a7pp3FFSuJmDxsGN2dsZffAJmoLdM89f1CtB_nIiC6/s320/happy+joy.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-size: large;">"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan." ~Townsend</span></em><br />
</div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-66031806479773594592009-12-08T19:36:00.000-05:002009-12-08T19:36:58.843-05:00I'm a proud daughter!....and a proud sister, too!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First and foremost, I am so lucky to call my mother my very best friend. She is an amazing lady. Since I was a toddler I was convinced my mom could do anything....now I know she can! She is an amazing artist - fiber arts, pen and ink wildlife pictures/notecards, altered arts, and even some writing! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She is so talented but in true artist fashion, she is not much of a business woman (ok, well maybe there is just this one thing she can't do :) ). So, I decided to become her business manager and market her and set up an Etsy store for her. I just want to show her off here............if you get a minute check out her Etsy store <a href="http://gagassewingroom.etsy.com/">HERE</a> (I still have a lot of things to list and she is working on building her inventory) but I love everything she does!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I am proud....here is just a sampling of some of her cool aprons - two of them are made with vintage linens...very cool</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOgm8T9ol9CzkfX35CIfhG8W1V2D08sWkDF7giUPXRG3CNCwJHt-s9mSmlJjLrZcqZEdgpwFBI8K9uXN2xjcnb_yBpulcnGIhJ1W-RpdQmlcL18hkuqi9-96HgsdcUjtZ75jflPAiBP_x/s1600-h/apron+pic+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOgm8T9ol9CzkfX35CIfhG8W1V2D08sWkDF7giUPXRG3CNCwJHt-s9mSmlJjLrZcqZEdgpwFBI8K9uXN2xjcnb_yBpulcnGIhJ1W-RpdQmlcL18hkuqi9-96HgsdcUjtZ75jflPAiBP_x/s320/apron+pic+5.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrSmz7dWT0F-xVyEYB3PG3TbTMSfi9L1rXiqGeu-ex_pbRjPWIwr_RlgyuZm3zL8CwG36rjbOH6SIR-qSn3O-JXLSX0ktgty3HUo2bNfmX2NW3DMBavyKwufIJ16n11_kRkNDttwINFpI/s1600-h/apron+pic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrSmz7dWT0F-xVyEYB3PG3TbTMSfi9L1rXiqGeu-ex_pbRjPWIwr_RlgyuZm3zL8CwG36rjbOH6SIR-qSn3O-JXLSX0ktgty3HUo2bNfmX2NW3DMBavyKwufIJ16n11_kRkNDttwINFpI/s320/apron+pic+3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituq-93yrJnIabPk15ThogHVTh3tWc64xmTnruEpk0ZwnchSHFrUsgqitk0fknVDhoIcj5YCSAZgfB_D_PdX_fPPYrjdhgE7nQ9395-e9aWvY3QrUAsUTrdc7277F93iaOvxqZ8OC0SPcy/s1600-h/apron+pic+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituq-93yrJnIabPk15ThogHVTh3tWc64xmTnruEpk0ZwnchSHFrUsgqitk0fknVDhoIcj5YCSAZgfB_D_PdX_fPPYrjdhgE7nQ9395-e9aWvY3QrUAsUTrdc7277F93iaOvxqZ8OC0SPcy/s320/apron+pic+4.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheThVH2Fv3g8WAB0uxoG7E0Q0VI7aoSCAOrQXEpu2jeLqLa1sEYSI_0zcFixazS2kr6ACEpYNbzw_XyFVwa_CKim9XoHEEsRZx31Ey-ifd4Uqbvk3doWwCM4TahhpWJPO1Ph8eAJqeD9eJ/s1600-h/apron+pic+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheThVH2Fv3g8WAB0uxoG7E0Q0VI7aoSCAOrQXEpu2jeLqLa1sEYSI_0zcFixazS2kr6ACEpYNbzw_XyFVwa_CKim9XoHEEsRZx31Ey-ifd4Uqbvk3doWwCM4TahhpWJPO1Ph8eAJqeD9eJ/s320/apron+pic+6.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, while I am sharing the talents of loved ones, let me tell you about my amazing artist BROTHER, Travis. He does the most AWESOME pencil portraits....he is really good and now some of his commissions grace homes throughout the United States and Canada. He is still so reasonably priced compared to other artists I have seen. But, like mom, he is not business minded, so I set up and run an Etsy store for him as well. Check out his Etsy store <a href="http://rebelstarstudio.etsy.com/">HERE</a> and here are some of his recent portraits:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUtxC4wF55RtR3cwyOicWySkzWxemJY-ee2UIqKZehsPS7HycMoZ2td3hrl9VYxOIg00eJkjKx46pXEGhWP1LTbqH4Ao0mjs2hU9sKiCgiC2ZvofdqC8c3OSOyjOJrlVcWFBY7UjgTrTZ/s1600-h/Little+Girl+11-14-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUtxC4wF55RtR3cwyOicWySkzWxemJY-ee2UIqKZehsPS7HycMoZ2td3hrl9VYxOIg00eJkjKx46pXEGhWP1LTbqH4Ao0mjs2hU9sKiCgiC2ZvofdqC8c3OSOyjOJrlVcWFBY7UjgTrTZ/s320/Little+Girl+11-14-09.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajzIIsYDJGVM9VArWHqQrSlCm1pJPcyiabicW9NBTKmBf7NddLxBMfLKBJl-J5X1njHo869aBFN4monRKNCZT2UQlXHSETCZ2malOP4cyl1SWjSe4XDRaa022pSqlYBqUHdoKhX58LvmW/s1600-h/dylan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajzIIsYDJGVM9VArWHqQrSlCm1pJPcyiabicW9NBTKmBf7NddLxBMfLKBJl-J5X1njHo869aBFN4monRKNCZT2UQlXHSETCZ2malOP4cyl1SWjSe4XDRaa022pSqlYBqUHdoKhX58LvmW/s320/dylan.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sFscCrUoBmpCbkqMLr2HKDUktbGnbGKhmyXPHh1m0pKFi2hg1gPcrEraEjnh1Y9IBmiytbLU4EM3Dn_wJzzXN3zftW6igkhhty-R9Ui-Hcs3geQIQT2n0vIR5b3DuZv1gNUJjR4mJoCk/s1600-h/german+shepherd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sFscCrUoBmpCbkqMLr2HKDUktbGnbGKhmyXPHh1m0pKFi2hg1gPcrEraEjnh1Y9IBmiytbLU4EM3Dn_wJzzXN3zftW6igkhhty-R9Ui-Hcs3geQIQT2n0vIR5b3DuZv1gNUJjR4mJoCk/s320/german+shepherd.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XJTFmuxClZKsPtut700iwLbv2jC2KwMunTQ1H_knsE57wLdjNYuJfkXAdOWM5zphI8OjGoazEvliKEROWsa8VvIhOwa9uQ1PejwX6gyMRaiwBshfTcMLust_syU4wNuphgb-cDhn26Uc/s1600-h/LauriePuppyPic-TWB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XJTFmuxClZKsPtut700iwLbv2jC2KwMunTQ1H_knsE57wLdjNYuJfkXAdOWM5zphI8OjGoazEvliKEROWsa8VvIhOwa9uQ1PejwX6gyMRaiwBshfTcMLust_syU4wNuphgb-cDhn26Uc/s320/LauriePuppyPic-TWB.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for indulging me by listening to me rave about my mom and brothers talents! </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now if only my creative muse would come back to visit so I can reopen my own Etsy store! Hopefully in 2010!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Talk to you soon, </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Lolly</span><br />
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</div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-14364465798831355972009-11-29T19:26:00.000-05:002009-11-29T19:26:37.955-05:00Scrapbooking fun with the girls.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least once a month, I have my sweet nieces, Courtney and Mallory, as well as my mom over for a scrapbooking party. I am trying to pass along my love of scrapbooking to the girls.....and they do love it!!...and they are really good at it! Mallory is just 9 and Courtney is almost 12. This month, we did a few scrapbook pages, but mostly worked on Christmas cards/tags/bookmarks. A lot of fun was had.<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_un3YWYo98y7BJVixjzw-BP-bpg_SbufTs3bbshX_r7C0r5cBPpLSWxaxk91qIiPnyN8a_eVaM9k5RKGZTQ7DbVJFe44AU6YAK_CIFC4IIFTEu961sSnNgjjjaJuUpB_gzlrIpkHvCU9P/s1600/scrapbook+11-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_un3YWYo98y7BJVixjzw-BP-bpg_SbufTs3bbshX_r7C0r5cBPpLSWxaxk91qIiPnyN8a_eVaM9k5RKGZTQ7DbVJFe44AU6YAK_CIFC4IIFTEu961sSnNgjjjaJuUpB_gzlrIpkHvCU9P/s320/scrapbook+11-24.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrSNdtaRoMiC9FPO0TUJQVWoYtkj5BhUEc6vCL4S6JrLXviTWoQiPlyyjxWSGRxfZUknHpcOnA1SUeUrN_t24Wx3s36P-nQjlGM6gFgsqgOQywhK91ROZMAES9TTzSWsiz10FRUAEe0zM/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrSNdtaRoMiC9FPO0TUJQVWoYtkj5BhUEc6vCL4S6JrLXviTWoQiPlyyjxWSGRxfZUknHpcOnA1SUeUrN_t24Wx3s36P-nQjlGM6gFgsqgOQywhK91ROZMAES9TTzSWsiz10FRUAEe0zM/s320/scrapbook+11-24+4.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Joy (gray and white kitty below) used to be their kitty until she came to live with me. She has a very serious heart condition and may not live much longer, so Mallory was very upset about that, but Joy heard their voices and came down to sit with them as they created. What a sweet memory and although Joy totally loves living with me, she really misses "her girls". (note: ignore the binder clip holding my curtains closed...that is a funny story for another post - I have fabric to make new curtains for the living room, but where is the time?)<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaA5pFVjBmXud9uhD9ZLdJXNgDOE8kpW4YuW-hEO396CQP_5TYXflJHrnWLspS9uWc42FqkjyDz0kB-i_7wHVb7UOV8H-SM9NUL7FEwKnCu7_uNRyUoKXcogsv9nHLCTaAYNSni9SxDi7/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaA5pFVjBmXud9uhD9ZLdJXNgDOE8kpW4YuW-hEO396CQP_5TYXflJHrnWLspS9uWc42FqkjyDz0kB-i_7wHVb7UOV8H-SM9NUL7FEwKnCu7_uNRyUoKXcogsv9nHLCTaAYNSni9SxDi7/s320/scrapbook+11-24+2.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My beautiful mommy!<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FeOl-V1aSHOZN8d-N5VVf1A9QhaTbQud7rdP9MYquyUtxVY13bq6lpL8wSjufkKIMLjlkVpzMfncr9TApF0HiQIZBYJ4mkg76X_z91K_1R6P-sn4Z_f-9hmsGw8qVnW0Vi28UJuAuCSU/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FeOl-V1aSHOZN8d-N5VVf1A9QhaTbQud7rdP9MYquyUtxVY13bq6lpL8wSjufkKIMLjlkVpzMfncr9TApF0HiQIZBYJ4mkg76X_z91K_1R6P-sn4Z_f-9hmsGw8qVnW0Vi28UJuAuCSU/s320/scrapbook+11-24+5.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hard at work. What I do is bring down my big 6' card table and set it up in the living room and bring down all my scrapping goodies. I have a home studio/office, but 4 of us in there would not be conducive to creating!<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UVEm7li3OMNeMRCEYpUm8PhyjIVGtqrvkfYsNSJ4Qr9NV6O31W2Xc7Svglrh-9NY_0wRBlFQvHY06Mo5f8JDzAJ7zVcgWyZC1tIWN0tds0NBKgJjtgPxY0K2Pfu3KDa-vUCLRFjCPPd0/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UVEm7li3OMNeMRCEYpUm8PhyjIVGtqrvkfYsNSJ4Qr9NV6O31W2Xc7Svglrh-9NY_0wRBlFQvHY06Mo5f8JDzAJ7zVcgWyZC1tIWN0tds0NBKgJjtgPxY0K2Pfu3KDa-vUCLRFjCPPd0/s320/scrapbook+11-24+6.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mallory and mom!<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO-cGTsMx96CyTuHCVS-uWEMX3x7a8vzDJqH2WeVtGM93yE4HVDVqlvGDXepC6luyRXnfjXtWUHZdxUFzzs51dNNVM-sKMrRs8KHbu8TB-egz87yn30UZIKGkATj6W2ctP_Ls1nUgk-4A/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO-cGTsMx96CyTuHCVS-uWEMX3x7a8vzDJqH2WeVtGM93yE4HVDVqlvGDXepC6luyRXnfjXtWUHZdxUFzzs51dNNVM-sKMrRs8KHbu8TB-egz87yn30UZIKGkATj6W2ctP_Ls1nUgk-4A/s320/scrapbook+11-24+7.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Courtney with Joy.<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcmB0dzRJXPn0estqE4zWTWrtZSQ-0Ubm9CXMUzs0wStI3k2JPUIRDAPY9BRBPm7Xf0NEUYR13v_0wgakD0zdtXR_f9AGxMp7BBJE7w_httPNehdL4JlmP8Bz68CiY1CxnrVMFe1n-fO0/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcmB0dzRJXPn0estqE4zWTWrtZSQ-0Ubm9CXMUzs0wStI3k2JPUIRDAPY9BRBPm7Xf0NEUYR13v_0wgakD0zdtXR_f9AGxMp7BBJE7w_httPNehdL4JlmP8Bz68CiY1CxnrVMFe1n-fO0/s320/scrapbook+11-24+8.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls always make a special point to hold my big boy, Marty. He is like a doll. He loves to be held like a baby. But don't wear black if you want to hold this boy...he is a major shedder, hence the quilts covering all of my furniture!<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnOdQGeLnWsAeIxpOx57Ztk_9l14u3eB3lShuY_LEL9H7nQ-UXYDgDvaX5_tMHUnBZaEEUUTB4ZvELCJenKEHbHMhALWj-gjsAO2GDy7GJUkGXfuJJt2SoUfmkAcqE5vE9_CoGdY5YCUR/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivnOdQGeLnWsAeIxpOx57Ztk_9l14u3eB3lShuY_LEL9H7nQ-UXYDgDvaX5_tMHUnBZaEEUUTB4ZvELCJenKEHbHMhALWj-gjsAO2GDy7GJUkGXfuJJt2SoUfmkAcqE5vE9_CoGdY5YCUR/s320/scrapbook+11-24+9.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mom making her holiday cards and tags........she is such a great artist!<br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnHNFu4_AGu6nbj2vixwcjsfLP9tHfFCzmnfaveI_wR-eQHm8svn9nlq3wnEkqe7JDYT6_221Yv1CvXuQswwynxXSdLvKpUQffgY3KDI15NmtaPmPsUXZCbvwWLhrTUP4WxWR1FDUQbwk/s1600/scrapbook+11-24+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnHNFu4_AGu6nbj2vixwcjsfLP9tHfFCzmnfaveI_wR-eQHm8svn9nlq3wnEkqe7JDYT6_221Yv1CvXuQswwynxXSdLvKpUQffgY3KDI15NmtaPmPsUXZCbvwWLhrTUP4WxWR1FDUQbwk/s320/scrapbook+11-24+10.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div>I just love all three of these wonderful ladies. We have so much fun when we are together!! <br />
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Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I was off for 5 days, but it still wasn't long enough! The days just flew by!Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-16111803667299417612009-11-21T15:47:00.000-05:002009-11-21T15:47:16.706-05:00Passionate about.....<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think when you share your life with the four-leggeds, you realize that "animals are my friends" - and in my case, then, how could I eat my friends? I have my sweet pup, and my beloved cats, and even a rabbit (long story, but thanks to my niece, Mack, about 6 years ago). I also feed the wild ones - the squirrels who eat peanuts from my hand, the birds who literally flock around me and aren't fearful, and even the geese when I see them. </span><br />
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</div><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/AVvXsEgtI8eUdS7UvnxQ9I7epSgl3ODsb5KWvj60hoTrqSjIGUYhoZn7W8pIqwjM6Y6TvYcjKQHRuHJYP_tGFz1WF8-kGb5Pae-VMtbqYt52ZjTXRfb0QeokD6WtPf5h1Tacr4MEKHinXPnNvCyK/s1600/why-not-you-eat-other-animals-dont-you.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/AVvXsEgtI8eUdS7UvnxQ9I7epSgl3ODsb5KWvj60hoTrqSjIGUYhoZn7W8pIqwjM6Y6TvYcjKQHRuHJYP_tGFz1WF8-kGb5Pae-VMtbqYt52ZjTXRfb0QeokD6WtPf5h1Tacr4MEKHinXPnNvCyK/s320/why-not-you-eat-other-animals-dont-you.jpg" yr="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have been vegetarian for about 14 years and became completely vegan early this year. I always wanted to be vegan, but was convinced that I couldn't live without my eggs and cheese. How wrong I was. I am eating better and healthier and yummier than ever.</span><br />
</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: Arial;">I have reawakened my love of cooking this year. I have some awesome vegan cookbooks and have also been having fun "veganizing" traditional recipes. My carnivore friends and family are amazed that my food tastes good. Gasp! --- you mean vegan food tastes yummy? :)</span><br />
</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: Arial;">Now to get this weight off.... It's great that I have nothing but healthy, organic, good for you food in my fridge and pantry, but......hello.....earth to Lolly....if you eat too much of it and have major portion distortion, you are NOT going to lose weight. Sigh....I am a work in progress. </span><br />
</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: Arial;">And don't worry, my friends. I am passionate about animals and my veganism, but would never push it on anyone. I like to share what I know and what I have learned, but it has to be a personal choice for each person.</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Blessings, </span><br />
</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: Arial;">Lolly</span><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/AVvXsEgKYyFITg4bui0z_9mYsD2mAVyWTTctUdcn8wuz8AHwD-B5Qo4P7bWfHoOhkW7xPSkijdeiox_H9cB5Q_0WS9CStMmINoCW-EvCqJjF9FHsvti7MxdDcxRMMmCz4uHBKqVFRwZB1BuBtK_x/s1600/which+do+you+pet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYyFITg4bui0z_9mYsD2mAVyWTTctUdcn8wuz8AHwD-B5Qo4P7bWfHoOhkW7xPSkijdeiox_H9cB5Q_0WS9CStMmINoCW-EvCqJjF9FHsvti7MxdDcxRMMmCz4uHBKqVFRwZB1BuBtK_x/s320/which+do+you+pet.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-37634497686722858642009-11-18T17:14:00.001-05:002009-11-18T17:16:56.552-05:00Now back to our regularly scheduled blogging…<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yeah....I do have a blog. After too many months away, I am ready to blog again. I have a new blog look, a new outlook on life, a desire to lose weight and finally get healthy, and a desire to build a thriving and creative business. Currently I am a work in progress, but for the first time in a very long time, I am feeling optimistic about...well, everything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </span><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, my weight. I am tired of being fat. There...I said it. I just don’t want to be fat anymore. High blood pressure, arthritic knee, feeling ugly…..no more. I know it will take time, but I am ready. Finally, at the age of 44 (45 in January), I can say that I am ready. In addition to other things, I want to document my journey to good health and happiness. I have more than 100 pounds to lose and I know that I can’t think long term. Those numbers can be overwhelming. I need to take this one day at a time, maybe some days even a minute at a time, but I <strike>need</strike>, no I WILL, get there.</span><br />
</div><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/AVvXsEjBUCYLtTlm-OoL0igNedE-Mr_38ReEqQAOffT6yoU1lX2Yp-bYG4fk773PW_nG7J4o5xI6CJ2fJq5gyi2swanPJRMHXyGel9oIyceky8yN0BEzRxzwAyNTJhph0l4UhtUzcr_zRMKtx6wO/s1600/scale.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/AVvXsEjBUCYLtTlm-OoL0igNedE-Mr_38ReEqQAOffT6yoU1lX2Yp-bYG4fk773PW_nG7J4o5xI6CJ2fJq5gyi2swanPJRMHXyGel9oIyceky8yN0BEzRxzwAyNTJhph0l4UhtUzcr_zRMKtx6wO/s320/scale.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I am also going to use this blog to document some of my yummy vegan cooking, wonderful recipes that I have "veganized" myself and others that I have tried that my wonderful blog friends have shared with me. I love to cook and I love organic. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally, I will use this blog to document and share my crafty creations, as well as those of my mom and brother (who I run etsy sites for!!). We haven't officially opened my mom's etsy store yet, but am planning to do so Thanksgiving weekend (when I have 5 days off in a row!! woot!!). She has some aprons that truly rock!!! I will share them here when we get them up. I also run an etsy site for my amazing artist brother, so will share some of his work as well. And when I am ready to open my etsy store back up, I will share that as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, glad to be back to blogging!! Now it's time to catch up with some of my favorites!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love, Lolly</span><br />
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</div>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5634369905624017662.post-50615374306391099102009-05-12T14:08:00.000-04:002009-05-12T14:21:29.876-04:00It's been a while........It's been a while...I have been a bad blogger....but I will be back soon to blog again...in the meantime, enjoy these pics of some of my beloved furry children....oh, how they make my heart happy!<br /><br />My heart cat, Freida...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFPD7hDUFPGn4ZGphs6JDSxDg7juhlwmdg7oc58UKbaCkmsaX4h2TUTNtUF4uVSV41JzqqfQq7DZN3VvD5QdRVs5hty9DmOuWMX6dPGuw-NEDWIydFV8R37Qvw11CAUphVoFiKtbpXYzl/s1600-h/100_0684.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335001822010426722" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFPD7hDUFPGn4ZGphs6JDSxDg7juhlwmdg7oc58UKbaCkmsaX4h2TUTNtUF4uVSV41JzqqfQq7DZN3VvD5QdRVs5hty9DmOuWMX6dPGuw-NEDWIydFV8R37Qvw11CAUphVoFiKtbpXYzl/s320/100_0684.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My big sweet boy, Bob...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyyVltr9YCEJoZdcfFNpaPyJOUuO77hH7blhEl2BmaQnY6omOcrpoHIhr4BXoWaBQipFNpa8Oghb6C_IqMGYLNQcqOjjVoI7hwEGkjcofH382qG-PhXwzTBRgqryvU7h2y4LN2J6E-Lgj/s1600-h/100_0680.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335001837493872210" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyyVltr9YCEJoZdcfFNpaPyJOUuO77hH7blhEl2BmaQnY6omOcrpoHIhr4BXoWaBQipFNpa8Oghb6C_IqMGYLNQcqOjjVoI7hwEGkjcofH382qG-PhXwzTBRgqryvU7h2y4LN2J6E-Lgj/s320/100_0680.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My little baby, Henry...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0OHyh-1Gvf99ooDotAWFUdmTmJLrDbvqbbWiQx5HdMfEsg9p3CID-Uwsoz9ntvdXCNvkI6xuhSRWLtCrL4FsIj_yee9fFXHNqUqNAtALj1OybHkIZAkwGQivOaVnUHcCVO3mqSLksxBC/s1600-h/100_0674.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335001828440664738" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0OHyh-1Gvf99ooDotAWFUdmTmJLrDbvqbbWiQx5HdMfEsg9p3CID-Uwsoz9ntvdXCNvkI6xuhSRWLtCrL4FsIj_yee9fFXHNqUqNAtALj1OybHkIZAkwGQivOaVnUHcCVO3mqSLksxBC/s320/100_0674.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My dear, gentle Baby Spike...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmubZJHuueHh-iLX6ZUMDmnJ86xkzhJiqu4t5q5XrbE7UnxZ8ru0blbu8r4k7SlHDQ0jVd9n_Fyb4IjXa7KmqqIifrjALHpqt8s0Ve4gU3yVda4OsO7KFowcOS7AA81PHAmLP8cu1qixh/s1600-h/100_0710.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335001843476938050" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmubZJHuueHh-iLX6ZUMDmnJ86xkzhJiqu4t5q5XrbE7UnxZ8ru0blbu8r4k7SlHDQ0jVd9n_Fyb4IjXa7KmqqIifrjALHpqt8s0Ve4gU3yVda4OsO7KFowcOS7AA81PHAmLP8cu1qixh/s320/100_0710.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My loveable and oh, so nosy Jack...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-HK3EZrRHWG0kcfTc7iXhOAiu9x4jFbrdUNuWTWn_4zUO3GtyTm0N3_Z7SMop4EvQRB90DA-Pdz-ittm2Vq66MoGXa5_qOLX100vNs0N-9Cxh4VwjtTuaDY7f1pKxPfEO6LpA3nVT6ZZ/s1600-h/100_0709.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335001842615294242" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-HK3EZrRHWG0kcfTc7iXhOAiu9x4jFbrdUNuWTWn_4zUO3GtyTm0N3_Z7SMop4EvQRB90DA-Pdz-ittm2Vq66MoGXa5_qOLX100vNs0N-9Cxh4VwjtTuaDY7f1pKxPfEO6LpA3nVT6ZZ/s320/100_0709.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My funny old girl, Sharlet...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZODUyIRDqpe3YyEvfqVkBt3bl9leH7I9ntmiLumSyb9Sa5Q10dXZE-lsxV9Bv30rV4ZClwbJXaSlTEJ7Up2LvfBaO_CfVjtBpSb54dUvmr9Q-vWemWurujFJdm7w_rQvkk-9S3eo0Lrw_/s1600-h/100_0697.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335002440933614562" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZODUyIRDqpe3YyEvfqVkBt3bl9leH7I9ntmiLumSyb9Sa5Q10dXZE-lsxV9Bv30rV4ZClwbJXaSlTEJ7Up2LvfBaO_CfVjtBpSb54dUvmr9Q-vWemWurujFJdm7w_rQvkk-9S3eo0Lrw_/s320/100_0697.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />My gentle giant, Marty...<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibf3DE3kD2HaHw98InqpPLJk33R9wq3tSYsvEVAe2RoZHMQkRJ0CAnwuEfid5AenCxUcPLN-rzIYfRpSHd1lzJWjMwTpphVpdHLMtbJsPlsjI0FJV-lxV1HjwdY17mXZBwgkUK9LNk11Q8/s1600-h/100_0694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335002437694416130" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibf3DE3kD2HaHw98InqpPLJk33R9wq3tSYsvEVAe2RoZHMQkRJ0CAnwuEfid5AenCxUcPLN-rzIYfRpSHd1lzJWjMwTpphVpdHLMtbJsPlsjI0FJV-lxV1HjwdY17mXZBwgkUK9LNk11Q8/s320/100_0694.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p>My aloof cutie, Buddy...</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP07tzCqjC1RV8Ismkz9ausE2fQdasvmNJBPF7g0_FMm944nQu18-sD2H64IiWtOSBG35Fvio3y4XFUMpQAlMjjOyn1SwAKgbzb6aBF03c-ila8EA6AGB8MEuMJSvjvfnito0vxjNSB2i/s1600-h/100_0686.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335002431507326370" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP07tzCqjC1RV8Ismkz9ausE2fQdasvmNJBPF7g0_FMm944nQu18-sD2H64IiWtOSBG35Fvio3y4XFUMpQAlMjjOyn1SwAKgbzb6aBF03c-ila8EA6AGB8MEuMJSvjvfnito0vxjNSB2i/s320/100_0686.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p>Talk to you all soon, </p><p><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;">Lolly<br /></span></em></p>Lollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16637556065852176995noreply@blogger.com4