Art Wednesday

I know it's still not Thanksgiving yet, but I feel Christmas in the air. Especially after I decorated these fun chipboard santa hats. The tree and snowflake stickers are from Australia. Thanks Kit, for picking them up for me. They really came in handy. These hats are for a Garland Swap due in a few more weeks. I will receive 5 different decorated chipboard shapes back and they will be strung with ribbon so I can add them to my Christmas decor. Pictures of my finished garland soon.

A Rose for Poetry Tuesday

'Tis The Last Rose Of Summer

'Tis the last rose of summer, left blooming alone; all her lovely companions are faded and gone;

No flower of her kindred, no rose bud is nigh, to reflect back her blushes, or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one! To pine on the stem; since the lovely sleeping, go sleep thou with them.

Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o'er the bed, where thy mates of the garden lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow, when friendships decay, and from Love's shining circle the gems drop away.

When true hearts lie wither'd, and fond ones are flown, Oh! who would inhabit this bleak world alone?

-Thomas Moore 1779-1852

I just love this poem. It goes perfectly with my picture I captured over the weekend. I'm so thankful for poetry and roses. And also having a camera on hand to capture the beautiful things.

Great Quotes Thursday

NO RACE CAN PROSPER UNTIL IT LEARNS THAT THERE IS AS MUCH DIGNITY IN TILLING A FIELD AS IN WRITING A POEM.-BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

And the T stands for Taliaferro. Who would have guessed that?

Great Quotes Thursday will be for the love of great quotes and the people who say them.

Maybe I'll even add one of my own quotes. How about this one about journal writing?

Just because there are lines on a page,

it doesn't mean you have to follow them.

Virginia Bell

Autumn Art Greeting Cards

I love to create beautiful things, and learn something new at the same time.

It's called the Iris Folded Paper technique, and it's really fun and easy. There are numerous shapes to make. I really like how I can use different pattern papers. I'm going to make more in the shape of a bell and ornament for Christmas time. More pictures to come later.

Poetry Tuesday! Maya Angelou's Poems

There's a long sentence in the beginning of this book that has given me pause. Here it is...

No part of this book may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form...without permission from the publisher.

I completely understand this. Maya's words are literally hers, and I respect that. So if I copy them I have stolen them?

I would be sharing, not stealing. I bought the book, I love the book. I'm plugging the awesome poems in the book, and I don't have time to write the publishers and waste their time asking permission to review a poem in the book.

*Think* *Think* *Think*

I'm going to err on the side of don't copy the poems out.

So I will just list my favorites by page number.

Pg. 8 Late October

Pg. 10 When You Come To Me

Pg. 121 Phenomenal Woman

Pg. 154 Still I Rise

Pg. 204 Changes (This is the one that I wanted to copy out, but I won't.)

I'm sure there are more favorites, and I reccommend this book on a quiet, cold, snowy Tuesday.

Art Wednesday

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This is a 6x6 Haunted House I made for a swap. I mailed it away the other day. I miss it. It tends to happen that way. I make something for a swap and I don't want to let it go because it turned out better than I expected.

Poetry Tuesday- My Favorite

Excerpt of my favorite poem...

Nobody

Nobody loves me,
Nobody cares,
Nobody picks me peaches or pears,
Nobody offers me candy or Cokes,
Nobody listens and laughs at my jokes.

I love this poem. It's my all time favorite. It's a play on words, it's imaginative, and it rhymes. There are two ways to read this poem. As if Nobody is really a person named Nobody, or as a very sad, lonely person. Take a moment out of your busy day, sit down, and read a few of Shel Silverstein's poems.

Lost in the Land of Broken Things

I'm a list maker. And I did finally vaccum the floors over the weekend. I'm scratching that off my list of things to do. I also have another list that seems to grow and grow everyday. My list of broken things. Now I don't want to be depressing and come off as a material girl, but come on! Here's the list, it speaks volumes.

The Broken Things

42in. Vizio T.V.

Lawn Mower

Aaron's Laptop

Back Door (windowpane)

Water Dispenser on the fridge

Over-the-range Microwave

Jade's Nintendo DS

Canopy for the outside swing

The USB ports on my computer (sad about this because I can't send or upload photos.)

4 Sets of Blinds (maybe more)

I'm sure there's more I can't think of at the moment. These things can be obtained again, eventually. Thankfully there are no broken bones. We have our food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Also, I have my sanity. It's not broken as far as I can tell. My computer still works and I'm able to get on the internet too. I would be fine if these things didn't work. People didn't have them 20 years ago, and they survived.

In Defense of Poetry

So what if the floors need a serious vacuum right now. Oh, and my children need baths, but that will have to wait a little longer. I want to read. Most recently all things poetry. Is that selfish of me? I feel like I'm making up for all the times I didn't read it when I was a kid. I don't watch the news, local or national, and just driving to the store to get that all important gallon of milk is a daunting task to me. I would rather sit at home, all cozy like, and read.

Shelley-In Defense of Poetry
Poetry turns all things to loveliness;it exalts the beauty of that which is most beautiful, and it adds beauty to that which is most deformed; it marries exultation and horror, grief and pleasure, eternity and change... its secret alchemy turns to portable gold the poisonous waters which flow from death through life ; it strips the veil of familiarity from the world and lays bare... the sleeping beauty... Poetry thus makes immortal all that is best and beautiful in the world.

So, I've decided that today is now Poetry Tuesday. It happens to be the slowest, quietest day for me. All Tuesdays to come will be dedicated to the love of poetry. No matter if I miss a posting. I will be reading it no doubt.

Mourn With Those Who Mourn

www.pray4jacob.blogspot.com

I believe that we experience things for a reason. We endure them and we must go on. We come in contact with others who have had the same experiences and we mourn, and find peace where we can. My thoughts are of a boy I have never met, who passed away on Sunday. I pray for his family and friends who need comfort at this time.

A Review of the Hogle Zoo and My Birthday (in 3rd person omniscient)

Once upon a sizzling, hot September day, Saturday the 26th to be exact, Virginia and her little family cruised downtown to take in the sights of the Hogle Zoo. The first animal they encountered was the elephant. A beautiful pachyderm with large, flapping ears. Then a little further on they spotted the new baby elephant, Zuri. Virginia fell in love with the little giant, and hoped the rest of the zoo animals were as playful and interesting. A baby giraffe sat in the shade near his tall mama and played with a weed, and the buffalo appeared as big as the elephants.

Other than this, Virginia's morale quickly went downhill when she had to push the stroller up several hills to view the absent tiger, and the sleeping snow leopard. She was also depressed when she noticed that the regal peacock's walked around without their beautiful mane of feathers. The afternoon grew even hotter as Virginia and her tired family stepped of the very short train ride around the desert animals exhibit. They decided it was time to eat.

Virginia settled on Red Lobster as her birthday lunch. She enjoyed eating her shrimp alfredo and watching her daughter, Jade eat snow crab legs. Virginia couldn't help herself and ordered another serving of endless shrimp, and then another, and then another. She was thinking it would be a long time before she'd visit the seafood place again, so she'd might as well get her money's worth.

As the sun set, Virginia drove the little family home to her ice cream cake and a Happy Birthday song...

34 blessed years. She couldn't judge or complain. She thanked God everyday for the chance to be on the earth. To live with the gray hairs and learn from the wrinkles around her eyes. To watch her children grow. To experience joy, and have a positive outlook no matter what comes her way. She plans to create beauty around her and enjoy the little things for many birthdays to come.

So Many Books, So Little Time

I really don't know where to start.
I read The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown in 4 days. It is the talk of the book world right now, mostly because of the subject and the extras. The symbols, and codes. They are all over the book jacket and when decoded reveal more interesting tidbits. I liked this book enough to write a blog post about it, and to discuss it at my next book club, but that's where my interest stops. I'm not reviewing this book because there is so much that happens in it that, once again I don't know where to start. Freemasonry? Washington D.C.? Robert Langdon?
The Main Reason- there are other books out there. There are other books that I'm clamoring to read. There are other authors that I must admire for their dedication to the craft of writing, the topics, the messages. Thank goodness for the wonderful escape of reading a book.

A New Direction- The Serious Sofa

I suffer from a terrible disease. It's called low self-esteem. Hence the inability to post anything on my blog for the past 6 months. This disease affects my ability to believe that anyone cares what I write. I've come to the realization that it doesn't matter what anyone thinks or if they comment. I need to vent. It doesn't matter what I write, only that it's short, informative, and hopefully witty.

Anyway, the question of the day is: Is stationary a direction? It is for me now. I'm taking the sofa cushions by the fluff and getting comfortable. At this time in my life I have time. It's so wonderful! And yet... scary. I'm officially unavailable during school hours. I will not answer the phone, or get the door. I will not find something to clean, or get distracted by pretty new blog backgrounds. I'm busy. Writing. Writing. Writing. No Kidding. I've been trying to write a first draft novel for years now. It's time to get serious. Seriously.

Persuasion by Jane Austen

I 'persuaded' myself to dive in and finish this book. I admit I started it many times over the years. I needed to work my way through the language of Jane Austen in 1815 so it would make sense to me in 2009. This was a wonderful story. A love story of course with a cast of characters that never fail to entertain, and an ending that left me wanting more. In the case of Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth neither of them wanted to give up; their silent love for each other was what kept them good, decent, hopeful people. The contrasting characters made for a very entertaining novel i.e. Anne's father and sister, Sir Walter, and Mary were so irritatingly funny but essential to the story. The novels of J.A. will always be a part of my home library. I think I will take another stab at Pride and Prejudice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIET!!!

SHE'S NOT A BABY ANYMORE!

My little girl Juliet turned four years old on Feb. 27th. She had a great birthday. Her dad and I took her to IHop so she could get a smiley face pancake. Then we made our way to Toys R Us so she could use her gift card from Grandpa Gene. She also got a free balloon and a birthday crown.


Her Aunt Jenny and family sent her a fun little tea set and ABC magnets, and her Great Grandparents Liscom sent her $15. I got her some new jeans (Jade's hand-me-downs are not working for her anymore) and that cute purple shirt is now officially her birthday shirt.

She requested a strawberry cake with pink frosting. I decided to make it myself because if her nut allergy I'm not taking any chances with. I ended up making it a four layer circle cake and I think it turned out pretty good.


We did have a sad moment on our way home from the toy store. Juliet's balloon slipped out the window so fast we couldn't stop it. So we stop at Pioneer Party and got her a bunch of balloons in a rainbow of colors. I think this made her day. There's nothing like getting balloons to a four year old. Especially when they last throughout the weekend. They are still floating around the house today.

I Do Soooo Many Things!

There is someone out there that thinks I read all the time. So I want to clarify that even though I have my face buried in a book a lot, I have mastered the technique of multitasking. I won't name any names (Dad), and I will prove that a day in the life of Ginia Bell is action-packed. Okay, maybe not action-packed like a blockbuster movie but as in getting things done... action. The following is a list of things I get done throughout a typical day. And for the record I am a SAHM and proud of my list. (I will admit that I don't do some of these things everyday, but it's pretty close.)





WHAT DOES GINIA DO BESIDES READ?

exercise
write in my journal
carpool kids to school
gather and switch the laundry (more than once)
vacuum (upstairs, dwnstrs, etc.)
make an art card or two
find a quote or picture and use it on an art card or in my journal
surf the net (add books to goodreads, answer emails, watch a movie preview, pay a bill, etc.)
quietly reflect and pray (before Juliet wakes up)
organize my desk
plan and make breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the fam.
play Uno or Carrcassonne on my XBOX 360
talk to Kit or Linda or Amy or Aaron on the phone (while I do laundry or dishes)
do the dishes
organize Juliet's toys back into the corner
help Jade with her math or spelling homework
think about writing a blog post
play Legos or do workbook with Juliet
stare out the window at the snow and dream of going to Seaside this year
write a practice scene for a story
make lists for groceries, wishes, wordpools, etc.


So there it is. What a grand sight. Did I mention that I'm proud? It doesn't matter what I get done, I still find time to read. And that makes my typical day an amazingly unique day.

The Count of Monte Cristo (November '08)

I'm in awe of this book. I just had to write about it. It reads fast-paced and gripping. I am amazed at the character of Monte Cristo, all this time (as of page 310) he is toying with everyone he comes in contact with, hypnotizing them with his charm like a cobra, but he will strike and strike ruthless.
It's all about revenge.
This book is awesome. I will be sad when I've finished it.
Ok... back to reading.

ATC'S OF THE DAY

Cherish

Sometimes scrapbooking can be overwhelming. So I like to take things down a notch with my little 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 artist trading cards. They are little bits of art by Ginia Bell. If you would like me to make one for you let me know. All I ask is for some ephemera in return.
Thinking of you Grandma

Miracle

12 YEARS AND COUNTING

Mr. and Mrs. Bell

AUGUST 30, 1996

We married in the Atlanta Temple, honeymooned in Orlando, and after that settled into the life of the young married. We've moved almost as many years as we've been married, had our share of cars repairs, and penny-pinching. We've even been away from each other for four months because of the Army. Through it all, we've managed to maintain that spark, that eternal frame of mind, no matter what.

After 2 years of marriage Jade Christine came along to bless our lives and answer our prayers.

And then after 6 and 1/2 years of waiting, Juliet Avery joined the family.





Here's to another 12 years and beyond.

I love you Aaron, Jade, and Juliet.

The 1st Day of 5th Grade

The 1st day of 5th grade just happened to fall on
Jade's 10th birthday
August 18, 2008

She had a great day. Friends, cake, gifts, and giggles. Thank you to Sam and Kenzie for getting Jade gifts she loves. And thanks to Grandma Ann, Aunt Becky, Uncle Joe, and Great-grandparents Liscom for the cards you sent.
I'm so blessed to have Jade in my life. She keeps me sane and she's always there to chat. I'm excited to wake her up every morning now for school. I sometimes imagine that she's in college and still living at home, and she drives a red VW bug into town to attend UVU or BYU. I'm getting ahead of myself. This year is going to be great, I have high hopes that Jade will excel in everything she does. We just have to take things one day at a time. We have to get the homework done, get to bed early, eat more fruit, and say our family prayers. Everything will be fine.

PS... Thank you Jenny and family, and Grandpa Gene for the outfits.