Recapturing the Past
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I hear the water running..it isn’t from the ocean, it’s from filling the hot tub! 
Typical Chicago March, gloomy, grey and brown, just down right “gnarly”
….but within each and everyone of us lives some sunshine, a beach and a cold beer!
Where do you find your sunshine?
Is it when you spend time curled on the couch reading a book?
Is it when you finish a task that has been sitting on your desk?
Is it when you spend time with your family and/or friends?
This is one “gnarly” window, but it certainly has character and it was brought to life and adorns some sunshine now. Recycled art, creating something from something that was discarded and forgotten.
One thing that brings sunshine to my mind is thinking of whose been where I have before me.. who touched something I am touching.. i.e. being in Louisiana, some 2o odd years ago, and walking through the old southern mansions..looking at the Mississippi River from atop a high balcony…wondering who stood there before, wondering what they were thinking.. making up in your mind a day dream.
Painting with these old windows also gives me that feeling, what..where and how many people touched this.. and now in my hands it’s been long forgotten by them……now this old window has a new home, but it will always hold those silent memories.
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Practicing What You Preach
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Stevie & Martha Vaughan, in progress. We are all works in progress, and recently I found myself in a situation where, I did not practice what I preached and forward progress stood still in my brain!!
What happened you ask?
A site I worked on got Hacked! This isn’t a tech site by any means, but there is a lesson to be learned.
Back Up.. Back UP and BACK UP! I sat wondering.. and did used several tricks that were in the bag o’ goodies, but to no avail.
My first bit of advice if you are working on a blogging platform, keep a good copy of the theme, actually keep two copies, one locally and one on an external hard drive. Don’t rely on the wordpress back up’s completely dump your site and it’s contents onto that external drive.
It couldn’t possibly have been in the theme I saved a month ago.. WRONG.. it can be. After realizing the errors of my ways, I put my plea’s for help to some friends that are guru’s – some help was received but not a complete fix… it forced me to sit, and concentrate on that fix.
I got myself miffed that there was no one to come to my rescue… I finally sat down and mentally got myself into the problem and began the rebuild. I knew it was going to be tedious, and I was being lazy…I wanted someone to fix it for me… bwahhhh (as my nephew says)
Well the fact of the matter is, I learned a few lessons! When we put our mind to things, we can figure them out. When we call out for help and perhaps it’s not there, maybe there is a lesson to be learned, I re-honed some of my skills and was not allowed the easy way out! I walked away with a sense of accomplishment, I knew I could do it, but I was taking the lower road! Oh yeah.. and back up your data!
We all have hero’s
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to meet your “hero”?
In life you may not get that chance, but you can get it on paper. Here is a sketch I did for a gift, from a father to his son.
Titled appropriately “The Magnificent Four” Featuring his son, Bob Dylan, Brett Favre and Johnny Depp.
We all have hero’s, mentor’s and teachers, have you ever wondered what you would talk about if you met one of them? I do often, and I also wonder if perhaps, I would be to tongue tied to ask them anything.
I’d like to have met Crazy Horse and listen to the thoughts of a warrior fighting for all he believes in.
I’d like to have been able to sit down with Jim Morrison and ask him how some of his music was so enchanting, yet his poetry so disturbing.
I’d like to ask Stevie Ray where he felt his passion came from, and hear his stories of his teen years.
I’d like to sit down with Morgan Freeman and just listen to one of his stories, about anything, he has a great story telling voice that is somewhat hypnotic.
Can you imagine going out with the girls for cocktails if you were in the company of Katherine Hepburn, Betty White and Candice Bergen?
Whose your hero in the real world? What would you like to ask yours?
Crosses to Bare
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I painted this cross about two years ago, in front of a church in Wauconda, about 10 feet high and 6 feet wide.. it’s made to look like birch bark and it was befitting to add to this post.
We all have our crosses to bare, and we all have issues in our lives that keep us from being the true people we can be.
Shine!
Let your true self come through! You will be amazed at what you can accomplish and how it will effect you as well as those around you!
Dwelling on the crosses that we have to bare will only drain your soul. We make decisions for a reason, we are in situations for a reason, learning to understand those reasons is one big mystery, but it can also be a lesson plan for our future.
Leather and Lace
By · CommentsSeriously, it’s been a month since I wrote? Shame on me!!
I’ve been a bit pre-occupied, 
the news is, I am a business owner now.
The picture of this sign does not do it justice – what so ever, so you’ll have to stop by and see the real deal.
The idea of Leathers 4U began in August, I was not sure it would ever be a reality, and I never thought I would be a “partner” in a new business either.
You will be able to read more on the “inception” at – Leathers 4U Blog when I get the words written properly on how it all started, my partner has a way with words.. but I need to clean them up!
Leather Jackets, Leather Vests, Leather Chaps and much more will be stocked on the shelves of Leathers 4U, even some sexy undies, if Tim stops giving them all away!
The last month has been a learning experience that makes a mind tired. Contractors, Distributors & Corporation Lawyers, Accountants, and starting an online website for selling, my heads going to explode. (no not really)
The website would not have been possible without Frank – Tech Jaws, and the hours he spent implementing and teaching me “cart systems.” Forever Frank, I am at your mercy!
Buck’s Guitar Modifications – my husband and without his support and urging, this would not have moved forward. Wait until you see the old gas pump that he fixed up to put in the showroom.
Jimmy the electrician/contractor/painter and all around, get it done kinda guy has been invaluable! His website will be up shortly – Residential Maintenance Electrician – it’s only a shell right now!
The showroom is going to be gorgeous, with the Opera House Carpet and the Fiji Flooring from Carpets 4U the place is taking shape, the phone is starting to ring and we are gearing up to open in January 2010.
Stay tuned….