Time Goes By

Yesterday

 

Today

 I'm just sitting around watching my hyacinth open ... and hoping we don't get more than three inches of the white stuff.

R.I.P., Whitney.

Another star flamed out too soon.  She'll be missed.  Let her also be a warning to us all.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope there's a little something red in your day.

Perhaps a little chocolate.

If you are so inclined, a bit of bubbly.

 And time spent with the one you love.

I Deserve It!

Don't get me wrong.  I spend plenty of money ... plenty.  If we need a little something around the house [like new floors or kitchen counters] or something for the garden, I'm your girl.  If Mitchell needs [or just wants] something he saw at the mall, I'm pulling out the credit card.  Christmas shopping - absolutely!  Good catalog choices for my nieces or a friend - I'm  on it.

But for myself, not so much.

My needs are very well met.  I've never been a clothes horse and Mitchell is way more than generous when it comes to the special things in life.  I seldom find something that I just want for me, but when I do ....  I want to share it with you!

My new bracelets [yes, plural!] arrived this afternoon in the mail.  Made by a talented young jeweler, they were custom made just for me!  And, I love them.

Please meet Allyson Miller, Kentucky girl [Go, 'Cats!] transplanted to Georgia, Army wife and talented jewelry maker.  Her Etsy store is Daisy and Elm.

I've been following her blogs for a couple of years now.  You know I was interested in a blog called  "Magnolias and Mimosas", don't you?  And, while her husband was deployed last year she shared in "400 Wake-ups" the stories of the wives and families left stateside as their loved ones serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I have read that only 1% of Americans even know someone serving in the military today, so count myself lucky that thru Ally I know her husband and from her I have learned about life alone on the homefront.

Several weeks ago I discovered that she was making the troll-type bracelets, so I asked her to make one for me.  It was so reasonably priced, that I got two.  There are several flowers, a treble clef, a W and an M [go figure], a starfish, and a bunch of grapes [any idea what that is about?] that all have special meaning to me, as well as glass and ceramic beads in purple and turquoise - my two favorite colors.  They can be worn alone or together, or even stacked with other silver bracelets.

Have you ever tried photographing your dominant hand using your non-dominant?  Difficult!

Bottom line - they are wonderful!

I see this whole blogasphere (sp?) as a place where many women support other women in lots of ways - one of which is commercially.  So, I hope that you will check out Ally's Etsy store, as well as her blog.  If you are in the market for a little bit of bling for yourself or a gift for someone you love, you might find just the perfect thing waiting for you there.  She makes lots more than troll bracelets.  If you look carefully you will see a pair of bracelets that look a bit familiar!

Thanks, Ally!