Whatever's lost will show up in the water dish

I found a lost earring in my cats' water dish this morning, and it was intact. I know I'd dropped the earring from my jewelry box months ago and I'd been searching for it since... A dangling earring, made from Australian crystal. At least the ear wire was the latch/enclosed kind, that wouldn't be sharp to harm the kitties. This pair was handmade for me and worn on my wedding day - October 1, 2007.

And that's why I'm convinced that whatever's lost will show up in the water dish (car keys, the remote control, my misspent youth.... :)

December in Vegas

Marty and I spent most of the week before Christmas in Vegas (2 weeks ago, actually).
After our visit last year, we learned that the Bellagio is one of the few hotels that gets decked out for Christmas. The snowmen (at left) are made from white carnations!


Marty had an offer for a free stay at the Palazzo, a new luxury hotel next to the Venetian. He played in his 1st slot tournament to get the room deal. Marty scored at 96th place/100 and won $100 in slot credits. He was very happy. Our room at the Palazzo was very nice - looked more like a city apartment. We had a lovely view of the snow-covered mountains, and oh yeah, of Treasure Island too. If their pirate show weren't closed for the holidays, we would have had a great view from above!

Kitty Christmas

Toby (below)

Kitties get a new catnip toy!
(Sammi, center and at right - in a box, no less :)

Sammi and Toby enjoyed receiving handmade catnip toys from Aunt Laura. She made the toys out of really good catnip she buys from the co-op, then stuffeds some catnip into a baby sock, and tied the top with yarn. Sammi LOVES to play with catnip toys. We've had to 'retire' a few catnip mice due to wear and tear. She thinks mousies can swim, as one of them usually ends up in her water dish.

It's nice to see Toby in his playful moods. I think living with a kitten has made Toby more playful. One of Toby's favorite toys is a catnip-filled sardine toy (Teeny Weeny Sardini). He loves to push it beneath the bathroom door. It was one of the first toys we got for him when we brought him home last year. He's on his second Sardini toy. With his new catnip toy, Toby wasted no time in chewing a hole in the sock...

Best Friends Forever!

"What part of 'meow' don't you understand?"

Sammi's camera-shy - though her expression tells a different story here...

New photos of Sammi (foreground) while Toby sleeps... Sammi's 14 months old already, but still a kitten at heart.

My Review of ToLife™ White Tea

Originally submitted at Teavana

An uplifting union of red, white, and green teas. The blend combines the aroma of Rooibos Tropica, health benefits of rare Silver Needle and a soothing undertone of Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls. Very little caffeine. Good for multiple infusions.

ToLife™ White Tea

Soothing when blended with Peppermint

By Anonymous from Chicago, IL on 12/1/2008

 

5out of 5

Tea Body: Light

Tea Finish: Smooth

Tea Flavor: Minty, Fruity

Pros: Smooth Body, Unique Flavor Profile, Long-lasting, High Quality, Fresh, Great Aroma, Soothing, Whole Leaf Tea

Best Uses: Anytime

Describe Yourself: Tea Enthusiast, High-End Shopper, Health Conscious

Tea merchant at Woodfield Mall store suggested this pairing of To Life and Peppermint - have been drinking this blend since. Helps settle upset stomach. Very satisfying.

(legalese)

For Sale

I'm a former SU! demo and in the process of finding space in my office again... That said, I have the following stamp sets for sale - mostly retired sets.

If you want a picture of a certain set, send me an email (sherryselgrad@gmail.com) and I'll do my best to send you one. Check out the gallery on Splitcoast. Sets are sorted alphabetically, plus you can be inspired by samples of how stamps are used.

Sets listed in italics are no longer available. Send me an email if you're interested in purchase, and I will send you a paypal invoice.

Orders will ship upon receipt of payment from US buyers (no international, sorry!), I’ll send your sets via Priority Mail so we will have a tracking number and delivery confirmation. Flat Rate Envelopes (one set will generally fit in these) will ship for $4.80, Flat Rate boxes for $9.80. I’ll ship anything that’s been paid over the weekend on MONDAY.

Ageless Adornment (set of 7) $11
All Year Cheer III (set of 12) $20
Artfully Asian (set of 5) $10
Best Borders (set of 4) $10
Big Blossom (set of 1) $5
Bold Shapes (set of 8) $8
Brides & Babies (set of 9) $9
Burst Into Bloom (set of 4) $5
Congratulations (set of 9) $18
Contemporary Collection (set of 10) $15
Definitely Decorative - Vine & Berry (set of 3) $10
Delight in Life (set of 6) $5
Delightful Doodles (set of 4) $5
Everyday Expressions (set of 8) $10
Everyday Flexible Phrases (set of 56) - partially mounted $25
Festive Friends (set of 4) $5
Garden Blocks (set of 8) $10
Going Out in Style (set of 7) $14
Happy Birthday Frame (set of 2) $5
Happy Harmony (set of 6) $8
Haunts & Howls (set of 6) $8
Hope Is (set of 4) $5
It's Your Birthday (set of 9) $5
Itty Bitty Backgrounds (set of 4) $5
Little Hellos (set of 8) - phrases mounted on side of block $5
Little Layers II (set of 8) $8
Little Shapes (set of 4) $5
Love It (set of 6) $8
Painted Garden (set of 5) $5
Perfect Plaids (set of 4) $10
Petal Prints (set of 7) $10
Polka Dots & Paisley (set of 6) $12
Quick & Cute (set of 8) $7
Quick Thinking (set of 4) $5
Riveting (set of 8) $10
Sell-A-Bration set from 2001 (set of 8) $10
Simple Sayings I (set of 4) $5
Small Talk - unmounted (set of 28) $20
Smile (set of 6) $4
Smorgasborders (set of 9) $7
So Very (set of 8) $5
Star Santa (set of 6) $8
Stars & Swirls (set of 4) $3
Sweet & Simple (set of 8) $7
Tropical Blossoms (set of 13) $10
Vineyard (set of 1) $10
Watercolor Garden II (set of 9) $10

The Artist's Life

I have this wonderful saying posted on my bulletin board - my daily inspiration.

Are you a born writer?
Were you put on Earth to be a painter, a scientist, an apostle of peace?
In the end, the question can only be answered by action.

Do it, or don't do it.

It may help to think of it this way. If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don't do it, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself. You hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet.

You shame the angels who watch over you and you spite the Almighty, who created you and only you iwth your unique gifts, for the sole purpose of nudging the human race one millimeter farther along its path back to God.

Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It's a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got.

--Anonymous