Flaming Jane Goes Up

I've had this print of Frederick Leighton's painting Flaming June from Art.com for months. It's been sitting in it's cardboard sleeve ever since it was delivered. Occasionally I would take it out and admire it then slip it back in. This week I finally got off the pot and went to Micheal's to find a frame for the bloody thing.

Micheal's had it's usual 40% off frames so I packed up the car with the print and another item I wanted to framed (a piece of the original wallpaper from the kitchen - before we ripped it out and painted the walls - that I've been saving forever). After 45 minutes of looking at the same frames over and over I limited them down to four that I thought would look or were appropriate for this period painting (1895). A cleark happened to be going by and I asked her opinion.

I held up the photo to each of the frames and she picked one up and said she liked it the best. She offered to put the print in the frame so I could get a better view. Well, snapping arseholes, didn't it look like it was made for it!

It's now hanging in my pseudo office/retired diningroom and I've probably looked at 50 times with adoration since I've hung it. It's perfect. I love it. I know that's wrong but I just don't care. The wall is actually a dark taupe and the hues in the frame match the hues in the dark wood of the buffet as well as the copper frame on the next wall. You can click on image for larger view of my masterpiece.

Oh, yeah, and here's the other one. It's ok, but doesn't create the same warm glow. It's hanging by the door in the kitchen (yes, my walls are really that color - I don't have an ounce of Martha).

Overall, the frames cost more than the contents (Flaming June was like $5) but they were a good deal. I probably could have waited a week and used one of their 50% off coupons but by then I wouldn't have had the inititavie and would have missed out on all this adoration.

If you want to buy me a humongous version of Flaming June I would gladly accept. Have a great weekend!

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Topic Links

Buy From Art.com

Seal Slaughter

A friend sent me this today. It's that time of year again...

Dear Friends,

First of all, I want you all to know how much you mean to me. I love
sharing my life and music with you and am so happy to have your
support. If you know me personally, you know that I am a "cause"
person as my mom likes say. :) I've always stood up for the
underdog, since I was a little girl. Right now in Canada, there is a
catastrophe happening that needs our attention.

Every year, Canadian fishermen use their off season to slaughter over
300,000 baby harp seals for their fur, many of them babies as young as
12 days old. Some of them will have been skinned while still concious
and able to feel pain. The money that these fishermen make with these
furs is only a small portion of their income. You can do searches
online and find video of the slaughter. But I have to warn you, it is
horrific. The first (and only) time I saw the videos, I cried a river
of tears for these innocent little souls. Please take my word for it
and know that these animals are dying horrible deaths with no real
purpose other than to decorate human beings. Ack!

So what can you do to help? Please boycott Canadian seafood. A
financial blow to the commercial fishing industry's seafood exports is
key to bringing about an end to this vicious slaughter.

If you are willing to boycott Canadian seafood to save the seals,
please take a moment to visit the website below and sign a pledge.

http://www.hsus.org/protect_seals.html

The following is a list of seafood species that typically imports
from Canada. There are other sources of imports, however, so you MUST
ASK your grocer or server at a restaurant where their seafood comes
from. Grocery stores in the U.S. are required by law to label seafood
with its country of orgin. Because of this, it is easy to avoid
Canadian seafood if you aren't afraid to ask where the seafood comes
from.

If you order one of the following, please find out it's country of
origin before ordering:

Lobster
Scallops
Herring
Sardines
Snow Crabs
Shrimp
Perch
Flounder
Cod Haddock
Mussels
Trout
Mackrel
Oysters
Sole
Salmon

Many restaurants and grocery stores have already pledged to stop
buying Canadian seafood including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and
Publix. But many major restaurants have not yet joined the campaign.
At any restaurant, ask your server about the origin of their seafood
before ordering. If they import from Canada, explain to them why you
will not be ordering seafood from them.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email. I hope
that you are moved by my message to tell others about this issue.

Blessings,
Kristie

Do what you can.

Cotton Ginny Supersale

I had a wonderful time at Cotton Ginny today. Jeff and I took a drive to Kingston because I decided I was in need of replacement sweatpants and they have a huge CG there. I know, sad, what a way for Jeff to spend the last days of his March break. It didn't matter that there was a Future Shop near buy because I was still trying on clothes when he came back.

I didn't get any sweatpants but I did get 3 t-shirts, 3 tank tops, 1 cardian, 4 capris, 2 pants, and a jean jacket. I came out with two arms full and said I'm taking these and these. Jeff's face dropped but he didn't say a word. I didn't say anything either as I thought I would let him sweat it out until the cashier rang it all in. You'll never guess what it came to so I'll just tell you. $68 including tax! I know, crazy isn't it. Everything was on sale PLUS they had buy one get one free. FREE! I'm now have the washing machine doing over time. Well, sort of, the spin is on the fritz (repair guy coming next week with new springs). Jeff was so relieved. Because lets face it. women's clothing is not cheap.

This has to be the best sale I've ever hit. I'll have to mark it on my calendar for next year. I will definitely have sweet dreams tonight. And Jeff won't have any nightmares.

Now We're Talking Snow

At least we had a reprieve today with some sunshine. Here's a picture of DD enjoying the snow and the sun. That cavern in front of her is her handy work. She loves digging in the snow. Of course she doesn't cooperate with picture taking, stopping as soon as we open the door and acting like she was doing nothing at all. Funny dog.

DH has about had it with the shoveling. This has not been how he wanted to spend his March break. And the sweet thing? He's insisted on doing it all. He is even shoveling a friend's driveway since they are away. My guy. Mine! Back off. :)

Yes Virginia the Sun is Shining Today

It seemed like the snow fall would never stop. But it did. And just to show you I wasn't exaggerating, here is a pic of Shelby in the back yard happily digging to China.


The snow which was up to her ankles last week is up to her chest and higher this week. Jeff dug paths for her so she could do her business. Nothing worse than having frozen pee stuck to you chichee.

Don't you just want to go make a snow angel?

Snow, Snow, and more... you guessed it. Snow!

You already know I'm a grand complainer when it comes to weather but this is rediculous. We are in the process of getting another 30 cm of snow. Hello? Goddess of weather! Please stop. It's time for the goddess of spring to come out and play. Ok, rant finished.

Good news. Mia Tyler contacted me this week to say she liked the Squidoo lens I created to highlight her. How nice was that? Super! It's actually kind of a weird feeling to know that someone you admire has looked at something you created about them. Her only complaint (which wasn't even a complaint, because she's so nice) was that I had a movie listed that she never appeared in. Yes, it was embarrassing but she was really good about it.

On the computer front... I finally jumped in and bought a new laptop. The lagging of my old one was really slowing things down as I couldn't have more than two or three programs open without it working at a snail's pace. Hard to be productive.

I've been looking for awhile and was thinking I'd go with another Dell but then Future Shop had an suberb deal on an HP Pavilion (dv9726ca) computer. I am motoring along with 2GB Ram, 250 GB Hardrive, webcam (which I'll probably never use), 17" monitor, AMD Turion 64 x2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-60. What else do you need to know? My old one was Intel Pentium 4 with a 15" monitor, 4oGB Hardrive, 512 MB Ram. So now I have a Mercedes (but not really). The screen is so big! Scheeee!

That's it for the excitement this week.

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Topic Links
* Mia Tyler Squidoo Lens

My Favorite Blogs

I Haven't been around my own blog much. I guess that means I've actually been busy working. I started a new day planner with the new year and while it hasn't been perfect I find it has made me more productive in some areas. I thought for a change I would share some of my favorite blogs with you.

Keris Staiton - I met Keris a few years ago due to a shared interest in Christopher Eccles, who was then playing Dr. Who. She's Canadian by birth (but living in the UK) and we actually had the opportunity to meet during one of scouting missions. She's cute, witty and entertaining and so is her family.

Junkfood Science - No, it isn't about junkfood. Well not really. Sandy Szwarc, BSN, RN, CCP gives the straight done on all the health reports out there by reading the small print.

Big Fat Deal - The blog is written by two plus size dames who go by Mo Pie and Weetabix online. They have a no nonsense attitude toward fat acceptance and the media. And they are pretty entertaining while doing it. If you ever want to bookmark a fat blog this should be one of them.

Fab Sugar - Nothing like a little celebrity envy. This blog has nothing to do with being plus size it has a lot to do with being fashionable and a celebrity. And there is lots of votey things.

The F-Word - Yep, another fat blog. I have many. This one is written by Rachel. The first thing that attracted me to this blog is the title and Rachel's voice keeps me going back.

Have a great week!