tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18280697514824671282024-02-11T18:44:45.195-05:00The Felted FoxLorene Shaw. Forest Friend, Writer, Maker, & Hula Hooper • Original art is by my husband (ShawDraw.com).Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-39668235992642428812022-08-29T14:36:00.002-04:002022-08-29T16:01:35.462-04:00Pansy-read planter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtqx238bm6nJOT89P3OuS5R_SJGoVVFPlr9kONQb1RlVURyH-cAOGVXvMpxwkgKg98SZJ-NOjk5ZsWMZnzLHdkwKY05uN3o7N48SzWDcGwZspwj90Z-LoPl2qju6FNhKnej3Zsl3UgxiO28t_f1p25mluK09LVcJomk3CEx8sASlbDYb3D_9KVj_2oQ/s4032/IMG_0991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtqx238bm6nJOT89P3OuS5R_SJGoVVFPlr9kONQb1RlVURyH-cAOGVXvMpxwkgKg98SZJ-NOjk5ZsWMZnzLHdkwKY05uN3o7N48SzWDcGwZspwj90Z-LoPl2qju6FNhKnej3Zsl3UgxiO28t_f1p25mluK09LVcJomk3CEx8sASlbDYb3D_9KVj_2oQ/s320/IMG_0991.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />When you clear out the pokeweed around a tree at the foot of your garden and find a Pansy-ready Planter, your heart sings. And then you research pansy planting. (See <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch2ofhkuiw5">FeltedFoxHollow on Instagram</a> for Before pictures.)<div><br /></div><div>A lovely friend suggested a fern, but I want something for Winter. So I'm planting pansies now and will add a fern this Spring. It's going to look so good!<br /><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Planting summary</h2><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>For zone 7b, plant pansies October 1 - October 15.</li><li>Pansy bed should be at least 25 percent composted material. <br />Like <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Miracle-Gro-Nature-s-Care-1-cu-ft-Really-Good-Compost-70951120/205563819?ITC=AUC-129450-23-12140">this at Home Depot</a>. (It's 50% off right now, Monday, August 29, 2022!)</li><li>When planting in October, add any water-soluble powdered fertilizers.<br />Like this at <a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Miracle-Gro-5-lbs-Water-Soluble-All-Purpose-Plant-Food-101351005/316343379?ITC=AUC-129453-23-12140">Home Depot</a>.</li><li>For Winter (November through March), fertilize monthly with nitrate-containing fertilizers.<br />When I find a recommendation, I'll add a link here.</li><li>Water well after planting. Avoid getting leaves and flowers wet. </li><li>Add mulch to protect against cold weather damage.</li></ul></div><div>According to WalterReeves.com, pansies need a root system as "<a href="https://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/pansies-when-to-plant/?highlight=pansies">big as a softball</a>" in order to bloom in cold weather. To achieve this, plant small nursery "six packs" in early October, the larger three-inch pots in November, and the four-inch pots in December.</div><div><br /></div><div>But in North Georgia, planting the small six packs would result in blooms around March. As I want them sooner, I'm planting four-inch pots.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Reference links</h2><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Success with Pansies in the Winter Landscape" <br />University of Georgia Cooperative Extension <a href="https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1359&title=Success%20with%20Pansies%20in%20the%20Winter%20Landscape:%20A%20Guide%20for%20Landscape%20Professionals">Website</a> <a href="https://secure.caes.uga.edu/extension/publications/files/pdf/B%201359_2.PDF">PDF</a></li><li><a href="https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1359&title=Success%20with%20Pansies%20in%20the%20Winter%20Landscape:%20A%20Guide%20for%20Landscape%20Professionals#plantingtime">Planting times for all Georgia zones </a>(University of Georgia Cooperative Extension)</li><li>"Planting Pansies"<br /><a href="https://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/planting-pansies/?highlight=pansies">WalterReeves.com</a></li><li>"Planting pansies outside: When is pansy planting time in the garden"<br /><a href="https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/pansy/pansy-planting-time-outdoors.htm">GardeningKnowHow.com</a><br /></li></ul></div><div><br /></div>Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-41001581042780423552021-08-28T20:50:00.003-04:002021-08-28T21:01:29.777-04:00Getting started: Rubber stamp carving supplies, tutorials, and just-for-fun videos<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVk_4yfYeN-sVlWo4hNELTSx7OqLM8m36mXS5NN4mFTyT7lnqRnV-21oPuZEvfenlrW5NTj7kIPoS5f7Zn6tVgcE2BIcTDPT8lqLHkq5-OxDdG4rUBHYVKPVct1Evrfw3ki68UIf4CaIdo/s1202/Screen+Shot+2021-08-28+at+8.07.16+PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1202" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVk_4yfYeN-sVlWo4hNELTSx7OqLM8m36mXS5NN4mFTyT7lnqRnV-21oPuZEvfenlrW5NTj7kIPoS5f7Zn6tVgcE2BIcTDPT8lqLHkq5-OxDdG4rUBHYVKPVct1Evrfw3ki68UIf4CaIdo/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-08-28+at+8.07.16+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqv8bdjLFsTqxDfurHtC97vPWhHbby4fW2nY035XfgT2EbMqK08-fZ5eGkAbOaqMmLnSU4m4On9mVHSd3HWIOqYLxg2HUYNZBYxQePDonYGpx-luQ8FDS6UuY4jydLa-G8flM1HcT_LfG/s1206/Screen+Shot+2021-08-28+at+8.05.40+PM.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1206" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqv8bdjLFsTqxDfurHtC97vPWhHbby4fW2nY035XfgT2EbMqK08-fZ5eGkAbOaqMmLnSU4m4On9mVHSd3HWIOqYLxg2HUYNZBYxQePDonYGpx-luQ8FDS6UuY4jydLa-G8flM1HcT_LfG/w200-h199/Screen+Shot+2021-08-28+at+8.05.40+PM.jpg" width="200" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a list of the supplies I have, and the tutorials and "just for fun" videos that I found for rubber stamp carving.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Supplies</h2><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Speedball-4131-Linoleum-Assorted-Cutters/dp/B0017D8W5E/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=speedball&qid=1630196437&s=home-garden&sr=1-3&th=1" target="">Speedball lineoleum cutter assortment #1</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Products-SB2964-Sketching-Project/dp/B0007ZJ8RO/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=speedball&qid=1630196554&s=home-garden&sr=1-4">Speedball sketching pen set.</a> The handle works with the cutter blades!</li><li><a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/202218945087?hash=item2f15303a3f:g:JmAAAOSwxOFaeK97" target="">Tsukineko Brilliance Dew Drop Ink Pads.</a> Easy to use. Refillable. Inc is fade resistant.</li><li><a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/201611966923?hash=item2ef10279cb:g:PMcAAOSwB4NW0bCo">Tsukineko Brilliance Ink Refill.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Speedy-Carve-Rubber-Stamp-Making/dp/B003IGPM8I/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=speedball%2Bstamp%2Bcarving%2Bkit&qid=1628795702&sr=8-6&th=1">Speedball Speedy-Carve block printing carving block</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/OLFA-1132643-Rotary-Cutting-Multicolor/dp/B07C5YZR9X/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1GEID5TPLJ605&dchild=1&keywords=olfa+self+healing+cutting+mat&qid=1630197924&sprefix=olfa+self%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-8">OLFA self healing cutting mat</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XZTC90/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1">X-Acto Retract-A-Blade No. 1 Knife</a></li></ul></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Tutorials</h2><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://youtu.be/LBP4LwZfKH8">How to carve a stamp: the basics of carving text</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/PlFVrDjAnA0">Stamp Carving Tutorial for Beginners</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/BQE-nBkE0z4">How to carve your own stamp | Easy tutorial for beginners</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cssA7jDQYyU&t=91s">Beware of Speedy Cut rubber.</a> (Speedy-Carve is better.)</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/YJeHijzDjEg">Transfer your design using toner transfer</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Just for fun</h2><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://youtu.be/aIHjIAzX-kE">Carve along #6: The White Rabbit Edition</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dVtAn3mlOs&list=PLx8vlLt8ZgsDk_zt5UzhP6pY5pqbVsRJm&index=10">Linocut carving and printing - short film by Maarit Hanninen</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/oNOhAX2rJ8w">Tomoko Tsukui stamp carving demo</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-52603221378154079932019-11-21T12:59:00.002-05:002019-11-21T12:59:34.647-05:00How to pack a Pocket Pie for school lunchUpdate: I first published this in July, 2013. It's been such a popular post, that I'm republishing it again.<br />
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My kids enjoy <a href="http://www.hotpockets.com/" target="_blank">Hot Pockets</a>. I'm not a big fan of processed foods, but I will happily admit that last school year, Hot Pockets were an occasional life saver...especially after I figured out how to pack them for lunches.<br />
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I was so excited about my new school lunch option that I, of course, told all my friends about it. Which is when I discovered that some people are intimidated by the lunch packing how-to's. So I'm sharing the process here. It's not complicated. Really. And your kids get a hot meal without having to spend precious lunchtime minutes waiting in a cafeteria line.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hot Pocket packed in a Thermos for school</span></td></tr>
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<b><br /></b><b>How To Pack a Hot Sandwich for Lunch</b><br />
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<i>What you need:</i><br />
1 Wide-mouth Thermos<br />
Hot water, enough to fill Thermos<br />
2 parchment paper or aluminum foil rectangles. Large enough to mostly cover half a sandwich.<br />
1 hot sandwich (e.g., Hot Pocket or a grilled cheese sandwich)<br />
<ol>
<li>Fill Thermos with boiling water. Let sit for a few minutes.<br />I do this before I make breakfast for the kids thereby giving the water plenty of time to heat up the Thermos.</li>
<li>Cut two pieces of parchment paper or foil into rectangles. They should each be large enough to cover half a sandwich.</li>
<li>Warm up Hot Pocket in microwave. (Or prepare your warm sandwich.)</li>
<li>While sandwich is warming, quickly drain and dry Thermos. Resealing the lid when you're done.</li>
<li>Working quickly, cut warmed sandwich in half and wrap each portion in paper or foil.<br />(Wrapping the portions individually makes it easier to pull them out of the container.)</li>
<li>Place in Thermos and seal.</li>
</ol>
I've asked my kids how warm their sandwiches are by lunchtime and one responded that they were still "hot." But that's my sensitive one. I doubt the sandwiches are "hot," but I'm confident that they are, at the very least, warm.<br />
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Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-67258096845452770232016-12-08T14:35:00.000-05:002019-01-17T16:54:37.918-05:00Make Your Shadow DanceI just posted this on my <a href="http://alphabethoops.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-turtle-freed-me-aka-make-your.html">AlphabetHoops</a> page, but I want it on this blog, too. I think everyone needs as many ideas as possible on ways to add joy to their lives.<br />
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Eons ago, I donned a full-body turtle* costume and danced next to a busy Tallahassee, Florida street. I was an introverted 18 year old who would NEVER have danced (alone) in public, but that costume freed me and allowed me to move in ways that would never have occurred to my unmasked-self. At the time, I recognized what the concealment did for me and was grateful for it. I enjoyed myself thoroughly.<br />
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Years later, I took up a new hobby…hoop dance. I am still an introvert and <i>not</i> a performer, but because I concentrate on my hoop, I lose most of my awareness of the world around me. I can actually hoop in public now, and with joy. To repeat, I’m still not a performer. If I’m hooping in public it’s because I’m practicing or happily teaching someone (or many someones) how to hula hoop.<br />
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So I’ve grown in that aspect---I can (hoop) dance in public, no turtle costume required. However, even after years of hooping, I still have not overcome the self-conscious inner voice that insists, “You are not a dancer.” <i>Ad nauseum.</i> I have tried various ways to silence (or at least mute) that voice, but nothing has worked yet. But do you know what I realized will work? Making my shadow dance in ways that I won’t…that shadow that is both me and not me. I can’t wait until my next practice session.<br />
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And this is Deanne Love's Instagram post that helped me make a connection between that turtle costume and shadow dancing:<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNwTn7PDgpT/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">When I'm left alone in a room with an LED hoop (from @superhooperorg ) But this is not about me it's about my shadow self. She is the wild one, the chaos, the force. Watch her, not me, I am just the mask she is the dance. And this song. Ha!</a></div>
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A video posted by Deanne Love 💜 Hooplovers.tv (@deannelovexo) on <time datetime="2016-12-08T11:39:23+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 8, 2016 at 3:39am PST</time></div>
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<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br /></div>
P.S. I haven't written a blog post in months, but I'm so excited about this new inspiration for breaking the chains of self-consciousness that I wanted to share it with my little corner of the world. I hope that it helps someone add more joy to their life just as I know it will for me. (I KNOW this, people! Because if a turtle costume can help, then shadow dancing most certainly will.)<br />
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P.P.S. Deanne left a comment over at the <a href="http://alphabethoops.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-turtle-freed-me-aka-make-your.html">AlphabetHoops post </a>of this blog.<br />
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*I was the VHS movie rental manager for Turtle’s Records and Tapes. I did say “eons ago”…
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-29274716609893256152015-07-23T20:52:00.001-04:002015-07-23T20:52:25.870-04:00Fun with Perler Beads (crafting tips at the end!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjL63-BTO842lTE5QfQXwo6yMEfrLvQS80GgCRX-Dn8wjJESb3SSXIsmsrlciiUzzKb5fjlOdxmV50-9I3JV2aLL7s-tdWybV7hOejOOYDZm3GILl3wwZyK6mn7z67MF2KmOFLlThTJOu/s1600/Perler1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjL63-BTO842lTE5QfQXwo6yMEfrLvQS80GgCRX-Dn8wjJESb3SSXIsmsrlciiUzzKb5fjlOdxmV50-9I3JV2aLL7s-tdWybV7hOejOOYDZm3GILl3wwZyK6mn7z67MF2KmOFLlThTJOu/s320/Perler1.JPG" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"If you continuously compete with others you become BITTER. <br />If you continuously compete with yourself you become BETTER."</span></td></tr>
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This summer's family craft activity involved Perler Beads. Ever since I realized that cross-stitch patterns are ideal for fusible bead projects, I've been itching to create something. So I did. And the supplies that were left out for weeks (!) on the dining room table tempted my boys every time they walked by them, so they created some pieces, too. I'm a big fan of keeping art supplies on hand so that one can create the instant one has the whim to do so.<br />
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My "Bitter vs. Better" above was actually the second piece that I created. I honestly believed that my first attempt had satisfied my Perler Bead crafting urge, but then it occurred to me that I could do so much better. </div>
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This is my first Perler Bead project of 2015.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0OAPmEbjT1tp8KcUPuPxNOETXNpXy_jUHcYb-7AHOPkAGcT3X2aLUIDet8ueaOXUmNYu7AsKsXU0Ar3hC2qQS32qdIYFAOHd2D_Rz8N_9XOICwJ6Wrm93MtpdltFRH6pM-aalif4h9Qf/s1600/Perler4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0OAPmEbjT1tp8KcUPuPxNOETXNpXy_jUHcYb-7AHOPkAGcT3X2aLUIDet8ueaOXUmNYu7AsKsXU0Ar3hC2qQS32qdIYFAOHd2D_Rz8N_9XOICwJ6Wrm93MtpdltFRH6pM-aalif4h9Qf/s320/Perler4.JPG" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">“Love is a verb, not a noun. It is active. Love is not just feelings of passion and romance. It is behavior. ... The words “I love you” are not enough to make up for that. Don’t kid yourself that they are.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">~Susan Forward</span></td></tr>
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So many beads tediously placed! I truly thought I'd had enough fun! Nope. And if the supplies weren't all put away, I'd likely be busy on just one more piece because I've thought of a gift idea! But I shall refrain. <crosses fingers.=""></crosses></div>
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And, of course, the family that crafts together, stays together. Or something like that.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOd7WQ6D-TBv-VD-QUWWVNE8dpVYMW2vjYbVHPXrOEd5xb7lHMsx-ryNBctfjofKFL9Un1Mh7qgbEXizS-4kjxqKqZJYcgU4zwZlmXYqyFvWWrPzu8m6kax5zhgIjGjaMY1h3J3AeTEUA/s1600/Perler3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOd7WQ6D-TBv-VD-QUWWVNE8dpVYMW2vjYbVHPXrOEd5xb7lHMsx-ryNBctfjofKFL9Un1Mh7qgbEXizS-4kjxqKqZJYcgU4zwZlmXYqyFvWWrPzu8m6kax5zhgIjGjaMY1h3J3AeTEUA/s400/Perler3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oldest son's finished project.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I9tRxJzBSJ0A4i9D2lphImIA0Mbtov2nYGkFOey_IhX1ogMJJcm1tUJNLx96t29fhD4I_QsX6aqCYX9tzJA5711e93MAqSx1psgL73aeCnYFB9CFLDqn_dAyycDpdWAINnmYpf_9-0Rq/s1600/Perler2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I9tRxJzBSJ0A4i9D2lphImIA0Mbtov2nYGkFOey_IhX1ogMJJcm1tUJNLx96t29fhD4I_QsX6aqCYX9tzJA5711e93MAqSx1psgL73aeCnYFB9CFLDqn_dAyycDpdWAINnmYpf_9-0Rq/s320/Perler2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youngest son's finished project. He doesn't want it framed.</td></tr>
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Some fusible bead crafting tips:<br />
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<ul>
<li>DON'T iron the beads directly on the peg board. It will warp. Use the "<a href="https://youtu.be/CDV1ZYXnPb0">masking tape method</a>." </li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1ekIMIA">This tool</a> works for large expanses of the same color (as was the case for my "Love is a verb" piece). <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5zwNa0SvL8">This video</a> explains how to use it. It's not complicated...</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1MqPmfy">This tool</a> is a good scoop. But so is a teaspoon. And standard tweezers worked better for me.</li>
<li>Minecraft, Google, and cross-stitch designs are excellent resources for pattern inspiration.</li>
<li>Unless you really, really, REALLY enjoy sorting beads, don't buy a <a href="http://amzn.to/1g8pZ57">large mixed container</a> of them. Individual bags of <a href="http://amzn.to/1fqf3yK">the exact colors</a> that you need will get you creating much faster. TRUST ME ON THIS.</li>
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NOTE: I just created an affiliate account on Amazon. If you purchase items via the links I provided, then I get a few cents.</div>
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Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-11244835374936540322015-07-13T13:39:00.001-04:002015-07-23T20:52:48.413-04:00I miss the laughter most<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kBiXcQYXiqxCXP0fpFCcHxQOlWUbl_ObAzsS-43DZXRATDt_xHEZhNWv5mA_9f9kL3Dq75YlPUTBVSBdRQ5alUGbvxliGY5WFg4ycQeBsLE6D_TkRVGjBo27Jkwt__EiiJEBKAqPp-zb/s1600/Zinnia+La+Redoute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kBiXcQYXiqxCXP0fpFCcHxQOlWUbl_ObAzsS-43DZXRATDt_xHEZhNWv5mA_9f9kL3Dq75YlPUTBVSBdRQ5alUGbvxliGY5WFg4ycQeBsLE6D_TkRVGjBo27Jkwt__EiiJEBKAqPp-zb/s200/Zinnia+La+Redoute.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zinnia, <a href="http://thelanguageofflowers.com/">Language of Flowers</a></td></tr>
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A few years ago, I lost a friend. One would think that by now my memories of her would be safely tucked away, to be brought to mind as a treasured remembrance when the missing-her becomes too great. <br />
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But that is not the case. <br />
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The pain is less, but the heartache is still an almost constant part of daily life. There are so many things I miss of What-Used-to-Be and What-Could-Have-Been. <br />
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And today I realized that I miss our shared laughter most of all.Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-91196856029373165442015-04-15T09:23:00.000-04:002015-04-17T09:55:16.266-04:00And then I taught her to hoop<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoegaH8ZwsIoXcBDLsNF90mlZmfnDRt1rc3MHybF75nbjQ9Ure35nrbiJW4ZDItKY5U9Y_OaX2HcbMrKPfORe-Pl9Njp3yudBtZUdOnnxV5iT0Ny1NtVD5qKSWjeeJCUfYWUokDpxAXIR/s1600/2015+0415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoegaH8ZwsIoXcBDLsNF90mlZmfnDRt1rc3MHybF75nbjQ9Ure35nrbiJW4ZDItKY5U9Y_OaX2HcbMrKPfORe-Pl9Njp3yudBtZUdOnnxV5iT0Ny1NtVD5qKSWjeeJCUfYWUokDpxAXIR/s1600/2015+0415.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alphabet Hoops is coming to Hewlett-Packard</td></tr>
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There's a Hooping Basics class at Hewlett-Packard's Alpharetta (Georgia) office this coming Monday. And I'm teaching it! I'm super-excited about introducing hooping to a bunch of people in the tech industry. Well. I'm happy to teach pretty much anyone how to hula hoop, but it will be fun to combine my Day Job with my hooping passion, if only for an hour or two.<br />
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To spread the word about my class, I created a flyer for the office's events coordinator, to which she added a note that "There will be a prize for best hula hooper!" (In the image above, it's the angled text at the top left of my Playing a Round flyer.)<br />
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And then I introduced her to adult-sized hula hoops.<br />
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She almost instantly realized that at Monday's hoop class, it's very likely that everyone will be good at hooping. She will need a big supply of prizes...Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-26500029088571590202015-04-03T14:06:00.004-04:002015-04-03T14:30:19.623-04:00Today I want to: Make paper<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvmWKsjpBaA5u9pncLdc_t7BOswBxgMmqtsFoN2APO1R8ce-5-gujao9JaJnBNoZ-jPzPHgxrFWPRZ7lu4rbhFY9YqyZokMSu7SoO97msE3lHypU2WtvpjxC5nIaMHhO7Lk4He-3h_wzp/s1600/2015+0403+Paper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvmWKsjpBaA5u9pncLdc_t7BOswBxgMmqtsFoN2APO1R8ce-5-gujao9JaJnBNoZ-jPzPHgxrFWPRZ7lu4rbhFY9YqyZokMSu7SoO97msE3lHypU2WtvpjxC5nIaMHhO7Lk4He-3h_wzp/s1600/2015+0403+Paper.png" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Heart-Embedded-Cotton-Handmade/dp/B00OAL5DBG/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1428082844&sr=1-3&keywords=handmade+paper">Amazon.com</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I drive a long way to and from my (awesome) regular job. To pass the time, I sometimes listen to audio books. Right now I'm in the middle of Diana Gabaldon's <i>A Breath of Snow and Ashes</i>, one of the books in the extremely popular Outlander series. In this morning's "reading," one of the characters discussed her paper-making process.<br />
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And just like that, I suddenly want to make paper. (My boys would enjoy working with the mushy pulp, I think!)<br />
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<i>Side note:</i> This post's image is of handmade paper cut into hearts. The text says "Forever," but this writer first saw it as "Lorene." Our personal stories most certainly affect our perceptions.Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-16882087564158164292015-03-30T11:24:00.003-04:002015-03-30T11:24:55.315-04:00Banana bread + chocolate = Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczPjlbJ7wMvUXbYqbh0Pg45KkgbXJaWl0GYuVzVWWDypFnZDR-dQqOS_Blw1UVtXi-aipXz_zS42TKOpUg1GVjC3zSukCrxGQzDi7bT0fSY68E9FhXJ6L2kmVL5pvIyHVOH11moKwyB_J/s1600/2015+0330+Banana+Bread+Cubes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczPjlbJ7wMvUXbYqbh0Pg45KkgbXJaWl0GYuVzVWWDypFnZDR-dQqOS_Blw1UVtXi-aipXz_zS42TKOpUg1GVjC3zSukCrxGQzDi7bT0fSY68E9FhXJ6L2kmVL5pvIyHVOH11moKwyB_J/s1600/2015+0330+Banana+Bread+Cubes.jpg" height="180" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo credit:</i> <a href="http://www.theliveinkitchen.com/">www.TheLiveInKitchen.com</a> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This morning, I invented chocolate-covered banana bread cubes... <br /><br />Of course, a quick search of the 'net revealed that I am not the first to think of that tempting combination (because no thought is an original, n'est-ce pas?). For the chocolate coating, <a href="http://theliveinkitchen.com/2013/05/21/chocolate-dipped-banana-bread-bites/">this combination of dark chocolate and coconut oil</a> looks promising. I'm pretty sure my kids will look at me with over-the-top adoring eyes when I serve this form of banana bread to them.<br /><br /><b><i>Side note:</i> </b>Do you like chocolate coating on your ice cream? I do, but I don't like the hydrogenated oil that most of the store-bought versions contain. It turns out, though, that you CAN MAKE AN ALL-NATURAL CHOCOLATE COATING!!!! And just as for the banana bread cube coating, the key to a <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-Magic-Shell-Recipe/">homemade "Magic Shell" recipe</a> is coconut oil. <br /><br />Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-28134831738113553942015-03-27T07:25:00.001-04:002015-03-27T07:27:14.256-04:00Love rice? Hate the calories?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcYNx13QFfH_0hPq-EfObIEaBE0fWWgoKX-BLKdA6-C8HOaysjygKstjK5QHeUCo3sIGFIlFt4WGAh8frmOdsJl4sYnX5Dj04KPtF7pvHlzMDIAL0w4GPhNlJ8y2NRESwzqYDOtmX96yr/s1600/rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcYNx13QFfH_0hPq-EfObIEaBE0fWWgoKX-BLKdA6-C8HOaysjygKstjK5QHeUCo3sIGFIlFt4WGAh8frmOdsJl4sYnX5Dj04KPtF7pvHlzMDIAL0w4GPhNlJ8y2NRESwzqYDOtmX96yr/s1600/rice.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="partial-question-content-attribution-label" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bolder; line-height: 14px; text-align: right;">Credit:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: right;"> </span><span class="partial-question-content-attribution-component partial-question-content-artist" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: right;">Yuji Kotani</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: right;"> / </span><span class="partial-question-content-attribution-component partial-question-content-collection" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: right;">Photodisc</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: right;"> / </span><span class="partial-question-content-attribution-component partial-question-content-rights" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: right;">Getty Images</span></td></tr>
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I'm barely managing to make scrambled eggs chez moi, but if you REALLY love rice and are motivated to reduce its caloric content, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/25/scientists-have-figured-out-a-simple-way-to-cook-rice-that-dramatically-cuts-the-calories/?tid=pm_pop">here ya go</a>. Apparently, "scientists have discovered a simple way to cook rice that dramatically cuts the calories." It's actually a simple process, you just have to plan ahead since there's 12 hours of refrigeration required.Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-670739306440532172015-03-06T17:25:00.002-05:002015-03-06T17:30:08.539-05:00I've been using my seam ripper incorrectly my entire life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-6628547187559307382015-02-28T20:35:00.000-05:002015-03-06T15:53:50.552-05:00Nostalgia is bittersweet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-sXdN7KkPDIqTbr7P-435QvAS1B3RFonfg39HLDXeKNlxaW5mtnudp6pZqsulzfAywxC6ZJHXHLSOg2K1-u6o_zsVUiaMpW45pJAX5OI-ZnN7wE4fJZD-2JYpw8qkq7CwSBkr_wM89JV/s1600/Dragon+Dance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-sXdN7KkPDIqTbr7P-435QvAS1B3RFonfg39HLDXeKNlxaW5mtnudp6pZqsulzfAywxC6ZJHXHLSOg2K1-u6o_zsVUiaMpW45pJAX5OI-ZnN7wE4fJZD-2JYpw8qkq7CwSBkr_wM89JV/s1600/Dragon+Dance.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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My mother and I have a yearly tradition of dining on Vietnamese noodle soup after we finish our taxes. This year we were unexpectedly treated to a Lion Dance. The spectacle brought to mind childhood memories which made my heart ache and my mother weep. Ahhhh, the paths we have chosen and the many lives we have lived.</div>
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-36800356645913821722015-01-29T15:42:00.002-05:002015-01-29T20:21:12.444-05:00Product development, 2014, challenges, and 2015We're still in product-development phase for The Felted Fox.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe2jhpF7cIDKWgEaa6WcFaXtKC0vpYTlYCDgvnKMysyCJP3Dxws9An1uXowI7_wgC1tI8sfDE-2sbQyK11Y4rWtJP9m1hueDjRWWHdU3UoGKY8-RrKwBAXPkN_8g6kQH-VpdqSGW5p7_1/s1600/2015+0129+Fox.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe2jhpF7cIDKWgEaa6WcFaXtKC0vpYTlYCDgvnKMysyCJP3Dxws9An1uXowI7_wgC1tI8sfDE-2sbQyK11Y4rWtJP9m1hueDjRWWHdU3UoGKY8-RrKwBAXPkN_8g6kQH-VpdqSGW5p7_1/s1600/2015+0129+Fox.png" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>2014 was exhausting. As evidenced by there only being one post on my blog last year. One.<br />
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Last year I learned that it's really, really, really difficult to create products whilst working a full-time job, volunteering at church and school, and raising kids. Amongst other significant tasks and responsibilities which I won't bother listing. In 2015, I will attempt to make things to share <i>despite</i> all my other time-commitments. And interests. (Did you see the <a href="http://instagram.com/p/xXVdYMvhqi/?modal=true">over-sized pom-pom wreath</a> that I made over the holidays?) Perhaps a production schedule is in order?Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-5099439662056081062014-02-14T13:57:00.000-05:002015-03-06T09:15:23.645-05:00One step closer...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-LZJheFAzjqPxMZ18OYeWzGj0VoYj6hyHNRpqf3o_HcKOJmWsTs-sa9TuyYPMSUiuH8iz6RA_QzAhpSvGm9l9cz6bglPO6dwtmIcSwfDiZdU7OJxGvf43IuXwFyn9NwEOMnPnQo0yvuW/s1600/2014_0214TheFeltedFox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-LZJheFAzjqPxMZ18OYeWzGj0VoYj6hyHNRpqf3o_HcKOJmWsTs-sa9TuyYPMSUiuH8iz6RA_QzAhpSvGm9l9cz6bglPO6dwtmIcSwfDiZdU7OJxGvf43IuXwFyn9NwEOMnPnQo0yvuW/s1600/2014_0214TheFeltedFox.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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...and two steps back. Ah, the joys of creativity! As a very helpful soul pointed out, the "L" and the "T" are too close together. So, re-do!</div>
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Happy LOVE day, World. By the way, one of the things I love about my little fox icon is that when viewed at its teeny-tiny size on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thefeltedfoxhollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, it looks like a wee little heart.</div>
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-60398658402711886012013-10-04T17:16:00.001-04:002015-03-06T09:14:59.099-05:00Anticipation<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9jRGLg63iKVtX2pmnibcwHF5N2Jy7aYkb4ACTKw8koKdEOwxl2hxjUO9SgPExiu3HDpwCuUjA93gmikZ9G51Tfs2bPUzMxPGS2_C5YiKbB715Q0BUD0Ylg2JyF6usxIpIanY9mwgu_6G/s640/blogger-image--164274277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9jRGLg63iKVtX2pmnibcwHF5N2Jy7aYkb4ACTKw8koKdEOwxl2hxjUO9SgPExiu3HDpwCuUjA93gmikZ9G51Tfs2bPUzMxPGS2_C5YiKbB715Q0BUD0Ylg2JyF6usxIpIanY9mwgu_6G/s640/blogger-image--164274277.jpg" /></a></div>
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As part of preparing for hours of airplane travel with his children, my Dad always bought us each a book to read during the flight. I was always so excited about getting on the plane and then cracking open my travel gift. And despite often having a new book in my hands days before departure, I never peeked inside it. I loved the anticipation.</div>
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Invariably, I would choose a collection of fairy tales or short stories, often written by my favorite author, Enid Blyton. Which is probably why the blue, leather bound collection of fairy tales I found at the bookstore yesterday came home with me. And accompanied me on my journey to the mountains. It was covered in plastic, but I refrained from unwrapping it until after our road trip was well underway. Anticipation is still fun.</div>
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-62906743218839773492013-09-19T15:22:00.001-04:002022-08-29T11:13:28.108-04:00Solar System Hoop Jam<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLXxOgQWKLbuR6m9rUZJWCVAZHuCRrFe3wWFQeNqtT5yuQTjC775b0YSgK6fPpyUqU62QTVCnk7gFFOxH7UYZgviYzkYwtuj7ylif5-yht9GpUMv3_Zf-P_fR2Ay9i2JSI1YZkPNvpZkp/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-19+at+2.54.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLXxOgQWKLbuR6m9rUZJWCVAZHuCRrFe3wWFQeNqtT5yuQTjC775b0YSgK6fPpyUqU62QTVCnk7gFFOxH7UYZgviYzkYwtuj7ylif5-yht9GpUMv3_Zf-P_fR2Ay9i2JSI1YZkPNvpZkp/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-09-19+at+2.54.19+PM.png" height="400" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are many different hooping styles. Here are some interpreted in planetary terms.</td></tr>
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A new hooping image! Note cards are available in the <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/solar_system_hoop_jam_card-137789393543119943" target="_blank">store</a> right now. In a few days, the "Solar System Hoop Jam" will be available on other product types.<br />
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Meanwhile, get your note cards for 75% off! Use code <b>CARDDEAL4YOU</b> at checkout. The net sale price is the price of the product excluding shipping and taxes. <i>Offer is valid until September 21, 2013 at 11:59pm PT.</i>Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-74567453455343915192013-09-12T12:51:00.000-04:002013-09-12T12:55:33.417-04:00I'm back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMAytfrSX5gYB8gWUy3un3AtPEfW6FXCu_WrF3MjbjOfEaVGau34rVwe2ttmTuURVb1PPpadIpvfBDxPao5-DTBOIQyjmRj1iNQOTWrQ6B6qokhW4_9e7Luax0vTBL-pYeYa3BUtKQnHU/s1600/Playing-A-Round_logo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMAytfrSX5gYB8gWUy3un3AtPEfW6FXCu_WrF3MjbjOfEaVGau34rVwe2ttmTuURVb1PPpadIpvfBDxPao5-DTBOIQyjmRj1iNQOTWrQ6B6qokhW4_9e7Luax0vTBL-pYeYa3BUtKQnHU/s200/Playing-A-Round_logo2.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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I haven't discussed it at all publicly, but a shoulder injury required that I scale back my hula hooping activities. Really scale back. As in, just thinking about lifting a hoop was painful. Despite the pain, though, I continued offering my monthly Intro-to-Hooping classes through May of this year, and then took a break over the summer to focus on physical therapy.<br />
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I honestly didn't think my shoulder was going to get better, but now I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel! So I've updated my blog with lesson information and I'm ready to schedule time to help local budding hoop enthusiasts <a href="http://alphabethoops.blogspot.com/p/private-classes.html" target="_blank">get started on their new fitness activity</a>.<br />
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Both private and group lessons are available, but I <i>highly</i> recommend setting up a private party at your home or local park! Gather up some friends and let's hoop and laugh together! There's nothing like hula hooping with friends to bring joy and laughter to a forever memorable get-together!Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-51546592564011169852013-08-20T11:12:00.000-04:002014-06-06T12:14:47.303-04:00Kids and online hooping tutorials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc7CeUX25BZDcNy1bKcV6N-vjzjjcxh1E81LYVmdMXKMGEuz4MWmZ7DQcs9mBK8Gyn6mCBm6s0S1STt-p4Kn1ukt-TT9Z2zOnYIC_a14XTPwNnNZ6mjX0_p_VKcNlWlqkPd4AkcNUVHwl/s1600/yt-brand-standard-logo-630px.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc7CeUX25BZDcNy1bKcV6N-vjzjjcxh1E81LYVmdMXKMGEuz4MWmZ7DQcs9mBK8Gyn6mCBm6s0S1STt-p4Kn1ukt-TT9Z2zOnYIC_a14XTPwNnNZ6mjX0_p_VKcNlWlqkPd4AkcNUVHwl/s200/yt-brand-standard-logo-630px.png" height="83" width="200" /></a></div>
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There are a lot of awesome hooping tutorials on YouTube, but I ALWAYS caution parents to screen what their children are watching. </div>
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Did you know that you can LOCK the YouTube Safety Mode on your browsers? EASY instructions are here: </div>
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<span class="s1"><a href="https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/174084?hl=en">https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/174084?hl=en</a></span></div>
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(Curious about some of the hooping tutorials on YouTube? This <a href="http://alphabethoops.blogspot.com/p/online-hooping-tutorials.html"><span class="s2">page</span></a> points to a few.)</div>
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-14505646778147635512013-07-18T16:01:00.000-04:002019-11-21T12:58:00.077-05:00How to pack a Pocket Pie for school lunchMy kids enjoy <a href="http://www.hotpockets.com/" target="_blank">Hot Pockets</a>. I'm not a big fan of processed foods, but I will happily admit that last school year, Hot Pockets were an occasional life saver...especially after I figured out how to pack them for lunches.<br />
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I was so excited about my new school lunch option that I, of course, told all my friends about it. Which is when I discovered that some people are intimidated by the lunch packing how-to's. So I'm sharing the process here. It's not complicated. Really. And your kids get a hot meal without having to spend precious lunchtime minutes waiting in a cafeteria line.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF2W857YXAUFDoAynsmL_Lj5Yfr8X3vAnp1H-VIScW8iJUjI8j4pzcsLaRaQ0KubXI52dP73qAWkjjs8v_p3spX_JRM_zjMDaXNjUEt3sa7WrG04W4ICjZ3gbBrfDGQfaIKJ02lME-3cF/s1600/IMG_5685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF2W857YXAUFDoAynsmL_Lj5Yfr8X3vAnp1H-VIScW8iJUjI8j4pzcsLaRaQ0KubXI52dP73qAWkjjs8v_p3spX_JRM_zjMDaXNjUEt3sa7WrG04W4ICjZ3gbBrfDGQfaIKJ02lME-3cF/s320/IMG_5685.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hot Pocket packed in a Thermos for school</span></td></tr>
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<b>How To Pack a Hot Sandwich for Lunch</b><br />
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<i>What you need:</i><br />
1 Wide-mouth Thermos<br />
Hot water, enough to fill Thermos<br />
2 parchment paper or aluminium foil rectangles. Large enough to mostly cover half a sandwich.<br />
1 hot sandwich (e.g., Hot Pocket or a grilled cheese sandwich)<br />
<ol>
<li>Fill Thermos with boiling water. Let sit for a few minutes. <br />I do this before I make breakfast for the kids thereby giving the water plenty of time to heat up the Thermos.</li>
<li>Cut two pieces of parchment paper or foil into rectangles. They should each be large enough to cover half a sandwich.</li>
<li>Warm up Hot Pocket in microwave. (Or prepare your warm sandwich.)</li>
<li>While sandwich is warming, quickly drain and dry Thermos. Resealing the lid when you're done.</li>
<li>Working quickly, cut warmed sandwich in half and wrap each portion in paper or foil.<br />(Wrapping the portions individually makes it easier to pull them out of the container.)</li>
<li>Place in Thermos and seal.</li>
</ol>
I've asked my kids how warm their sandwiches are by lunchtime and one responded that they were still "hot." But that's my sensitive one. I doubt the sandwiches are "hot," but I'm confident that they are, at the very least, warm.<br />
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Okay. I wasn't being entirely honest about how often I fed my kids Hot Pockets last year. They were waaayyyyy more than an "occasional" life saver. Which is why I'm spending the summer looking for an alternative that will lessen my mom-guilt, if even just a little bit. And I've found some options! I'll share them later.<br />
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Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-12039927270642967262013-07-03T15:51:00.002-04:002013-07-03T15:51:38.018-04:00A beautiful landing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53FBF4-8oNFEkzX2VBYOsuh1jptDoznW-MfiGg-FBfFMCkBEixQ8ZVHPv0M0Ra9WECTW8wIQAVvejlgQCXMCKZukCzV7v2H1mr9dqpIvImeV6OcaekqJfAKkLplrlXUPcFeuX46WK8mQz/s1170/Screen+Shot+2013-07-03+at+3.36.08+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53FBF4-8oNFEkzX2VBYOsuh1jptDoznW-MfiGg-FBfFMCkBEixQ8ZVHPv0M0Ra9WECTW8wIQAVvejlgQCXMCKZukCzV7v2H1mr9dqpIvImeV6OcaekqJfAKkLplrlXUPcFeuX46WK8mQz/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-07-03+at+3.36.08+PM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.magnoliapearl.com/" target="_blank">Magnolia Pearl</a> </td></tr>
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Such a pretty landing page on this web site. Birds flying by! Trapeze artists swing in and out of sight! A ballerina twirls! Click through the pages; they're all pretty. And the music that plays at each one?! I'm speechless.<br />
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But...who wears this type of clothing? And how do they incorporate it into mundane daily life? I need to know. Because I want how-to lessons.Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-39317900942902578812013-06-27T19:41:00.000-04:002013-06-27T19:42:42.451-04:00Sister laughter is the best<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I know the point of this video is the two year old, but I love the sister-laughter the best. And the sister dancing. Good for a smile!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Iur_yOjSfwo" width="400"></iframe><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">The video was posted at <a href="http://www.maybematilda.com/2013/06/mid-week-pick-me-up.html" target="_blank">Maybe Matilda</a> and is of the site owner's sister and son dancing to a Just Dance video.</span><br />
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-58481149577455866882013-06-19T17:09:00.003-04:002013-06-20T14:35:02.920-04:00High hopes and a hair cut<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.freepik.com/index.php?goto=41&idd=684214&url=aHR0cDovL3hvb3BsYXRlLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9kZXRhaWxzLzEzNzky" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYQvZt0Knrn7tthEUpfkR3MEuvctXouf_fz8eGczSwkp9dZSpTC45lhSguT9ahVucNr92X1KhWWdwXTMK1Ng0NheCrMOSJE6KmlYv6OkxTK5XhZ83exo2ug_tlinDVKHjROh-sCnFVf1d/s320/large.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freepik.com/index.php?goto=41&idd=684214&url=aHR0cDovL3hvb3BsYXRlLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9kZXRhaWxzLzEzNzky" target="_blank">Image via Freepik.com</a></td></tr>
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Today, with Google-translated instructions in hand and very high hopes, I had my hair cut by someone who does not speak the same language as I. And...it was a success! I'm SO pleased.<br />
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And, yes, my hair actually looks similar to that pictured above...bangs and all! Yay!Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-18108235087527889272013-06-17T14:32:00.001-04:002013-07-30T08:50:31.392-04:00Sherwood Forest<div class="p1">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDIcwA37NUU0BoCI1uG75mk7YzRm9tkVCHlA_wQm0yysjeOzbHqDyuK6W9MJfQlOj_GtFFtsb3izBUR_jShUgmJO_HTNxOos6EAy9Hr3mkleMpWfF9x1wPXfH2s705Q0OAJRtyeUw3ww-/s640/blogger-image-51962386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDIcwA37NUU0BoCI1uG75mk7YzRm9tkVCHlA_wQm0yysjeOzbHqDyuK6W9MJfQlOj_GtFFtsb3izBUR_jShUgmJO_HTNxOos6EAy9Hr3mkleMpWfF9x1wPXfH2s705Q0OAJRtyeUw3ww-/s640/blogger-image-51962386.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite (mini-) stretch of Kennesaw Mountain</td></tr>
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Walking Kennesaw Mountain on a daily basis, I'm slowly getting to know the community of people who regularly hike there, too. Today I had the vague sensation that, one-by-one, the residents of Sherwood Forest were making themselves known to me.</div>
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-49620932660153961462013-06-07T11:26:00.001-04:002013-06-18T07:05:08.004-04:00"Okay" versus "ok"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZClulW53rJDc00j54aGPIpsoTpdQsrRpR_6kW8xaQ7zdZ8iJ8LsH4y7tzzjsvkYZ7eM9apnyuK-kcgOsMeo5GMkf2w-dgg41LnFhWlOH82YDFJEYFWw5X4KD_EvE6lrq0u4IK2HH4rZwQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-06-07+at+11.30.10+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZClulW53rJDc00j54aGPIpsoTpdQsrRpR_6kW8xaQ7zdZ8iJ8LsH4y7tzzjsvkYZ7eM9apnyuK-kcgOsMeo5GMkf2w-dgg41LnFhWlOH82YDFJEYFWw5X4KD_EvE6lrq0u4IK2HH4rZwQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-06-07+at+11.30.10+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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When texting, I enter all the characters in "okay." I'm pretty sure that means I'm old. Or an over-achiever. I'll go with the latter.Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828069751482467128.post-74944985028304651452013-02-18T14:27:00.001-05:002022-08-29T11:14:10.185-04:00Whale of a Good Time!<br />
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We have a new hula hooping image in our <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/alphabethoops" target="_blank">store</a>! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRLNXNHqiuKzUBIMgn_VrrvE9xl_ZQpYQG-i9JayxwROyNaMKh1pv7CYJ5icO1RfTJjy17mrYxS_vpMfFqCbroCRCog5xTJGW3e1pu7TnDGuu8OU1z-FJdSrMLqHqq3i-ziJqlzp-c0Hl/s1600/Whale_hoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRLNXNHqiuKzUBIMgn_VrrvE9xl_ZQpYQG-i9JayxwROyNaMKh1pv7CYJ5icO1RfTJjy17mrYxS_vpMfFqCbroCRCog5xTJGW3e1pu7TnDGuu8OU1z-FJdSrMLqHqq3i-ziJqlzp-c0Hl/s320/Whale_hoop.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original art by <a href="http://www.shawdraw.com/" target="_blank">Shaw Draw, Inc.</a></td></tr>
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A whale tail-hoops and his friend Monsieur le Crabe claw-hoops. They're having a whale of a good time hooping for their fishy audience!</div>
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This image is available on a variety of products including t-shirts, posters, and mugs...among other items. </div>
Lorenehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17783718315868856981noreply@blogger.com0