Workin' some wood!

When I first started talking to Levi, he mentioned that he made wood toys with his Dad on the weekends.  They were gettin' ready for an arts & crafts convention in New Mexico.  At first, I thought he was making little wood toys that are found in dollhouses.  I didn't think much about it til I visited his Dad's house and saw him at work.  Man, I was blown away!!!  It was NOTHING like I had thought! Nothing remotely close!

I was completely wrong and I was taken back by the beauty of the wood toys he & his Dad had created.  I wish I had taken pictures of all the wood toys I saw that first night.  Man, they were just so....beautiful!  I loved each piece and in my heart, I was hoping and wishing my future children could have toys as beautiful as the ones I saw.  There were wood bulldozers, tractors, helicopters, airplanes...a lot of other farming and construction equipments that I can't recall the names of....but he had the whole lot of them.  Not only were they beautiful, but they were fully functioning and worked together.  Seriously, I was in love!
I've always marveled at the craft of woodworking.  I think it's such a beautiful art--to take a piece of wood and shape it into something, even more so, something beautiful.  I love the fact that Levi knows about this artform and has this talent of creativity.
As soon as he mentioned woodworking, I immediately wanted a box.  I wasn't sure how to tactfully ask him, but I did.  I cannot wait to see the box that he'll create for me.  I don't know exactly why I'm so enamored with the idea of having a handcrafted wood box.  Maybe it stems from when my friend was dating her then boyfriend, and he knew he wanted to propose to her.  So he went home to his Grandfather and they created a jewelry box for her, and he proposed with the ring inside of it.  I was completely captivated with that gesture of love and hoped that someday a special man would make a box for me, as well.
I'm so fascinated by this beautiful talent.  I just wish I could watch them cut, shape and sand the wood into the pieces that they create.  Thankfully, Levi & his Dad are perfectly okay with that and luckily, I had the opportunity to watch them work last weekend.  Trust me when I say that I've been making a mental note of ALL the things I would LOVE for Levi to make for me.  Let's just say I've already got a "HoneyDo" list of wood things that I'd like him to [help me] create.

Norah Jones & Mint Tea

Today's a rather good day for tea. I don't normally drink "hot drinks", but the weather has been calling for it.   Mint tea coupled with some Norah Jones makes for a very lovely afternoon.

Today is my best friend's birthday....

We haven't hung out much since we moved in December.  It hurts my heart because I loved having her right across the street.  We were neighbors since we were born 31 years ago.  It's always been fun having her so close.  I surely miss her.  I think I'll have to give her a call here soon, today. 

I came across this today.  Made me think a lot about what my sign would say if I had to wear one.  I'll post my sign sometime soon. 

Yesterday, I spent the day up in Los Angeles with my BFF, Bugs.  We stopped by the Santa Monica pier before we hit the freeway.  It was a VERY pleasant day. I love my BFF!! We're the best of friends and she knows all my secrets.  We had the radio off the whole time and just talked.  I love good conversations!

My Artsy friend invited me over to decorate Dia de los Muertos sugar skulls.  I took my niece with me and it was really fun! I think I rather do that than carve pumpkins, for sure!!

I'm really excited for this Halloween season because I'm looking forward to more Dia de los Muertos celebrating.  Can I say "celebrating"? Well, whatever the appropriate word is, I'm stoked for it. I just love all of that Mexican folk art!!

Open wide....

MAN......I've gotta go see the Dr. tonight.  I'm not feeling any worse than what I was feeling on Saturday.  Actually I'm feeling a lot better.  WAY BETTER.  But, I know something's up with my throat/tonsils so it would be wise to check it out.  Ibuprofen has been my VERY best friend these last few days.  
I really don't like going to the Dr's.  I ALWAYS get so nervous. Ugh.....

So in the mean while, enjoy this piece by Edgar Mueller.

Thanks Arizona.....

Dear Arizona,

I had a WONDERFUL time this past weekend!! Thank you for being cooler than expected...a little too cool & wet at times, but it was still great weather! Thank you for taking care of my family and providing such awesome friends and family to love them while we are apart. This truly puts my heart at ease. I met a few of them, and I really liked them. I think I've changed my opinion about "Zonies" after this trip....but I still think Arizona's really "Southern Utah" since all of their neighbors are Mormons.

Can I just say that it was nice to eat at Sonic's again...Thanks AZ! I'm glad you also have AMC theatres...we were able to enjoy "Alice in Wonderland"!! Totally trippy in 3-D!! However, I never knew that you had such strict traffic laws. I almost learned a very hard lesson on Friday while I drove on your Rte. 85. Apparently if someone [me] drives 21+ miles over the speed limit, it qualifies them for jail time. LUCKILY the SHERIFF was EXTREMELY nice and let me off with a warning!! I definitely deserved a ticket for driving 85 mph in a 55 mph zone. How was I suppose to know?! All the signs I ever seen on that roadway read, "85"!! Ok ok, plus I was taking pictures of your beautiful landscapes and the sun setting behind your mountains. Thanks for having such observant and kind sheriffs!

Oh! And I really liked your Mesa LDS Temple. It was very lovely....and I loved your reflection pools! And I can't wait to see your new Gilbert LDS Temple soon enough....especially since our artist relative will be doing internal & external art work for it! How exciting!

I can't wait to see you again....thanks for all you do!

-ehu

I Wish...

...I could just create all day. Everyday!

That is seriously my dream come true--being free to create ALL day. I would be the happiest person, EVER!!

I wish I could photograph everything and anything. I love being behind the view finder of my camera. I still wish I had my own darkroom...and I guess a Mac with Photoshop's cool too, it's just not the same. I wish I could work in my own garden again and plant all types of seeds, bulbs & plants. I love working with my hands. After my flower bulbs grow I would want to create the most beautiful arrangements and give them away, I miss doing that. As for the fruits of my garden, I would love to give them away in a basket that I made myself. I wish I could play my piano & violin all day and then just listen to music the rest of the time. I love those random times in my week when I can sit at my piano and sing. I would love to sit down and write music & poetry. I wish I could just draw and paint...and create everything and anything with my hands. I would love that so much. I miss pottery. I also wish I could scrapbook all the time and create cards as well. At night I would love to sew and sew and sew! I wish I had the time to cook [from scratch] for my family and bake for others...oh how I love that so!

If I had the time, energy and means to create everything in my head, I'd be ecstatic! I'm so lucky to have a Mom who challenged me and encouraged my own creativity. I'm thankful she taught me how to cook, sew, sing like her, allowed me to take violin lessons and had an organ in the house so that I could teach myself how to play.I love the love I have to create. I love my art filled life!