Moss Hill Studio

Home Sweet Home

Oh, it's so good to be home.  We arrived last night about 8 pm.  Ron and I love to listen to books on tape for the drive.  It makes an eight hour drive feel like four.  But the problem with the one we listened to yesterday was a bit too long.  We still have two tapes to listen to and need to find out what happens.  It was like walking out of a good movie half way through.  Too funny.

It is very cold here. Our pipes are still frozen.  Everything is ice but we aren't comlaining.  Just so happy to be home.  Doggies were happy too. Fire is going in the woodburing stove and I'm about to unpack, create and enjoy the day.

One thing too, I love that I have DSL back.  Now I can roam the blog world once again.  And as I did this morning, I see a lot of ladies have taken the name test so I thought I would try it.  But I took it a bit further, as I didn't agree that I'm a Type A personalitly.  I took a test at Discovery Health and scored 50% between A & B Type.  I agree more with the results which read:

You seem to be in the middle between the Type A and Type B personality. In this case, the middle ground is good. Your attitude to life is more of the "smell the roses" kind and you know how and when to relax. Nonetheless, you realize that picking up a challenge and competing a little bit for your place in the sun can add some spice to your life. The equilibrium is important, so don't let your hostile, aggressive, and competitive alter ego take over too often. Generally, you are easy to be around, and people tend to feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence. Yours is a very healthy attitude towards life. 

Well, that made me feel good.

Here is what my name thing said:

***What Joanna Means***

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you.
You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries.
You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice.

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life.
You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you.
At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection.
You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive.
You have the classic "Type A" personality.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.
You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.
You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?
http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/

Blank Journals For Your New Year!

Today I made some more journals, thinking this is fun to start journalizing a new year.  I need to make myself one and do that too.  I listed these on Etsy.

and if I were to journal today in one of these, I would write:  Today, Jan. 16th 2008 is a fine day.  We have been at the beach now for a week and a half.  I am terribly homesick.  I miss my home, my things, the trees, the quiet, my friends, my norm.  I have always loved the beach, growing up always so close to it, but I realize now that I am a "woods woman".  I have to laugh at myself.  We left here, the beach almost five years ago and I can say, I am changed.  I now live truly in an environment that suits me well.  It took awhile to figure that out, but I now know I am where I belong. 

Yes, tomorrow, finally is the day, that we can travel back that 450 miles back to our little retreat, where the deer roam, the turkeys gobble and the birds are in abundance.  Gosh, I haven't seen one little birdie since being here. What's with that.  Are they all at my house?

But while here, I did get to meet with my special friend, Kelly.  She came back again yesterday and that was wonderful. I adore her.  She is so much fun, I can't stand it.  I met with my dear friend, Carol, for lunch, and Bill and Carrie too.  So it was wonderful to catch time with friends...and family too.

The waves make a nice sound, but I prefer the absence of sound.  I love the quiet.  I can think better and figure stuff out.  Though I loved the abundance of natural sunlight here on the beach, I miss my little art room.  Yes, it's dark and a bit dreary, but it's mine...all mine.  I miss the smell of the logs burning in our wood burner.  I miss a bit fast speed computer connection...this dial up is killing me.

I'm sooooooooooooooo happy knowing Lindsay will set foot once again on American soil in just a few days.  It's the best birthday present ever!!!!!!!!  I'm so happy for my sister, Nancy, and hubby Ken.  I know what a horrible trial this has been on them and my family.  Lindsay girl, you are so loved!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, that is it for my journaling of the day.  I'm going home, and I'm a happy happy girl.

Sea Shells and Fabric

NOTE:  Because I'm still at the beach house and on dial up, I can't reply back to your comments.  So please know I read them all, they make me smile and warm my heart.  Thank you so much!!!!

New pieces listed on Etsy.

We are still at the beach house and enjoying the big waves today.  Every day at sunset I walk along the shoreline and pick up shells and driftwood.  I created this piece with my findings. 

I liked painting little roses on the shells.

BE BRAVE!  I created the original artwork during my chemo treatments.  I reprinted it onto fabric.  I dedicate this piece to my niece, Lindsay, and her parents, for they too had to be brave while she was over there this past year.

 

Hear is what my sister wrote yesterday:

Lindsay called me today at work. She wants everyone to know that she completed her LAST mission yesterday and is so happy that she will never drive down the streets of Baquoba, Iraq again. They are so happy and very emotional knowing that they are “coming home” and to have accomplished their mission there. They handed over all their equipment, even “The Jesus Truck.”  Hopefully and prayerfully the Jesus Truck will be a huge blessing to the next group of soldiers that ride in it as it has been for Lindsay and her team. Tomorrow, Saturday, they fly via a Chinook helicopter (don’t worry Mom) to the Air Force base and will be staying there for one week. They will not be leaving the base. In a week they fly to Kuwait and will be there for 2 days and then catch a plane to Fort Lewis,WA

     Yippee!! Woohoo!! Hoorah!!!  (I am THE happiest mother in the world today) J J J J J J

She will be in Fort Lewis on January 23!!!!!!!!!   She will be flying down to see us on February 15 (that could change). I am planning a surprise homecoming party so if you want to join us, come on down!!!! I am going to decorate the outside of our house with a million yellow ribbons and a big banner welcoming her home!!!!!

Our baby is on her way home!!!!  (sniffle, sniffle, tears of joy!!)  J J J J J J J

Love,

Nancy

God's ART!

It really struck me last night watching this beautiful sunset from the beach house, how God's art is nothing like man's, is it!  Check out these photos.  Oh, I'm so looking forward to the sunset again today.  Living in the woods, that is one thing we so lack and I miss these sunsets. 

We will now be here until at least until Tuesday of next week.  Now maybe I'll get to see even more friends and enjoy more sunsets.  But I must admit, I'm a bit homesick for my house, the woods, the deer and birds.  But I'll be home soon enough.

Tonight a buddy of my husband's, Dan, that he went to school with at Newport Harbor is coming for dinner with his wife.  Ron hasn't seen him since high school.  I'm a bit nervous...hoping I can pull off a yummy dinner and all.  Maybe I'll have pictures to post tomorrow.  I love what Kelly said when I told her I'm so nervous...she said, "I haven't met a stranger yet"....isn't that a wonderful heartfelt thought and deed!!!!  Love that Kelly!!!!

First Creations of 2008!

I managed to create a few pieces, well four, thus far, here at the beach house.  I packed the car with art supplies, my sewing machine, and even my computer.  As I'm creating I'll wish I had a certain something that is at home in my studio, but in a way, being limited in the items to use, somehow challenges me a little bit more.  My dear sweet friend, Kelly, who I met up with yesterday brought me a bag of goodies, which I was able to use in these creations.  Thank you Kelly!! They are all now listed on Etsy.

My friend Nancy gave me this image of this little boy sticking out his tongue, making a funny face.  Isn't he the cutest!!!