Done Dried Up

Still working on that re-evaluated, revised 40x40 list!  Should be posted soon!

As for me and my blog writing, well, . . . the well has Done Dried Up this week.

I'm just not feeling it.

I sit down, try to write and I get nothin'.

It's hard to write when you don't feel like a very good writer.  I know I've said this before and you'll probably get sick of me saying it.  But all the encouragement in the world, can't change ones personal view of ones own talent or lack there of.

You'll notice I write in cycles.  I have a pattern you see.

I'll write consistently and then, out of nowhere, I'll seemingly drop off the face of the earth.  Then, suddenly, I'll spring back to life and write about how I haven't written and need too and about how I don't like what I write.

It's a vicious circle really!

When I am writing, I'll read everything I write and hate it.  Scrutinizing every word choice, every sentence structure and reworking every thought.

I quite literally drive myself crazy.  Not like that's a long trip or anything, I'm almost there!

Yes, I know I should write for me.  I know I shouldn't worry if what I write doesn't read as cleverly or witty as the next.  I know this.  But, it still bugs me when I feel like my writing is drab, boring or just plain blah!

So . . .

When I feel this way, I just don't write!  That simple.

I wait until that creative spark returns or until the, "I'm itching to write about this," bug bites me again.

That's all from this little corner of the world . . . for now anyway.

Watch for my updated 40x40 list, coming soon!

A Re-Evaluation

Be forewarned!

This post is a mix of scolding myself--for turning a blind eye to my indulgence in procrastination--of revisiting and scaling back my initial goals and finally pressing on towards the goal line of August 28, 2011, with confidence.

I'm hopeful, that this time I will make progress; and ultimately succeed in my endeavors!

Back in February, I wrote a list of 40 things I wanted to accomplish by the age of 40!

My 40x40 list I called it.

Yes!  I wrote that list; and haven't looked at it since!

Now what good does that do?  Let me tell ya!  It does no good, no good at all.

I mean, come on Michelle!  What's your problem?

Get the list out.  Look at it.  Make a plan; and get it in gear lady!

You're NOT getting any younger you know!  Before you know it, 40 will be here!

Alrighty then, I feel better!  Nothing like a good tongue lashing to set things straight again.

Onward and upward we go!

I'm looking forward to reaching the age of 40.  I won't see it as the dark, dreaded,  forboding thing it's made out to be.  No, I'll see it as a feather in my cap.

Let me tell ya why.

Because it will mean that I'm here to enjoy another year of my life, my family, my friends and all that this beautiful world has to offer.

Now let me tell ya what that feather will say?

It's gonna say, "I'm 40 and I'm Alive!"  God willing, I'll get to place that feather in my cap!

In the meantime, I plan to accomplish some things.  I guess what I'm thinking is that it will be even sweeter to celebrate 40 years on earth, with some accomplishments under my belt.

I'm convinced you can't accomplish anything without setting goals; and you definitely can't accomplish your goals by putting them on a shelf to collect dust.

Figuratively speaking that is!

Okay, August has come and gone; and I'm officially 39 now!  What does that mean exactly?

Well, it means A Re-Evaluation is called for.  Especially since I no longer have 1 year and 7 months, but exactly 11 months and 15 days in which to put these 40 things to bed!

But first, I need to re-evaluate all 40 things and scale them back a bit.  I was a little to ambitious to start with.

The worst thing you can do, in my opinion, is set yourself up for failure.  Which I most certainly did!

So with that, I need a moment to revise my list.

BRB . . .

(For those unfamiliar with chat/text terms,

that means Be Right Back)

Hmm . . .

Hmm . . .

To Be Continued in A Re-Evaluation: Part 2 . . .

No. 7, Please

My blog world is off-kilter.

Why you ask?

Because of a certain, disliked number.  The Number 6!

I know this may seem a bit strange, awkward and even peculiar.  It really is quite bazaar, to tell you the truth.  Shoot, I can't even believe I'm writing this.  But it must be done!

It's all about the number of blog followers I have.

You see, my least favorite number in the whole, wide world--as you already know--is the No. 6!  I really don't like it all.  Frankly, it gives me the heebie jeebies!

(On a side note.  When I go to the grocery store for produce, I always buy fruits and veggies in sevens or threes.  You know 3 green peppers, 7 apples, 3 cucumbers, 7 pears, and so on.  But never 6!  Gasp!  Never!  My husband gets a real kick out of this.  I don't find it funny!  Okay, maybe a little funny, ha ha.)

However, my little blogger heart would be so thankful if I could see the No. 7--over there on the right hand side--in the little box!

My favorite number of all time, is the No. 7!  Oh, and the No. 3, but we passed that baby a long time ago.  Thank you!

So here's my proposition.

I promise to write more often and more interesting posts, if I could persuade one of you readers who follow me, but don't "Follow" me, to follow me!  Please. . .


Easy peasy lemon squeasy!  Right?

If you read my blog anonymously, would you be so kind as to click the 'Follow' button in the upper, far left corner of the page?  I would be ever so grateful if you did!

I just gotta get to the No. 7, please.

Then I'd no longer have to see that dreaded No. 6, ever again.  It's driving me batty!  Well okay, I am a little batty anyway and I would see that number again if I hit 16, 26, 36, 46 and, well, you get my drift.

At this point, I don't think I'll ever make it past 7 followers.  But just to see the No. 7 would be delightful.  I could live with that number forever and ever and ever and ever!

Is it terrible to dislike a number so much that you buy your produce in every number BUT that number?  I sure hope not.

Does anyone else out there have a number they dislike?  Or am I the only goof ball out here?

Thank you for reading!

With my most sincerest of sincere gratitude,
Michelle

Cold Yet Warm!

The Labor Day weekend was fantastic!

A delightful mix of family togetherness, fun activities, delicious food and the beauty of God's creation!

Our camping weekend was filled with Autumn like weather.  A welcomed reprieve from the stagnant heat of the past several weeks.

Surrounded by crisp air, it felt so good to bask in the warmth and gentle glow of a campfire.  Which, by the way, was my favorite part of the weekend!

It felt so good to be, Cold Yet Warm!

However wrong it may feel to say THAT was my favorite part of the weekend, it was!

Honestly, I DO love my family MORE than a campfire; and I DID enjoy each and every moment we shared.

But, if I had to choose, my favorite "thing" about the weekend would have to be, the crisp air and the feel of the campfire's warmth.

Without a doubt, it was wonderful!

I took a short video to share with you all.

A Red & Green Thing

For the past week, I've had several Keith Green songs streaming through my head.  It's amazing really, how the music can touch your heart and speak to your soul.

Keith Green's songs have had a big impact on my life.  The beautiful medlies always draw me in and the lyrics really make me think about life and examine my relationship with JESUS.

It's a Red & Green Thing!

I LOVE JESUS and Keith Green's music!  He knew JESUS and wasn't ashamed to say so!

I know, I know, you don't want to be preached to or hear any of that religious mumbo jumbo.  So I won't do that to ya.  I'll just let the music speak for itself.

Cobalt Glass

My Cobalt Glass on display
at the Library.

As promised, here are a few pictures of my Cobalt Glass collection.  It has been on display at the Bittersweet branch of the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public library, for the entire month of August.

Here you see the entire collection, all spread out
and beautiful.  It just needed a little sunshine!

It felt so good share my collection with the patrons of the library.  In light of the fact that my collection is normally housed on a single shelf of a very small china hutch, made it especially satisfying to see it spread out in that gigantic display case!  It was as much a treat for me, as I hope it was for the guests of the library.

"The Gift," that started it all 20 years ago.
Given to me by my dear friend, Beverly Brosmer.

What began as a thoughtful gift, has turned into a deep "blue" passion.  I now find myself watching for glints of blue, shimmering in the sunshine, at every yard sale along the roadside.  Thrift stores, antique shops and flea markets are havens for cobalt glass.  I find that my van seems to turn into these places, as though it were on autopilot!

Beverly has granted me membership into the Blue Glass Buddy Club.  I'm very proud to be a member!  I love the beautiful blue glass so much, that I even wrote a poem about it.  Enjoy!


Cobalt Glass Acrostic Poem
written by:  Michelle (Shapland) McCarty

C ollectible
O bjects made of glass
B rilliant shades of blue
A ntique to new
L ovely to look at
T reasures for me and you.

G lassware in unique styles
L ining the windowsills
A rranged to catch the sunlight
S hining through the hills
S uch beauty produces smiles.

Thank you for stopping by and reading about one of my many passions!  I hope you will comment here and share with me something YOU enjoy collecting too!

39th Birthday

Birthdays are a big deal in our house.  After all, it's the day the most important people in our lives came into the world.  We make the entire day all about that special person!  They get to chose the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus; and we do whatever they wish to do.  (So long as it fits into the budget!)  We also try to make it as stress and drama free as possible.


This past weekend was my turn to get that special treatment.  My family and I celebrated my 39th birthday.  The day started out with hugs, kisses and Happy Birthday wishes.  Then I received the most wonderful, handmade birthday cards EVER!  A handmade birthday card, in my opinion, beats a store bought card ANY day!


My youngest son Christopher, worked on a pop-up card for the majority of Friday night.  It was so pretty!  He did a very nice job cutting everything out, coloring it and putting it altogether.  He even wrote a message inside!

The front of Christopher's card.

The inside of my fantastic pop-up birthday card!
Underneath the butterfly it reads, "The rare Momarc Butterfly!"

Zachary, my oldest son, loves to draw.  He usually draws Anime characters.  But Friday night he spent a lot of time trying to draw something realistic, that he thought I would like.  He tried several pictures and wasn't happy with any of them.  So finally, frustrated and tired, he doodled a picture of Jesus and wrote me a little note.  Little did he know, it was the perfect card for me!

The doodle Zachary drew.  The little paragraph reads:
"Happy Birthday Mom.  I love you more than any child could
love their mother."

Most of the morning was spent relaxing and lounging around the house.  Then, in the afternoon, we piled into our hoopty van and ventured out to the car lots.  We're in the market for a Toyota 4Runner, you see!  I've always loved 4Runners and am itching to have one.  Even though we can't buy one just yet, I did get to test drive one.  I really, I mean REALLY loved it.  If only we could find one in the color we like and at a price we can afford.

After we reluctantly took the 4Runner back to the dealer, we headed over to my parent's house.  My mom had made a delicious German chocolate cake and we had picked up some Martin's fried chicken.  It made for a scrumptious birthday dinner.  Not diet friendly, of course, but delicious none the less!

The rest of the evening was spent visiting and watching old family movies.  My Aunts had taken the old reel to reel films and had them transfered onto DVD.  What a delight it was to see the old footage of days gone by!

It was the perfect way to spend a birthday.