Here she is...the December Beaded Journal Project turtle...birthstone...turquoise..I'm really pleased with her...she is beautiful in person.
And here...my December entry for the Beaddreamz Group Calendar Challenge. Was walking on the beach the other day and found this Cat's Eye shell...actually only the top half of it...and took it home with me to create this necklace...and it wears beautifully. I wore it to a Christmas party this morning...and the ladies loved it.

"The Pink Ribbon Turtles" Project is sending $881 to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer research...I'm thrilled with this amount.

Other than that...just trying to get ready for Christmas...it should be a great one...wishing all of you a blessed holiday season.

Wow...was October ever a doozy of a month...a 5 day ordeal in the hospital and two week recovery put me way behind on all things October...but now I'm feeling better...and am caught up with October Projects...

First...thankfully...I finished the October Challenge for the Beaddreamz group early...the peyote bracelet was fun and turned out to be quite eyecatching. I called it "Autumn Leaves"...my dad bought it from me and gave it to a friend for her birthday. I've since made a few others in Christmas greens, reds and whites, and a couple of them in pinks...the bracelet is not a pattern...which is what makes it fun...you just put a bunch of the same size beads in a dish and pick up whatever you pick up...the effect is really pretty neat...I have discovered the wider ones are actually prettier than the narrow ones...but they do take a little longer...

Next...the October Challenge for the Beaded Art Dolls group...I found a wonderful picture of my daughter when she was about 4 or so...it was Halloween and she wanted to be a clown...so I got out the trusty sewing machine and made her a clown outfit...she was adorble...of course...being my child...she always was...ha...here are the two pics...one of her...and one of the doll I made...I am sad to say she and I have been estranged for the past 4 years (prayers are always most welcome)...but this made me feel close to her...and remember all of the wonderful years of her childhood...as well as watching her become a woman...as a parent there were times I wanted to shove her in a closet and not let her out til she was 40...but I knew that wouldn't help her grow...so I...right or wrong...gradually allowed her to make her own choices...but was always there...and listened...and as gently as possible...guided her...and did a LOT of praying...here she is...the "Little Clown Doll"...

And finally...my Beaded Journal Project for October. As you saw in September...my design will always be aturtle for the BJP. In October...the month of my daughter's birthday...I decided to do a turtle that had opals...I had a cab that to me looked very much like a fire opal...so tried to find all the colors in it and go from there...as it progressed I LOVED the body...but the turtle's shell was not satisfying me as I thought it should...but now that I've got it finished...I think it turned out nicely. The body...the "opally" greens and white...the shell...all the colors I saw in the fire opal cab. Once I added the gold...it came together and I like the final product.

So...now October is over...and I'm about a week late finishing...BUT...I am finished with all the October challenges...and it's on to November...hmmmmmmmm...wonder what I'll do now???

DON'T FORGET THE "PINK RIBBON TURTLES" DRAWING FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH IS FAST APPROACHING! IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR DRAWING TICKETS...BE SURE TO GO TO www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm AND MAKE YOUR DONATION!

What grandma can say no to a 3 year old with a request like that? Of course...what he wanted most was to make the decorations on the cake...he wanted blue and green and red and orange and yellow...and stars... 

My youngest grandson loves the book I wrote for him and my other three grandchildren, "The Adventures of Shorty". His mom says he reads it all the time. So when discussing what we were going to put on the cake, Shorty naturally came up. At first, Shorty was going to be an astronaut (a recently drawn pic for the new Shorty book)...then he decided on tennis...then the astronaut on a skateboard...finally we decided that just Shorty on a skateboard would be best.

Whenever I bake cake, I bake it in two square pans. One goes home with the grandson's...the other (or what is left of the other after we've all had a piece) stays here. This works out well since my husband and I, though we love cake, don't eat much of it.

So the first cake (above) was decorated with Shorty on a skateboard...artistic direction by my two grandsons...the eldest helped with the icing...then they both helped with putting the candy stars on it.

The second cake? I let the oldest decide. A tennis player...he decided on a tennis racquet and tennis balls...that's the one we ate after the kitchen was clean.

Then it was time for a rousing game of "Simon Says", and a little bit of "Hokey Pokey", both of which the youngest is learning in pre-school. He is doing pretty well with the "Hokey Pokey", but he hasn't quite gotten the gist of "Simon Says"...it's fun none-the-less. We even got grandpa up to do the hokey pokey! 

School will begin (again) on Monday, and all of them will be busy with that. The oldest is in middle school and trying out for the basketball team; the youngest going to pre-school a couple of days a week; and mom, who is a teaching assistant, going back to work. Dad...keeps us all safe working as an officer at the police department.

Now...the reason I say school will begin AGAIN on Monday...is the fact that they started last Monday...and then Tropical Storm Fay came through...and stayed...and stayed...and stayed. We had three and a half days of nothing but wind and rain...and they didn't go back to school all week. 

Fay...never making it to hurricane force...dumped over 30" of rain in some places. There was a lot of flooding and a few tornados. It was nothing like Jeanne from a few years ago in strength, thankfully, but was still devastating for some. In the state of Florida TS Fay was responsible for about a dozen deaths and thousands without power and flooded out of their homes. We are thankful that our only damage was the porch getting about half way flooded and the loss of our air conditioner from Wednesday evening til this morning when it got fixed...thank goodness. It was hot those three days...but nothing like the heat we're going to get now that there will be sunshine...at least til the next one!

On the first day of the storm we looked out our back door and saw a Great Blue Heron just standing in the wind and rain. (Video below) We weren't sure at first if he was hurt or just disoriented. We finally decided he just "landed" and was afraid to spread his wings to take off for fear he wouldn't be able to control his flight and land in OZ somewhere. After over three hours of standing in the wind and rain out the backdoor...he was gone. Hopefully it was on purpose...if not...I'm sure the Wizard will have a lovely pond for him to fish in!

During the nearly 4 days of being sequestered in the house due to the storm, beadwork was most certainly a way I entertained myself. (That and the Olympics...great combination!) One of the first things I did was finish a "challenge" from one of the online beading groups I'm in. The challenge was to make a bracelet using the 'peyote' stitch. I had just recently learned it, so I thought it would be a good challenge for me. The tough part...at least for me...was that it was to be "freeform". As much as I try, being anything but symmetrical is difficult. I've managed to do it on a few of my turtles, but usually they are very symmetrical. Now symmetry and "freeform" are not necessarily opposite...but they are not synonomous either. Some of the bracelets the ladies in the challenge produced were exquisite...and not a bit symmetrical. None-the-less...I perservered. Though quite symmetrical...I am assured by the ladies that it is indeed considered "freeform". Which is good...because it's about as freeform as I can get...at least until I learn a bit more about the 'peyote' stitch. 

I don't know if you can make them out...but the two circles are actually little polyclay faces. The beadwork around the bracelet is not "exactly" the same...but very similar from side to side.  

The second part of the challenge...to make a ring to match. I didn't use the little cab faces...but used some of the other little beads I used around the bracelet to jazz up the ring. 

I'm pleased with how they came out. I'll probably put them up for sale on my etsy site ( http://www.atawhisper.etsy.com/ ) . Being a Licensed Massage Therapist, I don't wear much jewelry, (certainly not rings) and in this case, I don't have anything to match these wonderfully bright colors. But I sure had fun making them! 

Then it was on to the "Pink Ribbon Turtle" Project. Dubbed "Turtles of Hope" by Beadwork Magazine last April, the "Pink Ribbon Turtles" project took on a new level. Originally the turtles were made only by me in memory of my mother, who passed away with Breast Cancer in 2000. After the "blurb" in Beadwork Magazine, another style of PRT was created. With the help of my new friend, Gretchen, we decided that in addition to the turtle(s) I make each year, that we would have a 4 Quadrant Turtle. The turtle was divided into four quadrants and four different artists completed a quadrant. We were thrilled when a second group decided to help with a second 4 Quadrant Turtle. For more information, stay tuned...on October 1st all three turtles will be professionally framed and available in a drawing, ALL proceeds going to Breast Cancer Research. 

So anyway...when I finished my freeform bracelet and ring challenge, I spent some time putting the quadrants together. (Ralonda, in Texas is in charge of the second turtle). I will give you a little peek of the right side of group 1's turtle...these turtles will be fabulous I know! 

For more information about "Turtles of Hope" - the "Pink Ribbon Turtle" Project, you can go to (http://www.atawhisper.com/prt.htm). You will find pictures of turtles from previous years, and a bit of the history behind the project. 

Later on, when the ticket "sales" begin, I will make sure the information for you to get some is right here, along with pictures of all three of the 2008 "Pink Ribbon Turtles".

During the hottest part of the Tropical Storm that kept us all indoors for a week...when we didn't have air conditioning...I did as little as possible. Everytime I moved I would break into a sweat. So I sat myself in the coolest room in the house and sorted my beads. My husband was amazed...he thinks I have more beads than the bead store. And he only saw the ones in the drawers! I have more in the closet! But anyone who beads...knows that you can't have too many beads!

The air conditioner has been fixed, the grandson's have visited, I've just eaten my supper, and I think...I'll go do a little beadwork.

 God Bless!

Isn't she just lovely?

At our zoo we have a very large giraffe enclosure...large enough for them to roam and run around all day with the small antelopes that are in the enclosure with them.  But if you get there in the morning...before it's just horribly hot out...or very late in the day...you can feed them by hand from a platform that has been built so that you are face to face with these beautiful creatures. 

When I went recently with two of my grandsons and their mom we had a wonderful day.  If you haven't been to the zoo lately...take a child...even a teenage child...you will have a lot of fun discovering and helping them discover...and sometimes even get upfront and personal...with some of God's 4-legged and winged...even slithery...creatures. 

*******

 Crucifix Bone

Can you see it?  On this skull bone from a fish called the sailcat?  Look carefully...it's the crucifix...Christ on the cross.  Isn't it amazing!?  I have two of  these...found on my beach...on either side of my closet door...their simple beauty reminding me of the sacrifice of Christ...for 'a wretch like me'...and his words, "Father forgive them...they know not what they do."

As I read my Daily Word this morning...I felt it was a message I just needed to share.  I can't...of course...post the exact message due to copyright...but the message was...in my best translation...as follows:

FORGIVE

God, I love Your forgiveness...the gentleness in Your spirit...and the love You have for all of your children.

Today I want to turn to You and Your forgiveness and ask that You help me to forgive others.  I ask that you help me release any hurts I have that I feel were caused by other people...and heal any pain that I have from any slights I perceived were caused by others.

I want to forgive...and forgive freely...all those who I may resent...all those who I feel have hurt me...all those who I judged...I do this knowing You will grant my prayer and I will be healed of these judgemental thoughts...and that those I forgive will feel Your loving presence in me.  I ask that You help me not to be judgmental now and or the future and that you heal not only my heart of these types of attitudes and feelings...but also those of all Your children.  I know...and believe...that all thoughts of judgement block Your love and Your light.   I ask that Your forgiveness of my judgement of others be so complete that it encompasses every heart and mind...not mine alone.  I ask this so that all relationships may be healed and that friends and family wake up to the knowledge that through You friends and family may be loved, enjoyed and treasured and the value in these relationships is what serves You.  That our loving acceptance of others, and their differences is not to be feared or shunned...but celebrated to Your glory.  It is in these relationships that we grow.

I ask all these things, God, knowing that You will grant them...perhaps not in our time frame...but in the time frame that will be best for all Your children.  I will try to release all of this to You and not "snatch it back" every time I remember these grievances...and when I remember them I will again ask for Your forgiveness for my judgemental attitude...and in doing so trust You to keep the spirit of forgiveness alive in me and in all of Your children.

Thank you, God for all of your blessings.

Amen

"So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift." - Matthew 5:23

Forgive me your illusions, and release me from punishment for what I have not done.  So will you learn the freedom that I taught by teaching freedom to your brother, and so releasing me.  I am within your holy relationship, yet you would imprison me behind the obstacles you raise to freedom, and bar my way to you.  Yet it is not possible to keep away One Who is there already.  And in Him it is possible that our communication, where we are joined already, wil be the focus of the new perception that will bring light to all the world, contained in you. --- The Obstacles to Peace/The Second Obstacle

My God grant you peace.

Tomorrow is "Back to School" for my sister. No...she is not 40 years younger than me and in grade school...she is a teacher...high school mathematics...and an excellent one. Every time I go to the store and there are CBHS students standing out front wanting money for one sports group or another...I always ask..."Who's the best math teacher at the high school...they always say Mrs. Laufenberg...she's excellent.

     She comes by it quite naturally...both my parents were educators...many of my aunts and uncles on both sides of the family were educators...and I have a slew of cousins that are teachers in some form...whether it's public education...church...or industry...they teach others. Even I was a teacher for about 16 years. My father...who used to be principal of the elementary school here in Cocoa Beach for 35+ years...called me yesterday and asked me if we wanted to have a "Back to School" supper for my sister. "Why not", I said...so tonight everyone is going to come to my house for Chicken Alfredo on Linguine, fresh asparagus, some couscous my dad made and a new cake recipe I tried out...thanks to one of the women's magazines I got at the grocery store yesterday...more about that later...

     The picture above...it's our centerpiece for the evening. The flowers I had on the table were dropping petals...so I knew I needed something. I was headed back to the store to get my sis the requested asparagus and stopped at the local Family Dollar and found this cute little coffee mug with apples on it (perfect for back to school)...I got her mechanical pencils...dry erase markers...and of course...what every teacher needs...4 RED pens. I found some green tissue paper and when I got home I put this little centerpiece together. (For those of you who like to throw little gifts and/or decorations together for little or no cost...the cup was $1...2 pkg of dry erase markers $4...Mechanical Pencils $1...Red Pens $2...tissue paper $1...Centerpiece/Gift for my sis...less than $10.) And if I do say so myself...downright cute in the middle of the dinner table!

     Now for the dessert...it's from the magazine "All You"...August 1, 2008. It's on page 102. It's called...drum roll please...

"Banana-Coconut Upside-Down Cake"

     Made similar to a pineapple upside-down cake only instead of pineapples with a cherry in the middle it's bananas cooked in butter and brown sugar with coconut...I didn't follow the recipe exactly...it has a recipe for the topping and for the cake...I just used a butter cake from Betty Crocker...but I can't wait to finish supper so I can have a piece...it looks really scrumptous...next time you are at the grocery store...see if you can find the magazine. I'm guessing it's going to be really great.

Time for company...the doorbell just rang!

Happy back to school for all teachers and students!

AFTER SUPPER: The cake was great!