Sunday, July 25, 2010

It Is That Time of Year Again....

18 years ago today, I married the man of my dreams...we were young and probably foolishly in love but we didn't care. No one was going to stop us from doing what our hearts told us needed to be done.

So, here is my tribute to that decision so long ago! I love you J!!

Monday, July 19, 2010

The To Do List

I am a list maker. Always have been, always will be. I have a few things coming up and I am using those events as motivators to get a few things done around here that just need to be done. I feel like I have several half done projects and I hate that. So my apologies right off because I am going to make an element box to link to the post right at the top for a bit so I can focus on getting some things off my plate, but I'll condense it so it doesn't take up my entire blog. I'll strike them out as I go.

Now


Update inventory sheet
Make dates for packouts
Pond
Patio table
Bank statements
Make items for giftshop
Month end for giftshop
Write up job description for bookkeeping
Umbrella
Pump in pond
Filing
Website update
Install DVD player
Sale Items
Paperwork to Hawaii for Chase
Organize shipments
Deliver rest of plants
Deliver fish
Database transfer
Invitations for coffee
Move book
Facebook account for org





Projects

Rebuild PC
Backup blogs
Pictures for Grandma
Update reading blog
Get new laptop
Pictures



Just For Me (most of these won't get crossed off, I just want to remind myself)

Work on Japanese
Stitch quilt squares
Exercise
Clean
Geocache
Beach
Sun

Feeling Good

Sometimes, just the act of doing something for someone else can make you feel awesome....and for me, if that act also allows me to be creative as well, that is just an double bonus.

I couldn't post this earlier because I hadn't given it to the recipient until recently but now she has it and I can show everyone what the "secret project" was...I had a ton of fun making it, and get some to sign it secretly...especially knowing how much JMMD was going to love it!!

And she did!!

This is a little photo album that I purchased at the 100 yen store. It started out plain brown but I covered it in washi paper, and made the pages with the images, quotes and sayings on them with plenty of room for people to sign. The images are from JMMD's time here in Japan and hopefully shows her how much we all love her and how much of an impact her volunteerism and determination has accomplished.

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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Dishonest Practices

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Ikebana Lesson #4-Variation #1- Upright

Okay, so now that I have the basic upright and slanting down, it is time to start moving into the variations.

Once again the measurments for this arrangement are the same as those for the basic upright, length of suiban plus depth of suiban times 2 is the Heaven. Earth is 2/3 of Heaven and Mankind is 1/2 of Heaven. Supplemental flowers are 1/2 of their respective main counterparts.

In this case, the kenzan (frog) is centered in the suiban (shallow container) regardless of season. The Heaven, Earth and Mankind Main are set up in a triangle in the kenzan with Mankind being centered in the kenzan and forward. The supplemental flowers are then triangulated inside the Main's triangle.

In this one, we used a reddish Enkianthus, and yellow Chrysanthemum. Both lasted forever and came out looking really cool.

Now for the angles...the Heaven is set at 20 degrees Left Shoulder Forward (LSF), the Earth is set at 45 degrees Right Shoulder Forward (RSF) and the Mankind is set at 60 degrees Center Forward (CF). The supplements are inside of those angles.

We were taught a few tricks of the trade during this class as well.

  • If you are going to be placing items that have too narrow of stems to really sit in the kenzan as they should, you can cut a 1 inch piece off the end of a mum stem and slide the narrow stemmed plant into it as an anchor.
  • The water will still get absorbed.
  • All flowers should face upright towards the sun when placed in the arrangement.
  • Woody stemmed plants can be cut at an angle but the fleshy stemmed plants should always be cut straight across the stem.
  • Tape can be used around bunches of stems or just around one to strengthen them up.


  • This was a big arrangement and took some finagling to get in the backseat of the car for the trip home.

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    Two Years Ago on In My Words...Chatan Summer Carnival