Sunday, June 28, 2009

Don't Settle for Less.


Don't settle for less.
Explore. Dream. Discover.

I bought these bracelets when I went to a conference this year. I think they are great, and I'm thinking of carrying them in the shop. Good messages I've been thinking on a lot the last couple of years and am starting to act on more and more.

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Have you ever...

done the following? If you'd like to play, cut and paste and highlight the ones you have done. Then leave a comment so we can see your list. I found this on Judy's blog...head over there and check out her list too.

The things I've done are in red.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (not land, but Disneyworld)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Guide Cookies (actually Campfire Girl candy)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (no, but I tried hang gliding!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem*
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Obviously, I need to hit the road and see a few places. Travel is definitely on my dream "to do" list (or bucket list...if you've seen the movie). Do you all have a list?

Friday, June 05, 2009

Face Lift

The side of our building at the shop is getting quite the face lift! The city had Diaz paint a huge mural on the back of the Rt. 66 Museum (the old firehouse part of the building). Then this spring they installed a nice brick drive in front of it so you can drive your car up there and have your picture made. The drive even contains bricks from the old Rt. 66 highway. Very cool.

Now they have also brought in the wishing well and sign from the old Wishing Well Motel and installed them between the old city hall building and the fire house.


Here's the front of our building...the white rectangle is where the new streetcar mural will be painted. Can't wait to see it all done!

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Pontiac is going to the dogs...The Walldogs, that is!

I'm very excited about the events going on in Pontiac this summer. Pontiac is hosting the Walldogs this summer! The Walldogs are a group of sign painters and muralists from around the world. Each summer they converge in one town to create wonderful murals. 160 artists will visit Pontiac to create 17 murals around the downtown area. This design will be painted on the side of Old City Hall Shoppes! Come to Pontiac June 25, 26, 27 and 28. In addition to watching the murals being painted, you can attend Heritage days on the square and the Hang Loose Car Show in Riverside Park. You can view more of the mural designs here.

Since I run Old City Hall Shoppes downtown, I get to see all the preparation going on...the buildings have been tuck pointed and the mural sites are being primed. Some new artwork has been added to downtown for the summer.... there are dogs of all kinds, decorated by artists, to be found around the square. Here they are in a nice little group shot... right under a "no animals allowed" sign. Now they are scattered around the square, near the shops. If you haven't been downtown lately, now's the time to take a walk and see the action.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Cowboy Garden Party...

...that's what you get when my sister Jennifer throws a party for her little boy. She and Kevin have a beautiful garden on their country property. I thought you might like to see pics.


Kevin built this arbor from osage orange...it should outlive everyone at the party! The wistera on it was blooming so beautifully!


Handsome Cole boys. Mike, our son, is in the middle. The others are his twin cousins, Steven and Jake. Steven looks just like his dad. Jake looks just like his uncle (good thing they are twins! ;o)) and Mike looks like a combo of Joe and I.

Kids are never allowed to ride in pickup beds these days...but just for today, they were allowed (with adult supervision) to do just that on the little ride to the pond to fish.

Mike, Jill, Colleen and Brandy

The birthday boy...he has a huge collection of toy cowboy guns. He armed each little party goer as they arrived. I think this was a surprise to my sister, and not very p.c. but they had a blast! Apparently 8 year olds are not into considering the political correctness of their party plans!

"Cheese!"


Waiting for cake!


Looks like a tea party here.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Buying what you like...

Sometimes when you just buy what you like regardless of what is "hot" or "not," nice things happen. Like the lights from 5 years ago pretty much match the cushion fabric I purchased last year! Just snapped the little shades on a new strand of lights and we're done.

Last year the stores were full of black and taupe for outdoor living. I've seen beautiful porches decorated with those colors...but our house is yellow, and I didn't want it to resemble a bumble bee! Actually, our porch looks more like a circus, especially since adding the great table made by an artist friend. It's fun. I'd love to get that glider to an auto paint place and have it painted red or white.

Found these cushions at Pier One...made from fabric intended for outdoors, so hopefully they will not fade to quickly. I need to tighten up the cushion cover on that seat...it's just a tad too loose and wrinkles up a bit.