The last couple of days....

See below for Giveaway details for this adorable snowman bracelet!!!









....have been very eventful...if you are interested in why, read on!

I still haven't figured out how to format my blog well - I upload pics and can't get them like I want them, or the text to wrap like I want....grrrrr...so please bear with me (and if you have any advice --- please - give it!)

I took this outside pic today after mowing -
This one was back by the woods ---

see now the text spontaneously changed color and is underlining! Is my blog posessed?

This picture is my daughter,Katy and I , at the VIP meet and greet at the concert last nite at Hamburg Weslyan Church. It was an awesome show and all the band folks were soooo friendly and genuine. We saw VOTA (the warm up band) - whom I had never heard of but they used to be known as Casting Pearls. They really rocked the place!!!! The lead singer, Bryan, reminded me of the '80's punk kinda guys. If you didn't see my Twitter note - VOTA has a free album down load with 9 great songs, some of which they played last nite - the link: http://411GOD.net log in and get some rockin' cool music!


Bryan is the guy on the left --- the folks on the right here are SuperChick and boy are they awesome as well!!!! Really a high energy show! Those girls and guys were dancing and boppin'g all over the place, one guy did some rapping. Great Christian messages that speak to the masses of current generations! Lastly --- but certainly not least - we saw Barlow Girl -

a 3 girl band who are sisters. They not only rock but can also rock your heart and your spirit with God's love. They are all 3 in their 20's and have never been married or dated and have taken purity vows. They just overflow with a very genuine kindness. It was wonderful to be able to meet all three bands in person but I must say the Barlow Girl gals, touched me the most. God had been working a thing in my spirit since church yesterday morning and he finished with me at the show. I have much more growing to do but I feel like He has helped me to revitalize the process.
This last picture is of Katy and I at the autograph table. These gals are really so gracious --- they tour all over the world yet treated us like we were no less than friends.

They are devout supporters of a womans ministry (link below) that reaches out to women of all ages who have suffered from life issues that are keeping them from moving forward - sexual abuse, drug use, post abortion, cutting, eating disorders...Please consider viewing this link and see if this cause touches your heart too.

http://www.mercyministries.org

This last week I spent HOURS on my closets and drawers - sorting an purging --- had 5 different piles going 5 different directions, including Allegany County Freecycle. It was almost exhilarating to have the reminants left. I thought that I would be grieving over lost items, but not so! I am glad, I feel less materialistic.

I also spent a couple days with 2 different marathons....laundry and jewelry making.

Picked up 2 sweet checks from the local consignment store I have some jewelry placed at - always a good thing - now I need to take some holiday wares in to see how they go --- hopefully they will fly off the rack!

One last thing, when you are shopping on Etsy for vintage wares --- please do a tag search for the vmteam (vintage market team) - these folks have high standards for their vintage items and shops and we would all appreciate your considerations regarding purchases.

OK.....here's the deal about my giveaway --- I am trying to boost blog followers and am new to the giveaway bit --- so if someone feels I need to "amend" the rules --- let me know and I will try to accomodate.

The giveaway is the cute snowman bracelet at the beginning of the blog for today ( I couldn't get it to move down here, another grrrr) It is made with lampworked glass beads, white cat's eye beads and silver toned toggle closure, measures 7" long.

Here's how I will do this --- I will give one entry "point" for each of the following:
1) Follow my blog - 1 pt
2) Follow me on Twitter - 1 pt
3) Look at my Etsy store and tell me which item you like best and why - 1 pt for choice and 1 pt for why ( over 100 items, vintage and handmade to choose from)
4) Purchase an item from my Etsy store and you will get 5 points!!!!

my Etsy shop link: http://sweetcindylouwho.etsy.com

For each of the elements - leave me a comment (can all be in one comment) as to how you are entering, e.g "I am now following you on Twitter", and I will document 1 pt. Be sure to include in comment your email address for notification of winner.

The winner will be chosen by 6 p.m. November 15, 2009 - I have a very random system ---- I will put each person's point/name on slip of paper - put it in a paper bag and have my teenager draw out one lucky winner!

If this whole thing works out, I would love to have more giveaways!

P.S. I will give everyone who is already following me with my blog or on Twitter credit for these but, please make a comment so I can know who knows about the giveaway!

I wish you all well and hope to boost that blog following! Thanks :)

The day after

It is with fatigue that I am writing this entry. Down right pooped. Status post system overload. Dead tired.

Arrival in Henrietta occurred around 2:15 and it seems that arriving later, rather than sooner, proved to be a good idea. It was overheard that the place was mobbed at the start of the show. There was a drizzle of traffic when I got there and very few remained at the end. I stayed until "last call". Every penny of my budget was spent (I shall not reveal the amount lest the reader thinks me a fool). Suffice it to say that I could have broken the bank and spent ten times the amount of my budget very easily.

There was a HUGE selection- mostly semiprecious gemstones, all of beautiful cuts and dimensions. Strands and strands of them covered the tables. Every color that you can possibly imagine was represented. The glory of God never ceases to amaze me. A majority of the gemstones are naturally occurring, with man's intervention being the cutting and polishing of them to further bring out their lovely features. Others have intriguing patterns enhanced by coloration, dying and stabilizing techniques.

It was hard to pass up this opportunity and in hind sight I wish I had tucked away a bit more cash. You see the pricing on almost everything was 50% off the label/retail price plus 15% more off the half-off. This was outstanding considering the prices of many items. The most expensive strands I looked at were over $150 and of course my eye was drawn to some of the more costly items. However, I did not indulge in them or I would have broken my piggy bank of a budget. They were modest choices I had to make so that I could leave with more than a couple of strands!

Traveling was expedient due to the sunshine and clear roads. Always I kept an eye out for deer. With so many cornfields between here and there they had many hiding places to burst from. The day started off overcast, followed by a glorious variety of interesting cloud formations, ending with a wonderful sunset.

Dinner was served at the Cracker Barrel restaurant on Hylan Drive. It was mobbed with customers as it was evidently supper time for many others, as well. I had chosen to eat little early in the day so that I could treat myself to a "special" meal and that is how I spontaneously chose this place. A rest was needed and my belly soon was filled with country fried steak (gravy on the side felt less guilty), fried okra, pinto beans and cornbread. Iced tea to drink and applesauce for dessert. Briefly, I almost felt like I was in West Texas again.

No road trip worth it's salt is without a jaunt off the main trail, and that is exactly what happened. It was after dark and one wrong turn...the next thing you know I am 15 miles west and I don't know how many miles north, of where my brother and his wife live. I am a hard-headed sort so I was determined to find the place no matter what! I did but it was quite late in the evening, past when it is respectable to visit someone. Their welcome mat was out nonetheless.

It was good to see them both and the puppies, too. We chatted for about an hour, a good cup of coffee, a potty break and then I was on my way.

While traveling to and fro this day, I so fully enjoyed my Ipod. Katy had let me use her "converter" so that I could listen to the Ipod thru the stereo and it sounded so good. There is something about pleasurable music and driving that soothes my savage beast. I could drive endlessly in this state. Recollection of my trip cross country for Taylor's graduation a few years ago occurred, wherein I drove for hours after hours listening to CD's with no interruption. Some how it transports me to a different level of consciousness, no substances involved.

This ends my prattling about my outing, weary body as a reminder. Now it is time to take a quick nap before waking the kids and starting another day. There are distinct benefits to early rising and getting Todd off to work at 5. I can understand why my mother always had her "me" time before we arose in the morning.



A picture of my cache....wait till ya see what comes from this pile of stuff!