Favorite Things...

Julie's Gems

2012-01-30T19:02:00.001-07:00

Mixed media painting from my gemstones series.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Silver vein

2012-01-29T17:39:00.001-07:00

Mixed media painting from my stonewall series.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Red Cliff

2012-01-29T17:15:00.001-07:00

Mixed media painting from my stonewall series.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lapis lazuli

2012-01-29T16:51:00.001-07:00

Mixed media painting from my stonewall series.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Okay, this is fun.

2012-01-28T11:38:00.001-07:00

Second post from my new BlogPress app... "Leaf Skeleton Collage" very small artist trading card size collage

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Fun new fractal image using q:flame on my iPad

2012-01-28T11:29:00.001-07:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Zazzle Store

2011-10-03T20:13:00.000-06:00

Fractal Art

2009-05-27T20:15:00.006-06:00

Just discovered a REALLY fun way to make art. It is entirely computer generated, and always a surprise when it's done.

Some Recent Online Postings

2009-05-16T21:24:00.004-06:00

I have recently become a member of Shutterpoint.com - also RedBubble.com - and BlueCanvas.com. I'm hoping to discover what the demand is out there for sales of my photos and art. It's great fun to get feedback from peers around the world. Here are a few of my recent postings with them.

Fun Altered Florals For Spring

2009-03-25T19:51:00.003-06:00

Random green things - celebrating Saint Patricks Day

2009-03-15T23:16:00.008-06:00

My Christmas Ornaments

2008-12-05T23:01:00.004-07:00

Check out these adorable Christmas ornaments I'm hanging on my tree this year!

Forsgren Family Digital Scrapbook Page

2008-11-08T07:47:00.003-07:00

Scrapbook page commemorating Grandpa and Grandma Forsgren's 50th wedding anniversary. This photo was taken in the cultural hall at their church, and one funny thing about it is that the 3rd kid from the left on the front row is a total stranger. I guess he just saw that a photo was going to be taken and wandered into it... (double click to see it better)

Fun Photo Manipulations

2008-11-05T20:02:00.004-07:00

Andy Warhol style grandkids' eyes - Ruthie, Katelyn, Teddy, and Cameron

Stars in their eyes - kids and grandkids

Clown Amberli - many years ago

Golden Autumn leaves kaleidoscope

Red Autumn Leaves Kaleidoscope

Last of the Autumn Leaves

2008-11-02T20:37:00.004-07:00

Took a sweet leisurely drive through the Avenues in SLC to enjoy the last of the autumn leaves.

Happy Halloween!!!

2008-10-30T23:10:00.004-06:00

Just a couple of scrapbook images and a couple of altered photos. Can't wait to go Trick-Or-Treating with the grandkids!!!

I Will Miss My Brother

2008-10-11T22:48:00.001-06:00

It has been three days now since my brother died, and I haven't wanted to accept his passing. It still doesn't seem real to me. Following are three of my favorite photos.

That's me on the left, Mardee in the middle, and Eric on the right in his new Aeroflite wagon. Note the price written on the wagon in grease pencil - $10.95

I'm not sure how old Eric was in this photo with Mom - maybe about a year.

In this photo, I was about 1 1/2, and Eric was about 3.

Spider-Ali-Ella

2008-10-11T15:47:00.002-06:00

Time to start thinking about Halloween! Boo!

Kaleidoscope Fun

2008-10-07T22:30:00.001-06:00

Couple of altered images of Ali in face paint...

2008-10-06T22:36:00.003-06:00

Since it's fall now, my favorite season, I decided to post one of my favorite photos. We were walking in a wooded area near Quebec, Canada, a few years ago. I looked down at my feet and saw what I thought was the perfect blend of new green growth poking up through a carpet of brilliantly colored fallen leaves.

Best Cousins Forever

2008-10-02T21:01:00.003-06:00

Here's what I did tonight to entertain myself during the vice-presidential debate - quite a bunch of cuties!

More Digitized Ancestors

2008-09-30T22:01:00.005-06:00

Three more digital pages - I am loving this "no-cut-no-paste-no-mess-hassle-free" way to make scrapbook pages. (double click to see original size) - Enjoy!

Digital Ancestors

2008-09-29T19:21:00.007-06:00

Having fun with my digital scrapbooking program - (double-click image to enlarge) - more later...

Colorful Downtown Characters

2008-09-27T18:38:00.005-06:00

When I get home from work on any given day, and Ted asks me what’s new, it wouldn’t be unusual for me to say something like this:

You know that lady with the white beard and the yellow polyester pantsuit?

Well I saw her today, only she had on a white polyester pantsuit instead of the yellow one… so… long white straight hair, sparse curly white beard, and white clothes – there’s something about that which appeals to my sense of order.

Or…

You know that guy with long black hair who wears all black, including his black trench-coat no matter how hot it is outside? The one who sits on the same bench at Gallivan Center all day, every day?

Well I saw him today, but he didn’t have on his black trench-coat, or even his black shirt. He was just wearing his black pants held up by his black suspenders. Or…(several weeks later)… Well I saw him today, only now he wears all khaki-colored clothes instead of black. Someone must have bought him some new summer clothes.

Or…

You know that little teeny lady you like to give money to? The one who always wears the bright turquoise skirt with purple striped socks pushed down 1980’s style, and black mary jane shoes?

Well, I saw her today, but she was wearing flip-flops with little bows tied all over them.

Or…

You know that guy who wears the multi-colored shepherd-style turban with the long gold tapestry robes and lots of jewelry?

Well, I saw him today, and he was carrying a big tall walking stick with lots of whats-its hanging all over it. I can’t remember what all the trinkets were, except for a miniature white fuzzy teddy bear.

Or…

You remember Debbie with the light blue jacket? The one who carries all her bags of food everywhere she goes, and sits at the food court and takes out all her food and talks to it? (It’s not like she’s blessing it or anything – just analyzing what she has – counting the stuff or something).

Well, I saw her today, but she wasn’t wearing her light blue jacket.

Or…

You remember that guy who always wears the navy blue hoodie? The one who comes into town from somewhere to attend our church? (Nobody knows his name because he comes in late, goes out during the sacrament, comes back in and then leaves before the meeting ends, without saying a word to anyone).

Well, I saw him today, only the navy blue hoodie was gone. He was wearing a gray t-shirt that looked like it had been very neatly folded before he put it on.

Or…

You know that guy who we saw on the Trax platform wearing a black suit with a white flower on his lapel, and a silver wig, and he had his hands and face painted silver, and he was dragging a silver metal trunk and carrying a silver plant-watering can?

Well, I guess if I did ever see him again, I probably wouldn’t recognize him without his costume and make-up.

It goes on, and on, and on…downtown living is such great entertainment.

Digital Double Exposures

2008-08-25T21:44:00.004-06:00

Having a bit of fun experimenting with digital double exposures, and wanted to post a few of my favorites.

Preston Rodeo Parade 2008

2008-08-03T20:33:00.004-06:00

Okay, so I wasn't going to post any stuff from this year's Famous Preston Night Rodeo Parade, but I couldn't resist two of my FAVORITE entries, plus 3 pictures of grandkids gathering up the candy and other goodies they always throw.

Blimpster(s) at the Class Reunion

2008-08-03T18:33:00.002-06:00

I just about skipped my 45th Preston High School class reunion. I had always been able to drop a few pounds in time for previous reunions, but not this time, and I kind of didn't want to go. Then I would defiantly tell myself that if my friends didn't like me this way, maybe I didn't need them as friends. Eventually, defiance trumped vanity, and I went. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! There were many of my classmates who had added at least a pound a year since we left the hallowed halls of PHS, and it didn't even matter! We hashed over great memories, laughed a lot, and I know I will look forward to attending my 50th class reunion in 5 years!

Life in the City

2008-07-31T21:50:00.004-06:00

So...we were just walking home from a Thursday evening concert at Gallivan Center. It was bluegrass music this week, and there must have been 3,000 people there. This guy was sitting on the bus bench, and as we walked past he slowly started to tip forward. You should have heard the THUNK!! when his head hit the cement. Good citizen Ted called the police, who then transferred the call to the fire department, and they sent the paramedics to pick the poor guy up. Life in the city is good...

I Love A Parade

2008-07-30T20:10:00.004-06:00

So, last week was the annual Pioneer Day parade in Salt Lake City. Ted and I like to go to the very head of the parade where they are just putting it together, and watch from there. That poor woman in the upper left corner was having a terrible time getting things going. "Number 91!! Where is Number 91???" Float #91 had pulled into place on the wrong side of the street and the poor woman had to maneuver it to where it should have been. To do that, she was yelling at the Tongan Wesleyan Church Band (in the center photo) to get on down the street - "Run!" she yelled. "Catch up to the parade!" They were almost a block behind where they needed to be. Such drama!!! Check out the missionary astronauts in the upper right corner. Cute, huh?
Go Troops! Lots of military units in various kinds of camouflage. Pretty princesses on fancy floats, and nice horse units. Colorful animated creatures of all kinds, and of course "Go Utes!" All in all a really enjoyable parade.

The Famous Preston Night Rodeo Parade

2008-07-30T19:41:00.005-06:00

This weekend we will be heading for Preston for the annual 3-day parade, carnival, and rodeo. These are a few of the photos I took of last year's parade. Forget the pretty princesses and the fancy floats. Check out the painted ponies and decked out doggies, and the balloon bedecked flatbed encouraging us to visit a local eatery - don't you love the antique tractors and the big honkin new modern monster farm machine? Not to mention the souped up jalopy car and the activist bicyclist wearing the sign of her cause. And, yes, that really is a porta-potty on a truck in a parade! No wonder Napoleon loved Preston so much - we all do!

Ancestors Go Digital

2008-07-24T18:56:00.006-06:00

One of my newest FUN things is digital scrapbooking. My mother-in-law gave me a very old faded black and white snapshot about 2x3 inches to see whether I could enhance it. I got into it SO MUCH that I ended up with a whole scrapbook page. The photo was taken at a country picnic on July 4th sometime around 1921.

Bowling on the Wii

2008-07-18T19:25:00.006-06:00

I have often referred to myself as “a klutz’s klutz” – and with good reason. I am incredibly N-O-T coordinated when it comes to sports. My friend Pat and I took tennis lessons m-a-n-y years ago. The tennis pro would shake his head when he saw me coming, and he would always excuse me a little early from the lessons so I could take a bucket, go outside the very high chain-link fence surrounding the court, and down the hill towards the golf course to pick up all my wildly smacked tennis balls. I spent a couple of seasons in a bowling league. I remember telling my teammates, Frankie and Ann, that I really wanted to quit, because I was such a bad bowler. They begged me to continue, because they said they needed my “high handicap”… They didn’t bother to pretend that they needed me for any other reason. My husband Ted tried to teach me raquetball, but there again, I just couldn’t get it right. He also tried to teach me water-skiing. After many attempts to stay up on the skis, I made myself a promise that if I actually stayed up for one entire trip around the lake, I would consider that a victory, and I would quit water-skiing on a high note, which is exactly what I did – I stayed up once, and I quit! And, saving the best example for last... I even did the “Casey-At-The-Bat” thing in my softball playing days. Yup – bottom of the 9^th, bases loaded, two out, winning run on base, and me up to bat. And, you guessed it, I struck out! My team captain and “friend” Barbara was not amused. But, h-e-y-y-y, you should see me bowling on the Wii – I am actually pretty good at it, and sometimes I win, and I continue to set new high scores. I don’t get it… Go figure…

Main Street After the Rain

2008-07-17T18:41:00.003-06:00

When my husband and I retired, we decided to leave the wonderful suburban life of Southern California, and buy a condo in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. As I was walking around town on a rainy autumn day, I realized that the rain had turned to a mist, and the late afternoon sun was shining sideways on the downtown buildings in a way that made them look almost luminous, even artificial. City life has been a great new adventure!

With All Due Respect to Mrs Hawkes...SEZ WHO???

2008-07-15T19:51:00.007-06:00

It's funny which childhood memories stick with us. I remember how excited I was just before I started third grade. They had posted the class lists on the door of the school, and I was hoping my teacher would be Mrs. Hawkes. I had heard she was the nicest teacher in the third grade. Needless to say, I was happy to see that she was going to be my teacher, and sure enough, she turned out to be the nicest teacher I had ever had. I really liked her, and I definitely wanted her approval. There was an assignment we used to do occasionally in class - I really don't know what it was supposed to accomplish, but I suspect it was to help us develop what they now call "eye-to-hand" coordination. We were each given a piece of white construction paper and were told to use our rulers to make one-inch lines on it both directions, checkerboard style. Then we were to choose two colors from our crayon boxes and color in the squares. My favorite colors at the time were pink and red-violet, so I was very excited to use them for my checkerboard. As we worked on the project, Mrs. Hawkes walked around the room, looking at each student's paper. As she came close to me, I REALLY hoped she would like my work. I had peeked around me, and I knew for sure that my lines were straighter than some of the kids, and I was definitely "staying in the lines" as I colored my squares. Mrs. Hawkes stopped at my desk, and instead of noticing the neatness of my work, she tapped her finger on my paper and said, "You can't use those two colors together - they don't go...." SEZ WHO??? I have often thought about that experience, as well as all the other limitations that were imposed on us during the 1950s about which colors we could wear together, and when we could wear them. Nowadays, when anything goes, I reflect on the fact that back then we couldn't wear for instance: red and pink, red and orange, red and purple, blue and green, red and green (except at Christmas time), brown and black, etc., etc., etc. We couldn't wear black in the summer (between Easter and Labor Day), and we couldn't wear white in the winter, unless it was "winter white", which was kind of a cream color. Again I ask...SEZ WHO??? It's weird, isn't it? Same thing with some of our etiquette customs. My sister and I had a recent conversation in which we wondered who it was that decided, for instance, that we can't put our elbows on the table when we eat? Not that I'm against good manners - it's just that I wonder who gets to decide these things???

Put it back….the way it was…

2008-07-14T17:43:00.005-06:00

I’m so bugged! (venting…venting…) Just when I think I have a minuscule understanding of the computer, it shows me who is boss. After I had finished my first post that included a photo, I decided to experiment with reformatting that section of my blog. After some clicking, I found a screen that allowed me to choose “center” for the photos, which put the message underneath it. Okay, so I tried that and didn’t like it. I want the original formatting back. Do you think I can figure out how I changed it??? Can I even find that screen again??? N-o-o-o-o-o…. With embarrassment, I have to admit that I not only spent hours clicking the same things over and over, hoping for a different result than I got on the previous click, but I also suffered some insomnia over it. Hmmmmm… As for the title of this post, those of you who are familiar with the musical, “Li’l Abner,” you’ll remember the song the wives of Dogpatch sang, when they found they were unhappy with their newly transformed hick-turned-buff husbands: “Oh, put ‘em back…the-e-e-e way they wuz…” I want my blog back the way it wuz… Do you think if I sing to my computer, it will show me the way???

The Faces of Angels

2008-07-14T00:15:00.007-06:00

These are our three granddaughters, Ruth, Katelyn, and Ali, all looking VERY angelic! Photo taken by our daughter, Amberli.

More Angel Faces

2008-07-13T19:38:00.011-06:00

Speaking of angels - these are our five grandsons - Cameron, Teddy, Raymond playing with cousin Atticus, and newborn Elliot. Can't take credit for taking these photos - they were all taken by someone else. Ya gotta love em...

Precious Antique Photo

2008-07-13T18:56:00.006-06:00

Today I just want to share one of my favorite antique family photos. This one was taken about 103 years ago, when all babies including boys, wore dresses while they were infants. This is my darling Scottish grandmother with her first three boys - Arthur (or Uncle Dutch as we called him), my dad Halo, and Uncle Mark. Dontcha love it???

One Week Later

2008-07-12T20:53:00.003-06:00

Here I am a week later, still wondering how to design my blog. I actually lost sleep over it this past week!!! I guess it will always be a work in progress, which is a good thing - it's how life should be. During the past week, we welcomed our eighth grandchild - a new baby boy born in Seattle to our son and daughter-in-law. He's adorable, of course! Our first 3 grandkids are girls, and then 5 little boys in a row. Life is good!

a few of my favorite things

2008-07-05T23:40:00.003-06:00

Family, ancestors, art, photography, travel, reading, history, spiritual concepts, world events, and trivia - all hold a fascination for me. As unrelated as they may seem, they are a few of my favorite things.

I love the concept of serendipity - discovering something of value while looking for something else, and in this context I begin my ramblings. I have no idea where the musings will go.

I am a newie to blogging, with my only experience being visiting the blogs of my kids and other relatives and friends. I really can't wait to get started, but I'm going to sign off for now. Although by nature I am a night owl, it is now the wee hours of the morning, and I have to get up early.

Bye for now - will continue soon...