Uggghhhhhh - and I don't mean the Boots.

Boots Anyone? The rain in our area has me wondering if thigh high wading boots will be a necessary part of my wardrobe on a daily basis.

The rivers are flooding the plains, the retention basins are spilling over into the parking lots, and the wooded pathways are freely flowing over with the dark waters from the lagoons bringing with it birds we very rarely see the likes of, because they too, are seeking higher ground.

Add to that a moral dilema that has me disappointed in someone I helped and trusted and I feel more than a little bit blue today if not soggy as well.

Bella and I will traipse through these rough days in hopes that everything that seems murky, dark and damp will shimmer and glisten in the sun's rays when it decides to show its face.

In the meantime, I think I will pull out my Pan Pastels and color my world a bit brighter in hopes that waters will soon reside and we can both go out and play in our garden of delight.

Hang on everyone, the life raft will be along soon......I promise.....

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Feeling Blessed!

We are home after a long but wonderful weekend at the "Adventures In Stamping" rubber stamp convention in Akron, OH. What a great crowd of ladies! Patient, kind, creative and inquisitive - always wanting to learn more about the art of rubber stamping and beyond. After 14 years of attending this show - our very first convention was in Independence, OH sponsored by "Wild Bill" and his delightful wife, Cindy Petal. We still feel "the love" from our first convention attendees. You are all like family to us. This is our second year carrying and promoting the creamiest of pastels - PAN PASTELS and the SOFFT TOOLS that go with them. We had all 80 colors and ran out of almost every color by 1 pm on Saturday....for those of you wondering we had 36 of each color color available. We figure that the northern portion of Ohio will look like a technicolor wonderland by the end of today if everyone who bought them opens them up and paints their little portion of the world in the next few hours. I am hoping that is a reality and not a dream as I know how much of what gets purchased at conventions never sees the light of day until I see you at next year's show asking me how to use it again! So my challenge for all our customers and convention attendees is to open your bags today ladies and start creating beautiful works of art! Thank you all Ladies for making us always feel at home and treating us like your family. We love seeing you and catching up on your families and telling you about ours as well. Until next year - color your worlds beautiful so we have even more to celebrate when come together again. Laura Anne, Bella Boo, and the Hubby too!

Every Day is Different

March- What a fun month. Every day is different!

One minute it is snowing, the next it is raining, then a rainbow appears out of nowhere.

Unexpected moments.....unexpected creativity....or just mass chaos?

Whatever your day has decided to be - let it unfold. Which is always better than folding the laundry!

Make sure that whatever happens today, you do something or share it with someone who makes you feel good about yourself.

The highs and lows of Spring, the highs and lows of life, the highs and lows of creativity swing in whatever direction we are pushed. So for today, I am going to push Bella and I towards "happy'.

How about You?

Swinging to our own beat,

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

The Rainbow's End....

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my friends and family!

Here's wishing you a wonderful day of green bliss and a little magic at the end of the rainbow that fills your pot and your heart with gold goodness.

"You are ALL, one in a bugzillion" in my world!

Now, off to find a leprachaun or two with a shamrock shake in hand, a green ink pad on my work table and Bella as my guide.

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Always Carry a Big Stick

My thoughts are exactly like Bella's on this warm sunny spring day - Be prepared and always carry a big stick .

Seems as though people pay more attention to what you are saying if you have a big stick in your hand or in your mouth as in Bella's case.

Life little moments seem harder to find and enjoy when you are talking on your cell phone or texting, the computer screen is flashing at you or your kids are crying for whatever it is kids cry for at any given moment. Add to this a spouse who asks you questions while you are on the phone or counting inventory and wants an answer immediately.

Bella and I slowed down today - we turned off the cell phone, tuned in to the sunny day and took a long walk around the basin by the river. The red winged black birds were singing to us as we strolled along; a frog was croaking solo and the Canadian geese were splashing in the high waters of the slow moving river. It was a wonder cacophony of sounds with a rhythm that soothed our souls.

Bella found her big stick and before long, all the other walkers and dogs stopped to discuss the size of her treasured "log" and the fact that she was determined to carry it the entire 1 1/2 miles around the basin. Bella is like that - once she has made her mind up about something, she sticks to it and finishes the job at hand. I like that about her - except when it is 10 degrees and damp outside and I am in my pajamas waiting for her. It was nice to have people stop and notice how hard she works at being a good puppy.

So in the same vein as Bella, I am spending my day with a stick in my hand. The difference between us is that my stick has a tad bit of lead down the middle and an eraser at the other end. I am determined to finish a certain project that I started not too long ago and hope that it has the results that make a more than a few people in my life smile.

Wishing you a slower paced day and a big stick to ward off the outside noises that make life complicated and someone who notices how important you are in their life.

Bella Boo and Laura Anne