Maybe it should be Mother Road When?

I didn't know that I could be so completely distracted by a three year old. But when your daughter has celulitis and it is your third trip to the Emergency Room, a person tends to forget the day's to do list and just make sure their daughter is okay.
This infection of the skin in her hand started Saturday, but it didn't really look like much until Sunday morning. Our first visit to the ER. Monday morning they wanted us back for a recheck which looked like it was healing, so they sent us home. But with a word of caution to bring her back if it starts looking bad again. This morning she woke up with a different finger swollen and red. Her pediatrician's office said to go back to the ER.
Again, after more x-rays, blood test, and IV antibiotics were were sent home with a new, very expensive antibiotic prescription. Of course, my daughter, who normally begs for Tylenol and benadryl, will not touch the new medicine. I've tried mixing it in about 5 different juices, ice cream shake, with Tylenol, choc. milk, bribing her, and so on. She says it's yucky. So daddy and I had to hold her down and force it into her mouth, only to have her spit half of it out and start again.
I'm calling the pediatrician again tomorrow to see what else can be done to get her to take take it. Or what else we can do to make this better.
So I'm sorry to again miss my Mother Road Post, but hopefully I can continue it soon.
Nite.

Looking for a Sale this weekend?

Come and visit my Etsy store for 25% off my regular prices, discount taken off after you contact me with "MMSale" in notes to seller (I will send you a revised invoice.) Spend $30 or more and receive a free 5 x 7 of your choice.
I don't offer deals like this very often, so come and take advantage.

Most of FAM, that is the Fabulous Artistic Moms of Etsy, are also offering discounts in their stores this weekend. See our promotional thread for more a list of stores.

Happy Memorial Day!!! Have a great long weekend!

Photo is taken at Roy's in Amboy,CA on Route 66.

The Whale of Route 66

When I think of Route 66, I think of a route though small town America born to take travelers and adventures westward. I think of the great dust bowl of the 1930 and 1940's that helped to create the California Dream. I think of curio shops, gas stations, motels, and dinners serving pie. I also think of tacky tourist traps and attractions.
In the late 1950's and 1960's it was popular for families to take a trip along Route 66 to visit the Grand Canyon or to Anaheim, CA to visit Disneyland. And at a time when interstates and speed limits over 55 didn't exist, it took much longer to get anywhere. Families and other travelers could make their whole trip a vacation, thanks to the roadside attractions, small but fun stops along the way.
Catoosa, Oklahoma's now famous blue whale was actually one of the later arrivals, being built in 1970, but is still one of the most recognizable attractions of Route 66 to fans today. For one of the most complete stories on the whale and its original owner, Hugh S. Davis, you should visit the Oklahoma Route 66 Association's website. The story of the whale has romance, local flair, and a great love of animals. Who could ask for more?
The waterpark closed only ten years later, but this beloved whale has had fans over the year raising money to refurbish and paint it's 2,520 square foot surface. The latest being Hampton Hotels' “Explore the Highway with Hampton, Save A Landmark” Program.

What Happen to Tuesday!!

Just when I thought I could handle making sure I post one day a week at minimum and a specific theme on that day, I fail.

But I failed for good reason. I spent the morning packing, because we are moving in two weeks, then I suddenly had to drive my daughter to the Doctor during my afternoon me/writing time. She had a little problem and they told me to bring her right away just to be sure.
My daughter napped on the way there (our Pediatrician is an hour away)and the unscheduled appointment took three hours because they wanted a urine sample. My poor little girl who didn't have to go when we got there, and is just learning to potty train. Turns out that it was nothing that cream couldn't cure.

So I didn't get my Tuesday Mother Road post finished. Motherhood and moving got in the way. But I am hoping that I have a quiet hour tomorrow to post a wonderful photo from last summer's Route 66 trip.

The Grid: online art project

Are You? If your an artist you can join too. Daydream Art Studios recently stared The Grid and she describes it as:

"This is a fun experiment for artists of all genres to join together and see what happens. Get in on the ground floor of this project and have fun watching it grow!! I am compiling a database of mini images of artist works from around the globe. My goal is a grid of 100 images."

Participating is simple just click here for more info.

Tuesday - Starting a new theme - Route 66

I've been thinking about doing a photo of the week or a photo a day for the blog, but I wasn't sure if I should do a theme or a just whatever comes to mind. Once a week doesn't seem like a lot, but then once a day just sounds to overwhelming with everything else I do, unless I just posted a photo and that doesn't seem right. But I think I've finally decided on something.
Today I'm going to start a Tuesday theme photo, I can handle that. It will be Mother Road Tuesday. Each Tuesday I will post a photo from my adventures on Route 66 and try to give you information on where it was taken. Of course all of these photos are available for sale.
Route 66 has a large following, and there are many photographers and writers who use it as a base for there work, there are websites dedicated to it's history, and a great magazine that covers both historical and present happening on the road. Hopefully I can give another interesting perspective on the road and in the future I many cover other of America's back roads that are worth the time to just drive and enjoy.
This photo is titled, "Which Way Today." It was taken in Truxon, Az on the longest stretch of original road left. Cowgill’s, mini-mart with a drive-up window, has a sign out front that list all the towns in the classic, "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" song. The place has recently been sold, the cars have been moved, but the sign still remains today. This photo was taken during a winter storm with Black and White film.

This is also the print that Marisa won in the Earth Day giveaway. Congratulations again Marisa.

Today is a Happy Day!!

I thought of many ways to celebrate Mother's Day with a special post. I thought of writing about how special my mother is to me, about all the amazing mothers in my family, or about my experience of being or becoming a mother myself. But I decided that each to do justice to any of these subjects would need to take time to sit, write, and edit. Time that this week, with our family fighting off the flu, I just didn't have. So I will save these for future post.

Of course, part of me thinks that mother's day is just another holiday made up by card and gift companies to make more money. Everyday that I have been a mother is special. My daughter has brought me so much joy that one day a year could never sum it up. But it is always nice to have a day that you are told by those you love that they applicate you.

This year I got a homemade card from my daughter. She is only three so there are no works on it, but you can see that she put a lot of effort into making it beautiful for me. I has stickers, colored pencil, glitter glue, and markers making a nice composition of color and scribbles. Who could ask for more, especially when it is delivered with a big hug, kiss, and the words, "I love you." I also received some lovely flowers from my husband. So sweet and unexpected (he is not really a card holiday person.)

My final gift was from nature. About three years ago my husband and I planted a yellow bird of paradise bush (Caesalpinia gillesii) in my front yard. It is a bush that does well in the desert, but like everything we have planted it has taken years to become established. This is the first year it has bloomed. And what great timing, on Mother's Day.

And just a final

Happy Mother's Day
to all you mothers surfing the web today.

Spiky but Sweet.

I love the Desert as much as I love laying on a sandy beach. Many of my friends who live near the ocean just don't understand.

The beauty of the Mojave Desert is why I moved west when my fiance, now husband suggested it. I love so much about it. You can see so far it is just amazing. So many mountains of different shapes and colors. And so many varieties of plants and wild life. I feel in love during my first visit.

Spring is one of the best times of year to visit, as long as you don't mind wind. First you get the wild flowers and later the cactus begin to bloom. Warm days and cool evenings. So much to enjoy.

I wanted to share one of these joys with you. Here is a new desert bloom that I just photographed this week.

Thanks for reading.

Thank you for the Honor

Novita owner and writer of the blog Pyong Bricole choose me as her first featured artist. I am very honored by this and her kind words. Be sure to visit her blog and see which photo she featured.
Novita like me is a mother and artisan, making fabulous handbags which are available in her etsy shop.

Join us tonight!!!

The FAM's are at it again with Take 10 Tuesday! Find amazing discounts and some secret hidden treasures in some of our shops. For a complete listing of stores, please visit the Etsy Forums tonight, May 6, 2008, between 5:00 PM - Midnight EST!

T10T – Participating Shops:

http://ljdesignphoto.etsy.com : 10% off any purchase and a free note card for any purchase over $10. This offer expires at 11 pm PST on Tuesday, May 6th. Please put "FAM T10T" in notes to seller.

http://sewinggranny.etsy.com : 10% of everything in my shop

http://valeriesgallery.etsy.com : 10% off and free shipping

http://michon.etsy.com : 10% off in my shop, plus free shipping on orders of 2 or more items

http://anniehowes.etsy.com : 10% off all orders over $10. Please at “T10T” in notes to seller :o)

http://elegantsnobbery.etsy.com : 10% off and free shipping on orders of 2 or more items

http://merkabajewelry.etsy.com : 10% and free shipping.

http://IEJUDYK1.Etsy.com : 10% off

http://chamberrycherry.etsy.com : free shipping in my shop, buy a hairbow, get one free special

http://gardencris27.etsy.com : 10% off

http://macaroniandglue.etsy.com : 10% off anything in the store and BUY 3, GET 1 FREE. Please include "T10T" in Notes to Seller at checkout and wait for a revised invoice.

http://pandys.etsy.com and http://GriffinGear.etsy.com : 10% off purchases, free shipping on purchases of $50 or more. May combine purchases from both shops to qualify for free shipping. Please put T10T in notes to seller and wait for revised invoice.

http://motherspreciousgems.etsy.com : 10% off any item in my shop today, May 6th!

http://beanhank.etsy.com : 10% off my anything in my shop

http://newenglandquilter.etsy.com : Take 10% off all purchases in my shop!
Please mention "T10T" in notes to seller when checking out and I will send you a revised invoice.

http://www.sparetimecrafts.etsy.com : Take 10% off all purchases in my shop

http://nikkisnacs.etsy.com : Buy one get one half price of equal or lesser value. Does not apply to custom items. Can not be combined with any other offer. Please put T10T in note to seller and wait for a revised invoice.

http://daydreamartstudios.etsy.com : 10% off and a free gift with any purchase!

http://doubledipped.etsy.com : 10% off sale in my store for T10T

http://buttonsnsuch.etsy.com : 10% off anything in my store. Please include T10T in notes to seller at checkout and wait for a revised invoice. Also free shipping on purchases over 2 items.

http://BlueRidgeTreasures.etsy.com.etsy.com : Take 10% off all purchases over $10 in my shop! This includes any custom order! Please mention "T10T" in notes to seller when checking out and I will send you a revised invoice.

http://www.kellydnlvy.etsy.com : I will be having 10% off tonight.

Thank you for visiting!