Not much . . .

So, what have I been doing? I think to myself . . . not much. Until just a week or so ago we were still having snow almost daily and the temperature hardly broke out of the 30's. Oh, and yes . . .it is past the middle of April! Today is April 25th! I've been experiencing a feeling of being in suspended animation or limbo. I certainly can find a lot of things to do inside my home. The work inside is always there. You know. Cleaning, organizing, purging, cooking (maybe), . . . just the everyday stuff we all do. But everyone in the county has been waiting for the day when we can don a hoodie and head outside to do whatever it is we love to do on a warm spring day. For me, it is a garden tour and some raking. A few flowers have made their way through the soil already and they are hardy enough to take the weather we've been having. The tulip leaves are growing, but there won't be flowers for several weeks. My crocuses are very confused. First they came up and had warm sunshine on them, which made them open. Then they were buried under snow, only to see daylight a few more days before they were covered in about a quarter inch of ice. But, as I look out the window at them, they are still standing . . . and are staying closed because it is a dark and rainy day . . . after two glorious spring-like days in a row! It is 50 degrees, which feels quite warm as long as the wind stays down. The other plants that I have seen making their way through the earth are the bleeding hearts that we planted last year. They are just little ruffled purple leaves popping up, but I am thrilled they have survived their first winter. On Sunday I was able to rake out some leaves from the garden beds. The fragile leaves of the daffodils and allium can't take much tugging with a rake, but I have a handy little shrub rake that doesn't tear everything to shreds! There is plenty more to do, but half an hour here and half an hour there makes a difference. I am taking it easy after lying low all winter after recovering from surgery.

Some of the beautiful crocuses that line our front walkway.
They seem to have doubled in size and quantity this spring.
I am thinking it may be due, in part, to using Miracle Grow on the flower beds last summer. :-)
You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

Over the past couple weeks, my husband and I have been taking our continuing education classes for our real estate licenses, which are required every two years. There should be an uptick in the real estate market with the onset of better weather. It happens every spring in this part of the country. That will keep us busy . . . or, I should say . . . busier! :-)

Artwork and learning different techniques is how I have been spending my studio hours. I belong to a group on Facebook, Artful Evidence, that provides a fun way to learn new things and create art. You can see in the photos below just what I have been playing around with. #ArtfulEvidence



The challenge for the week was "masks".
I wasn't quite sure what to do, since using a mask in artwork was new to me. My combination of a dress form die and some die cut wings didn't quite suit me, though. It reminded me a little of a Rorschach test image! #artfulevidence
You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

I am such a creature of habit.
I will try to make something that I don't know how to make . . . thinking that it will somehow turn out OK.
See above photo for proof of my foible!
However, after some research, the right materials and time, I was able to actually achieve the result that a mask is supposed to provide. Similar to the way masking tape works for painting around windows, you can use a mask in artwork to cover the background and paint or stamp over the mask. #artfulevidence
You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

The challenge for the week was "flourishes."
I had rediscovered the glittered chipboard flourishes during a recent stash reorganization.
Knowing how to use a mask, I employed the technique for the background and used a favorite stamp, florals, a metal tag, a little frame with the back removed, and a stickpin that I received in a swap a few years ago.
The image and the sentiment were something I saved from a gift that my husband gave me for Christmas. I knew I would find a use for them, . . . in addition to the lovely gloves that came with the tag! ;-) My husband often jokes with me that he could just give me the ribbons and pretty paper and forget the gift inside! #artfulevidence
You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

And . . . there is a quilt in my sewing room that is waiting for me. It has a story that goes along with it, but then I think every quilt has a story, right? The story will wait for now. I'd like to have the quilt finished when I tell its' story. :-)

This will be a sweet old-fashioned looking quilt.
The colors are soft and there is not a lot of contrast, except for the reddish-pink pinwheel and the navy blue sashing.
Now that it is out of storage and hanging here for me to see every day, I am excited to work on it.
Hopefully the top will be complete within a few weeks and I can take it to the quilt shop to have it custom quilted.
I don't machine quilt bed-sized quilts anymore, and I certainly don't hand quilt much anymore, either!

I'm having what I love to call a "home day" today. I am alone in the house, going from room to room doing those little things that often call to me as I walk by, but I ignore. I try to remember never to leave a room empty handed and to put things back when I find them. But . . . you know . . . that doesn't always happen! I have two boxes ready to donate to the Salvation Army and two more ready to begin filling. It is so convenient for us to donate to the Salvation Army because we can schedule the pickup online and they will come to our house to get everything! We don't need to trudge the boxes out to the car and into to the thrift store. It is good, too, because it gives us a goal to work toward when we know the date they will be here.


So, even though it feels like I haven't been doing much, I guess I have been doing enough. I am tired when my head hits the pillow and I am able to sleep through the night. I must be doing enough to tire myself out!


I hope you are enjoying springtime and even when you feel like you are not really doing much, that you can be satisfied in knowing you really are doing enough. We really don't need to fill our days with being busy to be happy and successful. I find it to be quite the opposite. I am happy when I slow down a little and I stop to smell the flowers. Thank you for stopping by to read this post. As always, your questions and comments are welcome.  And until we meet again,  may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.


Emmy

Why Shop for Supplies?

I don't know about  you, but when I see someone on YouTube, or in the media, use a product that I think would be nice to try, I make note of it on my wish list. I may put it in my online shopping cart and let it sit there for a while and after some consideration, I will either move it down on the list or eventually order it. I think long and hard about my purchases and am not an impulse buyer . . . well, I am usually not an impulse buyer. There are those times however, when I am in a store and see some really great art supplies, quilting or sewing notions, or a nice sweater, that I break down. I am careful, though, and inquire about the store's return policy. I don't want to get something home, and have buyer's remorse, only to find out that the item cannot be returned for a refund. I am completely okay with returning unopened items or clothes that still have the tags on them. So, my impulse shopping doesn't feel all that bad!


For instance today. . . yes . . in April . . I just looked out the window and guess what? It is snowing. Yes. Snow. I am composing this on a Sunday afternoon. I love Sunday afternoons, but don't always want to spend them inside! However, it is just bone chilling cold in the 20's and low 30's. I've really had enough of this kind of weather. So, it is a good afternoon to watch a few more YouTube videos before I head down to my studio to clean off my work table that I left a mess after my last creative flurry yesterday! I might just find more things to add to that wish list.


Getting back to the idea I had when I sat down to write this post . . . Do I really need to shop for supplies? The answer is "no". I know it. And I can prove it. For instance, our living room clock stopped working recently. It had served us for fourteen years and after trying a few things to see if it could be saved, we determined it was time to get a replacement. My husband was about to wrap it up in newspaper and give it a proper burial in the trash bin when I stopped him in his tracks. He could tell by the look on my face that I had other plans for the clock's remains. He handed it over and said it was a good thing that I walked in at that moment, or it would have been out by the curb the morning. He offered to take it apart for me, and when he was finished, he gave me the empty housing, face, hands and a few other little metal objects. I am not sure yet just exactly what I will do with all the goodies, but I have a few ideas.



Our beautiful mantle clock will have a new life in a future project.
You can click on the photo for a closer look.

Amused by my excitement over the salvaged broken clock, my husband reminded me of the stories I have told him about my childhood . . . and what it was like to be raised by a couple of real "savers". Even though his parents had lived through The Great Depression, just like mine had, he said they didn't save a lot. But, then, he didn't live on a farm where you have lots of room to keep things . . . just in case you need them someday. His parents moved to the city and had adapted to city life early on, after leaving their rural and farm homes. My husband was used to going to a nearby store when he needed something and had lots of choices. It was different for me living five miles from the closest village. When my father had business dealings at the kitchen table with a seed salesman, or an insurance man, he would keep any carbon paper from the forms he signed and hand them over to me to play with. I loved getting that carbon paper! I even liked how it smelled. I would draw pictures and write letters and numbers on it until I had exhausted every little part that had any blue ink left on it. I was sad when it was all used up.


My recent effort at saving has been to keep all the tea bags I have been using to brew tea this winter. The hot tea helped keep me warm on cold days! After the bags are dry, I open them carefully and shake the tea leaves out. Then I remove the string, and slowly pull the bag open at the seam that is hidden inside. The colors left on the tea bag paper are really pretty and depending on the kind of tea, they range from a soft pink to a cinnamon brown color. I used one last week in an experiment to see if I could decoupage with it. It worked!

A few of the teabags that I dried.
You can click on the photo for a closer look.

I  sometimes keep the wax paper envelopes that the postmaster puts the stamps in when we buy them, and occasionally I use part of a Tyvek mailing envelope in a project to give it extra strength. That stuff does NOT tear!


So, after my post last week about shopping for supplies, my husband said he doesn't know why I need to go to the store when I can just scrounge things up from the mail or the kitchen! He said he wishes he had known me years ago when he used lots of carbon paper in his office. I would have been in carbon paper heaven! And he is right! If I see pretty ribbons on a gift, or an especially pretty postage stamp, I keep it. I have a box in my studio labeled "ephemera." It has broken jewelry, game pieces, a few coins from trips to the Caribbean, and any other little bauble that is too precious not to keep!


Why, then, do I feel the need to check out the art supplies and sewing notions when I go shopping? I really don't need to shop for supplies. As I have often written, I can shop my own hoard vault and find lots of useful items! I am trying to limit my purchases to the stuff I know I will use up . . . like adhesives, fancy pens, art pencils and paper pads. But on my way to the checkout, I will often pass by the clearance aisle . . . you know . . . just to take a look. That look sometimes ends up with something totally unplanned for landing in my shopping cart. Amazing, huh? I brought home a few of those finds on my last visit to the store. I pulled one of them out yesterday and put it smack dab in the middle of my work space. It will be used this week and not get stashed away! I am hoping this will become my new tactic to use what I buy before it goes into the vault, and by the time I write my next post, there will be something finished with it that I can show you. Yes. Used and finished!


In the meanwhile, I have continued to enjoy the online group I joined on Facebook. Below is a photo of what I made for the challenge this week. The topic was "Tags." Working on these weekly challenges has really helped me with channeling my ideas for making things with my stash. :-)



"Tags"
Mixed Media
6" x 6"
I used 90 lb. mixed media paper, acrylic paints, rubber stamps, ink, colored pencils,
black cardstock, word beads and eyelash yarn. All from my stash!
#ArtfulEvidence
You can click on the photo for a closer look.

Thank you for stopping by and taking a few minutes out of your day to read my post. I welcome your questions and comments. I do read them and I will reply. You can leave them here or on Facebook. As always, it is my wish that you and those you love are healthy and happy. And until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.


Emmy

The Right Stuff

As I write this post, we are having a terrible wind storm. It rained torrents last night, followed by high winds and terrific gusts of wind. The wind has not let up and the gusts are getting even stronger. They are predicting 70 mph winds for this afternoon and this will continue for six or more hours. It has been about a 22 hour event. And now . . . I just looked out the window and it is snowing . . . sideways . . . and being blown by 30-40 mph winds. The firehouse is just up the street and the volunteers have gone by in their fire trucks and ambulance on their way to a rescue. It makes me very nervous and I remember how my mother used to react to this kind of weather. She baked. She baked banana breads, cookies, and cupcakes, as long as we had electricity. Then, if the lights went out, (and they usually did), we had plenty of treats to get us through until the power was restored. We would eat by kerosene lamps and gather in the kitchen around a little kerosene stove to try to stay warm in our un-insulated farm house. On a windy day like this, you could feel the breeze right through the walls! It may sound odd to you, but it was normal for us. We lived in an 1830's house . . . and not a fancy one of brick or stone. It was built of lath and plaster and when my parents did remodeling, they found a lot of other interesting building materials, such as wadded up newspapers! But it was home, and when I got scared, my father would say, "this house has stood here for over 100 years and has been through storms worse than this." I needed to hear those words again last night when I was in bed listening to the wind howl and the rain pummeling the windows . . . because I needed the reassurance that the house we live in has also survived many bad storms in its' lifetime. This house was built in 1846 and it is still here, solid as a rock. I was able to close my eyes and sleep through until morning.


So, to keep myself busy today, I have been cleaning out some neglected closets and making decisions on what to keep and what to donate to others. I even found some "lost" items that I was looking for a few months ago. They got pushed behind other things on the bottom of the closet, and I could not bend, lift, push or pull after my surgery, so they remained hidden. That is good bonus pay for my efforts!


I have watched a few YouTube videos today on techniques for my mixed media and paper crafting hobby and plan to head into my studio where I can get involved in some artwork and ignore the weather. I have lots of nice new supplies to use after shopping the sales a few weeks ago. I have been trying to use what I have on hand on my shelves, but there were a few things I really needed to add to my supply vault!


In order to continue learning how to draw and practice different techniques, I made the leap and purchased good quality pencils. While I was at the store, I took full advantage of coupons and made quite a haul. This should keep me occupied for quite a long time. The score at the store was made even sweeter by the fact that I was able to use gift cards that I have been keeping for a special shopping trip. They were aging in my wallet, so I unleashed them and it was fun.

If you would like a closer look at the photos, just click on them to enlarge them.



Amazon had the best selection and the best price, especially when I had gift cards to spend!$!$!



Look at all the beautiful colors!



A few "needs" along with a few "wants".
My husband was happy to drive me to the store for a little retail therapy! The sales were really good. At one store, with my gift cards and coupons, my entire bill was 33 cents!



I worked on drawing a perspective drawing after my first art class.



I practiced adding lamp posts and a tree.
Now for the architectural details and some color with my new pencils!



The challenge this week in the online group I am in on Facebook was "Spring,"
I opted to skip the chirping birds and tulips and went for a fashion theme.
6" x 6" on 140# watercolor paper with acrylic paints, inks, acrylic stamps, paper letters, and grosgrain ribbon.
#ArtfulEvidence

Thank you for stopping by to read my post. As always, your questions and comments are welcome. With more of "the right stuff", I hope I can make progress in my artful endeavors. By the time you read this, I hope the weather here has improved and that we are all getting more spring-like weather! And until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Emmy



Still waiting . . .

While the snow lies in frozen mounds around the yard and along the streets in our village, I am still waiting for a genuinely warm spring day . . . the kind that warms you right to your bones. We haven't had that kind of day yet this spring. With sunny days, there has been melting, but not enough to make the snow disappear for good. The cold nights have lead to a layer of ice beneath the snow and trying to walk around in the yard is like walking on icebergs. The snow is glazed over and frozen solid and doesn't even give under the weight of my feet. I am usually not one to complain about the weather because there is really nothing that any of us can do about it; but this just seems to be the longest and coldest winter I have experienced in a long time, maybe ever.


On the brighter side, the cold weather has kept me inside where I have continued to experiment in my studio and sometimes in the kitchen; but much less in the kitchen! In fact, as I write this, my dear devoted husband is downstairs making supper. :-) I am a lucky girl. I can just sit here and write this post and wait for him to tell me it is time to eat!


Over the past several weeks, I have been enjoying projects that I have been working on as part of an online group I joined. I have always liked looking at mixed media pieces and I have made a few, but never in an ongoing fashion. The group I joined is Artful Evidence on Facebook. The group administrator, Rachel, posts a weekly challenge with a theme. The members of the group can make their art and then post photos in an album to share with the other members. I have discovered that this is a wonderful way for me to try different techniques and to use many of the art supplies I have on hand. Mixed media is not as exacting as some of the paper crafting I have done and I can get through a project much faster than when making a mini album, for instance. Plus, there is the feeling of gratification when I finish in one day, versus working for as long as a month to finish an album that has so many fussy little pieces and moving parts. The mixed media pieces also call on me to dig deep and search for my own creative ideas. I like that.


Below are some of the pieces I have made as challenges and a couple I made just because I felt the urge to create something in between challenges. They are all done on 140# watercolor paper. Click on the photos to enlarge them, if you'd like a closer look.

"Flowers"
6" x 6"
#ArtfulEvidence

"Butterflies"
6" x 6"
#ArtfulEvidence

"Coffee"
6" x 6"
#ArtfulEvidence

" . . . to be all that is possible . . . "
6" x 6"
Gift for a special 20 year old.

"Drips & Splatters"
6" x 6"
#ArtfulEvidence

"Just in time. You found my heart."
Gift for my supper-making husband.
♡

If you are interested in finding out more about the group, please visit Rachel's blog:  http://artfulevidence.blogspot.com/ or visit the Artful Evidence group on Facebook.


I hope you enjoyed seeing what I have been making. I guess my blog posts are turning into a little bit of talk and a lot of show and tell! Thanks for stopping by and spending some time reading my blog. As always, your questions and comments are welcome. And until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.


Emmy

What I'm Not

It occurred to me, as I waited for my most recent baking experiment to come out of the oven, that I always preface my comments about my baking efforts with, "I'm not really a baker, but . . . ".

Sticky buns just out of the oven!

And immediately on the heels of that thought came the realization that I do the same thing when it comes to my new interests in drawing, painting, and mixed media. "I'm not really an artist, but . . . ", I tell anyone to whom I show my "artwork". I even use quotation marks to emphasize what I am not; and if we happen to be talking face to face, I'll use air quotes to get my message across. But then, I realized how silly that may sound, since I do bake occasionally and I am doing some drawing, painting and mixed media from time to time.


My thoughts transported me back to my childhood and to memories of how my sister and I pretended we were in the jungle (actually the tall grass behind the corn crib) and hunted for scary black panthers (AKA our docile little black Cocker Spaniel); and how we pretended we were fancy ladies when we dressed up in our mother's old hats, scarves and dresses; or when we jumped off the hay loft performing acrobatic feats before landing in the piles of grain on the barn floor. We believed, if even for a short while, that we really were in the jungle hunting scary black panthers, and we really were fancy grownup ladies carrying big purses and huge bouquets of wildflowers, and we really were acrobats as we jumped off the dusty hay loft into the piles of grain full of grasshoppers and who knows what else! It was what we were, not what we weren't. If you observe children playing together, you will see how they pretend with such a strong belief in themselves. It is a way of trying on roles in a safe environment . . . in the world of play. At my age, which is decades beyond childhood, I seek that safe place where I can still play and believe in myself.


The Internet provides many things, and when used in a healthy way, it can be a place to connect with others, learn about the world, or even learn new skills. It is all there at our fingertips! We can learn about cooking, carpentry, quilting, gardening, and even art! So, it was the obvious step that I would turn to the Internet a few weeks ago when I decided I wanted to learn how to draw. With so many choices of blogs, tutorials, and videos available, the options were plentiful. Being that we were still in the cold grasp of winter of Western New York State, I chose to draw flowers. I looked at various images and then every morning, after my first cup of coffee, I sat down and drew pictures by referring to images on my tablet. I found it to be an enjoyable way to start my days. After a few weeks, I decided I'd like to take drawing classes. For once, I decided I would try to learn something new by getting instruction first, instead of winging it, and having to unlearn any bad habits I might develop on my own! I attended my first class last week at Art Ah La Carte. ( http://artahlacarte.net ) I believe I will like this new hobby, and plan to take classes every week!


Here are some of the pictures I drew late last month in the quiet first hours of the day. I chose small pieces of paper that would be a manageable size, 4.25" x 5.5" and could be kept in my Garden Journal / Mini Album. Read about my Garden Journal here: https://studioemmy.blogspot.com/2018/03/2018-garden-journal-mini-album.html  I used a pencil to draw the flowers and then colored them with colored pencils.

Of course, the first spring flower that came to mind was a tulip!

It will be a while, I am afraid, before we see crocuses.

The one flower that the deer and rabbits don't devour is a daffodil.

During a recent thaw, we saw snowdrops blooming in our back yard.

When I was a little girl, my mother had a Christmas Cactus that had been left in the house that she and my father set up housekeeping in after their wedding in 1948. It was a huge specimen plant and was probably over 50 years old at the time. She kept it alive and it kept growing and growing. By the 1970's, it had grown to be about 3 feet in diameter and my mother and father used to count the blossoms on it every winter. They numbered over 100. My sister still has a plant that came from the original.

I was running out of ideas of what to draw, so I asked my husband for a suggestion.
He loves Black-eyed Susans.

Daylilies are a good perennial to add to any yard or garden.
They are not fussy and will thrive in just about any soil.

March came in like a lion, but I didn't mind. We stayed home and watched the snow pile up.

It snowed and snowed and snowed on March 2nd.
While my husband and I watched movies, I drew this evergreen tree.

It snowed all day, so I kept on drawing!
The birch trees need branches, but I couldn't figure out how to draw them!

I decided to give perspective drawing a try.
I'd had enough snow for one day, so I colored the ground to look like green grass.

When I drew the photo above, I had not yet called to sign up for classes, but the first thing the instructor told me is she would start out with one point perspective. I am glad I had at least tried it ahead of time, so I knew what she was even referring to!

Is there something you want to learn, or that you are trying for the first time? If so, I'd love to hear from you. If you don't know where to begin, I'd like to suggest the Internet. It gave me the confidence to try. Being shut-in this winter after surgery has had its' challenges, but a perk has been having the time to pursue a few new interests. I look forward to spring; but in the meanwhile, you'll find me here with my pencil and sketchbook, learning to draw, and believing what I am . . . instead of what I am not.

It is my sincere wish that those you love are well and happy. As always, your comments are welcome here or on Facebook. I will read each one and respond. And until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Emmy







14 Years!

Today is a special day at our house. We were married on March 20th, 2004. Paul, a widower, and myself, never married, started out on a journey that has taken us places and given us memories beyond our expectations. When we married, we said, if we have 5 years together, let's make them the best 5 years we can. When we passed the 5 year mark, we said, if we are lucky enough to have 10 years together, that will be wonderful. Now, as we celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary, and head toward 15 years of marriage, we thank God for each day he has blessed us and look forward to yet one more year as husband and wife.


Has every day been pleasant? No. Have there been some big challenges to overcome? Yes. Have there been special memories made together? Of course! Knowing that our marriage is ordained by God, gives us the confidence to move forward, falter, pick ourselves back up, succeed, and go out into the world together.


My husband never ceases to surprise me. He is a very generous and loving person who always puts me first. It has been hard to get used to, but I admit, it makes me feel very special. A true romantic, he plans special dates, romantic getaways and vacations. But, he also plans other outings that mean a lot to me as well, such as rather ordinary trips to the mall that is about 45 minutes away, just so I can have a better selection at the bigger craft stores. He's pretty smart because he knows that kind of thing leads straight to my crafty little heart.


If you follow my blog, you already know I am a crafter. But what you might not know is Paul has some craftiness, too! He has a computer program that he uses to make customized greeting cards, called Hallmark Connections, Greetings 2000. He says it takes quite a while to get everything formatted and printed, but when he gives me one his specially-made cards, it just melts my heart. Paul made this beautiful card for me and left it next to the coffee pot last night where he knew I would see it first thing this morning!

Paul included a very sweet sentiment inside the card.
By his own admission, he is a hopeless romantic.

I usually make a card for him on our anniversary, and I have been working on a different kind of card for him this year. I saw a segment on Hallmark Channel's Home and Family TV show one day and knew I just had to try to make a DIY project they featured. I ordered a few supplies, did some online research, and started working on it, often in the early hours of the morning when I would not be discovered. Since I wasn't able to go out shopping very much, due to my convalescence from surgery and because it was just too miserable out with all the snow and cold weather, I needed to be resourceful and use what I had on hand to make some of the tools that were required for the job. Over the past month or so, I did a bit of work on it here and there until yesterday when I was finally ready to assemble it ! I took a few process photos and will share them in a future post. But for now, I will post a photo of the finished "card." It is larger than the cards I usually make. This one is 24" x 18" and is framed to hang on the wall. You can find the instructions here: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/how-to/diy-postcard-wall-art

We will hang our "postcard" in the dining room.

It is a beautiful March day. It is sunny and very cold. It was 18 degrees when I looked out the kitchen window at the thermometer this morning! There is still quite a lot of snow on the ground, but there are places where the sun has melted the snow and we can see patches of grass. It was wintry on our wedding day, but not as cold as this. We took a chance getting married in March in Western New York, but the weather cooperated and friends and family were able to attend. It was a very special day for us, and we love to remember it, but it was only the beginning. 14 years! We are blessed.


It is my sincere wish that you and those you love are well and happy. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. And until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.


Emmy

March Madness

Today's post includes a bit of of humor . . . at my own expense. I don't mind laughing at myself, especially when so many of my readers may be fans of one of the local college basketball teams that made its way to the coveted NCAA basketball tournament. St. Bonaventure University is a small private college located in Olean, New York, which is about two hours south of here. My two stepsons and one of my daughters in law went to St. Bonaventure, or "BONA", as they affectionately refer to it. It has been a long wait for the team to get back in the tournament. Their last season to participate was in 1970. Tonight they will go up against the Florida Gators in Dallas. To say my family and their college classmates and many others in the area are excited would be an understatement. There are many fans who have taken days off from work to hop on a plane and go to the game tonight. This is a biggie! The way the tournament works is there are 64 teams and with each game, there is a winner who continues on in the tournament. and as the play progresses, there are 32, 16, 8, and 4 teams, and then finally 2 teams that compete for the championship. There are many other terms, I am sure, for each portion of the journey, but that's how I understand it. Serious stuff.

But, now, back to my story. Afterall, this is my blog! I was never a follower of basketball. When I read the newspaper, the sports section was not even opened and went straight into the recycling bin, and when the 11 o'clock news finished the weather report, off the TV went. I had no interest in sports, except attending an occasional Super Bowl party; and that was mostly just for the food! So, back in the year 2002, when I met my sports-loving-husband-to-be and later, his two sports fanatical sons, I should have known my life was about to change. It wasn't an overnight change, but a gradual one. We started dating during football season and when I visited him on Sunday afternoons, I couldn't understand why he talked during the entire game on the phone with his sons. I laughed because they would critique every play, know who should have been doing what on the field, and yelling at the coaches, players and refs. It really was quite amusing. I watched the game and he made sure I benefited from his tutelage of all things football. Then came hockey. I was horrified at the way the players slammed each other against the boards and got into fights on the ice. I learned that is all part of the game and even expected by fans! Oh, and I forgot to mention, my family loves their Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. And guess what? Now, I do too. I think I even like hockey more than football! Go figure! In fact, during our married years, we have participated in a friends and family fantasy football league. No wagering, just fun, and a lot of learning! I learned to study depth charts, look at stats, maneuver my players around on my roster when they had a bye week, and so much more. It has been a lot of fun. For those readers who are unfamiliar with this, here is a link for you to read all about it  http://www.nfl.com/fantasyfootball/help/whatis  The upshot of all this exposure is that I have definitely changed!


When the time for the NCAA basketball tournament came around in 2003, the conversation took a new turn and there was all this talk about March Madness. I guess I may have heard the term in the past . . . probably during the auto dealers' commercials on TV! It really didn't mean a thing to me. During one of the conversations, my husband and his sons were talking about the big dance. They kept mentioning it like it was some really big deal. As the tournament got underway, and March Madness was being talked about everywhere and on the news, I started to pay more attention. I didn't have a lot of choice, since if I wanted to be part of the family, I needed to be informed to some degree; and I wanted to be part of the family and part of the enthusiastic fun they were having while discussing the teams and games. When it came down to the final game, Syracuse beat Kansas in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. There are surely some of my readers who are big Syracuse fans, too!


Finally, March Madness was over and I still had one question. I innocently turned to my husband and with all seriousness, I said to him, "So, after they're all tired out from playing a basketball game, now they need to get dressed up and go to a big dance?" My husband, then boyfriend, looked at me in disbelief and asked me, "What are you talking about?" With a straight face, I said, "They kept talking about the teams going to the big dance. I'm just wondering where it will be. Is it after the game?" Lovingly, but also with laughter, he explained to me that the term The Big Dance is the whole March Madness event. So, now when March rolls around, he kids me and tells me I need to get my ball gown out so I can go to the big dance!


Thanks for taking the time to read my blog post. For all the BONA fans out there, it is time to, as they say, "Unfurl the Brown and White!" Fun times! And until we meet again, may the Lord hold you in the hollow of His hand.


Emmy