CRONE:
Creative Researcher Of New Experiences

Sunday, August 30, 2009

A Nice Autumn Holiday


Hello Everyone,
Guess what today Is.!!!! Give up already?? - Ok, I'll tell you. Today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day.

Now Sir knight and my son and his family like their marshmallows on smores. - Me, well I don't really like chocolate ( Yea I know, I am really weird) so I just like my marshmallows plain - toasted till they are just golden brown and not that burnt and chard stuff .

How do you like yours?

So make sure you light up the grill and toast some marshmallows today.

Hugs,
Penny

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Good things come in twos!

Oh man guys, - I am sooooooo excited. - When we started planning my studio craft room one of the things we tossed around was to have a tree by the shoe box. It started out being a hall tree in the shape of a real tree where we would hang light coats and hats.That would certainly work in a garden theme right? Then fantasy and imagination started to take hold and it was going to be a tree with a greenman plaque on it. And then all of a sudden fantasy escalated into full gear and in our minds eye we saw a tree, Dryads (tree spirits) and a place where my little fairy ornaments could fly free. We faced a speed bump, since neither of us draw that well, but we refused to lose the vision. So with the help of our local high school's, art teacher we continued to fantasize. Well Kathy finished drawing the tree on our piece of plywood right before school let out for the summer; but Sir Knight's schedule was on overload for the summer, so our tree patiently sat in the garage.
On Monday of this past week Sir Knight started moving things around in the garage - I thought he was starting to clean things up for our upcoming garage sale- But nope - the old dryad must have given him a sharp kick, because he started in on the tedious job of liberating our tree from all the rest of the excess plywood.

When he finished that he set to work wood burning a few details into our tree and then started to paint it. (If you enlarge the picture you will get a better view of the faces.) And this morning before we left to go to one of our favorite flea markets - he hung it on the wall. Yeah!!!!!!!

And since I have no patience -I immediately started to unleash my two fairies and a dryad birdhouse I had. Sir Knight being the gentleman that he is, of course, hung them on the tree for me ASAP. (He knew I'd harp him to no end if he didn't. ) But it was so sweet that I didn't have too.

The finished look.

While at the Flea Market - I happened to find a treasure that completes me. Well not me - but a set I had . You see way back many years ago when I lived in this very big - three story Victorian home, I had a beautiful Pitcher and Bowl set, which occupied a place of honor in my guest room. I loved that set. When I left the fellow I was engaged to and moved out of the house - I took my set with me. However, It didn't last as a set too much longer - for during our move, my dear son, decided to use the riding mower with its cart to bring stuff from the storage shed to the new house. The bowl apparently did not care for the rather bumpy ride and broke into lots & lots of pieces. It was repaired but it never looked as good.

So imagine my surprise when I happen to come across a poor desolate bowl which could have been my bowls twin. It was in very good shape - but was missing his pitcher. (oh, poor thing) What a deal only $6.00. Sir Knight was not as sure as I, that this bowl would match - but for the price figured it would certainly look better than my patched up one. So we brought it home to live with us.


What do you think? Match- No Match? You really cant see from the picture but the dark browns are almost a perfect match and both pieces have the same brown spattering effect.

I am so thrilled - It has been a super remarkable day.

I Hope you all have a super remarkable day this weekend also.

Hugs,
Penny

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Today is Women’s Equality Day.

Does this Young Lady look as if she is incapable of making an educated decision?

Do you think that planing tea parties and calling on friends is all these women are capable of?



This date set aside by an act of Congress in 1971 commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920, granting women the right to vote. It was the culmination of a peaceful battle that started in 1848 by such Ladies as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott.
The observation of this day also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality, whether it be in the workplace, private organizations, or public facilities.

Here is an excerpt from that joint resolution of congress decree in 1971:
Whereas, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States; and
Whereas, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex , and

Whereas, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, as a symbol of the continued fight for equal rights: and
Whereas the women of the United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,
Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920 on which women of America were first given the right to vote …


We’ve Come A Long Way Baby’ but we must always remember what it was like for those women who came before us. No I didn’t burn my bra in the 60’s nor am I a hard core women's Libber; but I do firmly believe in equal rights and in equal pay for the same job. So let us always be grateful for the hard fight these women of old fought for us, for we certainly are the ones reaping the benefits.

Hugs,
Penny

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sweet Giveaway



Hello Everyone,
I'm still feeling a bit down with the passing of our sweet older cat Dale. But I had to let you know about one real sweet giveaway offered by Barb over at The French Elements. Run - don't walk -
over there as soon as possible.
Hugs,
Penny

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Dale has gone to the Rainbow Bridge

My brofur, Dale - went on to the Rainbow Bridge, this morning. At first I thought I’d like it here around the house with just me here - but as the day has worn on, you know what - I miss him a lot. No longer do I have someone to wrestle with, to snarl at me when I walk too close to him when he doesn’t feel like playing and I still want to, and no longer is he here to fill me in on how or why things happen in the house and the yard outside.
Pellie has been so sad all day - I give her a nosey rub and then she starts to cry. She tell me she loves me so much - but her heart is hurting because she loved Dale too. She said he went to a better place on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge and he is out of pain and is like a young kitten again - having fun with the other kitties in heaven- but she is still sad because she misses him soooo much.
Sir Knight doesn’t do the crying thingy but I know he is sad too.
I guess it will take all of us awhile till we can remember and talk about Dale without hurting so bad.


Dear God, Take care of my brofur Dale - he just joined you there in heaven this morning. Tell him, We all miss him - even me. Amen


Purrs
Genghis

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Exit stage left.

Good Morning Dear Friends,
As we wrap up National Clown Week for another year - I want to thank all of you who came and visited and left a sweet comment for us. Elegant Eddie and I would like to take this time to wish - every one of you - Thousands of Smiles , Hugs and Laughs.

Hugs,
Penny

Friday, August 7, 2009

The Study of Clownology

When June came I was more than ready - I headed off to Clown Camp - learned lots from many wonderful and famous teachers - laughed until my sides ached - played like a child again and had an all around great time.
One of the many things I learned was to design my face; then I had to learn how to apply it. Which may not seem like much to you ladies who have applied make up since you were in high school - but for me who never ever wore make up I might as well been an octopus with 8 unskilled hands trying to do fine detailed surgery. By the end of the first class I was a mess - grease paint every where but where I wanted it, white smeared into the purple and vise versa.
I kept practicing and by the end of the week when we were getting ready for pictures - I felt fairly confident that I finally looked like a clown. the picture above is my first photo ever in costume and I thought I did pretty good for an amateur.
But I knew there was still a lot more I had to learn ------So-------

I enrolled again the following year. This year I concentrated on working with and making props, as well as making balloon animal and figures. Classes ran morning sessions through afternoon sessions. After supper we had assemblies were we were able to watch our fellow student or even our teachers practice new acts or just have fun putting on improv skits and sing alongs. And often we spent many a late night practicing what we'd just learned or maybe what someone else just learned and was willing to teach. I have to say that our teachers were so great - they had open door policies and were always willing to lend a hand. So I continued to learn and be inspired. But I knew I was not yet ready to go out and dazzle the world. So-----------
Once again.


I couldn't attend in 1999 due to some health conditions of my mothers . But I was more than ready to go again in 2000. The New Millennium with its challenges -hopes - dreams of bright futures and I was lucky enough to head off to Clown Camp once more. This time my hand was steadier at the application of make-up and my eyes already keen as to what would make a good prop; so I studied the business of clowning. Contracts, Liability Insurance, types of occasions to clown at from big Corporate parties to small birthday parties we discussed them all. We learned how to deal with the scaredy cats and the hecklers alike. The pros and cons of doing Parades as well as the ins & outs of hospital clowning - Yep I studied it all, and when that week was over I truly felt like I had passed "Clownology" I was now a clown.
This is my first real publicity picture I had taken at my local photography studio and as you can see the makeup application was now so much more skilled and my confidence level had risen.
But most important of all I was happy - I was so elated to be me and to be a clown.
It is this face of mine that is registered with the National Clown Registry -It is my trade mark and is not to be used by any other clown.


The art of the clown
is more profound than we think...
It is the comic mirror of tragedy and
the tragic mirror of comedy...Andre Suares


Hugs,
Penny

Monday, August 3, 2009

When I Grow Up - I Want to Be Happy

Hello Everyone,
I decided early in life that of all the things I wanted- what I wanted most of all was to be Happy.
So I choose a happy healthy philosophy to live by, I made it a point to avoid toxic people if at all possible and to keep track of the good things only that happen to me. I was doing pretty good at it too.
So when burnout hit me after many year of being a geriatric nurse I knew I had to do something -the mail arrived with this brochure and I knew - I found an answer.

I signed up for this conference. I mean a small vacation and I would earn some necessary CEU's while I was at it. What could be better? I asked myself. At the time I didn't see the hand of God moving me on ever so slightly to bigger & better things. See that cute little character on the brochure? Well her name is Patti Wooten R.N. and she was one of the key note speakers at this conference. Patti came as herself and was full of incitful ways to prevent burnout which were very inspiring to me at the time. But when she came as her clown character Nancy Nurse and made us search our souls as we giggled and laughed - I was elated - my very soul seemed to start doing the happy dance. I found a higher purpose for my life. I wanted to become a clown.

Oh my gosh I came back from that conference so supper charged and revitalized - all I could talk about was clowns and clowning around. I ministered to my patients during the day and at night I devoured every book I could get my hands on about how to be a clown.
Being a person who believes in the fine art of education - I decided that what I really needed was to go to Clown Camp and get real help in my quest. So plans where made and the wheels were set in gear for me to head to La Cross Wisconsin the following summer.

But lets break here - I'll tell you more tomorrow.

Till then I made up this little word search for you.( Just one of the perks of having a teachers software for making games & puzzles) Just make it bigger, save and print. Have fun.

"A smile is a light on your face that lets people know your heart is home." - Unknown

"People crave laughter as if it were an essential amino acid." - Patch Adams

Hugs,
Penny

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Send In The Clowns

Hello Everyone,
Rise and Shine - it's 4:27AM - I'm too excited to sleep - so I thought as long as I'm awake I may as well post. Today - yes today - starts National Clown Week. Isn't that exciting?
And in honor of this happy and auspicious occasion, I thought I'd show you a different side of Pellie and Sir Knight you haven't seen before.

Drum roll please.

May I present to you...
Elegant Eddie

Miss Pellie

Eddie, Bear & Pellie


Surprised? Oh surely not. You knew somewhere in the back of your mind at least, that I was not your usual run of the mill type of girl. All those years of being the class clown in school and being told "your different" or "your weird" didn't fall on deaf ears. I was different - I just hadn't learned to really embrace my differences back then - but now I thank my lucky stars I am different. I may be in my fifties but I'm still a little girl at heart and I still love to play dress up. Dressing in full Renaissance garb for the faire - Fairy attire for Fairy conventions and fairs - and of course Halloween is my inner child's favorite holiday because then I can become anyone or any thing I want to.

Clowning around is really about more than just my need to dress up - it is a very satisfying hobby -
to be able to spread mirth , giggles and belly laughs with total strangers young and old alike is sooooooooo good for my soul.
And I thank God that he saw fit to give me a life partner who is willing & able to share these little quirks with me.

So every now and then during this week I'll be back to clown around a little more with all of you.

Hugs,
Penny

Saturday, August 1, 2009

OH my goodness this giveaway is so beautiful!



Hello Everyone,
You Seriously need to head over to Vintage to Chic and check out her Giveaway. It is just so beautiful and oh so generous.
I know when you see it you'll want to enter it as well.
I hope I win. ;-)
Hugs,
Penny