Please follow the link to Olde Baggs or to this link to find out how to not use the double word verification conspiracy that Blogger has going on.......

http://www.michelemademe.com/2012/02/how-to-disable-new-two-word.html

Thanks Michelle for this tutorial. You are wonderful.

Awwww, Sweet Sunday

I had such a good response to Awwww, Sweet Sunday that I am here again to share.

When the grands came home last Monday, it was as though I had walked into the Aviary at the Zoo. Squawking and chattering all at the same time they sounded like a flock of bird. But the short of the story is that they had a wonderful time filled with amazing new things that they didn't know about New Mexico. "Did I know???????". And you know most of the information I did know but I was thrilled that they had bits and pieces that I didn't know. The exchange of love for the state they were born in was a big kick for me. Their enthusiasm was so fun to see. Now they have "day" trips planned and have gotten on the computer and have at least 7 all planned out.

The sweetest part was when GK said that while they had fun as 3, they really wanted Pop and I to go next time. Awwwwwwww.

I have 3 blogs that I post to. OBNSS, this one and Practically Magickal. On PM, I try to feature an artist for the week. Going back to the bird illustration....we "arting" types tend to flock together as well, but we also have individual interests that give us different exposures. Keeping that thought in mind, as well as following Etsy's advice about broadening your base of customers, I began to feature not only friends but friends of friends, people I have bought from or used their services. It is a real joy to see not only how the featured artist receives the week but also how followers respond to the different media the artist work within.

Last weeks featured artist Michelle of Sunshineshelle, an Aussie artist of wonderfulness surprised me with a lovely button for my PM blog. It was just a super surprise. Thank you Michelle. My little flying witch and cat are so dear.

And lastly this week, I have to tell on my husband (the strangest man on the face of the planet, lucky me). As I have let you all know we have been together so long and are so used to each other's strangeness that sometimes folks around us just smile, shake their heads and move away quickly and quietly. Of course sometimes they get caught up in our "banter of love" or the train wreck whichever you choose to call it. My husband loves breakfast....anytime. He would rather go out to eat breakfast than prime rib....but let's face it, in Burque, not alot of choices for just breakfast sans chile. So we found a bakery that serves breakfast sandwiches and lovely muffins and scones not far from the house.

So on his day off he tells me to go with him to take the kids to school and after dropping them off....we went to the bakery. The girl behind the counter remembered us....go figure and gives Sweet Man a free muffin. I asked her why and she said that an older woman who was in there when we were there last week had commented to her how moved she was by our "love talk" and behavior and had told her if she saw us again to give SM his favorite treat (and gave this server the money) because he reminded her of her late husband. She said he had also been a brat and a joker and it made her feel so very happy to be near us. First how sweet of this lady to reward my Sweet Man and second how sweet of the server to have followed through and done what the lady had requested.

This one also proves that love and all it's strange ways is it's own reward. I hope that if and when the sweet woman comes back in to the bakery that she is surprised that we left a treat for her as well. Pay if forward ya'll.....works every time, even if we never know where those ripples go.

I hope you all have a blessed week and see signs of love everywhere. XOXO Oma Linda

Awwww Sweet Sunday

You know how lots of bloggers participate in different blogging events? Oh, like Wordless Wednesday, Pink Saturdays etc? I've been thinking about all the blessings that come into my life and I wanted to have a special time to list them ie, gifts, surprises, love shared etc.

So I am today introducing my Sweet Sunday. A time every week when I can tell you of my blessings of the week. This is also a way of me keeping my heart open to all the good and wonderful that surrounds me thereby helping me keep my life in perspective. And yes sometimes my sweet will be peppered with my own special brand of humor, so hold on lovelies, it's time for the first Sweet Sunday.

I hope you will enjoy smiling along with me.

I sent out Valentine's to some of my favorite people. I much rather let people know I'm thinking about them at a time when they don't expect it rather than at Christmas etc when we all are busy and manic (oh is that just me?) and a love note isn't as noticed during that time. So that's the why. Anyway, I received the sweetest note from one of you and it touched my heart. Thank you Bird, you made my week.

I had that medical stupidity the last couple of weeks and so many of you took time to share good thoughts, ideas of what to do and sent me energy to be able to stand up for myself with the doctor. Makes me want to break out into song "that's what friends are for"....lalalalala. Blessings to you soul sistas who are my rock.

And to those that allow me to keep loving you right back. Giving me reason to dress a candle for you and carry you in my heart for however long you need me. To love is the greatest gift someone can give you....no not the one loving but the one who lets you love them. Janie, Jarline, Stacy thanks and your candles are burning as I type.

To gain an insight into someone else's pain and learn from it is a rare experience. But to be witness to someone eloquently and beautifully emparting their inner struggle is a priviledge. Depression touches so many of us. I have found that out as I have shared my own ups and downs. Melissa I am in awe of you. Thanks for giving me a different perspective and an appreciation for your view.

And I saved the crazy until last. Shelley and the grands have gone on a mini vacation to the southern part of the state. Part of the trip was to White Sands and that area. Which meant I have 2 days to party old lady style with just me and my new serger with no interruptions of the kid variety. uh huh.

This morning Sweet Man tippy toed out of the bedroom, fed the dogs and cat, and left me to sleep late sans little people feet flying down the hardwood floors in the hallway to the bathroom 227 times before getting ready for school, or opening and closing bedroom doors having changed their minds about what to wear or forgetting some very important pencil or homework or dinosaur. Awwwww the sweet sound of..................my cell phone?????? Now let me stop here and say, I should have been "oh no something is wrong" but I was thinking "oh hell, I shoulda turned the phone off,  it's the cell company with some stupid ad about a new app or something dumb". So I ignored it. Another text message. I looked at the phone and it was GK. Twice in a period of 30 seconds. So I texted her "still sleeping". She texts back, "go back to sleep, Swaga girl."

Before I got anymore rings of annoyance, I called her. She said the reason she was calling is because she was worried about me being lonely and she wanted to tell me that she loved me and did I know how close to Mexico she was and did I know that she felt weird when she got out of the car and the White Sands wasn't cold cuz it really looked like snow and that they are going to a carnival that they found and that the swimming pool was really fun. And then she took a breath. It's that awwww thing again. As dumb as it sounds, it made me feel loved and it was sweet that she thought of me at all in her darling 11 year old mind. So busy with being a kid and having fun and she gave me a good healthy dose of Sweet Sunday.

I hope your week to come is filled with awwwwww moments and that you recognize the sweetness in your own life....be it big or little.

XOXO Oma Linda

Valentine Greetings to you all......

Didn't have a whole lot of time for decorating Casa de Cuckoo this year for Valentoonie Day. But I can't not decorate so here's what we have out this year.

gnome sweethearts at the heart arch

'Lil Devil resting on a block valentine

our favorite gnome couple welcoming the red polka dot chicken to Casa de Cuckoo

And we can't leave out my favorite Donkey owning folks with a Valentine nod and pressie. Ms. Linda from  the 7MSN Ranch (7 miles from nowhere). And of course Don and Justina from MBF (Morning Bray Farm).

I hope all of you have a love filled Valentoonie and wish you squoozes and smooches from Casa de Cuckoo. XOXOXO

Gotcha indeed...........

My very sweet friend Ms. Maddy from Santa and the Mrs. bestowed upon me, while I wasn't looking and award. I usually don't do awards but for you Maddy.....I shall make an exception.

I am to list 5 blogs that I follow and have less than 200 followers and give them this Liebster award which means favorite. I don't always comment on the blogs I follow daily. Most are like part of a daily ritual of friendship, I go to visit, read and know they are alright and doing well. And I know that they in turn do the same. That's why I like this venue, we all do what we do when we can.

These blogs each for a different reason are a joy to read, look at or ponder after reading. And I would like to encourage all of you to go and visit these blogs and check out what they have to offer.

Thanks ladies, I enjoy each of you very much. Now pass this on to blogs that are your Liebster (favorites) that have less than 200 followers.

I would like to pass this award on to:

Ellen at stuff from ellen's head

Queenie at Always Queenie Believe

Bird at  Bird Gardener's Place of EarthlySpirituality 

Diana at Diana Heyne

Judy at Judys Photos