Story People

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Stay Tuned - 

If you don't know or haven't seen Story People before

you'll see more of this fun work here again...

Brian Andreas is the artist and he NEVER fails

to delight with artwork and verse.

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twenty minutes

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Real Estate Closings

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If one of the largest purchases someone can make

is their home...and the most important sale

to an owner is selling their home,

then the people in a business related to this

most precious commodity need to be as

professional, skilled and helpful as possible

to assist in the closing of this transaction...

...and I tell you the folks I work with

are those people.  They care.

I know this because I see them sweat; 

I see them toil, I see them working every angle

to get to the goal we are all seeking.

Today this business is not easy, but

they all know it's worth it!

These people

They are some of the best in the entire industry!

I'm proud of the souls I work with daily.

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Which side are you?

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Left brain: I am the left brain. I am a scientist. A mathematician. I love the familiar. I categorize. I am accurate. Linear. Analytical. Strategic. I am practical. Always in control. A master of words and language. Realistic. I calculate equations and play with numbers. I am order. I am logic. I know exactly who I am.

Right brain: I am the right brain. I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion. Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feat. I am movement. Vivid colors. I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas. I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel. I am everything I wanted to be.

Allison Strine ~ The Artist

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There's so much to this artist and her "story"...

I've collected books called STORY PEOPLE for years

and of Allison's counterpart, Brian Andreas...

Allison started LadyBirdLand and has a new book...

there's more of her art on my other two blogs

Go see:

Tidings From Sylvia

http://lia-zoe-friends.blogspot.com/

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Home Repairs...

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On Sunday evenings, I often catch up with

some friend bloggers and 

some photography and art posts

I enjoy posting quotes or art for Mondays...

it's my inspiration for...um...me.

But tonight, NOTHING can be creative as I

encountered a plumbing problem this evening...

and I couldn't find one plumber that could make it tonite.

The earliest is tomorrow at 3pm.

I WANT to be positive, but frankly

it WON'T be ok in the morning; it won't be ok

until the clog gets fixed and 

everything drains nicely...

Only then will this artwork apply...

Only then will it be ok in the morning.

Lord, give me strength...this is not my strong suit!

(itwillbeok...itwillbeok...itwillbeok...)

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To Claudia

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Remembering some of the best years of our lives -

High School Sophomores....

Then it was "cool".

Now it's cooler than cool and I get melancholy 

The music that was part of our generation

still resonates deep within us

....mmmmmm

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!

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EASY: daydreaming about new ideas

HARD: finding time to execute them

EASY: buying what's on the shelf

HARD: finding better alternatives

EASY: coffee

HARD: a day without

EASY: taking Lia to the vet

HARD: facing the facts

EASY: complaining

HARD: changing

EASY: creating time

HARD: being productive

EASY: chocolate

HARD: 30 minutes on a brisk walk

EASY: hindsight

HARD: foresight

I'm sure you have your own ying and yang going on.  I'm just trying to tune into making HARD a positive undertaking.  

And you?

via ilovelife

and i do; she inspires me

firm ness

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What?

You want it When?

Or Else?

Oh, Yeah...?...

...well...you'll get it when pigs swim!

Oh.

Ok. 

Fine then.

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It's Valentine's Day ~

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Le Petit Prince Bakery, Est. 1979

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In my most ardent quest and mission to find

TRUE French Macaroons and Meringues,

I was gently turned in this direction.

Article:

Marcel Didierjean is the master baker whose skill and training seem like something that should be lost to time, or at least misplaced here in Southeastern Michigan, where too often it seems like the population prefers what is new, and cheap, and (in the case of small businesses) a national chain. This is just down 14 Mile from an intersection where extra police were recently deployed to control traffic at the opening of a Sonic Drive-In. Sometimes Marcel gets up at 2-3:00 a.m. to start baking, and stays as late as 8-9:00 p.m. In addition to the sweets, Le Petit Prince offers a full array of French baked goods including the best baguettes in Detroit, brioches, croissants, and a pain au chocolat with almond paste that will blow your mind. Marcel's wife Yvette and one of his three sons are usually there to manage the shop. Two of the sons are artists whose work is on the walls, and looking at these exquisite hand-painted bunnies, roosters, and squirrels, it's pretty clear that the whole family is pretty talented. The Didierjeans brought the molds with them from the shop they once ran in the south of France and make the chocolate themselves (and Marcel trained in Switzerland for two years on chocolate, so you know it's good stuff)

Every time I visit there is some talk about the shop's future. Obviously, a business like this must be supported by people who appreciate fine craftsmanship and the passion that goes into these products. But the Didierjeans also make it easy to appreciate the family nature of their business. Yvette is always there to greet her customers with a warm smile and some words in French. It was hard to pull Marcel away from his work for this photo, but after his sons pestered him a bit he finally came out in his baker's clothing. In the hope of keeping this treasure open for future generations of metro Detroiters, I know I am not alone in selfishly hoping his passion for this grueling work does not soon wane, at least not until after one of those young men is ready to follow him. 

Le Petit Prince is located at 124 W. 14 Mile Rd., Birmingham, MI; I believe they open at 7:00 a.m. and are closed on Mondays. There are traditional French pastries and breads every day and seasonal chocolates and sweets for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter, but please be aware that like any honorable Frenchmen, the Didierjeans close their shop for an extended period in late summer (sometimes as long as two months) when they return to the south of France and presumably enjoy some time off. In the summer, it's best to call (248-644-7114). It makes a great stop before (or after) a trip to the Cranbrook grounds and gardens and museums!

article via Sweet Juniper

PS: My secret trip to this magnificent french confectionary is scheduled so soon I can TASTE the magic!!!

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Ahhh-ha!

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Whew!  I feel better!!!

I thought dinner stunk because I simply don't like to cook.

Now we all know it's not ME; it's someone else's FAULT!

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Balentimes Day is coming....

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kiss stamp

via designcrush

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Unexpected Affirmations

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Please allow me to share my wonderful day:

A friend writes to say she can't wait till we leave for sunny beaches together;

Another friend sends an e-mail responding to me ending with "I love you";

Another friend sends a prayer - like a positive mantra for my mornings;

Two more pals write just to tell me they're thinking about me and they wish me a great day;

An employee posts about me being an "awesome boss"!!! (whoa!);

...a client calls and says no one can make her day unless she hears my voice and we laugh together...

BUT KIM - nothing beats Forsythia Branches!!!!! 

Don't anyone misunderstand this; getting love and positive energy is just about the best blessings bestowed on a person and I am grateful!  

Kim delivers: She read this blog last night and -  I love you for climbing thru mounds of snow at your house to cut some branches and then drive them all the way to my office so I can force them.  In a couple of days, when the branches swell and the buds pop with profuse yellow, I'll post the "magic".

This February/March ritual of cutting flowering branches early to force was something I learned from my mother - so Kim helped carry on a tradition beloved by me.

Thank you, Friend!

Beautiful Branches

...and amazing day...

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It's time to 'force' something...

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Snow Ice Cream...(who knew?)

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SNOW ICE CREAM:
1 Gallon of Snow (16 cups)
2 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1 Tblsp vanilla

Blend with a stick blender in a large pot - top with your favourite toppings.

Note:  add cocoa or other flavourings of your choice also - plenty of variations based on your creativity!

via Pure Michigan mag

 

spoons@etsy

 

 

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Share your talents ~ it's Required!

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