Dawns Drivel

3:39:04 PM EST

I am in the process of creating new blogs (journals), as much because I don't like the invasion of advertising AOL did with out asking me as because the blogs I am doing suit me better, and will save me money ( I am leaving AOL entirely in January) if you get a minute have a peek at the first one and leave a comment :)  I'd be much obliged.

Poetry Dance Hall

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1:43:10 PM EST

I love Adobe Photoshop.  I have PSP but am not great with it, because I haven't spent as much time in it.  I need to learn more of it because I have so much great stuff for it.  I like Photoshop for doing things to photos, and I love it for graphics.  I recently learned how to create my own brushes in Photoshop using scanned items and photographs.  Here's some of my brushes and why I love them:

These are some of my "Birdstuff" Brushes.  The collection isn't done yet...  but I am having fun with it so far.

Using Layer options and style in Photoshop I enjoy changing the colors on my "brushes"...  sometimes creating stand-alone graphics.

 

This is a sample of my "Crawlies" Brushes.  Gross, I know.  But I photograph a lot of bugs.  lol.

 

Color and texture can change appearances.

 

Here is a fw mixed brushes, I can't fit 'em all here so I am just showing some faves.  I didn't include the texture brushes.

 

I use the brushes to make tags, sign photographs, put watermarks on photos and graphics, make art projects, and (of course!) to do cool thngs to photos.  This is a mix of just brushes:

and here is a photo before photoshop:

 

and one after with some brushes:

 

Anyay....  this is just stuff.  :)  Exciting to me, but all of my obsessions are. 

I am NOT gonna start a new journal right now.  But if anyone is interested in learning editing tips and tutorials, and exchanging brushes or anything, let me know and we can do it all here.  Because ya know...  it's all just Drivel!  LOL!

(This next item... btw...  is another obesssion.  A poem type (Nonets) we're doing the next couple of weeks over at Poetry Dance.  Don't try doing one...  they are addictive.)

Photoshop is really fun for me.
I make stuff I don't have time for.
Who needs time?  I am obsessed.
I dream in Photoshop.
I should see a shrink,
Do you know one
who might be
in J-
Land?

 

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11:38:06 AM EST

Some one sent me this in an email...  you have probably seen it.  It is worth sharing in case you haven't.  :)

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

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2:16:12 PM EST

I'm nutz.  Simply dingy.  I have no time to myself.  I am constantly overwhelmed and overworked.  Yet I always  volunteer to do one more thing I don't have time for.  Or take up one more project I can't possibly commit to. 

Crazy.

I am an over organized individual who likes everyhting in it's own place.  I won't get into the borderline OCD issues I have...  but they are there. 

Proof of it lies in my journals, if you need proof. 

I have many journals.  Too many.  One for photos.  One for New Mexico.  One for poems.  One for my short stories. One for my blathering drivel (yeah, this one). One for a poetry group.  One to keep in touch with old friends.  And so on and so forth.  It's rediculous.  Like I can't do it all in one journal.  Right?

Except I can't.  I have to have it all sorted out nicely and organized.  Heh.  Fruity.

And if I needed proof it is nutz...  then the urge I had today to start a new one should get me committed.  Like I have time.  Pffft!

I love Adobe Photoshop and Correl Draw and PSP.  I love gradients, and styles, and masks and brushes.  I like collecting and making and trading all of the above.  So I thought...."Hey!  I'll make a journal where I can exchange this stuff and have tutorials!"  Like I said.  Wacko.

No more.  I am putting my foot down.  I am gonna just have to fit something else into this journal.  I amy not have time, but I already have the space.  No point in making another journal.  Sharing some graphic stuff now and then won't make this journal explode. 

This stuff can be classified as drivel too, can't it?

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3:57:35 PM EST

Hurrah!  My kid is healthy again! (well mostly, but no more pneumonia) and I am almost caght up at work after weeks of missing stuff!  Ad I almost have time to have a life again!  WhooooHooooo! 

::grins::

Somehow it almost feels like spring.  Ahhhhhh.

What a freaking nightmare life has been. There was a highlight to things.  I won a $50 gas card at a Fal; Festival my little kiddo had last weekend.  No need to explain how valuable that puppy is. 

Part of me feels exhausted.  My little kitty here is showing an expamle of Dawn every evening at about 7 pm.  lol.

 

Fall is here, which is good cause I like change, but I sure miss the colors of Autunm in other areas I have lived in.  New Mexico tends to be brown year around.  But if it is possible, it tends to get browner right about now.  heh.  Ah...  but when Christams comes around and the decorating begins...  watch out.  This is a beautiful place to be!

Speaking of Christmas, is anyoe else feeling a little pressure yet?  I have five kids and other family members to shop for.  I am the poster child for anxiety.  It doesn't help that Walmart was already stocking Christmas stuff before Halloween was even a glimmer in my eye.

::sighs::  I guess ya just can't make me happy, can ya.  ;)

Life is good.  I am not complaining.  I am glad to be here.  Thanks ful for all the poeple who stopped by my various, neglected journals and left me notes of support and hellos.  I haven't forgotten you. :)  I'll drop by soon with notes of my own.

Here's a rainbow here in town a couple of weeks ago.  I only caught the very end of it before it faded away, but it still makes me smile.  Just like you guys do.  ;)

 

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12:18:13 PM EDT

Just a note to explain my absence... I haven't updated any of my journals in a while because I have had some problems here and there...

My sweet little ten year old, David, was diagnosed with pneumonia, on top of already suffering a bout of asthma.  I don't have insurance right now, so the last couple of weeks have been daily efforts to get him what he needs, and nights with little sleep while he struggles to get over his illness.  On top of that lovely situation oldest boy has been having school problems, and the staff there don't seem to understand that I have more than one child to take care of or why I can't show up at the drop of a hat.  How can I express my frustration?

Grrrrr......

Anyway, it'll get better, just wanted to let everyone know I am still here, just overwhelmed and busy.  I have to update the Poetry Dance Journal before anything, but when I am caught up I'll be back.  :)

Dawn :)

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5:27:18 AM EDT


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7:15:46 PM EDT

 

If you don't have a problem with your wieght...  you will when I am done with these recipes.  heh

Ode to my hips
When first I met my sweetheart
He always used to feed me.
But then I found
Too many pounds,
And now he doesn’t need me.
~Dawn

 

Hmm...  yeah.

Prep Time: 1 hr 10 min   (Ready in 1 hr 40 min )
Makes: 18 cookies  Nutrition Information

  Kids will have great fun both making and eating these zany cookie faces "finger-painted" with colorful candies.


Cookies
1 (18-oz.) roll Pillsbury® Refrigerated Sugar Cookies
1/4 cup sugar
4 rolls fruit-flavored, ring-shaped hard candies
Candy corn
Frosting
1 (16-oz.) can vanilla frosting
Assorted paste or gel food color



1.  Freeze cookie dough for 30 minutes. Line 3 cookie sheets with foil.
2.  Heat oven to 350°F. Cut chilled dough into 18 slices. Dip one side of each slice in sugar; place 6 slices, sugared side up, on each foil-lined cookie sheet.
3.  Firmly press ring-shaped candies in dough for eyes. Press candy corn in dough for ears, horns, teeth, beak or mouth to create desired creature. (Be sure candies do not extend over edge of dough; they will melt onto cookie sheet.)
4.  Bake at 350°F. for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet for about 25 minutes or until completely cooled. Remove cookies from foil.
5.  Meanwhile, divide frosting into small bowls. Add food color to each; blend until of desired color. Place each color frosting in resealable freezer plastic bag; seal bags. Cut small hole in bottom corner of each bag. Decorate cookies as desired.

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7:05:42 PM EDT

This has no nutritional value.  But lets face it...  Halloween and candy aren't about nutrition.  It's all about getting rotten teeth and sugar highs...lol!

 

Prep Time: 15 min   (Ready in 1 hr 5 min )
Makes: 24 servings 

This sweet twist on pizza pairs Halloween-favorite toppings with a quick-to-bake cookie crust.


Cookie Pizza
1 (18-oz.) roll Pillsbury® Refrigerated Sugar Cookies
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup candy corn
1/2 cup raisins
Icing
1/4 cup vanilla ready-to-spread frosting (from 16-oz. can)



1.  Heat oven to 350°F. Line 12-inch pizza pan with foil; grease foil. Cut cookie dough into 1/4-inch-thick slices; arrange in bottom of greased foil-lined pan. With floured fingers, press slices to form crust.
2.  Bake at 350°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 30 minutes or until completely cooled.
3.  Using foil lining, lift crust from pan; carefully remove foil from crust. Place crust on serving platter or tray. Spread peanut butter evenly over crust. Sprinkle evenly with candy corn and raisins.
4.  Melt 1/4 cup frosting in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until thin and of drizzling consistency.* Drizzle icing over cookie pizza. Cut into wedges or squares.

Note
*To melt frosting in microwave oven, place in small microwave-safe bowl; microwave on HIGH for 10 to 15 seconds or until frosting is thin and can be stirred to drizzling consistency.

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6:48:10 PM EDT

Just some simple Halloween tags for anyone who wants to save them to use in email...  or if you like copy and paste them to your journal right from here :)

          

 

And I am not gonna reprint it here because I don't have permission...  but if you are interested this is a link to some yummy (I have tried them they are good) funny cookies:

Cat Poop Cookies  <---------- click for the link

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