Homemade

I really need some input here. I do a lot of different arty/crafty things. And, I usually do a pretty good job if I say so myself. Most of my work lately is bead weaving, but I also have done some knitting and sewing and painting (I don't claim the painting to be any good!) Anyhow, I often times give something homemade to someone as a gift at Christmas or a birthday. However, sometimes I get a less than excited reaction, and it makes me wonder if homemade gifts can be done too often? I mean, do I give a homemade gift one year and not the next? Does it make me seem cheap? One gift I am working on now I think is beautiful, and although I am only half way finished, I have already invested about 4 hours into it. I personally think that the investment of time makes the homemade item worth more than the store bought item, but I could be bias! So, I really need some folks to chime in here! Are homemade gifts ever not appropriate? Can they be done too often? Are they sometimes perceived as "cheap?" I need to know before Christmas rolls around! If you don't tell me, you might just get an unwanted homemade gift! Here are some pictures of recent homemade things to help your thinking process!

Ironic

On Tuesday I got my hair cut. Most people haven't noticed and probably no one will. But, I did get 7 inches cut off! I needed to tame some of my wild locks, clean up the ends, and go for a more "respectable" length. But honestly, I miss the inches that are gone. I enjoy the blanket of hair that I am known for having. Part of what motivated the cut was a picture taken by a school photographer. I was ALL hair, completely overwhelmed by hair, and it was shocking. So, I had it cut. It still falls down to the middle of my back, which according to everyone else, is still very long. For example, I was at work today when two other teachers commented that my hair was SO long. I laughed and said, "actually, I just had 7 inches cut off!" Which, they both displayed adequate disbelief over. I added, "it feels short to me." They just shock they heads and gave me that "huh?" look. Its just a little ironic that 2 days after I had it cut, people were commenting on how long it is. And yes, it does feel short. I'm used to it being much longer, and much wilder. I feel like I have gone backwards in time to about 25 when my hair was this short. Anyhow, I think by about January it will have grown about 2 inches, and that will be perfect :)

Dr. Jekyll in the fur!

So I tried to get Dr. Jekyll to pose for the camera, but he just wasn't having it. I think the beeping waas actually making him a little crazy. So this is the best shot I could get. I think it's a good shot of his crazy adorableness :)

Vote for Me.

I can't vote. I don't get a choice. But you do. And even if you don't agree with me on all the issues, PLEASE go vote. If you won't got vote for yourself, please go vote for me.

AND his boots leak!?!

I've shared this a couple years ago and found it again. It makes me laugh until my stomach hurts! It's too good not to share again.

These are actual excuse notes from parents excusing their children from missing school (includes original spelling):

~ My son is under a doctor's care and should not take P.E. today. Please execute him.

~ Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot.

~ Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31,32, and also 33.

~ Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.

~ John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

~ Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part.

~ Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.

~ Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side

~ Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

~ Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday. He had diarrhea and his boots leak.

~ Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.

~ Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

~ I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because I don't know what size she wear.

~Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.

~ Sally won't be in school a week from Friday. We have to attend her funeral.

~ Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed well.

Dr. Jekyll

I can hear a few things from the chair at my computer: traffic zooming down Briarcliff rd, the hum of the fridge, my downstairs neighbor's ceiling fan (it's less than 50 out!), a bus, and the sweet cry of a kitty. It makes me wonder if it's Dr. Jekyll down there. I go look, but I don't see him, so it must be another kitty. But secretly I was hoping it might be Dr. Jekyll so I could go down for a visit.
Dr. Jekyll is a kitty the lives somewhere near my apartment. He has a collar and looks pretty clean and healthy, so I think he belongs to someone. Dr. Jekyll is solid gray and definitely not shy. He walks right up to you meowing the whole way. He definitely wants your undivided attention. He doesn't have a tag on his collar; I gave him the name Dr. Jekyll. You see, he has this crazy habit of crying for attention and acting sweet, but once you start giving him some affection he starts to eat your hand. And these aren't just little love bites, they are big monster love chomps, including menacing swats from his front claws. I can't figure out why he goes a little mean when you start to pet him, but when you start to walk away, he follows you for more attention!
Part of me thinks that Dr. Jekyll isn't getting enough attention at home (that would be the teacher in me!) and another part of me wonders if he was feral once, and just never got totally domestic. But, regardless, although it took a few careful and tentative pets from me, I learned the art of giving Dr. Jekyll some affection without getting my hand eaten or sliced and diced. When he lays down, you gotta be careful, that's when he's ready to swat. But if he's standing and circling, petting is definitely what he wants. He's such a peculiar little guy, but I think he recognizes me, and I enjoy our little encounters. I don't have a pet of my own, so these little interactions make me feel like Dr. Jekyll is a little bit mine too even if he is a little crazy.
Sometimes I don't see Dr. Jekyll for awhile, and I wonder where he goes when I finally get back to wherever I was going when we bumped into each other. But it's certain that if I even hear a kitty meowing outside, I always check to see if it's Dr. Jekyll coming by to say. "hi!" And it kinda makes my heart smile whenever I it is him dropping by. I can handle that kinda of crazy :)