Autumn has arrived

It is a beautiful sunny autumn day as I sit here typing this.  It is the perfect day to share with you my latest piece of mail art, also sent to my daughter.  She has to have received it by now, although she has not said as much.  I think she's frustrated that I'm not sending more care packages.  I think when she said, "I want more mail," she actually meant "I want more STUFF!" At $12 a box to ship her stuff, she can count on more letters and fewer boxes.

For this piece, I used a leaf stamp from Stampland along with big and mini leaf punches. I have no idea who made the "autumn" stamp.  I created a stencil and mask with the leaf punches, and then added the cut-out pieces in her envelope like confetti. The color is from Dylusions ink sprays from Ranger as well as brown and black StazOn ink pads. And of course I had to create a piece of stationery to go with the envelope.

I'm still working on getting into the studio daily, or at least doing "something" creative.  The other day I used my creative time to decorate the house for the fall.  I put a fall leaf wreath on the door, a fall tablecloth and place mats on my table and decorated my fireplace and mantel.

I've read a  LOT of books lately.  A lot of GOOD books.  The last time I was at the library, I checked out three books that were 14 day books...usually not a smart thing for me as I wind up not being able to finish but one in that time. Well, I am on book three and I have one week left to go!  The book pictured below, "Sting of the Drone," by Richard A. Clarke, is the one I read right before picking up my newest batch of three. 

Here is the synopsis from Amazon:

In Washington, D.C., the Kill Committee gathers in the White House's Situation Room to pick the next targets for the United States drone program. At an airbase just outside Las Vegas, a team of pilots, military personnel, and intelligence officers follow through on the committee's orders, finding the men who have been deemed a threat to national security and sentenced to death.

 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, in the mountains where the drones hunt their prey, someone has decided to fight back. And not just against the unmanned planes that circle their skies, but against the Americans at home who control them.

 

In Sting of the Drone, bestselling author Richard A. Clarke draws on his decades-long experience at the very highest levels of national security to craft a thrilling novel that has the feel of nonfiction, taking us behind closed doors to meet the men and women who protect America--and those who seek to do us harm.

Richard Clarke served in intelligence during four presidential administrations and it is fascinating, and sobering, to read his epilogue. My dad suggested this book to me, not that he had read it, but when we were at the library together, he saw it and said he thought it sounded like a good one.  He was right. 

You've probably heard the stories about how, maybe as early as next year, private companies have the go-ahead to start using unmanned drones.  Amazon had actually said, initially, that it was going to use drones to drop off packages.  I don't know about you, but I don't want little unmanned aircraft buzzing about all over the place.  Besides the sheer annoyance, the security risks of people being able to fly these little robots all around our homes is just mind-boggling...if you put your mind around it.  I think most people would rather just put their heads in the sand, or don't have time to think about the possible intrusion.  I hope that when these little flying robots start filling our skies, our right to defend our property gives us the right to shoot them down if they fly into our own airspace.  However, if they are armored like the ones in this book are, our little pea shooters won't have a chance. 

Read this book.  I highly recommend it.  It is a well-written story and a good read.  I read it very quickly - always a good sign.  Let me know if you read it and what you think.

Finally, I'll leave you with this:  We put braces on my oldest daughter's teeth.  She got them off in May of her senior year and after removing them,  the orthodontist fixed a small chip in her front tooth (that he had made during the course of treatment). Her teeth were beautiful, and they should've been;  we paid enough for them!  Right before my daughter left for college I scheduled her for a routine cleaning at the dentist office.  She hadn't been to this particular dentist since she got the braces (our other dental insurance required us to go to a chain). The hygienist made her cry...made her feel awful about her teeth.  Not only did my daughter cry for that reason, but the hygienist so fiercely chiseled away between her two front teeth that she chipped off the veneer that the orthodontist had added to fix her teeth.  I called that same day and told them about it, and asked them to try to squeeze her in before she left for college the next week.  They did.  I sent my daughter with pictures showing her teeth right after she got the braces off (just a few months prior), before the veneer, and after. Just so they would be able to tell for sure that, indeed, her teeth had been repaired and what the repair had looked like.

A couple of days ago I got THE BILL.  FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY CAUSED!!!  I am not a happy girl.  My younger daughter has an appointment next week for some fillings.  Please think of me, say a few prayers, send some positive thoughts, etc.,  as I will have to confront them about this.  I hate having to constantly fight people for things like this. I should've never seen that bill.

Have a great autumn day everyone!

~Cyndi