A Hodge Podge of Why I Haven't Posted In A While....

It feels like when I was a kid and had to go to confession. Forgive me for I have sinned, it's been too long since my last blog. And it has been quite a while. My life has drastly changed as of October 1. Moved from Atlanta to Knoxville and at the ripe age of 52, I am living with my Mom. Sounds like I am going backwards or as I like to put it "full circle". My Mom is ill and she has been very sad since my Dad passed away 8 years ago. We haven't had much time to spend together since I left home at 18. Trying to make up for lost time and getting to reknow my brothers and nieces, etc is the plan right now. My Aunt just passed a few weeks ago and she was just 2 years older than my Mom, so that will open your eyes if you are missing your family.

My long term relationship also ended and I now find myself single and wondering how does one go about dating in my situation. Sorry, you can't come over to where I live, yes I do live with my Mom... geez... I feel 16 again but without the smooth cellulite free skin, the shinny hair, the thin body and no wrinkles! 

I have managed to locate some old friends, I like to say old, even though they are all younger than me, makes me feel better! It has been fun talking about the good ole days, never thought the songs I danced too were going to be called "oldies". Boy that stings. Making some new friends as well and finding that Knoxville somehow has gotten more beautiful than it was when I lived here 18 years ago. Guess that means I am growing up finally. 


Well I am still unpacking boxes and trying to get  adjusted to my new life so I will try to keep you all informed. Hope I don't bore you too badly, take care, Auggie

As A Self Proclaimed Artist I Feel

That I can make some observations. Of course they may only apply to myself, so take that into consideration when you read this post. It's feels like I have more facets to my personality than I can keep up with. Yes I do see a Therapist! She assures me that I'm relatively sane... what does that mean? My views sometimes seem to change, I tend to believe there are more correct answers to most questions than just one. Something I notice about myself is when I am feeling really down, my creative writing skills surface from some place very deep within. This is also true when I am feeling absolutely on top of the world. During those so so, same as always times, not to much creative writing comes to me. Being an Aquarian, I sometimes, okay, most of the time, blame it on the sign I was born under! Sun Sign Aquarius with a Double Scorpio, which means.... I fight a battle within. Unfortunately or fortunately, I do believe in the Mystics. See how I got right off topic so smoothly... that's my life. See if you can keep up, because there are times when even I can't keep up with myself!

Okay, back to my many, possibly too many sides of my "creative" personality. Sounds much better than " one bead short of a strand" don't you think? If you were to come for a visit and follow me around for a day, a week, you would be ready to catch the first plane home! I am all over the place, yes I take my meds. Let's just put that aside.

Projects can be found in the kitchen. I have my light box set up with pieces of "The Queen's Jewelry" standing by awaiting for their turn in the spotlights. Camera's ready, where is she now. Go check the Sunroom... in the Sunroom I have beads that would make any bead addict proud! And I am, both that is, Proud and an Addict! On the main table I have at least 7 projects either started, almost finished or laying on a bead matt being arranged and rearranged and rearranged.... Let's move on to the coffee table, do people really use this table to drink coffee at? Mine has never seen a cup.... over here is where I do my seed beading. It's a new love of mine. You can really show a lot of your or "my" different personalities in seed beading. If you read the post below those are seed bead projects and yes, they are still waiting for me to "clasp" them. But right now I am working on a beautiful "Garden" bracelet a new and wonderful friend, Jan W has taught me. Guess what, you put the clasp on first! I am so excited, I may actually get this one totally finished! But she told me the other night at ABS, that I could add as many leaves and flowers, lady bugs, whatever as I wanted. That means, I could be adding forever!

Let's leave the Sunroom, I feel my usually low blood pressure rising... this is the garage. Doesn't look like a garage, no cars parked in it. What do you see. Oh, that's my Candle making area( Candle Souls). You name a color, I have it! Would like to say the same about Fragrance oils but at $30.00 a pound, you have to be a little more select. There are approximately 30 "flavors" as I choose to call them, very patiently waiting for cooler weather and the price of petro to come down. Ummm, what's that stuff over there. Ohhh, well you see, someday, someday.... it's everything one would need to make beautiful Lamp Work beads! You can see I have taken most of it out of the boxes and have made some sort of an area for it. One 8 hour lesson done and about 200 more hours needed before this girl would be able to make a sell able Lamp Work bead. But I'm Ready! I have it all..... someday... am I Dorthy and just waiting my turn to go "Over The Rainbow"? All I can tell ya, is I love it all. I love scrap booking, sewing, painting, and anything that lets a part of me come out and play. I hope I haven't bored you today and my coffee has gotten cold. It's not on a coffee table, it on my desk, right where it belongs.... take care, Auggie

That Blink of An Eye....Look Out!

Friday evening driving on the interstate in Nashville and out of nowhere came a beautiful Red Tail Hawk. It was heading for my window, right at face level. I swear we made eye contact. I could see his beak, his eyes; the way the sunshine highlighted his feathers. It was one of the most awesome and beautiful things I have ever been blessed to see. He was probably 6 inches from my window, my face and as soon as he looked me in the eyes, he turned towards his left and disappeared. That was a moment where time stopped for just one moment...



We get a lot of little signs in life that we are being watched over, sometimes we pay attention but mostly we don't. When a huge fast flying Hawk is about to join you in the car, you better take notice!



Personally I believe in these "signs". I have found them to be uplifting at times as well as a "warning" of what may be coming. Some people have "a gut feeling" or a "chill" that runs through them. You have heard of people waking up from sleep, knowing something has happened. Other times you were thinking of someone and they called at that very moment or knocked on your door and you said, I was just thinking about you.



No matter what you believe, you have to admit, this stuff is really intriguing. So keep your eyes open for signs and make sure to duck if you see a Hawk just about to bump into you!

Take care, Auggie

A Few of The Things I have Been Up To

It's been a very busy few weeks for me.  Remembering the past, living in the present and looking at the possibilities of the future.  Life changes in that blink of an eye just like everyone tells you.  So take time to say I Love You , do something special for yourself, reach out from within and not let fear hold you back!


Well, you should see my work station(s) full of beads of all kinds. I have really taken a liking to Seed Beads. My friends at Cobb Beading Circle have been teaching us beautiful jewelry to
make .  Also I have finally made a few of the pieces that were taught by fellow beaders at the last retreat.  We have another coming up in October and I can't wait!  They have given me the honor once again to make the meals for the long weekend!  My other love is cooking, there was a good reason I won the "Betty Crocker Award" way back in 1974, my senior year.  Of course I have finally decided to start trying to work off some of that wonderful food and bought a Wii Fit.  It's the first time since I was a Sun Bunny in California that I have enjoyed working out!  It's almost like playing, but it's working! In 3 weeks I have already down sized 3.5 pounds!  We won't go into my total goal weight off...

So, we finally received some rain here in Georgia. I mean some RAIN! Not like Florida did but enough so that my trees and plants have perked back up.  The grass is so happy, the trees are bowing in the wind thanking Mother Nature for her saving moisture.  I believe everyone here feels a little better just to have gotten the rain.

We had a sad loss over the weekend. We have a Koi pond with about 15 full grown Koi and a zillion babies.  Even though we have this great ultra violet light system, we still have to clean out the huge filter, it's called backwash or something like that. Well, you lose some water when you do it and of course you must put some back.  Chlorine is really a killer for the fish, so you have the hose placed so it will hit the rocks and somehow it breaks down the chlorine a little.   You are only letting it run for about 10 minutes and since the rest of the pond is chlorine free everything is great.  Not if you walk away and forget you left it running.  Four of our oldest, largest and most beautiful Koi died.  We tried everything to save them.  To see these beautiful creatures lose their lives because of our mistake is horrible.  It's a lesson I will never forget.



Okay, I have given you some good news and some not so good news. Let me show you what I have been working on. You will notice I don't have the clasps done on these. That is probably the hardest decision for me. What clasp? When I see it, I'll know it.

This first bracelet is one I was taught at our Atlanta Bead Society.

It's a Spiral Peyote Stitch Bracelet. We made it on a dowel?  The experts don't need to use the dowel.  I must have restarted this at least 6 times. But I really like it!

If you read my post on our eSmarts team blog, then you will remember that I was trying to make a "Color Block Cuff" Bracelet from Beading Daily.  My Bead Retreat group, Mid-SouthEast Bead Retreat, showed us how to start it. I must admit the first 5 or 10 tries at this one and I thought there was no way!  After many hours, I GOT IT!  Now I can't wait to make another one!

Not too bad for my first attempt at the Ladder Stitch. Once you start you can't stop! Looking forward to making another one in different colors and maybe thinner.

At our Cobb Beading Circle my friend Elise taught me this stitch. I think she said it was a "Simple Spiral". Have quite a few new terms and names to learn as well. Not real great at that!  Saw "House Bunny" last weekend, needed a good laugh, and the main character would use a Darth Vader voice and repeat the name.  Maybe I should try that, they might try to put me on more meds though....

This is the 6th one I have made and I love making them! Notice the missing clasp? Well I found one I like at our local bead shop! 

The final one for the day, I have more to share with you later.  I was taught this at the Retreat by a wonderful woman, Genny. She is a lovely lady and I was hoping she would be attending our next retreat in October. So if you are reading this, please come to the Retreat in Nashville, please....

Hers don't look like mine, I have this tendency to not be able to follow directions....  

If you want to see the actual one, her website is: "New Bel Chain & Bead LLC"

That's it for today. I plan on adding more of my "almost" complete projects  every few days.  Right now I'm really working hard on getting more items in my Etsy store at

  The Queen's Jewels also known as Auggie Queen-Parker

Today I'm a Bead Counter

Not a bean counter, a BEAD counter! Oh what fun today is going to be!  A huge box awaits me in my dinning room!  I have opened it and peeked in!  The colors, the shapes,  and the textures... a bead-a-holic's dream! So look for new pieces of jewelry and possibly some beads for sale as well.  I feel like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz"!  I'm off to see the bead box, the wonderful box of beads... okay I can't sing.... Have a great day, Auggie

Two Moments in Time I Won't Ever Forget!

It's Micheal Phelps last Swim. A relay, we are all just sitting on the edge of our seats. My dog-person, Spookie, is sitting on my lap. Before the race stated I told everyone not to get over excited by yelling or cheering because it really upsets all 7 or our 4 legged dog-persons. Well, if you watched the race, it was close! Everyone forgot, including me and we were cheering them on at the finish. Guess who got bit, yeah, me. Spookie got spooked and she bit my left forearm. I was really screaming then. It's pretty sore and it looks real bad. She didn't break the skin so I'm okay. Thank goodness it's my left arm, so I can still bead!

It's 1 AM and I better try and get some sleep. GO USA!!!!! Actually I love to watch all the athletes and I am so happy for them when they win! Human beings are amazing creatures!

A Tribute to My Dad

I Remember

I remember the times you came home from the base, how handsome you were in your uniform. You could pick all 3 of us kids up at the same time.  I can still see the smile on your face and the love in your eyes.

I remember the hard times in our young lives when you and Mom, still kids yourselves, struggled to do the best you knew how to raise us kids.

I remember all the struggles you and Mom went through together; all of us trying to grow up at the same time.

I remember when you and Mom realized that you needed to change some major things in your lives.

I don't remember the exact date that you became my Teddy Bear and the man I feared disappeared; but that is who I will always remember  you as... my big Teddy Bear... that and those awful jokes that only you laughed at.  I will remember how it felt when you hugged me and the way you smelled.  You gave me comfort and safety and love.

I will always be proud of how you loved me and everyone else like an innocent child; accepting even  if you didn't fully understand why I am so different.

Even in death you still gave your all, donating your organs so others could live.

I am so Proud of you; like a parent that watched you grow and evolved into one of the most wonderful persons I have ever known.

I Love You Dad and I miss you so much,

your Auggie Doggie

Ed (Sonny) Queen

August 24, 1939 - August 8, 2000

Madwoman on the loose...

Look out, I'm on the loose.... multitasking with no plan, no forethought.  See it, start it, leave it. Get back to it.  Made 2 more spiral bracelets, need the toggles on them still; along with the other 6 bracelets I have made... Deleting old and double pics from my PC, not my Mac and it is boring! Leave it, go to check mail, on the way, water the flowers. Oh, get the mail, yard art downed by the wind storm, rain? NO, just wind! Okay, almost to the mailbox. Weeds. they are everywhere, must stop, can't pass by weeds, must pull out and destroy. What did I come out here for? MAIL.... almost there, gee that Hydrangea  is looking pretty wimpy, better get some water from the new "Rain Barrel"! Back up the driveway. Why am I out here, oh, dead head the flowers on the porch. Okay, done, nooo, there's something else. Looking around, doing the play back in my head... MAIL! Direct mission now, do not look up, down, sideways, not at the cute Squirrel, look at the Mail box,  stay on task.  Whew, got it. Darn, I am back to deleting pics.... Auggie

Tag, I'm IT

Got this from a fellow eSmarts member, Chez Chani and I hope I am doing this right!

There is a game of Internet Tag of which I have not been aware. I don't know who started it but it seems like a fun idea. Hopefully this will go around the world a few times and we can cyber meet other bloggers! Here goes:

Here are the rules:1) Link to the person who tagged you
2) Post the rules on your blog (this is what you are now reading)
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below)
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5)Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.


1. I accidently tossed a blanket over my brothers head and gently pushed him down the basement stairs. (We were like 7)

2. Same brother; I made him eat Mr Bubbles and they had to take him to get his stomach pumped. ( Ages 4 + 6)

3. Same brother: do you remember those play doctor sets where the shot needle actually came out? Well, I thought he needed a shot in his ear. The took him to the ER and that little tiny toy needle, made of plastic, made a hole in his ear drum. (Ages 6+8)

4. Same brother; I watched him eat cigerret buts and drink nail polish remover. They had to take him to the ER to get his stomach pumped. (Ages 5+7)

5. Same brother; we don't get along very well, I have tried to make up for the fun things I did to him. He doesn't seem to think it's funny. (Ages 50 + 52)

6. Same brother; I forgot this one. Mom said no snacks before dinner. He had a box of cheerios and I accidently, gently, pushed his arms through the double pane glass door. They had to take him to the ER and get stitches. (Ages 16-14)

Oh, I'm the oldest...... gee why doesn't he like me.... I think he needs some professional help, I'm just fine.... right? LOL


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Well this has been a nice little stroll down memory lane for me.... don't worry, I've had plenty of therpy and probably will continue with additional as needed!!!! Auggie Queen-Parker

Got Rain!

Wow did we ever get rain. Thunder and Lighting too! Made for some scared little puppies. Had my Rain Barrel all set up and we have some water now for our plants.  Here in Cobb County, we can only water our plants, grass, etc for 25 minutes between Midnight and 10 AM. That doesn't sound too bad does it. But wait, there's more... only 1 person spraying water from 1 hose for those 25 minutes and if your address is an even number you may do this on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. If your address is odd; you get Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.  Now I love my flower garden, my trees, my fruit trees and bushes, so you can believe I am collecting water in every container available.  It used to look real nice when you drove up our driveway but now, well, you can only imagine.  I've got tubs that are for keeping drinks cold at get togethers.  Rubber maid products in every shape and size.  All my mop buckets are out there somewhere... But my proud and joy is my new Rain Barrel, course it doesn't hold enough for what we have planted over the last 9 years hence all the lovely containers placed strategically where the rain pours out of the gutters.   I am just waiting for the neighbors to say a little something about them.  They must look adorable from the street!

Well, I guess you could say that I have a few more addictions than just beads. We do have 7 four legged children. We have a large collection of Mickey Mouse memorabilia, heck, he has his own room and a hallway!  We also love "Depression Glass" and Vintage Kitchen things, and the old toys. Can't forget our Hallmark collections, and vintage tools. We have an old vintage plow that you would use a team of horses to pull it. Yes, we are trying to reserve history for our nieces and nephews and their children eventually.  It is really fun when folks come by for a visit and either ask what is that? Or they say, My Grandma had one of those. My brother always tries to find something to bring us in hopes that we won't be able to guess what it is.  So far we have disappointed him, we've guessed it every time.  

We've been trying to decide what we are going to do with all of our collections. I wonder if the Smithsonian Institution would be interested in about 40 years? We'll let ya know in 2048! Take care, Auggie