Hi my name is Linda and I go by the nickname lalapaloosa. As much as I talk you would think I would be comfortable on a message board or whatever these things are called...but there is a part of me that freaks out about writing in these things. Derrrrr!

I live in Northern California. I have been married 32 years this August. I have 3 grown children, 3 granddaughters and one more baby girl on the way!!! Yummy delish! Being a grammy is great fun.

I have done a lot of different things in my life but most of them center around some sort of creative bent. I have illustrated for an ISP, for some Children's stories and for a book of poetry written by a 91-year old man. He had always wanted to write a book and so he did!

I have coordinated and decorated for weddings, painted murals, made cloth dolls, designed and sewn clothing, painted furniture, oh all kinds of things. I think illustrating is the easiest and least messy, and you can do it most anywhere making it the most convenient as well. (Except when you go through the x-ray machine at the airport and your metallic pencils come up suspect)

This year I have planted a garden (all in pots) and I love to see people's faces when I tell them I have a "pot" garden! I can tell you this much about my garden...next year I am reading up on how to grow melons because mine are the miniature variety! I swear they are tiny.

Since my husband has been gone since the middle of March I am trying to get some things done to surprise him. I have tiled the entryway and am painting the front part of the house a warm creamy pale butter color with a soft green trim. I am not going to do the whole house, we can finish it together. I put up trellises and planted morning glories, campunellas, snap dragons, foxgloves, purple alyssum, texas blue bells and bright pink mandevillas. I am so excited to see his face when he comes home. All I gotta say is he BETTER like it!

Ack!! I forgot to mention that Chatty is my cousin! I mentioned it in the menopause forum first, but forgot to mention it here. Sorry, Cuz!
Love you!

Welcome lala! So glad Chatty sent you.

Don't freak out about posting in this forum. It's fun and addictive.

I'm impressed by your creativity. Please tell lus the title of the book you illustrated and if it's on Amazon so we can look it up.

You mentioned your husband has been gone since March. If you don't mind sharing, where has he been?

I think he's going to be tickled when he gets home.

Welcome aboard and I look firward to getting to know you. Any cuz of chatty's is a friend of mine!

LaLa! You have entered the LALA land that's for sure hon! WELCOME! WELCOME! I think you will just love it here. Chatty is one of our fav's and we are so glad she told you bout us. Course, she DID tell ya bout da Queen here, am I right?

Girl, I'm all worn out just reading about everything you do/have done...good grief, when do you sleep? I walked out and got the mail yesterday evening and had to take a nap. But I try to get exercise when I can...what? what?

Okay, okay...well you just start posting and join in. You're gonna love it here. We're fun, supportive and just down right adorable...especially me. WHAT? OKKKKKK...I'll quit...geeish...tuff room.

JJ

Welcome Lala,

It's great having you here. We have a great bunch of ladies that are eager to share and help. I, too, think you will like it here. There is so much to do and learn.

From your background experience and all you've done, we all can learn so much from you.

You'll find various and fun Forums to choose from; always something interesting to do...

Hi there Lala!
Welcome to a great forum! I see you are so talented and creative! Glad to have you here! I'm sure you'll feel right at home in no time.

I too love to coordinate and decorate for weddings and do different crafts. I just have to keep myself busy. See? You already found someone who understands !

As for the forum experience , this is my first venture too! I was a bit hesitant at first. But I don't have any regrets ! In fact, I can honestly say this has been a great blessing for me !

Hi Lala,
Welcome, I loved too reading about your creativity here. Its a fun place and friendly forum. You will love it.
I am interested in seeing the illustrations in your book. Sounds great.
Maggie

Hi Lala,

You sound like me! I have done tole painting, primitive wood work, including cutting my own wood, sewed for husband and boys, knitted for a time and used to do a lot of creative things. Now, I write and that is where my creative energies go. Glad to have you here, and I just love Chatty and am hoping to meet her next month while I am in Vegas.

Sherri

Sherri, you and LaLa need to get together with Maggie...boy, talk about talent in a room! Add the Divine Ms M and we got ourselves a biz!

You women amaze me...truly. JJ

Above all all my dear cousin and friend has accomplished, her faith is her highest priority and her son has just returned from some sort of religious training. I appologize not to know more but Lala can fill you all in. Wait until you see her drawings, I especially love the piggy. Glad shes decided to come aboard and she's especially interested in the Boomer dieters.