My "Geek Squad"

Eric and our friend Calvin working on all the pieces.

Then we spent the better part of the day switching files from old computer onto it PLUS all the new programming that Eric had picked up for me.

This new set up is smoking! LOL

Thanks fellas! ya rock!

Computer Upgrade

My computer was on its last breath. It had been a hand me down from Eric when he had upgraded his. It was years out of date. I use a computer for so many different aspects of my life. I needed a new computer.

So....it was my birthday! ;)

A trip to Dartmouth to see Eric for a few days(while also seeing my sister and her family so it was a win/win situation for me in all ways!) Eric bought me a new computer.

To start we picked out a laptop but took it back within 48 hours once we really looked at things.It really wasn't what I needed. He opted to get all the pieces and build me a system from scratch.

*INTEL Core 2 Duo E4600 2.4GHz FSB 800MHz 2MB LGA775 Dual Core

*ASUS PSK-SE P35 ATX 3PCI/2PCI-EX 4 DDR2-10066MHZ,1PCI-E16X,SATA,LAN, eSATA

*Super*Talent T8UX2GC5 DDR2-800 2GB(2x1GB)CLS5 S-RIGID

*Sapphire ATI Radeon HD3450 512MB DVI/VGA PCI-E Video card

*WD Caviar SE-16/SATA-ll 2500KS 250GB 7200RPM,16MB,SATA-ll

*LG GSAH55N Black DVD+RW(20X+)Dual layer OEM w/software

*NIKAO 1285B(Black) Mid-tower case with front USB2.O/Audio ports 450 P.S.

*LOGITECH Cordless Desktop EX110(Keyboard &Mouse)

Which I am sure means something to those of you that are computer geeks cause it all made Eric's eye glaze over.....but to me just means I ended up with a computer that is wicked awesome again!

And the price was good enough that I also managed to get a new computer desk/hutch as well. I was beyond spoiled for my birthday! heehee

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn

http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com

Birthday Wishes

heehee

Today is my 37th birthday!

I have been going around the house humming "its my birthday" all day and driving family crazy. Am celebrating low key this year. No big family gatherings or anything.

Subway sandwiches for dinner and going to watch a movie that caught my fancy on tv.

Staring at the ceiling

INSOMNIA

I would not wish this on my worst enemy! I've heard folks say that they suffer with this from time to time. I actually used to think....well just sleep....how can you not be tired enough to sleep?

I was beyond tired and yet could NOT get any sleep. I'm not sure why it started. I am fairly used to staying up till midnight or 1am. Always able to fall right to sleep soon as my head touched my pillow.

Something snapped! Laying on my bed, tossing and turning. Fluffing pillows and shaking quilts.

Wearing jammies. Not wearing anything. Talking to myself about being able to get to sleep.

Reading in bed. Listening to soft music for an hour or so before heading to bed.

WIDE AWAKE!

Or I would fall asleep only to awaken like every 40 minutes all night long. UGH

When I can lay in bed and watch the sun RISE.....that is a huge problem! LOL

This went on for about 2 weeks and then as strangely as it came on.....its now left me.

I am back to a wonderful nights slumber........zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn

http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com

Ready...Set.....BLOG

So I let some time slip by and before I knew it.....I was actually nervous about starting back up with my blog.

Did I really have enough to still talk about and have folks be interested in reading?? Had too much time gone by? Where would I start? Did I need to catch you all up on what had kept me away?

I figured that I was just going to jump right back into the mix. Over the next while you will no doubt hear bits and pieces about whats been happening.

I'm just going to get into my usual rambling and hope that enough of you still opt to read it all.

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn

http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com

You know its been TOO LONG .......

when you can't remember the password to open your blog account!

Never meant to be away for this long :(

We had some major upsets in the family this Fall with my Nannie having suffered a massive stroke. The last few months have been greatly focused on her recovery. With the changes, came a few different moves to nursing homes for my grandfather who due to having Alzheimer's could not be in their home alone. Things have really begun to look good for them both and I am once able to concentrate on my writing and my website.

Once I finally found my password of course! LOL

More....... Popo Leboy

Popo Leboy( Leo) and I were talking again today. I told him that I had added the story in the blog and how I'd loved doing the "interview" with him. My readers aren't his usual fan base....but you never know who might see him on here and where it may take him next.

He said that he was going to send me a different photo to place with the interview. I laughed. We have been back in touch for about 6 months now and the pictures I had of him to use...I'd found with doing research on the groups. He had never sent me any pictures.

So he sent me a few and I am opting to add this one instead of removing the other....... thought you all might enjoy ;)

Leo tells me he has been getting played on independant radio stations in his area. Has been in the top 10 with his songs.

He has been doing radio interviews and told me about a photo shoot for the album. He says he'll share a picture from that......guess we'll have to wait and see if he does!

You can't hear the music in this photo....... but feel...... you can sense the energy that it evokes.

I look forward to hearing more of his music. Spending the nights talking to him about writing his songs. I promise to share it all with you along the way.

Leo...... your energy inspires!

Bless you my friend!

Wicked Karma

~Wicked Karma~

Any ideas what I might be talking about with this? Its something I've always wanted and just wasn't sure which route to go about having it done.

I asked some questions.

Gave my thoughts and now its coming to life.

I am having a custom scent created for me!

A body spray...... a lotion..... candles.... tarts.....even incense!

I was getting bored with always wearing the same stuff. Anyone could have bought the same stuff and we'd be walking around the same.

COME ON....you know me......I am the one who likes to stand out in the crowd! LOL

So..... its going to be called "Wicked Karma" and its going to be a blend of Warm Vanilla with deep notes of spice, clove, nutmeg and allspice. Its being created right now for me and I can't wait to find out how it all came together.

heehee

Do I dare say......I might end up smelling "exotic"? LOL

Primitive Angel Doll EPattern ~ Instant Download!

Primitive Angel Doll EPattern


This primitive Angel doll is so simple to create. She will look great hanging in your home

Price: US$5.00




Had a few different folks asking about this pattern so thought I would add it into my blog for you all to access as well. You are able to instantly download the Angel Doll EPattern as soon as you have paid for her thru PayPal.

Happy Birthday Hannah! ~Oct 17th!

Just a quick moment to tell my niece .....

I adore your spirit.
You laughter makes my soul smile.
I am forever blessed to have you in my life.
My "Little Red".
I love you!

Your first 10 years have taught me so very much and I look forward
to the many other lessons you shall teach my heart.

Xo
T

Primmart Online Craft Show

Primmart is hosting another wonderful ONLINE Craft show and I am happy to announce that I am taking part in this one. I have been busy creating special dolls that hopefully you will fall in love with.

Look for Thru the Attic Door! Lots of wonderful surprises!

October 24 - November 7 2007

Popo Leboy

Popo LeBoy.

Who's that? Why am I writing about him? You are asking yourself these questions. The simple answer is....it's not to often that you can say that you watch quietly from the side as a friend starts to really shine.

(And those that know me well also know that I am hardly ever quiet about anything !Thats why you're reading about this here!LOL)

Leo, as I know him.... is working on a solo album and over the course of our friendship, I am always asking him questions. Learning bits and pieces. I thought it might make for an interesting article for you all to read.

What is the first memory you have of the sounds of music touching your soul?

"Strong melodies ... can't remember the songs or the titles but I remember strong melodies, stuff that my dad used to listen to ... it was peaceful music, sweet, it sounded like Harry Belafonte, with an Carribean flavour .. in one of those songs the chorus used to be "amigo, amigo, amigo" beautiful song lol .... and also instumental music ... same as traditional music from my country that my mom used to play ..."~ Popo Leboy

You are involved with 2 groups ( AfroConnexion and ZPN) as well as branching out with a solo sound of your own.

How did you meet the others in the groups?

"ZPN is my cousin ... so I met Lynx through another buddy musician ... we started by jammin' ... me on the bass and him on the guitar ... then he met ZPN through me and the rest is history ... "~Popo Leboy.

When did you decide you wanted to try something musical on your own?

It's always been a plan .. but the trigger came when I realized that I was putting a lot of energy and talent on stuff that were not necessarily coming back to me or me not not getting the proper recognition, u knowow, just being in the shadow of other people .. so I had to confront my fears and make the big jump .. very happy that I did that ... should have done it before, but hey, everything will have its own timing .. so I guess the time was right."~Popo Leboy

How do you decide the songs you record?

The feel, the vibe ... the songs come from what I call the D Channel or divine network ... we are all logged in to it, and we download stuff such as sounds, melodies, lyrics etc ... the chorus of my song "The Way of the Groove" came straight from a dream ... I woke up right away and wrote it ... the original song was in French ... I wanted to do an English version but didn't put my mind into it yet .. and it came by itself in a dream :) ... so I'm only being a doorway from the divine, I leave my heaven gates opened and let songs come through and the recording is only the materialization of what's already there ...

Do you write your own songs? If you do, where do you find your inspiration?

yes I write my own songs ... inspirations, well, see previous answer ... and I should add that sometimes an instrumental will tell u the words .. some words come out on their own to match a melody or vice versa ... but sometimes I also decide that I wanna write on a certain subject such as sex, love, or specific subjects in the human affairs etc ... and then let my spirit download what I need ...

Do you come from a musical family?

kind of ... there is music in my family for sure .. it comes from my mom ... she always sang and still sings all the time .. at home at church etc ... I have a little brother who's in music as well in Europe ... a little sis who flirted with music a lot .. but now works for the world bank in Brussels ...

How'd you decide to start playing bass? Play anything else?

well bass just came to me as an obvious thing ... I think that even while being a kid, I always picked on the bass lines while listening to music ... I also play percussions ... used to play drums but lack practice big time now ...

What style of music do you listen to in your home?

Brazilian jazz, bossa nova, latino jazz, salsa stuff, instrumental music, lounge music, Zairean music (or Congolese music since Zaire is now called the Congo) old school stuff that includes Michael Jackson etc ...

Name 3 artists that influence your style.

Bebel Gilberto (brazilian) and various brazilian artists, Various artists in zairean music, various artists in urban/soul/neo soul stuff, some great french lyricists such as Joe Dassin, Serge Gainsbourg etc ... the influences are pretty wide .. but again I don't rely on them when I write or compose. I guess it's what comes out of me ... a combination of my background, upbringing, and the melting pot of different cultures and life experiences that I have within myself ... I lived in a lot of different countries, I speak 5 languages, I guess I have multiple download sources ... LOL

What do you want folks to come away with when they listen to your music?

While I write and compose, the music belongs to me ... the minute it's out there, it no longer belongs to me, it becomes your property and belongs to you all ... so make it personal, make it your own personal experience, make it your own and see what you see, hear what you hear and enjoy it, cause at the end of the day, that's what really matters :)

............................................................

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek....or I guess the right term would be sneak listen.....to a few of the songs. He is in the midst of recording more and I look forward to hear those as well. The ones I have heard, I've enjoyed greatly.

Popo Leboy.....my friend Leo......is going to touch many folks with his words and energy.

I bless you with nothing but well wishes on this journey you embark upon and I like being able to watch as you soar!

Xo

Tracy

Sassphisticated! ~ where Hip woman shop!

http://www.sassphisticated.com/store/Default.asp

Grab your wallet ladies and RACE over to my friend Marnie's new website!!!!!

I will admit that I had a bit of an "inside" scoop on this new venture for Marnie. She and I have been doing some talking and when I got a peek of these handmade purses....I swooped right in thru the back door and nabbed this treasure!

The quality is amazing! The fabric mix is funky enough for my tastes and yet I can wear it with everything. Its so roomy and holds everything I've tossed in! LOL

She has different sizes and styles. Something for everyone!

She also showcases a wild array of funky trendy necklaces and other jewlery pieces.

What are you waiting for????

She has something for you....... I just know she does!

Tell her Cedara sent you over! ;)

Curve ball

Sometimes LIFE tosses a few curveballs at you and you do your best to dip and dodge out of their way.......me.......not so great and missing them.
So slightly off track for awhile while I dusted myself off......

GET COMFY....... I'm about to catch you up on my life! LOL

Always in our Hearts! September 11

An Addiction of Mine...... PURSES!

Don't you just LOVE this purse?????

A really good friend of mine made it!She is making all kinds of wicked ones and is going to be launching a website for them!

I am so excited, I am shaking! She and I have already been in touch about a special purse for me! heehee

So make sure to keep your eyes on my blog....when she is ready to open the new site....I will be shouting LOUD for all you fellow purse lovers to hear!

PRIM BLESSINGS!
OXOX
Tracy(Cedara)Dunn
http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com/
http://thrutheatticdoor2.blogspot.com/
FIND MY PRIMITIVE ePATTERNS AT
http://www.patternmart.com/ UNDER "Thru the Attic Door"
ON EBAY as thrutheatticdoor........ look for my creations by typing
Beneath the Attic Eaves(BTAE)
Also found at http://www.beneaththeatticeaves.com/

Needle Punch Sunflowers

http://www.thepunchinfool.com/

OH MY GOODNESS! My pal Susan has once again shown us what beyond wicked things you are able to achieve with punching!!!

Aren't these sunflower pins mindblowing?

She was the first gal that I knew that did needle punching. I have asked her so many questions as I tried my hand at this artform. She is such an inspiration as her creations are so unique. Susan always thinks "outside the box" and it really makes you want to try something new and be just as creative.

She is a true inspiration to many in this artform and I look forward to watch what she creates next.

PRIM BLESSINGS!
OXOX
Tracy(Cedara)Dunn
http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com
http://thrutheatticdoor2.blogspot.com/
FIND MY PRIMITIVE ePATTERNS AT
http://www.patternmart.com UNDER "Thru the Attic Door"
ON EBAY as thrutheatticdoor........ look for my creations by typing
Beneath the Attic Eaves(BTAE)
Also found at http://www.beneaththeatticeaves.com

Heartache for a friend

Many of us in the "Primmart family" have graphics done by an incredible woman named Cheryl. She is the owner and graphic artist of such websites as http://www.primgraphics.com and http://www.raggedyscrappin.com
Our hearts break for our friend Cheryl as she has had to bury her nephew.
He was only in his 20's and fighting the demons of drugs. Cheryl had already lost Caleb's mother (her sister) to a drunk driver a few years ago.

To help raise the money for the funeral and to help the family he left behind....she has been hosting sales on http://www.raggedyscrappin.com
This sales are incredible and you are sure to find something that you just must have.

We all love you sweet friend!
May your heart mend and no longer cry!

Xo
Tracy(cedara)Dunn

A Thousand Splendid Suns

My aunt brought this book home on her vacation and I picked it up last night around 9pm......I didn't put it down again until just after 3am!!!!

I READ THIS WHOLE BOOK LAST NIGHT!

Those that know me know that I read ALOT. I always have my nose buried in one book or another.

NEVER have I had a book effect me so.

As a woman blessed with freedoms of so many kinds.....I think everyone woman possible should read this book!!!

The author weaves the words so as to wrap you in the sounds, smells and sights of these two womans lives.

The emotions that raced thru me with each page that I turned. I felt happiness, rage, shame and sadness. Decriptions so vivid that I felt dust in my lungs and the weight and darkness of a burka. The final pages of this amazing novel made me shed tears of such deep sadness and yet mixed so with a great pride for these woman.

This novel has greatly effected me. More so then I could have ever imagined it was going to when I picked it up off the table and settled down into my chair for the evening.

Read this novel........ let yourself be touched forever by the tale of these two incredible woman and all that they go thru in their life. Let yourself see a world so very different and yet so very much woven into our own as we are all woman and connected!!!!!!!!

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn

http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com

http://thrutheatticdoor2.blogspot.com

Round Barn pt2

Round Barn

On the drive back home as we went thru the Granville area, we went past this barn. Both of us made the comment on how cool it would have been to take a picture of. Then we both laughed and made a uturn! LOL

This barn has been there for as long as I can recall and I think this is the first time I took pictures of it. I just think its so peaceful looking.

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn

http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com/

Lions Head

Saw this on one of the buildings we walked by downtown Halifax and I had to take a picture of it!

Road Trip with Pam

So my aunt is home visiting from Virginia and says she would like to make a road trip to Halifax. She looks at me and asks me to join her. SURE! LOL

So we pack the car early on Tuesday and hit the road. We have a few loose plans of where we want to make sure to stop at. Then we are going to spend the night at my sisters place and come back home the next day.

First off let me say that I do not drive......so I am not really good with "which road do we take next" kind of questions. Eric drives me everywhere and for the most part already knows the route. I just sort of "arrive" at different places! LOL

Pam used to live in Halifax but over 20 years ago so things have changed quite a bit.

We get into town and head to one of the main streets we are wanting. I get us in the right area for an underground parking spot as we've borrowed my grandmother's car and she didn't want us parking it on the street. (She told us she didn't want someone stealing the tires!heehee)

We have to park on the 9th floor of it though as pam is horrid at parking! LOL

Had to keep going higher and higher till we found a spot large enough for her to pull into.

We were laughing so hard.

Out we get and head out onto the city to hit the shops.

Pam really wanted a new purse.....we went into a shop and she was looking at an amazing leather messenger style purse. We couldn't find a price tag anywhere on it which is never a good sign!LOL

Call a lady over to help us find the price and she tells us that its going to be $265 plus tax.

I look at Pam and give her the "holy freak out" look with my eyes and we leave. LOL

We walked all around downtown. All the little side streets and shops that you don't always see when you are driving by. Both of us picking up a bunch of little odds and ends for family and friends. I'd share pics of some of the things but Dani reads my blog and she's getting most of the goodies! LOL I want her to be surprised!

I'll take a picture and post once i know she's gotten the parcel.

The sun was out strong and even though we were getting a slight breeze off the waterfront...I was getting quite hot. I needed to eat something too. So we opt to eat at a little Mexican spot. The waitress was horrid and didn't seat us for the longest time. She walked by at one point and I just happened to say a bit loud that I was pretty sure we could have walked to Mexico by now.....wow...... she came right over and took us to a booth!

Now the fella that served us.....now he was mighty fine! LOL

Really sweet and really fine on the eyes.

He actually came over and was talking to us at one point and I seriously can't tell you a thing he said! LOL I was a bit focused on his hair and wicked green eyes. My aunt says I even did a coy silly giggle..... I swear it was from the sun! ;)

We ate fantastic food and did lots more laughing. There was a little tiny bird of some sort walking on the balcony that kept scooting inside and grabbing the odd little piece of tortilla shell. It was so cool to watch.......course I'd have freaked if it had flown! LOL

We are done on the Halifax side of the city and decide its time to head over to Dartmouth and my sisters. We of course hadn't been paying attention to the time and we hit the rush hour traffic.

OMGoodness! My nerves were shot! LOL

No one was letting in on the streets we needed to be on. My aunt is not an aggressive driver either. We took a wrong turn at one point and ended up in quite a seedy part of town. Didn't take us long to lock our doors! We finally make it to where we cross the bridge and are heading to my sisters. I tell Pam that we just have to stay on this main road that we are on and then make a few turns. Somehow we went OVER instead of UNDER something and we were lost AGAIN!

We keep driving and are getting into worse and worse looking places. I'm like turn this thing around....we are going BACK! We get ourselves back on the road and over to the large mall.

We get out and are laughing about the whole thing when my purse rings. I had borrowed Eric's cell phone. Its my sister wondering where we were. I explain that we are at the mall and going to do a bit more shopping. We are to call her when we are thru and she'll come over and guide us to her house. YIPPEE! LOL

So we go to Chapters and look around. I swear I could spend all day inside a good book store. There is always something that grabs my attention. I could have spent so much money inside there! LOL

My sis comes to get us and we go to visit my cousin Jennifer. Stay to her place for about an hour. Lots of laughter and giggles. She is very excited as she and her family are moving closer to where my sister lives. I can't wait to see the new place.

We finally get to Tara's....... show her all our treasures from the day.....and hit the hay.

We are beat! LOL

Apple Season in Nova Scotia

When you step outside and take a deep breath, you can smell the apples that are in the orchard!!!!

This is the start of my favorite of the seasons. The air is crisp and you sometimes need to wrap yourself under a blanket or in a wool sweater.

The trees along the valley are hanging low and heavy with wonderful apples.

Mmmmmm The need to make an Apple Crisp is just around the corner.

Do you have a favorite apple? Do you like to bite right into the side of a fresh picked apple? Do you make apple pie and serve it with a large scoop of french vanilla ice cream?

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn

http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com

http://thrutheatticdoor2.blogspot.com

The Middle Name Game~ I was tagged to play!

The Middle Name Game
I've been tagged for the Middle Name Game. I've also tagged 6 others, so if you've been tagged here is what you do . . . .Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My middle name is NICOLE

N = Naughty! heehee (Oh like I could have chosen any other word!LOL)
I = Inquisitive..... always interested in expanding myself about the world and people
C = Carnival.... never been able to say my life is boring! LOL
O= Open-Minded and yet Opinionated! LOL(I had to use both!)
L = Laughter....... anyone I've ever met knows how important laughter is to me.
E= Enlighten........ if I am able to share something of my own life story so that it aids another..I will


I'm tagging . . . .

http://backporchpickins.blogspot.com/

http://anniebeezdoll.blogspot.com/

http://countryfolkkeepsakes.blogspot.com/

http://northdixiedesigns.blogspot.com/

http://samiamcreations.blogspot.com/

http://chickadeeprimitives.blogspot.com/