Have you been perusing the Black Friday sales that began before Thanksgiving Day was over, or the Cyber Monday sales that started before today and will continue on some sites for the week? It's all quite overwhelming and mind-boggling, isn't it? I think the only place I shopped at on Friday was the local grocery store. I will admit to a few Cyber Monday online sales for Christmas but they were very few.

With all of that in mind, I hope that you are not forgetting about your locally owned and independently operated brick and mortar stores for your personal and holiday shopping for products and gift certificates. These shops do not have the financial backbone of a corporation and rely on your customer sales to continue in business.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, several of us were in a wonderful class at Art 'n Soul put on by Lisa Lee of Inchie Arts. We used several Inchie Arts' Art Squares to make beautiful collages of photographs The variety of subject and style was amazing.

by Lori Wagner

by Pam Nelson

by Gabrielle Dunbar

by Patsy Schultz

by Susie Tracy

by Dianne Johnson

by Kay Roller

by Debbie Gaetz

If you ever have the opportunity to take this photo collage class from Lisa Lee, do it! It's looking at collage an entirely new way with your photographs or the beautiful photos that Lisa Lee offers. You'll want to make so many of these because it is quite addicting, in a good way. I know Art 'n Soul is hoping Lisa will bring this class back in the not-too-distant future.

Speaking of Inchies, Lisa Lee shared on her Facebook post an "inchie-a-day" calendar project by Sheila Cross as she nears the end of her year-long commitment. It's quite amazing and very inspiring. I would love to see the other monthly pages.

by Sheila Cross

We're down in the desert for a quick respite. Tom's annual national meeting will be held at the historic and beautiful LaQuinta Hotel the first week in February. We scouted out the venue today because he has to plan a "Washington State" night for his members. The history starts in 1926. It was developed by Walter Morgan, a wealthy San Francisco businessman. The City of LaQuinta is named after the hotel. Mr. Morgan named the hotel "LaQuinta" after a country home surrounded by casitas that he visited in Mexico. There is no tower . . . all of the rooms are casitas.

This is what caught my eye today.

Well, it's time to sign off. The hotel we're staying at in Palm Springs has to shut off its electricity throughout the entire complex tomorrow between 9:00 and 5:00! Yes, during the day! So we have to be up and outta here; we asked to be accommodated at their sister property in Indian Wells for the day so we may enjoy the pool and have access to a private room, as well as some refreshments during the day. My dear husband tried to explain that I am not out of bed before 9:00 when we travel, but that excuse didn't work!

Thanks for stopping in to the "still learning the ropes" blog postings. I've learned I will have to be a little more regular so I don't forget how to get started. Egads!