Hey, it could happen! :)

Seeing & Hearing Thunder & LIghtening ~ June 11, 2009

We've had some pretty severe thunder and lightening storms here in Central Oregon...so much so that a few times I actually jumped when the thunder sounded..it was SO loud! We've got Seth back for the summer from college, so far, I think Griffin will arrive tomorrow (he's not too happy with Seth, he said he had to stay at school an extra day to clean, since Seth 'just left.' I had to remind him that Seth had to leave because he started work today for the Oregon Department of Forestry for his second summer. They are both in their twenties...but call me a sucker...I still like having my kiddos around :) I've been so good this week...gone to the gym every day but MOnday (it was a hospital day)...I figured 30 minutes was better than nothing, right? Speaking of the hospital...there was another patient in the infusion room Monday who also gets IVIG....although her's is a little different, it has different antibodies in it to protect her organs (she is a liver transplant patient), and mine are antibodies for my immune system...but still, this made me sit up...she said she was going to to start a new regiment of shots of IVIG....I can't imagine how freeing that would be..not to have to go to the hospital twice a month for 8 hours!! I need to make an appt. with my neurologist to see if the shots are available for my form of IVIG! I'd be exstatic after going to the infusion room for 21 years! I've really been using my Silhouette lately...making some fun things: Both the tree and word background were cut from the Silhouette. I stitched around the edge and stitched the hearts together for a symbolic touch :) The trees and title were cut with the Silhouette on this layout, I pop-dotted the second tree to give it dimension. It's sure been nice using it...and I must say, their customer service is unsurpassed...they will bend over backwards to make sure you are happy with your product! Have a great day :)

I Think Summer Has Sprung!! May 27th, 2009

What a beautiful Memorial Day week-end we had! The weather was perfect for camping (even if I was only in on it for one night and day :). I know the boy's had a great time at Antelope Resevoir scouting, fishing and hiking. When I got there Sunday night, Stan had a great concoction brewing over the campfire in his Dutch oven....pork ribs with a sauce he made with pineapple...the meat fell your fork, it was soooo good! I saw a turkey when I was driving in, so Seth and Griffin and I went to look for it (Griffin has a turkey tag)....but to no avail...just a little hiking, and I spotted a herd of deer, which we tracked down. Stan and I hiked around the resevoir Sunday while he did some fishing after the boys left and headed back to school. As for the rest of the week-end, I was here at the store working, then home and got some scrapbooking done! I'm in love all over again with my Silhouette, now that it's all fixed...the tree, leaves and text background for the photo are all cut from it. And I also finally figured out how I can use some of the cool digital elements that so many talented people have created on my layouts and still me a 'paper' scrapper....the the 'I Miss You' layout I used text blocks I think by Sandy Krieger (I'm going to have to figure out how to keep better track of the creators). It was fun sitting down and starting and finishing a layout in one single night...rather than letting it drag on for days :) Getting ready to go have a glass of wine with my sis, then home and hopefully Stan hasn't seriously injured himself in softball....last week he came home with a pretty bad shoulder..I'm not so sure it's any better.....men, stubborn about their injuries :)

Leason Learned; Print My Own Pics! May 15, 2009

I wanted the pics from last week-end right away, so I could scrap them at our crop tomorrow night....well, as luck would have it, I was out of ink in BOTH my printers here at the store. I went to Target and printed them out....hmmmmm, not really happy with the results. I found that I really like to go beyond the regular size prints, change colors, etc...you can't do that at Target. I'll count it as a lesson learned! Getting excited for the crop tomorrow night, we have a VERY full house, and it will be a blast. I think Stan is coming to 'work' the store, that should be interesting (just to see if he can make it past 11:30pm + the clean-up time :). I have really been pulling out a bunch of 'old' stash items, and using things that I have been avoiding for so long, like my stamps (even some of my rubber-mounted ones), sewing machine and some old chipboard and rubons I've had forever....amazing how they are still so functional!! Just a few more of my 'bits & pieces' tags.... Have a wonderful Friday! It's supposed to be nice and warm here!

The Agony Of Self-Timers May 13, 2009

I hope you all had as good of a Mother's Day as I did. First of all, it was a beautiful day here in Central Oregon! We went to a late brunch at The Original Pancake House...all kids and husband accounted for, and after sufficiently filling up, we went home and got the dogs and left for a good 4-hour hike around Smith Rock. It was so nice to get out in the fresh air and outdoors! We weren't the only ones with the idea of hiking, as the trails were thick with people AND dogs! Of course, between every use of my self-timer on my camera I foget how to use it....most turned out like this: The best ones were when someone was actually behind the lens: The only setback in the day was when a snake slithered up the hill beside me...ick!!! I've been working on a lot of little tags and cards for the store: And Quickutz sent me a replacement blade, cutting mat and cutting strip for my silhouette...and I've been cutting like crazy!! Trees, trunks and stars are from Silhouette. I've got some really cute layered images downloaded now, and can't wait to put them together! Happy Wednesday all!

Sunday, April 26, 2009 ~ Beautiful Day

We have been blessed with another beautiful day that makes me want to be outside more than ever!!! A few projects to upload: Pictures from a last minute night away Stan and I recently took advantage of...and of course, Fritz.

Wednesday, April 22, Spring Has Arrived!!!

You have to love the weather in Central Oregon, going from snow to 80 degree days practically overnight! I have surely been enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. I worked in my yard all day Monday, planting perenniels and cleaning out. Starting some fun new things at the store, like an incentive program, and getting ready for our late Spring crop, April 16th. A few little projects I've been working on: I finally used this fun vintage-looking sister stamp I've had for so long, along with some Revolution die-cut flowers (or small scallops, whichever you want to call them). Another tag, and I love how it turned out, using some 'really' old papers and trims: And I can't get through Spring without some baseball: And, I really am going to try harder to keep up with my blog!!!! Have a great day :)

Sunday, March 23, 2009.....Already Spring Break!

I hate sounding 'old,' but really, where does the time go??? The boy's are home for Spring Break (from college), Stan is in Minnesota visiting his Grandmother. I have a day off tomorrow (it's Monday, with no hospital involved)...I hope I can get all the cleaning I need to do done, and some organizing in my scrap space, along with some scrapping! I'd also like to make the boy's some home-cooked meals.... Our 'Spring into Scrapping' was a big success, and a lot of fun, we are going to do another event in May....already looking forward to it. I spent the day making repairs to layouts that have had lost some pieces due to their vertical challenge :) I have a few more in the works...here is the newest, a layout featuring Griffin and Stan...at Griffin's summer diggs on the Metolius River last summer :

I'm really not a Feb./March person I've decided. It just seems to be such an 'in-between' time for our area....not in full winter mode (although today we are, with the snow flying around :), and only a few Spring-like days sprinkled here and there, making people a little testy.....and I REALLY don't like being around depressing people, being forever the optimist....Just my two cents worth. I have been doing a lot of scrapbooking lately, and I love that! Here's a few: Love, love this pic of Fritz that Stan got...and no photoshop here, he just got an amazing pic of him on top of a hill, while he was below him. I did a lot of machine stitching oon this, on every layer, and finally used an old Nostaligiques velvet band that I've had forever! And, these, of Griffin, out bird hunting with his dog, Remi. I used some of my fav. Narrative rub-ons (I'm so sad that this last show had Karen's (Russell) last release in it....I will sooooo miss her stuff!!! And I can't go before I post the cute flyer Davinie (Fiero) made for our 'Spring Into Scrapping' event: We're pretty close to filling it up, just a few tickets left, should be a fun night!

I wouldn't say my mojo is back, but I MADE myself finish something, regardless of how anxious my mental state is.... I've had a lot of people coming in the store and browsing for a long time...then leaving empty-handed....it just churns my stomach....that I don't have something for them here. With that in mind, I made myself purposefully bring photos to work, no paper or embellishments from home and see how hard it was to pull off a layout....it was SOOO easy...not saying it's my best work ever, but there is plenty of stock here, trust me! Here is the layout: Here is the thank you card: The card was made with a Sassafras sticker behind the bird, which was cut from a Heidi Swapp Silhouette, the sentiment from Daisy Bucket stamps, and the frame from Pink Paislee. Heading home to watch the Grammy's, Ashley is coming over for a sleep-over to watch....I look forward to the Grammy's every year, and Seth is still home, Taylor is coming over for dinner and it should be a good, fun family night! :) Take Care....

That is, the new Valentine line from Little Yellow Bicycle! Very fun and versatile, not JUST for Valentines, and the cutest little 6x6 pad of decorative-edged papers.... It does mean it's time to get busy and make some Valentine's thoughj... I haven't been blogging much, because there just isn't much to talk about around here, things are pretty quiet, and frankly, I'm getting a little bored. I'm usually pretty good about keeping myself busy, but I don't seem too much 'get up and go,' and don't ask me where my mojo went...I haven't seen it for awhile. I did start a layout last night, now let's see if I can finish it??? I'll post tomorrow if I can get it done! Have a great day :)

Thurs., March 5th, Getting Back Into The Swing of Things

I'm really not a Feb./March person I've decided. It just seems to be such an 'in-between' time for our area....not in full winter mode (although today we are, with the snow flying around :), and only a few Spring-like days sprinkled here and there, making people a little testy.....and I REALLY don't like being around depressing people, being forever the optimist....Just my two cents worth. I have been doing a lot of scrapbooking lately, and I love that! Here's a few: Love, love this pic of Fritz that Stan got...and no photoshop here, he just got an amazing pic of him on top of a hill, while he was below him. I did a lot of machine stitching oon this, on every layer, and finally used an old Nostaligiques velvet band that I've had forever! And, these, of Griffin, out bird hunting with his dog, Remi. I used some of my fav. Narrative rub-ons (I'm so sad that this last show had Karen's (Russell) last release in it....I will sooooo miss her stuff!!! And I can't go before I post the cute flyer Davinie (Fiero) made for our 'Spring Into Scrapping' event: We're pretty close to filling it up, just a few tickets left, should be a fun night!

February 8, 2009, and a New Layout and Card!

I wouldn't say my mojo is back, but I MADE myself finish something, regardless of how anxious my mental state is.... I've had a lot of people coming in the store and browsing for a long time...then leaving empty-handed....it just churns my stomach....that I don't have something for them here. With that in mind, I made myself purposefully bring photos to work, no paper or embellishments from home and see how hard it was to pull off a layout....it was SOOO easy...not saying it's my best work ever, but there is plenty of stock here, trust me! Here is the layout: Here is the thank you card: The card was made with a Sassafras sticker behind the bird, which was cut from a Heidi Swapp Silhouette, the sentiment from Daisy Bucket stamps, and the frame from Pink Paislee. Heading home to watch the Grammy's, Ashley is coming over for a sleep-over to watch....I look forward to the Grammy's every year, and Seth is still home, Taylor is coming over for dinner and it should be a good, fun family night! :) Take Care....

February 5, 2009 ~ Love Letters

That is, the new Valentine line from Little Yellow Bicycle! Very fun and versatile, not JUST for Valentines, and the cutest little 6x6 pad of decorative-edged papers.... It does mean it's time to get busy and make some Valentine's thoughj... I haven't been blogging much, because there just isn't much to talk about around here, things are pretty quiet, and frankly, I'm getting a little bored. I'm usually pretty good about keeping myself busy, but I don't seem too much 'get up and go,' and don't ask me where my mojo went...I haven't seen it for awhile. I did start a layout last night, now let's see if I can finish it??? I'll post tomorrow if I can get it done! Have a great day :)