Category Archives: Life

COLD!

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It is supposed to be in the teens tonight! EEEEEK Central Texas is not a very snowy place and we really don’t get but one or two days or nights of such cold every year. But, when it happens I think of the triple digit weather we get in the summer and wonder what gives. You just get it all here for sure.

We finally got our fireplace working. The chimney dude came out and put a top on the chimney and hubby found a chimney cap with the help of yours truly. It was right there on the shelf but he could not see it cause the picture on the box was turned towards the back. I know he can read, he does very well at reading, but he just missed this box the five other times he was looking for it.I had photos of Ink E. enjoying the fire but they got erased off my camera – I was trying to figure out how to use the storage part of it and apparently the photos taken by the camera in the phone are stored in the same place.

This weekend after my Saturday class I started on a project for the store – I make samples for them in return for merchandise. I really like how this one came out. It is made from a fabric that starts dark at one selvage and fades to almost white at the other side. The shop has about ten bolts of this fabric, but is has not been selling so the idea was that I would make a sample of something made from it to show it off. The fabric is called Batik Cascade by Avlyn. It is only 37″x 25″ inches but it took me seven hours to make it. (That includes the free motion quilting and binding.) With all those tiny squares, it took about as much work as a full size quilt. But, I would love to make a full size quilt like this. It was so easy to do.

Batik Cascade sample pieceBacking+

Batik Cascade sample piece

Posted in Life, quilting

Big News All Around!

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It’s hard to decide which is the biggest news to start with! so without any order here it all is:

I am now at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking – a major big store and I am thrilled.I have about 15 products uploaded so far and will be working on getting more in the store in the weeks to come.

I got a brand new computer! It has 8 GB of memory and a 580 GB hard drive. Walmart had it for soooo cheap, I could not resist. Though I did wait for about a month to be sure I was really wanting it.

I finally broke down and purchased that software that was eating at me – it cost more than the computer! After waiting since last Fall, I just could not see putting the old Adobe software on my brand new computer.

We got a baby crib for the grandson for when he visits – so much nicer for him, his mama and the rest of us. I first redid that guest room to make it look nice and inviting and then added the crib. It did not cost anymore than the taxes on the software I got from Adobe, so I figured why not.

Grandson is growing and can now roll over from stomach to back. Not so fun for his mama as he can’t yet get back to his tummy again and won’t sleep on his back. They were just here for a few days and it was great to see both of them. He is not one to be rocked to sleep, but is such a wiggle worm! But, when it is time for bed, his mama just has to lay him down and out he goes. I just don’t remember it being that easy for my two babies.

So there you have it, my news! all of it is very exciting to me, perhaps you will rejoice a little with me? I hope to get better again at this blog stuff, so be looking for some freebies and all in the days ahead.

Posted in Family, Life, Scrapping Journal

Casual Day Friday with a CU freebie

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I declared today casual day here. That means I don’t have to feel guilty about not getting dressed and wearing my mu-mu and robe all day long. I feel very lazy today and just want to get to work instead of doing all that dressing thing and combing the hair. Though, I did brush my teeth out of respect for the cats.

Hubby is out of town and DD and grandson left yesterday so we are all alone and loving the freedom.

We got some rain today–a bunch and boy we sure can use it. but now at mid day it seems to have stopped. The NOAH site says we should get some more. I hope so. It really is so dry and brown out there even with the rain we have had this week. The burn ban was lifted temporarily so the local farmers and ranchers could burn what they had piled up, but we still cannot have fires in the fire circle where we would love to cook hot dogs and sit around on the weekends.

MOVING ON

We finally got our taxes done. It took two trips and two returns to do it. I felt so stupid that I had not got all the stuff together but actually thought it was covered. See, I had this large brown envelope on my desk that I had been stuffing all tax stuff and it should have just be a matter of grabbing that envelope and going. But, it turned out that there were things that did not make it into that envelope. While at H & R Block questions arose that there were no papers to answer.

When we got home, I discovered several more 1099’s and so hubby had to go back the next day. Meanwhile, I spent the remainder of the day sorting, trashing and getting all the papers I could out of my office. Hubby then burned them all in a trash barrel when he got home. It took the better part of two hours to burn all those papers, that is how much there was. My filing cabinet drawer was stuffed, front to back when I started and now it is only half full. I found things from 30 years ago! But, it is all cleaned out now.

I remember going through my mother’s filing cabinet when she was moving one time and finding things like that. Now that she is in an assisted living home, my sister has had to go through all her papers and things and I just don’t want my daughters to have to weed through all my junk sometime in the future. So, now they won’t have to.

THE FREEBIE

Today’s freebie is a bow for you to recolor. The files include a ribbon too so you can match the bow up to a ribbon. Please note, there is only one bow, I just wanted to show it in different colors so you could see how well it takes the colors.

[download#59#image]

Posted in Freebies, Life

Happy April Fool’s Day!

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I’ve looked up April Fool’s day on Google and have come up with several different versions of why it came into existence. Snopes has several of them listed.

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/aprilfools/origins.asp

I did find that supposedly in Scotland, April Fool’s day is celebrated for two days and that the second day is devoted to tricks associated to the rear end. Hmmm….like sticking a sticky note on a chair that sticks to someone’s rear end and it says,”kick me”! Anyone from Scotland wanna comment on this?

Some quotes I thought appropriate for this day:

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” Ralhp Waldo Emerson

“If it’s not fun, you’re not doing it right.” Bob Basso

“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” Dale Carnegie

“He who does not get fun and enjoyment out of every day needs to reorganize his life.” George Matthew Adams

To help you celebrate the day, I have made some balloons! (please not daughter, that I made the preview color co-ordinated!) There are three of them, but you can duplicate and recolor them to make a whole herd of balloons.

Blog Balloons

Blog Balloons

[download#55#image]

Posted in Freebies, Life

The nails are gone! Plus a CU Freebie

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I hate it, but they had to go. For years I have always had acrylic nails and found them to be most satisfactory. But, living out here in the boonies it started to become too much of a hassle. When the week began to be scheduled around the trip to town to get the nails done then I realized that I was being too vain. Plus there was the fact that hubby insisted on coming in with me and he had to wait around for the hour or more that it took to get them done.

But, gosh they look UGLY! I know part of it is because of the damage done to them from the acrylic overlays. But, I also know they don’t really look much better without all that damage. My nails are very thin and very flexible even when no damage has been done to them and they peel and break down to the quick. This was always my rationale for getting those fake things.

I have consoled myself that I will get manicures at least every two weeks for a while until the worst grows out. But, of course that is defeating the purpose of getting the acrylics off. Plus, just how much can one do to these poor things before they start complaining. They already are sore from being broken down to the quick.

Oh, well, I am sure this is all exciting to you-LOL

I’ve been the little miss Susie home maker lately and have really discovered the joy of cooking, or perhaps I should say baking. Yesterday I made some pumpernickel bread and really loved how easy it was to do with my Kitchen Aid mixer and dough hook. Since last Fall, I have been picking up pumpernickel bread at the grocery store when I can find it. It has such rich taste and is more than just bread. So, I decided that I must be able to make my own since it is not always available at the store. But, looking through the online stores and at the recipes for pumpernickel bread I realized that it would be an expensive project due to the special flours and ingredients in the stuff. Then, I realized that I could get the mixes instead. So I searched online and found a store that sold bread mixes that also can be used without a bread maker. And voila! I got my pumpernickel bread mix.

Here is all that is left this morning. I sent half of the loaf home with the brother in law so we really were not that piggy.

pumpernickel bread

pumpernickel bread

It is smelling better today, the second day that it did yesterday when I took it out of the oven!

So today to make up for not posting for a while, I have a freebie for you. It is an overlay that I made out of some images I had in my vault. It’s Commercial Use OK.

[download#52#image]

Posted in Freebies, Life

Kicked to the curb!

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Yep that is what I feel like. I have been trying to figure out a way to get my adobe software for several weeks now. On the Adobe site there was this special that reduced the upgrade price by $200. It still would have been lots and lots of bucks, but I could have barely afforded it. Well, I cannot find my disk for the original program that would be upgraded==Macromedia MX2004. They say they have no record of me registering it–of course they don’t they did not own Macromedia in those days and of course they don’t care. This one girl said, “why don’t you just get the full version?” Well, duh, the full version of the product is about a thousand bucks! and then to add in the photoshop and illustrator would be another $600.

So, I discover on their website that they have educational prices–way, way reduced prices . . . like $1000 cheaper! (Ya, this stuff is expensive big time) So, hey, I am a retired schoolteacher, I could use the discount as much as any other person in education. But, wrong! Oh no, you have to be currently working in the education field not retired. Who cares that Texas disabled and retired teachers don’t make squat! They got their use out of us and now we are kicked to the curb.

Sigh, vent over. I am going to start saving my pennies. Maybe I will have enough by the time the next version comes out.

Moving ON

Today’s photo, or should I say tonight’s photo pays tribute to my faithful companion, Clio. The little lady is such a comfort to me. She craves lap time. If she feels she has not got enough time in my lap, she comes to the computer room and starts tapping at my elbow to let me know it is time to go to the chair! She spends many an hour by my side here in the computer room, looking out the window or rolled up in a bed. Tonight she is in the bed by my chair waiting for me to call it quits. Doesn’t she look sweet?

Do you think I need to get her a larger bed? LOL

Moving on

Do you all find it easy to sleep in, or are you one of those that are up at the crack of dawn? My family will attest to the fact that I am a sleeper in from way back. Sleeping in until noon is my favorite thing to do and I love to stay up most the night for a good sleep in.

But no more. It doesn’t matter what time I get to bed anymore, I am up around dawn. Of course, dawn has been around 7:30 or 8:00 so that is not too bad. I miss the sleeping in, but am getting a lot done! But what happens when dawn is earlier and earlier towards the middle of summer? will I be able to at least stay in bed past 7:00?

I sure hope this is not one of those age things. You know how some elderly people tend to sleep less and less–am I going to be one of those? Please NOOOOOOO! I love my bed!

Oh and because I have to give equal billing, here is Dayton–he is watching me to be sure he gets in. He will be mean to Clio if he doesn’t get in. So, please bear with me.

Posted in Cats, Life, Rant

COLD! a freebie and other stuff

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So we can say winter is really here. When it got so cold early in December we just shook our heads and said WOW such a cold snap, and so early too! But, now it is no longer cold snaps, but winter itself. I truly believe this winter is colder and has less warm days than the past five winters. If only it would bring rain and the wet stuff as well. At least the prickly pear cactus is being pruned back by the freezes. That has not happened in several winters and they were beginning to take over the pastures.

It did not help that our water was out just before Christmas–that was a joy believe me. NO hot water until the end of Christmas day. Hubby spent all of Christmas day getting it back on line. Then, earlier this week we lost electricity. There had been ice on the trees and it was not melting off when the sun came up and it was more than the power lines could handle. Of course, a little rain is more than the power lines around here can handle. Just another joy of living out in the country.

Moving ON

DigiScrapStation is looking for CT members, here is an ad about it.

Moving ON

Challenge Gift–Get this challenge gift at Divine Digital–it is an add on to my Whispers of the Forest kit. Purchase the kit for $2, create a layout and get this add on for participating in my challenge. The challenge is at: http://www.divinedigital.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9083

And Finally!! THE FREEBIE

I made some frames while trying to figure out a new Photoshop Action. The action is not made yet, but I thought you all would like some of the samples I made in deciding how the frames should be made. So here they are. (Those two sweet ladies are my hubby’s sister and cousin. Two of the grandest ladies around!)

[download#47#image]

Posted in country living, Freebies, Life, Store Stuff

Christmas is coming for sure

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Have you got all your preparations done for Christmas? In our house it just does nt seem like it is going to happen. There is no tree, no decorations and nothing to tell anyone that it is that time of year. We used to do that big routine, tree, presents, lots and lots of decorations. But, lately it just doesn’t seem worth the effort. No one is expected to visit, there are no drop ins to be allowed for, and well, with just the two of us, it just doesn’t seem worth while to spend hours and hours decorating the house.

We have just about finished our present shopping. Just three more people to buy for and then that will be all. I was going to try and make a few things, but might not have the time.

But, please notice, I did decorate my blog and the store!

Missie Update

I sent an email to find out if there was any news about Missie and got a reply from her son just a few minutes ago. There is no change. Missie still has not woke up. He says her body is slowly breaking down and they just wait and try to keep her company, talking to her and spending time with her. He said to please let everyone know they appreciate eveything, the email, the prayers, the thoughts and the candles.

This has got to be one of the most difficult things a family has to do is wait by the bedside of one who is dying. I cannot concieve of the agony they are going through.

Moving On

I don’t have any new products in the stores, but wanna just tease about a new kit I am working on. It has trees, a cardinal, a fairy of a different sort, a unicorn and well, I just had to make you all a sneek peek of the kit. See what you can discover about the kit below. And you are going to just LOVE the price when it get reavealed!

Moving ON

Oops, hubby came in the door. He was out of town for overnight and now is back. That means I have to behave now. No more staying up til 5 in the morning for me.

CU Freebie for you all

I made a few overlays for you all. There are three patterns, two edges and one texture overlay in this set. I also included a sample paper I made. These are Christmas themed so enjoy. The edges are red and green, but you can change the color quite easily on them for other purposes.

[download#42#image]

Posted in Family, Freebies, Life

Housecleaning

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Why do I hate vacuming so much? I did not realize this until lately. We used to live in a house with wood floors so it was not a big problem to keep them clean. The broom handled messes very easily and it was so easy to spot clean here and there. But, with carpets you have to get out the vacum cleaner, plug it in, move furniture around and since you are doing all that you might as well make a good job of it while you are at it –such a hassle!

But I kept on and got it done –well mostly done. There is still the bedroom to vacum and the bathroom. Hubby just does not understand why I don’t like carpet in the bathroom. He says I would just cover up a wood floor with scatter rugs anyway. Ya gotta love them. Yes, I would put scatter rugs in there, but they would be rugs I could put in the washer whenever I felt the need. The way it is now, I imagine all sorts of evil going on under that carpet in that bathroom. Just gives me the creeps.

Moving ON

So, now I am on an origami kick. I am trying to come up with hybrid Christmas Ornaments but every one I can find has hundreds of little folds or requires you to make 400 pieces or something. While that would be a fun thing for me to do, I don’t believe I would be the norm on that.

But I am amazed at how much it has changed since the last time I looked into origami. In my youth we made cranes and frogs and stuff. Then, later during my teaching days we made fancy package toppers. But the items I am finding now are totally way beyond anything I ever did before. They even have some new names for it –Kusudama, Sonobe and modular origami. And now I am seeing GLUE and STAPLES –that was a big no-no before. I think I found one I can modify to make it a little easier to make and for making directions. But, it is going to take some time.

Moving ON

I made a layout! actually I made two layouts. One I made at the Speed Scrap that Crazy Diamond hosts every Saturday night. This last Saturday, we baptized the new Chat room software I purchased. There were a few ladies with problems logging in but that was solved–was a pop up blocker for one and a password error for the other. Here is the layout I made. Click on it to go to the gallery for the credits.

layout

 

Then, Tuesday, I made another layout –I’m on a roll here, two layouts in one week! This was some photos hubby took when we went riding on the Gold Wing on Sunday. Those rides are so nice. This one is also linked to the gallery so you can see the credits.

layout

Bye for now, off to do some more paper folding.

Posted in Life, Scrapping Journal

Rain!!

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WE had rain!! almost two inches of rain fell in the past 24 hours here in parched Central Texas. It has not been wise to burn trash, throw cig’s out of car windows or to even use the welding torch out in the pasture. It was so dry we had to give up on our elephant ears this summer and barely kept the zinnias growing.

But, it rained!! It is fun to say that it rained as it makes me feel oh so good inside and fresh. The rain is gone now, but maybe it will remember it’s way back to come back again.  When I went to the mail box this afternoon the wind was blowing so hard I wondered if my glasses would come off. We have a cold front moving in and just maybe that means that the hot dry summer is over. Ninety degree heat in October is really pushing summer into the wrong part of the year. We also, might just start getting a little more rain with the colder weather.

Moving ON

A GOOD tech support report! I finally bit the bullet and called HP tech support over the scanner again. Last time I called we worked on it for 3 hours and then I had to go as I had company at my door. But, I really wanted that scanner to work. So I called again today. After looking at the clock and deciding that if it ran more than two hours, I could call hubbie on the cell phone, I dug out the ticket number given me from the last call. After waiting for just a short period of time, I got Daphne on the phone, gave her control of my computer and watched her work. It is just so much fun to watch someone take over your computer from half way across the world. (I knew this was coming so I cleaned up a bit on the desktop first.) She went here and there deleting files and searching and deleting more files til finally after about 45 minutes she restarted the computer and THEN installed the software that was being difficult before. AND IT WORKED!! It only took about an hour and a half and my scanner works now!! To celebrate I created some distressed folded and worn papers to scan in and created a new product for the stores.

They are five folded and worn overlays to give your papers that great aged look. The edges are a little messed up and they are not quite 12 x 12 as you need to be able to show the edges when working with layouts. I have noticed the the new thing lately seems to be stacking stuff. This will work great for that. This is beig uploaded to my stores right now as I type this in. You can find it in my stores at DigiScrapStation, Divine Digital, and ScrappersZone.

I created a layout with one of these on a photo of Clio to see how it would work on photos instead. It’s really subtle but I like it.

By the way, you can get this kit, Old Juniper by participating in my Ad Challenge at DigiScrapStation. The link will take you right to this month’s challenge. In the layout, Clio is being all fierce and protective of my purse. I think she was waiting for me to leave so she could smack Dayton a time or two. When I have been gone for an hour or two and come back I find tufts of hair on the carpet like they have been having a wrestling match. Clio is always waiting for me on top of the freezer which means she won the coveted positon. The two of them just don’t share sleeping spots at all.

 

Posted in Cats, country living, Life, Scrapping Journal
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