Sunday, January 31, 2010

More



SNOW.....AGAIN



Here are some of the pictures, around our house showing the little amount of snow we received. I guess we are very lucky to live on the west end of the city since the East end got hammered!

Altered Tissue Box



I cased this altered tissue box from stamp tv....Gina K designs....I really like the look of this and it will hold so many things. I used decorative paper, ribbon, score tape, spellbinders dies and stamps from my stash. I plan on doing more of these since they are not too complicated.

Our weather was awful yesterday and very cold today. We didn't have that much snow to stick, because it kept changing from freezing rain, to snow to rain, back to freezing rain and on and on. We only have about 2" on the ground. Nothing moving much this morning, however, it is still early. I plan to take pictures later and will post them then. Have a wonderful Sunday....

Thursday, January 28, 2010

UPDATE ON BRET....



I cannot tell you how happy we are to have Bret in our family! He is such a good dog. We could not have anticipated that he would fit in so well. We have grown to love him so much. Gypsie is a new girl. She has a sparkle in her eye we have not seen for a long time. She gets feisty and jumps around when you go out to see her. We also did not anticipate quite this change in her. She is almost like a puppy. She is moving around and beginning to look like she might be loosing some weight. We are so thankful that Bret is not overbearing and lets her have some space too. He is such a good fit. We still miss Max and will for some time. Bret was for Gypsie totally and it looks like he might just edge his way into our hearts as well.

We are anticipating a snow storm tomorrow and Saturday. Looks like snow, ice, rain and more snow for most areas. It could get nasty around here. If you have to be out in it, please be careful.

More later, Its time for me to move on tonight!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Can you Believe it...I'ts MONDAY Again!



This is my very first Valentine Card this year...Sorry I'm running late and cannot give all the details for this card. I hope you enjoy the picture...I'm moving a little slow this morning....Head is full and eyes and nose running. Not sure if it is Sinus or Allergy, however, very miserable at this point. It it is more than allergy, I have a doctor's appt. this week and can take care of it at that point. Hope you have a wonderful day and I must sludge myself toward the coffee pot and then on to the shower. Snow in the forecast for today and tonight.

Friday, January 22, 2010

TGIF!!!!!!



Moving right along...I am up to June with my Calendar and let me just say I am having a really fun time doing these. I always have this project to fall back on when I sit down and just don't know where to begin. June is a lovely month and I really love roses so this was a snap for me. I'm not going into a great deal of detail on this card. Recipe: Cardstock from Gina K design, Swiss Dot cuttlebug folder, Spellbinders Labels Die, Fourishes stamps, Copic Markers, White Ribbon purchased from Walmart, and Zots.

Have a great day! And let me just say, for all you people going to California to CHA....I am so jealous!!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

THIS PROVES IT!



I know this is two entries in one morning, but I had to show this picture of Maggie...As we live in the country with fields near our house we can get a mouse inside now and then. Well we have had one for awhile now and it must have gotten under a baseboard because Maggie would stand for hours looking at the baseboard. She is totally engrossed with it. Now I am sure that little mouse didn't stay there all that time but she has stood for days now. For a couple of months now she has done this at several places in our house. She gets so tired she just falls over asleep! So I put her bed close by so she could sleep. I have always said she sleeps with "Radar Up" which is her ears up and one eye open. This picture proves it. I know this is probably not acceptable behavior, but it does keep her occupied.

NO PICTURES AGAIN!

I have taken pictures, but have not taken the time to put onto my computer and transfer to my blog! I must be getting old. When I think of doing this, I get sidetracked and wind up doing something else altogether different. I have made a couple of Valentine Cards and can't seem to get them here. Sorry for that, I will try to do better. My crafting area is getting smaller and smaller and I find it is very hard to stay focused. It is so hard to be creative if you can't find anything and I mostly can't find ANYTHING! I am at the stage if I don't see it...I must not have it. It is a shame to have all these stamps and have them hidden away, therefore, I don't have them and they never get used! Can you tell I'm on a caffeine rush this morning?

Well it is raining again this morning and getting to be quite a mess around here. Lots of mud and brown going on. At least the temps are nicer at 47 degrees this morning.

Have a blessed day!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Tuesday feels like Friday....

It is only Tuesday, and I feel it should be Friday already. I had 1/2 day off yesterday but didn't feel very well. Nothing I could put my finger on, just sluggish and cold. Now I know that sounds crazy when the temps are moderating here, but I just couldn't seem to get warm. Laid on Sofa most of afternoon. Hoping today will be better. I just feel a little off. No pictures to post today, didn't do anything creative....

Have a great day!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

APRIL CALENDAR



Here is a picture of my March Calendar. Another flower stamp from Flourishes "A Year of Flowers" set. These stamps are just right for using copic markers. I used a Spellbinders die to cut the stamped image and embossed it...then a few pearls and the calendar is ready to go. I also used a Martha Stewart Border punch and sponged color onto that edge. Hope you like it...

Saturday, January 16, 2010

YEA, IT'S SATURDAY!

Another week under our belt! It has been a very long week and I'm embracing the weekend! It doesn't even bother me that I have housework to do. I don't care.
I hope to have a little me time to create a little. Things are backing up and i need to get busy. Times awaisting! More tomorrow. I hope to have another Calendar to post.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

UPDATE ON BRET....

All is well at the Brooks house...Bret is fitting right into the mix of animals here. When I had 1/2 day off Monday, I came home and let Bret and Gypsie out for a run in the yard. He was so happy to be able to roam free. Gypsie walked with him around the yard several times and being the tubby lady that she is, she had to lay down to rest. Bret had been loping along not full out running, and you could tell he was having the time of his life. When Gyspie laid down, he would jump over her and just keep running along. It was so funny to watch. After they were fed their supper, they went into the enclosure where it is warmer and went to sleep. All was quiet all night long. Gypsie is loving it all. She has stopped laying next to where Max died and it seems her grieving process is ending. Bret will be so good for her, she is moving around and has someone to spend time with. We are so proud of the way Bret is fitting in. The lady at the pound said she couldn't say anything bad about him and I'm finding that to be very true. It looks like we made a good decision. Now if we can just continue to feed them! Ha...Ha..

Have a wonderful day, and dress warmly. It is 15 degrees here this morning.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

MARCH CALENDAR



This is my March calendar, using the Flourishes A Year of Flowers stamp set, colored with copic markers and then cut out using Spellbinders circle nestabilities die then while still in the die I used a cotton ball to add some green ink as a background color. I also used heavy weight card stock in an olive color from Gina K designs and used a Martha Stewart border punch for the top and bottom of the card. Add a few olive buttons and done! I really love being able to use all the colors and designs to add a little punch to my design. These little calendars are like mini cards. Each one is different and you can add as much or as little as you want.

Have a great day!

Monday, January 11, 2010

FEBURARY CALENDAR......



Here is the picture of my calendar for February...as you can see my photo's are not improving very much. I just need more time to decide on lighting. I used another stamp from Flourishes (A year of Flowers) colored with copic markers, then I used spellbinders labels dies and used a cotton ball to color around the flower then I used some distress ink to add depth around the edges. I'm slowing up a little and need motivation to continue with additional months.

Today is my 1/2 day off so I am looking forward to coming home and working on another month or two.

Have a blessed day and try to stay warm!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

BRET




Here is the picture of Bret I promised. He is very healthy and very strong...I'm very impressed with him coming from a shelter. But I cannot stress enough how all their animals were very healthy and strong. They take extremely good care of their animals. We have kept both dogs up this weekend because of the extremely cold temps.
We are hoping for moderating temps in a day or so and we can then let them out into the whole back yard. Bret has spend his whole adult life in a large run with an igloo dog house, but it is still a cage. We are so looking forward to turning him loose.

2010 CALENDAR



I have been working on a calendar for 2010. I am using clear stamps from Flourishes. I really love these flower stamps but I'm not really sharp on taking the pictures yet. I just point & shoot and am trying to learn more about my camera.

It is so cold here again this morning. A brisk 17 degrees outside. Warmer than yesterday when we registered 9. Too cold to stick your head outside for very long at a time! Hoping for warmer temps soon. This is day 8 I think of sub-zero temps.
I like cold weather, but this is just crazy.

We have a new addition to our family....Bret...He is a shephard, huskey mix; 6 years old and found at Noah's Ark no kill shelter. He was picked up at a school several years ago where the teacher and class had been feeding him. When school was out for summer they called Noah's Ark to come and get him. We are keeping him and Gypsie up for the extreme cold days. I'm hoping to take pictures today to show you. He is very agreeable and I don't think we will have any problems at all with him. Hoping he will be company for Gypsie. She has really been grieving for Max and we decided it was time to bring her a companion.

Friday, January 8, 2010

SNOW.....

What a treat, or should I say disaster....It is 13 degrees here and a light powdery snow on the ground. This is the 7th day of below freezing temps and we are beginning to really feel the cold. Not much snow, but very slippery around here. Many people have had accidents just trying to get home. All schools are closed and nothing seems to be moving outside. Now there is only about 1" of snow around here, but believe me it can be treacherous. I don't have to go to work unless I just want to be silly. When the community college closes our business is virtually closed unless you can make it safely. We will make a decision a little later about whether I go or not. I got to tell you I'm not looking forward to braving the cold and snow just to go to work. More later.......

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

DAY 2 OF BACK TO WORK

Yes I only had to do 1/2 day yesterday and I must say that was really an easy way to ease back into the schedule. Some of my work had been done by another girl in the office so I was not soooo far behind. And inventory worked like a charm. I was allowed to sit in the truck and my boss yelled at me the numbers so I didn't have to trudge through the cold temps. And let me just say it has really been cold around here the last few days and yesterday it snowed most of the day. No accumulations but man it was COLD. Today seems to be starting out just like yesterday. It is 16 here this morning. If you are familiar with East Tennessee then you know how our temps jump up and down, but for it to be this cold for any extended time is very unusual these days. Normally our days are 40...ish and nights are 30...ish. Maybe this will kill some bugs!

Hope you have a wonderful day and please stay warm out there.

Monday, January 4, 2010

WORK!!!!!!!!!

It is Monday 1-4-2010 and I have to go back to work after a much needed vacation, rest period...I am not a happy camper to say the least. It is 15 degrees with a wind chill of I can't imagine what and I need to put on everything I own because I must take inventory this AM. Yes outside and walking....I'm not sure a 60 year old woman should have to do this. I think that is above and beyond the call of duty. I'm gonna DIE!!! Well one bright spot...they will probably make me take 1/2 day off this afternoon. So I will just be farther behind than usual. (a week and a day)
Oh well I pride myself on not letting it get to me. I just do one thing at a time and just keep plugging along.

I have been working on some things, but i haven't taken time to take pictures yet. Just lazy this last 8 or 9 days. Hey, isn't that what Vacations are for? We did go
to a local No Kill Shelter yesterday and looked for a dog to be with our female lab dog. She seems so lonesome since Max passed. I wanted a female, but the lady only showed us males so I'm leaving it up to my dear husband to make the decision. There were three there that he is interested in and I would love to bring them all home, however, we cannot feed that many. I was so impressed with the shelter....All dogs were very healthy looking and most were very friendly...Lots of noise, but I was dumbfounded to find out they never kill the animals. I saw one dog that is 13 and has been there many of those 13. She will live out her last days there. Such a comfort. A very good thing to support this type of shelter.

Well I must jump and run, it is almost time to hit the shower and I do need another cup of coffee before I can face this day. Think of me as I go take inventory in this bitter cold weather.