This Moment Today.........

So we are back to winter and birthday party

2012-02-12T19:42:00.000-05:00

We had a calm week with just some left over snow until Friday.I moved my office downtown on Tuesday. I have a very nice, large cubicle with lots of space for storage--not enough junk to fill it as I have moved so much, I have pared way down. Still trying to get organized but after some adjustments, I can do my work. Sandy came over to see it and we went for lunch on Wednesday. I really miss all the girls at Blodgett and all the fun we had. There are other depts in this large office so generally quiet. The people seem friendly enough. I have found some nice areas to go for walks and haven't flushed a john yet!!!! LOL

We did have a full moon this week and got a few shots one morning....

The snow started mid morning on Friday and it took us 1 hour to get home--here it is...

Saturday we woke up to bright sunshine but did get cloudier later and we had some more snow...

Don't you just love this look....................

A cardinal made his appearance also....

Dixon watching the birds....

Truman chillin........

My Mom is having her 93rd birthday on Monday the 13th so we had a family party on Saturday. Paul and Bonnie flew in from Florida and we had a great time--took lots of pictures...

Sandy with Audyn--she is so cute...

Emory..........

Molly...

Audyn

Kyle, Stacey and Audyn...

My Mom arrived...

Paul and John playing

Then on to the food--Dee's famous cheese bread

Homemade chili, chicken noodle soup and cheddar brocolli

And salads to start....

Lexus, Taylor and Arielle..

Molly

Emory

John wanted to sit next to Grandma Rose

Dee as a surprise made our family's favorite butterscotch pie--came from my Aunt Mary years ago-I used to ask for it on my birthday rather than cake--it was gone as every one in our family loves it. We also had hot fudge sundaes and left over birthday cake.

Stephanie and Audyn..

lots of cards to open and some flowers and candy for the birthday girl

Then on to family pictures....................

Four generations................

Kelli and Jamie's family

So a fun time was had by all and Mom tells me she is pooped today but has a lot of visitors lined up for this week.

I have been working on some new swaps I am doing plus finishing up my altered book Round Robin. Today I made to big casseroles to freeze so I have something to eat quick when I come home from work during the week as I am lazy.

Crazy winter

2012-02-05T16:59:00.000-05:00

So we have lost almost all our snow--except piles by the driveway and it has been in the high 30s to 50 this week. Doesn't seem much like Feb to me. Makes me think of gardening....

I found out this week that I will be moving my work location back downtown to 25 Michigan on the third floor where other people in my dept and other depts work. I will miss all the fun I have had with the people I work with at Blodgett. I did take a little tour down there on Friday so I won't get lost-- I have a really nice big cubicle--actually better than I have ever had-no outside view anymore but since I walk around a lot, that won't matter. It is all connected to 35 Michigan which is connected the Children's Hospital so that will be nice. Need to pack everything up tomorrow as movers are coming to get my stuff at 3pm.

Some fun cats pics--not sure what Dixon is doing--such a character....

catching a few rays by slider

Truman enjoying feather bed before I re-made it ....

Since I didn't have a whole lot of pictures this week, I took some of artwork around my house-most I have done or have been part of.........

lots of fatbooks and mini books.....

Cross stitch sampler I completed in 1976--many hours in that...

wall hanging I made at a class...

Made this out of 2 pieces of posterboard in a class years ago

My hallway--shadowbox has my baby dress given to me by my grandfather who died when I was a year along with a picture of me wearing it, shows I wore, my Steiff bear and a cute pin from my childhood.

Doll in pink is from my childhood-I have a huge doll and bear collection, I may take more pictures of and show them.

Dixon on top of computer desk.....

Sunset

cardinal in the weeds today....

Doesn't it look like spring???

I got a lot done this weekend--5 loads of wash, did my entire bedding, ran dishwasher, did my taxes on line, got caught up on emails, cleaned out some cupboards--working on purging some stuff, etc.
Next weekend we are having a big family party on Saturday for my Mom who will be 93 on the 13th. We are having salads, soups, cheese bread and ice cream sundaes for dessert. It will be at lunch time as that is easier for her. Paul and Bonnie are flying in from Florida for it.
Friday will be the one year anniversary of getting Dixon and Truman......

It's either snow or sun........

2012-01-29T15:52:00.000-05:00

It's been a crazy week for January--either snowing or dry and warmer. Winter came back Friday night and has stayed since then--really like a blizzard this morning.
This is yesterday morning...

Not sure they care--morning nap time..
I was lucky enough to spend the whole day doing art--I had to do 25 pages for Photoart journal swap done--the theme was transportation and I found some pictures from Guatemala to use. Then I have been working on 3 sewing circles for a Red Lead swap--done,,,

I used a picture of myself(on right), sister Dee and my cousins Kathy and Sue as it was 1950s vintage

Out my back windows in am--snow stuck everywhere

Then the sun came out but it was cold and windy...

I thought this cloud looked like a heart...

pink sunset....

Look at that winter sky---more snow coming.......

Today I work up to this....

This is what it looked like most of the time....

This afternoon it quit snowing and sun in and out...

I also have been working on 2 fatbook swaps and got those done today--forgot to scan them before I packed them up to be mailed. One is "White on white" and the other is "Holiday"

Now I just have a swap due for 10 tipins for altered books, finish a spread in my altered book round robin and try to find my work area as it seems to be getting smaller every time I make something. Oh well.
Here are some pictures I took one night of Dixon and Fritz bonding...

Well back to another work week--I guess I am ready to retire as that doesn't seem as inviting as it used to. Well off to play games and play in Pinterest.......

It's still all about the snow

2012-01-22T15:24:00.000-05:00

Still with snow and cold most of the week--even rain and thunder one day. When the sun is old, it is beautiful...

Thursday night--between snow storms

Through the front window

Holly bushes

family reunion

Some cute cats................

Love that face...

Cardinals were out eating crabapples

Best I could get with the male

another little visitor

Well another fun week at work-NOT. I am getting tired of all the uncertainty and lack of communication. At least I have a job-looking forward to retirement every day!!!
I have been busy with swaps I am doing and an online class which I am not really doing anything for-just watching the videos. Plus I have a lot of wildlife cams I keep up with....

It's all about SNOW!!!

2012-01-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

So we have snow and lots of it finally in Michigan-it is the fluffy stuff and so beautiful-I took over 90 pictures-couldn't stop. Today it is sunny and breezy so it is falling off the trees but still cold-only 24 right now. Wind chill was 3 this am....
First night, it starts...

Here we are going home from work.....

It snowed continuously all day Saturday into the night....

Fritz looking out front window

Dixon joins him--might miss something he thinks!!

cardinal in neighbor's tree--female came through also

Lest you think I did nothing bur take pictures on Saturday, I did get all my Christmas stuff taken down and put away and everything back to normal which involves a lot of trips to the basement. I also watered plants and worked on several swaps I am in. I then went pout for dinner with Sandy and to Meijers to get groceries--it was snowing like crazy but Sandy was driving!!
Today it ids not snowing and sun came out for a while....

I just love the crabapple tree...

The snow seems to be settling a lot. I have been shoveling the sidewalk and my walk as I have the driveway done-so getting my exercise. I have been painting some things for my swaps today-just waiting for some drying to occur.
Back to work tomorrow--another busy week I am sure..............

Scrapbooking weekend

2012-01-08T16:04:00.000-05:00

I had a short week at work, snow melted and temps were mild so on Thursday we went out to Holland to the Haworth Inn at Hope College for our annual scrapbook retreat-lovely rooms, great food and wonderful room to work in.

Boxed dinner on Thursday night

Chocolate Decadence

Our room for both nights

Sandy sat across from me so I took pictures of her

Friday lunchtime

Chicken salad--wonderful

Dinner time

Prosciutto wrapped chicken--it was wonderful

Apple crisp mini layered dessert

I took a couple of pictures outside to show the lack of snow

lunch on Saturday--wrapped trio

Our group picture..........

A fun time was had by all. I actually got 113 pages done which is way more than I ever do so was real pleased with that. Need to put them all in albums and organize some...

I did get some cute shots of the cats.........

They were just hanging out on back of couch....
Well it is back to work this week--yikes I am not ready for it!!!

Happy New Year again

2012-01-02T20:22:00.000-05:00

Between working and all the other things I had to do, I finally got a chance to download pictures and write a blog post.
Sandy and I went to Judi and Sue's house after I got out of work on Friday for our annual New Year's Eve stamp fest--we did it a night earlier as I had to work on Sunday. We had great food, fun times and did a lot of stamping in the New Craft room....

Sandy

I am just showing the snacks--didn't take pictures of the pizza or the wonderful breakfast casserole and meat and cheese tray we had on Saturday...

My calendars

Judi making calendars--a tradition

These are my calendars-all made with paper from www.websterspages.com I love their paper

Sue working on her calendars

Here is the new craft room--very cool and we had so much space and great lighting...

It actually snowed starting yesterday until this am--enough for snow plow to come.....

Dixon was checking out all the birds in the holly bushes...

The sun did come out briefly today and melted some of the snow on driveways, etc. Now I am trying to gather all my stuff for our big scrapbooking event this week--found some pictures I missed while doing a previous book so figuring how I can add them in.n Always take too much but enjoy the time away.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T21:02:00.000-05:00

Just stopping in for a moment to wish everyone a happy New Year. I had to work today and put in some long hours so I can have more free time tomorrow--plus we are in the middle of a lot of snow and wind so would prefer not to drive.
Had a great overnighter with Sandy, Judi and Sue-pics to follow and this week we go to Haworth for our annual scrapbook weekend--I can hardly wait but have a lot to do before then....

Merry Christmas!!!!

2011-12-25T17:26:00.000-05:00

As I write this, we are having a mostly green Christmas which is quite unusual for Michigan--I don't mind as the roads are better and safer for traveling. I had a fun week at work and got a lot of presents from my co-workers. Quite a few goodies too--

These were made by Joann and her husband--so cute...

We did get snow Friday night into Saturday.....

Paul and Bonnie are in town from Florida so we met from brunch on Saturday at Breton Village Omelet Shoppe. They have a cool train display there so quite busy....
\

Sandy came along and took some pictures of us....

Phyllis, Paul, Barb and Dee

Sherwin, Phyllis, Paul, Bonnie, Barb and Dee

Sara and Molly

Audyn

Molly, Steve, Emory and Kyle

fascinated by goldfish pool in the mall

My favorite picture of Molly....

Phyllis and her girls took the 2 little girls to see my Mom and Paul and Bonnie visited her also. I went home and had a relaxing day-got caught up with papers and emails, etc. Lots of action from the cats as you can see..

Today was Christmas--I talked to Mom and she is going to Dee's house with all her family.
Still a little snow left which has melted now.
I went to Phyllis and Sherwin's house for dinner. Sara, Steve and Mo;;y were there also.

Sara set the table and because Phyllis had no place mats, she used scrapbook paper--it worked well.

Molly loves jello...............

We had honey baked ham---it was great!!! I even tried her special Brussel sprouts--actually were pretty good.

So a fun weekend for all--back to work for me all week.

One week before Christmas

2011-12-18T14:56:00.000-05:00

The week before Christmas and everyone is hurrying around, etc. I only worked 3 days so that was really nice as I had time to play and get my hands dirty--mostly with alcohol ink.
Truman has a new spot to sit-hasn't harmed anything yet...

I made my sisters and Sandy a small Graphic 45 shadowbox...

This one above is Sandy's

This one is Phyllis'

And this one is Dee's--that is a picture of her in it....

I saw a tutorial on the Internet for glass ornaments with alcohol ink so I just had to try them--I did some square ones..... These I gave along with shadow boxes

I saw a banner with old pictures in the gift shop at the hospital last year for $35 so I decided to make one using pictures I scanned from an old book on Frosty---I sewed all the pictures to Graphic 45 paper and strung together with twill from StampinUp.

My niece Stephanie made the GR Press for basketball this past week....

Friday night I went with Sandy and sister Dee and Phyllis to Reds on the River for our Christmas dinner.....

We then came back to my house to exchange gifts...

Saturday I woke up to snow--mostly on roads and decks....

Dixon had some good pictures taken....

Then I finished all the rest of my ornaments--the round ones I am giving to my co-workers..

I saw this first on The creativepointe Blog and went from there...

I was pretty happy how they turned out-now to just wrap them and some other gifts.

I bought mu Mom some new clothes as she hasn'[t had any for a while since I got her 2 new sweaters a couple of months ago--have to press them before I take them so she can wear them right away.

We have a family get together at The Omelet Shoppe on Christmas Eve for lunch so that should be fun.

2 weeks until Christmas...

2011-12-11T14:52:00.000-05:00

Another busy week at work-lots of changes and upheavals-give me a headache most days. I was so glad to have Friday off to just make stuff-doing what matters most for me!!!
We had a lovely holiday lunch on Wednesday put on by the liaisons from Continuing Care and and then Thursday Spectrum Health did their annual dinner for all employees-I had wonderful prime rib, rice, veggies, salad, and cheesecake with Michigan cherry topping-fantastic.
Thursday ni9ght into Friday we finally had some snow-----

At least it is off the roads now but has remained very cold until today it is in high 30s.
I took a lot of pictures of the cats when I was home just because they matter most....

I love this picture of Fritz since it is so hard to get a good picture of a black cat...

what they really do when I am not looking LOL

sweet Truman

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas........

speaking of coffee and my Keurig started having funny smells yesterday--hope I don't need a new one..
I once again made stockings for Sandy's Sunday School class-18 this year and I had some help...

Same cute pattern and felt every year..

I also received some swaps back from 2 swaps I was in with Red Lead.... Dixon just had to help..

And Dixon helped or interfered or something... He is so like Max it is really funny...

The latest thing to watch out the front window is the birds in the holly bushes which are full of berries--Dixon can't keep his eyes off them between naps of course.
I finished making my Christmas cards-now just to sign, address and mail. I did scan them since no 2 are like just similar but will post later after I send out. I am in the process of making some cute Christmas present for sisters and co-workers. The sisters are going out Friday night to Reds on the River in Rockford--yum!!!!

Do what matters most

2011-12-04T15:51:00.000-05:00

I read this saying in the past week and really have been thinking about that. Do we ever do what really matters most? Or what everyone tells us we should do. This has been huge with me recently because of the ongoing changes at work-not all bad but unsettled all the time and other issues in my life. I have been trying to have at least moments where I do what matters most.... Have had quite a few actually so I am pleased.
I got a couple of pictures of Fritz who is real difficult to get good pictures of as he is all black.....

He was sitting on my lap at the time....
We have had rain and sun and now rain for past 2 days... I did catch some cool shots ..... Cardinal in tree being elusive too...

Cool December sky but it gets dark early. This weekend I did get most of house decorated except the tree--not sure if I am going to put it up this year. I have been busy stamping so I can make cards to send plus all the usual like washing, etc. Plus I have to keep up with all the animal cams I follow... LOL...

Thanksgiving week

2011-11-27T15:06:00.000-05:00

Kind of a lazy week--I worked three days and then had a 4 day weekend--real unusual for me but it was nice to have the time off. No real plans but I did wash all the windows inside and out so that was a great job to get done as the weather has been mild. Of course it has been raining for past 24hrs now. I was taking pictures of the cats all sleeping together and thought I would share some.

In the pictures--Truman, Dixon and Fritz who is black and doesn't show up so well.

I have been working on some swaps and remembered I wanted to share this Mask book I was part of--here is the completed book-very cool!!

I made some paperdolls this month to swap--first one is snow queen theme and she is a lot more sparkly in person--I embossed stardust embossing powder all over her dress and used diamond stickles on her earrings and hair

These are 2 ATC dolls with theme of leaves--I hauled out my leaf punches to add to them.

Well I have been cooking today and watering plants, etc ---back to work tomorrow. Sandy and I do have tickets for Civic Theatre--: The Wizard of OZ " on Dec 1st.

Birthday week!!!

2011-11-20T14:46:00.000-05:00

It was my birthday on Wednesday so Sandy and I took the day off for some fun. since the weather turned out to be fairly decent we went to the beaches-our favorite thing to do. We started with a yummy breakfast at The Omelet Shoppe.
I got a cool Toshiba netbook for my birthday as I decided a Kindle wasn't for me--has a full size keyboard and works well to take to work and use on my lunch hour to surf web.

Dixon is in the middle of all fun it seems...........

Then down to Holland State Park--the sun was out but the wind was very strong so wind chill was about 20 so we bundled up-here is Sandy ready for our walk...

Big Red

Lots of high waves and surf--I took a lot of pictures and posted most on Facebook...

We loved watching the gulls fly into the high surf

Then on to Grand Haven State Park--they were doing construction on the road in front of entrance so we couldn't go into park...........

huge waves here also

Then on to Hoffmaster State Park--looking a lot like fall...

We then came back to Holland for a birthday dinner at 84East and stopped on Kollen Park for sunset

The end of sunset back home in my yard--a fun day...

On Thursday at work, we ordered Chinese from XO which was wonderful and I got a few presents and cards from co-workers.
We have been having lots of meetings at work and again looks like some changes coming-I will probably move back downtown to Children's Hospital sometime soon--nothing final at this point.
Fritz is doing much better-still some sneezing but otherwise eating and doing what cats do as usual.
Here they are on back of couch.....

Truman--so sweet

I stripped my bed to change sheets and fluff feather bed and before I got a chance to do it--look who is sleeping there--did it later....

I have been working on 2 swaps for Red Lead in St Louis--both Christmas ornaments--this one is vintage.........

This one is sparkly--Dixon just had to get in the picture...

The stamped pictures are covered with clear beads.

This week I only work 3 days then have 4 off which hasn't happened in a long time. Hoping to get some time to work on Christmas cards and continue to do something with my basement art space--very cluttered-need to organize more...

Snow

2011-11-13T15:38:00.000-05:00

This was my sisters and I night out to celebrate our birthdays--we have made it a little tradition to go to the Melting Pot. We took Sandy with us and had a fun time and lots of good food. Dee brought us birthday presents. I got the white bear from Jarrods to benefit St Jude's--already have the brown one.

Phyllis sampling the candy before we ate......

We first had 2 types of cheese fondue--yum..

Sandy enjoying the fondue...

Next we had salads--I got the Wisconsin wedge salad- very good

Dee and I shared the lobster, etc meal--- Sandy and Phyllis got one with more beef--best lobster I have had in a long time. The little wraps are mushrooms-very good also

Phyllis cutting up potatoes so they cook quicker

Dessert was 2 chocolate fondues-our favorite--Flaming Turtle and a new one with peanut butter and fruit--they were both wonderful

Our dipping desserts and birthday candles

It was a windy, rainy night so we got a couple of quick shots outside -so not so good..

Thursday we got snow--started while I was at work so you can see my view of parking ramp

Pictures taken on way home........it was very wet and sloppy

When I got home, this is how it looked....

cool sky

The big story of the week is Fritz my 11 year old cat is sick. He started suddenly Tuesday with some croupy sounding coughs and by Thursday night, he was not eating and didn't seem to be able to swallow well and felt very hot. Friday morning I stayed home until Vets opened and was able to drop him off there for the day. He basically has a really bad cold and sore throat so he is on Zithromax for 5 days, he has pain meds so he can swallow and he is on a special critical care diet so he will eat. He is coming along--I don't think he is coughing as much and fever not as high--sleeps a lot but takes meds and eats well. I took this picture of Truman after he had cleaned Fritz's face, he sat next to him to watch over him.. Dixon on the other hand is plotting how he can get some of that great smelling food.

This week is my birthday on Wednesday so I am taking the day off. Sandy and I will do something--if the weather is nice, probably go to the beach otherwise we were talking about visiting the museums downtown.

November already

2011-11-06T14:50:00.000-05:00

I had to take some pictures of the cats on the back of the couch--sharing just 2 cushions--cute huh??

We have had wonderful weather-sunny, not too cold and frosty mornings. I got a chance to get a lot done in my yard and have hauled a lot of waste out of here. Still need to do the roses which are still blooming. We have had some lovely sunsets this week also

My favorite crabapple tree-still with a few leaves

More sleeping cats............

Today the time changed so got another hour of sleep--I really just got up earlier. have been cooking and doing bills today. I need to work on some upcoming swaps in the next few weeks.
I am looking forward to going to The Melting Pot with sisters Dee and Phyllis and Sandy for our birthdays on Wednesday--Yum

Almost end of October already

2011-10-30T14:33:00.000-04:00

Fall has arrived--we have had a lot of rainy days, windy days and sunshine. All of the leaves are turning colors and dropping. The cats are taking long naps on the bed.....

Last Friday night and all day Saturday, sandy and I went to Croptoberfest--a fall scrapping event. I worked on my calendar pages so didn't have to haul all my stuff and Sandy made cards. We had fun, won prizes and ate great food. A nice time to relax as it has been very stressful between Mothers and work.

My crabapple tree is a constant source of beauty--after the rain

I also took a bunch of pictures while driving home from work to show the beauty--not a real safe thing to do. This one below is my favorite stretch of beauty in the fall....

Dixon got caught in a shot one day... what a ham

Yesterday was sunny most of the day-I continued working in the yard--pulling up and cutting back dead plants. Can't move today!!! I glad we have another week before the time changes so I can get some more done after work.

I did get an early birthday present but will save that picture until my birthday....

Windy and wild week

2011-10-16T14:22:00.000-04:00

We had a full moon and clear cool nights so I took some pictures as usual. Actually it was a beautiful week for sunshine and temperatures until the rain on Thursday. Now it is windy and sunny today.

Getting into the winter sleep mode-actually an all year thing --they just change where they sleep....

The wind has blown most of the leaves off the crabapple tree but a few linger--very pretty in the sun

A few flowers that haven't been pulled up yet. I have been working on the deck and middle of the yard--still have a lot to do but making progress. I have the deck cleaned off except table and chairs.

I still have roses blooming--actually a lot of them yet......

I have been very busy with some swaps---these are the finished masks I have been talking about. I stamped with Impression Obsession big stamps on both of them with Versamark and used embossing powder. Since I used watercolor paper, I painted the silver one and used watercolors on the other one. I sent them off this week....

Some more ATCs I received this week--all part of Sept swap....

My friends from my Altered Book Round robin group decide to do another RR so I decided to use the book I had made the little drawers in and my theme will be birds. I painted the covers with a Magenta Luminaire paint and will finish when I get it back'
Here is the first set of pages...

second set

third set.....you can see the little drawers along the side so we each will have one to fill.

I also did another Photo Art Journal page for that Yahoo group--theme was Doors, gateways and portals and we had to make a door that opened on the front---can I say these were a lot of work but done now.. These are all pictures from Heidelburg Germany...

Here is a picture of the birthday boy Dixon turned 3 yesterday and enjoyed every moment of attention!!!

Fall amd what is still blooming in my garden??

2011-10-09T15:05:00.000-04:00

We have had a gorgeous week of sunshine, warm weather, cool nights and the Tigers winning!!!

We have had some great sunsets--almost every night

My crabapple tree is overflowing with abundance this year and so pretty

The cats are an unending source of photo ops--here is Truman

then Fritz joins him

Then Dixon wants attention so he gets behind the blinds to look out the window..

Check him out-he is is trouble now!!

Oh well, Dixon decides to get in the pictures

Wasn't I the center of attention and cute???

Sandy and I drove up to Cedar Springs to meet up with Joann on Saturday to get a Norfolk Island Pine she was giving me. We had some great views of color along 131..

It turned out to be quite the adventure as we were late do to a lot of traffic in GR and then their truck broke down but we connected in the end despite never exchanging cell phone numbers!!! Sandy and I had a nice late lunch at Big Boy in Cedar Springs and plant made it home to my house.

Here are the fall asters blooming by my back deck as they do every year--so colorful--everything else has been frozen and needs to be pulled up. sandy has done quite a bit of the garden but I am still eating some of the tomatoes and peppers but mainly finished for season.

I do have roses still blooming--many still beautiful..........

The gerber daisy on the deck decided to bloom one more time this year

A few cards I received this week and some more ATCs from the swap I was in.....

I have been busy finishing up my masks and starting another swap involving an altered book and a canvas so prepping both of those too.

My week

2011-10-02T17:10:00.000-04:00

The cats on the table in bedroom watching birds in tree.....

Raining off and on all week.......

Fall cat pictures

Just to prove Dixon is Max's clone--he even sleeps up in his basket above cupboards-the other cats wouldn't think of it!!!

Frost last night---we let our garden go as we felt no more would ripen this year.

Fall colors in the yard

I took this picture because all the little birds were in my tree this am

I spent most of my time yesterday making these masks for a fatbook swap I am in--I had to make 2 different ones, 11 of each. I did resist techniques with embossing powders and ink. I colored one with watercolors and the other with Ranger dabbers. I need to finish the back of the silver one and them embellish them with ribbons and fibers, etc.

Since it was World card Making Day, I made a bunch of cards. I won this kit at Scrapfest and since it was Basic Grey I loved the papers. I put them all together except words as I will stamp them when I need them.

The Outlawz

2011-10-02T16:50:00.000-04:00

I was introduced to The Outlawz but an email from Oozak in Kalamazoo where I have ordered a lot of my Copics www.oozak.com. So I went to check it out and was thrilled to find a different challenge every day and most of them cards. If you want to check it out http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/They are currently having a 1000 member party with tons of prizes.
I quickly entered Saturday's challenge since I had to make a birthday card any way.

I am hoping to enter some of the challenges as this is very motivating for me and I get things done!!!

Fall has arrived!!!

2011-09-25T14:54:00.000-04:00

Here we are and fall has arrived--it is definitely cooler so nice to open doors and windows-rained some too and it looks like grass I planted is growing-need to plant more. Some flowers are still blooming. These are the last of the glads along with some zinnias Sandy cut for her Mother.

I did go out to dinner this week with Dee and Phyllis to Red Lobster--we had great shrimp and lobster--YUM!!

The cats are enjoying watching the neighbor across the street put in a new yard and extended driveway.

Fritz is doing well-has grown back all his fur and seems to be gaining some weight back after his hard time losing his closest buddies last year.

The back yard is starting to look like fall but the succulents and ageratum along with the marigolds are still blooming.

The crabapple tree is slowly turning color and has tons of crabapples on it unlike last year when there was so few. Lots of good eating for birds and squirrels.

OK--I walk into the kitchen and these two are right next to each other on the table--what do you think was going on?? Both turned away and acted very casual........

Dixon and Truman enjoying the sun................

I scanned all my Make and takes from Scrapfest 2011...............

These are my paperdolls I made for swaps this month--the themes were tea(above) and swirls (below)

Well it is another work week coming up and gearing up for the ultra busy winter season in a Children's Hospital. Still hoping to start working from home sometime but nothing happen fast it seems.

Sealife Aquarium--Mall of America

2011-09-22T20:14:00.001-04:00

We visited the Sealife Aquarium after Scrapfest was done on Sunday-it is on the lower levels of the mall. It was filled with all kinds of interesting displays and info--lots on ecology. These are lionfish.

Eel and lionfish

They had an open tank of stringrays and other large fish

They had pools where you could touch --like these chocolate chip starfish

In the tank with red lights was a large octopus

Then they had an area of tidepools and what lives there

Then a whole room of tanks of jellyfish. The colors kept changing

Then a room of all kinds of seahorses...

the very smallest seahorses..........

then more sea water aquariums

onto coral reefs and fish there....

We then walked into large aquarium that was all around us and over us-we walked in a tunnel-first part was ocean fish

sea turtles too

you can see rounded roof above us filled with water and fish swimming over us...

sharks and stingrays too...

Then into fresh water part-lots of turtles swimming around

Gar and catfish

They had a whole big display after that on Minnesota through the seasons...

this is called an alligator turtle.
it was a great place but very hard to take good pictures due to dim or colored lights, water and having to take through glass but we had a great time and worth the visit.

Scrapfest 2011 Sunday and Monday...

2011-09-20T19:49:00.000-04:00

Maya Road class--my only class where instructor was very poor and disorganized

Graphic 45 class next---I didn't really care what we made just to use their paper, etc

Mom is the designer and her 2 daughters work with her--they taught the class

Beadniks--the only place I shopped at.

7 Gypies photo tray class

Last class from Archivers--done by a gal who won a contest with this mini album-

We then decided to go to the Aquarium and I took a lot of pictures but will post another day. We went back to the hotel and ate at TGIFridays.
Monday we caught the shuttle to the airport at 1030 and flew home in afternoon--Sandy picked us up.
I did have a full body scan at the airport and I found my big suitcase was 2# overweight but they let it through--when I got home, TSA had searched it and everything was a mess-clothes all mixed with projects and goodies.
Today I had off from work--unpacked, went grocery shopping, down;loaded pictures, looked at all my unfinished projects, etc.
A great time and would go again...

Scrapfest 2011 Saturday

2011-09-20T19:32:00.000-04:00

We had a great hot breakfast at our hotel each morning and a short shuttle ride to Mall...

Make and takes in the am

hanging from the ceilings

Then it was Judi and I's turn to take Tim's class-it was great..

Having a great time in class

My Book

Judi's book

Then it was on to more classes for me.....

The Rotunda

Then more classes after a quick lunch..

Junque Journal with Heidi Swapp for Pink Paislee...

Wall art contest by Archivers..

The Outpost by Archivers

Legoland

We went back to hotel and ate dinner at IHOP next to hotel then just relaxed rest of the evening.