today's agenda . . .

is all about the kitchen redo. We are well into it and now I want it done! Not much left really, the walls are painted, the cabinets scrubbed within an inch of their lives and repolished, new fridge is up and running, the new door is hung, accents are out, art is up, table is painted. So today I tackle the cornice board. The fabric is here, I just need to step back into my love/hate relationship with my staple gun. And then add the word art across the soffit over the counter: Bon Appetit! and done. I even picked out new dishes at World Market. Zoom/More Photos at World Market. The kitchen will be a symphony of white, black and red . . . maybe that should read insanity of white, black and red????

catching up . . .

My Digi In Deep class has come to an end . . . sniff. I still have lots to learn from the videos but the class itself is over. But now I get to play catch up and that's fun. I finally did a layout of Frank's 65th birthday . . . long overdue. Well, actually, this is the second time I have done it. The first time, just as I was hitting the save key, the power went off and it was lost. Dust. Evaporation. Nada. Zilch. Big sigh. Note to self: Save, save, save.

d'flies . . .

Love them! The real ones that dance and dart in the sun . . . stamped images . . . photographs . . metal imprints . . . die cuts . . . icons . . . wherever, whenever, however. They delight me. They make my heart soar. Funny the little things in life that do that for me. It's just almost impossible not to smile at the sight of one . . . and so when I opened the smallish box the mailman delivered the other day, imagine my sheer delight when I discovered a pair of sterling silver dragonfly earrings!!!! I adore them!

And where, of course you ask, did these little gems come from? They arrived from half way across the country from a person I have never met but count as a dear friend. I am continually astonished that in this age, I can "meet" and enjoy the company and friendship of women I otherwise would never have had the opportunity to know. That I have not met them in real life matters not one iota. That they bless me with their offer of friendship rocks my world. Kelli, I love you! Thank you for all you do and who you are!

double dawg dare . . .

well, not quite. But she did dare me! Kelli's challenge was to change Katie's photos to sepia and do a layout in creams, browns, beige's etc. I was doing OK until I decided it needed a splash of color and in came the flowers. It was a fun way to spend the morning except for the tiny glitch of accidentally deleting my "low" drop shadow from my PSE library and having to delete and reinstall the program. Note to self: Don't Do That Again!!!

Credits:

Frame by Peppermint Designs

Card board sheet by Michelle Martin

Floral papers & black stitches by Katie Pertiet

Flowers by Summer Driggs

White stitches By Anna Aspnes

Cream Dots paper by Shabby Princess

Other paper: Vividly by Scrap Head

Staples by Shabby Princess

Font: You Are Loved

playing with "white" space . . .

I have been drooling over those layouts using copious amounts of "white" space . . . those huge empty gaps of space. Just thought I would try one of my own.

I think I need more shots of my daughter!

Credits:
Papers by: Katie Pertiet
Swirls by: Fei and Mary Ann Wise
Tab and Label by: R. Carlton

still shaking my head . . .

As my granddaughter explained to me why she opted not to attend her karate class on Monday, my mind went back to an early time and place. I guess things still have not changed. Say what you may, but in my book, the single nastiest group of collective individuals are those of the female persuasion existing in their own private bubble known as middle school. Their brains are not fully developed but their mouths flap at will. It is tough to try to explain to an hurting tween, that they are the butt of an unkind remark merely because someone else lacks self confidence. It simply makes them feel better to belittle someone else. Sigh. It will be years before some of the 'mean girls' become civil . . . others never will. We have all come across one or two of them in our adult lives. Except they are easier to shrug off for what they are at this point: mean women. The ones we now feel sorry for because their lives are not full and rich and ripe with love. So we cocoon our tweens in as much love as we can and march forward. Because we know in the end, we will have raised good kids, who become good women .

the cleaning bug . . .

yep it hit even me . . . my bedroom closet and drawers overflowth. I finally started sifting and sorting, intending to make a run to Goodwill until I took a good look, and in abject horror realized I wear things until they are dead and beyond. My "goodies" were not good enough to pass on. So three quarters of the way around the room and four bags later, other than some relatively new flip flops and a pair of black heeled sandals Kaity put dibs on, there was nothing else that I would wish on another human being. I was astonished to realize I dress like a bag lady . . . old tee's, thread worn jeans, grungy flops. ACK!



So really, what inspired this purging? I'm going to blame it on Jackie. She loves to shop . . . me not so much. But I love hanging out with her so when she wants to hit the mall there I am. And little by little, new things have been finding their way into my closet and drawers. Saturday, we met her and Joe for dinner at Carrabba's (yum), hitting a few stores along the way. I really didn't mean to buy anything but oops . . . hence the purging. I would be suffering a major case of separation anxiety but I stashed one old pair of jeans and a special T.

The A-HA moment . . .

when something you have been trying to learn finally clicks. When you can finally do something on your own without following step-by-step instructions. I kept making clipping masks step-by-laborious-step . . . no more. It has finally clicked. Finally become second nature. Doing a little tap dance, in a tight circle with my arms thrown up in total glee!


Credits:
Lined paper: Katie Pertiet
Solid Paper: V.VV Velours
Frame: Anna Aspnes
Ribbon: Ideacetis - Carnival Kit
Font: VTPortableRemmington

hot digi-er-re-do . . .

My first digital paper from scratch . . . . I did use a Katie Pertiet stamp . . . does that count? I am so flipping excited!!! So without further ado . . .


I cannot tell you how much fun this is. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jessica for your classes and this learning experience!!!

p.s. Click to make it bigger to see the texture!

the small calming things . . .

Frank is at his martial arts class, and I, celebrating the competition of my Lesson 3 layout, have poured myself of glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, and have jacked up the speakers to some old just yummy songs. I love being able to do this. It renews my soul.

I did it . . . .

I never thought I would get through lesson 3 alive. I about wore out the replay button. One of the things I love about Jessica's courses is that they are available forever and ever. So while I can mimic her movements now, later on I can go back at my own pace and actually learn and apply on my own. Tremendous! So here is my take on lesson 3.





We created our own papers, burned edges for more definition, created tons of masks to make the color vs black and white work so well and my personal favorite . . . learned how to make ghost elements complete with shadows. How cool is that.

Credits:
NRJ PDQ Patters: From PDQ Textures Vol. 6 set by Nancie Rowe Janitz
Grid notebook paper: from Notebook Paper Pack by Katie Pertiet
Journaling strip: from Stitched Journaling Strips set by Katie Pertiet
Grungy flourish brush: from Grungy Clusters Brushes-n-Stamps by Katie Pertiet
Torn frame: from Photo Booth Frames by Katie Pertiet
Heart pin: from Apron Strings kit by Leora Sanford
Design by: Jessica Sprague

HOORAY!!!

the perils of digi scrapping . . .

Into week three of Jessica Sprague's phenomenal course called "Digi in Deep". (www.jessicasprague.com). Loving it. Learning so much. Having a ball. All else has fallen to the wayside. The house is a mess, more so than normal since I am permanently attached to either a desk top or a laptop. Nothing else is getting done. Yesterday came a small voice from Frank asking please for some clean undies, he was down to his last pair. Off to the laundry room I head. Two hours later, I am folding and putting pair number 17 in the stack. Oops! Sorry sweetie! and P.S. your socks are in the washer as I type. Arrrghhh. Good thing this man loves me.

another trip to the vet . . .

Baby Bear has had a lump on his stomach for a while now. With Bru's loss still so prominent in every one's thoughts, I took BB to the vet today to get it checked out. Getting him there was a tussle. He who gladly crawled into the carrier and nested there 45 minutes before the appointment, wanted no part of it when the time came to go. We tried head first, feet first, coaxing, shoving, nothing worked, it was getting late and Frank had an appointment he had to keep so I decided to take BB uncaged. Bad idea, he scurried under the clutch and brake and refused to budge. Finally he popped out and into the open carrier on the seat all on his own. I think he sensed the futility of it all. Good boy.

Baby Bear has an umbilical hernia. It is small and sealed and will not harm anything. Just a little puddle of fat that got stuck in the closure when it sealed itself. Whew!!! Even the vet, went, "Easy one, he is fine!!" I don't think she wanted to see me a crying mess again. I did not handle losing Bru very well. Sigh.

Anywho, we are all home. Safe. Happy. BB has gone from 6 pounds to 13+. Time to drop the first B, I think.

Editor's Note: Even I have to roll my eyes at this post and wonder at my sanity.

doing another happy dance . . .

this one under the heading of, "is this man sweet or what"? Just as I was dozing off for an early afternoon snooze, I heard Frank yell up the stairs that he was headed to Lowe's. I'm surprised I didn't ask why at the time, but headed instead into slumber city. Two hours later, I wake up and wander down to see what he is up to. AH-HA! HOORAY!!! He is changing out all of the ugly old yellowed receptacles and face plates in the kitchen that looked even dingier since the fresh new coat of white paint arrived. I love them!!! Thank you sweet pea.

I know I am not supposed to . . .

but yesterday afternoon, I did it anyway . . . I snuck in some time in the sun . . . I mean unabashedly luxuriated in the warmth of the spring sun . . . cold drink and magazine in hand, I was instantly back in the day when I would spend every non-working moment at the beach frying to a delicious crisp, reading a tale of unrequited love, slurping down diet Pepsi and scarfing down an occasional chili dog from a beach concessionaire and of course cooling off in the ocean only to lay back down and bake some more . . . OK, OK, I know it's bad for you, I have the wrinkles to prove it . . . I am sending my dermatologist's children through college . . . but Lord, it felt so good. Every bone in this old body started to relax and say ahhhhhhh . . . long and loud. My reward? A new smattering of freckles and a pink blush. Now seriously, does it get any better?

!!!!!!!!!!!!! . . .

This week we learned some amazing stuff like blending photos, hand stitching, (boy do I ever stink at that), more masks. This stuff is so stinkin' addictive. What a great class! Thank you Jessica Sprague!!! http://www.jessicasprague.com/ Oh, oh, oh and did I mention, we made that green paper from scratch!!!! Not that you can see from here but it even has texture!!!! Doing a happy dance!!!! So exciting!!!!!!

Credits:

SP Lima background papers: From Monoblendz Paperie - Lima paper pack by Anna Aspnes
Rounded corner square die cut: from Border Templates pack by Katie Pertiet
Striped patterned paper: from Bohemian Garden kit by Mindy Terasawa
Dirty Journaler Label: from Dirty Journalers set by Katie Pertiet
Grunged Up Photo Block: from Grunged Up Photo Blocks No. 2 set by Katie Pertiet
Staples by Katie Pertiet

Design by Jessica Sprague

The Truth (Vertigo)

Amazing. And . . . another goose bump raiser. Thanks for the link Kelli!!

Ed Ames - My Cup Runneth Over etc. (2007)

I am a child of the 50's . . well, in truth, born in the late 40's but that sounds so old.

Anyway, last night Frank and I were flicking channels and finding nothing, settled for flipping between a PBS 50's revival and America Chopper . . a little schizonphrenia . . . no biggie.

Ed Ames appeared singing My Cup Runneth Over . . . my goose bumps went into over drive. So this morning, there I am downloading the song from iTunes. I don't think I have heard the song since I married Frank some eleven odd years ago and this song so says it all.

P.S. There is a glitch in the video but hang in there and it will continue.

small blessings . . .

. . . most of you know I share my house with a lunatic. No, Katie, I am not referring to your father. . . . well, at least not in this case. Snoopy, my now oldest cat, came to us as a teenager from a feral colony in the woods behind the house. It took years to pet him, years more still to pick him up. He has never been a sedate cat . . . he is tense, nervous and jumpy. But he is also really sweet and at age eleven, will finally, of his own volition, come sit in my lap to be stroked. I love this beastie. But, truth be told, his rating at three different vet's offices reads: BAD. And yes, I guess it is deservedly so since he is officially blood brothers with two separate techs . . . but back to the story at hand . . . Yesterday, he woke up feeling punky. So punky in fact that for the very first time, I was able to cradle him to my chest. He was limp, hot, lethargic and would not eat. Getting him to the vet is a major production and hard on him and his already compromised nervous system, so Frank and I decided on a wait and see approach. Snoop hid most of the day, finally coming out in the early evening. A small mewl for a treat told us there was hope. And by midnight he was eating and drinking again. This morning he is his old cantankerous self. Hooray! Thank you Lord for prayers answered.

get smart and do something nice for others . . .

FreeRice

I did it . . .

. . . week one, layout one, DID.

Well, since you all haven't seen what the layout is supposed to look like, you can't tell how many boo boo's there are. But I learned tons, including the upper limit of my frustration tolerance. What a ride this course is going to be . . .