Finally!

I got exactly what I wanted for

my mother's day card!  Since

I'm seeing her later in the day

I will just deliver it.  It's a little 

bulky with the flowers, and besides,

it's nice to hand deliver.

Card, inside and envelope.

Deaf chat was OK.  A man I know,

who also stuck by my side at Deaf world,

was there.  We call him "French Dave"

to differentiate from another Dave.

I don't remember his last name, 

but it is French (obviously).

He's so nice.  I stuck close to Pam 

and just observed.  I thought they

would consider that rude, but they

don't.  After some of them had left

I went and sat by him and He and

I chatted in sign, the things that

I knew.  Practice is practice, I guess.

I did speak to one of the leaders

of Deaf world for just a moment and

told him I had been there.  He understood

me and told me his name and I told him

mine.  I also introduced myself to a

young friend of Pam's.  Pam interprets for

kids in school and she was one of Pam's

former students.  It was interesting.

There was a group of students there

from one of the local high schools

that offer a sign class.  These teens'

hands are just flying like crazy.  It

was a little intimidating.  But they were

also very nice.  One of them, a senior,

spoke with me for a few minutes-

not in sign, just speaking.  She's so

good.  I wish I could take that class!  I

wish I was young enough to be in HS

again!  Well, maybe not.  It wasn't the

best of experiences.  I might go

again next month if someone I know

is there.  I leave you now with

another picture of Lili as she was

thinking about eating the phone....

 

 

 

 

Deaf chat

I've never been to one of 

these before.  I don't know

how many people go and how

many are deaf, or hearing.

I don't feel in the least prepared,

I don't feel I know enough to 

communicate with a deaf person.

But I guess there comes a point

where you just have to jump in,

hope you do OK and learn

something in the process (hopefully)

So I will go tonight.  My teacher,

Pam, says she will not leave my

side.  I hope she doesn't!  I'm really

nervous, but she says it won't

be as bad as I think it will be.

I suppose that anticipation of 

something is worse than the

real thing as a general rule.  You

tend to build things up in your

mind-at least I do-and it never

turns out like you had envisioned

it.  So everyone say a little prayer

that I don't make a fool out of

myself and remember enough

to have a basic conversation

with someone.

I like this one a little better than

yesterday's but still not what

I want.  The problem is, I don't

know what I want.  That is a

problem.  I hate it when I

get restless like this.

Plus, Dianne went on a short

little vacation and as usual

my muse tagged along.  I'm

not sure why she feels the need

to follow Dianne rather than

stay here with me where I need

her.  I think it's kind of selfish.

After all, She leaves me to

try to think of cards all by

myself!  I think I need to

trade her in on a new muse....

Mother's day card

I am so not happy with this.

I've never done a card

like this and I don't like how

it turned out, so I may make

another mother's day card.

It won't stay closed hence the

paper clip.  If I did  use it I would

put some ribbon around to hold

it closed.  I've done many "gate fold"

cards before, but never one with

a  double aperture. Oh well. 

There's time yet.

If I do use it, I'll just hand write

Happy Mother's day

inside.

Note to self:

Make sure the coffee maker is

COMPLETELY cleaned before

making coffee and drinking it.

First, it doesn't taste good.  

Secondly, I'm pretty sure it's

not good for you....I only took

a small drink because I choked 

when I got it in my mouth and it

didn't taste like I expected it to.

I've been running water through

it ever since.  I doubt I hurt

myself, but I sure don't want

to do it again!

Did I say yesterday that it was 

getting warmer?  It's not.  It was

just a teaser, I guess.  I hate the

bait and switch routine.  From people

or from weather.  Moreso from

people, I think, but just the same...

I'm not crazy about this card.  I think 

I should have rounded the corners

on the white part as well, but

it's OK, I guess.

You've got me...

It's been so warm!  I'm loving

it and I'm finally becoming

convinced that warm weather

is here to stay.  I hope.  We had

a small, wimpy thunderstorm

late last night.  I saw some

lightening while I was up getting

a drink and heard a little thunder,

but that's all.  Maybe we'll get some

better ones soon.

Front and inside of a card I made

this morning.  I need to find the perfect

person to send this to.  Perhaps my

sister?!  I love the sentiment!

The anniversary of my cousin Ronnie's death

is on May 3rd.  I can't forget it since it

is also Cody's birthday (he will be 29!!)

I made this card for Cathy to let her know

I'm thinking about her.  I remember when we

went to the memorial service, who knew that

in 2 short years John would be gone, too?

We just never know when the Lord will

call us home and we need to be prepared.

Here's to new (and good) experiences.

Yesterday I dropped off my in laws,

Larry and Laurel, at the FW airport

so they could fly to Florida.  Once there,

they will hang out for a few days with

a friend and then drive his car back.

He would rather take the train,

but since he winters there, wants his

car.  They do this exchange twice

a year and he wines and dines

them while they're there.  Must be

nice...Anyway, I had time to kill

between then and church so I stopped

at McDonald's and had a little

breakfast.  While there I got a

text from a woman in my sign class

saying she hoped I would come

to church.  I told her where I

was and that I would be there.  She

waited at the door of the church so I 

would see a familiar face when

I walked in.  Wasn't that so nice

of her?!  So I made her a card:

The flowers on the outside are

embossed in white embossing

powder. I was very happy with

how it turned out.  I'm planning on

going back and I can tell you that

watching her, Colleen, and Pam,

the teacher of one of the classes,

that I am going to get a huge education!

I learned several words just by watching

them sign the songs and later, Pam, the 

service.  So I am excited about learning

more and possibly more quickly.  Although

I wonder how much my brain can hold

in, lol.  I have always considered

by brain a sieve. I have learned so

much in the past year and I want to 

keep learning as long as I can.

I was exhausted yesterday after getting

very little sleep the night before between

the concert and getting up early to

go to the airport.  But I did manage

to get the lawn mowed and weeds

whipped.  I don't mind at all doing

the lawn and now that I have a

dependable self propelled mower,

it went quickly.  I'm not so fond of

weed whipping.  I sprayed all

the stray weeds and will probably

pull them tomorrow.  I don't think

they're quite ready to be pulled yet.

My shoulder must be getting somewhat better

because I was able to pull start the mower.

That was quite a concern last year. Maybe 

someday it will fully heal.  That's what started

the injury in the first place.  When I went to

start my old mower the string quit

working.  I pulled, it stayed.  That was

horrendously painful.  But now I can mow

the lawn, enjoy the sun and get some

exercise.  Looking forward to summer!!!!!

What an amazing night!

I've seen the Newsboys in concert

three times now, and it will never

get old!  As always, they were

just amazing!  Afterward we got

their autographs-second time for

me meeting them in person.  They all took

my hand as I went through the line.

When I got to Duncan (the drummer)

I told him I loved him and he took

my hand and said, "how are you,

sweetheart?"  I'm in 7th heaven today!

Duncan in the sunglasses and Michael

Tait, lead singer.  We couldn't

get a good picture of all 4 of them,

too many people in front and when

we got closer the guards were telling

us no pictures as they were moving people

through as quickly as possible.

That's my grandson, Anthony, in the

blue shirt getting his shirt signed.

The first pic  is a screen shot of Duncan

from instagram.  The second, again, not my

own as I was no where near close enough

to get something like this, is Duncan spinning

drums.  I would be so sick.  The whole platform lifts

up, turns sideways and spins.  It is something

else to see.  Come back to FW, guys.  I can't

get enough of you!!!

Newsboys!!

Today is the day and I am

beyond excited!  I can't wait!

So excited I don't think I have

anything to even talk about!

so here is a card:

I love  how this came out.

I had a couple of the chicken

wire die cuts laying around

for some reason., so I thought

I may as well use it and it turned

out to make a great background.

Dianne and I had lunch yesterday

and there is a restaurant here that makes

a salad with chicken on top and they

will toss it in hot sauce (or mild) if

you want them to.  It is so good!!!

It really adds a zest to the taste

especially with ranch, and isn't

overpowering.  My new favourite

food!  I may even try it at home.

Hello, my name is...

From pretty much the day John

died, the engine light in the car

has been on.  I knew what it was

and it wasn't something that needed

to be dealt with.  Then on New Years

Eve I had to have the battery changed

and the light went out.  Well, a couple

of days ago it came back on.  So

in the interest of making sure it 

was still the same thing, (it was)

I took it to be checked.  I had left

my cd on-fairly loud-not thinking

about it.  He turned on the car and

Matthew West came on singing,

"Hello, my name is".  Instead of

reaching over and turning it

down he started to sing with it!

So there we are standing in a

light rain singing together!   What

a blessing! 

I made a couple of things for

Robin's Pastor's granddaughter.  She

is trying to encourage him, but I

think being able to take a special

surprise for her might lift him up as

well.  Besides, I just like making

girly things!

Front and back of a mini notebook

that she can draw or write in and front

and inside of a card.  As you can see, I

do love my angels stamp!

One more day!  My daughter in law said

someone told her in Toledo they signed

cd's if you bought them.  I think I'm

going to buy a pair of Duncan's drumsticks,

too.  I was going to once before but

then changed my mind.  I don't

know where I would display them, but

I'm sure I could find a place.  Maybe

under my pillow??  LOL

I was sad-and shocked-to see that
Prince had died.  He was only 2 months
older than me!   Michael Jackson was
3 weeks younger.  What the heck is going
on here?  Everyone  was talking yesterday
about him and "purple rain".  My favourite
song of his was "Raspberry Beret".  What an
icon.  He and Michael Jackson made MTV
what it is today.  (which isn't saying much,
I realize.  I'm talking about putting it
on the map.)  If it weren't for them and
a handful of others there would be no
MTV.  That might not be the worst
thing in the world....some of their
programming leaves a lot to be
desired.

Rainy days and Thursdays....

No thunderstorms yet, but rain.  

That works for me.  April showers

bring May flowers and all that baloney.

Another three part card.  I'm making some

more cards for Robin to give to her pastor.

Last I knew she had two left, so I'd

better get busy!!  I'm going to make a couple

for his little granddaughter as well.

I love this one.  I'm getting more into

blending the inks and I think it looks great

as a background.

Soooo excited!  Saturday I am going

to see my favourite band--the Newsboys!

I can't wait!  I've seen them twice before 

and gotten their autographs on my cd.  Duncan,

the drummer, takes my hand and in his

beautiful Aussie accent says, "And what

is your name, Love?"  I melted in a puddle

and couldn't remember, lol!  Alas, he is

married with a couple kids.  Oh, well.  He's

missing out on me, ROFL!!!

Singing in the rain?

We might get rain today!  Better

yet, we might get a storm!  Oh, 

well.  I can hope anyway, right?

I haven't played with my edge dies

lately so I thought I'd pull them

out.  I like the double edge and

surprisingly I got it exactly straight.

That is a rare event for me!

 

The celebrate card is for a friend

I met on facebook who just retired.

Her husband has been battling

cancer off and on so now she doesn't

have to worry about taking time off

to take him to treatments or care

for him, so I'm really happy that

she was finally able to retire.

 

I'm off to the doctor today to

see about this cholesterol business.

Unless it's really high I don't plan

to do anything about it.  I've heard

too many horror stories about

statin drugs.  I guess I'll just have

to get myself back on the treadmill.  

I'm very bad about disciplining

myself in that regard.  As far as

the eating goes, I've never been

a good eater.  Take away my pizza

or diet coke and I become very 

cranky....So I'll just see what he has

to say.  Thankfully he is more of a

"country doctor" in that he actually

listens to his patients and isn't a

pill pusher.  I think that we can

get this under control (assuming that

it's seriously out of control which I

doubt) without resorting to drugs.

I take enough of those as it is!

Spring is finally here!

This is how I know:

Last year we had so much rain

that the cherries rotted right on

the branches.  I hope that doesn't

happen this year.  But isn't it

pretty?!

I am sad to see that Doris Roberts

died.  I never watched "Raymond"

but I loved her in "Mrs. Miracle".

Cody asked me to make him a

wedding card for some friends and

I was happy to do it.  I just love

how this turned out!  It was a little 

tricky getting the greeting to the

side in just the right place, but

I got it the first time, so no frustration

there thankfully.

I am still waiting for the orientation

for hospice to take place.  Last I

knew, the director was waiting for

someone to be available to teach

one of the sections, so she must

not have been able to get her yet.

I am anxious to get started.

Today I am going to look for lawnmowers

as the one I have, I have concluded, is

a POS.  And if you don't know what

that means, I will message you privately....

Anyway, I am hoping that I can

find a self propelled that I will be able

to pull start without too much difficulty.

That should be easy to do.  Not.  But 

you know what they say...."suck

it up, buttercup."   Who is this 

"they" anyway?  "They" say

a lot of thing.

Hummingbirds!

Nope, haven't seen them yet, but

I had you going, didn't I?!

My friend, LuAnn, loves hummingbirds

So I thought I'd surprise her with

a card featuring her favourite birds.

This is such a neat fold I found on
pinterest.  The hummingbird part is a
card which opens and then the whole
thing opens like an ordinary card
would.  I need to make more of them.
I love how it turned out.

Not crazy about how this came out

but I wanted to try out the new

flourish stamp I got.  The sentiment

stamp is new, too.

Last Friday I was invited to a school 

play at the local high school.  Janet,

her daughter Jennifer, and I went

to see "Annie".  I loved the movie

and seeing it on stage was such a treat.

The kids did such an amazing and

professional job!  I can't tell you how

much I enjoyed the evening.  I'm

hoping to get to know Janet better.

I like her very much.

I finally had the blood test done

that the doctor wanted me to get

in December.  Hey, if they'd taken

the  cholesterol off the table I'd

have done it a long time ago.  I'm not

fond of fasting.  The food part is

OK, but take away my diet coke

and I get extremely cranky.  So don't

tell them, but I had a sip this morning.

Since my dog got me up at 530 again (I'm

pretty sure he has an alarm in his head)

I was grateful they opened at 630.  Note

to self: no waiting at 630 am.  She

told me last time to TRY to have it done 

before I came back in May.  I took 

that as a challenge.  She's lucky I got

in the mood to try.  LOL!

 I just saw they had an earthquake
in Ecuador.  My cousin, Rita,
was there for many many years as
a nurse/missionary.  Kind of scary
all the natural disasters that are going
on in the world today.

Rolodex cards

My daughter in law, Heather,

has asked for my address twice

in the last couple of months.

I love her dearly but she's a little

unorganized.  (Sorry, Heather, but

you know it's true!)  I hope she's 

not reading this because I haven't sent

her birthday gift out yet.  In an

attempt to keep her a little more

organized, I made her a rolodex.  

Naturally it's more than just an

ordinary rolodex.  I used to trade

them on a site I belong to, but I 

haven't traded anything in a couple

of years so I decided I would

repurpose it.  And, yes,  I

already put my address in it!

The cards are decorated on the

front and a small area on the back

and there is plenty of room to add

any information, address, phone,

birthday, etc.

Looking at it now, I think I should

have added something to the puzzle

pieces, but it's in the box now.  I didn't

have a pattern for the bottom of the cards

but it's in the rolo box so who cares, right?!

 I was pleased with how most of them 

came out.

I have to mow today.  Last year

I was having so much problem with

the mower and I finally (I think) figured

out what the problem was and got a

part for it, but I don't know if it

solved it because my neighbors 

started mowing my lawn for me!  So I'm 

about to find out.  I charged it all

night so it should be ready to go.

Naturally my arm has started hurting again.

The cortisone shot hasn't lasted as

long this time, and I can't get another until 

after May 10.  But I'll take a little

pain if the mower works.....

Whaaaatttt?????

It snowed off and on all day 

yesterday and I get up today to

close to an inch of snow on the

ground!  (on top of ice, I'm sure).

I guess Mother Nature didn't look

at the calendar.  It's APRIL, Mother

Nature!!!

I decided to try my hand at making

some faerie furniture.  This is just

a first attempt.  I'm sure (I hope) I

will get better.  I think I made it too

tiny and that's harder to work with.  I

will probably try a bed next as it gives

you a little more to work with.  But

I don't think it's bad for a first try.

Finally, my kids shot a selfie of themselves

yesterday so I thought I would share.

Cody and Pam at their finest?!  Lol

I wish he'd cut that hair.  He's been growing

it out and it's OK if he has it in a

pony tail, but I don't like long hair on

guys as a general rule and unfortunately

he inherited my curly hair so it 

doesn't look good on him in my

opinion, but I didn't get a vote!  His wife

didn't either, but she's being tolerant

as a good wife does.  Pick your battles,

I always say!  I love her like

my own, which is a good thing

since I never got any girls!!

Losses and life

This card is for a friend

I haven't seen in a while now.

Our friendship, if I can call

it that, didn't last long and while

I miss her, I know that sometimes

things like that aren't meant to be.

I'll never give it to her, of course.

It's kind of like writing a letter

to a deceased loved one to

get things out of your heart

that you can't tell them.

So, while I can't tell her how I 

feel, I can put it into a card

in memory of a friendship that

barely got started before she

moved on. 

I have plans for lunch today and then

I have to take the birds to the

vet.  I hate doing that.  Three

carriers and no  one to help me, so

it's difficult.  Not to mention they 

aren't too happy to go into their 

carriers for an hour drive to

Ft. Wayne (or anywhere else, for

that matter!)  But she's the only

avian vet around besides Indy.  

Toledo might have one, but that's

as far, and possibly farther, and I've

been going to this vet for about 14 years.

So, fun, fun.

Stampscaping

Not landscaping.  I am terrible

at anything that requires a 

green thumb!  I haven't played with

my stampscape stamps in a long

time.  Stampscape stamps come 

in lots and lots of different scenes

and you use them to build scenes.

I don't have many, but this card

was made of three different stamps.

I got way too much purple in the 

right hand corner and when I

tried to fix it all I got was brown,

but overall I like the card.

Cody, Pam and I had a great time

at B-Dubs last night.  I ate

way too much, but it was all so

good.  We enjoyed time as

a family and I have leftovers

for lunch!

It's supposed to get cold again.

Rain, cold, rain, snow.  Who can

keep up?  What happened to

Spring?  And where is that

rodent?  I would like to have 

a word with him.....

Thunderstorms!

Finally it feels like Spring

with a thunderstorm this

morning.  However, they say

it's supposed to get cold again.

Maybe they'll be wrong.

I can hope!

I was waiting for the glitter on the butterfly

to dry this morning before I could put

it on the card.  It wasn't exactly

what I was going for, but that

happens.

Cody, Pam and I are going to

Buffalo Wild Wings tonight

to celebrate John.  We weren't

able to get together on the 28th, which

was the 2nd anniversary of his death.

He loved B-Dubs.    I love the

fried  dill pickles.  I didn't think

I would at first, but when I went to

see Robin last summer in NC she ordered

them and they are good!  So we will

have a family dinner and remember

all the fun times we had with John.

He could also be a colossal jerk, 

 so we always laugh at things

like that.  John was a know it

all.  Sometimes he did know it all.

Sometimes not.  More often than

not we just LET him think he

knew it all!  

It's a Deaf, Deaf, Deaf, Deaf World

What an experience.  The first thing

is that there were about 50 people 

there and not a sound.  Of

course, as hearing people, you can

hear people walking, whispering

as they are mouthing the signs,

that sort of thing, but it was

as close as a hearing person can 

get to the silence a Deaf person

experiences.  There were

6 stations, bank, cafe, hospital, 

job application, electronics store 

and real estate office.

One of the guys in our class, Dave,

stayed with me throughout and

that helped.  I was really nervous.

I did not do well at the job application

or the electronics store.  That one was

strange.  You were supposed to

tell them that your grandmother's

smoke alarm wasn't working

and you needed a new one.

OK.  Well, I knew a few of those

words but not all.  My teacher, Pam,

was there when this was happening.

The lady at the station was signing

it and I knew what she was saying

but I didn't have a clue what she was

trying to get me to say.  Turns out that

Pam didn't have a clue, either, so I

didn't feel so bad.  She's been signing

for 25 years!  For the first time I don't

think I did too badly.  Out of 10, I got

4 6's and 2 7's.  I did really well at

the cafe.  You were supposed to order

eggs, toast and coffee and then, OOPS!

you forgot your wallet!  At the bank you

were to get an 800. loan.  He asked

me if I was going to pay it back weekly, 

monthly, if I had a job, things like

that, so I did well there, too.  And I 

enjoyed the real estate office, 

as well.  Dave

doesn't play by the rules, lol.  So he 

robbed the bank!  They got a kick out

of that and wanted to know what he

was going to do with the money he got

in the robbery!  At the hospital he told

them he was having a baby and that

his water broke, things like that.  It 

was hilarious!  He had the most

points and won a prize.  I'm glad I 

went and had the experience.

Maybe if I go next year I'll do

better ( I SHOULD do better

after another year!)

Fun time!

Me and my grandson Travis.

He is going to be 21 on the 19th!

I can't believe he's getting that old!

We had a great time.  He went 

to church with me and was fascinated

with watching Sam.  He says

he's going to come back Thursday

for class.  We shall see.

As for me, I am looking forward

to Deaf, Deaf World tonight!  I'm

nervous, but I think it will be fun

and a good experience.  And I

will be sure to talk about it on

tomorrow's blog.

 

This came across my facebook feed on

April 1st.  What a great joke.  Bet he doesn't

fall asleep in a meeting again, LOL!!

 

And finally a card.  This is

a telescoping card.  I don't  know

if it will show up well or not, but

each layer is higher than the

one under it.  I was pleased

with it, but I wish I had had

another image.  I really don't have

a lot of image stamps, mainly

sayings, verses, etc.  I'm

not sure why that is.  Maybe because

I like words.  Who knows?