Men in black

Before I show you the picture the

title refers to, I'll show the last 

two cards of the set for my 

sister in law.  I think it's pretty

safe to say who they are for since

I doubt she reads my blog.  I don't

think she's on facebook much period.

I'm really happy with how they all came out.

 

Here's Men in black.  My daughter in law,

Heather, has decided to join the cast!!

 

Isn't that an awesome picture?!  I love it!

 

Yesterday was a wonderful day.  I love going

to church and I had a great talk with a 

friend later.  I also had a headache

all day, but we won't talk about that.

 

Tonight though.....I probably mentioned

that I got the story of the three little

pigs for tonight.  I thought (wrong)

that we had to tell the story through one

character's point of view.  We have to

tell the story from ALL the character's

points of view.  This will be challenging.

But I've been working it out in my head

and I know how I want to do it.  Doing

it in front of the others I will probably 

forget the whole thing!  But I told

God a few weeks ago that I would

sign for Him and Matt (the deaf young

man in our class) and if Matt understands

me that's all that matters.  The other

(and main ) thing that matters is that

I feel like this is what God wants me 

to do, so like any other thing we are

called to do, whatever it is, we are

to do it for God's glory. Even if no one

is watching.  Which is what I have

to remember when I'm driving.....  We

won't go into that either!  LOL

 

Happy Monday!

 

 

Rainy days and Sundays.....

Wow, has it been raining today!

I don't know if it was raining last

night or not, but I think it might

have been.  It was so beautiful yesterday!

I have to enjoy it while it lasts and

I know that can't be too much longer.

This is card #4 in a set of 5.

This pattern came as a set of two, one on the

top and one on the bottom.  But

when you use it that way, you have

to make a square card.   I joined a Christmas

card swap on a facebook page I belong

to, so I'm definitely going to order some

new patterns.  One is, well, never mind,

you will just have to wait and see!  They

are all really nice, though.

My "lunch" with Pam yesterday

almost turned into dinner.  We sat

there for FIVE HOURS!  I couldn't

believe it when she told me it was

nearly 6 pm!  I really enjoyed getting 

to know her better.  I don't think

I've ever had that long of a lunch

before, though, LOL.

Happy Sunday!!

This is Amazing Grace

The coffee chat was fun but it's

the first time I've attended that no

deaf people came.  They all had other

things to do, I guess.  The band was

great.  One of the songs they sang

was "This is Amazing Grace".  I can

actually sign a great deal of it, so I

was signing and Pam was watching.  Then

she leaned over and asked Coleen what

the songs were for this week.....I'd have

to get the verses down a little better

before I tried to lead that song in church.

 But we had a good time and it always

helps me to see other people sign so I

can get used to understanding it better.

This is the 3rd card of the set.  I've had

these patterns forever and I still love 

them.  I did look at some new ones that 

I might buy.  This woman charges 1.50 for

them which is such a cheap price for as

much enjoyment as I get from them.

 

I dropped my phone this morning and

since I don't have a case, it came open

and the battery went flying under

the stove.  As I was pulling it out

I smashed my finger in between it and

the counter top.  That hurt a LOT.  It's

finally not numb anymore.

 

It's supposed to be 72 today!!  I walked

B'Elanna and there's a breeze but it's not

chilly.  Not warm, but not chilly either.

Is there a word for that?  I'm not 

complaining!  A couple of days ago I could

smell the bread baking from the 

McDonalds factory about a mile from

here.  If the wind is blowing just right

I can smell it and it's like a little slice

of Heaven.  Get it?  A little slice?

OK, McDonalds makes buns but it

was funny nonetheless!!  At least

I thought it was.  But then, I am easily

amused!!

 

I'm having lunch with Pam today after 

class.  I'm looking forward to getting

to know her better.

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Just a note

This one really has notes on it!

I was going to do it in variegated metallic

thread but I thought the notes and

hearts were set off better  with the black

swirls.  And yes, I realize the sentiment

is very small in comparison, and I thought

about printing out something bigger 

since I don't have a bigger stamp.  But

when I looked at it, I decided that the

small sentiment actually stood out a little

more just because it was small.  So I'm

going to be doing the others the same way.

I'm just thrilled with how these are coming

out and I hope the person I'm sending them

to will like them.  I don't think she reads

my blog so I'm safe.

 

I'm having lunch with Dianne today, of course,

and tonight I'm going to the deaf chat.  I 

mostly just watch because I can't understand

it that well yet.  Plus the kids from a local

school come and they are good.  They should

be.  It's a regular class so they have it

every day.  They have to attend a certain

amount of deaf chats and volleyball games

in FT. Wayne to get credit for the class

as well.  What's the point of learning sign

if you aren't going to use it?    I've been

giving thought to my three little pigs story

and I think I know where I'm going with it.

I'm not sure if we all got the same story 

or not, I didn't think to ask anyone.  It 

doesn't matter, though, as everyone will 

have their own interpretation.

 

I had a delicious fish dinner at my

brother in law and Sister in law's

house last night.  They were in Kentucky

last week and caught a ton of fish.  Laurel

makes the best fish in town!  We played

cards afterward.  Laurel wiped the board

with us.  She didn't miss one phase and

ended the game with only 30 points.  That's

pretty unheard of with us.  We decided to

add two extra phases to the phase 10 card

game.  It's a game where you have to  have 

a certain number of sets, runs and both.

We added phase 11 which is a set of 5

and a set of 4.  Phase 12 is two sets of

5.  She breezed right through that.  We

thought maybe that would make the

game harder, but apparently lady luck

was at her side last night!  We are all

quite competitive so it makes for an

interesting card game! 

 

Happy Friday!

 

No new car

I'm sad to say that Mark will not

be getting that new car.  :(  We are

so used to doing things certain ways

and NOT so used to having our hand

in a certain position for more than 2

days (with 10 minute breaks every hour) 

and he accidentally lifted his hand.  I'm

so sad for him.  After 2 days and about

4 hours, to lose was hard.  They had

already lost about 16 people by then.  It's

just not natural to have to keep your

hand on a car for hours.    I hope he gives

himself a pat on the back for having

lasted that long but he's probably

mad at himself instead.  I'm

proud of him for even trying!

This is the start of another set

of cards.  I am so in love with the metallic

thread that I can even put up with

the tangling that happens.  The thread is

a little bit stretchy which makes it tangle

much easier.  Sometimes the tangle

is too difficult to get out and you

have to start with a new piece of thread.

 

I got a text yesterday from Pam with

my "homework" for Monday's class.

I have to review the story of the three

little pigs and consider how to tell

the story from each character's

perspective.  I had to read the story!

I totally forgot about the wolf falling

in boiling water and dying and that's

how the pigs escaped from his clutches-

in addition to having the strong brick

house, of course.  It's pretty sad that

I had to read it again to remember

such a simple story!  That's what getting

older does to you, I guess.   I never

liked the story anyway.  Even as a

child it insulted my intelligence, LOL.

Yeah, yeah, I know there's a reason

for the story.  "Do it right the first

time and you won't have to do it again."

At least that's what I get out of it.

But it's still a dumb story.  I doubt

I told it to my kids.  I did read Dr.

Seuss but hey, he's a literary genius.

 

Happy Thursday!

 

Wishing you joy

I'm not sure if I really like

this card or not, but I don't

dislike it, either.

I was playing around with embossing

vellum.  I wasn't sure if I had vellum

that wouldn't tear when it was embossed

and it didn't.   Then I had a piece of

pretty embossed vellum and had to

do something with it!  I think it

needs something more, but I

don't have a clue what.

 

This is an antique car I made a while

back.  I'm glad I don't have to drive

around in a car like that on a day

like today.  It is truly a fall day.

Chilly-well, cold-and very rainy.  I

love rain.  I love storms.  I don't care

for icy cold rain, though.  I can't

believe it will be November soon!

Where in the world do these days go??

 

My brother is still hanging in there.

its been about 49 hours.  He's still

awake.  They can probably rest their

eyes but then run the risk of dozing

off and their hand coming up off the

car.  There are judges walking around

watching for that!  I think at last count

they  had lost about 15 people.  Maybe a

few more by now.  That's cut down by half.

I'm really rooting for him

 

Do you know what today is?

"It's hump day!"  said the camel.

 

 

 

 

Pegasus for Kaiden

Kaiden is a 4 year old little girl

that was severely abused and is in

rehab to learn to walk and talk again!

The swappers group that I belong to

requested cards to cheer her up.  Right 

away, this pattern popped into my

head.  I think it's something a little

girl would like.

I have three kids and boys at that,

so I understand kids can drive you

crazy at times.  What I don't understand

is hurting a child.  Having to learn

to walk and talk all over again is 

bad enough.  The psychological scars

this little girl is going to live with for

the rest of her life are unimaginable.

 

Class was difficult last night, but everyone

said they understood my signs.  We had

to retell a story again.  I hate Aesop!  LOL.

I forgot an important part of the story I

was signing, but oh well.  I don't think

interpreting is what I'm going to do

with this, but again, you never know

what God has in mind.

 

Yesterday I learned that Scott Hamilton

has another brain tumor!  I think this is

the 3rd in addition to the testicular 

cancer he survived many years ago.

The other tumors were benign and

i assume this one is as well, but it

is also life threatening, they said.

 

And one final thing-my brother needs

good thoughts sent his way!  He has been

up for about 24 hrs now, with his hand

(literally) on a car.  They started out

with 30 people and I think they are down

to 24 now.  The last person standing gets 

the car or money.  He didn't get picked

for the contest last year.  It went for

77 hrs.  He's getting tired.  He's an old

man, lol.  So he needs lots of good thoughts!

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Pretty in purple

Nope, I didn't mean pink, I meant

purple.  This card was made for a 

friend who loves the colour purple.

Afterwards-because that's how

it always happens-I thought it

would have looked really nice if I

had used the metallic thread.  I don't

have anything that's truly purple,

but one that has a purple tint to it.

Oh well.  Maybe I'll make her another

one some day and use that instead!

 

I was surprised with how well I did with

the songs yesterday since I only knew one.

Judy was signing and Coleen was standing

beside me, so she was telling me the signs

before the next part was sung.  Immensely

helpful!  It's not that I don't know the

signs, it's that number one, I don't even

know the songs and two, I can't keep up

on the fast ones.  But hey, I'm trying.  Thanks,

Pam.  All I needed was a push, I think.  I 

don't know what we're doing tonight, but

it will be interesting, I'm sure.

 

Today my brother is going to try and win a

car and needs prayers.  They narrowed down

90 applicants to 30 and those 30 have to

stand with their hand on a car.  Last person

standing wins it.  He said last year it went

to 77 hours!!!  That's three days!  So he needs

a lot of prayer support.  He could really use

a new car.  He still has 4 (I think) out of 7 kids

at home and he and his wife both work.  

He's forever fixing the cars for this and 

that and drives them until they choke 

and die.  So I'm really  hoping he can do this.

Happy Monday!

 

 

Fancy border die

I shouldn't have, but I got another

die the other day.  This one is so

pretty and so darned delicate.  I need

to remember to use waxed paper when

I cut it out.  I put another paper under

it because it came out of the die  looking

a little funky.  I didn't want to re do it!

I think it came out pretty nicely,

though.

I also made the penguin in all silver.  

He came out great, too!  I love the

iridescent paper behind it.

Finally, a picture of the necklace

I got yesterday.  I've been wanting

a cross necklace forever and Pam

(teacher, not DIL) sells Avon.  The offer

was 2 for $40. and I didn't want two

necklaces nor could I afford $40. so Coleen

bought one and we split the cost.  I was

a happy camper!

The flash reflected off the table but

when I put something underneath

it the camera wouldn't focus.  But you

get the idea.  In the center is a gem-

Cubic Zirconia I think.  I'm not sure

I spelled that right because my computer

is flagging it, but I think it's right.

I think I might have a home for Luna

and they live in LaFayette which is a

couple hours from here.  I'd be willing to

meet her or go all the way.  I just want

Luna to have a good home.

I must get ready for church.  

Happy Sunday!

Very holly Christmas

OK, the title is lame.  They always

are because I can't think of titles.

My grandparents lived in Anderson,

Indiana and outside their house they

had holly bushes.  I always thought

they were so pretty.  This card

reminded me of that.  I love how it

turned out.  It is so beautiful!!

I was just so thrilled with the card

when I was finished!  It makes me

want to buy more patterns!  They're

only about 1.30 each and it's an

instant download.  I shouldn't be

buying all these patterns, but

they are turning out so pretty!

 

I haven't even been outside yet

and I just know it's C.O.L.D.

I was right.  When I get home from

class today I'm going to curl up in 

a blanket and never come out again!

I'll watch some more purflix movies.

I watched two yesterday.  Wow.

I've never been a movie person, 

really, but the movies they have on

this channel are really powerful.

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Dashing through the snow

Penguins ski don't they?  I mean,

they live in the North Pole.

OK, so some live in warm areas,

but maybe they water ski?

It's kind of hard to see.  If I make it 

again, I might do it in silver.  This card

used a bluish thread.  I'm having a 

great time with all these metallic 

threads!

I'm not as enamoured with this one.  I think

I should have done more different shading.

They look too close and then you have the

violet underneath that doesn't seem to 

match anything but the mat.  I may remake it.

I think I will also make the die cut stand up

a little more.  Maybe even put some shine on it!

I had a bite on Luna today and when I looked

up her phone number, I found she lives in

central Indiana!  So that sounds very promising.

We haven't really spoken beyond is she still

available.  I just want her to go to a good

home.  She is a sweet bird.  We are just

not right for each other, sadly.

I can't believe this is Friday already!  Tonight

starts the new series "Encounter" on pureflix

and I am so excited to see it!  

In a little while I will be going

 to  lunch at Pizza hut with Dianne

and then I have another card I'm

working on that I need to figure out

what to do with!  I have it half done

and now I'm stumped.  Where is

Reflections when I need her?   Again,

she has abandoned me.  Or should I

say still?  It's hard to keep track of her!

Happy Friday!

Christmas pointsettia

First I want to say Happy birthday

to my grandson, Austin, who is

15 today.  And whose grandma is

late on his card because Yahoo did

not remind her...I knew it was this

month, but thought it was at the

end of the month.  None of my rotten

kids would let me name their babies,

but I suggested Austin's name and

his mom liked it, so I kind of feel like

I named him.

Isn't this just beautiful?!  I know I've said

it before, this metallic thread is very 

hard to work with but it makes a striking

card.  I'm thinking maybe I should have

put 4 gems in the center to make it look 

round, but it looks OK this way, too.

A rainy day today and last night as well.

I'm loving it.  It could be snow!  You

won't get any complaints out of me

for chilly damp days.  I'd rather have

warm stormy days, but we can't always

get what we want.

My pastor has a blog that I recently 

found out about and today he was talking

about coincidences.  When something comes

into your mind and you just know it's

God nudging you to do something.  I call

that a "God thing".  You look up and say,

"I just know that was you, God!"  So here

is one:  I was thinking of a cousin the

other day that is far younger than me and

whom I have had little contact with throughout

my life.  I haven't even talked to her (nor the

rest of the family) in years.  She has had

a lot of problems in her life.  She has had

all of her children (I heard 7 but can't

verify that) taken away from her, one at 

least, immediately after birth.  She's had

a rough life.  So, for some reason she popped

into my head about a month ago.  Yesterday

my sister called and said one of our

other cousins was contacted on Ancestry.com

from a young woman who believes she

is a cousin and is looking for her birth

mother.  We believe her to be one of the

children taken away, but my sister hasn't

gotten all the information yet from this

other cousin.  Since her mom (If this is

her mother) is from Jackson, it's possible

that she is still in the area and I could be

in contact with her.  Last we knew, 

her mother is in MO.  Even if things don't

work out between her and her mother, 

we want her to know that she has a family

that loves her and can provide her with

pictures of her grandmother, great

grandparents, stories, etc.  So please be

praying that if this is her daughter, we

would be able to make her feel like she

has an extended family who loves her

and if not that she is able to reunite with

whoever her birth mother is.  Thanks.

Have a great Thursday!

We three kings

This is one of the patterns I ordered

the other day and I just love it.

Initially I was planning to put it on

a dark blue background, but the gold

didn't show up very well.  Frankly,

I was surprised, but oh, well.  It looks

just as nice on the white background.

 

I also made a magazine holder from

a postal priority box.  When you cut it

you end up with two of them.  I tried to

put scrapbook paper on it, but it was

a real pain, so I ended up painting it

and black was the only colour I had 

enough of on hand.

 

My dad has an appointment at the VA

this morning so I told him I would go

and then we are going to go to Sam's

club after.  I got a membership when

I was in NC, but haven't been to ours

in Fort Wayne yet.

 

Happy hump day!