In my thoughts

It's kind of hard to see the card

with the flash glare, but I couldn't

get a good picture of it any other way.

I think it turned out pretty well.

 

I take my car to the shop today to

have it looked at.  Thankfully the 

guy in FW gave me an estimate so I

can show them and they don't think

they can get away with overpricing

things for a "dumb woman"  He did it

with only one strut and then both.  

Well, if the other strut is fine then

it doesn't get replaced, plain and

simple.  I can barely afford the 

stupidity I've already brought

upon myself.  I don't need to add

more money on to it.  I just hope he

doesn't "find" something else.  If

I think it's ridiculous, I'll call Larry

and ask him.  It's going to be

probably over $500. without the

tire!  Hey, when I do something 

I do it right.  Apparently.  I'm glad,

for a change, that John is gone.  he

would be SO MAD.

 

The guy I thought might want Luna

adopted another bird.  I'm afraid

I will be stuck with her forever and

I really don't want that for her.

She needs a home where she is

loved and paid lots of attention to.

Sorry, not in the best of moods today.

I will just say

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

30-27

I would never want to rub it in

to my son, Nathan, that OSU

walked all over U of M.  Well,

OK, maybe I would like to rub

it in.  Just a little!!

I thought it turned out pretty

good.  I wish I'd had a sympathy

that was a little smaller, but I

had to make do with what I had on

hand.  It would have been cuter with

a stick to wave the banner on!

I had a bad day yesterday.  The

doctor doesn't want to do surgery

yet, so I guess that's good, although

at night I might debate the issue.

BUT...on the way in I ran over a

curb.  Yes, you heard me right.  And

I came down HARD on the tire.  The

good news is I made it home after

5 hours of waiting for a tow, having

them repair it enough to be drivable.

Thankfully I had a halfway decent

donut tire.  The bad news is that

not only do I have to replace the

tire-of course-I also have to replace 

the strut.  That's what he saw on

a visual inspection.  Hopefully that's

all.  I have an appointment to get

it in on Wednesday.  Meanwhile, I

am grounded as I don't think it's a

good idea to press my luck. We

are supposed to praise God in all

situations.  I praise him for a safe

trip home and a prescription of ativan

because by the time I got home I

needed to calm myself somehow.

The worst part was that it was pouring

rain the entire way home.    So...note

to self:  stay away from the curbs.

Happy Tuesday!

Christmas flowers

While I'm making these flowers

I decided I should make a couple

of cards with them as well and

I love how they turned out.

I sent my son, Nathan, a condolence

text yesterday...OSU rules!  Cody suggested

I send him a sympathy card, LOL, so I

think  I'm going to get to work on that

right away.  I don't care one way or the

other which team wins, but he does and

that's the point!  I am a Buckeye, so

why would I root for Michigan?  I hate

that state anyway, for reasons I will

not go into.  But he's so into the rivalry

that I just have to tease him about it! 

 

It's raining this morning!  I want it 

to stay rain and nothing more as I

have to drive more than an hour to

get to my appointment.

 

Yesterday, my friend, LuAnn, my

daughter in law, Pam's mother,

had a Thanksgiving dinner for family

and friends and it was wonderful talking

to everyone and sharing a meal.  There's 

something about sharing a meal with

someone that brings you closer together.

It's no mistake, I think, that Jesus broke

bread with people because it relaxes

you and puts you in a more receptive

mood.  He had certainly had 

something they needed to hear! 

I found out yesterday that my ex's

grandfather died in August and

no one told me.  After John got sick I

kind of lost touch with him, but I did

send him a card here and there.  His

son got one I sent recently and found

my phone number to let me know.

I realized that I had never asked grandpa

if he was saved.  We didn't really get

into any in depth conversations.  He

lived in Ohio, over by Cleveland, so 

we talked by phone occasionally, but 

only briefly as he just didn't want to

stay on the phone long.  It's really  hard

for me to ask people if they are saved

because I feel like they think I am

judging them.  But it's important to

know.  From now on I will try to be

less self conscious about asking people

such an important question.

Happy Monday!

 

 

Package tags

I wasn't feeling the best yesterday

and forgot to post.  I made some

package tags using a template

called stacked flowers.  It has lots 

of different shapes in different 

sizes and you stack to make 

many different flowers.  Lots

of "different", but I couldn't

think of a better word!

I have a card in mind to make using

the same template.  I hope it comes

out as nicely as it looks in my mind!

 

I see my orthopedic Dr. tomorrow and

am thinking of discussing surgery with

him.  I don't know if I want to go that

route, but I'm tired of being in pain and

now would be a prime time since classes

are over.  On the other hand, do I hurt

badly enough to go through that?  It's

kind of a toss-up in my mind right now,

so I'll see what he thinks is best.  He

has mentioned surgery before.  I think 

about all the things I wouldn't be

able to do and one of them is straightening

my hair.  Egads!  I wouldn't be able to

show my face with this mess of hair I've

been "blessed" with.  The back looks like

a scene from "Planet of the apes" with

washboard ripples.  I just hate it.  I

don't dare take a comb to it or I look

like a dark-haired Carrot Top.  You

know, the red headed comedian?  It's 

scary and you wouldn't want to see it,

trust me! 

 

Happy Sunday!

 

Christmas door

I hope everyone had a nice

Thanksgiving.  Mine not so much,

but the day before made  up

for it.  Bri came and spent the 

night.  We went to the Chinese

restaurant for lunch, then to

the  movies to see "Fantastic

beasts and where to find them".

She paid for everything and

it was fantastic!  The movie was 

really wonderful, although I think

they could have picked a better 

actor for the main character.  Just

my opinion.

Here's my door card.  I made one

once before that, as I recall, turned

out much better than this one, but

I couldn't find the measurements.

The wreath is a little lopsided.

 I tried to hide that with the

bow but I should have used a 

bigger ribbon!  I would have 

liked to put beads around it

for berries, but I didn't have

any red ones.

 

It's been raining for a couple

days now, and I'm grateful it's not

snow.  For many reasons, but

mainly because we'd probably be

buried!!  I would be happy

with snow starting Christmas eve

and melting the day after Christmas.

I'd be good with that.  Otherwise,

I'd just rather have a decorated

palm tree.  I remember those from

when I went to Ft. Meyers when

I was 12.  It was over Christmas and

I was fascinated by the fact that

they strung lights all the way up

the palm trees.  I don't remember

if they ever did that in California

or South Carolina, but I've never

forgotten seeing that in Florida.

Oh, how I wish I was there now!

 

Happy Friday!

 

To Santa

Happy Thanksgiving Eve.  I met

John for the first time on 

Thanksgiving at the restaurant.

When the restaurant closed at 3

pm, they reloaded the buffet and

the workers and families came and

had dinner together.  I remember a 

LONG table set up right down the

middle.  I don't remember him

well, but I know John was there once.

He said I flirted with him.  I really

don't remember that but I'm not

denying it either, LOL.  This thanks=

giving I'm going to my parents' house.

My dad is cooking.  I'm not sure how

that is going to turn out, but it will

be interesting.  I don't think he's

ever cooked a dinner like this before.

I think this card is, as my granddaughter

would say, "totes adorbs"  for normal

folk that is: totally adorable.  I realized

as I was adhering it that I'd not put the

"to" in front of Santa, but oh, well.  I couldn't

believe I could scale down the pattern and

still be able to stitch it.  The background is

blue alcohol ink with gold mixed in.

 

This is also an alcohol ink background

but with two different colours of blue

and no gold.  I love how both of them 

turned out!

 

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and

I hope you remember that we don't

need a special day to give thanks!

 

 

Christmas banners

I don't usually use banners on

my cards even though they are

"in" right now.  Or maybe they

are on the way out, who knows?

Things change quickly in card making.

I'm not super enthralled with this

card, but it's OK.  I wish I'd done the

banners in lengths that looked more

different.  They are too close in length,

I think.  But anyway...

It's a good way to use up little scraps.

It's hard to see, but there are a

couple little snowflake stickers

as well.

 

Not the best of mornings.  I found out

I dropped 100.00 in my checkbook.  

Math is not my best subject.

Obviously.

Thankfully, I found it before

the bank did and overdrew my

account.  So I guess it's not all

bad.  I'm not sure what made me

check my balance online, but

I think maybe it was God whispering

in my ear.  I've never, ever had an

overdrawn account and I don't 

want to start now.

 

Can you believe that while we are

freezing our tushes off here in 

the Midwest, Tropical storm Otto

is forming in the Caribbean?   

Right now I think I wouldn't 

mind a tropical storm!  Although

I've been through two and they

are no picnic.  I know for a

fact I don't want to experience 

a hurricane!  I know

several people who have including

my sister and son who were in

the middle of hurricane Andrew.

I'll pass, thank you.  But warm

rain and a little wind I would

be able to handle.  Maybe I'll

just take a short trip.  Anyone

have some spare change I can borrow?
 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Have a nice day

This is the last pattern I'm going to 

get for a while.  I mean it.  At least

I think I mean it.  There's just

so many pretty ones.

It's such pretty script.  You know

they aren't going to be teaching

that to kids anymore?  I think they

need to at least know how to sign

their names in cursive.  It's a lost

art now that the computer is here

and everything is printed.  I'm not 

against printing, but it's nice to 

have the skill of cursive, I think.  

Even if you can't read it and I 

know some people who have

writing so terrible you couldn't 

even read it printed!  

 

Little Heath will be a year old

this Christmas eve.  Isn't he just

a doll?  I look back at Christmas

Eve from last year and realize that

this year is going to be very, very

different.  But in a good way, I think.

Last year was good as well, but

friends have gone from my life

during the year and that's sad.

God removed them for a reason

and I think I know what that reason

was.  But as my sister says, God

rarely has just one reason for doing

something in our lives.  I have to

remember that all things work together

for good to those who love God.  He

knows what is best for me and this

time he dragged me kicking and

screaming from the friendship.

He knows what is best.

He knows what is best.

I need to accept that and trust

that His plan is better than mine.

 Sometimes I wake up and

kind of go over the plans for the

day in prayer and then I always

say, "these are MY plans".  My

plans may be changed by something

He feels is more important and I

always need to be open to that.

 

I'm going to miss going to class

tonight.  What will I do with

myself tonight?!

Happy Monday!

 

 

 

My Shepherd

I found some more neat patterns.

 I should not be stitching but

can't help myself.

This is for someone who

lost a little one a few months

ago.  The holidays are hard

when you've lost someone you

love and I thought maybe they

could use a little encouragement.

Their name popped into my head

the other day, unbidden, and I

always feel like that's God telling

me to send that person a card.

I don't really even know them,

having met them only once, but

God knows them and that's all

that matters, right?!

Isn't it a beautiful pattern?  I had

a terrible time with it because if

I made it small enough for a regular

sized card it was too tiny to stitch.

So I had to make it for a bigger 

card (for card makers, that's an A6)

and then it didn't come out centered,

but had lots of space at top and 

bottom.  I cut all that off and

added flowers to the bottom.  

I think it turned out OK. that way.

 

Two days ago we had a very nice

and noisy thunderstorm.  Yesterday

we had a snowstorm.  I don't like this

weather at all.  Have I ever mentioned

how much I hate cold weather?  LOL.

 

My mom spent the night in hospital

apparently with a kidney stone.

They were having trouble controlling

her pain so decided to just keep her.

I hope she is able to pass it soon.  I

have never personally had one, but

I hear they are very painful.  My dad

has had them too, and now that she

has had one it makes me wonder if

I will suffer the same fate.  I hope not.

I have enough old age issues

to have to deal with something like

that as well.  Getting old isn't for

the faint of heart. I never thought I

would get here and now I see people

born in the 70's and 80's and

wonder how in the world they could

be in their 30's and 40's.  Worst

of all, everyone looks like a kid

to me.  It's frightening!

 

Happy Sunday!

 

 

 

Today belongs to you

I really love umbrella man.  I 

need to use him more.  He reminds

me of something, but I can't quite

put my finger on it.

 

Two days ago I had the bathroom

window open which is rarely

the case.  When  I went to close it

It fell inward (it's the type that comes

in to wash them) and hit me right on

the bridge of the nose.  As hard as it

hit I thought it would have broken, but

there wasn't even a bruise, although

it still hurts a little even today.

It was a nasty little shock.  My

brother in law looked at it and because

it's rarely used the little prongs on

the sides became brittle and  broke

off.  So I need to order another piece

I guess.  He said it was easy enough

to put  on but they don't sell that

kind of stuff off the shelf.  At least

not around here.  There are about

six million different types of window

replacement parts.....  I think I will

just never open it again and let the

new owner worry about it if I 

ever sell the house.

Today is the last Saturday class.  :(

I will miss it a great deal.  I

need to spend more time practicing

my finger spelling.  I am terrible

at it!  I've been told it's muscle

memory.  My muscles aren't in

the mood to memorize, apparently.

Happy Saturday!

 

 

May all your wishes...

My ex daughter in law (whom I 

love dearly) has a birthday coming up.

This is the card I made.  I have come

to the conclusion that I don't really

like this die much.

It's pretty, don't get me wrong, 

just a pain to work with.  I think

it might look better with some

fibre tied around the fold of the

card, so I may do that before

I send it.

Dianne and I missed our lunch

last week, so we had dinner last

night.  We were going to go to

a new place that just opened

called Moe's, but it was jammed.

It is, as best as I can tell, a burrito

bar that you just tell them what

you want and they fix it on the spot.

Nice idea, but it's still so new that

you just can't get in without waiting

in line forever and neither of us was

in the mood for that.  Neither of

us likes crowds much, either.  So

we opted for a nice quiet restaurant

farther up the street. 

I'm looking forward to spending a

quiet day today and tomorrow.

I have nothing to do either day.

Nothing that is, except get on the

treadmill which I should be doing

more of.  I've gained some weight...

again.  We won't talk about that, though.

Happy Thursday!

Say your prayers

These are cards I made a while

ago, and I don't think I've posted

them yet.  I haven't been doing

much card wise.  My arm has been

hurting a lot and I don't see the 

doctor until the end of the month.

I am wondering if I will need surgery.

The cortisone shot lasted about 6 weeks

this time.  I can only have one every

three months.  Not good.  I guess I'll

find out soon but he has already

mentioned surgery.  :(

Aren't these just the cutest?  They

would make good cards for a new baby

or baptism, things like that.  Maybe

even a shower announcement.

 

I see that Dwayne Johnson AKA 

"the rock" has just been named sexiest

man alive.  He makes MY list for sure!!

He also is a Christian.  I have seen

articles in which he tells about his

salvation.  I think that is just so

awesome.  Whenever I watch a Christian

movie on TV I am always looking to

see if the actors are Christians.  I don't

know if he's ever been in any faith

based movies, but he would be welcomed

in any movie I watched!  Too bad he's

married with kids, LOL!

 

What day is today?

Hump day!

 

happy Wednesday!

 

 

Know that you are loved

I made this card for my ex's grandfather.

He is in a nursing home in Norwalk, 

Ohio and is the sweetest man in the world.

So I drop him a card now and then to

let him know I'm thinking about him.

The interpreter prep class is over

and I enjoyed it so much.  We had to

interpret last night as someone was

reading and try to keep up with them.

The person reading for me went nice and

slow so I liked that!  They weren't

allowed to look at us so didn't know

how fast or slow we were signing.

I think I did well, but I really need

to work on my "I'm freaking out"

facial expressions, LOL.

 

 

I had some blood work done this morning

for an appointment with my kidney doctor

next month.  I'm hoping for good news.

Last year he came in with a smile on

his face and said, "I never get to give people

good news and this never happens, but

your kidneys are getting better.  I think

they're healing themselves."!!  The lesson

there is don't limit God.  A few prayers

would be appreciated.  I am really

hoping he will tell me I'm even better

than last year, but not getting my

hopes up either.  The kind of kidney

disease I have usually never gets

better, only worse with time.

 

Happy Tuesday!