Rainbow bridge

  Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown...

Z fold variation

In true hand made tradition, I 

folded this card backwards.

So not only did I make a lot

of extra work for myself,

but it also looks goofy.

Fortunately I have friends

and family who will overlook

my stupid mistakes and like the

card anyway.  Maybe I'll get

ambitious and make another

the correct way.

It's been a rough weekend.  I think

it's going to be time soon, to let my

dog, Neelix, cross over the rainbow

bridge.  I can't bring myself to say

the words that that really means.  I've

never had to do anything like this before,

and certainly not alone.  He's become

incontinent over the past few months

and I am sure this doesn't make him

any more happy than it does me.  So

I take him to the vet that is here

in town and explain the situation.

They've been seeing my dogs for

years and I have become increasingly

certain that they enjoy spending my 

money more than I do..  So these idiots

want to do expensive blood tests

because he might have kidney

disease or diabetes.  And?  I told

them no.  Well, maybe he's in pain.

I'm sure he is.  He stumbles sometimes

and I think his hips are hurting.  But

that doesn't have anything to do with

incontinence.  So I let them talk

me into pain pills, came home

and called the vet in Ft. Wayne that

cares for my birds.  She has seen

each of the dogs when we first

got them , but

I thought it made more sense

to take them here locally.  I can't

do that with the birds.  They need

an avian vet.  I have known

her for about 17 years, trust her and

 know she's not going to take my money

for something that there's no cure for.

I'll be taking him there on

Monday morning.  She will give

me the guidance I need.

Compassionately.

 

Oh, and to top it off, this vet here

in Angola kindly gave me an

extremely expensive

estimate for a teeth cleaning.

REALLY??

 

Bokeh technique

Bokeh is pronounced bo-kay.

It's actually a film technique

that photographers use to blur the

background and bring out an image

in the front.  So pretty and we've

all seen it.  Some genius figured

out how to make it on a card.

When I saw it I just had to try it.

I think it lends itself to a dream

scene which is why I put the

word "dream" on two of them. 

I think they are so beautiful!

Last night I went to pizza hut with the

sign group and met a deaf couple.

Didn't get to talk to them much
but it was a good experience.

Firekeepers casino

Not such a good time was had by

all...some idiot (who will remain

nameless) left her wallet at home.

She had never, ever done that

before.  Ever.  Moron.  Anyway,

the food was good, Cody loaned

me some money to play with-

I used 3.00 and that was enough.

Went to the craft store to get a couple

things since I had my checkbook.

Naturally.  Wrote the check-no

electronics for this store-gave it to 

him and wouldn't you know, he

wanted my drivers license? How 

inconsiderate.  So that didn't happen.

A few other irritating things happened

during the day, but the topper was 

when I decided to eat some 

strawberries and realized I'd left

them at the store.  It could have

been a better day.  On the up side,

I got a bill from the electric/gas co.

saying i didn't owe anything and that

I had a 38.+change credit for next

month.  I guess they settle up in

May when you are on the budget plan.

So I had a little extra money and 

bought some rubber bands to make

bracelets out of.  It's not like I 

don't have tons of them, I just get bored 

using the same colours.  

Isn't this a gorgeous waterwall?

No, we didn't play craps, but I thought

the sign was cool, so I had Pam take

a picture of the two of us in front of it.

Cody having a good stretch after

lunch.

Cody and I won a little here and there,

but it didn't add up to anything, esp.

since I was playing a penny slot.  I

think I won 65 cents at one point.

Pam, on the other hand, won 23.,

took the money and ran.  They both

had 10. credit because every once

in a while the casino sends them a 

"haven't seen you in a while" letter

and adds a little money to their account.

so she used that up, ended up with

23. and I think that was a pretty

good deal.  She was happy. 
Maybe we'll have a do-over sometime.

Found it!

I thought I accidentally threw away

my new lamppost die.  It

was only 10.00 but I couldn't

remember if I got it at Hobby lobby

or JoAnn's.  Now I don't have

to worry about it!  That's what I

get for keeping my desk a mess!

This card did not turn out right

because There were no instructions,

just pictures.  So I decided to try

it and since I am mathmatically

challenged, I kept making the wrong 

sizes.  Finally I decide I could

live with it.  I mean, it IS

hand made after all, so by

virtue of the word handmade,

it isn't perfect...

I guess it's OK.  I  like the composition

of it, but it isn't how the picture showed.

I don't think I will try it again.

I'm going to clean for a friend today. 

I hate it, but he pays me well.  He and

his brother just got back from Florida

so it won't be too messy, but probably

good and dusty.  And I'll have some

money to spend at the casino tomorrow!

 

Triple flip card

As I've said previously, I don't

usually make square cards simply because

they cost more to mail.  This one I couldn't

resist and I'm thrilled with how it turned

out.  The card is supposed to be 

made with a special die, but so what?

Why spend the money for a die when

you can make your own?  It looks

just as good (if not better) than the

one made with the special die.

Note to self: make sure you have enough

of the same paper when starting a 

project.  So the envelope will match

the tan piece in the third picture.  But 

I'm really, really happy with how

it turned out.

Tonight is the last class for level 3.  I 

definitely want/need to take the class

again. I also need to buckle down

and study more.  I am stunned at

how quickly I am forgetting words

if I don't use them much.  The problem

is that I don't have anyone to practice

with.  I am enjoying the new church

I'm attending and learning quite a

bit from watching Pam.  So I'm glad

I decided to give it a try.

I may not post anything on Wed. ,

I'm not sure.  Cody and Pam are

taking me to the casino in Battle Creek

(did I already say this?  If so, sorry)

so I'm looking forward to that.  It's kind

of a birthday/mother's day present to

me and Cody.  I lived in Las Vegas

and never set foot in a casino!

I was only 20.  I played the slot

machines in the grocery store, laundromat

(no kidding!) and other places, but

not the casino.  And who had the money

anyway?  So this will be exciting.

The Chief of the casino came into the

store where John was working years

ago to buy some furniture and tried

to get John to be the IT guy for the

casino but he said no because he

wanted to retire and not keep driving

back and forth to Battle Creek.  It would

have been pretty cool, though!

Baby cherry trees

My cherry tree is prolific

at reproducing so I decided last

year to plant a baby.  Three of them

were kind of in a clump, so I thought

one might choke out the other 

two.  Not so far.   All 

three are flourishing!  I've wanted 

a tree in that corner for a long

time and John said no.  So.... he 

doesn't get a say.  I'm thrilled with

how they are doing so far.  

Next year I will probably remove

the rocks around it.  I didn't

want them to accidentally get

mowed over last year while my

neighbor was mowing my yard with

the rider.  Aren't they cute?!

Now on to the new card fold

I tried this morning.  This is called 

a corner fold.  It is so cute and

came out really well the very first

time!  I'm going to send it to Robin

for her pastor's little granddaughter.

She is either going to or has had, I 

can't remember, a bone marrow transplant.

I'm glad they were able to find a 

donor so quickly.

I had to put something on the corner

to take the picture because it

doesn't want to stay closed.  It wants

to stand up and be seen!  But she can

put it on  her side stand and it won't fold

up.  I saw a challenge for using 

corrugated cardboard on a card so

I decided to get out my  little tool and

give it a try.  Unfortunately it's not

as tight as it used to be so I had

some trouble get a good piece.  This

was the best and it's not straight 

because I can't draw a straight line

with a ruler!  True story.  All in all

I think it is adorable.  the little

bear is popped off the pink piece 

and inside the butterfly is only

attached by the center so it 

"flies" off the page.  I love doing

butterflies like that.  It makes

them look a little more real.

This last picture is of my SIL's lilac bonsai.

She says it's about 20 now.  I wish I

had gotten a better picture of the 

full pot but the sun was so

bright I couldn't tell that I cut off

the bottom.  Doesn't she have the 

cutest faerie garden??

Well, off to get ready for church.

I am liking the new church so far

and learning a lot watching

Pam (my teacher, not DIL)

signing the sermons.