HAY HAY HAY!!! It's boredom time!!!! Only in this case its FUN to be bored. Well---that is, if you visit www.scrapadilly.com and join us in our Friday Night Boredom Crop!!! Wanna have fun??? Wanna win some fabulous prizes??? Well, come and check us out!! That's this Friday, August 15th at 6 pm, central time.

My blog, today, is dedicated to the memory of one of the closest friends I ever had. It's with a sad and heavy heart that I write this. Yesterday, I said goodbye to my companion, friend, buddy, love of my life for the past 12 years----my sweet dog, Misty.

It was exactly 12 years ago this month that a neighbor boy knocked on our door to tell us that there was a puppy lying in the road---that some one had tossed her out a car window. I ran out and scooped up this adorable little brown bundle and brought her in the house. We immediately called our vet and he said to bring her right over.

After checking her all over, she was none the worse for her tumble and he estimated her to be about 5 weeks old. He also told us she was a Rhodesian Ridgeback, which I had never heard of. She also had a little Chow in her because of her black tongue. All I knew is from that moment on, she was a devoted member of our family.

Her and my sweet hubby became inseparable. I mean "joined at the hip" inseparable !!!! For 7 years Juergen doted over Misty, took care of her, loved and spoiled her. Then in April of 03, Misty and I said a broken hearted good-bye to my darling husband and her best friend. I could not have made it through that time without Misty. She was forever at my side. I would sit in Juergen's chair and cry and she would come and lay her head on my lap and whine as if she were crying with me. She would lick my hands and look at me with those beautiful brown eyes as if to say "I'm here---I'll take care of you." And that she did, for another 5 years.

Our travels took us from Florida to Michigan and then on to South Carolina. She helped me move on with my life. She was my "forever" companion. She was a dog I had never experienced before. She never played with toys. She never ran around and chased things like other dogs. She was very quiet, subdued, happy to just lay at my feet.

I noticed about two years ago that she was walking funny. She started having problems with her back legs. But she was still able to bound up the stairs, and prance around excitedly every time I came home and I figured, if she could do that she was ok. But two months ago she really started showing the worse in her legs. She whined a lot, and then about two weeks ago, I noticed that when I came home, she would just lie there and not get up to greet me. She could still climb the stairs to the second floor, but it was very slow, pausing sometimes to rest half way up. Then last week it really got bad and I knew what I was facing.

Yesterday, we had to make the ultimate decision. From the time I found her she had NEVER had an accident in the house, even as a puppy. But for the past few days she had lost all control. She was losing feeling up into her back. I told my daughter to call the vet. I figured it would take a few days to make the appointment as I knew how busy this vet was. But then Tanya walked into my room and said "They want her now". I was in shock. NO!!! Not NOW!! I need time to say goodbye. But I knew in my heart that God was telling me to send her home----she was in pain and hurting.

And so with heavy hearts and more tears than we care to count, we all said our goodbyes. We had always known that when the time came, Tanya would be the one to take her in. It was the one thing she wanted to do for her dad-----to be with Misty in the end. There was no way I could have gone. At that time, I was a complete hysterical basket case.

So, Misty, my faithful friend. How can I say THANK YOU for the 12 wonderful years you gave us. There are no words to describe the love we all had for you. You were the light of our lives. So now I send you home. I know that I know that I know----that as soon as that old heart gave its last beat, you found yourself in a beautiful meadow. There were lots of dogs running and playing. There were wonderful shade trees, and flowers everywhere. But you didn't stay long---because suddenly you stood still and looked off into the distance. Someone was coming---someone familiar. Your body quivered with excitement and you bound off with all the energy you had as a puppy. And suddenly there he was, with arms open wide. Your excitement was more than you could stand!!!! You ran into his arms and kissed him all over and he lovingly stroked your head. You were together once again!!! And together you headed off-----over the Rainbow Bridge and into the sunset.

But before I go----promise me one thing----that when my old heart beats its last beat, and I find myself standing at Rainbow Bridge that you both will be standing there waiting for me. I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU BOTH MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY.

OH NO!!! PLEASE don't tell me it has been TWO MONTHS since I updated!!! Where DOES the time go!!
Well for one thing, I spent a month at my sweet granddaughter's house in North Carolina. Her hubby needed surgery and I helped out with my two precious little great-grandchildren. Everything went very well, and Dave is on the mend.
Then it seems when I got home, there was just so much to catch up on. But I think I'm there now!

We had a horrible scare around here yesterday. My 4 year old grandson and the 6 year old neighbor girl decided to see what Oleander leaves tasted like. Now for those that don't know, they are very poisonous!! Fortunately Maggie's mother found out and called 911. They send an ambulance and immediately gave them charcoal. Poor Cohen, he fought me tooth and nail!! He was NOT getting into that ambulance!!! Poor guy was so scared. Anyway, all is well. It seems the green leaf Oleander is not as potent as the yellow leaf one. THAT one is deadly!!! Needless to say, there are three holes in our yard where the bushes USE to be!!!

I am busier than ever with my scrapping!! And there are two GREAT crops on the horizon. Now the first one is tomorrow night over at www.scrapadilly.com. Yep, the Friday Night Boredom Fighters are BACK!!!! AND----along with some GREAT prizes!! A great kit from our friend, Drea, who runs the show (she is awesome with these Boredom Fighter crops!)---and then our good friend Robin B (mad scrapper designs) is adding one of her kits as a prize, and then our buddy Allison Copes has donated the July issue of the So Sketchy! Subscriber as a prize!! THANK YOU Robin and Allison!!! You're the GREATEST!

Now, starting on July 1st over at www.theshakerbox.com, another GREAT crop is starting and THIS one runs for TWO WEEKS!! Be sure to go over there and check out all the details. This will be a hum-dinger!!!!

There is also a lot happening over at www.treasurestoscrap.com! There is ALWAYS a lot happening over there!! Check out those awesome Treasure Chests in the digi store. AND did you know that it is sale day EVERY DAY over there? Yep, 35 % off, EVERY DAY!!! So check out these great sites!!!!

OK, so what have I been doing? Well I will upload a few of my latest creations! I just love the "Hold My Hand" one. That is my granddaughter's hubby with my two sweet great-grandchildren. For this I used a variety of Rick Evans kits ---- love how you can combine his kits together!! I used: "My Grandmother", "Cherish Dream Live", "All About Family", "Happiness of Being", and "Girls Just Wanna"


"Mommys Are Fun" was done for a color challenge over at Scrapadilly. I snapped photos of granddaughter playing with the kids. I used a bunch of kits by my buddy Robin B (mad scrapper designs) including Frame (color changed) from "Hidden Treasures", Black Paper from "Contempo Retro Papers", Green Paper from "Hey Hey Baby"' Everything else from "Adventures in Fun"

OK, now I gotta explain "Get Up and Go". Treasures to Scrap is 3 years old and we are having all kinds of great challenges over there. Come and check it out!! Anyway, this layout was done for the "Gunny Sack Race". We had to do a lyrics layout about how we felt on our last birthday!! Yeah, the lyrics to THIS song says it all!!!! I used two of Dawn Inskip's delightful kits called "Pets" and "New Beginnings".

Well, thats about it for now. Hope you have enjoyed seeing my work. I promise I will NOT let two months pass by again!!! Thanks for looking!!!! (((((HUGS)))) to you all !!!

Another beautiful day here in the southeast! Mid 70's, and tomorrow is suppose to be in the 80s! Did I mention that I will be moving back to Michigan? Well not until next year, but I am looking forward to my beautiful Michigan!! Now the weather here is very nice, but I miss the change of seasons. I love the freshness of spring, the warm balmy days of summer and you just can't beat those awesome colorful Michigan autumns--------and then there is winter!!!! Well, you know, don't you, that there are only two seasons in Michigan.
There is WINTER and there is SPRINGSUMMERFALL !!!! I'm sure my dog, Misty, is all excited about going back. I mean, can't you just tell by that photo of her??? OK, enough of that subject!!
Well, there is a new member of our household. She moved in bag and baggage last week and I am about to MOVE HER OUT bag and baggage!! Talk about something so tiny that can get into so much mischief!!! Her name is Boots-----and that is exactly what she is going to get!!!! Nah, not really. I love kittys. But this one sure is a frisky little thing!!! Her favorite toys?? The dogs tails!!! Now you talk about FUNNY-----watching this scene is hysterical!!!
Just another typical day around this household!! And how is YOUR day going???

Well, have been trying all morning to start a new blog, thinking this is what I had to do to get the new version, until my good buddy, Robin, informed me I didn't have to do that----ALL THAT WORK for nothing!!! AAARRGGGHHHH!! All I had to do was change my template!!!! And that's what I did!! Now you can see more!! :o)
SO, lets see---what's new----what's been happening?? Granddaughter, Jameson was so cute this morning going for her very first bike ride with mommy on the back of her bike. Mommy and Daddy bought new bikes and a bike carrier for Jameson. She LOVED it!! She looked so stinking cute with her helmet on!!!!
Been a quiet week here. The weather is AWESOME. Going to be in the mid 80's for the rest of the week!! WOOO HOOO!!! Time to go to the pool!!!
Daughter and Son-in-Law have been working hard on the back yard. The grandkids swing set is up, the patio is in and they bought tiki lights and a 3-seater swing to finish it off!! SIL fenced off a small portion of the yard as a "doggie bathroom". Nicest way I could put it!!! :o) They were killing the yard---so this is the answer. Works great!! They just go out the door and they are in their private bathroom! You have to open a gate to get into the play yard. He put ceder chips down and it smells so good!! And this way we know the kids are playing on nice clean grass (if you get my drift!!)

What a day!!! Remind me that birthday parties for four year olds are too harsh for grandmas!!! Oh well, it was fun!! Had around 12 kids at Chucky Cheese today and grandson Cohen had a blast!! Here are some photos of all the fun. His little sister had just as much fun as the big kids!! Cohen wasn't too sure about meeting Chucky----he looks a little apprehensive. He loved his pirate cake--the theme was Pirates of the Caribbean (did I spell that right?)
Oh yeah, the fat lip!! She was playing on brother's new table and chair set yesterday and fell out of the chair face first on the concrete. We are thankful she only got a fat lip!!
It was a beautiful day today, in the 80's, a perfect day for a birthday! Cohen got WAY too much stuff!!! But he dragged it all outside for all the neighbor kids to play with and they played all afternoon. The big hit of the day was the bubble maker, as you can see!!! Our neighborhood was covered with thousands of bubbles!!!! All in all, the kids had a GREAT day, and grandma has another pile of photos added to her ever growing stash!!!

Hello my friends. Yes I am still here, alive and kicking!! It has been a rough month, but things are looking up.
Sadly, as most of you know, I had to say goodbye to my scrap sites and many, many dear friends. You know the old saying "Fight or Flight"? Well, unfortunately, all my life, I always choose the Flight way out and then am so sorry afterwards.
I have to learn to STOP, evaluate the situation, and think it through before I do anything rash!!! As things clear up in my life, I am hoping to gradually get back into scrapping again----no, I have done NO scrapping!!! Photos are piling up faster than I can think!!!!
I can say one thing without a doubt and that is that God has been with me all the way!! There is no way I could have made it without Him!!!! He is my fortress!!!!
Now for what is happening on the home scene----well, grandson, Cohen will be four tomorrow and we are having a big blast at Chucky Cheese. OH FUN!! Can grandma make it through this?? Of course, that means MORE PHOTOS!!!!
Granddaughter, Jameson is going on 19 months old!! Where does the time go?? Right now, she is walking around (yes!! finally started walking!!) with a fat lip. Cohen got one of his presents today--an outdoor table and chairs set and Jameson fell face first off the chair.
I have been asked to teach a card class at my church this fall and I am really considering it. It will give me something to do and get me out of the house. I am becoming a HERMIT!!! MUST STOP THIS!!!
We had a wonderful Easter, but my favorite part was the week leading up to Easter. What awesome services ---- Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Saturday evening Easter vigil. It was awesome!!
The grandchildren had an Easter egg hunt at the church on Saturday. Jameson was so cute picking up her eggs. Then we had one at the house after church on Sunday.
Oh, we DID have one scary thing happen a few days ago. A kitchen wall cabinet decided to fall on me!! Fortunately no one was hurt!! It was full of dishes and canned goods. I had just put the baby in her highchair---usually she is right at my feet. We definitely had angels watching over us!!! We found out that the cabinet had been attached right to the wall board---NO STUDS!! CRAZY!!!! But I am counting my blessings. I came out if it with just a slight bruised arm.
Well, thats about it for now. Hope all my friends are doing well and scrapping away!!!!

Well, I think its about time I updated this blog! It is beginning to get cobwebs!!
Hay!! first of all I want to tell you about an awesome new site I found, called Unity Stamps!! Now get this!! An acrylic handle that will accommodate either rubber stamps or clear stamps!! WOW!! Now rather than try to go into an explanation, which I'm not good at---just check out the site and watch their video. You will find the link to their site over on the left hand side of my blog, right underneath my 'Blog Archive". Seriously, you have GOT to check it out! I've added some photos from their site to tweak your interest----but to fully understand how it works, be sure to check out the site! You won't be disappointed!!!!

So other than being very excited to find this site, nothing else much going on at the home front. Oh, for those of you who LOVE crops----there's a GREAT crop starting tomorrow (Friday) at www.makingmemoriesforyou.org. It starts at 10 a.m. Friday and goes until midnight on Sunday. LOTS of games and challenges and of course lots of great prizes!! Check it out!!

Spring is finally beginning to arrive here in South Carolina. On my way to church last Sunday, the flowering bushes were really starting to come into full bloom!! The trees are loaded with buds and the weather is now in the low to mid 70s. GOTTA LOVE IT!!!

Thats about it for now. Catch ya all next time around!!

Can you believe it? My first GREAT grandson is off to school!!!! GOOD GRIEF!! I am getting old!!! NAH, not really---age is only a number---and my actual number may be WAY up there, but in my mind that number is very low!!!!
Anyway, here is my sweet Caleb---off to pre school over in Okinawa, Japan. I love how you can see the Japanese letters on the side of the school bus. What a memory this will be!! I can still remember the day he was born and how excited I was to be a great grandma!!! I mean, I was REALLY excited when his grandma, my daughter Holly, was born and I was a grandma for the first time, but this was even MORE exciting!!! And now here he is, off to school!!!! I have been SOOOO blessed!!!!!!

OK, so for the benefit of all my family and loved ones, I guess I had better start putting stuff in here BESIDES scrapping!!! (Is there anything else?) -----only kidding, loved ones!!!!

WOW! the first of March already!! HAY, its almost Christmas---have you gotten your shopping done yet???? Are you like me and start in January, you know, every time you see a sale? Then when Christmas comes, you look at what you bought in January and think "Heck, I don't have anyone I can give THAT to!!"

In the 60's here today. Suppose to be nice and sunny tho. Can't WAIT for Monday---high of 76 and sunny all day. THIS Chickie is going sunbathing in the back yard!!!! Good thing we have a 6 foot fence---I'd scare the whole neighborhood!!!!

Dd's in-laws are still here---two months now. But I really enjoy their company. Someone to talk to besides ankle biters!!!! Oh, not that I mind 3 year old Cohen's constant jabbering---and not understanding about half of it---or listening to 1 year old Jameson and her wa wa-da-da-ya-ya!! Makes for some interesting conversation!!!! OH!! and Jameson is FINALLY walking!!! Wow, I mean, 17 months old!! She should be out working by now!!!

Oh, that layout I posted at the top? THAT is my precious little great-grandson, David. Isn't that a million dollar smile? Gotta LOVE him!!!! He is my daughter, Holly's, grandson, and son to Amanda and David. And his little sister, Lily, just turned one year old!!! Where DOES the time go???? OF course, great grandma MUST do a layout of her first birthday with the photos Amanda sent me!!
Well, thats all the news for now. Catch up later! I'm off to have my first cup of coffee!

HAY, LYNNANNE!!! ANY BABY YET?????

SO how is YOUR extra going. Doin' anything special. I hear there are lots of LEAP YEAR parties going on---are you going to any? Me??? I'll be right here scrappin' away at the Leap Into Leap Year Crop over at www.scrapadilly.net!!! Lots of challenges, games, prizes!!! LOTS OF LEAPIN' FUN!!! So if you're bored and don't know what to do with this extra 24 hours----COME ON OVER!!!!

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!!! That's all I have to say about that. Hummmm---that sounds like a familiar sentence!! Got lots of scrapping done last week and starting off pretty good this week! Now here is one of my favorites---this is my granddaughter and my great grandson patiently waiting for little Sammy's arrival. Oh, he is here by the way--already 5 - 6 months old by now!! But I LOVE this photo she sent me!!! Hope you like it.
Another favorite is this one of my grandson, Travis, when he was a little boy. Gosh he has got to be around 25 now!! They sure grow up fast!!! I used Perfect Pearls for the first time on the chipboard and I LOVE it!! I think I have found a new scrapping friend!! Any other ideas out there what I can use Perfect Pearls on?
Have a great evening, everyone!!

Well, another weekend coming up, and another great CROP!!!! WOOOO HOOO!!! This one is a "Leap Year" crop and will be held over at www.Scrapadilly.net !!! Be there or be square!!! Lots of challenges, games, FUN FUN FUN!!! One grand prize will be given and there might even be a few little RAKS here and there-----just have to come and see!!!
Oh----the date----yeah, that would help!!!
Friday February 29th at 3 p.m. to Sunday March 2nd at midnight. ALL TIMES ARE PACIFIC TIME!! Which means 4 pm to 1 am for Mountain---5 pm to 2 am for Central and 6 pm to 3 am Monday morning for Eastern .

SO, other than planning for a great crop, it has been quiet around here. Had a fabulous time over at Treasures to Scrap with their crop this past weekend. Two TERRIFIC "How To's" Learned how to decorate a vase with scrap supplies and we did the most awesome Monogram!!! Ya wanna learn how? The directions are still there!! Come on over to www.treasurestoscrap.com and find "Weekend Crop Feb 22 and 23" in the list of forums.

Then it was an exciting event over at www.digishoptalk.com with their AWESOME treasure hunt!! Not THAT took some planning!!!! Over 40 different digi sites, stores, blogs, etc took part and each one had buried treasure that you had to find. If you found it---it was YOURS to download!!! I got some great kits and elements for digi scrapping!! Enough to keep me busy for a very long time!!!! Oh, of course they gave you clues, but let me till you, it took a LOT of digging!! I wore out 10 shovels!!!! But it was so much fun!! It was very addicting!! I just didn't want to stop to go to bed!!!

Well, grandbaby Jameson is FINALLY walking. Not much---but making an attempt. I say finally because she is 17 months old!! Should have a job by now!!! She walked all the way across the living room today. She gets too excited and gets ahead of herself and then down she goes!! She is so cute to watch. Oh!!! And she finally has enough hair to put a bow in. Her mommy had her all dressed in pink yesterday with a pink bow on top of her head. She looked so stinkin' cute!!!

Well, it is WAY past my bedtime and if I don't get out of here, I may turn into a pumpkin!!! So, see y'all!!!

WOW, has it really been THAT long since I posted? Time flies!! But I'm here with some good news!! I'm inviting you to a FUN crop over at www.TreasurestoScrap to be held Friday and Saturday, Februayr 22 and 23 rd. What's it all about? Well, I'll just let you read the poster and then ya'll come and join us, ya hear????

Its here!! Its here!! The February Newsletter over at Treasures to Scrap!! And is it ever loaded!! Layouts, projects, enough to keep your mojo flowing for a long time!!! Check out our digi sponsors and paper sponsors for the month. Meet the new CT members. Well, see for yourself!--- http://digistore.treasurestoscrap.com/newsletter/feb2008.pdf

WOOO HOOOO! I am so excited!! I made the Hybrid Creative Team over at Treasures to Scrap!!! Now hybrid is fairly new to me but I sure love it. I really don't care to do straight digi's but the digi kits are all sooooo beautiful that I wanted to be able to use the pretty papers and elements, so one day I printed out some flowers and put them on a layout and, lo and behold, I had just made a hybrid layout, but didn't even know it!!! Ever since then I have been hooked!!!

Hay!!! Looking for a great place to hang out? Looking for lots of laughs and a good time? Have you tried www.scrapadilly.net ? OK, so I'm a little partial because I'm on the design team over there-----but even if I weren't, I'd still be hanging out there!!!
And guess what? We even have a free gift for new members!! But you gotta tell them I sent you--ok?? Promise?? Then you will receive this nice little RAK consisting of a card kit. Here's a photo of it.
Anyway, we have monthly crops, lots of challenges and contests and just all in all loads of fun!!! So stop by and say hello!!!

It SNOWED in Kansas!!!
Yep---and that's what I was hoping for!!! I haven't seen snow for almost two years now, and I wanted snow!!! Yeah, yeah, I know---I hear ya all yelling!!!! Well I LIKE snow!! And it was soooo pretty around Drea's house out in the country. Here are a couple shots around her house.
And don't you just love that cute little snowman her daughter, Erika, made?? The cats thought it was great!! Someone to keep them company! Well, until we got a hot day a few days later.

Well, here I am, home at last!!! My trip to Drea's house was absolutely WONDERFUL!! I so needed the rest and relaxation, and just being with a good friend. Unfortunately I stepped into a hornets nest when I got home, but enough of that-----no negative posts!!!!!

Cold chilly rainy day today. Will probably keep a lot of voters away from the polls for the South Carolina primaries which are being held today. What a hoot with the republicans!! Three primaries and three different winners. I will just crack up if they come up with yet a fourth winner today!!!

Bus station called this morning. My wondering piece of luggage finally showed up. You know how luggage is----let them loose and you never know where they will end up. Probably out partying with all the other pieces of lost luggage!!!!! I was breathing a sigh of relief tho as that suitcase was chuck FULL of new scrapping supplies!! Now, lose my clothes--FINE--who cares!!! But lose my scrapping supplies??? SOMEONE'S HEAD IS GONNA ROLL!!!!! But everything was there, just waiting for me to unpack and start scrapping!!! Unfortunatly, I found my luggage, but my mojo is still out there -----somewhere----who knows where-----maybe I left it in Kansas!!!!! But find it I MUST as I have sooooo much to catch up on with the two design teams I am on! MUST FIND MOJO-----MUST FIND MOJO!!!!!

Well, that all for now folks!! Going to curl up with a new DVD I purchased today and then hit the sack. I am still trying to catch up on lost sleep after 38 hours on a bus!!!!

WOW!!! It hit 60 today here in South Haven, Kansas!!! I thought we were having a heatwave!!! I am having a great time here at my friend, Drea's , house. I go home on the 16th----back to South Carolina.
I am EXTREMELY happy because I was flipping through the most recent copy of Creating Keepsakes magazine, I discovered a scrapbook store about 20 minutes away from my house.

Now you have to realize something. I moved to South Carolina at the end of June. I searched high and low for a scrapbook store and there were none to be found. Do you have any idea what kind of torture it is to NOT have a scrapbook store to shop in??? And there are NO Hobby Lobbys here either!!! AAARRGGGHHHH!!!! I was going into CROP SHOCK!! Back in North Carolina, I cropped every single Friday night.

I went to a crop with my friend, Drea last Friday night at her local store and I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!!! I was SCREAMING with absolute JOY when I discovered that there was, in fact, a store very near to my house!!! Now I can't wait to get home and go exploring!!

Here is the sunrise at Drea's house a few days before Christmas.

Dave took this picture while out on his morning walk.