Family

It's been an odd couple of weeks, actually a couple of months. Going back and forth to my parents every weekend since my mom's surgery has thrown me a little off kilter, but I'm truly thankful that I have been able to go and help.

We went this last Saturday, the whole gang of us, well minus Josh. He's still away, but will be home soon. Anyway, it was my daddy's birthday... his 66th... so we went to wish him a Happy Birthday and to help my mother put out Christmas decorations.

I wanted to get some pictures of the kids while we were there. Nothing like taking pictures in a cow pasture! There was on old, and I mean old truck out there... just perfect for what I had in mind.

It was a nice afternoon. My mother worked us hard... but we accomplished quite a bit. Thank you Emma for jumping in and helping like you did. I truly love you being with us.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving... and I have so much to be thankful for. Instead of sharing pictures of layouts I've made in the last couple of weeks... thought I'd share these instead, of our day out at Momma & Daddy's.

Jessica & Josh.... we'll miss you two tomorrow!

Pasture pictures!

Out behind the barn... Matt & Jess


Found an old truck.....
The 4 of us. You know this will get framed and be on my desk very soon!


Jessica slipped and almost took Matt and I down....she got tickled which got us tickled... What a great picture! Thanks to Emma for taking it for me!


The absolute best thing I've ever done in my life!

Who'd ever know from looking at this picture that these two would sit in the back seat saying... he's touching me... she's looking at me!


Matt & Emma


It took 5 of us to do the work that my momma always does by herself!


Jessica trying to whack Meme on the head!


Do you see the look Matt is giving Emma as she keeps piling more boxes on?


Matt putting on mom's back brace and hobbling into the kitchen all hunched over.


My daddy trying not to crack a smile at Matt.


Just the two of them.... sitting.... quietly.... together. This picture makes my heart smile!


Wishing you all a love filled day.

It's only paper!

Yes, you read that right... it's only paper. Not my words, I can promise you that! Those were words that my dear daughter spoke this last week while she was here for a few days. I seriously thought about washing her mouth out with soap! I mean come on, it's only paper??? When I tried to explain to her that she just doesn't get it, my dear husband sided with her and then even said he thought I needed help! To which she promptly replied that she just might become a scrapbook therapist! Now, just take a look at this picture below of the two of them and tell me who you think needs help! Me or them? I vote them!


Yesterday was our 1 year anniversary. We had a good day, it was pretty much perfect. We were with family and friends, did a little fun shopping, then out to eat. I couldn't have asked for a better day!
To my dear wonderful husband, I love you, thank you for letting me be me and I am looking forward to many more wonderful years to come! 2053!

Now, on to the bug... who has been bitten by the bug. The scrapbooking bug that is. These next two layouts she created, with very little help from me. As a matter of fact the second one she made while I was at work. She came a to spend the night last week, started scrapping, and stayed for 4 days. From what I understand, she will be back this evening to stay for another 4 days and plans on scrapping the whole time!

She goes about scrapping differently than I do. She has no, and I mean no emotional attachment to any of supplies in my scrap room. She used something on one of her layouts and I was like, ummmm, I wasn't going to use that. She looked at me and said in her most mother you are crazy voice...."Mom, this stuff is to be used, not looked at!" To which I just simply sighed... knowing that she wasn't going to understand and at the same time wishing I was as oblivious as she is!

If you can tell by the layouts below... she fell in love with ink! She inked everything! And ripping.... no paper cutter needed for her...she just wants to rip the pages! She made her own flowers using Glimmer Mist.

Her title.... do you see she even inked the lower half of her letters?

Here is the second layout she created. She did a good job on paper choices didn't she. I like the way she used different lettering.... that's something that I can't seem to remember to do. One type for her title and another type to show the name of the place they were at. Again she was feeling the love for the ink.

Jessica was really clever here. She tried a few times cutting these letters out using the Pazzle. She's never even turned it on before. It wasn't working real well for her, think we needed a new matt and she didn't know that. So instead of giving up after 4 tries of cutting the letters and them not coming out... she used the parts the letters were cut out from and you see what she came up with. Pretty impressive for someone who never scraps, never looks at scrap magazines or online sites.


My little bug really did a good job on these layouts and I am proud of her. I am however worried that my stash I've been working on building this last year is about to quickly dwindle! I mean after all, it is Only Paper!

Have a wonderful day and as always, thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit.

I am sending your father to you!

Has your mother ever said that to you?? The first few 100 times or so she said that to me I'd say ok... now....I'm like oh no, call one of your sons!

As you all know I've been going out to my parents on the weekends to help out while my mother recovers from back surgery. My dad's not in the best of health either and is having a few problems right now as well. Not enough so that he can not aggravate my mother!

My daddy grows vegetables and then sells them. He has done the Farmer's Market for many years. It's his thing and not only does he enjoy it, but the money's not bad either. Plus I always get free fresh veggies. When I was living in TX I'd go every Sat morning and help them at the market.... sometimes taking a child or two. It was all we could do to keep up with all the people lined up! You can bet there were some great memories made there!

A source of discord with my mother over the years has been my daddy parking a flat bed trailer in the front yard and displaying his veggies on it! I can understand that, it can be an eyesore and why bother planting flowers for them to be hidden by an ugly flatbed trailer. So now the veggie trailer sits to the south.

My daddy's newest transgression??? He informed my mother that the dirt in the front yard was better than anywhere else out there... how he knows this I'm not sure.... and he is going to plow up the front yard and plant tomato plants there! Lord love a duck... he did not just say that did he? My phone rings... I'm sending your father to you! What now? The really funny part, while she is telling me all this my daddy is coming down the drive with the tractor. Mom starts squealing...says she has to go see where he is going to plow and she'll call me back! Now I could mentally picture my mother in the front yard, using her 4 prong cane, trying to chase after my daddy on the tractor, and he acting as if he couldn't hear her. I threw my phone in the toilet!

She called later that night, never mentioned my daddy and front yard tomato plants, and neither did I!

Instead of talking about scrapbooking this post, I wanted to share with you all about my husband's project. He and a couple of his friends have been writing some songs. For those of you who do not know, David plays guitar. He's played lead guitar for many many years and is pretty darn good! The things he is able to do with a guitar might not impress you, but they sure do me. They have now completed song number 5 and I am so proud of them. I know I'm partial, but if you get a chance click on the link I'm posting and give them a listen. You just might find something you like as well. All guitar sounds that you hear, that's my hubby!
Yes, I am bragging! Wouldn't you!

http://www.myspace.com/medicinebluff

I actually think you'll have to copy and paste. I haven't gotten around to learning how to do the linky link thing yet!

How does my in-box know it's payday?

Today is payday, if you couldn't tell from my title... and my in-box knows it!

It's full of emails this morning about sales. From everyone! Home Depot, Kohls, JC Pennys, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sizzix, Scrapbook.com wrote to tell me the items I'd been wanting were in, Jo-Anns is having a two day sale, HSN wrote to tell me they've got the Cricut Gypsy back, Wal-Greens has got the picture printing sale going, Oh My Crafts, and Musician's Friend! I'm sure I left a few out because there were hundreds, and no I am NOT exaggerating! When did this happen? I remember when I first got hooked up online and loved to check my email... now it's like going to the mailbox and finding bills! YUCK! You want to know what the really crazy thing is about it all???? I signed up for this. These people wouldn't have my email if I hadn't given it to them or bought from them! So basically I did this to myself because at one time I thought sure I'd like to know if you are having a sale! Stupid moment I'm telling you! It's just going to get worse the closer we get to Christmas. The one thing though... is knowing that occasionally my husband gets sale emails from scrap stores! hehehe That makes me giggle!

We are so close to being finished with the kitchen. I am so ready... this has gone on too long. Working and going to my parents on the weekend just isn't helping the speed factor here....but I can see the finish line. Just a few little touch ups to do... going to look for curtains this weekend. I've started hanging things back on the walls... and have been scrubbing the floor. Not with a mop, on my hands and knees with a bucket of soapy water scrubbing! I do not recommend it! It's not near as fun as it sounds! Trust me on this.

Here's my next page in the album. I'm just not loving it. Think it's because of all the blue.... I don't know. I was stumped during the planning of it and never could get it to just flow. Anyway, this is my great-grandfather.. he was a handsome man. Check out the hair style... isn't it funny, but I'm sure the in thing back then. Not sure of the date on this pic, but it was either the early early 1900's or possibly the late 1890's. Isn't that crazy now that it's almost 2010! I think it's cool just to look at it and realize that way back then when you went to a photographer most of the pictures were of you just standing straight. No fancy schmancy props or curtains. My how times have changed.

On this layout I again made most of my embellies. The train is cut out from Graphic 45. I've been using a lot of their papers on this project. Then cutting out the train gave me an idea.... people rode trains a lot long ago. I'm not sure my great-grandfather did...but that didn't matter. Soooo, I made the little pocket and stuffed it with ticket stubs from SEI. Learned that little thing at an SEI class while at the Tulsa expo. Not crazy about my journaling on it... but it is what it is.



Now here is my favorite part of this layout. This little puppy... I want you to know it took me only 3 minutes to make this! This was made from white cardstock! Yeppers... that's right. I used my newly acquired, just delivered the day before Tim Holtz stamp.... (wonder how many times I use his name on my blog? He should hire me!) So I stamped it with TH distress ink, then took two shades of TH distress ink and blended it to give it that old look. I totally love it! While it may not be train related, I think it still fits the page.



I just said a couple of days ago that I don't use vellum, but guess that wasn't quite true. I do in this capacity, in preprinted quotes. I thought this saying was just perfect for this project. It finishes off the page and is so true in what it says.


All papers from Bazzill, Stampin Up, and Graphic 45. Embellies are SEI and Stampin UP. Stamps and inks from Tim Holtz and My Cats Eye. Used my faithful Pazzle for the letters.

That's it for now. I haven't even started on the next page and I've got about 30 days and counting left. I find myself thinking about this project all the time. It's certainly got my mojo back to flowing and renewed my passion for this craft.
Have I mentioned I'm loving this album and working with these pictures. Isn't that what it's all about?

Have a safe and happy Halloween. Wishing you lots of treats!

It's a Blue Blue Day!

That title is really fitting for today. They skys are different shades of blues with rain falling from them.... which makes me blue because I love the sun shine. Yes I know, we must have the rain, but I'd really rather it rain while I am asleep! Or at the very least, after dark. BUT.... that's not why I picked that title. It's to do with my layout I am posting. It's blue, blue, and more blue! Don't get me wrong, I think blue is a pretty color and there are so many hues of it. I don't dislike it, it's just not a color I gravitate towards. Think that is in part due to the late 80's/early 90's, blue was the it color. People had blue cars, blue furniture, blue in all their decor. I was one of those people, and quickly got burnt out on it... the same thing with the color mauve. At that time I was painting wood crafts and also painting on clothing. Everyone wanted blues & mauve's.
Now the colors make me go .... ICK!

Can you believe it is almost the weekend? AGAIN? And Saturday is Halloween? How did that happen? But it did, and it's almost the weekend again. I'll be making another trip out to take care of momma-do's. My mother is doing so well. She keeps improving daily. My dad's not feeling to good right now, and my aunt left for a few days, which made me think OH NO! Neither one of my parents are able to take care of the other right now...this could be bad.

Last weekend was really nice. David and I went out to Daddy and Mom's to take care of a few things, then headed in to Wichita Falls to see the kiddos. David dropped me at the mall and picked up Matt. They went golfing and Jessica and I had a day of shopping and pampering. I had my hair done and then we went and got pedi's and mani's. I got some new clothes and 2... yes 2 new pairs of boots! I was so excited!
As my friend Courtney said, I am now a styling Diva! Plus I had my very own personal shopping assistant. Thanks Jessica! I even bought some Christmas presents. They were all for Jess, but that's ok. We then finished up the evening by taking the two out to eat. It was a fabulous day!

Jessica was supposed to come to the house on Sunday to do some scrapping, but it didn't work out. She's thinking she wants to get back in it. I'm thinking that could be lots of fun and a bit expensive! Maybe she'll be here this weekend.

Which brings me to my next layout in the book for mom. The picture looks a little washed out. I've been jacking with the settings on my camera and can't remember where perfect was. Some day I'll take a real class! Ahhhh, I drifted from the subject at hand didn't I!

While uploading this layout and the next one, I realized that I've not been making titles for these pages. Normally, I have titles. Not sure why I'm not here... really at a loss as to the reason.

So, you see all the blue? In the upper right hand corner do you see my Tim Holtz ribbon? It looks like camera film.... it was free! I love freebies! And it's really cute too. Again, I Glimmer Misted all of the flowers, using two shades of blue. The papers I've used have shades of brown and blue, but the brown isn't showing up very well. My fault there.


All of my flower centers are from brads that were silver and I glittered with yellow embossing glitter. This picture really didn't turn out to well and I should try to get a better one! The blue flowers look vibrant though.

Here's my new thing. I know I've used this technique on this album already... but it's still new. This time, instead of just stamping on the flowers, I glimmered them first.... (hey glimmered, sounds like I put a Vampire spell on them!) oh, sorry... did it again...anyway, I glimmered the flowers, let them dry, and then stamped them with brown distress ink from Tim Holtz.




Papers used were by Bazzill and Stampin Up. The shoe cut outs are a Graphic 45 line.
Flowers and bling by Prima. Tattered angles note card and of course Glimmer Mist. Tim Holtz ink and ribbon.

Thanks for taking time to visit my blog. It really makes me happy to see you've been here. Think at lunch I'll try for a better picture.