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More cards.....

I came down to my craft 'dungeon' AKA the basement to clean off my stamping table.....but lo and behold I put together some cards that had parts & pieces laying around. the spider web was done with the Stampin' Up embossing folder and inking the flat side of it. I love it!!!

Stampin' Up cards

Isn't this new purple gorgeous? and I love the embossing folder. The frame is made using the dotted scallop ribbon border punch and a scant 3" square of paper. Adorable, huh?

I love the embossing folder used on this card: the square lattice embossing folder....the texture is almost like fabric. The bird is growing on me.

One of the few Christmas cards I have made -using the poinsettia embossing folder and some flower punches. Nice :-)

Camp Luther 2010

Yay!!!!! It's our fall Women's Retreat at Camp Luther. I usually drive, I prefer to. It is a 175 mile drive and we like to leave in the morning so we can shop a bit. Our first stop is at the Shawano Goodwill. We (Deb, her sister Connie, and I) each found a few bargains...nothing too big b/c we only have some room in the backseat. We eat at late lunch at the Harvest restaurant in Wittenberg where they have the Pot of Silver game......you know, where you put 8 quarters in and get 2 in return but you are positive that when you drop the next quarter in all of the ones on the edge are going to fall. They never do though. Do ya think we'll remember that next year?Me neither. One of our other favorite stops is J&P liquidators in Antigo. I wish they were closer, they have neat and different things and great prices. It was a beautiful drive, the trees are starting to turn color. Friday night we had devotions and got our secret sisters. We played 'people bingo' to find out about each other.

Saturday afternoon we had a campfire outside in front of the lake. The sun shone, we talked and laughed....enjoying the company of our fellow sisters.

Do you know that the smell of tuna pizza reminds Irene of her childhood? or that Crystal sprayed a nasty fragrance on the dear John letter she wrote to break up with a beau? or that I once caught chickens (in a very stinky barn - 2 in one hand and one in the other) for butchering?

Many of us piled into the Voyaguer canoes for a stupendous canoe ride. Some gals experienced a zip line. Not me! We wanted to watch for a bit, but it was a long walk and we were not sure where we were going. After I watched it on a teens head cam I think I would not have done it anyway. I and my 'roomies' went to the winery and did a very little shopping in Three Lakes.

After supper on Saturday we played a new game - SNOOPS. (have to remember that one for Red Hats). We laughed and cried, met new friends, and delighted in seeing old ones again. We were all tired Saturday night so didn't join in the stargazing in the pontoon boat or the girls night out with ping pong, snacks, etc.

Our speaker and Bible study leader was Jan Struck here. She is fabulous. She was my secret sister and here we are below.

Camp Luther is a gorgeous camp, with cottages, a lake, athletic field, and really cool campsites for teens.

After breakfast, Bible study, worships songs, revealing out secret sisters we said our good byes and were on our way home. One again we had to stop at J&P (they told Deb they'd have something she was looking for). I stopped in Antigo for gas, the Goodwill store, and for a late lunch. It was a wonderful retreat and we are planning to go again next year.

Just thinking aloud...

Note to self: tennis balls are extremely hard to cut with a dull knife. Are you wondering why I am trying to cut one? We are planing to use it to cover the door stop in our room at retreat. It is practically in the middle of floor and we are always stubbing toes/feet on it.....rather annoying.

My day is going pretty good........got my errands taken care of this morning, my sleeping bag is airing out (I only use it for retreat), jars of tomatoes are processing on the stove for use in chili this winter, and I am getting excited for the weekend!

On the down side I still have to clean, fold laundry, and pack. I have to stop eating chocolate....I'm like an alcoholic, I can't just eat one, I have to have as many candy bars as I see. This really has to stop...I did it before and can do it again, but I have to WANT to.

Am I really odd or what? I LIKE being alone.......but maybe that is b/c I am so seldom all by myself....or does it just seem that way? I prefer to shop alone, I like being home all day trying to accomplish something, I have taken classes by myself, or done things with one of my grandkids without another adult that I know by my side. I don't go out to eat alone ('cept for fast food and that doesn't count) or go to the movies alone. Some days my phone doesn't even ring nor do I call anyone. But after a day home alone and not talking to anyone I do need to get out. Well, now that I got that off my chest I better get back to my housework!

sad and sadder news....with some good to balance it out

It's so sad to see my SIL suffer through some personal problems, my step-son has some digestive problem (my guess) and has lost LOTS of weight the past year....he saw the Dr once and didn't have insurance so he suffers with that too, a friend is dealing with some very tough family issues too, another (adult) family member won't talk to us. My tomatoes have died and I had to put on jeans and a sweater today. When will all of this sadness end??? Some are real issues and I feel bad for those involved.

I am happy to report that my boss gave me some fresh, tasty tomatoes today :-) Step-son has insurance now and is able to get somethings done so we pray he'll get back to good health. Friday morning I, and 2 friends, are headed to a retreat in northern WI. We've been there several times
and love it. It is a beautiful Christian camp! We leave early so we can get some shopping in.

200th post

I think is a fabulous way to celebrate my 200th post with a family photo. I am the skinny one on the left, my sister, mom, and brother (RIP). Thanks for the photo, Sandy.

Amen!

This says it all....just don't ask me that in January!!!

I think it IS black and white!

At least in our neighborhood it is. When you look down our street the cars and trucks parked here are either black or white......with just a token red vehicle thrown in for a pop of color.

Does that give you inspiration for a card or scrapbook page? Me neither. :-)

Just my thought for the day.

P.S. to the gal who answered my Big Shot question 'thanks', now I just need to find the wafer thin adapter.

Present Tense

I was listening to Midday Connection on the radio today at noon (as usual) and they were talking about the seasons of life and read this poem. Think about it.....true. huh? Most of the time we are living in the future or the past..... Slow down and enjoy today!

Present Tense

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted,
The warm days, and the great outdoors.
It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,
The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.
It was fall, but it was winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter, but it was spring I wanted,
The warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom and respect.
I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature, and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted,
The youth and the free spirit.
I was retired, but it was middle-age I wanted,
The presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over, and I never got what I wanted.

poem by Jason Lehman who was 14 years old when he wrote it. The poem was sent to Abigail Van Buren, who after verifying that the poet was indeed a teenager wise beyond his years, published it in her February 14, 1989 "Dear Abby" column.

My apology

In my previous post i stated that grandchild #10 was born.........it's only #9. I am sure #10 will be here in less than 18 mos.

Landon is here!!!

Grandchild #10 is here. We got a phone call at 1:54am saying that they were headed to the hospital. At 2:40 E called to say that the baby was here.....all fingers and toes accounted for. He is 7# 10oz and 20". He looks a lot like one of his older brothers....we hope he has a more easy going personality tho. He is about 8 hours old here.

Labor Day

Oh boy...........what a day. First of all I woke up really, really early trying to scream "police" and could not fall back to sleep. I had a very weird and detailed dream. That and Kevin's hacking cough kept me awake for quite a while. Then, at 5:40AM my alarm went off. Hubby and I were off to our annual pilgrimage to the flea market in Cedarburg. We left after 7 and it was looking like rain, but he said it would be over by 8. It's over an hour drive...on the way it was POURING and we saw some heavy duty lightening. Obviously there was not a flea market so we turned around and came home. I wanted to stop at Target on the way back but it was still raining hard so I said 'forget it'. I was really tired and thought about taking a nap but knew I'd never sleep so I worked on the wedding scrapbook and ....VIOLA!!!!....it's finished (except for a couple of minor details). I am so relieved.

Guess I could back up and report on the rest of the weekend. Saturday night we went to the beach to watch the sky lanterns. They were awesome!!!! 'Paper' lanterns with a fire that are let to float up and away (over Lake Michigan). We saw the fireworks too....and it was really nice also. On Sunday I took the 3 boys to KITES OVER LAKE MICHIGAN. It was kinda cool but we had fun. About 3 hours later a friend of hubby's stopped by us......and over an hour later hubby showed up. He HAD to go golfing earlier.

The weekend was OK...............I was hoping to report on all the great deals we got at the flea market. Oh well....next time.

Best Man page is complete

After a week of laziness I decided to get back at the wedding scrapbook for Heather & Eastin. Hope you like it. All of my pages are pretty simple and straight forward. The next pages will just be a conglomeration of photos so I won't post those. A few more tidbits: our new grandson still isn't here. If she doesn't go into labor by next Thursday they will break her water and baby will be here. :-)

I was bored today (with my hair) so I decided to add some low lights. I couldn't find the warm, golden brown so I used more of a burgundy color and it's not as delicate and blended in as my hairdresser did....but it's colorful. hehehe I must be getting more bold as I age b/c I don't even care how it looks............it will fade. Red fades quite quickly.

What a change in weather we've experienced. One day the high temperature was 81 and the next it was 64. It is suppose to warm up...........good, tomorrow is KITES OVER LAKE MICHIGAN. Hundreds of people will go to the beach to watch all kinds of kites flown by people from all over the US. We always take the boys and have a great time.

BTW, what's with all the banned books! I have read some of those books and consider them good literature and great reads for everyone. Anne Frank: the diary of a young girl is on the list. :-(
That book needs to be read by young people. I need to find a movement against banned books and get going!