Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.--John D. Rockefeller

I've been up since 4.4 A M!
I hate when that happens!
I wake up & my mind goes 100 mph!
That's why I like vacations!
No schedule! Nothing HAS to be done!

Here I am with some GF's in Arizona last year (2010)....vay-cay-shun!

I've done my banking!
Caught up on e-mails; sent out a few!
Sent a snarky one to Sears.....been wanting to do that for over a year!
They always send out promotional stuff, like "2500 Club Points when you spend over $200", or "$15 off your next purchase of $100 or more," or "Double Club points"!
It never happens!?
I order online, and no matter how many coupon code numbers I plug in, the system rejects them all!
So the past couple weeks I've done a survey with my GF's.
They order online too, and the census is "The Codes NEVER work!"
There ya go; thought it was just me!

Also did a survey for "Thank You for choosing Telus"!
(We don't have much of a choice in the great white north!)
I got $90 off my cell bill (there's 3 accounts on it), and when they asked "what they could do to make my phone experiences better?"
I said, "When I press 1 for English, I want someone who can talk English!"
My last phone call was painful!
Not only was I on hold long enough to fold all the laundry, and shop online; I had to spell everything!
Gets very frustrating!
I musta woke up grumpy!

My desk looks like Christmas threw up on it!
It's Christmas card time!
I'm sorting & addressing!
Better e-mail me your address if ya want one.....if I don't already have it!

It's Stamp Club tonight!
I'm sure we'll make some wonderful creations!
I'm the hostess, and I don't have a really big list!? WTH!
Just gotta whip up the hot dip when I get home later!
Those little crock pot things are GREAT!
They hold 2-4 cups!
I'm going to take mine, and by the time we're done being creative, it'll be hot!
I have one little crock pot (I think they're called 'Little Dippers', and I bought one at a second hand store this year!

Vanessa's doing good!
It was Shawns Christmas party on the weekend, so fun was had by all!
Kalen's buying a Townhouse/Condo in Victoria! WTH!?
Ray starts hauling logs on Monday.
The weather's supposed to be wonderful for the weekend, so I'll be off to RMH for the 50th Anniversary par-tay!
I have a 15% off coupon for my favorite LSS there! I'm sure they'll have something I can't live without!
I'm hoping my online purchases come before Friday; I'd hate to have 2 of something!

Better go!
Gotta shower & make my lunch!
Have a great week people!
Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece.-Ralph Charell

Hi everyone!
Happy Thanksgiving my American peeps!

You know Saturday I went & helped make Hors d'oeuvres for the Cancer fundraiser.
After 6 dozen deviled eggs, and 200+ Cherry tomatoes, a piece of basil, and a piece of Bocconcini cheese on a fancy stick, drizzled with olive oil & balsamic vinegar........I dunno if I ever want to see another egg! OR cherry tomato!
There were only 4 of us there Saturday morning to help.
These were the centerpieces.

There was also going to be a Silent Auction.

I thought this chair was interesting!

Apparently they raised over $75,000.00!

Sunday I didn't do too much of anything, believe it or not!

Monday night I baked some stuff for Christmas...it's really creeping up fast!

Last night I had a Friends of the Library meeting.

Yea, we're still friends, nobody got mad at anybody!

We'll see how that is by casino time!

Tonight I did dinner with the GF's, it was steak night at the hotel, and got the AVON ordered!

I DID make some cards!

This next one is for Curt!

Well, not for Curt literally, but I hope I did him proud!

(He's the KING of House Mouse!)

It's my mom's Christmas card, she likes mice!

I went over the streamers & bows on the presents with an embossing pen & clear embossed them.

I also stamped it in a brown & clear embossed it, hoping that would keep me between the lines;

so it's quite sparkly!

I also made a mess trying this wax paper embossing technique that I found here!

But I love how it turned out!

These next 2 cards are made with it!

OK, that's not thee only distress ink I used!

 I screwed up the left side of the top card...hence the border! 

Last night when I got home, my cord to plug the van in wasn't working!

When it gets to -40 and more, we need plugged in!

I want to smack those scientists (or whatever) silly that say you don't have to start your vehicle and warm it up!

Ha, they must live in Hawaii!

Anyhoo, since Shadow got her heated dog bed, I had to plug into the pump house, and we didn't have a cord long enough, so snow got in the cords & shorted them out!

We had longer cords, but they were missing an end or 2!

Here's one I put an end on, and another one getting worked on!

I know you're going to ask how I knew which wire to attach where;

just want you to know that I'm a girl; I like stuff organized and co-ordinated!

So I attached the green wire to the green screw, the black to the gold, and the white to the silver!

See the logic there!?

Doesn't matter, they all worked!

This deer wanted to play chicken on the road tonight after work!

He moved first!

I saw this guy on my way back from town this afternoon!

Yup, I'm stopped in the middle of a backroad taking pictures and holding up traffic!

OH well!

Tomorrow night I'm making poppycock and maybe some fudge.

Friday I said I'd help out for Happy Hour at the old folks home.

Saturday I'm taking the handi van & the lodge peeps to the Christmas craft sale!

Better go, have a great rest of the week!

Ta ta for now!

I believe that every person is born with talent.--Maya Angelou

Hallo people!

Have to get a word in before the weekend; which promises to be cold, snowy, & busy!

Got a message from a cousin on Monday.
It's our aunt & uncles 50th wedding anniversary December 1st; could I come to the party on the 3rd?
I told her I'd think about it.
You know! It being winter & all!
Didn't think too long & hard about it though; before I said YES, but remember it's winter and it will depend on the weather!

I'm the flower girl! hahahahaha.

So thought I should make an attempt to show up!

Here's the card I made!

What can I say, my aunt likes the color red!

I had to put those flowers there;

I stamped the sentiment too high!

One of the kittens went to a new home on the weekend!

A fluffy grey & white one!

It gets to live in a garage, and the people were so excited!

I saw her at the Post Office yesterday, and she told me 'Charcoal' was doing just fine; and had an appointment at the vets' today!

This morning I showered in luke warm water!

When I got out of the shower, Ray was up, so I said, "there's no hot water!?"

Don't worry people; I took the wall apart (modular home kids) where the hot water tank is, and adjusted the thermocoupler.

When it was changed; someone; not mentioning any names (Ray), forgot to put a piece on, and it wiggles out of place about once or twice a year!

I drove the handi van for the community run this morning.

That concluded my 2 turns, 2 weeks in a row, I'll drive it next about February I figure!

Saturday I'm going to help make Hors d'oeuvres (?) for the cancer fundraiser that night.

We start at 10:00 am, and I guess not a lot of people volunteered, so we work until we're done or have to leave.

My friend P has the last 2 Harry Potter movies, so will make a date to watch them, maybe Saturday afternoon or something.

Almost done my Christmas shopping!

Just have to package Kalens up & send it, and wrap Vanessa & Shawns. DONE!

Now I need some stocking stuffers! I have things in mind!

Sent off my cards Monday to SAS4K's (Canada)!
Told a couple other friends about them, hopefully they play along.
Got some more on the go!

I made my mom & aunt a card.

Sorry it's so crooked, but it shows the color better than the straight picture!

My mom's getting one because she needed a recipe for Baked Corn.

Had to send my aunt one cause I'll need a bed the first weekend in December!

Don't forget, I don't write in these so they can be paid forward!

They get the card & envelope, blank; and a letter I write, all stuffed in a bigger envelope!

Then, because I didn't know what color cards I wanted to make mom & my aunt, I made 2 blue ones!

That's no die cut, I fussy cut all 4 frames out!

While I watched GLEE no less!

These will go in my next package for SAS4K's (Canada)!

I also walked ran stepped out of my comfort zone big time!

I got this stamp in my travels at a second hand store/garage sale who knows!?

I stamped, colored, glittered, embossed, used my anywhere punch, I've had forever and never used!

I know, I know, do we need another chat about hoarding? hmmmm?

I also used some shimmer stuff I use sparingly, ok I WAS saving it! 

I'm trying to USE stuff I've been saving!

Anyhoo!

I LIKE how they turned out!

Not sure where I got the sentiments.

They come like that, kind of a 6 sided thing with a few words on 4 sides.

First time that stamps seen ink!

I just punched them out with a circle punch!

Better go, still have a headache!

It's kinda been nagging since the accountant was at work on Tuesday.

Not sure why it gave me a headache, cause it was all good.

Relax, my blood pressures normal!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Be grateful for luck. Pay the thunder no mind -listen to the birds. And don't hate nobody.-Eubie Blake, Age 100

Hello peeps!Yesterday was a holiday for us Canadians!
Remembrance Day.
Just a holiday from work (paid) I want you to know!

I whipped up 2 pies Tuesday night! Apple & pear!
November treats for Bryon & Lacey!
October treats are here!
My GF laughed when I told her I went home & whipped up 2 pies after work! hahaha

Yesterday I made us an apple pie, & pear pie!
Just because Lacey texted me Thursday to say the pie was delish!
The pear is made like apple, only cut the cinnamon  & sugar in half & and add about 1/2 tsp. of ginger!
I have to say....YUM!
Did some laundry & played in the craft room.
Oh yeah, and there was a prize for anyone that noticed this card is upside down in this post!

Too bad....you guys missed out, no one caught it!

I made some more Christmas Cards for SAS4K's, and a couple others.

I'll be sending them out on Monday.

The Alberta cards for anyone wanting to play along get sent here:

SAS4K (Canada) c/o Lynnette Pinno
Box 1256
Camrose, Alberta
T4V 1X2

I finished up the treats for my November stamp club.

I got the inspiration here!

I've had them made for weeks, but couldn't decide what to put on them for embellishments.

Then I read my blog friend Theresas' blog;

and I quote:

NO MORE HOARDING.

I am getting far to old to hoard. One day I will die and all my beautiful STUFF would be left, not especially appreciated by my children who would have to decide what to do with it all.

Sorry about this rant, but I just wanted to give a heads up to everyone that keeps stuff, because it is just to beautiful to use. What are you keeping it for?

So I've had those cute metal deer 4-evah!

And thought they'd be just perfect on the little treat origami thingys!

I tied some elastic metallic ribbon on for a scarf of sorts, and wah la!

Thanks Theresa, I needed to hear that!

Then; cause I had nothin better to do I made a whole whack of envelopes!

I had a pack of Christmas papers I wasn't using!

Oh spare me; surely I'm not the only one that has stuff that doesn't get used!?

Seriously!?

These fit a 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 card.

If you're interested send me an e-mail & I'll get you the measurements!

Today, I was up & in town before breakfast.

OK, not really but there were some things I needed from the grocery store, and I wanted some new mats for the entry from Fields. Which they didn't have unpacked yet, told me to come back Tuesday!

Got the fixins for lasagna for tomorrow, and because I AM thee hostess with the mostess for this months stamp club, I started making my goodies!

I made my famous individual chocolate cheesecakes, some pepper jelly tarts, and some butter tarts (not pictured) to get started!

Hey, what if I'm busy the next 2 weekends!?

Then I started another make work project.

Gawd I'm getting soooo good at that!

The floor has needed washed since before I went to BC.

Oh puh-leeze, don't do the math!

So I got out the vacuum cleaner, as no one volunteered to do it last weekend!

And the mop & pail.

Which led to moving the water cooler to vacuum & scrub, moving the fridge out, and taking the grill thingy off the bottom front to clean the coils, which then led to scrubbing the whole thing, and boy am I glad we never get REALLY tall visitors! Then the new washer had to come out, cause someone spilt their coffee down the side of it, and the wall!

Not gonna mention any names, but his initials are Ray Luck!

Wrapped up my baking to take out to the freezer so it doesn't get ate before the par-tay!

About 4 kittens were sitting under the bird feeder I mounted on the bug zapper pole, cause someone didn't get the bird feeder pole in. AGAIN, I'm not gonna mention names!

I asked them if they were bird watching!

So now I'm done for the day!

Yup, REALLY!

Gonna make a bunch more envelopes (it's a BIG paper pack!), maybe have a nap (ha) or just chill in the craft room!

I need a birthday card for my friend Gloria!

Oh yeah, Curt (sigh ) I CAN'T blab about my day or week or whatever when I enter cards for a challenge! Not that I want to win anything, it keeps me on track for getting my Christmas cards done!

They just want a link to the cards nothin else!

What's with that anyhoo!

Have a great rest of the weekend people!

Ta ta for now!

November Challenge

Happy November everyone! Hope you all had a safe Halloween full of fun, but now it's time to get serious about finishing off those Christmas cards this month since the holidays are coming up faster than you think!

For this month, we're challenging you with a sketch created by our very own lovely Lesley!



Sorry, I can't make the sketch smaller!

Here are my cards for CCAYR!

I used my new embossing folder, the Cricut to cut the shapes for the snowflake, a Spellbinders tag, and rub ons for the sentiment.

Enjoy!

Ta ta for now!

When you are reluctant to change, think of the beauty of autumn.-Unknown

Happy Daylight Savings time!
Like that makes a difference with my sleeping habbits!

Still no snow...knock on wood!
It tried this morning, but didn't get too serious about it!
Between yesterday& today, I've got a pile of stuff done.....I did say to myself a while ago that someone needed to vacum, but no one volunteered, so...............

I put up another motion light yesterday, as the one on the north side didn't need any motion to turn on....it just stayed on!
Today I had a do-over!
The new light didn't work, thankfully it was just the bulb, which I had in wrong!
Lesson there folks, start with the easiest thing first!

Got 1 and some bags of apples in the freezer & made 2 pies!

I also have to do something with the pears, and believe it or not, found a pie recipe for them.
I'll try it later this week!
Got the bag of peppers in the freezer, defrosted the beer fridge in the entry; ok, so it's technically NOT the beer fridge; it has beer in it!
And yes, it's THAT old  it has to be defrosted....remember those!?! I figure it's over 30 years old!
Still doing laundry, put out my big a$$ bird feeder I got at mom's in June.
Cleaned a bathroom, cle3aned the bathroom fan, fed cats, & hauled cat food from one cat house to another!
The old washer got hauled away
Dug out my snow shovel...who are we kidding, I'm gonna need it one of these days!
Got out the roof rake & broom for the skylight & roof.
Put Halloween away. Brought out some snow people!
Coffeed with some GF's that came out yesterday.
Got a roast & fixins in the slow cooker, and baked a loaf of bread. Don't get excited, it was a mix I found in the process of defrosting......I added a can of beer to it, mixed it up and wah la! Sure smells good!

I had a Stamp Club the night before I left for moms.

This next one is the wonky Birthday card. I say that because in order for it to stay open to be displayed, the ribbon just fall down & sits there!

Also, the BIG circle thingy on the front!

We made another Birthday Card, but I didn't finish.

Hey, she just gives suggestions....we don't have to play along!

I'll finish it up, and show you!

I've made some SAS4K's (Canada) cards.

There's a link at the top right of the blog.

We're playing in Alberta now!

I got some awesome colors of embossing powder so made the following!

I made 3 others with a different saying.

Then I made 6 Christmas cards for them.

I got the inspiration here!

I didn't have kraft card stock, so used ivory.

I'm going to make some Christmas tags, then send them in!

I've been making treats for my Stamp Club.

We're not meeting in December so have to be done this month!

I'll show you those when I'm finished too.

I volunteered to help with appetizers for a Cancer fundraiser the town is having on November 19th.

I know, I know; JUST SAY NO!

But my little mind says 'JUST DO IT'!

I also volunteered to drive the handi van for the community run on Thursdays.

My turns are the next 2 Thursdays!

We get a turn about every 9 or 10 weeks, so figured I could handle that!

Better go, you guys have a great week!

Ta ta for now!