“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

 Good day!

Alas, it is raining. Again!

Not going to complain, I don't have to water! If we get some heat after this, the garden will grow!

I DID get my daily wheelbarrow full of weeds before it poured! I'm in the flower beds now! They are BIG flower beds!

Of course I picked the only peonies that don't smell! Should've picked a lilac or 2 to go with!

 

I DO have some cards to share.

It's my son in laws birthday next week. He's a heavy duty mechanic.

 

Well, the picture is crappy, but it's pretty shiny in real life!

I made my nephew a grad card.

 

Then I made one for my mom to give to give my nephew, her grandson!

 

Then, because I had a plethora of stuff left over.....

 

I made Bryson a kindergarten grad card!

There you have it.

 I have been making cards...that are part of kits.

Building up my stash!

The sun is shining!

Don't know if I should fall for that & go outside for another wheelbarrow full of weeds, or wait!

Stay safe.

Talk to ya later! 

If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it!

 Hello!

I am back with some pictures and adventures from my travels.

No cards, so grab a beverage if you want to read on!

Our family reunion is this year, and I'm the hostess(with the mostess)!

I have decided we are going to play games. 

We never have.

That has required hours of going down the rabbit hole on Pinterest!

I took some dice and cards, and the Nutstacker game to play with Bryson. I wanted games that everyone could play. I modified the Nutstacker game, and we played quite a bit. I used plastic sucker sticks, and  hex nuts flat on the table.

We played a game similar to the Tenzi dice game.

He loved the card game Kings in the Corner. The fun thing was, the game could be done after one hand. He also liked the card game Trash.

However, I made bubbles and my own wands like the recipe said, but they were duds. I have another bubble recipe to try before the reunion. I wanted to make sure it worked before I took it. There would be some disappointed people!!

This was the recipe I used. It even said it got better if you waited. Well, I made it Thursday, arrived up north on Sunday, and we tried it Monday. Epic Fail! We did manage to get small bubbles, after I cut down the homemade wands, but they weren't impressive. Didn't go anywhere, and popped as soon as they hit the ground.

I have got the supplies for Frisbee Tic Tac Toe. Pool Noodle Hockey, Junk in the Trunk, Pool Noodle Frisbee race, Human Ring Toss, Hula Hoop Relay; these can just be set up and everyone can have atter! I want everyone to have fun, there are no prizes, but I've been thinking about getting ALL participants a coupon for a small (really they're HUGE) ice cream at the little country store down the road!

I have a scavenger hunt all ready to go, photo props (Pictures are another thing we're not good at sharing), and rock painting. Games for if it's really hot out, these include water! There will be the usual Silent Auction, and a 50/50 draw. I've already been delegating jobs!

While on my travels I saw these guys!

Just hanging out in the ditch and driveway of someones place!

Bryson & I held the sun at sunset.

I went to kindergarten for ice cream. It was Momdae(?)!

 

Batman gramma!

He was telling me that his Batman glasses aren't comfortable under his helmet, so I had to find the picture of when he got them, and I tried them on!

Grammas sunbonnet.

Vanessa hauled us off for family pictures. We DID behave for the most part.

 

We baked, played, watched movies; I got to see Encanto. Great movie!
 I visited with friends. That was awesome!

Too short of a visit. As always.

 Bryson is telling us he can reach the pedals! I told him in 10 years he could drive me home.

I also ordered a new vehicle. A Ford Escape Hybrid. In Rapid Red. Had to order it at Vanessa's work to get the friends & family discount! There are more and more rebates for hybrids, and with the price of gas.......

I went to the Grande Prairie Boys Choir Alumni 20 Anniversary concert that was cancelled between Christmas and New Years.

Visited with friends on my way home! 

Came home through the mountains. There was a TON of snow at the Columbia Ice Fields. 

I haven't stopped since I got home. 

Mom's yard people have still not showed up!?

She had called them to get her yard ready for spring, including adding dirt to her garden boxes. so that might have been as far back as the beginning of April. I thought for sure they would come while I was gone. Anyhoo....I have weeded, and planted, and weeded some more. Any dirt for the garden boxes will have to wait until fall!

 Weedy gardens.

She has 6 boxes, the thistle & dandelion beds were the most fun, haha.

All cleaned out. That mass in the box in the top picture is Lavender! Smells so awesome!

The 2 beds farthest from the garage are planted with flowers. Brown Eyed Susans, Echinacia, Mexican Torch, Bergamot, Sunflowers, Bee Balm, Spider Plant etc. Hopefully they all come back next year.

The middle ones are empty, but my peppers aren't planted yet. The 2 closest to the garage have tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, beets, yellow beans. onions, corn, lettuce and radishes.

Yesterday I weeded the raspberries.

Project started.

I even had to get my chair! I can only bend over for so long in a day!

I pulled out maple trees, poplars, little cedars, I don't think the yard people have been doing their job for years...I think maybe taking advantage.

Project complete!
 

 

 

Anyhoo, I got her some business cards for 2 other yard people. A change is as good as a rest.

Next on my list is getting the moss off the garden shed roof!

I've done the research. Tomorrow I'm calling Home Hardware to see if they have Wet & Forget. That's about all I'm up for! 

I had a gift card for a greenhouse in town, so this is what I got.

Geraniums at the top. And  a hanging basket for the cement planter. I took the hanger off. I'll try to take a pic later this summer of each. Kalen had got a wisteria for our old place, it came with us. Survived the winter in it's pot, and seems to like it's new home. 

Better go. 

Thanks for making it this far.....unless I put you to sleep.

Next post will have cards...really... I have some made!

Stay Safe.

Talk to ya later!

 

When nothing goes right, go left.

Hello everyone!
It's the occasional blogger here!

Arrggghhhh; one day I'll be better!
Just remember that I am, (trying) to keep up with all your blogs, and the many contests that are out there!
We've been really busy at work, so that's cut down on my blog surfing (and game playing)! hahaha
Even at lunch!

I have made cards! As needed of course, but just the same!

I have been out for dinner with the gf's (LOTS), celebrated my birthday, worked a casino, shopped til I dropped, the yardwork is caught up, the gardens need watered; and later today we're going to a birthday party (one of Rays' friends turns 60 OMG!), and a 50th anniversary party tonight.
Oh yeah, Vanessa's coming for a sleep over too!


I wanted to try a Buckle Card, the pearls hide some unfortunate ink shmeers!

 

It's already been used for a guy birthday card!

 

The flowers are happy in their new flower bed!

I've got lilies......

 

Tiger Lilies.............

 

More lilies...................

 

Gladiolus..................

 

 

Marigolds................

 

Dahlias...................

 

This was what I drove into one night on my way back from somewhere!?

Heavy, heavy rainfall!

 

I made rhubarb pie one day; this is mine with the Canadian Vanilla EH ice cream!

 

I've worked at my job for over 10 years, and no one ever knew it was my birthday!

WHO BLABBED!

This was my desk when I came back from town a week or so ago!

 

Vanessa & I will be off to Victoria next Friday for 10 days, to visit with the Able Seaman!

 

That's all I got........... I have more, but apparently the pictures are still on my camera!

 

Hope you're all well.

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Life is about timing. --Carl Lewis

Hello peeps!
This is me finding time to blog! SIGH

Welcome Shaz!

I'm leaving on Wednesday so I'll be MIA for a week or so!

WARNING: THIS NEXT CARD IS A CHIRSTMAS CARD

 

I hurried to do this before the deadline.

I couldn't even find my white stickle stuff, so used a glitter.

Went to link it up and WHOOPS..........

 

 The theme this month is Gingerbread - Create a card featuring gingerbread men/woman. To add a little interest your card must also include ribbon and at least 3 buttons.

 

Do YOU see 3 buttons and ribbon?

Me neither!

That'll learn me to leave it last minute, and not read ALL the instructions!

Oh well, 4 more Christmas cards are made!

 

Now for your environment/Entomology lesson!

See the black on the tree in the middle about 3/4's of the way up!?

Tent caterpillars!

 

 

I noticed the black spot on Friday.

 

We don't like them.

I took a picture of the tree tops, cause there'll probably be no leaves when I get home.

And after the leaves took so long to get here this year!

 

In happier news, here's a picture of the bright yellow somethings I planted in my holey boots!

 

They were on their way to the bin last fall, but I got Ray to drill holes in the bottom (in case there weren't enough) and I filled them full of dirt!

Makes a cute eye catching pop of color by the waiting bench at the outhouse!

 

 

I whipped up a set of 4 Thank You cards (each) for my mom & my aunt.

 

Yeah, yeah I know the last one has a larger black area, but I measured the patterned piece wrong!

Of course I did!

Loved the ribbon!

I told one of my older peeps at the OFH when they had flowers on the tables;

" I don't work here anymore, couldn't you gather up the ribbons in the flowers for me!?"

And she did!

 

Alrighty, my bag's half packed!

3 more sleeps!

My hair is done on Tuesday, and the van's going in for a Steam Cleaning, Detailing, full meal deal...

cause I got connections!

 

Hope everyone's well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!

Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiam. --Winston Churchill

I finally have a minute!
Get a beverage peeps!
Everything's been all right in my little corner of the world............
Thanks for the emails etc.! You know who you are!

Welcome Rosie!

This will be a picture heavy post (of course it will)!
I'll show you the card I made for Saturday then you can quit reading if you're so inclined!

 

This is the MOTB, we've been friends for over 40 years.

She always says, "I can't believe you're THAT old!"

 

I planted the potatoes in the garden before I hurried to that wedding 100 miles away!

 

Now we're backing up to where I left off.

I'll try to be a better blogger!

I just have to MAKE TIME for it like I do for everything else!

 

Shadow had to go for her shots, so we got her a hair cut (Professional, and a Pet-acure)!

 

 

She REALLY likes it!

Except for about 3 nights right after she had it done,

I had to plug her bed back in cause it got down to -16!

 

Here she's smiling, cause we're going to do one of her favorite jobs!

Sort bottles!

 

Ray had dumped some dry wood over by the fire pit, so I drug the wood splitter over there!

It's under the tarp, it keeps raining; not enough to make me quit though!

 

 

 I am so ready for Friday nights!

 

 

 

On my way to work one morning there were 100's of snow geese in a field!

 

 

2 weeks ago, there were no leaves on the trees!

 

 

This was Mother's Day!

All I wanted were leaves!

The kids got my some gorgeous jewellry!

I'm a sucker for necklaces & bracelets.....

it's left over from my days at the OFH!

 

Vanessa was home on Mother's Day, so Ray took us for breakfast at a community hall.

Rural area, lots of different halls & organizations!

It was wonderful.

Then Vanessa & I had a date to see the twins!

I'm dying here;

see the smirk on the big sisters face!?

Every time someone pointed a camera in her direction, her finger would go in her nose!

 

 

Case in point!

Hahahaha

 

A week ago I had it in my head to build a flower bed for my perennials that were in the ground and hating it!

We have GUMBO for dirt.

When I google Gumbo + dirt, I still get the stew!

So I found this blog post!

Dealing With Gumbo Soil.

 

Of course Ray's busy!

 

He got out the power tool & set it up for me!

Whooo hoooooo!

(It's heavy)

 

 

I shopped at Rodneys'; he has a sawmill about 3 miles from here.

Ray brought the trailer, and we loaded up 14 rough 4" X 6" X 16.5' boards.

I of course, must have lived in Texas in a previous life; I decided this flower bed would be 4' X 20'!

This is one layer on top of my treated 4" x 4"!

 

Next time you're at the lumber store, just swing by the lumber, see if they have any 4" X 6"s.

They'll probably only be 12' long...........try to pick one up!

This was my project Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday after work last week.

I'll tell you now, I missed every season finale of the few shows I watch!

Anyhoo, Ray had also got out some nails and a hammer.

Hahahaha, I put those away & got out the drill, and found long screws!

I also had the lumber yard cut me 14 pieces of 30" rebar to pound into the box so it stays put!

 

Ray managed to get me the dirt hauled last night waaaay past my bedtime.

I was outside until 11:30.

I made him park the tractor close with the 3rd bucket full, so I could shovel it in this morning!

OI!

WHAT.WAS.I.THINKING!?

I'm hiring a kid next time!

 

 

I was outside early, with my coffee, I wanted to work in the shade.

 

Making progress..............

 

I was finished by noon!

Had my poor peonies, lilies, columbines all dug up out of the gumbo & planted in their new home.

Then I planted whatever didn't get planted yesterday in their appropriate spots!

 

I also mowed grass today, not all of it, but an hour or 2 worth.

I also whippersnipped, but FYI, I only did the front!

Hahahahaha

I was exhausted, and came in about 4:00, had a jacuzzi, and a nap, now it's pretty close to bed time!

I'm a hurtin' unit!

 

Ray will dump the dirt that's left in the bucket by the sand pile, so it can be covered.....cats people!

We have cats!

160 acres, and they have to go in the gardens, flower beds...........

 

I drove the handi van last week for the community, and will again this Thursday!

Avon's changing things, so I've had to do webinars, watch videos, etc.

I'm ok with that though, change is good!

 

Hope you're all well!

Talk to ya later!

Ta ta for now!