Sunday, January 31, 2010

Caardvark's Challenge - Red & Hearts

Red and Hearts
Supplies:
PP: Cloud 9 & Making Memories
Little hearts punched with Archivers $1.00 punch
Hugs embelli: Making Memories
Owl: Hero Arts Sweet Owls
Inks: Stazon & Copics



Here's my entry for the current Caardvark's challenge. Lot's of beautiful Valentine's inspiration over at that place!

Mine is the 239th entry! Boy these challenges are getting busy!

Thanks for looking!

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 31

Project 365 - Day 31

And the rest of the photos!
My House
(that's my favorite tree, the tall one on the right!)

Dick's Morning Commute
Out feeding critters

Sami is inside directing Traffic
And making sure the babies out of the way


Last night we went out to dinner at some friends. All four of us. The kids had a great time and were the only children yet treated like young adults and part of the festivities and conversations. It started snowing when we left, and had snowed quite a bit while we were dining, laughing, and chatting the evening away. I took a photo of the beautiful table and our hosts - but I left my little camera there! These photos are from Dick's camera that I borrowed this morning.

We got home about 10pm.

I went out to put the chickens to bed and it was gorgeous. Not a sound. Fresh snow. And it was still snowing. A true winter wonderland. And bright! Even with the cloud cover, that big ol' full moon was still lighting things up.

We woke to a beautiful snowy world this morning... Six inches of new fluffy snow.

And, again, our world is quiet.

A beautiful Sunday.

I'm still in my jammies at 2pm.

Life is goooood!

(Dick's computer crashed last week, and it's such a bummer (sure it is!) that I can't do all the payroll reports, end of year taxes, and other nasty stuff that gives me a headache!)...

Guess I'll just have to get inky!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 29(b)

The Chef

Sami made some goodies for her 6th class' 'cake raffle' fundraiser - this all happened yesterday. We were out of the petit four wrappers and had to make some custom ones - enter the EK Success scallop paper punch and parchment paper (cooking stuff)... and several hours of tender loving care!

These little babies are itty bitty cupcakes.. Not sure what to call them. The pros in the crowd will have to help here...

So, after the hussle and bussle in the kitchen, off to school we went. We sat there from 3pm 'til 5pm selling raffle tickets at the Basketball Games..

Then rushed home to meet the boys and headed to LG for the showing of Food Inc.

More on that later..




Thursday, January 28, 2010

Moxie Fab Let's Get Sassy - Taintor Tude Challenge!

This Little Anne Taintor Postcard Is On My Fridge
circa 2004
The back of the postcard says it was from Another Day in Paradise: 30 postcards!

Why do I love it so???
Most people try to figure which 'color' wine to pair with the main course.
Not this ranch wife sister!
Nope.. Her main course is the sauce!

Love me some Taintor.
Especially with cows in the background, and an apron!
(Aprons are another of my addictions - they keep my shirts stain free!)
*****

So, when I read about the Moxie Fab 'Let's Get Sassy Taintor Tude' challenge,
I had to jump on board!
Just had to..

My Taintor Style Card
Supplies:
Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess (but of course!)
(three different papers used - cut and paste!)
SU Cardstock
And, my Dymo lettering tag maker!


Oh don't ya just love some sass?
Be sure to get your full by visiting the Moxie Fab Blog site.. here's the link to all sorts of delicious sassy sayings! I'm sure you will find a favorite, or two.. And be sure to check out the entries..

And, if my son's teacher is reading this, please forgive me!! (My son graduated from a 6 week DARE workshop with his 5th grade class earlier this month!)

The current Moxie Fab challenge is to get sassy - Taintor style!

Thanks for looking and hopefully, laughing:)

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 27

Day 27 - My Favorite Birch Tree
Love that fog in the background!
And the wheel line.
See it?
In the back?
Or the mountains?
What about all those critter prints in the snow?



Here is a photo from yesterday.. (day 27)..

This is my favorite tree.

I love it in the spring. When new leaves are bursting through.

I love it in the Fall. When the colors spark and change. Gorgeous.

I love it in the Summer. When I am on the mower, navigating under it, and the branches brush gently over my back. Or, if I'm going too fast, the occasional to the face 'wack'.

I love it in the Winter. That's when the white bark get's more of my respect. and those itty bitty leaf buds, that whisper 'we'll be back'!

I love it, all.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 26

Rosie's Twins
Born: 1/24/10
Zoey and Caitlin.
Don't ask who's who!


My camera has been busy!

There are so many photos of the new baby goats that I have taken that I wish I could just toss up here! But I'm trying to contain myself.. just one photo... So here is one taken today...

Sami's goats have been having babies! Sami's boy goat was a very busy boy!

Rosie had twins, on Sunday.
Olive has one baby, yesterday.

Ramon's goat has twins, Saturday! Or was it Friday... I forget... Ramon works for us. All 'his girl critters' get visited by 'our boy critters'. Sheep, dogs, and now goats...

Ranch life.

5 goat babies since Sunday....

What's her name, Betty, still has not given birth. She's the one we brought in before Christmas! So while she was spoiled rotten in a barn, the others gave birth out in the elements... brrrrrrrrr.

And, as is the circle of life.. this morning Sami found one of her bunnies had died during the night. One of Bitsy's girls. Sigh.

It also snowed today.. I took some real fun pictures, but shucks... will just have to save them for another day.. and share just one!

Yesterday morning we woke to a layer of ice. I drove over the pass yesterday...to La Grande, but did not leave until about 9:30am. A semi had done a 180 (black ice) and flipped and spilled a bunch of batteries. When I saw the truck, I said a prayer for the driver and any one else that might have been around...

And I got to thinking.. Does anyone else do that? Say prayers for people you don't know, but sure hope are OK and taken care of? I do it mostly when I hear the news. Bad news.

But I also say prayers of Thanks... Like when I catch myself loving the day. I thank God for that day and bit of joy. Sunshine. Happy family moments. Contentment. When I feel 'full', I just have to thank God.

Anyway, the accident. Hazmat was on duty.. It was a one lane, slow drive. When I came back the Hazmat team was still working.

Hope all is well.

Thanks for listening to my random thoughts:)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Card for Anne's Hoarders Challenge

Share Your Heart!
Three Hero Arts stamps used - that were never inked!
The background heart
The owl in the middle
and
The sentiment
(But they are brand new! I don't think they count!)



I made this card for Anne's Hoarder's Challenge. Tonight is the deadline! I think we need a procrastinator's challenge as well:)


Yes, I am a hoarder..
I have boatloads of stuff in my scrap/crap room!

Anne's challenge has a list of about 15 items.. This card has a few of those goodies on it..

1. See those hearts? Raw Chipboard...from a Variety Pack, of Heidi Swapp... Never before opened!

Well, until I made this card..

2. I painted them with Worn Lipstick Crackle Paint..another item on Anne's List, and added some matching distress stickles.. Oh it sure dressed them up:)

3. Ink Pad never used: The 'fuchsia pink stazon' that the owl was stamped with...

4. And, the stamps were never used before as well.. but they are new... probably not real candidates!

5. Patterned Paper: Basic Grey!

6. Ribbon: Doodlebug Designs

Other supplies used: Copics, Spicas, WorldWin DoubleMates cardstock, SU White Craft Ink, Jet Black Stazon..

Thanks Anne, for the challenge!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Hero Arts Challenge - Friendship/Valentines

Hello Friend!

The current Hero Arts Blog challenge is Friendship and Valentines.. All Month Long! I am loving the new challenge format.. Only 2 challenges during the month, and they are the same theme. Here.. See the specifics right here!




Card Supplies:
Hero Arts Stamps used: Sparkle Clear Love That (sentiment); Flourish Background Cling

Other Goods: Ranger SnowCap Paint Dabber, HA Gem, Ranger Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, SU White Craft Ink, SU White CS.

Papers, bird chipboard (Maya Rd) and circle chipboard embelli: are all from an old Self Addressed kit - sorry! I don't know the companies!

Thanks for looking!

Caardvark's Challenge - Becky Fleck Sketch


Caardvark's is starting the New Year with a huge bang!

The first challenge has a sketch from Becky Fleck, of PageMaps, and the prize is a $100 (aka boat load) of stamps from Justrite... Click here for the details: Caardvark's New Year Challenge

There are so many entries! I like Becky's sketches.. so, thought I would play!

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Archivers
Stamp: Hero Arts
Patterned Paper & Circle Embellishment: My Mind's Eye
Flowers: Prima
Brads: K&Co.
Summer sticker off an Imaginisce 3D sticker.
White Uniball Pen
SU White Craft Ink
SU Choc Chip Marker

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Project 365 - The Random Approach - Day 11!

Day 11
Remains of the Day
(click on image to savor the full effect!)


Yesterday was a 'golden' photo opportunity.

Does this happen to anyone else out there in blogland? Please tell me I am not alone!

So there we were, my husband and I, cooking dinner.. The 'A' team. Clicking...

We decide we are going to broil our entree.

Problem was.. something was in the oven!

Fumes?

My husband freaked! I knew exactly what happened....

That morning, I made three eggs for breakfast.

Jake asked how many he should have. I said leave one for me and put it back in the oven.

As you can see, he put it back in the oven. On one of the 'kid proof' plates.

He knows better that this!
He blamed it on his dad. Apparently Dick told him to put the plate in the oven. So he did.

Anyway, it was pretty funny... I have several photos... inside of the oven - a blue blob.

And let me tell ya.. That plastic? Holy! It gets real real real hard after it cools! I can not get it off that rack!

Dick has to take a blow torch to it, outside, and let it melt over the snow...

Crazy...Days..

Cosmo Cricket - Jan. Sketch

Cosmo Cricket - January Sketch
Click on the title to go to their blog!
Who Doesn't Love Cosmo Cricket!!!!!



My Layout
'Free Fall'
(just another reason I love these guys)
** Don't ask how I got that 'crease' in the lower right corner! **
(aka Scrapbooking trauma)

Supplies:
Cosmo Cricket - Earth Love (patterned papers)
Cosmo Cricket - Mr. Campy (journal card, cut w/ die)
CardStock: SU and Bazzil.
Goodies: buttons (Autumn Leaves), Twine, punches (SU, CM)
Die: SU
American Crafts Thickers (Root Beer Float, Cream Soda)


*************


So.. remember my little journal that I started to track 2010 challenges & sketches?

Here is my first for 2010!!!! I love this page.. I love all things 'earthy' and these papers and elements are so yummy! My favorite Cosmo paper line of 2009... Earth Love....

The photos are from our family photo session back on Nov. 1, 2009.. When we were freezing our body parts off...and the wind was blowing, but heck.. We look good! The photo of all of us walking away, in the upper left corner, is from the same day... It's on our photo collage Christmas Card that just got mailed last Friday!

I told you I have a bazillion great photos from that day!

Yippee! Skippie! I 'got something' done!!!
Sami is ahead. She has one card and one layout under her belt... Her BFF completed 2 layouts...
Stinkers...
Why are the 12 and younger so darn talented???? They ooze creativity! I love what they made this last weekend! But, I can't share their layouts.. they are getting posted on a 'do not show your entries on your blog' challenge:)

Cuteness...

Just another reason!!!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Project 365 - The Random Approach!

Project 365 - Day 6 - Nirvana in a Coffee Shop
Wed. Jan 6 - Big meeting night.
Went to the 'office' to get organized, but it just did not work out!
Office is 45 minutes away from my cozy home office.
Cozy home office is my office of choice.
Too many 'this ain't workin' issues'
Septic System was shot
Electricity was funkified (construction)
Office computer/power cord would not work
Place was cold!
So, after messing with it for an hour, I split.
I went and hung out at a Coffee Shop instead.
It was cozy, tasty, and pure bliss!

Project 365 - Day 6
(Better Late than Never!)
And, I had a backup project.
My Christmas Cards!
Got 'em wrapped up and done.
Before the meeting!
Postmarked this past Friday.



*****************


OK.. So, lots of organized peeps are participating in Project 365 - where you take a photo each day of something in your day to day life, and post it or share it on your blog. It can be of anything from your day.

I've been 'attracted' to the idea for the reason of well, capturing 'real' life! The little things that have meaning - other than the big milestones. Sometimes we take for granted what really makes us smile inside - our passions, our loves, those little zen private moments.

I know I am not organized enough post Project 365 on a daily basis.. So, I thought I would just every now and then capture a day...

However, I will share with you a couple of links that have inspired me with ideas and recommendations:

First, is Designs by Diana. I love her photos! I love what she shares! Fun sweet things, from everyday life. Click on her Project 365 link on the right side of her blog to see what I mean.

Then, I've been checking out the Daily Digi. The folks over there have a ton of resource links for the project, as well as organizing all the photos. This is the place I drool over for my 'future' delving into digistuff.


That's it for today!

Happy Sunday...

Friday, January 8, 2010

Candy, Little Girly Girl?? (Boys can play, too!)

The 'ever so talented' Kathy, of The Daily Marker is giving away all the goodies you see in the image above! Look at all that Hero Arts Goodness!

I know Kathy from her wonderful drop-dead challenge entries at the Hero Arts Blog. She also has some amazing design team memberships under her belt and this gal is just in her prime!


Click on her blog link to see the deets... Who knows? You might just win!


Here is List of The Blog Candy:
Cupcake CG157
Engraved Flower CG141
Flourish background CG119
Cherries CG117
Hero Hues Card in Grass (green)
Matching Envelopes
Hero Hues New Chalk Ink in Grass
Hero Hues Art Flowers in Green
Allison Wang What’s up stamps
DCWV Safari chipboard Letters
Crystal Stickers in Glitter Dome small and large
Butterfly Card

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

My January Beauty - She's Twelve

Two things I want You To See
1. Sami's self manicure (Christmas Kit Present)
2. The fading self tat
Rumor has it, I can now get manicures in exchange for cookies!
The world is so right!!!!


The Birthday Call 0 Taking with her favorite auntie
I love how she holds herself.
Delicate
Poised
She looks like a dancer!
New Christmas Necklace - opal

My beautiful daughter is now 12!
(taken on 1/4/10)
I am using my husband's camera.
Gotta find the date stamper!



A quick post...

Sami turned 12 yesterday..

Hard to believe!

She requested an ice-cream cake for her birthday dessert. Check.
For dinner she wanted bbq chicken, mashed potatoes and raw broccoli w/fresh ranch dip. check.
New Goldfish to replace one that died. Check.

******

The sun is peaking out right now...first time in days! It's been foggy, yucky, snowy, then sloshy.

January is NOT my favorite month weather wise....

Gotta run!

Thanks for peeking!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

My New Blog 'Look'!

So? Do you like my new background and colors on the blog?

Karen did it.

All I did was change my blog header to a black and white image...

Who's Karen? Why, the Gorgeous Background Fairy! (She also has a vintage images blog)...

I chose her latest design, Teal & Chocolate Damask Grunge...

All things so 'me'!!! The colors, chocolate, and grunge... yumm..

She has great instructions on how to upload her backgrounds.


Here is her blog ... go check it out!!!

Get Sketchy #19 - Sami's Entry

This Week's Get Sketchy Challenge - Due Jan. 7th
Sponsor: Unity
Winnings: 3 Unity stamp sets!

GS #19 - Sami's Entry

Supplies: Stamps: Stampin' Bella
CS: Bazzill
PP: Prima
Bling: Hero Arts
Inks/Pens: I'll have to ask her!
She also stamped on HP Photo paper scraps... not a 'good idea'
but it looks like it worked!

********

For the New Year, Sami (my soon to be 12 year old amazing daughter!) and I made a list of current challenges and logged them into a fun 'idea log' book I have. I printed out the sketches, wrote deadlines and any challenge 'specs' and possible winnings for each one.

I did this more for Sami than for me:) She is always asking 'are there any new contests?'. This way she can go to the book and find them and do them if she so wishes!


Sami got right on the Get Sketchy Challenge! Man that girl is fast!

For the challenge deets, check it out here: Get Sketchy#19 Challenge.


Thanks for looking and I'll share any comments with our young Artist!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year 2010! New Beginnings

So.. here we are.. January 1st, Twenty Ten. I love the sound of this new year. Sounds Magnificent. Powerful. Full of Big Things!

My word for the year? Strength. My other draft post was all about why I need it, want it, and want to live up to it. I'll keep it to myself right now. And why 2009 was the Year from Hell... Perfect stuff for a scrapbook page.. with hidden journaling... Light Bulb Idea: I'll Use it for Project 12! One of my New Year Resolutions...

The kids and I did stay up until midnight and watched the 'countdown' with Ryan Seacrest. We did NOT see the ball drop! The TV did not show us that.. But the kids were happy little campers - we literally camped out in the living room and had our own little party. Fun fun fun! Last year they cried their eyeballs out because I turned off the alarm when it rang...so Jan. 1st 2009 was started with tears. This year, I did good. We also had a 11:55 pm phone call to remind us. Thanks Auntie Paula (it was 2am her time -what a woman)! You've got my back! And, Rabbit Rabbit (It's our good luck mantra)..

So, today after much piddlin' around (aka blog surfing) I cleaned and organized my office and scrap area... Holy. I have tons of stuff! Tons of stuff I don't use! I spent 3 hours on this little exersize and still have a long way to go. But, it's a start!

The kids are now 'dumpster diving' in my junk. Recycling at it's finest! Right now they are going through my supply of chipboard alphas... guess I'll be finding those babies around the house for days!

And, I started a little journal to keep track of the challenges I hope to play with. Sami keeps asking me 'are there any contests going on?'. She's my challenge associate. She skipped Tim's Tags, but we have a list here to start the new Year!

The kids also digged out some gingerbread dough and made some interesting dough art. It kept them busy on a yucky weather day. We got boatloads of snow yesterday, but today was windy, and yucky.

Oh.. I have a FLAT tire. As in, the rim is sitting on a flat tire in the garage. So tomorrow's adventure will be to get the Flat fixed. The plan is to fill it with air, drive to town and have it fixed. Joy.

I don't have my list of resolutions, yet. Still gotta think of that one.

But, for now...

Twenty Ten.

Love It.

2023 December Daily : Monday December 5th

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