Hi!

It's been a while, but thought I'd drop a note.  We are coming up on the Labor Day weekend.  I hate that it is like an end to summer, but I will refuse to put my shorts away until I cannot stand it any longer.  The temperatures are really perfect, 78-80, and the sky is very blue. Just beautiful days.  How good is God?  Awesome!

Dick had a terrible misfortune this week, with his fish aquarium.  During the process, he lost five fish he has had for eight months this time.  He had grown very fond of them, and watching them.  However, he recently had Mitchell pick him up a couple new fish, and he stopped one day and got himself a new one, for a grand total of eight.  This is where it gets really sad.  Something infected the aquarium, is all we can think, and they all slowly died, one at a time.  I hate it.  He loves watching his fish.  It is something for him to do in the house.  So, he has totally emptied the aquarium, cleaned everything with bleach, Dawn, and really hot water, and put it back in, filled with water, and sat for 24 hours.  Today, in just a little bit, we are heading to PetSmart to buy eight new fish.  He says he is biting the bullet and trying them all at once, so he doesn't get attached to some and lose them slowly again.  This will be as exciting as having an aquarium can be.  Can anyone say - Boring?

Last night on Facebook, in the Card Conga group, I admitted so many women for card swapping.  It was wonderful!  I love having more people to swap with.  There are so many talented people in the group.  The talent ranges, too, but it is nice to see people progress on their journey as a card maker.  I love receiving Happy Mail.  It is so much fun to go to the craft room, and actually have something that is rewarding to do.  I have gotten out of my comfort zone a few times, but prefer staying in the comfort zone mostly.  I only venture out when I have to.

Well, I am going now.  We are out of here to buy fish.  Have a wonderful day!  Thanks for stopping by.

Karen

Hi!

What a day!  It was wonderful spending this afternoon with my daughter, as we watched the eclipse.  First, once she arrived, we had a bowl of chili.  She said she wanted her Mom's chili, so we had that for lunch, around 12:30, and then set up cameras and sat on the pool deck waiting for the eclipse to occur.  My husband, her Daddy, Dick, arrived around 2:15, and he had welding glasses for us to use so we could actually see the eclipse.  We didn't look at it long, but would glance at it through the welding glasses, and using the welding helmet.  We had never thought to do that on our own.  Neither one of use were lucky enough to get glasses.  It was kinda weird looking right before it occurred. There was like a dusky haze over the area, our view of the area, almost like it was going to storm from every direction.  The temperature did drop right as the moon was center, though it never really got dark.  It was just fun that we sort of had our own little viewing party, Vicki Faye, Dick and myself.  She got a picture of the three of us.  I got a picture of her taking pictures through the welding helmet, and posted it to my Facebook page.  She is so silly, but thinking to do that got her one of the greatest eclipse pictures, that is hers forever.

When Victoria arrived, she brought her new puppy with her.  His name is Chester, and he is a miniature Schnauzer.  He is adorable.  He had so much fun playing ball.  He wants to sit in your lap.  He is a perfect size right now, so small and cute.  He is only four months old, and smaller than the cats.  Lacy loved him, and wanted to know more about him, until he started wanting to get a little rough in his playing.  Then, she started meowing at him and got high on her tree. Lily hated him from the start, and she was on the highest level of their tree she could get.  She would hiss at him and cry out.  It was too funny!  I just worried about her.  She gets so nervous and scared, and I think that she didn't like the experience.

Okay, I have a couple swap cards to finish.  I agreed to do galaxy background cards.  I don't know what I was thinking.  Not sure I'm going to do very good with this type of card, but my daughter says I have a good idea.  Since she has her Masters, is gallery director at OU and is an artist, I took that as a compliment.  She gave me a couple ideas, and I liked her advice.  At least I'm now excited about trying it out.

Well I will go for now.  Have a great day!

Happy stamping!

Karen

Hi!

It is the early hour of Saturday, August 19th here.  I have been home a couple of hours, after a night of card making with girlfriends, and then dinner.  The cards tonight were fabulous.  Thank you,  Ann! We made a cute mermaid card tonight, one with a lighthouse and the third had fishes.  My favorite was the lighthouse, but I kept messing it up.  Of course, it was Stampin' Up products.  I was very nervous tonight, until I had been there a while, and then got relaxed and felt better about what I was doing.  It was fun.  Enjoyed the evening yakking back and forth and slappin' down some adhesive.

Then, we headed toward Ashland's Texas Roadhouse.  The busiest Texas Roadhouse in the USA, if you haven't heard of it.  That is the truth, too.  The service was a bit slow, but we had a cute waiter, so I let it pass. The food was worth the wait, though.  The talk was excellent.  Enjoyed the whole evening.

Early Friday morning, before I got out of bed, my daughter Victoria Faye, texts me pictures of her new family addition.  It is a little Schnauzer puppy.  She and her husband, Andy, have named him Chester, and he joins them and Colbie, the older brother from another mother mix.  I want to see him soon, so I will have to run to their house to visit.  They have been talking for a long time about buying one, and finally gave in.  He is a cute little puppy.  Can't wait to actually love on him.

Well, I guess I will head to bed.  I am sitting here by the lamp, currently typing, but had previously been flipping through the pages of the People magazine, which comes to my house every Friday, and has for several years.  I love the darn magazine, though lately they have been stating their political views, and they are the opposite of mine.  I'm open minded a bit, but I don't think everything I like in life needs to have politics thrown into it. My two cents worth!  Okay, I will go.  I will work on my People mag crossword puzzle.  I love those.  Hope you get a chance to ink up some rubber this weekend, as well as enjoy a little bit of the outside.  Summer is winding down, and the pool water sat at 84 degrees today.  I plan on swimming tomorrow a bit, but my heart is always on ink on the rubber!

Happy stamping!

Karen

Hi!

Well, thought I would post today.  I haven't for a few days.  I have been working like a mad woman on a swap, for the Card Conga group on Facebook.  If you are a card maker, come across this blog, and would enjoy swapping with women around the world, check out Card Conga.  It is a wonderful group of ladies.  I am so happy I found the group.  It has been so much fun, and I have met some of the most wonderful people.  Thank you, Samantha Kurtz, for adding me.

Anyway, I have been working so madly on this swap, which is a two way fun fold swap, which you can find on YouTube under Dawn's Stamping Thoughts.  It is an awesome fold.  I needed to do a really neat card.  I wanted to color.  I love to color, so I stamped up a bike from Unity Stamps, and a sentiment that is so true and dear to my heart - "It's not about the destination, it's about the ride."  I went with coral and teal colors.  It turned out okay, I believe.  I consulted Tessie and Barb.  Barb decided I needed one more thing on the front, so I placed a banner on it.  I think it was the perfect touch.  At least I hope so.  Thanks, Barb!

Today is my Daddy's 80th birthday.  I need to give him a call.  Knowing the way he and my Mom (73 until October) run the streets, they are out and about, shopping, eating, and running the rally, which just started in Ironton, tonight.  They are probably at the rally, because my brother has set up his pizza stand at the rally.  Hope he does good.  If you are in the Ironton area, check out Matney's Wood Fire Pizza. It's pretty darn good!  People seem to like it, and he is doing a really good job pleasing their taste buds.

Well, I have to address my envelopes for mailing.  I have stamped the envelops with a couple of sayings, and I have placed my swap card inside.  Now, to get them all stamped and ready for the mail lady tomorrow.  Enjoy this nice summer evening.  I wish you well.

Happy Stamping!

Karen

Hi!

Well, today me and my friends, Barb Green and Tessie Collier, are meeting up for dinner at the Big Boy.  This is a late celebration for my friend Barb's birthday.  I bought her gift in souvenir shop on vacation.  I think she will like it.  Oh,wait.  Some of it came from a Bass Pro Shop in North Carolina, and the other from a Tuesday Morning.  I bought her a gift card here, after getting back home.  I think she will like what I bought her. I sure hope so.  I love birthday's, but mostly I love cake.

Tomorrow, Saturday, August 12th, my family is celebrating my father's 80th birthday.  He turns 80 on August 17th, and this was a good day for everyone to be able to be together.  He has no idea, so it will be a surprise for him.  We are cooking up his favorite meal - What he likes to call them, brown, bomber beans, fried potatoes, and cornbread.  Of course there will be meat, but I forgot to check on that part.  My sister is picking up sugar-free apple pie for him, and we are getting a regular cake, from Kroger.  I am getting sugar-free ice cream.  He is a diabetic, and a very good eater. Of course, the rest of us will enjoy that sugar added cake.  I'm sure he will sneak a small piece, if possible.

I've gotten myself showered and my lotion on.  I need to get my face painted.  I will get off here for now.  Everyone visiting this blog, please have a nice and safe weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Karen

Hi World!

Today is a better day as far as the fibromyalgia goes. I do have a little bit of pain, and soreness, especially in my hands and arms.  Mostly stiffness.  I didn't have as hard a time getting out of bed today.  I had plans to meet my son's girlfriend and her mother for lunch, so it was easier with a plan to get up.  

Lunch was at Kentucky Hall of Fame Restaurant in the Ashland Town Center.  It was really good.  Macaroni and Cheese and a side salad.  The food was perfect, and perfectly sized.  

When I arrived back at the house, I had happy mail from one of the members of Card Conga. I love swaps with the member of the Card Conga group on Facebook.  The ladies in that group are all so wonderful.  I have had the best time making cards and receiving cards.  I look forward to getting mail now.  Of course, there are still those pesky bills in there, but Happy Mail is also enclosed.

My plan is to take a nap and then head to the craft room after mopping the bathroom.  I swept in there earlier.  I can then play with paper all evening.  I will need to post a picture of something I'm working on.  It has taken me days to actually get to the point, where I can put this card together.  I talked with my Daddy on the phone for 2-1/2 hours last night, and didn't get much work accomplished.  I opened 68 markers that were individually wrapped, that I ordered from Blitsy in June, and I swept the house with a broom, and then used gesso on some cardstock for the base of a card.  I was all over the place while we talked.  He is recovering well from his cataract removal surgery, in one eye.  We are planning a get together for his birthday on Saturday, at my brother's house.  He will be 80 on August 17th.  It is so hard to believe that my parents are getting old, as am I.

Okay, off for that nap.  Have a good day!

Happy Stamping!

Karen

The temperature is sitting right about 79, and the sun is beautifully sitting in the sky.  It is low humidity, and feels like a warm fall day.  I'm a summer person, but I'm liking this day.  This is the first day I have been actually feeling good since returning on Saturday, from Sunset Beach, North Carolina.  I spent a week there with my friend, Tessie, and her family.  Had the most relaxing time.  The beach was awesome there.  The waves were unbelievable compared to the waves I'm use to seeing in Myrtle or further south.  Tessie and I played with paper off and on all week, when not visiting local attractions, and sitting on the beach.  Seems we had to come home to actually have down time.

Since I suffer with fibromyalgia, more noticeable in the spring and fall seasons of the year now, I have really been under the weather since returning home to the cooler temperatures.  Today, with the sun bright in the sky, I am feeling a bit better.  Probably just gradually getting use to a more normal, even keel.  

Well, I'm off to wash the car.  I need to get something accomplished this day.  I did go to the doctor's office this morning, and then to the grocery.  I have also surfed the web a bit, and talked via messenger to Tessie, and by text to my friend, Barb, so I can actually do something productive.  Have a good day!  And, try to get some stamping in!

Happy stamping!

Karen

Another day in paradise.  No, not the city, but life.  I have a complaint today.  Suffering from my fibromyalgia today.  I have done so good with this stuff for so long, I had forgotten what it was like to suffer with the stuff.  I cannot actually function very well.  I feel so helpless.  I hate it.  I did, however, get all my craft stuff put away yesterday, after returning from vacation, and got to play just a little bit on a few cards I'm working on for a swap.  I then decided it was time to go to bed.  It was all I could do to get to the bedroom.  I will post pictures of the finished card as soon as I decide how to put it together.  Hope this note finds everyone well.  Have a great Tuesday!

Oh, WOW, I'm starting this again.  I blogged sometime back, but thought I would start again.  I joined Card Conga, and it has been such an outlet for me.  The most challenging thing is trying to be as good as all the cardmakers in the group.  There are so many wonderful designers.  The odds of being better than any of those other ladies is not good.  They are awesome.  

Have made new friends.  I love that part!  Thank you, God above!  I love people!  People are basically good, or have the hopes to be.  I guess if you join a group on Facebook, your goal in life isn't to set the day out to basically be mean to someone.  I'm not stupid, though.  I know there are bad people in the world, just not in my swapping groups.  Ha Ha! LOL!  

I have no cards to post today.   I just returned Saturday early a.m. from a week at the beach with one of my best friends, Tessie Collier.  She allowed me to tag along on her family vacation, which was totally awesome.  We beached and did vacation stuff during the day, and played with all the paper crafts our cars would allow us to take with us, of the evening.  We created a few swaps while at the beach.  It was such a relaxing time.  Thanks again, Tessie.  I had an awesome time!  One definitely for the most memorable vacations.  

I guess I will close this short note wishing everyone a Happy Sunday! Remember to say a prayer today.  Thank the Lord for your blessings. Pray for your family and friends.  

Happy Stamping!
Karen