Almost Christmas

Yes, Jeanne, you said it best last night. Oh My Gosh it’s only 2 weeks till Christmas. Yes I have the decorating and Christmas cards done but nothing else can go into the completed column. I need to shop for presents, I need to wrap presents, I need to bake, (ok I want to bake cuz it’s just so yummy) but most of all I need to stop and remember the reason for the season and praise my Lord for such a wonderful gift as his Son. Merry Pre Christmas everyone. Stop and thank your Lord for his wonderful gift, and maybe smell the Pine a little also. Off to Anthony’s Christmas program tomorrow, but first today a little shopping and wrapping. Enjoy your day!!!

Fall is winding down fast

My day off from the hospital today. Been a very busy week and I was exhausted. Now I may unexpectedly have tomorrow off as well. To good to be true. Getting started on house cleaning majorly and getting ready to start for the Christmas holiday. I am just in the pre mode not actual decorating just cleaning. I am not a major retailer with Christmas on display at Halloween. Just trying to be proactive in the getting ready aspect of things. 3 Bazaars last week left me exhausted as well. Guess I’m glad that is done for now. Still have lots of hats if anyone is interested. Just contact me for actual colors available. Well it’s off to wash walls.

reposting for a chance to win

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out

November 10th, 2009 Ana

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out has launched their November kit Generosity, perfect for this time of year. This kit is so graceful and stylish – full of rich, deep color and elegant design, with coins, copper accents, shimmery self-adhesive mosaic tiles, and pretty Prima.

This month they’ll help you explore how you give of your time and money, inspiring a generous spirit in yourself and your family, positive self care vs. selfishness, and the big and small gestures that create connection in your life.

Here are two GENEROSITY-themed LOs from SFTIO’s DT Coordinator, Nancy Doren, that were created using the kit:

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out’s industry-exclusive content will help you explore your inner world with a music playlist, journaling prompts, moving photos, inspiring quotes, and meaningful monthly challenges.

To enter to win one of these great kits, repost this post on your blog and link it back to Scrapbook Trends, then give us a link to your blog post in the comment section of this post, and you could be exploring what GENEROSITY means to you!

I bought a new computer

I bought myself a new laptop computer.  I think I love it but not sure yet.  But it is mine, mine, mine all mine.  Wish me luck and this is my first post from it.  It has some kind of direct hookup between my new new new laptop and my blog.  Gotta get used to this.  Wish me more luck……..

Home alone

My guys are all gone hunting. Left yesterday and I am home alone. Well sort of alone. Have the grand dog staying with me for the week and she sure misses her family. Wants to be next to me every minute. We have walked through the rain several times today. At least I am getting my exercise. HA HA HA Been spending my time painting some glassware and cutting more hats. First winter bazaar is next week and I am not ready. Better get going on that. But for the most part just enjoying being alone for a while.

scrub caps and more

I sold 35 scrub caps this past week. Booming little venture. Those OR gals really love them and it makes me feel good to see my hats walking around the hospital. Sure is more fun than those plain old disposable blue hats.
Made myself another new purse and I love it as well.
Oh the foods of fall sure smell good in my house today as well. Applesauce is simmering on the stove even as we talk. Wish this was scratch and sniff so you could enjoy it also. Just a pic will have to do. I do wish for a little Indian Summer before we head into the big chill. But I guess hot apple sauce will have to do.
And finally my beautiful handsome grandson off to his first Tiger Cub meeting. Grandpa is taking him and it is sure to be lots of fun.

Lovin' my new serger and my first Artfire sale

I sold a purse on Artfire. I am so excited I can't stand it. This is my first Artfire sale and it felt great. Shipped the package today, Thank-you Jessica, hope you enjoy your new purse.


I bought a new serger this summer and have not had much time to try it. Been a little afraid of it as well. Well today I jumped right in. I LOVE IT!!! It really does sew like a dream. The thread did break and I had to rethread it and it was the chore that my friends all said it would be, but it was worth it when I began again to sew. I love the finished edges and I love not having to trim the edges. I really went to work on some scrub caps. 36 of them to be exact. I also started work on a few new bags for the ScrapBooks Galore and More. I make bags for a magnetic board she sells there. The pictures are of the old machine with all the caps piled on top and of the new serger with all the trimmings on the floor. What a mess but what an accomplishment. I love it!!!!

Bic Mac Bridge

Well it was off for camping again. And such fun it was. Finally a great weather weekend. Those have been very scarce in MI. So we enjoyed it immensely.

Walked the Mackinaw Bridge, all 5 miles of it. Many many people out there. They extended the hours to accommodate the folks. Glad they did that. My son's girlfriend has never been to Mackinaw Island so off we went and did the whole tour the Island thing. It was fun to be there again. It's been a long time. Camping with friends and family is such a relaxing thing and I love it a lot. Only wish there was much more time for it.

Just something fun

Pickled Pear Lane is giving away a stack of 16 fabric quarter’s (from a yard) from Patty Young’s beautiful new fabric line. Thanks Marianne Johnson! I’ve also found another Etsy store to bookmark :D I love Etsy and Artfire and all those wonderfull sites. Just can't get enough of all that's out there.

If you want to join in the giveaway frenzy check out Donna Downey’s giveaway post on her site.

Summer Fun

We have been on a whirl wind of camping trips. None of them were far from home. None of them were without rain. None of them were without fun and friends and family. Just including a few snaps of what I have been up to lately. Top is Gary and I as taken by Anthony our grandson, then cooking at the campsite, Jack our dog just chillin' . My brother's children having fun while packing to go home and the bottom is Anthony just bein' Anthony. It's been fun and there is still one trip to come. For now I need to get back to living at home. No more vacation for now, Boo Hoo.

Relay For Life

We did it. We Relayed for Life. The weather was bad in the night (rain and wind) but as you can see the sun shone all day long. Our team the Amazin' Grace did a wonderful job. Some fun facts. This is our second year as an official Relay For Life. Last year we had 5 teams this year we had 13 teams. Last year no one stayed up all night, this year at least 4 teams had someone stay up all night. We played basket ball, cards, danced, sang, shivered, ate and walked that track all night long. We did have someone walking all night long. I am so proud of my Youth, they did it. They were great and enthusiastic and Karla and Paula and I (Youth group Leaders for Grace Lutheran) made it all night long right along with them. Pictures below are of me in warm up mode, the official opening ceremony, the line up of Luminaria and of coarse Karla and Paula taking a needed rest. I personally logged 8 miles with 18,410 steps, and raised $58 myself. Numbers are still out for the team but we were in the lead for the Relay with number of participants and money raised. Already looking forward to next year.

Relay for Life

We on the Strive to Survive Team are planning a great event. Notice I have added the Relay badge to my site. Contact me for more information. We have great shirts, we have great people and we are planning to have a great time, June 27, 9 am. Join us. Every life is impacted by cancer. We have all known people with the disease or we have experience it ourselves. Join with us to help end this dreaded disease. We are going to have a great time doing it.

Flip Flops for summer

Ok, it's time for the Flip Flop purse, and I'm loving it. Made the big move and can't wait to be stylin down the hall with it tomorrow. My student gave me a rhododendron as a going away present today and I love it. Moving it around the yard tonight to see where it will fit best. Oh I love whatever is in bloom today. My little creeping yellow buttercup are just a mass of blooms right now too. I love them also. Jack and I went for a 2 mile walk today and my feet really feel it. Maybe I need more exercise. That's my new plan, exercise, exercise, exercise. Well one more day and then it's a day of plant shopping with Helen. I feel a good day coming on.

June 1 and summer is Where...

June 1 and it still doesn't feel like summer. I cannot wait for the summer evenings to begin. We just cannot break out of the early spring feel in the air. We are having our flowers bloom and many complaints about allergies but very little summer heat. I want summer and I long to hear someone talk about it's too hot outside. Can't wait. I have planted some flowers and the lettuce is growing and some rhubarb is getting very big. Saw a whole plot of rhododendrons in bloom today. I want some. Maybe pictures soon but none today. Just finished a bag full of scrub hats today and off to work they went with me this morning. I think I'm breaking out the Flip Flop purse tomorrow. I have a flower shopping adventure planned with my friend Helen on Thursday. Been mentoring a student at work and tomorrow is her last day... Congratulations Amy, ya done good girl.

Another Monday

Well here we are at the beginning of another week. Starting out so nice and then it looks like it could get miserable. We have predictions of 75 here today and sunny. But later today dropping temps and thunderstorms and we have ball games today. 2.5" of rain on Saturday night made it pretty soggy here already. Ah well April showers, I guess.

But I am looking ahead to summer with my new handbag called Flip Flop Beauty. It makes me think about summer and long for it as well. I need to add a little bead work to it and make it a little more fun. Just haven't done it yet. Used the same pattern as you can tell, as was used for the blue one of several posts ago. (Is that really proper sentence structure) Made 3 of them and sold one at work the other day. That gal is a beader and she is adding her own bead work so I am anxious to see it.

Well it's my day off and I need to get to work and enjoy the nice morning. Maybe a little walk with Jack my dog and then who knows...

Spring Break

Well here we are at Spring Break. I am off for the week and just returned from a family weekend that was great. Trying to get some stuff done since we have no actual spring break plans. Just a little update this week I am typing recipes for the church cook book, making a purse for a friend, and making more scrub caps for the gals at work. All worthwhile endeavors. I know it is just another kind of work but it is a fun kind of work. So I will keep you updated on the purses and the caps and just the week in general. Here is pic of another hat just to keep things moving along. The ones currently under construction are much bolder. Will post them soon.

Last attempt at Winter I hope

You know at Christmas time I really love snow, but I was supposed to go to a baseball game today. I drove to work in snow and now it is 34 degrees. I surely hope this is winter's last hurrah. I want summer and I want it bad. Along that line here is a picture of my new Spring/Summer purse. I love a big purse these days and this is a big one. Measures 14 inches wide at top, 17 inches tall with 10 inch drop to handles. I just finished it last week and so far have not loaded it up toooooo much and so I still love it.


Also great news, I just made my first Etsy sale. It is great fun to actually sell something there. I have the hat all packaged up and ready to ship. Scrub caps are all the rage in my hospitals operating room. The one and only thing you can wear that has any personal anything to it in the OR. I have also been donating them to patients requiring a head shave prior to OR. Seems like I would want a hat and not a disposable one that itches either.


Easter is almost here. Traveling this year to southern MI. Traditions you know. They will have their daffodils blooming and some tulips and I will be so jealous but it lets me know that soon they will bloom here also. Easter with my sister is always a joy and I anticipate this year will be no different.
Blessings of the Risen Lord to you all.

Really nice sunshine today

Been working on the church cook book today. I have a bunch of scrub hats cut out but no real determination to make them. I need to get them done. Sun was shining all day. This is definitely a great thing in MI. We do not see enough of the sun. I just can't seem to stay inside and do anything constructive, just want to let my mind wander into spring fever. I missed a picture of the sun but most of you already saw it today. Went to see Marley and Me last night with friends and it was just wonderful. I cried but doesn't every one. Hung out with friends and just had a great time. I will be back soon and I will have pictures.

Really need to get to this more often...

I love reading other blogs. I would love for someone to read my blog but for the most part I don't blog enough to get anyone interested. I am going to try to change that. I have spent the day working on a cookbook for church. I want and need to do something a little more indepenently creative than cut and paste. Now I am off to make some scrub caps. Found a little group of folks at the hospital that say they want some and bought a great pattern from www.adesignbyangie.com . She has such great stuff and those e-patterns are such a great buy that I just couldn't resist. So no pictures today just a little rambling from me and I am off to grease my brain with a little sewing and creating. See if they turn out like anything but I am sure with this great pattern they will be wonderful. See ya soon with a pic I hope.

Sunny Sunday

It's February and I just noticed it, the days are getting longer. We just had two count them two incredibly nice days. It was -12 on Thursday and it hit 50 on Sat. I think I may have spring fever. I know, I know it is way to early but it has been an incredibly long winter. Hence my picture. There are actually little guys under that snow, can't you hear them calling "let me out, let me out, hey there let me outta here" I surely can. Santa and snowman are now visible on the deck. But today was again a nice sunny day. Not nearly so warm but sunny. I have been very domestic, cooking and cleaning and stuff like that. I also have a son soon moving into a new apartment. He needed some chair seats recovered and did that today also. Really is quite fun seeing him getting ready to move into his own place. We are so incredibly lucky, so many people loosing jobs and he managed to get a full time job. Graduated in July with an automotive degree and of coarse that is when everything tanked, but thankfully he found a job he likes and will pay the rent and he is very happy and thankfull and so are we, his parents. Well it's back to the work week tomorrow and my other job, but so wanting to make a new purse, that may be in the works for this week. Maybe that will stem my spring fever. Here are the chairs...Have a great week friends.

New Year, new challenges, new stuff, more blogging

This is what I am trying for the New Year. I will blog more, I will try more new stuff, I will share more, I will challenge myself in the world more. I started that out with some really cool new little wristlets that I shared with some unsuspecting relatives this week. My sister Jeanne and son's girlfriend Sammy were the unsuspecting recipients of my newest created stuff. I never did get a picture of Sammy's but here is the little purse for Jeanne. Those are her three boys and handsome boys they are. My day off today and I am making myself a new wallet (not done yet) and this cute little purse from a tutorial on line. Tonight is basket ball and I sell tickets and then my son's game. Go Chargers!!!