Latest Photos of our Little Girl!

My goodness, imagine my surprise when our puppy breeder called me today and told me she just sent me more pics of puppies! Wow!! Our little girl is on the far right side of both pictures. What a sweet little face. Well, they all have sweet little faces. Makes me want to just give them all hugs and kisses. There are a total of 8 puppies in the litter. The little male lab that she wants to give us also, must have been sleeping or else he couldn't fight his way into the photo shoot. She says he is small and the runt of the litter. No matter, these babies are in for a whole lot of loving from all of us here.

I will be calling the vet today to see if we can get the pups in this next week for their first set of shots. If I can get them in, then we will pick them up this Sunday. If I can't get them in, then we have to wait until Wednesday so the breeder can give them their first set of shots. They will be exactly 6 weeks old on Wednesday. I can hardly wait to start loving these new babies! I am so looking forward to a whole lot of puppy playtime around here. It will be a lot of work in the beginning with house training and learning from each other, but it will be all worth it in the end. Who can resist such cute faces!!

Updated Puppy News

The countdown has started for the delivery of new additions to our family. Depending on when the breeder feels they are ready to leave the litter, it is possible that we will be able to go and get them as early as this Sunday, or the latest on Wednesday, Dec. 23rd. Oh I am so excited and looking forward to loving these precious babies. As the last communication with our breeder, it still looks like nobody wants the little male yellow lab that lost a tiny part of his tail. That's okay, these babies will be getting so much love and attention around here. I think it will benefit the little guy to be around his sister also. Not to mention, we have our Storm, who will probably mother them also. These puppies will be Storm's cousins, just like Pepper was. It beginning to look alot like puppy paws and wagging tails will be running around the Christmas tree and entertaining us all. There will be so much love for all three of our fur babies, I just hope the house can hold all that love in! It will be bursting at the seams with three adults rolling around on the floor and acting silly with them all. Ah, but isn't that what love is? Never being afraid to let out the inner child in all of us and enjoy life as much as possible. Yes indeed, I think I'm going to have to have Mike make a sign that reads.....Zlab's Labs and hang that up around here We just love our labs.

Must get busy and get a few Christmas cards made for some very special people. I will be posting those as I get them done. I made one for our breeder, and I just love it. As soon as I get a few others made, I will post them.

Hope you are all having a great countdown to Christmas!

Debbie

More than 1 new puppy ?

Oh my goodness, look at the little girl laying on top of a sibling. Too cute! Our new little girl is just growing so cute. I can't wait to get her home! The other photo is a little male yellow lab and his little tail was hurt and part of it fell off recently. When I was talking to our breeder, Laurel, on the phone the other day, she said this is the little guy she had to give CPR to when he was born. He is the runt of the litter and so cute. She asked if we would take him along with our little girl. She doesn't think she will be able to sell him with that little piece missing from his tail. There was a family discussion here and we decided that if nobody wants to give him a loving home, we will take him and give him all the love and nurturing he needs. It wouldn't be bad for him to be with his little sister either. Maybe he will grow up just fine and have no other problems. He deserves a chance for a good life instead of having to be put down if nobody wants him. I am honored to know that Laurel has faith in us to take care of this little guy along with his sister.

Wow, two new puppies! If he comes home with us, it's going to be a very Merry Christmas around here. I can already imagine these two little ones chasing each other around the house. Oh boy, I wonder what Storm will think if we bring 2 puppies home. She'll probably be giving me dirty looks and laying on the couch going, Ha ha, they can't get up here by me....yet!

Storm will be 9 years old in two weeks. Just what she wants, a bunch of babies that she has to tiptoe around until they get bigger. Storm, get all the rest you can because I have a feeling you are going to need it around here! LOL.

WIN A GYPSY !

WIN A GYPSY over at http://the-gypsyspot.blogspot.com/. Read the post, follow the rules for the contest and cross your fingers. I know I am. I would love to win a Gypsy!!

1 Week Old

Here is a new photo of our future new addition to the family. She is one week old now and thriving along with the rest of her brothers and sisters. Her birth mother is also the mother of my beloved Pepper, so we will be raising Pepper's half-sister. Truthfully, the next 5 weeks can't go by fast enough for me. I am looking forward to raising, loving and caring for our new baby girl. We haven't picked out a name for her yet, until we get her home and see what her personality is like. That's how we've always named our babies, so will have to wait and see. She is so tiny, it amazes me how beautiful they become as they grow and get older.

All I can say is, new memories will be made. I have already started her new puppy album. I'm so grateful that our breeder is kind enough to take the time take and send me photos until we get her. Thank you, Laurel! You are truly one of a kind.

Hope you are having a wonderful week and will be able to spend time with your families next week for Thanksgiving. If you are traveling, God bless you with a safe trip.

Debbie

A New Addition to our Family

My husband and son decided that since I have been so lost without Pepper, they took it upon themselves to call the breeder where we got Pepper and Storm from. They learned there was a new litter of puppies to be born in about 2 weeks.

Well we got the call 2 days ago and there are new puppies. I told the breeder I would like another female black lab. There was only one female black lab in this litter. She is ours and she will be coming home on Dec. 23rd, 2009. So we just have to pray that she is a healthy puppy and will grown by leaps and bounds by the time we get her in the 6 weeks. She is NOT a replacement for Pepper but she will be giving us new memories hopefully for a very long time to come.

In Memory of Pepper

Pepper Ann

On October 27, 2009, someone stopped somewhere on the road along our property and shot and killed my sweetheart, Pepper. We rushed her to the vet but there was no saving her. She had lost too much blood.

There hasn't been a day that has gone by that I don't cry. I can't believe someone could be so mean as to shoot my beautiful girl. She was only 2 years old. She is missed terribly by myself, husband and son. Our older lab, Storm, is so blue without Pepper. Pepper and Storm were related. My gorgeous Pepper came from Storm's half-sister Shadow. This is just so heartbreaking and so sad. I will always have the most wonderful memories of her short life and I will love her always. She was everything to me.

Alzheimers Campaign

In honor of my Grandpa Tony

Is it Alzheimer's?

Get a Web Ribbon

Cards for Heros

If anyone is interested in sending cards to the troops, the old name was Cards for Heros. It has changed to Operation Write Home.
The new website address is: http://www.operationwritehome.org/

It would be wonderful to get folks to send our heros all types of cards to not only cheer them up, but also help them out since they just can't go to a store to buy cards for their loved ones. Check it out and help make their life a little bit easier.

More cards to be posted. I've been busy stamping and among other things, trying to enjoy the Indian Summer weather we are having.

Have a wonderful day!

Debbie

StampTV challenge

I did this card this morning, for the challenge over at StampTV. Love those challenges and I'm getting bolder with entering. Maybe I'll break out of my comfort zone yet!

Cardstock: Orange from Michael's, SU Whisper White & Basic Gray
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder : Pumpkin Harvest
Chalks rubbed over the embossed area
Stamps from Gina K Designs : Words & bats
Stamp from Michael's : Pumpkin
SU Sahara Sand sponged around each white square, Orange for pumkin, Basic Black for bats.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday!

Just A Few Cards

Here are some of the cards I've done recently.


This is using stamps from Stampin Up. I used the Versamark on all the images and sponged in the background colors.








Using SU Branch Out stamp set. The tree and leaves are stamped using Versamark. I used a white gel pen to add highlights to the tree.






I bought this Hibiscus stamp at Michael's years ago. The fern in the background is from SU. The card and orange papers are using SU Whisper White and sponged using stamp pads from SU.














Versamark leaves and colored in with SU markers. The background is SU Whisper White and sponged with Creamy Carmel and Really Rust. The fleur-de-lis is a bigger stamp but I just used part of it to get the effect that I wanted.

Just Keeping Busy

It has been so busy here that I almost don't know where to start. We built a new grilling deck and laid a small concrete sidewalk to finish part of our renovation projects behind the house. I must say, I am impressed with hubby and son. Way to go guys!!

I've been working on a few things for a friend that is making a scrapbook for her upcoming granddaughter. She has picked pretty colors for the new baby book and I'm hoping to compliment her work.

Also , I have been quite busy with stamping and making cards. It just releases some kind of energy in me and I'm having a wonderful time making the cards. The problem is, who am I going to send them to? I have very few people to send a card to, but when I do, I know they are appreciated. That leaves me with a happy feeling.

A few months ago I signed up with Stampin Up so I can get the supplies and stamps at a nice discount and I've been building my never ending stash of papers and supplies. Quite recently I found Gina K designs and oh my goodness, the stamps and her designers are awesome. I'm hooked already. I love going over to stamptv.com to see all the latest and then click on all the designers blogs and wonderful inspiration from all of them. Wow!!

Last week the guys were out in the woods with the dogs. Pepper romped over a nest of yellow jacket bees and I guess all chaos broke out with the bees and both dogs. Pepper took the most bites, about 9. She had bumps all over her but the most visible was above her eye. Poor baby. Good thing I had Benadryl in the house so each dog got a dose of that which helped. Storm had two bites so she wasn't as bad. On Monday night, I noticed Pepper was starting to limp and getting stiff in her right front leg. Talk about worry. On Tuesday, I called the vet and got her in for a shot of pain and antibiotics and the vet said within 3 days she will be living up to her name again. The swelling in her paw went down and the stiffness went away and she's been really making up for lost time. I will admit it was nice to see her really calm and not underfoot but it wasn't in a good way. She's on antibiotics and pain pills for about a week so she's just back to bouncing along as usual. I never saw a lab with so much energy. Talk about being in 4-paw overdrive!

Well hope everyone is doing well. Have a great day!!

Birthday Card

I recently did a challenge over at http://visualdesignsbychris.blogspot.com/. She has monthly challenges using her cutting files so this is what I came up with. The piece I used was her circle mat that I cut out in SU Old Olive. The stamp is from Michaels that I found last year. I stamped in SU Old Olive then re-stamped it with Versa Mark, used clear embossing powder to make it stand out more. It turned out better than I imagined. The leaves on the main card and the front piece are from SU.

We've Been Busy

We have been so busy in our lives since February. One good thing about retirement, is that we are finally starting to fulfill wishes and dream on our wish list.

Back in February we decided we had enough of the cold, snow and ice. We packed up our travel trailer and took off for Florida. What a wonderful trip. My husband found a website that lists military campgrounds so we mapped out our trip and took off. The first day we made it to Fort Knox, KY and stayed at Camp Carlson for two days. A beautiful campground that is 4 miles from the base. The base alone has some really beautiful features so we had a good time staying there.

The next night we ended up in Georgia and stayed at a Good Sam's campground right off the highway. Finally on day 3 we arrived at our destination at Patrick Air Force base by Cocoa Beach and it was just gorgeous. The campground is at the far end of the base located right next to the Banana River. What a breathtaking view to wake up to each day. The people who run and maintain the camp are so friendly that we are wanting to go back there again for another visit.

Our dogs thought they were in heaven being able to get on the beach and run around and splash in the water. That was their second priority every morning and it was such fun to see their smiling faces as they swam around, chased the ball and even made new doggie friends. We met quite a few couples that were just as friendly as could be and found out that they meet up at the camp every year and stay for about 6 months. Hmmm, now that does sounds like a fun way to spend the winter. Maybe we will become snowbirds. It was fun for me to see Kennedy Space Center and Disney World and see the changes that have taken place from when I was there in the early 70's. This was hubby's first trip there so he had a really good time. The only bad thing was that the days we did take those trips, it rained big time. Not a very good way to sight see but we enjoyed it just the same.

Enjoy the photos and I'll have new post later.


This is our trailer as we rolled on down the highway in Florida.




Playing with the dogs on the beach.



Kennedy Space Center

Shiny Things

Hi Everybody!

My goodness, it's been over a week and I haven't blogged. Shame on me! In truth, I was somewhat busy. I recently participated in a die cut and card swap. I also am rather a "late bloomer" in trying new things out on the market. I picked up a bottle of Utee Embossing Enamel and fell in love with what I did. I quickly scanned these cards because I had to get them mailed out for the swap. It is rather hard to see the shine from the enamel. They looked so neat up close.



Items used are: Cricut Home Accent Cartridge
Stampin' Up! Cardstock : Whisper White for the butterflies, Green Galore, Passion Pink, So Saffron,Ballet Blue, & Basic Black
Stampin' Up! Border Stamps (1995)
Stampin' Up! Noteworthy Set(Flowers & Leaves-2006)
Utee Embossing Enamel
BIC MarkIt Permanent Markers
Versamark White Inkpad
Ribbon (white with green)

Cut the butterfly from the Cricut Home Accent cartridge at 3" out of the Whisper White cardstock. Take your favorite marker and color the entire butterfly. Lay the butterfly on a piece of scrap paper and stamp the white Versamark over the top. Using an embossing tray, lay the butterfly in there, pour UTEE over the top and shake off. Take a heat gun and heat the UTEE until it melts. Let the butterfly cool off before attaching to your card. I used foam popdots underthe butterfly and attached to card. For the color under the butterfly, I rubbed matching SU chalk colors.

I'm waiting for my order from SU so I can start making more cards. This past weekend I went to a SU stamp club and was able to buy retired sets of stamps. So my collection is off and running. I'm just starting to have more fun now that I'm getting into the world of stamping. Oh the things I have discovered the past 5 years. And to think I once thought crafting meant either crocheting or knitting with my grandmother or doing a counted cross stitch project to surprise my husband with years ago. My Aunt Joyce had to help me with my sewing project in junior high. She could make a sewing machine sing. All I had to do was look at a sewing machine and it gave me a dirty look back. I took that as my cue to leave some things alone.

If anyone gets a chance, go check out Dawn Griffith's blog at http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/ I don't remember how I found her blog, but in my humble opinion, she is an awesome demonstrator for Stampin' Up!. She not only has her blog, she also puts out videos for stamping and a whole lot more. She is the reason I joined SU. Talk about enthusiastic. Listening to her on video and then talking to her on the phone, she sounds exactly the same. She is so full of energy and enthusiasm. If this lady has a bad day, you probably wouldn't know it. Also as you read her blog, you will find that she is steeped in her faith and she is a cheerleader for God also. I've never met her, but she just sounds amazing to me. Just listen to Dawn on one of her stamping videos will probably make you feel good inside! Her bubbly personality is really neat and contagious!!

Have a great week and weekend. Hopefully this time next week, we will be on vacation some place warm and without snow.

Debbie

Sunny Sunday

My goodness, it certainly is bright and sunny out today. It's too bad that the temperature doesn't match the feeling I get looking at the sunshine. Mother Nature just had to remind us that it is still winter, and snowed all day yesterday. Now more is forecast for the upcoming week. Sigh. Summer just cannot get here soon enough for me. I'm so tired of the cold and looking at snow.

I've been putting off doing stuff around my craft room, like cleaning it up. I created quite a mess so today is the day to get it all cleaned up. Besides, I have a new interest...stamping. So I have to make room for all the fun stuff I'll be doing. Yes, I'm behind the times, but with me it's one thing at a time and until I get sick of it, I just keep doing it. I've taken quite a break from using my cutting machines all the time, so this will get me back into the fun of cutting files and making cards and things.

I've gone swimming a few times at a local place and it's been quite nice. Shame, we signed up there and two weeks later the prices went up, but still it is great to have the access. It gives me something to do and break up my day. Once the warmer weather gets here, I'm sure I'll be going more. It is a bear when it's so cold outside.

The biggest change I've made recently is getting brave and having 14 inches of my hair cut off. Since the hot flashes have started, I was tired of having wet hair at night. Right after the flash wears off then I freeze, so getting up and down all night to dry my hair was no fun. I haven't had much sleep in the past month. So since the cut, it's been much easier and woohoo, I can fall back to sleep quicker. I'm finally starting to feel rested.

We have been talking about the possibility of getting a hot tub on our deck. It will probably just be big enough for two persons. That is all we really need for us. It's not like we need the monster size tub we used to have at our old house. We do miss it.

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Debbie

Sunday Musings

My goodness, this past week just flew right by. Where did the time go? It was another bootiful sunny day, but it's still cold out. I am so longing to be able to walk outside in t-shirt and jeans or even shorts. Anything other than having to wear long johns, heavy sweaters or sweatshirts and jackets, mittens and anything else to keep warm.

Good news! Our buddy called us two days ago and again today. He's finally turning the corner and getting better. We figure he'll be in the hospital another week, but that's okay. Just as long as he is getting better, we couldn't ask for much more. Even better, his wife gave him a laptop so he can stay in touch with friends and family easier. Wow, he's being a good boy in the hospital to get such a nice gift. Just get better and get home soon!

Recently I went to a nice gathering and met some new ladies to craft with. It was a nice couple of hours and I had a really nice time. It will be nice to get together with them and chat and relax. I am looking forward to more gatherings.

Other than that, not much is going on. Hope everyone had a good weekend and looking forward to a wonderful week!

Debbie

Day of Relaxation

Oh what a sunny day it was today! The sunshine looked so inviting. I just wanted to go out and play with the dogs, but of course, it was only 5 degrees, so that wasn't about to happen. Hubby and I did manage to go to our neighboring town and signed up at the local pool. It felt so funny to change into our swimsuits and hit the water, but it felt so good. So we sat in the hot tub and oohed and aahed while looking out the windows and seeing a whole lot of snow on the ground. It didn't feel so cold out when we left the building either. We do miss having our own hot tub out the back door. I'm sure we will be having a discussion in the near future about getting one for our back deck. For now, I'm very happy to have the opportunity to swim and relax when I feel like it. What a great way to get out of the house during the dreary winter and break up the monotony.

On another note, our best friend may be getting better. His wife called us today and left a message that they may start taking him off a few things, so in my mind, that has to be a good sign. We keep praying for him and a speedy recovery from this mess.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Debbie

A Long Week

It's been rather a long week around here with the gloom of winter and very little sunshine. Summer just cannot get here fast enough for me. I'm so sick of dealing with the snow and the cold. There is a new weather front that came through today and it's plunging us back to about 30 below by tomorrow night wind chill factor. I am so ready for a plus 75-80 degree day, it isn't funny. Let's see, only what...4 or 5 months to go before we see that kind of weather. Being cooped up in the house is not my idea of fun or living either.

On the brighter side, we did find out that we can use the pool at the local motel for a small fee. So we are going to go sign up for that tomorrow, I hope. Swimming and hot tub time sounds good in my book. At least I'll be getting some decent exercise. My insides are feeling rather blah. It will feel good to be moving around and enjoying the water.

On a very sad note, a very close friend is in the hospital. He went in for a heart test and came home. Unfortunately the next morning his wife had to get him to the hospital as he ended up having complications from the procedure from the day before and now he's really having medical problems. i can't help thinking if only he hadn't kept putting off calling the doctor sooner, and yet I know his main problem didn't just occur in the past few months. If you don't take care of your body, eventually it will let you know it is tired of being neglected.

Today is my 5th year anniversary of surviving a massive heart attack. I was only 45 and I was so very fortunate to have the help that was needed so very quickly. I thank God every day for another day when I wake up.

This Saturday is a scrapbooking crop that I would normally attend, but it's just to cold for me to be hauling my stuff around. I have too many things I take and even if I try to lighten up, I still end up forgetting stuff and my heart just isn't into it lately. The following Saturday I'm invited to another workshop of a different sort, and I don't have to take anything to that one, so I think I'll go and see what that is like. It will give me a chance to meet some new people and maybe make some new friends! That would be nice!!

I hope you all have a terrific weekend and hopefully I'll be posting actual crafting soon. I just need to get my mojo back in gear!

Don't Miss Those Sales!

Well it's Sunday and usually I take the day to sit back and relax and not let anything bother me. For over the past month, I have been getting emails from various blogs that I visit and many of these ladies sell for one of the exclusive stamping & scrapbooking suppliers out there. Today the big sale ended for the company and they start their new catalog tomorrow. Now I believe in one having their own in home business. I also believe in customer service. If you send an email to someone, you certainly would like to have a reply returned to you. I have really been leaning toward ordering some stuff from this company through one of their representatives, BUT, that representative must have decided that the questions about the products was not important enough to answer, thus losing a sale and saving me a quite a bit of money.

When it comes right down to it, not every one can afford the exclusive products. Granted it would be nice, but there are those on a disablity, stay at home moms, unemployed, low paying wage earners, etc. So stick with what you are comfortable with and every once in a while you might be able to splurge on a little something nicer. I would love to have the fancier papers for my cards alone, but when I sit right down and look at reality, why bother? I have very few people to send cards to anymore. Same with using paper in my scrapbooking. What on earth was I thinking of buying all those pads and stacks of paper? I guess I didn't realize that even though I have quite a bit I can scrapbook, I have so much paper now, it's not funny. It might take me a year or two to get through all of it. Ah well, I know now that I can ignore those sales at the stores and the exclusive companies for now. Saves me in the pocket book.

So whether or not you participate in those sales, ask yourself, do I really need it all? The first thing that will come to mind is probably...YES!, but in reality, a lot of it gets pushed aside. In this economy, I have to learn to just say no and miss those sales.

In the Deep Freeze

This past week has been basically been a below zero week on the old thermometer. It's 15 below right now during the early evening. Supposedly it's supposed to be a jump to maybe 20 above tomorrow. Wonder if we will consider that a heat wave. Well at least I haven't turned in to a frozen popsicle this week so maybe I'll just make it!

I have a bone to pick with people online that are in business. It just slays me that you visit someone's website and leave a message about a product or products that someone is trying to sell. You think about buying, but you have questions, so you leave email. Now you sit and wait and wait and wait and...enough with the waiting. I figure if you are selling a product, and you do business on the internet, then answer your email. Isn't that why you put your email out there to begin with? To be contacted if someone should have questions? Good grief. If it's that hard to reply by email, then take the email addy off the website. I've been waiting almost a week now for an answer and I'll be darned if that person is going to get my business now. Yes, we all get busy with life and have things to do, but if you are running a business, wouldn't you check your email at least ONCE a day? If not, you never know what you are going to miss!

Other than that, I hope everyone is able to warm up and have a terrific weekend!

Debbie

Celebrations

Hi Everybody!

This is a month for celebrations! Hubby and I will be celebrating our 31st anniversary on the 28th. Also my wonderful friend Mary and her hubby also celebrate their anniversary on the same day! Woohoo!

Mary is really wanting to celebrate ! If you are looking for cutting files for Wishblade, Craftrobo, KNK, Cricut, etc., jump on over to her website at http://mamawslegacy.com/ and check out Mary's blog. Right now she has a code on her blog where you can get 45% off on your purchases at her store! She also has free cutting and digital files on her blog, so go check it out!!

I also get to celebrate the fact that on the 23rd, it will be the 5th anniversary of my heart attack and by the grace of God, modern medicine and dedicated medical personnel, I survived. I certainly never thought I would have a heart attack at the tender age of 45, but it happened. Now recently being able to celebrate my turning 50, I am very thankful that I am still here.

It is going to be sub-zero temperatures this week in Wisconsin. I must say, I do not relish the idea of wearing layers of clothes just to go outside. I feel sorry for Storm and Pepper to have to run outside to do their business. Good thing hubby likes the winter so he can jump out there with the snowblower and play around. I will do it myself, but he just loves to be on the go all the time, so I'm more than happy to let him have fun.

I have been so busy doing a whole lot of nothing. Actually I just needed to recharge my batteries and get a few household chores done that didn't involve any crafting or computer work. Now that those fun chores are taken care of, back to crafting. I've been busy yesterday and tonight cutting things out for a swap over at Cricut Scraplifters plus getting ready to start making a dozen cards for a card swap over there also.

Have a great night and stay warm!

Debbie

Challenges

Well for 2009 I have decided to get involved with challenges with my card making and scrapbooking. Anything to get motivated again. I've gotten stuck in a rut over photos that I just don't know what to do with, yet. These are old photos from childhood and also relatives that I have no idea who they are except that somehow they are related through my great grandmother. Well I'm sure I'll figure them all out. I have names, now I just need to find out how every one is related to each other down the line.

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the present for scrapbooking. It seems I'm always the person behind the camera so I get photos of hubby and the dogs and that's it. Hubby doesn't get the idea that maybe I would like to have my photograph taken once in a while. The last time I had my photo taken was while we visited at my mom's for Christmas. I'm sure once those are developed that I'll get a copy of those photos.

Time to get the cutting machines warmed up. I jumped in for a design swap over at the Cricut Scraplifters board so I need to get busy cutting. That plus making 12 cards for another swap there also, should keep me motiviated and busy for a few nights! Woohoo!!

Also soon, the monthly get together for scrapbooking will be starting up again. That I have missed, seeing all the ladies and having a few giggles. It will be really fun once again when all the snow, ice and cold temperatures are gone. I loved going to the meetings all spring, summer and fall where we didn't have to worry about the weather. Spring should be here in another 5 months!!

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Debbie

Ice Isn't Nice

Whoa, we had a bit of rain the other night, which turned to sleet and then the temperature took a nosedive and our driveway and country roads are like an ice rink now. Mike threw out some stuff to melt the ice on the drive and it's not working. Now that's bad. The snowplows that have been out, dumped sand in the middle of the road and we are wondering what good that was supposed to do for any of us. Who drives in the middle of the road?

Hubby took me out for dinner and I just cringed the couple miles we had to drive on the ice roads until we hit one of the major roads that is ice free. Whew. I had this vision of sliding off the road but thankfully we made it out and back in one piece without any mishaps. At this rate, we could become lol, Ice Road truckers. We may not be driving on a frozen ocean but let me say the ice is thick enough and slippery enough to be real careful just walking out to the mailbox.

Well I think I'll hit the hay early tonight and get a refreshing start tomorrow.

Debbie

First weekend of 2009

Well here it is, the beginning of the first weekend of the new year. Where did this past week go? It was unfortunate, but we had to drag our tree out the door much earlier than planned. Usually we keep our tree until mid month in January because we just love sitting at night with just the lights on the tree and around the doors and windows lit and the main lights off. The problem was, we bought our tree at a tree lot in town and we don't know how long our tree was there. The tree never did quite bounce back after we thawed it in the house for 2 days, giving it a ton of water to drink. We slowly let it thaw and then took the baling string off the tree.

It seems our tree was dead or so frozen on the inside that it just couldn't come back to life. So we had pine needles all over the living room carpet and all over the kitchen floor and it was a huge mess to clean every single day. The tree was huge and bushy and just perfect in shape. We put all the ornaments on with care as to be gentle with the branches but it was a lost cause. I'm just lucky that I was able to give it tree food and water to try to keep it going. When we carried it out, the needles just dropped all over the floor. We must have cleaned up 25 pounds of needles over the two weeks we had it and it took us over an hour just to clean up all the needles when we took it outside. Poor thing gave it's all. Now it is laying out in the back yard and hopefully it will give temporary shelter to either birds or bunnies for the rest of the winter.

I took a break from cleaning my craft area and oops, I didn't get back in here to finish it up. So that is my objective for this weekend. Cleaning the house and my craft area.

On a sad note, my girlfriend had a gentleman friend who passed away on Monday. I found out from another friend and I called my girlfriend to offer my sympathy and condolences. She had only been operating on 3 hours of sleep so our conversation didn't go too well, so I'll give her a few days and try to call her again. I guess the funeral is this coming Monday, I just wish I could be there for her. I now live 2 hours away so the phone is the best communication other than the Internet. It's rather sad that she lost her husband a few years ago and now she lost her gentleman friend.

Well I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday. Let's all give a prayer of thanks for what we do have and pray that we have a much better year.

Debbie