Check out the Catch Up Issue!

Check out page 129 of Stamper's Sampler Catch Up Issue. There's one awesome card by me on that page! (Funny story- I picked up the magazine at my craft store today after giving it a quick sneek peek and then came home and was looking through it and saw this card I thought looked familar-so much fun to find your work in such a great publication).

I am really honored Stamper's Sampler liked my card enough to include it!

And to be in a magazine with so many other great stamp artists's work! There are so many talented stampers out there! I love being included with all of them!

Another hot day-92 degrees

And still blowing my nose, coughing-but today I spent the morning lounging on my screen porch (I'm still not back up to 100% though I fight being sick)- reading my latest book- Driving on Lemons by Chris Stewart.Its a fun read- about a couple who buy a farm in need of work in Spain. I love these kinds of books of course, and I just noticed there is a sequal-said to come out in the US in a couple of months. Will have to read it to see what happens next in their adventure.Katie and I went to the movies this afternoon- saw the latest Russel Crowe, Ben Afflick, Helen Mirren film-State of Play. Enjoyed it, and could relax a bit. Hit TJ Maxx first and found a nice little shirt...a good vacation day overall-just wish I didn't have this cold and now allergies to deal with.

Vacation!

Was a beautiful day, nose blowing still going on but am on the improve! Finished my Paris book this morning and then got my screen porch cleaned and set up, went to a friends for tea this afternoon- oh, what a very nice day. Its like summer out there-not April- but I am not complaining at all. Not me, not today!

My computer is back

And its Up running and I'm glad, but my head is sooooooooooooooo stuffed up and I'm groggy from Nightquill-I hate warm weather colds. Still going to try to clean up my screen porch today...not my choice way to start a vacation...that's for sure. Now that the computer is back I have photos for you. Some more tags I made recently-lately I've been more into cleaning than making-almost time for my summer ebay clean out and I'm unmounting a lot of my stamps I mounted a few years back...much more room if I put them on foam to use with an acrylic base than putting them permanently on wood. Till later!

12 points to take note of

1-its spring vacation now!!!!!!!!!!!! i have 1 week off!!!!!!!!!!!
2-its going to be in the 80's today, tomorrow, monday
3-i am going to bark mulch today even though
4-i have a cold, larengitis, stuffy nose and feel icky
5-still no computer so no photos
6-but its vacation, my windows are open and
7-that's great!
ADDENDUM
8-so when we bought bark mulch they drove the tractor into dave's truck-ouch
9-we didn't get as much as we usually get but I did get the big garden done
10-i feel really icky
11-my computer is all fixed and i'm going to go get it tonight
12-i'm wearing shorts and its wonderful

More rain

Book I've been reading and really enjoying!

More rain...a bit of sun...this week is going quickly...called on my computer today and he said it may be another week. A week! I want my computer back...I'm feeling lost with without it. So I did start going through my stamps...love going through the boxes sometimes...getting some inspiration. Tonight the bugs and the ocean stamps were tickling me. What I wish, I could pick out like 10 stamps per box and really purge...but I can't. I'm a packrat. And- it is ok to have a lot of stamps. I just feel like I shouldn't have them...that I'm not allowed. Why is that?

Analyse it...I could, and will...wonder wonder why?

Still missing my computer

I wish my computer would be fixed and back-its been a week- and I am missing my photos-especially since I wanted to get some photos from France ready to print out...
Hopefully it will be back soon...
And lucky I have Dave's to use...
It really rained today-and we needed it. By this weekend-the start of April vacation and summer like weather-I want to work in yard and barkmulch before we get the hordes of blackflies....
The thought of really nice weather is sooooooo exciting...
The thought of a week off is sooooooooo very exciting...
No real plans next week besides doing a college visit or 2 for Katie, visiting Mom, getting a few appointments out of the way, and having time to play, relax or do something good....
Plus no getting up at 5 a.m....
Notice now that the mornings are getting much brighter-by 5:30 now you can see a bit of light, got to love it...

A Sure Sign of Spring

See this little bird- its an Eastern Phoebe and I have a pair that nests under the eaves of Dave's workshop. When they return, it is officially spring in my neck of the woods, and I saw them today- so YAHOO- its officially spring now.
I love it!!!!

Still no news...

...on my computer repair. I'm using Dave's, the husband's, but no photos to post since they're all on my computer.
So today I puttered about the house... got a lot accomplished...made pea soap, raked, cleaned my closet, finally!, laundry, a bit of sewing...hung out with Katie. Her boyfriend of 2+ years dropped her last night, by a text message at that, feel soooooo bad for her...but what I don't know is how upset about him dumping her she is or if she's more ego crushed since she didn't see it coming. I don't know, she's not talking to me yet and I'm waiting for her to want to talk, to me that is. Oh well, I needed a Saturday to putter in my sweat pants all day...must say I enjoyed that and the stress of last week is melting away. Did go to see Sunshine Cleaning last night with Katie before he text...enjoyed it, then met Dave for dinner at the Outback...so even more so didn't feel any need to go today...one more week and we're on vacation...yahoo!

Stress

Today's stresses:
1)taxes
2) getting grades up for the kids at school
3)my computer totally freezing for good last night
4) too much to do and no time
5) lots of meetings this week

Today's smiles:
1) warmth and sun
2) grades got posted
3) tax extension got mailed
4) work is done and I can relax!
5) its Wednesday and there's a new Ghost Hunters at 9

No photos-they're on my computer which went into the shop today! Hopefully, it will be back fixed and happy very soon!

A Cold Wind did blow

But we didn't have snow-yahoo! Thanks goodness. I had a very nice Easter at my brother's-good to see everyone. Was a cold windy day though-like today...but we finished third quarter today with exams and tomorrow 4th quarter starts-which means summer is just 9 weeks of classes away. Never mind- 9 more school days until vacation-oh a week to putter around here-love that idea! Watching Secret Lives of Bees-loved the book,got Katie the movie for Easter but we weren't home to watch it yesterday since we got home about 7:30 and had the Amazing Race...haven't done any art for a few days now...feel just a tad bit guilty tonight-why is that? The guilty feeling when you don't get in the studio for a few days because the weekend was busy-taxes, cleaning the house, Friday exhaustion...tonight I came home and took a nap-oh that felt soooo good....and by the way- whereever I stopped reading The Girl Who Played with Fire on Friday- when I picked it up Saturday-man, the book picked right up and its just what I expected after reading the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo-

Here's some more art pieces I made...

Something's in the Air

And I'm not sure its good. Not that today was a bad day, but it held its share of frustrations-like missing tax forms (we'll file an extension) and the pen that went through the white wash and left everything with blue blobs...not happy, and so much for finishing laundry. But, I did get my chores finished more or less, did do some raking in the yard (yahoo) and got some fresh air, did do a bit of cleaning looking for tax papers and the taxes are a bit more completed than they were. So not a total washout. Just seems there's something in the air causing this stress and craziness though...not just here, work and with others you talk to also.

Well, tomorrow I am off to visit my family for Easter- have a Happy Hoppy Day and joyous Easter .

Friday

The London Project- my mini-encycopledia that fills 3 volumes from our trip-Feb.2008.

I made the covers and the side pieces.

---------------------------------------------------------...

A tough day at work with stolen items and lies from students-GRRR. Frustrations. BUT- its Friday-payday, was sunny and I noticed some crocus in bloom even with all the dead oak leaves still needing to be raked from my garden...that's what happens when it takes so many days for the snow to melt. This morning there was a couple of minute little piles, the size of a mini pancake...now, spring blooms. Oh I love it.

So I bought a couple of epic films to watch-watching Dr. Zhivago right now with a glass of wine, Katie's off on a double date and Dave's not yet home. I also bought Australia, another very recent epic I loved. I've never actually seen Dr. Zhivago, but read the book eons ago, when I was in my 20's or so.

A beautiful day

Except everyone at work seems to be cranky and its bringing me down! Here's some little pieces of art I've made recently playing with my stamps. That makes me smile...and relieves some of the stress of dealing with cranky people. (Dave included as he's working these obscene number of hours per week.)

Watching the snow disappear

Harley sitting on a small snowbank on Sunday! (4/5)

More of Sunday!

And Sunday again- but it was still pretty white when I took this photo in the morning.

Later on Sunday! (and it rained on Monday!)

And this is this afternoon -Wednesday-when I got home from work about 4:30. That is it for snow left in yard. By tomorrow we should be 100% snow free! I love it.

Rainy days and Mondays

Its so dark and wet this afternoon, after a gorgeous morning too, that I came home from work and put on my pjs. I had ordered a used copy of this book-French Milk by Lucy Knisley, and I read the whole thing- Loved it! Its a graphic story about a girl who's 22 who goes to Paris for a month with her mom who is turning 50.Of course it appeals to my age and my travel-mania. I want to go back and do so many of things our 4 1/2 days in the city didn't afford us to do. The perfect read for a dark wet evening.

Reread my post from yesterday-does it even make sense?

Anyhow, a few more Paris photos, in honor of this fun read.

Sunday again

Another relaxing Sunday, finished up my London books-all 3...which feels so nice since I've been scrapping those photos for a year...not my only project but my big focus project. Now where to put these 3 albums? Did a bit of studio cleaning too...here's my dilemma, I really need to weed out some things, but I don't want to weed out things...right now I like what I have...and want all my supplies. So that's ok if I can live with the clutter. Of course, why I feel like I have to clean out and weed through- I don't know...its ok to have all the craft supplies I've acquired...since the last cleaning out and weeding through last year. I am a pack rat, I know that.

Started reading Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larsson...am ready at this point in the book for the actual mystery to start...lots of background info I'm hoping will come into play as the book goes on...Also just got In This Garden...I ordered it off of Amazon, and I like it. I also ordered this book about the Eiffel Tower put out by Tashen...its a big book with some of Eiffel's sketches and old photos of the tower as it was being built...I can't wait to use it for a Paris book, but do need to finish my other Paris book I'm working on...now that those London tomes are finished...

So the photos above are a real give away- where I just bought plane tickets too...I'm so excited to go...though I'm still feeling like I shouldn't have spent the money...life is more than money, isn't it? And family time is worth more than money...I have a good job and I can pay the bills...I want to travel lots and lots but I keep hearing the voice of my very conservation mother in my head...she never approves.

Oh listen to me. I need to let it go and enjoy life.

a few more Photos to tease

Here's a few more borrowed photos to tease-borrowed from the same site I used yesterday (photos:http://www.wildnatureimages.com), though I've been to this place many mnay years ago and could scan in my own photos-show you how I looked at 27...has it been that long...wow. No wonder I'm so excited!

Next post, it will be a dead give away! Well, maybe...

Rainy sleepy day

Here's some borrowed photos from our to be summer trip-any guesses where we're going in July?

And right now- its Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Site for borrowed photos:http://www.wildnatureimages.com

So I did it

This morning when I got up at 5 for work, I sat down and bought those plane tickets. I've been going through this up and down all day- I shouldn't have spent the cash, but I am so excited to go away. Even stopped at Barnes and Nobles and bought a couple of travel books, just to start preparing...(Oh I adore planning trips as much as I love the trip itself as much as I love scrapping the photos afterwards...)As I said, travel is a big piece of who I am, and spending time with my family is so important to me...and I'm also very good at finding cheap tickets...as long as you have patience and are flexible...(and I have such a big travel list...I'll never do it but that's ok...its not completing the list its making the list and working on it-isn't it?)

So where are we going? Well I can only tell you where the tickets are for...since the rest of the week isn't planned...so maybe I'll just make it a surprise...when we know more...hint-we're staying stateside this trip.

Decisions

Night in Paris!

Dusk!

Ok, here's the question- do I buy some cheap plane tickets I found to go away this summer? I haven't paid off Paris yet- not really even close...and I should be responsible. But life is short, I love to travel, we have great family time, and I always regret the trips I don't take because I love to travel and its not just love to travel, but it almost something that defines me. I mean its kind of my life philosophy--don't just sit around and worry about money (though you do have to be responsible) but enjoy the one life you have if you can...because you never know...

Anyhow, what do I do?

Time for Ghost Hunters-my latest tv addiction though I was just watching some of VH1 one hit wonders of the 80's- oh my...that was a tough decade in some ways but brings back some smiles in other ways.

Here's some photos from the last trip -the one that is not yet paid off...Oh Paris!