Cardmaking

I get to craft with a bunch of my girlies today!  I love our monthly meetings.  We have a fabulous assortment of women - some who have been rubber stamping for years & others who are new to the sport (and think they have no talent for the endeavor.....BUZZZZ - incorrect assumptions ladies!)

We are going to show the group the shaving cream method this morning.

Random question:  why does my dog always seem to want to play tug of war when I am writing a blog post?  Maybe she is picking up on my excitement....

ANYWAY, it is almost time to leave & I am doing the mental checklist thing to make sure I have everything I need...meanwhile, the dog has practically stuck her nose up my armpit, nudging me to pet her...perhaps she needs some quality time before I head out...

A New Way to...

...Enjoy my favorite song

Casting Crown's "The Voice of Truth"

Make your own word cloud here

WOW - where does the time go?

Show of hands = who is totally freaked out by the fact that it is the last day of July 2010?!?!

{wildly waves both hands in the air}

This year has been jam-packed with "adventures" (as my chiropractor calls them):

• Early in the year, I signed up with the No Boundaries group to train for my first ever 5K. Ten weeks of training later I was ready to conquer the Father's Day course at the Crossings in Albany. Now I find myself dreaming of running, so I signed up for the fall training session which will culminate with "The Great Pumpkin Challenge"
• I took a one-day writer's workshop which re-ignited my passion for writing. It was a blast & I met some really interesting ladies. Our ranks even included a local radio personality. It took me back to those high school & college days of the creative writing exercises I used to do.
  
• Our youngest graduated High School - while this is not technically MY achievement, I do have a vicarious feeling of accomplishment for the event.
• I've been devoting a bunch of time to crocheting a baby afghan. Ten more squares & assembly can begin. There is something sooo soothing about crocheting while watching TV - I have this cool container called a "yarn-tainer", so the project is very portable. I take it along to doctors appointments or car trips.
• Speaking of car trips, my husbands 30th high school reunion was held recently. We drove up to Tupper Lake and played tourist for the weekend. We visited with the in-laws (while I crocheted up a storm); stayed in a cute little hotel (which was located next door to the establishment where their graduation bash had been held all those years ago); and had a fabulous time at the dinner/dance at the Knight's of Columbus hall. The big highlight of the evening was when my loving husband overcame his fear of dancing in public and asked me to slow dance to Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight". (sigh with goofy grin on face)
  
• I was asked to be the craft-lady for my church's summer VBS - we call ours Adventure Camp and always have a cool theme every year...this year it was "Out of This World" (a space theme which inspired met to assume the alias of Sissy SpaceChix and devote several weeks to preparing for the fun by die cutting millions of stars). It was LOADS of fun - ALL the hard work on every one's part was well worth it. The kids (young & old) had a fabulous time!
• The boy is scheduled to fly out soon to spend some time with his dad out in the wilds of New Mexico - it is time for the young man to spread his wings and make some decisions about what direction his life should take. It will be a huge adjustment for all of us.
  

Wow - I'm exhausted...I'm thinking it is time for a nap!

All Quiet on the Galway front

I haven't recorded a rant or told a funny story for a while - frankly - I've been a little more "scattered" than usual. I find myself alone tonight (except for the dogs) listening to the rain on the skylights. The boy is "hanging" with friends and my loving husband is playing scavenger hunt with Verizon trucks before he gets to head home for the weekend.

I sit here, recording my thoughts and stifling yawns - - it has been a long, hot week at Adventure Camp...it came to it's bittersweet end today. The women who planned and led us through the week made it all seem so easy and effortless (which I know really wasn't the case.) The children had a great time as did a bunch of us oldsters. I used this week to allow a little bit more of my silly crazy self to emerge - - to the point where my son pleaded with me to "rein it in a little".

We had a couple women circulating all week shooting pictures & videos (which I was very thankful for because I was always so busy helping the kids with crafts or listening to their verses that I never had a chance to bust out my beloved digital camera). I keep checking my Facebook page to see if there are any more posts...I'm thinking I will get to wait until Sunday to see the compilation video.

The yawning has reached a point to where tears are forming in my eyes. So I will have to bring this to a close.

Another SpecTACular Fun Shop

I'm lovin' my "side job" more and more every day. I get to get together with a bunch of ladies, have a bite (this group is packed with great cooks & bakers), and spend a couple of hours playing "arts & crafts". Today we made mini bon bon boxes and stuffed them with three Hershey kisses (we tried to fit more in, but the cute little boxes just couldn't hold any more than that). Got the instructions off of the Scor-Pal website.
My basic theme for the day was "use the entire buffalo". I'm finding that my attitude of "save everything, because you might need it someday" is not an uncommon idea among paper crafters. I told them to keep the four corners from their bon bon boxes to use to create an inspirational card. I am absolutely kicking myself for not taking my camera - these ladies are TALENTED! My sample card was meant to be precisely that - a sample of what they could create. I really had to encourage them at first, but once they got into it, I was REALLY impressed!

Oh, and a special shout out to my navigator/"Vanna" = ShanShan! Love ya girlie!!

Will Phil See His Shadow?

Follow the link to the OFFICIAL website...
http://www.groundhog.org/



Psst...He DID see his shadow [bummer] six more weeks of winter. (I watched live coverage of the event this morning - yes, I am that big of a nerd!)

Found Upon Pressing the "Next Blog" Button

Usually I get sent off to blogs in foreign languages (I can hang with the Spanish ones, but Japanese, German or Dutch - not so much). Anyway, today {on the first click}, I found "On the Crazy Couch" (click on the the title of this blog and you can go cop a squat and check out the silliness).

I would love to stay and chat, but my tummy just informed me (and my husband) that it is time for some sustenance.

Have a happy snowy day!

DID YOU KNOW ?

I've received this via email from three different friends...so I decided to share it...


From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were The Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
The five golden rings recalled The Torah or Law, The first five books of The Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for The six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented The sevenfold gifts of The Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were The eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were The Nine fruits of The Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
The ten lords a-leaping were The ten commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for The eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now you know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol.

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

Emoticon Translations

8-)
Smiley with sunglasses

:-@
Screaming

:-c
Very sad

<:-(
Dunce

}:-(
Stubborn

:-\
Undecided

:-^)
Tongue in cheek

:-&
Tongue tied

}:-)
Devilish

O:-)
Saint

:-x
My lips are sealed

:-p
Sticking tongue out

:-7
Skeptic

:=O
Wow!

:-*
Kiss

;-)
Wink

:-D
Laughing

:-(
Sad

:-)
Happy

For your viewing pleasure....

Simon smiles??? I never knew that...

Attitude Adjustment Activity

So my nephew found this site and posted it on Twitter. There is something very soothing to me about watching these little guys. Check it out when you have a few minutes just to gush over some cute puppies - oh and turn up the sound, you can hear them too...

http://cdn1.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.45.swf?cid=317016

Things that make you go, hmmmm....

It's the weekend...

...and this is my "to do" list....

waiting for the wake up call????

What Do You Get....

...when you give a six-year-old girl Post It notes and Scotch tape????

Give up?

Shoes of course!!!

(Flip Flops to be exact.)

More Blogthings

Your Inner Muse is Thalia

You are most like this playful muse of comedy. Life is all about laughter to you, and you're a natural comic. You make people laugh until their sides split. And you're always up for some play time!

What Muse Are You?

Got an email entitled "Butt Dust" (and just had to share it)

What, you ask, is 'Butt dust?'
Read on and you'll discover the joy in it!
(These have to be original and genuine; no adult is this creative!! )

JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister. After a while he asked: 'Mom, why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?'

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, 'If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six.'

STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom goodnight. 'I love you so much, that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window.'

BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: 'How does it know it's me?'

SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. 'Please don't give me this juice again,' she said, 'It makes my teeth cough.'

D.J. (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: 'How much do I cost?'

MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: 'Why is he whispering in her mouth?'

CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, 'I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?'

JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: 'The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt; concerned James asked: 'What happened to the flea?'

TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, 'Why doesn't your skin fit your face?'

The Sermon: I think this Mom will never forget this particular Sunday sermon...

'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust.' He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter (who was listening!) leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

Don't Honk at Old People...

A friend of mine sent this to me in an email and I just had to share!

Lost in Blogthings (again)

You Are a Crossword Puzzle

You are well read, and you have a good head for remembering facts. You are a wordsmith. You have a way with words, and you're very literate. You are a mysterious person who enjoys dropping little clues every now and then.

What Kind of Puzzle Are You?

Well, I'm not too sure about this one....

Your Celebrity Sisters Are Mary-Kate and Ashley

Funky, eccentric, and offbeat You're not a good girl or a bad girl, just a weird girl

Who Are Your Celebrity Sisters?

But the "weird girl" part seems pretty accurate...