Just a Bit of This and That

I don't have a card today but a few fun photos of life around here

in 'my neck of the woods'.

I have huge flower gardens and they are a MESS!

It has rained here for over a week not allowing me to work in them, prior to that we had a huge heat wave, too hot and sticky to work outside

and guess what, rain is gone, finally some sunlight and here comes the heat wave again.

But I do have a few garden pictures to share from a few weeks ago before all the rain.

My Nine Bark bush

Painted Daisies...funny story, years ago I had several of these and my Mom

would come and help me clean up my gardens and once said

"I got all those wild carrots pulled out for you"...except thing is,

they WERE'NT wild carrots, they were painted daisies...LOL!

Mock Orange

False Indigo, in yellow

One of my many Peonies

Knock Out Roses

Mack, will be 8 months on the 27th, we were visiting a friends

Doodle.  This is his 'summer' haircut.

Mack meeting another Goldendoodle "Smokey" for the first time.

Okay gotta run..enjoy!

Birthday Wishes & a Few Fun Photo's

This is the card I made for a granddaughter's 3rd birthday...I used my ever wonderful Cricut.....think I might make a few more of these.

Next is a photo of what we call "Lake Effect" snow here in Michigan...we live in the snowbelt of  Lake Michigan....we ALWAYS get it.....though that being said....it all depends on which way the wind is blowing how much we get......we were a bit lucky we only got a foot...10 miles south, they had about 3 feet......this pic was taken thru my window and the "blurr" of the pic is the heavy snow coming down.....we have a break from it today...then its to snow all week again...sigh!!   Click on the photo and you can see it "coming down'!!

Then I have a few "family members" to share with you......Nellie having "quiet time" in front of the fireplace.....the "sisters" squeezed into their bed together...and Soot also enjoying a "bath" in front of the fire...see ya later!

Flourishes Winter White Challenge and More!!

I haven't had much time to be creative lately....but it's snowing like crazy here...has been for days...so when I saw the Flourishes Winter White Challenge...I said...why not?.........now I have to admit this is not at all what I had planned to do, but I think I will do my original idea a bit later......I just received this TH EB folder in my countdown to Christmas gifts, so out "he" came.......the bunny is actually a Flourishes Easter stamp that was with a little chick, but I taped the chick off and made a "Snow Bunny"......pretty much all white......click on the card for better detail...I used stickles all around the sentiment and onthe bunny........next are a few more of  my "scrap" tags.....

Now to the countdown to Christmas day 6 and 7....the white spray mist was day 6 and the acrylic little mini album was day 7...now won't these be fun to use after the holidays!!!!  

The next picture is of 3 of my kitties trying to snuggle up and keep warm....the one on the pillow...well that is her pillow she sleeps on all the time...the other two are sleeping somewhat on an old chenille spread I put down for them.....spoiled babies!!!!

A Bit of What I Have Been Up To

It's that time of year again....time for my sister and I to have our "Cabin On The Creek" Christmas open house.......we haven't done it for 8 years, but this year we started back up...we did our Halloween show in Sept...it was a great success...so now we are onto Christmas...we named our show Frosty Flurry.......and a flurry it has been...a flurry of trying to get everything done.......we hold the event the weekend before Thanksgiving~here~at the cabin.....we are expecting it to be a "big" event this year....our mailing list is well over 1200.......plus "one of us" had the bright idea to place flyers on cars at a local craft show last weekend...we placed over 200 and are doing more this weekend......are we nuts...oh yeah!! 

Here is a small sampling (and not great pictures) of what I have been working on...a very small sample.....I did 72 of those chenille candy canes last night, and my neck and shoulders can account for it......I will be back to blogging (if I am still alive...lol) after the show...and I am looking forward to it!

Veterns Day Remembering To Say Thank YOU!

Remembering to say 'THANK YOU" to all that have served and are serving now!!  A picture of my Dad....we miss you...wish you could of known your grandchildren and great grandchildren...............

Do You See What I See????

Crazy~crazy weather here in the "snowbelt" of Michigan as they like to call us.......it was a lovely 20 degrees this morning....snow is all gone in 24 hours...and Tuesday predicted to be almost 70...crazy I tell ya...just crazy!!

I took the first pic on Friday night from my living room window...the other two are from the sunrise this morning...I stepped outside to take them...brrrrrrrrrr.......had to prove to my hubby that it really did snow here...he is out of town and I know won't believe me when it snowed while he was gone......the snow band is all the way from Lake Superior down to Kentucky.......just not ready for it!

Waaaaaaay Too Much Help!

I am "cramming" for an upcoming craft show next week...just a quick photo of some supper quick pumpkin witches I made.....I had a bit (or should I say bite) too much help from Soot...seems she thought the coffee stained pumpkin witch hats were a bit tasty!!

Sweet 16 Mardi Gras

It's hard to believe I haven't posted for an entire week...and "me" who usually tries to post everyday!!!  My granddaughter Ally had a "sweet 16" birthday bash on Friday night...it was a Mardi Gras theme......this is the card I made for her and her "card box"   and of course a picture of a few of the "lovely girls"...the front row left to right is my granddaughter Mariah, next Ally the "birthday girl" and my daughter Lori....hopefully will be back with more tomorrow.....bye!!

Hot & Cold A Bit of a Drastic Difference!!!!

I am a little bit unavailable today, so this is a "prepost".....thought I would share a bit of the winter we had, for all of us (me in particular) that have been complaining about all the heat.  This should do one of two things...either cool you off...or make you happy you have the heat instead of this mess...brrr.

The flowers are the "hot" part...could not have this beauty without it...these "pretties" are poppies from my gardens this year........hope you enjoy the photos!!!!!  Remember for a better view, you can always click on a photo to make it bigger!!

Computer Has Been Shut Down Due To MORE Storms !!!

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...really...just after being without power, I had to try and catch up...laundry...gardening (couldn't work in the garden as no place to clean up)dishes, and we could eat food again......but last night (wednesday) and earlier in the afternoon we breifly lost power AGAIN.....due to more nasty storms...will it ever quit.....I have to unplug my computer totally during these storms...for some reason lightening loves my house.....it has hit my computer twice in previous years......so I will be back with some new goodies soon...I promise!   But just to let you know....we are due for more storms Saturday night and into Sunday morning.....sigh!!!

I will share a funny little photo with you of my kitty Soot...I had set this tea set aside to polish it, and she thought it was the perfect nap spot...this little set I purchased last week at a garage sale for only $3.....a cute find!

Paper Flower Eggs & Carrots

We have had sunshine for 4 days.....and yesterday it was 46 degrees...yippee!!!  We still have lots of snow, but I'll take those temps!!!

Have you seen these paper eggs and carrots yet???  They are made of tiny paper flowers and glitter!  I purchased these yesterday as they were only $1.99 (carrots $2.99)...I noticed Joann Fabrics had chicks, rabbits and lambs......but these eggs just called to me.....now we could make these ourselves, but at $1.99...I'll take these...LOL.....I just love how they will fit right into my "paper room"......speaking of that...where have I been???  I am cleaning out my "creative room" from top to bottom...big plans there...next photo shows the fabric I just purchased for my window valances...I LOVE it...it reminds me so much of my stamps and Stampin' Up! ink colors...and the birdie...well he will be one of my display items on a hutch I am creating from 2 pieces of vintage furniture!  My creative room is big......it used to be the master bedroom, until we built a new one...perfect for me...as it has a master bath off it, so convenient!  I am redoing it, so that is where I have been.........I purchased 2 chairs at Goodwill to paint and recover the seats, another chair at a garage sale to paint and add a seat cushion...all out of the same fabric...tell me what do you think, do you love it, too???  It will be a long process, but I can still "create" as nothing has changd there, my tables are still ready to use......I'll have some new stuff up tomorrow.......can't wait to show you!!

Happy New Year

Nellie looks like she had a little too much "party"...but she actually was asleep on the sofa when I "made" her put on her party hat.  We had a stay at home New Year's...a quiet wind down from all the Christmas activities....a few finger foods.....and neither of us made it to midnight....I am glad to see a New Year ahead...

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!  Thank you for visiting my blog and for making it what it is!!!

Do You See What I See??

Well, I have to admit Santa was verrrrrrrrry good to me....to say I was surprised is an understatement.....I was almost hyper-ventilating!   No kidding.....No only did my wonderful hubby update me to the Cricut Expression, but I received the Gypsy, too, plus 2 new cartridges.......and a new Epson printer....woowho!!!!

I love the Cricut, there is so much to do with it and it fits right in with all my other card making and scrapbooking supplies...and I got the Royal Blue one...so pretty!  It came with Serenade (thats what I am showing in the picture of cut items) and Plantin Schoolbook...the Gypsy came with 2 pre-loaded cartridges.....I am in cartridge heaven.......hope Santa was good to all of you!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

Christmas Eve...my favorite...candle light church services....finger foods.... the anticipation of Santa's arrival.... the reason.....the birth of a very special baby.....celebrating "His" birth....family....baked goods....friends.....thoughts of loved ones....really...what could be any better!!

A few things to share today.....we had our family Christmas on the 20th.....it was a wonderful chaotic day.....good food and good times!  Thought I would share a few pictures of the chaos...loved every second of it!

Also received this wonderful card from my friend "Curt"....have to share it...was so happy he was so thoughtful to send me one of his creations...thank you so much Curt!!!

Merry Christmas everyone....have a safe and happy holiday!!

Winter Warm Quilt Card~More Tags~Tag Making Day

A few things to share this morning......I saw this wonderful card on a blog (and cannot for the life of me find it to link to :<(       )~     using the Ohio Star quilt pattern, so gave it a try...I did some "quilting" stitches with my machine on my card, but after posting I saw I missed two spots of stitching.....so will have to fix that later.  I used all Stampin'Up! paper for this one to make a Christmas Quilt....thought the tiny holly print was just perfect.....I have another in the making using a non holiday paper.

Here are a few of the tags I did on my "tag making day" here at the cabin...I actually only got 3 done in about 6 1/2 hours....I was too busy helping.....it was a fun day...and only about 7 of us were here as a few were no shows or never replied at all...hmmm...maybe everyone is just too busy at this time of year......we used lots of products and ate lots of yummy food.....so a fun day was had by all...I have a few photo's and will post a few more later this week!