No, I didn't have anything cold to eat or drink to cause this. I just lost my mind. Hey, I seem to be doing a lot of that lately. Bwaaahahahaha! The nursing home could be sooner rather than later. Look out, Gary!
OK, so I did a card with my last post and entered it into four challenges. Except that I didn't. I thought I did, but I didn't. Nope my card was entered into the first challenge, but not the others. What the he**? I have no idea what I did the other day when I thought I had entered three other challenges. Was I in some alternate universe? Did I imagine this? I simply can find no explanation for it. Except brain freeze. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
So you won't find that card on any of the sites I mentioned. Just forget that I mentioned them.
We do have some good news. But, first, the back story. Gary had a stress test done by his cardiologist two weeks ago. Last week the doctor's office called and told Gary to come in this week--a full two weeks earlier than his scheduled appointment. What the he**! I don't think I need to mention the fact that this freaked both of us out the first day. By the second day, after the call, I was feeling OK--not nervous or worried; I felt a sense of peace, so I was sure he would be OK one way or the other. But Gary--not so much. OMG, he got so crabby before his actual appointment, that he was hard to live with. (He apologized for that later; he told me he was just so scared.)
Anyway, his test showed mild ischemia in the area of his heart where we already know that he has coronary artery blockage. But the blockage wasn't bad enough to repair yet, so he just keeps on taking his meds and doing his exercises. After the doctor's office received the new test results, they called Gary in due to the abnormality. Well, his cardiologist says that, since the problem is mild, nothing needs to be done right now. Gary is supposed to go back in a year for further evaluation. And Gary had expected the worst, of course. He was afraid he was dying. Not yet, Dude. You can't get away from me that easily!
On another topic, Gary's sister-in-law, Wendy, is staying with us this week. She is visiting her son and having a good trip. They have done some sight-seeing and bowling. And she has been getting up at 5:00 a.m. to go exercising at the gym with Gary. Is she CRAZY? I would say, YES! No way, Jose, am I getting up to go exercise at 5:00 a.m. (Of course, to be fair, I must say I don't exercise at any other time of the day, either. And I'd best start if I want my clothes to fit again when I go to Hawaii. Yeah, it seems we've had this conversation before. My apologies.)
I hope to create a page in my Smashbook today. If I do, I will come back later and add it to this post. Or not. Whatev.
In the meantime have a pleasant day! :^)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Snowflake Card
Didn't get back to this last night, but we were watching the football game--yay, Giants!--and then watched American Idol. There are going to be some really great singers on that show this year; we are looking forward to the competition. Oh, and Gary got me hooked on Breaking Bad, so he and Wendy and I watched a couple of episodes of that, (thanks to Netflix). Oh my, that's a terrible, but somehow funny, show. Reminds me of how I felt when I saw the movie, Fargo. I can remember laughing so hard that I cried during the shower curtain scene. Do you recall that? You know, where the woman, who is going to get killed, goes running out of the shower, with the curtain covering her, and she falls down the stairs. Sick. Sick, I tell you. Sick humor, but I bought into it. I was disgusted with myself at the same time I was howling with laughter. What's up with that, anyway? I. don't. know. But Breaking Bad has the same type of humor. I find myself laughing at totally inappropriate moments. Sigh....
BTW, Gary made a fabulous Indian dinner last night for him, Jack, Wendy, and me. OMG! It was so good, it makes my mouth water just to mention it. Come to think of it, I haven't eaten yet today, so perhaps that is why my mouth is watering. ? What the he**? Guess I need to go find something to munch on. But not before I finish up this post.
I entered this card into the Cheery Lynn challenge, but am now going to enter it into three other challenges. I got the sketch from Simon Says Stamps challenge, the girl theme from Outlawz Copics challenge, and the winter theme from CMC challenge. It all fit with the snowflake theme from Cheery Lynn challenge.
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/copicchallenge/forum/topics/copic-promarker-challenge-january-20th-2012
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/cmccopicchallengegroup
http://cheerylynndesigns.blogspot.com/search/label/challenge
My recipe:
Mini Magnolia Winter Forest and Snowy Hug stamps
Papertrey In the Meadow stamp
DCWV Linen Closet CS
Cryogen CS
Stampin' Up CS
Memento Ink
Miscellaneous Ink
Cheery Lynn French Pastry Doily die
Cheery Lynn Snowflake #4 die
Cheery Lynn Bow & Bell die
Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Circle die
Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two die
Copic Markers: E000, E00, E11, E40, E42, E43, E50, E53, E57, YR21, YR24, G00, G14, G17, C00, C1, B0000, B91, B93, B95
Now I need to do at least one page in my Smash journal for the new group I've joined: CMC We R Smash Bookin', Scrappin', and Journalin'!! That's a mouthful, huh? Hopefully, I will get a page done this week so I can post it.
Ellie's surgeries went very well, so we expect a complete recovery for her! So here's wishing her and everyone else everywhere a wonderful week!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Get Well Card
I spent the better part of yesterday and today working on a get-well card for my friend, who is having two surgeries this week. I need to get the card to her before her first surgery, as she will not be able to see the card immediately afterward. She may even see the card on my blog before I get it to her, but that's OK in this case! :^)
I have to say, I am sorely disappointed in the football results for the weekend. I so wanted to see an NFC conference championship game between the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. Instead, we get a game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco Forty-Niners. Really? Gag me. 'Nuff said. And I don't really watch too much of the AFC, so I don't really care who plays in their championship game. Patriots and Ravens? Meh.
We are having company this week. Gary's sister-in-law, Wendy, is coming down from Minnesota to see her son, Jack, and visit with us for about 10 days.
My sister, Barbara, will be arriving the following week from her sojourn in Florida to stay with our other sister, Merrilyn. Barbara will spend a few weeks here before going back to her home in Wisconsin.
This is how it goes in the winter in the Arizona desert. We get lots of visitors from the north, as they escape the cold. Funny how they never show up in the summer here, isn't it? Don't understand them not wanting to spend their days in 110+ degree heat. I personally love it; it gets us ready for the hereafter if we're going down under. And I don't mean Australia.
I ordered some stamps today for making Valentine's cards. All of us card makers know that making a card does NOT save us money! Whoever dreamt that lie up should be whipped with a wet noodle. But I really outfoxed myself this time. I had to order from two different internet companies to get all the stamps I needed. I procrastinated, People. So now I am paying double shipping charges. Sound familiar to anyone? Yeah, that's what I get for waiting until the last minute, huh?
Anyway, I chose to enter a Magnolia-licious challenge with this get-well card I just finished:
http://magnolia-liciouschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Recipe:
Magnolia Nurse Tilda stamp
Stampin' Up Thoughts and Prayers stamps
Cryogen CS
Stampin' Up CS
Basic Grey Euphoria DSP
Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies
Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles, Grand Circles, and Lacey Circles
Stampin' Up Lace Ribbon Border punch
Cheery Lynn Bow and Bell die
Cheery Lynn Scandinavian Hearts Doily Frame die
Ribbon (from my stash)
Stampin' Up ink
Memento ink
Signo Uniball gel white pen
Copic markers: R81, R83, R85, R89, E0000, E000, E00, E11, E13, C00, C1, C3, C5, C7, C9
Sending thoughts of successful surgeries and speedy recovery to Ellie! And wishing everyone everywhere a wonderful week!
I have to say, I am sorely disappointed in the football results for the weekend. I so wanted to see an NFC conference championship game between the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. Instead, we get a game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco Forty-Niners. Really? Gag me. 'Nuff said. And I don't really watch too much of the AFC, so I don't really care who plays in their championship game. Patriots and Ravens? Meh.
We are having company this week. Gary's sister-in-law, Wendy, is coming down from Minnesota to see her son, Jack, and visit with us for about 10 days.
My sister, Barbara, will be arriving the following week from her sojourn in Florida to stay with our other sister, Merrilyn. Barbara will spend a few weeks here before going back to her home in Wisconsin.
This is how it goes in the winter in the Arizona desert. We get lots of visitors from the north, as they escape the cold. Funny how they never show up in the summer here, isn't it? Don't understand them not wanting to spend their days in 110+ degree heat. I personally love it; it gets us ready for the hereafter if we're going down under. And I don't mean Australia.
I ordered some stamps today for making Valentine's cards. All of us card makers know that making a card does NOT save us money! Whoever dreamt that lie up should be whipped with a wet noodle. But I really outfoxed myself this time. I had to order from two different internet companies to get all the stamps I needed. I procrastinated, People. So now I am paying double shipping charges. Sound familiar to anyone? Yeah, that's what I get for waiting until the last minute, huh?
Anyway, I chose to enter a Magnolia-licious challenge with this get-well card I just finished:
http://magnolia-liciouschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Recipe:
Magnolia Nurse Tilda stamp
Stampin' Up Thoughts and Prayers stamps
Cryogen CS
Stampin' Up CS
Basic Grey Euphoria DSP
Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies
Spellbinders Nestabilities Circles, Grand Circles, and Lacey Circles
Stampin' Up Lace Ribbon Border punch
Cheery Lynn Bow and Bell die
Cheery Lynn Scandinavian Hearts Doily Frame die
Ribbon (from my stash)
Stampin' Up ink
Memento ink
Signo Uniball gel white pen
Copic markers: R81, R83, R85, R89, E0000, E000, E00, E11, E13, C00, C1, C3, C5, C7, C9
Sending thoughts of successful surgeries and speedy recovery to Ellie! And wishing everyone everywhere a wonderful week!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Abby's Birthday Card
Just finished watching the latest episode of "Merlin". One of my very favorite shows. :^) Something I have in common with my 9-year old granddaughter, Kelsey. It was a really good episode, too, complete with demons, witches, monsters, dragons, and, oh yeah, Merlin. :^) I don't understand, though, why they wrote Lancelot out tonight. I thought he had a romance with Gwen after she marries Arthur. Hmmmm....something to ponder.
I can now post the card I made for my niece, Abby, whose birthday is the 13th. Yup, this year it was Friday, the 13th, but I thought it was a very good day. I am sure she did, too! I didn't want to post the card until after she had received it.
My sister, Merrilyn, and I met at Wildflower Cafe for lunch today. Had a nice lunch and then we went into Changing Hands bookstore and tried to figure out how to load their Indie ebook app. I had no problem loading it to my Ipad, but M was not so lucky with her Nook Tablet. Which, btw, is a really cool tech tool, and if I didn't have an Ipad, I would definitely buy the Nook Tablet. But that's another story altogether. I just have to say, that we older people can be taught new tricks, it just takes us longer to learn them. (Here's where I clear my throat. Noisily.) And to be fair, the Indie app is not as easy to load onto a Nook as it is to load onto an Ipad. But, really. I don't think the two of us ever got it figured out before we left. Did we? Sigh...
So later, after Gary got home, I got to go out to eat again. This time we went to Cantina Laredo, as I was hungry for Mexican food and thirsty for a Margarita. We had some luscious guacamole dip and chips for an appetizer and then some tasty fish tacos, with rice and beans. So we left feeling pleasantly full. But then Gary suggested we try Frost, a new gelato store right by Cantina Laredo. OOOOPS!
'K, I would have been fine if I had just sampled a few flavors. Or, if I had gotten a small dish of one flavor. Did I do that? Noooooooooo. I sampled two flavors and got a medium dish with both flavors--Sea Salt Caramel and Peanut Butter Crunch. OMG. They are sooooo good! Great gelato. Great flavors. Great discomfort. I am so full--even hours later. I am afraid to lie down; I think I will regurgitate my entire meal. Like a bird. Well, not so much like a bird. More like a puking dog. Or cat. You know, heaving and gagging, and heaving and gagging.
I. am. so. miserable.
So instead of going to bed, I am writing on my blog. In a very upright position. So that my dinner stays put. That will teach me to not overeat. Oh, sure, it will--when pigs fly.
I don't really want to think about eating for a few days. But we are going out to dinner Saturday night with friends. Ugh. Hopefully this mass of pain will have thinned out and moved lower than my throat by then. Wish me luck.
Anyway, I had an idea for Abby's card that just didn't pan out. So I monkeyed around with the image and what you see is what I got.
I am entering this card into three challenges--why not, right? The first one is Basic Grey Something New and the second is 7 Kids Something New. In both cases my something new is the image I stamped and colored for the first time. The third is Simon Says Stamps and required dots or stripes.
http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
Recipe for this card:
Basic Grey Mellow DSP
Stampin' Up CS
Cryogen CS
Magnolia Roller Tilda stamp (something new)
Stampin' Up Bring on the Cake stamp
Stampin' Up Vintage Labels stamps
Prima Flowers
Stampin' Up brad
Me and My Big Ideas Icons
Spellbinders Nestabilities Grand Ovals dies
Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents dies
Memento Ink
Signo Uniball Gel White Pen
Copics: YR00, YR07, YR12, YR14, R20, R22, R24, R27, C00, C1, C4, C7, E0000, E000, E00, E11, E13, E25, E51.
That about does it for this episode. I intend to stay up until I am more comfortable. Which could be in an hour, a day, a week, whatever. In the meantime, I wish everyone everywhere a wonderful weekend! And Happy Birthday, Abby!
I can now post the card I made for my niece, Abby, whose birthday is the 13th. Yup, this year it was Friday, the 13th, but I thought it was a very good day. I am sure she did, too! I didn't want to post the card until after she had received it.
My sister, Merrilyn, and I met at Wildflower Cafe for lunch today. Had a nice lunch and then we went into Changing Hands bookstore and tried to figure out how to load their Indie ebook app. I had no problem loading it to my Ipad, but M was not so lucky with her Nook Tablet. Which, btw, is a really cool tech tool, and if I didn't have an Ipad, I would definitely buy the Nook Tablet. But that's another story altogether. I just have to say, that we older people can be taught new tricks, it just takes us longer to learn them. (Here's where I clear my throat. Noisily.) And to be fair, the Indie app is not as easy to load onto a Nook as it is to load onto an Ipad. But, really. I don't think the two of us ever got it figured out before we left. Did we? Sigh...
So later, after Gary got home, I got to go out to eat again. This time we went to Cantina Laredo, as I was hungry for Mexican food and thirsty for a Margarita. We had some luscious guacamole dip and chips for an appetizer and then some tasty fish tacos, with rice and beans. So we left feeling pleasantly full. But then Gary suggested we try Frost, a new gelato store right by Cantina Laredo. OOOOPS!
'K, I would have been fine if I had just sampled a few flavors. Or, if I had gotten a small dish of one flavor. Did I do that? Noooooooooo. I sampled two flavors and got a medium dish with both flavors--Sea Salt Caramel and Peanut Butter Crunch. OMG. They are sooooo good! Great gelato. Great flavors. Great discomfort. I am so full--even hours later. I am afraid to lie down; I think I will regurgitate my entire meal. Like a bird. Well, not so much like a bird. More like a puking dog. Or cat. You know, heaving and gagging, and heaving and gagging.
I. am. so. miserable.
So instead of going to bed, I am writing on my blog. In a very upright position. So that my dinner stays put. That will teach me to not overeat. Oh, sure, it will--when pigs fly.
I don't really want to think about eating for a few days. But we are going out to dinner Saturday night with friends. Ugh. Hopefully this mass of pain will have thinned out and moved lower than my throat by then. Wish me luck.
Anyway, I had an idea for Abby's card that just didn't pan out. So I monkeyed around with the image and what you see is what I got.
I am entering this card into three challenges--why not, right? The first one is Basic Grey Something New and the second is 7 Kids Something New. In both cases my something new is the image I stamped and colored for the first time. The third is Simon Says Stamps and required dots or stripes.
http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
Recipe for this card:
Basic Grey Mellow DSP
Stampin' Up CS
Cryogen CS
Magnolia Roller Tilda stamp (something new)
Stampin' Up Bring on the Cake stamp
Stampin' Up Vintage Labels stamps
Prima Flowers
Stampin' Up brad
Me and My Big Ideas Icons
Spellbinders Nestabilities Grand Ovals dies
Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents dies
Memento Ink
Signo Uniball Gel White Pen
Copics: YR00, YR07, YR12, YR14, R20, R22, R24, R27, C00, C1, C4, C7, E0000, E000, E00, E11, E13, E25, E51.
That about does it for this episode. I intend to stay up until I am more comfortable. Which could be in an hour, a day, a week, whatever. In the meantime, I wish everyone everywhere a wonderful weekend! And Happy Birthday, Abby!
Monday, January 9, 2012
A Fabulous Invitation!
I got a wonderful email last night. I was invited to be a guest designer on The Outlawz for the Copic/Promarker group for the month of March. OMG! I am so thrilled and excited! I cannot express how much this means to me; it's like a dream come true! :^) One of those bucket-list items that is actually a reality now. How about that? Life is good.
My name was drawn last week for the Bookendz group to win a gift card to Amazon. How lucky, huh? But that also meant that I was asked to create a theme project for the next book selection. I created this card over the weekend after reading Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb. Oh, my, if you get the chance to read this book, do so! It is a terrific read; loaded with humor, which caused me to cry from laughing so hard! And the story will also pull at your heartstrings, as well as scare you a bit. It has everything I love in a novel. And I thank Suzanne for selecting it. She is really good at picking out books I enjoy!
Anyway, I used a mini-stamp by Basic Grey that Angela gave me a few years ago. It does not have a name, and is no longer available as far as I know. It is a really cute stamp, though, and seemed to fit this particular card. I also used a Stampin' Up stamp from the Eat Chocolate set. I used Memento ink with Cryogen cardstock for the little girl, and SU cardstock with SU ink for the sentiment. For paper, I used My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two "Rosy" designer paper, and SU cardstock. To create the doilies and frame, I used dies from Cheery Lynn: Italian Flourish, Nautical Wheeler, and Square Lace Frame. I also used Spellbinders' Nestabilities Circle dies. I accented the image with a Signo Uniball white gel ink pen and some Glossy Accents on her eyes
And, of course, I used Copics: G40, G82, E000, E00, E02, E08, E09, E11, E13, E29, E35, E37.
If you would like to join this great book club, you can see details here: http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/bookends
I am also entering this card into a challenge on the Outlawz:
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/birthdaycard/forum/topics/greetings-challenge-january-08
My niece, Abby, is having a birthday this week, so I need to get busy and make her card. I will post again when I get it done.
Wishing everyone everywhere a great week!
My name was drawn last week for the Bookendz group to win a gift card to Amazon. How lucky, huh? But that also meant that I was asked to create a theme project for the next book selection. I created this card over the weekend after reading Julia's Chocolates by Cathy Lamb. Oh, my, if you get the chance to read this book, do so! It is a terrific read; loaded with humor, which caused me to cry from laughing so hard! And the story will also pull at your heartstrings, as well as scare you a bit. It has everything I love in a novel. And I thank Suzanne for selecting it. She is really good at picking out books I enjoy!
Anyway, I used a mini-stamp by Basic Grey that Angela gave me a few years ago. It does not have a name, and is no longer available as far as I know. It is a really cute stamp, though, and seemed to fit this particular card. I also used a Stampin' Up stamp from the Eat Chocolate set. I used Memento ink with Cryogen cardstock for the little girl, and SU cardstock with SU ink for the sentiment. For paper, I used My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two "Rosy" designer paper, and SU cardstock. To create the doilies and frame, I used dies from Cheery Lynn: Italian Flourish, Nautical Wheeler, and Square Lace Frame. I also used Spellbinders' Nestabilities Circle dies. I accented the image with a Signo Uniball white gel ink pen and some Glossy Accents on her eyes
And, of course, I used Copics: G40, G82, E000, E00, E02, E08, E09, E11, E13, E29, E35, E37.
If you would like to join this great book club, you can see details here: http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/bookends
I am also entering this card into a challenge on the Outlawz:
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/birthdaycard/forum/topics/greetings-challenge-january-08
My niece, Abby, is having a birthday this week, so I need to get busy and make her card. I will post again when I get it done.
Wishing everyone everywhere a great week!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Happy New Year
Well, hello, everybody, and a very Happy New Year to all of you! I know it has been a long time since I last blogged, (is that a word?), but I needed down-time during the holidays. I am sure you did, too, whether you got it or not.
I must first mention that I did lose my championship game in Fantasy football to Gary's nephew, Ryan. So congratulations to him, and good luck next year. Or this year. Whatever.
I must also mention that I did put up our Christmas tree during Christmas week, even though I was in no mood for Christmas this season (and I still don't know why). And I should also mention that I took the tree down before New Year's Eve. Apparently, I couldn't be bothered with it for long.
Our friends, John and Carol, joined us for our annual Christmas Eve dinner at the Deli in Queen Creek. Per usual, the meal was wonderful, service was great, and we had a fun time. Of course, we always have fun with John and Carol, as they are just as goofy as we are! They gave us a box of fabulous chocolates, which contributed to my holiday weight gain. As did the cookies Merrilyn and Abby baked for us. As did the chocolates Santa gave me for Christmas. As did the chocolate-covered cherries that Gary's other nephew, Jack, gave us for Christmas. Geez, why does chocolate always end up on my hips? Needless to say, I have work to do to fit back into my summer clothes for our upcoming trip to Hawaii. Oh, well, that's good incentive....
We took Jack with us to Angela's for Christmas dinner. She made the family recipe (bastardized with veal in the meatballs), of Italian spaghetti for the meal that night. It was delicious. And, no, there is not one drop of Italian blood flowing through my family's veins. At least not in this lifetime. But my mother had a friend, (with real Italian blood flowing through her veins), who, during the 1950's, gave Mom an authentic family recipe for Italian spaghetti. And it has been made by my mom, my sisters, my daughter, and me through the years since then. Note to Angela: veal was not used before you tinkered with the recipe. Note to readers: I do not eat veal. Ergo: I do not eat the meatballs in the spaghetti my daughter prepares. But I have no problem consuming mass quantities of the pepperoni. And mushrooms. So there.
The rest of the meal Angela prepared was also delicious. The only thing I prepared for Christmas was a loaf of sweetbread for breakfast that morning for Gary and I. We did, however, take a bottle of delicious Italian wine for dinner at Angela's. Hey, she said not to bring anything else! So we didn't. So there. Again.
On Friday the 30th we had a lovely dinner at District Restaurant in downtown Phoenix with our dinner club. The place is beautiful, service was great, food was wonderful, and the company was very pleasant. I just wish I could have spent some time with the rest of our group, who were seated at the other table. Perhaps next month.
We spent a very quiet New Year's Eve. We had gone out the night before, and I just wasn't in the mood to go out again. Party pooper. Yeah, and so what? Anyway, Gary made a delicious, spicy-hot Indian dinner at home. He spent hours fixing it, and I spent hours cleaning up. I will give him credit for doing some dishes while he was cooking. Thanks, Honey! :^) And, talk about a party pooper--he went to bed before midnight! I stayed up to see the New Year in. Actually, I couldn't go to bed while someone in the neighborhood was shooting off fireworks. That started about 11:55 and went on until 12:15. And then, about every 15 minutes or so, a few more would get shot off. Some people and their kids. Bah humbug.
I almost didn't go to the Cardinals' game on New Year's Day. I got little sleep, due to the noise-making neighbors. Gary first awakened me at 8:00 to ask me what time I wanted to get up. Then he took his shower, and when he was done with that, he asked me to put cream on his back. He has Grover's disease (don't ask, it's ugly but not contagious), and needs his medication applied during an outbreak. After dragging myself out of bed to do that, I went back to bed to sleep, with no luck. So, instead, I got up and got ready for the game. Boy, howdy, am I ever glad I did! It was another overtime game, with a win, making four of those we saw this year! Crazy! But wildly fun! And wildly loud! And about the only time I can really stand noise. What's up with that, anyway??? I don't get it. Anyhow, our Cards' season was 8-8, which was phenomenal when you consider that they started out 1-6! To go 7-2 over the last 9 games was probably about as good as any team in the NFL. So here's looking forward to next season--which is this year, btw.
We had the granddaughters overnight on the 2nd to help out Angela, as she was starting a new job on the 3rd, and the girls didn't return to school until the 4th. Got that? No. Well, don't worry about it. Just know that I was home alone with the two girls on the 3rd as Gary went back to work that day. And I think the girls were bored. They watched TV in the a.m., and then we played Monopoly in the afternoon. But they are used to Grandpa taking them to the pool or other places when they stay with us. And I didn't do that. The older one, Kelsey. even asked me if we were going to go anywhere. No. You're asking the wrong grandparent. Bah humbug. Actually, the girls were really good while they were here. But they seemed a little too eager to leave when Angela picked them up!!
So this last month, the Bookendz club read An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowsk & Valerie Salembier. Another great read, and thanks, Suzanne, for suggesting it! This was a true story, and a heart-warming one at that. A good holiday read, for sure. I finally created my card for the challenge, (nothing like waiting until the last minute), and I am entering it into another challenge as well:
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/bookends
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/copicchallenge/forum/topics/copic-promarker-challenge-december-30
Okey dokey. Here's the recipe. Ready or not.
Magnolia Brother and Sister stamp
Stampin' Up Full of Life stamp
SCACD Victoria Case Street Views City Skyline stamp
DCWV Cafe Mediterranean Cardstock
Stampin' Up Cardstock
Cryogen Cardstock
Stampin' Up button die
Stampin' Up fancy corner die
Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents die
Stampin' Up ink
Memento ink
Copic markers: G20, G21, G24, BG0000, BG10, BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78, C0, C2, C3, C5, C7, C9, W00, W1, W3, YR00, YR02, E0000, E000, E00, E02, E08, E11, E13, E25, E27, E29, E31, E50
I must also make mention of the fact that spell-check is not working for some strange reason. Therefore, I make no promises that this blog entry is error-free. I edited it over and over, until I got sick of it. Sick of it, I tell you. My eyes are now crossed, and I no longer care if the spelling is correct. Take it or leave it. But do have a really great weekend, OK? :^)
I must first mention that I did lose my championship game in Fantasy football to Gary's nephew, Ryan. So congratulations to him, and good luck next year. Or this year. Whatever.
I must also mention that I did put up our Christmas tree during Christmas week, even though I was in no mood for Christmas this season (and I still don't know why). And I should also mention that I took the tree down before New Year's Eve. Apparently, I couldn't be bothered with it for long.
Our friends, John and Carol, joined us for our annual Christmas Eve dinner at the Deli in Queen Creek. Per usual, the meal was wonderful, service was great, and we had a fun time. Of course, we always have fun with John and Carol, as they are just as goofy as we are! They gave us a box of fabulous chocolates, which contributed to my holiday weight gain. As did the cookies Merrilyn and Abby baked for us. As did the chocolates Santa gave me for Christmas. As did the chocolate-covered cherries that Gary's other nephew, Jack, gave us for Christmas. Geez, why does chocolate always end up on my hips? Needless to say, I have work to do to fit back into my summer clothes for our upcoming trip to Hawaii. Oh, well, that's good incentive....
We took Jack with us to Angela's for Christmas dinner. She made the family recipe (bastardized with veal in the meatballs), of Italian spaghetti for the meal that night. It was delicious. And, no, there is not one drop of Italian blood flowing through my family's veins. At least not in this lifetime. But my mother had a friend, (with real Italian blood flowing through her veins), who, during the 1950's, gave Mom an authentic family recipe for Italian spaghetti. And it has been made by my mom, my sisters, my daughter, and me through the years since then. Note to Angela: veal was not used before you tinkered with the recipe. Note to readers: I do not eat veal. Ergo: I do not eat the meatballs in the spaghetti my daughter prepares. But I have no problem consuming mass quantities of the pepperoni. And mushrooms. So there.
The rest of the meal Angela prepared was also delicious. The only thing I prepared for Christmas was a loaf of sweetbread for breakfast that morning for Gary and I. We did, however, take a bottle of delicious Italian wine for dinner at Angela's. Hey, she said not to bring anything else! So we didn't. So there. Again.
On Friday the 30th we had a lovely dinner at District Restaurant in downtown Phoenix with our dinner club. The place is beautiful, service was great, food was wonderful, and the company was very pleasant. I just wish I could have spent some time with the rest of our group, who were seated at the other table. Perhaps next month.
We spent a very quiet New Year's Eve. We had gone out the night before, and I just wasn't in the mood to go out again. Party pooper. Yeah, and so what? Anyway, Gary made a delicious, spicy-hot Indian dinner at home. He spent hours fixing it, and I spent hours cleaning up. I will give him credit for doing some dishes while he was cooking. Thanks, Honey! :^) And, talk about a party pooper--he went to bed before midnight! I stayed up to see the New Year in. Actually, I couldn't go to bed while someone in the neighborhood was shooting off fireworks. That started about 11:55 and went on until 12:15. And then, about every 15 minutes or so, a few more would get shot off. Some people and their kids. Bah humbug.
I almost didn't go to the Cardinals' game on New Year's Day. I got little sleep, due to the noise-making neighbors. Gary first awakened me at 8:00 to ask me what time I wanted to get up. Then he took his shower, and when he was done with that, he asked me to put cream on his back. He has Grover's disease (don't ask, it's ugly but not contagious), and needs his medication applied during an outbreak. After dragging myself out of bed to do that, I went back to bed to sleep, with no luck. So, instead, I got up and got ready for the game. Boy, howdy, am I ever glad I did! It was another overtime game, with a win, making four of those we saw this year! Crazy! But wildly fun! And wildly loud! And about the only time I can really stand noise. What's up with that, anyway??? I don't get it. Anyhow, our Cards' season was 8-8, which was phenomenal when you consider that they started out 1-6! To go 7-2 over the last 9 games was probably about as good as any team in the NFL. So here's looking forward to next season--which is this year, btw.
We had the granddaughters overnight on the 2nd to help out Angela, as she was starting a new job on the 3rd, and the girls didn't return to school until the 4th. Got that? No. Well, don't worry about it. Just know that I was home alone with the two girls on the 3rd as Gary went back to work that day. And I think the girls were bored. They watched TV in the a.m., and then we played Monopoly in the afternoon. But they are used to Grandpa taking them to the pool or other places when they stay with us. And I didn't do that. The older one, Kelsey. even asked me if we were going to go anywhere. No. You're asking the wrong grandparent. Bah humbug. Actually, the girls were really good while they were here. But they seemed a little too eager to leave when Angela picked them up!!
So this last month, the Bookendz club read An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowsk & Valerie Salembier. Another great read, and thanks, Suzanne, for suggesting it! This was a true story, and a heart-warming one at that. A good holiday read, for sure. I finally created my card for the challenge, (nothing like waiting until the last minute), and I am entering it into another challenge as well:
http://scrapbitzcopics.ning.com/group/bookends
http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/group/copicchallenge/forum/topics/copic-promarker-challenge-december-30
Okey dokey. Here's the recipe. Ready or not.
Magnolia Brother and Sister stamp
Stampin' Up Full of Life stamp
SCACD Victoria Case Street Views City Skyline stamp
DCWV Cafe Mediterranean Cardstock
Stampin' Up Cardstock
Cryogen Cardstock
Stampin' Up button die
Stampin' Up fancy corner die
Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents die
Stampin' Up ink
Memento ink
Copic markers: G20, G21, G24, BG0000, BG10, BG70, BG72, BG75, BG78, C0, C2, C3, C5, C7, C9, W00, W1, W3, YR00, YR02, E0000, E000, E00, E02, E08, E11, E13, E25, E27, E29, E31, E50
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