You'd think after working for a major construction equipment firm for many years that I would be up on the latest technology. When it comes to software and computers, I'm pretty adept. When it comes to other technology, I'm a catastrophe. I don't even have a cell phone - yep, you read that right - no cell phone. My hubs just started carrying one because his father was ill and he needed to be reached all the time. After his father passed away, he was used to carrying it and his friends had the number. He's gently nagged me a few times about adding another phone to our plan but I stick pretty close to home and the land line. When I'm out, I don't want to be bothered. And maybe after answering phones for 30 years as an Administrative Assistant, I just plain don't want to talk on the phone.
A year ago I decided to enter the 21st century and purchased a DVD Recorder. After playing with it for weeks and not being able to make it work, I put it in a drawer and forgot about it. A couple of days ago I discovered it and decided to make another try. I took it into the kitchen and hooked it up to our flat screen on the counter. I could not get the DVD recorder menu to show on the TV. I googled, I read the manual from cover to cover (what I could understand, that is) and nothing worked. Until I had an epiphany. You have to select the 'source' on the TV (a painful DUH moment). The original TV I used didn't have that option. The new flat screen in the kitchen did - and last night I recorded my first ever program on the DVD recorder. Ain't technology wonderful? So, I moved the DVD recorder to my 'studio' and put the VCR player in the kitchen because I often have to record three programs at the same time due to my bedtime being so early. I'm up at the crack of dawn watching programs I could have watched the night before if I hadn't gone to bed at eight. In my defense, I do read for a while before I fall asleep, I'm not saying how long.... Then, it occurred to me that if I record something on the VCR in the kitchen, I will have to sit in the kitchen to watch it since I no longer have a VCR in my studio. So, (don't 'cha just love E-Bay), I found a used one on E-Bay and ordered it for $50.00. I won't record on it, I'll just use it to watch those programs that are on at the same time I'm using my DVD recorder. So now I have the DVD recorder which also plays DVDs, my Roku box for watching Netflix and Amazon (which took me half a day to figure out how to hook to the TV and DVD recorder) and the VCR for watching video tapes. If I could get food delivered up here, I'd never leave!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Technologically challenged....
You'd think after working for a major construction equipment firm for many years that I would be up on the latest technology. When it comes to software and computers, I'm pretty adept. When it comes to other technology, I'm a catastrophe. I don't even have a cell phone - yep, you read that right - no cell phone. My hubs just started carrying one because his father was ill and he needed to be reached all the time. After his father passed away, he was used to carrying it and his friends had the number. He's gently nagged me a few times about adding another phone to our plan but I stick pretty close to home and the land line. When I'm out, I don't want to be bothered. And maybe after answering phones for 30 years as an Administrative Assistant, I just plain don't want to talk on the phone.
A year ago I decided to enter the 21st century and purchased a DVD Recorder. After playing with it for weeks and not being able to make it work, I put it in a drawer and forgot about it. A couple of days ago I discovered it and decided to make another try. I took it into the kitchen and hooked it up to our flat screen on the counter. I could not get the DVD recorder menu to show on the TV. I googled, I read the manual from cover to cover (what I could understand, that is) and nothing worked. Until I had an epiphany. You have to select the 'source' on the TV (a painful DUH moment). The original TV I used didn't have that option. The new flat screen in the kitchen did - and last night I recorded my first ever program on the DVD recorder. Ain't technology wonderful? So, I moved the DVD recorder to my 'studio' and put the VCR player in the kitchen because I often have to record three programs at the same time due to my bedtime being so early. I'm up at the crack of dawn watching programs I could have watched the night before if I hadn't gone to bed at eight. In my defense, I do read for a while before I fall asleep, I'm not saying how long.... Then, it occurred to me that if I record something on the VCR in the kitchen, I will have to sit in the kitchen to watch it since I no longer have a VCR in my studio. So, (don't 'cha just love E-Bay), I found a used one on E-Bay and ordered it for $50.00. I won't record on it, I'll just use it to watch those programs that are on at the same time I'm using my DVD recorder. So now I have the DVD recorder which also plays DVDs, my Roku box for watching Netflix and Amazon (which took me half a day to figure out how to hook to the TV and DVD recorder) and the VCR for watching video tapes. If I could get food delivered up here, I'd never leave!
I am now the proud owner of a Becca's bow maker and I wanted to say I love it. It didn't take any time at all to learn how to use it. I have three bow makers now and I like this one the best although it's so much bigger than the other two. This is one of the few times I've actually used a stamp set to make a background. I tried coloring the first one and found I didn't like it as well as I like the black and white version. I think it makes the colored image pop!
Recipe: Spellbinder Labels Large, Tags Trio; Flourishes Strawberries; Wright's Seam Binding; Becca's Peg Bow Maker; Yellow Stickles; Distress Ink Festive Berries; Copics: R39, R29, R24, Y21, Y32, G82, G85, G94
A year ago I decided to enter the 21st century and purchased a DVD Recorder. After playing with it for weeks and not being able to make it work, I put it in a drawer and forgot about it. A couple of days ago I discovered it and decided to make another try. I took it into the kitchen and hooked it up to our flat screen on the counter. I could not get the DVD recorder menu to show on the TV. I googled, I read the manual from cover to cover (what I could understand, that is) and nothing worked. Until I had an epiphany. You have to select the 'source' on the TV (a painful DUH moment). The original TV I used didn't have that option. The new flat screen in the kitchen did - and last night I recorded my first ever program on the DVD recorder. Ain't technology wonderful? So, I moved the DVD recorder to my 'studio' and put the VCR player in the kitchen because I often have to record three programs at the same time due to my bedtime being so early. I'm up at the crack of dawn watching programs I could have watched the night before if I hadn't gone to bed at eight. In my defense, I do read for a while before I fall asleep, I'm not saying how long.... Then, it occurred to me that if I record something on the VCR in the kitchen, I will have to sit in the kitchen to watch it since I no longer have a VCR in my studio. So, (don't 'cha just love E-Bay), I found a used one on E-Bay and ordered it for $50.00. I won't record on it, I'll just use it to watch those programs that are on at the same time I'm using my DVD recorder. So now I have the DVD recorder which also plays DVDs, my Roku box for watching Netflix and Amazon (which took me half a day to figure out how to hook to the TV and DVD recorder) and the VCR for watching video tapes. If I could get food delivered up here, I'd never leave!
I am now the proud owner of a Becca's bow maker and I wanted to say I love it. It didn't take any time at all to learn how to use it. I have three bow makers now and I like this one the best although it's so much bigger than the other two. This is one of the few times I've actually used a stamp set to make a background. I tried coloring the first one and found I didn't like it as well as I like the black and white version. I think it makes the colored image pop!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
What a wasted day....or....
maybe not. WE TV is hosting a full day of My Fair Wedding with David Tutera - a FULL day! So while I watch, I color. I've seen a gorgeous India/China fusion wedding, a shabby chic wedding, a Hawaiian wedding, and a Mad Men totally sixties wedding (which so far has been my fav). I wish I had a teensy tiny bit of the design flair that David Tutera has. He can take a small vision and turn it into a dream. But the most amazing thing about him is his ability to make any woman feel like a princess and every woman should feel like a princess on her wedding day. I wouldn't have changed anything about my wedding (we were married in the little stone church in Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park) but it could have used a little of David's flair. Lucky is the woman who gets to have a wedding designed by him.
It's also a dreary cold rainy day in Central Illinois so we can't work in the yard. Temps in the high 40s and the heater has been on in the greenhouse since yesterday afternoon. Hubs wanted to work outside but since he's spending so much time under the gazebo measuring for the lattice, rain just creates mud for him to work in. On the plus side, this rain will help the robins to build nests; it's been too dry for mud lately.
It's also a dreary cold rainy day in Central Illinois so we can't work in the yard. Temps in the high 40s and the heater has been on in the greenhouse since yesterday afternoon. Hubs wanted to work outside but since he's spending so much time under the gazebo measuring for the lattice, rain just creates mud for him to work in. On the plus side, this rain will help the robins to build nests; it's been too dry for mud lately.
What a wasted day....or....
maybe not. WE TV is hosting a full day of My Fair Wedding with David Tutera - a FULL day! So while I watch, I color. I've seen a gorgeous India/China fusion wedding, a shabby chic wedding, a Hawaiian wedding, and a Mad Men totally sixties wedding (which so far has been my fav). I wish I had a teensy tiny bit of the design flair that David Tutera has. He can take a small vision and turn it into a dream. But the most amazing thing about him is his ability to make any woman feel like a princess and every woman should feel like a princess on her wedding day. I wouldn't have changed anything about my wedding (we were married in the little stone church in Mammoth in Yellowstone National Park) but it could have used a little of David's flair. Lucky is the woman who gets to have a wedding designed by him.
It's also a dreary cold rainy day in Central Illinois so we can't work in the yard. Temps in the high 40s and the heater has been on in the greenhouse since yesterday afternoon. Hubs wanted to work outside but since he's spending so much time under the gazebo measuring for the lattice, rain just creates mud for him to work in. On the plus side, this rain will help the robins to build nests; it's been too dry for mud lately.
This is the first of three cards I've finished so far today. I'm addicted to Saturated Canary. Krista's images are so easy to bring to life and this sassy little miss is one of my favorites. I ordered some of the Hug Snug seam binding from E-bay and colored it with my copic reinker R83 which colored it beautifully. I see why crafters are using seam binding for bows.
Recipe: Saturated Canary digital image; K & Co. Designer Mat Pad Julianne; Becca's Bow Maker; Hug Snug Seam Binding; Make it Crafty charm.
It's also a dreary cold rainy day in Central Illinois so we can't work in the yard. Temps in the high 40s and the heater has been on in the greenhouse since yesterday afternoon. Hubs wanted to work outside but since he's spending so much time under the gazebo measuring for the lattice, rain just creates mud for him to work in. On the plus side, this rain will help the robins to build nests; it's been too dry for mud lately.
This is the first of three cards I've finished so far today. I'm addicted to Saturated Canary. Krista's images are so easy to bring to life and this sassy little miss is one of my favorites. I ordered some of the Hug Snug seam binding from E-bay and colored it with my copic reinker R83 which colored it beautifully. I see why crafters are using seam binding for bows.
Friday, April 27, 2012
One of the lucky ones....
I got a package in the mail yesterday from StampingScrapping.com which contained Cindy Echtinaw's new Spellbinder Card Creator dies. In less than five minutes I created this card using them. I cut an 8.5" x 11" piece of Recollections black cardstock in half and scored at 4.25". Using my Grand Calibur I cut the patterned black and white paper, the black cardstock, a white panel for the inside, and the tag all at the same time. It only took a second to stamp the tag and glue all the pieces together. I'm hoping she'll come out with the entire set with an 1/8" reveal soon; these sets have a 1/4" reveal. There are two sets, a large and small one. Each one has a 1/2" reveal, combined they have a 1/4" reveal and nest just like the majority of Spellbinder dies. Now, I know you can cut these panels yourself but when I'm in a hurry to make a card sometimes I don't want to mess with the paper cutter, and just one pass of the GC took minutes. These sets have been withdrawn from the website for a while, but look for good things in the future from Cindy.
Recipe: Recollections card stock, Black and White Paper Pad, Spellbinder Fancy Tags Two, StampingScrapping.com Card Creator Large and Small.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
From this window - 4/25/12...
It's almost the end of April. The bluebirds that were actually starting a nest a few days ago disappeared for two days during the cold spell we had. I saw them briefly yesterday; the female was on top of the nest box and the male was on his perch in the crab apple tree. I have not seen them today. I did, however, see a female downy woodpecker investigating the nest box. I'm still holding out for the bluebirds but I would take a pair of downy woodpeckers because I've never had woodpeckers nest in a box I could get to. I also have not seen any hummingbirds this season. My Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle is in full bloom, we have many large patches of native columbine and the Wiegelas are both starting to bloom. All three plants are hummingbird favorites but I've not seen any so far. We don't put out hummingbird feeders until late August because we have so many spring and summer blooming plants for them which leads me to my next subject.
You are so kind....
It's almost the end of April. The bluebirds that were actually starting a nest a few days ago disappeared for two days during the cold spell we had. I saw them briefly yesterday; the female was on top of the nest box and the male was on his perch in the crab apple tree. I have not seen them today. I did, however, see a female downy woodpecker investigating the nest box. I'm still holding out for the bluebirds but I would take a pair of downy woodpeckers because I've never had woodpeckers nest in a box I could get to. I also have not seen any hummingbirds this season. My Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle is in full bloom, we have many large patches of native columbine and the Wiegelas are both starting to bloom. All three plants are hummingbird favorites but I've not seen any so far. We don't put out hummingbird feeders until late August because we have so many spring and summer blooming plants for them which leads me to my next subject.
Every once in a while someone does something above and beyond for you, something so sweet and unexpected that it just makes your day. I have lunch a few times a year with an engineer I used to work with. We've remained friends even though we've not seen each other for years at a stretch. I recently had some medical problems and as soon as I felt up to it, we had lunch. She brought me the most beautiful hydrangea to plant in my yard. She's thoughtful that way. This is the card I sent to thank her.
Paper: Beckett Candlelight; Little Miss Muffet Digital Emily Rose Hatter; Spellbinder Labels Four, Spellbinder Grand Labels Four; Copics: [Skin E000, E00, E93][Dress BV0000, BV01, E40, E42, E43][Hair Y0000, Y13, Y11][Hat E40, E42, E43, BV0000, BV01, BV02, BV04, BV00], Karen Foster Rub-On, Imaginisce Rhinestones, Glossy Accents, Stickles Stardust, Prima Flowers, CC Designs Leafy Branch. I printed the image twice, cut one hat out and popped it up on top of the finished image.
Every once in a while someone does something above and beyond for you, something so sweet and unexpected that it just makes your day. I have lunch a few times a year with an engineer I used to work with. We've remained friends even though we've not seen each other for years at a stretch. I recently had some medical problems and as soon as I felt up to it, we had lunch. She brought me the most beautiful hydrangea to plant in my yard. She's thoughtful that way. This is the card I sent to thank her.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
When 5 year olds make commercials....
There is a commercial I've seen many times on television that I'm convinced was made by a five year old (although that may be doing a disservice to five years olds). The commercial is for a product called CapTel by Sprint. It starts with a dad on the phone to his daughter, "Hello, dad, it's been a long time." Dad says, "I couldn't hear on the phone so I stopped calling." Daughter says, "How are you able to call me now?" And then dad talks about the product. First of all, if my dad suddenly stopped calling or answering the phone, I'd be at his house to find out why. I would not be waiting for him to discover some product that made it easier for him to use the phone. This commercial is one of the reasons I have to record TV shows I want to watch. If I'm watching live, it's just background noise, I'm not really watching. When I watch a recorded show, I fast forward past the commercials because some of them just drive me insane and the CapTel commercial is currently at the top of my list. Any commercials drive you crazy? Feel free to vent here.
When 5 year olds make commercials....
There is a commercial I've seen many times on television that I'm convinced was made by a five year old (although that may be doing a disservice to five years olds). The commercial is for a product called CapTel by Sprint. It starts with a dad on the phone to his daughter, "Hello, dad, it's been a long time." Dad says, "I couldn't hear on the phone so I stopped calling." Daughter says, "How are you able to call me now?" And then dad talks about the product. First of all, if my dad suddenly stopped calling or answering the phone, I'd be at his house to find out why. I would not be waiting for him to discover some product that made it easier for him to use the phone. This commercial is one of the reasons I have to record TV shows I want to watch. If I'm watching live, it's just background noise, I'm not really watching. When I watch a recorded show, I fast forward past the commercials because some of them just drive me insane and the CapTel commercial is currently at the top of my list. Any commercials drive you crazy? Feel free to vent here.
This card was created with a PTI die and it's an A2 sized card. I created the fold at the bottom when I ran the die through so it opens from the top. The giraffe is from the Sweet Baby stamp and die collection from PTI. This was a quick and easy baby card, finished in about 10 minutes.
Recipe: Recipe: PTI Onsie Die; Recollections card stock; Sizzix Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug Tag, PTI Sweet Baby Stamp and die
This card was created with a PTI die and it's an A2 sized card. I created the fold at the bottom when I ran the die through so it opens from the top. The giraffe is from the Sweet Baby stamp and die collection from PTI. This was a quick and easy baby card, finished in about 10 minutes.
Recipe: Recipe: PTI Onsie Die; Recollections card stock; Sizzix Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug Tag, PTI Sweet Baby Stamp and die
Free Digital May Birthday Sentiments and Calendar
Do you realize it's almost May? I can't believe how fast this year is going. I have a million things I want to get done this year and haven't started any of them. But I did get the May sentiments and calendar done so enjoy.
Friday, April 20, 2012
What a difference a light makes....
I have an adjustable floor Ott light that has a hood that hangs over my craft desk. Lately it has put out so little light that I forget to turn it off when I leave my room. It just recently occurred to me I wasn't going blind, the light was actually dimming. So, I ordered a new bulb from Amazon and a spare to put in the closet and, jeez, Louise, I can actually see. So, if you've noticed my coloring looking a little sad lately, please blame it on the light and not me.
I found this cute bib shaped card frame somewhere (that's old age talking) and cut it out on my Cameo. The image is from Sugar Nellie. The bow and stick pin are from my stash. I believe the tag is from Cuttlebug and the sentiment is unknown. I'm usually not so unorganized, I try to keep track of the supplies on each card, but sometimes the recipes get lost before I can make a note of them in my database.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
From this window - 4/19...
The bluebirds have been much in evidence the last two days. I spent the day yesterday replacing the liners in our haystack window boxes - what a job. We have twelve of them that go around the deck and over the years I've filled them with succulents. They survive the winter beautifully, they are lovely to look at, you don't have to water them everyday and I can intersperse annuals every summer; this year will be Dahlberg Daisy that I've started in the greenhouse. After putting every window box in place, I would walk into the garage, look out the window and watch the bluebirds at the box. This morning the female is attempting to make the nest. As I watch, she's sitting on top of the box with a mouthful of grass. She'll fly down to the hole, hang on to the hole, look in, and fly back to the top of the box. It seems she's a little confused by the nesting process. Since this box is only ten feet or so from the road and this is a work day, cars go by pretty regularly. A quiet car doesn't bother her but the diesels cause her to fly away. The male chased away a starling this morning; he knocked him right off the top of the box and to the ground. Some male bluebirds are passive and some are aggressive. I'm glad this one is aggressive, house sparrows and wrens will stand a smaller chance of taking over the box. The temperature is 62 here with a light wind. I have four more window boxes to finish and the Cardinal Vine and Moon Vine seeds have germinated in their paper towel nests so they will need to be potted up. There are three packages of each so that's a half day's work.
Hubs finally got his replacement stain and spent yesterday staining the outside lower portion of the gazebo. Today he's going to try to get the deck floor finished. Then, if it rains, we can at least get the canopy up and the furniture out of the garage and back on the deck (I miss my grill). We've had a huge bumper crop of maple seeds this year and since we have three, two by the gazebo/deck and one in the front yard, we could actually use maple seeds as mulch. Big mistake to take the screens out of the gazebo because the seeds have covered the floor and gotten in between the floor boards. There is screen on the underside of the floor so you can't push them through. I have no idea how he's going to get them out before he stains the floor there. On the deck, you can use a putty knife to just push them through. We can take the indoor/outdoor vac outside and that will help, but it will still be a major job. The pond is also filled with them. While the skimmer gets a portion of them, if they land on top of the water lily leaves, they just sit. We had to replace the waterfall pump, our old one wouldn't start this spring. The one we ordered last year so we'd have a spare was not only cheaper than the original one, but much more powerful. We're having trouble keeping the toads from being sucked into the pump. We can't close off the skimmer, that will defeat the purpose of having one, so hubs is going to line the top of the skimmer with chicken wire. Debris can still get through it but we don't think the toads can. We have to be able to get inside to clean out the skimmer which scares the toads so they dive and somehow get past the filter and sucked into the pump. We feel really bad about it because we love them, so before he starts staining today he'll see what he can do to save them.
Hubs finally got his replacement stain and spent yesterday staining the outside lower portion of the gazebo. Today he's going to try to get the deck floor finished. Then, if it rains, we can at least get the canopy up and the furniture out of the garage and back on the deck (I miss my grill). We've had a huge bumper crop of maple seeds this year and since we have three, two by the gazebo/deck and one in the front yard, we could actually use maple seeds as mulch. Big mistake to take the screens out of the gazebo because the seeds have covered the floor and gotten in between the floor boards. There is screen on the underside of the floor so you can't push them through. I have no idea how he's going to get them out before he stains the floor there. On the deck, you can use a putty knife to just push them through. We can take the indoor/outdoor vac outside and that will help, but it will still be a major job. The pond is also filled with them. While the skimmer gets a portion of them, if they land on top of the water lily leaves, they just sit. We had to replace the waterfall pump, our old one wouldn't start this spring. The one we ordered last year so we'd have a spare was not only cheaper than the original one, but much more powerful. We're having trouble keeping the toads from being sucked into the pump. We can't close off the skimmer, that will defeat the purpose of having one, so hubs is going to line the top of the skimmer with chicken wire. Debris can still get through it but we don't think the toads can. We have to be able to get inside to clean out the skimmer which scares the toads so they dive and somehow get past the filter and sucked into the pump. We feel really bad about it because we love them, so before he starts staining today he'll see what he can do to save them.
From this window - 4/19
The bluebirds have been much in evidence the last two days. I spent the day yesterday replacing the liners in our haystack window boxes - what a job. We have twelve of them that go around the deck and over the years I've filled them with succulents. They survive the winter beautifully, they are lovely to look at, you don't have to water them everyday and I can intersperse annuals every summer; this year will be Dahlberg Daisy that I've started in the greenhouse. After putting every window box in place, I would walk into the garage, look out the window and watch the bluebirds at the box. This morning the female is attempting to make the nest. As I watch, she's sitting on top of the box with a mouthful of grass. She'll fly down to the hole, hang on to the hole, look in, and fly back to the top of the box. It seems she's a little confused by the nesting process. Since this box is only ten feet or so from the road and this is a work day, cars go by pretty regularly. A quiet car doesn't bother her but the diesels cause her to fly away. The male chased away a starling this morning; he knocked him right off the top of the box and to the ground. Some male bluebirds are passive and some are aggressive. I'm glad this one is aggressive, house sparrows and wrens will stand a smaller chance of taking over the box. The temperature is 62 here with a light wind. I have four more window boxes to finish and the Cardinal Vine and Moon Vine seeds have germinated in their paper towel nests so they will need to be potted up. There are three packages of each so that's a half day's work.
Hubs finally got his replacement stain and spent yesterday staining the outside lower portion of the gazebo. Today he's going to try to get the deck floor finished. Then, if it rains, we can at least get the canopy up and the furniture out of the garage and back on the deck (I miss my grill). We've had a huge bumper crop of maple seeds this year and since we have three, two by the gazebo/deck and one in the front yard, we could actually use maple seeds as mulch. Big mistake to take the screens out of the gazebo because the seeds have covered the floor and gotten in between the floor boards. There is screen on the underside of the floor so you can't push them through. I have no idea how he's going to get them out before he stains the floor there. On the deck, you can use a putty knife to just push them through. We can take the indoor/outdoor vac outside and that will help, but it will still be a major job. The pond is also filled with them. While the skimmer gets a portion of them, if they land on top of the water lily leaves, they just sit. We had to replace the waterfall pump, our old one wouldn't start this spring. The one we ordered last year so we'd have a spare was not only cheaper than the original one, but much more powerful. We're having trouble keeping the toads from being sucked into the pump. We can't close off the skimmer, that will defeat the purpose of having one, so hubs is going to line the top of the skimmer with chicken wire. Debris can still get through it but we don't think the toads can. We have to be able to get inside to clean out the skimmer which scares the toads so they dive and somehow get past the filter and sucked into the pump. We feel really bad about it because we love them, so before he starts staining today he'll see what he can do to save them.
This was such an easy card to do. I had cut the Spellbinder Floral Oval for something else and it didn't work. I also had this Sugar Nellie image cut out but not colored. They made an easy match. The sentiment is from PTI. The copic colors used were: [Skin E000, E00, E11, E93][Dress/Sweater G82, G000, G21, R81, N0, N1, N2, N3][Hair YR20, E31, E35][Ball R39, R37][Shoes C1, C3, C5] I like the simplicity.
Hubs finally got his replacement stain and spent yesterday staining the outside lower portion of the gazebo. Today he's going to try to get the deck floor finished. Then, if it rains, we can at least get the canopy up and the furniture out of the garage and back on the deck (I miss my grill). We've had a huge bumper crop of maple seeds this year and since we have three, two by the gazebo/deck and one in the front yard, we could actually use maple seeds as mulch. Big mistake to take the screens out of the gazebo because the seeds have covered the floor and gotten in between the floor boards. There is screen on the underside of the floor so you can't push them through. I have no idea how he's going to get them out before he stains the floor there. On the deck, you can use a putty knife to just push them through. We can take the indoor/outdoor vac outside and that will help, but it will still be a major job. The pond is also filled with them. While the skimmer gets a portion of them, if they land on top of the water lily leaves, they just sit. We had to replace the waterfall pump, our old one wouldn't start this spring. The one we ordered last year so we'd have a spare was not only cheaper than the original one, but much more powerful. We're having trouble keeping the toads from being sucked into the pump. We can't close off the skimmer, that will defeat the purpose of having one, so hubs is going to line the top of the skimmer with chicken wire. Debris can still get through it but we don't think the toads can. We have to be able to get inside to clean out the skimmer which scares the toads so they dive and somehow get past the filter and sucked into the pump. We feel really bad about it because we love them, so before he starts staining today he'll see what he can do to save them.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Did you ever have one of those days?...
My poor husband had a really bad day yesterday. He had been waiting to hear about the stain he'd ordered from a hardware store; it has been four days and was due in but no word. So, he called the hardware store and was told that the employee who ordered his stain was unavailable but they would try to reach him by phone. There were only two cans of the original Cabot clear stain he used on the deck (which is all done except the floor). When he purchased it he was told that it would only take a couple of days to get more if he needed it. Unfortunately he really under-estimated the amount of stain this old wood would take so he was back to the hardware store in two days to order more. When the employee plugged the number into the computer he discovered that Illinois no longer allowed that particular Cabot stain to be sold. The employee found something else he thought would work and ordered it. My husband even received a call that it would be in the store at the end of the week. So, when he didn't hear on Friday, he called. When he hadn't heard back in an hour he decided to run up to Kentucky Fried Chicken to get a bucket for dinner. We live in the boonies so it's a forty minute trip to KFC. While he was gone, I got the call from the hardware store. The clerk went through the whole "can't sell that Cabot stain in Illinois anymore" which we already knew and the replacement stain could not be ordered either. Which caused me to ask why we weren't notified. How long did they expect us to wait for the stain that had not been ordered? Of course, the clerk that called didn't have any idea and I'm guessing we're crossing that hardware store off of our places to buy stuff. I didn't relish telling hubs, he's really mild mannered until something like this happens. When he got home, I let him know what the clerk said and also gave him a number for the Pro Corner at Cabot stain so he could ask what he was supposed to do now that 1/3 of the deck/gazebo product was already stained with a product he can no longer get.
While dishing up our meal he discovered only nine pieces of chicken in the twelve piece bucket he paid for. He's already mad, right? It would cost too much gas to run back to KFC (which maybe is what they count on) so I registered a complaint on the KFC website but haven't heard from them either. UPDATE: We heard from the regional manager at KFC. She offered us a free meal with a dessert cake, so three thumbs up to KFC. I probably would not have even registered a complaint except it was 'one of those days'.
While he stewed over that, we put in a movie he purchased at Walmart just two days ago - My Fair Lady. It started up with the CBS Logo, showed the "illegal to pirate" text and just stopped. We cleaned it, tried to fast forward it, tried the menu, started and stopped it several times, it always stopped on exactly the same place. And that capped it. When he couldn't find the receipt so we could take the video back, he shut down.
This morning he called Cabot to ask what he was supposed to do now and was told that the stain he's already covered most of the deck with is a base that is supposed to have color added to it. In the clear state it's supposed to last only six months. Tinted it will last up to six years. Of course, he applied it clear but in reading the can, nowhere does it state it needs to be tinted. The Cabot employee he spoke to said they didn't know what happened with the labeling, but the information they had said it needed to be tinted. He left for a meeting his morning fuming and the deck/gazebo project is on hold for the moment.
While dishing up our meal he discovered only nine pieces of chicken in the twelve piece bucket he paid for. He's already mad, right? It would cost too much gas to run back to KFC (which maybe is what they count on) so I registered a complaint on the KFC website but haven't heard from them either. UPDATE: We heard from the regional manager at KFC. She offered us a free meal with a dessert cake, so three thumbs up to KFC. I probably would not have even registered a complaint except it was 'one of those days'.
While he stewed over that, we put in a movie he purchased at Walmart just two days ago - My Fair Lady. It started up with the CBS Logo, showed the "illegal to pirate" text and just stopped. We cleaned it, tried to fast forward it, tried the menu, started and stopped it several times, it always stopped on exactly the same place. And that capped it. When he couldn't find the receipt so we could take the video back, he shut down.
This morning he called Cabot to ask what he was supposed to do now and was told that the stain he's already covered most of the deck with is a base that is supposed to have color added to it. In the clear state it's supposed to last only six months. Tinted it will last up to six years. Of course, he applied it clear but in reading the can, nowhere does it state it needs to be tinted. The Cabot employee he spoke to said they didn't know what happened with the labeling, but the information they had said it needed to be tinted. He left for a meeting his morning fuming and the deck/gazebo project is on hold for the moment.
Did you ever have one of those days?
My poor husband had a really bad day yesterday. He had been waiting to hear about the stain he'd ordered from a hardware store; it has been four days and was due in but no word. So, he called the hardware store and was told that the employee who ordered his stain was unavailable but they would try to reach him by phone. There were only two cans of the original Cabot clear stain he used on the deck (which is all done except the floor). When he purchased it he was told that it would only take a couple of days to get more if he needed it. Unfortunately he really under-estimated the amount of stain this old wood would take so he was back to the hardware store in two days to order more. When the employee plugged the number into the computer he discovered that Illinois no longer allowed that particular Cabot stain to be sold. The employee found something else he thought would work and ordered it. My husband even received a call that it would be in the store at the end of the week. So, when he didn't hear on Friday, he called. When he hadn't heard back in an hour he decided to run up to Kentucky Fried Chicken to get a bucket for dinner. We live in the boonies so it's a forty minute trip to KFC. While he was gone, I got the call from the hardware store. The clerk went through the whole "can't sell that Cabot stain in Illinois anymore" which we already knew and the replacement stain could not be ordered either. Which caused me to ask why we weren't notified. How long did they expect us to wait for the stain that had not been ordered? Of course, the clerk that called didn't have any idea and I'm guessing we're crossing that hardware store off of our places to buy stuff. I didn't relish telling hubs, he's really mild mannered until something like this happens. When he got home, I let him know what the clerk said and also gave him a number for the Pro Corner at Cabot stain so he could ask what he was supposed to do now that 1/3 of the deck/gazebo product was already stained with a product he can no longer get.
While dishing up our meal he discovered only nine pieces of chicken in the twelve piece bucket he paid for. He's already mad, right? It would cost too much gas to run back to KFC (which maybe is what they count on) so I registered a complaint on the KFC website but haven't heard from them either. UPDATE: We heard from the regional manager at KFC. She offered us a free meal with a dessert cake, so three thumbs up to KFC. I probably would not have even registered a complaint except it was 'one of those days'.
While he stewed over that, we put in a movie he purchased at Walmart just two days ago - My Fair Lady. It started up with the CBS Logo, showed the "illegal to pirate" text and just stopped. We cleaned it, tried to fast forward it, tried the menu, started and stopped it several times, it always stopped on exactly the same place. And that capped it. When he couldn't find the receipt so we could take the video back, he shut down.
This morning he called Cabot to ask what he was supposed to do now and was told that the stain he's already covered most of the deck with is a base that is supposed to have color added to it. In the clear state it's supposed to last only six months. Tinted it will last up to six years. Of course, he applied it clear but in reading the can, nowhere does it state it needs to be tinted. The Cabot employee he spoke to said they didn't know what happened with the labeling, but the information they had said it needed to be tinted. He left for a meeting his morning fuming and the deck/gazebo project is on hold for the moment.
This card would have been more appropriate to my story if it had said "Poor Baby". The card stock is Recollections and Beckett Radiance, the striped paper is from my stash. I used Spellbinder's Label Sixteen and PTI's Sweet Baby stamp set and die. I'm getting ready for a craft sale in May and I'm trying to make 'saleable' cards.
While dishing up our meal he discovered only nine pieces of chicken in the twelve piece bucket he paid for. He's already mad, right? It would cost too much gas to run back to KFC (which maybe is what they count on) so I registered a complaint on the KFC website but haven't heard from them either. UPDATE: We heard from the regional manager at KFC. She offered us a free meal with a dessert cake, so three thumbs up to KFC. I probably would not have even registered a complaint except it was 'one of those days'.
While he stewed over that, we put in a movie he purchased at Walmart just two days ago - My Fair Lady. It started up with the CBS Logo, showed the "illegal to pirate" text and just stopped. We cleaned it, tried to fast forward it, tried the menu, started and stopped it several times, it always stopped on exactly the same place. And that capped it. When he couldn't find the receipt so we could take the video back, he shut down.
This morning he called Cabot to ask what he was supposed to do now and was told that the stain he's already covered most of the deck with is a base that is supposed to have color added to it. In the clear state it's supposed to last only six months. Tinted it will last up to six years. Of course, he applied it clear but in reading the can, nowhere does it state it needs to be tinted. The Cabot employee he spoke to said they didn't know what happened with the labeling, but the information they had said it needed to be tinted. He left for a meeting his morning fuming and the deck/gazebo project is on hold for the moment.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Peachy Keen challenge
I haven't been entering challenges because I never seem to have anything finished I can enter. And I can't remember the last time I actually made something for a challenge. I recently purchased a new set of stamps from Peachy Keen. I haven't been buying actual stamps because I don't have the room, but I loved the images in this set which is all about time. And I was buying Peachy Keen stamps way back when they started making faces for the Cricut paper dolls and animals. In fact, for this card, I used a snowman face instead of the one that came with the set. So, I'm entering this in the Peachy Keen challenge.
I used a DCWV Adhesive Mat Stack Brights to stamp the grandfather stamp twice, once on yellow, once on ivory. I cut out the ivory pieces and adhered them to the yellow clock. The sentiment comes from the Peachy Keen PKSC-04 set. The paper is from an old Cricut pad I've had for many years.
Friday, April 13, 2012
From this window....April 13...
We actually had a really nice spring day today. Highs in the 60s with lots of sunshine, but a cool wind. Hubs was working on the deer net around the raised bed. Our deer like sunflowers more than we like New York Strip steak. If we don't fence them out, they'll eat every sunflower that emerges from the ground. If we can get them about five feet high, the deer don't like them anymore. Every year it's a battle to keep some of the sunflowers for the birds. Plants are germinating in the greenhouse even though we've had to keep the heater on several nights this week. Sprouting are zinnias (11 colors), cosmos, salvia, tithonia, California Wonder Green Peppers, Dill and three kinds of tomatoes. Waiting to be planted are Moon Flower Vines and Cardinal Vines. I already have orders for them from people who live in our village. In my walk-about I saw that the iris has buds, the peonies have buds, the Wiegelas both have buds, the balloon flowers are spreading like wildfire, the water lilies are now sending up buds (we have both white and dark pink), the Chinese Wisteria has buds on it. The trumpet vine lost all its leaves during the recent frost, I'm hoping it recovers. It was a slip we brought from Carl's parent's house after his mother died and I would hate to lose it. The wisteria has put out a new vine that we'll dig up and plant on the frame of the old deck canopy as soon as Carl reassembles it in the backyard. I plan to put my chaise lounge under it and spend many delightful hours reading there. The male bluebird was singing in the backyard this afternoon but I didn't see him near either of the bird houses, we're still hoping he'll use one of the boxes, hardly anything makes me happier than bluebirds in the yard.
From this window....April 13
We actually had a really nice spring day today. Highs in the 60s with lots of sunshine, but a cool wind. Hubs was working on the deer net around the raised bed. Our deer like sunflowers more than we like New York Strip steak. If we don't fence them out, they'll eat every sunflower that emerges from the ground. If we can get them about five feet high, the deer don't like them anymore. Every year it's a battle to keep some of the sunflowers for the birds. Plants are germinating in the greenhouse even though we've had to keep the heater on several nights this week. Sprouting are zinnias (11 colors), cosmos, salvia, tithonia, California Wonder Green Peppers, Dill and three kinds of tomatoes. Waiting to be planted are Moon Flower Vines and Cardinal Vines. I already have orders for them from people who live in our village. In my walk-about I saw that the iris has buds, the peonies have buds, the Wiegelas both have buds, the balloon flowers are spreading like wildfire, the water lilies are now sending up buds (we have both white and dark pink), the Chinese Wisteria has buds on it. The trumpet vine lost all its leaves during the recent frost, I'm hoping it recovers. It was a slip we brought from Carl's parent's house after his mother died and I would hate to lose it. The wisteria has put out a new vine that we'll dig up and plant on the frame of the old deck canopy as soon as Carl reassembles it in the backyard. I plan to put my chaise lounge under it and spend many delightful hours reading there. The male bluebird was singing in the backyard this afternoon but I didn't see him near either of the bird houses, we're still hoping he'll use one of the boxes, hardly anything makes me happier than bluebirds in the yard.
This is a Sugar Nellie digital image. I have all of these in the collection and would be hard pressed to tell you which one I love the most.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
CAS - Instant card...
I recently had need of an instant card - you know, the kind you should have created last week. I have card-making software (Hallmark Card Studio) but I don't much like the clipart. I use it to design cards with digital images, to create a sentiment on the front or to create a sentiment inside. I can then print it out and add other details to the card. I only add digital images to a card if I plan to color with pencils because my Copics bleed through. On this occasion I actually had an epiphany. I have used Doodle Pantry digital images to color but I've never used a pre-colored image and believe me, there are some really great ones that came with the black and white images I bought. This is one, it's called Quirky Lizard and aren't the colors fab? They're so vibrant and.....they don't bleed through. They did, however, cause me to have to order new ink for my inkjet. I use so much black and white that I don't keep extra color cartridges on hand. So, if you need an instant card, try a pre-colored image. You can create these in Word and avoid the fancy card-making software. If your printer allows, you can change your Word margins to 0. Use the Word ruler to place two images in the lower quadrants of Word - one on each side. Remember, you are going to cut the result in half top to bottom. Print it out in greyscale on printer paper to see if the placement is correct. Cut your paper in half lengthwise and score. Make adjustments to the image placement in Word if necessary, then print on your card stock. If you'd like side opening cards, place two images on the right side of Word, one on top of the other and repeat the printing on print paper and adjusting. And there you have it - a five minute card. If you haven't been to the Doodle Pantry, I urge you to visit. Cute images, seriously.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Happy Anniversary
My friend Ruthann and her husband Jim just celebrated an anniversary. Since she's had time to see the card, I thought I'd share it here. Ruthann has a bakery business in the booming river town of Lacon, IL. She bakes cakes and pies and cookies, oh my. My favorites change all the time, from the iced sugar cookies to the snickerdoodles. Her business used to be just pick up only but she's recently started opening up the bakery to walk in traffic. It smells sooooooooo good in there. I thought this digital image would be perfect for a baker, right? Again, Happy Anniversary Ruthann and Jim, here's to many many more.
Recollections card stock, DCWV Nana's Kids; Memento Dandelion Ink, Digi Doodle Special Delivery, Whipper Snapper Sending Happy Thoughts, Waltzing Mouse Labels 4, PTI Everyday Classics, Spellbinder Labels 4; Copics: E000, E00, E11, E93, E29, RV11, Y38; Spectrum Noir: CT3, IG2, FS6, EB5, DR3, TB3, CG2, TB1, DR7, DR5
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Scrub a dub dub...
We will have lived in our home nine years in November. The first spring my husband added 'cleaning and re-staining the deck' to his list of projects he wanted to complete. And this spring he finally got to that item on his 'to do' list. It took him two complete days and a gas power washer to finish the job. Luckily it was warm outside because I'm not sure who got the best bath. You can tell from the first picture that the deck was a mess. We have a 14 x 14 deck and a 12 x 12 gazebo. On the outside, the bottom of both structures is lattice and there are three sets of stairs. My husband is a perfectionist so there isn't a dab of dirt or algae left on the entire structure. It now looks completely new. He was out today buying stain - that's the next step. Hopefully, we'll be able to put back the furniture by next week when grilling season will be in full swing. I love my baby Weber, I will cook out four or five times a week until it snows and sometimes even when it snows. My husband is a primo dish washer loader but not much of a grill master, so I cook and he cleans up. It suits us.
Scrub a dub dub...
We will have lived in our home nine years in November. The first spring my husband added 'cleaning and re-staining the deck' to his list of projects he wanted to complete. And this spring he finally got to that item on his 'to do' list. It took him two complete days and a gas power washer to finish the job. Luckily it was warm outside because I'm not sure who got the best bath. You can tell from the first picture that the deck was a mess. We have a 14 x 14 deck and a 12 x 12 gazebo. On the outside, the bottom of both structures is lattice and there are three sets of stairs. My husband is a perfectionist so there isn't a dab of dirt or algae left on the entire structure. It now looks completely new. He was out today buying stain - that's the next step. Hopefully, we'll be able to put back the furniture by next week when grilling season will be in full swing. I love my baby Weber, I will cook out four or five times a week until it snows and sometimes even when it snows. My husband is a primo dish washer loader but not much of a grill master, so I cook and he cleans up. It suits us.
This is another box from the SVGCuts pattern. My favorite movie - Reign of Fire. Ruthann has never seen it so it's on the agenda for next movie day. The paper is DCWV Gone Wild. The dragon silhouette was downloaded from the MTC gallery. Hard to see, but I have an orange rhinestone in the dragon's eye. The title was created with a Dymo Label Maker. I plan to use this for jewelry on my dresser and I'll be bringing you more books in the future.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
From this window - 4/4/12
Today is a picture perfect spring day. It's a balmy 62 degrees, light winds out of the south, the grass and trees sparkle from last night's rain, the crabapple tree is in full and glorious bloom, birds are singing, especially the Brown Thrasher in the woods and life is good. All the windows are open, Rio is singing in the living room and the bluebirds have been back to check out the birdhouse several times this morning. They'll be getting ready to nest soon so fingers crossed that they use our bluebird house. If they do, you will share that journey with me. Carl is clearing the deck and gazebo in preparation for power washing and staining. He found our first grey tree frog on the deck today and nearly stepped on it. The toads are still in the skimmer; we don't have tadpoles in the pond yet even though we have had lots of toad eggs. And I have a HUGE, did I say HUGE? bouquet of lilacs on the island in the kitchen - unheard of for this time of year. AND, AND the best sight of all? Our crabapple tree is covered with honey bees, yes, I said "honey bees". You can stand under the tree and hear them and I can see them from my window. It's been years since I've seen more than one honey bee at a time and we have dozens. I might open a bottle of wine for dinner in celebration. If you don't understand why that calls for celebration, read this. There are several really good documentaries on Netflix about the disappearance of the honey bees. Scary stuff.
From this window.....
Today is a picture perfect spring day. It's a balmy 62 degrees, light winds out of the south, the grass and trees sparkle from last night's rain, the crabapple tree is in full and glorious bloom, birds are singing, especially the Brown Thrasher in the woods and life is good. All the windows are open, Rio is singing in the living room and the bluebirds have been back to check out the birdhouse several times this morning. They'll be getting ready to nest soon so fingers crossed that they use our bluebird house. If they do, you will share that journey with me. Carl is clearing the deck and gazebo in preparation for power washing and staining. He found our first grey tree frog on the deck today and nearly stepped on it. The toads are still in the skimmer; we don't have tadpoles in the pond yet even though we have had lots of toad eggs. And I have a HUGE, did I say HUGE? bouquet of lilacs on the island in the kitchen - unheard of for this time of year. AND, AND the best sight of all? Our crabapple tree is covered with honey bees, yes, I said "honey bees". You can stand under the tree and hear them and I can see them from my window. It's been years since I've seen more than one honey bee at a time and we have dozens. I might open a bottle of wine for dinner in celebration. If you don't understand why that calls for celebration, read this. There are several really good documentaries on Netflix about the disappearance of the honey bees. Scary stuff.
Since I got my Cameo, I've been buying some files to cut - not many because there are so many free files I couldn't use them all if I lived to be two hundred - but some. I've especially liked the SVGCuts files. I use the .svg files but they come in many file types. I recently bought the Attic Treasures file which contains several projects but the one I truly wanted was the book. I struggled to make this pattern, throwing away four books before I got one right. And not because I wasn't putting it together correctly, I paid attention to the corners making sure they were at right angles, I was meticulous. I just couldn't get the book to close properly. Finally, I make the box inside a tad smaller and that helped a bunch. So, after all the disasters yesterday, I finished two books and love them both. I can see making these for gift cards for Christmas, matching the book to the recipient. My daughter's book would be True Blood. My SIL's book would be Homer Simpson's Memoirs, mine would be the next book I show you. It's approximately 5" x 5 3/4" and about 1" deep. How about "Home Remedies" for a sick friend and fill it with aspirin, band aids, antacids, etc. Or a sewing kit, I'm sure you can think of many uses for this little beauty. The file comes with the panels for the front and embellishments for the binding.
The paper for this box was DCWV and Bazzill. The flowers I've had in my stash for at least ten years. The white box was created with Beckett Radiance 120 lb paper so it's very sturdy. The letters are Tim Holtz Vintage Market and it's the first time I've used them. Awesome, huh? I stamped the letters with PTI's Background Basics: Text Style. The ribbon is from Joann Fabrics. I love the way this box turned out, now to find a use for it.
Since I got my Cameo, I've been buying some files to cut - not many because there are so many free files I couldn't use them all if I lived to be two hundred - but some. I've especially liked the SVGCuts files. I use the .svg files but they come in many file types. I recently bought the Attic Treasures file which contains several projects but the one I truly wanted was the book. I struggled to make this pattern, throwing away four books before I got one right. And not because I wasn't putting it together correctly, I paid attention to the corners making sure they were at right angles, I was meticulous. I just couldn't get the book to close properly. Finally, I make the box inside a tad smaller and that helped a bunch. So, after all the disasters yesterday, I finished two books and love them both. I can see making these for gift cards for Christmas, matching the book to the recipient. My daughter's book would be True Blood. My SIL's book would be Homer Simpson's Memoirs, mine would be the next book I show you. It's approximately 5" x 5 3/4" and about 1" deep. How about "Home Remedies" for a sick friend and fill it with aspirin, band aids, antacids, etc. Or a sewing kit, I'm sure you can think of many uses for this little beauty. The file comes with the panels for the front and embellishments for the binding.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Tribute to Baby Boom
As I post this, I'm watching Baby Boom with Diane Keaton. If that's not the cutest baby EVER. I wonder just how long it took to capture all the expressions on her face. And since the first week of the month on my blog is either Baby or Birthday, I thought I'd throw another Baby card out there. This is a Mo Manning image that I've had for some time and hadn't colored. It's funny, since my bout with kidney stones I've spent more time coloring images and less time making cards. No special reason, I guess I'm just on a roll.
Part of the charm of this image is the words. There's no image less "sweet baby smiles" than this one. This is also the first time I've ever cut words from the background paper for my sentiment. Next time I will probably layer them with the same colors I used to layer the image to add a little more pizzazz. Hope you like it.
Paper: Recollections, DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Girl
Stamp: Mo Manning Digital Jill Two
Janome Sewing Machine, Coats & Clark Dual Duty XP Heavy Thread
Cloud 9 Design Rain Dots
3D Crystal Lacquer
Copics: E000, E00, E11, E93, G12, G24, G12, C0, C1, Y21, E51, E53, E43