Running With Scissors...

I Believe I Mentioned We Were Going Camping…

Well, we went camping, alright… in the rain, and we spent most of our time in the tent.  That was just prior to the 4th of July weekend.  All the days before and after our camping trip were beautiful.  It was just that one day that was a dud, and it happened to be the only day we had available.  We were just sure the weather would straighten up.  How wrong we were!

So, I have no pictures of our rainy campsite, but here’s the tent airing out in the yard the day after.  Note the sunshine.  Wally was wondering if we were going to spend the night in the tent again:

And here’s Wally doing what he does best – looking cute:

He makes everything all better.  Have a happy day!

Watch Out for that Cure!

Hello!  First of all, Wally and I would like to thank you for the sweet birthday wishes you offered him.  He had another good day on Tuesday, hiking and swimming, and we plan to take him for his first camping trip this week.  I’m sure there will be photos of that adventure coming soon, but first…

It’s been a busy week – all fun stuff – and I haven’t done much stamping.  I’m on vacation, actually.  It was supposed to be last week, but… long story short, our family time was cut into somewhat and we’re trying to make the most of it.  I did finish a project for a friend, just a little something, so I thought I’d share that, at least.

This is the story of Andrew – 8 year old Relay for Life Team Leader.  Yes, 8 years old.  When his mom became involved in Relay for Life, Andrew started asking questions, and he was dismayed with the answers.  How could there be such a cruel disease as cancer for which there is no cure?  What could be done about it and how could he help?  His concern and interest were so genuine, his mom agreed to let him become involved in the fight for a cure, and soon Andrew was heading up his own team.

 

He devised a few fund raising schemes, one of his most successful projects being the selling of kisses. How cute is that? He walked around with one of those cardboard sandwich signs advertising kisses for $1, and he made a bundle! His longest running and most popular endeavor, though, was his jungle-themed lemonade stand. He set it up at home shows, mall events, office lobbies – to name a few. When Mom wasn’t busy with her full time job and homeschooling her two boys, she was making jungle juice and other jungle goodies to stock the stand, not to mention negotiating the set up with local businesses, and, with Grandma’s help, hauling that stand all over town. Whew! Andrew was the salesman, though. He manned the booth, pitched the sales, and made the change – all under Mom or Grandma’s watchful eye. A real team effort!

Wish I had a better picture, but all I have is a photo of a photo.  Andrew’s mom asked if I would make a frame for this photo – two, in fact.  One for her and one for Grandma.  She provided the mats and frames and I did the alterations.

I had to make quick work of it in the time available or I may have taken a step back and seen where I would change or add something.  However, my friend, Andrew’s mom, was pretty thrilled with it, and that’s enough for me.   I watercolored and cut out the gorilla and jungle foliage image for each frame.  You can see more about the stamp image here, if desired.  The papers are all from the DCWV Animal Crackers Matstack.

Mostly, I wanted to tell you about Andrew because I think it’s a pretty special story about a pretty special boy.  I hope, someday, his efforts will help someone in need.  Thank you for listening.

Who Won My Blog Candy???

Flourishes sure is giving away a lot of great stuff for this release and their birthday celebration!  Are you ready to hear who won the Apple of My Eye set I offered for blog candy on Wednesday?  Well. . . a BIG congratulations goes out to Comment #82:

Kraftyaunt   !!!

Here’s your comment, Kraftyaunt:

Yum. I can smell those apples right now because your coloring is so realistic. Thanks for the opportunity to win !

Posted by: Kraftyaunt | 09/15/2010 at 06:05 PM

The winning comment number was randomly selected by Random.Org.

Kraftyaunt, please contact me for your Apple of My Eye set.

Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to comment.  You are much appreciated, and you make my efforts all worthwhile.  Have a great day!

Home Again!

Hello!  I made it back in one piece from CHA with a head full of ideas, and much excitement about what’s brewing for the near future.  My husband and Wally met me at the airport and I rode home with a 100 lb Golden Retriever on my lap in the front seat.  He couldn’t get close enough and, of course, he has no idea how big he is.  It was okay with me.  I was missing those fuzzy Wally hugs something fierce!

I was bubbling with energy during the entire trip, but the minute I hit the couch it just drained right out of me.  Rich tried unsuccessfully to wake me up at midnight, and I finally became somewhat conscious around 3:30 am and stumbled like a drunken sailor to the bedroom.  Apparently, during my absence, Wally had taken up residence on my side of the bed but I slipped into the approximately 18” of space he’d allowed me, gave him a few smooches, and fell into a state of catatonia for a few more hours.  I’m not yet in full control of my faculties, but I wanted to share a bit of the trip with you today.

First of all, I’d like to say how much I enjoyed the time I spent with my Flourishes teammates.  We fit together like peaches and cream.  A nicer bunch I couldn’t imagine.  Here’s a photo of the gang:

Front row, left to right:  Dee (from the blog team which does the Timeless Tuesday challenges), Jan Marie (owner), Julie, Stacy  Back row, left to right:  Me, Cindy, Dawn

Christine, Laura, and Danielle could not be with us, however, I did get to spend some time later with Barbara Anders (blog team) – another awesome lady who I felt like I’d known forever.

I can’t possibly name or picture everyone I renewed acquaintances with or met for the first time.  I will say that after all these years on SCS I was thrilled to spend some time with Sherry Cheever (I was SO hoping she’d be there!), Cindy Lyles, and Val Stangle.  It was like Old Home Week!  Funny how familiar and comfortable you can be with folks you’ve only known through the internet.

I fell in love with the DoodleBug display.  I wish I could remake my stamp room to look just like this:

 

Here’s just a tiny preview of what’s coming to Flourishes:

 
  

There’s much, much more, but I don’t want to overdo it.  Suffice to say that we were very busy scouting for three days, and Jan Marie and Julie had their hands full placing orders.

The Flourishes team knows full well what the show stopper was for me, and I haven’t even pictured it here.  I believe I was simply too overcome by the beauty of it.  It was designer paper by Prima.  Oh, glory!  I don’t even need to say “be still my heart” because my heart simply stopped upon first sight.  I think I dragged everyone I met over to see it!  It will be in the Flourishes store soon, bless Jan Marie’s little pea-pickin’ heart!

Okay. . . is that enough for today?  I think so.  Stamping will happen when I’ve recovered my senses.  What a fabulous trip it was!  Thank you to everyone who made it happen, and thank you all for putting up with my excitement.  Have a great day!

A Spring Day at Home

Hello!  Today I thought I might like to share a little bit of home with you.  After the work week and all that time spent indoors there's absolutely nothing that makes me happier or more content than to spend a day wandering around the old homestead.  Wally and I went out with plans to work on our trails in the woods but, frankly, it was so pleasant and there were so many pretty and awesome things to see, we ended up mostly just walking and taking it all in, marvelling at the details and filling up with wonder.

The Allium is in its full glory, releasing its onion scent at the slightest brush of the hand.  I tend to get an appetite when I'm around it.  I like onion.

 
Gee, all those Flourishes Sweet Violets I've colored and I've never thought to do one in yellow.  These wild violets are growing and blooming abundantly in the woods behind our house.

These are wild rhodedendrons, not yet in bloom, but beautiful nonetheless.  Perhaps this photo gives you an idea of how tall they are, reaching for the light beyond the forest understory.  In the past, I've always viewed their blooms from my elevated vantage point at the edge of the garden -- a borrowed view which becomes part of the garden when you look beyond the honeysuckle at the turn in the path.  When I began creating paths through the woods as a way to extend Wally's territory (not that he needed the paths, but I did) I inadvertently wound up here at the mysterious rhodedendron grove.  The brush and the blow down was thick and in many cases when I started clearing I had only a vague idea of where I would end up.  The other day I scouted the uncharted territory past this point and found the grove to be much more extensive than I'd realized.  To think, they're out there blooming all pink and beautiful every year and I've never even favored them a glance.  If a rhodedendron blooms in the woods and no one's there to see it, does it still look pretty?

 
These are the days that heighten my awareness of my good fortune, being rich beyond measure in all things that really matter.  I have love and companionship in my family and friends, I have my passions, and I'm able to experience life with all five senses.  Yes, I have stressors, I've experienced loss and disappointment, but today those things weren't with me.  Maybe I can carry a little bit of today into the week with me.

Take good care, and I'll see you again on Monday.

Blog List: Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team, Current & Alumni

Treat yourself to some eye candy.  These designers are amazing!

Amy Sheffer: http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com

Angie Zublionis - http://quackingcreations.blogspot.com/

Anna Wight: http://sweetmissdaisy.typepad.com/

Beate Johns: http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Becca Feeken: http://www.amazingpapergrace.com

Betty Wright http://gbedwright.blogspot.com/

Bev Rousch http://bevithia.blogspot.com

Bonnie Sharp: www.theluckyclucker.blogspot.com

Broni Holcombe:  http://bronih.typepad.com/splashesofwatercolor/

Cambria Turnbow: http://cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/

Candy Williams:  http://cwilliams.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Carolina Buchting: http://www.creativepad.typepad.com/

Cindy Haffner: http://cindyhaffnerscorner.blogspot.com/

Cindy Lawrence: http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/

Cindy Lyles: http://www.starlitstudio.blogspot.com/

Cindy Motherway: http://www.mothermark.blogspot.com/

Christine Okken www.christinecreations.blogspot.com

Carole Burrage - http://motherslittlehelper.typepad.com

Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/

Deb Felts: http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/

Deb Saaranen http://deborahlynnesdreamincolor.blogspot.com/

Debbie Olson http://www.debbiedesigns.typepad.com/

Denise Marzec: www.thepaperlandscaper.blogspot.com

Diane Zechman http://papercookies.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Heather Pulvirenti: http://heatherpulvirenti.blogspot.com

Holly McMillen http://toyzhaven.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com

Jami Bova www.sgtstamper.com/blog

Jami Sibley: http://jami.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

JanTink: http://stampspaperscissors.typepad.c...aper_scissors/

Jeanne Streiff: http://inkypaws.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Jen del Muro: http://www.iheart2stamp.com/

Jenn Balcer: http://jbalcer.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Jennie Thompson: http://scrappilyeveraftergallery.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Buck http://www.thebuckstampshere.blogspot.com

Jerri Jimenez - http://jerrikay.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com

Jessie Rone http://www.canyousayaddictedtostamps.blogspot.com

Joan Ervin - http://spampingwithapassin.blogspot.com

Joanne Basile - www.stampedbyhand.blogspot.com

Jodi Collins - www.stampingalatte.blogspot.com

Jody Morrow: http://confessionsofaribbonaddict.blogspot.com/

Julia Stainton: http://bellepapier.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Julie Ebersole: http://papertrufflez.typepad.com/

Julie Warner: http://thewritestuff.justwritedesigns.com/

Kim Teasdale: http://www.paperintheworks.blogspot.com

Kittie Caracciolo http://kittiekraft.typepad.com/kittiekraft/

Lana Lepinski www.LunarLana.typepad.com

Laura Fredrickson http://www.scrapnextras.com/

Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Leigh O'Brien: http://sunflowerstudio.typepad.com/sunflower_studio/

Leslie Miller: http://lesliekmiller.typepad.com/running-with-scissors/

Lila Holgate http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.spl...tstampers.com/

Linda Bullard: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=7835

Linda Duke: http://www.lindaduke.typepad.com/

Lindsey Botkin: http://jacksonbelle.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Lisa Johnson: http://www.poppypaperie.typepad.com/

Lisa Strahl: http://www.monalisamoments.typepad.com/

Lisa Zappa www.shabbychickjunk.blogspot.com

Melissa Bove: http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/

Michele Boyer http://papercuts.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Michelle Giraud: http://www.twisted-chick.blogspot.com/

Michelle Laycock: http://www.inkartist.blogspot.com/

Michelle Woerner www.stopandstamptheroses.blogspot.com

Michelle Wooderson: http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/

Michelle Zindorf http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Natasha Trupp http://palmtreesandpogosticks.blogspot.com

Pam Hooten: http://pamhooten.blogspot.com/

Paula Bloom http://prbloom.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Sharon Harnist: http://paperfections.typepad.com///

Sharon Johnson http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Sherrie Siemens: http://sherrie-cardcreme.blogspot.com/

Sherry Cheever: http://sherrycheever.typepad.com/walkinonthebadside/

Susan Roberts http://rainy.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Taylor VanBruggen: http://www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/

Tosha Leyendekker:  http://stamptalkwithtosh.blogspot.com/

Tracy Harp http://www.inky-doodles.blogspot.com/

Trudee Sauer: http://trudee.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Valerie Stangle: http://valeriestangle.blogspot.com/