Blizzard!!!!

I needed a relief from my online Pen Tablet class so I thought I would write a little. My hand gets cramped if I use the pen too long but I am trying so I get used to it.
Yesterday was another fun Monday at work--super busy which I really like plus I met the other Peds girls for lunch to celebrate Anne's birthday. I went to my Moms after work to take her a new lamp and another round of new bras for her to try. I hope these are the last ones!! We then went to Russ' for a quick supper.
Today we had to be to work early as Sandy had an early meeting. That was great with me as we had an hour meeting for the our department at noon and that cuts into a busy day. It was snowing some this am and has continued since. Right now I would say about 6 inches and it is a white out. The roads have been real slick and many accidents reported. I was real happy to get home and stay there.
I have been working on my second week of lessons for my Pen Tablet class. Learned a few new tricks already. I just finished printing pages for a fatbook I am doing about travel/journey.
Tomorrow is my youngest niece, Stephanie's 15th birthday--hard to believe she is growing up so fast--seems like yesterday when Phyllis was on bed rest before she was born.
OK back to my online class and then check out Facebook before bed

still winter

It was a week of highs and lows. Monday I find out that I won't be having a desk at all-need to just find someplace to work so we went to Beltline Bar after work. Tuesday, More of the same so we went to a movie "Extraordinary Measures" which was very good and a must see. By Wednesday, I was told I would move to a different office on the 5th floor which was fine with me. It is a very nice office with just 3 other people and fairly new. Of course nothing has happened yet with the move. Work has been super busy as it is that time of the year for RSV, etc
Thursday we met Judi for dinner at Arnies so we could talk about the latest business with Sue and what was happening plus Judi needs a break!!
Friday we left work a little early as Sandy had to babysit out in Holland at 5pm.
I spent the evening working on the new online class I started this week learning how to really use a pen tablet. I have been kind of using mine for several years and have already learned a lot of time saving techniques.
The weather has been so-so cold with some sun at times At least no new blizzards.


Squirrels in backyards

eating crabapples from my tree

Saturday morning, Dee picked me up along with Taylor and Lexus and we went to the mall and to Build-a-Bear. They both had birthdays and were getting some new outfits and I was getting my first bear!!!

Picking her body out

Stuffing her

Taylor washing her bear

Lexus doing her rabbit

There was a ton of outfits and accessories to choose.....

I had to name her and make a birth certificate--I named her "Allie"

Here we are all boxed up with 2 outfits, glasses and a purse

Then on to Olga's Kitchen for lunch, Phyllis joined us there and we had a great time

Taylor turned 10 and Lexus turned 12

Taylor looks so much like Kelli at her age.

Lexus had curly fries

Allie at home and dressed in one of her outfits

Max has found her and is checking her out which consisted of licking her bows!!!

Fritz checking her out but easily diverted

A new picture of Fritz

Alex just hanging out

My first colored Tildas

Here are my first attempts at coloring with Copic markers...

I find I need more light colors but was fairly happy with the results

Sunday once again

Seems Sunday is my day to post. It has been a very cold week but we had sun quite a bit which goes a long ways in Michigan. Work remains the same--still very unsettled--two of my co-workers moved over to the offices at Blodgett so I will miss them. We had a lot of fun at times.




Some outdoor sh0ts of my yard

Bunnies all over

My sister Dee cleaned up a couple of my childhood dolls for me and they turned out so nice..

This is Doris

This is Bonnie

I had time to do a lot of art this week and I am truly thankful.
I am doing some for ARTChix Studio and my usual monthly paperdoll swaps


Here are some inchies I did for Artchix challenge--just used what I had on table..

Here are my ATCs for "I love animals" swap I did all cats

My paperdoll swap this month was Mermaids and here is mine...

The ATC paperdoll swap was Alice in Wonderland so this is what I did-kind of funky!!

Another digital art piece I did for fun

Kitty in Paris



The new morning ritual with the cats involves them drinking water from the bathroom faucet--not sure how that started but Max always liked to and with Alex's diabetes and his drinking a lot--they all think they need to drink. I do limit it to the am because they seem to think I should just dripping for them!!!

I got a great picture of Alex on the counter this week-isn't he a handsome guy???

Lots of sun Friday and Saturday.....

A great shot of Max helping with the scanning and printing... another handsome guy

We had a beautiful sunset last night and just had to get a couple of shots ...

I got a lot of stuff done this weekend. I defrosted my upright freezer in the basement which is a big job. I try to do it in the winter, found a lot of old stuff to throw out. I also cleaned out my desk -went through and shredded tones of old papers and organized everything. Did my federal, state and local taxes online and filed them--a great job done!!! Then I had to do all the usual stuff like pay bills, do my Mom's banking, catch up on newspapers and mail and it goes on.

Next Saturday I get to go to Build-A-bear with Dee and her grand daughters for their birthdays. I have always wanted to go but needed some kids to go with. I am going to get a bear!!! What fun but crazy!!

Another Sunday

I got so busy this week, I didn't take to time to write here. Work has been real busy and had to work extra--won't call it overtime!! We had several big meetings at work that were several hours long which really cuts into the work flow. I get to be in a round table meeting tomorrow with the big boss--should be interesting.
My friend Sue ended up back in the hospital with a recurrence of infections--first she had back surgery and then Thursday she had knee surgery and the had to remove her knee replacement and put in an antibiotic spacer until then can re-do it after infections gone. So probably another 6 weeks of IV antibiotics-AI haven;t heard for sure. She was looking pretty good despite surgery on Thursday.
Wednesday night Sandy and I met Dee and Phyllis for our monthly sisters night out. We went to the Macaroni Grille



I had a trio of Chicken Parmesan, Lasagna and a cannelloni--it was very good.

We had Sandy take our picture which is a tradition now--thought we got a good one.

I have been working on 2 pages for a fatbook swap with the theme 0f hearts

Here are my 2 pages after I finished the digital work, I then print them, cut out and embellish with brads and ribbons for these two

Here is my new toy I bought myself--a Keurig single cup coffeemaker and I love it

The weather has been very strange-no snow around 30 degrees but a cold wind so it feels colder

ducks in my neighbors yard --check out the squirrel in the birdfeeder!!

This was my back yard yesterday

Max in front of his favorite sleeping spot--absorbing all the heat into his body

Backyard this morning--it rained all night and snow pretty much gone now except the big piles out front

Lots of grass showing now

My usual pond out in back

Sunday nap time on the bed-looks comfy

Sunday again

I have had a pretty relaxing weekend. Today a little sun is peaking through all those clouds-temps have been around 30-32 so not too bad.
Yesterday, Dee came to clean and brought Arielle with her so I had some time to visit with them both. While Dee worked on hallway and bathroom, I stripped the bed, washed linens, flipped my feather bed and then re-made it all. The cats acted like they had never been on the bed and stayed there the rest of the day!!! Of course they don't like the vacuum either. Sandy came by later and we took a huge load to the recycle place then drove thru Mr Burger for dinner. Sandy cut my hair also. I even had some time to do some stamping.
Today I talked with Mom then Dee and Arielle stopped by to bring my dolls back (Dee had cleaned them) and some ultimate Brownies-Yum!!!
Later Phyllis and Sara came by so I could download Sara's video camera and make her some copies. It was nice to see Sara again. Molly was home sleeping so I didn't get to see her.
Now I am catching up on the newspapers, doing bills, etc then back to work tomorrow. I have a busy week with way too many meetings plus I have to work 5 days--getting spoiled working 4 I guess.

Friday off

I am having a lovely day off today--kind of gray outside--about 34 degrees so not too bad. some of the snow is melting a little although it was quite treacherous to walk out to the mailbox this afternoon.

I finally finished getting all the Christmas stuff taken down, packed up and put away--then I noticed a few more things which I need to add to the boxes. A good job done.

I also updated all my family photo frames I display with new pictures from Christmas cards--that was fun then I rearranged all the frames.

I am working on a digital altered project for Scrap Artists--the challenge is to make a 5x7 inch card each month as a reminder of self care. This month the theme is Replenish the Well.

Here is my idea....

I love to work with my flowers and find it relaxing.

Otherwise I am just getting caught up with email, facebook, etc

Tuesday

I am very excited about being selected as the artist for Artella's "Picture Prompts " which are sent out each week with an Art Journal membership. They selected one of my favorite pictures which I took a couple of years ago and call Winter White. I'll see if I can load the piece on the side bar. Artella is an online community for artists, writers, etc which I have belonged to for along time. I especially like the digital art and tutorials. http://www.artellaland.com

Still hanging in the air at work waiting to see what is actually going to happen with our desks, phones and office space. My ultimate goal is to work at home or at least part of the time -- that would save desk space which seems to be in short supply.

I forgot to post the group picture from our scrapbooking event this past weekend--it turned out good....

Sunday

Having a relaxing day after a fun filled end of week scrapbooking. Thursday morning, Sandy and I met Carol and Julie for breakfast at Bob Evans then we drove in a blizzard to Holland...

We ended up at the Haworth Inn on the campus of Hope College where we go every year for a fun weekend of scrapping. We usually get the ballroom but they were putting down new carpeting so we got another room which was really nice-lots of windows and better lighting actually. Sandy and I each had a 6 foot table across from each other and then another one on the end by us where we had all the Sizzix stuff, my laptop and Cricut so it was super convenient.

Some layouts I did using CM black and white kit which I loved ....

Then of course the food was great-even got to meet the chef Friday night.

This was Michigan Orchard Salad and was super--the dressing was to die for..

We did scrapbooking all day Thursday and Friday and until 5pm on Saturday--quite a few stayed up late working but Sandy and I went to our room about 1030-11pm each night. Of course the mattresses are so comfortable.. Hard to get up in the morning. There was a breakfast for all the hotel guests each am-had a waffle with strawberries one morning and bagel and fruit the other morning. coffee is always available.

Dinner Friday night started with a lettuce salad and the main course was brandied pork chop, veggies and red potatoes--yum

We then had Jessica come again this year and we all got neck massages and paraffin-dipped hands--what luxury

Dessert one night at 9pm

Lunch on Saturday was deli wraps and homemade chips

Less you think all I did was eat, I did get 80 pages scrapbooked and almost done with 1998 which I was real happy with.

Today was another sunny but very cold day...

One of my wonderful neighbors had cleaned out my driveway while I was gone. Dee took care of the cats.

I am quite concerned about Alex as he barfed today which he never does and that is not a good sign with his diabetes. I am trying to be prepared for end of life issues but it is really hard.

Tuesday

Well it has been another interesting week so far at work. It was announced last week that we would not have our own desks and phones anymore but the office would be run more like "hoteling" I am not sure how that all works out for someone like me who needs to work on a computer all day. So everyone is packing up all their personal belongings and taking them home. I have to get all my stuff out of there by tomorrow as I am off rest of the week for my annual scrapbooking weekend at Haworth. We will see how this all shakes out.

It has been real cold and a little snow each day-just enough to keep driveway white.

I sent off my latest paperdolls for swaps...

Theme was blue and silver...

Theme was sun, moon and stars..

Here are a bunch of the cards I made to send out through the year

I need to quit fooling with genealogy and sort through some pictures for scrapbooking this weekend and get other stuff together. I am going to take my Cricut for the first time along with all my Sizzix stuff.

Welcome 2010

I had a busy but fun New Years weekend. It all started after I got out of work on Thursday when Sandy and I went to Judi and Sue's house for our annual bash. Sue had just come home from rehab and IV antibiotics for 6 weeks so extra special.
We got set up in craft room and started stamping. We worked on calendars for the year-another tradition. Sandy and I finished ours so we then worked on cards and I made 3 paper artdolls.

Sandy having fun

Dinner from Jet's Pizza--YUM!!!

Sassy checking out Judi's work space

Chloe checking out my work space

Watching the New York crowds

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Years day was sunny and cold--snow along the lake shore but not where we were. Many birds at the feeders off their deck

Cardinal and Flicker

Icicle through window

Judi and Sue working hard and having fun!! We stayed until after 6pm then home-I went to bed early

Saturday Sandy was busy with her Mom so I stayed home and finished making presents, etc.

At 530pm we went to Dee's house for our annual sisters Christmas celebration and since Dee loves to cook, she has us over.

We had all appetizers--first cold ones then hot then dessert

Desserts- creme brule, brownies, and chocolate mousse

We exchanged presents--this is what I made them...

Dee's gift to us

Phyllis' gifts

A pic of us girls-we actually all had our eyes open...

Today was a catch up day

Here is Alex on back of chair...

Max trying to look innocent!!

Icicles from the sun

Front yard--look at all those bunny tracks...

Happy New Year!!!

Just dropping in a second between work and heading out to Judi and Sue's house for our annual New Years overnighter and stamping party!!!! Sue was able to come home today so we can celebrate that also'
We will be eating, drinking, doing a lot of rubber stamping and making calendars-our tradition. Just finished packing all my stuff--that is a job-what to take what not to take as they have tons of stamps to use
Anyways HAPPY NEW YEAR
Welcome to 2010!!!