Rainy Friday

Right now we are having a lovely gentle rain. I know that is supposed to be replaced by severe storms soon but I do enjoy a gentle rain. Everything is so green and fresh.

I'm getting very anxious to have Elle here. She will get to stay 12 days! YIPPEE!!! I can hardly wait. I know I'm going to be one very tired Gramma. Bring it on!

Kelly made it through his cath lab Wed. Heart issues are holding their own. Not much can be done there. Lung specialist next week and some new meds. Now we just need to see what's going on with Dad.

I went yesterday to get the crystals in my ear realigned. Not fun but hopefully I won't have dizzy spells anymore. I've had them for years and always thought it was a sinus/ear problem. Little did I know, it was vertigo.

Last Saturday was our 2nd 12 hour crop for the year. It was lots of fun. I finished my Hawaii 2005 scrapbook. WOOHOO!! I missed the first one because I was in Oahu with Tonya, Amy and Sarah. That was worth missing a crop for.

We left Ft. Collins for the Denver airport on the day of the BIG blizzard this past January. Pat, Sarah's sweet hubby, drove us to the airport on ice. Bless his heart, it was terrible out there. We made it to an island paradise at a time when we could really appreciate being there. At home there were record lows and snowfall. Oahu was hot and sunny! I'll journal that trip one of these days.

Mother's Day 2011

Why use one day when you have a perfect weekend. Saturday, Kelly & I took Mom on a picnic at Shawnee Lake. Dad & Derek also came. Unfortunately, Jim had to work. It was a beautiful day for a picnic. The temps were perfect we had shade, good food, family and it was peaceful. Somewhere nearby was a live band so we also had good music to listen to.

Jim & Derek did fix a scrumptious lunch for me...mmmm. Later we went shopping for a lilac bush from Pat, Kat & Elle. Then we went back home and planted it.

Along with celebrating Mother's Day Sunday, Jim & I were celebrating our 35th Anniversary. The plan was a nice ride on the new Harley, but the wind kept us home. I guess we kind of let the anniversary slip away. That's very bad of us. Not a lot of people our age out there that have been married to just one person for this length of time. We were looking at our wedding photo and noting some changes. Not just physical but inner changes. We have grown up together and are much better for having done so. I can not imagine my life any other way. This man I live with is the best part of me. He really does complete me. I believe that we were destined to live our lives together. 36 years ago on May 9th when I was cruising the boulevard I had no idea I would find the one person who would change my life forever. I'm sure glad I honked at those guys on the motorcycles. I was a "bit" of a rebel at the time. I love you Sweetie with a heart that is so full that it still amazes me. I can still feel your first kiss on my lips and will 'til the day I die. It was "ELECTRIFYING" !

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!

Well Easter has passed and I'd like to reflect on my day. I'm so glad that I can spend time with Derek, my parents and brother. We also celebrated Derek's birthday with some chocolate lasagna. Kelly has been enduring difficult chemo treatments, but did come to Mom's for dinner and a visit. With all the trials he has conquered in his life I feel blessed to share another day with him. That holds true for my parents as well. Each day brings us closer to rising up to reside with our Lord and I'm thankful for each day that I spend with my family here. I was also able to spend time with some very special friends that are also part of our family. They have loved and nurtured my boys for many years and continue to do so. On the down side I'm very sad that I didn't get to visit with Pat, Kat and Elle. Maybe someday I'll get to see Elle in her Easter dress and color eggs to hide for her. Maybe??? It's very difficult for this Gramma to never spend a holiday with my most precious granddaughter.

Thank you Lord for joining us for another joyous Easter!

Some of My Favorite Photos of 2010

WOW!

It's been a year since I've been active here. What have I been doing? Obviously not blogging. I also have not been creating for the cricut any longer. I do my files now in MTC, the best software out there. I'm going to try to come here from time to time to do updates and post photos. Elle is growing so much and I've just got to post some current photos. Other than Dad falling off the ladder last June, Pat & Derek buying houses in May & moving, Kat graduating medical school and Elle's first birthday the year was pretty uneventful. We made a few trips to San Antonio to visit the kids. For those who have shared my cricut files in the past, they will no longer be available for download. That is my personal decision. I can no longer support PC and their bullying tactics.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!!

Jim & I had a great time in St. Louis this past weekend. Pat & Kat are doing great and Elle is just changing so fast. It's just been about 5 weeks, but she has really changed. She likes funny noises and just giggles when she hears them. We went to the playground, but she didn't seem too impressed with the fun toys there. I'm sure she'll soon love to swing and slide and run all over. Jim and I took here to the "Jewel Box" in Forest Park to see the tulips. It wasn't the greatest tulip display. Gage Park here in Topeka has a much more impressive display of tulips. I tried to get some photos of Elle with and in the tulips. She was only interested in grabbing and possibly eating the pretty flowers. That photo session wasn't what I would call a success. We did get some monthly "bear" photos that were real cute though.

SPA SOCK "CUPCAKE" DUCKY WRAPPER

This is one of my recent designs. It was done using GBS, NA and HA . I added drawn details with watercolor markers. The idea came from the Criuct MB member greenbean. I had to create my own wrapper as I don't have a cart with one on it.

Beautiful Elle

Tummy time


Rocker Baby!


Going Hollywood

HeHeHe

4th month

Jim's favorite.


Christmas dress


Lovely shot

What can I say! She's just cute!

Great shot with Mom.

One of my favorites.

3rd month

Looky what I can do!

Harley Rules!

NEW NAME, NEW LOOK, BACK UP AND RUNNING

This is indeed an "Oh happy days" moment. I've been down on this blog for so long. I wasn't able to share my files and the frustration with trying to get things to work the way they did before kept me from even posting here. But....I'm much better now and ready to step it up. I switched all my .cut files to 4share and they all seem to be working great. Feel free to download any .cut files you find here, keeping in mind that these are for your personal use and are not to be shared or sold. Along with now being able to share files I also updated the look and changed the name of my blog. This suits me for now.

I'm very anxious to get some new photos of Elle posted. She has grown by leaps and bounds.

I also now have some MTC files that I can post and share here. I'm really loving MTC. I've been able to do so many things that Provo Craft's Design Studio will most likely never do, but certainly can't do now. Best thing since sliced bread! LOL

NO DOWNLOADS RIGHT NOW

My server upgraded their system and that has left me without my files. Until I find them you will not be able to download any files from this site. I will be working on recovering the stored files, but it will have to wait 'til tomorrow.

YOU BETTER NOT POUT... I'm telling you why!

I just love this photo!! She was just not co-operating. She didn't want to wake up at all. This is one month. She's now over 10 lbs and 22 1/4" long.




THERE'S A NEW TOY OUT THERE FOR ALL US CRICUT CRAFTER'S!! MAKE THE CUT

Andy has developed some new software that works with our Cricuts. You can find all the info at http://www.make-the-cut.com/Default.aspx


Imagine It. Create It. Cut It. It's That Simple. Make The Cut! allows you to easily cut virtually any shape you can imagine (including TrueType Fonts) using your Cricut™ machine without needing to purchase expensive cartridges. With its easy-to-learn interface, the possibilities are endless. Go unleash the true power of your Cricut™!

I downloaded the trial version and I've been playing with it and it is easy to use. It addresses some of the issues I have with PC's Design Studio. You can weld and resize the entire group, as well as being able to copy the entire group. I am so glad someone was listening to our concerns about DS. PC certainly isn't listening. Andy is working feverishly to try and address other issues as they are reported to him. Bless your heart!

Please check out the Customer Support/Visit Forum while you are there. Many answer are being answered by Andy and others. There is quite a group going already. Speaking of groups...there is a Yahoo! group started, as Cricut deleted all of the threads relating to this. You can find the group information in the forum on the Make the Cut site.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!

OUR PRECIOUS LITTLE ELLE

Thursday, November 5th we had the privilege of being introduced to the "most BEAUTIFUL baby girl I have ever laid eyes on. She arrived at 6:01 PM after a long 40 hours of labor. She weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz and is 20 1/2" long. Dad, Mom and Elle are all doing well. Three of her four grandparents and Uncle Derek were anxiously awaiting her arrival, as well as some very special Aunties. On our first visit Pat was holding her and he handed her to his Dad. I, of course whined. Pat said "Dad's waited a very long time for a little girl so he gets to hold her first". I sure couldn't argue with that logic.

I can not fully describe the pride that comes with becoming a "Gramma". It is wrapped up in watching my son being a Dad. He is, by far, the most nurturing young man I know. Kat and Elle were in good hands throughout the entire process. He walked around with that precious gift from God and the smile on his face told what was in his heart. He attended her every need, outside feeding. Mom is nursing or I'm sure Pat would gladly do the feeding also. He swaddled her in a blanket after each diaper change. She looked like a living Russian nested doll. So, as I see it, being Gramma, is just an extension of being Mom and I am one very proud Mom right now. I am also one very excited Gramma! Our hearts are overflowing with love for this most precious little girl, our Granddaughter.

Our visit was limited. Jim had to get back home and back to work. I took tons of photos and am sharing some of my favorites with you here. Leaving to come home was very difficult. I only wish they were close to home. Sadly, this will probably never be the case. We will though, visit as often as we possibly can and keep in constant contact.

There are many photos and stories to come. Our future has changed for the better. Now on with the spoiling!

TREAT BASKETS JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN

Here is a basket I designed and decorated for Halloween. There is a project online using three pillow boxes to make a basket. I decided to make the basket with design studio and cut it in one piece. The basket uses GBS, HA and AE. There are some other pages with this file for decorations that also use PDDU & CO. I've had so much fun making these.

I also decided to make some into luminaries. YOU MUST USE ONLY BATTERY OPERATED TEA LIGHTS IN THESE. Candles cause the luminary to ignite!!!!!

I am including the cut file for the basic basket. Instructions are simple. Cut the basket, DO NOT REMOVE FROM MAT. NOW CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS TO BLADE DEPTH 1 AND PRESSURE AT LOW. Then cut the score lines. Remove from mat now and fold on scorelines. Glue around each edge of the bottom and up the tab on the side. I used Zip Dry and found it worked very well for this. I used scrap strips about 6" long for the handles and attached them with brads. It is much easier to decorate before assembling the basket. I hope you have as much fun with this as I did.