Cats and Dogs

This morning the heavens opened up and down came the cats and dogs. It was great because I had nowhere to go and could stay home the entire day and stay out of the nasty weather. It was a wonderful day to be home. I spent the entire day organizing my scrap room and several other things around the house. I start on one project and go to get a screw driver or scissors or something and then start another project. By the end of the day, they all get done but I get side tracked easily. I have 2006 Creating Keepsakes magazines that I need to give away - if you want them, let me know. I'll check with our local Yahoo group, Houston and Beyond. I made some yummy Turkey soup from the turkey carcas, perfect day for soup. I enjoy cooking but I am not one to slave away on Thanksgiving so we ordered our dinner from Boston Market for the second year in a row. It was excellent. I also served a ham. We had a nice relaxing day and I am so thankful that life is going back to normal. Everyone talks about all the things they are thankful for and I have to agree - its the little things. I am thankful that we have dependable garbage pick up - (am I crazy or what... but I really am). I put the stuff out Fri and by 9 am it was all gone - recycling too. Now, that is pretty cool - they could have skipped it and told us to wait a week. I'm thankful for hard working garbage men.

I ventured out yesterday for a few hours and it went so smoothly. I HAD to check out Scrapbook Junkie's new location and I'm soooo loving it. Great location, nice wide open space and a terrific crop room. I never have taken a class there or cropped but that will definitely change in 2008. I stopped in at Hobby Lobby and bought a bunch of Christmas wrapping and a gold star ornament that I altered with some Christmas paper. I've been wanting to do that since I saw Heather's metal ornament last week at the Scrap Etc crop. Then I stopped in at Target for the 1000 count sheets that were $19. A sales clerk went into the back and found the king flat sheet. Yipee! It was a great shopping excursion. I had thought about going out today but nixed it with the weather. That's about it - going to read my Creating Keepsakes magazine that came in the mail today. Good night.

Always remember the problems we have are first world problems.

Scrap TV

Right now I am only taping two shows a day - Oprah and Scrapbook Memories, which comes on at 4 am. I think I taped every DIY Sandy Genovese show so I had to move on... I really wish someone like Cathy Zielske would do a TV show because the two perky women on SM grate on my last nerve. But, I'm left with no other options and I do enjoy seeing Stacy Julian and have picked up a few ideas here and there. I wasted alot of time yesterday looking for a mini-album or card they did where she sewed flaps on 3 sides with a wide zig zag stitch. It was pretty ingenious. Never found it. And I looooookkkked.

Today I watched a couple episodes of Fiskars TV and I LIKED it. Look at the Hodge Podge album - very cute idea - what about adding a transparency to it and maybe a slice of a board book... The second show with Leah Fung and the clipboard calendar is a great Christmas gift - I will do the larger board and maybe landscape with a different font (I'm picky about my calendars). I really liked both of the punches that she used, that allows you to tuck in the corners. Now how can I NOT go out and buy those two punches? With a 50% coupon maybe? Watched the metal card also - I have a bunch of that stuff and the Scrapboss so I will have to try it - the audio is terrible plus the camera angle sucks but you get the idea.

Okay, here's my own personal challenge. I need to get either the calendar or album made by the end of the Thanksgiving holiday... How's that?

I also received the kits from Kimberly Kwan today - yipee! They both are wonderful... I can't wait to make them. They even smell vintage and musty - how cool is that! She included dictionary pages of C and D including a picture of a Dachshund! How COOL is that! My Killer-Boy is everywhere! Ooops, thats a photo-op... Kind of hard to see the red-boy on the red couch. He's my shadow.

Remember the photos I mentioned yesterday about my brothers and sister? Well, this was my absolute favorite one evah. She looks so beautiful there - like a little doll.

Arrggggghhhhh. I screwed up, big time! I've been waiting all night to bid on Tracy Niehues' birthday clown for Becca's Sutton's juvenile diabetes fund raiser and I totally missed it. As I was uploading the photo, I heard CLICK and I thought damn, that's the email telling me I didn't win. Damn. I'm so mad at myself. Damn.

Back in the Saddle

It rained most of the night... what a great way to wake up on Sunday morning! We really needed the rain so I'm enjoying it plus I have plenty to keep me busy at home today.

I had a great time at the Scrap etc. crop at By Design yesterday - met some new people, and saw some friends from CE and MIT. Creative Cafe is in the house - which was fun to see. Lots of great Hambly too. There was a birthday party going on, along with our SE crop and it was a great combination - fun to see everyone's projects. I really enjoyed visiting with Kristin F and Heather from Geismar - even though they were across the room. We had lots of laughs about BFFs and BFTs with Cindy and Laurel (it was Laurel's birthday). It was such a relief to be out and about and playing with my stuff. It has been so hard lately to get dressed so more than anything I enjoyed just being out of the house and being with scrappers was a total bonus!

I couldn't sleep last night so I watched Oprah on tape - the second show about hoarders. It was really interesting because I think its intrinsic to store your stuff (like the cavemen) -it's human nature. Of course, the couple they showed was over the top but it made me think about my buying habits of scrapbook stuff. My first inclination was to go cold turkey and yet after reading ScrapScene I realized that was a bit unrealistic. I'm going to think about it further and put some limits down because I have more than I'll ever use and I think it is preventing me from finishing projects. I have tons of good ideas but I get bogged down by the buying so we'll see what happens. And then I'm off to thinking about another project. I'll give a think about it over the T-giving holidays.

Last weekend was the Nutcracker Market, which is my favorite event in Houston and though it wasn't a typical year for me this year, it was still fun and I enjoyed the shopping. I found this vintage hankerchief hanger from a local store, Embellishments that's probably 3 miles from my house. Crazy, huh. They are holding my Glimmer Mists for now, I'll add more to the top and bottom pockets. Isn't it a beautiful, vintage look! I'm lurving it. I love the possibilities of having such a beautiful piece and yet storage too! Win-win for me.

Silver Bella - wow. I have enjoyed the eye candy from various blogs about the event. It will definitely be on my "to do" list for 2008. I'll have to work out an arrangement with Nutcracker (their 2008 dates are Nov 13-17) but I want to be a Bella in 2008 - that is for sure! I was fortunate enough to order (I know what you're thinking!) the kits from Kimberly Kwan that should arrive this week. Can't wait! It looks like such a great event and I am moving more towards vintage creating so it especially speaks to me.

Hey, did I mention that I'm in assisted living? Yep. I'm getting assistance with the yard and housework, with car cleaning, nail polishing and dry cleaning... you name it, I'm going to get some assistance if it keeps me from enjoying my life and creating! (I heard that from some comediane and thought it was just hilarious and have now made a marked effort to get as much assistance as I can afford. )

The new banner photo is of my sweet mother holding the prettiest baby evah (moi) and my older brothers and sister. You can see there was a run on pea coats at K-mart that year and all the Nelson kids were stylin. Some of my most favorite photos in the world are of my brothers and sister when they were children. So adorable. My sister passed away two weeks ago. I appreciate everyone's kind words. I'm not much for PDG so trust you'll understand the silence.

October Moon

On Friday we sat on I-10 for four hours behind an eight car pile up that involved two car fires. Soon the moon showed its face and I caught it. Other than good New Orleans french bread, this shot was the highlight of the weekend.

I've added it and deleted it 4 times now... Life is hard right now. I just wanted to share the photo. And I'm going to CE in 2008.

Good night.

Judi

This is a picture of my beautiful baby sister on her 49th birthday. We have a tradition at my house of singing happy birthday with the lights out and getting a snapshot. I love it because I have most everyone in the family in that same chair, same shot. I think she looks beautiful, even if she still does boss me around (and she's the baby!). She's an amazing Mom.

Okay, so I wasn't feeling so well this morning and left the house a bit late and as I drove down the street out of the neighborhood, I passed a hispanic woman, probably walking to work. For a brief moment, she made eye contact with me. Hesitant, tentative. And I made eye contact and smiled. I've been noticing this alot lately. In the hallway in our 20+ story building at work. Alot of different races and nationalities and how some women look right through you. How many times have I done it to others? Oh, I know some days you're engrossed in thought but for the most part, I stay aware of my surroundings. My CE friends think its a Texas thing - maybe it is. But I say HI to damn near everybody. C'mon - we share a common bond - we're women. Let's show a little kindness to each other. Hell, alot of kindness.

I had a great shopping weekend. I went to Scrapbook Junkie and found some great Heidi Swapp stamps. Also went to a great Hobby Lobby on 45S - really big store. Bought a bunch of frames for my Allison Tyler Jones photogs - realize now that I need 5 x 7s now. Also went to By Design and picked up a handful of glimmer mists - really fun to play with. And then to Novel Approach where I picked up Canvas Concept BINDER CLIPS! I've been looking for them every where! I made a memo board for Sister and now I can finish it and deliver it! Yipee. Saturday night I went to a really fun crop at Elida's, from a Yahoo Group called Houston & Beyond. What a great group! So nice and everybody shares - it was so enjoyable. I could do that every Sat night! Sunday I went to Urban Market in the Heights and scored some goodies. A wire gym basket and a cream-colored wrought iron patio table. I love that market - 45 vendors 3 times a year on a Sunday. Really unique stuff. I made the mistake last year of not buying a santos (wooden angel) because it was like $45... now I can't find one anywhere except on ebay for $190. Damn. They also sell amazing chicken salad. So much fun!

Friday turns to Saturday

Yeah for Friday's ~ We're loving them, especially in the GIRL HOUSE! And October Fridays are even better - when there's a bit of a breeze in the air. This may seem out of sorts with where I'm about to go but the first blog I read most days is dooce. She makes me laugh and has some good links. I linked here and there - isn't this owl lamp adorable? I want one... so what if its $198 - I'll bet Hambly Studios has one! What do you think of the peacock pitcher?

Next I found Gwenyth Paltrow's house in the Hamptons and all I can say is WOW. It is truly amazing and everything they say about it in House and Garden is spot-on. It is gorgeous and seems LIVABLE. Take a look-see for yourself. Now, couldn't you whip up some pretty cakes in this kitchen? And I'm no GP fan either but I have to say I have a new found appreciation for her style. Simply marvelous. Look at the whole house and see if you don't agree. I love the light in the yoga room. And the needlework canvas in the foyer. I am ALL over that.

I've spent a wee bit of time at this blog and like a good book, I just couldn't put it down. So many of the pictures spoke to me. Beautiful.

Oh and speaking of books! Borders has an interview with Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love. Which reminds me, Oprah had an interview today... good thing I recorded it - it will be my nighttime viewing tonight. Another yeah for Fridays!

I have a memo board to finish tonight for my sister. Looking forward to coffee drinking and relaxing for a short while in the morning and then off to Archivers for the day. Should be interesting!

UnPost

How embarressing... I walked into the house tonight screaming, Girl House, Girl House ... thinking my husband had gone on his hunting trip. Didn't think twice about why his truck was still in the driveway, just assume they picked him up. Ooops. No. It got delayed for a day and man oh man, he was a-pouting. It was almost funny. Spent about 2 minutes trying to cheer him up and then gave up. I'd be the same way if it was a scrapbook trip! Oh, when you call out "Girl House" you have to strip to your bra and panties... Just because you can!

Anyway, work has been ferocious lately! I won't dwell, let's just say I have spent alot of time learning about Worker's Comp and it's confirmed. There's a real reason why I stayed away from it for 33 years. It sucks.

I've been reading Heidi K Swapp's blog and I have to say, it is so fascinating to see the pictures. It really is soooo coool that we can visit the country through her eyes. I thank her for that!

Well, I've spent alot of time cruising blogs - thanks to Megan and now it's bedtime. No pics, no words of wisdom, just a good night!