♥ Last Week of 2009 - Thanks for the Memories♥

Here we are, in the last week of 2009 with the NEW YEAR - 2010 peeking right around the corner. I have no way of knowing what will be happening in this new year............I could only hope that things would get better for us all..............but then with the economy the way it has been, I just am not sure where we are headed.

I guess that is why God has said........."take one day at a time". Yesterday is gone and you can do nothing about it, and the future is not ours to hold. Only live for today and live the best you know how. Good advice.........now the trick is to live it. Enjoying everything that God has blessed us with, good health, a nice warm home during the winter, and cool during the summer. Two sweet dogs, two cars that are paid for BUT need lots of TLC. We both have jobs that keep us busy and it pays the bills. We have food on the table and clothes on our back. The husband has his ministry to the truck drivers and I have my little card business on Etsy. God has been good to us.

Did you have a nice Christmas..........it went all too fast..........all that planning and now it is all over but the shouting. I managed NOT to charge anything and paid for everything with cash. That was a mile stone............but alas I still have charge bills to pay........we will be forever in debt at least for another year.

My husband and I spent a quiet Christmas. His family is down in Chicago (Obamaland) and my only family (Pops) is in LasVegas. My daughter Tiffany whom I do not hear from anymore lives in North Carolina............I think she fell off the face of the earth. Anyways we had a nice day, opened a few presents, had a ham dinner with sweet potato pie, baked potatoe, broccoli, relishes and stuffing and gravy. Pulled out Grandma Gatti's old Bavarian Dishes, they must be close to 90 years old...........so that made it kinda fun. We shall do that again for New Years Day Dinner......though the dinner will be different......like steak and shrimp, salad, broccoli and oven fries..............now that sounds good!!!!!

Well, I think I shall close this blog for a while and talk again in 2010...........it's been fun keeping up...........have a great rest of the week and see you next year.
(Hugs and Kisses) Louise

BIG STORM TODAY...........WOW!!!!!

We sure had a big storm today..............most snow in 24 hours since the 1920's. Woke up this morning to find 2 people trying to dig their cars out of the snow..........sure was a mess, they finally got unstuck after about an hour.

I went out for a little while to brush off my car, or should I say shovel off my car, there had to be over a foot of snow on my car. Then to my shock, I noticed my car door slightly opened, I then opened and shut it, thinking my husband had gone in there for something and just didn't shut the door properly. Thinking not too much about that incident I kept on shoveling. Then we had to move the cars to get the snow plowed and I got into my car and noticed my sunglasses on the floor................that was strange............then I noticed my walking shoes were out of my 'inches a weigh' bag...........that was strange...........seemed like things were a little disaray in my front seat, tapes were moved........that was strange.........I sure felt like someone had been in my car.

WELL.................then I opened the back door to get the car brush, I noticed my black leather merchandising bag was missing?????????? Where did it disappear to???????? I do believe I was robbed..........I think the robbers thought there was a computer in the bag BUT, there was nothing of value in that bag, just pens, notebook, change purse.....maybe with a few pennies, pliers, hammer, tape, water...........nothing of value.............I guess what bothers me is that someone was rumagging around in MY CAR!!!!! At first we thought the laptop computer was still in the bag, cause my husband thought he had used it at the library..............but that was the other bag. Soooo, no, the robber did not affscound with our old laptop computer.

I know you will say................."well, lock your doors from now on". I was going to do that, but the doors freeze during the winter months and I will never get into my car then. So I just will not keep anything of value in the car, if I do have something of value, I will put it in the trunk.

LESSON LEARNED............................

Well, we are all dug out now, it was a nice day off. Got some candy made for the cookie container I am sending for my stepfather in Las Vegas for Christmas. Little round pretzels, with a hersey kiss melted and a red or green m&m placed in the middle..........fun to make.

Christmas is fast approaching.................16 days away...................still feel scattered, got my cards made and in the next couple of days will get them out to a few people........I am really cutting back this year. Christmas has gotten so commercialized, I am tired of being so caught up in all this stuff. The true meaning has gotten so watered down................shame on us............FOR JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. How have we gotten so far off into left field??????

Well, I shall end this blog for now............you all have a great day and take time to smell the roses and enjoy the day.
Louise

"Christmas is a comin' & the Geese are gettin' fat"

Please to put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny then a hey penny will do.
If you haven't got a hey penny........then God Bless you!!!
God bless you gentlemen, God bless you, if you haven't got a hey penny, then God bless you!

That song always goes through my head this time of the year.........where ever it came from, I do not know, cute little jingle.........I must have an old LP record.... oh I remember now "Bonanza" that is where that song if found..........someday I shall get a record player and play all my old records..........dinasours, but gosh they were something in their time.

Well, here is some pictures of some of my Christmas Cards...........hope you like them. You can find more at my little store at http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/

You have a great day and enjoy your life!

Bye bye - Louise

The Autumn Leaves ~ they are a fallin"

Just don't know where this fall is going...........way too fast! We got our summer ornaments in the shed and pulled up the tomatoe and squash plants. Squirls got my onions....good grief, never knew squirls liked onions!! Brought in my geranium plants, have them down stairs. This year I want to try and keep them over the winter, so I shall water them more then what I did last year. The geranium plants did not survive last year.........maybe 2010 will be the year of the geranium!

Well, I have a little bad news..........a friend of mine, have known her since the early 90's has just been diagnosed with 2 different cancers, she is getting Chemo now. Saw her yesterday for the first time in a long while. She has ovarian and limph-node cancers - 4th stage. What more can one say.........I will leave it at that. So far the cost is running into the hundreds of thousands, and she has no insurance...............BUT GOD.......has taken care of all that, so far they have only had to pay 5K and the rest is being forgiven........talk about Jubilee..........BUT GOD owns all the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps. 50:10)............He is True to His Word!!!!

Been working on making some Christmas cards, I have an order coming up and want to get as many cards made as possible as I do not know how many cards will be needed for this order. Plus I need to make cards for my christmas giving. I love my cuttlebug, and have been able to turn cards I had sitting around for a couple of years into new and revived looking cards. Amazing how just the turn of the handle and a Christmas folder of snowflakes can take on new demensions.

Nothing much more going on.......still trying to lose a few pounds that don't seem to want to come off. Still going to inches a weigh 3-4 times a week, which does take a big chunk out of my afternoons but I do feel better after doing it. I am still at 12 lbs and 26.75 inches...........I guess that is good, considering I did not put the weight on fast and it will not come off fast either. But I will still work at it, eventually it will come off when I least expect it.

Well I think I better close this blog for now as it is getting late and I need to get ready to go to Inches A Weigh to get some more exercise in and get weighed too.
BYE-BYE-Louise

New Cards Added to Etsy

"Fall is in the Air" & "Mr. Pumpkin Man"

Been a little busy lately making cards. Do check my Etsy store @ http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ and see more of my cards. I have two more cards to put up and then I will start with a few Christmas cards............which is just around the corner.

Have a great day ~ Louise

Struggles.........Struggles...........

I am not the biggest loser as yet..........but still trying. The inches are coming off, sloooowly. Last weigh-in and measurement taking found me at 24.5 inches and I seem to be waivering between 9 and 12 lbs. My goal is to have lost 15lbs total by the end of this month. That would be right on target with losing 3lbs per month. For me...........that would be a miracle!!!! I don't know why it is taking so long to lose the pounds..........but I guess just maintaining is better then nothing AND hey, I didn't gain the weight fast.......it crepted on and it probably will creep off too.

In my previous blog I mentioned that the husbands car broke down, well it is fixed now to the tune of $272.........yikes. I just don't know why it costs so much to fix a car. Would we be better with a newer car? Or, keep the old and pump $$$ into it. I don't know. I don't know if I could handle driving a brand new car, as I would not know how to act!!!!! But then..........I could learn very quickly.....lol.

Not much happening, excercise tomorrow, pay some bills, and make some cards. I think........I was invited for an outing on a platoon????? Sounds like fun, if I go I will let you know about it when it happens, if it does. So have a great day.
Louise

HERE'S MY COOKBOOK~~~~YAY!

Here it is .................pretty cool huh? Was thumbing through it and found a neat cabbage recipe, have not tried it yet but when I do, will certainly report on it. So here is the first recipe from my new cookbook:

1 cup cabbage, 1 tablespoon parsley, 1 package diet sweetner (I will use splenda), 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 package IAW chicken or IAW beef soup (you can use boullion cubes), Caraway seed to taste.
In a small sauce pan combine all ingredients: cook over medium heat until cabbage is tender. (Approximatley 10-15 minutes) Serves 1 person 92 calories, 6 gram carbohydrates, 0gm of fat, 17 gms protein. Note: The cooked cabbage was very good, I would cut down on the splenda and not so much pepper......totally forgot the parsley. I better try it again, as we have alot of parsley growing and I still have some cabbage in the refrig.

Bad news for the day, the husband just got home from his trip to Green Bay. The car broke down.....alternator problems he thinks, plus the bearings are going out. Sometimes I hate old cars cause they just drain you of all your money. We still have a big bill at the service station where we have our cars fixed. Both of them are old, mine is a '96 and husbands is a '94. I wish we had the money to invest in a new car but that is just not in the budget. Oh well, "se' la vie'" what will be, will be.

Getting kind of nervous about these swine flu shots that just may become mandatory to take. Have you been keeping up with all the different ingredients that are included in this vaccine? I have a deep concern as to why they are forcing this on us and want to pump all these poisons into our systems.............hummmmm.........I wonder if the president and his family and "all the kings men" will have to take the swine flu vaccine or is it just "US SUB HUMANS" Sorry, I have been reading alot of stuff lately that makes me wonder. Just how really free are we????????? Go to http://www.freedomfighterradio.net/ for the ingredients for the Swine flu.

I am going to close this blog for now and find that website you can go to that actually has all the ingredients in the swine flu vaccine...............you will be shocked!!!! To say the least.
Louise

Labor Day.......and Chicken Soup.......

Today was Labor Day and I labored at Dollar General today doing the Switch out of Summer Promo Cards to CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING AND HALLOWEEN!!!!!!! Oh my goodness, is it that time already?

I met a little (about 4ft9" tall) old lady today, her name is Eileen and she is 85yrs old. She wanted to tell me about a card she bought a while back, it was called "A message from Heaven" and she felt her husband (who died 16 years ago) was speaking to her through it. She had gotten the last card and had hoped who ever ordered them would get some more. She was told at the checkout counter that I come in every Wednesday. Today she came in not knowing I was there and told me about the card. I said perhaps it was God speaking to her through the card and she said "oh yes" and I said God gave her a hug from her husband and she said "oh yes" from there we started talking about God. Turns out she is a bible scholar with a few degrees. It was quite the blessing to talk to her although I really did not have the time and had to get back to my work. It was one of those encounters that you just know it was God ordained and that I was supposed to be there today, not exactly sure why, but if it was just to be encouraged............it was well worth the time for me being at Dollar General laboring on Labor Day!!!!

It was also kind of nice to know that all my work is not in vain that someone actually got blessed by the cards I put up every week for the last couple of years.

Nothing else much happened today. Made some wonderful chicken soup today. Here is the recipe:
I baked one whole chicken in the oven with potatoes and carrots and Emeril seasonings for about 2 hours. We had a nice chicken dinner Friday night and Saturday. Then I turned what was left of the chicken into SOUP. Placing the rest of the carcus into a pot of hot water and cooked for a couple of hours, put in some Watkins chicken base soup, then let it cool down before putting in the refrig.

Tonight (Labor Day) I took the chicken out of the refrig and out of the pot. Deboned the chicken and put it back in the pot. Cut up one small zuccihni, carrots, added onion powder, paprika, and about 1/2 cup of spegetti sauce and some egg noodles and let cook for a bit, took off the burner and "wah la" a very tasty soup, JP really liked it alot............really have to remember that recipe.........well now its in my blog and will be archived............must change my title to........there....'Labor Day......and Chicken Soup..........." calorie wise......I don't know what the calories are, just too good to count.

Well, I think I will close this blog for today. Tomorrow is another day at Dollor General, have to do the audit on the reading glasses and sunglasses. And then on to exercise at "Inches A Weigh"......I am not too sure I lost any weight as I don't do alot of exercise on the weekends. Well, hopefully I will have lost a pound.

Have a good day................Louise

♥I WON♥I WON♥

YES, YES...........I won a cookbook from "Inches A Weigh" YAY!!!!!!! I am so excited!!! Here's how it happened. I had been wanting to get the cookbook, which costs $25......one of the counelors said, "Louise why don't you wait and see if you can win the cookbook as there is a contest starting, and one of the prizes is the cookbook?" I thought..........oh, so long to have to wait........but waited, I did.

The contest consisted of a baseball diamond and every pound you lost, took you to either 1st base, 2nd base or 3rd base, or 4 lbs gave you a home run!!!!! I only managed to get around all 4 bases ONCE.........never quite getting around again. Sooooo, that meant I only had 1 entry in the box. Yesterday was the big day and names were picked and, and, and, TA DAAAAAAA.......I won the cookbook!!!!!!!

Well, now I should have some fun making new recipes for JP and I with the Inches A Weigh cookbook. Next post, I will show you what my new prize looks like and perhaps I will give you a tried and true recipe...........I will be like Julie, who tried all of Julia Child's recipes in her french cookbook.................I will try all the recipes in the Inches A Weigh cookbook and give you a full report.....lol!!!!

Talk to you later, have to get ready to go collect my prize~Louise

September 3, 1918

This will be short...............every year, on this date, I think about my earthly Father. He would have been 91 years old today if his life had not been cut short by a heart attack at the age of 42. Sad, I still miss him after 48 years. I sometimes wonder, had my dad lived longer, would things have been different? Would I have been in a different place, spiritually, physically and mentally? I will always wonder.

I loved my dad very much, the sun rose and set on him. Oh well, life does go on, with and without people you love. You try and do the best you can with what you got and just keep going. I've kept going, but there has always been that little part of me that will always miss her daddy.

Have a great day!!! Told you this would be a short one.
Louise

♥♥♥Beautiful Day Today♥♥♥

I love this time of the year......and to make it even better the weather is gorgeous today..........almost heavenly!!! But alas I have to get ready to do a few jobs today, going out and about in the traffic...........sometimes I like to just stay home, can find lots to do and then there is always going into my little studio to make a few cards, which is what I did last night..........here's a picture. This was a "unique technique" using alcohol inks on one side of a piece of vellum then stamped the image of a lighthouse on the other side of the vellum, embossed with black and gold embossing powder. Layered vellum on white cardstock and punched two holes on the side and ran ribbon through the picture. Again layering on black cardstock then on the card, embellishing with gold stickers. Turned out really nice, although it is hard to see in this picture. I want to make some more cards like this, but I need to fine thicker vellum for this project, thin vellum does not work well. Curls up.

I found this wonderful cookbook at Savers (a second hand store)the other day....Graham Kerr~The Galloping Gourmet~1970 vintage cookbook for 99cents. Has some wonderful recipes in it. There were a couple I thought I might try.........like maybe the Beef Stroganov, London Broil and Mushroom Salad sounded good some of the other recipes were very complicated. But then guess that would be the fun of making it.

Did you get a chance to see "Julia and Julie" do go, it was really fun to watch. Heard yesterday that Julia Child's cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" is the #1 best seller because of the movie. Alas, I am on a waiting list at the library to get her cookbook. Julia cooked with alot of Butter and Cream........yikes........lots of calories for sure. I would like to try her beef stew........of course that was not the "French" word for it...........on this tv program they said they figured one serving of this wonderful, succulent stew had 993 calories in ONE serving. Now I don't know if that was a cup or two cups or what.......but Julia used real bacon chunks, butter, cream and of course meat and vegies AND MUSHROOMS!!!!! I love mushrooms, and they are good for you too!!!

Well, I think I better close this blog for today, need to get ready for work, only have two jobs today, but they are in opposite directions. Dollar General in Kaukauna is a round trip of 16 miles, so I will be gone most of the day, if I get ready now, and get out of the house by 1:30, I could be home by 6:00pm or so.

Well, you have a great day and keep looking up!!!

Louise

Making Progress..........

This will be short and sweet today.........

Got measured and weighed at "Inches A Weigh" I lost 2.5 inches in one month.........YAY!!! I can feel it as my clothes are feeling less snug and I can bend down. This is a good thing, I would recommend "Inches A Weigh" to anyone wanting to make a change in their life.

As for the weight.........mmmmmm..........still stuck at the loss of 12 lbs.........but that is good too! The weight councelor said I am eating TOO many almonds...............but I can't stop eating them!!!!!! "You can only have 10 almonds per day" she said.............I would like to eat an ounce at one sitting, cause they are so good when I need and want a "salt fix" if I can't have chips, this is the next best thing. But alas, she said "almonds with NO salt"..........she is taking the fun out of it!!!!!!

I was just reading the other day about how you should only eat "living" food, no processed foods anymore!!!!!! NO, NO, NO! Fruits, vegies, nuts, eggs, meats, (now a vegetarian would not like to hear that one.........but I will eat meat, cause GOD made ALL things GOOD)

Anyways, I think I would like to try for 5 lbs in September, that will be my goal and another couple of inches, hopefully my weight October 1st will be a success.

I saw a wonderfull blog today..........the girl does wonderfully, beautiful drawings, here is her blog address: http://www.nicominixturner.blogspot.com/ and her Etsy store: http://www.specimenjars.etsy.com/
I think I will start trying to sketch alittle this winter, that sounds like fun...........get back to my roots.

Well, I am closing here, you all have a great day!!!!
Louise

Last Day of August..............sad

Sadly it is the last day of August and the feeling of autumn is in the air...............I love autumn. Cool weather, leaves falling and raking them, mmmm, good exercise, bringing in the harvest, finally it is soup time! I love the changing of the color of the leaves, maybe we will be able to take a long week end and enjoy the fall before the winter comes upon us. Of course maybe with global warming it should not be so COLD here in WISCONSIN (laughing out loud).

I found a new blog to follow today, I shall be checking her out everyday to see what she has to say about the world around her...........she is a christian with a view on the news, opinions and life. What I have read so far has been very interesting, check her out at: http://www.stringingandstrowing.blogspot.com/

Not much going on today, exercise at IAW and we get measured and weighed............I am still struggling with this weight as it goes up and down at every whim. I should not complain though as I have been at this since the last week in April and according to stitistics I am right on the mark as I have lost 12 lbs and that would be 3 lbs lost a month, soooooo I am doing great!!!! Now when I get measured that will be the tell-tale-test. At the last measurment, I had lost 22 inches. We will see what happens today.............I will report back with the news.

Going to shut this blog down for now as I have to get my jobs off the internet and get organized, so I know where I am going this week. So you have a great day and keep looking up as JESUS is coming soon!!!!!
Louise

One More Week in August

Just a short note to all that read this blog: I made each paragraph in different colors, not just for looks but because I just could not seem to get this blog to seperate, if I had left it as is, was hard to read. Ssssooooo I seperated with color. Looks nice though, doesn't it, a little embellishment.

Yeah...........it's true, one more week in August. I mentioned in my Etsy store annoucements that "Poor, poor August" did not have any holiday in it's 31 days.......BUT.......August sure has been a busy month full of surprises too! Here's a lovely picture of my Gladiolis's.........a surprise that they even grew this summer as they were some of the bulbs I had left in the ground over the winter.

Went to the funeral of a woman I used to work with......amazing how the death of someone can fan the flames of a lot of memories, some not so good. Saw a few people I had not seen in years, my how they have changed...........as did JP and I no doubt. The funeral was short and sweet, I think she was cremated, the family led the service, (there was no clergy) and there was alot of remembering of her and her pranks she played on people........ummm......her vindictiveness hurt alot at times and I was her target many a time. Sadly, I will not miss her much, I often wonder if things could have been a little bit different between her and I......but her beliefs and mine did not seem to be compatable. Oh well.......time to let bygones be bygones......hopefully she made to the other side and is dancing in the arms of Jesus. If not......she's burning, big time!!!!!!!

JP and I will be celebrating our 36th anniversary this week..........no special plans that I know of. I think we shall go out to eat, just him and I, we are due for that steak dinner. Yep, we met in March of 1971 on a blind date............hard to believe the time has passed us by this fast....was only yesterday, wasen't it?

Birthdays................my mother's birthday was this month, she would have been 83 on the 2nd. Nieces birthday on the 9th, also Frances birthday on the 9th. Another friend on the 5th, oh and on the 15th was Kathy's birthday and the 20th Bill's birthday. The 17th was the death of that lady I worked with.

Starting next month JP will be getting Social Security...........we both chose to get early retirement.........after reading an article today on Yahoo, maybe it's a good thing to get it early, cause for the next 2 years there is not going to be an automatic raise, honestly, older people worked all there lives then comes retirement and guess what, they can't afford to retire anymore. This country sure is messed up and the rich get richer and poor get poorer.

As I sit here looking at my calendar for August, I am a little sad, as all I did was work, pay bills, exercise, and watch my weight, to no avail.......JP and I sure do need a vacation, even if it's just a week-end to Door County and sit by Lake Michigan........oh well, we'll see what September brings.

Well, I think I shall close this blog for tonight and go on to my other blog at: http://www.cards4ubylouise2.blogspot.com/ Have a good day and see ya....."here, there, or in the air"

Louise

More Cards

Here's a few more cards, plain and simple and too the point. I am hopeing to have more of the wedding cards made, so I have a few on hand and a few at Inches A Weigh and a few on Etsy. Well, I am making this blog short and sweet as it is getting late and I have another full day tomorrow. Take care and Take Jesus ~ Louise

Hel.....looooooo? Where did Summer GO?

I must have closed my eyes for a season and missed summer..........where did it disapear to? I know I have been busy, but here it is August already and I am not even sure we had a summer. Good grief and September is right around the corner. I was doing dishes this morning and actualy saw a leaf on the backyard tree starting to turn to it's lovely orange and yellow colors of FALL.......yikes winter is not far behind.

Well, I have been pretty busy making cards lately. Was able to put some cards in the "Inches A Weigh" establishment and have actually sold a few cards. (or should I say, they sold themselves)I am trying to refresh the card basket with new cards every couple of weeks just to keep things interesting. Following are some of my newest cards that I will soon be adding to my etsy store also.

A lovely elagant wedding card in light blue, I have a wedding card in light violet and teal and may add those at a later date. Isn't life Sweet and a little note card that you can add your own sediments to. I am going to try and add a few more cards to this blog................if it will let me.

Next on the agenda is a little aligator birthday card. It tickled my funny bone when I first laid eyes on it. I really must buy this stamp so I can have him close at hand. In the mean time I will have to borrow him from Betty. My Thinking of You card was made from a tag punch.........another item that I need to purchase (hopefully I can sell enough cards to buy these two items in the near future. Well, I will add a few more cards on my next blog at: http://www.cards4ubylouise2.blogspot.com/ keep you in suspense so you will have to check that blog out also.

We have been pretty busy, doing lots of yard work, house work, body work..................I am still stuck at 10 lbs and 20 inches, well, guess that is better then nothing. 10lbs is 10lbs and 20inches is 20inches, can't bark at that, that is for sure.

Goodness, alot of things have happened this summer. Micheal Jackson and Farah Fawcet died, Obama wants to put us under bondage with his health care regiem, Farve is not going to the Vikings and is actually retiring, Jeanene won "So you think you can dance" (I was hoping for Brandon), Adam Lambert lost to what's his name on American Idol oh and Paula will not return to Idol...........I think she will go on to judge on So you think you can dance..........my prediction.

This will be the summer of surprises............well, I think I will close this one for awhile...........I await your comments................have a great day and keep looking up. Louise

Yep, life is sweet!!!!!!

What's New in Louyville?

Louyville?????????? Guess I'm jus haven fun 2day.............lol. Thought you would like to see some bogonias from my garden, I love bringing them in and let them float in some water............soooo pretty.

So how are you all or should I say the one or two of you that might read my blog today or tomorrow? I'm doin' okay considering...........can you believe it? We are into JULY already, where oh where did June go to?????????? Time is a flyin by fast. Still have not gotten all my seeds planted in the garden yet, really have to get my pea pods planted.

Guess my busyness must be part of going to exersize class 4 times aweek........well that is about 8 hours a week, but I figure as long as I am in that area doing my merchandising jobs, it is not out of the way. Feeling much better and I think as of today lost 10 lbs have been shed, am losing VERY slowly, but I guess that is better then not losing at all.

Things I am noticing:

1. my clothes are fitting differently


2. I can bend over and the stomach is not so much in the way


3. sleep more


4. more energy


5. eating much better


6. it is fun getting on the scale to see what # I am today


7. which reminds me


8. still sitting at 10 lbs and maybe 20+ inches


9. July 6th is weigh-in and measureing of inches

Well, I am sure there is more that could be listed but can't think of any. Lets see what else is happening in Louyville???????? Been making a few cards but have not taken pictures of them and put them into my Etsy store. Got a few new stamps and a wonderful idea to make a card with my Cuttlebug. Picked up an embossing folder for $3 at a stamping sale.....that was a deal, brand new. And to think I was just looking at the same embossing folder earlier that day for $5 and did not buy it but thought, maybe that will be my next investment in a few weeks.

4th of July weekend...........fireworks tonight, I hope to watch them someplace. If not I will just listen to the boom, boom, booms!!! We are just planning to stay around the house and work in the garden and pull weeds, I bought a bunch of wood chips to cover the fire pit with so the weeds don't pop through. It's suppose to be a nice week end and hopefully the mosquitos won't be obtrusive.

Just going to make hotdogs and hambergers this weekend, nothing too special to eat. Well, I suppose I will close this boring blog and get ready for exersize today. Talk later. BFN - Louise

♥HEY......8lbs and 20inches♥

Welp!!! I am just reporting in, as of Monday, June 1st - I have lost 8lbs and 20inches!!!! Hip-hip-hooray!!!! Feeling good and "Inches A Weigh" has been a blessing for me. I thank God he directed me to this little place. So many of the women going there have lost hundreds and hundreds of inches and lbs.

You are given a diet to follow, writing everything down that goes into my mouth then figure out how many calories are involved. Exercise 3-4 times a week. It has been quite a challange to balance exercise and merchandising. Still trying to figure out how to enjoy all this and not get stressed out. Trying to make a few cards and sell them on Etsy.com plus keep a house and get my garden started.

Well, I am going to close this little blog for today. Not much going on............I have a few cards that I want to add to my little store http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ made a BEAUTIFUL wedding card for my niece in Chicago. Really want to make another one and add that to my store in the near future.

Hey, have you been catching "So You Think You Can Dance" just love that show. The top 20 were picked today............gonna be a great show this season.

You all take care and take JESUS!!!!
Louise

♥♥Inches A Weigh♥♥

To the tune of "Anchors Away" (dum..dum) Anchors Away (dum..dum), That's what I think of when think of Inches A Weigh..............well, it has really been fun!!! Have lost 4-5 lbs and 8 inches since April 24th. Not bad for me, that is for sure. Just think in 6 weeks.....8 weeks.....10 weeks....gosh, maybe by Fall I can buy a bathing suit 50% off!!!

I am feeling better, don't know if I look any different, but that is okay, it will come all in time.

We bought JP a new suit, yellow shirt and fancy tie for the big Chicago wedding on the 23rd. I am still trying to figure out what I will wear. MMMMM, I might go back to Catherenes, try a find a nice pair of slacks and top. We'll see. Catherenes is what sent me to Inches A Weigh in the first place............maybe just maybe things will be different this time.

Well, I think I will shut down, really not in a talkative mood and I am starting to get tired. so talk to you later and a great day.
Louise

♥May Day ~ May Day♥

Well, today is May Day...........WHERE IN THE WORLD DID JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL GO!!!!!!! I don't know, the older I have gotten the more faster time is flying and maybe that isn't such a bad thing, what with the way this world is going. I wonder how much longer we will be living the good life before something drastic happens and all is lost. Life as we know it will be no more. Guess that is why God says to take one day at a time and enjoy each gift He has given. Yesterday is over, Tomorrow is the future and Today is a present. I think that is the way that saying goes.

Mother's Day is about a week away. Nothing special will be happening here, as I am not a mother to anyone. I have never much liked Mother's Day as it has only brought pain. I had a baby and had to put her up for adoption. Stepfather and Mother's decision, if I put the baby up for adoption I will always have a home with them, but if I decide to keep the baby I will never have a home with them.............was I going to be disowned? I don't know, back in those days being pregnant and not married was a terrible sin...........and still is cause it is NOT the way God planned for us. Satan had a big hand in my life trying to destroy my life. I have regretted my decision of 40 years ago.........wishing I never gave up my baby. Probably only because I was never able to have anymore babies. Now as I grow older, I wish I had a daughter or son and grandchildren. I am so envious of women with children and grandchildern..........where did I go wrong???????? Oh well, so much for Mother's Day..........I hate it!!!!

A new thing in my life, I finally took the plunge and am now going to "Inches-A-Weigh" I need to do something with this body that has gotten so out of shape. Gosh, I am finding it hard to put on my socks and bend over. When I look in the mirror I look like the "biggest loser" before they lost all their weight. Went to Catherine's last week to try on some clothes and to no avail.....I looked like two-ton-tessie!!!! Even in the "big girls shop" I could not hide the flab.

So "Inches-A-Weigh" is for women, they put you on a diet, mine is about 1500 calories, you write down everything you eat, and how many calories you've consummed. I got 6 boxes of food, protein bars, hot chocolate, juice, pudding/shake, mac and cheese and fettucini. Then the big thingy is going to IAW to exercise. They have 6 beds to lay on that do different things, waist twists, leg lifts, bumpers for the upper back and buns, vibrating bed then the relaxing bed that sort of messages everything. Then theres the riding bycicle, and tredmill which I do about 10 minutes each. Gosh I was so full of energy yesterday when I came home, did about an hour of work outside...........that was more pep then I have had in a long time. I hope by May 23 I will have lost 10-15lb and maybe 15 inches.............we'll see what happens.

Well, I should go for I have to get ready to go to IAW. Talk to you later.
Louise

Easter and Monday Ramblings.........

It's going to be a quiet day today. So far today, I pulled up some of the merchandising jobs that I need to do tomorrow and Wednesday (taking down all the Easter cards, counting and tearing them and putting up the Mother's Day cards.........that will keep me busy. Plus, I just checked out Etsy and made a few changes in the store, added a card for Mother's Day and changed the announcements. Check out my store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ Oh, and while you are reading this blog, press the play button on my new gadget and listen to some David Archuleta music>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Perhaps today I will go into my studio (sounds so much more professional then "going downstairs in the basement....lol) and make a few cards for the store and build up my inventory. Was reading on the forum, what people look for in cards that are made. Mostly note cards with it being blank on the inside, so they can write their own sediments. Maybe a few wedding cards, baby cards, congrats cards. Oh and cards for men. Someone could not find a Valentines card for a male...............so I need to keep that in my mind for next year.

JP is talking to his mother right now..........she still lives in Chicago. She is giving him the low-down on what happened at yesterday's get-together for Easter with the family. I talked to my step-father on Saturday, he lives alone in Las Vegas, he was going to make a chicken in his "NuWave" oven. I made a turkey on Thursday, so now we have the left-overs to eat. Yesterday we went to a friends house for Easter, we had Ham, potatoes, asparagus, spinich salad, relish tray, cherry salad and dessert was a double chocolate brownie with whip cream......oh yummmm!

Let's see, what else is going on today and this week. As I look at the calendar........going to Betty's house next Tuesday, she teaches card making, for $12 we make 4 cards of different designs, it is always fun going there and learning something new.

In May we are looking at going down to Chicago for our niece Callie and her fiance Matt's wedding. Should be fun, I hope, but the older I get, the more I just want to stay home, have become quite the home body, I guess. Everything is costing so much, there is not much you can do now a days and keep it under $100. Ha......that is a laugh, by the time Obama is done with us, we will need to be bailed out. My step-father says JP and I should be doing okay what with social security coming every month. I honestly have not seen relief yet, if it wasen't for that check I get, we would not have been able to pay our mortgage, it has been that tight. Thank God for social security.

Well, I think I am going to shut this blog down, as I need to go make JP his sandwiches for his lunch box and also make something for him before he leaves for work. No problem though, Turkey is on the menu oh and turkey soup.

So you have a great day and keep looking up! I
{{{{hugs}}}}
Louise

♦April Fools Day♦

Yep............it's April Fools Day! I have no jokes to play on anyone. Used to be a fun thing to do in my younger years, but not anymore.

Hey how are you doing with all the taxes that are being placed on you? Taxes on booze, ciggs, insurance, house, food, gas.........you name it we are really getting zapped. There are alot of "Tea Party's" springing up all over the country. Check out www.teapartyrevolts.com/ (this link will take you to "opps link broke" click "google search" and you will get a list of all the tea party's going on, from there you can go to your state and see where a tea party will be held nearest you.

Oh, and I guess people are writing letters to their representatives and sending the tabs of tea bags (no tea bags) in protest against all these taxes that the little guy just cannot pay out. Someone told me the other day that we are paying 60% of our income to taxes..........gosh, how is a person supposed to survive? We are becoming slaves to the government and city and state government.

And isn't it interesting that a black man is president and putting the white man into slavery...........huh..........what goes around, comes around..........how true is that.

Happy April Fools Day!!!!!!! WE ARE ALL THE FOOLS!!!!!

Have a great day!!!!
Louise

????????????

Not sure what happened on this day..................it's a total blank..........have a good day!

New Cards

So here is my new set of cards. Three cards for $7.50 plus postage. I have not put them on Etsy as yet, so they are debuting here. Three little cards all different, with different color ribbons. The inside verse is very unique also. "Do what you Love" "Love what you do!" Neat huh? I thought so when I first saw it on a card someone sent me. When I saw the stamp, I knew I had to have it. My other new verse is "I thought of you today" That set of cards is already on Etsy. Go to: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ and you will see them along with the St. Patrick's Day cards and a few new sets of earrings I made. Not much is going on.............I am so ready for Spring and the melting of the snow. Weather forcaster just said more snow this week end and on into next week.........Tuesday and Wednesday.....the two days that I ususally go out and do merchandising. Sometimes gets a little stressfull trying to run inbetween the snowflakes. Well you have a great day and SMILE.
Louise

Wass' hap-ning????

I don't know?????? Not much going on at this end. But thought I would add a little something to spice up my blog. Have been making some earrings and a few new cards. Made a set of lovely note cards with the inside verse saying "I thought of you today", bought the stamp last week. I thought that was kind of nice, just to send out a card when I thought of someone............it is always nice to receive cards in the mail for no reason at all. Why wait for a special day when you can send one any old time.

Decorated my dinning room table with St. Pats stuff......I like decorating my dinning room table according to the seasons......kind of perks up my spirit. Been moving a few pieces of furniture around too. I heard that when you move your furniture around, subconsciencely you want to travel someplace. I guess that might be right, I need to take a vacation someplace, somewhere, gosh, even if it is up to Door County or even Algoma.................someplace.

Well, I am off to take some pictures of the earrings, and cards so I can add them to this blog or the next one..........not sure, it is all pending. Who knows what I will do in the next few days or hours for all I know, I may not go take some pictures and this blog just might be pictureless. Gosh, a pictureless blog, not sure how to react.

Have a great day,
Louise

New St. Patrick's Card

Well, here is one of my new St. Patrick's Day Cards. I just added to my collection of cards on Etsy......actually right now this card is my "Avatar of the month". I like changing my avatars and banners according to the season. Just added the orange card last night. I probably will add the green card in the next few days. Here is the orange card.
I am not Irish.........German, French and English. Soooooo, maybe that is why I like a good cup of tea and french fries and brats????????? {{{laugh,laugh}}}

Anyways, sorry this is not such a good blog today........I need to get ready to go and do some stores today, don't usually go out on Mondays, but I have a switch out of cards to do at the two Dollar General Stores. Taking down the Valentines cards, and putting up the Easter, St Pats and graduation...............here we go again. Time sure does fly when I do cards.

Well, I guess I should close this segment of the blog for now, and go get ready for my job. You have a good day and talk later.
Louise

Jewelry by Jozie

Just thought you might like to check out Jozie an artist from Etsy. She featured one of my cards in her blog on Saturday, January 31st.........so thought I would feature her here in my blog. If I can figure out how to get a picture of her jewelry here, I will add a few of her pieces in this blog.

Hold on.........get ready for the ride. Not exactly sure how to get a picture here......but here is the address to go to her store. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19623526

Hey, gonna close here for now, been a long day and I am getting tired.

Blessings to one and all.
Louise

♥♥Popcorn, dogs and JESUS♥♥

I started this blog with a "No Title" on it...........cause I just didn't know where I am going with it. I thought that I might just ramble on and type things that came to my mind and that could have been dangerous. BUT finally did give this blog a title and as you can see it's about popcorn, dogs and Jesus...............so read on and I hope you enjoy. Better go make yourself some popcorn though.

Mmmmmmmmm......husband is making popcorn, I love the smell of popcorn....okay maybe I will think of something after a few handfuls of popcorn, luscious popcorn........oh yes so very good. With real butter drizzled and a little salt, taste just like popcorn from the show. MMMMMM ~ good! My favorite way to make popcorn is with the "Orvil Redenbacker Microwave popper" A little bit of oil, 1/4 cup corn and 4 minutes in the mic. Then drizzle butter and sprinkle salt on top ............Here's a picture>>
And here is that same popcorn........vanished.......it truely was so goooooooddddd!

Have I made you hungry for popcorn, oh so good. Well, I have munched it all away and my dog Kylie had to have some also.....funny dog, her and Hyko love to eat lettuce, popcorn, carrots, cucumbers.....neither one like spinich though, oh and they both love pasta. I ran out of dried dog food and gave them canned dog food, they must have thought they died and went to heaven cause they gobbled down that canned dog food like it was going out of style. Here are some pictures of Hyko and Kylie, my little darling dogs. This one of Hyko, he is standing on the word of God. Kylie........just likes to smile!!!!!

Well I should end this blog for tonight............as you can see my world is very small right now.....not much going. It has been VERY cold outside, burrrrrrrr, and I prefer to stay in the house and stay warm. Tuesday is the inaguration, will have to watch some of it, hopefully this country will take the course towards God and not away from him. We are to pray for Obama, pray for those in authority over us...........Today I heard Jimmy Swaggart say that we should pray for "God to direct the affairs of this country" I wrote that down, that is the way I will pray for Obama and this country..........it's all in God's hands, and we should not worry or fret about what will happen cause God has everything under control and I must believe that. The moment we start to doubt is when we stop believing the word of God. There is a saying I heard a long time ago......"God said it, I believe it and that is all there is to it" Straight and to the point!

You have a good day..........sorry for the ramblings, not alot to write in the middle of winter, and I am not leading a very exciting life at this point. Better days are coming though, just waiting for that trumpet sound and Jesus calling us home...............THEN life will be better, do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Hope so, you can have peace in the midst of the storm, just admit you are a sinner and Jesus died for your sins, ask for forgiveness and ask him into your heart and let him take over from there........so very simple, even a child can do it. You'll still have the bumps in the road, but the bumps will be cushioned with Jesus!!!!

Hey you have a great day ~ Louise

♥♥♥Valentine's Day Special♥♥♥

Here is my Valentine's Day special. Earrings and a Valentine Card 'all in one' for that special someone. The earrings are made with silver findings, beads are 8mm ruby red and irridesent glass and silver balls. Earrings are 1-1/2 inches long. The front of the card is a plain heart with a ribbon tied through it and layered on a patterned piece of vellum.

The price for both card and earrings is $10 + $2 postage they will also come in their own envelope and will be packed carefully in a bubble envelope. You will also receive an extra card and thank you tag for your own personal use. Go to my little store on Etsy. www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com

HAVE A GREAT DAY

Louise