Here We Go Again!!!!

Hi there everyone. Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July...it went way too fast. It's been pretty hot here...in the 90's (I don't do 90's very well.) Our window air conditioner konked out after the 3rd day and started spitting....so I guess it is time to get a new one. That's if I can manage to scrape up some money. So in the mean time I have 5 fans going constantly and a little Artic Air conditioner by my computer...it puts out some cold air but needs to be filled with water every couple of hours. 

Hopefully there will be just a few more days of this hot stuff. The weather will cool down a bit and I can then do some work outside....it's too hot for me to work outside in 90 degrees....but the  weeds and grass like this and grow great in this weather. 

I really do need an air conditioner in the kitchen though, as I do spend a lot of time there. If need be, I can put a lawn chair in the kitchen and camp out in the kitchen during the night. I've done that a few times, when the conditioner worked. Now I just have the fans going full blast.

Dinner tonight was hamburgers and mashed potatoes and gravy and sliced tomatoes with Italian dressing. By the time I finished cooking, I was sweating like a stuffed pig....do they sweat???? Time to sit in front of the fans and enjoy the hamburger.

Well, here we go again. The city is tearing up our street again......Uge!!! They say this mess will be done by August 22nd.

We have special permits to put on our car window as we won't be able to park in our own driveway. So where ever we can find a place to park on the side streets....that's where we can park for the night.

We watched the streets being torn apart this morning....those machines are beasts. The weather was much cooler this morning also, by about noon the weather started warming up a bit.

This is the street down the right of us, they went on to tear up the street in the next block. I thought that street was already finished, as it was already black-topped.....but I guess not.

So here is our front yard....daisies are growing nicely. The blacktop on the side walk will be ripped up also....what a mess this will be.

Well, I guess it is time to close here, you all enjoy your summer...have a feeling it will go pretty fast!!! Take care and keep looking up. I am pretty sure things will get better eventually. Cheers ~ Louise

July 4th 2020

Hi there everyone.....Happy 4th of July 2020!!! Following are just a few Meme's celebrating Independence Day from Great Britain in 1776 and their tyranny on the 13 colonies!!! Hard to believe, we in this modern day of 2020, are still fighting against the tyranny of different things that control us.....will we really ever be free from people and things that desire to control our lives???? 

Corona Virus and all it's rules and regulations.

Most Politian's, Libral Democrat's and Conservative Republicans.

Hate to say this, but Money is a controller.

Entertainment of all sorts, TV, sports, video games, music, crafts, maybe even work and whatever else takes up all your time.

Could food be a controller?....maybe so.

Yes....the Evil one is a controller that uses people to control our lives!!!

Did I miss anything, there probably are a lot of other things that control our lives. Maybe for you it is something completely different. Just seems 2020 so far has been very tuff on so many of us. Spiritually, physically, financially, domestically and mentally.

BUT...Thank God we have HIM to help us through all these trials and tribulations of life that attack us daily on various levels of our lives.

I am not sure how I got on this subject, just seems looking at the way things are developing in this world....our independence is diminishing under a new rule of Socialism, Communism and a large touch of a Marxist rule.....Look out and look up...only God can deliver us from this tyranny of control.

Take care and be safe, keep looking up. I always end my blogs with "better days are coming" I am sure hoping so at this point, for all of our sakes. Cheers ~ Louise

It's About Time???

Hi there everyone...whom ever you may be. The title says, "It's about time???" What does that mean, you might say??? Well, I guess it means....it's about time I did a new post, the last one was in May and my street was being torn up, things are more calmer now. The hole was covered up and the City laid black top down where the sidewalk was. It will be torn up again next Spring!!! 

I found out the cost for us this year.....are you sitting down??? We will have to come up with another $1,560.00 for this session...who knows how much it will be next year. I still have one more month to come up with $434.00 for taxes this year...geez, the City must think we have a money tree in our back yard.....I wish we did. Not exactly sure where we will come up with this extra $1,560.00 this year. We have been told we can either pay the whole amount in one lump sum, have the amount added to our taxes next year OR make 5 easy payments a month....that would be $315.00 a month along with all the other bills???  Paying this off will have to be a miracle from God!!!!

Well, enough of my tale of woes.....some how, some way, it will be taken care of. 

In this post I am showing you some of the cards I made for Hospice. Here are my 4th of July cards...they were fun to make. I inked the embossing folder, put the card stock in the folder and ran it off in my cuttlebug. So the background is colored and the fireworks are still white. Added a few gems and penned in the stars in gold.

I really love this die cut....so pretty. I received the die cut from my "secret stamper" and turned it into this lovely card.....makes for a nice thank you card.

My secret stamper also sent me this 3D rose background. I loved it so much I had to have this folder for my own collection. I used the same technique as I did for the fireworks card....sure do like the effect it gives. So many different ways to use this folder.....stay tuned for more ideas.

Here again.....my new secret stamper sent me this background. I added the butterflies, gems and Thinking of you verse....another easy peasy card.

I picked up these gold tags at Hobby Lobby on their discount rack, I figured I could find some use for them....here's what I did, ran it through the 3D rose folder....and made this very simple card.

So there you have it, a few cards for Hospice. Our next meeting won't be until September 6th....so hopefully I will have a good 50-60 cards made by then. We get the summer off from Hospice. Will give me more time for playing in my gardens. 

If this rain would stop, I could plant a few more seeds. I do have my tomato plants and zucchini plants planted along with radishes, lettuce, beans and cucumber. Planted some flower seeds too, zinnias, marigolds, inpatients and wild flowers for the butterflies. So, we shall see what grows and doesn't grow. 

Time to close here....you all have a great June. This next week, Kylie has a grooming appointment...she always feels good after her shower and shave. Tuesday I go for my 2nd vitamin B-12 shot and Thursday I have an appointment for a mammogram....ouch, don't like those tests. Summer begins on the 21st....how fast this year is flying!!!

Have a great evening and keep looking up, better days are coming!!
Cheers - Louise

Happy 4th of July

Some Donated Cards for Hospice

Hi there everyone. Hope you had a great Saturday.....I did, although Saturday's go much too fast! The weather was much cooler today and much more comfortable. As I get older, warm, warm weather bothers me more and more, as does cold weather. Wish there was a happy medium, don't you??? I do like the 4 seasons, but not so hot and not so freezing cold. Guess Spring and Fall is my kind of weather....wonder where that is???

So the following pictures are cards I made for Hospice this past Friday (June 1st). The cards above are my 4th of July cards. Which were fun to make. I used a technique I found just recently using Sakura Cray-pas.  Using a star, draw a line where you want color, then using your finger, spread the color over the card stock. Depending how much color or how little color depends how heavy you press the cray-pa. Then after I got the affect I wanted, then layed the star down and stamped with another star. Added silver stars and a Happy 4th of July stamp.

This is a neat card....these were the only 3 I made....really need to make more. The leaves are a die cut. The back grounds.....the top left was a Brusho painted background, using different colored crystals and water. The top right, is patterned paper. Now, the bottom card...which is the prettiest, honestly forgot how I made it. Sorry!!!

These cards are flowers that were pasted onto velum, very simple cards. The Happy Birthday is embossed on velum and glued on the card.

Here again, Sakura Cray-pas. Using the same technique of rubbing the cray-pas onto the card stock, this is the affect I got. For sure I will be making more of these cards.

These cards are from my stampin'up June card kit. Fun to make, and all the papers, ink and stamps are in the kit to make 8 cards. These were the two styles for this month. I am thinking of canceling my subscription....I have about 6 kits I have not touched, so I am sure I have enough card making along with a few other ideas for cards I want to try making......will keep me busy for the summer along with my gardening.

Watching Hockey right now....Washington Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights. I thought I was rooting for the Knights.....but I like the Capitals also....they are both good teams....BUT....the Capitals have yet to win a Stanley Cup. I have been known to be for the under-dog. I guess this is one of those times. I like Alex Ovechkin the captain for the Capitals...he would like to be the first Russian Captian to win a Stanley Cup....that would be fun to see.

The Capitals just scored, it's 2-0......GO CAPITALS!!!!! But you know, if Vegas wins....it won't be such a bad thing. Both teams have great stories behind them. The next game is Monday, June 4th. Stay tuned.

Don't have much planned for this next week, but that could get filled up in no time. It's time to get things done in my gardens and get my ceramic animals out of the shed in between the mosquito bites. Just as soon as I get bite, I hightail it into the house and spread Icyhot cream on the bites....that soothes the itch and pain away after 5 minutes, must buy another tube soon.

Well, I think I will close this post for tonight, there is one more period left and I want to give full attention to it.....it may be a rough and tumble game. You all have a great weekend and keep looking up....better days are coming, here, there, or in the air!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

PS....Washington Capitals won 3-1 GO CAPS!!!!

Fences, X's and Solar Toys

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a lovely 4th of July week-end. Thought I would share with you how my little fencing looks....the neighbors are finally putting up their privacy fence, which will be nice for my side of the yard. So in the mean time I put up this bamboo fencing which camouflaged the junk in their backyard. It was hard to look at "their stuff" every day from my kitchen window. It did not bother my husband.....but it sure was depressing to me. 

I don't know about you, but when I have to do dishes and I look out my window and see "a royal mess" day in and day out....it is depressing. So I proceeded to try and make my side of the yard cute and pretty......something nice to look at. But, the neighbor said she thought my stuff was "old people stuff" and she would rather look at her stuff. NOT ME!!!! I tried to stay sweet and tolerant but I BOILED inside!!!!

Tomorrow their fence will be up....today they just put up the posts.

I will take pictures tomorrow of the fencing they put up.....it will be a world of difference, I am sure. NOPE! No finished fence today....maybe another couple of weeks, it might be finished. I won't hold my breath.

I still should get some sun, but not sure how much at this point. We will see what transpires. Gosh....maybe I should get a little kiddy pool to sit in when it gets really hot out.....will be nice to have some privacy!!!

This is a really weird picture......"X marks the spot" It was about 8:30am and I let Kylie out to do her business and I noticed this X with a circle around it in our driveway. I don't know where it was coming from....have never seen this before. It must be a reflection from something....but from where??? An unidentified object? As I said, I have never seen this before and we have lived in this house going on 26 years. Maybe it's a sign from heaven????

A few pictures of my solar animals......Jonah the Whale.....a Pink Flamingo and purple petunia's. Just planted these petunia's the other day.

"Bull Frogs and Butterflies and I've been born again".....so the song goes. So every time I get into the car that's the song that goes through my head. He just keeps moving to the light and makes me smile!!! Now a days, I need more smiles to keep me going.

I took lots of pictures today of flowers and fountains and fences.....maybe I should take a few pictures of some of the cards I have been making...really, I have been working on cards too. I have a couple of months to get some cards ready for Hospice....just taking my time.

You all have a great July 4th tomorrow. We have nothing special planned. We will probably work in the back yard....that's our vacation spot....wish the mosquitoes would leave me alone though. I might get the grill going and but some ribs on.

Keep looking up, better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Hi there everyone. It's the Memorial Day Weekend.....where did May go??? I hope as you celebrate this day of Freedom, that you remember those that went before you. That died, that you might live in a land of Freedom from those that might destroy this great Nation. Some of those people are right in front of us. How scary to think that there are so many people living in this country that would rather live under Socialist and Sharia Laws. I sure do not understand the thinking of these people.

"All gave some, Some gave all" I just heard the announcer on NASCAR say that.  That's not my saying.

I thought I would post some Patriotic cards for this Memorial Day weekend. In this 1st card, it's a copy of someone else's, I am thinking I want to make about 10 of these cards for the Hospice meeting scheduled this Friday. I do have the red lines and some stars to add to the card. My card will most likely look much different then this one. I like the looks of this card, very clean....I will probably add my Happy 4th stamp.

I made these cards last year for Hospice.....I am always looking for new ideas.

Another copy of a 4th of July card. Looks easy peasey to make also. I need to Photo-copy this card and the first one so I can take it to my studio (in the basement) and make 4th of July cards.

Our weekend will mostly involve working in the front and back  yard. JP is pulling weeds for me in front of the porch.....my rose bushes were getting chocked out from the tall grasses growing. There is still a lot to pull. The rain from today made the weeds easier to pull. There is still so much to do. I guess I should not cry about what has yet to get done, but rejoice over the things that are done.

Our pond still needs to be cleaned out, I wanted to hear the trickle of water this weekend so I brought out a big red plastic container and put some water in it and the water fountain.........and Wa-La the sound of a water fountain trickling.

By my red park bench I have a little fountain that runs by solar. Picked that up at the plant sale for one dollar. It's really cute. I will take a picture tomorrow. Yesterday I was working in the garage, trying to straighten up a bit....how does one garage get so messy with just 2 people and 1 dog????

Anyways, some where's between all the working and sitting and trying to enjoy the day. on Saturday...the mosquitoes found me and bit up my arms and ankles....geez all I have been doing for the last 24 hours is itch and scratch. I took an allergy pill a few hours ago. Tried Noxema, Vick's Vapor rub, Absorbine and hot water (that feels good and very soothing.) See, I just put some Absorbine on my ankles and the itch stopped. YAY!!! I should be better tomorrow. I was reading the Vick's keeps the mosquitoes away....I need to try that tomorrow. A dab behind the ears, elbows and knees and where ever else bare skin is showing.

If it is a nice day tomorrow, I may cook on the grill. Well, time to close, it's almost 10:30 and the race is still going. Monday starts the Stanley Cup Finals the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins are playing......I am hoping Nashville wins, even though they beat the Blackhawks in the first round.....the Predators have never won a Stanley Cup, I am always for the underdog.

You have a great weekend and keep looking up....better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

Happy Independence Day

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a wonderful 4th of July!!! The day is beautiful and sunny here in Wisconsin. Perfect weather for fireworks, get togethers, picnics, cookouts and fun in the sun. Me....I will just lay around and maybe get a few things done around the house. Oh, and enjoy my gardens and hope the mosquitos don't find me and carry me away. (that would be a miracle)

So, as we enjoy this day, let us not forget all those men and women who fought for our freedoms. Our freedoms that seem to be dwindling more each day. Remember all those that went before us doing great things and accomplishing great things never before seen. Things that you won't hear on the news media that can only be explained, because God did the doing.

I thought I would share a few pictures and ideas for cards that I found on the internet. I did make a few cards via the idea above. Some of my ideas are in the banner above.

My Patriotic House Mouse's. They show up every year about this time.

Loved this poster when I saw it....I think I found this on Facebook along with the horse below.

Another card. I think my rendition of this card is in the banner above.

Happy 4th of July and celebration of the Birthday of the Declaration of Independence. We are still so very young as a Nation, with lots to learn.....but, we are one of the greatest Nations and still very much blessed by God. For now.

So keep looking up, better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

God Bless America!!!!

A Few Cards for Hospice and a Mini Misti

Hi there everyone...how was your day today. It was a little bit warm today...weatherman said it would be in the 90's....uge, too warm for me. We did not start working in the yard till about 5:00. Actually that is my usual time when JP is working....my energy level does not raise till about then and I can get loads done in those few hours before it gets dark and the mosquito's start biting.

Well, this past week I was working on cards for the Hospice meeting yesterday. The cards below were cards made for 4th of July. I made 22 cards for this event. I may use the same design for Veterans day cards in October. These were fun to make.....and a few ladies asked how I made them using the embossing folder and strips of red, white, and blue papers.

So in this picture is the Mini Misti that I won....it sure has come in handy and so much fun to use. I saw a tutorial on YouTube where they showed "10 ways to use the Misti". I shall have to write them down, as Betty wants me to do a short "show and tell" about the misti at her house at next card meeting.

In this picture of the 6 flowers and the one above, I used the Misti. It's a layered technique, the stamp has 3 layers, using different colors for each layer and then the stem and saying are stamped also.

This is a quick card I made....ran the pink and yellow paper through the crimper, then punched a butterfly....negative and positive....with a Happy Birthday and Thank You for the saying. This could be my "go to" card when I need a fast card to make.

These are my scenic picture cards.....I made a bunch of these cards up, different scenes for Birthday and Thinking of you.

Just one of these cards in the collection....I did make two, but held back on one because I want one for a sample to make some more.

My stained glass sail boat stamp. There are so many ways to color this....reminds me of the Adult coloring books....makes for a nice card, and I added a "thanks" die cut.

So, there you have it....just some cards I made for Hospice. We have a two month vacation from Hospice and back together again in September. Then we have to have Veterans and Halloween cards made. I am not much of a Halloween fan....so there will be very few in my collection....maybe mostly Fall cards for this girl.

Time to close, I want to go downstairs where it is cool and make some cards. So talk to you later and have a great weekend. Keep looking up, cause better days are coming.
Cheers ~ Louise

The Last Day of May and....

Hi there everyone....how was you Memorial Day Weekend.....my goodness, we plan ahead for the big day and then....POOH....it's gone.

I had a nice day...worked outside, pulling weeds and planting some tomato, pepper and cabbage plants and a few old seeds...if I don't see growth, I will replant.

We grilled out, (shucks no pictures) yummy prime rib hamburgers and red potatoes with a Caesar salad on the side. Then we ate on the front porch. Something we have not done in a long time for some reason. Yeah, I think I know the reason, I was sick all last summer and did not feel like grilling and eating on the porch. That could have been the reason.

Well, being this is the last day of May....I have 9 days till Hospice meeting. I have not even started to make cards yet.....but I think the following cards will be samples of what I will be making.

I found this card yesterday on the internet and thought it would make a great 4th of July card and even a Veterans Day card in October.

The butterfly card below looks like a fun card to make. Just punch a bunch of circles and 2 hearts for wings.

I made this card for Father's day, some birthday cards for men would be good with this design. It's kinda fun to do and very relaxing as it sort of reminds me of adult coloring.

As soon as I receive my Mini Misti in the mail....I am going to make this card. The flower comes in 4 different stamps...so using the misti will help with stamping this stamp.

Today JP and I had our teeth cleaned. We are good till September and another visit. Tomorrow the car gets an oil change. Friday through Sunday I will be sitting for Misty the cat.

I will go to her house, feed her, talk to her, pet her and clean her litter. She seems to enjoy my visits plus I even get paid to watch her. A Bonus!!!!

Saturday, Kylie goes to the groomer at 8:30am and then there is a demo at the Library put on by the Master Gardeners at 10am to 11:30 in how to do container gardening. They will put a planter together and then there will be a drawing for the planter. I feel "lucky" since I just won a Mini Misti.....lol!

Well time to close this post....hope you have a great evening and keep looking up....better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise