Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

Hi there everyone, how are you doing this month??? Oh, my how the days are flying by. Yesterday I wrote a check for February 22.....how did this month fly by so fast????

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all. Here are a few cards from the last couple of years. The one above is an old card I made at a card making class.....not sure I have this card anymore, but at least I have a picture of it.

Now this card I still have or at least a copy of the card that I can run off on the printer and color them in. Cute frog hiding in the britches. 

More old cards that I don't have any more but still have the pictures. 

I could make more of these cards because I have a copy of him that I can run off on the printer.

I always liked this die and can make more of these cards anytime, they turned out nice for St Patrick's Day!!!! I have a few more cards in the making but have not taken pictures of them so I can post them on this blog.

Hospice meeting is on March 1st. So, I have 7 days to get some cards put together, guess I am running behind at this point. Think I will have a few more St. Patrick cards, some Easter cards, Birthday cards and Thinking of you.

I feel so behind in everything right now, things I should get done, just sit and don't get done. The dishes can sit in the sink for days and I just keep adding to the heap, then finally I get tired of looking at them and finally do them in phases. After I get done with these dishes and cards, need to sit down and do the taxes for 2023....not one of my favorite jobs. 

Well, that is about it for this blog, not much going on here, just trying to live life and get through each day and the only thing that keeps me going is my faith in Jesus Christ. Been reading Acts a little at a time. Have you ever heard the saying, "Read the book of Acts and get ready?" Yeah, get ready for the second return of Jesus, he is coming again and soon and I can hardly wait!!!! We will be reunited with Jesus and our loved ones...gonna be a great day!!!!

Talk to you all later, maybe something exciting will happen like Spring is just around the corner. Keep looking up, better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

Hello?? Anyone There????

Hi there everyone. I know, I know, it has been awhile...like January 7th that I last blogged??? I have no excuses, just trying to live life without Jay and wonder what my next step is and still try to keep sane in an insane world!!!

In the above picture, those are my Lilly of the Valleys, always pick and bring them in for a touch of spring in the kitchen to look at whilst I do the dishes. And even though JP is not here, for some reason I "still" have many dishes to do???? But eventually they do get done, in phases.

I have been doing some cards here and there. Still make cards for Heartland Hospice along with a few other ladies. The last couple of months we have been able to meet together, otherwise we were following "Covid 19 Protocol" and not meeting or just dropping cards off at a place and they were picked up by the Card Coordinator.

The cards above were from a "Stamping Up" kit from 2017. It was a fun kit, apples, strawberries and blueberry cards. I still have some checked background left over so I can make more cards like this. 

The card below is a die I have had for years....makes for a very pretty card. I can't remember how I made the colored background. Experimental ideas using different techniques that get stuffed in a box and forgotten about. This is going to be my challenge this summer...take old dies and stamped images and turn them into cards. I really have a lot of stuff. AND, 3 months to make cards for Hospice meeting September 2nd. I have a feeling that time will go FAST!!!! 

Below are my Irises that grow in the front yard. It was so windy the last couple of days that the poor flowers blew over. So, I cut them down and brought them in to enjoy for a few days. I have so much to do around this house. The neighbor next store cuts the grass in the front of the house. During the winter he was shoveling the snow. I will tend to the backyard with my manual push mower....I can handle that. If I do a little bit each day, I may catch up, by that time it will be fall.

I am going to make a few more of these cards, so pretty and they can be any kind of card I want them to be. The one below is a sympathy card. I am going to use a Thank you card like this for the main post picture. You should see it in the next day or so.

So my life has been up in the air for the last 10 months since Jay's death. I have not been able to handle being a "widow" that still sounds foreign to me. I have been told not to make any big decisions for at least 1 year. After that, not sure where I am going. What with the way this world is going, do any of us know where we are headed?? I only know, through this all, my faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the only way to go...there is much comfort in knowing him as Lord and Savior of my Life. I think I am learning how to depend on Him and Him alone...which is where He wants us all to be. 

That being said, I shall close here. Hopefully I can keep up with this blog and add new cards maybe once a week. I have moved my stamping space from the basement to Jay's old room. So it is handy just to walk in, sit down and make a few cards. Works for me and I don't have to climb stairs.

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

Some Signs Along The Way......

Hi there everyone....how is your day going? The weather has been stormy with high winds and lots of rain. Our power went out the other night, along with 13,500 other homes, but came back on 4-5 hours later. Guess there were still people without, longer then that. One sure can be lost without the "POWER"!!!

We headed downstairs with a candle, a little flashlight, and a transistor radio ((yep, I still have one of those....why, I am STILL from the OLD SCHOOL)) We stayed down there till the warnings of tornadoes passed. The sirens were blowing too. I said, "Oh oh....tornado's!" JP says, "How do you know?" I said, "the sirens are sounding....that's how I know"..........geez Jay, do you think I am stupid or something?! We have to go downstairs....boy I tell you, he sure did not move very fast!!! Like everything....I have to drag him or push him to move or go to the Doctor....tired!!!

Some people like storms....me, I don't. I feel like I am in spiritual storms constantly....I would like a little calm and quiet now and then. Don't you?? My mom used to always say, "Everything is/was calm and quiet." Geez....what planet was she on??? I have yet to sense that "calm and quiet" in my life!!!!

Did I tell you....probably not, I mentioned this on Facebook. We got home from church on Sunday and there was a message on our answering machine. It was one of those computerized voices saying someone had sent us a text to our landline. We would not be charged for it (GOOD THING) and this was the phone number, but no name. (coward) and the message was...."I HATE YOU!!"

Oh my gosh....what on earth is this world coming to???? I ask you???  So my mind dwelled on that most of the day, wondering who in their right mind would do something like that??? I know there are some people that don't like us, but they usually stay away, but to come right out and leave a message???? Honestly, get a life and grow up!!!! I have been praying for them, whoever they are that God would convict them of their cowardly deeds. I just have to remember, "Vengeance is the Lord's" and what goes around, comes around. I am not one to do the same thing back, but I know "Pay day is coming, someday, to everyone.

I saw this sign somewhere on the Internet and had to save it.......It says it all, doesn't it???

 

Another sign that I must remember.....as I am very hard on myself at times. Not only do people criticize, but I do a pretty good job at criticizing and cutting myself down. Why, I probably have even told myself......I HATE YOU!!! So, I don't really need someone else telling me "I HATE YOU" also!!! Look who signed the sign.....another "Louise".

 

Yes, Blue Apron.....have you heard of this company? I saw it on Pinterest and checked it out Here is the site. What they do is send you three meals, with recipe, meat, vegies and spices. You do the cooking. Sounds like fun, plus you are trying things that may be completely new to you. The box comes all refrigerated and cold. You choose what you want to make that night or the next. I am going to try it a while see how price effective it is....I like to cook, so maybe this just might be a fun project for the summer.

 

Last night I made a scrumptious meal in the pressure cooker of pork, potatoes, carrots, onion and corn on the cob with Turkish seasonings and onion soup mix. OMG was that delicious. So between my pressure cooker, the Blue Apron and Schwans......we shall eat well!!!

 

Well time to close here for awhile....I am probably boring you by now and you have not read my whole post.....that's okay. You have a good day and keep looking up!!! Cheers ~ Louise

"Monthly Card Making Class" We Made Some Pretty Cards

 Hi everyone, how you all doing??? We got over a few hot days of high in humidity and now the feeling of "Fall" is back in the air again, maybe for another week or so....who knows...Only God!!!

Well yesterday was 9-11 another day for remembering those that died in that terrible attack from those that hate America!! So sorry, for those that feel that way. But I guess as long as there are men on this earth there will always be wars and rumor of wars, man against man (and woman against woman), everyone scrambling for leadership or dictatorship, which boils down to "control and money"......in the end though, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Can't wait for that day, it can come none too soon. Finally all this mass confusion will be over.

Okay, now for some good stuff. I went to my monthly card making class yesterday.....one of the neat things I do and really enjoy as it inspires me and gives me some great ideas for future cards to make. I am especially liking the first card in the above picture. It was the last card we made and the most fun. It's on my list for a possible Christmas card idea.

The card is sort of like "Iris folding" except you are not folding papers, but still placing strips of paper on a pattern to form the square. The embossed pumpkin is a Sissiz folder, must be on the look out for this one....it could be chalked in with a little color. I really like the effect, almost looks like a "patch work quilt".

 In the above picture is a pretty card....the butterfly stamp is from "Amuse" and the butterflies were colored in with dye ink pens then blended with a water brush. The green back ground is a die cut....(I shall be on the look out for this one too....lol)

 This lovely card was run through the cuttlebug. The leaves punched out and run through the cuttlebug for texture and edged with brown ink. A bow placed at the top and speckles dabbed on the card, although you can't see them too well on this card.

 In this card, a large heart placed on a white strip that was run through the cuttlebug and layered on top of a strip that was punched with a border punch. The flowers and leaves were placed on the card, adding a lovely accent.

This last card was a fun one...with the little bear peeking out....he was colored in with pens then layered on different die cut card stocks. Flowers and butterflies embellish the card.

Well, time to close this blog...I hope you all enjoyed my previous blog. "He Knows My Name" Sang at Jimmy Swaggart Ministries on SBN. Gosh, I love that song...if you didn't catch it, scroll down and take a listen.

Here is something to think about, if God knows OUR name and prays for each and every one of us....how much more does He know the names of those who are yet to be born and those who have gone before us??? If He knows and numbers the hairs on our head including those that have fallen out and are growing back....and if He numbers the stars and calls them all by their names (Ps.147:4)...my goodness... He is a very intimate friend that sticks closer to us then a brother, isn't He somthing??? He loves us more than we realize.

Have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

So Long 2012 ~ Hello 2013

Yeppers........Dashing will be completely out of the question for 2013! Going to enjoy every minute (or so I say)!! Been reading a few blogs today, 1) some wish you a Happy New Year, 2) some list "the 12 most popular", (which I truly love especially when it comes to FOOD) 3) and some just continue on as if it is just another day. Me, I think I will go back to January 1, 2012 and see what my expectations for 2012 were and if I met them........

Did you all make any resolutions for the New Year??? I thought about it, but sometimes they are just too hard to keep. I might just try continuing what I started in 2011.

1. continue on my journey to lose some weight and reverse diabetes.
Still working on that and probably continue on into 2013.

2. paint a room or two this year....been awhile since I painted and redecorated.
Nope, no room painting in 2012.

3. this spring, paint the porch floor.
Nope, no porch painting...thought about it though.

4. get some cards into a few beauty shops.
Nope.

5. get the kitchen ceiling fixed.
Nope.

6. these are long shots.........get a new or used stove and couch.
Got the couch and did look at a used stove, but nope, did not get one.

7. more mini-vacations on Lake Winnebago and a vacation this year.
Nope, no vacation but many mini-vacations on Lake Winnebago.

8. more blogs then last year.
Yes, I did manage that by 22 more blogs........2013? 25 more.

9. learn something new.
Guess I didn't, cause I can't think of anything.

10. lose an old habit, what that is I don't know as yet.
Ha...probably gained some old habits, but lose, Nope!

11. continue on in my personal relationship with Jesus.
Yes!

12. make a new friend.
Not sure I did. Oh wait, I did make a blog friend, does that count???

13. weed through the house, get rid of stuff not used for a couple of years.
Yes!

14. garage sale this summer?
Yes!

Well that is 14 things to work on, there probably are more, but this is a good start. Will have to remember these resolutions are here so I can keep reading them every now and then.
Guess I did not read them enough, cause many were not accomplished. So there you have it, shall I continue my quest for perfection in 2013......kinda' hard to attain perfection, very unattainable to me.

What to expect for 2013???
 I have no idea what to expect. Peace would be a good thing to expect, but with the way this world is going, it's hard to foresee. I find it very hard to understand how people can continue living without a relationship with Jesus Christ and still survive living in this barbaric way of life. Killing and being killed, and sometimes for no reason at all, then to just kill!!! 
A very sad commentary for "modern" man!!! Everyone blames the other guy and sadly does not look into the "mirror of truth" to see one's self-deception. We deceive ourselves daily, thinking we are good, when in reality we all are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. There is a scripture in the Bible that says to this affect. "Whoa to them that say good is evil and evil good..." This is fast becoming very familiar in our society. Very sad, very sad indeed.

Well, guess it is time to close this blog for 2012.....see you all in 2013 Lord willing. So you all keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh. Cheers ~ Louise
 Hello 2013

A Word of Warning~~~ObamaCare, very Scarry!!!

The following is an email I received today.................
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear God, What are we in for. Please give those people in Washington the courage and intelligence to know what they are doing to our United States of America. Amen

What does this word mean?

The word "Dhimmitude" is found in the new health care bill; so what does it mean?

Thought this was interesting and worth passing on.

Dhimmitude -- What does it mean?

Obama used it in the health care bill.

Now isn't this interesting? It is used in the health care law.

Dhimmitude -- I had never heard the word until now. Type it into Google and start reading. Pretty interesting. It's on page 107 of the healthcare bill. I looked this up on Google and yep, it exists.. It is a REAL word.

Dhimmitude is the Muslim system of controlling non-Muslim populations conquered through jihad. Specifically, it is the TAXING of non-Muslims in exchange for tolerating their presence AND as a coercive means of converting conquered remnants to Islam.

ObamaCare allows the establishment of Dhimmitude and Sharia Muslim diktat in the United States . Muslims are specifically exempted from the government mandate to purchase insurance, and also from the penalty tax for being uninsured. Islam considers insurance to be "gambling", "risk-taking", and "usury" and is thus banned. Muslims are specifically granted exemption based on this.

How convenient. So I, as a Christian, will have crippling IRS liens placed against all of my assets, including real estate, cattle, and even accounts receivables, and will face hard prison time because I refuse to buy insurance or pay the penalty tax. Meanwhile, Louis Farrakhan will have no such penalty and will have 100% of his health needs paid for by the de facto government insurance.

Non-Muslims will be paying a tax to subsidize Muslims. This is Dhimmitude.

I recommend sending this on to your contacts.

American citizens need to know about it --

www.snopes.com: Health Insurance Exemptions

Apr 13, 2010 ... Dhimmitude is the Muslim system of controlling non-muslim populations ... The ObamaCare bill is the establishment of Dhimmitude and Sharia ....

www.snopes.com/politics/medical/exemptions.asp

We need to get him out of office!!!

While the media is asking for more tax info from Romney, why are they not asking Obama to explain this?

Continuing education is imperative for all our citizens.
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I received this as an email today and wanted to pass it on.........I heard this once before and it scared me then, and still scares me now. so I am passing it on. If you don't believe these words check out www.Snopes.com. and type in "Dhimmitude" what is it?

I am not a very political person, but I know what is right and what is wrong (or on the left) and this ObamaCare plan of Obamas is not going to help the American People but only usher in Sharia law, which does NOT belong in this country. WE ARE AMERICANS and not muslims. I am having a hard time understanding how and why the American People can be so brain-washed into believing that what Obama is doing for this country is good.

I for one will give my vote to the Romney/Ryan ticket November 6.

In the mean time, keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh and even more so as we see the signs of the times drawing closer to the soon return of JESUS CHRIST!!!!!! Cheers to all ~ Louise

Easter Sunday Card Making

Well, we had a great time making cards for Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa and the Pastor.

I had much to much to choose from, but the kids had a great time using everything I presented before them. You would have thought it was Christmas the way their eyes lit up with all the stickers, pens, paper, stamps and ink. They followed directions very well and made the front of the card the way I showed them. Then I said do the inside anyway you would like..........WOW did they have a ball decorating the inside with stickers and butterflies, stamps and christian sayings and scriptures and crosses.

Following is another picture of the fun. We decided that we will do this again for Mother's Day. So will be fun to come up with something for that special day also. Lord Willing.

I read a little poem to them about the jelly beans and what each color meant. And we talked about what the cross of Jesus Christ meant to them. We talked about the New Jerusalem and what it might be like. It was a fun morning for us, hopefully it will be remembered. I still remember things I did in Sunday School and that was years ago. Well you all have a great day.

♥♥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

Treasury Number 5

<.......click on the treasury to make it larger to see.

Here is my newest treasury that I got last Sunday, late, very late (1am) in the evening (morning). I love sunsets and sunrises. There is such a sence of peacefulness in the colors brushed across the sky. Then to think how big and how hot that sun is, that we are not scorched and burned alive. The One who created this universe sure did a GOOD JOB.........it's hard to believe in the big bang theory!

I love fall also, the crispness of the mornings, the trees turning their beautiful colors.......every color you can possibly think of is used. How could one not believe there is a God who created this World? I would rather believe there is a God, then not believe there is a God........there is safty in believing and knowing that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and of this world and the world to come. And it was all done at the Cross and through the blood of Jesus, once and for all.......whosoever will, will never die.

Well, it was nice chatting with you, do please leave a comment. Have a great day!

Louise