It's JULY and More Rain

Yep, it's true, 7 months into 2024 and it is raining again today. Where is all this rain coming from???? I know the farmers need the rain, but now even they are complaining. They can't get into the fields to plant and do the haying. My, my, the weather sure is weird all over the world. 

Update: we had so much rain today my basement and backyard flooded badly (no pictures). We were warned via the cell phone to please stay home, if at all possible, the streets are flooded, and emergency boats were out to help people evacuate if necessary. One family who lived in their house 52 years had never seen the water this high before in all the years they lived there.

Just a few cards here, I might have used these already, but not sure. Made these a couple of months ago. This top card is a tri-fold, was fun to make, but not sure I would make it again. I think I already put it in the box to give to Hospice.

The giraffes are an old stamp from years ago, they were stamped and colored, but I never made cards out of them. So here they are, made into Father's Day cards. Gave them to Hospice already.

Cute little pandas from Stampin up, finally turned them into a card and gave to Hospice. Will probably make some more of these guys, I found the stamps at Thompson Center, so all I need is a good juicy ink pad and stamp off some more cute pandas.

Well, it finally stopped raining outside. The last couple of bad rains I found water on my kitchen counter....uge hope my roof is not leaking again.

Nothing much has been happening of late, just living life the best I can, pay the bills, shopping, car upkeep and Louise upkeep at the Doctor the last couple of weeks. They are keeping tabs on my blood pressure and now medication monitoring. Signs of old age when the Doctor wants to see you every week, I guess.

This month, July 25th, JP will have been gone 3 years already. Where did that time go, it feels like just yesterday. It's funny, I wake up every morning and have to remind myself, "oh that's right, I am alone in this house", there is always that feeling that JP is still here for some reason, creepy huh???? But when I remember all the pain he was in, I am glad he is not here and does not have to bear all that pain anymore.

I guess I will cut this blog short for now, have to go take my pills for the day, but first I have to put them in the pill boxes, I may have to call in some prescriptions today.

You all take care and keep looking up, better days are coming!!!

Cheers ~ Louise

Well, Hello June!!!

Hi there everyone!! Yes, I know, been awhile since I last communicated on this blog. Just been a lot of this and that going on. Doctor appointments, changing meds and checking blood pressure. Don't know what is worse, changing meds and stopping a few others which changes and discombobulates my whole body....now I am dealing with swollen ankles because the diuretic was discontinued, uncomfortable to say the least!!! Oh well, not a happy camper right now. Next Doctor appointment is the 18th.

Yeah, signs of old age, I guess. Would rather stay at home then go out and mingle with people and drive around with maniacs on the road who speed around me, because I am going the speed limit!!!!

Next Hospice meeting we will meet in September. So, we have the summer off, no rush making cards and I can work outside. I have lots to do and have had a bit of help with the neighbors. Will have to take some before/after pictures of their work and mine.

Here are the cards I created for Hospice. The meeting took place yesterday, and now I'm taking a break from everything, essentially doing NOTHING!!! The cards showcased are foiling cards. I purchased some new red foil and lace toner cards. The flower design was crafted using two different punches at the Thompson Center.

Once again, we see foiled cards, two birthday cakes, and birthday wishes set against various backgrounds.

Creating these cards was enjoyable with the use of 3D embossing folders and vellum, followed by processing them through the Cuttlebug. You apply color to the bottom side (the indented side), for which I used Copic markers. Once fully colored to your liking, you then sweep black ink over the colored bottom side, from top to bottom, achieving the coverage you desire. Afterwards, you can adhere it to the card and affix your chosen verses.

It's fascinating to see the evolution of this blog. The initial two paragraphs remain untouched, penned by my own hand. The subsequent three paragraphs, along with this one, were crafted by "copilot." While the words were altered, the essence remained intact, and arguably enhanced. It's curious to observe the outcome of this paragraph. AI is becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Initially, its presence on this blog eluded me, but upon engaging with it, I found the articulation to be superior to my own... hence, I'm inclined to let AI articulate on my behalf...haha!

What fun, the above paragraph cracks me up, makes me sound very intelligent to say the least!!! This is me speaking....lol!!!

Question: Shall we let AI speak for us now!!!!

Well, I think I shall leave you now with this question to ponder. Talk to you later, maybe I will try for another blog this month just for the fact of having another round with AI and letting it rewrite my paragraphs. Hope you have a great June, don't let the bugs bite you too badly. Cheers ~ Louise

Needed........a funny picture!!

Really!!! Just needed a funny picture today, I might have used this pug once before but he seemed so apropos for today. This is the last day of February and March is about to start! Finished organizing my taxes and they are ready to be taken to the accountant on Monday.......sure do hope we see a refund this year. It would be nice....we need to buy a "new" car. When I say new, I mean a "used" car, but it will be new to us. We will run this car as long as we can, who knows maybe it will hold out for another 6 months, that would be long enough to save up some money. We'll see.

Well, it is getting late and time to go to bed. I drank my honey and cinnamon tea......so very good. I found quite a bit on the internet about the benefits of honey and cinnamon. Good for losing weight, clearing up yeast infections in the body, lowering blood sugars and blood pressure and lots of other uses. So we shall keep using it till we see results. I have already felt the results of clearing the yeast infections, relief, I say, a pleasant relief!

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

My 170 Mile Challenge and Garage Sale

So, I am on another Challenge for this month..........riding my stationary bike 170 miles. The challenge started September 24th and ends November 2nd. Not sure how well I will do with this challenge, so far I have traveled 41 miles. If I put on 30 miles this week and discipline myself to go 5 miles a day, the mileage will be 99 miles left to go till November 2nd, this might be doable. But I have been VERY lazy the last couple of weeks for some reason. Need to really snap out of this. Don't know if it has something to do with my blood sugars or blood pressure. Blood sugars were normal today (for me) 130 and my weight was down 1 lb. BUT my blood pressure was up pretty high. No, don't really want to say, as I may not have the hang of taking my BP properly, still practicing. 

Doctor had taken me off ALL medications this past May because my liver was stressing. So, Blood pressure and diuretics, vitamins, cholesterol and diabetic meds eliminated to get the liver back into it's normal state. Which must have happened because I haven't had any problems and have actually felt better. The body begins to heal it's self, which I think is the plan of God.............why oh why do we fool around with something God created perfectly????? I will never know.

Probably going to have my last garage sale this Friday. The weather will be cool, like 52 degrees and sunny, at least that is what the weather man predicted on Sunday. Soooooo, we shall see. It has actually been fun to do, as the garage is still set up, but really needs to come down as JP wants to get the snow blower out and get it fixed.

Still have alot of nice things out to sell, but did sell half the stuff and put alot of stuff out for FREE!!! People like free and would rather see ALL your stuff FREE..........geez, got to make some change for the pocket......still trying to get enough $$$$ for a new CPU as this computer is slowing down quite a bit!!!! So far I have made $222 (not bad) but I still have a LONG way to go to get a new computer.

Well, need to close here, as I need to work on balancing the check book and pay some bills this week. JP has another Doctors appointment for his arm and the dogs need to get groomed. We need to prepare the front and back yards for winter too. So you all have a great day and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh. Cheers ~ Louise

It's a "Funny Picture" Day!!!!

Was looking through some funny pictures of dogs and cats last night. Trying to find a laugh or two. Although I am not much of a cat lover, I thought this was quite funny. How in the world did they get that cat to pose like that? Is he running.......I don't know, but it sure brought a chuckle to my spirit!!!!

I think I might have mentioned in a previous post that my liver levels were high. Well, today the nurse called to say that the doctor wants me to stop ALL medication for a week and have more blood drawn next Monday. ???????? Gosh, I am a little scared, cause that includes blood pressure meds also. Guess this is where I must depend on God to see me through???? Diabetes can sure rack havoc in one's body, can't it. The Doctor took me off cholesterol meds when he saw the liver count up, well now the count is still up and now I must stop with the diabetes and blood pressure meds. Vitamins also! That does not scare me as much, but the blood pressure meds, gosh, I have been taking that for 20 some years!!!! Now, to just all of a sudden STOP taking it????? Will I blow up like our friendly cat in the above picture???? I hate being a guinea pig!!!!

Well, I will let you all know what transpires this week, if I am still among the living by next week's blood test. But if not, there will not be an update. Gosh, this blog sounds alittle dreary. But then, that is where I am right now. Almost afraid to put anything in my mouth, for fear my liver cannot handle it. I know, I know,  you are saying, "lay off the booze!!!" Surprise, I don't drink, soooooo it must be something else, maybe this old body is just getting fatigued and worn out. Oh well, time will tell!!!

I left a message with the nurse to call me back. Just dawned on me in 1986 I had a bleeding ulcer and was operated on, the spleen was accidentally touched and began to bleed, so it was taken out. I guess the spleen filters alot of bad stuff. When it is gone then the liver takes over. maybe the liver has been overloaded and needs a rest from all the work it has done............hummmmmm wonder. The liver can restore itself, I heard, is that why we only have one liver???? Maybe I will have to google that one and get back with you.

Well, I think I will close this blog for today........see you in few days 'Lord willing' and remember look up for your redemption draweth nigh!!!
Cheers to you ~ Louise

Mystery Saturday??????

What will happen today?????? As I sit at this computer, it is a beautiful day, the sun is shinning with blue skies. A nice day to get out and do some yard work. Still have 3 bulbs to plant and rake some leaves, cover the rose bushes with leaves, last minutes stuff, I think we will finally be winterized before the first snow hits us. Hummmm, thought I would add a picture of snow....just to get you used to it. Here you can see JP taking Hyko for a walk. The date of this pic is 2/13/11. Sounds like the New England States, NY and PA got hit with snow, in some places they are getting 13".... uge! Will have to check with my Blog friend in Maine and see if she talks about the snow. Tis the season, not ready for this, but living WI it is bound to happen.

Went out for lunch yesterday with a friend, we had "Windy City Hambergers" oh yum they were delicious with lots of french fries!!! Was enough to last all day, ate half, then the rest later on in the afternoon. Have a Doctors appointment on Tuesday, so I guess I better watch what I eat for the next few days.....have to get a blood pressure check, my yearly check in order to renew my pills. Guess the best things would be to lose some weight then maybe the blood pressure would be in check. BUT who wants to diet? Been riding my stationary bike (I try) every day for about 5-10 miles. Hoping that will help during the winter months, must get in the habit now so I don't have to pay later.

Well, I guess I better go get some things done, as this is "Mystery Saturday" not really sure what I will be doing, right now there is dishes in the sink that need to be done. So maybe I shall go wash the hair then do the dishes. So talk to you later. Hope you have a good day and keep looking up for your redemption drawth nigh.

Cheers ~ Louise