My 2010 Hibiscus Plant

Pretty Hibiscus flower!!! I think this plant might be one of my favorite flowers. Bought this plant last summer and managed to nurse it along through the winter months down in my basement. Along with this plant I had bought a chartruse pink hibiscus, that one did not make it. But this plant weathered the storm and made it through.

There are 5 more blooms on it, maybe this week it shall show it's beautiful colors again. God sure can create some beautiful things, there is no way this pretty flower comes from the "big bang theory" nope, sorry!!!!! I think God takes great joy in creation. Just as He created you and I, He creates beautiful things for us to enjoy AND He gives us the creative ablility to also create beautiful things to enjoy. Such a blessing!!!!

Oh, guess what, on that same line.....creating flowers. I am going to become a part of a group, we make cards and teach the others how to make that card, bringing along all the supplies needed to do it.....my first teaching project with be the folded orgami paper flower. Although it is not a card, the lady organizing the group wanted me to show how to make the flower. As that has been all that I have been doing lately....I said okay. So I guess I am looking forward to doing this and then learning other different ideas in making cards and such!!!!

Cutting this blog short for tonight, talk to you soon on some other subject.

Cheers ~ Louise

♥Happy Birthday Tilda was in a Treasury Today♥Plus an Interview with the Wisconsin Crew Team Blog♥

Go take a peek at: http://www.allthingstangled.blogspot.com/ then follow her link to Etsy.com which will take you to her treasury on etsy.

Watch tomorrow, for I will be featured on the Wisconsin Crew Team blog. Address to follow. Okay....here is the address for my interview http://wist-etsy.blogspot.com/2011/07/fridays-featured-fabricator-cards-4-u.html probably will be there for a couple of days at least, some thoughts were changed and some words too, but the idea is still there. Thought I had all my punctuation fine-tuned, but alas, when your interview goes through a second person, things said get changed alittle, kinda like the "telephone game". Oh Well, that's life!!!

See ya...Louise

A New Addition to My Cards on Etsy

A new addition to my Etsy store. Learned how to make this lovely little flower from a magezine from the UK which I bought from JoAnn Fabrics. Have made quite a few and gave 3 away. If I could tell you how to make it or do a teaching video, I would. But, alas have no video camera to do it.

Well, so much for today, getting kinda tired right now and want to add this cute little gem to my Etsy store tonight. Have a good day. Louise

My Friend Died Today

June 24, 1947 ~ July 17, 2011

She died after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer.

She will be missed dearly, but I know she is with Jesus today. That is by far a better place to be. Sad for us, but happy for her, you were a blessing to know.

We did alot of fun and wild things together. Trips to Kansas and Door County, Church, praying together, waving flags, letters to Jesus, visions, music and singing, long talks on the phone and in the car and after church, eating out, celebrating birthdays, Christmas, and whatever else came up.

Friends come and go in our lives, and then there are friends that will be remembered forever!

That is you Chrissy dear, rest in peace!!!

Enjoy eternity with your best friend, Jesus!!!

♥Happy 11th Day of the Month♥

Hi everyone........well, it's the 11th day of July....where is this month going to???? Winter starts December 21st.......are you ready? Hahahaha.....laugh now pay later!!!!

Was looking for some winter pictures from the last couple of years.........mmmm can't seem to find them, once I do, I will put them up in this blog.....just a little reminder of the way things were and what is to come. So I say, enjoy the summer and sun and warmth, it may end all too soon!!!!!!

May be going out on the boat with Sandi this week. We went out last Friday and I got a bit of sunburn, forgot the sun lotion, which reminds me, when I go to Wal-mart must get some. Sandi took some pictures of me on the boat (I forgot my camera) here is one.

Look at that beautiful water, so calm and serene. My face is getting a little baked.....yikes!!!! Notice you only have my head.....we decided to leave out the bottom half...hahahhaha! I have started another diet, maybe in a few months the bottom half will be toned down a bit. You know, turning 65 can be a piece of HELL!!!!! It is said that the years of retirement are the GOLDEN YEARS........Ha!!! I heard it is called the TARNISHED YEARS!!! Guess it is all in how you look at it....I am not sure at this point......I will let you know in a few years.

I mentioned starting another diet....this one will be about fruit smoothies in the morning and juicing vegetables in the afternoon or there abouts. Maybe I will do this for about a week or so. I saw of documentary about this guy in Australia that juiced for 60 days and lost 90 lbs, don't think I will be that radical, but he found that a lot of meds he was on, he did not need after a couple of months cause he was getting all the nutrients and vitamins needed, course he exercised also, I shall just walk and bike.....and go boating with Sandi!!! Here is the website: http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/ check it out, saw it on http://www.netflex.com/

Here is a recipe for a delicious fruit smoothie:
Handful of blueberries, 3-4 strawberries, 3-4 pieces of cantaloupe, 3-4 Tbls water, blend then add blueberry yogurt and blend again.....mmmmmmmm good!!!

Have a great day and will be back with some juicing recipes....cheerio ~ Louise

Happy 4th of July and More Flowers from the Garden Walk

God's Fireworks in the natural

White Columbine
A closer look at the White Columbine

Daisies
A mature Smoke Bush.....I would like one of these in the front of my house someday. A Beautiful burgandy, purple and red bush shimmering in the sun.
White PioniesPaprika Yarrow ~ cute huh?
So there you have it a tour of the Garden Walk and also God's Fireworks in the natural. Have a great day and remember those that went before you and died so that you may be FREE!!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

More Garden Walk Pictures

A Yellow Hanging Bogoina plant in the midst of a beautiful garden.
This is a picture of the side of the house with a rain barrell that catches the water for all the plants. I wish we could do this but the water that comes off the roof is black from faulty cheap shingles.

This waterfall is at the High School in the court yard. Made by the students.

I love the sound of a water fall.

This is the center of the court yard. the plants, walking stones, most everything is done by the students.

I got this picture of a REAL Dragon Fly in the High School Court Yard.....cool huh? He stayed long enough so I could catch him on my camera.

Now this is a picture of a Dragon Fly walking stone made by a student in art class. If I could figure out how to make something like this, I would like to try. Well I hope you like the tour of the garden walk. I have a few more pictures but they are of flowers and bushes....maybe in the next blog I will show just the flowers I took. Have a good day and take 'er easy and stay cool!! Cheers ~ Louise

185 Days Till Christmas!!!!

Yep..........just found this good news on another blog today. It just so made my day :) Not that I was looking for it, but just the fact that it was there........plastered at the top of the blog I visited. Oh well, it only tells me that time is going FAST..........Never wish your life away, it goes fast enough!

Not much is going on here, it's been raining alot, rain, rain and more rain. Hard to get out and work in the gardens. Also, our roof leaks and we have to put buckets and towels on the kitchen floor to catch the rain drops..........gosh I hate when it rains. But I guess it could be worse, our house could be under water or floating down a river. When you look at your own circumstances, they might be rough and hard to deal with.......but someone around the corner always has it much worse.

I am still trying to get some plants planted and it is almost the end of June. Ordered some Deep Dark Cherokee Purple Tomato seeds June 4th............they are still not here yet. It's getting alittle late to plant, but these are heirloom seeds (should last for 100 years), I shall try "one" seed and see if it sprouts and plant it in the front of the house so it gets lots of sun.

JP and I went to a garden walk last week-end, was lots of fun and we got lots of ideas. We would like to impliment some of those ideas, hopefully the money will be there along with some good weather. This year I have the time, as my merchandising job got phased out.....I guess I am too old. Following you will see some of the gardens we visited.
The garden above is one we visited on Saturday, this is her front yard and she has either zuchinni or cucumbers planted in those old coffee cans. I have a zuchinni and heirloom tomato plant and some radishes planted in the front yard.
In this garden walk is a lovely "1895 Circa" house. I have always admired the house when I pass by on my way home, finally got to see it up close.....I love this blue bottle tree. The whole back yard is dabbed with blues.......like a lovely painting. In this lovely garden the woman has over 400 different hostas planted in her gardens. I liked the way she organized this little area.........she also had a door with little pots on it, it looked really cute, wish I had taken a picture, cause on the way home we found a door and took it home to decorate the back area of our backyard garden.

Well, I think I will close this blog for now. Have a great day in the Lord ~ cheers ~ Louise

Garfield's Scale is Back!!!!

Tis' true, finally stamped and colored with copic markers, 8 "Garfield's Scale" cards. Made this one tonight, took a quick picture, not very professional though. Will be putting up in my Etsy store tonight also. I found that these cards moved pretty fast, am hoping that will happen again. Check out my store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com

Well, this will be a short blog tonight, have a great day and watch for more cards in the next week.

Cheers ~ Louise

New Set of Cards Listed Today

Finished these cards the other night and just listed them in my Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/listing/76107609/set-of-6-everyday-cards There are 2 Happy Birthday cards with the seagull, 2 Happy Anniversary cards with the roses and 2 Thank You cards with the lighthouse. The technique is called "Direct on paper" where you take an ink pad and swipe it across the paper, then stamp the image and saying. I used the copic marker to color the lighthouse and roses. Didn't color in the seagull as I thought it looked fine as is. Perhaps I might color just one in just to see what it looks like. Made lots of these cards and may make more as the technique is quite fun.

The Lighthouse

The Seagull

The Pink Rose

Hope you like my cards. Please leave a comment. Thanks for stopping by. Check me out at http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Cards4ubylouise/ should take you to my facebook page, "like me" please. For Twitter go to http://www.twitter.com/louisellen/ Have a great day ~ Cheers ~ Louise

♥My New Lemon/Lime Stamp♥

I made a stamp last night.......a lemon/lime/orange and grapefruit stamp. Maybe it is too small for a grapefruit, but the possibilities are still there. Saw a video on making this glass of lemonade and just felt I needed to have a lemon/lime stamp, so I made one last night. (confession.....I did order two lemon/lime stamps off Etsy yesterday, but that was BEFORE I made my own stamp). Doesn't this just look like the most refreshing and tasty little card you have ever seen???

I got the idea from another blog "Stamp and Scrape by Frenchie". I suspect it is okay to copy her ideas, otherwise she never would have made the video showing how to make this card. Although, my card is just a little bit different then hers. That's the beauty of making cards. Each person has a different slant on card making and you can take that same card and place 10 women in a room and each woman will make that same card different.........hahaha......sort of like the telephone game. Whisper in the ear of the first woman, a comment, by the 10th woman that comment has changed 10 times and has become a question.

Well, I still will be looking forward to my two new stamps, will have lots of lemons and limes to make even iced tea.......what fun this summer will be and very refreshing.

Well, you be blessed in this 90 degree weather and stay cool. Relax with a glass of lemonade.
Cheers ~ Louise

♥A Few Father's Day Cards From My Etsy Store♥

Above Father's Day card called "The Lighthouse" could also be a birthday or thank you card. And below the "Golfer" he too can be a birthday or thank you or whatever your desire.

Below is my Father's Day "deer" card, which can also be for a Birthday or Thank you. Actually all three cards can be for either or. All you need do is convo me through Etsy and let me know what you would like stamped on the inside of these cards.

Well, I am going to close this short and sweet blog for now. You have a great day!!!! Cheers ~ Louise

♥Giving Thanks♥

Hope you are having a Great Memorial Day and giving thanks to God for all your blessings! We are a blessed Nation, blessed by God in every way. (As long as we bless Israel, we will be a blessed nation, but when we begin to curse Israel we will be cursed.) But yet, many have turned their backs on God and Israel and now wonder why their lives are being turned upside down. They question everything about God and doubt that God even exists. Sad commentary.

Man thinks he is all wise, all knowing and the healer of all. He can pass laws into being which he does not have to follow, but expects those under him to follow them to the Tee. To me, that is a little ego-centric and haughty. How can man think he is better then God who created everything? I have a very hard time understanding how man thinks at times.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord." And "My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts". (Isaiah 55: 8,9) So, where does man get off thinking he knows more than God? Why do some religions think their "gods" are better than God The Creator? How do all these other religions get off thinking they have all the answers, when all these religions are just men's agenda at playing God!?!? Life sure can be complicated and two-faced at times!!!! Could the answer be that they have "given heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devels"? I wonder........food for thought!

On Memorial Day we are to think of all those who gave their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. Think of what Jesus did, he gave his life so that we might have life and have it more abundantly plus have relationship with God and live eternally with Him in heaven. There is a doctrine going around that there is no Hell, that it's all made up.........guess that is for those same men who have their own agendas. "As for for me and my house we will serve the Lord"!!!

Well, guess I will get off my little soap box for today..........every now and then I like to rant and this seems to be my place to do just that. You can agree or disagree that is your choice. For isn't that why this country was founded on? That we could have "Religious freedom" and think for ourselves, no one really has the right to tell another what to think, doesn't that become a socialistic country then? We are still in a free country......for now. Thank God For That!!!!

Have a great day and Cheers ~ Louise

Newest Friendship Card for Etsy

Here's my newest card that I shall put in my Etsy store today.....been awhile since I last posted on my blog so thought I would put this "Friendship card" up today. I got a lot of the paper, vellum and cardstock from the "CTI" paper company on Friday at their annual sale. This is what I came up with, just piecing it altogether. I am very happy with the outcome and am thinking of doing a set of cards like this.............but not with the inside, as seen below. Maybe a set of 6 cards "Friendship, Marriage, Celebration" Those are the three stamps I have that could be used for this card. Thinking, thinking, always thinking.

The inside of this card with done with folding the paper, first to each corner, then one fold across, then the 4 corners were folded, a little confusing at first, but when figured out, turns into a really neat card.

Well, I think I shall close this blog for tonight and go to Etsy and post this card there. If you would like to see it got to: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/

Have a good day and cheers~Louise

♥A Deer Father's Day♥Our Lives a Vapour♥

Here is that "Deer" card I had told you about in a previous post. Made 12 cards and each one looks different, guess it was in the way I colored them with my copic markers. In making the card, laid a stencil down and taped it then spread white "Dreamweaver" paste over it. Pulled off the tape and stencil which left a raised layer of paste. Let it dry overnight. Then colored in with copic markers. The cards were then layered on black, white and brown cardstock. The white cardstock was run through the cuttlebug with an embossing folder.

Father's Day is just 5 weeks away.......June19th!!!!! My own father died in March of 1961 ~ 50 years ago, seems like only a "vapour" ago. He was a good man and I loved my father very much, I still miss him to this very day. Growing up, he gave me alot of wisdom that I still remember many things he told me. My only regret, I don't think he knew Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

Have you ever watched smoke come out of a chiminy? I have, often. This verse always comes to mind. "Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is life? It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away." (James 4:14) Our lives are like a vapour, here today and gone tomorrow. But in this verse the Bible comentary says "that making plans without God proclaims the fact that we consider ourselves to be our own master and if the Lord does not guide our lives, then all is a waste".

Certainly is food for thought isn't it? I wonder how much of my life was lived without asking God to lead and guide my steps? How much of my life was lived according to the agendas of other people and what other people thought I should be doing? How much of my life has been lived without even thinking about God and doing my own thing? Would I be where I am now if I had asked God for his direction? Would my life not have been full of regrets if I had "asked God"? I don't know, guess those are questions that shall have to wait to be answered, maybe in eternity???? And, also if my earthly father made it to heaven?

Well, guess it is time to shut this blog down for the night and go over to Etsy to see if any cards sold. Check out my store at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/

Cheers ~ Louise

Etsy Tap Dance Tonight.....

Sold a card, sold a card, sold a card!!!! Doin' the Etsy Tap Dance today!!!! Been such a dry spell lately, wondered when the next sale would come. Well today, I renewed a Father's Day card from last year around 11am and by 1:30pm that card sold......YAY!!!!

Spent the evening making more deers for some more Father's day cards. Gosh, if I could find that card in my files, I would download it onto this blog, but it may take awhile. Sooooooo I think I will just make a new card and take a picture and load it up onto this blog at a later date.

Started some seeds today, cucumbers, summer squash, basil, parsley, two kinds of heirloom tomatoes and peppermint zenias. Tomorrow I shall plant some swiss chard and pole beans, have some purple onion bulbs to plant also. This year I am going to put most of my vegie plants in the front of the house as we had so much rain last year that alot of my vegies got drowned out.

Watching American Idol..........I know, I know that's a waste of time, but I just love listening to Scotty sing, he has such a wonderful voice, can hardly wait till he makes a CD.....I shall buy it for sure!!!! So I am hoping he wins!!!!!

Well, I think that is all for today, you all have a great day.........cheers ~ Louise

One Day At A Time Sweet Jesus..........

Mother's Day is Coming.............

Mother's Day.....is a week away now, what are you going to do for that special mother of your's? Whether she is just around the corner or hundreds of miles away....or maybe she is dead....it is always good to hear from your loved ones.

My own mother died in 2001, where did that time go? She would have been going on 85, we were just 20 years apart. She was always so happy when someone would act so surprised that I was "her daughter". Why Barb, I thought Louise was your sister, oh my, I hated that! My mother would just smile. Not me, she was my mother, not my sister!!!! Oh well, every now and then I think about her and sometimes wish she was still around, so I could just talk, although she never quite understood me, nor I her. I believe tomorrow, May 1st is the day she died, maybe that is why I am thinking about her.

Then, there was the Mother-in-law. Nope, she never understood me either. I don't have too much to say about her. Our relationship was a little strained and I never knew what she expected of me and felt she never really liked me, I certainly was not her favorite. JP and I never had any kids between the two of us, so maybe that was the reason why. I had wanted kids, but the husband didn't. So now here we are married 38 years and childless. The Mother-inlaw will be dead 1 year on our 38th anniversary - August 27.

I did have a daughter, but in 1969 had to give her up for adoption, a decision I have regretted all my life. But then, if I hadn't, she wouldn't have been that free spirit that she is now, doing her own thing and being her own person. I see her on facebook alot, I guess that is better then not seeing her. Her life, and my life are complete opposites, I guess she takes more after her "father" then she does me, but then she seems to be living the kind of life my grandmother did...a little wild. My grandmother lived in the bars and taverns and drank alot, my mother didn't. I can remember as a child my mother and grandmother arguing and then my grandmother left and I didn't see her again till I was eighteen and she was dying....not alot of good memories of grandmother.

So now, I am thinking, Mother's Day is one of those days, that I can take or leave alone, it doesn't really hold alot of good feelings for me. Only because I am a mother, but have never really been treated as a mother. Having a baby and putting her up for adoption doesn't really count, you are labled a "birthmom" but not really a "mother" I am not really sure why I am rambling on like this......guess some of these holidays are just not as happy as others are.

Well, I wanted to tell alittle about the above card. I probably will put it in my etsy store http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ the going price will be $3 + postage $2. You will also receive one free bonus card or bookmark or thank you card for your use. The card is basically flowers colored in with markers then layered on black cardstock then bright pink cardstock. I actually made the "MOM" stamp myself, my very first attempt. It is pretty versitile though, cause turning it up side down you get "WOW". One of these days I shall have to make a "WOW" card!!!

Well, I think this blog has run too long and probably not alot of people will read it anyways, I tend to shy away from long blogs, "short and sweet and to the point" are my kind of blogs. So take care and have a great "Mother's Day" and please remember those mother's that might be shedding a tear or two because they have been forgotten.
Cheers ~ Louise

Raman Noodle Salad

Here is a really delicious salad. I have made this twice already this week, not sure what the calorie content is, but it can't be alot cause what could really be fattening....noodles I guess, mmmm but it sure is good. Here is the recipe.

2 pakgs Raman Chicken flavored soup (break into small pieces)
1 bunch green onions (sliced)
1 cup cashews
1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
16 oz pakg coleslaw (or 1/2 small head cabbage)

Mix Raman seasoning with:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup sugar (or less)

Mix together and pour over the first 5-6 ingredients. Let stand 30 minutes.
Mix a few times and before you serve.

This may be one of those salads that will be hard to keep in the house, I know it is in my house.

Well, you have a great day.
Cheers ~ Louise

In Memory of Dave Wilkerson

This will be a very short blog. As of a few hours ago I heard that Dave Wilkerson was killed in a car accident in Tx. Now he is in the presence of Jesus. . .what a glorius place to be. Sad that his life ended so tragiclly. His wife and the truck driver are still in the hospital. Sad news for all concerned.

JP and I went to a "Call to Repentance" in Texas in 1986 and got to sit under the teachings if Dave Wilkerson....that might have been when the fires of revival was lit in my heart back in 1986, yep, I believe that was when God began to change my life around. That was one of those vacations I will never quite forget.

Blessings ~ Louise