Up 'til now

Thursday- Day in Spokane; Waiting to do hair. Various errands. Costco, etc. Stopped at this place for a Granita in the 98 degree weather. 'The Wakeup Call'.

Friday-Break ground on building.

Saturday - Continue working on pad site for building. Joanie & I went to CDA to the Farmer's Market. Bought neat jewelry, got GREAT lattes, bought HOT beans for Greg, bought quilt.

Then we went to 3 bead places (Joanie is going to teach me to make bead jewelry) and then Michaels. We got a wonderful quiche at a place in town.

After we finally made it back home and took quick showers, we ran over to Spirit Lake with the guys to eat Mexican food at that great restaurant there. Then got ice creams - While waiting in line, I spied two 10 year old boys who were diligently counting out their coins to get malts. I nudged Greg and when they went to the cash register, we paid for the malts as they were in front of us-at first they didn't want to accept...but Greg talked them into it. They thanked us profusely and went on their way. It was just a little Random Act of Kindness that warmed my heart. We then walked in the park & picked up milk on the way home. Gabbed at home and showed the guys all our wonderful purchases. The guys just looked at neat car parts in automotive catalogues that Greg just HAPPENED to have lying around... Joanie & Chachie went home later and we watched tv for a while on our new DirectTV DVR, then went to bed.

Sunday-Greg continued working on the pad site, clearing trees-piling slash-delimbing trees-stacking wood-digging pit; While I went to Spoky-Jo to get my hair done at Strand-Z with Quincy (who is just a delight!) She did an AWESOME-MITE job on my hair. She was quick, efficient, and is now my hairstylist for LIFE.

Monday- Made breakfast for hubby, packed lunch for hubby, did 3 loads of laundry, paid bills online, watered all my plants outside, picked up pinecones, took a nap as I was exhausted later. I worked on my jewelry; Got the mail and a lot of surprises that I had ordered. Some are for Kelsey-sure hope she likes them.

We will go tomorrow to pick up wife-beater t-shirts for Matty-poo as Kelsey requested we purchase some at Old Navy for them.

Speaking of Paperweights

So funny. I clicked on the Google ads that was on my site.
Check out www.customlaserawards.com

They actually have custom paperweights to order. I will just HAVE to get something special for my office.

My Life = NOT A Bowl Of Cherries

That is a weird phrase, huh? Life is like a bowl of cherries. Does that mean it's good, but has pits? Or what?


And I'm not complaining. Don't get me wrong here. I'm just trying to explain how my life goes. I pretty much have to roll with it. Because if I didn't, I would be on the edge all the time. Probably because I am so easy is the reason that I'm not on Prozac. LOL!


So the DirectTV guy was here for over 6 HOURS to install our new boxes with the DVR package. Well, he left and it didn't get installed. Because we had to knock down a tree to get a clear shot of the satellite with the dish mounted on the side of the house.


Joe came over the next morning with his bulldozer and pushed it down...after a harrowing time of me yelling at the guys "get away from the damned tree before it falls on you!" Men are so dumb. They stand right next to it, gazing up at it, as if in a trance. Joe had cut it at the base with the chainsaw and the tree starts leaning but doesn't fall. Now...this tree is over 60 feet tall. Far enough from the house, that it wouldn't damage the house...but probably not fun if it happened to land on you...So Joe...pushes on the tree with his hand, trying to get it to fall. Duh. This tree probably weighs as much as his dozer. Does he REALLY think he can just push it over like a toothpick? And hubby is standing gazing at him doing it all. Doy. I had my hand poised on the
9-1-1 buttons, just waiting...


But it came down OK. Then the cable guy was convinced (i.e.-read hubby called him and DEMANDED that he come that day instead of waiting until Friday) to finish installing the cable. So he came in the afternoon and finished (2 hours and MUCH sawdust, sheetrock and dirt in 4 rooms of my home later!) Then he got kinda creepy before he left and started talking about the various installation persons that have murdered and/or raped women at home. Now. I have 4 guns in the home. Which I know how to use. I have a very BIG dog in the home and she would probably tear somebody apart if they were to hurt me. (she was barking the ENTIRE time he was here) and I also know defensive moves. My husband knew this guy was here. There was Billy down at the shop...I mean, it's not like I was here defenseless! And just know that I am NOT going to go quitely if something like that happens. I will go KICKING & SCREAMING! So anyway, I hustled him out. Thank god he finally got the hint! Probably because I went into the kitchen while he was talking and got out my meat clever and started to pound it on the counter cutting up strawberries!!!


Then I was lucky enough to clean up all his mess, rewire my surround sound system to the new DVR; move the furniture around in the living room back to their original places, and then returned back to cleaning up my Mercedes interior which he had interrupted me doing.

Today hubby took off work so that he could go with me to Spoky-Jo so I could do my hair, he could run errands, then we would spend an enjoyable afternoon goofing off. Well, the stylist wasn't ready for me, re-scheduled the appointment to Sunday...all the DSL internet cafes that we stopped at either didn't have DSL working or were on dial-up. So I was still unable to upload my freebies. My service at home is just really getting worse. We have confirmation of DSL to our home at the end of August. Which is really sad that I want the end of August to hurry to be here, but then that is almost the end of summer. Blah.


When we went to Costco to check on new flat-screen TVs with DVD players...we compared costs. There was Home Depot right next door and they were doing a Contractor's Open House. With free pizza, free t-shirts, free entrys to win stuff. Hubby went nuts-like a little kid at a candy store. Greg also got to pick up some tools at Costco; He also hit it big at the local Wally-Mart as he found some Ford collector toy cars he got on sale; (his collection grows) I looked at D&B purses at Macy's to decide which I want to buy for our Europe trip; So the day wasn't a total waste. Got to spend it with my favorite dog and my favorite guy!

But as I had forgotten my grocery list at home, we didn't get anything even though we were at the store. It's dangerous to go shopping without a list!

We returned home via way of Spirit Lake, but they had just oiled & re-paved the road, and hubby happened to drive into it. Now we have oil on the truck and have to get it detailed... again.

Then, I tried to get on http://www.guavaberry.com/ to order the Guava Liquer that our friends had the other night. Oh divine alcoholic berry! Yum. But the site froze up on me. So maybe later I will get back to it again.


But I did get to order our new bed. Here it is. Hopefully we get it in less than the 10-30 days shipping they predict. After we get our new TV mounted on the wall, we will be living like pigs in swaller! (that means living the high life; lifestyles of the ultra not rich & famous!)


So hang around, see what happens. Maybe I will get my internet connection to work. My favorite Coffee House in CDA was sold; so no hanging out drinking java & surfin' the 'net-boo hoo.


Joanie & I have a girl date to go to the Farmer's Market in CDA on Saturday. Hopefully, we will have lots of fun.


Talk at ya later!

Paperweight Heart Freebies

Paperweight Hearts
REMOVED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Paperweight MONTH Hearts
REMOVED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Paperweight Hearts Freebie Update

UPDATE-DOWNLOAD LINK Doesn't work.
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. Still working on the fix. Sorry.

Hearts A Plenty

BLOGGER IS HAVING PROBLEMS TRANSPOSING THE FILE NAMES FOR THE DOWNLOADS. SORRY. WILL POST ASAP WHEN IT IS FIXED!

Hubby helped me to move the fridge so I could clean out behind and under it! What a mess. And then he re-did some grout in our laundry room; it was a beautiful day out; so we soaked it up.

Yesterday, I spring-cleaned the house. Top to bottom; and am I GLAD that it is done. I only have to get the carpet cleaners in to super-clean the carpet; and the window washers in as only they are able to get the really, really tall windows!

Isabelle had a bath yesterday and she is smelling so much better. She preens when she is clean; even has a jauntier walk. In her room, when Kelsey left home, she left her stand up mirror; and Isabelle will look at herself in the mirror. It's so cute.

Get the Heart Paperweights
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

Dinking around...and finding comments from lh and Selena...Selena requested hearts in the paperweights and since she such an irresistible sweetie, I just couldn't NOT do it. But she didn't specify what she wanted on the paperweights; except pink & blue. I decided that I would accommodate them and provide a few extra paperweights. So when I played with the hearts...I made these. Just a few...and a few more...Hope you like them. These paperweights could become quite a collection!

Get the Month Paperweight Hearts TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

We went to friends' home last night - Jason & Desi; played games; drank margaritas and Jason's new concotions of ...berry; talked. Had fun. Their dog sunny is a dingo and has an effervescent personality. Isabelle preferred to nap in the truck while we were there. Turns out Desi thought she had a miscarriage as she was spotting; so after an emergency room run last week they got a ultrasound and she IS pregnant. Thank goodness! So we took over a card & a little duck for the baby's bath.

My other friend, Shawna is pregnant. I am crossing all my fingers for her to have a little girl. She already has 3 boys plus 1 hubby; that is a lot of maleness in the home. So she needs a little girl. I am thinking pink for her!

I found this in some of my old layouts; since I was not keeping a record of whose kits I was using at that time - there are no credits. Sorry. Isn't Isabelle just the cutest little thing? Everywhere we go...people exclaim "Oh, He's such a BIG dog!" C'mon! She's only 130 pounds now and she's pretty small compared to a Rottweiler or a Saint Bernard. Isabelle is about a little bigger than a regular size German Shepherd. Plus+ she's a GIRL. There's no winkie down below! Duh people. Same equipment on dogs as there are on human beings. And it's easier to see!

Tuesday is my dentist appointment; and DirectTV is coming to install their system because we want to try something besides DISH for a while. None of these companies will reward their long-term customers, so we are going to sign up for DirectTV and get their Freebie stuff-Free installation, Free DVR, Free DVD player. What fun.

Xashee! I still haven't gotten an email from you. I would be delighted to post your page on here. Tell me where it is or send me a copy. You brighten my every day when you comment. Thanks lots!

LH requested paperweights designed for the beach; so here is a preview. Lots of water drops and neat sayings on them relating to water activities! I am still working on these and having fun. So they will be available tomorrow in the afternoon.

Tonight was mexican food night; Remember those, baby? We had tacos, quesedillas, refried beans, tortilla chips, enchiladas. Yum. Yum. We had picked up all the fixings at the grocery store in Spirit Lake. Then stopped off and had kiddie-size ice cream cones & picked up maple nut fudge. Then a vigorous walk in the park with the dog; viewing the brand new toilets (that were not open yet) donated by various business & BackIn Lawn Mower Races! Our friend, Wayne Vanek decided on this nonsense about 6 years ago. Now it is a big thing in the city. Lawn Mower races!

Lockets Are Making A Comeback!

I think I need to dig out my old lockets if they are making a comeback. Never knew they went away! WARNING-Buying this magazine will make you want to have all the neat and keeny/cool stuff that is within the pages! Argh! I want. I want. I want. I have a bad case of the I wanties! Need another intervention.

You were really patient, so here are the Month Paperweights.

Get them HERE.

Peaceful

Quiet here. Rain last night & some of today cooled it off considerably. I hope it really helped out the surrounding forest fires...those firepersons need relief. My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes. Summer is always treacherous with dry conditions.

Word Paperweights can be picked up HERE

Oh! And the last we heard...though not through OFFICIAL lines...is that the DSL date has been moved to August! ROFL! At least it's still this year. Let's see. We started with Spring...now it has morphed to Fall...

We purchased Premonition starring Sandra Bullock and will watch it tonight. I will give you my opinion on it later. Then we are sending it to the daughter & son; along with House, Season 1. Kelsey subscribed to NetFlix and likes it well enough, but since she lives in the UK; they are having problems getting her returns. So we will see what happens. They liked House so well, that they wanted to purchase Season 1 but were unable to find at the Base. So I told her I would pick one up here and mail it to her. I wanted to view Premonition because of the neat coming attractions, but had no need to own it; so the DVD is going to them. They have an Amazing collection of DVDs. But I think that they will find down the line (like we did) that if you purchase these, another new media type will be waiting around the corner to make yours obsolete!

I apologize for the delay in getting my freebies out. So I decided to batch them for you all at once. Yesterday was a mad house here and today, the freebies are just not cooperating with me.

Pick up Transparent Tape HERE

As delighted as I was with the remake of Wicked Game by HIM; I ordered it on Amazon; along with some books. Then I purchased some neat things on www.ETSY.com . So many talented people there. And I sent off for some shoes at www.Zappos.com Enough shopping already.

You can see that one of my word paperweights has my favorite words on it - love, chocolate, shoes & COFFEE! I don't think I could live without it. Never before was I this addicted to it. My addiction grows worse everyday. Maybe I need an intervention? Nope-I don't.

Hubby has an egg sandwich every morning; then I have to pack his lunch. I try to find interesting and exciting things to put in his lunch bag (usually my Merle Norman sacks as they are strong and have a nice strong handle-he refuses to get a lunch pail); so the other day I had boiled some eggs-along with onions. Great taste, huh? Then I put the eggs in a storage container with...Greek Pepperoncini, Pickled Mushrooms and Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil. He just Loves the combination!

Once I put the stuff in the container, I quickly wash my hands and try to stifle my urge to Urp! Ugh. Can't stand pickly-stuff. Blithely going through life...filling his arteries with pickled everything... and also the spicier the better for him! He and our daughter used to compete to have the Hottest, Spicy food...they would see which one could eat it without drinking water!

Flag Pins can be picked up HERE

I have an appointment for the dentist on Tuesday. Finally going to have my teeth pulled (they hurt SO badly) and get those dentures. My brother got a full set of dentures at age 27. He loved them. His teeth had very long roots-most of them were decayed-and he brushed & flossed & rinsed Every Day, 3X a day! I believe that bad teeth run in our family! LOL! And as I chipped a major piece of tooth on a stray watermelon seed yesterday, hubby decided that the time has come for them to come out. Horrors - - When I bit into that watermelon, the last thing I expected was for the tooth fairy to make a special visit in my mouth~

I picked up the latest magazine of Bead Style and became entranced with all the wonderful jewelry that you can make for yourself. My friend has a rock fetish...I suppose that you could call her & her husband...Rock Hounds! They travel all over finding the prettiest rocks. They have also purchased some from eBay. Now...I can understand trying to get rocks from different areas...but paying for a rock? Unless it is a diamond! LOL!

But they gave us this beautiful pink rock that sits in pride of place on my fireplace mantle. A very pretty, distinctive rock. I can't remember what they said it was...I don't care-it's just pretty!

Get Push Pins HERE

The daughter and I are fast consulting with each other on our next ADSR2 Challenge. We have to work together to complete 1 LO using a doodle, the color red, flowers, 2 photos, and the subject must be friendship.

I really need that motivation to scrap and the Race is a great challenge to stretch ourselves. Usually, we scrap in private. Don't participate with anyone else!

So I am having tons of fun doing it. The blog is even fun to update.

And thank you for the suggestion of 7-11 trinkets! Hmmm. Why 7-11? Is that some neat kink that is popular now?

I see my friend, Shawna commented. Moseying on over to her blog & seeing what she has...Hope the kids are having fun this summer. Any baby news yet? Hi Shawna (waving!).

Isabelle has been racing after some chipmunks that are hanging around. She dug a 2 foot deep hole in the rock garden beside the house...trying to find that little bugger. It squeaks and drives her crazy! I really enjoying having that dog. Watching her run and play is the biggest kick.

Cleaning house is on the agenda for tomorrow. I really NEED to vacuum. There is dust and dog dander and dog hair everywhere! Gee. I wonder why? We must have a dog.

And last but not least...we lost our fat little girl fish (we ASSUME she was a girl-we didn't know) yesterday. SO sad. She has been with us for about 5 1/2 years now. Poor little thing. The other two gold fish were being mean to her and pushing her up & out of the barrel. So I separated them. She got really dreary...and then just wouldn't come to the top. Hubby was very torn up about it. We had a funeral for her this morning.

Too Tired

They're pretty good. I promise.

Am just too tired tonight to put them out there yet.

Here's a preview.

Paperweights!

Random late night thoughts:

Jessica McClintock, Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels HALO, Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy For Her2, Sand & Sable, White Shoulders, Wind Song, Emeraude; these are mostly the perfumes I wear. Yet…why is it that when somebody asks me what I am wearing…do I sniff my wrist and then have to think about it?

I am going to the UK during Christmas holidays; I would like to take my friend a typical “American” thing for a gift. Any suggestions?

OK. Here Goes!

This is a neat site.
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp

Make Your Own License
http://www.acme.com/licensemaker/

The NW United States has been experiencing a heat wave. As has most of the US...we are currently enjoying a hot summer with temps of 100F or more.

Swamp Cooler, Fans, and Ice are my best friends right now.

Put YOUR face on Money!
http://www.festisite.com/tools/generators/money/

Yes. That's MOI on the $100 US bill!

Make Your own Candy Heart
http://www.acme.com/heartmaker/

Make Your Own McDonald’s Sign
http://www.ewg.org/sites/mchummer/

Make Your Own Crop Circle Signs
http://www.mapmsg.com/send/cropcircle/

This site puts the crop circle on whatever GPS address site that you enter. You can see your own property as it looks when photographed from a satellite orbiting the Earth!

THINGS THAT IRRITATE ME - Narrow opening jars of Mayonnaise. You almost always have mayo left that you are unable to get out of the jar. Your hand is too big to put in it; a spoon won't get it out; why don't manufacturers address this problem?

Welcome To the Neighborhood

Hidey Ho, Neighbors!

Sorry I have been MIB-Missing In Blogging...we helped some neighbors put up their shop; so I have been working every day and then coming home just exhausted.

Wednesday we started work. I have not had the energy to blog or create. The weather has been extremely HOT. 100F and higher.

Thursday, we took Isabelle to her VET appointment and she got her shots updated. She is A-OK. Then we ran into town to do some errands.

Friday, we came home & collapsed;

On Saturday, I talked with the baby for over 89 minutes! Not a record...but a long time.

Sunday, we did a couple things outside around the home; but then just rested inside the cooled house.

I wanted to share with you a LO that Glenda created using DesigningOnTheEdge creations. She did an awesome job. Thanks Glenda. (if anybody else sends me their LOs they created with my designs, I will feature them)

Stayed tuned tomorrow and I will feature some Freebies.

PS. A question from Renata asked why I was depressed when I received the FALL Victoria's Secret. Well, since it is only the middle of summer here, it is difficult to start thinking about kids going back to school, fall beginning, and purchasing sweaters. We are still barely enjoying our summer. And summer starts especially late for those of us in the NW United States. Up until recently, we have been having rain and cold weather. In fact, we only just turned off the fireplace lighter about 2 weeks ago. We had been having to still use the fireplace on cold, cold nights.

I would much rather see the Victoria's Secret catalogs wherein they feature the bikinis with great shots on the beach! So I can dream that I am wearing a VS bikini and walking along those warm sands-maybe even sipping a pina colada!

I'm So...Blue!

I didn't have much time to throw this together. Sorry. Get I'm So Blue...HERE

Was busy creating a blog for the http://www.ndisb.com/ ADSR - Amazing Digi-Scrapping Race. My daughter is my teammate. Woot!

http://naughtyredheadknockouts.blogspot.com/

My son Matt, came up with the name-Naughty RedHead Knockouts. I came up with the song- "Jump Into the Fire" by Harry Nilsson from the Nilsson Schmilsson CD. Our motto is "If it doesn't move...Scrap it!

Busy, busy, busy today. Also poisoned weeds with the sprayer; got a sunburn while doing it; talked to the kids via IM and also phone...started to clean up the basement; soaked my feet & shaved calluses; exercised; dinner was chili dogs on the deck!

Ya know...it's REALLY depressing when you get the Victoria's Secret FALL PREVIEW catalog in the mail. Which I got today. In the mail. The Fall Preview catalog. Geesh. It's still summer. I don't even want to think about (fall) - - shhh. Don't say it too loud!

Love ya all. Thanks for all the kind comments. Keep it real. (as Dave Chapelle would say)

1AM. Got to go to bed.

Never on a Sunday

Bayview Daze was OK. There wasn't too much interesting there and a lot of vendors were very expensive. We had ended Friday nite by eating at the Rib Ranch with our friends Joanie & Chachi, then went to their home to chat for a while.

sidenote-Joanie & Chachi have "rescued" 3 Greyhounds (Little Girl, Maggie & Fargo...) from their former racing lives. The poor little things are just starved for affection! They rub up against you and will implore you with their eyes for petting. They also have a little white Corgi named - - Shorty! Shorty rules the roost and even tho he is small enough to walk under the Ggreyhounds, he herds they around! Our dog, Isabelle, gets along with them quite well and will stay at their home while we visit the kids in December.

shabby circus alpha by mel johnson; zigzag stitching by natali; frame by me; font-palatino linotype

I want to go to the Rathdrum City Days July 20-21. Sounds like they might even have amusement rides there.

Sunday was a day of rest for us. We gave the dog a bath first thing in the morning; Greg made his own egg omelette; then we stopped for lattes on the way to Spoky-Jo.

Stopped at Costco for a few necessities; then got our new 48” shower stall at Home Depot. Looked at Furniture Row for a new bed-but everything is so large and overwhelming. We both want something simpler in the bedroom. Greg had to make a stop at Harbor Freight for his requisite tool-shopping.

Isabelle ate some vanilla ice cream in the soft green grass at a park…and we all went for a walk afterwards. The dog ran after rodents that had dug holes in the ground. High-tailing it around the area, she raced from mound to mound until her tongue was hanging on the ground from her exertions! She lapped up water from her bowl, then we headed home.

We stopped at the hardware store on the way as we had forgotten to pick up some metal screen – some birds have pecked away a huge area underneath the eaves of the house! As that area will have to be replaced and I can already anticipate that it will be almost impossible to match that exact color-we will put up the screen temporarily so no other obnoxious vermin get into the attic of our house via that huge hole~

After unloading our purchases, we discovered that the kids had called & left a message. Kelsey! We have a life! Sometimes we actually get OUT of the house.

We sat outside on the deck after the sun had started to set and it was getting cooler. Watched the traffic go by on the nearby road; listened to the birds as they chirped in the trees; and listened to Isabelle snore as she was stretched out between us. What a life.

So check back tomorrow for more Freebies. Hope you had a great Sunday, too.

Dangly Flowers

“TB Traveler says he was tricked into quarantine – Atlanta attorney claims he would have gone voluntarily if officials had asked.” Oh my. Our diseased TB Typhoid Mary is lying again. Obviously, the boy wants more than his share of 15 minutes of fame. Why, oh, WHY…didn’t I go to law school. I want to sue him just because he is aggravating me with his lies. He is becoming irritating. Go away TB Boy. Please. Just go away.

We were off to Bayview Daze (sorry-not a typo; it’s how they spell it) for the belated 4th of July Independence Day celebration. Food, Craft booths, and Entertainment. We went last night & according to the radio it was supposed to last until midnight but when we got there at 8PM, it was all closed up. So we will attempt to go down earlier tonight!

This is a LO from the 4th celebration. A couple of the guys got on the swings at our friends’ house. Everyone was laughing while they kicked their little feet in the air!

My new hairstylist got me a little lighter than I am really comfortable with, but I can work with it. The husband just loves it. What IS it with men and blondes? And I have to go back to talk to her on Tuesday about doing something else to it because I am just not too happy with it. (I’m SO picky) So no hair pics until I am completely satisfied!

Kelsey! 115 in Las Vegas! 101 in Spokane! It’s a tropical heatwave!

I forgot to post my Dangly Flowers. Pick them up HERE.

Interesting Sites! See below for my Visual DNA. Go to the site http://imagini.net/ to see how you compare to others! Also www.intrinsiconline.com which is a beautiful site for inspiration and while you are there...send a FREE e-card to a friend! Cheer somebody up for the day!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Ta-Dah!

Well, here it is! Get it HERE

Talk at ya more later. Gotta go. Late for appt!

WAIT for it...Wait for it...!

Yep. I worked too hard today cleaning house and didn't have any time to upload my Freebie. So you will have to WAIT for it...just get in line like you did when you got your Apple IPhone.

Here is a pic to whet your appetite! Aren't I bad?

Temperatures above 100 degrees F didn't help at all. I know I have been complaining about the cold here, but this is ridiculous. Too hot or too cold. Just never in-between. Am I Goldilocks?

Which reminds me that I need to go test out the mattress upstairs. Nite-Nite everybody!

PS - I get my hair done tomorrow. Maybe pics?

Happy 4th!

America is celebrating Independence Day.

We will be joining our friends shortly; feasting, going to a parade; fireworks.

See ya later.

Black Eyes & Blue Skies

Yesterday, while using the gas powered trimmer, a rock flew up and hit the bridge of my nose. Fortunately, I was wearing safety glasses, but my eye swelled up and is all black & blue. And to save myself from any further distress, I am not going to share the picture with you. Staying off the computer yesterday afternoon helped a little and I got very little done.

But if you would like this neat heart & my patriotic twirly, you can pick them up HERE. (sorry about that. internet s.u.p.e.r. s.l.o.w.)

Things I have learned:

1. The Pillsbury Dough Boy will never show up in your kitchen to help, no matter how much you need him.
2. Women can never have TOO many shoes.
3. Men can never have TOO many t-shirts; and you had better NOT throw any of them away, even though they are worn and ragged.
4. Just as it is always darkest before the dawn, work clothes are always dirtiest before they are washed.
5. I do NOT have a green thumb. More like a black one. Even my evergreens turn brown. Ever-brown.
6. Contrary to all notices- my computer ISP access will not work on the clearest, sunniest of days. (today)

Yesterday, while using the gas powered trimmer, a large rock flew up and hit the bridge of my nose. Gosh-what are the odds of that happening? Fortunately, I was wearing safety glasses, but my eye swelled up and is all black & blue. And to save myself from any further distress, I am not going to share the picture with you. Staying off the computer yesterday afternoon helped a little and I got very little done.

Isabelle shot out of bed this morning from a dead sleep; she raced down the stairs at full speed...thank goodness hubby was out of bed so that he could open the screen door for her. And ran outside at full bore so she could chase a varmint that is running around the distributed brush piles in the yard. *I really DO need to get that debris ground up this weekend. We will have to get a chipper/shredder. Note to self.*

I got bit on the right leg just below my knee by some toxic bug/spider. It is taking forever to heal. Bugs/mosquitoes/spider bites are always so very bad for me. I swell up like a balloon and some have even left scars. When I was a kid, my doctor said I was allergic to bug bites!

Thank you for all your concern. It is so very pleasant to read all the kind comments. And MaggieM...I signed up to the forum, but haven't had a chance to comment on any of your great layouts. I love looking at layouts, but rarely get the chance to do anything without DSL. BooHoo. But hope to have DSL soon. Crossing my fingers! LOL!

Our weatherman around here...(we call him the Chief! because he is the Chief Meterologist Tom Sherry. The announcers always pronounce his name in capital letters. So hubby and I always refer to him as the Chief!) has announced that the weather will be 100 degrees F on the 4th! With a low of 60 degrees F that night. We'll seeeeeeeee...

Hope you are ready for lots of Fireworks this week. Happy Independence Day to all in the US; Belated happy Canada Day to all my northern friends.

July 1st - And The Heat is On

It's the first of July. And I'm sitting here, freezing my butt off; we have the fireplace stoked up and running. It's probably never going to be summer here.

We attended Live Free or Die Hard last night. $9.50 each to go to the movies. We actually got change back from our $20. And then hubby-bubby wanted popcorn. I got a diet water. Yum. We met our friends at the entrance. Our favorite place to park at this theatre is back by the dumpsters. Nobody else parks there, so we don't get door-chopped; it is an easy in/out; and a very convenient short walk.

The guys sat together, so I struggled down the aisle to sit by the girls. We chatted for a while and it was fun (different) to sit beside someone other than my husband. But I got so excited during the movie that I had to grip the sides of my chair instead of my dear spouse's arm. And I actually hit Megan a couple of times because I was so excited. Usually the hubby gets my comments and hits, but I didn't have him there. Afterwards apologizing for using her arm; which she entirely understood...We all went out to Chili's where we got salsa/chips/mozarella cheese sticks/enchiliada soup (sorry Kelsey) and drank alcohol!

We returned home quite late and when Greg opened the door; Isabelle was there impatiently awaiting our return. Rowr...rowr Rohwr....she was SO upset that mommy and daddy had left her by herself. Poor little thing. She gets so upset. Such an emotional dog. If anybody had asked me 10 years ago that I would be mothering a neurotic, psycho dog...I would have looked at them as if they had lost their marbles. Me? No way. But there I was...soothing and comforting a poor little baby that had been so nervous while we were away.

After getting into bed last night after 2PM, we slept late this morning. Greg watched his auto-shows on tv. We relaxed around home for a while and then ventured on-line to purchase our tickets to the UK via AirFrance. It was necessary to call the kids to confirm the dates; so I tried repeatedly to phone. First I received a wrong number...after confirming that I had not fat-fingered the buttons; I dialed again. Only to receive a notice that the number I was calling was disconnected. Duh. After hitting the re-dial button, Matty answered. Only he could not hear me over the phone and hung up.

Handing off the receiver to my hubby as I fumed in disgust...(why can't I make a simple phone call...Verizon hates me as much as I hate them...odd how I can hate an entity?...) Greg simply pushed the re-dial button and was immediately connected to the kids. While chatting about their BeerFest 2007; See their Drunk Relay Race on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqfUHO5mKL0) Racing down to drink a beer; then twirling around 5 times; only to run back to hand it off to your team member. God. What it is to be young and dumb!

But we finally got our tickets purchased. YIPPEE! We are officially going. So now we have to wait until SEPTEMBER for our passports to get here. Fast American bureaucracy!

I tried to user my weed eater on the massive amounts of debris in our yard as it has been constantly raining; so everything is waist high (almost)...and the trimmer started smoking-then actively burning. While thinking in disgust of the amount of money I wasted on the stupid thing, I calmly unplugged it; then doused it in the water barrel.

Greg & Isabelle spent a little while at the shop while I was fighting with my Toro trimmer. They came home and we all got cleaned up to take the boat out on the water in Bayview. We fed the ducks and returned home afterwards. It was a fun ending to the day.

If you would like my Patriotic-Stars; Get them HERE.