It's a Terrific Tuesday!

My knee has been soooooooooooooooooo great the past few days! I started taking an anti inflammatory that has a bit of pain killer in it. I know the bones aren't lining up, right, but with the swelling down and the pain masked, I feel soooooooooo much better! Getting old should be easier, right? You should have all these pains while you are young and don't care! LOL

DH has returned from his 10 days w/ DS and DDIL in Portland. He had a great time. I can't wait to see his photos! More to scrap!

I so love photos of DS & DH! They are so very, very close! This is just the cutest shot of the two of them, don't you think?


My Joy

I have a LO to share with you of me when I was in my early 20s. *sigh* Nothing hurt then! I don't know if you can see that there are clock hands on the front of the photo. Both are brass, but the white one is just white due to the reflection off the flash. Oh well, that happens (which is why I don't prefer glossy photo paper).


If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time

The next LO is just a fun one I put together of things I love in the winter, LOL When it's "a hundred and stupid" outside, it helps me feel cooler if I scrap winter! Go figure! LOL


My Winter Must Haves

Well, I'm off to make a get well card for a dear friend while I can sit for a long period of time. It sure takes me a long time to color an image after it is stamped. Using those Copic markers sure takes a lot of time to just get the colors blended so well. I'm improving, though! LOL

Have a good one! Thank you soooooooooooo much for stopping by. I am so glad that you took time to do so.

XO,

Chris

Nature's Gems

Yesterday, while sitting at my scrap table, a beautiful green bird of moderate size kept flitting around the potted plants on our patio. It's wings fluttered like a hummingbird's, but the bird was much larger than the usual hummers that we see passing through in their migration. The bird landed on the table and stood there as I watched. It flew around the yard and returned to the table. I kept thinking that it flew like a hummingbird. Well, lo and behold, this little one (whose beak wasn't as long as a little hummer's beak, but very pointy and somewhat long) started hovering over a plant with its wings flapping incessantly! It WAS a hummingbird of a species I've not seen before. I estimated he was about 4 inches tall and, as I said, green! The bird just went to different areas of the plant and nuzzled in the leaves. I couldn't see if there were flowers as the shadow kept me from seeing that detail. This morning, he was back again. I suggest he keep himself high. We have lots of cats that just love our back yard. Our poor baby doesn't go outside. Our neighbors love letting theirs loose. I've counted no less than five different ones always walking through or resting under a bush. It was just cool to see this new bird!

I haven't done any layouts because my knee won't let me sit for any length of time. I have, however, made a couple of cards that look soooooo much better IRL. I didn't want to use the flash because it washes out the colors and the glitter reflects the light and causes a glare. So, forgive my very poor shots. If anyone has a good idea how to take a good photo in good light of some sort, do tell!

For both photos below, I've used my Copic Markers for the coloration. I've added some rhinestones to the Butterfly Tilda card and Stickles to both wings (on the dots) to add some sparkle. Here they are:


Butterfly Tilda

For the Butterfly Tilda card, I added pink Stickles to the dots on her wings. Both wings ARE the same color, LOL. The light was to the left so the left side is lighter. The colors are so pretty IRL.


Tilda on Dock

I used very pretty soft blue SU paper for this LO along with matching Bazzill. I colored the image with my Copic Markers and added blue Stickles to the water. The Tilda and dock are one unit while the cat tails are separate. I'm NOT that advanced, yet! I wish I had some brown Flower Soft for the tips of the cat tails to add some texture, but I don't. The texture would have looked really well.

Thank you for all the sweet comments about the passing of K2. I do miss him very much and thought I heard him last night. I guess that is to be expected. It's getting easier as each day goes by.

I am just so happy that you have stopped by. Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit. I so appreciate that you have. Have a good one - until next time...

XO,

Chris

Time Heals All Wounds, Right?

Well, it's been a week since our beloved K2 left us. The house is much quieter and there just seems to be a feeling that there is a gap inside these walls. I look for him from time to time. I've thought I've seen him running from the kitchen to the bedroom twice. I know he wasn't there. Precious is all alone now. We adopted her when K2's sister, Annapurna, passed away. We didn't want K2 to be alone. He was such a grumpy old man - a curmudgeon! Poor Precious would attempt to play with him and the old guy would just look at her and find a spot where she couldn't jump on him. Annapurna left us two years ago. We had almost lost her two years before that, but our amazing vet did some sort of a process by filtering her blood (I think that's what he did) and gave her two additional years with us. She was adorable. She loved king crab! If she could eat it every day, she would. Needless to say, because we wanted to keep her well, we did feed her a LOT of king crab! There were always crab legs in the freezer! When her appetite would wane, I'd pull out a claw and feed her (and me) the meat! LOL K2 and Anapurrna were just the best animals. I'd like to think they lived so so long because of the years and years they had their morning vitamin. I've bored you enough!

I haven't scrapped much this week. It's been very hard on my right knee. For some reason, the femur has decided to slip out of the knee joint. It hurts until it goes back in. Sitting is impossible! When it is out of joint and I go to sit, the bone just digs in a place it's not supposed to be. I'm afraid it'll break a hip! Luckily, in the morning, when I get up, the bone has gone into place. So, the only thing I've done this week is color a stamped image.

Here are two layouts for you.

I had fun with this LO! Remember when all of us were very young and had nice bodies? Check out the slim and trim DH I had when we first married! I just HAD to give it the title, "Stud Muffin!" The funny thing is that DH didn't object! LOL


My Stud Muffin

The next LO is of DS one winter when we headed up the Pacific Coast to Santa Barbara. While driving, I spotted these flowering bushes. Would you like to know what they are? They are poinsettias! This is what they look like when they are able to grow and thrive! Gorgeous, huh? I just loved this PP and thought that it would be perfect for a boy themed LO.


You Make My Heart Go Whirrrrr

If you need any of the new whitewash core'dinations, you HAVE to visit HAPPY SCRAPPIN' SCRAPBOOKING Sharon, the owner DOES mail internationally, too! Also new to the store are the Colorbox Smooch paints! She's got great things in stock. Stop by and take a peek!

Thank you for stopping by! You must know how much I just love visitors!

XO,

Chris

Where Do You Go? The Loss of a Pet

K2
Where did you go, my sweet K2, when you left this earth? Did you cross Rainbow Bridge to wait for me? Will you see your sister? Did you have a good life? Did you know you were so loved? I will miss you so very much, my dear little one.

Today is such a very sad day. My heart aches more than one can imagine. Our sweet K2 has completed his cycle of life. He tried to last as long as he could, but stopped eating and drinking two days ago. He sequestered himself to the guest bedroom and was so weak that when he went to meow, his mouth would only open and shut. No sound came out. It was time. It is ALWAYS a very difficult decision to put a "fur baby" down. He lived a very, very long time. There will be no more cat "operas" after the lights are out. K2 would go out to the kitchen area and yell at the top of his lungs because he liked to hear his voice echo off the tile. The high ceilings would give his caterwauling such a great sound. It was always a nightly ritual. The ritual ended a week ago. There will be no more tummy rubs. He loved his tummy rubbed before we turned off the lights. DH and I feel so badly. There is a huge hole in our hearts. I love you K2. You have been a sweet little boy. Thank you for coming to our home and being such a sweet, sweet little one.



Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

This is so very, very hard. Thank you for staying with me this far.

Last weekend, there was a Blog Hop at Magnolia-licious. It was fun! The DT created amazing post-it holders with a matching bag. Then, we were given a challenge to create one of our own reflecting Spring. Well, I made mine right away. Then, with the situation involving K2, I totally forgot to upload it and link back to this blog. Here are my post it note holder with its matching bag.

I used Copic markers to color the images. The sweet, little bag is completely lined with matching patterned paper. All sides of the post it note holder are also finished. I have a ribbon secured under the back flap liners so that the note pad will slip under the ribbon to keep the pad securely in place. I just love red and yellow - well, I think I just love yellow with any color!

What do you think?









Thank you so very much for stopping by! Send some good thoughts our way, if you will. DH and I could use some uplifting right now. It's such a sad, sad day.

Love to you,

Chris

I've Been Delinquent!

I cannot believe I haven't made time to update my blog! I don't think it's because the novelty has gone. I'm hoping it's because I've been busy - well, my kind of busy!

34 years ago, on this day, I met my DH! He was just finishing up his Master's Degree and I was just starting my Master's. Little did we know, at that time, that we would marry six months later! We started out as friends. Who knew! I love you my sweet DH! Thank you so much for putting up with me!

I am just having so much fun making some new layouts to share. I hope you like them.

The first LO features a Hambly overlay. It is supposed to be a vine, but to me, it looks like a perfect wave! I backed it with blue paper so that it would look even more like water. What do you think?


WHOOSH!

The following layouts are using the new BG Lime Rickey.

This is DS just after he was born. I saw Kelly Goree's LO and thought it was so gorgeous! I just had to do one like it!


Adore

The next photo was taken at the Portland, Oregon Rose Garden. The photo was taken in June or July - and it was cold! Coming from the desert to the Pacific Northwest was always enjoyed! We had to wear our coats! Love, love, love it! The paper is Basic Grey's Lime Rickey. I saw the use of puzzle pieces on a layout in a gallery somewhere and thought they'd look cute covered with the PP. The idea of the LO isn't mine, but I so admire what the gal did.



Laugh

Next, we have the typical face of a child who was serious only for the moment the camera clicked! He usually smiled, so who knows what he was thinking. DH and I decided to document some of the typical things we heard over and over at this age. An example was: "I don't HAVE homework!" Ummm, yes he did. He just chose not to do it! How about one we've all heard - "I DID clean my room." Of course you did...(NOT). Gotta love him! Again, I used the Lime Rickey. This time, however, I decided to have the backing be in white.



Nicholasisms @ 7

Finally, we have DS with a cheeky smile! He is with his two most favorite things in the whole world - Pillow and Jeff. Yes, he named the pillow, "Pillow." I think this is Jeff #2. He loved Jeff #1 to death and I made #2 and #3 to last him until he found a girlfriend. LOL He was never without these two snugglies.



Having Fun?

Thanks for stopping by. I promise I won't take so long to blog again! I do love your visits and hope you will return!

XO,

Chris