Unfortunately not on everything but I have started and have made progress. It may not appear that way at first but I know by the fact that there were certain things I couldn't find and now that is no longer the case. I am of course, referring to my scrapbook room. I have been trying for months to stop doing my class stuff at the dining room table and have been unsuccessful. I haven't gotten my work table completely cleaned off yet but hope to do that this weekend. Here is a couple of pictures to show my progress. I will not be working on this tomorrow because I will be scrapping at the store with Camille part of the day then going to a memorial service for Shelly's baby grand daughter, Brooklyn who passed away last Friday.
It might even be a sinus infection. All I know is I feel crappy. I went back to bed after Steve left for work with the hopes of getting at least another hour of sleep. But you know how plans work out, I received a call from my mother-in-law needing to be rescued. So I showered, dressed and was about to leave the house when I thought to check and see if she had called back. She had, in fact twice to say she was taking care of her problem. So, once again plans changed and I decided to load the washer and run my vacuum. So far I have managed to get another couple of loads of laundry done but the sweeper still hasn't left the spot it was in yesterday. Instead I have flitted from room to room picking up things and putting them away. I really need to stick to one room and finish there by making it look like I have really accomplished something. I think I have Sarah's diagnosis, my cleaning part of my brain is bi-polar...
Cards are done, the two page layout is done and their instruction sheets for the kits are finished as well. Yippee. I sent the pictures so could be posted on the website and included the extra tool list as well. Wow, sometimes this can be a bit stressful but it is truly rewarding when I receive compliments. I often hear, how cute and easy my cards are to make as well as how appreciative the students are to have complete instructions included in their kits. This is something I understand not everyone is as conscientious as I am about this detail. I dropped the class samples off at the store, went to Fred Meyer's for some mushrooms and then came home. I have managed to clean off my dining room table finally, finished my laundry and now I am working on some closet space to put Lisa's wedding dress into. Gee...
I hadn't started my cards for next month's class as of Sunday, so I have been busy working like crazy to finish them by today. Why, you might ask, since I still have two more days left in the month? Well I like to get them done and pictures off to Bud who posts them on the Scrapbook Fever website before the newsletter goes out on the first of the month. But for some reason I had it in my mind that this was February and that I only had one day left. I was getting quite frazzled because I like to look things over for a day or two to make sure I don't have any mistakes in my class instructions before I submit them. I have had a cold since it seems like last week but it took a nasty turn on Saturday so I just didn't do anything. It wasn't until I returned from meeting an old high school friend for coffee on Sunday afternoon that I realized I was way behind. So I have been working frantically and I have them done. I also managed to redo a two page layout for another class I am doing. I absentmindedly picked paper to use on the layout and didn't notice that there wasn't enough to make kits for the class. So I had to choose another and though I liked the other paper this one turned out quite nice. I am posting pictures of the layout.
Sarah wearing the bridesmaid dress that the girls will be wearing in the wedding. The other maid of honor is in the background wearing the brown dress. Her name is Natalie, she is Lisa's best friend from college. This was not the first choice of Sarah's but because the original choice of color was a deep purple they would later discover that there was only one dress in the whole store that came in that particular color and they didn't like the dress. So subsequently they chose the wine color and then went in search of dresses they liked. They tried on three different styles and decided on this one. The picture doesn't do it justice.
After four plus hours yesterday and two plus today, Lisa has a dress! She has even chosen her bridesmaid dresses, though she did have to change her colors as the only dress available in the color she wanted she didn't like. She has picked out her tiara, her veil and the only thing left is to get her flower girls dresses. Lisa said "whew" and "Okay I am ready to do this tomorrow and get it over with". And she has only just begun...
I spent the better part of Friday designing stuff for my classes for next month and yesterday most of the day at David's Bridal with Lisa and Sarah. It started out with three dresses and worked its way to five. They only allow you to take three back with you because the changing rooms are so small. but as she tried them on and decided what she did or didn't like about them things changed. Unfortunately, three of the dresses she couldn't find anything "really" wrong with them. The gal tried to help by asking her what she did or didn't like on the dress as Lisa was trying them on and walking in them. The fifth dress got eliminated right away as she didn't like the fact that it had too much going on up on top. Another, a mermaid style, she said looked like she was wrapped in a sheet to which Sarah said that is what "she" liked about it. I really thought the dress looked stunning on her until she said that but I have to agree if you aren't comfortable don't bother getting the dress. Veils weren't doing anything for her yesterday and she may not get one who knows. She did make a decision on a tiara which is just gorgeous. It looks like she has also chosen the bridesmaids dress. It was a second choice only because the color Lisa has chosen for her wedding was not available in the first choice of dresses. Sarah was very bummed as she loved the dress and I have to agree it looked very good on her. We are meeting again today back at the store with Natalie, Lisa's best friend and other maid of honor. Hopefully Natalie can help Lisa make up her mind. The sale going on at the store ends tomorrow so we hope to have a decision today. It could save Lisa as much as three hundred dollars on her dress if she does. Unfortunately I didn't take my camera with me because I assumed they wouldn't allow you to take pictures but someone was doing just that yesterday so I am going back armed with my camera.
Lisa needs to be thankful for her sister. Sarah the child who likes to have things done and on to the next task has given Lisa the needed push to get working on her wedding. We have initial quotes on tables, chairs, linens, dance floor and tent. Wow. Willamette Vineyards has an opening on her date but I think it might be out of her range. We are still trying to figure out if an outside wedding is what she wants. She already has come up with ideas for flowers for the bridal party and who she would like to ask to marry them. We, Sarah and I, are meeting her on Saturday at David's bridal. I better take my deep breath now...
Some women can be just so lucky. I had never included myself as one of those because I had never really given it much thought. I found myself thinking just that this afternoon after having had lunch with Angie and Camille that I was one of those women. Last weekend Camille and I briefly chatted about getting together for lunch but never set a date. We mentioned Wednesday and though I had nail appointment I figured we could squeeze it in. So I called this morning and sure enough they were all for it. Yes, it was last minute but real friends don't mind and apparently that is what I have. So yes, I am lucky. 1 o'clock lunch times work even better at the Noodle as the lunch rush is almost over. We chatted mostly about nothing, had a very good lunch and just relaxed. Sure it was over quick but I had a nice time with some very special ladies.
I don't mean this is good luck. He finally called me back around nine-thirty last night. His plane was delayed by two hours, when he got to his hotel it turned out not to be a hotel but an apartment complex where Nvidia rents an apartment for their traveling employees who have extended stays in town. He said there was no shelter so while waiting to get the key for his room he got soaked. He hadn't eaten any dinner and so therefore he was also a little crabby but who could blame him. Who would have guessed that while we have sunny but very cold weather California is having cold and rainy weather. I hope that the remainder of his trip goes much better for him.
Every time I have a problem with my computer or internet connection I call for Steve and his response is to fix the problem. Well when he isn't here he can't do that and since about 2:45 this afternoon I had no modem. So, I thought that's okay I have other things to do and so I will do them till I talk to Steve later in the evening. Feeling a little frustrated because I couldn't reach him and then when I did he was real short on the phone I decided to take matters into my own hands. I walked downstairs and unplugged any and all wires till the modem did a recycle. Da..da..da!! It is now working and I am able to finish my blog entry for today and send email that I said I would get out today. I have to admit it is very easy to get into the mode of letting someone else do the hard stuff but I really do need to not rely on him so much. No doubt my stuff can probably get on his nerves and I need to be more aware of that.
The weather man says it is going to be very cold and clear which Steve is really bummed about. Why you ask? While there will be great flying weather here he will be in California for some training for work. Because he leaves straight from work tomorrow afternoon he won't be able to fly to work as he needs to drive to the airport to catch his flight to San Jose. It will be quiet around here. Though I complain about his "talk" radio, I do miss not having him around. It won't be forever as he returns late Thursday.
I spent the day yesterday with some of my friends scrapping at a local scrapbook store. Some of us got more accomplished than others. We hadn't gotten together since November so we were catching up by talking and laughing. Lisa and Natalie stopped by to check out Sarah and Janet's designs for "save the date" magnets. We gave Lisa a bad time about not picking a wedding date yet. Sarah told her "Janet and I need to start working on your wedding announcements and stuff so pick a date!" I really think Lisa enjoys prolonging this so as to drive her little sister crazy. Sarah even talked to Buck about a date and it looks like she may have succeeded, Lisa called her later and said "How does 8-8-08 sound?" Though Lisa has very little time to do a good many things and may have even locked herself out of a lot of venues at least we may have a date!
I don't mean lots of money, like in extremely wealthy just enough to help my kids when they are in a bind. Poor Sarah's car (she calls her Bessie) would not run at all for her when she got out of work. She was in tears when she called me. She wanted to get it started then drive it off a cliff. Or she says she wouldn't care if someone stole it because she is at the end of her rope. I am guessing it was not such a wonderful day at work. But then again Sarah thinks that putting gas in the car should just make it run forever. Despite Steve's continued efforts to make his girls understand that cars need care too, they don't get it. Thank goodness both Nate and Buck try to see to it that their cars get their oil changed and some maintenance. Well, Nate showed Sarah how to drive his car and apparently she only stalled it once. Good for her, but I don't know if it is for Nate...
ETA: The picture is of happier times with Bessie...
I have finally finished with the instructions for my valentine accordion book class. Lots of pieces to cut which makes me almost want to do a good portion of it to help speed along the class. This is the first time I have attempted something so detailed and I am very pleased with how it turned out. There are plenty of die cuts, brads and ribbon to embellish the book. I did quite a bit of chalking too which added just the right touch though it isn't necessary for this to still turn out quite cute. Here is the challenge for me, how do I top this? I have to get my cards made for next month as I already have my date set. I need to think of what other class I could do. The mind is getting in gear...
ETA: These pictures are of the front cover of the book and two of the inside pages. The class is on the 28th.
You would think once the holidays were over things would settle into a normal place. But no, I get a call from Steve last Friday saying that his conceal carry is going to expire would I please find out if he needs an appointment to renew. Just add that to the several dozen other things I am trying to do, sure why not? Well by the time I called on Friday the office was closed so I had to wait till today and I would have forgotten if he hadn't called and reminded me. So along with mailing the bills off, dropping in to check on sign ups for my classes, going to the grocery store, the bookstore, the pharmacy and working on my scrapbook room I get one more thing to do. Whee.. My living room is now back to normal and all signs of Christmas are gone. Makes me kind of sad, as you work so hard to get ready for that time of the year and it goes by so fast. I had spent the week after Christmas designing my cards and my accordion book for my classes but I don't have any one signed up yet. I don't know if it is the after-holiday let down or the fact that Shelly had rearranged the store and moved all the class examples from the front of the store to a small area where there isn't a lot of traffic. They were moved back to the front of the store by the door last Thursday. I hadn't seen any changes till today when a couple of ladies requested if I could teach my accordion class during the daytime. I have checked my schedule and now all I have to do is call her back and say yes. I probably should let Jessica know that I will be doing this. This is a picture of my work area when I was designing my stuff. I was playing with my camera when I took this shot.
It has been that way since Friday night. The thing is I don't feel that bad but I still have the fever and chills so I am playing it low key. Lisa sent me a text yesterday asking what we were doing and if we were interested in going to the wine festival at the fairgrounds. Steve was pretty busy with things he was doing around here and I wasn't feeling that hot so we had to pass. Sarah stopped by for a visit this afternoon, brought me a coffee and chatted with us for a couple of hours. Then she headed for home with a couple of movies Steve and I had borrowed from her "video library". We still have three or four more that Steve borrowed that he has to watch. The weather person didn't get it right today. Steve had signed up for an Angel Flight mission for today. He was to fly "Pedro" down to Klamath Falls to pick up a young fellow so he could return to school but the fog never lifted here enough for him to fly down there. It is supposed to rain tomorrow then be dry for the remainder of the week. We shall see...
I had lunch with these pretty girls, their sweeties and Tami (Julie's mom) today at the Noodle. Nate and Nathan sat at the far end of the table doing the guy thing, eating and talking mostly about gaming, food and sisters. Julie chatted about going to meet her sister-in-law Bethany's boyfriend tonight. We talked about when she would be up here again to visit and that we would be scrapping the next time. Her hair cut is real cute, very flattering but unfortunately I forgot to take my camera with me. So the picture I chose to post is an old one taken in November of 2006. Geez...
ETA: Take note of the matching shirts, these two started cracking up when they realized they were both wearing the same shirt. "Look we're twins!"
In my attempts to clean my scrapbook room I ran across some pictures of Sarah and Lisa when we first moved here. Wow, so much time has passed and yet looking at those pictures it seemed like just yesterday. I have to face facts it isn't yesterday and my little girl will be twenty-one this year! And that isn't the only big thing happening this year; Lisa, will be turning 30 and getting married (when they set a date) and Steve's mom will be 70. I should be planning parties but I have no idea where to start. I guess Sarah's will be first as her birthday is in June. Then I will just have to see what Lisa wants to do. I am thinking a big family camping trip for a few days. I better check with Steve and then go from there. Yippee..
ETA: This picture was taken in November of 2003 just before the "Great Gnome Caper" was finished. The night before the lawn gnomes were delivered to Craig and Lisa's.
I normally don't do laundry on the weekends. By the time Steve and I get our showers done on the weekends it is usually around eleven and that is too late to start laundry day which usually takes most of the day. On weekdays once he has left for work I can get in the shower and have my first load in the washer by nine. Which makes the laundry portion of my day end about 4PM if I don't leave the house for any errands. Or it takes two days to do the laundry and that is not my preference. And because we went to Sarah's for a short while yesterday the laundry didn't get started till late afternoon, thus two days of laundry. yuck...
The tree comes down tomorrow. We keep our tree up till the sixth and seeing how that is tomorrow I will be taking down the decorations and lights and packing them up for next year. It seems like Christmas came and went very quickly this year. We enjoyed our time with the girls and with Steve's family. It would have been nice if we could have financially been able to make a trip to see my folks but as Steve had just returned to work the timing was all wrong. And then the weather took a nasty turn at the same time so even if I had the money there would have been no driving to California for us. The picture is of the ornament Sarah gave me last Christmas. It is pretty heavy and so when I hung it I had to make sure there was a supporting branch underneath or it would have just fallen off the tree. As I write this Steve is downstairs watching the second of the Lord of the Rings movies with Graham and Ella. I should be doing laundry but I will just have to do that tomorrow. Lisa was here most of the afternoon working on a gift for Buck. His birthday is next month on the 28th and she is making a small scrapbook of their trip to North Carolina and the NASCAR event.
The weatherman says this system is going to be a big one. They are expecting wind and rain from the San Francisco bay area to the Washington border. It was spotty rain and wind till about 3PM but now it is coming down in buckets and really windy. So far no power outages, knock on wood. I have the fireplace all loaded up with firewood in the event we need to start a fire. And if worse comes to worse we have our generator. This is only supposed to last till about 10PM this evening but the weather guy hasn't exactly been spot on lately.
Look, look!! The last time I scrapped at Scrapbook Fever I ran across one of the latest Cricut cartridges. I had several punch cards that had been languishing in my card case so I used them to purchase it for fifteen dollars! I just love those double punch days. Great bunch of stuff on this cartridge and I will bring it with me the next time we get together. Sorry the picture isn't that great I was tired last night when I took the picture. I am still trying to catch up on my sleep from the holidays. Our niece Ella (11) and nephew Graham (13) came over last night and watched the first half of the movie "Lord of the Rings; The Fellowship of the Ring" with Steve. They have each read all of the books several times but had not seen any of the movies. It can be difficult to even watch them when they are televised as their parents do not have a television in their home, by choice. When ever I mention this to someone I know they get a shocked expression on their faces and ask why. I used wonder myself but seeing how well they read and how well read these kids are it appears to be a wise decision. This isn't something everyone can do but it definitely fosters communication with your children and doesn't allow you to relinquish your role as parent to the television.
I totally forgot to mention that I helped Sarah move yesterday. Actually because of my bad knee I only walked up and down two flights of stairs both coming and going to the old and new apartments. I was given the job of taping up boxes at the old apartment and unpacking at the new one. Nate was getting a U-Haul trailer last night and they were going to be moving the big stuff today with the help of a couple of his co-workers and his cousin. I sent a text to Sarah to find out how it was going and the response was "Ugh...". Both Sarah and I managed to hurt ourselves in the process. She while moving some really big boxes that could have waited for her Dad to move. And me slipping off the running board on the Excursion and wrenching my good knee. So just call me gimpy...
We managed to stay up till midnight! That in itself can be quite a feat. My dear mother-in-law Norma invited Steve and I over for dinner. Yum... Then Raymond and his family came over bringing freshly made chocolate chip cookies and champagne to ring in the new year. The beverage was for the adults and cookies for Ray's kids mostly. While the adults talked local and state politics the kids watched the latest version of "Charlotte's Web". We ended the evening about ten-thirty. We watched a little television, mostly the New Year's festivities then called it a night. The picture is of the ornament Sarah gave me for Christmas this year.
