Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend is here. The "end of summer". We never do anything for LD. School starts in mid-august - so we are already in full-school schedule. Hubby usually always works either LD weekend or Labor Day (this time he's actually off on Monday). I hope those of you that are traveling have a wonderful and safe time.

It was another exciting day for me. I was asked to join the Piggy Tales Design Team. 14 other ladies received the news today. I can't wait to get to work. Check out their products. Each line is named after a different fairy tale character.

Again, have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. I'm looking forward to September because it's another month closer to cooler weather in Louisiana.

Update on the Cat Story

For those that are interested in the cat and her kittens. Elizabeth, the mom, has been adopted by her foster mother. The "dad" came home and fell in love with her so Elizabeth is now "his" cat. The kittens have been weaned and are in a different foster home, and will soon be available for adoption at River Cities Cat Shelter. We thought they would be coming back here for a week or so, but another home became available. I was glad, because I didn't want the heartache of having to say goodbye to the little cuties again.

It's been a WONDERFUL Monday

Besides having a good mail day (thanks to a wonderful friend who really, really RAK'd me BIG TIME) - I was also asked to join the Self-Addressed Kit Club. I've been a member of Self-Addressed since it started and LOVE THIS CLUB! It's basically a card-kit club, but it's not limited to cards. Anyway, I'm so excited because I LOVE SELF-ADDRESSED!

Oh No! I've been TAGGED

Oh No! Oh Yes! I've been tagged - thanks to Tami!

Okay - so here are my answers:

If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Somewhere nestled in a hilly wooded area in the mountains - but of course - not to far from a major city with a scrapbook store.

What's your favorite article of clothing? jeans and t-shirt

Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? nice smile

What's the last CD that you bought? "Create 7" by Winds of Fire

Where's your favorite place to be? at the beach

Where's your least favorite place to be? lost

What's your favorite place to be massaged? at the local massage place... okay, okay - you meant "where on me??" - ok, my shoulders.

Strong in mind or strong in body? strong in mind

What time do you wake in the morning? around 7:30

What's your favorite kitchen appliance? oven (you didn't ask which one I used the most)

What makes you really angry? lying and disobedience

If you could play any instrument, what would it be? harp

Favorite color? periwinkle blue

Which do you prefer, sports car or SUV? to be practical - SUV - but for play - the sports car!

Do you believe in afterlife? yes

Favorite children's book? The Pokey Little Puppy

What is your favorite season? spring

What's your least favorite household chore? cleaning potties

If you could have one super power, what would it be? to fly

If you have a tattoo, what is it? --nuthing here--

Can you juggle? not really, why?

The one person from your past you wish you could go back and talk to? gee - never thought about it. Maybe my grandma.

What's your favorite day? saturday

What's in the trunk of your car? jumper cables and a flat rate priority shipping box (just in case)

Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? sushi (have to watch the cholesterol)

okay - NEXT!
I'm tagging Donna and Sonda!

35 Days - The Cat Story

If you've read my blog, you know that five weeks ago we were blessed with the presence of a mother cat and her three babies. (you can read the story HERE.) River Cities cat shelter is in the process of moving to a new building - as soon as the construction is complete, and pretty much would not take any more cats until then. So we waited. We set up a nursery for mom and babies in our laundry room. Despite my cat allergies, I played with them and loved them daily - as did the rest of the family. What we thought would be 3 weeks turned into five weeks exactly - thirty-five days. I finally contacted PAWS and they found another lady who was willing to keep them until the new facility was ready. I just wanted to share a few pics of the little darlings - now that they are gone and I once again experience "empty nest" syndrome for the second time this summer.



This is Jack, who I found out at the vet is really Jackie. She opened her eyes first.


This is Willie (Wilamina b/c she's a girl, too!) She opened her eyes 2nd (I'm using the order of opening eyes as if it were birth order).



And then there is my precious Pearl. Pearl stole my heart. I pray she eventually goes to a wonderful home (and the rest of them, too). (That is the tough part, letting them go and not knowing how they will end up!)I tied jute to a couple of toy balls so they would have a play center. I could hear the bell jingle from the living room.

Last photo is Elizabeth. The vet says she's about 2 years old. Also that she is the friendliest tortoise colored cat (they are supposed to not be the nicest cat). She was a wonderful mom and a very nice house guest. She was only vocal when we entered the room, and seemed VERY appreciative of the nice place provided for her and her babies.




I cried all the way home from the vet's office, where I met the new caregiver. It was a bit traumatic for the babies, but they seem to be adjusting to their new temporary home

Uhu and Chipboard

I just tried my UHU Creative Scrapbookers Pen. I used it to adhere chipboard letters down to the cover of my photo keeper album. WORKS GREAT! What I really like about this is that the applicator tip is angled, the glue doesn't wrinkle paper, and the applicator doesn't clog! And it gives great hold. Here's pic of my album (yeah - I finally have a place to put those wonderful cards people have made me!).

The album is from Caputo's Kits, the papers are Flair's new Autumn Splendor, and the chipboard is a framedango from Everlasting Keepsakes - new size (smaller for cards!).

Thank you, Wendy!!

My friend, Wendy "K" called me last week from a scrapbook store in Jackson to tell me about a great find on buttons! Thanks, Wendy - for thinking of me. I used these Foofala buttons last night on this page. They are great! Oh, and the papers are new CHA Summer release from Piggy Tales.

Cape Town (Scenic Route)

I received a wonderful package of goodies from Scenic Route yesterday (see previous blog) and made my first layout with the Cape Town collection today. This is my son. Love this collection!

Scenic Route is in DA HOUSE!

Wholey Schmoley Hole-puncher!! I just got a package of goodies from Scenic Route! It's their CHA SUMMER Releases: Hampton and Cape Town papers, chipboard and alpha stickers! This schtuff rawks! These goodies were surprises sent by Scenic Route for participation in the Pub Calls Gallery Challenge last month. I'll post some creations made with this as soon as I can!

Mrs. Betty's and Croppers Island

What? Who is Mrs. Betty and where is Cropper's Island - you ask? Whoever you want her to be and where ever you are! These are two AWESOME tee shirt designs that are the co-production of my LSS owner and one of her designers. These shirts were revealed for the first time July 15 at the Scrapbook Celebration convention in our city. They were a hit and some of the sizes sold out the first day. Mrs. Betty's is a teal with "Mrs. Betty" in red. Cropper's Island is brown with a blue tropical beach and cute flower. (**Click on the pics to see larger)



Here are the shirts together. (Maraya, the store owner, me in the Mrs. Betty tee, and Emery the graphic designer).
















Could these shirts BE any more fun!!?? Terri, Emery and Maraya are modeling Cropper's Island tees (see, you just can't help but have fun in these tees). I'd LOVE to hear your feedback on these. They just MAY pop up at a convention near you - so please - feedback is appreciated! (pssstt.. if you leave lots of raving comments - I may can persuade her to let me rak one!)





Oh - and for those that want one NOW - you'll have to contact The Scrap Shack. Tell her where you saw them so she'll know the power of the Peas really does work! New designs are coming.... I'll show pics as soon as they are ready!

Happy Friday

Happy Friday! Yesterday was my daughter's last day of swimming lessons. She loves the water but has no interest in getting her face wet. OH WELL! Maybe next year.



Today was a perfectly overcast sky. A nice layer of clouds to insulate us a tad from the heat, which also makes for perfect photo shoots in mid day. I'm off to my LSS to crop until midnight! Gotta get those swimming photos done!

Do You UHU?

Do you UHU? I've joined Maria Filosa in posting some projects that I make using UHU. Check back soon for my review. Click her website if you'd like to UHU, too!

I have a little secret. I know, don't you hate it when people say "I have something to share but can't tell you right now". So it's my turn to do it.

CHA! Jennifer Ellefson shared some pics of the Everlasting Keepsakes booth with those of us that didn't go to CHA in Chicago, including a photo of Faith and Darien Courtney, owners of the company.

Meanwhile, I can't wait to try UHU on the Everlasting Keepsakes chipboard!

*Click on the photos to enlarge them*

The last box is heading out to Chicago (SNEAK PEEK)

I'm shipping my last box of creations for CHA today! Yeah. That means I can clean off my dining room table (from convention class supplies), clean up my scraproom (we won't talk about that!) and then clean the house.

The last box of creations is for the Everlasting Keepsakes booth (#1916). Stop by and visit if you are there and take a peek at some of their new products. Here are a few of the pages I made for the booth. The first one shows the NEW Chinese words chipboard! (Scan doesn't show the images as well!)

The next one show the tall letters (the "D" in dream). These are also NEW!

Meanwhile - back to cleaning up. THat should keep my mind off all the fun my friends are having at the CHA Summer Convention!! Wish I were there. Be sure to stop by the 2Peas Pub saturday - there is a party for the stay-at-homes!

If I'm a dog person...then

....why are there four cats living in my house?

Last weekend I heard a neighborhood dachshund barking on our street. I "know" the bark of a dachshund because I've had them all my life. I opened the window and told it to "go home" (2 blocks over) and it did. The next morning it was back. This time I decided to go out and see why it was coming to our street. Very odd behavior. Well, there was another dog and it seemed they were barking at a cat. The cat was in the street in front of our house. I told the dogs to "go home" (and they did). I went to the cat to see if it had been hit by a car, bitten,etc... It was "acting a bit weird" (which to me means - it didn't run away when I approached it). Other than it looked starved - I didn't notice anything - but I had huge compassion and took it a chicken breast and put it by the mailbox. I know, I know - you don't feed a cat - but I decided I'd live with the consequences.

The next morning my hubby was off work, and we heard her. He said "Your cat is calling you". At least the dogs weren't out there. It sat outside the front door and cried that mornng. We went to a movie before noon, and hubby got home first. The cat was in the garage with 3 kittens. I left the garage door up 6 inches in case the post man needed to leave a box. Well, I got a delivery - but not a package. We made a bed in our dog's pet carrier and gave her food and water. We checked on her periodically and left the garage door cracked for her at night so she could roam. The next day I came home from an errand and there was only 1 kitten in the box. I freaked. I called the shelter (who was full anyway) and she said the mother may have abandoned it - or was moving them. I have to admit- the garage was hot - we live in the south. She began to tell me how to care for a newborn kitten and my jaw dropped. I told her "I will FIND that momma". So I went outside and called her - well, not being my cat I didn't know her name or how to call her - but "here kitty, kitty" seemed to work. She came from the shrubs. I immediately picked her up and put her in the pet crate with the kitty and told her to feed it. I had no idea how long it had been abandoned or if it even was. I then had my son to carefully seek out the babies in the bushes - which he did. We put them back in and I locked her in. I discussed this with the shelter and we all agreed to hold them hostage in my laundry room for their well-being.

now - you must realize - I am a dog person - and I live with a dachshund. So having 4 cats in my laundry room (oh, and I'm allergic to cats - achoooo!) is strange. ANyhoo - it's been almost 1 week and miss little stray cat and her babies are doing well. She's gained alot of weight and is very friendly. The cat shelter has a waiting list which we are on, but the good news is that they will be moving to a new location in 3 or 2 weeks and they think they will have room. I know we will miss "fun kitten play time" b/c they will just be getting around by them, but I will know they are well cared for and will hopefully go to a good home.

Meanwhile - I keep having to apologize to my dachshund for the strange noises in the laundry room and why mom disappears behind the door for short cat visits. Anyhoo - if you saw my earlier post about the baby birds and "empty nest" syndrome - I guess this is my fix for that. I'll get some pics later. Want one? Want them all? I'll throw in the pet carrier, cat food, and kitty litter for free.

Have you seen these?

Have you seen the Simply Ribbon Tailored Tins from Paper Salon? How about the Oodles of Doodles??? Or the Hemlines? These are just three of the 11 new Tailored Tins coming out at CHA this summer! Take a peek HERE!

If you can view my side bar gallery - I used the Simply Ribbon stamps on "My Girl" for the flower stems. Check out the 2 peas gallery for Paper Salon CHA Sneak Peeks!

More on Aqua Dog

Okay - I can't seem to get any more pics on the other post for my amazing aqua dog - so here she is in all her glory - acrobatically dancing with the stream of water.

More Paper Salon Peeks

Just a few links to wet your whistle:

Tribeca

Dazzle

and a couple of tins:

Some of the New Tailored Tins!

Summer Fun

Are you looking for more Paper Salon sneak peeks? Well, it will be later today. The first peeks are in the previous blog. How about some entertainment while you wait?

My kids went walking down to their grandpa's sunflower garden. Yes, I said sunflower garden. When grandpa does something, he does it big. Not one but two very, very, very long rows of sunflowers. Why?It's for the birds. Really. So, we all went to see the sunflowers up close and personal, but there was a problem. He had just tilled the dirt around the rows Dark, rich, yummy garden dirt and it had rained. Yes - that means mud. Squishy, gooshy mud. Me and Arielle opted to go barefoot, but Daniel borrowed a pair of Grannies shoes. So off we went.















Now I have to tell you about Jasmine. Jazzy isn't a typical dog. Jazzy LOVES the water, is known to have voluntarily jumped into Arielle's kiddie pool, and drinks from the faucet. She LIKES you to squirt her with the super squirt gun, and in these pics, she's jumping up and biting the water spout from the water hose. Meet Jazzy - the amazing aqua dog.

(okay - I have more pics to upload but blogger isn't cooperating. I'll try again later)

I've got another Sneak Peek!!

It's time for another sneak peek! The girls at Paper Salon have been given the greenlight! Check back here or check out A Peek Into Yesterday or Lifetime Moments for more images! Here's a couple: The first is a little bit of "Dazzle" along with some - should I tell ya?.. okay okay - holiday Tailored tins!!!

Next we have some Tribeca with a splash of more tailored tins.... this time the flavor is flourishes. Yumm!!!!

Happy Birthday, America!

Have a wonderful holiday and remember to be thankful for our freedom.