Sunday, October 31, 2010

Really, I can be a glass half empty on certain

subjects. Especially long distance grandparenting. However, on the glass half full side. WEBCAM'G ROCKS!!!

Modern technology is such a blessing, allowing one to keep up the escapades of said LD grandparenting. The other night I had a blast with all 3 little guys. (Christopher's missing). I didn't realize I could SNAP a photo of them, till I accidently did it. Bwahahahaha!!! And now I know. So while they look adorable cute, I however, need one of those masks Jane Jetson (cartoon) used when she answered the (webcam) telephone, which was way ahead of their time
BTW, looking less than her best. However, all is well because kidlets are not as superficial and vain as me.

They were fun, funny and just outta control, and so was Grammy!
Thanks to the parents for making time to do it. Words can not express our appreciation.


Friday, October 29, 2010

Bats, witches and candy oh my...............


Must be Halloween.....BOO!

Had a blast making these simple cards with stickers. And pop dots. I LOVE pop dots.

Got them in the mail yesterday and hopefully they'll get there in time. As usual I'm johnny-on-the-spot with this stuff. Usually it sneaks up. HAH! I'm at least 4 days out. However, maybe the post office will do Sunday. Snort.

Had some help from Bo Bunny (green paper) and on the inside echo park tags. Outside Sandylion stickers.

Which reminds me, I either need to buy candy or turn my lights off Sunday. Sigh.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Just goofin around......

with my youngest, who is quite charming and fun, AND doesn't mind acting the goof.
We took a nice break at Starbucks where we enjoyed the outdoors and my friend Barb had her first mocha frappacino light. (2 points-tall). YUM!
And seriously, I see where he gets it from. LOL!!! We had a great time, and honestly, Shane surprises me by willing to hang with a couple of old ladies and have a great time doing it.
That's why my boy is my favorite youngest son!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Junking with my pal Barb

At the various antique stores in Plant City. I found some amazing cool stuff.The above camera was a bit too pricey but the one below, a Brownie, is gracing my shelf.
And this little vignette of RED kitchen things makes me happy. I'm easy what can I say.
And this.....Sadly I learned to type on one of these babies.
Sigh..........................It was a great time. Food, fun, friends.......Life is good.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Murphy's Law - my title for Flashback Friday 10.8


is totally appropriate. The challenge was to do a layout on traditions so I chose the Murphy tradition of getting together on Thanksgiving - no matter what.

And since it was more about tradition than thanksgiving - was basically an excuse to use my new Bo bunny papers bwahahaha. And some stash. The ole Creative Cafe tag - hmm....how far back is that. A prima flower-never out of style. And Noteworthy- another flash from the past. And Fancy Pants and Michaels ribbon bring it on down. OOO OOO and I used my NEW Fiskars edge punch. Yeah baby!!!! And lets not forget the JOURNALING in the half round. Took a few starts and fits to get. Did that puppy in Pages and had to flip the whole design because it was supposed to print on the LEFT side. Sigh. Its all about the process and good thing I'm good at flying by the seat of my pants. LOL! So without boring you further - the Journaling: Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is the Holiday that the Murphy family will make no matter what. It started with Art and Eunie (the parents). And has continued on through the years. The tradition is IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, WHO YOU WITH AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU WILL MAKE IT HOME FOR THANKSGIVING, AND IF YOU NEED TO BRING ANYONE WITH YOU TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, THEY ARE WELCOME TOO. And so it was.


As the parents aged, the “3 girls” continued the tradition, rotating each year. And everyone brought a dish or three. And as their children and siblings grew older they brought a dish or three as well.


UNTIL 2009 *gasp* I know. A daughter stepped up and had the holiday at HER house.

Amy, Kathy’s daughter opened her house to all and sundry. And it was a blast. Because well, her and her husband have ALL the cool toys and enough room to keep the kidlets occupied. Which totally rocks. She did break tradition by NOT cooking the turkey at her house. Which can be forgiven because a. she really doesn’t cook, and b. did I mention they had all the cool toys to keep the kidlets occupied.


We did try to vote because of the cool toys that they host it every year. They could’ve been outvoted lol!! I’m looking into that.


However, with the advent of 2009 another change was made, in that 2010 Terry will not be celebrating with us, as we lost her early this year. It makes the holidays so different and she is missed. Another change that is happening much to everyone’s dismay, is that divorces are occurring which leaves gaps and the question who is going to step up to continue this tradition. However for right here and now. The Murphy tradition continues and we will be making it as long as we can.

Friday, October 15, 2010

I got tagged from my pal Mrs. B from her

Messily Ever After Blog

Here goes:
  1. As a child, what did you want to be when you "grew up?" Are you doing it now?
I wanted to be the next Della Street - secretary for Perry Mason. I ended up being a secretary in telecommunications and then went into Project Management. NOW?? I'm retired. woo hoo!
  1. What is your favorite, quick go-to recipe on a busy evening?
Reservations at the nearest restaurant.
  1. Do you burn candles in your home? If so, what is your favorite scent?
i use scentcies (spelling) now and anything NOT flowery
  1. What was the best vacation you can remember?
sailing our boat to bimini
  1. If you have a wedding album, how often do you look at it? Where is it stored?
its on the shelf somewhere and hardly ever.
  1. What is the thing your treasure most about motherhood?
my kids grew up. more or less. lol!
  1. What is your favorite day of the week and, why?
any day. but mostly tuesday because NCIS.
  1. Are you doing anything to be more "green" or earth-friendly?
i throw everything in a recyling bin and let someone else figure out the rest.

and why did all the numbers change to 1?? I really don't know. hmm.....

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Cardinals, woodpeckers, and blue jays....

Oh my! Somewhere without even trying we have acquired bird sanctuary in our back yard. Oh it wasn't for lack of trying. I said, honey, why don't we put in a bird bath?

Honey said, it would be too messy and draw bugs. Well alrighty then Mr. Romantic.

I then said hey hon, your sisters have bird feeders, why don't we get one? (thinking sibling rivalry would do the trick).

Hon said, nope. The wildlife need to fend for themselves, its against the law to feed them. Besides it'll be messy. OOOOOkay, that was plain enough.

So we have this stately oak (see below) in our backyard. Its branches are long stretches of limbs that have housed a few family of squirrels and a half-assed tree house. Their (the squirrels) main goal, which everything needs one was to drive our dogs insane teasing them while traversing the pool cage, scrambling up the trees and sitting on the grass in front of the pool cage. I saw the wicked gleam in their eyes and of course their nanny nanny boo boo back to the dogs hung in the air.

So throughout the day as I sat on the lanai reading and trying NOT to listen to Trailer Park Boys the Movie (insert eyeroll), I saw a multitude of birds whirling and dipping and chatting back and forth. Mostly doin' a what for and protecting their territory. A couple even so bold as to come up to the screen where I was sitting and screech at me. Hmmpphh! I did have a chat with one of the woodpeckers eyeing the flashing on the house and they went back to thumping out a tattoo on the trees. Man they have some wicked tough beaks because they're a serious lot when it comes to thumpin' bark.
So all that chirping, dipping and whirling went on and my camera sat on the desk. Sigh. I've tried stalking and capturing the birds to no avail in which case I've come to the conclusion I'm not a stalker (unless its the fedex man with scrapbook kits) or capturing so I decided that I'd just take pleasure in watching. And I did for awhile. But OMG! a challenge. Not above failing because I'm such an awesome wildlife photographer sometimes there's a chance I could get lucky. So the stately old oak was perfect. Staying in one place and not moving a branch or a leaf.

Good thing I was quick. Because....
while I was waiting for the oak tree to show signs of life, whooosh.... out swoops a hawk from the other side of the yard. Naturally. NOT just any hawk. My hawk. Oh I saw him down the street on someone's wire so I'm playing hard to get. Now he's been stalking me for awhile. See we have a history. We became buds when he sat on the wire in front of our house eyeing the dogs when I walked them like he was pondering lunch. After the dogs were walked he stayed put enough to let me run back in, and out with the camera and take a few pix. (He's actually in my blog somewhere else). So alas as I have no more dogs to taunt or eye, he left for awhile.
And he came back in the most dramatic fashion. But I want you to know that these 2 pix we're caught by a steady hand and keen eye sheer dumb luck. He came out of the trees so fast I just pointed the camera and snapped. No viewfinder - no focusing.

Damn I'm good.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

I have been so out of it.........creativity wise......

I missed a couple of Flashback Fridays mostly because my paper is packed in satchels and can't lift them (my bad for bad planning) lol!!! So you'd think I'd use the opportunity to think out of the box. My poor brain was not up to it really. In the meantime.....
I put together this book. It was a no brainer as an LSS - Treasured Memories had this AS A KIT and I love the Kaiser paper, it included most ALL the embellies and it was a most awesome kit. I finished it. However I have NO IDEA what to do with it. I'm sure it'll come to me in time.







So I'll be lounging around waiting for inspiration to hit. If you have any extra toss it my way. And when DH isn't doing anything I'm gonna have him pull out my papers so I can at least fondle them bwahahahaha! Meanwhile......