Yesterday Morning

Around 5:30 AM

About 9 AM - car froze shut - stayed home

A Snowy Breakfast for the Birds

A bit of fun with You Tube Photo slide show

You Tube Crafter

For anyone looking for a You Tube Channel with GREAT crafting Tutorials you should check out Amy's channel and she is having a wonderful give-a-way.

From My Husbands Camera Lens

I decided to see what Scott has been photographing... me and birds!

He always catches me when I am doing something like putting groceries away...

Or when we are walking...

It was SO COLD last weekend !

We have 3 suet cakes out for the birds and have been keeping 2 feeders full of sunflower seeds as well. It's just been so cold the past few weeks and we so enjoy watching the birds. Here are a few that Scott captured with his camera...

They are such a delight to watch!

What a WEEK!

Oh boy has this been "one of those WEEKS".  I'm still recovering from the crud I've had since last week when I went to the Doctor for an antibiotic. I am feeling better but I still have a lot of not so nice drainage going on and I'm quite sick of that.

Then on Wednesday I wrenched my knee really bad during the truck unloading process. I just lifted a box wrong and  my right knee just went out. It hurt so bad I saw stars. By the time I completed my 6 hour shift and got home it was swollen pretty good. I got in the recliner with an ice pack on my knee and stayed there until the fellas got home. I told Scott he was going to have to make food appear as I wasn't cooking and did not want to go anywhere. He went to Captain D's for a fish and chicken plate for each of us; it was actually pretty good for a change. The last time we went it all had  a ton of breading  on it and tasted of old oil.

 On the way home on Wednesday my car acted a little funny but I thought it was just the road and wind. And just let it slip to the back of my mind.

Thursday I rubbed my knee with Ben Gay  and then  wrapped it up with an Ace bandage. I also took a pain reliever and went on into work - worked 5 1/2 hours and came home. Then last night we decided to go to Nicks House of Pizza for dinner but I wasn't up to driving so Scott drove my car. We had an absolutely AWESOME meal - as always and then drove home. Scott noticed the car wasn't acting right and listened close and said it felt and sounded like I had a caliper hanging up. When we got home he checked the tires and the right rear passenger side tire was REAL hot. So... this morning I drove the old Ford truck to work and then once I got home I drove slowly and carefully to the garage with my car. Half way there the check tire pressure alert came on and I just kept going. Arrived safely at the garage and have left the car there for the weekend as it will be Monday before they can get the parts in to fix it. OUCH! Going to be a little over $500! It is always something.

YEAH IT IS THE WEEKEND!!!!

Wonderful Little Moments

A handmade card and journal made by an on-line friend - Thank you Terrie!

Mr. Tesla catching a nap beside be at my computer.

My wonderful Hubby (Scott) installed our Goodwill find in our bonus room. It may need a new ballast as it goes off once it's been on awhile but Scott says that is an easy fix. The light cost us about $7.

Crocheting Trim

Today I decided to create a trim for a project I am going to be working on and this is what I came up with...

I've had some folks ask for the pattern so I took the time to write it down in case I ever want to make it again. I really don't mind people using the pattern below but it would be nice if I was given the credit if you use it. I just came up with this on my own as I went along.... here is the pattern...

TRIPLE CROCHET PICOT SHELL TRIM
By Rebecca McAuley

Create a chain the length of trim you desire
Turn
Single crochet across chain
ch 3, turn
Make 4 Triple Crochets in same stitch as Chain 3
*** Skip 3 single crochet stitches
Single crochet in next stitch
Chain 3
Make 4 Triple Crochets in same stitch**
Repeat ** across to end
At end turn
***Chain 3, Picot (which is another chain 3 and a slip stitch in first chain), chain 3
Single crochet in chain 3 space of shells in previous row.***
Repeat*** across to the end and tie off.

Saturday Walk Along the River

Scott and I decided to take a nice walk along the river today to help loosen things up in our chest; so we bundled up really well and headed out. It sure was nippy when we were walking down to the main walkway as there are no trees from where we parked so we were out in the open with a stiff cold breeze chilling us to the bones. BUT things improved once we got down to the river - still chilly but not blasting cold.

Mocking Bird - all puffed up trying to get warm in the sunshine

Doggies LOVE this walk too!

A note from Mother Nature... "Find Balance in your life"

Green "stink bug" stuck on it's back... I flipped it over but it still didn't move.

City of Columbia, SC across the river - water is HIGH and looks like chocolate milk. Bridge in the foreground was the location of a horrible event 3 nights ago. AN SUV with a man and a woman plunged off the bridge and they both drowned.

Inquisitive duck

Some type of water fowl - must research to learn more - it kept diving and diving into that cold water.

CRUD

Ok... Sinusitis STINKS! URI - Sinusitis  and ETD (eustachian tube dysfunction) REALLY STINKS! I went back to work yesterday and was so glad to get back home. I'm going into work this morning as it is a 4 hour shift and I think thats manageable but aw man my head feels HEAVY! The Dr gave me a shot of Kenalog to open my sinuses and eustachian tubes so my balance wouldn't be so out of whack or there was no way I would have worked yesterday. And a prescription for Ceftin; an antibiotic.

Scott returned to the Dr yesterday for a second round of antibiotics.... I sure hope I don't have to return myself. And so far Greg has not shown symptoms... got my fingers crossed on that one as he is currently without Health Insurance but we need to get him signed up for some ASAP!

Well time to get ready I hope everyone has a wonderful morning and if I don't come back on here today a GREAT weekend!

Cat a Day

I'm starting a new art series to encourage my creative side; I was inspired by Cre8tiveCre8tions by Andrea Gomoll.    

Here is my first page...

Book Page A Day Series - Cat #1

Mine will be a "Cat a day" and at the end of the year I will put them all back into some form of book.

I'm going to the Doctor at 11 as I am not feeling any better and will need a doctor's excuse to have missed this many days from work.

WELL.....

I got the dining room table clear...

I LOVE our HUGE table! I only wish we were able to share meals on it more often with family. Ah well... everyone is so busy with their own lives. The table scarf was from Uncle Jesse's house and I love the size of it; perfect for the center of my table. The candle holder is one of the first things my sister, Robin made for me when she started throwing pottery. She's come a LONG way since then; check out her Etsy shop...  Clay Baby Pottery

I stayed home from work this morning. I was just feeling so ill and am glad that I stayed home and went back to bed. I've done hardly a thing all day... feeling quite trifling but my body just doesn't want to move like it  normally does. So I'm listening... for a change.

I hope you all are doing well today and that illness is staying away from your homes.

Wrapping up this Saturday

It has rained most of the day today so we stayed pretty close to home except for a few hours in the mid-morning. There was a slight break in the rain so we pulled the battery out of Greg's truck and went to Walmart to buy him a replacement. As we were leaving we drove by the door for the Vision Center and saw that they take "walk-in's" for eye exams so we returned home, installed the battery in Greg's truck and told him to get ready to go back over to Walmart with us so he could get his eyes examined and so that he could get some glasses ordered. He broke his glasses completely on his return trip from Maryland the other night and his BCG (Navy issue) glasses he had broke awhile ago on the bridge , I did my best to repair them with E6000 glue but Lord only knows how long that repair will last. His new glasses should be in by next Saturday. Here's me with my  fingers crossed my repair holds until then as Greg is nearly blind for distance without his glasses. MERRY CHRISTMAS GREG!

My crafting has really got out of hand once more and I have begun cleaning up in my hobby room to try to get back in there to craft and off the dining room table once again.

My work table in my hobby room - I have started putting away all the Christmas related items and organizing the things I got for Christmas.

I want all hobby stuff back in my room before Monday morning and this table all clear for EATING!

Using Scraps

I decided to make some cards with the album scraps before I clear the table off for my next project. So far I've only made on but have plans for some more. Here is the one I made yesterday while I was waiting for Greg to get home...

I have not done anything to the inside yet but will probably just stamp a sentiment and then create a box envelope for it as it is quite dimensional. I really like how it turned out.

Project Finished and Son's Trip North

First I want to apologize for not updating this blog this week but you will soon understand. Lets start with the good stuff first... I FINISHED THE ALBUM!

This album is made out of recycled cardboard that I brought home from work. It's  in with the packages of white card stock when it comes in and I hated the idea of  just pitching  it into the cardboard bin. It was a lot of fun to create and I almost hated to send it to the gal having the Contest... but I did yesterday. So it is now on it's way to Australia. Here is what the rest of the album looked like and I will post the video I made about it as well for anyone that wants to watch it.

Now onto the trip North for Greg and the total return trip fiasco. Well he got up there very late the night he left or should I say VERY early the next day. Then he had a GREAT time with the friends he was staying with and then the headaches began. His train was canceled due to trains being snowed in; he tried EVERY day Monday through Wednesday to get on a train but they were all getting canceled. Then yesterday he finally boarded a train that got him into Washington D.C. 1 hour AFTER the train to Columbia had left. So then they got him lined up for a train to Florence, SC and were to Taxi him to Columbia from there... that got delayed. Well we went on to bed and I text him on his dying phone (yep - left his charging cable at his friends place in Maryland)when I got up and he said he had reached Florence at 3AM... it is now nearly 7 AM and it is only an hour and a half drive to Florence from here.... I tried to call him and it went straight to voice mail... phone must be dead. UGH! If I had left at 3 AM we would be BACK here all ready! CRAZY! Here's hoping he is nearly here by now. OH... did I mention he has also broke his glasses? This too... SHALL PASS!

Current Project that has taken over....

I got the dinning room table cleared off from Christmas and then started a major project that has taken over nearly the entire surface once more. I'm nearing completion and will be sharing pictures of the completed album soon. This album is made out of recycled cardboard, fabric, lace and paper.I really love how it is turning out and I am hoping the recipient will as well.

I need to make a few more tags and some photo mats and then sign it and get it in the mail to Australia. This is for a contest thats going on on You Tube and the gal has an amazing prize package.



This is how it looks so far...

RIP

My brother and his wife have lost their baby. May he rest in peace and they find comfort in each other and the children they all ready have.

Greg's Adventure and more

Greg (son) is off on an adventure delivering a car to Maryland today and we are hoping and praying for his safety as he drives North. It's an 8 hour drive ending with some wintery conditions that we aren't used to so any positive thoughts or prayers would be greatly appreciated.  Here is the car Greg will be driving North today... perhaps he will be safe simply because all the people will take pitty on the poor man in the pink bug...

My brother, Charles and his wife, Alina went to the hospital last night in pre-term labor and it wasn't looking good at all. Alina was getting IV fluids and they were trying to manage  her pain but were having trouble getting the labor to stop. The doctors were extremely concerned about Alina's condition and at 21 weeks the little guy will not survive if born. So very sad for them. More of that positive energy and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

There is a cold wintery wind blowing against the house making me wish I could just stay home. Be safe and warm everyone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I just wanted to tell everyone .. HAPPY NEW YEAR! I sincerely hope that 2014 brings us all good health and many joyous moments!

My Final project of 2013 - a wreath for my Mother-in-law.