THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO.................

After the long winter I think most everyone is ready to Think Spring!  The above card is one  that I made in 2010 and sent to someone as I no longer have it in my stash.  The daisy is just about my favorite flower...I love the wild oxeye daisies that bloom early here.  I like going through my online card albums to see what I have made in the past...interesting, and humbling,  to check out some of the first cards I made when getting started in this hobby.

Below is a photo of where I make my cards and  it is also used to do paper work and pay bills. It is in a corner of the office, computer room, sewing room, etc.  I am crammed in here and need to have a cleaning day!

   



 



 

Here are a few more photos of things I am looking forward to. Clicking on pictures should enlarge them.

 

 Clematis' Ville de Lyon  and purple Polish Spirit

 Daylilies with Verbena Bonariensis, Feverfew and Liatris

 Daylilies with annual Larkspur





Peony Sorbet



 

The physical therapist is coming after lunch so guess I should get up and get around.  This will be the last day for Home Health therapy but think outpatient therapy at the hospital may be in the works. Leon is slowly getting better but some more therapy will surely help him. 

 

 

 

 

 









THANKS and MORE THANKS

Several things have happened since my last post and I have taken a leave from blogging.  I am going to try to get back on at least a weekly basis.

After Leon fell in the bathroom  Friday night I called my sister and husband, Albert and Karen Foxworthy to come help me get him up.  Thanks to Shelby Lay and Josh Creek for helping as well.  Thankfully there were no bones broken, just a scratch on his elbow from where the shower curtain rod came down with him. 

Saturday morning Albert and Karen brought breakfast to us from Grandma's Country Kitchen.  Very tasty!  While here Albert measured the tub and checked for studs to put a grab bar on.  Yesterday they came out with a piece of  plywood that fits over the tub....I covered it with a quilt and that should soften the fall if it should happen again.  He also put up a grab bar in the bathroom and one on the inside and  one on  the outside to the outside door we use.  I sure feel more secure for Leon with these safety measures in place.  Jack, our border collie, is also going to get a new shelter from the leftover plywood pieces. 

Leon is still having therapy from Home Health following his light stroke.  He has three more sessions and then is on his own unless the doctor orders more.  We have an appointment tomorrow to see a vascular doctor from West Plains here at TCMH.  He comes here once a month and this will be for a consultation.

The last two days have been beautiful but may have some rain tonight and tomorrow.  Everything is sure greening up and beginning to grow...just about my favorite time of year. 

Just want to end this post with thanking everyone who has offered help in any way.  I liked what one guy told me....that it would probably do him more good than us!!

JUST A REMINDER

On September 14, 2012, the Class of 1957 was getting ready for their 55th Class Reunion on September 15, 2012.  We decided to enter a float in the parade on Friday.  It rained us out but we had fun working on the float although I think we agreed we won't try it again. Later, several went to Miller's Grill for lunch. I didn't take pictures there. Clicking on the pictures below should make them larger.

Our theme was Golden Oldies and the plywood dancer cutouts were loaned to us by Lance and Jessie Neal.  We were ready to roll, even had plastic on the hay bales.

 Ralph Hancock was handy with the stapler! Looking on Marilyn Back, Harry Freeman, Jeaneta Freeman and Arlene Williamson. Leon James and Jim Sillyman was looking on from a distance.

 Jeaneta Freeman getting those streamers just right!

 Way in the background Leon James and Jim Sillyman catching up  and Norm Epperson, Lee Holder and Harry Freeman watch the girls work! (they did help some though)

Checking out who is the tallest-Norm or Lee!  Also check out Arlene Williamson's 50's look.

A fun time but I am glad we are not doing it again tomorrow. 

LOOKING FOR FALL

My last post was Looking for Spring.  I am back today with Looking for Fall.  Fall is my fav season of the year-love the colors, smell and most times much cooler weather. 

On her return post today, America is having a blog candy give away.  Neat stuff so check it out.

http://cardsbyamerica.blogspot.com/2013/09/did-you-miss-me-im-back-and-i-have-blog.html?showComment=1378735709852#c271452809544759236

Love the pretty colors of twine and all the charms! 

Up until August we have had a really pretty growing year.  The rain has stopped and the temps are way to warm for me along with the ragweed pollen-not my fav time in Missouri! 

Will be back with another post later!

LOOKING FOR SPRING

Like most of you we have been having a slow start to spring although the next two days are supposed to be near 80-way to hot for me and this time of year.  We have been having lots of rain which is a really good thing for the grass and plants.

I have been trying to get most of the weeds out of the flower beds so I can get some mulch down.  My oldest daughter is helping me as she is opening a perennial nursery in our milk barn-fittingly called Milk House Perennials.  Her opening date is May 11 so lots to get done.  She will be selling hardy perennials-hosta, daylilies, ferns and other perennials.  We will also be having a Daylily Bloom Fest Open Garden from June 15 through July 20th. The business will then close for the summer to re-open in the fall.

Haven't done much card making but needed a baby card for a shower so made this one and put a gift card inside-simple.

I used SU Pretty in Pink for the base card.  Used a SU scallop punch in white for the baby cutout.  The cutouts were made using a Cuttlebug machine and a Provo Craft Baby die cut set.  Like using this set for baby cards as there is a good selection of dies.  The bottom was trimmed with a Martha Stewart border punch.

Will be back with more later.

POTPOURRI

Back to blogging.  I was down for most of the long, hot summer with shingles but feeling much better now so have a few things to share today. 

We lost our border collie dog, Lady, who is my profile picture.  We now have a new border collie named Jack.  He turned 3 on September 1 and now has a special place at our house. He  loves for you to throw him a frisbee or a tennis ball everytime you go outside!  He is full of energy and I haven't caught him down long enough to take a picture of him.  My daughter did get this head shot of him
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I have been doing some stamping again and like this Christmas card I made last week.  When Vicki (VDM)on Splitcoaststampers posted this card I was smitten.  When I commented liking the embossing folder and the sentiment she kindly embossed some cardstock and stamped off some sentiments and sent to me.  Thanks again, Vicki .  Here is Vicki's card:

and here is the card I made using the embossed panel and the sentiment.  The cardstock is white but has a pink cast in the photo.

The bloom in the garden was about half what it usually is due to the drought and heat.  I still have one daylily, named DOUBLE PASSION,  blooming, but the colder weather will soon end all that.

The Knockout roses were the best bloomers in my yard this year and since the rains have really kicked it up a notch.  I have single red, single and double pink and single yellow.  Will try to get  some pictures before the frost gets them. 

Today is World Cardmaking Day to may try to make a card after lunch.

SPRING-OR IS IT SUMMER ALREADY?

Spring is a favorite time of year for me.  This year the weather has been unusually warm and most flowers are about two weeks ahead of themselves.  My oldest daughter was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and we went on several wildflower hunts.  Here are a few of my favs from the pictures she took. 

 This is a new wildflower for us this year, High Bush Huckleberry.  Love the little white bell flowers that hang down.

 Love all the violets and especially this two toned Birdsfoot Violet.

 This Downy Phlox was so pretty growing in a clump.  Love the bright rose pink color.

 This is another very pretty wildflower, Indian Paintbrush, that is not that easy to find here.

I love yellow/gold flowers and this is a beauty with a unusual name, Squaw Weed. 

I am lucky to have this Wild Columbine self seed in my shade garden-long blooming.

This is LouseWort or Wood Betony.  Another one that I think is really pretty.

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Have been working outside most mornings getting the weeds out and putting down mulch.  While my daughter was on vacation we moved daylilies and downsized some beds.  I have two early daylilies blooming now; species dumortierri and Stella de Oro.  Have scapes and buds on a few others but it will be awhile before they bloom.  Here is one of my favorite photos taken a few years ago of daylily Stella de Oro around the bottom and clematis Ville de Lyon on the front lamp post.

Have been on a stamping downturn but will get back to making some more cards or scrapbooking soon.