Great American Scrapbook Convention

June 4-6, 2009 Arlington, Texas

June 26-27, 2009 Chantilly, Virginia

September 25-26, 2009 Chattanooga, Tennessee

Its a bit of a drive but I will be attending the Arlington, Texas event. Last year I was registered but couldn't attend due to an unplanned surgery. My dear friend went in my place. I'm so lucky to have her in my life...LOL (she better go with me this year)

I'm registered for a full day on Saturday [Saturday Shop-n-Crop Ticket Registration(General Admission ticket and All day Crop area ticket) Sat 6/6 9 am - 5 pm]

and for the following workshop: 12:30pm-2:30pm: Paint+Canvas=an Amazing Mini Album Workshop - Sponsored by Ranger, Core'dinations, Fiskars Sat 6/6

I'm so excited...anyone want to attend with me?....go register for Saturday and we can car pool!!!

Working Full Time ~> Adding to the Challenge

Last Wednesday I switched to a Full Time Job and have been going through training for the new position. It sure has been adding a hitch to my keeping up with things around here. Even laundry seems to have taken a side street these days. Say a little prayer for me if you will to not only handle the change around here but also to make it in this position which is highly technical. YIKES!!!

Update: Down on the Farm

Here is Hissler and Gilly doing the free range thing.

Gilly's eggs as predicted were all rotten old eggs. She sat on them until a 4' snake appeared and wanted those old eggs more than she did. My Mom said she relinquished them toot sweet but the 4' snake could not for the life of him get his mouth around those huge fat ole' goose eggs. Mom thinks he has gotten so big due to lots of missing chicken eggs. This makes sense.

Gertrude still sits on her eggs but we fear they are not fertile. Only time will tell and I will keep you updated on the Down on the Farm status.

Down on the Farm: Goose Update

I've been asked what her name is, our fowl-ish friend who diligently sits on those eggs. Gertrude is seen here with her daughter Gilly. Gertrude will not rise except for at the end of each day where she trots out and gets a sip of water and a bit of feed. I've been taking her treats of fruit and veggies each morning to keep her going through the day. Gilly has taken on some of the eggs. However, the eggs she is sitting on are "OLD" and will not hatch.

Gilly is shown here cooling herself off as it is very hot these days in Arizona. About 109 daily with no reprieve. Today however we have had some nice breeze without to much dust. Each day we have been sneaking in and taking the "OLD" eggs away from Gilly. She is down to the last two which we will leave for her to keep warm and learn how to become a Mother. Gilly gets off her eggs each morning and each evening to eat and get water.

We are hopeful for Gertrude's eggs to hatch, as we know that at least 2 of them are viable. However the status of the Gander is very questionable. The Gander's name is Hissler because he constantly is hissing at people. This is a typical Gander trait but in all other ways he is more like a Goose...so will those eggs be fertile? We will find out in about 1 more week.

Here is Hissler in his/her finest mood. Batya, my daughter thought he was a duck because she has never seen a white and orange goose before. She named him because no matter what she does he hisses at her. In this picture he is coming in to check on the ladies and see what I'm up too. We pray that he is truly a Gander and we will have babies.

Gertrude needs to be a Mama again. She amazes me in her pursuit of Motherhood. I can not imagine if I'd were to lay an egg and then have to sit on it for 14 to 21 days for life to emerge. Having a baby is so much more of a connection...in my opinion.

Still Down on the Farm

A Little Southwest Flavor

Here is a view of my folks homestead from the front drive. It is hardly ever used as this is a working farm and all activity is "out back"

My Mom raises sheep. She started with the California Red (mama shown here) and moved toward the Dorper (white/black in background) This mama shown here with her lamb is one of her original Red's and she remembered me from when I lived on the farm and helped with the sheep. Her current lamb is a cross between the Dorper and the Red. She's a cutie and very curios as to why her mama was so friendly with me.

Down on the Farm

Dedicated Mom

This goose is a prize. Here she is laying on about 25 eggs, most of which were laid by another goose and are months old. We couldn't figure which of them were "good" and which were "bad" so we've left her to figure things out on her own. She won't get up for food or water so we've brought it to her. She is truly a dedicated mom, foster mom or surrogate mom as the cases maybe. She under the circumstances is very passive and only hisses when we get super close to the eggs.

Isn't she beautiful? I'm not particularly fond of birds but she has really caught my attention with her dedication to this brood. I pray that at least one egg actually hatches for her. She has put so much into this nest and taken so much grief from the Chickens in the coop who squawk at her at every opportunity as if saying..."silly goose - why waste your time". I say..."GO GIRL GO!"

My First Multi Media Project

"The Conductor"

Visiting your Mom can reveal many things. As I was photographing one day through her house I stumbled upon this paper mac he' woman. I made this in 3rd Grade. It is probably my First Multi Media Project. Mom has more of my artwork from when I was even younger. I drew an incredible piece of moldy bread when I was about 2 years old that is actually (aside from subject) very well done for that age.

FAT Book

I joined a Fat Book swap...really just to push myself. It has had a huge effect on me. I find myself unable to sleep because I lay in bed thinking of ideas for my pages. I wake up and jot the idea or image down and then try and go to sleep. The other night I could not make myself go to sleep again. I got up and hid myself away in my studio/office and worked in the night to finish up my first set of pages...themed "Bombshells"

From this swap I've had images rushing my brain. I have been doing countless projects with such fervor. I've even been directing it toward stamp designs for the coming year. I'm so glad I ventured out from the walls of my box and committed myself to this long term swap.

I will of course keep you posted as to my progress.

Much in Need Yard Beautification Project

Well here it is finally. Our much needed yard beautification project part 1 finally came to an end. Marty (DH) came home with the surprise of the custom made post and of course I couldn't rest until it was in the ground painted and in need of the box. So it required a 9pm trip to Home Depot but we got the extra large box and numbers that night. The next day Quinn (DS) and I took a trip to Green Mama's for the flowering vine we planted. When we got back Quinn and I painted the post. He did the brown and I did the red. The star is actually routered into the wood.

Our Little Slugger.....the update

Well Quinn did very well in his surgery. The huge adenoids they removed were blocking his nasal passages by about 85% and his ears are still draining and probably will for days. He is not his chipper self but on the mend. I have to tell you how happy Marty (DH) and I were when he went to the potty and flushed the toilet and ran outta the bathroom in a total panic and simply said..."boy that got louder" Outta the mouths of babes. The nurses all said wow you have a brave little man...of course when I walked up to his bedside afterwards the tears and crying started but he was our brave little man and we are so happy to already see improvement. All his sister could say was wow you sound funny...in regards to his altered voice (temporary side effect to the surgery) Aren't older sisters great? :)

Our Little Slugger

This is Quinn our five year old playing catcher at his T-Ball game. Tomorrow he goes in for surgery where he will have his adenoids taken out and tubes put in. Please keep him in your prayers/thoughts & well wishes for the next 48 hours if you would. It is his first surgery and having it is essential for any amount of recovery for the hearing loss he's had. It isn't a guarantee that there won't be any permanent damage or recovery of the hearing but we are hopeful. However, we probably won't know for quite a while what he's regained.

That is Viscountess Shines-Like-a-Star !!!

Ok who of you are Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood fans? This book was passed onto me years and years ago from a co worker back in MA. I then passed it onto my Mom. Then Little Alters Everywhere came out also by Rebecca Wells. Mom promptly bought it for us to read. No guess what there is a third out called Ya-Ya's in Bloom. Now I know what I'll be getting my Mom as a gift. Now of course more likely you remember the Movie Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood with Sandra Bullock.

My Mom raises sheep and she purchased two Great Pyrenees dogs as guard dogs for her sheep (they are great at doing this and can take on a coyote or even a mountain lion) My Mom named her dogs (which she got as puppies and they are sisters) Sister and Ya-Ya. Here is a pic of my husband with the dogs.

If you'd like to get your official Ya-Ya Sisterhood name like mine: Viscountess Shines-Like-A-Star click here and get yours: http://yayasisterhood.warnerbros.com/cmp/namegen_small.html

Also available at the Movie site are: Screen savers, ability to purchase the movie, Web cards, wallpaper and coming soon Scrapbook Downloads...gonna have to check that out.

And just so you don't feel left out you can get your own headdress by going to: http://sisterhoodcircle.com/SisterhoodHeaddress.html

What a hoot

Are you Addicted to Scrapbooking?

Got these from a Yahoo Group I belong to and just HAD to share



Top Ten Signs that you are Addicted to Scrapbooking



1. Your three-year-old wants to know if her coloring book is "archival quality."

2. You decide to give your child piano lessons so you'll be able to use the musical instrument stickers.

3. You're in a fender bender and your first thought is "I wonder what die-cut shape will coordinate with this event?"

4. You try to claim your album purchases as a medical expense because it's such good "therapy".

5. You redecorate your family room to coordinate with your photo album covers.

6. Your child is the only one in class who thinks "crop" means "to cut your photos".

7. Scraps from your corner rounder cuttings can be found in unusual places: school lunch bags, briefcases, the laundry, the dog's water bowl.

8. A regular sandwich is no longer acceptable.. .it must be cropped or cut with decorative edges.

9. You buy a new swimsuit because it matches the new gingham photo mounting paper.

10. You're the only one at a social gathering yelling, "Just one more photo folks, I don't have enough for a 2 page spread"