Blog Candy post

I am trying to win some nice blog candy and in order to do so must post on my blog about the candy...so here is one (or more) such post

http://liveitscrapit.blogspot.com/2009/08/nillas-blog-candy-4.html

and then there is this one

http://clairebsd.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-blog-candy-giveaway.html

and this one

http://thecraftyden.blogspot.com/2009/08/its-candy-timeat-last.html

and this one

http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/2009/08/thank-you-collab-blog-candy.html

and this one..

http://jacqui47.blogspot.com/2009/08/candy-time.html

and another

http://scrappyteabag.blogspot.com/2009/08/lets-celebrate-with-some-candy.html

and still another lol

http://scrapable.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-very-first-blog-candy.html

and again

http://kittypawprint.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-blog-candy.html

that is enough for one night lol

Still Catching up

Well, that didn’t work out so good, did it? But I am back again, to add another segment to my catching up posts….

You know, when I think about it, there really isn’t all that much to say about all that stuff…already said it in that first post, so, maybe I should just move on?

At the craft show I made a really pretty little purse album and when I showed it to one of my co-workers she wanted to know if I could make one for her grand daughter….so …the one on the left is from the show, and the one on the right is my first ever stamping on acrylic tag result. Not too shabby.




Well, that about does it for today, maybe I’ll be back tomorrow lol

Catching up

My oh my, has it really been THAT long since I blogged? Wow – guess I’m kinda starting over. I apologize to all my faithful readers (all three of you lol) I haven’t had a single thing to say in all this time. Actually I have had stuff to say, just no energy to say it. Between work, painting the house (which is still not done), the new kayaks, facebook, the new phones, David’s Memorial (which his brother attended this year), the CHA show and all the other little things I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around blogging.

So I guess I’ll just take them one at a time and do a line or two, nothing major, but maybe catch us all up. As I think of other stuff, I’ll try to add those too. Thanks for your patience with me.

So, let’s go backwards in time….we will start with the CHA SuperShow.

I heard about the show in a trade magazine months before they finally decided that they were going to hold it. So I found an email address for someone in CHA and asked them for information. I was told that the dates were not set in stone yet and that there was going to be a webpage going live the first of May for registration. So, I stalked that web address like a fiend!!! And it was finally announced that the show was happening in Orlando and I WAS GOING!!!!!!

I saved all my money and made hotel reservations and registered for the show that day. I had something to look forward to. And I did. Thought about it often, went back to the web site at least 3 times a week to see if there was anything new. Lol obsessive - - but….when I registered the website was pretty simple, and each day they added something new and some of it I never even noticed after I registered – a form of tunnel vision I guess – so I was unaware that everyone who registered online was entered in a drawing for prizes. Keeping that in mind, you can imagine my shock to find out I had won a grand prize!! I didn’t even know I had entered and I won 4 one day park hopper tickets to Disney!! So, we extended our stay in Orlando by one day!!!

And so it was…we went to Orlando on Friday morning and stayed for three days and two nights coming home on Monday morning.

Whew, I’m tired of typing…I’ll add another post tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day

Here it is again, Mother's Day. I want to wish all of you a happy Mother's Day, and I hope all your kids treat you right, not just today, but every day. (you hear that all you kids????)

Now on to the part you really don't want to read lol

Today is one of the days of the year that is a little difficult for me. Not as heart wrenching as it once was, but still a rough day, both because I am a mother and because I no longer have my mother.

Some of you are aware of the death of my son, many years ago, and I don't want to go into the details again today, but if you are interested, this post should bring you up to speed - Today is Special

But the main reason for today's post is just to remind folks that Mother's Day is not just today, but every day of the year. And it's not just a day for people who's kids are still here, but also for all of who have had a child die, at whatever age. We are STILL Moms!!!! We still love our child! We still mourn their deaths. We always will. Please, Please, wish us a Happy Mother's Day too, I promise we want to hear it. Even if we cry, it's a good thing...not something to be avoided. We most likely are crying because we are surprised and grateful for your caring and thoughtfulness.

I want to say a giant Thank You to my friends and family who understand this, and practice it, and continue to support me in sharing this with the world. Just because someone dies, it does NOT mean that they were never here, nor does it mean that we should pretend that they never existed...WE REMEMBER THEM!!! Please remember with us, it's important.


And although some might think of this as an after thought, it is not...
Mom, I LOVE YOU, and I still miss you and I always will. You were a very very large and important part of my life and a huge chunk of my heart went with you when you died. I still have that empty spot when ever something happens that I want to share with you and you are not here so I can. I still cry. I miss you. I LOVE YOU!!!

Here is a picture of the two of them in 1985. He was most definitely a Super Man!!! And Nana loved that! Thank you for listening everyone.

Kewl Nature Show

e

When we were on our way home from the grocery store last night we came across an interesting tableau…there was a van/suv parked on the other side of one of the roads leading to our street, facing oncoming traffic (very little traffic is true, but that is the direction none the less). We didn’t know if they were broken down, or lost (lots of people who have purchased property out here get lost trying to locate it, the roads are a little weird) so we turned around at the end of the road and went back to see if we could help. Turns out they were neither lost nor broken down…they were watching a real live nature show. And we were delighted to join them

One day last week on our way to work we saw some fox kits playing on the side of the road…they were having a great time. Too close to the road! I was afraid they would get hit, so I honked my horn trying to scare them back into the woods. Sorta worked, they moved back a little, but being so young I don’t think they had any context for the sound – did not inspire fear, just curiosity. But there really isn’t much one can do except pray, so we prayed and continued on our way.

Now back to last night…the vehicle was about a block away from where we saw those kits and as we were driving back to them, we again were blessed to see those sweet little babies playing. There on the side of the road, in a rather sparsely populated section of Levy county, was a skulk of foxes frolicking in and out of a culvert. At first we saw only two – and the folks we had joined informed us that there were three, but that the third one was a little more skittish. We must have sat there almost an hour, watching those babies play! I would estimate that they were about as young as they could be and still be allowed to go out and play without their mama. We worried about that too…where is the mama we asked. The couple we were talking with said that they had seen her and although she was pretty small, she was definitely the mother. So we could stop worrying about that, thank goodness.

After a while the third one came out…definitely more timid, but after it was out a few minutes it started cavorting as much as the other two were. We were fascinated! Nature is so fun to watch, it is one of the most entertaining things we could do, and it’s SO cool to be able to watch in your own backyard (or close enough – if they were in OUR backyard we would have to kennel the dogs lol)

So there we sat, chatting, laughing out loud, giggling sometimes and just generally having a great time – when a FOURTH fox popped out of that culvert!!!! We all exclaimed that There’s the mother, and Man she IS small. We were excited about seeing the whole family - interacting so enthusiastically together. After a few minutes of careful scrutiny we realized that it was NOT the mother, but a fourth kit!!! How cool is THAT?

We are seriously considering returning to that location tonight with the cameras, both still and video, to see if we can find them again and record some really kewl memories. In one part of my brain I am hoping that they are not there…that they have moved further back into the woods where they will be safer from the humans that love to hurt things….but the other part of my brain really wants to see them again, that would be the selfish part. I don’t know if we will find them, but if we do I’ll post the pics on here.

Edit - 4-27-09 am

We went back last night and sat there for about a half hour and were rewarded for our patience. Trav had the video camera and I had his canon. It was just at dusk, making getting good shots difficult, but we tried our best.

We saw the mama fox come trotting up the side rode and started looking around for the kits...we didn't see them at all and were starting to worry, when she got almost to the culvert...at which point 5 - yes FIVE - kits came boiling up out of that pipe!!!

It was awesome! I don't think either of us got that recorded too well, but it is in our memory banks forever. Trav got about 15 minutes of decent video before the sun went down and I have these four so so pictures to share here today. He is going to upload the video to youtube soon and I will edit this to include that link.

second edit 4-27-09 pm

I have some sad news and I really didn't want to see this happen...on my way to work this morning I came upon the body of one of the kits. Someone had hit and killed it early this morning. There were a couple of the other kits out playing in the road, so I honked and honked and reved the engine and did my best to make them afraid of the car!!! They hesitated for a moment and then they ran for cover. I cried and drove on, then I realized that I wasn't positive that it was one of the kits, I couldn't be sure that it wasn't the mama, so I had to turn around to double check. It was sad enough that a kit had been killed - but if the mama was dead then all the kits would die without intervention! So I went back and yes, it was a kit. I was still crying. I got on the cell and called Trav (he was home, not feeling well) and told him what I had found. He was upset about the kit, but more upset that I was upset and he told me I should turn around and come home. I told him that I really needed to go to work. We stayed on the phone with him helping me vent some of that sharp edged grief over that baby getting killed. About three miles from that dead baby, traveling down the road at about 60 mph, a bird flew straight into my windshield!!! Talk about upset?? I thought I would have a freak out attack! I turned that car around - with Trav insisting in my ear - and headed back to the house, both of us afraid of what might happen if I kept going...first the kit, then the bird, what next? So I went back to the house and he held me until I was calm enough to go to work.

It was a rough morning...but we made it through.

I have to ask you to help me pray for those babies...ask God to please keep the rest of them safe or to give a way to make them safe. Thank you for your attention and I hope to have that video for you tomorrow. God bless you all and good night.

here is the url for the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E5vx7Jw_ME

let me know what you think, ok?

An Island Life is hosting Aloha Friday over on her blog

April 16, 2009

aloha friday

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

My question is:

Would you take a self-defense class if one was offered near you?


I'm sorry, I tried to add a Mr. Linky to this post and was unable to do so, I apologize for the inconvenience.

My new "Hobby"

I don’t think I have said one word on this blog about one of my favorite activities lately. And THAT surprises the heck outta me! It seems like all I ever talk about, or really look forward to is this new (relatively) pass time of mine. And I haven’t told you anything about it. That is just not like me – not like me at all. So I guess I’ll have to tell you about it now.

It is R.A.D.

Isn’t it exciting? huh? what’s that you’re saying? you don’t know what it is? Really? Well, that’s interesting. I thought everyone would know – lol, not really….so let me give you a little basic information on this program……

It is the R.A.D. Self Defense System and it is loads of fun as well as a very good thing to learn.

The RAD Self Defense System was designed with the needs and strengths of women in mind. Women of all ages and fitness levels have successfully participated in the self-defense class. The RAD program consists of three classes, where you will learn practical safety tips, practice specialized defensive techniques, and use these techniques in actual fight scenarios. (what we students tend to call Fight Night lol) Most importantly, RAD classes are fun and provide you with the knowledge and techniques to protect yourself. Once you've completed Basic RAD, consider taking a supplemental course, such as Keychain Defense Options or Advanced Self Defense. All of these classes are provided free of charge and are taught in a fun, relaxed environment by certified instructors. the R.A.D. Women’s Self-Defense Classes that I attend are provided by: Community Services division University of Florida Police Department www.police.ufl.edu/csd/csd_rad.asp Register by calling the University of Florida Police Department’s Community Services Division at (352) 392-1409 or email Officer Jeff Lamb jwlamb@ufl.edu

That is probably way more information then you really wanted, right off the cuff, but I wanted to make sure you understood before I said the next line….

I LOVE FIGHT NIGHTS!!!!

I’m not sure how to explain this…but fight nights are just loads of fun…stressful, but fun. A couple of the girls I work with and I go to as many as we can. When we go to fight night we get to participate in an actual fight – not a knock down drag out, but a controlled fight. We wear protective gear and our ‘aggressors’ wear what is known as a ‘Red Man Suit’...

We students are in protective gear as well, head, elbow, knee and hand pads help keep us both from getting hurt. And then they attack us and we get to use the techniques that they have taught us to defend ourselves. And IT IS FUN!! We throw punches and we kick and we knock them down and they block and parry and they try to keep us from escaping. It’s a blast. And I am beginning to think it is addictive as well. We just keep going back!

This is an excellent course for women to take. It really adds to the confidence level. It helps to instill good safety habits and it shows how to get away from some pretty scary situations – and stay out of them in the first place.

This program is all over the country (and in Canada, I think) police departments and universities seem to be the hubs, but you could go here to see if there is one near you.

http://www.rad-systems.com/programs.html

Anyway, I think that you should go check it out and see if you like it as much as I do.

And let me know? I love to hear about how it makes people feel!

I WON FOOD!!! lol

This is Exciting! I just won a gift certificate for $15 towards a Cook's Ham!

Check it out HERE

I think it's SO wonderful to be able to get a quality ham for Easter....Thank you Thank you Thank you to www.busymommy.us for allowing me to win this great prize!

Craft Day - Wedding Favors

Back in February, the family got together for a craft day, to make around a hundred wedding favors for J & J’s wedding in May. A good time was had by all, and I thought I would post a few of the pics. The favors will be closed after we put the candy in them (we didn’t have it on that day) so they will look a little different, but they are really quite adorable.

Here is Athea, cutting the little squares for the groom's shirt.

Here is the beginning of the Groom's favores and here we are getting going on the Brides favors

There's Debi, Donna, Maggie and Paulie in the first one, and on the right of the second one is the bride herself, Alexis.


Don't they look darling? like little soldiers lined up - I love the little ties and those butterflies are just so darn cute!

oh and while we were having a great time inside sticking our fingers to the table, the guys were supposed to be out doing yard work....

as you can see, they were Hard At It! lol

(to be honest they worked very hard, but don't tell them I said so)

Vanilla Joy Giveaway

Ok, here we go again, it's time to blog about a giveaway in order to obtain an extra entry. Somehow I think that it's counter productive to do so, but it is required - so here it is lol

I think that this blog is awesome anyways, so I am happy to advertise her blog - just not the prize (big grin)

Vanilla Joy http://www.vanillajoy.com/craft-giveaway-4-creative-memories-shape-makers.html

Blogger is acting up, so I cannot seem to make the name into a link, sorry about that.

Follow my Blog - Please?

I just found this great little gadget and wasted no time at all ensconcing it in my blog. I would LOVE to have you show your support of my blog by following my garden. And I would really like it if you would leave me a comment telling me what you would like to see me write about. Please?

Farewell my friend

Today we have to say our formal farewell to a dear friend. I am going to miss having him around. Who was he? He was a real card, a funny man, a joker and a prankster. He was a husband and a father, he was a handyman, he was a cop and he was a friend. That only begins to scratch the surface of the man...I can, in no way, do him justice. He loved to play, to mess with people, to make a difference in their lives...sometimes they didn't even realize what he had done until much later...now THAT takes talent. As I sit here thinking back, I cannot remember too many times that I saw him serious. I heard a lot of stories about him being serious, but I don't know of them first hand. He always had a smile and a really sweet comment for me when ever we met up. (and if you know me, you will realize just how difficult that could be sometimes lol) We would chat from our respective vehicles as he waited patiently for his shift to end (when nothing was going on, of course) Please don't ask me what we talked about, cuz I couldn't tell you...just the light bantering chatter of two people comfortable with each other, nothing earth shattering, just talking. I miss that - I started missing it when he left WPD and finally retired.

Man when you look back on things, you really never know what you will see...sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less and sometimes you just wish you had looked back sooner.

I am quite blessed in the fact that I feel no regrets about my visits with Jay, they were always fun and sweet, never bitter or fraught with anger.

So - now that I have rambled on forever, I only have one more thing to say...

Farewell Jay, you will be missed (already are) and remembered. Remembered as the wonderful friend you are to us and remembered for your kindnesses and for your laughter. Farewell.

Go read Trav's Blog - Between the Beads

I would recommend that you go check out Trav's blog, it's about a project he participated on at work and it's kewl.

Leave him a comment if you want, he would really like to know that you were there.

thanks

Mud Pies and Mary Janes

Here is another coffee machine giveaway...that I WANT TO WIN!!! I get an extra entry for blogging so I am...lol

Love - an interesting word

you may have noticed that there is finally a new banner at the top of my blog...I've been a little lazy and just haven't had the 'umph' to bring it up to date, until last week, when I was reminded that Everyone needs to remember Love.

Love, an emotion that we all wish could be a little bit easier all the way around. I love some people differently than I love others...and I bet you do to...my friends, my family, my critters, all have their own kind of love. But one thing will never change, I DO love them all, and losing one is devastating, no matter what kind of love it is. And I am afraid that I must mention that a friend of ours died yesterday...a friend that may never have known just how much we loved him. We are hoping that our actions led him to that conclusion, but he was not the type of man that you could just hug and tell that you loved him.

Trav wrote a post about him, and I would love for you to go read it...

http://travstales.com/2009/02/08/im-the-ugliest/

please do me that favor?

and if you could do me one other favor, I will be indebted to you...please pray for his family - they have a huge hole in their lives right now and need all the comfort you can give them. Pray for us too if you like, we have a hole, no where near as painful as the family, but it hurts just the same. Thank you, it matters that you care.

Bedroom Bliss Giveaway

Once again The Secret is in the Sauce is hosting a great giveaway, go here to enter.

99 things - have you done them all?

Saw this here and thought it would be fun to play along.

Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - does Disney World count?
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - I call them mental health days.
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangeo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book - cowritten with Trav
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating – fish. Just fish.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury and they DIDN'T like it either lol - we ended up being dismissed, judge said we were too honest and neither side thought they could win, so they settled.
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Okay - who else wants to play?

Baby it's COLD outside!

Yeah, I know what you're saying up there - "Cold? You don't have a clue woman!" but ya know what? I actually do, I lived in North Dakota for four years and leaned just what cold really means. The next statement is "THAT is why I live in FLORIDA people!" When it gets below 80 here it is cold and for it to be in the 20's? I don't want to leave my house! But I must come in to work - so out I go. BBRRRR


lol

We have family in upstate New York and they are teasing us because I am a wimp...I don't like cold, I never have and I never will. Fortunately there are only a handful of really cold days, so I'm in a pretty good place. Not everyone can say that. (I like hurricanes too lol)

there is no real point to this post ya know, I just wanted to post something. lol

Once again, you could win this

but I hope you don't - cuz I want to win! lol

Win This

I get extra entries for blogging about it, so I want extra entries! If you want to try and win, go there and try, but please don't win. lol No I'm just kidding, I wish you luck, I really do.