Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group QP exchange

Here is my qp's for this months exchange. I really need to start doing them sooner, so I'm not coming down to the end not having them done!! LOL Oh well, least I got them done. You can to if you hurry!!

Kit Credit: Blooming Splendor papers and elements by Lara Payton

Milking update:

I don't think I ever mentioned that we got the other hand milker and its working good! If I did mention it, just skip on over this. *giggle* Now DH can do the milking so I don't have to go out there, which is nice in a way. Not that I minded milking, as long as my hands didn't hurt, it was kinda fun. Its nice to not HAVE to get out when its raining...and I'm sure it will be nice to not have to, when its cold. LOL That is, if we are milking them when it is cold, they may be slowing down by then, so they can get ready for babies, who knows. Anyway, I'm really glad this one works on our goats. If the goats wouldn't mind going back to hand milking now and then, I wouldn't mind it once in a while...but I think they probably do better with the milker, they stand more still anyway. It took two of us before, one to milk, one to hold their feet...Now DH can do it alone.

VA visit-

A couple weeks ago, we went to see DH's usual doctor at the VA, on a special visit, because he had been having a strange pain in his thumb, and we wanted to make sure it hadn't somehow gotten broken. She had them X-ray it, and while they hadn't read the X-rays when we were there she looked at it, and didn't think it was broken, so ordered a brace for his hand, to keep it still. This morning we had to run back up to a specialist she got us in to see, to find out what they said. I think they are a little stumped, because while the X-ray shows a bone spur sticking out...or something like that, it doesn't hurt in that spot on his hand...until they started messing with it. They said he has arthritis for sure, but the area it was hurting in, was baffling to them...they wondered if it was from nerve damage. So they said to wear the brace, at night even, and see if it helps...and to come back in a few months if it doesn't. Least they didn't give him more drugs to take! For that I am most thankful.

Now hopefully the visit to the specialist he has to see next week goes well. He has a strange spot on one of his ears, so the doctor wanted him to have it checked...she briefly mentioned skin cancer, so I'm praying that, that was just the worst case scenario type thing, and that its NOT that! Thankfully I haven't been as worried about this, as I thought I was going to be...several weeks of worrying wouldn't be good, prayer is a wonderful thing!

The neatest part about the visit today, is he got to see a doctor who's last name was the same as my Mom's maiden name. I don't know how common that name is, but gee he could be a long lost cousin! LOL Not that we mentioned it or anything, but just thought it was neat.

Have a great day/evening and thanks so much for your comments!

The Call of the frogs

This was taken on our way home from my cousin's funeral last year. I loved the look of the sun, over the water. It was a very peaceful looking place. We had actually stopped to take a picture of the pink that was showing up, in the sky to the south, but this was actually my favorite picture, even though there wasn't any color in the sky. The other pictures didn't turn out as good as they should have, because the camera setting had gotten switched and I didn't catch it. But I was still happy enough with this one, I had to scrap it.

This is some of the family that was at the funeral, the cousin's daughter, and some grand kids. We had a good time, seeing family, even though it was a sad occasion. Jr (as I always knew him as) lived a good long life, and was loved by many.

Kit Credit: Sweet Surrender by Lauren Bavin

This is our nephew, his girlfriend, daughter, and girlfriends daughter (I'd say step daughter if they were married, but not sure how to say that since they aren't. LOL) They make a nice little family.

Kit Credit: Box of Quilling, Easter Basket kit, Baby Girl Heartstrings Kit & Cardboard Frames All by Blushbutter. The wordart was a freebie at DSP by Kerri Erickson

This is our house, as seen from the direction of the barn. The trees we planted out front a couple years ago, haven't grown all that much...hopefully they take off one of these days, and start looking like they will someday be big! LOL I love this old house, I never thought I would want a one story house, with some of the rooms being a little on the small side, but I fell in love with this one, the first time I saw it, and feel blessed to have been able to be the ones to move it to our farm, instead of someone else moving it to theirs.

This is the Barn, and DH doing a little dirt work, around it, with his tractor. The chickens were enjoying him digging in the dirt and uncovering bugs for them too. Its a wonder they didn't get ran over, they sure seemed to be in the way a lot.

Kit Credit for these two layouts: Summer Dreams by Blushbutter This is one of those $2.00 kits too, so better go get it!! Least it is for this month, not sure after that. The ink bottle in Our House is from Easter Basket kit by Blushbutter

This layout was going great, till I got done with the papers, and pictures, then I had to try to figure out what elements to use, and where to put them, and I stalled out. LOL So I didn't put much on this one either, I don't know if I looked at it to long, putting all the pictures and stitches on there, so I got used to having less on it, or what, but I finally gave up, and this is the way it will be I guess. I like it, it just seems a little bare. Oh well, anyway, this is my niece's school pictures from kindergarten to 11th grade. I'll do a page with her Sr pic's for beside it, once she gets them taken, and to me...later this year.

Kit Credits: Craft Scrapbooking Kit, Baby Girl Heart Strings Kit and Snow flakes kit ALL by Blushbutter. The Arrow I did myself.

National Scrapbooking Day (NSD):

I hope everyone will have a great time celebrating NSD!! I didn't do anything here in my store, as I'm so small, I can't compete, and ummm I've been so busy working on layouts that I didn't try to think of what to do. Sorry!! There are lots of sales going on though, and I've managed to get in and buy a few things myself...I was planning on getting a few kits this month for my Birthday, so I just went shopping a little early. So Happy Birthday to me!! *giggle* Gosh, I had way to much fun, and got some beautiful kits, to many, as I hadn't planned on spending so much, (3 or 4 kits was what I was going to stick to) but just couldn't stop myself, I think I ended up buying 7 kits...if you count the two from Vicky as two, they are more like one BIG one, as they match. LOL. I had trouble deciding which of Manu's kits to buy, and which to wait for later for.

I bought Vicky Morrissy's Beautiful Blossoms Roses 1 & 2, its just beautiful!! I've been wanting it, but with not doing much with my heritage photo's, and figuring that's what I'm use it for the most, I put it off, but a couple weeks ago, I promised myself I'd get it for my birthday, even if I don't get to use it right away. LOL Course when I saw it on sale, I had to get it early, so I could save a little bit of money...and then end up spending it at Manu's store over at SBG. *giggle* Also I tried out a new designer, I saw her stuff a couple weeks ago, and while I know she isn't NEW she is to me. LOL I bought one of GiselaB Designs kits plus picked up her new cluster frame freebie while I was there. Needless to say, I'm broke now, but have more kits to finish my 2007 photo's with, and then some. LOL Speaking of freebie's, I got the add on to one of Manu's kits on her blog too, and she has a 2nd one, that hopefully she will tell us where is, once she knows. Also speaking of Sales, Blushbutter is having one too, so its a perfect time to go grab some of her kits, if you have been wanting them. You KNOW you want to! :)

Now whats going on with the weather?

DH sent me a link to a news report this morning, about some bad storm damage close to where we used to live in Indep. Mo. I still have some family down there, so hopefully they are all ok. I'm wondering if the house had any damage or not, it was Grandma and Grandpa's house for 60 years, so while we did buy it from them and live there for a few years, it's always Grandma's house to me. I saw on a video that just a few blocks away, a restaurant was totally destroyed...really hope we get to go to that family reunion, so we can drive by "Grandma's" house, and see if its still there.

In other strange weather news, Western Nebraska got more snow! I can't believe it, its just not suppose to snow, least not around here, in May!! Granted that's west of here a ways but still. Sure hope it doesn't come here, I know DH talks about there being snow on his oldest brothers birthday, which is in May, but I personally don't remember ever having snow in May, and would like to keep it that way! *giggle* Thankfully we didn't move west, when we were thinking of looking for a place in the country!

Its been beautiful here the last several days. We did get some rain in the night and today, but don't think it was lots. Its not been sunny much today, but after the last several days I don't mind as much, and after the news from around the Midwest, I really don't mind, because at least we didn't have snow, or high winds!

Moments like this (below) is one reason I LOVE the country.

Last night, I was sitting here at my computer, working on a couple of these pages, listening to the frogs sing outside my open window. It was just starting to get dark, and the longing to go outside and listen to them because strong, almost as if they were calling me. Now usually it takes a bit, to get me away from my computer, when I'm actually getting a bunch done, but I finally gave in, and went and sat on the patio for little while. It wasn't to dark out, so I could still see things, not just the outlines, but actually see them. But because it was getting dark, the sky was more of a gray blue, than a blue, with thin wispy white clouds in it, along with a few of the brightest stars twinkling already. I sat there listening to the frogs serenade me and smelling that cool night smell that was wafting towards me, on the slight breeze. I swore I could smell the hay field, even though there wasn't any hay down in it. It was pure heaven, and even Rascal sat and enjoyed it with me for a little while. Just before we came in, the coyotes started yipping in the distance, to add to the magic of the country evening. The coyotes are another sound from my childhood, that, while not as endearing as the frogs, it takes me back to my growing up years, and the happy memories I am so lucky to have.

Have a great weekend everyone, don't spend TOOOO much at the sales, and thanks for your wonderful comments.

Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo Group Layout Challenge for May.

Its that time again, time for the new challenge to start on the blush~n~dusty yahoo group. This time I want to see your pets!! If you don't have one now, show me one you used to have...or your neighbors pet, or even just the "pet" that walks down your street. If all else fails, tell me WHY you don't like pets, if you can't do one of yours or someone else's pet. It can be dogs, cats, horses, goats, or even fish, whatever you love to love!! I would love to see a picture!! Course if it happens to be a snake, be warned, I may run screaming in the opposite direction!!

Here is my layout for the challenge this month. I thought I would do these photo's, my DH took of the cat sitting on the dog's food bucket, when she got caught stealing their food. LOL They were barking their silly heads off, trying to get her off it too. I had to laugh when I saw the photo's, cause it was rather funny that she was curled up on the bucket.

Kit Credit: Romantic Memories and Pet pretties by Lara Payton The paw prints, were picture tubes that came with my psp program.

This next layout shows our barn, in the process of being built, and DH and his sister on the roof of it. The last layout is our neighbors, driving their little red tractor at the parade in town...and another kinda neat looking tractor that was in the parade.

Summer Dreams by Lara Payton. This kit is a $2.00 kit and is part of a mega kit, that several designers put together. You can find out more about the mega kit, and get links to the other parts (that are all priced at $2.00 each) on this blog.

I hope everyone is having a great week. DH had a doctor appointment Tuesday, (and two more coming up this month, not going to be a good month, for our gas budget) and yesterday I got the grass in the back yard mowed for the first time this year. It grew fast, once it started growing! I've always found it hard to start a mower, and its even more irritating, (while at the same time, I'm greatful) when I can work and work, to try to start it and can't, and DH comes and does it on the first pull, even with his bad back! I'm such a wimp. *giggle* I have to say, that was the ONE thing, that was nice about last year...DH's sister did the mowing. Not that I will regret having to do it myself this year, gotta love the better mood around the house these days.

I managed to get a few other things I've been needing to do done yesterday, so hopefully I can get another couple layouts scrapped, for this week. If I'm lucky, I'll be done with 2007 layouts by my birthday...although I won't hold my breath, as not every week, am I able to do so many, and with having to be gone some this month, that's going to slow us down, even more.

Its sure nice to have nice temps some this week, I've enjoyed that! I can't handle the heat, of summer, so not looking forward to that, but do LOVE spring, and the trees are even starting to green up around here finally! There were a lot of tree's in Lincoln, that had flowers all over them, they were so pretty. Our poor little red bud tree, outside my office window is budding. I love those trees, they are so pretty in the spring, ours is still quite little, but its still neat to see the buds, although not as pretty, as the bigger trees. Growing up in Missouri, I saw them quite a bit in the spring, out in the timber. Now I can't wait for the lilacs!! We didn't have any last year, cause of the late frost, so I'm really hopeful we will this year, even though our lilac bushes are small yet too, gotta LOVE the smell of lilacs!!

Well better get this posted, and get some other things done. I hope to see some of your pets, show up in the yahoo group gallery!! :)

Finally the QP's for the exchange on Blush ~n~ Dusty

I finally got the qp's done for the exchange...just a week before a new one starts. I've been planning on doing them, just hadn't gotten around to it before now. LOL If you are a member of the Blush ~n~ Dusty yahoo group and make a least one qp out of this kit by Blushbutter, and send it to our hostess, you will get all the other qp's that people make, including these too...for this month, I think this puts us up to 20 so far. That's a nice album all ready for your pictures!!

Its raining today...probably not getting lots, but just enough to get wet if your outside. Least its rain, and not snow!! Our grass is loving the extra moisture though, its greening up nicely...not growing lots yet, but that's ok. I enjoyed listening to the rain hit the window during the night...not as good as listening to it on a metal roof, like I grew up doing, but it can still be soothing.

We have used our hand milker several times now...finally today we tried a little bigger part on it, and it worked a little better, but I've not been as happy with it, as I had hoped to be...but maybe now that we changed a part of it, we can get the hang of it and it will work better. If not, we will have to return it, and I'll be stuck milking by hand, which isn't a good thing. LOL One of our goats managed to have it milk her out mostly this morning, so that's a first and gives me hope.

The dogs cornered the cat in DH's office last night. The cat likes to go in there an eat the dogs food, if they aren't around...they must have heard her, cause while we were watching stargate last night, they went tearing off of DH's lap and stood in his office barking their silly heads off. DH went in there to see what was going on, and quiet them down so we could hear the tv, and got a couple of pictures of the cat sitting ON the container he has the food in, with the dogs barking at her. I haven't scrapped them yet...but if you want to see the pictures you can do so here on his blog. The dogs didn't want her eating their food I guess, I thought it was funny she was on top of the food bucket though! LOL

Well I have some things to do, gotta shopping list to make since DH has a VA appointment tomorrow, and dishes to put away...and other indoor things so I better get going. I hope you all are having a good week!! Thanks for the comments.

Funny Photo Layout Challenge

Dad, don't look at this post!! *giggle* Sorry I just HAD to use this photo of you, and since I didn't get around to doing it last year I thought it would work great for a challenge.

Its time once again for the new challenge at Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo Group, well almost anyway. I figured I would go ahead and post this a little early, since I just did my layout today for it. If you want to see the freebie kit you get a little closer look, go to Blushbutter's blog, and scroll down a little and you will see it. Isn't it beautiful? Feel free to recolor if you need a color besides pink, like I did. I'll be posting it through the group later tonight or in the morning.

I have been wanting an excuse to scrap this photo of my Dad, even though I figured he could get ummm miffed at me spreading it around the net, but since its so many years old (1971), and really is guaranteed to bring a smile (ok a snicker) to everyone, and make their day a little happier, I just had to have the challenge for this month be about a funny photo....or one that made you think of something funny. While you COULD make the photo so it can't be seen on line, if your a nicer person than I am, whats the fun in that! LOL However feel free to do that to yours if you must. I do LOVE a good laugh, and when my Mom sent me this one, I loved it, because as soon as I saw it I started laughing, and ever since, every time I happen across it, I have laughed. Not really AT my dad, but hey, the picture really is rather....funny looking! *giggle*

This is my first layout in pse, I'm so proud of myself for not giving up and going back to pspX! LOL Granted I kept it simple...REAL simple...but it was still way slower than normal, and I'm slow enough, with psp. I found several more things that either I don't know how to do, or it just won't do (bummer) but since I'm sure you all are tired of me moaning about programs I'll forgo listing them. I did find out a neat thing...if you hit control D, and then click on the layer you want selected in the layer pallet, it will select the element. I sooooo wanted to go try it in psp to see if it worked there and I just hadn't figured it out (in all the years of using it) but I didn't. Anyway, least I managed one layout, we will see if I can do a little more later this week....maybe a little more complicated looking.

I made some whole wheat crackers this afternoon, and then while they were finishing baking, I made some simple apple salad. Love Apples, raisins, black walnuts (has to be black walnuts) and a little bit of lemon juice all mixed up together. Its all good for you, even though they are carbs, so we have to watch the serving size. Anyway, my Doxie was in Apple heaven! She LOVE's fruit and apples are one of her favorites, so every time she sees me getting that handy dandy apple peeler my wonderful hubby surprised me with a year and a half ago out, she stands around waiting for some of those heavenly apple peels to fall from my hand. LOL I give her some from each apple till she gets enough, which when I'm just doing enough apples for a salad, is pretty much every apple that gets peeled. After I was finished I saw her running happily to grab a toy, which isn't' something she does alot anymore, unless she is in a really good mood...she is going to be 8 this year I think, so playing with toys has slowed down from few years ago. Usually the toy time is when both DH and I are in the house, so they can show off, and make us both laugh. DH was outside though, so I knew she was really happy to have gotten some of those apples. We have always thought it strange that she would rather have fruit, than a chunk of meat.

Its been kinda dreary here today, not real warm, and damp...got a little rain this morning, but not all that much. The grass is just starting to turn green though, so there is hope, that Spring is around the corner!! Still waiting to hear the frogs though.

For further proof that God has a sense of humor, read my DH's blog post for today! :)

Have a great week, and thanks so much for your comments!!

Shadow Scrap's freebie, and PSE6

Since my friend, Jamie, just started her blog, she wanted to put her first freebie up, and I thought I would mention it here on mine, since her blog is new. Feel free to go download it here, if you want it...and leave some love on her blog if you can!

My PSP XI crashed one two many times this week, so I went around looking to see what people were saying about psp 12, and also looking into pse6. I watched some video's about pse6, and read a few threads on forums about it, as well as psp12, and broke down and tried pse out. I found out that the new version of 12, doesn't do the ONE thing that has stopped me even wanting to consider switching...which is allowing me to drag directly from the organizer, to my page that I'm working on, without that extra step in there, of taking the paper or element to the desktop with the layout, and then sliding it over onto the layout. I know that its not all THAT much more work, to do it that way, but taking it from the organizer, directly into the layout is so much faster it seems, and since that's what I have been used to, from the start, I haven't wanted to give that up. However when I found out, that psp 12 took that away, the decision wasn't as hard to make.

I have a month to figure out if I like pse well enough to buy it or not...if I like it, maybe I will ask for that for my birthday in May, if I can get enough money together for it...ok, not ask, just tell DH what I'm buying for myself! *giggle* Anyway I've played with it a little, and there ARE some things I'm not sure that I like as well as psp. (I do LOVE that it hasn't crashed on me yet though! LOL)

If anyone knows if the following things exist, or can be used as described, PLEASE let me know, either by leaving a comment, or e-mailing me!

Air brush - I didn't use it all that much in psp, however once in a while I did...and I wanted it tonight, but psp crashed on me, so I didn't bother going back into it, and tried to find it in pse. I couldn't find it, and I even did a search in help for it, and it couldn't find it.

Warp Brush - I LOVE this in psp!! I found Liquify in pse, which will work just as well, except for one BIG problem. In PSP I can do the same thing, but it leaves the element I'm "warping" in the layout, and I just work with it there, which is a must, if you are....say....working with a ribbon that you want to warp around another element on the page. So, I need to figure out how to use liquify with the other elements showing too....if that's possible

In psp if I'm playing with things on a page, and group several things together, and decide I want to save just the things I have grouped, I can go to the layer pallet, and pull that "group" off onto the desktop, and then save it in the grouping, either with the layers or in a png, for a "groupie". I tried pulling an element from the layer pallet to the desktop, (just one element) and it wouldn't work, then I tried pulling that element from the layout to the desktop....still wouldn't work....I couldn't even copy the element, as I couldn't find out how to. I probably was just doing things wrong, but that's the third thing I have found so far, that I need to figure out, cause I use that feature in psp quite often.

Last but not least are the dropshadows. I've gotten so used to the dropshadows in psp and like that I can go in and do a dropshadow several times. Like one time I'll do a really tiny one going one direction, then I'll go back and do it a little bigger the opposite direction so it gives definition around the whole elements...then if I want it to look like its off the page more, I'll go back a third time, using more blur. With pse, I think "layer styles" is the only way to do a dropshadow, and I think you can only do one. I need to figure out if there is any way to have more than one on an object....and which setting is for blur. LOL I do like the idea that you can go back and change the layer styles, later on, in case you want a bigger dropshadow...or smaller one. That's a really cool feature that psp XI doesn't have...although I heard that 12 does have layer styles now. However dropshadows are something I use all the time and are also something I'm kinda picky about for myself....not that I think mine are the BEST, but I'm not sure if I will like them in pse as well...I thought they looked a little more fake, although I do need to play with them a little more.

Those are just the 4 things I've found so far that I really would like to figure out. There could be more, but I went through psp trying to think of the things I would hate to live without, and those four things are the only things I couldn't find (so far)...since the drag from the organizer to the layout option isn't available in psp12, I'm not including that "must have" feature in my list.

I'm suppose to be finishing up my kit, but got slowed down, with psp crashing, and trying to figure out pse. I may have to go back to pspX tomorrow, just so I can try to finish a few things up, or this kit won't ever get done! LOL Then maybe I'll take a break, to try to figure out if I can live with pse, in the next month, before I even think of trying to start a new one. I would rather learn it by doing layouts, than trying to actually make something for a kit, least at first.

I have yet to try and see if I can make text go around a shape yet, I don't do that lots, but do like the option. Can't think of anything else yet, that I need to try...but I'm sure there will be something. I did check out the gradient tool....I like it lots better, its much easier to make your own gradient in pse, than it was in psp. Least to me it is. I also like the quick selection tool....I haven't used it much, just played with it a little, but it looks like it will be wonderful for extractions!! I will have to play more with it, and see if it will work, like I'm hoping. I also like how the crop tool works, how you can turn the crop box at an angle...I think I read that you could do that in psp12...but I know you can't do it in XI or before.

Anyway, I better stop rambling and get to bed. I told DH I would rather not milk in the morning, since the kids are still on the Mom's, we can take a break one day a week...and my wrists need it, cause they are starting to be achy. But its getting late, so even though I don't have to get up as early, I really should get some sleep! LOL I do have to say though, that I have really enjoyed having the milk (we have gotten just almost a quart each day this week)and I've had some on some cereal, and it hasn't bothered me. Our cereal is almost gone, so now we will start saving the milk, till we get enough to try making some cheese!! That should be fun! LOL

Have a great weekend!! Thanks for your comments, both here and in my e-mail!

How to take 18 years, and document them on 100 pages

1) First you have to go around and gather up all the photo's you can find, of your subject. Look in all the nooks and cranny's on your computer, as well as through all your old photo albums, and the boxes of photo's you may have laying around. Don't forget to call all the relatives, and ask if they by chance have any they can share with you.

2) Scan any photo's in, that aren't already on your computer, and if possible try to con someone else into scanning some photo's in for you also, so you don't have to. This is important, because it lets you do other things, like other layouts, cleaning that you always put off, because you're on the computer way to much, or even reading a book, one of the things you used to LOVE to do, till you discovered digital scrapbooking.

3)Next you make a folder for every year, and distribute all of the photo's into the correct folder. Its very important to have a few photo's for each year, and to know at least the year of each photo, so you can put the date on each layout, so future generations can know when the photo was taken. Of course you will always have some that don't have the date written on them, so in those you just have to try to guess and get as close as possible. I always tell myself it won't be the end of the world if my guess is wrong....hopefully I'm not lying to myself.

4)Next you double check, and make SURE you have gotten all the photo's from other people that you can, after all, you want to make sure you don't run out of photo's before you get to the end of the 100 pages.

5)Now you go to each years folder, and separate the photo's into groups. If there are several photo's that go together, either they were all taken on the same date, or were all taken on the same vacation or something like that, you put them into their own folder. You do this for ALL of the years folders.

6)Now its time to go back and figure out how many layouts you think there will be for each year...writing them down as you go, so you can go back and add them up.

7)You get out your calculator....because Math was never your best subject, and you want to make sure you get the right answer, and start adding...."WHAT? NO WAY, THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT!" so you go back and add them all up again...groan....and say to yourself "I'm in trouble!!!!!"

8)After figuring out that you have WAY to many photo's, kick yourself for begging everyone for their photos, although you ended up with some great ones, you hadn't seen before, you start going through and seeing what you can possibly live without and put it in a reject folder.

9)Grab that calculator, and add the pages up again...start pulling your hair out, when the answer is STILL way to high, sigh, and go back to rejecting even more of the precious photo's that help to tell the story of your loved ones first 18 years including a few "years" folders, that didn't have very many photo's in them, even though it was really important to have at least one layout for each year.

10)Several boxes of tissues later (which were needed to wipe away the tears that fell, for each rejected photo) you are finally down to 100 layouts worth of photo's. Send up a prayer that you counted right, and didn't reject some that would have been better to use, than some others you kept.

11)Write down an outline of what each of the 100 layouts are going to be about, in your notebook, so you can mark each one off as you do them. This is a very important step, as it helps you to get over the trauma of all those rejected photo's, because you ADORE lists! They make you feel good, and as you cross each one off, you can feel like you have accomplished something.

There now, don't you feel better already?

12)Later that evening, once you are recovered mostly from all the trauma of organizing 18 years worth of photo's, get on your computer, and blog about it so you can warn others that it is IMPOSSIBLE to cram 18 years worth of memories into 100 pages!!!!!!!!!!! Don't even try, unless you have lots of hair to spare, several boxes of tissues, and a strong heart that can handle seeing yet another of those precious photo's rejected.

Feel free to show anyone else this guide, who maybe thinking of attempting the same thing I did. You may very well save their sanity.

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As you have probably guessed, I managed to finish getting the photo's of Kali organized today. It was not easy, there are to many I had to leave out....and I'm hoping I left enough pages for the next year and a half's worth of photo's. There really aren't that many pages left, soooo I could be in big trouble! LOL Anyway, I was feeling silly, so had to do a "guide" for anyone who thinks they want to take 18 years worth of photo's and put them into a 100 page book....not going to happen, unless you don't take that many photo's.

BTW, that isn't really a "layout" up there, I just wanted to "illustrate" my "guide" with a "pile" of photo's. *snicker*

Now that I've wasted way to much of my evening on this silliness, I better get off here and get to bed. Before I go, I just want to say if you haven't already, you really should go check out Blushbutter's newest kit!! Its got some beautiful colors in it, and can be used for many different kinds of layouts! I made myself feel better this afternoon, by downloading it, even though I may not get to play with it, till next week. Its really beautiful, as hers usually are.

I hope you enjoyed my silliness a little, *giggle* thanks for the comments, both here on my blog, and through e-mail, have a great weekend!

March's Layout Challenge on Blush ~n~ Dusty's Yahoo Group

Well with March here, and spring just around the corner (I hope!) I thought I would have this months theme be what you like the most about spring. I KNOW there are quite a few of you who are soooooo ready for spring, I know I am, even though with it comes the mud, especially after having so much snow. So come join us on the Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group, and show us what you like the most about spring!! You can get the mini kit from Lara Payton FREE, by using the coupon code, that you can get in the group.

This layout uses that free mini kit, and I showed some of my favorite things from spring in it. The baby goats dancing around the pasture, the song of the frogs in the creek, everything turning green and the beautiful flowers.

Kit Credit: Flora Fun by Lara Payton Alpha pack 1 by Blushbutter

I think this spring, we are destined to not have those adorable baby goats dancing around the pasture. We lost the one that survived yesterday, last night. DH came in this morning and told me it looked like Mom crushed it. She was in a separate pen, and had plenty of room, but still had to lay down on it. I don't know if this was her first time having babies or not, because we just bought her last year, but I had really hoped that she would be able to raise that one up....I guess we aren't meant to have a reminder of Billy.

I have this problem with the tail's of the black and tan doxie's we have I think. I remember when we were traveling a lot with our business, I was holding the one we had at that time and had to get something out of the middle console in the truck, and didn't realize that his tail was hanging down so it was in it. I shut it when I got done, and got his tail, the poor thing. After that, he could be sleeping in my arms, but if anyone opened the console, his tail would tuck up against him, it was actually pretty funny. Anyway, last night Autumn came up and wanted one of the mint treats I keep in my desk drawer for them so I got the package out of the drawer and had it in my hand, with her standing on my lap with her nose as close to the bag as it could be. I reached down to shut the middle drawer of my desk...which has to be open just a tad bit, to open the side drawers...and all of a sudden, Autumn yipped, and jumped up into my arms. I had to laugh, cause it was funny how she did it, but the poor thing had her tail in the drawer, and when I shut it, it got pinched! I think our dogs, especially if they are black, should really watch their tails, when they are around me!!! *giggle*
Tomorrow is my Dad's birthday, so I thought I would show the card I made him, and wish him a very happy birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy!! I hope you have a great day!!!

The photo's on the card, are ones Dad took. I thought the fact that he caught the kid, leaping off the Donkey was cute.

Kit Credit: Junk Drawer by Shadow Scraps

I hope you all have a great weekend!!

QP Exchange again

I managed to get a couple QP's finished for the qp exchange on the Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group. They arn't real "different" or anything, guess I'm still having that creative block I've been having trouble with lately, (ok, more than "lately" its been awhile I know!) but least I got them done, without waiting till the last min!! LOL I even got a card done for my Dad's birthday today, although naturally I won't be posting it, cause I don't want him to see it here first. If you would like to join us in the exchange, feel free to, there is still 2 or 3 weeks left to get in on THIS exchange!!! If you make one qp, and send it to the lady in charge of the exchange, you will recieve all of the qp's that other make too!

Kit Credit: Dainty by Lara Payton

Well I had a nice weekend, didn't do much of anything, but stayed away from the computer more than normal. Don't know that it helped my creativeness at all, but maybe it did a little bit. Least I managed to do a couple things today, even if they weren't "different" or "cool"! LOL I read some of my favorite old romance books (by Essie Summers) when I wasn't doing other things around the house, or checking e-mails. I love her books, and wish I could find more of them, I guess she wrote over 50, so there are quite a few I need to find....somehow. I have loved them for years, and read the ones I have, over and over again, from the time I was a teenager. I also reread the few Janette Oke books I have, and the Little House on the Praire books, AND the Ann of Green Gables books. Those are all my favorites, with a few others thrown in from time to time. Course I don't usually read lots since I discovered Digital Scrapbooking, but once in a while I get in the mood to read, and enjoy some of my old favorites again. I have always LOVED to read, but don't always take the time to.

Yesterday it was up to 50 F.!!!! It was really nice, except for all the mud outside. Today its back down to the 30's, and we had a little rain/snow mix comming down earlier, but it hasn't gotten bad out, or turned the ground white so thats good. We have just a tiny bit of snow left, here and there, but most of it is gone. Thats not to say I don't expect another snow storm, before winter is over, but least if we get one now, we MAY not have it sticking around for a month or more, like the last several have. I can't believe that March will be here soon!! Spring is just around the corner....well....we hope anyway! *giggle*

Anyway, I have to go figure out what I'm making for supper in a little while, so I better get off here. If you don't see me post here for a little while, its probably cause I'm reading, instead of doing what I should be doing, and working on Kali's book! LOL Least we can hope thats the only reason anyway! Have a great week!!! And thanks so much for the comments!

Layout Challenge for Feb. on Blush ~n~ Dusty's Yahoo Group.

Its that time again, already the 1st of another month, so time to share about the next Layout Challenge on the Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group!! This month I want to see some layouts of something or someone that you love!! It can be your DH of course, or your kids, grandkids, other family, friends, pets...or maybe you want to show an heirloom you have had passed down to you, or something your sweetie bought you that you just love. Another idea could be something you love to do, such as a hobby, sport, or other special activity you get lots of enjoyment out of.

I chose to do a layout with my DH in it. (yeah, I know, your not surprised! *giggle*) I adore him, and just LOVE when he grins, so found a photo from just after we were married, and used the one I caught of him laughing last year, I wanted more than one time frame pictured, because I've never stopped loving him. I also made it a horizontal layout, because they work wonderfully on my computer desktop, and I wanted to use it for my desktop for a while, I love looking at large photo's of DH, when he isn't right here with me! LOL The background colors look great on my desktop too.

Kit Credit: Feb Layout Challenge kit and freebie rose by Blushbutter

Feel free to join us in the challenge, you must be a member of the Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group to join, and to get the download link, for the free challenge kit. There is more info in the groups messages, and I will send reminders, or answer questions through the group, if you have any! Maybe YOU will be the next winner of a $5.00 coupon to use in Blushbutter AND Dusty Bear's stores (thats $5.00 for EACH store)!!

Well no rambling today, I'm behind, with being gone yesterday, and then this morning I had to run up and help our neighbor with his computer, so I have to get off the computer and get some things done!! That will make the back up I'm trying to do run faster anyway, so guess that's good. LOL I hope everyone has a great weekend, stay safe, and enjoy it!! Thanks for your lovely comments!

More Snow

We had beautiful temps here the last couple days, it was in the upper 50's and lower 60's!!! However this morning, its back to winter, cold, windy, and snowing! We had gotten rid of almost all of the ice and snow, just had patches left, and now its 10 degrees out, and the ground is turning white again...not very white, but there is a dusting on the ground, and its still snowing. Except for the vast amount of mud that we had yesterday, I loved that it was so warm! I know, its still Jan, so I can't expect spring to be around the corner, but would have enjoyed a few more days of warmth. Oh well, I guess there are good things about winter too! LOL

I did get my qp's done for the Blush~n~Dusty Yahoo group qp exchange today!! I love this kit of Blushbutters, and enjoyed playing with it again. If you want these two qp's plus the other 18 even more beautiful pages people have made....and any others that come in between now and the 15th of Feb, feel free to join us and contribute at least one qp, and you will receive all of them that come in!! Its a wonderful way to get an album done! My two puts the total up to 20, and we still have half the month to go, I can't wait to see how many we end up with. This is a monthly exchange, using different kits from Blushbutter and Dusty Bear, so come join the fun!!

Kit Credit: Helen's Roses & Lace & Creased Frames by Blushbutter

I think I'm going to be extra tired today, cause we had a disturbed night. We got a call about 12:30 from a cousin, he works at a place that raises chickens for the local chicken factory, and he had several chickens that were smaller than the factory wants to use, that he wanted DH to come pick up. We were going to get some new baby chicks this spring, to raise up, and hopefully get our egg production going again, but at this rate, we may not need to, cause we have so many chickens from the cousin. If they start laying eggs, we can keep some of them for that, and then eat the rest. Who knows, other kinds of chickens are probably better for layer hens, but we will see.

At least we can save some money, and not buy as much chicken to eat for a month or two! LOL Course the cousin said they always have chickens that are to small, so I'm sure we will be able to get more, when we need them. It would be nice to not have to buy much chicken at all. The people that work at these places that raise the chickens, sure get a nice side benefit, with being able to have all the to small chickens for free. Course not everyone wants a live chicken to have to butcher, but I never turn down free food....least if its food I will eat, even if it not "ready" to eat! LOL Its not like we are starving or anything, don't get me wrong, but I have a bit of that loving to scrounge in me, that my DH does, so if we can save money, by getting something for free, I'm all for it. That way, just maybe, I'll have a little extra money, for those other little things that usually get put on the back burner.

Anyway, I better get off here, and get some other things done. Have a good day!! Thanks for the wonderful comments, both here and through e-mails!!

Blush ~n~ Dusty QP exchange

I finally got my qp's done for the exchange this month. Its over on the 15th, and then a new one starts, so I there is a little time left, but not lots. LOL This kit of Lara's is so pretty! Kit Credit: A Vintage season 1 & 2.

Yesterday I tried a chocolate cake recipe I found, and I gotta say, Its soooo good!! Not something I want to make lots, cause we just don't need it, but its nice to know I can make a good one now and then, even if I don't have a cake mix. It does take buttermilk, but next time I think I'll just get milk, and make my own, by adding vinegar to it, cause then I can use it for other things too. It does take lots of butter, between the cake and the frosting, and it seems we have constantly been low on butter the last several months, so DH had to get some extra yesterday. He took some of it up to the neighbors house this morning, along with a couple chickens he had skinned for them, so at least we don't have to try to eat the whole thing ourselves. If you want the recipe I found it at pioneer woman cooks blog. You can go here to go right to the recipe. I also want to try out her orange muffins (here) but guess I really should wait till we get more butter, cause it would take half of what we have left! LOL Gotta go shopping at the end of the week, so maybe in the next week or two, I can try them....that is if I can find my muffin pans, I don't make muffins much, so not sure if I ever unpacked those or not. Today I'm making bread, I need to make it more often, but haven't really wanted to cook lately.

The neighbor lady just called and wanted the recipe for the cake, so there you go, another person saying its wonderful!! If you like chocolate, you really have to try it! If you don't like chocolate, don't bother, you probably won't like it! *giggle* Make sure you have someone you can give part of it to, or you will be forced to eat it all yourself, (no way could I let it sit there and spoil) and while I would love to eat it all, I'd make myself sick, and even fatter than I already am!

Anyway, I better go get some things done in the kitchen, and check my bread dough. Maybe if I'm lucky I can do a layout tomorrow, we will see! Have a great day, and thanks for your comments, both on my blog, and through e-mails!

Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo Group Layout Challenge for Jan.

The new Challenge is up at Blush ~n~ Dusty's Yahoo group. This time I chose to use our favorite photo (or photo's) of 2007. Mostly because when I'm putting my photo's...or from now on my layouts with photo's from that year....in a album, I always pick one of my favorite photo's for the last page of the album. So I decided I would use that concept for this months challenge, that way I could kill two birds with one stone, have the last page of my 2007 album done, AND have a theme for the challenge! LOL Lara Payton supplied the mini kit for the challenge, its downloadable in her store, but is password protected, and you have to be a member of the yahoo group, to get the password. The challenge lasts all month, so there is plenty of time to join us!

Here is my layout for the challenge...although I'm not elegible to win of course LOL...I included a couple other photo's, this time, besides my favorite one. This year my Favorite photo wasn't a sunset (or sunrise) picture, which is amazing, as the past several years they have been. LOL I love sunset photo's, with all the colors!!

Kit Credit: Jan Yahoo Group Mini kit and Journaling bundle by Lara Payton

If your not a member of the Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group, come join us, its lots of fun, besides this layout challenge every month, there is also a quick page exchange each month, that goes from the 15th to the 15th. I still need to do mine for this month, guess I better get busy! LOL I love how friendly and helpful everyone is in the group.

I hope everyone had a safe New Years eve! Happy New Year (again! LOL) Thanks for all of your comments, both here and through e-mail!

More winter layouts

I remembered I had this kit by Misty Cato that would work with more ice pictures, so I got a couple more layouts done, of the photo's I took after our last storm. I still have a ton more, although they won't all get into layouts I'm sure, so I need to go looking for some more winter kits in my files I think. I just don't remember all that many winter kits....so we will see what I come up with I guess.

This first layout shows the ice on our willow, and how the limbs are drooping. I love that my DH's little tractor was parked in front of it to, it makes it a more interesting picture, least I think so. I love that little tractor, it is a workhorse, and small to boot.

This 2nd layout shows more of the ice. The larger photo, of the tree, really had the sun shinning through the ice, and the whole pasture in front of the tree...most of which got cut off so it fit in the frame....was full of sparkles. Naturally you can't really tell in the photo to well, but its still kinda neat.

Kit Credit for both layouts: Winter Morning by Misty Cato.

For those of you who love quick pages, and have liked my layouts,besides there being some in my store, I have to tell you about some in Blushbutters!! I have made the layouts I did, with Blushbutter kits into qp's and she has put them into a HUGE album, and added a few of her own, and is selling it in her store. There are 92 pages total, in the album, all of them are sized at 8.5 X 11. The best part about it is the price, so if you are in the market for that size of a qp, better run over there and check it out, you can't beat the price!

Thanks so much for all of your wonderful comments!!! I hope everyone is having a really nice day!!

Daisy went home

I finally got a couple brag book pages done for the exchange this month at Blush ~n~ Dusty Yahoo group. I love teddy bears, so thought I would use this one, and came up with this.

Kit Credit: Baby Girl Heartstrings kit, Baby boy Heartstrings kit, and Digital Silver Heritage frames ALL by Blushbutter. There is still time to join us in this exchange, it goes through the 15th of Dec!! Also don't forget the layout challenge, it goes till the end of Dec!!

Last night Daisy's old family came to pick her up. She was so happy to see them, I opened the front door, she went out and jumped on them and said Hi, then went running around outside a little while we talked with them for a little bit. She was like a different dog, all happy and everything. I'm sure she would get that way eventually with anyone, given time, but it would take time and it was good to see her happy now!

We had to go do our shopping today, I was going to wait till later in the week, but the weather was suppose to be worse later in the week, so we decided to do it today. Spent way to much money...as usual...although it was worse this month for some reason. Not celebrating Christmas, we shouldn't have so much trouble in December, with having to buy extra things, but there were several things we had to get, that wasn't "usual" some we had been putting off.

Plus we got a toaster oven, cause they were cheap, (hopefully we don't regret getting the "cheap" one) so we didn't have to heat the oven just to heat up some small things, that taste better in the oven, than the microwave. We have talked about getting one for years....but never have. Can you believe, we have been married for 16 years, and this is our first toaster oven? We've had toasters, just not toaster ovens. Strange....it wasn't something Mom ever had, so I guess it wasn't high on my list of things to buy, although I always wanted to try one. This way I can make some more pizza burgers and freeze them, and just heat up a couple of them without heating up the oven. That is if I can get everyone to not pig out on them, like we did last time I made them! LOL There wasn't anything to freeze, darn it!!

Anyway, needless to say, having to shop, stopped me from getting some things done today, that I was hoping to do. Oh well, just means I don't have to worry about having to do it again, till next month!! Well except for maybe a little bit in a couple weeks, but that's just in town here. Hopefully I can get back at it tomorrow! Would be nice to get a couple layouts done, plus finish putting things away here. better get off here now though. Take Care, and thanks so much for your comments!!

Doxie Designs Word Frame Freebie

I woke up to a dusting of snow this morning, and its still snowing, although I don't know that its going to really give us lots, but its our first for this winter! I guess that means winter is finally here, it was 70 earlier in the week, and now its freezing...guess thats the way it goes. I hope everyone will have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!! Don't eat to much, and enjoy your time with family, friends, or your alone time, whatever you happen to be having. For all of you wonderful friends who don't live in the US, so aren't celebrating Thanksgiving, have a great day anyway!! :)

Before I get to much into cooking I thought I would come post some word frames for you, my way of saying Happy Thanksgiving! I did three shapes, and each shape comes with the word Thankful, and Thanksgiving, so can be used for those of you outside the US, as I'm sure your thankful about many things too! They are also all in PNG files, AND PSD files because if you want to put the frame around a picture, and want the picture just inside of the frame, I thought it would be easier for you, if I had a shape, that you could use, to cut out the picture to the exact size. Of course you could have the photo a little bigger, so the words are actually ON the photo, its up to you. I hope you can use these, and will enjoy them!!

Download link is on the freebie page, of my google group, and will only be there through Thanksgiving weekend! It will come down sometime on Monday morning! I would love to know if you like these...and if the PSD file was helpful! It will help me know if I should ever make any more...and if I do make more, if I need to bother with the PSD files! So please leave me a comment, and let me know! Thanks!