My Weblog

Quiet, Peaceful, Tranquil, Serene

It's Saturday morning.  What that means is that Joe has gone off to his Gideon prayer breakfast and the house is quiet.  I can think!  I have about 45 minutes to do whatever I'm going to do here and then the house will return to it's usual chaos the moment he comes through the door.  No doubt I will be subjectd to hours of "the golf" blaring in the background, or football if he can find that.  Gosh, I wish he'd go get a hearing test.  He sits over in the corner with the TV at about as loud as it will go and then that's all he can hear, so there's no thought of conversation.  If there IS conversation, he doesn't hear me talking or he doesn't hear what's said or he hears it incorrectly.......it's all pretty darn frustrating. 

I "babysat" with Will Wednesday night and Thursday morning.  Will had swim class Wednesday evening (of course I took pictures) and I met him and his mom there, then drove through Burger King to get him some dinner, then took him home.  We watched one of his CD's together for a while, but as it began to get dark outside, he insisted that the TV was enough light and I couldn't turn any lights on.  I know where THAT comes from.  THAT's Jason talking.  Phooey on that; I went into the office and used Jen's computer to check out some scrapping sites.  I got him showered and jammied and into bed and was almost finished with reading to him when Jen and Jason came home.  They had gone to a parenting class which was recommended to them by the rehab facility.  Unfortunately, it is the same parenting class that is recommended for people who know absolutely nothing about parenting or people who have abused or neglected their kids.  Jason's mindset was against it before he even went, just based on that.  Apparently, sitting through the 2 1/2 hour session didn't make him any happier.  He came away with the comment that the proportion of time to information was bad.  Oh, well......This class was supposed to be a six week class but who knows if he'll agree to go back now.

I stayed with Will again Thursday AM for about 3 1/2 hours.  I had gotten it into my head that Jennifer had a job interview, but that was incorrect.  Instead, they went to their final conference at the rehab facility.  Rehab has released Jason from treatment.  It is not that he is "cured", though I'm sure that is the way he will choose to take it, but rather that they have done as much for him as they are able to do.  The rest is up to him.  They had a little ceremony and some cake and refreshments and commented on how hard he'd worked on the program.

We spent yesterday afternoon with a client.  He wants to do his own accounting work in house and has three sons who cooperate to varying degrees in that effort.  But the reality is, they don't have a clue what they're doing.  It's a darn shame because Dad has developed the business to where it's grossing over $1 million a year.  I'm just afraid the "kids" are going to kill of that business when it has so much potential.  We'll do what we can, but I don't see any of these boys as particularly motivated to do their best.  So sad.

Well, I don't have any additional news.  Truth be told, I'd rather be sleeping.  But, for some reason, Joe locked Punkin in the bedroom with me and at 6:30AM she was busy walking on me and crying and whining to get out of the bedroom.  Try to sleep through that.......I really resent that I have to get up early on Saturday morning just because he does.  I'm trying to talk him into a weekend someplace in September.  I've made two suggestions so far and both have been rejected.  We can't afford to go anywhere expensive or for very long.  Jed has been playing games with my paychecks and as of today, I'm short 3 of the last 4 pays.   But, I'm dying to go someplace where the phone doesn't ring constantly.  I wouldn't mind that much if a) the ringing phone wasn't caused by someone who wants to refinance our house (like Joe can't handle that himself if we were in the market); b) the ringing phone wasn't caused by Joe's ex-boss for whom Joe does ALL KINDS of work and might bet a check for $500 a year; c) the ringing phone wasn't a good excuse for Joe to yell into the phone; d) the ringing phone wasn't always at the moment we sit down to lunch or dinner; e) the ringing phone meant more business.  Money is really tight around here.......

Well, that's it for me for today.  I'll post some layouts and get off of here because Joe will be home shortly and insanity will reign til the next time he goes somewhere. 

My stepdaughter came for a visit with a fistful of photos; one of them was this photo of DH from about 15 years ago. We joked (quietly) that there was more hair, less Joe. It's interesting to see what a cutie he was then......Now if I could just get him to lose about 30 pounds.....I used Marcie Reckinger's new kit Nevaeh Mist for most of this. The "important" stamp and the note pad (recolored) are by Christine Smith. Fonts are Coaster Poster and Arial Black.

Another of the photos my stepdaughter brought me. She's about 2 years old in these photos. She's a cutie and it's easy to see why DH thinks she's so special. I used Heather Ann's new Summer Fun kit for this one. Need to add that the flourish brush is by Michelle Coleman, used as a clipping mask for papers from Heather Ann's kit.

This is one of my all time favorite photos. I just loved how the golden light of sunset reflected off the house in the bg. I used Deb Fisher's new kit called Bushel of Citrus for this one. I used some VP on the photo and I'm not sure I like it....maybe the original photo would have been better? TFL, Marci

My DH used to leave every morning and go to work. I would wait, impatiently, for him to go, relishing the idea that it would soon be peaceful and quiet in the house. NOW, he works from home and I have finally asked him to go to the drugstore and get me some earplugs because he mutters, mumbles, gripes, complains, swears, and just generally is a PITA all day.....not to mention the legitimate phone calls his work entails. I couldn't resist scrapping this and I had so much fun doing it, I had to share....... Just humor me and tell me it made you laugh! I used Shabby Princess's Studio Chic page kit. Marci

Well, this layout has me mystified. One way I look at it, it does everything I want it to do. Another way I look at it, I'm not satisfied. So, you'll have to tell me...... My step daughter was here for a visit a few weeks ago. DH took her and our DGS to the local gokart place. We thought DGS was old enough to really enjoy "driving" the gokarts. We were surprised he preferred this giant slide! He rode it over and over and smiled like crazy each time. Believe it or not, I used a girly kit on this one--Amanda Rockwell's Summer Girls 2, available at Elemental Scraps. The flourish is by Michelle Pearson, the arrows, used as a cutting mask for paper from the kit, are by Christy Sturm at Butternug Squash Designs. TFL, Marci

Journaling is about the first year Jennifer was in Law School. DH and I made at least weekly trips of 45 miles RT to pick DGS up at Day Care and take care of him for the night, then take him back to Day Care the following morning. When we picked him up, he was tired, cranky, and hungry so we'd go to our favorite restaurant for a quick meal. We'd try everything to get him to smile. What that didn't work, this particular evening, I tried pouting with him. This is Amanda Rockwell's fun new kit, Charlie, available TODAY at Sweet Shoppe Designs.

went to a movie!

Well, we actually did something out of the ordinary yesterday.  I'd told Joe I wanted to see World Trade Center, and he actually took me to see it.  I'm shocked.  Of course, it was necessary to schedule the movie AFTER "the golf", but we went anyway.  I really enjoyed the movie and so did Joe.  He keeps saying it wasn't what he expected.  I have no idea what he expected....perhaps something more on the whole thing of many people being rescued and evacuating from the building.  But, it was a very moving show.  One of the things that I found interesting was the memories it stirred up......memories I didn't think I'd ever forget, but which had slipped below the surface.  I had forgotten, for example, about the search and rescue dogs that helped work the scene.  There is just the tiniest flash of an exhausted dog as the camera moves past in the movie.  Another thing I had forgotten was how the country all pulled together at that time.  There is a scene of some Wisconsin police officers who are watching the whole thing on TV and talking about how they wish there were something they could do.  Then there's a scene of the same police officers grilling and serving brats at the scene........  That whole thing.....it is a chapter in the history of this country we can never afford to forget--it certainly helps to make things like the heightened security at airports more understandable and easier to cope with.  The movie is tastefully done and Nicholas Cage and the rest of the cast do an exemplary job in the movie.  So, I highly recommend it. 

We did accomplish one other thing with that outing.  There is a huge new casino built on the Northwest edge of town called the Redrock.  It's been open for quite a while, but this was our first time there.  I really wanted to get some photos, but it was sooooooooo hot, I decided I'd do that a bit later, maybe in late September when it's cooler--there's this long driveway lined with very tall palm tree after palm tree.  Joe and I have joked that we could probably live for several years off of the money that was spent just for these palm trees.    I thought about taking pictures inside, but when you've lived in Vegas for as long as I have, the inside of a casino pretty much looks like the inside of any other casino.  The only exception to that, in my opinion, is the NYNY which has a section that looks very much like I imagine a neighborhood in New York would look like. 

In a way, this is not funny, but in a way it is.  We were walking out of the casino and got caught in a group of people who were all headed toward the exit.  In front of us was this woman.  Honestly, I have never seen such a big rear end in my life.  Now, I'm no slim jim myself, but........wow!  You just have to wonder if she ever looks in a mirror.....  And, who makes pants to fit that shape?  Motivation to keep pouring in the water and keep moving!  I spend lots of hours in front of the computer which could result in spread, but, please, Lord, not that........

Met with a client of mine this morning who is just a fine man.  I felt so bad for him.  He made a mistake many years ago which has reared up to bit him at this point in his life.  He's worked his butt off building a dynamite business.  His family has toe opportunity to net between a quarter of a million and half a million a year from that business.  He has three grown sons and, because of the other problem, has tried to turn the business over to them.  One son, the one he thought could be in charge, is a spend thrift and has a remarkably bad attitude.  The other two sons are more level-headed, but dad mistakenly put the business into the name of the older son, so they have difficulty curbing him.  The poor man just sat here at my desk.  I gave him my best advice, but it was obvious he doesn't want to accept it.  Accepting my advice means he has to let the oldest son fend for himself for a few years til LIFE teaches him what he refuses to learn from Dad.  That would be hard for any of us, I think.  Anyway, seeing him with tears in his eyes, was tough.  And, despite the time I spent with him (2 hours), we still have not resolved my remaining questions with regard to a couple of tax returns I need to complete and be paid for.......

Well, that's it on the home front.  I've got to get going.  Here are some more pages in my game of catch up. 

Joe's daughter, Christy, took his grandson, Jonathan to Knott's Berry Farm. I particularly liked this photo which emphasized how small he was compared to his mom. Couldn't help but play up the fact that he was "driving" while Mom was the passenger. Papers, printed ribbon and brad are from Bella Gypsy Designs, available at ACOT--their Indian Summer kit. Yellow tag and "cone" are from Christy Sturm's Construction kit at Butternug Squash Designs.

Joe's daughter, Christy, ran Cross Country in her Junior year in High School. The Burgundy paper is from a kit called Berry Sweet by Bella Gypsy Designs, available at ACOT. The pom poms and "go team" are from Ronnie McCray's Cheerleading kit. Template for the curve is by Gina Miller.

About 11 years ago, on Christmas morning, a Daddy was in the street in his bathrobe in front of his house, helping his 2 year old daughter learn to ride her new bike. Someone took pictures. The pink bow is by Ronna Penner (recolored). Everything else is by Bella Gypsy Designs, their new kit called Baby's Got Style, available at ACOT. A little VP action on the photos......

At the ripe old age of 2, Erica had an experience which most Mom's could identify with. It was late at night and her baby was hungry. She sat down in her chair, fed the baby, and they both fell asleep. Then someone snapped a picture. VP on the photo. Kit is the Berry Sweet kit by Bella Gypsy Designs, available at ACOT. Doodle flower (recolored) is by Fee Jardine.

Was unzipping and organizing some kits yesterday and ran across this kit by Lianne Carper called Pretty as a Flower. I thought it was just perfect for this photo of Erica, taken at Kindergarten about 8 years ago. The doodle is from the DDE Creative Team Spring Doodles. TFL, Marci

Just a very simple layout. DH's DD arrived for a visit with a fistful of old photos so I am scrapping them for them. The kraft paper here is from the Authentic kit by Sara Carling. Everything else is from Delightful Daisies by Christy Sturm at Butternug Squash Designs, available Friday.

Ms. Mud

Well, my name is "Mud".  I haven't updated my blog in the last few days and I'm in trouble.  So, I'll try to rectify the situation.  It won't be easy.  Joe has the TV blaring "the golf" behind me and is yelling things like "WHAT A SHOT!" every few seconds at top volume.  Punkin is bringing in sticks and twigs and whatever else she can find from the back yard to chew.  Toby is growling at Punkin just because she exists, and Indy is growling at both of them (guess he doesn't want to be left out).  This is not an atmosphere in which anyone can think.  What DID I do with those earplugs I bought?

So we still haven't gone looking for a new stove.  But, it's August.  Not only does one have to be foolish to step outside the air conditioning for any reason this time of year, but I don't think either of us is real enthusiastic about spending $1000.  I am not at all enthusiastic about heating up the oven either.....the kitchen heats up as though IT's the oven. 

Money has been in short supply around here.  My "boss"--the guy who employs me part time--has now failed to pay me for 4 of the last 6 weeks work.  I'm mad enough to spit, so angry, in fact, that I don't even want to try to discuss it with him.  I'm scared to death of what I'll say.  This after we darn near killed ourselves in June to get some stuff done that he'd neglected for years and suddenly wanted overnight.  Theoretically, he mailed the first paycheck (the one for mid-July), but it never got here--hey, it's just not that far from LA to here, so I don't think he even mailed it.  The other he was supposed to deliver, together with a replacement check for the first, last Sunday, last Wednesday, and so forth. 

Speaking of a short supply of money, apparently Jennifer and Jason are having the same problem.  Jennifer told me they did some very careful budgeting and decided they're about $40 short each month, not counting Jason's doctor bills which just keep coming in the mail.  They have applied for funds from the state's Victims of Violent Crime, but haven't received anything yet, to my knowledge.  Jennifer interviewed, kind of, for a part time job last week.  Seems a faculty member at the Law School is familiar with her work and talked to her about tutoring law students part time.  The money would be roughly equivalent, on a per hour basis, as what she would have earned if she could have reported immediately for the clerking job in the Family Courts for which she was hired, but which she put off when Jason was hurt.  However, she's heard nothing further on that.  She also has an interview with one of the Supreme Court justices whose offices are local, but I don't know how that will go in that she's pregnant.  Of course, it's illegal to discriminate against a person with a "disability" and the law treats pregnancy as a "disability", but there's the law and then there's real life. 

Will starts school this coming week.  He will be a big first grader.  Of course, he turns 7 in mid September and he's showing me that he has loose teeth.  I don't think they're very loose yet, but it's about that time..... 

On the scrapping front, I have resigned from Christy Sturm's Creative Team.  I just felt that the kinds of pages I'm doing and the way I'm doing them didn't go well with the kinds of papers, etc., she's designing.  I have been accepted onto the personal Creative Team for Amanda Rockwell.  I've also been accepted for a position on the Creative Team for the Natural Designs in Scrapbooking store where I will work with designs of a number of different designers.  There's a hot new product on the market called Page Templates.  Essentially, they're a layered file that make constructing a digital layout a snap.  I've applied for a position on a CT for a lady who will be designing nothing but these templates.  I figured it would give me access to some great page designs to use in displaying the kits designed by my other designers.  They're such fun and so easy!  I'll be one happy camper if I get selected for THIS one! 

Well, I don't have a lot of other news.  I still have tax returns to get out so I've got to get to work on them.  I'll post some pages and I'm outta here. 

I have a whole stack of photos of DD that I thought were "safely" stored. But I recently discovered they were deteriorating quickly. So, I've been on a campaign to get them scrapped. Here's another one, repaired as best I can, with her grandfather. Just LOVE the bonnet! I used ACOT's Relax and Rejuvenate kit for this.

My husband has gorgeous blue eyes. Every now and then I get a good photo of him where the eyes really show off. This was one of those shots so I thought I'd better capitalize on it. I used Amanda Rockwell's Blue kit for the page. The arrow (recolored) is from Christy Sturm's True Blue Buddy kit (Butternug Squash Designs).

When I married Joe, I became "mom" to a bunch of kids, the oldest of whom is this "boy". He's thirty and looks so much like his dad it's remarkable. The primary difference is that you could make 2 of his dad if you used him for raw materials! I used Christy Sturm's new kit, Katie, available Friday at Butternug Squash Designs for everything but the flower spray which is by Christine Smith.

A while back, a friend of mine posted a layout of a property she's watched for years, her dream house. Well, I have one of those too. And here it is! I love this house. I used Christy Sturm's Woody for the dark brown bg, Heather Roselli's Zen for the green paper and the token, Lynn Grieveson's Old Farm Kitchen for the flower, Lynn Grieveson's Live Your Dream for the key, and ACOT's Relax and Rejuvenate for the bow.

Me, many years ago. Wouldn't it be nice to turn back the clock? I used a kit called Calypso by Bella Gypsy Designs, available at ACOT. The quote is from The Soup at 2Peas and the flower is by Andrea Burns.

An old photo of Jennifer. I used Bette Duganitz's Denim and Scarlet kit for this.

Not a lot of excitement

Things are kind of quiet here today.  I finished up one tax return that has to go out Fedex today and Joe will drop it off after lunch.  I have one more to finish which I'll work on this evening.  The phone is quiet and the fax is not ringing.  Lord, this is TOO quiet.  Doesn't bode well for the budget..... 

Kinda funny last night at bedtime.  Originally, when we first brought Punkin home, I thought she'd sleep in the crate.  But, she cried and whined and Joe couldn't take it.  I found him morning after morning asleep in the big recliner--he'd sat up all night with her on his lap!  So, I decided we'd let her sleep on the bed.  I'd know if she got down and I'd be after her before she had a chance to chew anything up.  Well, this made Toby jealous.  In fact, darn near everything makes Toby jealous.  So, he, too, sneaks up on the bed whenever he thinks he can get away with it.  But last night, it was Indiana.  Now Indy ways about 100 pounds.  And in the past, he had no interest in being in there.  He much preferred to sleep on the cool tiles in the entryway, and, as rambunctious as he is, that was just fine with us.  But, last night......he got up on the bed.  We petted him and paid a lot of special attention to him and thought sooner or later, as always, he'd tire of it and head off to lay in his spot by the front door.  No!  What a surprise for us when he showed NO signs of leaving, even when Joe told him to leave, coaxed him to leave, etc.  Finally, we got him out of there, but I think he's now convinced he's missing out on a good thing by not trying to crash into the bedroom whenever possible.  I predict more mayhem at bedtime in the future.

I took Indy outside and brushed him this morning.  I haven't done that in a while and the hair was flying through the air.  Crazy Punkin was standing on her hind legs trying to catch the little bunches of hair as they sailed past her.  What a nut case she is.  Have I told you that one of her many nicknames is "woodchuck"?  Yup.  We had a tree cut down in April.  I hated doing that, but it really wasn't positioned to give the house any shade and it was sprouting little mini trees all along the rootlines which had spread through out the back yard.  Joe then went out and drilled holes in the stump and poured some gunk in them to kill the thing.  For whatever reason, Punkin has decided it's her mission in life to complete the task.  She's stripped huge pieces of bark off the tree which she then carries in to the house to chew up.  So, "Woodchuck" it is!

I'm still working on my search and destroy mission to get rid of the paper scrapping supplies.  It's a job, believe me.  I'd hoped I could finish up today, but it will be atleast tomorrow if not Sunday before I've got it all boxed up.  It makes me kind of sad in a way, but I'm relishing the thought of all the storage space and clean surfaces I'm going to have when I'm done. 

Well that's about it.  Just want to post some pages and I'm outta here for today. 

We were in a much smaller town over the 4th and we knew no one. There wasn't much to do except go for a drive. Everywhere we went we saw the flag flying. For some reason, it brought to mind 09/11/2001, and I couldn't help but be grateful that "our flag was still there" as it says in the national anthem. I used Christy Sturm's True Blue Buddy page kit, available at Butternug Squash Designs.
This photo was taken at my DD's wedding last year. Jason's buddies have proven to be the kind of friends who can be counted on to be there when there's trouble. I did this page using the Kaleidoscope of Hope charity page kit.
Joe is the "father" of five children, including Christy, one of a set of twin girls he raised with their mother for 15 years. Christy has a son, Jonathan. Two years ago, Christy and Jonathan came for a visit and met Will who is, technically, MY grandson. (These "blended" family arrangements get complicated.....) Anyway, since the two boys had never met, but were only 2 years apart in age, we were anxious to see how they'd get along. Both of them are "onlys", but they had a ball together. I used Deb Fisher's "Not Just Dirt" kit on this. Fun colors and just made for kid photos!
JoAnne became my friend when she and I worked together for the same government agency 32 years ago! She never had children, so when Jennifer came along, she kind of got adopted......JoAnne became "Aunt JoAnne", because she was as close to me as any sister could have been. She has always been wonderfully generous with Jennifer and the wedding was no exception. She showed up early to help with all the set up. We love her..... I used Bella Gypsy Designs "Bugs" kit, available at ACOT. The flower is by Deb Fisher and the bow (recolored) is by Ronna Penner.

When Jennifer was small, I made many of her clothes, partly because I love to sew and partly because of budgetary constraints. I really felt I could create clothes that were individualized for her. This was one of my favorite outfits--it seemed to give her "wings". I had to do a fair amount of restoration work on this photo. Usually I'm not all that happy with my efforts but this one turned out pretty well. All paper and elements (some recolored) from last month's ACOT mega kit, Celebrate Life.
A pretty simple page about our trip to Mexico to get some dental work done. Quite a change of pace........ Everything is from Sara Carling's Authentic kit.    

Trying again

Well, I made the typepad god angry and couldn't post any more pages.  I'll try again.

en and Will went to Phoenix with a friend. While they were there, they had some time together and played in the water. This is done with Lynn Grieveson's new kit, Splash, available this afternoon at SBE. The doodle (recolored) and ribbon are by Ronnie McCray. And, with a little creative cropping, you can even crop your ex-husband out of the picture! TFL, M.

When I took this photo of Jennifer on her wedding day, what I wanted was soft filtered light. Instead, I had very hard afternoon sun. I converted this to b&w and ran it through VP to soften it. The papers and elements are by Deb Pearson in her Morning Dew kit, but everything is desaturated, lightened, reduced opacity, etc til it is almost unrecognizable. I wanted it soft, soft, soft. The lyrics are from a lyrics challenge at RAK scraps. TFL, Marci

This is a prized family photo, taken around 1914. It includes my great great grandfather, my great grandmother, my grandmother and my aunt. I used Christy Sturm's Conservatory Series--the Pinks for the layout, available at Butternug Squash Designs. Clock is from Katie Pertiet. Bow is by Ronna Penner.

In Vegas, all the hotels and casinos on the strip do a simultaneous fireworks display. If you're far enough away, you can get them all, but this just shows the roof of Treasure Island. I used Bella Gypsy Designs Independence kit, available at ACOT. Flower is by Deb Fisher    

Well, it was not my intention to be "gone" so long from my weblog, but....so it goes.  We spent the last week of July staying at Jennifer's house while she holed up in a hotel trying to get in as much last minute studying in as possible before and during the bar exam.  She was uncomfortable leaving Will alone with Jason, so Joe and I each spent two nights there.  Neither of us thought that met our definitions of a good time, but it had to be done and we were happy to do it for her. 

I learned a lot of law and more than I wanted to know about the bar exam in the process.  I went over and went through a stack of flash cards with her to help her study.  You may remember, she had planned to take a bar review couse prior to taking the exam.  Then Jason got hurt and the doctors told her he wouldn't be able to go back to work again until around December.  Thinking she'd be doing nothing but watching him, she cancelled the review class.  But, the bar would not give her money back for the exam.  So, since it's SO expensive, she decided to sit for the exam even without the review class.  She studied as much as she could between ferrying Will back and forth to various "camps" for day care, and ferrying Jason back and forth to various doctors appointments and rehab stuff.  I am familiar with the CPA exam which is given in parts.  You can pass several parts and still not be certified; but, when you go back to re-test, you only have to take whatever part(s) you didn't pass on the first round.  And you get like 4 tries to pass.  Not so with the bar.  It's an all or nothing proposition.  You pass it ALL, or you flunk.  And, here's a fun thing.  We already know that even with the best of reasons (husband in critical condition in trauma ICU from a felonious attack) they will not refund your money.  Well, in order to sit for the next round, you have to pay by October 1.  BUT, you don't get your scores on the July test until mid-October!  This just sounds like another way to take people's money to me........

Last week and the early part of this week have been an adventure.  I suddenly was overrun by spyware on this computer.  Poor computer has now been through 7 spyware and virus cleaners and seems to be functioning okay.  It's not great, but it's not useless either so I'm celebrating the small victories.  That whole fiasco, including the purchase of software and computer tech time set us back about $300.  I tell you what.......you have to celebrate the small victories because the bad stuff just keeps coming! 

More bad news?  Oh, yeah......we have some.  Joe decided to pull a pan of lasagne out of the freezer to bake for dinner the other night.  It was about 60% thawed before he put it in, at 350 degrees for an hour.  At the end of an hour, he went to check it.  We both expected we'd beating steaming hot baked lasagne momentarily.  No such luck.  Our oven is not working.  In an hour, it had barely gotten warm.....Grrrrrr.  Now we get to choose between trying to get the dumb oven fixed or buying a whole new stove.  Jen and Jason, after having their microwave repaired, to the tune of $150+, three times, finally broke down and got a new stove/microwave combination much like we need.  Total price tag.....$1000.  Geez.......

We've about decided the kitchen remodel is just going to cost us more than we have to spend.  I'm so very sad about that.  Our kitchen is so tiny and there isn't enough storage space which results in the counter tops being cluttered and extra items (like the turkey roaster) being stored in the garage.  There is little or no workspace and i just hate it.  But, I've lived with it this long and I guess I can live with it a while longer. 

As usual, we disagree totally on how to proceed with what we CAN afford.  His ideas sound like a new definition of HELL to me and he's none to fond of my ideas either.  First problem is flooring throughout the house.  The carpet in this house was 23 years old when Punkin, our puppy, came to live here 7 months ago.......it's now about 60 years old!  She's chewed holes in it and dragged in everything imaginable from outside to chew up on the carpet.  So we MUST do something about the carpet.  It's so bad now, I consider it a safety hazard.  There is NO WAY I will to tax returns next year if the carpet isn't out of here.  I'll deal with plain old concrete floors for a while if I have to, but I won't have my elderly clients risking life and limb on this floor.  All we'd need is for some little old lady to catch her heel in one of the bad spots and the lawsuit would bury us.  And, every room needs work.....painting, papering, flooring, new furniture, etc.  And, we are not young and stupid enough to go tens of thousands of dollars into debt to get everything done.  Yet, Joe doesn't want to be bothered doing any of it himself.  Essentially his idea of how to proceed is to move everything out of the house into a POD storage container, paint, do the floors, etc, and then move back in.  And, of course, he wants to hire the painting and flooring done (which we can't afford).  So, since we can't afford his idea of the way to go, he would rather do nothing than think about it. 

I, on the other hand, am a do-it-yourselfer from way back.  I hate to pay for labor if I'm in any way capable of doing the work myself--Anyone knows that labor is about double the cost of materials, no matter the project.  And, I really do not want to move twice and end up back in the same house with walls all painted white!  My idea would be to pick an area, paint it the color we ultimately want it to be, having judiciously decided just what that color might be, and then do whatever else needs to be done in that area our selves if possible.  So, I would pick one room, one that clients and guests are exposed to, re do it myself, the move on.  I am not even afraid to tackle putting down tile in the main areas of the house though I know that is back breaking and miserable work, having done something similar years ago.  But, I would take my time, do it right, a little at a time til I've gotten it done.  If the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, then the way to deal with this house, in my opinion, is the same way.  He has some idea that this will mean HE has to spend all of his weekends for the next two years doing fix up projects.  Well, what does he do with his time now?  Watch golf and football on TV.  Now, let's think about that.......which is the more productive activity--fix up projects (if he were even involved more than a few minutes here and there to lift something) or watching sports on TV?  I think every woman can answer that question! 

So, where we go next is a mystery.  But, I'm going to start somewhere soon, and if we can't agree on where and how, I'm going to start somewhere soon.  I can't deal with his inaction and refusal to think about it any longer. 

I have one major project going now.  I am boxing up all of my paper scrap supplies to donate.  We're going to take them to the school at our church and offer them for the kids to use for various art projects.  I've about got three boxes full.......about 3100 pieces of 8.5 x 11 cardstock and 600 pieces of 12 x 12 cardstock and printed paper.  I figure it will be around 3 more boxes before I pull it ALL out and get it boxed up.  And, how am I doing it?  A bite at a time.  I started last night and should be done tomorrow or Saturday.  From here on out, it's digital or nothing which is fine because I've been scrapping completely digital for about a year and a half now.  Time to get rid of what's no longer needed or valued and bless someone else with it.

Well, I will post some scrapbook pages here and then go take another bite out of the scrapping stuff. 

Will and Jennifer went to Phoenix with a friend.  While he was there, he had a lot of fun in the pool. Credits: Black paper--Me Stitching--Maya Flowers--Lynn Grieveson's Island Blues kit Everything else--Lynn Grieveson's Splash kit available at SBE on Sunday.

Will, all wrapped up in his favorite thing, a new down comforter....Christmas 2002. The paint smear is from Michelle Coleman. The date stamp is a freebie from Deb Fisher and everything else is from her Laura's Pocket kit.