My Weblog

Blogtrain day!

Well, where I live, it's only 10:45PM on the 31st, but already traffic here on the blog has picked up.  So, I decided I'd better get this posted.  I don't want folks to be disappointed. 

Here is the preview of the mini kit I created for you:

And here is where you can find it: 

http://www.4shared.com/file/c9obSDIq/HFD_Minikit.html

You came here from Word Art World.  Your next stop on the blogtrain is Digital Creations from Millstream Cottage which you can find here.  If you get lost, you can return to the blog train blog.  Have fun!

 

All thru for today!

My goodness.  I have worked my poor fingers to the bones today!  It started with previews for alphas for the new kit that will go into both stores this next weekend.  And I had another kit in process that lacked alpha previews, so I did those.  Then I set out to do new previews for the older kit that I'm adding to the store at SUN next weekend.  However, on looking it over, I decided it needed a bit of reworking.  So, I made new elements.  And then I had to re-do all the previews.  And, I uploaded the whole mess, both new and older kit to the server at SUN, only to find that no one has updated the store or the forum to receive the uploaded bits and pieces.  I also worked on the school kit, creating 8 papers.  So, my butt hurts from sitting in this chair and my eyes are crossing with overwork. 

Finally, just about 9:30PM it occurred to me that I really hadn't had much that resembled food today.  I did eat some cherries, but that was it.  So, I baked some fish and ate that.  It was the last of that batch of fish and I'm really glad it's gone.  Last time I made it, I disregarded the instructions and fried it just to get it done faster.  It seemed terribly greasy to me so I made up my mind I wouldn't be frying any more of it.  So, I just baked some, with no added fat, and guess what?  It too seemed greasy.  Can't quite figure that out......  Anyway, I do have more fish in the freezer, but it's a different brand and I am hoping that means we're done with the "greasy" thing........

I forgot to mention here that I found my bracelet!!!!!!!!!  I went down to 7-11 and inquired there last night as to whether anyone might have found it and turned it in.  They checked where they keep such things and the answer was no.  I prayed and whined like a baby all the way home, telling God how much I wanted my bracelet back, sounding, I'm sure, much like a spoiled kid.  "I want my bracelet.  I REALLY want my bracelet.  I WANT my bracelet."  I opened the door and the first place my eyes fell was on an ottoman that's right inside the front door.  And, what do you suppose was lying on the ottoman?  Yep, my bracelet. 

It wasn't that the bracelet is valuable.  Joe was deeply in debt when we married and, even though that debt was paid off in 2006, by the time he died in January, he'd gone bankrupt, debt having accumulated again beyond his ability to pay, and after the bankruptcy, we still owed IRS and my credit cards were up to the limit.  There was never any spare money so gifts were few and far between and impromptu gifts "just because" were even rarer.  This bracelet was one of the very few "just because" gifts and I was really unhappy at the thought of losing it.  I'm very happy to have it back.  I've felt downright naked without it. 

As best I can piece it together, I'd gone to 7-11.  When I came home, in the interest of reducing the mess in the van, I decided to carry in a 15 pound box of dog treats.  I sat them down briefly on the ottoman, quieted the dogs down, then moved them to the dining room table.  Then I came out to check the computer where I immediately noticed my bracelet was missing.  I looked under the van; I looked in the grass next to the driveway; I searched under furniture in the house.  I even went back out in the daylight and did all the outside searching again and searched in the van.  It must have fallen off as I sat that box on the ottoman, just after entering the house.  Anyway, it was a real relief to find it!

Okay, I'm signing off.  Tomorrow is a big day and I've got more work to do to be ready so........time to say goodnight.

 

Sad Morning.........

No mocha frappucino for me this morning.  I broke down and bought milk last night and I am making do with a homemade iced mocha latte.  It's tasty, but it's not my mocha frap!  New blender on the horizon sometime on Tuesday.  In the meantime, I've found the part that isn't working in the old blender and I'm going to see if Krazy Glue can make it work for two days........ or even longer.  In any case, a homemade iced mocha latte is cheaper than a trip to Starbucks and serves the same purpose, so I am grateful for what I've got!

So, Jennifer, according to Facebook, is home.  She is so blessed, LOL, that on her return home, the cat was really happy to see her.  So happy, in fact, that she brought momma a dead or dying lizard.  Jennifer ended up calling a friend to get rid of the lizard, but is grateful to be loved, LOL. 

It's an overcast day here.  We even have thunderstorms in the forecast.  That's an answer to prayer.  This valley REALLY needs the rain.  And, of course, the a/c runs a little less when that hot, hot desert sun isn't beating on this house. 

Well, the attitude kit is about finished.  All the design work is done, the alphas are done, and I even took some extra time to make a freebie to go with it.  I have done 7 of 9 previews.  So, today, preview making is on the agenda, previews of alphas for the nautical and the attitude kit.  And uploads to SUN.....  And, of course, I have to do previews for the kit I am moving to SUN as well.  Knowing how much I "love" preview making, you can imagine how much I am looking forward to all this.  However, while listening to the sermon from my favorite internet church, I've completed 2 more previews so I'm grateful for progress!

I scraped the bottom of the barrel, literally, last night when I fed the dogs.  There's no way around it.  I have to bring that bag of dogfood into the house today.  It's such a struggle, even with my wagon.  I just hate doing it. 

And from this morning's sermon, "every obedient response in the Bible met with blessing and prosperity; every disobedient response met with lack".  I want to be obedient.  How about you?

Okay, I've got to go.  Much to do........  Be blessed and be obedient, today and everyday.

 

Darn!

My blender imploded.  Dog gone it!  And even with superfast shipping, a replacement won't arrive from Amazon.com til Tuesday.  Woe is me.  Looks like Starbucks is going to get some of  money the next couple of days.  The good part is I won't need to buy milk today! 

Lunchtime

It's lunchtime and I have no clue what to eat.  My Eggplant Parmesan is all gone--I ate the last of it for lunch yesterday.  I can't face another chimichanga for a while.  Maybe I'll have some ravioli.  It's been a while since I've eaten any of that..........

Design

I've done 11 more elements for the attitude kit.  Still have a list of things I want to add.  I hope this doesn't turn into another kit that requires two folders for just the elements, LOL.  It just keeps growing.....

Real Life

I broke down and lit the new candle.  Paradise Flower finally gave out on me so I'm on to Country Berry.  It smells wonderful.  Much better than eau de dog, LOL. 

I haven't gotten as much done around here as I would like, but the kitchen is clean and I'm clean and dressed and a few other small details have been done, so it's progress.

I have decided to use Facebook as a push to prayer.  There are many who profess to be Christians who don't know what I know........I can pray for revelation and renewal of the mind.  There are others who are going through tough times........I can pray for God to manifest His love and support in their lives today.  There are some who seem about as pagan as they come........I can pray for God to give the greatest blessing of all, the blessing of adoption into His family.  It will be kind of fun to pray about specific needs that are sometimes posted and see what changes in subsequent posts.  And, it will be fun to do that secretly.  It will be fun to send a message:  "I'm praying for you today". 

Today's prayer target is a designer whose work I envy.  When I grow up I want to be able to design like her.  With God's help, it'll happen.  But, in the meantime, she's struggling.  Heavy stress due to a prolonged illness in her family.  So I've prayed that God will show her His love today and support her as she goes through today's activities (even if He helps her design.........., LOL--Just means He'll have to work that much harder on me and my designs, LOL.)

Now, I'm going to toddle off and get some water boiling for that ravioli......  It's almost 1PM and I'm hungry........

New Release Day

Scroll down for blog train post!  You're looking for the final 7.31 post.

It's new release day for HotFlashDesigns at both A Cherry on Top and Sunshine Studio Scraps.  This kit started as a collaborative effort between Christy Sturm who is a retired designer and a member of my creative team and myself.  Christy had just a few things on her plate--a remodel of her kitchen, 4 kids all home for the summer, and a wedding she'd been paid to photograph with hundreds of photos to edit.  She made a good start but couldn't finish so I finished up our project myself.  By the way, the color scheme for this kit came from some of those wedding photos.........  If you have photos of watermelon slushies you've made, or a picnic table with slices of watermelon, or photos of your kids with watermelon juice dripping down off their chins onto their bellies, this is the kit for you. 

I'm adding Judy Ann's Tee Shirt to my Sunshine Studio Scraps store this week so it is on sale at both stores.  If you don't remember Judy Ann's Tee Shirt, let me remind you:

Judy Ann is both a client and a friend of mine.  She came to my house wearing the cutest tee shirt.  I joke that I almost stripped it off of her right then and there so I could run to the scanner with it.  She came to deliver some paperwork and I was horribly inhospitable.  I hustled her out of here and ran straight for the computer.  Fortunately, I have great color memory so I was able to put this simple color scheme together and along came a kit called "Judy Ann's Tee Shirt".

Both kits are 30% off at both stores for the weekend.  The sale will continue at ACOT til next week.  Jump in while you can save some money.

Design

By now I have no idea where I was with the attitude kit last time I posted.  But it now has its full complement of papers and almost all of the elements.  I need to add some flowers and I've decided to add two more theme-specific elements as well, and then I think I will have stuffed as much into that element folder as I can fit in there, LOL.  It's so darned cute, y'all.  You're gonna love it.

So, I still need to preview the alphas for the nautical kit and get the detail stuff like product description, TOU and piracy notice done.  And I need to do those elements I mentioned above for the attitude kit.  And, then it's on to my version of a school kit.  I have really debated about doing a school kit.  It seems that everyone does one.  There must be some rule in the designers' union that requires it.  And, being a maverick, I just hate doing what everyone else is doing.  However, I found some really cute graphics and now I'm doing a school kit.  And, I don't have time to play around with it because I want to put it in the store SOON.  I'm not enough of a maverick to try to sell a school kit in December.......

One of the difficult things I've experienced for months and months has been uploading previews at ACOT.  This should NOT be a difficult thing, but it seemed like the uploads just wouldn't "catch".  I've counted as high as 8 tries for one preview and then quit counting.  This makes uploading a kit so much more frustrating and time consuming.  BUT, praise be, Brandon, the technical wizard there, has fixed the problem!  This morning my previews went in smooth as silk.  I think I love Brandon!

Real Life

We are having a lovely overcast day.  That means it is a rare humid day in the desert, but it holds the promise of rain and that is a wonderful thing.  We have actually had rain two days this week, but unlike other parts of the country where rain lasts for hours, around here we're lucky if it lasts 20 minutes.  Our water table shows it too.  We need a LOT more rain!

There is the possibility that Jennifer and the tribe will come home today.  I don't know whether it will be today or tomorrow.  That's nothing new--she didn't tell me when she was leaving either.  However, I'll be glad when she gets back.  Though I don't get to spend as much time with her and the kids as I'd like, I still miss them when they are gone.  It's a head thing, but it's my head so I can miss her if it seems appropriate to me!  Here is her latest Facebook offering in case you need a laugh:

"To the person to taught Bitsy the words "truck" and "itch." Please don't teach her to say anything else."

Can you imagine what those words sound like, coming from the mouth of a not quite two year old?????  Bitsy, be careful what you say!

It looks like my new Country Berry candle arrived just in time.  One of the dogs has gas and the wick on my Paradise Flower candle is about gone.  Oh my!  Thank goodness I ordered that candle when I did. 

So, I have to drag the trash can in from the curb today.  That will be harder than it sounds because it has some rain water in it from yesterday's shower.  And vacuum (will I ever have a day without vacuuming????) And do some laundry.  I think I can gather up a load.  And sort through this week's mail.  And then there's the sorting/pitching/packing thing.  And, if I don't drag that bag of dogfood in from the car, the pups will be hungry tonight.  That ought to keep me out of trouble.  Oh, and I've got to clean the sink.

In an effort to cut down a bit on the caffeine in my life, instead of making my second daily mocha frap yesterday, I decided to make a blueberry smoothie.  Unfortunately, 90% of the frozen blueberries ended up stuck to or stuck under the blender's cutting mechanism.  Now my sink is full of bits of blueberries so I'll be cleaning the sink too.  Apparently that wasn't my best ever idea.  By the way, the other 10% of the frozen blueberries ended up about half an inch thick on the bottom of my cup.  I didn't get a whole lot of nutrition from that!

I need to order meds from the pharmacy in Mexico today as well.  Only blood pressure meds this time, but still..........  I have to say, I get a different story from them everytime I call them.  I've been doing this mail order thing for the better part of 3 years.  For the first two years, the procedure was to send a check for the cost of the meds and then send cash for "shipping" ($20).  In January, I called for prices and then put together my order and sent it off with a $20 bill in it.  I waited and waited and waited and the meds did not come.  I was getting desperate so I called them again.  I hate calling them because it's an international call and does nasty things to my usually predictable cell phone bill.  I was told that I needed to send $35 for shipping.  Well, that meant at least another 10 days til I got my meds.  Holy toledo!  Fortunately, they eliminated something from my order and used that for "shipping" and sent the order on.  This time I was told the shipping is $25.  When I asked about the $35 charged last time vs. the $25 this time I was told "Shipping goes up $5 every year.  $35 is charged when it's a controlled substance."  Me?  Buy a controlled substance?  I don't think so........  And if shipping goes up $5 every year, how come it didn't change the first 3 years I bought from you?  Well, I've learned it just doesn't pay to be too anal about stuff from Mexico.  I will always remember a handwritten sign Joe's friend, Bob, had pinned up on his wall on our first trip to Mexico:  "There is no urgency."  And that's just the way things are there.  You just have to learn to roll with it........

Speaking of Mexico, I have lost something that was precious to me.  Years ago, Joe bought me a beautiful silver and malachite bracelet there.  We never really had a lot of excess cash so it was a splurge and I love that thing.  For a while I wore it every day.  Then I was told I couldn't wear it to work anymore.  Supposedly it banged on the desk and made too much noise.  If you've read this blog for a while, you can probably guess who made THAT ruling.  So, I quit wearing it.  But, in December, when that person left the company, I started wearing it again.  Somehow, night before last, it came off my arm.  I've searched the house and I don't see it.  It could be in the car and I'll be out there digging around today.  If not, I have no one to blame but myself.  Somewhere along the way, I should have had someone put a safety chain on it and I didn't.  I saved a penny and lost a treasured piece of jewelry. 

Well, that's it for this morning.  I want to get this day going.  I've been sitting in this chair so long my butt hurts.  Outta here.  Be blessed!

 

 

Rough night........

I actually went to bed around 9:30 or 10:00.  And at 12:30AM, I got back up.  I was totally bored with lying there and wishing for sleep.  So I came out here to the office.  I ended up unloading the dishwasher and using the feather duster here in the office and in the livingroom.  I wasn't thrilled about opening the door and shaking a mountain of dust off the feather duster a bunch of times, but I am thrilled that I was able to move such great clouds of dust back outside where it belongs.  It certainly isn't perfect, but it's an improvement. 

Finally around 3:20AM I went back to bed.  I no more than laid down than my right shoulder started hurting I moved my arm and my shoulder "crunched".  I laid my hand on my shoulder and I could actually feel this "Crunching" under the skin.  Well, since I had already laid my hand on it I just decided to pray for it.  The pain went away and when my arm was moved in all sorts of directions there was no crunching.  However, this morning it is sore.  I know what to do about that too..........

Design

So, I ended up with 7 of 9 previews done for the nautical kit.  Yeah!  Just the alphas left and I can do the final details and move on.  That's good news.  I really didn't work on the attitude kit anymore last night, applying myself, instead, to those previews which I needed to do and to seeing that everything that mattered was saved before I went to bed.  So, as to design work this morning, I need two previews, detail stuff, 3 papers, and elements.  Hopefully in that order...........  (but you know me)!

Real Life

Same-o, same-o.  I did manage to get the FULL trashcan to the curb yesterday.  I didn't plan on sleeping so late this morning so I will have to check and see if I can still take this other can to the curb or if I'm too late for that.  It really seems as though the goofy things are built top heavy so it will do nothing but cause problems to wheel it out there now if it's not going to be picked up til Tuesday.  I'm pretty sure my neighbors don't want to be picking up my empty milk containers off their yards.........

There are days I think I will never make substantial progress in that other corner.  There are so many mysteries to be solved.  What is it?  Should I keep it, donate it, trash it?  And if I'm going to keep it, where do I pack it?  And if I'm giving it away, to whom (person or organization) should it be given.  I am thinking of reducing that part of my day to a maximum of about 15 minutes.  After that my decision maker is blown anyway.  And the rest of the house needs work too.  I've been ignoring it for too long.

I think I will drag my rusty butt to the el cheapo grocery store sometime today.  The stash of milk is depleted and so is the stash of veggies.  I still have some fruit, cherries and grapes.  Maybe I could find another of those cantaloupes and some cottage cheese to go with it???  Anyway, there goes $40.  It used to be "there goes $35", but prices keep going up.

So that's it for today.  Right now I need coffee and to stick my head out the front door to see if the trash can I put out there yesterday is empty or full.  Then I can set up my priorities for today.  Have a good one and be blessed!

Swan song.......

It's starting to get dark outside and the day is coming to a close.  I still have mucho to do, but don't I always? 

I mentioned here the other day that I had wandered serendipitously into a thing called Amazon Prime.  Amazon Prime, it turns out, allows me to watch all sorts of movies, etc., for free.  Of course, I paid $79 for a membership for a year, but, believe me, I'll get my money's worth.  Anyway, I found a British mystery TV program called Midsomer Murders.  The plots are good with lots of twists and unexpected turns.  The scenery is magnificent......green rolling hills, those much acclaimed English gardens, quaint little villages.  However, if one were to take what happens in Midsomer Murders as typical of English villages, one would never want to visit there.  They are full of murder and mayhem and everyone's wife seems to bedding everyone else's husband.  I am enjoying the shows, however.  And I do think that shortly I will most likely begin speaking with an English accent.  Great fun, these shows, even though they have moved visiting England down significantly on my bucket list.  Remind me not to watch any Irish murder mysteries, okay?  Ireland is still really high on the list and I don't want it unseated!

Well, we are moving right along on the Attitude kit.  I now have 13 papers and 24 elements.  I know exactly what two of the remaining papers will be, so those won't take long.  A lot of the 24 elements are theme specific, so I'll be working on generic elements soon, ribbons, flowers, that sort of thing.  I'm really well pleased with how this is all coming along.  And I have done 4 previews of the 9 needed for the kit I'm supposed to be finishing.  It's not good enough, but it beats nothing.  I'll probably get one or two more of those done before I give in and go to bed. 

I just got the credit card statement from the company which issued the smaller of my two credit cards.  Seems I've paid off about 25% of the balance with which I started the year.  Of course, I am not charging anything though there are some regular charges that come through every month--Netflix, for instance.  But, I'm pretty proud of the progress made.  Still a long way to go, but as far as I'm concerned it's paid off.  It's just a matter of time catching up with Truth. 

I've made progress on the larger credit card as well, though nowhere near as good as 25%.  Of course, that is not the card I'm concentrating on either.  I've paid off a few hundred, but I've just been making the minimum payment on that one.  But, again, no charges hitting that account except for those come through every month, like AOL.  And, in my mind, this one is paid off too.  Just a matter of Time catching up with Truth.

My sales at ACOT are really good.  Last summer my sales were in the toilet.  I was really thinking of giving up the whole design thing.  Then I found out that everyone's sales were in the toilet and I didn't feel so bad.  But, this month, my sales lack $10 of being 400% of last year's sales.  I think that just might be supernatural growth.  Yes, I think my kits get better and better, but.........that's still phenomenal growth.  It's still not much money, but it's increasing and that's good. 

I've got to go forage in the fridge for some food.  This will be it for tonight.  G'night.

Brunch

It wasn't quite breakfast and it wasn't quite lunch.  But it was filling and I think that's all the lunch break I'll take today.  I just ate 3/4s of a Costco Banana Nut muffin.  Maybe I'll eat the rest later or maybe I'll save it for the dogs.........we'll see.

Design

I think I had 6 papers for the new Attitude kit when I wrote this morning.  I'm up to 10.  I'm never quite as fast at papers as some designers are because I choose each one very carefully.  And some hit the recycle basket as we go along.  I also have 4 elements, one of them in 5 different color variations, that I didn't have this morning.  It's all good.

Real Life

Not so good is the fact that for the first time ever I saw Max, the German Shepherd, limping this morning.  I keep a close eye on him because he's the first full blooded German Shepherd I've ever had and hip dysplasia is a breed flaw for German Shepherd's.  I don't have money in my budget to get it treated so this will be a matter of much prayer if it continues.  On the other hand, it's possible he just had some difficulty with the pet door.  We shall see.

I have been very tight fisted when it comes to my budget.  I am working very hard to see some debts paid off.  However, I gave myself a treat the other day and it arrived in the mail today.  For months I've been burning a candle that I think I got at Target.  As you know, I live with three dogs.  Dogs who occasionally smell like outside.  Dogs who have gas problems and bad breath, etc.  Sometimes this house just doesn't smell good.  Sometimes I want all the dogs to hate me and go to the other room and take their stinkiness with them.  About that time, I whip out my trusty candle and light up.  The sent is called Paradise Flower and I like it a lot.  Alas, there's not much of this candle left to burn.  I've about used it up.  I cannot abide air freshener sprays; they bring on coughing fits.  So, I shopped e-bay and found a "country berry" scented candle.  It wasn't all that pricey and the price included shipping.  It arrived today.  I'm anxious to light it up and smell that country berry fragrance, but I'm going to try to wait til Paradise Flower is gone.  I have a terrible habit of buying a new candle and lighting it up immediately.  Later I find myself with a handful of ALMOST used up candles.  I think I'll try to use this one til there's nothing left to use, just so I don't have to feel guilty about throwing away the dregs of it later.

I haven't gotten to any vacuuming or packing and sorting, but the kitchen is about 100% cleaner so I'm giving myself kudos for that.  Vacuuming comes next.......

Well, that's about it for now.  I don't have long for this end of the house.  That afternoon sun is coming and I can feel the room heating up.  Maybe I can get another paper or two designed before it becomes unbearable.  Later, maybe...........

Wisdom from a 4.5 year old........

Jen posted another cute Atticus offering on Facebook.  Apparently they were reading a book or talking about sharks.  She asked him what he thought sharks eat.  She says he was really thoughtful and considered the question before answering.  She was expecting something "scientific".  Atticus said: "ummm...dem eat...slow fish!"

And there you have it folks, the Atticusism for today!

I took this photo about 10 months ago.  I had Atticus for the day and had bought Play-Doh for us to play with.  Then I learned he couldn't play with it because it has gluten in it.  We were not amused.