Day 181, 2010

We're having so much fun with Daisy!

Day 179, 2010

Ashlea, Alex and I were watching Hell's Kitchen tonight. I found a couple pony tail rings on the table beside me, so I reached over and did Ashlea's hair... isn't it lovely!?!?! LOL She's a good sport!

Dat 178, 2010

Me and Daisy....

Day 178, 2010

I haven't had new porch furniture for awhile now and we've been looking since the beginning of summer, but just never found something we liked enough, today I found this set and we got it. It's been storming all day, so we haven't been able to enjoy it yet, but I never thought I was particular, but like I said, I just couldn't find anything I liked enough to justify buying. I'm not sure how the cream colored cushions will hold up in our weather, but they are zip off covers so I can wash them.

Day 177, 2010

It finally was nice enough today that we finished up the new door trim, paint, and hardware. It looks so much better than the old one. We took the old door and put it on the garage side door and again, made a huge difference. Can you believe I got it all painted without one animal sticking her tail or body up next to the paint!?!? I can't! LOL

Day 176, 2010

Got up early today and took Daisy and Katie to the vet for Daisy's first shots and Katie's yearly boosters. Last night Katie didn't want anything to do with her, now she will be in the same room at least... it will take a bit of time.

Took this cute pic of Ashlea and Richie...

Day 175, 2010

Well today is the day! We finally got to go pick up Daisy and bring her home tonight. She is just absolutely ADORABLE! :)

Day 173, 2010

Earthquakes and tornadoes... oh my! Yep... today we felt an earthquake in South Bend. Just slightly, but I felt it. I was at my desk and felt my chair rocking. I thought one of my co-workers were messing with me. Apparently there was a 5.5 Earthquake in Canada and we could feel it. Isn't that wild?!?! Then, as if that wasn't enough, I go home and watch the weather gradually turn into this major storm. I mean the tornado sirens were going, the sky turned pitch black. The pic below was taken about 8:00.. it's normally still light outside. It was kind of scary. Thankfully, Alex had gotten home about 1/2 hour or so before the storm hit and Doug, Ashlea, Richie, Alex, the animals and I were all safe and sound at home. There were several rotations in our area.. I haven't heard yet if any touched down. Our area is still suffering from a bad storm last Friday night. Thousands were without power, and now a lot more. We (knock on wood) have kept power through both storms... but our road is an absolute mess! (Don't get me started!).

Day 173, 2010

Today was Richie's 23rd Birthday. Happy Birthday, Richie. We took Ashlea and Richie out for dinner (Alex is at IU taking his placement tests), then back home where we had birthday cake made by Ashlea. She was so proud of her cake, it was the first time she'd ever made one! :)

Day 172, 2010

Monday... ugh... Is it Friday, yet? LOL I'm off on Thursday and Friday this week, so Mon-Wed is going to feel like FOREVER! :)
Ashlea came home from work not feeling good today. She has a lot of trouble with allergies and sinus, so she got comfy and napped on the couch. Of course Lacey thought that was a fantastic idea!

Day 171, 2010

Anyway... another day.. nothing exciting, but the Lillies (Is that how you spell plural Lilly?) have bloomed. I love watching everything come alive all summer. We've tried to stage our backyard, so there's always something new bursting with color. Just love flower pics.. I'm sure you're getting a bit tired of pictures... but as I said.. nothing exciting to take a photo of today. Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there. We are still working on the door... sorry Doug! :P!

Day 170, 2010

Today we spent the day installing a new back door. Obviously it's not done yet. We've got to trim it out and put the glass door on... but this is what we got done today. It is SOOOO gorgeous here today. It just couldn't get any better. Nice breeze...beautiful sky... Amazing. We had a BIG storm yesterday and about 1/2 of the city is without power today, the street lights are out and a lot of businesses closed.. (I live in semi-large city).
When we got done with the door we decided to take a breather in the hammock.. and I thought the view was very cool, so I got my camera and these are my views from a hammock..
Aren't we silly!! So we don't look all that great.. we're pooped...shopping for the door stuff, then home, remove the old door, the old jam, etc.. then put in the new one.. get it squared up... we called it a day... will finish tomorrow.

Of course Katie wants in!
Pretty cool.. eh?
Gorgeous Blue Skies today


No, I didn't turn this upside down.. that was Doug's view

Day 169, 2010

Went out to feed the fish and thought I haven't taken a pond picture in awhile.. so here it is. They are calling for rain tonight, so probably be my only shot a a POTD.. both kids are gone and we're not doing much, other than going out for dinner... Date night... ! WOW!

Day 168, 2010

Whipped up a quick card afterwork tonight. Other than that, nothing eventful to photograph today. (Unless of course, you'd like yet another picture of the road construction out front!...NOT!) :)

Day 167, 2010

Well, not much going on in my world. Tried to get a cool shot of raindrops on the fern... well, like I said.. not to exciting today!! LOL

Day 166, 2010

I've certainly never had a chipmunk in my pocket before.... guess I can cross that off my bucket list!!! LOL



So... we keep hearing this noise in the back door area, right by the hanger where we have several jackets hanging... we watched Lacey and she kept reaching up toward my jacket. Upon further investigation...look what we found!!!! Doug took the coat outside and I snapped a few photos before we set it down so that Alvin the Chipmunk could escape Lacey his captor.

Day 165, 2010

Here's Today's improvement to my street. This is taken just right off my driveway! Yea...!

Day 164, 2010

First of all.. thank you all for your prayers. Cliff had surgery at noon today (yes, on a Sunday.. that's how severe the situation was) and it went perfectly. We are all very excited about the outcome..(including the surgeon). It turns out the surgeon is the same surgeon who operated on my mom. How wild is that?!!? I recognized him when he came in the room to get Cliff, but I couldn't remember why..then when he came to give us the results of the surgery it bothered me again.. then I heard his name.. Scott Thomas. Well my oldest brother is Scott and my other brother is Thomas, so then I remembered we thought it was a good sign when mom had a surgeon named Scott Thomas! LOL Anyway.. this morning before I left for the hospital I was working on my class and Lacey decided that my workbook would be a good place for a snooze!

Day 163, 2010

Ashlea got her hair cut and added bangs. It's really cute and summery!

Day 162, 2010

Today we had some bad news. More test results came back for Cliff. Two spots on the brain and 99% blockage in Coradid artery. More test in the morning to see what the spots are, then if that's nothing, having surgery on the artery. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He truly is one of those very nice, very good people you feel privileged to meet in this world. Also, pray for Doug. He's being very strong, but I know it's very hard for him.

Day 161, 2010

Flat me(s) are DONE!!!! Wooohoo... ready to go in the mail tomorrow. Heads up to those who are doing the Flat Me celebration... I forgot to write my name on the back of mine, but it's on the return address! LOL Sorry. No way was I going to open and redo all of them! :) I had fun making them, but next time, I think I'll leave off a few details... whew! LOL

Day 160, 2010

The rose bush just exploded today. It's a miniature rose bush that just keeps getting prettier every year.
Doug's dad is still in the hospital and they are still doing tests. Looks like he may be getting a pacemaker, but they are still not sure what's going on. Should have some results today. Thanks for your kind comments and prayers.

Day 159, 2010

Tonight I spent the evening at the Emergency Room. Doug's dad may have had a mini stroke late this afternoon and ended up in the ER. They are admitting him to the hospital. I just got home, Doug is still at the hospital with his mom. They don't know yet for sure what exactly is going on. Prayers appreciated. Cliff is such a wonderful man. I hope they find the answers so they can solve the problem. Obviously, I didn't take photos in the ER, but here's a photo of Cliff, Doug and Betty (Doug's mom) from Christmas time.

Day 158, 2010

I got this beautiful and adorable card from Barb (aka Snowmanlover) today. It was much appreciated. Today started out with me in the shower and "KaBang" I hear glass shattering. With all of the road work we're having the house is constantly vibrating, the ground is moving, it's chaos! Well apparently we had enough today to cause a glass vase to move off the shelf and shatter all over the bathroom tile floor. Then, I go to work.. boss is a grouch today. To top it off, I come home and my neighbor who lives in the house behind me yells over the fence..."Are you looking for your cat?" I ask which one and she says "Lily... she got hit.. I have her". :( I lost ANOTHER cat. The white kitten. Again, with all the construction, the traffic has diverted back through the neighborhood and people just don't drive slow like they should.. she got hit this morning and the neighbor got her for me, covered her and put her into a box for me with her collar on top. So sweet of her, but so sad. So it was especially nice to get such a sweet card from Barb today... I needed a bit of sunshine in my world today.


That's Lily on the right.. the white one. Her mom is Izzy on the right and her sister is Lacey in the middle. :(

Day 157, 2010

I have been spending more time than ever on the computer....why? I signed up for Jessica Sprague's Art of Digital Design. It's a five week course where you learn the process of designing your own digital kits, papers, etc and even how to market them if you want to sell them commercially. Personally, I wasn't sure I was going to take this class.. Why would I want to take the time to make papers, embellishments, etc, when there are sooooo many readily available for download? I signed up anyway because, quite frankly, I'm a Jessica Junkie... I LOVE her classes! This is the first time she's ever offered this class and I wanted to be in the Beta Group and learn with everyone else. I have to tell you, it is so much fun and it has opened up a million doors of possibilities. I wasn't sure I was even interested in this avenue, but I can't wait every day to see what our next lesson/assignment is going to be. We are designing our own individual digi kits along the way. I've got my papers done, and some of my embellishments, and a thousand and one ideas in my head. When I finish the class, I'll offer the kit(s) for free download if you are a digi scrapper and would like them. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I'm here and still watching and blogging just a little slower than usual! LOL

I'm supposed to be working on my FLAT MEs!!! I keep trying to get on the Cricut MB so I can see the thread to see when they are supposed to be sent by, but I can't seem to get connected on the board. I have no patience!

Day 156, 2010

Saw this in a magazine and thought it was just the cutest thing ever, so I made one. I should've rounded the corners on the bottom and probably will go back and do that, but I loved the idea!! Again.. not mine, it was in Card Creations magazine.

Day 155, 2010

Doug has been hard at work getting the garden in. We're late this year, usually we do it on or about Mother's Day weekend, but with baseball, graduation and the weather, it's just been too busy. We are going to take it back to the fence and round the corners out, then add some decorative brick to make it a bit more attractive. We just put the garden here last year for the first time, so we wanted to make sure it was a good spot before we added the edging.. and it is. :)

Here's the separate herb garden.

Day 154, 2010

This is the dogwood tree that is right next to our driveway. It's in full bloom. So pretty!

Day 153, 2010

Here's the latest development of my road... it's a disaster area.. seriously. This picture doesn't even begin to show you how bad the road is. We've had a lot of rain lately, so it's basically mud!

my two page layout for May 23 - 29, 2010

OK, So I redid the layout for last week. It was an important week and I just threw that other one together... totally did not like it. I will still do a layout of Alex's graduation separately, but I still wanted to hi-light that in my week layout. The prior layout looked girly and well... just ick! :)

Day 152, 2010

I wanted to take a photo of the backyard and remind all of you that a couple months back I was complaining that the snow would never end..... well just as I snapped, look who popped into the photo! LOL