The Curse

I sneak into the bathroom to do it, I hide in my bed too, as a teen I did it at the dinner table until my Dad told me to stop…

… and took my book away. 

I am reader, hear me turn pages. 

I married a non-reader. He knows how to read but would rather not. He watches the movie and I tell him the book was better. LOL! More so, books are to Jack like holy water is to a vampire. He sees me reading and its all hissing and fussing until the book is closed.  

So I have to sneak around. Worse, for a non-reader, Jack has a pretty sophisticated read-dar. He can sense I have opened a book or magazine from 300 yards or more. He can be outside weed-wacking and I open a book and there he is, shedding grass shavings all over the floor.  He insists this is not true. He neither cares that I read or knows I am reading. But SOMETHING draws him like a siren draws a ship to the rocks.

This is how went the first time…

Jack, rounding the corner: “Hey Babe, the work Christmas Party is going to be in December this year, just thought you should … Oh, you’re READING.”  

Jodiann, searching for the bookmark with hand, not looking up: “uh-huh”

Jack:  “No, don’t stop. I just THOUGHT you would WANT to know.”

Jodiann, goes back to reading:  “Okay, Honey. Thanks for letting me know.”

Long Pause.

Jack: “So are you going to write this down or something?”

Jodiann, pause while she finishes paragraph: “Christmas in December, I can remember that.” “Besides its June”

Another Long Pause.

Jack, miffed: “ Where do you keep the freakin’ pens around here? I will write it down myself!

*stomp, stomp, stomp*   * sigh*  *stomp*

Jodiann, beginning to share the miff: “Calendar on door, pencil hanging by it, you sure you don’t want me to stop? I can stop.”

*reaching for bookmark*

Jack:  “No, don’t stop reading your precious book, just because there are no pens or pencils in the ENTIRE house!! What happened to all those pens I brought from work?” 

Jodiann slams book shut: “That was years ago, the pencil’s hanging by the…”

Jack, looks dazed. “Wasn’t I out in the yard? Who tracked in all this grass? I got to get back out there, those weeds won’t cut themselves”

Jodiann, realizing Jack has sunstroke or something: “ Baby, sit down, I’ll get you something cool to drink.”

Jack: “No… Well… Did you say Lemonade?  Go ahead and make it, but I gotta’ lot to do out there. Can’t wait. Bring it out when you get it ready. Lemonade? Okay?”

Jodiann: “Oookay”

Ever since that day ( after I figured out it was books and not sunstroke) I sneak around reading when Jack is doing something that engages his mind. Last night, Jack fell asleep with the Golf Channel on and it worked that way too. Must have messed with the book magic. He never showed up once.  I read until well after midnight. Glorious!

Bless the Golf Channel and all its subsidiaries!

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I have a little freebie for The Fourth of July to share.  Its made from these awesome patterns by Kim B Designs. Red, White and Blue Patterns.

http://www.4shared.com/file/114980480/23d4a803/jodiann_oohaah_fireworks.html

I also used  the Alpha from Mezzaluna Kit,  Frame from Mish Mash Gold 4. All by Kim B 

Happy Tuesday ALL!

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Edited: June 30th, 2009

Then It Was Friday…

My knee jerk thought is to tell you this week was horrible and I am glad to see it ending, but really that is just my stupid brain talking, only seeing the long line of roadblocks I had to negotiate this week. Wishing to be thankful for the good stuff to balance out the week is my second thought.

Yes, the internet was down most of Tuesday and my shuddering dependence on it poked up my horns. Eventually I stepped away from the screen and accepted the explanation from phone company ( fiber optic cable cut) it was going to be all day for a re-route. I tried to remember all the chores that creep into my head while I’m in the middle of my web routine, so I could go do them now. It took a while! LOL! Dead internet  just screams for life, all I could think of was what I could be doing IF the service was up!!!

*whimper*

Eventually I had to work my fall back plan. I set a timer for 15 minutes to brainstorm all the tasks that  I could do. Then I set the timer again to chomp away at the list.  I had to start away from the computer to stay focused, ( if not I would keep trying to connect the internet…I know I’m a sick girl!!) but I found my way back to move files to my new external harddrive, and delete files I keep tripping over when I am designing. I say every time I am going to delete those files I don’t use, but when it finally came time to do it I hesitated over the kill switch! LOL! Proof I am even protective of graphics I will NEVER use. My addiction to graphic work is undeniable! HOOT! If I forget this fact, I only need remember the 94 Gigs of graphic storage I pulled from one of my interior HDs and I have 5 more to farm!!! Sweet Heaven!

If the fiber optic cable did not find itself cut I would still be tripping over those extra files, the harddrive would be sitting there empty, the tomatoes would not be staked, the grass would still be in the melon patch and 3 plants would not be repotted.  4 plants not getting enough water were discovered before they made their last swan song. If that is not serendipity, then what is?? Best of all, THOSE little demon thoughts that creep in to mess with my creative mojo  have been forced to regroup!! 

Gratitude to the fiber optic cutter!!

Wednesday AJ went back to the vet for a lookie ( all good with the Jerk Boy, he has a med change because now he has an upper  respiratory infection but he is handling it.) An emergency surgery kept us waiting for about 1 hour and a half. I was feeling pressure to get back on track with my errands and fulfill my internet responsibilities. I didn’t say anything. I just shook off my impatience when it popped in on me, but the good folks at our vet were looking out for me. “ Go do your errands we will watch AJ and the Doc will check him over when she gets out of surgery.” Phew! Again a soft cushion for my fall! I would be home for an afternoon of internet-ing!

With a healthy cat boy!

Whoo HOO!

Gratitude for our wonderful vet doc and the primo staff! You are top shelf!!

Now Yesterday (Thursday) messed with my head! LOL! I forgot an orthodontic appointment  so we had to rush away, last minute. I left this super cool project I was designing just as the idea was coming together. I saved thank goodness! Little did I know it was a BIG appointment. Dillon got half his braces on. We have been working with his ortho doc for …well since last August is when I called to make his first appointment. They are so in demand ( 3 months between appointments, standard) it took till now to get all the initial work out of the way. I was thinking we were going to have another “almost there” meeting, but it was the real thing this time!~ LOL! Of course!!

I am allowed to be in the room with Dillon while he is getting his braces on, and I was pleased to see other mommies doing the same. My form of weird is catching on!! WHoo HOO! But, alas they didn’t let me sit up close.  ( so the ortho doc wouldn’t have to move my head out of the way) I couldn’t see into his mouth and follow the procedure. But I did get the chance to read a very good article on Narwhales and another one on vintage photos from the cultural revolution in China. And while we waited for the spacers to do their work in his mouth, I dodged under the velvet rope and showed some of the pictures to Dillon. He has a special place in his heart for all thing wild…not so much Chinese history, but that’s cool.

If I hadn’t forgot the appointment and rushed I would have taken a stack of my own to read and missed the Smithsonian Magazine, which I must admit I never knew existed!!

Gratitude for the Universe knowing what I need and giving it to me!

Gratitude for Dr. Penny’s Magical Ortho Office where they have “mommy chairs” for parents like me who may never cut the cord! LOL!

Coming home I settled into my internet routine with a sigh!

Worked first on  my website clients email, marketing, and updates first,  they pay me! LOL! SO they get first dibs!!

Hit the scrapping email to read for 15 minutes, be vicious with the delete button when necessary, ( always have the best intentions to read sales ads, but sometimes I read only a few and do the delete dance), respond to 15-20 minutes of email, check online counters, read my top 5 blogs, then 15 minutes of marketing.

Take a break and dive into creating. I was having trouble with my creativity this week. I think I was too problem focused. When I think things are poo I only see poo.

For me, creativity is a flow and when my eyebrows come together in frustration the flow stops. I can set my frustration aside for happy email ping-pong, website work, delete button dancing, but it comes back.  Its back with a vengeance when I try to be creative. It helps to re-connect with my favorite things. My boys, Jack, Dillon, Nathan and of course my animals, past and present. I often take a turn around the garden even as HOT as it is now a little heat in the garden is just the ticket. I worked for a couple of hours designing using these happy thoughts, then set my mind to another walk in the garden.

I stepped outside and the power pole fairies had come to set a new  pole out front. I knew they were coming because last week I talked to a guy ( till I was blue)  who set the stake for the pole. Turns out we have a power line running underground and sometime in the history of “out front by the road” poles were also set for power to the surrounding houses. Well the span of the poles is too wide set ( because they can’t dig in front of my house because they would cut the powerline under there, but we are getting to that)

So last week a guy comes to measure and place the stake. I was outside at the time and he looked lost so I asked him if he needed help. Turns out he did. Lots of it! * eyeroll* when I heard about the pole I asked about the redundancy of putting in another pole when there are wires underground. I asked about how much it would cost to tie into the existing underground lines. If it required that we pay, we would pay. I asked if he would take care of talking to the people who decided to place poles where underground lines were already and see if the work order could be changed to tie in, instead of continue to run lines overhead. In each case and to many other questions I won’t bore you with, the answer was the same. “Ma’am, I am just here to measure for the pole.”

After about 20 minutes of this ( I AM slow but I do get it eventually) I got the idea he just wanted me to go back into the house so he could measure for the pole. So I did and onto the phone. I spent the next few days negotiating these same questions with faceless people on the phone, the internet, and in person. Needless to say, the pole fairies visit was set in stone and common sense could not budge it.

Back to pole time…I just got my creative Mojo back so hearing the tinkering of the pole fairies in their cherry pickers was a downer. I made a deal with myself that I was not going to go out there. I had said too much to too many people already and I seemed to be the only one hearing me.  The pole was going in, the trees killed to make it were already dead, the decision to do it was made. More talk was not going to change anything, I reasoned.

The only reason to go out there would be to tell them …again…be careful when you dig, don’t hit the underground power and phone lines. I just laughed at my silliness…its the electric company, they put the lines there, they tell other people where they are when people want to dig. ( how do you think I knew where they were…yep! The Electric Company told me) They are not going to cut their own lines…have some faith, sister!

Flashbacks to Tuesday fresh in my mind and thinking of all the people at the electric company I spoke to last week who really should only be issued safety scissors and never let out of anyone’s site.  I came back into the house to save and shut down my computer just in case.

I didn’t make the save before the power went down.

Yep! You guessed it. 

Now I did go out there. I told myself it was to see if anyone was dead, but I think I just wanted to see the hole myself to prove the futility of all those phone calls. I found a crew all alive and actually a  pretty neat bunch of guys, genuine, courteous, good listeners. One  had a bit of a finger missing, so I am not dismissing the safety scissors idea just yet.

As luck would have it, the power went on and off for a few more hours, but power was stable and the pole fairies were gone by the time Jack got home. Other than the pole some marks in the road and a few scorched tree tops,  all was well.

Gratitude to the Pole Fairies! I didn’t want the pole, or the power out, but I appreciate you coming out in 100+ degree weather to do your thing. And really pulling out a fix after it all went wonky! Awesome Save Guys!

I, on the other hand, was woefully behind in creating, my mojo lost. I felt my happy thoughts abandon me when my computer came back up and wanted to open 20 blank internet pages not connecting with any…instead of do what it was told! LOL!

All one can do at this point is laugh! I mean, I am rich beyond measure with such joys as a darling husband and 2 awesome  HEALTHY children. The icing on the cake is an adorable little house and garden stuffed full of every dog and cat with excessive personality disorder.  And I get to stay home and teach my own kids, play on my computer and call it work!!

Thinking of life this way brought my mojo back like an avalanche! Why was I worried about no internet?

Because it was the only thing going wrong in a whole life of good things going right!!

Talk about thinking small! Sheez!

Jack came home and made the rounds to all the computers. Ran a hardline to my computer to give me working internet right away ( he will find out what happened to my wireless card tonight) and reset a few diddles and jots so my external harddrive became accessible again. I was back in business! Whoo HOO! Surrounded by all the souls and things I loved, I felt supported. I didn’t make dinner. ( we made due with instant oatmeal , breakfast bars and milk! I didn’t wipe the kitchen counters, empty the dishwasher, or fill it again. I didn’t finish that load of socks. But I was loved and supported anyway. 

Its NOT how much you do that earns you love its that you love that earns you love. I forget who said that and they probably said it better, but its still true even if I say it badly. 

So my lesson learned and re-learned as it has been for the last year, is to find gratitude and be happy. I will keep learning it until I make a permanent shift in my thinking. Until then I think I will keep banging into this lesson. Keep seeing roadblocks when I could choose to seek gratitude.

Man! I am stubborn! This could take a while! * Guffaw *

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 Here is my Layout  I built in all that was yesterday ( Thursday) It channels our dear Ruby who rode the arrow for a while with us. We were privileged to be hers for all those years. Miss you Rube! Quite honestly the most intuitive dane we have ever had, she knew things that dogs should not be able to know. Like the exact spot to step in a waterbed to fling a cat right out of it! * Hoot*  Or just where the elbow should be nosed to keep a sleeping mommy petting…petting…pett…

Ruby could crawl into bed ( the heaviest and the tallest dane we ever had at 170lbs and 35 inches high) without stepping on my hair or squishing valuable man stuff on Jack. She had the foot placement of a ballerina! When she settled in, it was always with a satisfied groan. I have since adopted this. When I settle into a chair after standing a while or bed at night I make sure to MMMMMMM with satisfaction like Ruby did. She knew comfort and expressed it. Good Lesson!

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Ruby Checks In

Ruby Checks In Credits:

Photos of Ruby Ruby by yours truly, Jodiann.

Papers by Kim B Designs. Mezzaluna Kit.

Elements, Patterns, Frames by Kim B Designs from Grab Bag 5 on sale now.

Additional Elements from Kim B’s Mezzaluna Kit as well.

Here is the Grab Bag 5 Preview so you can get a peek at what’s inside. I will remind you this is a total of 4 full sized products, 3 element packs and 1 pattern pack and until Monday ( only 3 days) its 4.00 US. After that each of the 4 products will be revealed and posted in Kim’s Store at regular price. Check out Kim’s Blog to see other Layouts showing more of the Grab bag if you need more convincing! LOL!

If not, just buy it.

* giggle*

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Hey friends, have a happy weekend! Find some gratitude and smile a secret smile with me, your blog sister!

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Edited: June 26th, 2009

Looks Like Fun

I was cruising  the challenge forum at DSO and found this little beauty!

  Its all new to me so I gave it a whirl!

My sister, Karen called me a few times last week it was pretty great knocking ideas around with her so I dug out my favorite pictures of her and plopped them in. The only problem is she has an aversion to pink so she will be wondering why I dunked her in it! LOL!

Oh Well!~ Its good to expand your tastes, KC! Embrace all the colors of the Universe! Even Pink! HOot!

I used my freebie kit series With The Alligator Purse to build this layout. The link will take you to the first part of the series. All parts are free! Whee Hoo! One part I added that wasn’t part of the kit nor did I make it. It is a bead spill by Kim B and you can get it here

   Bead Spills 2

These come in both a colored and de-saturated version so you can color them to match your own projects. Super Frito Cool!

Tootles Sweets! Thanks for hanging in while the internet has been wonky!

Hugs!  

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Edited: June 24th, 2009

Remembering Not To Suck

  Phew! I made it! My ISP, Windstream was down all day long. It was a manual day for me. I actually got to use an encyclopedia ( the book form!) to look up info for school! Gah! I know! Archaic, Man!  HOoT! *knee slap*

Ah, Internet…its like mother’s milk!!

Here’s the post…

I’ve been thinking about the past lately. Looking back into my childhood because of contacts with long lost friends, conversations with family, and noticing how differently my boys have grown compared to my growing up time.  History matters even the recent kind.

I am remembering, with the help of all these others, how great I had it as a child and where I remember it sucking and it didn’t.

Isn’t it interesting how we allow good memories to fade but bad ones we play over and over until they soak into the brain completely?  Nothing like a good mind scrubbing with plenty of good memories provided by old friends.  * Grin *

I am getting lots of practice at remembering not to remember how life used to suck. Replacing those memories with the good ones I  am getting told by all the people from my past who found me on Facebook.

Facebook! What a happy accident!

I jumped on Facebook a few months ago, to find  someone who dropped a box of baby pictures and other priceless stuff out of a truck during a move. The box came to me with the job of finding and returning it to its owner. I had her name, but that was all, and none of the letters I wrote, or phone messages I left got to her is my guess. So I found her on Facebook. I had to join to contact her, so I did, thinking I will join, get this box to her and that will be the end of Facebook for me. Little did I know, Facebook grabbed me like a face hugger alien or shall I say the people I used to know did. They found me. I have been passed from one to the other for months now who would know that would be fun?? LOL! And the joy new contact with old friends would bring.

That said I am terrible at Facebook! LOL! I don’t go there very much, I don’t keep up with other people like I know I should. I feel uncomfortable asking people those first halting questions…What do you do for a living? What does your husband do? …you know… it feels like prying. So I leave it to them to tell me what they wish to share. ( I don’t mind answering these questions myself… just asking them…so bring it on, facebook friends!!) I don’t join all those Facebook groups, I have only one tiny picture in my profile. I don’t even look for people on Facebook either! I just gab with people who find me. Lazy! …so NOT Facebook.

I am proof you don’t have to be good at Facebook to enjoy it!

I am also proof that one feels inclined to write “Facebook” instead of using an applicable pronoun or abbreviation.

Causing multiple reuse of the name, Facebook.  Now I have repeated the word  Facebook 13 times.  Its getting creepy.

* guffaw*

So I am walking down memory lane more and more as each person finds me and sends a shout out. Its delightful! Its also brain therapy! LOL! Often I have lost track of someone and couldn’t remember the how, the where, the why. They are happy to fill in the blanks where they can. ( we are all not as young as we used to be!! HooT!!) Such a gift to be found and reminded how great I had it while catching up with those I was BLESSED to go through childhood with!

One friend, Tiffany, even sent pictures…

This is a familiar line up for many Arizona Kids. Squinting into the sun, backed up against an adobe wall, or building.

Hoot!

I am in  the cords and flip flops. They are right I still dress like this! LOL! Mindless of all fashion and no thought except comfort.  I actually did the happy dance last May when I found a pair of ultra thin orange flip flops. They are like the ones we could buy at Yellow Front Stores for a buck a pair. I could almost get through the entire summer before having a blow out with those. Loved them! It was like being barefoot except for the burn of the pavement was less.

Freedom!

The ones I found were a bit thicker, and now they are $3 bucks, but still a wonderful bargain. ( I bought  a pair in every color! *grin* okay before you go thinking…they only had 3 colors!) The straps are holding!! Whoo HOO!

Now if only I can find some like I was wearing in this picture. Nylon webbing for straps os soft on the feet and thick soles with 3 tones of color. these were Red, Yellow, Orange sandwiched with black on the footbed and black on the bottom. They would wear out at the heal before a blow out.

Blowout: breaking a strap; strap rip away from the sole with sickening noise.

Ah! The seventies! Sandals made of discarded tires and rainbow flip flops. Those were the days! LOL!! Sure beat the 80’s and Dolphin Shorts and highcut bikinis!!

Back to the photo…Tiffany is in the football jersey, another fan of comfort. I have asked her if its okay to post these pictures, and she said sure, no problem,  but I have not asked the others if they care to be named. So to err on the boring by private side I am leaving their names off.

Looking at this picture now I LOVE it! I love us, we were delightfully ourselves. So cool without knowing it! Thanks Tiffany for keeping these safe and sharing them with me now! You are a peach darlin! 

I think this was Tiffany’s 9th birthday so most of us were 9 at the time. WOW!

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Freebie Monday!

I was working on elements. The folder is growing and growing, yet I am not done. So I made this Alpha for today instead of rushing the elements along.

Sorry Link Disabled.

Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers and Symbols all done in a green crackle with white edge. All letters have their own PNG and are sorted into separate folders for upper, lower and numbers/ symbols. Its easier to find what I want that way, maybe for you too?

This alpha goes with the previous Bajaman Freebie Clouds from last Monday.

Enjoy! Let me know if you use it on something. I would love to be on your list of folks you share your creations with.

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I will post Challenge Tuesday stuff tomorrow. This morning girl is fading fast. I need sleep! You wouldn’t like me when I am sleepy. Or maybe you would…if you like logs! LOL!

Happy Tuesday, See you ALL tomorrow!

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Edited: June 23rd, 2009

No Time to Chat

Hey all you out there! I am getting all caught up in designing goodies for my newest freebie kit series, BAJAMAN! Excuse me while I get carried away today. If I finish today you will see another post from me with the freebie, if not. Tomorrow I will post  both the Freebie and the Challenge Layout you normally see on Tuesday!

Hugs to all…thanks for writing about AJ, he is doing much better after a bumpy weekend. Picked up a UTI and is back on antibiotics.  That cat will not eat…imagine force feeding a cat Mackerel and Tuna??? Nutty!

“ I am a poop, who will not eat on my own, but I am quite the cutie so all is forgiven!”

Happy Monday!

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Edited: June 22nd, 2009

Lily Bird

Combining Photo Friday with a story…

Got an email from an old dane friend asking about our long ago foster, Lily. That got me thinking about her. Lily was caught in the Gulf Coast Hurricane pile up of 2005.  Most folks  know it as Hurricane Katrina. She survived 2 weeks locked in a flooded home before being rescued and brought to a shelter.  She had worn her nails to the bloody ends trying to get out and her feet were swollen  and infected from  weeks in water. She had many little wounds and skin problems from all that water, much of her fur was lost when her skin became water logged. She had lost more than 50 lbs. As part of Dane Rescue at the time, Jack and I drove to Slidell, LA and brought her home for extended fostering due to her huge surgical scars ( she had GDV surgery while in the shelter) and her fear/aggression issues toward men and other animals made being in the shelter a nightmare for her and her keepers.

 Lily jogs by camera

Lily had issues, there is no denying that, she once heard gunshots and without missing a beat turned and attacked a nearby tree. But she also was one of the most loving and playful danes we have ever fostered. She loved squeeky toys! She was very careful with her toys and never put a hole in any. She arranged them in rows in her crate and only one…her moo-cow was special enough to be used as a pacifier. She had moments of tension. Many caused by our Cat AJ who loved to dance around her crate and put his paws through the bars to scratch at her ears and tail. ( Yes, the same AJ who recently returned from the vet as a miracle cat. Maybe he was working through some Karma?)  So she sucked her pacifier cow to calm herself.  

Lily loved to play a game called Lily-ball. 3-5 cheap rubber squeeky toys a Nerf bat, plus Lily and the game was on!!  Throw the squeekie toy up and hit it with the ball and run to base. If she gets the ball and tags you with it before you get to base, you are out! Lily got a lot of outs at first, but because she was so greedy she wouldn’t drop the “balls”. With her mouth full of squeeky toys and trying to pick up juuuuust one more… she got slow and the base runners took advantage. Eventually she would have all the squeeky toys in a corner of the field. Pick one up, drop another. Repeat. Hilarious! This is when the inning would be called. All the squeekies gathered up. (Lily knew “drop it” very well, if you were standing on a squeekie toy!!) Then we would start again.

Lily and Moo-Cow

Lily loved games. Once the boys put a squeeky Fish on a fishing pole and cast it out into the yard past Lily’s face. I think she drug them both through the grass like she was a Marlin in the ocean!! They learned to let the tension off the line and “play” their “keeper” until she got tired and needed a drink!

Lily with fish, getting a drink. She put it in the bowl with her, because she is greedy! LOL!

We lost our Lily to surgical complications. She was being spayed so she could return to her home in Louisiana. We were trashed by losing her and letting down her owner who waited more than a year to be reunited with her. It took that long to rebuild his house so she could go home. I thought losing my Great Danes was terrible, losing someone else’s after promising to keep her safe was beyond terrible. It would be years before we fostered another.

Lily taught us a lot about training out aggression in Great Danes and even more about living in the moment.  We also learned to view her aggression without personalizing it. Her fear fed off ours at first.  When we got that settled out, we could help her sort our her fears. She went from wanting to tear Jack’s throat out to sitting in his lap in a course of a day, not being trained, just being and they bonded. They were fast friends but it was forever. She knew 10 minutes before his car could be heard that it was time for Daddy to come home. She literally DANCED in her crate while I got the other dogs situated so she could go out to meet him. When she saw him come through the gate she DANCED even more!!

The UPS man was a different story. He had to stay on the other side of the gate for a long, long time! In fact, he might still be out there! LOL!

We called her Lily Bird because she whistle/whined instead of barked when she wanted to be loved on.  Its sounded just like birdsong.  The most beautiful sound!

The photo  in the LO below is from an after game party we were having with the garden hose. Lily got wet…she didn’t like water much…go figure? And she gave me this look. I went to get the camera and she stayed that way!! Let me take the photo and everything! Miraculous!

I used Kim B Designs Mezzaluna Kit for the papers and Kim’s newest Grab Bag for the elements.

Get yours…some yummy  good stuff inside!

I am sure you all know the drill by now, but just in case, this is how this Mini-Grab Bag thing works. Now, through Sunday you can get this mini grab bag with 4 full size products inside for only $4.  After that, each product is revealed on Kim’s Blog throughout the coming week and go on sale individually in Kim’s Store as they are revealed.  

One more photo of Lily Girl…

Happy Friday!

Happy Father’s Day for those celebrating on Sunday!

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Edited: June 19th, 2009

Earth Child Dillon QP Freebie

Hey Y’all! Its Freebie Thursday and I have a Quickpage for you. The men in my life wanted to watch a horror movie and I don’t do those. Why? Because I am a supreme woozy and can’t handle suspense. So I packaged up this little freebie for you with my headphones blasting so I wouldn’t hear one monster hiccup or girlie scream!

Its from Kim B ‘s latest, Mezzaluna Kit on sale now.

http://www.4shared.com/file/112573411/1e6eea2/jodiann_EarthChildDillonQP.html

Happy Thursday!

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Edited: June 17th, 2009

AJ Home

Well its no mystery why AJ got better. His lovely Dr. Roasa (Rose-ah) thinks the world of him and so did the staff at All Creatures Animal Hospital. AJ’s excessive personality won their hearts and his antics kept them laughing. They were a bit sad to see him go, but thrilled to pull out a save.

In the great tally I wonder if vets win more than they lose?

They must!~

They were so good to our boy… he changed. He became more interested in petting, and we had never heard him purr. Now he won’t stop. We just thought he couldn’t do it. He never wanted to be held much and now he tucks right into our arms. That is worth tears of joy in itself! He also eats cat food, which he wasn’t too hot on before, he loved to eat mice mostly and we thought there was no changing it. Well he eats a special diet to balance the PH of his urine and keep him from forming crystals in his urine and stones in his bladder.  So all is well.

Phew! We were worried there for a while. I myself had him dead and buried already. Nothing left but the boo-hooing. But that’s just me and my pet-mommy drama.

We always knew AJ was special, he is a barrel of laughs around here, but he was known more for his picky eating, being a nudge and a bug-a-boo. Sinclair our chief angry cat just detests him and for that he makes sure to check in with her throughout the day multiple times just to disturb her calm. Luna-Marie our oldest cat at nearly 17 gets fed special food and water. AJ doesn’t want her food but he will slide up too close to her when she is eating to make her leave just to see her go. See a nudge. A Bug-a-boo.

Well now he wants attention from people ALL the time, which just makes us happy as rocks in the river. We are delighted in this new AJ of ours.

I wanted to give Dr. Roasa hugs of happiness but I had been out in the garden for hours sweating myself into a stink when we got the call he was ready to come home. I couldn’t be bothered to shower, we just cut a path straight to the vet to get him lickity split! I just threw on clean clothes and a jacket. Knowing we would be out of there before they noticed where it was coming from. A hug and they would have been on to me!

Stinky Girl coming through!  Make way! You saved my cat now I got something to assault your senses with! LOL!

AJ with his Dr. Lane Roasa

He loves her, but he is not so hot on getting his picture taken. As you see that did not stop me. Hoot!

Gratitude List

AJ

Dr. Lane

Dr. M

The dollars and the sense to use them wisely to help AJ.

The kind wishes, thoughts and prayers of each of you! You all are big yummy peaches!!

Happy Wednesday!

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Edited: June 17th, 2009

June Scraplift Challenge

Remember when I said I was learning how to do more with less??Scratch that!! *guffaw* I have fallen off the wagon. I went element slap happy for June’s Scraplift Challenge. There is no one to blame for my element addiction. I could try to blame Kim B for making that Mezzaluna Kit with all the flashy gold stuff in it or I could blame Loucee for picking the awesome lift, or I could blame Junebugsmom for building the “love of my life”  layout with all those elements tucked into the nooks and crannys, but to be honest, Junebugsmom had just enough elements and they weren’t jammed into the all the cracks like mine. I just go overboard.  I have a disease. I need Elements Anonymous.

Anyway, Dillon managed to get himself in a pool of light at the same time Nathan was taking pictures.  How Cool is that???

Earth Child Dillon made using Mezzaluna Kit by Kim B Designs. Photo by Nathan Cates.

By The Way of COOL!

AJ is off his meds, peeing freely, eating generously and if nothing reverses itself overnight he will be back with us tomorrow!!

Yipppeee!

Thanks for all your emails! Its so nice to hear from others who have gone through this! Nothing like hearing what REAL PEOPLE have to say! Its SO encouraging!

Hugs and More Hugs!

Happy Challenge Tuesday!!

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Edited: June 16th, 2009

AJ, Mezzaluna, & Baja Man Freebie

First off, Thank you with lifted hearts for all those who emailed about our AJ.  He is holding his own at the vet. His primary vet ( Doctor Rosa) is taking awesome care of him. Yet, he is still not out of the woods. With the discovery of a new drug to try and with him responding slightly to it, we are waiting to see if he keeps getting better and keep extending our timeframe. We are going to have another meeting with his Doctors tomorrow to see if good things continued to happen overnight.

Our AJ

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Secondly, I have seen this elegant new kit from Kim B Mezzaluna which I plan to play with a bit more this week…have you seen it???

Dang!  This is good stuff! I haven’t decided whether its upscale asian modern or vintage elegant. Each time I look it over I get a different vibe off it. I see so much versatility to it. My first try was to see how minimal I could go. I am pushing myself to do more with less, lately. As with a short story instead of a novel, every word plays a vital role. More’s a waste.

So I tried this layout with a photo I took at the zoo a few years back.

Now that a few days have passed since I built it, I  can really see where my layout lacks chuzpah! Its too subtle.  It sometimes takes a few days distance to see if for myself. In golf I am what’s called a “by feel” player. I think its similar to how I build layouts. Instead going by the law of three or other valuable guides, I just wing it and do what feels or looks right at the time!  Hedonist! LOL! 

Am I telling you, there is no plan…I just pull down my pants and slide on the ice…Yep! Exactly! HOOT! Sometimes it works and sometimes…not so much.

I am not afraid of a little tweeking after the fact.

If I were to tweek this LO now I would add some of the deep, richly layered papers in Mezzaluna I hesitated to use at first because I was afraid the patterns would set me off on an element slapping tangent parade and I would end up with a cluttered layout.  Which isn’t bad,  but I am trying to learn less is more.

Using the papers now, as a tweek, didn’t send me over the edge and did wonders for the LO. 

This draws me in more. It could go richer if I exchanged the photo, for a darker image. I want this one so I  will be happy right here.

Oh, right! I was going to show you all the kit previews. Whoo HOO!

Here we go!   

If at anytime you feel the urge to purchase this kit, click any preview to go directly to Kim B’s  store at DSO…I know you want to already! LOL!

Did I mention,

$6.00 $4.50
Save: 25% off

…if you are reading this the week of June 14th?  * wink * As if you need another good reason to shop! * eyeroll *

All that you see that looks like shiny gold…is shiny gold…SO riche!

Looking at this paper preview is where I get the biggest Asian Vibe…. Its just screams Kimono to me, but I warn you I just watched Shogun on DVD 10 days ago. *smile*

Extreme close ups.  YUMMY! Now I get a Victorian Christmas coming through.

To buy Mezzaluna

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Changing gears I am starting a new freebie series.

Baja Man

Thinking about all those wondrous vacations we spent when I was a little nipper at the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. My dad was in his element. Driving his blue Ford Stationwagon down the California Coast each summer with the windows rolled down. Fishing in the ocean, setting up a huge tent for his 8 member family and assorted friends.  We camped right on the beach. Venders would come by and sell Apple Seed Necklaces, fruit, fresh fish and seafood, sombreros, toilet paper! LOL!  There was always a beach store and little cantina too.  No highrise hotels, or private pools next to the ocean. This was basic beaching and the coast stretched on for miles and miles!

It was the 1969-1971 and it was not uncommon to have a sand castle ruined by a long-haired streaker. I was one ticked off puppy dog when some hairy man dashed through my masterpiece! LOL! I didn’t see naked ( I was 2 or 3) I saw RUDE! My mom or sisters grabbed me back from the ocean because I was going out there to shake my finger at him up close and personal, but he was already a bobbing head out on the waves by then. Streakers be fast!

I was too young to stay up late and go crabbing by flashlight, but my dad always lead the charge out of the tent with my brothers and sisters clanking buckets behind him. I, of course, howling how unfair life was while my mother slathered on Skin So Soft and rolled me up in a towel so didn’t get sand stuck to me while it soaked in.  Sunscreen was just a little zinc oxide on the nose  back then. The rest of the body sacrificed to the sun.

I ranted till I feel asleep or the fireworks started. Even then easily distracted! LOL!

Any way this was about Dad. Always happy and smiling in Baja is how I remember him, a child’s take on things yes, but also it was a festive place, with dozens of tents pitched on the beach and music with fireworks at night. Nature provided most of the food and entertainment. It was easy to get by with a big family in Mexico. Easy to be happy there.  Being a military man, dad was always neat and tidy. In Baja he let his beard show and the wind blew his combed back hair (Elvis hair)  all over. Usually meticulous, he didn’t seem to care to comb it back when we were at the beach. 

Inspired by my fairy tale memories of the place I am constructing a kit in my mind based on my happy smiling, scruffy, pokey faced dad in Baja.

Baja Man

Starting at the top, I guess. Here are some cartoon clouds for the  always sunny sky.

Sorry Link Disabled.

Okay so there are 12 clouds, a set of plain white with tiny drop shadows were added at the last minute. I was thinking to throw them out,  but simple could be just the ticket for someone out there! * smile* So in the snuck!

Happy Freebie Monday Friends! So glad you stopped by!

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Edited: June 15th, 2009