Memory Makers Idea Gallery

I have two layouts that were chosen as the Idea of the Day at Memory Makers. One was featured on May 25, the other will be featured on July 6.

Credits: Torn Borders, background, phototurn, buttons: As Time Goes By by Meryl Bartho; Torn matte: Birthday Blues by Becky Soto; Tabs: Misty Petals by Becky Soto; Buttons: Knitting Around by Irene Alexeeva; Brushed Away Alpha by Rene Bross; Stitches: Stitched with Love Slightly Untidy by Meryl Bartho; Raffia: Pacific Dreams by Lauren Bavin; Stain Overlay: B is for Boy Backpack, freebie by Kerri Erickson; Arrows: Directions by Lauren Bavin, from the Scraps of Fun - Great Outdoors CD; Staples by me

Credits: Harvest Stamps by Kim Liddiard; Morning Sunrise Backpack 1 by Marcee Duggar; Annie's Lace Page Kit by Linda Rechtin; Black Sanded Chip Alpha by Lauren Bavin; Crayon Doodle Embellishments by Irene Alexeeva (BCA 2007 Freebie); Tussy Mussy Overlay Stack by Suzanne Walker

We had the opportunity to attend a cooking class on June 14 at the Embassy Suites hotel. Chef Peter showed us outdoor grilling techniques, and made shrimp, steak, chicken, walleye, salmon and veggies...and we got to sample everything! It was....YUMMY!!!!!!

See a video of our chef here.

It's Here...

I brought it home last night. Right now, it's sitting in the corner in it's little black case shaped like a backpack. A strange combination of blessing and curse, it looks like it's going to be a permanent part of my life whether I like it or not. Its presence is both threatening and beckoning.

I'm referring to my new home cervical traction unit. A fancy one - not the water bag kind - pretty costly, but I've been assured that insurance will cover it. I hate that it has to be here, but I've already been through two rounds of physical therapy and am just about to the maximum number of visits there that the insurance will pay for.

Traction seems to be the only thing that helps my cervical stenosis, a condition that just developed about 4 months ago. Pretty painful; in its worst stages, the pain brought me to tears and limited my activities, mainly typing when I have to use that arm. Thus, this monster that has invaded my living space will be, hopefully, the saviour that I'll probably have to drag out once a week, forever, to try to keep my spine where it belongs and the pain at bay. We'll see.

Car Show

Mike walked my socks off at the car show this weekend. Fun, but 5 hours on the feet are not conducive to having any energy left at the end of the day. He got his kicks out of the cars and french fries, I entertained myself with the camera!

Splish, splash....

This is my darling great-nephew getting a bath from his grandma......isn't he the cutest?!!

New Computer

My new toy! 3gb Ram, 500gb hard drive. A real rocket ship!

NSD and a Walk in the Park

National Scrapbooking Day (May 3) has come and gone...I hope you all found some wonderful bargains out there and had fun at all the NSD activities! I know I did!

I was out on a nature walk photo shoot yesterday at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The wildlife was pretty scarce, but it was a sunny, semi-warm day, in the 50's, and I spotted a raccoon and several birds (chased a cardinal around briefly, and chased a flittery, young yellow finch around as well). Here's a layout I did featuring the finch.

Sweet Surrender page kit by Lauren Bavin; word art by Tina Chambers.