I came this [--] close to getting a kitty this week...

First and foremost, we are dog people in this family. We have never owned (or been owned rather) by a cat for a multitude of reasons..... My husband doesn't particularly like cats thanks to the one who scratched my step-daughter pretty bad when she was little and he was married to his ex and then there's the whole having to worry about furniture and all our oak woodwork in the house getting ruined, keeping them off counters and from drinking from the faucets, climbing and ruining curtains, training them to actually go in the litter box, getting scratched, and the fact that we already have two small dogs. I'm not a "cat person" per se, just a little apprehensive about bringing one into our house. lol! However.... 

while were at the pumpkin farmers the other day, there was this cute, sweet, pretty little solid white kitty there. The farmer and his wife said that she hadn't been around for long and that they think someone had dropped her off at the neighbors' who already had enough cats. The neighbor gave them the cat to kill mice in the barn.... but said kitty isn't into killin' mice and "she wants in the house all the time".  The old farmer said he was "going to take her for a ride" because she wasn't good for anything. This made me feel very bad for the poor little kitty. Poor thing has never been to the vet (farmers don't care about that) and she just wants a warm home and not have to kill those nasty mice in the barn. I really don't blame her really. Apparently she was someone's kitty. She's a very nice kitty. Very gentle and loving and my daughter really really wanted to bring her home. And I was on board 95%. But the fact that we already have two dogs and my husband being against it made it a "no."  I think I could learn to co-exist with a kitty. Although I don't know the first thing about how to take care of one or how to get them to go in a litter box or any of the other stuff. But I could learn. If we did get her I would do what I've done with all of our dogs - take her straight to the vet for a check-up, possible shots and for spaying. But the dogs and the husband out-vote B. and I.  *sigh*  Maybe they could learn to all co-exist. I can't believe I actually want to go get this kitty and give her a home. Must be middle-age setting in....

UPDATED:  About a week later, my dear sweet husband went out to the farm and got the kitty and brought her home as a surprise. B. had already named her Elsa the day we were out there. However, she was in our home for only a few hours before our two little dogs tried to go after her. We tried introducing them one at a time and she layed on our couch watching their every move and the dogs would just pace back and forth. Then we introduced both dogs at the same time and it was like a switch went off with them because the minute they were both together in the room with her... they went into attack mode. They went after her on the couch growling and barking while she hissed at them and we had to separate them. That was it. We knew this would never work. We couldn't have three stressed out animals in our house and so I called Elda Mae and told her we were sorry but had to bring her back out to the farm. We think she was happier there anyway and we think that Elda Mae had grown fond of Elsa. We found out that she had had kittens in the barn so it's a good thing that she was brought her back to her "home". 

Happy October

I know it's been almost three months since I last posted but I've been super busy since then. I finally got a job the end of July. I work all kinds of weird hours and the job I have is a physically exhausting one because there are never enough people working. I work with the public and that has it's ups and downs. It can be degrading at times. I hate having people talk down to me or treat me like I'm not working hard enough. I work with mostly a bunch of high school kids and young adults in their 20's and find it quite degrading that I get grouped in with them when they are talking loudly or goofing off and the manager gets upset with them.  I'm too old for this sh*t. I did make it to Top 25 cashiers for ring tender score in our whole DISTRICT within my first 60 days on the job, and I was pretty proud of myself for that. Figures that I would be good at a job I hate. lol! So when I come home, I'm quite tired at times. I come home with my back, shoulders and feet hurting. We only get two 15 minute breaks during an 8 hour shift.  I think I need to slow down a little. They pay us the bare minimum that they can get away with and work us to the bone. I do have my resume in to various places hoping for a better job and I have had a couple of job interviews since the last time I posted. But until something better comes along, I am stuck with this "part-time" minimum wage job. It sucks, but at least it's something. The good thing is that they have been pretty flexible with my schedule when I need certain times of the day or certain entire days off and although my paychecks really aren't much, it is nice having "some" money that we didn't have before coming into the household.  In the meantime, the job that I got on the sub list for way back in January finally called me earlier this week. They want to train me for three days next week. It is also a minimum wage job and I will only work it when someone calls off work and they need someone to fill in. Again, but at least it's something, right? The "good" jobs just aren't here. Plus the fact that I'm middle-aged and have been a SAHM for the past 12-1/2 years probably has something to do with it.

Anyway....I've done some scrapbooking these past few months as well. Here are some of the layouts that I've done. I can't remember all the ones I've done, but I'll post a few starting with my most recent ones....

I did these first three layouts using sketches from the Scrapbook Generation 6x6 paper pad downloadable class....

I used my 6x12 Cuttlebug dots embossing folder that I posted about a long time ago for the layout above plus papers from Echo Park, MME, and KI Memories 6x6 paper pads (all cut down to 4x4). The flourishes were made with a Sizzix die that I tend to use quite often. The dimensional flowers are "American Girl" and I bought a bunch of packs of them at Gabes for $1 earlier this year. The doily was made with one of the Cheery Lynn doily dies I got back in May for my birthday. And I added Glam Pink Stickles to the flourishes and "13" flat pink stickers in the title.

For this layout (above), I used 6x6 papers cut down to 2x2 squares that came from a DCWV value pack called "Girl Frille" that I got at JoAnn's.

For the above layout, I used full 6x6 sheets of paper from the KI Memories "Argyle" paper pad, an EK Success punch for the flower border going across the page (that I got on clearance awhile ago), and some buttons which I sewed on with baker's twine.

I used WRMK patterned papers for the above layout. The snowflakes and chipboard letters are flocked. I used a variety of snowflake punches.

For this one, I used patterned papers from DCWV, rub-ons, satin ribbon (skulls), bling, a Sizzix die for the two bigger ghosts, and the smaller ghost and bat were made with a Marvy punch. I found the Thicker letters at Big Lots a long time ago. They were perfect for this layout.

I also used WRMK papers for this layout as well. The heart paper and the Thicker letters are both flocked. The hearts were made with the Tim Holtz movers 'n shapers dies. I included some ephemera on the layout as well (movie tickets).

Other than being busy working (and obviously scrapbooking, ha!), we've been busy with the school band lately. My husband and I are officially "band boosters" and I've been trying to work the home games when I can to earn money for B.'s band account (which is only $10 per football game worked). Last Friday was "All Band Night" and B. got to play her drums for the very first time at a football game along with the high school band. It was pretty exciting and they did a fabulous job. I love the band. The next day, Saturday, we tagged by the main entrance to the mall for four hours (we did a double shift). They put all the money together from all the students who tagged last Saturday at various places and divided it up. So we earned $24 for each shift we did ($48 total). Every little bit will help. Band camp is expensive.

Well it is late and I am tired. So that is all for now....

It's Thursday

Happy Thursday morning everyone! Isn't that sunset absolutely gorgeous? B. loves taking pictures of sunsets lately and she took this one with her ipod the evening of June 29th from our front yard.

 This is just a (somewhat) quick post before B. and I head out to the Kids' Movie this morning. The local movie theater has this summer kid's series every year when the tickets are only $4 to get in and that includes a small pop and popcorn. And it's for all ages. I usually forget about it until the summer is almost over. But this year, we only missed the first two. Not bad. So far I've taken B. to see Turbo, Dispicable Me, Dispicable Me2 (last week) and today they're showing The Nut Job.

I applied for three more jobs within the past couple of weeks. Two dental office jobs for some anonymous person in the paper (don't you just love that?) and I filled out an application for a retail job for a small local store. I was in there the other day buying, what else, but nail polish (my weakness) and decided to ask the manager for a job. He was really nice and gave me an application, which I took home and then promptly returned all filled out within a couple of hours,   He said he'll "keep my application on file." (I've heard that already a million times).

Ok getting really depressed again...... moving on.....

We had a small cookout up at my husband's parents' house on the 4th of July. Not the big blowout shindig like they used to have every year. That doesn't happen anymore.  

We came home and my husband worked some more on our deck and new swing. He's also worked on it throughout this passed week. It's coming along nicely....

On the evening of the fourth, B., my husband and I went to see the local fireworks from off the highway. The were really nice, although the street lamps were a bit annoying. But at least we had a bird's-eye view of them....

The next day, we headed up to my aunt and uncle's house around 1:30 for their annual 4th of July cookout. My uncle is quite the host and loves to grill. As always, we had a great time and it was nice seeing everyone again. 

On our way up to my aunt and uncle's, we saw the American Queen on the Ohio River!  It was getting ready to go through the lock and dam and I took this picture as we were driving up the highway 50 mph. Not bad, eh?  My husband honked the horn, and I waved out the window and a bunch of people on those balconies waved back. We thought that was pretty cool. :)

And without further ado, here is my scrapbook layout this week....

Patterned paper and cardstock are from the DCWV Harvest Gathering collection. Pumpkins and flourishes were made with Sizzix dies. I cut the flourishes up to make them fit how I wanted them to.  I embossed the pumpkins with a couple different embossing folders - the Tim Holtz swirly one and Cuttlebug houndstooth.  This is the second time I've used this particular SG sketch.  The edges of everything were inked with Vintage Photo.

That is all. Movie starts in less then ten minutes and I'm not even dressed yet....

Happy 4th of July!

We have a busy weekend ahead of us. A cookout tomorrow at my in-laws' and then my uncle's annual 4th of July shindig on Saturday. I made a Red, White & Blueberry Pinterest-inspired trifle dessert earlier this evening for tomorrow....

And I'll be making some food to take up to my uncle's in the morning. Then next weekend we have another family reunion to go to up at my mom's since my cousins from Berlin, Germany with be here on July 10th and will be staying for 2-1/2 weeks. They come to America to visit us every three years. I'm looking forward to seeing them again. 

We went to see some local fireworks last Saturday...

My little aspiring photographer took some beautiful pictures of the sunset with her iPod on the way to see the fireworks last Saturday. The sun looked like this huge orange ball in the sky that evening. She was trying to get a picture of it since it looked pretty cool....

We started getting some tomatoes within the past few days (yea!)

I found this picnic tablecloth at JoAnn's yesterday on clearance for a little over $3 (reg. $12.99). It has a zipper so that you can put it on a table with an umbrella. This is absolutely genius and I don't know why someone didn't think of this sooner! Love this....

My mother-in-law gave us a porch swing that she bought but never used. This has resulted in a project for my husband. He knew he would have to build a frame for it and was planning on putting it out in the side/back yard. But I said no one is going to want to sit way out there in the blazing sun. So he is putting it next to the patio in an area where the sun won't be anyone's face. It's also hard to grow much of anything there. We went to get the composite decking this afternoon from Lowe's and he's gotten the frame for the swing built and cemented in the ground so far. This will be so nice when it's all done and it takes care of where to put the swing and we'll be finally doing something with that corner by the patio.....

Here is my layout for the week which I finished up earlier today...

I used patterned papers, brads and a chipboard border from the My Mind's Eye My Girl collection, my Curvy Cutter & various circle punches, enamel dots, word stickers from K&Co, black soot distress ink, Thickers, and a Allison Davis sketch.

Well I hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th of July weekend ahead! I am keeping those in the path of Hurricane Arthur down in the Carolinas in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow. They're saying 100 mph winds and calling it a Category 2 Hurricane.

Til next time....

Favorites @ Twelve Scrapbook Layout & Summer Card

This is just a quick post to show you a layout and card I made during the past week....

First up is the card I made to send to whoever won the scrapbooking prize package I was giving away on the forum where I'm participating in the layout-a-week challenge this year. Most of us volunteered to do a giveaway at least once during this 50 week challenge and this was my week. I tried doing a summer-related one for the most part and a lady in Michigan won. I made this summery card for her....

I used the clouds embossing folder from Darice, Fiskars boundary waters border punch, 3" circle punch, tiny alpha stamps from Studio G, and Tim Holtz Sizzix die for the word "summer". I think it turned out pretty cute. I'm not a big cardmaker, but it is fun to make a card every now and then.

And here is the layout I made on Saturday after a graduation party for the neighbor....

I used the Colorbok Confetti paper pad that I recently got on clearance at WalMart. I found the @ sign on the Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge. I used a PL card from the Honey kit. Tiny alpha stamps by Studio G, the same butterfly/flower stickers that I have in this week's giveaway, my Bo Bunny curvy ruler, and I did some stitching. Various little stamps are from a couple different Heidi Swapp/Pink Paislee sets. I had B. write her favorites on the card after I did the stamping. And I used an old PageMaps sketch from July 2009 but changed a few things on it.

'til next time....