Barn Charm 3.6

I think gray barns are my favorite.  There's something special about how each board ages differently forming unique shading patterns.  I had fun playing around with this shot... changing it to sepia tones, and then adding texture.

Linking up with Bluff Area Daily for "Barn Charm"

Project Life Update 3.5

So, Tuesday nights are dedicated to working on scrapbooks.  I usually head over to Mom's and we work on our separate scrapbooks together for a couple of hours.

Last week, I took my Project Life album fully loaded with Disney pictures, and with lots of other goodies in tow.  I thought I knew what pen I was going to use, but it ended up not being "fine" enough.  I didn't think I was going to like my (typical) black gel pen for this project -- but that's what I ended up using, and it works just fine.  (Guess I'm just not a wide-line kind of girl.)

And, journaling cards...  About those.  I took THIS (very wise) BLOGGER's advice, and went to Staples to buy grid-style index cards for $1.99.  I'm making my own journaling cards.  AND (how scandalous is THIS?), I don't even know if I'm going to round my edges. I'm kind of leaning towards NOT.  Nothing's rounded yet, and I'm liking it just fine.

I'm always trying to be budget-minded (well, most of the time) about my scrapbooking.  At this time, it didn't seem practical or wise for me to wait for and purchase the core kit -- so I have decided against that, and for making my own journaling cards, and filling in the rest of the blanks with scrapbook paper and Disney paraphernalia.  Becky's all about doing the things that work for US as individuals, right? -- so I think she'd be the first one to be "with me" on this!

I also realized a few things about my expectations for the project.  In not purchasing the core kit, I have realized that I don't necessarily care if this album is matchy-matchy.  I want it to be a little bit more "random" and fun..

Also - it hasn't been so easy to just sit down and "do" the next page in order.  Yes, the photos are already there.  But, as I look over them, I get inspired.... on page 23 -- and page 6 isn't done yet -- know what I mean?  So there's that randomness as well.

So...all that to say that I didn't get a ton of stuff done last Tuesday night.  I was still too undecided about stuff.  But I had a chunk of time on Sunday (YAY for weekends!), and things really started to fall together.

• I'm using the black gel pen, and happy with the results
• I'm using a lot of blue and green, with some happy Disney red's in there too.
• Back when I thought I was doing a more traditional album, I purchased some "vacation" scrapbook papers, and I'm incorporating those as well.
• Mom gave me a bunch of random Disney goodies -- and I have a bunch left from our last Disney trip, too -- so, there should be a little Disney on every page.

So, remember last week when I showed my pages? --they weren't very exciting.  It was literally, JUST PICTURES.  I actually DID try to finish up several pages in a row so I could show you things in order rather than so scattered.  So, here's where I am now...

Off we go!

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I'm loving these day cards from Cathy Zielske!

They help me recall each day's activities.

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The only glitch in our entire trip!

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I love these Disney paint samples.  A cute addition, I think.

You'll see them again in the album -- I grabbed a few.

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Thinking of different ways to journal... using "titles" for certain pages.

Note the homemade journaling card.  These are working great!

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Other interesting journal "title" cards.

Linking up with:

Friday on Saturday

Since I told you about Thursday-Things on Friday, let me tell you about Friday... on Saturday.

source

There has been a "rash" of unhappy things happening here in Ohio this week.  There were the school shootings in Chardon that you no doubt have heard about -- and other kinds of threats at various local schools -- including today, at my son's high school.

Aside from that moment when you want to throttle the person who's acting so inappropriately without (obviously) any thought to the consequences, I have to say that as a parent, I have been knocked back on my heels by the care that has been given to my(our) child(ren) as well as the consideration afforded ME by my dear son.

He called from the football field, speaking loudly, amongst a crowd of students, to explain.  So I knew what was going on.  He wasn't dramatic.  Just: this is what's happening, and "we're okay."

Then another call to tell me that the buses had been called back to transport non-driving students like him.

Then an automated call from the principal to explain the circumstances, and the care that was being taken -- including the transport of all non-driving, non-bussed students from school property to a local church until such time as they could be picked up by a parent... with a proper ID, of course.

Then the third call from my son.  "Me and Joe (our neighbor) are on the bus.  We're in good hands."

Then another automated call -- this time from the Superintendent to reiterate the information about students waiting at the church.

After our son's first phone call, I jokingly said to my husband, "Oh!  I could've waited to hear about THIS until the end of the day."  But then, with each phone call there was more information, that left me wondering about very little.

I've always loved good communication.
And though I often am confounded by children,
and their heavy usage of cell phones in today's world...

Today... I even love cell phones.
And way more than that?  My son.

There was one more call... the all-clear!  The threats were unsubstantiated.

A happy ending here.
But, please pray for families affected by the Chardon incident.

5 Thursday Things on a Friday

I haven't done a randomness post for a long while.

Here are a few of the things going on around here lately:

Yesterday

I took my daughter to the doctor for a bad earache.  She's been toughing it out for over a week, and it was finally time.  It's not easy having a girl with a high pain threshold.  Sometimes, she's really hurting, and we totally forget about it because she is just "living with it."  (She gets this from her father, not ME -- that's for sure!)  Anyway, I finally made the call for the appointment.  We pay at the beginning of our appointments. However, yesterday when we checked in, the receptionist told us that we had a $25 credit on our account, and so we owed nothing.  Then, the doctor gave us a prescription script and offered us not one, but TWO samples that we could use before turning in the script at the pharmacy. Potentially, we won't even need to FILL the prescription!  Our entire visit?  FREE.  Oh, and the account credit?  Well, actually this has happened no less than THREE times to us in the past THREE months.  Really, I'm not that bad of an accountant!!  I'm calling it a "God Thing."

And about that diagnosis...  Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (discomfort and possible damage in the ear due to pressure differences between the inside and outside of the eardrum).  This was a new one to us.  Our daughter likes to keep us guessing.  I kidded her that she is the trailblazer in the family -- going places that none of us have gone.  Or, in this case, receiving a diagnosis that none of us has received (or heard of).  Ya learn something new every day, right?

A beautiful counted cross-stitch at our Dr's office.

Yesterday

I made an old favorite of mine for lunch.  Rarely do the "planets align" (just kidding, I don't believe in that kind of stuff) so that I have all three ingredients in the house at the same time.  Yesterday... was that day.  I had a half-brick of softened cream cheese.  I added some chopped green olives, and a couple teaspoons of olive "juice" from the jar, mixed it together and oh my - delicious.  Served on rye bread, of course.

Yesterday

I threw away the poinsettia that I received from friends on Thanksgiving Day.  It was finally time.  There was more "bare stem" than foliage.  But, it was a great plant, and was beautiful (if not full) right up to the end.

This is a picture from a better day...

Yesterday

it was cold and felt like winter again.  But, I looked at the photos in my camera, and found this photo from the day before when it was sunny and 60+ degrees. ...when the black stormy and white fluffy clouds were so dramatic against a blue sky  ...when we came home at 9:00 in the evening, and weren't chilly without jackets.  It will be that warm (and stay that warm) again someday, right?

Yesterday

I drove by that sign again... The one at the church around the corner.

It says, "God isn't in a hurry."

I wonder why God causes me to look at that every single time I drive by there.

Perhaps he's trying to tell me something.  (Ya think?)

Well, what's new at your house?

Is there anything God is trying

to tell you lately?

Project Pinterest: Cotton Ball and Q-Tip Holder

I pinned this idea from a friend, who pinned it from a friend, and etc. -- the original pinner being "octobermoon."  Apparently she pinned it from Flickr.

I loved the idea because it gets the big bag of cotton balls and the big box of Q-Tips out of the bathroom (where I don't happen to have a lot of room for storage).  Here's my take on it: a wide-mouth canning jar, and a fancy-pleated votive cup.  I tried a few different size combos of jars and cups, and this combo was just right.

Success!
Spent: $0.00
Yay for streamlining things and making them more organized!

Here are the rules:

1. Decide which pin on Pinterest you’d like to recreate.
2. Create it!
3. Flop or success, create a blog post about your re-do and include the original pin’s url.
4. Add the Project Pinterest button to your post so others can join in too!
5. Link up and check out other bloggers’ posts!