Happy Thurs.

It is offical...I am OLD! I am now on high blood pressure meds, a diuretic, and a anti-0steo w/vitamin D. If I don't take these, the Dr. told me my quality of life would diminish as in no biking, increased headaches with strong risk of a stroke (from the bad ol' days when I smoked)and other factors.

The good news is my mammo came back clean and I got A+++ on all my blood tests. I am even sounding old today, obsessing over my health...sorry about that.

In an effort to stave off some of the aging side effects, E and I are making some life changes....not too many but a few that are long overdue. We are going to walk 30min. at least 4x a week (I'll try to bike in between since I love it so) and we have started South Beach again. We could both take off 30lbs and be much healthier people. South Beach worked for us before we went to Italy and we are aware of our need to take off weight for good.

We had a great walk this morning but went way beyond our 30 min. The park gate was open on our way home and we roamed through. We saw such beautiful wild flowers and the birds were singing their little hearts out. E still has not seen the river from the park or the fishing dock or the beach there but we can save those to look forward to.

I've been scrapping! I finished two layouts and have 2 more all blocked out. Creative Escape, while it was not the "life altering" experience a few women said they had, was impetus for me to get back in the groove!

CE projects....my version (more tomorrow)

The first project was my favorite in terms of the potential for future use. This soldered pendant is 1.5x.5 and incased in microscope glass. After I soldered it, I added some copper Krylon inks to "antique" it a bit as the silver was really bright. The little girl is my mother at 4. I am feeling ambitious and want to try a collage about 8x10, perhaps. Cross your fingers and wish me luck.


I am not a big card maker so this class was not something I would have signed up for. The cards are cute and it was easy to make a few little changes. For example, on the file folder one, the teacher had the ribbons tie the front closed. I kept mine open and put a corner and a tag inside so the card opened up. I didn't do the 5th. one. These were a bit too easy, imho, for the caliber of the event.

The next project was also on my top favorites list from the event. The holder is a plastic folder folded in half. I obviously need some practice with the book binding tape but I am in love with this project and very pleased how mine turned out.

The last project I have posted looks absolutely nothing like the sample. Heidi Swapp did a beautiful job with her canvas creation but it was not anything I would ever use. Rather than wasting the goodies, I learned the technique Tim Holtz taught her for applying the distressing inks and did my own thing. I used the bird mask on the mirror but there were no StayzOn inks available in class so I'll redo that (and get rid of the fingerprint too) later. I also want to do a pale green color wash over the brown. I wish she had taught the technique right at the start of class rather than waiting until most of us had started or perhaps I am just not a patient person (fancy that...lol)



Tomorrow I will post the calendar pages from that class before I put them into the mail to my great niece. I will never use them. I'll redo the calendar so it works for me. This was one of the most disappointing classes. I'll also post my stamped and smeared album from Rhonna's class. I'll probably cover the pages I've stamped with paper and find another use for this. This class was the most disappointing because I love Rhonna's designs and thought we'd get lots of great information and ideas. I didn't come to this event to be given a 21 days to break a habit/get a new habit in place lecture.

Ending on a more positive note...Have a Great Day!

Home home on the range...

It is good to be home! I had a fantastic time at Creative Escape and, while most of the classes were very good, what I have decided made the event worth the very pricey tag attached to attending was the company I kept! These women in my life are so funny, so talented and such good people, that we could probably have gone to a Motel 6, cropped on the floor, had order in pizza and still have had an amazingly good time.

Will I do Creative Escape again...probably not. Do I have any regrets about paying the huge admit fee, the hotel for four nights and the plane fare? Not a one. I think after almost twelve years of scrapping, I am ready for something more. The classes that I thought were so excellent all taught me something I did not know (and there is a lot I don't know, believe me) or were clever and well thought out. I want to attend an event where all of the classes are of this caliber.

Here is a brief review of my favorites:

Tracey Niehaues' "My Thoughts Exactly" folder class was so darn cute and so much fun to assemble. The products, K&Co, are one of my favorites and the concept was top drawer. I'll post pics to go with these tomorrow and will label them. Tracey was low key, patient and focused on the class, the steps to complete the project and the students. She was the top teacher in my book!

Chris Randall's Simply Swanky Memory Jewelry: WOW! Can I just say what fun I had in this class and how much I not only learned but immediately spun off some things I just have to create. This was the soldering class...I already have a trip to Home Depot booked for flux and soldering and some pieces of glass. Guess what people are getting for Christmas? lol. I would have to say that Chris ties with Tracey for top teacher of the event in terms of techniques taught and inspiration to create more.

Jennifer Wagner's Purse-onal Memories Album: loved the papers we used, the BE purse, the mini album inside and the fun concept. I spun off a bit from the one Jennifer had designed and made mine more collage-y and a tad more vintage. I didn't finish the mini album that goes inside but this is one project I will finish. I liked Jennifer's teaching style...she is easy to follow and her ideas led me to create ones of my own. I had been avoiding playing with this purse kit because it seemed too cutesy when I saw other samples in the stores and on-line. I like this one.

Heidi Swapp's "Today" memory board: I loved the canvas but the green design Heidi did hers in did not work for my room so I learned the distress ink techniques that Tim Holtz taught Heidi and did my own thing. I think Heidi's was cute but not for me. I will be playing with canvas a lot more.

The pictures are of the amazing mountain range surrounding our resort, our group at the soldering class, four of the gals from the Ruban Rouge group and our ten! And yes, some of us dropped our shoes, hiked up our pant legs and climbed into the fountain...it was just too much temptation not to!

Day Two: the sequel

We started early with Janet and I waking at 3:30 am, 4:10 am and then at 5:30 when Kip's phone alarm went off and she thought it was 3:00am. We met up with Jill after a leisurely start to our day. We rented a car which took a tad bit longer than it should have since the gal at the rental desk was a tad distracted filling on a loan ap on the phone.

The four of us proceeded to shop our way through several cities surrounding Phoenix. Kip's fave was the one in Gilbert AZ just because she liked saying the name...Gilbert, Gilbert, Gilbert. and Gilbert. I bought some lovely things and far more than I shall ever have time to use but I am going to give it my best shot.

We did the techniques today and that went pretty fast. Our classes start at eight tomorrow morning...I might be acclimated by then. The evening RahRah was less than CKU, thank heavens and relatively painless. I honestly believe that women in my age bracket are entitled to not cheer, to not get overly excited about a "name" and to require something besides, "lets thank our sponsors for making this event wonderful" when I have paid $600.00 to aforementioned sponsors...

Now, I do believe we are going to get our money's worth out of this event. The prelims are looking good and I am open to learning something!

My favorite store of all was Melrose Vintage here in Phoenix...being the lover of shabby chic and vintage, I thought I had died and gone to heaven...which is what Kippy and I did at one of the stores waiting for the others to check out.

I am going to do a layout with the picture of me looking through the window..."I've been Framed! " lol

See ya same time tomorrow! Love, Jules

Broadcasting live from somewhere in Arizona

Yesterday had to be one of the longest days but one jammed packed with hysteria. What else could I expect with this group of crazed women? I arrived at the Phoenix airport at 9:27am having left Tampa at 7:40am. What this means is I am now somewhere between these two time zones in no-man's land.

I met up with Jill in the Phoenix airport and spent a cheerful couple of hours (see picture)waiting for Janet to arrive. Once her plane arrived, we found a van driver who was willing to stop at a grocery/liquor store on our way to the resort so we are set with junk food and wine to last us the rest of the visit. Miami Dawn was already here.

Kip, Mary and Linda finally got in around 6:30pm and off we went to dinner where we met up with our old CKMB Early Bird pals, Pam from Canada and by bike buddy, Karen from outside of Boston. (see Kip's blog for this pic)

This place is so beautiful done in the lovely adobe motif of the region. The picture of the mountain is Squaw Peak for which the resort is named.

Linda, Dawn, Mary Mary, Pam and Karen are all off on a HumVee trip through the desert and Kip, Janet and I are off on an adventure of our own...a self directed tour of the scrap stores here in Phoenix. The event actually starts around one with check in but, not being people who enjoy standing in lines, we'll amble in a tad later.

For more pictures and commentary, please refer to Kippy's blog (//flkipper.typepad.com)

Up we go into the wild blue yonder...

So far this morning, I've managed to spill hot coffee, drop my egg sandwich and break a strap on my shoe...and that is just since I've arrived at the airport. Hoping these 3 end the streak of bad luck since we'll be boarding the plane in just a few minutes.

I did a quick check list last night before I went to bed and I can only imagine what the airline inspectors are going to think with needle nose pliers, wire cutters and a soldering gun all securely tucked away along with my candy and Gardettos (sp?) Oh well.

I only have a second so stay well all and I'll report in when I can. Several people have offered us bail money just in case so we can party hardy, right Kipper? This ain't Vegas baby so we'll tell all and have pictures in addition!

See ya later, gators!

Today is the first day of the rest of your fifties, Kipper!

Hope your birthday was a good one, my friend. And what could be more fun than shopping for 60% off goodies at Ruban Rouge? Or having a wonderous lunch at the Thirsty Marlin in old town Palm Harbor? Or talking about how much fun we are going to have at Creative Escape or spending the day with your pals who love you?

Best wishes, Kipster, on the rest of the year! Love, Jules

My altered journal for Creative Escape

(front cover, inside front cover, facing page and back cover)


What a fun thing to send a bunch of creative gals coming to AZ! I love the blank journal that Creative Escape sent us and wanted to make it mine ASAP. Long having been a lover of the old, the vintage and the vamp, I decided to alter mine as if I were traveling in my grandmother's hey day. I wanted it rich and bedecked with ribbons and charms and flowers but to still leave plenty of space to record my trip to this event and to have room for pictures as well. So far, I am pleased with what this is becoming. I have a few more images to stamp on some random pages and will complete the project upon my return home. Thanks for looking!

Happy Birthday Hang Ten Paper Arts

It is the one year anniversary of Hang Ten Paper Arts. Jill M. had her on-line store and was looking for something new and I had kit ideas but no way to sell them. Between the two of us, a year ago today, we launched Hang Ten Paper Arts. When Jill decided to return to work full time (not that the Shack was not a full time job, mind you), Linda J, owner of Hilltop Memories, took over the sponsorship of Hang Ten and Diane joined us as a third partner. It has been a roller coaster ride of joy and, at times, sheer panic but I am so proud of our project driven kits and the quality and quantity of the contents.

To celebrate the Birthday, we are offering six mini kits this month. For 35.00 you can select any three as long as the supplies last. These are limited in number and once they are gone, they are gone for good. Diane and I each designed 3 and I am sure you will be able to find 3 of the 6 to tickle your fancy.

So, thanks to all of you who have faithfully purchased our kits and who encourage us with your kind words. We have some surprises in store for this next year, so fasten your seat belts. Remember, we are not a subscription kit company. Our motto is, "If you like it, buy it (or two or three) and if not, come back next month!"

To see the selections for the One Year Birthday of Hang Ten Paper Arts, please go to Linda Jenkin's site,www.hilltopmemories.com, scroll to the bottom and click on the Hang Ten logo. and happy Labor Day Weekend.

It is happy haircut day here in Paradise

The salon was able to squeeze me in today so I won't look like Cousin Itt for our get away to Phoenix AZ starting next Wednesday. A slew of us are heading out to Creative Escape and I think I am taking more craft tools than I am clothes! Every time I think I have the required list all checked off...another unchecked item appears as if by magic! lol

I have some beautiful papers to play with today but may wait a bit. E is still painting in the master bath and often needs some help. Will post pics when the project is fini.

Chris was feeling better when Kristen picked him up last night after her school open house. Of course, he had just had a vicadin and was not feeling any pain at all! We made sure he took his two pulled teeth with him. I asked if he was going to put them under his pillow for the tooth fairy...lol.

Our mighty hunter, Goofy, cornered a little snake in the pool enclosure yesterday. E took a shovel and helped send the critter to the happy snake land far far away. It was a little black snake of the common garden variety according to Chris who should know. I could only peek at it from between my slightly spread fingers that were held securely over my eyes! Eeeeeeeeek. and Yeah Goofy and E.

Off to double/triple check that CE supply list still one more time.

Places I'll Remember...

I was roaming through Picasa on my big computer, Harry, yesterday and found a bunch of the pictures I took on a convention trip with Kim and Barb a couple of years ago. We worked the convention for Kim's booth, Scrapbooks n Stickers and had a couple of days after the convention to play. We picked a location at random and took off early in the morning heading towards the Oregon coastline through the rain forest and up in the mountains. I remember we stopped so Barb and I could have a snow ball fight with some snow along side of the road. It was cold and damp when we hit the coast but we found such a great place to stop for lunch, The Pelican Brewery or something like that. We had to get sweatshirts before we could even walk the beach. The shoreline was so beautiful with a prominent rock that our waiter said was called Haystack South(?). I stood right on the edge of the rocks and felt the power of the Pacific when the waves would crash and break just in front of me. This is one of those places that just draws you back and next time, I'll be taking E.

I need to scrap this and the other pics...I've only done one so far! Have a great day all!

Moon Struck

Having missed seeing Mars the closest it will ever be in our lifetime, E and I watched the lunar eclipse this morning first from the lanai and then the front yard until we could see the moon no longer.

The pictures are not the best but I did get a good sequence of the first part of the eclipse. The moon has gone below the horizon here so we'll have to watch the second half of this on tv.

When I was younger, I remember wanting to be an astronomer. The mystery of the sky, the stars, the moon...lured me! My grandmother bought me a star gazer. It was two paper discs secured by a grommet in the middle. I would align the two with the night sky and could locate constellations. I even saw my first satellite standing on the blvd. in front of my grandmother's house the first summer the Russians put it in orbit. I bought another one a couple of years back at Barnes and Noble but have no idea what happened to it. Lost in the move, perhaps.

E shares my love of the night sky and we've been known to jump in the car very early in the morning to drive away from city lights, park and watch a meteor shower. It was easier to do in Ft. Myers than St. Louis as we could roam down to the dock, coffee mug in hand and star gaze.

Too hot to trot!

This is an old expression my grandmother use to use and I never understood what it meant. From what I can gather, it means that it is too hot outside to have horses trot or something like that. Whatever it means, that is how I interpret it and it is so true during these 'dog days of August'...another old saying.

I was burning some cds to get pics off my desktop, when I came across this picture taken at the Castle Winery here in Tarpon (yes, the very same place we almost got thrown out of for disorderly conduct...lol). It took this looking up into the grape arbor. It is such a cool and serene photo, that it makes me feel cool too.

Lots of things happening soon...will update later. Have a good one.

Wish it was Fall....

About the only season I miss since we've moved to the Tropics is Fall. For some reason, seeing the school buses on the roads the other day, triggered my "I need
Autumn" response. Those of you who have followed my blog (and for that I thank you) know that almost every October, E and I head back 'home' to St. Louis. We combine a visit with his mom who will turn 90 this Oct. with visits to all our friends. The one given each year is that we will go on the Missouri Wine Tour. We meet at one winery, listen to music, have warm fresh bread, amazing cheeses and taste the fruit of the vine. We hope our timing is good to wear sweatshirts for the cool air and that the leaves have started to change. And, of course, my favorite tee shirt has to be my Old Wino one that looks like the Old Navy logo. Match it with the "Got Wine" visor that Kim and Barb picked up for me on one of their adventures, throw in a soft pair of jeans, my one pair of great socks and comfy shoes and I am ready.

We are not sure if we are going to make the trip home this year or not. We generally stayed a couple of days at E's mom's house, took her to some dr. apt. and either out to eat or E cooked one of her favorite meals for her. This year she moved into E's brothers house and hers is up for sale. I'm doubtful that we could stay there. I would be very uncomfortable staying at E's brothers for a variety of reasons so if we do go home, I'll probably stay with friends and try to find a way to visit with mom at least once. Only time will tell how this whole thing will play out but I do know that if we go, the Winery tour is a must!

Off to scrap...it is hotter than hell here again today and, despite some cleaning I MUST do, I also need to scrap. Will post any projects when they are done. Have a great and creative day!

Enjoying my second childhood!

They say men who go through a mid-life crisis usually buy a sports car...maybe this is my mid-life crisis although, technically, I am a bit past the mid life mark. I prefer to think of this recent purchase as E and my celebrating our second childhood! So let the party begin.

I drove the car home from the dealership with the top down, of course. Who cares that is is currently 94 out or that my hair ended up looking a bit like Maime Eisenhower's. It was fun and I sang loudly to the satellite radio all down 19 and waved at E (who was following in the van) often. I have to practice the top down wave you know. I'll ask the Kipster for lessons...she has it down pat.

Hummmming now: 'get outta my dreams and into my car!'

Doctors doctors and more

Today is the day to suck it up and head out to my Well Woman check up which sounds a lot better than what my dd calls it, "the girly exam". Long over due for this one as it has been over two years. And I am old enough to know better too!

After that excitement, we are going to test drive the 07 G6 we saw yesterday. It is a hardtop silver convertible and it looks so pretty. I am fairly sure E and I will look just mighty fine in too. We shall see.

Later today comes the mammo (and no, lady, I can't get any more of 'it' up there on that plate!)and then the bone density which I've had before and no biggie. Boy, will I be glad to get all this over with and resume life.

I've got a bunch of stuff on my plate right now and have designated tomorrow as clean off the work table day....anyone want to join me in a purge and put away marathon? Our garage sale is the 3rd. weekend in Sept. and I want to sell tons of stuff I don't use.

Kristen called yesterday to report in on her first day at work. She loves her new school and the women in her team...she says they laugh, stay late like her and she was made to feel welcome and a part of the team. She has 18 kids and wants to know what day of the week I'll be volunteering to help with the wee ones...ummmmmmmmm. I'll wait to see how things go and commit to one day after the garage sale.

Off to take a shower and get all clean and spanky for my checkups...

Counting my blessings

I woke to E watching the horrific reports of the damage Dean is doing on its path. My heart goes out to these people whose lives have been changed forever. The damage we encountered in Ft. Myers from Charlie and the subsequent tropical storms is so minor compared to what these poor people and those who were harmed by Katrina as to be just a splinter.

The force and might of Nature makes all life's irritants pale by comparison. It certainly puts life in prospective doesn't it? Maybe it is time to recount my blessings.

1. I have a great family and we are there for each other.
2. I have my health and am able to participate in the activities that bring me pleasure
3. I have an amazing group of friends who are intelligent, funny, loving and creative who are both scrappers and non-scrappers.
4. We have a good income and still have the capacity to earn more if we need to.
5. I live exactly where I want to live and have enough of what I need.
6. I have the love of an amazing man and am the recipient of his bounty (man, can he cook)!
7. My children have grown up well and are fun to be with.
8. I live in a country where I can vote, go to school, have an opinion and travel where I want. It is not a perfect country but it is better than most.
9 I have access to the internet which keeps me in touch with friends near and far and allows me to share my life with them.
10. I enjoy each day as it comes.


Thanks to all of you who contribute to my blessings.

Monday Monday

It's the start of a new week. The sun is out here, the hibiscus are opening up their colorful array and we even have a nice breeze. I may just put some air in the bike tires and head out through the park to the Pinellas trail. And then again, maybe not...lol.

I do want to get to the library today. We have the most wonderful new (but smallish) public library. The NEW books section is well stocked and I can always find a couple of fiction books I have not read along with a biography or two. When I could not sleep last night and it was too late for an Ambien, I started rereading the DiVinci Code as it was the first book I found in the guest room closet.

I have to go by the post office and mail off a couple of kits too and can do that on the way home from the library. I may even find some time to finish up that last layout laying on my desk.

I bought some wonderful papers this past weekend at Ruban Rouge. I got tons of the Luxe ones along with almost every jotter they make and several of the new ones by 3 Bugs in a Rug and more by Making Memories. Can't wait to clear my work table and dig in.

Off to breakfast. Great day to all.

Pardon the pics....

Big Bertha, my large format scanner, is on the fritz again. I have to shut everything down and do a restart to get the old gal up and running. Meanwhile, these are the pics of two of my layouts from the crop Friday night.

I loved the one of my mom which I printed on canvas and am working on doing some watercoloring onto the photo. If it works out, I'll repost w/both so you can see the difference.

The one of Kaela speaks for itself...she is just the cutest!

I need to enlarge a pic for the 3rd. layout. Kip and I tried to figure out what was wrong with the layout and I've decided it just needs a bigger pic. Will also post that when I am done.

Thanks for looking!

A new week and lots of fun things to do...

The crop was great at Ruban Rouge, as usual. The class in the afternoon with the Luxe gals was fun and we made the cutest little mini album...pics to follow later today. And, the best part is that my friend, the Kipper, won the Luxe blog challenge for last week with her Scrap O Dex. You honestly have to see it to believe it. It is so awesome. Click on her blog link here on my blog and she has the link for the Luxe blog on hers. It is well worth it!

My friend, Linda M, has nominated me for Rockin' Blogger Girl and has said to pass this honor on to 5 of my pals. So, without further ado

Kip, Linda J, Terri, Mama Jayne and (two here...I am cheating)Di and Kath (Twinks) who writes so wonderfully of her beloved beach. So, grab the blinkie gals and nominate 5 of your own.

Off to finish the 3 layouts I started at the crop. Will post those later on as well. Enjoy your Sunday. I plan on spending as much time in my jammies scrapping as I can!