A layout

Here's my first attempt at putting in a layout.








I just finished this layout, and wanted to see how posting it works.

I used new Reminisce paper with Scenic Route cardstock letters and Heidi Swapp Flowers (LOVE those).

I did do this with the digital camera instead of scanning, so there is a bit of glare...the pictures really aren't that great, however. Just fun.

Duh. How easy was that!

I figured out how to post a picture.

Click the "Add Image" icon in the tool bar.

Follow the directions.

Duh.

Orville...a dog story

I have a book recommendation for my two most loyal readers...Minda and Marcy. (I think they are also my ONLY readers)

This is a book you would both love, and you can read it out loud to your boys. They would probably like it too (my girls do), but I love it more. I think it is about a 15 minute out-loud read with pictures and everything. It's one of those adult books disguised as a children's book.

The book is by Haven Kimmel, published by Clarion Books.



I can't say much about the book without "giving it away", but it is about an abandoned dog and it ends up happy, in a poignant sort of way. (Sorry for using that word twice this week)





Here's the line near the end I love so much...

And Orville wished he could say to people,
"There are ways to slip free of a chain."
But all he could do was watch them.


Give it a read, and let me know what you think.

Am I drooling? Am I snoring?

I'm in class all day. Completing the class is a requirement for my job. Thing is, I'm teaching one of the sections, and helping with two others.

I am bored. I hope I'm not sleeping. Or drooling. Or snoring.

At least I'm among friends. And wireless is a great thing.

BasicGrey....Mmmmmmm

Apologies to my friend Minda, who is on a scrapbook supply sabbatical. She may want to stop reading now...

I am officially the last BasicGrey fan to have the new paper. I was waiting for my favorite local store to have it...and it came in today. I want to go home and play now...instead of being at work.

Chipboard tags and monogram, rub-ons, Mmmmmmmmm. The Urban Couture line is just about the coolest paper line I have ever seen. Paisleys and feathers and flourishes. Yummy browns, reds, greens, blues and just the right yellow mixed in.



http://www.basicgrey.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=42&page=1


It makes me want to go out and take some pictures, too. Pictures of the city, as the name suggests. The straight lines of buildings, bricks, windows, and doors. The browns and greys of building materials. The dullness of gutters and streets with years of dirt and grit and litter. The flourishes of neon and people walking by. The lighting at dusk, when the suns' rays reflect off the the walls of the concrete jungle.

...but also pictures of nature. The browns and greens and blues of the woods and the prairie skies. The cozy colors of a forrested glen in the fall (oops...wrong time of the year for that). Bird nests and marshes and animal homes. The spring green of buds against the brown grasses.

Mmmmmmm.

What, me worry?

A new funny person was brought to my attention last night. He was a centerfielder for the Yankees...I think maybe he got his mojo from Yogi Berra.

Anyway...here's the quote...

“I don't get upset over things I can control, because if I can control them there's no sense in getting upset. And I don't get upset over things I can't control, because if I can't control them there's no sense in getting upset.”

See more from Mickey here...

http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/mickey_rivers/

Change

I've been in class all day at work. A large section of the class was on Change Management. We discussed how people don't like change, the phases of change and people's reaction to it.

I liked this quote...which was attributed to no one.


"It's not so much that we're afraid of change, or so in love with the old ways, but it's the place in between we fear... it's like being in between trapezes...there's nothing to hold onto."


Posts may be small this week...I'll be in training at work all week and my hubby is out of town. Single momming it really stinks.

Roadside America

Ever been to the Roadside America website? I have. I found it when I was looking for something about St. Urho's day. One thing led to another, and now I have a new favorite site.

Here's a link for my good friend, Minda. (Actually, her husband may enjoy it more...he is the squirrel guy.)


http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/squirrels.html


Enjoy!

Cookie Season is almost over.......

I have three boxes of cookies left to sell. And 5 parents to collect money from.

Our troop of 10 little 1st and 2nd graders sold over 900 boxes of cookies!!! Organizing cookie sales has been the easiest part of being a girl scout leader. Actually running an hour and a half long meeting...that is the most difficult part.

The girls are so sweet and excited about everything. They want to try everything. They want to go camping and ice fishing and bicycling and paint and play soccer and sew and knit and act in plays and sing and ..... I love the enthusiasm they have when you ask them for ideas!!!

But when you try to get them to focus and do the actual activity we are working on...then the energy and enthusiasm erupts into chaos! Yikes!

But I love them all! I see the little faces looking to me for help or affirmation or a smile or a kind word, and it is all worth the struggle I have keeping them on task. I could never be a school teacher, but working with these Brownies once a month is just the right nudge I need to be reminded of the energy, creativity, and chaos that little girls bring to the world. Sure, I get a lot of that with two girls of my own, but seeing other peoples' kids and seeing them all interact in a world that is not my house is an eye opening and (usually) heart warming experience.

Make sure YOU affirm a kid today. Whether it's one in your house, or one that you just smile at in the grocery store. They want adults to care about them... and they are worth it!

Newborn Snow

"Mommy, can I go out and play in the newborn snow?"

"Mommy, there's snow outside and it's still snowflaking!"

We woke up to at least 10" worth this am. And it's still snowing. The girls had a 2 hour late start, so they got to play before leaving for their days. I used the time to sleep in after a long weekend scrapbooking with friends. I also took some pictures, but they are on film, so I won't be able to post them for a few days.

I had such a wonderful weekend with some wonderful friends...new and long-time. It was a positive weekend. Not much whining or griping... mostly positive with a lot of affirmation and just the right amount of food. It's great to scrap with gals that are positive about life and the people around them...it really feeds my soul.

Nancy

Pancakes

My family has a tradition. I make pancakes every Saturday morning. I have a nice griddle for the stove and I have it down so I can do it in almost any state of mind (or body). My five year old is my usual helper.

I am going to be gone this weekend...scrappin' with my friends. This morning my 8-yo figured out that I was not going to be around to make pancakes. *whine*whine*whine* "But mama, who's going to make us pancakes?" *whine*whine*whine*

"I can make the pancakes." said my 5-yo very confidently. I'd put her up against most 5-yos in getting through it with something close to edible at the end, but I still think daddy will have to help.

I think they can do without mama pancakes once in a while. you think?

A touch of spring...

I am Sooooo ready for spring.

I was walking outside between buildings today at work and the sun is high enough in the air to do some warming...and some birds were twittering... But, no smells of spring, yet, here in southern Minnesota.

My dear friend Minda is also ready for spring. We are going to be scrapping this weekend. Could be some wild, crazy stuff going on when chicks with cabin fever get together. Maybe we could do a podcast, eh Minda? (of course, we're not near as funny as Donna Downey and Cathy Zielske)...


Maybe next week I figure out how to post pictures and links WITHIN the text, so you can click on Minda's name and get her blog, etc. etc.

See ya' then!

40 Days of Purpose

Our church www.messiahepiscopal.org is doing "40 days of Purpose" during Lent. It is a program set up by Rick Warren of some big church in California to work through his prepositions in "The Purpose Driven Life".

I went into this with a not so great attitude, because I had some disagreements in some of the detail in his first few chapters.

Now that I have seen the tape of his teaching, and seen the outline of the entire book, I am way more into this concept. I covered my journal for the 4o days with some pretty Basic Grey Paper (Motifica) . Fun to use some of my pretty paper in ways that I will get to see a lot of it.


I also saw and good and not entirely unrelated quote today:


You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. -Anne Lamott, writer (1954- )


Hmmmmm

I'm LOSING IT!!!!

Yet another health incentive program started at work today. This time instead of winning towels or tote bags or water bottles, we get to earn MONEY! hey...what's with that. Up to $100.

It includes a "big Loser" contest (in teams), education, fitness classes, and walking groups. I signed up, of course. I want to get back to a size 14. I want to not cringe at every picture I see of me because I "look fat". I'd like to look good in jeans again.

Ok. Those things are easy to say. And they are all about looks. I think I could use some better incentive than that! So I look deeper. What are the benefits of exercise, eating better, and losing weight? I don' t have a blood pressure or cholesterol problem (Thanks Gram!). What is the motivation?
To be a healthy role model for my daughters (around food and exercise)
To have a chance at getting off of some of my medication
To make sure Osteoporsis is not a part of my future.
To have more energy to be able to keep up with the two girls.

The question is, are those good enough reasons to part with sloth and cookies? We'll see...

I'm losing it.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of lent.

At church we are doing the "40 days of Purpose" for lent. I'm having a bad attitude about it. I don't want to have a bad attitude about it. God has a way of getting peoples' attentions when they have a bad attitude. I'd rather not have that happen to me.

My lenten disciplines...written down here for me to commit to, and not because I need/want other people to know about them:
Fasting Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
No Carbonated Beverages. (including Diet Coke!!! Arghhh!!!)
Read the "40 Days" reading each day.