February 29, 2024

March 2024 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

Hopping right along . . . an early Happy Easter to all of you!  The bunnies were so excited to be part of this month's blog train.  I originally designed the sitting bunny below as a "shelf-sitter" made from wood.  Sitting on a shelf with his leg hanging down, he's real cute.  For scrapbooking purposes, however, you can set him on top of a frame or a note card, for example.  He'll be pretty happy wherever to sit him :)


Click  HERE  to download

Fan Freebie --

Oh, yes, this is another of my designs for woodcrafting.  The original train was 5 cars long and stretched a good 4 feet and was about 10 inches tall.  It will make a good border on the bottom of your scrapbooking pages.


Click  HERE  to download

The Boo Update --

I couldn't find Boo one afternoon.  He was sleeping in the guest room quiet and cozy.  He pretty much spent the entire afternoon in there.  The next time we have overnight guests, I hope they don't mind sharing the bed with him.  He has pretty much claimed that room as his.



January 31, 2024

February 2024 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

Wisconsin is a state of extremes.  While I was working with these beautiful spring colors just a few weeks ago, it was snowing and blowing outside.  We ended up with about 24 inches of snow in two days, the snow drifts were much taller.  And then the temperature dropped well below zero for another week.  With the wind chill, it felt even colder.  Because of my horses, I had to be out in it.  My arctic gear helped, but I didn't spend any more time out there than I had to. And now, just two weeks later, it's in the high 30's and everything is melting. In Wisconsin, we call that a "Heat Wave"!!  It feels more like spring than it does winter.  Works for me!  But, it is February 1st.  All this can change like the flick of a light switch.  As I'm writing this, I think I should have called this kit "Cold Fingers, Warm Hearts" !    


Click  HERE  to Download

Fan Freebie --

I used the same colors as the blog train, but added two of my little ducks into the mix.  Easter is just around the corner afterall.  We won't see Daffodils and Hyacinthe for quite some time yet, but they look so pretty with the ducks :) 


Click  HERE  to Download

The Boo Update --

This picture was taken last month.  I think Boo was bored so he just plopped himself on my recipe book and watched me press cookies on the baking sheet.  My grandson told me that his Mom would never let their cat on the kitchen counter.  I turned around and said to him "he's not on the counter, he's holding my recipe book open for me.  That's how smart he is."  


Meet me back here in March!

December 31, 2023

January 2024 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

I can't even begin to list the number and kinds of animals I've had in my life, but there has always been a cat.  I love cats.  I got my first one when I was about 4 and never went long without one since. My first published painting book was on cats.  Besides Boo and Jake, I also have 10 barn cats in the horse stable.  All of them were born here and range in age from 7 months to 10 years.  Yes, they all have names and are almost as spoiled as Boo -- heated houses, water dishes, and breakfast delivered at 8:00 each morning.  All of them get pet or held daily.  In return, they keep rabbits out of my garden.  And, no mouse in his right mind would dare step into that building :)  


Click  HERE  to Download

Fan Freebie --

Couldn't let the dogs miss out on all the fun!  My favorite dog was my black Great Dane, Duchess.  She's been gone a good many years now and I just never found another dog that could take her place.  She was a fun dog.  But, if someone came to the door, she would quietly place herself between me and the person at the door.  If it was a friend, she was good.  If it was a stranger, she would just sit there and stare at them until they left.  So, until the right dog comes along, I'm happy with my cats and horses and, occasionally, the neighbor's dog comes over to visit, too.


Click  HERE  to Download

The Boo Update --

                  "Thank goodness Christmas is over.  All that rustling paper and commotion!  
BOWS!!!  Oh, I love bows!!"

Boo developed "Miliary Dermatitis" last summer.  It's tiny little bumps around his neck, usually caused by an allergy of some sort.  Some days would be better than others, but it never totally went away.  So I took him to the Vet again, and we put him on prescription cat food and had lab work done to see exactly what he was allergic to.  The cat food made a big difference and it seems to be improving.  Not gone yet, but improving.  I also had them do a full blood workup and found out that he is allergic to grasses, trees, a variety of plants, so on and so forth.  Our vet said she has never seen so many boxes checked.  At that point, I knew this was going to be expensive.  But, what do you do, right?  I just shook my head.  I've said it since Day 1 -- this is the most unusual cat I've ever had~!  But, at least he's feeling better, the new food agrees with him, and there definitely is improvement.  


Happy New Year everyone!

November 30, 2023

December 2023 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

Oh boy!  It's almost Christmas . . . again!  Take lots of pictures to scrap and preserve your memories.  Time keeps moving forward even when you wish it would just slow down for certain times throughout the year.  Pictures help not just to document the moment, but gives you something to savor and enjoy months, sometimes years, down the road.


Click  HERE  to Download

Fan Freebie --

These truly are some of my favorite things.  I love snow for Christmas (but wish it would melt the first of the year), lights and ornaments, gingerbread (or any decorated Christmas cookie actually), fresh cut pine trees with homemade ornaments, and Elves.  I can take or leave Santa, but I definitely need Elves.  It's those added simple things that make any holiday special.  Come to think of it, I wish someone would give me an elf or two for Christmas to help me clean up after the holiday is over :)


Click  HERE  to Download

The Boo Update --

Boo's most favorite part of Christmas is the tree.  He'll spend time napping under it from the first day we put it up, while I'm decorating it and everyday thereafter until the day we take it down.  He tends to leave the decorations alone unless they jingle and then it's fair game.  And once in a while if he spots something "interesting" up higher, well....those branches coming out of the trunk are the perfect ladder to climb up to get a closer look.  

Merry Christmas Everyone!!