The Promise of Pictures

So this weekend I took the dogs to the forest. I haven't been there is a long time and was very surprised at the number of deer who will now come up on the path. Since my dogs go every day with Rick the deer are used to them and in some of the pictures you will see both Gidget and Maggie with the deer. Even the squirrels are not that concerned with the dogs. On Sunday I took a loaf of bread and it was gone in a matter of minutes and I tried to give one piece to each deer but there were too many.
Just click the pictures to get a better view.








Even the squirrels will come right up to you.


A very young buck.


This is the buck that is named Nixon by "Bill the deer man" and my brother Rick.
His mother is known as Nic because she has a knick in her ear and this buck is her son. Notice on his rack that he has one point that is broken off. Must be a pretty active mating season and plenty of fights amoungst the bucks.








I had to zoom this picture because I was not climbing down the river embankment to get a better duck picture.


Another zoomed picture


Gidget with a deer














Gidget and Maggie and their forest friends

















The new buck in town








I really love the colors on this tree

Still Alive

I find myself in front of my computer today trying to finish a 10+ paper for school.
I have to do a case study of Wal-Mart, and since I am currently experiencing a brain fart in my thoughts I decided to update my blog.

Work is still crazy. I have been putting in alot of overtime (that I don't get paid for) to get myself current and then the department current. My goal is to have us current by the first of the year.

School is crazy too. Who would have ever thought that a class that all business majors take in their last semester, Strategic Management would be so time consuming. Between the reading, group presentations and papers I will be doing the dance of joy when this class is over.

This weekend I went to the forest with the dogs. Today I brought my camera and will download the great deer pictures that I got. I brought a loaf of white bread this morning and in a matter of minutes it was finished and I tried to give one piece to every deer that was around. I ran out of bread before I ran out of deer.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday and I will update tomorrow with the pictures.

Treading Water

Well, let's see.

The basement is fine and dry and in the overall scope of things, my little water "problem" was really just a drop compared to the many devasted here in this area and down south in the gulf states and especially in Texas where Ike made his landfall.

I am treading water with regards to what I need to get done and the time in which I have to complete it.

I have always said that the job that I do is more than one person's worth. Unfortunately with the economy and business in general in the state it is in the hope of getting anyone hired at work to help with my department's load is just laughable. I have been at my job for 7-1/2 years and have never been caught up. Recently MUCH pressure has been put upon me to get my department current.

Let's see, we used to have 3 full time and 1 part time when I started. Now we have 2 full time and 1 part time and the workload for the department has not decreased at all. If anything it has increased. So that leaves me working more hours than before. I average 52 hours per week. I get paid for 40. I also go to school two nights a week so that leaves me not alot of time for much of anything else once you factor in homework, Powerpoint presentations and term papers. Not to mention regular household stuff like laundry, grocery shopping and errands. I am currently working on a baby afghan for a new baby boy born to one of my co-workers. I will post a pic when finished along with the swap cards that I must find time to make and get out before 10/1.

So, I apologize for the lack of posts recently but I have been working like a fiend.

If and when I do catch up I will try to be creative and have new things to post daily. In the interim please be patient, I'll be back soon I hope.

Have a great Thursday, the new Grey's Anatomy is on tonight!!!

Yikes Ike!!!!!!

To those that live in the Chicagoland area you know that we had one heck of a weekend.

We had rain from Friday until Sunday. Over 8 inches of rain in my area some of which was in my basement and my yard. The front that hung over us was bad enough but then Ike decided to merge with that front and it was just yucky.

I hate the smell of wet musty basement and will be very happy when the basement airs out. A good cleaning with bleach will do the trick. The other downside to this lovely weekend is that the DesPlaines river which runs between me and work is over-flowing it's banks. There are only three ways for me to get to work. South around O'Hare airport, North around O'Hare airport or the tollway. I never take the tollway because it is always crowded. I much prefer the streets. With the river flooding, the only way to and from work for me is to take the dreaded tollway. So, as I prepare to leave work and go sit in traffic I hope that everyone else had a nice weekend.

Don't get me wrong, my small inconveniences are NOTHING compared to those in Texas or those living right on the rivers here in Illinois who had to evacuate their homes because of the DesPlaines river, or those along the Chicago river. I have running water, electricity a home that I am still living in. No, I am VERY fortunate. Thank goodness it was rain and not snow.

I wonder what the conversion of one inch of rain is to snow?

I'm off to find that out.



Update: According to Wikipedia, approximately 10 to 12 inches of snow equals one inch of rain.
Holy canolli, we would have had about 9 feet of snow in my neighborhood.

A Quickie

Found some more of this stamped image, colored it and tossed this card together.

A Couple of Cards

This card uses the new Stampin Up stamp set "Crazy for Cupcakes" and the saying is from Stampin Up stamp set "Family Phrases". The patterned paper is also SU, but I believe that it is from the old catalog.


This card used paper from a paper stack and a retired image from Stampin Up.

Some Cards

Here are some cards that I did this weekend. I am in a craft fair this Sunday (9/7) and was trying to get some more cards done for my inventory.

Maggie Moo Gets a Haircut

The Before Pictures












The After Pictures










Blogger is not allowing me to upload all of my pictures. I have been able to get a few of the "before" pictures of Maggie and then the "after" pictures of her new haircut. I also have cards that I made for my upcoming craft fair but will upload those for a different post.

Halloween Card and The Textbook Answer

For those that commented on the textbook price and for those that read it and were playing along at home.

Here is the answer.

The textbook was $87.00 plus tax!!!
Yep, if you have free time and knowledge on a certain subject, perhaps writing a textbook could be a job for you, LOL!!!

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!


This card was made with the new Halloween designer papers from SU and one of the new stamp sets from the Fall/Winter catalog. I am sorry that I didn't write down the name of the set.

Guess the Cost

School started for me on Monday evening. This should be my last class and then I graduate in December. The class is a must take for all business majors during their last semester at the university. The class is "Strategic Management". The course is taught by a French Canadian professor who seems quite nice. Just like a British accent, her French accent is quite a pleasure to listen to. The classroom on the other hand left ALOT to be desired. They tried to cram 40+ students into a room that only had desks enough for maybe 25 at the very most (I forgot to count the desks). It was hotter than H-ll and quite a nasty experience after about the first 20 minutes of class. I did not recognize one person from any of my other numerous classes which was a bummer since we have to do group presentations and papers for this class. Hopefully our professor has begged and pleaded for a new larger room and we won't have to suffer for a whole semester.


This textbook is soft cover, used (highlighted areas from a previous owner) and one of the better used books.




This is the side view to show the depth of the book. It is approx. 1/2 inch thick.

So, what is your guess, how much was this book at the college bookstore?


Just a different version using the same ingredients as a previously posted card. Gotta keep the table clean some way right?



I got some SU fun yesterday and mounted and stamped a couple of images. I just have to throw some stuff together and make a card. Hopefully soon.

Today I was going to write about my first day of school, in what should be the last class for my degree. However, after opening this response on one of the dating sites to which I have subscribed I just had to share XXXXXXX with you. I have either "X'd" out his name or ----- his e-mail so that no one would steal him from me. At long last and just as my subscriptions are ending THE ONE has FINALLY arrived. The fact that he lives in New York is NOT a stumbling block!!!! Heck, c'mon, he's SENSUAL!!!
I'll talk about school tomorrow and I'll also take a picture of my textbook and we can play, "guess how much this book cost".

Have a great Tuesday!

What a beauty you are? Your profile caught my eye and i couldn't get you off my head and mind and i decided to say hello but first i must introduce myself. My name is XXXXXXXXXX , I work as an independent contractor (Sit Engineer) . I was married but now a widowed, not in any relationship at the moment. For years now i have been alone in a lonely world of mine and now decided to experience that which i lost when i lost my late wife. A little description about me, I am SENSUAL, Romantic, honest, humble, respectful and caring. Did i mention that I'm lovable too? I love watching movies going out and most of all i love privacy with my woman. I seek a passionate and supportive woman to help in discharging my affair(s). My life has been so quiet after my late wife, soaked with my job and i think its right and time that i move on with life as that she will want of me. If you agree with me that LIFE is a Gift that should be spent well, why not mail me and let's get to know each other better. I intend to re marry but making friends first is the ultimate then we'll see where it leads us. I believe you are here for a purpose too and if so you can send me a private email and response on my email which is as well as my chatting id k ------------@yahoo.com. i am mostly on there at work and home k I'd appreciate if you reply this mail ASAP. and i am online right now.. k am too old for games so i play no games am for real
Cheers..
XXXXXXXXXX

A Bit of Crafting

I did a little bit of crafting and a whole lot of reading this past weekend.
I am deep into the last Harry Potter book and must say that it is very hard to put down for laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning and crafting. All of which I reluctantly did this weekend. It if were up to me I would just sit and read until I was finished but unfortunately I don't have that kind of time.


I made multiples of this card (inventory for my upcoming craft fairs) because I had more of the ribbon, then in the card below. I staggered the placement of the horizontal cardstock with the ribbon depending on the patterned paper.

A Bit of Crafty Fun

These cards I have been working on during the week. The reason that they took me all week was that I would just do a bit on each card between reading. I am 120 pages into the last Harry Potter book. I have had this book for quite awhile but wanted to see the movie from book 6 before starting book 7. Of course, silly me starts the book right before school starts. I'm sure Harry will be much more exciting than my textbook. I hope to craft a bit this weekend so I will hopefully have new creations on Monday. Have a great weekend!!!!

I made both of these cards using scrap pieces of patterned paper. I am trying to use my stash.


You cannot see it on this picture but the lower right hand has been embossed with the Mickey head icon. I got the paper embosser when I was down in Wally World in June. The three images are the Mickey head icon, Cinderella's castle and a whole body image of Mickey. I put a piece of white cardstock on the inside of the card and I embossed the lower edge with the Mickey head icon too.

Bath Time

I must have been sleeping through the last summer Olympics because while watching last night I saw a competition that I didn't even know was an event.

When did trampoline become a medal awarded event?

I saw the women compete and wow did they get up in the air!!!! YIKERS!!


Maggie received her first full bath from me on Sunday. She really needs her hair cut and I am shopping around for a groomer. She has been getting into these little burrs (sp?) at the forest and I am having to comb them out each night. She was very good during her shampoo with the exception of her face. She doesn't like to get her face wet. The hair dryer did not even phase her which was a great thing. After she was 70% dry I finished with the towel and her brush. She is now a very full fluffy girl, at least until I find a groomer.

The Rest of the Cards From the Weekend

This is the balance of the cards that I made last weekend using the paper that was in a kit that I bought with a very deep sale price. I am trying to get rid of supplies and create inventory for my upcoming craft fair. Have a great weekend!!!!

Crafting Creations

Aw, ya gotta love my two crafting assistants.

Weekend Cards

Weekend Production

Here are two more of the cards that I made on Sunday.

A Wonderful Weekend

This was a great relaxing weekend. I met 3 of the JUG's (Just Us Girls) for lunch this weekend. Thanks to Bubbles for suggesting a restaurant that I have not been to yet. Along with my state quest I also have a quest to try new restaurants whenever I am going out with my friends. We went to Benihana and I loved the chef and all the things that he did. The little volcano made with onions, the rythmic thing that he did with the salt and pepper shakers and the delicious food. Thanks to Bubbles I was able to combine my leftovers with hers and had a tasty lunch yesterday too. I went back to Bubbles' pool and had a nice float. What at times was a rainy overcast day turned into a very nice day and the sun came out for our pool time.

Yesterday I cranked out 18 cards for my upcoming craft fair. I used a kit that I got on sale at either Micheal's or JoAnn Fabrics. So between doing laundry and watching the Olympics I made, photographed and put in plastic wrappers all of my cards.

I will also be having a give-away very soon. The purge-o-palooza continues and I have moved to my craft supplies. Up for grabs will be paper that does not appeal to me but may be someone else's ooohhhhh or aaaahhhhh. I will figure out the best way to combo this and it will be in an upcoming blog post.

I will leave you with two of the cards that I made yesterday.

Words With Two Meanings

United States
Boot (footwear)
Bonnet (headwear)


England
Boot (the trunk of a car)
Bonnet (the hood of a car)



These were just a few of the items that our houseguest and I discussed after dinner last night.

We discussed accents too.
I was unaware that there are VERY many accents over in England depending on the region. So, just like we have different accents depending on where we live, the English too have the same thing.

Trains & Planes

A few posts ago I mentioned that I had an overnight house-guest from England. Barry is a wonderful guest and has that fantastic British accent that I could listen to for hours.

The plan for yesterday was for my brother Rick to pick Barry up from the train station, bring him back to the house for a shower and a pizza and then drive him to the airport to catch his flight back to England.

Rough storms hit the area and whether that was the only factor I do not know. The train that was to arrive in Chicago from St. Louis at 2pm did not arrive until after 8:30pm. Barry missed his flight home and the best that the airline could do is book him on a flight that leaves Chicago at 9:15pm Friday night.

Here is something that I learned last night. Even though we speak the same language there are some differences in what things mean. Take for instance the word "pissed". To me and most reading this it would mean that you were angry or mad. To Barry, pissed means that the person is drunk or buzzed on liquor.

Interesting, huh?

So, maybe over the course of the next few days I will learn some other double meaning words.

Have a great Wednesday!