Day 31 of #90daysofblogging

Friday night, May 29, 2015, at 9:00pm my husband came down stairs and said "lets take Smokey for a walk over on the trail" "in the dark" I said, "sure" he said "it will be fun" he said. I said "ok, but I'm not going without a flashlight". So off we went, across the bridge over into Illinois to the boat dock where he goes fishing and a man made path next to the river into the wood. If you keep going it gets even denser and deeper into the woods. You could not see a thing. "It will be fun" he said........and like an idiot, I went along.

Here is what he kept talking about.....

And other stupid alien or man eating creatures!!! "It will be fun" he said....

This is what I kept imagining.....

I don't fear the things I don't believe in, it's the ones I KNOW are out there including bats....UGH!!!!

"It will be fun" he said!

"I itch" I keep saying "I knew I shouldn't have gone" I said!!! I was right

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget my good friends

   Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 30 of #90daysofblogging

I have a few cigar boxes that I had gotten from one of my sisters and thought I would do something with one of them some day. Well, that some day came, finally.

First I painted it black and then made some clay pieces out of Sculpey clay to add to the outside. It is still a work in progress, just like most of my things LOL

I just use whatever molds I have around and some I have made myself. Below are a few pictures of the top and side of it. I still want to do more on it but just not sure what. I am never really in a hurry to finish something that I just happen to pick up and start working on unless it is something someone wants me to make for them.

As I was going thru my pictures on my computer, I found a lot that I thought "how in the world did they get on here?" I don't know a lot about computers and I will be the first to confess that and some times I delete things that I think I don't need just to find out if was a program or something that was important.....Opppps. I need my own personal IT person to clean up my computer for me.......I knew I should have stuck with computers in college, but nooooooo, I had to go for Accounting!!! Duh me, now everything is computorized and when I took it, it was all paper, old school. Oh well, no going back now.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to stop at my friends places :)

    Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 29 of #90daysofblogging

I have been watching Dede Willingham draw and then color faces, she does an excellent job of teaching also. She has a couple videos up and the first one was "Amelia" (little girl) and I did and showed that one to you earlier. This time she is doing an adult but I can't remember the womans name. I decided to do one on my own. But I still had to watch her video to remember how she colors hers in. I need more practice and I will never be one of these that can draw a real human (portraits) but I will keep at it because I do like what she is showing us and I am learning a lot by watching her. If you have time, check out her youtube videos.

The first one here is the inspiration for my drawing...

And here is my drawing...

 I still need a lot of practice, for instance on how to cover the white highlights better. But I am happy with it (I very rarely will admit that LOL).

Don't forget to visit my friends
     Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 28 of #90daysofblogging

We have 3 ducks that show up every year, one female and two males and it is always the same three. Don't know why there are two to one but that is their business (raising eyebrows here). There is a creek right next to our yard, it runs from the Mississippi River to who knows where, a long way ....
but they make their next and have their babies in our part of the creek.

Wellllll, last night our dog was out in the yard and the ducks just happened to land in our yard. Our dog has never seen a duck before and was interested in these huge alien things that just landed in our yard. So, of course he is going to chase them.......Luckly 2 of them got away and were able to take flight but the other one was left to defend for himself against this huge monster that was just not going to let him fly away, LOL Now if you knew my dog, he would NEVER have hurt it, he was just interested in it and wanted to get close enough to check it out. I finally went out because I heard all the ruckus and saw what was happening. But, NOT before I grabbed my phone (Hey.....I needed something to blog about...) I have a gate leaned up against our fence in the corner of the yard and that is where it took shelter from the monster.
My husband came out, let our dog out of the yard so the duck could take flight and get away, but not before I could get my pictures LOL, so yeah, after the dog left the yard then I was the monster....
Any Hoot, I snapped a few pics and here are a couple. I also took pics of the creek that runs along our yard the the back of the yard.

 
Isn't she cute!! I think so and I love that they come back here every year. Well, maybe not after this episode.

And here are a couple of the creek, a couple have overgrowth and I didn't feel like walking another few yards to get better ones because as I was leaving my yard, I saw a snake. Yes we get snakes in our yard because of the creek but I had not seen one yet this year. (Thanks Sandee!!!) I hate snakes!!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the other friends...

     Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 27 of #90daysofblogging

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwIrlGcARxM

I have a niece that is a teacher (well, she is married to my brothers son). The school is works at is Northeast school. They did  a youtube video that you just have to watch. It is called Summertime, LOL They did a great job of making this video.

I know that she is more than happy that school is out because she just went back to work after having twin boys. They are just the cutest little things. I got to hold and feed them the other day :)

Well, that's it for me for today. Don't forget to check out my friends blogs.

    Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

And go watch the video....

Day 26 of #90daysofblogging

I was finally able to catch one of the Cardinals at one of our birdfeeders today. Every time I see one or a finch, by the time I go get my camera and am ready to take a picture, they are gone. Well, while sitting out on our porch with my sister, she was visiting from Nebraska, I was finally able to get one.

Here I tried to get a close up but, it is kind of blurry.

Here are a couple more I took. You can just barely see him, darn. They are so pretty and their babies are just the cutest little birds.

 You can really see where my dog, Smokey, struts his stuff when another dog walks by LOL. Right side of the fence. He will scratches his feet on the ground like a bull right before charging. He sometimes thinks he is king of the hill. Hate to spoil it for him and tell him it is just his yard he is king of.....

Thanks for stopping by. And once again, don't forget my friends below.

    Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 25 of 90daysofblogging

I love flowers that grow in yards. One year, Years ago!!, my neighbor gave  me a small batch of a flower that she had growing in her yard. I planted them under our crab apple/apple tree and each year they would spread and make more. They have now worked their way all around the base of the tree. I don't know the name of them and I don't remember if she told me (she no longer lives there). But, they are so pretty. If you happen to know, maybe you could leave me a comment.

 
They are sooo pretty and they keep blooming even into fall.

Thanks again :)

Check these friends out when you have a minute.

  Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 24 of 90daysofblogging

Hello, I know I am behind one day so I will be posting twice today LOL. I have family in town for Memorial weekend so I have been busy.

I made some bird feeders out of coffee cups and saucers and then attached them to pvc pipe. The birds must like them because I am constantly refilling them. I love watching the birds come to the yard to feed and water. This year we have gotten a lot more red winged black birds for some reason. We also have a family of cardinals and a family of yellow finch ( or is it, finches? no idea, siri......LOL)

Here are a few pictures of the bird feeders I have made.

Thank for stopping by and don't forget my friends blogs posted below.

  Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 23 of 90daysofblogging

Recently I have gotten into making paper beads (Thank you Tamiko) but all I have is a toothpick to roll them with. I have watched a lot of videos on it and came across one that showed the V3 Focal Paper Bead Rolling Machine. This is a wooden machine that comes with two rollers and is suppose to make bead rolling a breeze.

I received it the other day in the mail and could now wait to tear into it and start using it. I immediately cut some paper and started rolling..........UGH!! Every single bead was stuck on the smaller roller and I had to tear, literally tear the paper off the roller. Which meant, no bead but a pile of torn up paper!!! I was NOT happy. The other roller which makes bigger holes in the beads works like a charm, the other one.....not so much.

Here is a picture of what it looks like

The one on the machine is the little stinker that does not want to work right.

Here is a picture of the bigger roller

Like I said, this one works like a charm, but I don't want all large hole beads.

I finally worked with the prongs and pried them apart a little, you can't much because the ball they are inside of doesn't really let you. But, I got a few beads to turn out right before I had to go in and pull them apart again.

Does anyone else have this problem if you own one of these? I would love to know the trick.

Don't forget to check out the other ladies blogs:
  Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 22 of #90daysofblogging

Not a lot happening today. This morning I went for training for a new job I am going to be starting. That took all morning, then came home to clean the house. I have a sister coming tomorrow from Nebraska to visit for a few days so I thought I should at least change the bedding on the spare bed in the spare bedroom, LOL.

Then did some laundry and more cleaning, it needed it. You could tell I have been neglecting that part....I would rather craft!

Then tonight I have my two grand boys over night :) and tomorrow they are going to a Big Truck Show with their dad. They will like that.

Other than that, I had a boring day, sorry.

Don't forget to visit the other blogs.

 Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 21 of #90daysofblogging

On day 15 I showed a quilling canvas I was working on with a sunflower. If you missed it, you can see it below.

I thought it needed something else not just a quote, so I added a poppy flower to it. I am one of those that can't leave something alone and just leave it alone as is. I always feel things need just one more thing LOL. Here it is with the poppy.

Don't have the stem on yet nor the quote. Still not sure what I want to put on it or even if I want to add more flowers or a butterfly, some type of bug or bird like a hummingbird. We will see if I add more later LOL. Here is a close up of the poppy.

My sister is coming from Nebraska Saturday so I need to get the spare bedroom ready for her and I also am starting a new part time job and have to go in for training for a bit tomorrow. My youngest grandson gratuates from Preschool at noon tomorrow but unfortunately, I don't think I can make it. I know he would really like me to be there so if there is anyway I can get away from training early, I would love to see him. He will be so proud. He was talking about it to me the other night at a cub scout award night for his brother.

Well, that's all for today, don't forget to visit the other ladies blogs.

Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 20 of #90daysofblogging

We do have a nice view of the Mississippi River where I live. We live right on the border of Iowa and Illinois and we have a huge dike that was build after a very bad flood in the 60's. The view is beautiful and it has a walking/bike riding/jogging trail that leads from one end of town to the next. Part of it is on the dike right along the Mississippi.

We had our dog, Smokey, with us and he gets so excited all he does is bark the whole time. He gets so excited when he know we are going to take him on a run or walk. We usually take him over across the bridge to Illinois where he can run free without a leash. We don't have to worry about him taking off on us because he is such a good obedient dog he always comes right back if he can't see us.

I don't think the video is going to upload :(. I could make sound effects for you but it just would not be the same LOL I will figure this out sometime and maybe post the video so you can see a part of our beautiful river border. Sorry :(


Check out the others blogs

Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

  

Day 19 of #90daysofblogging

Tonight I had the honor of seeing my grandson get his Scouts awards and become a Bear. His dad had an interview and could not be with them so he asked me if I would take the boys. OF COURSE!!! I was so proud of him.

I remember when his dad was in scouts and he conned me into being his troop leader (I think that is what it is called LOL) Back then, we got absolutely NO help. We had to plan and do everything with the boys we had in our troop. I saw sooooo many good things about his troop and troop leaders. So different from when I did it.

Here is him with his awards, new scarf (don't think that is what they call it but...) and his new book, he is now a Bear.

You bet I am a proud grandma :)

Please go to my friends blogs and see what they have going on. They all show and do awesome things.

Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 18 of #90daysofblogging

Hi everyone, and how is your day going? Mine is just kind of one of those lazy Mondays. I hate Mondays and I am not even working yet LOL

So, here is "What's On My Work Space Monday" segment. LOL Really, I got nothin' again......

It went from a beautiful Sunny summer day yesterday to feeling like it is Fall here. Iowa weather, you never know what you are going to get.

 Was working on quilling today and thinking about putting a glaze on my hand made paper beads.
Thinking, that is as far as I got!

And this is what I am working on now :) Have a great night everyone and don't forget to visit my friends.

Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 17 of #90daysofblogging

I put down a down payment on my new crafting shed/cottage. Yeaaaaa, I can't wait til it is done. He said it should be ready in about 3 weeks. He builds it at a location he owns and then delivers and sets up in our yard.

He said that if i wanted, I can stop by any time to see  the progress. Oh, I so hope it is what I wanted and what I am visualizing. I can't wait to have it in the yard. We have a friend that is going to do all the wiring in it.

I have a feeling, I will be spending a lot of time in there even if I am just sitting in there doing nothing. He usually puts a front porch on them but I wanted more room inside so I am having just a 4' X 4' small area (porch) where I can sit and just draw if I want. It will have 3 windows and a door, of course.....DUH!

I will gets pics if I remember when I go and see the progress, but definately when I get it.

Don't forget to check out the other ladies blogs listed below.

Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 16 of #90daysofblogging

Todays post is going to be a short one.......

I want to introduce you to my Australian Shephard (yes, he is a pure bred and yes we purchased him from someone, why didn't we adopt from a shelter?..........my business) Sorry, but I get jumped on all the time about not saving a dog from a shelter.

Any hoot.....Here is Smokey. Why Smokey LOL because the last name of the parents was Smoke and on the way home we just could not come up with a name so we said lets just call him Smokey until we come up with one........Obviously, we didn't LOL

The first one is when he was still a puppy, the bottom one is from today.

Please check out these other blogs that are doing this 90 day challenge with me

Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 15 of #90daysofblogging

Lately I have been making paper beads. Paper beads are kind of like quilling except that you have to cut each piece of paper that you use and you only make beads. Which is fine. With quilling, you make each piece and then shape it into something like a leaf, a flower petal or even an animal, insect, etc. I have been working on a piece for almost a year now. I started it last June and then never finished it. I finally finished it these last couple of days. It does take a while to make a flower or whatever you are making. I don't have the quote on it yet because I have not decided on which one I want to use yet. The following is I guess still a work in progress, LOL

 Check out the other ladies blogs listed below

 Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 14 of #90daysofblogging

I made a bracelet inspired by a Janice Mae video. Here is the link if you would like to see it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwNB9HpdkEY She makes wonderful videos on how to make jewelry.

I started off with just some cardboard long enough to fit around my wrist I then added masking tape around the cardboard and then wrapped material around all of it. After it was all dry, I started wiring on my hand made beads and beads that I just have on hand. It is very simple but looks pretty. There are so many things you could do to put your own spin on it.

I will show you the end results...

The wire on the inside has no beads on it so it is very comfortable to wear.
Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit my friends blogs...

 Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 13 of #90daysofblogging

Most bridal-wreath shrubs are spring bloomers with numerous tiny pink or white flowers. Also known as the Vanhoutte spirea, it grows six to eight feet tall and 10 to 12 feet in diameter. The bridal-wreath has a disnctly fountainlike growth habit, with a round top and arching branches that curve to the ground, covered with tufts of small white flowers all the way. The bridal-wreath has small greenish-blue leaves, turning plum-colored in the fall.

How to grow: Although the shrub will grow well in medium shade, full sun produces more flowers. It adapts well to most soils. To keep the bridal-wreath in top shape, prune back one-third of the old flowering wood each year after it finishes blooming.

Uses: An excellent accent plant, the bridal-wreath is also good for informal hedges or screens and is well suited to mixed shrub borders

We have always called it a Bridal Bush, ours is white. I don't think I have ever noticed or saw a pink one. But I do think they are very pretty in their own way. Just the name itself makes it special. Ours grows after our Apple/Crabtree is almost done blooming. I do love the ways things bloom in our yard, there is something blooming at all times. Below is the one we have in our yard. On the other side of this fence is a creek that runs along the side of our house. NOT as pretty as the part that runs along my neighbor in the back but still we get some fantastic birds here because of it. We have a family of ducks and their babies every year but we don't always see the babies. 

Below the yellow bird feeder (one of many we have in the yard, and yes Sandee, it is full LOL) is a bird bath that draws alot of birds also. I love sitting on my front porch and just watching all the birds.

Don't forget to stop by my friends blogs listed below

 Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry

Day 12 of #90daysofblogging

Today is day 12 of the 90 days of blogging challenge a few of my friends and I decided to try. Each day I find it getting harder and harder to blog. It's not that I feel like I have to create something everyday (although I should) but even just finding something to blog about. And believe me, I know I have a lot to blog about. My cyber friends have no idea where I live and what it looks like, so I know I can find lots to show and tell, LOL.

Dede Willingham, you can catch her youtube video here.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCJ9nRhLT0M, is a wonderful artist. She drew out an image of a little girl, Amelia, for us to color pencil in with her. The first video she tells what she will be using and how to find the picture of Amelia to follow along. She does morning ustreams and is known as inkwell, if you would like to check her out some day. Her portrait drawings are out of this world.

Anyway, I followed along with her and the picture of Amelia. I am going to show 2 different pictures of the same drawing because just like with a computer, I don't know how to adjust my camera....

  Maybe I should read the manual on how to use the camera.......nah......that wouldn't be me, I like to just jump right in and then scream when things don't work out right LOL It was fun following along with her and I did learn a few things. When she says use toned paper, don't use a pale green!!! And, I need new colored pencils. She used Prisma and I used Prismacolor Verithin, not the same thing. But I liked learning from her so much that I plan on doing the next one with her also. Go check out her videos, there are 4 total.

Well, thanks for stopping by and please visit the other ladies blogs that are doing this challenge with me.

 Sharon Estes 

Yvonne Armitage Gebauer 

Sandee Setliff

Sandy Beach

Tamiko McCurry