Happy 4th!

I just love finding graphics. It took me awhile to find this one.

Tim had his second week of chemo in this round of the chemo. He seems to be doing okay so far, although he had some cramping during the chemo and they gave him another drug to help with that.

Noah's girlfriend decided to break up with him. Her only excuse was that Noah was hanging out too much with her brother. He always included her so he is kind of surprised. Her mom isn't really happy with her and told Noah he's welcome to still go to Cedar Point with them on the 14th. He says he wants to go, so he'll probably hang out with Tyler. It's nice when the parents really like him and are concerned enough about him to call and see how he's doing.

Last week I got the Cogsmo paper line from Cosmo Cricket, it was 1/2 off and I love their paper, it seems to create layouts all by itself. LMAO To tell the truth though, I've already done three layouts and they went together so quickly. I entered the Cosmo Cricket DT call and even thought I didn't make it they sent a $5 gift certificate to Miss Paper Jane. So I ordered a few items and got them yesterday. I had not posted the layouts because I wanted to see if I could use any of the items ordered for embellishing a bit more. I did use the Cogsmo rubons on the two fishing layouts. I thought it still needed a little more so I doodled on them too.

Fishing at Uncle John and Aunt Betty's cottage in Montello, WI


I did this layout for Noah, he found this picture and wished life was still like that. I guess his teenage angst is too much for him. I said it's great to look back at photos when things were different, but you have to grow and move on. So behind the picture is some hidden journaling reminding that we grow and change all the time.



I also made some cards for challenges on the Yahoo group I belong to. Every month we have a Artist of the Month contest. You are to create an ATC with whatever theme is posted by the previous winner. Then during the last week or so of the month there is a poll and members vote on their favorite. Mine won this month and is posted on the group's home page for the month.



My winning ATC

I've been trying to post this blog with pictures since last night. Finally blogger let me get all the photos on here today!

This week we watched two good movies, The Bucket List and PS I Love You. I liked them both and they both ran along the same vein for being about terminal illness. If you haven't seen them yet, I'd recommend giving them a peek.


Oh here is a cute email I read this week and thought I would repost to share with my friends and family. I found this on mixonthememories sb.com blog. Too cute! Hope you get a smile from it.

God's thoughts on lawns

GOD: Frank, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the world is going on down there on the planet? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistle and stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.

St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do these Sub urbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.

ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week. GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags. GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir. GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord. When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It's a natural cycle of life.

ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
GOD: No. What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves. GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE: "Dumb and Dumber", Lord. It's a story about....

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from St. Francis.