Friday, December 28, 2012

Our Second Storm


Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Wow,this second snow storm last Wednesday was bigger and much worse! Mind you, I am now certain it can get worse than this. I just want to be on a nice comfy house when ever it does happen! This last storm was still a first for us though!

Wednesday's storm gave us about 5-6" of snow. We experienced icy rain, sleet, huge snow flakes and it was colder than what I had felt before. In Calif. we got hail the size of a dime from time to time, but this was like being pelted with lots of little ice pellets. I still need to look up how rain turns into snow!!! The best idea I have is that rain is shaped like a popcorn seed and some place in the atmospherics it pops and makes a snowflake? I bet there is a more scientific example of this lolol.
We are supposed to get more snow tonight (Friday) and Saturday. Does this go on all winter??? Now I know why this state is so green, ya'all get a lot of rain.

Look how high the snow is on the deck. The dog's house was almost covered! Marley gets very invigorated playing in the snow. (Yah it's cold) I don't know how he stands it lolol.

Our neighbor Ernie was kind enough to shovel the snow in front of our house and the front porch until we invest in a snow shovel of our own! We added snow tires, snow shovels and snow chains to our list of have to have items this winter!








Even though it was snowing the woods were alive with movement. Birds eating, Marley and Ashes playing, Ernie shoveling snow and life was still going on. We could not get the cars out of the parking area because we were snowed in. Jeff had to stay home from work Thursday until we got chains. (Bummer right!) The road that comes into the property is a bear to get in and out of. We are told that you might want to park at the top and walk down to the house if you need to go anywhere.

 Jeff got me Binoculars for Christmas so I can look at all the wild birds in the woods. I have been feeding them on the deck so I can get a better look at them. We had quite a crowd as you can see from some of the photos. There were quite a few on the fence and on the deck. I have seen about 6 different types so far. I really need to get a Bird Watchers Field Guide so I can put a name to their faces so to speak!

The last photo I took is of three things 1) The walk way cleared  you can see we got 5-6" of snow.  I also wanted you to see that the snow was right at the bumper of the car and the bottom of the door. 2) I kept seeing these cute candles that most of the houses around town have in their windows so I got a couple. They are set on a timer and really look great at night. 3) Look at all the snow on the garland piece I put outside on the window, it is almost entirely covered in snow and icy rain.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas at My Little Patch of Dirt

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I have a few pictures to give you an idea of how I decorated our new place for Christmas. It also gives you idea about what the new Patch of Dirt looks like. Next time I will show you the outside it is really beautiful.

I hope you all a very Merry Christmas. Here is to an Amazing and Wondrous New Year!









Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas Eve WV Style

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!


Merry Christmas Family this is what we got for Christmas! We love and miss you all very much!

It's snowing!!! You  have to remember, I am a Californian and this is the first time I have seen snow first hand. I was so excited, I kept taking pictures all day long! So here goes  I took the pictures every hour well until it got dark. Jeff took me out driving around the block to get some more pictures. I even made Jeff go out in the snow and take pictures with the lights on the house. I took a picture of the snow with a take measure but you couldn't see the numbers very well. It was over 3 inches deep.
 HO, HO, HO  A Merry White Christmas who would have thought!!!!














Thursday, December 20, 2012

Sketch Frenzy Friday 12/21/12

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Wow! It sure has been a long time since I created something fun for Sketch Frenzy Friday and it feels really good! Hi Ladies, I am back and ready to stamp!

Looks like a few changes have been made to the format since I made our move across the US. As you probably know already he he! (I'm the one who has been away right!)  Looks like we are no longer putting on a mini blog hop but, we are only posting our cards on the main web page and our own blogs now.

I am so happy to have gotten my fingers inky I can't even tell ya! I even showed Jeff my hands, he laughed and knew we were finally settled in and I was getting back into the swing of things again.

This weeks sketch was designed by Robbie Rubula.


What do you think of this one? Fun right!.

While we were making our trip across the United Stated we got the opportunity to stop off at my BFF's  house in Missouri (Hey girl). Carey and I had so much fun creating in her Stamping Tree House. I showed you that Ornament we made on Tuesday's Post. While there, Carey so generously split a pack of the SU Merry Moments Simply Scrappin` kit with me. I love my BFF so much.
I decided to put the kit to good use on this card! I used a strip of one of the beautiful border pieces that kit contains. I cut it into two strips and attached the strips to black and red scratch pieces of card stock.
The images are from the Tags til Christmas set. I used 2 punches to out line the images; Extra Large Tag and the Scallop Square. Then I cut a 1 1/2" circle from the Circles #2 Die. For the background texture I chose the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder.

I had so much fun making this card. I hope you like it my friends. It feels so good to be back and to be stamping again. You were all missed. I hope you enjoy this card and get some inspiration from it. You can still post your cards for us to see here http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com

Hope you drop by again real soon and have time to create something fun.
Chat soon,
Patrice

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Christmas Orniment

Hello to all my blogging friends. I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

I Bet you have seen this beautiful ornament before.Maybe on the front cover of the SU Holiday Catalog and probably all around the web!


This particular one I wanted to share it with you because one of the highlights of our cross country adventure was that we were so lucky to have been able to stop off at My BFF's house in Missouri
(Hi Carey,Dean and Rosco) for a few days for a much needed girlfriend catch up visit. What makes this one so special is that we made it together in Carey's awesome crafting tree house. Carey is the person responsible for my card making passion. Better yet she got me addicted lolol.

I really like the diversity of the ornament design. We have so many cool products in our catalogs that no one ornament has to be made exactly the same way. In real life these ornaments are stunning. You should give it a try.

Use the Ornament Keepsake Bundle that includes Dies and Stamps paired with Scalloped Tulle Ribbons and go to town. They are fun to make, and really produce a stunning ornament beautiful enough for adding to the top of a present instead of a bow. Kind of like a gift on top of a gift.

Looks like it has started to rain again. I used to keep track of how many times it has rained since we got here but, I have lost track by now. Remember it never rains in sunny So. Calif.  WV is so different than CA and the desert I came from.

Hope you get inspired by this image and try making one for your self.
Chat soon,
Patrice
 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

My Little Patch of Dirt WV


Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

We made it to BEAUTIFUL Martinsburg West Virginia in one piece. We have been her for a few month now and are able to find our way around town with out getting lost. This is a photo of our new Little Patch of Dirt. I'll have more to share with you so stay tuned!

I have so much to talk to you about but, that will have to wait. As you know I haven't posted in a while, my computer broke down and I just got it up and running .Thank God!!! It seems to be doing pretty good now so I'll be able to fill you in more in the next couple of days.

 It's been so long since I blogged I've forgotten how to do it many of the simplest things I did several months ago with ease. I lost some programs and have had to relearn new things so give me a few days to get myself together.

Life has been real crazy for us since the move. Thank goodness there has been more good than bad which is a blessing.

One month after we moved in my big dog Bear was diagnosed with Lymphoma Cancer (Stage 4). We had to have him put to sleep a few weeks ago. From diagnosis to his passing it was less than 2 months, he went down hill so fast we just can believe he is gone. I'm just getting to the point where I can talk about it with out bawling. I really miss my furry companion.


That's all for tonight my friends. I will chat with you again real soon!
Patrice

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Sketch Frenzy Friday 09-14-12

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you well and happy!

I'll be off line for about a month or so, I think? As we are moving to West Virginia at the end of this month and my crafting goodies will have to be all packed up and ready to go by this weekend. I am going to try to sell my desk and the last of my bookshelves at our Yard Sale.

We will be looking to purchase a home when we get there, but until then we will rent until escrow closes. Of course I have packed a bunch of crafting goodies to have with me but, at this moment I do not know how much I will be able to sprawl out in a one bedroom lolol.

So keep us in your thoughts and prayers that everything goes smoothly and safely. We will chat soon!

This weeks sketch was designed by Jennifer W. I really like this sketch too! When, I first looked at this sketch I immediately thought black white and red. I have no idea why that happened, but it did! Have you ever had that happen to you before? Just look at a sketch and think the color combo? It was like "bam" black, white and red! Well OK, I'll go with it!

This is what I came up with.
I used  Artistic Etchings, Just Believe and the Blessings from Heaven stamp sets to create the images and the sentiments on this card. Basic Black, Whisper White and Real Red CS for the card base and panels. The inks were the new  Basic Black and Craft Whisper White. The Eiffel Tower (sp?)  was stamped in VersaMark and then heat embossed  it with Black Embossing Powder.
Now here is a look at the inside.
That's all there is to this card, it was very simple and fast to create. I completed the entire card in under 30 minutes. I just love when that happens! lololol.

Your next stop on our mini blog hop is to go and visit  our very talented Robbie Rubula over at http://inkedx2.blogspot.com/

If you would like to try your hand at creating a card from Jennifer's sketch please upload it on to our main page we would love to see it. http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

I hope you find some time to create this weekend. Wish us luck with the move and our journey across the United States. I'll chat with you all in a month or so. Take care and be safe.

The best part of our trip is that we are stopping over in MO to visit my BFF Carey! See you on the 29th my friend!

Fondly,
Patrice

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

My Friend

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

A girlfriend is coming over to help me pack up my craft room, so I thought I would make her a card real quick. I'm going to try to sell my desk this weekend at another Yard Sale so every thing has to be taken off of it.

I didn't do anything to the inside so I could write her a nice little note.

I will do the Sketch Frenzy Friday post tomorrow so don't forget to come back OK.

Speaking of Yard Sales we did very good last weekend and sold almost everything, we only had a little truck load to drop off at the Good Will. This weekend is the big stuff. I had a bit of a cry when I was selling off my plants though. That was tough!
Here is a look my little patch of dirt now.



It saddens me but I did see a bunch of my plants all around the neighborhood yesterday so that made me feel better. I am glad they have found a new home.

News about my mom... She fell at church last Sunday (OMG, YIKES!) seems her friend was pushing her and a chair thing that she was sitting on and it got stuck on something they both fell. She fractured the same shoulder more and rearranged some pins that were in her. Monday, she went to the Dr's. for x-rays and blood work and looks like the infection is back too. As I am typing this it dawned on me "She has metal PINS in her" What are these Dr's thinking??? She is allergic to the metal in her??? I have to call my sister. Pam said there is no metal in her but she would double check? Mom is scheduled for another surgery this coming Monday. Please Pray for her she is slowly getting more and more depressed!

Between Moving, Packing, Yard Sales and my Mom in the hospital, I am about to loose it!
Chat soon,
Patrice


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Sketch Frenzy Friday 09-07-12

Hello to all my blogging friends, I hope this post finds you all well and happy!

Between packing, sorting out closets (yuck !) and getting ready for a yard sale, I have been visiting my mom in the Skilled Nursing Facility. I am wiped out physically and mentally! However, spirituality, thank Goodness I am doing OK! Things are moving along pretty good and very fast. God has a wondrous plan for our new adventure and I just have to pace myself a bit more and not think I have to have everything done by now!

Mom is doing much better and the wound is healing nicely. She is at an amazing Skilled Nursing Facility in Riverside, and is being treated like a Queen. She should be there for 5 more weeks. So I feel like the stress of her recent condition has subsided greatly. If the infection gets under control the pain goes away and she gets enough movement in her arm she said she will forgo any additional surgeries. Frankly, I do not blame her.

With all my personal updates discussed,  let's get on with the reason you are here our Sketch Frenzy Friday Mini Blog Hop.

This weeks sketch was designed by our very talented Deb Currier, here it is.


To me it has the look and feel of a landscape so that's the direction I went in. I loved the simplicity of it as well. Great job Deb!

The color combination I chose was Primrose Petals, So Saffron and Calypso Coral with a touch of Certainly Celery and Old Olive for the branch and leaves. I thought framing my floral image would give it more of a feminine touch. To do so I used the Framed Tulip Folder on the cover and on the inside. The focal image is from the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set.  I used two sentiments from the Blessings from Heaven stamp set and inked them in Primrose Petals. The So Saffron scallop border piece was made with a piece from the Adorning Accents Edgelits set.

Here is a look at the inside.
I hope you liked this card and want to give it a try yourself.
Your next stop on our mini blog hop is to visit the very talented Robbie Rubula over at http://inkedx2.blogspot.com/      What ever she comes up with will indeed be worth the wait!
If you would like to make a card to show us, please upload it on to our main page we would love to see it. http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/

I am going to try to make next weeks sketch challenge before I have to pack up all my crafting goodies. Then I will be off line for several weeks. If by chance I do not have time to participate next week I just want to let you to know you will all be missed and I will see you soon.

Have a great weekend and try to find some time to make something fun.
Chat Soon,
Patrice


A Very Special Note to my Sisters,
For the past 20 years I have been involved in a type of community service work that has impacted many women's lives. These ladies are in various stages of recovery from  addiction. It has been especially difficult saying goodbye to them as they are more like my extended family of sisters then just     mere friends. It has been a great honor and privileged to have been a part of their lives. To have seen shattered lives  put back together. I was able to watch them as well as their families grow and prosper. Some have gone back to school, gotten degrees and jobs, bought cars and homes, gotten married, had babies or become grandmothers. But, the greatest of all these blessings has been to see them help other woman recover from addiction. It is a kind of "Pay It Forward" thing. I usually do not talk about this part of my life openly, but then again one doesn't move across the country every day and leave so many amazing ladies behind. Saying goodbye to them the last couple of weeks has been very difficult. My job simply was to be a mentor and to help them find there own spiritual path. To find a loving God and learn to trust in  Him to take care of the rest. I know they are in good hands and will continue to grow and be blessed as I have!
Ladies, I love you more then you will ever know.
Fondly, Patrice