Make a Difference

I love my husband dearly….but by the end of December I am done with dove season, duck season, deer season, turkey season, goose season. I am done! D-O-N-E! The inside reads: “I’m done with the ducks, already”

I picked up this Paper Inspirations stamp at a stamp store in Branson a few weeks ago. I thought I would use it to make a nice sweet hunting card for Wes. Hmmm, it’s December 21st, we are full-throttle into Christmas and I needed some stress comic relief from the hunting season. I know that you cannot possibly relate to my post if you aren’t married to a hunter, but trust me, it’s not easy. You know, they are up at all hours, gone long before the first morning light and then need to nap all the time to catch up on all their missed sleep. It’s like the world stops turning for whatever season. Hey, good news, I heard him tell his dad today that he was done deer hunting for the year. Woo-Hoo!

OK - rant over. I have a cute Lizzy Anne last minute gift that I am trying to get photographed. I’ll try to have it up in the morning. Thanks for stopping by.

• Stamps: Paper Inspirations, Alphabet by Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Confetti Cream by STampin’ UP! and Noteworthy by Making Memories

• Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic

• Accs: ribbon (manufacturer not known) buttons by Foo-foo-la, brads by American Crafts and Nestabilities

And there came a voice to him, saying, ‘Rise up, Peter, kill and eat’. ~ Acts 10:13

Sound the trumpet! Fire the first shot! It’s Opening Day! Back in September, I shared this quick CHF project with you that I would give Wes today, Opening Day of deer season. (Capitalized because it is a national holiday here. ) You just didn’t know it was Biblical, did you? Check it out, tis true. 

This is Wes and Ashley as they went to ’scout’ last weekend. It’s one of their favorite father~dauther activities. Ashley has been scouting with her daddy for deer, duck and geese since she was still in diapers, seriously. It brings them both great joy. And while, hunting season gets a little long for mom on the home-front, that bond brings me greater joy.

Praying for safety for all of our hunters, big and small.

He changes times and seasons ~ Daniel 2:21

I live in a historic, victorian home surrounded by large trees. I’ve complained (to anyone who will listen) all summer that the lighting is less than ideal for blog fodder photo sessions. The best light in the house is in my 2nd story bathroom. As I was photographing some projects to share, I couldn’t help be struck by the view today.  Thank you, Lord for the gifts you give us in every season.

Until 2004, I was blessed to have a relationship with and love all 4 of my natural grandparents. That February, I lost my grandpa…. Baling and hauling hay are part of  my earliest memories of my grandpa’s life. His hay hook now hangs on a shelf in my ’studio’ (term used loosely). It reminds me of hard work and love.

When I saw this Anna Wight Whipper Snapper stamp, I knew it would be mine. Though my grandpa produced square bales, the image takes me back to young summers at the farm. I would stand on a chair at the kitchen window to catch a glimpse of the tractor & hay wagon on the hill, the smell of alfalfa in the air… I miss my grandpa.

This came to me when I was thinking about the Queen’s Fan Club challenges this month. The theme is Autumn Harvest. If the link doesn’t work for you, you need to sign up for the Fan Club by clicking here first! So timely, since corn was harvested about a month ago, and now our fields in Central Missouri are littered with large round bales. It’s so pretty to see the changing seasons from a field’s perspective. Back to the card….the sentiment is hand written.

• Stamps: Hay Bale by Anna Wight for Whipper Snapper Designs
• CS: Daisy D, watercolor paper, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip & Ruby Red
• Ink: Palette Burnt Umber - various dye inks for watercolor
• Accs: linen thread, aged copper brads, Prima flowers, sponge daubers, aqua painters (various sizes)

Can I just say that y’all are going to be blown away with the big CHF release next week? I don’t even know how many sets they are going to release…all created by the incredibly talented, amazing scrapbook and card queen, Kim Hughes. I’d say more, but she’s so modest…I’d hate to make her uncomfortable. Anywho (or is it hoot?) ~ These are 3 of more than 25 adorable images and sayings in a set called Pretty Birds! Liz has posted some of the details, but make sure you stay tuned to the Cornish Heritage Farms Blog next week ~ there will be big, big things going on. Did I say prizes?

The real deal here is a tweaked and modified attempt at Beate’s Weekend Sketch challenge this weekend. I love how you can add or take away from her sketches and still have an adorable project for someone you care about! This one would be perfect for sharing silly party pictures! I can’t wait to see what Beate, Sharon, Charmaine and Laurie came up with! This is such a cute spring-board for ideas!

I’m off to the Great Stamp Harvest show in Kansas City. I am working at the RubberNecker Stamps booth tonight. Make sure you stop by and say hi if you are in the area! Tomorrow I am going to load a few of the projects that we did at my class this week.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! It’s Pirate Day and the Corn Husking Festival in our small town. Both at the same time, I know!!? Here’s a picture of my two favorite pirates as they headed off to school this morning! Ahoy me mateys!

Wonderful family weekend! We have had a blast, and I am beat! I have been tagged this week by my friends Jami and Beate…Since I am going to see both of them live, in person in Portland in less than 3 weeks (as Jami gently reminded me! 3 WEEKS!). I will answer…At some point that weekend, I will need to sleep, and I don’t want them taking revenge. I am not tagging anyone else, but if you so inclined to share your  Nascar or stripper name, comment here…

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Here is my baby, and I am vulnerable today. She has made that leap from the confines of our happy home where we can protect, nurture and guide her every move. Today, she went to kindergarten.

I was fine as this morning approached. Clothes were laid out, backpacks packed, lunch menu discussed and approved.  I had plans to breakfast and celebrate the beginning of Mom’s Winter Vacation with friends to preoccupy my mind. But, in that moment when I knelt in the classroom to take a picture of my baby girl with her teacher, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was in this same spot, same chalk board, same teacher, same grin exactly 2 years ago, and at that moment it was like yesterday. So fleeting…

Courtenay will only have one photo to mark the start of her school career, and  it isn’t because she’s the second-child…it’s because at that moment, I thought my heart would heave out of my chest, and I didn’t want her joy diminished by a sobbing mother.

She embraced the day with the same smile and laugh that she has always been known for…this page was done a while back, but today more than ever, may she always know that I … {heart} your smile, {heart} your laugh, {heart} your kisses…..{heart} you, baby girl!

All supplies Stampin’ Up! Happiness and Think Happy Thoughs stamp sets

Not a lot of stamping done this weekend, but it was a wonderful time.

Five years ago, I met Angel, a fellow demo through the Stampin’ UP! Demo Message board, Stampin’ Discuss. I was new to Wichita, KS and seeking a group to meet with. A mutual demonstrator invited me to her group meetings, the first one hosted by Angel. We became instant friends. Angel would meet me down at the school’s parent resource center, and we would stamp on swaps, stamp camp projects or whatever. 

Five years later, we have both moved away from Wichita but we still share ideas and chat a lot. Angel lives in Georgia, and she came to Missouri this week for an incredibly special event: the wedding of her oldest son. I was so fortunate to get to spend time with her and the family.

Keep your eyes to the right, Angel looked stunning! When I think about the things that stamping has brought to my life, Angel is one of the many blessings. It’s not all rubber and ink….

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,  but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as  to get the prize.       I Corinthians 9:24

I’m going AWOL for a few days, a little family R&R, but wanted to leave you with a milestone of my summer. What’s a blog if  you can’t brag on your kids once in a while?  This is my oldest Ashley waiting to compete in the 25 meter breaststroke at her district competition this week. She competed in 4 events, medaled in the breaststroke and freestyle and took 4th in her team relay event.  Yep, I’m proud, and she’s all MINE!

I won’t be gone too long. Wednesday is the big kick off to the Dirty Dare (read about it here) over at SCS, and you won’t want to miss it. Guess you could say I am resting up for a mega-stamp fest like you have never seen.

See ya Wednesday!

Wes really wanted me to take green beans, fresh from our garden to the potluck last night. So, being the obedient, doting wife that I am, I did. This is about one peck of fresh, purple hulled green beans. After washing and snapping, I put them in a big stew pot with water, cooked them about 2 hours and added a half pound of fried bacon, diced onion and some good ole, heart healthy bacon drippin’s. Then I cooked ‘em another hour or so and served.

My mother has always canned green beans for our family to enjoy through out the winters, and my brother and I usually get several quarts in our stocking each Christmas, now that we are grown. Realizing how inexpensive canned green beans are at the grocery store and how time consuming the process is, I have a new-found appreciation for my mother. Home canned green beans is another labor of love that she painstakingly undertakes to bless my life.

It’s a good life!