Kitty, Foxes, and Birds

This morning I had to take my Fluffpuff to the vets for his yearly exam, and it was also time for his Feline distemper and leukemia vaccines. As soon as Fluff saw the kitty carrier, he was off like a shot and went into hiding. I called, and called, and looked everywhere...NO KITTY. I thought I was going to have to cancel the appointment, but I finally found him hiding under the bed.
All the way to the vets Fluff yowled in the crate, but once he is tat the vets he settles down. The vets and vet techs love our Fluffy and he gets a lot of attention while he is at the vets office.   Leaving the vets $98.00 poorer, Fluff  yowled all the way home. As soon as Fluff got back home and out of the kitty carrier, once again he was off like a shot and has been hiding out ever since.

While at the vet a gorgeous golden retriever came in and he was so friendly. The dog came right over to me and wanted to get in my lap. I wanted to take him home. I miss our golden retriever and this dog looked just like our Bear with his dark red coat.

After bringing home the cat, I picked up my friend and we drove to the cranberry bog. My brothers had told me there was a fox den with little ones that they had been seeing around the bog. I guess one of the adult foxes had been shot for stealing chickens. We drove all around the bogs, but unfortunately...we didn't see the little kit foxes or the mother. Probably should have waited until around supper time and not mid day to try and spot them.

While at the bog, I stopped the car and we watched a Killdeer for a bit as it walked around the drainage ditch going in and out of the water. I love Killdeer.                                                                                         I also noticed that the tree swallows were back and skimming over the bogs and the water in the reservoirs catching bugs. 

 

When I got home a little while ago, I put a big pot of pea soup to cooking. I had a ham bone with quite a bit of meat still on it so I didn't want it to go to waste. Homemade pea soup is so good, and I always have several that want a container of the soup.

Elaine

Inky Fingers and Yard Sale Find

Hello and Welcome! This morning I got to spend some time at my desk to create some art projects. I dragged out ink pads, heat gun, and dominos.  I also made the card above. I love that image of the woman, especially when stamped with rainbow ink. The image was bought un mounted at a convention from the Stamping Ground Rubber Stamp Company, in NY.

I also made a piece  using wire, a wooden piece with holes already in it from a place mat and beads. I hadn't made a pin like this in a long time, so I was a little rusty.  I stamped the wooden piece and heat set the ink. Threaded wire thru the body, curled the hair, and made funky looking wire legs with crystals. Then I added the clock embellishment.   On my picture trail I have Some of my old domino art pieces

 

Next I inked up and heat set some round bone pieces that had pre drilled holes. These bone pieces are great for using in altered books. You can also make necklaces with them. Whatever strikes your fancy. Right now, I have no idea what the pieces I stamped will be used for. I bought a big bag of the bone circles several years ago in Rhode Island. The circles are 50 cent sized.

I also want to share with you a vintage bracelet that I bought at a yard sale last fall for 50 cents. I liked the gold and green beads, and originally thought of pulling the bracelet apart to use the beads for a future beaded creation, because it really wasn't something I would wear. But, the more I looked at the bracelet, I just couldn't destroy it. The bracelet is a tad tight on my wrist. So, the piece just sits in a drawer.

Below 3 different views of the bracelet. Sorry for the shadows.

I enjoyed my art time. Have a wonderful Sunday, and enjoy your day. Thanks for taking the time to stop by to visit.

Elaine

Happy Birthday Mom

  My parents taken when they still wintered in Florida, and before Mom's diagnosis of Alzheimer's.

Today is my mother's birthday. I went over to see Mom this morning as we won't be celebrating her birthday with a party tonight. Both Mom and Dad still have bronchitis.  We will probably have a family party and dinner for her next Sunday if she and Dad aren't still sick.                            
I brought Mom a bouquet of flowers and a beautiful birthday cake.

I also brought my Dad's, younger, 88 year old sister to my parents to visit. They hadn't seen Auntie since last October when she left for Florida.  Auntie came back home on Thursday afternoon after  spending the winter in Florida.

 

Yesterday I was suppose to take my mom to the eye doctors in Sandwich, MA, but with her coughing I cancelled the appointment. I had already cancelled her caregiver for that shift, so I spent the afternoon at my parents house. While there I made them an apple pie, an apple cinnamon cake, and made their dinner..shrimp stir fry. They loved it all.

It is so very sad to see the ravages of Alzheimer's in my Mom. Makes my heart break. My mother had been so active and enjoyed doing so many things which she can longer do. In photos that are only a few months old you can really see the changes. It is always a shock, because the changes are gradual and we just get use to seeing them.  It is frustrating, and heartbreaking to watch someone who was once productive and vibrant, just fading away. Sad to watch as Mom paces and sits with a vacant stare so much of the time.

I know it isn't going to get any better, and we have to celebrate the little victories and accomplishments. We are lucky that Mom still knows everyone and still has a sense of humor. I worry that I will also suffer from this dreaded disease. I hope and pray that I won't have Alzheimer's because my grandmother, my Mom's mother also had Alzheimer's.

Love you Mom!!! Happy 89th Birthday.
Elaine

GIVEAWAY WINNER IS.....

Good Morning Bloggers! This morning I used a random number generator to find out who the winner of my paint and water color paper giveaway winner would be. Also included is the oilcloth and felt artist organizer..if you want it.
The lucky number drawn was #7. Congrats to Jocelyn. Please contact me with your mailing info.
EAkers@aol.com

Thanks to all that left a comment. I will be having another giveaway soon to celebrate 40,000 blog views.  Elaine

P.S..Today my husband is celebrating his birthday. Happy Birthday, Tom!!!!!

Money Plant Card

I was up early this morning, and I made a quick card. I used my Fred Mullet money plant image that I bought in St. Mary's, Georgia several years ago when we were heading to Florida for our winter vacation.                                                                                                                                                   The cardstock I speckled with brown ink. Corrugated black with gold touches to the edge.

Today is busy...this morning I went to the doctors for my annual physical. Went grocery shopping for my aunt who is coming back this afternoon from wintering in Florida. I have another doctors appointment this afternoon and afterwards I will do grocery shopping for my parents and our house.
Tomorrow is my husbands birthday, and I so I have to make a card for Tom, and figure out what we will be doing to celebrate his birthday. My mom's birthday is Saturday, but we won't be having a party for her until she is over the bronchitis.
Well, its time for me to go to my next appointment. Have a great day, thanks for stopping by, and come again soon.
Elaine

Vintage Magazines

     1896
Several years back I happened to go to a library sale on a Saturday afternoon. The prices were awesome, and you could fill large grocery bags for $1.00.
When I went to pay I noticed a stack of very old and tattered magazines under the table where the woman taking the money sat. I stooped down and quickly went thru the pile, my heart thumping wildly as I continued to look. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

I asked if the magazines under the table were for sale. The woman told me they had been donated to the sale, but hadn't been priced as they had no idea what to price them at.The woman asked if I was interested in them. Yes, couldn't come out of my mouth fast enough.                                                                                                                                                       I thought to myself, well they were going to end up being real pricey. I paid for my bag of books, and then  kept my fingers crossed in my pocket. 
                                                                    
The woman asked me to wait so she could check with one of the other volunteers that was working the sale to see what the price should be. Finally, the woman came back and asked shyly, how about 10 cents each. I scooped up the whole batch. I couldn't wait to get those tattered, yellow, old fragile magazines out to my car and then home so I could look thru them.
1884. The periodical on top has a story written by James Fenimore Cooper

This morning as I was going thru piles of boxes, I found some of the old magazines that I bought that long ago Saturday.

1922,1927,1930,1931,1933,19341935 and 1953
The Old Farmer's Almanacs above. I have given a lot of the old almanacs away to family and friends for the year they were born. I was disappointed as there was no 1948, the year I was born.
1871 and 1872
I have more old magazines that I bought that day, but they must be in another box/bag. I brought the magazines to my dad who was born in 1918 to look thru them. He loved the pictures of the ads.
Some of the magazines didn't have covers and some magazines are pretty ragged. I have used some of those in my art, but I can't bring myself to rip apart the ones that are in ragged but intact. When I came across these magazines again this morning, I felt just as excited as when I first found them.
What have you found that was an inexpensive exciting find?
Elaine

Blue Green Oval Beaded Bracelet and earrings

 

I hadn't dragged out my boxes of beads in ages. Today the weather is a cold, dark, dreary, rainy day. Since it was a nasty outside,  I thought I would make a gift while I was watching a nature program on TV.                                                                                       I decided to make a bracelet and earring set for a birthday gift.  With the poor lighting today the oval beads I used don't really show how pretty they actually are in the photo above.    The beads are  lighter than they appear in the photo. With the mottled light turquoise/blue and green oval beads, I used silver spacer beads and  small pale blue and green crystals.  The beads had a mixture of light and dark beads on the strand. The color of these beads remind me of the ocean. I have so many strands of beads that are just waiting to made into jewelry. When will I get to them is the question.

Elaine

Oil cloth and felt artist organizer

open
folded closed
When I got home from my parents late this afternoon I decided I would try making an Artist Organizer. I didn't have a pattern and just cut some felt and oilcloth and that I had bought on Cape Cod over a year ago. I didn't even drag out my rotary cutter or cutting mat. Just eyeballed the fabrics when cutting.
I have been wanting to try making a travel art organizer, and decided to give it a go. The oil cloth wasn't the easiest to work with as it kept sticking to the machine and didn't slide along easily. This organizer isn't perfect, but for a first attempt, it isn't horrible either. I will have a better idea with my next attempt.
With my busy schedule, I don't know if I will get to making another Artist organizer, but if the winner of my giveaway wants this trial and error travel artist organizer...I will send it off with the paint and water color paper. Just let me know. Just don't critique the sewing. (LOL)  Most days I can't even think about art projects, because I am tired and wiped out from stress. Thankfully, my husband has been very understanding and patient.

This past week has been crazier for me than normal. For almost 3 years, I have been the one that does most everything for my parents..their errands, appointments, banking, shopping, bring  meals over several times a week, and during the week..stops for milk and bread or whatever else is needed. I live about 10 miles from my parents.

I don't make any plans without consulting my date book/pocket calendar to see what is already scheduled for that day. Every week they have several appointments scheduled.                                 I have a hard time fitting in appointments for myself. So many times at the last minute I have to cancel my days activities, doctor appointments or whatever, because there is some emergency happening at my parents that need tending, and I have to drop everything and get whatever the issue is taken care of.                                                                                
Don't get me wrong..I love my parents dearly and would do anything for them, but some times taking care of elderly parents is just an overwhelming task when you get very little help or relief .  I gave up my nursing job, because it was becoming to difficult to handle my parents appointments and needs and work too.                                                                                                                           At my age, my parent's were enjoying themselves wintering in Florida, going on trips and cruises.  My life is on hold for now, but on the other hand...I am very thankful to still have them at 93 and 89 and hope they are with us for a long time.

Some days just get to me more than others and I guess this just happened to be one of those days.

The big problem is...there is always some emergency and I have to drop everything when I get a panicked call from my parents house from their caregiver or their agency. The agency is paid big money, and they can't seem to handle any little problems. My cell phone rings almost every day from that agency...sometimes I could just scream, because most of the calls are for foolishness and the care givers should be able to handle it.   That is what drives me up the wall and really frustrates the heck out  of   me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I've mentioned before my mom has Alzheimer's and she can be very hard to deal with at times. Mom is great with my brothers, but sometimes the things she says to me, knife me in the heart. I know she doesn't  know what she is saying, but still it hurts. I only want the best for her and to keep her safe.

 
Last Friday my brother took my dad to the ER to be seen and they kept him for a week.  His diagnosis,CHF and bronchitis. Dad is 93, and I was really worried that he had pneumonia. I tried getting him to go to the doctors the week before, but he is stubborn, and wouldn't go until he was about half dead. My mom was very difficult and agitated while dad was in the hospital.

Yesterday morning Dad called me to let me know that he would be coming home, and could I pick him up for 1:30 that afternoon. Okay, no problem. In the meantime, the agency that we have 24/7 care for my mother called to tell me, my mother was really sick.                                                                                                                             I had been out grocery shopping. That was the end of my shopping. I paid for what was in my cart, and then called Mom's doctors office to see if mom could be seen that day. Luckily the doctor squeezed her in so she could been seen and not go thru the weekend with the wheezing and hacking cough. Her appointment was for 1 P.M. I then had to call one of my brothers to see if they could pick up my dad, as I didn't want to bring my sick mother to the hospital.
Found out  my mother also has bronchitis, and was put on antibiotics. On the way home from the doctors, I stopped at the drug store to get Mom's prescription filled, and then I took her home. I stayed until her care giver arrived. I had brought them some baked ham, and veggies that I had as leftovers for their dinner. So they ate early and then rested.
This morning I went grocery shopping for my parents. I waited to see the visiting nurse that the hospital set up to come out for home visits. I wanted to be there for the initial visit, as my dad is extremely hard of hearing. The nurse was coming to see my dad and will keep an eye on him for the next  few weeks.                                                                                                                          

While I was at my parents today I made them an apple pie, which they enjoyed. Dad loves home made pie. My mom had been a great cook before Alzheimer's.  Alzheimer's is such a devastating disease, and so difficult to watch a loved one fade before your eyes.

While at my parents, I took a walk into their back field and picked some fresh asparagus for their dinner to go with the cooked chicken I brought over for them. I saw the wild turkeys cutting thru their backyard when I was picking the asparagus.
The turkeys are daily visitors to their yard. I love watching those enormous birds, and so do my parents.

Well, I have to get off the computer and start making supper for us.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

Elaine

Time for another GIVEAWAY

Yesterday was the last day to get your taxes in the mail, and many people dread tax day. I know we do. So, I decided to have an after tax day giveaway.
My giveaway this time is a pad of water color paper and a set of water color paints.  I will leave this giveaway open for a week.
To win my little giveaway you must leave a comment below. This giveaway is open to all, but please make sure I can contact you if you win.

If you've had problems leaving comments to my blog in the past it should be easier to leave a comment on my blog now, because I did away with the dreaded word verification that can be so difficult to read and very frustrating.

Check back to see if your name is drawn.

Thanks.
Elaine

P.S. 4/21/2012 This afternoon I created an  travel Artist Organizer by trial and error. I had no pattern. to follow.   I wasn't really sure what I was doing. The organizer didn't come out bad, but it isn't perfect, as it is  just a prototype.

If your name is drawn and you would like  me to also send along this  organizer..mistakes and all...I will send it along with the paints and water color paper. Just let me know when I contact you.. (extra brushes not included)

More chicken cards

 

I have so many rubber stamps that haven't been used in a very long time. I figured as long as I had some of my chicken stamps out, I better ink them up. I decided to make some simple cards with the stamps.  The chicken stamp above is from Inkadinkadoo and the word stamp came from a foam mounted stamp set. The stamp above I used in the past with all kinds of sayings in the bubble.

When I first started stamping in 1990 I tended to buy, cutesy, scene stamping,  humorous, word and phrase stamps. I loved stamping humorous cards, but I couldn't send humorous to everyone, as some just didn't get my wacky sense of humor.

Then, the artsy stamps came along, and I really liked them. But what to do with the drawers and boxes of stamps I was no longer using. Well, every now and again, I pull those stamps out of the drawers and use them on a card. It really is a shame that so many of my stamps have been long forgotten and sitting in a box.

I guess I am on a hen/chicken card kick. Here is another card that has a chicken on it that I completed yesterday afternoon. This card I stamped on water color paper and used water color paints to color the image.

One more card to share that I made yesterday afternoon.

front of a pop up card

inside of the pop up card

I don't know what I was thinking when I bought this crazy chicken stamp (WhipperSnapper Designs).

Elaine

Sewing themed post card

In the group, An Affair with Art, I signed up for a sewing themed post card swap. My post card will be heading to Iowa to Gloria K.

front of the post card

back of the post card

Below is the post card I received from Linda F.

Front:

Back:

I loved the stamp Linda used on my post card. I am going to have to find out where she bought that phrase stamp, and what company makes it. I think I need it!!!!                                                                                                                                I was told it was bought un mounted at a rubber stamp convention. Do you know what company sells this stamp? Please contact me or leave a comment below if you know. Thanks so much!!! :-)

She alters everything she touches.. and everything she touches alters her.

Elaine

A chick chick here, and a chick chick there

 
A couple of weeks ago I bought some chicken scrapbook paper at Michael's and decided to make a couple of cards using the paper. My scanner isn't working at the moment, and I had the most difficult time trying to get a good photo of this card. I'm still not happy with how the photo came out, but it was the best I could do. I rubber stamped on the ribbon (which is very hard to see) for peeps sake!  I flattened a bottle cap and glued Happy Birthday that I rubber stamped, and used a 1 inch punch and then glued that to the bottle cap.
2nd. Chicken card...

My son, Steven and my sister in law both like chickens. Terry has raised chickens for years, and collects chicken things. Steven, just bought 12 baby chickens. He bought several varieties..2 of each. Steven wants to have fresh eggs. I laughed, when he told me he was going to raise chickens, because Steven won't eat an egg.
The pictures  below, I took on Easter Sunday. The photo was taken from above and is hard to see due to the red heat lamp on the baby chicks that keeps them warm. Most are lying down in the shavings sleeping.
  all 6 new chicks..hard to see..2 sleeping, 1 awake at the top. On the bottom near the feeder and wall of the container..is a little yellow chick sleeping, and a yellow and dark chick sleeping between the feeders.
2 chicks sleeping, and 1 awake on the little roost.


the picture above was taken today..it was the chicks first time outside in their new pen. The baby chicks can only go out in the day time, as they are still too small and need to stay under the heat lamps, but today was sunny and warm. Steven first bought 6 chicks, and then a few weeks later he bought another six. You can see some are bigger than others, and more feathered out.
Elaine

Started the day with art

Since I was up real early I decided to make a card before I head out to run some errands. I like to have cards on hand so I'm not scrambling at the last minute to make one for a birthday, anniversary, or whatever. I leave the inside of the cards blank, and then I just stamp a greeting inside to fit the occasion.
To start..I used water color paper, rubber stamped my image from sugarloafproducts.com. I used my heat tool to dry the ink, and then used my metallic water color paints on the image. I again used the heat tool to dry the paper and paint. I then splattered more water color paints over the dried image. Using scrapbook paper and corrugated kraft paper as a background, I used my Tim Holtz stapler to attach the stamped image to the background papers. To finish the card I then ran the papers thru my Xyron, and attached the piece to a folded teal cardstock.       It's a shame that the scanned card doesn't show the pretty shimmer of the metallic paints.
As I was looking at all the stuff on my desk this morning, I found a library pocket that I had stamped a Leavenworth Jackson, Alice in Wonderland, tea party image. While my water color paints were out, I added a wash of paint over the library pocket.  I plan to use the pocket in my SMASH book. The photo isn't the best. Sorry about that. The pocket colors are much nicer than it looks here.

While I was taking photos, I also took a couple of pictures of the 2 pussy willow branches that I cut about a month ago while I was visiting my cousin on Cape Cod. The pussy willow catkins have opened and starting to drop off the branches.
 
I put the two branches into a clean, plastic, mayonnaise jar that I filled with water. The branches are starting to sprout leaves and develop a good root system.
close up of the new roots that are developing in the water.
I will wait a bit longer and then put the cuttings into a light potting soil  mix.                                                                                                                   
I was up early, because I had a phone call from my parents house from my mother's caregiver. My dad had coughed all night and was very short of breath and congested. Mom hadn't slept, because the coughing kept her up all night. My brother was taking my dad to the emergency room. I hope dad doesn't have pneumonia, because he is 93.  I tried getting my dad to see his doctor during the week, but he was stubborn and wouldn't go. So, now here it is the weekend, and he will have to be seen in the emergency room at the hospital. I'm hoping he has bronchitis and not pneumonia, and will be given antibiotics and can come home.
It is just a gorgeous spring morning, sunny and warm and the start of a  3 day holiday weekend. Patriots Day is Monday, and the Boston Marathon will be run with participants from all over the world.    Have a great weekend, and once again..thanks for visiting my blog.
Elaine
P.S...In an email from Taste of Home this morning I saw a recipe for Hummingbird Cupcakes, which had a  4  1/2  star review. I think I will have to try making a batch. Flavored with pineapple, bananas and walnuts—into a bite-sized moist cupcakes. Click here for the recipe...Hummingbird Cupcakes

Friday the 13th.

Are you superstitious? Do you consider Friday the 13th, a bad luck day? I don't believe in superstitions. I love black cats, have opened umbrella's indoors, and walked under ladders, etc. My oldest son hates when I open an umbrella indoors, but he does like black cats. 
Today was a lazy day for me.
Outside it is warm and sunny, a good day for checking out all of the flowers that are blooming or getting ready to bloom. The lilac buds are getting bigger with each warm day. I'm surprised the buds weren't killed by the very low night time temperatures we had last week.  
When I was young girl, the lilacs didn't open early like they have for the past several years. We always use to cut and place lilacs at the graves on Memorial Day.

Blooming clump of

R.O. Backhouse daffodils 
                                                                       
unfortunately we have a big patch of white violets blooming in the back  yard .    Not good!            

      

Below...hard to see, but the light green areas are small buds on one of my Clematis plants 

                                                                                   

 

While walking around the yard, I also found this feather. I don't know what kind of bird that lost it. Perhaps a blue jay? I only see black and white..who knows. The feather is approximately 5 1/2 inches long.

 

Just for fun...here are a couple of photos from the 80's taken at Cypress Gardens, Florida. The pictures unfortunately are dark.

Elephant ride...I'm on the front, and my friend Dolly was on the back.

a huge boa constrictor was placed around my neck the same day at Cypress Gardens.  That snake was very heavy and made me bend forward from the weight.

My mother couldn't believe I let the man from the park put that big snake around my neck. Now that I think about it, I can't either.  

Did you find time to create some art today? I did a water color post card. I spattered metallic water color paints on the base of the card. Then with an ATC sized piece of water color paper I used an un mounted rubber stamp of a mermaid cat. I then water colored the ocean and sky and drew some seagulls. I don't even remember what company made the stamp. Nothing fancy, just a simple whimsical piece. 

 

Elaine