Look Up, Look Down

Yesterday I discovered my daffodils were starting to emerge from the cold, damp earth. Today, after the never-ending rain finally stopped, I snapped a photo of the sky starting to brighten. I've had enough of rain and gloominess and hope the sun starts shining.

Here are my up and down photos.

April Showers Socks

I just finished knitting these socks about 10 minutes ago and couldn't wait to share them. The pattern was written for the latest KAL (Knit-a-long) by Wendy Gaal, owner of the Knitters Brewing Company Ravelry group. I used a Knitters Brewing Company yarn called Sweet Butter from their Sweet line.

The KAL started on January 11 with a deadline of March 1 for the finish of only one sock. I was determined this time to complete both socks for the KAL by the deadline. I am actually early which is a first for me!

Without further ado, here are my socks...

52 Week Christmas Cracker -- Week 8

Kook Kitty Musings blog is definitely an inspiration for me in continuing to make Christmas cards well in advance of the season. I'm not going to in a rush to make Christmas cards this year! I'll have a nice supply all ready to mail out.

Credits:

Background paper from Jillibean Soup's Christmas Eve Chowder
Journaling words from MME Christmas 6x6 paper pad
Red seam binding for the bow
Stars from Anna Griffin's 2011 Christmas Collection

52 Week Card Challenge -- Week 8

My dearest friend is having a difficult time with her hip and knee. It's the bone on bone pain that comes with arthritis but she suffers through physical therapy with a smile on her face. Every few weeks I send her a get well card and this one is for her. Kool Kitty Musings is the blog that is helping me continue to do my weekly cards.

Credits:

Background paper from My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 6x6 paper pad
Gerber Daisies from K&Co.
Clear Stamp sentiment
Queen & Co. green twine
Leftover piece of doily

52 Week Card Challenge -- Week 7

My week 7 card is another general card that can be used for any occasion. I like this type of card because when I forgot a birthday it's readily available. It's also a good type of card to send if you are just thinking of another person and want them to know you care.

Credits:
Paper from Basic Grey Brown Sugar Scrub
Stamps from Clear Stamps Cupcake Collection
LePlume II Double Ended Markers

52 Week Christmas Cracker -- Week 7

Several weeks ago I joined the card challenges over at the Kook Kitty Musings blog. If you haven't been able to keep up with your card making, go over there and get lots of inspiration.

Here is my latest Christmas card--a simple one but it's made!

Credits:
Paper is from MME 6x6 Christmas paper pad
Chipboard from Chipboard Accents Christmas Greetings
Die Cut from Anna Griffin 2011 Christmas Collection

52 week Christmas Cracker Catch Up

I was a bit behind on my Christmas cards because I lost my mojo. I got it back today so I am posting cards for weeks 3, 5, and 6. I already did one for week 4. Looks like I have to get bigger boxes to hold all these cards!

Week 3 Credits:
Papers: Double-sided Jillibean Soup Frozen Haddock
Chipboard Tag: Echo Park
Chipboard Tree: K&Co.
Punch: EK

Week 5 Credits:
Papers: Background by jillibean soup Christmas Eve Chowder
Dots are by MMI Christmas 6x6 pad
Chipboard by Echo Park
Journal Tag: My Minds Eye Nostalgia die cut sheet
Words: Authentique Diction
Punch: EK

Week 6 Credits:
Papers: MME Christmas 6x6 Pad, and Star paper by jillibean soup
Chipboard: Echo Park
Santa Sticker from Anna Griffin 2011 Christmas Collection

52 Week Card Challenge -- Week 6

Week six and I am still making cards. Can you believe it? I hardly ever stick to anything for that long, but it helps that I am having fun. That's the difference this time. It doesn't seem like such a chore.

Here's my card for this week. I need birthday cards a lot so I'll be concentrating on them for the next few weeks.

Credits:
Base paper is Basic Grey Origins Brown Sugar Scrub double sided--I used the geometric side.
Clear Type paper is from Jenni Bowlin's Haven Mini Pattern Sheet PP661
Can't remember where I got the yellow pocket paper
Embellishment come from My Minds Eye Nostalgia Pattern Sheet

Our Precious Benjie

When our younger brother, Leonard, was about 12 years old, our mother called him from where she worked and asked if he wanted a dog. Of course he did. Mom worked about ½ a mile from where we lived so Leonard left at once to get the dog. When he arrived, he saw a group of women standing around this dog that was no longer a puppy but not quite an adult. He was told the dog is his if he continues to call him Benjie. Agreed. They found a length of rope and he walked Benjie home. Benjie's adventures would soon start.

Benjie was a real dog. Leonard and his friends loved to go hunting and Benjie went along with them. When they went rabbit hunting, Benjie would drag a rabbit back to place it at Leonard’s feet. The rabbit just happened to be missing his head.

Shortly after becoming Leonard’s dog, Benjie was resting out in the backyard when the dog next door, a boxer, leapt through the back window. Unfortunately, pieces of glass flew into Benjie’s eye. Leonard took him to the local vet who picked out the shards, treated the eye, and said the dog would probably be blind in that eye. He was but that didn’t stop him from having more accidents.

One afternoon, we got a call from a neighbor who told us that Benjie was lying on the other side of our fence and didn’t seem to be moving. Leonard rushed out to the yard and hopped over the fence. Benjie was lying in a pool of blood and it appeared he had split himself from stem to stern. Back to the vet he went. He was one sick dog for about a month after the vet stitched him back up, but he never did try to jump that fence again.

Another time, Benjie had an accident that severely injured his footpad---almost ripping it off. Leonard put some salve on it, bandaged it, and took the dog back to the vet. By this time the vet realized the close relationship the boy and the dog had. The vet asked who had bandaged the foot and when Leonard said he did it, the vet offered him a job. The vet only had to sprinkle some antibiotic powder on the wound to dry it up and sent them home. Leonard said, to the best of his knowledge, he never paid the vet any money for these visits.

Sadly, when Leonard was about 18, he received a call from the SPCA asking him if he owned a dog-named Benjie. Apparently, a car had hit Benjie and the whole side of his face was smashed, including the eye. Unfortunately, it was his good eye. They said his injuries were quite extensive and there were no guarantees he would live. They asked if Leonard wanted him put down. He said yes because since he was already blind in one eye, that would mean he wouldn’t be able to see at all. Plus, the injuries were so bad, he was suffering and Leonard didn’t want that. Benjie died in Leonard’s arms.

I have more stories of Benjie and our family but writing this is a start to more short stories about this adventurous dog.

52 Card Challenge -- Week 5

This isn't exactly like the template posted for Week 5 but it is based on it--somewhat. I now have five cards made for several different occasions and I feel good about that. I cannot post credits for many of the items used because they are all from my stash and nothing is marked. Of course, all the wrappings were thrown away a long time ago. I can tell you the ribbon was from a foot treatment gift from a friend. It was wrapped around a pair of soft spa socks. I hated to throw the ribbon away and the color matched. A larger ribbon was wrapped around the box so you'll probably see that on some other card this year.

Here is my card: