Momma Mini or.... I Can't Set Eyelets

The swivel clasp has a crown, a cross and praying hands charms.

Mom (on the left) and her BFF, Betty. They're wearing prayer shawls that a friend made for them. My Mom is 80, and Betty is 85. They both look amazing.

My Mom isn't a scrapbooker, and I didn't see her doing a lot of journaling in her book. The flourish is open on one side though, in case she wants to tuck something underneath.

One small tag topped with pretty fibers.

This page is so much prettier in person. The flowers are glimmer misted. Actually, Lindy's Stamp Gang misted. A great product and so much cheaper than you know who.

This folder and tag tuck into the pocket shown in the photo right above this one.

One of my favorite pages, but the camera was not kind at all. Beautiful blues and greens.

I love this image, and even though it doesn't really fit the overall theme of this mini, I included it anyway.

The envelope closes with velcro. Inside are two little tags with images of vintage birds.

The last page. Once again, mega wash-out of the angel, and the pretty green paper.

And the eyelet thing....well, I can set them fine when I practice on cardboard. But when it comes to the actual page, I guess I clutch up and the dumb thing won't set right. Sharp pieces of prongs stick up, and I have to take a hammer and pound them down. I'm using the Big Bite too.

This album was made from a kit. It included six extra large eyelets in bronze. Only half survived, so I had to use large eyelets, also in bronze. I'm sure Mom won't notice, but it bugs me...lol.

We spent a quiet day at home. I had planned on going to Portland and hitting the Michaels there, but Sunday night Miss Jessie went to the doctor for her cough. Little brother Juneau also came along to get a bordatella vaccine. And....$166.00 later we were on our way home. So I didn't feel like shopping if ya know what I mean.

Jacob is home from his retreat, safe and sound :).

My Day, Yesterday

I am trying to post every day, because I want to be like Tracy. Just a bit late as it's now tomorrow, and I'm talking about yesterday.

I did a fair amount of work, but kept expecting the phone to ring. And if it did, and a certain person called, I would have had to leave my house, and go to their house. You see my former husband's wife is in the hospital. The former husband works on Saturdays and they have three dogs. They were afraid he wouldn't be able to get a lunch break and go home to let the dogs out. He did in fact get a break and I didn't have to go over there. And thankfully she will be released from the hospital later today.

I finished my Mom's mini album, all except for putting some ribbon and fibers on the ring, and adding some charms to the swivel clasp. I usually ask hubby to do that part. I'm just not good with the jump rings.

I thought a fair amount about how spoiled Juneau is. He is seriously spoiled, like spoiled rotten. He has to be right in the middle of things. If he hears Geoff and I talking, he will get up from a nap to come into the same room. If we ignore him, he fusses and whines or he tilts his big head back and "talks" to us. He's such a character. Last night he slept with me, something he rarely does. It's like sleeping with a person, a very warm person.

Okay, this post is boring....but that's okay. I like my boring life :).

Chocolate Eggs

It's Easter candy time. I think the stores put it out at 12:01 am on February 15th. My son and I are fans of the Hershey's chocolate eggs. I mean, we are BIG fans. It's an odd little tradition we have. The day the eggs hit the stores, we are there. Well, I'm there. He is busy enough being 16, so I do the shopping.

I always have a handful of the eggs in my purse. I remember driving, years and years ago, with him in the seat behind me, and I'd put some eggs in the palm of my hand and reach back toward him. His tiny little boy hand would reach out and take the eggs. His hands were always warm, and they still are to this day. This is a precious memory to me.

I think it must be the same chocolate they use in their Kisses, but these eggs just taste different to me. As long as I'm alive Jacob will have eggs, these eggs, as soon as they hit the shelves. He left today for Winter Camp, an event the High School Ministry at church holds every year. And some chocolate eggs went with him :).

YESSSSSS!!!!

Can ya tell I'm happy? Finally, an orthopedic surgeon who listened to me, spent a ton of time with me, and agrees it's time to take a real look at my shoulder. Surgery is scheduled for March 2nd. The doctor is Board Certified, in practice 25 plus years, and nice! I had hubby in the exam room with me, another ear to listen and someone else to ask questions you know. Hubby said I was acting goofy. At one point I started to cry because God had answered my prayer and at last something was going to be done for me, besides more physical therapy which has never helped. The doctor even spoke about how traumatic the accident must have been.

I am so excited that someone will actually cut me open and look. Something isn't right, and even if it can't be fixed, at least I will know, once and for all. The other doctors were quite competent I'm sure, but it takes more than that to make a good doctor. In my mind, it's 1965 and I live in Mayberry with Andy and Opie and Aunt Bea. Growing up, my father's patients had our home number. Medicine wasn't such a business. I have been very blessed with every other doctor and counselor who has treated me, it was just the orthopedic folks who were a problem, until today that is.

Thank you Lord, for answering my prayer.

A Recipe to Share

I made this dip/dressing last night. It is deeeelicious. The recipe came from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Cannot locate a publication date, but my guess is late 50's or early 60's.

Confetti Dairy Dressing

1 cup dairy sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
1/4 cup minced green onions
1/4 cup radishes
1/4 cup minced cucumber
1/4 cup minced green pepper*
1 clove garlic, minced**

Blend sour cream, mayo, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir in minced vegetables. Serve as a dressing for coleslaw, or as a dip for fresh veggies.

*I left out the green pepper because it's gross.
** I used minced garlic from a jar and it worked just fine.

Since this was a new recipe for me, I made a half batch. As I said, it's really good, especially after sitting overnight. I will be using it on slaw for tomorrow's dinner.

We had some snow today. Maybe two inches. Funny I know. And hardly worth mentioning. It didn't stay around long.

Tomorrow I see a new doctor about my shoulder. Me and my MRI images and narrative, hitting the road again. The sucky part is it's a 45 minute drive just to get to his office. My wonderful hubby is taking me.

St. Valentine's Day

The day came, and is almost gone. And....um....we really didn't celebrate it. That's okay, because as corny as it may sound, every day is Valentine's Day. At least it is for me, and I try my best to make it that way for my husband too. I think we tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to feel a certain way on a certain day. Yet every day is special and should be cherished.

My Valentine is also my knight in shining armor, my Prince Charming, and my best friend. I hope he knows how much I love him.

Out of the Sick Bed....finally

Hello Blogland, I have missed you so.

I caught some kind of stomach flu and was in bed for most of five days straight. Then just when I was feeling better, it appeared a head cold was going to get the best of me. I seem to have chased the head cold away, and today was the first day I felt semi-good and semi-normal.

I haven't read blogs or watched youtube videos. Mostly what I've done is watch Seasons 1 and 2 of M*A*S*H, which I have on DVD. Oh, and I read a few of my vintage cookbooks.

So today, I took the hubs out to lunch at Olive Garden, his favorite restaurant. We were enjoying our meal when the woman at the table across from us blew her nose into her thick green Olive Garden CLOTH napkin. Oh my gosh, how disgusting is that? I cannot believe someone could be so rude. Nasty.

When she and her party finally left, I watched the bus boy clear the table, and take her napkin and use it to gather all the crumbs into a pile. Then he took a wet rag and wiped it across the table. I'm sure my recent illness has made me hyper aware of germs. I'm also sure it's a good thing germs cannot be seen with the naked eye.

I was so tempted to walk right up and give this "lady" a lesson in manners. But, I didn't. Would you have told her?

Doorbellows and Rule of Thumbs

Kids have the cutest way of mispronouncing words and phrases. Since my "baby" is 16 now I don't get to hear those sweet mistakes anymore. The last one I remember, many moons ago, was him adding the "oh" to the word doorbell.

Yesterday I was pleasantly surprised to hear him use the expression "rule of thumb." We were discussing what time he should arrive home from school, and at what point he needed to call and say he was on his way. He said, "Let's make a rule of thumbs" and then went on to propose his rule. I asked him what kind of rule he wanted to make, and he repeated "a rule of thumbs." Did I correct him? No way.

Blurry Sneak Peek & Update

You are looking at a page from a mini album I am making for my mother. The paper collection is Julianne (K and Co) and I am using the baroque chipboard shape for my pages. I purchased this kit from Bona. I thought if I worked from a kit, I might work a bit faster. And, I am.

I like how this page turned out, although I wouldn't have put quite so many embellishments on it, had I not accidentally slopped Lindy's Stamp Gang product where it shouldn't have been. This is such a poor photo, but better than none, right?

The room switch is rolling right along. I am in my new bedroom/office/studio. Hubby has painted my old office and laid the hardwood floor. He is halfway through installing crown moulding. It's wonderful to have such a handy hubby. My new space is not ready for pictures. I get frustrated because I am limited by the physical things I can do, but little by little it's coming together.