Summertime, and I am free!!!

Ahhhhh,,,it sure feels great knowing I am free for the summer. I LOVE Sweet summertime. Yes , yesterday was my last day. It was bittersweet because my principal is also retiring too. He is the best principal that I have ever worked under.
Also another bitter blow. My other supervisors at the Board have decided that they are going to pull us out of our schools and stick all the Attendance Officers in a building together. They are only into numbers now. They want more petitions being filed in court than what we have been doing. So I guess we will all be crammed together in a building with the bosses standing over us making sure we are pumping out petitions. Because its the numbers that count,,not the children, or at least thats how I am feeling right now.
Needless to say I am very unhappy about this whole scenerio. I Love the school that I am out. I have been there 2 years and its a really great school, and I have made some wonderful friends there. But thats the way our system works. Try it a mere 2 years and not give it a chance to work, then shake it all up again. Its assine!!!
So I have to sit all summer wondering what my future will be like in August. I am just going to try to forget it and have fun, but the thought will still be in the back of my mind.
Last night was a real blast! We had our end of the year Karoake party for the faculty and staff. We have it a swimming and tennis club that is close to the school. Everyone gets to loosen up and have fun after a long, hard year. I wasn't brave enough to Karoake,,but it was so fun to see everyone else up there being crazy. Alot of them had a few drinks and they were singing away and dancing. It was just a real fun time.
This afternoon I am going to go see my close friend who use to live next door to me for so many years. She lives several cities away from me now so I will spend the night and we will stay up late talking and laughing. I will be back tomorrow and have more to post then.
I am leaving this post with a final dedication to my fave principal ,,,Burro Bob!!! This is a pic of him when he dressed up for our Homecoming this past school year. We are going to miss you, Burro Bob, you are the Greatest Burro Leader!!!!

3 more days!!!

Just wanted to say Hi to my friends. Thursday is my last work day for the summer and I can't wait. I will be posting every day after that. The picture above is of my Finch's taking a bath.
Hope every one is doing good. More later this week!!
Hugs to all!!!

wonderful wednesday

My Lilys are starting bloom!!!
One of my hummer's taking a rest on my garden arch!!!
My hungry goldfish having some dinner!!!
My begonias in my froggy pot!!!
Hi to everyone. This is a shorty. I am working hard at work right now, only 6 days left,,YAY!!!
I am sick of the computer after being on it so much at work, so I am not writing alot. The weather is wonderful today after a cold front came through last night with some much needed rain. I will post more soon!
Thanks for all the wonderful and kind comments that everyone posted about our loss of our beloved Ranger. Its still hard to look out in the backyard and not see him there. But he is in a much better place, we always try to remember that.
I will try to post more tomorrow, thanks for letting me share some of my beauty of my flowers and Nature.

Loss of a wonderful family member

Yesterday was a very, very sad day for me. Our wonderful protector and friend had to be releashed from his very old and broken body. Ranger has been with our family for 13 years. He was a beautiful, gentle, giant part Mastiff dog. He was in our back yard and no one came in the back yard if they didn't know him.
He had been going down health wise for the past few months. I came home yesterday afternoon and he couldn't get up any more. When Daniel came home we managed to get him up the hill and into his little manger(dog house). We called it the Ranger Manger. Daniel always had fresh straw in his manger. I called our vet and he knew that we couldn't bring Ranger down to him at the clinic. He lives right down the road so he came up here after work.
Daniel and I stayed by Ranger in his nice, peaceful backyard. He gave him a shot to make him go to sleep and then another to release him from his old and broken down body. It was very peaceful and gentle. Daniel and I were pretty tore up but we also were glad that he wasn't suffering any more. Right after the vet left we had the nicest Thunderstorm with alot of lightening and thunder and rain. We talked about how it was our Ranger up in Doggy heaven Rocking and Rolling and enjoying being in a brand new doggy world, free of pain.
Today we will bury him in the backyard. He had a favorite place he laid in all the time. It was a little place that Daniel kept sand in and it was in the shade and very nice and cool during the hot summer time. So thats were his remains will be.
Good-bye my wonderful friend, thanks for being an Awesome pet and friend.

Monday, 1 down and 2 more are left.

Another Monday is almost over, and I only have 2 more left until I am off for the summer! I am so ready for May 24th. Its a pressure cooker for me the next 2 weeks, but the end is in site.
It was a great week-end. Mom and I had a fun Art meeting with our Stamper group. Had several classes and made some really fun cards. We also learned some new stamping techniques. I even taught a class on stamping on bamboo tiles and making them into necklaces. I made little baggies with the rubber string , beads, and charms. I sold the baggies for $3. We had about 28 of us Stampers at the meeting and I sold all the kits. Everyone really enjoyed making the necklaces. I of course forgot the camera so I didn't get pics of it. We all had fun and there was alot of great food too.
Yesterday, Daniel and I were at Home Depot by 8 a.m. I bought alot of flowers and he has been making me a new flower bed this past week-end. It is looking so good. I will post pics of it when its is finished tomorrow evening. I spend all my free time outside so I am not being too great with posting. But in a few weeks I will be posting alot. Just wanted to say HI to all my blogger buds and know I am thinking of you all.
The flower above is one of my new Dahlias. I had to do a zoom shot of its beauty. Here are a few more pics of my beautiful flowers and yard. Talk to you all soon!! xoxoxoxoxoox

Tuesdays Art and Flowers!

Well its been another whole week since I have blogged anything. Its been rather busy at work this past few weeks. Winding down and only 18 more working days left. HURRAY!!! I am ready for the summer. This past week-end we went down to my brothers in Alabama and spent saturday night. My sister-in-law and I traded some plants so when I got home sunday, Daniel and I spent Sunday and Monday being yard warriors. I was off yesterday and Daniel took the day off too.

The picture above is the front of a Shadowbox that I made for my friend Kim, who is in one of my groups. We are doing a Shadowbox swap and this is the one I made with an old cigar box. This is the inside of it.

I just really enjoyed making this little box of art. And of course its full of my favorites, flowers, friends, and butterflys and birds. The girl on the right is holding a little net that I made. Here is another pic of it standing.
The next pic is the bottom of the box. I just had to do all sides as I was having fun!
Its in the mail tomorrow headed to Kim. I hope she likes it. I am going to make one for Mom for Mother's day. She had a fit over this one. Maybe I will be the little girl in it. LOL.

I am in a alter book page tip in for another group. We make our book and send pages to our partners and tell them what theme we would like them to use. Mine is going to be a "Sea and beach" theme. This is the front cover of my book.

You know I am thinking about summer with this theme. The next pictures are pages I did for on of my partners for her book. It was a vintage theme.

I used mainly rubber stamps on those pages. I hope she likes them. The next 2 pictures of some 4 x 4 chunky book pages for another monthly swap. I painted the background with shimmering H20 water colors. And then I rubber stamped the flower images over the paint. They are really pretty in person. I even made one to keep for myself.

So thanks for looking at my newest art. I have really missed every one and I will be back in the swing of posting, espiecally in 18 more days. I hope everyone has a great night!

Tuesday Art !

It was a rough day at work so I am not into writing much. Just wanted to show case some of my wonderful mail art that I have recieved recently. Below are my wonderful Dotee Dolls from my swap at my friend Dot's blog.

Aren't they precious? I Loved doing that swap, and I am so proud of my Dolls. Below are the Dotee Doll ATCs that I received.

And yes,,I do Love them also!! What wonderfully creative friends I have out in the blogging world. I got both of these in the mail yesterday. Thanks Dot for the wonderful swap!
Next are some tags that I received recently in a tag swap that I was in. Maryellen hosted at swap bot and it was a fun and simple swap too. First off is the wonderful one that Maryellen sent me.

It is a Fun tag,,just so colorful,,thanks Maryellen! And this is the other tag that I received, a wonderful bird tag. I Love Birds and have really been using them alot in my art.
The next photo is a very cool ATC from Maryellen that I recieved this month from our group we are in. She had my name as her ATC card of the month partner. Thanks ME,,,Love it,,Love your art!!!

Next, I was in a "House Mouse" ATC swap at Swapbot. I just Love House Mouse. They are so cute. I have alot of the House Mouse stamps. Here are the cards I received.


And then below is the ATC that I made.
I hope you enjoyed todays Art. And also wishing every one a wonderful springy week!!!

Spring again!!!

We are back in Spring time again!!! What a absolutely wonderful week-end we have had. So amazing to think that only last Sunday we were having Rain, Sleet, and Snow.
Daniel and I have been in the yard all week-end. We have weeded and mulched and are wore out tonight. It was almost 80 degrees today. The yard is looking so pretty. Some of my plants that were burned are starting to recover quite nicely. Still worried about my Rose bushes, they are not looking so great. Daniel said I might be getting some new ones for Mother's Day. That would be just fine with me.
I was in a Conference most of the week at work. It was really interesting and nice being away from the school. It was a local conference but alot of Attendance workers from across the state were there. Lucky me won a beautiful Fern on friday as a door prize. I gave it to Mom as she loves Ferns and they look so pretty on her deck.
This evening I say out in the yard with the camera and took some cool pictures of a Bluebird.

I hope every one has had a wonderful week-end. I miss you all and I might be busy in the yard again for awhile but don't forget me. Hugs to all!!!

In rememberance

Thinking of the Students, Faculty, and others at Virginia Tech and wishing them Peace at this very sad time in their Lives!

Good day for some Art!

What a dreary, rainy day we have had today. But I kind of enjoyed it. I just sat in the Art room and created most of the day. Didn't have to feel guilty about not working out in the yard. It started raining last night. Daniel and I sat out in the sun room and played cribbage last night, and of course he beat me 2 games. He has been lucky lately, I usually beat him. It was nice sitting out there and listening to the rain and some good music.
Its suppose to get colder tonight. Not as bad as last week-end but they are saying some flurries in the morning. This has been the craziest spring I have ever seen. I think March thought it was suppose to be April and vice-versa.
The picture above is one of the ATCs I made today. My dear blogger friend Janet, sent me one last month that was made this way. She sent me a copy of book that had the directions in it, so I had to try it today. It actually opens up and this is what the inside looks like.
I really had fun with it. My scrapbook store that a friend owns is going to start having monthly ATC swaps. So I made 5 of these for the swap in May. The theme is Spring. I also made some in Pink too.
You can't really tell but the flowers on the inside have some glitter glue on them. I am going to make some more with different pictures on them. I also practice on my Donna Dewberry one stroke painting today too. She makes it look so easy but, ha,,its not. I have the DVD and I pause it alot and say "huh?" LOL. I may take a class at Michaels this summer on the technique.
Last month a dear friend that I work with went to the mountains on our spring break to renew her Wedding Vows for her 25th Wedding Anniversary. We had a little surprise shower for her the friday before Spring break. It was a gag gift presents. I had to make her something a little special to put her gift in. Its a box that I collaged so she can keep mementos of their trip. I didn't post pics of it when I made it but here are some pics of it now.

It was a fun little box to make. And she really liked it alot. This is what was inside of the box.
Hey, a girl's got to have some fuzzy, red cuffs for her 2nd Honeymoon. Pam has red hair and her face was as red as her hair when she openned up some of her presents. Of course we all forgot to bring our cameras to take pics of her, but it was fun!
I sure hope every one is having a wonderful week-end. I am even if it is rainy.

More Sweet Nostalgia

Yes, it was fun posting the "old days" picture yesterday so I am going to post some more. The picture up above is of me and my Dad. And yes, you guessed it, we were in Florida again. Not sure but I think this was in Ft. Walton, Florida(the panhandle). And you can see Daddy's camera around his neck(mom was using my little camera so the pics wasn't that great). And you can see were I get my long legs from. He was 6'4". I can smell that salt water now.
I know you can't see my face in that one either,, so here is another one. And yes, another Florida pic.

That was in St. Petersburg again. I am on the right and my bestfriend at the time was Tammy and she is on the left. We were about 14 here. And Oh Boy,,did we have a blast,,,we had "boy fever" lol. But we were good girls,,just did ALOT of flirting!!! Oh why can't I be that skinny again,,lol. Next pic, please,,,,,,,
Hey, at least its not another Florida pic. Believe it or not this was my dress for chorus in middle school. Uh,,what where they thinking? Laura Ingalls? I remember all of our Moms had to make them or pay someone to make them. Luckily my Mom was a great seamstress. I also remember being really pissed because the boys in the chorus got to wear nice blue dress pants and white shirts with red ties, and here we are in the dorky dresses. Most of us girls did not like the dresses AT ALL!!! I think I was 12 or 13. Hey,,you can see my face though, right? And you can see the disgust wrote all over it, right? Not a Happy camper!!!
One more pic,,,

Hey,,its me and my Mom,,and guess where we were? You got it,,in Florida,,he he!!! Now were we looking hot or what? Me, Mom , and my Aunt Addie went to Panama City, Fla back in 1994. We rented a beautiful condo right on the gulf. We had a great time, just us girls. It did rain a lot during that week but we just played cards, had boil shrimp, and played cards when it rained. Ahhhhh,,that was a fun time.
Well thanks for letting me show some more pics,,Its just fun to do because it takes you back and you can remember it just like you were there. Sweet Nostalgia!!

Photo Challenge

Today I am doing a photo challenge that my dear blogger friend Vicci posted on her blog. The photo had to be at least 20 years old. Well this is 32 years ago when I was 13 years old.
My family always went to Florida every summer for vacation. That was the only place we ever went. My father loved Florida and so did my Mom. So naturally my brothers and I Loved it too! My parents worked hard all year long and saved their money for our week long trip to the wonderful beach. We would alternate between the Atlantic side of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. This picture was made in St. Petersburg, Florida, which is on the Gulf. The Gulf side has the most beautiful sunsets. We would get up early every morning and walk the beach looking for shells. Go back to our room and have a wonderful breakfast. We always got rooms that had kitchenettes in them. After breakfast we were on the beach or in the swimming pool all day long. I can remember my Dad and I would get on our floats and go out a ways in the ocean and just float along and talk and just have fun. Mom wasn't a swimmer. By the time I was 13 I was the only one going with Mom and Dad as my brothers were married and had familys of their on. Sometimes they would bring their familys and come with us to Florida.
After having fun on the beach all day we would go in around 4 and clean up and then head out to wonderful seafood restaurants to eat. Then maybe go buy a few souvenirs. Then come back to the motel in time to go down to the beach and watch the sunset. My father was also a big camera buff so he always took alot of pictures. This is one of my favorites that he took of me.
Oh how I wish I still had that body now,,lol. But most of all I wish I had my dad around to go to the beach with and have a wonderful summer vacation!!!