Pile of Postcards and a New Crafty Pursuit

Hi Hi!
Just want to post an update of how my pile is growing for Sian's Pile of Postcards Swap. It's been fun indeed going out to the postbox and pulling out a card from a new friend! Four postcards so far (two from Tennessee :) - thanks Barbara!) and I feel like three new "penpals!" I rather regret not putting my blog and/or email address on the six cards I sent out like these gals did for me but, oh well! I've communicated with these three and bookmarked their blogs as favorites just because I can . . . haha!

[Postman left yet another postcard in the box - hurray! Thanks to Julia for adding to the pile!]

 

Two from the UK and as mentioned above, two from Tennessee. Ooh! I think I want to go to the Loveless Cafe just to gaze at the walls! Of course, the food has appeal too - hehe! Of course, I've always wanted to visit the UK; closest I've been was a layover at Shannon Airport, Ireland on the return flight from a Mediterranean cruise back in 2008. Anyhow, thanks to Sian for organizing this swap! 

Last Wednesday, the 23rd, my friend and I went into a Stampin'Up! Blendabilities class put on by our demonstrator extraordinaire, Wendy Knowles. Ah, yes, another crafty pursuit to add to the long list! These new pens by SU are right up my alley since they are all matched up in sets of three. I tried Copics but found them a bit too labor intensive for my particular abilities and artistic ambitions. Here's a peek at what I've played with so far. Wendy stamped out the blooms and butterfly for us and then we played with the markers. 

I'm looking forward to doing some more playing with other images. Has anyone else tried these? And what do you like/dislike about them?

Getting ready to compile my month in numbers; July was a full one and I'm pretty certain that there are a few number stories to tell.

Bye, bye!

Mid-August Ramblings

Hello, hello!
Already mid August and the ordinary days are whizzing by! haha! I can't even remember how August began but I do know that taking photographs sure helps keep me on track; I should take a photo-a-day (or more) in order to document this passing of time . . .
Last week, Wednesday the 7th, Grampa Clarence drove off with son Doug, grandsons Tee, Ty, and Johnathon, Tip the dog, three of the mules, five of the horses, and a bunch of camp gear for a four day pack and camp trip on the North Slope of the High Uintahs.

The Hillsboro stock trailer looks pretty beat up but makes a good "ranchy" backdrop for Doug, Tee, Johnathon, Ty, and Grampa Clarence. Three mules and two horses are in this trailer; the other three horses in the small trailer that Doug pulled with his truck.

   They lost phone signal at about 2 p.m. (MDT) that day and were out of contact until Sunday the 11th at about 1 p.m. (MDT). We're talkin' OUT IN THE WOODS here! They set up camp at the China Meadows trailhead.

Thursday they packed mounted up and made a 28 mile trip up to Lower Red Castle Lake; it started to rain pretty hard at the upper bridge just before the lake, so they didn't attempt going to Upper Red Castle. Doug snapped this really great picture of Clare with the three grandsons and Red Castle in the background.

Johnathon on Ranger, Rooster the red mule, Clare on Willie, Tee (kind of grumpy!) on Dolly, Wilbur the mule with his nose in the grass, and Ty on Hollywood

Friday and Saturday were spent fishing two different locations and then Sunday the broke camp and journeyed home. Although Clare caught a bug and had a sore throat and headache most of the trip, it was a memorable time for everyone.

While they were gone I did anything I wanted! Which was . . . Wednesday I cleaned house and went and had a pedicure; Thursday morning I went and picked up my friend Heather and a couple bags of her crafty stuff and we spent the next two days doing a card-making marathon! Whoa! It was pretty darn fun for us both. I'll compile a slide show (or something) of the creations we came up with but here are three cards I made which went in the mail already:

2nd Anniversary card for my granddaughter and her husband. Modified a Mason jar Silhouette cut file to a print and cut. Papers from Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic.

This jar was stamped on vellum using the SU Perfectly Preserved set and diecut. Modified flowers and stems from a Kerri Bradford freebie cut file. Papers from Doodlebug Flower Box 6x6 pad.

Birthday card for my son using AdornIt Nested Owls papers. Medallion and happy birthday banner from SU Blue Ribbon and Itty Bitty Banners stamp sets.

After Heather left I hadn't had enough and went a little berserk with the AdornIt Nesting Owls paper I had left over (had the coral collection too) and ended up with six cards! Had a card-making mojo going! Now if I could find my scrapping mojo!

Since Sunday the 11th there's been a very bad fire over in Skull Valley which has caused some very gloomy days in our valley. Last night there was a rain of ashes giving everything a dusting of greyish white. Hoping that it can be contained soon.

Instagram photos of the smoky sunset.

Going to Oakley this Friday and Saturday for grandsons Ty's and Tee's first Fall High School Rodeo. Grampa will be hazing for their steer wrestling runs. Fingers crossed!

Nighty night!