The Sale is in Process!

But not what you think....LOL....I am the buyer of the other side of my duplex!!! Yep, you heard me right!! I will not be selling my side and moving back to Georgia (not right now anyhow)!  After speaking with my CPA and a few others...right now is not the time for me to be making any major financial decisions as big as moving. ($6k to move my furniture-storage until I get settled-buying something else-etc) so I asked about me buying it and renting it out....that makes more sense as I have lots of equity in my side (the place has been paid off since 2010) and I get a tax break and extra money to pay not only the refinance loan, but the taxes and the insurance for both sides (and the homesteading and freezing of taxes for seniors to boot)! Plus, when I do decide in a couple of years to move....I will have the whole price of the place or rent from both sides! That makes more financial sense for my future. OK...win-win here, but the emotional turmoil has really been a roller coaster ride. The contract is signed and executed (not giving them a chance to change their minds) and the first meeting is Tuesday at noon and all should go off without a hitch (fingers crossed here) and closing in 30 days! Say a prayer that all goes well.  I am busy this weekend pulling together a long list of things I need for the meeting.  Most all I have together, but for the life of me....I cannot find my SS card. I have looked everywhere it could be....so, gotta get off here and look some more or again...LOL!
Hope all of you have a fantastic weekend and make lots and lots and lots of memories to share. I am glad it is to be such a HOT one so I will stay inside and get this done, plus the races are at Bristol tonight and the preseason Cowboy game is too...one will be taped to watch later! ROFL!!  Oh well, I did sneak in a couple of scraps that I put on FB (not been able to be on my computer very much with all these meetings and papers to fill out)!  Chat more with y'all next time! Hugs, Mat

This was for mama's birthday that was on the 18th! The page is one from Arlene using With A Russian Dutch Heart kit.  Both ladies do awesome work.

This was for Throwback Thursday. It's from my trip to Hawaii in 1999, my friend Sandi was there at the same time, we met on the beach, had a blast! My friend Mary went over with me. This was taken at the Hale Koa hotel. The page and cluster is also by Arlene, but from her own BabyBear site,

This QP by Janet from PixelScrappers and Alpha from C4M Monograms holds a scan of a Polaroid snapshot of my mother's first trip to Texas in 1970. Her niece Nancy made the trip with her along with my brother Pepper and sister Penny. We did a day trip to Mexico for mama to buy a leather purse. We all laughed until we hurt on that trip, so I used this for Flashback Friday on Facebook yesterday!
Thanks to all the designers that so generously supply us with their gorgeous freebies!! :)

 Page border and a page overlay in 300 dpi png format I created.

Both of these are freebies I offer at Miriam's Scraps if you are interested in them! Click on her name and it with take you there!

Stressed??????

Man the joy of trying to sell a duplex that you co-own with another couple that do not live in the same state you do!  That alone will stress you out, right, but when it finally gets listed on MLS (took 4 months to get this done), the couple decide to go to SWITZERLAND for a month and be TOTALLY incommunicado with anyone here! The offers are coming in (vastly different too) but cannot make any decisions until they return to the states (and the decisions have to be all or none).  I am going to get a haircut today, so as not to pull it out by the roots!!  ROFLMAO~~~~~it really isn't quite that bad, but as usual....I am having to take care of all the details....AGAIN!! (This was a very hard lesson learned to NEVER EVER purchase anything with friends)

OK, enough about that for now, but it does explain why I haven't blogged much lately, nor have I been able to scrap or create much. I am now taking a little time to do just that. I snitched some photos off Facebook of the great nieces and nephews and did these few pages but they took me all week to do them as we have been having electricity "brown outs" that has created some problems with my computer shutting down in the midst of creating them and having to start over.  Good thing I am a patient person....LMBO!
OK, enough belly aching....here are the ones I've completed so far....

My lovely niece Sebrina had to return to teaching duties this week and got a new shorter hairdo and posted it so I decided to make a page using Kyra's background, a cluster by Irene at Raspberry Road and the wordart is by Ginger.

Cutie patooties Ruby and Jade started back to school this week, Ruby is in Kindergarten and snaggle-tooth  Jade starts 2nd grade.  Chris made photos while waiting for the school bus and I put them in a cute frame from Just So Scrappy called School Rules on a background freebie by Oklahoma Dawn. 

And poor "Bud" had to stay home but he wanted to go with his sisters so badly, poor baby had real tears that almost did mama in.  So I put him in this cute frame from Neli. He will soon realize that he now has his Mommy all to himself, as well as the birds, the cat and all the toys...at least for a few hours each day!

This photo is from May of Calvin's first time on the beach. Daddy is holding him up so he can put his toes in the sand. The kit I used is Kyra's with a cluster by Arlene and sorry I don't have the TOU for the wordart, I have had it for a long time.

Little miss model, Hayden's cute pose in another QP by Linda at Random Thoughts, I just adored the layout and it goes so well with her dress.  She also started kindergarten last week, but I don't have any photos yet!

Mr. Calvin in his float in the pool at the beach, doesn't he look terrific in this QP by Linda? She created this using Kyra's At The Beach kit and is free on her site.

Here's a freebie cluster overlay I created and am offering for free on Miriam's Scraps if you would like, hop on over and download it.

And finally, this is my attempt to follow along with Diane at ADB designs as she offers tips each week on creating an Interactive Journal. She offers questions in order to get you journaling about your family's history thus making it a little easier to start your tree. I think I used a kit from Kyra at With a Russian Dutch Heart to create this first page....I am a few behind, but I am hoping to catch up soon.
Guess I better get the trash out and ready for pick up, get my shower and dressed and off to the Salon for my haircut. Got all my babies fed, the bed is made, ran the vacuum and cleaned litter boxes before I sat down in this chair! I will chat with y'all a little more later. Will try catching up with my blog reading when I return home. Make lots of memories to share today! Hugs, Mat

Nice End to July in Texas!!

The day after the hottest this year, 103 officially-108 unofficially, we had a front slip through again and we have had 3 glorious days of high 80's and now are looking at low 80's for the rest of the week.  YIPPEE!! This is normally the hottest time of triple digits for us, so this break along with a few scattered showers is such a nice reprieve.  You can actually go outside without losing your breath. I'm not complaining at all about this second breather during summer! So nice to sit on the portico and watch the birds and squirrels again.

I've been in a reading mood or some kind of funk lately, not wanting to scrap or even be on the computer, but think I am now out of that and back to scrapping and attempting to catch up...LOL! I got a few photos from Margaret and even some from Christina (that I am working on now) so here are a few pages I made last week.

For my sister, Kathy I used a photo of Jason and the kids ready for a karate course....they were in Springfield, MO for a tournament of some sort when Chris snapped them in the hotel hallway! Jade and Ruby both take classes and I am sure Jayson will as soon as he is a little bit older.  Aren't they adorable in Raspberry Road Designs cluster by Ellen and paper and word by Susan from her kit Wanderlust.

Miss Hayden wanting to put her toes in the sand...I used a QP by Linda at Random Thoughts

This is sweet, squishy, cutie pie Calvin.  I don't remember whose cluster this is, it is a very old one I got!

Here's a gorgeous photo that was taken of Hayden and Calvin at the beach at Panama City, FL.  Isn't it just a beautiful photo?  The QP if from Marijja at Fecnikek and the word art is from Donna at Donna's Digital Creations

This is also a freebie QP from Linda of Penny's 3 grand kids Hayden, Calvin & Annabeth.
And for Papa I did this page of Hayden to look as if she is looking at her own reflection...the frame is by Neli at Lugar Encantado da Neli

That's all for now, I did manage a QP to put up for grabs at Miriam's Scraps if you want it.

Well, got to get up from here, have a cake in the oven and I need to get out of this gown, I have a house to go clean this afternoon so will stop for now, chat more with all of you a little later.  Have a fantastic hump day and make lots and lots of memories to share.  Hugs, Mat


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It's been a while.....

Sorry it has been awhile since I have posted anything.  I think I have been a little depressed since losing Tommy, but have finally come to grips with it! I know I gave him a good life even if it was a short one!

We are deep in the throes of triple digit TEXAS summer heat....LOL! Yep, finally the 100 degrees was officially hit yesterday, but....we have had a week of triple digits unofficially and with lots and lots of horrible humidity. The air has been so thick it is almost impossible to breath. I had forgotten I had asthma, because I haven't had any problems with it in several years since removing cigarette smoke from my environment, but this weather has caused some congestion to creep back in....soooooooo....this cookie is staying inside in the AC as much as she can! (ROFLMAO...as if I need an excuse!)  Surely have done a lot of catching up on my reading, napping, movies and TV shows I had taped up! Such is the life....RIGHT?  Sometimes, ya just gotta do what you gotta do!  BUT....if the weather casts are anywhere near correct (???) we are to experience a cold front starting tomorrow that is to drop temperatures by 20 degrees by Thursday!!! Hip, Hip, Hooray!! Best of all, it is supposed to bring us some very much needed rain too!  If that all proves to be true...I will be out dancing in the rain puddles!!  LOL!

My hibiscus surely has shown off this year with blooms.  It has new blooms daily, from 1-8 each day and they are so big and brilliant in color.  The wind has blown so much I have to keep rotating the pot as it is causing the whole plant to lean, I finally tied it to a shepard's hook last evening to give it some stability. I have had to water the plants each evening as they are so thirsty from the heat and winds. Here's a couple of shots of the flowers from day before yesterday! I am surprised at how lovely they are each day! This is the first year I have seen a hummingbird...it loves the hibiscus so I hung a feeder for it just above the plant under the shade of the overhang and it visits daily. I am hoping to have my camera and get a photo, but they are so fast and I can't shoot through the windows as I have full screens and it has just been too hot to sit out front and wait and not scare it away!

Okay, time to get my behind out of this chair and get some things done...I have to move before I get so stiff I can't...LOL! Y'all have a great week ahead and keep on making all those memories to share! Chat more with you later! Blessings sent to all of you! Hugs, Mat

Goodbye My "Little Man"

Today I am so sad and heartbroken as I said goodbye to my "little man" Tommy.  His kidney failure was just too big an obstacle to overcome. He gave it a valiant try, but he just couldn't quite make it. He died in my arms knowing he was truly loved for the short period of time he was allowed to be here. He chose me as his caretaker and I loved him dearly. He brought me lots of love and joy in this past year. I will always love you my "little man". Rest In Peace and run and play with "Butch" while you wait for me and the "girls"!

Busy Weekend!

My little Tommy started getting sick on Wednesday, didn't look much better on Thursday and when Friday got here, he was very lethargic and listless, would not eat or drink so...off to the vet we went. His first time in a carrier since he was fixed in February and he didn't even cry. After 2 hours, and blood tests and $327 we were told he is severely dehydrated and in kidney failure.  I had 2 options, leave him at hospital for 2 days of IVs at $125 a day or take him home and do the Sub Q hydration, with no guarantees, but sometimes it can reverse.  Needless to say, I've had a very busy weekend of loving, coaxing to eat and a neighbor that helped with the hydration and giving him an antibiotic tablet each morning....! I am just heartbroken and so sad for him...he is down to 5 pounds. He turns a year old this month and has had no problems.  He has not been vomiting nor had diarrhea so cannot understand the dehydration.  He finally threw up on Saturday evening. After the treatment last evening....he is on an eating binge and is visiting the litter box again...not real perky yet...but so much better than the limp dishrag he was over the weekend. The "girls" are all checking on him quite often!  I hope this means he is taking a turn for getting the kidney functions back, but I am still guarded on that...Dr. M told me to bring him back for a recheck tomorrow. He actually was up and waiting to eat this morning and is now sleeping peacefully.  I guess prayers, sheer will and lots of TLC does work. Other than that, I had a rather quiet and peaceful weekend. I hope all of you had a marvelous Father's day weekend with lots of family and friends to celebrate with so you could make/share lots and lots of memories. Here is photo of Tommy I made on Tuesday when he was feeling okay. He wanted me to hold him...lol....no he is not spoiled rotten....ROFL!

I did a QP for Dad's on Miriam's Scraps using her It's All Wood kit plus a lacy border or lacy border with frames if you would like them.

Chat more with y'all later...my injuries are healing nicely, but still not sitting or standing on the leg for more than an hour at a time.  Thanks for dropping by and leaving such nice comments, I love reading all of them. Y'all have a great week ahead. Hugs, Mat

Hello My Friends!

Bet ya been wondering if I dropped off the face of the earth, huh? Nope, just been a bit hampered since that fall I took on the 25th of May.  It seems I created some internal bleeding in my titanium knee that took a week to decide to flow in little tracks down the leg (inside and outer side) to pool in my foot making it swell and turn all pretty and psychedelic in colors. Of course, this would happen on a Friday when my doctor's office was closed and I did not want to go to an Emergency Room.  After all, it did not hurt, it was just that my ankle looked ready to burst...so....off the foot and propped up for most of the weekend.  Take a look!

 Inside of my knee

Inside the ankle

Outside the ankle

My right hand
You really cannot see the little trails of blue bruises all the way down the leg, but it was really pretty and still is, but in the darkening and ugly shades of yellow and green now....LOL!  Anyhow, that is the Friday my friend Kaye was coming from west Texas to spend the night. We had not seen each other in about 18 months and were really looking forward to a girls' catch up gab session. (Probably cleaning the house of dust bunnies, making a couple of chicken pot pies etc started the flow down my leg...LOL).  Kaye arrived around 4:30 in the afternoon and we talked until after 10p.m. before going to bed. The "cats" were nice enough to share the bed with this stranger, but kept checking of us all during the night (especially the new little man)..LOL...they are definitely not used to anyone in the bed but them and me...ROFLMAO!!!  Next morning we shared a great breakfast and a pot of coffee before she headed on to east Texas for a "family/cousin" reunion in Tyler. However, I did manage to capture a photo of her with my cell phone and I decided to put her in one of Miss Linda's gorgeous QPs made with one of the free kits by Kyra....doesn't she look great in it?

I wound up staying off the leg for the rest of Saturday and Sunday mostly (cause I was watching Nascar, etc too) and keeping it elevated, but the swelling just did not want to go away, so first thing Monday morning, I called the Dr, but couldn't see him until 3:00 p.m. He examined my knee and told me the titanium would not break so no need for xrays unless my knee got unstable (and I would know if that happened he assured me) but since there was no heat or pain that he was not worried about phlebitis or a clot, but to elevate, stay off of as much as I could and put warm compresses on it and the blood would be reabsorbed in the body.....in a couple of weeks!  So, being as lazy as I am....I used this excuse to stay off it for a few days....and I got caught up with all the programs I had VCR'd ......LMAO!!! Anyhow, it seems to be doing as Dr. T suggested it would, just seems to me to be taking forever!  But, I can stay on it for longer periods now without it ballooning out on me!
We FINALLY got about an inch of rain yesterday and boy are the plants and my grass  happy for the drink. My hibiscus finally put out some more blooms (boy did it...3 of them in fact) and I just had to snap a photo of how large they were. I put a CD up next to it...the bloom is larger....look at this.....

Sorry, should have turned the last one before I posted it, but this is all 3 of the blooms with about 6 more ready to open in another day or so. All the flowers look really perky this morning....and we are supposed to get a few more showers latter part of the week.  We need a few days of them in the slow soaking in type, but those seem to constantly elude us and fall all around and near.  The good thing is it dropped us to 66F this morning...that is one reason the flowers are so alert too!  To be back into the 90's by Wednesday, but a couple of days of cooler with lower humidity is awesome in June in Texas!!!! We will take it and appreciate it!  ROFL here!
Here's another freebie I created using Miriam's awesome wedding kit 2 that you can find on her blog if you would like it.

The border alone or the QP can be found at Miriam's Scraps
Well, enough rambling...lots more to say, but need to move and I know y'all are tired of reading by now. Chat more next time....have a terrific week of making lots and lots and lots of memories to share! Hugs, Mat