Cows and Knees?

OK, first the good stuff!! I'm working on another ATC swap that uses the $1 stamps from Michael's! I've had this COW stamp forever and have never really used it! This became the perfect project!! I just love how it all came together! The pattern paper is by Chatterbox and was perfect! I used raffia for the bow, some eyelets (not my favorite but looked good) and a prima flower! Just 10 more to finish and I'm done!!! I still have several weeks to go, so I'm ahead of the game (for once)!

Now for the reality stuff... my knee! On Monday I saw the doctor. He said the ACL was also damaged and asked if I wanted to repair that at the same time. Wow, what a decision to make immediately. Not only are there 2 different procedures, the ACL surgery is more invasive and recovery is much slower. Then to complicate matters more, I found out I needed a medical release from my cardiologist to go ahead with the surgery (scheduled for today)! I called that doctor and thankfully got an appointment for Tuesday. In the meantime, the doctor did one more test and we talked it over some more. The ACL may not be as bad as the MRI images show. The doctor has been authorized to look at it while he repairs my meniscus and if it is worse than thought, fix it. So, I got the clearance from the cardiologist yesterday and I'm set for surgery this afternoon. The scary part is I don't know when I go under if I'll have just the meniscus repaired or the ACL too. Will I have 6 weeks of recovery or 6 months? I know I don't want to go through this twice, so whatever the outcome, I'm expecting it to solve all my problems!! I have mountains to climb and hills to ski!!!

So as I head under the knife, please say a few prayers and well wishes for me!! I hope to be back online by the weekend!!!

Another low key weekend

On Saturday we slept in and pretty much just laid around the house most of the day! This time of year is quiet for us! Ski season is over and it's too snowy, muddy, wet to do any hiking in the high country! The weather was pretty cold, VERY windy and not very inviting to go outside, so we did our required errands and came back in! I spent the rest of the day trying to get motivated on a card or two with little success! I just can't seem to get creative these days.

Today we have cleaned up the house and prepped dinner for some company coming later. My old boss Judy and her husband are joining us for some homemade egg rolls! It should be really fun to see her! I miss working with her a lot and keep kicking myself for not paying more attention to her when she had an opening in her new company a few months ago. I guess I learned a hard lesson!! Maybe someday down the road we will work together again! Anyway, the company should be great!

Just 3 days until my operation! I still don't have most of the details but I will be seeing the doctor tomorrow and plan to know everything before I leave his office! I think my knee knows it's going in for repair because it's bothering me more this weekend than usual! I'm not sure I'm ready for the recovery period, but I am looking forward to a day when I don't have trouble with it!!! Hope that's possible!

Here are the ATC's from the MFT swap. I used the Build a Bouquet set to make these. I liked playing with the set, but did not like having to draw my own stems - I don't like the way they turned out. But as Toni reminded me, you don't always have to be perfect! (Ah, yes I do!)

Have a great week everyone!

Ouch! I've been tagged!

I was tagged by Toni :) And I'm tagging Patti, Lisa and Linda. Have fun!

1. Last music you listened to - "American Idiot" by Green Day
2. Last thing you watched on TV - "Trading Spaces"
3. Last movie seen - "Sweet Home Alabama" on TV
4. Last book you read - book on London
5. Last person you spoke to - my husband asking what he wanted for lunch
6. Last thing you ate - trail mix
7. Last time you laughed - yesterday reading a computer joke
8. Last place you visited - London, England
9. Last web site you visited - Toni and Linda's blogs
10. Last thing you crafted/created - a birthday card for a friend

Circuits down...

I'm working from home today or at least attempting to! I was on the company website this morning working and in the middle of a conference call meeting, my Internet went down. Well sort of. It seems I can get to some sites, like my blog!!! And the IRS website (where I'm doing research) but not into my companies website! The Internet provider says they have a circuit down and don't know when it will be fixed. Drats! :) Like I really wanted to work anyway! It's going to be 82 today!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some of the ATC's that I did for a swap called "Where You At?". You could make cards about where you live or a place you've been. Since I was in London while we were working on the swap, I liked that idea! I used a London Underground (Tube) map and cut it up. Then I stamped and punched out the letters to spell London. The Underground sign was a sticker that I bought and copied, since I didn't have 12 of them! (The set I did buy cost over $6 US! Yikes!) I used white ink and marker to complete the back of the card since the base was black. I think they are very simple but very nice! It will be interesting to see what others I get back.

I have one more set to finish by the end of the month and that is the Build a Bouquet from MFT. I have done a few examples but are not completely satisfied with a design yet. Hopefully I'll make my mind up tonight and get them started and maybe finished??!!

Back to work!!! Have an awesome Wednesday!

When I was a kid...

Today's blog challenge on 2 Peas is "how is life different for your children than when you were growing up?". Thanks to Toni and 2 Peas, I get to reminisce a little today...

When I was a kid, we used punch cards in computer class... today they write programs right on the PC without those silly cards!

When I was a kid, we used an electric fan inside our car window to cool us down as we drove across Kansas... today we just blast the AC!

When I was a kid, we rode in the back of the station wagon with no seat belts on... today that would be a ticket waiting to happen!

When I was a kid, we walked a mile to school in the rain or snow... today the kids all get rides from Mommy or Daddy!

When I was a kid, I rode a bicycle with no speeds and granny handlebars... today the kids have 10-18-??? speeds on their bikes and the coolest handle bars!

When I was a kid, the only cartoons were on Saturday morning until noon... today you can find them on MULTIPLE channels, ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT long!

When I was a kid, couples on TV shows slept in twin beds... today, they have sex right in my living room!

When I was a kid, you boiled hot dogs in a pot on the stove... today we just nuke them for 45 seconds!

When I was a kid, if you wanted to dry your hair, you hooked up the big portable dryer and sat underneath it for an hour... today you just use the blow dryer and are set in less than 5!

And when I was a kid, you ALWAYS played outside... today they never go out unless they're forced to.

Do I miss those days, you betcha! Nothing better than growing up in the 70's! But then again, I'm sure kids today will be saying the same thing when they have kids of their own!!!

As beautiful as the day...

This card is so bright and sunny, just like today! It's is springtime (happily) here today - in the 70's, sunny and nice! The only drawback is the high winds (well and lack of green trees and grass)!

I've been having a little fun with this flower punch I bought a few weeks ago. I have used it on several cards already, but this is one of my favorites. I punched right through the card in the bottom corner and adhered the patter flower on the inside of the card! That is working outside "the box" for me!!! I love the look! I sent this one to my great friend Toni for her wonderful birthday gift!

I took my birthday money today and went shopping at Kohl's! I bought a few skirts, a jacket and a few tops! Oh and a comfy pair of summer sandals! It was fun to go and try things on although most of the styles look awful on me! But I tried them to make sure, instead of just shrugging them off at the rack! It's always nice to have a few new things in the closet!

I have 2 ATC swaps that I need to finish by the end of this week and mail. They are both due around the first of the month. I'm having a HUGE problem with the "Where are you at?" one. I can't decide between Colorado and London (it does not have to be where you live) because I can't find the right embellishments for either place. It would be fine if I only needed a couple, but I have to make a minimum of 9. Ugh! I'm sure it will come together in the end. I'll post pictures when I finally figure it out!!

Hope everyone else is enjoying their weekend!!!

And the MRI results are...

Well I got a call on Tuesday from my doctor with the results of my MRI. I have a clean tear in the meniscus and it will not heal on its own. The best solution is surgery. I have done a bit of investigation and have confirmed that that is the answer. Thankfully it is not very invasive and the recovery is fairly quick.. healed in about 6 weeks! So I have made my "reservations" and get operated on at the end of the month! It was either that or wait until mid-June and miss my whole summer! This will be perfect - with any luck I won't miss anything, starting with our trip to Moab over Memorial Weekend and our first mountain climb scheduled for May 31st! I'll consider it therapy!!!

We had yet another snow storem this week! Thankfully once again I lucked out and worked from home on those days! How I have lucked out this year with easy commutes!! We got about 6 inches on the grass, and just wet on the pavement. By Thursday afternoon almost everything was gone and today, you'd never know it even snowed!! On Saturday it's suppose to be 78! Yahoo!!! Love Colorado weather!

A week in review...

Wow, it's been almost a week since I last blogged? Gee, how time flies!

I guess I've been kind of down these past few days, so I haven't written anything. Turning 42 for some reason has made me sad. I started to write an entry on my birthday, but couldn't find any happy words, so I erased it. It was snowing and I was working from home, so I guess I was kind of lonely. The combination of that really got me down. The ice cream from Cold Stone perked me up a little bit though!

On Friday I went and had the MRI on my knee. No results yet, it will take a few more days. They think it might be a torn meniscus. It doesn't hurt too much but I would like it healed so I can move on with my activities and not be in pain. I mean c'mon I have mountains to climb this summer! I told the doctor that and he laughed!

I did get to spend my Saturday shopping with a long stop at Archiver's - thanks to 2 very good friends who gave me gift cards!! Thanks Marlene and Moira! I didn't even spend it all, so I have a chance to go back!! (No, that doesn't make Dan happy!) I bought some basic supplies, including another scalloped oval punch to add to my collection! (I blame Toni for that collection!)

On Sunday I got a great gift from Toni - a 3 month subscription to Self Addressed, a Kit of the Month club! I can't wait to get the first one - it looks so cool!!! You rock Toni! Speaking of Ms. Toni, you should check out her blog today... she's got blog candy to give away!!! Maybe someone I know will get luckier than I do! And that leads me back to Monday where I got to spend lunch with Toni (and her wonderful kids)!!

Oh, back to Sunday - it was so beautiful here that we took a nice bike ride around the area! After the ride, we met the family at Three Margarita's for a birthday dinner! And then more Cold Stone ice cream for birthday cake! And I gave this card to my FIL since his birthday was 3 weeks ago and we missed it because we were in London.

So after a few days being 42, I'm alright with it now and ready to move on! Happy times are back!!

Send Sun!!!

That was the theme of this ATC swap I joined a few weeks ago! The host is located back East and was dreading the continued cold, snowy days! She asked us to create a cheery, bright ATC that depicted Sun or Summer! This was my take on the theme.

It's funny how several weeks into Spring we are still experiencing cold and snow! The Front Range is expected to receive yet another snowstorm staring tomorrow! Maybe as much as a foot they say! Well since April is considered the 3rd snowiest month, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised, but when we've had days in the 70's already, it does seem a bit "old"! Everyone I know is ready for the nice warm (consistent) temperatures with RAIN not SNOW!!!

I had both good and bad news today. First the good. My dear friend from HS (Kathy) emailed me to tell she is not only married, she's adopting AND she is pregnant! I didn't realize how long it's been since we last talked!! I thought I had seen her last year, but apparently it must have been 2006 since she's been married since then! It was a really nice surprise and I wish her all the luck! 2 kids at 41 will be a challenge, but as a flight for life nurse, I know she is well up to it! The sad news came from another friend, Patti who lost her father today. We do not know any of the details yet, but my prayers and thoughts go out to her as she finds her way home to Michigan from Florida and is comforted by her family. Her motto is LIFE and I hope that she can gain strength from it as she struggles through these next few days.

Live Life... you never know when it will be gone.

Beautiful Sunday!

It was an absolutely beautiful Sunday here in the Rockies with temperatures right around 60 and lots of sunshine! We planned a great hike up Carpenter Peak in Roxborough Park today with our dear friend Moira and several friends from Golder - Melanie, Luis and Mariel.

Luis and Mariel live just a mile down the road and have never been into Roxborough Park so this was a real treat right in their backyard! Melanie is here from Brisbane, Australia working for the next 1-2 years! She has only been in Denver for 5 weeks and did fantastic with the altitude! It was so fun to talk about Australia as we approach our 1 year since being there!

The hike went rather well with us summiting the peak in about 1.5 hours (about 3 miles up)! There were a few spots where we had to navigate snow on the trail, but we all did it like pros! We had a wonderful picnic lunch on the top, took a few photos and gazed at Denver and the surrounding area below us! Then it was a quick 1 hour down the Peak and back to the red rocks at Roxborough! Another great Sunday hike in the Rockies!! Boy I love it here!

Sorry I'm late...

That seems to be a reoccurring theme with birthday cards being sent out by me! So to combat that, I've made up a few I can use in the future (beginning with my friend Susan who's Birthday is this weekend!)

I decided to try out my TCP stamps, which needed no additional coloring!!! (I like that!) I did one with very bright colors, one with more muted colors and one in black and white. Now I'm taking comments to see which one you like the best!! Interestingly enough, my daughter liked the ones with color and my husband (and I) both liked the b&w! Now all I need to do is find more sentiments that with you a "belated" birthday and I'll be all set!!!

Hardware ATC

I joined an ATC swap that was inspired by the Hardware store! Since I had recently done a CJ spread about inspiration from a Hardware store, I thought I'd keep on that roll! I took a trip to Home Depot last Saturday with Dan and walked through the aisles inspecting my possibilities and then came home to "shop" in my husbands garage of tools! (Way cheaper!) This is what I came up with!!!

Blue paper is Basic Gray... Grid is screen held on my wire... measuring tape is ribbon... one big silver washer... and a MFT stamp says it all! It is very industrial I think!

They are very heavy and I had a hard time getting some of them into the ATC holders, but I think they turned out great! Want to see more ideas with Hardware? Check out Toni's entries! I was smart too - I asked the hostess not to put us in the same group - see we make one extra for each other anyway!!

We had a little bit of snow tonight but it doesn't look like it's going to be much. They had promised 2-3" today but all we got was a little bit of rain this morning, sunshine this afternoon and the big flakes this evening! I'm going to change careers and be a weatherman - they never have to be right to keep their jobs!!