A Cat’s Life

Some how I don’t think this would count as “ push-ups” as described by the vet as part of the lose weight and exercise more new life style.  Tramp could care less!

Greetings

Merry Christmas!

May all of your

gifts be ones

that  bring you

happiness.

Love,

Amelia

A Christmas Beauty

The other day while

wondering thru Atwood's – a local

feed-seed  hardware type store –I found

some Amaryllis bulbs on sale for $2.50 each.

I selected a couple of them that looked like

they would bloom by Christmas.

This is the one I put in my sewing

room. The other one is located in

the computer room.

I don’t know if you can tell

but there are four huge blossoms

on this one stem. Looks like

another stem will come forth later

on.

This show the four blossoms much

better.

 

Isn’t this absolutely beautiful…

 

The plant here in the computer room is also

the same color. It has two stems and

looks like one stem will have four flowers.

The other one – at least as this point in time- will

have three flowers.

After the blooming period I will store them in the

well house for the winter. Spring time, I will

plant in the ground in one of the flower

gardens…perhaps, they will bloom again

this  next summer. But, if they don’t,  they will the

next year.

Amelia

Christmas Decorations 2011

These pictures shows some of the decorating around here…some of the arrangements have been “tweaked” since the picture was shot.

 

Merry Christmas – May God Bless  you in many ways.

 

 

Amelia

Paper Piecing

Reading this title  you will probably think I am referring to a quilting term.

 

The words “paper piecing” can be applied to quilting – but today I am using it in another aspect.

In addition to quilting I enjoy scrapbooking – and have now ventured off in to the making of greeting cards. As with any hobby, the expense can go on and on as you want new items. The amount of money I have spent on cartridges for the Cricut machine is a fair chunk of change…even with getting them on sale. Often, it turns out there are only a couple or so of the images that I will want to use. On that note, perhaps my mind can not come up with an idea that uses them.

 

I said all that to say this…I have come across paper piecing…patterns are available from several sources on the web. A few I have made copies and filed away for future reference. Some I have used  - and others I have made up on my own…or modified the ones I found.

 

If you don’t know what paper piecing is – well, it is specially cut pieces of paper and stacked in a particular order to achieve the desired item. Some things I cut out with scissors and others I use my paper punches. Let me show you what I mean…Using the largest circle punch I cut the green for the rind…next size punch cut the white, and then using a smaller punch cut the red. Then cut these circles almost in half…stacked them in order to  get this watermelon. For the black seeds I have a cat’s paw punch…using the toes to get the oval shapes which then became the seeds.  This picture makes it look large – but actually it is about 3 inches across and 2 inches from top to bottom. This is one of the items I plan on using for the 4th of July scrapbooking pages.

 

We had a cook out celebrating Independence Day…hot dogs and hamburgers wore top billing. I found a very plain hamburger pattern…so just enhanced it some. The hot dog was my own pattern…granted it was a simple one. On the hamburger used the largest circle punch I have…cut 1/4 of it off for the bottom of the bun…then cut a straight line across…like the bottom side of a bun. For the top of bun, took the 3/4ths circle – rounded it a bit. The veggies and meat were just strips of paper cut with my fancy cutting scissors. Pickles and onions were created using the circle punches. Sesame seeds were made by using the cat’s paw again.

With all the hot weather ice cream came to mind…so created this one….  and this one. I will be using these on birthday cards.

 

This owl was probably the most fun to create…some paper cutting with scissors…but also used the punches in various ways. Mr. Owl will be one I plan on using for both get well and birthday cards.

 

I used various folders on the Cuttlebug machine to give the embossed surface..this adds still another dimension to the item.

 

I enjoy making the cards…and am getting better. If the recipient wants to keep the card…fine…if not throw it away. I had the fun of creating it.

 

 

This is sort of like “playing paper dolls” we enjoyed during our kid years….well this kid is older but I still enjoy playing with paper and scissors.

 

Ya’ll take care . . . nap time here for me.

 

♥Amelia♥

Answered Prayer

We know that God does answer

our prayers.

We have been praying for rain – and today

it happened.  We got over one

inch of that wonderful wet moisture.

The temps are still going to be

over 100 according to the

predictions of the

weathermen.

Just thought I would share the

news of the rain with

you.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Staying cool

has been the foremost thought

in my mind for several weeks now.

 

With the thermometer being

over 100 for many, many days

in a row…my desire to do

much of anything has gone away.

 

We are watering our garden,

and flowers. We planted seed

for a new lawn in the very front

this spring – so watering it also.

Otherwise, everything would be

dead and brown.

 

Even with it being cool in

the house, I am not really in

the mood to do much of anything.

Oh, yes, I still cook, do laundry, clean house…those

type of mundane jobs. Did a bit of decorating

for the 4th of July…but it came down before I got any

pictures to post.

 

One thing we have done is host three parties.

Outdoor ones, evening time…with a breeze blowing the

deck is tolerable with good food and excellent conversation.

The first two were church related. First one, was the men’s group

invited  their wife and children for a cookout. Normally, the men meet

for a breakfast at the church. Second one,

was a Sunday School Class get together.

Third one was  family and friends

celebrating the 4th.  Average attendance

was about 30 to 35.

 

This past week Grandson Max stayed with us.

Being seven years old means talk and motion

constantly…just wears us out. Also, with

the heat he could not go outside much – which

disappointed him as that cut down on the fishing and bike riding.

 

With the heat being so hot, we have not had any rain

to speak of in months…ponds are drying up. The ranchers

are having to feed their cattle now in the summer months.

The grass for the hay is not growing much because of the

heat and drought…so bales of hay will be expensive

this fall.

 

I know – yes, say it – I have moaned and groaned through

out this posting…but wanted you to know what was happening

here to us (me).

 

Love ya,

 

Amelia