The Drop Off!!!

It is true... next week - I get to meet my client in person for a drop off...

I am finished with her Guatemala Album and since we live fairly close - we are meeting halfway and I will get to see her page through the completed album and watch her enjoy the finished product! I am so excited! She is also bringing with her the next project... an Album of her trip to Italy! Yes... someone is going to pay me to play with real pictures from Italy?! Life is good! If I can't go there myself... at least I can scrapbook someone else's dream vacation! LOL!

One day.... one day!!!

So... I now have some photo's to scrap with...

We went to a concert a couple of weekends ago

and had a blast! My daughter loved it (and so did we!)

We also went Wedding Dress shopping with my niece

and got SEVERAL pictures of her trying on dresses...

and yes - I got 'the shot' of her when she realized

that she was wearing her Wedding Dress!

Nice!!!

I also have some nice shots like these...

Kaye & Chloe were playing with Make-Up and decided to try to trick us...

it only worked on Dan... but they may have a future in Make-Up Artistry!

Of course... Darcie has some other pictures of the girls together

(ones withOUT the black eyes)

and so I am waiting to print my own out...

You all know if I print mine -

I will not have enough discipline to NOT scrap them...

so I must wait until she graciously uploads the other pictures...

Why is it that I am always somehow at her mercy?!

I think it is some sort of voodoo mind trick

that she does?! LOL!

Anyway - I also was hard at work making sets of cards,

paper coasters, and notebooks to match!

(Yes - I love my Spray Adhesive!!!)

I stalked the Michael's Dollar Bin and found some

paper coasters and notebook/journals

and made them to match a set of cards!

Too fun... & they turned out great!

(But I forgot to take a picture?!)

Also I have been searching for Paper Lines that

feature my niece's wedding colors...

Her colors are Black, Ivory/White, Latte, & Pink.

There are LOTS of choices...

I just sent her about 12 links to different lines.

With all the other wedding plans,

I may have just pushed her over the edge?! Oops?!

Although - she makes handmade Journals,

so it may be relaxing & exciting for her

to browse through them all!

So... for me - NEXT week is Spring Break...

who can know what we will end up doing!?

No big plans yet except a trip to the Factory Outlets...

I was feeling a bit guilty about the no plans deal,

then this morning - my daughter proudly told me that

she loves it best when we have 'no plans' because then she can relax

and we can do things spontaneously?!

Maybe I will take Na's lead and make a trip to the State Pen...??!

That would be fun!?

I will remember this time to take some cool Jazz pictures tomorrow night

when my hubby is playing music...

I want to do a page on him & I forgot my camera

the last two places he has had gigs!?

I will pack it today so I don't forget!?

Anyway - that is what I have been doing...

next week I think I will have fun Italy pictures to play with...

so I shouldn't be TOO impatient with Darcie

& her !@&# Kodak "Easy"Share or whatever?!

Scrap On!

~Karri~

Cute Frame... & Pictures to take!

Aaah yes... it is true!

I had fun making this little

"Make-n-Take" Frame

at the Crop I went to last week...

I have mad ea couple of these so far,

but I always used Mod Podge...

on Friday - we used Spray Adhesive.

Oh My!? I am IN LOVE with Spray Adhesive!

Gotta go buy me some of that

immediately!!!

Anyway - the crop was fun...

there were maybe a dozen ladies

by the time we headed out!
(We only stayed a couple of hours!)

I went with a new friend and we agreed

to only bring stuff to do the Make-n-Take!

I had a hot date with my Honey & we just wanted

to check it out and meet the other scrappers!

They were really nice and fun,

& we will plan on being there in May

when they do the next Crop!

Renee had plenty of things to work on,

but - sadly - as you all know - I do not?!

Still - no pictures?!

(Plus that Hot Date...)

BUT - this should be a BANNER Photo Op weekend!

Oh first - let me say - after the Crop on Friday,

I met her hubby (who I went to school with) and their kids,

then rushed home to Dave so we could go see

The Paperboys at The Seasons!

It was a great show!

The day before St Patty's

- so their Celtic sound was very popular!

They were a lot of fun...

Anyway - this weekend...

Yes - Photo Op's GALORE, I tell ya!

First... today - we are off to a concert...

my daughter's first 'real' concert!

We're not talking a fairgrounds show...

or even a concert at a local tiny venue!

We are going to see Stellar Kart,

Kutless, & the Newsboys tonight!

I am hoping they do not

confiscate my digital camera!?

Then, we are on to visit friends

(although I doubt I will take pictures then?!)

We are heading to my sisters on Friday...

and then on Saturday, on our way home,

I get to go Wedding Dress shopping with my niece!

Oh yeah! I am one of the wedding photographers

(& the Scrapbook Designer!)

so you KNOW I am taking pictures

of her trying on dresses!

THEN - when we get home...

we will get the chance to catch up

with those Beeler's!

(& ya'll know how photogenic

those Beeler's are!)

So... next week -

I will have somethin' to Scrapbook!

(& by Tuesday or Wednesday...

I will be caught up again?!)

(I... Just... Can't...

HELP... my... self!?)

Honestly, I can't!?

So - I do this type of thing:

I take pictures of random everyday things, & make a layout about it! I love this one though... and it is an important part of our everyday life that is often overlooked because it is not an 'event'! Anyway - love the Chatterbox Papers and the Ribbon Slide!

Scrap On!
~K~

Guatemala...Done!

Hey there...

yes - I have been busy scrapping

& creating & just plain old loving my job!

To think that I get paid for doing what I love

...isn't that the ultimate!?

Plus - my husband has had 3 paying gigs

in about 2 or 3 months

- with more opportunities coming all the time...

getting paid for doing what his passion is...

how can we not be loving this season

& be thankful for the blessings

that God is pouring over us!?

I have been writing as well...

just once a week

- but my year long commitment

is nearing an end,

so the next step

is fast approaching!

Oh - & have I mentioned lately

that as much as I love Fall,

Spring is a

CLOSE SECOND?!!??!!?

Blue Skies & Sunshine...

Trees starting to turn Green again

& Tulips pushing up through the soil...

Aaaah yes! Spring is fast approaching too,

& not a moment too soon for me!

I have loved getting to create layouts with

gorgeous photo's from Guatemala.

I will not post any lo's here as I have not

gained permission from my client yet.

But let me just say

- she has some beautiful pictures

to play with!

I actually have 3 more pages to add journaling to,

& then I am officially done!

I had my Scrap Happy group last night

& I actually remembered to take a few pix...

although the ladies there

mostly didn't want to be 'featured'

We had a good time & we're praying about

how to offer Childcare to help grow our Group!

We'd appreciate any prayers or ideas on that front!

It is Friday & I am going to an all night crop tonight...

although I only plan on staying a couple of hours tops...

(you KNOW I don't really have any photo's to scrap!?)

I do have one 2-page layout I am working on right now.

& I have a few pictures from Valentine's Day to scrap...

but tonight we are just doing the Make-n-Take frame.

I am going with a gal that I met from MySpace...

she is local & is wanting to meet other Scrappers...

so we are hoping that there will be other ladies there

that we hit it off with...

They meet again in May and then in July...

it's a 2-day crop & it costs $5 for both days!

They sell product there as well

& have goodie bags & Make-n-Takes too!?

So - I will fill you in on my impression of it soon!

Maybe Darcie will plan a trip here

around one of the future crops in teh Summer

although I know they will pale in comparison

to the Gatherings you all have 'there'!

Anyway - I am off to put away all my stuff

(the only down side of scrapping elsewhere?!)

Scrap On!
~Karri~

Up to my ears in Easter

Yes... it is true

I have spent days on Easter...

Only I have nothing to show for it...

Well - I have the mess left...

& it was for a good cause!?

Plus - it could bring in some new clients as well!

I was asked to donate a basket of Scrap goodies

for a local Christian School Fund raiser.

At first they were just looking for a Gift Certificate,

but I explained that a $20 or $25 Gift Certificate

won't buy much... maybe some cards, or a frame

but no Scrapbook itself...

Somehow - I ended up agreeing to MAKE the Cards & Frame

then of course, I went out and bought the Basket.

Then I had to have some filler stuff too...

so I scrapped a Candle Wrap to match the frame,

and bought a little bunny... some Boems Chocolates...

it turned out great and ended up being worth about $50.

Yeah... I know...

A Gift Certificate would have been WAY easier

(and cheaper!)

But... this is how I am!?

Oh - and then when everything was all put together in the Basket,

I forgot to take a picture?!

Here are some of the contents:

So...this was much of my week this week...

Last week was,

well - it sounds like it was similar to some of yours?!

Sucky and LONG somehow?!

I am better now!

Except for the fact in the midst of my intense emotional ride,

I found SEVERAL not gray - but silvery WHITE hairs..

oh yeah - NOT FUNNY God!?

I am talking several here... Crap!?

So - I am trying to get in to get a hair cut & color ASAP!?

So - next week HAS to be better, right?!

What I really need is

some guilt-free spending money,

coffee with girlfriends, a chick flick,

(some photo's to scrap),

and SPRING already?!

I want to see my Hydrangeas in bloom

& enjoy my Porch Swing again!?

sigh... so I wait... & pray for Spring!

Oh... yes - and I met a local Scrapper via MySpace.

We met for coffee and visited for a couple of hours...

She is hoping to join my Scrap Happy group next month,

but we will probably get together to Scrap before that!?

We'll see!? We both brought some of our own stuff...

She is good... which is always nice!? LOL?!

Anyway - Scrap On! Ladies!
~Karri~

Baby growing up!

So... yes - it is true...

my Baby is growing up!

It's not like it is a shock...

of course we have seen it coming

& have loved watching her grow...

this past week has made me

stop & remember back

to those early months

of newborn bliss...

where it seemed every time

you looked at them

- they changed a little bit!? Sigh...

Don't get me wrong...

as much as I adored those days

- I would not want to go back there again...

As much as that baby laugh, silly smile,

& cuddled, wrapped, warm

sleeping baby in my arms

stirs up wonderful memories...

I also remember the 4a.m. feedings,

countless diapers, fighting naps,

& all the paraphernalia that

comes along with toddlers!

But this past week has sort of

magnified some changes lately

and some that are just ahead...

Valentine's Day...

My Little One got three roses

& a box of chocolates

from BOYS?!

(Not her Daddy...

but real live BOYS?!)

Hmmm??!

I am not so sure about this?!

My girl is not Boy Crazy...

she has had a very limited number

of crushes in her short life so far.

But, to see her confidence & joy

in the mere attention and admiration

from the opposite sex

has been both fun & frightening!

She walks a little taller this week,

she seems happier & a bit more confused...

she has this glow about her...

You see, she is not so sure about this boy...

he is nice & she is considering liking him...

But - I think that she may like the fact

that someone likes her

more than she likes the one who likes her himself.

Of course - we all know & remember,

if someone is nice to us & shares their feelings,

it can make them more attractive!

So - it's been fun to watch...

& I am blessed that she still does

tell me all about her days...

including her thoughts and feelings

about this boy.

We've had the talks & knows

that not only is she not allowed,

but she herself knows that

she is too young to have a 'boyfriend'

whether that is in name only,

or it includes phone calls

& seeing each other outside of school!

However, it doesn't mean she won't

- at least once in awhile -

want it!?

A few days after Valentine's Day,

there was a moodiness & hormonal shift

in the universe of our home

that was intense & - well - edgy.

Now we know...

Changes are happening

and it's a new season in our home...

Bring on the Vitamin B people...

You know what I am saying!!!

So... we have had plenty of

Mother/Daughter talks this week...

talks about grown up stuff,

as well as cuddling moments that cause me

to catch a scent of baby powder

& shampooed hair!

Aahhh - God is good!

My daughter & I,

our goal is to have a Christian version

of the relationship that

Lorelai & Rory Gilmore share!

I have done little Scrapping...

I have a new job but am awaiting the

Journaling before I can

actually dig into it!

I have worked on a few pages

for this client,

& I am looking ahead a bit

& working on some Easter card sets

for a local auction coming up in March!

My Scrap Happy group was good last week

...a total of 6 of us there...

but it was fun and everyone

accomplished at least one page?!

I am looking into organizing childcare

for that night through the church

so that will probably open up to

more regulars!

Today - I am called to pray...

our churches' Women's retreat

begins today through Saturday

and as much as I really wanted to go,

God told me to stay behind and pray.

So - after arguing with Him about that for awhile,

I submitted & obeyed

& am of to cover this weekend in prayer!

Scrap On!

~Karri~

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yes - I am 'that' way! I love this 'holiday'!!!

My daughter hosted a Valentine's Party yesterday...

it was small and low key, but they had fun!

(And so did I!

I got to make fun little crafty things

and Valentine's dessert...)

Anyway - as you can see, the girls all had a blast...

Busy crafting adorable Purse Scrapbooks...

and laughing and sharing ipod tunes,

And showing off the finished product...

Tomorrow is V-day...

My Honey and I rarely actually go all out

and spend a lot of money on this day...

he is excellent at picking the perfect card...

(except one year when he gave me one about bowling in Canada?!

Don't ask... I didn't get it then, and I don't get it now?!)

Anyway we usually go out for dinner - something quiet and low key.

Last year, though, God really put it on my heart to include our daughter.

I wanted to make sure that she knew that

as much as Valentine's Day is about Love & Romance

& Flowers and all of that...

it does not have to be an exclusive

'Couples Only' day...

God desires to romance us & shower us with His Love.

So - last year I rearranged our Living room

so we could put our dining room table

by our window overlooking the city

I ordered Take Out (New Thai!!!!)

& set the table with nice dishes,

candles, flowers, etc.!

The whole show!

Plus - I included Communion cups

so we could all take Communion together.

It was relaxing & nice

(& of course, I made a great dessert as well!)

Anyway, we have a roommate this year living with us.

She is a single gal so we decided

to do the same thing this year!

It's gonna be great!

After tomorrow... I will have to get to work on this new job!

I am awaiting some Journaling

& waiting for the actual Scrapbook album to arrive!

Oh - a quick survery... since you all

are so - well - you have issues apparently with

ADHESIVE...

What is your favorite adhesive???

I am ready to try something new...

but most tape runners or glue sticks

that I have tried are not

'permanent' like they claim?!

So - I am looking for suggestions!

Hope you all have a GREAT Valentine's Day!

Know that you are loved...

By Him, and by me!

~Karri~

I WON... (Most Losses!?) LOL!

Hey there...

Well - there IS a God!!! LOL! I knew there was...

but He showed up for me last night at Bunko!

By Game 3 in the first Round I was starting to wonder...

but as time went on, it was clear that I was on a streak...

a LOSING streak - but still?!

Out of 24 Games, I lost 18!

Yeah, baby!

That gets a PRIZE!!!

And what did I win, you ask? This lovely little table!!!

Gorgeous!

I also finished up those 'unfinished' cards... ...just a few but still - nice to be done!

I went through that fun little box of Guatemala,

& now this afternoon I am off to make my own Purse album!

Oh yeah - I forgot the best part about those little gems!

I found them at the DOLLAR STORE!!! Oh yeah!!!

I bought all the ones that they had left!!! Too cool!

I will post some pix of my finished album!

Tomorrow morning,

my daughter & I are going to a Spring Fashion Show...

it's at church & is a fund raiser for our Servant's Heart ministry.

We have all the local Boutiques participating & the White House Cafe is catering,

& my precious friend is sharing as well...

I guess it will be set up like we are watching an Oprah Show!

Kaye is VERY excited!!! Sounds like a blast!!!

Anyway - I am off to trim & measure... Scrap On!

(Isn't it scrap night?! I'll be thinking of ya as I crop & glue all on my own!!!)

~Karri~

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Yes - it is true... it has been a busy week!

I cant' even remember what all I have been doing

(instead of this?) but it's been good!

I am really enjoying the Beth Moore Study on Daniel

& for some reason it doesn't seem as time consuming as

some of her other studies have been!

Which means I did read a book one day last week

(Karen Kingsbury - Found)

I highly recommend it!
I actually highly recommend just about anything written by her!

I had a lunch date with a friend twice within this past week

& I took a day or two to just relax and rest...

fighting off some kind of yuckyness!

We are much better now...

although Kaye still sounds horrid when she coughs

but it's going away!

I also got a nice little Stampin' Up! box full of goodies too,

so I had lots of stamps to assemble too!

Too fun!

So, with new stamps,

I have been playing around with more cards...

One of our Pastors recently had their first child... I don't know them very well but I did want to send them a little card & let them know that we are praying for them!

Plus, I am working on a few Valentine's for Kaye to hand out to a few friends... they like bookmarks so these are my unfinished cards... but, at least you can see what I am working on!

So... crazy me... I was pretty sad that my little one is now big enough to not get an official Valentine's Day party... so I suggested (innocently enough!) that she invite a few friends over next week before Valentine's Day... maybe we could do a little craft they could keep or give as a gift... well... yeah?! It started out innocent enough! I was thinking a simple hand-made tag & buying a few jars to fill with candy... so they would make a tag & a matching card...

But then... I found these little gems...

Little Red Purses... 6 of them (& 1 black one for me!)

They are actually Photo Albums that hold 4x6 photo's...

so - what was going to cost me about $20 is now running around $60!?

Yeah... oops?!

But they are going to be super cute!!!

I bought paper & fun stuff to scrap either blank pages that they can give as a gift or add their own photo's later... or they can scrap the pages & WRITE stuff where the photo's would go...

Brilliant I tell ya!

Of course, that means that I am going to have to plan it all out & precut everything too!

They will only have a few hours afterschool to complete it...

Sigh... too fun!

AND... I STILL have to buy the food for the 'party'!

Of course, now that I am at a running tab of $60...

I am guessing they will be having Little Debbies' and a Juice Boxes!

LOL! I know... (not that there's anything wrong with that!)

but - you know me... that is not gonna happen!?

And THEN... I got an e-mail last week from a potential new client

who had been referred to me...

Not only did I get the job, she has at least two other projects in mind,

AND she is great... and I can see that God has bigger plans than simple scrapbooks!

So today, I got this wonderful box of fun...

A box of Guatemala... all her photo's and memorabilia... I have to go now and play, I mean work!

So... just a reminder - no one has won yet... !?!? Anyone remember the Love Letter layout/card contest!? Yeah... well - still no winner?!

Blessings! Scrap On! Oh - yeah - and I have Bunko tonight... if there is a God... LOL!?

OK - OK... I know there is a God... I just pray He helps me WIN something already?!

~Karrilee~

Cats-Be-Gone, Jammy Days, & Phone Interviews

Hey there!?

Yes, it may be true...

I believe our cats are gone?!

We may have one or two 'smarter' ones,

but there are still a few cages out.

Luckily, we didn't really have to watch them get caught!

The guy came, put out the cages, set the traps, & left.

The cats ventured into the cages for food, the door shut,

the guy came back & took them away!

This week, I am taking our kitty to the Vet.

He has had a wound on his neck for some time.

It heals up almost all the way, the fur grows back,

then he itches at it, & we start all over again!?

So - before he is free to go & enjoy the great outdoors again,

I need to get him in & have it wrapped or something?

THEN he can enjoy going in & out of the house again!

So - whew?! Enough with the cat issues already?!

I am so done with it all!

Last weekend, our daughter had a little Retreat overnight at church,

so Dave & I ended up going out to see "The Pursuit of Happyness"

It's a very well done movie, but I think we could have rented it...

if we would have gone when it first came out - I may feel differently,

but by now - I knew the entire story - so there was nothing new to learn?!

I saw the guy on Oprah & had read all about the true story & all...

I had to reluctantly agree that we should have gone to see "Deja Vu"... oh well!?

Still - I plan on seeing We Are Marshall - with or without him!

I may take my little one out of school early & we can go see it together!

Saturday, after lazing around in the morning (kidless!),

My Honey went to a friends, & I went to get Kaye from her retreat.

We swung by my sister-in-laws to pick up Season One of the Gilmore Girls

LOVE that show...

Sunday we had a JAMMY DAY!

Gotta LOVE Jammy Days!

This is something my daughter & I

would do more when she was younger, before school!

But, after only getting a few hours of sleep at her Retreat,

& fighting off a bit of a sore throat,

we decided we would have a Jammy Day together'

while Dave went to church & to a friends' house!

Jammy Days always mean no make-up or getting ready...

We stay in our pajama's ALL day long.

Junk food, a variety of beverages, nothing really nutritional at all...

They usually mean rental movies,

video or computer games, or reading a book together

We don't leave the house, no errands or work at all.

We ended up spending some time talking in the morning,

reading our devotions together,

then we moved to the basement & plugged in the

Marathon Gilmore Girls event!!!

By the time Dave came home,

he watched the last couple of episodes with us,

our roommate brought home a pizza,

then it was time to read a bit,

then getting to bedtime for the kid

while I was ready to wrap up Jammy day

(yes, still in my jammies)

by watching You're The One That I Want

& The Apprentice!

Aaahh yes... it was a good day!

Oh - and then - the other exciting news to share...

My daughter has an assignment due this week in her Humanities class.

She was asked to pick her favorite author,

research, & write/prepare a report & story board to share with the class.

It is due on Wednesday.

Her favorite author is Patrick Carman.

He wrote The Land of Elyon series (a trilogy).

He is awesome... very C. S. Lewis like

- in fact, we found him after we finished Narnia.

Anyway - we have secured a Phone Interview with him for tonight!!!

God is so good... and my Little One is SO excited!

He is actually a 'local' author - (he lives in our State)

& before he was a published author, he worked for my Uncle.

So - we know a bit about him and how the book(s) came about.

I encouraged her to e-mail my Uncle

& simply ask for some inside info or help in answering

the questions she was supposed to find answers to.

Since he is a fairly new

(& somewhat unknown - although not for long!) author,

she was having some trouble getting all the info together!

So - she sent an e-mail last night,

& this morning she got a response saying that he had talked

with Patrick himself & the author was willing

to give her a phone interview tonight,

'if it is not too late'!??!!?

Oh yeah - thanks anyway!? Are you kidding me?!

So cool!

So - that is what is going on in my world today!

Scrap On!

(Oh yeah... I am still all caught up!?

I need a reason to take some pictures?! LOL!?)

~Karri~

Update on the CATS!!!?

Hey Darc'... I was waiting for that Cats in the Cradle song! LOL!

I love that song! ...I knew you would come across it soon!

So - the Cat situation...

Well - they are STILL all here?!

I was GOING to take a picture of them,

but then you would see that they are in fact still cute,

& maybe get all sentimental on me!?

So - I thought better of the photo op outside?!

BUT... my Mom is not feeding them yet.

She went out to clean off her patio a bit

& really took a look at the damage that they were doing.

She realized then that it was out of hand

& she shouldn't have let it get so bad in the first place!

She cleaned as much as she could in the freezing cold

& threw away all the bedding and shelters.

The cats haven't had food (at least not 'cat food') since Sunday.

They are confused.

They know that something has changed,

but they don't get that they need to just

'move along now!'

We did manage to actually talk to a live person (finally!)

...after the run-around between the Humane Society & the City.

Our Landlords finally found someone who will come

& capture the cats & take them away!

What he will do with them, I do not know!?

He is supposed to be here today,

but I have yet to see him?

Thankfully, Dave did not need to dump anymore dishes?

So - as long as the guy is able to show up and catch the cats,

it seems as though maybe, just maybe,

the drama is coming to an end!

(Ah yes... the guy - is charging about $500!?)

But they'll be GONE!?!?!?

So, after I made all those cards for other people,

I decided I wanted to make at least a few for myself.

(Well - you know - to send myself anyway?!)

So - below are the 4 cards I made yesterday!

Sorry the pictures are a bit dark...

I finished them late & took the photo's

without any natural lighting!

So... when I make a card I usually make it with someone in mind. Then I like to pray & ask the Lord if there is something in particular He wants me to say to the person that the card is for...sometimes I feel He answers, & sometimes not. Last night, He answered for all 4 cards! I love when that happens! A Scripture, a word of encouragement, sometimes it makes sense to me, & sometimes it doesn't- but always, the receiver knows that it is from God! I love that!

Anyway, tonight my daughter has an overnight church deal... so I think we'll go see a movie!? Any suggestions?! Anything good out in the theaters that is worth seeing? We can't decide... I want to go see We Are Marshall - but he is not sold on that... He wants to go see Deja Vu but I am not sold on it. Pursuit of Happyness seems like it may be good, and I can't tell about Catch and Release... anyway - if you girls have seen anything lately, let me know! Of course, this is Friday - so I am sure you will probably all be scrapping together somewhere! Crank up the tunes, and someone steal a brad from Darcie for me! Wish I was there!

~Karri~

Enough with the Drama...

I was going to title this Post "That Darn Cat!"

However, oh - that it was just ONE cat?!?!?!

It's not... oh Lord - how it is not!?!

OK - so here is the deal... Let me start off by saying this:

I am a Cat Lover... I love cats...

well - maybe not ALL cats, but MY cat for sure - & many others...

I don't know if I am what you would call a Pet Lover...

but - I am pretty soft and while I wouldn't want to own a dog -

I get the connection and used to own one (or two) as a kid.

All of that said, let me follow it up by saying

this is a "drama" that has been a long time coming!

Years, really?!

So - here it is... my Dave - Mr. Pollyanna,

Laid-Back, It's-all-Good kinda guy

had finally had ENOUGH of our "Wild Cat" problem!

Yes... wild cats. LOTS of them!?

It started maybe 6 years ago...

we had a stray start coming around

& she was fairly tame & pretty friendly,

& my neighbor began feeding her.

One cat... no problem.

Turns out this sweet little cat was somewhat of a tramp

& before we knew it we had several litters of kittens

& offspring gathering around the area.

Now, if they just came to eat & then moved on

... fine, great! They are cute!

Eventually, though, this neighbor began to purchase

expensive cat beds & toys & basically set up a pampered cat

vacation home for all the strays.

We've now had SEVERAL generations

of wild cats from a nearby field

migrate up to the Hampton's & settle in.

Keep in mind... We live in a 4-plex...we entertain outside...

we have a flower garden outside... we USE the lawn out there...

Our neighbors do not...

which is why for at least three years

we have diplomatically complained

about this cat issue that has gotten out of hand?!

Finally, about two weeks ago,

while visiting our neighbors, my calm, laid back husband

plainly said, "OK... we HAVE to do something about these cats!?"

He went on to explain WHY we don't want them around anymore

& how much damage they are doing to the yard,

garden, other property, etc.

When you come to my front door - it smells like a cat box!

Charming!?

I can not let my (MY!!!) cat outside anymore

because the wild cats fight him

& I don't want him to get sick!

(He already has a wound that is

not really healing very well!?)

Nice!?

I am gonna need new Patio furniture in the Spring...

I will have to through away my wicker couch in the garden...

And they have quite possibly destroyed

my flower garden this winter...

Fed up!? Oh yeah... we are...

So - in this conversation,

my honey said that she needs to stop feeding them

- that is the first step!

We need to get rid of the Hilton hotel outside

& encourage them to move on.

If that doesn't work,

we'll have to call the Humane Society or someone.

She agreed to stop feeding them.

(Oh - did I mention that this neighbor is my Mom!?

Yeah... she is my Mom...

adds a nice little dimension now, doesn't it?!)

So... she manages to not feed them for about a day or two...

then gives in.

I can see why - honestly!?

She has been feeding them for years & they are hungry...

sitting on my BBQ and patio table,

staring in her window, looking for food!?

But, here's the deal - they are not her pets!?

They are not tame enough to allow her to pet them...

they are not clean or caught up on their shots...

they are not 'fixed'...

if you attempt to reach out to them,

they either run away or hiss...

I honestly don't know if they would attack.

I doubt it - but you can never know.

Because, as cute as they are...

they are still, in fact, wild cats?!

So - as promised,

when my husband found food in the dishes,

he dumped them out?!

He is not a real confrontational guy!

He talked with the other neighbors

(one of which are the landlords who are

afraid to confront my Mom but also want it to stop)

and we are all in agreement.

One neighbor has two very expensive dogs...

they don't really get to go outside anymore, possibly,

for fear that they will get some disease.

Honestly - we are all just wanting the cats to be gone.

We called the pound... it will require us to go pick up cages,

CATCH the cats, and pay $25 PER CAT to turn in the cages.

(Oh my?!)

After a day or two of dumping the food,

my Mom figured it out & was livid!

She, in her anger, compared my husband to George W. Bush.

LOL!? Honestly!? For me... that is a compliment,

but to her - she might as well used a cuss word!

(That is another thing - we have a long running agreement

to NOT talk politics!? LOL!?)

So... we knew the big blow up was inevitable...

& on Sunday, before church,

my Mom & my husband got into it.

I can't even know what they said!

I prayed rather than go outside & get involved!

By the end of the day, they had both apologized to the other

(via other people due to schedules more than avoidance!)

My Mom agreed to stop feeding the cats.

That was Sunday... This is Tuesday...

She is already saying if they are still here by Friday

she will feed them again?!

Oh LORD?!

Honestly?! We have lived next door

to each other for over a decade...

We have made it through many

family challenges, religion, sicknesses,

family moving away, family passing away,

the 2000 (& 2004) Presidential Elections,

and this... THIS?!?!... is what is going to break us!?

THIS is what we are going to stop talking about?!

Honestly?!

(I haven't even MENTIONED the health issues!?)

So... trivial!? High school stuff?!

I didn't play this drama crap when I WAS in High school?!

I am really not interested in playing it now?!

We are going to have to do more than not feed them!
They have been raised here

& they are not going away on their own!?

It frustrates me to think we may have to pay

for these cats to be taken away,

but someone is going to have to deal with it...

I guess that makes my husband an @#$()&*.

But, God love him,

I can't wait to sit outside in my own yard &

enjoy a sunset in the Spring & not smell a litter box!

So - other than THAT stupid drama, I have been busy at work...

I made two sets of various 'blank inside' cards

("I feel like that too!?" ~Brian Regan!)

& one large set of Valentine's cards.

I also made a Mini Promise Book Album for a friends' birthday!

I loved it! It turned out great... if I do say so myself!

So, here are a few examples of what I was working on this week!

Whew?! So - there ya go... a bit of venting, and a bit of crafting...

I went to Prayer this morning...

& had coffee with a friend this afternoon...

Got to tell both clients I am done with their orders,

& I am placing a Stampin' Up! order today

& I get a couple of the SAB sets, too!

New TOYS!!! I can't wait!!!

Oh yeah, & in the middle of that week,

I hosted my Scrap Happy link

& I was the only one that showed up?!

THE ONLY ONE!?!??!?!

I got 4 pages done... but still!?

It's GOT to get better (& less trivial!) soon!

(Go ahead, Darcie... hit me with some lyrics! LOL! I know they are comin'!)
~Karri~