A Sad Day

Friends I just want to take a moment to tell you that my Father passed away just after midnight this morning. He is relieved of his burdens here on earth and able to see God and loved ones who have gone before. I will not post until after his funeral on Monday; I will be with my Mother and rest of our family.

It will not be easy seeing Dad in that flag draped casket but, I know he is not there anymore. It is just his ragged old body....and Dad is free now! Hallelujia!!

Cindy

He Will Always Be A Great Man!

Folks this is me and my Dad last year at my 50th Birthday celebration. At this time he had been battling Lung Cancer for 2+ years. This was definately one of his better days. Two days ago we had Hospice started for him. I can't tell you what I am feeling.....angry, sad and feeling powerless to make things be different for Dad. If you have ever gone through this you know exactly what I am talking about.

This is the way I want to remember my Dad not the man I saw today....still able to be at his home. Angry, short-tempered and impatient. While my Dad had all those qualities while I was growing up they are magnified because of his disease and the shutting down of his body. Today was the day the equipment showed up....the hospital bed (probably the one he will die in), a bedside commode, oxygen tank and a wheelchair. Along with a bunch of medications for pain, anxiety and sleep. It was so much to take in, I knew I had to be strong to help Mom.

The Nurse today gave us all the information about which drugs to start having him take, she told us about how bad it will get before he passes....no sugar coating.....I guess that is what we need to hear. She also said based on his statistics, it may not be too long before he passes. I still like to think no matter what anyone says, I think God knows when and how he will go.....my faith tells me to rely on him.

So, I cry in private now....in the shower, in bed before I fall asleep, here at the computer telling you my story.....I can't seem to stop once I get started. This is Dad's choice not to fight the disease anymore. I don't blame him....he's my Dad and I love him. No matter what he did or didn't do, he will always be the greatest man I have ever known.

I love you Daddy...I will miss you but, will never forget you!!

Cindy

Thanks friends for letting me get this out in the open, cry on your shoulder....don't know what the next few weeks or months may be like for posting so I will hopefully post once in awhile to de-stress. I guess it is a good thing that I do not have a job right now, huh?

Time Well Spent Flower Pot Card

Howdy Friends! I took the TLC215 challenge on SCS and made this card for my MIL for Mother's Day. She told us this year to not send her anything, not even flowers. Usually we send a potted planter for her deck or porch, because in the past she has always said she loves it. Well, dog gone it......she's gettin' 'em anyway!! And she's getting bling and pink because she's not into that either. I hope she laughs!!!

There was a lot of cutting and sponging going on yesterday to get this to look better. I even looked at one of my clay flower pots to get ideas on how to make it look more realistic. What do you think?

In my haste to get this in the mail box, I forgot to take a picture of the inside card. You know, if you have made this one there is not much room for more than a for a few words. If you haven't made this one you can find the SCS post here and the directions here. Try the challenge yourself.

• Stamps - SU Time Well Spent, Best Blossoms
• Inks - SU Basic Black, More Mustard, Really Rust, Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
• Paper - SU Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, So Saffron and Bazzill Chili Pepper CS
• Accessories - SU Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon, Doodlebug Rhinestones, Black Stickles, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Sponges, Zig Marker

Thanks in advance for looking at my card! I appreciate you very much for leaving your nice comments too!

Happy Crafting!!

Cindy

More Crocheting

Good Morning Friends! Well, again I do not have a card to show you.....this has been a busy week...again! I have not been able to get out into the garden to do very much because of all the rain we have been having. Today and tomorrow promise to be rain free but the gound is so saturated, I can't plant only weed, trim and fertilize.

The first photo are the various flowers made with DMC floss in the Stampin' Up! In Colors. I think they match very well. The largest flower takes nearly 15 minutes to make and the smallest about 5 minutes. I have used one of the flowers on a card, which is posted about 2 weeks ago.

The second photo is the edging I created from various sources...you know a bit here and a bit there. I made it about 8 inches long because I do not know where I want to use it just yet. Though I am thinking it will be on a Mother's Day card....which hopefully I will post today!!!

And the last photo is a String of Flowers. I think they would be good to go around the edge of a circle or oval with sentiment. Or you could run a ribbon through the centers and use as embelishment on a card. Or, as one SCSer pointed out, attached to a headband for a sweet little miss.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my creations. Give me your e-mail address and I can send you the directions to any of these flowers. Some day I will find a way to post them on my blog to make life easy for you...until then...sorry.

Happy Crafting!!

Cindy

Friend Quote Book

These photos are from a little quote book I made for one of my friends at Christmas. Without telling her whole story, she was going through some trying times....health okay. I felt she needed something to lift her spirits. So, I created this for her.

The 9 quotes are from various internet and quote book sources I have. After formatting and printing, I added backgrounds and used a few embelishments for fun. I used cereal boxes cut them 3 x 6 for the base then used my Xyron to adhere the DP to the cardboard...rounded the corners and sanded for that distressed look. Hope this inspires you to start thinking about Christmas.....it will be here before you know it!!

If you would like me to send you the formatted quotes, just let me know.....I will need your e-mail address so be sure to put that into the note. Stamps - Hero Arts, SU Wild About You, SU Tagger's Dozen, SU Just Love You

• Paper - Basic Gray, SU So Saffron, Cool Carribean, Tempting Turquoise, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White CS
• Ink - SU Cool Carribean, Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
• Accessories - Binder Ring, Various Ribbon, Chipboard - SU and Maya Road, Asst. Buttons and Brads, SU Dimensionals

Thanks for looking, if you leave a comment just know that I appreciate you very much!

Happy Crafting!!

Cindy

A Sunday Hello

I just wanted to tell you that Wayne and I worked in our front yard all day putting in a stone ring around our Ash tree. The grass was encroching on the little mound around the tree and starting to envelope the Ajuga I planted there last year. What a job that was....but, so rewarding to see the finished project. Tomorrow I will plant with red Salvia and white Alyssum.

When we moved into our house over 5 years ago, there was no curb appeal. Slowly we are turning it into something to be really proud of. Last year we had to replace the ugly teal green garage door. It had been bent and finally refused to work anymore. We replace it with a nice Ivory insulated door. Eventually we will replace the siding and match it to the door. Now when we drive down the street and are not struck with that dated color door.

It just amazes me how much work a house takes to keep it well maintained. On top of the mowing and putting in little gardens we have to maintain the back and side gardens too. Now I know why so many folks just keep it simple....not that there is anything wrong with that! Wayne and I just happen to love working in our gardens....in fact it is the one area where we never fight (not that we do much of that even in our house!). It is so nice to have a true partner in life.

Our favorite things about our house....the paver patio under the deck where we sit many nights drinking wine and watching the cars go by; our open floor plan that includes the family room, dining room and kitchen and the fact that no one will ever be able to build behind our lot. Our least favorite things about our house.....the noise level that the street gives off (it's about 100 yards); galley kitchen; unfinished basement and no fireplace.

Well, that was just a little slice of our life...no cards, no photos, no complaints...for today at least. Hope you had a good day today and an even better one tomorrow. If you don't hear from me much, it is because I have to get so much done in our garden on the nice days we have before it turns really hot and muggy! I will try to take photos along the way for you to see.

Happy Spring and Happy Crafting!!
Cindy

Thank You Fairy Much!

Good Morning Friends! Found this lovely stamp at one of my local stamping stores. I know it will come in handy for our nieces as they are totally into Fairies right now! But, this is going to my husband's boss for inviting us to their Greek Easter celebration last weekend. Heading out to run errands...the mall, over to my folks to dig up some plants my Mom no longer wants and dinner at a friends house tonight. Hope you have a great weekend!

• Stamps - Whippersnapper, SU Short and Sweet
• Paper - Colorbok DP, Provocraft CS and SU Very Vanilla and Bashful Blue CS
• Ink - Ranger Archival Ink
• Acessories - Prismacolor Pencils, Baby Oil, Jelly Roll Pen, Dimensionals

Thanks for looking and Happy Crafting!!

Cindy