From the Heart

I Love Yarn Day!

2011-10-17T12:42:00.001-06:00

Did you know that last Friday, October 14th, was "I Love Yarn Day!" well I didn't know it then, but I happened to celebrate anyway by stocking up on yarn and knitting needles. (These supplies are some of the few that have been missing from my well stocked craft room.)

My Mom is an amazing knitter and I know she has tried to teach me before but it just never clicked. Anyway with my recent milestone birthday behind me I felt like giving it a go again. So armed with my new supplies and a good how-to book, I shut myself in my room and started. And do you know what, it worked! I was actually knitting. Well, that first piece wasn't much to look at, but the second one is coming along quite nicely. (Mom you would be proud.)

Fabulous Fall

2011-09-01T10:58:00.000-06:00

I was just talking to Michelle and we decided that Fall is our favorite season and since it is September 1st, we can put up Fall decorations. So I guess that means today is a good time to show you my latest cross stitch chart that celebrates this fabulous season. This is a fun, quick to stitch chart. I stitched it in silks, and the pattern includes conversions for Dinky Dyes Silks, Thread Gatherer Silk 'N Colors, and Weeks Dye Works hand dyed cotton floss. It will be available to order next week from my distributor.

Look at what I got ~

2011-08-23T13:11:00.000-06:00

It was a great mail call today. Totally worth the walk to the mailbox. I got the new release colors of the Belle Soie Silks from Crescent Colours. And they are wonderful. Ilove to stitch with silk threads so this is a very good thing.

There were also the new release cotton threads from Crescent Colours too. Aren't they yummy colors?

And as if that wasn't enough, my order of Dinky Dyes Hand-dyed Australian Silks came too. I am one happy stitcher.

I'm on the list ~

2011-08-20T11:04:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to share a link to the
Hoffman New Book List ~

I have a new chart available for sale to Cross Stitch Shops and Cross Stitchers too. Scroll down to From the Heart to see it.

Here is the link to the complete list of my available charts.

From the Heart ~

Coming Soon ~

2011-08-05T13:18:00.000-06:00

I just took a little picture to show you what I've been working on. This new design should be ready to release in a couple of weeks. I love the stitching with all one color of overdyed floss. Watch for the full photo and release date coming soon.

Introducing B*Charmed ~

2011-07-16T16:21:00.000-06:00

The new B*Charmed online catalog is up and running. I just added a link to the side bar of my blog. I am excited to have you visit, see the jewelry and hear what you think. I will be having an open house soon, so watch my blog for details.

Vacation Time ~

2011-07-06T09:55:00.001-06:00

We took a vacation! Yes, a real vacation, one where you come home feeling refueled, refreshed and ready to go again. We went out to the Oregon Coast and spent a week with some of my sisters at the Haws family beach house. I think Kristine had my camera with her the whole time, so I have plenty of photos to document the whole wonderful week. So here you go, a peek at our fun filled, relaxing week at the beach.

Introducing bcharmed ~

2011-05-06T16:43:00.000-06:00

It is finally time to share something new. There is a new jewelry company getting ready to open its doors. Here is the link to their web site.

bcharmed

I will have more information and flyers in about a week, but until then you can look around their web site and get an idea of what they are all about. If you are interested in joining up as a Stylist, let me know and I'll pass along that information too.

Anniversary/Birthday/Recital ~

2011-04-30T10:20:00.001-06:00

There were so many fun things to celebrate yesterday and we were able to fit it all in. Rod and I celebrated our 28th Anniversary. We had so much fun spending the day together, going to lunch and even a few home repairs, (The water heater needed a new heating element which really couldn't be put off. Those cold showers are no fun.). We are planning a little getaway in a week or so, but there were too many things to celebrate this weekend so we stayed home. After lunch and a quick trip to pick up Dora party supplies I made a pasta salad. That is a sure sign that Spring is here and with the snow on the ground we needed any sign of spring we could find, or make. After Kristine got home from school, her and I headed out to see the little girls. Rod and Brad were close behind. We had to take both cars so there was room for Kymber's birthday surprise. After a little birthday dinner and presents we all headed over to the dance recital. Kymber did a great job, and loved having so many family members there cheering for her. She might have been a little distracted but she was so cute. Here she is a showing off her card from Great-Grandma and sitting on her big birthday surprise box. We got Kymber and Sydni a new swing set now that they have a yard to play in. I'm sure they will enjoy it as much as my sisters and I enjoyed the swing set we got from our grandparents many years ago. After the recital we all went back to their house for Dora cupcakes and more birthday party fun. So here are a few random shots from the evening. Can't think of a better way to celebrate than spending time with family.

New Pattern Release ~

2011-04-15T09:34:00.000-06:00

I just returned from the post office this morning after mailing out my newest cross stitch charts to my Distributor and Suppliers. So to celebrate I want to give you a peek at the new designs.

Spring Break ~

2011-04-04T14:54:00.001-06:00

It came and went way too fast, but we enjoyed every little warm minute of it.

Rod, Kristine and I got away for a few days last week to try and find the sun. We started off with a visit to Shepherd's Bush in Ogden. Well, I stopped in to shop and they both stayed in the car. It was so much fun to see things in real life and not just pictures on a website. I did do a little shopping too, and added to my list of things to stitch. Next was a stop at the Gateway Mall in SLC. We stopped for lunch first and were surprised to see Kristine's friend and her family walking by outside the restaurant. It is either a small world, or everyone else is trying to find the sun this week too. Then Kristine and I headed off shopping while Rod went to find the nearest bookstore. Luckily there is a Barnes & Noble there. We found the Lucky Brand store, Anthropologie, the Boheme Boutique, PacSun, Build a Bear and then we found Rod at the bookstore. Here is Kristine with proof that we found all of the stores.

Then we drove on down to Fairview to visit Rod's Mom. It was fun to spend the night and get to visit with her. We watched the Young Women's Broadcast with Kristine too. It's fun to have a young woman in our family and fun to share this with her.

Jenene had this picture of her and Max, which I loved and had to get a copy of. Rod's Dad passed away in November 2009 so we are all missing him.

The next morning of our Spring Break we woke up to snow. Which is typical for spring trips to Fairview, About an hour down the road, the snow was gone and we got to see the sun. We stopped in Cedar City and took a little tour of old homes, and schools and showed Kristine just how far I used to have to walk to school. It was kind of fun to stop and eat at the Burger King that was built where our old house used to be. That afternoon we found St. George, Utah, and capri's and sandals that we haven't seen in months.

The next morning we took the bike and headed to find the Mountain Bike Trails. This is what we found. Evidently this spot is popular with the Biggest Loser Resort hikers too.

Rod takes my iPhone on the trails because I have this neat trail app, so he was taking pictures with it and Kristine and I had my new camera to take pictures while we hiked.

The trail we found the next day was one of Rod's favorites, but I don't have pictures, because it was a drop him off and try and find the trailhead at the end of the trail. Remember that he takes my iPhone and its neat app so I am doing this without my GPS. I did have a good navigator and we found it just fine. The last part of this trail was like a roller coaster for bikes, so Rod had to go ride the last part again. He had a blast, but it sounds a little scary for me who is lucky to make it around the block on a bike.

Now it wouldn't be spring break without pool pictures. And we have plenty of those.

We lounged, read, took pictures, stitched and texted but mostly we enjoyed being warm. If you were wondering about Gus, he got to spend the week in the kennel with the nice people at the Sunnyside Vet people.

Celebrating with a Giveway ~

2011-03-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

I am celebrating the launch of my new cross stitch design business with a giveaway on my From the Heart Needleart Blog. Click on the link to go there and get the details.

Happy Birthday Kristine!

2011-03-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Today my little girl turns 16. Yikes, where has the time gone! I am home baking and cooking for a family party tonight. I hope she is has a great day. The poor girl has about 5 tests today so not everyone is helping her celebrate, but once school is out, we will start the party.

We love you Kristine!

Learning New Things ~

2011-02-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about starting my designing business again is the opportunity to learn new things. Today I learned how to make a pdf file, and put a link up on my Needleart Blog so anyone who wants the little freebie chart can download and print their own copy. Here is the picture, and you can click on the link in the right column to go to the From the Heart Needleart Blog and get a copy of the pdf file for your very own. Now you are all set to grab a needle and floss and go learn something new.

Look at this cute picture I found on my camera. See, I told you he was a sweet boy.

My New Adventure ~

2011-02-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't really talked about it much on my blog, and maybe some of you have figured it out, but here is the big announcement. I have started my cross stitch design business again. I was a designer back in 2000 to 2005 and then started my own business in the fall of 2005. But life got busy and From the Heart Needleart got put on the back burner for a few years. Well, the timing is right and I am back at it. I have several new charts ready to take to the printers and submit to my distributor. It has been lots of fun. There is a link in the right sidebar to my design blog, so you will have to stop on over and see what is going on.

Blog Friends ~

2011-02-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

One of the fun things about blogging is getting to "know" other bloggers from around the country. And sometimes there are "Blog Candy" giveaways, which are always fun, especially if you win. I just got an email that I was a winner on the At Willow Tree Pond blog. Which makes me think it might be time for a blog giveaway here too.

Future Dog Trainers ~

2011-02-17T08:27:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had a visit from two sweet little girls, and their parents too. Kymber had a dentist visit so Sydni and her dad played at our house awhile. They were so excited to get to see Gus too. These tiny little girls can get him to do whatever they want. He obediently goes to the kennel, or the backyard when they want him to. It is really fun to watch them wrap their little arms around his middle or his big neck and try to get him to move. And the funny thing is, it works! Of course they know where his treats are and he gets double treats when both of them are here. He really is a sweet dog and is so patient with them. Yes, he it totally spoiled, but look at that face. You'd have him spoiled rotten too.

Look at these cute little pictures of Kaden that Jen took the other night. He is such a happy little boy!

Jen and Kaden ~

2011-02-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

These two looked so cute this morning before they headed off for their day. I just had to get some pictures. Kaden is almost 9 months old. He just learned patty-cake this weekend and is always smiling, except when you are trying to take is picture or when Gus steals his crackers.

It's all about Family ~

2011-01-10T10:11:00.002-07:00

I've realized that my life pretty much revolves around my family. My mornings are spent helping get Kristine off to school, sometimes I'll get her breakfast, and some days I just visit with her while she gets ready. Most days she drives herself to school, (which is wonderful on these super cold days when I would really rather stay inside where it is warm) sometimes I will take her and we enjoy talking together all the way to school. Then I come home and get to be Grandma and enjoy playing with Kaden for a bit while Jennifer is getting ready for work. Then it is time to help bundle him up and get him and his gear ready for the day. Then I have the rest of the day to myself, well, me, the laundry and the dishes. So I have time to clean up after the morning rush and get ready for the afternoon. Sometimes Rod or Jen will stop in on their lunch hours, but they are pretty self sufficient and can get their own lunch, so it is just fun to have them here for a short visit. Then it is time to get Kristine or even better, to wait for her to get home. Her afternoons are pretty fun, movies and snacks until dinner time. I either have dinner doing by now, or work on it then. Dinnertime at our house has really become a ritual. It is always ready about 10 minutes after Rod gets home from work. The older kids knew that if they weren't here, there would be leftovers waiting for them. Brad has moved into an apartment in town and is starting his new job, new ward etc., and we have really missed him being here and coming home for leftovers. But that has it's upside too. Yesterday, since he just moved about 4 miles away, he was able to come over for Sunday Dinner. Don't you think that sounds like a great new tradition. To add to this fun routine, Michelle and Alex and their little girls live just an hour away and are usually in town a couple of times a month, so I am always ready to drop whatever I am doing (which you can see isn't hard to do) and play with little girls. I love to hear those sweet little voices when they open the front door and say "hello"! After dinner it is homework time up on our bed. I don't know how that ended up being the favored spot, but it works, and we enjoy the family time. In the middle of all of this, I have Gus, my sweet Basset Hound to keep me company. He loves sleeping in his bed by the fire and when it warms up to 10 degrees he likes to play outside. If you are wondering what I do in the big empty time in the middle of the day, well, that varies, lately I have been doing some Mixed Media Art pieces. Kymber saw some that I'd done and was ready to take them home, so I made one for her last week. Can't wait for her to see it and finally be able say yes, you can take it home. Hers is the one with the flowers. Yep, I am pretty lucky to be able to be here and take care of my family. They are all self sufficient and could really get by, but I love being able to be home and do what I do. You see it really is all about family!

Getting Creative ~

2010-12-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

It seems like whenever I finish creating something I feel the need to rush to the computer and blog about it. A blog is a great place for me to keep a record of what I've done and share with all of my blog readers what I've made. (And I use the word "all" because it sounds better than saying "two or three" blog readers.) So here is my latest creation. This is a mixed media art canvas. I followed a tutorial done by my friend Christy Tomlinson. Her instructions are great and after doing this piece, I can go off on my own and make a Wendy Original. Don't worry, I am sure you'll hear about that one too.

You never know what you'll find ~

2010-12-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

I was at a local craft fair a few weeks ago, and there were many of the usual craft fair booths, but tucked in the middle was something amazing. There was a woman that made these amazing Lampwork Beads. I picked up this little set to make a bracelet with. I'm still looking for the right parts to go with it, but I will be sure and post the finished project.

It's amazing what you find ~

2010-11-04T17:23:00.000-06:00

While Rod was on his trip this past week, I went on a cleaning/dejunking spree in my craft room. I can't say that I found anything new, because I know all of the treasures that I've stowed away. So I guess I refound things that I had forgotten about. On a huge shelf in the corner, organized neatly in cute pink storage tubs, I rediscovered my cross stitch supplies. It has been more than five years since I've had a stitching project out to work on, so it was so much fun to go through all of the fun fabrics, (I love stitching on linen, mostly small 28 or 32 count fabrics. There are even some 40 count extremely tiny stitched projects), and the gorgeous threads (My kids said they had forgotten how much of this "stuff" I actually had. I think that is a good thing. I have cotton threads dyed in so many gorgeous colors, I used to love to stitch with silk threads, especially Silk 'N Colors from The Thread Gatherer. It will take awhile to get a collection of them, but they are my most favorite.) and fun patterns and kits from my favorite designers. I have quite a collection so it was probably good that Rod was gone and I could just enjoy the afternoon and not worry about getting dinner. I found a few projects that I pulled out to work on that evening, and a few more lined up for later. Since that first night, I have actually finished a couple of projects and totally rekindled my passion for needlework.

More that just the great supplies you get to work with when you stitch is the time spent stitching. It is such a treat to sit alone with just your thoughts for company. Somehow problems and stresses just seem to go away or are forgotten for awhile. Which is a real treat when life gets so hectic. So if you need me for anything, you just might find me sitting in my favorite chair, under my ott light, with my favorite needle, my hand dyed threads, beautiful fabrics, and a cute scissor fob.

Take a Hike ~

2010-09-12T14:36:00.001-06:00

We did it! We took a family hike. Alex and Michelle have wanted us all to come out and go on a hike up to a waterfall and picnic with them, and we finally found a day that would work for all of us. Here is a picture of Alex and Michelle's house. (So next time you are in Arco and eating Fried Pickles from Pickle's Place you can look across the street and you'll know where they live.)

We went up to the Lower Cedar Spring outside of Mackay. Here is a picture of the whole hiking group. Yes, I hiked too, but someone has to be the photographer.

You can see that we were quite a diverse group, Grandparents, a teenager, lots of young adults, little girls and a baby boy. Most of the time Sydni rode on someone's shoulders. You can see Kymber up there walking. She also took turns getting piggyback rides.

But for a while she wanted to walk and didn't even want to hold someone's hand. This slowed the pace down quite a bit. She was totally enjoying the day especially since she loves rocks and dirt.

Kristine has a Photography class this year and was taking pictures all along the way. Can't wait to see her pictures too.

The trail followed along the river, so the whole trail we got to hear the happy babbling brook sounds.

I loved this view of the girls. Yes, I was usually at the end of the line, so this is what I saw most of.

Kaden was such a good little guy. Jen (and everyone else) carried him, so he is getting an early start on enjoying the out of doors.

Break time. Kaden needed a bottle so we all stopped to rest. Actually Alex set a good pace and stopped frequently to tell us interesting stories. This was a good time for Sydni to bring me handfuls of dirt and rocks she found.

Thanks to Alex and Michelle for getting us out for such a fun family day.

Island Park Weekend ~

2010-08-08T17:17:00.001-06:00

We just got back from a fun family weekend. We were all together up at Island Park. These first few pictures were the first afternoon before everyone got there. We walked over to the river to check it out. Notice how Sydni is pointing to the ground. She was finally happy when her daddy set her down in the dirt. She loves dirt and couldn't wait to taste this new kind.

Here are a few pictures of our afternoon. This one of Rod and Sydni is a favorite, and so is this one of Kristine and Kymber.

Here Rod is pointing out the playground. More pictures of that too.

Sweet little Kaden was a real trooper and enjoyed just hanging out with us.

The next morning we all got up and went biking/hiking at Herriman State Park. Rod, Kristine, Alex and Trever all went biking and the rest of us took the kids for a walk. Kymber had her little binoculars and loved hiking. Sydni and Kaden fell asleep and just enjoyed the ride. Kristine did a great job keeping up with the guys. I'm so proud of that girl. They don't always choose the easiest trails and she stayed right with them. You go girl!!

Later we went down and let the girls play in the river. Sydni loved being able to get out and play. She almost wore Kristine out. She'd take a break once in a while and go sit by Rod on the bank. Trever was teaching Jennifer how to fly fish. Later Trever and Alex walked down river and fished some more. It's fun having these boys in our family.

So that is a little peek at our trip. We had lots of yummy food, fun games and made lots of memories. Can't wait to do it again.

My Flower Garden ~

2010-08-02T10:36:00.000-06:00

I think sometimes flowers are like little kids, you just can't get them to do what you want. Look at my hollyhocks, they just seem to grow anywhere. These are growing out of the compost pile. It kind of hides it I guess, but wish they were on the other side of the fence in the front yard.

And these sweet peas are spreading out about three feet onto the lawn. Every week Kristine carefully mows around them. Aren't they pretty?

And this little petunia came up in the crack in front of the garage door.

I'm not complaining at all. It is just so nice to have summer and flowers instead of snow and cold. So I will enjoy them all, wherever they decide to bloom.

My grandkids ~

2010-07-28T09:30:00.000-06:00

Wow, yesterday was a fun and very full day. I got to spend one on one time with each of my little grandkids (also known as babysitting). First came Kaden. He enjoyed sitting in the bouncy chair, drinking his bottle and looking at Gus.

Gus liked looking at Kaden too, but got bored with that and just ended up laying down by his bouncy chair.

I think Gus will really have fun with Kaden when he grows up a little bit more.

Michelle came to town and I got to watch Kymber while her and Jennifer went shopping with the other kids. They had Michelle's amazing double stroller with Sydni and Kaden and I had time with Kymber. She is such a fun little girl, and she loves to talk, and she loves flowers, and she loves to play games, and she loves Gus. Here are a few pictures of our afternoon.

The pictures aren't the best, I had my iphone camera and funny lighting, but it was so much fun watching these two just totally enjoy being together. She loved feeding him his dinner, and evidently Gus has no food aggression whatsoever. This is a trait that can be passed down, so his puppies should be just like him.

At about 8:30, Michelle picked up Kristine from Mutual and they went to do a shopping errand. It was time to play with Sydni. By that time the clothes were off and she was just running around in her diaper. She is a busy little girl, so basically I just ran after her, trying to keep her from getting into trouble. She is so smart and understands a lot and can say a lot of words too so it was fun to spend time with her. Isn't she a cutie. I love her big brown eyes. None of my kids have brown eyes, and she is the only one of the grandkids (so far) that does. It looks like she might be getting her mom's curly hair too.

My girls are both amazing moms, and it is fun to be able to watch these little cuties and give them a little bit of a break. And you know when I watch little grandkids I don't worry about cleaning or laundry or any of those other fun jobs that I usually do, so it works out great for all of us.

Gus ~

2010-07-27T09:27:00.000-06:00

It's been so long since I've put up pictures of Gus. He has really grown. He is 10 months old now and probably full grown. I caught him being naughty and sleeping up on the couch this morning, so I took a few pictures before I sent him out to the backyard.

More from SU! Convention ~

2010-07-27T09:05:00.000-06:00

It was such a treat to get to get to go to the Stampin' Up! Convention this year. Rod and I went together and enjoyed a little vacation from the everyday routine. He enjoyed biking in Park City and the canyons around Salt Lake City while I was at convention during the day. In the evenings we met up for dinner and sightseeing around the city. Here are a few more pictures from Convention.

This is a tote bag we were able to buy. Love it! It matches my craft room and I have it filled with my basic supplies on my desk, so I can just grab it and go crafting. And there is a matching laptop bag that makes a perfect bag for church.

I loved this display of the new Brights Collection of Stampin' Pads. Aren't these colors gorgeous?

This is a picture of me and Becky Roberts. She is a demonstrator from Boise who has a fun, creative blog that I love to read. The orange bag that you see everyone carrying is the bag that each one of us got for attending convention. Yes, I have lots of new bags, but a girl can never have too many cute bags!

One of the new products they introduced this year was fabric that matches the Designer Series Papers. There are two collections. Here are a few of the samples they had on display.

And I had to get a picture of this beautiful necklace that Shelli was wearing in one of the general sessions. It is a Simply Adorned Charm with some of the new additions from the Holiday Mini. Love it!

News from Convention ~

2010-07-22T20:56:00.000-06:00

I have had such a great time at the Stampin' Up! Convention so far. The classes have been amazing. I've decided a motivational speaker can pretty much motivate you to do anything. Not only in a craft centered business, but in life in general. Another fun thing has been all of the ideas I've seen. I'm adding a few pictures of some of these creative ideas so you can see what I mean. (I don't have my good computer, so they aren't edited yet.)

Stampin' Up! Convention ~

2010-07-20T20:11:00.000-06:00

Hello from Utah!

And if you are new then welcome to my blog. Rod and I are off on a little vacation in SLC. I am going to the Stampin' Up! Convention and he is going Mountain Biking. There are a lot of trails around Salt Lake and up in Park City, so he should be busy enough while I am hanging out with my stampin' friends. I will have my iphone with me to take pictures and add updates, so be sure and check back tomorrow.

Wendy

Summer Vacation ~

2010-07-15T08:27:00.002-06:00

I don't think anything helps to relax and recharge you more than going on vacation and then coming home. We just got back from a little trip to Northern Idaho and did just that. Luckily Jennifer, Trever and Kaden were able to come with us. Jennifer was the trip photographer so I had to wait and get her pictures downloaded to my computer before I could share them. So here you go. I little peek of our trip.

First night stop at the Pizza Factory.

Delicious pizza and rootbeer. Kaden was glad to be out of the car seat. He was a good little traveler.

At the trailhead of the Hiawatha Bike Trail. An old railroad bed converted to an amazing bike trail. The trail is 15 miles one way and then a shuttle back to the top.

The trail starts off with a 1.6 mile tunnel. (Helmets and bike lights were required.) The shuttle dropped them off at the other side of the long tunnel, so they got to do it twice.

Beautiful mountain views. Jen did a good job with pictures.

I love this picture of Jen and Rod. They have been biking buddies for years.

I'm glad Jen found Trever who enjoys going on family bike trips with us.

Trever makes friends wherever he goes.

Kaden hung out Kristine and I. We took a little walk to the start of the first tunnel and enjoyed the nice cool air at the opening of the tunnel. They say it is about 40' inside. He loved being cooled down and fell right asleep. While Kristine and I were up there taking pictures of mossy rocks, our bikers came out of the tunnel. It was so fun to hear about their ride.

Here is Lake Coeur d'Alene. So beautiful right in the middle of the mountains.

The next day we went to Silverwood Amusement Park.

Here is the fearless crew heading off to conquer the roller coasters. Kaden and I went to buy a refillable sports bottle of ice water, which I refilled many, many times during the day.

Here is my little buddy. Rod and I enjoyed the cool grass under a shady tree with Kaden while Jennifer, Trever and Kristine were at the water park.

First trip to the mountains ~

2010-07-02T17:14:00.002-06:00

Summer has finally come to SE Idaho and we took advantage of a beautiful day to get away to the mountains. We were expecting crowds of 4-wheelers and motorbikes, and planned to just enjoy the mountain with all of them, but for some reason there were very few people out enjoying the day. This was Gus's first time out hiking, so we were curious to see what he would do. He loved it. I had him ride up on my lap so we would avoid the carsick episode from our last drive to the canyon.

When we drop Rod and his bike off, we usually drive straight down to the pick up spot before we start hiking. Today Rod told me about a look out spot that was down the trail a little ways, so we started hiking right there. He was right, it was beautiful. Gus loved hiking. He did the typical hound dog nose to the ground hiking and I snapped pictures along the way. I don't trust him off of the leash yet, so he had to stay with me. He would stop and check out every little smell. After this first hike, we drove down the canyon and waited for Rod to finish his ride. After about 10 minutes I could tell Gus was anxious to get moving again, so we went on another hike up the trail and ended up meeting Rod on his way down. Two hikes in one trip is quite an accomplishment for me and my short dog, but we loved it and can't wait to get out again.

I can't leave this post with out filling you in on every last detail. Gus did get car sick on the way home so he has earned his new nickname "Barfy". But the good sure out weighed the bad, (and he wasn't sitting on my lap at the time) so we will do it all again.

New Stampin' Up! Classes ~

2010-06-17T10:26:00.000-06:00

The new Stampin' Up! year is starting July 1st. And there is an amazing NEW catalog just bursting with fun new products and creative ideas. I've been planning new classes and can't wait to show you all of the new things. Here is the class schedule.

One fun thing I am adding this year is a monthly crop. It will be $5, or if you come to the class that month, the crop is free. I will have punches, stamps and other Stampin' Up! tools out for you to use while you work on your own scrapbook pages, cards or other projects.

Special Events

Classes start at 6:30 pm.
The class fee must be paid two days ahead to reserve your spot.

July 7             Birthday Cards Stamp-A-Stack - $15 and New Catalog Party - free
August 4       All Occasion Cards Stamp-A-Stack - $15
September 1 Thank You Cards Stamp-A-Stack - $15
October 6      Christmas Cards Stamp-A-Stack - $15
November 3 Holiday Gift Gala - $20

Crops

6:30 pm to 9 pm - Cost $5 (or free if you attended that month’s class)

July 29

August 19

September 16

October 21

November 18

December 9

Call or email me to reserve your spot in class. Can't wait to get crafting again.

Stampin' Idea for today ~

2010-06-10T07:17:00.000-06:00

I love having a little notebook handy at all times, and these cute little ones are fun to make. You can use any combination of your coordinating papers to make it your own.

Stampin' Idea ~

2010-06-09T09:33:00.000-06:00

In case it is cloudy and rainy where you are today too, and you are feeling the urge to get crafty. Here is an idea for a fun little card.

Homemade Pepper Jelly ~

2010-06-03T14:44:00.000-06:00

I have spent a few days canning this week to get ready for the Canning Party on Saturday and this was my canning project for today.

And this was my lunch for today too. It is so good.

I can't wait to share how easy it is to make. And of course we will open a jar for tasting too.

Guest Designer ~

2010-05-23T16:52:00.000-06:00

It's time to share a fun project that I have coming up this summer. I am one of the designers for UStamp.

UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! "Early Summer Edition 2010"!! will open June 25th (EDT) and will run through July 16th "Early Summer Edition 2010"!! is going to be a fantastic event!! We will be showcasing Stampin' Up! Sneak Peeks from NEW Catalog releasing in July AND you can be sure that the HOT & HIP NEW COLORS that SU! is debuting, will be here there and everywhere on the projects shared!!

For more information or to sign up go to Dawn's Blog. Be sure to leave her a comment too, because she is doing a drawing for FREE PASSES to USTAMP!

It's a Canning Party ~

2010-05-19T11:10:00.000-06:00

~ and you're invited!

I had the chance to host a Ball Canning Party to celebrate their 125th Anniversary. Of course I jumped at the chance and if you are local, I would love to have you join me. We will be canning Salsa and Jelly. Of course there will be freebies, samples and goodies to take home. This will be a great way to learn canning if you are a newbie canner, or a good refresher if you are a canning pro. So if you would like to join us on June 5th at 2 pm. Leave me a comment, or email me to get on the list.

My To Do List for this week ~

2010-05-16T13:56:00.000-06:00

* Birthday Party for Rod!!
* Do binding on Baby Quilt
* Sew a purple net slip for Kristine's formal
* Test two new patterns for ~ Kati Cupcake (This will be fun, they will be for Kymber and Sydni. The new patterns will be released at the end of May so I'll show some pictures then.)
* Kristine's Freshman Formal Dance
* Kristine Honor Society Trip to Lagoon
* Express the Moment Crop on Saturday

Digital Layout Day ~

2010-05-10T08:50:00.000-06:00

In the midst of switching computers and software, it has been awhile since I've done any digital layouts, so here is my jump back into the digital world. There is so much to learn and you really have to keep at it, or you forget everything you've learned. It is so much more fun too, if you have sweet little pictures like this to work with. I love this little girl! She is so busy and so much fun when she comes to visit.

Time to get Creative ~

2010-05-08T07:17:00.000-06:00

In case any of you get a sudden urge to get crafty today, here are a few sample cards to get you going.

Celebrating ~

2010-04-29T09:49:00.000-06:00

27 Wonderful Years!

27 years ago Rod and I were married in the Logan Temple. And now, 4 kids, and 2 (almost 3) grandchildren later. I can truly say they have been wonderful years.

Stampin' Up! projects ~

2010-04-21T07:46:00.000-06:00

I made these cute little projects to teach at an upcoming class. The flowers are freeform cut from Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper. Crinkle them up and then flatten out and ink the edges. Glue together and either add a magnet to the back for a cute fridge or locker accent. Or you can add them to a card or scrapbook page. The layout I made is a super simple one that can be done quickly at a workshop or for a class for non crafters. I made the title with My Digital Studio. That is such an amazing and versatile program. There are new downloads being released monthly. Check out my Stampin' Up! website link to see what is available.

A walk in the park ~

2010-04-18T18:01:00.000-06:00

We had so much fun watching Kymber and Sydni last week when Michelle and Alex left for Hawaii. One afternoon we loaded up their amazing two seater stroller, and Gus and went to get Jennifer. Gus was so excited to see his friends Molly and Roxie. I got this amazing picture of them before we went to the park. What was amazing was that they were all sitting still posing for a picture. We figured two little girls and one dog was enough for one walk, so we left Molly and Roxie and just took Gus. He was so funny on the walk, when we would get to a shady spot on the path, he would stop and sit down. I think we wore him out. But it was a beautiful day and Jennifer and I loved getting out.

Baby Shower Projects ~

2010-04-07T14:38:00.000-06:00

I've wanted to try making one of these diaper cake centerpieces for awhile now, but the occasion never really presented its self, until now. Michelle and I are giving a baby shower for Jennifer on Saturday and TaDa, Here is the centerpiece. It was fun to make and even more fun to decorate. Now I need to get the Brunch Menu put together and we are ready to have a party.

Pictures from the weekend ~

2010-03-23T15:18:00.000-06:00

We had a little bit of company this weekend. Leslie and her boys were here on their way to college visits for Spring Break. Gus loved the boys and didn't seem to mind Kevin playing with his ears. There was lots of basketball watching, eating, piano playing. (Yes he was playing a real song laying on his back at the piano.) These boys are amazing pianists. It was a real treat to listen to them. I think Gus misses them. I should have gotten a picture of the kids standing up, but then Gus would have been too short to get in the picture.

I got to spend Saturday morning at a Dog Breeding Seminar. It was so interesting and kind of fun to be learning something. I think sometime down the road we will start the Bridge Creek Basset Hound Kennel. It won't be a big thing, but something fun do enjoy as a family. Bassets Hounds are such fun family pets.

Cute Stuff ~

2010-03-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

I've found that the best place to get feedback about cute stuff is on my blog. So here is my latest cute project. Michelle and I did 7 of these on Saturday for the Relief Society Birthday Social this week. I'm working on another cute thing this afternoon. They are awards for the dinner on Thursday, but I can't share them, because there is a slim chance, well probably none at all, that someone that will be there actually reads my blog. Have a fun and crafty day, hope it is actually sunny and springy where you are!

Totally Random Post ~

2010-03-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Well maybe this post isn't totally random, the pictures all have a common theme. They are all about our grand daughters. We love it when they come to town. Our regular routine gets thrown out the window and we just take time to enjoy them. Saturday it was warm enough, (ok it got up to 39', but that is warm here) for Rod to get some trim painted and Kymber got to "help" a little bit. Sydni wanted to help too and was headed outside barefoot to play in the gutter. Her Mom quickly got her redirected inside to help us. Isn't she a cutie with her little blond pigtails.

Michelle and I worked on centerpieces for a Relief Society Dinner Thursday night. I'll get a picture of them to share. They are pretty cute.

This picture of little Sydni is from a week or so ago. She is such a BUSY little girl and this grandma was so glad she slowed down enough to fall asleep. When they come over their favorite thing to do is play with Gus. And he loves it. As long as they stand up and are taller than he is they get along just great. He puts up with everything they dish out and comes back for more. Kymber is basicly the boss, she puts him in his kennel when she is done playing with him and she will randomly decide when he needs to go to the backyard and bosses him around until he gets there. If talking doesn't work, she gets ahold of his collar and pulls him to the door and pushes his little fanny outside. Of course she makes sure he gets plenty of dog treats so all is good.

It's a ~

2010-02-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

~ Baby Quilt!

Yup, I'm making a baby quilt again. And this time it is for a new little grandson. Jennifer and Trever are expecting a little baby boy to join their family. We are thrilled, and I am excited to work on a little boy quilt this time.

An AMAZING Quilt ~

2010-02-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

Look at this quilt. I'm enough of a quilter to appreciate really exquisite quilts even though I don't make them. Mine tend to quite a bit simpler, but I love this one. The best thing about it is that I (and you too) have a chance to win it. Isn't that neat. You can read the details here.

With a little help from a friend ~

2010-02-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

This beautiful photo of Jennifer was our favorite of her bridal portraits, except we really wanted one of her by herself. The little niece is a cutie, but was in the wrong place during the photo shoot. After trying for a whole afternnoon to fix the picture, I gave up and emailed the file to a friend and she was able to work her magic and sent me back a beautiful version with no extra little girls, or wall outlets. Isn't it amazing?

Before

After

New Puppy Portrait ~

2010-02-16T15:35:00.001-07:00

I got Gus to sit still the other day for a picture. Actually I had his bowl of dinner sitting there and he had to get his picture taken before he could eat. Maybe that is why he has such a concerned look, or maybe it is that he still has too much extra skin. He is growing so fast, but his skin is growing faster. No kidding, when he lays down by the fire, which is 90 % of his day, his skin lays in folds on the carpet. Actually Bassets are bred to have baggy skin and long ears, so you can tell he is a quality dog. I think it just makes him cuter. I put together his pedigree chart the other day. It was fun to see how many champions he has in his family. We are still trying to decide if we should breed him or just go ahead and get him fixed. Isn't this face worth passing on to more cute puppies.

Actually, I have a Great Grandpa Gus. We would go visit them on the numbered streets here in Idaho Falls when I was little. So it would be kind of fun to have him be a "Grandpa Gus" too. And no, he wasn't named after my grandpa. Kristine named him and thought He looked like a Gus. I guess he does.

Homemade Pizza ~

2010-02-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

It is Homemade Pizza day on my Cooking From the Heart Blog.

Getting Crafty ~

2010-02-11T11:51:00.002-07:00

Wanted to show you a little project I made this morning. They will either be pins, or hairbows for the little girls. I wish I had Kymber here to model them. They would look much cuter in her blond hair that they do sitting on the table. OK, I'm back to work now. It sounds like Gus is getting into trouble. Love this puppy stage.

She did it ~

2010-02-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Michelle has started a blog. Yes, I am proud of her, but I am also glad she has a place to share pictures of my sweet little grand daughters. So here is the link to Michelle's Blog. Stop by and say "Hi". Let's give her a great welcome to the blog world.

Scrapbooks ~

2010-02-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have a few. Last night I pulled them out of the top of the closet and put them out where we can enjoy them. OK so I only brought out half of them. There are 27 years worth of memories that are stored in over20 albums. I started scrapbooking in 1989, way before it was the thing to do, so I have pages that range from the very simple to ones that use the latest and greatest products for design team projects. What was interesting was that I didn't look at the older pages with a critical eye. Instead, I just enjoyed the memories that they brought to mind. I especially enjoyed watching the kids grow up. I still have work to do though. I made notes about what still needs to be added to get them up to date, and I am so glad there are new little grandbabies coming so I can keep scrapbooking.

Back in the Scrapbook Groove ~

2010-02-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

The Big Reveal ~

2010-02-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

You've been waiting and now, after one whole year, the big kitchen remodel is complete. Well, I do have a few nail holes to fill, but we are done. And here is the proof.

Some more favorites ~

2010-02-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

My new Favorite ~

2010-01-30T17:22:00.001-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows I love cookbooks. I collect them, I buy them as souvenirs on trips, I read them over and over, and yes I even cook from them. Today I found a new favorite.

It is The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I've loved her blog which is full of fun stories, pictures and recipes. This cookbook has it all. The recipes look wonderful and I can tell it will be on my night table for quite a while, when it isn't in the kitchen. It is full of real food recipes, beautiful photos and of course her stories. And to top it all off she loves Basset Hounds too. Yes, this is a short blog post today, I've got some reading to do.

Hot Bacon Cheese Spread ~

2010-01-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

If you love melted cheese and bacon, you will love today's recipe on my Cooking blog. It is a family favorite that we usually make for holiday parties. I know you'll love it too.

Cooking From the Heart Blog

Spread the word ~

2010-01-27T08:31:00.002-07:00

My sister's friend Laura is having a giveaway. They are giant 42" initials. They would make a great decorating accent. I'd love a "W" for my craft room. Stop and see here.

Bowtie Pasta Recipe ~

2010-01-25T17:48:00.001-07:00

I just added this delicious recipe to my Cooking Blog. The link is in the right column.

Introducing . . .

2010-01-24T07:24:00.002-07:00

. . my new Cooking Blog. COOKING FROM THE HEART!

I can't wait to share some fun recipes and cooking adventures with you. There is a link in the left column so it will be easy to find. Leave me a comment on the cooking blog to let me know what recipes you'd like to see. Hope you'll join me on this new adventure.

It's a Work Day ~

2010-01-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

And Gus is helping. Well, not really, he is trying, but he gets in the way and hauls off the tools. But he sure is cute doing it.

More Sewing Fun ~

2010-01-20T07:36:00.000-07:00

It has been so fun to get back into sewing and quilting. There truly is a time and a season for everything. And the fabrics and patterns now are cuter than ever. Look at this:

You can go here to see more of her cute things and enter to win this fabric bundle. Kati Cupcake Blog.

A time to sew ~

2010-01-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last week I finally took some time to sew and finish up this bag. I think it sat around unfinished for a few months because I didn't like the handles. But, I came up with a quick fix and I love how it turned out. When I make the pattern up as I go, that kind of thing tends to happen often. But I love how it turned out.

Gus at 16 weeks ~

2010-01-12T19:08:00.000-07:00

We've almost had Gus for two months now and he has been a great addition to our family. He has learned that if he sits on a rug, he gets puppy treats. He knows that we keep his food in the pantry, so he will sit between it and his food bowl looking back and forth when he is hungry, which is quite often. He is enjoying trips to the backyard more now that it is a little warmer, warm for Idaho that is. He went for a walk around the block, this was really a big deal. His ears are getting longer and his skin is getting baggier. He is a perfect little basset hound.

Bring in the dogs ~

2010-01-10T14:37:00.005-07:00

We need to made a few new introductions now that our family is increasing. When Jennifer married Trever that added his dog Roxie to the family. She is a Lab/Heeler mix. Then Jennifer and Trever got a little black lab puppy for Christmas. Her name is Molly. So now when all of the dogs get together it is lots of fun. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what I mean.

Happy New Year ~

2010-01-01T14:16:00.005-07:00

I hope all of you have had fun New Years Celebrations with your friends and family. We celebrated with Pepperoni Pizza and Root Beer, which Kymber thinks is a perfect party. It was fun to be together. Jen and Trever joined us for dinner and games before they got on their way to another party. (they brought their dogs too, watch for another post with pictures of them) Jen spent 11 hours making Pizza for other peoples parties and was exhausted. The little girls and all of the dogs made it quite lively here for a while. Before they went shopping this morning, I got the girls to sit still for pictures.

Kymber loves Gus. Here are a few funny pictures of her trying to hold him.

So now the little girls are headed home, Kristine is off with friends and Gus is playing with his toys in front of the fire. Life is pretty much back to normal.

Gus is Growing ~

2009-12-30T11:07:00.003-07:00

Don't you just love this little scrunched up face? I do! It is hard to get him to hold his head up for pictures. If he doesn't then all of his skin ends up over his eyes and you can't see them. It makes him look kind of grumpy doesn't it? But he is not a grumpy dog. He is so full of puppy energy, ready to play or just snuggle on the couch with you. We are doing our best to spoil him and having fun teaching him how to be a good boy at the same time. A couple of days ago, he went to the back door and "knocked" to go out. How's that for a smart little puppy!?!

Sledding in Arco ~

2009-12-29T19:51:00.004-07:00

Today was such a fun family day. We loaded up Kristine and Gus and went out to Arco to see Michelle and Alex and the girls. Alex found a sledding hill that had enough snow and we were off. Thank goodness Grandma's have cameras so we don't have to ride the sleds, and son-in-laws that will 4-wheel drive us into the middle of the action. Kymber was such a brave sledder and it was so cute how she held onto Sydni for their own ride down the hill. I love family days like this, life just doesn't get much better.

Yes, we took Gus. Isn't he growing. I'll post more of him tomorrow.

"I Heard the Bells..." ~

2009-12-29T19:43:00.003-07:00

I love this Christmas Hymn. It is a sentimental favorite that always reminds me of sitting in Church at Christmastime with my family. I would always sing alto, and I remember my Dad singing bass. It was such a favorite wherever we were living. This year it hadn't been on any of the programs throughout December and last Sunday when we got to church I looked at the bulletin and it wasn't scheduled that day either. I figured I would just miss out on that memory this year, but as they were closing the meeting they announced a change and "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" was the closing hymn. I was thrilled, but as they started the prelude I got so choked up with memories, that I couldn't sing. Yeah, I sat there in tears listening and remembering so many wonderful years of memories with my family. So to my dear family, I hope all of you enjoyed your holidays as you were literally spread from one corner of this country to the other. You were thought of, remembered and missed.

Cute puppy picture ~

2009-12-12T10:32:00.003-07:00

I'm sure you all have been waiting to see how Gus is growing. He is almost 3 months old now.

Dinnertime ~

2009-12-10T14:33:00.004-07:00

It is time to start cooking dinner. Today I am doing Enchilladas. It is a family favorite and something that I know everyone enjoys. I'd add the recipe, but I think all three of my blog readers all ready have it. It takes a while to make, but is worth when you get everyone around the dinner table. Today, however it is much more fun to cook. I've got Gus running around the kitchen "helping" me. He will sit on my feet when I'm standing still, or run to his bag of food when he sees the pantry door open. More than once, he has gotten stepped on too. Those big puppy feet and long ears are always in the way.

Just wanted to add that it has been worth the frequent trips out to the freezing cold backyard to have a little friend again. We all are enjoying him.

Raisin Pie ~

2009-12-05T10:48:00.003-07:00

I've found over the years that people have strong opinions about Raisin Pie. Rod loves it, and I don't. But I have learned to make a pretty good one, or so I've been told. When I started making them, less than a month after we were married, Rod would eat the whole pie. Now, I just make them on special occasions like Church Dinners when they ask for pot luck desserts. This way Rod can have his piece and the other 5 people who love Raisin Pie can get their fix too. I have go back to my old, old from the '50s Betty Crocker Cookbook for the recipe. So here is your notice, if you are one of the handful of people that love Raisin Pie, be sure and make it to the Pioneer Ward Christmas Dinner tonight. I'm sure they will be lining up to get their Raisin Pie, or maybe the line will be for the Prime Rib?

Getting caught up ~

2009-12-02T08:53:00.012-07:00

It feels like the merry-go-round is finally slowing down so I can jump off. We have managed to accomplish quite a bit in the past couple of months, updating my blog frequently hasn't been one of those things though. If a picture says a thousand words, then that is probably the best way to go.

We had a fun Bridal Shower for Jennifer. Lots of good food, family and friends. Thanks to all who came and helped make it such a fun afternoon. Kymber was a great little hostess, she greeted everyone at the door, passed out jelly beans and helped with presents.

We are still waiting for pictures from the wedding photographer, so until then, this is what I have to share. Thanks to Leslie, there are more than just the two I took. Our little family is growing!

We were so glad that so many of our family could come and celebrate with us.These are the bridesmaid dresses that I made. The girls looked so pretty. Walking down the stairs in high heels and down the aisle gracefully was a challenge, but they pulled it off and looked amazing. Michelle made her little girls dresses. And the best test of all, the dresses have all ready been worn again. Not just a one party dress. Brad and Alex looked so nice in their matching ties.The little girls did really well during the long event. This is one of my favorite pictures of when Sydni had finallyhad enough. Thanks, Uncle Brad.

A week after the wedding we added this little guy to the family. Jennifer and Trever stopped in Boise on their way home from Seattle and picked him up for us. It has been fun getting to know him and to teach him the rules. Basset Hounds are very smart, but quite stubborn. Gus is learning fast what he should and shouldn't do. We are learning that he will do anything for a treat, even in freezing cold weather. Good Boy!

Then Rod's Dad who has been battling Cancer for 7 years passed away the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Here is a picture of him from a few years ago. He was a great man who raised a good family. It was so nice to be there and hear from so many who he has taught and influenced over the years. Our nephew Derrick played "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes up at the cemetary. It was something Max wanted and such a nice memory for those of us who were there to listen. (I did video it on my camera, so when I figure out how to share it I will.)

Since we had just got Gus four days before, he had to take the trip too. He was a good little traveler and even enjoyed the motel. We did take his little kennel, so he didn't have free fun of the place.

Well, now you are caught up on what has been going on here. And we have just 24 days ready to get ready for the next big event.

One more day ~

2009-11-19T19:27:00.003-07:00

Gus will be coming home tomorrow! The breeder sent me pictures of our little guy today. Isn't he photogenic?

Well, we made it 4 months ~

2009-11-18T13:37:00.004-07:00

We tried. We made it four months without having dogs, and realized we really do enjoy them and need to have one. So I would like to introduce you to Gus. He is an AKC bred Basset Hound. He will be joining our family this weekend. Isn't he sweet? These pictures are from November 8, when he was 7 weeks old.

Time for an update ~

2009-11-02T18:28:00.003-07:00

It looks like it's been awhile since I've visited my own blog. I do have good excuses though. I have been in full wedding planning mode. We are down to just 12 days so we are in the final planning stage. I just need to put zippers and hems in the bridesmaid dresses. They are really cute, and have all ready passed the true test of a bridesmaid dress. Kristine plans to wear hers to a dance in December. No pictures yet. You'll have to wait for after wedding posts. Rod has his suit, I have my dress. Haircut and updo appointments are made. Thanks Ronda! We just have to get final guest estimates and finalize reception food and buy ties for the guys. Jen and Trever have been busy making lots of plans, and decisions and buying a house. They close this next week, so they will have a house to move into. We are just waiting for family to get here and get the party started.

And we got to celebrate Halloween with the little girls. Alex and Michelle had a family dress up party on Friday so the little bumble bee and lady bug, AKA Kymber and Sydni went with us to the Trunk or Treat. Kristine wore her bee costume too and Kymber thought it was so fun to match. I do have pictures of that night. It turned into a nice evening considering the day started out with snow on the ground. However I do remember going trick or treating in knee deep snow many years ago, so we were lucky to have it so nice.

I love this picture of Kristine. She adds so much fun to our family!!

Kymber learned how to say "trick or treat" this year. Isn't she cute!

Sydni was one wiggly little ladybug.

Engagement Photos ~

2009-09-29T17:34:00.004-06:00

Here they are!! Jennifer and Trever's Engagement Photos. I love how they turned out. Trever's Mom took them. I'm working on the announcements this week, but you'll have to wait to get those in the mail. I'm doing them with the new Stampin' Up! My Digital Studio program. You will love it.

Wedding Bells ~

2009-09-24T16:22:00.003-06:00

Just when it looks like things are getting back to normal something comes along to remind me that "Normal is just a setting on the dryer."

This time it is a fun occasion that we are preparing for. Jennifer and Trever announced last week that they are engaged. So, we are in full wedding planning mode. We are starting the list of lists that we need to start making and all of the other fun wedding tasks. They are getting pictures taken this weekend then I can show you a picture of the happy couple.

Watch Class Pictures~

2009-09-13T18:24:00.002-06:00

Here are a few pictures of watches I have done recently. I love how they turned out and have enjoyed having a watch again and not having to rely on my cell phone to tell the time. I am teaching a watch class for the ladies at church this week and my blog was a good place to show some pictures of what we are going to be doing. Enjoy your enening. I am off to get the supply lists made up.

It's my day on UStamp! ~

2009-09-13T14:59:00.003-06:00

If you have been following my blog, you know I was asked to be a Guest Designer for UStamp! It is an online Stampin' Up! class. Dawn Rapsas has organized it, and includes several designers from all over the world to share projects and ideas. Well, my project is up today, and there is another variation version coming up tomorrow. It was fun to be asked to be a part of this. Just thought you would like to know. Here is a peek at my project.I've had lots of fun creating with the new stamps that have come out this fall, so you'll have to stop back and see what I've made.

My poor car ~

2009-09-12T08:37:00.002-06:00

Thursday morning I was taking Kristine to school and somebody backed out of their driveway and hit us. We were really glad it wasn't worse, but it was pretty scary and it peeled the side of the car open. I spent the day dealing with insurance companies, car repair companyes and car rental companies. Yeah, it was lots of fun. So we have a cute little white rental car for a couple of weeks and we are taking a different route to school in the mornings.

Catching Up ~

2009-09-12T08:17:00.005-06:00

We have had a whirlwind end of the summer. Kristine got started into school. 9th grade this year. It is nice to still have someone at home with a routine. I can't keep track of Jennifer and Brad and their schedules, but Kristine's schedule is normal and easy to follow.

We went to Grays Lake for a family reunion. Not many people know where that is, but if you drive SE from Idaho Falls through Bone, you end up in Grays Lake where my Dad and his sister Sandra grew up. Lots of fun family history. We have really enjoyed reading the book that Aunt Sandra put together. I like having the stories all in one place. We got to stay in a Sheep Camp at Mosquito Ranch. It is up Bridge Creek, where the family ranch was. There was even a herd of sheep going down the road at 5:30 one morning, so we got the real experience. One of the highlights of the weekend was the Dinner and Rodeo. It was so fun to see little Kymber enjoying the rodeo. Ok, most of the pictures have her in them, but she had fun making the rounds and seeing everyone. Sydni had a little nap on Michelle's lap and then woke up to enjoy watching the cowboys and horses. We all got dressed up and went to church at the Grays Lake ward on Sunday morning. It was great to feel so welcome there.

Grand Opening ~

2009-08-31T09:58:00.003-06:00

Today is the official grand opening of my Etsy.com shop. I have started the

Created From the Heart Etsy Shop.

There is a link on the right side of my blog. Okay, so there is just one necklace right now, but I have more things that just need photos and it will be fun to watch it grow.

I {heart} Freeman Park ~

2009-08-21T20:32:00.004-06:00

I had forgotten how much I enjoy going to Freeman Park in the evenings. Years ago we would load up the kids and the roller blades and put Kristine in a stroller and go to the park. Lots of fun memories. There is a beautiful walking/biking path that goes along the edge of the Snake River and follows Willow Creek. Kristine has outgrown the stroller and today we got her a new bike. Tonight we decided we needed to take it for a test ride at Freeman Park. (Yes, she is spoiled, but that is a story for another post. Think early Christmas, OK.) Her and Rod loaded their bikes on the bike rack and we were off. While they rode their bikes, I walked and had a peaceful walk and enjoyed the scenery and the cool breeze off the river.

Take a peek ~

2009-08-17T10:27:00.003-06:00

Just wanted to show you a peek at what we are making at our Stamp Club meeting on Thursday.

Time for an update ~

2009-08-10T07:54:00.006-06:00

This is kind of a hard post to write, but I figured it was time for an update. A couple of weeks ago we found a new home for our Basset Hounds. I know, I can't believe it either. We have felt for a while that it was time to move on to the next phase in life. We are gone more now and it is harder to leave them alone. I'm sure the neighbors got tired of the sad, howling hounds when we were gone. We have grand daughters now that take their place, and are the entertainment. I won't miss the dog hair, or the distinct hound smell, but I do miss having Candie lay down and take a nap with me, and having company along on a hike in the mountains. I guess I will end up taking more pictures now when we go to the mountains.

I have loved Basset Hounds since we got one when I was in 5th Grade. His name was Sundance of Gem City. We just had Sunny for a couple of years until he got jealous of my new little brother and had to find a new home. Thirty years later I got one of my own when Rod let me get a puppy for Christmas. I still can't believe it. Cassidy was such a fun addition to the family. We really enjoyed her and added Candie when her other family had to let her go. I think I have enough pictures of them to last a lifetime and will always have fond memories of my years with my Basset Hounds. And this post wouldn't be complete without a few pictures.

Crafty Stuff ~

2009-07-20T09:58:00.004-06:00

I've been having lots of fun playing with wire jewelry and this is the latest project. Getting good, detailed pictures is as much of a trick as getting the coils to look just right. I think I'm almost ready to open up my Etsy.com shop.

A day at the mountains ~

2009-07-20T09:41:00.005-06:00

Have you ever been to Targhee Creek? It is a beautiful hiking/biking trail between Island Park and West Yellowstone. We loaded up the Bikes, the Daughters and the Dogs and a picnie and went for a family trip on Saturday. It was so fun to get away. We especially enjoyed having Jenny with us. When kids grow up and busy with school and jobs it is harder to get time with them. She rode with Rod on their bikes and Kristine and I hiked with the dogs. We hiked for about an hour and a half, which is really good for me and the short, fat dogs. Kristine carried bug spray in one hand and a dog leash in the other. she was so much fun to hike with. I love my girls.

Jewelry Pictures ~

2009-07-12T21:18:00.004-06:00

In the middle of getting the kitchen put back together I have been making Jewelry. It has been lots of fun. I wanted to put up a few pictures here to get some feedback before I take new pictures and put them up in my Etsy shop.

Ta Da!!

2009-07-12T21:14:00.003-06:00

Here it is. All done except for tiling the backsplash, valance in the window and a couple of little touch up things. I love it. It has been so fun to cook again. I'll have to admit I did enjoy the break from cooking for a while.

Countertop Picture ~

2009-07-09T10:36:00.003-06:00

Finally, a picture to show you what we have been working on. I love how they turned out. The range hood should be here this weekend and the next step will be to tile the backsplash.

Pictures from the mountains ~

2009-07-09T08:13:00.003-06:00

The dogs loved the mountains! I think Candie, the black one, loves the ride up as much as getting out to run. She was up on my lap standing on the edge of the window with her ears flapping in the breeze. If I could get my girls to come up with me, there might be pictures of them too, but for now, the dogs are enjoying getting their picture taken.

Before Pictures ~

2009-07-06T19:06:00.004-06:00

I just realized that I haven't shown a picture of what the kitchen looked like before we started this "little" project. Here are a couple of pictures before pictures I found from last summer.

My new favorite picture ~

2009-07-06T09:51:00.002-06:00

Isn't this a great picture? I love having all of my kids close enough to come visit for holiday get-to-gethers. We had such a fun afternoon.

Happy July!

2009-07-06T09:39:00.003-06:00

Yikes! has it really been 6 weeks since I've posted anything. It has truly been a busy summer. Kristine and I have had a great time hanging out and working on projects during the day. We have done Vinyl tiles for Relief Society, Handouts for a Visiting Teaching thing and we are in the middle of 150 charm keychains for Stake Girls Camp. We have really made a lot of progress on the kitchen project. The cupboards are painted and glazed, have new knobs and we've added crown moulding to the cupboards. This past weekend we replaced the old countertop base with new 3/4 inch plywood and cement board. The kitchen sink is gone and the new one is waiting in the garage. We have wood trim put on the cupboard edges and got that stained. Here are a couple of pictures. Right now we have the granite tile layed out out and cut to size. Rod should be able to take another day off this week so we can get it finished.

Look at this amazing pot rack we found. We are still waiting for a range hood and then we can figure out how we want to do the floor.

First drive to the canyon ~

2009-05-19T18:15:00.004-06:00

Saturday, Rod and I took a drive up to Kelly Canyon to check out if the trails are ready for a bike ride. Well, there were still snow drifts on the roads, so it doesn't look like we can hit the trails for a couple more weeks. The dogs got to go with us and they loved it. Candie loves to stand with half her body out the window and her ears blowing in the wind. Not very safe for a top heavy dog, but if I hold onto her collar I will let her do it. She is fearless and not bothered by passing cars at all. It was so much fun to get out. I did get a few good pictures of tCandie and Cassidy together. Not easy to do, but Rod was there to help.

Aren't they cute!?! Well if you are a Basset Hound lover you will understand, I don't expect the rest of you to get it. Today is Candie's birthday. She is three years old. Extra dog biscuits for her!