Patience please...until my mind returns

Please forgive me for constantly changing the formatting of my blog. I'm trying to decide what I really like! I think this may be it, but it's possible I could feel differently next week. :) We're gearing up for a big weekend out near Mt. Baker. Nathan is going to work on the trails with the Washington Trail Association (which we are now members of) while Bexar and I hike, sleep, and read. Sounds like a tough job...Really the tough part is making sure everything is packed. We won't be backpacking everything in, which might be a nice break this weekend. We're looking forward to a fun weekend in the woods. :)

Kara's wedding card

Nathan's cousin Kara is getting married next week and her invitation colors were burgundy, off-white, black, and green. I had been eyeing the SU set "Blooming with Happiness" but it's a hostess set and I haven't been a hostess this year. http://catalogs.shoplocal.com/stampinup/index.aspx?pagename=moreinfo&fsid=5f87a69d-a986-4379-b40e-7c478f3f7357&storeid=1038724&uniqueid=7198381&circularid=8778

I love the dress made of flowers, so I just made my own. I bought pre-cut flowers, and spruced up the larger ones with glitter. I also added some crystals to the middle of each one. For the bust of the dress, I used the heart from Mini Mates.

It didn't turn out like I had pictured. Now I wish I wouldn't have scalloped the edges, but it's too late to change. :(

Poo Poo Point Trail

Saturday, we loaded up the truck and drove up to Tiger Mountain to hike Poo Poo Point Trail. It was a longer hike, but well worth it. The trail was beautiful and my favorite so far out at Tiger Mountain. :D Details are at http://www.mwit.zoomshare.com/ under "Blog." Pictures to come soon, as I'm getting them developed today.

Doodle bugs

It's beginning to feel more and more like summer here and we're getting more and more bugs. Because it's been hot and we've had the windows open, we've got them inside the house. Not only do they bug us, but Bexar loves to chase them! His true puppy nature comes out as he hops and pounces on them around the house. Bugs and birds seem to the be the only thing that distract him from us...right now anyway. I found this paper in my huge stack of patterned paper and just had to use it. I've also started doodling, which is fun and whimsical. I really like the look on this card. The front actually has a window and the lady's bugs body is on a foamy thing. (It's late and I'm lacking in the vocabulary department.) An actual ribbon outlines the square cutout on the front while the inside is just drawn by a black marker and gel pen to match. :)

Just buzzing around

I have a ton of stuff that's been accumulating to go in the mail, but I've yet to make it to the post office because some things need cards with them. Well, today was my stamping day and I finally made some thank you notes to go with them! I guess this was "no procrastination day!" One of the thank-you notes I needed was for Beth Ann for loaning me her book, "The Secret Life of Bees." (I had to use quotations since this blog won't let me underline. Arg!) For some reason, this book depressed me. It was difficult for me to get into but I pressed on, hoping for a light of redemption. I never found it.

Grannie's scrapbook finally finished

After what seems like years...okay, it really has been...I finally finished her 80th birthday scrapbook. It was originally her 80th birthday gift, but I wanted to add her party pictures in, since she had a lot of old friends and family show up. However, when she returned it to me, she included many other pictures that she wanted included, along with ALL of her cards - at least 80 of them! Honestly, my creativity was shot and I was burnt out. With mother's day coming, I was finally inspired to work on it and although Mother's day is over and gone, it's finally finished. Because she was very particular about wanting her cards included, I made pockets to put them in so she can take them out whenever she wants to read them, but this made the book incredibly bulky. We shall see how long they remain in there...

I'm just glad I'm done! I know she'll enjoy having it and hopefully she's got lots more years to thumb through it.

A Flurry of Fuzzies & Farmers

Everywhere you go, there is a flurry of white fuzzies. It's almost as if it's a spring snow. :) It's quite beautiful and romantic. Apparently, they're seeds from the cottonwood trees. I guess they just want to share their fuzzies with everyone. I'm not sure if a picture will turn out, but I'll try. I guess some things are just meant for our daily delights!

Today was also the weekly farmer's market. Holly and I enjoy going down there together and getting some fresh produce. There are also crafters, which are fun to talk with while viewing their wares. I always catch myself thinking..."I could make that for cheaper"...but as it turns out, I haven't made any!! I bought some herbs and daisies today. They were so beautiful, I couldn't resist. They'll help to girly up the house a little. :) Okay, off to repot!

New truck bed liner

I spent over 4 hours at Line-X getting the truck bed liner sprayed on, twice as long as they estimated. Apparently, they had a tough time getting the canopy off. It's black and looks great. Bexar has already given it a test run. He doesn't slide around as much, which is nice. Yesterday was a very long day, but I'm glad to get that taken care of.

I'm still working on the cards for Joseph's and Karla's move. Even though I added more dots, the ribbon has turned out to be the most time-consuming part. I think it will all be worth it, though. :) She emailed me yesterday and said they had never had moving cards before, so that's fun and makes it all worthwhile.

Congratulations to Beth Ann and Adam!

Can you hear the bridal march now? Adam and Beth Ann got engaged this last month. I'm so happy for both of them. I know Adam is getting a wonderful woman! My prayers are with them, as Adam is being deployed to Iraq sometime at the first of June. I'm sure the separation will be difficult, because now more than ever, they're ready to get on with their lives together, but I guess that's part of being in the military. I am so thankful for Adam (and all of our service men and women) and his commitment to defending our country. Please pray with me for a safe tour of duty and a speedy return home. Also, please be in prayer for their relationship and marriage. The wedding is fun to plan and such a wonderful occassion, but it's only one day and not a lifetime. May they have a long and blessed life together.

The In-laws are moving

EDIT: I can't believe I did it, but I added more dots. I'm going crazy with the dots, but I think it looks even cuter. :-)

My BIL and SIL are moving their family to Minnesota at the end of this week, and I wanted to make them some special cards to send out. I love them so much and miss being able to see them when I want. I hate that we're missing out on so much of the kids' growing up years, but I guess that's life. I think this move will be great for them, as most of their family (both sides) live there. The kids will have more time with their cousins, aunts and uncles, and family get-togethers will be much more frequent. I am looking forward to hearing about life in Minnesota.

Lessons from a Woodpecker Diner

Friday was an absolute gorgeous day, and the woods were beckoning Bexar and me. So, we spent the afternoon at Tiger Mountain, trekking the Poo Poo Point Trail. As we were hiking, I saw my daily delight. If you can imagine with me, looking up the trunk of an old tall dead pine, rittled with cone-shaped holes and very few branches to speak of. What's the beauty in that? It was a woodpecker diner! At that moment, God reminded me of such an important truth: with death comes life. That old pine was dead and looked ugly and useless, but to the woodpeckers and other bugs, it provided food and shelter. Who but God can turn death into life? He sent His son, Jesus, to die for us so that we might live with Him forever. We were dead in our sins but He made us alive in Christ. What an awesome God He is!

We both had such a wonderful time out in the woods, just the two of us, together. We only passed one other person on the trail, which was surprising but nice. Bexar was so good and stayed on my heels the entire way. We continued on, making a loop and taking the West Tiger Mountain RR Trail back. The trail was overgrown and as always, I got into some stinging nettle, but we finally made it back. I haven't summed the mileage yet, but we hiked 3.25 hours, getting in a good workout. Having Nathan with us is the only thing that would have made this hike better, but someone has to bring home the bacon.

I am so blessed to live in the great Northwest!

Inspired

I have been lured back into my craft room by my friends PK, BA, Anne, & Holly. They have inspired me with all of their beautiful stamping creations. After perusing SCS, I stumbled over several blogs, which have also inspired me. I really enjoy stamping, scrapbooking, and making jewelry when I'm not playing World of Warcraft or enjoying the outdoors. It seems as if WOW has been taking up a lot of time here lately, which is quite embarrassing. I can't believe I've been sucked into a computer game...and for so long now. Well, it's another beautiful day and I the hiking trails are calling my name. Bexar and I are going to venture out on our own to Tiger Mountain. We're looking forward to a wonderful day together...well, I am, but he loves being with me wherever I am! TTFN