Merry Christmas and a Little Gift For You

Hi Everyone, I spent an entire day yesterday cleaning the master bath. Yes, I know how silly that sounds, but every time my back started to hurt, I'd take a break and lie flat on my back for a while until it eased up. Accomplished a few other things but not all I needed to. By bedtime I had to take anti-inflammatory but between the jitters it gave me and muscle cramps in my legs sllep was elusive. Got up for warm milk and read some chapters in a James Patterson novel, played a few hands of solitare on my Kindle. Got up again when the neighbor's dog began his early morning bark-a-thonm because I remembered I'd forgotten to take the trash can out to the street. Pulled on some clothes, went out into the cold (30 something here) and took care of that, then headed back to bed. When I finally woke up it was late afternoon. Still waking around in my robe and taking it easy. Tonight I'm making chocolate chip cookie dough because that's the favorite cookie of husband, son, and grandchild. I've got to make some batches of microwave fudge which is a big favorite. Tha's about all the holiday baking I'll mange this year. Didn't even try to put up my little tree as I've got too much catching up to do on housework after being down over a month with my back. I did order a new wreath since the one I'd made years ago went to children's hospital thrift. Wouldn't you know, it was the one thing I ordered on line there was a problem with. It was due on 19th but when I tracked it, the darn thing hadn't even shippd yet! Cancelled that order. Oh well. On the positive side, it turns out that grandson, his wife, and our baby great-granddaughter will be spending the 26th with us! The baby is sitting up now and babling a lot. Since I'll be frantically busy the next few days, I wanted to stop and wish you all the Most Merry of Christmases and offer best wishes to a healthy and happy 2024. I've made you a little Christmas kit and will see you again in 2024.

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1jjc21avr3dp8n6ail0fs/ws_VicChristmas_el.zip?rlkey=lrqaq7zohgmwafajm93dp6j1m&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/soe9omc6x3af42aw0b5od/ws_VicChristmas_el_2.zip?rlkey=qaq53q3m5s445fizgm6yhuhct&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qg0zgvx9o85hp22y85w4l/ws_VicChristmas_ppr.zip?rlkey=ssx89gvah8p9tg55n66kkeitk&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/pj1czzzmbgpkrqh13xxiv/ws_VicChristmas_ppr_2.zip?rlkey=urt1t87adnv139q4oqb8updku&dl=0

It's been so long but I have a freebie for you

I made my little weekend trip last month to see my friends. Lots of driving (about 8.5 hours by me) and riding in a pickup (driven by Kelly - about 12 hours). First I drove to Amelia (near Richmond, VA) to meet up with Kelly. Spent the night, then next morning I hopped into her pick-up truck with her and her Jack Russell and we headed out to the far western tip of Virginia, Grayson County, where Virginia touches on Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Her family has a cabin there and her mother, my friend, Sandy, had driven up from Georgia to Winterize the place. Short visit as Sandy had to head back to Georgia next morning. Kelly and I headed back to her home in Amelia looking forward to hot showers and more visiting before I left next day to return home. No hot showers for us. In fact, no heat and temps were in 30s! The heater had crashed. So we bundled up in quilts, popped some popcorn and chatted for hours, not looking forward to cold beds. Next day when I arrived home I was stiff from all the travel. Dumped everything in the living room, got my hot shower and crashed. Unfortunately, when I woke up I could barely move, couldn't totally straighten up, had severe lower back pain. That was November 15. I had the female version of A Boy's Dreams ready for you but could barely get out of bed. One week muscle relaxers with no improvement. Six days of prednisone let me pretty much straighten up. Hard getting around. Could only sit for about 15-20 minutes at a time. X-rays showed "no significant abnormalities" just "degenerative discs, arthritis, and scoliosis." Just those things aren't significant when you are 72. Gor anti-inflamatory pills which I'm supposed to take twice a day. Discovered I can't take them at night because it makes me jittery and unable to sleep. I do feel better, can straighten up, walk a short while, sit for about 30 minutes now before I have to go lie on my back/ Progress there. House a wreck, no holiday decorating or baking done. Oh well.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6j85or9nons12cw73ml39/ws_AGirlsDreams_ppr.zip?rlkey=4eb3robfgfkdvv23jki01shwu&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nd6winfti6svbtj3dnj7r/ws_AGirlsDreams_el.zip?rlkey=0yy0jacoi0khdrsn0du1y5s0v&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/86vete1i6iimqjxbp8eqo/ws_AGirlsDreams_el_2.zip?rlkey=7y4a48s82n6x30mbved8o4pyo&dl=0 Hope you like it. I hope to get a Christmas kit together for you but no promises. Stay safe and if I don't get another chance to do so, I wish you Happy Holidays!

A Day of Thanks freebie

A little something to scrap your Thanksgiving day.

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5u3t1rufvu476blowsuno/ws_ADayofThanks_el.zip?rlkey=ydl0pq9gnwfqt4sjlfwyaqre4&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2bh5siomp3nbbwc3t4syk/ws_ADayofThanks_pprs.zip?rlkey=iont5qvz6ve6v8dkshy32cvs2&dl=0 May you have a blessed holiday with family and friends.

Finishing up A Boy's Dreams

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/woqixdbu1mhx6delppjkc/ws_ABD_el3.zip?rlkey=78mkxgqkv2ih4hsqb82qhg079&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/filwlh0eqtwmdec2brz81/ws_ABD_ppr3.zip?rlkey=bqvxc7n0x9xvhszmapkfwnqjp&dl=0

Oops next part of A Boy's Dreams

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4crxa8jfd0ij6ijy36i83/ws_ABD_el2.zip?rlkey=qa8xbilq15fdtix071aesudaj&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/aasqj931xtdzwatkh4tso/ws_ABD_ppr2.zip?rlkey=2kx8v053i8tmz5isnxturrwwu&dl=0

A Little Treat

Finally have a new kit for you which I'll be uploading in 3 posts. There are 6 zips so I will give you an element and a paper zip each time but there will only be a main preview which doesn't show everything. The subject of this kit is little boys.

Today's links: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6thrb4hycvl3g756j3mam/ws_ABD_el.zip?rlkey=y77foexqdj1edhgipctnqo2uk&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vvq180sjzgt5k4tjd5gjy/ws_ABD_ppr.zip?rlkey=9sedwo0vm7i0rme47jpu85hmz&dl=0 Next post will be Saturday.

A little Halloween Treat

Might be out of town for some days so I'm scheduling this today (9/24) so you will have it in time for Halloween.

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/snnv39fneu52zkrdy2o7q/AllHallosNite_ppr.zip?rlkey=mdrbg44cdr79kdiek4poj8j9g&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hlb8wwopdicj0e2ze9343/AllHallosNite_el.zip?rlkey=8253i4x317ohp870qaztwife0&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ag393g4ikdpk48dgybmie/AllHallosNite_el_2.zip?rlkey=9w3tk1kdbdgu1penqkqpgtja1&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yw0hzhjxypxaqqvwcj3v3/AllHallosNite_ppr_2.zip?rlkey=rnle9t35b9foxahwrku03war4&dl=0

Saturday 10/14

Be sure to check in on Saturday to get your Halloween kit.

Autumn Attitude round 2

Here are the remaining zips: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9xsgv1l28s9f1c6kijg54/ws_AutAttitude_el_2.zip?rlkey=ljillakvbtr7z28mekr5bpwjx&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yyrer27ujv7rm0h2pzlre/ws_AutAttitude_ppr_2.zip?rlkey=em44l4qtic7fqs18vrumhufp6&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6tqn3l2e7jzva090lx8ln/ws_AutAttitude_el_3.zip?rlkey=5adh2dw5a61dcewi9iifryw74&dl=0

Autumn Attitude

Hard to believe it is mid September already! While it might be officially Autumn, here in coastal Virginia we are still having hot days and there is little of the changing color in foliage seen in more northern states. I'm looking forward to cooler weather, hoping that with it I'll have more energy and be able to accomplish more. It continues to remain a blue sort of year. My husband turns 73 tomorrow and has had the blues today due to his inability to do the things he used to do. He has realized his condition will not improve and worries about how this is impacting me. Pain is a constant now and about the only thing that gives him relief is sleep, once he can fall asleep. My ex-husband is heading to Florida to do preliminary work towards starting proton therapy for his cancer. Meanwhile my son, Jeremy, is realzing that we won't be around forever. Naturally, although he tries to keep up a positve outlook, he is worried about his father and he is also concerned about his step-father's health. Our grandson too is recognizing that his Papa is winding down. We all know these things are inevitable but that doesn't stop us from feeling sad. The bright note lately has been our great-grand-daughter, Taylor, who is progressing nicely and whose little smile lightens our hearts. At four months old, she now recognizes us even though she doesn't see us often. It is so cute to watch her turn in the direction of her Daddy's voice to see where he is. Definitely Daddy's girl. Football season is officially here. At grandson's suggestion, we decided to watch the first Washington game (His team. Husband's is the Steelers) together. Tyler pulled out his smoker and cooked a big pork shoulder and brought it over. We supplied the sides. And to top things off, he left the rest of that big pan of pork here for us to continue enjoying. We had some again the next night and I froze the rest to work into meal plans later.

That's Tyler cooking. Scrapped with the new kit I have for you called Autumn Attitude. Today I have the first zip of papers and first zip of elements. In next couple days I will post the last zip of papers and th other two zips of elements. Sure hope you like it.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iqby6kkbjpguzq1zpmvma/ws_AutAttitude_ppr_1.zip?rlkey=so7wu0qwx0k2pkwwq4jjgxuiw&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o6c7y8ucpn1pdmq4h7qm7/ws_AutAttitude_el_1.zip?rlkey=ni0ixe0d708lg65995prc4842&dl=0

How about an August freebie?

I'm sure most everyone has given up on me; I understand. Too much going on here. Freiends and family having major health issues, computer problems, super heat and so on. Of the two friends who were in severely bad health last I wrote, one is recovering nicely from his stomach cancer surgery, while the other died of multiple causes. I've spent a lot of time on phone, messages and in person with the families trying to be supportive. Within my family my son had some health issues which have turned out okay. My husband's condition continues to deteriotate such that he can barely stand, walk just a few steps at a time, has shortness-of-breath, and is in constant pain. And just last week I heard from my ex-husband that he has postate cancer and is going through testing to see what the best treatment option is for him. We have remained friendly since our divorce. We have been friends since we were 5 years old and he is my son's father. All in all 2023 so far has been a rough year. My energy has waned due to stress so the only designing I've been doing is some digital art challenges. Those don't take long to complete and let me enjoy moments of creativity so I try to fit them in. I have put together a back to school kit for you this month and I'm going to give you the whole thing at one time. Please note that not all elements are shown and they have been reduced for preview.

I hope some of you can use it. Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8sr1b6shnnr0a11wto84w/ws_SchoolIsIn_ppr.zip?rlkey=pt12offwtx1ozph03uyhyaqx5&dl=0 Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kd00tyiqeopbzy8ck6dan/ws_SchoolIsIn_el.zip?rlkey=ep6dzjemcykochqvhstzv2v7z&dl=0 What remains of this month is pretty well committed but I expect to be able to post at least one kit for you in September. Hope you all are well and happy. Hugs, SherryD

Rest of In the Garden and news

Thursday I spent 5 hours in the Emergency Room because I was having pain in the upper left of my chest. I was not concerned about my heart. It felt more like having something swollen and causing pressure, perhaps my spleen. Called my primary doctor's office to try to get in and see him but he is away this week for his daughter's wedding. The nurse advised me to go to the ER for assessment. Had a complete workup: EKG, chest x-ray, blood work, even a C.A.T. scan. Everything seemed fine. I felt really silly but still uncomfortable. Doctor decided it was a muscular/skeletal problem and gave me fluids and Toradol with instructions for home care. I've never before had an issue with that area when my fibromyalgia flares up but later on the usual trigger points made themselves known. So we're calling this a sever fibro flare. Just before that occured, I'd ordered a new computer with Windows 11 because the Windows 8.1 I've been using is no longer supported by Microsoft and even goggle was alerting me I wouldn't be able to update their browser. I have a lot of digital resources and writing files. It would cost a lot to have someone transfer these to new computer and having paid for the computer and Windows 365 (a package that includes Wordm, Excel, 1TB of cloud storage and a couple other things) I will be attempting to set up the new computer and transfer the files myself. Having already started loading some things to cloud storage to make it easier and safer to keep important stuff, I can see it is going to take a good while. I plan to be off line for the month of June to make this transistion. That said, I want to give you the rest of In the Garden now. After this, don't expect to see me until July.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ugqzbi68h48pajb/ws_InTheGarden_8.zip?dl=0

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xxtivznuu6wu1wy/ws_IntheGarden_9.zip?dl=0

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/a0mhva4jvvrssnz/ws_IntheGarden_10.zip?dl=0

My apologies and some new In the Garden

Too much on my mind, I guess because I thought I'd posted at least zip 7. So today 7 & 8.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dnyv0uq0ixnnp8v/ws_InTheGarden_7.zip?dl=0

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ugqzbi68h48pajb/ws_InTheGarden_8.zip?dl=0

In the Garden zips 5 & 6

Lots happening here, or it feels that way. A number of people I know are having major health issues: stomach cancer, heart trouble (waiting for a bipasss), hip replacement, complications from Crohn's disease, and iscemic colon. My next door neighbor and his wife have moved. She got a promotion and we are going to Alaska! Sure will miss them. They were the only people in the neighborhood we know and could count on if we needed help. I saw the oral surgeon this week and he took another panoramic x-ray and was pleased with the bone growth. I won't go back until September, then be x-rayed again to see when the post can be put in. Meanwhile, I was going to use the rabbit nibbling at the potted plant and discovered I'd somehow erased his tail and missed that when I put him in first zip. In zip 5 you will find a replacement. Same element number but with an "r" after it so you know it is the replacement. Since it's been too long, I have 3 zips for you today.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/knxm55b7jpd98uy/ws_InTheGarden_5.zip?dl=0

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/d3bw7901f1r10bw/ws_InTheGarden_6.zip?dl=0

In the Garden 4

I've had some real food in last couple days - nothing I really needed to chew - and am feeling stronger. Pain is more like discomfort and pressure. Haven't been able to get rid of awful taste in the mouth yet and still want to sleep a lot, when I can get comfortable that is. Have given more thought to next part of procedure, which could be weeks or months away. The thought of drilling into jaw bone to place the post is worrying me. Might ask to be sedated for that although sedation is not covered by insurance and costs around $800 in addition to everything else. Will also ask whther doc can prescribe another pain medication as I don't want to go through that stomach pain again. Still a little queasy but since today is last day of Amoxicillin, I expect that to pass. I've been taking a probiotic along with the antibiotic and it does seem to make a difference. (Fingers crossed) I did manage to get my book review up on time, put up my monthly challenge at Just Art, and have a little more of new kit for you. Household chores still await. Don't they always?

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jbzzqr4z2vrpkf2/ws_InTheGarden_4.zip?dl=0 Oh, I used the kit in progress to make my example ATC for JA challenge. What do you think?

Recovering & zip 3

Day 3 recovering from oral surgery. Turned out to be more painful that I expected and had bad stomach pain from first pain pill I took (Norco) so had to get by on just 600mg Tylenol (joke) and trying to sleep as much as possible. Swelling has finally gone down for most part but I still have pain, can't close my teeth with comfort and am so tired of liquid diet! Here is zip 2

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bo2mzmfrbvnvztc/ws_InTheGarden_3.zip?dl=0

Zip 2 of In the Garden

All sorts of things going on with friends in hospital, a book to finish reading and review for a launch team I'm on, the usual household stuff, Just Art forum duties, and getting ready for surgery in the morning. A note about the kit in progress. Since I'm doing this a little at a time, I can't put together an overall preview until all is done. What I'll do at the end is take all the individual previews, minimize them and add them to one page for you. Then you will be able to remove the individual previews from your computer to save space. For the TOU, I'll be adding to the first one as I need to cite credits for things I've used. This will be cumlative so that the TOU in last zip will have all necessary credit info and at that point, or perhaps as new zips are posted, you can delete earlier versions of the TOU that are cluttering up your hard drive. Today we have:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1y7ps77amvdqwrk/ws_InTheGarden_2.zip?dl=0 I expect to be back later this week with more of the kit. Hope all is well with you. Hugs!

Catching Up and Beginning a New Kit

This month is flying by! Between remodeling, baby drama, and friends with serious health problems, it seems one day has melted into another. Minor stuff first - well, it's only minor in terms of what you'd be interested in. Finally got a new outlet in remodeled bath plus a new light in the utility closet there, some straightening out of wiring problems in attic and proper venting for exhaust. However, after we'd paid and the electrician left, we discovered the exhaust fan still isn't working! He'd checked the light part of it and forgot to check the fan so he will have to come back out! I pulled everything out of the utility closet, organized, tossed out stuff, and reorganized. But I still have one bag and a small box of other stuff that had been crammed in there to go through. I think a lot of it is old cleaning products that can be trashed. Just have to get to it. Just this past week a problem developed with the A/C unit. It is still cooling but suddenly there is a tremenous vibration that is causing the dining room to be noisy and vibrating some. Waiting on our guy to come out and determine the problem. Hubby thinks it is the compressor which is odd since the unit has only been in a year. Right now my friend, Steph, is recovering from a hip replacement at her sister's house. The night she had surgery last week, her husband got admitted for severe abdominal pain. He's still in the hospital and docs don't yet know what is going on. Tests so far have been good but for now he is on a liquid diet. My friend, David, had 68 biopsies during his "mapping" procedure! They found 8 tumors in his stomach, 2 of them malignant. That was the last I heard from his wife, so still don't know exactly what the treatment will be, Good news - after all the ups and downs of her pregnancy, the day before doctors were going to induce labor, our Sally's water broke. Our first great-grand child was born on April 14! Because the electrician was here working, my husband couldn't go to the hospital but I did and got to hold the sweetest little girl. Well proportioned with a head full of black hair (yeah, I know, only temporary) and sleepy from her journey.

(I covered over the surname because we're told parents shouldn't give whole name on internet) Isn't she a cutie? Of course, as her GG, I think so! I do have a new kit in the works for you. Just not very inspired about the papers. Will post a little at a time as I get the chance. Here is first zip:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ir68rl7zao2r26p/ws_IntheGarden_1.zip?dl=0

Happy Easter!

Hardly know where this week disappeared to. Thought I'd be back long before this. On Sunday I was drinking water when I felt a piece of something gritty on my tongue. Long story short, I had just broken off a crowned tooth below the gum line! Visit to dentist followed on Monday, then referral to oral surgeon. On 25th I'll have surgery to remove what is left of the tooth, a new procedure to graft bone where the socket is in preparation for an implant some months down the road. The tooth is near the sinus and without the bone graph there culd be problems when doing the implant. Still, it all sounds like it will be quick and wasy. The surgeon said I'll be able to drive home and will be able to eat right away. Beyond the dental issue we've been looking at the electrical problems here that will have to be resolved. Still don't have an outlet or workiong exhaust fan in the remodeled half bath and the doorbell is somehow connected in those same wires. Nothing will be happening this holiday weekend so hoping to soon hear the electrician will be back next weekend. Further news on my friend David coming in slowly. This week he went for some sort of mapping procedure to help determine the best surgical plan and how much of his stomach he will lose with those cancerous tumors. I haven't heard anything more from his wife so I'm expecting the news is bad. Now, as I'd told you, I had completed a religious Easter kit for you. I'd also hoped to do something more along Easter Bunny lines but it didn't work out. Here is the preview for your kit:

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/s/73281r4e5cmu66c/ws_Risen_elements.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/95bz3fe211c5f50/ws_Risen_papers_1.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/fk7m950wpe82hzb/ws_Risen_papers_2.zip?dl=0 Have a blessed Easter!

More links to Spring kit

Things are crazy here. Remodeling was just about finished - well the major stuff - when we ran into some problems. This house was built in the 1950s and the previous owner did some weird stuff in terms of upkeep. Long story so I won't bore you. If you've seen the movie Moneypit you'd have some idea. What I call the guest bath or half bath was originally a combination of a closet and an area for washer and dryer. When we moved in, we had washer and dryer hookups put in garage and converted the small space into a half bath with a toilet, pedestal sink, an exhaust fan and added in a tall cabinet for towels and such. I removed all the stuff like mirror, shelf, decorative stuff, all but a small cabinet I couldn't get off the wall. The crew for the remodel was so pleasant and professional. After removing the small cabinet and fixtures, they went to work ripping up the old vinyl floor and discovered the floor under the toilet was rotting. They had prepared for this and did repairs on the floor, added some new protective material as additional subfloor and set about sanding the walls and painting. Good so far. Then they prepped for iinstalling the ceramic tile floor and also *tried* to install a new exhaust fan. That's when trouble began. The switch box for electricity is confusing what wth changes over the years. Once they figured out which circuit breaker went to what, one guy went up into the attic to wire in the fan (which includes the overhead light) and discovered some crazy wiring had been done. Got it set up but worried about the configuration as these guys are not electricians. Went ahead and laid the tiles. The vanity finally came in and this past Sunday the crew installed the new chair height toilet and went to work on the vanity. That required adjustments because the pipe conection points were different than where previous sink set up. Worked that out but found that if they put the backsplash in place it was going to partially cover the electrical outlet on the wall. Electrician coming out tomorrow to work on that problem - move it, check other wiring, another bill. While my husband waits on the electrician and handles that issue, I will be going to a preplanned lunch with my friend, Steph, and we're hoping our friends David and Deb will feel up to joining us. David was diagnosed with stomach cancer in January and has been going through so much trying to get needed testing done and appointments with surgeon. Still has another testing session of some kind to go through befor surgery can be scheduled. We've been so worried about them both; would be so nice to see them. I've also got more errands to run after lunch. Due to miscommunication, the items I picked up for remodel in brushed nickel (toilet paper holder, towel ring, etc) have to be returned because the hardware is actually chrome. The plumber who owns the company doing the work explained clearly why he only works with one brand of faucets (Delta) and why it is always better to go with chrome. Sound reasoning. So must swap out purchases to be ready for when crew returns Saturday to finish up. Our great-granddaughter has yet to make her appearance. Grandson and wife are coming for dinner on Friday. With stuff strewn all over the place because of the construction, we've agreed to have Philly steak subs rather than try to cook. Of course, I've got to try to put things in better order before they arrive. Little sleep for either of us this past week, lots of stuff like laundry to get done (impossible to do when there was a door in front of washer plus paint cans etc last couple weeks). And now I'm looking at either having to get a new computer with Windows 10 or try to figure out how to upgrade this computer which is on Windows 8.1 without losing important files. Either way, not certain my major programs will run under new systems. A bit stressed. And can't find my datebook which has lots of important info in it. And that's my world. Now that I've whined, I'll give you more linkis to Spring kit.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xwqje1o94661asv/ws_SingOfSpring_el_2.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/iq3nna5tgibn4dj/ws_SingOfSpring_el_3.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/c8ell8plqd37v4f/ws_SingOfSpring_pprs_2.zip?dl=0 That's all of the kit. Don't expect to hear from me again until sometime next week. At that time I'll give you the Easter kit. Hoping you are all well and happy.

Finally - a little time to blog and a new kit

Once again life got in the way. Much going on. two days after returning home, Sally, grandson's wife woke him at 3am. Severe back and abdominal pain, accelerated heartbeat and fever. Hospital diagnosed uterine infection. Put her on IV antibiotics and monitored baby whose heartrate was also accelerated. There was talk of having to take baby early if Sally was slow to respond to antibiotics. After several days, she was told baby was fine and she could go home to take it easy until she goes into labor. Anxious time. BTW this is a page I did showing some of the things I crocheted for the baby shower.

Got a call saying the crew was ready to start work on remodeling our front (half) bath. I had to remove decorations and small fixtures (towel ring, cafe curtain rod etc). Got down on the floor to scrub baseboards because in damp environment dust tends to stick and I didn't want painting done on top of it. No worries as it turns out. Guys are very through and sanded walls and everything down. I'd also been running around to get the paints and other needed items. Managed to set off my fibro with exertion and worry. That room has been a pink/apricot for years with a slight vintage look - pedestal sink and so on. I decided I wanted a different color. The crew will be putting in a gray ceramic tile floor, chair height toilet and a small vanity in white with faux marble top. I considered a soft green (blue and green are my favorite colors) but already have too much of that in other rooms. Maybe a light lavendar? But looking at the paints I thought it might look too washed out. I bought something called Sassy Violet. After the painting was complete, I found it is definitely a purple, a huge change for me. I am hoping with the gray floor and white fixtures it won't look too bad. Will use lots of white! This Saturday the crew will be back to put the tile down over the new, water resistent flooring they put down before painting. Good thing we decided to do this now as they found the floor under the toilet was rotting! I haven't had much time or access to computer but I do have a Spring kit made for you, which I'll start loading. Also did a religious theme Easter kit which I've yet to pack up. Here is Spring kit preview:

Not a good preview due to time constraints. Hope you like it. Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x9vjmqwcizb2ntq/ws_SingOfSpring_el_1.zip?dl=0 and https://www.dropbox.com/s/yakk6t0sg9ddvrp/ws_SingOfSpring_pprs_1.zip?dl=0

Getting near to St Patrick's Day & news about grandson's baby

Tuesday we learned that grandson had taken his wife to hospital the night before with cramping. Baby was due April 17th so there was some concern. He told us all was well with wife, baby doing fine, very strong, but due date has been moved up 4-5 weeks! Sally (the wife) was supposed to go home yesterday but we haven't heard anything more so assume all is okay. He sent us a pic of previous week's ultrasound and it was amazing how clearly you could see her scrunched up little face. Anyway, I can't remember what Irish kits I may have given you in the past but with multiple things going on here and st. Paddy's day fast approaching I decided to post a PU kit you may or may not already have and some CU elements I know I haven't posted here. Hope there is something you can enjoy.

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4zob36g1jqhtpmz/ws_ALittleIrish_elements1.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/7mj7hfnl3f62r6k/ws_ALittleIrish_elements2.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/3tdxod7xui456f8/ws_ALittleIrish_papers1.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/uj70vy03x79qp7m/ws_ALittleIrish_papers2.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/62xkfur93eic3ht/ws_ALittleIrish_papers3.zip?dl=0

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oewmcnulpuj2wks/ws_CelticBling_4LeafClovers.zip?dl=0

Some Flowers For You

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3sflfor2h78rl5i/ws_RedFlowers.zip?dl=0

Here is what's been going on

I'm not getting much computer time recently so please bear with me. The last quarter of 2022 was difficult here.Can't remember if I told you or not but my husband has degenerative spine disorder - has had since he was 18. Normally, he deals with the pain - always there to some defree - but around once or twice a year, usually with sharp changees in weather and temperature, the pain becomes severe. Generally it lasts at that level for a couple days then calms down. Not so last year. When it started up, a little more severe at first then usual, we expected those couple of bad days but it turned into weeks of severe pain. He tried all the things he usually does and even a few things I suggested, like using v=Voltaren gel, No good. Sciatic pain radiated all down his leg until he xould barely stand Finally, on Thanksgiving, he let me call the paramedics to take him to ER. Doc there did the only tjhing he could - put hubby on Prednesone in addition to the high levels of Tylenol he was already taking and, because he hadn't been able to sleep for 3 days at all, gave him a few tabs of oxycodone. Hubby didn't want those at all but doc insisted that a couple days would break the cycle. So he agreed ro rake one at night for 3 nights. The combination did the trick although it was slow going for another week. Meanwhile, in caring for him, doing hte usual necessary things and going to Costco and Sams Club (in same day - how stupid!) and lugging all in by myself, I set off my lower back where I have several bad discs. As happens in ny case, I got sacroilitis and sciatitica. So just as he was getting back to "normal" I became incapicatated for several days. As soon as I could, I was up preparing for Christmas last minute, We weren't exchanging gifts so I didn't have that to deal with but I felt I had to put up my little tree and clean and be certain I had the ingredients for Christmas Eve and Day dinners on hand. My son and DIL arrived Christmas Eve in time for an Italian dinner husband insisted on preparing for them. The kids didn't want me to go to a lot of trouble with a traditional holiday meal so son had suggested I teach him how to prepare roast beef and he would help. Easily done and very enjoyable. Wonderful visit from Jeremy and Berkeley but by the time they left arounf ten Christmas night, we were exhausted. Days of taking it easy followed. I gave notice and left the scrapbook shop I was in. Since we had been told in early December that our grandson and his wife were expecting their first child, out first great-grand in April, I began to frantically crochet baby items while we rested and watched TV. Since the beginning of 2023 there have been a score of doctor visits for both of us, catching up on thing neglected during our down time. Sad news among friends: deaths, plans for hip re-placement (not me - a friend), two cancer diagnoses and delays with tests and surgery schedules resulting in a lot of upset and depression among those we know. Husband developed an abcessed tooth; just got it removed last week. Repair problems with the house. Since we are unable to do things we used to manage on our own, it meant calling people in to do the work for us. One small leak in guest bathroom and a visit from a plumber who is a friend of the sweet man who put our new A/C system in, and we set about making plans for him to remodel that bathroom to make it handicapped acessable, better for my husband. Lots of discussion, choosing this and that and now we are awaiting the contract. Remodeling to happen sometime in March because the man who will do it is having some surgery this month. I know I'm leaving a lot out. It has been chaotic to say the least! I have a big list of things I must do here shortly from making sure we have all the tax info, to clearing a space to put things from guest bath and it's storage closet while ceramic tile goes down. To catching up with all the other household stuff. I do plan to post something at least once a week but I can't really tell you what day. I'm working on something now and thought I'd put together something small at least to post later tonight or tomorrow. I still enjoy designing digi-scrap stuff and sharing but for a time it wouldn't be as much or as often as in the past. Thank you for all your kind words and concern.

Happy Valentines Day

Links: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vgld0qj3aum78wh/ws_PinkRoses4MyValentine_el.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/m9zfcsgys2yupsw/ws_PinkRoses4MyValentine_el_2.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/xqa4w50zv41vihl/ws_PinkRoses4MyValentine_ppr.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/2x3wgsjiaey27xz/ws_PinkRoses4MyValentine_ppr_2.zip?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/sphfdkfxko177nh/ws_PinkRoses4MyValentine_ppr_3.zip?dl=0

Yes

Thank you all for kind words expressing concern for me and my family. Yes - I am alive Yes - I plan to return Yes - I'll explain absence Yes - I am finishing up a Valentine's gift for you. Will possibly post tonight. If not, sometime tomorrow evening. Hope everyone is well. Hugs, SherryD