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

Tuesday freebie - Easter Joy

Had lunch with my friend, Steph, today at Keegan's Bar & Grill in Virginia Beach. It was supposed to be our group lunch but no one else made it. Four were out of town, don't know what was going on with the others. But I know this: we are taking Keegan's off our lunch list. They have traditional Irish food like Bangers & Mash (no thank you) and some usual stuff like sandwiches, burgers and chicken wings. Neither of us liked what we ordered. Steph's sandwich was tastelss, my burger tasted of a heavy addition of white pepper. Could have been some kind of seasoning mix but I could only mange half. Later this month we're going to a Mexican restaurant. Not too keen on that as I have to be careful what I eat but I'm sure there will be smething. Anyway, home now and tired. Weather took an upturn reaching almost 80 degrees today. Warning summer is just around the corner.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/735jdnwo1qmj7h7/ws_EasterJoy_4.zip?dl=0

Finally - a new kit on the way to you!

So, I am in catch-up mode. Still have some pain but can function pretty well as long as I don't lift anything heavy (that includes a full gallon of milk!) or reach for anything higher than my shoulder. Here is what I've done in the last few days: worked on getting laundry under control again (pushing basket through the house and lowering it into garage by bumping it down the stairs lol), cooked dinner a couple times, started talking with a young woman who lost her job and is in need of money about taking over the cleaning of our bath and a half, and - here's the fun part - spent several days on-line in a writing seminar! I had forgotten I'd signed up but the host sent reminders. Blessings on Daniel David Wallace who offered a free option to his seminar and re-plays of sessions within twenty-four hours! On a fixed income, I wouldn't have taken money out of my budget for a ticket that would have given me more privledges such as a live workshop and lifetime access to all replays, but his free option was just right for me. I could re-play the morning sessions I'd missed due to my sleeping in and, although much of the information I was already aware of (I taught college composition for two and a half years), I learned a number of new and useful hacks to help with the novel I'm working on. Now that you know what I've been up to, let me tell you about Easter Joy, the new kit for you. With short spells at the computer most days, it has taken me longer than expected. Heavens, it is almost Easter! I haven't put together an overall preview, but do have a preview of all the papers:

And have a preview of today's zip:

You know my love of vintage, so expect to see a number of elements created from old greeting cards, postcards, etc. My intention is to get the whole kit out to you before or at least by Easter day. That said, be sure to stop by often and pic up new zips. *** Links for the kit will be active until last day of April. Here is part one: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4x75nrk3rqoktim/ws_EasterJoy_1.zip?dl=0

PU freebie for Autumn

Sorry but running behind. Today I have a pack of Autumn Papers for you.

These will be available until 10/6 at this link: Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hcgekwhxoivxj9g/ws_AutumnPapers.zip?dl=0

Breath of Spring freebie

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/in7vrsi9oasutaz/ws_BOS_3.zip?dl=0

Red Poppies

Today some poppies:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o5t2goymmgoxx19/ws_PrettyPoppies_red_poppies.zip?dl=0

Last of My Lovely Friends

Over the last few months I've been bad about getting posts up on time, so while my oven-baked rosemary chicken and potatoes is starting, thought I'd go ahead and schedule the post for Thursday.

Link: Expired

Our next kit will be more masculine but there may be a fewsurprises before that.

More of My Lovely Friends freebie

Gloomy day here. Raining off and on. Pulmonary visit today. Breathing test sowed 82% lung capacity. My insurance won't pay for the drug prescribed so I took formulary along to see if we could make a change. The only similar drug insurance pays for is one that did noting for me so office will request an exception.

Today zip 6 of My Lovely Friends:

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Have been making lots of vintage brushes/stamps and working on jade vine.

More Lovely Friends

Had a little more energy today so got a few things done. Nothing much, mind you, just a couple loads of laundry, and some vacuuming. Vacuuming is tough for me so I consider that a big deal lol. Grandson and future bride are away this weekend for a friend's wedding. Son & DIL once again in Richmond trying to settle more of her sister's affairs. Husband and I would so love to take a little road trip but some states quarentine visitors for 14 days if they stay over so that is out. Grand-daughter turned 10 on the 6th but was away visiting her aunt so tomorrow she is having a surprise party to which we have been invited. It's turned hot and humid here so I can only hope I'll have some energy when I get back home and can get a couple things done.

Thank you, dear friend in the Netherlands for lovely quote you sent.

Here is today's zip:

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Another free zip of My Lovely Friends

I haven't forgotten about the bat flower and jade vine. Have just been a little down. Thought I'd show you a couple of my pages from last month's challenges.
Create something related to magic:

Use a mini kit provided:

One of my examples for my ATC challenge about music:

For a mood board challenge:

Create something weird:

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Zip 3 My Lovely Friends

Most of Saturday I was texting back and forth with son about what has to be done to clear up DIL's sister's estate. DIL and son will be doing it all as her father hasn't a clue what to do.

Did follow-up on epidural today. Because it did the most for left side,and I still have throbbing, stabbing pain on left, I'll go in for another injection on 6/25. While out that way made appointment for my eye exam, then stopped for groceries on way home. Hot and humid today, making it difficult for me to breathe. About ready to take a lie-down. But first, another zip for you:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/v041wpfvas1l7v1/ws_MYLovelyFriends_3.zip?dl=0

New freebie

Feeling blue about all the current violence and worried about any demonstrations, riots, roadblocks my son & DIL may face as they drive down to Virginia at the end of the week. Hasn't Covid_19 been enough?

Anyway, new kit featuring artwork of griaola. Personal use always unless preview & TOU say CU. I've been asked to be a designer for a new store about to open. One of the owners is my old partner. Not sure yet what I will do.

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What happened to Thursday freebie?

I was sure I had pre-scheduled Thursday post because we were worried about losing power because of Hurricane Dorian heading our way. As it stands today (Friday) we got some strong winds, rain, and some flooding. Really lucky.

Here is the Thursday freebie: Since we already have impossible in nature purple and turquoise peacocks, why not pink?

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qo7jo5tdmih6046/ws_PrettyPeacock_19.zip?dl=0

3rd zip of Summer Gardens freebie

Hurricane season has begun and for Tidewater, it means we are having thunderstorms most every afternoon or evening. Still, compared to so many areas of the country, we know we are very lucky,

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x2redahbgq92smw/ws_SummerGardens_3.zip?dl=0

Freebie!

Happy Birthday to grand-daughter, Larkin, who is nine today! Will be taking her to see Aladdin on Sundy.

Today's zip of Summer Gardens:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/arg6a989umj8fr5/ws_SummerGardens_2.zip?dl=0

And I'm off to buy some Shopkins for Larkin.

Tuesday freebie (late) Summer Gardens

My problem with PC wasn't PS. Re-installed and everything (not just PS) still extremely slow. Checked registry for anything that might have gotten added and only found one item. Removing it didn't help. Updated my Vipre and suddenly things seem better. Fingers crossed.

Starting today we are going to look at summer flowers. At first, I'd thought about calling it Summer Blues and sticking to just blue flowers with a little white. Not enough there. So it is Summer Gardens. The first zip features irises, something both my mother and my aunt always grew.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/co5o68hxic1fa96/ws_SummerGardens_1.zip?dl=0

Last of Looking For Spring freebie

Thursday already? Trying to do a little more of normal chores. Here's a visual discription of yesterday:

Recognize the stuff from "Chick Thing"? Today it has been 3 loads of laundry and hubby cooking dinner. Tomorrow?

Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/731jejppfckojzb/ws_Looking4Spring_5.zip?dl=0

Have an idea of what I'm doing next but it is coming together slowly so might do a couple little things first. Let's see what Saturday brings.

More of Looking For Spring freebie

Here is today's zip:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4mbth2q8c1l8lb2/ws_Looking4Spring_4.zip?dl=0

Looking For spring freebie

Some good news from pulmonologist. My lungs are mostly clear with just one area in upper left lung sounding of congestion. All this furious coughing until I see spots? A Reaction response or something like that. That is, my body having been stressed for such a long time, it's still trying to clear bronchial tubes but keeping the swelling from subsiding. I'm on 2 steriods for next two weeks until follow-up. One is a low dose prednisone pill, the other an inhaler to use every 12 hours. Of course, this means it's pretty well shutting down my immune system so I should stay home and away from others. Also, as many of you know, prenesone interferes with sleep, causes sweats and so on.

Anyway, here is zip 3:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/y3uksupemod8xk8/ws_Looking4Spring_3.zip?dl=0

Hope you have a nice weekend. See you Tuesday!

Belated zip 2 of Looking For Spring

Oops - got confused as to what day it was yesterday. Here is zip 2:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rsxkuv5grwj9awz/ws_Looking4Spring_2.zip?dl=0