It's a new week

I forgot to mention yesterday that I was woken at 4:30 am by gun fire. Yes, seriously! It sounded close and I was worried about my husband who got up around 2 am. Usually he would be in the computer room at the back of the house, working a crossword or jigsaw puzzle until time for coffee and breakfast. However, with his computer gone, he's taken to sitting in his recliner by the bay window in the living room and playing on his laptop. Since we live on a main street that leads towards one of the naval bases, all I could think of was drive by shooting. There seem to be a lot of mean, frustrated or just plain crazy people around these days. I got up and started to head down the hall and check on him. Heard him on the phone with the police telling them he heard two full clips going off close by. Decided he was fine and there wasn't much else we could do so went back to bed. Took a while to get back to sleep. While I want to keep up my schedule of little freebies for you, want to offer a tiny bit of brightness, I decided to follow the advice of a dear on-line friend, K, who sent me a loving message. I especially appreciate her taking time to do so because I'm aware she has been fighting an illness that has long lasting effects while still having the care of her elderly parents, both of whom have health problems. (I know first hand how draining that can be and have been keeping her in my prayers.) I've been having a difficult time trying to think up some holiday kits for you, and finding time to do justice to the task and that deflates any fun I have with it. I don't think I want to abandon the blog gifts entirely until after the holidays. I think I will stop worring about having something here every Tues, Thursday, and Saturday. I don't think I'll worry about a complete kit of any kind. Instead, I will simply offer a little something - whatever comes to mind - sometime during the week. Following up on my desperate Saturday post of Holiday Basics which were 4 Christmas colored papers, I might do things like give you a few bows, or a few frames, or a cluster. The only thing that remains constant is that whatever is posted during the month, the links for those items expire at the end of the month. That allows me to use a free storage and delivery system. I hope you understand.

Please be patient

I managed to do something new. saw doc today and I not only have a bad case of shingles on lower back but have hives all over on top of it! Itching like crazy with a burning, peppery feeling along arms and legs making sleep difficult. So now I have a strong new antiviral to take 4x/day plus something to keep it from upsetting my tummy. Since I can't take steroids for the hives due to the antiviral, I'm on large amounts of antihistamines. Once this combo takes hold I'm likely to be half out of it for days. Just took the new meds and am going to try to crash for a few hours. Have been thinking about some new and different ideas for freebies and hope to be able to work a little later today and get something out to you. Hugs, Sher

A little freebie for you

Still fighting PC woes. Bought a cheapie ($20) program called Registry Clean Pro as a stopgap while deciding what all to do. It says it's cleaning errors but what it isn't getting rid of are these darn ads that are popping up over everything. I've tried finding out what program that is so I can search it out and (hopefully) destroy it but no luck so far. Also put on free version of Spybot Search & Destroy. And I used the Windows app to see if my system is compatible for Windows 8, even though I don't want and can't afford it. It says it mostly is but a couple of my key programs won't work with it. Grrr. Anyway, I do have a small freebie for you today that coordinates with my new kit, Serenity. It's a tag and a teacup.

I hope you can find use for it. Here is the link: http://www.4shared.com/zip/NrUumcpAce/ws-Serenity_freetagteacup.html Back to surgeon tomorrow for follow-up then a quick Costco run (nothing heavy)and a stop at my Dad's house. I just finished balancing his checkbook for him (something he never learned to do 'cause Mom always did it) and I'm picking up some items for him at Costco. I'll visit with his companion, Miss June, who has had a terrible year so far: pneumonia, followed by a bad fall in which she broke 3 bones in her foot, plus a number of cancerous skin lesions. With one thing after another, she's exhausted and depressed so I'm trying to think of a little something to take along to cheer her. Hope you all are doing well and happily scrapping and, dare I hope? journaling. Hugs! PS _ Thanks Stacey, for letting me know link wasn't showing up. Been having trouble with blogger not showing links even though I'm doing it the same as always. Have to keep checking the published post to be sure link is there and I got distracted and thought I'd checked this one before. Seems to be working now but please continue to let me know when you have trouble.

Update & freebie

Tomorrow, first thing, I leave for surgery. Have to be there at 8am (tha'ts early for me lol) so I'm frantically trying to get some things done that I may not be able to deal with for a week or so. Will set up a few scheduled posts to run while I'm down. Today, you can start downloading a small PU kit called Spring Comes Softly.

Here is element pack: http://www.4shared.com/zip/LnmgupNSce/WS_springcomes_softly_elements.html?

June 1: Sad News, Update, Challenge Info, & Freebie

It's been forever it seems since I last made an entry. Still feeling rough and had really bad day last Wednesday when I called to see if I could get earlier appointment with my gastroentelogist. There's an ugly expression often heard from military personnel about something called a "Cluster F---." It sure was appropriate for this but by Friday afternoon it was all sorted out. There was misinformation all around but now I have an appointment this coming Wednesday to see a surgeon I've met before and see when she can operate.

While I was having a conniption fit over all the medical snafus, I learned that Dr. Maya Angelou had died and was so saddened by the news. I had met Maya, as she invited me to call her, some years ago (gee 20 or so!) at William and Mary College. She was the sort of person who didn't met a stranger. She positively radiated warmth and love and she will surely be missed. I left word for her family on her facebook page and went in search of tributes. There are a good number, but I really enjoyed this page at Oprah with all the links to interviews and recitations of her poetry etc: http://www.oprah.com/app/maya-angelou.html

This lovely woman had some very rough times in her life but she refused to be reduced by them. There are so many wise quotes, it's hard to choose just one but perhaps this one will reach someone who needs to hear it.

As for the summer challenge I had mentioned, it's not quite ready but will be up this week as soon as possible. I will tell you this: it is part one of a challenge about journaling. I'm calling part 1 Pocket Journaling because we are going to start small, real small, to make it easy.

And now for your freebie. Can you use a CU4Cu pearl frame? Hope so.

Pick it up here: http://www.4shared.com/zip/pBbcJeHace/ss4cu_pearl_frame_freebie.html? Hugs!