Corner of 1st and Main Cafe' 2023

I'm so glad my sleep has returned to normal. Now if I can just get the darned Weather App on my phone to quit sending me notifications at all hours of the day and night, maybe I can get some undisturbed sleep! I'll have to check out it's settings to see if I can turn notifications off. Crazy app!

Tena thanks for the love on my card. I'm afraid every retreat I've been to I tend to over pack. I haven't been to that many, only about 4 or 5 over the years. But I agree with you. There's always someone who has what your missing and people are always willing to share.

Started working on some lilac flowers yesterday. It's one of my friends favorite colors. Need to do a get well card for her as she had her shoulder replaced last week. I'm off to card class today so need to grab a shower and get ready to go in about an hour. Wishing you all a happy crafty day!

Finishing up 7 cards for my outreach project and then need to do two get well cards. One friend is having the screws in her ankle removed at the end of the month and another is having hernia surgery in May.

Tomorrow is card party day! I am all packed and ready to roll!!

Elizabeth, you have been busy. I don't think I could do all that in one day.

Jessica, looking forward to seeing your album. You are planning a great birthday for David.

It's going to be in the high 70's today. I'm making cabbage soup for lunch. Going to work on some projects in my room this weekend.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Kelly

My bible study (about 175 women) does two outreach projects each year - one in spring and one in fall. I am the Outreach Coordinator. The new spring project is for Agape House - a transitional program to get homeless families back on their feet and into a place of their own. They get an apartment that is paid for as well as utilities and then have to save 30% of their income and get themselves stable. There are 7 apartments in a complex. There are strict guidelines for admission and only those that are very motivated to put in the work to improve their situation are admitted. Families are there between 6-9 months. Our group provides a "Blessing Basket" which is basically a laundry basket for each family that is filled with items specifically requested by the families - favorite snacks, clothing sizes, places they like to go as a family, etc. This year all 7 apartments are filled. Then in addition to items the ladies can just donate cash which we trade in for gift cards to Walmart and the grocery store. Last year was the first year and it was a huge success. I have been working on my presentation after dealing with the organization to get updated numbers, the flyer, and next week I need to pick up brochures and a poster board and purchase some items off the families list for a display table. We collect items and donations for two weeks and then the people from Agape House will come pick it all up and distribute it to the families.

We don't make cards for church shut ins but again this winter I will be teaching another dimensional card class. I announced that to my card group yesterday which is made up of people who took my class last spring and they were all excited to sign up again in addition to our group that has continued from last class so I may end up with a bigger class this time. 20 is the max but I usually get around 13. My friend Darlene will co-lead with me again.

Up at a 6am this morning, it really feels good to be back on a normal schedule. Sparky is being such a good boy for me this morning. He's such a sweetheart when he's mellow. I worked on some more flowers yesterday, but I'm undecided if I like them or not. You should see my craft desk, it looks like a cyclone hit it. So, does my craftroom. I really need to straighten up today, before continuing with my flowers and cards. I added some small lilac flowers to my gazebo card, so it's finished. It's sunny out this morning, so maybe I can get pictures posted of it today.

Kelly your soup sounds delicious. I love cabbage, but have never made soup out of it. Do you used purple or green cabbage to make soup?

Elizabeth I'll have to go check out your latest heritage layout. It's been eons since I did a heritage lo.

Erin the Agape Program is a life saver for those families in need. What an excellent program. I firmly believe in giving folks a hand up whenever we can. Hand outs don't always motivate folks, but a hand up is always appreciated. So glad your card party was a lot of fun. And, it sounds like you're going to be busy making cards for while.

Debbie I'm sure it feels great getting both lawns mowed and all taken care of. Good luck grooming Moe today. Does he put up a fuss, or does he cooperate when it's grooming time? I hope he's a good boy for you today.

Lisa you remain in my thoughts and prayers. How is Franky foot treating you this weekend?

Jessica how is your snap album coming along?

Time for more coffee...enjoy your day!

I have 2cabbage soup recipes. One is tomato based with hamburger meat and the other is broth based with link sausage. However, both can be substituted for shredded chicken. I use green cabbage.

I'm still working on cleaning out and reorganizing by drawers. I have probably pulled out at least a $1,000 worth of stuff to get rid of. Uggh! I'm going to have to learn to shop better.

Kelly

The snap album for David is coming along nicely. It's going to be a little different than usual. I'm not going to add stickers to most of the photos. I have Simple Story cards and journaling pieces.

Kelly

Beautiful morning here in DFW. The last few days have been gorgeous and we have spent most of our days sitting outside and visiting with my brother. My sister and I flew him in from Omaha for his birthday and we just had a really nice relaxing weekend reminiscing, eating, drinking and lots of laughter. It was our first time together since 2019 so it was extra special.

Still working up at the shop part time but we finally have enough staff that I don't need to, but things seems to run a little smoother when I am around as everyone still doesn't know how to take me as I am very no nonsense. They scatter when they see me coming and they are ma'aming me to death

Kelly do you sell the stuff you don't want or donate? We used to have a lady here in town that would organize a sell twice a year at the Girls Scouts building. You could buy a table for $25 and sell crafty supplies you no longer wanted. I sold stuff I no longer wanted and picked up supplies at great prices. COVID stopped it I'm hoping it starts up again soon.

Elizabeth I need some of your energy!

Dawna your flowers are gorgeous. What is the name of the flower. I think you mentioned it was HFC.

Erin I am impressed with your work with Agape House. That is a wonderful the community is coming together to give less fortunate, motivated families find a way up.

Debbie I know mowing is hard but it must be good exercise. BTW, I am having a hard time staying in contact with Donna M, she is pushing me out

Need to do some housekeeping today and hope to finally have some time at my craft table this week (maybe even this afternoon!)

Have a great week

Norma

Kelly

I hope you all had a nice weekend, the weather has been gorgeous here. But we are expecting some drizzle later today. I've got a chiro appointment in an hour, so just popping in to see ya all.

Kelly thank you for the sweet compliment on my flowers! I like your strategy of buying only for the project your working on. I'd like to know if that really helps keep the spending down.

Debbie so glad you got your lawn taken care of. Did you get Moe groomed too?

Jessica I like the idea of using the cute journaling cards instead of stickers. I can't wait to see your lovely album!

Norma I got a laugh out of your supervising skills! Better that they are scrambling and mamming you to death, than standing around shooting the bull! lol The flowers are HFC's 3D Wild Roses in both the large and small versions. Thanks to Carrie @Caletts I'm turning into a flower monster! My wish list at HFC is already huge! Lordy help me!

Tiime to jump in the shower and get ready to go to my chiro apt. Enjoy the day!

Today is a nice sunshiny spring day with temps in the 70s. It's suppose to be nice all week with lots of sunshine, which is great after all the rain. I was up very early this morning, had a dr's appt for my left knee. I had some swelling from a baker's cyst but not serious at this point.

My Saturday crop was so much fun and over too soon. I didn't get a lot done (only 3 cards and half a page LOL) but I had so much fun. Sunday I spent reading and relaxing with hubby so today I'm hoping to finish up the page I started on at the crop.

Norma, glad you had a great visit with your brother.

Dawna, hope your chiro appt goes well.

Hope it's a great week for everyone

Erin, I saw those Mintay Collections. Yes, the Her Story will be perfect for you. I don't really have any use for them. So far, I am counting myself lucky that I haven't see anything calling my name. I'm finally going to use my Mintay Written Memories collection in July for our wedding anniversary.

I went to the post office today to mail a package and a padded 5 x 7 envelope. I told the worker to please send them the least expensive. The package was $11.00 and then the padded envelope was $11.65. I told her I don't think the envelope should be that expensive. She asked me if I wanted tracking and I told her no. She redid it and can up with $5.50 with tracking. I wanted to say "what part of the least expensive do you not understand." I told her again that I didn't think that was the least expensive to send the envelope. She redid it again and finally came up with $1.50. Uggh! If I hadn't keep saying something she would have charged me the max. It makes me wonder if they teach them to do that. Postage is too expensive as it is. I don't need the workers trying to stiff me for the higher mailings.

Kelly

Dawna, I did not get around to grooming Moe. I need my son to help me and he was busy so it will be put off until next weekend. I sure wish he'd be good for groomer so I could just drop him off like other people do. The little shlt throws a fit and I end up having to pick him up.

Today is laundry day. Laundry day for me is when I'm down to my last pair of undies.

Kelly

I'm up before the birds this morning. Yesterday's visit with friends was fun. But it was a long day of driving. It felt good to get out and do something normal. I even stopped off at the shoe store and found a new pair of sandals for vacation. Now if my pants arrive next week, I'll have a new outfit to wear also. Fingers crossed. I gave my two friends their cards and their Christmas presents and they loved everything. I can't believe that we haven't gotten together since before Christmas. Being down for 16 weeks with my sciatica flares didn't do me any favors in the friendship department. So, we all had a nice lunch and great visit.

I'm getting so excited for our OK trip next week. My DGS, Cade, is coming to stay at the house and Sparky sit for us. Sparky is way to social to be left alone while we're gone. Cade is in training to become a certified nurses aide with plans to become an LVN. He'll be in training, but its super convenient for him as his classes are just in the next town over. He won't have to make that daily 3 hour round trip from his house. So, he was actually happy to come cat sit for us. Love that kid to pieces!

Today is laundry day. Other than that, not much on the agenda. So, I'll be able to craft most of the day. I've got a few left over flowers, so I think I'll made another card today.

Time for more java...enjoy your day!

I've got to drive my Mustang a couple of times with my husband on the backroads! It was wonderful!

Today I finished going through my stickers! I had to toss the holder for them as it was shot, so I put them in the holder I used to put my lace in for now. Then I went through all my markers and threw away the ones that dried up and others I wanted to give away. Then I went through a couple of my jars and got rid of some stuff. And I went through 1/2 of my clear rubber stamps. That was stuff I did yesterday and today.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my speech therapist, then we have to go to the assessor's office and show them our taxes and show them we are still able to get the property tax discount. Then to the clinic to pay my bill. If it isn't raining we'll take my Mustang and also go by Veterans Warehouse and drop off all the stuff I've gathered so far. Then to BiMart and see about clear storage containers for my stickers and some bread.

Kelly, that's good to know about the PO. I'll have to make sure next time I ship something out I ask them if she's sure that's the cheapest.

I used to have a Mustang GT also. It was a 1995 white convertible. I loved it. Sold it when I got a divorce.

Laura, so good to see you posting again. I hope you are doing better. Your examples are Gorgeous.

Kelly