Penny Black Permission to Play #1

Hello and welcome!  I started making today's cards in June, and now it's the middle of August.  I feel so far behind, but here in my happy place there's no room for worries.  More card making, please.

For these cards I finished up the last three images from the Penny Black Christmas Fun set using Jill Foster's Permission to Play Sketch #1.  I pulled embossed panels from my spare parts stash and chose sentiments from here and there that worked with each image.  The embellishments are just enough to add some fun -- Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Mini, and one card with some oldie dog icons from my stash.  Coloring was done with Tombow markers.

Diamond Glaze on the baubles and berries.
Picket Fence Studio Santa Mischief sentiment.
Tim Holtz Pine Branches 3D embossing folder smooshed with white ink.

Stampendous Squeaky Stuff sentiment
Spellbinders Sweater Weather embossing folder brushed with Memento Toffee Crunch ink.

Inky Antics Holiday Bazooples #2 sentiment.
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder smooshed with white ink.

Thank you, friends!  The crafting habit is not one I wish to break, so I'll surely make time to use my supplies.  I hope you don't mind if I pop in with spring flowers in the dead of winter.  That's how far behind I am.  But, hey, I'm doing Christmas cards in August so I suppose there's no difference.

By the way, the doe and her two fawns crossed through the garden yesterday, so they're safe for now.

Take care till we meet again.

We're Still Here

Hello!  Just checking in to say we're still here and dealing with the current lifestyle changes.  I'm not saying we're settled into a routine because everyday is different and one never knows what's around the corner.  We can only stay hopeful and appreciative of every little thing.

Take Sophie, for instance.  She's one year old today.  Happy birthday, Sophie!  She's grown into a beautiful, sweet young lady, my constant companion and a comfort to Rich when he needs it.  That face...

My guy and my girl... Rich makes an effort, although there's little change in the more than a month since his hospital discharge.  In the photo below he was checking a mole trap and, of course, Sophie had to snuggle her way into the center of activity.  She provided a soft place for Rich to rest his head for a moment.

Pictured below:  There is new life in the garden.  I've watched two spotted fawns grow more curious as mom introduces them to her favorite browsing areas.  Shortly after they were born Sophie ventured too close to the area where the doe had hidden her fawns in the woods.  My girl came charging out of the brush looking like she was having the time of her life, but the doe close on her heels meant some serious business.  Sophie has not ventured into that particular area of the woods since.

A day or two after the doe chased her out of the south woods, Sophie blundered into a nest of ground bees in the east woods behind the house.  Her reaction to their stings was to rub her face on the ground which, of course, made it worse.  I was able to call her away and run her up to the house, her white fur spotted with bees which I did my best to brush off before entering the house.  Somewhat traumatized, but safe inside, the sting sites were swelling and giving her fits.  A single Benadryl worked wonders -- no more itching and the swelling went down.  She steers clear of that area of the woods now, too.

As if the incidents with the deer and the bees weren't enough, I looked out my kitchen window one July morning and saw a cougar passing through the very area where I photographed the fawn.  Sheesh!  One can't be too cautious when the predators start coming that close.

That's life.  Visitors come and go, work gets done, errands run, appointments kept.  I'm working my way back to blogging slowly but surely.  I'll be back with Double D in September, but I did also finish the cards I started in June, and even made a new one.  I'd forgotten how time consuming it all is.  Wish I knew how to streamline it and still enjoy the process.

Thanks for putting up with me.  Sending hugs all around.