When you don't have grandkids...
I hope you don't mind a few photos of my other obsession -- Sophie and Ridley. They're the biggest part of my life these days.
Thank goodness for them. I'd like to think they're living their best life because they sure make mine a whole lot better.
Love
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Hello, and welcome to a new week at my happy place!
While spring is still fresh and young I thought I'd color some daffodils. Those in my garden have long since come and gone, but Penny Black's not-yet-used Flower Scoops from last year will work nicely for a friend's birthday later this month.
The SSS Teardrop Pinpoint Frames on the pretty designer paper provided an extra feminine starting point for the base. The additional mat was measured and cut with my paper trimmer, and the corners punched with an oldie but goodie decorative corner rounder. I brushed the edges with Stampin' Up Mellow Moss ink and stamped a sentiment from another PB set. Off to a good start!
The daffodil bouquet was colored with Tombow markers and blender on watercolor paper, then hand cut and shaped from the backside with a roller ball type stylus. It's popped up on foam tape, plump in the middle with the edges curled back. Three iridescent sequins finish the card.
Speaking of springtime and happy place...
Ridley's happy place is anywhere with a ball. You can probably guess that on this April day he'd been chasing it quite a bit. It can be hard to get any work done out there, but he's worth it. The forsythia has now dropped a lot more blooms as the green leaves push them out of the way to have their turn in the garden.
Challenges today:
That's all for today, friends. Wishing you peace and happiness and plenty of crafty time. Thank you for visiting!
Stamps: Penny Black Flower Scoops, Super Day Paper: Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor, Hammermill Premium 100 lb white, Paper Rose Flower Shoppe designer paper Ink: Memento Toffee Crunch for image outline, Memento Tuxedo Black sentiment, SU Mellow Moss shading on mat Coloring: Tombow markers and homemade blender Other: Simon Says Stamp Teardrop Pinpoint Frames, Marvy decorative corner rounder, iridescent sequins, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
How about a little Sophie and Ridley today?
It was almost like summer last Monday when my son and I took the kids to the beach. It was Ridley's first time at the actual ocean shore as opposed to the bay and he loved it. Everything's okay as long as his big sister Sophie is with him.
Low tide and gentle waves on a warm and windless day -- perfection.
I accidently got in over my ankles with my shoes on, so might as well have fun with it.
Ridley is now 10 months old, Sophie 2 1/2 yrs.
The photo below is my favorite of the day with the way they're leaning into each other, sharing their joy. I never fail to appreciate how lucky I am to have the two of them in my life.
Wishing you a perfect day!
Hello, friends. Maybe you've noticed the sparseness of my posts lately. I'm behind in everything and everywhere I turn there's another job to do, another matter to address. Do not worry, I'm okay, I've made a few cards and will start posting them soon and then I'll be ready to get behind again. Isn't that the way it goes sometimes? As Rich's health grows worse there is more required of me. Just in the last month there has been a big change and I'm still adjusting. I'd hoped it was a temporary setback, but perhaps not. Nevertheless, we keep on enjoying what we can whenever we get a chance to do so.
The photo below was taken the Sunday after Christmas when my son and I took Sophie and Ridley for a fun doggie day in the dunes. My favorite part of the dunes are the woodland trails where we can walk for miles. Here we had stopped for a rest in a mossy patch. You can tell the dogs had been having a good time by how their tongues are hanging. Our Ridley is growing into a fine young man, isn't he? He's 8 months old now.
Pictured below is Christmas day -- Sophie wants ALL the toys!
Aside from the many activities involved in running a household and managing life in general... there's mornings in my craft room (they're always with me):
Afternoon in the woods:
Weekend at the bay:
And a spectacular winter sunset view from my front yard:
Just wrapping up the week, keeping in mind the things that bring joy.
I hope you find some joy today.
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Pausing mid-play in the back yard to appreciate my favorite fall colors... of the furry variety.
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Outside my kitchen patio door is the promise of a beautiful day.
Sometimes I just have to take a moment.
Wishing you a beautiful and joy-filled day.
Hello! I've been working on cards for next week, but Saturday seems like a good time for an update on the kids. The first picture is the most recent I have, and it represents how we start our days. Just look at these two, sigh... I cannot complain that two such beautiful, soft, warm, loving creatures are this eager to see us first thing in the morning.
The first week or two Ridley was given plenty of opportunity to explore his new home and garden and learn how amazing it all is. I hope his brother has found a good home as well.
Of course, we had to take him to the sand dunes at the first opportunity. Sophie is SO happy to share her joy with Ridley!
It's as though Sophie has been waiting for him all this time. She mothers him, teaches him, loves him. She's always been a very special girl, but Ridley has truly brought out the best in her.
My heart is full.
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You knew I couldn't stop at one, didn't you? What better way to celebrate National Dog Day (Aug. 26) than to give Sophie a little brother? Say hello to Ridley!
Rich came up with the name, by the way. This is the guy who said a second dog was all my thing and he really had no input, yet it turns out he laid awake at night thinking of names.
Ridley is already 16 weeks old, one of the last two left behind from a litter of nine. The others must have been really something because to my eyes Ridley is perfect. He has the sweetest, most gentle way about him. His color will darken as he matures, and he'll fluff out a bit, but never as much as Sophie. He's what Rich and I call the Field and Stream model.
Frankly, I never expected Sophie to be as big and fluffy as she is. She's a whole lot of lady and can be quite boisterous and sometimes oddly grumpy, but she seems to have taken quite happily to her role of big sister. I think they'll be good for each other.
Ridley was raised to this point outside in a pen, not in a mean, heartless way, but in the way that some would raise a working class dog. Earlier siblings have gone on to be avalanche rescue heroes or fine hunters. He had never been walked on a leash, or house trained, or socialized outside the family. His home was rural, and there were no kids or grandkids.
Well, never mind all that because we've found him to be affectionate and at ease with every human and dog he meets, and he's met quite a few in the four days he's been with us. He's okay with the leash, but nervous about the street. Best of all -- he had one pee accident in the house and that was the end of it. He practically house trained himself!
I tried and tried to find a suitable rescue dog. It didn't have to be a Golden Retriever, but it needed to be a friendly, intelligent dog, preferably not a puppy, but young enough to handle Sophie's exuberance. I'd hoped for a medium-size mixed breed, but a daily search was fruitless. Then I saw Ridley and his brother in a local shopper ad... the rest is history in the making.
What a pair they're going to be, and what a good life they'll have together!
It's Labor Day weekend and our son is coming to visit. He's crazy about Sophie and couldn't wait to meet Ridley.
I'll be back with cards very soon as I have some scheduled posts. You know how I am with the camera, so I'll be back with more pics of the kids soon, too.
Have a good day!
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