WHIMSY STAMPS!!

Howdy -

I have been bursting with excitement to share... I was asked to join the Whimsy Stamps DT! I have SOOO missed the working with Whimsy Family since the Digital side was closed down. I love the company, the stamps and especially the People!! So when asked if I wanted to join the Rubber stamp team.. I think I shouted back a Yes within a half a second!

 So excited to join the team! Thank you Denise and Debbie and I look forward to working with all the great girls on the team!!

Showing off a close up of "Sweet Little Donkey"  - 

HUGS and -

Animal Crackers - Why do the babies have to grow up so fast?

Howdy -

So we finally got a couple of rain free days for Hubby to start getting caught up on the mowing. Love the green growing, but man it is growing! Hubby got going good on the mowing and then the belt broke. Sigh.. Life right? Doggies yard got mostly done, so they are happy. The rest will wait til next week when the part comes in. More rain due for a few days anyway.

I spent the afternoon in with the goats yesterday. Need to work on my babies and keep them friendly, and they just grow up so fast and get so big I can't pick them and love on them for too long.  All the rain it gets hard to get out there and love on them. But they still know their names... One call of Thelma and she popped her head up and said "Hi!"

 

Isn't she adorable. I know they all are. I tried to get a photo of Thelma's sister Louise, but that girl was totally focused on finishing up the last of their breakfast hay with her Mom and could care less that I was really wanting her to pose really pretty for me. 

Now Jackie... she was posing pretty in the shade for me. 

 

One of my fall bottle babies, this girl needs no bonding. In fact I am lucky to have snapped the photos of her before she realized I was looking at her and she screamed an popped up for a snuggle and some scratches just behind those new little horns. I adore Jackie... I love them all but there are a few that you just really bond with and have a little special relationship with... shhh I try to not let that out to them though.

Annie and Frankie - The perfect couple.

 

Not the best photograph through the fencing, but you can get the idea. I have no idea why Frankie and Annie have such a special "love". They really do though, they just get along and love on each other. There is no head butting, no fighting between them like all others. They love to lay next to each other when resting and the nuzzle and hug on each other all the time. I never see any of the others do this nuzzling, especially the guys with a girlfriend. They are a great pair to be pen mates and live together. 

Now Abigail... Annie and Frankie's baby from last fall...  She is not so happy that I took her Mom out of the main pen. It was more than time for her to be weaned, but she is still not happy.

Always a bit skittish, and not the first to come up to me, but now with out Mom she is even a bit more cautious. Or was it just hiding from Spartacus? Most of the younger girls try and keep out of his path.

Last weeks photo didn't show you just how handsome he really he is. 

Now in this photo he was "flirting" with Lizzy and Jackie. Check out that raised hair down his back. And that lip was chattering. That means I am the hottest little stud in your life and you want me. Ok.. so the girls are still laughing at him. But one day that will mean something!

Chica was just simply boarded with my time outside and was ready to head back in. Found her on the back porch yawning waiting for me.

 The heat and humidity here is getting really tough.... ok, tough for us that like the air conditioning inside. The three doggies love to go outside to confirm the world is all good, but in the middle of the afternoon it is short trips around the yard and then right back in.

Got some really fun news I think I will be able to share this next week! I am so excited and think I am going to color today to celebrate! :0)  How is that for a teaser? LOL

Have a super blessed weekend -
HUGS and

High Hopes Stamps - Bob Loves His Tractor

Howdy -

Today I had so much fun working with one of the new High Hopes Stamps images. "Bob Loves His Tractor" is one of those have to have images that works well with the cards I make for friends and family. And with Bob riding on his tractor I just had to pair it up with the "Barn" image.

Other DT have done this too... maybe it is because they just scream out to work together! I stamped Bob, then stamped a mask and cut it out and covered over him. Then stamped the Barn. So much fun now I had an entire scene to color! I started to pull out animals and fences and such, but realized my card was already full. But ideas are a working....

I colored my copics (colors below) and then found a pattern paper from Farmhouse that looked great with the kraft card stock and dark red Bazzill card stock. I sewed down the layers with a zig zag stitch, and created the bottom to my card matching the top. I used a sentiment from the the "Sentiment #4 Set". Ready for any guy card don't you think. Oh I added three small buttons on the bottom corner, too hard to not add some sort of embellishment. Then while getting ready to photo my card I realized that the puffs of smoke out of the tractor needed "more" as well. So I found some white puff paint in my stash. I have no idea how long I have had it..

Close up of the "scene".

And Copic Colors used -

I think my favorite part of High Hopes images is that they work so well together. New and Older images. I can dig back to some of my oldest favorites and pull them out and they have so much fun with the brand new!

Hope you have a wonderful day planned. I think Hubby will be looking a lot like "Bob" today.. lots of mowing to do on his tractor today! LOL

HUGS and

5 Years Ago Today -

Howdy -

Time flies by doesn't it? It was 5 years ago today that things changed for me. A split second accident that seems so unbelievable when I think back -

5 years ago while home alone, I was out with the animals and was hit in the eye with a bungee cord. I know most all of you have been with me through it all and remember. I look back and count all the blessings that I have. And how blessed I was that day. Leaning over a fence while watering the goats, I reached to get a stick out of their water bucket. The pressure down on the fence let loose a bungee cord holding the bucket down. The back side of the hook hit straight on to my right eye. Something so simple and things all changed. Thank God a neighbor who was a resident doctor just happened to come home moments after it all happened. She was far from me on her property but just close enough to barely hear me calling out.

Long story short... I lost my eye. Many surgeries later I now where a prosthetic eye. A odd but now "normal" part of me. Took me a while to figure out my new depth perception and learn that my klutzy life before the accident had additional complications. Steps - curbs - heck, even holes and bumps in the ground now gave me more to concentrate on and try even harder to not fall on my face. Something that yes I did before and now do more often as those around me can attest too. Bumping into store displays and reaching to pick up and grab things only to drop or knock them over... that too is more me than ever before. Today life is back to "normal" and all though Hubby is much more protective over me, things are simply every day life and don't stop me from doing pretty much all that I want to do.

The biggest change - I feel blessed. Each Day I thank God for the blessings he has given me and the blessing of that day. 1/4 inch more and I may not have survived. 10 minutes later and my neighbor would have been inside and never heard me calling out. And Blessed by the family and friends that supported me through the entire situation. Not once was I allowed to get depressed and the mail support from many many many of you readers was the positive personal touches that really brought my daily struggles in recovery easier and gave me smiles and hugs through cards, emails and calls.

I don't relive this day every year, in fact I am not sure why the "Anniversary" of the date stood out to me this year. But it did and I thought after 5 years I needed to thank everyone once more. I pulled out the images that where created by the companies that I loved before and adore now. These images mean so much to me and I love working with them.  I will try and use a few more of them as soon as I can -

Today I am using one from Whimsy Stamps - "Sweet Little Donkey" was given out through A Spoon Full of Sugar from Whimsy and artist Meljen's Designs. I miss the challenge A Spoon Full of Sugar, was a great group of DT and lots of people joined in each week. You can purchase the image now straight from Whimsy Stamps - HERE

I used papers from Farm House Country Kitchen collection. Sewing down the layers, I then cut out the donkey with a Nestie Circle, and matted with another Nestie. The Heart Border is from Whimsy - love it -  The sentiment is Whimsy - Ticket Notes, and it cut out with the coordinating Ticket Die.

Inside more of the same papers -

And the image was colored with Copics - colors here -

Thank you again for being a reader - and your support. It means the world to me -

Off now to get back to normal activities and life -
Hugs and-

Animal Crackers - Stylin'

Howdy

This week it has been wet here again. Lots of rain but thankfully not as much as some of our neighboring towns. We have gotten a little over 4 inches this week. Keeping it green that is for sure!
I have a few photos from last week that was just funny to not show -

This is the side view of Macie - I showed you the front view last week... her big sweet eyes with long eye lashes... but this side view... The girl rocks the Mohawk don't you think? LOL

They all have pretty manes - but it seems lately Macies has really been standing up stylin'! Still beautiful!

Then got a snap of Darlene shaking her head - most of the time these shots are pretty blurry. But this one show those eyes closed and that ear really flappin!

 Love this old lady!


Now with all this lush green vegetation around I have no idea why Irene thought she had to chew on this stick. Must have been a little country teeth cleaning going on you think?

Pretty girl - I think I am going to start slightly nagging Hubby that it is past time to let Irene have a baby. I know we are still on a bit of population control around here... but really this girl needs to have a baby don't you think... her and Raffie would really be a great pair! Yes... Nagging will start nagging ASAP.

Spartacus... this guy seriously is a clown. Not old enough to be anything close to a "man" but he thinks he some hot Buck out there and is constantly flirting with all of the gals. Even when he is off on his on and thinks no one is watching he cracks me up. I mean why bend all the way over to get a closer look... kneel down and take the weight off... 

Great little "man" for sure!

Now I told you last week that Peso has women in his pen with him now. Well we have had some issues with Peso's pen before the girls went in. But now that they are sharing the space things really needed some work. You see Peso has the largest Igloo Dog House we can find. But lately it hasn't been in use. His horns have gotten so large that he was having a tough time getting into and out of the igloo. So the poor guy has had some serious problems when it rains.. You know goats believe they will melt like the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz, when a drop of water hits them right? Seriously... sprinkles and it is a free for all to claim your huts. Peso was getting under his deck.. and it was a tight fit. But now with three ladies in his bachelor pad... he was out in the rain you can say -

So I was outside talking to babies and Hubby was moving out a water trough and replacing it with a new one... why waste that trough? I mean really flipped over it looked like it was just big enough for our Guy!!

I told Hubby and he agreed could work out really well... and IT DOES!

We cut an opening. (love how I use the word "we" there, LOL)... "We" cut an opening just large enough for Peso to get in and turn around. Now it is a little short... wish it was about 3 inches taller, but hey... he can lay down while in the hut. He loves it and first shower that same afternoon he claimed it right off as his hut! And when not raining he loves jumping up and laying on the top. Girls have claimed it from time to time as well. But usually Peso gets it to himself. Happy dude... New Hut he fits into and three ladies to himself, what could be better in life. Ha!

Now with all the rain we have had some extra visitors here on the farm... Turtles! Hubby totally gets excited when he finds them. Snaps a photo... talks to them for a while to let them know they are welcome and safe to stay here... then runs to find me and show me the photos of his new friends.

 Love my "boy" at heart. Bugs, Frogs and Turtles he loves them. :0)

Hope you have a wonderful blessed weekend. We are hoping to get outdoors and do some work, maybe a few hours here and there, but there are chances for more rain. Hey keeps it a little cooler here, but I am really done with mud. Mud is not my friend, I no likey it! And mud in my chicken coop is a super slippery surface! We all know how my record with accidents with out additional help  - - - so I have to be really really careful. Or just send Hubby in to gather the eggs... yea that works to!!

Hugs - 

High Hopes Stamps - Bob Loves his Motorcycle

Howdy -

Today I had some fun with "Bob Loves his Motorcycle". Love this new image!

A fabulous Guy image! What guy doesn't want a day out on a motorcycle? "Born to Ride"! I created an easel card. Using an embossed paper from Kaisercraft's Art of Life collection. Matted on sanded Coredinations Dark Red Cardstock. All of it sewn down on black card stock for the base.

Bob is colored with my Copics (colors beleow)

 A few corner punches and some red and off white gingham ribbon. Then I stamped the perfect sentiment "Born to Ride" from the Sentiment Set #4 collection.  

A fun card for any man in your life.

Here are the copic colors used - 

This GREAT New release is now available for purchase!

High Hopes Website

 

HUGS and -

Animal Crackers - It's all about the shade

Howdy -

Well this week the sun has been shining in Texas! And summer has hit. Week before still felt like spring, and was nice then this week... High 90's for the temperatures and that means we all stay in the shade as much as possible. I tend to melt in the heat and some of my kids in their fur coats prefer the shade as well on the warmer days. We have moved around many of the goats. Some for breeding, some for the safety of others and some so I can more easily love on them!

Thelma and Louise were in our smaller pen and were just nearly impossible to get in too with out letting out or letting in a bunch of nosy ladies. But now Rhett and her two little girls are out in the main pen... so easy to spend some bonding TLC time with now!

Louise was quite vocal the morning we let them out. Not sure what to do with herself and the fact that Mom kept running everywhere and leaving her behind. But Rhett always came back to her tiny high pitch babies.

This girl just melts my heart...

 Now her sister Thelma was on a mission... she had to run and see all that she could in the first hour of their time in the big pen. She would not stay still for a second... she is so much like her Mom Rhett.

 Belle wasn't sure what all the noise and activity was about... but unless it was something really great to eat... she wasn't giving up her shady hut to no one!

 And Mary was the same ... LOL

 There are lots of places to "get" but there are some places that are "prime" real estate. And if you take ownership of one of those houses for the day you only give it up for food. Mary was really hanging out the front to see things though.

Lady donkeys were all hanging close to the barn and the water trough. Oh and the large shade tree next to the barn... Juliet was taking a little afternoon nap -

Must have been nice under there, never even came for some head scratches from us. At one point her head jolted and she rocked around a bit... she looked around to see if anyone noticed and then drifted off to sleep again. So cute -

Now Felicia came for some lovings -

Beautiful girl - with those big dark eyes like her Mom Macey.... Speaking of, she came over too...

Macie is one of our older girls. And I have always said she has the most beautiful eyes and eyelashes I would kill for! LONG Thick eyelashes. Love this lady -

Heck you know me and Hubby... we adore them all! LOL

Big check on our list of things to do with moving around most of the goats. Still working on the "men" goats. Hubby and I are both really struggling with taking them to auction, and working to find them a pen to grow old in. We are such suckers. We say we will be tough and then weasel out of it when we are looking at them. But I am positive I want to give Hank a few girls to breed for the fall and that means the other four boys need to be moved... will keep working on it this week. For now we have Chloe, Gracie and Sweet Pea in with Peso for Fall babies, and yes Frank has his girlfriend Annie in with him. He is so happy.

Hope you have a blessed wonderful weekend - Hug a furry friend!

High Hopes Stamps - Bob Loves Grass

Howdy -


Today I have a fun Father's Day Card with one of the new release images from High Hopes Stamps.


This is Bob Loves Grass -

This one really made me laugh - I colored with Copics (colors below) and then found some scrap papers that had that manly mowing grass feel. I used an old Martha Stewart Punch to create the small white fence. I decided that there are not many bright white fences out there so I made it dirty with some Ranger Distress ink. Everything was sewn down with a zig zag stitch. A ribbon as well was added. The sentiment is also a great new one from High hopes - Sentiment #3 collection. A must for those Manly cards.

It seemed to need more.... so I decided that Bob needed more grass. I cut a strip of green card stock. Cut a million little cuts into the strip to create grass. Then I "mowed" the section Bob looked to have gone over. Love how that came out! LOL

Inside the card more of the same scrap papers.

Copic colors used - sorry there were a bunch this time.

A fun Father's Day card don't you think. And around here MOWING is the subject all day. All the rain the grass is getting out of control! I need Bob to pay us a visit and help Hubby get caught up!

Hope you have a wonderful day -
HUGS and - 

Animal Crackers - Donkey Hugs

Howdy -


What a beautiful week it has been. Sunny weather and nice temps! Animals have really been loving a few days without the rain -

Hubby took a great photo out in front of the house the other day. We are calling it Three Stooges Donkey Hugs. 

The photo was suppose to to show off just Cocoa and Ted E. Bear doing the "Donkey Hug" or You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours... but before Hubby could get his phone out and snap Valentine decided that he had to walk in front for that perfect piece of grass. Now you can see with all the rain there is lots of green.

 I grabbed my camera and go this one of Valentine a little further out the front yard.... wow... so that is the sun!! Very bright afternoon!

Told you LOTS of green! Amazing for first of June in Texas. 

Now Moxie was enjoying the grass as well... but more of a little rest in the shade - 

This girl is just amazing - she has been doing so well on her own. She doesn't wander off from sight of the house hardly ever. And if we go out and she isn't in the front or in the donkey pen I just call her name and within seconds that smiling face and wagging tail is running right at you - better be prepared to kneel and give lots of belly rubs! It is required when you call her to you.

Now last week I told you we were going to retire Frank -

 Here he laying up on his deck over looking the girls pen. Hubby calls it his "Man Deck for sight seeing"  He hasn't been told anything. He still believes he is the number one Buck on the farm. We will leave it that way in his mind - I do think we will go ahead an put Annie in with him soon - He LOVES Annie so much and if she gets bred we are just fine with that, if she doesn't he has his favorite girlfriend to share his bachelor pad. Love this side shot of him... really shows off the personality of his lone horn. Other one was knocked off and just doesn't really grow back. Handsome man huh?

Speaking of handsome -

Wyatt was watching me really close. This guy will need to move on to be a Buck for someone else... he really is funny. Not the biggest of last years kids by any means. But if we are judging strickly by attitude and confidence... hands down he has it. LOL He just knows he is hot stuff and struts like he owns the world. LOL Cute smile huh?

Also in the goat pen... a photo from a couple of weeks ago I forgot to show, found one of the Guineas and her stash of eggs in one of the back igloo huts. Wondered where she had moved to laying recently.

I am really pushing Hubby to find us a male guinea.... she deserves to have babies with all the work this one does with her eggs. She takes pride in her little pile and watches over them so well. Wouldn't little guineas be cute!!

Speaking of little... I know I have three baby goats and no photos again this week. Sorry just couldn't get anything from the little tornadoes! They are on fast speed full time unless they are passed out asleep. They are a riot to watch. I am hoping that within the next week or two we can move Rhett and her girls out into the main pen. So they can play with Spartacus. They still worry me that they are so little and will get out of the fencing. They just don't seem to be growing really fast... unlike Spartacus who is just a giant and seems to think he can take on anyone and everyone that he wants. He has been flipped more than once... LOL the other girls are really pretty patient with him and his pestering. But when they are tired of him a push.. or head butt flip usually gets him to move on to the next girl in his path. Ha!

Well I hope you have nice weather where you are - and a very blessed weekend.
HUGS and -

High Hopes Stamps - Gabriel Loves Tubing

Howdy,

Oh my there is another new release at High Hopes Stamps!! And this one is all about the boys!! And Boys having some great summer fun! Now the first one I just had to have some fun with is "Gabriel Loves Tubing"

Tubing is a big thing in my area - both pulled by a boat and just soaking it up and taking is slow and just floating.

I colored with my Copics (colors below) and then again since it was still sitting on my desk from my last card I just had to add more stickles. Water has to have a sparkle to it doesn't it? I then found some papers from My Minds Eye Breeze collection. Great boy colors. I sewed all the layers down with both straight and zig zag stitches. The sentiment is also new from High Hopes - Sentiment Set #4 . And all though I think it had intentions of matching up perfectly with some of the great High Hopes Motorcycle images... I think "Born to Ride" works fabulous with a fast moving tube in the water too!

How about a close up of that splashing water with lots of stickles?

Inside I used up my scrap papers -

 And the Copic colors used -

YOU must take a look at all the new release images "All about the Boys!"

So much fun in one release!

Hugs and