November 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

It seems like we have more crows this year than usual, so I thought I'd share :)  When I lived in California, I had a friend who had a pet crow.  Really nice bird! Little things started disappearing.  If Roger was fixing something outside, he would turn around to grab a screw or bolt and it wouldn't be there anymore.  When Bonnie washed the dishes, she would lay her rings on the windowsill, and they would end up missing.  The crow had built a nest outside in one of their trees and that's where he was hiding his treasures.  They decided that maybe the crow should go to be with his own kind.  So, Roger took him to the bird sanctuary in Moorpark.  They would take good care of him, and they said they really needed a male for all the females they had.  Don't know how it happened, but that crow got away from them and was back home again before Roger made it back.  Needless to say, they kept him.  At least they knew where to look when little things disappeared :)  

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Fan Freebie 

We went to the greenhouse a couple weeks ago to pick up pumpkins to decorate our front porch.  I wouldn't even be able to guess how many they had, but there were a LOT ~!  All sizes, all shapes, all colors.  They had pumpkins so big that you would need a forklift to pick them up.  It was also farmer's market day, so we came home with fresh-picked vegetables and fruits, too.  After I'm done with the pumpkins, I put them down by our apple trees for the deer and rabbits to eat.  I have enjoyed watching "our" mother deer all summer.  She had triplets this spring.  That does not happen very often.  But it was a mild winter and spring came early.  She's so used to seeing us every day out and about, that she has no problem leading her babies right through the yard on her way over to the corn field or back to the apple orchard.  It has really been fun to watch those little guys grow.  

I used the same colors as the Blog Train so that you can mix and match pieces between both kits.  Enjoy!

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The Boo Update 

This was Boo's Halloween picture this year.  I called it "What Lurks Around the Corner".  He almost looks evil here, but he truly is such a nice cat.  Spoiled, but nice :) 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

October 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

The colors for this month's Blog Train are so perfect for October.  Muted, but still living color.  For now, anyway :) I can already feel "winter is coming" in the air.

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Fan Freebie

Even after all these years, I still love Halloween.  My older grandchildren are like "whatever".  But, the younger ones think it's almost as good as Christmas.

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The Boo Update

Boo isn't so sure he likes being "second fiddle" to Jake and Jack this month.  However, this is the first time Jack and Jake have been on the cat tree together at the same time.  Jack took the upper tier just because he could.  But, the fact is that Jake is a little more passive and let him.  Yes, I'm more protective of Jack yet just because of everything that poor boy has been through.  I did have a first with Boo, however!  My husband was out of town for a couple weeks and Boo actually climbed in my lap one evening to watch TV with me.  That never happens if my husband is home.  He loves his "Dad".  I'm just second runner up under these adverse conditions :)  

See you next month!

September 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

It's been a long time since I've had to get kids on the bus for school.  Can't say I miss it.  Good memories though.

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Fan Freebie --

Ok.  I went "off the reservation" here.  I needed some real color to work with on this one.  I worked on it in July when we were having 90+ degree days outside.  Full sun, no clouds to speak of.  It usually doesn't get that hot here.  And to make it worse -- no rain.  With the upper pastures headed toward drought conditions, I had to move all the horses into the big pasture where we still had plenty of grass.  What I found rather amusing is that they stuck to their own herds IN the pasture.  I had kind of hoped they would mix and mingle a bit.  But...it is what it is.  At least they all have plenty to graze for now.  With the rain that finally came, we have plenty of grass now to make it through the rest of fall.  

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The Boo Update --

I think we're making progress.  This is the second time I've found them all in the same area at the same time.  You will notice that Boo took the comfy chair while Jake and Jack got the floor.  

Meet me back here in October!

August 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

I haven't done a Birthday theme for a long time, so I thought these colors would work out great. 

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Fan Freebie --

Here are a few more papers and elements to go with the kit above.

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The Boo Update --

Boo and Jake have been together long enough that everything was "normal" around here for the past several years.  Since Jack joined the family last summer, however, things have changed and we're now entering a NEW normal.  Jake and Jack get along fine, but I'm sure Boo wishes I'd get rid of both of them.  When he realized that wasn't going to happen, he started looking for his own solutions.  I walked into my office one day and there he was sleeping in an empty box. This is a whole new for him. When he's had his fill of the other two, he comes in here to sleep and no one bothers him.  Sometimes I wonder if he's dreaming about the days when he was the one and only cat in the house.  I love him dearly, but my gosh . . . what a spoiled brat :) 

See you in September!