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!

July 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

This month's color palette is so perfect for the US 250th birthday.  That's still very young when compared to other countries.  I love July 4th.  My Dad's company closed down for the first week of July every year.  In fact, they still do all these years later.  It was that type of company that you don't find so much anymore.  So, every year during that week, we traveled.  Did a lot, saw a lot, learned a lot, but I loved getting home again. 

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Fan Freebie

The 250 Year celebration in DC is sure to be spectacular this year, but nothing can beat the one that will be in my own backyard :)  

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The Boo Update

I have new baby kittens in my horse stable!  There are 4.  The little black one was sleeping in the back area of that heated cat house and I didn't want to wake her up.  She is beautiful though. I spend as much time with the cats out there as I do with Boo, Jake and Jack in the house.  They were only about 8 weeks old here.  They're now about 5 months old. They are so sweet.  They come running to me the minute I open the barn door.  And when I go out to bring the horses in from pasture at night, they're right there with me.  My horses are so used to having cats around, they watch for them all of the time so they don't step on any of them.  It's kind of amazing that each kitten has a different fur color.  The Mom is all black.

See ya next month!

June 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

I didn't think summer would ever get here, but here it is.  And, along with it, are bugs.  Fortunately, we don't get mosquitos here.  Our county was never touched by the glacier that moved through like a gazillion years ago, so we are beautiful rolling hills, running streams, and lots of trees.  This area is called the "Driftless Area".  Check it out online.  It's an interesting read.  Our ranch sits at one of the higher elevations, so there is no standing water, so NO mosquitoes.  Works for me!  We do get horse flies though.  Usually on the hottest, most humid days of the summer.  Dragon flies are more in fall, but the little guy in this kit didn't want to be left out of the fun :) 

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Fan Freebie

I almost didn't have time to do a Fan Freebie this month, but it rained one day and I was able to put together a few extras for you.

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The Boo Update

Getting all three boys in the same room at the same time doesn't happen very often.  But, when we pull out the stick with a toy at the end, they all come running.  

See you next month!

May 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

I really don't care much for traveling anymore.  Seen it, done it, been there.  My favorite mode of travel is on the back of horse.  But as I started thinking about this month's Blog Train, I thought "oooo...traveling on the back of a dragon would be fun!!  

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Fan Freebie --

This is another whimsical way of traveling when you want to take the slow lane!!

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The Boo Update --

And then there were three.  Yes, I still have Boo, and you met Jake in February.  But, I haven't told you about Jack yet.  This story is going to melt your heart.  Last summer I was walking back to the house after finishing up with the horses.  There was my favorite barn cat, Jack, laying in the grass maybe 20 feet from the house. He apparently had been attacked by a cayote and was in pretty bad shape.  I ran back to the barn to grab my Nitro Ferizone, and sprinkled it all over the open wounds around his neck to stop the bleeding.  He must have fought like the devil to get away.  For the next 6 weeks, it was like having a baby in the house.  He slept all the time.  I had to wake him up long enough to eat something.  I fed him chicken broth with a bottle until he was doing better and then blended up soft cat food to add with the chicken broth and fed that through a bottle as well.  The first 4 weeks were touch and go, but then he started to be awake a little more and  trying to get up on his feet again.  Took a bit, but he finally did it.  And each day got better after that.  He had lost an eye when he was just a kitten.  Not sure how.  But, I'm pretty sure not having peripheral vision was how he got attacked.  When he was able to walk around the house pretty good, I took him to our Vet to have him checked out thoroughly.  When I told them the story, they could hardly believe it.  So, I made arrangements to have him neutered and his bad eye permanently taken care of.  The Vet must have gone back to their hospital and told everyone the story because when I got there on the morning of Jack's surgery, the receptionist referred to me as "Diane and her miracle cat".  Everyone was extra nice and really took extra good care of Jack.  When he was coming out of his anesthesia, there was always someone around to hold him and talk to him.  I thought that was so great, it almost made me cry.  On his follow-up visit a few weeks later, the entire staff was there waiting to see how he was doing.  Jack sort of has that effect on people. He is special. Boo and Jake have learned how to tolerate him.  In fact, I think they actually like having the little guy around.  But, I'm pretty sure Boo told Jake AND Jack to stay off HIS chair and there wouldn't be any problems.  So far it's been working.  I love all of my cats, but this little guy truly is special. 

April 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

 We made it through the winter with only a couple big snow storms.  The rest were no big deal.  In fact, we even had one day that was 70 degrees a couple weeks ago.  I thought that would be it for winter. Less than two weeks later, it rained.  Then the rain turned into ice.  I woke up the next morning to 2 feet of snow covering everything!  Even my horses were complaining about it!  But, April is finally here, the sun is shining and all that white stuff is melted and gone.  I am so looking forward to complaining about the heat of summer!

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Fan Freebie --

You can tell gardening and new plants are on my mind.  I used the same colors as above so you can mix and match as you want.  Wouldn't it be fun if butterflies really DID have smiling faces :)

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The Boo Update --

Boo loves to grab my husband's shoestrings.  He's been doing that every day since he was just a kitten.  It must be a "guy thing" :)

See you next month!

March 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

I'm a little early for Easter, but the colors were too perfect to put it off for another month.  Also, we haven't had any snow for a while now, so I'm pushing for an early spring.  Excuse my glee, but it was nice to see New York hit with 30 inches of snow instead of us for a change.  

Click  HERE  to download

Fan Freebie --

I have no Irish anywhere in my family tree, but I do enjoy an Irish Pub.  There was a really nice one in St. Paul, Minnesota, years ago not far from the Chimera Theatre.  The minute you walked through the door, you felt like you were actually in Ireland.  A fun way to end an evening out.

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The Boo Update --

We're taking a trip into the past here.  I was looking through all of my old pictures one afternoon. This was Boo in October 2018 just a month or two after I brought him in from the barn. When I pick him up today, I can't believe it's the same cat.  I had never expected him to get so big and have such long black fur.  And those rings on his tail were just adorable.  

Til next time . . .

February 2026 Blog Train & Fan Freebie

I like the idea of Valentine's Day, but I don't like that it's in February.  It's usually snowing and blowing, so it's more like a "Warm Heart Cold Feet" holiday :)  

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Fan Freebie--

I used the same colors as the kit above so that you can mix-and-match as you please.  

Click  HERE  to download

The Boo Update --

This is Boo with his buddy.  Jake had been my favorite stable cat and then one day about 4 years ago he just disappeared.  With barn cats, it happens.  Then, a couple months later when I was walking back to the house, there he was.  Oh, he was so thin.  He started purring the minute he saw me.  So, I brought him in the house so I could get some weight on him.  Boo liked the idea of "a little brother", and he fell right into our routine, so Jake became our second  house cat.  And, I have to say, it has been good for Boo to have another cat in the house. 

January 2026 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

 Happy New Year!  After the hustle and bustle of Christmas, it's kind of nice to just kick back and do normal everyday things.  A large part of those "things" for me is taking care of all of our animals, both inside and out.  My big project this winter is cleaning out the basement.  Sort of a New Year's resolution.  That should be an adventure!

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Fan Freebie --

I put together a group of borders, tags and a pearl swirl to enhance your pages with the blog train kit. 

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The Boo Update --

Boo is happy Christmas is over and the house is getting back to normal again.  He will miss the tree though.  He likes sleeping under it.  That's the last thing that comes down. 

2026 . . . Here we come!

December 2025 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

Just a few more weeks and Christmas will be here.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.  

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Fan Freebie --

Except for several years of living in Southern California, I have always lived in snow country.  Playing in snow is our way of convincing ourselves that all that snow falling from the sky really isn't so terrible.  In fact, it's beautiful to look at, fun to play in, and on some days, it's a real adventure to drive in :)  And, we have a thing here called "Snow Days" where nobody goes nowhere until it stops snowing and the plows go through to clear the roads and my long driveway.  

Click  HERE  to download

The Boo Update --

Oh, the things I do to Boo's pictures!!  I have to dress up his pictures because he certainly wouldn't let me do these things to him!  He is a joy, but sometimes his Maine Coon half comes out in him and he can be less than cooperative. 

From my family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas!

November 2025 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday because it's all about food, family and friends.  We talk all day while we're cooking, catching up on each other's lives, playing games with the kids and just simply enjoying each other's company.  It's wonderful.  

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Fan Freebie --

As you can see . . . I REALLY like Thanksgiving and Fall in general.  I couldn't decide which turkey couple I liked the best, so I added a few more colors and made a second kit.  There are also enough colors from the blog train palette, so you can mix and match pieces to your liking.  Enjoy!

Click  HERE  to Download

The Boo Update --

I found Boo in this position in the guest room one day, laying on the floor, but braced against the wall.  The perfect caption should read "I can't believe I ate the whole thing!!"  Life with Boo is always  an adventure!  

Happy Thanksgiving !!

October 2025 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

Although the weather is quite nice yet, the leaves are just starting to change color.  It's really quite lovely walking through the woods.  I have noticed that the squirrels have been gathering nuts all summer long and into fall.  I sure hope that isn't an indication of what type of winter we're going to have!

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Fan Freebie --

This is the best part of October . . . trips to the pumpkin patch to find those perfect pumpkins for carving.  The farm we go to also have a petting zoo and they take you out to the pumpkin field in horse-drawn wagons.  I love that part the best because I've always wanted a pair of draft horses.  My uncle had Clydesdale horses.  So big, but so gentle.  I used to ride them when I was young.  I could sit Indian-style on their backs and just enjoy the ride.  It was great!  Beautiful animals.  And, it just wouldn't be Halloween without a witch!

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The Boo Update --

Well now . . . what have we here?  When my husband got back from his last kayaking trip out west, he always cleans up his gear before packing it away for winter.  Boo, of course, felt compelled to "help".  What can I say?  He's a "daddy's boy"!!

See you in November!

September 2025 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

I've never been a big fan of September.  When I still had children at home, the house was just too quiet when they went back to school.  I would go for a long ride on my black gelding, Sammy, just to escape the quiet in the house. Outside, there's a whole lot of work to do to get ready for winter.  I'm not a big fan of winter either, so it's kind of like having to do something whether I want to or not.  Just get 'er done.  We did get the hay moved in though, so that's one big job out of the way. 

The colors this month are really quite elegant.  Now, if fall around here came in colors like this, maybe I wouldn't mind September so much :) 

Click  HERE  to download

Fan Freebie --

Here are some graffiti to add that "little something extra" to your pages.  Enjoy!

Click  HERE  to download

The Boo Update --

"A little more to the left please.  Ooooo....that feels so good :) "

Meet be back here in October!

August 2025 Blog Train and Fan Freebie

Well, this summer is sure flying by!  My granddaughter is spending weekdays here with me while Mom and Dad are working and her older siblings are either working or taking classes.  We're having so much fun.  I'm teaching her how to paint and we work on projects every day.  And, she's a talker, so we never run out of things to chat about.  I'm going to miss her company when she has to go back to school.

Click  HERE  to download

Fan Freebie --

My flower gardens are so beautiful right now, but it won't be long and they'll kind of look like this "End of Summer" kit.  

Click  HERE  to download

The Boo Update --

I got a box in the mail one day.  After I removed the goodies, Boo claimed the box as his.  He has been taking his afternoon nap in it every day.  SO . . . I decided we might as well spruce it up with little mice poking their heads out of holes.  What surprised me was when I put the decorated box back on the floor, Boo walked around the entire box to see all the new decorations.  He must have approved because he curled up in his box and went to sleep.  

I'll be back in September.  So will Boo!