August Blog Train and Fan Freebie

 Can you believe it's August already?  This has been one busy summer.  I got my chair reupholstered.  About the time I got the chair taken apart, major apprehension set in.  When I was young, our neighbors, Ed and Elvera, reupholstered furniture to supplement their retirement.  I must have paid attention because as soon as I started thinking about them, it all started falling into place.  I sanded all the wood down and painted it a dark Charcoal Grey.  Looks great in our entry way!

This month's blog train colors were fun to work with.  I tried to put in elements that you could use for any occasion that you might be celebrating -- birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings for no reason in particular...

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

Fan Freebie --

I love our two oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.  I lived in California for several years and spent a lot of time walking the beaches. Vacations in Florida have been great.  But, I'm a Midwest girl.  I need lots of space where animals outnumber people, rain storms that come out of nowhere and snow in the winter (even though I complain about it every year).  This month's Fan Freebie features the "Tropical Fish" I designed years ago for a painting pattern project.  

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

The Boo Update --

Drink water from a cat bowl?  Surely you jest!  Boo has always preferred to drink water direct from the kitchen faucet and from a coffee cup setting on the bathroom counter.  The Kitty Water Fountain was a good solution to make sure he's getting enough fresh water.  It has a filter and a calcium tab, AND...if he's not drinking water, it's so much fun to just watch the water bubble up non-stop :) 

See you next month!

July Blog Train and Fan Freebie

 I finally got to spend a few days with my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Minnesota a couple weeks ago.  I was afraid the kids would be a little stand-off-ish after not seeing us for so long because of the Covid lockdown, but they had smiles and hugs for us from the moment we got there.  Oh, how I missed them!  

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

Fan Freebie --

I loved the colors for this month's Blog Train so much, I used them for the Fan Freebie as well, adding more papers and elements to use with the kit above :) 

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

The Boo Update --

And, this was Boo's reaction when we got home from our trip to Minnesota.  There's nothing worse than getting "the cold shoulder" from your cat when he's upset that he didn't get to go along with you on a road trip.  (He is soooo spoiled!!)

June Blog Train and Fan Freebie

 It took almost a month, but I finally got internet service again.  Comes in handy, but I found that I really didn't miss it all that much either after the first week.  We got so much done around here while we were "unwired".  Spring roundup went off without a hitch, our Veterinary spent a day here to give each horse its annual checkup and that all turned out good, too.  Looks like we're going to have a really good summer!  And, I have a much better internet system in place now for house and shop.

I don't usually do this, but I really have to.  I got a catalog from Bluestone Perennials earlier this year and had to give their plants a try.  They send live plants in biodegradable pots that you just plant the whole thing.  They're packaged in such a way, that UPS can't destroy them in route, and they look like plants you have just picked up at a greenhouse and brought them home. Within a couple days, they were already growing, and a few of them had already started flowering.  I am so impressed with this company, I wanted to share it with you.  If you're into gardening, be sure to check them out.  

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

Fan Freebie --

Here are a few papers and some rosettes made from the flowers found in the kit above.  Enjoy!

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

The Boo Update --

When I can't find Boo, I usually find him here between the ferns and palm plant.  He feels right at home with the "Garden Cats" I painted hanging by the front door.  I'll soon be adding a chair in this area that I'm refinishing and reupholstering.  Never reupholstered furniture before, so it should be an adventure!  I just keep telling myself -- "I can do this!"

See ya next month!

May Blog Train and Fan Freebie

 As I write this, I am going through "internet withdrawal".  Just out of the blue, my modem/router stopped working on a Saturday afternoon.  I worked with Tech Services for two days trying to revive it to no avail.  So, while I waited for the new system to get here, I had to drive 6 miles down the road every day to borrow internet time from others.  The new router came and it won't connect to the internet at all.  Their tech service people are working on it, BUT I am now going on 2 weeks without internet.  Fortunately, I had everything already uploaded to the server so that you can get your downloads.  The Fan Freebie page on my website will be updated when I have a working system again.  I'm really bummed.

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

Fan Freebie --

Here is the Easter Kit I promised you last month.  A little late, but I'm sure you'll be able to use it for all the wonderful pictures you took.

Sorry...this download is no longer available.

The Boo Update --

This is NOT a happy cat.  Poor Boo.  With these internet woes, I have to leave him everyday.  The minute I put on my coat, he starts giving me the "evil eye".  Makes it really hard to get out the door without feeling guilty.