The Lake is Gone and other Stuff...

Fortunately the outside lake disappeared the next day; our pump worked non-stop for a couple of days on the basement and we wet-vac'ed a bunch but mostly are just letting it dry out. Other than a few empty boxes we didn't lose anything.

I've been diligently working on the vacation pictures and I actually just ordered a few more so I'm at a hold point until they arrive. I'm about 1/3rd done. Need to order more American Craft customizable albums.

Did the NJ Quilt Shop Hop this weekend and actually made it to all 8 shops--this puts you in the drawing for all the really good prizes!!! Besides all the cool stuff in the next post we found some really cool purse patterns. Looks like we'll be raiding the stash and working to create "purse envy" real soon!

Registered for CKC-Valley Forge at the end of July. We're taking 4 classes on Friday and trying to decide whether to stay over or commute--depends on whether all the CE gals are getting together or not!!

My "Let's Escape" box went postal on Saturday morning---it should arrive at the hotel where Ali's staying in NOLA on Tuesday. You're looking at a "sneak peek":

Must go reheat leftovers for dinner---wonder what kind of trouble I can get into during a great night of TV---Dancing with the Stars(or House) and 24.

More later---

Janet

Piglet & Parakeet...

aren't just great colors, they're the colors of Creative Escape!! And as you can see, paper isn't the only thing that comes in these luscious shades. Sandy and I "did" the New Jersey Quilt Shop Hop on Saturday ( and I finished on Sunday after church) and picked up these lovelies along the way. What on earth could I be doing??? A little tease for now--all I'll say is it's got to do with CE, friends, and Becca's Crop for a Cure...

It really was a nice day to drive all over the state, and yes NJ is small, but we did 335 miles on Saturday. Yea for my Toyota Corolla which got 39 miles/gallon!!!!





More later--

Janet

Welcome to Lake Perry...

... that's right. It's Nor'easter season here along the midatlantic coast and this one is one of the worst on record!!! We got at least 5" of rain yesterday and we probably won't see the sun for another couple of days. YUK!!!! We actually have a lake (outside) and a swamp (inside :-( ). All kinds of road closures, creeks overflowing, etc. but of course, I had a managers' meeting this morning at 7am!

It was a fun day though since when I got home both mine and Sandy's "Let's Escape" swaps had arrived! After dinner we had fun opening them and checking out the fun stuff we got. And we didn't get any duplicates---especially nice since we share the "stash" and have similar tastes.

My outbound box is actually going in a couple of weeks because my partner is Ali W. who lives in Christchurch, NZ. I was prepared to send it "down under" but she's coming to NOLA for a conference so I'm sending it to her there instead! She may even get to meet Renee! My box came for Lysa C. in Napierville--lots of cool Heidi stuff, my favorite scent of Bath and Body, a big bag of dark chocolate M&Ms, lots of pink ribbon, some cool chipboard alphabet and clock circles, lots of Prima flowers, a Basic Grey Motifica collection pak, and a cool lavendar mini AMM tote!

I'll post pictures of what I'm sending Ali a bit later. I won't want her checking this blog or any of you telling her what she's getting.

More later!

The Week in Review

It's actually been a decent week and a bit busy so by the time I thought about blogging it was way too late to download pics etc. Anyway, we'll start last Friday when "The Great Refrigerator Hunt" came to a successful conclusion with the arrival of said refrigerator. Home Depot had said our delivery time would be between 2:15 and 6:15 pm--well the driver called about 4:50 to say they'd be there in about 20 minutes. They got here at 6:15pm--fortunately it only took about 20 minutes to disconnect the old one, move it out, move the new one in, and hook it up.

On Saturday the weather held off enough for us to take our 16 month old "niece" (and her parents) to the Philadelphia Zoo. We had a great time looking at all the animals especially the bigger ones and the ones that actually moved around.
Saturday night we celebrated Christmas, Part 3---yes I know it was March 24th but our friends are here for a couple of months on home missionary assignment from Germany so we did Christmas again. Turkey and all the trimmings, presents, and Mom even put out her little Christmas tree! Those great looking desserts are from the patisserie at Wegman's -- the best supermarket in the area!

This week was also the week for managers to get their reviews at work. It's always a long process; we did our self evaluations back at the beginning of February. Anyway, that went very well, but seriously, I wouldn't have expected it not to. My boss doesn't believe that anything in a review should be a "surprise" plus we've worked together for 9 years now. And then our head cashier gave me $20--I had totally forgotten about some money I'd found on the floor at least a month ago. Well, noone claimed it so it's mine---more money for the CE Fun Money Fund!

Spent today putting the studio back together after the lighting installation project. We have to go get the lighting fixtures for the track but it's all done. Zipped over to IKEA to get another set of IVAR shelving---we had a brillant idea for more space--- only to have them be out of stock on the ends. Found some great rolling bins for under our desks though! Now I'm off to do my income taxes!

This weekend (Saturday night and 3 times on Sunday morning) the choir is presenting a great Palm Sunday musical during all our worship services. Should be very moving for the congregation.

Enjoy,
Janet

I WANT to Scrap

This week has been really quiet at work--this is a BAD thing. Too much time for the mind to wander and think of other more interesting things. Last weekend's creativity boost at the crop made me want to be at home scrapping my vacation --- not wasting time at work looking for customers and things to do when they weren't around. And Dad has the studio torn apart adding some more lighting (which is a good thing) so finding a space this week hasn't been easy!

Trying to stay caught up on all the important stuff --- CE Bazzill Blue Bingo; the Let's Escape Swap; Miley on MMIdol; and the all important Monday night viewing of 24 and Tuesday night's American Idol (would people please stop voting for Sanjaya; it's really sad) .

Was hoping to add a pictures of "my kingdom on the other side of the wall" (otherwise known as the music department) and the studio but alas my only shots were pre-digital and not in the files. I will remedy that soon---

More later--
Janet

This and That ...

... took a vacation day today just so I'd have an extra day to get things done and what happened???? It rained, snowed, and sleeted all day. YUCK!!!!! I never left the house and that rarely happens. Did get a bunch of odds and ends done but not nearly as much as I'd have liked.

Tomorrow, we're letting our "inner leprechaun" loose and spending all day/night at a crop at our local LSS. Usually don't do store crops; it's just easier at home to be able to pull whatever supplies we need. But this is a charity event for the local Christian school PTO so we decided to do it! I'm hoping to get lots of pages of vacation done...

We were going to continue "The Great Refrigerator Hunt" this afternoon but the weather didn't cooperate. I guess it will be Sunday afternoon. Ours hasn't died yet but it's going--hey, it was here when we bought the house in November 1992 so it's lived a good life.

And congratulations to Becca's niece, Courtney Smith, who finished 2nd in her division at the Nebraska state speech competition today! I know Aunt B and her mom Sherri were there cheering her on!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone,
Janet

It is Finished.....

Yes, believe it or not, the Christmas journal is finished and all put together again!

Day 30: Reflections on the past year -- I talked about all the celebrating we did throughout the year

Day 31: New Years' Eve -- we were supposed to use something sparkly

Day 32 (Jan 1): New Years' Day -- I talked about how I don't like resolutions and Ali's concept of intentions

Day 33: Thoughts on Religion (or Innocence) -- talks about why Christmas is really important!

Day 34: A Favorite Holiday Event -- talked about the Choir Christmas Party

Day 35: Notes for Next Year-- the photo is a decoration I saw on a house here in town that I'd love to try and copy for our front; we shall see if that happens; maybe if I start in the summer!

Day 36: Cleaning Up --what can I say???? I hate de-Christmasing.

Day 37: Used this day to talk about the Victorian tea at the historic house here in town.

Extras: Christmas II and Christmas III: Nothing like spreading the Christmas cheer on for months! My best friend and her daughter were here the first weekend in January (Christmas II) and Sandy's best friend, husband, and daughter will be here on March 24 (Christmas III); page is all ready for the photos!

ALL DONE: Yes I know the photo of the completed book is missing but I'm waiting until I have a full sheet of photos to print; I hate wasting photo paper!

All there's a couple of photos of the completed book!

Enjoy!
Janet