Fun Weekend

I had a fun weekend starting out with going to a Stampin Up class with a friend, on Saturday.  We made 10 cards and had a lot of fun chatting and stamping away.  It had been a   l   o   n   g   time since I had been to a card class where I wasn't the teacher....so that made it extra fun.

Here are is one of the cards that we made.

I chose this one because it's Fall!!  The others were Christmas cards and a few other themes.  So, I will save those for later.

Then, on Sunday, our family went to the Pumpkin Patch.  Although my Granddaughter was still recovering from having her wisdom teeth pulled on Friday, she wanted to pick out a pumpkin.  So, off we went, all three of us, to chose our pumpkins.  Our Pumpkins, all totaled, weighed in at 48#.   I didn't get any photos of our pumpkins but took a photo of people enjoying the farm, that day.

We didn't take in any of the other activities that they have going on there like the Pumpkin cannon, Corn Maize (Star Wars Theme), animal barn, Pony rides etc. because we were on a mission but what a FUN way for a family to enjoy the day!!!

Here are our pumpkins that we carved.

 This is mine....of course a CAT!!

 David's was a ghost but we had a friend that was visiting, carve it for him.

Here is my granddaughter's...a bat.
                                                         And, here they are.....all lit up!!

Then, to top off the day, I saved the pumpkin seeds and toasted them in the oven to enjoy at a later time.

I'll be sharing some more cards that I have made in a later post.

Have  a God Blessed Day.

Hugs,
Char

Today is the day!!!

I am so excited.  I got up early and actually 'stalked' this stamp company till I saw that they posted some new stamps I have been waiting to come out!!!

When The Angel Company closed two months ago, I had yet to purchase some sets that I had on my list by Phyllis Harris.  I was so sad that I hadn't gotten them.

THEN, I heard that the Unity Stamp Co. was going to be carrying some of her stamps....and I was overjoyed and even had my reminder on my computer set for today.

If you have never seen her stamps or missed out getting them when they were in the catalog.....now is your chance.  Just click on over to their site and check them out.

And, no, I am not affiliated with the stamp company....just an anxious stamper waiting for the stamps to come out!!

WHOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

More later gotta run!!

Have a God Blessed Day!!!

Hugs,
Char

Pet Sympathy

I am sure at one time or another we all have had a friend that has lost a beloved pet.


This week, I had two friends who lost their pets.  :-(


Having lost many pets over the years, I know how hard it is on a person those first days/weeks/months.  If you are an animal lover, I don't even have to explain to you how sad you feel and how lost you feel without your constant companion.  Every day you are reminded that they are no longer there!


A friend of mine had to have her Cat, Tanner, put to sleep, this week.  This is such a hard decision to have to make on behalf our fur babies....but sometimes it is the only option to end their suffering lovingly and the one that hurts the most. (I had to have my Freckles put to sleep last summer and it bothered me for weeks, although I knew it was the most humane thing to do to end her suffering from cancer).


Anyway, this is the card I made for her.

I copied a photo she sent to me of Tanner and included it inside the card.


Michele Zindorf lost her dog, Abby, the same day. If you would like to see a great poem she dedicated to Abby, check out Michelle Zindorf's blog. 


Have a God Blessed Day!!!


Char

Halloween is coming

I have to admit, I am not a huge Halloween fan.  But, I do love to make Fall/Halloween cards.  :-)  

Here is one I did for my Granddaughter.  She will get a big kick out of it.

I bought the stamp set (Pop Up Halloween Frog) and black Honey Comb paper from Stampin Cat Studio in Salem, OR.


Ignore the coloring job ......it wasn't a great day to be stamping for some reason.  Everything and anything that could go wrong....DID.  But, I am happy that I am back to stamping!!!


It was the first stamp set that I had bought since TAC closed it's doors in August 2011.


I have bought a few more since and can't wait to make some cards with them.


Have a God Blessed Day!!!


Char

And, so it goes

Well, they say you are supposed to really focus on doing something to stretch your mind at my age....keep learning new things to stimulate it.

So,I have been learning how to use Microsoft Outlook 2010.....it's so much different than 2003.  It's a bit frustrating trying to do all the things I used to do with no problem since the set up is different than what I am used to.


But, I am definitely stretching my mind (and my patience) and shall persevere and hopefully it will 'rejuvenate my brain cells' sufficiently :-)  


I am itching to use some unmounted stamps that I got from Eurekastamps   but I promised myself that I wouldn't even THINK about getting them mounted on Creative Cling till I got my craft room/office completely cleaned and organized.  Here are just a few of them....

   

There is a darling pig in chocolate, too and a couple more Christmas images and a fall tree ..........so hopefully, that will spur me on to get my room finished this week!!!


If you haven't yet, go check them out!!


Have a God blessed day!!!!


Char

Wow...what a week....and it's just started!!!

Hubby and I were enjoying a Sunday morning together.

He surprised me by telling me we would be going into town later that day to pick out a new computer. We had talked about getting a new computer for quite awhile, as mine was on it's last legs....about 9 years old.....but it was still hanging on so there wasn't a huge rush.  But, lately, it's been shutting off all by itself (at least I HOPE it was all by itself....eeeerie to think about...LOL) and right in the middle of doing stuff.  And, it was taking so much time to load up and it would stall/freeze in the middle of things and then I would have to reboot.   Sigh.

My husband's (my former computer) is also on it's last legs...being probably 12 years old.  But, strange as it may seem...his is actually in better shape then mine, (and it doesn't ROAR like a jet when you have it on).

We have been following Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace for about 9 months and had saved up for a new computer and now was the time!!  Oh the 'freedom' with saving up for what you want instead of "CHARGE IT" and worrying about it later.  More on that later, too.

So, later on that day, we decided to head into town and look at our options.  We had basically figured out what I needed for me to do all the things I normally do on my computer like blogging, e-mailing, Facebook, using Excel and Powerpoint, and an assortment of other things.

We got to the store and of course, they didn't have the 'same' computer I had picked out online....so we had to check out what they did have and go from there.  In the end, we ended up with a less expensive computer then we had chosen online with the same amount of features that I felt I needed and the same amount of space on the hard drive and more RAM.....(that's about as much computer speak as I know).  We had looked at an HP but ended up with a DELL.  My older computer was a Gateway and I hated it from day one....although the earlier Gateway's I had liked.

Here is what I ended up with:

(then, I realized if I had bought it off of the Dell website, I could have gotten the front of it in PURPLE).  Probably best I didn't know that beforehand...LOL

One thing we did learn, though, is that we had looked at Microsoft Outlook 2010 online and it was one price 'online'.  When we went to the store, it was $50 higher.  Thankfully, the associate went online and 'ordered it' for us.....and then picked it and 20 minutes later, we were able to get it for the sale price.  Remember that if you see something online that you want....buy it online and have them 'pick it' and hold it at the store for you.  Most likely, they can have it ready within a few hours or the next day.   It was so funny, cause he took it right off the shelf....but in order for us to get the online price....he had to 'pick it' and 'hold' it for us to come in to get it (although we were right there).  Hey....for $50, I can go get lunch at their McDonald's and go back in 20-30 minutes ;-)

We went home, installed it and away I went.  Gosh...that was EASY!!!  NEVER have set up a computer without some sort of headache that went along with it.   :-)

THEN......................................................

Fast forward to the next day.  Well, since I had documents/photos and other things to get off my old computer....I wasn't online much yesterday.   It wasn't until evening that I noticed that although I was getting e-mail, I wasn't able to send any.

So, we commenced to troubleshoot....and THREE hours later....after I was about ready to pull my hair out....hubby went to my old computer and figured out that I had my Smtp configured wrong.  I was checking HIS computer....figuring it was the same as mine.....NOT.....???

So.....we fixed that.......and then, later, got around to installing the Router....and all of a sudden, DH wasn't able to get anything on HIS computer.  SIGH!!! (he was going off our old router...and of course I was directly connected to the modem....so all was good....till we decided to install the Router onto my computer)

I asked him....is this router even set up to work with Windows 7?  He hadn't thought of that....so he went and got the router box....and sure enough...it wasn't.  So, that's why his computer quit working.

So, now we have to get a new Router so that we can both work on our computer. 

AND, to top it all off....computer geek that I am NOT....I had spent ALL DAY, yesterday, (that's why I wasn't e-mailing or doing anything else online) transferring info off my old computer onto 24 disks, only to realize, last night, that the info hadn't copied over to the disks, even tho it said it did.

There IS an easier way to transfer information from one computer to another.  I know, I know....there is.....but I didn't have an external doo hickey..so the disks were my only option at the time.  They are the wrong type disks, evidently. 

I am not a computer geek.....by any stretch of the imagination.

So, to sum it all up....my computer is now functional.....DH's is not internet functional till we get a router.

Now, I am in 'learning mode' once again.  I went from Windows XP with Microsoft Office 2003 to Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010.  A huge step!!

Hopefully, with a few tutorials under my belt and a lot of practice....I'll get it figured out.


Have a great day!!!
Char

Back from WAG and ready to do some FALL CLEANING

Hi Everyone,

Well, WAG (Western Angel Gathering) is over for another year!  (I am contemplating a Spring get together, tho) Wow....did we ever have fun!!!  Lots of shoebox projects, gabbing, giggling, eating and shopping.................need I say more?  And, they still want to continue getting together every year!!  WHOOOHOOO!!!!

The sad thing is.....I didn't take any photos!!!  I always take photos.... but I only managed three.....HUH???  I think I was just so busy getting my projects done and gabbing...(yes...the first time in years I have actually FINISHED all my projects) ....that I just realize I wasn't taking any photos of all the gals, till I got home.

Anyway, I'll be sharing some of those projects over the next week or so.....

Here is the one I did.

It's a slider card and the Hershey Bar slides out at the top and a sentiment slides out of the bottom.  I got my idea from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts. 

You can follow her directions on the above link and make one of your own....they are FUN to do!!!
Sad to say, the image is no longer available because it was one of the new ones that came out in the last TAC catalog.....but I am so glad I got it before they closed their doors!

Although I am not any where near ready to go to another direct sales stamp company, right now, I did sign up as an affiliate with three stamp companies, today.  I just had to keep my 'fingers' in it somehow.   :-)

If you would like to order, just click on one of the links in the sidebar and go to customer sign in.  It will take you directly to my affiliate site.   :-)

I am super excited to be able to once again be connected to a stamp company in some small way.

Now, I am ready to 'cozy down' and start my Fall cleaning!!!

Have a GOD blessed day!!!!!

Char

YEAHHHHHHHHHHH, it's September!!!

September is a new month.  We are on the last legs of summer and Fall is just around the corner.  Wow, some feel like we haven't even HAD summer, this year.  ME?  I LOVED this summer... I don't even think we had one day in the 100ºs.  We had some come pretty close, but only a few.  So, this was probably one of the best summers, for me, as I don't like hot weather.

Not so in other parts of the country where they have had to put up with days on end of 100 degree weather.  I am sure those people are looking forward to Fall with it's cooler weather.

Although we have had a little cooler temps this summer....it is ending with several large wildfires in our area (although ours are much bigger than the ones they are reporting on in other states, it hasn't made national news) making the air quality not so wonderful!  There has been a lot of smoke, all around us, for a couple of weeks now and they are saying that they may not have it contained for another week.   I hope it doesn't affect my Sister coming to visit this month :-(

There have been road closures (though not affecting me) that have affected a lot of travelers, truckers included.  I feel for the truckers (mine included) as they HAVE to be out there delivering whatever it is they are hauling and it's been a huge inconvenience for them to have to detour so far around the fires.  I am sure it's an inconvenience to other travelers, too, but it's for their safety.  Let's just hope the firefighters, putting their lives on the line, can get it contained by next weekend and that everyone including all the firefighters stay safe!!!

September brings, to our house at least, quite a few birthdays!!!  Our family has 6 birthdays this month, including mine.  PLUS, we have a cat that is turning 16  :-)  So our month will be full with birthdays alone.

Last but not least, school has either started or IS starting this month most everywhere.  So, with school starting, my mind conjures up visions of school supplies, shopping for clothes (although our shopping is all done), new schedules, football games, leaves changing, harvest parties and the list goes on and on.

I won't officially say goodbye to summer till after Labor Day but I couldn't help but thinking that summer is coming to an end.

Hope you all have a fun and SAFE Labor Day!!!

Have a God Blessed Day!!!

Char

Another day!!

Today is a new day!!!   It's been exactly one week since The Angel Company closed it's doors.  My emotions have run amuk...as with most Angels.  I am still sort of in a fog and can't seem to get anything done.

I am trying to get ready for the annual Western Angel Gathering coming up in September over in Salem, OR.  I am SO glad that I basically had everything done ahead of time before TAC announced it was closing.  The only things I have to concentrate on, now, and believe me it is SO HARD to concentrate....are my trades and my shoebox project.

I think I have finally selected a project to do.  Now to get it done with all the activities coming up and company coming.  BUT, I am thinking positive!!!

I added DAISIES to my blog today because I have always said they are "happy" flowers.  I don't know why they make me smile, but they do. 

I have decided that this week, along with trying to get my projects finished, I am going to concentrate on HAPPY things, things that make me smile and try and not dwell on the current disappointments in life.  Things that come along to push us off track, AREN'T WHO we ARE....it's how we deal with them that makes us WHO we are.......SO.....like I tell myself, "Put on your big girl panties and DEAL with it"  

There isn't a person that goes through life that doesn't have disappointments, tragedies, down days etc.....we grieve, we get upset, we are sad.....but then we have to CHOOSE to move on!!!  Sometimes, it's really hard to MOVE on....but, eventually one must do it for their own sanity and self preservation.   Otherwise.....egads....we'd all be a bunch of negative, depressing people to be around.

Do you have challenges this week that seem insurmountable?  Do you have a person/s in your life that seem to live only to make YOU miserable? Do you have financial problems?  Do you  have health issues?  Do you have relationships that are going down the tube?

Whatever the problems you are facing this week.....try, just try to think of 10 positive things in your life, right now and write them down.  Can't think of 10.....then 5.  Can't think of 5, then ONE!!!  And, keep thinking about that ONE (or 5 or 10) every time you start to feel down or depressed or whatever.

If you are dwelling on the past and mistakes you have made.....do your best to GET OVER IT.  I recently came across a quote, "Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different"   OH MY gosh.....I have that posted in several different places in our home.  We need to forgive ourselves FIRST....and then work on forgiving others.   TOO bad if they can't forgive you, forgive yourself first. 

When I first started writing this post, this is NOT what I intended to write. But, as I typed, my fingers just started going faster and faster.  SO, I hope that this was written for someone out there that needs to hear it today.

Here are some of the positive things I am grateful/happy for!!  I could make a HUGE list...but I'll keep it to 10.

1.  An AWESOME GOD!!!
2.  A great husband
3.  Two Sons who know how to make me laugh!!
4.  Two absolutely wonderful granddaughters that bring a smile to my face just being with them.
5.  My dog, Annie.  She is truly a gift from God!!  (and my younger Son)
6.  My two Cats, we had 6 when we moved here from the farm, so I am grateful these two are still here.
7.  My tried and true friends who I can always lean on!!
8.  A sense of humor (sometimes irritating to others...LOL)
9.  My health (so far)
10. My older Sister. We always seem to get into so much trouble when we are together!! But, it's all good.

And, there are so many other things....simple things that others take for granted but yet helps each of us get through our daily life....like eyes, ears, smell, taste, limbs that work.....some people are not quite that lucky....so I never take it for granted.  How about being able to read, count, talk.....you can thank someone for those things!!

I read an article the other day about some wild fires that are going on around us and there was a comment section below it.  There was one guy that was SO NEGATIVE and had a negative reply to anyone that tried to comment on the article.  He has chosen to see life from a pin hole view.  So Sad!!!  What a sad, sad existence!

So, give it a shot.....I would love to hear your 10 things!!!  Believe me, mine were simple.....and I am thankful for so many more things.....

Have a God blessed Day!!!

Char

Final Farewell Blog Hop

I had the opportunity to take part in this Final Farewell blog hop and I just couldn't pass it up.  We were asked to share some memories of our time with The Angel Company.  How does one condense 12 years into one blog post?  It's not easy.  So, I went to my photo album and chose some photos that meant something to me for one reason or another.

First, though, I was asked to share a card to honor Mischelle Smith, the CEO of The Angel Company and our friend.
 This card is my way of saying that no matter the storms of life....God's hand will guide you.  I came across this website and thought it seemed so appropriate for this card.  http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/god_s_provision_devotional

Mischelle I loved my time with The Angel Company and will always remember my very first seminar.  It was even more memorable because my downline and I got into a car accident on the way and totaled her car.  I was in shock for most of that weekend but I still managed to have a wonderful time.  That was the last seminar that I drove to KC from Oregon.  After that I took the plane ;-) 

I remember throwing a wadded up napkin at Annette Brisse at the banquet, missing her and hitting you (never had much of an aim). Boy was I embarrassed.  But you took it in stride.

And the look on your face when I handed you one of my practical jokes....PRICELESS...thanks for putting up with my goofiness.

One night, at my last seminar I went to, you took the time to talk on the phone to one of my downline that had designed the cover of the catalog but  wasn't able to come to seminar.  She was so excited.  You had a long line of Angels waiting to visit with you but you took a few minutes to talk to her and that made a huge impression on me.

Thank you, Mischelle, for all the things you have done, over the years, for each one of us.  God WILL and IS blessing you!!!

Now, with all that said.... I have so many memories......and then scroll on down to the bottom to visit the other bloggers that are paying tribute!

Some of the TAC staff and Kevin

Bridget Siddall, Lori Beck and Stacy Hinton 

Doesn't take much to crack Rita Holmes up.  Rita, we'll always be buds..thanks for all the laughs every time we are together or talk on the phone!!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM some good desserts at seminar!!  But, my very favorite was the flourless chocolate cake!!!

Kim Sears, first seminar and TAC's 10 year anniversary

Me and Karen

Me and Rita Wakeen

Mary Moor receiving her 5 year pin

Mischelle Smith and Kimberly Smith

Rita and Karen with that cake no one could eat...LOL

Sophi and Caitlin....two cuties!!

Kevin Smith Jr

The Brocks...what a great couple

Mischelle in her stinkin cute skirt!!

Meredith Deaton, myself and Beverly Jennings (loved their southern accents)

Ruth and Jodi....two AWESOME staff members who always had a good word when you called the TAC office.  Thanks you two for all the encouragement through the years!!

Me, Mama Angel and Avis Anderson

Jody Rinderer and myself

Me and Marie McClung

Diane Short and Kimberly Onofre at Club Med

Wake up Marie, time to catch your plane (Marie sleeping in the hotel lobby before her flight)

Rene, myself and Avis Anderson who encouraged me more than anyone and still does!!  Thanks Avis!!!

Jodi and the Cha Cha mugs

Char and Ruth

Mama O'Farrell, (my TAC Grandma) myself and Kelly Eiseman (my upline)

Marie McClung, "What? you don't put butter on YOUR fries?"

Tracy Turner and Ruth

Rita Holme's group "crowning" Kevin Smith

Shawna Renville

"That's All Folks"

Here are the other gals participating in the Blog Hop:

Julie
Seleise
Rita W.
Donna
Chan
Mary
Angela
Laura
Barbara
Trudy
Shirley
Wendy
Carol
Rita K.
Kim
Paula Kay
Teresa
Maria
Deb
Diana
Christine
Chelsea
Sandy
Char
Diane
Chris
Stacy
Rita
Angie

Ginger

Betty

Hope you enjoyed your HOP.....come back now and again for other fun things that will be certain to be going on.

Hugs,
Char

Hurricane Irene

As I switch between CNN and Fox News...(I don't have the Weather Channel)....my prayers are going out to ALL who live anywhere near where Hurricane Irene will hit or has hit!

I have family and many friends on the east coast and although some of them are not on the actual coastline...they will be affected by winds and power outages.  Others live right in the path of the storm and of course, all we can do is sit and wait to hear from them after it runs it's course which could be days...especially if they lose power and ways to communicate.

PLEASE everyone.....do all you can to be SAFE!!!!    THINGS just aren't as important as LIVES!!!

HUGS
Char

Hanging up my Angel Wings

Hi everyone,

This was posted on Tuesday on the Angel Company website, but I have been in a fog for the past couple of days and just couldn't bring myself to post to my blog just yet.  Today, I decided that I needed to let you all know so I could move on.  :-)
                                                      ********

It is with great sadness that I must announce we are hanging up our wings. These past several years our industry has faced enormous challenges and as a result, we have seen many companies close their doors. We continued to hope we could see The Angel Company through this recession and back into prosperous days and we held onto this hope as long as we could.

One of the largest challenges affecting each of us is our industry not being able to support all of the direct sales companies in our field. Even in a healthy economy, we are a niche market trying to compete for a very limited number of distributors. As a small company, this has been a grueling challenge for us. Times are tough for everyone ~ in direct sales and retail environments.
I would like to thank each of you for being an customer and Angel these past 14 years. Indeed, it has been a pleasure to serve you.

The Angel Company

                                                          ********

I have been with The Angel Company since 1999 and it has been such a wonderful journey.  Thank you to our owner/friend Mischelle for all these years with an awesome company.  May the Lord richly bless you and your family and may we meet often on the 'inky' trail.

With that said, I will not be joining another company at this time. I don't know that I could/would join another company.......maybe some day off in the future....but just not now.   My memories with TAC are still too fresh.

BUT, I will be posting more on my blog in the days and weeks ahead.....so stay tuned for that!!

Hugs,
Char

Where or where does the time go?

If you know the answer to that question, feel free to let me know. :-)

I do know that time has escaped me for months and months.  Plus, I haven't felt any ambition to do any stamping.  That is just not ME. I have been extremely busy raising our granddaughter.  Plus, summer is very busy for me when both granddaughters here.  We planned on getting in some stamping time but the days just flew by.

All of us took part in Relay for Life in July and that was fulfilling but a lot of work.  I was a team Captain and so had a lot of different things going on leading up to the actual Relay.

Then, right after that, we went on a mini vacation with the girls....and had a blast!!!!

Back home again and our older Granddaughter has gone home.....and now it's time to get ready for the Western Angel Gathering that is coming up fast!!

This is an annual event, held in September every year,  for TAC (The Angel Company) Angels (demonstrators) living in and around the Pacific Northwest and any other Angels that would like to attend. 

Preparations are well underway and I have been having a BLAST figuring out challenges, typing up the agenda and selecting prizes and goodies for the gals that are attending!!    I think they will be really pleased!! 

Our WAG getaway is so much fun!!!  The girls attending each bring a shoebox project to share with the others, we have challenges, a few games.....but most of all we enjoy just getting together, having fun and catching up on what everyone has been doing over the past year.  Everyone shares ideas and that usually entails going shopping at the craft stores so that we can play later, after the shoebox projects are finished.

WAG is in Salem, OR every year.  This is our 8th year.  The first two years we had it in Kennewick, WA but I realized that the majority of gals that attended lived along the I-5 corridor.....so I switched it to Salem (after realizing that Portland charges an arm and a leg for a conference room and rooms) to better accommodate the majority.   Of course, this makes it even farther for some of our 'diehards' that come from further away but they understood the reasoning behind it.  Portland would have been a much better destination for most everyone, if it had worked out....but the staff at the Salem Shilo Inn treats us AWESOME so we keep going back there.

Once all the preparations are done for WAG, I can relax and work on my own shoebox project.  I bought the stamps for it, but haven't gotten the project figured out yet.

We also bring card fronts to trade and you get so many ideas from those.

If you are a demonstrator for the Angel Company and would like to be reminded of the next year's WAG, please contact me and I will add you to our Yahoo list where you will be kept up to date as to dates and time.

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer but not suffering too much with the heat in  your area!!  We just did finally get summer here in Oregon.  The last few days have been in the high 80's and low 90's.  When it comes on fast, like that, it really feels so much hotter....to me anyway.   I would be thoroughly happy with it staying in the 70's but I am sure most Central Oregonians would not agree with that.

 Have a blessed day!!

Char