Persistence does pay off. I took hubby to the Veterans Hospital Wednesday and in less than 30 minutes he was put in the system!! When we got there no one was in the waiting room. We signed him in, in several minutes they called him in and away we went. I took insurance cards, the Sainted DD 214 and our tax return. The lady could not have been nicer and told me things I needed to know but didn't know enough to ask and gave me a card to call the doctor and make an appointment. I also found out that there is a clinic that we could go to instead of the hospital. The clinic is farther away but the parking garage is a mile away from Veterans and it takes forever. If we can get in the clinic I would rather go there. It takes about a month to get the appointment but I'm so grateful that we are making progress.

The card for today is for my girlfriend, Marilyn. We were room mates back in the 60's and have been friends all these years. We laugh so hard when we are together or even talking on the phone. Sometimes I can hardly get my breath! She is moving soon to a gorgeous new home on a lake. I can't wait to go visit there. Today is my friend, Libby's make and take get together. She is the one who opened her own scrapbook/stamp store when Archivers closed. It is geared more to scrapbooking but she does have some stamps and inks so I want to run over and see what's up for today. It is overcast and rainy today so not much else going on. Be kind to one another.

We are finally having some hot weather after the coolest summer in a long time. It does bring thunderstorms at night though. I stayed up and watched the Emmys last night. I love to see the fashion and the stars. I don't watch any of the shows that won and we don't have any channels like HBO or Showtime so there are a lot of shows on that we can't watch. I would rather watch a comedy than a violent show and they don't seem to win. I worked on a card for my friend Marilyn yesterday. I will finish it up today and work on a card for my son's birthday coming up. Also have daughter in laws and grandson's birthday in September too. Then  two more family in October and a neighbors birthday too. Then Halloween and fall and Thanksgiving, then the Christmas cards. So I'd better get a move on. Today's card is the last one I made for homework for http://onlinecardclasses.com/SYS2/. This was day nine and used a stamp builder stamp set shown by Dawn Woleslagle  http://www.stampawaywithme.blogspot.co.uk/ . You stamped without the outline and then made your own outline around the image with a fine line black pen.  I like the way the leaves came out but the butterfly looks like it was electrocuted. I got a little carried away! It's a learning experience.  Be kind to one another.

My thoughts are with the people affected by the earthquake in California today. I hope everyone is okay. The news we are getting is that 87 people have been taken to hospitals and they are trying to reach some of  the areas in the quake.  Mother Nature just keeps on giving! We have had torrential storms with lots of lightning and rain and flooding north of here.  I'm sharing the tags I made for homework for http://onlinecardclasses.com/SYS2/class-info/.  These were from http://laurafadora.wordpress.com/  and we were to stamp off sides. I did enjoy making these. Tags are a cute way to say Hi or to attach to a bag or gift. Be kind to one another.

Wow, we have sure had some nasty storms roll through this morning. No patio sitting, everything is very wet. Today we are going to the vet to get Molly weighed. I hope she is down 2 or 3 pounds. I have to say she loves her new food but it is expensive. Now we are buying dog food and not stamps!! Today's card is also from  the second day of http://onlinecardclasses.com/SYS2/class-info/. This was shown by Jennifer McGuire and hers is stunning. It has perfect pearls dusted on embossing. I used gold and silver and embossed the hugs with silver embossing powder. I love that soft look. Be kind to one another.

I finally got to sit on the new patio yesterday. It was the most peaceful time I've experienced in a long time. Just God, me and nature. It was so quiet. Small little white clouds and bright blue sky, the greenest grass, a flock of birds nesting in the treetops over in the field and the sweetest black and orange little bitty butterfly that kept landing on the patio. Molly laid in the grass and at one time the butterfly landed on her ear. I had my book and water but I couldn't read very long. I would hear a plane go over and I love that so I'd have to stop and watch till it disappeared. It was wonderful. The patio looks so small in the picture but it is not that small. After lunch I got busy in my craft room and worked on some cards. Today's card is from day 2 of Online Cards Stretch Your Stamps 2 with Laura Sterckx of http://www.makingcardsisfun.com/. She is only 17 and makes the most beautiful cards. Mine didn't look ombre but I'm happy with it. Then last night we had a  huge thunderstorm. Two schools are without power this morning along with many neighborhoods and we have lots of fog. Be kind to one another.

I'll be the first to admit this is a petty post and has nothing to do with card making but it is kind of making me sad. When I brought new toilet paper home from the store I set the package down next to the two rolls we had left. I kept looking at the new package and knew there was something different about the new ones. The cardboard roll seemed wider to me. So I actually measured. The results are below. The old roll had an opening 3/4" smaller than the new one. There is 1/2" more paper on the old roll. Doesn't that seem wrong? In the scheme of daily living that is not a big thing, but when you know how much money you spend at the grocery store it seems like a rip off. I know about cereal companies putting less cereal in smaller boxes for the same or a little more money and even my favorite Dial soap made an indentation in their soap rather than a full bar. I guess it is the way of the world now but it does make me sad. I seems like I have too much time on my hands but that is not the case. It just struck me wrong and I had to see for sure. I am reserving time this afternoon to make cards. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

I would like to thank all the tips I received about lining up the little squares. All of you ladies are so talented and know so much. So thanks to all of you.  Quilted Northern is not kind to me.

This is the first card I've made from Online Card Class Stretch Your Stamps 2. It was shown by Sheri Carroll at  http://shari-design.blogspot.com/ on the first day and I loved it. I have to admit it took a long time. She didn't show how she lined up the little squares so that took me a long time. I do love the technique and would do the background again. Lining up the little squares I would have to think about. There is probably a trick to it that I don't know that makes it easier but I got it done. Be kind to one another.

I forgot to say I am linking this up for http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.com/ since I used the Martha Stewart butterfly punch again on  piece of scrap paper and also to Mrs. A's butterfly challenge at http://butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/.

We had a great time at Stampaway. It was a nice day and it only took an hour and a half to get there. Our son had a nice day with his dad and they went out for a good lunch. I did get some things I didn't need at the show but that was to be expected! They had a little food place and we ordered BBQ sandwiches. It was a nice surprise to find they were huge sandwiches that came with cole slaw and mac and cheese and were very good. I am hoping to get some cards made that were featured in the Online Card Class this week. I'm glad to have the house things done and everything back in place. It is a rainy day and perfect to stay in. Here are the things I picked up Saturday. A Tim Holtz Christmas stencil, the new long blade scissors, a black Wink of Stella pen, a mini blueprint stamp set and a wooden Impression Obession stamp and a set of embossing diffusers. I also got two new background stamps. One gingham and one stripes. So it was a fun(ded) day!

I just wanted to make a quick update here. The patio is finished and cured. The stove is installed. And guess what I received in the mail??? The DD 214!! I called the gal I spoke to last month and thanked her for following through. Now to deal with the VA. I'm hoping that will be much easier now.  Hubby has taken another downward slope. He is very confused and is forgetting to eat breakfast now. This is our second downward stage this year. Before when he has had one it lasted for at least a year or more. So to have two so close together is alarming. I've been really busy with the house, the dog and just life in general. Tomorrow our son is coming to spend the day with hubby so my sister in law and I can go to Cincinnati to Stampaway. That is my one trip each year that gets me away for the day doing something I love. We usually stop by Ikea since it is on the way. The two youngest grandkids are coming tonight to spend the night and our other son will come in the morning to get them since I will be leaving.  I am taking the Online Card Class Stretch Your Stamps but I haven't had time to make one card from it. I love to do the cards for each class and this is making me sad but it can't be helped.  I don't have any cards for you this time but I hope to be back in the swing of it soon, especially since the class. I'm sharing pictures of my stamping helper. She sleeps right on her pillow every day that I'm in here and snores to keep me company.

Please help me welcome a new follower to my blog. She is Liz of http://crafty-lizc.blogspot.com/ in the UK. She has just learned to add a follower button (which took me forever to do too) and makes some really nice cards so I hope you can visit her.

Busy as a bee around here. Still cleaning out "stuff" and making order. Still lots to do. They are pouring the concrete today for the patio. There is a 30% chance of rain but it may not rain here so they are going ahead. They prefer we don't walk on it for 2 or 3 days. I don't know how Molly will take to this. It will require lots of walks for her that aren't usually on the schedule.

I have been constantly cleaning my glasses lately and rubbing my eyes. Finally went to eye doctor Wednesday to get an exam and order new glasses. Turns out I have cataracts! Oh dear. Consultation is scheduled for 9/29 and surgery has to be within 30 days after that. I know they do that every day and it is routine for them. I am such an avid reader that I have always been worried about something happening to my eyes. I am looking forward to seeing much better and clearly so that part will be good.

Here are my guys working in the back yard. It looks so small right now but it is 12x12 so I think it is plenty big enough for a table and chairs (which I don't have)! We have had such wonderful weather for summer here. It is usually so hot and humid and it has been unseasonably cooler. I am grateful because I just don't do humid. So it has been a productive summer so far. Be kind to one another.