September Gothic Journey Express

September 1, 2010
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ALL ABOARD! The train is leaving the station today, and it is chock filled with lots of fantastic goodies for you. Just click each link, and please don't forget to take a moment to thank each one of these wonderful designers. Here is my part.
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Expired
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Hugs, Edna B.

That Murphy Guy Needs To Take A Vacation!

August 31, 2010

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Gosh, doesn't it seem like August just flew by? Things have been happening so fast here, that I've hardly had a chance to get acquainted with August, and it's all over already. I'm really hoping that these next few months slow down and let us all enjoy them as much as possible.

This morning, Tootsie and I went for her chemo treatment. One down, three more to go for this month. Wouldn't it be nice if a light came on at the end of the tunnel and she could stop these treatments and still be okay. I can dream, can't I?

Remember that guy Murphy who has this law about bad things constantly happening? Well, he got me again yesterday. When I was leaving work yesterday afternoon, I was greeted with a tire going flat. It wasn't quite flat yet, but I did not want to chance driving on it and ruining both the tire and the rim. So I called road service and waited almost an hour for them to come and put another tire on for me.

On our way home from the hospital this morning, I dropped the car off at the garage to have the tire fixed and get my new safety inspection sticker. Hopefully, they won't find any other problems with my car and I will get it back this afternoon in time to go back to the hospital.

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While the Mrs. was having her breakfast yesterday, we were watching the birds outside her window and noticed something strange on a tree trunk. We couldn't really make out what it was, but it kept fluttering and moving a bit. We thought that possibly it was a butterfly so I tried to take a photo of it through the window. We were too far away from it so the photo wasn't very good.

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I went outside to get a better shot of whatever it was, and to my surprise --- it was a leaf. It's torn edges were catching in the crevices on the tree trunk, making it look as though it were fluttering. Surprise, surprise.

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That's it for today's news. There is a lot I need to do today, so it's time for me to get busy here. Don't forget the BIG blog train tomorrow. Till then, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

PLEASE USE NEW MAGICKAL SCRAPS FORUM

August 30, 2010
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We're not sure why, but the old Magickal Scraps Forum is no longer in use. For some reason, it has shut down.

PLEASE USE THE NEW FORUM for the rest of the August DD's. The new forum link is at the right on this blog. Thank you so much.

Hugs, Edna B.

Butt Paste? Really!!

August 30, 2010

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Good morning on this wonderful sunny next to last day of August. At the moment, it's still cool, only about 70 degrees, but then it's only 7:30 am. Give it a couple more hours, and it will be quite toasty outdoors. Yesterday was quite muggy even. The heat probably wouldn't be so bad to deal with if the humidity weren't so high.

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This will be a rather short post because I'm still at work with seven and a half more hours before I go home. Sometime today, I have to arrange to put my car in the shop tomorrow to get a new inspection sticker. Plus it is making a funny new noise, and that needs to be checked. Also, tomorrow and Wednesday are Tootsie's chemo treatment days. Looks like another busy week.

Yesterday, I was looking through the coupons that come with the store sale ads in the Sunday paper, and I came across a new product. It's an ointment for diaper rash to protect the baby's skin. But it was the name of the product that caught my eye, "Butt Paste." Honestly!! Now what kind of name is that? I guess it is to make folks curious about the weird name, and then all the moms out there will rush out to buy it. lol.

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Want a sneak peak at part of what will be coming your way in just two days? This is a preview of Day 02 of September's new Daily Download kit, "September Song." Hope you like it.

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Now I really must get busy here. The Mrs. will be waking soon. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.
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Hugs, Edna B.

Nature Is Simply Beautiful!!

August 29, 2010

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It's a really gorgeous morning, and I have already done some shopping on my way home from work. Tootsie was down to her last little doggie dinner, so I needed to stock up on dog dinners. Also, I got me some new socks too. Mine were starting to look a bit worn.

While I was at the store I check the frozen foods department, and sure enough, they had stocked up on Stouffer's baked macaroni and cheese. Oh yum!! Of course, I had to pick up a few of those. And a couple of chicken pot pies too! Tomorrow morning, I shall stop at the market and pick up some coffee, and then I'll be all set for a while.

Yesterday, I got the blog roll for the GI Blog train that is coming on September 1, and I am very impressed. There are at least 33 designers joined together to bring you lots of scrap goodies. So be sure to be here on September 1, and start collecting all these wonderful freebies.

When I got to work last night, there was such a beautiful sight right across the street in the open field. A family of deer were grazing, and I got me a few new photos to share. This is what I saw. Is this not a pretty sight?

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Sorry about the different lightings, but it was starting to get a bit dark, and I had to change the ISO and the settings to make sure I ended up with at least a few decent photos.

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I did manage to do a bit of designing last night. My freebie folder is becoming thin, and needs to be stocked up again. That's about all the news from here. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a marvelous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

It's Back To School Time Already!

August 28, 2010

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Don't look now, but September is creeping in rather quickly. Only a few days left in August. I can't get over how quickly the year is passing by. Some kids are already back in school, and others will be in just a few days.

In four days, the new Magickal Scraps forum will be officially open, and you will be picking up your free Daily Download kit parts there. Do stop in and register (it's free). We will be having Grand Opening Day freebies, and hope to see all our present members there along with some new folks.

Today will be a quiet day for me, and a very quiet day in the house. Moo will be out enjoying the beautiful weather, one dwarf is gone and another is moving on. Maybe soon we will have a couple of new ones to take their places. The circle goes round and life goes on.

I have a photo of the new floor tiles to share. These were put in my pantry and in the laundry room. And yes, Miss Tootsie loves them. She can walk on them without slipping, and has already christened them properly. lol. (they are so very easy to clean too!)

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That's it for today. There really isn't any news so I think Miss Tootsie will go out in the yard for a bit, and then just relax. I picked up some new books at the library so I have lots to read. Enjoy whats left of August. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Beautiful Memories

August 27, 2010

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It's another beautiful sunny morning here. Not too hot either. I've already been out to do errands, and now I'm back home to a very quiet house. Actually, it's been very quiet around here the past couple of days.

A few days ago, while cleaning out the front porch, we came across a poster photo that Mr. B and I had taken at the local fair somewhere around 1980. The years on the porch have not been kind to it. Age and dirt were beginning to degrade the photo, so I photographed it and made a layout. At first glance, my son in law thought it was his wife, but then quickly realized that it was Michael and me. Of course, I took that as a compliment. His wife is quite lovely.

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The kit that I used is part of next month's Daily Download kit, "September Song."

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I also have a photo that I took one morning before leaving work. These cone flowers were putting forth one last burst of color, and within days had turned to brown. I'm thinking that this is one of the plants that I will put in my new side yard by the fence.

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That's all there is for today. Now it's time for me to get the laundry started, and make lunch for Miss Tootsie. She's been sitting here quite patiently waiting for me to finish on the laptop. So till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Yeah, The Sun Is Shining Again!!

August 26, 2010

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Oh my, this morning is just lovely. The rain has stopped and the sun is shining once again. I have noticed though, that a few of the trees around town have started turning color. I was really hoping it wouldn't start until next month. Also, a lot of leaves have already started falling from the trees. I'm just not ready for Autumn to start.

With all the rain that we've had, much of the yard work had to be put on hold. Maybe if the good weather holds for a while, we can get the fence up and the yard finished. That would be a nice way to close out the summer.

Now that the sun is back, I can make room in my little garden for the beautiful hibiscus plant that Moo bought for me. It's just gorgeous and has huge white blossoms. Once I get it outdoors, I will definitely take some photos.

Today I will share more of the photos I took over the last few days. These little guys sit on my hedge (and sometimes on my windowsill) and look in at me as if they want to tell me something. Of course sometimes, like the last few days, they sit there to keep out of the rain and to fluff their feathers dry.

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This next photo is just darling. One little fellow found the perfect spot to keep dry.

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There really isn't much more news for today. The past couple of days have been blessedly quiet, thank you. I do have another freebie for you. This one is the second set of Nature Papers. (all the Nature Paper sets were made from my own photos.) I hope you can use them. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

"Nature Papers - Set 002"

Four Days Of Rain

August 25, 2010

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Tis a soggy gray morning again here in beautiful New England. Four days of rain, and we are all starting to feel a bit water-logged. My little birds haven't had a chance to dry off even. At the moment, there is a flock of them keeping dry under my car, and some of them are perched under the awning over my living room window.

Yesterday, their feeder was empty so I filled it. But with all the rain, it was busy all day, and by late afternoon, it was empty again. I feel so bad for the birds. It can't be very easy for them to find food in weather like this. I will go out in a bit and fill the feeder up again.

Today, I have photos taken yesterday of one of the Blue Jays that came by for lunch. Wet or dry, they are really beautiful birds.

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Today, I have to get in touch with Howie's social worker to see if we can get his medical insurance paperwork started. The nursing facility is eager to get him moved and settled soon. Actually, we will be happy to see him settled too. The new place looks quite nice, and it is close by.

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Well, I have finished my coffee, so it is time for me to get dressed and get started on this wet new day. Till tomorrow, stay dry, and Y'all have a wonderful day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Wet And Gray Again Today

August 24, 2010

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Oh my, it's another gray wet morning here, and my bird feeder is empty. I will have to go outside and fill it up again when I have finished this post. This morning I was supposed to have my nails done, but I will call and see if that can be changed to later this afternoon.

Yesterday, we got a new lock for our door, but somehow we goofed and it doesn't seem to work properly. I think we got the wrong kind so today we will have to rectify that. With the rain all day yesterday and today, there's not a lot of work that can be done. Gosh, I hope the sun comes back out tomorrow.

Today, I have some interesting photos to share. As I said, it rained all day yesterday, and the bird feeder was quite busy. These photos are of our resident Cardinal. He looks so different when he is soaking wet. Sort of like a bad hair day when it rains, but he is still quite beautiful.

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There isn't any news here lately, so I guess this will be it for today. If you want to see more lovely photos from Holland, do stop by Kyra's blog for a continuation of yesterday's walk about town. She has some really lovely photos to share. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Traveling Through Photos

August 23, 2010

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It's 5:50 am, and 65 degrees outside. Good morning. Even though it's a bit wet, the coolness feels good. We have a lot of work to do today on the front porch. Here's hoping the rain holds off so we can get a lot of it done.

I'm at work, watching re-runs of The Nanny. It's such a funny program, we need more like it. Except for a few favorite programs, I mostly watch re-runs of the older shows. Most of the newer programs don't hold a lot of interest for me.

Has anyone tried the Shark Steam Mop? I bought one a week ago hoping it would make it easier to clean the floors. Of course, it's still in my car waiting for me to bring it in and try it out. This might be a good week to give it a try. Up to now, there's been a bit of traffic in and out of the house. I'm not crazy about housework, so anything that makes it easy is a good thing.

Before I start sharing my photos, you should stop by and visit my friend Kyra. When she and her hubby take walks around town, she takes a lot a great photos and posts them on her blog. It's like having a personal tour throughout her part of Holland. Just click the link and enjoy.

For my photos this morning, I have a butterfly and a moth. These photos were taken this past Friday afternoon.

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This little moth might not be as big and colorful as the butterfly, but he is still very pretty in his own way.

It's time now for me to check on the Mrs. My relief will be here in about 30 minutes with a cup of coffee for me, and then I can head on home. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantastic day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Maybe Some Sprinkles For Us Today?

August 22, 2010

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Good morning. It's a lovely gray Sunday morning. The weather forecast says we will have rain today and thunderstorms tonight. Actually, it says it should rain straight through Wednesday. So, we shall see.

Last night, Moo and his friend Joe had a fantastic time at the Music Circus, while Tootsie and I chilled out in front of the TV set. Moo was enjoying a wonderfully funny comedian, and Tootsie and I were snoozing on and off to old re-runs.

Miss Tootsie seems to be slowing down a bit. She doesn't walk so fast, but just touch one of her chewies, and she perks right up. The texture on the new floor tiles seems to be working out pretty good because she can walk on them just fine with no slipping. The salesman at the store was a bit flabbergasted to think that people actually buy tiles to make life easier for a dog rather than to beautify a room. Good thing we all don't think alike.

Today I have some photos of a busy bumble bee for you. These critters will sometimes sit for a few seconds in one spot so that you can actually get a decent close-up.

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"Peek-a-boo, I see you!"

You know, yesterday I think my brain took a small vacation for itself. I did all my activities around the thought that I had to work last night. It wasn't until about 4:30 that I realized I had the night off. It felt good to have a weekend night off. Aha, but back to the working world tonight.

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Before I leave, I want to share a story that was on television a few nights ago. The reporter was doing a story about a woman celebrating with her friends. This lady had just been made an honorary Deputy Sheriff in Virginia, after finishing a twelve week course in Law Enforcement. She was 102 years old! Isn't this just awesome????

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Okay, as promised, I do have a freebie for you. It's a small set of papers made from one of my photos. I hope you can use them. Now I'm off to make a second cup of coffee, and look through the weekend sale papers. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a magnificent day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

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Preview "Nature Papers Set 001"

A Night At The Fair

August 21, 2010

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It feels pretty nice outdoors at the moment. The sun is shining, and it's still cool enough to be able to do things in the yard. Moo has been busy for a couple of hours now working on the front porch. There are lots of memories there that will be tossed out. Gosh, we hang on to so much for so long.

Tootsie and I got a good night's sleep. Stress will do that. Once you get to fall asleep, you stay asleep for a good length of time. At least, we did. We didn't get up till almost 9:30 this morning. It felt good.

Last night, Moo and his best friend went to the Marshfield Fair. It's sort of like the old state fairs were. Agriculture, animals, live entertainment, games and rides. Here are a few of the photos he took at the fair.

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And this last one is my very favorite. Seems Joe didn't see the little sign that reads "CAUTION, I BITE!!" Watch out there, Joe. This guy doesn't look happy to see you.

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Well, the work crew has just arrived, so now I must get dressed and greet the day. I know the freebies have been scarce lately, so tonight I will try to make a new one for you. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Murphy's Law Is Busy At Work Here

August 20, 2010

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Good morning. I'm at work now so I won't chat too long. It's been one really horrid week, and of course, this morning had to keep it up. Things have been going so badly this week that I haven't been paying very much attention to my car.

Guess what? Yup!! On my way to work this morning, I ran out of gas on a little country road with no gas station around for miles. Thank goodness my boss is nice. I called him and he brought a can of gas out and got my car up and running again. First stop on my way home this afternoon will be the nearest gas station for a fill up. Cross your fingers and toes that I make it there with no problems.

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Today I have a couple of photos that Moo took while visiting with his best friend. Wouldn't it be nice to have a view like this so close to your home? Both photos were taken in early evening when the sky is filled with gorgeous colors. I think they are just so restful to look at. Enjoy!
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Here's one more of Moo's photos for you. In case some of you have never seen the famous "Plymouth Rock" that denotes where the pilgrims were to have landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, here it is.

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Now, I must get back to work. The Mrs. will be waking soon and wanting a bit of breakfast. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantastic day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

I Love You, Brother Of Mine

August 19, 2010

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It's not quite 5 am, and the temperature is just gorgeous!!! It's still dark outside, so the air feels cool and oh so breathable! I don't want to rush away any days, but I hope the stress of this whole week is over soon.

I've done a bit of looking back over my life and the way us kids were raised. I'm not saying that it never happened, but I can't remember any moments where my brother and I got hugs and "I love you"'s from our parents. I realize it had to do a lot with their upbringing, but it made a huge impact on our lives. To this day, I don't ever remember actually saying the words "I love you" to my brother, or giving him a big hug. I do love him, and try to show him in so many other ways, but it's not the same, I know.

When my children were small, I tried to make sure they were able to express their feelings for each other quite naturally. Hugs and I love you's came easily. I know they have their ups and downs with each other from time to time, but when trouble knocks on their doors, they are there for each other with outstretched arms. And I see this being passed on to their own children and grandchildren. This is good.

Gosh, would you listen to me? All this, and I haven't even had a cup of coffee yet. The girl coming in this morning to relieve me is bringing me coffee. That's almost two more hours away yet.

Yesterday afternoon, my stepson and grandchildren stopped by for a visit before they had to start back home to Florida. Gosh, they have grown so quickly. Seems like not too long ago, they were still small children, but oh my goodness, they have blossomed into such beautiful teenagers. Of course, I took some photos, and made a layout to share.

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My other photo for this morning is just a reminder - Today is a great "bird bath" day my friends. Stop and enjoy a few minutes with your friends and loved ones. Hug someone and tell them you love them.

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That's all for this morning. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day. If you're reading this Artie, I love you.

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Hugs, Edna B.

I'm Too Old For The Hectic Life

August 18, 2010

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Good morning, and at the moment, it is really lovely outside. The sun has not got here yet so it is still cool. (It's probably just hiding behind some gray clouds.)

Yesterday, Tootsie and I (and even Moo) slept wicked late. I never even had a chance to sit down and write my blog or enjoy a cup of coffee. It was a very busy and quite stressful day. But it did finally come to an end, and last night was another fairly good sleeping night.

My son in law started laying the new floor tiles in the laundry room, and it really makes the room look quite larger and brighter. I'll take some photos today and make a scrap layout. The tiles were very expensive, but they really do look good on the floor. I had to make sure they had a good amount of texture on them so that Tootsie can walk on them without falling. So far, so good.

There's not a lot of news for today, so I will get right to the photos. I hope you don't get tired of seeing my little bird friends. This is what I see everyday from my window, so I obviously take lots of photos of them. Today's photos were taken Monday afternoon.

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How can these little birds not put a huge smile on your face? I think it is just amazing that they are so tiny, yet so perfect.

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But if it didn't put a smile on your face, try dancing on this next photo. When the dance is over, just pour the remaining liquid into a glass and drink. That should help! (No, I am not imbibing, just being a bit ridiculous at the moment.) This photo was taken at work Monday morning while it was raining a bit.

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Now it is time for me to get dressed and start my day here. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantastic day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

Ahhhh, Refreshing Raindrops

August 16, 2010

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It rained most of the night, and it's still coming down lightly. To tell the truth, it really feels good after all the heat we have had. Not to mention, our lawns and gardens are desperate for a good soaking.

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Yesterday was an okay day right up until about 4:30 pm. At that time, I had the unpleasant chore of giving notice to vacate to one of the tenants. It would be nice if he would go quietly, but I doubt he will. Some folks thrive on making others miserable.

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Last night, after the Mrs. went to bed, I was able to finish up the Book Cover challenge. I took the story line for the back cover right out of history. This cover took me a while because I was stumped for a story. But in the end, it all came together.

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The story line on the back cover reads: "Throughout the summer, the Wampanoug were hunted down by captain Benjamin Church's Rangers. Metacom escaped the attack, but was later captured by the British and beheaded. His wife and son were also captured and killed. Weetamo drowned while trying to escape. Her body was found, and her head was cut off and put on display. There was no place left for Anawom to hide............"

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While I sit here typing, my little birdie friends are sitting on the hedge just outside my window. I cannot tell you how much joy I get from watching them. They are so tiny and precious. Here are two photos that I took of them yesterday afternoon. Aren't they just the sweetest little things?

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I have more photos, but I will save them for tomorrow. Today, I have a few errands to tend to. With a bit of luck, they will actually get done. So till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.

A Busy Day Shopping

August 15, 2010

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Well, good morning. I just got home from work, and it's still quite nice outside. On my way home, I stopped at the store to pick up a couple of flash drives, but that particular item never came in to the store. I often wonder how the stores can advertise sale items that they don't even have. Beats me!!

So, did I go shopping yesterday for a new fence? Yessiree, I most certainly did. My son in law and grandson went with me, and we picked out all the new fencing and the new floor tiles for the laundry room and my pantry.

When we were done shopping, I rented a truck from the store to bring everything home. The truck rental was free because I used my store credit card, and I saved over a hundred dollars in taxes. Aside from being expensive, it was a good day.

Last night, I started working on the book cover challenge. I had to do a bit of research for this one because it has to be a story about Native Americans, and the story should sound authentic. The artwork is done, and now I have to come up with the story line.

I also dabbled a bit with the color challenge for this month. Hopefully, both challenges will be finished this week. After that, I really need to get busy sorting through my photos for next year's calendar.

The other day, I ordered a box from the cable company, so that I can watch the TV in my computer room. When the cable company switched to all digital, it meant that any TV not connected to cable would not work without this special little box. Now we just have to attach the little box to the TV, and my little TV should be working fine again.

This morning, I have some photos that I took in Florida of a Moorhen. It's a fascinating looking bird. Note the reddish-orange beak that seems to go right up it's forehead.

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Now I think it's time for me to have a nap. Have to be bright eyed and bushy tailed to go back to work tonight. Till tomorrow, Y'all have a fantabulous day.

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Hugs, Edna B.