Simple Joys

Techno Challenged

I tried to figure out how to burn the tapes from the trip so that I could give copies to people of certain things.  I finally figured out a couple hours later that I maybe could burn it to a cd but I needed a cable that doesn’t come with the camera at purchase.  I told my dh that I was going to Circuit City to buy the cable.  I ended up coming home with a Sony DVD burner that was on sale.  I spent the next 3 hours trying to figure out how to transfer a tape to the DVD only to figure out that I had done it wrong!  I then spent the next 3 hours burning 3 copies of the tape to DVD the correct way.  It wasn’t even a tape from the trip.  It was my daughter's dance performance at Ala Moana.  To top it off, I realized at 3am that the sales guy forgot to put my spindle of 50 DVDs in the bag.  I hope I can get it today when they open.  I really have no way of proving that he didn’t put it in the bag.  I remember his name was, “Brian.”  Hopefully he’s there and remembers.

I have had major insomnia since I took the Verapamil two days ago.  I don’t really feel tired or hungry at all and constipation has set in.  To top it off, my pulse is slower but my blood pressure is the same.  This is probably not the drug for me.

Well, I have to get started on laundry, take my daughter to the doctor, go back to Circuit City, go grocery shopping, pick up my other daughter from summer school, take her to buy a bathing suit for her trip, take my daughter to Kumon, and we'll top it off with a play tonight - "The King and I."

Whew.  Maybe I am tired. 

Project to-do list

While I was sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office - before I knew I had to go on medication - I made a list of projects I'd like to do.  I was actually feeling pretty energetic as I made the list - before I knew I had to take bp medication.  Okay, enough whining about the bp medication.  Here's the list I made:

1.  felt, fabric, bead and charm pins

2.  fabric covered buttons with mini embroidery on them

3.  tissue holders with calicos and embroidery stitches and motifs

4.  painted wooden bunny ornaments with crystal dangle

5.  May the Lord bless you and keep you soldered glass slide hangers

6.  altered coin purses

7.  polymer clay buttons

8.  beaded cuff bracelet - with polymer clay button focal point

9.  mini drawstring bags with calico prints and embroidered center section

10.  crocheted t top

11.  altered tin ornaments

I know its a pretty long list but what can I say, my obsessions keep me sane!

Bad BP

I was so bummed today.  I had to start blood pressure medication today.  My M.D. and I have been watching my bp go up and down for three years and today I finally had to go on medication - bummer.  I have not been good.  I haven't exercised and dieted like I should have and now I have to take these purple capsules - one a day for now.  I felt much better after my thrifting spree with Val and JJ.  Thank you for helping me feel better!

Happy Thrifting!

Here's some goodies I got thrifting today. 

Some Joelle yarn (mohair and polyamid nylon) for $1.40

I also got this whole lot for $1.99.  I love the daisy buttons in all the different colors!

I also got this coolio little case that I'm planning to decoupage.  What do you think?  Should I leave it or decoupage it?

 

JJ's Creations

My younger daughter was in a crafty mood last week.  One morning she said she wanted to make something out of clay.  I didn't know if my polymer clay was still good, but I took out my acrylic board and some clay and explained to her the steps.  She conditioned the clay by kneading it with her hands and fingers and the clay was perfect.  This was her first project ever in polymer clay.  She did a great job!  Here's her dog "Pal" with his food dish filled with food.

Her next project was crocheted.  She wanted to learn to crochet so I taught her how to chain and single crochet.  She made a rectangle swatch and did great.  Then she got an idea to make a smaller swatch and join them to make a sleeping bag for one of her stuffed puppies.  She did so good on her first project!  Here it is with puppy snuggled inside!

A little bit of home to take with you

Here are some switch plate covers that my daughter and I made today for some graduation gifts.  We bought the switch plate covers in almond to match the sand.  We used seashells that we gathered at the shore at Camp Erdman last weekend.  We smeared gel medium over the top of the switch plate cover then put more gel medium on each shell and stuck them on.  Finally, we poured sand over the whole thing and gently pressed it in to make it stick well.  It's just a little something from Hawaii to take with them on their journey!  Hopefully, it'll bring them some joy when they look at it and feel the sand and shells from home.

Pictures of Psyche!

Here are some pics - finally - of the wonderful gifts I received from Barb before I left on my trip.  I posted about this wonderful surprise before I left but didn't have a picture so here are the pics:

This is what I saw when I opened the box.  Oh my!  I just gasped.  The yarn felt wonderful (soft but not itchy and furry)  I love this yarn.  I wonder what it is?  Can you see the pattern?  It's so cool.  Then I opened it and look what popped out!

It's Psyche the Totoro!  He's so-o-o-o cute!  He waited patiently for me to come back to take his picture.  He was so good.  I know he wanted to show Barb that he was safe and sound.  Here he is Barb!

Here is Psyche surrounded with all the goodies he came with.  Mmmmm!  I love these little packets of arare (rice crackers).  They are the bomb!  Thank you so-o-o-o-o much Barb!  Sorry it took so long to post the pics.

Back at last!

I'm finally back and online again.  Our trip to Orlando was great!  The 12 year old girls did well for their first time in a larger tournament (~400 teams between 10-18 years old).  They didn't place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, but did win their yellow division and came home with a plaque and ribbons as the Yellow Division Champs!  Yay!  Disneyworld was AWESOME!  It was very hot and humid but not nearly as miserable as I thought it would be.  We really didn't have to wait long at all for the rides either.  I "accidently" went on a roller coaster ride called "Expedition Everest."  I thought I was going to die - literally!  We ran into the park when it opened with a bunch of people from our group.  People were just moving along and we just followed.  By the time I asked my daughter, "Do we really want to be on this ride?"  we were being strapped in!  I screamed from start to finish.  My blood pressure must have been through the roof!  By the way, I do not like roller coasters!  We bought the picture because it will be the only time I will have a picture of myself (SCREAMING WITH MY EYES CLOSED TIGHT) on a roller coaster - ever.  People were talking about seeing the Yeti and I didn't have a clue.  My eyes were shut the whole time.  Some of our friends rode it multiple times and loved it.  To each his own I guess.  To me, the feeling like I'm going to die is not a good one.  I don't like it at all.  If you go here http://www.wdwmagic.com/everest_video.htm  You should be able to download a video of the ride and take a virtual ride on Expedition Everest.  Warning: the video is not anything like the ride itself! 

We stuck to the 4 Disney parks and we went to 1 waterpark (Blizzard Beach).  The parks were great and we got some white rice at the Japan world in Epcot!  We actually ate there twice because of the yummy food!  The fireworks show at Epcot was really something to see. It was different from most fireworks shows.  We were actually blessed with pretty good weather while we were at the parks.  Apparently, it usually downpours everyday for about 1 hour in the afternoon.  We only had that happen to us once (on our last day).  We did get hit with a tropical storm the week before at the volleyball tournaments (the hurricane went north and missed us - whew!)  But, when it was time to go to the parks it was beautiful, but hot and sticky. 

We made it back safe and sound Sunday June 25 with lots of laundry as we hit a storm in Atlanta and our luggage all got soaked.  All the laundry we did in the mainland had to be rewashed with our dirty laundry!  We finally got things put away and had to start packing for our camping trip that Friday.  In the mean time we also went through all my younger daughter's clothes in her closet and drawers and got rid of the old ones and the ones that no longer fit.  I did my drawers, and some of my closet.  Whew!  It was a lot!  Then, I finally got back to my computer and was so-o-o-o sad.  My laptop would not go online.  Something was wrong with my wireless card - Boo hoo!  Oh well, it had to wait. 

We camp with the same families every year (I think this year was the 10th year!)  Camp was a blast.  It was nice because almost everyone was there.  Some family members have been missing throughout the years mainly because of sports events and trips.  Only two people were gone on a volleyball trip.  Here's a pic of a handmade book I made at camp.  It was one of the crafts:

This is the cover front and back opened up.  It was collaged with tissue paper that I tore and decopaged onto a cardboard base.  Everything was provided for us!  It was so much fun!

I had everyone that went with us sign the book!  It was a very cool craft.  I'll try to bringg it back every year to have people sign it until I run out of pages.  I love it!

We also painted a couple of tiles.  We have been painting tiles for the past few years at camp.  I have quite a  collection now.  It's so neat to see them all lined up on my shelf.  Here's a pic of the two we did this year.  My younger daughter did the black one with the dots and I did the flowers.

We got back from camp and did laundry again.  The large items (sleeping bags, blankets, rugs, etc.) went to my mom's as she has a full size washer and dryer.  4th of July was spent relaxing, studying, diving, for some members of our family, then going to watch a pony league baseball game in the afternoon.

Today I finally had the chance to go get a new wireless card for my puter!  Yay!  And that is why I'm writing this LONG post!  I missed you guys!  I'm so glad to be back!