Shirley Clark's Blog Spot

Ethan's Cards

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:21:23 -0500

Ethan's cards are going in the mail today to Canada. He's getting some great cards. I sincerely hope they lift his spirits! That's the intent! If you missed reading about Ethan, you can read about him here. Don't forget about the September RAK that will be hosted by Sue S. She's doing a great job too! Don't get used to her though because I plan to be back for October's RAK! If you have a suggested future RAK recipient, please email me at the email address on the right with the details!

Here's the slide show!

If your one of my friends on facebook, you might have seen this, but if not, I'll share it with you! Paul smoked some brisket and ribs one day last week. We had the ribs at lunch. Of course it takes the brisket longer to cook. He gets the brisket out of the smoker about 2:30 and sets it on the kitchen counter. So about 3:30 pm I'm on the front porch. He comes out and I tell him that he has a telephone call. So he tells me to take the pan he has in his hand and dump it. I can see some foil and juice. So I give him the phone and I take the pan and dump it. I come back with an empty pan. Paul is still on the phone when I return. So about 20 minutes later, he gets off the phone and asks me, "Where is the brisket?" I said, "I guess it's in the house." Paul says, "No you had the brisket." I said, "I haven't seen the brisket." His eyes got big and said, "The brisket was in the foil!" Believe it or not, we were able to salvage it and it was really good!

I'm off for surgery tomorrow, but like Arnold, "I'll be back!"

MAKE it a great day!

My Quote:
We buy things we don't need with money we don't have in order to impress people we don't like. ~Dave Ramsey

Shirley

August RAK/September RAK

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:28:27 -0500

We still have a few more days to wait for the cards to arrive for the August RAK. Be sure they are postmarked by the 28th, so I can get them in the mail and headed toward Canada. I'm planning to post the slide show on Tuesday the 31st.

Without further adieu, I'd like to introduce you to the September RAK. I don't have a lot of information on Elizabeth, because she the relative of a friend's friend! Thanks Carol! The information is enough to let you know that Elizabeth certainly could use a little cheering up. Elizabeth is a 31 year old mother, wife and an art student at Oklahoma University. Her children are 4 1/2, 2 1/2 and 6 months old. Elizabeth was diagnosed with Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in July. It started in the roof of her mouth and spread to the nose. She had surgery this month to remove the roof of her mouth and the lower floor of her nose, as well as her septum (which splits the nose and bone). She now has an appliance that fits in the roof of her mouth. It's a little too small, so their looking at getting another larger appliance or possibly doing skin grafts to cover that area. They believe they got all the cancer and further cancer treatment hasn't been determined. She will probably need speech therapy. The last I heard she is on liquids and having trouble swallowing.

Since I'm having surgery, Sue S has agreed to run this month's swap. All cards will be sent to her instead of me this month. Sue will send them on to Elizabeth. You can get Sue's address by emailing barracudasue @ wildblue. net (no spaces please). Please get your cards postmarked by September 25th.

I'm ready for some more RAK suggestions. So send your requests to the email address to the right. I might be slow in responding after 9/1, but I will get the email and respond at some point, so be patient! Some of you have sent me a stash of cards to keep and use each month. I'll pick one and forward it to Sue, so don't worry! I think we've got it all worked out. I don't know if I'll get the sender list updated on my blog, but Sue will update the list on the Paperthreads Forum.

My dental appt in San Angelo was okay. I really don't mind the dentist as long as they get the area numbed real good. I almost went to sleep several times! BUT it was discovered that I have another tooth that needs a root canal. Arrrggghhhh! So next Tuesday, I'll get numbed up again and fork over some cash! I'm not complaining. We live in a great nation where dental care is available. We have so much to be thankful for!

I hope you MAKE it a great day!

My quote:
Generosity is not in giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is in giving me that which you need more than I do.
Kahlil Gibran

Shirley

Lewis, Endodonist and Journals

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:54:36 -0500

Lewis, our dog, is finally getting back to normal after being sick for a few weeks. I thought he was beginning his last days. It's great to see him back to being his normal lazy, hungry self! When he doesn't eat, you know he is not doing well at all.

I'm off to see the endodonist today. My endodonist is back from the trip where I sent him to France. At least I think my last dental visit probably paid for his plane ticket! LOL! He'll hopefully finish up my two teeth today. Paul is driving me, so I'll have good company on the trip!

I made two journals over the weekend, but I haven't taken pictures of them yet. I'm debating adding some flowers to them, but I'm not sure. I think it sort of reduces the functionality of the jouranls. It makes me feel like I need to be more careful with them when they have a lot of embellishments and flowers, although it does make them a lot prettier. So I'm just not sure what I'm going to do yet. I'll take pics after I decide!

You still have a few days to get your cards in for Ethan. They need to be postmarked by the 28th!

MAKE it a great day!

My quote:
To know someone here or there with whom you feel there is understanding in spite of distances or thoughts unexpressed- that can make of this earth a garden.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Shirley

Such a Slacker . . . A Busy One!

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 06:48:01 -0500

I know, I know, I haven't blogged in awhile and I feel guilty! I have several things I'm working on and planned on having a freebie but it's not going to get done for awhile. I have too many things going on and little time to get them done. It hasn't helped that Paul and I were gone all day Tuesday and Wednesday. I don't mean for a few hours, I mean ALL DAY! We were supposed to be gone all day on Thursday as well, but we stayed home. Paul needed to fix a leak on the hot water heater. It's now fixed. We were able to get a few needed projects done and get in a little rest as well. We both needed it! It seems that our retirement hasn't been all leisure. We stay very busy and when we aren't out and about, there's always plenty to do in Clark Park. So if you aren't retired and you're thinking that you'll be able to slow down once you retire, don't believe it. It's a myth! LOL!

I'm going to have a surgical procedure on 9/1 and probably won't be blogging for a few weeks after surgery. I'm not sure yet. We'll see how it goes. Here's an animated video of what they're going to do. Mine will involve 2 discs. I was told I'd be in pain for a few weeks, so I'm not looking forward to that part of it. I'll be posting the September RAK prior to surgery here on my blog and the forum. Sue B is going to take care of the RAK for me. I'll give you more details when I post it in a few days. I'm still working it out in my mind. Remember, these cards don't have to be handmade. A purchased card will work as well!

I'm still playing with scrap paper! I still had some paper left over after doing the cards posted here. So I made even more scrap cards! Here are some pictures!

I made these cards, as well as the cards in the link above out of 4 or 5 pieces of 12 X 12 paper. I also had one 8 X 11 sheet of pink cardstock. I ended up with about 26 cards! Not bad. My cousin is always laughing and saying that she thinks her handmade cards only cost about $50.00 each! Too funny! I love card number 5. I took some scraps and just sewed them together and made a quilt out of scraps! See picture number 6? Those diecuts were given to me as a freebie at CHA. It was great to use them up! Then in picture number 7, I took a four petaled flower, rearranged it a little, used my copic markers, a little brown cardstock and a dew drop and came up with a butterfly! I have a friend who loves butterflies, so I think this will have her name on it!

Here's the card I made for Ethan (August RAK).

I had trouble with this one because I always have trouble making masculine cards. I thought the Serenity Prayer would be perfect for Ethan. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, Courage to change the things that I can and the Wisdom to know the difference."

Papers: Scraps!

Ink: Versamark, Memento Ink (Danube Blue), Glimmer Mist (Denim Blue)

Shape: Nestablities

Stamps: Not sure, I've had them forever!

Embossing Powder: Zing! Clear and Black

I used the following technique for the cross: First I stamped some white cardstock with clear versamark ink, then sprinkled with clear zing embossing powered. After heating to emboss, I used my Cuttlebug/Nestabilities to get the shape. Next I sprayed with the Denim Blue Glimmer Mist (freebie at the Paperthreads Retreat in March 09!). I wiped the mist off the embossed cross. Next I went around the outside edge using Danube Blue Memento Ink. I love the look it gave! You would never guess I used white cardstock!

Hope you MAKE it a beautiful day!

My quote:
We can often do more for other men by correcting our own faults than by trying to correct theirs.
Unknown

Shirley

"Sick" Weekend

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 07:36:42 -0500

It was a sick weekend at Clark Park. Paul is on his fourth day of a summer cold/fever. He's feeling better today. Lewis (our dog) hasn't been doing well since he was discharged from the doggie hospital. He seems a little more perky today, so hopefully he'll be back to normal soon. He will have his 12th birthday soon. We're hoping to have him for a few more years.

Back in March, I used a quote by Erin Bridget Doyle on a card and on my blog. In the link, you can see that her quote was used on the first three card pictures. I also typed out her quote underneath the card sketch I posted. To my utter surprise, I heard from her this week. It seems that she did a search for her name on the Internet and found my blog! This is what she said,

"I am not certain how often you check threads on here, but wanted to say that I absolutely love what you did with my "puzzle" quote :-) I always had words to share, but your imagery/design truly perfects it. I wrote the "puzzle of life" quote back when I was in college - it was so indicative of the influences that people had/made on my life. Now it holds true more than ever with a recent injury I faced and all of the amazing people that been a part of my "puzzle of life". I would love to purchase a copy of your design if at all possible. Please drop a line if you have a moment."

It has been nice conversing with her via email.

Remember all the cards I posted a few days ago? You can see them here. I managed to make 10 more cards from the same scraps. I'll take pics and post them in a day or so.

Don't forget to get busy on a card for Ethan. Also remember, that store bought cards are accepted as well. Email me at shirley_clark@paperthreads.com if you need my address.

I must get up and clean house! I think I need to fumigate the house and get rid of all the germs floating around!

MAKE it a wonderful day!

My Quote:
The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

Shirley

July RAK Slide Show

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 06:10:05 -0500

Here's the slide show of the cards on their way to The Schwartz family as we speak!

As always, we have some great cards! Don't forget to check out the August RAK featuring Ethan!

Our dog, Lewis has been in the doggie hospital since Wednesday. Hopefully he'll be back to normal soon. He has some sort of bacterial infection. It's terribly lonely without him in our home.

MAKE it a great day!

My quote:
Half the world is starving; the other half is on a diet. We are not privileged because we deserve to be. Privilege accepted should mean responsibility accepted.
Madeleine L'Engle - Kind of hits close to home!

Shirley

Wireless Internet and July RAK

Thu, 5 Aug 2010 06:36:46 -0500

I know most of you have heard me complain about my Hughes Internet Service. Unless Paul and I are very careful with our uploads/downloads, we get sent to Internet Jail often. What is Internet Jail? With Hughes Internet you have FAP or Fair Access Policy. With our plan, we can't upload/download more than 200 MB/day. That might seem like a lot, but it isn't. You can cross the limit easily by looking at a few videos. If you go investigate sites, your MB use increases substantially. I don't usually open any links I get from my email friends because it isn't worth the MB use. We haven't been to Internet Jail in a long time but it's because we monitor our usage frequently! There is a more expensive plan (about $90/month, we pay $60), but the MB usage doesn't increase enough to justify the cost. Especially since $60 is a little high anyway. Well, I have great news! We have a new company coming in that will offer a wireless Internet service to us! Paul and I have talked to them and it looks like the service will be available sometime in August! We will be able to combine our Internet/phone service for much, much less than what we're paying now. I called our current phone service, hoping that I could lure them into offering DSL to us, since we and many other's will go with the new service. It didn't work. I was told that DSL will not be available to us anytime soon. So, keep your fingers crossed! I will be so happy to surf the net without being in fear of going to Internet Jail!

Our Sunday School Class is sponsoring a 6 year old from Indonesia. We collect and send money each month to help fund her living expenses. She has a birthday this month and I got elected to make a card for her. Here's a picture.

It has "Happy Birthday" on the inside. Our class members signed it and now it's on the way to Indonesia. It feels so good to help others!

After making the card, I had lots of scraps left over. So I've made 12 cards from my left over paper!

I've been having fun using my scraps for the last few months! I have lots and lots of scraps, so I have a long way to go!

July RAK is going out in the mail today. I'll post the slide show tomorrow. The Schwartz family will be blessed!

MAKE it a wonderful day!

My quote:

Do your best and trust that others do their best. And be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
Mother Teresa

Shirley

August RAK

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 06:45:22 -0500

Sorry I'm so late on this month's RAK. My first choice didn't work out, so it took me a while to work out a replacement. Gina K told me about Ethan last month. We had planned to make him the RAK for October, but I'm happy to get the opportunity to move him up! So here's a little about Ethan by Gina K. Thanks for suggesting him Gina! I hope the cards help his along his path.

Ethan is a very active 20 years old man. He loves sports of all kinds, especially dirt biking, mountain biking, off roading, scuba diving, hunting and fishing. He has completed his 4th year apprenticeship in carpentry and has just received his journeyman's ticket, ready to start a career in carpentry.

Ethan's personality is contagious. He is always busy doing something and is rarely without one or more friends at his side. He loves life and can find a positive side to almost anything, and he is constantly joking around. Ethan is very extreme in everything he does, he lives every day to its fullest.

On Saturday, July 10, after spending a whole morning trying out his new mountain bike on trails close to his parent's vacation home, he and a friend decided they wanted to head out to a more remote park and try out a rougher terrain. Ethan was taking a jump when he lost control of his bike and crashed. His friend, who was riding ahead, heard the crash and rode back to find Ethan unconscious. It took emergency crews awhile to get to and locate Ethan , and he was immediately air lifted to Vancouver General Hospital, (this is one of the best spinal cord injury hospitals in North America due to the Rick Hanson legacy). His family was told that Ethan had broken his back and also had a mild concussion. Ethan spent five hours in surgery where the doctors rebuilt Ethan's vertebrae and re-aligned his spine with 2 rods and 12 screws. The surgery went well, but doctors told the family that Ethan's chances of ever regaining use of his legs was about 2%, classifying the break as Asia 1, the worst of back injuries.

Even though he developed pneumonia and was put on a respirator a couple days after surgery, Ethan continued to make remarkable progress. Even the doctors were amazed at how quickly he is adjusting to his new situation.

Ethan's family are very strong Christians, and there are people all over the globe praying for Ethan's full and complete recovery. Ethan was praying one day and asked God for a sign, so he might continue to keep hoping--that night, he moved his big toe, only once. He has not been able to do it again, but he is believing that God has answered his prayer for a sign and that one day he will walk again. Right now, he just takes a day at a time. He has his good days and bad days, and of course lonely times. He will be staying in the hospital at least another month. But he still has his incredible sense of humor and his love for life and extremes. He is not allowed to go outside of the hospital unsupervised, as he has already shown his love for speed and lack of fear, much to his parents' and therapist's disapproval. He has shown everyone that this chair is not going to slow him down.

Here's a few pictures of Ethan. His spirit of adventure shows through in each picture!

By the way, Ethan's birthday is on the 22nd. So if you want, you can make a birthday card!

So let's get busy and make cards for Ethan! This will challenge me to make something masculine! If you need my address email me at shirley_clark@paperthreads.com.

Cards must be postmarked by August 28th.

If you know anyone you would like to be featured for a card shower, please send me an email. I was two months ahead and now I have one possible September RAK. I have a couple of friends I can use if I don't hear from anyone.

I'm waiting for one more card for the August RAK then they can be sent out. Hopefully it will arrive today!

Some of you probably read on Facebook that today would have been my Dad's 80th birthday. Here's a tribute I did to him in 2007. As you read you'll see what a wonderful man my dad was. I miss him sooo much.

MAKE it a great day!

My quote:
I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart.
Terri Guillemets

Shirley

Freebie Digi Stamp

Mon, 2 Aug 2010 05:52:12 -0500

My cousin, Patty, sent me a card a few days ago. On the back of the card above her name stamp, she had stamped, "This better not go in the trash" I thought it was so funny. So I made a name stamp with that quote on it. It is the perfect addition to your card making projects. All you have to do is print and add your name! So let's remind everyone who gets a handmade card from you that it better not go in the trash!

You can get the file here!

Hope you MAKE it a great day!

My quote:
Each of us makes his own weather, determines the colour of the skies in the emotional universe which he inhabits.
Fulton Sheen

Shirley

Endodonist, July and August RAK

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:52:29 -0500

We were out of town for 3 days last week. I had the pleasure (NOT) of going to an endodonist in San Angelo. I went in thinking I was going to have one tooth done for around $800 - $900. I ended up getting 2 teeth worked on for the tune of almost $1900. Ouch! The tooth is still bothering me, but I was told it would for a few weeks. So I'm taking Ibuprofen and antibiotics for now. Then I go back in three weeks. At least it won't be an additional charge. I could probably get a decent set of dentures for the $1900 price! LOL!

We pulled the RV to San Angelo for my appointment and spent a couple of days in the state park. It was okay but probably not a choice place for us to go RVing in the future. We came home and picked peas last night and today, so there has been a whole lot of shelling going on in Clark Park! We'll finish up tonight while watching a movie.

I've been working on another digi file, but I still have some finishing touches. So maybe one day next week!

I'm waiting on a few cards to arrive for the July RAK. I'm a little late in announcing the August RAK. My original plan fell through so I'm waiting to hear from the one I had planned for September. Regardless, I'll send out the information soon!

Hope you make it a wonderful evening!

My quote:
It is not years that make souls grow old, but having nothing to love, nothing to hope for.
Father Congreve

Shirley