4 FUR KIDS

2010-07-30T09:07:00.001-05:00

My painting I made @ Corks n Canvas!

2010-06-24T11:33:00.001-05:00

Bailey sleeping with her tongue curled out.

2010-06-16T19:16:00.001-05:00

Big Mike!

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2010-06-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

this is what I listen to at night...

My friend Cowboy

2010-06-02T19:14:00.003-05:00

My friend sent me this video of my goddog Cowboy. He's my special dobbie. In this video he decided it was to hot to chase the birds at the farm so he started chasing the flies around his #2. He's getting weirder as he gets older!

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2010-06-02T05:53:00.001-05:00

Evie & Bailey don't like mornings either.

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2010-06-01T05:48:00.001-05:00

Nanette the foster cat is relaxing while I get ready for work.

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2010-05-31T15:42:00.001-05:00

The girls and I are chillin.

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2010-05-09T15:15:00.001-05:00

New foster cat, Willie!

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2010-05-05T18:23:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to me!

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2010-05-03T18:16:00.001-05:00

New foster cat, Willie. We're sitting in the closet bonding, rereading Eclipse.

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2010-05-03T16:26:00.001-05:00

Website is up and running!

2010-04-29T19:35:00.002-05:00

I'm working with new mediums for my cards - so have them on my website. Had to add a few pages and figure out galleries, etc on the pages, but I think it came out good! I'm posting the link - even took care of my own domain! 4furkids.com (shocking, I know).

Check it out! I even posted my cards on eBay! Look out!!!!

www.4furkids.com

2010-04-12T07:35:00.001-05:00

You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats- Colonial American Proverb

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2010-04-06T20:54:00.001-05:00

Mason sleeping on my right arm, Bailey on my left & Evie gumming a bone at my feet. Life is good.

Chyna

2010-03-24T21:24:00.003-05:00

Video for one of the Cat Haven cats. Enjoy!

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2010-03-23T18:00:00.001-05:00

Check out my buddy Clint. He's a sweetheart! At CatHaven up for adoption...

Why I have to color my hair...

2010-03-07T14:16:00.003-06:00

Last Sunday I had my upstairs windows open and I made sure my screens were secure since I found Nikita hanging from the window a couple years ago. (Evie was chasing her and she jumped on the ledge and the screen gave). I have since bought new screens that are snug.

I had the windows open about 6 inches maybe. I was going between my office and bedroom cleaning and happen to look at the window in my bedroom and see a screen sticking straight outside, hanging. I freaked out, knowing one of the furkids fell out of the window from the 2nd floor!!!

I did not want to look out but knowing I have to because the cats are ALWAYS sitting on the window ledges I get over there and look out and see Mason sitting on the roof/awning that is halfway between my upstairs and downstairs - over my front doorway. It's not directly below my window but over the side so would need a good jump to get to. He’s freaking sunning himself watching the birds in the trees! I am shaking like a leaf and he’s enjoying himself.

I didn’t know how to get him up to me or down to the ground because either way was far, so I called him and he eventually jumped up through the window to me. I wasn't sure how he got out the window (if he fell, jumped or was pushed) until this weekend when he was hitting the window trying to get to the birds in the trees. He kept hitting his head on the glass when thinking he was going to get the birds.

He is quickly becoming my trouble child...and the reason my hair is getting dyed lighter and lighter to hide the gray!

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2010-03-01T21:18:00.000-06:00

Poor Evie is so tired...she's snoring up a storm.

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2010-02-20T20:44:00.000-06:00

My Mason...

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2010-02-12T12:46:00.000-06:00

At cat haven playin with the kitties. Cin Cin says hi!

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2010-02-10T08:26:00.000-06:00

One relaxed cat...

Monogram Card

2010-02-03T06:07:00.005-06:00

This is a cute monogram card, any initial can be used. I used recycled wallpaper which has a great gold and silver embossing on it. The image doesn't reflect the gold and silver in the wallpaper that enhances the look. In real life, it is impressive! I stamped the initial in black stazon ink and highlighted it with a gold metallic pen.

Stormy Sunset on Lake Ponchartrain

2010-01-29T21:52:00.002-06:00

A walk in Fountainbleau State Park

2010-01-29T13:47:00.006-06:00

Pictures of our cabin from the pier/beach area, along a 1.5 mile scenic nature trail which at the end was a boardwalk leading to a view of the marsh wetlands. Last, pictures of the old sugar mill plantation.

Sunrise on Lake Ponchartrain

2010-01-28T13:14:00.001-06:00

Sunrise on Lake Ponchartrain at Fountainblue State Park. It's so quiet and
calm here.

Sunset on Lake Ponchartrain

2010-01-28T05:48:00.004-06:00

Taking some R&R with a friend in a cabin at a state park on Lake Ponchartrain in La. Here are some pictures of our cabin over the lake, at sunset, and of New Orleans across the way.

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2010-01-27T16:27:00.000-06:00

Sunset on Lake Pontatrain from my cabin on the lake til Saturday.

Wallpaper Card

2010-01-20T20:26:00.003-06:00

This is one of a number of cards I'm making with wallpaper rolls that were being thrown out from an interior design store that had closed. I liked the stripes from the sheets so cut them out and coordinated the colors with the cardstock.

I heat embossed the monogram because this particular card is part of a set for a customer.

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2010-01-18T17:35:00.000-06:00

Can't even boil water right. Turned on wrong burner & melted teapot to burner. Just wanted some pasta!

Mason bird watching...

2010-01-17T07:05:00.002-06:00

Mason checking out the cardinal in the tree. This cat is so cuddly and awesome. You can see the cardinal in the tree if you look hard enough.

Cool Cardinal

2010-01-16T14:51:00.005-06:00

Opened up my window blinds and this beautiful cardinal was on a branch outside the window. Wish my camera had a better range.

My first wreath!

2010-01-10T17:24:00.004-06:00

I made it for my front door for Mardi Gras! Gotta have something for the season in cajun country, especially if you have a cajun name! Doesn't matter if you're a ***gasp*** yankee.

Artwork for the holidays

2010-01-03T07:59:00.005-06:00

This is some artwork that I made for a Christmas present. This was my first time at using artist canvas and acrylic painting. I decoupaged over it and took the pics before it was completely dry, hence the visible brushstrokes.

I made all my gifts this year for budgetary reasons, plus I'm trying to get into different mediums besides cards, although I did make cards for gifts as well. Something about handmaking an item for someone that is personal and appreciated that makes the time spent well worth it.

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2009-12-30T06:08:00.000-06:00

Mark this under objects are smaller than they appear. Goofy mason is using this as his sleeping bed.

Furkid Christmas 2009

2009-12-24T21:26:00.005-06:00

Furkids open their stocking stuffers!

Furkid Update

2009-12-23T03:44:00.003-06:00

It's about time I updated how the furkids are doing. Ms. Kitty, the foster furkid almost got adopted...but it didn't pan out and Ms. Kitty is still loving life with the rest of the crew, especially Mason. Mason was in foster care for a year before I got him, so perhaps they have been talking...

Anywho...Mason and Ms. Kitty (the M&M kids) like to stay up at night and chase each other around the house. I have 2 floors, so it's up the stairs, through the bathroom around my bedroom, over my bed, while Evie, Bailey and I WERE sleeping, back down the stairs and I can hear them running all over downstairs until they are back up again.

It is so good to hear them both playing like that. Ms. Kitty was so placent at the shelter, just laying on her pillow by the window all the time. She gained so much weight we were real worried about her. I took her to the vet the other day for her rabies shots and she lost a little over a pound since the last time she was weighed over at the shelter. That is great news!

Mason isn't feeling to well right now, he's on the tail end of a cold and was quarantined from his buddy for a while. Vet said it was pretty much over but he was in a little pain (achy) so he got somepain meds. I'd been giving him a heating pad to sleep on and patting his side to break up his congestion so apparenty that has helped break it up and he's doing a ton better now. He's alowed to play with Ms. Kitty again, and everyone is happy.

Evie and Bailey - oye. Bailey is getting old I think. She's turning silver in the face. She is also stubborn. Wants to go to bed early (like at 6:30) and won't leave me alone because she thinks I should be in bed too. Drives me crazy. She's been limping since she pulled a muscle from running after the laser pointer at night and keeps aggravating it running up and down the stairs and jumping up and down off the bed. Plus in the am it's worse, so wonder if it's arthritic as well. Sure doesn't stop her and she doesn't seem in pain at all when I do a little PT on her.

Evie, my poor toothless wonder, tried to chew a rawhide a couple days ago. Normally Bailey will gnaw on one and get it gooey so Evie can chew it without hurting her gums. But Bailey went to bed early and Evie wanted to chew. So she did and her gums bled all over the bone and my carpet. Poor baby. I need to find some kind of alternative for her. Or maybe she needs that, perhaps it feels good on her gums for some strange reason. Like a kid teething?

Nikita, well, what can you say about her. Still the same rotten cat. Hasn't attacked me at all. She's outnumbered, so guess she is being nice because there is an alliance against her. lol.

Shhh....don't tell the furkids....

2009-12-19T07:10:00.009-06:00

I told Santa what to put in their stockings this year. Even told him to get Ms. Kitty a special treat since she was staying with us. The furkids will be enjoying the holiday when Santa comes! Nikita, Bailey, Evie, Mason and Ms. Kitty and I will be enjoying ourselves for the holidays!

Something is clogging the sink....

2009-12-15T05:49:00.002-06:00

Ms. Kitty decided my extra bathroom sink would make a good comfy bed. Therefore she has claimed it and it is hers. At least it is getting used. I never used it!

Embossed cards and a really good card!

2009-12-13T23:20:00.002-06:00

If I don't say so myself. Made these for a customer, she's giving packs of them as gifts. The cross and fleur d'lis are embossed and highlighted with a zig painty, and the other is just stamped.

Weirdest Monthly National Holidays

2009-12-13T02:19:00.007-06:00

Congress actually passed these so that the nation can recognize them during certain months. So I decided to use these weird quirky holidays to inspire some handmade cards for a Christmas gift. You can probably figure out which cards go with which month except for December. I didn't have a stamp that worked for National Tie Month, plus....come on....

I was told I had to decorate for the holidays.

2009-12-06T12:05:00.003-06:00

Not kidding. So here is what I did:

Christmas stockings for everyone. Took $1stockings at HL (except for Nikita and I, we already had ours) and cut out letters w/ a sizzix cutter, ran both sides through a xyron adhiesive machine and put glitter on it. Sprayed glitter with aquanet hairspray - a craft trade secret - it holds the glitter and hardens the cardstock. Just adhered them to the stocking and voila! Even though Ms. Kitty is a foster cat and hopefully will be adopted before the holidays, I made her one too. She can take it with her when she goes so Santa can fill it for her at her furrrever home.

I have a Christmas tree that I have talked about on previous posts, but took really bad pics of it. So all I have is the bow and ribbon for you to see. Then the coolest part, a wreath - which is the only thing we can decorate outside with at my townhome association. I bought the stuff and a friend put it together. She does floral, wreaths, all kinds of stuff like that. Love how it came out and how it looks on my front door.

Pukefest 2009

2009-12-06T05:42:00.003-06:00

Yep, that's the title. All 4 furkids have been puking and I am SICK of cleaning up the vomit. It's their own doing too, the little stinkers.
First culprit is the cat from hell, Nikita.
She gets into the garbage can and eats who knows what. I go downstairs to let the girls (Bailey and Evie) out to do their business and see Nikita's been dining on garbage when she has a bowl full of food to eat. So early this morning, she's puking it all up, and I'm cleaning it all up.

Second culprit is Mason, Mr. Tug o War with the Christmas Tree decorations. When I was putting them on, he was grabbing the other end of the ribbon and pulling it off. If I didn't win, the tree was going to come down. It was funny but it wasn't. Well, that night he got what he wanted, and but his stomach didn't want it and I had to clean that mess up.

Next we have the 2 mouskateers, Evie and Bailey. They do this constantly but never, ever learn their lesson. I guess this is why they call Boxers clowns and the children of the dog world. They like to come in from outside, drink a TON of water, then run upstairs and jump up and down on my bed. No joke. So when I go up there, I tell them to stop jumping because they are going to puke. They don't listen, love that I'm talking to them (even if it is reprimanding), and do the infamous boxer butt wiggle. Next thing, one of them gets that wide eye look and blllaaaahhhhh, up comes the water. Lovely.

Now you know why I call them my furkids. Because I spent the past week cleaning up puke, just like any mother would do when their kid was sick. Except my kids do it to themselves, it's not from the flu or a virus. They are just goofy.

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2009-12-05T13:04:00.000-06:00

Looky at my wreath my friend put together with stuff we picked up at hobby lobby.

2009-12-03T18:14:00.001-06:00

Oh Mason. Had a war with him when decorating tree, he took half of ribbon & tried to run with it. Other half was on tree!

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Miss Kitty

2009-12-02T22:31:00.003-06:00

Miss Kitty is adjusting rather well to being back in a house after a year of looking at the same 4 walls day in and out. She's used to the dogs and other cats. I had friends over this evening and she hung out with us in the craft room while we worked on a project.

Here are a few pics of Miss Kitty in the craft room.

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2009-12-01T20:27:00.000-06:00

Mason on the Christmas tree box. Can't wait to see what he does when the tree goes up...

I'm a foster parent.

2009-11-27T21:12:00.003-06:00

It's true. Never thought I'd attempt to do this, but I took in a foster. I just couldn't tolerate seeing her at the shelter, and then to hear she's been there a year. I had seen her attitude change, she got depressed, I think she was tired of being at a shelter even though it was a nice one.

So, I checked to see if I could be a foster parent, and I am eligible. So today I brought home Ms. Kitty. She looks a lot like Mason, a little more orange and a lot heavier. She also has some urinary issues, might be one of the reasons she hasn't been adopted in a year. Poor baby.

My girls barely notice she is here. Evie sees her but just watches her. Bailey is too busy chewing her bones and playing with her toys to care that a new cat is around.

Mason and Ms. Kitty are buds, and Nikita is being her typical self, staying away and hissing at everyone and everything. We all just ignore her.

The biggest adjustment so far for me is that it has been a very long time since I've had a cat with front claws. I worked the kitty cages tonight at Petsmart for Cat Haven and while I was at Petsmart bought some of the cardboard cat scratchers for her. She liked them at the shelter so we'll see how she likes them at a home.

You can see pictures of her at CatHaven.org under adoption under Ms. Kitty.

What an awesome card!

2009-11-26T11:05:00.004-06:00

If I do say so myself! I'm pretty proud of this one. I had a theme for it and used Elegant Notes from Stampin Up. I'm a HUGE heat embossing junkie, so the note is embossed in detail clear EP on black craft ink over a stamp of various words relating to music. The sheet music was originally an off white, off color brown, so I sponged it with the creamy caramel ink to match, tore the edges and inked them with black. The grosgrain ribbon was originally black and white so I inked it with the caramel to match as well.

Altered Domino's, Part Deaux

2009-11-25T05:53:00.003-06:00

Ok, I learned some things from my first attempt at altered domino's, here are some samples from my second attempt.

All it's cracked up to be...

2009-11-19T21:54:00.004-06:00

I love heat embossing. LOVE it. Love the cracked glass technique too. Mega embossing there!

I made these cards for a customer for teacher appreciation gifts for a religious school. They are not intended as Christmas cards, but as blank notecards. Not sure how much you can see, the image is cracked. I decided not to color over the cracks to enhance them as it would have taken away from the image.

I'm working on my watercoloring. So not talented in coloring....

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2009-11-19T18:09:00.000-06:00

Takin care of the kitties! Pip says hi!

Laptop or Me?

2009-11-18T05:39:00.005-06:00

Is it a sign that both cats have to be in front of the laptop when I'm working on it? If so, what do they want? Nikita doesn't want to be pet, she'll bit me. I think she just wants to annoy me and be in front of the screen. Mason is always next to me, so that's not unusual. But he doesn't usually block the screen.

Domino Keychain (first attempt)

2009-11-16T20:55:00.006-06:00

This is my first attempt at making a keychain from a domino. It isn't a great picture and not a great first attempt however I learned a lot of do's and don'ts. For instance, lots of places said to use sharpies, however I have found that acrylic paint works better. And last but not least, patience is a virtue. You cannot rush this no matter how much you want to. Trust me...

You can't see from the picture but the sides are gold. The fleur de lis is embossed and it is covered with modge podge matte.

Scrapping/Stampin Weekend

2009-11-14T08:20:00.008-06:00

Last weekend (Nov 6-8) my friends and I went to one of our favorite scrapbooking getaways, Tall Timbers, in Forrest Hills. It has beautiful scenery, is cost effective, the people are very nice and they provide the lodging, a room for scrapping and meals for us. It's an ideal place and we go often.

I have been on a creative streak of late and was able to accomplish a lot over the 3 days. We also celebrated Tess' birthday. I made her a calendar with 6x6 scrapbooking pages she can put pics on for each month. It is in pink, her favorite color. I also did 6 digital scrapbook pages (see prior post), and worked on handmade cards that I had an order for a customer and made some samples as well for another customer. It was a very productive weekend for me!

Most of our weekend getaways we have a matching shirt for Saturday, where we take group pictures. This one we had made and it says "What the Scrap?" with a pair of scissors. Our group pictures always have a nice picture and then we have a goofy one. Gotta love it!

More wall art

2009-11-11T23:16:00.006-06:00

Here are more pics of the 8x8 digital scrapbook pages I'll be framing and putting on the walls near St. Francis. One of my coworkers called it a shrine, and while I didn't intend for it to be that, I guess it is. I think of it more like a memory wall.

The pages of my furkids will be going on the opposite corner of the wall as the quote wall. I originally had a different/brighter color scheme for my furkids, however it did not look good in my more formal like dining area. Have more furkid pages to go but need to scan in pictures. I have always had animals in my life. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of some of them, but doesn't mean I can't write about them!

Ms. Fix It

2009-11-10T20:18:00.002-06:00

My rather new bookcase had been dark for some time now. The bulbs had all burned out and I didn't know why. As I removed them one, each was burnt. The last one was broken and the main part was stuck in the socket. Oh for joy.

The other awesome thing was that these were specialty bulbs. I had to go to a lighting showroom place (after numerous calls) who had the bulbs in stock. Then I had to get advice on how to get the broken bulb out. Of course the guys who put the bookcase in did not spare much room when they plugged it in, but I did manage to unplug it, use 2 pliers and change the bulbs.

Now that my bookcase has light again, I'm a tad sad because it is showing all the dust, which means time to clean. Yuck.

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2009-11-08T06:56:00.000-06:00

Morning view from my balcony.

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2009-11-07T11:21:00.000-06:00

View of lake from balcony at scrapbooking retreat. Beautiful weekend!

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2009-11-06T08:15:00.000-06:00

Do you think Mason is comfy in my dresser drawer?

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2009-11-05T21:15:00.000-06:00

I know of few people who would find this box of leftover wallpaper scraps from a closed deco store an awesome find. I hit the lotto. :-)

St. Francis of Assisi

2009-11-03T20:50:00.008-06:00

Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals)
Is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough.

We have a higher mission:

To be of service to them whenever they require it.
- St Francis of Assisi

St. Francis rocks.

Remember the statue of St. Francis I made? The large urn I bought for the ashes of my furkids did not fit into the basket that St. Francis is holding - even after measuring and talking to the urn makers. Turns out I forgot about the bird looking into the basket. So, the basket is now a candle holder and the large urn is on a corner of the pedestal. Had to move it into a corner some so everything will fit right, but looks great. I took some pics with the candle and the urn now.

Furrever Feline

2009-11-02T17:00:00.000-06:00

Cat Haven is opening its shelter doors to the public this Saturday & Sunday (Nov 7 & 8) for a special event! Furrever Feline is a combined adopt & shopathon. Adopt a shelter cat, save life. Shop and you will be helping Cat Haven continue in its effort of rescuing homeless cats and kittens.

Please attend if you are free this weekend and check out our fabulous shelter!

But I don't WANNA get up!

2009-11-01T10:50:00.007-06:00

I took this video a few days ago. Evie is like this every morning. Makes it very hard to get it out bed and go to work - I feel the same way. Good thing Bailey leaves me alone!

Sick kid

2009-10-29T05:42:00.002-05:00

I'm used to being woke up at night between 2 and 3am because Bailey has to go to the bathroom. Nothing like a boxer pawing at your head to make you go downstairs and leter them out. Kicker is they always beat me back to bed and get the pillows and blankets before me, so I have to argue/fight just to be able to go back to sleep. I used to complain about this. Last night I was wishing it would've happened.

Instead, while I'm in my non-MJ medically induced sleep, Evie leaps over me onto the floor in one swoop. That's bad, especially when she's usually clumsy and she's about 80lbs now. She doesn't move fast, I knew something was wrong. She started coughing. So I got them downstairs and out the door.

Come back in and go upstairs to bed, but Evie won't go up the stairs. This usually means she did something she shouldn't have (like gone to the bathroom or chewed something or went into the garbage). Confused, I call her up however she wouldn't budge. Go to the bedroom and found that she threw up all over the bed. So, 2:30am I'm changing sheets. Couldn't be mad at her, she was obviously woken up by puking. I'm just glad it wasn't on me this time (yes, it has happened). I was getting perturbed at Bailey who was refusing to get off the bed while I was changing sheets. How logical is it to argue with a boxer at 3am?

Now I have to go buy Pepto because I am all out. Used the last of it this morning on Evie. Poor baby.

Cowboy's in TROUBLE....

2009-10-26T20:09:00.003-05:00

My poor buddy Cowboy. He's the dobie that is willed to me if heaven forbid anything should happen to my friend Denise because nobody in her family wants him. I love this dog - he's a bit off the mark but nonetheless, he's my bud.

Today I got an email and video from Denise about my baby. Anytime I get an email from her about him, it is ALWAYS because he was bad. So, she said I had to read her email, then I could look at the video. So...here is her email, then the video. Couple notes: this happened on a Sunday, and Justine is the donkey.

Got up around 5:30 yesterday morning to feed the horses.(if I do not get up Justine will start hollering and I cannot sleep anyway) Only takes about 15 minutes. Well, Cowboy disappears. After looking for him for 5 hours on foot and in the truck, my friend Annette finds him four streets behind my house at the fire chiefs house, humping his Boxer(who is a male) I go pick him up. He knows he is in trouble!! Get him home and normally before I can get the door of the truck open, he is diving over me to get out. Well, yesterday when we get home. He refused to get out of the truck. Took him about 10 minutes, to decide to make a run for his pen. I went inside and got the camera and he still would not get out. He knew he was in big trouble!!!

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2009-10-25T10:07:00.000-05:00

Why do the girls ignore their toys spread all over the house until I put them away in their toybox?

Mardi Gras Card

2009-10-24T16:59:00.003-05:00

I admit it, I'm a technique junkie when it comes to making cards. My favorite is heat embossing - just something about watching the powder melt into an image is awesome. I made this card (a set actually) for a retirement gift for a friend. She's a very much into the Mardi Gras season, and I used the 3 colors of Mardi Gras for the embossing powders.

Did you know that the 3 colors are purple, green and gold, and each of these colors has a specific meaning?

Purple represents justice; green, faith; and gold, power. Since the fleur de lis is synonymous with Louisiana and the french culture I chose to use it as my stamp to adhere the embossing powder.

I also stamped the envelopes with a mini fleur de lis using the same colors but with the baby wipe technique. I don't have a picture of it, but it matched well with the card.

Fetch...wait...ur a Cat!?!

2009-10-23T23:08:00.004-05:00

Check out this video that some of the volunteers took of Mocha, one of our more unique cats we have at Cat Haven. She is tempermental, you have to know how to handle her. I love her, she and I understand each other. Christine and Pixie understand Mocha too....She fetches her favorite toy in the world for them! She will even drop the toy in their hands when she brings it back!

Mocha loves her fish toys, she slides them under the door and the volunteers play soccer all day, kicking it back under the door to her. She will definitely be missed when she is adopted by that special person.

Mason's spot

2009-10-21T22:31:00.003-05:00

This is Mason's main position in bed when I'm there. Doesn't matter if I'm on the laptop or sleeping. He has to be touching my neck/face with either his paws or his face. What a sweetie.

It's not fun if I have to use two hands for typing on the laptop....

The power of Youtube

2009-10-13T21:47:00.003-05:00

It's amazing how a video of a dog sleeping can be seen around the world. I shot a video with my camera phone of Bailey crapped out on her back and my legs sleeping/dreaming away. Put it to some music by Rosanne Cash (one of my all time favs), and plucked it online. The video has been a feature video a couple times and is a hit in Mauritania (S. Africa), Poland, Botswana, Pakistan, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, India and South Korea. US finally beat out Mauritania in most views. Someone in S. Africa REALLY likes Bailey! LOL

Check out the previous post which contains the video. You can also go to YouTube and check out RVFD622 videos or search for Bailey Sleeping.

Here we go again...

2009-10-11T12:40:00.005-05:00

I had to order another urn, hopefully my last. My fiasco with urns had the postal person jamming grandma in the mailbox where she was stuck for a few days.

In the past I have had individual keepsake urns for my furkids who have passed but now I unfortunately have too many. I made a St. Francis Statue where he is holding a basket. I ordered an urn to put in the basket for all my furkids who have crossed over the rainbow bridge.

I'll keep ya'll posted!

Blood

2009-10-10T08:46:00.002-05:00

I'm starting to think I'm as clumsy as Mason now. Love that cat, but he is so clumsy. He can't jump onto a table or couch without knocking something over or half making the leap and falling or having to struggle to finish the jump.

The other day I was cleaning and ran my hand in between couch cushions to get the furkids hair out when I ran accross something very sharp, slicing open my thumb. Still have no idea what it was that cut me, but my thumb was bleeding so bad you'd think I cut an artery. lol.

I grabbed a kleenex, applied pressure and ran upstairs (ok, walked quickly) to my first aid drawer (yes, I'm getting that clumsy I have a first aid drawer). I bandaged myself up with what was needed for an active bleed, had to change it out again a little while later after I bled through.

6 days later I'm still having to bandage, and today had to wrap it with the waterproof bandages (it is a well stocked first aid drawer) because I'm going to Cat Haven and will probably get my thumb wet while cleaning. I grabbed the box of bandages and had to laugh because the box itself was full of dried blood from the last fiasco I had. I can't remember which injury it was, I have so many. Morbid sense of humor, I know.

Thank You!

2009-10-09T20:17:00.003-05:00

I had fun making this card. I finally broke out one of my new sizzix dies for the first time, the tulip. I am a huge fan of the xyron adhesive products and use them often in my cardmaking. I used the xyron on the gold cardstock then ran it through the Big Shot. I then adhered it onto a piece of wallpaper from a book of samples that I have from an interior designer sample book. The samples are great texture, colors and perfect size for cards. This wallpaper had some threads of gold through it and matched great with the cardstock.

I don't like a lot of bulk of to my cards, so instead of matting the wallpaper onto gold cardstock then onto vanilla, I colored the outer edges with the metallic gold zig painty. Once I was done, I sent the card off with my words to an important person who would appreciate the work.

Whatever, Martha!

2009-10-03T14:53:00.005-05:00

This is one of the funniest shows I have seen in a long time. It's on the Fine Living Network and stars Martha Stewart's sarcastic, chided grown daughter Alexis and her friend Jennifer as they watch clips of Martha's shows and comment/trash Martha. They make me laugh to the point of a full out stomach ache.

Anyway, I'm sure as heck am no Martha - don't want to be, and sure as heck don't get any ideas off of her. I have my own creations and get some inspiration from fellow stamping buddies. I have recently been getting my creative bug back and making gifts for those I love. Here are some chipboard calendars I made for two scrapbooking friends who recently had birthdays. We celebrated their birthdays together while at one of our regular scrapbooking weekend getaways.

I've Got A Feeling....woo hooo

2009-09-30T08:09:00.004-05:00

Ok, I like the Black Eyed Peas song, but disappointed it's Oprah's theme song, ABC's theme song, everyones theme song. Very overplayed for a new song. And a good song. Anyway, I'm feeling good, a lot better than I have been in quite a while. Starting doing some scrapbooking and cardmaking projects again. Haven't TRULY felt like doing this in over a year. Haven't had inspiration in over 2. Feeling refreshed now, and made some projects. Nothing like having no money for birthday gifts but plenty of supplies and inspiration to make some handmade gifts for friends. Especially when you know they will appreciate the work. Here are pics of a $15 shadow box frame I picked up at Michaels which I got 40% off, no coupon needed! You do the math on the cost.

Had to take Mason out of it, he thought it was his box.

He is following in Simone's steps as far as a craftin' buddy, that is for sure! I then decided to use some of those Stampin Up! rubons that I've been hoarding forever and decorate the outside of the frame. Figured if I didn't like it, could always remove them with rubbing alcohol. Knowing the colors of my friends house helped too.

I cut out a designer paper from Creative Memories to use as a background, did all of my work on it before I placed it in the frame. Once I put it in the frame, held it together with pearl straightpins it came with (goes into foam in the shadowbox). I recycled the pics from a calendar I had from 2005 of my godfurkids, and gave them back to their mother! Viola, inexpensive yet personal birthday gift from the heart. I also told my friend that I will change it out with new pics/items such as the girls leashes, etc whenever she wants.

A CULLEN lives in my HOUSE!

2009-09-28T08:05:00.006-05:00

Mason moved into my house in early August. I initially took him in as a foster cat after my heart was broken with the loss of my Simone. I knew pretty fast I was going to adopt him, he's such a loving, sweet cat. You feel good anytime he's in the room.

He has this calming effect not only on me, but on Nikita the Attack cat too! I am proud to say that Nikita has not attacked me since August. In fact, she is purring when she sees me. Lets me pet her belly. I would swear she has had an attitude adjustment since Jasper....er....Mason showed up.

So, even though Mason is perhaps the clumsiest cat I have ever had (knocks over every full glass I have), and does strange things at night (he somehow put waffle syrup in my hair while I was sleeping), he brings a peace to my house that hasn't been seen in many years. Yay Jasper!

Cat Haven - Home

2009-09-27T23:58:00.001-05:00

New improved video I made for Cat Haven. Mason directed it.

Multimedia message

2009-09-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

One laid back cat.

Multimedia message

2009-09-24T10:34:00.000-05:00

A flock of ducks had the nerve to knock on the door of Cat Haven. Neb & Mocha answered.

Roddy & Buffalo

2009-09-23T07:54:00.002-05:00

Recently while at Cat Haven I came happened to peak my head into one of the rooms and saw Roddy and Buffalo playing. I didn't realize where Buffalo was until I saw the chair cushion move. I was glad I had my camera with me, flipped the setting to record, and the rest is history. The camera is moving around because I was laughing at them.

Bailey, Bailey, Bailey

2009-09-16T16:13:00.006-05:00

Oh how I love this furkid. She has come so far from the sick, beaten, bald, frightened rescue dog I adopted two years ago. She has come into some strange habits over the past two years, some at the expense of her poor sister Evie.

Her latest are somewhat annoying and funny. First, she now tells me she has to go to the bathroom by barking at me, then barking at her butt. Guess she's into charades. For her meals, she and Evie both eat the same food, each have their own bowls. However they switch on and off on the same bowl now until it is empty. Bailey refuses to eat out of the second bowl, so barks at me until I pour the food from the first bowl into the second bowl. I have washed the bowls, and everything, she is just being weird. I think Evie is over the barking. I swear she rolls her eyes at Bailey.

At night, she is obsessed with the laser pointer and barks until I pull it out so she can attack it. But she won't run after it, she likes to bite the pointer itself. So now I'm bringing the laser outside at night (see the video attached, - night vision). Wears her out a tad, but not enough so that I can read at night without her insisting on my undivided attention. So, instead of reading a book in my recliner before I retire for the evening, Bailey barks until I sit in the bed and rub her belly until she falls asleep. Phew. She sure is coming out of her shell...And I was worried because she didn't bark the first 5-6 months I had her. Geesh.

Bailey video...

2009-09-08T20:30:00.003-05:00

Hoping that a video I made on my cell phone actually works on this blog...I impressed myself. LOL.

Multimedia message

2009-09-08T17:35:00.000-05:00

The only way I could get Bailey to stop barking was 2 rub her belly. She fell asleep & so did my leg.

Nikon SLR 35 mm FILM Camera for sale

2009-09-07T09:20:00.001-05:00

FOR SALE – NIKON 35 MM SLR CAMERA

• Nikon N75 35mm SLR Camera

• 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 Nikkor Lens (excellent lens)

• Camera Case (5 zippered pockets)

• booklet

$150

This is an excellent camera, I LOVE it – just don’t use it as much as I use my Sony. Main specs below - Google the model as well as the lens for additional information.

Description

For beginning or professional photography, this Nikon camera promises to please. Featuring manual and auto focus for the best shot every time, this camera also offers a 25-segment matrix metering system for the perfect aperture and shutter speed settings. Compatible with both the AF Nikkor and Ai-P Nikkor lens series, this Nikon camera features a built-in speedlight. Whereas other cameras offer few selections for shooting, this Nikon camera offers full auto, portrait, landscape, sports, night portrait, and close-up modes. Continuing to produce crystal clear pictures with standout color, this Nikon N75 camera remains in the top tier of cameras.

Details

Main Features
Brand	Nikon
Model	N75
Camera Type	SLR
Film Type	35mm
Color	Black, Silver
Bundled Accessories	Eye Cup, Body Cap, Eyepiece Shield
Performance Features
Still Image Capture Speed	1.5 Frames per second
Shooting Modes	Sports, Close-Up, Portrait, Landscape, Continuous, Night Portrait
Self Timer	2 Sec, 10 Sec, 20 Sec
Diopter Correction	With Diopter Correction
Film Loading	Automatic
Film Winding	Manual, Automatic
Mirror Lock-Up	Without Mirror Lock-Up
Power Source	CR2: 2
Lens
Focus Type	Auto, Manual, AF Sensor System
Exposure Control
ISO Rating	25, 100, 800, 5000
Min. Shutter Speed	30 Sec
METERING	Evaluative, Center Weighted
Flash
Flash	Built In
Flash Modes	Fill, Auto, Manual, Red Eye Reduction
Flash Sync Mode	Red-Eye Reduction
Dimensions
Height	3.60 in
Depth	2.60 in
Width	5.20 in
Weight	13.40 Oz

on this awesome camera. They are often sold separate however I will NOT split them.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Amy Bouquet

225-324-7752

Check out my blog:

www.4furkids.blogspot.com

Love my furkids...

2009-08-31T09:54:00.001-05:00

Multimedia message

2009-08-29T19:09:00.000-05:00

Is it cheap entertainment or the lazy way of exercising furkids?

St. Francis Statue

2009-08-27T16:54:00.004-05:00

I finished the Saint Francis statue and decided to turn the process into my first ever movie. The pictures could use a lot of help, however took them at all dates/times and had to shrink the pixels to keep the size of the file down.

Music is Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Good-Bye) performed by Andrea Bocelli and Sara Brightman, a favorite of mine.

I plan on placing a large urn in the basket St. Francis is holding, which will contain the remains of furkids who have passed.

Enjoy!

Amy

2009-08-16T07:52:00.001-05:00

I love Sundays. The furkids and I sleep in as long as we want, and they make it very easy to be lazy!

Mason's first day....

2009-08-13T20:31:00.001-05:00

Well, all I have been receiving this week are pictures of my friends progeny’s first day of school. So, here are pictures of my furkids first look

at himself in the mirror, and glamour pose.

Amy

Funny pic...

2009-08-11T05:56:00.002-05:00

You have to admit, the first one is funny...

Mason

2009-08-09T20:23:00.003-05:00

Some new pics of Mason.

Simone's Scrapbook Frame

2009-08-09T20:10:00.005-05:00

Last weekend I scrapped with my buds and worked on my memory frame. Here is the finished project (turns into a scrapbook page when I change it out).

Mason

2009-08-04T19:38:00.005-05:00

For a week and a half now our house has been back to 4 with the addition of a foster furkid, Mason. He is one of our Cat Haven cats and such a sweetie. He's such therapy for me after losing Simone, he's very affectionate, is vocal and LOVES to cuddle. He's also the man of the house!

I need to take some pictures of him with my digital camera however have been avoiding it so far. Something about the process of taking his picture with my camera (instead of my phone) seems more permanent and I'm not ready to make that change yet.

So here are my camera phone pics of Mason, my foster/therapy cat. One in the chair is at my house, the others are from when I was caring for him at the luv a pet center at Petsmart.

That Damn Cat

2009-07-25T09:25:00.010-05:00

It's been well over 2 weeks since I lost Simone and it feels like yesterday. I decided to start doing some scrapbooking pages of her, but it isn't helping. I did come up with a list of the things that I most loved about her:

She would always talk to my anytime I talked to her or called her name.

She would lay on my lap and "make biscuits" and drool. Always!

She never, ever hissed. Not once.

When she thought the dogs were in her space, she drummed on their heads until they got the point. Few minutes later, she was rubbing up against them to show they were still friends.

She loved to sleep, and was a professional at it. She could sleep anywere at anytime!

She loved to watch hockey with me (go Rangers!) and would lay on top of the TV trying to hit the puck. Until I got the flatscreen, then she sat in front of the tv.

She had to sleep on me, and I'm a log roll sleeper. No matter how much I tossed and turned she would stayed on my back, side, or stomach and sleep.

She didn't run, she hopped, like a bunny.

She loved to steal my rolled up balls of socks from my folded laundry and walk with them in her mouth. I think she thought they were prey.

She would get very VERY high on catnip

She was a great companion during my getaway in the cabin in the Smokies.

She loved to lay down on just PART of a book I was reading, enough for me to stop reading and pet her.

She loved to be brushed and would fight the dogs to be brushed.

She loved to sit with me when I worked on cards (even stamped her own card). I'm so glad I have that card.

I love how she looked at me with a blank look. I really wonder if she was all there sometimes. She was special in so many ways.

Simone is by far not the first pet I have lost in my life, heck not even in the last month, however her loss has hit me the hardest so far. I don't know if it was because of her sweet nature, or how quiet the house has been (even with 2 dogs and a cat) since she has gone, or just the stage I am in my life right now.

Rest in Peace, Simone

2009-07-09T18:37:00.004-05:00

2000 - 2009

I love you.

Who would you want to meet?

2009-07-05T19:39:00.005-05:00

I am a huge fan of the writings of Rosanne Cash - her songwriting, books and articles. Over the past 15 years I have written to her many times and she has always responded. She is a very classy person who shares her life experiences in such a true emotional way. I reread her book of short fiction, Bodies of Water, often. It is a terrific book which encompasses the stories of many of her older songs. In early 2009 she had a series of articles in the New York Times called Measure for Measure as well as many other articles. I last emailed her in November of 2007, not realizing it was just before she was to have brain surgery. As usual she responded, albeit saying she was hoping for better days - at the time her upcoming brain surgery wasn't public knowledge. I would love to get to have a meal with her and just chat about stuff. She's on the top 5 list of people I want to meet.

She lives in Manhattan with her husband Jon Leventhal and children. She considers herself a New Yorker, and you can tell she loves the city by how she talks about it on her website. She likes to post tidbits of things she sees and hears around the city. She calls it "The Incongruous City". These are some of my favorites she has posted:

*************
I was in an elegant restaurant, sitting near an elderly, well-dressed couple and could not help overhearing this comment from the woman to her male companion: "Well, the MOST adventurous people in MY college were the nymphomaniacs who became lesbians." The man merely nodded in silent understanding. I’m not making this up.

*************
A story from my son’s piano teacher: she asked her students to become ‘metronomes’, and to do an informal survey of beats and rhythms in the city. One of her students listened intently and then said, with some disappointment, ‘But--I thought Metronomes were gnomes who lived in the subway."

**************
Because the euro is so strong and the dollar so weak, the city is overrun with foreign tourists right now, all laden down with shopping bags. I see plenty of signs in store windows that say ‘Euros accepted’. I even saw one sign that said, ‘Euros ONLY’. I won’t mention any names. You know who you are, nice antique store. My daughter and I were in Bloomingdales last month, going up the escalator and as we got off, we saw a tall, striking young woman with a thick Brooklyn accent hawking perfume where people were getting on and off the escalator. No one paid any attention to her, so she amped up the volume and, in full Brooklynese, said, "BONJOUR! CA VA! BONJOUR, PEOPLE!"

**************
A car alarm directly across the street from my living room window went off for forty-five minutes before I called 311, the city services hotline. First, however, I taped a note to the window of the car saying, ‘YOUR CAR ALARM IS STUCK! PEOPLE LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD!’. Within 10 minutes of calling 311, a squad car was there, and one of New York’s finest was writing a ticket. I walked across the street. "Hi, I’m the one who called." The officer looked up. "Are you also the one who wrote the nice note taped to the window?" "Yes, I am!" I said. "But I did restrain myself from throwing eggs." The officer told me to call 311 again and have the car towed, since they couldn’t turn it off. I went inside and told my daughter what he said. "But mommy," she said, ‘If you have their car towed, you’ll ruin their day." True. I didn’t call 311 back. The alarm stopped about ten minutes later.

*************
A memory: When I first moved to Manhattan, in 1991, there was a great, legendary dive of a restaurant called Shopsins at the corner of Bedford and Morton Streets in the West Village. A family ran it, and they had about a hundred unbelievably delicious soups on the menu. Mr. Shopsin, the owner and chef, was notoriously bad-tempered and all manner of epithets and abuse came out of the kitchen. His wife took the orders, and his behaviour, with equanimity. She would let you go behind the counter and pour your own coffee after she’d seen you come in a couple of times, but she absolutely would not give up the coveted front table, which sat right in the window, for less than a party of four, even if the entire restaurant was empty. One day I took two of my daughters in for lunch and we ordered. My youngest asked for french fries. Mrs. Shopsin rolled her eyes and sighed and tapped her pencil against the pad. She shook her head. "Don’t piss him off," she said. We forgot about the french fries.

***************
a memory, 1992: I got into a taxi in Soho late at night, raining, and when I got in the taxi the driver crossed himself, floored the gas and ran straight into a parked car.

Nikita's baby pics

2009-05-31T21:03:00.000-05:00

While I was cleaning and reorganizing my stamp room last weekend I came across some old pictures of Nikita. I guess they say a lot about the lil’ nut. My ex and I adopted her from Animal Control when she was maybe 5 weeks old – she was my birthday present 10 years ago. Go forward to today, she has issues with water bowls, likes bathtubs/baths, and doesn’t like to be held. Wonder why.

Furkid update

2009-05-25T15:40:00.001-05:00

There has been a lot going on with the kids since my post about Simone’s latest cystitis flare up. (Poor Simone) She is still on the prescription food. I guess it has been about a month now. All the girls have been drinking out of the drinkwell bowl (neat little fountain type bowl that simulates a faucet) Last week I came home to find very bloody urine on the couch (which is leather), so knew we had a problem. Bigger problem was that Evie had finished a round of antibiotics a couple weeks prior for bloody urine after a UTI, so I couldn’t pin this one on Simone, even after checking both of the and knowing Simone still wasn’t feeling well and was losing weight again. So – to the vet with the urine and the potential culprits.

Simone lost another ½ pound, which is a lot for her. She has gone from 13 lbs to 8 lbs in under a year. Her blood tests and xrays have ruled out everything – she just has idiopathic cystitis. Evie was checked and her urine came back fine – it was Simone’s bloody urine. Because Simone’s mood has changed to the point that I know she isn’t feeling well I have her on pain meds now. I can tell when they wear off. She takes them twice a day and doesn’t even argue – it’s like she knows what it does. Vet told me that I don’t need to bring her in anymore, just call him and he’ll call in whatever I need for her over the phone. She seems a lot happier now with the pain meds. I am going to have to keep her on them.

We have a cat up for adoption at Cat Haven who has the same problem. Like Simone he is the SWEETEST cat there is. I love taking care of him. His condition is not as serious as Simone’s, however his vet has followed the same steps that mine has – just too bad that there isn’t anything left to do.

Speaking of Cat Haven – the most rewarding thing you can do is volunteer. I have been a volunteer firefighter for years (still am a volunteer emergency response team member), and now I am donating my time to the cats. I can’t begin to describe how satisfying and relaxing it is after a long workweek to take care of a group of cats who are homeless and look at you to help them find their forever home. The only sad part of the entire process is knowing that certain cats will have a harder time finding homes. So if you are considering looking for a feline companion – think about this: the older a cat is, the less they are considered in adoption. (which is sad because they are the sweetest – I know this from experience!). Also – for some odd reason, people have something against black cats, so they are up for adoption longer as well.

Something to think about.

Amy Bouquet

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

225-324-7752

Check out my website for cards and next stamp classes:

www.amybouquet.stampinup.net

Check out my blog:

www.4furkids.blogspot.com

Samantha

2009-05-13T19:16:00.010-05:00

Last week was time for my ex and I to let go of our beloved miniture schnauzer, Samantha. Her health had been declining over the past few years, beginning with a form of Parkinsons (tremors), then she had a lot of lipomas (fatty tumors) and evenutally dementia. Because my ex had her primarily, each time I saw her the decline was drastic and so hard for me to see. We still have our sheltie Sarah, who is blind and deaf but in no apparent pain. Age sure is hard on our furkids! Samantha was 14.

Our furkids are our kids. They go on vacation with us, they are our family. I miss Samantha dearly, however she was not the same dog I would bring with me on all my long drives back to Florida. She was the best - a great traveler.

In 2004 we brought the girls (Sarah and Samantha) with us to Disney in Orlando. They relaxed in the hotel while we park hopped for the week with my sister and niece. They refused to walk up the stairs to the 2nd floor (maybe 10 stairs), so we had to take the elevator all the time. Our townhouse had stairs, but apparently they were too good for them when an elevator was available. They embarrased us but kept us laughing. At my family's place Samantha went swimming for the first time and promptly sank. Schnauzers aren't swimmers...

On the way back we stopped in Mobile to refuel and get Chris' beloved Krystal burgers. He got a sack of the cowlips on buns and while he was pumping gas and I was walking Sarah, Samantha was helping herself to some burgers. Chris was yelling at her to stop eating, but she just looked at him and kept eating. The people next to us were rolling with laughter.

She loved sleeping - would refuse to get up in the morning to go out. She was known to sleep 19 hours a day (our work shifts were opposite and she stayed in bed). She had an iron bladder, and loved to sleep under the covers.

I love this stubborn dog, and will miss her terribly.