THE PARTY'S OVER......

Well, today was our last day at summer school here in Missouri, and we are packing up and preparing for departure tomorrow morning.  It's sad, because Jan and I have really made some good new friends.  We had our "Graduation Banquet" tonight and got all dressed up.  Our art class (water colors) had a display of our artwork for all to see.  There were some gorgeous works of art on the board, but, alas, mine was not one of them.  My skills in watercolor are just not up to par yet.  I took some pictures of some of my paintings, and I'll post my pics when I get home on my own computer. 

We will be flying back to Nashville tomorrow, and we'll spend the night with my daughter and her family and then head towards home by car on Monday.  I am tired, because I'm just not used to getting up at 6:30 every morning and trudging down to breakfast and then right off to class, so it will feel great to sleep in my own bed again.  We were only given 1 flat pillow on our beds, so on the first afternoon, I went to the dollar store and bought a cheap pillow, which I will just leave here, but it sure helped with the sleep!  I will touch back with you when I get home.  Love to all, Judy

I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT AGAIN!

Hello All,
      This week my sister and I are attending summer school at Cottey College in Nevada, MO, which I mentioned in my last post.  Let me tell you,  we are having a BALL!  We're living in a student dorm, eating in the dining hall and going to classes twice a day - just like I did in my college years.  Instead of living two to a room down a long hallway, we live in individual suites with 6 double rooms, a living room, a dining room, kitchenette, and large bathroom area.  We are in the Wisconsin Suite - all the suites are basically the same and all are named for states.  The Rec room with the TV and vending machines is right below us, and the large dining area is right above us.  The food is absolutely marvelous, and I'm going to put on the "freshman 15 (lbs.)" all in one week, I'm sure.  LOL! 

The two classes I'm taking are Landscape Water Color 1 and Classic Suspense Films, where during each class we watch an old black and white film made in the 40's and critique it.  Janet, my sister, is taking Hawaiian Quilting and Floral Water Color - both rather hard.  I was supposed to take the quilting class too, but I just decided to walk in to the water color class and join it - much more fun.  We have really had wonderful weather - so far not even a hint of tornadoes, which were really creating havoc right before we left to come here.  I've taken quite a few pictures, which I will post when I come back home

I'm not used to getting up at 6:30 A.M. and get ready for breakfast and class, so fatigue usually catches up with me in the afternoon.  Tonight I'm opting out of a presentation on Cottey's Bachelor of Arts program to go to bed earlier than usual - after I've had a glass of wine (or two).  Cottey College is really a lovely, small college for women.  It started as just a 2 year college, but recently started adding the B.A. programs.  Their maximum enrollment is only just under 400 students, so the classes are small and every girl gets a lot of individual instruction.  Apparently their Fine Arts School is really good in dance and music, and all the student get to travel overseas at least once while they're there.  I am really impressed with the atmosphere here, and I think it's a wonderful opportunity for a young woman to get a good education in a peaceful learning community.  If anyone wants to learn more about this wonderful school, go to the Cottey College website.  I will post more later in the week.  Love to all, Judy

I WILL BE IN MISSOURI ALL NEXT WEEK

I will be away from my computer, off to Cottey College in Missouri to take some "fun" classes with my sister for a week.  I'm going to be taking Hawaiian Quilting and Famous Murder Mystery Movies next week.  I had signed up for Scrapbooking and Water Color Painting, but, alas, I signed up too late for either one of these and had to settle for my third choices.  Oh well, the early bird gets the worm.  I have one more day to pack (Sunday), and tonight I'm studying because I have to teach Sunday School tomorrow.  I am trying really hard not to get stressed over this whole thing.  My sister is the one who really wanted to go, and I said I would go with her, even though we have to stay in the college dorms and eat in their cafeteria. 

All my Graphic 45 "stuff" has finally arrived for my project, but it will have to wait now until I get back.  Sorry about that, but it can't be helped.  I'm taking my Kindle, so I'll try to post some on my blog while I'm gone.  Wish me luck.   Judy

HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT THE GRAPHIC 45 PAPER I'LL BE USING IN MY PROJECT

This paper is so great!  It's called "French country".  I'm going to try to get with it sometime this week, because I'm going to be going out-of-town next week. 

MY MOTHER'S DAY ROSE

My sweet daughter, Laura, in Florida sent me this lovely miniature pink rose for Mother's Day.  It was such a lovely suprise, and, hopefully I can do it justice, as they do need a lot of water.  I have a tendency to let plants in pots get too dry, and miniature roses really drop their leaves when that happens.  Here in Tennessee, we can actually plant them in the ground, but I'm going to try my best to keep this one going.  It's loaded with pretty pink buds!

NEW GRAPHIC 45 PROJECT COMING SOON!!

I'm so excited!!  I have a new Graphic 45 project coming up that I think you're really going to love - at least I hope you will.  I had to order my paper tonight, and I should get it over the week-end, so next week I can hopefully film episode one.  It's made with a tablet of 8" x 8" paper, so find a tablet that you like, and make it with me.  You will also want some decorative chipboard, a few sheets of transparencies, and some matching ribbon to use in a bow-type closure.  It's a small "Notebook", and I'm going to use Graphic 45 French Country paper line in the 8 x 8 size.  Get your supplies and work along with me!

I FINALLY GOT THE MINI-ALBUM LID DECORATED. HAVE A LOOK!

I hope you enjoy this short video of how I decorated the lid for the mini-album I made last week. It wasn't a lot, because the paper didn't need it. Also, I think I've finally figured out a good way to organize all my Cricut cartridges, and it takes up less space in my craft room. Let me know what you think.

THE MIRACLES OF MODERN MEDICINE

Being an R.N., I am constantly amazed at the miracles that take place daily in the treatment of patients, who a few years ago would have died before treatment could even begin.  My brother-in-law is the perfect example.  Yesterday his heart literally stopped 5 times, and it was started back into sinus rhythm.  Today, he is practically ready to come home from the hospital, although he is going to have to stay a few more days for observation.  The prayers of many were with him, and I believe that helped too, but ultimately, it was the miracles of modern medicine and good doctors that saved him.  I am so thankful for doctors who are there when they are needed, and for the nurses who patiently work quietly and competently in CCU without upsetting a resting patient, but letting the patient know that he is in good hands, so he can relax and let the professionals do their jobs.  I am also thankful for friends and relatives who stayed with his spouse to comfort and calm her.  Also, they convinced her that she needed to go home and get some sleep, rather than sit in the CCU waiting room all night, accomplishing nothing.  It was a rough 24 hours, but it appears the worst is over, and now the weeks of cardiac recovery is about to begin.

IF YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE A HEART ATTACK, IT PROBABLY IS.

Today my brother-in-law, age 70, had a heart attack, and my husband saved his life with rapid action.  My husband's brother had been weed-eating around his yard (He lives right across the street from us), and he came over to talk to my husband, who was working in his wood shop nearby.  His brother sat down on a chair and, in the middle of a sentence, he mentioned that he wasn't "feeling good in his chest" and felt sick to his stomach.  Immediately, my husband said "Let's go, I'm taking you right to the hospital."  His brother said he wanted to go take a shower first, but my husband said, "No, we're going right now.", and they did.  That saved his life, because by the time they got to the hospital, he couldn't even get out of the car, and my husband had to run inside and ask for help.  They took his brother right back to the cath lab, and located the blockage immediately.  Fortunately, it took just one stint to open it back up, but they had to shock his heart 6 times while he was having the procedure done!  We had a very scary afternoon, thinking about all the bad things that might have happened if my husband hadn't been around, or if his brother had really gone upstairs to take a shower.  Under both circumstances, he would have lost his life!  One thing, though, my husband was told by the doctor at the ER that in a case like this, ALWAYS call 911 - don't drive the person to the hospital yourself.  The emergency responders are much more able to take care of cardiac arrest, should it occur before you get to the hospital.  Both men were lucky today, and it looks like no major heart surgery is going to be needed. 

A WEEK-END FULL OF RAIN

Yesterday my sister and I had planned to spend our Saturday afternoon touring the Dogwood Arts Knoxville "Mansions" and seeing their lovely gardens.  The dogwoods, azaleas, and all sorts of spring flowers are in full bloom now, and they have been gorgeous!  Unfortunately, we were rained out.  The weather was so rainy and messy that we knew we wouldn't be able to get any good photos of the flowers- so we decided to go to the movies instead and stuff ourselves with buttered popcorn and diet cokes.  The movie wasn't so great, but at least we were comfortable and dry.

Overnight we had some really bad thunderstorms, so by 6:30 A.M. I was wide awake hoping that we wouldn't loose power (we didn't).  I had to teach our adult Sunday school class this morning, so there was no chance to lay out of church and stay warm under the covers.  It has finally stopped raining, but now the day is over, and it's time to go to bed.  I hope the sun comes out tomorrow.  We're having such a wet spring!