My New Electronic Device!

It amazes me that we all have a lot of electronic equipment that we use daily! From our televisions, cellphones, computers, i-pods, car starters, Blackberry's, laptops......the list goes on! We can all say that these things enhance our lives in one way or another. Whether for entertainment or as a necessity. Well, yesterday I purchased an electronic device to enhance my life. I have had a feeling for the last few years that it was something I would want/need to get. And if you ask my DD's and my DH, they have felt I should invest in this device too!

In my early thirties I noticed I was having trouble hearing low tones....after a hearing test and seeing an ENT Dr. I was diagnosed with otosclerosis in my left ear and had a stapedectomy about 12 years ago. I knew at that time that I might need the same surgery in my right ear some day. So, about 4 years ago I knew I was loosing the low tones in my right ear and had a hearing test....which confirmed what I thought. Well, I just kept putting off the idea of having surgery...until this year. I could tell something else was going on with my left ear and finally went for another hearing test.....I now had loss the ability to hear some of the higher tones in my left ear. The ones that help you understand what is being said, mainly the longer sounds, aaaa, uuuu, oooo, etc. Now I am dealing with two different issues. So... the only way to correct the high tone problem is with this little gadget......

Any of you that has one of these or knows someone who does knows how expensive they are...ouch!!! (little chuckle here!) But, I am looking forward to seeing(hehe, hearing) how much I have been missing in conversations!

I still have to deal with the problem with my right ear, my ENT is on maternity leave till June and I have an appt. set for then. I'm just glad I don't have any higher tone loss in that ear. (Yet!)

I'm writing this to let my family and friends know. And I am okay with it.....the worst part, besides the cost, is not knowing how fast or how much more hearing I will loose.

Thanks for listening!

Yard work and a 70th Birthday!

Yesterday, dh and I went to my dad's farm to do yard work and clean out the dead stuff in the grove!! (A full day of hard work...I'm feeling it today.) Two of my sisters and their families came too! (I'll have pictures of the work and burn later.) We also had a birthday party to go to for a dear aunt.

A family picture(and this isn't everyone)!

(I can remember going to this aunt and uncles wedding and I'm pretty sure red was their color!)

At any birthday party you need cake(s)! When planning their mom's party, my cousins decided to each make her a cake in memory of all the special cakes she had made for them. I think there was a little contest going too!

What a variety.....even a couple of 'dirt desserts'!
(Those are 'gummy' worms laying on top.)

This cousin traced her kids hands and curled the fingers to make these flowers!! What a neat, fun idea for a kids party!

My sisters and I thought this one should win! Phil made this(his wife said 'all by himself')! It was a two layer(note the little round one with the pillars which was on top of the front cake)! It looked like a quilt!

Had to take a couple of quick pictures with the aunts(and a cousin) before we left!

It really was fun to see everyone.....

too much time passes between visits!

Spring-in' into another HHH Friday!!

I can hardly believe it's Friday already!! I've had a very busy week at work(good thing) and have needed(wanted) some relaxing time....I found it last night! DH was at an appt./meeting and I had the house to myself! So I gave this card a try...I can see that I need to get more colors of embossing powders. Anyhoo, I embossed Unity's BIG Half Flower with clear and stippled these CTMH inks(Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, Honey, Blush and Petal) over the flower. Then stamped 'spring' from Unity's Feb. KOM with Sweet Leaf and 'popped' it up!Thanks for looking and I hope it's a great weekend for everyone!!

Hip Hop Thursday!!

This week one of Jeanne's Hip Hop Challenges is a color challenge called "Unity Colors My World". You are to make a card or project using Unity stamps in the colors you would find on a globe - Blue, Green and any neutral color (browns can be called a neutral).

I used the 'Little Sprout' set, and I used all four of the stamps in that set! (I had been wanting to use the stars' stamp!)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Have a Hip Hop Thursday!!

EASTER HAS COME AND GONE....

....so it was time to take Eli's picture off the fridge!

And scrap it before I put it some where safe

and never find it again!

The Monday Challenge this week is to use a

'Woodland Creature'! Unity has many but I hadn't

inked up this cute little deer so he was my choice!

The Unity stamps I used are from the Feb. KOM!

( I have been leaving the journal boxes I put in my

LO's blank so my dd Randi can write her own words

for Eli!)

Well, time to head back to work....and check out how

nice it's getting outside! After yesterday(it felt like fall)

I'm looking forward to warm spring temps!!

Enjoy your day!

Another HHH!!

Thank goodness for HHH!

(Its' my goal to get something done(creatively) each week!)

I had started this LO before I knew Unity's Hip Hop theme

would be 'Mothers'! (Even though this is a grandmother!)

The Unity stamps used on this LO are,

Little Sprout and Lucky Journal Box!

...you have everything you need...

to be everything you want.....

-unknown

Happy Friday!!!

Have a great weekend!

FOR EVER & EVER!

To love and be loved is to feel

the sun from both sides.

-David Viscott, 1974

Taken about February of 1979!

HAPPY EASTER!!

I hope all of you had a memorable weekend

with family and friends!!

I said that my next post would have

something creative to share....well,

here's a hat I knit for Eli!!! We were at

the grocery store yesterday and he was

being so good, I just had to take his picture!!

And it's not often that my family has a gathering

(we have monthly gatherings) and we have everyone present!!

Today we were all there!!

My dad, my four sisters and myself,

our husbands, children, our son-in-law

and our nieces bf! So finally a complete family picture!

(Taken quick before a niece left!)

"Our Family is a circle of strength and love.

With every birth and every union the circle grows.

Every joy shared adds more love.

Every crisis shared makes the circle stronger. "

BLOG WORTHY BABY PICTURES!!

No crafts in this post!!! Just baby pictures!

My next post will have creativity to share!

I was lucky enough to wake up to this....

...Eli playing with one of the bunny's I made

at the knitting retreat last weekend!
What can you say about this!! :)

Just can't get enough .............!!

HAPPY EASTER!

Good (HHH) Friday!!!

Family, Easter and good weather! These are the things I have to look forward to this weekend! A season of renewal!! Do you have your plans? I hope everyone of you has a great weekend!!

It's another Unity Hangover Friday! It's been a crazy week at my office.....not much down time... so it's a quick, simple LO for today!! (Looking at the LO on here now, I'd like to add the word 'love'! Just a thought!)

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,

but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

YEP, I'M A FIRST TIME GMA!!

...so bear with me!! After getting my scrap area organized
I have been motivated to get some LO's done... and Eli is my

subject right now! You'll be seeing a lot more of this little guy!

This LO is for one of Unity's challenges by DT member, Jeanne Streiff! It's called Unity Thinks Green! Make a card or project using Unity stamps that uses something you would find in nature (it can be your images or something else.)

My nature finds are the Unity stamp, Owl Journal Box "Who are you?" and felt flower and leaves by Creative Impressions! Other products used..... Wholesome Love stamp by Unity, paper by Jenni Bowlin, ribbon by Martha Stewart, brad by ColorBok. Vintage buttons and staples from my DH's stapler.

This picture was Eli's Valentine card to his grandparents and aunts & uncles! (I left the journal box blank for Eli's mommy to write her own thoughts for his album! )

Enjoy the rest of your week!!

SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO!!

This large Iris is from my backyard(last yr.)!

??????

........are we done yet?

Crafty Weekend!!

Yesterday I stopped by Unity on my way to help at a

knitting retreat! I picked up the Numbers, Etc that

I won for a Hip Hop challenge on Thursday! And I was

hoping to pick up my order for Lisa Hetrick's new

releases, 'bouncy blue' and 'tickled pink'!!

Yep, they were ready.....maybe I'll be able to try them

out tomorrow...in between projects!! ;)

While visiting Unity I got my first cycle ride of the year!!

Haha! I'm use to a Harley Davidson Road King.....

this little 50cc........hmmmmm....well, it was fun!

Buzzing around New London on salty/sandy roads

was a little nerve racking! (Thanks for the safe ride Gus!)

Never seems to be a dull moment at Unity!

Then today I went back to the knitting retreat to

help with a few classes.....these little Easter bunnies

were last nights project....fast and ca-ute!!

These ladies were so fun...laughter and joking

constantly!! So many interesting yarns and patterns!

It's hard to decide what to work on next!!

Now tonight T and I are going to go relax and hang with friends and maybe do a little dancing at a Fireman's dance.......

Have a great evening!

A Creative Day With HHH!

Yesterday was another inspirational 'Hip Hop' over at
Unity! And the adorable new releases by Lisa Hetrick

are a must have for me....I'm always in need of a baby card.

HHH is always inspirational too!!

Just check out all the Hangover posts!

You can find a list of participants on the Unity blog or here!

This little card looks so much better IRL! It's more of a

creamy yellow than white/off white! I made it for the

3+3=Unity challenge yesterday! The stamps are from

the 'Love is in the Air' set and 'Baby Boy Choo Choo'!

I didn't think I would be able to get this together before I needed to leave for my appointments! But, I did! There is a story behind the kid in the diaper box...this will be a two page LO and this is the beginning!! Yep, just a diaper box and daddy's belt...what a ride!!

Thanks for looking....have a great weekend!!

BABY, OH BABY!! HipHop!

What perfect paper for this challenge and

for this weeks Unity Hip Hop theme!!

Baby, Oh Baby!!

I found it in my stash!! It's from Stemma,

Masterpiece Studios from Mankato, MN!!

And it's called 'Oh, Baby'!!

I'm so glad this weeks theme is 'BABY'!!

I love getting more ideas for Eli's album!!
Well, off to work.....have a wonderful day!!

ANOTHER NEW POST.....

I really hate to share the info about this

Blog Candy give away! It will lower my chances

at winning! LOL But part of the deal for getting

in on the drawing is to post about this fantastic

candy. There are already over 400 comments.

Karen at Crafty Goings On , is going to do

a random drawing for this set of Copic markers!!

Just thought I'd tell ya'! ;)

Recovery Day!!

One nice thing about having a day off after having the

stomach flu, (for me) is that I tend to get a lot done!

Laundry, ironing, organizing and even some crafting!!

And the day's not over....but at least the flu is!!!

Another card for my stash!! (Unity April KOM)

Thinking....Spring Cards!!

Lots of birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate....

this is my start on the pile of cards I'll need!!

Used Unity's new April KOM, Basic Grey paper, Copics and misc.!