How Does My Garden Grow

Technically,it's not my garden! But since I live here I am claiming it as my own:) Like having a gardener...who I happen to be married to! My hubby LOVES to make things grow! He plants all the flowers, fruit and veggies on our little homestead! Today as we were walking around checking everything out, he asked when I was going to blog about his garden. Sooo...

Since I took a lot of photos I wanted to share I decided to try making collages out of them with My Digital Studio on my computer. It's a digital scrapbooking and cardmaking program by Stampin' Up! (who else!). A free trial is available if you are interested! But, this post is not about my love of Stampin' Up! 

The top photos are of our little flower area with the Mandevilla, ivy, Amaryllis and Begonias. The bottom photos are of the very swollen buds on the Peony bushes--just ready to burst forth with bloom! The inset is a bloom on a very short peony bush right next to the big one. 

Then on to the food...

The raspberries are blooming and I am so ready for those juicy morsels. On the inset, can you see the bee? The raspberry bushes are full of honey bees at the moment...they are loving it!

The strawberries we transplanted are doing so good! They are very happy in their new home:) Don't they look happy?!!!

Hubby put out 39 tomato plants he started from seed in the greenhouse. He also purchased a few plants that will give us a jump on some early tomatoes. The others will be used for canning, making salsa and pasta sauce.

Check out the spinach. We ate some in a salad the other day. Then their is my favorite--Sugar Snap Peas! Oh, I can hardly wait!

Hubby also has bell peppers, hot peppers, cabbage, onions, collards and eggplant planted. He is still planning to plant beets, green beans, carrots and who knows what else!

I hope you enjoyed my little garden tour!

Kat

Delicate Doilies in MDS

Oh my! I can't believe I did it!!! If you remember, awhile back I took a class on how to use Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio but haven't had much time to practice since. Well, the Challenge for this week on VC Rocks is to use at least four of these colors (I used them ALL):

• Not Quite Navy
• Garden Green
• Elegant Eggplant
• Cajun Craze 
• More Mustard

Not wanting to dig around in my stash to see what I had for this project, I decided to try My Digital Studio! Oh.how.fun!!!

This card was made using:

• Delicate Doilies
• Punch Shapes: Circle, Square, Scalloped Oval, Oval
• Other: Basic Rhinestones and Dahlia

I have a little more work to do on this card before it's perfect but wanted to show it off anyway:)

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It's time again for Thankful Thursday! This has been a good week! 

This week I am thankful for...

#1...Spring! It appears that Spring has sprung in my part of the world:) This week we have had much needed rain but could sure use more. Yesterday it was sunny and in the 60s! The longer days are nice too!

#2...finishing the My Digital Studio webinar series! As I said yesterday, it was really good and I learned a lot! Jackie Bolhuis was the instructor and she did a great job!

Our Great Dane, Beau

#3...figuring out how to get our Great Dane, Beau, to eat. He has been a poor eater since we got him a year and a half ago and is super thin even for a Great Dane. His previous owner fed him "people food" including burgers from the drive-through:( So, we have started putting a can of low sodium soup on his dog food and he eats every. last. bite! Maybe now he will put on some weight:)

My Morning Smoothie

#4...my morning Smoothie! For the last month hubby and I have been drinking a yummy Smoothie for breakfast using Sunwarrior protein powder, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and apples! Since we discovered our food allergies, a lot of typical breakfast foods are off limits so this smoothie has been amazing!

#5...It's only 4 more days till I go to my darling daughter's! I will spend a week with my daughter and granddaughter AND it will be my granddaughter's Spring Break! Lots of fun to be had by all:)

What are you thankful for today?

Kat

My Digital Studio

Last year for Mother's Day I asked for and received the software program My Digital Studio for my computer. It is a scrapbooking and cardmaking program but truly there is so much more you could use it for! How about creating and printing party decorations?!!! Making your own invitations for any event? Creating blog headers? Okay, I can hear you saying, "But I'm just not very creative!" Fortunately for you and for me, Stampin' Up! has what we affectionately call "Download Tuesday"! Wait till you see the hundreds (thousands?) of downloads Stampin' Up! has to offer! I guarantee you will be overwhelmed by the downloads!

For the last several months I have played with the MDS program--made a few cards, a few scrapbook pages, some blog headers but last month my Stampin' Up! upline, Jill Olsen, offered an online MDS class to her downline for $20! That's $20 for four two-hour classes plus homework!!! What a deal! I jumped on it and it was a good thing I did because the class times filled up within just a few hours of the announcement! Today is my fourth class and it has been sooo worth it! 

My first homework assignment was to create a tag...

For the tag I used the Sale-a-bration CD that I got for FREE!

My 2nd homework assignment was to create a scrapbook page with a calendar element. Notice the torn edges on the photo and the two cropped corners! Impressive, right?!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Rocky...in the windowsill trying to get after Beau outside! Very naughty indeed!!!

My third homework assignment just got turned in yesterday!

Card Front

I was to take a card template and make changes to it. 

Card Inside

The inside of the card was blank on the template so I had to create something but with digital stamps it was a breeze!

Card Back

And, of course, I had to personalize it but that wasn't part of the assignment:)

You can download a free trial version of My Digital Studio that will allow you to play with it for 30 days! Then you can purchase the full My Digital Studio for just $19.95!!! This software previously sold for $79.95! If you decide to get the free trial version or purchase MDS and don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please pick me--Kathy Skinner in Oregon!

Well, it's just about time for my class to start so gotta scoot! Have a great day!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

Welcome to Thankful Thursday! I hope you are having a wonderful day and that your weather is sunny and bright! Now, didn't that sound a little Pollyanna ish?!!! We have partly cloudy skies today so have seen the sun periodically throughout the day. But the wind is blowing and it is just plain cold!!! It probably wouldn't be too but if it wasn't for the wind.

So, what am I thankful for today?

#1...I am thankful I didn't have a worse reaction to something I ate at potluck last weekend. I ended up being pretty bad on Sunday but by Monday was much better. We (hubby and me) have decided that I need to either stick with what I brought or don't go. Not going is not an option to me because I love the fellowship so will either take my own lunch or eat what I bring. How would you deal with this situation? 

#2...I am thankful that our taxes will be in the mail to the tax accountant tomorrow morning! I procrastinate so bad on this as does hubby but this year I am going to log expenses, mileage, income quarterly so I don't end up with a mess at the end of the year. I was thinking about software to keep track but not sure what so for now will continue with pencil and paper.

#3...I am thankful for some visits yesterday with special friends--three visits! You just can't have a better day than to be able to visit with wonderful people.

#4...Yesterday was my Happy Stampers Club and it was sooo much fun! I am so thankful I have this group of ladies to spend time with each month! The only thing more fun than creating is helping others create:) Thank you ladies for putting a smile on my face!

#5...I am thankful I got my new Knitting Bag! I picked it up from the Post Office yesterday and as soon as I got back in the car, I ripped the box open to see what it looked like up close and personal! It is absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you Carla for doing such a good job on this project and "hearing" what I was wanting. And thank you to my son for indulging his mother by purchasing the bag for me as an early Mother's Day gift! I am hoping to get pictures taken to show you tomorrow!

#6...I am so thankful I signed up to take a 4 week online course on using My Digital Studio! The class is one day a week, almost 2 hours each class plus homework. I have learned sooo much! I am excited about creating a new blog header with the skills I am learning (it's time, after all, it's Spring)! I have one more class.

Well, that's it for my Thankful Thursday! Leave me a comment letting me know what YOU are thankful for today!

Kat

Five Things Friday

I haven't done a 5 Things Friday for awhile! This is when I just share 5 random things with you. Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily started me on this a few months ago but she hasn't been doing it lately. I guess nothing prevents me from doing a 5 Things Friday anyway! Let's see what I can come up with for today!

#1...I was really disappointed when Downton Abbey ended for the season but just found out that Season Two of Call the Midwives will be starting the last Sunday of this month on PBS:) Whoo Hoo! I did read that Downton Abbey has been approved for a fourth season--thank you whoever you are! Are you a fan of Downton Abbey or Call the Midwives?

#2...I am working on getting all the information together for our tax accountant. I procrastinate on this every year because I hate it! Today I was working on my hubby's business mileage. I should be ready to send it off to our tax accountant by the first part of next week! The mileage would be so much easier if I would do it at the end of each month instead of waiting till the end of the year! Hmmm...maybe I should do an Excel spreadsheet. Do you get your taxes done right away or procrastinate? Any good tips on logging business expenses? Do you have a software program you use to keep track of business expenses?

#3...I am really excited about the class I am taking to learn My Digital Studio. It is 2 hours a week for 4 weeks plus homework. The first class was pretty basic and since I had been using the program some already I knew much of what the instructor was sharing but I figure the 25% she shared that I didn't know was well worth the time spent! I am really looking forward to next week's class:) Digital scrapbooking/cardmaking will never replace sitting at a table with paper, stamps and embellishments but it is an interesting avenue to explore. One of the class members gave a GREAT suggestion: Load the Go to Meeting App on an iPad so you can watch what the instructor is doing on the iPad and work in the MDS2 program on the computer! WOW! I will be doing this come Wednesday! 

#4...To cruise or not to cruise...that is the question! Hubby and I have been somewhat resistant to going on a cruise though we have thought it would be fun. On the one hand, it is an inexpensive way to travel as your room, food, entertainment are all included in the purchase price (tips are extra). On the other hand, it has seemed a bit self-indulgent. Could our money be better spent purchasing something for the house, visiting family/friends, putting more money into retirement savings, exploring possible retirement locations, etc. What are your thoughts? If you had the money, would you go on a cruise? Would it make a difference if you were to cruise with family or close friends? What if we made it a reward for me losing 30 pounds???

#5...I have felt like such a slug since September! Is it never going to end?!!! First it was my food allergies. Fast forward to January and finally food allergies confirmed, my rash went away about mid-month but still working on energy level and immune system. Then we went on holiday to the coast February 12-15 and came home with the flu:( I am still not feeling completely well--lethargic, scratchy throat, stuffy nose! I know I need to get on the treadmill anyway and I do force myself to get the basic housework done but above that, nada, nothing, zip! I keep telling myself that spring is coming and I will be able to get out in the sun and will feel more energetic. It also might help if I remember to take my vitamins:P Any suggestions? 

My "to do" list for today includes:

• Vacuum and mop
• Dust
• Clean the bathroom
• Bake banana bread
• Run the dishwasher and put dishes away

I hope you are having a great day!

Kat

Thankful Thursday

It looks like it's time to make a new Thankful Thursday button--something springy! I am taking a class in how to use My Digital Studio better so hopefully will be able to make great blog headers and Thankful Thursday buttons:) The first class was great and I learned some ways of doing things easier. And don't we love easier?!!!

This week I am thankful for...

#1...So much yummy food to eat! My hubby is a great grocery shopper and has been bringing home LOTS of delicious fresh fruits and vegetables like strawberries, mangoes, asparagus, avocados, pineapple, baby kale, spinach, baby portabello mushrooms and everything you would want to put in a salad. I always feel sooo much better when I eat fresh food:)

#2...Great blog readers! I am so thankful for each and every one of you who visit and leave such nice comments. Thank you!

#3...My wonderful new custom made Knitting Bag that Carla is making:)

#4...The eczema on my elbow is gone. It has plagued me for 4 years but is now gone. For how long I don't know as it has come and gone several times over the 59 years of my life but it is so nice to have it gone for now!

#5...My precious granddaughter who is looking forward to Gramma's next visit on April 1! Sometimes I wish I had more grandchildren but most of the time I am just thankful I have one.

What are you thankful for on this fine Thursday?

Kat

I Did It!!!

I finally got my new Blog Header finished and it debues TODAY!!! I designed it using Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio and I LOVE it!!! The best part was the learning process--learning HOW to do a Blog Header using My Digital Studio and then how to upload it to my blog! Whew! Fortunately Stephanie made a You Tube video showing how to make a Blogspot Header in MDS. Thank you Stephanie!!!


Have a great weekend! Kat