Icicles Galore

Man, awoke early for my surgery to find the ice storm really did get here, dropping 1/4 to 1/2 inch of freezing rain during the night. The temperature stood at 19 degrees with a wind chill of 9 degrees. Our back drive and patio looked like a skating rink, as did the street out front. It took about 30 minutes to get the car doors open, then another 30 minutes of defrosting with lots of scraping to get the ice off enough to see. It took 45 minutes to drive the 6 treacherous miles to the surgicenter. It got to about 30 degrees during the day (not much melting)then back to 25 this morning with freezing fog. But this afternoon it was 58 degrees as I came home from work and will be 70 degrees by Saturday. This Texas weather sure is crazy. I know all of you that live north of us think this is nothing, but believe me....it brings everything to a standstill around here. All the schools were closed and the government offices delayed opening until 10 a.m., but not the surgicenter, they started at 7 a.m. as usual. The doctor did a Rhizotomy of 3 of my lumbar discs (both sides) and an injection to the left SI joint. Joy, Joy, Joy, I am free of lower back pain, now if we can just get this bursitis out of the right shoulder, I will feel like a new person. I might even feel up to riding on the motorcycle again. I sure hope so as I miss the rides we used to take. I get another deep massage on the arm tomorrow hoping to hurry this along to recovery. I thank all of you for your concern and prayers. Just wanted to make a page of the icicles hanging from the roof (as we so seldom see them). My girls curled up and stayed close together to stay warm all day yesterday and today. I used CJS' kit called Baby It's Cold Outside for this photo I took yesterday morning as we were trying to open the frozen car doors. LOL! More later y'all! Luv, Mat

Baby it's cold!!!!

We are having a blustery, icy, cold day today with the temps steadily dropping into the lower 20's. Already 140 flights cancelled today and numerous school closings. I worked from home so I got to be in front of the fire all day. Oreo curled up here beside me and totally covered her face. Thought the photo was cute so made a page for her using an older kit of CJS' Creations called Winter Blues. Chat later y'all, got to put more wood on the fire and check on the bread! Luv, Mat

Cats are so very Curious

Brrrr one of those blue northers came through overnight dropping temperatures more than 50 degrees. It hit 81 yesterday and supposed to make it to 45 today, not sure it will get there with this cold, cold north wind that is blowing so hard. We have built a fire and just cozying in today. I finished all my chores including paying the bills so thought I'd play a little with some wordart. I am still in the early learning stages, but this is my first attempt. I used a freebie quickpage by Sooze (you can find a link to her blog on the right here) and a recent photo of Oreo watching water fill the basin for the first time. She was so curious about it, but as the basin filled, she kept inching backwards until I turned the faucet off. Then when I let the water out, she really had a good time watching it drain. Cats are so entertaining...love them to death. Anyhow, since my bursitis is giving me fits, guess I better leave this computer alone for awhile. Going back to the fireplace and watch some movies, have a pot of homemade soup on and will make some cornbread for dinner later. Whatever you do today, make some memories and have fun doing it. Chat again later y'all! Mat

Happy Birthday Miss Scarlett

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my friend Judy, also known as Jude, but lately and most affectionately as Miss Scarlett. She keeps her Tennessee veranda stocked in the spring, summer and fall with Mint Juleps for all us visiting "sisters" and during those chilly wintry months she brings us into her parlor for hot toddies. A true southern tradition by a true southern belle and her hubby Rhett! The 22nd is your special day and I hope it is a fantastic one. I hope this surprise is a nice one for you, I created it with kits that I have had for at least a year...Friendship Rose by Jannisscrap Designs and Friendship Kit by CJS' Creations. Also Miss Doodle provided me the photo that I made B/W to fit the scheme. I know you like the soft pastel colors and I am sending you my favorite, yellow roses. I truly value your friendship! Have a terrific birthday! Luv, Mat

Love is Always Forever

Got this gorgeous new FREE kit by CJS Creations called Always & Forever (click on the blinkie link on the right) and had some new closer up photos of my "girls" so just had to make this page. I made a couple of QP's for CJS' Creations page and decided to use one of them. Hope you like it!

My office computer died last week and I have been using my laptop. Since it was a holiday today with no mail or bank services, I took the day off to search for a new computer, bought one and just got home from delivering it to my office. Needless to say, next couple of days should be fun with transitioning everything back to a PC from my laptop (like it was from my old PC to the laptop, what a nightmare).
Hope you all had a great weekend (and if you had today off too) and that you have a terrific week ahead. Chat later as I am about tired out for this day. More next time y'all! Luv, Mat

Farewell Jimmie

June 11, 1937-January 4, 2009

My friend Jimmie passed away on the 4th from COPD complications. She and her husband Russell were motorcycling and camping buddies (since 1993). We loved to go for BBQ dinners together and were daily e-mail communicators. Jimmie was totally deaf and had some problems with relating to others that were too impatient with having to speak slowly (and many times repeating) so that she could read lips. She loved riding on that motorcycle with Russell. She had the best sense of humor (she loved to harass Mike when we camped) and when she finally learned how to use e-mail, we shared many jokes daily. She was also an animal(cat of her own)lover and loved my photos of my "girls". She had come to our home shortly after we found MzKitty, then again shortly after Pumpkin adopted us. Even though she was ill and mostly confined to home the last 6 months or so, she was determined to see our new home. I am so happy she got to visit us in November. She had a terrific Christmas with all her children (4), grandchildren (5) and great grandchildren (9)and to see in 2009! My last e-mail from her is dated 1-2-09 wishing me a wonderful New Year. I will miss you dearly Jimmie, but I know you are now able to breathe easier and hear the birds and angels and communicate with your family in heaven. Thanx for watching over us from above. Mike and I extend our sympathies to your husband of 28 yrs, Russell, all your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, your sisters and brother and your multitude of friends.!

Meet Maithili

I call this page Mother's Love, Father's Pride and Grandma's Joy! I have some pictures of my boss' granddaughter that I wanted to share with you. This is Maithili (My-thili), she was born 12-15-08 weighing in at 7 pds 2 oz and 20 inches long. Look at all her hair. When I first saw her she was less than 10 hours old. These are photos taken at the hospital and the day she went home. Grandma, Radha, Mama, Lakshmi, and Dad, Deepak, are so very proud. They are the couple Mike and I went to India for their wedding in January of 2006. Lakshmi was 10 yrs old when I went to work for her mother. Now she is a doctor, wife and mother! I did not work today because of the icy weather so I tried some different things with my PS program in collaging these photos. I used a frame from Attic Treasures Background Frames and the WordArt is by Jayprem. Gotta go check on my chili, chat later y'all. Mat

Brrrrr somebody left the door open...

Man, we hit 84 degrees yesterday and overnight someone up north left the doors open, this morning the wind chill is 21 degrees with the forecast of freezing rain later this evening and tomorrow. Welcome back to work!!! Ugh!!! The wind is howling and rattling windows upsetting my "girls". I put a brisket and a pot of beans on for dinner, house is clean, clothes are washed and put away....so....I get to play with my scrapping. Yippeeeeeee!!! My sister and BIL sent this photo collage of Ruby's first day, that her Uncle Jeff created, to me and I just had to make a page to show off his handywork. He took the photos and made the beautiful collage. I just framed it with a frame from A Piece of the Past by 2MrsSumners, a paper frame by Attic Treasures, Vintage Lace background and frame of lace by CJS' Creations and some paisley highlights from Designs by Donna's Paisley kit and the lettering is Old English. I kind of like the vintage look all this gives the lovely photo. Just look at those little rose petal lips and the clear eyes and tiny fingers....she looks so perfect. Congratulation Jason and Christina on another lovely daughter. Jeff you do lovely work and Jim & Kathy, thanx for sharing all the photos. Love to all....later...I am off to play some more. Later y'all, Mat

Sisters

I did this page for my sister Kathy of both her granddaughters. Jade was about 3 days old and Ruby is about 24 hours old. They look so much alike. I think Jason (daddy) took the one of Jade and Uncle Jeff took the one of Ruby. I used CJS' Creations kit called Fun Kit.

This photo by Uncle Jeff was so amazingly sweet, I did nothing with it but put a frame around it from CJS' Creations Cute Kit. Ruby was lying in Grandpa's hand. She looks so "girly" in her frilly dress. Will try putting up some more pages later as I keep getting really great photos from Jeff. Later y'all...Luv, Mat

Look what I got.....

Just had to scrap this real quick, loved the photo of Jade and Ruby. Looks like she is really proud huh? Jade was 2 on December 15 and Ruby was born on December 31st. Their uncle Jeff took this photo and sent it to me. Will have more later. Got a dinner engagement got to run off to now. I used several CJS kits on this one, Frames & Bonus, For Gerri, For the Men and Just About Anything for Anybody! Thanx ladies for the awesome kits. Later y'all, Mat

Presenting Ms Ruby Grace

What a way to end the old year and bring in the new....My sister Kathy, her hubby Jim and their son Jason, daughter-in-law Christina and big sister Jade welcomed Ruby Grace into this world at 4:30 p.m. on 12-31-2008. She weighed in a healthy 8 pds, 13 oz and 22 inches in length with all her fingers and toes. Big sister is surely impressed with her. Mama was in labor from midnight the 30th so was about worn out. My sister is so happy to be a grandma again. She sent these first photos to me just prior to midnight giving us something else to be really thankful for in 2008.
Mike and I saw the new year in together and today have been busy transforming our home from a Santa's wonderland back to an everyday home. TG it is all done and packed away for another year. Hope all had a marvelous and safe New Year. Am so tired, going to take a hot shower and veg out in front of the boob tube for awhile. Chat with y'all later. BTW I used CJS's kit called Magical Sherbert. The colors just seemed perfect for Ruby's first photos. You can find all their kits at the blinkie on the right and best of all...they are all FREE! Later..Mat