Inchies + First Catch + Words to Live By

I love Hero Art's challenge for this week...create an inchie (1" square) to use alone or on a project. I chose to make 4 of them & place them on a patriotic card for the 4th. Jon, Emma & I went fishing last weekend & Emma caught her first fish...a bluegill (daddy helped a little).

She enjoyed catching a fish, but ending up liking the "reeling" part the best. I think she is getting practiced up for those day-long trips daddy takes.... :)

And some shots from a local park...love this one of Haley & Em...

This last picture is of a sculpture that stands at the edge of the park's pond. It is inscribed with one of my favorite sayings...Words to Live By (in full length below).

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles,of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full? They agreed that yes, it was. The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up every-thing else. "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, house, or car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff." "If you put the sand or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important."* Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life.

• Play with your children.
• Take time to get medical checkups.
• Take your partner out dancing.
• There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter.
• Set your priorities, the rest is just pebbles and sand.
• May there always be work for your hands to do;
• May your purse always hold a coin or two;
• May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
• May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
• May the hand of a friend always be near you;
• May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. (An Irish Blessing)

"Catch" you later.

Goodbye Bridge + Ray of Hope

Went to the bridge that is on the way to the family farm where I grew up. It collapsed in the local flooding almost two weeks ago. The Turkey River has run below the base of this bridge for as long as I can remember. I recall the water getting very high before, but never to this magnitude. The bridge has always been strong, holding the precious cargo that traveled on it. No more. The bridge buckled right in the middle...here are pictures:

I am feeling very sentimental right now...wondering how long it will take for this bridge to be repaired or replaced. My brother drives over this every day to his job...my friends travel this way to their church service every Sunday. I have a feeling that it may take a long time to fix the damage the rushing flood waters created - a long time for the bridge, the homes lost, & the lives affected by the harshness of human nature. It will take a long time to heal...

I got some great shots of the family while at the bridge...had to have a piece of "my bridge" to take home with me.

And my favorite...my ray of hope. I believe good things will come. :)

Have a good weekend. "Catch" you later...

2ways Submission

I worked on my submission for the 2ways challenge going on at Hero Arts. Today we ran to swimming lessons, hung out at aunt Gwyniepoo's (Emma's nickname for Gwyn) for four hours until it was time for Haley's piano lesson. While the girls became couch potatoes & watched Cars & Chicken Little, I completed both the layout & card below: Micki's picture was taken by KH Photography & there is a copyright release on the photo. Love that picture of her...she is a sweet & intelligent gal & is attending college this fall for elementary education. Weather here has finally come around and we are experiencing temperatures in the 70's. Very nice indeed...but I am not jumping up & down about it. I am still so saddened by the loss that my favorite scrapbook store in Iowa City has experienced. Reminisce has felt the full impact of the Iowa River flooding it's walls. This is a picture of the Coralville Strip which Reminisce has called home for many years:

First two photos were taken by http://www.press-citizen.com/. Third picture was taken by a Reminisce employee. You can see more pictures & updates by clicking HERE. Please keep the owners & employees of Reminisce in your prayers.

"Catch" you later.

Good Fishing + Storm Clouds

Jon was fishing in South Dakota this past week & had some pictures to share. Caught some nice walleye & two northerns. Storms hit the area frequently...you can see he's wearing a rain suit below...guess it rained 5 minutes before this was taken & then rained again shortly thereafter.

I am going to keep this short & sweet tonight...I am planning on working on this week's challenge at Hero Arts tomorrow. The challenge is to figure out a way to use a stamp 2 ways. We'll see if I can come up with something...might be challenging!

Have a good night & "catch" you later!

Just Us + Inspire Entry

It was just Em & me today at the homestead. I had thought that she would be getting tired of just me here (daddy is on a fishing trip), but she seems to be liking our one-on-one time together. Today we played on the "park" and I even climbed up into the tower & played princess. Oh such fun! I need to do it more often....get away from the computer & keep the camera inside...just play with the girls. Not just play with them...but get right down on the ground and dig in. Help them decide who gets to be the princess for the day. I need to do that. I will do that. I was able to complete my "inspire" project for the Hero Arts challenge. I didn't have a card for dad, so thought I would make him one. I felt inspired by my Pottery Barn catalog (who doesn't feel this way) when I came across patio furniture in blues & browns. You can see it HERE.

Here are some pics of Em in the tower & on the swing:

I also wanted to include a picture of Jon with a crappie he caught on the Mississippi not too long ago. He didn't want me to put it up because he didn't think the fish was "big enough." I think it is great & wanted to include it (plus - I haven't fished in ages!).

Looks good, doesn't he (I'm talking about my hubby). :) I was pretty impressed that he set up the camera all by himself. He is using my old point-and-shoot...it's still working good for fishing trips.

Gotta get to bed...."catch" you later.

Looking for Inspiration + Link to Stamp Giveaway

I am really trying to get to my creating this week, but so far I haven't had time. Hero Art's challenge this week: create something that inspires you. I took a couple pictures of some things that I would like to use...now I need to take the time to create. I want to make something with this: and these tags from my all-time favorite clothing (Life is Good):

I finally finished this project that was part of Ali Edward's Weekend Creative challenges (took me a long time to find the butterfly punch from Martha Stewart Crafts & then it took me a long time to complete it):

And now for the blog candy...go HERE to see some cute stamps from Justjohanna that Pokietoe's Corner blog is giving away. Definitely go check them out!

Check back to see what I come up with for this week's challenge!

"Catch" you later! (oh...and good night!)

Love this tin!

I actually stayed up a bit tonight to complete another entry for the HA Gift Challenge. Here it is... Wanted to make something for Jon for Father's Day (just from me) and this tin had his name written all over it. These cocoa tins are from Target & I had made gifts from two tins last Christmas. Filled them with candy & they seal real tight. Works! Goodnight all!