Life With Jules, and other stuff

Or red, or yellow, or blue, etc… For today, I thought I would just share some pics of one of my favorite little critters: the FROG!   Starting at the top (Clockwise): Kermit the Frog, red-eyed tree frog, “Just Hangin’ Around”, tree frog that was inside the door of my gas tank (delivery truck), tree frog, Michigan J. Frog. Did you know that FROG stands for F ully R ely O n G od???

Well, not an edible one anyway! My sister has been pushing for us to be able to sell “Birthday Cakes” out of our shop. We get about half dozen or so orders each year and so it appears that there isn’t a demand for them. My sister’s reasoning is if we can get them in the display periodically and deliver them once in a while, word of mouth will do the rest. I wholeheartedly agree! I had the pleasure of delivering this “Birthday Cake” today: View Full Album

Just a quick post to let you, my readers, know that my grand-nephew was born yesterday afternoon (August 24, 2010). Please help me welcome Justin James Barnhardt to the world: View Full Album The handsome fella holding him is my nephew and his daddy, of course!

Yeah, I have neglected this blog a little bit. I am trying to get my revision completed and turned in to both readers. I have done a little stitching on the Christmas Design SAL, but will show pics when I finish the section I am working on. I did go to one of our thrift stores recently and purchased several OLD magazines. Here are some pics:   Starting with the top picture and working clockwise: Leisure Arts, Dec 1988 Leisure Arts, Feb 1989 Cross Quick, Premier Issue 1988 Just Cross Stitch, Sep/Oct 1988 Country Handcrafts, Autumn 1993 Cross Stitch & Country Crafts, Jan/Feb 1989 Cross Stitch & Country Crafts, May/Jun 1988 Cross Stitch & Country Crafts, Jan/Feb 1988 All were 50 cents a piece! Other than that, my revision, and working 6 days a week, not much else happening in my life. I would also like to introduce you to Justin James Barnhardt! He is the newest addition to our family and my grand-nephew. Born on August 24, 2010. My sister is the prou

Here are the latest pictures in the “Orange Blossom” composition I have been working on. They are a bit later than usual but only because the changes are a little more slow now. They are starting to slowly change from green to orange in color: View Full Album That’s all folks!

When I was a kid growing up in Michigan, my grandma had a dog named George. He was a lot of fun to be around. We would dance and play and mostly just hang out together. He slept in his pen in the side yard of her house, unless it was just too cold, then he was allowed indoors. These pictures were taken one day using my Kodak 110mm Instamatic camera. He generously posed for me, lol. This picture was taken at Lake George, MI at my grandma’s cottage. I loved that lake! In the picture are me, George, and a boy from across the street (Bobby). Sometime in the late 1980s (I think), George passed away. He had some kind of cancer. In 1993, he was reunited with my grandma and I am certain they are just loving one another again. Georgie Porgie Puddin and Pie Kissed the girls and made them cry When the boys cam e out to play Georgie Porgie ran away.

I got Emerald when she was around a year old from some good friends in San Diego. Actually, it was my then-husband Pete who adopted her for us and I eventually kept her when we divorced. We had five cats at the time so I kept 3 and he kept 2. Anyway, Emmykins (as I called her) was my travel buddy. I moved around several times after the divorce and she always sat right there next to me in the vehicle. She traveled to Las Vegas, Flagstaff (AZ), DeWitt (MI) and finally Zephyrhills (FL). In 2008, my Emmykins became very ill and her kidneys began to shut down so I decided the best and humane thing was to let her go to the Rainbow Bridge. It was a very hard decision since she was 17 years old and had been my constant companion for almost her entire life. I decided to create a small scrapbook in her honor shortly after her death (click on the picture to be taken to a slideshow):  I do have to explain some of the pics: I pulled the drawer open and found her there asleep; the one where I am hol

I have been living in a small retirement community called Zephyrhills (FL) since June 2006. When I first arrived here I noticed that there were virtually no LNS’s near me. I have made mention before as to the lack of an LNS and having to drive more than an hour away to either Silk Road Needle Arts in St. Petersburg or Needle Craft World in Kissimmee, which I don’t mind, but today I decided to explore a local quilt supply shop in Dade City . Now, Dade City is about 10 minutes north of me and I am very familiar with the town since my dad grew up around this area. In 2006 I called and inquired about cross-stitch supplies and the response was they do not carry anything. Today I popped in and took a look at the fabrics they have. As I made my way through the shop I noticed a huge-ish selection of FLOSS!!! Yippee! This will save me a trip to the other stores and internet shopping for some items. They do carry Weeks Dye Works, Presencia, some DMC, EdMar (Iris, Lola, etc), and a few others.

Well, today started out like any other day, but ended wearily! First of all, I was working on the baby sampler last night and found that I miscounted in a huge way! Mr. Frog WILL be paying a visit this weekend, D'oh!  I still haven't taken a picture for the TUSAL, but will over the weekend when things calm down a bit. That's the next topic: My dad picked me up from work around 3:15 pm today and said "Take me to Tampa General". Apparently he has been having a pressure feeling on his chest (left side, non radiating) for several days now. Of course he won't tell anyone when he is not feeling well unless it's real bad (i.e. the massive heart attack in 2008 that required a quad bypass). Soooo, I drove him to the ER where his doc told him to go, bleach splashed clothes and all. Let's just say that my blue t-shirt and blue pants are now a bit more on the purple/pink side in certain areas, lol! That's what happens when cleaning buckets with bleach water,

After much thought, I decided to join this fun endeavor! Maybe it will prompt me to spend more time on my photography, especially now that I am wrapping up my MA Thesis. Maybe it will entice more people to follow this blog and offer feedback on my photographic skills. Maybe it will just be fun! So, here's my first ever entry for Tuesday's Show & Tail : SANDY She likes to stretch out when she sleeps Or strike a pose if she dares She's always crawling into things, and under as well She can sleep so sound and peaceful Her best buddy is a DOG! Joey is my neighbor's... And of course, she is a Spartan!!! I adopted Sandy from my vet about a month after I lost one of the funnest kitties I have ever owned (I will post more about that one next time). What's funny about Sandy is that her name was originally "Mickey James". When my dad saw her for the first time he said "Sandy" and it stuck! She's been a joy and a pain, but I love her just the same.

Sibling to the flower sniffer (below) Grandma calls these two Holly and Molly. Muffin and one of her babies  I think this little one has the right idea: take time to stop and smell the flowers! Max(ine), I love your eyes!!!

First off: WELCOME to my newest followers!!! I appreciate you all hopping by every now and then to visit me in my little world. ************************************************************************* We’ll start with the cat! Sandy can be such a handful at times. Then there are those times where she is just too cute for her own good. When I got home from work Monday afternoon, I walked in and found this: Yeah, that’s my Sandy laying on her back trying to stay cool! My dad said she stayed like that most of the afternoon. Well, I’d say so since it is just about right under the ceiling fan and a nice breeze from the a/c blowing her way.  As for the new start – it’s that baby sampler I have been mentioning. My nephew’s son is due on or around Aug 22nd. I say on or around because even though she is scheduled for a section, the baby may come early anyway. I am getting rather excited to meet the newest member of the family! Anyway, the sampler is one that I dreamed up!  No, rea