In Honor of Cory R. Mracek

This OPH comfortghan was assembled for the parents of Army Sgt. Cory R. Mracek. Thank you to all those who helped by donating squares and supporting our goal of comfort!

I have had a truly enjoyable day. I spent the morning and early afternoon at a class at my LSS (local scrapbook store). I made a DC case calendar and it is so cute! I am debating if this is still going to be the Christmas gift for the person I intended or if I am just going to keep it for myself. I do have a desk now :).
I also picked up some additional paper to do another covered comp book and looked around at ideas for the altered book I am going to do. I saw a really neat technique that involved purchased lace, fabric glue and really fine glitter. It was beautiful!!! This will definitely make the pages of my book someplace.
The evening is being spent watching the Stanford vs Notre Dame football game while working on hexagons for the group LA4PRR. Oh yeah, and brownies just came out of the oven. It doesn't get much better!

Thankful for What!?!?!

Ok, so it is Thanksgiving and time to list what we are thankful for. I have the usual list and sincerely mean it. My family, a roof over my head, employment and general financial security. I also have some additional things to add to the list.

I am thankful that neither myself or my kids were in the car when the jerk hit it in the store parking lot.
I am thankful that the security camera caught the entire thing on tape including them stopping, getting out and looking at my car then getting back in a driving off.
I am thankful that the police officer making the report finds this sort of thing reprehensible and has a 100% solve rate on hit and runs.
I am thankful that the police have enhancement equipment so that hopefully we will be able to read the license plate of the jerk who hit my car and didn't leave any information behind since there is a clear shot of the back of the vehicle.
I am thankful that the store I was at has copied the video to a disk to give the officer on Monday.
I am thankful that when I called the officer to let him know it was all caught on tape he was even more excited than me.
I am thankful that I have car insurance that will help pay for fixing my car.
I am thankful that said insurance company will go after the jerk that hit my car for the $500 deductible amount for me should they find him.
I am thankful that I have an appointment on Monday morning for the insurance assessment of the damage to my car.

So basically, I am thankful for many things this year. Did I mention that I am thankful for my family? :)

Organized?

I have never claimed to be an organized person. I do claim to try. This work thing is really testing my abilities. I, literally, had a package I was hauling around in my trunk for a WEEK to get to the Post Office. Oh, and get this, I drive right by the Post Office to and from work!!! I am struggling to schedule my time more efficiently and I will succeed, now is just a bit trying.

I have to say that I am really loving the job. I had forgotten how truly enjoyable what I do can be. It is a great ego boost when clients and business associates remember you four years later and tell you how excited they are to have you back! Not quite as great as when my youngest gives me a great big hug and tells me I am the best mom in the whole world, but still very nice.

Mailed to Cheyenne River

These items, including the quilt, were mailed to Childrens Services on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Please contact me if you would like to contribute to this wonderful and needy cause!

New Patterns

I have a friend, Chris Simon, who has just published three different pattern books for crocheted twelve inch squares. I helped test a couple of the patterns so can definitely say they are well written and the squares are GORGEOUS!! Take a look!

http://www.lulu.com/yarncrazy

Enjoy!

Pictures of auction items!!

As promised, these are the items I won in the auction at the Charity Crop. The mini covered comp books were made by Gayle, the full size comp book was made by Sara D. and the pencil box was done by Tina. I absolutely LOVE all of these!!

The Charity Crop

The scrapping group I am part of had their annual Charity Crop and Auction on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005. This was the first one since I have joined and it was a BLAST!! Many members were in attendance so I got to meet new people (well, put faces to names) and see some I hadn't seen in a long time. We had two members who taught fantastic classes. Great job ladies!
In addition to the fun, there was a silent auction of items made by members in order to raise money and several raffles available to purchase tickets. I did not win a raffle, but I did win some of the auctions I bid on. I will post pictures later, trust me, you want to see these!!
Our group was able to, in one night, raise over $2500 for Ronald McDonald house and several of us also brought in items that were on the Ronald McDonald "wish list" such as dishwasher soap, microwave popcorn, etc.

Work and Fun

It is official. I start back to work on Monday. I think that everything is worked out so that I will still be home when my kids are home and also have time off during the week to attend school activities or spend time volunteering. If at any time the arrangement doesn't work for me or my family then the working stops.

I am super excited for this weekend. The statewide scrappers group I am part of it having a Charity Crop. Our selected recipient of funds this year is the Boise Ronald McDonald House. What a great cause. I will get to meet several women I have not had the opportunity to meet yet as well as spend time cropping, shipping (good thing I am working again :)) and taking some fantastic classes. There are also all these wonderful donated items for both auction and raffles. WOW!! I can hardly wait!!!

I had a lot of fun making paper bag books and have been looking at the altered books people make. Six months ago I would have said, "Why?". Now I keep saying, that looks like fun!! I am hoping to pick some brains this weekend of these talented people for ideas and inspiration. A little encouragement would be good as well.