Monday, December 1, 2008

I made a snow man. Yes...you read that right! Me. well...ok me and Matts niece Emma.

there wasnt that much snow but we did what we could!

complete with dogfood buttons and pinecone hair!

Monday, November 24, 2008

MASKS!! LOVE 'EM!!!!!



not your typical "Halloween" or "masquerade" but the new ones by Tim Holtz!


If you don't know what I'm talking about..its like a clear piece of thin plastic with forever "sticky note" glue on one side! you put them down on paper and ink around the mask making kool designs! i made one big sheet and cut it into quarters.






I wanted to make a card...my new brother in law just got engaged!!!!!


i used then distress inks..started with peeled paint (green) then moved the mask and put on brushed corduroy (lt brown) then moved the mask again and used weathered wood (blue).


Each layer added more dimension...it was hard to stop! then i had a heart stamp that i used with fired brick (red) and accented it with distressed stickles (another FUN discovery!).



I didn't really like how it turned out so i just stamped the heart, added some more flourishes and sprayed with gold shimmer. I'm soooo glad I had time to play today!!!

turned another one into a birthday card for my mother in law...with some grungboard!!



Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Whoo HOOO!!!!!!

I have a Scrap room!!!!! ok I can finally see the floor!

that sounds more like it! when I moved, everything kind a got "put" in the room...then I tried to find this and that and make the invitations and some ATC's and whatever....I totally LOST the whole thing. So (in Michigan) fire arm deer season starts on November 15. being married to a hunter...he left friday afternoon. I had 5 glorious days to Play!!! yea me!!!! i decided that i needed a place to "play" so ..i looked for the table....then remembered that i had a stool in there ....somplace....I remember having a radio too....hummm...so i took everything out...spent 4 days putting it back together and purged a TON of stuff out! I really am good at organization, I just dont always follow my own rules! or remember to.......!



I am really embarrased to post the "BEFORE" pictures...maybe it will help remind me to keep it clean! a little public humilation goes a long way!!!





Tuesday, November 4, 2008


WOW! we did it again!!!

32 ladies and we raised over $1700.00 for our relay team!!

How awesome is that!!! Next year is gonna be even bigger and better!!

we may need to find a new place to hold our crops...seems were outgrowing this one!!
Thank you to everyone that stoped by and helped us!!!!

Friday, October 31, 2008

I guess my Grandma was right...
the older you get...the faster time goes.
Remember how long it seemed to take for school to start???or get out!!!!
Christmas always seemed like a BILLION days away!
Its the first week in November already! time for another "Crop for a Cure!"
between the wedding and moving, it feels like it I totally lost track of time!
Good thing I have the best partner!!! I have a lot contributed this year...just not so much time! (obviously!) I am expecting a great turn out, we already have more people signed up and paid than EVER! We've been averaging 20 -24 ladies , but rumor has it that we have "THE BEST" crops, and we are expecting 30 -33 tomorrow! I just hope we have enough room! I'm seriously not worried...we will find a way!! We always do! What an exciting day!
Still.....it seems like a BILLION hours away!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

FINALLY!!!!
I got a pic of my invite! to totally appreciate the front of the card, you hafta understand the whole story. Matt and I started dating 13 years ago. when he was 25 an I had 3 boys (two teens) we dated for 3 1/2 years and lived together for 1. Things didn't work out and we split...but remained friends. In fact, we were better friends...closer than we were before. Then we lost touch...for about 4 years. Then , one day I couldn't make my turn and had to drive a few blocks out of my way. Then wondered ..."hummm....wonder if Matt still lives in his old house???" so I drove past. There he was .....sitting on the porch...so I had to stop and say hi! It took him about 28 seconds to realize who I was....( different hair color ...and style...and car)then...I saw it on his face.... we talked for hours. over the next few days we laughed and talked...and reminisced...and cried....
and grew closer.....then one day.......it just happened. he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. how could I say no???
I believe it was fate or karma or something that brought us back together...
it had to be....I mean what are the chances????
Everything just seems to be falling into place. the good and the bad LOL
just hafta keep reminding myself that it could be worse.......lol
so in 64 ish hours I will have a new name. Its strange. yet peaceful....
frustrating yet ....exciting.
Did I mention I hate moving?????
again???????

Thursday, October 2, 2008

yea!!!!!! paper, cut, stamp!! therapy!!!!
Finally!!!! my room isnt quite set up yet (...ok its far from it!) But at least

I got a chance to do some ATC's...funny how glitter glue is good for the soul!


Saturday, September 27, 2008


He was married for 50 years to Joanne Woodward, whom he meet on the stage on Broadway, he was a true romantic. What other Hollywood leading man could stay married to the same woman for 50 years and act opposite some of Hollywood's most gorgeous women!!! He was sexy, he was charitable, he was a compassionate man.
A legend and a hero.
… he will be missed but forever in my heart!!!!
Paul Leonard Newman
January 26, 1925
September 26, 2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

Puns make me laugh!

No Pun Intended
1. Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent.
2. A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, 'I'll serve you, but don't start anything.
3. Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted.
4. A dyslexic man walks into a bra...
5. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says: “A beer please, and one for the road.”
6. Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, 'I was artificially inseminated this morning.' 'I don't believe you,' says Dolly. 'It's true; no bull!' exclaims Daisy.
7. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.
8. Déjà Moo: The feeling that you've heard this bull before.
9. I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day, but I couldn't find any.
10. A man woke up in a hospital after a serious accident. He shouted, 'Doctor, doctor, I can't feel my legs!' The doctor replied, 'I know you can't - I've cut off your arms!
11. I went to a seafood disco last week...and pulled a mussel.
12. What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.
13. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. The one turns to the other and says, 'Dam!'
14. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly, it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
15. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?" they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."
16. A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Ahmal." The other goes to a family in Spain and is named "Juan." Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Ahmal. Her husband responds, "They're twins! If you've seen Juan you've seen Ahmal."
17. Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him a super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
18. And finally, there was the person who sent many different puns to his friends, with the hope that at least 10 of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in 10 did (say the last five words aloud, fast)!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

With an e mail address you get a ton of "forwards". this one just happened to make me smile so I thought I would share.........

'I Hope You Dance...!!

This was written by an 83-year-old
woman to her friend. *The last line
says it all. *

Dear Bertha .
I'm reading more and dusting less.
I'm sitting in the yard and admiring
the view without fussing about the
weeds in the
garden. I'm spending more time with
my family and friends and less time
working.

Whenever possible, life should be a
pattern of experiences to savor, not
to endure. I'm trying to recognize
these moments now and cherish
them.

I'm not 'saving' anything; we use our
good china and crystal for every special event such
as losing a pound, getting
the sink unstopped, or the first
Amaryllis blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market.
My theory is if I look prosperous, I can
shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I'm
not saving my good
perfume for special parties, but
wearing it for clerks in the hardware
store and tellers at the bank.

'Someday' and 'one of these days' are losing their
grip on my vocabulary. If
it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I
want to see and hear and do it now !!

I'm not sure what others would've
done
had they known they wouldn't be here
for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have
called family members and a few
close friends. They might have called
a few former friends to apologize and
mend fences for past squabbles. I like
to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever
their favorite food was.

I'm guessing; I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone
that would make me angry if I knew
my hours were limited. Angry because
I hadn't written certain letters that
I intended to write one of these days. Angry and
sorry that I didn't tell my husband and parents
often enough how
much I truly love them. I'm trying very
hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything
that would add laughter and
luster to our lives. And every morning
when I open my eyes, tell myself that
it is special.

Every day, every minute, every breath
truly is a gift from God. !!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008



I cant believe that its been so long since my last post. I look at the blog a lot....but then move on to something else in my head and...well....there you have it!
July 2. It had been raining so hard and for so long I was beginning to think we had a Michigan hurricane. (never know..coulda been!) It was about 9pm and I was on the way to Matt's house...following another car...(not too close mind you) about a half block, saw the water on the road...looked to be about 3 or 4". By the time I reached the "dip" in the road the water had risen to about 2 feet! Enough to put the headlights under water and stall the engine! (Pontiac Sunfire)Then the back end started to float. (can you say flash flood!) OK...I can do this...I will just call Matt and he will come get me! no cell service (hello!! its raining!!) so I think, ok I can always climb out the sunroof! great idea! Wait...Its a power roof and I cant start the car! ok...try Matt again. Voice mail. Matt, I need your help. I am stuck in a puddle..ok, more like a lake, and my car stalled, and my feet are getting wet. HELP ME!!!! MY FEET ARE IN THE CAR AND THEY ARE UNDER WATER!! AND MY BUTT IS GETTING WET TOO AND PLEASE HELP ME!!!!. ok , I see a police car! he pulls up on the grass and starts walking over.(there are 3 other cars stuck by this time so it really wasn't just me!) The officer was trying to tell me to turn the key backwards to accessory to get the windows down. Took me a few minutes to "un" panic to actually get it! By that time Matt was there and pulled me out of the window. the water was up to my butt at that time. and the police car had water up past the bumper! we left and went back to his house to dry off and wait for the rain to quit. It finally did about 11:30 and we went back to roll up the windows. My car was still in the middle of the road...sideways! So we pushed it ..up hill... and closed it up and locked it. The insurance company totaled it. All of the electronics were wet. It ended up with a water mark 3" above the dash on the front windshield. Scary times.. I never thought I would be one to panic , but I guess you just never no. I now have a VW Golf convertible. The ladies at the insurance office were teasing me about it being easier to get out with a soft top! You have to have a sense of humor about things like this. I heard a lot of them. Matt said...neither hell nor high water was gonna keep me from seeing him that night,....high water almost did! and another one of my favs... row, row, row your car gently up the street! Whew!!! gives me chills just thinking about it again!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008







WHEW!!!! What a weekend. Our relay event was awesome! Great weather...a few sprinkles on Saturday afternoon but temps in the mid 70's and a little chilly at night but we had the camp fire to keep us warm! great idea whoever thought of the campfire table! the totals are over $58,000 with a big weekend coming up. The Gus Maker 3 on 3 basketball tournament is this weekend and out team gets to "man the food trailer". It should bring in a bunch of cash.

The theme this year was "LUAU" we pulled together with 2 other teams to have the best campsite! fishnet, palm trees, hula skirts....and now we are officially the "north enders"...since we took up the whole north end of the field!. a bit of excitement....there was a photographer from the newspaper that came down to do a story. She wanted to get a picture from up high but the city had decided to replace all the bleachers... that week...(uggh!) so the girl climbed up to the top using the braces and then, was afraid to get down. the Ludington Fire Department got a chance to use its brand new truck to come in and get her down in the basket...how embarrassing for her! At least she got the pictures!! (I hope!)

Our Miss Relay even helped! Scott is on the fire Dept when hes not soliciting ...


Thank you to everyone that donated time or money to our cause this year. If you didn't get a chance or forgot....don't worry....theres always next year!

Saturday, May 31, 2008


What did you do on your friday night??????

I just got a wild hair...and decided to tile my kitchen!

Yes seriously!!! I just decided it was time...so ...thats what I did!

they are vinyl tiles...that look like ceramic tiles...beige and greys...

I got most of it friday night...(stayed up till 2am!) then finished this morning! still cant believe I really did it! but hey...thats why I am the "Jill of all trades!!" Hummmm....wonder what I will tackle next!!! LOL!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008


Another "Crop for a Cure" under our belt!!!! YEA!!!

this year we raised $731 for our relay team... not bad for a bunch of girls!!!!

Each year we do it ...seems to get a little easier. This year we both got more compliments than any other...that's a good thing!

Seems that we had just the right amount of chocolate, prizes, chocolate, food and chocolate for everyone!

Tried something new this time...a BINGO game..

it was fun cept next time I will pay more attention the the final list....

I had all the words then made them as big as I could...you know..better on your eyes...(LOL)

But I didn't pay attention the the double words like ...memory makers and creative memories...

they ended up on 2 lines instead of one..my bad! didn't really have any challenges after we figured it out...but it was kinda funny. and I will also spend more time on the "list". finding words that are actually ....common!

guess as long as we learn! I am already getting excited about the next one in the fall...

Wednesday, May 14, 2008


Who woulda thunk that 6 grown (kinda) women could have so much fun!!!
Nancy and I spent the weekend in Novi at the scrapbook convention! we met up with 4 other gals that we have known for 4 years. 2 we've met in person and 2 we met for the first time. We had dinner at Famous Daves and then the fun began....
theres a "holder" that the platter sits on...I'm not sure who started it but it became the "prop" of the night. we played "Who's Line is it Anyway" Drew Carey would have been proud! ;) everything from a flying space ship to a 3 way shot glass! and everything in between! The workers there kept comming out to see what we would come up with next. Im sure they will be talking about us for a long time! I cant wait to get together again with the gals! maybe Chicago?? and theres a few more that I would really like to meet...Thea??? Corinna???

Tuesday, May 6, 2008


I have the best kids!!!! I know all parents are supposed to say that, but I seriously believe that mine are! This was the first time in forever that I got to spend my birthday ON my birthday with all of my kids! perfectly awesome! They surprised me with burgers and hot dogs on the grill....my favorite! and then sang happy birthday to me (lead by my 3yo grandson!) and even got me a cake! and it even says "Momz"! life is good!

Monday, April 21, 2008

It was the best weekend!
FINALLY had awesome weather, got a manicure and a pedicure, bought new sexy shoes! hung with my BFF Nancy, went clothes shopping (never do), went golfing (for the first time in about 6 years!) and had burgers on the grill!!! wasnt that long ago that I was complaining about the snow...seemed like it would never stop!
I didnt do anything crafty ...dont remember the last time Nancy and I spent the weekend hanging and didnt craft anything...I dont think we ever have...but we still had the most fun anyway...theres always NEXT weekend!!!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Monday, March 17, 2008



Theres something about doing silly things that makes all the stress go away..just for a moment....

Last weekend I had a chance to stay at a wonderful Lodge in Baldwin with a bunch of scrappy ladies. A 3 day retreat with awesome food, great conversation and ...yes, a lot of sillyness. Friday night at midnight, we made snow angles and stayed up till 3am...Saturday night we made snow devils...and stayed up till 4!

We stayed at the PM River Lodge and if you ever get a chance, go. Beautiful, rustic rooms..an awesome fireplace and a stuffed bear! The food was magnificent and the carmel pie was nothing short of heaven with a fork!

Since it "IS" a fishing lodge, theres also a store, but i never made it over there...LOL

This was my first retreat..and definatly not my last!

Monday, March 3, 2008











I finally had a chance to do some "artsy stuff" this past weeekend and figured I would post some pictures. These are fom a "Tip In Swap". A tip-in like an altered book ...light. - Cats and floral beauties.
Each person in the group picks a theme. Each tip-in should consist of two 5"x7" pages, preferably mounted on cardstock for stability - each tip-in should be a two-page spread in that person's theme. Mail the first set to the person below your name in the table - then every two weeks mail to the next person, etc. When you have all of your pages back you can put them in your own book or make a book just for them. I LOVE the altered books, but these are so much less expensive to mail! and easier to keep track of!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Its taken me a couple days to actually write this one.
I was so disappointed that I wasn't even sure of what i wanted to say... or if I should say anything.
I am co captain of a Relay for Life team... we support the American Cancer Society to help find a cure for this awful disease. Last Saturday night we held a benefit all you can eat spaghetti dinner. 1 other relay team showed up. ONE! there are 26 I think. Its a lot of hard work and I was just amazed at the lack of support by the other teams. Are they afraid that if they spend $8.00 on a plate of food that our team may raise more money then them???? HELLO!!!!!
its all going to the same place!!

I am fairly new to the "circuit" this is only my 4th year with a team. I am an hour and a half away from the town that I support, but I have made an effort to attend as many events as I could. I've also supported other countys. Because I can. Remember...help your neighbor????

When did a common cause produce so much evil competition? Good friendly healthy competition is needed to keep things fun and exciting... and when did we turn into a such a selfish society?

Friday, February 22, 2008

Sometimes just when you least expect it...you experience something that is unbelievable....
the Lunar Eclipse was awesome last night but I'm talking about the smile that I got from the grand boys tonight. and free hugs. Nothing better.
whoever said grand kids were so much fun...wish i would have had them first...wasn't kidding. cant explain it but the spark and the warmth....
if you have grand children you know what I'm talking about. if you don't...I wish that for you someday. talk about BIG warm fuzzies! I see so much of Brandon in them. a lot of what they do takes me back to when my boys were little...and some of the silly things we did ...a chocolate cream pie in the face, castles made of sticks of butter...and lots of hugs. Lots of unconditional free hugs......

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Living in Michigan, you KNOW theres gonna be snow every winter....I also KNOW by February , I'm gonna be tired of it. This year is no exception!.
Yes its pretty to look at, and yes its fun, but I hate the ice and sub zero temps! I'm pretty sure I would never make in in North Dakota or Minnesota! Lake Michigan pulls its own twists on the accumulation totals....
A typical forecast.....
"Lake-effect snow will continue with another 4-6" accumulation possible tonight. Temperatures will fall into the single numbers. Winds will turn to the north at 5-10 mph inland and southwest at 7-14 mph along the lakeshore before turning to the north. Wind chills will be in the single numbers"
I think this is the most snow the state has had in a long time. I'm sure by the end of the season...(June by the looks of things!) there will be many records set...In the mean time....guess I will just keep looking for spring!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Happy valentines day! or day after ...its after midnight already!
I took Scotty (son #2) out for dinner! He was my date. Had a great time... then went bowling! I haven't been bowling in forever...then went with him a few weeks ago...and 2 times this week. its a lot of fun but I come home smelling like I still smoke...didn't realize how yucky it really was...haven't been in a lot of smokey places since I quit. but its still fun, and they're making laundry soap and smelly lotion every day! Jut overlooking the negative to enjoy the positive! I also got hugs and kisses from the grand boys...they give the best ones! Cant remember the last valentines day I got to see all of my kids ....sure am glad Scotty moved back from Detroit.....I'm rambling now...must be tired!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Hey!...look!! 2 days in a row! guess I'm off to a good start!

I suppose some of you are wondering ...how I came up with the name "Rhinos on the roof"... blame Billy! (my youngest son now 21) For those of you who know him...you are all going...hummm...ok. I get it....for those of you who dont....you will!
"Randomness" is a trate I think I passed down to him. Not on purpose, and I didnt even know it for a long time. Sometimes we would be in the car and he would come up with a question that would ..stun me, like...I said "holy cow" and he wondered why it was cow and not another animal or something else...like holy tree or hat or (the one that stuck) "holy osterich"!
When I was trying to think of a name..I wanted something that was universal. that I use as a business name for teaching classes, the blog and what ever else came up. My "tag line" of sorts. I was trying to come up with a play on words, kept leaning twords the artsy side ...nothing worked. then Billy said something about Rhinos on the Roof and we lauhed and made fun of it and ...it stuck.
It may not be sartsy, but is surely fits the total random-ness of my everyday life.
....and it makes me smile.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Hello everyone!
my very first post in my brand new blog. I really have no idea how to work this....but I 'm pretty sure I can figure it out...
Just may take me a while.. so please be patient with me!
Of course the first thing I put on was pictures of my grand kids...
now i have to figure out how to make them smaller!
They were taken at the childrens museum here in town. What a great place...even for grown ups!
I hope you choose to stop by often and leave me a comment so I know you were here....
till then...