The Month of March

I look forward to the month of March every year, as it marks multiple special occasions in my life.  In March I celebrate the anniversary of my big move from Pennsylvania to Ohio and the start of what I consider my first real job, my cats' birthday, and my dad's birthday.  I also enjoy the warmer weather and increasing daylight hours we see this time of year.   I must admit that I didn't expect temperatures of 83 degrees this month! 

My move from Pennsylvania to Ohio twelve years ago was a bigger step than I realized at the time.  My naivety truly protected me!  When I think back to my first year here in Chillicothe and some of the things I've done since then, I cringe and thank God for protecting me.   Some of the things I did then I would be afraid to try now.  There is no doubt in my mind that my move to Chillicothe was God's will and handiwork.   At the time, I thought my purpose for moving here was for a job, after all.   By moving here, I've met some dear friends who are like family to me.  To think that I wouldn't know them and how different my life would be if we hadn't met.  I must give God all of the credit for that one b/c I couldn't have orchestrated it no matter how hard I tried!   Oh, let me clarify one thing.  God should always get the credit when He works in my life, but... sometimes I struggle with that.

I cannot believe that my felines have turned eleven years of age!  It seems like just last year I adopted them.  Or, should I say they adopted me!   Even though they are getting older, they still have some "kitten" in them.   When I arrived home from work today, I saw something setting between my closet and bed.  I thought "What is that thing in the middle of the room?"  I stepped closer to realize that one (or both) of my furry friends had somehow managed to remove a container of buttons from a rather deep bag and move it out onto the floor!!  That made me wonder if I am doing an adequate job of protecting them from small scrap booking embellishments that were intended not to decorate my bedroom floor but my scrapbook pages and cards!   They never cease to amaze me.

As for their birthday, I overdid it with photos - again.  I told myself "no photo shoot this year, just a few close-ups," but it turned into a photo shoot.  Thank God they are so forgiving!  I actually counted the pictures tonight, and Smokey and Butterscotch endured at least 34 snapshots of the camera (not counting those I deleted).  I was just trying to get perfect close-up shots - to fill the camera frame with their cute faces!   I can't wait to get some nice 8 x 10 inch or 5 x 7 inch pictures of them.   I really wish I'd taken a photo of each cat on each of their eleven birthdays.   What a nice progression of their lives that would have been to savor in a lovely scrap book album for years to come. 

As for my Saturday night scrap booking, I have gotten out of this good habit.  My next project will be a 2009 (yes, you read that right) mini album of the highlights of my life that year.    It's a good thing I did almost all of the journaling in 2009 b/c now I would never recall those fond details!   Not to mention that the numerous photos I've developed over the years might come in handy now! 

As for dad's birthday, I was unfortunate to come down with a longer-than-usual virus the week prior, which prevented me from going home as originally planned to celebrate with him in person.   Lord-willing that we are able to get together over Easter, I've got his cards and gifts all ready to celebrate!!   I'm excited because we intend to celebrate both his birthday and my cats' birthdays when they visit me this next time.   I am particularly eager for their visit because dad said they will take some photos of me with Smokey and Butterscotch.  Because I'm always the one taking photos, I have no photos of me with my beloved felines.  

Well, I must sign off because it is time for one of my favorite TV shows (American Idol). 

A Paper Crafting Mistake Turned Opportunity for Creativity...

Today I found myself a bit frustrated when in an effort to better adhere the inside of a card, I created a rather obvious fold in the journaling square!   Agh!  Such a perfect card for the perfect occasion.  But then I messed it up.   Or, so I thought.  I grabbed my scallop edge punch and some Pumpkin Pie card stock (which happens to be one of my favorite colors of Stampin' Up! products) and went to work.  I made a scallop border on both sides of a thin strip of Pumpkin Pie card stock, placed it over top the misplaced fold I'd created, and (Voila) the result was a nicer interior card than the original!   Hmmm...I might make this another one of my "trade marks" on my cards!  My result wasn't exactly a rickrack look, but I must say it was quite nice!  I'd planned on showing you the end result, but I forgot to snap a picture before I wrote the greeting to the recipient!  Too late...I'll try to remember to take the picture first the next time around! 

A Few of My Favorite Things

Today as I walked the hallways between meetings at work, I thought how cool it would be if I could brainstorm a list of some of my favorite things.   Putting them in any order would require too much thought.   So, here is my list in no particular order.

1.  Smokey and Butterscotch, my beloved feline companions who greet me at the door after work (and not just b/c they want fed either)   Okay, ignore my comment above.  Of course, my feline friends are at the top of my list!  And they know it, too!   Check out their adorable photos at the end of this post.

2.  My Big Shots (One wasn't enough), the lovely die-cutting machines I purchased from Stampin' Up! and for that matter, the embossing folders and dies and everything that goes with them

3.  Journaling, journaling, journaling...I love to write!

4.  The peace and quiet of a summer evening in my neighborhood as I walk from the end of the road back to my apartment as dusk approaches

5.  Chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate (My favorite is milk chocolate.)

6.   The luscious buckeye candies my mom made at Christmas...wishing I had some now!

7.  My personal Keurig coffee brewer, the aroma it leaves in my apartment as I brew each cup of coffee/tea, and the fact that I can drink as many different varieties as I desire in a given day in less than two minutes of brewing time per cup  (Did I mention it makes no mess to clean up?)

8.  Lying in bed on a steadily rainy (not thunderstorms) night

9.  The wonderful feeling I get as I drive home from work to my "new" (like going on two years old) apartment in what I refer to as "the country," as my friends chuckle, knowing that I haven't a clue what living in the country really is

10.  Apricot flips, butter cream frosting, Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi 

11.  Red Devil's food anything

12.  A peaceful evening in the Outer Banks without a care in the world (Of course I have cares - just fewer of them during vacation!)

13.  Pictures, pictures, pictures!  Did I mention I particularly enjoy discounts on my pictures?

14.  I told myself I had to stop when I reached a "Baker's dozen," but that just ain't happenin'.   One more thing...flipping through completed photo and scrap book albums and savoring memories.

Do you have any favorite things you'd like to share?  Leave a comment below.  

It just occurred to me that this list would make a great mini-album or theme album!  Like I need more things on my scrap booking "To Do" list!