Ruby Red Macro - And Other Stuff Below...

All the pictures are up for the Challenge.  Go to Nita Jo's Photos to see mine, and to Brenda Photo Challenge to see all the entries!

Summer Update...

Sorry I've been absent so much.  Summer gets lazy... and busy... and hot... no big excuses, just the normal ones.  I'm still slowly sorting through my possessions for stuff to donate, sell, recycle, or free-cycle.  Slow and steady wins the race... at least I hope that's true.  It sometimes feels like the more that leaves my house, the more I find.  It's like Mary Poppins magic carpet bag... you can't believe all the stuff that comes out of that little bag... and, there's always something more!

I'm also working on my art/craft projects.  I've discovered I stink at decoupage.  How is that possible?  It's such a simple concept.  Paste images on something, brush with Mod Podge, let dry, and done!  Mine keep coming out all wavy and wrinkly.  Maybe I should stick to pencil drawings.  At least with a drawing, you can erase the mistake.  Oh well, I am having fun with it and that's what's most important... right...

MS Update (skip this if you prefer not to read about health issues):I am doing a semi-detox.  Took myself off injections about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Injection sites just weren't healing anymore.  Stopped the Lyrica about three weeks ago, with Doctor approval.  I am giving my body a break before starting any new therapy for the MS.  This has increased some symptoms, but helped others.  It's like with any medical condition... what works for one may not work for another.  Thanks to my readers who have supported me in prayer over the last couple of years.  Keep praying for a cure to this nasty thing we call Multiple Sclerosis!  There are so many who suffer with it!

Okay, that's it for the serious stuff.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer.  Fill it with family, friends, bbq, watermelon, swimming, baseball, summer movies in a cool theater, concerts and art in the park... on and on.  Make some happy memories!

Busy, Busy...

Summer has been busy for us.  This week my husband is working on extending our back patio by adding some pavers around the original slab.  Since the ground is mostly made up of clay, it is back breaking work to get the digging done.  It is going to be wonderful though!  He's doing this as our anniversary gift this year.  It was earlier in the month, but we couldn't decide what we wanted to do to celebrate it.  This makes the perfect gift.  For my part, I'm doing some more "releasing" of my huge collection of stuff!  I just Free-cycled six big boxes of VHS Tapes!  Yay!  The lady getting them is disabled and is really going to enjoy watching them.  Double blessing... I gain more room, and she gets something she really wanted.

Here is Paul, working hard on the patio.  

Doesn't he look happy?  That's my Honey!

If you don't see me here quite as much, it's just the summer projects keeping me away. 

Crafting... Cleaning... Selling...

I have officially started my crafting.  The little chairs I showed you over at Moonflower Cottage have been sanded and primed, thanks to the help of my sweet husband!  Now all that remains is the painting and drying time, then adding my own design touch... hopefully, I will turn out a product that is worthy of selling.

I also started painting and decorating some small wood craft items.  Years ago I did tole painting, and these are leftover wood cutouts that I never got around to using.  I'm  in the process of decoupaging three of the larger sized hearts.  Pictures to come at a later date.

This morning I found a note on my mailbox.  My subdivision is having a yard sale... this Friday.  Kind of short notice, but I'm going to see what I can get ready to drag out to the driveway.  I would have loved a little more preparation time.  Oh well, anything I can get rid of means more room in the garage and a little spending money in my pocket!  It's all good!

A Happy Fourth... and a Happy Birthday!

Wishing each of you a Happy Independence Day!  It's a time to remember, and to celebrate our Freedoms.  I hope you are having a glorious weekend with family and friends.  

I also want say "Happy Birthday" to my cousin, Deborah!  You're the original firecracker! 

This is a free image from Dover.  Click on it to save a copy for yourself. 

Love and Blessings to all!