Mothers Day

Hello There,

Happy Mothers Day to you all I just wanted to share something beautiful with you...

these are the flowers that Gary and my girl Rebecca gave me for mothers day....

I just love yellow roses....and can you see the purple flowers peeking out....

That reminds me of Rebecca...she loves purple and most of her team colors have been purple...

her catching gear is purple....

I love my purple wall....that's her catching nickname "The Purple Wall"....
I am blessed...
Blessings
Sherry

Day before Mothers Day

Hello There,

I hope you are well....I have been cleaning the pool and cleaning and backwashing my pump and now it is done....and renewed and hopefully by tomorrow it will be perfect again....

Did anyone else have a storm last night...I woke up this morning and it looked like my grass was a sea...thankfully we did not lose power and our neighborhood has drained well....

We ordered in today for lunch...yummy....

and I have just done the first half of an incredible blog hop at "There she goes"rubber stamps, it's called the mother of all blog hops....lots of great ideas for cards and lots of great stamps...I had fun....I hopped to all 37 blogs today...and there will be more tomorrow...there is supposed to be over 75 blogs participating....wow...it took me a while....but was really worth it...I have so many great ideas....

and now I think I need a nap....Happy Day before Mother's Day....

Blessings
Sherry

Free Mothers Day Weekend

Hello There,
It's finally Friday...and we had a softball tournament planned for this entire weekend....it's the District Qualifier....but....due to rain outs it is now re-scheduled for next weekend....

Good news is I get to go to church on Sunday....yea, and it's Mothers Day....double yea.....

What will I get to do now this weekend....

I think I will go swimming in my little pool and then make some cards and scrapbook some this weekend, I think I am giddy at the prospect of a FREE, I said FREEEEEEEE weekend for these are few and far between during softball season....

I still have to find a free weekend to have Rebecca's birthday party....it may wind up being a last day of school...welcome to summer party...who knows at this point.....but it will happen....sometime....

and it will be a swimming party

Blessings

Sherry

Softball, butterflies and Rebecca's Mothers Day

Hello There,
I hope this evening finds you well....I was outside a bit today and it was wonderful....I was cleaning my pool...it is amazing how fast algae can get out of hand when you don't have the right amount of chlorine in your pool....sheeeeesh....well...enough about that....

I have found some amazing recipes on Pinterest that I am going to make....I made the Waldorf salad and it turned out really good....it has cottage cheese, cool whip, pinapple, and sugar free lime jello....

As I was cleaning the pool I saw a huge spider, not as big as a tarantula...but I swear it was close...and I showed it to Gary and he squished it and said uh-huh....and then I saw this little frog which made me jump because I was still thinking about the size of the spider.....

Then near the end I saw the biggest yellow and black butterfly just fluttering around my pool area...I have not seen one this size in quite a while...it was just beautiful....

I do think it is amazing how dusty my outside patio table gets....I will have to start cleaning it daily now....

I still need to clean some outside furniture and the fence...but maybe that will have to wait till later...I don't care for later...I am a more get er done kind of gal....it gives me more time to scrapbook....

Rebecca has recently had another birthday....and she received two of her mail order presents...one was a new batting helmet that she picked out with her dad...they couldn't find any good ones at the stores....and yes I said stores....

The other thing that she wanted was a new bed cover and dust ruffle that she pinned on Pinterest...it came in and I put it on her bed...I cried....her room lost some of its jr. high charm and now looks like a high schooler's room....four short years to go....it's sad how fast our children grow....Rebecca is almost done with eighth grade and then will be a high schooler....on the ride home from school today she told me that she was sorry that we would be at the softball tournament on Mother's Day....I told her I don't mind, and I love watching her play....even if I'm annoying to her and she has to tell me to tone it down...(apparently, I can get a little loud in the cheering area)....this produced quite a grin on her beautiful face...she's growing up....and I will enjoy and cherish every minute of it....precious memories....

Blessings
Sherry

Hello There,
Wow, I am now officially ready for summer...school is almost done and the grass is growing like crazy....and it's hot....need I say more....

Softball rings are now continually in my tub...

My kid is officially in major peanut butter mode...she seems to have a need for spoonful after spoonful of peanut butter when she is in full softball practice and game mode...it will have to go in the ice chest soon and become a standby like water...in the next few days....

It seems to fuel her better than anything else.....

she's a ball player who needs her peanut butter and I'm cool with that...whatever works....and is healthy....

just thought I'd share....

Blessings
Sherry

Spring into Summer

Hello There,
Well, spring is quickly turning into summer...and before you know it shorts and flip flops will be the only tolerable attire of most of the folks in my area....it does get hot in Santa Fe....

We recently redid our patio and had to add sand in areas to bring it up to par for drainage...we are watching the new grass come in....

Here is a photo of a moose antler that has been carved out into an amazing animal scene....it hangs over our dining area and is quite interesting....who ever carved this out is just amazing and patient...




Blessings
Sherry

2nd place in Tournament

Hello There,

Well, the softball tournament this weekend went well.   Rebecca's team Nightmare took second place in the 14U Division in Santa Fe.  Here are a few pictures to tell the story....and I just had to share....

This is my girl Rebecca and she plays softball, it's just what she does....and I love to watch her play...and apparently she secretly took this picture on my I photo on my laptop as she was waiting for me to be ready to walk out the door...did you notice she is ready....and waiting for meeee......

In the battles that took place on the fields this weekend a player tripped going over first and blew out her knee and had to go to the emergency room...when a player gets injured everyone on the field takes a knee out of respect for the injured player...this is Rebecca at home plate....

Rebecca is stretching out her legs before they go warm up for the next battle....

Rebecca marking her territory...she does this as she gets ready for each batter....

Team is chillin at the tents in between games....Rebecca is #8...

They are a little excited...to come in 2nd.....

Watching as 1st place team gets their trophies....

Nightmare placed 2nd in tournament this weekend in Santa Fe....

1st and 2nd place teams group photo...

Rebecca and Makenzie....

Rebecca and the pitchers Katy and Lauren....

This is the awards ceremony...each player is awarded an individual trophy...and the team gets a large one...all the trophy's are presented out on the field...it's awesome....

Blessings
Sherry

Words and Duct Tape

Hello There,
I hope you are doing well....I have been thinking about something that I wanted to share....in a world that can be difficult and harsh....we don't live in candy land where everything is perfect and everyone get's along with everyone else...We live in a real world with people....We all have circumstances that we face each day in very different ways...We are all on this journey....

I have been thinking a lot about duct tape...it's a wonderful and useful tool....and very strong....and would probably stick well over my mouth if needed...and now it comes it so many designs and colors that it would co-ordinate with any outfit I wear....when I am in a difficult moment where I have to release my words....duct tape comes to mind and I remember my motto...

I live by this motto:  "If you don't have anything nice, encouraging or kind to "SAY" then don't  "SAY" anything !!!"

We are not to judge other people....We are to examine ourselves and adjust ourselves as needed....and We are to be kind....Words are loud...Words are weapons....Words are healing....it's your choice how you use your words.....

Always Remember to be kind....Life is Good...and You are Needed...

Blessings
Sherry

Are you ready for some Softball

Hello There,

It's Friday and the weekend is full of sunshine and ball games....Rebecca's next tournament starts this weekend and they are sooo ready to take the field and battle for first place...We shall see how they do...If they bring their A game they will do very well....

It's supposed to reach 90 degrees today...and it's already hot...the tournament this weekend will be hot as well....let the games begin....

If you are looking for me this weekend...I will be here taking in all the action and trying not to heckle the players....that's my girl up to bat...life is good...

Blessings
Sherry

Rebecca and the Neighbors...

Hello There,

I hope today finds you well and happy to be reading my post...I know when I feel down or stressed...I  take a few moments to read some of my favorite blogs... it makes me feel happy...H-A-P-P-Y...happy ...

So because it's spring and taking pictures outside in the sunshine makes me happy...I thought I would share some of my pics with you....I hope they warm your heart like they do mine....

Rebecca and Gracie have been outside playing and running and jumping on the trampoline and swinging...and soooo some of the neighbors came over to check them out....

They really perk up when Rebecca is out fooling around in her yard....

and did I mention Rebecca keeps raiding the fridge for apples for the neighbors and they are very appreciative to little girls bearing gifts of apples...

really don't remember what this is about...it looks like she dropped the apple....

that's ok the neighbor found it no problem...

they are still friends....

and she lets Rebecca pet her without feeding her apples...

I seriously don't know who's cuter....

"and then she said"...it looks like she is talking to Rebecca...

and I know Rebecca talks to her....look at her listening ear....

it's good to have neighbors....

Rebecca and her neighbors....it's the simple little things that are sooo adorable....and warm our hearts....

Gracie looks like she wants in on the snacks and conversation....

I love watching my girl grow....and I love that she is an animal person....

Well, hello there...thanks for posing...

Oh, look another neighbor came to visit....

"are you still taking pictures....make yourself useful and go git some apples while me and Rebecca visit..."

gentle spirits....bonding....

Rebecca has a knack for interacting with animals....

they are communicating without words....you know how neighbors like to talk over fences....

Yes, Rebecca has apples for her too....

Blessings
Sherry

First Tag Swap

 Hello There,

I have just participated in my first tag swap with Laura Denison at Following the Paper Trail and I wanted to share my tags with you...it was so much fun to do....I picked a french country theme....we had to make nine 4x6 tags, keep one and send in eight and we were supposed to sign each one....so here are a few photos to show you what I have done...I had a Mary Engelbreit mini calendar that is a tare away desk calendar with the most adorable children's images (she is my favorite children's illustrator) I wanted to use some of the images on something and not just throw them out...they are too cute....I hope this gives you some good ideas of how to do your own tags for swaps you should try it....it's really fun....and these tags can be used in cards or mini albums and even on scrapbook lay-outs....I hope you enjoy them....

This is what the back of each tag looks like....I made a small pocket and added two mini tags to it....

On each 4x6 tag I inked the edges of the tag and the image....

I also punched the lower edge and added a music note paper clip on the side...

Each tag has a ribbon tie on top and a felt flower with a brad in the center...

I also added some rhinestone stickers on the lover side edges....

These tags are relatively easy to make and the illustrated images with the quotes in them are just adorable....

Each tag has a different image and sentiment....

I loved the images so much they were kind of hard to part with....

This is one of my favorites...love the look of the mother and child with the comforter....and the sentiment reminds me of God being our Comforter....

This is the tag I kept....it reminds me to always remember it's the little things in life that are so precious and bring so much joy....and create so many memories....

Blessings
Sherry

Spring Day

Hello There, 

I love spring...it's just sooo pretty....and green...and rainy....I love the new flowers and buds popping up everywhere....it's just wonderful....I hope to do a little planting myself this weekend in between Rebecca's softball games that is....I have posted a picture of a beautiful spring day for you...even the sun feels perfect in the spring...

A beautiful day....

Blessings

Sherry

Sports Uniform Flowers

Hello There,
I hope you are doing well...I have been very busy lately...Rebecca's school softball league has just finished and now her regular league last game is tomorrow night...and then we are into full blown softball All-Star...summer mode...she had a tournament this weekend and then a game Monday night, and tonight (we just got back), and her last official game for the league is tomorrow night....at the game tonight as she was catching...she made a play to throw down to second and get the runner out...it was a perfect throw...but as the ball left her hand...she yelled "There's nobody there"....the ball hit the bag and beat the runner easily......oh well...the game goes on....she has practice Thursday night and then another tournament starts Friday night and will go thru the weekend.....

Life is full of amazing things...moments are fleeting...children are growing up....Life is precious and good and wonderful...even in the midst of pain....Life is good....

I have been brainstorming on how to capture these treasured moments of Rebecca's childhood... I thought of her old uniforms and all the photo's that need to be scrapped....and I thought...I should use this material somehow....in the lay-outs with her photos....

I have been learning about making all sorts of flowers for scrapbooking lay-outs...and I thought I would use some of these flowers...I have just started making the flowers....and I do not have the photos of them in the lay-outs yet....I will post pictures of them as they are finished...

Here is a flower I made out of some of Rebecca's old softball uniform socks that she has worn thru the years...I love all the velvety layers of this poufy flower....

These are really purple...the same material as the flower above...these are spiral roses...

These are some spiral roses I have made from some tie dyed purple and white socks she has worn from a previous uniform year....notice the stained or slightly brown areas...these are actually ground in orange softball field dirt that would not be washed out.....


Blessings
Sherry