I Dunno If I Deserve This...

My sweet blog buddy, Barb, from The Buzz, let me know she nominated me for this award. While I don't think I'm in any way "brillante," I do appreciate that she has been inspired by the projects I post. Thank you so much, Barb!

The rules for this award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you've nominated.

I wish I had more time to play, but will have to pass this time around. I honestly don't know that I could narrow my list of blogs that would qualify to just 7! SO many blogs inspire me for SO many reasons! Barb would be at the top of the list, but I don't think that would work...to nominate her again!

Thanks so much for thinking of me, Barb! Hugs to you, sweetie!

Thanks, Dad!

As cool as I think my home-made lightbox is, streamlined it definitely isn't! I would take pictures in my craft room, if I brought my camera out there, but because of it's bulkiness, most often I found myself resorting to my two sheets of cardstock phototaking in the house.

Today, after a rousing game of miniature golf, we stopped by Wolf Camera to see if they had a lanyard to attach the lens cap to my dad's camera. They were out, but I asked on a whim if they had lightboxes (d'oh-they should, it's a camera shop) and what was the cost. After explaining its purpose to my dad while the salesperson checked the price of this one, he decided to buy it for me as an early birthday present!
Now I just need to get the hang of using it correctly! LOL

My dad is the best! :o)

By the way, I found out today that at the last hole, if you hit a gutter ball, water DOES come shooting out of the tikis. I actually shot a hole in one there, but no flame came out, just smoke. Maybe I didn't hit it hard enough? I thought I heard a good thunk, but who knows. Anyway, no pictures today, but we all had fun. (and... shhhhhh....I won this time! hee, hee...)

Thanks for visiting! My dad heads out on Thursday morning, so maybe after that I'll have some time to create something.

Miniature Golfing...or I Don't Believe My Dad Can't See Well

My dad has macular degeneration. I don't know if I've mentioned that before. What it means is, he can't see very well, or so he says. If he looks at something straight on, he can't see it, but if he uses his peripheral vision he can still see. He quit driving a year ago (thank goodness) because he couldn't see well. So anyway, he talks about how poorly he sees. I'm sure it's more than frustrating. Anyway, my title is said in jest. I know he can't see very well, but he sure surprised me when, first, he suggested we go miniature golfing and second, how well he did when we went on Sunday! Several times he got the hole in two strokes!

It was the very first time we took the girls and I was also surprised and how much fun Amy had. She proclaimed she LOVED golfing and immediately wanted to play again.

Amy needed a quick lesson on what to do, then she had a blast.
Jessica got frustrated a few times. I am beginning to wonder if she's going to be the type of person who worries if they don't get it "right" the first time. I hope she'll be able to mellow out a bit. She does want to win...no matter what.
Look at that form!!
Maybe she gets it from her dad. He was playfully frustrated when my dad got a hole quicker than he did! LOL

I can't believe I got these next two shots. This is the final hole and what you see. Being that we hadn't been here before, I didn't know what to expect.

Apparently, if you hit the ball down that center track, you get a hole in one and POOF, flame shoots up and smoke comes out of his nose. I can't believe I actually got a before and after shot! We were told if you don't get the hole in one and get it in the hole on either side, water shoots out of those things he's holding. However, it didn't happen for us (Steve and Dad didn't get a hole in one) as one of the holes looked jammed with golf balls. So I don't know if that part is true.

Jessica keeps asking to see these last two pictures because I'll show her the first one and then click the next button and go "whooosh" and the second picture shows up. She thinks it's fantastic! I figure it's cheap entertainment.

We're waiting for Grandpa to finish his eye treatment and I think you might be able to guess what's on the agenda today. Yup...miniature golfing! LOL

Veddy, Veddy Interestink

Kathi recently posted a picture and commentary about checking her blog traffic. Like her, I don't think too much about any traffic to my blog. I spit out stuff and figure if someone likes yea, if not...oh well. That's about the extent of it. Well, I was quite intrigued by her map and decided it might be fun to see who comes to read my blog. So, I went to the website Kathi noted (http://www.statcounter.com/) and tried to set up an account. It said my username was already in use. Bummer! Oh wait...wonder if I set up an account at some point? Sure 'nuff, I was able to log in. (This is when my dorkiness shines in all its glory...I can't even remember that I've signed up for this!) So, I went on the hunt for the map like Kathi's. And here it is!
What's kinda cool about this, other than the fact that people from all over have at least looked at the blog is that just prior to reading Kathi's post, I was telling my dad about blogging. You know why do it and how is it different from My Space and all that. I showed him this page and he thought it was neat. So he may not quite "get" this whole blogging thing, but he thought it was cool to see all the red spots on the map at least! LOL

Thanks for sharing, Kathi! It's fun isn't it?

Some Photos From the Past Few Days...

How would you like to see THIS thing daily? They call it a cow fish and it's one of the critters on display at the Butterfly Pavilion (um...yea, they have more than butterflies there)...I even held Rosie the tarantula!
Dad was impressed with the size of the leaves on this plant.
Some of the unique flora and fauna in the butterfly part of the pavilion
Okay...so we DID see some butterflies, too! :o)
A visit with my dad would NOT be complete without at least one meal eaten at Gunther Toody's Diner.

These will be fun to scrap!

RAK from Rachel

I hope you all are doing well and are having a terrific holiday weekend. We've been busy, busy, busy since my dad arrived on Wednesday. We've been to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Butterfly Pavilion, El Dorado State Park, and out to dinner and lunch a few times. Whew! But it's been a lot of fun. I have been taking pictures, which will be shared soon. We may even go miniature golfing, which should be loads of fun.

When I got up this morning and checked emails, I had one from my friend, Rachel, of 1905Designs blog. She RAKed me (RAK=Random Act of Kindess) with a layout she created of Jessica from a photo she snagged off my blog. I love this layout! Rachel has a great sense of style and is spreading her digital wings by learning how to design. She shares what she's created on her blog. You should definitely check her stuff out!

Thank you so much Rachel! You sure put a smile on my face!

I "Heart" Blog Buddies!

Blogging and reading blogs has got to be one of the best past times ever! I've come across some amazing paper crafters, cardmakers, scrapbookers and saved more ideas than I can execute in my lifetime. By far though, I most enjoy the friendships I've found since beginning this blogging journey. These are people I may never meet IRL (in real life) but are as dear to me as my IRL friends. We support each other's crafting efforts and enable each other as well as provide a soft shoulder when needed.

My blog buddy, BarbW, of The Buzz emailed me a week or so ago to let me know that she had seen 6x6 pads of Basic Grey's Gypsy paper at her Big Lots (she's such a good enabler), as well as K & Co envelopes. You know I went as soon as I could to two different Big Lots and had no luck finding the paper-dragged my kiddos along for the ride (and got them some squirt guns). When I told Barb I couldn't find them here, I asked if she'd be willing to pick up a package for me and lo and behold...lookie what was came through my mailslot yesterday! Thank you SO very much, Barb!! You definitely made my day.
How I wish I had the energy to head out to my craft room last night, but alas, I was plum tuckered out from giving the girls' room a much needed overhaul.

My dad arrives tomorrow for a week long visit. I hope to pop in from time to time, but if I don't get to posting, I thought I'd give you a heads up. :o) The girls are quite excited (as am I)!