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Red Cross can help

I've had a busy couple of days!  Yesterday I played bridge and afterwards, stopped by my Mom's house for a visit.  We only live about 20-30 minutes away but I'm really bad about not stopping by to visit more often.  After being away from family for 30+ years, it's just been hard to adjust to having family so close.  I have to stop and think every so often how I'd feel if the shoe was on the other foot and it was my daughter not stopping by to visit me!! 

Last night after dinner, Sonny and I were just settling in to catch up on some tv shows we'd taped and had just finished scooping our ice cream in our bowls when we got a call from the Red Cross DAT (disaster) team leader.  We are volunteers for the DAT team and have been for almost a year but have never been called to a disaster.  Every few months, we have the DAT bag for the week and are "on call" but the pager has never gone off.  We figured it really didn't work!!  The gal who had the bag this week knew we had never gone out so when she got the call, she called us to assist her ... plus the house fire was in Troutman which is not too far from us.  By the time we got there (about 11 pm) there were about 5-6 firetrucks and numerous other vehicles.  The fire had been put out but the double-wide trailer was demolished.  The poor lady who lived alone luckily was not at home when the fire started.  She is 56 years old and has a lot of health issues.  Poor thing was just so upset.  The worst part was she had no insurance!!  How can people do that??  She had lived there for 22 years and everything she owned is now gone.  Every few minutes she'd cry out about something that had perished .... from her church clothes, her hats, her 27 wigs, a whole library of old books and the paperwork she had started to get her GED.  She told us she was always the one who helped her family out when they needed something.  She said she used to pay into the United Way when she worked and never dreamed one of those types of services would one day be assisting her.  The Red Cross can't do as much as it once could due to the recession but we were able to give her a debit card with money on it for food, clothing and three days in a motel.  We told her when she found an apartment or somewhere to live, we would pay her first month's rent also. 

All day today I have thought about this poor lady and gone back and forth from feeling sorry to other thoughts.  And here are my reasons.  Last night while talking to the client, she told me she had just pawned her jewelry so she could buy a VCR/DVD combo and hadn't even watched it once .... on her flat screen TV that she bought this year.  She said she had a 72" TV that she had bought in 2007.  She had muscle/nerve damage to her arm and told me she has gone to therapy a few times for it and was supposed to go more often, but it was too expensive - they want $50 for therapy!  Hello???  You can afford the tv, DVD, etc. but not do the things the dr advises to make you feel better.   I know everyone has the right to spend their money the way they see fit (even our government!!) but I just have to shake my head.  My friend at Red Cross told me the client called today with many questions regarding more assistance and wanted to know if the Red Cross would pay a downpayment on a new trailer to put on her lot!!  

The Red Cross is a great organization and is there to help in times of need.  If you like to help people, I urge you to consider volunteering with the Red Cross.  They provide all the training you need so you will be ready to respond to disasters, work at blood drives, deliver messages to US Service personnel, re-connect families that have been displaced.  My husband drives a Red Cross van each week taking people in our community to doctor appointment, dialysis, etc.


Here are some Red Cross facts for you:

Volunteers constitute 96 percent of the total work force to carry on their humanitarian work:


Every year the Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters—including approximately 150 home fires every day.


About 11 million Americans turn to them to learn first aid, CPR, swimming, and other health and safety skills. Last year, more than 158,000 people volunteered to teach those courses.


Half the nation's blood supply— six million pints annually—is collected by more than 155,000 Red Cross volunteers .


Among their emergency services for the men and women of the armed forces is the delivery of urgent family messages—around the clock and around the globe.


More than 30,900 volunteers serve as chairs, members of boards of directors, or on advisory boards for local Red Cross units - chapters, Blood Services regions, and military stations.


As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Red Cross reconnects more than 8,000 families separated by conflicts and disasters around the world through international tracking services and Red Cross messages.

Tonight my sisters, mom and Sonny and I went to downtown Charlotte to the Levine Museum of the South for a program about Hurricane Hugo.  Hugo hit the Charlotte area 20 years ago.  I didn't live here at the time, but my family all lived in Charlotte and still have nightmares about that storm.  Hugo ranked as the eleventh most intense hurricane at time of landfall to strike U.S. this century and is rated as the second costliest hurricane with over $7 billion in damages. Hugo's storm surge was the highest ever recorded on the East Coast. It was estimated at 20 feet just north of Charleston. Hugo's 150 mile wide swath destroyed about one billion board feet of timber and resulted in major damage hundreds of miles inland. The total number of deaths associated with Hurricane Hugo is 82.  The exhibit was sponsored by the Red Cross which I didn't know until shortly before we went tonight.  It was a very interesting exhibit.  I thought it would have been much larger, but they did a good job with what they did have.

Tomorrow will be a little more slow paced!  I'll be hiding away to eat my meals though!  Sonny is scheduled for a routine colonosophy on Thursday so tomorrow will be a liquid diet for him.

More Swaps

Thanks for the kind comments some of you have sent me regarding the garage sale!  I don't normally "do" garage sales and guess that is why!!

Someone out there is NOT pulling for my Steelers!  Can't believe we lost that game today in the last 2 minutes!  GRRRRR  Guess we won't be going back to the Super Bowl this year.

Here are a few more of the swap cards I received.

Recipe:  by Mary Rindal

Stamp:  Friends Rock

CS:  Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, WW

Ink:  Black; Melon; Curry

Acc:  Iridescent Ice EP, Melon Mambo ribbon; paper piercer

Recipe: by Crystal Spencer (caspen1973)

Stamp: Season of Friendship

CS:  Celery; Bermuda Bay; WW; Close to Cocoa

Ink:  Same as above + Old Olive

Acc:  Bermuda Bay ribbon; white gel pen; designer brads; Backgrounds I Texture plates

Recipe:  by Lorien Clark

Stamp:  Razzle Dazzle

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo; Black StazOn

CS:  Crushed Curry; Melon Mambo; BB, WW

Acc:  Crushed Curry ribbon; white gel pen; scallop edge punch, iridescent ice EP

Recipe:  by Michelle Fischer (SDiegoGal)

Stamps:  Dasher, Christmas Punch

CS:  Dusty Durango; Crushed Curry; Soft Suede; White Glossy

Ink:  Dusty Durango

Acc:  Dusty Durango DSP; punches, brads, soft suede ribbon; Dazzling Diamonds

Gargage Sales and Christmas Cards

Lately I have felt like I was back in Washington state!  It has been rainy for over a week now!  Today's garage sale was a bust!!  Luckily, I didn't have that much to sell - just a box load of books and the rubber stamps.  I really didn't figure stamps were going to be a big garage sale item, but thought I'd give it a shot.  I was right!  I set up about 7:30 in the parking lot of our clubhouse in the misty rain.  I sat in the car and read a book and waited, and waited and waited ....  I had 3 people stop by in 3 hours!!  One person bought $10 worth of books.  Sonny came up about 10:30 to bring me the key to the clubhouse bathroom and we waited around for another half hour.  Then I called it quits!!  All the stuff is still in my car - that's another job for tomorrow!  After taking a quick "cat nap" at home, I ran into town and had lunch.  Then I headed over to the stamp store for the final "Christmas Card Make & Takes."  Every Saturday, we've done Christmas cards at the stamp store in Mooresville.  Here are a few of the ones I made:

This one was the one I demo-ed:

Chick Fil A .... Hungry Girl Style

The gal who started the Hungry Gal website with low cal recipes was on Rachel Ray one day last week.  She made a chicken sandwich that I tried last week.  It was really good, so I want to share it with you!

Crispy Chicken Sandwich
1/3 C Fiber One bran cereal (original)

dash each - salt, pepper, garlic powder & onion powder (or more to taste)

1/4 C fat-free liquid egg substitute (egg beaters, etc) NOTE - I used an egg as I didn't have substitute

3 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast

1 T fat-free mayo

1 small hamburger bun

2 slices tomato

2 hamburger dill pickle chips (or more!!)

1 leaf lettuce

Preheat oven 375 degrees.

Using a blender or food processor, grind Fiber One to a breadcrumb-like consistency.  Season crumbs with as much salt, pepper, onion powder & garlic powder as you like & mix well.  Place crumbs in a small dish & egg substitute in another.

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with a dash each of salt & pepper.  Then, coat chicken on both sides - first with egg substitute & then with seasoned crumbs.

Place chicken on baking sheet sprayed with non-stick spray.  Top chicken with a light mist of non-stick spray.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Flip chicken over & add another light mist o fnon-stick spray.  Cook for add'l 10-12 minutes until chicken is fully cooked & coating looks crispy.

Add condiments, as desired.

YUM!!

Swaps - part 2

I've been working on making calendars this week.  Every year I make calendars for my friends and family.  I've done calendars that go in CD cases and calendars that fit on bar coasters.  This year I am doing them a little differently.  Sonny is making wooden holders for my calendars.  I'll share later!  So far, I've made 3 calendars - only about 8 to go!!

Here are a few more swap cards to share with you.

Recipe:  by Nicole Johnson (StampinNicole06 on SCS)

Stamp:  Greeting Earthlings

CS:  Brillant Blue; Black; Yo Yo Yellow; WW

Ink:  Black Stazon; watercolored w/stamp pads: Gable Green; Yo Yo Yell; Only Orange, Orchid Opul.

Acc:  Top Note; Movers & Shapers Modern Label Die; Modern Label Punch; gingham ribbon; rhinestone fire & ice

Recipe:   by Vicki Stys (CraftCrazy98 @ SCS)

Stamps:  Falling Leaves; Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel

Paper:  Kraft; Soft Suede; Naturals Ivory

Ink:  Versamark; Soft Suede; Old Olive; Crushed Curry; Dusty Durango

Acc:  Clear Emb Powder; Modern Label Punch; Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon

Recipe:  by Tandra Boyer (Inkalicious @ SCS)

Stamp:  Twick or Tweet

CS:  Basic Black; Night & Day DSP; Pumpkin Pie DSP

Acc:  Frost White Shimmer Paint; Scallop Circle Punch; Modern Label punch & die cut; Scallop Square die; 1 1/4" black striped ribon (rubbed w/Pumpkin Pie Ink)

Recipe: by Crystal Spencer (caspen1973 @ SCS)

Stamps:  Serene Snowflakes; Teeny Tiny Wishes

CS:  Real Red; Soft Suede; WW; Christmas Cocoa DSP

Ink:  Soft Suede; Real Red

Acc:  REal Red Grosgrain Ribbon; Linen Thread;  Modern Label Punch; Backgrunds I Texture Plates; Top Note Die; Word Window Punch

Another Swap

I did another swap last month and just got my cards back.  Wow!!  They are really great.  These are images from the new catty as well as the mini catalog.  This is Jami's swap (who is an ex-Dirty Girl on SCS) so the cards are always good. They always have lots of layers.  I always participate in her swaps for that reason.  I'm worried though that she will be giving up Stampin' Up because of the new rules.  She also designs for other companies. 

Recipe: by Jackie Pedro (strappystamper on SCS)

Stamps:  For All You Do

CS:  Bermuda Bay Texture; Crushed Curry, WW, Thoroughly Modern DSP

Ink:  Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede

Acc:  Crushed Curry ribbon; Scallop Circle punch; Circle Punches; Modern Label Punch, Top Note; Eyelet Border Punch

Recipe: by Crystal Spencer (caspen1973 on SCS)

Stamp:  Herb Expressions

CS:  Cert. Celery, Old Olive; WW, Rich Razzleberry DSP

Ink:  Black Staz On; Rich Razzleberry, Cert Celery, Old Olive

Acc:  Cert Celery 5/8" growgrain; Cert Celery Brads

Punches:  Scallop edge

Recipe:  by Jennifer Moneagle (jened @ SCS)

Stamps:  Circus Circle; Kind & Caring Thoughts; Sanded Backgd.

CS:  Rich Razzleberry (reg & text); Melon Mambo; Razz. Lemonade DSP; WW

Ink:  Versamark; Melon Mambo

Misc:  Gold Emb Powder; 1 1/4" square punch

No recipe included on this one, so I'm gonna guess!

CS:  Vellum; Rich Razzleberry; Taken w/Teal; Black

Stamp:  Lots of Bots

Acc:  Spiral Punch; Tag Punches; Library Clips; Goggle Eyes

I'll publish more tomorrow!

Monday Mailer, Oct week #3

I just love the way this card turned out!  I am putting it in the mail Monday a.m. to my Monday Mailer partner.  I used the Medallion stamp - stamped it in Versamark and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  Then I sponged a little Soft Suede and Crushed Curry on to the Medallion.  I then cut it out and "popped it up" with dimensional tape. 

What do you think?  The Medallion stamp is the top seller for Stampin' Up!!

Stamp Sale

(edited - I am crossing through the ones that have been sold)

My neighborhood in Sherrills Ford is having it's annual Block/Garage Sale next weekend.  I will have a table set up at the clubhouse selling some of my stamps and some fiction books.  All of the stamps are Stampin' Up unless they are listed differently.   I am listing the stamps below that I will have in the sale.  If you are interested in any of these stamps, let me know and I will "make you a deal!"

A Beautiful Thing $10.00

A Light Heart $10.00

All About Occasions $5.00

Alpha Bits (AM) $7.00

Be Happy $10.00

Birthday Whimsey $5.00 (never been used)

book - creative lettering $4.00

book - Photo Cropping by Memory Makers $4.00

Book: Quick & Clever Handmade Cards $4.00

Botantical Blooms $6.00

Dotted Autumn $8.00

Event Full $10.00

Background:  Fine Lace $8.00

For Father $10.00

Friendship Blooms $8.00

Hero Arts Shadow Stamps (set 6) $10.00

Hero Arts Wavy Autumn Wishes (set 6) $10.00

It's All Good $6.00

Little Bit of Happiness $10.00

Lots of Thoughts $6.00

Mini Scor It $20.00

Oh So Lovely $6.00

On Gossamer Wings $12.00

Organic Grace $5.00

Polka Dots & Paisley $8.00

Reverse Prints (AM) $8.00

Simply Said $12.00

Sketch It $15.00

Stars & Swirls (AM) $5.00

Stipple Celeb $12

Sweet Dreams $12.00

Sweet Shapes $10.00

Text & Texture $10.00

Wishing You the Best $5.00

Background: Word by Word $8.00

No More Light

You're probably going to think I'm crazy after this post, but ... oh well!!  This week has been a tough one for me.  You see, I am a devoted fan of the soap opera, Guiding Light.  And, today was the final episode of the longest running soap opera (for that matter tv show) ever!!  72 years!!  Guiding Light" debuted on NBC radio in 1937 as a 15-minute serial, then moved to CBS television on June 30, 1952. In 1968, "GL" expanded to 30 minutes and, in 1977, became a full hour. Once there were a dozen or so daytime soaps on the TV networks - now there will be seven.

I remember my Great Aunt Lou watching soap operas - Guiding Light, As the World Turns and Edge of Night.  How many of you watched these shows with grandmothers, moms, aunts, etc?  They were real to them.  Well, today I feel like I lost part of my family.  Guiding Light reminded us every day that family is where the heart is, or where it should be. 

The family at the core of the show was the Bauers, but over the decades the Spaulding, Lewis and Cooper clans also have helped populate the mythical towns where the drama took place.  I have loved with them, laughed with them, celebrated with them and cried with them through their own life events year after year. I have grown up with those characters, so it's very easy for us fans to feel as if we know them and think of them as part of our families. When it's off, we will grieve and miss them.

Along with veteran cast members, the show  played host to many actors who left to find larger stardom elsewhere. These include Kevin Bacon, JoBeth Williams, James Earl Jones, Allison Janney, Brittany Snow, Hayden Panettiere and Melina Kanakaredes.

Considering the years the show had leading up to cancellation ... talk about some low points. From Josh and Cassie to Grady Foley and everything in between, I honestly considered taking a break from the show because I couldn't stand to see it be destroyed any longer. Obviously that didn't happen, and the show eventually made a huge turn around starting with the events surrounding Coop's death and Phillip's return. Things were truly looking up for Guiding Light and then the rug was pulled out from under them.

To the writers credit, they did a good job these past couple of weeks "tying up all the loose ends."  I can't say that I was thrilled with  .... oops can't say what happened.  My daughter is also a big fan of the show - she grew up watching it with me!!  She is visiting her cousin this weekend and hasn't seen the final shows.

Guess I'll have an extra hour in my day now to be creative.  But, I'll sure miss that beacon of light that guided those actors each day.