Birthday Cards

Hello, friends!  Thanks for stopping by today.

 These are birthday cards I made recently for my son and daughter.  I didn't use a template or an idea from Pinterest as I usually do.  I let the paper inspire me. 

The papers are from a 12x12 cardstock pack purchased at Michaels called Modern Homestead by Recollections.  I also used adhesive and foam strips from Scrapbook.com, Hero Arts Bee stamps, Ranger Distress Ink and ribbon, brad, flower, and bling I had on hand.  These are not affiliate links... just linking in case anyone sees something they would like to use.

Front of card when closed

Card when opened (Accordian fold)

Front of card when closed

Card when opened (Accordian fold)

Please visit other crafty and inspired creators at Crafty Creators and Friendship Friday.  Have a great weekend!

Adventure (Thursday Thirteen)

 Amelia Earhart said, "Adventure is worthwhile in itself."  And look what happened to her!  She disappeared somewhere over the Pacific and was never found! 

 Adventure movies tend to be the most popular genre in the U. S. and are highly successful at the box office, but if Hollywood is any indication as to what an adventure consists of, then I want no part of it!

Take, for instance, the 60 Essential Adventure Movies according to Rotten Tomatoes.  Here are a few adventure movies I would want NO part of!

1. King Kong (1933) - Scary giant gorilla?  No, thank you!

2. The Wizard of Oz (1939) - Talking tin man, talking lion, talking scarecrow, Munchkins, the Wicked Witch of the East, and a Wizard no one can see!  I'll stay home.

3. Moby Dick (1956) - A dangerous great white whale took the leg of Captain Ahab and they actually want to go back out into treacherous seas to seek vengeance?  I get seasick just going out on the lake!

4. Journey to the Center of the Earth (1959) - Volcanoes, underwater oceans, monsters, and villains.  I'ma stay up here on the Earth rather than in it!

5. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Being chased by Nazis is one thing, but poisonous snakes?  I can't watch that let alone see it as an adventure I would want anything to do with!

6. Romancing the Stone (1984) - A kidnapping, a drug lord, a number of chases, and crocodiles, just to name a few issues.  Please don't kidnap my sister!

7. The Goonies (1985) - Another treasure map and a crime family that wants the loot and is willing to kill to get it first!  I don't need any treasure!

8. Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989) - I'm already short!  I don't want to be 1/4 inch tall!  Ants stampeding would freak me out!

9. Hook (1991) - Kidnapped children by a man with a hook instead of a hand?  Not my idea of an adventure.

10.White Fang (1991) - Wild dogs, violent humans, icy snow, and none of the comforts of home.  I'd rather be warm and cozy at home with a good book.

11.Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (1994) - Living in the jungle, no indoor sleeping or plumbing, a tiger, a black panther, and a python.  Doesn't everyone know by now I don't like snakes?

12.Jumanji (1995) - Being sucked into a supernatural board game seems like nightmare, not an adventure!  Carnivorous vines, baths, mosquitoes, stampes of animals.  I'd rather see animals in a zoo.

13.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - Too much rum would do me in! Treacherous seas (again), shipwrecks, curses, knives, and guns don't make this sound like an adventure I would be comfortable in.

Most of these adventure movies fall into more than one genre, but if this is what adventure is, then I'm out!  And to me, they would be ordeals, not adventures, thus...

Who is Bob Bitchin?

More fun posts for Thursday Thirteen.

Fun Photos - Feathered Friends

 These photos were taken years ago at the Abilene Zoo.

Any idea what kind of bird this is?  It's very tall.

For more fun photos visit Image-in-ing and/or Wordless Wednesday.

Happy Random Tuesday

 Hey!  Glad you're here!

Really random thought today:  Time is of the essence.

What does that even mean?  We all know what time means, although I suppose it has multiple meanings.  But what about the word essence?  I always think of the word essence as spiritual, almost ethereal.

Mirriam Webster has several definitions:  1. the permanent element of a being (opposite of the accidental element)  2. the individual nature of a thing (personality?)  3. the attributes of a thing (descriptions, maybe?)  4. the most significant quality of a thing or person.  Well, you get the idea.

To me, these meanings would make the saying "Time is of the essence" incomplete.  Time is of the essence of what?

But I digress.  Regardless of the definition of the word essence, what the heck does the phrase mean!?  What I gathered from some quick research is that it implies that there is a deadline that must be met in a contractual situation.

According to Construction Science and a book by Stephen Ambrose called Nothing Like it in the World the phrase came about during the construction of the transcontinental railroad.  Although the project seemed impossible, people actually placed bets that it could be done.  It had to be done quickly, so that time, not money (because it was a costly job), was of the essence.

And there is your tiny, little trivia lesson of the day!  Haha!

Moving on...

My twins turned 26 over the weekend.  TWENTY-SIX!  How does that even happen?  And luckily, I was able to see them both since one of them lives almost 5 hours north of here.  My momma heart was full.

And now...

Here's a tip for the husbands:

This cracked me up!

And last, but not least...

Visit Random Tuesday Thoughts and Happy Tuesday.

Have a great week!

Sunday Synopsis

 

The Secret Witness by Victor Methos
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Solomon Shepard is a former prosecutor who was attacked in the courtroom by the defendent that he was prosecuting. It basically ended his career, and he is still recovering physically and emotionally. He basically shuts himself off from the world except for one neighbor until the new, young, female sheriff, Elizabeth (Billie) Gray, asks for help on a case.

She has received a letter that says, "This is the Reaper speaking." The Reaper was a serial killer they hadn't heard from for 8 years. Was he back, or was this a copycat? The current killer is basically following in the footsteps of the original Reaper by going to the same places to kill on the anniversary dates of the original murders. Shepard and Gray will have to hurry and find the Pseudo Reaper to prevent another murder.

The book started with writing I would describe as "clunky," which to me means the author was unnecessarily wordy, unsure of himself, and forcing the narrative on the audience. It didn't flow well at first. The writer seems to hit his stride about 1/4 into the book.

Also, Shepard is a former homicide prosecutor, not a detective, but his character behaves more like a detective in the way he becomes involved with the case. He is not an investigator, but he acts like one.

When Shepard's neighbor goes missing, the girl who helped him and visited him daily, there is blood everywhere, and they fear she is dead. Shepard thinks the Reaper took the girl as vengeance against Shepard for figuring out who he is. Since Shepard is close to the missing girl and thinks he knows who took her, this presents a conflict of interest NOT explored in a book. He should not be investigating or prosecuting a case in which he is that close to the victim.

Additionally, the author focuses on this annoying habit that Shepard has of chewing on pens. Remember how Kojak always had a sucker in his mouth? I think that is the vibe the author was going for, but A. it was frequent, annoying, and ineffective, and B. Sheperd isn't law enforcement. He's an attorney.

Why would Shepard be involved in investigating a case and trying to solve a murder? The police investigate; the attorney prosecutes. And if he is that embroiled in the case, why would Sheriff Gray have to give him latex gloves for a crime scene. Wouldn't he have known that?

There is a reveal at the end that is plenty juicy, but I wouldn't describe this book as "A red-hot suspenser..." as Kirkus Reviews does. I would also not describe anything the author did as "masterful." The author did create some suspense; I'll give him that, but I will also say some of the plot was far-fetched. The book was just Okay.

View all my reviews

Patriotic Wreaths

 Hi friends.  July 4th is coming up soon, so I decided to make some deco mesh wreaths.

This first one uses the curly method. I alternated 2 red and 2 white on 3/4 of the circle and all the blue on 1/4 of it.  I hot-glued some white stars to the blue area and added 3 ombre red, white, and blue carnations.  This was a gift for my sister-just because.

Supplies used:
3 rolls of 6-inch deco mesh, red, white, blue
pipe cleaners (also called chenille sticks) in red, white, blue
scissors
ruler
wire wreath form
patriotic carnations (or other decoration if you choose)
hot glue and glue gun 

This next one was an experiment because I used a square-shaped wreath form.  I'm not 100% happy about the way it turned out. You can't really tell it's a square.  I used the same exact deco mesh and other supplies as above.  For this one, I used the bubble method. I put some metallic pom-pom picks between each color and an American flag at the center.  

You can search on YouTube for various types of deco-mesh wreaths, and they have great step-by-step directions as well as tips and tricks. If you are making one for the first time, that's my suggestion.

I was able to get cash back from Rakuten when I purchased my deco mesh, pipe cleaners, flowers, picks, and wreath forms, not to mention getting the mesh when it was half price. If you aren't using a cash-back app, I highly recommend it.

Have a great weekend!

(I'm linking up with Crafty Creators and Friendship Friday.)

Fun Photos-Roses

 These photos were taken at a park in League City, Texas except the last one which was taken at home delivered by a florist.

For more fun photos visit Image-in-ing and Wordless Wednesday.

Happy Random Tuesday

 

Hello all!  I'm so happy my daughter is coming "home" next weekend.  She will be here to celebrate her birthday with her twin brother.  That makes a momma happy!

Today is officially the first day of summer, but if you live in Texas, you know we started summer over a month ago, and it just keeps getting worse.

  I think almost everyone is experiencing record-breaking hot weather!  We are also experiencing drought conditions. Someone send us some rain!

If you know some "You know it's hot when..." jokes, hit me up in the comments below!

LOL!!!

We pretty much need to stay in the air conditioned house for a few months.  I guess that's sort of okay since gas prices are so high!

And speaking of gas stations...

I suppose places don't really keep them locked anymore, but I remember this from when I was a little girl.  Now we have Buccees and other mega-gas-station-convenience-stores.  Only problem, they are so crowded!  At least their bathrooms are clean, though.

And speaking of gas stations, it irks me when there is a different price for cash and credit.  Who carries cash anymore?  And who wants to go all the way in the store and try to guess how much money a full tank is going to cost.

Dollar tree - where everything is now $1.25!

Let me leave you with something totally unrelated today:

How funny would that be!?  And they'll get an idea of how cats truly behave!  

Have a great week.  Check out Stacy's Random Tuesday Thoughts and Sandee's Happy Tuesday.