Thursday 10:45am

Good Morning!

Can't believe it's already been a week since we chatted.  The tornado sirens went off one day.  We've had rain off and on--even thunderstorms!  And some gorgeous sunny spring days, too.

Let's see--basically been working on making cards and writing letters.  (I do love getting snail mail, you guys!)  

I finished stamping 100 of these Christmas card fronts. 

We still will probably stamp the backs with our new made-by stamp.  And we have yet to decide if we want anything stamped inside the cards but the hardest part of the two scenery Christmas sets is done.  :)

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I got as far as I could coloring 70 of the crazy cat stamps.

I just have not figured out yet how I want to color the cat and I want to do something embellish-y for the cake frosting, too.

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Karma loved the flower box and packing paper for the couple days I left it for her to lounge upon. 

Oh, and this was actually a first sighting of a new visitor--exactly what I saw from the kitchen table.  Looks like a dove.  Maybe a mourning dove?  

It's been around since and definitely doesn't like to share the sunflower seeds any more than the bigger black birds do--LOL!  The poor little sparrows.  

No wonder they have become so adept at darting in and escaping quickly.  She turns around and poof--LOL!

Chillier days Karma keeps her post in her warm round bed. 

Most all the critter family out there have seemed to learn that Karma can't really get to them.  They will be right out there--sometimes inches away--even when her face is practically pressed against the screen.  So she usually just sits and watches them now.  Miss Karma has never had better CatTV!!  Goodness sakes!  Smell-o-vision and everything--LOL!

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Me--I continued on with the cards.  Next it was printing Christmas card fronts with an ornaments stamp. 

Three of them--that I would also color. 

Was a quiet week for Karma and I.  No visitors.  I wasn't feeling that hot on Monday so I passed on Craft Night with Leah.  Might be up to it tonight and will let her know.  Wait and see how the day goes.  

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Been cooler and damper. 

Karma can hardly wait for me to get up and open the patio door. 

 But we've had a couple days where it got too chilly in here and a couple days where it got too hot.  Typical spring rollercoaster weather. 

Oh--some bad news.  :(  

Sadly, these roses were collapsing after about five days, too. 

Well, it was a new company, cheaper, and they started out last year actually fulfilling all the expectations they put out there--fresher, longer lasting, healthier, more fragrant flowers. 

But maybe they got too big too fast and couldn't keep up the quality?  Granted, these looked better to begin with and are dying more gracefully but pretty much just as quickly.  At a week they are not as crispy dead, but definitely have one thorny foot in the grave.  A whole flower even fell right off the stem.  

Regardless, I asked Leah to go back to buying me a live potted plant if she wants to get me something for Mother's Day next year.  ;)  I think I agree with her stand now.  No more cut flowers.

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 Meanwhile...back at the ranch...

Letter and cards and Netflix.

I started coloring the ornaments. 

Yup--assembly line method.  One color at a time. 

Got this far!  

Now we just have to decide how to shimmer them up.  They need a little bling--but almost done.  

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I saw a cable TV truck across the way at the other apartment complex and it made me wonder why they put orange cones in front of the parked trucks? 

I think electric repair trucks might do that, too.  Why?  They are just parked there?  They're not in a no parking or a handicapped spot?  I have never understood why they do that.  Anyone know?  (I think of you, Iggy, every time I see an orange cone!)

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And, speaking of puzzling actions...why would Karma think she needed to claim the electric cord to my laptop?  Silly girl!

Anyways, this morning it was sunny and cool.  I put a big pile of sunflower seeds out because I hadn't seen Little Buddy for a couple of days and the birds come and gobble down the sunflower seeds in no time anymore.  Especially the black birds.  I thought if I put out more maybe there might be some left if Little Buddy came this morning. 

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And he was almost the first one there! 

If you click to enlarge this you can see those fat pouches! 

He filled them up full, scooted away, and quickly came back in a flash until the entire pile was gone!  No seeds for the birds today--LOL!  Lots of entertainment for Miss Karma, though.  And for me.  ;)   

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But right now, Karma's softly snoring in the chair next to me.  Even the birds are pretty quiet today.  It's 68 degrees right now and supposed to get up to the mid-70s with a blue and white sky and only 48% humidity--ahhh!  Windows open day!!  Love it!  :)

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I hope you've been having a good week and good weather.  I'll be writing letters owed and watching new seasons on Netflix of Hell On Wheels and Pinky Blinders (already watched Bloodline).  Caroline will grocery shop for me tomorrow and I can put in my Amazon order--with some goodies for Ian (his birthday's in June and Gramma's not going to be spacy-late this time) and a few crafty pens for some shimmer and bling on the cards--whoohoo!  Maybe even do some crafts with Leah tonight.  Life is good!! 

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Happy weekend!  :):)

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"Gratitude makes us feel bursting with delight, just to remember the gifts we have received. Thus we are doubly blessed when we receive something: for the gift itself and later, in recall, for the miracle of having been given it."

MJ Ryan