FOUND! MY STAMPING FRIEND, CAROLYN

This is my dear friend, Carolyn. This picture was taken about 10 years ago in the

back yard of Mary Lea, my stamping, and now knitting, friend.

I met Carolyn @ Tea Time Rubber Stamps, a shop that was three doors away

from my apartment. After selling the cross stitch shop (and getting bored with that

needle craft) I found Bev Kish, the owner of the stamp store and

fell in love with stamping. Bev held a once a week? month? gathering

of stampers for a "Show & Tell" evening. Carolyn was @ the

first one I attended and was showing an elephant card she'd made. I am

an elephant lover (OH! ANOTHER BLOG IDEA!) so I asked Carolyn

if she'd send me one of those cards for my birthday. Instead, she made the components,

gave them to me and said, "Make your own!" And that was the

beginning of our friendship.

We went all over the place together, searching out stamp stores and

card stock and envelope stores. We went north to Northville, MI, to a great

shop. We went east to Hollo's in Brunswick, OH (outside

Cleveland)* for card stock they sold by the pound, envelopes in a

multitude of sizes and colors and much much more for the

rubber stamper. The first time we went to Hollo's we said we

"had died and gone to heaven" as we walked in the door.

Carolyn moved to Jackonsville, FL but that didn't stop us!

I went to Florida 4 times (right, Carolyn?). We hit the stores there, going 

south to St. Augustine, and north to St. Mary's, GA. We also

shopped @ Michaels and Hobby Lobby.

Sadly there came a time I was not able to drive to Florida and when Joan moved here

all trips south ended. Carolyn and I lost track of each other

for a few years but in November she called and we have

been talking via e-mail, snail mail and phone. I am

soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

happy she made that call in November!

Here we are in front of Carolyn's house in Florida.

We had on shorts - both the same color!

+++++++ The Stamping Twins +++++++

This picture sits on an end table by my chair all the time. :-)

*Bill goes to the Hollo's for his card stock. He sends handmade birthday

and Christmas cards, using clever photos. OH, ANOTHER BLOG IDEA!

P.S. Another Thing I Do With My Hands

How could I forget my knitting! On the right is

 a Diamond Scarf and on the left a Hitchhiker Scarf.

Both are in the process of being finished.

Above the Diamond Scarf is a

scarf for the homeless, in progress.

These are two scarves I knit for the homeless. I give them

to my friend, Phyllis, who takes them to the

Cherry Street Mission. The mission is the oldest

establishment in Toledo for the homeless. 

On the right is another shot of the Hitchhiker Scarf. On the

left is an afghan I am knitting for myself. I feel the cold

in my knees and wanted something to cover my lap

and........my knees!

HAPPY KNITTING!

TA DA! I FINALLY GOT IT!

What I'm Going to Watch

I didn't start watching "Downton Abbey" on PBS because

I thought I wouldn't like it. Then read reviews, heard raves

and decided I wanted to be "one of the gang" and

got the first season from my library.

What I'm Doing With My Hands

I am working on a small jigsaw - only 550 pieces.

I have a 1000 piece Charles Wysocki waiting.

I enjoy jigsaws. Know it's a good thing to do to keep

one's mind active. You can see how I lay the pieces out

by shape. I am anal that way. I also do not like

someone else to touch my puzzle.

What I'm Reading

I have read some pretty heavy stuff lately and decided I

needed to read some "fluff". The definition

of "fluff" is: a fast read, not well written,

usually by someone who wants the money 

and doesn't care how poorly the books are written.

Examples of fluff authors are Stephen King, Danielle Steele, and

David Baldachi (his first book was excellent. Then he

got diarrhea of the mouth.)

That's it for now. Love to all you who read this stuff.

P.S. "Hi, Bill". Only you and I will know

what this P.S. is about. :-)

HELLO FROM JUDI IN SYLVANIA, OHIO

I am totally frustrated because I wanted to put some pics in here but I can't find them.
I'll just say "hi" and "bye" and try another time.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Lovely Christmas Cactus

I have had this cactus for many years. at one time I gave it to 

a friend. It wouldn't bloom for her so I she gave it back to me.

Oops! I had another shot of the plant but I goofed and put this in twice.

As my sister, Susi, would say, "Duh, squared"!

The cactus is pretty enough to be seen twice, right?

Christmas At Judi's Apartment, December 2013

My pretty little Christmas tree is sitting on the window sill.

She stands 34" high and is entwined with 100 little lights!

My dear friend, Bill, put them on the tree for me.

                                                 This little tree, made of round balls, is in the

                                                  bathroom. It has mini-lights stuck between

                                                  the balls but are not working anymore.

                                                  I liked the tree, even without lights, so use it

                                                                            this way.

Two Santas, composed of metal and wood

sit on a shelf on the bookcase.

Off to the side is an oragami swan.

This is a "lady tree" that I bought for Joan

a number of years ago.

It hangs on the wall in my office area.

Joan collected all kinds of Christmas trees.

That is why I gave her the "lady tree" above.

This is a set of silver trees that were Joan's.

This is another tree deco that was Joan's.

One side opens and a candle

can be inserted.

Joan is here with me at Christmas! As I look at the

trees, I am reminded of my dear sister!

Jesus is the reason for the season! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND PEACE AND JOY

IN THE NEW YEAR!

gsg

HI!

i lost this thing again but today i bit the bullet and worked my way thru a bunch of gobblely-gook and..
voila! here it is. this is just a short bit of nonsense to send so i can get back here easily tomorrow with
pics of my christmas decor.
enjoy your late afternoon and evening. tata!