phillyzee

WOW, it’s been over a year! I have so missed creating and swap-bot. But I didn’t entirely fall off the creating fence, during the past year I have bought/gather more ‘stuff’, watched many videos, and started pinning like a fool. Created barely a thing. Also, during those many months……my FIL pasted away Dec. 19, 2011. My SILs argued for months with my husband about who would be best as POA over their mother’s health; he ultimately won (and was willing to have a court appointed person over either sister). We are in Ohio, they are in FL. (They only cared about money, not her. When they discovered there was no financial gain they dropped the issue.) Husband is executor of estate. FIL’s estate was complex to say the least…still on-going. We made 8 nine-hour around trips to TN to handle estate, house and MIL’s situation. We (DH and myself…alone) emptied a 3 bedroom house. One SIL came for some ‘stuff’ then left. Other SIL wanted nothing and I quote “I don’t want anything, but the money.” What was left in house we had a auctioneer come and take away. House was listed in August. Had an offer that fell through after the buyer wanted us replace many things on a 12 year old house!!! Next offer was to close in Oct…then Nov…then by end of year……now closing by Feb. 8th!!!!!! Any and everything that can go wrong with this mess, has gone wrong! MIL died Nov. 26, 2012. Neither sister showed up for her burial. MIL had Alzheimer’s for YEARS and was in facilities for about 10 years. Husband had to fight about 3 months to get MIL out of a nursing home that was force feeding her to go to a Hospice place. She mother could not move any part of her body, would just lie there until they switched positions for her; very asd, very depressing. Doctor was on husband’s side; nursing home had the gall to tell my husband his mother was not dying. Eleven days after she went to a Hospice facility she past away. Now he is at the end of his dad’s estate and then he must deal with his mother’s!!! Mother’s less complex, most likely the state of TN will come in and take any monies left to mother. This is the short version of the our past year….I could go on for pages! I had breast surgery this past year. Husband will have all his teeth pulled for dentures Feb. 8th. If all goes as planned with mother’s estate and our health I will be getting back into a creating mode. It was very hard to go create when I would see my husband so miserable. He really hasn’t even had time to grieve for his loss (and he was close to his dad) with all the ‘shit’ tossed his way. We have rearranged our rooms to make some room for a few of his dad’s pieces and with that…I am getting our old small family room as a craft room!! His dad’s old roll-top desk will be my crafting table! I have a crafting day planned for Feb. 10th with 3 friends at our local Achivers‘. I am looking forward to that and have absolutely no idea what I will do!!
I am so sorry I just dropped off Swap-Bot the way I did, but it was a necessary thing to do.

I like flowers of all kinds, but daisies, sunflowers and pansies are my favorite. Bushes...hydrangeas and lilacs are great and a field of wildflowers is beautiful. Roses are very pretty, but I don't have good luck with them. I like to garden; I prefer to plant perninnals. Autumn is my favorite time of the year, the cooler weather and colors. I am regularly feeding the birds in the yard and have several birdhouses that are occupied. I have various collections. I have an attachment to chickadees - my dad's name was Charles, often called 'Chick'. When he was dying-April 2001- he told me he would be a little birdie watching over me, thus 'chickadees' , angels (my mother died on Christmas Eve 2000 and this began my angel collection, as she became my Christmas angel - she was my very best friend, cherries (another very strong connection to my mom), candles, kalediscopes, birdhouses, butterflies, and cookbooks. I enjoy cooking; my kitchen is in yellows and greens with a fruit theme. I seem to have a 'thing' for aprons! I have 2 very old half aprons hanging in my kitchen and ocassionally I wear one (a full apron) while cooking. I like Victorian houses, vintage looking items, and shabby chic. I have a snowman collection that sometimes gets put out for the winter months (it didn't last year). I love all kinds of colors and combinations of colors. As I have grown older I have discovered I like greens more. I like quotes and I enjoy 'little' books. I like inspiration quotes and words. I love the Hallmark artist...Marjolein Bastin (her style would make great stamps and papercrafting products).

I enjoy papercrafting, especially rubberstamping and scrapbooks. I like to alter items. I have had a paper fetish since I was a child, I loved paper dolls and coloring books! I have been rubberstamping for over 20 years!! I was a SU demo for 5+ years. I have a burning desire to get a craftroom organized. I have the room and I collect ideas, but haven't had the time/energy to get moving on it. Someone please inspire me!! I would like to get involved in jewelry making. I have supplies and books on it, but not many beads yet. I like handmade beaded bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

I watch all kinds of movies, but I prefer comedies and romance; feel good movies! Although I do watch adventure/action movies too.

I would say I like almost all types of music, but after working full-time for 6 years in an enviroment that pipes in music...I do enjoy my peace and quiet!

I do not drink coffees of any kind! I love tea, both hot and cold. I buy de-caf teas when I can, but I do drink both caf and de-caf. Chai teas and hot chocolates are very tasty. I do not like dark chocolate, but love milk chocolate candies. I like almost all nuts. Love fruits.

I graduated from college with a BA, degree in Home Economics Vocational Eduacation. I am married, for 35 years now!! We have 2 dogs who we refer to as our kids! Sergei and Gordie. Sergei is an American Eskimo dog and Gordie is a mix part Party Pom and American Eskimo; he is more eskimo than pom!! (I can't bring myself to remove his name, but we had to put our beloved Sergei down at the end of July 2010, due to chronic kidney disease. He fought a hard fight the last year of his life in and out of the hospital, but he enjoyed life...when he didn't we knew it was time, he was 13.5 yrs old.) We have one adult daughter. She has adorable Bordie Collie. I am working retail as a full time assistant manager in a woman's clothing store.

We met when he moved in across the street from where my family was living when I was a senior in high school. We have been together ever since!! His birthday is December 21st. He loves trivia. He is a huge sports fan...Michigan sports that is. He grew up in Plymouth, Michigan. He faithfully (sometimes it is so sad to watch...lol) follows the Tigers, Red Wings, Lions and U of M football. Baseball is his all time favorite sport; followed by hockey. An ATC of those sports would crack him up! He named our dogs after sport figures! He likes salty treats, red and black licoirice (I hate the black), jelly beans, cashews, he should have sugar-free chocolates and candies, but he does eat both. He likes covered raisins, peanuts, malted balls, bridge mix and toffees. oh...oatmeal raisin cookies! He is a cola drinker and likes to use those single suger free packets to add to water. For a hot beverage he prefers hot chocolate in the winter months, but he does like chai teas as well. He is a TV person, likes NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI shows, Fornesic Files, other shows like those & House. He has been my rock holding me together when my parents were dying. He is a very caring and supportive person. He is one of the good guys out there in this world and I was lucky to find him! I should also add....... he is my personal mailman, as he takes 99% of my swaps to the post office to mail....so anything you can send to him would be wonderful and we would both appreciate it!!

OK, I decided to think of some 'stuff' and try to create a wishlist. I am sure this will be an on-going work in progress.

Copic markers, organizational ideas (photos of your craft area or ones you have seen even on-line) and organizational products, Basic Grey papers and accessories, K & Co. papers, rub-ons, mono-adhesive permanent refills, glue-dots, chipboard shapes to alter, Martha Stewart papercrafting products, Debbie Mum papers, Tim Holtz items, 7 Gypsies, Stazon refills, beads to start my collection to make jewelry, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist/Stencils, dies and folders to use with a Cuttlebug or Epic 6, items to use for a heritage scrapbook, vintage looking items, embellishments of all kinds -ribbons, fibers, charms, etc., punched shapes or die-cuts, stuff to create ATCs.........