New Obsession

Part of the fun of being retired is trying new activities and hobbies.  Today I took a beading class here in Palm Creek RV Resort.  What fun!!

We chose our primary beads, the focal bead, and the accent/spacer beads.  In my case, the majority of the beads were fresh water pearls with some amber colored square beads and round antiqued looking metal beads.  The focal bead is a stone with some swirly stuff and a little color in it.

I really loved seeing how it all came together and I can't wait to research more and maybe go to Tucson to the annual gem show.

Uh oh - going to have to add beading to my list of hobbies!!

A Few Recent Cards

Absence

Sorry I've been so long gone, but we have been so busy here in Palm Creek that I just haven't made the time!!
CD is here for the holidays and we have been making cards like crazy so I will post some pictures soon.
Also, since I last posted here, I've had a hard drive failure and was unable to recover data - so BACK UP THOSE COMPUTERS!!!
See you soon!

Matchbook Card

I totally lifted this card from Mary at Cardz TV.  She is so talented!!

As you can see, it opens like a matchbook and there is a treat inside.  I can envision all sorts of uses for this little gem!!

Colorado Road Food

So you all know how much we love good cheap food and this is one of those places.  We actually discovered this bar several nights before I took these pictures.  That night, however, there was a musical "event" and things were crazy so I didn't take pictures.  The food was so good that we had to go back again!!

The draft PBR's (Pabst Blue Ribbon) were really cold and served in frosted glasses - Yum!!

These tacos were delicious and well crafted - just look at those fresh tomatoes and lettuce!

Retiree's dream - dinner for two under $10!

Bear Creek Saloon & Grill in Pagosa Springs, Co.  Don't miss the happy hour tacos and PBR's. 

Mug shaped cards.

I'm really enjoying making these mug shaped cards.  I'm doing three at a time because I currently have three mats for my Cricut.  I've stamped the middle of the heart with "hello", "smile", and "thank you".  I really think I like the "hello" stamp best and it makes the card more versatile.

I've used a subtly patterned paper for the inside to write a message on and there is a little cup with steam coming from it to add a little interest.

Pikes Peak

JC and I are spending some time in Colorado Springs, CO before we head to Louisville, KY to meet up with both our daughters and watch C do her first "Ironman".

We were very excited to drive to the top of Pikes Peak because we had heard that the views are stunning  . . . and they are stunning; in fact, they are FREAKIN' SCARY!!!  And it's cold up there  - or maybe that was just because it's a FREAKIN' SCARY drive. 

 

Apparently, the vistas from Pikes Peak were the inspiration for Katharine Lee Bates' "America the Beautiful" and there is a wonderful stone monument commemorating the creation of that lovely song.

At 14,110 feet, the Peak is not for the faint of heart or anyone with serious health problems.  In fact, I saw EMTs who were on duty and they sold little canisters of oxygen in the gift shop.

Photographs just don't do these views justice. It's not that bad getting there, really - I'd do it again!  It's like being in an airplane . . . but without the fusilage!!!!!