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!!!!!

Crazy Woman Canyon, WY

  We recently explored the area around Buffalo, WY and one of the most impressive drives we did was through Crazy Woman Canyon.  There are several legends explaining the name - from that of a white woman who witnessed the massacre of her entire family by indians to the poorly translated indian word for prostitute.

Crazy Woman Creek forms the canyon and it is a lovely, rushing stream.

This is a narrow canyon . . .

    

With sheer rock faces and overhangs that crowd the narrow, one lane road.

We've seen these wild roses before.  They have such a wonderful smell that permeates the air anywhere near them.

We came out of the canyon into a grassy plain and this little darling was as intrigued by us as we were by her.  She posed for quite a while - long enough for me to get a picture with my little camera and for JC to get his big ole D90 out and take some shots.  Not to worry, her parent was standing guard, but too far away for good pictures!!

Cupcake card

Here is a card I made because I needed a birthday card and because Mary at Cricut Cardz Challenge was having a cake/cupcake challenge. This is my first entry to a challenge (I'm a little nervous).

I made the card using the Doodle Charms cart and my recently purchased Gypsy. I made the cupcake a little small because I wanted the Cuttlebug birthday embossing to show. If I make this card again, I may make the cupcake bigger!
I'm trying to dress up the inside of my cards more. Sending this to my Mom for her birthday.

Kick Back Card

I made this card recently for the birthday of a dear friend.

Some elements are from the "Just Because Cards" Cricut cartridge, but I can't leave well enough alone and altered the saying from "just kickin back" to "just kick back" because that makes more sense to me!!
Then your message can read "and have a good birthday/retirement/trip/life/day/etc." : )