Rowdy... Posing for me!

Here's Rowdy posing for me as I take my first pictures with my new Nikon L15! He likes to tilt his head when I'm talking to him!!! I wonder if he understands what I'm telling him??

Cameras... Chapter Two

Then along came the digital cameras... our first one was a Kodak DC260, A 1.6 megapixel, my Samsung Black Jack cell phone has more than that! A few years later we got the Minotla Dimage A1, 8.2 megapixel, I got that one loaded with lots of extras. Two years ago Mike got a Sony DSC -W1 at a pawn shop for about $100. Then last year right before my swearing in I decided to get the 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR with interchangeable lenses and an external flash. We also added othe extras to it. As much as I love my D80 it's too heavy for me to carry around all the time; a purse, a conference bag and a camera bag are just too many and to heavy for me to carry. So Santa (DH) got me the 8 megapixel Nikon L15 for me to carry in my purse! Great little camera! I love it already!

Cameras... Chapter One

My very first camera was a old 110. I still have it, but it's somewhere at moms house. I'll try to find it so I can take a picture of it. My next one was "The Handle" I don't really remember who makes it, but I think it's a Kodak, it came in a Yellow or Orange box and it's still put away in it. After that we (mom and I) were given by one of my great aunts, an old 35mm, but I can't remember just what it was, again it's somewhere at moms. Then I purchased a Minolta 7000 from Myrna's mom. I loved my old camera, I took more pictures with it than with anything else. Mike at that time also upgraded to a Minolta 9xi, that baby was rigged up and expensive for its kind, again did lots of freelancing and it eventually paid for itself. Next came the Digital Cams....

Collector of Cameras??

Mom's Front Door

This is my Mom's front door! I just love the country feel and hominess of her house. The cowbell is an antique from the olden times when we still ranched and my grandpa was a cowboy!

Off to Austin!

I'll be spending the next four days in Austin at a Texas Vital Statistics Conference. There are upcoming changes to laws that apply to my office in September 2008. I'm looking forward to bringing back as much information as I can. I'm sure the conference will be very informative!

BEWARE OF DOG!

I hadn't posted a picture of Rowdy in a long long time. The right leg is the one that was fractured after Mike ran over him last May.... my poor poor puppy! He was worth the $1,000 I paid to save him! He's such a good dog... I'm a loner and Mike is usullay working--Rowdy watches over me and the house while Mike is gone. We usually keep him tied up on the deck... only problem is the poop area!!! Even Myrna and her DD's are afraid of him. He barks and growls at everything and anything. He loves chasing cars... that's why he's tied up. He loves to play with his toys... Mom recently gave him a rubber crab that she brought from South Padre Island and he just loves it. He takes it in his mouth and just shakes it, he jumps and then he tosses it in the air and starts all over again. I love my dog!!

Alcohol Ink Ornaments

These are my first Christmas Tree Ornaments I colored using alcohol inks. I need improvement, but they are still okay. I'm making more tonight.

Mike's New Car

This is a picture of Mike's new car. Economy is the way to go. I know that at almost $3.00 per gallon and after filling up with $70 of gasoline in my 2006 Envoy it has me thinking of changing vehicles.

He got a great bargain on this one. It's a brand new 2006 Kia Spectra EX.

Tumbled Tile Coasters

Tumbled Tile Coasters

Supplies:Unglazed Tumbled tiles (Lowes)
Alcohol Ink, Blending Solution and Ink Applicator Tool
Rubber Stamp(s) of your choice, I prefer solid stamps such as Bronc Buster by Stampin’ Up
Stazon Ink
Self Adhesive Cork shelf liner or felt backing
Krylon Workable Fixative
Krylon Triple Thick Clear Glaze or Krylon Matte Finish

1. Wash off tiles to remove dust, let dry.
2. Spray with Krylon Workable Fixative, let dry; should be ready in about an hour..
3. Ink edges of tile with alcohol ink using applicator, if it gets too dark add a few drops of the blending solution. (I ink edges and center then thin out or lighten the color by adding the blending solution.) Heat set by baking at 325 deg. oven for about 15 min.
4. Use Stazon Ink to rubberstamp image or images on tile. Heat set by baking at 325 deg. oven for about 15 min.
5. Spray with either Glaze or Matte Finish, let it dry for about 24 hours before handling. 6. Cut out cork or felt approximately 3 ¾ by 3 ¾ and attach to the back of each coaster.

To clean wipe with damp cloth, do not place in dishwasher.

Note: The music coaster set is one I made for Myrna's teacher and the Bronc Busters set was a door prize for our clerk's conference.

Lee came home to visit

Yay... I'm happy today... Lee came home to visit from San Antonio. I know he came to see our cousin Marcos who just came home from the Persian Gulf, he's in the Navy! Anyway, even if he didn't come home to see me... I'm still glad he came home and got here safely!

My dad and my uncle always loved to hunt. Here they are with one of their kills... No it's not a trophy buck... but I'm sure it was tasty nonetheless!

My Dad is the one on the left and my uncle is the one holding the rifle on the right!

Paternal Grandparents

These are my Dad's parents... rumor has it that I look alot like her! What do you think?

Ancestors - My Polish and Mexican Roots

These are my great-grandparents on Dad's side of the family. He was from Mexico and she was 1/2 Polish. They died way before I was born.

MIA

If anyone's been wondering where I'm at... well... I have a bad UTI, plus other issues. Haven't felt like doing much. I went to my MD on Monday and he gave me an antibiotic, just now started feeling a bit better. As always he got after me about losing weight... he gave me 1 year to lose 33 pounds and that's the way we're going to do it until I lose the whole 150 I need to lose!!! (Since BC/BS will not cover my lapband!)
I have an appointment with my OBGYN... to handle my "other issues" I've needed a hysterectomy for over a year now, and this will be my second opinion. I'm hoping that there is some sort of "miracle cure" for fibroids, but I know that there isn't. This surgery is specially hard for me to decide on because I don't have children and this would bring complete closure to this part of my life. Being "childless" is something I never thought I'd be, but it wasn't by choice, life just turned out that way and I've always felt that I was delt a bad card. Unforfunately, there are some things in life that one cannot change and this is one of them for me.
Another thing is that "my baby" brother is going away to college and I'm completely heartbroke, I don't say much about it because it makes things harder for my mom. For the last month I've been living with a knot in my throat, just ready to burst into sobs. I am totally devastated... I am going to miss him so much. I know he has to go away to finish his education and I know that he is only a phone call away, but still it's not the same. I'm hoping that he will be home as often as possible... maybe we can plan to go see George Lopez in October for his birthday!
I'll be gone through this coming weekend because we're going to leave him in San Antonio.
Thanks for listening!

This is our Courthouse, the buidling where I work... it's a brand new building. This picture was taken about a day after the Grand Opening! We've been told that it's one of the most beautiful courthouses in Texas!

Capitol of Texas 2005

Mike stood in the middle of the street at noon in Austin just to take this picture for me!

Texas State Capitol

Kim, Renee, and Myrna, this is the shot I was taking when you gals called me while I was at my Elections conference last month!

This is the capital of Texas in Austin, TX... isn't she grand?

I just love taking night shots!

Romantic Dog

This card is for Bryana, Myrna's youngest DD. She's such a sweetheart. She likes to read my blogs and look at my pictures. I love her so much! She's my little angel! Her birthday is on August 17... she'll be turning 7!

Romantic Dog

Bronc Buster

I made a set of these cards for an SU swap. The stamp is called Bronc Buster and it's one of my favorites. I'm looking forward to making many layouts with this stamp set.

Lee and Laura

Lee wanted me to post this picture of them.

What a cute couple, don't you think?

Laura and Lee

the

Recipies

Everybody knows I love recipes... These are some of my favorites

One Word Tag

Yourself: Caring
Your Partner: Contraversial
Your Hair: Short
Your Mother: Angelical
Your Father: Gone
Your Favorite Item: Nikon d80
Your Dream Last Night: weird
Your Favorite Drink: Margarita
Your Dream Car: expensive
Your Dream Home: Big
The Room You Are In: Office
Your Fear: death
Where You Want To Be In Ten Years: Retired
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: Mom
You're Not: Selfish
One of Your Wish List Items: storage
The Last Thing You Did: napped
You Are Wearing: jeans
Your Favorite Weather: spring
Your Favorite Book: Mystery
Last Thing You Ate: Taco
Your Life: complicated
Your Mood: Tired
Your Best Friend: Myrna
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: Food
Your Car: Envoy
What Are You Doing At The Moment: thinking
Relationship Status: Married
What Is On Your TV: Paula
What Is The Weather Like: Stormy
When Is The Last Time You Laughed: Afternoon

Daddy's Girl

I must have been about 12 or 13 in this picture. It's before the house was remodeled and the kitchen was moved. My dad is so young here.

I MISS MY DADDY :(!

Another oldie... I miss ME!

Mom and Me

This is an old beat up picture of Mom and myself, it's ancient, Circa 1979! We're standing in front of mom's house. Look at those bodies. I wonder what happened to us. Mom is still "slim", but here, she's really skinny. Then look at me... I can't believe how thin I was. I'm thinking this had to be in 79 so that would have made 16 yrs old. This is an old Polaroid that I scanned, so the blob on the top is where the chemicals used for developing leaked into the picture... bummer!

Your Psyche is Red

You are bright, bold, energetic, and intense. Your upbeat, zany energy inspires those who are down. Spontaneous and playful, you also have a courageous and fearless side. When you are too red: you are angry, overprotective, and truly scary. When you don't have enough red: you are depleted and lifeless.

What Color Is Your Psyche?

Okay so the picture isn't that great!!! Nonetheless, I just wanted everyone to take a look at Rowdy after last weeks ordeal of him getting run over by Mike.

Today he was almost back to normal, had it not been for the bad limp he has. He's going to the vet on the 5th for another shot and for a check up on his leg.

I guess he's gonna make it after all!!!

Rowdy: Tough and/or disorderly, yes! That's my puppy!!

It's been a while since I posted anything here... Just wanted to show you all my PSX Hibiscus card!!!

Lee and Laura

Here they are... the love birds. My brother and his girl friend. Don't they make a cute couple? He insisted I post a picture of them in my blog!! Sorry Laura, he said you wouldn't mind!!

Class of 82 Class Reunion in 92

I was very surprised when I came across this picture. I really thought I had lost it. Mike and I were both so young. No gray hair, then again this was taken 15 yrs. ago!!

We are due to have our 25th year class reunion in June of 07!!!

Oh by the way, that's my class reunion... Mike graduated 10 years before I did in '72!

What do you think of my red hair? Should do that again?

OMG...This was forever ago... 01-07-1993

All day long I fiddled with pictures. I was so surprised to come across this old thing, I was 29 years old and holding a Texas size radish that Kenneth Lawrence had grown in his vegetable garden. Mr. Lawrence was always bringing me something home grown to my office, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, even blue corn. On this particular day he came in radish in one hand and camera in the other, he just said "smile"!! He was the sweetest older gentleman any person would want as a friend. He had been snowbound and frostbitten eary in his life. In the end he lost a leg, and later passed on near my birthday. It was sad to lose a friend, I cried...

This picture was taken at the old county attorney's office that was located in the old courthouse annex. I just noticed that I was wearing my ostrich ropers, that must have been about 100 pounds ago... Yikes, that should be incentive enough for me to want to lose weight!!!

Mom's Birthday Card

This is my Mom's birthday card. I started working on it very very early this morning. Everybody seems to have liked it. It's Prismacolored, then I used a blender pencil and Gamsol. I chalked the entire image with a sponge then slightly tea-dyed the edges to give it more of a vintage look. I recently purchased the Prismacolors and I'm enjoying every minute I use them. Before I purchased these pencils, I questioned whether or not I should be doing this. Nonetheless, my Mom loved her card... in the inside is a very simple handwritten message, "Happy Birthday Mom, Love you! Mary Jayne" can't get more to the point than that.

Myrna & MJ

Here we are!! I guess we hadn't taken a self-portrait in about 20 years. I'll try to find the old pictures so you can compare the before and after. Now that'll be a site. Love you girlfriend!!!

Forever Friends
When I hear that sappy little phrase,
“Families are Forever,”
I always wonder
Are friends forever too?

Because if not,
Just stop the world and let me get off!

I will never find another friend
As fun, crazy and more like me
Anywhere in heaven…
Let alone here on earth!

I simply can’t find words to describe
The ways you touch my life.
You refuse to let me be
Anything less than myself,
And you love me
Like no friend ever has.
I can’t imagine getting through a day,
Much less eternity, without you.

Let’s make a pact.
(Yeah, yeah, we’ll keep the ‘forever family’.)
But you and I will be
Goddesses together…
Divine Divas to the max …
Forever, for always
And no matter what.
© 2003 Suzy Toronto

I've been away from my blog

Oh dear... I hadn't realized how long it had been since I'd been in here. I guess I should try to post new stuff more often.
Myrna came to visit my office for the first time today and took some cool pictures, check them out! I just wish she would have warned me so I could have at least "powdered" my nose!

My Best Friend

This is my friend Myrna, a.k.a. myrnabs. I’ve known her most of her life and we’ve been friends since 1984. I’m about eight years older than her and if you figure that out in 1984 she was only 13 and I was 21.
Myrna is a very pretty lady with a beautiful personality. She is the type of person who will take the shirt off her back to help others. Always going out of her way. She is very smart, and I’m very proud of her. She attends college/university (50 miles away) every weekday, often coming home very late at night. She is a great musician and is pursuing her career in music. I know she will be a great band director some day in the near future.

On top of all this she is also a very talented papercrafter. She makes beautiful cards and altered items. She is the one that made my dog, Rowdy's treat jar! (See below.)
Myrna is very special, she is a wife, mother of two beautiful girls, daughter, sister, aunt, and most important to me, she’s my best friend. I would not know what to do without her friendship. I see her like the little sister I never had! I don’t have to say this cause she knows it, but I lover her very much!
P.S. Doesn’t she look pretty with her new glasses?

Rowdy's Treats Jar

I guess that by now everyone knows that I have a dog named Rowdy. My friend Myrna knows just how much I love him so she went all out and made a treat jar for him. Take a peek for yourselves. It took her an etire evening to complete her project. I think it turned out just beautiful. I love it and it's so much easier now to give my "baby" his treats. She went as far as coloring the doggy blonde or light brown like Rowdy. I really like how she did the lid, cutting out circles and arranging them around the big circle. Then adding the pretty polka dotted ribbon around the jar. I just totally love Rowday's new treat jar. Oh one more thing, she even sent her mom to buy Rowdy some treats, ain't that sweet!!!!!

Thanks...Love you Myrna!!!