Mynee's Musings

Scattered Showers

Yes, it was cloudy and it rained a little today, however, that is not the reason for the title of this post.  I bought the new Scattered Showers stamp set from Papertrey Ink a few weeks ago.  It was designed by Dawn McVey, one of my PSF's.  It's such a cute set and it's so versatile.  It's one that I will definitely use again and again.  Here is the first card I created with this set.

Ingredients:

Ink - Ocean Tides by Papertrey Ink, Chocolate Chip by @Stampin' Up

Card stock - Kraft and Very Vanilla by @Stampin' Up, Ocean Tides by Papertrey Ink    

Images -  Scattered Showers by Papertrey Ink

Accessories- button and ribbon by Papertrey Ink, linen thread by @Stampin' Up, Stickles   

It's a little difficult to see in the photo, but I added Stickles to the center of each flower as well as the "fringe" on the bottom of the umbrella.  Be sure to click the photo for a closer view.

Later!

101 Years is a Long Time

We went to the Cardinals/Cubs game yesterday.  It was a beautiful day; sunny, breezy and 85 degrees.  Unfortunately, the Cards lost, 10 to 3.  Yikes.  Oh well, the Cards are still in first place and the Cubs are 3 games back in 4th place.  Na na na na na.

The Cubs fans were cheering like they had won the World Series.  Poor dears, they have to hang on to any little victory that comes their way.  I almost feel sorry for them.  I mean seriously, they haven't won a World Series since 1908 which is 101 years ago.  Let's take a look at everything that has happened since then...

1. The radio was invented.
2. Four states have been admitted to the Union.
3. The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
4. The television was invented.
5. The U.S. went through the Great Depression.
6. The U.S. has participated in two World Wars and three major armed conflicts.
7. The National Football League was founded.
8. Man landed on the moon.
9. Halley's comet has passed the Earth twice.
10. 17 different Presidents have been elected, one has been appointed, one has resigned, and one has been impeached, but not removed.
11. Harry Carey was born, fired by the Cardinals, and passed away.
12. Wrigley Field was built, became the oldest baseball park in the National League, and was repaired due to falling concrete.
13. *Wrigley Field hosted the NFL games for 50 seasons, more than any other stadium in history.
14. Wrigley Field hosted the 1963 NFL Championship and three MLB all-star games.
15. *The State of Illinois financed a new park for the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bears.
16. *Chicago has been home to eight NFL champions, one Super Bowl champion, one Arena Bowl champion, three Stanley Cup champions, two IHL champions, one AHL champion, six NBA champions, and one MLS Cup champion.
17. Lights have been added to 30 major league baseball stadiums, even Wrigley.
18. *Fourteen teams have been added to the major leagues.
19. *Baseball and softball have become Olympic sports.
20. *The World Series has been won by 21 different franchises, including 6 expansion teams and 1from Canada.
21. Hundreds of boys were born, raised, played inept baseball for the Cubs, retired, and died of old age.
22. *The Chicago White Sox have won 2 World Series.
23. THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS HAVE WON 17 NL PENNANTS AND 10 WORLD SERIES

I've received this list numerous times through e-mail (not sure who came up with it but it's great). 

Cubs fans, you can cheer all you want but your team still stinks!

Greta Saw a Squirrel

Yesterday morning, I noticed little pieces of something falling out of one of our maples trees by the patio.  I thought perhaps it might be a bird sitting on one of the branches, eating the buds.  Well, I looked up and saw a fluffy little squirrel.  He was munching on the little helicopter seeds (you know, those things that grow on maple trees and spin like helicopters when you throw them up in the air?).  Guess who was back again this morning?  Yep, Mr. Squirrel.  This time I grabbed my camera...

Greta sat at the window watching the squirrel eat his breakfast.  After a few minutes, she grew bored with this and went to her bowl to eat her own breakfast.

Ah, the life of a cat!

Embossed ATC

Here is the other ATC that I mentioned a few weeks ago.  For this swap, we had to use embossing somewhere on the ATC.  I decided to emboss the heart image using clear embossing powder and I really like the result.  Since I don't have many occasions to use the Love Will Keep Us Together stamp from the Papertrey Love Songs set, I thought it was the perfect addition to this layout. 

   

Ingredients:

Ink - Not Quite Navy by @Stampin' Up

Card stock - Kraft, Ruby Red, Old Olive and Not Quite by @Stampin' Up    

Images -  Polka Dot Punches by @Stampin' Up, Love Songs by Papertrey Ink, swirl by Hero Arts

Accessories- brad, embossing powder and heart punch by @Stampin' Up

Have a great rest of the weekend.

First Game

We went to our first Cardinal game of the season yesterday.  It was a nice sunny day although the air was a little cool.  It was only about 60 degress and our seats were in the shade but we wore our Cardinal sweatshirts so we were fine. 

The Cardinals beat the Astros 11 to 2.  I hate the Astros.  Have I told you that before?  Hee hee hee...yep, I believe I've mentioned it once or twice before.  Anyway, Albert Pujols hit a grand slam and a 3 run home run.  He didn't get a hit during his first at bat, and right before his second at bat, Bill said that Pujols was going to hit a home run.  Well, he didn't so I said, "Oh , you mean during his next at bat, right?"  Well his next at bat the bases are loaded and BAM, he hit it out on the first pitch.  Too cool.  His next at bat was the 3 run homer. 

I hope you all have a nice Easter.

Jenny's Birthday

My friend, Jenny, celebrated her birthday today.  She probably wouldn't want me to tell you how old she is but, let's just say, she is now as old as I am...hee hee hee.  Anyway, pink is her "signature color" so, for her card, I started with pink and went from there. 

   

Ingredients:

Ink - Chocolate Chip by @Stampin' Up

Card stock - Pretty In Pink and Very Vanilla by @Stampin' Up    

Images -  Hero Arts

Accessories- buttons and Pretties by @Stampin' Up, flower punch by EK Success, ribbon by Michaels 

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

Cat ATC

I joined two Artist Trading Card swaps (aka ATC) during the last month or so.  The theme of this first one was "animals" so, since I have a cute little cat stamp, I decided to use it.  The linen thread is supposed to be a string that the kitty is chasing.

Ingredients:

Ink - Chocolate Chip and Basic Black by @Stampin' Up

Card stock - Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, More Mustard and Very Vanilla by @Stampin' Up    

Images -  Here Kitty Kitty by @Stampin' Up

Accessories- brad, linen thread and window punch by @Stampin' Up, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder   

I'll post the other ATC within the next few days so be sure to check back.  Later...

Opening Day

Woohoo.  Baseball season is here.  I'm so happy.  The Cardinals opened the season today at Busch Stadium against the Pirates.  It definitely wasn't normal baseball weather, even for April.  It was only 38 degrees today and there were snow flurries floating around.  I can't even imagine sitting at a game in this kind of weather.  We were at a game a few years ago when it was only 48 and that was cold enough.  My sister and I were at a World Series playoff game back in 2005 and it was rainy and 42 and we just about froze.  Anyway, unfortunately the fans who braved the weather today didn't see a winner.  The Cardinals lost 6 to 4.

In other baseball news, my mom called me to say that Tampa Bay placed Jason Irsringhausen on the 15 day diabled list.  Ha.  Looks like nothing has changed.  I wonder if Tampa Bay is regretting signing him.  Hee hee hee...

Tapas With Mom & Dad

We had my mom and dad over for dinner last night.  We fixed tapas or "small plates."  We started with cold chicken pot stickers with tamari, rice wine vinegar and sesame seeds on a bed of bok choy.  We then had BBQ shrimp.  I don't often eat shrimp but I do enjoy it occasionally.  We then had a tomato, artichoke and feta salad while Bill was grilling the burger kabobs.  I made little meatballs, placed them on skewers and then Bill grilled them on a bed of onions and basted them with Tastefully Simple Merlot Sauce.  Yum.  We also had cheese potatoes to round out the meal.

Here's the recipe for the shrimp.  Very easy and tasty:

shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 can tomato sauce

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

Combine ingredient and marinate shrimp for about 1 hour.  Place shrimp on skewers and grill for several minutes until done. 

It's cloudy and windy today.  The temperature is about 68 but it's supposed to start falling quickly and tomorrow will be cold with snow flurries.  Not very good weather for opening day.  Go Cardinals! 

Mattingly Brewing

We ate dinner at Mattingly Brewing last night.  It's in the Benton Park neighborhood near Jefferson and Arsenal.  They opened sometime last summer but just started brewing their own beer within the last few months.  I tried their brown and the red ales.  Bill had the brown and the Belgian dubbel.  All of the beers were very good, although Bill thought that the brown was a little too hoppy.  For dinner, I had the salmon and Bill had fish and chips.  We were going to buy a growler to take home but they were out.  Oh well, that just gives us a reason to go back soon.

Happy Saturday.