Roses December Challenge -- Collage Card

edited to add: Sue Rose just posted her card for the December challenge -- that means it's already Jan. 1 and the first Sunday of the month (and year) in Australia!! So here's my card, too......

The lovely and talented Sue Rose gave us our challenge for December -- a collage card! And there were several stipulations -- we had to use a vintage image, lace, ribbon, glitter and one recycled thing.

I had to get started on this one early because it definitely took me out of my box! I didn't have to look too far for the vintage graphics -- The Graphics Fairy has the most beautiful vintage images. Don't know why I went with the sewing theme because I certainly am not an accomplished seamstress! But that sweet little girl with the creamy ivory dress called my name and I couldn't pass her up! Also found the thread image and the fancy scissors at The Graphics Fairy.

Next came the lace and ribbon -- found both in my stash and adhered the ribbon to the edge of the lace and then threw in a row of pearls for good measure (measure -- get the pun?). Also "tied" a little ribbon bow to the scissors.

I used two recycled things rather than just one -- the buttons are from my mother's button jar. As a kid I used to use these larger buttons to build the outline of a house and then picked out my favorite buttons to be friends and family! (remember when you used to have to "imagine" for play time?)

Now, I had to stretch it a bit for the glitter and I hope it gets past the challenge police! The thin gold thread that I threaded through the button holes has a glittery look to them. The threads are so fine that you probably have to squint to even see them but they are glittery!!

What a way to end the old year and start the new -- I was very pleased with how this card turned out; will try to do one or two vintage cards each month this year! Be sure to check out all the other Roses; I'm sure there will be some fabulous creations -- the links are in my sidebar!

Betty

Am I Blue?

Well, I'm not blue but my card sure is!! I'd like to enter this card in Annabelle Stamps Bling Sketch Challenge #45, Jellypark Friends Old Year/New Year Challenge to use something old and something new, and For Fun Challenges to show New, Something New.

My "something old" is the lighter color paper that I've embossed with Cuttlebug's Checker Board folder; this is actually one of the first papers I bought when I first started stamping, if you can believe that! And the "something new" is my Papertrey Ink stamp, Background Basics: Gingham. I just got it today, it's that new! Many thanks to my friend Ruthie who brought it down here to me!

Wanted to share another photo with you too. I made another valentine similar to the one I posted yesterday, only reversing the colors -- red where the first card was white and white where the first card was red. I used white embossing powder and versamark to stamp onto the red paper. I also made envelopes for both of the valentines. Love how they all turned out -- my thanks again to Melisa for her inspiration!

Bye for now,
Betty

Thanks, Melisa!

My thanks go out to Melisa Waldorf today; her creation is the inspiration for this card which I will be sharing at our church stamping group in February.

I used stamps from Layers of Color (the Love Chapter designed by Nina Brackett) and I'm not really sure about the heart stamps -- they are older and could be from either Stampin' Up or Michael's. Cut lots of little square blocks and a tag from Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies.

Next came the inside because a black inside just doesn't work for a valentine's card, now does it????

Cut more square blocks and embossed the white block with one of Cuttlebug's Paper Lace II (a set of four folders) and punched a strip of red with a Martha Stewart Deep Edge Punch (Doily Lace). Added a little block to write a sweet love note and this one was done!

I'd like to enter this card in the Dutch Dare Card Challenges to use your favorite things on your card. One of my favorite things are die cuts -- can't get enough of them!! And of course, LOVE is a favorite thing -- after all, it makes the world go round, right????

I had to record all of the block sizes for my class so thought I'd list them below if you're interested in making a card like this for your sweetie come Valentine's Day.

Betty

1 - 5" square black card base

Outside:
4 - 2" square white blocks
4 - 2 1/8" square red blocks
4 - 2 1/4" square white blocks
1 - 2 1/8" square white block }  for center block
1 - 2 1/4" square red block     }  for center block
1 - Fancy Tags Die Cut          }  for center

Inside:
1 - 4 3/4" square white block
1 - 3 3/4" x 2 1/2" red block
1 - 3 5/8" x 2 3/8" white block
1 - 1 1/4" x 4 3/4" red block (for lacy punch)

Papertrey Dec.Blog Hop Challenge

This is my second post today and I have a card for Papertrey Ink's "Holiday Leftovers Challenge".  They aren't referring to food, but all of the wrapping paper, bows, ribbon, tags, canceled postage from holiday cards received, photos from holiday cards and anything else that might be laying around after the holiday has ended.  The challenge is to use some type of leftover materials to create a project. And for a further challenge, create a non-holiday card from these leftovers.

My snowpeople are from a piece of wrapping paper. Sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Everyday Button Bits and I wrote the 2012 on the pail of snowballs. This is a Happy New Year card for friends who are having us over to their home on New Year's Eve.

I am looking forward to another friend's arrival back in Chapala toward the end of the year. She is bringing some new stamps and a die that I had ordered earlier from Papertrey -- can't wait till I can play with them!

Hope Santa filled your stockings with exciting new crafting items!! Another year of creating is almost upon us!

Betty

My 2011 Favorites

Glenda Brooks over at MagPie's Corner gave me the idea to share some of my favorites cards that I've crafted this past year. I had fun scrolling through my blog posts, remembering the sale of our home in Texas, moving to Mexico, finally receiving our household goods, and all the pictures of pretty scenery, flowers, and sunsets(rises) from our wonderful new home that I've posted.

My TOP 2 are cards that I've CASE'd -- thanks to Deb Felts and Patti Nelson for the inspiration!

Now, for the rest, in no particular order of favoritism -- I'm sharing by categories! The next three were made for challenges using a new technique.

I don't often do vintage cards but Patti P. who is on the DT at Sugar Creek Hollow is inspiring me to do vintage a little more often and this one that I did for a Flourishes challenge has to be one of my favorites!

I really enjoyed decorating mailboxes for my grandkids this past Valentine's Day -- guess you can tell that this is the one I made for Brianna, not for Ashton, but his was pretty darn neat too!

Last, but certainly not least, is a card I made for one of the Roses Challenges. I adore this group of ladies -- they are all so talented and it has been a joy to get to know them via the internet! Sending love to Connie (we've been missing you so much,  but you're always going to be one of our Rosie girls!), Kezzie, Kym, Mary Anne, Olga, Patti and Sue!

  

To all of my other wonderful blogging, crafty friends, I thank you for visiting with me and leaving me such encouraging comments! I love sharing my cards with you and you all never fail to inspire me and stun me with your breathtaking creations!

Let's have another great year in 2012!!
Betty

Christmas Day Blessings

Good Evening! Hope you've all had a beautiful Christmas with family and friends. We went to church this morning and were so completely blessed by a musical presentation by five talented members of our church family. They presented the musical "Behold the Lamb of God" by Andrew Peterson. Several of the songs made me tear up but there was one titled "Labor of Love" that really had me boo-hooing! It described Mary's ordeal of giving birth and just almost ripped my heart out! I am sharing a link where you can hear this musical presented by the author. If you don't have time to listen to the whole thing, please take time to listen to Labor of Love -- I know you'll be deeply touched.

http://www.andrew-peterson.com/players/btlog/

Here is a picture of our pastor and his wife, Bob and Judy Hendrick (on either end), Patrick DuMouchel who did most of the singing, Eric Callis on guitar, and Miguel Nguyen who sang the "Begats" of Matthew Chapter 1. He was just precious and I marvel at how he remembered all of those names!

Betty

Christmas Eve Morning Delivery

We had a unique experience this morning that was a true blessing. Larry and I joined with three other families and put together bags of food for 50 families in a nearby village. Another friend had lots of new toys that her cousin had brought with him each time this year that he came to visit. The kids were so excited to be getting toys -- some of them received kites and had them flying above the rooftops in no time! We delivered food to some older people who were unable to come to the central location where we were handing out the bags. It was such a blessing to be able to help these shut-ins and they were so grateful!

Here's a picture of some of the bags and the ornaments that I made to "fancy up" the bags just a bit. I also made bag toppers to put on the bag of cookies that was included with the beans, rice, pasta and oil.

I didn't get any pictures of us handing out the bags of food because it was a little crazy and we were busy carrying the bags from our cars to the group of people waiting to receive them. We worked with a Mexican gentleman who helped us with a list of folks who needed the help; his assistance was invaluable and we couldn't have done it without him!

Here is a picture of kids waiting to get toys; this was after the crowd had thinned out!

I love this picture -- they were all interested to see what their friends received!

Just one more picture to share. I'd said I'd let you know about our poinsettias. I think that we probably waited to transplant them too close to blooming time. You can see that we have three different types. The red one is a new bloom on a stem that was planted without any blooms. The pink ones have done fairly well but nothing to shout about. And the smaller dark ones are a type that I've never seen before -- they are almost  a burgundy color and are most interesting. Although they are struggling a bit right now, I bet I'm going to have some gorgeous plants next year!

I'm wishing you all a very Merry Christmas the happiest of New Years!

Betty

Timeless Tuesday Challenge

Here is my card for the Timeless Tuesday Challenge at Flourishes. Click on the link and it will take you to the tutorial that Beate has written to make a  telescoping image for your card. I used the Paperwhites set from Flourishes, stamping on watercolor paper and then cutting with Nestability Petite Large Oval dies. I used a waterbrush and watercolor crayons to color my flowers. Next I adhered each layer with dimensionals and painted the background with Twinkling H20s, so it has a nice shimmer. Next I dry embossed the background panel and added a wide sheer ribbon at the side and a pretty satin bow at the top.

This was a fun technique; hope you'll join in with me on this challenge.
Betty

Stockings Hung With Care

No card today but I do have pictures of my grandkids to show you. Because their apartment does not have a fireplace to hang stockings on the mantle, Ashton decided to draw one! Here is a picture of the fireplace and the kids sitting in front of it. What a great imagination -- you don't have a fireplace -- MAKE ONE!

Last Minute Christmas Cards

I made four of these cards tonight for the attendants who take care of my mother-in-law at her assisted living home. The Inkadinkadoo angel was stamped with versamark ink and embossed with Winter Wonderland Opaque embossing powder. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up. After embossing, I ran the panel through my Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder and adhered it to a white base with a little panel of silver metallic card stock. I would like to enter my card(s) in the following challenges:
Annabelle Stamps - Christmas Card
For Fun Challenges - Christmas - Anything Goes
Joan's Gardens - Quick Christmas Card
Paper Play Challenges - Christmas Theme

Thanks for stopping by during this busy season!
Betty

Flourishes Day or Night Challenge

Flourishes is having their new stamp release festivities; for this they have a special challenge that is posted at noon. When I saw that the challenge posted yesterday was to made a card that indicated either day or night I knew that I wanted to use Geri Utterbeck's Sunray Technique. See tutorial here.
I also knew that I wanted to use this particular scripture stamp about God's mercies being new every morning. I also know that I am going to hear of someone who needs to be blessed by this particular card because it all came together too perfectly!! The lace and embellishments were given to me by Melisa Waldorf (thanks, friend!). The flower center is a stick pin and I have added a pearl to the center of it.

If you use Flourishes stamps you will be entered into the drawing twice but you can enter this challenge even if you don't use one of their stamps. The lucky winner will receive the entire December Release! Winners will be announced Saturday in Flourishes' Winner’s Circle Post – check back Saturday, December 17th at noon CST to see if you’re one of the lucky winners!

There will be another challenge announced at noon today. Be sure to check it out too!

Betty

A Christmas Box

My project today is to Say It With A Christmas Box from AnnaBelle Stamps and I have used a technique from  Capture the Moment Make It Monday #45, to color an embossed image. I will also enter my box into the ABC Christmas Challenge where we are up to the letter "Y is for Yippee" -- Christmas is almost here and anything Christmassy goes for the challenge.

I used an empty butter container and a scrapbook kit from the Paper Studio to create my box. Covered the box with a layer of ivory paper, cut out two different paper designs for the sides of the box, and used stickers from the kit to decorate.

To complete the technique from Make It Monday, I stamped the NOEL sentiment in Versamark, embossed with white powder, and cut out with a Fancy Tag die from Spellbinders. Next I used two different colors of green to go over the embossing. I was pleased with the effect I got from the coloring and think it goes better with my decorated box than the stark white embossing would have! To finish, I tied a bow with ribbon from All The Trimmings, which I purchased from Jo-Ann Stores a number of years ago.

**the NOEL stamp is by Layers of Color, from their Christmas Verses set.

I'd like to share a couple of Christmas related pictures with you -- I always think of poinsettias at Christmas and I have a picture of me standing beneath a large poinsettia plant in the area and also one of the poinsettia in the front yard of my MIL's assisted living home which is right next to an orange tree!

Hope you're all enjoying this time before Christmas arrives.

Betty 

Vintage Tag

Yesterday when I printed the Graphics Fairy Victorian Lady image for my card I printed it in two sizes. The smaller image was perfect for the challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow to make a vintage Christmas tag. While this doesn't have any particular Christmas image, there are so many blue Christmas wrapping papers these days that I thought this would work on a Christmas present.

I used my new Martha Stewart punch around the page punch and nestabilities to cut out and mat the image. The little corner stamp is from Inkadinkadoo and the "To and From" stamp on the back of the tag is by Layers of Color, from their Glad Tidings set.

And here's my tag (front and back).........

On another note, we had a wonderful lunch this past week at a local restaurant called Panino's. Here is my plate and I have to admit that I totally ate everything on it!! Chicken Kabobs with an Asian sauce, potato salad and green salad -- it was delicious with a capital D! The next pictures shows the restaurant, which is open air dining and it was a delightfully mild day when we were there.

Happy Stamping to All,
Betty

Flourishes Feminine Flair Challenge

Hello friends! I have been busy lately getting the Christmas tree up and decorated and just getting caught up from  being away for two weeks. I have finally had the urge to create a card today, and it came with a challenge from Flourishes.

This is copied from their blog~
HOW TO PLAY: Lace, pearls and flouncy ribbons – these are the things that make up a creation with a truly feminine flair. That’s what is at the heart of this month’s challenge. To enter, let’s see how you add a dose of femininity to your cards or creations! Link your project up here (below using our inlinkz widget). If you upload to SCS, please use the key word FLLCDEC11. Use Flourishes stamps if you have them, but if you don’t please play anyway! The winner will recieve our entire December release. You have until December 16 at 5 PM Easterm time to submit.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to win the entire December release??? And if you don't have Flourishes stamps, you can still play in this challenge -- I bet if you win some, you'll want to get more and more!

Here's my card:

This beautiful Victorian lady is an image from Graphics Fairy. All I had to do was print it and cut out with Nestabilities. Adding the rhinestones took a little bit of time but the job was made easier by using Embellie Gellie. I finally got the Fancy Tags dies when I was in the States at Thanksgiving; I sponged with SU Bordering Blue and used a portion of a stamp from Annabelle Stamps "Ballerina Rose" for the sentiment. Oh yes, the stick pin is from an old corsage.

Good to be stamping and playing with paper again!

Betty

Back Home!

Made it back home around 10:30 last night. Is it possible that the flight was much longer coming back???? It sure did seem that way! Had a wonderful time visiting with family but it sure was good to see home again!

Here's a card I made this morning that I will be demonstrating tomorrow at our card making class. Hope they enjoy the emobossing technique -- it's still one of my favorites! Love seeing that powder change its appearance when the heat is applied.

The angel stamp is from Inkadinkadoo -- a set called Holiday Silhouettes that I purchased used from Nina Brackett; the sentiment is from a Flourishes' set called Glad Tidings.

We're heading off to a birthday party in just a little while so I'll not have time to do any blog visiting until tomorrow afternoon. See you all then!

Betty

The Grinch Game

Join in the fun with Laura at Creative Vision, beginning December 2.  We had a lot of fun last year and I'm sure Laura's come up with more creative fun this year!

One more day in Texas and then I'll be headed back home to Mexico!

Betty

I'm in Texas!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I arrived in Texas safely, and my luggage did too! My daughter and grandkids were there to pick me up at the airport and it was so wonderful to see them again! Looking forward to a couple of weeks of visiting with friends and family!

Betty

Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy

Yes, friends, it's definitely an addiction! I said in my last post that I probably wouldn't be posting any more cards until I returned from my trip to the States but I just couldn't stand it -- had to make another card!!

I was doing some organizing and got to looking in a box with leftover Christmas stuff from last year. Saw this little round piece of "joy" which brought to mind the song -- I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart.... Couldn't get it out of my head so I figured it was calling me to make a card with it! Found a little punch out image that fit right in the middle and a sentiment that I had cut from a card that we received last year. The gold cardstock was even already embossed and waiting. I really like the look of the gold line underneath the sentiment. I cut it from the embossed panel so it would fit onto the white card base. It looks so much better on this card than it would have looked in the trash can!!

I'll enter this card in three challenges:
Weekly Christmas Card Challenge #50 -- Deck the Halls -- holly or wreaths (do you see the tiny sprigs of holly on the circular image?)
Stamps R Us Challenges -- Bling It On! (gold panel, red pearls)
Hooked on Craft Challenges #12 -- Something Punched! (scalloped mat and image)

Who knows -- I may be back with another card-- I have two more days before I have to get on the plane in Guadalajara!

Betty

A Santa for Brianna

Here's a card I made to take to my granddaughter, Brianna. I'll get to see her and her brother Ashton on Thursday when they come to pick me up at the airport! Can't wait to see those two rascals again, and my sweet daughter too!

I want to enter this card into the following challenges:
Dutch Dare Card Challenge -- use punches or dies
Crafty Hazel Nuts Christmas Challenge  -- use bright colors and/or sparkle
  edited to add:  oops, missed the deadline for Hazel Nuts!

Santa is a Flourishes stamp; the sentiment and banner are from Layers of Color. Cut out my image with a Nestabilities die and cut another slightly bigger by tracing around the outside of the die that I used and fussy cutting it. I added the red rhinestones to the doily borders and then thought that they would be cute as the holly berries. Sure glad I thought about it because I think it's my favorite feature of this card!

Did you see that I won one of Flourishes new releases this week? The First Noel is a beautiful set and is sure to be enjoyed by my church stamping group when I return on Dec. 1; our group will be meeting on the 3rd and I bet one or two of them are going to want to get this set inky!

I may not have any more cards to post for a bit -- will be trying to clean up my craft area so it will be neat and tidy while I'm away and then I have to decide what to put in my suitcase -- probably should take some winter clothes with me and leave the sandals behind!!

Will be trying to get in a few posts while I'm away so you all don't forget me!! Till then, be happy!
Betty

Christmas Blessings

This card has been sitting on my desk for several days now -- I wonder how many deadlines have come and gone on these challenges????

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #129 sketch
Really Reasonable Ribbon #35 Christmas theme with a ribbon
Jellypark Friends non-traditional Christmas colors
Crimbo Crackers anything goes Christmas challenge
Crafter's Companion celebrate a holiday
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long use your favorite sketch challenge (Midnight Madness)

This is the first card I've made with this stamp that I got shortly before we moved to Mexico. We've had several cats in the past who loved sleeping under our Christmas tree and the tree lights usually ended up hanging quite close to the floor many mornings!! Sure do miss our kitties but love remembering all their personality "quirks" and the joy they gave us over the years! Anyhow, I'm sure they never had a mouse napping atop their heads!

Hope you're all close to getting your cards done ..... mine are all done, sealed and addressed, ready to go into my suitcase when I head to Houston soon; then my daughter can mail them for me once December arrives!

So long for now,
Betty

A Flourishes Color Challenge

Here's a card I made this afternoon after we got back from a quick trip to Costco in Guadalajara. After we unloaded and put away groceries I headed to my computer to see what the Flourishes noon time challenge would be today.

It is a color challenge using Red, White and Soft Green. I used a stamp with four Christmas trees from Stubby Stampers and the sentiment is from Layers of Color, Glad Tidings.  If you use Flourishes' stamps you are entered into the challenge twice but using other stamps is allowed on this challenge. As a part of their November release, Flourishes revealed a terrific snowglobe stamp today with three cute scenes that can be stamped inside the globe.

The Christmas tree brads started out dark green but I embossed them with the challenge colors. Hope you enjoyed the card; I had lots of fun making it! Why don't you join me -- head over to Flourishes to get all the details. If you don't have any of Flourishes beautiful stamps, you may get lucky and win some!

Betty 

Flourishes Challenges

I have two creations to share with you today. The first one is for the Timeless Tuesday challenge at Flourishes. The challenge is to make a card where you emboss a portion of the card and leave a portion smooth for the image. Here is my card, made with my favorite Flourishes set, All That Glitters. The sentiment is from Christmas Music by Flourishes.

My next creation is for the Wednesday noon time challenge at Flourishes, Tag, You're It! As you might suspect, the challenge is to make a tag or use a tag on a card. This challenge celebrates their November release. Again, I used the All That Glitters set and made a Christmas gift tag. It looks like it could be the offspring of the card above -- they have very similar characteristics!

The shading on the front of the tag was done to cover up a boo-boo (but don't tell anyone, okay?) Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the set which includes the "to" and "from" stamps.

If you want a terrific Christmas set, All That Glitters would be a wonderful choice if you're like me and are really into Christmas ornaments. And Flourishes has even come up with a companion set this year titled Holiday Sparkle. Here's a picture --

Isn't this another set of beautiful vintage glass ornaments? Both of these sets take me right back to childhood and decorating the tree -- such beautiful memories!

Happy papercrafting dear friends! Hope you'll come back again tomorrow for some more Christmas goodies!

Betty

Birthday Card and a Sunset

This card almost didn't get posted. I made it yesterday and had to keep changing and adding till I finally got to where I "didn't hate it"! Today, I added the little bow and I think that's when I came around to liking it. Poor little card -- it just wanted some love!!

I'll be entering it in the following challenges:

My stamps are from AnnaBelle Stamps -- Sentimental Bluebells and Backgrounds by Design 2.

Lily Pad Color Challenge -- Blue, Mustard, Rust

Cupcake Inspirations Photo -- The colors in the photo can be seen in the designer paper from Gina K. Designs that I used on my card. 

I have to share another photo with you. Last evening we had the most glorious sunset! Now, we have beautiful sunsets almost every evening but this one was super spectacular. We walked out in the yard and looked straight up, then turned completely around in a circle. Everywere you looked you could see "fire" in the clouds! Not just over the back fence where the sun sets, but everywhere you looked! I tell you, it was a sight to behold -- God was really doing an awesome work with His paintbrush during the sunset last night!

Bye for now and happy crafting to all,
Betty

Make it Round Like a Wreath

I just love beautifully colored Christmas ornaments so this inspiration photo caught my eye immediately! It is for  Flourishes Christmas Spirit Challenge 19 which is to "make it round like a wreath." And here's my card:

Made use of my Circle and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities to fashion the card and cut out the layers. Stamps are from Flourishes -- Doves and Holly and Holly (background stamp). The holly was all that I colored on the center image and some shading was added around the inside of the die. (I also colored the red berries of the background stamp). Sentiment was also cut out with a Spellbinders die and little pearls added to all the outside scallops.

I'd really like to encourage you to join me (and Theresa P.) in this challenge if you have any Flourishes stamps (that is a requirement -- thanks, Patti, for bringing that to my attention). We've both been winners for the last two challenges -- how exciting is that?! The prize this month is the retired set Christmas Wreath. This set can no longer be purchased so this challenge is an excellent opportunity to have a chance to make it part of your collection. Christmas Wreath has an elaborated scrolled Merry Christmas sentiment that I used on two cards in my previous post. Hope to see you entering your round creations!

Betty

More Christmas Cards

This is my card for Flourishes' challenge -- Snowy Delights and for the Free for All Friday challenge at stampTV that Tina has named Blue Christmas.

I used a Cuttlebug folder from a set called Winter Wonderland on glossy card stock and then ran my Distress Ink Faded Jeans pad over the paper, followed by buffing it with a paper towel, creating a glassy effect on the glossy paper. Had a small piece left over after cutting out my panel and stamped the Gina K. Designs sentiment from Festive Frame in Night of Navy ink. Cut it out with a Nestabilities rectangle die and framed it with a piece of white glittered card stock cut out with a scalloped rectangle die. Tied a little bow to go at the bottom and I was done!

Our card making group met at church this morning and I showed them the fan fold wreath technique and we all a made a card or two. Here are a couple that I made -- the sentiment is from Flourishes' set Christmas Wreath and the little angel stamp is from Layers of Color Angelic.

And now, just so you'll know that I was at the beach in Puerto Vallerta this past week, here is a picture that shows you some of the scenery that I was enjoying from my hotel window!

Keep warm to those of you who aren't fortunate enough to have temps in the low 80's here at 4:30 in the afternoon,
Betty