Rest and Relaxation????

A Change of Pace Anyway
I'm off! I'll be back in about a week. Got the van packed up to the roof top, plus a pack on top full of camping supplies. Are we crazy to take the kids camping for 8 days (EIGHT DAYS!!!) Yes, I suppose we are, but at this point everyone is ready for something different to do. The kids have been driving us nuts (literarlly) with all their bikering and picking on each other, I think because they are just bored. This week with Jeff being on his back, and me getting ready for this trip I haven't had much time to entertain them and it's been crazy!! So Jeff is either feeling a lot better or he just plain feels sorry for me and is holding back the pain and did quite a bit to help out around here today. We have friends that are staying over and house-sitting so I know everything will be fine, but still I feel like everything needs to be put in place. I can't leave a messy house and come back to one, so of course every bit of laundry, every single towel in the house is washed (I counted, 10 loads this week, 12 if you count the blankets and such I washed to take with us on the trip), every plant is well watered, every room is clutter free, dusted and vacuumed and mopped, the toilets are clean, and so on and so on. Now I'll be able to relax a little over the next several days.

Unexpected Caller
I got a call from my cousin Sharla tongiht too. We grew up together and use to be very close, but as adults somehow we've really lost touch with each other. I guess the fact that she lives way up in Alaska and we both have busy family lives of our own. Anyway, she called me out of the blue tonight and it was such a great chat. I got her current email address so I know we'll keep in touch more now. Plus I told her about the blog so maybe she'll become a regular reader, who knows. Hey Sharla!!!

Another Freebie
I attended a crop challenge last night with Arti at SBB. It was a challenge to make a greeting card using the sketch provided which had three stars and three papers. I used my own kit "American Textile" that I had created as a Fourth of July goodie about a month ago. Here's the card RIGHT HERE. I breifly had a preview of this kit on the blog but removed it because I had used it to apply for the Elements Team position at SBB (that I unfortunately did not make...) Anyway, I got a comment and a couple emails about sharing it still after people saw it posted on the site last night, so here it is. Download link below preview. Hopefully some of you still have some of those 4th of July photos to scrap (I know I do) or have another use for it. It's in two parts because of the size. Please leave me a comment if you download this. Also, I'd love to see a link to your layouts if you use this. I may even send you an extra goodie to use for your next layout! Enjoy! Oh, and if you are interest, the link to the "Painted Dragonflies" freebie is still available, just scroll down a little farther.

Download Part 1 Here
Download Part 2 Here

P.S., It was over 100 degrees here today in the sun, suppose to be up to 110 by tomorrow which means a nice 85 degree week for us on the coast. Stay cool everyone!