52 Reasons I Love You - DAD!!!!

1) you love me
2) your kind heart
3) your “Roper” sense of humor
4) you taught me how to irrigate (and let me do it my way)
5) you made me believe I could do anything
6) the values in which you instilled in me
7) you baled for me so I could sleep in until 6am
8) you gave me rides to school so I didn’t have to ride the bus
9) you made a college education possible
10) you taught me that education matters
11) you listen to me
12) you would take me on adventurous rides up North chasing coyotes
13) you let me ride on the back of the saddle on Babe
14) Sham was “my” horse or at least you let me think so
15) you said I could have bum lambs, “Shree-ten and Fo-fo”
16) you shoveled the car out every time it got stuck so I could make it to a volleyball tournament
17) you sang to me while we drove around and fed the cows and sheep
18) you made me listen to “Grass Roots Gold” every Saturday morning
19) you let me turn hay bales with a riding lawn mower
20) you would fix anything in my house if I asked
21) you’re the best kitchen cleaner I know
22) you rode back with me after Christmas vacation and then missed the train
23) you love my Mom
24) you play cards with me
25) you taught me how to play cribbage and pinochle
26) you let me have new carpet in my bedroom
27) you taught me right from wrong
28) you were always there when I was ready to ask for help
29) you came to Oregon to drive me to and from surgery
30) you supported my decisions, even when they were dumb
31) your strong work ethic
32) believing in me to take care of the farm when you were in Avon
33) you encouraged me with every endeavor
34) you built me stilts
35) working side by side with you gives me pride
36) your willingness to help others, asking nothing in return
37) your compassionate self
38) any daughter would be lucky to call you Dad and I CAN
39) you remove your hat when you enter buildings
40) you still call me daughter after I screwed up the summer fallow
41) you would drive fast through the “big dip” on the road going North
42) you took me with you to get the binder
43) you found a way for me to have a BIG Pink Panther from the State Fair
44) you taught me how to care for animals
45) you let Dirk and I ride around on the snowmobiles all day long the winter of 1978… or was it 79?
46) my best memories are working side by side with my DAD, thanks!
47) you brought home “Shadow”, the first dog I called my own
48) you taught me how to blow up empty soup cans using firecrackers and mud puddles
49) you gave me animals for my 4-H projects
50) you taught me that everything tastes better with cheese on it (except for apple pie)
51) for being my DAD
52) you’re hard working, honest and you make me PROUD to call you DAD!


So, Father's Day came fast and as usual I find myself not so prepared. This year I'm making my Dad a gift. I'm using a deck of cards and the each one will have one of the above reasons for my love for him. Obviously it's going to be late, but I think he'll like it anyway. Happy Father's Day to all the Dads!!!

FRIDAYS = HAPPINESS

OK, so who doesn't love a great Friday? You're wrapping up the work week, you are thinking about making plans for the weekend or you are just plain ready to kick back and enjoy. Couldn't help but share this mosaic of happiness......

Tough Days

I bet we can all think back, for some probably not that far back, and remember days that we would chalk up as tough days. Tough days include days you definitely don't count as your favorite, you remember them only because they had a significant impact or you ended up learning something about yourself through the process and repeating them just isn't in the realm of possibilities.

Tough days make us stronger, they let us learn stuff about ourselves and even though they are the worst at that moment, we can usually reflect back and say, "Wow made it through that one!"

Lots of you are winding up a school year. Lots to do before summer hits and then before you know it you'll be starting up a new school year. That is somewhat similar to my starting a new fiscal year. These last few months of the year are always stressful and then July 1st hits and I'm ready to start all over again. OK, well maybe it's not that simple, but I'd like it to be.

Have a great week.

My Next Addiction

It's time to get hooked on a new reality TV show. Anything can happen with a group of poeple that live by their own set of rules and usually break them.
Unlike Survivor, the million dollars is awarded in gold coin treasure and the first week $40,000 is the first of it to be found.
Pirate Master begins on Thursday night. Contestants will proudly announce their motives and integrity is not a part of the pirate game. At first I wasn't sure it was anything I would like, but I've since done my research and I've decided it could be more fun than.....naaa I'm not even going to say it; Survivor will always be my favorite.

Anyway, if you haven't had a chance to check out the cast, you should. Louie is somewhat of a "Reuben" look alike from Survivor and I think he could become a favorite. We'll just have to see. I'm setting the VCR and well, Renee you're getting taped episodes of "Pirate Master" beginning on Thursday nite!!!!!!

See.... I'm getting you hooked already!!!!!

Finale Fever

So, it isn't everyday that a bachelor is dancing with a star on an island with an American idol, but this month that's exactly what we have all been doing as we watch our favorite finale(s).

I watched all of Survivor and I couldn't be happier for Earl - while he wasn't my first choice, he was my second. So, all together good season.
I managed to get all of the finale's taped this year, didn't miss a minute of them. Dancing with the Stars this season was most excellent. My favorite couple won!!! Hooray.

For you Idol fans, I threw a picture of Jordan in the mix. I only watched one episode this season and Jordon was my pick.
Now, let's talk Bachelor - I really wasn't sure the man was going to do the right thing, but he picked my favorite girl, Tessa. I'm telling you, a season of finales that couldn't have been better.





Isn't that Apolo Anton Ohno so cute. Couldn't help posting this picture of him.

Happy Memorial Weekend to you all - Safe travels for those that will be on the road and happy barbecuing to those staying home to enjoy the weekend!!!!

Scrap Weekend!!!

I'm sure many of you have attended an entire weekend of scrapping (hint - I know this because I have scrapped with most of you). Anyway, it always amazes me how much I think I might get done, how little I actually get done and all the while I come back feeling relaxed and ready to join the routine part of my life again.

So, as I prepare for my upcoming scrap weekend here's the list of projects I would love to get done.........(and if you know me that doesn't necessarily mean the projects have to have pictures to be done)

1)Travel Album
2)2 Baby Albums to give as gifts
3)Catch up on my BigPictureScrapbooking assignments
4)CK Album #4
5)Let them be Little Album - yep after nearly 40 kits - I don't have one of my own.
6)Rusty Pickle "Old McDonald" mini album
7)All About Me Album - complete with pictures and journaling as we are meeting on Monday to share with the group

I'll be bringing to share with the group.....

1)Cuttlebug with embossing templates and fonts
2)Ink and Stamps
3)Anything else I happen to throw in the vehicler unit

I hope this post inspires all of you to plan a weekend to scrap and for those of you that are scrapping this weekend with me.....make a list and check it twice cause we are getting close to FRIDAY!!!! Yipeeee.

AND THE WINNER IS.....

OK, another season of Survivor has come to an end. I have to say I'm a little bit sad. This season had some real game players and while the outcome of the game was not what I had hoped for, I'm not disappointed. What a great season. Can't tell you who won, as it might upset someone who has not yet watched the finale.



I'm hoping all of you Mother's enjoyed your day or at least part of it. Happy Mother's Day to you all.