Quiddler

I bought this game at a garage sale for fifty-cents several summers ago and only attempted to play it once at Wallowa. There were too many distractions down by the lake so we moved on to something else without really learning to play it.
This weekend I had the opportunity to play many rounds of this game and I LOVED it! Here, all this time, there has been a "jewel" in our game cabinet and I have bypassed it for something else.
Quiddler is a card and word game for 1-8 players and consists of 8 rounds. Players compete by spelling English words from cards in hands of increasing size, each card worth various points. It's kind of a mix of Scrabble and Gin Rummy.
If you enjoy playing games, give this one a try!

Valentine Decor

I don't have a lot of Valentine decor in my home but I saw this free print on one of the blogs I subscribe to and it looked like a fun addition to our home.
I already had this IKEA shadowbox frame so the only investment I had to make was printing at Costco ... thirty eight cents.
I am grateful for those creative gals on the internet who generously share their talents. I probably would not have thought to design something like it. It's the perfect seasonal touch to our living room decor.

Burano, Italy

I've been getting acquainted with Photoshop Elements 9 and thought I would work with some of the available effects in the program. I spent an afternoon trying different ones and I should have written down what I did because I liked the outcome of this photo.
The photo is from Burano and we enjoyed an afternoon excursion there while in Venice. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted to a view of the most brightly colored homes I've seen and I fell in love with it. Our visit included a delicious lunch ... the weather was warm with a delightful breeze. Such good memories.
Even though the town was colorful it was fun to change the photo up a bit. And if the tower looks like it's leaning ... it really is ... it's not the camera angle.
I would like to try a few more actions on other photos from our vacation in Italy. If you have a favorite, please share in the comments. I'm in the process of hanging a small "gallery" on our bedroom wall and I would like to make our photos interesting and unique.

Back To Work ...

Winter Break is over. What a wonderful time of refreshment! Even during a whirlwind of activity, it was good to get some R & R. Just one of the benefits of working for a school district. You've got to LOVE the schedule!
The heavy rain after Christmas was truly a blessing ... it kept me indoors giving me time to do the things I rarely find time for ... blogging, emailing, reading, designing in Photoshop Elements etc.
Not only will I be returning to work tomorrow but it will be the beginning of an additional 4-hour position ... giving me an 8-hour work day. It's a little overwhelming to ponder but I am so grateful for the additional hours and pay. It's a rare thing to have a position open mid-year and I am so thankful for this opportunity.
Praying all goes well ...

2011 Word of the Year

Happy New Year!
For the last week I have been giving my word of the year much thought. Sometimes we find it through others. This morning as I was reading through my RSS Feed I found my word! Exciting! I was reading this blog and as soon as I saw the word cultivate I felt that was the word for me this year. I love the art work she created. She is so inspiring.
Do you pick a word of the year each year? I would love to hear what yours is and what helped you arrive at selecting it.
Last year I started out so strong with the word vitality but with our trip to Italy, unemployment, rehiring etc. ... I got a little off track with my focus on a healthy lifestyle.
May 2011 be a year filled with JOY, good health, and personal growth!