Forgive .........

In the last week, the subject of “what happened” has found it's way into several conversations. I so dislike the subject, I am sure ALL of us dislike the subject. It makes me sad, it hurts, and discourages me so. I have come to the conclusion that because this event remains as an unresolved issue, it is allowed to rear it's ugly head now and then, even to our dismay.

I have in the months and months that have past, explored possible means of putting this to rest. I always come to the same conclusion, to resolve it means to bring it up again, to tell the whole story, to name names, to cause additional hurt, and that is the last thing I want to do. So I have sat here and let it fester inside of me, taken the criticism from others, felt the hate others have for me, quietly taken the bad mouthing, the black balling, the de-friending, all of it. The last thing I want is for ANYONE to feel the things I have felt.

Yesterday my very good friend, gave me the answer. It is so simple, amongst all the hurt and pain, I guess I never saw the trees in spite of the forest. She may have said what she said to me in hopes that I would “get” the message and do what I am about to do. I don't know for sure, but I am very thankful to her for her friendship and wisdom.

I forgive everyone for all of it. EVERYONE including myself. I am sorry for any hurt or pain that was caused to anyone for anything related to this situation. It is a wonderful feeling to let it all go. It is the gift I am giving myself. I forgive you.

I found this quote :

Take it slowly. The deepest resentments are wrapped up in a lot of hurt and pain. We think we're protecting ourselves by not forgiving. Acknowledge that and go easy on yourself. Forgiveness means that you've decided not to let it keep festering inside even if it only comes up once in awhile. Forgiveness is a powerful yet challenging tool that will support and honor you, even in the most extreme circumstances.

Doc Childre and Howard Martin, The HeartMath Solution

I think this says a lot, well at least to me. So this is where I stand, I have granted my whole heart forgiveness for the ugly situation that happened.

"From failure we learn, from success, not so much." Aunt Billie, Meet the Robinsons.

I learned, I learned a lot, and now I will just .............

Keep moving forward ............

A Carolina Fable ....

Well this is one of my favorite cards (I am not as happy with the scan images as the real card though). The idea came to me after messing around on the boards. What happened was .... Mama Buck planned on being in Charlotte with some friends for a scrap-booking get-away weekend. Mama Wolf was going to meet her Friday for lunch and take her off boxing a little ..... well .... the Wolf reports in Friday afternoon about the nice little boxing lunch they had .... BUT .... no word from Mama Buck ..... Friday ..... then Saturday ..... then SUNDAY .... still no Mama Buck ..... Ok well ... we all start questioning the Wolf ... "What did you do to her Mama Wolf ?" ....... Thus this card was born .... the stamps are planted as a traditional series. :O) This card is put together like a book with multiple pages to tell the story:

These are a few of my favorite things .....Sunflowers

ElectricMedic started this LTC swap. I could not resist, since one of my favorite things in the world are Sunflowers. I LOVE THEM, they are just bright and beautiful. They just make me smile and feel warm and bright inside. I made this LTC with a stamp carved by 't' of dtandfambly. The stamp is mounted on a seed envelope and I included Sunflower seeds inside the envelope to be planted. I hope you enjoy my Sunflowers!

Sean Trooper

This card was an idea by my 7 yr old Sean Trooper. It is his alter ego, and he helped create the card, even helped with the carve. The stamp is now his signature stamp.

Bee Happy

Just realized I never posted a picture of my Bee Happy LTC. Each one of these cards is different, same idea just created a little different. Just to make you smile.

Woman Pirates: Mary Read

My partner Sith, started a Woman Pirate Swap. I have had this image transferred to the PZKut for a few months now ... Afraid to start it. I loved the image and wanted to carve it soooo bad but knew I would mess it up somehow, so it just sat ! This swap kinda forced me to carve it, and while I am no Mama Wolf, I am pretty proud of myself for this card.

HIKE !

This card was made for The Shirt Rack swap. The idea was to design a mini t-shirt and make cards...... My shirt is HIKE !

GAQ Witch Hunt

This card was made for the GAQ Witch Hunt ..... wonder what that is all about ?
Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm...........

Gobble, Gobble ?

This card was made for the Hand Turkey swap. NO STAMP .... use your hand or fingertips to create a "Thanksgiving" related card. This was a lot of fun !

Ugly Paper

This swap said to use the UGLIEST paper you have and a stamp .... Nothing else... boy do I have some UGLY paper laying around! The first swap filled up so fast a 2nd was added which I also joined .... told you I had a lot of UGLY paper hanging around.

Ugly paper I: It seemed like a good idea at the time!



Ugly Paper II: 40 sheets 12x12 and I only paid $1.99!

Hearts Delight Jr: Luvdisc

This was a swap for kids age 9 and under, and Sean Trooper has really enjoyed these kid swaps, so I helped him with this card for the swap. Rules were there had to be a heart on the card. Since he LOVES Pokemon.... this was a natural pick for him. Luvdisc is a water type pokemon from the Hoenn region. The Luvdisc does not evolve.

Looking Back ....

This LTC was created for the Silhouette #2 swap. I LOVE this image and wanted it to stand on it's own.... so the card is basic with just the stamped image, and some black chalk to soften the white card some. I think it fits nicely with my True Image card. The back of the card contains a quote I love:

"As a horse runs, think of it as a game of tag with the wind." ~Tre Tuberville

Holly by any other name is still TROUBLE!!!!!

This is a very limited LTC and only the second LTC I ever made. Since I tend to get myself in trouble A LOT, and tend to have a few partners in crime, I have awarded 8 of these cards to some of those people...... There are 4 left ...... who will they go to ?

Hiking with Holly

This is an earned LTC. If you go on a hike with me, you can earn not only this LTC but also the Hiking with Holly PT. Felt like there has to be some sort of award for torture !

True Image

This is an LTC that I made for a swap hosted by Dixie. You were to express your light. I tried to express my true image. The back of the card has the following:

Sometimes the best cowboys
ain't cowboys at all
She's got my back
Even when it's against the wall
When I need a friend
She's the guy I call
'Cause sometimes the best cowboys
Ain't cowboys at all




This stamp too was sent out to the BoxHounds08 as part of the GAQLBE08. A true cowgirl belongs in Texas anyway !

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

I carved this stamp for the GAQLBE08, for the BoxHounds08 of Portland, Texas. I am VERY proud of the stamp and had to make a few cards before I sent him off in the wild. The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is a critically endangered species of sea turle and you can learn all about him at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemp's_Ridley

Nothing beats a FLUFFY robe in the morning ....

This is an LTC that I made for the Fluffy Cow Tribute swap hosted by Sweet N Sour. I love this card .... it makes me smile !

Extreme Hiking Boot Camp ...... WOW

A week or so ago, my sweet partner in crime asked me if I would hike with her. I never say no to 't'. She thought maybe The Hornsbees (my other partner in crime and sith) would want to go too. She had it on her mind to hike to El Lieutenant.

This is the information that 't' provided about the hike:

El Lieutenant is a huge rock dome at an elevation of 3,048 feet. It is a smaller version of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Trail: 4.6 miles
difficulty: Very Strenuous.
Conditions are rugged, traffic is light.
Recommended for experienced hikers. (lol)
Elevation drops about 1000 feet and then regains the 1000 feet (it's a loop). Table rock has a 2,000 foot elevation gain, so it won't be as bad as that!
This loop is a combination between two trails, The Bill Kimball Trail is more difficult and spectacular while the Coldspring Branch is more restful.

Bring first aid supplies, hiking staff, water, food and BRING YOUR CAMERAS!!!

No problem I say as does Hornsbees.... and the plan is set.

We all meet here on the farm and head up to Caesar's Head. We are on time schedules, so no sooner do we hit the trail 't' is leaving us in the dust ........ The hike starts on the Coldspring Branch Trail and is uphill at the start ....... then it connects with the Bill Kimball trail. The trail is tough, pretty rugged with a lot of elevation changes, at one point there is a chain that helps you safety navigate a piece of the trail.







Then you approach El Lieutenant ..... Very Very AWESOME, you get 3 different views of it along the trail. Very much worth the hike to see it.










The Bill Kimball trail then connects again with the Coldspring Branch trail to make the loop back. This has the 1,000 feet elevation gain ...... BOY DOES IT !!! This was tough ...... it is a constant gradual uphill walk for over 2 miles. TOUGH, my calfs were a screaming ! 't' just walked and walked .... leaving Hornsbees and I in her dust ! The trail is beautiful both of them ..... the river is constantly there with it's sounds and cool air, you cross it many times, and it is a very beautiful hike .... even if it HURTS ! At one point Hornsbees and I were convinced that the sweet innocent 't' was trying to do away with us siths. She even went so far as to say ..... Ya know if you two were not on the DARK SIDE .... we could call this Jedi Training ! ..... Then I knew it ........ She said ya know if you two can't keep up .... I could just leave you here ..... We looked at each other as 't' stood there with that huge smile on her face .... I think I heard the other sith say "I don't care just leave us aughhhhhhhhhhhhhh" .... But like good siths we stuck together and walked through the PAIN and walked and walked. Finally we were there ... we could see the road. Right on the schedule 't' wanted to keep. We hopped in the van... 't' high tailed it down the mountain and THREW us out her van at the farm. Hornesbees made her way back up the mountain and I came in the house to PEEL my wet clothes off me ! I felt really good... we started the tail about 10:30/10:40ish .... and we were in the van at 1:19ish ..... so about 5 HARD miles, less then 3 hours, 2 boxes planted, 1 additional find for Hornsbees, and a GREAT DAY with 2 of my favorite boxer friends .......

What will 't' cook up for our next hike ...... Be afraid ... Be Very AFRAID !

TRIED to create a LTC *Spoiler*

Well I tried to make a LTC yesterday. I have received a few LTCs at this point, but have not tried to create one yet. I am not that creative so I have not really gotten into this yet. It is very so-so but I tried, so that is an accomplishment for me. Being around all these great carvers (Mama Wolf, Knit Wit, Mama Fox, Dixie, 't', threespoiledboxers, etc.) is wonderful, it challenges you to carve better, BUT it also makes you want to hide your stamps (in a box on the craft table instead of where people could see em !). I only made 6 cards, so I listed it as a limited series (I think that is right!) and have one already promised. I thought I would post my first attempt here so....

SPOILER ..... if you don't want to see it close the window now.

Talley Valley Farm Clan's first LTC

Grima Wormtongue 1/6




So there I tried..... not sure that I will get into LTCs like the rest of you, we will see.

** update ** here is the image it came from ..... I thought it was cool and very evil looking ..... http://farm1.static.flickr.com/74/199397635_3433b24d83.jpg?v=0

Proof in the pictures .......

OK .... well y'all .... you can say Holly you Lie all you want but I have PROOF that strange things are happening:

I went down to the campsite to see if I could get a picture of the pixies.

Here is where I heard their little voices and heard the leaves move... I thought again I saw something over there .... do you ?



I was letting Sean and his friend EJ play in the river while I looked around.



Then strange things started happening again .... this butterfly landed on me .... and would NOT leave... it would fly off and land back on my hand again.



See I told you strange things were happening here !