Today was special! The kids were bouncing off the walls. I kept over half my class until the last bell because of their behavior. I'm hoping that keeping them a little later than normal will curb their behaviors. If not I guess I'll keep them late and make them line up and I'll walk them to the bus like elementary students. I made my Halloween cards last night. I love that spider stamp by Inkadinkado. I also used SU's Baroque Motifs set.

I have been on Weight Watchers for three months now. I have this little mental glitch in my personality . . . whenever I am on a diet, I want to cook and bake. I can even sit and read a cookbook from cover to cover. Who knows! Anyway, I found a recipe in Southern Living magazine. This is called Mississippi Mud Cake. By the way, this defiantly is not low calorie, it has so many points that I can't afford to even smell it.

Sonny and I took a little time for ourselves this weekend. We took the boat out on the Ocklawaha River. We almost felt like we were doomed from the start, everything seemed to go wrong. We got past all that and went anyway. I'm glad we did, it was a beautiful day and the river was just gorgeous. Just to show you that everything was really going wrong . . . my camera battery also died on me.

I made another altered candy jar using the Haunted House stamp. I stamped a bat to fly over the house. I also completed an accent lamp that I have been working on for Catherine to put in her bedroom.

Yesterday was one of the saddest, longest days at work. We were greeted by a mass of media trucks as we approached the school. If your eyes were still dry, they weren't for long. The students, teachers and parents comforted each other. The entire North Marion community has pulled together to support one another. This is a tragedy that you can never be prepared for. My students handled it very well, until they realized that they knew her. They didn't know her by Francis. They called her by her middle name, Margay. When they saw her picture, several of them broke into tears and had to leave the classroom. Please lift her family and those who knew her into prayer. Margay was a happy child that always wore a smile. I dedicate today's blog to the memory of Francis Margay Schee.

I tried to work in my craft room tonight, but I just couldn't concentrate. I ended up shuffling things around a little and I started a project knowing that I didn't have everything I needed to complete it. Once I heard about the school bus accident my brain seemed scrambled. http://www.ocala.com/article/20080923/NEWS/809230246/1402/NEWS?Title=Girl__13__killed_in_school_bus_crash_on_U_S__301 I went through a mental list of all the kids I know to eliminate the possibility that they were on that bus. I was able to account for all but 2 of my students. This is terrible, my heart goes out to the parents, family members, and friends of Margay Schee.

I had a chance to play for a little while tonight. I had directions for this Clutch Bag, it's 6" x 3" x 2" deep. I used the stamp set called Best Yet (hostess), paper piercing (mat pac), Hodgepodge Hardware, a 3-D sticker and SU poly twill ribbon. It was much easier to make than I thought it would be.

Great News! You can now shop on my Demonstrator Website. http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/suejones/ If you are a member of one of my Stampers' Ten Clubs, you must place that order with the group.

I bought a matching oven mitt and kitchen towel. Then I made four cards and note cards to match. These will make great gifts. I like having things like this made and ready to give.

Tonight was my Thursday Stampers Ten Club meeting. We had a good turnout and everyone enjoyed the projects. We made the same card as the Monday group. Instead of the candy jar we made the Halloween candles. I got out all my Halloween stamps and let everyone design their own candle. This is the front and back of the one I did to show everyone how to attach the tissue paper to the candle. I love the little Jack-o-Lantern faces.

That nasty black cloud still lurks around us. Sonny's clutch went out on his truck today. I had to pick him up, go home to get the tow chain, go back and tow him to the house. Wouldn't you know it would happen on the night I had about 8 ladies coming over for my Stampers Ten Club meeting. I have decided to have a drawing for that "black cloud". Just let me know if you are interested in temporary custody! lol

There is a sweet cat trying to adopt us. Sonny is fighting it really hard. I don't understand why the cat seems confused. Sonny sprays him with water and I feed and pet him. He doesn't know how to act around us but he keeps coming back. I think he belongs to one of our neighbors because he is healthy and well fed.

Yesterday was my dad's 81st birthday and mine and Sonny's 26th wedding anniversary. And naturally I forgot everything. Oh well, it's a good thing Sonny forgot too!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!! (Thanks for the picture of dad holding his birthday cake, Joan. That set my brain back to working. It didn't take me long to put it all together and realize that I am a Dumb Ass!)

I'm back! My computer has been down since Thursday. The good news is that I got it back up. The bad news is that I lost all my favorites and some of my address groups. Yeah, that means you guys..... If you would send me an email I can add you back to my address book. I am enclosing the club reminder for the Monday Night Club since you need it tomorrow.

******Reminder ******* Stampers Ten Club Meeting Date: Monday, September 15, Hostess: Brenda Where: Priceless Scrapbooks

Time: 6:30 pm Birthdays: Brenda Steele Attachments: Project Samples Here is a list of items that we will be using this month. Bring your basic stamp kit and your paper cutter. This will keep you from having to wait so long to complete your projects. Thanks! Project One: Card Stamp Sets – Haunting Halloween (p. 27), Haunts & Howls® Wheel- Scary Skulls (p. 29) or Arachnophobia (p. 27) Ink – Basic Black, Versa Mark Accessories – Basic Kit, Clear Embossing powder, Heat gun, 1”, 1/16”, and Word Window Punch, Glue Dots, Regular Wheel Handle, Versa Mark Cartridge. Project Two: Altered Candy Container Stamp Sets – Tasty Sweet (p. 29), Carved and Candlelit ® Wheel – Ink – Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie Accessories – Basic Kit, cutter, Crimper, 1/16” punch, Glue Dots and Red Line Tape. ++++++++++++++++++++++++Reminder++++++++++++++++++++++ Please bring your basic tool kit with you. Anything that you think you may need. (This helps the meeting move faster. Less waiting for tools.) Here are some suggestions, those with double stars are required for each member to have their own. Double stick tape ** (required) 1/16” punch Ruler ** spritzer tool Scissors ** blender pen ** Bone folder watercolor crayons or pencils Cutting tool sponge Crop-a-Dile Basic Black Ink Pad Corner rounder 1/8” punch

I am keeping a low profile for the next week or so. The Jones' are not fairing so well. I may have been pushing it by using my heat gun on these candles. But, everything went well. I almost left my ribbon iron plugged in ---- that could have been ugly. The ribbon iron gets really hot.

These candles are so easy to create.

*Stamp your image on a piece of tissue paper

*Attach the stamped tissue paper to the candle by using a heat gun to melt the wax

Sonny picked up his truck today. I sure hope it works. J.P. called tonight to tell us that a tree fell on all three of his vehicles. They have had the worst run of luck lately. The trooper is totaled, her Ford has a sizable dent in the trunk, and his Ford pick-up is drivable but it has a lot of damage to the cab. They are all paid for, so they only have PIP and Liability on them and their homeowners will not pay for the damage either. I guess they will be driving them as it for a while. They are sure having some tough times. They had just gotten home from picking up Madison from daycare. Thank God they were in the house when it fell.

We had Open House at the school tonight. I don't think they had as many parents show up as they have in the past. Of course, someone pulled the fire alarm. So, we got to go stand in the field for 20 minutes. I had -0- parents show up. Surprise! Maybe next year will be better.

I created this little birdhouse ornament tonight. I have a template if anyone is interested in it.

I am so sorry that I didn't make it to Priceless on Saturday to deliver the Club Orders. You will not believe what I was doing! Sonny managed to back his truck off the end of the boat ramp when launching the boat and it sucked his truck into the mud all the way up to the motor. He ripped the lid off his cooler and shoved it under the front wheel. If he hadn't his truck and boat trailer would now be in Palatka. It's going to be O.K. His truck is in the shop, we have to have all the fluids changed and they have to remove the gas tanks, flush them out and put them back on the truck. Oh! he has two (2) gas tanks. $$$ I have no idea what this is going to cost. I finished the Cruz wedding programs. They are beautiful! I made this photo collage for Catherine's other Grandparents,because she was so upset that she missed Grandparents Day, Sunday.

I am sorry that I didn't post yesterday. I was exhausted when I got home from work. It was a good thing that we had some leftovers that I could heat up for dinner. Otherwise I think I would have just skipped eating. Today was a little better. I still had to have a power nap. I worked on the wedding programs and then played with this new set that just came in. It's called Happy Haunts. I really enjoyed making this card. I may have to send out Halloween cards this year.

After working on the Wedding programs for about two hours tonight. I whipped up this little gift box. I don't have anything special in mind for it. The retired set called Sunflower Serenade has always been a favorite of mine. The bottom of the box is made from Kraft cardstock and the top is made of Always Artichoke cardstock. It turned out pretty cute!

This is a little 6 X6 page of Madison that I worked on today. I need to get more of her pictures scrapbooked. I used the retired SU set called Daisy Crazy. I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day.

I worked on the Wedding programs again today. There is still a lot to do. Before going to bed I made this little card using Dreamweaver Embossing Paste and a stencil for the main design. The blue design in the lower corner is from the stamp set called Finest Flourishes. The colors are Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, and white.