Happy Tuesday! I know, I know . . . . I’ve been MIA. It’s been hard for me to go into the studio to work lately. I’m still working on getting my Stampfest Orlando class pulled together, and quite frankly once I finished that project the mojo went on vacation. Finally this afternoon I went into the studio to work, the phone started ringing and after spending close to 2 hours on the phone, I finally got to my project. Roseanne Roseannadanna comes to mind . . . . “Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, it’s always something.” If it’s not the mojo going on vacation, it’s the damn telephone ringing! (By the way, if you click on the Roseannadanna link above, it will take you to my favorite skit – the one about the little teensy, tiny sweat ball hanging on the end of Dr. Joyce Brothers’ nose)

I suppose I should get down to today’s business at hand . . . .

This month the theme for the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Blog Hop is “The Sweet Smells of Summer.” Ah summer . . . I LOVE summer! The flowers, the sun, the water, freshly mowed grass, barbecues, icy cold beer, grapefruit juice and vodka (lip smacking refreshing) . . . you name it, there’s not anything I don’t like about summer. Well wait, maybe a dead fish on the river bank . . . . eeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww, !

When I was thinking about this project, I thought of the river . . . the Ohio River, when my dad was alive and my parents lived on the river. Yes, we had boats and wave runners to play on , but most importantly, we had family get togethers every holiday ! We didn’t ask what we were doing on any given holiday, we simply knew . . . . What time should we be at the river? That was always the question. I LOVE the river! It may be brown when the water is high, but there’s a soothing quality about it. I could sit on a boat all day, drinking my Miller Lite and forget that anything else even existed. I love a sunset on the river and then the full moon reflecting on the water. It was comforting to sit and watch the boats go up and down the river, to hear the calliope from the Belle of Louisville or her whistle when she was getting ready to turn, and fascinating to watch a regatta when all the colorful sails were up.

My card today is all about the river! Red, white and blue for all the family holidays spent there, the last sailboat making its way to dock at sunset, and the soothing memories that the river brings me. Oh how I LOVE the river!

• Stamps: JustRite By the Sea from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store
• Paper:  Watercolor; Navy; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Webster’s Pages Sweet as Cherry Pie
• Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black; Ranger Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, Broken China, Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Shabby Shutters, Fired Brick and Dusty Concord Distress Inks
• Accessories:  1.25” Sapphire 100% Silk May Arts Ribbon from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store; Spellbinders™ S4-242 Big Scalloped Borderabilities Petite, S4-110 Classic Ovals – Large, S4-111 Classic Scalloped Ovals – Large and S4-113 Small Classic Scalloped Ovals – Small; Sewing Machine; Old Nautical Earring; Foam Mounting Tape

Now that I’ve babbled on and probably bored you to tears, I should tell you about the fabulous Blog Candy Sharon is giving away today. It’s the BasicGrey Cappella Kit.

How do I win this fabulous prize you ask . . . simply leave a comment on the Designers’ blogs. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have. We never know whose blog is going to be picked, so really you need to leave a comment everywhere to have the best chance of winning. Here’s the list of Designers participating today:

Sharon Johnson – Stamp Simply Ribbon Store blog

Michelle Woerner

Linda Duke

Sherry Cheever

Barb Schram

Deborah Saaranen

Holly McMillen

Well y’all that’s all I have for today! Thanks for stopping by and remember . . . life is short, enjoy the adventures of the day!