Happy Fall!

It's official. Autumn is here. I'll have to say tonight my card is prettier in person. Instead of colors of using colors solely from the autumn palette, I mixed it up tonight in what I believe to be a truer representation of what it really looks like outside. The colors are still bright. The leaves on the maple trees aren't deep shades of red and orange. They're vibrant. The gold hues are actually a bright yellow, and while it's fast escaping, there is still plenty of green to be seen in the landscape. I used a sponge dauber to add darker shades around the edges of the leaves - Vineyard Berry on Cranberry and Autumn Terracotta on Orange, and Sunflower on Sunny Yellow. To fill in the background a little more, I added stamped second generation Sunflower, Garden Green, and Autumn Terracotta leaves. I also second generation stamped the leaves and veins on the Garden Green accent piece with same color ink for a very subtle background. Finally, I used my Speckled Background stamp with Bamboo ink on the Background as well as the green pieces.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Chocolate, and Garden Green cardstock; Garden Green, Chocolate, Cranberry, Vineyard Berry, Orange, Autumn Terracotta, Sunny Yellow, Sunflower, and Bamboo stamp stamp pads; Nature's Vein stamp set; Impression Obsession Autumn Quote and CTMH Speckled Background (retired) rubber stamps; Ribbon from Walmart; Antiqued Copper Bitty Brads; Piercing Tool; Stampin' Up Piercing Guide and Mat; 3M foam mounting tape.

My day was interesting. For reasons that no one can explain my computer had all kinds of restrictions on it when I arrived at work this morning. I had Internet access but was unable to open links within Outlook and the drives where my Word documents and contact lists are stored. I rebooted to no avail and ended up with a computer operator coming to my desk to "save the day." To say that he didn't know what he was doing doesn't sound very nice, but . . . Because I could log into someone else's computer with full privileges, he assumed he needed to reset my profile on my computer, assuming mine was a roaming profile. It wasn't and resetting my profile wiped out three years worth of shortcuts, personal settings, Internet favorites, desktop files, everything. He ended up bringing me a new tower, and everything was honky-dory with the exception that in many ways, I was wiped out and left to start over. Needless to say, I was able to get the bare necessities accomplished today and nothing more, which means the rest of the week is going to be horrendous. Oh, and before someone reminds me that my stuff can perhaps be recovered from the other hard drive, I already thought of that - too late. It had been wiped clean within minutes of being removed from my desk. With a lot on my plate, it had been my intention to work late tonight. Instead, I practically ran for the door at 5 P.M.

OK. That was the crappy unpleasant part of my day. Here's the good part.

Tucked amongst the junk mail that filled my mailbox today was this beautiful card from my wonderful friend Jeanne. I'm without words with regard to what it meant to me to receive this card. Jeanne, who I only know through our blogs and email correspondence, has an incredible knack for "being there," which sometimes involves reading between the lines. If I were asked who on this earth I want to meet more than any other person, it wouldn't be a movie star, the president, or a famous athlete. I would say I want to meet Jeanne, and you know what? I'm going to someday. "Meet Jeanne" has officially been added to my Bucket List.

That's it for me for today. Tomorrow is a new day, and as far as work is concerned, it will be a better day. I hope your Tuesday is a good one, too! I'll talk to you again then.