Counting our Blessings -

Yesterday has got to be one of the scariest days I have had in many years. There was a grass fire in our area - and the winds were blowing 20-30mph. Towards our house. A very good friends property was hit pretty good, and I really believe God put his hand over her house, because the flames went all the way around it as close as just a few feet. For nearly 5 hours we gathered animals, livestock and sprayed water. The Firemen, who by the way in our area are all Volunteers and deserve so much, worked until late in the night making sure nothing sparked back up. It got really close to our property, too close. We kept going back and forth from helping with the fire, back to our property to check and see how close it was to us. Thank God it was stopped on the field just in front of our fence line. The winds were coming right at us. At last we heard, many many acres were burned, 5 houses, numerous barns and sheds, and some livestock lost. It was amazing to see everyone, neighbors from the entire area walking horses from danger, loading dogs and cats of people they barely knew into their cars and fighting fire for people they had just nodded at forever. I am sure this morning there will be many out taking count of their blessings that no one was hurt or worse. I know I am -

Funny I was in the process of loading my card to the Magnolia vs. Stampavie challenge when I smelled the smoke. And for some reason on one of my trips to check the house... I made sure it loaded and that it went through - funny the things we do when our brain isn't working... my card was important at the time. Ha...

Well it did make it in time - the challenge this week is Lace and Pearls -

For the base I used a cream colored Bazzil card stock - it is one of those bling card stock so it has a shine to it. The pattern papers.. how gorgeous are they? They are new to me, I got a new K&Company stack by Brenda Walton - these papers are so pretty. They remind me of my Grandma...

I sewed down each layer with a zig zag stitch, then very slowly sewed down the lace with a straight stitch. The lace is a really gorgeous color in person - was lucky enough to buy a few different colors of this more expensive lace at a 50% sale at JoAnn's a while back.

Of course my image is colored with my Copics, and then the bubbles are stickled. I just love this Stampavie Leere Alrich image... she is just too much fun to color - and you have to love all them bubbles with the puppy popping out!

For my "Pearls" I used vintage Pearl Buttons from my Grandma's button box. These are really pretty - I tied them with a sheer ribbon.

The sentiment is from RubberStamp Tapestry - and seemed to fit a lady relaxing in a tub with her pooch - I used my Fiskar's Squeeze Punch to cut it out and inked the edges. Here you can also see the stitching, and the lace a bit.

The other DT really did a wonderful job this week, each card is just lovely! Make sure to stop by and check them out and see what prize is up for grabs this week.

And don't forget I started my Blog candy...

Me right now we are going to feed the donkeys check to make sure no one has any problems from the smoke - then meet up with our neighbors for breakfast.......... and count our blessings -

HUGS and-