adventures in gratitude

My husband has several buddies, who like him, enjoy Radio Controlled aircraft, but no one was available this morning to make the drive to Northville, Michigan for a swap meet, so he asked me yesterday if I'd be interested in driving over with him. Well, no, interested wasn't the right word, but I was willing.  It was a beautiful day for a drive and after I peeked at the swap meet (a lot like the computer swap meets we used to attend in a different decade) I went for a walk.  There are many beautiful homes like this one in Northville:

Quaint beauty notwithstanding, the walk reminded me of how grateful I am to live in the country.  On the subject of being grateful, this is how Tom expressed his appreciation:

Mmm-mmm-mmm!  Absolutely worth the entire drive, just for this!  We also took a little side trip to IKEA and bought a new lamp that will turn on in the morning before my alarm clock, since I have such a hard time waking up that early (no matter what any of you early birds think, 7am is EARLY for the night owl I've been all my life).  There was a sign in the department that stated that a large percentage of the world's children don't have electric lights to make it possible to read after dark, so I am also grateful that we have reliable electricity for lamps, computers, laundry, and all the other advantages of life in the United States, including crafting!

Months ago I saved a link to this card by Diana Gibbs, because I really liked it and wanted to CASE it.  Pals Paper Arts posted a color challenge - Early Espresso, Soft Suede, River Rock - that was meant for this card, don't you think?  Stamp sets are Have a Seat, Teeny Tiny Wishes, and Woodgrain.

Meanwhile, over at Stamping 411, there's a new color challenge of Riding Hood Red, Lucky Limeade, and Early Espresso.  I have a little list on my table of the current challenges in which I'd like to participate, and there was a sketch that I thought would work:

Funny thing is, the sketch is also Stamping 411 - oops ;\ - will it be silly to post it twice on the same blog?  Stamp sets on this card are Polar Party and Kidoodles.  One of these days I *will* learn to put Dazzling Details on LAST.