Over the Hill to Christmas

Hello Stamplings!

I hope this finds you doing well! I am at my one hundred and eleventh day of lock-up and I am now spending part of each day sitting and visiting with all the fence lizards in the backyard. We've gotten to know each other well enough that I've given them names. The main dude, who we call Stubby because he's lost his tail, is responsible for several of the younger lizards and he's now making the rounds again with the lady lizards if you know what I mean and I think you do. It seems to be a really good year for him. 

What's that? No, of course I haven't named the ants. That would be daft!

Onefer

This very QACAS card was made for a dear friend who turned 50 this year. Before I mailed it, I stamped a five and a zero on the uphill side between the two blue sequints because now that 50 is the new 40, it is no longer considered "over the hill."

I'd like to tell you where the swirly die is from, but I can't find it. (Slap me for not using my Evernote!) I've looked through all my dies under every word I can think of to describe this swirly hilly dotty loopy curvy line, but none of them worked. Someone will know and report back. I cut another die for Hammy. He's surprising nimble for his age and he's been having a blast running back and forth pushing a hazelnut from hole to hole!

Challenges

• Krafty Chicks: All occasions.
• The Male Room: Use die cuts.
• Seize the Birthday: Anything goes.

Twofer

This sweet little stained glass tag is NBUS from PTI. There are three beautiful little images and several sediments in the set called appropriately, "Stained Glass." I watercolored it with my Ziggies and Hammy winked it. The bow hanger die is called "Crisp Bows" and it's from Memory Box. The joy is from Lil Inkers. The background was dry-embossed with a snowflake e/f and then sanded to give the flakes a little more Jenny Saquaw. 

Challenges

• Christmas Kickstart: Care to tag along?
• NBUS #15: Anything with a product never before used.
• Pixie's Snippets Playground: Anything wth a snippet goes. I used snippets of cut white card for the bow, tag, and sediment.
• Rudolph Days: Anything Christmas goes.

~~~

Empathy, Common Sense, and Covid-19 (a small rant)

Please continue to keep safe and wear your mask when you're out and about where there are other people. Sometimes things get overblown and people incorrectly think they're being told to wear a mask 24/7. Even if you don't mind getting Covid yourself because you're healthy and you'll probably recover, you might unintentionally infect someone else who may die. (BTW, we don't know the long-term effects of Covid yet on people who survive.)

We are all weary of the situation, but it's the way it has to be until there's a vaccine. And that won't take forever. Maybe you don't know anyone who's been sick from Covid or died from Covid complications. That's wonderful, but many people are forgetting that the reason more people haven't gotten sick or died is because we wore our masks and kept our distance in March, April, and May. It's cause-and-effect. By not practicing these two simple things, Covid is on the rise and business and economic recovery across the globe is going to take longer.

This just occurred to me: I understand taking temperatures isn't that effective, so why aren't all of us pushing our respective governments for test kits which would let us know each day whether it is safe to be in public? Why can't they come up with an immediate response test like a finger-stick test for diabetics, or like a pregnancy test, which could be made by the millions, and provided free to us at our local pharmacies? (Maybe there's a reason that won't work and one of you nurses or doctors can explain it to me.) 

Anyway, I got off track there. I just wanted to add that I feel like this pandemic is testing us when it comes to common sense and empathy. Empathy is simply the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Let's do the right thing and be patient until there's a vaccine and let's also remember how blessed we are. 

Strode College

I have several dear friends who live alone and aren't blessed with a Mister or family member who lives with them and can provide companionship and run errands. In addition to physical challenges, they are depressed, lonely, and bored. Now, because some people are no longer practicing social distancing or wearing masks, they are even more stressed and afraid. If you know someone alone like that, please check in with them often. Older people have trouble reaching out, so don't wait to be asked.

Let's all put politics and wild accusations and unproven allegations aside, practice the Golden Rule, and imagine what it's like to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, especially the shoes of people who are lonely and extremely vulnerable. We don't want historians to write that the year 2020 was a time when we put our politics over the health of others and we were divided into groups based on our ages, our health, or the color of our skin. Rather, we want them to write that the year 2020 was a time when all people came together to fight a harmful virus that was killing both people and economies.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, given the kindness and consideration innate to this caring community in Blogland, but I had to get this off my chest. Thank you.💕

~~~

And now for a chuckle I stole from Gay Peplow over on Facebook!

©Rowe Made A Thing

Mwah! Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* 

*Life is too short!

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