Monday, February 6, 2023

Trail Misadvetures







First, these events happened yesterday, exactly as described…I can’t make this stuff up. Long post- get coffee or your beverage of choice. I went for a trail hike with my Trail Sisters group and survived the steep, icy Platte River State Park trails with my spikes and poles……until the last 50 ft or so. I made 2 miles without incident….until then. Steep slick ice downhill followed by a climb out. I had done so well at that point and another gal slid down, saying it was smooth non bumpy ice. I asked my friend Coleen to hold my poles while sat down and slid down. It Started out well but halfway down I veered to one side had a close encounter with a short stump. It was more of painful, yet intimate, encounter as it snagged my favorite running tights and ripped both them and my undies. This gave me the equivalent of an atomic wedgie as my underwear and tights were nearly torn off as I flipped over, thus mooning all the others looking on. My sunglasses went flying and I lay there, ass exposed and bleeding to the 29 others in our group, wondering how in the holy hell this happened and how badly have I hurt myself now. I lay there for a moment, exposed, contemplating my predicament and how to best get up and out to my car. My right ass cheek and upper thigh were suffering a bad road rash and the skin was stripped off in a fairly good area. It burned, I thought about how lovely a shower will feel— if you know, you know it will burn like fire. I asked if I suffered damage to other orifices in my nether region that could be seen and asked my friend to take a photo so I could see the damage. I got up and in doing so I noticed my left wrist hurting. I thought to myself; I didn’t fall on it, maybe when I flipped to my side and onto my belly that it could have bent weird. I had to have my trail Angel Coleen walk behind me hiding my ass until we got on concrete and she tied my coat around my waist. I couldn’t move my wrist without severe pain at this point. I had to ask the gal who parked next to me to help pull my seatbelt out from behind me and close the door since i could not. I drove myself the 37 minute trip from the park to Orthowest Urgent care and called Mike, asking him to bring me underwear and pants and meet me there. I got there with no issues but asked for a non upholstery chair to sit on while waiting since i was bleeding and oozing fluids like a wounded snail. I’ll need to get the bloody stains out of my front seat another day. By now it was almost noon and my intermittent fasting period was over so now I was starving as well as shaky and cold. Mike to the rescue- he ran across to McDs and got me a happy meal. Let’s say whatever little modesty I had left is gone. I had to stand, unclothed from waist down and one leg up on a stool so they could clean my abraded ass cheek- that stung. I got a cool pair of long silky black shorts to wear and went commando to keep underwear seams off my sore butt. I was really styling in those shorts and merino wool crew Feetures and trail shoes. Thank God we are home. I have a unicortical distal radial fracture and in a half cast for now. Next week they will put a full cast on. It’s not displaced and it’s a small crack. They will be consulting with their hand guy to ensure I won’t need surgery and hardware. Let’s hope I don’t. Send prayers and positive vibes. It’s good to be home with ice on my butt. I’ll ice up wrist next. Hot coffee tasted mighty fine because I was freezing. Huge shout out to Coleen who stayed with me til I got to my car. She is my trail angel. Love you girtl! It was a lovely but challenging hike until I encountered that damn stump. If I’m going to encounter 6 inches of wood, that’s not what Í have in mind. I was stumped and stumped hard. Í feel like someone took a bat to my nether region. At 70 I try to be careful in my adventures and I find it extremely ironic that I busted my arm sliding on my butt to prevent falling down that dang hill and breaking something! I was sitting and sliding as a preventive measure. It was a freak accident. I’m very active and some of my activities involve some risk. when you’re active, accidents can happen. I’m glad it’s only a broken wrist and soft tissue injury. My husband tells me to stick to the treadmill…..yeah, like THAT’s going to happen. Guess my snowshoeing and winter hiking is over  this season but spring is right around the corner! 

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Valentines Day Cards


 



 Valentines Day is coming quickly. ♥️ Have you done yours yet? I just finished the Ginger Army’s cards today. I have to say, I am pretty happy with how they came out. Sometimes I use patterns or ideas from other makers and sometimes I just wing it. This time I winged it- 100%.  I challenged myself to use all scraps for this cards. Look how stinking cute scraps can be! I Í pulled out my scrap bin then pink, coral and lavender ink pads,stamps and my Valentines and spring stamps. I used the upcoming February stamp of the month #S2302 Springtime Borders. The rainbows and rows of hearts were stamped using that. The remaining stamps were from other retired stamps. 

I had a little trouble getting started but once I did, they took off. I used ink colors; ballerina, flamingo, raspberry, cotton candy, Lilac and grape. I also sparkled them up with a clear shimmer brush. It’s hard to tell in the photos but the clear shimmer is on there in many places. I like that it’s subtle.  The Springtime Borders is available during February only at debbahr.CTMH.com





#closetomyheart  

 #scrapbooking        #crafts       #ctmh     #S2302

#themysticgypsy.blogspot.com 

#adventuresincreativity

#dabahr007


Monday, January 23, 2023

Check out this new website!

 I am SO EXCITED so announce that my oldest, Marshall has started a blog and website. I am so proud of this guy. There are family photos, a military section,  fitness section with an excellent post on his fitness philosophy (which is eerily familiar 😊). He is just getting started but there are so many of his achievements listed, as a Ranger, med student and physician, articles he has published etc. Let’s get him a big surge in views to get  his blog noticed  Please follow up with a visit to his blog. You won’t be disappointed!  Let me know what you think!  Share the heck out of it too!

marshallbahr.com



Friday, January 20, 2023

I’m going to finish this 2021 album yet

 Last trip of 2021 finished! Onto the Christmas layouts tomorrow…..

This was a fun workshop to do; Deck the Palms from December 2021. Love the colors.  








Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Snowstorm on the plains!

There is not much that I enjoy more than a good old Nebraska snowstorm. Nevermind that Mike is in Wisconsin this week, I’ll be crafting, getting my miles in outside, clearing the driveway and enjoying a fire and having all the toilet seats down. Sure I miss him but Í feel like a kid on vacation. Lol   I was up early, ran 3.5 miles, salted the driveway and sidewalks, fed the squirrels and lunch….all before noon. My plans;





Snowshoe!


And of course…..CREATE! 


Saturday, January 14, 2023

 Created this beauty today to showcase our RV, MystcGypsy, against the brilliant fall colors in Decatur Alabama. I used the Pumpkin Spice paper kit, cardstock is following colors: harbour, paprika, papaya, sunflower. The Pumkin Spice thin cut fries and stamps created the boots, sweaters, gourds, flowers and scarves. The leaves were cut using another fall thin cut die. All from CTMH. I saw a similar layout by another Maker using the circle pattern and knew this was what I wanted to do to showcase this photo. I spattered nectarine with a watercolor color brush on the white daisy cardstock to add a little contrast to the stark white. 






Tuesday, January 10, 2023

 I absolutely love this Paper Hug stamp. It worked perfect for a get well card I made yesterday. I added some dimension to the arms with watercolor pencils. 


The link to purchasing the stamp on my website is; 
https://debbahr.closetomyheart.com/retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=14988



Thursday, June 30, 2022

Blog Updates coming soon!

Hello again! 

 I’m changing the focus of my blog to write about about ALL adventures in creativity! That means it won’t be solely on crafting and paper crafts. Page headers will change to reflect various new areas of interest. This change is a direct result of requests from family and friends. Apparently many enjoy my musings on life, travel, RVing, gardening, cooking, athletic adventures and more. I don’t think I’m that entertaining but some of you enjoy it so here we go! You can still find me on FB and IG. I’ve let this blog lie idle since 2015, when career, family, and athletic activities took all my time. I retired and find that after 2 years of living the dream- I have more time to revisit this. Honestly, I gave no idea if Blogger is as antique as I am but I’m going to try to breathe life into this blog if it dies what I want. If not, I’ll need to see what blog formats are more current and meet my needs.  So in the meantime, buckle up because we are under construction! 






Monday, April 4, 2016

Gallery Wall on a Budget

When my 26 year son asked me to help put together artwork for his new home I was thrilled. He had no idea what he wanted. I asked what he liked and simply winged it. I searched sites like Zulily, Wayfair, Joss and Main, and discount stores in Omaha. I would forward images to him and asked yea or nay?  So he really selected the pieces himself. The entire wall cost about $150. The best reward....he loved it! Now his living room feels like his home. 

Friday, October 17, 2014

It's fall y'all 2014

I'm baaaaaaack! Tri season for 2014 is done. 4 triathlons, including a national championship race, on the books. Now to rest and recover while enjoying trail running, swimming and cycling on the trainer. Best of all, fall means scrapbooking, cards, crafts! It marks the season of my other passion and I relish it. I had a great opportunity to do a Christmas card workshop this week with some fun ladies. We used the Snowhaven Card Kit......that paper makes me think of a soft, warm, Nordic sweater.
Three different Snowhaven patters,


I also taught how to make this simple but beautiful holiday banner using leftover Picture My Life cards in the Pear and Partridge pattern at our unit meeting.





If you are interested in detailed instructions, leave a message and I will respond. Want to make holiday cards? Let's schedule a workshop and get them done early!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Tough Chik Meet Up

Hand stamped Team Tough Chik gift bags

Design by themysticgypsy. 

Add caption

This my  second year with Team Tough Chik, a team of awesome inspiring, supportive and motivating athletes. We live all across the US and outside the US. Although many of us have never met, we feel like sisters. We have many team members in my area and several of us gave never met. Many of is ran in the Lincoln Marathon and Half so we saw the opportunity to meet up for a night out a few days before. Last fall CTMH came out with teal and purple glitter tape.....Tough Chik colors! I made simple gift bags for each Chik, stamping tags and bags. I had a retired stamp set with the perfect "chick" stamp, I had been dying to use the Girls Rock stamp and the best stamp of all was the quote on the tag. I had just won it a week before at the Rediscover CTMH Omaha event.....it's one of my favorite quotes and it was PERFECT for this event! I also wrapped and stamped Hershey bars I placed in the bags.....in TC colors of course! I had so much fun making these special but simple gift bags.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Handmade Baby Shower Decorations

It was so much fun making these decorations! I used Babycakes papers and colors since it was gender neutral. The take out boxes were adorable and the cupcake toppers matched the cupcakes perfectly! 
Cricut cut and Stamped
 gift tags for guest favors
Our menu....love the stamped take out boxes made with my cricut and  Art  Philosophy cartridge
I fussy cut and freehanded the elephants. Cute wall hangings
I used this on my front door.
These made great balloon weighs!.
Love that the m and m's match!
Yummy .....and love the toppers. Hand stamped and punched
Vanilla orange and chocolate PB cupcakes! 


Orange sherbet, ginger ale punch

n
I love these colors!   Mmkñkp

Nn

                                                          Guess hoe many? 436!

Monday, March 3, 2014

Baby Shower!



Homemade baby shower banner!
Close to my Heart Baby Shower Banner. Hand stamped. 

Detail baby shower banner. Bases and letters cricut cut.

Oh Baby! Gender neutral baby shower banner using Babycakes.

I am preparing for a baby shower this weekend and wanted share some sneak peeks. I will post more pics and instructions next week after the shower. We don't know the gender so using gender neutral colors. I also wanted to use something besides yet he generic yellow or green. I used all Close To My Heart products in the invite and the baby shower banner. Let's just say thank goodness for the cricut! 


I should explain my absence and the length of time since my last post. After vacation at Thanksgiving and first week in December I caught a cold, which within a day turned into sinusitis and within 48 hrs developed pneumonia. I got very sick, very fast. It took me out the entire month of December until I recovered. In late January, we went to Jamaica for a seven day vacation  for our 25th anniversary. Halfway through, I fell and suffered a severe dislocation and fracture of my arm.....my dominant arm!      I could not use my right hand until late February. I am getting better but it's a slow process ....I did a number on myself. I have to take frequent breaks while paper crafting or I get stiff and it hurts. 

I cannot train.... so no cycling, simming,running or weights. that makes me wear the crabby pants. I could not drive until a few days ago......but I can now! Woo hoo! Freedom is mine!