25th challenge

My outside has to be weeded like nobodies business. There is laundry to be folded and blah, balh, blah- but yet, over the last three days I have completed my June and July 25th challenge instead. Because you know what? That's WHAT.

These layouts were fun. I especially like the july challenge with the black and whites and then the POP of color with the colored shots.

Good times to be had here...

I also have a house guest right now that is a delight. My father in law is here and he did the dishes for me when I was out at a Brownie meeting. How cool is that?

The kids love him and I am glad he is here. Now, my mother in law is a wonderful house guest also and I have to give her big props. She does everything for me when she is here- dishes, cooking, playing with the kids- once she even scrubbed my trash cans and as I tell her- I need all the help I can get.

I'm baking your zucchinni bread today, Mom. Love you.

For my pals...

Look at this cutie. This is Owen, my best friend Jessica's baby. Owen is a very strong and brave little one year old. He had been getting chemotherapy treatments for the past few months and he has taken it in stride.

Jess is running a half marathon in September for Owen's cause. Please go to this link and read more about it...awareness is so IMPORTANT.

http://www.active.com/donate/nfphilly2008/race4owen

And since this post is for my Owen and Jessica, I have to close with these...they are so darn cute. Don't monkies make you happy?

Glenn, make these for your Dad.

CARD CHALLENGE week 6

What is beautiful to you?

there are many things that are beautiful to me but today we had a summer squall and it was gorgeous- lightening that shouted God's glory, trees blowing, dark, puffy clouds that were so majestic- i could just sit on my porch all day during a summer storm and don't even get me started about a summer night with heat lightening. i have heard that heat lightening is a misnomoer, but i don't care. my dad and i used to sit on the front stoop and listen/watch it and it will always be heat lightening to me.

Card Challenge- ultimate vacation

only one more to catch up on---have not the style one from last week.

i would love to emulate Ina Garten's style but how could I ever make a card that would be simple and beautiful and elegant- it is not me-- but i would love to pull it off -more on that when i actually make that card...i should just do an Em Falconbridge one because my little cards with scraps and layering are totally inspired by her magic.

but this is my ultimate vacation...anywhere with Dave- we have fun in the car, fun at places together- any place- just me and him for some alone time- i would love it so much and guess what- in three days just me and him are leaving for vacation so...ultimate vacation- here i come!

GREEN---

Catching up on card challenges--- here is my green- for the life of me, I can not get satisfactory pics of these cards. But---this is as good as it is going to get today.

I love my backyard in the summer--- fully green, lush, relaxing, beautiful- a little haven.

Wow.....

Here's the cake, my lovebug.

Joy

from morning to night---

look at them sleeping together--- angels and then this evening they harvested--- a huge zucchinni from the garden. i had missed it earlier this afternoon and they were so excited to find it as they went out to make sure the gate on the garden was secure. there is nothing like walking in the mud of the garden- i remember it as a little girl and i love to see them take such pleasure from time in the garden.

we have been baking zucchinni bread all week and I can't stop them from eating loaves at a time.

Nana, do you still want a loaf?

i love these kids.

I love her.

Plain and simple- just like that- I love her. She came to visit, my Diane, I had not seen her in ten years and then there she was at my door. I was so nervous and so in a twitter over the whole thing- changing outfits and everything- but as soon as we hugged- it was all okay. Because it was like we were never apart. Me with my over worrying, over excited, anxious self and her with her calming presence, her little one liners that make me smile, and her wonderful loving heart.

And yes, I know, reading over that paragraph makes me sound like I am in love with her---she is that special. Everything I say about how much our friendship means to me could not really sum up that fact that she is just a true friend, a gem of a friend, the kind of friend that you are blessed with only a few times in life.

And our oldest girls, both six are like the upcoming peas and carrots pair. In college, Diane's husband called us the Twin Towers and they are definitely the mini Twin Towers. It is fanciful to watch.

Nora, a.k.a. Pixel, Diane's three year old, is such a treasure. "Just call me Pixel." I still smile when I think of the faces she makes and the things she says. What a love bug.

The visit was a simple wonderful vist. No fancy bells or whistles, just time together.

Thanks for coming Diane. I love you.

Two prayer requests:

1) Tomorrow I am going to post about another gem of a true friend I have. My best friend, Jessica. She is a constant inspiration to me and I can only hope to someday aquire the grace that she has. Her little son needs lots of prayers of strengh. He is doing very well but has @54 more chemo treatments in his future and the more prayer the better. Jess is running a half marathon in Sept. for his cause and I would like to share more about it here.

2) Big hugs and prayers go out to the Mauder family. Glenn Mauder is one of Dave's closest friends and his family is funny, warm, welcoming, and delightful. I can't even talk to Glenn without smiling ear to ear. There is just something about him. We've always been pals and there is a story about this, no time today to share it, but I can't eat meatloaf without giving him a silent shout out. Mr. Mauder, Glenn's dad, has stage 3 pancreatic cancer. It has spread through his body from what I've heard. I pray that God gives him peace and strength through this illness.

Happy Thursday

Hard Workers...

Had a little party here tonight with a bunch of woman...it was one of those jewelry parties. It turned out to be a very fun night- lots of laughs and giggles.

The girls helped me get the house ready. They were such a big help. So I rewarded them with a little ice cream.

I couldn't help but take this picture. It is so darn cute.

Wish these girls lived closer to us- they are dreamy. We went to an Ecoman concert today- it was fun. The girls and Robby played instruments and danced with scarves. It was the perfect summer afternoon.

That is it for now. It is late and I must get to bed.

Happy Wednesday. Can you believe it is July 23?

CRAZY!

All grown up...

Look what we did today!

Could she be any prettier?

Not a chance.

Happy Tuesday.

Oh me, Oh my...

What's this you say? Oh yes, it's that crazy phallic symbol that my daughter carries around everywhere just laying in the sand. He has been lovingly repaired four or five times and has many layers of glue to keep him together. And yes, I still laugh when I see him and can't stop watching people's reactions in stores as they watch Katie carrying him. I am immature, I will admit it.

So, I have gotten a lot of feedback about the rather comical Wormie (I affectionatly call him Willie) and I thought it was high time to give an update. Wormie is alive and well as you can see here--- he is enjoying himself at the beach... Katie normally plays with toys for three or so days and then moves on to the next thing but Wormie has permanence---ohhhh, I should backspace that- but I won't.

In other news some good people news to share. On Saturday night I took this picture of my Mom and kids waiting on a bench for the Pony Express Trolley in Chincoteague and then got on the trolley and left my sweet, dear camera on said bench.

I did not realize I had misplaced my camera until the next morning- two hours before we were set to depart. I cried because I was so mad at myself for being careless and because I was heartbroken that I lost so many dear pics of my vacation and my Diane's visit the week before. So many things in this paragraph will make my Dave shake his head. One that I lost my camera, two that I did not tell him for fear he would yell, and three that I had not unloaded my camera card before the trip...but I digress.

At 9 AM, I called the police station and lo and behold they had received a call the night before that the owner of the storefront with the bench had called in about a camera and had the camera in his office if anyone called in about it. Well, I was thrilled. I love people. People are good- really, really good. I mean this bench sat on the main street of the town and people walked past all evening and someone took the time to walk my little camera into the restaurant and turn it in... Thank God for honest people.

And I love small towns like Chincoteague. You must go to Chincoteague, VA and enjoy its charm. I promise you will find at least twenty things to love about it.

So here's to honest people, phallic symbols, and whatever my Mom is making such a face at in that picture- wish I knew. Happy Monday.

I'm back...

Great, great week of vacation. Wonderful weather- great sites- fantastic company of course- and just lots and lots of sun, sand, and surf.

Lots of details to share now of my vacation and my visit from my pookie, D. plus, scrap challenge cards, plus photos, plus garden news---man, i could type forever but I am tired and wanting to watch Design Star so it will have to wait.

For now quickly-

* today I picked seven zucchinni and nine cucumbers out of the garden. YUMMO! i have tons of green tomatoes--- and my zucchinni plant is gigundous- never seen anything like it.

* i came home from vacation in Chincoteague and found my two nieces at home for the week! YEAH! a whole week with Brianna and Abby. The kids are playing baby and pretending to be pregnant. My sisters and I used to do this all the time.

FUN!

be back real soon, i miss posting.

Week 4 for Card Challenge

Ladies... it is late on Saturday night and we are leaving early in the morning for the shore--Chincoteague, VA to be exact. I am not quite packed, my house is not quite clean, I am feeling particularly moody and dumpy(that time of the month,) and it is time for a card prompt. I have one and I have an image of a card---but the fun, crafty part will have to wait---for now I will share the prompt with all of you and look forward to seeing Amy, Dodi and Sooz's work when I get back---I hope more of you decide to play soon...

So, what would be your ultimate vacation? You can tell me as much or as little as you would like- who, what, when , where, and how- your five senses in that place, or just what you would like to do in that place- if you have been there or if it is a place you dream of going.

I will be off line the entire week---

hugs and misses to you all. can't wait to get back and craft a little. it has been too long...

i also have to do a big post on seeing my lovebug, Diane. Since her visit, I was bogged down with a three day migraine and haven't been able to post but man, did I have such a blast seeing her- it was like we had never been apart. her kids are gorgeous--hi Pixel and Abbey.

okay, i have to pack and do some sit ups!

July 3 Party

Tons of fun last night at the July 3 party. Everyone was so gracious and kind- tons of food- tons of fun- lots, and lots of good friends- so many people- at one point i counted twenty seven people in the pool. WOWSAS- I think all told we had about eighty people and there was not that much food left over and...it was the first time in my life that an entire half sheet cake from Sam's was eaten---Can you believe it? no cake to eat for breakfast the next morning with milk----

Anyway- hope everyone had a great time- i was busy and did not get to sit for long- only got snippets of time with my friends which is a little sad but I know there will be other times to chat--All the hugs and hellos and smiles were enough for my heart:)

I only got a few pics- I forgot to grab a camera until fireworks time- Matt did an awesome job- everyone was cheering and the kids were captivated. Last year we only had about twnety people for Matt's show but this year he had about 50 people or more as an audience. Thank goodness he is in charge of this-- he does a great job.

My Mom was an incredible help as always- she was supervising the pool and then of course, before she left, she did some cleaning. THANK YOU, MOM. She is the most giving and selfless person I have ever met. Plus she is pretty, darn funny- she makes people feel good.

Our neighbor, son of rock and roll, Jeff Bigelow, did the music for the party- it was awesome- he actually set up speakers and had a microphone- he played great music---

GOOd, GOod times.

HAppy 4th everyone- I got up to get a drink at 6 AM and it is now 7:20 AM- everyone is sleeping since we didn't go to bed until 1:30 AM- I heading back to bed myself!

i LOVE summer

yes, i miss the beach terribly--- not living ten minutes away from it anymore is awful but really, look at these pics all taken in my back yard...how could you feel bad for me?

I am living a paradise life over here...only thing that could make it better would be a maid and a cook----hmmmmmm...that would be the life of riley to the extreme.

Happy Summer, Everyone- Hope you have a great 4th...is your corn as high as an elephant's eye?

Inspired.

"Our deepest fear is not that we’re inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world."

-Marianne Williamson.

I have put this quote on my blog before---it intrigues me and speaks to me --- human women are funny creatures, we don't want to stick out, we want to be safe- we are generally not comfortable with shining and if we do we credit it to someone else...

there is some positive to this- no one likes a show off or a know it all but on the same token, a woman needs to embrace her gifts and share them with the world- i would like to figure out why i hold myself back- i feel it is because i am scared i will fail but could there be truth to Williamson's quote? i am not sure.

Two women inspired me yesterday....

Cynthia-- her blog is beautiful and she had a post about this quote and included this article...read it- it is powerful and gives the mind things to mull over.

Deanna--my cousin- i have met few people in my life with the strength and grace that this woman has---i aspire to be like her--yesterday she commented on my gardening post and it resonated with me all day and even still this morning--when i am in my garden, i feel so close to my loved ones in heaven and her affirming this feeling on my blog was powerful.

alright- the kids are sleeping in- the house is super quiet- i am going to spend some time straightening and cleaning to get a jumpstart on my day.

Happy Tuesday.