Saturday, October 31, 2009

Pretending We are Friends

At the Scrapgirls Convention, everyone was super. Digital scrappers must be the nicest people anywhere. That is where I met Ro, after having read her blogs for quite a while. I feel like I know her and can relate to her loves and struggles. She does like chocolate way more than I (LOL) , but other than that we see eye to eye. I feel like a groupy or something since she started Scrapgirls and I am only a 'customer'.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sweet and Sassy

Phyllis and I had the opportunity to visit Polaris last Saturday. What a great time we had.
This 'sweet' car was our first find. Then came Von Maur where we began trying on identical clothes. The clerks laughed and said that we had been friends much too long.

We actually ended up buying these jackets alike, hoping that we wouldn't end up wearing them at the same time. But then who knows? It might be fun. LOL

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

That Glow

That Glow is because Beth is expecting a baby boy. Of course, he will be the cutest, smartest, sweetest boy born since 2002, when his cousins Mason and Aussie made their appearance. The whole family is excited and can hardly wait. But then, Beth is the one doing all the work now and naturally is more anxious than the rest of us.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Leaves of Fire


In the last few days I've developed a bad habit of taking pictures as I drive down the road.
It isn't enough just to see this beautiful artwork on our way to and fro; I need pictures to remember throughout the year.

Speaking of remembering, it seems like many have either forgotten where socialism took every country where it has been tried in the past. Or some perhaps want to be all powerful and control the 'little people' who would be subjects to them. Yes, history tends to repeat itself. Stop, read history, think and don't let those who would enslave you do it. Vote them out of office before it is too late to go back. To repeat what I've heard many times lately,"How's that hope and change working out for you?"

Monday, October 26, 2009

Expecting

Yes, we will all be grandmothers of the sweet little Caleb. We are expecting him in February.

Annette hosted a lovely baby shower this past Saturday. It was a beautiful day for us to share the joy of seeing the little one to be's mother with such a glow.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

ABC's of Surfing

Love the red, white and blue here. Hey I love THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE. Never had a reason to be embarrassed by it.

Catching up with the Triplets who visited the state fair the end of September. The kids visited so many sites and Chelle has so many good pictures. I'm hoping to come up with some more layouts before too long.

We had a wonderful weekend. I was able to visit with Beth, the expectant mother of our newest grandson. Her family held a baby shower for her on Saturday morning. It was a lovely day and we all celebrated the joy in our hearts for the family and the little one Beth carries.

I will sort out pictures, hoping to get them up on Flicker for family members, soon. And of course, we'll try to get something on the blog as well.

To God be the glory!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Book Deadline

I'm putting together a book of this blog. Even though I pretty much have all the material together, it is a time consuming task. That is one of the reasons I have no new layout for today. It will also be a very busy weekend; so I'll probably not be very productive for a few days. Stick with me. I'll be back on track in a matter of a few days.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

God's Art Work

In my opinion, which is always right you know, there should be more hours in the day for artistic endeavors.

I snapped a picture of Hubby today on the bridge taking pictures of the leaves. I really wanted
to make something different to showcase the art work God has done on this landscape. I'm not really happy with this, but it is getting late and it will have to do.

Anyone who knows me well will recognize the setting.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Texans

I challenge you to choose which one of these girls is only 1/2 Texan. Shoot. It was easy, wasn't it?

Phyllis had all her sisters in town for a few days. They made a day trip to Niagara Falls on Saturday. Although I hear about them all the time, I had never met lovelys. So this was my chance. We met in Medina yesterday at Miss Molly's. It was so much fun. They brought the Texan out in me. My dad was from there and I still have relatives around Fort Worth and Granbury.

I'm so glad that now when Phyllis says Nella, Betty, Mary or Laura I can 'see' a face to go with the name. What fun girls they are!

Monday, October 19, 2009

A Pocket of Color

Today was a beautiful day. I kept very busy starting with a dentist appointment this morning.
Glad I got that over with early. Did my Bible lesson in the Beth Moore book, Esther:It's Hard Being a Woman. Then headed to Medina and a frilly tea shop called Miss Molly's Tea Room.
I met my friend Phyllis and her four sisters all here from Texas. We had a little mix up and I
was in Medina an hour early...time to shoot a few pictures on and around the the town square.
With six girls chatting, it ran long. We enjoyed every minute. I ran some errands on the way
home. Hurried through them and home to fix dinner for Hubby...not hungry myself after a late and filling lunch. Rushed over to Curves to be there the last 1/2 hour they were open...then finished my errands at WalMart...at least I would have finished them had I not lost my list
somewhere today. I got home without Epson Salts which my hubby asked me to buy almost a full week ago. Then it was time to put the clean sheets on our bed. Finally, I made it here to the computer to create this layout of these leaves across the street. I hope you can enjoy the wonder
of color our God created.

God is good!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Four of us got together under the leadership of Sandi for some fun before the Scrapgirls' Event.
It was nice to enjoy our freedom to travel and visit with others who have a snapping addiction.

Actually, Barb didn't take any of 'these' pics. Dianna took the one of me and I got the ones of Sandi, Dianna and Barb. But I needed a cute title.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Scrapgirls' Bond


The Scrapgirls' Convention was a big hit for the second year. There is an unusual bond among us...there's something about 'girls' who carry at least one camera everywhere ready to snap away at the strangest of images. Add the fact that we are avid digital junkies and watch us form fast friendships easily... young and old, rich or not, outgoing or shy,of differing political persuasions and from all over the world come together and feel an instant kinship.

Here we have Shari with her camera and me behind the Digital Scrap Link sign.
If you wonder why I'm wearing a tiara, it is because I have been dubbed Countess Cropalot from my many days of paper scrapping. The name and crown have come along with me to the digital world. I wore it all through the event...and I was not the most 'far out' one there. We had monkeys and fairies to name a few.

My opinion: All the people of the world 'could' unite. However it will never happen as long as some want to dominate. They continually try to shove their wishes down the throats of the rest of us. From the beginning of this nation, our worst enemies were kept far away; but now they are here working among us. They are the ones we have to watch, and closely! Watch and Pray.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Nobel Peace Prize

Whoa Baby, we could talk forever on this one, but since I'm pushing myself to do too much today, I'll just quote part of an article by Ross Douthat from the New York Times.

"'...it will be ...offensive when Obama takes the stage in Oslo this November instead of Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's heroic opposition leader; or Thich Quang Do, the Buddist monk and critic of Vietnam's authoritarian regime; or Rebiya Kadeer, exiled from China for her labors on behalf of the oppressed Uighur minority; or anyone who has courted death this year protesting for democracy in the Islamic Republic of Iran."

In my opinion an honest person of little merit should decline this 'honor'.

Waterfall

In my opinion, you can't beat Northeastern Ohio in the fall! However, since I had to be in Salt Lake City, I sublimated those feelings and enjoyed seeing what was Utah.

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum was very pretty and gave me a multitude of chances to click my shutter.

A couple of ducks were swimming in and out of the reeds. I was able to capture this drake well. I do have the female with her tail feathers up in the air, but decided to forgo using that pic.

How wonderful to have a God who created this earth (solar system and beyond) with such varied beauty from place to place and from season to season...and who still cares and is active in the lives of each one of his creatures. What more could we want?

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Smell the Roses

Dianna took this picture of Sandi, Barb and me at the Butte Rose Garden in SLC, Utah.
For those who have not heard from me, I can not send email from here and it is really
'cramping my style'. I'll be home soon.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Ashley's Silhouette

This afternoon we had a class on silhouettes. I wish I had known ahead of time to have a
picture ready for it. I'm very happy with the one I found of Ashley, even though it is from February.

This trip has been worthwhile. Our classes have been a lot of fun and informative. Am not in a hurry to leave all these sweet girls and return to Ohio, but am missing my handsome hubby.

The Rose

This layout isn't really great, but I did it in just a few minutes using knowledge I've just acquired at the Scrapgirl's Convention. The rose that I photographed on Tuesday now looks like a painting. All this and we haven't even eaten lunch. That's next.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Cottonwood Canyon

Having a lot of fun in Utah. We girls are busy exploring and snapping thousands of photos and scrapping them as well. Four of us bonded in Cottonwood Canyon when the temperature was a surprising 25 degrees and we had only light jackets and sweaters. We were too dedicated to
turn around and head back to Salt Lake City. If I come home sick, you will all know why and also be aware that I wouldn't change it one bit.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Off to Make Memories

I'll not be blogging this next week. Leaving hubby home to tend his 'garden.' I'm off to make memories...will have plenty to blog about after my trip. Please pray for my friends and me...so that we make all our connections easily and stay healthy and safe.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Here at the Lakes

First of all for all you who don't know, this is not my house. It is just one of my favorites here at the lakes.

Only a few years ago the herons moved into the neighborhood. They have 'blended' in just fine.
I get a kick out of watching them, for they will stand perfectly still for long periods of time and then dive in after a fish. They love to perch on the docks around our house.

Again for those of you who are not familiar with the lakes, it is an unusual place with not much in the way of code. You will see mansions and summer type cottages all around the lakes. There is also plenty of wild life space in the state parks. It makes for interesting sight seeing tours by boat.

Fall has come early to Ohio. The leaves had started turning when this picture was taken September 19.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Happy Halloween


Let me be the first to wish you a Happy Halloween. Not that I agree with the sinister side, bit I do love to see little ones dress up and march door to door, or 'trunk to trunk' as they do in some locals.

I received a lovely sentiment on line that I'd like to share:

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff-- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

Isn't that beautiful? Aren't you thankful? That sets us up for next month.