FRIEND

Main Entry: FRIEND
Pronunciation: \ˈfrend\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English frend, from Old English frēond; akin to Old High German friunt friend, Old English frēon to love, frēo free
Date: before 12th century
1 a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b : acquaintance
2 a : one that is not hostile b : one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3 : one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4 : a favored companion


Friends are like the ingredients to a good cookie, just out of the oven.

Mix together; friends
- with kind hearts
- who give
- and share

Add warmth and create a bond.

If desired ; Frost with field trips and lunch dates.

I am thankful for this recipe. It's a great cookie!

WISHES

OK. How is it, that one person can trash a room so quick? My craft room looks as if a tornado went thru! I need a Genie in a Bottle to grant me one wish. My one wish would be to have a House Faerie. I thought this out... if I asked the Genie to clean up my room, it would be done once, only for me to mess it up again! If I wished for a House Faerie, she could neatly put my things away each time I used them! So here goes....

Dear Santa,
Please bring me a Genie in a Bottle, so I may wish for a House Faerie. I've been almost good this year!

Thank you. Pam

TUESDAY

_ Cold, rainy, dark and dreery
_ Warm, fuzzy socks
_ Hot cocoa
_ Good music
_ Messy house

WHO CARES!!!!!

NATURE AT ITS BEST

This is the view from my nephew's backyard (upstate NY). It is so beautiful and peaceful.

'Holiday Traditions'

Halloween is over and it marks the beginning of the Holiday season. Twinkling lights, the smell of fresh cut pine and warm fuzzy slippers.

I'm going to get my tree up early this year, so I can enjoy it as long as possible. The last two years, I didn't really decorate much and I didn't have much holiday spirit, but things are better and I'm back! I bought my first present the other day. Actually, my second. I had bought a little car for Grayson and I gave it to him already! I just couldn't wait! So bad!!! ha-ha-ha... Anyway, I'm racking my brain as to what to get my kids. It was much easier when they were little. Toys-R-Us had everything a child could want.

And then there are Cookies! How can I forget cookies? Baking, lots of baking to do!I always bake cookies Christmas Eve day with the kids. We've done this since they were little. Sugar cookies with icing, sprinkles and little candies. I'm not sure what was more decorated, their masterpieces or the floor? It didn't matter, because the smiles on their faces were priceless. This year, I have Grayson to continue the tradition. I may have to change the day, but the joy will still be there!

AUTUMN SPICE

I am luvin this time of year. Actually, I'm not sure if I like spring or fall better. Both are filled with the colors of nature, cool, crisp mornings and warm, sunny afternoons.

Film to Digital

My camera collection is growing. My newest is a Canon SD1200 IS. I think I am going to like this little gem! The pictures are crystal clear.
For fun, I have included a pic of my oldest camera in my collection. This is a "No.1A Autographic Kodak Jr." Patented in the USA; Jan 18, 1910 - Jan 7, 1913.

Operation Write Home 600

Wow, sounds like a race! Actually, a group of woman meet at Scrapbooks and Etc. a couple times a month to create handmade cards to be sent off to our soldiers. These men and women use these cards to write home to family and friends, no postage required! How awesome is that?? This group of cards are to celebrate the upcoming holidays, over 600! Amazing, what a few women can do in a short period of time! God Bless our Soldiers and the women of Scrapbooks and Etc.

NEED A RIDE?

Sunday was a fun day. We had Grayson all day and decided to take him to the Lazy 5 Ranch in Morresville, NC. John and I had never been there, but had heard it was an adventure. It was a bit on the chilly side, especially when the wind blew, but we had a great time. As we drove thru the ranch, we picked up a few hitch hikers. We had Ostrich and assorted deer heads inside our car, a few didn't want to leave! One of the Ostrichs was pecking at the mirror and then bit John. Guess he wasn't getting enough attention! Grayson thought that was funny! I do believe this will be a place we visit frequently.

ANOTHER PASSION OF MINE

I love the arts, all kinds. Music is another passion of mine and has a great influence on my moods and well being. I played piano, guitar and the clarinet in band. I sang in the church choir and chorus in school. My children also love music, I am not talking about rock or heavy metal (yes, they do listen to that), but classical, new age (IE. Yanni) and others. When I was pregnant, I used to put headphones on my belly so they could hear it. If they were active, it settled them down. In the spirit of Halloween, I changed my blog background and music. I chose a classical favorite of mine to share with you. < 'Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor' > Portions of this piece have been used in many movies and clips. So for now, sit back and listen, but remember..... watch behind you. One never knows what might be lurking....... ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-.............

DOG-GONE IT !!!

Woke up this morning to an aftermath from a puppy tornado that went thru last night. I had forgotten to put the gate up to the door, when I went to bed. Apparently, Cody couldn't sleep, so he decided to play.

FUNKIE MUNKIE VISIT

Yesterday was a fun day! I traveled to Greenville, SC with John. While he was working, I went to the FUNKIE MUNKIE SCRAPS store in Greer, where I met Stephanie, the owner. Oh, what fun and a very nice person. We sat for hours and talked about copics, crafting and our families. I am soooo jealous! She will be attending a class for certification on COPICS. She has 8 other certified people already in the store! Anyway, we played with stamps, inks and Copics. (She plays a lot, she's good) I picked up a few tips and saw all the colors available. Oh MY!!!!! I finished filling in my color chart to have a guide as to what colors I would like to get, to complete my stash. I found many of the colors are so close, you do not need them all. Mixing colors, "picking up" color with another gives you a multitude of choices! By the end of the day, I had added 7 new colors to my collection and a few new stamps. She has great stamps! Bella, The Greeting Farm (Love these) and Shirley's2Girls, just to name a few. How can I forget, I found the Renaissance Faire Collection, one of the new additions to Graphic 45 papers. One of my favorite companies. After a day of playing, it was supper at Cracker Barrel and on the road to home.

MY STUDIO

Well, here it is. I decided I better take pictures before starting a new project, as long as my desk is cleared off. It's rare to find it clean! The cabinet is a pie safe built by an Amish man in Lancaster, PA. John bought it for me while we were living in PA a short time. It houses other crafts supplies, extras and bulk items. My "Studio" letters are wood that I decoupaged and embellished. My desk and table may look a little cluttered to some, but I find I use more of my goodies if I have them in site. I love vintage boxes and tins, but it just doesn't work for my scrap stuff, so I found some cubbies and containers made out of clear hard plastic that look more like glass. I'm sure with time, things will evolve and change as new stuff will need to have a home and reorganization occurs. For now,I am happy to have a place of my own to create and make memories!

ALTERED FLOWERS

Today I am playing with Alcohol inks and flowers. I had watched one of the Thinking Inking videos by Jennifer McGuire where she made flowers. I used her technique, but the outside piece I turned over so the petals would flare out. I made two of these and attached them together with a glue dot and a toothpick inserted into the center for a stem. I made a little pot out of paper (since I broke my clay pot) and stuffed it with some Spanish moss from my floral stash. This made a cute little fall centerpiece for my desk! I am soooo liking these videos. A lot of new tips to try and I want to try them all! Next are a couple cards I made at a crop for Operation Write Home. Enjoy!

IT'S ALL ABOUT "ME"

Today I attended a class taught by Amy at Scrapbooks & Etc. Topic - alcohol inks. You either love them or hate them. Me; I love them. It opens up a whole new dimension for making embellishments, adding color to buttons, brads, just about anything glossy! Let your imagination run wild! Amy did an awesome job, although I found out after the class, I made her nervous! Amy, never be nervous with me. I'm learning just as you are! Anyway, tonight was "All about Me." That is, what our layouts were about, not just "Me". My homework before going to this class, was to have a 4X6 photo of myself. Since I am the one always taking pictures, there's not much to choose from. So... I liked Amy's self portrait, so I lifted the idea. Let me tell you...trying to take a picture of yourself using a mirror is NOT, I say NOT easy! After what seemed like a million attempts, I finally got one I liked. So, on to the class. Being my usual self, I again altered the original layouts to fit my need. I incorporated both original layouts into one. Why? I want to frame my "masterpiece" (ha-ha) to put in my studio. So, here it is, complete with a blurb of who I am.

"THINKING AHEAD"

I'm thinking Christmas cards this week. I need to start putting together some ideas of what I want to do. Maybe if I start now, I'll actually get them done and sent out in time for Christmas! LOL.... I am always late! This might mean a trip to Morresville and Stamper's Alley. Hmmm.... maybe a mother/daughter lunch, since I haven't seen her in two weeks. Sounds like a day! Now, to see when she's off work.

"TAKING A STEP BACK AND RETHINKING"

Someone recently REMINDED ME to look at the glass as half full and not half empty. Something that I have always tried to do, but somewhere along the way I lost it. My dear friend, "Thank you."

REMEMBERING

Another year has gone by and the images of 9/11 are still very fresh. I can remember all the TV stations and radios blasting information, very vivid photos, one after the other. I sat there, tears in my eyes, disbelief, this is happening here in the United States? For days I listened and watched for "just one more" to be found alive, woman, man or child. I prayed. Today, I remember and pray for those who were lost, those who still suffer and those who give themselves to protect us. We must make changes and learn from our mistakes to make a safe world for our future. I believe all those who have died would want us to continue forward. God Bless...

THE SPIRIT OF FALL

I dusted off and plugged in the silhouette for another creative day. Together with cutouts and COPIC markers I have ventured into a new mode. I think the Halloween cards, the fact that the days are getting shorter and the trees are ever slightly starting to turn color, has put me into the spirit of fall. I love this time of year. Cooler crisp air, the array of nature's colors and the idea of the holidays just ahead. It's time once again, to put away the summer things, put the quilts back on the beds and decorate my house with the color red! Oh, what a cozy feeling it brings! With all that said, here is what my inspiration led to. Enjoy!

HALLOWEEN 'CARDS FOR HEROES'

Today was a fun day. I spent time with my friends making Halloween cards for "Cards for Heros". For those of you who have not heard of it... cards for all occasions are handmade and sent to Iraq, etc. to our soldiers. Some of them go with messages to them, but most are for them to have something to write home on. We have had an amazing outreach from our local crafters and it's a joy for me to be included!

LOVING THE WEATHER AND MY NEW COPICS

Oh my gosh! I am soooooo enjoying today's weather. Sunny, warm with a nice breeze. No humidity, hurray! I have opened my windows to let the fresh air in and hear the birds chirping. I would love this year round. I started the Thinking Inking videos today. Well, restarted I should say. I did one a couple weeks ago, but being busy with my sister's visit and the convention and life in general, I never did go back to them. So, today, I watched all six videos of weeks 1 and 2. I really like the water marking with distress embossing ink, a mister and stamp. So subtle, but a nice effect. Another first for me this week is COPIC sketch markers. Thank you Amy for enabling, I love these! I first thought, "Oh, just another marker." NO WAY..... these things are vibrant and blend beautifully! No streaks, unless you want them there. I think I will to have them all!!! LOL.... I wish.

AN ORIGINAL

I just finished making this stork for the first page of my daughter's baby book. The big pieces are cut using my Silhouette and then I hand tore paper for feathers and glued them down individually for the wing. She is wearing a pearl necklace. The blanket was embossed using my Cuttlebug and then scratched with a blade to give it a fluffy appearance. This was also done on the stork. I really enjoy making my own embellishments. It's a great sense of accomplishment and I know they are one of a kind.

SO PROUD

Well, I finally found my camera cable so I could download my new pictures. So I completed my task and was ready to post onto my blog. There's always a "Gotch ya". No Internet! Yikes, what's a girl to do??? More than 24 hours later, here I am.
Anyway, I thought I would share with you, pictures of my daughter's high school graduation. We are so proud of her. It's been quite a challenge to get her to this point. Our school days are over. She was the third and last. In a way I am glad, but yet, it's bittersweet. My children are now, all young adults, starting new chapters in their lives. This starts a new chapter in John's and My life too. Future daughter and son in laws and Grand babies!

GRAYSON SAYS "Mmmmmmm"

Today was a great day. John and I started off by cleaning out the herb bed and I hosed down the back porch. Boy, I have never seen that many dead bugs in one place! Yukko!!! Later this afternoon the kids all came over. We BBQ'd country style ribs, hamburgers, baked beans, corn and red potatoes. To top it off, I had made one of my kids favorite desserts; DIRT. To those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, it's a concoction of vanilla pudding, cool whip, cream cheese and crushed Oreo cookies. The baby even said, "Mmmmm". We sat around Grayson's little blow up pool, in our lawn chairs, while soaking our feet in the water. There was a lot of laughing and talking, just like I like it. I took pictures and did a little video taping, but I'm too tired to post it all now. So, tomorrow I'll hook up the camera and download a little of our fun to share with all of you. But for now, it's good night and sweet dreams.

WHERE OH WHERE DID MY INPIRATION GO?

OK. It's been six weeks today, since my surgery and all is well, but when I walk into my scraproom and see piles of STUFF, I get overwhelmed! I seemed to have lost my desire to whip this room into shape and set up shop. I even went to Michael's the other day while out, thinking it would get me going. NOT! I came out with nothing, not even one small purchase! No inspiration, no ideas! Notta, nothing! Eeeeeek.

HOSPITAL FREQUENT FLYER

Hi everyone. Unfortunately, I ended up back in the hospital with post-surgical complications, but with many IV sticks and a few pints of antibiotics, I came home last night. To be able to sleep in my own bed; ahhhhh.... no noise, no machines beeping and no one poking at me. Today I am laying low, my appetite is still not the best and I am still feeling weak, but no fever. Yeh..... The care I received during both hospital stays was exceptional. The staff was always available to help if needed and were very kind. I couldn't have asked for better. My main goals for this week, will be attending Wednesday and Friday's crops at my LSS. I miss my people!!! LOL...

THANK YOU MILITARY PERSONNEL - PAST AND PRESENT

My husband, John, who I admire and love from the bottom of my heart, gave 20 years to the US Navy. Those were difficult years at times, because he was away from us for months at a time. Our children missed out on many opportunities that they should have shared with their daddy and holidays were lonesome. Now that I look back, those were good years. Not only did John serve, my children and I did to. We gave our time up with him, so he could serve our country. For that, I feel proud. Thank you to all of you military folk, past, present, active, retired, wives, husbands and children. GOD BLESS YOU.

MY FIRST POST-SURGERY ADVENTURE OUT

It's been a week since my surgery, a very long week. My recovery phase is going to take a little longer than first thought, but that's ok. I have plenty of stash to create with!

I am feeling a little perkier today, enough for my husband to drive me to my favorite store. Scrapbooks & Etc had its third anniversary, customer appreciation day. Lots of goodies, make and takes and a great sale! Traci has an exceptional inventory of all the new scrappy stuff. I always look forward to Wednesday's crops, so I can see what the UPS truck will bring in next! LOL...

It was good to get out and see my friends, but tiring. So it's time to put my feet up and say "goodnight".

A THREE DAY REVIEW

The weekend was good in Charleston. We took the baby (my grandson) with us, so our friends could see him. After we got home on Sunday, all my kids met us at Logans for my birthday. I love having them all with me. It's a task to find a time when they can all be together. We had a good time. This week is busy for me. I need to get my house in order before Friday's surgery. There are times I would like to get a large garbage bag and just dump everything!!! LOL... Sure would make it easier!
I'm still working on my room, haven't begun any of the new projects I have lined up. There's no hurry, it will give me something to do during my recovery weeks. So, for now, it sits on my table. To all of you, thanks for visiting and have a great week!

COLORS AND PATTERNS; OH MY!

Decisions, Decisions... My room has become a layout in progress, evolving with constant change. The room is now painted and I have my window embellishments up (I may still add the clear crystals). Yup, those are scarves I bought at Walmart. I do not have any traditional window coverings in my house. All are unique. The wall border is made from vinyl. I cut out paisleys with my silhouette and then inked with alcohol inks.
I have fabrics and other goodies lined up for projects, but you'll just have to check back at another time to see what I have in store!

SILHOUETTES AND CHANDELIERS

The room is cleaned out and my colors are chosen (far from my original thoughts). The back wall of the room was recently painted a darker violet, so I thought I would keep it. (John thanks me; LOL...) The rest of the walls will be a pinkish shade of taupe. A muted apple green and raspberry will be the coordinating colors, along with Amethyst and clear crystals adorning the window valance and lamp shade. Kind of... Vintage-Bohemian-Shabby Chic.
I have finished my LO for the title page of this blog and to hang in my studio. I love how it turned out. I used my silhouette to cut out the chandelier from glossy photo paper and then used alcohol inks to give it a worn patina finish. The pic is of my Grandson at 7 months, he is wearing a halo and white fluffy angel wings. I altered the pic using my Photo shop program to give it a watercolor effect and then tore the edges and distressed them. The letters are painted with crackle paint. Now to find a frame.

VINTAGE BEGINNINGS

A NEW NAME for a NEW STUDIO, formerly called le-petit Studio. I have my ideas in my head, my colors in mind and a sketch book in my hand.

Scrappy, Scrappy Doooooooo

I am so excited! My daughter just moved out (no that's not the excitement- LOL) and I get my very own scraproom. I share half the office with my husband, but space is cramped. I was thinking of making the extra room into a toy room for my grandbaby, but hubby suggested I turn it into a craft room. Not that he wants me out of the office, (LOL) but because he knows I get so frustrated with lack of space. So, as soon as the room is cleared and the bed moved into my son's room... PAINT,PAINT,PAINT...STENCIL MY WALL...CLEAN THE CARPET...BUILD MY DESK (that's John's task)...PUT UP SHELVES...DECORATE...AND FILL THE ROOM WITH STUFF!!! I have so many ideas. YIPPEE!!!

TIME PASSES

I'm playing catch up this week. It is April already and I am behind on my LO's. Not that I will ever be caught up, but I would as least like to try with my Grandson's. I have finished four LO's and a zig zag book for my MIL. I still need to add my journaling to a couple, always the last thing I do and then off to the post office.

DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE, GROW WITH LIFE. (Eric Butterworth)

Yippee!!! Look what I did! My new Blog layout. I am not very computer saavy, so this was a challenge for me, but I did it all by myself and am soooooo proud! I was always afraid to experiment, that I would delete something important. It took me most of the day, but I feel good about what I learned and accomplished. You are probably laughing right now, but I feel like a 5 year old who just learned how to ride a bike without her training wheels!

The Gift that keeps on Giving.

This is a wedding gift I did for my friend's daughter. I wanted something unique to give them and this was it! It is divided into chapters; (1) wedding highlights; (2) first year including their first residence and major holidays; (3) their first thru tenth anniversary then every five years. I dedicated the last page to list children. These are a few of the pages..........

A New Chapter in my life.....

2009 and a new chapter in my life has begun. I have found myself becoming too rigid and dull in the last several years, with all that I do. I have suppressed my true talents and creativeness. I have not fully enjoyed life and what it has for me, like I used to do. Somewhere along the way, I got old. Not in age, but my pleasures and activities. I got a small taste of enjoyment and freedom when my friend Paula and I ran a bakery last year. When we had to give that up, I lost myself again.
I want to be more spontaneous again, not think so hard and beat myself up over decisions. I want to look at life with new eyes and really see what I have. I will not look back to see what I have missed, because I can not change what is done and it will just bring me down. I need to start anew and go forward.
I look forward to going to crops at my LSS every week. I love being with my friends and creating art. It is like a "happy pill" for me. I will spend more time with my Grandson and my children. I will start a book of ME

2008 Overview

I can't believe 2008 is gone. This has been an eventful year. John and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary on January 15th. I was given a 1-carat diamond! Whoo-hoo!!!!!My grandson, Grayson Luke, was born in February. What a joy he has brought to this family! He is crawling all over now and pulls himself up to whatever he can reach. Being a Gramma (Nanna) is so fulfilling and I look toward many more ( I hope)! We lost part of our family this year too. David Bowman (my BIL) became very ill and passed away the end of March. He will be sadly missed. I spent time with my sister and her family for a few weeks. Her and I are 13 yrs apart and really didn't grow up together, as she was in college when I was little. This trip was like making a new best friend! We found out how much we are alike and what our favorites are! It was fun, we have so many similarities. In August, she flew down and stayed with me a week. We went to a scrapbooking convention in Charlotte. It was great and our feet were killing us! Would we go again???? In a heart beat!Our eldest son, Matthew and his wife, Ashley celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary in Oct. It was not long ago they were engaged and we had 2 yrs to plan a wedding. It's been 4 years since that moment and we even added a baby!Our family is ever growing with new members. My second son, Michael is now engaged and my daughter, Ashlyn just got engaged this Christmas! Two weddings to look forward to in 2010. My children are no longer little and the house is quiet, often. I had a difficult time with Christmas this year, I think the empty nest thing has appeared. No one to wake me up at the crack of dawn Christmas morning, wanting to open what Santa brought them. No messy room with torn wrapping paper and bows scattered. No screams of joy. Hmmm?Another year has begun and hopefully will be full of excitement and LOVE.