B.E.Hughes

2012-01-21T08:10:00.000-08:00

‎"Prince Caspian" was a wonderful movie adventure last night with hubby.

The movie is still running thru my head, like it did after I read the book many years ago when the girls and I were trading off the series of books as we finished them. [They are still in the library! Might just have another "look-see" at those fun adventures and allegories!]

I was again impressed by Lucy's awareness of the presence of Aslan, because she was 'looking for him'... what do we miss because we want to do things our own way before we ask His direction?

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Sea World experience!

2011-10-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

The animal exhibits at Sea World were a treat to see. Anders wanted to see the Penguins, so we went to Sea World for the day. Besides the penguins we saw otters, sea-lions, walruses, sharks, dolphins!

The penguins were all lined up to see the "show" of people parading past them!

Flamingos too!

We enjoyed the walrus and seal show, too. Made me think of Alice in Wonderland.

It was a challenge to catch these guys in the air, but I did it!

FEED ME! Big guys! They were fun to watch!

Another one up in the air!

Nursing new baby seal pup... awwww!

At the end of the day, I finally remembered to get a photo with ME in it...red face and all!

Between shows we rode two of the roller coasters. YES, I did ride them too! I was kind of backing off from the one that hangs from above and does several flips and loops, but in the end, I went on board with Jon and Anders, after all. It was an experience I will remember and not likely repeat! I am glad my vertigo did not reactivate while there!

After walking for five hours and only sitting one hour in that daylong trip, we were ready to drop Anders off at the base and head for the hot tub to refresh our feet. We still had to pack and be ready to check out in the morning, so off we go to bed! Thanks for looking!

San Antonio- Anders, Amanda and sore feet.

2011-10-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

It was a wonderful experience to see Anders graduate boot camp. We are so proud of this young man! He has been thoroughly "formatted, and reprogrammed" in 8 weeks! I hope I can get a photo of his ID before and after! Incredible changes!

We saw the 865 graduating men and women in formal parade. Then Anders' dad went down to tag him to leave the ceremony. That was a nice emotional reunion. The family posed for a few photos before we headed over to Ander's lodging where he has been living for the past 8 weeks.

Jon, Ethan, Anders and Aaron after the parade.

We WALKED to Ander's dorm area. We are talking LONG walk, here, up and over foot bridges on the base to his housing unit, where the BULLDOGS lived.

We saw his neat and tidy closet and living area, as he prepared to spend the day with us. Believe me, this closet and drawer shows an incredible "change" in this man!

We stopped to eat lunch after the housing trek, and Anders and the other "men" sat at one table, while Joy and I ate across the aisle. We went to a mall afterward, so Anders could mingle in the civilian world for a bit. Then headed back to our hotel room to just rest and fellowship with each other.
Joy and I snuck in a short nap, knowing we still had more walking ahead for the evening in downtown San Antonio, where we were meeting our long time friend, Amanda Coale Ruiz and her sister, Stephanie Coale. I had not seen Amanda since we were in China, and we weren't sure if it was 2003 or so... a very long time! Hope to see her in our area some day!

We saw the "Tower of the Americas" downtown, and headed up to meet the ladies.

At the top, a passing lady took our picture as the sun set on San Antonio.

After MORE walking we found a restaurant "Mi Tierra" that was recommended to us earlier in the day. We sort of blended into the background, don't you think? Maybe that is why it took so long to be served? Maybe they lost us for a bit!

Heading back, it was too late to actually VISIT the river walk, but we SAW it as we passed by. I was disappointed, but its just a place, right? We managed to find the Alamo, at least, after several wrong turns. There it was! Happy me, but not so happy FEET. We needed to get our poor feet to bed.

Tomorrow is another day, but first, we are sleeping in! (what is that?)

Flapper FUN- Old Fashion Day

2011-10-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

Joy found a flapper costume for Old Fashion Day at Bible Baptist Church. It was too cute!
Posted online HERE

Bailey found a lily

2011-09-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

While at the lake on Saturday, baby Bailey discovered a sweet lily and hung on tightly to it. After awhile she began to nibble on it. When we prevented that she began to push it to our faces for our approval. After we smelled the sweet fragrance, she cuddled it close to herself again.

This is such a sweet memory of this darling little girl! Thanks for looking...

Date nite at the BALL GAME

2011-09-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Brandy Murray's Zoomba ZIP page was a perfect complement to our ballgame memory page. When walking into the stadium we remarked how we had our first date at a major league ballgame in Detroit MI. Thankfully the Mariners WON 5-3 that night. Great date!

This page can be seen online with comments at my gallery in Scrap Girls on this LINK.

Thanks for looking...

Not the little girl I was...

2011-08-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

Challenged to scrap a page about myself related to a "song" I scrapped about how Al & I met. We have been married 43 years, but have known each other since he started first grade.

The journaling reads:

“Little Allan” moved to the neighborhood in the summer
of 1954, just two blocks from Barb’s family.

Barb’s dad worked with Ernie Leasure, who lived across
the street from the Hughes’ new house. Thus, they met
soon after Allan moved to their house on Winifred Street.

After his parents passed away, Al moved to the north end
of Detroit. When he called to meet up with Barb in 1968,
she was not the little girl he once knew,
and he asked her to marry him that summer.

Posted online in my gallery at Scrap Girls HERE

Back in the saddle again...

2011-07-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

Barb with her 43rd Anniversary gift: a 24" girls Schwinn.

For our anniversary this year we decided to stay home and have a cook-out instead of going out on the roads on a Friday night. We also stopped and picked out a 24" bike for me, since I can't reach the ground well on the 26" bikes. After falling while biking on vacation, we felt it safer to be short sized. It fits just right!

Our current vehicles sneaked into the photo too. Notice the Mazda with her perpetual "smile". Such a sweet car to drive! 2011 has been a good year! :D

Watercolor moods...

2011-07-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Bluebird on a branch

3 Cherries under construction on vacation

3 Cherries - completed July 2011

I have been enjoying my watercolors again... Restful times!

Thanks for looking!

Thank the Lord for PEAS...

2011-07-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

I tried to ride the bike for my exercise this morning. I logged in five minutes before I attempted to stop at the cabin to say goodbye to Al, leaving for his walk in town on the Rails to Trails in Kila Montana.

As I slowed to stop, my feet missed the ground on the "too tall" bike and I kept going toward the ground. Skinned my knee and hand, but nothing amiss. The bag of frozen peas made a nice "ice bag" for the knee to prevent it from swelling.

Oh, well. Guess I will try walking later today for my half hour of exercise!

All Star 2011 Little League games...

2011-07-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

The All Star Games 2011 were held in Belfair WA this year and it was wonderful to watch grandson, David, play third base again. Seeing him field the balls was exciting, as well as hitting the ball, running the bases and having a great time with his team mates.

They played well together, and we are happy he was able to play them again this year, his third year on the All Star Team for South Kitsap Southern Little League Team.

Good job, David!

SCRAP GIRLS GALLERY VIEW

12 Grandkids in a Picture...

2011-07-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

Charity asked for a new photo of her 12 kids this past week. What fun to get some of the non-smilers to smile for me! :D

Scrap Girls High Noon Challenge this week was "white space", meaning more paper than pics, usually. With 12 faces to see, I left the photo larger intentionally.

This is posted at Scrap Girls in my gallery HERE, if you wish to see the comments of other viewers.

SISTERS...

2011-06-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

full 2 page view

Left page - SEEN IN GALLERY HERE

Right Page -SEEN IN GALLERY HERE

One of the best treats on our recent trip to Colorado was spending time with my sister, Jan, and her husband, Chuck. Al and Chuck became more acquainted while Jan and I had some good bonding time again. What a blessing to have "like minded" family we can fellowship with!

Staying in their home was a special blessing for us. Sweet memories!

Cliff Dwellers

2011-06-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

2 page Layout of Cliff Dwellers

While in Manitou Springs CO we had time to see the Cliff Dwellings and the red rock Garden of the Gods. The Scrap Girl kit Zoomba by Brandy Murray was perfect for this layout! Thanks for looking.

The comments read:

When we visited Colorado Springs in June 2011, we were excited to learn there were Cliff Dwellings in the area that we could visit. We expected to SEE them, but did not know we would be able to actually go INTO the dwellings and see them ourselves!

The lower left photos are the interior and exterior views of the common kitchen cooking area.You can see the path Al is standing on, where the traffic flowed around the work area.The middle left photo shows Al in the trash room where they also kept some fowl just outside the kitchen area. There are rooms above most of the structure, except above this room.

The rooms were built with mud and rocks that were chips off the larger stones. The walls were built very level and with great precision. There was a separate section on the far left end of the dwelling where it appears to be bunk rooms up and downstairs, with smaller openings.

One room with a rounded wall was labeled as possibly the chief's quarters in the middle section.

Al stands in the door of a small adobe home.The rounded outdoor oven nearby appears to have a pizza paddle!

The plants were all labeled with explanations of what the tribe used them for.KINNIKINNICK was one of the trees / bushes there. I did't know that was a real word!

Larger individual pages here: LEFT RIGHT

IRL- In Real Life Meet Up

2011-06-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

3 for tea in Monument Colorado at the Wisdom Tea Room

While in Colorado, I had tea with two other Scrap Girls that live nearby.

Fun! Meeting IRL (in real life) all over the states is a great experience!

Here is the page online: 3 together

Sisters are GOLDEN...

2011-06-11T19:48:00.000-07:00

Jan and Chuck

A REAL bike rack!

Kayakers were riding the waves on the ice-pack swollen river!

Table Mountain with Castle Rock in the foreground

After a good nap, we headed out again for a stroll on the river walk in Golden, Colorado. The weather was lovely: warm and breezy. We walked close to three miles after our great dinner in the historic district of Golden, which was the capital of the Colorado Territory.

Table Mountain and Castle Rock overlook this quaint town. Afterwards we tried to see the Bison, but they were still hiding. At least we saw prairie dogs, more elk and NO rattlesnakes!

(more blog posts follow with more pictures)

Denver delights...

2011-06-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

Barb in front of the Rocky Mountain National Park
and Continental Divide

Off on an early adventure today, we were seeking to see a herd of bison maintained by the City of Denver. They played hide and seek with us, and we only saw them at a distance. Meanwhile, we found a herd of elk grazing in the woods on one of our attempts to see bison.

A herd of elk lazing and grazing. Only 2 in this pic.

Al at Dinosaur Ridge

Five thousand years ago, a herd of dinosaurs were playing on the hillside when a flood took them to their deaths. Their path was preserved on this hillside and discovered in 1937.

God repented that he had made man and destroyed all living things with a flood. He began again with Noah's family. Yes, the account is absolutely true. The worldwide movement of mountains, rivers, land formations were shifted by the force of the one of a kind water force. The sediments of the rivers and newly formed fossil remains can be totally explained by the force of the water during God's flood.

The dark area is dinosaur fossil remains.

Good days can lead to Cold Stone Ice Cream treats! Yum!

After our drive we stopped for ice cream at Cold Stone. All's well that ends well, yes? Yummy!

Adventures in Colorado Springs...

2011-06-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

The conference at Focus on the Family is what took us to Colorado Springs.
What a blessing it was!

Al with the Cog Train on Pike's Peak

We have never been this high elevation without an airplane!

The Garden of the Gods was donated to the city so everyone could enjoy them.

Al at the Balancing Rock

Al pushing the rock over! YIKES!

Condos in the rock! Interesting historical stop.

The common kitchen in the center of the units.

Al visited Colorado Springs and Pike's Peak when he was a boy and his dad was stationed at Fort Carson in the early 50's. He remembered going up the mountain with his folks and always wanted to go back.

We have never been to Colorado in all our travels, so when we learned of the Pastors and Spouses conference there, we decided we would definitely visit the mountain again.

We rode the COG train to the top after the conference was over. The train traveled at a top speed of 8.5 mph and took an hour each way. The air is so thin we were getting dizzy. We took many pics from the ride and learned so much history of that mountain! What a delightful outing!

The Garden of the Gods was filled with interesting rock formations. Beautiful handiwork of God on display there!

The cliff dwellings are something I have always wanted to visit, so we stopped in for an hour and explored in the homes of the rock. We saw a common kitchen with shelves, loft bedrooms and brick and mortar walls that were perfectly level, per the people who studied these homes. It, too, was exciting to see. I'm so glad we went.

Al climbed into the "cleft of the ROCK"

As we explored the rock garden, Al discovered a cleft in a rock and climbed in it. Safe to the Rock that is higher... a safe place to be!

Family memories on Annapolis...

2011-06-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

This photo is probably the last portrait of my family before my parents divorced. Bill appears to be a few months old so likely late 1960 or early 1961. The photo was taken in our living room on Annapolis Street.

back row: Barb, 10(me); Mike,7; Vicki, 12

seated: Mom with Bill; Rosemary, 4; Dad

Angel for a day...

2011-06-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ruth 1987

This week I found time to scan photos of Scott & Charity's wedding that my sister, Vicki, took. She gave them to me last fall. As I was laying around resting yesterday I decided to alter the photo settings from the poor scanning.

With a purple challenge for Scrap Girl's High Noon Chat, I decided to do one of the wedding pages for Charity. After putting lots of wedding pics on the page, I discovered the sweet wings in my stash and remembered this photo of Ruth was in the batch.

The journaling says, "We were able to get Ruth off her horse, Hawkeye, long enough to dress her up for her sister Charity's wedding."

The photo can be viewed at Scrap Girls here.

Doesn't Pearl look like her?

Illustrator Oriental Fan project done...

2011-05-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

Oriental Fan project for Adobe Illustrated Class

Last quarter at college I took the beginner level of Adobe Illustrator. It was so much fun, that during the finals class and seeing the projects for the Intermediate class, I determined that I would take the class again this semester. On the way home after the finals were presented, I began to plan what projects I would create this quarter. This fan was one of them.

Now, nearing the end of this semester, the fan is finished and ready to present to the class during the finals on June 2. It was a work of love and learning.

The fabric is a tablecloth I bought when I was in China a few years ago. The pearls were made in Illustrator, and represent the pearls my husband bought me when we were in Beijing.

Art is so fulfilling for me... thank you for looking!

Missing my mom...

2011-05-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

I just read a Facebook post about someone's "mama" being in heaven, and my tears began to flow...

My mom's been gone over 30 years and that wound can still be pricked in just a moment. I am missing talking with her every day, writing to her every week.... hearing from her every week.

Mom with Bill about 1962, in our front yard on Annapolis Street.

If you still have your mama, what time will you spend with her this week, while you can? [She knows you love her... but enough to spend more than a few minutes at a time with her?]

I am betting she misses your every day phone calls about nothing in particular!

She was one tough mama, and loved us more than her own life! She was a single mom working in a man's job at a factory to provide for us when Dad failed at it due to alcoholism. I miss her today...

April- feels good to scrap a bit!

2011-04-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

It was fun to take a class in making paper flowers with Anna at Scrap Girls today. I actually found time to put a page together with the flowers! Thank you, Anna!

An amazing HONOR...

2011-04-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Today I learned I have been chosen Scrap Girls' MEMBER OF THE MONTH for April!

It's such an honor to be associated with such a friendly group of people in my life and art!

Here is a thread of the news announcement that I discovered as I was browsing earlier this morning.

Announcement

*** APR 16 NEWSLETTER story

THANK YOU, friends!

Ack! WEEDS!!

2011-03-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

Now there are WEEDS... Gotta get out there soon! Hurry spring!

Al's birthday CELEBRATION...

2011-03-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Celebrating his birthday one day after Christmas has always been a challenge, but this year we invited Dr Ken Blue to preach on Al's birthday. Dr Blue is Al's best friend, and is dying of ALS. We were so thrilled he could help us make this birthday a memorable event.

Doodling day off...

2011-03-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Why do flowers show up when I doodle on Illustrator?

Daffodils!

2011-02-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

I am NOT SO PATIENTLY waiting for spring.

The other day's lesson in Illustrator prompted this idea for the daffodil. Ooh, so fun and I get to have flowers in my studio! Enjoy!

Summer Flowers! Blend and mesh project

2011-02-21T05:49:00.000-08:00

I have ALWAYS wanted to do this... Now I now HOW!

This "feels" like WATERCOLOR painting when the colors blend and bleed! I get goosebumps!
THANK YOU Adobe Illustrator for helping me "paint" what I see in my head.

Spring in my studio...

2011-02-20T06:41:00.000-08:00

I LOVE hydrangea flowers and always wanted to paint or draw them. Here is the start of something good in that direction. <3 this illustrator fun!

Flower Power!

2011-02-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

Another zinnia in yellow... (sigh)... this has more petal variations and a different center.

Designing fun flowers

2011-02-19T07:20:00.000-08:00

Pink Zinnia

A few have asked to see some of my designs. This flower is from playing (Ooops! I meant "working") this morning.

I am getting the feel with Illustrator and still learning some tricks, but this was a quick and easy design that I liked when done.

Graphically Speaking... I love Illustrator!

2011-02-09T21:32:00.000-08:00

The assignment for our midterm was to create an image using a list of skills and tools we were taught during the first five chapters. Just about every tool gave me ideas for making flowers, so the garden idea began to form the first day.

The signs were needed to use text on paths, text masks and text with stretched points. The flowers almost all used the rotate and scaling tools. The daisies implemented the pathfinder intersect tool. The larger sign utilized the divide tool, and several other tools.

This was such a fun project to develop and organize. I enjoyed seeing the other student's projects at class tonight... all of them creative and inspiring. What a great class and the instructor really enjoys seeing our "lights" come on when we "get it".

What's next? Patterns and BRUSHES... I have some experience there, but it will be fun this week!

Illustration DRAWN: Bailey featured

2011-02-02T12:13:00.000-08:00

Yes, I love Illustrator class at college. Can you tell?

My granddaughter received a new hat one Wednesday night at church. She was showing off her cuteness in the hat when someone added the mustache to her look.

I needed to draw a sketch and remembered this cute photo that looked like a cartoon!

FUN!!

Truly a GIFT...

2010-12-31T06:51:00.000-08:00

The big news for me in 2011 is that I will return to college after over 35 years!! I have some apprehensions, of course. The main apprehension is that I will not "miss" any critical information in the class.

I have only 20% of my hearing left. Although the hearing aids give me closer to normal hearing, I have lost much of the clarification and sound distinctions that are needed to form "words" that I am hearing. Many words sound too similar, and I cannot always "guess" what is being said.

For Christmas this year, my husband found an amazing gift for me. Truly, it's simply wonderful how helpful it will be in college! The PULSE Smart Pen is a mini-computer that will RECORD my notes in class WHILE recording the lecture in audio! When I return home, I will plug the pen into my laptop and will have a visual AND audio copy of the class session!

Now that extreme apprehension of "missing" vital information due to my severe hearing loss is MINIMIZED. You cannot imagine how much stress is lessened with the knowledge that I can REPEAT the information without asking over and over!

(BIG SIGH)... What a THOUGHTFUL GIFT! He knows me pretty good, huh?

Old Friends...

2010-11-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday hubby and I did a rare thing... we walked around the local mall. So many things had changed or relocated since we were last there (spring, I think?). New stores, GONE stores, etc were a marvel to us.

As we were leaving, I spotted a familiar face in the next kiosk and I ran to get a good HUG from my OLD FRIEND, Candace Brown. She told me her new married name; we chatted a few minutes and marveled that each of us had been thinking of each other recently. I had no idea how to contact her since her marriage. Now I can at least look her up!

I encouraged her to come see us at the church again. We genuinely love and miss her. Its been a LONG time since we heard from her (over ten years) and longer since we last saw her. It was good just seeing her and getting a hug. I hope we can see her again soon!

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Having a "MOM" MOMent...

2010-11-06T10:23:00.001-07:00

I am so happy I was able to scan some photos of my family when I was home to Michigan recently. This photo of my mom was taken about the time she and dad dated and then married. Supplies are Scrap Girls products. Here is the online gallery view with comments: MOM @ 16

Once upon a time...Mom and Dad

2010-10-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time my parents were happily married.

I tried to capture that moment in this scrap page. The photos are my favorites of them.

Seen online in my gallery here: BILL & VI

What to do when the lights go OUT...

2010-10-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

We experienced a power outage this morning...while I was installing software on my newly installed operating system.

I began to think of things I can do without power. Mr Edison would be thrilled to know we were so dependent on his miraculous invention of the light bulb! Here is how my list is going so far...

Read - by camp lantern
Pray for your children, grandchildren, pastor and friends
Clean off your desk
Drive to the bank instead of banking online
SHOP-if the lights are on at the store!
DRAW, if you can find your sketch book (see #3... it might be on the desk)
Use your laptop until the battery goes...
Call someone on your cell phone (house phone is dead, usually)
Play Scrabble on my I-touch
Snuggle with your hunny...

Hey... what would YOU add to this short list?

Montana memory: BIG PURPLE SPOON

2010-10-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

Montana was such a joyous trip... so many memories to scrap. This page came about because the High Noon Crop at Scrap Girls challenged us to scrap "PURPLE". I remembered this funny memory and went looking for the photo. Scrap Girls Camille's Garden was the kit used. Thanks for looking! ONLINE VIEW

Page reads: After our Jammer tour on the EAST side of Glacier National Park, we ate lunch and browsed the shops in the park.A SPOON CARVING shop featured this HUGE SPOON.Because it was SCRAP GIRL PURPLE, Al wanted to stop for a photo with Barb and the spoon! July 2010

Oh... to be a KID again!

2010-09-29T06:16:00.000-07:00

"BUDDY" doll was our Grandma's "LIVE IN" grandchild. EVERY grandchild played with Buddy and he was their "BEST FRIEND", even the grandsons. Buddy went everywhere in the house with us. He wore size two clothes and was always "happy" and "Smiling" and "approving" of our games.

When I was in Michigan this past week, I asked Aunt Jean (mom's only sibling) if she knew where Buddy was. They located him in her house and we had such a sweet and memorable visit with him. We estimate he is 55+ years old, at least. The overalls he is wearing were originally my cousin, Gail's. There was a second "Buddy" when he began to wear out, but this is the REAL DEAL Buddy.

Good to see you again, Buddy!

---------------------------------------

Someone collected these observations about the "good old days" we had as children. They were so insightful and I recall most of these feelings at some time in my youth. I miss the "good old days".

Oh, To Be a Kid Again...

Decisions were made by saying "eeny-meeny-miney-mo."

Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do over!"

"Race issue," meant arguing about who ran the fastest.

Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "Monopoly."

Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.

It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.

Being old referred to anyone over 20.

The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.

It was magic when Dad would "remove" his thumb.

It was unbelievable that dodge ball wasn't an Olympic event.

Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot.

Nobody was prettier than Mom.

Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.

It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park.

Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.

Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare."

Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute ads for action figures.

No shopping trip was complete unless a new toy was brought home.

"Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense.

Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down would cause giggles.

The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.

War was a card game.

Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.

Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle.

Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.

Ice cream was considered a basic food group.

Older siblings were the worst tormentors but also the fiercest protectors.

Home church "reunion"...

2010-09-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Mrs Mae Noe with Georgia, Raymond, and Wil Bice

in the new building for Galilean Baptist in Plymouth MI

Me with Mrs Noe. She is such a sweet blessing

to me. I have quoted her teachings many times over

the years. It was good to hear she prays for me each week!

Going back to our "home church" to see my "preacher's wife" was a sweet trip. The church is in a newer building in a different city, but many of the same faces greeted me last night. It was wonderful to see God at work and hope for better days among the congregation. I shared with them a little bit about our church's GROW ministry and they peppered me for details after the service.

After the meeting I finally dragged myself away to get a bite with the Bices and Shirley McFadden and spent another hour or two just remembering and enjoying each other. Good times!

Siblings together again! Mixed emotions...

2010-09-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

The house on Winifred in Wayne where Al lived from

Kindergarten until his folks passed away.

Its vacant and in foreclosure.

Ernie and Agnes Leasure with their daughter, Carol (aka Kirk),

who babysat Al & I often in her teens. The Leasures

lived across the street from Al's family and Ernie worked

and carpooled with my dad to Ford Motor Co. They were

the COMMON LINK that brought our families together.

SIBLINGS: Bill, Rose, Barb and Vicki

Siblings with spouses, minus Al: Dan & Rose, Barb,

Vicki, Cheryl & Bill

Its been a roller coaster ride of emotions this week. Driving down the street I used to ride my bike on, seeing the aged homes looking so much the same as then, feeling a bit of excitement to be there, but apprehension at what I might find around the next corner... Seeing the lot where I lived with a new home and the same old address was a totally unexpected experience.

Its is SO HARD to see the economic crisis here. So many homes are on the market, with so few persons to buy them.

Driving out to the country where my sisters live, memories flooded my mind of the country afternoon rides with dad when we drove through fallen leaves at breakneck speeds on dirt roads, hunting down the elusive hickory trees on the roadside. When we found hickory trees, we jumped out of the car and gathered as many nuts as we could before heading out to locate more trees. (Dad LOVED ice box cookies with hickory nutmeats!)

I spent much of the week trying to copy family photos for the siblings. After several days of computer vs scanner conflict, I finally called my other sister, Rose, to see if she had a functioning scanner. We spent the evening scanning over 250 photos before I headed back to Pinckney for bed.

Today the brothers and the sisters came together again for the first time since I was here last... about ten years ago. It was a wonderful time of remembering and getting to know each other again. If you still have your siblings close enough, get a hug while you can (I can certify that we hugged on each other all afternoon!)

Back "HOME"... not what it used to be!

2010-09-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

I don't have a photo to share, but my sister's dining room table is covered from one end to the other with stacks of photos I want to scan or photograph before I leave here. However, the scanner that I brought with me "hiccuped" so often that it finally quit altogether. There seems to be a problem with my 64 bit processor vs the old scanner software.

Next choice is to wait on my sister bringing her scanner back from my nieces tomorrow night, so I will be scanning all afternoon Sunday! It will be an interesting rest of the week here.

I have found some wonderful pictures and cannot wait to share them with my own family.

See you soon, family! (and Al, of course!)

Never FORGET 9-11; 2 pg memory

2010-09-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

Our trip to the local fair turned suddenly somber when we discovered the two beams from the World Trade Center. The story is in the captions. NOTICE the somber faces of the children of all ages!

Thanks for looking!

Online gallery views: LARGE COMPOSITE

LEFT

RIGHT

Cousins... a photo to scrap!

2010-09-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

During a church dinner, the oldest three granddaughters were goofing off and posed for a cell phone. The companion print of their "goofy" faces might make a nice second page!

Thanks for looking... ONLINE GALLERY VIEW... HERE

Montana 2010 scrap pages

2010-08-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

CHOSEN WEEKLY LAYOUT WINNER IN SCRAPGIRLS NEWSLETTER 8/14/10.

Gallery VIEW

The Glacier tour this year was so different from the previous two trips. We visited the EAST side of the Continental Divide, and saw so many differing views and had different kinds of adventures!

Left and right single views

JOURNALING READS:

Touring the EAST side of the Glacier National Park gave us new views and adventures!

The tour included a boat ride on Two Medicine Lake, a small hike to a waterfall and photo opportunities we never expected. On the hike to the falls we noted the warning for bears... and saw the bear claw mark on a tree just a 100 feet or so later! We were amazed at the huge flowers in the wild! At the falls we spotted a lone fly fisherman and we discovered he was in our photo when we returned home!

Jimmy, the tour host, allowed Al to sit behind the wheel of the Jammer, and he took a photo of us standing inside it.

After the tour we stopped at a park area cafe to share a buffalo burger... SO yummy!

Although we saw no wildlife except fish, it was a very good tour! We enjoyed the adventure immensely!

42 years...

2010-07-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

42nd Anniversary Trip to Glacier Nat'l Park

Al takes a turn at driving the red "Jammer"

Falls on the tour, coming right out of the "ROCK"

Can it really be 42 years since we stood before the judge with our friends, Bruce and Pat Westlake, in Inkster Michigan? The double wedding came and went in a matter of minutes, with no family available to witness the event. And then... Al went to work.

It was a few years later (June 1970) before we were able to take a "honeymoon" to the Great Smokey Mountains. We were awed by the size and beauty of those "hills". (Since 1974, God has allowed us to see some really BIG mountains! From the Rocky's to the mountains surrounding Beijing and the Great Wall!)

Four children, with twenty grandchildren from 3 months to 21 years old, our life is full of blessings and work!

At the Great Wall in 2003

Thank you, honey, for keeping me around so long! Its been a wonderful life and a great adventure!

Home at last... more work!

2010-07-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Going home last Friday, Domino came into the front seat a few times for variety. She watched the road and checked out passing car occupants...& barked when she saw"intruder dogs". Ten hours and 600 miles is a lot of "down time" for a dog! (Me, too!)

Checkers slept most of the way home, had little appetite

and just wanted to be at home ASAP!

A few times Dom activated her "Back seat driver" license

to help Al drive home.

When not "driving", she took over the larger dog bed.

We enjoyed seeing the mountains crowned in clouds

as we passed the Idaho mountains near Bonner Ferry, ID

We knew we were in Washington when we saw

this familiar warning at a viewpoint on the Columbia River.

Al wanted a photo with the river... Checkers, too!

We knew we were on the home stretch when we saw

"OUR MOUNTAIN", Mt Rainier, from a rest stop

in Eastern Washington!

Dorothy was right, you know? "There's NO PLACE like HOME!" So glad to be back in the saddle and back at "work". The cabin was a restful diversion, but we are glad to be home and back at work!

[KEEP READING... more vacation photos in following posts!]

(For readers who decline to comment because they previously had problems... the comment section has been fixed for a month or more. Thanks for using the comment button below each blog post!)

Oh Deer! A SALE!

2010-07-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

On the way to town to get refueled for our return trip, we did a "mall date" and found some great sidewalk sales (Hey, we don't have sidewalks, either!)

As we passed the pasture of the farm we spotted TWO deer standing in the field. They posed sweetly for Al to take their photo about 3 times.

Then, at the mall, I found this sweet handbag... it's SO me!!!! (Who would guess?)

Glacier Park Jammer tour and Al's evening walk.

2010-07-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

This year we drove to the EAST side of the continental divide to take a different tour. The mountain range is still incredibly beautiful, but we saw almost no wildlife (unless you count some strange hippie-looking characters). The tour started at a beautiful Hotel almost 100 years old. Built with HUGE Douglas fir from the Pacific Northwest, it looked like Noah's Ark from inside!

This building is the dining hall of a lodging place that existed during

Teddy Roosevelt's presidency. He gave one of his famous

"fireside chats" from this building. Al is standing on the porch

approximately where President Roosevelt spoke so many years ago!
(In the next photo)

From this building we walked around the corner to take a boat tour on this lovely Two Medicine Lake.

We got some stunning shots of the mountains from the boat.

(They need to be edited. )

After the boat ride we hiked up to a water fall...

yes, we navigated this interesting bridge CAREFULLY!

After the tour ended, we wandered in the front lawn of the hotel

and visited the TeePee and flower gardens before heading out for lunch.

We were hungry enough to eat a buffalo!

So we shared a buffalo burger... YUMMY.

And FLOWERS... ah, sweetness!

These pots were all over the porch of the hotel...

And in the wilderness I had Al stand next to these flowers

to show you the LARGENESS of them! INCREDIBLE stuff!

After dinner at the cabin, Al took the dogs for an hour-long walk on the property. He took some nice pics of his adventure....

A CABIN...

An old barn...

And the pasture of the farm we stay at.

Just another day in PARADISE!

Walk to town?

2010-07-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

Stretching after 10.5 miles!

Al decided to walk the entire rails to trails from Kila to Kalispell today... 10.5 miles, with a bit of detour adding to it somewhat.

While he walked, I shopped! No sales tax is tempting, but having a small car curbs my appetite a bit! I found a few items I would have bought even without that no tax incentive! We have to be able to close the doors and trunk, don't you know?

Critter sightings...

2010-07-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

No photos yet, but so far we have seen a few eagles soaring overhead, a deer in the yard this morning, chipmunks and snakes on the walking path in town, and not much else.

We'll keep our eyes open (and noses plugged... polecats make horrible roadkill).

Does she like vacation?

2010-07-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Domino relaxed halfway out of her bed this afternoon!

Day 2... just "waiting" for Dad

2010-07-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Dominoes sleeping and waiting at the door

for her master to return from his walk...

They went with me to the garden to get photos

this morning... HEY! get OUT of the picture, dog!

That's better! Thank you!

Al is back from his 9.5 mile walk on the rails trail. The dogs have over 300 acres to roam but they sit on the porch and wait for him.

We woke up in paradise...

2010-07-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a long day... a ten hour trip to our cabin in the woods in Montana. (Not really "ours", but even the host commented how often we come, LOL). We were thrilled to find internet hook up IN THE CABIN this year (past visits we had to sit outside their house for connection)! They also added a brass bed frame, updated HD TV and a washer/dryer is arriving today. WOW! These folks really take care of us!
[Note to sister, Jan: This is OUR kind of "camping"... dishwasher, BBQ grill, Fridge, full bath facility in the cabin, cupboards furnished with essentials, including food... luxury! REST, instead of WORK!)

Last night we arrived at dinner, unpacked, ate and I laid down to rest a bit. Hours later I awoke and knew I would not be sleeping anytime soon, so I worked a bit on research for a scrap kit I am designing. Went to bed about midnight and awoke at 7:30... I think I am "caught up" on the sleep part.

So, this is the morning view from our cabin in paradise!

View from the cabin door...

The trees are SO TALL here in the area!

Well, back to "REST" now... Al is out running on the "rails to trails" local path. The dogs are already "resting"... ahhh! Vacation!

Published scrap pages...

2010-07-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

"Can't Eat Just One" featuring Dominoes

"Heads or Tails" featuring Renfro's Sir Dewey

"INFLUENCE" featuring Hubby and 20 grandkids

These three scrap pages were submitted for publication and all three were accepted. Amazing to me... she and I must have the same sense of view! All were made using Scrap Girl products. The supplies are in their individual meta-files.

Check these pages out quickly because they have to be removed while they are published... I will put this blog post in stored status until August after this week. Thanks for looking!

Father's Day... Honoring Hubby

2010-06-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

This scrap page began over a year ago... I wanted to give it to him LAST Father's Day. However, because I did not have all the photos of the twenty grandkids to put in his "shadow" and "steps", it had to wait!

What a difference you have made in our lives, Preacher! We love you!

Online version: Steps

Father's Day... Al and Charity

2010-06-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Al & Charity on the front porch of our first home
in Dearborn Hts MI.

I was looking for a photo of a DAD for our church bulletin. After searching online for a bit, and then in our ad files, preacher suggested I look for this early photo. My goodness! That was 41 years ago! How fun!

Pink! Still love it!

2010-06-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

When I was about fifteen my mom made a pink striped dress for me to wear to my cousin Don's wedding. It became my favorite dress of my teen years!

Shopping for my Mother's Day dress this year, I expressed a need for a sun dress before we went to the desert in early June. We were surprised to find THREE dresses to try on that day. We loved all three and could not decide on JUST ONE. Two of the dresses were white with black and pink flower prints. I loved both of them! When we learned they were all on sale at 40% off, we bought all three! I am so blessed! I think this is my favorite of them, but its still hard to choose... Thank you, honey!

Online gallery link. Thanks for looking!

Desert Getaway Scrapped

2010-06-09T15:24:00.000-07:00

These two matching pages may end up on our wall instead of a scrapbook!

Thanks for looking! See more of the photos in the next two posts!

Online: oasis; Birds

La Quinta Randomness...

2010-06-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

Nice shot of Al by the fountain sign.

H.B. London and Focus on the Family sponsored

the retreat. Very encouraging meetings.

Please pray for the ministry during tough times.

The dining hall from another view, and...

... a better perspective of its "SIZE".

This resort was a "get away" for Hollywood stars in its infancy.

The lobby entrance where celebrities once entered...

... and sat in the foyer.

I'm pretty sure the bird arrived since 1926, however!

This fountain is near the foyer entrance and flowed from

the top of the garden hill in front of the dining hall.

I loved this walkway we passed thru every meal...

a very sweet passage.

While we waited for the next session we entertained birds

near the fountain sign...

.... and even behind Al's back!

As we left the relaxing retreat, we decided to look up

Clint Eastwood's local restaurant the Hog's Breath Inn.

Great meal before we headed back to the airport!

KEEP READING... MORE PHOTOS IN THE NEXT POST!

Some like it HOT! What a treat!

2010-06-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

We were excited to find this Pastors and Wives retreat in Palm Springs! We had no idea that our NW spring would extend and be only low 50's when we departed. Landing at Palm Springs to a stifling 95 degrees was quite the experience... think sauna!

Pictures are worth a thousand words has been said. I don't think pictures will do this place justice! To experience this floral beauty firsthand is more than we imagined!

The entry road was symmetrically amazing!

Mountains surround this beautiful resort.

Outside our room, a pool to share with a few others.

We swam alone, however.

On the pathway to the dining hall... covered paths,

palm trees and fountains, besides the flowers!

Bowers of flowers and beautiful

trees everywhere we looked!

Morning shadows make such lovely photos!

(and nice guy to take me to this lovely place!)

Some guy offered to photograph us... and himself!

Dining hall with a mission bell!

(It didn't announce dinner, however!)

Waiting for the breakfast hour,

we took more flower photos, of course!

We met John & Linda at dinner the first night.

From Maryland, near Camp David, we enjoyed

visiting with them most meals!

Trees, flowers, brick-lined pavement... nice!

Bougainvillea covered many walls and archways.

(beep! beep!) This roadrunner was spotted on the way

back from the morning session!

We were so excited to see this little guy!

We have stayed at some lovely places, but this place BY FAR is the most lovely we have had the privilege to stay. We enjoyed meeting new friends, getting some ministry encouragement, and spending time together.

We hope they offer this retreat again, and we hope we can get in on the deal! It was a sweet treat, an oasis in the desert! We will recommend it to other friends in the ministry, and if they won't go, its their loss! We loved every minute of it and have been encouraged to stay in the battle for the Lord!

More wedding pages...

2010-05-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

I accepted the challenge to do a circle-based page. I decided to do matching pages... tough duty, but done!

See them individually online at Scrap Girls gallery here: moments our day

A few of our "boys"... Reuben & Charles

2010-05-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

With twenty grandkids, its great to have some one on one time with them occasionally. This time we did a two on two day with Reuben and Charles, who recently celebrated birthdays. It was a fun day of doing whatever they wanted without ten siblings around!

Online gallery view at Scrap Girls with comments is here: Boys

He ran again...

2010-05-17T08:38:00.000-07:00

They're OFF... (he is left of the middle)

He is almost to the finish line... and happy!

Placed #11 in the race; 1st in the 60+ age group

Official Time: 27:36

Al learned of this 5K race at my grandkids' elementary school, just days before it occurred. He ran his entry form down to the school and did some more training. (Grandson David was to run, but had a ballgame, and we know where his priorities are!)

Good job, Al! Try again next month at Jackson Park!

(HEY! Are those SKITTLES or M&Ms on the "pathway to home"?)

Scrapped our red bird and the feeder!

2010-05-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

The page was fun to do! Features our newest "guest" the red finch named "Ruth"!
Posted online at Scrap Girls here: Birdfeeder

Red headed "Ruth bird" visiting us lately!

2010-05-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

A red head bird we named "Ruth"

after our own red-head daughter!

What is it? Does anyone know?

We discovered this lovely bird last week at the feeder next to the patio. She is a lovely bird! Wish we knew all the names of the sweet characters God sends our way!

Five moms... new scrap page

2010-05-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

Sometimes being a mom is the greatest thing!

Think PINK!!

Scrap Girls offered a challenge to use at least five kits. -- I think I used almost ten!

ONLINE GALLERY VIEW

Mother's Day Photo

2010-05-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ruth, Joy, Alice, Charity with me on Mom's Day

Getting us together in one spot was a challenge due to the distraction of Bailey's first day at church. Everyone wanted to take a turn holding her and getting their picture with the sweetheart.

Uncle Jesse gets a turn with Bailey.

(BIG GRIN, huh, Jesse?)

Bailey's shoes were part of her little socks! So CUTE! We love her so much! Wouldn't you know Grandpa used her in an illustration during her first service?

What a great day! A wonderful family event!

New Recipe- Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle

2010-05-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

Served today at the LACE Ladies Bible Study

HAT Brunch for Moms and Daughters.

That was a fun dessert to make!

Baby Scrap Page

2010-05-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me to repost this scrapped page of Bailey.

She sure is a sweetheart!

Yellow Roses- monochromatic

2010-05-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

Playing around on Photoshop today, I was inspired to create a page about the beautiful bouquet Charity gave me for my birthday last month. As I worked on it, I created all the papers, titles and embellishments.

Thanks for looking... it was my first monochromatic page (that means one-color, Alice).

My little chickadee smiles...

2010-05-04T13:04:00.001-07:00

Bailey Anne smiled for me today! (GOTCHA!)

Trio of happy faces!

2010-05-01T06:23:00.000-07:00

Abby, Bailey, Sally

(Background: Charity healing from C-section with her texting phone in hand!)

My daughter posted this lovely photo of three of her daughters yesterday. (Savannah not present)

Don't they have the sweetest smiles? I think they love their new baby sister, Bailey!

Cutie Patootie, Miss Gregson!

2010-04-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

She is FINALLY here! And they named her Bailey Ann as I wrote this.

She arrived this morning at 2:59 AM PST, and weighted 9# 14 oz.

I think we'll keep her! She's a keeper! Looks a lot like her mom did at that age! (SIGH)

Wedding pages for Scrap Girl challenges...

2010-04-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Mischief Week at Scrap Girls has me scrapping the wedding pages for the album, lickity split!
This is a two page set!

You can see the comments online for these pages at the following links;
Flower girl angel
Grooms family

A Groom's view Scrap page

2010-04-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed making this Groom's View scrap page for the wedding album. Though Jesse was embarrassed for his tears, we were encouraged to see his compassionate heart. This is posted online in my Scrap Girls gallery.

Groom View

Still scrapping that lovely wedding!

2010-04-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

Ruth and Jesse were married in July and I am still enjoying putting their memories on scrap pages! These are the two most recent.

Their online links: Balcony; Attendants

60 and forward...

2010-04-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

SURPRISE!!

Hugs all around... Grace with me here.

Honey Hugs and pictures taking pictures.

Chocolate cake! And ICE CREAM!

Grace "riding" Sally piggy-back.

Me and my girls: Joy, Ruth, Me, Alice, Charity

The HUGHES SIX. FR: Ruth, Joy, Alice, Charity

(reverse birth order)

Al and I behind them.

Sally puts ice cream on Savannah's nose...

... and Jesse hides behind a balloon.

Turning sixty was no big deal until the surprise event! Before the Wednesday night service, the girls brought me lovely gifts: yellow roses, pink azaleas, a Vera Bradley handbag and Cookie Lee jewelry. Then the crowd quickly disappeared while I was "detained". I followed the last of the crowd and found everyone "hiding" in the fellowship hall.

What a sweet family and church family God has blessed me with! Thank you everyone!

Which one is not like the others?

2010-04-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

Easter cookies-- Which lamb is not like the others?

For Easter this year I found the cutest little lamb cookie cutter. Grandson Jason was over Saturday night and helped me ice the cookies before bed. He was icing the carrots while I iced the lambs and added fluffy coconut "wool" to the lambs.

We had lots of orange icing left over, so for fun we had Jason ice one of the lambs with the orange icing. Then we started laughing about the odd looking lamb. We started singing, "Which of these lambs is not like the others?" Was the lamb camouflaged as a carrot? Odd man out? Was it having a "Bad Hair Day"?

Finally Jason asked, "ORANGE you glad I'm not a wolf?" (maybe it WAS the wolf in a bad disguise?) Such fun!

April fools! A morning surprise!

2010-04-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Our bird feeder has attracted many kinds of wildlife and birds this winter, from jays, doves, and squirrels, to gold finches, the State bird. We have enjoyed the bird feeder entertainment all winter long!

This morning held another surprise visitor... a male mallard duck dropped in for a visit. He stayed about a half hour before he flew off to the next grazing place.

All in a MONDAY...

2010-03-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

We spent a few hours with our friends, the Blues, today at their house. Though shorter time than we would have liked, we enjoyed our little getaway with them. The traffic was not too bad in the HOV lanes.

I was able to get a nice pic of their grand piano with one of my favorite bouquets. Included is a photo of Mrs. Blue rearranging the wheelchair when we first arrived and another of Bro. Blue just before we left.

We hope we can go again next month. We sure love these folks!

The bluest skies... in Seattle

2010-03-22T08:52:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a glorious and beautiful day! We spotted a bald eagle over our church parking lot and I had my camera for a change! Whew! What a majestic bird!

Last month I had been singing this song in my head ["Seattle"] from a show we used to watch about Seattle and their importing of brides for the early settlers. The words say "the bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle!" Then the song played over the radio one day while I was driving! So I found the Youtube version of the quaint song for you to enjoy it too!

Seattle area is my "HOME" since 1974, even though we spent five of those years in Vermont! This song says it well! When our skies are blue, its a stunning event to be enjoyed!

Youtube: Here Come the Brides THEME

Big FOOD!

2010-03-12T13:52:00.000-08:00

Al poses with the "supersized" food in the grocery store!

When I noticed the supersized food boxes in the grocery cart today, I laughed out loud, thinking of my daughter Charity's large family food needs. She is expecting her twelfth child in about six weeks and the household goes through a LOT of food. Too bad they can't get these size boxes!

Cat Head Biscuits! (REALLY Kittens!)

2010-03-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

So we finally found out the preacher CAN bake!

After finding a recipe online for "cat head biscuits" the preacher went to the store for all the supplies to make them for the Men's Breakfast at church this morning!

He even found cookie cutters with "ears" that he shaped into cat ears! How cute!

They were edible and delicious, I heard (I didn't get one, so cannot give a first hand report!)

Live and LEARN! I guess "old dogs" CAN learn "new tricks"!

Summer in March?

2010-03-06T16:03:00.001-08:00

As I waited for my ride to "ladies night out" on Tuesday, I noticed a golden glow at the top of some of our neighborhood trees. There was a few sprinkles in the area, and the sun was peeking through the trees toward the sunset.

Suddenly we watched a rainbow materialize behind the glowing trees! Incredible and breathtaking!

A backhanded compliment?

2010-02-25T04:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my 5 yo grandson, Jesse, told me I look like that lady in the movie.

I looked puzzled at his big sis, Abigail. "Oh," she explained, "that lady in 'Driving Miss Daisy'!" [WHAT???? A backhanded complement, if I ever saw one!]

Rainier scrapping...

2010-02-23T20:22:00.000-08:00

Sure do love this new camera! Loving the results of a good shutter and glass!

It's posted online at Scrap Girls RAINIER.

Sunshine and shadows... a lovely warm day in February!

2010-02-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

On the way to the Gregson house, I stopped to take this pastoral shot near their home. SWEET!

Last time I tried to get this shot, my memory card was not in the camera, but in the computer at home! Finally! I think this is "brothers" on the Olympic range. I love this view!

Another view of the range from Silverdale, WA.

Be mine, Valentine!

2010-02-14T15:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all my valentines! Let's get some photos!

Grandma and Sally...

Who should wear Grandma's hat? We both wore pink today!

Let's take turns....

(Grandpa thinks it's planned, but we are always surprised to find we wore the same colors on Sundays!)

Sally's turn...

My turn!

Al wants in the picture, too!

Thank you, Roy! Good photos!

Please... FENCE ME IN.

2010-02-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Having a beautiful, springlike winter has been a blessing to us. The random rainfalls have been less sporadic and much lighter than our normal. January went on record as the driest on record for 88 years! We are currently setting a record of over 45 days over 45 degrees, and it continues.

During the last rainy, windy storm two panels of our rear fence fell down. After inspecting the damage, we realized the repairs could not wait for later. We set out to get a replacement fence and enlisted son-in-law Jesse to get price quotes for us.

While we waited for the quote, Al removed the old fence.

We decided to replace our fir and cedar fence with chain link, so we will not have to replace it again. They set the posts on the old fence line.

The sandy soil made quick post hole digging and the posts went in quickly by Saturday afternoon.

The dogs were fascinated with the new "see-thru" fence and the resulting "perimeter path" that was created in the process.

We will finish the last 30 or so feet in the spring, but we could not have asked for better fencing weather! While the east coast was buried in snow, we were enjoying blue skies and fluffy clouds.

Sights around us... beautiful Seattle!

2010-02-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

During the revival meetings last week, Hubby and I were able to take Bro. Max Alderman on a mini-size "Seattle Tour" .

I LOVE the Pike Street Market, but this was the first time I was there with a "real" camera. I don't know if I have a favorite picture in the bunch (pun intended), but they all scream for me to scrap them! Enjoy!

[I MUST go again soon! Anyone up for a photo shoot?]

Flowers! I LOVE flowers! Fresh, dried, fake!

(well, maybe not fake!)

Veggies! I saw these lovely pepper hangings.

The space needle was right where I left it!

Beautiful, even after 50 years!

Miss Rainier was peeking above the clouds so we managed to get off the freeway to get some pics of her, too! This was taken with my zoom lens. I LOVE it!

And this pig sculpture was too cute to pass up!

She gives new meaning to the phrase "PIG IRON"

A rare shot...

2010-01-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised to get a candid and genuine smile from Anders and Ethan as they talked with Evangelist Max Alderman after the service tonight. They were telling him how they dress like this (suits, vests, ties) even at their public schools. Its their own personal "dress code" to be dressed up. (YAY, I say! Down with T-shirts in schools!)

Aren't they handsome with their candid smiles? CUTE!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!

2010-01-24T21:42:00.000-08:00

WOW... as we drove to church this morning, the sun was coming up behind us. Hubby pulled the car over so I could grab a few shots. I just thought I should clue in you folks that did not know the sun rises gradually, that you missed quite a show!

Doesn't GOD paint some great sky photos?

Pearl's Girls

2010-01-23T17:46:00.001-08:00

My beautiful Mother-in-law, Pearl, had only one son and no daughters. She never knew my daughters and grandchildren because she died when hubby was sixteen years old.

Often we would see glimpses of her in their looks, but never so much as when they dressed up for Old Fashion Day and Talent night in 2008.

The few papers were from Scrap Girls. You can see the online version with the supplies credited in my gallery there.

My DAD... a sweet memory!

2010-01-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

My dad was a fun loving, and many times irresponsible, kind of guy!

Recently I was remembering that his shirt preference was blue plaid and I decided to scrap a memory of him. I have very few photos of him; fewer still smiling (his laugh was contagious!); fewer still of his memorable plaid shirts!

Here is the online version at my Scrap Girls gallery. DAD

I used this Scrap Girl kit: Well Loved

David's Birthday party... early

2010-01-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Invited to David's 11th birthday party at the local pizzeria, I decided to try out my new Christmas gift: Canon Rebel XS. I still didn't know how to focus, so these are a few pics that miraculously were okay.

David's birthday is actually next weekend, but due to family work schedules this weekend worked better for his get together.

COUSINS THREE: David -11, Kenny - 11 , Joe -12

Dustin and Joy's boys: Gordy, 19; Anders (front) 16

and Ethan, 15 -"ish" (next month)

Alice and Grace arrived shortly after ordering.

(sorry, Grace... caught you napping!)

Given money for video games, Joe and Kenny

decided they wanted to ride the carousel instead! Interesting!

Joe, 12, and Hope, 9, rode the kiddie rides too.

David and his dad enjoyed the pizza... again! They eat this often!

Paused and posed between gifts opened...

a rare smile for the Gramma-razzi.

Caught playing his new DS while the others played video games!

We think he already picked a fav... although 2 new volumes of his current favorite book series was duly noted!

Grace, 16 and Pearl, 15, came back to the restaurant in costume!

Ooh, bandito cousins!

Mean Hombres... um hombrettes?

It was a fun outing... glad I could go along for the fun... and the photos! YAY!

Montana memory scrap page

2010-01-14T20:44:00.000-08:00

After an online class this week, I developed this page from our trip to Montana last August.

That was fun to join in the fun at Scrap Girls, in their new teaching suites!

I used this Scrap Girl kit to complete the page.

(This scrap page was featured the week of Jan 31 in Scrap Girls Newsletter)

A Revival in JANUARY!

2010-01-10T05:29:00.000-08:00

There is something NEW going on at our church this month... a Revival!

No, not just "meetings"... sure enough, our church WANTS and NEEDS old fashioned revival. Meet Bro Max Alderman from Statesboro GA... a country gentleman.

"If MY people..." Are you HIS? Please come! Be a blessing, and GET a blessing!

REFRESHMENTS to be served Monday-Wednesday PRIOR TO THE MEETING...