SO THANKFUL!!!

Happy BLACK FRIDAY Everyone!

NO ... I'm not one of those crazy shoppers who jumped up from the Thanksgiving dinner table to get in line at the stores so I could be first to grab onto those bargains everyone has been advertising!  Don't get me wrong ... I LOVE TO SHOP ...but just getting too old to deal with the crowds!  LOL!

Instead, I'll spend my time today doing a little clean up after yesterday's FABULOUS THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST with my family and maybe start thinking about replacing my Thanksgiving decorations with Christmas decorations ... you know how fast time flies!!  But before I start that 'crazyness', I wanted to share a couple photo's with you of what I am MOST THANKFUL for!  My little family!

(Back row L - R) Granddaughter, Morgan ... My hubby, Mark ... Grandson, Jonathan ... SIL Frank ... Daughter, Carolyn

(Front) Me and my Mom

(L-R)  Morgan with fiance CJ

Mom and gentleman friend Ken

Yes, EXCITING NEWS!, our granddaughter & CJ got engaged a few weeks back!  They are planning an October 2014 wedding which gives her time to complete her college education at Kent State where she is studying to be a Sign Language Interpreter. 

 My 'baby' Carolyn & hubby of 21 years, Frank!

 OH MY STARS . . . where has the time gone?

My 'little family' is growing up and I am so proud of each of them!

It has been a beautiful, peaceful day and we are thankful for the OH SO MANY BLESSING this year.  2013 holds great hope for a few new changes in our lives. . . Mark is now retired . . . Frank is venturing out and opening his own business . . . Jon will start driving in the spring . . . and of course Morgan / CJ will have lots of wedding plans to start putting in motion.  We pray God will watch over us again as we do our best to provide & guide our children through life and it's many challenges!

The work is done and now it's time for Mark & I to just sit back and enjoy all the memories we've made today with our friends & family!

God Bless Each of You!

Please come back soon when I'll have new crafting projects to share & hopefully inspire you!

Family Forever . . .

Good Sunday Evening to All!

I just saw the challenge over at Sugar Creek Hollow and had to play along this evening.  The challenge theme is 'We Are Family'.  With my own upcoming family reunion (next weekend), I was drawn to create.  

Here's a little background on my family.

My mother is 1 of 12 children (9 girls & 3 boys).  Sadly, there are only four of the 12 left and my mother is next to the youngest at the tender age of 82. I have 42 first cousins so for the past 25 years, we have not only had an annual Family Reunion, but we have had a First Cousins Reunion (Fri & Sat) with the full Family Reunion on Sunday.  Here's a photo from 2010 that gives you an idea of just how big my family is and half of them aren't in the picture!  These are just the ones who were able to come into town that year!  

Anyways ... enough about my family (God Bless Them One & All) ... onto my card creation.

There are so many photos of my own family I could have used for this card but thought best to pull from a collection of 'vintage' images I purchased through TJ Designs (www.tweetyjill.com).  Here are the other items used on this creation:

• Black cs, Gray cs
• Tim Holtz Post Cardembossing folder
• Cheery Lynn Designs #DL112 Exotic Butterflies
• Memory Box #98290 Valencia Border Die
• Kaiser black pearls
• Creative Imagination Epoxy Sticker
• Black Stickles

I would also like to enter my card into these qualifying challenges:

Crafty Your Days Away - Final Challenge, Anything Goes

Hiding in My Craft Room - Limit to 2 Layers (HMCR59)

Avadares Challenge #2 - Anything for August

Fairytale Challenge Blog - Song Inspiration (We Are Family by Sister Sledge)

Inspire Me Friday #72 - Anything Goes

Totally Paper Crafts - Inspired by a Song (We Are Family by Sister Sledge)

Charisma Cardz Challenge - Monochromatic

It's All About The Vintage - Love

Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes

Well that's it for me tonight!  

I hope you've had a wonderful, fun-filled weekend. 

Thanks SO MUCH for taking the time to stop by and comment on my creations.

OH and a quick reminder ...

Don't forget to CLICK HERE for the easy details 
on how you could win my BLOGAVERSARY CANDY!

I've added 4 additional items (will add photos to the original post).

Blessed with family ...

A quick post today to share just a little more of my family. Yesterday we all got together at my Mother's in Pennsylvania and had a very nice time. My mother will be 80 on January 27th and she was thrilled to be able to host an "open house" type get together for friends & family.

She is very proud of her 4 children (Linda, Darlene, Charlotte & John), 3 grandchildren (Carolyn, Candi & Danny) & 5 great-grandchildren (Morgan, Taylor, Hunter, Cody & Jonathan). Beginning last Christmas, mom decided to start giving her grandchildren & great-grandchildren family heirlooms for Christmas instead of "junk" (as she calls it)! Things like my father's (their great grandfather) pocket watches to her great grandsons ... and some of my grandmother's (their great-great-grandmother) jewelry to her great-granddaughters.

This Christmas, Mother added a little twist and decided to give the "boys" a little something to help keep them occupied. She had 2 antique tins filled with pennies ... so in their stocking besides the money card, there were penny wrappers, indicating they were to wrap the pennies from the tins and it was theirs to keep. This did keep the boys "quiet" for awhile since they decided to make a "contest" out of it!! You know boys ... always a competition!!! (Good idea Grandma Great!)

The great grand-daughters were thrilled with the bracelets they received from Grandma-Great and of course the money cards (as indicted by the big smiles ... LOL). Teenagers can always use extra cash you know!!

This year, she did much the same but has decided to start passing these items on to each of us. She feels there is no sense in waiting until she dies and we fight over who gets what (like that would ever happen)! This way she can choose who gets what!! Here, her grand-daughter's each received watch necklaces & a broach that were Mother's. (Missing from photo: Grandson Danny, who has Cerebral Palsy and has been in a home since a young age.)

Lastly, mom gave her children some of her prize possessions. Each of us girls received these beautiful rose glass dishes which had been gifts to mom from long ago and inside each dish was a piece of jewelry that was not only "old" but had significant meaning to our mother! My brother John received articles that had belonged to our father (who has been gone for 20 years).

Well, I'm sure you have seen & heard enough about my family by now so I will end here and just say thank you for stopping by and letting me share my blessings with you! I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Making Grandma Proud and a Winter White Christmas Card

Good Morning!

I was MIA yesterday but for a VERY good reason! Although it was a busy, busy day ... it was wonderful! I was "back home" taking care of a few appointments, helped my mom with some computer issues, had lunch with a friend, helped my daughter create a money card basket for a raffle at last evenings Leetonia 's Christmas Concert, went to grandson Jonathan's basket ball game and granddaughter Morgan's Christmas Concert in which she played a solo. Would you like to see a few photos???

Grandson, Jonathan is in the 7th grade and decided to try out for basketball this year. I was really impressed at how many time he could "hit the net"!! Unfortunately, their team lost the game but I have to say ... Jon certainly plays with all of his heart!!!

When I first came into the school (not knowing what Jon's NUMBER was) ... I saw a young man whom I THOUGHT was Jon but turns out to be a classmate who looks VERY MUCH like Jonathan!!
His name is Charlie ... and these two guys could be brothers!! Jon is number 50 and Charlie is number 20! It was so much fun watching these guys ... they certainly play hard and run really fast!!! I would be totally exhausted after the first period ... let alone the entire game ... what with all the running back & forth on the court!! LOL!!!

Due to DH's health issues the past couple of years, I haven't had much of an opportunity to partake in the kids events, so was really thrilled that I could take the time yesterday to share in what's important (at this stage of their lives) for both of my grandkids.

Jonathan is aggressively outgoing and enjoys everything from Hunting to Racing to Sports! He tries really hard at anything he's involved in and is VERY competitive!!!

After Jon's basketball game, which his Mother, Sister & myself attended, we made a mad dash back to the house to pick up their Dad and head to the High School for Morgan's FINAL Christmas Concert.

Morgan is a senior this year ... VERY active in the band and this was a very important, bitter/sweet evening for her. Mo (as we call her) has been Field Commander for the past two years with the band and last night she had a solo during the concert! I haven't heard Mo play her clarinet for awhile now and was QUITE IMPRESSED with her solo!

Mr. Rodick, the band director has been a huge influence on Mo and I'm sure she will miss him a great deal upon her graduation. I've been VERY impressed with Mr. Rodick's style of teaching and the kids have GREAT respect for this man! He's not only their teacher but their friend and they all just love him! I must say, he's very good at what he does!! Not only does the senior high band sound AMAZING, but the 7th & 8th grade band was very impressive as well!!! He's doing something right ... and it was wonderful to experience the total joy of last evenings concert!!!

After Mo's solo piece, Mr. Rodick had her stand for applause and of course I was the one clapping the loudest!!! Sorry about the picture ... for some reason, the eyes came out looking a bit "demonish" ... and I couldn't figure out how to fix that! Bad Grandma!!!


As I have mentioned in the past, my daughter Carolyn is VERY involved in her children's schooling!! Both acedemically and extra-curricularly. She is the head of the Band Boosters and this year they decided to honor all the seniors with their own personal posters. Here is a photo of Carolyn (in the red Santa hat ... lower left) honoring Samantha with her poster and showing the audience what they would look like. Morgan is holding up the poster for all to see! What a great idea!! The Band Boosters decided that the band members don't get the recognition they deserve and thought this was a nice way to show them they are appreciated! GREAT JOB LADIES!!!

After the concert was over and before having to head back home, I asked the kids & Mr. Rodick if I could get a photo ... of course they were willing to "humor Grandma" and posed for me on the steps to the stage. I'm sure Mo will want this one for her Senior Scrapbook and was so glad I remembered to take it!!

A VERY PROUD evening for Grandma to say the least!! I always enjoy being around "my kids" ... and was so glad I didn't miss this evenings events. Mark was unable to come (he's caught a cold and it's all he can do to get to work each day) but was there in spirit! He too is very proud of both the grandkids and hopefully next year (when his health is better) he'll be able to share in a few more of their activities.

Do you think Mother & Daughter look a little alike??? Tee Hee!!! Thanks for letting me share my FUN, PROUD day with you!!

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This week's Crafty Secrets Forum Challenge over on SCS was hosted by Pammyjo and she made it very easy on us this week ... since we are all SO BUSY but still want to play along ... she's asked us to create a WHITE card. Mine was a very quick & easy creation. By simply embossing the front cover of my WHITE card using a Nestabilites Labels 9 die, I created the framework for my Crafty Secrets Christmas Joy images which I have stamped using Gold Brillance ink and Gold Sparkle Embossing Powder. Added gold edging with a gold Pilot marker, white organza ribbon with gold brad and a few gold Stampendous diamond dots, TaDa ... card complete!!

Thanks so much everyone for stopping by today!! I really do appreciate it! I know how busy EVERYONE is this time of the year and for you to take the time to stop and say Hi ... really warms my heart!!

Today I hope to FINALLY get MY Christmas cards in the mail ... and hopefully get my new tires on my car! Happy Day Everyone!!!

Holiday Open House

Good Sunday Morning Everyone!!

Well, today is our Neighborhood Holiday Open House Party and I'm so thrilled that all 10 couples invited have RSVP'd they're coming ... how awesome!! Mark has been so much help with the menu and helping me around the house ... I actually think he's looking forward to the party too! He's not much of a "people person" but he loves to cook and enjoys himself once it all begins! He never fussed when I told him I wanted to have this get together. I think he wants to show our neighbors how appreciative he is of their support & kindness throughout this past years cancer journey too!!
I don't have any cards to share with you today but thought you'd like to see a few pictures of how the house is decorated for our gathering.


Here is my beautiful baker's rack which is housed in my diningroom. Mark bought this for me on my birthday while living in Toledo. He actually brought it home in his Ford Explorer ... what a sight!!! Mark is a BIG GUY and he had to have his driver's seat up nearly all the way in order for it to fit in the back. He could have had it delivered but then I wouldn't have had it ON MY BIRTHDAY ... so he opted to have the salesgirl help him manuveur it into the truck and away he went. I'm sure that 10 mile drive felt like 50 ... all crunched up while driving!! Isn't it gorgeous!!

I have various old family photos and vine/grape related items displayed through the year but at holiday time, it becomes home to a lot of my "special" Santa's. I have quite a collect from friends, family & Mark over the years and I love them all! I will show you some of them individually in a seperate post over the next couple of weeks but today ... you get to see them collectively.

Oh, please notice the corner of the tablecloth and matching napkins used on the bakers rack. I purchased them recently down home close to where my daughter lives at a place called Sheeley's Linen Outlet. I went in looking for holiday curtains for my kitchen window (which I did happily find) and discovered this particular tablecloth on one of their displays. It SO reminded me of holiday's past while growing up that I just had to have it. The had several "vintage" patterns but this one caught my eye first so I stuck with it and so glad I did!! Doesn't it just remind you of being in grandma's kitchen!!! (TeeHee ... at least for those in my age bracket!)

Now here is a view of my "parlor". Mark calls it my "poofy room"! This is MY room ... where I have my Queen Anne furniture, vintage family photos and several other "old time goodies". HE OWNS the livingroom, LOL ... not much decorating done in "his" room ... but MINE is warm & cozy and filled with all things vintage!

The funny thing is ... these two rooms are the only thing that are determined to be HIS & MINE ... everything else is totally shared! HIS livingroom throughout the year is pretty daul ... you know, a "guys" room with the HUGE screen TV, not much decorating, book & papers everywhere and a comfy couch & chair! He claims he's a simple guy and that's all he needs, LOL!!

Okay ... back to MY poofy room! Here are a few of the items in MY room that I just love. First is my Curio Cabinet ... another gift from my dear, sweet husband. He sure knows how to pick out presents!!!! Over time I have filled it with some of my most precious smaller pieces. A beautiful Lenox Angel Mark bought me one Christmas, a good luck pig that my sister brought me back from Russia, a cup & saucer set from my grandmother's collection, an indian arrowhead that belonged to my brother-in-law Alan (who went to heaven only a couple of years after I met him), a hand painted victorian porcelain slipper that my Aunt Marcy painted for me over 30 years ago ... and several other treasures.

Isn't this photo of my Brothers-In-Law adorable!!!! It was taken in the early 1950's. Alan (closest to Santa) is really "checkin' him out" ... just wants to be sure that he's the REAL THING!!! I'm sure this photo was taken at either Gimbles or Hornes in Pittsburgh, PA ... those were the two BIG stores in downtown Pittsburgh during that time frame. (click for closer view)

I just LOVE this photo! Check out the clothes ... both Drew (on the left) and Alan had on matching cowboy shirts ... but I love Alan's pants with the shoulder straps to help keep them up!!


And how about these wedding photos of my in-laws! She (Claire, my MIL) gave me these photos shortly before she started to show signs of Alzeheimer's. I'm so pleased to be able to display them in our home. Mark's father, Andy, died in 1990 of a heart attach out on the golf course. Unfortunately I only knew my father in law for about a year before his passing ... I'm sure I could have heard some wonderful stories from him if we'd only had more time together. (click for closer view)

The last photo today is a family photo of MY mother's family. There were 12 children ... actually 13 but one died at birth. Here is a photo of Grandma and all the kids back in the 60's. I'm sad to say that there are only 5 of the 12 children still alive but that's really good considering the youngest is in her mid 70's. My mom is next to the youngest and she will be 80 on January 27th. This tiered shelf was also from my grandmother's farm house. I have a matching 3-tiered corner stand which is in my upstairs hallway. (click for closer view)

Well, that's all I have for you today. Sorry no cards ... no time to create today! I hope to have photos to share with you tomorrow of the party! Now, I'd better get things finished up and ready to go! Have a great day everyone!!!

Friends & Family ...

HAPPY 4th of JULY EVERYONE!!!!

What a beautiful day it is here in NE Ohio and how blessed are we to have the freedom to enjoy it!!! My DH's nephew & girlfriend (Kevin & Connie) came last evening to share the 4th with us and it looks like the weather will cooperate and let us have a cookout. There is a young couple who live across the street whom I noticed are "home alone" this weekend, so I just popped over this morning and invited them over later for a bite to eat & to spend some time chit-chatting. They are nice kids and being in the same age group as Kevin & Connie, I thought they would have a lot in common ... so it's going to be a fun day! I already have the coffee brewing, crepe batter mixed up and the strawberries cut & thickening ... now if this crew would just wake up, we could get the day started!! LOL!!

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We recently had friends from our old neighborhood in Toledo come to visit along with our daughter & grandchildren. What a fun, relaxed time we had and granddaughter, Morgan snapped a few photos for me to share with you all.

We always enjoy visiting with our friends Mark & Nancy Beelman and the fact that they hadn't seen my daughter or grandchildren since we moved here to Akron (6 years ago), they really enjoyed seeing the kids again and seeing how much they've grown. Morgan enjoyed talking with Mr. Beelman out on the deck and helping him do the grilling (wasn't that sweet of him to be "grill master" for the day) while Carolyn, Nancy & (My) Mark chit-chatted in the kitchen.

Grandson, Jonathan has A LOT of energy so he was in & out doing various things to stay busy when he's visiting Nanna & Pappy. He has his own bike here so he took several trips throughout the development and then he found an OLD football in the garage and asked if someone would throw it with him. Everyoneelse was busy so even though I'm not very good at it, I spent a little time in the yard tossing the football back & forth with him. It was great fun but certainly proved just how OUT OF SHAPE I really am!!! LOL!!

Our neighbor Tony Zawarhi (same age as Morgan) stopped over to share the "info-mercial" he had made for a school project with us and it was so funny ... we all enjoyed it tremendously. It's amazing what these kids have to do for school project now a days ... technology has certainly advanced since my days in school!!! While he was here, he was telling us about how he had learned to "swing dance" at church camp a few weeks ago. I "conned" Morgan into dancing with him and here are the results. GREAT FUN!! Tony's a really good kid and we enjoyed his visit!!

Thanks for letting me share my visit with you! Hope you enjoy your weekend!

September Birthdays!

Birthday Party Time ...

My daughter Carolyn celebrated her birthday on Wednesday (not allowed to give out her age) and her son, Jonathan has a birthday today! Happy 11th Birthday Jon!!!

We decided to split the difference and have a little gathering last night. Since Carolyn had to work all day, I offered to make the dinner and bring it along to save her some time and work. Nothing fance, just lasagne, salad and garlic sticks. Worked out perfectly! My mom (the kids great-grandma) and her brother (Uncle Hen) came out to share the fun as well as a few other friends.

The high light of the evening was Jon and Mrs. Mashburn playing the claw machine that Jon got for his birthday. He got some other really cool gifts ... but at that moment, all eyes were on the challenge of THE CLAW!!! They are both Claw-a-holics and were so much fun to watch!! Very intense you know!!!