Purely for Pleasure!

I have been reading this series of Beverly Lewis books. The first one was a gift from cousin Amy for Christmas. They are about Abram's Daughters, an Amish family and they series spans about 20 years of their lives. I read the first one in a few days. Then it took a bit to acquire the rest. I picked up #2, 3 & 5 at Ollies a few weeks back and borrowed #4 from BS2. They are really a great set of books, she has other series out as well and I plan to read through those as well.

The second bit (or bite) of indulgence is this delicious dark chocolate Godiva bar that Mom bought for me when they were in New York City. I imagine that this could cure my Curse at Me Desk stress if consumed on a regular basis!
Take care!

Wanna know how today was at Wallywork?

Scroll down and re-read last Thursdays post while I go bang my head off the wall.

Seriously, like deja vu!

Happy Memorial Day Friends!

I have felt so fortunate lately to live in a small town/rural area. I was quite moved by the flag flying in the breeze at the Hooversville park this past Saturday. I hope that you took some time today to appreciate your family and think about all the wonderful freedom that we have. Take a moment to pause and remember our Veterans who sacrificed for us and say a prayer for the soldiers serving now. As Jeff Foxworthy says "kiss your kids and call your Mama..."

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Some Memorial Day History Links and Activities

US Memorial Day History and US War Memorial History

History.com Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Take Care

What a FUN Day!

I spent the better part of the afternoon with my nephew, Tyler (or as his Uncle Kenny nicknamed him Chunky Monkey.) We went to the firehall to visit Uncle and to see the firetrucks. They were washing them and hosing out the bays, probably to get ready for the Memorial Day parade on Monday. All that work was for nothing, since they unfortunately were called to a structure fire this evening. (The trucks will get washed again, the unfortunate part was that someone's home was destroyed. I am always so sad to think about home fires.) Chunk got to climb all through the trucks and ask about all the equipment that was in them.
The playground was our next stop. Hooversville got a beautiful new playground. We checked out all the new slides and climbing stuff. Chunk decided that he liked the spiral slide and the fireman's pole best. I liked all the warm sunshine and that gorgeous blue sky!
The real reason for the trip to town was to see the MedStar helicopter from Conemaugh Medical Center. It was EMS week and they always plan lots of great activities for the community. Chunk and Uncle checked out the medical helicopter while I took a mess of pictures.

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We had hotdogs and sodas and since Chunk was a VERY GOOD BOY we even stopped for ice cream on the way home. (And then I took a nap!)

Take care!

My Mood Has Improved!

It is simply amazing what a good rant, some ice cream and a good nights sleep will do for a person! As promised, today I am blogging about lighter, more fun crafty things!

This card is one that we made at Keathe's Stamp a stack a few weeks ago. She is quite the card designer! I just love pink and brown together. All materials are Stampin' Up!
These are my blog candy from over at Michelle Wooderson's. They arrived about a week ago and they are simply beautiful. I can't wait to make something pretty with them!

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I spent the day cooking in the kitchen today as well. Sausage gravy and biscuits for brunch, stuffed pork chops for dinner, banana cake with buttercream frosting and some chocolate peanutbutter fudge for good measure. You can find my fudge recipe here at Nestle Very Best Baking.
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Take care!

It was a rough week at work.... I'm going to rant here for a bit, so feel free to click the X up there in the corner if you don't want to listen. I won't be hurt, really.

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We are cashing the Economic Stimulus checks, so the beginning of the week is just nuts. Here are a few pointers for anyone who wants to cash a check at my place of business.

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First, we will NOT cash a check that is dated for TOMORROW. (Come back TOMORROW and we will talk! We are not a bank, we don't do the whole after 2 o'clock it is tomorrow already. At my work it is TODAY, ALL DAY, until MIDNIGHT, then SURPRISE like magic your check can be cashed.)

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There is a limit to the amount we will cash. For most checks it is $1500. For some special checks it is $2999. If your check is over the amount for the kind of check, I cannot cash it. The register won't let it go through and there is no way for me to force it through. I know, it is all a great big conspiracy by me and my coworkers to keep you from your money. Really, yeah, okay, whatever.

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We also do not cash third party checks or hand written payroll checks. You CANNOT cross out the "pay to" line and write it to my store or anyone else.

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If your check is made out to you and your spouse you both need to be there to get your money. I cannot be given permission over the phone by whoever may be on the other end to just go ahead and cash it. NOT GONNA DO IT, DON'T CARE HOW LOUD YOU GET.

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Next up, there is this little thing called a VALID PHOTO ID. There are two important words there.... VALID & PHOTO. For the record, an ID that is in two or more pieces, is held together by duct tape or is expired is NOT VALID. Moving on to the PHOTO part... that means there has to be a picture of YOU on it. (The point I am getting at here is that there is NO PHOTO on your credit card, health insurance card, Social Security card, debit card, AARP card, Access card, Voter Registration card... Do I need to list more? I guess I do, because your school ID, work ID and your bus pass don't count either.) Oh, and see the paragraph above, if you are trying to cash a check made out to two people BOTH of you need to have a VALID PHOTO ID. ( I know silly me, not taking your word that the person next to you is your spouse.)

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So, just to clarify a bit, since I evidently don't speak English so well. I don't care if your check is from the First Bank of the Almighty and you have Jesus with you to attest that you are the person on the check, if you do not have proper ID or your check is dated for tomorrow or it is over the limit, I am not going to cash it. Do we understand each other?

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Here is something so much more pleasant! I am in love with this flavor of ice cream, Graham Central Station! Graham cracker flavored ice cream with graham swirl and chocolate covered sugar cone bits in it. YUMMMMMMY!!

Thankfully, I was able to calm myself with several scoops of this and I am feeling oh so much better right now.

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Take care, thanks for listening, and I promise my next post will be more pleasant and crafty!

So, it has been a few days... Mom and Gabby Abby are back from the big city. Mom says it was a nice place to visit...you know the rest... All Abby can talk about is the Hard Rock Cafe. Dad is glad to have them home.

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The National Scrapbook Day crop this past Saturday went quite well. We ate entirely too much! I got about 5 (two page) layouts completed in Jeff and Des's album done. I likely won't see them until July 4, so I do have some time to plug away at it! I was double booked on wedding cakes the day of their wedding so I did not make it to the ceremony. It has been really nice to see the pictures. They really had a lovely day. Their ceremony was outdoors at SB2W at the Que.

So I am sure you are wondering what is up with these funky flowers. If you were at the crop on Saturday you would know that I taught a class on how to make them. If you would like to learn yourself check here... Dahlia Fold at SCS. The pretty pink one up top is actually on the corner of a scrapbook page. The papers for both are from Creative Memories. Die cuts above are Sizzix.

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If you haven't been there already, click on over to Babbie Blogs... she is hosting a "Card Candy" swap and so far it is just me and her signed up. Go, go now and sign up!

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Take care!

Just a quick hello for now and a link or two to keep you busy!

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Better Homes and Gardens Scrapbook Etc. Magazine the official website and more specifically THIS PAGE full of paper piecing patterns! I just love to do PP, there is just something so relaxing and fun about choosing the papers and making the finished piece your own. I think part of that is why I would like to learn to quilt. (I do not have the time, the money nor the space to do that at this point in life!)

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The other place to check out is for Verve Visual! They are doing sneak peeks and releasing new stamp sets this week.

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I am off to help set up for tomorrow's National Scrapbook Day Crop for Barb Shaffer, my CMC. I can't wait the make and take classes are awesome and I am finally going to get to eat Moonie's Chicken! This is his 3rd BBQ of the season and I haven't had a single bite of it yet!

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Also a little update on Momma and the digital camera. She got some shots printed and she loves it! It does take very nice pictures and she is getting used to it and she likes knowing she got the shot right away!

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Take care!

Just popping in to say hi! My scrap desk looks like a bomb went off on it, the batteries in my camera are completely dead or I might have shared a picture of it. The baby animal count stands at 6 kittens and 5 goats.
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I can't believe there was snow on the ground Monday morning, let's hope that is the last of that we see for a long time!

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Getting ready to go crop this weekend. I am going to finish my cousin Jeff and his wife Desiree's wedding album. The pages are done, they just need the photos put on the pages. They will be celebrating their second anniversary soon.

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My Mom and Gabby Abby are going to New York City this weekend for Abby's senior class trip this weekend. I just helped my Mom pick out a digital camera this evening. She has finally gone digital, practically kicking and screaming. I think once she gets used to the camera she will love it. She got a Kodak Easyshare 6.2 MP that will hold over 1600 pics on a 2G SD card, so I pretty much set up the camera and told her to just turn it on and snap pictures, don't worry about it and I will delete the crappy ones. It is PINK and cute! I also told her to not let Abby use it, since she seems to be hard on cameras.

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I am a BIG FAN of the Kodak Easyshares. Mine is about 7 years old and it is a trooper. I have dropped in at least a half dozen times and it still takes great pics. The SD door is broken and the battery door is too. I have them both taped shut. Of course, 7 years ago a 3.2 MP camera was a pretty fancy camera, but these days..... Any how Mom's camera was half the price of mine with twice the MPs.

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One final comment... I know that the little pic in my last post was painful for my BS1. So Barb, would you like to borrow my Terrible Towel to wipe your tears?

Take care!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope everyone had a lovely day today, I know I did! I did not even get out of my pajamas today. I even went over to visit my Mom in my PJ's, LOL! Since I did so very little today, I will share some about yesterday...

First, the baby shower was so very nice. The Mom to Be, Shanna, is the daughter in law of our former pastor and his wife. It has been years since we have seen any of her family and they were there today and it was just so nice to see them and visit a bit and celebrate the happy occasion with them. Hopefully the baby is a girl, as they were told it should be, if not that little boy will have a ton of beautiful dresses and lots to talk to a therapist about later in his life! Really, they got so many nice gifts and we had an absolutely lovely time! We played the funniest game too... my Mom was the proud winner, she had a 7 1/2 purse. It is no wonder she has a bad back! (But she says she could live out of it for a few days if she had to!)

Both of the grandfathers bought the exact same gift which was too funny. This little girl will be a born PITTSBURGH STEELER FAN!!!! WHOOOOOWHOOOOO!!! CHEER LOUD AND CHEER PROUD!!!! GO BLACK AND GOLD!!!! (Running to hide from BS1 now!)

I have to share a bit about the location of the shower, as it was the first time I had ever been there. If you are from around here, then you know all about the past life of the location, then called the Casa Nova. It is now Beka House and it is simply an incredibly warm and cozy place to host a small gathering. The food was delicious and beautifully presented! The menu was chicken stuffed pastries, salad, homemade potato soup, and fresh fruit. The folks that own and operate it are just so sweet as well.

Our Mother Daughter Banquet was quite lovely too! We had a delicious meal and played a few games. (Have you ever tried to open a pack of gum, unwrap a piece and put it in your mouth with garden gloves on... I didn't think so!) Apparently the need to live out of a heavy purse is hereditary, because my sister Lynnette won the contest at the banquet with a 10 pounder.

Hope all is well with you all... Take care!

The Last of my on the way to Jody's house shopping spree...

(or why it takes 8 hours to make a 2 hour drive)

(or honey if you are reading this, just hit the little x in the top corner now. Love ya! Thanks!)

The papers, I love the papers. Jody says I can sniff them out, smell them in the air... LOL, she might be right about that! I picked up some Bazzill card stock, double sided pattern papers from My Minds Eye Confetti collection, Wild Asparagus pattern paper, a few sheets of Flair Amazing Grace collection, Stemma Friend paper, that cute rolling pin paper is Creative Imaginations, and a few other sheets in there as well. I also picked up a couple of fireman embellishments too! (Can't have too many of those!)
I also had to add to my 8 1/2 x 11 card stock stash with a couple new packs and after MUCH use, I finally cracked by Cuttlebug plates and needed to replace them. So that is all of it....I think.

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We have finally sat down and paid the bills for the April 12 Camp Harmony Crop and I am pleased to announce that we will be able to make a generous donation to Camp once again! I can't thank you wonderful scrapbooking ladies enough for your continued support of the crop.

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Tomorrow is a busy day for me. Banking early in the morning, then a baby shower and in the evening our church's Mother & Daughter Banquet.

Take care!

Sights, Sounds and Smells of Spring in Western PA

I have been enjoying the wonderful spring time weather this week and thought to share with you some of my favorites with y'all!

Sights.... Bright yellow forsythia bloomin', my neighbors daffodils (my nephews didn't pick the whole patch clean this year, a blessed miracle!) Baby cows at the farm out the road, they are quite cute, I think!

Sounds.... the birdies that nest above my bathroom window chirping every morning when I get up. The wind rushing through my open kitchen windows. The sound of frogs after dark.

Smells.... this is where it gets interesting.... Lilacs blooming and smelling sooooooo good! The smell of that ALL NATURAL fertilizer (from the farm out the road a ways.) I know it is quite odd, but that smell doesn't bother me. The smell of skunk dead on the road however does bother me and there are no less than three on my way to Wallywork.

I have also enjoyed the warm sunshine earlier this week, but am glad for the rain since we always worry about our spring. It has never gone dry in over 40 years, but it doesn't mean that you don't worry about it.

Camp Harmony Carding Bee!

Calling all you wonderful stamping, die cutting, sticker sticking, punch artist, ribbon loving card makers!

On Saturday, June 14, 2008 we are gathering for a day of fun and learning at Camp Harmony.

Join me from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for card making, classes, make and takes and all kinds of fun!

Cost is $25 for the day and includes your seat, continental breakfast, lunch, beverages, snacks and a goodie pack.

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We are having a card exchange (bring 10, get 10) and a trash to treaure contest. For the card exchange just make and bring with you 10 cards with envelopes (all the same design) and you will get 10 cards back, all different. (As long as 10 people participate in the exchange!) The cards can be any theme that you wish.

The Trash to treasure is going to be fun as well! What item have you given new life to by altering it instead of trashing it? Boxes, tins, bottles, books or surprise us with your creativity!

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You must register and pay for your seat in advance. Drop me a comment and I will get you more info!

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I have a Special guest instructor, Deanna, who will be teaching beautiful hand-stitched cards. There will be another class as well, not sure what yet!

1989... seems like forever ago... My senior prom... my date, my friend Greg. I asked him to take me, he wasn't from around here. When he said yes I was thrilled to say the least. If I recall correctly, right after hanging up the phone my cousin Patty and I had a screaming -hugging -jumping up and down celebration in the kitchen. You have to also know that this was back in the "olden days" when you did not go to your prom "stag" or with your gal pals, it was a couples only event. We had been friends for about four years. He really went out of his way for me, as he did not live close by and really would not know anyone but me at my prom. He was a sweet guy too. It was raining and he was thoughtful enough to drop me at the door and even opened my car door. (Chivalry is really on it's last breath these days, unfortunately!)

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I wasn't the popular girl in High School, I wouldn't go back to those days for a million dollars. I had two really close friends, Lee and Trisia. We had several classes together and ate lunch together every day. Typical high school, pretty much. I was quite active in the Western PA District Church of the Brethren and in their Youth Choir. That is where Greg and I became friends. You do get to know a person when you travel by car/bus with them from PA to New York City to Washington, DC and back again to PA.

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Okay, so let me get to my point here. Unpopular gal in high school has a real cute guy for a prom date and he is sweet and a stranger to everyone else. Several of the girls want to dance with him, but he politely declines, since he is MY date. He doesn't even bat an eye when the prime rib arrives and it is pretty much rare, which is how it is served, but what do a bunch of kids know about that. We have a good laugh, enjoy our barely cooked beef while everyone else is grossed out and sends theirs back to be cooked to well done, or they attempt to cook it over the candles in the centerpieces. (How absolutely HICK is that?) Some other random details... my dress was Deep Purple satin, tea length, hand made by my Aunt Janet, who has made nearly every formal gown I have ever worn. Flowers were black and purple. Our theme was "Wonderful Tonight" and it is still one of my all time favorite songs. Prom was held at Hidden Valley Resort.

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I know that Greg is now married. Haven't seen or talked to him in years, haven't thought much about him either. On the rare occasion I do see his parents and inquire about him. I think that his wedding anniversary is the same as my sisters. I am blessed to have had such a sweet prom date who made a shy girl feel like the belle of the ball for one evening. I could probably do one of those Master card ads, Dress $$$, Flowers $$$, having the best date at the prom, Priceless! The only person I would have rather gone to prom with is my DH, but I met him about 11 years too late for that! (He gets to go to the class reunions, LOL!!)

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All this prom flashback is due to the fact that my baby sister's senior prom was yesterday. She wasn't even born when I was at my senior prom. Where does the time go??? I will likely have a picture or two to post of her, since she took about 200 of them. GabbyAbby looked lovely, who knew she would clean up so nice?

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Stay tuned, I will likely have more flashbacks since while I was hunting the prom photo I found some senior pictures, graduation pics, and some other not so flattering evidence that I am a child of the 80's!

I can't believe I am actually posting this.... here goes.....

Take care!

I am a WINNER!!!

WOOOHOOOO!!! I was a winner over at Michelle's blog, Mish Mash! I can't wait to see them for real, click HERE to see what I am getting!!! They are so very pretty! I highly recommend visiting Michelle's blog daily. She is an awesome stamper and has wonderful creative projects!

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So does anyone have any big plans for National Scrapbook Day? Where are you cropping? Who are you cropping with? What are you going to be working on? Like I said before, I am going to be at Wallywork doing a make and take Mother's Day card and promoting my Camp Harmony events at the Speaking of Women's Health Event.

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In two weeks Barb Shaffer, my CMC is having her NSD crop at Berkey Church of the Brethren. I love her NSD crops, she has great food, great goodie bags, great make and takes and great door prizes! She doesn't have hers on NSD on purpose, because there are so many other crops going on. This way you don't have to choose just one, you can celebrate twice!

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I have my make and take swirling around in my head for her crop. It is from a tutorial on Splitcoast along with some swirly stamping and my new Sizzix dies. I just have to get it down on paper now.

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If you are not cropping this weekend you can do some shopping, all from the comfort of your couch. There are lots of scrapping segments on QVC and HSN. I shall not be shopping, since the $1 ribbon and other craft clearance at Wallywork got me yesterday. There will be a small class at my Fall Camp Crop for an Autumn theme decorated wood frame. I also got a super deal on New Arrival for the Cricut, just $25! (Sorry, I got the only one ladies.) Oh, and of course fourteen more spools of ribbon and a couple of other good deals that I may use for the crop games prize box down the line, you will just have to wait and see!

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Take care!

P.S. Special note to Kathy Parks, send me the link to your blog! Babs is holding out on us over there and I can't wait to see it!