Autumn Festival

Oops. Fell of the blogging wagon again. No surprise there but as always I am going to try and be more regular with my updates. It has been a celebration of autumn colors here in Minnesota. It almost feels like this weekend was our peek. So the kids and I went to the pumpkin patch for photos, pumpkins and more. Went back to another favorite from when the kids were small, Pine Haven. Unlike last year, Pine Haven didn't have all the cool photo ops. Just seemed too commercial and too cutesy not the rustic atmosphere of Berry Hill Farm. This was one of the few photo ops we found.

Maybe we can find some more places to visit when the kids are

off this week for MEA.

There's another autumn festival going on in the Scrap Orchard? Where is that?
Right here online. And it started today!
And today's free"bee" is by the very talented Irena Alexeeva.
I love her stuff! She is Scrap Orchard's newest designer.
I am so lucky to be able to CT for her.
Only one layout done so far.

From her Cloud 9 kit. Love this kit.
Find all the information here.
Day One
So grab your 1st freebie now. It will probably expire around noon tomorrow.

1st Homecoming and 1st....

STREAKERS! Not one streaker, but 6 of them bad boys.
It all started when last year, when the weather was nice, I didn't go to homecoming {have never been to our high school's football games.} And I missed the streaker that was all the talk of town.
So, this year another very warm evening and I know a few of the kids on the team {Jerry was suppose to be starting quarterback} and I thought I ought to go plus I had hopes of seeing a streaker...tee hee.
Kris and I joined Missy and her DD and friends {mostly juniors} who kept us updated on the streaking agenda.
It was fun to be a part of homecoming: the band, the people, the hoopla but the game was not good at all. First quarter the score was 0-21. Ouch and it wasn't pretty.
Half time - no streakers.
Update from the girls in the know was that it was going to be after 3rd quarter being the police presence was high to ward off streakers during half time. Getting a bit bored with the bad beat after half I wasn't too tuned in to the game but sure enough with about 3 minutes left on the clock during 3rd quarter there they were....
Oh, the excitement they created. The crowd went wild! At first I think there were 4, with 2 stragglers behind them and only one police officer chasing him that dropped his walkie talkie from the get go. Isn't this hilarious? They jumped about 2-3 fences. The last fellow in the bottom photo I know by sight - too funny. Rumor has it that 2 out of 6 were caught.
I found these photos on MySpace.
And for the record, the game started out in the low 80's and was still 73 when it was over - that's awesome weather for football in MN. Many homecomings mitten, jackets, blankets aren't enough to keep the cold out. Oh, and I almost forgot, end score was 0-39 - ugh!
So, I am one step closer to having completed my life.

Dream big...

Despite all the national despair over this entire economic diseaster I have hope. I bought a lottery ticket today worth 2oo million. Don't buy them very often but there was a little note at the counter at the convenience store that said "omg, lottery 200 million" and I'm like over all of that. So, for 1.00 I can dream big. With that amount of money my new bail out tax won't hurt like its going to do. I asked the cashier, an older guy, and he is like no, I don't gamble. Is it gambling? Perhaps, but I like to think its a dollar to dream really big versus being preoccupied with the national economy (maybe I should turn off CNN).
I also think that all the bankers, lenders, politicains, etc. that got us in this mess should pool their money and go in and buy a bunch of lottery tickets and they could pay off part of the debt if they won.
So, I am dreaming big but I have a few questions.
Whats going to become of the protesters gathering in at least 20 cities, Mpls. included?
What if you are unemployed, do you still have to pay your part?
What if you are one of them that lost their home due to foreclosure/short sale, do you still have to come up with the funds?

Trying this again....

I finally blogged yesterday and as I uploaded my pictures the internet froze and I lost it all. Really hate when that happens. Ugh.
Now if I can remember what I wrote about. lol
Actually it was about the changes that fall brings and the newest ones we face today nationally.
Between the presidential race and the collapse of some major financial institutions. What a mess.
I am really concerned what this means for me and my family as well as my community. Definitely scary times.
Fall is always a time for change and reflection. One change is both the kids are in high school and that brings new challenges.

Almost 16

Sweet Melody kit by Bren Boone

last game

Little Stars by AmyLeigh Fennell Designs

I've been scrapping a ton and the layouts above are about some of the changes with the kids.

I guess its harder to recap yesterday's post which was quite long so I will leave it at that.

Michigan album - so far...

Hard to believe but that's it. Done. Finished. Over.
Summer is done. Again.
I am always a bit sad with the conclusion of Labor Day weekend and the Eve of the kids going back to school. A bit bittersweet.
Time to start anew.
And I love fall.
Its what is around the corner that isn't always welcome - winter.

Been working on a gift album for our friends in Michigan.

This is the 6 of us ready to take Laurie to work and eat in Sutton Bay.

Credits:
Still Life by Annick Philibert at Scrap Orchard
Time Word Art by Elegant Wordart by Bethany

Last Sunday on Long Lake {Mike and Christy's Lake}

Man, here it is the end of summer already.
As always it has gone by way too fast -only one more big hurrah left: Labor Day.
Christy and Mike had us out to their place for a BBQ.
What a great place to hang on their 10 acres overlooking the lake.
We boated, jet skied, talked, 4 wheeled, giggled, ate good, drank, campfired and basically were merry.
Shannon and Belle were both in a wedding the previous day and brought their dresses to show us. What a fabulous idea.
Here are a few of them - unedited.

Isn't she the cutest thing ever? And she has such an awesome personality.

Mom Shannon is way awesome, too.

Who is this hot dog? Dang~!

Who is the hot dog in the lake? Dang~!

Been doing a bit of scrappin', too. Got to play with this fabulous kit last night. Love it and so easy to work with but can't tell ya anything more because it hasn't been released yet.

ETA - Bren Broone Design's new kit, Sweet Melody, is an exclusive at Scrap Orchard for her guest designing the month of Sept.

...off for girls weekend.

Its here. Girls weekend up on Eagle Lake. Will head out once I get some work done and get Elle to her US Soccer Cup game this afternoon.
But 1st I have to show you what really made my day back in June - the Bloody Mary stock photo I used on the invitation reminded me of what one of the gals did for me after creating a last minute grad invite for her son.
Yep, a Bloody Mary basket! Can you believe it? I about died when she gave me this. So sweet and generous! Vodka, mix, salt, olives, red pepper and meat sticks which my hubby ate. Love this. Thanks so much Wendy!
I looked at this basket for a month when I finally had myself a Bloody Mary at the lake over the 4th when we had a morning Texas Hold 'Em game on the patio. So very good but no other Bloody Mary drinkers in the bunch. And it was an excellent game, too.

Thanks again Wendy. See you this weekend.

At the lake

I haven't blogged in forever.
Seems only a short while ago that I was going to use my blog to record all of our summer activities and here it is after the 4th of July and I have barely been here.
We spent the week at the lake last week for 10 days. I can easily say we got over 500 pictures and the one above is one of my favorites of my DD even though she doesn't agree.

Another busy day. DD and I are leaving soon for a bit of garage saling and shopping. Tonight I am helping out one of the bunko babes and hostessing her bunko party here because she doesn't have air which means some more cleaning around here - ugh!

Credits: B-Creative Designs's Too Much Joy kit at Scrap Orchard.

Amber.
One of Jared's best friends.
Wanted to do some fun single photo layouts and Amber's recent photos are so fun that she is letting me use some to catch up on my designer work.
Isn't she beautiful?

Trendy Chick by AmyLeigh Fennell

Elle and Nick

I did this last night for Elle to put in her gift album to Nick.
I just love these photos and brings back such good memories.
It was the only time the 3 of us were alone of our party of 26 in Mexico.
Wasn't real sure what was going on with these 2 but I thought I should snag some pictures just in case - so, capturing these were a bit awkard but I am glad I did.
Over 3 months later they are still together.
Credits here

Today I am heading over to Nick's mom to dice and chop in prep for his grad party on Sunday.
Elle and Jessie are going to put together a story board.
Nick graduates tonight so Elle will be going.

No sun yet. Cool. Cloudy.
Where did summer go?

First Day

of
Summer Vacation!
which I love. Kids first day off today.
Going to try and blog everyday of summer so once it speeds by I can go back and see what we actually did. Here in Minnesota we have to cram in so many activities that summer goes by way too fast and by August the mojo starts slowing down.
It started out way hectic yesterday.
I picked up Elle at the high school and Jared and 6 of his friends from the middle school. And we head to the grocery store? Am I nuts? Ya! But I had to go - it was the chain grocery store's dollar days which happen once every 3 months and no way am I missing the good deals. Grocery store was nuts. No carts available so had to walk out to the parking lot to grab one. DD and I made a good team but I didn't keep my eye on my middle schoolers. Check out lines were long and all the kids had gathered with me and I ran into a Mexico friend so got to chat away while all but my DS & DD got kicked out. LOL
Home for golf league. Surprisingly the sun came out as did the humidity - can you say a bit hot in jeans and golf shoes. Round started out OK, went way downhill and then I totally rocked it the last few holes.
Susan and I took my cart over to Kris's where they were having drinks in the gazebo with Joel and his girlfriend - good laughs and chatter. Eventually I loaded them all on my golf cart and brought them to the Haven where one of my young friends wanted to chat about "buying a shack."
Most of Jared's friends were gone but a few were still there. Nick was over. Ian and Nate stayed over.
Woke up today and as forecasted it was overcast. Elle and I really wanted to garage sale but she had a student council meeting, 10- 3, ugh! The boys slept in, hung out and Kendra came over to be with them.
Eventually all those kids left and Elle went to hang out at Jessie's with Jordan - Nick and Jerry made it there, too, at some point. She really wanted to spend the night but we got a crazy day tomorrow and heck, Jessie is her BF's sister.
Thunderstorms have been rolling in and out most of the evening.
Sitting here today it felt like summer with the ominous feeling of a big storm.

down by the docks

I wanted to get a ton of pictures this Memorial Day weekend.
The weather was so-so but on Sunday we had blue sunny skies and temps in the 80's which made for a lot of happy campers - me included.
I believe I met my goal and ended up with a ton of pictures.

(Shoot, I wanted to include a photo from starting out but I don't have a grasp on my new network so will save that for later.)

We went on a walk to one of my favorite photo shoot locations.
Here is one of them - already scrapped.

down by the docks.
jared and cristy.

A Mother's Love by Scrap Orchard designers and Sticks and Stones by Ziggle Designs.

Kris and I

Another vacation photo of my friend and I in the Yucatan Jungle about ready to Zip Line.
I am going to frame this for her because we both agreed that it was a pretty decent picture of the two of us. I know for me, its a real blue moon to get a decent photo.
And this brings back good memories of our adventure into the jungle - it may look like we are drinking something strong there but it was only water. It was very hot and they worked us...walking and biking...and this was all in the beginning.
Stay tuned for my Memorial Day photography challenge coming soon.
Brand new kit, Coca Bell, from the very talented ScrapShana.
Coca Bell

Cool, rainy weekend.

Man, I miss these days!

Hanging at the pool or in this case, playing at the pool.
Photos are from our vacation this past Feb.

I had visions of being at the pool this past weekend as the pool was opening this weekend at our campground. Not. Too cold.
We went down to our campground to open it up for the season.
Saturday morning was cool but in the early afternoon it started to drizzle and then the rains came and came - didn't stop. Ugh!
I am so waiting for summer - feels like it will never get here.

AmyLeigh Design's kit Big Sister

ScrapOrchard.com is having a "So You Think You Can Design" contest and the submissions are coming in and look great. This is Queen Pameladah's entry, Shore Leave.
You can still get your designs in - deadline is Wed., May 7th.
Info is here
If nothing else, check out the site for all the freebies!

Personality Test

OK. So I'm a bit bored and decided to take an online personality test. There fun to take and I don't know how much of it is true but this one does seem to fit me fairly well.
Find out for yourself who you are here.

n ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

What's Your Personality Type?

First Freebie~!

I have a little freebie for you today!

Two bracket templates!
And if you like these head over to ScrapShana's blog
and find a whole bunch more and you will have yourself an entire album.
How cool is that. And what a neat Mother's Day gift.

The background can be used or cut off to make a bracket album.
And seeing this is my 1st freebie, let me know if you snag it.
And don't forget to grab the others.
Download here.

Bracket template and A Mother's Heart kit by ScrapShana

Still reading...

I am back. Computer up and crashed and burned a week ago Friday! Luckily it was still under warranty with the geek squad. Unluckily I hadn't backed up since I bought my EHD-back in early Dec. One of the reason I hadn't brought it in to fix the intermitten USB ports.
Well, fast forward a week and quite a few hundred dollars later, my old computer is with the geek squad. All of my pics, digi stuff and all the other stuff is safely backed up on my EHD. I have a new Dell computer with the Vista operating system. I swore I was going to hate this system but you know, there are a few things that just make computing easier so that isn't all bad.
And I am back up and scrapping again - little behind with my CT work but rolling again.

Jared, loves to read, and being on vacation, means all the more books to read. And just like our trip to Cabo and Cancun, he didn't bring enough books so I had him try my Jodi Picoult book, Plain Truth, which he loved. He is now a huge fan of hers. He has read the 10th Circle since we got home and once I find where I put My Sister's Keeper he will read that, too.

I gave him Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, today, one of my all time favorites.

This page was done with Amy Leigh Fennell Designs kit and add on, Happy Day

Party Poolside

Ahhh, the memories of our vacation.
Hanging at the pool is always an all time favorite. It sure helps when ya got a group of fun people. Plus we met a lot of super fun people, too, including Gilligan and his wife, Laurie.

I really like this picture Kristy captured when we had to switch to the other side of the pool to get more sunshine. Quite a few from our group plus a bunch we met and we are all just a jabbering away - this particular photo just didn't work on the layout so saving it for another.

Everything is by April Staker.
Find it at her store here DigitalApeDesigns.com

Blossoms In Mexico

Who would have thought that my DD and our best friends' son would make a connection on vacation. Never was quite sure what was up but there sure was a lot of flirting and hanging out.
It was all good and they had a blast.
And they're pretty much inseparable since they got home.

Kit is by Chaos Lounge, Chaotic Spring

Is it really April 11th? It can't be....

April 11th and we have snow? I suppose we should be happy that it only ended up being a couple inches and not the 8" or so forecasted

but who ever heard of making a snowman in mid April.
Can't believe these 2 were up for just that.

Now how cute is this...boyfriend/girlfriend snowmen. lol

Please, tell me this isn't what it looks like. Can't be my daughter.

I see Elle embellished her snowman which didn't go unnoticed by Nick.

Cute but an awfully cold butt.

Definitely good weather for a snowball fight. They both aimed at me
but I was like I have the camera. Yikes.

So there you go, teens making snowmen.
And for those of you that don't have teens, the poses are
so typical of our teens these days.