I just got a disturbing phone call......let me start at the beginning.

Over the weekend the #2 grandson has been sick, and not eating. But the doctor said as long as we get him to drink, it will be okay. So on the way to get his mom from work yesterday , he wanted Tea. So I pulled into McDonald's (first mistake) and got this sick, sweet thing a big tea. We had to wait on Mom for a few minutes and he wanted out of his seat. I let him out ( this was my second mistake). When Mom started toward the car, he accidentally stepped on the Styrofoam cup and busted it. The tea filled up the cup holders and flowed all over everything and me. Sticky sweet tea. All at once I realize, my phone was floating in the cup holder. It is time for a new phone and I have looked. But I don't want to make a decision on a split second. So we dried it with a blow dryer and recharged it. But this morning it was dead, so I ask hubby to just go by and pick me up a new phone after work. I have been saying I wanted an i phone....but only if they reduce the price a little more, like less than $150.00 . yeah, right. So I have been looking all morning @ new phones on-line. And just now the phone rang, caller ID said it was me. Can you believe hubby has got this phone to work. blank screen but working. So will I get a new phone, or accidentally drop it in the toilet? Update: Hubby came in with a new phone this afternoon, he is a sweetheart.

Weekend Update

I enjoyed a wonderful weekend with my Shriner lady friends @ a lake retreat house . When you get 25+ ladies together there is not a dull or quite moment. We laughed, ate, cried, played cards, practiced a dance routine, ate, practiced playing the hand bells, played more cards, ate some more, and watched football. I was relaxed when I got home, so relaxed that I layed down for a hour or so. Lack of sleep is also on the line up for this retreat. We played card until 2 every morning, and up bu 7 a.m. I was going to share pictures of this beautiful place but I can't find my camera. So until then, here is a photo of a resent scrapbook page. I completed this after Grandson#1 invited god into his life. Do you believe I forgot my camera. Well, this is just as good.

We spent a beautiful weekend at the Greenville Shriners Hospital celebrating their 80th birthday. Lots of fun and rewarding, it is good to renew your outlook of why we work so hard. Seeing the hospital and some children that had received help, was inspiring. On Saturday we visited a friend, Hubby had gone to school with. After 30 years they reconnected. I enjoyed meeting them and we all had a great time. We BBQ and watch the game. Not much different than being at home. Looking forward to a lazy week, with not alot going on. Bunco on Thursday and a Ladies Retreat on Saturday. I am in the " I don't want to think, just be" mode. But I did scrapbook a few pages yesterday. Daughter has another friend having a baby, It's a girl! So I get to create a Pink album. It has been awhile since I could do this, with all the boys around here. Also this page is my Very Best Friend In The Whole Wide World, Love this picture. Could not wait to work with it.... I like it alot.

Have a great week.

Have you ever had to choose between your family and your family. That is to say have you ever had to make a choice not to be involved in a event with your mother, father, sister brothers because your husband, child, grandchild had a event at the same time. Well, it is hard to do. Who should come first. The chicken or the egg, my parent family or my family. Well, as i am having to deal with this, please keep my sister in your prayers today. Have a great day, my friends....

Been in a wonderful place the last few days. Spiritually, I guess. Almost mellowed out. Very alert of things around me and seeing beautiful things in everyday occurrences. For instance: Sunday we took the grandsons to church. I had the 2 year old next to me. As the preacher started to speak, he said he would be preaching from Matt 6 . Dear hubby picked up the bible and turned to the chapter. See I am the one who always does this. And to see him do this was beautiful. A bible in my husbands hand is a beautiful sight.
I saw the 2 year old hug his brother after I had gotten on to him for snatching a toy away. He did not give him the toy but he did hug him, without me asking.
I saw a red a white striped tent in a field yesterday, old fashion tent revival. It was beautiful.
I got a new book on Sunday afternoon, Ali Edwards- Life Artist. I recommend it. She makes you look at things in a different way. And I think I like it. Stay Tuned for more inspired post.

New Treasures

A few months ago, a lady walked into my shop and ask if I would like to have the items in her arms. They had a shop in the 70's and these items had been packed away since. She told me they were building a home in Cleveland and ask if I would be interested in purchasing other items when they got moved. Well, that time was about 2 weeks ago. She called, I told hubby, we went and looked. And oh, my goodness, I got alot of new goodies. This picture is just a few items I had brought home to clean up. It took me almost a week to get them out. I still have a box full of old books. And a few thing that need to be researched. There was pearls, toys, books, magazines, glass, games, knifes,few coke items. occupied japan, so many treasures. So come on by and see what I old - new stuff I have.

Most of you know I am a fast scrapper and all my projects have to be done ASAP. I have to get on to other projects. Well, this is a first. This project has taken me a month to complete, mostly because I have limited time to create at home. Most of my supplies are at the shop, so I can create in the down times. We had alot of down time last month. I have been noticing houses on the blogs, magazines and web sites. So this is my creation. All in black and white...

The coolness in the air puts me in the mood to cook, bake and try new things. We have already had Taco Soup, beef stew and Molasses Cookies. And yesterday I was off work and boy did the kitchen look like a mad chef had been cooking. I made the following recipe for a breakfast casserole. I am enjoying it now, yum. Even took Mom and Dad 1/2 for this morning.
And by the way I halved the recipe and it still made 2- 8x 8 pans.
I love to pass along new recipes , enjoy!

1 loaf of white bread
2 cans cherry pie filling
2 blocks cream cheese
1 cup sugar- divided
2 tsp almond extract- divided
1/2 loaf french bread ( I used left over hamburger buns)
7 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cup half and half
1/4 cup powered sugar
1 cup sliced almonds
Cut white bread into one inch cubes and place into a greased 9x13 inch pan.
Spread cherries over the cubed bread.
Microwave cream cheese and mix well with 1/2 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Spread over cherries.
Cut French bread into one inch cubes and place on cream cheese mixture.
Beat eggs, add sugar and remaining extract and milk and cream. mix well.
Pour over french bread and cover.
Place in the fridge overnight.
Preheat oven @ 350 degrees
Bake covered with foil for 40 minutes, remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes.
Remove from oven and let set for 10 minutes.
Sprinkle with powered sugar and almonds.
Yum...
I might try it with apples next.

Need a good book

I love this weather, I caught myself looking through the same 2 magazines yesterday because they had fall decorations. I want a pot of mums, corn stalks , dried sunflower and pumpkins. I had the door open at the shop yesterday and the air conditioner too. (I am not crazy) Trying to catch alittle of the fall breeze, smell of pumpkin pies cooking and the crunching of the leaves underfoot. I have the bug, the fall bug. I even pulled out a few candles, pumpkin spice. But along with fall comes cool relaxing days with a good book. I need one. I realized it has been several months, maybe even 4 or 5 since I read a book. I use to always have a summer read, for vacation. A romantic novel, written at the beach. I choose my reading material around my activities. Do you? Well, my question to you is...What books have you read lately? I would love a few suggestions.

I know, I know, I have been a bad blogger the last few weeks. Well, last weekend was the Crop 2 Help Retreat , and it was great. I love hosting this event but I love more visiting with all my buddies. I talked, laughed, cried and hugged. Some of us have drama, in our lives, but for one weekend we forget or we talk about it. It is like therapy. We renew old friendships and discover new ones. I never complete alot on these retreats. I think it is the fellowship that brings many of us together again each year. We did have one funny event this year. We had a few new ladies to join us this year. One, had a 4 month baby at home and when someone dropped a plate, she slid in on her knees with a paper towel ready to clean up the mess. Almost like sliding into home plate, see there was two of us standing there trying to take care of it but Mrs Mommy is always ready. I wanted her and everyone else to relax and enjoy there time together. Leaving all the cooking and cleaning at home. Mommies need a weekend off every once in a while. And on Sunday afternoon, we said our goodbyes, back to our children, grandchildren, husbands, and work. They survived a weekend without us, my daughter had dinner started, house didn't look too bad and hubby was glad to see me. Oh, and I was maybe a little calmer, not so stressed, ready to take charge, maybe after a nap.

Today's challenge~ What is one thing you enjoy doing during the fall season?

I get all excited about the fall/Halloween decoration being in the stores, on the blogs and created in the magazines. I always want to decorate for Halloween. Spooky, skulls with snakes that are crawling out of the eyes. People that jump out and scare you. It is all the thrill, the rush of feeling scared on Halloween. It is fun, it is what all children should experience. This does not mean, I believe in the evil world of witches and warlocks . I want to be a kid again, when you dressed up in a costume you and your mom created. Out of old clothing, rags and sheets. And went door to door and scared your neighbors. Jumped out and screamed. Do you remember?

Days Gone By

Do you remember watching the telethons?

Watching the children and adults that was brought on to share their story.

The way families would sit for hours watching and not wanting to miss each tote board tally.

It was, in our family, a family event. We sat in our living room

watching every minute. The whole family watched.

We didn't contribute every year, but we watched and cheered for each and every penny that was given.

Children that went door to door, or had lemonade stands to raise money for Jerry's kids.

THEN, we had time, time to sit as a family and watch.

Time to go door to door, time to have a lemonade stand.

Today I am going to watch, if only for awhile to Jerry's Kids.

So take the time, on this Labor Day to Celebrate with Jerry.

Just some funny photo's of the grandsons. I brought them these from Nashville, they are suckers.

Have you ever bought candy or anything else that would make a photo op. Then you are a true scrap booker. Hope you have a funny

Labor day, and don't forget the camera.

CKU and a Tornado

_____________________

CKU was outstanding, everyone should go at least once. I have quit saying this is a once in a lifetime trip because I am going back in a few years. Jeanette and I have new best friends, I am sure you know Ali Edwards and Tim Holtz. Everyone was so nice and signed autographs when ever we ask.

One day while we were gone my sister-in-law called to check on me. Her daughter had been through Cleveland after the high winds ( per the news) and was stopped by police. No one was to go through there was too many trees in the road and impassable. I was in panic mode until I got in touch with home and all was well. This tree is now in my side parking lot of the shop. No one was hurt just a little damage. Check back for pics of CKU fun later this week. Washing and unpacking today, back to work tomorrow.

Just a quick note, I am getting ready for my CKU Nashville trip. Nothing new, just cleaning and packing. Sat and watched on The Food Network Top 5 Comfort Foods. I did not totally agree, so I got to thinking ....What are my Top 5 Comfort Foods

1. Mama's homemade mac and cheese
2. My Potato soup
3. Ice cream
4. Warm chocolate chip cookie
5. This homemade bread ( cheese and onion) ,
Cecelia, A friend makes it for me every once in a while.

What is your top 5????

I have been TAGGED!

I have put this off because anyone that reads my blog, know all there is to know about me because, I am a talker.

Do you Agree?

Anyway, here it goes, the good , the bad and the ugly.

1. I am a avid collector, of junk. This is a nice way to say I am a pack rat.

2. I think too much, I dwell on a subject. Ask my hubby.

3. I love pretty flower, use to like working in the yard but now I don't. Give me the air conditioned house.

4. I an insecure, it comes with being over weight.

5. I have a short attention spans. If I am not interested.

6. I see dead people,

no not really . But I have your attention again.

7. I Don't except change well. Give it to me slowly.

8. Only a few people know this-

I eat paper. News print. I know it is nasty.

But I always have. I know I am lacking in something,

and it is not a brain. not a lot just a small piece here and there.

9. I am allergic to bees, Wasp. But only since 2000.

10. I am running out of things to tell you, so I am going to challenge you.

Create a page about a item that triggers a child hood memory.

I know #5 is really kicking in right now, but anyway. I drank something the other day that triggered a memory. So I am going to create a page. I will post it later.

And now you have been tagged.

Oh My Goodness!

I was ( sorta ) mentioned on Teresa McFaydens blog.

Or at least the Charity crop was.

www.teresamcfayden.typepad.com/minutia

Check it out!

I found this little diddy on e-bay ( I think) made out of coin wrapper. Nice little album for Quotes or Journaling a special event.

As many of you know I also took off Tuesdays during the Summer, along with my usual Sunday and Mondays, to get caught up and relax. Well, all good things must come to a end. And yesterday was my last Tuesday. I don't think I accomplished alot on my days off but I was always ready to go back to the shop on Wednesday.

Well, the supplies are bought, new school clothes have been purchased, shoes too. We met the teacher, took all the supplies, seen his desk and had a hair cut. Forms are still to be filled out, but tomorrow is the day. And nothing will keep grandson#1 from starting 4th grade tomorrow.

I will make sure of that !!!!!!

Busy ! Busy! Busy! I am hosting a Baby Shower/ Ice Cream Social on Sunday afternoon. The new mom is having contraction, I have bought everything you can think of to top ice cream. Ready and waiting.

Decorations are simple and fun, check out Martha's web site for folded paper bowls. I found lot's of ideas there.

All that colored vellum, I bought and have not used, I have cut into circles and will lay them on the white table cloth for a polka-dot effect. I will take pictures.

So I promised her a scrapbook, hope to get started on it today at the shop. Let's see today is Wednesday and shower is Sunday. (5 days)

Wish me luck, it wouldn't hurt to ask the man upstairs to give me energy, and ideas....

Trash To Treasure

Well, this was made out of necessity. I was throwing my receipts in a drawer. So I took 3 used business size envelops and embellished them. I love it and it is handy and didn't cost a thing.....even better.

World's Longest Yard Sale

As some of you know we traveled this yard sale on Thursday and Friday.

I can only describe this adventure in one word

"HOT"

The next few pictures are items I bought to put in the store. And I found a 1800 photo album to alter at Jerri's Christmas Jubilee this year. It was a good thing.