tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81971228719498003202024-03-13T06:40:26.797-07:00It's an EvolutionIt' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-31256953579573384142011-01-20T07:25:00.000-08:002011-01-20T07:25:09.296-08:00Signs of Hope...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">...appear at any given time!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I made a commitment to myself yesterday</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> and to my surprise this morning presented me </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">with the sign that I have been looking for.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/TThQxbFL8OI/AAAAAAAADPM/rzk5G2_rwS8/s1600/IMG_5262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/TThQxbFL8OI/AAAAAAAADPM/rzk5G2_rwS8/s320/IMG_5262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">These sweet birds sat outside my kitchen windows</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and offered me a chance to just watch them relax. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There was something so peaceful about them as they sat perched on my elm tree. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It didn't last too long and soon </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">they flew back to their protective nests in the evergreens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> But, for a short while they just enjoyed their freedom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/TThRM4GrZkI/AAAAAAAADPQ/VDreWaozRUw/s1600/IMG_5255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/TThRM4GrZkI/AAAAAAAADPQ/VDreWaozRUw/s320/IMG_5255.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of our Parish Priest said</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> "to spend 15 minutes in nature everyday is to spend 15 minutes alone with God"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is so much truth in that statement.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am leaving my protective nest a little more often these days and I have to say it feels good.</span></div></div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-69136550086378395872010-09-15T18:31:00.000-07:002010-09-15T18:31:57.432-07:00Something that caused me to pause....<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #073763;"></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Try to please everybody."</em></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Herbert Bayard Swope</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/TJFiDFZxgmI/AAAAAAAADPA/fA0bFgM4CK4/s1600/Birds+Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/TJFiDFZxgmI/AAAAAAAADPA/fA0bFgM4CK4/s320/Birds+Tree.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span> </div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Can I just tell you... this may be one of the hardest lessons in life. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I try to please everyone and in return I just make myself crazy</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia;">With this new found inspiration, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia;">I am going to focus on doing my best</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia;"> and trust that will be good enough!</span> </div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia;"></span> It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-5544811005998681802010-08-23T10:57:00.000-07:002010-08-23T10:57:50.876-07:00I am on my way back!!With two days left of summer vacation and a long break from blogging...I am ready to dip my toes back into the water. I hope your ready too! See you soon!<br />
Love<br />
JanetIt' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-51968566852406726652010-04-05T14:35:00.000-07:002010-04-05T14:35:20.699-07:00To: The FCC and Our Government!Keep your paws off the internet!<br />
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Bloggers UNITE..........let the FCC know that you are free to share your thoughts and emotions the way they were intended to be read....unincumbered by censorship.<br />
<br />
For more information....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://americansforprosperity.org/stop-the-internet-takeover">http://americansforprosperity.org/stop-the-internet-takeover</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nointernettakeover.com/">http://www.nointernettakeover.com/</a><br />
<br />
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Yes, I have been out of the loop but this one really gets my goat. I will be back one day when I get it all together. Thank you for your patience and understanding.<br />
<br />
JanetIt' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-21946772342802158732010-02-15T08:35:00.000-08:002010-02-15T08:35:48.362-08:00It's those little things....<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...that get you right in the heart.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l12YB8qWI/AAAAAAAADOY/x763edd2FhY/s1600-h/IMG_1303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l12YB8qWI/AAAAAAAADOY/x763edd2FhY/s320/IMG_1303.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The sweetest tradition or may I call it "an act of love" is...</span></em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l2SieedbI/AAAAAAAADOg/MT7PNCz3Nqk/s1600-h/IMG_1304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l2SieedbI/AAAAAAAADOg/MT7PNCz3Nqk/s320/IMG_1304.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">... love notes strewn around the house</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l2cmKmsDI/AAAAAAAADOo/SRR50XOZEko/s1600-h/IMG_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l2cmKmsDI/AAAAAAAADOo/SRR50XOZEko/s320/IMG_1307.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">....handwritten with the uttermost love and affection.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Accountant learned this little trick from his father, who did this same ritual while The Accountant was a young lass. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It was the little things that mattered most in the Doherty home.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">A small hug just for the heck of it, the quick shoulder rub just to let you know you were appreciated and the hand written note to tell you just how special you were.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">You see...The Accountant's parents were raised during the depression era and have imparted their wisdom of "keeping it simple" to their children.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">To me...these notes are my diamonds. Getting someone to put into words how much they love you is often more difficult than shopping...</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">...hummmm let me think of that one again. Which is more difficult for The Accountant????</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l3ubVBHnI/AAAAAAAADOw/GKZ_CopOS8E/s1600-h/IMG_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3l3ubVBHnI/AAAAAAAADOw/GKZ_CopOS8E/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" /></a></div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-21533869321282121802010-02-10T07:42:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:18:33.192-08:00Shake, Rattle<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">and Scream!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you live in northern Illinois</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">you know what I am talking about.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">At approximately 4:00 AM</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">we had an Earthquake!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the middle of the United State of America</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">we had a ground popping earthquake!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Approximately 4.0</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Our whole house was a rockin...I woke up yelling for </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">my husband and grabbed him around the neck</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">asking "what's going on!?!?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">My heart was in my throat as I looked outside to see the other</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">neighbors flicking on their lights. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The phone started ringing</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">as we all asked if each other felt and heard the same thing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thankfully we were all ok.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The funny side to this story...the Accountant always ready with a joke</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">said, "I was just afraid the pictures were going to tumble on my head."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Asking why he wouldn't worry about me, his reply was, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">"the ones above your head are most likely bolted to the wall."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3LSsheKckI/AAAAAAAADOI/srogKVNRF2g/s1600-h/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" kt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S3LSsheKckI/AAAAAAAADOI/srogKVNRF2g/s400/IMG_1279.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our bedroom...I am on the right side of the bed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-44635106951513411412010-02-04T17:25:00.000-08:002010-02-04T17:25:00.899-08:00How things change.......so quickly.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">It's been almost 5 years since we moved into our "new" house</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I can remember it like it was yesterday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Heck, I stressed out so much while bulding it I lost 15 pounds ... wish that still was a reality</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tq9mFRE2I/AAAAAAAADMw/9jGefyop7W4/s1600-h/Christmas+time+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tq9mFRE2I/AAAAAAAADMw/9jGefyop7W4/s320/Christmas+time+022.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As much as we love our "new" home..</div><div style="text-align: center;">... our kids still long for our</div><div style="text-align: center;">"old" home and talk about all the time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2trWbn-buI/AAAAAAAADM4/mAhQMjIiNKU/s1600-h/IM003224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2trWbn-buI/AAAAAAAADM4/mAhQMjIiNKU/s320/IM003224.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought I would share with you some pictures of what</div><div style="text-align: center;">our first house looked like and why I think about it so often.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2trgkrvDLI/AAAAAAAADNA/muKqNQqWsDM/s1600-h/IM003226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2trgkrvDLI/AAAAAAAADNA/muKqNQqWsDM/s320/IM003226.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was the view looking down on the living room from up stairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2trqhpsk9I/AAAAAAAADNI/GMyov2DjpmY/s1600-h/IM003229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2trqhpsk9I/AAAAAAAADNI/GMyov2DjpmY/s320/IM003229.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The dining room. Mom and I made all the slip covers and window treatments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was trying desperately to hid the danish modern furniture I inherited from my Aunt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who knew it was coming back in style???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tr1-5drWI/AAAAAAAADNQ/mj9FvZVcC5U/s1600-h/IM003232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tr1-5drWI/AAAAAAAADNQ/mj9FvZVcC5U/s320/IM003232.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my favorite decorating ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The door on the left was my pantry door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was salvaged from my parents house and I painted black.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had to leave it with the house and boy do I miss it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a great solution for getting rid of an old bi-fold door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tr_9sAN3I/AAAAAAAADNY/AShX7RNW3zA/s1600-h/IM003234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tr_9sAN3I/AAAAAAAADNY/AShX7RNW3zA/s320/IM003234.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The family room had a great faux finish on the wall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Textured khaki paint was the base...when I tired of the khaki color we added</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a brown and ocre wash over the top of it...giving it the look of suede.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My friend Barb was a master at mixing paint and texturizing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you tell I love little lamps? They are everywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsKHrnfaI/AAAAAAAADNg/2yvL6zaKcGY/s1600-h/IM003235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsKHrnfaI/AAAAAAAADNg/2yvL6zaKcGY/s320/IM003235.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kitchen also had a faux finish on the walls and again I made every single</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">window treatment and curtain in this place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kitchen island was a converted breakfast bar from </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Target. If you moved the curtains we added shelves underneath</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">to hid all the baby bottles and sippy cups. Everything was organized</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in cute little baskets and fit just perfectly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsYxw0qOI/AAAAAAAADNo/dFxNWu_DMAc/s1600-h/IM003280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsYxw0qOI/AAAAAAAADNo/dFxNWu_DMAc/s320/IM003280.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was Mac and Hannah's room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When Shea was born Hannah was kicked out of the nursery,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">while Mac at the tender age of 4 was put in the top bunk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They absolutely loved every moment of this transition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was a cool peg rail that went around the walls so all their stuff hung neatly off the floor :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsjHC99nI/AAAAAAAADNw/QGmK14m9SAg/s1600-h/IM003269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsjHC99nI/AAAAAAAADNw/QGmK14m9SAg/s320/IM003269.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The master bedroom was neat but we didn't spend much time decorating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just paint and pottery barn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsuj-2LRI/AAAAAAAADN4/kHLYD_IMF-4/s1600-h/IM003271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2tsuj-2LRI/AAAAAAAADN4/kHLYD_IMF-4/s320/IM003271.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The bathroom was open to the bedroom, so as you can imagine mornings were not so</div><div style="text-align: center;">restful with The Accountant getting ready for work.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2ts4GQgjTI/AAAAAAAADOA/3UEG-o3hpLc/s1600-h/IM003279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S2ts4GQgjTI/AAAAAAAADOA/3UEG-o3hpLc/s320/IM003279.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ahhhh....the nursery.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I loved this room.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Spent hours upon hours in this room.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The curtains were this perfect yellow and cream striped, embroidered fabric.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ohhh ....and the patchwork fabric on the table was my all time favorite.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Looking through my old house, I notice now how much I made by hand.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Our new house is a little different. This time around we had a little more money </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">to get things built for us and less of our own handiwork.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first home will always stay in our hearts.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We lived there for just about 10 years.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Sadly, today we found out that the couple we sold it too is facing forclosure.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I will never forget at them at the closing, the wife had given me a big hug and</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">said thank you for making such a beautiful home for us.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I wish them all the best and hope that they can some how make it work...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">it was a house built out of love and determination.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Gives me much more determination to start making some changes around this "new" house.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe that is what the kids are trying to tell me????</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"Get to work Mom"</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-24299956246218122612010-01-25T11:10:00.000-08:002010-01-25T11:10:00.487-08:00Can you feel...<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">...love in the air?</span><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I feel the love of glass!</em></span><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rNyMDWTI/AAAAAAAADLA/QJKsKUVxORg/s1600-h/IMG_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rNyMDWTI/AAAAAAAADLA/QJKsKUVxORg/s320/IMG_0828.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I hit one of my favorite "junk" shops last week </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">in seach of Valentine Finds.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rXg_abeI/AAAAAAAADLI/vIww2GJUxFQ/s1600-h/IMG_0839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rXg_abeI/AAAAAAAADLI/vIww2GJUxFQ/s320/IMG_0839.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Pink Toile Napkins fit the bill and how about a perfect little bowl to match.</em></span><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Lots of pink depression glass</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">But what caught my eye over and over again </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">was plain Glass!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rosQHJGI/AAAAAAAADLQ/jmB76Gkd-t8/s1600-h/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rosQHJGI/AAAAAAAADLQ/jmB76Gkd-t8/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Cut Glass</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rvdX5hlI/AAAAAAAADLY/RWFONrTtZxU/s1600-h/IMG_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13rvdX5hlI/AAAAAAAADLY/RWFONrTtZxU/s320/IMG_0836.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Stamped or Pressed Glass</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13r1u0Qa8I/AAAAAAAADLg/8AGZNxAycJ0/s1600-h/IMG_0877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13r1u0Qa8I/AAAAAAAADLg/8AGZNxAycJ0/s320/IMG_0877.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I also thought of a romantic lace table cloth or </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13r8Ni5C4I/AAAAAAAADLo/ga_unwhFWyY/s1600-h/IMG_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13r8Ni5C4I/AAAAAAAADLo/ga_unwhFWyY/s320/IMG_0820.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">my pink floral bedspread as a table cloth.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13sCIBYnGI/AAAAAAAADLw/L4NqpaIsCLE/s1600-h/IMG_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13sCIBYnGI/AAAAAAAADLw/L4NqpaIsCLE/s320/IMG_0823.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">What to do with these fun finds.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Well, a tea party would fit the bill</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">but a little wine tasting could be fun as well.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13sJTAlH8I/AAAAAAAADL4/gmbe6deJ-n4/s1600-h/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S13sJTAlH8I/AAAAAAAADL4/gmbe6deJ-n4/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A little game of HEARTS any one?</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">What do you have in mind for Valentines Day?</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-1847316001576660412010-01-21T09:33:00.000-08:002010-01-21T09:33:02.423-08:00Glasses here...<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">....there and everywhere!</span></em><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I wear glasses...the Accountant wears glasses</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">and now...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iNBlWwqGI/AAAAAAAADGY/Maw0iR5_jKE/s1600-h/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iNBlWwqGI/AAAAAAAADGY/Maw0iR5_jKE/s320/IMG_0808.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Shea wears glasses.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">The state of Illinois mandates that every child</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">entering kindergarden must have a complete eye exam.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iOxlj2PnI/AAAAAAAADGg/lscpG6nW4wc/s1600-h/IMG_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iOxlj2PnI/AAAAAAAADGg/lscpG6nW4wc/s320/IMG_0802.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Mac and Hannah did not have this mandate so </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I just never thought </span></em><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">about it.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">When I received the letter from school, all I could think </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">was that "here we go again, more government involvement...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">don't they understand moms know best."</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iPCzKv0BI/AAAAAAAADGo/qknScZpmNHM/s1600-h/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iPCzKv0BI/AAAAAAAADGo/qknScZpmNHM/s320/IMG_0803.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Well, much to my surprise the doctor said Shea </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">really needed glasses. One eye is worse than the other and let</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">me tell you...these glasses are stong...yikes.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">My guilt consumed me and I immediately brought </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Mac and Hannah in.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Thankfully, they are just fine and no glasses needed.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I have had glasses since 2nd grade, so I understand that they are </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">a pain in the butt. I also understand seeing clearly is a blessing.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iPVZAcdfI/AAAAAAAADGw/1-RZ2KaXb5s/s1600-h/IMG_0804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S1iPVZAcdfI/AAAAAAAADGw/1-RZ2KaXb5s/s320/IMG_0804.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">He's such a trooper!!!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-4421519857306542512010-01-09T12:11:00.000-08:002010-01-09T12:19:26.165-08:00What are you doing...<span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: large;">...the Saturday Morning of February 13th?</span><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0jgYZgYnHI/AAAAAAAADD4/xecalP8cOAI/s1600-h/scan0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0jgYZgYnHI/AAAAAAAADD4/xecalP8cOAI/s320/scan0016.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Why not join me and a few blogger girlfriends</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">from the Chicagoland Area,</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">for a few hours of fun and sharing.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0jgqEWcWuI/AAAAAAAADEA/ARwd6JCakcY/s1600-h/jen+rizzo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0jgqEWcWuI/AAAAAAAADEA/ARwd6JCakcY/s320/jen+rizzo.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">Jen Rizzo over at <a href="http://sanctuaryart.blogspot.com/2010/01/lets-get-togetheryeah-yeah-yeah.html">Sanctuary Arts at Home</a> </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">and her friend Amy </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">have put together a morning in which</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">we can all meet and have some face time with one another.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">So, if your a blogger and want to get to know other bloggers</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">in the Chicagoland area, think of joining us.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">I plan on going because the friends that I have made though</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">the blogging community have been so </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">inspiring to me. They keep me going and challenge my creative self.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">Fostering those relationships is important to me!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">If you are interested visit <a href="http://sanctuaryart.blogspot.com/2010/01/lets-get-togetheryeah-yeah-yeah.html">Jen's website</a> and get more information.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Georgia;">Hope to see you there!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-69741434618500540792010-01-07T13:38:00.000-08:002010-01-07T13:38:43.333-08:00What to do with my new....<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>....Dremel Tool???</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh the projects that lie ahead of me this year and oh how much fun I am going to have!</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Yes, this was a gift I asked for and received from my dear mother.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0YMIq4PaRI/AAAAAAAADDA/9i92RQAkMlU/s1600-h/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0YMIq4PaRI/AAAAAAAADDA/9i92RQAkMlU/s320/IMG_0619.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Around my house I am Mrs. Fix It.</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Got a problem, let me find a solution...although</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I do not touch plumbing...yuck.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0YMPhEEYNI/AAAAAAAADDI/ZAiQVofXV_8/s1600-h/IMG_0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0YMPhEEYNI/AAAAAAAADDI/ZAiQVofXV_8/s320/IMG_0621.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am thinking of some of the following projects and might just use my new toy.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZNT9eRr3I/AAAAAAAADDo/V_bHsOv0f1Q/s1600-h/StylusEtching_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZNT9eRr3I/AAAAAAAADDo/V_bHsOv0f1Q/s320/StylusEtching_main.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Although...on this one I am thinking of putting holes in the glass to </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">make the light speckle.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;"></span></em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZT7zp4mCI/AAAAAAAADDw/UoTodAjAl_I/s1600-h/europe-21-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZT7zp4mCI/AAAAAAAADDw/UoTodAjAl_I/s320/europe-21-de.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">From Country Living</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Refinishing some furniture is first on my list....</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">any one have a vintage secretary for sale?</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">....or my new Camera???</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZKFQ_h14I/AAAAAAAADDQ/vKVOnDhrH64/s1600-h/IMG_0579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZKFQ_h14I/AAAAAAAADDQ/vKVOnDhrH64/s320/IMG_0579.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Nature really inspires me to take pictures.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">The snow that came down after Christmas was amazing and</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">if I could have figured out how to catch </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">an individual snow flake in flight ... you would have seen it here.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">But, I didn't catch it...not yet.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZKOTdOOhI/AAAAAAAADDY/tr5omnRvMmM/s1600-h/IMG_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZKOTdOOhI/AAAAAAAADDY/tr5omnRvMmM/s320/IMG_0587.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I have so much to learn about the camera and all the wonderful techniques</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">you can use with it. I want to catch those moments on my </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">kids faces that will make me smile forever.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZKcQ-LykI/AAAAAAAADDg/8zYG8YIMeo4/s1600-h/IMG_0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/S0ZKcQ-LykI/AAAAAAAADDg/8zYG8YIMeo4/s320/IMG_0356.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>So, with those words I am off to figure out what will come first...</em></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Camera or Power Tool.</span></em><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-32716705104379639772009-12-29T08:04:00.000-08:002009-12-29T08:05:40.512-08:00The last photos...<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">....of 2009 and my hopes for 2010.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Szok02-JatI/AAAAAAAAC_4/DCf5KDwJDco/s1600-h/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Szok02-JatI/AAAAAAAAC_4/DCf5KDwJDco/s320/IMG_0473.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I have been reflecting on the </em></span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">year 2009 and have come to many new conclusions.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">It's been an amazing ride for this cowgirl and by God I am still on my horse.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">Here are just few of my many tangled thoughts.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">I have learned of a wider world out there and I know</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">it has so much more to offer... I only need to ask for it.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">If I search out the answers to my questions</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">I will find them...eventually.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">It only takes my time and desire to get more out of life.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">Put forth an effort and the rewards will be ten fold.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">There are good people in this world, who are ready to </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">open up their hearts and offer a kind</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">word or a compassionate gesture.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">They are hiding in the most interesting places...just seek them out.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">As the world seems to be falling apart all around us we need to </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;"> look into each others souls because, deeply</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">embedded in this world is its heart, a heart that thrives on the goodness that</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">is the human spirit.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">I believe the human spirit keeps this world together.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">With all the terrible things we hear each day, </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">we can counter those stories with 100 more</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">great stories of human kindness.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">GOOD OUT WEIGHS THE BAD!</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">In 2010 my goal is to search out the positive in life, look for the goodness</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">in others and continue my quest for happiness in all that I do.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">Sometimes easier said than done.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">The road before me is filled with potholes waiting suck me in...but I am much</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000;"><em><span style="font-family: Times;">better prepared for this trip ... I have sharpened my defensive driving techniques </span></em><em><span style="font-family: Times;">this time around the block. </span></em><em><span style="font-family: Times;">My reaction time will be much quicker as I approach the rough roads because I have learned</span></em></span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">and I will continue to learn how to keep focused on what great things lie ahead.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">I will not get stuck on the negative...I will pry myself from its grips.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">They say... take things in small step for best success.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">In my world it's baby steps...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">...each day needs to be taken on an individual basis and lived to its fullest.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">If I can remember that...I should be good.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">I am the TURTLE you know.</span></em><br />
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</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">Finally...my pictures from Christmas Eve.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Szomr5CEcPI/AAAAAAAADAA/ScHhABQdBBY/s1600-h/IMG_0489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Szomr5CEcPI/AAAAAAAADAA/ScHhABQdBBY/s400/IMG_0489.JPG" /></span></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">Oh ...you just had to be there.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Times;">MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY.</span></em><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-79468249473233904232009-12-24T07:04:00.000-08:002009-12-24T07:04:18.315-08:00Merry Christmas to all...<em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">...and to all a Good Night!</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_oT9RLDI/AAAAAAAAC8o/I7HZdo5E_T0/s1600-h/IMG_0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_oT9RLDI/AAAAAAAAC8o/I7HZdo5E_T0/s320/IMG_0339.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our Christmas Cards have finally arrived and are now in </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">transit to family and friends.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_zPYzQzI/AAAAAAAAC8w/9mff7L6Alxs/s1600-h/IMG_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_zPYzQzI/AAAAAAAAC8w/9mff7L6Alxs/s320/IMG_0397.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have finally finished the decorating...</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_5Eg430I/AAAAAAAAC84/5RXeC3NdjHo/s1600-h/IMG_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_5Eg430I/AAAAAAAAC84/5RXeC3NdjHo/s320/IMG_0399.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...well in my life it is never completed.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_9PUgmiI/AAAAAAAAC9A/vQXLmH3B6w4/s1600-h/IMG_0400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzN_9PUgmiI/AAAAAAAAC9A/vQXLmH3B6w4/s320/IMG_0400.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My gift to our feathered friends, covered with berries, bird seed ornaments and </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">stockings filled thistle.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We have had snow and now we have ice...</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzOAWJ8xd2I/AAAAAAAAC9Y/S97J_fVb_Lw/s1600-h/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzOAWJ8xd2I/AAAAAAAAC9Y/S97J_fVb_Lw/s320/IMG_0388.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh the dichotomy in the midwest...</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzOAbFShejI/AAAAAAAAC9g/qaQVZwLMY4A/s1600-h/IMG_0404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SzOAbFShejI/AAAAAAAAC9g/qaQVZwLMY4A/s320/IMG_0404.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wishing all of you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">A toast to the year ahead...</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">2010 will prove to be a wonderful</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">year for all...I know it!</span></em><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-11216057809001547042009-12-13T20:19:00.000-08:002009-12-13T20:19:57.475-08:00All American....<em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...Casserole Night</span></em><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">It was my youngest</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">6th Birthday</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW5Xr-VItI/AAAAAAAAC6I/O0fRerQ0Fyk/s1600-h/IMG_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW5Xr-VItI/AAAAAAAAC6I/O0fRerQ0Fyk/s320/IMG_0205.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Since he really doesn't like </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">much food, I decided to pick a menu</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">that would stir memories of childhood delight.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Comfort food that would bring us all back</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">to the olden days of casserole night.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW5iLSs_uI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/VUaRurKe0sE/s1600-h/IMG_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW5iLSs_uI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/VUaRurKe0sE/s320/IMG_0187.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Now, for those of us that eat healthy on a regular basis</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">or those of us that have gone organic...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">...this might make any of us ill.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">But, bear with me this is good...it will remind you that </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">everything in moderation is the right way to go in life.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">So, here is the line up of All American Classics...it will make you proud</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">to be an American.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW5zWBiQHI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/P86G_3P7ziE/s1600-h/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW5zWBiQHI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/P86G_3P7ziE/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">To start out with with had to have my favorite, </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Spinach Dip</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Creamed Spinach, Chopped Spinach, Knorr Veggie Soup Mix</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Just a dash of Miricle Whip, Sour Cream, Onion and Swiss Cheese.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Don't forget the red pepper flakes.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW57vZHjCI/AAAAAAAAC6g/g4bkI65WQtw/s1600-h/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW57vZHjCI/AAAAAAAAC6g/g4bkI65WQtw/s320/IMG_0233.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Trust me...it has spinach it has to be healthy.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">You warm it up and it's the perfect winter treat.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Now the main course...hold on to your heart.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6F3GDV0I/AAAAAAAAC6o/LTIePWkhlBw/s1600-h/IMG_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6F3GDV0I/AAAAAAAAC6o/LTIePWkhlBw/s320/IMG_0242.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Broccoli Cheese and Rice</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Made with Cheese Wiz, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Minute Rice and Butter</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6MsRALqI/AAAAAAAAC6w/QaH1RB57Qog/s1600-h/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6MsRALqI/AAAAAAAAC6w/QaH1RB57Qog/s320/IMG_0246.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Enchilada Casserole</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Made with Refried Beans, Cheese Soup and Cream of Mushroom Soup</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">I used turkey meat just to health it up a little.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Smother in Enchilda Sause and bake.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Much better the next day.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6WXNfpgI/AAAAAAAAC64/UYwNv6VfHsI/s1600-h/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6WXNfpgI/AAAAAAAAC64/UYwNv6VfHsI/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Chili Chicken Casserole</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Made with Chunks of Chicken, Chicken Soup, Cheese and Grands Biscuts</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6e2J-oVI/AAAAAAAAC7A/HeDMcwEiyFY/s1600-h/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6e2J-oVI/AAAAAAAAC7A/HeDMcwEiyFY/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">"Somore Please"</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Ground Beef, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Onions and Chinese Noodles on Top</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6pXJKtpI/AAAAAAAAC7I/u25CUd2nM2w/s1600-h/IMG_0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW6pXJKtpI/AAAAAAAAC7I/u25CUd2nM2w/s320/IMG_0244.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">"Goolosh"</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Noodles, Ground Meat, Tomato Soup, Dried Onions, Durkee Onions</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">It's the item on the right.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Yes, I used our best china and silver for this dinner.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW63anni1I/AAAAAAAAC7Q/QyLeF9Lk-0w/s1600-h/IMG_0241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW63anni1I/AAAAAAAAC7Q/QyLeF9Lk-0w/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Baked Mac and Cheese</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Sure sounds harmless enough...but added bacon, ham and peas, topped off with </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Ritz Crackers</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Now, I didn't provide all this food, guest were invited to bring their favorites</span></em><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW7CTTsrPI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/dmSS91NP_ew/s1600-h/IMG_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyW7CTTsrPI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/dmSS91NP_ew/s320/IMG_0205.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">We had a blast reliving our youth and remembering why</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">we all eat much healthier these days.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">But, as I said before...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">...everything in moderation is good!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">LEFTOVERS ARE EVEN BETTER!!!!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">This week you will find me walking my butt off and trying to </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">drink enough water to get my sodium levels down.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-47201371218480420612009-12-10T07:42:00.000-08:002009-12-10T17:33:06.873-08:00Oh the weather outside is...<em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">....DELIGHTFUL</span></em><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">With the first snow comes complete and utter joy in the Doherty Home.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyETqSdyuII/AAAAAAAAC3I/FAdZRgyDMBc/s1600-h/IMG_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyETqSdyuII/AAAAAAAAC3I/FAdZRgyDMBc/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Snow is clean, fresh and darn right fun.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVhKZUZ_I/AAAAAAAAC4A/Ig6Z_KbzCtY/s1600-h/IMG_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVhKZUZ_I/AAAAAAAAC4A/Ig6Z_KbzCtY/s320/IMG_0085.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Snowballs, Snowmen, Sledding, Skating, Snow Angels...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEUuoB5VJI/AAAAAAAAC3g/0hDoc5PRXjM/s1600-h/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEUuoB5VJI/AAAAAAAAC3g/0hDoc5PRXjM/s320/IMG_0032.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Busted!<br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">you name it we do it, even eat it !!!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">My kids almost jumped out of their windows when they saw our first snow.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Shea, even went as far as to put on his snow clothes</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">over his jammies and headed out the door.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">He barely ate his cereal (which to those of you who know Shea...he survives on cereal)</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVJDzBL3I/AAAAAAAAC3o/QKslfNECiPI/s1600-h/IMG_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVJDzBL3I/AAAAAAAAC3o/QKslfNECiPI/s320/IMG_0053.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">After playing in the snow as long as humanly possible, the next great event</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">is "hot cocoa". </span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyGhKW73yBI/AAAAAAAAC4I/aLWUN0EII9c/s1600-h/IMG_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyGhKW73yBI/AAAAAAAAC4I/aLWUN0EII9c/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;"> </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Shea's new favorite beverage.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">"I need hot cocoa to warm me up, my bones are reawwie cold, REAWWIE MOM!"</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVOaeGaOI/AAAAAAAAC3w/dx63uPsScWg/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVOaeGaOI/AAAAAAAAC3w/dx63uPsScWg/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">The fresh air and fun seem to have created extra love in all of them.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Not as if they didn't have it before but... something is different.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVVkl9rFI/AAAAAAAAC34/kSfYHaK5wXM/s1600-h/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SyEVVkl9rFI/AAAAAAAAC34/kSfYHaK5wXM/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">This is Bob.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Our new snowman and latest magical friend.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">They check on him every day and even go so far as to adjust </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">his pink scarf and insure he is not melting. </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">(Given it is sub-zero today I think we are safe)</span></em><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">So now that you know where I have been, please understand the lack of posts</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">these days. The Christmas Holiday has made for a very busy family and my mind</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">to be truthful is off in a far away land of sugar plum fairies and wrapping paper.</span></em><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">When I emerge on the otherside covered in tape I will report back.</span></em><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-41922960828888720342009-12-04T08:35:00.000-08:002009-12-04T08:35:31.509-08:00HO HO HO......<em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Merry Christmas</span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk4puA6PMI/AAAAAAAAC1A/oh3npP3NU1Y/s1600-h/DSCF6490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk4puA6PMI/AAAAAAAAC1A/oh3npP3NU1Y/s320/DSCF6490.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">"It's the time of year when the world falls in love..."</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">If I keep saying it...will you believe me.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk4wi05mQI/AAAAAAAAC1I/lG2hh1OWL0g/s1600-h/DSCF6492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk4wi05mQI/AAAAAAAAC1I/lG2hh1OWL0g/s320/DSCF6492.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My lapel pin from childhood.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">This is going to be the greatest Christmas season ever.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk41WyhUAI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/ODqIZcL74yk/s1600-h/DSCF6500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk41WyhUAI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/ODqIZcL74yk/s320/DSCF6500.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Current mantel display in the Great Room.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Santa Claus or by whatever name you call him</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">is an icon of happiness and pure love.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5a-CdK9I/AAAAAAAAC1w/0KNlj6fa9UI/s1600-h/DSCF6534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5a-CdK9I/AAAAAAAAC1w/0KNlj6fa9UI/s320/DSCF6534.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Santa toy from my first birthday.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It is now an antique :)</span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Jolly, silly, chubby and generous.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Out of the kindness of his heart he gives to those who believe.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">But, what is it that we are suppose to believe.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">In our home we believe in love and the power that it holds over us.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5u7cK6bI/AAAAAAAAC2I/zKs1vvQ2B-c/s1600-h/DSCF6509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5u7cK6bI/AAAAAAAAC2I/zKs1vvQ2B-c/s320/DSCF6509.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Love doesn't act alone...it brings along with it so many more emotions.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Happiness, joy and kindness are just a few you will find.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Fill your heart with love and you will find your soul is lifted to a new place.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5hHE-BWI/AAAAAAAAC14/DLswBrhIMZg/s1600-h/DSCF6489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5hHE-BWI/AAAAAAAAC14/DLswBrhIMZg/s320/DSCF6489.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Believe in love and its magic.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Although it is important to remember...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">the real reason for the season is the Birth of Christ and I honor</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">that moment every day of this Christmas Season and never forget</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">it's importance in our life.</span></em><br />
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</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5ocZoDlI/AAAAAAAAC2A/vCUK-4xUf-Q/s1600-h/DSCF6517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Sxk5ocZoDlI/AAAAAAAAC2A/vCUK-4xUf-Q/s320/DSCF6517.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Keep Believing.</span></em><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-34005565255570848982009-12-02T08:01:00.000-08:002009-12-02T08:01:42.883-08:00Technology Vacation......<em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">has ended.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaEZ_NIVvI/AAAAAAAACzg/vfWZla-e45w/s1600-h/DSCF6418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaEZ_NIVvI/AAAAAAAACzg/vfWZla-e45w/s320/DSCF6418.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">When I looked at the date of my last post</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">I almost fell over.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">I took a technology vacation, not by design but, by the sheer</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">fact that life just got too busy.</span></em><br />
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</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaI90zTIcI/AAAAAAAACzo/0uc5-_pbSts/s1600-h/DSCF6404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaI90zTIcI/AAAAAAAACzo/0uc5-_pbSts/s320/DSCF6404.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oreo our Thanksgiving Vacation guest.<br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">Christmas is here and it started well before </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">Thanksgiving.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaJJ6oAkvI/AAAAAAAACzw/4BMsGfOdYaQ/s1600-h/DSCF6424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaJJ6oAkvI/AAAAAAAACzw/4BMsGfOdYaQ/s320/DSCF6424.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">As, soon as Halloween is gone I am well onto Christmas.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">This is my season to shine!!!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">I did a stint as a Christmas Designer for a local florist.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">It was one of the best jobs I ever had.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">We did Holiday designs and installations for businesses in the Chicagoland Area.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">Can I just tell you...you have to love Christmas to </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">spend July through January emersed in tinsle and greens.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaJQdlZD4I/AAAAAAAACz4/NgU_qaAvLe8/s1600-h/DSCF6415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaJQdlZD4I/AAAAAAAACz4/NgU_qaAvLe8/s320/DSCF6415.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">I find the cheer and happiness intoxicating.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">It's not about the shopping deals or commercialism.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">It's about good cheer and well wishes that we share with one another.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">My kids have adopted the same philosophy and we have even </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">infected the Accountant.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaJbEzJGxI/AAAAAAAAC0A/KkOsomzuhPA/s1600-h/DSCF6439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaJbEzJGxI/AAAAAAAAC0A/KkOsomzuhPA/s320/DSCF6439.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">Christmas</span></em><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;"> lasts for more than one day.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">It gets a whole "season".</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">We surround ourselves with happy thoughts and joyful</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">songs. We remember to be charitable and kind to others. </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">We remember to care about one another.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaKHJa4dZI/AAAAAAAAC0I/yMLAhrOpFRo/s1600-h/DSCF6426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaKHJa4dZI/AAAAAAAAC0I/yMLAhrOpFRo/s320/DSCF6426.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looks like the right size according to the Accountant<br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">Saying "Merry Christmas" is an opening</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">line most people can't refuse. </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">You can say it to a complete stranger and more often than not</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">that person will smile and return the sentiment.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">You can't do that in the middle of the summer heat.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaKUkC7ZbI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/Gghz_AB36lI/s1600-h/DSCF6427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaKUkC7ZbI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/Gghz_AB36lI/s320/DSCF6427.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">So, as I put the finishing touches on my my house today</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">I am going to think of more reasons as to why </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">I feel so giddy.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaK0TdW8AI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/fQc2amlNfko/s1600-h/DSCF6431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaK0TdW8AI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/fQc2amlNfko/s320/DSCF6431.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">Tomorrow I will share the photos of the "almost" finished product... </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">what </span></em><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">my dear neighbor calls...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia;">"the house that threw up Christmas".</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaK4lvETJI/AAAAAAAAC0g/bSn0EN47_p4/s1600-h/DSCF6441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" er="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SxaK4lvETJI/AAAAAAAAC0g/bSn0EN47_p4/s320/DSCF6441.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-9062940333651034282009-11-19T19:25:00.000-08:002009-11-19T19:25:32.661-08:00Figuring out my direction......<em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> and insights gained from Silver Bella</span></em><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I finally have all my take away items photographed and ready for show and tell.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_VwW5uKI/AAAAAAAACwk/d48T0X6bejY/s1600/DSCF6368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_VwW5uKI/AAAAAAAACwk/d48T0X6bejY/s320/DSCF6368.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;">Vintage Apron my inspiration of things to come!</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Sit back and enjoy the show.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-Pe56EJI/AAAAAAAACuU/EVVNTMqhm00/s1600/DSCF6325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-Pe56EJI/AAAAAAAACuU/EVVNTMqhm00/s320/DSCF6325.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;">Parting Gifts Galore!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New; font-size: xx-small;">Lots of new materials to explore!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-Xk6u5TI/AAAAAAAACuk/8a7HnQ3j-EA/s1600/DSCF6331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-Xk6u5TI/AAAAAAAACuk/8a7HnQ3j-EA/s320/DSCF6331.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New; font-size: xx-small;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-TUjuFGI/AAAAAAAACuc/2cTA5Ecj7Js/s1600/DSCF6330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-TUjuFGI/AAAAAAAACuc/2cTA5Ecj7Js/s320/DSCF6330.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New; font-size: xx-small;">So generous!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Silver Bell held high expectations for me.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The message board spoke of unending fun and camaraderie.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">So much so, that I let myself believe that when I arrived the hotel would</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">be teaming with women chatting, sharing glasses of wine and laughing </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">the night away.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Unfortunately, my entry on Wednesday night into Thursday morning did not meet</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">expectations. The hotel was quiet and lifeless. No parties happening, no women</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">hanging around chatting. So...apprehension sets in.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYAA51_0gI/AAAAAAAACxU/75IFm73tYr4/s1600/second+chance+antiques.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYAA51_0gI/AAAAAAAACxU/75IFm73tYr4/s320/second+chance+antiques.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Not knowing what to do next I decided to strike out on my own...</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">off I went to do some exploring.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Many of the shops in The Old Market section of Omaha</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> were quiet, but as soon as I came upon</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Second Chance Antiques</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I knew there had to be some ladies in there searching out </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">more treasures to add to their collections. </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9CB0oKFI/AAAAAAAACss/MpcXI5xC3lk/s1600/DSCF6203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9CB0oKFI/AAAAAAAACss/MpcXI5xC3lk/s320/DSCF6203.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The girls that were in the shop were all buzzing about what a collection of "stuff" they</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">had just stumbled upon. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">It would take days to go through </span></em><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">the two floors of crammed packed junk.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_dvbLknI/AAAAAAAACws/OSdvJwiGsUo/s1600/DSCF6370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_dvbLknI/AAAAAAAACws/OSdvJwiGsUo/s320/DSCF6370.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">So with some vintage papers in my grasp I headed out to </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">lunch at a local restaurant just across the street from the Hotel.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_hXzLFHI/AAAAAAAACw0/WuQxZPhnjrk/s1600/DSCF6373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_hXzLFHI/AAAAAAAACw0/WuQxZPhnjrk/s320/DSCF6373.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Again, I was amazed as to how quiet it was both at the restaurant and back at the hotel.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">A nap was in order.</span></em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYJSx8CGaI/AAAAAAAACxk/Ttv_QZv5sRs/s1600/DSCF6209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYJSx8CGaI/AAAAAAAACxk/Ttv_QZv5sRs/s320/DSCF6209.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">When it came time to get our welcome packets that afternoon</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I soon found all the women ... anxiously opening packets and checking</span></em><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> schedules.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-64pdVoI/AAAAAAAACv8/z04sHYl5BiY/s1600/DSCF6347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-64pdVoI/AAAAAAAACv8/z04sHYl5BiY/s320/DSCF6347.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Following pics of Holiday Fabric Fatbook Swap...</span><br />
</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The welcome dinner was very intimidating because the majority of </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">women either knew one another or came together.</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-gEsnhbI/AAAAAAAACu0/3LUQ0NGb_P0/s1600/DSCF6338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-gEsnhbI/AAAAAAAACu0/3LUQ0NGb_P0/s320/DSCF6338.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> I thankfully found another newbie while</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">getting a glass of wine. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">She seemed to understand the anxiousness</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">we both felt.</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-cZk6AlI/AAAAAAAACus/zMF6Ucas8Ck/s1600/DSCF6337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-cZk6AlI/AAAAAAAACus/zMF6Ucas8Ck/s320/DSCF6337.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">At the table, conversations came easily among the women that sat with us.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">This world of the unknown seemed to be coming a little more into focus.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-jZmq5JI/AAAAAAAACu8/b11hrt0aOZg/s1600/DSCF6339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-jZmq5JI/AAAAAAAACu8/b11hrt0aOZg/s320/DSCF6339.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-l3JHzaI/AAAAAAAACvE/W7of4dK1gC8/s1600/DSCF6340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-l3JHzaI/AAAAAAAACvE/W7of4dK1gC8/s320/DSCF6340.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">After the dinner it was time to gather up our swaps.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I entered three of them as a way to introduce myself to others.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I thank all of the hostesses for their kindness and extra efforts in putting these </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">swaps together.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-oaXcv_I/AAAAAAAACvM/bWNtjpwjIIY/s1600/DSCF6341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-oaXcv_I/AAAAAAAACvM/bWNtjpwjIIY/s320/DSCF6341.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Again, too overwhelmed by the chaos and unknow...I retreated to my room for </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">a good nights sleep. Tomorrow was a new day and I had a few new faces to look for.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-rD2R0SI/AAAAAAAACvU/drd5nkDab1g/s1600/DSCF6342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-rD2R0SI/AAAAAAAACvU/drd5nkDab1g/s320/DSCF6342.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-uu64q0I/AAAAAAAACvc/-OCnzP4LwiU/s1600/DSCF6343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-uu64q0I/AAAAAAAACvc/-OCnzP4LwiU/s320/DSCF6343.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-yLyuVNI/AAAAAAAACvk/6QBUgsq0g4U/s1600/DSCF6344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-yLyuVNI/AAAAAAAACvk/6QBUgsq0g4U/s320/DSCF6344.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-04UJk0I/AAAAAAAACvs/0_9bpNt4Pr8/s1600/DSCF6345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-04UJk0I/AAAAAAAACvs/0_9bpNt4Pr8/s320/DSCF6345.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-4E8DjrI/AAAAAAAACv0/0H3tLko5noc/s1600/DSCF6346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-4E8DjrI/AAAAAAAACv0/0H3tLko5noc/s320/DSCF6346.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Looking through my swaps before I went to sleep gave me the courage I needed.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The talent of these women is incomparable and I knew this</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">was what I really </span></em><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">came to experience.</span></em><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-IDubJzI/AAAAAAAACuE/jbR3jyxu8Mk/s1600/DSCF6319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-IDubJzI/AAAAAAAACuE/jbR3jyxu8Mk/s320/DSCF6319.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Each of us had our own style but we were so impressed with</span></em><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> the uniqueness each represented.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">There is a commonality to us all and we appreciate each and everyone's individuality.</span></em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-LAMP_rI/AAAAAAAACuM/ere7wLLyflE/s1600/DSCF6320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-LAMP_rI/AAAAAAAACuM/ere7wLLyflE/s320/DSCF6320.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">It is as if your eyes had been opened to a different way of thinking.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_FRW0JmI/AAAAAAAACwM/PC6NeXEPNCA/s1600/DSCF6353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_FRW0JmI/AAAAAAAACwM/PC6NeXEPNCA/s320/DSCF6353.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://housewrenstudio.typepad.com/">Charlotte Lyons</a> Mobile...as with most projects they are unfinished</span><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The classes I attended were something that I really enjoyed.</span></em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_AC15G9I/AAAAAAAACwE/ruA7sabi6LY/s1600/DSCF6350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_AC15G9I/AAAAAAAACwE/ruA7sabi6LY/s320/DSCF6350.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.pamgarrison.typepad.com/">Pam Garrison</a>...Holiday Countdown Wreath</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_K8xnbTI/AAAAAAAACwU/0I4Z4kC641M/s1600/DSCF6355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_K8xnbTI/AAAAAAAACwU/0I4Z4kC641M/s320/DSCF6355.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.studiodsharp.com/">Denise Sharp</a> ... Paper Bird. Challenging yet inspiring!</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New; font-size: xx-small;">If you haven't seen her work...please check it out.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New; font-size: xx-small;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9H-dkkDI/AAAAAAAACs0/LhfPn3vVIHQ/s1600/DSCF6237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9H-dkkDI/AAAAAAAACs0/LhfPn3vVIHQ/s320/DSCF6237.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.jmurphybears.com/">Jennifer Murphy</a> Snowman Ornament Clip</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Courier New; font-size: xx-small;">He just makes me smile!</span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Meeting others as we placed ourselves around the table</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> I was able to put some faces with the names that I had seen on the message board.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">This did help ease some of the remaining anxieties and feeling of not belonging.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9MQMCH5I/AAAAAAAACs8/BMfuwVL1fpM/s1600/DSCF6245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9MQMCH5I/AAAAAAAACs8/BMfuwVL1fpM/s320/DSCF6245.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Friday evening was the Vendor Fair.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Well, if I can only tell you in words how overwhelming it was...it might take pages.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The creativity in presentation and product was something to behold and learn from.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYK1xWLTEI/AAAAAAAACx0/vObPBwfPlAU/s1600/DSCF6291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYK1xWLTEI/AAAAAAAACx0/vObPBwfPlAU/s320/DSCF6291.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9XLzwjnI/AAAAAAAACtU/fKWOLHurhuE/s1600/DSCF6258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9XLzwjnI/AAAAAAAACtU/fKWOLHurhuE/s320/DSCF6258.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">This in fact was a learning trip. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I wanted to how people do what they do, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">where do they get their inspirations, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">how do they continually impress me?</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">My big sister<a href="http://blessedanddistressed.blogspot.com/"> Sheila</a> spent sometime walking with me through the fair</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">after she snatched up her treasures.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9TraFVII/AAAAAAAACtM/vu87z8yJdrE/s1600/DSCF6250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9TraFVII/AAAAAAAACtM/vu87z8yJdrE/s320/DSCF6250.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">It does seem that we all have someone who inspires us to continue</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">to create. For Sheila it was...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="http://rebeccasower.typepad.com/">Rebecca Sower</a></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-EW8ySpI/AAAAAAAACt8/7BrZDW-v_n4/s1600/DSCF6315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX-EW8ySpI/AAAAAAAACt8/7BrZDW-v_n4/s320/DSCF6315.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I have to admit...I do love her sense of style, so much so I bought this journal.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">After, this I headed out with a bunch of gals for some dinner...we had so much fun that we agreed we had to do it again the next evening. So...what does that tell you...the ice has melted.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I finally felt a sense of strength and belonging. I understood what was happening...others, who were nervous just like myself, stepped out of their comfort zones to meet new people and one of those</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">people happened to be me.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_PpP6hbI/AAAAAAAACwc/B9noS3WvEAk/s1600/DSCF6361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_PpP6hbI/AAAAAAAACwc/B9noS3WvEAk/s320/DSCF6361.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The instructors who opened up to share their "trade" secrets, the artists among us who</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">dove right in to tackle the same artistic adventure, the women who just </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">smiled and made you feel welcome...that is what it was all about.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Women...coming together, taking chances and putting themselves out there...together becoming stronger and more self confident.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">My expectations may have been set too high or maybe it was my nerves getting the best of me.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">My level of comfort was never really relaxed enough.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Crowds do tend to send me packing...but I have to say...I am proud of myself</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">for sticking it out and meeting the artists that do inspire me.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9hW_x8hI/AAAAAAAACts/OvEZUP1r7ms/s1600/DSCF6294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9hW_x8hI/AAAAAAAACts/OvEZUP1r7ms/s320/DSCF6294.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Thank you to Debbie Dusenberry of Curious Sofa...</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">your kind words and smile made my day.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9lKHse1I/AAAAAAAACt0/WYu6mc__HhY/s1600/DSCF6298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9lKHse1I/AAAAAAAACt0/WYu6mc__HhY/s320/DSCF6298.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">You are just amazing.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">My trips to Kansas City will continue and I look forward to meeting you again.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9dh8-JvI/AAAAAAAACtk/vxZQ-w6kGRU/s1600/DSCF6279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9dh8-JvI/AAAAAAAACtk/vxZQ-w6kGRU/s320/DSCF6279.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Thank you ...Charlotte Lyons</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I so enjoyed the chats and inspiration...two classes with you gave me my dose</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">of creativity I sought. Your stories made me smile.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9aucqCYI/AAAAAAAACtc/GgFw5wtfauk/s1600/DSCF6288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX9aucqCYI/AAAAAAAACtc/GgFw5wtfauk/s320/DSCF6288.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Megan Hunt ...aka...Princess Lasertron</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">As always your infectious style and personality make me smile.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Good luck to you as I know you will be and are a great success.</span></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_4lqtotI/AAAAAAAACxM/oddfwGa5fgc/s1600/DSCF6213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_4lqtotI/AAAAAAAACxM/oddfwGa5fgc/s320/DSCF6213.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;">Another swap..recipe book :)</span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">There are so many others that I really enjoyed but just too many to list. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> Thank you to those of you that extended a smile or a kind word...they meant so much to me as I waded through a </span></em><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">sea of women.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_lCbrrII/AAAAAAAACw8/L9cAgirtpQs/s1600/DSCF6381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwX_lCbrrII/AAAAAAAACw8/L9cAgirtpQs/s320/DSCF6381.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">"Will I go back?"</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">That seems to be the question of the week.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I don't think so.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I am a small group kind of gal...I don't thrive if I am overwhelmed and anxious.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I found that when I create it tends to be solitary.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Not that I don't want to share what I am doing...I just tend to get deeper into my projects.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I did find out that my art work is "evolutionary"...it takes me time.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I have to walk away from something let it sink in and then readdress it later.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYHG4uNfDI/AAAAAAAACxc/DV9OKO627nE/s1600/DSCF6356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwYHG4uNfDI/AAAAAAAACxc/DV9OKO627nE/s320/DSCF6356.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: xx-small;">The wings in development state...symbolic isn't it?</span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I thank The Accountant for making this journey possible.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">It was important to do ... because as they say... nothing ventured nothing gained.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I did gain new friendships and a new insight into the world of creative women.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">We do need to connect with one another and we each have our own different ways </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">of doing that.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I thank all of you who read this, for your creative and emotional support.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Life is an Evolution</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">and I really believe each and everyone that I come in contact with</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">plays an important part in its direction.</span></em></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-74596106166085292042009-11-17T09:14:00.000-08:002009-11-17T09:14:36.128-08:00The Dirty Socks....... <em><span style="color: #45818e;">have been laundered.</span></em><br />
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<div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I have returned home from my adventure and </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I can honestly say it was a true adventure.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLXoiNhCSI/AAAAAAAACq0/KeIT8c05bO4/s1600/DSCF6200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLXoiNhCSI/AAAAAAAACq0/KeIT8c05bO4/s320/DSCF6200.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Any town with a bar named O'Connor's is ok with me</span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Taking off to an unknown event with just an small knowledge</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">of what lies ahead was certainly a test for </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">this creative soul.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I have to say... staying in my room became an option and I even went as far to call the airlines about booking a return flight the day after I arrived.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I couldn't figure out what the hell I was thinking when I booked this event.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLX9iCbtYI/AAAAAAAACq8/ixQ0b1mUXGg/s1600/DSCF6304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLX9iCbtYI/AAAAAAAACq8/ixQ0b1mUXGg/s320/DSCF6304.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">While nerves and self doubt floated around in my head, common sense talked me back into reality..."you paid good money to do this and you know darn well why you wanted to come."</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLYFyL6rOI/AAAAAAAACrE/wlRJiLNaiX4/s1600/charlotte+lyons+inspiration.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLYFyL6rOI/AAAAAAAACrE/wlRJiLNaiX4/s320/charlotte+lyons+inspiration.bmp" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">Original inspiration for going...<a href="http://www.charlottelyons.com/">Charlotte Lyons</a></span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">My reasoning for attending Silver Bella was to meet some of the other creative women I have only seen through blogging and reading. I wanted to know if they were are real as me and if it would be possible to connect and learn from them.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">It is hard to explain what goes on in this mind but, I know there are other gals out there that experience much of what I do on a daily basis.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLYpd0lvRI/AAAAAAAACrU/Ty_rOzpIGio/s1600/botanical+whimsy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLYpd0lvRI/AAAAAAAACrU/Ty_rOzpIGio/s320/botanical+whimsy.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;">I can't remember who did this but I love love love it and have saved it for so long.</span><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">One of those people I longed to meet was <a href="http://www.jopackham.com/">Jo Packham</a>.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: #45818e;"><em>I read<a href="http://www.wherewomencreate.com/"> Where Women Create</a> and have read her</em></span><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Letters with great anticipation.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLWU2yyn-I/AAAAAAAACqk/uXSEyHcNSLg/s1600/aboutjo_jo_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLWU2yyn-I/AAAAAAAACqk/uXSEyHcNSLg/s320/aboutjo_jo_06.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">The specific letter in question, talked about succeeding and failing.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">It spoke to me on so many different levels that I thought Jo really knew </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">what it felt like to be me, or at least I felt much like her.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">She was a real person who made mistakes but has learned from them and in the end she, in my estimation, has overcome any faultering. She is succeeding and moving forward.</span></em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLZAuoOd7I/AAAAAAAACrc/WH-PqJmcie4/s1600/cool+flowers+to+make.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLZAuoOd7I/AAAAAAAACrc/WH-PqJmcie4/s320/cool+flowers+to+make.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.frenchgeneral.com/">French General, Kaari Meng</a></span><br />
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</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Along the way she is taking time to inspire and touch others who can relate and who admire her for her strenght and honesty. </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">She is a real person without an aire about her, </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">who talked to everyone that wanted to connect with her.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">She did not make you feel silly or small...she was genuinely interested in what you had to say</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">and in return you got a wonderfully warm feeling.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">While Jo spoke at our Saturday luncheon, it amazed me as to how many women felt</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">compelled to laugh and cheer as Jo explain what it is that she does.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Her genuine appreciation for artists all over became apparent as she shed a little tear</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">and choked up, trying to explain how lucky she felt to have so </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">many wonderful creative people in her life.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I think we all had that tear in our eye for a number of reasons.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">We too are blessed to have so many people in our lives that inspire, encourage and support our longing to create and to be appreciated for what it is that we do.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">She could have talked all day ... personally, I think if she sat down and shared a glass of wine with all of us it would have been a perfect afternoon.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLZnhyCtHI/AAAAAAAACrk/T7Ek82OgpvQ/s1600/DSCF6312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLZnhyCtHI/AAAAAAAACrk/T7Ek82OgpvQ/s320/DSCF6312.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I meet several women who attended this event in the same fashion I did.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">They left their home took off on their own adventures, not knowing what they would find.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Some how many of us found one another and shared our </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">experiences and talents</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I thank all of you that I met. </span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">You have made my life richer.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLXe7xnm9I/AAAAAAAACqs/qXAAlgOvPq4/s1600/DSCF6314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SwLXe7xnm9I/AAAAAAAACqs/qXAAlgOvPq4/s320/DSCF6314.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">There are so many other aspects of this event that I think you should know so ...</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">tomorrow (since Shea and Mud Puddle keep asking for help with their</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Spiderman Book) I will explain a little more about what it is that I learned and took away from this event. It's not as easy to put it into works as you would think.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Emotions are mixed.</span></em><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-73946178436351423692009-11-10T10:27:00.000-08:002009-11-10T10:27:35.012-08:00I am off...<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">...like dirty socks!!!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Silver Bella </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">here I come!</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svms1hrVSyI/AAAAAAAACns/RfGaLOFmGaA/s1600-h/silver+bella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svms1hrVSyI/AAAAAAAACns/RfGaLOFmGaA/s320/silver+bella.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">The excitement that started at the beginning</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">of the summer for this wonderful </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">event has finally come to </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">fruition.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I leave tomorrow for 5 whole days!</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">All alone in this sea of glitter and glue.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmtKp7TKRI/AAAAAAAACn0/pB8CWLTxONo/s1600-h/DSCF5380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmtKp7TKRI/AAAAAAAACn0/pB8CWLTxONo/s320/DSCF5380.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Technically I am not alone but I am doing this</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">trip solo.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"> I am walking into a </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">different world...one that I have longed to be a part of.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmtrYfEwEI/AAAAAAAACn8/NGAfcaHVwCk/s1600-h/DSCF5262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmtrYfEwEI/AAAAAAAACn8/NGAfcaHVwCk/s320/DSCF5262.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Creative souls learning together and </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">sharing pieces of their lives </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">with each other as they create and relax.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvG-RNEjI/AAAAAAAACoc/Nyque9k5_7I/s1600-h/DSCF5837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvG-RNEjI/AAAAAAAACoc/Nyque9k5_7I/s320/DSCF5837.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">With my bags packed, my crafting supplies sent off via postal service and </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">my heart pounding, I bid you farewell for a few days.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvNhPEyMI/AAAAAAAACok/iSjs1m5aAo0/s1600-h/DSCF5845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvNhPEyMI/AAAAAAAACok/iSjs1m5aAo0/s320/DSCF5845.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I leave you with my inspirtation for this years Doherty Christmas.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">PLAID</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">lots and lots of plaid!!!</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvX-G2KSI/AAAAAAAACos/hR3Ki63WaNM/s1600-h/clutch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvX-G2KSI/AAAAAAAACos/hR3Ki63WaNM/s320/clutch.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31488097&ref=sr_list_7&&ga_search_query=plaid&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=2&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Ruffled</a></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmvc2iR2UI/AAAAAAAACo0/y6UEg9zBC3k/s1600-h/alice+bouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmvc2iR2UI/AAAAAAAACo0/y6UEg9zBC3k/s320/alice+bouse.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34182057&ref=sr_list_3&&ga_search_query=plaid&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=4&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Foret LA</a></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvisAoS5I/AAAAAAAACo8/h3LBU1Zo3jk/s1600-h/christmas-plaid-plate-MED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvisAoS5I/AAAAAAAACo8/h3LBU1Zo3jk/s320/christmas-plaid-plate-MED.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="http://funandsassydesigns.com/item_2734/Christmas-Plaid-Monogram-Personalized-Plate.htm">Fun and Sassy Design</a></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmvn059iZI/AAAAAAAACpE/BI20RUctr3k/s1600-h/plaid+belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmvn059iZI/AAAAAAAACpE/BI20RUctr3k/s320/plaid+belt.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34156931&ref=sr_list_17&&ga_search_query=plaid&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=8&order=date_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title">Borrowed and Blue</a></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvwxgSoOI/AAAAAAAACpM/cK24D4sz5DQ/s1600-h/buffalo_plaid_on_ralph_lauren_fall_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmvwxgSoOI/AAAAAAAACpM/cK24D4sz5DQ/s320/buffalo_plaid_on_ralph_lauren_fall_.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Ralph Lauren</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">My Hero</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmv4EXfvmI/AAAAAAAACpU/CfMbEnnUS3g/s1600-h/blackberry+curve+plaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmv4EXfvmI/AAAAAAAACpU/CfMbEnnUS3g/s320/blackberry+curve+plaid.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">My next phone...</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmv_gTM8jI/AAAAAAAACpc/A8eRGjMObNY/s1600-h/jcrew+plaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svmv_gTM8jI/AAAAAAAACpc/A8eRGjMObNY/s320/jcrew+plaid.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">For the love of J Crew</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">and finally...a sweet party dress.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmwIRm3kmI/AAAAAAAACpk/m6Kng5n-ti0/s1600-h/plaid+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvmwIRm3kmI/AAAAAAAACpk/m6Kng5n-ti0/s320/plaid+dress.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">So with that being said...as I sit in the airport and relax in my hotel room</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">I will be visiting all of you my friends in blog land.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">My time away has left me feeling empty and I look forward to </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">getting back in touch.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">All my best to you!</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #76a5af;">Janet</span></em><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-77565690981814447712009-11-08T07:37:00.000-08:002009-11-08T07:37:09.584-08:00Another birthday...<em><span style="color: #45818e;">...for my little girl.</span></em><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Today my Hannah Mary</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">turns 9 years old.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhKXERztI/AAAAAAAACmQ/D29cDZkGYcM/s1600-h/DSCF5971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhKXERztI/AAAAAAAACmQ/D29cDZkGYcM/s320/DSCF5971.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I never thought I would ever see</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">such a wonderful time in my life.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">The joy that our children bring to me and The Accountant</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">is overwhelming and immense.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhYkJL3BI/AAAAAAAACmg/RdUZ96fyQAQ/s1600-h/DSCF5995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhYkJL3BI/AAAAAAAACmg/RdUZ96fyQAQ/s320/DSCF5995.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">There are days when life is handing me a blow and all</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I need to do is look into their eyes</span></em><em><span style="color: #45818e;">.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhRK8RuJI/AAAAAAAACmY/G9ycd8jAoQA/s1600-h/DSCF6040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhRK8RuJI/AAAAAAAACmY/G9ycd8jAoQA/s320/DSCF6040.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">All problems seem to melt away!</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">These past few weeks have been a little trying for me.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhziIdl-I/AAAAAAAACmo/82nBnVNud-M/s1600-h/DSCF5939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbhziIdl-I/AAAAAAAACmo/82nBnVNud-M/s320/DSCF5939.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I suffer from depression and an autoimmune disorder which</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">after much testing, we still can not define.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">So in trying to balance my mental heatlh and my physical health</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I am hitting many bumps along the way.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">It is nothing I can't handle...because I know what I need to do and </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I have the courage to confront it.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svbh_K9ui2I/AAAAAAAACmw/-029rX52K3Y/s1600-h/DSCF6008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svbh_K9ui2I/AAAAAAAACmw/-029rX52K3Y/s320/DSCF6008.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Our kids are nothing short of a miracle, as all children are.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svbi3-y5_xI/AAAAAAAACm4/uNdfcEfSacQ/s1600-h/DSCF6083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Svbi3-y5_xI/AAAAAAAACm4/uNdfcEfSacQ/s320/DSCF6083.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">It's worth the fight to battle forth and fight for the </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">right to </span></em><em><span style="color: #45818e;">enjoy each moment we have </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">together.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">What I thought was going to be a sad and mysterious post about depression has taken a turn.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Looking through these pictures from Friday at the Zoo I no longer</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">feel down or confused.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I know what is important again...I am brought to center by the love</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I have from my children and my husband.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: #45818e;"></span></em><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbjU0syRaI/AAAAAAAACnA/oJo2iTQ3UtQ/s1600-h/DSCF6087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbjU0syRaI/AAAAAAAACnA/oJo2iTQ3UtQ/s320/DSCF6087.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is important in life?<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbjcLrupqI/AAAAAAAACnI/EhkAGYJVeLE/s1600-h/DSCF6102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SvbjcLrupqI/AAAAAAAACnI/EhkAGYJVeLE/s320/DSCF6102.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LOVE!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ENJOY IT TO ITS FULLEST<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-78880630171593761642009-11-02T17:54:00.000-08:002009-11-02T17:55:40.335-08:00It is finally......over.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">I think my friend Gina and I can finally relax and say with confindence</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">"A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL"</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">The party was amazing and all the hard work paid off.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Our friends and family could not </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">believe how it all came together. </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">To our friends...you are amazing...you really brought</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">your A game! The costumes were amazing and as promised</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">I will not post any of your pictures</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">I am going to just comment below each picture briefly as I think my brain</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">is done with Halloween and ready to move on to Christmas.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Some pictures are not that clear but I think you will understand the as you go along.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-FBadQb3I/AAAAAAAAChY/6ZxtzW_0KXs/s1600-h/DSC0431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-FBadQb3I/AAAAAAAAChY/6ZxtzW_0KXs/s320/DSC0431.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><em>Front Entry in the day light.</em></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-FaPkcRBI/AAAAAAAAChg/OJ4MxJSf6r8/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-FaPkcRBI/AAAAAAAAChg/OJ4MxJSf6r8/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Front Entry by the moon light.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-FoP7eh0I/AAAAAAAACho/n8Qf_kRYhbw/s1600-h/DSC0346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-FoP7eh0I/AAAAAAAACho/n8Qf_kRYhbw/s320/DSC0346.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Last minute adjustments with </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Gina and Janet.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">( Gina is Tippy Hedron from the Birds and I am Hell on Wheels)</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Family Room pictures by daylight...</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-F8jFzvSI/AAAAAAAAChw/7I45SRKWY6M/s1600-h/DSC0326-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-F8jFzvSI/AAAAAAAAChw/7I45SRKWY6M/s320/DSC0326-1.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GMZfzdeI/AAAAAAAACh4/VFIurOJkcLo/s1600-h/DSC0328-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GMZfzdeI/AAAAAAAACh4/VFIurOJkcLo/s320/DSC0328-1.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">I made curtains to look old and tattered.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-NKdmHwpI/AAAAAAAACko/ksZMgIxST7w/s1600-h/DSC0327-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-NKdmHwpI/AAAAAAAACko/ksZMgIxST7w/s320/DSC0327-1.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GZyi5vjI/AAAAAAAACiA/TZU_omu5gqs/s1600-h/DSC0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GZyi5vjI/AAAAAAAACiA/TZU_omu5gqs/s320/DSC0331.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Can you see the moth man hidden in the webs on the ceiling?</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GuBvQ3FI/AAAAAAAACiQ/nzdqv3IQwPE/s1600-h/IMG_1443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GuBvQ3FI/AAAAAAAACiQ/nzdqv3IQwPE/s320/IMG_1443.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Dining Room Scene shrouded by curtains.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GqSOadYI/AAAAAAAACiI/Ru7UhR5iabI/s1600-h/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-GqSOadYI/AAAAAAAACiI/Ru7UhR5iabI/s320/IMG_1442.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Front Entry by night.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Amber lights were used throughout the house.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-HMc4JPRI/AAAAAAAACiY/SQ4RBQjkSx0/s1600-h/IMG_1449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-HMc4JPRI/AAAAAAAACiY/SQ4RBQjkSx0/s320/IMG_1449.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-HbZjhiJI/AAAAAAAACig/jJreGxfwwHY/s1600-h/IMG_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-HbZjhiJI/AAAAAAAACig/jJreGxfwwHY/s320/IMG_1452.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">I just loved the glow of the fire...</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Christmas Lights with colored tissue.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">.</span></em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-HvSNt7tI/AAAAAAAACio/kxbbIBqmS30/s1600-h/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-HvSNt7tI/AAAAAAAACio/kxbbIBqmS30/s320/IMG_1454.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Kitchen all ready for guests.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-H7jmJnmI/AAAAAAAACiw/N6_n7-1j2Pc/s1600-h/IMG_1455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-H7jmJnmI/AAAAAAAACiw/N6_n7-1j2Pc/s320/IMG_1455.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Now onto my favorite part of the party...the garage transformation!</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-ICH5XvFI/AAAAAAAACi4/F_NhJpgsqL8/s1600-h/IMG_1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-ICH5XvFI/AAAAAAAACi4/F_NhJpgsqL8/s320/IMG_1463.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Yes, this is the garage...</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-IRFb_yzI/AAAAAAAACjA/OFtQ5LpZnKo/s1600-h/DSC0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-IRFb_yzI/AAAAAAAACjA/OFtQ5LpZnKo/s320/DSC0334.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-IWTt7_zI/AAAAAAAACjI/pT6wyTB16fk/s1600-h/DSC0335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-IWTt7_zI/AAAAAAAACjI/pT6wyTB16fk/s320/DSC0335.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">We painted tarps or drop cloths to look like graveyard scenes.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">The stumps came from my friend Mary's house...she is a true </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">pioneer, she used a chain saw to cut them all for us.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">They acted as tables and chairs...notice the nice table cloths and </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">custom cushions for each stump...</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-I-o4meuI/AAAAAAAACjQ/od9sG5UqO3g/s1600-h/DSC0339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-I-o4meuI/AAAAAAAACjQ/od9sG5UqO3g/s320/DSC0339.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">All the tree brances we used came from her yard as well.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">I don't know what we would have done</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">without the free material...the other choice was hay bales.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-JeNsAyMI/AAAAAAAACjY/rr4Bf8rpT5Y/s1600-h/IMG_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-JeNsAyMI/AAAAAAAACjY/rr4Bf8rpT5Y/s320/IMG_1476.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-JkJJ_ClI/AAAAAAAACjg/Xn8dDNJMUYs/s1600-h/DSC0337-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-JkJJ_ClI/AAAAAAAACjg/Xn8dDNJMUYs/s320/DSC0337-1.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-Jup2l5kI/AAAAAAAACjo/HXYRu5TMcFE/s1600-h/DSC0390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-Jup2l5kI/AAAAAAAACjo/HXYRu5TMcFE/s320/DSC0390.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-J11KzMxI/AAAAAAAACjw/dTxCFSjYvRg/s1600-h/IMG_1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-J11KzMxI/AAAAAAAACjw/dTxCFSjYvRg/s400/IMG_1464.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">The transformation and development of this table in the garage is my favorite.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">We used the square kitchen table and put a round glass coffee table on </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">top of the square.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">It worked perfectly because the torso (which was purchase on Etsy and is a true work of art) was our signature piece. It fit the occasion and acted as inspiration for the garage.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">This last picture is blurry but you get the effect of up lighting under the table</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">to cause everything to glow. It made me so happy to see it all come together.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-Kz1zIXDI/AAAAAAAACj4/7KnflJrOWC8/s1600-h/DSC0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-Kz1zIXDI/AAAAAAAACj4/7KnflJrOWC8/s320/DSC0356.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">The Accountant and I had a great time... I was </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">able to roller skate around the house and </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">serve food and beverages to all.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Can you guess what The Accountant was?</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-LV3AEoSI/AAAAAAAACkI/q6Bo7gQ0WQI/s1600-h/DSC0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-LV3AEoSI/AAAAAAAACkI/q6Bo7gQ0WQI/s320/DSC0358.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Bucket full of money!</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Still thinking....</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-MN1hwbgI/AAAAAAAACkY/ztQG0JLkcMk/s1600-h/DSCF5887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-MN1hwbgI/AAAAAAAACkY/ztQG0JLkcMk/s320/DSCF5887.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Hannah was Vlad the Cookie Bunny from</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Horton Hears a Who.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-MF0KKwgI/AAAAAAAACkQ/NWkH9dwNtFQ/s1600-h/DSCF5891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-MF0KKwgI/AAAAAAAACkQ/NWkH9dwNtFQ/s320/DSCF5891.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Maggie was a french maid...for two reasons.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">She cleans up the floor for us but she also loves</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">to visit all the neighborhood dogs as well.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">She is a tease.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;">Still trying to figure out the Accountant???</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-Mbdf6UoI/AAAAAAAACkg/0zyxIZO-2ss/s1600-h/DSC0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/Su-Mbdf6UoI/AAAAAAAACkg/0zyxIZO-2ss/s320/DSC0357.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">TARP </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">BAILOUT</span><br />
</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-34763455154402036952009-10-24T08:59:00.000-07:002009-10-24T09:08:27.375-07:00Witchie Poo...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><em>...I love you!</em></span> <br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMd1dyF77I/AAAAAAAACdY/UcBOO4joAcw/s1600-h/spooky+graveyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMd1dyF77I/AAAAAAAACdY/UcBOO4joAcw/s320/spooky+graveyard.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Just a short one today, as I must get to my</span></em><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">last swap and finish organizing my craft room.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMmMDXC5vI/AAAAAAAACfY/27IbOnVBWg0/s1600-h/witchie+poo+flying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMmMDXC5vI/AAAAAAAACfY/27IbOnVBWg0/s320/witchie+poo+flying.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cindy Ellison<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Plus, I think we finally, have the </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Halloween House all decorated </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">and ready for next weekend's party.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">I will post after the party as I don't want to </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">ruin the surprise for the guests.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMeSeoh9SI/AAAAAAAACdo/oYpHJvGHcsg/s1600-h/witchie+poo+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMeSeoh9SI/AAAAAAAACdo/oYpHJvGHcsg/s320/witchie+poo+shoes.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Mantagni</em><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">My style has been going through an evolution as I told you in the past but,</span></em><em> </em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">there are certain things that I collect on a continual basis.</span></em><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMeo4WKEgI/AAAAAAAACd4/khBLoGiPAIU/s1600-h/DSCF5622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMeo4WKEgI/AAAAAAAACd4/khBLoGiPAIU/s320/DSCF5622.JPG" vr="true" /></a><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em><span style="color: #b45f06;">One of them is Witchie Poos.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMeMDuow9I/AAAAAAAACdg/MTXkAeWCJUc/s320/DSCF5636.JPG" vr="true" /><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">I love their faces, full of mystery and haggard good looks.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMex0irOFI/AAAAAAAACeA/fZSb_5yV1CA/s1600-h/witchie+poo+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMex0irOFI/AAAAAAAACeA/fZSb_5yV1CA/s320/witchie+poo+cat.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Surrender Dorothy</em><br />
<em></em><em><br />
</em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Kind of like me when I get up too early.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMfLzpFsXI/AAAAAAAACeQ/Psd0kXPqxCs/s1600-h/witchie+poo+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMfLzpFsXI/AAAAAAAACeQ/Psd0kXPqxCs/s320/witchie+poo+large.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Enchanted Gypsy<br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">I am not into today's wicken movement or anything magical.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">I just like the iconic image and enjoy the folk lure behind them.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMgTkPPpHI/AAAAAAAACeY/LJSFLHmWavQ/s1600-h/DSCF5626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMgTkPPpHI/AAAAAAAACeY/LJSFLHmWavQ/s320/DSCF5626.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">My Grandma Corky (Corcoran) was often referred to as a </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">good witch, because she had this</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">amazing talent of knowing something was amiss</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">before anyone would even tell her...</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMlxdKud5I/AAAAAAAACfQ/V44hCdjkx50/s1600-h/80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMlxdKud5I/AAAAAAAACfQ/V44hCdjkx50/s320/80.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: xx-small;">(not posting a picture of Grandma this time, I have to scan in some of the images since</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: xx-small;">she has been in heaven for some time now.)</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Plus, she had this hysterical laugh...it was kind of a cackle but filled</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">with so much joy and happiness, you couldn't help</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">but laugh along and feel good in the moment.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMhkzpKq0I/AAAAAAAACe4/xuzSJFy1_rQ/s1600-h/scan0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMhkzpKq0I/AAAAAAAACe4/xuzSJFy1_rQ/s320/scan0010.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">This witch did not make me smile...she gave me more </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">nightmares than anything.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Yet, I have her in my collection to prove that </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">I have grown up ... but in the all truth, she still freaks me out.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">Enjoy the bewitching spirit of Halloween and just have fun</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">with it. It's evolved into a holiday of fun and frivality</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">for kids and adults who want to relive their </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">childhood love of candy.</span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMkEbSHzoI/AAAAAAAACfI/lCZpx3_A6EY/s1600-h/34-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/SuMkEbSHzoI/AAAAAAAACfI/lCZpx3_A6EY/s320/34-1.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-42091155360283630182009-10-21T16:53:00.000-07:002009-10-21T16:53:01.047-07:00The Peak of...<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">...perfection!</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Well, this week in Sugar Grove, Illinois the colors</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">of fall have reached pure perfection!</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-aXQPgkBI/AAAAAAAACbs/XIyDgGzCkBg/s1600-h/DSCF5820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-aXQPgkBI/AAAAAAAACbs/XIyDgGzCkBg/s320/DSCF5820.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">The trees and bushes are at their brightest and most vibrant moments.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-agrfTPCI/AAAAAAAACb0/L8bS-VcR6BE/s1600-h/DSCF5813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-agrfTPCI/AAAAAAAACb0/L8bS-VcR6BE/s320/DSCF5813.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">We have a newer home, our little trees have </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">big tree envy. This one is at the entrance to our</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">neighborhood...</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-aRl56ZTI/AAAAAAAACbk/Bc0PcbnC51E/s1600-h/DSCF5823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-aRl56ZTI/AAAAAAAACbk/Bc0PcbnC51E/s320/DSCF5823.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">...as small as they may be, they have lived up to our </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">expectations and provided us with some</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">outstanding hues of red, crimson and gold.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-atmZ_qyI/AAAAAAAACb8/dKhZEm2KBzk/s1600-h/DSCF5818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-atmZ_qyI/AAAAAAAACb8/dKhZEm2KBzk/s320/DSCF5818.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">As I drive to school each morning, I can't help but </span></em><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">be thankful for all that God has created.</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-bG_IXgSI/AAAAAAAACcE/sjhppFsqaKo/s1600-h/DSCF5825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-bG_IXgSI/AAAAAAAACcE/sjhppFsqaKo/s320/DSCF5825.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">I am going to enjoy this brief art show that God has </span></em><em><span style="color: #45818e;">provided us with...</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;"></span></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-bd7Ky9LI/AAAAAAAACcM/0pQQb_6iPZU/s1600-h/DSCF5816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-bd7Ky9LI/AAAAAAAACcM/0pQQb_6iPZU/s320/DSCF5816.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Because I know...</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-b2rppy6I/AAAAAAAACcU/KMNZuHVLBa4/s1600-h/DSCF5813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-b2rppy6I/AAAAAAAACcU/KMNZuHVLBa4/s320/DSCF5813.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">... we will soon have a big,</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">driving, rain storm that will </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">take all the leaves</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">to the ground and end this spectacular display of nature.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">It seems to happen every year.</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">By the way....</span></em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-cORjFuZI/AAAAAAAACcc/ZoT8Ct1vzhE/s1600-h/DSCF5831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/St-cORjFuZI/AAAAAAAACcc/ZoT8Ct1vzhE/s320/DSCF5831.JPG" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">How many of you have these Japenese Beetles invading your home?</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Did you know when you feel them pinch or bite you, they are actually peeing on you..</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Thus, the terrible, horrible smell right afterwards, the one that you just can't get rid of.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #45818e;">Grossed out aren't you??</span></em><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8197122871949800320.post-41435239758977396432009-10-16T08:57:00.000-07:002009-10-16T08:57:56.877-07:00It's the weekend....<span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">...what are you going to do?</span><br />
<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiVtMIGRiI/AAAAAAAACZc/EETBwTkQZEk/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiVtMIGRiI/AAAAAAAACZc/EETBwTkQZEk/s320/weekend+cottage+boat.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><em>I don't know about you but, I really look forward to the weekend.</em></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">It's a time when you can relax a little or get some long needed</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">projects done...with some assistance. (Hint, hint Accountant)</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">It's a time the family spends together without the contraints of </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">timelables or deadlines.</span></em><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiV2BLjRzI/AAAAAAAACZk/ToWyk072SNg/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiV2BLjRzI/AAAAAAAACZk/ToWyk072SNg/s320/weekend+cottage+table.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">It's a time to breathe in and just take things as they come.</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">In the past week, I have read a number of blogs where we seem to be </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">focusing on dreams and finding what it is </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">that makes us really happy.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiV_EHaF5I/AAAAAAAACZs/7rDsGW6YYOk/s1600-h/weekend+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiV_EHaF5I/AAAAAAAACZs/7rDsGW6YYOk/s320/weekend+lake.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">What makes me really happy ... WATER</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I need to live on WATER.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I want my family to have the tranquility and serentiy that only </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">water can provide their souls.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWHH_GeAI/AAAAAAAACZ0/mBQ4VV0u5TM/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWHH_GeAI/AAAAAAAACZ0/mBQ4VV0u5TM/s320/weekend+cottage+9.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">For years I have dreamed about owning a cottage home on a lake</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">somewhere, anywhere, just take me there!</span></em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWPfpU-2I/AAAAAAAACZ8/eQ8zoHNSdjE/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWPfpU-2I/AAAAAAAACZ8/eQ8zoHNSdjE/s320/weekend+cottage+2.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I have dreamed of what the exterior would look like, how many beds we can fit in </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">so that friends and family can visit us frequently.</span></em><br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWWzRp6sI/AAAAAAAACaE/cUEEi4aIUhA/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWWzRp6sI/AAAAAAAACaE/cUEEi4aIUhA/s320/weekend+cottage+3.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I dreamed the kitchen would be big enough to accomidate a large crowd with </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">sandy feet and dripping wet swimsuits. </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWh6EG9AI/AAAAAAAACaM/ub_74TG7D5I/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWh6EG9AI/AAAAAAAACaM/ub_74TG7D5I/s320/weekend+cottage+4.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">It would have a large fireplace so that in the winter months we could </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">warm up by a roaring fire after ice skating and sledding on the lake. </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWx3qNSwI/AAAAAAAACaU/15g8ETQQ9pI/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiWx3qNSwI/AAAAAAAACaU/15g8ETQQ9pI/s320/weekend+cottage+6.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Big comfy couches and chairs would be covered in washable </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">slip covers and soft rugs would be underfoot when it came time to relax after</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">an exhausting day fishing, skiing, swimming, and just plain </span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">breathing in all the fresh air that mother nature would allow us.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiW7uAXwlI/AAAAAAAACac/kiYiPVg2GWo/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiW7uAXwlI/AAAAAAAACac/kiYiPVg2GWo/s320/weekend+cottage+8.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Life would be a little slower paced and relaxation would be the rule.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Yes, there would be projects and upkeep but, hey... your on a lake with a beautiful view,</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">you are blessed to have this kind of peace in your life...how bad could it be.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">One day I know my dream will come true.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">"The Accountant" has come around to understand</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">the magic that is WATER.</span></em><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiXHD8TkdI/AAAAAAAACak/nHb73aMuECA/s1600-h/weekend+cottage+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiXHD8TkdI/AAAAAAAACak/nHb73aMuECA/s320/weekend+cottage+5.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I only wish it would happen sooner than later.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">I am kind of impatient when it comes this things like this,</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">but I also know that the right time</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">will present itself...this is an event not to be rushed.</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">God if you can hear me...I am really trying :)</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiXR6lOAqI/AAAAAAAACas/LgN_l7G85IY/s1600-h/weekend+cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CG4Y7yfLTFs/StiXR6lOAqI/AAAAAAAACas/LgN_l7G85IY/s320/weekend+cottage.jpg" vr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">Enjoy every moment of your weekend and if you are fortunate enough to live on a lake...</span></em><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #134f5c;">as you look out over the water and have one for me!</span></em><br />
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</div>It' an Evolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03570829574462103538noreply@blogger.com5