Dracula Hunting

While in Romania mid September, Greg updated his status by saying: "Today, I've ridden a train through the Carpathians, climbed 1408 stairs and stood in Dracula's castle, and sat by a lake on a mountain top". Michelle commented: "You shorted yourself 72 stairs 1480".

This is a layout featuring the spectacular view from the fortress and photos later in the trip when they toured the island where Dracula was to have been buried.

Journaling: "Transylvanian born Vlad 111 Dracula is revered as a folk hero by Romanians for driving off invading Turks. In this fortress high atop a mountain "Vlad the Impaler" is said the have killed many civilians. Killed in 1474 fighting the Turks, Dracula's head was cut off. He was buried at the isolated Snagov Monastery. Though the corpse disappeared, Greg & Michelle cross Lake Snagov "vampire hunting". 2010

Digital Elements (Cottage Arts "Scrap Edges 8") (Kate Teague "Damaskalicious 2) (Lauren Reid Worn Rub Alpha "D")

The Force Runs Strong in Our Family

"One of my favorite Halloweens was in 1997 when Chris was 4 years old. We had a Star Wars promotion at work and I dressed as Princess Leia and Chris as Darth Vader. He entertained our guests and we both were exhausted at the end of a very fun day."

The title is an actual quote from one of the Star Wars movies.

Digital Elements (Shinelle "Pretty Label") (Michelle Coleman "Urban Color" Grungy Photo Overlay)

Time and Time Again

"The Blennerhassett family built an estate on this Ohio River Island in 1798. They fled the island when accused with Aaron Burr of plotting treason in 1806. Our family enjoyed visiting this now West Virginia State Park when the boys were 12 and 6. Eleven years later, many things were still the same, the adventure of the sternwheel ride to the island, the beautiful tree groves, and the smiles on our faces the entire time. 1999 & 2010"

While looking at the old photos, Bob and I recalled many fond memories most of which centered around the kids. Many of our pictures of the island looked the same. I liked Bob's photographer comparison:
"Photo Vest, Photo Vest
Nikon, Nikon
Film, Digital"

Digital Elements: Journaling Block (Jessica Sprague "Echos of Asia") Frame (Jessica Sprague "Companion Kit")

Botanic Gardens Morgantown

We live in the beautiful hills of West Virginia, so we didn't have to go far to find gorgeous fall scenery. Morgantown's Botanic Garden was once the Tibbs Run reservoir. It is filled with plants in their natural habitat.

2010

Photographer's Tip: When I commented I was disappointed there weren't any puffy white clouds in the horizon of the reservoir shot, Bob suggested I get the leaves in the top of the frame to provide that contrast. It worked!

Digital Elements (Jen Allyson "Festive Borders" Two Peas in a Bucket) (Little Dreamer Designs "Thankful Heart" Book Plate) Font (Floral 2)

10 People 10 Places 10 Eras

On this notable calendar day, I invited Dad's cousins to go with me to breakfast at his house, then to the cemetery and old neighborhoods. The places, people and eras we talked about numbered 10, 10, 10 and more.

October 10, 2010

Digital Elements (Paislee Press "Vintage Tags") (Sande Krieger French Laundry "Fall Photo Edge")

Consecrated Ground

When I was a young grade school student I recited the Gettysburg address from memory at a parent assembly. I doubt that I fully understood the meaning of the words. Visiting the Gettysburg battlefields many years later, it's not hard to understand the holiness of the ground here and the true meaning of equality and country.

I purchased the Gettysburg Die Cuts at a very nice LSS in Gettysburg called "Forevermore Scrapbooks". They have many rooms full of patterned paper. They also sell the Civil War papers and die cuts on line.

September 2010

CK

I like it when people call me by my first name, Cindy, Cin, or even CK. Chris calls me Cindy at times, or Mother. Greg's always referred to me as Mom. I fondly remember my Uncle Harold calling me Grinner. Bob sometimes calls me Babydoll. Though I've never thought of myself as a princess, Bob says I am his queen. "He is my knight and would lay down his life for me". 2010

Digital Elements (Stacy Marks "August" Two Peas in a Bucket)

In the Middle

There was five years difference between older sister Terry & I, then five years between younger brother Jimmy & I. Eight years later, when our sister Amy was born, Jimmy became a middle child too.

I remember the excitement of the new baby (a boy!) though I don't remember my Mom pregnant. Isn't she beautiful in this 1958 photo? Mom was 33 years old then, posing with Jimmy in our back yard. Photo by Dad.

This layout is modeled after a layout by Lucyloveslee on Scrapbook.com.

Digital Element (Basic Grey "Notes")

Wind in Your Hair

Last year when we traveled the Lincoln Highway from Chambersburg to Bedford we did not notice the mural painted on the side of the fruit market at St. Thomas, Pa. This year we took pictures. All the nice fall pictures we took along the way will have to wait as I had too much fun with this one photo. I cloned our heads (pictures taken of us the day before on a very windy day in Gettysburg) into the car on the mural and proceeded from there...........we laughed and laughed. The slogan painted on the side of the barn is my title:

"Wind in your hair, feeling alive, the great institution......the Sunday Drive!"

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Punches were a gift from my friend Julie Bonner.