Shine for Me

Bob and I had a great getaway Friday when we traveled to Wheeling, WV to see the Festival of Lights at Oglebay Park. It was a beautiful day and we arrived at the park before dark and walked around taking pictures of the mansion, the Christmas shop, the deer and each other. The sunset was gorgeous. Then we got in our car and traveled through the 300 acres to see the 70 larger-than-life displays. Journaling to my layout: "The best lights at the Wheeling Festival of Lights were the natural ones. 'You carry your own light, shedding light on my heart.' November 2011"

Here is the layout I made in 2006:

Journaling from "Best of America": "Chris had several days off from school in November and we'd planned on doing something with him on the first long weekend. The weather was warm and it seemed like a fine time to go to Wheeling and see the light displays at Oglebay Park. It is America's largest light show, a holiday tradition that began in 1985."

Here's To You Clancy's

It was the 8th time the family gathered at the nephews' pub-Clancy's Irish Pub- in Keyser. What a fun tradition this is.
I heard Toby Keith sing this song on Thanksgiving Day's CBS morning show. "Clancy's Tavern"--could that have been any more timely?

"And the old nine to fivers and the regular Joe's of the world
Are singing here's to you Clancy and your neighborhood tavern."
Thanksgiving 2011

Holiday Giveaway Winner & Small Business Saturday

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Thank you for your comments. The winner of my giveaway, chosen via True Random Generator, is Shawn, whose blog, Poetry in a Tea Cup is lovely. Here's what Shawn said: "Your pages make me smile..family together and a FUN tradition. there are only the 3 of us each yr at Thanksgiving so it is quiet but we look forward to the days off from the normal routine and listening to Christmas music while we prepare dinner. I plan to make a LO about our Santa ornaments. Enjoy your blessings".

I love Scrapbook.com where I have met many lovely and talented people. If I'm looking for a supply, I know I can find it there. I also love Local Scrapbook Stores and look for these everyplace Bob and I venture. I was so pleased to find this store in Wheeling, West Virginia and learn that there was a sister store in Washington, Pa.
Mom's Memories had a nice selection of papers and loads of embellishments and distressing supplies. Both Marisa in Wheeling and owner Jessica in Washington were so enthusiastic. Marisa showed me all sorts of altered projects. Jessica's young daughter Liz was busy making cards and accommodating too. Here are some pictures as I was partaking of their Small Business Saturday specials:

Holiday Giveaway

Happy Thanksgiving! I would like to give 1-$20 Scrapbook.com Gift Certificate to one random follower. Please leave a comment on this post by midnight Saturday EST. In the comment, tell me what holiday layout you are planning.

Tomorrow we will be traveling to Keyser WV where my family gathers at the nephews restaurant, "Clancy's Irish Pub" for our meal. The restaurant is closed to the public and we bring covered dishes. The game room, booths, wide screen TV and wings make the meal so much fun for all. Here are my layouts for 3 of the past years:

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Boys of Fall

I am so glad Chris has a break from school and shared these photos, taken on a Mountaineer football Saturday. "Best friends and apartment mates, Chris and Bryan enjoy studying together or just kicking back and relaxing in each others company. They definitely have each others' back."

To make the background I pasted digital brushes (Jen Allyson's "Organic Borders") onto cardstock. After adding my paper elements, I brushed the paper with sparkling pigment ink.

Frito Bandito

Two months into a strenuous college schedule, Chris and Bryan prepare to hit the streets by trick or treating. The people in the South Park homes loved the twosome, especially their former Spanish teacher.

Halloween was one of the busiest club nights in Morgantown and since the "18" lines were last to allow entry, Chris and friends decided to gather at the boys' apartment instead. Chris and Bryan pose with Batgirls Steph & Katie.

I made the trees with digital images from Little Dreamer Designs.

2011

These Autumn Leaves are Yours

This layout is in memory of Maxine Gay, Bob's Mother, on the anniversary of her death November 12, 2005. Maxine was 86 years old when she passed away. She was so proud of her grandsons. The song is a ballad by Scottish singer Paulo Nutini.


"Autumn leaves under frozen soles
Hungry hands turning soft and old
My hero crying
As we stood out there in the cold
Like these autumn leaves
I don't have nothing to hold.

Autumn leaves, they are are fading now
That smile I've lost
Well I've found somehow
Because you still live on
In your grandsons' eyes
These autumn leaves
Are yours tonight."

Come Ye Thankful

Seeing Greg in this 1992 Thanksgiving Feast reminds me of the times as a youngster I dressed in Pilgrim outfits, made by my Mom, and marched to a church on Maryland Avenue to sing patriotic songs. Greg was in Kindergarten at Presbyterian School.

Jay

On a beautiful November Sunday, I removed the kitchen window screen and photographed the blue jays feeding.

The background was made by pasting a digital vintage overlay onto a piece of gray cardstock. Vintage overly from Echo Park.

Here's a layout I made in 2007 about this beautiful bird species:

Journaling: "Brilliant crested bird--you keep me from feeling blue in winter!"

Story About My Dad in the Tribune

This photo of my Mom and Dad (looking at a scrapbook I made them) was in yesterday's Keyser (West Virginia) News Tribune. The story about Dad's World War II recollections can be found here.

Veteran 11-11-11

At 89, my Dad is a person of long service in many positions. He's a Dad, a husband, a manager, a gardener and a dishwasher.

For these and for his service as a US Marine in World War II,
I made this tribute to him for Veterans Day.

(11-11-11).

Falling for You

I spotted a stamp yesterday with this quote and it I knew what I could do with it. The pictures are from 1973 when Bob and I first met. The "Add" slip is my copy of the authorization for me to take the photo class at WVU where we met.

Journaling: "After the worst summer of my life spent in 2 sessions of Chemistry, I had to change my fall courses. I added an elective-J 120- where I met Bob, a teaching assistant. Think it was met to be. . . 1973

Another layout from the time can be found here.

Sweet Ending to "Minne(scr)apolis"

It was a 2 day journey home and I had plenty of time to plan my layouts with the many photos we took on our trip to visit Greg and Michelle. Bob nicknamed my project "Minne(scr)apolis". Culver's Restaurant was a fun place to eat going and coming from our trip to Minneapolis. Here we share a "custard" sundae. September 2011

Field Road

We intended to visit Rich's Farm on this last pretty Saturday of October but we were too old for both the Pumpkin Farm ("Kid's Day") and the Fright Farm (for the "Bigger Kids"). So we drove a few miles past and stopped at Yum Yum's Bakery to share a Greek Salad and Marble Bagel. We'd both spotted this road with sunlit cornfields nearby and stopped for pictures on the way home.

Journaling: "Just 25 miles from home on Burgess Field Road near Uniontown, Pa. the Amber Waves of Grain and Purple Mountains confirm we live in a beautiful part of America."

October 2011