Even If

We had a lot of fun with this Tulip arrangement that Bob gave me for Valentine's Day. All of the blossoms fell off overnight. Not to fret, I'll plant the bulbs and reuse the beautiful red pail they came in. I did ask him to take my picture with them on the first day of our February vacation, when I was rested and looking forward to a week off with him.

Journaling is lyrics from a Martina McBride song called "Valentine":

"Even if the sun refuse to shine,
even if romance ran out of rhyme
you'd still have my heart until the end of time."

Digital Element: "Heart of Leaves" by Hero Arts

Details of "Even If"

I can't claim much creativity for this layout. The paper was a specialty paper from Prima that was already stitched. I actually didn't have as much fun with this one as I do with most! It is beautiful and I "purchased" it with a filled frequent buyer card from Scrapbooker's Dream in McMurray Pa. We do not have a LSS here in Morgantown, so I visit there whenever we make a trip to the airport. On that day, the store was also having a "yard sale" where customers were selling items they no longer needed. The chipboard alphas and tulip on this layout were some of the neat finds I made and painted them to match my layout.

Comfort

It's Friday and here we are again with another major snow storm! The roads were bad on the way home from work and Chris is "stuck" at a friends house for the night. Bob did the grocery shopping today and he and I and the cat are snug inside. I even managed to get bird seed and suet on the way home. We had deer in the back yard and 2 wrens living in the house on the front deck that I watched after starting that first pot of coffee and changing into my flannels.

Anyway.......spring is coming soon and only 3 more weeks till Greg is back in the USA!

While I haven't scrapped my snow pictures yet, here's a layout I did a few years ago expressing my optimism toward the arrival of spring.

"Sunday afternoon, spring's coming soon.
White flannel sheets, pillow-top retreat.
Soft silky cat, comfort beget."

Chinese New Year

Greg spent the Chinese New Year in Beijing. Though he didn't get to spend it with family, he dined with the family of his Chinese supervisor & enjoyed two weeks with less people in the heavily populated city. February 2010

I loved the intricate designs in buildings he photographed, and cut and pasted these at the top, bottom and corners of the layout.

Digital Frame (Beautifully Grungy Frame by Chelsea Parsons)

Duluth

Greg's 23rd Birthday is Tuesday and he will be spending it in China. Bob told him the Chinese New Year celebration was actually for his birthday!

This page is from November during his Thanksgiving break with Michelle. Duluth is one of their favorite get-away spots.

I miss them both and can't wait to have Greg back in the country!

Quote: "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things". 2009

Digital filters (colored pencil) (solarize)

A Beautiful Love Story

This was a beautiful love story. They were of Dutch/German descent. Christopher Fier came to America first from Holland to work building railroads, then sent money for Anna Hoffman to come. It took a long time for her to get to New York by ship and when she got here she could not locate him. She got a job as a Nanny and that family helped her to get to California where she searched the railroad being built and found him. They got married and came to the Midland Md. area to live.

Christopher Fier & Anna Marie Hoffman were born c. 1828. They were my Grandmother Marie's Grandparents. Christopher had red hair & blue eyes.

Digital Frame (Jen Allyson)
Digital Brush (7 Gypsies "Angelo")

Valentines

My sister Amy sent me a Valentine a few years ago with this poem:

"I sent a hundred Valentines, a hundred, did I say?
I sent a thousand Valentines one cold and wintry day.
I didn't put my name on them or any other words.
Because my Valentines were seeds for February birds."

Perfect journaling for this layout from a year or so ago.

Digital paper & elements (Rhonna Farrer and Michelle Coleman)

My 1st blog award!

I got an award today! That was unexpected, but I love it, thanks amandablavacek.blogspot.com

The rules for the award are as follows: I must pass this on to 6 of my followers. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
--Pass the award onto 6 bloggers.
--Link the nominees within your post.
--Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
--Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So here is my list of blogers that I am passing this on to:

1) workforscraps.blogspot.com
2) shelzstudio.blogspot.com
3) cactusmango.blogspot.com
4) irisheyezdesigns..blogspot.com
5) twinkletwinklestarr.blogspot.com
6) scrappinkaz.blogspot.com

--Cindy

Anything Like Me

Yesterday was Chris' 17th Birthday. The weather has been horrible and his plans with friends were put on hold. Since Bob was working the Villonova Game, I called Chris after work and asked him to meet me at the bottom of our hill so we could go somewhere close to eat. We ate at the downtown "Black Bear" Restaurant and had a very nice time. We hadn't even closed the garage door after returning home when we started to bicker.

The layout I created for him describes this period in our lives perfectly. It's called "Anything Like Me" using the words from a Brad Paisley song:

"You're gonna love me and hate me along the way
Years are gonna fly by
I already dread the day
He's gonna hug his momma
He's gonna shake Dad's hand
He's gonna act like he can't wait to leave
But as he drives out he'll cry his eyes out
If he's anything like me
Aw he'll be alright if he's anything like me."

Digital Card (Jen Allyson "Study Hall")
Digital Frame (Carina Gardner)

Invincible Summer

This is my favorite winter layout of 2009. I asked Chris to take this picture of me at the start of one of our walks. I never was a winter person, but realizing that life goes so fast, I've learned to enjoy any season.

"In the depths of winter, I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer."

Digital Frame (Michelle Coleman "Frosted Paper")

Never Alone

Greg's first days of his 2-month stay in China were confusing & lonely. The Chinese Academy of Sciences boasts #1 talent, but the jet lag & culture shock left him lonely. I was happy to see him smile during his visit to Beijing Olympic Park with friendly lab students. January 2010

"When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you
Stay with you
Baby you're never alone"
from the song by Jim Brickman

Chinese symbol for "Greg" downloaded from Google.