Zipping thru the Zoo

Greg & Michelle enjoyed going to the zoo two weekends this January. Greg took these photos at the Como Zoo and the Minnesota Zoo.

2011

Digital frames (Basic Grey)

Cocoon

In case you were wondering why I wasn't online Friday night. . .

"After a long, cold work week, shopping, dinner & dishes (for me that is, not the cat) I nap on the couch with my pillow by Bob's seat."

January 2011

I'm a Dreamer

One of the reasons I enjoy scrapbooking is it keeps me from worrying. While I'm creating, I remember the time and place in the photograph and I add papers and embellishments to make it even prettier. This picture was taken on my last afternoon in Boston. The weather was miserable, damp and windy, but I made good use of my time walking around the harbor one more time.

2010

I usually start my pages by planning them around really good photographs. This was not one of them. I added filter after filter in Photoshop until I liked the effect, then printed the picture on watercolor paper. I thought it added to the "dreamy" effect.

This was made as part of my design team work at Scrap Yourself.

First Footing

There is an old Scottish tradition called "first footing" that said if the person who first entered your home on New Year's Day was a tall, dark-haired man then you would have good luck for the year. If there was only one dark haired man, he would cover the whole neighborhood. My Mom's Dad, Vista Mullan, was one of these men. When I was little, I recall my Grandmother insisting we girls next door stay put until a man entered.

Photo c. 1915

Digital Elements (Two Peas in a Bucket: Rhonna Farrer "New Years") (Basic Grey Textures "Dasher")

Birds of a Feather

From the kitchen window, Bob caught the male cardinal while I was at work. I shot the female cardinal while Bob was at work. Together we made a great match!

January 2011

Digital Frame (Jessica Sprague Companion Kit)

Welcome Fest

We welcomed Michelle and the New Year with an "Hors d'oeuvres" dinner. Greg made a homemade pizza and Michelle joined us in the kitchen to prepare the other dishes. After dinner we watched "A Team".

January 1, 2011


The menu included:
Fresh Mozzarella, Basil & Tomatoes
Greg's Pizza
Fresh Vegetables
Salmon with Pineapple Mandarin Salsa
Mushrooms Stuffed with Crab Meat
Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

Cutlery Clip Art (Apbiehle)

Special Value

I found these doilies in the Dollar Bins at Michaels. Perfect colors for the upcoming spring holidays and they have white ones too. Packed 3 each of the same color.

Nikon Up

For Christmas, Greg asked if we would help him buy a digital SLR camera. He enjoys nature photography and taking scenic pictures on his trips so we knew this would be a good investment. Greg studied and experimented with all the functions of the camera while on break. He went over into the woods by our house to photograph the snowy landscape, shot night lights and scenic spots along the highway. Bob's happy Greg is carrying on the legacy.

The title words were Bob's when he saw Greg and I both strap on our cameras when traveling to Maryland.

Digital kit (Little Dreamer Design: Michelle Coleman "A Happy New Year")

No Place Like Home

Home is where the heart is and my heart is with my family. When Greg came home at Christmas, we were so happy having both boys under our roof again. It was so nice for me to visit my parent's home with Greg where my circle of love began. Mom and Greg are pictured at Clancy's, 2011.

Digital Frame (Basic Grey Urban Couture) Digital Tag (Paislee Press Vintage)

Scrap Yourself: "Favorites"

Here is a perfect example of why we need to make an effort to scrap ourselves.

At the end of 2009, I gave each family member a survey asking their "favorites" of the year. All my boys replied. I didn't complete my answers and failed to scrap the layout. This year, I set my mind on completing the layout with 2009 and 2010 favorites of my men. Don't you know, I couldn't remember my list from 2009. . . Michelle and I listed our favorites from this past year.

A sampling of the answers for "Favorite Activity" of 2010:
Greg--Nature Photography
Chris--Partying
Michelle--Hiking, camping
Bob--Getaway overnight trips
Cindy--Taking pictures with Bob

Digital Note Cards (Little Dreamer Designs, Miriam Lima)

Another Year Loving You

A quiet New Year's Eve with Bob couldn't have been better. We went to Eat 'n Park for pie and coffee, then rode through Morgantown to look at lights. The weather was warm and it was fun seeing the young people downtown in their party clothes. December 31, 2010.

The verse "happy little things we do, another year loving you" is from the Hallmark card I gave Bob for New Years.

Digital Tag (2 Peas in a Bucket, Rhonna Farrer "New Year")

Held For Ransom

Every year on Christmas Eve we go to Bob's work place to pick up the Christmas Day edition of the Dominion Post printed early to allow the pressmen to go home. Bob called the photo of us made looking in the full length mirror "Held for Ransom".

Other family traditions continue:
The week before Christmas I pack pizza kits and fruit bags for the HSC Cafeteria and Catering staff and the support staff. My boys help pack and we leave the fruit in a spot where each person sees it soon after their work begins. Bob strings the Christmas cards to hang where we can enjoy them from our seats on the couch.

December 2010

Digital Frame (Cottage Arts Scrap Edges 8) Font (Georgia)

To my local scrapbook friends: There is a new scrapbook store near Morgantown, in Westover, just off the Morgantown Mall exit from I 79. It is called "Everyday's a Scrapbook" and it is a very nice little store.