She is the House of Life

The portrait is of my lovely mother and sister in 1950. Mom was 25 years old.

I searched for a poem I recall of a young mother and found this one from Katharine Tynan (1915). "She is the House of Life. Beyond her safe wall of a mad world she sees a little one that plays and sleeps at evenfall. Where she goes the angels bend to her, a little secret garden-close."

Inspired by the work of Finnabair on scrapbook.com

Digital Element (Paislee Press "Vintage Tag".

Every Smile Has a Story

This year the public schools' spring break and WVU's break fell the same week. Chris joined his freshman friends on a trip to Myrtle Beach. There were 6 friends, 3 of them the young men who will share an apartment come June. Pictures here are the "Matching Four": Chris, Jess, Brian & Sarah on the couch dressed in WVU attire.
Spring Break 2011

Digital Elements (Digital Scrapbook Place "Eviscerated Fears" Frames) (2 Peas in a bucket Sande Krieger 2 Peas in a Bucket "Fine China" Journaling Block) (Hero Arts "Seventh Heaven" Stamp)

Easter

Easter Weekend 2011
On Good Friday we had a cleaning day at work and I got off early. I shopped and got Easter foods. We had a very tasty dinner with traditional Easter foods. On Saturday we met my sisters, Mom and Dad at Clancys new location. We had a very tasty late lunch. It's always good to get together with the family. On the way home we stopped at Candyland in Oakland and got makings for an Easter basket for Chris. I photographed the Bleeding Hearts blooming in our yard.

Digital Journaling Block (Digital Scrapbooking Robyn Gough "Nature's Touch")

Be There to Care (To Dos for Chris from Mom)

This is Page 6 of the book I'm making for Chris. The photo is of Chris comforting a friend at his Halloween parade while in Kindergarten, 1998. The quote is from Dr. Ted Engstrom "Be there to care, whether you know exactly what to do or not." This is Chris even today. . . a friend to anyone who needs him.

Journaling: "Before the Halloween Parade, 1998, you attempt to cheer up your friend, the Little Witch."

Digital Elements (Cottage Arts Scrap Edges 8) (Scrapbook Etc. Journaling Blocks)

Get Fresh Air (To Dos for Chris from Mom)

This is page 5 of the book I'm making for Chris' graduation. The title is a take off from the stress buster "Take a breath".

Journaling: "You and Greg get ready to slide down the yard winter 1996. Both of you enjoy Wrightsville Beach summer 1997.

Digital Elements (Cottage Arts Scrap Edges 8) (Scrapbook Etc. Journaling Block)

Empower Others (To Dos for Chris from Mom)

This is page 4 of the book I am making for Chris as he graduates high school. The quote is from Joe Batten's Goals for Authentic Growth. He said "follow a path of continual empowerment for yourself and others".

Journaling: "I can't remember whose idea it was to get the chair but you didn't need it for long. Christmas morning 1995"

Digital Element (Journaling Block: Scrapbook Etc. magazine)

Shine

This page is inspired by the layout "Design your own life" by Flying Unicorn. Lyrics "Your face, shining like that lighthouse" are from Kenny Chesney's "Seven days". Photos by my son Greg.

Journaling: "Greg & Michelle visit one of their favorite getaway spots in Duluth. April 2011"

To create the lighting effects on the lighthouse photo and the photo of Michelle I used Photoshop filters. Go to "Filters" "Render" "Lighting effects" "Spotlight" and "Omni".

Digital Elements (Cottage Arts "Main Street" "Embroidery Pack 2)

Fascinating Fridays

I was please to be showcased on Paper Design Studios "Fascinating Fridays". The layout above is one of my favorite of all times that was featured with the interview. Thanks for looking.

White Magic

I am attending the West Virginia Dietetic Association annual meeting this week (no scrapbooking!) so I'm posting a layout made April 2009. The flowery trees are in bloom and so pretty throughout the state. None are prettier than the array of trees we have at my workplace, the Health Sciences Center Campus.

Journaling: "The gorgeous white blossoms adorning the ornamental pear trees actually preceded the snow blanketing the tulips some two weeks later. Both scenes were pretty in their own rite. HSC Campus April 2009"

Make a Meal (To Dos for Chris from Mom)

This is page 3 of my graduation book for Chris. The quote from Rav Pritchard in his ABC's of Wisdom is "You've got a kitchen . . .make a meal".

This picture was taken late 1994 when Chris was not yet two. Journaling: "On a relaxing Sunday before Christmas you flash that ornery smile. Dad says he loved hugging you in that fuzzy sleeper."

Visit Your Family (To Dos for Chris from Mom)

This is page 2 of the book I'm making for Chris. The photo is from spring of 1994 when he was just over a year old.

"A favorite spot for family getaways was Martinsburg where you loved walking in the atrium."

Rav Pritchard's quote in ABC's of Wisdom: "You've got two feet, go see a friend in pain."

Keep Growing (To Dos for Chris from Mom)

This is page 1 of the book I am making for Chris as he graduates high school. I made a similar book for Greg, collecting ideas from the book "Lists to Live By". For Chris' book, I'll make a page with photos from each year of his life. On this page he is a newborn.

"You were born 5 weeks early and weighed only 4 1/2 pounds. We nourished and protected you and you grew well." 1993

"Keep Growing" is from Alice Gray's seminar "Treasures of the Heart". She says, "Walk a different path. Take a class. Read something inspiring."

Digital Elements (Cottage Arts Scrap Edges 8) (Scrapbooks Etc. Journaling Cards)

Calendar Boy

Chris leaves tomorrow for a West Virginia Technology Student Association conference and competition. This is the second year he has held a state office. These pictures were from the officer training last fall. Last year they made calendars with the photos.

Photos 2010, Layout 2011

Make Way

They left Cobun Creek (not the Charles River) and headed to Walmart (not the Boston Public Garden). Since this hen has ten (a larger brood than Mrs. Mallard) she's hoping Walmart has rock bottom prices. Don't you think Bob's photograph rates right up there with Robert McCloskey's illustrations? Bob's photograph made in the Walmart Parking Lot 2009. "Make Way for Ducklings" children's book published 1941.

Digital Elements (Cottage Arts Embroidery Pack 2) (Paislee Press Vintage Tags)