Somebody's Following You

I normally create layouts with photos of people I love. . . but this one was fun just the same. The words are from a song by the Eagles:
"Back over your shoulder you've got an icy chill. Man, you thought you'd get away with it. . . Now you know you never will. There's a Jack-O Lantern moon in the midnight sky.. . Down in the graveyard on that old tombstone there's a big black crow calling you home."

Pictures from McHenry Md. (mist on Deep Creek), Kingwood Pike near our house (moon), Boston Burial Grounds. Here's the layout I made in 2007 after we got the pictures of the moon:

Journaling: "I thought it might be a "new moon" (2 full moons in 1 month), but that occurred May 31st. But I couldn't pass up the chance on the last day of June, 2007, to get a picture of the gorgeous earth satellite. It was a perfect night. After taking Chris home from a night at the movies with friends, Bob & I drove up to the Kingwood Pike overpass. We didn't even get out of the car, as he steadied his long lens on the side mirror while taking slow exposures of the celestial orb. With only an occasional passing car, it was a moment just for us."

Felt Like a Dancer

When mom was describing how much she enjoyed the therapy for her legs she said "I feel like a dancer". While I can't say I've ever seen her dance, I know she is poised and graceful. At 86, she still has that elegance she had as a teenager. She is pictured on the right in both photos, c 1940 and 2011.

The Great Temple on the Prairie

"From a humble beginning as a small log chapel overlooking the Mississippi, the Cathedral of Saint Paul sits dramatically overlooking the city." I sprayed the 7 Gypsies "City Scape" board with Krylon "Make it Stone" and added a notch for the cross in the steeple. October 2011

Solo

Last Sunday was a beautiful fall day and Bob was working so I walked up the hill behind our house solo. I avoided the cows and got my feet muddy but loved the sun. October 2011

Bob's been giving me heck all week after we found 3 bears on our deck one morning this week! "You could have walked right into those bears!" I didn't know we had bears. . .

Mill Ruins Park

The water-powered mills forming Minneapolis in the 19th century were the largest in the world. The Washburn A Mill could grind enough flour to fill 100 box cars and to make 12 million loaves of bread per day. In 1878 flour dust in the air ignited and destroyed a mill. The tragic explosion led to reforms in the milling industry in ventilation systems. The Stone Arch Bridge was built in 1883. The ruins in the park provided fabulous backdrops for pictures and were part of a delightful day of tours given by Michelle and Greg. 2011

I made the flour sack by cutting a coffee bag,sewing new seams and stamping it. I even used the same draw string.

Setting the Stage

Reunited and established in their careers and research, Michelle and Greg have set the stage for their wedding. They reserved the beautiful Noerenberg Gardens and boathouse for the wedding. On Lake Minnetonka, the gardens and peaceful surroundings are perfect for a like couple. The reception and dinner are planned for nearby Jake O'Connor's Public House with entertainment by The Wild Colonial Bhoys. We were amazed at the beauty of everything and glad they seem to be enjoying the planning too.
October 2011

I pulled the twigs for the top part of the layout from a bird's nest that blew from a tree a few weeks ago.

Seasons Go Round

It was a windy fall day in mid October when we went to Chestnut Ridge Park to catch the leaves at 75% color and spend time with each other.

The song is from Joni Mitchell:
"And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind
From where we came.

There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through."

October 2011

Extra Eye

I loved it when Bob picked me up Sunday while on the job and took me with him to photograph fall colors. Like everyone else, I love to capture pretty scenery. But what's most important to me is focusing on people and after Bob photographed the pair fishing, I captured him getting caption information from the boy's delighted uncle. My "extra eye" focuses on my family. October 2011

The quote "Love is not blind, it is an extra eye, which shows us what is most worthy of regard" is by James Matthew Barrie. The beautiful papers are from the magazine Somerset Memories, a Stampington & Company publication.

This photo is from the second place we went to Sunday. This trout pond and the reservoir in the layout are only a few miles apart. In the course of 30 minutes, we were able to capture two gorgeous places just 10 miles from home. Couldn't get any better!

U of M

The University of Minnesota campuses are separated on the east and west banks of the Mississippi River. The bridge over the river has in indoor segment for crossing campus in the winter months. We enjoyed the wall sections there painted by various student groups. (An art journalist's delight!) Most of all we enjoyed gaining a glimpse of what our children experience during the week.

The Minnesota Molecule is a sculpture that stands on the lawn of the science campus. (see the picture center left) I made a paper molecule but it was too busy for my multi photo layout. Instead the colored brads and fibers I used represent the molecule!

Greg is a PhD student and research assistant in Computer Sciences under a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Michelle will receive her masters in electrical engineering here next May while working as an engineer at Cummins Diesel.

2011

A Little Bit of West Virginia

This digital layout was inspired by Sara Winnick's "We (Heart) to Camp" in Creating Keepsakes Budget Friendly magazine.

The Minnesota State Capitol was designed by the same architect who designed our own West Virginia Capitol (Cass Gilbert). The gold leaf, the marble staircase, the sculptured ceilings all were reminiscent of the Charleston state house we visit often. The large star is the symbol of the North Star State.

It was fun watching Greg and Bob photographing the same subjects. The Twin Cities Marathon was scheduled the day after our visit to the capitol, thus the "Finish Line" photo in the layout.

This layout is 17 inches wide by 11 inches high. I printed it on 2 sheets of 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. I had to plan it with that page separation in mind.

October 2011

Cecils Deli

This page is modeled after Piradee Talvanna's "Kyoto City Walking Map" in Creating Keepsakes Budget-Friendly Scrapbooking Magazine.

Greg and Michelle had lots of favorite places to share with us and the first was a fun deli in downtown St. Paul. The owner knew them and they knew we'd enjoy the delicious sandwiches on fresh baked breads with signature sides. I loved my salmon salad on whole wheat and was equally impressed with the owner speaking bilingual to his attentive staff.

I found this paper "Shady Lane RV Park" from October Afternoon's Road Map collection which is a map of Minnesota that details where Greg & Michelle live and work, where they will marry and some of their favorite places to visit. I scanned it for my piece in this layout so I would have the paper to use again.

I made my title alpha by printing the "Academy Engraved" font onto a transparency and cutting around it.

October 2011

Prairie View

We heard the weather during our Minnesota trip was the best it would be until next spring. That and the autumn season gave us spectacular vistas from our car windows. The corn fields extended for miles and miles and we never tired of the beauty of the heartland.
September 2011

Wedding Site

This layout is modeled after Emily Pitts' "Garden Sprite" in Scrapbook Trends October issue.

We had a wonderful trip to see Greg and Michelle. They took us to some of their favorite places and we got a glimpse of what life is like for them in Minneapolis.

They were so happy when they took us to the Noerenberg Memorial Gardens and the boat house where they will marry next May. The site on Lake Minnetonka is perfect for a perfect couple.

October 2011

Bounty

This digital layout was fashioned after Deena Wuest's layout "Captivate" in Creating Keepsakes special "budget-friendly" issue, currently on the stands.

We are visiting our son Greg and his lovely fiance Michelle in Minneapolis. We drove 1000 miles and were able to see parts of the country we have never seen. This photo was taken in Bloomington Illinois (1/2 way) where we stayed the first night. When you have that far to drive in one day, you can't make that many stops, so I was so pleased when Bob followed the sunset to this field after dinner. The sun was setting and the wild geese were migrating. You wouldn't see this from an airplane.