Holiday Haircut

Mom really wanted a haircut before Christmas as she felt like a "shaggy dog".  So on the Sunday before the holiday we stopped at the Mall on the way home from the nursing home, where she had the stylist cut her pretty hair real short.  It isn't easy navigating a walker in the holiday crowd but this helped her feel good and looked adorable.

December 2014

 

Legit

Hard to believe our son Christopher graduated WVU Friday.  He's such a fine, caring young man.  We're so proud of him.

His cousin Sara decorated the hat:  "Too Legit to Quit".  I love it and the outline of West Virginia.

12-13-14

Bob and Chris help me get in the spirit of Christmas by taking me to a farm to cut down our own little tree.  Chris (who's now 21) brings a bottle of Heston Farm Wine which made decorating fun too!

Sleepy Hollow Road  12-13-14

Somehow

My Dad is failing and my Mom and brother can no longer take care of him in their home.  Mom and Dad have been married for 68 years.  Last Friday, he fell on her and was readmitted into the hospital the day after Thanksgiving.  (She is ok).  Dad will go to a home for rehab and perhaps make it home again.

This picture was taken Wednesday when I made the trip home and took Mom to see him.  The aide had shaved him and he was eating pretty good.  The aide said she wanted to take him home with her.  Even when he was taken to the hospital in the ambulance, he had to have his New York Yankee hat on.

This post is not to make anyone feel sad, though I'll put the page away for a while myself.  Dad and I spent several hours together in the ER last Friday.  He is scared.  The post is to ask for your prayers for Dad and Mom and yes, the family.  I'm 80 miles from home myself.

On the trip over Wednesday, I played Christmas CDs.  Judy Garland sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and these words are from that.  We'll muddle through somehow.

I'm on my way home, then to the hospital.  Mom doesn't want to go today as she knows Dad would rather be home.  Good thoughts are appreciated.

Covered

After learning the Fort Event would not start for 2 hours, Bob took me to nearby Fletcher Covered Bridge where we got some fresh air and enjoyed the back roads of Harrison County.  November 2014

Christmas 1956

Here's another priceless photo sent to me from a distant relative of Bob's via Ancestry.com.  That's little Bob at age 2.  The live tree is on their side porch outside the St. Albans, WV house.

Have a great Thanksgiving my friends!

Sun Kissed

In his new job. Bob scouts the area for places he and I can visit or take a picnic.  The weather is hindering our outdoor picnics, but we squeezed in a few rides to pretty places.  Here's the Brunner Covered Bridge outside the western end of our county near Hundred, West Virginia.  There were colorful farm antiques by the still traveled bridge.

November 2014 

Though I don't normally buy "stacks" of paper, these "Cork Mat Stacks" from Die Cuts with a View stamped easily and when cut out, really stand out.

Pirates

The quote was part of a nautical display at Hobby Lobby. . . and I love it.

That's us-when we're at work, we lead, take our mission seriously and stay on top of it.  When we're off and not "working", we're spending time with each other seeking our treasure.  Here we are a few weeks ago at a nearby wildlife management unit finding the treasure in a pretty location, harvest heirlooms and free time side by side.

White Covered Bridge, November 2014

Wheelin Feelin

Wheeling, West Virginia is where the state was formed, the home to Brad Paisley, the Jamboree and one of the largest Christmas Light Displays in the country.  We visit most years and this year we went on the first day of the season. 

"It was the first day for the Festival of Lights and we enjoyed the food and an overnighter."

That's me eating at the Soup Shack for lunch at the Center Market.  We had dinner at Later Alligator (which specializes in crepes).  Bob had fun taking slow exposures while driving through the light displays.  Our motel was new.  We enjoyed HBO movies and a hot breakfast bar.  And we never mind coming home.......... 

 

Things I Love: Swimming

As I'm changing the covers to prepare for winter bedding, I decided to do a feel good page about "Things I Love".

This photo was taken in August on the last weekday of the summer that the city pool was open.  This year I got a season pass and stopped after every workday I could to swim 20 minutes of laps.  Some days I was the only person in the pool.  I usually arrived in time for the 10 minute "adult swim" when I could swim laps without worry.  After that I did what I could to watch out for the young folks and some days I just treaded water.  When I got up the nerve, I dove off the diving board.  One day a bunch of kids clapped!

"Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved to swim.  I enjoy swimming under water, diving into the deep end, swimming on my back and looking into the sky.  I am a summer girl."

Oh, by the way, I don't have a string bikini as depicted in the photo.  My Lands End 1 piece suit works just fine:)

 

Market Mates

This year I conducted 7 culinary demos at the local Farmers Market.  Bob was right there with me at each one!  2014

The pictures on the top and bottom borders are of the people who shared in the fun.  The demos were a huge success and brought recognition in the community to registered dietitians. 

To see more, visit my food blog:  cindyshealthymeals .

Skyview Atlanta

My professional organization, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, met last week in Atlanta for the 2014 Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo.  Bob traveled with me, driving 610 miles each way.  We were here in the summer a few years ago when the weather was 110 degrees.  This trip the weather was fall-like and very pretty.  On this day when my last session was over at 3 pm, we rode the newest attraction, a 20 story Ferris Wheel overlooking Centennial Park.  What a view!

"We'd been here before

And done the tour

This was for us

In our own gondolas

20 stories high

My best friend and I

Above Centennial Park

We left our mark!"

October, 2014

Biddie's Pride

The portrait is another priceless photo received via Ancestry.com from a distant relative of Bob's.  That's Bob's Dad in the back right.

"Biddie Ann Given raised 4 children on her own after divorcing Jim Gay's Dad.  Shown here with Reva, Blanche, Cecil and Jim.  c.1922"

Classic Beauty

A few weeks ago I received a message via Ancestry.com from a descendant of the Bob's side of the family asking if we could identify anyone in the folder marked "Gay Family".  We were delighted to find pictures of Bob's Dad when he was a young adult.  This photo of Bob's Mom and Dad is priceless.

"Looking like a Pin-Up Model, sweet Maxine poses with a grinning Jim in the early days of marriage."  Late 1940s.

Cupola

On Bob's 60th birthday, we took a scenic train ride from Durbin, WV, traveling for 5 miles by the Greenbrier River.  The day was warm and the fall color was gorgeous.  We rode in the cupola of the caboose on the trip up and that was real special.  9/27/14

When Bob was in high school he worked at an asthmatic camp near Charleston called "Bronco Junction".  He and the other counselors lived in a caboose, where he liked to read in the cupola.   

6 Shooter

This Saturday Bob has a special birthday and this layout celebrates those 6 decades.

The description of each picture was written by Bob:
Top-with the love of my life and true sweetheart.
1) With friends from neighborhood in St. Albans, playing on a dirt pile on an empty lot beside my house.  (Note the six-shooter holstered on my hip).
2)  With my parents at our home in St. Albans, taken during my high school years.
3) Outside of WVU's Martin Hall, ready to shoot an assignment for the University's daily newspaper, where I was a photographer.
4) Taken on the WVU campus while walking with my sweetie after we moved back to Morgantown in the 80's.
5) With our sons Greg and Chris, our proudest achievement in life.
6) Covering a Preston County Farm Machinery Association's Tractor Pull for the newspaper.  It was a Sunday and Cindy got to go with me.

Wide Load

After giving his notice at the paper and taking a job driving a flag car, a load was lifted from Bob.  2014

The Field of Lost Shoes

In the Battle of New Market (1864), a small Confederate Army, which included young VMI cadets, forced the Union Army out of the Shenadoah Valley.

Picture by Bob.  We stayed next to the field on our Anniversary Trip 2014.

I like where this is going. . .

We were married on Labor Day in 1976.  It was a day people had off and could travel.  It was also the day after my parents' anniversary.  So every Labor Day weekend, we celebrate with a night away.

This year we traveled to New Market, Virginia.  Keeping with a new tradition, we took a picnic basket to eat on our way.  It was the longest trip to a West Virginia State Park-about 3 hours, where we stopped at Lost River State Park.  Bob was so excited when he saw a carriage driving through the park, we finished our meal quickly and caught the last ride.  What fun we had.

The verse is from the card I got him (Labor Day is early this year and our actual anniversary is not until September 5th) so we'll exchange cards then.

"I like where this is going"
38 years

Happy Travel

Just a few weeks ago, our oldest son Greg called and said his wife Michelle had a business trip to the DC area and he was coming with her.  Did we want to drive over and meet them?  What an opportunity to see them in person and not have to wait until Christmas!

Our son Chris joined us to drive 200 miles on a Sunday, when we met them at the airport and then visited the National Air and Space Museum.  

"What a thrill to be with all the kids when Michelle made a business trip to Aberdeen".  2014

Counting the Stars

Grandma Marie wrote "Counting the Stars" on the back of this portrait of Mom, taken after she moved to Akron to make airplanes during World War II.  Mom was happy, capable and earning a living while fulfilling a patriotic duty. 

This page is for Mom on her 89th birthday.  Her health and Dad's health are deteriorating.  She is still beautiful.  I hope that she's still counting the stars, where her Mom & Dad, Step-Dad, brother, sister and friends are watching over her and Dad.

2014

Panoramic Picnic

Jennings Randolph Lake was a perfect picnic backdrop and near my parents' home which we visited after.  The menu featured wild salmon, lentils, wild and brown rice salad, diced peaches and black raspberry rhubarb cream pie parfait.  2014

For recipes, visit my food blog:  cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com

Falling in Love, Again & Again

Since taking a different job, Bob's spending the whole weekend with me.  Every Sunday we take a picnic to a nearby park.  This rainy day picnic at Swallow Falls in Maryland was a favorite.  At one point on the trail, we cuddled together under a bush until the rain eased.  When time for our meal, we shared a pavilion with a private outdoor school group.  The kids and counselors were amazed at our intimate gourmet setting.  One adult told us "Keep on doing this!"  we plan to!  2014

My picnic meals and recipes are on my food blog:  cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com 

 

My Hero

This is a quick page for my Mother, who requested the picture last weekend.  The stickers were included with the registration packet at Creating Keepsakes Lancaster and were perfect for this page.

My Dad, shown here after his 92nd birthday, gets up everyday with the will to keep going no matter how bad he feels.  That will-his purpose-is what I admire most.  Jim and June.  Cindy and Buddy.  2014

Lancaster Pa. is a beautiful place to have a convention.

 

The early entrance line wrapped around and around.

The best part of the show for me is seeing these lovely designers:

 Jenni Bowlin and her husband are such a nice couple and so down to earth.

The Adornit girls are adorable, though I missed Mom-Carolee.  I'm wearing the top I got from them last year.  Wait till you see the one I got this year!

Enjoy the weekend!

May 4, 1970

On April 30, 1970, President Nixon announced an invasion of Cambodia.  Students viewed this as an escalation of the Vietnam War when Nixon had vowed troop withdrawal.  Like students nationwide, students at Kent State protested.  The Governor called in the National Guard after disturbances in downtown Kent the night before.  Bearing rifles the students did not know were loaded, guardsmen advanced toward the crowd and killed 4 students.  Some were just observers.  The shootings were inexcusable.

I was a senior in high school when this happened, and can honestly say I did not know what happened.  Earlier this month, when visiting my sister in Ohio, we went to the Kent State memorial and museum.  The photos and displays were very powerful.  Pictures of 2 of the students before they were killed show them carrying their books on their way to class.  They were only 19 years old.  Bob tells me the story of the Pulitzer winning student photographer, who was so afraid for his well being after the shootings, he left town and journeyed to another city to develop and print his film.  Even my nephews, ages 19 and 9, are shown here reading and studying a display. The museum has a history of the entire 60s, beginning with the Civil Rights movement.

2014

Fired Up 4th

What a change of roles for Bob when asked to ride in the parade instead of covering the parade for the newspaper.  What fun riding in Herold Berthy's antique fire truck.  For a few blocks, I threw healthy snacks (Dried Plums) to the kids.  2014

Rest Stop

Over 1000 miles of driving makes the old bum hurt--how nice to find a rest stop with a trail and scenic view.     

Wisconsin  2014

Wisconsin is a beautiful state we go through on our trip to see son Greg and daughter-in-law Michelle, who live in Minnesota.  We've stopped at this rest stop before and walked part of the way to the view, but turned around due to time constraints.  This time we made the walk to the top and left our "mark".  In the words of Seals and Crofts, "We may never pass this way again".

Made with Love (Blog Hop with a Difference)

"After a long day touring Minneapolis, Michelle and Greg treat us to a delicious homemade meal at their home.  Meatballs, carrot cake, salad and fine wine . . . mmm!"

Fitting that my layout on "Blog Hop With a Difference" is titled "Made with Love".

I was tagged by Adriana Bolzon.

What are my favorite things to create?
I love to commemorate happy times with family by taking pictures and putting them in a layout or album to remember. 
I love to create.
As a registered dietitian and healthy food expert, I love to create healthy recipes and meals.

I have two blogs:
cindyspagesintime.blogspot.com
cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com

What am I working on right now?
This was Independence Day Weekend.
On Friday, we rode in the Parade (when I threw healthy snacks to the kids from the antique fire truck)

On Saturday, we conducted a culinary demo at the Farmer's Market

Sunday, Bob and I picnicked at Morris Park

How long does it take me to create?
I create all the time, so most projects take one day.

Talk about your creating process:
For pages, I choose my favorite pictures, diagram placement, then choose papers and elements.  Bob helps me determine a title.
For meals, I follow the MyPlate plan, making meals with whole foods and healthy ingredients.

Who inspires you?
My better half and Kamera Kitchen partner:

Blogging friends who provide much inspiration and kindly agreed to post July 14th in the next round of this Blog Hop:
Connie Mercer
Kate Blue

Have a happy, creative week!

Mill City

On this breezy Sunday afternoon the Mississippi River at St. Anthony Falls was high and forceful as we crossed the Mississippi River on the pedestrian bridge to tour the Mill City museum.  The museum is built on the ruins of the Washburn A Mill that exploded in 1878 due to poor ventilation of flour dust within the walls.  Minneapolis was the biggest producer and disbributor of flour in the world.  The stories of harvesters and the millers were fascinating.

I love it that Michelle and Greg wanted us to take their picture in front of the giant Bisquick box!    2014

Sunday Brunch

Last week we visited our son Greg and daughter-in-law Michelle in Minneapolis.  The kids treated Bob and I at Kramarczuk's Minneapolis Restaurant for Brunch.  The buffet of Eastern European dishes, all homemade, was scrumptuous.  Cabbage Rolls, Muesli, homemade sausages, Eggs Benedict and a smorgasbord of desserts delighted our taste buds.  Our fun day with Greg and Michelle was off to a great start.

Isn't it fitting that the restaurant was founded in 1954-the year Bob was born!

Vacation Vice

Son Chris worked over Spring Break this year and decided to wait until summer to vacation.  He joined with other friends, who also work with him at Belk department store, and rented a town home at Nag's Head, North Carolina.

They had a great time in a modern condominium, complete with a balcony hot tub and the beach nearby.  Before they left, the 3 girls and 2 boys had this old time photo made.  The guys hold tommy guns and beers and the girls are gulping bottles of Jack Daniels.  Gotta love it!

Bob aptly titled it "Vacation Vice".

Lean on, Learn from, Look up to

For my Dad. on Father's Day.  The sentiment is from the card I got him.
"You've been someone I could lean on, learn from, look up to. . . "

Dad will be 92 years old in July and I hope he knows how much those words hold true.  In this daughter's eyes, he can't do anything wrong.  I'm sure he's made some odd decisions, but his love for my Mom and his kids is unfailing. 

Picnic in the Park

Memorial Day weekend at the beginning of summer deserves a special picnic in the park.  We packed a cold meal and traveled to a nearby West Virginia Park at Tygart's Lake.  Here's my menu:

Salmon with Pineapple Mandarin Salsa
Sesame Quinoa Salad
Strawberry Cream Pie Parfaits
Grapes

The Salmon is one of the signature salads we serve in our Healthy Cafe.

Paper plates are not in my cupboards, so I packed the red, white & blue table settings to accent our fun meal.

My Australian scrapbook friend, Cheryl, sent me an envelope of beautiful papers, embellishments and a $2 Australian coin!  When I opened the surprise package, Bob pointed out that the die cut paper looked like a placemat.  I love pretty dishes and table settings to complement my home cooked meals.  A food page was eminent.  

I have been spending much of my creative time on preparing healthy meals and posting these and recipes on my new blog, cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com.

Here's the link to our Red, White and Blue Picnic:
http://cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com/2014/05/picnic-in-park.html  

Be sure and check out Sunday's "West Virginia Picnic" and my watermelon cut outs of our beloved state!

Thank you Chez! 

Second Chance

For fourteen years, Bob went to the Mon County Canine Adoption Center to take the "Pet of the Week" photo for the paper.  Hundreds of dogs and cats got a second chance for a home through these photos.

 

The month stamps represent every week, every month Bob went there, regardless of his work load, regardless of the weather.

The wood veneer cameras, along with the negative frames and paper, always fit the photographer theme.  The fence and wire represent the cages the animals live in prior to adoption.

The wire was a little hard to adhere to the page, so I used a combination of modeling paste, brads and glue.  

Bob resigned his job at the newspaper a few weeks ago.  He is a tremendously talented photo journalist and often times taken advantage of by editors and young sports writers who expected him to write the stories, take videos and edit videos.  He'd work late evening, both weekend days, split shifts. . . and missed his time with me.  I guess you could say he's given himself a "second chance" to be happy.  He's currently driving a traffic escort vehicle, leaving work when I do and returning home when I do.  We're happy and doing ok!

 

Sinder Will

My Mom ready a story in the paper a few weeks ago about the St. Patrick's Day flood of 1936.  That brought to mind memories of her younger brother John, climbing the flood wall by George's Creek by her home.  Mom asked me to make this page for her:

"A birdie with a yellow bill hopped upon my sinder will,
cocked his shiny head and said, Ain't you ashamed, you sleepy head."

Mom recalls sweet brother John reciting the words of the verse a little funny.  He was 4 years younger and busy enjoying life despite the hardships of the Great Depression.

John would climb the flood wall on Georgia's Creek.  He fell on the wall once and spluit his head.

Mom's Dad had raw oysters in the grocery store.  John would climb on a stool, hold his nose, and attempt to eat one.

One time when Grandma Marie's brother Christie was helping her paint, John painted the black dog white.

I'll give this to Mom tomorrow when we make a Mother's Day visit!

On the first Farmer's Market of the season, Registered Dietitians Allie and Cindy conduct the first culinary demo preparing Fresh Fruit Smoothies for a crowd of all ages.

May 2014

Main Street Morgantown printed recipe cards using 10 of my photos and recipes.  WVU Healthcare, along with Main Street and Morgantown Farmer's Market, sponsored the building of the Pavilion and Culinary Kitchen.

 

I now have a new blog, cindyshealthymeals.  As a registered dietitian and healthy food expert, I plan meals for 1-2000.  I manage a Healthy Cafe.  This blog features meals I make at home.  We all love to create, and this is my way of sharing another of my passions.

Enjoy your day, doing what you love to do!

Mountain Meadow

30 years ago we built our little house at 63 Mountain Meadow Drive 1 mile outside of Morgantown. We'd been married 8 years and lived in 3 different cities and 7 apartments. All our experiences and "homes" were good ones, all part of building Bob and Cindy and the bigger family to come.

The collage of 18 photos are the different stages of building, from picking out our lot by the woods, through digging the foundation, cement block, floor, walls, decks and brick. . . 

siding, paint, cabinets and the first blade of grass. The last picture was of Bob's 30th birthday, just before we moved in. 

The "list" Bob is holding has final "to dos" our contractors wrote on a block of wood in 1984. I still have the block of wood and the scan of it is under the first hinged piece of my layout. Some of the to dos are crossed off. Some our still visible, "Clean upstairs and down", "Landscape", "Scrape windows" are a few I can read.  

My list is complete yet ongoing. Dreams we've captured in our little home of 30 years:
Decorate in our personal style.
Make it comfortable.
Dine in.
Plant flowers.
Feed the birds.
Walk our country road and hill.
Raise a family.
Come home at the end of our shifts.
Make home sanctuary.

Think we've done ok.

1984-2014.