January Cards

My older sister Terry was 67 years old on January 10th.  A retired 1st grade teacher, Terry gives her all to her family.  This card is for her:

"Have a very happy birthday

And a year that is happy too.

These are the special wishes

sent with lots of love to you."

A former colleague, Maria, celebrated her birthday on the same day. Maria is a kind and sweet lady.

"Because you're so special

I hope your day holds in store

Many happy hours that overflow

With all you're wishing for.

And hope the days that follow it

Make up a year that brings,

Everything that you deserve

Full of happy days." 

Brenda retired from WVUH before I did.  Brenda is a gracious, kind and intelligent lady who now babysits grandchildren. This birthday card is for Brenda.

"I just can't think of anyone sweeter than you,

To wish a Happy Birthday to.

Wishing you a wonderful day

Full of surprises and happiness."

Wanda is my mother's friend who had major surgery this month with several months of recuperation to follow.  She is a strong lady who always took care of others. . . This card is for her.

"We send these get well wishes and praying for you too

For a speedy recovery for somebody as nice as you."

Jim is the entree cook at the Healthy Sciences Center who celebrates his birthday on Groundhogs Day.  This card is for Jim.  I actually cut apart a reusable grocery bag to get the canvas background on this card.  I love it!

"May today bring much pleasure

With moments to treasure,

For birthdays only come once a year.

So do things that make you smile.

Celebrate in the best of styles,

And make the memories to treasure forever."

Our youngest son Chris will be 23 years old on February 8th.  I made a scrapbook page of him featuring pictures of him when he was 1 year old.  He still has that same sweet smile.  I had one of the pictures leftover, which I featured on this birthday card.

"To think of all the happiness

That you've treasured and known.

Of all the warm and happy smiles

And thoughtfulness you've shown.

So when you think of us son

And we know you often do

Just remember that we are all

Always thinking of you!"

After the big snow storm, our neighbor Tom plowed the 1000 foot road to our development using a plow blade mounted on his 4-wheel. This card is a thank you for Tom.  I've found that people like cards with their picture.

"With more people in the world like you

It would be a much better place."  

You Melt My Heart

During and after a 2 foot snow storm, Bob and I shoveled a ton of snow.  We could not get out for 4 days, yet were with the "person we most wanted to be stranded with.  Even in the deepest snow, you melt my heart."

Words written on a card Bob gave to me this week.

2016 

Rising Son

Our youngest son, Chris, will be 23 years old on February 8th.  This is a page of him with pictures from 1994.

"You still have that same expression.  How I loved holding you in the warm and fuzzy pajamas!"

Snowed In

In preparation for the big snowstorm, I printed a few pictures in the event the power went out-I could still scrapbook by candlelight!  We got 2 feet of snow-but the power remains.  We're eating like kings (since I cooked up a storm in preparation).  And I made 2 pages!

This one uses pictures from 1994 of Greg and his Dad making a diorama of a scene from the Laura Ingalls Wilder book, "The Long Winter".  The scene was of a train "snowed under between cuts".  

"The railroad has stopped running trains till spring.  They can't get the trains through.  They no sooner get a train through a cut than a blizzard comes and snows it in again."  (Pa's words as he gives the news to his family).

"It takes patience and perseverance to contend with things".   (Pa said the railroad superintendent was an Easterner who had patience but no perseverance.  Westerners, he said, had patience and perseverance).  The train did not get through until May.

We still have the complete bookset of the Little House books.  I loved reading those with the boys.  The family survived much weather and many hardships in those days.

Bob and I persevered the storm.  We shoveled snow from our driveway every 4 hours.  My arms are sore.  Our neighbor has 1 lane tunneled out on our 1000 foot roadway through the development using a plow mounted on a 4-wheeler.  The state road has 1 lane plowed on the rural road.  The university and schools are closed throughout the state.  We hope to make it out tomorrow!

Patents & Corsets

This is a layout about our multi-talented and unique daughter-in-law.  In the top photo, Michelle models the corset she made in a recent (for-fun) class.  As an electrical engineer in her day job, Michelle has a handful of patents for her work in designing batteries and generators.  She's shown in the bottom photo attempting to explain her latest patent to family.  Michelle's proud Mother and I (the proud Mother-in-law) listen as she describes her latest inventions.

2015

Your Grandma was a Good Cook

The quote was a conversation my Mother overheard my brother telling his son that she was once a good cook.  

"Mom made us great dinners every day and always set a pretty table." 

Now my brother makes her a great dinner.

Picture c. 1980 when Mom was in her late 50s.

Angel

For many years, my Dad made fruit baskets for others.  He'd make several trips to the produce market to fill up the back of his pickup or van with bushel boxes of Washington apples, navel oranges, grapefruit and tangerines.  Plus nuts and other things.

The garage always smelled wonderful.  To this day, the smell of citrus reminds me of Christmas.

My brother would help unload all those boxes in the garage where they worked.  Dad would mix them around.  Everyone at the garage and gas station would get a box.  He put bags of walnuts in them too.  

This picture above is from the cemetery.  Mom and I visited and placed a wreath on Dad's grave before Christmas.  Journaling: 

"Last Christmas Dad was very sick.  This year he's making fruit baskets and building fires for the angels.  Dad's helping Pop Pop Harry make pancakes for the angels."

Dad kept busy and was always trying to do things for others.  He also would drive his 1940s Willys jeep and plow neighbors driveways in the winter.   

The penny on the layout is a 1953 penny (from the year I was born).  My sister found it and mailed to me with a note that said "an angel was thinking of us".