SC Street Fair

We visited our son Greg and daughter in law Michelle last weekend in Columbia, South Carolina.  It's about an 8 hour trip, so I always pack a box of scrapbook papers and ephemera to make cards along the way.  I made all the cards-9 in all- on the trip down.  So while in Columbia, we visited the local Michaels Store and I bought a neat kit.  With it I made 4 page backgrounds on the trip back for some of the pictures we took while there.

"Greg and Michelle always seem to enjoy their time together and shared that enthusiasm with us by taking us to the street fair across from the South Carolina capital in Columbia."
2016

I added the phrase "It's so hard to leave your kids!" at the top of the journaling. . . because you know that's tough!

40 Years

Labor Day, 1976-our wedding day.  I loved this picture of us during the wedding ceremony.  We were happy and smiling-the day was so pretty and my Mom and Dad's back yard looked great!  

"Hand in hand we've been together

Showing the world how much we care." 

This year we celebrate our Ruby Anniversary-40 years!  The doilie embellishment is from the gift bag I made for Bob.

August Cards

On one of the trips to my Mom's home in Maryland, I took her to see her Sister-in-law Ginny.  Ginny and Mom both are in walkers-neither drive.  I brought food and Ginny had the table set with china dishes.  She's such a lovely lady.  It was great to get the ladies together.  

"You're such a good friend

I am happy to say

Thank you for the kindness

You sent our way."

Sue is one of my farmers market friends.  She is from Thailand, a former teacher, who loves to teach others about local foods.  Sue often gives me unusual foods to try.  One time she instructed me to "make something with this and bring it back to me".  I love challenges like that!  Sue invited some of us to her farm for a "Garden Grub" dinner.  She had many lovely ethnic foods there.  We were honored.  

"Step into my garden

Step in and you'll see

A measure of

Peace and tranquility.

Let the beauty of springtime

Fill your soul with great peace

Take it with you and share

It with each one you meet.

Thanks for sharing your food and friendship."

Mom was 91 years old on August 31st.  The week before her birthday, I took her to a park where she camped in 1941 and had never returned.  We picnicked on that beautiful day.  I made her a scrapbook page of the day.  The card is on the right.

"Love you lots

For all you do

Love you Mom

Because you're You!"

Luke and Becky have been our friends for forty years.  Becky turned 60 last week and Luke invited us to their house for cake and homemade brew.  The fresh picked corn, card and mum were for Becky.

"Today's a day to celebrate

We toast to you and cheer

Because this is a special day

You're now just reached 60 years."

Bob and I married Labor Day, 1976.  This Labor Day marked our Ruby Anniversary.  The kids helped me buy Bob a new lens-that is the gift bag for it (I may convert to a page:).  I am hoping for many happy more!

"Forty years and counting

What joys along the way

The love we've shared together

Since our beautiful wedding day.

The ups, the downs along the road

The occasions that we've shared,

Hand in hand we've been together,

Showing the world how much we care.

So celebrate the occasion

Raise a glass to love and life

For all these years we've been together

As a loving husband and wife." 

Return to 1940s

The thing Mom remembers most about her scout camp days at Swauger's Dam was that the boy scout camp was directly ab0ve it.  (The boys are pictured in the background of her teenage picture).  I brought her back to the park (now New Germany) where we enjoyed a picnic and more memories.  2016

The 8 inch page I made for Mom (she can handle the smaller album).  I created the 12 inch page first, then sized and printed the pictures 2/3rd the size of the larger ones.  I kept the journaling the same size font so that it was readable.

(This is the page I made in 2010 with the original photo)

The best thing about girl scout camp was that the boy scout camp was just above. The picture of Mom was taken by a boy whose oxford shoe showed in the foreground. She remembers pitching their tents and digging their own latrines. Mom was 16 here and is pictured with her best friends Billie Jane Barncord and Emily Kirkwood. 1941  

Life Long Learning

After spending the last 20 years of my career planning healthy meals for 1000+, I'm having a ton of fun planning healthy meals for two.  I try new foods and recipes all the time.  As I learn, I share those creations with others in my classes, demos and on my blog:
cindyshealthymeals.blogspot.com.

The WVU Lifelong Learning Institute provides programs for adults 50 and over.  Classes are developed and taught by community members passionate about their topics.  Attendees liked my first class "Top 10 Tips for Meal Planning".  Here are a few of the comments:

• "Enjoyed the pictures of food!"
• "Liked the state park slides-makes me want to go on more picnics!"
• "Every dish is set as a meal!"
• "Liked the new use of grains."
• "Liked the bright colors used in everything-including the dishes and tablecloths."  

What a Shame

Our warm weather routine includes weekly Sunday picnics and monthly Farmers Market Culinary Demos.  This year Bob got his Food Handlers Card so that he could help me during the Saturday market.  We both worked in jobs with thousands of community members, so this is an opportunity to see some of these folks again.  The first Saturday of every month is our day at the market.

"After spending the entire weekend side-by-side, serving my culinary creations at the Farmers Market, cleaning house, taking Chris to dinner, then taking an out-of-state picnic, Bob kidded "it was a shame" we didn't get to spend much time together."

August 2016

July Cards

Lorrie is the Catering Booking Person at the hospital and we've known each other for many years.  This card is for her July birthday:

"Greetings for your birthday

For a wonderful day

And a year that brings

The very best

Of everything your way."

My brother-in-law Scott celebrated his 50th birthday this month.  Scott is a geography professor, so I liked using the map papers for his card.

 "Celebration of 50 wonderful years

Full of Memories you've treasured.

May today present another day

 Of a memory of love and pleasures."

My sister Terry and her husband Nelson, married in 1970, celebrated an anniversary this month.

"This anniversary greeting is coming now to say

The heartfelt thanks we often don't say from day to day.

And for the thoughtful things you've done and all that you still do,

May all the joy you so deserve return today to you."

My nephew Jake was 21 years old this month.  The photo is Jake with his Dad and Mom-Amy and Scott-when he was a baby.

"Many joyful happy wishes

On this day you're twenty one.

May you always gaily travel

On the new road just begun,

May you find good friends and fortune

All along a happy way

May you carry golden memories

Of a truly perfect day."

 

 

My sister Amy was 50 years old this month.

"Its great to wish you Sister

A very exceptional day

With everything that's good in life

To come hurtling your way.

You know I really love you

In a caring and special way

I really hope that you have

A fun-filled 50th birthday."

 

 

My Aunt Bernice was 95 years old this month.  When we're together, she shares memory after memory of her past and even my hometown.  I enjoy every minute of our time together.

"Dear friend you are 95 today

What a wonderful life have led

Those interesting tales and knowledge you have

Glad you didn't leave them unsaid

Happy Birthday

Keep telling those wonderful stories."

 

 

Sister Amy and her husband Scott celebrated 28 years of marriage this month.  They both had birthdays too, as did their oldest son Jake.

"May the memories of all you've shared

Fill your hearts today,

And may all the coming years

Bring the love that's here to stay.

Happy wedding anniversary."

 

 

Here's the fun part:  Remember the 4 day vacation we took at the start of July to a rural cabin-where there are no electronics?  I made all of these cards there.  I added a few extra touches to the outsides and verses to the inside when I came home. I make my list and pull out some papers that remind me of them to make a kit to take with me where I worked outside on a picnic table for a short time everyday..

 

Most of the verses I use come from the internet site, "Craftstoprint.com".