I have been lost...

So I know I have not posted in a very long time - been going through some personal stuff with my Dad and he finally passed away on May 19th. I am very sad but I know in my heart that he is in a better place and reunited with the love of his life, my Mom! Rest in peace Dad.

The picture above was taken about 3 summers ago while he was still in pretty good shape. He always did enjoy eating steamed crabs and this was taken at a family crab feast.

Well, on to scrappy things - I am very excited because I rearranged my whole scrap room last night and tomorrow I am having my sister and my besties over for some much needed scrap/fun time. And the Mister is going to cook a lovely dinner for us. I haven't scrapped in so long as it seems that I don't like to do it alone anymore so I am really looking forward to it and hopefully will be able to post some layouts in the next few days.

I am also tossing around an idea for a birthday card/keepsake for my daughter. She turns 20 in two weeks and I have been making a list of "20 things I love about you" and would like to transform the list into a special card that she could keep. I am thinking it is going to have to be multiple pages, so maybe a waterfall effect type card? Anyone have any ideas? I know some of you very crafty people can come up with a few suggestions - all ideas and comments are welcome!

A little help please...

In the spirit of Shimelle's prompt for day 14, I would like to ask for some opinions and/or options for pen and marker storage.  It seems as though mine always run dry without being barely used.  I have read that instead of storing them vertically tip up that you should store them horizontally flat, but unless you put them in a drawer of some sort how do you keep them in their place?  Is it ok to store them vertically tip down?  Does anyone have any great pen storage ideas?



Photo by Sometimesong

Whoops!

I have had a blog on Blogspot for quite awhile and until I started Shimelle's class I knew very little about it.  In fact every day I learn something new and today I learned that I have lots of comments on my posts that I have never even seen!
So to all of you that have read my posts and taken the time to leave a  comment - thank you.  I truly appreciate each and every one.  Rest assured that I am reading all your blogs too and although I have commented a few times, I want to try and comment more. 
Part of the reason that I signed up for this class because at the age of 47 I want to decrease the negative in my life and focus on things that make me happy.  Scrapbooking makes me happy, being creative makes me happy, meeting new people makes me happy, learning new things makes me happy.  Reading your blogs is like all this rolled into one!  So be looking for my comments as I forge your blogs searching for new scrappy knowledge and new people to meet, I promise to be a better commenter.

Mary Ellyn

Can't wait

I am getting so excited for the weekend! My sister and two of my BFF's have an annual scrapbook shopping road trip weekend and this weekend is it! We leave Saturday and head about 3 hrs to where my sister lives near BelAir, MD. First up is a visit to a Joanns Super Store. Last year we spent about 3 hrs in Joanns - needless to say we don't have one near where we live - Michaels and a small LSS is it. I like the fact that Joanns carries inventory that is different than Michaels so it gives us a chance to pick up some different items.

After Joanns, it is on to a Girl's night dinner with lots of laughs and fun and then Sunday morning it is up early and a short drive to the annual Cropmania yard sale in Annapolis, MD. 50 vendors - all scrapbook stuff = pure scrappy heaven! Oh the bargains to be found!

After we finish there, it is a quick lunch and then to Greatscraps in Millersville, MD - a fantastic scrapbook store.

It is one of the best events of my year - spending time with people who make me laugh and are so much fun to be around and spending my money on lots of scrappy goodies. How much better can it get?

A funny story

One of my most fun times ever was when I went on a cruise 2 years ago with my BFF and fellow scrapper, Peggy. I had been given the cruise as a gift and my husband didn't want to go so in August I asked Peggy if she wanted to go with me and she was thrilled and said yes and was packed by September (the cruise was in January!) Peggy has the type of personality that makes you laugh constantly, is ALWAYS up for a good time, and can make even the most mundane task fun. We have been friends since our children went to pre-school together (they are now in their second year of college).

The funny thing, well it wasn't too funny at the time, was that even though Peggy packed and re-packed for 5 months to make sure she had everything covered, her luggage never made it to our boat. That's right - it got lost somewhere in "Air Tran World". All she had with her was what made it into her carry on bag: a bikini, some flannel PJS, a t shirt and pair of shorts, and some flip flops. The Carnival staff was helpful and gave her some personal items, but there really wasn't any clothing on the ship to purchase and we would not be getting to our first port for 2 days. On the first full day at sea we had the Captain's dinner to attend and we had no clue what we were going to put on her. But, being the ever resourceful person that she is, Peggy purchased 3 pashima type wraps from the ship's gift store and with a few safety pins turned them into a most stylish "frock" as she puts it and off to dinner we went. Several people complimented her on her lovely outfit and it made for a great story once we got back home.

We had a great time, one that I will never forget and above is a picture of us before dinner with Peggy in her lovely frock!

Tango looking through the window

Day 4

Well day 4 of my online blogging class and when I read about today's prompt I really wasn't too excited. But then as I was catching up on my classmates blogs I read something that jumped out at me. On "This is the Thing" by Mealiea she had listed 5 of her favorite quotes and this one really struck a nerve inside me: To love a person is to learn the song that is in their hearts and to sing it to them when they have forgotten.

It made me think of my Dad who is terminally ill and each time the phone rings I hold my breath for a second and hope that it is not my sister calling with bad news. My dad was a quiet man, keenly intelligent, proud and honorable, hard working, and my very best ally throughout my whole life. There is nothing he would not do for me or for my mother or for any of my siblings. These days he rarely speaks and he sometimes forgets who we are and sometimes he is even angry and yells at us. I know this isn't my dad. He has just forgotten the song in his heart and it is my job to sing it to him.
Thank you Mealiea for helping me remember.