I remember little of being an 8 year old but one memory I do hold dear involves a Cherry Tree.

This particular Cherry Tree was in my Grandma Wolfe’s font yard.  While climbing the branches, my cousins and I would fill a huge bowl with the reddest, plumpest, juiciest cherries.

I loved to lay down on the grass in the sunshine, I would close my eyes and feel the warmth on my face.  I remember the sound of the wind through the trees.  I would eat cherries until my stomach hurt.

My cousins and I always picked cherries for Grandma and Grandpa.  I remember Grandma’s face when we would bring her the huge bowl, she was always so pleased when we placed it in her hands…Grandma’s eyes would shine with love, she would touch my face and kiss my cheek; her hands were wrinkled but her skin was so soft.

To this day, I still love cherries.  I love to lay down in the sunshine and I love to feel the sun’s warmth on my face.  I love the sound of the wind in the trees and when I close my eyes, I feel peace.

I now wonder if the peace I feel today is in part a remnant of the 8 year old child, lying in the grass with no real worries, feeling only the joy of childhood. I’d like to think so.

The other day while at a crop up at PSB I designed a little mini-garland for Father’s Day.  I’ve found myself addicted to making these little mini-garlands.  I just made a “Home Sweet Home” garland using the new Jenni Bowlin Paper.  I love this paper…it’s so much fun to use!  I painted one of the Maya Roads mini chipboard houses red and stuck it in the middle.  And of course I had to tie the whole thing together with the heart paper clips.  No garland would be complete without some sparkle…had to hang some from the hearts!

I’m thinking a Independence Day garland is coming up next (I’m sure the red-white-and-blue brought on the urge).

It’s raining here today…I welcome the nice cool weather after it’s been so hot!  I know heat is just around the corner again and the kids will be jumping in the pool as soon as the sun is shining! 

It’s funny how different weather can transport me to old memories.  I’ve been trying to find some extra time to work on my pictures from France (years ago) and this weather actually brings back memories of being over there.  I remember the sudden summer rain-storm the day we visited The Louvre.  Walking down the steps and spending the day amongst the worlds art masterpieces.  These memories I will treasure always…I stood in front of the Mona Lisa and she smiled at me!

Today it is raining…

I’m teaching my “Birthday Book” class today at PSB.  While I’m up there I will be designing a “Father’s Day” mini-banner and a “love my dog” layout for next month.  I’ll share photos when they are completed (or when they are posted on the PSB website).

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday - if you’re a local hopefully it will stop raining long enough for you to visit the Silver Dollar Fair this weekend! 

Drawing for the TC Mini Album is tomorrow.  For details click HERE.

Because I love to give stuff away AND I love Teresa Collin’s paper…I’ve decided to give another one of these 6″x6″ mini albums away. Yup, you read that right…

If you post a comment I will enter you into the drawing to WIN THIS ALBUM! The drawing will be held next Sunday (May 24th, 2008). I will enter one comment per person per day. You may leave a comment on any blog post you wish.

Good Luck!

I always have fun decorating the little ATC cards.   I started this project in February when I bought an ATC holder.  I planned on doing “A Year at Glace” for 2007.  A quick way to flash back at a whole year!  But…it seems as though there will not be enough room on my ATC holder for an entire year!  Oops…I guess that I just take too many gosh darn photos.

The photos above are a smidgen of my trip to Las Vegas ‘07 (My friend Sara lives there) and Easter ‘07.  Good times!

I think I enjoy working with the ATC cards because I LOVE mini albums.  The ATC size is like creating a even smaller than usual mini album, a mini-mini.  Whatever.  I like the ATC’s.

I worked on a Mother’s Day album at a crop over the weekend and it got me thinking about my Mom.

I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful Mother. She has shown me how to be a great mom through her own example. She is kind and creative, she is tender, sweet and helpful. My Mom is generous with her time and talents, she has taught me the blessings of service. And most important she has been there to laugh and dream with, she is my greatest friend.

There are so many wonderful things to say about my mother, but never enough words to express how much I love her.

Thank you Mom for being there through the heartaches and the sweet victories. Thank you for sharing in a “life’s moments”- the good, the bad, and the just plain silly…My life is so much richer because of you!

Enter to WIN my Teresa Collins Mini Album: Click HERE

Since it is the final week I have to prepare before opening my website, this will be my final give away (for the time being). I’ve designed this 6″ x 6″ mini album using Teresa Collins paper. I adore her paper and her blog! So, here’s how you win this album: Comment on my blog daily (you may comment on any post) until Saturday, April 26th. Each new day that you comment I will enter your name in the drawing again. This gives you at least 6 chances to win. I will draw a winner at random Sunday, April 27th and announce the winner on my blog! Good luck!

It happens. Wouldn’t life be nice if we all lived a little every day?

I was emailed this quote today…I love it:

“If the future road looks ominous or unpromising, and the roads back uninviting, then we need to rather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction.”

–Maya Angelou

Perfect, right? I absolutely love Maya Angelou, she is such an inspiring and amazing woman. You can always count on a good quote from her!

Makes me feel like I need to make some changes. “Step off in another direction”…I’ve been over-extending myself…or maybe I just need to change my “attitude” about all that I have (and want) to accomplish. It seems that I am running in circles lately…I do so like to stress myself out.

In reality I really do have such a blessed life. I’m taking a deep breath as I type this blog entry….ahhhhh….much better.

If you’ve been reading my blog you know that I love “little details”…I’ve even made a side bar page dedicated to them. I thought I’d post some more details tonight…they’re all from the Vintage Sweetheart book I posted a couple of days ago.

I am still working on getting all of my old photos back up from being “hacked”….if the photos you’re looking for aren’t working…try back a little later. I promise I’ll get them all back up for you!

Oh…and pat yourself on the back, you and I made it through “hump day” (sigh). It’s smooth sailing into the weekend from here on out!

….one last thing before you go………. …….. ….. . . . . BLOG CANDY!

OK, so my site was hacked…I’m still in the process of trying to get all the photos up and running again. My Computer God of a husband is trying to make sure it stays up for me. But the “hosting” (which we have no control over) keeps locking us out. I guess the everyone who used their hosting was attacked yesterday. Pretty crazy.

Alas, we’ll do what we can to keep the site up for all of you wonderful people who visit daily…and of course for all of you who want to comment and be entered to win BLOG CANDY!

Through it all I finished a project I finished over the weekend. My “Little Book” will be for sale on Pretty Paper Book in May. Hope you all like it!

I have also been trying to work on some of my sidebar links. I’ve uploaded a bunch of photos to “Out on the Ranch” and a few of my “Older Layouts” if you want to check them out! Have a wonderful day!

This is a “half-way complete” photo of one of my upcoming books. I just loved the faces and thought they would make good album covers. What do you think? It’s kind of funny because I don’t have many vintage photos but this seems to be the perfect book to put them in…Guess I’ll be giving my Grandmother a call {Grandma, you’ll be hearing from me soon}.
I do not make very many Vintage albums but I thought this would make a good Mother’s Day album or maybe even a Tribute album.

Don’t forget:
I’m giving away my Vintage Tag at the end of this week. Leave a comment whenever you visit my blog this week (one post per day, per person will be counted). You may comment on any blog entry you wish. The lucky winner will be posted on Saturday, April 12th.

I have 3 weeks of giveaways so be sure to check back and post a comment. The grand prize at the end of the three weeks will be one of my hand-made mini albums!