Stuff Portrait Friday

This week was:

1. Something Big
2. Something Small
3. Half of Something

Something Big....

I'm glad all I did was take a picture. I could never touch a frog! This one was HUGE!!!

Something small.....

This is a bud from my red maple. They are just starting on one tree and are further along on another. If you look closely on the left is a very small spider web!

Half of something....

What's the half you ask? This is my hose half working because there was a leak and it's also half of two "challenges". The first being this and the second the border technique I learned yesterday!

Did you play?

take care,
Dawn

Photoshop Friday #3

You know I think I am liking these! Each week gets a little easier in that I "sort of" understand what I am doing instead of just going through the steps. Today's lesson on Jessica Sprague's blog was a grungy border. I practiced on some flower pictures I had and this is what I did tonight.



I also tried it changing the border color and made this.




Then I got brave (ha ha!) and tried my hand on digi layout. This is number #6 for me. I used a Gina Miller Kit with Jen Wilson word art.

I'm already looking forward to next week :)

take care,
Dawn

Just to make you smile!

I got this email from my friend Teresa. Some of them just make me smile :)


GAMES FOR WHEN WE ARE OLDER
1. Sag, you're It.
2. Hide and go pee.
3. 20 questions shouted into your good ear.
4. Kick the bucket
5. Red Rover, Red Rover, the nurse says Bend Over.
6. Musical recliners.
7. Simon says something incoherent.
8. Pin the Toupee on the bald guy.

SIGNS OF MENOPAUSE
1. You sell your home heating system at a yard sale.
2. You have to write post-it notes with your kids' names on them.
3. You change your underwear after a sneeze.

OLD IS WHEN
1. Going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face.
2. You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.
3. Getting a little action means I don't need fiber today.
4. Getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
5. An all-nighter means not getting up to pee!

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEKEND
1. I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!
2. When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunky dunk."
3. Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over?
4. Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.
5. My husband says I never listen to him. At least I think that's what he said.
6. Just remember...if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.
7. If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!
8. Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.
But Most Of All, Remember!
A Friend Is Like A Good Bra. Hard to Find, Supportive, Comfortable, And Always Close To Your Heart!

Photoshop Friday

I found Jessica Sprague's blog last week. She gives tutorials on digi scrapping. I think I like it because I'm always up for a challenge. This weeks lesson was Creating Patterned Paper Accents with Brushes. I had a little trouble this week, but she emailed me back and I fixed the problem :) Not only did I try her challenge but I made a brush out of the doodle I got at Digital Design Essential which was last weeks lesson :)

You'll recognize the picture from my last post. My granddaughter spent four days with me this week while Britt worked. She is just so cute that I can't help but to take pictures of her. I get to use all the girlie pretty colors when I make these pages for her too :)

The paper is from Sweet Mindy designs. The ribbon is from Shabby Princess and I also used Jen Wilson's You Name it. I hope I covered everything.

take care,
Dawn

Stuff Portrait Friday (a few days late again!)

Stuff Portrait Friday: April 21st, 2006 - Your Initials

1. Kristine - K - I'm going to take a picture of something that starts with a K - You take your first initial and take a picture of something...

2. Middle initial - Yep, now take a picture of something that starts with your middle initial

3. Last name initial - Yes it's this easy!

Ok, so I'm late again doing this. My pictures aren't very creative but if I wait to long to figure something out it will never get done.

D is for Dawn and Daffodil

M is for Marie and Mackenzie, my granddaughter that I had for the week. This was a bit shadowy but it'll have to do.

K is for my last name and King Kong

I enjoy doing these. I am glad I found this site :)

take care'
Dawn

Remembering Ilyse

I met Ilyse through my friend Becky. Becky and Ilyse met teaching on Nantucket and became the best of friends. Becky only had wonderful things to say about Ilyse. It was a pleasure having her become one of our circle of friends.

After knowing her for a while Ilyse became sick. I remember how Becky rallied around her to help her through it. Ilyse was here on the Cape with no family. Becky was the one to see her through her illness many times over.

Ilyse had been battling brain cancer for years. We knew Ilyse through her last two bouts of surgeries and treatments. It seemed that each time she would bounce back, albeit with some challenges. It was last January that Becky called me to say Ilyse was not doing well this time around and they had only given her a few more weeks to live. I remember not only feeling the sadness I had for Ilyse but also for Becky. Ilyse was like a sister to her. My heart ached doubly.

Ilyse went to live with her parents in Florida soon after this diagnosis. Becky remained a true friend and visited often and shared her tears and laughter with Ilyse and us, her friends at school. This past September Ilyse passed away just shy of her 40th birthday. We all lost a dear friend. After Ilyse's memorial service a friend of hers sent Becky some daffodil bulbs to pass to all of Ilyse's friends here on the Cape to plant in her honor and memory.

The daffodils I planted have bloomed. Just the other day I was cleaning out all of the leaves from the flower bed, having a conversation with Ilyse. Letting her know she has not been forgotten. I will always remember Ilyse!

take care,
Dawn

Suzy Homemaker and other ramblings!

Do you ever hear or see something that jogs your memory back to your childhood? Yesterday I received a catalog in the mail called Betty's Attic. It is full of lots of retro things. I remember having so many of the toys they show (including the ugliest monkey!).

So, getting the catalog made me think about some old toys that I had. I remember having a Suzy Homemaker oven when I was little (I'm the one on the left!) I knew somewhere I had this picture. It was taken in January 1967 when I was still 5 years old. It's one of the few pictures I have of me as a child. I remember making cakes in this oven. It was sort o f the precursor to the Easy Bake Oven. :)

What I remember most about this picture has NOTHING to do with the Suzy Homemaker oven. I remember right around this time I was tattling on my sister Cindy for saying a bad word. (I think it was hell). I remember my mother asking me what she had said and I cried and cried because I just couldn't bring myself to say the word.

Memories are funny things!!

take care,
Dawn

I'm a good mom and grandmother!

Brittainy went back to work this week. It is the first time since Mackenzie was born seven months ago. She is not doing it full time, just for the week while she has a free babysitter...ME!

Mackenzie has been so good. She takes naps often which helps me :) It's been fun having her. I certainly realize that parenthood is for the young! It's taking a lot out of me and I can't seem to get anything done!

I know how hard it is to work and come home and have to run the house. I thought I would be a good mom so last night I made dinner for Britt and Jay. I sent it home with her. Tonight I also made dinner for her and it was ready when she picked up Mackenzie. Tomorrow I have promised her dinner as well.

I have two more days of watching her this week. I even get three days off after that until I have to go back to school. Now I need to see if I can convince Timmy to sleep at his grandmother's house one night to have a day to myself.

take care,
Dawn

I did it!

Yes, I know this will win no design contests or even be considered a WOW layout, but....and it's a big but for me... I made the background myself. I guess it was really by myself. I went to the Jessica Sprague 's blog and used her Photoshop Friday tutorial and created the background myself. I was so excited that I figured out how to make a brush and then actually use it, that I forgot to touch up my photos! I wonder if I'll ever really get the hang and comfortable feeling of digi scrapping! I will admit that the clean up is a breeze!

take care,
Dawn

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!! It is double joyous around here. Not only did the Easter Bunny come last night but the tooth fairy made a visit as well. I wonder if the two ran into each other. It seems that when you loose a tooth on a holiday you get extra money. Hmmm, I wonder what I can work out with my dentist. With all the work I am having done he surely can give me the bits and pieces of my teeth that are left to see what kind of return I can get from the tooth fairy.

Timmy was up at 6:30 this morning enjoying the basket that was left behind. Right now he is outside blowing bubbles. Is it a tradition everywhere to get bubbles from the Easter Bunny?

Soon we will have some family over for dinner and an egg hunt. I also have to find time to clean up after that bunny who left bits of carrot all OVER our deck last night.

take care,
Dawn

Do I tell him the truth?

Today is my birthday and my husband is feeling pretty proud of himself! Last night I as we were going to sleep I said, "Well, tomorrow I am going to be 29". The wise guy that he is replied, "just for the day right?". Then he felt a bit smug and announced that he knew I was actually going to be 43! I had to give in, he won. Yup I'm 43 (in his mind) 45 by the calendar. Who am I to argue? LOL!

I am looking forward to a trip to Outback Steakhouse tonight for dinner. I've never eaten there but I hear it's very good! Brittainy, Jay and Mackenzie just came by for a visit and they gave me an I LOVE LUCY watch. Brittainy also made me a pineapple upside down cake. It was warm, right out of the oven, and quite tasty!

I did an errand for a friend at the scrapbook store today and while I was there spent a little time and money on myself.

All in all the day is good!

take care,
Dawn

Stuff Portrait Friday a day late!

I found this on Dawn's blog and decided to give it a try...a day late nonetheless!

Your Peeps - introduce us to some of your friends outside of the blog world.

These are not so much my peeps as they are the "people" who are all over my house!

Something Fuzzy

This picture is about 6 months old of my dear sweet granddaughter. Look at her darling fuzzy head!

Something/Someone you want to dye/die - Yeah, shut up, you've thought of it!

Need I say more!

I think I will try this more often it was fun!

take care,

Dawn

A *Hole* lot of fun

Imagine coming home from work just days before Easter and seeing your back yard look just like this! We have had septic problems for a while and I've been going through the steps I need to in order to have the work done. But I wasn't expecting them here this week. I was actually going to call to see if there was a time frame they could give me to let me know when they would arrive. I guess I don't need to make that phone call now! I am happy that it is getting done and that hopefully, it will be completed before next week, which happens to be my vacation from school.

I'm really wondering how the Easter Bunny is going to hide eggs in this mess!

take care,
Dawn

Chapter One!

Yes, Timmy just completed his first chapter book! MUMMIES IN THE MORNING It makes a mother proud! He is in first grade and has been bringing home books to read for months and I think he has been enjoying the easy books because he can get back to playing when he's done. I mentioned to his teacher that he was ready for a challenge. She said it was time to move him to chapter books.

Last year I started buying all the Magic Tree House books hoping someday that he would read them. Tonight he brought home his second book. I have also ordered Captain Underpants and a friend suggested Ghostville Elementary School books. We both went to Amazon and he picked out half a dozen books to buy. I think I have ordered enough books to keep him busy through summer vacation.

I want him to love to read (he's not quite at the loving stage yet!). Hopefully we'll find some books to spark his interest.
It seems like just yesterday all he was doing was chewing the corners of his board books and now he can read. My little boy is growing up!

take care,
Dawn

What's for Breakfast?

A couple of weeks back I was making French toast for breakfast and while Rich and Timmy were eating, I got out my trusty camera, grabbed a kitchen chair, stood on it with said camera in hand trying to get a picture of the breakfast I was making. Rich looked at me quite puzzled while I was taking the picture and asked if I was doing it to prove that I do feed him! And yes I do LOL! Our grocery store sells a maple bread (and a cinnamon bread that I like better, but this week I was trying to please Rich) that is just perfect for French toast. I sometimes buy a loaf, but several batches and then freeze it so Rich can take some out of the freezer and pop in it the toaster for breakfast during the week. I used to make a big breakfast every Sunday but I slowed down because I really don't like breakfast food. I am happy with a bowl of cereal, or some fresh fruit...and let's not forget a BIG cup of coffee!!!

take care,
Dawn

Add me to the list....

I got this from Marianne who got it from Debi who got it from Dawn who got it from Jenny that lives in the house that Jack built. (Well not quite. I just got carried away with Jack...well, not that I got carried away with Jack, but you know what I mean!)


A - Accent: A bit of a Cape Cod accent with that "r" thing :)
B - Breakfast: Stoneyfield lowfat vanilla yogurt with fiber one and strawberries
C - Chore you hate: Washing the kitchen floor
D - Dad's name: Allen but always went by the nick name of Tex. He got the name as a child because he used to deliver newspapers on a horse (at least that's the story I was told!)
E- Essential everyday item: Computer without a doubt
F - Flavor ice cream: Real Strawberry
G - Gold or silver?: Gold
H - Hometown: Right here on the Cape
I- Insomnia: Not for a long time
J - Job title: Kindergarten teacher
K - Kids: 2: a 25 year old DD and a 7 year old DS....gotta add the six month old granddaughter!
L - Living arrangements: DH, DS and myself in a three bedroom ranch. Soon to add a fish to the mix.
M - Mom's birthplace: Right here on the Cape
N - Number of significant others: Only one DH :) but in my life I've had three relationships that I would consider significant.
O - Overnight hospital stays: 4 (2 baby related) (2 tonsil related)
P - Phobia: Fire, being over my head in the water
Q- Queer?: not sure what this is asking
R- Religious affiliation: protestant
S- Siblings: 2 sisters (I'm the oldest)
T - Time you wake up: 5:30 on a school day about 8:00 on the weekends
U-unnatural haircolors you've worn: Nothing unnatural...I only put my hair back to the color God intended it to be...why else would I have all of these freckles!
V - vegetable you refuse to eat: asparagus, lima beans, peas
W - worst habit: Hmmm, I have to think about that
X - x-rays you've had: back, teeth, shoulder, lungs
Y - yummy: There are so many! I love lemon anything :)
Z - zodiac sign: Aries

take care,
Dawn

How do you like it?

Coffee that is! I remember being in my early twenties drinking a cup of instant coffee with as much sugar as I could get into the cup. Oh and I felt like such a grown up! Now, I'd rather go without than to drink instant! I just love a cup of coffee. My favorite is Honey Dew. . . cream no sugar! I hear all this talk about Starbucks but there isn't one around here. I'd really like to try that sometime.

Why is it when you make coffee at home it just never tastes as good as when you get it out? I've even tried buying Honey Dew's coffee and it just isn't the same. I'm not a big fan of flavored coffee but I have discovered that if I add a couple of shakes of ground cinnamon to the coffee it makes a world of difference. If I really want a "good" cup I add a little Pampered Chef cinnamon to the grounds.

MMMMM MMMMMM GOOD!

take care,
Dawn

Gotta Love Crayola

Every month I have the children in my kindergarten class draw a picture of themselves next to a tree. At the end of the year they have a book of the portraits to take home. It's wonderful to see how they have grown in their skills!

I spend the first several months helping them to learn how to draw a picture of themselves. One of my friends (also a K teacher) refers to the beginning self portraits as ATTACK OF THE HEAD PEOPLE. You know, the arms and legs come out of the head! We talk about the different parts of a body you need to draw. I remind them that they are not the same color from head to toe, that they are not bald, they have a mouth, etc.

It occurred to me several years back that Crayola crayons possesses the most remarkable quality!!! Now matter how many times I have drawn myself those crayons have an uncanny way of making me slim!!! It's like they have a mind of their own as I draw myself. I don't think I will ever use a crayon that it not Crayola. Though it hasn't been scientifically proven yet, the markers seem to work the same way!!

take care,
Dawn

Angels

Several years ago a friend gave me my first Willow Tree angel. It was an angel playing a guitar. My second angel came when Timmy was very ill a couple of years ago. This is the angel that the same friend gave me. When I look at this Angel's Embrace I don't see the statue. I see my sick little boy being held and comforted back to health. I received another angel that same time period from a coworker. My daughter also brought an angel to the hospital when her little brother was sick.

My dad died three years before Timmy was born and never meet his only grandson. I remember when Timmy was lying in the hospital bed in the ICU I had the most overpowering feeling that my father was standing over him.

I love these angels and am reminded of the power of friendship, love and family whenever I see one of these Willow Tree creations.

take care,
Dawn

Why???

I got this email from my friend Teresa. Some of these are just so true!!!




Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles arealways white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down togive the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summerwhen we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

take care,
Dawn

Wr--Wro--Wron--Wrong

I don't know what it is about that word, but it just doesn't come out of my mouth easily (or often!). I pride myself on the fact that I very RARELY make a mistake LOL!

When I was a teenager I had a poster on my door that really bugged my mother. It simply said, "Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do." Just a few weeks ago I made a "mistake" and my dear husband was so excited that he raced to the phone to call my mother and let it know that it had happened. Though I couldn't hear what she said to him, I am sure it must have mimicked his look of glee and laughing!

I have a friend (Hi Ingrid!) who shares this same affliction with me. That word doesn't come out of her mouth easily either. Maybe that's why we are such good friends :) It was time this week to share my badge of honor. This pin that I have proudly displayed for years has now found a new home with Ingrid. Long Live Perfection!!

take care,
Dawn