Grandma's Hands

I made this layout for my cousin Dawn. The hands belong to 4 generations of her family: Dawn, her son Cody, her father Bob, and her grandmother Rose. The photo was inspired by a story of a grandmother who explains how her hands have been the tools shes used to "reach out and embrace life." To read more about the story "My Grandma's Hands," please click HERE.

Wish List

This wild layout includes Danielle's Christmas wish list for Santa this year. She took the photo at her Grandma Schultz's house last year.

Pumpkin Picassos

My nieces Marie and Jill getting ready for Halloween.

H

My nephew Henry.

Contemplating Pumpkins

My niece, Vivienne, at the pumpkin patch.

Tribute to Felicia

One more tribute to my little Felicia.
My sweet cousin Dawn sent me the poem on the layout:

They will not go quietly,
the cats who’ve shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirit still survives.
Old habits still make us think
we hear a meowing at the door.
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be,
And, sometimes, coming home at night,
we miss them terribly.
And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them . . . and always will.

Felicia: Mar 1999 ~ Oct 2009

I had to make the awful decision to put my cat, Felicia, to sleep earlier this week. She was full of cancer which started out in her mammary glands and quickly spread through her little body. She was my constant companion for over 10 years. I will miss her terribly.

Homecoming '09

Here's my daughter, Danielle, and her good friend Amanda at Taco Bell either before or after the Homecoming Dance. In any case, I'm sure they are stuffing their faces and having a good time!

Extraordinary

This is my dd Danielle who turn 18 this week. (And, wow, she won't let me forget it either! LOL)

The quote is: The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

Encyclopedia of Me: Letter A

I've always wanted to make an album about myself but other projects always took priority. Janice's A-Z Memory Album Challenge at Pretty Scrappy was just the inspiration I needed to get started!

The journaling begins by saying one the first words I think of when I'm asked to describe myself is "artist."

The sketch in the notebook is of my daughter, Danielle, when she was about 5 years old. The black cat is my Cocoa who passed away just a few months ago. And of course I had to include my latest obsession: digital scrapbook layouts! The lion and lamb were cut from wood with a scroll saw and painted with plaster and acrylics. And the pansies are painted on a hutch in my dining room.