Winding Up

Winding up a trip to the Big Apple which is always fun. This week, however, has been fairly hot and humid for September. That did impact us and our walking. But NY, I do love you.  The subways, the canyons, the parks, the stores, the food...oh the food. But most of all the people. I really believe a lot of that 'New Yawker' attitude shifted after 9/11. Or maybe it's just what I truly believe...You mostly get what you expect from people. I got good, over and over again, from almost everyone I spoke to. Ok, I speak to a lotta people. But that's been our experience.

When I get home, it will be scrap the trip time. Still, I have a day to add some more memories!

Wordless Wednesday 11 09 28

Alaska Cruise 2002

Tuesday Tutorial: Blending with Dynamic Brushes

I had my first brushes class way back before I really didn't know much about digital scrapping and so the lessons were really hard for me. I then took the lazy way out and used the .png files which work more like a stamp. I do have to say that 'seeing' the little preview in brushes is getting harder and harder for me. My BrushPilot is getting a lot more use.

I really didn't know what dynamic brushes were though I think I actually bought some! You know how that is, don't you? But here is a wonderful tutorial on how to use them both with a computer and with a tablet.  Thank you so much Brandy!



Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. I will say, I bought those brushes right away!

Sunday Serenade 11 09 25 Blossom Dearie

What else could one want?

Flashback Friday - 11 09 23 I Learned My Lesson!

Once before, just once, I touched a cactus! That was a very painful lesson. I'm surprised I got this close to one but pictures don't lie!

outside Mesa AZ 2004

Wordless Wednesday 11 09 21

goodbye summer

Cracking My Heart

Another three days to myself as dh goes on a short business trip. The weather is looking very Fall-Like with a gray drizzly day but the temperature is not down as much as I'd like.  When it's rainy and still warmish, it tends to give me a headache. But that's such a slight problem in the scheme of life, it's not one to fret over.

I suspect most of us have our favorite blogs, the ones we turn to each morning, and when I read of a blogger hurting, a little piece of my heart cracks. That happened to me this morning and I too was sad for her. I know that my response is a good thing because that cracking heart is always cracking open a bit more. It doesn't always feel good, but it is a good thing for me and for most of us.

Here's a song for all those who find themselves in challenging times. I've loved this one since I first heard it back in the 60s. Thank you Pete!

Sunday Serenade 11 09 18 Beckett

A song that was covered by IronMaiden but oh this original! Classic 70s. Plus it's a treat just to see the opening of The Old Grey Whistle Test, a beloved British BBC2 show back in the day.

50th High School reunion this weekend

I'm really looking forward to seeing a lot of my former classmates again. I went to a Catholic girls school that drew students from all over the DC suburban area. Sadly, the school closed at the end of the 80s, and I just read today that the class that would have been seniors was allowed to attend a nearby Catholic boys school for their final year! It's nice that they were able to stay together, but the boys school went back to boys only after that year. Still an amazing story.

btw, yes, I did start high school before I was born! LOL... Actually, I was the youngest in our class and graduated at 16. You can do the math! One thing I know is that every woman there will be older than me!!

Time to get ready for tonight's dinner! ciao!

Flashback Friday 11 09 16 - R.I.P.Lynn

Lynn was a good friend who worked at the Pentagon. He was not there on 9/11 because he always took the MD primary day off and had a get together with his neighbors. I believe he suffered from 'survivor's guilt' because a few years later he dropped dead of a heart attack - on the corridor steps of the Pentagon. RIP Lynn, may your spirit be at peace.

Wordless Wednesday 11 09 14 - Baghdad 2004

Tuesday Tutorial 11 09 13 Making a Dreamboard

This tutorial comes from the wonderful lifecoach Jamie Ridler. She uses dreamboards a lot but as she says, sometimes you just don't have time for a full dreamboard. Watch her make one in this 2minute video. You DO have time!


Creative Living Quick Tip: One Image Dreamboards from Jamie Ridler on Vimeo.

All About Me Monday - She's a Scrappin' Fool

There are times when the scrapping bug just hits with force, and it's hit me again. Normally, I like tidy, clean, linear pages with stories that can easily be read. I believe my journalism skills are a lot better than my creative writing skills. I have loved digital scrapbooking because it does allow me to open up my creative side. I can do so many things on the screen with digital elements that I could never do on a paper.

Recently, on of my favorite designers Anna Aspnes, moved to a new store, Oscraps. There were a few more of her products that I wanted to buy...ok, a lot,  but a few at a time!...and using mainly hers for a few days really got me into a different mode. I had had a scrap break while I had done days and days of driving, and that creative energy was ready to get out. Here are some 'mainly Anna' pages.

My Home My Heart

Flahback Friday 11 09 09 Family Trio

This is one of the photographs The Sartorialist has on his blog. There is a wonderful collection of vintage photos in addition to current ones of 'well dressed' people. I was glad to see the explanation of this one, because my first thought was that they were Nazis, certainly not hunters going out with pistols. But the truth is better.

original

The information from the woman who posted this photo reads:

"My Grandfather was a freedom fighter in Denmark during the second World War. This picture makes me feel very proud of him!" Mette Lind Jørgensen

What brave men they were!

Must have had Gold on the Brain

I made three new layouts the other day, and it wasn't until I was done that I saw I was on a Gold roll.

Must be time for another color!

Wordless Wednesday 11 00 07 Crumlin Road Courthouse

Belfast Landmark of "The Troubles"

Tuesday Tutorial 11 09 06 Homemade Distressed Embossing Powder

Here's another one that I thought would help you out as we get closer to Halloween AND December Daily. Oh Yeah, it's time to start thinking about prepping your December albums. Really! it makes the December fun so so much easier. You can find Roxy, this clever woman, here.

Sunday Serenade 11 09 04

Since tomorrow is Labor Day and that tends to be the official end to summer, I think I will agree and call an end to summer songs. Now this song doesn't have summer in the title, but the movie does. I hope you summer ends on such a fun note and you get to dance into autumn!  I'll still be at the beach in Florida where summer goes on forever.

ETA:Unfortunately my beach trip was dealt a low blow by a tropical storm. So instead of being ON the beach, I am still driving driving driving but now driving back north. Sigh.



Enjoy your Sunday!

Flahback Friday 11 09 02 Family Trio

What a fascinating shot I think this is. The expressions on each of their faces; the 3 different directions in which they're looking; the clothes.  I also found it interesting that the only real physical contact is the boy's hand on his mother's neck. Does anyone else think the man has a good resemblance to Prince Charles? All in all, I find this photo a bit creepy somehow. What do you think?