love these layouts

The new catalog for ADORNit's fall scrapbooking collections is out and some of the layouts have photos of my cute granddaughters Brookelyn and Bailee. I love how Georgana (ADORNit president) scrapbooked their photos using the latest papers and embellishments.

:: through Scott's lens ::

Not a bird's eye view, but a "Scott's eye view" of Southern California on our recent trip. While I shopped the huge Fashion Island Mall, Scott wandered, sketched, and snapped random pictures of people and places he found interesting.

a poem in honor of 9 / 11

I heard the poet read his poem on one of the commemoration programs on TV today. The beauty of the poem and its message made me stand still and listen.

The Names - Billy Collins

Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night.
A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze,
And when I saw the silver glaze on the windows,
I started with A, with Ackerman, as it happened,
Then Baxter and Calabro,
Davis and Eberling, names falling into place
As droplets fell through the dark.
Names printed on the ceiling of the night.
Names slipping around a watery bend.
Twenty-six willows on the banks of a stream.
In the morning, I walked out barefoot
Among thousands of flowers
Heavy with dew like the eyes of tears,
And each had a name --
Fiori inscribed on a yellow petal
Then Gonzalez and Han, Ishikawa and Jenkins.
Names written in the air
And stitched into the cloth of the day.
A name under a photograph taped to a mailbox.
Monogram on a torn shirt,
I see you spelled out on storefront windows
And on the bright unfurled awnings of this city.
I say the syllables as I turn a corner --
Kelly and Lee,
Medina, Nardella, and O'Connor.
When I peer into the woods,
I see a thick tangle where letters are hidden
As in a puzzle concocted for children.
Parker and Quigley in the twigs of an ash,
Rizzo, Schubert, Torres, and Upton,
Secrets in the boughs of an ancient maple.
Names written in the pale sky.
Names rising in the updraft amid buildings.
Names silent in stone
Or cried out behind a door.
Names blown over the earth and out to sea.
In the evening -- weakening light, the last swallows.
A boy on a lake lifts his oars.
A woman by a window puts a match to a candle,
And the names are outlined on the rose clouds --
Vanacore and Wallace,
(let X stand, if it can, for the ones unfound)
Then Young and Ziminsky, the final jolt of Z.
Names etched on the head of a pin.
One name spanning a bridge, another undergoing a tunnel.
A blue name needled into the skin.
Names of citizens, workers, mothers and fathers,
The bright-eyed daughter, the quick son.
Alphabet of names in a green field.
Names in the small tracks of birds.
Names lifted from a hat
Or balanced on the tip of the tongue.
Names wheeled into the dim warehouse of memory.
So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart.

About the poet: Billy Collins was born in 1941 in New York City. He was appointed United States Poet Laureate and held this position at the time of the Sept. 11th attacks. He was a Professor at Lehamn College for thirty years. Billy Collins is an American original, a poet with a funny bone and a sly questioning intelligence. He is an ironist of the void and his poems–witty, playful, and beautifully turned–bump up against the deepest human mysteries. (bigsnap.com)

The poem, “The Names,” by Billy Collins brings about truth and honesty for the people who perished on 9/11. Billy Collins composed a poem that reminds us of that horrid day and the people who we lost. The author uses imagery, metaphors, and allegory to describe the thoughts and remembrance of that day. He uses the names of the victims of September 11th, so that we can re-visualize that day. The poem, “The Names” has a deep meaning to anyone who was directly affected by the September 11th attacks on America. He captures the words and creates a memory for those who perished during this time. Using the alphabet he uses one letter to symbolize each name of the victims. He chooses one name to represent each letter. The letters become synonymous with the names themselves.

{ working the booth }

Scrapbook USA, Salt Lake City, September 2011. Contrary to what you may hear, there are lots of scrapbookers out there doing their scrapping thing. It was fun to see them at work and sell them lots of stuff yesterday at the ADORNit booth.

But just in case the scrappers are buying less, ADORNit is into selling clothes, jewelry, and purses too. Not many ladies could resist a little splurge. Helping them find the perfect tops and/or accessories was great fun.

Alison chooses and buys the stuff. She's good at it.

beach scenes

"Climb the mountains or walk the beaches and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
John Muir - Our National Parks, 1901.

I took the photo above - the bird was literally running away from the wave. Such a "people thing" to do lol.

We're in California for a few days to celebrate our (this is unbelievable) thirty-seventh wedding anniversary. Spent two afternoons at the beach - Scott is painting and I'm walking and reading. The beaches are beautiful, uncrowded, warm, and relaxing. We're happy together.

daily messages

I get emails from a creative group called Brave Girls Club. They sponsor artist retreats, an online "Soul Restoration" course, and other art and scrapbook related things. They send little email messages almost every day which are always accompanied by a bird image. They let their artists participate in submitting daily bird images. It's fun to see the bird paintings and read the very creatively written messages by Melody Ross. Here's what I got in today's email:

meet the candidates

Tom Jensen

Herm Olsen

It's election time and we have two friends running for Logan City Council.....so..... Scott and I invited our neighbors to a little "meet our two favorite candidates" night here last night. The turnout was similar to the general voter turnout in an election like this...low. But, our candidates, being the professionals they are, turned it into an hour of personal discussion and deeper exploration of the issues. It was very interesting; they know so much and care so passionately. I admire anyone willing to volunteer their time to community service and public office.

It's a Winner Delicious Punch

I made a refreshing punch and ordered Pumpkin Cake from the bakery. The punch is made with the yummy Hawaii's Own frozen juice concentrate - Raspberry Guava flavor. That's my favorite flavor. It just tastes light and cold and fresh.

Mix one can of juice with one can of water in punch bowl or pitcher. Add lots of ice. Add one bottle Sprite or 7 Up. I use the cheapest store brand lemon-lime soda. Ginger Ale is good too. Slice some oranges and add some fresh mint leaves and raspberries for punch-bowl garnish.

sadness for hurricane victims

As I watched the TV and print coverage of Hurricane Irene, I was anxious as each report came in and then relieved when the outcome wasn't as severe as expected. But still, there is widespread devastation and heartbreak. and loss. My heart goes out to the millions who are suffering from horrible flooding and lack of power.

This photo was on CNN this morning, and I when I saw it I caught my breath and stared. This, the reported explained, is all this family has left of their home.

Billy Stinson (L) comforts his daughter Erin Stinson as they sit on the steps where their cottage once stood August 28, 2011 in Nags Head, North Carolina.

After seeing this photo, I walked through my kitchen and into the living room, touched my precious possessions, ran my hand across the smooth, shiny wood of my favorite table, walked outside, and sat on my front porch. I looked back at my house behind me - attached to my steps - and sent a message of gratitude heavenward. Then I went to the computer to find this photo, so I can remember to never take what I have for granted.

: ) suzie's baby shower : )

The good news is that Suzie is expecting! More good news came that she was doing so well that she could travel, so she and Winston took a much-needed break from the 110-degree temperatures they are enjoying this summer and came to Logan for a visit. We grabbed the opportunity to have a baby shower, and Suzie's aunts Jill, Patty, Mary and Melanie put together a wonderful party for her.

Jill is the perfect hostess and she really kicked it up a notch for this one. She had darling table decorations and wonderful food. The colors were bright and fun, yet girly. Notice all of the Mary Engelbreit-like whimsical serving pieces, the fresh flowers, gorgeous china and silver and lovely lace tablecloth. Jill does it up right!

The flower centerpiece was decorated with a cute growth chart which Jill gave to Suzie after the shower. The pink and green cupcakes were made by Melanie - under the colorful glitter were especially delicious carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

Jill made her signature chocolate cherry cupcakes - yummm.

Jill also created this baby girl bassinet to hold the gifts. I'm sure she won't mind me sharing her secret - she made it from a wicker laundry basket sitting on a small table. She lined the with batting and covered with cute pink and brown print fabric. She then covered it in a cloud of tulle which she pinned and tucked and fluffed. The effect was adorable!

On the shower invitation, Jill wrote that the shower was given by her excited "auntie nannys." When we arrived the aunties were all wearing nanny aprons - that Jill had made...the day before the shower. Yes, you read right. They were beautiful crisp white aprons with deep lace across the top AND their initials monogrammed on the bibs. Yeah, Jill's amazing. The three blonds are Scott's sisters Mary, Jill and Patty and the dark-haired aunt is Scott's brothers wife Melanie. Love them, every one.

This beautiful baby afghan was made by my brother's wife, Kimberly. She was chauffering her high school son to band camp so couldn't come, but sent this handmade gift that was soft and wonderful. We all loved the diamond pattern in pink and white.

Aunt Melanie and her daughter-in-law Jeannie, Suzie, Jeannie's daughter Ashley, and my other daughter Becky. It was so fun for Suz to see these family members that she doesn't get to see very often.

Aunt Patty and her daughter Kelly and granddaughter Adria.

Becky gave Suzie a little pink tutu. Perfectly appropriate for dancer-Suzie's little girl.

We were so thrilled that my brother Gary's wife could be here with us all the way from Tokyo. The timing was perfect and even better that her daughter-in-law Tiffany and her granddaughter Sophie could come to the shower too. Lesa gave Suz a darling little Japanese baby kimono that she had bought in Tokyo.

Tiffany is also expecting at exactly the same time as Suzie, so we had to take the back-to-back photo. She's expecting baby girl #2.

Here is Lesa's granddaughter Sophie and my little grandson Emmett.

Another cousin, my brother Doug's daughter Michelle is due to have TWINS in the next couple of weeks. Twin boys I must add. She's doing so well (!) and we can't wait for her to safely deliver those little boys. We had a Dr. Suess "Thing 1 and Thing 2" baby shower for Michelle a couple of weeks ago.

I'm so grateful for these girls - and for Suzie's soon-to-come little baby...named Elizabeth!