Gratitude

OK, so 2008 hasn't been so great thus far. Hubby was the victim of armed robbery on January 2nd. I'm currently unemployed. I need to focus on the things and people I am grateful for.


How about the littles? The wee ones are a great source of pride and joy, love and comfort to me. They sure enjoyed Christmas this year and we enjoyed them!

Happy New Year

I wish you a Happy New Year!

This year's buzz phrase is:

2008 is going to be GREAT!

I hope so because 2007 was a very rough year. Every area of my life was challenged and they were not easy challenges either. They were the type that dealt with family and friends, jobs, life and death, and core values. I held fast to my beliefs and made it through to the end. I breathed a sign of relief when the ball dropped at Times Square ringing in the new year. Here's to letting the lessons learned in 2007 bear fruit in 2008. Yes, It's going to be a great year!

Pumpkin Fluff

1 box vanilla sugar-free fat-free instant pudding
1 box butterscotch sugar-free fat-free instant pudding
4 cups skim milk
l large can pumpkin
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon nutmeg
4 0unces (1/2 small carton) fat-free cool whip

Blend the two boxes of pudding with the milk until thick. Blend in the pumpkin and spices. Blend in the cool whipScoop into a bowl and top with some cool whip and eat. Lick the spoon. Scrape some into a reduced-fat graham cracker pie crust and chill for Pumpkin Fluff Pie.

To Aunt Ellen (The Greatest Aunt in the Whole Wide World) this recipe is for YOU!!

A Collage

This is the collage I did as an exercise for Walking in This World. I think its telling me to slow down, enjoy the music, the sights, the smells, and the colors of life.

Artist Date

Today I took myself on an artist date. It was nothing fancy. I didn't even have to leave the comfort of my home. The house was quiet and I was alone so I let myself play with some of my software -- Photoshop Elements. I opened a random clip from my clip art file to play with. I started adding layers, gradients, playing with brushes, the color picker, layer styles and types. When I was finished my creation was too cute to trash so I saved it. This is my first Walking 2007 piece and it was a lot of fun making it. Sometimes art isn't planned--it just happens.

Baby Camryn

Here are some pictures of little Camryn Leigh.

Nicole's Baby Shower

Callie showning off while Tayah enjoys her refreshment.

Tayah is happy now. Cheryl and Sue.


The guests had a great time too!

Nobody went away hungry or prizeless.

Nicole's Baby Shower

Sue made the most gorgeous cake--Strawberry Shortcake!!!

Nicole's Baby Shower

These are the handmade items from Aunt Patti.

Nicole's Baby Shower

Camryn got lots of nice clothes including several made by the aunts. Patti knitted two sweaters, a blanket, and monogrammed many items especially for Cami. Sue made some darling onesies and outfits and a Strawberry Shortcake quilt with satin binding. Sue Canute monogrammed some darling outfits and Nicole's mom made her a cute fluffy quilt. The rest of us bought the darling outfits she got.

EDM #54 -- Draw Someone or Something You Love

This is Caleb who turned four this summer. He is my first grandchild. I have a bit of a special bond with him as he was a year old before I missed spending a day with him. That was hard.

EMD # 42 -- Draw Something You are Thankful for

This is my second grandson Elijah. We call him Eli. He was three this summer. He will soon have a new little sister named Camryn. I'm not only thankful for Elijah but that soon he will not be an only child. He wants to see his new baby sister so bad. He calls her Cami Camryn. It's so cute.

EDM #26 - Draw anything you like

This is my only (so far) granddaughter Tayah. She is 13 months old. She will be joined by a little cousin Camryn who is due January 3, 2007. Then I will have two little girlies! Yeah!!

EDM #56 -- Self-Portrait

Here are a pair of self portraits I did a while back. The first is in graphite and the second in colored pencil. In an effort to remove the background in Photoshop Elements I lost some of the color of my hair. I'll have to rescan this one.