Beachy Memories

 The Patriotic decor is packed and put away.  The seashells have made their appearance.

 Pictures of Hawaii and shells purchased....bring wonderful beach memories to mind.

 This little frame is a new purchase in Florida...

 I just love that sweet little heart shell.

 Picture of one of our cruise ships....I believe this was to Hawaii.

And my lantern filled with shells. 
I have more shells out, but you will have to wait for Marty's cloche party!!

Tabletop Tuesday @ Marty's..

Ford at Fifty

I don't own a lot of objects from my dad.  He died when I was nine.  He also lived a very simple life and didn't own a grand watch or collectors items.  But I do have a book that was his.  My mother wrote that it belonged to him.
My dad worked for the Ford Motor Company in Michigan.  I believe he made something to do with headlights.
This book was an anniversary item for Ford's 50th year.  It is filled with old pictures.  It really has no value except to me.  My dad must have been proud to work for the company to have purchased and kept the book.
I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the old pictures.

 I remember taking this book to school for reports.  Boy, how things have changed!

Do you Know what today is?

My husband always says I like to talk...and he must be right.  Today is my 600th post!  (Really a couple over!) I started blogging in February 2008.  Blogging has become a very important part of each day for me.  I have met friends across the country and some right here in AZ.  Blogging is what brought us together.  I love seeing all your homes, ideas, creations....a new magazine every day!  So I am going to continue, at least for a while...I don't know what else I could possibly talk about, but that doesn't seem to stop me!

webconstruction.com

Thanks for being part of my life!!

Oh, don't get me started....

I just have this memory going around in my head. 

About 26 years ago, my girlfriend and I took our children to the mall to run around in the play area.  We had done it several times.  She took her son and daughter to the restroom, I stayed with my son.  He said he didn't have to go.  A minute or two later, I could not find my son.  Lest you think something horrible happened, he had run off with my friend and she thought I knew...I didn't.
I was in a PANIC.  I was screaming his name, begging everyone around me to help me find my son, crying hysterically.  It was a sight I am sure.
I didn't care what I looked like, didn't care about my jewelry, clothes, hair...didn't care about what I was supposed to do that evening, didn't care about what I would eat for lunch, didn't care if the world continued for another minute.  All I cared about, ALL I wanted was my son.  Those 5 or so minutes were horrible.  Excruciating...obviously, I still remember it vividly after all these years.

So, I won't ask the many questions that we all would like answers to.  I just wonder how a mother, loving her child, could go 30 days not in a total wreck of a Panic when she says she didn't know where her baby was.  I won't judge - at least not here....I just would like to know how someone can live that way.

In the meantime.....praising my Lord and Savior, who will make all things right in the end.

I feel a little better now.  Not much...but a little.

A 4th of July Evening

 Sparklers in a planter...

 My son and I playing with sparklers.  First time in 15 years since leaving WI...first time allowed in Arizona.

 What wonderful memories this brings me!  I thought of Picket tonight...she always talks about the tears of joy.  I shed some of those tonight.  Remembering sparklers with my cousins when we were all kids, jumping off my grandparents porch...or the time Ro and her family came to our home and my husband got out the big torch to light the sparklers...we laughed so hard...I am sure you have some of those precious memories too!

 We are singing and marching around the backyard....singing like this...Na na na na na na na na....no words!  I may be closer to the end of my fifties than the end....but I am still a kid in my heart.

 Do you ever look at the moon and think....my friend in South Carolina, Florida, Michigan...all seeing the same moon??  (and yes, my little ole point and shoot took this picture!)

 Our fireworks show was on TV....It was beautiful!

What a fantastic evening! 

I Am Proud to be an American!

Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA....my Absolute Favorite Patriotic Song.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Graphics Fairy

HI YA! or

watch out world for the cutest karate kids on the block!!  They both earned their Yellow belts! 

How Many Picture Frames??

I am laughing at myself right now.  I know that my friend Candy is saying, sure, you tell me I have a lot of picture frames...
But I do love family pictures.  The other day I went around and took shots of all the different frames I have out NOW.  (we won't talk about the ones I have stored away! )  I also have to say, this does not include your typical wood frames.  I didn't take those.  So, I will show you a few of my favorite frames....do you have your sweet tea?  This could take awhile.

 I love this picture and frame, it is of my husband and me in Hawaii.....such wonderful memories.  See the hair?  I was so bald from chemo, but I always wore a wig. 

 I love scrolly frames.  I know the pic of me and the kids isn't the best, but I love this picture of them with their pinwheels....they were so little.

 My son messed up GD's hair and it was the greatest shot....This frame was perfect with the round opening.

 I love this frame.  It is black and gold...the pic is of us on the slab of our home being built.

 These two frames are the oddest color...sort of between gold and silver...with my grandchildren ...so little!!  They are of those old fashion settings. 

 This frame I am crazy about.  I like the crystals hanging in each frame.

 My mom bought me this frame probably 35 years ago at Hudson's.  I have all my old family pics in it.

 Another scrolly one!

 My wonderful friend Karen made this one for me....that is Karen, Marty and I in California.

 This is a huge frame in our hallway.  I love it, but I never, NEVER change the pictures..it is just too hard to get back up on the wall!

 Ro and I have this same frame.  It is probably 35 years old too.  (do you see the baby on the left...I will have to show that frame sometime....that is me!)

 This was my mother's frame.  It is painted on a mirror...it was falling apart and I had it repaired.

 Mini frames are so hard to find anymore....this is my mom and dad.

 This vintage frame I picked up when my kids were about the age in the picture.  My husband when he had a beard!

 This silver frame has a picture of my Grandpa in the Dodge band - 1918.

 I love what the frame says...we can go anywhere, if we go together, no matter where we are, we're home.  I found this frame when we first moved to AZ....I kinda wasn't real happy to be here at first. (I tried several times to get this clearer, but really, the frame is actually kinda blurry itself)

 Love oval shape frames...this is my husband's mom and aunt around the 40's. Look at those hats!

Ro bought me this gorgeous teapot frame....it is a favorite of mine!

This is a 2x3 frame...kinda brass colored.  It has a chalk print of my husband's grandmother as a child.  Wish I had that doll!!!

 This frame is silver...it was a gift for our 25th anniversary - hmmm, 13 years ago!

I made this collage for our 25th anniversary...pics of just the two of us in those 25 years.  Note:  remember to take pictures of just you and your husband.  We didn't do this enough once we had kids. Now I wish I had more pictures from back then....

Are you all still here?  Nope, I don't collect frames....do I?

Joining Romantic Home and No Minimalist Here.

Just playin'.....

I felt like playing around with my pictures, and then, my son decided we should play around with my blog. I hope you like the new look. I am able to now make my pictures X-large...yeah!

If you heard moans and yells Monday night, that was me every time my son clicked on something....I was worried I would lose my whole blog. But all turned out well....and I calmed down - eventually!