The Stone Rabbit

OF COURSE MY JOURNAL HAS TOUCHES OF PINK!!!

 

It's been so much fun to be a part of a Circle Journal with nine other women....scattered all around the United States!!  This is my first time in participating in such an event. . . and I hope it won't be my last!

A circle journal involves a group of folks who each choose a theme for their journal. . . then create the front and back of their "book", along with various other pages determined by the organizer.  "You" interpret you your idea of the "theme" of your journal by creating a two page spread that tells the other participants what the theme means to you.   THEN....you mail it off to the next person on the list....and anxiously await the arrival of a new journal from the person before you on the list.  I'm making this as clear as mud, I'm sure, but the idea is the journals make their way around to the various participants...each adding their two pages , then sending them to the next person. . . and THEN you get yours back in a few months and it is FILLED with so many completed pages, thanks to the other folks in the circle!!

 

OK.....so the idea is to first, come up with a theme.

I had a lot of trouble with this. . . I had so much trouble, in fact, that I changed it THREE times.  Finally, I settled on  a theme that involved  "WORDS that Describe You" .  They were to choose five words that they feel describes them!!

 Brilliant idea....right?  

Well, I thought it was at first.  Then I hit another road block. . . .a couldn't think of a TITLE that worked with my theme.

 

FINALLY, in a total panic last week, I got in touch with Nancy of MY CRAFTY LITTLE PAGE and asked for her help with the title.  We chatted for quite a while and I asked her to let me know if she came up with any suggestions, then I headed to Hobby Lobby to get paper for my journal. 

Not being a "scrapper". . . I was overwhelmed with the enormous selection of paper!  After a bit, I was sweatin'. . . anxiety was setting in.  How was I to POSSIBLY settle upon paper when I wasn't sure about the title...and there was SO much PAPER to choose from.

While  I was quickly adding "sheets of this and sheets of that" to my cart, I got a text from Nancy that read "how about KNOWING ME...KNOWING YOU?"  

OMG....I was overjoyed with that title!!  Not only did it hit the nail on the head of my intent of the theme, (getting to know each other) but it was an ABBA song and Nancy KNOWS how much I love their music in "Mamma Mia"!!!  The lyrics don't work with the theme idea, but the title sure does and that's what counted in my book.

SO....I grabbed lots of sheets of brightly colored and perky patterned paper. . .and as an afterthought, I picked up a huge tablet of paper that had a more vintage look!

 

 

 

 

My first attempts at creating the "look" of my journal didn't exactly light my fire.

I used my CRICUT to cut out mini-people ( ten to be exact...to represent each of us in our "circle"), but the more I messed with it the more it looked like a kindergarten project, so I ditched that idea and started trying to find inspiration in another direction.

 

I had really leaned toward a more "retro" look, but didn't have luck finding what I had in mind.  However, when I found photos of late Victorian ladies, I knew I had the idea I was wanting to convey. . .groups of women....friends!!!

SO....after spending HOURS and HOURS of trial and error and printing and cutting and taping and gluing and Mod Podging and "cursing"....yes, I did, I'm ashamed to admit that. . . I finally finished my project. 

 

Here's THE STONE RABBIT holding the journal just before I packed it up and put it in the box to be mailed Kay Ellen of KAY ELLEN DESIGN !!

The colors of the papers I used were brownish, taupish, PINKISH. . . ones that went so well with the antiqued Victorian look that evolved as I progressed through the pages.

 

I adhered vintage buttons to a vintage belt buckle with the wonder glue "E 6000".  The button/buckle dealy was placed atop vintage hat ribbon that I've had for a long time.  For good measure, I Mod Podged the front and back covers. . .and nearly PASSED OUT when I saw my papers bubbling up with the application of that stuff.  After it dried, however, the bubbles went away....well, they didn't on my "title page", but by that time, I didn't care...I just wanted to finish the journal and get it in the mail!!  So, yes, I lowered my "finished product bar".....first on the title page and on  a few other spots, too, but I was OK with that. . .this was a "handmade product" and little "blips" just proved it!!  :)

 

 

Here are photos of the inside of the front cover and the title page (with the bubbles). 

 

On your left is my introductory page. . . how I came to choose the theme and the title. . .and on the right is my page of directions. . .how the other participants are to complete their pages!

 

Next, I have my two "sign in" pages...I'm just sharing one today.  All proper "ladies" used to leave their "calling cards" when they paid a visit. . . so I asked the Circle Journal Ladies to create their own calling cards (I had blank ones stuffed in the envelopes for them to use). . .and to leave me a note on the backs of them!  Ooooooh....I'm looking forward to their little messages!!  :)

I learned that using "Tacky Glue" on the vintage PINK ribbon, seen below, leaves marks. . yep...lowering that bar some more!

The next two pages were My Pages. . .of how I interpreted my theme of "what are 5 words that describe you".  I put a little explanation of how I came up with my words and two of them on this page....and the three other ones on the opposite page (you don't see that page as I wanted to leave a bit of a surprise for the Journal Gals).

You can see that I did not carry that Victorian Look out on these pages.  I struggled trying to figure out how to do that (I was down to the final wire at this point of the journal)....so when I spied my stash of tags, I decided to make them work for me....and I did.  The tags "flip up" with little messages beneath them.  :)

 

I purposedly didn't include photos of  the back cover designs. . . so there's a little bit of "mystery" for my fellow Journal Ladies!  :) 

My kindhearted hubby took my journal to the post office on Thursday.  

I really can't believe I did it. . . .but I'm so glad I did!!!

 

 

 

 

 

The Circle Journal has been great fun for me, a newbie to scrapping. . .but most importantly, it's allowing me the honor of interacting with nine other bloggers....getting to know them a little better. . .  while also providing me a bit of "therapy" , at a time when I needed the distraction. 

Be sure to visit, Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND, where you will find a long list of other bloggers who have lots of PINK ready to share with us!!

Happy PINK Saturday!

 

DANA

BLESSINGS. . . .

 

My life overflows with blessings.

*My husband arranged to have flowers on our table when we dined out to celebrate our 43rd anniversary last summer.

*He surprised me with an iPhone for an anniversary gift and  let me practice using the camera . . .on him.  THEN. . . 

 

he practiced using it on me, too!

 

 

 *Our daughter and our son and his family live  close by, giving us the amazing opportunites to spend lots of time with them. . .such as our annual outing to "tag" our Christmas trees. . . 

which was a tradition we started when our two children were very young. . . 

and one that our son and his family are doing with their family, too.  

Or attending the annual Sugar Creek 4th of July Parade with our family (me and my girl!) and friends. 

*It is a blessing that I had a mom who taught me so many things. . . including how to sew.....because years and years later, I was able to make the Grand Girl's Annie costume and . . . 

 

the Grand Boy's Charlie Brown shirt!

*It is truly a blessing that, we have had the good fortune to be a part of their  celebrations,  as well as. . . 

 

peacful times of just connecting with them. . . and simply enjoying their company and watching them grow.

***And now our family anxiously awaits the arrival of Grand Boy #2. . . sometime very soon.  What an amazing blessing, indeed!!

*I never in a million years thought I would say that I consider my abiltiy to "run" a blessing, but it truly has been.  It has allowed me the chance to set goals for myself,

 

spend quality time with my family. . . 

 

 

 

and make new friends who also enjoy running!

*However, one of my biggest blessings would be that of my "old friends".    

"Old"  not measured in our years on this earth, but in the years we've spent together and the experiences we've shared. 

My friends bring great joy and fun into my life. . . 

 they prove their loyality by humoring me when I said I'd like to "go bowling" on my birthday. . . 

 

they  are always prepared to play around and have fun . . . 

and have come to accept that I will probably pull out my camera and imortalize those moments !

 

* My furbabies.

They are blessings beyond belief.  Little Twiggy on the left (the one rescued 3 years ago. . . so sick at the time) and Frankie. . .the older and wiser  "big brother". . .

and Izzie. . . the Grand Dog who spends a lot of time "jogging" with me!!

* I was blessed the day I found THE STONE RABBIT in a local garden shop and decided to bring him home with me.  He  has been a constant fixture at our house for over thirty years. . . always eager to welcome our guests, keep a watchful eye out on our yard, and has demonstarted time after time that he is indeed a loving and wise fellow.

*Finally, I feel so blessed to be a part of the weekly event called "PINK SATURDAY" for over three years .  I now call so many of these bloggers "friends" even though I have not met them in person....yet!!

I thank my lucky stars for finding Beverly and her Pink Saturday!!

Please visit her at HOW SWEET THE SOUND where she will have so many other bloggers ready for you to visit.  They have prepared posts featuring their blessings and/or PINKS.

Happy PINK Saturday. . . .DANA

FINDING PINK AT THE "SOUP PARTY"

 

Right off the bat I have to apologize for the poor quality of these photos.  They were taken with my "dropped-one-too-many- times" point and shoot camera.....just as the sun was about to call it quits on a recent early October evening in Missouri.

One of the annual Fall Events that our family looks forward to is: The Soup Party.

The Soup Party is hosted by a couple who have been our friends for a VERRRRRY long time.  In fact, the husband and my husband have been friends since childhood days. . . so that tells ya how long this friendship has been around!

I am sorry that I have forgotten which "annual" this year's soup party was.. . .but I have to say, there have been MANY. . . and I my husband and I have attended nearly every one of them.

Over the years, The Soup Party has evolved into a spectacular event, filled old and new friends and with the most wonderful variety homemade soups!

 

The guests are encouraged to bring a pot of soup or a side dish. . . usually a bread or a dessert.

As you can see, the soups are labeled and arranged atop this amazing metal grate.... which hovers above a bed of coals.

 

 

 

 

This year, I had a fall sale on the day of The Soup Party, so my hubby took charge of our food offering for the evening.

I was sooo impressed with his "beef stew" contribution!  He totally made this delicious dish himself! (however, I'm pretty certain sodium and saturated fat levels were not a concern for him as he prepared it.  :)

His concoction was a hit.   I observed many of the men really enjoying his beef stew. . . and I also have to say, I enjoyed it, too!  Great job!!

 

 

Once guests have dined on their fill of soups, breads and desserts, they gather around the "camp fire"!!

This photo shows just a small portion of the crowd that attended The Soup Party 2011.  Actually, folks are all around the entire periphery of the camp fire. 

As much as I love the camp fire, the challenge has always been to be on the side that does not get nailed with the smoke!  :)

Did you notice the tee-pee in the  upper left section of the photo?  It's authentic .

 

Our friends live on about a huge lot. . .so there's lots of room for The Soup Party to spread out.  The event is situated in the back yard area. 

I don't recall when they added this amazing group of musicians to the evening, but I have to say, their soft and soulful blues music just puts the frosting on the night!  

The name of this group is the KC RAIN DOGS.   You would really enjoy going to their web site (CLICK HERE) and listening to the video sampling of some of their work----then just imagine them singing outdoors on a glorious fall evening!  It's a slice of heaven!!

This year, The Grand Girl was so taken by their music that she spent quite awhile spontaneously dancing and moving as The Rain Dogs entertained us.  In fact, after the set ended, the lady with the wash board came over and put it on her,declaring how much they enjoyed watching HER experience their music!

 

And speaking of The Grand Girl. . . she was wearing PINK sparkling nail polish on the night of The Soup Party!

That little one knows how to add just a bit more fun to an already fantastic evening!!

 

I have to say that I am not an expert soup maker.  In fact, the food I always contribute to The Soup Party is a dessert or a bread.  However, my hubby raised the bar this year with his great beef stew, so from now on. . . he's the one in charge of "what we're bringing to The Soup Party"!

On the other hand, I do have to say I make a mighty fine chicken noodle soup. . and it is pretty healthy, too, as I keep the sodium  and saturated fat levels down pretty low.

Earlier this week, I had a bit of a tummy bug (fortunately I didn't have it as bad as my son, DIL, grands and daughter did!!!).  THE STONE RABBIT, who helped me create this great soup recipe, took it upon himself to cook a batch. . . cuz he knew it would help me feel better.

And it did!!!

 

Be sure you put a visit to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, on your "to do list" this week!!  She will have loads of other bloggers all set to share their great PINKS with you!!  

Happy Pink Saturday!!!

DANA

"BABY TALK" ON PINK SATURDAY!

 

Bonnie and I recently visited one of our favorite antique malls.  I think we have done this type of thing for so long that "the thrill of the hunt" has taken on a new meaning.

It used to be that finding something we collected or couldn't live without was what it was all about.  However, I've grown to realize that finding the fun stuff.....like this faux authentic Davy Crockett Coon Skin Cap (modeled by Bonnie)  or . . .

this carved coconut "person" with the Viagra clock displayed behind it is much more interesting!!!

Not far from where we spotted the Coon Skin Cap and the Viagra Clock we found this  combination.

First was what appeared to be a GI JOE with a great sign. . . .

 

 

 

made even better when it  "clicked" with us that he was riding GARFIELD!!!

I think we both decided we'd like to meet this vendor because they were on the same page as us. 

And just as we were recovering from our fits of laughter over this little display we spotted this next to it. . . .

 

 

yes, indeedy. . . .we found Prego Barbie. . . and a couple of her friends!!!!!

As the mother of a girl, I have seen a fair number of Barbies in my time. . . Holiday Barbie, Dentist Barbie, Ballerina Barbie. . . . but not With Child Barbie!  Did you notice she was wearing PINK?  :)

We wondered if GI Joe and Barbie had become a bit more than friends after hanging out in the antique mall for a while!

 

Moving on. . . .

Not long after the Prego Barbie, I took this photo  of one of my exercise classes.  I was standing at the doorway of our workout room. . . waiting for class to finish so we could . . . .

surprise our sweet teacher with a BABY SHOWER!!!

She has been our instructor for over 7 years now. . . .and we all love her to pieces.  We are sad to see her go. . . .but very happy that she is about to start her family!!!  

 

One of our members baked these yummy cuppy-cakes. . . placing a PINK flower on the one that belonged to the new mom.

 


Our other exercise instructor prepared this awesome citrus infused water for us to enjoy with the cuppy cakes!!!
 

It was amazing how quickly we could make a "surprise shower" happen right after a class!!

Here we are. . . the Monday Night Step Class!!!  :)  Thank you Stephanie for being such a great teacher. . . we know you will be a wonderful mom, too!!

Did you notice how she wore her PINK shirt. . . just for you?  :)

Have you enjoyed the "baby talk" so far?  

Today, with the super duper hot temps, I thought citrus infused water sounded like a great drink!!!

 

THE STONE RABBIT and I each fixed a glass and headed to the front porch this afternoon.

Did you notice how we added a cherry to our drinks, too?  

We sat on the porch steps,  watching the  Grand Dog Izzie survey her domain while trying to decide if she really wanted to trot out to the yard to do her business in the heat of the sun or if she thought she could "hold off" a little longer.

While we were watching Izzie and sipping our glasses of citrus water,  I shared a great surprise with THE STONE RABBIT.

You see. . . a couple of hours earlier, I was at the grocery store, when I received a text message from my son.  He and his little family were at the Obstetrician's office and . . .

they just found out that they were going to have another BOY!!!!!!

 I  do not care about the gender of the new Grand Baby, we're just happy to have another one on the way. . . . .but  it was great fun to find out ( well, we "think" we know!!! )!!!!

THE STONE RABBIT and I toasted the good news.  

Clink!!!!

This was how we were given the "told" about the new Grand Baby at Easter Time!!!!!  What a blessed gift.

 

Grand Boy #2  will arrive in late December or early January. . .  . . . .     :)  

Now, . . . I hope I can keep up with three little ones!  

That does it for the "baby talk" today.

Please visit Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  You will find lots of other bloggers ready to share their PINKS with YOU!!

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!

DANA

WRAPPING UP EASTER 2011

 

Here is the daddy of our Grand Kiddos. . . he was almost three years old. . . about a year older than our Grand Boy is right now.  He loved to color Easter eggs. :)    His baby sister was born about two months after that picture was taken.

Check out those curtains!!!!! They rocked, didn't they? :)

 

The last time I'd helped little children with dyeing Easter eggs was when our own kids were young.

 

 However, it's amazing how quickly the memories surge forth as preparations were made for the Grand Kiddos to partake in that ritual at our home on Easter Eve.

We were lucky that it was warm enough to do the job out on the patio. . . where a sheet of plastic was placed beneath the table to catch the wayward dribbles of  "color".

 

We didn't have fancy egg dyeing smocks, but  plastic shopping bags made great coverups!

The egg dye was a little too tempting for the Grand Boy. . . he needed to see how it tasted! 

 

It was so much fun watching them totally enjoy the egg dyeing experience.

 

What a beautiful end result!

 

 

The next morning we attended church together, then came home for a great Easter brunch.  In addition to our little family, we were honored to have another young family join us.  They are friends of our son and DIL'S and the parents of a little girl who is nearly the age of our Grand Girl and 9 month old triplets!

Here were the babies. . . playing on the floor while their daddy watched over them!

 

Our brunch included  ham, my DIL'S baked french toast, the cinnamon rolls I'd made, fresh fruit and egg casserole.  Yumminess!!

 

 

We had some awesome sweets, too.  These sugar cookies were made by the triplet's mom and her oldest girl.

She also made a couple of lemon cheesecakes (they were outstandingly scrumptious) AND. . . 

 

this awesome cake, too.

Did I mention she has 4 children. . . 3 are 9 months old?  Just amazing!!!

 

Soon it was time to hunt for Easter eggs!!!  

Those pesky rabbit ears weren't stopping the Grand Girl!

 Flying around the yard, in search of plastic eggs filled with jelly beans. . . oh the JOY of it all!  :)

 

 

This boy wasn't exactly flying, but he sure did enjoy snacking on the sweet contents of the eggs he found!

 

Then it was time to take a few photos!!!

The Grand Kiddos were eating jelly beans as fast as they possibly could- - - resulting in some "colorful" smiles !!  :)

Trying to get rabbit ears to stay on so we could get more family photos sometimes proved to be. . .

 

quite the Easter challenge!!  :)

We were supposed to have rain on Easter Sunday, but it didn't happen.  Our day was beautiful in every way. . . a great time with family and friends. . . and getting to watch the pure joy of little ones hunting hidden Easter eggs.  

It doesn't get much better than that.

THE STONE RABBIT had fun hiding  eggs for his bunny buddies to hunt!  He used the real ones that the Grand Kids colored. . .  but there was a problem.  We had dyed 18 eggs. . . . they only found 17.

 Guess we'll know pretty soon where that last one is hiding........that was another reminder of when our kids were young and we'd find an egg or two quite a while after Easter had come and gone.  :)

DANA

SO MANY CANDLES!!

 

 Woo-wee "Birthday Season" is in full swing around here. . . and that means lots of fun and LOTS of candles!

Our Breakfast Group celebrated Mary Ann's special day by gathering at "Avenue's Bistro" in Leawood, KS., for lunch and birthday sweets. . . note the PINK candle in the cake!

Pictured here (L to R) are Beth, Mary Ann and Mary!

 

(L to R) Patty, Laura, and Dana (me!) 

We also had a little "gifty" time for the birthday girl.  This photo shows Mary Ann  with the gorgeous apron Laura made for her from a vintage table cloth!

 

Bonnie was next on the Birthday Parade!

She, Marian and I went to a flea market that day, then stopped by Bonnie's to open presents.

When Bonnie went inside, through the garage door, I pulled my gift out of the back of my vehicle and placed it on her front porch.

Then I made her come out the front door for a birthday pose!  :)

She had seen this metal dress form when we were out shopping recently.  I thought she was gonna buy it that day, but when she didn't, I decided I would. . . for her birthday gift!

I attached a little chalk board to it - - - - on which I wrote Happy Birthday.  Sadly, I smeared "birthday" when I was hauling the dress form to the porch.   The shopping tote contained smaller gifts, too.  

 

Marian made the most wonderful cupcakes for this special occasion.  They were chocolate with peanut butter frosting. . . mouth watering.  

She added the little ice cream cone candle. . .  PINKNESS. . .

 

 

 

with a flame!!!!

AFTER dessert, we headed over to SQUARE PIZZA, on The Historic Square in Independence, MO, for a very late, but yummy lunch!!

 

Last weekend was Marian's birthday celebration!!!

She wanted to see HOP, so we did!!

Here Marian (on the left) and I are standing outside of THE PHARAOH THEATER on The Historic Independence (Missouri) Square!  

You can tell my our hair-dos that it was a verrrry windy day!

 

After the show, we had a great lunch at THE COURTHOUSE EXCHANGE, then returned to Bonnie's car where Marian's presents were waiting for her to open!  

Did you notice that Bonnie used the tote I gave her?  :)

 

 Yep, inside that tote was a delicious cake she had brought for Marian's birthday! (It was in the box she was holding!)  Plus, plates, forks, napkins, lighter AND. . . .

 

the candle. . . . which was  lit in honor of her special day!!

That cake was SO, SO scrumptious!!!

I LOVE birthdays. . . don't you?  

 

 

OK, I'll admit I  wasn't too excited about seeing Marian's movie selection, but I'm so glad she picked HOP. . .  we all LOVED it.  It was so cute and very, very funny.

However we all agreed. . . 

 

that after viewing this little story about the Easter Bunny and his boy, EB, we will . . . 

 

 

 

 never look at jelly beans. . . 

 

the same way again!!   :)  

If you've seen the movie. . .you will know what I mean.  

If you haven't seen it. . . you should!!!

 

 

 

 

Oh, and one other thing you should do is visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!

She will have gobs of other bloggers waiting for you to see the PINKS they're sharing this week!

Happy Pink Saturday!!!  

DANA

MORE WORDS TO LIVE BY

 

 I love this little garden sign.

It pretty much sums up how I want try to live.

Act Old Later.  This tells me to not take everything so seriously. . . to not get stuck in a rut. . . to try new things. . . to challenge myself. 

Actually, I never thought about it much until recently, but having words to live by is very important.  

The lady I told you about on my last Pink Saturday post, who is very ill with leukemia, has certainly made an impact on my way of perceiving life.  Through her approach to dealing with her disease, she has taught me and many others these important words she lives by:  appreciate  family and friends, appreciate God's gifts, appreciate every moment....even in the toughest times.

I have to say, that like most of us, I find it hard to stay on track with April's plan, but I want to try.  

 My friend Marian always gives me a new Mary Engelbreit desk calendar for Christmas.  The  one this year has a title that will be added to my "words to live by" list.

HAVE MORE FUN.

Did you notice the PINKNESS on the "f" in FUN?  That Mary Engelbreit certainly knew which color was the perfect selection to start the spelling of FUN!!

So often we forget to have fun.  We all have heavy and rough things going on within our families, our work, our community, our country.  However,  if we can take some moments to enjoy life. . . to be light hearted. . . TO HAVE FUN, our spirits will soar. . . giving us the ability to better deal with the less than terrific stuff that surrounds us.

 

 

SOOOOO. . . .when we were given the  "gift" of SEVERAL inches of snow this week, THE STONE RABBIT and I decided to put some of those "words to live by" into action.  We wanted to get outside, appreciate the beauty of the thick, white blanket that covered everything around us. . . and build a snowman !!

Sadly, while it was a beautiful snowfall, it wasn't snowman building snow.  It just wouldn't pack!

THE STONE RABBIT decided that wasn't going to stop him from appreciating and enjoying the moment. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

That's right!  The snow wasn't great for creating a snowman, but it was perfect for making a snow angel!  THE STONE RABBIT had so much fun.  He told me he hadn't done that in YEARS!

I personally did not make one, but I loved watching him do it!  It was just 12 degrees that day and cold bothers me more than it does him.  However, his snow angel made my heart happy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  You will finds lots of other bloggers with great PINKS to share!

 

Happy PINK SATURDAY!

 

DANA

 

 

 

NOTE:  I have to thank all of you who offered prayers for April and her family when I requested them last week. (CLICK HERE).  I know they can feel the strength and encouragement they bring. Please continue to remember and pray for them.  

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT!

This last week and a half has been filled to the brim!!!  It started on the Friday evening of Labor Day Weekend when we attended the Irish Festival held at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri.   Everything is GREEN for the celebration. . . .even the fountains!

The Irish Fest is an annual event and is PACKED with those who are Irish, part Irish, a tad Irish, wanna-be Irish and those who are "no part, nor do they wish to be Irish, but it's just a fun place to be" kinda folks!!!

There are bag pipers and . . . .

dancers and singers and exhibits and food and Irish merchandise and lots and lots of beer!!

 
 

In fact, the BOULEVARD STAGE you see below is sponsored by our very own Kansas City Boulevard Brewery!!  They make some of the finest beer around.

If you look beyond the Boulevard stage you will see Grand Street as it goes North,  beyond Crown Center and toward  downtown Kansas City.  That street is the one I will be running on, for about one mile of the 3.1 mile course,  come the middle of October when I participate (I hope) in the WADDELL-REED MARATHON. . . the 5K part of the event.  

Do you see how that street is really a HILL?  OMG. . . I know I'm not ready for that!!!  I hope I can get ready over the next month!!!  Gulp!

I think I may be biting off more than I can chew.  Gulp.  Gulp. 

 Moving on. . . . .the following day, we attended the first birthday party of an incredibly precious great niece!!!

Over Labor Day Weekend, I was also checking on my friend Patty's cat while they were out of town.  This is the one and only time I saw "Lucky" during the three visits I made to their house.  

On that day, he thought he would outsmart me and hide under their sofa, but I surprised him!!!  I think he was really surprised when I lifted the skirt on the sofa and took this photo. . . with the flash!!  I tried to bribe him with a little treat, but you can see, he wasn't interested in small talk.  :)

Here I am the next morning after I completed Week 6, Day 3 of COUCH TO 5K. . . I had just jogged 25 minutes STRAIGHT!!!  I was sweating like a pig. . . but it was a good sweat!!  I never thought I could do that!!

 

That afternoon, my daughter-in-law brought the grand-kiddos over for us to watch over night!!  In this picture, the grand girl was on the patio drawing with sidewalk chalk and blowing bubbles using  her stockpile of bubble bottles  at Nana's House.  The little grand boy was content to watch her from inside. . . occasionally tapping on the window to tell her "hi"!!

While the kids were playing, THE STONE RABBIT was taking a little nap.   The activity levels of the little ones do wear him out!!!  :)

 

When my DIL came back the next day, and was in charge of watching the baby and fixing our lunch :), I started making a proto-type of the grand girl's Halloween costume.  She wants to be ANNIE!!!  How PERFECT will that be with her sweet red curls!

I had found a vintage dress pattern at a flea market sale and adapted it to look ANNIE-ISH.  I had placed some white scraps at the waist, a sleeve and the neck area to see if that would put the ANNIE touch to it.  While the prototype was wine with little white stars imprinted on it, the real dress will be bright red.  I'm holding the ANNIE fabric in this photo to show her that her real ANNIE dress will NOT have stars on it.  :)

Last weekend Kansas City was buzzing with excitement.  Our Kansas City Chiefs Football Team would finally make a Monday night football appearance!!!  They were playing the San Diego Chargers. . . here at Arrowhead Stadium in KC.  The game didn't start until around 9:30 that night!!!  During the game, we had a tremendous rainstorm!!!  Amazingly, the Chiefs hung in there and WON!!!  They have had some very bad seasons over the last few years!!!  I have already decided that if they win one of the next three games, I will invest in a new Chiefs T-shirt or sweatshirt.  That's not too much to ask of them! ;)

I am a bit out of sequence.  The game was Monday night, the newspaper was from Tuesday morning.  HOWEVER, on Monday morning, I received a phone call from Community America Bank, which has a little branch inside our local HY-VEE store......telling me I had WON the Chief's Tailgate gift card drawing for this week!!  OMG....do you realize I am one of the most UNLUCKY folks in the world when it comes to winning drawings...or anything!!!

I was giddy with excitement. . . it's worth $50.00!!  

 
 

On Tuesday morning, I completed Week 7 of the COUCH TO 5K program.   That means I jogged 25 minutes straight on three different days!!!  There was at least one day between the running days. . . this old body could use more than one or two days rest, but I'm on a schedule!!!!

The days were all very, very hard for me.  By the last five minutes of each time out I was cursing inwardly the day I had decided I would do this.  I was begging for jogging mercy.  I didn't quit, however, because, even though my little tootsies were not going fast by the end of each run, they were still going. . . jogging. . . not walking. . . .and when I hit that 25 minute mark and could stop. . . .I was the happiest granny around!!!  What an accomplishment for ME. 

While incredibly hard for me to complete, I did notice by the end of Week 7, I wasn't quite as "wobbly" at the end of the 25 minute run as I was on the first day I did it.  I have to think that is was "building up your endurance" is all about!!  Baby steps.  

Sadly, I think, after studying this photo, that jogging makes my wrinkles appear deeper and my left eye droop is more noticeable!  Hmmmm. . . . the sacrifices we "athletes" make!!  :-)  BIG belly laugh!!!!

 
 When I look at this hurdle that waits for me. . . this hill from H _ _ _ , I have to question my sanity.  At this point, I haven't practiced HILLS!!!!  I'm barely able to jog on fairly flat surfaces for 25 minutes and still manage to inhale and exhale without keeling over.   I still have to build up  to jogging 3.1 miles within a reasonable timeframe.  I'm a long way off from all of that.

S  L O W L Y     I N H A L E. . . . .

OK, so for now, I will just not think about what I have to do over the next month. . . I will focus on what I have done over the last two months.  I have gone from barely being able to jog 90 seconds, to jogging 25 minutes. That's pretty great for this elder chick!  
 

That brings you up to today. . . Wednesday.  

Bonnie (L) and I (middle) are getting ready for our 4Th annual tag sale!!  

Below we are pictured with Patty at our sale last year.  Patty jumped in and helped us  out (once again) so much. . . we wouldn't have been ready without her!  We are posing in our Cracker Barrel shirts. . . we have NEW ones for this year!!

Last year, we set up four  tents and hauled in corn stalks and pumpkins along with our "treasures".  It was exhausting!!  

This year, it will be set up in Bonnie's garage. . . with a couple of tents out front.  We are nixing the extensive fall decorating. . . opting for a simpler, saner sale!!   

Heck, nothing is simple and sane for us...what am I talking about?  :)

 

Over the next week,  we will spend hours hauling all of the stuff to her garage  that it takes to pull off our tag sale!!  Tables, chairs, tents, treasures, signs. . . oh, and food to serve to the folks who come on the "pre-sale" night!  Yes, we turn it into a regular party!! See, I said we don't do anything in a simple and sane way.  However, we have a whole bunch of fun and that's what it is all about!

The Chiefs have an "away" game this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.   We will have to take some time off to enjoy the game. . . my mouth is already watering thinking about the yummy stuff the gift card win will buy for our own mini-tailgate party that we will hold HERE!!  

GO CHIEFS!!  :)

BLOGGING UPDATE!!!  Pat of BACK PORCH MUSINGS has changed her her blog address to

                                   http://backporchmusings.typepad.com

 DANA

AHHHHHH. . . . . THE JOYS OF A PINK SLUSHY!

Nothing says summer like. . .

  a bunch of scrumptious strawberries that have been. . .

blended into an amazing PINKISH strawberry slushy for the Grand Girl to enjoy at the Fourth of July picnic!

But first, she and her new friend "drove" over to the playground. . .

 

to spend some time playing on the slide, then . . . .
 

they took a break and to enjoy . . .

the tastiness and. . .

yumminess of. . .

  sharing a  PINK strawberry slushy!

And that's just what THE STONE RABBIT and I are going to do!!!!

Please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  She will have a long list of bloggers with PINKS to share!!! 

Thank you Beverly for being our faithful hostess!!!!

Happy Pink Saturday! 

DANA

Bingham-Waggoner Antique Sale ANTICIPATION!!!

This is such a fun packed time !!!  Last weekend we celebrated Independence Day with a parade and a picnic and loads of good times with family and friends.  However,THIS Saturday is probably one of my all time favorite days of the year!  It's the day that my buddies and I meet up at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate in Independence, Missouri, for their annual antique and craft show!!

Below is a photo of the mansion as seen on the website.  Please click on the link above to read more about the sale and the many other activities that take place there!

 

THE STONE RABBIT knows how very much I love going to this sale!  He thought he'd help me out by locating my HUGE flag bag that's perfect for taking to sales!    I just added the bottle of water (cuz it can be a HOT day!) and a little cold, hard cash!!

L to R you see Bonnie, Marian, me and Patty. . . posing just as we go into the sale!  They all have flag bags, too!!  This photo was taken at the sale in 2007!

Here I've met up with some of Bonnie's buddies. . . all with their flag bags!  :)
 
 

One of the very first items on our agenda . . . breakfast!!!  We have been known to wait too long and they RUN OUR OF BISCUITS AND GRAVY!!  Not last year, however!!  We headed to the food booth first thing!!

There are about 125 vendors spread out on the grounds of the estate!  It's a beautiful venue for such a fantastic show!!
 

This is Kathy Taylor.  She does the most fabulous painting on gourds!!  She is a "cat lover", so one of the primary designs in her paintings are . . . cats!!  I have a little Christmas tree that I fill  with the wonderful gourd decorations I have purchased from her over the years!

 

My heart is beating with excitement as I revisit some of the wares from last year!
 

This booth belongs to Nancy Rose aka The Gourd Lady!  She also paints on gourds, but with a different style than Kay.  Nancy and I go waaaaaay back!!  MANY years ago, when we were first teaching, she was the art teacher and I was speech therapist in the same building!!! :) 
 

I can HARDLY wait!!
 

Someone I ALWAYS look forward to seeing each year is an OLD high school classmate. . . Sharon!  Actually, she's two years younger and was my sister's very close friend!  She does this sale with her sister!  It's always fun to see what tempting items they have gathered for the sale!

Here's another friend, Vicky.  She's hauling a buy to her vehicle!!  Vicky owns, OLD GLORY in Greenwood, Missouri. It's a fabulous shop filled with wonderful primitive furniture and decoratives!
 

Talented local musicians are shown preparing to entertain the crowd.
 

LUNCH TIME!!!
 

Bonnie found some bargains.

  

My friend's daughter, Cassie,  had a booth at the sale, too!  Here she modeled her super sweet skirt made from vintage handkerchiefs! 

I LOVE old metal picnic baskets!!!
 
 

Last year, among my purchases, were a sock monkey, a wooden chimney and a tarnished silver tray!!!  I know I bought more.....I just don't recall what!!  :)  I resold the monkey and the tray in my own sales. . . I still haven't figured out what to do with the chimney. . . but I will!

I wanted to show you a few photos from the 2008 sale, too!  First, cuz we had missed the biscuits and gravy the year before, Patty brought us fresh cinnamon rolls to enjoy before the sale!!

Here I am with my high school friend again. . . and a metal picnic basket purchase!! :)
 

Here's a shot of the mansion. . . it was very cloudy and RAIN was predicted!!!  We shopped quickly because it wasn't too long after I took this photo that. . . .
 

the umbrellas had to come out!!!
 

The rain became so heavy that some vendors had to stay dry in any way they could!!
 

We stayed until it was no longer fun to shop in the rain, so we headed back to the parking lot and . . . .
 

crawled into the back of my van, out of the rain.  Then, we finished the cinnamon rolls!!

 

Talking about the rain reminded me. . . .I'd better put my umbrella in my flag bag, too!! 

DANA