The Stone Rabbit

Come Along on my Walk !

I've been trying to add more frequent neighborhood walks into my exercise schedule lately.  This morning was perfect for doing just that!

Today, I took my camera along with me. . . there are a couple of places on my route that I thought you would like to see!!

Folks in our area fly the American flag on a regular basis.   Old Glory looks splendid with that beautiful blue sky in the background!

Flowers are in abundance. . . wish I could grow petunias like this neighbor.  Mine just get leggy and die!  I will just have to enjoy the green thumbs of others!

  Flower gazing is something I love to do while walking.

I also like to challenge myself when I walk.  Here, I am on the grounds of a little elementary school that is nestled in the neighborhood.   I'm heading toward. . . .
 
THE STEPS!!! 

There are 38 steps leading to a lower playground area.  During the summer, I take advantage of this challenge.  I have now worked my endurance up to five trips down and. . .

and five trips UP these steps.  

I just recently added sprinting UP the steps to my routine. 

OK  SPRINTING may be a bit of a stretch, but I go pretty fast- - - especially for an Elder Exerciser!!  Today, it wasn't too hot, so I was able to do the "sprint" on my first four trips back up.....by number five, I just stepped as quickly as I could as  I was getting pretty winded by then.   It has taken me a couple of weeks to get to this point. 
 

This school, as do the other schools in our area, have recycling bins in the parking lot.
 
 

We don't have curb side recycling, so this makes that job a bit more convenient than just being able to recycle on the weekends at our city facility.

Today was also trash day for some in the neighborhood. 

Too bad these folks didn't take advantage of the recycling bins I just showed you. . . they are SO near to their home!!  However, as an avid MU fan, I was glad to see that someone in that house finally came to their senses and put that KU basketball where it needs to me. . . in the trashcan !!! :)  JUST KIDDING. . . . KU makes the Big 12 (or what's left of it) fun!  We love those Border Showdowns!

You never know what you will see while out walking. . . like this sweet message on someone's car !!!

Another great flag!
 

 Besides those steps, I love HILLS!  Hills are great exercise.  

Our subdivision is built on what used to be a dairy farm. . . so we have LOTS of little hills for me to enjoy on my walks!

At the top of that little hill are two more flags and. . .


 

a glimpse of the steeple that belongs to the church we attend!

OK, the next couple of pictures may surprise you.  You see, also in our neighborhood, is an old cemetery!!
 

There is a great plaque there that says it was used from 1833 to 1957.  The names of those buried here are also listed on it, along with their dates of birth and death.  There are about 40 graves.  Of course, it is fenced off, but houses are built on three sides of it!!  I must confess. . . I'm glad OURS isn't!!!

When I leave the cemetery part of my walk, I'm usually 10-15 minutes away from our home.  Today, my walk took an hour, because I was snapping pictures for you!  Typically, it's 45-55 minutes. . . depending on the heat and my endurance level.  It's around 3 miles long.
 

In our old neighborhood, my neighbor Mary and I walked together a lot.  In those days, after our walks, we'd enjoy long talks over coffee, if the walk took place in the morning OR long talks and wine if we walked in the evening.  I sure miss those times!

THE STONE RABBIT tries to have something refreshing for me once I return home from my walk.  Today, it was iced tea.  Unfortunately, he's not much of a talker, so we just sit and sip and enjoy the weather!!

DANA

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF. . . . .

What would YOU do if one of your very best friends went to Disney World and brought you back a PINK hat with Mickey Mouse ears ?

Would you grab your little camera and hold it straight out in front of you, attempting to get a picture of yourself wearing those  ears. . .
 

while trying to keep a twelve pound STONE RABBIT from . . .
 
 

 hopping into the picture because he's proud of his own special set of ears, too ? 

Just wondering what you would do!!

 

Hope you have a terrific PINK Saturday!! You WILL if you hop on over to Beverly's at HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  She'll have a long list of other bloggers with great PINKS to share!! 

DANA

I'm a Sister in the Bloggerette Sorority!!!

I recently saw on someone's blog the NEWS. . . the EXCITING news that Karen, of SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS , was organizing a sorority for us sisters in blogland!!! 

That sounded like so much fun to me that I dashed over to check on the details!!  Well, the best part. . . you can join any time, too!!!  Today,however, is all about the "rush" part of the sorority. . . the time that we get to meet our fellow blogging sisters who have singed up for this great time ! 

The requirements for entrance into this great sorority are minimal.   We were asked to take this picture. . . 

                                            
and create something with it!!! 

Well, I love to create, but I signed up pretty late for this event. . . and my computer time has been limited recently,  so I had to act quickly when I had the chance!!

The first thing I did was make a big copy of the great Vintage Sisters and place it in an old store display.

My cat Twiggy was thrilled to learn about the Blogging Sorority and was especially happy to see The Vintage Sisters. . . she tipped her head back and purrrrrrrrrred with excitement. . . she loves parties, too!!  She did tell me I could do a little more with that great picture.

So we thought and thought. . . and decided it would be fun to. . .

 make a . . .
 
 

Bloggerette Sorority T-shirt for ME!!! 

I had recently purchased a new shirt and I already had some of the printer paper needed to make the transfer!

Twiggy had to put her stamp of approval on my design!  She told me that THE STONE RABBIT should be an official Bloggerette Side-kick. . . after all, he's the namesake for my blog. . .  AND he should have a T-shirt, too!!!
 

Presto!!!   THE STONE RABBIT had a Bloggerette Sorority T-shirt, too!!!

Another requirement for this sorority rush was to take a photo of the blogger (and in this instance, also her blogging sidekick) with the creation made using The Vintage Sisters photo! 

So, here we are. . . trying to find light  outside to take a semi-decent photo!!!  It was well after  8:00 p.m. this evening when this was taken.  

I was going to use my back patio for this photo (cuz it has pretty plants and nice lawn furniture on it and receives the light from the West), but just as I had everything ready to haul out there. . . I realized the neighbor behind us was having a pool party!!! 

Because I was taking the photo myself. . . camera on a tri-pod....me setting the timer, then running to snatch up the rabbit and SMILE while waiting for the picture to be taken, then back to the camera to see what the photo looked like. . . well, I would have provided a great deal of entertainment for the pool party guests. 

SO, I fled to a far corner of the yard. . . not a great background, but you're not seeing neighbors wrapped in beach towels, pointing and laughing as I captured this moment in history. . .the moment when I officially  became a member of the BLOGGERETTE SORORITY!!!
 

What fun this has been. . . I am looking forward to visiting the many, many other sisters who signed up with Karen for this great event!!  I also look forward to other exciting adventures in the future with my sorority sisters!!! 

Thank you, Karen!!!

DANA


Don't forget. . . YOU can join the sisterhood, too!!  Just visit Karen's blog, SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS, and tell her YOU want to be a part of the fun!!

IT'S HOT!!!!!

As I typed this post, the  news was reporting it to be 91 in Kansas City!  It's Summer all right! 

Our front porch faces East, so in the morning, it's not the place to be.  However, our "L" shaped patio in the back of the house faces West and early in the day, it's very shady. . . even on the long portion of the patio that is not covered by a roof.

Here is the uncovered stretch of our patio at about 7:30 this morning. . . still pretty pleasant out there, even though the temps were rapidly rising!

By 9:30, the sun was now hitting the corner area.  We were getting a nice breeze then, so it was still very nice to be out there.

Around 11:00. . . it was definitely starting to heat up.  I had even placed a jar of water and Chamomile tea bags in that sunny spot to let Mother Nature brew up some sun tea to enjoy later in the day!
 

By 12:15 p.m., the sun was stretching over more and more of the area that was once shady!  When it reaches this point, sitting at that table isn't too much fun- - -unless you have your feet in a pan of ice water, then it's bearable. . . for a while!

HOWEVER, yesterday I FINALLY broke down and purchased an . . .
 

UMBRELLA!!! 

We've lived here five years. . . and I just now got an umbrella! 

All I can say is. . .
 

WHY did I wait so long?  Look at that great shade the umbrella creates!

It's so nice to increase the amount of time shade is on our patio ! In fact, THE STONE RABBIT and I had our first lunch beneath the umbrella today.  While enjoying the newly shaded area of our outdoor space, we dined on watermelon  and tuna salad and sipped icy tea from the MIZZOU Tervis Tumbler! 

What a Summertime treat!
 

Hmmmm. . . right now, that "sun tea" looks more like "sun pee",  but I'm certain it will taste great  later on today. . .after THE STONE RABBIT and I take our nap.  

The heat makes us SOOOOOO sleepy!!  :)
 

DANA

PORCH PARTY 2010

Well, HELLOOOOO!  THE STONE RABBIT and I have been waiting for you!

We've been busy decorating the front porch.   There's not a whole lot that's new out here this year, but it still feels great when it's decked out for Summer!!

We did add the the white picket fence section . . . just for a little fun.  It's also a good spot to hang stuff on . . . like the wreath and the Liberty sign I stenciled on an old door panel!

 

I put together this arrangement last summer.  It's difficult to tell in the photos I took, but that black object nestled in the daisies is a crow I made.  He likes welcoming our guests!

 
 

THE STONE RABBIT is showing you our collection of  48 star flags arranged in an old flower basket.  We also have several vintage iron stars scattered about!

Even though bringing  a geranium to my house is usually the kiss of death for that plant. . . I decided to try again this summer.  So far, it's still blooming. . . and that's progress for me!

 

Probably our favorite summer time decoration is this concrete Uncle Sam!  I bought him  right after we moved into this home five years ago!  His flag has had a major work out over the last couple of weeks. . . we've had lots of storms roll through.  You can tell it was waving hard in this photo. . . another windy day!
 
 

Last summer, I found two of these great old candle holders at an antique sale.  They are on long metal poles that are pushed into the ground!  I placed them on each side of the little planted area in front of our porch!

 

We enjoy being out on our front porch on summer evenings.  These great candle holders add just a little more fun to doing just that. . . even when it's raining!

In fact, it was just one of those rainy evenings recently, that we were enjoying the beauty of our season.  When the rain ended . . .

 

we were blessed with this view from our front porch.   It started as a single rainbow that arched across the sky, then. . .

we saw the presence of a second one!   Our pictures did not come close to capturing the true beauty of this event. . . just let me say it was magnificent.   AND. . . if we'd been on our back porch. . . we would've missed the whole thing!

I know you have lots of porches to visit today, but any time you feel like coming back, please do and I hope you will stay long enough that we . . .
 

can hang out on the front porch and enjoy a summer evening together.  We'll be sure to light our candles for you, too!!!

 

NOW,  it's time to head over to  ROSE COLORED GLASSES where our terrific hostess has put together another wonderful tour of porches. . . I can hardly wait!!!

Thank you RHONDI!!!

  DANA

WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE. . . with touches of PINK

Finally the day has arrived!!! The special day that THE STONE RABBIT and I have been looking forward to for weeks!!!  It's the day we not only celebrate the PINKS in our lives through Beverly's, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, but we also get to take a peek at the wonderful places of WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE, hosted by Karen of MY DESERT COTTAGE!!!

You are a fortunate group of folks. 

Very few people have been allowed into my "studio" (that's a stretch!).  Mainly, because during my peak production time, this very large room is piled high with fabrics and items in partially completed stages!  However, this is my "off" season. . . so I've tidied up a bit!!!

I design, construct and sell fabric seasonal decor!! I have for many years. . . and, therefore, I have amassed  quite a lot of the supplies  required for me to produce my wares!

Such as:

1.  My beloved Bernina  which has seen hours and hours and hours of use over the years!!!  I adore, worship and cherish this magnificent sewing machine!  In fact, every so often I stop and give it a big old smooch for the fine work that it does for me!!!
 

2.  Pins, scissors, bobbins!!
 
 

3.  IN THE DRAWERS . . . LOTS of sewing machine thread, needles, and buttons!

4.  RIBBONS, EMBROIDERY FLOSS. . . all on these shelves!
 

5.  FABRICS. . .yards and yards of wools, muslins, flannels. . . vintage table cloths. . . all ready for me and my Bernina!

 

6.  STAMPS and SCRAP BOOKING SUPPLIES. . .  contained in these white drawers. . . I don't do a lot of that craft (yet!).

7.     REFERENCE BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. . . on the shelves to the left and stacked in many, many other areas of this huge room. . . not for your eyes to see on this trip cuz they are still too messy for me to share today!!
 

This little area, directly behind my "sewing station" is my "finishing station".  It's where I can stuff, or paint, or do hand sewing. . . all while watching my favorite shows!!  I also have gobs of supplies on hand in those nifty storage drawers you see to the right of my chair!!
 

This area not only functions as a great work station, but also as a spot full of "inspiration" to me.
 

So this part of my post is about that. . . some of the INSPIRATION  items in this retreat of mine!

My grand girl is a prolific artist. . . and her countless pictures bring me great joy!!

I recall with fondness the day I sat her daddy down (at that VERY table I use as my sewing table these days. . . then it was our dining room table!) and handed him his first piece of paper and crayons. 

He ate the crayons!!!!  :)
  

The HARDEE'S coffee mug belonged to my mother.  I smile each time I see it.  Many years ago, there was a Breakfast Club that Hardee's sponsored.  Mom and many of her friends belonged to that club and would meet there on a regular basis!!   They all had their own mug that they'd bring each time to use for their coffee!  I can only imagine the lively times that mug has seen!!

My good friend Marian gives me a new Mary Englebreit calendar every Christmas. . . I even save many of the pages from previous years. . . I find them so enjoyable AND inspirationall and beautiful !

 

This vintage pattern is one of three that I keep above my sewing machine.  It belonged to my mom. . . who got it from her friend "Helen".   Helen was one of my mom's close friends when I was growing up.

My mom taught me to sew on a treadle sewing machine when I was ten years old. 

 

I used this pattern to create a "robe" . . . to wear in my dorm. . . in my first year of college, in the Fall of 1965!    Oh, yes, I was "stylin"!!!

 
 

My dad was truly a creative inspiration.  He could fix or build anything. . . but he had a softer, artistic side, too.  He was a self taught musician. . . he could play the banjo, fiddle, guitar and dulcimer. . . and he had a great singing voice.  

He painted. 

He fashioned "fun stuff". . . like these wooden geese!  He was very proud that he was able to "twist" the necks of those wooden guys!!  Oh, and the geese are standing on my mom's "button tin".

My parents were both creative. . . and certainly played a big roll in fostering my interests. 
 


 

Besides the memories from my distant past. . . I have an amazing INSPIRATION board that is filled with newer memories. . .

ones that are funny, but so true. . . like this note sent to me from my friend Bonnie.  We both operate on that motto!!!
 

Or this sign that was above my booth in The Country Sampler Store in Overland Park, Kansas, for a few years!!!  It was a place that brought me so much joy and really challenged me creatively!  I met some amazing fellow crafters and customers in that location. . . people that I still see at my local shows.
 

 

I love all things ICE CREAM. . . so I have a little collection of soda glasses in their metal holders. . . reminders of how ice cream concoctions SHOULD be served!
 

This little squirrel place card holder was the last item I purchased at my friend's shop, THE PAINTED BIRDHOUSE.  She died shortly after that.  She was the person that helped me get into the business of "retail". . .  I made a buying trip with her to Atlanta one January.  I think of her every time I look at that little silver guy!!  She was truly an energetic and gifted lady!!!

My pal Bonnie is an incredibly creative gal, too!  She made me the PINK tree and heart box for Valentine's Day last year.  It's always a treat to be on the receiving end of her treasures!!

The birthday card in the background was one of the last ones my mom gave to me. . .she knew how much I loved rabbits!! :) 

I really miss getting cards from her. . . . . .

All of you recognize the artist who created the card below.  Mary Engelbreit.

Many years ago, I was Christmas shopping and saw a display of boxed cards in a bookstore.  My eyes popped out at the Santa. . . and the simple message of "BELIEVE".

I purchased those cards and sent them out that year. . . keeping this one for me.  I have treasured  the beauty and the simplicity of the message. . . and  have tried so hard to live by Mary's word!

One of the biggest thrills of my life was meeting her at a local bookstore . . I brought my card for her to sign!

 

  Of course, the semi-tour (you've only seen half of my room!) of my creative space wouldn't be complete without a cat picture!!  This time, Frankie was overseeing my work. . . along with THE STONE RABBIT!!

 

THE STONE RABBIT wanted to make sure I showed you a big part of my INSPIRATION. . . it comes from my supportive friends. 

Several of them are pictured in this photo. . . on the day I hosted a PINK FLIP FLOP PARTY!!!  They are a group of gals. . .always there when you need help and who are always ready to  have FUN. . . especially when it comes to celebrating PINK!!

 

There you have a little view of my creative retreat. 

It's not fancy, but it's BIG and it's semi-organized and it's very functional for ME!! 

And that is pretty much what counts!! :)

 

For LOADS of fun, please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND.   She'll have  a long list of bloggers ready and waiting with PINKS to share!!

                         

           

          AND. . . . .

" 

  

 Please visit Karen of MY DESERT COTTAGE as she hosts "WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE II"!!

                   AND. . . . .

PLEASE visit my blogging friend DONNA of PARTY WISHES as she celebrates her 300th post with a giveaway!!! 

Donna is a party planner extraordinaire. . . .so creative and fun and someone  you would LOVE to have as your friend. . . or next door neighbor!!

DANA

A HEALTHY PINK SATURDAY BREAKFAST

So, you're familiar with the saying, "You can't teach an old dog a new trick". . .well, THE STONE RABBIT  and I aren't youngins, but I have to say, the Grand Girl and her mom taught us a new and healthy trick!  In fact, we're so crazy about it, we're gonna share it on Pink Saturday today! 

Our post  is a way to get lots of terrific nourishment packed into a simple breakfast. . . or snack!

THE STONE RABBIT is posing by what we are going to share, but first, we have to show you the process it took to end up this way!

We assembled our ingredients and headed out to the patio.  Sadly, it was dark and misting this morning, so the pictures don't meet my usual impressive standards of photography skills!  (OK, you know I'm kidding!) 

 

I've always liked yogurt and I knew it was good for me.  The problem is, my idea of a "good for me" yogurt was one that contained an artificial sweetener. . . typically Aspartame. . . because that meant less sugar (I thought).   I was so hung up on the Fat Free part of the yogurt, (also good for me) I overlooked the artificial sweetener aspect.  Then, my DIL entered my life.  Since I've known her, she has been an "anti-artificial sweetener" advocate for herself.   I  started paying attention to items that contained that dreaded ingredient and I tried to avoid serving them when she was at our home.

When my DIL was telling me how much our Grand Girl loved yogurt. . . but not the "kind" that we ate at our house, I couldn't figure out "WHY"!!   She loves the kind I show in the photo below. . . plain, non-fat, no sugar added!

EEEEEEWWWW, I thought.  I'd tasted that before and it caused my tongue to curl up.  I wondered how she got her girl to eat it that way.

Well, here's how. . .the power is in this little honey bottle!!

Yep,  a little drizzle of honey over that plain yogurt is what gives it just enough "sweet" to make it taste great!  I'm sure you've all read about the amazing health benefits of honey- - - so that ingredient seemed to be an  additional health bonus to the already healthy yogurt.

 

I like to add fresh fruit to my yogurt concoction at this point. . . blue berries or peaches or strawberries!!  All of those are in abundance right now.

  Now, the second secret my DIL and Grand Girl taught me was about the most powerful ingredient of this treat- - -  ground flaxseed!!!

Look at that package!!!!  Flaxseed is rich in FIBER, OMEGA-3 FATS and LIGNANS!  Well, I know about the importance of fiber and Omega3 fats, but I'd never heard of "LIGNANS" so I did what any of us would do. . . I Googled!  WOW!  LIGNANS are amazing!!!!  Along with other health benefits, they can act as antioxidants and  are phytoestrogens, as well. . . they can help balance our hormones!  Now that's an AMAZING plus in my book!

SO, bring on the ground flaxseed, please!

I keep our ground flaxseed in a quart canning jar.  For a bowl of yogurt (about one cup), I use two tablespoons of that yummy and healthy ingredient!

So, by now, many of you may be thinking YUCKY!!! 

But don't!!!
 

That bowl of goodness contains: 

one cup of yogurt, (locally made)

1 t honey (locally produced!)

2 T ground flaxseed (produced in USA!!)

strawberries  (not local, but from USA)

The approximate nutritional value of this powerful meal:

2400 mg of Omega-3  !!!!   HUGE!!

  15 g of protein

  18 g sugar

  40% of your daily Calcium needs!

I'm not a dietitian , but I realize that 18 g of sugar isn't wonderful (based on a 2000 cal. a day diet, we shouldn't take in more that 50 g sugar).  SO 18 g is quite a chunk, however, as with any other aspect of nutrition. . .I live by the motto:  it's all about moderation.  Also, the amount of sugar in a 6 oz. container of Yoplait, Light, Fat Free yogurt. . .14 g!!!   And on top of that, there's Aspartame in it!!  

As long as I watch the rest of my daily sugar intake,  and I exercise, I feel the other benefits of this healthy dish out weigh the sugar issue. . . at this time at least!

 

So, there you have the Healthy Pink Saturday Breakfast. . . thanks to my DIL and Grand Girl! 

I didn't forget about the PINK. . . it was the gorgeous PINK oil cloth I used for the table covering.   My friend Bonnie and I picked this up while on our Canton, Texas, trip.  We still haven't made totes out of it, but I enjoy using it on my patio table!!

THE STONE RABBIT enjoys it, too!  He thinks it puts a little color in his cheeks!!

I hope you have a wonderful and healthy PINK SATURDAY!! 

I know you will love to visit Beverly's blog,  HOW SWEET THE SOUND!! It will be filled with lots of great places to visit. . . all with  PINKS to share, too!!

DANA

PS  I have to confess, however, while I try my best to avoid artificial sweeteners  . . I still love my DIET PEPSI!  I know, I know. . . there are horror e-mails out there about that!  I only have one a day. . . and I've found, lately, there are many days that I don't even have ONE!   So, I'm working on that area, too! :)

FORTY TWO YEARS AGO TODAY

On this day, forty-two years ago, I readied myself to meet my groom at the church.

The wedding preparations, while limited in size and cost as they are for nuptials these days,  had been made. . . 

1. the proposal and the rings. . .

he asked me to marry him in a very round about way.  It wasn't "will you marry me?", but rather something like "what do you think about getting married?".   My Casanova was smitten with me as much as I was with him .

Scary now that I look back on it.  I had just turned 20 and he was 22.  We had only dated a few months!  I would not have been supportive of that idea for my kids, BUT our parents didn't interfere.  He asked my dad's permission to marry me. . . of course, I had already confided in mom what was gonna happen. 

So we went to a jewelry store in downtown Kansas City, called "Krigel's Diamond Shops", and selected our rings. 

These are the boxes that contained our rings.  

I KNOW some of you are thinking "why does she have those ring boxes after 42 years?" 

I can hear YOU!!  However, I am sentimental. . . and hold on, cuz it gets worse.

2.  date set. . .   

I had always dreamed of being a June bride.  I don't know why. . . I think I had only attended one wedding prior to being in my own, but June always sounded perfect in my mind.  So, we picked June. 

3.  church reserved. . .

BUT before a date  was cast in stone there was a tiny issue.   I was a Protestant and he was a Catholic, so I had to "visit" with the Monsignor (not many of them left anymore) several times.   It was a requirement for those  non-Catholic spouses  for that particular priest. . . maybe for all of them back then, but he insisted and I obeyed!!!   :)

4.  cake ordered. . .

I selected the mother of a high school friend of mine who was a baker . . . Mrs. Ditto. . . to make our cake.  And even though she lived over an hour away. . . she gladly made our cake and drove the many miles to set it up and serve it for us.

I told you I was sentimental. . . and so was she.  This whisk was given to us from her. . . it was the one she used to make our cake.   I used it for many years. . . until I was afraid I might be creating a health risk with the rust from the whisk!  I still cherish it, but I don't use it! :)

5. flowers ordered. . .

my husband and I drove down to Rosie's Florals, also in Kansas City, and selected a bridal bouquet for me that I thought was glorious. . . yellow roses and daisies and of course a touch of Stephanotis.  My bridesmaids had little nosegays with similar flowers.  The boutonnieres were clusters of Stephanotis.  Our moms' corsages co-ordinated with their dresses.  I don't remember if we ordered alter flowers.  Probably not, we were paying for everything ourselves and arrangements of that size were no doubt out of our price range.

I do still have my "going away" corsage, proudly modeled by THE STONE RABBIT!   Yellow roses and white pipe cleaner leaves.  Hmmmmm. . . that must've been a cost cutting measure! :)

6.  bridesmaid dresses. . .

yellow was, and still is, one of my favorite colors, so my sister and my best friend got to wear long yellow dresses! 

I picked out the patterns and the fabric and selected daisy trim to go down the front of each dress. . . my mom made them.  I created the perky bows, from the dress fabric,  each gal was forced to wear! :)  Gads, I'll bet they hated me now that I look at that photo.

7.  my dress. . .

I knew that there was not enough money to buy a "ready made" dress, so I set about shopping for a pattern and the fabric and, even though I was a fairly decent seamstress, I enlisted my mom to do the actual sewing. . . because she was an even better seamstress.

I recall placing the yards of fabric down on our apartment living room floor, then pinning the patten to it and cutting away with the only pair of scissors I owned at the time which weren't terribly sharp and  had blades of about three inches.  

I  made my veil.  I had no idea what I was doing, but it turned out fine and I was very proud of it.

8.  My Showers. . . .

In the "olden days" folks gave theme showers. 

My husband's relatives gave me a "lingerie shower".   I recall receiving several flimsy nighties. . . and  being embarrassed about opening all of those things up in front of my mom and my future mother-in-law.  I'm certain my face was beet red for most of the event. 

Here is THE STONE RABBIT showing off the centerpiece from that shower.

Later, some of my friends gave us a "household shower" and my mom presented me with a quilt she had made out of scraps of old fabrics used to create clothes for our family and some of our cast off clothes.  We used that quilt until it started to fall apart.  I have it in my cedar chest, but I should get it out and try to repair it and put it to use in some way.

9.  the reception. . .

the original plan was only a cake and punch reception at the church because we couldn't afford anything else.  Then, as the days drew closer to the wedding,  someone came up with a clubhouse for free and  we scraped up enough money to buy some beer and several sacks of potato chips!!   That was it- - - last minute, no stressing, and cheap.    It turned out to be quite the party.   In fact, folks still talk about that night. . . but that's a story for another time! :)

10.  the day. . .

SOOOOO, everything was planned and on the morning of June 8, 1968, I waited in my un-airconditioned apartment for my parents to pick me up and take me,  and my dress, to the church. . .  in their un-airconditioned car. . . and travel across town to meet up with my groom for what would become the rest of my life. . . and his.   A life that we created together and have shared for these many years.

It all started out so long ago. . . when we were so young.

Every day is still quite the adventure with my groom. . . and I'm guessing that's what has made it work so long.  Well, that and those talks with the Monsignor! :)

He is always full of surprises!  Look what he just sent me. . . HE has learned to send text messages and I haven't!!! 

Ooops, he needs to have a little spell check on that phone! :)

HOWEVER, I have a blog and he doesn't. . . so I am going to tell everyone how much I love him and how I pray we have many, many more years and adventures together!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you, too!!

Love, DANA

PINK THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS

This morning, I took my favorite Pink mug out to the patio and looked toward the back of our yard.

I was hoping, that by enjoying my coffee in the early morning, outdoors, I would be able to find some peace.

My heart is aching an ache that hasn't stopped since Wednesday afternoon.  Even the mess that COMCAST has left in our back yard since October (see circled and exposed wires....and draping cable along our fence!) didn't cause me irritation (much).

My thoughts are of a young husband who lost his wife two days ago . . and their four beautiful children who no longer have a mother. 

The couple and their children are friends with my son and his family and my husband and I had been around her and the children on a number of occasions. . . birthday parties, church events, etc..  Over the course of the year that we came to know them, she had been fighting a health battle.  A recent surgery seemed promising to help her live a better life, but sadly, and unexpectedly, she died on Wednesday afternoon.

As I sat at the table this morning, thinking thoughts of that young family, I was suddenly aware that the lady who lives in the home behind us had lost her husband a few months ago, after fighting a hard fight against cancer.  I don't know that family at all, but  they were in their 50s, I think, and their children are grown.  They had grandchildren, too.  How lucky, I thought that he had lived long enough to see his kids grow up and to experience the joys of his grands.  Recently, I came out onto my patio and saw that a great piece of play equipment had been erected in their backyard...for those little grands to enjoy.

 

My heart and stomach are in turmoil over the death of Kelly.  I know she is no longer suffering, but  her absence will have such an impact on the future well-being of her little children and, of course, her husband.

While feeling so helpless at this time, I thought one small thing I could do would be to light a candle in honor of Kelly and to ask. . . .
 

you readers to take a moment to offer a prayer for her, her husband and her four children.

Kelly will not be able to be there physically as her children grow . . .she won't be able to interact with them as they play in playhouses or to home school them or laugh with them or give them hugs, but. . .

 

I'm convinced she will be there with them in spirit, because she was a very faith filled person. 

 
 

I am still shaking my head as I compose this post.  I don't understand why those little children no longer have their mom. . . or that husband doesn't have his wife.  I just have to have faith that they will be OK because God will be with them on this new journey of theirs. . .

 

and I  KNOW that Kelly will surround them with her deep love. . . . forever and ever.
 

 

May your PINK Saturday be blessed . . .  take the time to show love to your family and friends.

Please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND for her long list of bloggers with PINKS to share.

DANA

Our Birthday Boy

This is the way my kitchen looked last week as I made preparations for my last cake decorating class.  It took all of this to get to. . .

 

this!!!!!

We were to bring a frosted cake to class because we were going to learn to make leaves and sweet peas and. . . .

ROSES!!! 

This was our instructor's completed example. . . then she turned us loose to practice!
 

This was my first rose.  Yes, it looks more like a pink cabbage, but I was really pleased I got it to look that good!  Do you know how HARD it is to make a rose out of frosting?  I have a new appreciation for those folks who create such beautifully decorated cakes for a living!!  It is certainly an artistic accomplishment.
 

Here is Bonnie completing her cake.  She practiced placing sweet peas, along with her rose, on her cake.
 

Marian made great roses and practiced using different tips to create the borders on her cake!
 

I put my roses off centered a bit because I wanted to practice writing on top of my cake.
 

I had  planned on taking the cake to our vet's office, so I wrote "thanks" on it for all of the wonderful care he and his staff give to our fur babies.  However, I decided someone else should have this, my second cake, instead.  Since the "thanks" sentiment would have been OK for this person, I decided I'd practice my writing a little more with some of the frosting I had left over from my Pink Saturday Birthday Party post.
 

Once I completed my re-sentiment, I packed up the cake and took it to my. . . 

son!!!   :)

That was on Monday.  We were supposed to celebrate his birthday on that day with a cookout at our house.  However, his little boy became ill and they couldn't come over.  Our grand girl wanted to come anyway, so we drove over to get her so she could spend the night with us. 

Anyway, today is our boy's birthday.  He has brought us nothing but pride and joy from the very beginning.  We love him with all of our hearts and we hope he has the terrific day he deserves!
 

THE STONE RABBIT wanted me to tell you, son, that he saved you one of the twice baked potatoes we had at the cookout you guys couldn't attend!!!  He had to move fast cuz your dad, sister, daughter and I were gobbling them up!!  He put it in the freezer (and one for our DIL, too!) for you to enjoy when you do get to come over!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 

Love, Mom
 

DANA