Happy Memorial Day ~

Honoring our Heroes . . . men and women that fought and continue to fight to keep our freedom . . . Happy Memorial Day!

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.
                                          ~   Moina Michael

Inspired by the 1915 poem  . . . In Flanders Fields ~ by John McCrae

The History of (Decoration Day) Memorial Day

Old Augsburg, Germany ~

The larger drawing/picture of Augsburg, Germany has been in our family for a long time. You can't tell in this photo, but there is a tear in the top middle portion and the corners are curling. I have been wanting to scan this piece for many years...it's quite large and does not fit on my Canon printer/scanner.

I received a Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner for Christmas and love it. I hadn't tried the "stitching"option yet. I became inspired when Vickie scanned a page from her James Madison Hall journal and stitched the page together. I scanned the drawing and then used the stitch option. Well, I have to say it worked great for me! The stitched copy is above the larger original (in photo above). I printed the stitched copy onto "book" paper (8.5 x 11) I have. The color didn't come out as bright as in the original...I will have to work on that part of it.  Now it will fit perfectly in my Haf surname binder.  Thank you for the inspiration Vickie...I hadn't taken my flip-pal out since New Years...the possibilities are endless.

Cards and Stationery ~

I have always loved greeting cards, making my own cards, and stationery. I'm still old fashioned in that even in our fast paced busy world, I love to send out cards and letters when I get a chance, via snail mail.  There is something about getting a personal handwritten note or letter in your mailbox these days.
In an attempt to organize and know what I have or need to get...years ago I created my own place to house all of my pretty papers and cards.  I have been re-organizing and cleaning my office lately. I have had this file so long, that the dividers are really getting beat up. I took this out so I can create some pretty new labels for each divider.

Okay, I'll look at you ~

What I wouldn't give to know what this dog is thinking.

This is Koda, our Golden Retreiver. Koda was three in October.  He is finally starting to settle down but he was quite a handful at first.  He sort of blends in with my wood flooring but he looks so soft.  This was the only shot where he looked directly at me...all the other shots, he is purposely looking away!

Stained Glass Butterfly ~

The stained glass Butterfly, is the shade to a really neat desk lamp (full view below) that a good friend gave me over the weekend.  During  my mom's burial service...several Monarch Butterflies surrounded us...since then,  I have been a bit partial to these lovely creatures. As we helped our friends move this weekend, they handed this to me, wanting me to have this very special butterfly in remembrance of mom ~
Thank you Dan and Theresa...

A complete view of this lovely lamp where it sits on my desk now...next to the dried roses from mom's memorial service.

Love, Laugh and Live ~

~ Love Much, Laugh Often, and Live Well ~

My daughter gave me these cute little mini vases...I have yet to find the just right flower/plant I want in them.
They sit on a shelf in my kitchen...a daily reminder to do all.

This is not a black and white photo...the vases are white and my shelf is black! But I do like how it came out as if it were a black and white photo.

Close to me ~

My Aunt Ginnie gave me this "mother and daughter" holding each other sculpture, when my mom passed away in July, 2010. It has a very personal meaning for me, a little reminder...a reflection...a gesture that marks a memory of mom and I, so perfectly. 

The little card that comes with it that is sitting in front of this piece, is very hard to read (I really need to work on my lighting techniques!) but this is what it says...

Close to me
Apart or together, always close to me

Willow Tree, by Susan Lordi

This piece sits on my roll top desk, and all I have to do is look-up each day, and smile...

Miniature Rose Bouquet

I love these delicate and sweet miniature roses. I received this little bouquet of flowers when my mom passed from my daughters half-sisters. I dried them, then placed them in a vase that sits next to my favorite photo of my mom, both grace my dining room table, as in my post > here.

This photo was taken back in August 2010, when I had just purchased my new Canon camera. I still wanted to share it with you today. 

My Blooming African Violet ~

My African Violet sits on my kitchen windowsill. I have had this
plant for years (lost count)...it always has pretty little deep purple flowers in bloom. 

Warmth and Friendship ~

It's rare that we use our fireplace here in Southern California. We've actually had a few very chilly nights, so, my granddaughter and our dog Koda, decided to enjoy the warmth.