Lost in Thought

Brenna Meghan

Camera:  Canon Digital EOS Rebel XT
F-stop f/5.6
Exp. 1/60
ISO 400
Photo editing:  cropped a little, added contrast and lightened slightly.
not-posed ~ Everyone was sitting around the kitchen table playing a game and I had fun snapping candid shots without anyone paying much attention to me.  I love her soft blue eyes, soft complextion, soft hair and soft gaze.

.

Linking to Valerie's Favorite Photo Friday

Tamara Lowe Video

I just saw this amazing lady with a message well  worth hearing, on another blog (Savvy City Farmer).  If you haven't seen it before, take a look!
(it's just 1:42)

.

(perfect timing ~   a blogger I follow just posted his story)
Here is a testimony of someone who made the choice and the joy that now fills his heart and his life!

Visit with Robert Walker
@Southern Faces, Southern Places 
and enjoy his photographic journey from
a joyless to a joyful life.
♥

Grandkids

A trip to New Jersey for these NY grandkids usually includes a visit to Aunt Erin's salon!

Sharing a birthday celebration!
hmph... why did Erin get "The Boss" mug?

Mustache Madness

ah, summer...
filled with fun, silliness and lots of family photos!
(Photo editing done on Picnik)

PS  I think there is a trend here... take a peek! 
Leave me a comment if you spot any more of these fuzzy facial faces! 

At the Playground

Looking for some relief from a hot August evening...

we headed to the neighborhood playground last night.

Brenna and Shaela spent most of their time on the jungle gym

Brenna Meghan trying out all of the equipment.

Shaela being coy with her Pop-Pop

Little monkeys  hangin' loose.

Ryan having a blast!

Jilly and her dad

Cooling down

Pop-Pop batted fly balls for Ryan to catch and then Ryan batted to Pop-Pop.

Quiz:  Guess which boy... is skinny and pale, can complete a 4x4 Rubik's cube in 40 seconds, can beat most on any video game or  Wii and whose best catch is using his hat :) OR the athletic built boy who can slug the ball far into the outfield and never grows tired of playing any kind of ball game.  God gives us all unique talents and skills!

Bet it wasn't hard to determine this is the guy who would rather sport a fedora to a ball cap any day.

Brad saw a pick-up game forming and could not resist the chance to play.

Raider enjoyed the evening as much as the kids with his pink tongue indicating just how hot he was.

Golden late day shadows.
Then home for baths and bedtime.

Craft Gossip

Amanda from

Craft Gossip 

left me a comment saying  that she linked to my lamp/foyer re-do post from the new Home & Garden channel at Craft Gossip.

I first came to know Amanda from her fabulous cooking blog

Recipes by Amanda's Cooking.

I visited Craft Gossip and I wanted to tell you about this really great blog.  There is SO MUCH to see and learn I think I'll just copy their About page:

About CraftGossip

Confused about everything crafty out there? Not sure where to go and what to buy for your latest craft idea? Can’t find that kitsch pattern that everyone else is talking about? Well worry no more!
CraftGossip covers news written by craft people telling you about all the good stuff. We scour the net looking for the best craft ideas and projects and review them for you. We have divided this blog into many sub-blogs, covering topics ranging from knitting, crochet, bath and body,  jewelry making, scrapbooking, sewing crafts, recycled crafts, needlework, edible crafts, indie crafts, stamping, lesson plans, glass art, quilting,  polymer clay and felting. Each of these sub-blogs is managed by its own dedicated editor, so you know that you are getting personalized attention. You can meet the editors here.

A Celebration!

We waited until Jill's visit so she and her family could be here for Abbey's high school graduation party.

(somehow there are no photos of the food.  I promise... there was lots)

Vignettes of lots of fun...

chilling on the porch

Hanging with friends

Jamie and her baby Cambrie

Splashing fun!

Aunt Erin giving Shaela a French Braid

John and his brother

Top: family, around the table from left:  Niece Toni, Jill, my mom, Stephanie, cousin Karen, sister-in-law Arlene and my sister, Carol

Bottom: Next door neighbors 

Cambrie and her dear other grandparents 

♥

My cousin, Karen, her husband, John and daughter, Stephanie

It was so good to spend time with dear family and friends

♥