tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178331422024-03-07T16:35:35.412-05:00SWANEESINGER..."In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be..."Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-27872567616779194952010-07-15T21:33:00.003-05:002010-07-15T22:16:00.195-05:00SIGH.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6UnJc1uvSZNBDHuQ40-3Q_460VveVZK2ZqIZyo9sOy3UNqu-xOCSvySGVsUlENF5ooNu-czMGLpZLcKr1UYNIU_xESQ-ClJq6V2fuTSgOzAiPvtMeaSXhNSqq3mTRU5-Cvy3wA/s1600/stock-photo-wilted-rose-isolated-53670238.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 95px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6UnJc1uvSZNBDHuQ40-3Q_460VveVZK2ZqIZyo9sOy3UNqu-xOCSvySGVsUlENF5ooNu-czMGLpZLcKr1UYNIU_xESQ-ClJq6V2fuTSgOzAiPvtMeaSXhNSqq3mTRU5-Cvy3wA/s400/stock-photo-wilted-rose-isolated-53670238.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494336497419003122" border="0" /></a><br />That is my big guilt sigh, as I try to figure out how to explain my lack of enthusiasm for doing posts on my blog and getting back into reading your amazing blogs again. After my months of hell during these last few shows at my theater, I went on a short break to visit with my daughter and the G-babies and go to my family reunion. It was nice to get away, but I came back to several band trips and then had to play catch up on work that I needed to still get done for the theater. (I had a director quit on me----and have had several weeks of panic!)<br /><br />But now, I have some time, and I can't seem to get the posts done! I keep putting it off. I have a camera full of pictures. I have tons to say. I want to read blogs. I want to write a post. <br /><br /><br />But I just can't seem to do it.<br /><br />Its a mystery, that is for sure. Maybe its like when you get so far behind on something and feel that you can't ever catch up, so you just stay away from it. <br /><br />I don't know.<br /><br />I have been doing this blog for almost five years, and I am wondering if I even want to do it anymore sometimes. That is the negative side of me. I really want to keep it going to have a record of my life----as I don't believe that I will ever write my auto-biography one day for my children, etc. That is the hopeful side of me. I really do enjoy the writing---it helps relieve my stress, in a way. That is the positive side of me.<br /><br />So.....what do I do?<br /><br />How do I get past this slump?<br /><br />Someone out there give me some sound and fantastic advice.<br /><br /><br />I am not worthy.....I am not worthy.....Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-55693202984386880022010-06-17T22:42:00.003-05:002010-06-17T23:04:55.240-05:00I Am Being Featured!Today is my BIG DAY, as I am the featured writer on a really super famous blog, <a href="http://daretodream.typepad.com/weblog/2010/06/shawn-cannon-the-worlds-a-play.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Explore Your Possiblities----Dare to Dream.</span></span></a> Whitney does this blog that celebrates women and their dreams----and she has some amazing women on there. My friend, <a href="http://www.julieberrybooks.com/books.html"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">author Julie Berry</span></a>, introduced her to me----and she invited me to write a bit about my life in theater and performing.<br /><br />So, go on over and check it out! Read my post, and then go around and visit some of her other featured writers. She is a pretty fantastic women herself----talented and insightful----right up there with the women that she features.<br /><br />Thanks, Whitney, for letting me do a post....I'm honored....Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-26556339773869014932010-06-14T21:50:00.004-05:002010-06-14T22:15:03.596-05:00My Day With Johnny Depp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R_xDdaiI583RSecYJ2PYYA5S2ezanwGayltRD0wWnPZn9d58Q3aakx6gRbSp_YCWKhVJ1ZaVJegFFXKnVytcc9IACfMB35TKS98RKalmWzV5tMdEyItFoPhhzZOs7KthmcggLQ/s1600/johnny+depp.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R_xDdaiI583RSecYJ2PYYA5S2ezanwGayltRD0wWnPZn9d58Q3aakx6gRbSp_YCWKhVJ1ZaVJegFFXKnVytcc9IACfMB35TKS98RKalmWzV5tMdEyItFoPhhzZOs7KthmcggLQ/s400/johnny+depp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482832942554770194" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, yes. <br /><br />It was divine. We were an item. We went shopping. We were holding hands. We were best friends. We were going to see a movie. He was nice. He was fun.<br />We laughed. We talked about nonsensical things. I was thoroughly engaged. It was really what I needed with all the stress that I have been going through.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then........I had to wake up.<br /><br />Yep. One of the best dreams that I have ever had......sigh......Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-80462573233727104572010-06-08T20:42:00.006-05:002010-06-08T21:52:37.353-05:00My Earnest LifeOnce again I have let over a week go by without posting..... Sigh.... I can't seem to find the time to do everything!<br /><br />As for my number one baby right now? Well, its *Earnest, thanks for asking.<br /><br />I thought that this was just going to be a simple show-----my last one of the season. Yeah, right.<br /><br />Then the poop hit the fan. It started with not being able to find a main character that pushed the rehearsal schedule back almost three weeks, then having another few actors keep changing their minds on when they could rehearse, which lost us another week and a half. Then, to top things off, my lead girl decided to bow out two and a half weeks before the show opened. All this on top of having to do costuming, work on props, block, direct, oversee the set build, do the set decorating, publicity, tickets and maintain the website and blog, etc. (And yes, I found a really great lead guy and a really fantastic actress to take my lead girls part...even better than the original one!)<br /><br />Well-----once again I have gotten through it, and am now just praying for more ticket sales. Wish you could all be here to see it----it would really boost my sales!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Algernon and Jack have it out.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQhGDwMs1gmbE8WyHNM__rx6yLxUKVfwVgQ8Ksa3MEq7T6fkwDOux4ZsGIvwtom9Tmu5_gujaPF-Z9sX8n3DYkC8CRRzzDKB9j69ehYMNw5kSSEy3sLfF5Ir5lZQIjm5nNuVzMQ/s1600/Earnest+photos---2---2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQhGDwMs1gmbE8WyHNM__rx6yLxUKVfwVgQ8Ksa3MEq7T6fkwDOux4ZsGIvwtom9Tmu5_gujaPF-Z9sX8n3DYkC8CRRzzDKB9j69ehYMNw5kSSEy3sLfF5Ir5lZQIjm5nNuVzMQ/s400/Earnest+photos---2---2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480587052171525538" border="0" /></a><br />Gwendolen and Cecily are sure that they are both engaged to Earnest.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpLPgJQnX_RVC4j7CESq9JX8duCrqaPrCsT1dLsG0M6dQwoEPdrInA55VnhwRLYwkWQ62Yn-aQP1T0UYcOKfp0I6Q-SMJBYQHhucyK1bQCuFgC9VruKBU9Nza2uN17pLtsr0CDw/s1600/Earnest+photos---2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpLPgJQnX_RVC4j7CESq9JX8duCrqaPrCsT1dLsG0M6dQwoEPdrInA55VnhwRLYwkWQ62Yn-aQP1T0UYcOKfp0I6Q-SMJBYQHhucyK1bQCuFgC9VruKBU9Nza2uN17pLtsr0CDw/s400/Earnest+photos---2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480587060937230738" border="0" /></a><br />Jack tries to make up to Gwendolen.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUPdkT2rEtK16URrQeUXmSWM2g_PzzjKa_5L7gv9dWgoJN-YlgADJq4MWbSLhjjpZLb8Z99K0lyaEnhlEm-Mf9KNkrLWV7xmclCZ3TV_TrKGniGOxUAYwDLLgcrEczh9BtSYy1A/s1600/Earnest+photos+3---2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUPdkT2rEtK16URrQeUXmSWM2g_PzzjKa_5L7gv9dWgoJN-YlgADJq4MWbSLhjjpZLb8Z99K0lyaEnhlEm-Mf9KNkrLWV7xmclCZ3TV_TrKGniGOxUAYwDLLgcrEczh9BtSYy1A/s400/Earnest+photos+3---2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480587063541339810" border="0" /></a>.....And Algernon declares his love for Cecily.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySV5Fgmz293LZBLdhcQjZJ1zFzCMgGOhH9D6vHFj0CD6BajxgFnM8dENCOQQxcs_nsXvD066pvhiFbNHBDb163fgXp_Kqp6PCZlhpkPlEQrh8FBOgti5ofj6VAb6hTRbkRIC0Gw/s1600/Earnest+photos+4---2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySV5Fgmz293LZBLdhcQjZJ1zFzCMgGOhH9D6vHFj0CD6BajxgFnM8dENCOQQxcs_nsXvD066pvhiFbNHBDb163fgXp_Kqp6PCZlhpkPlEQrh8FBOgti5ofj6VAb6hTRbkRIC0Gw/s400/Earnest+photos+4---2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480587066991101170" border="0" /></a><br />Miss Prism gives Cecily some advice.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUonncj8bvA61cNL0kEdcfYcioSbaw7pc6_hrn1hs2ZyUBcu1Kcz00lMdqK5E_FOpZsSagxMKnuYpt5AFtaf0Yzy5FKiTQgwo2xtgFxnHXHGc9fAlESlF9qXlYdP1_3OCcm3XaTQ/s1600/Earnest+photos+5---2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUonncj8bvA61cNL0kEdcfYcioSbaw7pc6_hrn1hs2ZyUBcu1Kcz00lMdqK5E_FOpZsSagxMKnuYpt5AFtaf0Yzy5FKiTQgwo2xtgFxnHXHGc9fAlESlF9qXlYdP1_3OCcm3XaTQ/s400/Earnest+photos+5---2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480588316155344354" border="0" /></a><br />Lady Bracknell tries to show Gwendolen the error of her ways.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6nq6ZU4D-Ab0J6o4Wosy0zHH9zd9shvl7yXu6NTS2C7ay1mDIacNCXwy2K3N4TnDJT4fybdOcl3UQ4ZB_IVp7ARfO-o8C0JUl2uw9so07HCQDfS-NYgFvOu5KrA7PEvvK3JwcA/s1600/Earnest+photos+6----2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6nq6ZU4D-Ab0J6o4Wosy0zHH9zd9shvl7yXu6NTS2C7ay1mDIacNCXwy2K3N4TnDJT4fybdOcl3UQ4ZB_IVp7ARfO-o8C0JUl2uw9so07HCQDfS-NYgFvOu5KrA7PEvvK3JwcA/s400/Earnest+photos+6----2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480588324000351858" border="0" /></a><br />And......that is my *Earnest life.<br /><br />*(The Importance Of Being Earnest)Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-92008307906426873102010-05-23T20:15:00.014-05:002010-05-24T00:18:34.696-05:00Home Sweet Home----Or At Least For The Time Being....If you remember, we have had some stress in finding a new house----yep----we were supposed to move on Saturday and it was Wednesday and we didn't have a house yet----remember?<br /><br />Well----we found this really great historic house to rent----month to month----until my hubby can get a new job and we can still buy the house that we were originally going to buy.<br /><br />Uh huh---that is in a perfect world.<br /><br />BUT I promised pictures of the house that we are living in now---it is way cool----but really a lot smaller than we are looking for, so we probably wouldn't be interested in buying it---and the price is RATHER steep for this size, as the town is a bit higher priced over all. But----it is fun to live here----and yes, I got unpacked EXTREMELY fast, as we already had an open house (yes, the house is on the market---and we have to show it---that is part of the deal) just a week and a half after moving in! AAAhhhhhh!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The front of the house----red brick----built in 1827.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyho0G6hOyTT5vgZ3qGBOyQAUM3kkcYJ6oG3E6ejJeR2PPoOmthDnyN6ctFOluWzq1htECwE7O1fsQc-ieja5lz5bm-JBY08F0znF_r7D7mzWrcofMJ1VvnG3MEp1_wqw-25aqEw/s1600/Historic+Bolton+house.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyho0G6hOyTT5vgZ3qGBOyQAUM3kkcYJ6oG3E6ejJeR2PPoOmthDnyN6ctFOluWzq1htECwE7O1fsQc-ieja5lz5bm-JBY08F0znF_r7D7mzWrcofMJ1VvnG3MEp1_wqw-25aqEw/s400/Historic+Bolton+house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474658967586685362" border="0" /></a>And the back of the house----great windows all across the back...better to<br />see the great yard!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfC6Eo_9_CYhu7SlR2FAnp4QFNLX5xGrM-kMIx7z0ME5UwJ4AyQ0DLYSdIg_A1McaNdm-QpgdWPTB8dzpje2QxoyhWI1pIFtX9KzcRprEMtKYJykUvxUo-QGItTIND04MXJX-YQ/s1600/DSCN6637.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfC6Eo_9_CYhu7SlR2FAnp4QFNLX5xGrM-kMIx7z0ME5UwJ4AyQ0DLYSdIg_A1McaNdm-QpgdWPTB8dzpje2QxoyhWI1pIFtX9KzcRprEMtKYJykUvxUo-QGItTIND04MXJX-YQ/s400/DSCN6637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474653041526352802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The gardening shed and Aydan on the bridge.....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQlfjKXng_95tg1axKJk545lfgM6oM7W4-UYHaSkRi6OvvR2S_XzoOsToH1PY8gHR9rUfZlZi8ex0TPJEXu8sBhisf0Ruk8SDdCOz8M_zXAFnrm01DpIKlKSrGGJFxKOpDS2N4Q/s1600/DSCN6636.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQlfjKXng_95tg1axKJk545lfgM6oM7W4-UYHaSkRi6OvvR2S_XzoOsToH1PY8gHR9rUfZlZi8ex0TPJEXu8sBhisf0Ruk8SDdCOz8M_zXAFnrm01DpIKlKSrGGJFxKOpDS2N4Q/s400/DSCN6636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474653026794681730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....over the brook that runs through the back yard.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIge9VkrY75U_xcJKWzF7KnYBKFd6_q25KqZsDA9sGbzd2wKm9kqG4Le9W6zmkRq2cqhl3uTq44CYXuKwalWgozIC1yeDE7WrJaZWlANfP4dVUd_JfWJChISJZf2wpExUHBjd0lQ/s1600/DSCN6639.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIge9VkrY75U_xcJKWzF7KnYBKFd6_q25KqZsDA9sGbzd2wKm9kqG4Le9W6zmkRq2cqhl3uTq44CYXuKwalWgozIC1yeDE7WrJaZWlANfP4dVUd_JfWJChISJZf2wpExUHBjd0lQ/s400/DSCN6639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474653058440159842" border="0" /></a><br />Here is Aydan on the rock bridge----making a boat.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGq2vse2GJ5eBETbcMFtp09xaIjQoZ8gTLymmql-fPGL7c8oztoI43YNMYqXL2lIRIzfUOn0j_dufXzoMeBR1R6MBCwlQ4B3dY3jeesMnjMAI-DxmjTpWWVyMXZnumqDAyHsJ8w/s1600/DSCN6638.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGq2vse2GJ5eBETbcMFtp09xaIjQoZ8gTLymmql-fPGL7c8oztoI43YNMYqXL2lIRIzfUOn0j_dufXzoMeBR1R6MBCwlQ4B3dY3jeesMnjMAI-DxmjTpWWVyMXZnumqDAyHsJ8w/s400/DSCN6638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474653049730337170" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And the finished boat----sail and all.....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4NiiKMzqAP5EF-1CibNZt-H6AUZRPCAKgb_a4n8IG3pJnfL5AvFywp3DvytbSr6PzBzfzxT49sjhjRJdEpam0VUZjvapXHnT684IFAxI7JW0H7gVgUW11cbqXpVaRR7he0zSZQ/s1600/DSCN6641.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4NiiKMzqAP5EF-1CibNZt-H6AUZRPCAKgb_a4n8IG3pJnfL5AvFywp3DvytbSr6PzBzfzxT49sjhjRJdEpam0VUZjvapXHnT684IFAxI7JW0H7gVgUW11cbqXpVaRR7he0zSZQ/s400/DSCN6641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474655576579032546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here is Aydan with another boat----up his nose?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_KA7k6jIgsf2Ru_lutXDTJSYaHiLe75D-2gV-nDl_MSNiKVP-RI8tB633B4-vvjGaG9oNnU-gic-OKRBrNHPs-wnioQK_wHCmfbNIoUykjlh6_NlxPMkz-bdLe2XdkMvaSg1ww/s1600/DSCN6642.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_KA7k6jIgsf2Ru_lutXDTJSYaHiLe75D-2gV-nDl_MSNiKVP-RI8tB633B4-vvjGaG9oNnU-gic-OKRBrNHPs-wnioQK_wHCmfbNIoUykjlh6_NlxPMkz-bdLe2XdkMvaSg1ww/s400/DSCN6642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474655583084091650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Aydan----launching his boat in the brook....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyeQSLdyrlmO7qpJdXqFjueh0CRvfI6aA6DjgKqmmNtqLtMJiM5HpcTJicTcNNwOTKqaPjRiyiSnJlZ2FUhUO74Zbn0kYzl_A8Ng8w9FnuOiZ9koMdfMCl8cZwzc-bof5B7W34Q/s1600/DSCN6648.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyeQSLdyrlmO7qpJdXqFjueh0CRvfI6aA6DjgKqmmNtqLtMJiM5HpcTJicTcNNwOTKqaPjRiyiSnJlZ2FUhUO74Zbn0kYzl_A8Ng8w9FnuOiZ9koMdfMCl8cZwzc-bof5B7W34Q/s400/DSCN6648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474655596103044306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....but it knocks it apart....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aBoljBW_8lt7aeIadte_t5WVCTl5N5cl-crK9vBi76M-7PwZ2X2l2UfyqkRzN16gGMz4wDWeII6BDfQFsTNMlR5UD8Ino7HhM6uDfOnxxO-ySxDwcOJ6H6WVNMFd9J41M5W2EA/s1600/DSCN6645.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aBoljBW_8lt7aeIadte_t5WVCTl5N5cl-crK9vBi76M-7PwZ2X2l2UfyqkRzN16gGMz4wDWeII6BDfQFsTNMlR5UD8Ino7HhM6uDfOnxxO-ySxDwcOJ6H6WVNMFd9J41M5W2EA/s400/DSCN6645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474655593969480450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....and it ends up in pieces later on.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYqH6OagGauNeU98G6rMW6uF3KvYYepV_9Pr9yUP7nz2IrkSXSU5a9_-oIJVpznjXuE9wdt-mTW2OgwzohCcXTq3jJ1bcEXB-e1dmuVEoGCeLiZNJ6Ot3_MyOklJUMfKQDqDZ8g/s1600/DSCN6651.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYqH6OagGauNeU98G6rMW6uF3KvYYepV_9Pr9yUP7nz2IrkSXSU5a9_-oIJVpznjXuE9wdt-mTW2OgwzohCcXTq3jJ1bcEXB-e1dmuVEoGCeLiZNJ6Ot3_MyOklJUMfKQDqDZ8g/s400/DSCN6651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474657000866023650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is the kitchen.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJvHUZlNYh5Hv-xJkk2IAl17JZDwLmlJYJUTS8Q52LFN2HHNacnc9D7AElJ69XP3XhvMbX-3FYhDm6Qa1Ucr7by2b4ghRO8nL7A8UQVtnNfarOZqn6w6HpFNmEAztWW6rCHUcIA/s1600/DSCN6652.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJvHUZlNYh5Hv-xJkk2IAl17JZDwLmlJYJUTS8Q52LFN2HHNacnc9D7AElJ69XP3XhvMbX-3FYhDm6Qa1Ucr7by2b4ghRO8nL7A8UQVtnNfarOZqn6w6HpFNmEAztWW6rCHUcIA/s400/DSCN6652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474657008625143010" border="0" /></a>The cool pantry that is original to the house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJmIaWEqZYgVtMZsr6oC6zUp3SSvyDvc7EtNs-4llnIT8BoQpGQ8KiypzCAiit3ugtZ4S2CMW9Ex7dHJbX-TX3mwAmlC2-CxH4SHx1CXcb62hs18INMCQBuoBT5v8eHOyrefKUA/s1600/DSCN6666.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVJmIaWEqZYgVtMZsr6oC6zUp3SSvyDvc7EtNs-4llnIT8BoQpGQ8KiypzCAiit3ugtZ4S2CMW9Ex7dHJbX-TX3mwAmlC2-CxH4SHx1CXcb62hs18INMCQBuoBT5v8eHOyrefKUA/s400/DSCN6666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474666961792551938" border="0" /></a><br />....and the dining room with the beehive oven.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMZDOe9-P5Dqp4OYmUymrdORDxVK27OGCPZOFKf2FflBgYJ9hfd1HF2HEW9dIbb9kp2OrAJNBhe1ceo6cCUfbZVL7Cg8UDv9sT34skUl0ktk2tmc3nBcDvFPaHMsL5OGJ0PWB2A/s1600/DSCN6653.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLMZDOe9-P5Dqp4OYmUymrdORDxVK27OGCPZOFKf2FflBgYJ9hfd1HF2HEW9dIbb9kp2OrAJNBhe1ceo6cCUfbZVL7Cg8UDv9sT34skUl0ktk2tmc3nBcDvFPaHMsL5OGJ0PWB2A/s400/DSCN6653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474657013546710018" border="0" /></a><br />The entryway---where the front door is----looking into the living room.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3DOTDGnJFCTfonUCWqNQ-QKeXMjSVHWwsyihIJ3ukFV9yUSyXAPQcwIJt6h7TXRGeFh5kWVQV_zHXmk5ZG2v7jTf-u8ic2Kzr-YKGeXi7MLyhnunqqAeVSMlLgrOMZ9y56OM6Q/s1600/DSCN6662.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3DOTDGnJFCTfonUCWqNQ-QKeXMjSVHWwsyihIJ3ukFV9yUSyXAPQcwIJt6h7TXRGeFh5kWVQV_zHXmk5ZG2v7jTf-u8ic2Kzr-YKGeXi7MLyhnunqqAeVSMlLgrOMZ9y56OM6Q/s400/DSCN6662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474666969073468882" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The living room with another fireplace-----and no, that is not our couch---<br />they left it here with the house----mine is at my theater.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYs-1lvoETnylFC8QRCz6McYNANOrGFWHCXN65_-5wPjCnCSd8hB4WghrGObkFXoeuBHaRH1NS_VhEgMi6zyAititbycR9OHIGWcR0Oxtdt-BG3A0g0-oBuIfc130yf6CtgsP6w/s1600/DSCN6654.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYs-1lvoETnylFC8QRCz6McYNANOrGFWHCXN65_-5wPjCnCSd8hB4WghrGObkFXoeuBHaRH1NS_VhEgMi6zyAititbycR9OHIGWcR0Oxtdt-BG3A0g0-oBuIfc130yf6CtgsP6w/s400/DSCN6654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474657022368017618" border="0" /></a><br />The master bedroom----with another fireplace and our spring colors!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCz61hFIm9mU9CxMzVd4hekdL0yGz_mmVNy_z3uS3gAmWFf1DRbCMGy9tE8BOMduE1eljqIkv9YmvABP8AcmRxa183eE-XxrTnnR_xlhBkfgKRqSXdjlwumkS1YvHzHwQOMZqIw/s1600/DSCN6658.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCz61hFIm9mU9CxMzVd4hekdL0yGz_mmVNy_z3uS3gAmWFf1DRbCMGy9tE8BOMduE1eljqIkv9YmvABP8AcmRxa183eE-XxrTnnR_xlhBkfgKRqSXdjlwumkS1YvHzHwQOMZqIw/s400/DSCN6658.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474658058155080338" border="0" /></a><br />This is Aydans room and/or the guest room when someone comes to visit.<br />Isn't that bed amazing? Yeah----it came with the house, too....sigh.<br />(There is another room off of this one----its Aydans play room--<br />but that was still a mess---heh, heh.)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuruzi93a6nV3ZCNqfThct2SWAe_2FQQOEhmwE23fx9D09AfcXWRytFvQRs-QhvMri6KfmipEb614ryfQtvP1hMTxKXCMYkjByDi5pJO3wQ9tsLEjY4Xk-WoFdaB5zLuyh4bLVIw/s1600/DSCN6656.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuruzi93a6nV3ZCNqfThct2SWAe_2FQQOEhmwE23fx9D09AfcXWRytFvQRs-QhvMri6KfmipEb614ryfQtvP1hMTxKXCMYkjByDi5pJO3wQ9tsLEjY4Xk-WoFdaB5zLuyh4bLVIw/s400/DSCN6656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474658054268190450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The main bathroom----the only full bath.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJY1re8UWfPKUqP9fxa8m8f9g-UvSy6bxDAOmCZbZ7WRfc5od34uo2JqxlfnhFtKvpBx6blUmjxJ6myNrDoeZiiRDMBSOHJMAGCednBfQYQxDfyJvnBX52Cjon05kwXhPjOf9uQ/s1600/DSCN6655.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJY1re8UWfPKUqP9fxa8m8f9g-UvSy6bxDAOmCZbZ7WRfc5od34uo2JqxlfnhFtKvpBx6blUmjxJ6myNrDoeZiiRDMBSOHJMAGCednBfQYQxDfyJvnBX52Cjon05kwXhPjOf9uQ/s400/DSCN6655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474658070212434818" border="0" /></a><br />The family room----with its big windows across the back....<br />(Its hard to tell, but our couch is at the end---with the TV armoire----and you can<br />see a bit of the loft up in the right hand corner----<br />isn't that wood stove great?)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKGJQoufhSzJ6nFT1FYwUTdP-x9sFQ37OUV3ozdU2yjq8XprYd3zINJA8HtzEsXkZqv78VDfZa9q_44AIczc1RRyW5GJtcOXnAx_cjfXWWxuaZyS8bxwTrIJyJQ1g7rqg4pOmpg/s1600/DSCN6664.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKGJQoufhSzJ6nFT1FYwUTdP-x9sFQ37OUV3ozdU2yjq8XprYd3zINJA8HtzEsXkZqv78VDfZa9q_44AIczc1RRyW5GJtcOXnAx_cjfXWWxuaZyS8bxwTrIJyJQ1g7rqg4pOmpg/s400/DSCN6664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474658066425487810" border="0" /></a><br />.....and looking up to the ceiling---the big original beams....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJtUSONVojzP-9uGHidEqitIzFzSn44AdeTrHvhPk35XqU5Kd6YzgI3DCVFeeaNx0evJBoqUVRpul2dGX_rUDALyI2mxNeSGz_wU2HBKc7gJH2HeVq_E5Ld6NmmfUx6YHF0V2CQ/s1600/DSCN6667.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJtUSONVojzP-9uGHidEqitIzFzSn44AdeTrHvhPk35XqU5Kd6YzgI3DCVFeeaNx0evJBoqUVRpul2dGX_rUDALyI2mxNeSGz_wU2HBKc7gJH2HeVq_E5Ld6NmmfUx6YHF0V2CQ/s400/DSCN6667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474666973438871586" border="0" /></a>,,,,and yes, there is Marmelade....in her favorite spot, on the top of the armoire.<br />(There is a loft above part of the family room, and the cats pretty much hang<br />out there---then walk the beams...) That painting of Aydan on the<br />left was done by Maryn----one of my artist daughters----amazing, huh?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBlQT97t272UFO_ZmeEQ5f2IqvR7XwgChtw-BJf3U1FM-3qlsSLqgOcqs_UsGKz7HN4fDggN9WS5fMY01qHyKIKGzY2k-gO1DDbC_mmFPp39MVY14hEbArPv_sPvV_2lrfe-jfg/s1600/DSCN6668.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBlQT97t272UFO_ZmeEQ5f2IqvR7XwgChtw-BJf3U1FM-3qlsSLqgOcqs_UsGKz7HN4fDggN9WS5fMY01qHyKIKGzY2k-gO1DDbC_mmFPp39MVY14hEbArPv_sPvV_2lrfe-jfg/s400/DSCN6668.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474666978918866770" border="0" /></a><br />So, here we are.....just playing the waiting game. <br /><br />But at least, we have a home.......................for now.Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-36363797575534854732010-05-09T19:43:00.006-05:002010-05-09T22:10:35.217-05:00Happy Mum's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgy0AfIMCtr4dNCOd8_QB2hV6d8JVF8RVYeS6hXyIzDdNDuW6woS1FCf1PskSXRL7lu9D747v_G3a9sztBIwKu0F5BwrHxfko2HcOf6utXinLABQ-Vc-9AHmDqsUm_wVPOXh9qg/s1600/DSCN6614.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">A flower given to us in church today.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvSGbOllqmN745spGVHdgSWpN_siSO2zCfJ7HyQM8IFUaugfMe8w55Q2ab2FMX1zvyDnL8ZsHqKGb9Z3P9qoLG2vaD3iMD7brBEpWvwXLXbbAUEXmxF0EohMEIjjnfLd6EZO8zw/s1600/DSCN6612.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvSGbOllqmN745spGVHdgSWpN_siSO2zCfJ7HyQM8IFUaugfMe8w55Q2ab2FMX1zvyDnL8ZsHqKGb9Z3P9qoLG2vaD3iMD7brBEpWvwXLXbbAUEXmxF0EohMEIjjnfLd6EZO8zw/s400/DSCN6612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469469461927307106" border="0" /></a>Well, we are finally moved into our latest house. I am not calling it our new house, as it is only temporary. The problem is that we can't buy a house until my hubby has a steady job again, and we are still pre-approved for credit, etc.,...but only if he is making a certain amount. So, he is constantly looking, and we are still hoping that we can buy a house before the end of the summer.<br /><br />Meanwhile, we thought that we would move into a small two bedroom apartment, and store all of our stuff, but we couldn't find one that we could rent month to month----yeah, I know----go figure. BUT when I was surfing through rental listings on an MLS site, I found a house----circa 1827, in a small town not too far from where we were living. I wanted to go see it, as it was just the right size and the rent was the same as what we were paying, but our realtor and my husband both reminded me that we didn't want to find something permanent, just a month to month, so I put it into the back of my over-crowded brain.<br /><br />Fast forward to a week later, and we STILL had not found a place to live! We were supposed to move out on Sat. of last weekend, but we had NOT found a place to live, as of Thurs. morning. Then we got a call from my realtor (she's amazing, by the way) and she informed us that the old house that I had inquired about, was willing to rent month by month, and were we interested in looking at it? Well, duh....of course!<br /><br />We went to look at the house and were overjoyed with its quirkiness, its history, its amazing back yard, and we wanted to move in! Long story short, the afternoon of that Thurs., we met with the owner, signed a lease, and asked if we could start bringing our things in the next night. Voila! We had a place to call our own----well----for a few months anyway.<br /><br />So, that is my mothers day present, basically. I have slowly tried to get unpacked, after taking about three days to move in, and have only managed to get the kitchen done this week, around working and rehearsals, etc.,,,,but its a big accomplishment for me!<br /><br />My kids came today, made dinner with my hubby, and brought super presents and their fun selves. It was really nice to relax for a bit,-----they played Beatles Monopoly----and I fell asleep on the chaise in front of the huge windows overlooking our great back yard-----with classical music playing in the background......ahhhh....a little bit of heaven.<br /><br />Sometimes----despite all the stress of normal and not-so-normal life, its the little things that make your days. A yummy dinner. Some satin jammie bottoms. A new super cookie sheet. A small flat screened T.V. An amazing cake with strawberries. Big hugs from my children. Two special phone calls from my sweet daughters that live far away.<br />These are the things that made my Mothers Day special and revived my spirit.<br /><br /><br />Now, I'm ready to take on my usual stress for the week. I can do anything now.<br />If only I could get my printer to work.....it keeps saying (as if it talks) that the new cartridge isn't the right one....sigh....I just hope that it isn't broken.<br /><br />And....yes, I will get back with pictures of the house, just as soon as I finish unpacking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The basket of goodies from my sweet daughter, Brinna.....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHyUyH3iwXrklvEOJ7ozVla9FGMer4SlhZ075OopjSyoX41GJmoUXjXrT-m2O6cei7EMyEYEkH6O1RUlJuFDUMS7ncbn1e0Eaa0KN6pe-PWv8rAcz-crNRgXr-4cuUW6hEHIrFQ/s1600/DSCN6611.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHyUyH3iwXrklvEOJ7ozVla9FGMer4SlhZ075OopjSyoX41GJmoUXjXrT-m2O6cei7EMyEYEkH6O1RUlJuFDUMS7ncbn1e0Eaa0KN6pe-PWv8rAcz-crNRgXr-4cuUW6hEHIrFQ/s400/DSCN6611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469469454638057426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....and here we are----aren't those satin jammie bottoms amazing?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgy0AfIMCtr4dNCOd8_QB2hV6d8JVF8RVYeS6hXyIzDdNDuW6woS1FCf1PskSXRL7lu9D747v_G3a9sztBIwKu0F5BwrHxfko2HcOf6utXinLABQ-Vc-9AHmDqsUm_wVPOXh9qg/s1600/DSCN6614.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgy0AfIMCtr4dNCOd8_QB2hV6d8JVF8RVYeS6hXyIzDdNDuW6woS1FCf1PskSXRL7lu9D747v_G3a9sztBIwKu0F5BwrHxfko2HcOf6utXinLABQ-Vc-9AHmDqsUm_wVPOXh9qg/s400/DSCN6614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469469471399654530" border="0" /></a><br />Some new super cookie sheets from my son, Clayton.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyixoRODXUosuFoh7Um1ek7NE6ZHs97UZhnbZ-oy9G11cFpGpg7N-RexQ7Q7AXlCuOSy1FWnyjWLu0wIL9OTXOnMyleSOa5RClUl0-yoERvnzBePH7jw5CesNYPzVNxu3sNazXQ/s1600/DSCN6616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyixoRODXUosuFoh7Um1ek7NE6ZHs97UZhnbZ-oy9G11cFpGpg7N-RexQ7Q7AXlCuOSy1FWnyjWLu0wIL9OTXOnMyleSOa5RClUl0-yoERvnzBePH7jw5CesNYPzVNxu3sNazXQ/s400/DSCN6616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469470281231225746" border="0" /></a><br />....and the fantastic cake that he baked for us. (Texas bundt cake with<br />fresh strawberries and whipped cream---so yummy!)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsuoDf4m2EJ-_NWKeGziroq1u066oFRTLdWUrwL9iWggUOR2DnfE291qxu6P7_O33MhqLLORZZLfMA0vC1IbptpJyC8FIwTqnzfsrdH8rW7dK7OtUiKtmtV5ViKiVa6HjP72yWQ/s1600/DSCN6610.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsuoDf4m2EJ-_NWKeGziroq1u066oFRTLdWUrwL9iWggUOR2DnfE291qxu6P7_O33MhqLLORZZLfMA0vC1IbptpJyC8FIwTqnzfsrdH8rW7dK7OtUiKtmtV5ViKiVa6HjP72yWQ/s400/DSCN6610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469469441145835154" border="0" /></a><br />A flat-screened TV and water bottle from my hubby, Bret, and my son Aydan.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQk9eAuRFrax8xUuIhf_wnEBw2gAjsDd4t8fPedy-kht808QGbDYj2sCHOVwLWht-qFYhYbXn13GpSf6FfwjTlO-06Itv3Y6_-kDgVlN7lHv7iKkp2_c96lDeGd0nwd3cVHQS8w/s1600/DSCN6618.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQk9eAuRFrax8xUuIhf_wnEBw2gAjsDd4t8fPedy-kht808QGbDYj2sCHOVwLWht-qFYhYbXn13GpSf6FfwjTlO-06Itv3Y6_-kDgVlN7lHv7iKkp2_c96lDeGd0nwd3cVHQS8w/s400/DSCN6618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469470295578892770" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone playing The Beatles Monopoly----right before I headed in to<br />take my nap....(and yes, that's my husbands cranium in the foreground---heh, heh)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hrtihjoFa34tndqH5G_UhmlsoeoV_CePXa-a19VUmL3U4cRGawawrIPk2kHg4qSD2RsedOTW-GVepS9qLHF9NGZiPQW7CuBcrX2c4uLwqWePoHPKXMDiyTCqeq2uyELa2y9E5Q/s1600/DSCN6623.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hrtihjoFa34tndqH5G_UhmlsoeoV_CePXa-a19VUmL3U4cRGawawrIPk2kHg4qSD2RsedOTW-GVepS9qLHF9NGZiPQW7CuBcrX2c4uLwqWePoHPKXMDiyTCqeq2uyELa2y9E5Q/s400/DSCN6623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469470307533481794" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Mothers Day---hope yours was as FANTABULOUS as mine!Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-51891511239655137262010-04-28T22:44:00.005-05:002010-04-28T23:27:38.724-05:00Don't Like Ticks.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsfrNB5W1OvFo7KPpE-a9-yJlOPILc-JJh5SKWkSGTFbkECygYACLMvOkY3TF5VSwo7ZLlPari9TN1Xl6wujzI45uQ7rZukU00A0KJXIXZjUcOFxN2uFUVSW1QCtl38cgLfPlCQ/s1600/tick---yuck.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 203px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsfrNB5W1OvFo7KPpE-a9-yJlOPILc-JJh5SKWkSGTFbkECygYACLMvOkY3TF5VSwo7ZLlPari9TN1Xl6wujzI45uQ7rZukU00A0KJXIXZjUcOFxN2uFUVSW1QCtl38cgLfPlCQ/s400/tick---yuck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465409799216120546" border="0" /></a>This is the time for ticks in New England. Did I mention that I DETEST ticks?<br /><br />The other night as I was getting dressed for bed, I noticed that the lower side of my back was sore. I thought, at first, that it was a new ache----from yoga. I get some new aches every once in a while, but chalk it up to it being a "good" pain---and figured that it would be gone by the next day.<br /><br />So, I laid down in bed, and started reading my book. Suddenly there was a sharp pain in my back----like something sticking me. Wha the? I couldn't figure out if I had something sticking in me----maybe a splinter or something?<br /><br />So, I got back out of bed and went into the bathroom. I took off my P.J. top and checked out my back in the mirror. It was at a strange angle, but I noticed a lot of redness, and there in the middle was a small dark brown dot. A-HA!<br /><br />It was a tick. Burrowing into me. <br /><br />Of course, I freaked out and ran into the bedroom---waking up my hubby....and demanding that he get it out!<br /><br />He had just gotten a tick remover a few days before this incident, thank goodness----but of course, we couldn't find it! We have been packing and the place was upside down, so it had been misplaced. On to the next idea. We found my eyebrow tweezers.<br /><br />He grabbed that little sucker---yes, play on words----and popped it out. Then right into the toilet----and flush!<br /><br /><br />A few days later, I checked in the mirror and there was still a red dot there----and I could still feel that soreness. Thank goodness that they hurt so much when they are trying to burrow in---or I would have never even noticed!<br /><br />A few days later, Aydan found one crawling up his shirt---he had only walked from the bus stop----thank goodness that it hadn't found skin....<br /><br />So, now I have to remember to check everyone after they have been out doors. UGH. Such a pain.<br /><br />Its not too bad for my little doggies.....I just put flea and tick meds. on them---and check them every once in a while.<br /><br />Now, why isn't there a flea and tick medicine for humans. I would sure invest in some.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br />And yes....I thought that I would super gross you out by this little display of<br />an engorged tick....enjoy.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7O0-XM1Iei-9YPyp3W6zxbt7Ag4NTElP4lElfUFn5HLzwBO4x_QhyDEXRTo_cq6Gt7d1M5ueElEvgF9TQ6f_QnP4bsBZJCbzdjESTRO-KOzaG2nxDVfjlhtVWkSNKFNpcTMByw/s1600/tick+food....jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 121px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7O0-XM1Iei-9YPyp3W6zxbt7Ag4NTElP4lElfUFn5HLzwBO4x_QhyDEXRTo_cq6Gt7d1M5ueElEvgF9TQ6f_QnP4bsBZJCbzdjESTRO-KOzaG2nxDVfjlhtVWkSNKFNpcTMByw/s400/tick+food....jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465409795436836402" border="0" /></a>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-12840936657750120702010-04-21T22:45:00.006-05:002010-04-21T23:16:28.118-05:00Stress Is Now My Middle NameHave you ever wondered what the most stressful things are that you go through in your life? Well---apparently, I am going through about three of them----at once. <br /><br />One of them is losing a job. Yep, we are there.<br /><br />Another one is moving. Shouldn't they also add that we have NO place to move to, as Bret has to have a job before they will let us close on the house? Hmmm....how picky of them....<br />So----yep, we are there with that one.<br /><br />A change in financial state is another one. Well---what else would you call trying to live off of unemployment----duh. Not to mention that I have only had my own theater for a bit over a year---so am still extremely stressed about making it work.<br /><br />Now....I am not going through a divorce----well, not yet, anyway.... And there has been no death in the family----thank goodness----I count my blessings for that one. And I haven't been confined to jail, so I guess I am safe for that one. Another stress is an illness or injury----and well, I guess that I can count that one too, as Bret just got over that....<a href="http://swaneesinger.blogspot.com/2009/07/good-bad-and-ugly.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">remember?</span></span></a><br /><br />Believe it or not, the other one is marriage. Go figure. I guess it is just all the preparation, etc. that is stressful.<br /><br /><br /><br />I only wish that this was my problem.....Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-72938415359348349552010-04-11T21:47:00.010-05:002010-04-12T00:02:35.595-05:00A Really Special LadyThere is a really special blogger out there, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://susettefisher.blogspot.com/">Susette.</a> </span>She is beautiful both inside and out, and has the sweetest personality that you can imagine, and I have a special place in my heart for her.<br /><br />I have been able to meet with her several times----once when I went out to Utah----and once when she came to New England to visit with another amazing woman, Rhonda----when she won a trip out to Connecticut. About a month ago, I was out in Utah, visiting my daughter, and had that great bloggers luncheon, but Susette wasn't able to come---and I missed her.<br /><br />A few weeks later, there was a note on on her Facebook page.<br /><br />It was tragic, and heartbreaking. <br /><br />Her son, Porter, had been hiking and had fallen to his death. It was sudden, and such a terrible tragedy. I couldn't stop crying when I read of it.....I can't even imagine the pain of losing a child----I don't know how she could deal with even getting up in the morning each day. <a href="http://susettefisher.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" >Her blog</span></a> gives you an idea of her coping with this, as well as her love for this amazing young man. Her daughter, <a href="http://kalibug.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kali,</span></span></a> also shares her poignant thoughts about her brother.<br /><br />I then read on Facebook that she was traveling back with her daughter, after the funeral, to spend some time here in New England, as her daughter lives in the area. Of course, I sent her a message, as I hoped to be able to see her, and give her that big hug that I wanted to share with her.<br /><br />Well, we ended up meeting for lunch, along with her sweet daughter, her grandbaby Miles, and her daughter's husband, Wade. It was so great to see her and meet her amazing daughter and family. We talked about her son, Porter and the things that surrounded the accident----and as we both teared up a bit, she talked about how this trip that she was on was supposed to be shared with Porter, her son. <br /><br /><br />And we both agreed that he was there....spending those days with his Mom and sister---seeing the sites and enjoying the New England days with them....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">At lunch in historic Concord----little Miles, Kali, Susette, and I.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPJFzLRZbwNrJ4TbkTkZpMDPf3gJtmRuUcrd0qPsVoDFhIz7ThdIcMoa4ePr9BCNwuBVvJ5jzY61Q6nKh0-RITe-Rg5UXCeOeilRPeih0ZR2EQ6v0mW-xju9d22MdietCbhm99w/s1600/DSCN6594.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPJFzLRZbwNrJ4TbkTkZpMDPf3gJtmRuUcrd0qPsVoDFhIz7ThdIcMoa4ePr9BCNwuBVvJ5jzY61Q6nKh0-RITe-Rg5UXCeOeilRPeih0ZR2EQ6v0mW-xju9d22MdietCbhm99w/s400/DSCN6594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459111079421448898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My heart goes out to this special family----for their loss----for their spirits----for their determination to make each day normal again----and for their knowledge that they WILL be with their Porter again someday. I love you guys....Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-83257026793030370462010-04-04T23:33:00.000-05:002010-04-11T22:25:27.222-05:00What I Have Done For The Last Month And A Half.....(And No, You Don't Have To Read It All, Because It Is WICKED Long)NUMBER ONE<br />THE<a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://ricklarrimore.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> BAND</span></span></a> TRIPS: My band returned to our favorite hang out state, Oklahoma! I had just ended a HUGE month with my different shows at the theatre, and was ready for some down time and was looking forward to getting away. And thank goodness we ended up having a pretty good trip---no weird flight changes, no cancellations, no one getting extremely sick and running to the toilet all the time, and no really drunk passengers or anything. And best of all, we didn't have to stay over in an airport on a cot!<br /><br />We had played at this casino last year, so we were familiar with it, and the best part of this place was the fact that we could eat whatever we wanted at this marvelous buffet----they even served breakfast foods after we were done with our gig at 1:00 in the morning---how neat is that? (Of course, my favorite thing to do WOULD have to do with food!)<br /><br />We played there two nights, and they seemed to love us----so maybe we will be able to go back again....<br /><div style="text-align: center;">In the airport....me, Louis, Rick and Steve.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh0GF6aF_N-z5CmfeTHYOS3Q6VUUJLKUWnFyIDDz-3TbHPVQgJYsXRdLzET27ALYgZMPFB6NJAuKPv0UXE4Q6rxalWEo4q7-AnI9P8DGKj_Q07RCcJD-HP9bkQkcmn3qfZerA8A/s1600/DSCN6348.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh0GF6aF_N-z5CmfeTHYOS3Q6VUUJLKUWnFyIDDz-3TbHPVQgJYsXRdLzET27ALYgZMPFB6NJAuKPv0UXE4Q6rxalWEo4q7-AnI9P8DGKj_Q07RCcJD-HP9bkQkcmn3qfZerA8A/s400/DSCN6348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456468209521231778" border="0" /></a><br />Waiting for the plane....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6AlaHqshgYFe9vTBy30ARVoNHS5NdXfWw-PgBDfie_10Gsubj2gjXX1Q7P39S8RYCwfpMb2iw4FeAJn68X_gT5nhBzXdkgIJ30k91MiitBNk_m7p1WIWCa9lCe0sgMCS2ra_fQ/s1600/DSCN6352.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6AlaHqshgYFe9vTBy30ARVoNHS5NdXfWw-PgBDfie_10Gsubj2gjXX1Q7P39S8RYCwfpMb2iw4FeAJn68X_gT5nhBzXdkgIJ30k91MiitBNk_m7p1WIWCa9lCe0sgMCS2ra_fQ/s400/DSCN6352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456468221232793938" border="0" /></a><br />.....and at the casino----this is our stage.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON6KBgAJCvmJSyVrp6ueK3W7XU6j4BRDD8sWTQKNXDssNr3ZEg4zj-H5o9Kf-LkT4l8qOmVrRe4Pk6by7LkXYyaFf98uXAOHlT5zDbtbHjDQjep5i4mU7HzHv6Ng8XKyvZK_Jhg/s1600/DSCN6363.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjON6KBgAJCvmJSyVrp6ueK3W7XU6j4BRDD8sWTQKNXDssNr3ZEg4zj-H5o9Kf-LkT4l8qOmVrRe4Pk6by7LkXYyaFf98uXAOHlT5zDbtbHjDQjep5i4mU7HzHv6Ng8XKyvZK_Jhg/s400/DSCN6363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456469356865961730" border="0" /></a><br />Rick, re-inacting where he spent most of his time the last time we were<br />in Oklahoma.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcilRKhIR6l_DG38OkGkbh0uPGo1dZF3Gf6Ycy3VLDOJTsB33cZSAqE6ccbpQSgo4cJfYsEqzE5jgWwYRAwn67N5RGN5ZK0cOwo4s5n29tVnnaSfs_eL3DmKqNcAvuSgzfS0D8fg/s1600/DSCN6362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcilRKhIR6l_DG38OkGkbh0uPGo1dZF3Gf6Ycy3VLDOJTsB33cZSAqE6ccbpQSgo4cJfYsEqzE5jgWwYRAwn67N5RGN5ZK0cOwo4s5n29tVnnaSfs_eL3DmKqNcAvuSgzfS0D8fg/s400/DSCN6362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456468228727081154" border="0" /></a><br />Rick and I, right before we went on.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnKXUGfdy6dCbhBrtNgDe87DNYPvzPaRabSsX5eeQMdlxINTnjQsl95pcEy1O42qAhwJv_jdRk8PV2UY9WHUkLNTZOWx0XA9Xs_xF09QONIDvqsugPMHRwkun9gD0Qbd9gdj7IA/s1600/DSCN6365.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnKXUGfdy6dCbhBrtNgDe87DNYPvzPaRabSsX5eeQMdlxINTnjQsl95pcEy1O42qAhwJv_jdRk8PV2UY9WHUkLNTZOWx0XA9Xs_xF09QONIDvqsugPMHRwkun9gD0Qbd9gdj7IA/s400/DSCN6365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456469345039082306" border="0" /></a><br />Yep....back in the airport again!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjg1Jxx0VeUY7hwUvcXr-9gwlRq_nwqpo2o86-gXsfXoBnITa7dnUoIn1I1yn2otmPRCwm2HNE49c-PQbkveelYqTZhkaHjUeOabaNi_0QX1a7DeHS4ohh7Hi6NIRksOAGxjGiQ/s1600/DSCN6367.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjg1Jxx0VeUY7hwUvcXr-9gwlRq_nwqpo2o86-gXsfXoBnITa7dnUoIn1I1yn2otmPRCwm2HNE49c-PQbkveelYqTZhkaHjUeOabaNi_0QX1a7DeHS4ohh7Hi6NIRksOAGxjGiQ/s400/DSCN6367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456469346862415570" border="0" /></a><br />And in the airport between flights.....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw8-ZIhZf5cp6tWlMnfAyQ9xLMrTOsRSnzw8y7kEaZVdjh_wStImj70NLctCYFpKKCs8VoPqWQ1ngkLR62mmdEcVnviQfWPYAniDoljWKPDlkvGDwT49HrJoj58SrzVb3JQYl3w/s1600/DSCN6368.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw8-ZIhZf5cp6tWlMnfAyQ9xLMrTOsRSnzw8y7kEaZVdjh_wStImj70NLctCYFpKKCs8VoPqWQ1ngkLR62mmdEcVnviQfWPYAniDoljWKPDlkvGDwT49HrJoj58SrzVb3JQYl3w/s400/DSCN6368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456469360990946466" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...riding between the terminals in the psychedelic lights.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEWhOa5PEpS1pl0I4IPprOoKPAnr5uEOwqAVPdbCWphwt91v20ZkZCEVPxvbvYnO76qNZ2EobzxzAl9GHCRVBpJdehhN2ZwSaqIo7kob6jv_Vd4S2wakGxy82OtC4uRGjv9Ok7Q/s1600/DSCN6370.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEWhOa5PEpS1pl0I4IPprOoKPAnr5uEOwqAVPdbCWphwt91v20ZkZCEVPxvbvYnO76qNZ2EobzxzAl9GHCRVBpJdehhN2ZwSaqIo7kob6jv_Vd4S2wakGxy82OtC4uRGjv9Ok7Q/s400/DSCN6370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470487244247106" border="0" /></a>Fast forward to a few weeks later----we had a trip to Florida! I was so looking forward to the sun and warmth. Yeah, right.<br /><br />We got there, and since I had only brought a light jacket, not my winter coat----well---it was Florida, for hecks sake-----I was freezing! We stood, waiting for our car----trying to get warm in the sun. We ended up playing in a really quaint inn----apparently a hot spot for most folks over the age of 65....and the best part? Yeah, you guessed it, all the food that we could eat----oh, and I got to meet one of my favorite bloggers,<a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://seriously-shawn.blogspot.com/"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shawn of Seriously </span></span></a>fame. She had met Rick (our Rod impersonator) on a cruise that she went on and had found out that we were going to be performing about 15 minutes from her house, so she was going to surprise me! But things didn't go as planned and she ended up having to let me know beforehand.<br /><br />So we just decided to have her come and meet me for lunch----and she had to hang with the band for awhile. Oh, what a lovely lunch we had! She is so beautiful, stunning eyes, and such a great personality to match----I totally fell in love with her! She fit right in----getting along well with the band members----as they oogled her-----dirty old men that they are....(did I mention that she is gorgeous?)<br /><br />We enjoyed the buffet and and even had a bit of dessert with the heavenly strawberries from the area. She then came over to our sound check, as she wasn't able to come to the show later.<br />What a sweetheart she is! I am hoping that we are down there again----hmmm---maybe New Years?<br /><br />We then got up the next day and drove about 4 hours down to Ft. Lauderdale. The place we stayed was a bit scary----I mean----the beds were lumpy and there were no blankets, only the bedspread on the bed.....eewwwww----just thinking about it gives me the creeps! We had a great show, with an even older audience----I believe that the average age was closer to 85 this time----but they enjoyed themselves----and that is what its all about!<br /><br />We didn't get much sleep----there were slamming doors and noise all night long at the creepy motel that we were at, and we had to get up at 3:00 a.m. in order to leave for the airport by 4:00 a.m. But the trip back was pretty uneventful---thank goodness---and we arrived home quite exhausted, but safe, nonetheless.<br /><br />We aren't scheduled for any more plane band trips for awhile, just driving gigs, (Maine and New York, to be exact) so this should be the last one for some time.....but come to think of it....I am going to miss that good food.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Airport fun.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA5cBV_2VLvXKqd_Qy9iwL0xoNnm5X56rsJ9D_v2apnmaifzGYG48UW03yjUeGxXguksviu_IIuhoHlzxTCIb1fZ0DARXohFcd5suEq_f1HBlNiJfYihArKHeWW3E-aN76IfkQg/s1600/DSCN6418.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA5cBV_2VLvXKqd_Qy9iwL0xoNnm5X56rsJ9D_v2apnmaifzGYG48UW03yjUeGxXguksviu_IIuhoHlzxTCIb1fZ0DARXohFcd5suEq_f1HBlNiJfYihArKHeWW3E-aN76IfkQg/s400/DSCN6418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456461297976126642" border="0" /></a><br />....with Steve, the drummer.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WikRNtc5ez77BT1YKu_07URAsvldSe4gbwFhPKJkcijPB4hDjp7k_pcH_khEQrKXc2GtoXHGDS0QKH3YQ-zJ3kZA7OpDopbN8WBt_OXihlAuKqoqzfOkO9YSRtnH-CyFaL_2tQ/s1600/DSCN6414.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WikRNtc5ez77BT1YKu_07URAsvldSe4gbwFhPKJkcijPB4hDjp7k_pcH_khEQrKXc2GtoXHGDS0QKH3YQ-zJ3kZA7OpDopbN8WBt_OXihlAuKqoqzfOkO9YSRtnH-CyFaL_2tQ/s400/DSCN6414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456461291229851074" border="0" /></a><br />The Rod man, himself.....smiling?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQsTfHSxey3OSKi322SqFgDpzkUHJzAuGQcHvddCEHchnDnSbQe1PT3c_28L53nleMbJcAU4JkCnCKY90AzHEG_vQVw7yf9OYODbVW568h3o7YWgl7YdWwNv425-xtVisOT5cmQ/s1600/DSCN6416.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQsTfHSxey3OSKi322SqFgDpzkUHJzAuGQcHvddCEHchnDnSbQe1PT3c_28L53nleMbJcAU4JkCnCKY90AzHEG_vQVw7yf9OYODbVW568h3o7YWgl7YdWwNv425-xtVisOT5cmQ/s400/DSCN6416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456461322749479522" border="0" /></a><br />Steve discovered that he was in love with this airport pole....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNn6PYQNcyLctqmyxi6JpoV6CmKW18xM1_8jy3MgKKOJIB_Y4nrq7BREzgfC1nzMoYfRD9QpL_cY2fgB8FO0xITbPDM6dD9OCDKgSsGpn5mkV1C1YvQnAu003M0aIUTpGG14fsUA/s1600/DSCN6420.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNn6PYQNcyLctqmyxi6JpoV6CmKW18xM1_8jy3MgKKOJIB_Y4nrq7BREzgfC1nzMoYfRD9QpL_cY2fgB8FO0xITbPDM6dD9OCDKgSsGpn5mkV1C1YvQnAu003M0aIUTpGG14fsUA/s400/DSCN6420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456461313075539154" border="0" /></a><br />.....and here I am with SHAWN!! The two Shawns together!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ82ZYd6htGPPuSnODi5oE6Yc9Ig4sIjHZQ5l4AWtlfx_gBOCyELjthehmsTK2KOAp6ufvXIZZQPp4zuV8C-Sx72GKoY5xVLTBz6xas-eggkJ8NhnUuPBJmoVmw6ySHhuV086n3Q/s1600/DSCN6422.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ82ZYd6htGPPuSnODi5oE6Yc9Ig4sIjHZQ5l4AWtlfx_gBOCyELjthehmsTK2KOAp6ufvXIZZQPp4zuV8C-Sx72GKoY5xVLTBz6xas-eggkJ8NhnUuPBJmoVmw6ySHhuV086n3Q/s400/DSCN6422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456462287596093778" border="0" /></a><br />Our Florida stage.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ2m5BQwjpLgwK4vf9l1Reh6ZiTzCW7cqgzJJ96sCsQqCDDk298dTJ8mC3NFix9ZC2LhKSKCiX0XqxkHjVXX2TykYTjWw1Q3FZ5bpeXG77nsu3PhznsKloBTDq8ebAHeq99cdGw/s1600/DSCN6423.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ2m5BQwjpLgwK4vf9l1Reh6ZiTzCW7cqgzJJ96sCsQqCDDk298dTJ8mC3NFix9ZC2LhKSKCiX0XqxkHjVXX2TykYTjWw1Q3FZ5bpeXG77nsu3PhznsKloBTDq8ebAHeq99cdGw/s400/DSCN6423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456462298433453538" border="0" /></a><br />and me, at my microphone.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWsDxQsUqWkc770avRn1CFU0Tyfy4D4F1Us4_qS_tabRLTmMKq3sgc73lXrV8UqIsvQWUaPwfHPlTCrt8TW6sfXA1FXLBe0RgR8Wdq5ALN8J_Vz-40HVx6V3IRocvClBxxU271A/s1600/DSCN6426.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWsDxQsUqWkc770avRn1CFU0Tyfy4D4F1Us4_qS_tabRLTmMKq3sgc73lXrV8UqIsvQWUaPwfHPlTCrt8TW6sfXA1FXLBe0RgR8Wdq5ALN8J_Vz-40HVx6V3IRocvClBxxU271A/s400/DSCN6426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456462318097532722" border="0" /></a><br />....and the view from the stage.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJExHOWjRww-n-flxEj-CvOFR3UECSjMd1Chh28tIuzWeIuWnkEsIxqFavNkIaodoHrKu7p68n7MlmnLK0S8UI288wZafT7qjckizM-kn-rcnHamD5BoOXmSL3rJAsdtoO-vttg/s1600/DSCN6428.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJExHOWjRww-n-flxEj-CvOFR3UECSjMd1Chh28tIuzWeIuWnkEsIxqFavNkIaodoHrKu7p68n7MlmnLK0S8UI288wZafT7qjckizM-kn-rcnHamD5BoOXmSL3rJAsdtoO-vttg/s400/DSCN6428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456462320031510306" border="0" /></a><br />Next night, in Ft. Lauderdale....the stage....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBpcMTJFommh20g888L9_JA9yOdVeOMT9IXUMg-vh8ZDUaIXWx1s0efzr6gAk1Vs7IB4t_DBAwh9_WVwX7dZUVRylFA3kAiczVESIj0rg2arbrHmQB5s0ErFZ4UriCbTXUjPNLw/s1600/DSCN6435.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBpcMTJFommh20g888L9_JA9yOdVeOMT9IXUMg-vh8ZDUaIXWx1s0efzr6gAk1Vs7IB4t_DBAwh9_WVwX7dZUVRylFA3kAiczVESIj0rg2arbrHmQB5s0ErFZ4UriCbTXUjPNLw/s400/DSCN6435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456463479058504962" border="0" /></a><br />.....and here is the view from the stage.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhzYFZ9eI33AXR_HuxlagsMjrVZEUkXgLbpIm3kn8xfHGzwmG2L7D64JJ8fujouDwekUx70s512IhvkMHOJ_CqAq038Fe2mOgWruF2YLyr5exROHv5__0ouODIflk36DVC5Heuw/s1600/DSCN6433.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhzYFZ9eI33AXR_HuxlagsMjrVZEUkXgLbpIm3kn8xfHGzwmG2L7D64JJ8fujouDwekUx70s512IhvkMHOJ_CqAq038Fe2mOgWruF2YLyr5exROHv5__0ouODIflk36DVC5Heuw/s400/DSCN6433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456463471552644402" border="0" /></a><br />Hanging in the girls dressing room----what the heck was Louis doing there ?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaGV5rOGP77wOuV2d80oKBzWHpBk102G4nVqXYn8nRrVbMZuAuQ6jLTEoDj67ifnkXDl2lMG9Kp0bwHYLdPn_55BcL7XHkzO8gqACFioZQUj1fF0D67LVDiRGWGaoKJahCgw6FA/s1600/DSCN6438.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaGV5rOGP77wOuV2d80oKBzWHpBk102G4nVqXYn8nRrVbMZuAuQ6jLTEoDj67ifnkXDl2lMG9Kp0bwHYLdPn_55BcL7XHkzO8gqACFioZQUj1fF0D67LVDiRGWGaoKJahCgw6FA/s400/DSCN6438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456464056942472562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />NUMBER TWO<br />TRIP TO UTAH---MY G-BABIES: I try to get to Utah as much as I can to see my daughter, and the G-babies---oh, how I love them! Hailey is doing a show,<a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700013091/Hales-Dirty-Rotten-Scoundrels-a-fun-trip-to-the-Riviera.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" > "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"</span></a>----and it is MAGNIFICENT----so Aydan and I flew over there for about 5 days---and I watched the babies and visited with family, saw Hailey's show, and had a great blogger luncheon---it was a great trip.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The beautiful twins, Lane and Lucy, in their princess dresses.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBpl6oVUZvPfkChAwT8zNvfOzFEronWkLbmX4Uw10twJDClyfqcaysLgLJeqCOzIIJBfOpCG9meEIN7x9x5Y-54OJIZ3faiG1-uRQgGUP06vvO33JIDQm0JZLRaNB97HLPDFFvw/s1600/DSCN6371.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBpl6oVUZvPfkChAwT8zNvfOzFEronWkLbmX4Uw10twJDClyfqcaysLgLJeqCOzIIJBfOpCG9meEIN7x9x5Y-54OJIZ3faiG1-uRQgGUP06vvO33JIDQm0JZLRaNB97HLPDFFvw/s400/DSCN6371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470492567704834" border="0" /></a><br />Lane, getting into my glasses---isn't she adorable?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3OrfymjHJb8paY7HH4uq4aTOpPg0fwIFuwhzjqirFbozE7DgVMykombCj2WOlysd1RI9BD1Rp4L9rDaTlJzWhvjyVaghZpmZVn6SsqlWA5ziy96bXMR12HwKU-C_72B74XSquA/s1600/DSCN6378.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3OrfymjHJb8paY7HH4uq4aTOpPg0fwIFuwhzjqirFbozE7DgVMykombCj2WOlysd1RI9BD1Rp4L9rDaTlJzWhvjyVaghZpmZVn6SsqlWA5ziy96bXMR12HwKU-C_72B74XSquA/s400/DSCN6378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456470504644787042" border="0" /></a><br />And of course, Lucy had to try on another pair.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT6WU0CXKMlJsTVb07Osn3uXonbeI7cvsiAsHRKJ08wBzF620CdnZtx4msBnaWwreu_gnkka8uU7DOY9lEIgoRF5w-mGk-B_1LjqjMtpGVHJ9P_doXgd4owUEA6mRJPFq4_qtKw/s1600/DSCN6381.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHT6WU0CXKMlJsTVb07Osn3uXonbeI7cvsiAsHRKJ08wBzF620CdnZtx4msBnaWwreu_gnkka8uU7DOY9lEIgoRF5w-mGk-B_1LjqjMtpGVHJ9P_doXgd4owUEA6mRJPFq4_qtKw/s400/DSCN6381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456473941820023298" border="0" /></a><br />Bowling with the family....Ethan goes first.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESFEbOYZJlXMcEkbrtYpdn0YqUh3GL8SY715KJVu_uM-X6OpRe7soZrRpjXSer6cJeUs0I0eQ6o18Zb7VK030bGUqCcpaeN-BsGRGpo8HsPW3z7tjCPBfcjdB5CXk44IbdlwBpA/s1600/DSCN6389.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESFEbOYZJlXMcEkbrtYpdn0YqUh3GL8SY715KJVu_uM-X6OpRe7soZrRpjXSer6cJeUs0I0eQ6o18Zb7VK030bGUqCcpaeN-BsGRGpo8HsPW3z7tjCPBfcjdB5CXk44IbdlwBpA/s400/DSCN6389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456473958271484082" border="0" /></a><br />Then Aydan has a try.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gWsy9sSAJGhKHiRjSubBUpiRkNapqPLGeP3jbtFu94a5ZMTWMN0wNMHEgM80jVjBbMAJG0hs39-WSWXZzHFBRNs6QB3GJZ7eNPuFYkmIb0x0Sh7xZdPRxrqgCVlLPeCcjWKoKA/s1600/DSCN6394.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gWsy9sSAJGhKHiRjSubBUpiRkNapqPLGeP3jbtFu94a5ZMTWMN0wNMHEgM80jVjBbMAJG0hs39-WSWXZzHFBRNs6QB3GJZ7eNPuFYkmIb0x0Sh7xZdPRxrqgCVlLPeCcjWKoKA/s400/DSCN6394.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456473943239898434" border="0" /></a><br />and he gets a spare!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3myaLLeQMpejYwR2-qF77DamVHQgHIovkdziYnTFlB8tUOw54mh8PvJP6OGWknBZod4ah2G3Ish9DX1jKVqShHOv4z3QqGT5LVJOfu4rAN6CJLs4SyaHMgM7SzAtNLWM-GzPLA/s1600/DSCN6396.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3myaLLeQMpejYwR2-qF77DamVHQgHIovkdziYnTFlB8tUOw54mh8PvJP6OGWknBZod4ah2G3Ish9DX1jKVqShHOv4z3QqGT5LVJOfu4rAN6CJLs4SyaHMgM7SzAtNLWM-GzPLA/s400/DSCN6396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456476734857461730" border="0" /></a><br />Here I am, actually making a strike.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqw_YcKo3-muFlK1jrAsW06Rh5RS2ncL1iugIiSbU6OAtUskIEIf-ALj5noy8Mxsc-NC5HOHioL42yAdxBwoCgOZzdUsWxfQ4CRB2ulzBhkt6DEN2Md4_u5dpfrGqe6WYiKUNAg/s1600/DSCN6388.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqw_YcKo3-muFlK1jrAsW06Rh5RS2ncL1iugIiSbU6OAtUskIEIf-ALj5noy8Mxsc-NC5HOHioL42yAdxBwoCgOZzdUsWxfQ4CRB2ulzBhkt6DEN2Md4_u5dpfrGqe6WYiKUNAg/s400/DSCN6388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456473954693467474" border="0" /></a><br />...and then Lucy gives it a try----with a little help, of course.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YeSbg9G9FCquGAPnAiwvYIW3pbNJkzG83wHc5Xay05DRrKwdnmcp-TPUiH5HX5ZqhN0bBeHkbfJTQftCZqcQy3kcfsGi-soPdZEZh6bPj6SP0aNX9vGX4enS0JvZ57xckHzzOQ/s1600/DSCN6399.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YeSbg9G9FCquGAPnAiwvYIW3pbNJkzG83wHc5Xay05DRrKwdnmcp-TPUiH5HX5ZqhN0bBeHkbfJTQftCZqcQy3kcfsGi-soPdZEZh6bPj6SP0aNX9vGX4enS0JvZ57xckHzzOQ/s400/DSCN6399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456476765913345794" border="0" /></a><br />Lane takes a try with this amazing contraption.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGSbWKNR5-ZGhvmDgyt7h1uiX5aUgEedAa_VOtg7NGEIG5viJBC54zEhcf7Dz7IJ89yYsERaC1ODxhJEgpYbJo_LHNI9k5kGqQBPKpC7WllZTia7_V3a1vgg8vlJXGlZt5zLD7Q/s1600/DSCN6397.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGSbWKNR5-ZGhvmDgyt7h1uiX5aUgEedAa_VOtg7NGEIG5viJBC54zEhcf7Dz7IJ89yYsERaC1ODxhJEgpYbJo_LHNI9k5kGqQBPKpC7WllZTia7_V3a1vgg8vlJXGlZt5zLD7Q/s400/DSCN6397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456476748049917794" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNnHzrRsy_7lk2PHflrIbWLiIggO6D7xPZnmrsMEOPGSFLttQ8qnCqrQquM1qn4yf-neQ8CRsu9Fi7DfmQOSn1MShIcEECy08r_0VxID9bt9HmeXatMOzz4TYC8TxjIAFe03C0A/s1600/DSCN6402.JPG"><br /></a>Mila and Aydan await their turn.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6-oQ8FQXfY14jG2-enzLPOx5dCYzmbhcv2GXKTwq7zL4UIblmwyyWr2GAk4gSaVamRBbiVvBA7s5dE3HizzyDDaFJ6QeozOeiLGCNw2kP2z5MYm_UDJG4Zu43FvkbQeyRR5Qw/s1600/DSCN6401.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZ6-oQ8FQXfY14jG2-enzLPOx5dCYzmbhcv2GXKTwq7zL4UIblmwyyWr2GAk4gSaVamRBbiVvBA7s5dE3HizzyDDaFJ6QeozOeiLGCNw2kP2z5MYm_UDJG4Zu43FvkbQeyRR5Qw/s400/DSCN6401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456476787267862178" border="0" /></a><br />Hailey awaits her turn also---snuggling with Lucy.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNnHzrRsy_7lk2PHflrIbWLiIggO6D7xPZnmrsMEOPGSFLttQ8qnCqrQquM1qn4yf-neQ8CRsu9Fi7DfmQOSn1MShIcEECy08r_0VxID9bt9HmeXatMOzz4TYC8TxjIAFe03C0A/s1600/DSCN6402.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNnHzrRsy_7lk2PHflrIbWLiIggO6D7xPZnmrsMEOPGSFLttQ8qnCqrQquM1qn4yf-neQ8CRsu9Fi7DfmQOSn1MShIcEECy08r_0VxID9bt9HmeXatMOzz4TYC8TxjIAFe03C0A/s400/DSCN6402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456478931710239858" border="0" /></a><br />At Grandma Cannon's house, Lane takes her try at drums.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmhUqWaJvARMt4b7Bp-SulySSfCvtpjA5k0pdobDXe0AMroVAWDLOmLmklUTG1ZLmD7TNdngHHibpcKCW676ksBRWsHAZLyt4qRTSPRL8Hq0GrHR6ol5tDbd4jFG1nR7lwQnjsg/s1600/DSCN6406.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmhUqWaJvARMt4b7Bp-SulySSfCvtpjA5k0pdobDXe0AMroVAWDLOmLmklUTG1ZLmD7TNdngHHibpcKCW676ksBRWsHAZLyt4qRTSPRL8Hq0GrHR6ol5tDbd4jFG1nR7lwQnjsg/s400/DSCN6406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456478939933950322" border="0" /></a><br />Taylor with his Dad, Pat---my brother---goofing around, as usual.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-9axvLruIedClqWuYdI4NICAlAJ1ycJyydCV9EpXpaAEEfidFl0Y212YS9ZQRxYuNDh6CjxuoH7t6_MO7R_VDpQfVLG3vLVbR3eMQ2NaU9Ge3novbPOrVkvCyxxRaUirx0secw/s1600/DSCN6407.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-9axvLruIedClqWuYdI4NICAlAJ1ycJyydCV9EpXpaAEEfidFl0Y212YS9ZQRxYuNDh6CjxuoH7t6_MO7R_VDpQfVLG3vLVbR3eMQ2NaU9Ge3novbPOrVkvCyxxRaUirx0secw/s400/DSCN6407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456478945167042434" border="0" /></a><br />My nieces, Sariah, with her fiance', Brett, and Cami, and Melinda.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEsef-uZHNXdql0zKuh-Xl6ZcnXK3c8dF0wVaP-SvmGknrJ0JC10N_ACS8LvDBNrllLzwgLl2c7h3LUDo9r_ufeDURBbbEypQoNPhey6YO2Yo4e9pbe-tlhsT9bnw6aBnWDE-0Q/s1600/DSCN6411.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEsef-uZHNXdql0zKuh-Xl6ZcnXK3c8dF0wVaP-SvmGknrJ0JC10N_ACS8LvDBNrllLzwgLl2c7h3LUDo9r_ufeDURBbbEypQoNPhey6YO2Yo4e9pbe-tlhsT9bnw6aBnWDE-0Q/s400/DSCN6411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483678751424466" border="0" /></a>The blogging ladies---and cutie daughters----at lunch.<br />Hailey, Me, Melissa, Corrie, and Tiberon----aren't they lovely?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5V3acAzODkJI8eohBjTF5Z0qJtZaEj2GaRm2n5X8QAdb87mizerzqtWZiv_-BoYSLmq2fKXWbkTd_-8A3kFqB5GJ3VwChFymZm_IzOqNv3KDM3KhAZ01lb0I4FBIz_rzWrOVDA/s1600/DSCN6413.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5V3acAzODkJI8eohBjTF5Z0qJtZaEj2GaRm2n5X8QAdb87mizerzqtWZiv_-BoYSLmq2fKXWbkTd_-8A3kFqB5GJ3VwChFymZm_IzOqNv3KDM3KhAZ01lb0I4FBIz_rzWrOVDA/s400/DSCN6413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456480345170136738" border="0" /></a><br />NUMBER THREE<br />LUCKY STIFF---My Musical Comedy:<br />I have been directing the first musical (for adults, that is----I have done two childrens musicals) at my theatre since January. I have wanted to do this musical for about 8 years, since my daughter did it. Its a hysterically funny comedy with lots of twists and turns and great songs, and----well----TONS of props and tech work. BUT---it finally opened this past weekend, and it has been a smash! I have a ton of pics from the show----and you don't have to look at them all, but I've got them here for posterity, right?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here I am----doing the hair----early 1960's, dont'cha know----and yes,<br />I did the costumes also....and you were wondering why I've been so busy?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg_TtfGa49HJrXqKTDcUddpv6hA1l36o1faNjRjkD0TcsrtcZY_kMLXqjgA3_f9mU2HVEU5AYKnd4pHzIEB4B1zIE-XOsqSdxkwEtxzCDRO-kTWGNcw_4BS02Yeuogl2rzlAM4g/s1600/DSCN6441.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdg_TtfGa49HJrXqKTDcUddpv6hA1l36o1faNjRjkD0TcsrtcZY_kMLXqjgA3_f9mU2HVEU5AYKnd4pHzIEB4B1zIE-XOsqSdxkwEtxzCDRO-kTWGNcw_4BS02Yeuogl2rzlAM4g/s400/DSCN6441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456480352526001010" border="0" /></a><br />Opening number----Bret, my hubby, built the set, by the by---he is pure genius!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIu7yl_Eo8UMWmbjmIWhJb1kEcaLykGaviTbx4TH5J0WojeorzmE1xYDMt7bXPh7kgyOf5SA5vLEaOJWetFcryo1TuCmUyDdZ5xcxq0QfqQ6usIM-WD50gnuwQ3f318LRvUfuQQA/s1600/DSCN6455.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIu7yl_Eo8UMWmbjmIWhJb1kEcaLykGaviTbx4TH5J0WojeorzmE1xYDMt7bXPh7kgyOf5SA5vLEaOJWetFcryo1TuCmUyDdZ5xcxq0QfqQ6usIM-WD50gnuwQ3f318LRvUfuQQA/s400/DSCN6455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456480369674610194" border="0" /></a><br />Harry is bored with his life....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlFMKtf9PiCXzBAIFCXbwEtyDDH283sI7OudnYkhkiqJtMabUhB0KgSxu10uGigSwa9Tvstj8mkDgtvBIHmavX0TCVjHBnP9d-XDg1Ye_xFa8Jd0rrvEfhJ8pxS46yTsGAV_aqA/s1600/DSCN6458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlFMKtf9PiCXzBAIFCXbwEtyDDH283sI7OudnYkhkiqJtMabUhB0KgSxu10uGigSwa9Tvstj8mkDgtvBIHmavX0TCVjHBnP9d-XDg1Ye_xFa8Jd0rrvEfhJ8pxS46yTsGAV_aqA/s400/DSCN6458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456480381349776930" border="0" /></a><br />....and his landlady got a telegram for him.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawT1rVgbzoI5K28xGo2_v7o7pGdGzeqinWMn27mfUbSqHCf7zZYaVxgFlQke04cQhI9yyyeVBa8U0UMjW0z3n1r96zAygRPHj1qZR0df2goTTm4bEYsXqYrM3r_TkFKPzQmuvuw/s1600/DSCN6460.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawT1rVgbzoI5K28xGo2_v7o7pGdGzeqinWMn27mfUbSqHCf7zZYaVxgFlQke04cQhI9yyyeVBa8U0UMjW0z3n1r96zAygRPHj1qZR0df2goTTm4bEYsXqYrM3r_TkFKPzQmuvuw/s400/DSCN6460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483684814935042" border="0" /></a><br />A telegram for Mr. Witherspoon?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB0dz0GGTilzJRpKNqokNNT4To7N9KIBz5LacZFFAgB9vYHEvlSM3j5V1xJKlQ9h4qUYa0NIdZ7f8jMNblvYxdbIJK7Cx4-ZAH3a6ZlRDSssMGX1f6hu0WaAxv9RLXTKCPV0FsQ/s1600/DSCN6462.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZB0dz0GGTilzJRpKNqokNNT4To7N9KIBz5LacZFFAgB9vYHEvlSM3j5V1xJKlQ9h4qUYa0NIdZ7f8jMNblvYxdbIJK7Cx4-ZAH3a6ZlRDSssMGX1f6hu0WaAxv9RLXTKCPV0FsQ/s400/DSCN6462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483695784607250" border="0" /></a><br />The solicitors news.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22Rbw5Ql_MfOMMRSSz0_25fE6S9MSehJgofWnXLtRGSCLSEobDTjXfsm66JbsWhxQXOa6k2ncV5pmhrm_Zx2oDQpInw3nc-172T_Q7vtFJ8klOH_V-z3eElkXdo-l5jvcrt3BFw/s1600/DSCN6463.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22Rbw5Ql_MfOMMRSSz0_25fE6S9MSehJgofWnXLtRGSCLSEobDTjXfsm66JbsWhxQXOa6k2ncV5pmhrm_Zx2oDQpInw3nc-172T_Q7vtFJ8klOH_V-z3eElkXdo-l5jvcrt3BFw/s400/DSCN6463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456483696407705218" border="0" /></a><br />At the Optometrist.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y343VyylZDEwiTnycaM9kH4OnuwyKPbwY5RwfEEyRom_b9K0gE3OdR50UTBLbeJCStqqyreAjd3SO4mSas1zkf5cuFgzFkNX7eQm4M7LKzeC-s8ike_olcBevC388J8Q2SmtAQ/s1600/DSCN6466.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7y343VyylZDEwiTnycaM9kH4OnuwyKPbwY5RwfEEyRom_b9K0gE3OdR50UTBLbeJCStqqyreAjd3SO4mSas1zkf5cuFgzFkNX7eQm4M7LKzeC-s8ike_olcBevC388J8Q2SmtAQ/s400/DSCN6466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456497053645259234" border="0" /></a><br />In the train to Monte Carlo.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-T0s1vaQ-mW8hlK-hVt2vDk7Yj43zs5vrPiGbb55T8BOR_1XIi2RT3YeqwIDmK7_9MrsMdg6QzBiAKBZjfRbXAJmmInH_2OStYxoip5_GGa_RuqGtAqHKa0fHH1N7oBrYSJ1zA/s1600/DSCN6470.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-T0s1vaQ-mW8hlK-hVt2vDk7Yj43zs5vrPiGbb55T8BOR_1XIi2RT3YeqwIDmK7_9MrsMdg6QzBiAKBZjfRbXAJmmInH_2OStYxoip5_GGa_RuqGtAqHKa0fHH1N7oBrYSJ1zA/s400/DSCN6470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456497069768300898" border="0" /></a><br />Dancing with a dead guy....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbKiPM4NG0nP3UJN96Pqha6XBtpQtey7aLbJEPLcuQUKgY864b_N-ZLDNJc62G2q2rfdV3aje2Flqu0o-KgcdxzC_9KbTcVAhh0wjsMPhf12I3b2HTAXn9UzEPb6F2VfeK_W_zw/s1600/DSCN6476.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbKiPM4NG0nP3UJN96Pqha6XBtpQtey7aLbJEPLcuQUKgY864b_N-ZLDNJc62G2q2rfdV3aje2Flqu0o-KgcdxzC_9KbTcVAhh0wjsMPhf12I3b2HTAXn9UzEPb6F2VfeK_W_zw/s400/DSCN6476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456497075133344178" border="0" /></a><br />Having it out with Annabel.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw1vGzB0RMcFdTkeR6u3848IfaIhzjpuTYkRk60j6ddNdVF7fU262vwnHAJnhkFfCU55poxkmOGoRqkVfun3IBTujbKCOKSM1hF6vwJpVplfi1wWjny0pSX_kr1tznuB0MxyVDA/s1600/DSCN6484.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw1vGzB0RMcFdTkeR6u3848IfaIhzjpuTYkRk60j6ddNdVF7fU262vwnHAJnhkFfCU55poxkmOGoRqkVfun3IBTujbKCOKSM1hF6vwJpVplfi1wWjny0pSX_kr1tznuB0MxyVDA/s400/DSCN6484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456497081472189890" border="0" /></a><br />Rita and Vinnie.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr1HhDZIo8d6nzyJCC8ZQ84rYSxIrLi944jCzHeVkCyNrbJW3IZthxXjoRRoJzcm6CllFGF-i2xretp5lOMt787_NYP2-05r5Q_T2BW0iqCqv5yw93juUvV6r96Skd8K_95k9Rg/s1600/DSCN6486.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr1HhDZIo8d6nzyJCC8ZQ84rYSxIrLi944jCzHeVkCyNrbJW3IZthxXjoRRoJzcm6CllFGF-i2xretp5lOMt787_NYP2-05r5Q_T2BW0iqCqv5yw93juUvV6r96Skd8K_95k9Rg/s400/DSCN6486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456499882484067938" border="0" /></a><br />Parachuting with a dead guy?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTEXY83iI5_7KrdpLwJ_G8E7_9u9cPJTWOUfFmrMpjMJD938LRGzsMdlXAZDiHtm1V9mPOdjUdl9SlZVjrFZiFMex39TShRVDGoLj8H3vVUAfKAOvbQ9ebAQCQ13yxjqyDPHoTQ/s1600/DSCN6492.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTEXY83iI5_7KrdpLwJ_G8E7_9u9cPJTWOUfFmrMpjMJD938LRGzsMdlXAZDiHtm1V9mPOdjUdl9SlZVjrFZiFMex39TShRVDGoLj8H3vVUAfKAOvbQ9ebAQCQ13yxjqyDPHoTQ/s400/DSCN6492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456499891468487890" border="0" /></a><br />In the casino---the French emcee'.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3ZCZkCl6WRd0dNsypxY04eVqC4aUrunxaJdSOYrun4nzj9oH1hATcdWLDlDnvNokY2QRcsoBXOLn7zzbd-oARstKMEimFURvEn-pmZkbHzW7KB2gxm5l1DMtr6P1d9l_C1e-YA/s1600/DSCN6498.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3ZCZkCl6WRd0dNsypxY04eVqC4aUrunxaJdSOYrun4nzj9oH1hATcdWLDlDnvNokY2QRcsoBXOLn7zzbd-oARstKMEimFURvEn-pmZkbHzW7KB2gxm5l1DMtr6P1d9l_C1e-YA/s400/DSCN6498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456499900178373314" border="0" /></a><br />Dominique with Annabel.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dFCH8N6agwBkyprLN_1Gh8xBo9NFZkwqquIuSS3_0F_3SKPiCK63WrIiMz09OXunXsAqRsBoLT2e0SHlVAjSUalkqf8znMgdAT0ONxt5goxs9fz5RPO_lo2LSKbFHAp5SkLCaw/s1600/DSCN6505.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dFCH8N6agwBkyprLN_1Gh8xBo9NFZkwqquIuSS3_0F_3SKPiCK63WrIiMz09OXunXsAqRsBoLT2e0SHlVAjSUalkqf8znMgdAT0ONxt5goxs9fz5RPO_lo2LSKbFHAp5SkLCaw/s400/DSCN6505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456499909986115778" border="0" /></a><br />Annabel reminiscing about her dogs.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE3xTWatga-WUgsVbYgG6lVe9PhkEltu9-rexSCMcAaIo20pxhHSW6_SnCIVk3iy4WD2HV6Cqps67RxdKAW9zVgx4rUuHZvw2_WM7hMUeRx4vzWKhl8yzszJ3s2J9R_gfYqJkAw/s1600/DSCN6509.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiE3xTWatga-WUgsVbYgG6lVe9PhkEltu9-rexSCMcAaIo20pxhHSW6_SnCIVk3iy4WD2HV6Cqps67RxdKAW9zVgx4rUuHZvw2_WM7hMUeRx4vzWKhl8yzszJ3s2J9R_gfYqJkAw/s400/DSCN6509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456501921624598274" border="0" /></a><br />What? Vinnie in a dress?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AzvihNklj24FUItdgivEYkyKPvkf5O-EUQ1NQdcUa-mATBCNXVdi_nXrbH7TgpQKnnq4Y3GlmhHI8wt2j1_q9v_DQAcGBG7eKYk6lf-LbCZp0EA3CR9EpACjk2bbNG-vFgqQ3A/s1600/DSCN6512.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-AzvihNklj24FUItdgivEYkyKPvkf5O-EUQ1NQdcUa-mATBCNXVdi_nXrbH7TgpQKnnq4Y3GlmhHI8wt2j1_q9v_DQAcGBG7eKYk6lf-LbCZp0EA3CR9EpACjk2bbNG-vFgqQ3A/s400/DSCN6512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456501931062051858" border="0" /></a><br />Rita, singing to the dead guy....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmabj5NRVo71URFGg6z40gqORITPgNXElphtJ04JdIvsuGf32UETSH74jgz0TZ7QbDPCXLc-DzhYTXbzkbl1c6ZoQRHCqHXT3zm-7Iqip2aJ6Use3Ji_oGfmichG5drXw1L3hyug/s1600/DSCN6514.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmabj5NRVo71URFGg6z40gqORITPgNXElphtJ04JdIvsuGf32UETSH74jgz0TZ7QbDPCXLc-DzhYTXbzkbl1c6ZoQRHCqHXT3zm-7Iqip2aJ6Use3Ji_oGfmichG5drXw1L3hyug/s400/DSCN6514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456501936763295074" border="0" /></a>.....and now shes had enough!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AGaStzStnONqXWBC295ddAiwQjRgp3QUTAfu4E11fk0DoWzuqOLa9hKbR167pO8_vObyYNz_nCrHjH46TtFan9CRPQ_Gt3Z-2wopD65BH2reMnQWsdTigMZMddsVto2LWQCgtQ/s1600/DSCN6516.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AGaStzStnONqXWBC295ddAiwQjRgp3QUTAfu4E11fk0DoWzuqOLa9hKbR167pO8_vObyYNz_nCrHjH46TtFan9CRPQ_Gt3Z-2wopD65BH2reMnQWsdTigMZMddsVto2LWQCgtQ/s400/DSCN6516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456501942364528322" border="0" /></a><br />Trying to find the body.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShFUK3SEOX-DnHlMb9vOQ4J0urLucR-IzVwAbs5aUaidi9wPjaml2aRHXuVVSOu2zsmFgGVTokmA8gznAvhcUepp12R57kBy3JSxZkIayaf7Ezt8SM2IgCEXn6a8WDP3dPQAotQ/s1600/DSCN6521.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShFUK3SEOX-DnHlMb9vOQ4J0urLucR-IzVwAbs5aUaidi9wPjaml2aRHXuVVSOu2zsmFgGVTokmA8gznAvhcUepp12R57kBy3JSxZkIayaf7Ezt8SM2IgCEXn6a8WDP3dPQAotQ/s400/DSCN6521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456502576932697522" border="0" /></a><br />Wrong hat!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWw0dAUe9R7dAopv9XG6ktvkpLsM0tHgM8chwv3nUo_3e6AHr7li1gelHsKQwE7uChCFqO0GJ_VIYi5BoCEinl11RszfNpouSKIzKoavdE-OolPPhw9oRnKWemhC6LHRR4VMG2w/s1600/DSCN6522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWw0dAUe9R7dAopv9XG6ktvkpLsM0tHgM8chwv3nUo_3e6AHr7li1gelHsKQwE7uChCFqO0GJ_VIYi5BoCEinl11RszfNpouSKIzKoavdE-OolPPhw9oRnKWemhC6LHRR4VMG2w/s400/DSCN6522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456502592504206082" border="0" /></a><br />Harry's nightmare.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY5hM6Ej0jdegkKNK3N3WEHgzPgVj3a5Aow1RpjG0nitYZg-cGOAQgnoMZmfoaZBvw5mBoSwVDZ6YYB2VY_G2UvInqKbCbijVmkLpyIjkYx92QTdXYZz8vj3DQYe4Eq54ERmVRQ/s1600/DSCN6527.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY5hM6Ej0jdegkKNK3N3WEHgzPgVj3a5Aow1RpjG0nitYZg-cGOAQgnoMZmfoaZBvw5mBoSwVDZ6YYB2VY_G2UvInqKbCbijVmkLpyIjkYx92QTdXYZz8vj3DQYe4Eq54ERmVRQ/s400/DSCN6527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456502597316752690" border="0" /></a><br />Annabel---don't leave me!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa8XAncfAWSRyHwEPMQimsPVuQE7IDvCV-kb8ve6SZObjMah8vNdR6-c1gZCasbb9cJbHWLWf7DOfXmZi7hRjDaBb14kDplG19pws0iPN1NetVLNahqCdwLmtMoZsPNQF6DZeSg/s1600/DSCN6529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDa8XAncfAWSRyHwEPMQimsPVuQE7IDvCV-kb8ve6SZObjMah8vNdR6-c1gZCasbb9cJbHWLWf7DOfXmZi7hRjDaBb14kDplG19pws0iPN1NetVLNahqCdwLmtMoZsPNQF6DZeSg/s400/DSCN6529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456502600792894210" border="0" /></a><br />There's that crazy woman with the gun, again!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips472szvlRXFYZuVqZu5XAEjQ1EiEAWYKZgnTfdnR_YjEm8q_I3Ww-YP64FHZL9h03QCz-pidm3xUoWI4Cu9M5vXqI_uGt5ktvrvPYk74_01tXOKP2jIA4ymzXH3AhUaCa0e8zg/s1600/DSCN6530.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips472szvlRXFYZuVqZu5XAEjQ1EiEAWYKZgnTfdnR_YjEm8q_I3Ww-YP64FHZL9h03QCz-pidm3xUoWI4Cu9M5vXqI_uGt5ktvrvPYk74_01tXOKP2jIA4ymzXH3AhUaCa0e8zg/s400/DSCN6530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456502608217234034" border="0" /></a><br />Rita----will Tony take you back?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfxhnLEvYu2YJnob4088dNBgp34tdOLuKD73DV_mVdr66TeCDrYGkZBfyD5S9axsj35rMgOsuQjrrC53y7jucCM8dRYM7Ikz0Y4jsPoV3sahraXJ2RuQocfxQ0gqlRBIWuY5mdw/s1600/DSCN6536.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfxhnLEvYu2YJnob4088dNBgp34tdOLuKD73DV_mVdr66TeCDrYGkZBfyD5S9axsj35rMgOsuQjrrC53y7jucCM8dRYM7Ikz0Y4jsPoV3sahraXJ2RuQocfxQ0gqlRBIWuY5mdw/s400/DSCN6536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456502886226725154" border="0" /></a><br />Happy ending....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbXBjdog8MUm9m2rfnLMrbtMKVS_VI0LzbzCXhJbRevS6J7fWalDndOpVpBDmcEZqzrNmFFgug0CPBXW_7w-90lfxBOcL3WLdtv8mPxHSqIK4vf5KaA7ZqRF38Jb1J-3XycfOIw/s1600/DSCN6538.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbXBjdog8MUm9m2rfnLMrbtMKVS_VI0LzbzCXhJbRevS6J7fWalDndOpVpBDmcEZqzrNmFFgug0CPBXW_7w-90lfxBOcL3WLdtv8mPxHSqIK4vf5KaA7ZqRF38Jb1J-3XycfOIw/s400/DSCN6538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456502894101559410" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, so these are just a few of the things that I have been doing these past few months. Add in there my church job----choir director, and teaching my voice students two days a week, and starting two new show choirs this week, as well as taking care of the website----which you should all check out, as I am quite proud of it----<a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://www.thecannontheatre.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">www.thecannontheatre.com.</span></span></a> Then, I have also had to do all the work on the publicity and tickets, etc., etc.....<br /><br />Well...you get the picture.<br /><br />And now I get to pack over Spring break...... Sigh.<br /><br /><br />Oh, and I almost FORGOT! We might have a house! <br /><br />But......................that's for another post.....Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-4523675886364723862010-03-18T21:56:00.002-05:002010-03-18T22:07:46.146-05:00Where, Oh Where Has That Swanee Gone?I know that I have been the worst of the worst about blogging----and believe me, I have missed it. It feels like a part of my life is missing and I keep wondering how everyone is doing, and then I feel guilty that I can't catch up, so I get worse. Its kind of like when you haven't cleaned your house for a long time and don't know where to start! <br /><br />Anywho----I have a ton of posts to do, with pictures and adventures----lots of travels with the band, as well as a great trip to see my G-babies,......and I PROMISE that I will get it done! I have been dealing with a new problem this past week and a half, so I am into super drive stress time----yeah----when it rains, it FLOODS at my house! I just found out when I got back from a band trip that my landlord in kicking us out in a month, so we have to find a new place. Apparently his son is moving back to MA and wants to live in the house (he's got a nerve, huh?) so we have to find something else----and there IS NOTHING OUT THERE TO RENT!! It is pitiful, to say the least....<br /><br />So, we are trying to work out a purchase deal again.....sigh.....wish us luck and keep us in your prayers----and hey----maybe I need to do a charity run to get the down payment or something----ugh....<br /><br />I know I keep promising that I will be back, but I have so many "balls" in the air and I am finding it hard to even take the time to sleep and exercise....and well----I always find time to eat, but I guess I could not do that and blog instead..... Hmmmmm.....that might be good for all involved.<br /><br />Hope everyone is doing well. I will get it together someday. And I WILL let you know if we get a house. Hugs to everyone!Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-53219113385704370412010-02-19T12:25:00.010-05:002010-02-21T00:32:51.346-05:00Fabulous Find For A Friday-----A Fantastic FriendThere has been a special person in my life for the last 5 years or so. This amazing gal I was able to get to know pretty well a few years ago, when I came to see her every month as part of my churches Visiting Teaching program. Then, as we began having her and her family over for major holidays, and doing some special activities together-----she has become my forever friend.<br /><br />My hubby and I have always felt so blessed to have this wonderful family as our friends. My husband, Bret, has enjoyed going mountain biking with her husband (they love coming home and showing off their scrapes and bruises from their insane rides!) and we have loved having their sweet little girls over when we are having get-togethers.<br /><br />I am sure that you remember that <a href="http://swaneesinger.blogspot.com/2009/09/its-alrightits-alrightal-right.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">phenomenal concert </span></a>that I went to with this sweet lady----U2----remember? We shared a lot of laughs that night, and I felt that I bonded with her a bit more. She is such a beautiful girl, with a bit of a sarcastic wit, (that I love) and has such a great giving and loving nature. She has almost felt like a daughter to me, as she is young and energetic and so cute.... I love her spirit, her wisdom, her intellect, her down to earth attitude, her love of being a mother, her super blogging---(be sure and <a href="http://shorechaps.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">check out her blog</span></a>!) and her tolerance of New England. (It was something that we disagreed on, as I LOVE New England----but she made me laugh, as she complained constantly---sorry, Michelle----but you were the cutest thing when you were whiny!)<br /><br />But she and her husband have now moved on.<br /><br /><br />They have taken a job in Albuquerque, and it seems like a long, long way away. I keep telling myself that we will go there to visit someday. After all, I also have another friend there----my sisters brother in law that was a great friend of mine in college.<br /><br />But I know that I will miss her.<br /><br />I looked forward to her smile across the pews on Sunday and chatting a bit after church. And I will forever miss the sharing of our crazy traditions with her family each holiday.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't she beautiful?<br />(pics by BBSNAPS.NET)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE7GfkD4MLq0VAFG8NIsjLdDVeKql9nqe5nrYWwriNdKZZKyv4-URuVrKN8DRHtxEEzClSlgEONHBDAmk5Vfb4OaGAeaMWgt_Nxpr26191hLYrB4Zp3P-qMS4fBxuFdUYE6GjjQ/s1600-h/Michelle+Chapman---2010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqE7GfkD4MLq0VAFG8NIsjLdDVeKql9nqe5nrYWwriNdKZZKyv4-URuVrKN8DRHtxEEzClSlgEONHBDAmk5Vfb4OaGAeaMWgt_Nxpr26191hLYrB4Zp3P-qMS4fBxuFdUYE6GjjQ/s400/Michelle+Chapman---2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440504471194111506" border="0" /></a><br />The whole gang----dogs and all!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FpaZoJzen_TFoYp9nuTsv8KrsEYCnFVv9WWfXbCm1ia1gpvtB0dAX_955EFT2wVQdoYEoDDfywSG0syKiCx-hrcemHomvbh3_NHv3CmJMr15ec1YnhxQVMaayIGg1liYbcJGoQ/s1600-h/Chapmans+2010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FpaZoJzen_TFoYp9nuTsv8KrsEYCnFVv9WWfXbCm1ia1gpvtB0dAX_955EFT2wVQdoYEoDDfywSG0syKiCx-hrcemHomvbh3_NHv3CmJMr15ec1YnhxQVMaayIGg1liYbcJGoQ/s400/Chapmans+2010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440541961324435250" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Here we are----the last time that I saw her....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxtKuFbwHQAtuQ08r2X3QJ2kgrjtLQ_g9zAUz5681aaER-O6HQ3Av9HxAxSIFiRJq3w5kFfOf2s7HN99Su60hicJC7zDikWkvhVBbi-zta5g9J8sk-dAvu6Nk1M6tAq1jHOw4Bw/s1600-h/DSCN6285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxtKuFbwHQAtuQ08r2X3QJ2kgrjtLQ_g9zAUz5681aaER-O6HQ3Av9HxAxSIFiRJq3w5kFfOf2s7HN99Su60hicJC7zDikWkvhVBbi-zta5g9J8sk-dAvu6Nk1M6tAq1jHOw4Bw/s400/DSCN6285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440540771110509010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I just hope that I can get there someday to see you, my sweet Michelle. You have truly blessed my life, I love you and I will miss you.Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-34321711291793790222010-02-12T18:01:00.006-05:002010-02-12T18:28:47.579-05:00Dire Circumstances<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZexa6ep2T69HV50l2Xz8f4WL8Fi4OmPvyMb7soAxD4NXpxtBfEUyCretgK91aEhFQHj4DDHmMKpHpWMwCqp0iQazuixcnpN7Y-zUp7W3nBhgkDU9XvhidPf4x94g1STE01hrO8A/s1600-h/crying+woman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZexa6ep2T69HV50l2Xz8f4WL8Fi4OmPvyMb7soAxD4NXpxtBfEUyCretgK91aEhFQHj4DDHmMKpHpWMwCqp0iQazuixcnpN7Y-zUp7W3nBhgkDU9XvhidPf4x94g1STE01hrO8A/s400/crying+woman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437501747495415618" border="0" /></a><br />I have been putting off writing this blog.<br /><br />I haven't wanted to take credit for being a big fat loser and not writing or reading blogs lately.<br /><br />But, I felt that I had to explain.<br /><br /><br />I am in dire circumstances these days....<br /><br /><br />The past three weeks, or so, I have been juggling two shows at my theatre. Doing tech rehearsals, programs, final costuming, etc., etc. for one show and starting blocking on the next show. I have also been continuing to teach voice lessons, doing my church job, having three birthdays in a row, trying to find time to keep the house clean, keep Aydan on track at school, do a few gigs, work on marketing for upcoming shows, etc. and make a meal once in awhile.<br /><br />Add to this mix my hubby getting laid off work at the same time, and well...........need I say more? <br /><br />Stress with a capital "S"!<br /><br />I actually lost my voice last week----and it wasn't from too much singing---that's for sure. Nope, it was from the stress and lack of sleep. (Did I mention that I started having hot flashes again?-----ugh.)<br /><br /><br />Now, I knew that this was going to be a hard time for me. Yes, I was prepared for it. After all, I did it to myself-----its my theatre and my decisions for when shows are being put together----- but I realized that I HAD to do it, and there was no one else to carry it out....except me! Does that make sense to any of you out there?<br /><br /><br />So, again, I have to apologize. I absolutely ADORE reading so many of your blogs----you know who you are! You take me to another world, so I don't have to think about mine for a little while----for this I thank you all out there....but I know that I haven't been AT ALL good at reading OR writing for the past few weeks, and for this, I feel really bad.<br /><br />I am determined to get through this. I love writing on my blog and would not give it up for the world. I have been doing this for over 4 years now, and look at this blog as a bit of cathartic medicine, in a way----I need it to get through....<br /><br /><br />I will get on track, I just know it. But, be patient with me and please don't leave me when I need all of you the most right now!<br /><br /><br />Much love,<br />Swanee.Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-69721830567652538882010-02-03T23:30:00.009-05:002010-02-07T21:49:35.201-05:00Winnie MayOh yes, you guessed it-----its another birthday in our household! My little Brinna is not little anymore......sigh. She has come to a huge crossroads in her life in age, and I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I AM SO OLD! (Of course, this blog is about me, so lets just dwell on that astonishing declaration for a moment....)<br /><br />Anywho----Brinna, or Winnie May, as I used to call her, is all grown up now and out in the world pursuing her singing career. She doesn't live too far from me, but I don't get to see her very often, as our schedules don't allow for it, but I think of her EVERY day anyway! She is in London right now, going on a birthday trip to celebrate and get away for a bit, and I am very jealous that I am not right there with her. She had to go at this time, or I would have been.....<br /><br />We had a great birthday party, though, last Sunday, before she left. We celebrated Aydan and Brinna's birthday together, as their birthdays are so close. Normally, we celebrate with Maryn also, but she is out of state, remember?<br /><br />We decided to have a "rave", but one with no ecstasy, so don't get too worried! My son, Clayton, came up with the idea, as we were at the dollar store and he saw all the glow sticks for sale. Well, he was practically jumping up and down in excitement!!<br /><br />So----that's what we did. We had a MAH-VE-LOUS time-----dancing to techno music in the dark and swinging around our glow sticks, all the while sporting glow necklaces to boot. It is always fun to be with my kids, but sometimes, when the craziness kicks in----it is a WICKED good time!!<br /><br />I also came up with a new game idea where we hide and try to find each other by our glow sticks----then....like paint ball.....take the person out that we find, with........well......what else?<br />A fly swatter!<br /><br />Yeah----the idea was better than the outcome, but we started swatting each other on the booty and I was laughing so hard-----my sides were hurting! Fun times.<br /><br /><br />As for Brinna.... She and I have had our good times and our bad times, but that is life, right? But I love her just the same. She is such a talented and neat person----so passionate about the same things that I am-----I do enjoy being with her.<br /><br /><br />These are the things that I love about her:<br /><br />I love how she loves to read as much as I do. We have so many great times talking and talking about books----and we exchange them frequently.<br /><br />I love her husky voice when she was growing up. It was the cutest thing ever! She no longer has that husky voice, but she still has a great singing voice!<br /><br />I love her sense of style! She is so good about coordinating her outfits, and often sends me e-mails of great deals. I also send her fantastic fashion finds----its great to have that connection with my daughters. (Well, my oldest two, anyway....heh, heh.)<br /><br />I love her artistic side. She doesn't draw or paint that much anymore, but I would love to see her do more of it eventually----she is so very talented!<br /><br />I love how she talks about costumes with me, when I am working on a show. We talk about eras and styles of that era, and she gives me ideas for some of my costume dilemmas. I just wish that she lived closer, so she could help me at the theatre ALL the time!<br /><br />I love her great sense of decorating. You should SEE her apartment! It is gorgeous, and she has such an amazing style with her decorating, using both modern and vintage mixed with a bit of eclectic. So chic!<br /><br />I love that she adores her brothers and sisters. She really enjoys getting with them and hanging out-----doing goofy things, eating, talking and laughing a lot!<br /><br />I love singing with her. I used to be in a band with her and I loved it more than anything! I still miss doing that with her..... At least once a year, she comes and sings with the family and I in church, and I cherish this so much.<br /><br />I love her writing. She also doesn't do it very often anymore, but I used to love to read her stories, and plays. She even used to want to write a book. I keep hoping that she will go back to school for those creative writing courses someday----she really has a talent!<br /><br />Here are some pah-tay scenes:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Here is the dining room with the birthday decor....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTsFH7NnCUNAZz4BX2Ku2PO0fbkwFJlZg4ug-QxtdBZCxeQ2I1WgXCu5SaBtQAt_GN1nUA7XLv8_9EpYGJhpM_baMSTiFTmrtjbq4Ap8Pe_WHGON5w0DSJ6iS2go6kMhz6TgRGw/s1600-h/DSCN6282.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTsFH7NnCUNAZz4BX2Ku2PO0fbkwFJlZg4ug-QxtdBZCxeQ2I1WgXCu5SaBtQAt_GN1nUA7XLv8_9EpYGJhpM_baMSTiFTmrtjbq4Ap8Pe_WHGON5w0DSJ6iS2go6kMhz6TgRGw/s400/DSCN6282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680586122393474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....and the two birthday kids!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfsZJaxEDfbyP1xB64YAPOGiHbXOtBiaCHF9pwPt3KMtlCPtIBR2c4DtgsVVtbWAMpbpC8QRQB17YgyIH-Mk9AOrbCjtHNaer0cVfht9Dtp-189LmGqc06f953kYsdqF5Rluuww/s1600-h/DSCN6276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfsZJaxEDfbyP1xB64YAPOGiHbXOtBiaCHF9pwPt3KMtlCPtIBR2c4DtgsVVtbWAMpbpC8QRQB17YgyIH-Mk9AOrbCjtHNaer0cVfht9Dtp-189LmGqc06f953kYsdqF5Rluuww/s400/DSCN6276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680577268980130" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The "rave" gets off to a good start.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwe6wMfAgHMKaQPmASKQkeGUMNeiThublhiBj1MljeC91NWT1fGaOLAwISl8V9V2AzTiZw5t7bEe4F09rzEjzIgzsgXg1lHXkWcJTc2OYNXMp0QqDwRIjUxY1OVPHToeyc3Cbyw/s1600-h/DSCN6300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwe6wMfAgHMKaQPmASKQkeGUMNeiThublhiBj1MljeC91NWT1fGaOLAwISl8V9V2AzTiZw5t7bEe4F09rzEjzIgzsgXg1lHXkWcJTc2OYNXMp0QqDwRIjUxY1OVPHToeyc3Cbyw/s400/DSCN6300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680601680631122" border="0" /></a><br />....and here I play around with the pink glow stick.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9lsXgBpd6d4PwajvRjmQ6LCGjTTC780uBdCJVoAlsflq6fjBtrSux4JrFH6YYQaxTSyS2RpnWW6wvVU_RHSs7JuztI6dTwRveAs3SKoQhsbq95vxGDIYyM38Cj4xgcg0z3JRhw/s1600-h/DSCN6299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9lsXgBpd6d4PwajvRjmQ6LCGjTTC780uBdCJVoAlsflq6fjBtrSux4JrFH6YYQaxTSyS2RpnWW6wvVU_RHSs7JuztI6dTwRveAs3SKoQhsbq95vxGDIYyM38Cj4xgcg0z3JRhw/s400/DSCN6299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680594576443906" border="0" /></a><br />Great shot of Bret, my hubby-----uh----hello----anyone out there?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tM1O3u124ED4oFVfEh9fFMTp99ogu3Yedu2A5bhmc1yYvXMnXRCuw2Hw7w5b3-mYiIjGf8HPUCgzWrg7ZeDY-1iSQYLaL1Iua6zFKJ_0GdJSu420I9hmb6ExPwuQqChABz2XWA/s1600-h/DSCN6310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tM1O3u124ED4oFVfEh9fFMTp99ogu3Yedu2A5bhmc1yYvXMnXRCuw2Hw7w5b3-mYiIjGf8HPUCgzWrg7ZeDY-1iSQYLaL1Iua6zFKJ_0GdJSu420I9hmb6ExPwuQqChABz2XWA/s400/DSCN6310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681449502609362" border="0" /></a><br />And so Clayton had to try it....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGdXkjIlu_7YbjQHsTymwtyjfpR98vW-xo7-URye50toBcyRkCqxF5mhFX5hwVAJAVEQavlgXNG7XXUFQFH6P_e6LBD6fwFXQmnAc_KK4S7ok4RV59rlmCLNNICiJZSmDYUBW_w/s1600-h/DSCN6305.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGdXkjIlu_7YbjQHsTymwtyjfpR98vW-xo7-URye50toBcyRkCqxF5mhFX5hwVAJAVEQavlgXNG7XXUFQFH6P_e6LBD6fwFXQmnAc_KK4S7ok4RV59rlmCLNNICiJZSmDYUBW_w/s400/DSCN6305.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681426306894338" border="0" /></a><br />.....as well as me.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUkcIsyqLEEXcQqjQsCvb9Q_7-lAoOaRhwHeth81iNc9rElcAlTi0Ubw7iI7D0ui1eFHTdEP2_l51pUmuDzcm1FHRSL7WV9CjkF85Gz_gCWhYOF7i5JvyjuZuUQi3HdM8xUENSg/s1600-h/DSCN6316.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUkcIsyqLEEXcQqjQsCvb9Q_7-lAoOaRhwHeth81iNc9rElcAlTi0Ubw7iI7D0ui1eFHTdEP2_l51pUmuDzcm1FHRSL7WV9CjkF85Gz_gCWhYOF7i5JvyjuZuUQi3HdM8xUENSg/s400/DSCN6316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683583107279842" border="0" /></a><br />Brinna got creative with color.....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyphenhyphen3frdN2l_3m8UzKNNu5qrhLlSHwqNgO_-o8FqHbTLLn_I2B98E5MsLUjiZ5Ck5yEO0pw6Eq3WqNChDFYDOg4Xv0uqi2mPtn-kMTMOuh6oOGPXUHiWEDhyphenhyphenEi8ktyuP-dtqAqYA/s1600-h/DSCN6309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyphenhyphen3frdN2l_3m8UzKNNu5qrhLlSHwqNgO_-o8FqHbTLLn_I2B98E5MsLUjiZ5Ck5yEO0pw6Eq3WqNChDFYDOg4Xv0uqi2mPtn-kMTMOuh6oOGPXUHiWEDhyphenhyphenEi8ktyuP-dtqAqYA/s400/DSCN6309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681440173946290" border="0" /></a><br />....and Aydan went the whole color scheme!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFgGMrHGNqN6jyYu22qIaKONkH0Ozjvr0xctUkopkPAudRaBgciLsu3xsePpc7OZcXOZQDteOKtNxsWrrsihi9SSbgDcW5vpVx4rWEY1DNZwMIu8c9yJ60jGS1xFXpDS6N8MxeA/s1600-h/DSCN6308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFgGMrHGNqN6jyYu22qIaKONkH0Ozjvr0xctUkopkPAudRaBgciLsu3xsePpc7OZcXOZQDteOKtNxsWrrsihi9SSbgDcW5vpVx4rWEY1DNZwMIu8c9yJ60jGS1xFXpDS6N8MxeA/s400/DSCN6308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681431289968066" border="0" /></a><br />Getting ready to blow out the candles on the cake....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0_M8EZAJOTctDR9t1oriJXk51DHtYFdZu6BJPGmPLPz_UyLF60UiAjgBMUuM3vRVSzo9LMQPO7RQIkHAqlUq286_TFRlkSYrzjSUPEhngMb9k0Q2iuWESZJebWPWRW27Xb0WcA/s1600-h/DSCN6332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0_M8EZAJOTctDR9t1oriJXk51DHtYFdZu6BJPGmPLPz_UyLF60UiAjgBMUuM3vRVSzo9LMQPO7RQIkHAqlUq286_TFRlkSYrzjSUPEhngMb9k0Q2iuWESZJebWPWRW27Xb0WcA/s400/DSCN6332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683600979142114" border="0" /></a><br />.....and right before we cut the cake! (Baked by Clayton---made from scratch<br />from one of my favorite recipes)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHPWowW3xeoQiQOgELtgUaaJ-vYrbbvs69zJERlouahg3WHO0dB3p6pA5yY7rWt6WInE_bql5fatak7lMzpdzFzQnNP71zmiirLM_WVnbMTiEXcEF2vZWJWy5xu7dGdnstc26rA/s1600-h/DSCN6334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHPWowW3xeoQiQOgELtgUaaJ-vYrbbvs69zJERlouahg3WHO0dB3p6pA5yY7rWt6WInE_bql5fatak7lMzpdzFzQnNP71zmiirLM_WVnbMTiEXcEF2vZWJWy5xu7dGdnstc26rA/s400/DSCN6334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683606155536306" border="0" /></a><br />The birthday duo after getting some presents----nice purple extensions<br />and fly swatter, Brinna!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jPQ0coQsgZjtOk-CEgfo-j8TNzGSiVfNp0fHTL2lAx3XKhHo3DX3Uzqytw6vwVl_XwLU-RSpJvnBg_XnrM9KvD3gWm_dDKZJ-bTSZ-z3zz-YZOfSptn74yrnx1IXJEHcMQUD3A/s1600-h/DSCN6325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jPQ0coQsgZjtOk-CEgfo-j8TNzGSiVfNp0fHTL2lAx3XKhHo3DX3Uzqytw6vwVl_XwLU-RSpJvnBg_XnrM9KvD3gWm_dDKZJ-bTSZ-z3zz-YZOfSptn74yrnx1IXJEHcMQUD3A/s400/DSCN6325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683594397455730" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Birthday, my Brinny Winnie-----have fun in London!Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-71095566020190608162010-01-29T22:12:00.012-05:002010-01-31T23:25:25.189-05:00Fabulous Find For A Friday-----My MinnieMy youngest daughter Maryn, or Minnie, as I used to call her when she was a baby, has been the topic of my blog quite a few times. She is my wandering spirit, so I worry about her a lot and yearn to have her near. Today she turned 22, and of course, par for the course, I called her and sang her Happy Birthday----right when she was born, of course, but I had to sing to her cell phone answering service. Then I left several messages on her Facebook page, but I haven't heard from her..... Sigh.....<br /><br />It is hard to have a child like this sometimes. When they are small and we have so much control over their lives----we tend to complain about how difficult it is to do everything for them, but when they are gone, and we sometimes don't even know where they are----it is hard----and sometimes it hurts a bit that you can't have them near. It sometimes makes you feel that they don't care anymore.<br /><br />Maryn was a darling baby, a beautiful little girl, and my little sweetheart. She is my artist, singer, super creative, alternative, rebellious, and was always pushing my envelope----but I love her just the same! That's what we do as mothers----we love our children with no strings attached.<br /><br />There are so many things that I love about Maryn:<br /><br />I love how she is unique----has always been---definitely does her own thing!<br /><br />I love how she gets along with people of all ages. She has such a great spirit about her----and people respond to that.<br /><br />I love her artistic talents. She is BRILLIANT in her artwork, and even supercedes my talent....<br /><br />I love how she loves to sing. She writes music, sings constantly and performs by herself or with different bands. She also taught herself to play guitar.<br /><br />I love that she loves animals. She has adopted two cats, and she takes care of them so well----even feeding them when she doesn't have any money for her own food.<br /><br />I love her intelligence. She is really smart and reads a lot, and definitely forms her own opinion about things----and is NOT afraid to voice them!<br /><br />I love her hugs----she has the BEST hugs in the world!!! Big, long, squeezy ones.....my favorite!<br /><br />I love her sense of humor----she is crazy and so fun when we get together----acting out and well....just being one of us!<br /><br />I love her laugh....she always laughs at the antics I pull----I tend to get crazy sometime, and Maryn is always the first one to get everyone going with her infectious laugh!<br /><br />I love her free spirit, but sometimes I detest it, as she can't stay in one place for long, and hasn't really decided what she wants to do.....well, she kind of gets that from me, as I STILL haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up! But I worry about her and just want her to be happy----no matter what she decides to do.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's that beautiful face....(Maryn, a few years ago)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSSfVxcU-Z4hJbl22vsO6Kh9-0aVj8j0kWvnOGrSrAYnBs0hxGY1z7XXh2FoH8Nav7Zvr1oPAFgcKTDq8jPGDL8Ume5SUh3BycTkz9PEHeGkEOhBjF518ByMcRl5AiS8p_elSWQ/s1600-h/---_0007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSSfVxcU-Z4hJbl22vsO6Kh9-0aVj8j0kWvnOGrSrAYnBs0hxGY1z7XXh2FoH8Nav7Zvr1oPAFgcKTDq8jPGDL8Ume5SUh3BycTkz9PEHeGkEOhBjF518ByMcRl5AiS8p_elSWQ/s400/---_0007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433112580621676418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....and her fun side!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0QQ8-mZ06OYO_eNFjW9QIOw5mg2fmFuOnmIZ2KxrVnwC-x7khsvqHFluXeyFlZ1HTScNxSmml6qhz4sar5aMAq-acdmVbqEA8vv5fXlwoy2-8cc_1NG6y5mhx_aryY6IykQffw/s1600-h/---_0005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0QQ8-mZ06OYO_eNFjW9QIOw5mg2fmFuOnmIZ2KxrVnwC-x7khsvqHFluXeyFlZ1HTScNxSmml6qhz4sar5aMAq-acdmVbqEA8vv5fXlwoy2-8cc_1NG6y5mhx_aryY6IykQffw/s400/---_0005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433112579245919506" border="0" /></a><br />She's very photogenic....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXATYpEbTUwl8K2I7btptLKpd2dSIemgpV6hbPDE4Km_5yQ4MXY04VtcjQNAQxgzun1pv-0M1S-VmZicgS1xscaxn6AVwU1GDm7fnG4FY4c8BUfWwMaW0LUPu-cn6dSsp4_J8eGw/s1600-h/---_0016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXATYpEbTUwl8K2I7btptLKpd2dSIemgpV6hbPDE4Km_5yQ4MXY04VtcjQNAQxgzun1pv-0M1S-VmZicgS1xscaxn6AVwU1GDm7fnG4FY4c8BUfWwMaW0LUPu-cn6dSsp4_J8eGw/s400/---_0016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433116331611431042" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....and loves to goof around while we are shooting.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIsYpffI5eM3ab6NjS_WinPoaOuz9qC36xVPn7L4o3ZdOl0s3Mt2ZLP4fi84x7XcYWSu3IctbcAbo-tVviiW9fpt9BaHaDuA_uz3z1c5eMlhohQjzis82R2YdFnQui4ET_wvZ_Q/s1600-h/---_0008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIsYpffI5eM3ab6NjS_WinPoaOuz9qC36xVPn7L4o3ZdOl0s3Mt2ZLP4fi84x7XcYWSu3IctbcAbo-tVviiW9fpt9BaHaDuA_uz3z1c5eMlhohQjzis82R2YdFnQui4ET_wvZ_Q/s400/---_0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433112590032333362" border="0" /></a><br />Performing at one of her "shows".<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha911lwgE904RklT-LWGsTunIbyZN2EelQ6g73phAZqax-RhU337YRya3CRBED98vO76kND5mu1i30bTpMSHtn9nPl_kXpiDZcnuvvWm3q1PZ7pWJhZlhgoMtvBqI4BXB5_YIQ2g/s1600-h/litterboxshow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha911lwgE904RklT-LWGsTunIbyZN2EelQ6g73phAZqax-RhU337YRya3CRBED98vO76kND5mu1i30bTpMSHtn9nPl_kXpiDZcnuvvWm3q1PZ7pWJhZlhgoMtvBqI4BXB5_YIQ2g/s400/litterboxshow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433126040544195922" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Love this smile....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OB9kVb4Psdcc7zgCs5TnthWTSq5PWTCQFEYmi6o8GkffXP82VgNxbNLRq9e2Zhrhk-L01daE1mzH4S80-veUoOQknJNowNRB_rxC51JmoESfTiKX9nR_nDI8Od0zC2_Tabcp5A/s1600-h/DSC_0250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OB9kVb4Psdcc7zgCs5TnthWTSq5PWTCQFEYmi6o8GkffXP82VgNxbNLRq9e2Zhrhk-L01daE1mzH4S80-veUoOQknJNowNRB_rxC51JmoESfTiKX9nR_nDI8Od0zC2_Tabcp5A/s400/DSC_0250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433116339916430194" border="0" /></a><br />....and there she goes.....again!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir64GiYTnTAILJwncX3dFVmW3epzRU3mMWly14Z7ZmuqyfHcd1VWCHzCqYUskmEVLwqKUpls-mqVLPAazX8mEf72ZTUrjAEPV2ykjJgTqkHQbVVg2iGM0l4cCPYOzaSJjXYsM5EA/s1600-h/DSC_0253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir64GiYTnTAILJwncX3dFVmW3epzRU3mMWly14Z7ZmuqyfHcd1VWCHzCqYUskmEVLwqKUpls-mqVLPAazX8mEf72ZTUrjAEPV2ykjJgTqkHQbVVg2iGM0l4cCPYOzaSJjXYsM5EA/s400/DSC_0253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433116349512603506" border="0" /></a><br />Brinna, Maryn and I---this past Christmas in our....er.....well.....Christmas<br />jammies, of course!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsiF2dwBhms828P6cTSkW27lFycc4goExZDMO4WL7HBVGSHc9QLU74FOvISUpE5pB5JPgsMKf8EAGQupYPr9cj70pF4GnK7yvX5GQamuhW15R2j7H_4yA2T4de3d4hcSxSO5PQg/s1600-h/DSCN6187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsiF2dwBhms828P6cTSkW27lFycc4goExZDMO4WL7HBVGSHc9QLU74FOvISUpE5pB5JPgsMKf8EAGQupYPr9cj70pF4GnK7yvX5GQamuhW15R2j7H_4yA2T4de3d4hcSxSO5PQg/s400/DSCN6187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433112570188790258" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Birthday, Minnie!Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-36165005428661539272010-01-27T23:58:00.012-05:002010-01-28T01:23:13.044-05:00The Beauty of New England In Celebration Of The New England Bloggers Birthday!If you scroll down the right side of my blog, you will see a button for<a href="http://ebogie.blogspot.com/2007/01/new-england-bloggers.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" > New England Bloggers</span></a>. These stupendous bunch of gals are all bloggers, and, of course, from New England! There's a super blogger that started it all about a year ago----Elizabeth over at <a href="http://ebogie.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-birthday-new-england-bloggers.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >Evil Overlord</span></a>----and she thought it might be nice to celebrate by having some bloggers write about living in New England----just to celebrate our year of blogging together.<br /><br />It is hard for me to decide what I love most about living here. When I first visited New England with my sister, almost 20 years ago, I fell in love with it here. I absolutely ADORED the history, and the historical houses, as well as the greenery and the beauty.<br /><br />I am a visual artist, as well as the other many things that I do, so I am inspired by nature----especially the change in nature----and New England is the place to be for change! From the greenery of the summers, with the humidity and the rain, the AMAZING amount of trees, and just a short drive to the coast.....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Beach view in Duxbury.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2GnwgvqFgp1SmkSuLtpVhk0gXN1b3dkLjOMnaPuzQjziKOuCB1k1UAw5JSGUw1Od3nukRj3QH4VzUPo919mZ_UuEH0Nc6kwPUipGLGZv-p1RiyagdIkUHme1gg_lrZEIZTGgWQ/s1600-h/Duxbury+Beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2GnwgvqFgp1SmkSuLtpVhk0gXN1b3dkLjOMnaPuzQjziKOuCB1k1UAw5JSGUw1Od3nukRj3QH4VzUPo919mZ_UuEH0Nc6kwPUipGLGZv-p1RiyagdIkUHme1gg_lrZEIZTGgWQ/s400/Duxbury+Beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431664186320551410" border="0" /></a><br />....to the myriad of colors that come with each Fall, as the leaves change and share their vibrant glory with the world.....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">New Hampshire foilage.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiSjcgAR9bQc3Z47927bGzCvR9gJsd4kZmYC2JUglFEovvRm5_ZluXd0V0MJE7KIE8eihjyl0rqCjeGqdhxGwgtTTN0mmcJWKIWcWtuHhYn9beRDYjObcf-fUtO-Iu7m-_MqiNw/s1600-h/New+hampshire+fall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiSjcgAR9bQc3Z47927bGzCvR9gJsd4kZmYC2JUglFEovvRm5_ZluXd0V0MJE7KIE8eihjyl0rqCjeGqdhxGwgtTTN0mmcJWKIWcWtuHhYn9beRDYjObcf-fUtO-Iu7m-_MqiNw/s400/New+hampshire+fall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431664190916451138" border="0" /></a><br />....to the cold and icy winter, with its dry climate and breathtaking snow views......<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Winter in Vermont.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyqoFgcWRQ51kbG3CVjDjd-wUOF79aYvgtMarNbOO1iWmPBLa9S_WTDTNw9Cco7GDBNPu_G2wC-XTgz_RHkiUkvKU9FqsGd2m_rENHX-QRmPYLzOPDN2aTlyrs5-Sue0aZsO7hQ/s1600-h/vermont---mount+holly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyqoFgcWRQ51kbG3CVjDjd-wUOF79aYvgtMarNbOO1iWmPBLa9S_WTDTNw9Cco7GDBNPu_G2wC-XTgz_RHkiUkvKU9FqsGd2m_rENHX-QRmPYLzOPDN2aTlyrs5-Sue0aZsO7hQ/s400/vermont---mount+holly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431666899017833106" border="0" /></a><br />...and finally end up back to spring, as the earth re-awakens and rears its head from under the cold to reveal the stunning beauty of a new change, a new world, one of flowers and color and fresh clean air!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Downtown Boston---cherry blossoms.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMpTZZSo4QwWuuylnbCsM_5jhWqh1sAUctAhauArqKUrgicSyFAO33DZ2Q0pN-62cZ5a4WfR5Gw87Q8HqjEGKMgua08qIvGekmQhKJ6RQ350pX_opNbOV_73mQEpgP1tzlrWmxQ/s1600-h/Boston+spring.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMpTZZSo4QwWuuylnbCsM_5jhWqh1sAUctAhauArqKUrgicSyFAO33DZ2Q0pN-62cZ5a4WfR5Gw87Q8HqjEGKMgua08qIvGekmQhKJ6RQ350pX_opNbOV_73mQEpgP1tzlrWmxQ/s400/Boston+spring.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431667789494597378" border="0" /></a><br />"There is nothing more constant than change".<br /><br />"Change is not merely <span style="text-decoration: underline;">necessary</span> to life—it is life.’ Alvin Toffler<br /><br /><br />So, come and visit and fall in love with this intriguing, beautiful place.....I guarantee that you will not leave unaffected.<br /><br /><br /><br />***Be sure and check out other New England Bloggers <a href="http://ebogie.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-birthday-new-england-bloggers.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >HERE!</span></a>***Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-24663214918187267762010-01-22T22:39:00.013-05:002010-01-23T00:53:09.554-05:00A Fabulous Find For A Friday-----Little Boo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvNCbZnoZFw0ZIwMSoZw2u1ulud7-kBDpB9A7Wn5EUcbMzBrHK2W6sUyyEa4SOx7srwUrzvznja9Fvsx70c0Y2aYwlzexJ2GeSHIhMjilcL5XslSuLdPHmEMC0R6PevcGq5rI3g/s1600-h/DSC_0107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvNCbZnoZFw0ZIwMSoZw2u1ulud7-kBDpB9A7Wn5EUcbMzBrHK2W6sUyyEa4SOx7srwUrzvznja9Fvsx70c0Y2aYwlzexJ2GeSHIhMjilcL5XslSuLdPHmEMC0R6PevcGq5rI3g/s400/DSC_0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429789311204238562" border="0" /></a>A big birthday happened today. A big 10th birthday!<br /><br />Its almost impossible to believe that ten years have gone by....and that my little boy is growing up so fast. He is my baby, and yes, I called him "Little Boo" when he was little----as his little lips were always pursed as if he was saying "boo". He is a <a href="http://swaneesinger.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-even-love-smell-of-his-sweat.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">special little boy</span></span></a>----one that deals with so much for his young life, and hardly ever complains.<br /><br />There are so many reasons that I adore him:<br /><br />I love that he always gives me the best snuggles ever----and I am going to be devastated when those end.<br /><br />I love that he always cares about others----how he worried that some boys were treating a girl badly in his class and he asked them to stop.<br /><br />I love that he is so into exploring and looking up everything----from the human body and how it functions, to how space and the planets are formed and why, why, why..... He is so inquisitive.<br /><br />I love that he wants to help out, whether it is learning how to clean a toilet (and yes, he knows how to do it now) or putting the silverware away after the dishes are cleaned.<br /><br />I love how he knows so many different recording artists by hearing them on the radio----from Elton John, to Styx, to Queen, to Coldplay and U2.....he always knows them, and is right on!<br /><br />I love how he goes to my theatre hour after hour as I teach voice, have rehearsals, organize costumes and do a myriad of things and he just reads or does homework, or plays quietly with his toys, and sometimes entertains himself with doing little tricks to make the students smile.<br /><br />I love how he loves to read, and finished all the Harry Potter books---the first three before school started, in about 3 1/2 weeks! And the cutest part was that he REALLY wanted it to be real.....he wanted to really go to a wizard school himself.<br /><br />I love that he believes in dragons. And all things mythological. He is devout.<br /><br />I love how he looks up to his siblings. He knows that they are older, and don't always have time for him, but he cherishes and looks forward to each time that they come home to hang with us, or when he can go to their houses and spend the night. He loves his brother and sisters.<br /><br />I love when he giggles and laughs when I talk baby talk to him or act crazy in the mornings. (as I am wont to do when I am tired in the mornings...)<br /><br />I love that he says the cutest things sometimes----in all seriousness, and doesn't even realize how adorable he is.<br /><br />I love how he is so funny at other times, and how he tries to make other kids laugh, and be happy in his presence.<br /><br />I love how he loves to play games with his Dad, and can spend hours building things with him, then learns how to take pictures on his Dad's camera.<br /><br />There are so many other things that make me love this little guy, but it would take almost a day to write them all down.<br /><br />He is my gem, my little guy, my little Boo.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">His first day of school, Sept. 2009<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYC68-LpaTks8NXVCNyvHtLs5vJs3pMcHrR10SEabV9IteIFrvtFlIxdSlr4C3nie-7CZmuYqnlxg0iykUOeFq_MHvwXo3nFZ4-kSNjs-2lFsQ8k_yZKRNuNNCICxr3Cqa9orRQ/s1600-h/DSCN5720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYC68-LpaTks8NXVCNyvHtLs5vJs3pMcHrR10SEabV9IteIFrvtFlIxdSlr4C3nie-7CZmuYqnlxg0iykUOeFq_MHvwXo3nFZ4-kSNjs-2lFsQ8k_yZKRNuNNCICxr3Cqa9orRQ/s400/DSCN5720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429786846181420914" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Photos his Dad took----BBSNAPS.NET<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84yhBmX5nVuVVrwhpFac2gqpbZ4j6QH7d7rCyuIjYOV-_CBiTV0Qe9UPyB4PzuUXj-8bQtai2k9aa4BYeCy8QnmhPkLb9_kdKZWqI7s3ea4Sz7H6rL0ahp1cu6lXMLh5VYr68FQ/s1600-h/DSC_0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84yhBmX5nVuVVrwhpFac2gqpbZ4j6QH7d7rCyuIjYOV-_CBiTV0Qe9UPyB4PzuUXj-8bQtai2k9aa4BYeCy8QnmhPkLb9_kdKZWqI7s3ea4Sz7H6rL0ahp1cu6lXMLh5VYr68FQ/s400/DSC_0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429789317195074514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpu_IqmXJiqK82oviv8zkNvxKU5ZtJIULIYIjeDzC9k8hXgsQ65QLSdPWhOLUc7Z9z_y_ldr59wv1Jui6F1Zpx2-MtbV8rw99ai1WNBXOFA1wznKKtL9yxqYdm1VD16L8wPrUZg/s1600-h/DSC_0091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpu_IqmXJiqK82oviv8zkNvxKU5ZtJIULIYIjeDzC9k8hXgsQ65QLSdPWhOLUc7Z9z_y_ldr59wv1Jui6F1Zpx2-MtbV8rw99ai1WNBXOFA1wznKKtL9yxqYdm1VD16L8wPrUZg/s400/DSC_0091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429789301409486082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3EYZYs22ACwIv9gr6IY3cTd_Ds29VGGt5-63N552oCV6cSZ07fF3ODqorhM-UnBpMuTO9URylWO3anBK7zYEKk_26y_T0tSqezdVyCXULrWo-pd3qdcudWkIFdobiSL3jd21PA/s1600-h/DSC_0098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3EYZYs22ACwIv9gr6IY3cTd_Ds29VGGt5-63N552oCV6cSZ07fF3ODqorhM-UnBpMuTO9URylWO3anBK7zYEKk_26y_T0tSqezdVyCXULrWo-pd3qdcudWkIFdobiSL3jd21PA/s400/DSC_0098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429789303628564706" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Birthday, Aydan. I love you.Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-48463704598588555072010-01-19T20:55:00.006-05:002010-01-19T23:46:34.278-05:00Winter WonderlandYesterday, we got a lot of snow.....again. Yes, I know that I am in a very small minority, but I love snow and the look of it. I even like to shovel it----such a great workout for the arms!<br /><br />And along with the snow was a day off from school----and a fun day for Aydan to play in that said snow! So, we put the parka's on the puppies, and they joined him for some fun in the snow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The view outside our front door....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpb2jvR1oruG-1K1mVsKRP8hnQ94MT4B811FBMvAc5HM1cuNWIXmFfWxHO8OJ6JC3t7P79lUQHA0fzUIjW0hICZsMLIuyphqnBLQm-EO7Mq8QwAPiylkcX9r_aRAwsx4XLYDYSQ/s1600-h/DSCN6258.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpb2jvR1oruG-1K1mVsKRP8hnQ94MT4B811FBMvAc5HM1cuNWIXmFfWxHO8OJ6JC3t7P79lUQHA0fzUIjW0hICZsMLIuyphqnBLQm-EO7Mq8QwAPiylkcX9r_aRAwsx4XLYDYSQ/s400/DSCN6258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428669824184574114" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">.....and turning toward the conservation area.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgNc8TopEuwFKik8ZLKo_k_v5qTKuOg2sAp1G7RAzpVcUQuujlXO8Gyh79VPJHKttzAWPxmdmmzV6XrokdvXYHU4A-e2NgDHrXQi8EXdn1d6Xn1C2fV5ewluTsuEDRQVEO8zMOw/s1600-h/DSCN6268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgNc8TopEuwFKik8ZLKo_k_v5qTKuOg2sAp1G7RAzpVcUQuujlXO8Gyh79VPJHKttzAWPxmdmmzV6XrokdvXYHU4A-e2NgDHrXQi8EXdn1d6Xn1C2fV5ewluTsuEDRQVEO8zMOw/s400/DSCN6268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428671054358358306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There's Aydan, in the midst of the snow kingdom.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tY29pUk9Gv0WAmcSuoncwZgpB8V3CxrTzfV_1KE4qqSgvn_CR42n17mdDtrWZoQ6feimLHIjN1o_u0Gpt2wllZ0GDB5SEWDvI2mcacbnhKcqo268WJfFRkAQAnwY4-9UbFCklw/s1600-h/DSCN6266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tY29pUk9Gv0WAmcSuoncwZgpB8V3CxrTzfV_1KE4qqSgvn_CR42n17mdDtrWZoQ6feimLHIjN1o_u0Gpt2wllZ0GDB5SEWDvI2mcacbnhKcqo268WJfFRkAQAnwY4-9UbFCklw/s400/DSCN6266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428670722106094850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Musette, with her little snow parka on.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD7UKUIAI3tHW-KOuoSyoFLuRbk1FnVWlq0Fe4YYHmMM2FX8st1PwhFhb4ws1m3sqlBGtECG0ZNApuM3oBmA7Yi7_hCN8BxuLZqHigW0RNXgka7Fq-mC-0DustBjZqcvK9KbV7A/s1600-h/DSCN6262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRD7UKUIAI3tHW-KOuoSyoFLuRbk1FnVWlq0Fe4YYHmMM2FX8st1PwhFhb4ws1m3sqlBGtECG0ZNApuM3oBmA7Yi7_hCN8BxuLZqHigW0RNXgka7Fq-mC-0DustBjZqcvK9KbV7A/s400/DSCN6262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428670703794821714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Musette, going for a visit to Aydan----whoa---this snow is COLD!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LqtgrvlfWeF_Qpf0Wv4Rpnm_otDdHsSXqvYmd19I43jzGH5s5CcOT0cFSx9Go4iHOiabqwgvdWs7DVpwJHDfh46IZW3UFIx_rhEpvuAn-3tAEJ05c-5EujPVaPnlH7ErFMy36Q/s1600-h/DSCN6259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LqtgrvlfWeF_Qpf0Wv4Rpnm_otDdHsSXqvYmd19I43jzGH5s5CcOT0cFSx9Go4iHOiabqwgvdWs7DVpwJHDfh46IZW3UFIx_rhEpvuAn-3tAEJ05c-5EujPVaPnlH7ErFMy36Q/s400/DSCN6259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428669830647054418" border="0" /></a><br />Now is Mignon's turn to experience the snow.....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqAMGvIgxx_zuIlvm_7nCn9rjqTXg54Olj_pCiFfhBuq5R0WVh7h-IkvsmWnmiGQBI_6gnWnrlIF1Zy-cEc86rYqIe-LnMj20YEQLr8q9Z9e1FQhObqOr8iNhkg6f72niA-7K-Q/s1600-h/DSCN6260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihqAMGvIgxx_zuIlvm_7nCn9rjqTXg54Olj_pCiFfhBuq5R0WVh7h-IkvsmWnmiGQBI_6gnWnrlIF1Zy-cEc86rYqIe-LnMj20YEQLr8q9Z9e1FQhObqOr8iNhkg6f72niA-7K-Q/s400/DSCN6260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428669838364556114" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....but she bolts for the warmth!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT9702IuMJEv21KjP3Pz99r2y65WkhYsdfylVEjOJfQwPe8PJMODHA5S6YE1eTYHULbckg2Z6ROBsndYacHZOAGSpddUScGda5zLn34br8oc6QZA9NORMT9Pt5OH1-Qz-MYwXfw/s1600-h/DSCN6261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT9702IuMJEv21KjP3Pz99r2y65WkhYsdfylVEjOJfQwPe8PJMODHA5S6YE1eTYHULbckg2Z6ROBsndYacHZOAGSpddUScGda5zLn34br8oc6QZA9NORMT9Pt5OH1-Qz-MYwXfw/s400/DSCN6261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428669842206386898" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Aydan----running from the camera.....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDfj91JH0RTL2oLiOJkbNwRRnMROTH39vV6PZKZtk_2QxZy7gnHCT3p9UuWCxDooBIPXxt0iV0nPw5iV9lwGLPDGxA4KDtYctd0CXLm7yslAACct2nW0zAl-GWKiBAtH-gDkBgA/s1600-h/DSCN6264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDDfj91JH0RTL2oLiOJkbNwRRnMROTH39vV6PZKZtk_2QxZy7gnHCT3p9UuWCxDooBIPXxt0iV0nPw5iV9lwGLPDGxA4KDtYctd0CXLm7yslAACct2nW0zAl-GWKiBAtH-gDkBgA/s400/DSCN6264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428670714070776658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">....but he can't hide from me!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJFwU4As4sh9NhSQAGdWVRaEoFUsgLzYI7KK7etHcDiIbJgCz9b_NQWKILaUnII13xgCtIUPk1xtNxSVxNtP1tMmxPpK67Wjp731kIdapFvzuzw7ryx1xxgYaQ21JWos83vqDPQ/s1600-h/DSCN6265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJFwU4As4sh9NhSQAGdWVRaEoFUsgLzYI7KK7etHcDiIbJgCz9b_NQWKILaUnII13xgCtIUPk1xtNxSVxNtP1tMmxPpK67Wjp731kIdapFvzuzw7ryx1xxgYaQ21JWos83vqDPQ/s400/DSCN6265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428670716112877442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Musette and our cat, Shadow, relaxing after the snow romp.....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CCLdHVUtW-GA93bITR2mzjk8yxcvwVNW9nL0LhKznyTXjuYyp3BObNAYPTZfVg1ruYFx2lYhfR8MPpVjBZRUt2r1pgjfrwGhUbtvxC9c_KHq7t-XEsxp81sM7I3UuDptlnpWzQ/s1600-h/DSCN6270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4CCLdHVUtW-GA93bITR2mzjk8yxcvwVNW9nL0LhKznyTXjuYyp3BObNAYPTZfVg1ruYFx2lYhfR8MPpVjBZRUt2r1pgjfrwGhUbtvxC9c_KHq7t-XEsxp81sM7I3UuDptlnpWzQ/s400/DSCN6270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428671059041850338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">.....and Mignon finally joins them after she gets toweled off....oh....so nice to be WARM!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_A0ZhQO7XJD-avCDgAJiKO6MgPXButp1GzjQbPfeOrggJ4kfyxkNZStKrfuPig7rlmDSEX5e6bkF4K6ulSMTG_qjI2APBi-oq8AnrBSP6f99uo8Jl0hGJk-q88qfaEqv5K8X4A/s1600-h/DSCN6272.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_A0ZhQO7XJD-avCDgAJiKO6MgPXButp1GzjQbPfeOrggJ4kfyxkNZStKrfuPig7rlmDSEX5e6bkF4K6ulSMTG_qjI2APBi-oq8AnrBSP6f99uo8Jl0hGJk-q88qfaEqv5K8X4A/s400/DSCN6272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428671059864530498" border="0" /></a><br />As the snow keeps falling today, and I do another sweep with the snow shovel, I stop and enjoy the beauty once again. That's why I love the change of the seasons----it gives you a chance to appreciate all the beauty of the world---whatever the season.Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-80326306504689592852010-01-15T22:08:00.009-05:002010-01-15T23:41:07.244-05:00Fabulous Find For A Friday------Black Adder Series<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY17Gt55se2AflSfOgm06cRRlvq8wbDFRgDZDNM2WoggpCJR0bVwAjXXSJyBXnvLNoTOsMqklvarBJEj8vxj0SmCuWEfymSR0uflSn-WZPMXxYqc9rud2oLdNqFGbYPnNhTqhuA/s1600-h/black+adder+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY17Gt55se2AflSfOgm06cRRlvq8wbDFRgDZDNM2WoggpCJR0bVwAjXXSJyBXnvLNoTOsMqklvarBJEj8vxj0SmCuWEfymSR0uflSn-WZPMXxYqc9rud2oLdNqFGbYPnNhTqhuA/s400/black+adder+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427192824976988834" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite things to do is watch the BBC. I am a BBC junkie. A BBC American, if you will. I have watched their shows for many years.<br /><br />I love British humor. I know, most folks would say that I am crazy, and they just don't get it....but I will always pick a British flick over American any day. Lets face it, history never quite feels the same when Hollywood gets a hold of it.<br /><br />But I digress.<br /><br />I really want to talk about their comedy. My love started with Monty Python. First, the weekly shows, then "The Holy Grail". The first time I saw their comedy, I felt that I had finally found something that I could relate to-----it was great!<br /><br />Fast forward to several years later.....I saw one of my first Rowan Atkinson films.....I forget if it was the first Mr. Bean series, or what, but one of my favorite series was "The Black Adder".<br />I watched each week and fell more and more in love with the humor of Rowan and his pals. That was the first time I saw Hugh Laurie, who is magnificent as one of Rowan's side kicks. (He is also so funny in "Jeeves and Wooster"----with Stephen Fry----if you haven't seen it---check it out!)<br /><br /><br />Well, I got the entire set of Black Adder series for Christmas, and have re-lived each episode with my family, and had quite a few laughs. My little guy, Aydan, is now a big fan, and has watched his favorite ones several times now. (Just a note: There are some innuendos that may not be good for some kids---but my son doesn't get them-----yet...)<br /><br /><br />So----check them out on Netflix or get them at the video store, and be prepared to have some chuckles....or maybe full-out laughter!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few examples.....<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/274839/the_black_adder_part_1.swf" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" name="Metacafe_274839" height="345" width="400"></embed><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/274839/the_black_adder_part_1/">The Black Adder Part 1</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">Watch the best video clips here</a></span><br /></div><embed src="http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/yt-HsLSLMIX3P0/prince_blackadder_blackadder_bbc.swf" wmode="transparent" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" name="Metacafe_yt-HsLSLMIX3P0" height="345" width="400"></embed><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.metacafe.com/watch/yt-HsLSLMIX3P0/prince_blackadder_blackadder_bbc/">Prince Blackadder - Blackadder - BBC</a> - <a href="http://www.metacafe.com/">For more funny videos, click here</a></span><br /></div><br /><br />And if you don't like British humor?<br /><br /><br />Well, I have nothing to say to you........Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-48241629180571657802010-01-13T22:55:00.006-05:002010-01-14T00:07:14.217-05:00Whin-ey Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKKSo2oJmk-vQ74I7hCTXPquCPYKoJb7gQvAUblJ2suhV0v4yewYhVV8qnEtVrRO_FlzoOsGt2vuKRxgV-KnPLiJ7to5DiWs2T_TZbhN6-718l1LIAjQuXogLvTM9vNSnN-Zi4w/s1600-h/stock-photo-picture-of-screaming-wounded-woman-face-over-grey-38036923.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKKSo2oJmk-vQ74I7hCTXPquCPYKoJb7gQvAUblJ2suhV0v4yewYhVV8qnEtVrRO_FlzoOsGt2vuKRxgV-KnPLiJ7to5DiWs2T_TZbhN6-718l1LIAjQuXogLvTM9vNSnN-Zi4w/s400/stock-photo-picture-of-screaming-wounded-woman-face-over-grey-38036923.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426457403653840002" border="0" /></a><br />I've decided to start using Wed.'s to vent when I need to-----therefore the title of this post. No, it won't be every week. I really don't have time to do that-----sigh.<br /><br /><br />Today, I am going to whine about the fact that my hubby is out of work.......again. Last Friday, he broke the news to me that he had been laid off, and I sort of......well.......FREAKED!<br /> <br /><br />Perhaps it had to do with the fact that just six months ago, he had a really bad accident at work, where he almost lost the third finger on his right hand. They had to re-build it. You might want to refresh your memory and read about it<a href="http://swaneesinger.blogspot.com/2009/07/good-bad-and-ugly.html"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> here.</span></span></a><br /><br />Well, he was on disability, but of course, that doesn't pay all the bills-----and he was getting a small compensation from his workplace also, but that didn't cover the overtime that is required for us to....well......basically.....pay those darn bills. So, we have been trying to juggle things to get everything covered, and are still, basically, behind. <br /><br />NOT a good time to be laid off, for sure.....<br /><br />I work really hard---doing voice lessons, and trying to get the theatre off the ground and making something from that----someday----but it doesn't bring in a lot now, therefore I don't feel that I am prepared to take on any more debt problems.<br /><br />I guess I am just P---O'd! I am getting so tired of being stressed out about money, and where its going to come from. I am getting older and sometimes wish that I could be like most of the women my age, with great houses, having vacations, re-decorating their houses, going shopping and just worrying about who to go to lunch with----occasionally babysitting the G-babies.<br /><br />And another down-side to this extreme stress----I don't sleep well. I get panic attacks sometimes waking up at about 4:00 in the morning----not being able to breath, and panic-ing about how to get through all this. I have been working on getting caught up with everything, and I am FREAKING out how this will affect all that I have worked on.<br /><br /><br />Ok----just writing about this has made me feel like a total whiner. I apologize for going off, but if its only once in awhile-----can't a girl just GET THINGS OFF HER CHEST ONCE IN A WHILE!!<br /><br /><br />Now----end of the pity party. <br /><br /><br />I need to go out and do something for someone else. It always manages to take my mind off of my problems....Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-67291002167847100192010-01-09T19:40:00.008-05:002010-01-09T21:19:20.787-05:00Fabulous Find For A Friday-----On A Saturday-----An Over The Shoulder Boulder HolderThis phrase is very commonly used to describe one of a womens least favorite article of under clothing----the bra. I have particularly always had troubles with anything in this region of my body. And like me,-----for some reason, most women are not happy with their boobies---they are either too small or too large----too flat, or too droopy.<br /><br />Then, of course it doesn't help that society and MEN seem obsessed with these annoying appendages. I mean, what the heck? Can't they all just get over them? Ugh.<br /><br />When I was in eighth grade, I basically, had not reached......ahem......maturity yet, and didn't have much up there to speak of. Well, my mother was ADAMENT that I could not have a bra until I had SOMETHING to fill it with!<br /><br />Oh, the trauma of trying to dress in the girls locker room before gym class and do it without a bra to cover oneself with! I eventually found a slip that I had that was a bit padded on the top and tried to pretend that it was the new rage----the built-in bra in my slip.<br /><br />I have always been built a bit smallish on top----even after finally getting to wear a bra. I was at my largest right before I got married-----as I grew up to a small "C" cup. This was the most that I had weighed in my life, and I felt very robust indeed!<br /><br />Fast forward to several years later, after my first child, (you know how it is----you get huge, blow up like balloons------so its painful when your milk comes in, then you start nursing, and are still quite large-----until you decide to stop nursing....) and I no longer had much there to speak of. I seem to remember size "A" as being my size then.<br /><br />Then, along came another child a few years later-------same thing--------but this time, I kept losing weight and most of it came out of the upper half of my body. At this time, I numbered at a "AA". It was at this time that I was modeling the most, so it kind of went with my new body and I started to really enjoy being smallish up there.<br /><br />Fast forward again to many years later-----after having five children----my upper region had----shall we say----rounded out----to a small "B" size. I was happy, this finally felt "just right!" I had gotten down to my original weight and life seemed grand-----I could have even modeled still if I wanted, but just didn't seem to have the time. <br /><br /><br />Body image was good.<br /><br />I'm sure that you are on the edge of your seat---wondering how this story ends up, right? Well, if you fast forward just a few years more, you will find me starting to go through that most dreadful of times for a women----the pre-menopausal years----and all of a sudden, your body starts to have a mind of its own. <br /><br /><br />I remember one day as I was walking past a bank window on a street and caught a reflection of myself----and I had to stop, and stood there with my mouth agape! <br /><br /><br />Where had my "real" body gone? And what were these things that kept growing?<br />I guess most women would rejoice to wake up one day and------TA, DAH-----two large boobies!<br /><br /><br />Well, that's not how I felt. I felt matronly, and stocky, and well, like someone had taken over my body.....<br /><br /><br />How have I dealt with it? Well, it has been a trial. Trying to find bras that are comfortable that don't make me feel like I am Dolly Parton, and that are supportive, etc. <br /><br />It has been annoying, to say the least. <br /><br /><br />I eventually found that if I wore sports bras, I had more support and I was a bit smaller that way. AND they were comfortable! <br /><br />But they don't last very long, and I do like to have a bit of underwiring, also. So, I have kept searching......and searching......and searching for the right one.<br /><br />And yes----I think that I may have found it! I kept getting catalogs from the on-line store,<br /><a href="http://www.onehanesplace.com/?ENTRY_TAG=SEARCHO&cm_mmc=Google-_-Brand%20-%20OHP_OHP_General-_-Exact%20Ad_1811658890-_-one%20hanes%60%20place&gclid=CMrEuJvXmJ8CFVFM5Qoddh8Lng&ef_id=1728:3:s_2abfe01dff868c87d12b568d9a97e2ba_1811658890:S0kvItBbricAAG4XL20AAACA:20100110013634"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" >One Hanes Place</span></a>, as I had gotten several sports bras from there, so I flipped through one a few months ago. <br /><br />VOILA! There it was. A minimizer bra. Just the ticket to what I needed!<br /><br /><br />Long story short-----I ordered two----as they had a sale----and I figured if they didn't work out, I could send the one back that was not used.<br /><br />But I love it! It guarantees that it will minimize your rack from an inch to an inch and a half.<br />And you feel supported and not totally squished like with a sports bra.....and score!----the back supports you also----don't worry about that back fat anymore....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here it is---Bali Passion For Comfort Minimizer Underwire<br />With Comfortable Back<br />(Yep, a mouthfull-----did I really just say that? Oh, no---I di-ent!)<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn8pLo67imHcSzqEN4iNc3oUWD1Yfrg3eXjCOJJw-6nYmL2VLlwVt7XfCbZmmRzhahvIasYP4q9arZkHrI0j6Fr3L2y4dFNKLftgDuX6WsT42605hTkslhTO-pdqB2U9505gPSw/s1600-h/bali+minimizer+underwire+bra.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn8pLo67imHcSzqEN4iNc3oUWD1Yfrg3eXjCOJJw-6nYmL2VLlwVt7XfCbZmmRzhahvIasYP4q9arZkHrI0j6Fr3L2y4dFNKLftgDuX6WsT42605hTkslhTO-pdqB2U9505gPSw/s400/bali+minimizer+underwire+bra.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424925115557499314" border="0" /></a><br />So, if you feel like I do----and don't want to necessarily be larger-----yes, there are a few of us out there----then try this brassiere-----it is divine!Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-86823881089448490632010-01-04T16:52:00.005-05:002010-01-05T00:23:17.930-05:00Re-evaluations, NOT Resolutions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JaX8fdCJERb_r8jQZWSvzBgMDAfR-GwFyfLjyLItvINbrax59ZI2rvippYdeFE354qUcjlM1R8ERzZR1lPCQqJM6boqXz-yAx93a3JkPaY0ID6I4L4Ky8QyIvsO3nHunCUp4VA/s1600-h/2010+pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JaX8fdCJERb_r8jQZWSvzBgMDAfR-GwFyfLjyLItvINbrax59ZI2rvippYdeFE354qUcjlM1R8ERzZR1lPCQqJM6boqXz-yAx93a3JkPaY0ID6I4L4Ky8QyIvsO3nHunCUp4VA/s400/2010+pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423121958011568162" border="0" /></a><br />I don't particularly like the idea of resolutions. I don't disagree with them, but I like to make them ongoing.<br /><br />All through the year.<br /><br />Monthly.<br /><br />Weekly.<br /><br />Daily.<br /><br />Ok......hourly.<br /><br /><br />That is pretty much how I roll. I am constantly re-evaluating my life and what I want to do with it. I am still deciding what I want to be when I grow up, you might say. And I envision that I will still be doing it the day that I drop dead. <br /><br /><br />So, basically, I have thought about some of the most recent things that I have been mulling over in my mind. These are the things that I will share with you.<br />(And did I mention that I am a woman of lists? One by my bed, one by the bathroom sink---not even kidding, one in my daytimer, on my calendar, and one in my head at ALL times. Is it any wonder that I have insomnia?)<br /><br /><br />The latest list of re-evaluations:<br /><br />*Keep my business---i.e. the theatre going---and try to not freak out so much about it.<br />*Get my next season of plays and musicals picked THIS season-----trust me, its harder than you think!<br />*Try to get to bed by midnight----and yes, this is hard for me----I am a night owl.<br />*Keep exercising at least 4 times a week. I already do this, but am expanding to include yoga now once a week.<br />*Try to get that other 10 lbs. off----seriously----I don't take this lightly---I lost 14 lbs. from Aug. to Nov.----and have gained back about 2 lbs. during the holidays.....aarrgghhh.<br />*Try to train my pups to not bark when someone comes to the door----we started this about two months ago---but it is hard to find the time to keep working on it!<br />*Be better about volunteering for helping those in need in my church. I am terrible about doing this, if I know that it is early in the morning, or takes too many hours in the day----I have so much to do, and I wimp out.<br />*Try to keep my house cleaner----ummm----maybe I should check into a cleaning service once a month? Oh, so tempting.<br />*Continue reading more. I love to read as much as I love movies (which is my addiction, by the by) and I have stepped it up this year, by TAKING the time to read each day----even if its only 1/2 hour in the morning and a 1/2 hour at night.<br />*Be a better and more attentive mother.......er......ah.......I asked my young son about this one-----if I needed improvement----and he answered that I could do that by only making him do ONE chore every day instead of two before he can have computer time..... Minx.<br />Seriously, I should hang out more with him----more quality time----as he is always with me, but I am doing my theatre thing and don't always pay attention to him----did I mention that he is a great kid? I know....you've heard it before.<br />*Be a better wife. What? Where did that come from? Was that my alter-ego trying to get a word in edgewise? Whateveh.... Although, I guess it wouldn't hurt to send him notes and do mushy things once in a while-----yeah----I can do that. And maybe not nag about money anymore...................(tweet, tweet, tweet)...........NAH-----thats NOT going to happen.<br />*Write two posts a week in my blog----and get those blasted Memory Mondays back! Geeze! Why can't I seem to get it together?!!<br />*Get back to reading blogs at least two times a week.....ok....well, shoot for three and see how it goes.....<br /><br /><br />There you have it. <br /><br />My re-evaluations.<br /><br />That's all she wrote.<br /><br />Been there, done that.<br /><br /><br />How about you check in with me daily and see how I'm doing? <br /><br /><br />I'll write you down on one of my lists.Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-49496517404215123552009-12-30T21:55:00.012-05:002009-12-31T00:55:17.186-05:00What A Way To End The YearIt was such fun to have all my lovely children around me during this blessed Christmas holiday!<br /><br />And these are the moments:<br /><br />*Picking up Maryn from the airport---and a big juicy hug---finally!<br />*Decorated the cookies and put on final Christmas touches.<br />*Clayton and Brinna coming in----lots of hugs and gaiety!<br />*First night of caroling----got lost in Hudson----and boy, was it cold---but we love to do this tradition----so great to harmonize with my kids.<br />*Fun day for last minute shopping, wrapping, and another night of caroling---this time we got more done and I heard the comment, "Why do we have to go to so many people?" And, "Couldn't we just go to the houses that give us something?" Uh, huh----they are kids.....<br />*Spent the next day doing last minute shopping and wrapping, got the house all cleaned, the rolls out, the soup made, things set out for guests.<br />*Some great friends over for Christmas Eve. Both families are moving in 2010----so sad.<br />*Fun carols, Texas and Cajun Night Before Christmas, Chimes played, and finishing up with the Nativity Scene.<br />*Christmas jammies from Mrs. Claus----fun to take crazy pictures.<br />*Up at 7:30 a.m.----finding Santa had come! Still great----as we all become small children again!<br />*Pictures all around---a couple of disappointed remarks---but that's what Christmas is all about, right?<br />*Blueberry muffins, omelets and hot chocolate----these are our traditional Christmas breakfast fare.<br />*Time to open presents----more pictures----a bit of a spat between me and the hubby. (long story...sigh)<br />*Time for the hubby and the kids to play games, put together mechanical toys, as I go to.......bed.........for a long winters nap. Aaaaaahhhhhh.....<br />*Get up, still in Christmas jammies, put in the ham----Clayton had put out more rolls----good. Cook the potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn. Go take a shower, and change.<br />*A Christmas feast. An amazing time with people you love the most....the best.<br />*Brinna leaves to visit friends----sorry to see her go.<br />*Dinner is done---we bring out the "Black Adder" DVD collection from Santa----to the family----and start watching.<br />*Next day---general cleanup for me----well, yeah----I'm still a Mom----and kids and hubby go to the mall. I wouldn't take a step out there the day after Christmas---no sirr--eee!<br />*Go to a movie with my oldest kids----"Nine"---not the best musical, but it makes me happy---and I ADORE Daniel Day Lewis!<br />*Sunday----our church Christmas program. (we were snowed out the Sunday before) I am a bit stressed as I am the choir director and wrote the program, but things go well.....ahhh, a sigh of relief from me.....<br />*We go home, have a delicious dinner----Pad Thai----home-made by Clayton, my chef. Delish!<br />*Brinna comes back and we prepare for one of our favorite things to do-----TAKE OUR FAMILY PICTURES! Ahhh---<a href="http://swaneesinger.blogspot.com/2009/01/do-i-have-amazing-family-or-what.html"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">remember last year?</span></span></a> (They were technically posted the beginning of this year---but who's counting?)<br />*Go to the Mill Building---where my theatre is---my hubby, Bret, gets his things set up---and we do what we do best---be hams! <br />Want to hire a great photographer? <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" ><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://bbsnaps.blogspot.com/">BBSNAPS.NET</a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">---(of course, you have to be in the New England area)</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />It began pretty normally....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AdqZQwkcjrddYsyMBuhFehGjOHyhof51kpCWncnG2xB07eSt5K-ORvQVjz0DalKMr4UY2FtIrhEPseTdi_92dFXhr_pr-iOMpO9bzOJ-ACp5rMGQZFPoFQGNy87zTJICSFu5EQ/s1600-h/DSC_0147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AdqZQwkcjrddYsyMBuhFehGjOHyhof51kpCWncnG2xB07eSt5K-ORvQVjz0DalKMr4UY2FtIrhEPseTdi_92dFXhr_pr-iOMpO9bzOJ-ACp5rMGQZFPoFQGNy87zTJICSFu5EQ/s400/DSC_0147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421256895169195522" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...then we mixed it up a bit.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfbL_gsNJCRU63hpd5ZRgvIwFy9lPMHWUZyNCadrkHj9nvnLfWH0AxQv1wSERjkhyo109KYpP_Oe7PBFh0AKq67gzqEU2izCGVEq5zivBgk_khyWtVgcfnT_6dye14xpd7R8nxA/s1600-h/DSC_0173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfbL_gsNJCRU63hpd5ZRgvIwFy9lPMHWUZyNCadrkHj9nvnLfWH0AxQv1wSERjkhyo109KYpP_Oe7PBFh0AKq67gzqEU2izCGVEq5zivBgk_khyWtVgcfnT_6dye14xpd7R8nxA/s400/DSC_0173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421255335704600930" border="0" /></a><br />Yep, we got just a bit more absurd.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidY3K6xCaKKS40fKB946f9IeqKTD79BAxXqSzs6B-g5v25eHJ6ndadu0aJAoyHLMSytbd7J0nYNmBfWq7MAMReyCNT9S-Aq0oenodr9BXMg-sJEmZIvsE7Ejr-ALXemNpd7pnJRA/s1600-h/DSC_0162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidY3K6xCaKKS40fKB946f9IeqKTD79BAxXqSzs6B-g5v25eHJ6ndadu0aJAoyHLMSytbd7J0nYNmBfWq7MAMReyCNT9S-Aq0oenodr9BXMg-sJEmZIvsE7Ejr-ALXemNpd7pnJRA/s400/DSC_0162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421256889731877938" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone in their own world---uh, huh---that's my family!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpGXODvd_U8XQJsoQS0xEf1QRADGfExeUQkb0-aKnQYg_audnVwO5RaLBZ_ApxDL7UhAxSHfZTaTlfrBzwgeR2vJPN8uiJtuLjZFcMN9bKSWYT3UqAoHrN58c2RftZQZoQoxcLg/s1600-h/DSC_0153.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpGXODvd_U8XQJsoQS0xEf1QRADGfExeUQkb0-aKnQYg_audnVwO5RaLBZ_ApxDL7UhAxSHfZTaTlfrBzwgeR2vJPN8uiJtuLjZFcMN9bKSWYT3UqAoHrN58c2RftZQZoQoxcLg/s400/DSC_0153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421256899920495826" border="0" /></a><br />Got the kids looking adorable....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlFhuB8SAV6AlRwf7CrUvNuI_Ljwoudh_5wpSxP68kByPdK0XmMcDDPSErSsKSJNhHVMH26UDM69i4Dh-xwRxjTg56nVfUx2rdtYvt59mbEvP-8e2wI9f3LEgmPmkNq2Q8Cm4bA/s1600-h/DSC_0188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlFhuB8SAV6AlRwf7CrUvNuI_Ljwoudh_5wpSxP68kByPdK0XmMcDDPSErSsKSJNhHVMH26UDM69i4Dh-xwRxjTg56nVfUx2rdtYvt59mbEvP-8e2wI9f3LEgmPmkNq2Q8Cm4bA/s400/DSC_0188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421256910708461186" border="0" /></a><br />....right before we let them go wild!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuvbiIVLmZs6VZVM2C2WSD2gk2fPqa5ZP3IeiQ6T4MnXKa6n8guSNydcKd_vT7LR0czfK-1LnuW-Sc5mslbEwtlYXtcTLScZ36OWm1jiug7yCvDanucpAF8tdUOa4T7ygq7fr-A/s1600-h/DSC_0192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuvbiIVLmZs6VZVM2C2WSD2gk2fPqa5ZP3IeiQ6T4MnXKa6n8guSNydcKd_vT7LR0czfK-1LnuW-Sc5mslbEwtlYXtcTLScZ36OWm1jiug7yCvDanucpAF8tdUOa4T7ygq7fr-A/s400/DSC_0192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421259242678086434" border="0" /></a><br />A big jump!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoNzSpE_bvRU1yz8dVGksFLzomb6Pl0Y-AVLsvtgMGyCNeZYA2vLdw60c9NG5WwTxzghWAYylB4N1-K0pjEFSnuoL9c696wH6-dx06xhZRBpYScwAkEdc2kYF1ZQ07dsjgyB0Qg/s1600-h/DSC_0208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoNzSpE_bvRU1yz8dVGksFLzomb6Pl0Y-AVLsvtgMGyCNeZYA2vLdw60c9NG5WwTxzghWAYylB4N1-K0pjEFSnuoL9c696wH6-dx06xhZRBpYScwAkEdc2kYF1ZQ07dsjgyB0Qg/s400/DSC_0208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421259232893731602" border="0" /></a><br />We took time to take a few of Bret and I---taken by my young son, Aydan.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCtzdBNjWk_BQsK7YIEn019mt0M3aqxwC1siuKSmPVUtcaWbLEy4_zbXCxV2T78BQoACQIBElC6oDsZt4O2ODr3UNs0zCTXayp_f7EWiKr5CkC5N60JLtQE-s64Olk2bwBeawUw/s1600-h/DSC_0235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCtzdBNjWk_BQsK7YIEn019mt0M3aqxwC1siuKSmPVUtcaWbLEy4_zbXCxV2T78BQoACQIBElC6oDsZt4O2ODr3UNs0zCTXayp_f7EWiKr5CkC5N60JLtQE-s64Olk2bwBeawUw/s400/DSC_0235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421259245014548466" border="0" /></a><br />Individual shots:<br />Beautiful Brinna.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCOZ555B2FUNti6CDexz7Buy0H6Ue2WS3hX3FY0iNv7tv_FOaW0hqJt4mlfup3SpOBdIlx4-ab9bPSyr3lBKQUHVHQSXdi6DoFvyxaGizcMdkPfZANhjHhXDJ5ImIbelpuqC5SQ/s1600-h/DSC_0259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCOZ555B2FUNti6CDexz7Buy0H6Ue2WS3hX3FY0iNv7tv_FOaW0hqJt4mlfup3SpOBdIlx4-ab9bPSyr3lBKQUHVHQSXdi6DoFvyxaGizcMdkPfZANhjHhXDJ5ImIbelpuqC5SQ/s400/DSC_0259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421260994894278498" border="0" /></a><br />Handsome Clayton.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMPBYABhWyIHS6liiX4s8Vy7E8Bo1m0eMzJvSX_KRpL8xMvMPjikurN-3Fd-tIrYkUw3gI-HSsXLYm-WXrSsqZLTmPhuwJz3HquMDIcZIqpR8j9HXR-gUBZPDVwj7y9gBMN68rg/s1600-h/DSC_0245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMPBYABhWyIHS6liiX4s8Vy7E8Bo1m0eMzJvSX_KRpL8xMvMPjikurN-3Fd-tIrYkUw3gI-HSsXLYm-WXrSsqZLTmPhuwJz3HquMDIcZIqpR8j9HXR-gUBZPDVwj7y9gBMN68rg/s400/DSC_0245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421260995716572274" border="0" /></a><br />My little minx, Maryn.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMlBdySkhXqsnUt3uaKiUmbk7sUnX9tRnxB9u-ASqUdrp5D62rkHXEK04DpQmoPW6USWm5WxJNvOtltSIxwxauDatqq8FMLDGpK6Jmsamvh_j0xP9Y_GwpQAuD9wjwC9y7D0mEg/s1600-h/DSC_0249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMlBdySkhXqsnUt3uaKiUmbk7sUnX9tRnxB9u-ASqUdrp5D62rkHXEK04DpQmoPW6USWm5WxJNvOtltSIxwxauDatqq8FMLDGpK6Jmsamvh_j0xP9Y_GwpQAuD9wjwC9y7D0mEg/s400/DSC_0249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421261001086647314" border="0" /></a><br />My little cutie guy, Aydan.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oaJsg7JL3rl4sN6Qdwtpw8LBkEfBfsRLmeEwVDoWk2AhA9BCPzLgGUOXlceD-cMJmJFxthK1GyDwk2mvPuLRWSG9dgBnh6NDEiT4WR0pN9UpvrXuNCOKQYaE6_wM9mT0lofg3g/s1600-h/DSC_0270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oaJsg7JL3rl4sN6Qdwtpw8LBkEfBfsRLmeEwVDoWk2AhA9BCPzLgGUOXlceD-cMJmJFxthK1GyDwk2mvPuLRWSG9dgBnh6NDEiT4WR0pN9UpvrXuNCOKQYaE6_wM9mT0lofg3g/s400/DSC_0270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421261008528780642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(Of course, we are missing part of the family, as my daughter, Hailey, her hubby Ben, and my G-babies live across the country----be sure to visit them <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:130%;" ><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.haileytracks.blogspot.com/">HERE</a></span>)<br /><br /><br /><br />What a way to end the year.....with my favorite people in all the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp0J7gvBuXTCXD5zBjLCHAEHauzmA1wSa7yvLVom4mrftE5UBS3YZgj4WTY3XBX7Lw7o9SKpu0pOADZjWY-Xmy4-uHYr8t9Qw81jqnUc-fyTVHAc1pRCOyt3RJhQ0okw-OlniDw/s1600-h/DSC_0143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp0J7gvBuXTCXD5zBjLCHAEHauzmA1wSa7yvLVom4mrftE5UBS3YZgj4WTY3XBX7Lw7o9SKpu0pOADZjWY-Xmy4-uHYr8t9Qw81jqnUc-fyTVHAc1pRCOyt3RJhQ0okw-OlniDw/s400/DSC_0143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421255324656808546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HAPPY NEW YEAR!</span></span><br /><br /><br /></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-29638646802830781902009-12-22T23:57:00.010-05:002009-12-24T01:13:57.725-05:00Christmas Traditions----Part Four And FiveOne of the favorite traditions in our family is to have a baking day on the third Saturday in December. Unfortunately, this year, I had to go to the recital of my son's voice teacher. Well----it wasn't unfortunate in that she has an amazing voice, but it was unfortunate that we had to put off the baking until the next day.<br /><br />The kids and I have always made several different types of cookies and goodies----and they have changed over the years. We used to make fudge, caramel popcorn, sugar cookies and divinity. Then----I ended up taking out the fudge, because no one would eat it, and when I married the hubby that I have now, I took out the caramel popcorn, as he doesn't like chewy, sticky treats. Then last year, I stopped making the divinity, as it was too sweet and even Aydan didn't eat it anymore. But, I still make the sugar cookies---only I make them with the 50% less sugar mix and use almond extract in them---with a butter cream frosting----so good! Of course, part of Christmas has to be the decorating of the sugar cookies----and the eating, of course....<br /><br />I also got a few ideas from bloggers----one from Rae over at <a href="http://eastcoastevansfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/making-list-checking-it-twice.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">My Life On The East Coast</span></a>. She had a great recipe for some Turtle type goodies----except that I don't like nuts, and decided to just make them without nuts. Aydan really got into making these----they were so easy to do----and I only had to help him flatten them after they had warmed up for 5 mi9nutes in the stove. They were super yummy and he gave a bag full of them to his bus driver! (Didn't get a picture of them.)<br /><br /><br />We also got a great idea for another delicious treat from super blogger, Tiburon, from <a href="http://utahtib.blogspot.com/2009/12/peppermint-bark-popcorn.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">Shark Bait</span></a>. She had a great recipe for Peppermint Bark Popcorn----and it sounded delish, so we gave it a try----with a bit of a twist! I used white chocolate instead of almond bark----and put the peppermint directly into the melted white chocolate----then drizzled it over the popcorn. Ohhhhh, how yummy it was! (Notice I say, "was", because its gone now....)<br />But definitely check out Tiburons recipe to get the real scoop on how to make this delicious treat!<br />I put this in bags and gave it out to friends when we went caroling this evening.....<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Here is the popcorn laid out with the chocolate drizzled on it....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXEmb4A1tq03qWcDmjwj2AAdwT4XyHqw_nW43C7AAJpZQKSmQ2hralbHScf8UHUfsmdOcWa553NYz9EjZIh1mrgR0VD6FEFxBJG6nUWdU1hAgy4omOUpWyFwxXHh4wcRBDXueCA/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXEmb4A1tq03qWcDmjwj2AAdwT4XyHqw_nW43C7AAJpZQKSmQ2hralbHScf8UHUfsmdOcWa553NYz9EjZIh1mrgR0VD6FEFxBJG6nUWdU1hAgy4omOUpWyFwxXHh4wcRBDXueCA/s400/027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418671704041931490" border="0" /></a><br />.....and....um.....did I mention that I made some delicious Pumpkin Pie Bars?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkR5T5ns6IhWFsKGZsTD2dIh-dxyCaG-d273_esjT_C0aRIqpcWdNSudxFMjM-GOvdELClbZh5nPLO1CyGFGc9lJPqRLmvXfCbLtpJd-dY5IF1XWaWIIBzOYDtetNgWSFjCqNfg/s1600-h/025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbkR5T5ns6IhWFsKGZsTD2dIh-dxyCaG-d273_esjT_C0aRIqpcWdNSudxFMjM-GOvdELClbZh5nPLO1CyGFGc9lJPqRLmvXfCbLtpJd-dY5IF1XWaWIIBzOYDtetNgWSFjCqNfg/s400/025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418671709185219810" border="0" /></a><br />Everything in ready for getting the cookies going.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3mzWcVyq7XDhB2qU2wBVUJRXPcVLTrpQeoMYJHyNUlG8VFwdtiBbEWnLn7bK__oXGD9TGq4_98-AAy_IO6IiciK32Qj1bY79RNKyQfcJNSkib3NO1undmdSiXzB1J-j_M3IhIQ/s1600-h/028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil3mzWcVyq7XDhB2qU2wBVUJRXPcVLTrpQeoMYJHyNUlG8VFwdtiBbEWnLn7bK__oXGD9TGq4_98-AAy_IO6IiciK32Qj1bY79RNKyQfcJNSkib3NO1undmdSiXzB1J-j_M3IhIQ/s400/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418671717018107842" border="0" /></a><br />Aydan is hard at work----and his shirt definitely shows it! (Note to self:<br />NEED to get aprons!)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNTZz0FPGlVjqMZEyEnB7srHsfK8lWtHgxdC4_W-dxWpWiDl5G9MDHjAi6zkaRMDC9twf5sfu5xF1XjxU0ibO9lbYj83ChRivPEfIVFrrQ1VKyMizxJ0crLWyeM6S2lF3Op35SQ/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNTZz0FPGlVjqMZEyEnB7srHsfK8lWtHgxdC4_W-dxWpWiDl5G9MDHjAi6zkaRMDC9twf5sfu5xF1XjxU0ibO9lbYj83ChRivPEfIVFrrQ1VKyMizxJ0crLWyeM6S2lF3Op35SQ/s400/031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418673141092443986" border="0" /></a><br />And success----just look at the chocolate smile!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCzr3vx6ibjA1DLIZ_WM0JEC4khL2Hy3Cr-1Hth2egTaTBGyHDal-5edP7XQMAiMiFYU6ohhmQclAHzYOW6H1wTzq1Wx-xFkuPgLeYgZLskRT8CfhfeChvbvIWnfh32oWxlwpWw/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCzr3vx6ibjA1DLIZ_WM0JEC4khL2Hy3Cr-1Hth2egTaTBGyHDal-5edP7XQMAiMiFYU6ohhmQclAHzYOW6H1wTzq1Wx-xFkuPgLeYgZLskRT8CfhfeChvbvIWnfh32oWxlwpWw/s400/030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418673136930120738" border="0" /></a><br />My daughter, Maryn, helped out with the decorating end of things<br />when she got into town the next day.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit3jGQPG4JD3LDB-Diik3yl4EBGAETfkeGF41LyCOb5997stVC2gEvtIKuL00UA6lt-E2fiPUJrURNeONEPM0QVhRY6k1MWJ3bwSPLLAXnc27YcpUV1O0Z813Ui0r1P_TMGQN-g/s1600-h/038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit3jGQPG4JD3LDB-Diik3yl4EBGAETfkeGF41LyCOb5997stVC2gEvtIKuL00UA6lt-E2fiPUJrURNeONEPM0QVhRY6k1MWJ3bwSPLLAXnc27YcpUV1O0Z813Ui0r1P_TMGQN-g/s400/038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418673145675918754" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are with my big head stuck in the frame---stylish hat on head----hey--its cold<br />outside! Love the look on Aydans face----and what the heck are you doing, Maryn?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGgm4b2zUf-iieHGFAiHlbhbc53gbb2gfORyyRTmgMRbrn1IfQkhyOSDggin0Z6ZwK4qtJV-o1xqfizLY2HKU2r1_THk6kheb16LxtkeOeBbEhf0Bu8QZnOaFRjf_JDHTBQrwyQ/s1600-h/039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGgm4b2zUf-iieHGFAiHlbhbc53gbb2gfORyyRTmgMRbrn1IfQkhyOSDggin0Z6ZwK4qtJV-o1xqfizLY2HKU2r1_THk6kheb16LxtkeOeBbEhf0Bu8QZnOaFRjf_JDHTBQrwyQ/s400/039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418673152664649074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />.....Which brings me to my fifth Christmas tradition! We always go caroling to our friends, some work mates and members of our church. I have been doing this tradition since my children were small, and they still love doing it! It is the highlight of our Christmas, and we usually go to about 15 or so homes, sharing a few carols and some fun harmonies, as well as lots of smiles and good cheer! (and a small bit of goodies) This is really our way of sharing our talents as well as our love for these people at Christmastime.<br /><br />I hope that you have all been able to do all the traditions that you are used to. I pray that during this festive time of year that there haven't been too many hardships, and that your lives are as blessed as mine. I love this time of year-----the goodness, the peace, worshiping Christ, and feeling the joy of family and good friends. It seems a time when people are trying to be congenial and pleasant, even though there is stress abounding.<br /><br />Its a time to reflect, and restore oneself---to prepare for the new year.<br /><br />May you all feel this perfect peace during your Holiday!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCxCY4o0nb2mZUal4Ykbwv_888IN2Tu2J7OAoUL-XX3iNnpXVVtXWFNQClSQTIYVZgaPTNPW6oIExw-lX4VwYSP71CEQz9Q8EAYBSQG__IABPIe-SBp5CtXBj6zz-sBLPFsHpUw/s1600-h/Father+Christmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlCxCY4o0nb2mZUal4Ykbwv_888IN2Tu2J7OAoUL-XX3iNnpXVVtXWFNQClSQTIYVZgaPTNPW6oIExw-lX4VwYSP71CEQz9Q8EAYBSQG__IABPIe-SBp5CtXBj6zz-sBLPFsHpUw/s400/Father+Christmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418681711146662706" border="0" /></a></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17833142.post-33556341254988046182009-12-18T22:38:00.012-05:002009-12-19T00:38:26.040-05:00Fabulous Find For A Friday-----Two Talented SonsThis past week, I was able to go and experience both of my sons' different activities. First----was Aydan. He started taking Karate about a month ago, and really takes it seriously. He is a smallish boy, so we wanted to give him something to do to give him confidence and lets face it-----it helps with agility and muscle buildup, etc. Its all good. <br /><br />The guy who owns the place and teaches is really a neat, easygoing man. He goofs around with the students, and speaks in different dialects, so Aydan feels at home---- and he is enjoying himself!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVCAn8Uw_Wb6rTj8KmmU_utQcXxBjC-BDG3AjCqlxi0vioXdeMXg0otG5nh1Brif_MmGiGtpb3HdI' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> </div><br />After Aydans class, we went into Boston to see my other son, Claytons' voice recital at his University. He is a senior, and is working up to a Music Education Degree----and his voice is MAH-VE-LOUS!! (Ok, so I admit that he was forced to take voice from me when he was growing up, so I am a bit biased...)<br /><br />He did some classical songs---not his Broadway numbers, so that was great for me-----as he has a great classical voice. And yes, I am his BIGGEST FAN! He and I have very similar voices---matching vibratos and all----and had also been lucky enough to sing together the day before in church. It was a treat!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwVswCSM3UtqqRRaSugNZbAq9GQc9GA0OERAz8wQgiT4NnVQVaHuW-WdVVm6pMhDTqHs6pFgLzCfrI' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">All in all.....a great week for me. I am so lucky to have such fantastic boys---they are truly super----and if you can't tell----I love them alot!<br /></div></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04305357810894657905noreply@blogger.com18