I wanna be a helicopter pilot!

My goodness, its hard to believe that its been three weeks
since I last blogged. Or three weeks already since my
Bailey has been gone. Chris, Jaimee and Dane were here.
Bev and Art have come and gone home. Things are
kind of getting back to "normal". Last weekend while
everyone was here, we had a cookout. It was the hottest
weekend we had yet this summer, air so thick you needed
gills to breathe. I think the down south and out west
bunch brought the heat here to us. Thanks guys.
Take it back...Anyway on Sunday Amiee and Eric came
back to visit with Bev at my house. Eric is a helicopter pilot,
that's his business. So they flew the chopper down.
It was so cool!

Over the tree tops. Yes, our yard is big enough to land in.

Bev is there videoing it. We are such goofy geeks for stuff

like that. But hey, how many people land in your front yard?

Aimee's job is to jump out and keep anyone from running

toward the blades. That's self explanatory.....

Takes Eric a minute to shut everything down.
That's little Baylor, Eric's son. He's a funny young man

once you get him going.

We had a fun day and they left just ahead of some big

storms that were coming across the lake.

So this weekend is the Michigan Fiber Festival. I'm meeting

my nephew Ray and his family and we are gonna go look

at the critters and whatever else we can find.

Suppose to be another hot weekend. I really preferred the

cool summer we were having earlier. But I'll be taking

pictures and putting them up tomorrow. I plan on having

a great time!

My first Cheerio or how I make Aunt Rosanne Laugh

I am waiting so impatiently for this week to get

over. It was definitely not one of my better ones.

But my sister Beverly (NoEasyBeads) and her

husband Art will be here tomorrow...yahoo.

Later on in the week my brother Chris and his

wife Jaimee and baby Dane will be here too...

double yahoo! I am really looking forward to seeing

everyone. We are gonna cookout and enjoy the

Blueberry Festival that's going on next week. If

that don't cheer me up a bit, nothing will. Well,

these pictures below have definitely made me

laugh when I felt like crying. Nothing like the

Danish to make you laugh. Enjoy!

What's this? A cheerio? Looks like kibble out

of Terra's Bowl. A special treat for me?

You want me to do what? Eat it...you're

joking right?

If it was any smaller I might not be able to pick it

up at all.

All righty than, its in my mouth. Now what do I do?

I'm really not too sure about this. Its dry and hard,

sheesh, I have two bottom teeth, how am I suppose
to crunch this up?

Guess I have to gum it to goo.

You're kidding right? Bring on the mashed bananas,

something I can really get into. I could starve here.

Listen Mom and Pop, I am seriously not here for

your entertainment. But if it made Aunt Rosanne

laugh than I guess its ok.

Its the 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! Today's a day for parades and
families. Fireworks and cookouts. Cold beer ...yum!
It's warming up nicely around here with just a chance of
rain (between you and me, it looks like a good chance.)
Geary and I are going to a party on Donovan Lake.
A friend of ours plays in a band and we are gonna go and
hear him play. Everyone else is up north at the lake,
boating and watching fireworks. I love these holiday
weekends.

Here's my display of fireworks. Heather and I had a little
clay play day. These are hot out of the oven and not quite
finished. Need some sanding and antiquing. But they are
gonna be nice when I'm done. In the next picture is a little
present from Heather, she was busy "hatching" eggs...lol!
Can you "spot" it? Ok, enough of the innuendos.

Next week we are playing with metals and etching.
We have bezels for resin. Heather found old books and I
have paper, stamps and ink. Wahoo....its gonna be great.
For next weekend we are planning on going to the
Renaissance Faire at Battle Creek. The theme for the
weekend is Believe the Magic, but darn, we don't have our
Faerie wings made! So we'll have to look like the regular
visitors. I have this idea for a costume that I would really
love to make and wear one of these days. I see it very clearly
in my mind. We'll take lots of pictures for sure. Its gonna be
fun.

Getting Back to "Normal"

We finally made it home just before midnight. Followed

behind some big storms and had to wait out some delays

at the airport.

Those were the best four days I've had in a long time. My

nephew is the sweetest and we bonded in no time flat. Little

guy had cut two teeth while we were there the first day...

He had some congestion too. But he's not the fussy baby.

I got to know my sister better too. The one and only time

I had met her was on her wedding day and I think she was

a little stressed...lol! We played cards and drank our wine

and laughed a lot.

So today I'm playing catch up. Lots of orders came in at the

shop, thank God for that! So I'm off to try and get back to

normal....

We're here!

We are here in Phoenix! The weather is a bit
warmer than I'm used to, 105 degrees. Word is
that its gonna be cooler today, only 95! I'm glad
I packed my summer stuff.
We've been playing with the little one. He's the
sweetest of baby boys. Terra the dog is happy to
see us too. Babies and dogs, my kind of vacation!
My brother even fixed us breakfast this morning.
My taking pictures for later. See ya!

Head West Young Lady!

In approximately 24 hours while all the bead shoppers

are heading east to Milwaukee, Mom and I will be in a

plane landing in Arizona. Bailey is going to my sister's,

Geary is gonna be home and enjoying the peace and quiet.

I can't wait to see my brother and sister and hold the little

pooter...I've been going easy on my back this week so it will

let me alone. Cause I want to carry him everywhere!

Every time I think about seeing Dane, I get all squishy

inside. That four days will just fly by. My brother told me

I will be boiling when I get there...isn't that what air is for?

Turn it down for me boy!

Would you Like to Swing on a Star?

Would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a mule?

A mule is an animal with long funny ears
Kicks up at anything he hears
His back is brawny and his brain is weak
He's just plain stupid with a stubborn streak
And by the way, if you hate to go to school
You may grow up to be a mule

Or would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a pig?

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
He ain't got no manners when he eats his food
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude
But if you don't care a feather or a fig
You may grow up to be a pig

Or would you like to swing on a star
Carry moonbeams home in a jar
And be better off than you are
Or would you rather be a fish?

A fish won't do anything, but swim in a brook
He can't write his name or read a book
And to fool the people is his only thought
And though he's slippery, he still gets caught
But then if that sort of life is what you wish
You may grow up to be a fish

And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo
Every day you meet quite a few
So you see it's all up to you
You can be better than you are
You could be swingin' on a star

No I'd just like to be Baby Joselyn swinging
on a swing! She's the sweetest...

A Wonderful Day for a Party Indeed!

Southview Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1896 and still
owned by the same family. Its for sale now though, too
much for an older couple to take care of.

The beautiful kitchen we worked in. Look at that replica
old stove. Novella's kitchen is as big as my house. Ok, not
quite that big, but it seemed like it.

View from the kitchen doors. Looking south of course!

Novella (left) she owns the B and B, sister Sue (right)

Kayla the graduate, ready to party.

My favorite girls. Alley Kat (Allison, on bottom)
Baby J (Joselyn) sitting on her lap. The weather was perfect
and the kids played outside all day. Running around like
only children can do.

Lots of food and a beautiful cake with the school colors.

Gathered around watching Listening to Kayla read her

cards and opening her presents. A college dictionary,

a silver and turquoise cross, a LAPTOP!, and a portable

DVD player. And lots of cash of course.

The rain stayed away and the sun shone all day.

Thank you Heavenly Father for hearing our prayers!

Congratulations Kayla!

Last night was Graduation night for my neice Kayla.

Class motto: "What lies behind us and what lies before us

are tiny matters compared to what lies within us"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was the largest class they ever had graduate from the

school...88, not big by any means. But they are a very

talented and artistic group of young adults. Most were

headed on the college...one was accepted at Princeton.

Sue, Kayla and Kevin. (Her parents)

Another young adult ready to face the world, hoping to make

a change. Good luck!

Grandma's coming with who?

Did I hear that Grandma's coming next week
to see me again?

But who's that other person that's coming too?
Who's Aunt Rosanne?

Shall I dazzle her with my smile?

But what if she wants to kiss me and
squeeze me..oh no!

She'll see how big and strong I am...

And what a little angel I can be. I can't wait till they get here!

Well shut my mouth, PEEPS!

What do you give the girl that has everything for Christmas?

You give her plush peeps. I love Peeps, I wait for Easter to come

because I know I get to treat myself to those pure sugar confections.

Its like eating sugar from the sugar bowl. Sometimes my Momma

buys them for me, isn't she special? I only buy one box, honestly.

My friend Tammi gave them to me, Bev pointed them out to her

on a shopping trip. Thanks Tammi...that's so SWEET. I also got

2 very cool pairs of fingerless mitts that Bev made me,and she gave

me a bead mat that folds up to hold your seed bead projects.

Beads from Heather...yummy. A digital picture frame from

Hubby that I have been begging for...everybody gave him

suggestions and this was one year he really listened!

Geary has this thing about not giving me something that I

might know about. An apple pie from Amiee.

A candle from Jerusalem that my mom got me.

AND I've had lots of time to spend with my family.

Beverly heads back to New Orleans today. Its sad, but I know it

won't be long and we will all be sailing the Seven Seas on the

Bead Cruise. We made a trip to the bead store yesterday and all

made a bracelet when we got back. Its fun to sit and bead with the

whole family. Amiee made her first bracelet ever and Heather was

finessing her Ndebele techniques.

I'll take more pictures later for show and tell.

The Bead Star winner is coming...

The Bead Star winner is coming!

Bought my magazine yesterday.

Won't be long and Heather (a winner)

and family will be starting out for the

Great White Frozen Tundra. I love

this time of year. All of the family

hanging out and doing stuff. We're

all having a sleep over one night in

GR. Movies to watch, Wall E, Kung Fu Panda,

and Return to Narnia...We're all big kids at heart

around here. Ornaments to make.

I got some patterns for elf shoe ornaments,

gingerbread people and Bev got some

ornament kits too. Sledding and skating...

none of which I'm participating in.

We'll put together jigsaw puzzles.

A trip to the bead store is planned.

Card games to play.

I'm feeling the Christmas love, now if the

weather would just cooperate it would

be perfect. Its looking like a white

Christmas for sure.

Found Treasures

I did what I said I wasn't gonna do...bought more rummage stuff

again this year. Can't help it, the rummage hunter is in me. But

who could resist this owl basket? Not me! Had to have it.

Fits in good with all my Fall/Halloween stuff. The rummage sale

was a huge success again this fall. In one and a half days we raised

over $3000.00! The Lord DOES work in mysterious ways,

the rummage sale is proof of that. I was totally exhausted,

but not so tired I couldn't walk the Chapel Hill Craft show on

Saturday.....

Huge crowds of people. Four Fair barns full of high quality crafts,

all handmade and ripe for the picking... If you could get close enough

in the booths. I managed a few purchases...just little ones. You can

see more pics on my Flickr page if your interested. Even the kettle corn

tent had a line of about 20 people waiting to buy a bag. Our plan

of attack was to walk down the middle of the isle and scope both sides out.

Then if we found something that caught our eye we would jump right in.

I got my mixes for dips, those things are so good!

My sister Sue and niece Kayla. First time for this show and I think

it won't be their last! Even my Mom made it through. She had this

seat/carry thingy, that she could sit on whenever she got tired.

It stored our purchases in the bottom too. Real handy piece of

equipment. We all say "thanks, Bev" for that.

After the crafts, we stopped at our favorite pumpkin place and bought

our pumpkins and gourds. She sells the coolest pumpkins, not your

regular tall orange, but these fairytale ones. They look like something

Cinderella used to make her carriage. That's my Mom and her sister

Marie hiding in the shadows.

They even have these huge ones for sale, anywhere from $75 to

$200 per pumpkin. I'm talking BIG, HUGH, MONSTROUS things!

This is what I do with mine. A little vignette of pumpkins and

gourds. I like to stack them (it's not my idea...I have to give

credit to Martha Stewart for that one). Oh and that metal egg basket

I picked up at the rummage sale too. Another treasure.....sigh!

Taste of Autumn

Its beginning to feel a bit like fall around here. Bailey and I have been
collecting acorns and acorn tops that have fallen from the oak trees.
I love to make the felted balls and add the tops. Looks great in an old
wooden bowl. Lots of things going on around here. Allegan CountyFair
started this week, my FAVORITE thing to go to, all that good old
greasy fair food! Yummo! Walking around the animal barns,
watching the idiots ride those crazy rides. Geary always wins me a
stuffed animal, isn't that sweet?
He really loves when they have the guy in the dunk tank and you
buy the balls to knock him off his perch. Geary has had white hair
since he turned 45 (he's a tad bit older than that now :),
so they always call him an old man, until he throws the balls...
that guy can hit his mark! The guys in the tank get really pissed,
sometimes Geary doesn't even let them get settled back
on before he knocks them off again! Don't call my man "Old"...lol!
Saturday is my bead shopping day...Rings and Things is having
their Fall Sale in Grand Rapids. That is one of my favorite
bead shopping trips. I'm gonna take my "shopping assistant"
Kayla with me. Maybe we'll stop by the lake and see
Aimee and Eric.
Speaking of my family...Bev and Arte spent the week here
while Gustav was having his way with the Louisiana coast.
They went back Saturday, just in time to wait and see what
Ike is gonna do. It's very stressful to have to wait on the weather
like that.
Last, but certainly not least, I'm planning my Third Annual Tailgate Party.
All my family and friends are invited, they bring their own chairs and a
dish to pass. I'm supplying the pulled pork sandwiches. Lots of hearty
fall food and fun times. We play cards and if the weather is permitting,
we are going to Fennville to Crane's Orchards and do the corn maze. Or
just eat apple pie!
No, there's no football at this tailgate party! Everything but. Just a good
fun time.

Three Generations

Last night we all got together and went to Amiee's wedding shower.
I'm not a good photographer, but I really liked the way this picture

turned out. I didn't plan it to be this way. In the background is my

sister Beverly, next to her is her daughter Heather and in the front is

Hannah (Heather's daughter). Three generations of girls.

The future bride to be. Isn't she just a beautiful young

lady?