fourteen years

Fourteen years ago today, I married my Ronboy. And oh how I love him so...

Boo's Bunting

To What's Been & What Will Be

I am hearing an awful lot of squawking about what a crappy year 2010 was for people. Yes, the economy sucked... no doubt sales were down for many. Yes, there was extreme weather all over the world... blizzards, monsoons, and earthquakes of plenty. Yes, a lot of snooty celebrities let us down with their piss poor personal behavior. It isn't 2010's fault, though!! You can always find some awesome-ness in a year, right? And can't one good thing cancel out a dozen bad? I think so.

Tonight, as I raise a glass to toast the coming year, I will be celebrating the passing of what was a pretty amazing 12 months...

January - I realized the importance of tending a creative flame.
February - Brought to my door the results of nearly a year and a half of work.
March - Had me feeling like a grown up beader/professional teacher type when I started creating kits.
April - We spent time in a wonderland like no other.
May - Took risks and dreamed bigger than I ever had before.
June - Shared with you where we spend our days and oh how my alter ego loved that!
July - Had a conversation with the month in hopes it would meet me on some common ground.
August - Reminded me that you can never jump off a dock too many times.
September - I absolutely loved sharing my passion with amazing people.
October - Found me overseas for an adventure of a lifetime.
November - I thought hard about the things I need to remember to tell him.
December - Had me making the choice to invest in a dream and connect to life with my whole heart.

I can't help but wonder what wonderful moments the new year will bring. But for just a few more hours, I plan to revel and be thankful for the blessings that this year gave me. See you soon... on the other side.

Counting Christmas Eve Blessings

I can hardly believe today is Christmas Eve! It seems like just yesterday I was making a million beads to head out to BeadFest. I remember quite vividly a phone conversation in August with my good friend Cindy where I said "before we know it, it will be January". I am so happy I decided to slow things down recently. January isn't here quite yet and although things are still moving fast, it isn't an overwhelming pace. All my Momma-made goodies are under the tree, and I was even able to work up a few extra things for some last minute guests that will be sharing dinner with us. Our evenings have passed playing family games together and watching Christmas movies. It has really just plain ROCKED! Christmas spirit is everywhere!

The other day, while I was helping with wrapping Santa's load of goodies, my mind just kept thinking the word blessed over and over. We are so blessed to have our health, while some of our close family members have been given difficult diagnoses recently. We are blessed to have each other close. We are blessed to be able to provide such a wonderful Christmas for our children each year. My own blessings are too numerous to mention. But I will say, one of those blessings is pretty freaking exciting, and I can't wait to share it with you in the new year.

Gosh, thinking about what an amazing year this has been, I can't imagine what more I could ask for. Nothing really. Except this...

I wish each and everyone of you a wonderful holiday and incredible new year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Thanks & Giving

Holiday Weekend Fun

We have had a rather delightful weekend around these parts. Ron had an extra long four day holiday weekend that extended through Tuesday. The heat is being oppressive (as it is all over the country, right) but we have kept busy and cool. On the 4th, we spent a few hours in the creek at Webster Park. On the 5th we rented movies and stayed inside with just short bursts out in the backyard to pick garden goodies and mowing the yard. Yesterday was my favorite though, we hung out all day in my studio!! Ron was finally ready to finish tackling the metalsmithing desk he started back in January. It couldn't come at a better time, but more on that another day. Not only did we do all of this, but I was also able to make beads and finish three more samples to pitch my second book. I couldn't be more excited.

Along the way, through the weekend, I have had my camera at my side for the Picture Summer project. (Today is the last day to sign up!!) I am love love loving the daily email prompts, the classroom discussions, the feedback from fellow students, and how I am getting to know my camera better. I am going to have fun on August 1st making a mosaic of the month!!

How did you spend your holiday weekend? And what are you doing to stay cool?

Picturing Summer

July 1st marked the start of Picture Summer on Big Picture Scrapbooking with Tracey Clark. Already I am really enjoying this!! We gearing up for a hot hot holiday weekend here. I hope you find ways to stay cool and celebrate. See you later in the week.

Biking & Berries ~ Random Mondays

:: That's what I call a full weekend. Cleaning Friday, Lacrosse tournament Saturday, Baseball game Saturday, Father's Day bike ride with Dad on Saturday, family picnic on Saturday, plus company for the US Open Golf on Saturday evening, (my stars!), Father's Day berry picking and celebrating on Sunday!!
:: I keep getting the hiccups, yesterday and today.
:: Just two days of school left!! Time to plan some fun summer activities.
:: Hubby just came by my desk to give me a kiss :X (made me lose me train of thought! LOL)
:: Really really hopeful that things will be happening this week with my "secret project".
:: Gonna whip up some "Urban Ornaments" (a la my friend Cindy Wimmer in Easy Wire) for the kids' teachers. It's a great, last-minute project.
:: OH MY... it is serious berry season around here. We have cherries, and strawberries, and blueberries... Lauren is so excited to make jam with me this week!!
:: I finished knitting my Featherweight Cardigan, photos to come.
:: Did I tell you those top photos are from a bike ride with my Dad and sister? We rode the trail along the Erie Canal from Fairport to Pittsford NY.
:: Must find a good local swimming hole for the kids. Apparently there is a private pool on our street! But it costs $1300 to join and $550 a year to use. That is just crazy.
:: I love having all the windows in my house wide open.
:: is tomorrow really the last day of school?
:: OMG... go make this right now, in a blender: add a hand full of blueberries fresh from the garden, 5 strawberries picked by kids, 5 sweet cherries from the highest branch, some Simply Orange with Mango juice, and a few ice cubes... best breakfast drink ever. No sugar added.
:: I had a HUGE glass order come in on Friday, I can't wait to show you all the colorful goodness in that box.
:: Here's to the official start of Summer.



As always, I invite you to orangize your random thoughts for the week in my comment section. Happy Random Monday.

Randoms in Bloom

Random shots from life this weekend. There is flowers, fun, and food in bloom. I hope you all are enjoying your holiday weekend as much as we are!

Party Snippets

She Is Seven

Oh how long she has waited to finally be seven!! This birthday, by far, has taken the longest to get here, for her. LOL. We have a game we play as a family called "Whoonu" (it is a Cranium game!), and who-goes-first is decided by which birthday comes next. Since her last birthday, she has had to wait through Daddy's birthday, Pappy's birthday, Andrew's birthday, Gee's birthday, Jacob's birthday, and Momma's birthday before it was her turn to go first. You can see why it felt like it was taking forever.



I wanted to put together a list of things about Lauren at seven that I don't want to forget. I thought I would share them with you.

*Current nicknames are: Missy Do, Bugaboo, Miss Rotten, and LaurenAnnie
*She can read up a storm. There isn't a word she can't decode. Her favorite book today is One Fish Two Fish, by Dr. Suess.
*She is a professional dillydaddiler, she can make molasses look fast.
*Lauren loves to sing and every song she makes up uses the word love.
*She gives the biggest kisses on my cheeks and forehead. Almost too many, lol, Daddy could get jealous.
*She likes to sleep on the floor in my room when she is sick.
*Definitely a night owl, and not a morning person.
*Current Best Friends are: Ryan, Samantha, Sophia, and Bryanie
*She still lets me twirl her when she walks down aisles.
*She has been riding a two wheeler for years now, but still isn't confident about swimming.
*She loves Jacob more than anyone else in the house.
*My Dad likes to tell her she has a million dollar smile and a twenty-nine cent frown. That makes her smile.
*Lauren knows her mind and can be very very ornery, especially in the morning.
*She still insists she will be a bike maker and artist when she grows up. And when she is done with that, she will teach 1st grade.



I could go on and on, I love her so much. I will just say... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO!!!

Valentines

lots of love... kerry

Christmas Vacation Is About - Day 6

... working on big Social Studies projects. (Thank heavens my Mom saved the family tree I created in 1995!)

Christmas Vacation Is About - Day 5

... staying up too late on New Year's Eve and having a cranky afternoon the next day. LOL...


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! I can't wait to see what is in store for 2010... should be a fun ride.