4th of July - Who will you honor?

As we approach our holiday weekend and look forward to celebrating the fourth of July/Independence Day, my mind has been focused on gratitude for those who have served our great country. I am humbled by the dedication, sacrifice, and courage of the men and women who dedicate their lives for a greater cause.

One such serviceman is my father-in-law, Dave. In 1968 he was honored with the "Marine Aviator of the Year" award and was invited to be a guest on the Ed Sullivan Show. I just love this photo of Doug's mom and dad with Ed Sullivan. And it's funny to see so few medals on his chest - this was early in his career and many more medals and honors would be bestowed on him later.

I also have an uncle (my mom's youngest brother) who served in the Vietnam war. How about you? Do you have any family members and/or close friends who have served their country? How will you remember and honor them this holiday weekend?

♥ ♥ ♥

A first time, and a giveaway

Hey blog friends, guess what?

I sponsored a blog this month.

:o)

I met Lori of ChicGeek Designs at the blog convention we both attended this past April and there was an instant connection. It was fun hanging out with her for the weekend, and it has been really fun getting to know her better through her blog.

Today she's featuring her blog sponsors (yes, I'm one of them!) and I think you should just pop on over and have a look. I'm hosting a little summer giveaway and you can enter to win while you're there.

♥

Homework, a little friend, and a mini-book.

One of the {many} perks of being me is that I have friends of all ages.

♥

This week's assignment theme for the photography class I'm taking is babies and/or kids. Fortunately for me, my 7-year old friend, Molly loves to have her picture taken.

Turns out that this past weekend Molly was practicing gymnastics so I met her and her parents at the gym. She's such a cute and sweet little thing. I talked to her before practice and told her to pretend I wasn't there...just ignore my camera and me. She did well with that, but there were definitely times when she couldn't help herself and looked my way with that cute dimpled face smile.

Sunday afternoon I spent a little time in my craft room creating a little something for Molly as a way to thank her for helping with my homework assignment. I made a little mini-book using name badge sleeves for protective covers for the 4"x3" photos I'd printed.

My journaling strips were done in Microsoft Word. {I created a one-cell-table, shaded it black and then added text making the font white. Printed, cut in strips...easy...}

I had to punch a few extra holes at the top of the name badge sleeves, then I held the little mini-book together with some ribbon strips. Here's the back cover/page:

Only little downside on using the name badge sleeves is the company logo printed on one side {you can see it in the photo above}. I went with it anyway because it made a sturdy little mini-book, just perfect for 7-year old hands to hold and look at for a while.

Dream big, my little friend.

Dream big.

♥

Pass the book ~ and the winner is...

 It's time to Pass the Book.
Drum roll please...

Hey! That's Jo C!

:o)

Congratulations, Jo!
Please send your mailing information to

paperturtle {at} cox {dot} net

and I'll put your prize book in the mail for you.

♥

Arizona heat ~ car s'mores

It's hot in Arizona right now.
Yesterday our temp reached 112°
(that's 44 C to some of you...)

We've made s'mores like this before - stack 'em, wrap 'em, throw them on the side of the grill when we barbecue (or bake them in a hot oven).

But during the summer months my goal is to use the oven as little as possible to avoid heating up the house. So when I saw an idea for car-baked-s'mores here, I was on it!

Hard to tell by this photo, but yes, these are sitting in the front seat of my car.
Fast forward about an hour and...

Yummy.
Melt-y.
Goodness.
♥

The craft that should have popped...

...but flopped instead.

My sister would tell you that anything I touch that's crafty turns to gold.
I beg to differ, Sister Dear.
Case in point:

I love bubbles! I take them camping, picnic-ing, concert going...

I love them.

So when saw this cute idea for bubble wands,

I went straight to my bead stash and whipped up a few...

Ooooh! I was so excited the whole time I was stringing these beads and twisting this wire. I didn't even stop to take photos of the process, thinking to myself, "If these work like I think they will...this is going to be a great blog post!"  eh-hm. Nope. 

I had some bubble solution on hand that I tried first, but the bubble wands did not work...at all. I don't know if the bubble solution wasn't thick enough, or if the wire on the wand was just too thin. I ended up trying dish washing soap and did get a few bubbles {FINALLY! A photo of bubbles coming out of the wand...} but still not enough to want to rush back to the craft room and make beaded bubble wands for all my friends. ~sigh~

♥

So, now I'm on a mission to find an awesome bubble recipe.
Anyone have any recommendations for homemade bubbles?

And/or bubble wands?

Just a quote for Friday

"Let's start with what we can be thankful for,
and get our mind into that vibration,
and then watch the good that starts to come,
because one thought leads to another thought."

~ Bob Proctor

Self Portriat with Whiskers

{eh-hm. Whiskers the CAT, that is...}

♥

If you know me, you know I love my kitty cats.

I'm not a crazy old cat lady {yet} with 50+ cats...

I'm easing into that with the two that live with us now.

So, I went and enrolled myself in an online photography class with Cheryl Johnson and our first assignment was to take a self portrait. I set my camera on my tripod and was back and forth checking the shots when my cat, Whiskers jumped up on the table behind me. This is the last of many shots I took, but one where my smile was the most genuine.

Isn't is awesome how pets can bring out the best in us?
>^..^<

♥

Pass the Book Day!

Hello blog friends! It seems that today is Pass the Book day all around the globe. :o) {more on that at the end of this post...} A couple months ago I was the lucky recipient of Sian's Pass the Book. I have looked at this book over and over and over again! Want a chance to borrow it? Here's what I've got to pass along:

Expressive Photography, The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart

This book came to me at such a perfect time. I have been playing with my camera and trying new techniques and this book was the perfect helpful tool to inspire and push me into thinking about how I take my photos.

There are chapters on horizons, portraiture, nature, spaces, childhood, stillness, documentary, creatures, table, and togetherness. And each of these chapters are broken down into sections on approach, perspective, composition, lighting, details and processing.

All that wonderful information, AND and ton of gorgeous images to enjoy over and over and over...

Dear Santa,

I want my own copy of this book for Christmas.

Love, Deb

Want a chance to borrow this book for a while? If so, please leave a comment and I will draw a winner on Monday, June 27. By asking for this book, you agree to borrow it and then pass it along...right?

I highly recommend that you visit/follow The Shutter Sisters blog for a daily dose of photo inspiration and helpful tips.

Oh...one more thing! Remember that I mentioned it's Pass the Book day around the globe? Sian is offering up a new edition on her blog today, and my friend Beverly is offering up her book that's already been passed. You'll want to put your name in those draws as well!

Peace out!
{and good luck}

xo

I'm puzzled {in a good way!}

♥

The time has come to call my birthday puzzle complete and take it off the wall. I ended up receiving 87 pieces of the 96 that Carrie sent out, which I think is really good. I LOVED every part of this birthday present that my sweet girl put together for me! I could go on and on and on about it... 

How about I just give you a little summary? ;o)

It was so much fun receiving mail every day during the month of May {and into June}! And the mail came from all over the world. There were a total of 12 pieces that came from my blog friends - England, Ireland, and even Australia! I wonder if I will ever cease to be amazed by the wonderful friendships I have formed through this blog. There were so many sweet notes written, amazing little pieces of artwork, stories, and photos.

My nieces and nephews were involved - from the oldest {22} who wrote a note in Chinese, to the youngest {2} who colored with crayons around the photo his mommy attached to the back of the puzzle piece. My 14-year old nephew {Tyler} signed his piece with "T-bug" ~ a nickname I gave him when he was a baby, and one that only I am allowed to call him.  :o) 

There were many surprises in the mail, and I was amazed that Carrie had contacted so many people without me knowing! There were cousins, aunts and uncles, siblings, in-laws, co-workers {former and current}, scrapbook friends, friends from high school - people I hadn't heard from in years. Some pieces held a simple "Happy Birthday" note, while others had fun memories we'd shared. Every single piece is priceless to me!

I am so grateful to Carrie for organizing this birthday gift for me! The hours and the postage and the love she put into it mean the world to me, and I just couldn't be more proud of her for doing it.

Perhaps my Uncle Wes said it best with his puzzle piece poem:

As nieces go
you have no equal,

But with daughter, Carrie
you have a sequel.

:o) ♥

The Dads in my life...

This Father's Day I decided to do a little tribute
to four of the most amazing dads I know.

The first two are my brothers, Ron and Tim. I could go on and on and on about how what amazing men these guys are. They are kind and funny and talented, each of them. Add those attributes to their amazing parenting skills and you have two of the best dads I know.  ♥ ♥

And then there's my Douglas. An amazing husband and such a wonderful father figure to my daughter, Carrie. I love that she can count on him, that he teaches her things like how to check her car oil and unclog her own bathtub drain. I love that she can call on him and he'll come running - no matter what the situation is. I love that in conversation he refers to her as "our" daughter. And when Carrie refers to the two of us it's my "parents" rather than "mom and step-dad." We are very lucky girls to have him in our lives!  ♥

And last, but certainly not least, is my own step-father, Rod. This is a man of strong morals and integrity, one who is unfailing in his love for my mother and all of her children and grandchildren that he took on some 18 years ago. I can't imagine our lives without him, or his life without us for that matter. He is a rock and a softy, all rolled into one, and we love him for that!  ♥

Today we'll celebrate Father's Day with my amazing father-in-law, Dave and the rest of Doug's family. What are you doing to celebrate the amazing dads in your life?

♥

Wilderness art

As we sat in the shade at camp last weekend, I watched in amazement as my brother-in-law, Don whittled away at some juniper sticks.

I was amazed at his skill and told him so, but he laughed saying that it was nothing. I disagreed and asked if I could take pictures of his work in progress. No...he didn't want that. But I'll always have that image in my mind of his seasoned hands skillfully crafting this little elk with nothing more than a pocket knife and a vision.

And when he was done, he gave me this little piece as a sentimental keepsake from what used to be our northern property.

At the end of this month someone else will own and enjoy this property in Young, Arizona. Yes, last weekend's camping trip was our final stay on this land. I suppose it's a bit silly to be too sad about letting go of a place that served its purpose so well for Doug and I, and all of our friends and family who have enjoyed spending time there. We rejoiced {through tears and laughter} last weekend, feeling so grateful for our time there, and so happy for the new owners who will create their own fun and memories on this dirt.

Lots of ♥'s.

Just a quote for Friday.

"All the art of living lies in a fine mingling

of letting go and holding on."

~ Havelock Ellis

Come camping with us...

:o)

By the end of this week you'll feel like you've been camping with us.

Lucky you!

 The juniper trees are covered with berries this time of year.

 View of the valley on the back side of our property.

View of my camp-chair side table. Iced tea in a mason jar,
wrapped with a koozie knitted by my friend, Judy.
And a little bottle of bubbles.

To get a sense of how large these boulders are, look
for my little friend Molly under the center rock.

 Friend's tents scattered around the property.

Sliders cooked on the large grill that our friend Steve welded for us.
There were fire restrictions last weekend so everything was cooked on this grill.
{Thanks, Steve!}

Our friends Dave and Sophia rocked these sliders for us!
Everyone loved them.

 And my brother-in-law, Michael is our breakfast chef.

On the second morning at camp our 3-year-old camper,
Gavin asked, "Where's our breakfast?"

Michael got to work. :o)

Washing dishes can be a challenge, but I'd rather be washing

dishes at camp than at home!

Meet Juni-Bear.
Carved from a juniper tree stump by our friend, Steve.

{Thanks again, Steve!!!}

Another look off the back side of the property at dusk.

Peace.

♥