My Friday was spent in airports and on airplanes.  I joined DH after spending the holidays (and more) near my grandchildren.  The travel experience has left me frustrated with the lack of personality in transactions these days (which makes me even more appreciative of the reasonable prices and excellent customer service at MyPicTales)!

The cable company would not sell me Internet (even though they are nationwide) unless I also paid for telephone or television.  So I returned their box and modem.   Since we live on wheels and in P O Boxes, we need to find providers of telephone, television, and Internet that will work at any given location.  Phoning these companies is a ridiculous process — a recorded message offers menus and if you finally get to talk to a person, they don’t understand the question and/or don’t know the answers.

MyPicTales also offers quality workmanship with such attention to detail that they actually contacted me when my instructions were not clear — they wanted to get my order done the way I wanted it done!  Wow!

My flights were wonderful; fortunately each was on time as I had booked allowing only 40 minutes between connections in two different airports.  But trying to find information on the airline’s website or get a friendly person to talk to on the phone was impossible.  I was extremely frustrated at having to pay an additional $25 for one small piece of luggage — omigosh, I’d paid plenty for my tickets and the flights were full!

DH and I have often wished that someone had written a book on retirement travel, giving tips and explaining the best way to purchase television, telephone, and Internet plans for those on wheels.

Are you ready for February?  Hurry and create your cards and gifts and be sure to remember MyPicTales for quality, reasonable pricing, and superb customer service!

As Ever,
Pam

I have been lost in a snow bank these last few weeks.  I live in the NorthEast (not Connecticut or a New England State) and we’ve had a decent amount of snow. Blah. This lastest storm dumped 11 - 12 inches at our house and created a royal mess.  I’m sore in places that I didn’t realize I had from all of the shoveling.  So I’ve kind of been on a “colorful” kick with the hopes that Spring is soon going to be here. (I did have to laugh last night when I got a solicitation call from a lawn care company last night.  I was like, dude, I’m not sure if we are ever going to see our yard again, so right now, I’m not too worried about the state of it.)

I found this good deal at one of my favorite places. www.scraporchard.com.  It is a grab bag from 4 designers and only available until Jan.31 at a crazy good price.

For more details go here.

On the bright side, there are only 51 more days until Spring! (But who’s counting ?? )

Until next week,

Mary

I love, love, love Spring, because it means Summer is closer! Give me heat, give me sun, blue skies and warm!! I went through a few galleries, and then remembered that the Artisan Guild is now an open gallery! What a wonderful and lush gallery!

This one popped out so fast, love the silhouette as it goes into the beautiful background! SharLamb captured The Perfect Day

I hope where ever you are, the season is beautiful and you are able to capture the perfect day!

My daughter’s grandma loved the calendar I made for her; it turned out well.  Some of my scans were not great, but she’s enjoying the memories and photos of the great-grandchildren.  We just can’t share all of our photos — especially with those who are not online.  So a calendar or photobook are excellent choices for gifts.

My book-of-me project is ongoing; I’ve created a directory on my computer that I’m using to store text files of memories.  When some old memory creeps into my thoughts, I sit down and write about it.  I’ve also put a small notebook into my purse (these flashbacks happen when least expected, and I hope to capture many of them).  I also have a collection of cute things my grandkids have said or done.

This week I’ve been working on genealogy and heritage layouts.  In the past, I’ve found photos that will work well with a specific kit or design.  Now I’m working to fill in details and the simple snapshots that help tell the story.  Currently I’m working with my maternal Grandpa’s family (I have many photos and would like to include as many as I can — along with any information I have).  For this project, I’m creating scrapbook pages that I can have printed and put into my own postbound albums.

The kit I’ve chosen to feature this week is by Denise Bailey.  It’s named Home Again Cross the Sea, and it’s full of lots of sea themed elements.  Since I’m finally heading south this week, I hope to have many photos at the beach very soon!

As Ever,
Pam

Winter months where I reside are cold.  This year there has been much snow.  Before retirement, my husband decided that he would spend his winters where he could wear shorts, and since his only son has since moved to Florida, that became our wintertime destination.  With ten years of Florida winters behind me, I decided to stay home this winter — to spend the holidays with my side of the family!

What a concept to explain whilst recording my life!  Christmas with a college senior (my grandson) and his Kindergartner sister, (my granddaughter).  I’ve actually been here to help on snow days (my granddaughter and I enjoy our days together playing with dolls, playing Candyland on the computer, and using glitter glue to create beautiful memories).  My camera has been busy, as well.  I have plans for a “winter of 2010-11” photobook that contains the photos and my journaling about why I chose to stay home.  My husband is hoping I buy a plane ticket soon, but I am rather enjoying being a rebel and having the house to myself.

What better kit for me to use for pages about my life than this new one by Kiki Halbert called That’s Me! Who is going to tell your story if you don’t? Document your feelings, your desires, and where you are at this moment in time. Click on the image for a link to the kit.

Do remember to journal!  It just completes the memory!

As Ever,
Pam

I love FREE stuff! Who doesn’t? Free samples at the grocery store when you are usually starving, free digi giveaway and in this case, FREE classes! Yup, completely, totally 100% free. These classes are located here at www.twopeasinabucket.com. There are a variety of classes that can be used for both digi and traditional scrapping.  I have my eye on the 4 x 6 photo class that starts at the end of the month.  I have too many pictures to count (plus I am getting another order in the mail soon) that need to find their way into albums of some sort. Plus the Stretch a Sketch class also has my interest as well.  Sketches and templates are similar so I am interested to see how this class is.

On to other topics. I am SICK of the cold, the gray weather and bad natural light at this time of year. I am ready for warm sunshine and bright colors and good lighting.  We live very close to a small ski slope and when we asked my DD who is 5 if she wanted to go skiing, her response was something along the line of “NO way, are you crazy?” .  I hear you dear girl, I hear you. I too would much rather be building sandcastles on a beach or reading a good book. So in my dislike of the cold weather, I went looking for some “beachy” inspiration.  I found this by Sue Cummings at www.oscraps.com

I loved the colors and the word art.  I also can see the papers being used for my sons baby photos as well.

Happy Weekend and I hope that everyone is staying nice and warm.

Mary

This past Christmas and the holiday season had to be one of the most relaxed times I have had in years! I seriously did next to nothing.  I did the normal gift buying, but we stayed within our budget and had many family nights of laughter and games!

I love looking at the years in review, and the beautiful people in digital scrapping along with their families.  Just look at this as inspiration:

100 for 2010 by jbdolfin

I was in awe! 100 pictures!! I think this would be a wonderful cover for the book!  I can just imagine the fun that was had, going through the pictures from the year!  That there is so much journaling also, just makes me smile!!

I am once again this year on the Art Journal Caravan with Tangie Baxter over at Scrapbook Graphics and if you need a giggle and want to do something out of the ordinary, take a gander at the camels as they are uncrated in the SBG  gallery.

I have to admit I am in love with all of them, but let me show you at least one:

Artie, the traveling companion to RucolaDesigns

These precious journal pages would be lovely all printed up in a hard back book from MyPIcTales!

Hope the rest of you find those missing weeks!! I off to find a few hours, and hopefully days!

I’ve begun on my project of recording my life and memories.  Already I have several text documents started — occasionally an old memory creeps into my mind, and if I don’t write it down, I often forget it later.  It’s amazing what can rekindle a memory — we have an old wooden-floored store nearby that still has the candy counter and embroidery floss (it somehow reminds me of my childhood).  Smells can do it, too — certain cookies or candles.

Along with trying to sort through my own memories, I’ve been sorting my genealogy files and layouts — I hope to use most of the old photos I have and mix them with the facts I know about my ancestors.  I helped my grandson with a school project a few years ago, so we researched other branches of his family, too.  Hopefully, when I’m finished, my daughter and grandkids will know all about their ancestors.

Scanning.  Be sure to learn all you can about scanning — and make sure that you scan photos using a resolution of at least 300 dpi/ppi (dots-per-inch/pixels per inch).  They may appear huge when you view them on your monitor, but it’s necessary to have a good resolution if you plan to print the images.  Seriously, I didn’t know this several years ago and spent an entire summer scanning my husband’s family photos — they look great for a slideshow, but can only be printed at about postage-stamp size because I scanned them at a resolution of 72 dpi (and I no longer have access to the photos).

Most of my albums done with scrapbook pages are varied in color and design.  I find a kit I like and look for photos that will go great with it.  But I plan to have my “Walk Through Life” project printed as books — and I think I want a similar color/design theme throughout.  That said, this month’s kit at Digital Scrapbook Artisan Guild is “Tapestry of Love” and contains elements and colors that work wonderfully with heritage photos as well as the here and now.  Here’s one of the layouts I completed for my book (the oldest photo was scanned from a tintype).

The image of the kit is linked to information on the guild.

As Ever,
Pam

The phone rang at the insane hour of 5:37 am.  I had a pretty good idea what that meant - school was either delayed or closed.  I listened to the message and school was CLOSED! Sweet - a snow day with the kiddos.  (I had had the day off since I had an appointment and was supposed to go into school today to vounteer).  My appointment got cancelled so our whole day was free.  We stayed in our pj’s way longer than usual and then headed outside to shovel and sled.  The kids were so co-operative and helpful it made the shoveling go super fast. Then came sledding.  Our backyard is one huge hill.  So winter is about the only time that it gets used.  They had a blast sliding down and learning to dodge the arborvitaes.  Good times.  We are soon off for their reward for helping - fancy cupcakes from the local bakeshop.  Well worth the price in my eyes !

So on the snow theme - I went looking for kits. and found this one by mle Card at www.scraporchard.com.

Perfect for a day like today.  For some inspiration, go here and see some layouts by her CT.

I hope that everyone is having a great day and don’t forget to keep taking pictures!

Mary

Happy New Year!

Do you make resolutions at the beginning of each year?  There is much written and taught these days on visualization, focus, and plan.  Some of this is good; goals and rewards can help us to achieve more — but I also believe in time for fun.

This holiday season I have enjoyed playing board games and cards with family and friends.  I enjoyed snuggling with my granddaughter to read a book and also played some children’s games with her.  I want her to learn that everyone needs to do their best, but in team competition there are a winning team and a losing team.  Most important is to enjoy what you’re doing so that you had fun even if you didn’t achieve the best score.

The past few weeks have rekindled memories of my own growing up and also from the years of raising my own family.  I’ve been looking through scrapbook galleries at layouts for a “Book of Me” and have begun to make notes of memories and feelings and thoughts that I want to share with my descendants.  I’ve previously done layouts using photos of ancestors and am researching family history.  But my new book will talk about my walk through life - my memories; my vision.

How’s that for a New Year project?  And I resolve to continue to use MyPicTales for all of my printing needs!  What are your visions for the year?

As Ever,
Pam