The Joys of Children

"The Joys of Children" tells about what many parents and grandparents have experienced; the love of a child as expressed in a hand-created treasure.(click on photo for larger) This was a jewelry stand that then 8-year old Chance made for me for Christmas, 2005. The labor of love is so evident in the amount of detail he put into it. I had to preserve it for posterity and give it the most elegant display I could create--my tribute of appreciation to him for his efforts. I tried to make it look like one of those "Tiffany-like" ads you see in glossy fashion magazines. I think I captured the "ambience" with the added touch of a picture of Chance at the age of the work. Thank you, my sweet grandson. I will cherish this gift always. With you, I am truly witness to "The Joys of Children".

Night At The Ball

Another bit of whimsy with our friends Mark and Kirsten, (he who built our home and they who have a Marine son serving in Iraq at this time [Mar. 2009]). This was a souvenir postcard I made for Mark and Kirsten of their attendance with us at the Sea Bee Ball in Oct. 2006. When I saw them together in this picture, I couldn't help think "prom night" and that they made the perfect likeness of the "king and queen", so I constructed the layout around this theme. I gave it "pomp and circumstance" and flourishes of elegance and formality as befits the atmosphere at the Ball every year.

Why? (a bit of dark whimsy)

I have always liked the dark humor and style of the late Edward Gorey's ink sketchings . In this Gorey-inspired layout for a quote challenge on designerdigitals.com, the challenge was to answer the question "why" about some aspect of your life. I chose to incorporate a saying that struck me as dark irony and makes me smile everytime I look at it posted on my refrigerator: "Because if you don't go to your friends' funerals, they won't go to yours." I made the skeleton nanny and children look as if they had a ghostly glow about them and blended them into the background to look "ethereal". the flower was needed for a prop to exhibit the beautiful wordart of Anna Aspnes (designer, designerdigitals.com) in an artistic way. Fun layout. :-)

Sledding

Grandson Travis went sledding near our house with his cousins and sister that early weekend in December just after a light snow. I caught these pictures of him having the best time seeing who could go the fastest and not fall off the saucer.They all got wet and muddy and red-cheeked from the cold but they sledded and tumbled until they wore the snow off the ground, only to be off on a new adventure to find a better faster run somewhere else in the neighborhood.

Christmas Memories 2008

A small decorated Christmas tree with images of our good times. (card for 2008) (click for larger)

Fashion on the "Red Carpet" at the Navy Sea Bee Ball

A Navy friend's new bride asked me what kind of dress would be appropriate for her first Sea Bee Ball. I replied to her email with a "Red Carpet" take on this highly anticipated annual event. "A picture is worth a thousand words" is a truism that applies perfectly here so enjoy a glimpse of some past "couture" seen on our "Red Carpet". A few of my family are shown: the little girl is my granddaughter Makinsey; the lady in the white top and blue taffeta is our home builder's wife, Kirsten; I am the one standing in front of the flag in a navy crepe full-length gown; the lady with long dark hair in a black crepe gown with stole is my sister, Marybeth; and the two ladies in photo at right bottom-- are my sister Doreen (pink satin top), and next to her my sister-in-law, Jill ( black crepe satin gown with white satin collar). Am looking forward to this year's Sea Bee Navy gala but won't have long to wait because it happens this weekend (090307). Look for another "Red Carpet" update in the near future.

What I've Been Doing

A highschool friend whom I hadn't seen in several years sent me an email about the pot-luck party we are getting together over and asked "How are you doing?" Her question inspired this piece_a vignette that answers the question. There are other pages I want to make about the people and events that are important to me--past and present, so you are sure to see more of them in the future.