Saturday, July 31, 2010

Time to Get a Move-On

I've completely run out of vacation-picture-posting steam.  I took hundreds of photos, and I just got tired of wading through them, trying to pick out my favorites.  There are a few, though, that I have to post, like this one of my Gramma Honey.


It's just her, perfectly and to a T.  And the cute little hat she's wearing?  She made it this summer, working on this little gem.

I used the Coffee Shop Butterscotch Vintage and Vignette actions on this photo.

Now, I'm no expert on antique sewing machines, but if I were a bettin' woman, I'd put money on that thing being at least as old as my Daddy, and these were taken on his 59th birthday.  Come to think of it, I need to photograph my mother's and my maternal grandmother's sewing machines as well. Gramma Short's, and I think my mom's too, would be contemporary with this one.

Me, Daddy, Gramma, Alanna
Elora, Veronica

But anyway, I digress.  While we were there, Brandon was kind enough to take a generations picture for us.  It was interesting, trying to get the two girls to behave for the picture, but I think this one is pretty good.  I've decided to start taking these pictures every chance I get, because I have a feeling there won't be many more chances left.  Then again, my grandmother is just stubborn enough to outlive us all.


My friend Sara, who has been my best friend since second grade and is really more of a sister than anything else, was there as well.  She lives in California, and it just happened that we were both in Florida at the same time, and over my dad''s birthday too.  So, Elora finally got to meet her Aunt Sara.  And, since Sara will be here to visit in a little less that a week, you will probably definitely be seeing more of her here.

Monica, Gramma, Momma
Alanna, Merryn, me
Veronica, Cecelia, Elora

When we left my dad's house that day, we went over to my Gramma Short's house to visit there.  We had all the girls together, for once, and we got the last generations shot I'd wanted this trip, with Sara playing photographer for us.  Yay!
 
We've not been back in Germany for very long, but I'm already ready to go home again.  This is a good thing, because Brandon's orders finally, finally came in and we can start making the plans and arrangements for our PCS.  We're hoping to be out of the house by the end of August, and back in the States in the first part of September.  We have a lot to get done, though, so cross your fingers that it all goes smoothly for us!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Thank You's

Your regularly scheduled blog content has been postponed due to the following.   The "US Vacation" series will continue where it left off, with the next posting.  This was more important.  :)
 
When Elora was only about 4 months old, we got a huge box of goodies from Mommom.  There was a bear for her room, a whole pile of books, and a sweet little baby doll that was bigger than Elora herself.  So, I set the baby doll up in a little doll-sized wicker chair on her dresser, and there she's stayed until recently.  It occurred to me as I was dusting that Elora is big enough to play with her now, so I got the baby down and presented her to Elora.  I showed her to rock the baby, and pat her back, and to give the baby kisses.  She took to her immediately, mimicking everything I'd shown her.  I know I thanked you before, Mommom, but I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful baby doll, now that she's actually had a chance to enjoy her.


I went by the shop on Thursday to say hello, to do a bit of shopping, and to lend a hand.  (Seriously, I just can't stay away.)  Corinnea had mentioned that she had something for me, and I thought for sure it was the apron she said she'd make for me.  I was stoked about the apron, but as it turns out, I was wrong-- she'd made something else entirely!  You should have seen the look of glee on her face when I guessed wrong, and this is why.


She presented it to me and I squealed and jumped up and down and squealed some more.  I'd seen the one that she made for Baby MAC, and I fell in love with that one as soon as I saw it.  But she made this one for my baby!  I definitely wasn't expecting it, I'd forgotten all about the Pay It Forward thing.  I can't remember if I ever did mine or not.  (I need to go back and look at that post, and make sure that I took care of my people.)

Anyway, Elora loves it too.


I put it on her to take the pictures, and she didn't want me to take it off.  She played for nearly an hour with it on her back, and every time I looked at her I cracked up.  So thank you, Corinnea, for thinking of my little girl, and for taking the time to make her something so sweet.  You really made my day.  ^_^

Thursday, July 22, 2010

US Vacation: Alabama

We got a late start out of Tallahassee but we still made it to Alabama by around 5.  I've already posted some of the pictures from the Alabama leg of our trip, but there are a ton more.

Everyone knew we were coming except Brandon's grandmother.  As I was getting out of the car, I heard her say "Is that Brandon Todd?" and I had to smile.


We spent almost all of our time at the farm.  That first evening was spent just catching up, and relaxing.



The next day, the guys got to work building a chicken coop and pen for Mommom's chickens.  She had 8 or 9 chickens corralled in a relatively small space, and since she want's to grow her flock (?) to about 40, she needed a bigger pen.


So Brandon, Jamie, Matt, John, Paul, and Uncle Stan fiddled with the John Deere and the augur attachment until they got them working, and then they all got to work.


Stan drove the John Deere, while Brandon kept an eye on the augur and what it was doing, making sure it stayed clear of debris and such.


The other guys got the posts ready, and then got them into the holes that Brandon and Stan made.  Paul pitched in where he could, but he'd sprained his wrist and was limited in what he could do.


While the guys worked, and I played event photographer, everyone else shot the breeze until time to put lunch together.


Then Staria, Mommom, and Dawn started getting the burgers together for lunch.


When we weren't at the farm, we were either at Mommom's house (of blueberry-picking and cake-baking fame), or at Uncle Todd's.  I only went over to Todd's a few times, because I'm just not a party-er and Todd's is the party place.  The man has a full bar in his basement, complete with big screen TV, Karaoke equipment, electric guitar hookups, poker table and pool table.  I mostly stayed at Mommom's with Elora and went to bed early, because I'm lame I'm a good Mama and cigarette smoke + baby isn't good.  I did go over there twice, while Staria stayed with Elora, so I got some pics of that action as well.

 

Oh man, I think this one is even longer than the last one.  Again, there are a ton more, but I'll spare you.  If you want to see them, feel free to check out my vacation albums on Facebook. (As of this posting, I am still working on getting them all up.)  I'll do one more vacation post, on our second stay in Florida, and then it's on to my most recent creations.  :)


Saturday, July 17, 2010

US Vacation: Florida (Part I)

Mom and Wade had a party at their house the the very night we got there to celebrate 3 birthdays all at once: Brandon (June 25); my sister, Alanna (June 30); and her daughter, Veronica (July 3).  Of course, it was decorated for a little girl's birthday, and for all intents and purposes, it was her party.  It worked out really well, because at that point we weren't sure that we would make it back to Florida and it allowed us to connect with a large part of that side of the family all at once.


The next few days were pretty random.  I did go to see my dad and my grandmother, but like a dunce, I forgot to take the camera with me.  (Oh, I was mad about that, let me just tell you!)  I also spent quite a bit of time with my maternal grandmother, my cousin, and my aunt, as well as with Brandon's family.


Gramma Short is doing so much better, especially now that she's home.


Aunt Monica has lost more than 35 pounds recently--she looks fantastic!


Four generations of women.


Elora was "playing" Wii with the guys.


Then we went to Tallahassee to meet up with James and Carrie.  Matt rode up with us.


I bet you can't tell they're brothers, can you?



More from Alabama later.