The third Saturday of October

HAPPY SWEETEST DAY!

Observed the 3rd Saturday in the month of October, Sweetest Day observance originated in Cleveland in 1922. Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist and candy company employee wanted to bring happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. With the help of friends, he began to distribute candy and small gifts to the underprivileged.



Primarily a regional observance celebrated in the Great Lakes region and the Northeast, Sweetest Day is gradually spreading to other areas of the country. People tend to take the Sweetest Day tradition with them when they move. Ohio is the top state for Sweetest Day sales, followed by Michigan and Illinois. Texas, California and Florida are among the top 10 states in sales.


Over the years, Sweetest Day has evolved into a time to express romantic love and also to show appreciation to friends. (Taken from THIS site.)




Of course, growing up in Cleveland, we always had Sweetest Day. My mom and dad would gift us a candy bar next to our breakfast plates. I know there are a lot of cynics out there who poo-poo Sweetest Day. But that just means they are not a Buckeye and/or not a fun loving, celebratory sort of person. My kids (and Ken) will find a candy bar next to their plates in the morning. If you are out and about tomorrow, pick up a little candy bar for your kids or husband. Send a card to a loved one or take one over to the neighbor.



That just reminded me of a song I learned in elementary school.



Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away.

Love is something if you give it away, then you'll just end up having more.



It's just like a magic penny;

hold it close and you won't have any.



Spend it and share it...(can't remember this line exactly)

You'll have so many, they roll over over the floor.



Oh....



Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away, then you'll just end up having more.





Which brings me to the next song that I was trying to recall this week. A fugue. With different parts...each being a musical instrument and its description.



The horn, the horn,

Awakes me at morn.



The clarinet, the clarinet,

Goes doodle, doodle, doodle, doodle det.



The flute plays its melody...

(don't remember the 2nd part.)







And thus I digress from the Sweetest Day post. haha.

Thank you, Driver of the Yellow Truck

Today, I was in a hurry after school. I had to take M* to the doctor's office and there was barely enough time to drive from my house to the office. And yes, I was going about 10 miles over the speed limit.

And as I was driving, a yellow truck/jeep in the other lane was flashing his brights. At least I thought he was. Then I thought maybe it was something else. But I slowed up all the same. And around the next corner was a speed trap.

Now, I've never had a driving ticket...and I certainly don't want one now.

So thank you, Driver of the Yellow Truck!

Mad for Plaid

Today's challenge was "Mad for Plaid." I had made this card a couple of days ago but didn't upload it until today. This layout is taken from a card that I received from my secret sister. It is a simple design that you can do a lot with.

This is made from my new set "Season of Friendship" which arrived in my mail box yesterday. Yippee! I traded "Moose You" months and months ago...in exchange for a Customer Direct Order (CDO)...which I cashed in for the tree set. I am pleased to be able to use it as I envisioned...with lots of "things" in the branches.

This Jackolantern tree took way too long to figure out the embellishements. I think that is my weakness...the extra bling and and ribbon and hardware.

New Bloggers...

After a few months of asking for their own blogs, C and M are now officially bloggers! haha. Last night we took some time to set up their blogs:

"C*'s Creative Chronicles" and "The Fantastic Yogini"

Needless to say, for protection, their blogs can be viewed by invite only. But they are excited!

Who I have learned things from...

"Everything I need to know, I learned in kindergarten."

"It takes a village to raise a child."

Oh, I'm sure there are more adages about where we learn things and how we learn them. Over the last several months, I have thought about jotting down a list of friends, family, acquaintances...even brief encounters... and what they have taught me specifically. That thought comes and goes without any action...just a few mental thoughts.

Today I learned that a kind man at church, who has suffered for years with various tumors on his spine and in his brain...is once again afflicted with them. And they are inoperable. Sad. Very Sad.

While I do not know him very well, I do know what he taught me. The example that he has given me... From the time that I first moved up here and started attending this church, he always greets me by name and with a smile when we pass in the hall. It lifts my spirits to have someone look me in my eye when addressing me and make me feel a little more special and at home.

So, today instead of the "mental thoughts" on what I have learned from others, I am starting a physical list.

Pam Balderree: Was a good friend when my first 2 kids were toddlers. And from Pam I learned that when someone watches your kids, bring some extra treats. Not sure why that always comes to mind. My good friend Michele does this too. To kids, treats from someone else's house always taste better too...drink boxes, peanutbutter crackers, pretzles. And it makes babysitting easier for some reason. Pam introduced me to the Christmas Elf and to hanging up streamers in the house on birthdays.

Michele: I've learned to be more generous. She is always giving of her time, money and talents to help others. She doesn't sweat the small change.

Mom: To be punctual to a fault. Just ask Ken. I'm crazy nutsy about being on time. On time as in..."arriving to a location 10 minutes before the actually hour"...just to be sure. Also...mom taught me the importance of ironing. I can not tell you how many times she sent me back into the house to change my outfit b/c my clothes were a tossled mess! To this day, I may put on a shirt that "isn't too wrinkled." But then take it off and re-irong it b/c truthfully...it's wrinkled.

Dad: To do the job right the first time. He would help me do the (dreaded) dishes. As we worked together he would say: "Dawn, you can do the job right the first time. Or you can do it a 3rd or 5th or 6th time." Also, he has always had a superb vocabulary. Which I have noticed that my siblings do too. I was talking to Cara on the phone last week and she used a "big" word...which I knew. Lately, I think that some of the words I are unknown to those I am talking to.

Clint from my freshman year at Miami University: Just because I don't like someone doesn't mean that they feel that same way towards me. In fact, they probably even like me and want to show compassion.

From my Grandmother: If you have a clean house, then you can always invite someone in...unexpectedly and not have to worry about the state of things.

Ann Marie Halverson: If you pose questions to others and listen to their responses, you might not be talking about yourself very much...but you sure learn a lot! Whenever I had conversations with her, I did the talking b/c she was always asking me a question!

Ruth Ann Vest: Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.

Now...of course, I have learned things the hard way too. My post about integrity was b/c I was dealing with someone who was lying to me. Lying to a group of us. Which of course, we have all have many cheats in our lives, no doubt. I learned that I was so naitive from my husband.

From two brief encounters of a nameless college co-ed, I learned that people watch me. They notice what I am doing or saying, even if I am not watching the choices that I make. Poeple notice. (So I had better be making the right choice.)

You just never know what you impress upon someone. So make your actions count. The only thing we can take from this life is what we have learned. Go learn, go observe, chat, interact, relax your guard enough to welcome new ideas...incorporate the best into your own life. (I just wonder what my influence will be on other...You just never know.)

**I started this post last night...but will be adding to it as my memory is stirred and I recall names/faces and lessons learned.

**Of course I have learned a lot more from my parents...but that just might have to be another post.

Think Pink...

October...Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Pink cards...

Amazingly enough, 2 of my young neighbors have gone through breast cancer treatments this year. So I made up 2 Color Challenge cards for today's color challenge.

Big Game...

Saturday was the "Big Game" for soccer. And I was worried. Of course, it was pretty much just all in my head. But we were playing a team who was coached by last seaon's assistant coach's husband. Make sense? haha. Last year, Coach Frankie switched teams to help me out and she was seriously "Mrs. Soccer." Even played on a local league. I didn't understand why she didn't step up to be the regular coach. (Honestly she had her hands full with a couple of kids and a hubby who worked out of town a lot.) And well, I was new and admittedly intimidated too.

But then this season, her DH stepped up to coach. And he's Mr. Soccer. (You like the nick names I have in my head? haha) And their son is quite the player too. And I was dreading playing them...I know, I know..it's all in my head...I admit it.

Leading up to the Big Game, I knew that two of my players were going out of town. That would leave us with only one substitute. Then, just before our game, my co-coach informed me that we were out three players. That meant our team of 7 was now a team of four. And four is number of players on the field at a time. Thus NO SUBS. My little Wild Cats would have to play the entire game.

Amazingly enough...they were fabulously great. Everyone rotated through a quarter in the goalie position. No one complained. Everyone kept their energy up. E* got the one and only goal for the game. The only goal for my team and theirs!

Which means...WE WON! (Doing the happy dance now!!) Of course, yes, the leagues rule is there is no keeping score. But everyone does it. The kids, the coaches and the parents.

WE WON! With hard work, strong wills and no complaining. Way to go Wild Cats!

(Pix to come later when I get some from the co-coach! haha)



Last night, C had a make up soccer game. For the entire first half, he did a great job as a goalie. Saved many balls and only let one into the net. As a running player, he made a superb assist for a goal. Even his coach came over and high-fived me!

Soccer rocks...and my boys are definitely getting their vitamin D during practice!

From monkeys to Ewoks...

A couple of weeks ago, I started sewing this year's Halloween Costumes. Well, first back it up...I had to figure out what everyone was going to be for Halloween. Take E for example. He wanted to be a pirate. (I had made an awesome red corderoy Captain Hook costume years ago.) Then he started changing his mind. Each time I asked, he would tell me something new.

C wanted to be a jedi/starwars character. Of course, so did E. I was afraid that it would be too much work to make 2two Jedi costumes. So I convinced E that being an Ewok would be awesome. Luckily, he loves his mama too!

In 2004, C wanted to be a monkey. So I made a monkey costume. He loved it. Wore it for years. In fact...still wears it when he wants to dress up to this very day. Luckily he is scrawny enough that it still fit him. Only now, it comes to his knees instead of his ankles. haha.

So I decided that I would remove the monkey tail and create my own idea of an Ewok tail..since I could find nothing on Ewok tails on the internet. Then I had a scrap of material to fashion "hood" that Ewoks wear without fail. And you know they have to carry their tailsmans and magic rocks...so I fashioned a pouch for him to wear around his neck.

At first E wasn't going to have anything to do with it. He wanted to "be a monkey next year." And if I cut off the monkey tail... You get the picture. But I (and the fabric cutter at Joanns) assured him that I could remove and replace the monkey tail quite easily. And so...here is our Ewok!

(Not another sideways picture...so sorry!)

An Ewok...sneaking around...looking inquisitive!

Next up...We've got spirit! Yes we do!!

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Step Cards

Step cards...two versions...




I made the ghosts by cutting out pumpkins with white paper...then trimmed the bottom edge. Added eyes/mouth...presto magic...a ghost.
I accomplished last week's goals..yeah.

So this week, I am going to send out 5 cards to 5 of my cyber stamping friends. That's the goal. Such an easy goal! haha