snowy days

Today I got together with one of my very bestest friends. Actually, we've spent a lot of time together this week. She's a HS Music teacher and they have off for Christmas vacation. Anywho, we've had a LOT of snow recently and I've wanted to get out and try to get some photos. So we went to our old HS and trekked our way through the soccer field, and part of the football field to some trails that lead to a pond behind our HS. I am soooo glad that I took my very warm LLBean winter boots with. There were times I was up to my knees in snow. Man! Walking all that way through all that snow can really take a lot out of you! LOL! But we had a blast. Here is one of my favorite photos of Leah.

Tommy the Cat

I ran across a drawing that a HS friend of mine did. And then out of no where, I started signing the Primus song that went with that drawing.

Jen, this is for you! :D

" well I remember as it were a meal ago"

Said Tommy the Cat as he reeled back to clear whatever foreign matter
may have nestled its way into his mighty throat.
Many a fat alley rat had met its demise while staring point blank down
the cavernous barrel of this awesome prowling machine.
Truly a wonder of nature this urban predator.
Tommy the cat had many a story to tell,
But it was a rare occasion such as this that he did.

She came slidin' down the alleyway like butter drippin' off a hot biscuit.
The aroma, the mean scent, was enough to arouse suspicion in even the
oldest of Tigers that hung around the hot spot in those days.
The sight was beyond belief.
Many a head snapped for double - even triple - takes as this vivacious
feline made her her way into the delta of the alleyway where the most
virile of the young tabbys were known to hang out.

They hung in droves. Such a multitude of masculinity could only be
found in one place...
And that was O'malley's Alley.

The air was thick with cat calls (no pun intended),
But not even a muscle in her neck did twitch as she sauntered up into
the heart of the alleyway.
She knew what she wanted.
She was lookin' for that stud bull, she was looking for that he cat.
And that was me.

Tommy the Cat is my name and I say unto thee...

Say baby do you wanna lay down with me
Say baby do you wanna lay down by my side
Ah baby do you wanna lay down with me
Say baby?...Say baby?

Twas The Night Before Christmas (Texas Style)

Twas The Night Before Christmas (Texas Style)

'Twas the night before Christmas, in Texas, you know.
Way out on the prairie, without any snow.
Asleep in their cabin, were Buddy and Sue,
A dreamin' of Christmas, like me and you.

Not stockings, but boots, at the foot of their bed,
For this was Texas, what more need be said,
When all of a sudden, from out of the still night,
There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright.

and I saw 'cross the prairie, like a shot from a gun,
A loaded up buckboard, come on at a run,
The driver was "Geein" and "Hawin", with a will,
The horses (not reindeer) he drove with such skill.

"Come on there Buck, Poncho, & Prince, to the right,
There'll be plenty of travelin' for you all tonight."
The driver in Levi's and a shirt that was red,
Had a ten-gallon Stetson on top of his head.

As he stepped from the buckboard, he was really a sight,
With his beard and moustache, so curly and white.
As he burst in the cabin, the children awoke,
and were so astonished, that neither one spoke.

and he filled up their boots with such presents galore,
That neither could think of a single thing more.
When Buddy recovered the use of his jaws,
He asked in a whisper, "Are you really Santa Claus?"

"Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?"
and he smiled as he gave a mysterious wink.
Then he leaped in his buckboard, and called back in his drawl,
"To all the children in Texas, Merry Christmas, Ya’ll"

Zona with Santa

This year's Christmas photo with Santa.


credit: QP: Pineapple Plantation Designs, font:(2007) CK Becky

blinkie

I just made my very first blinkie. HA! Isn't it annoying?!? (hee hee hee)

Happy Birthday, Zona

Happy Birthday, Zona
Originally uploaded by demaray

Zona is 2 today!!

Rock Star

Here is another LO I did with my fav pix of Ashlynn.


Credit: QP template & glitter alpha from flergsblog.blogspot.com

Hair Coloring LO

Here are some photos I took of Ashlynn getting her first highlights done. She really wanted pink and blue in her hair. And she loved it soo much that I took her back again to get the highlights added again for Halloween. That went perfect with her cheerleader costume.

Credit: template; emily boetel, paper and elements; February 2005 Freebie Kit at two peas, blue glitter swirls; Free Let It Snow Mini Kit from Lindsay Jane Designs.

Beach LO

Here is a LO from when I took Nick & Ashlynn up to Lake Puckaway. They really did have lots of fun. :D


credits: Come Sail Away Kit from Pineapple Plantation Designs

Cafe Soeurette

Last night my parents, Darnell and I went to an open house at a new restaurant that's opening in beautiful downtown West Bend. The owner, Jodi, is the daughter of my good friend Beth. We are all so happy and proud of Jodi. Here is just a little snipet of info that Beth sent out in an email to everyone about Cafe Soeurette....

Hello everyone. My daughter's dream is finally coming true. Cafe Soeurette is opening to the public on Tuesday, November 20th! Jodi (and all her family and good friends) has been working diligently for the past 6 weeks to get the restaurant up and running. We are all so excited about her new venture.

Cafe Soeurette has a beautiful, warm, inviting artfully designed French decor with a raised interior gazebo, missed-matched antique tables and chairs, and dozens of French inspired accents to enhance your dining experience. A warm palette of rust textured walls, dark woods, iron work, and rich fabrics add ambiance. The bar room is very French inspired with wine barrels on the back wall, a corner riddling room, new lighting, and antique piano. From time to time there will be live musicians performing.

Next spring and summer will bring with it options for outdoor riverside seating.

As most of you know, Jodi studied culinary arts at the Brown Institute in Minneapolis which is associated with Cordon Bleu in France. She has aproximately 12 years of restaurant experience and has previously been a pastry chef, a sous chef, and executive chef for various fine dining establishments. Jodi has volunteered for several area fund raisers, most resently designing and presenting a four-course dinner for a local area breast cancer event.

The cuisine for Cafe Soeurette is creatively designed French/American. Entrees are reasonable priced for the West Bend area. Cafe Soeurette will be open Tuesdays through Fridays for lunch, and Tuesdays through Saturdays for dinner. Reservations are encouraged. Accomodations are available for parties and business/corporate events.

Cafe Soeurette is located at 111 North Main Street in the historical old downtown West Bend area, next to the Candy Man, in the lower level of the building shared with the Baird Co.

I hope you will be able to experience dining at its best in Jodi's new restaurant. As a proud mom, I encourage you to pass this message on to any of your friends or family you think might enjoy an evening out at Cafe Soeurette.

And, yes, so you don't have to search or ask me what it means, Cafe Soeurette loosly interpreted means little sister's restaurant. Her brother named it as well as designing the logo.

Beth's stepson, Matt and his friend, are putting together the website for the restaurant. And once it's up an running, I'll be sure the post the link here.

We had a chance to sample some of the delicious appetizers of Artichoke Gratin, Pesto Shrimp, Blackened Scallops, Chicken Pot Stickers, Cider Onion Rings, and my favorite Pumpkin Ravioli. WOW!! Everything was just incredible. And the pumpkin ravioli, I've never tasted anything so yummy before. The description on the menu said Pumpkin ravioli tossed in a mascarpone cream sauce and sprinkled with candied pecans. How yummy does that sound??? :D It was so good that I just had to take a picture of it too! ;)



So if you're ever in the Milwaukee area, you must take a drive north to West Bend and try this restaurant. Soooo good!!! :D

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My new names....

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
-Muffin Expedition
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
-Vanilla Chip (ice ice baby!)
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
- B-Dem
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
-Black Cat
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
-Ann Milwaukee (that just sounds silly)
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
-Becde
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
-The Red Pop
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
-Clarence Clarence
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)
- Lily Rancher
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
-Helen Tom
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
-Nelson Nashville
12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
-Halloween Lily
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
- Strawberry T’y
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
-Oatmeal Birch
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
-The Scrapin' Snow Tour (hee hee)

Ashlynn

Here is another LO I did for an online class I'm taking at JessicaSprague.com.

doodling

I've been taking another class at bigpicturescrapbooking.com called Doodle All Day. And I haven't been able to as much as I would like to with this, but here are just some of the things I've 'doodled'.

Leah

Here is my most recent LO I did of a really good friend of mine, Leah.


credit: freebie kit from www.hm-scraps.blogspot.com

And here is another LO I did of her on a Harley ride. This was a self portrait that she took with her cell phone while on the bike.


credit: premade LO by Jessica Sprague

photo shoot

I had my very first photo shoot yesterday. I had soo much fun doing it too. I met with a friend of mine that I used to work with downtown Milwaukee. We ended up going to Basses pumpkin farm outside of the Falls. What a great spot for some photos!! Here is one of the photos that I took yesterday.

Coca-Cola Happiness Factory

another album idea

This is #26 from Handbook for Life: 52 Tips for Happiness and Productivity.

Enjoy the simple pleasures. You can find these everywhere. Food (I love berries!), sunsets, sand between your toes, fresh-cut grass, playing with your child, a good book and a warm bed, dancing in the rain, your favorite music. You could probably make a list of 20 simple pleasures right now, things you enjoy that you could find every day. Sprinkle those little pleasures throughout your day. It makes the journey much more enjoyable.

This would be a GREAT mini album idea to do. LOVE this!!

quote of the day

Photography is more than a medium
for factual communications of ideas.
It is a creative art.
~Ansel Adams

doing it digi

I'm taking an online class called 'doing it digi' from Big Picture Scrapbooking. Here are the 2 LO's I created in PSE.