III Lay Out for July

Three lay outs in one month? I'm getting better, maybe. The assignment for this lay out was my friends circle journal. The topic was to pick my favorite flower, include gardening instructions and a photo of myself. I like to say that scrap book paper is like flowers. How can you only pick one? They are all so beautiful. So is the assortment of flowers on this page. They are all from my back yard. I love and enjoy them all. To care for them they need sun shine, water, good soil and lots of love. From my back yard to yours. Have a great day.

Sunny Summer Bees

These pretty bushes are a part of our new landscaping. The leaves are an elongated, moss green color and the flowers look like yellow pom-poms. They sit atop yellow petals with a candy drop in the middle. I just love them. I would have to pull out the plan for the name but they are great. While taking pictures, this little bumble bee decided he wanted his picture made. It felt so good to photograph him. This little guy just made my whole self smile. He worked and worked on the puffy flowers gathering nectar to take back to his hive. Okay, I am sure he has a wife bumble bee and baby bumble bees at home. Check out his fuzzy little body and his wonderful colors. Do you agree? He is summer.

Grace

Sometimes I realize a life lesson in the strangest ways. After a shopping trip with Marlee to "Ulta Beauty", the word Grace has been on my mind. Webster's dictionary defines Grace as 1.) beauty of form or movement 2.) favor; goodwill 3.) prayer of thanks 4.) God's unmerited love for man.

A perfume that I wear defines Amazing Grace as: how you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down the mountain and, so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big gigantic test followed by one big gigantic lesson, in the end, it all comes down to one word, Grace. it's how you accept winning and losing, good luck and bad luck, the darkness and the light.

One more description of Grace that I like is: life is a classroom. We are both student and teacher. Each day is a test. Each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: Grace. Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. It's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce. Being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest, can't help. Being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with Grace and gratitude.

All of this about Grace leads me to my first thought on Grace. My step-mother. She is all of these things. Betty faces life's challenges with the Grace of a saint. She always seems to see the best in every situation and with a smile on her face. When we should be boosting her up, she is thinking of us. Through 3 bouts of breast cancer and now facing a 4th, Betty has encouraged all of us that it will be okay. That God will be there for her.

Betty is the definition and the picture of GRACE. My prayer of her is, please God, watch over her. Heal and bless her. Please give her a peaceful and happy life with a loving family around her. Wrap your arms around her and protect her. Amen

Soul of Pike's Market

Can you tell by the number of post about Pike's Market, that I really enjoyed it? Well it is truly an amazing place. The smells, sights, noise and excitement make up this place. Pike's Market was founded in 1907 and celebrated 100 years of service to the public in 2007. Of course it has gone through many changes. Fish and vegetables have always been the main stay of the market. It is a place for local farmers and fishermen to bring their goods to sell in one location. The little fish monger in the orange with blond hair was the cutest thing. She was like a little pixie selling fish. The Chinese dominated the flower market. The lady with the brilliant smile was my favorite. She just kept arranging flowers and laughing. Past generations of these same Chinese people are the ones who completed the rail road. The fresh fish looked yummy. It was really hard not to get hungry while walking around. Of course there were samples every where. The fresh peaches were a special treat. I also enjoyed the chocolate pasta. Hope you enjoy another slide show from Pike's Market. Click on the web site in my photo collection and then click Soul of Pike's Market. You may have to click slide show also.

Glory in Pike's Market

I am trying to show you the wonderful flowers of Pike's Market in Seattle, Washington. I some how got the veggies and the flowers in the Flower Market set. I will figure all of this out one day. I am normally so good at this stuff but for some reason Flickr is driving me crazy. When I get my good buddy on the phone for directions they will be written down word for word. Just skip the veggies and enjoy the flowers. The lovely Peony pictured is my favorite photo. Peonies are such a gracious ladies flower. To enjoy the flowers of Pike's Market click here and select slide show.

Pike's Market

Pike's Market is the most amazing place. I would love to move to Washington state just for the market. My next couple of blogs will feature the market. The market is an active place with vendors everywhere. There are permanent vendors who have been there forever and there are week-end vendors. I would love to go there to do my Christmas shopping. All of the crafts have to be hand made crafts or local made.

The flowers, fish and vegetables are just beautiful. Today's slide show is in the vegetable market. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. You can purchase everything from grains, fruit, paste and any vegetables you want. Enjoy. Click here to visit Pike's Market vegetable market.

Lay Outs

Okay, Okay, Okay. I know I was going to post a lay-out every week. What can I say. We have be on the road again. I would love to stay home a scrap away. I am not sure how far behind I am. Hope you enjoy what I have done.

The first lay-out was our scrap challenge for our Scrap Club. I was to pick a lay-out out of a magazine and scrap lift it. The "4 Paws Welcome" was mine. When I come home I have 4 4-legged friends who meet me at the door.

The next two page lay-out is of birds and sun sets in Fla. The big pelicans are amazing. I also love to meet friends at the beach to watch the sun set. It is a great way to end the day.

Gone To The Dogs

My dogs have gone to the dogs. Don't you just love them? The shoes are Birki's and yes they are bright blue. It is a good color for summer. They are German made and good for your feet. Great support. I can wear them with a lot of things. Pant, shorts, underwear, you get the picture. Fred loves blue panties. I thought he would love blue shoes. Yes, these are all the thing I said when we were trying on shoes. Freddy's feet always hurt when we are out of town. When go by one of the really good shoe store, in we go. Who could resists these cuties. Okay, you guessed it. It was the dogs that sold me. I love anything with dogs. Our babies are so spoiled it is sinful. The shoe are comfortable and are cute. They can be worn with anything. I still love the cute little dogs!

Granny's Priss

I learned something today that I did not remember about my Granny. My grandmother was a grandmother at the age of 36. She did not want to be called Granny but of course that was her name. I am not sure who was the guilt party for me learning that name. Frances Ann Chapman is my beloved "Granny".

Now on to the subject of this blog. My mother asked me what we did at Scrap Club yesterday? I explained to her that we celebrated my birthday. I was telling her how excited I was about the Queen Cake and my Four loyal subjects. The cakes were Barbie cakes. My sweet little skinny butt friend made them for my birthday. She also bought me a new Magic Wand. If you have read my blog you now all about my wand being in the shop.

I told my Mom about how Debra called me "Miss Priss" or "Priss". She told me that Granny called me Priss or Miss Priss. And that Grandaddy also called me Priss. Debra you will never know how much joy this brought to my heart. I knew I loved you as one of my most precious friends. Thanks for calling me "Miss Priss".