Diplomas and Recitals

My sister-in-law, Susie, graduated from college today. We were all so proud of her. Here she is with her parents.

The Two Connelly Girls. (Note the scrapbooking magazine under Connie's arm. She knew the speeches would be boring. We both read the scrapbook magazines she brought and I was quite glad for the diversion. Rude? Maybe a little. But definitely more polite than the people conversing loudly during the speeches.)

Then we ran to get a bite to eat, then went right to the place for Morgan's piano recital. No pictures from that (Steve was manning the camera), but we got some good ones afterwards. Here's Morgan and Susie.

A proud father and his daughter.

Three generations of Connelly women. (Brooke was manning the camera.)

It was a busy day, but a good one!

Lovin' My Scrapbook Room

Today was the first day I got to just to up into my scrapbook room and PLAY! No agenda, no class to plan for, just FUN, FUN, FUN!!!


First, I finished a birthday layout from my April Hostess Club. I didn't put pictures on it for my class because I wasn't sure if I had scrapbooked these photos before or not - and I didn't have time to look! (Actually I have, but only for Morgan's book. This layout will be for MY book!)

The layout incorporates a little flip book for more pictures and journaling. I will cut a window in my page protector so you can access the little book.




I made a Mother's Day card for my sweet mother-in-law. I loved how it turned out. The colors look bland and washed out in the photo, but it really was quite pretty.







I finished a camping layout I started, oh, three years ago or so.

Did this camping layout. My goal was to completely use up a very old camping themed Simply Scrappin' Kit. I did, plus have the beginnings of four cards that can be purposed for any occasion.

I also made copies of the pages for the kids' books. One page layouts for their books because I only scrapbook the pictures that they are in.

I had so much fun that I didn't realize the time! I looked up and realized it was DARK outside - it was 9 pm and I hadn't even thought of supper! Cereal for supper, anyone?


Yup, the scrapbook room is going to be GREATLY loved! I'll have to post pictures of the room itself next time! Who wants to come scrapbook with me?

You're So Vain...

You probably think this blog is about you....

Don't you?

Don't you?

(My "surprise photos" in my camera that I general refer to as "Brooke's Vanity Pics." Taken of Brooke, by Brooke. Tweaked by Mom.)

Talk DERBY to me!

We are big Kentucky Derby fans, even though we've never been to the "real" race. The week before, Steve and the girls generally check out the videos of the contenders and they pick their horse. My "pick" is generally just a whim - the name, the way the horse looks, where the owner or jockey is from, etc.

Last year, Steve decided that our first Big Event in the new house would be a Kentucky Derby Party! The planning started! In April, the hand-stamped and watercolored, printed invitations went out, lauding this event as our "First Annual."

The week before was very busy. I had a detailed list of what needed to be done each day. This was quickly thrown out the window bright and early Tuesday morning when the other daytime medical transcriptionist was transported to the hospital. In addition to all the party preparation, I had to work extra to boot! AND it meant I had to work the weekend. The weekend that I had invited a million people to my house for a party! (Okay, so it was more like 50.)

Last minute prep - in hat, dress, AND apron! The denim Pampered Chef apron did not go with the outfit. I need a frilly apron. (I looked. I couldn't find one.)

The food table. Well, one of them anyway.

The second, and most important, food table - the one with the desserts!!! The Mint Julep Brownies were AWESOME!

We had our own little impromptu "Red Carpet." Me and Elen.

She and her hubby look like they should be modeling, don't they? Such sweet friends. I went to school with Travis and lost touch for more than 15 years. We met again at a mutual friend's birthday party. Now our daughters are best friends!

Christina is not to sure about Brooke's hat!

Our neighbors, Cindy and Anthony. I went to school with Anthony, too! We had also lost touch over the years. I was so surprised when they bought a house on our street! They are great neighbors!

Isabelle and Joshua. Isabelle didn't have a hat, so she borrowed one from Joshua!

Everyone is gathered for the race. We had "high stakes betting" - everyone brought $1 and put it in a jar and wrote down their name and their horse. Earlier in the week, I wrote down my Top Three: Friesan Fire, Mine That Bird, and Chocolate Candy, in that order. When two men wrote down Friesan Fire, I decided to go for the long shot - Mine That Bird! Everyone teased me, especially when the horses walked in. "Look at yours, Ginger! He's asleep!" I told them he was just faking out the other horses and conserving his energy. They laughed at me.

Then he came from second to last place and won the race! No one was laughing then! And I won the enormous $16 purse! LOL!

After the race, we voted for the hat contest. Elen won Fanciest and Connie won Most Creative. Brooke won the prize for the Biggest Hat. Prizes were official commemorative glasses with all the past winners.

We had a ball and hope all our friends had fun, too. We're already making plans for our Second Annual! I can't wait!

Resurrection Sunday

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

My two beautiful girls. Steve and I both had to work today, but at least the girls and I were able to make it to the early service. Wonderful message.

Makeover Time!

Once upon a time, there was this little blue-eyed girl....

...with long hair...

...who decided she wanted a new look.

So off to the salon she went. And three and a half hours later, a young lady emerged.

This young lady looks sophisticated, chic even.

:::sniff, sniff::: My baby is growing up. :::sob:::

I'm So Glad...

....that I bought Steve that "squirrel proof" bird feeder.

Par-tea Time!!!

It doesn't take knowing me long to know I LOVE a good tea party! So when my mother-in-law invited me to come to (and bake scones for) a bridal tea party for a friend of the family, I was ready! We had some awesome food.

I made the scones - Chocolate/English Toffee, Ginger Lemon (my favorite, of course), and plain cream scones. My sister-in-law made the curd - strawberry and lime. My mother-in-law made everything else. (And I happened to be working that weekend.)

My mother-in-law had just painted the room and decorated it for spring. Very cute. And here are the gifts for the bride.

The ladies enjoying tea. We had a different tea with each course. Blackberry sage was my favorite!

Oh, look! Here is one of our elegantly dressed servers. Morgan, when did you become a young lady?

And who is this lovely young guest? That can't be MY little girl! :::sigh:::

It's Rough Being a Cat

Boy, who would ever want to be a cat? They work so hard! Just imagine, in ONE day, Stewart had to do this....




....then he had to do that.....



....and that......

.....and more of this!

Yes, the life of a cat is definitely a rough one. :::sigh:::

Silly Girls

My girls are so silly.

They wanted me to take their pictures the other night while they were goofing around.

They fight so much, it was wonderful to see them laughing together.

I like these times when they are having fun together, being silly, enjoying each other.

A glimpse of things to come? I hope so!

Just Call Him Hairy

Morgan comes home from practicing her piano at Nana's and yells, "Get the camera! Quickly! And BE QUIET!!!"


So Brooke and I grab the camera and follow her - back to the field between the end of our street and my mother-in-law's house. "Look, there, by the tree!" It was a little armadillo, rooting around for bugs or grubs or whatever it is they eat. We followed him around, taking pictures, for probably 15 minutes. He really didn't care.

But he never would give us a good smile. This is the only side of him we could photograph - his back side!

I think this is probably the only time I've seen a LIVE armadillo! Usually they are in the middle of the highway looking a mite poorly. I like this kind better.

Sad, Sad Day

On March 10, around 10:30 at night, my cell phone rang. When I saw who it was, I knew it wouldn't be good. Calls that late usually aren't to impart happy news. The manager of our barn said Lady was colicking.

Brooke took these pictures of the horses on 2/17/2009. All three horses in a row - Punkin, Honeybee, and Lady.

If you don't have horses, you probably wouldn't know that colic is a VERY bad thing in a horse. I didn't. You think of babies with colic and you think "tummy ache." Nothing serious.

Later, when Brooke was looking at the photos, she was shocked to see that Lady was mimicking Honeybee's every step. In almost every shot!

But with a horse, colic can be deadly. I was still working, so Steve and the girls went immediately to the barn while I made phone calls to the veterinary service.

It is like they were synchronized - every step the same.

The vet contacted Steve to get the scoop once Steve arrived. After trying a few things that help for a minor colic, and those things not helping, they decided to bring the horse to the equine vet - a trip 45 minutes away. And it was now midnight.

Even here - all four feet off the ground at the same time - both horses. Weird.

The news at the vet's office was not good. It was very serious and she likely would not make it.

"I'm gonna get you, Honeybee!"

Steve and the girls arrived home around 4 a.m. Everyone was upset. By morning, things had worsened and Steve had to make the decision that no pet owner wants to make - we had to put her down.

Brooke with Lady in January 2009

Writing this today (1 April 2009), I still can't believe she is gone. She was just a few weeks shy of seven years old.

Me with Lady in 2007

I suppose it is every little girl's dream to own a horse. I didn't realize that "little girl dream" until I was 41. But while I owned her, she owned all our hearts. And we will all miss her dearly.