In Appreciation of Those Who Served

Veteran's Day 2014

"We must remember, only the dead have seen the end of war."

"We must remember, only the dead have seen the end of war," Dedicatory sign. Fort Douglas Cemetery, Salt Lake City Utah. I captured this image early morning 17 April 2014. The Fort Douglas Cemetery is the resting place of officers and men who died in the service of their country. They represent Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict. Also interred prisoners of war from WW1 & WW2.

Time Change: Nailed It!

This image is an oldie but a goodie from 2013. Makes me giggle every time I see it!  KeepHerKitty loves the fall time change and the extra hour of sleep. Spring time change...not so much.

Anything Goes Halloween Pumpkin

At 5:40 last night (Halloween) KeepHerKitty's pumpkin remained unadorned and sad. More importantly the KeepHer was not amused. So in panic crafter mode I fired-up the glue gun and opened the bin of spare parts from autumnal crafts of days past. By 6:00 we had this "anything goes" gourd and a pleased kitty who promptly ignored any further haunting night hoopla.

Happy Halloween

A few images of KeepHerKitty's decor.

Throwback Thursday: KeepHer's First Pumpkin

KHK: October 2007

At just over a year old in October 2007 KeepHerKitty was still infinitely curious about everything. Sadly, that interest has waned in favor of longer naps and the pursuit of feline human manipulation. (Yes, I'm her servant girl! And she is an Oscar winning manipulator. Cat people will understand this.)

Here she inspects her very first Halloween Pumpkin, to her it must have seemed to be just a big round catbird seat. Seven years later her calico markings are as sharp as ever and her white fur sparkles.

 

 

 

Tomorrow we shall decorate her 2014 Halloween pumpkin! 

This is the gourd in waiting.

 

 

  Last year we glittered her mini-pumpkin.

She was disappointed it was too small to be used for a roost.

 I'm going to suggest to her  we decorate with clever Silhouette cuts adhered with school glue for this year's original object d'art.

I'm concerned she may not let me get away with something simple.

Watch for the update tomorrow!

See more of our Halloween 2013 Here.

Happy Halloween-Eve Everyone!

Paper Crafting: Halloween Luminary

This is a sweet little Halloween  Luminary I made using the Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine. The cut file is Design  ID #49781 by talented designer Samantha Walker. 

For the frame I used Color Core Cardstock from the Signature Series. The lantern is lined with Silhouette brand vellum. I embellished each pumpkin on the four side panels with glitter. Using beaded ribbon from my stash I added trim to frame the panels.

ColorCore Cardstock on Amazon

The  clever cut file includes a bottom on which a flameless tea light may be set to illuminate this magical lantern from within. Do not use a flame candle in this decoration and risk sending you spooky celebration up in smoke. 

The Luminary measures approximately 5.5-inches tall and 2.75-inches square. The top closes with a drawstring, I used chenille thread in dark purple for contrast. It took just over an hour to create and cost about $1.95 in materials.

For more fun-not-scary  Halloween ideas follow out my Pinterest Board: Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Whatever Goes: Lasagna and Pumpkins Oh My!!!

Are you looking for something crafty to do, but just don't know what you are looking for? Oh yes, happens to anyone with the itch to craft. I've found a great inspiring resource over at Someday Crafts. It's a weekly Linky party called, "Whatever Goes Wednesday." Bloggers from around the world drop by and share their latest accomplishment - it can be anything! That's why Someday Crafts calls it "Whatever Goes"!

Here are a just a few of the hundreds (and I do mean HUNDREDS) of links shared this week that caught my eye:

Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts: October 22 2014



From the girls at Home. Made. Interest. this recipe for kid-friendly Spinach Lasagna Roll-ups looks irresistible. I may not have anti-spinach kids, but husband is a definite no-show at the spinach bowl. I think I can get this one by him, though!  Check it out at Home. Made. Interest.
http://www.homemadeinterest.com/

Spinach Lasagna Roll-ups




The next few Whatever Goes linkys that caught my eye feature seasonal pumpkins decorated and adorned unconventional non-Jack O'Lantern ways. Check these out:

Paw Prints, Absolutely!!!
Check this out from Not a trophy wife.
Puppy Paw Prints across Our Hearts and Pumpkins!

Hi Everyone- We are in puppy heaven and I just had to add a little bit of our Bernese Mountain puppy bundle of fur  into our décor. I found an old paw print stencil and added a  few paw prints.
 

Get the full tutorial here

 

Witchy Pumpkin:

Continuing our unconventional pumpkin decorating for Halloween take a look at what Pam has done at Pams Party and Practical Tips:

"I then pulled out a paper mache witch hat that I recently bought at the craft store and painted it black.  I used some of the leftover ribbon from my wreath and strips of tulle to decorate it.I thought the witch hat would be a fun way to decorate a pumpkin if we do not end up carving all of them."



 

Starry Pumpkin

And Lastly, I love love LOVE the Starry Pumpkin from Rachel at Architecture of a Mom:

Starry Pumpkin
"Are you still looking for simple Halloween decor? Try this star decorated pumpkin in your home-you can even have the kids help out!"
 
Link Here for the Details

Throwback Thursday: Sweet Gentle LadyBo

My first grown-up doggie was a purebred Samoyed named Lady Bojangles of Camelot.

"A hardy and eager worker, the Samoyed is known for black lips that curl slightly at the corners into the "Samoyed smile." Bright and alert, he likes to stay busy and enjoys participating in agility, herding, weight pulling, sledding, pack hiking, conformation shows and more! His heavy, weather resistant coat is suitable for very cold climates and should be pure white, white and biscuit, cream or biscuit."  American Kennel Club

Oh how I loved this special creature, and she was equally loyal to me. Don't you just love her "Samoyed Smile"? She and I, we went through some tough times and more than once she was sent away to my parents or to friends as I worked myself out of a most difficult marriage.

I'm sure this gypsy-life took a toll on my girl as her life was shorter than it should have been. But I'm pleased to say she spent her last years in the loving care of me and my forever husband Jim.

Diabetes (see note) took her eyesight, but not her heart. In the last year of her life she made her way about following bells carried by myself, Jim, or her best buddy Howard, the Old English Sheepdog. She never cried or whined a sniff. How brave she was.
 
In this image she was about 18 months old and dressed as a good witch for Halloween. That's me with her, so young and dumb, and so grateful to have her by my side. She's been gone for a very long time now, yet I miss her still.

A white lilac blooms on her grave each spring to remind me of her pure heart, loyalty, and true love. I'm thinking of you sweet gentle LadyBo on this very poignant Throwback Thursday.




Note: "Diabetes mellitus similar but not identical to human Type I (insulin deficiency): The disease occurs in middle-aged Samoyeds, the mean age at diagnosis is seven years. The cause is a chronic inflammation of the pancreas and / or autoimmune destruction of beta cells of islets of Langerhans. Moreover, in affected dogs autoantibodies were found to insulin. Currently, several genetic markers are discussed as possible causes." Wikipedia: Samoyed