Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all those Dad's out there. When we were deciding whether to have children or not there was one thing I was sure about, my husband would make a great dad. I was right. That is one of the three things my dad and my husband had in common. First, they were and are great dads. Second, they both loved me unconditionally. Third, they loved their girls! Three pretty great qualifications if you ask me.

My dad was never a part-time dad or a dad that did things only a "man" would do. He shared diapering and bathing duty. He never "babysat" his kids, something I hear even young women today say, for example, "I can come if my husband will agree to babysit the kids, otherwise I have to see if my mom can do it." I'm always astounded when I read things like that. Since when did having children, caring for them, nurturing them, spending time with them be something a wife had to ask her husband, the FATHER of their kids to do.

After large family gatherings my dad would volunteer to take all the nieces and nephews to the local park to give the ladies time to clean up and relax. My dad would bandage and take care of some of my more serious "OOPS" moments when I would mangle my fingers or knees and my mom would be too upset or grossed out to do it! My dad took me to the hardware store, the paint store, the lumber yard and the gravel yard, places I still like to go today. He let me help him put furniture together when he went through his "Yield House" phase. My dad was devoted to his mother, who was widowed when my dad was 12 or 13. He took care of her throughout her entire life and visited her regularly even when she didn't know who he was anymore.

My husband is a hands-on, 24/7 parent. He loves to spend time with our daughter and has been a natural since day one. He makes time, invents time, and looks forward to time and activities he can do with Alexa. In many ways he is better with her than I am. I have never, never worried about leaving her with Norman and he has never questioned his abilities or responsibility toward his child.

That old adage that a woman looks to marry a man like her father isn't exactly true for me. Like I said, the only thing my dad and Norm had in common for years was me. Dad didn't understand for a long time what exactly Norman did for a living. He had a hard time understanding the academic life. He also didn't understand how Norm didn't know one end of a wrench from the other and why I did most of the house and home repairs. But I guess when you go deep down to the most important things a woman would want in husband and a father, my dad and Norman were very, very, much alike. In that way, I did marry a man just like my father.

Happy Father's Day - Dad and Norman, I'll love you both always and forever, Donna

Quizzes and Challenges

I was "challenged" by Sharon, my store owner, to make a July 4th layout. She provided me with the paper and embellishments and now I have to come up with a layout - ACCCKKKK!!!! I do OK with a deadline, but not so OK with a blind challenge. That and I don't have a photo to work with. It's Flag Day today and I'm hoping I can get Alexa to pose in her white skirt and red top (that we HAD to get for school today) next to our neighbor's flag banner. I'd feel a bit better attempting a layout if I have a photo to work with.

I found this quiz challenge on Marty's blog and I'm a bit dismayed to find out my color is yellow. I don't feel like a yellow and my favorite color is red, with blue running a close second. What color are you?

YELLOW

You are very perceptive and smart. You are clear and to the point and have a great sense of humor. You are always learning and searching for understanding.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Summer Vacation

Remember when summer vacation from school seemed forever to get here and you had all these cool plans for things to do that never quite worked out the way you thought? I know I'm dating myself, but when I was a kid you left the house after breakfast and didn't return until lunch and then you were out again all afternoon until you could hear your mom calling you for dinner. Then came the negotiations for how long you could stay out after dinner.

There were no gymnastic camps or bead camps or Michael's camp or cheer leading camp. We had three above ground pools on our block in three contiguous backyards and we'd take turns "sharing" with our little brothers. The only "camp" we had was during elementary school when there was still enough money in the school budget to go have summer school (that was fun, not because we failed) where we would have twirling lessons, make lanyards out of plastic string (boondoggle) and clay pots in art. When we were a little older we had a town pool but the fee was expensive and we had to cross the railroad tracks and Sunrise Hwy. to get there and there wasn't any shade and they had way too many rules of things you couldn't do.

Our summer would go like this...One week we were inspired to play "Bonanza" or "Spin and Marty" or "Swamp Fox". We'd fight over who got to be which character and we'd use fence posts for horses, turn over the picnic table to make a house or a boat and exhaust our imaginations until we found the next best thing.

The town would black top the street and we'd break out our roller skates! Who's got a key? That would keep us busy for another week. Then we'd not want to waste all that beautiful smooth black top and someone would produce a piece of chalk or we'd break off a piece of slate from the flower beds and hopscotch would take up another week. Double dutch, or just plain jump rope and Duncan tops would appear. But eventually, we'd drag into the house and whine to mom "There's nothing to do!" My mom's enlightened reply, "Go outside and play!" It never changed!

I'm planning my daughter's summer vacation, yes, planning...There will be a week of gymnastics camp, the one with the trip to Fantasy Island amusement park (a must!), I'm also going to sign her up for a week of "Passion for Fashion" at the school's summer program. I hesitate to sign her up for Michael's Art Camp because I haven't seen the projects and if they don't meet Miss Priss's high standards - I'll never hear the end of it. The rest of the summer it's just her, me and her grandmother, especially the two afternoons I work (what will she do!) I can't say I'm looking forward to summer the way I used to but it will be interesting, I've got to say that and nothing like when I was ten.

Back in the saddle again...

It's been a busy two weeks! In no particular order of importance...

My friend Tracy posted on her blog a week or so ago the challenge of "helping" your child do their school projects without actually doing the project yourself. We had the same dilemma in our house last week. Alexa, along with every other fourth grader at Maple West had to do a project with an oral report on something having to do with New York State. The parameters were pretty wide and the rubric was fairly easy to follow. Alexa chose the Empire State Building(ESB) as her subject. When asked what she wanted to do for the project part she chose to make a model of the ESB. Out of what? - Styrofoam. So off to JoAnne's, Michael's and ACMoore we went to find the one store with all the pieces that fit. As we started to build the model in the store aisles to see what pieces we would need, the ESB grew, not only in height but in $ spent!

We brought everything home and started "construction" with city approved, structurally compatible supplies - otherwise known as a glue gun, Styrofoam spray glue and toothpicks. We finally got the basic structure built - and the 'we' gets a little sketchy here because Alexa is afraid to use the glue gun, over sprayed the adhesive, and spilled the toothpicks. So, Mom (with no patience) built the ESB to Alexa's demanding specifications and vision!

Once totally built, we needed to add windows and spray paint the exterior. To make the windows we (again, Mom with an assist from Dad) used the wooden rectangle end of a small rubber stamp and forced it into the Styrofoam to the tune of over 1600 windows - if my math is right. To be honest, my hand was so sore and I had a HUGE blister on my right thumb that is now a huge callus - that I didn't count the windows at the time, I'm guesstimating. In Alexa's defense on this point, she did not have the strength to press in all those windows (Norman and I barely did!) Finally, we spray painted the entire building 'Silver Champagne' - with 7 cans of spray paint! Then the night before the project was due, I drilled holes in the wooden base (that Alexa painted) and glued dowels in the holes and Norman and I lifted the ESB and attached it to the base. I put on the sticker letters (because Alexa was afraid she wouldn't get them all on and even) and here is the result...

As a post script, Alexa gave her oral report on Tuesday (dressed to the nines) and it went very well. The ESB was a big hit - in more ways than one! It drew a lot of 'oohs' and 'aaahhs' and a few, "Wow, how did you make that!" from a number of students and teachers. We are very anxious to see how 'we' did come grade time!

Also happening last week was Creating Keepsakes Convention (which I did not attend for the 2nd year in a row). My store, Buffalo Stamps and Stuff http://www.buffalostamps.com/ had a booth and I spent some time doing demos for display.

Lastly, I didn't attend the show because the Sweatshoppe Girls - you know who you are ;-), had a summer weekend crop retreat at the Watson Homestead down toward Corning. We had a blast - as always, and are planning to do it again. Here's a photo of Suzanne, Amy, Lynn and Penny working away.

That's about it for last week. This week, we saw cousin Karen from California. We have the 'shed guy' coming tomorrow to layout where our new backyard shed will be going and the 'fence guy' should be calling any day now for when they are coming. Can someone tell me how I did all this stuff when I worked full time?

My Bad!

I know, I haven't posted in over a week. This is going to be shorty until I can get my act together at home. I've been a little busy and still have a lot to do and tell you all about. So here's a preview until I can get it together...
1. Empire State Building - re-creation
2. Sweatshoppe Crop - way too much fun!
3. Busy at store - no wonder I have to go to crops!
4. Company coming - Hi! Karen
5. Home improvement - sheds, fencing and roof, OH MY!
6. Graduations, showers, weddings, vacations...
Until I can download some pixs and update. see you soon!

Challenge

My dear friend Tracy has challenged me or "tagged" me to list "7 Lovely things about Life right now" ... Well, you know me. The glass is half empty not half full in my mind so coming up with 7 things has taken me awhile. To be honest, don't know if I have seven things right now. Let's see what I can come up with.

1. The trees and flowers are starting to bloom. After our winter, this is nothing short of a miracle and considering I think Mother Nature is one of our true miracles, this is such a good thing! (I even snuck across the street to take pictures of the tulips and daffodils in our neighbor's front garden!)

2. As trying and exasperated as I get with her, I have the most lovely daughter in the world! Here is her spring school picture. Her last picture for elementary school as she starts middle school in September!

3. As awful as the world is now, I still have hope for the future. I know there are good people doing good things, selfless things, kind things for people they don't even know about just for the sake of doing for others.

4. NBC cancelled the Apprentice! Hopefully, no more Donald Trump and that hair! (Although "the Donald" said he quit, they can't fire him.

5. It's basball season. Time to go to the "park", where the object is get "home", where getting a "hit" is a good thing. (Thank you, George Carlin) Seventh inning stretches, fireworks after the game, hot dogs and frozen lemonade, sitting in the sunshine on a weekend or watching the stars come out at an evening game. No other sport has players saying "Let's play two!" Thanks, Ernie Banks

6. Opening the windows and having the breeze come in and the heat OFF!

7. Seeing "wildlife" in our backyard. OK, it's just the bunnies, but we have the cutest bunny family that lives in our yard and the adjoining yards. Sometimes one is out front, watching as Alexa gets on the bus.

OK, I did it, seven things. Have a LOVELY week if I don't talk to you sooner.

For Our Moms...

I got a very unexpected surprise for Mother's Day. My BFF Barbara sent me a lovely bouquet of flowers. At first I couldn't imagine why Barb was sending me flowers on Mother's Day. Yes, I have a child, but so does she - two, matter of fact, Tom and Laura. Then I read the card, "Happy Mother's Day and in honor of our moms. Love, Barb"

Barb's mom passed away last September and I spent three of the best days of our friendship with her at her mom's apartment as she prepared for the funeral. It was where I wanted to be, to do what I could to help her the same way she helped me when my mother was dying several years ago.

We've been friends for over 40 years and I consider her my best friend. I think of her often, don't call often enough, and wish we could be closer geographically so we could see each other more often. As the fates would have it, we've never lived close together since we graduated from high school.

Both of our mothers were exceptional women. In many ways they both were a bit non-traditional for women who married and started to raise families in the 1950's. Neither of our moms were the traditional 'June Cleaver' or 'Donna Reed' types. Both our mothers worked outside the home, both were women in their own right - not just our father's wives or the mother's of their children. They saw and understood the need for a woman to have her own identity, to have her own interests and to create their own happiness instead of relying on someone else to make them happy. Neither Joan Scandurra or Zada Kenzie were perfect, but they were our teachers, our inspiration, our comfort and our much loved mothers and we miss them everyday. So to Joan and Zada - Happy Mother's Day from Barbara and Donna

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all my mom friends and readers out there. Here is the cutest cookie bouquet Alexa made me at the store yesterday.

Monday Morning Catch Up!

I am so far behind I thought I'd procrastinate even more and do another blog entry! Couple of things going on. First, had a great weekend at the 'Store'. Robin Beam from Ranger Industries spent the weekend teaching classes and doing demos. She is a pip! Very funny, lots of 'Tim' stories and very patient with me, the non-stamper! She also was very patient with Alexa who wormed her way into spending a good portion of Saturday at the store 'helping'... Here are a few photos. (The cute lady on the right is my boss, Sharon Klima, owner of Buffalo Stamps and Stuff).

It was Derby weekend and since Alexa had me chained to the store I missed Queen Elizabeth at Churchill Downs and the race. The good news is that I had Street Sense as one of my picks along with Curlin so I did OK on my fantasy Derby contest. This may not sound good to you but I finished 4000 something out of 21,000 participants - I'm happy!

I also promised a few photos of the altered stuff I've been doing at the store. Here it goes, hope the photos post BELOW and not above like the last batch!

Lastly, Elisabeth tagged me to list seven quirky things about me. Now, there are a lot of quirky things about me...but what don't you all know...again, not much but here it goes.

1. I'm superstitious about numbers. I won't do important things on odd numbered days if I can at all avoid it, hence my wedding day - 6/26/76.
2. I buy the same calendar every year, '365 days in Italy'. I've been doing this for going on 5 years now. Love a little glimpse of Italy every time I look up at my calendar.
3. Batman is my favorite superhero.
4. I have my own personal astronaut! His name is Scott Parazynski, M.D. He's the cutest guy you'd want to meet, has flown in space several times, once as John Glenn's physician! He is also a mountain climber and an emergency/trauma M.D. When we met at a speaking engagement he made at Keuka College he told me that he "looked forward to flying with me". His next mission, STS-120 is scheduled to lift off on October 20, 2007 - WoooHooo!!!
5. I read Harlequin Intrigues every month - I know, me bad, me bad...
6. I won't buy Exxon/Mobil gas - been boycotting it ever since the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.
7. I eat escargot (snails).

That's way too much info for now. Not sure who I'm going to tag to continue this. We'll see next message. Gotta get back to my disorganized life!

Ocular Proof!

I really do scrapbook, really...Well, all right, maybe not in the traditional sense lately, but I do scrapbook. I also like to do altered items. Everything from paint cans to clipboards to frames. Here is a frame I did after seeing a sample at Buffalo Stamps and Stuff. I'm also working on a series of pre-made albums for a wedding shower. These are the Creating Keepsakes albums that were sold on QVC a year or so ago. I thought they would be great for a newlywed couple starting out. All they will need to do is add photos and journaling. Lastly, I'm going to try a project for the store, BSS and if I can figure out how to scan 12X12 layouts, I've got a fantastic layout designed by Elisabeth that I did last weekend at the store. Gotta get busy!