Today would have been my husbands 67th Birthday

Happy Birthday to my Angel in Heaven.

Can't believe it's been 4 yrs since we celebrated your 63rd. We went to Olive Gardens with our dear friends. My best friend, who introduced Paul to me in June 1965, and her husband. It was such a delightful evening.

My cousin John (I only have 2 cousins, John and his brother Jim), also shares the same birthday.
Paul and John were both born in Buffalo, NY on March 5 in the same year, John at Millard Fillmore Hospital and Paul at south Buffalo's Mercy Hospital. John who grew up in California, his dad, my uncle - was the crew chief for the test pilot - Chuck Yeager...so in the 1940's there was lots going on out at Edward's Air Force Base - breaking sound barriers and all.

John eventually in his adult life ended up living on the East Coast in Long Island, and got a job being a crew/manager for a guy that owned pleasure and racing yachts...one of which my cousin managed.

Even though John and Paul only had seen each other on a few occasions in our lives...they quickly became friends. John really liked Paul.

In 1997 - John called Paul asking him if he wanted to be a crew on the Yacht he managed, helping sail it from its winter home in Tortola back to NYC. John said the trip could take 9 to 20 days depending on the weather and all. Unfortunately Paul didn't have that amount of vacation time available - we had other plans already in the works. Paul wondered if John would ever ask him again. And thankfully in 1998, Paul finally got his chance. It was a thrill of a lifetime for Paul to sail & crew for John on the trip up the east coast. And Paul was lucky enough to crew a few more times, one trip in 2002 he crewed on the sail from NY to Antigua in January and then got to crew/sail it back in the spring.

This is one of my favorite photos
John is second from Left and Paul is 4th from the left
- this was taken in May 1998.
Happy Birthday Paul
Love You Everyday
Miss you in Every way!

This is the Card I gave to him on our 18th Wedding Anniversary
photo taken - the island of St. Martin in October1985

My Snowman

Snowman Digi Layout created Dec 13 2011 that I posted all this same info on Facebook, the Hugsisters forum and now my Blog - so yes if you think you've seen this before, this is DejaVu

Recently I saw on Facebook that one of my favorite artists who creates wonderful clipart and art prints, and other items, had for sale at her Etsy store - some delightful handmade Snowmen ornaments. I wrote to Karla Dornacher - asking more information about the ornaments, as they didn't come up on her stores page. She wrote back saying she only had 2 left and she hadn’t yet posted them to her store. I shared with her my story about my sweet Paul's nickname "My Snowman", and also that I had been collecting Snowmen and Snow themed ornaments for years, and my grandson Josh collects Snowmen too. She graciously with her HEART offered to let me buy "both" of these unique ornaments. After returning from my trip to California, the ornaments arrived today and I couldn't wait to hang them up, the red hat one, I placed beside the Tree shaped ornament with Paul's photo inside. His favorite part of Christmas was "our" tree every year. But I would always kid him - that the trees needed "MORE LIGHTS" - there were never enough for me ;-). So included in this layout I made - I used graphics from a clipart set by Karla Dornacher named "Pure as Snow". Which was just perfect to use.

Info/Graphics Credits
Karla Dornacher
http://www.karladornacher.com/
Blog
http://www.karladornacher.typepad.com/
Karla's post about the Snowmen ornaments
http://karladornacher.typepad.com/karlas_k...nowman-fun.html
Karla'sEtsy Shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/karladornacher

Graphics Set I used: Pure as Snow available via Karla's Etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/karladornacher?section_id=7008653

Font I used “SP You’ve Got Mail” – No, I can’t remember where I got it sorry :-(

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I came to know of Karla, through another one of my favorite artists - Audrey Jeanne Roberts, it was through AJ's Blog that she had a link to Karla's Blog - I was amazed both with Karla's art and creations, but also her Christian writings and the ideas and thoughts she shared. When any of us is fortunate enough to be able to "know" and "dialog" with our favorite artists - it is really something Extraordinary.

I so appreciate getting to know artists like Karla, but also others such as Laurie Furnell, AJ Roberts, Carolee Jones, Tammy DeYoung, Gina Jane, and Shelly Comiskey...

I never thought when I was first buying clipart, that I would EVER have contact with the actual "Artists" - I feel Blessed by their Friendship and Humbled by their Giving Spirits.

Some of my favorite artists Blogs, or where they sell their Clipart and more

Audrey Jeanne Roberts

Audrey's Blog http://audreyjeannesblog.com/

Store on Aimee Asher http://www.aimeeasher.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=25

Zazzle Shop http://www.zazzle.com/audreyjeanne

Gina Jane

Daisie Company http://www.daisiecompany.com/storefront.php

Laurie Furnell

Laurie’s Blog http://lauriefurnell.blogspot.com/

Laurie’s Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/lauriefurnelldesigns

Laurie’s store on Aimee Asher http://www.aimeeasher.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=67

Shelly Comiskey

Shelly’s Blog http://shellycomiskeydesigns.blogspot.com/

Shelly sells her downloadable clipart collections at Daisie Company

Tammy DeYoung

Tammy’s store on Aimee Asherhttp://www.aimeeasher.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=9

Tammy at one time was the gal behind the Blog on Aimee Asher too: http://aimeeasher.com/shop/

Joy Hall sells her clipart also at Aimee Asher http://aimeeasher.com/shop/

**Carolee Jones hopes to be opening an Etsy store in the near future to sell her wonderful Clipart sets.

Carolee Jones sells her downloadable clipart at DAISIE Company, NOTE:**currently as of Sept 17, 2012, there has been a change in hosting web servers for Daisie Company and all of the Artists sets and/or printables etc. may not be available at this time. Carolee Jones is one of those artists that at the moment, her art is NOT available - so keep checking back at: Daisie Company

Her blog http://caroleejones.blogspot.com/

Note: all these gals are on Facebook too

Seasons of Love

As it approaches the end of the 2nd year marking Paul's passing from his life on earth, I am often lifted up by listening to the beautiful words of the song from the musical Rent : Seasons of Love by Jonathan D. Larson

How Do You Measure a Life?

Lyrics | Rent lyrics - Seasons Of Love lyrics

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cherish the LOVE you Have & Receive for/from those in Your own Seasons of Life.
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The Way We Were...

Just unpacked a few more boxes today...still about 125 to go :-(
But slowly and surely I'm getting there - should be able to start living in the house day to day by end of April.
One of the boxes held some books, one of which was my Senior Highschool Yearbook from 1965!!!

This Summer - the Class of 65 from Buffalo's Riverside Highschool is having their 45th Reunion. I haven't made up my mind yet if I'm going to make the trip back to Buffalo for that. It certainly was fun sharing the yr book with my grandkids and telling them stories about the ole days ;-)

Here's some pics I scanned in:
This is "ME"...minus 40lbs ago

I was in a class of 400+ baby boomers. I wasn't popular or with the "in" crowd by any means - but the 4 yrs weren't all bad. When I was a junior - I remember walking through the local Mall with a couple of girlfriends and glanced over to a guy walking along the other side of the Mall and knew he was in my school class as well, but didn't really know him. I told the girls how much I would really love to go to the Senior Prom with such a Cute Guy. Fast forward to the Spring of my Senior Yr...and the guy I had been seeing off an on - said he didn't want to go to the Prom at my school because he was already a freshman in College. So I asked another guy from another school who said he wasn't free that particular date. Then I found out that my off/on boyfriend WAS GOING TO THE PROM with another GIRL from my class!!!!!!!! I sat at my lunch table with a friend (Bonnie) and cried and cried. She said - well I think I can fix you up with a guy...and guess who it was...Mr Dreamboat from the Mall! :-) I couldn't believe that My Fantasy came TRUE!. My mom got me a beautiful pink / white dress and I felt like Cinderella (Pretty in Pink). I had the most wonderful evening and the next day we went to the beach. He actually had begun dating the gal that fixed us up, but she already had a Prom Date that she didn't want to change. So it worked out, that I could make my on/off again boyfriend jealous and he could make my friend a bit jealous too....such a good time we had that night ;-)

Here's a pic of Mr Dreamboat
he was very handsome in a Tux

This is my best friend (Marlyis) then and she still is now -
She lives in Buffalo and I miss her very much down here in Florida.

She introduced me to my sweet Paul in late May of 1965, 2 wks after the Prom. He at the time worked with her then fiance' and we doubled on a date. That's when "Our Story" began.
So...this is what happened: I did make the on/off boyfriend jealous on that Prom night and then 2 weeks later when I started seeing Paul - I stopped by on/off boyfriends house with "Paul" waiting out in his car while I returned something to the on/off guy...
I know not very nice of me, but what ya gonna do with a 18yr old's raging hormones, for Cute Blond guys. Paul and I dated for about 3wks when the on/off guy wants to get back with me. I tell Paul that I am going to go back to this guy and he say's OK...it was fun while it lasted. But then I find myself a couple weeks later, once again not trusting mr on/off and "I" break it off. I ask Marlyis if she thinks that Paul would ever go out with me again, she said she was a bit miffed at me at the way I was acting so - if I wanted to go out with Paul again - I would have to call him myself. I got up the courage and did just that...and 27 months later we got Married :-)

Here's what he wrote in my Yearbook late that summer of 65.

I sure am glad he signed that book...as I am very happy to think of him when I do open it now.

I can't believe it will be 2 yrs on April 19th since my sweet Paul passed away. The memories of The Way We Were are still...misty water colored...................

The Way We Were
Songwriters: Bergman, Alan;Bergman, Marilyn;Hamlisch, Marvin

Memories, light the corners of my mind
Misty watercolor memories of the way we were.

Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
smiles we give to one another
for the way we were.
Can it be that it was all so simple then
or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
tell me would we? Could we?
Memories, may be beautiful and yet
what's too painful to remember
we simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter we will remember
whenever we remember
the way we were.

The house will be Closing - YAY!

Just found out the my Buffalo house will be closing on Friday - YAY!. I am sure the new owner is very happy too. It was hard leaving that home, but I know the new owner will enjoy many happy yrs in it. It's a good ole home :-)

My daughter and I have toured around a bit looking at houses within a 10-15 mile radius of her home. Gotta stay in "my drivable circle". Those who know me, know what I mean by "drivable" ;-)

I am leaning towards "newer" rather than older and at communities that have a mix of ages. I know that there are advantages of living in a Active Adult community like those at Heritage Lake nearby my daughters home. But I also know there are communities that offer club houses, work out rooms, and the opportunity to get involved in things. So its just a matter of making up my mind on what kind of lifestyle I would feel most comfortable in on a day to day basis. Sure is scary thinking about all of this without Paul in my life. Up until he passed away - I never could imagine "life alone" - and now here I am.
God, family and friends will get me through this "new beginning". And Paul remains ever in my life as a guardian angel.

I am liking living here in New Port Richey with my daughter and my wonderful grandkids...life is very good! And soon I'm sure I will find my own spot to grow and live in. As long as I have faith in God, family and chocolate - I can do anything!

I'm in Florida..

yippee!

My sister and I arrived on Wednesday night. We had a nice drive down from Buffalo.
I will take my time to look for a place of my own. Living with my daughter and her family is a wonderful thing for me right now.
The 7th of October will be my 42nd Wedding Anniversary. I miss Paul soooooo much, but am grateful for the many marvelous memories we shared. Hard to imagine my future without him in it, but I am moving forward and hoping for lots more time here on this Earth.

saying good bye to my home of 37 yrs


my sister packing up the car at our last over nighter in South Carolina..only 450 miles to go to Florida


My sister and I (I am on left) - she left on a Jet Plane..going home to Jacksonville and her hubby. She was an absolute treasure to have with me for the month of September. She did the majority of box packing, compiled spread sheets of everything that's in the PODS, and was my go too gal for everything and anything I needed. Thank YOU - Carol!!! Love Ya!!

Can you see what I see...

Do you see what I see?
I was sitting on the sofa a couple days ago...lost in thought about all the things I have going through my mind since the "House" has sold. It SOLD after being on the market only 9 days!! So needless to say I wasn't prepared for it going that fast and now my mind is racing, with everything I need to do to be out of the house by Sept. 30th. While sitting there ... I spotted a marking on the rug in front of a console that I have photos of Paul and I on - that to "me" anyway - looked like the shape of a "heart". On the console itself I have a photo of Paul with a "heart" shaped ROCK that my grandson had found in a park stream last year when he and his family were home here for Pauls funeral. Paul had always collected rocks on all the trips we ever went on. For Josh to have found this particular rock on his outing - I knew just had to be a sign from my Angel - Paul. Maybe only my eyes are playing tricks on me...but can you make out a heart shape in this picture. Update: others who have looked at this - shape or marking on the carpet see a large Letter "P" and now that I look at it - I can see that as well - A definite "Double" blessing of Paul signaling me that he is with me always. Here is the rock with the photo on the console

and this is the console which I saw the heart shape in the carpet in front of it as I sat on the sofa
Paul is always showing himself to me through signs when I need him most, its just one of those everyday miracles that I cherish. For me that Heart shape in the rug was him standing there looking over at me..letting me know he is here and that everything is going to be OK.

Sometimes you can get lots for nothing

I do my share of shopping online for graphics, and digital kits - and have spent hundreds of dollars in the process. But I also enjoy the many, many Freebies offered up by amazingly talented digital designers and artists. Today I was going through my ritual of browsing IkeaGoddess's blog and found some really nice kits - but one set really caught my eye - a kit of 3 ribbon frames by Fanette
that you can find on her blog:
http://ledigiscrapdefanette.blogspot.com/

I made up this digital layout below kinda fast - took me awhile to find a photo to use - I only have a limited amount of photos on this laptop, I have with me in Florida. Most of my digital pics are on an external drive or cds - back home in Buffalo.
The photo is of me and my sweet Paul - oh I do miss him - I thought the ribbon tied up our love nicely and the drops coming down from the cloud are our tears for "each other".
He is my Guardian Angel.


Other nice FREEBIES I found surfing online today :
Visit The Daily Digi daily!- they've got lots of news, ideas, and things to share
like this:
Paper bag album how to with free graphics downloads
http://thedailydigi.com/happy-valentines-day-from-us/
**Related: over at the pcCrafter Forums - I have a thread in the
Instruction Junction Forum with resource links to making
Paper Bag Albums

"What Katie Scrapped" freebies *there are lots of places for Digital Freebies
but this was a new site for me found today.
http://digiscrappingqueen.com/blog/?page_id=119

Nice FREE Fonts **there are lots of places for FREE Fonts
But these are whimsical and nice for journaling
http://kevinandamanda.com/fonts/fontsforpeas/
and
http://www.kevinandamanda.com/scrapbook/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/

For software users of Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro

Photoshop Elements Short Cuts keys **PDF document
http://darksideofthelens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/elements-shortcuts.pdf

Paint Shop Pro Short cut keys
http://www.hypergurl.com/shortcuts.html