11.22.2013 Metals and Paint

3 years ago when I was in Savannah, I bought a ball and chain necklace with a Venetian glass bead.  It was black and copper looking, swirled glass.  I wear the necklace often.  The cool thing about this necklace, is that the part with the pendant unhooks, and you can swap out pendants!  When I learned I was going back to Georgia for work, I told my coworker I have one request...a quick stop at Metals and Paint, because I want to buy a pearl pendant.

Metals and Paint is run by a husband and wife team, and they have hired one other employee now.  They make all their jewelry and sell paintings from one artist. I wondered if they would still be open, and in the same location, after all this time.  And they are!  They do not have a website, because they would not be able to keep up with internet orders.  You can however, go to their facebook page, look at photos, and call them to order. They do amazing work.

Metals and Paint

10.2013 TED talks

Some people made fun of me because of my love of the Blackberry.  It was a sturdy phone, with a full keyboard, and I love that Blackberry compresses their data, so I didn't have to pay much for having a "smart" phone.

This screen shot of a blackberry curve is as close as I can get.  How i miss the freckle button, and the user friendly, ease of function! When Katie and I went to upgrade, I told the sales person that I text, and I take photos, so the Samsung Galaxy S4 had a 14 pixel camera....

There are things I do like about the Galaxy.  It functions more like a tablet, with a full viewing screen, so it's much easier for me to see than the small blackberry screen, and I use the phone in different ways.  I love the Google App Store!  Easy to add apps and shortcut buttons, for pinterest, twitter, etc. However, my favorite and most used app, by far, is the short cut to TED talks. www.ted.com

The link will take you here, to a plethora of topic choices in every range imaginable! They truly are "riveting talks by remarkable people"!  I love the 15 minute inspirational talks.  As I wait for a dental appointment, I can listen to a TED talk! As I wait in the airport...TED talk.  Can't sleep at night?  TED Talk! I encourage you to save the link as a favorite on your desktop, or your mobile device or tablet, so you to can be entertained, informed, or inspired.  Best.Site.Ever!
So basically, the Samsung Galaxy 4 has changed my life.  However...I am tempted by the 41 pixel camera of Zach and Em's Windows phones!

9.2013 Bear Scouts

Another year of scouting activities has begun.  This is a photo of Joe and another scout selling Boy Scout Popcorn.

In addition to going door to door to our neighbors, Joe sold at the indoor farmer's market in the mall, pictured here, and outdoors at Walmart on opening day of hunting season.  People were very generous and happy to support the scouts. Many hunters told us they were former scouts, or their sons were.  Thank goodness this is the sole fundraiser!
We have already been taking field trips...to Miedema Sanitation, to the public Landfill, and to the Daily Republic. One of our scout's grandfather made the pieces for the boys to construct bird houses for one of our winter building activities! Scouting has so many beneficial activities.  Cole, Kobi, Conner, and Joe are nice young men to work with.

11.16.2013 Joe's first crossword

This morning I asked Joe if he wanted to do the crossword puzzle on the Kids' Page.  He loved it!  Grandpa Bill is surely smiling down on Joe today!  Joe and I did all the activities in the Saturday paper.  Joey liked it so much that he went to the recycling bag and started digging for last Saturday's Kids' Page as well. A new discovery!  We have always been "newspaper" readers.  I am pleased to see Joey heading down that path as well.

10.2013 Welcome Miles!

We waited throughout the day for news, knowing that Matt and Mauri were at the hospital.  Matt called to say, "He's here!" and we could hear the emotion in his voice. The miracle of Miles Jameson had arrived, and we could hear him crying in the background.  We went to meet him for the first time when he was 6 days old.

Here is snoozing Miles, all swaddled up, with his happy parents, Matt and Mauri.  Look at his pretty hair!

Miles with Aunt Katie! It was Katie's first visit to Matt and Mauri's home, as well.  She could never take time off when she was going to school. 

Miles with "extreme baby hog" Uncle Joe!

See what I mean?  Baby hog!

Still hogging...

Seriously Joe...let the rest of us have a chance!

Finally, Grandpa Dan and Grandma Stacie get a turn.

One of my favorite things about Miles, was the way he would look for Mom and Dad when he heard their voices.  He also would still when I sang to him, as though thinking, "Who are you?"  

Here's an "eyes open" picture. I see some of Matt, but truly, I think Miles resembles his Grandpa Phil a lot. 

I love his "Sweet Pea" first Halloween costume, with his little newborn face. 

Many more precious photos to come, I am certain. 

We love him already.  Thank you Matt and Mauri, for all you have done to get him here safely.