Check out Rhonna's blog

Check out Rhonna Farrer's blog: http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com. She is giving away 209 digital designs and fonts to one lucky winner.

Christmas Baking

I love Christmas and baking for Christmas parties. This last weekend I made Pecan Tassies for our adult Sunday School party. They are so good and almost like mini pecan pies.

Christmas Cards

I love to make handmade Christmas Cards. I signed up for an online class called The Gift of Words, and I have told myself that I am going to write something meaningful on each card - only a sentence or two, but something unique for each family. Who I am kidding, I'll be lucky to address the cards! Anyway, here are the only two cards I have made so far. (I know, I am running out of time). The one with reindeer is for my sister-in-law and brother-in-law in Virginia, and the other one is for her mother. For the past 35 years or so, her mother has sent us Christmas cards with lovely birds on them.

I love the smell of bread baking

I thought I would share this photo I took of my crescent rolls rising on Thanksgiving morning. I neglected to take a photo as they came out of the oven. I love the smell of fresh bread. The wonderful aroma of fresh bread baking fills my home and makes me happy - and grateful.

Thanksgiving 2008

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. For my Savior, for a warm bed to sleep in at night and for plenty of food to eat, for my son who is intelligent and hard working and is a man of integrity, for wonderful friends, for this country I live in, and so much more...

~Bye for now.

Women of Faith Infinite Grace Conference 2008

I attended the 2008 Infinite Grace WOF Conference at the Ford Center on November 14 and 15. It is always such a fun time to reconnect with women, sing praises, laugh, cry and listen to stories and Bible lessons. Marilyn Meberg gave a wonderful talk that gave me chills. She talked about abandonment and that we were created to be connected. There is a disconnect when one is abandoned; a feeling of shame - "Wasn't I good enough, why did ___ leave me?" She noted that those who have been severely abandoned, especially in childhood, have a need to control others. And an intense need to never talk about that which they are most ashamed of - that something must be wrong with them to cause the other person to abandon them, they must not be worth keeping. The strange thing is, it is only through recognizing those hidden hurts and working through the hurts that one can heal. A couple good verses that pertain to the subject were: Isaiah 41:9 and John 1:12,13. Patsy Clairmont is such a hoot! Anita Renfroe sang a song about Spanx! And, if you go to You Tube, you can see her video that is a remake of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" - It's called "Before I Eat" and you will laugh until you cry. Sandi Patty and Nicole C. Mullen and Mandisa sang their hearts out. Both Sandi Patty and Nicole C. Mullen had their daughters sing with them. And Sandi Patty's husband sang with her - he sang in Italian and has a wonderful voice. One of the photos is of everyone holding up their cell phones for light. I am old enough to remember people holding up lighters.

~Bye for now.

Edmond,OK

I took this photo along 15th Street today. I love watching the leaves change color.

The other photo, of the sky, was taken an hour or so later, as the bad weather was coming into town. I got drenched by the storms later. Not exactly what I had intended, but it is good to be alive. ~Thanks for looking and bye for now.

Autumn

In honor of yesterday's historic elections, and for no other reason than that I felt like it, I took a drive today to Arcadia to visit the historic Round Barn. I spent awhile visiting with Butch in the gift shop. He is apparently always there. He told me he lives right next door. I then stopped at Pops for lunch. As we were getting some storms coming in, I asked the waitress what they do there when there is bad weather. The gas station and restaurant is almost all glass and I can't imagine being in there during a tornado. The waitress smiled and told me that they "get in their cars and drive home".

Time for Reflection

Photos of happier times. These photos are from 1970 and the one of us walking is from our wedding day in 1974. This next photo (actually the first photo, as it turns out) is of a building I would just as soon never set foot in again: The Oklahoma County Courthouse.

Free class on story telling

Jessica Sprague has developed a week long online class on telling your stories called Stories in Hand, and you can register for it beginning today. And best of all - it is free and the class size is unlimited. Check out the link below. We all have stories to tell.

http://www.jessicasprague.com/

Entry for October challenge for Becky Fleck's Pagemaps

I did a little scrapping yesterday with some girlfriends. I scrapped a couple of pages about last Saturday's (October 4, 2008) Race for the Cure in OKC. The first layout is my entry for the Challenge on Page Maps. The second one (with the panel of photos along the bottom, was for my Breast Cancer Survivor Scrapbook.

Another sketch

Thanks for the comments on my previous sketch. Here is another one.

learning to draw

I am trying to learn to draw. The problem is that my sketches never look like the person I am trying to draw. This is my latest. I am afraid the person I was attempting to draw would never guess it was her. Any suggestions? Besides, quit drawing??

thank you card

Here is a thank you card I made today.

Women's Fun Shoot

On September 6th, I took part in the Women's Fun Shoot. I can't believe I did it. I had never handled a gun before. I went with some women from my previous job. We had a blast. It was held at the Oklahoma City Gun Club and there were so many volunteers, it was amazing. We shot and four different ranges, many different kinds of rifles, shotguns, revolvers and pistols. We had safety education, eye and ear protection and individual hands on instruction. I can't say enough good things about the volunteers. And, I can't believe that I hit the target so many times. I have photos of my back at the range where we were shooting at the clay pigeons and the range where I was shooting an old fashioned pistol.

The following Saturday, I took part in a Women's Self Defense class at the PACER center near Baptist Hospital. It was very empowering. I am trying to get way out of my comfort zone.

another card

I made a card yesterday for someone special. Actually, it took me several days to make it, a little at a time, because the metal work is somewhat labor intensive. I still wasn't happy with it, but I am trying to be less of a perfectionist. The quote really summed up where I am right now in my life.

~Bye for now.

Cards

I love to create. I took a class at the local scrapbook store this past weekend. We learned a new technique in stamping using very detailed stamps and putting the ink on with a brayer.

Bookcase

This is the bookcase that was supposed to be pictured in the previous post

I love Crate and Barrel

I am a book person. I needed another bookcase and I wanted one that would fit underneath a large worktable that I have. I ordered the 44" Kendell bookcase from Crate and Barrel. When it came, I was determined to put it together myself. I laid out all the pieces on the carpet. At the end, the back was 1" too long. I was convinced I had followed the directions. I even called customer service. The man was very nice. He even pointed out that one reason they recommend that two people put it together is that sometimes it takes two sets of eyes. At any rate, I unscrewed all the bolts, and I had somehow transposed the right and left ends. Eventually, I got it together, and moved into the room I wanted it in. I felt such a sense of accomplishment.
~ Bye for now

Check out my new Personal Web Page!

I have a new personal web page for my Demarle at Home business. It is http://sharon.demarleathome.com

Rancho Las Palmas

In mid July, I attended the annual convention for Demarle at Home held at Rancho Las Palmas Spa and Resort, about 80 miles east of LA. I was so amazed on the drive from LA to Palm Springs by the number of windmill farms. And the mountains are incredibly brown. It was so HOT there - but beautiful in its own way.
We stopped between LA and Palm Springs at the Hadley Fruit Orchards. They have rows and rows of dates, dried fruit and nuts, as well as organic grains. I bought some almonds and medjool dates. The medjool dates have a rich mahogany color and a soft texture and the sensation of taste and texture in your mouth is heavenly.
We all learned new techniques at the convention. It was exciting to learn about new products, and to participate in the workshops with chefs. Learning about using the inductive heating plate was very exciting - and it is very energy efficient. The Demarle at Home plant in France is pollution free and the products are green and the flexipans have a lifetime guarantee.

Rose

I attended a 'Survive 'N' Thrive' Single Mothers' Conference this weekend. It was put on by Arise Ministries and the theme was Building a Household of Faith and the question was asked: Who is the architect and builder of your home? Shelley Pulliam was the emcee and Pam Kanaly and Laura Sabin Cabinaillas were the keynote speakers. It was hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, and they were very gracious. There were many volunteers from churches across town. The breakout sessions covered a wide range of topics and were full of information and insight. We also had a chance to connect with each other and share both our challenges and triumphs, encourage each other and make new friends. Everyone involved made us feel welcome and loved - the volunteers even gave each one of us a rose and we arrived.

~ Bye for now.

Cards

Thought I would share a couple of cards I made this week.

National Cancer Survivors Celebration 2008

The first Sunday in June is National Cancer Survivors Day and is celebrated across the nation. They go around the room and each survivor has the opportunity to give their name and tell how many years that they have been a survivor - last year one woman had just been diagnosed a couple of days prior to the event. I have posted a photo from that day for 2006 and 2007. This picture is from this year's event and is of me and another cancer survivor whom I have come to know in support group over the past several years and his granddaughter whom I have seen grow up before my eyes from a child into a young woman. John always strives to appreciate life and those around him. We all need to appreciate and thank God for whatever time we have on this earth to share with family, friends and all those we can connect with.

~ Bye for now.

Edmond Arts Festival

Last weekend, May 2nd through the 4th, 2008 was the Edmond Arts Festival. Thursday evening, May 1st, some bad storms with high winds and hail came through and some of the artists who had already set up lost quite a bit. On Sunday, I happened upon this painting and it just seemed to speak to me...I think it said "buy me", so of course I did. Actually, the painting said more than that, but I am not good with words, so I won't even try to explain. The artist, Allison Sangree, is quite an open and friendly woman, that you can meet for just a few moments, and feel like you have been friends forever. She grew up in Trinidad, lived in Canada for a few years, then met her husband in college in the United States and they now live in Pennsylvania. They have a son who is a professional photographer here in Edmond, OK and I got the distinct impression that the Arts Festival was a ruse to see their grandchildren. This painting is named "La Voie", which is French for "The Way" and there is alot of meaning behind the painting. I didn't buy the original, I bought a giclee reproduction (I hope I spelled that correctly). I can get lost in that painting.

~ Bye for now.

OU Graduation

My son graduated today from OU. Last night was the Commencement ceremony at the Gaylord Family Stadium. William Cohen gave a very inspirational speech. Today, May 10th, the various colleges held their convocation ceremonies. The Michael F. Price College of Business Convocation was at the Lloyd Noble Center. I am grateful that my son acquiesced to his old mom and agreed to take part in the graduation ceremony.

~ Bye for now.

One year old

My nephew, Daniel Ethan, turned one on March 28th. I can't believe he is one year old already. I haven't been able to see him since he was two months old. His parents live in Fairfax, Virginia and it is just too difficult to get together very often. I will post his picture. I don't have a scanner, so I took a photo of the photo, and I'm afraid my hands were not steady and it is a bit blurry. I am a proud aunt.

~Bye for now.