For those of you that don't know..........I'm part of a group of 10-12 scrapbookers that have a retreat at least 3 times a year here in the Valley, actually in Talent.  After many duds we finally found a place that we love and have had our last 6 (?) retreats there and have booked the next two!
I just received a request to review the "farmhouse" at the retreat center on VRBO.  For those of you that don't know VRBO, it is "Vacation Rentals By Owner", a great site to find homes and apartments to rent anywhere in the world.  I actually used the site for my Italy trip this past year and they were "right on" about everything that was listed.  It is a less expensive alternative to most hotels.  I turned on a friend over here at work to the site and he's booked an apartment on the coast of Spain for this fall. If you are looking for a less expensive way to travel go to http:www.vrbo.com

(photo taken 2008)

This is strange I have this scheduled to post tomorrow morning but it's posting now?????

The phone rang at 7:20 a.m. and it was the "transportation" clerk at the HS to let me know that dear Roberta, our school bus driver was late because she was "chaining up".   I thought.........for what?  Opened my blinds and lo and behold the above pictures show what I saw!   Pete was up and in the den, gave him a shout to grab Rocky down the road and take him to school, called Rocky to tell him Roberta was not on her way and dad was getting dressed and heading down.

So, it's like I kept telling everyone don't get used to the wonderful Spring-like weather we've been having the past month because Old Man Winter might make a reappearance. 

On my way to work at 11:30am the snow above was gone but it was still cold and it was pouring in town. 

Well, it looks like I will be on to Course 2.   Most of the girls in the class wanted to do it and I said I would pass and they went crazy, saying I had to take it.  The only other thing I want to learn is a little about fondant and I want to get a GREAT royal icing recipe.  Teacher said we would hit on those 2 things,  so...........I bought the next kit.

This class will be on Thursdays and I will be missing 1 to celebrate Laura's b-day. 

Oy, more cake!  Hope I survive!

Today!    I will finally be done with this and then.........it's Pete's turn (again)

Here are my latest creations.......

Since I made a cake and cupcakes, I decided to take the decorated cupcakes to work and everyone loved them!   The cake is gone, devoured by Wednesday night (the guys), I had a fork-full just to taste. 

Next Monday is my last class and hopefully I will be able to make a rose........we'll see.  

I don't think this is the prettiest picture of me, oh well, my feet, not my best side, that's for sure, but someone has requested this......

This is my souvenir from Italy!   This past weekend my right toe nail finally fell off.  

My shoes fit but I think with all the hill climbing, cupola climbing and all the walking in general, my big toes just kept pushing the front of the shoe.  I complained to Pete when we got to Pisa but I'm sure he thought I was just whining......when we got home and I took off my nail polish and he saw my toes, his jaw dropped.  I usually am a good trooper and I don't complain unless it is warranted!  Luckily I had an extra pair of shoes that worked out great!

The never ending den cabinet saga continues!    I had such a busy weekend with the cabinets being my priority.  First thing Saturday I couldn't get out of bed so I had to nurse my back first!   Then out to poly what was stained (since it was such a great day).  In between polyurethaning wood I did 4 loads of wash, bathed Shady and trimmed his feet, washed his bed and re-planted some of my seedlings.  I was not able to get the big piece stained so Sunday that was my priority until I tried to tac it and the tac cloth kept catching!   I had to sand the crap out of that piece until I could finally stain.   Needless to say I was a little fustrated!   In between that I baked 24 cupcakes, had a cake wreck, baked another cake, made 2 batches of icing (for the cake and cupcakes), made dinner and went to a play at 8pm!  Whew, I had to come to work to get some rest!  If I wasn't so tired I was going to finish icing my cupcakes (cake was already done) but at 11:30 pm, I pretty much was done!  Oh, I forgot to mention I also worked on 4 canvas boards I'm making for my wall, more info on that later with pictures. 

By the way the play was great!   "Cat On A Hot Tine Roof".

Got up this morning to finish icing my cupcakes and make the buttercream for decorating tonight (no exercise this morning).  Tonight is my third class, so photos tomorrow.  I'll be missing a little of "Dancing with the Stars" but the guys will be real happy when they see me :)

I made this in 2000.

Made this in 1999.

A few of my favorite Easter decorations!

Hey, I grew this!!!!!!!!
My daffodils are up and so are the crocus, allium, slower but a couple are showing their heads and a couple of my bearded irises are showing their heads, which is a surprise because it said they they might not pop up the first year!
On the daffies, a couple have flopped over! When I read all the literature it said not to bunch them so I didn't but I also didn't scatter them (didn't think I'd like that), but I did plant them in a long row, can I take them out after their gone and put them in different places?

Yes, the mess goes on...............BUT, we are getting closer!

My weekend job continues but will come to an end by Sunday!!!!!!!

Pete has installed the "walls", those I had poly-ed already, and he built out the outlet, now he's just waiting for me to "get r done"!

Can't wait! Next week I should be posting photos of my finished room!

The finished product, I squiggled that line at the last minute, I felt like my cake needed a title, lol!
The classroom, messy!

Not sure about using this............let me know.

Making the buttercream frosting..........

Well, my first class was last night and I was prepared as much as I could have been, although as many times as this woman called me should could have given me more info.

You were supposed to bring an iced cake, of course I missed Class #1 so I didn't bring an iced cake because I missed "icing 101". Everyone walked in with a "blue" cake - lol! They got the book last week and knew which cake they would be working on.

I arrived as early as possible and she tried to catch me up and I caught up pretty fast although I didn't have everything (like extra bags and couplers). Believe it or not there is an art to "icing" your cake! I can't believe how much I learned. First of all, no matter how many times I read the boxes on the bags, couplers, tips, etc. I didn't get it! Now I get it and I know how to use some of the tips and how to start a rose, by the fourth class we will have progressed to making a full rose (don't know about that).

Let's talk buttercream............the Wilton recipe calls for Crisco, I have always been deathly afraid of it! I fear of having a full blown heart attack once I eat it! I read the can and it says it contains 50% less saturated fats than butter! Do you think that's right? I think I need another recipe because I'm scared to keep using it. It does hold up pretty well and is great for decorating and it is light and tasty.

Next week we need to bring cupcakes and an 8" cake too, if we want. She said to ice the cake with any frosting we want but to bring a batch of the deathly buttercream for decorating.

If YOU have a buttercream recipe you love could you send it my way, please.

If you want a super duper polyurethane, this is the one, I used it on the bookcases!
Toxic!!!!!

Not a great picture but these have one coat and I need to give them a light sanding and Pete can install..............the outside cabinetry will get 2 coats with sanding in between each coat.

Saturday - scrapbooking at the Library, there were only 4 of us but, hey, I got plenty done!

April 10th next month, so mark you're calendars, if you're interested.

Sunday, I finished staining all the pieces except for the big top piece. I also poly-ed the inside pieces and miscellaneous pieces so that Pete can install, hopefully soon. The top piece I will stain as soon as everything else gets poly-ed since that piece takes up a whole lot of space. I should be done by Sunday, woo-hoo and then..............it's Mr. La Pierre's ballgame!

Yesterday we were told that it would not be long, that Peter would pass away soon, his brother that lives in Colorado was told to come out and he did. This morning I got a call from Linda Fern at work to tell me that Peter had passed away. We knew it would happen soon, but it still doesn't matter because it still makes you cry. It was not even a month since we had our last Development staff meeting when he told us he would not be working any longer and was going to stay home and enjoy whatever time he had left.

Peter was ready, he wasn't in pain, he was home with Randy and their 2 dogs and he was cognizant. He and Randy had a great life, they traveled extensively and lived life fully.

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. Mark Twain

He was a great boss, he always made me a part of the team even though I work half for Development and Marketing, he always told me he felt I was completely "his". He was very generous. He had the most wonderful sense of humor, our department will be different, never the same, because he can never be replaced, but we will go on.

They will be a big memorial at the Festival for him in the future to be revealed at a future date.

This is the book, I sent Cindy for her 50th birthday, hope she gets it in time and loves it!

There is a beautiful give-away at Donna Downey's blog today for a gorgeous camera bag at www.epiphanie.com. Donna's blog is www.donnadowney.typepad/simply_me

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, Cindy! Today she celebrates the big 5-0! Cindala, 50 looks good on you, enjoy it!
(Cindy is the cute blond, next to me)
p.s. Wish I had stopped at 50 (as far as the aging process!)

Big give-away at www.thestampmanuk.blogspot.com!

12 new (colors) distress pads from Ranger inks!!!

It looks worse than it feels! Yesterday, when I

was opening the drapes in the bedroom I bought

my arm down and hit the latch that opens and

closes the side-light door. I screamed out the

biggest F-bomb you can imagine (and imagine

Pete in the den didn't hear it) and sat for a

moment to get over it. I checked in the

mirror and I hadn't broken skin! Late in

the day it was sore and I couldn't rest my elbow

on anything.

This morning while I was blow-drying my hair,

lo and behold I saw this! It doesn't hurt but it

looks terrible!

Bunco Monday night hosted by Julie and Suzanne (sisters on each side of Anita). They hosted in their mom's house who lives out by Emigrant Lake and what a fantastic view all around the house.
Great night but I didn't win!

Just when I thought I had everything sanded..........................there were a few thin pieces (2 long ones like the one shown) and a couple of other little ones that hadn't been sanded. I didn't know they were needed, so the sanding continued yesterday!!!! Lovely look for me - huh! We are using the same stain that was used on the custom made cabinetry for our den and that stuff is toxic! The label tells you what to do for all different scenarios like inhalation, skin contact, etc. Even with my lovely mask I still smell it, hell I smelt it all night even though I showered and washed my hair! Well, I didn't get all the pieces stained but I made a good dent. I need two more days one to finish the staining (2 coats and 60 min. in between dry time) and one day (or more) for the top coat and I need two coats of that. There are other pieces I stained but they are scattered throughout the garage. Since I will be scrapbooking on Saturday I think I need to finish the staining on Friday night, hope I'm up to it! Then on Sunday top coats and then later in the week Pete can put it all together! Sounds like a plan, hope I'm not too pooped out on Friday or that the weather is too cold (another thing to factor in). Needless to say I can't wait, I will be organizing everything that is in the old cabinet and then we'll need to store that so I can use it at a future date (craft room/guest room, another huge project).

We knew it was coming and we're all set............

We gave Rocky this tee shirt for Christmas since he is a VERY big fan of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp and because he's been talking about the movie for a long time (and it was not even out). Pete got on-line and purchased our tickets for today's 11:00 am show, so we are heading to the theatre, bright and early because we do want to get a good seat since it will be in 3D. Of course I will be taking a motion sickness pill for this one too (like Avatar).
I stopped by the $ tree yesterday and purchased movie candy and some chocolate covered pretzels (Rocky's favorite).
I'm sure Rocky will be talking about it for a long while.

Karen and Radawna's (Audience Service Mgr.) mom, who works for the Caterer's

The fabric went down to the floor, absolutely beautiful

The left side of the room...........

This costume was in the entry of the Armory

This is what you saw as you walked through the doors....

These were on the stage (Karen on the left), they are actually muslin models of costumes

I cannot tell you all the shows these came from but the one on the left is from "Music Man".

On Friday, 2/26/10 the Opening Gala was held at the Ashland Armory. The Opening Gala is put on through Development for our "premier" members, they pay $175.00/plate. It is a big thing and all the Valley muck-e-mucks go including some of our out-of-town patrons (like Warren Buffet's sister). I just went to help out with handing out name badges and then I went home. Karen and our dear "fearless" leader Peter really did all the work. We have designers that design Peter's dream. This year is the 75th anniversary of the Festival and so old costumes were brought out and displayed throughout the room. If you notice, the centerpieces were all different hat's from different shows, so cool.

On a sad note, our dear "fearless" leader has stepped down and left OSF to spend the rest of his days at home with his partner. In our Feb. 18th staff meeting Peter in so many words told us that after 2 years his condition was finally diagnosed, a rare form of cancer that is always misdiagnosed, he finally admitted to feeling sick and not being able to work anymore. It has been very sad for us here in Development and throughout OSF since he was here for 27 years, he started out as an usher. We miss him and get updates but probably will not see him again. In true Peter fashion he sent US a huge bouquet of flowers wishing us a "Happy Opening".