Mass Birthday Party Celebrations

Today my side of the family came together for our Mass Birthday Party (celebrating the July, August & Sept. birthdays). If we all were able to make it there would be over 60 of us (I think? - lost count..ha!).

Unfortunately not every one was able to attend, but about 35 of us had fun, good food, and lots of cakes! Perfect day too... Here are a few photos from the day.

Cheeseburgers in Paradise....

Okay, a friend of mine, who saw my photo of the church sign on Facebook, got me thinking about another thing I could post in regards to Jimmy Buffett being at Alpine Valley tonite.... So, I added hawaiian leis to the angels, and plastic cheeseburgers too.. *G* and put another message on the other side of the sign (previously the same message was on both sides)...

Man, I SOOOOO wish I was going to the concert tonight! It's fun to see all the Parrotheads (Buffett fans) getting ready for their tailgating ...they are pulling out things in the hotel parking lots and decorating their vehicles with fins and grass skirts etc.

Soon they'll be "wasting away in margaritaville"...*L*

Fins to the Right...

It's Jimmy Buffett weekend in our area! He is playing at Alpine Valley on Saturday night. I've been to about 5 of his concerts there and they are a blast!! I wish I had tickets for tomorrow night... but guess I'll have to settle for a Margarita and cheeseburger here at home tomorrow night.

I did go and change the sign at our Church however tonite.... I'm thinking of putting some Hawaiian leis on the angels tomorrow! heh heh...

In the meantime.... It's five o'clock somewhere....

Grandson Fun - A swivel chair can be more fun than a fair ride!

What to do on a colder, dreary day at Gramma and Gramps? Make our own fun! Our grandsons are certainly inventive! They'd have done that all day I think, but after awhile their eyes were spinning as well and I was afraid they'd throw up - like going on a fair ride too much! HA!! Gotta love them! *S*

Art as Prayer - Workshop, Interactive Prayer Stations set up

Today I set up for tomorrow's workshop ... I'm happy with the space I've been blessed to have...it's the chapel at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Watertown, and it's lovely! What a nice setting for my assemblages! It certainly makes them look good in this holy space! And Fr. Mark let me move the pews around and use some of the priest and deacon chairs, kneelers, etc... so that makes it pretty awesome too!

Here are some of the set ups, it will be cool when the lights are out and candles are lit, with music playing (Songs from Taize - I LOVE this music!). I hope people won't just LOOK at it, I hope they'll EXPERIENCE it.

So, off to bed so I can head out early tomorrow...




















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UPDATE:  Here's another post regarding "Art as Prayer" Workshops in August of 2011.  Contact me about the possibility of holding an "Art as Prayer" event.

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MORE UPDATES:  Even youth can create an Art as Prayer Show or Event.  Check out the Christ Episcopal Church Sunday School's Art as Prayer Event here

I don't know where this week went??

Busy week, but yet I don't feel like I see where all my time went? I think I napped a lot this week..*L* ...well, besides bookkeeping, bill paying, gardening, babysitting grandsons, laundry, grocery shopping, and pulling out a lot of my assemblages getting ready for a workshop I am doing on Saturday in Watertown.

Tomorrow I finish packing up the assemblages (some shown here, some are already in the van)), get the rest of them in the van, and head over to set up a day early for Saturday, (then I don't have to get up and leave by 5:30 a.m. on Sat!).






So, that's my excuse for lack of posts the last 10 days... I'm sure I'll come up with more later...*G*

Relay for Life - American Cancer Society Fund Raiser

Dousman Transport Bus Company here in town has a team that has participated in Relay for Life for 8 years, raising over $46,000. This year my daughter, Kasey (Kasey K Photo) and I helped them with their "Dudes of Dousman" Calendar. Kasey photographed the men who are employed by Dousman Transport, or who are relatives of someone employed by them. My sister, Peggy, is employed by Dousman and came up with a fun idea for this fundraiser, gathering together the needed props, wigs and people. I did the graphic design and layout of the photos that Kasey took and we all helped come up with some of the sayings for each month too. It was a fun project for a very worthy cause!



Here is the cover and a few of the pages from the finished project, which is available to purchase for $10 each. All proceeds go to the Relay for Life, American Cancer Society, which helps fund research and hopeful cures for cancer.


To see the rest of the calendar, and the many fun photos and the guys who helped with the cause, Kasey and I have calendars available to purchase, as does Dousman Transport. Contact us and help with the fight and in giving HOPE to many!! Thank you.

Gardens, Oddities & Stuff....

This last week I FINALLY did some long overdue gardening, and it seems once I get going I don't want to stop....





It's been nice, planting so late in the season and having flowers and plants be 50% - 75% off, so I've been able to do more planting than I had thought.















Here are some of my small garden areas and planters, some still need work ....








I went back to one garden center toward Waukesha today where they had great plants and good deals ... since I had my camera I snapped a few photos of some of the things I've seen over and over before, but that others might find unusual ... bet some of my friends know just where these things are too!




Ha! I bet my husband would freak out if I came home with a GIANT rooster or chicken for a lawn decoration! *L*




This old cemetery had some interesting monuments and headstones too...

I had to stop and get some sweet corn from a self serve roadside stand, we had it for dinner and it was DELICIOUS!!


This old store window display of an albino deer among other things has always intrigued me, but I've never seen this store open in like 20 years or so? If you double click on the photos, a larger version comes up and you can see the security company that this store uses ...Fife Security Agency (Barney Fife)..ha!



If you are reading this and a southern WI resident, can you guess where these things are found?

Family Reunion 2009

My husband's side of the family has a yearly reunion. Different members of the family take turns doing the planning and mailing and event.

This year I was that person, with some help from John.





It turned out to be a GREAT day, perfect weather, sunny, warm, and many came to Veteran's Park in Delavan for the picnic and fun.

Here are a few photos from the day ...


















Another good thing about the day was that another member of the family stepped forward right away to be the host next year! Hurrah!