Water Country today--all 4 of us!!! It's a particular kind of water experience here, and all the families have their own routine and approach to the day -- where they like to set up, what they fill their coolers with, which rides they hit first, which pool to hang out at when they get tired of the lines. Here we are. When Neil's along, we hang at the wave pool. It was a great day. And we always see somebody we know -- today it was the Aldriches!
Generally, I'm avoiding thinking about that day when my kids go back to school and I'm mostly thinking about how much more summer we can grab. HOWEVER, when I see the materials that Trish Turay is preparing for "Back To Class", which will start next Monday at Get It Scrapped, I get that itchy, hopeful feeling that I could get organized and on top of things--that I could empty the shelf of FedEx boxes that currently hold my kids' school papers. 
If you take a look Trish's blog that accompanies her business website (Work In Progress) you'll see she's a master of charming touches. Here are a couple more peeks at some of the class materials. Class starts next Monday, August 25. Hope to see you there.
a flame about three feet high.
Yep. That's about it for now.
Well, that and being sick for the last two weeks -- i've never had my ears plug up like this. I now get that whole hard-of-hearing-thing where sometimes you just nod rather than figure out what was said. First person to post and tell me what movie/musical I know this (what burns my . . . ) from wins these acrylic stamps. Katie Pertiet gave me this set in Chicago since Autumn Leaves was just releasing them. And if you can't wait or don't win . . . you could buy the digital version right now.
And here's a layout --- seems I'm still working out my feelings about that encyclopedia purchase from a door-to-door salesperson. Who needs a therapist when they've got scrapping! Full journaling and supply links (all from designer digitals) here.
a page for Joshua
JOURNALING: One day this past school year, Joshua, you talked to me about how you had several friends who were really POPULAR--and how they were your friends even though you weren’t popular.
“What do you mean?” I said. “People like you!”
“Well, yeah, people like me because I’m kind, but these guys play sports and have their own band.”
You weren’t at all unhappy to consider yourself liked for your kindness and a step removed from being popular.
And you ARE kind. Here, you’ve just brought Isaac in on the WAHHHmbulance after a fall in the yard, and I told him to sit while I got a bath running, but you wanted to soothe him and grabbed this book and started entertaining him.
It’s more, though,
than when one of us is in immediate trouble -- you’re the one who remembers if
I’ve been sick or bothered by something the day before and you ask how I am and
really wait to hear. I see you sometimes with Dad when he’s tired and in pain
and you spontaneously give him a huge hug. Even when you’re away on a
sleepover, if you & your friends are online, you check to see if Isaac’s
online and give him a holler, calling him “shortstuff” and sending that
trademark kindness of yours hurtling through cyberspace to touch us all.
supplies: Papers & chipboard (Chatterbox) * cardstock (Prism) *
alphas (American Crafts thickers & rubs) * label (Luxe) * border rubons
(Jenni Bowlin) * Misc: ribbon, staple.
funny thing how we see our neighbors less during the summer months --- everyone's off running, making hay while the sun shines. So here's a page from our neighborhood cleanup in may. A hybrid page: Papers are Chatterbox courtesy of Courtney. Epoxies are Little Yellow Bicycle that I won at CHA. The title/photo overlay is by Ali Edwards from Designer Digitals. Stitching is digital, too -- by Anna Aspnes. (see links to digi products here).
Isaac lost his first molar. It was freaking him out the night before --- it's been a while since he had a loose tooth. And the whole day before he lost it, he barely ate --- which made us think he was going to lose weight since he is our EATING MACHINE!
Joshua got a cell phone. He's very excited about it. I'm not sure he'll use it a lot but he is 12 and I give him mine now whenever he goes on a sleepover or school event. He's just home from a sleepover this morning and said it comforted him at night to know he had it and could call.
And, finally, I bought encyclopedias from a door-to-door-college-student-salesperson earlier this summer. When Celeste delivered them, Neil disappeared and then Isaac wanted to show him the books and I said where did he go and Joshua said he probably didn't want to know how much I spent. And I bought these before I found out I needed a root canal and crown. The boys and I think they'll be very useful. The internet isn't always all it's cracke dup to be when you're workingon a school project and you start searching and there are a million options and none of them end up being right. My parents had TWO sets of encyclopedias when I was growing up and I have a lot of fond memories of using them. I loved writing reports.
who has always made their home a place that people love to visit. I remember so many holidays with her big old family and hunting seasons with various men around the table drinking coffee throughout the days and summer evenings when people just stopped by and even now, the bedrooms are frequently occupied on weekends.
Journaling: It’s the little things.. that Mom does for us that
make her house a comfortable & nice place to be. On this day,
we’d shown up from Chicago on our way home, the girls came down to
play, Mom was getting ready for a show in 2 days, and, still, when the
kids came looking for a treat, she pulled dough out of the fridge &
cookie sheets & spoons and there were hot cookies soon after.
What’s more -- you don’t just take a cookie & run here, you pull up
a chair, get a glass of milk, and stay awhile.
All the supplies are from Designer Digitals and you can find links right here.
I've been really sick the last week. This is my summer of ear, throat, & tooth pain. Fortunately the boys were busy with camp and friends (and MAN! do I miss them when they're gone too long). So I've been sleeping late and working on getting the September classes at Get It Scrapped prepared & promoted. I'll do a post tomorrow about Pattie's Digital Template class and how I use her templates and why I think they are a super thing. Scrap Yourself is, again, such a satisfying class to be a part of. We had two chats this last week, and I love how smart, interesting & good humored the women are. Also spent this last week getting my newer, faster computer up and running --- and since it's running 64 bit Vista, there were a lot of updated drivers to hunt down. And at the same time we had to re-install the operating system on the laptop.
A new online scrapbooking class is starting at Get It Scrapped on August 25. Here's the info from the mailing I just sent out.
Scrapbooking school memories
with Trish Turay in "Back to Class"
Complete an entire school-memories album (preschool to 12th grade with extra
break-outs) from start to finish in 3-weeks. Trish Turay, owner & creative director of Work In
Progress Kits, teaches this popular sell-out class at retreats and in local
scrapbook stores, and now she's
bringing it online to Get It Scrapped. Cost is $20. Use your stash, your scraps, and
those school- and office-themed supplies you've collected. Registration is open
and the supply list available when you sign up.
Michelle took the class and says, "This is by far the simplest, cutest school
album I have ever created! What a stress reliever. I have the entire album
completed and ready for the graduation party, and my daughter is only in 2nd
grade. I plan to create two more based upon the same template."
Hope to see you there.
Yep. That means you can get it for $13.38. And the "search inside" feature is up so you can check out the table of contents and a bit more inside to get a better idea of whether it's for you. There are a few variations on the "surprise me" excerpts so just click it again. Here are photos from my book signing at CHA. When everyone at Designer Digitals was throwing their photos into flickr together, I was anxious to see the shots from my signing --- but what I hadn't really thought about was that it wasn't photos of me I so much wanted to see (though I do appreciate them and my kids especially appreciate them)--- it was my view as I spoke that I was hoping to have photos of -- a crowd of scrappers that included the smiling faces of friends and store-owners I had the pleasure to meet.
Jolly Holiday. 
journaling: Isaac, Today we met the Mangans at the movies and it was a much
different experience than when we go alone. We saw “Space Chimps” @ 1:30, did
the photo-booth thing, got some beads @ Michael’s, sat outside @ Chipotle &
snacked & made necklaces, got ice cream @ Cold Stone & then . . . we
went back over to the theatre for “Mamma Mia.” Lily’s Aunt Katie & cousin Hannah
were here from
(all supplies are from www.designerdigitals.com--including new template by Ali Edwards (layered template no 20) and Happy Days paper pack by Jesse Edwards).
who said she would
"use it for my europe travel scrapbook..they would blend in perfectly with the kit i'm using for it !!"
So, Charmi, email me your address, and I'll get them out. Thanks to all who stopped by. And . . . if you're looking for another giveaway, head on over to Trish Turay's Work In Progress blog. Anyone who registers for her upcoming "Back To Class" workshop at my site before next Saturday is eligible for a super door prize to be announced Aug 11.
I invited friends to swim in the river yesterday because I needed a push to get it raked and cleaned up, get the chairs cleaned & set up, get the decking back on its blocks --- that kind of stuff. And it worked. Neil & the boys helped and we even made cookies. And now it's Aug 1 and the river is ready for us to hang out.
The usual suspects came over :) Aldriches, Hardcastles, Mangans, and even some new friends -- the Waters. We had a great time and then it thundered and we adjourned to the screened porch for some mom-wine-time. Everyone left around 6:30 -- Neil left for a meeting. I fed the boys quickly, and then my neighbor Sara came over in her pjs for a glass of wine on the porch. Which was wonderful -- miss seeing you, Sara! --- and Neil came home from his meeting with his driver and they grabbed a cookie and wine, too. Had to kick Sara out at 9:57 and then off to a chat for Scrap Yourself. And awesome chat. The boys got in bed with me while I did the chat and Isaac fell asleep leaning on me.
So this is what the sink looks like this morning --- and it'll probably look like this for another hour or two because the boys want to get back down to our newly-readied river spot. We are SO lucky.
and I knew that it changed my perspective on people (and as a result myself) the first time around, and even though I knew what to expect, it's nothing like being in the midst of this class. This morning Neil asked me how last night's chat went (first one) and I was giving him bits in broad strokes and he said, "Wow, everyone's got a story!" And that really is the deal and that's what I learned after the last class --- in a busy online world with an avatar and a few posts by someone you fill in the blanks but you rarely fill them in right. Not only does everyone have a story, but everyone has a very important story.
So we have a private class gallery and I'm not going to link you there --- but here are some pages that participants have posted in other public galleries (well, really one gallery -- designer digitals--and there are a lot of paper scrappers in the classes but i just happen to look at the designer digitals gallery a lot) for the first class (the topic is You Now). If you click on the picture, it'll take you to their original post of the layout at designer digitals. These are by Grandmalynnie, Britgirl, and Terry.
The second class went up this morning and you can still join in without being behind. Also, I know the economy is bad, and I welcome hearing from you if you really want to be in this particular class (which I think is just good for the soul) but need to work out something nonstandard payment-wise. You can email me at debbieATdebbiehodgeDOTcom.
That's what Joshua said about our day after the beach and a very fine music lesson. Isaac wanted to go over to UNH to see Nim's Island. I love this movie and really wanted Neil and Joshua to see it. And I could hear where he was coming from. We'd gotten up early-ish and there was good food in the house and the boys helped me pack and we found parking at the beach and the Hardcastles and Magans were there and we just had a lovely day. And then we made it to Dover for trombone lessons on time AND we got Isaac on Mr. Mitchell's roster for lessons because his sax is arriving any day. It's always lovely seeing Mr. Mitchell. He likes Joshua and pushes him and really teaches him about more than playing the notes. After Joshua's lesson, as soon as the door opened, Isaac ran over and presented himself to Mr. Mitchell and shook his hand quite proudly. And then we did all go to the movie. And everyone was happy. And today I am cleaning house and doing yardwork and catching up on lots of paperwork --- all that stuff that I didn't get done while on vaca or at the pool, beach, berry patch . . .
you just might be one of my mom's customers --- and now she's gone online! I've been helping her put this together as well as industry mag ads.
Speed test
Saw the link to this on Willow Traders and had to see how fast I was -- I typed papers in college, worked as a secretary in the Fine Arts department during college and then when I first moved to D.C. I worked as a temporary secretary--where pay was partially based upon typing speed -- can't remember what this would have gotten me. :)
so . . . did I mention how fabulous my Dad looks? Here's a page for him. I haven't wanted to scrap any of my recent Oxford photos until I did these from our first night in Oxford--on the way back from Chicago. While we were sitting there (with Mark and Pepper poised to jump and grab Ethan if he went wayward and the kids running around the yard) he said, "I didn't think I was ever coming out of there alive." I have to say that I thought he'd get out of the hospital but I wasn't sure for how long. Seems diet, weight loss, and farm living do a lot for a man. (supplies all from designer digital and links and full journaling are HERE).
The first time around teaching this class was a really humbling and affirming experience. There are many participants coming in for another round --- most of us found that we could have done several more pages for each of the ten lessons. The forums are up with welcome documents & some "priming-the-engine" exercises, and the first chat is Thursday night at 10pm est.
Is the university's outdoor pool and it's a one-of-a-kind, a WPA project from the depression. I didn't grow up around here, but those who did still remember the names of all the irregularly shaped areas (Perch, Minnow, Whale . . .) and what you have to do to earn access to each area from when they were kids. We put out the word we'd be there and ended up getting to spend time with lots of favorite friends --- and pulled together a beach group for tomorrow (Jenness at 10ish in the non-lifeguard area). 
Being on the Designer Digitals Creative Team is a fabulous thing in my life. Here's some footage and photos that Pattie Knox shot on a couple of nights -- and there are even some photos from my book signing here.
I had never met:
Pattie, who is a powerhouse and FUN!
Lynnie, who is a grounded, generous, real person.
Kellie, who has a Grace-Kelly movie-star elegance.
Steph, who is just downright real, smart, & kind.
Dana, who loves her students and whose awesome paper debuted at Bo Bunny!
Jill, who had the best line of the trip: As she looked around a corner into the Hyatt restaurant on Thursday night, she said: "So is this what it's like to blind date?"
At the 2Peas social in Chicago I won a huge bundle of Vita Bella product by Little Yellow Bicycle. I'm going to scrap with some of it and give some of it away. The giveaway is shown here -- 8 pcs double sided paper, one scroll-shaped piece and then {deep breath} jewel brads, acrylic stamp set, fabric tags, embossed cardstock, fabric tabs & labels, glitter die-cut stickers, metallic rub-ons, die-cuts x 3, more metallic rub-ons, & chipboard alphas. I'm thinking of pulling out old European vacation photos and scrapping pages for my Scrap Your Travel class. Post here telling me what kind of photos you'd scrap with this collection and I'll pull a random name on Friday. 
I'm also giving away a Work-In-Progress Project (picture below) kit on my forums.
I really love the songs of Merle Haggard, and here's a good example of why. Check out these lyrics.
Shopping for Dresses
by Merle Haggard
Down through the
ages men have died for their women
And they've done so so many times
But each time I loved one I always lost one
And I guess the right one is so hard to find
So I'm shopping for dresses with no one to wear them
One in each color and one in each style
Maybe some day I'll find me a lady to wear them
And all my shopping will be done for a while
I'll bet somewhere a lady is shopping for britches
Comparing the value and appraising each pair
Maybe some day the good Lord will let us together
And we'll both have a new wardrobe to wear
But I'm shopping for dresses...
Never does he write that he's lonely or heartsick. He doesn't use abstractions. He does use "love" but as a verb. The result is a song that conveys loneliness and a desire for love through concrete specifics, through a man shopping for dresses.
At the end, he says, "And we'll both have a new wardrobe to wear." He doesn't say, "and then I'll be a happy man." --- but you get it.
P.S. -- if you do a search on lyrics for this song, you'll find that others have added stuff on --- that just takes the song to a schmaltzy and cliched place it shouldn't go.
The boys and I picked berries this morning. If you're local, our fave place is Blueberry Bay Farm in Stratham. There are so many varieties that come in at different times and have different flavors. There were license plates from mass and maine in the lot this morning. We picked BlueCrop. I love my boys -- and all their long hair which was at least semi-combed today. We took this group shot using the VERY thoughtful mother's day gift the boys gave me this year -- a gorilla tripod.
Neil & boys are on screened porch now playing Star Wars Trivial Pursuit and it's thundering. Joshua's received his 7th grade team assignment. The good news: he's with Charlie! The bad news: a 6th grade teacher is moving to 7th grade and this teacher's skills required Neil & I to do a LOT of math teaching last year. Figuring this out.
We came home from our first trip to Oxford and spent a week going to the beach and the pool. And then we took off for Chicago via Niagara Falls. The best part of the trip was arriving in Oxford and seeing Dad looking better than he has in many many months. The twinkle in his eye is fabulous.
I'm hoping to post about the trip in the next few days, including the CHA stuff. Here's the first page I've scrapped from the trip. Everything's from designer digitals and the supplies and journaling are here.
OH! . . . and there's a big sale at DesignerDigitals this weekend -- get on over there and check out the coupon in the gallery banner as well as the Christmas in July freebies, chats, and giveaways. Not only that, but the July CT contest has been going on all month and the gallery is full of some really fine inspiration.
OH! . . . and Scrap Yourself starts Tuesday. If you've registered you should have access to the class forum where getting ready stuff is now available.
