Another page...

I know it's still April, but I wanted to post my "weekend" post.

Wishing you all a GREAT May!

Friday Letters-Bye April

Dear Friday, HELLO!!!!!!!


Dear This Week, you have been a LONG one! What the heck...


Dear Weekend, I am looking forward to the few plans that we have and am glad it's not an overloaded weekend.


Dear April, Bye....


Dear Bloggers, I am loving your posts this week.


Dear Photo Clients, you rock!!! Thanks for spreading the word.


I hope you all have a great weekend!

Book Review-The Inn at Rose Harbor

Today I am linking up with Blog2Blog Book Club

The April book is The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

I give this book 4 stars.

Synopsis:

Jo Marie Barlow first arrives in Cedar Cove seeking a sense of peace and a fresh start. Coping with the death of her husband, she purchases a local bed-and-breakfast—the newly christened Rose Harbor Inn—ready to begin her life anew. Yet the inn holds more surprises than Jo Marie can imagine.

Her first guest is Joshua Weaver, who has come home to care for his ailing stepfather. The two have never seen eye to eye, and Joshua has little hope that they can reconcile their differences. But a long-lost acquaintance from Joshua’s high school days proves to him that forgiveness is never out of reach and love can bloom even where it’s least expected.  

The other guest is Abby Kincaid, who has returned to Cedar Cove to attend her brother’s wedding. Back for the first time in twenty years, she almost wishes she hadn’t come, the picturesque town harboring painful memories from her past. And while Abby reconnects with family and old friends, she realizes she can only move on if she truly allows herself to let go.

A touching novel of life’s grand possibilities and the heart’s ability to heal, The Inn at Rose Harbor is a welcome introduction to an unforgettable set of friends.

Your general thoughts – I enjoyed reading this. The characters felt like old friends.

Your favorite thing – I enjoy Debbie Macomber's writing. She is enjoyable and easy to read.

Your least favorite thing – Unfortunately, this book was pretty predictable in the storyline.

I hope you will stop over at Blog2Blog and check out her blog and the other link ups.

Thursday 13

I'm linking up again this week with Thursday 13. Please go check it out and visit some of those great blogs!

You may have heard, the National Park Service is celebrating its Centennial this year. Happy 100th Birthday, NPS!

So, in honor of this, my list this week is, 13 National Parks or National Historic Sites we have visited. (in no particular order - I will add the link to the specific park/site too)

1. Wupatki National Monument, Arizona

It is beautiful, desert country. We learned a lot of about this tribe's lifestyle.

 

 

2. Herbert Hoover NHS, Iowa

See President Hoover's birthplace, museum, library and burial place.

 

 

3. Valor in the Pacific Monument, Hawaii (USS Arizona/Pearl Harbor)

What a somber but beautiful site.

 

4. Harry Truman NHS, Missouri

We visited the home he and Mrs. Truman lived in; the Truman Farm and the Presidential Library.

 

 

5. Brown vs. Board of Education NHS, Kansas

An important stop to learn about Civil Rights

6. Little Rock Central High School NHS, Arkansas

Another Civil Right stop - the story of the Little Rock 9.

Please note: You can not enter the school but you are welcome on the grounds as long as you don't disturb classes and in the little park across the street.

7. Gulf Islands National Seashore, Mississippi and Florida

There are lots of waterfront walking paths and sealife.

8. Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio

This pretty gem of a park is in northern Ohio - there is a nice train ride and LOTS of bike paths!

9. Mammoth Cave NP, Kentucky

Wonderful cave tours and a fascinating look underground

10. Great Smoky Mountains NP, Tennessee

Pretty mountains and scenery

 

11. George Rogers Clark NP, Indiana

A quick historic stop.

12. Effigy Mounds, Iowa

A pretty walking park along the Mississippi River

13. First Ladies NHS, Ohio

Housed in the former home of President and Mrs. McKinley, this is a very interesting site to visit for a little First Lady and McKinley history.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

It's Wednesday again! I am linking up with RACHEL for another "What I'm Loving Wednesday".

*My Cubbies keep on rolling!!!! It's been a fun April and I'm looking forward to a positive season this year.

*100 days to the Rio Olympics (I hope they are ready...)

*All the National Parks coverage and features

*Young Mr. did great at his karate tournament this past Sunday (3, 1st places)

*My awesome photography clients - they are spreading the word that I am booking for the summer. Thank you all!!!

*A good hug!

*Baby pictures from a friend

What are you loving this week?

Travel Tuesday - Lincoln Birthplace

I think I will focus my Travel Tuesdays on US National Parks as the NPS celebrates 100 years this year!

Find your Park HERE

In June of 2009 we visited Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky.

This is a pretty spectacular sight to see when you pull into the parking lot.

Up the stairs and inside the building is a replica cabin of where Lincoln was born.

.

Little Miss earned a Jr. Ranger badge here

Stay tuned for further National Park adventures...

A slight change in direction

For the past almost 6 months, I have walked by my craft desk and stared at the same half-finished layout that has been sitting there. Nothing about it has changed.


I love scrapbooking.
I love the friendships I have made through scrapbooking.
I just don't "feel" it like I did. I don't feel like I have the time to sit down and scrap. I don't have the space to work in like I used to and that is a frustration. I have contemplated selling all my supplies and moving on. I feel overwhelmed by it when I look at the boxes of photos of the kids as they've grown up and travel memorabilia I have waiting to be scrapped. I have been making photo books through Shutterfly of each of our vacations.


So - I chatted with my Mr. about it the other night. He doesn't want me to get rid of my stuff because he thinks I will regret it later. (Probably..) I think I have decided to just work on scrapbooks for our vacations using highlight photos and memorabilia, as I feel like it. Then make a photo book of each trip too. I think I will start working on an annual book for our family of our daily type photos and little day trips we take.


What about my other scrapbooking friends out there? Have your priorities changed over time with regards to scrapping?

Friday Letters

TGIF! It's been a hell of a week...


Dear Friday, HELLO!!!!


Dear Weekend, I know you're packed with stuff to do but I hope to enjoy a little sunshine at some point.


Dear 10K a Day, Whew! Thanks for the kick in the pants to get Mr. and I walking a lot again.


Dear Blog Readers, Thank you for stopping by and leaving comments.


Dear Full Moon, you suck!


Have a great weekend my friends.

Thursday 13

I'm linking up for the first time with Thursday 13 (make sure you go check out the other awesome posts here!).

Today's 13 topic: My favorite photos

I've taken A LOT of photos over the past year and a half. These are 13 of my favorites (there are LOTS more!).

Thanks for taking a look!