Preserving Memories

As we age our bones may get brittle, our hair may get dull, and other such things that come with age. Photographs are no different.

I am in a race against time to try and preserve photos that were taken before the use of archival paper and ink. Unfortunately, it has been too late for some. I sometimes spend hours scanning photos, unfortunately, having to make the hard decisions on which ones to preserve. We have hundreds of photos.

The photo in the scrapbook page is one of me and my sister, Karen, taken when we lived at Ft. Ord, California. I can remember the house located on Brittany Road. By our dress and remembering the routines of childhood it is probably Sunday. Sundays were the time for photos and rides to Monterrey, Carmel, and other places outside the army base.

This photo is quite unique as it is extremely rare that Karen and I are alone in a photograph at this age. Don't know why. But when photos were taken, I was usually paired with my sister Lynette. Karen was paired with our sister Alesia. I suspect it is because we were two pairs--Donna and Lynette, and Karen and Alesia. The age difference between the two oldest is 2 years and between the two youngest is one year. However, there is 4 years between the two middle sisters.

Photographs give me much joy and I treasure all that remain, and remember all the memories from the ones that are gone.

Antigua

I'm finally getting around to scrapping photos from our 2000 Caribbean Cruise! Yes, it's been nine years. Wow!

What was fantastic about the cruise is the islands we visited: we sailed from San Juan PR, visited St. Thomas first then Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten.

Next year we will do another Southern Caribbean Cruise and will look to visit Aruba, Curacao, and perhaps re-visit a couple of the islands from 2000.

Joy

I discovered these photos last month ago and knew then I had to create a layout soon. My Aunt Melva and Uncle Walter had a joyous marriage. They are both gone now, so it gives me great joy to know they will always be together...

Back to School Photos

My son graduated high school in 1996, so it's been a very, very, very long time since back-to-school stuff has been on my mind. I've been scanning old photos and was delighted to come across these. I just had to create a scrapbook page.

What a cute kid! He had the most wonderful smile then and he still does.

Organization

I'm in that mood where I need to organize, re-organize, re-re-organize whatever I touch. It was my intent last night to sit down and finish a scrapbook page, but instead I spent 3 hours ORGANIZING my layouts. Organizing--am I procrastinating or am I looking for inspiration?

Whether it is procrastination or inspiration the process of organizing is very productive, for me, I think! But yesterday it was. After I finished creating folders and putting the proper things in them, I finished a layout that had been started in March 2009.

The pictures are from a trip I took with my best friend, Cathy, to Miami. It is a place where Cathy thrives--the hot weather, the beach, and dancing all night. Miami, for me, was too hot/humid and I go to bed at 9 PM.

Therefore absent from these scrapbook pages are pictures of me. To Cathy, I offer them in remembrance to our time spent hanging out in MIAMI.

Donna

P.S. I haven't got the hang of placing pictures on this blog. Hope the post isn't too distracting.

McCafe

I'm now addicted to lattes from McDonalds. Can't believe it! I was a Starbucks girl for so long. I remember driving to Seattle just to have a latte (and chicken salad sandwich on a great crusty wheat bread) at Starbuck's Pike Place Market store. I was thrilled when the company became a powerhouse with a store on every corner.

Then something happened. The coffee began to taste so bitter that I began asking for less and less coffee in my latte until there were only steamed milk. I went cold turkey and stopped drinking lattes altogether. Managed to save $4 per day. Cha ching!

Last week, I read an article about a taste test for lattes and drip coffee from Starbucks, McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts. Starbucks was last, McDonalds next, and Dunkin Donuts had the top rated latte.

I like drivethru, so that eliminated Dunkin Donuts. Tried the latte at McDonalds and liked it. Plus it is cheap! $2.17 (includes tax) and no tip. (Though I took great pride in tipping my Starbuck Baristas because they were all so friendly!!!)

I still go to Starbucks more a social function--meeting friends for coffee. Love the atmosphere, love my Baristas, and love the iced green tea!!!

Bottom line--I'm still a Starbucks girl, but I also love my McCafe...Try it!

Donna

17-Mile Drive

I ALWAYS drive along 17-mile drive when I visit Carmel. ALWAYS!!!

Pacific Grove

I just started reading "Slim: Memories of a Rich and Imperfect Life," where Slim describes growing up in Pacific Grove, California. We visited Pacific Grove last month and it is still as she describes it a beach front community. All these wonderful little cottages (and even bigger cottages) facing the Pacific Ocean. The first night we had dinner at a restaurant on Cannery Row, we then drove through Pacific Grove...SPECTACULAR! The next day we visited again and spent some time taking photos, walking on the beach, and enjoying the view of the Ocean. WOW!

Starting Again

This is my second attempt at blogging. I set up a blog a couple of years again, posted a couple of times then just lost interest in it.

We'll see where this one goes. My goal is to post my scrapbook layouts, share photographs, and any other stuff that might be interesting.

Yesterday, I spent the majority of the day working on some heritage scrapbook layouts. I worked on a layout using a photo taken at my Aunt Margaret's House in New Orleans. The photo was of my Aunt Margaret, Grandma Baker, Aunt Gertrude or "Gert," and Allegra. In addition, the layout prompted a call to my cousin Allegra to talk about the "House on Reynes Street." Which turn led to a call to my counsin Evangeline and perhaps the start of a "family renunion" planning group.