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.