Class Reunion

Amazing Weekend

It is soooo hard to leave paradise, but I had to do it this weekend. My high school class gets together once a year and this weekend was it - can it possibly be another year has passed?

Friday night a bunch of us gathered at our old high school for the football game. One of our classmates showed up who we hadn't seen since graduation. I won't say how many years that's been, but it's quite a few! Of course we didn't watch the football game, we chatted away the evening catching up on grandkids and kids and gossip.

My brother and family have a travel trailer, so they let me 'rent' it on weekends when I'm there - that way I don't inconvenience my parents or my brother's family. When I got back from the game, my brother came out to talk to me and we stayed up until 1:00 a.m. solving the problems of the world. He's coming over in a couple of weeks to help me redo my front yard - yipppeeee!!! I can't wait! It's going to involve a retaining wall and lots of paver bricks.

I was fortunate to get a last minute appointment on Saturday in Fresno with my hair guy, Ben. It's tough in a new town not knowing who to go to. It was fun catching up with Ben - seems as though everyone I know goes to him, so it's like old home week when I see him.

Saturday night was time to assemble the ol' class again. I had the most delightful people to talk to at dinner - she is a classmate of mine and she and her husband tour the world doing exciting things - they're off next month to some exciting place I'd never heard of to scuba dive. Carol was driving a Can Am - I'd never heard of them, but it's pretty cool - ladies, there's even a trunk so you can go shopping!!! They were off the next day to my new town for lunch.

After dinner we went to a local restaurant and took over the back patio to chat and listen to one of our classmates play guitar and sing. For four hours we just sat, enjoyed the music and company of friends. I had the worst headache late that night, crawled into bed around 1:30 with my head still pounding. I woke up early the next morning so sick. I laid around and when I finally felt better, my mom called me over to their house for a photo op (she and my dad live two doors away from my brother and family). One of the photos is at the top of the page - it's part of their old barn. My mom had to stage it - I just like to take photos of things how they are without altering them, but she was so excited about it, I couldn't stop her.

It's nice to be back home again, but it got my behind in gear today to get going on some projects - all of a sudden I have everyone from my class coming to 'paradise' - there's a girl's getaway weekend already planned - I heard something about wine, chocolate, food and kayaking - one of the girls has 3 kayaks!

Here's a picture of milo planted on my parents farm.

Creatively,

Joan

I have a TON of Aleene's vintage magazines and books up on ebay - check them out!!!

Item #
170262980913

Leaf Memory Box

Decoupage is my favorite - it's so easy and sooooo versatile. Use silk or collect real leaves on your walks. The Aleene's Instant Decoupage preserves the colors and keeps the leaves from becoming brittle.

Here's What You Need
Acrylic spray paint - your choice of colors
Paper mache box
Aleene's Instant Decoupage - Matte
Leaves - dried or silk
Foam brush

Here's What To Do
1. Spray paint box. Let dry.
2. Brush Instant Decoupage on back of one leaf. Place on box where desired. Brush a coat of Instant Decoupage over leaf. Repeat for all leaves.

Backpack

Back to School Backpack

Whether you're 9 or 90 and heading back to school, make toting your stuff an expression of you!

Here's What You Need!
Aleene's Fabric Fusion
Tulip Glam-It-Up! Iron-On Crystals
Tulip Cordless Heat-Setting Tool
Backpack
Chalk pencil
Trim with dangles
Studs, star shape

Here's How to Make It!
1. Draw letters on center of backpack, using chalk pencil. Place Crystals over letters. Preheat Heat-Setting Tool following package instructions. Gently press Tool on top of a Crystal and hold for a few seconds. Let cool. Touch to make sure it is adhered. If not, reheat. Continue with all Crystals.
2. Glue studs randomly on backpack.
3. Glue trim where desired. Let dry.
4. Add Crystals along edge of trim.

Aleene's Creative Living Publications

Aleene's Creative Living Magazines and Books

I'm cleaning and really want to find good homes for a ton of Aleene's Creative Living magazines and books. I have thought many times this week that I could just take them down to the local thrift store, but I want them to go to someone who knows the history and would appreciate them. Please email me if you're interested and we'll work something out. craftproducts@yahoo.com

Joan

Random Acts of Kindness

Little Things Make People's Day

I had a most delightful Labor Day Weekend and in looking back it was the random acts of kindness, surprises or just people doing things for others that stand out in my mind.

Let's start with this morning - I heard the wind blowing pretty hard as I was laying in bed. I just knew that my trash cans, that I'd heaped to overflowing, would have fallen over and strewn trash all over. Indeed the trash was everywhere, but someone had been kind enough to have picked up my trashcans and faced them so they wouldn't fall over again. I went down the street and picked up my garbage - wouldn't you know it, my parents had given me loads of tomatoes and some had 'gone passed their prime' and I'd put them in the trash - one had rolled most of the way down the hill. The wind did blow over my trashcans twice more this morning, but in looking at it, it isn't a big deal, just one of those things.

Another instance of kindness - I bought a coffee table this weekend and a neighbor saw me struggling to get it out of my car and came over to help. It took less than a minute, but meant so much.

I attended a small orchid show and I was greeted with a complimentary orchid. I love orchids but hesitate to buy them because I can never get them to bloom again. Keep your fingers crossed with this one.

And, looking back over my last week, there were a couple other instances that I chalked up to living in a small town. My windshield wipers were shot, so I went to my local auto supply store and they put them on for me - no charge, just offered. I learned something that day - that the left and right windshield wipers aren't the same size - duh!

These instances remind me to be mindful of others (and myself) - even a smile will brighten someones day.

Here's smiling at you!

Joan