So, I smile....

The faces of 50!

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Here are some pictures from yesterday. I got flowers and candy and a real hug from Seth. All of the pictures without the cupcake were the ones I took in my self portrait session yesterday.

so a funny thing happened in my week

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:11:00 +0000

I had good intentions. I was going to document this week in my life. It was a pretty significant week in my life, too. My plan was to take a picture of myself every day. My plan was to make a mini book with those pictures. My plan was to celebrate the week I turned 50. Well, life got in the way of a week in my life. I got busy. I had stuff to do. I forgot! I took pictures a couple of those days. I took pictures today. In fact, I actually like the pictures I took today, the day I turned 50. I intend to take more later, when the girls come over and I blow out a candle on my chocolate cupcake. I plan to hand the camera over to someone and say, "take my picture, please." You see, it's my birthday and I want some pictures of it. Did I mention that I am 50 today? Well, I am. I have the gray hair and the "smile" lines to prove it. I'll share pictures, later.

Day 2 of a week in my life

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:39:00 +0000

Today is Monday. I woke up to a cold windy morning and had to wear the winter coat to work. I found myself at a store near Boo Boo's, one of my favorite sandwich shops at lunch time. I stopped in for a bacon and avocado sandwich and a piece of their yummy fudge. I left only to find the battery dead in my car. An hour later, when roadside assistance showed up to give me a jump. I was surprised to see the little lady who had come to rescue me. She got me started again and I went home. I wasn't going to take a chance that it wouldn't start again. I did not get to make the side trips I was planning to the post office and to the computer store at UTA. CS4 is going to wait until another day, I guess. Karen and Seth came by the house and I let Seth take pictures with my camera. I also gave him a Christmas tree "tatoo" with my stamps and ink.

Day 1 of a week in my life

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:34:00 +0000

This week will conclude with a milestone in my life and I plan to document the week with words and pictures and put them in a minibook.

Today was a good day because it was just an ordinary Sunday. I slept late after attending the Lady Antebellum concert last night. I had my cup of coffee made with the cool new Keurig machine, read the paper and went to 11:00 Mass. Curtis and I had dinner at Texas Road House and just enjoyed the day.

I am cleaning out the old scrappy files again

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:49:00 +0000

I am blessed to part of a wonderful design team at Memorable Seasons. (see the link on the right side of this blog) Jill is an incredibly generous owner and I find lots of wonderful treasures on my doorstep each month. I use as much as I can but I still find myself with an abundance of beautiful patterned paper scraps. Of course, I take advantage of way too many of the incredible deals she offers, too. I am trying to get down to a leaner supply stash and I find I just can't bear to throw good paper away. I also have numerous sheets of stickers and letters that only have a few pieces missing from them. There is lots of chipboard and flowers and just a few stamps, too. I have put together several "care" packages full of odds and ends that I will send to anyone who is interested. Please send an email to dettao@prodigy.net with your snail mail and I will get those out to you. Unfortunately, I need to limit this to US residents. Postage out of the country is just a little too high.

Halloween pictures and more catching up

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Wow,it has been an eventful week here in the Owens home. On Monday, Karen began having contractions. At that point, she was only 33 weeks. They were consistently 4 minutes apart when she arrived at the hospital at 9:30 pm. Fortunately, she had not started to dilate and they were able to stop them after two shots and a pill. Don't ask me what they gave her. I have no clue. However, by 11, when it looked like she would be there a while, I took Seth home with me and put him to bed. I had a heck of time getting tha boy up to take him to school the next day. It has been a long time since I had to do that kind of duty. Karen is now on a prescription to keep her uterus relaxed but has contractions when she exerts herself. That is why I got to take Seth to his school carnival and trick or treating last night.

I also would love it if you would say some prayers for my extended family, too. Joe's (my son-in-law) grandfather is in the hospital with heart and kidney failure and is not expected to make it much longer. His family is keeping vigil at the hospital and I brought Seth home with me yesterday afternoon to make it a little easier on those sitting in that waiting room. 6 year olds just don't sit quietly very well. Karen came over here for a little while to get Seth ready for trick or treating but went back after he was finished.

My cousin's 26 yr old son has been diagnosed with a brain tumor in his frontal lobe which has caused him to have seizures. He is on medication to control those seizures and they are going to monitor the tumor for a while because the neurosurgeon thinks it may have been there for a while. He was recently laid off of his job and does not have insurance. Please pray that he finds a good job soon so that he has coverage if the time comes to remove the tumor.

Allison has been furniture shopping and has purchased a dinette set, a couch and chair and is all set to move out next month. She is very excited and I am for her. I know she is ready to get out of her parent's house.

I heart Brian Andreas Story People

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:04:00 +0000

So many of them speak to me like this one that came to my inbox this morning.

Dark Garden

I once had a garden filled with flowers that grew only on dark thoughts but they need constant attention & one day I decided I had better things to do.

See more of them here.

Pregnant women are beautiful

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:41:00 +0000

especially when she is my own baby girl....

I've been eyeing this pink wall at Miguelito's Mexican Restaurant ever since I found out Karen was pregnant hoping it would be a girl so I can take a picture of a pregnant belly in front of it. There is a blue wall on the other side of the building.

My Mind's Eye

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Got lots of really fun My Mind's Eye products in my design team kit from Memorable Seasons this month. There isn't a piece of paper in the whole kit that I did not like. Here is some stuff I made.

updates

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:03:00 +0000

I have not been as good a blogger as I used to be. You would think that having the children grown would make life less hectic and I'd have more leisure time. It seems that I am always busy. So, how is everyone? Well, I'll tell you.

Allison has begun teaching school at Colleyville Heritage High School. She teaches physics, a geology/meterology/oceanography class and a TAKS class for kids who didn't pass their science portion the first time. She is tired and busy but enjoying the kids and the work. She likes attending their sport events and making herself part of the campus life.

Karen lost her job back in January and has not found another job but enjoyed staying home with Seth all summer. She and Joe are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary this month and are expecting a little girl in December. Stella Grace is due December 10 but she is already over 4 lbs and the doctor has said he will not let her get as big as Seth did who weighed in at 10 lbs when he was born. Maybe we will have a November baby, instead. They are also house hunting.

Seth has started kindergarten. He is doing well and gets a sticker at the end of each day just about as often as he doesn't so I think that averages out to an average kid, don't you think? He is riding his bike without training wheels, is sounding out simple words and has lost two teeth in the last week. He is also playing fall tball and looking forward to meeting his baby sister.

Curtis and I are doing fine. We are just working and enjoying the kids.

Meeting Dr Amy

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:43:00 +0000

Amy and I have been chatting for several years since we "met" at the CKMB. I have loved watching her 4 gorgeous curly headed boys grow up through her pictures and beautiful scrapbook pages. She and I seem to have many things in common as our families grew up. We both love scrapbooking and we have both begun learning photography. We learned early in the relationship that she lived near Curtis' parents in Alabama and talked about meeting someday. Because I was unable to go with Curtis the last couple of times he made the trip, it never happened until now. On Wednesday, Curtis and I made the trip from Sylacauga to Inverness to meet Amy for lunch at Chili's near her office. Everyone seemed to think that 40 mile drive was a big deal but it wasn't any further than I drive to work most days. Besides that, we were in the middle of nowhere and there just wasn't any place except fast food between the two towns. It was just another opportunity for my ears to pop as we drove through the mountains again and watched the beautiful scenery go by. It was a delightful lunch. Amy was very sweet and I enjoyed the conversation very much.

I have met so many wonderful people through this hobby of mine. It is exciting to say that I have friends all over the world. Even though I have never actually met many of them, I have come to know them through pictures and stories on their scrapbook pages. The internet is an amazing place, isn't it?

September Guest Design Team at Memorable Seasons

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:12:00 +0000

It is time to choose a guest design team member for September at Memorable Seasons. Since September brings Grandparent's day, please post a layout with Grandparents as the theme into the regular gallery and link it to this thread so we know who to choose from. Good luck!

do it anyway

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Found here and confiscated for my own use.

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

by Dr. Kent M. Keith (often falsely attributed to Mother Teresa)
The last line is not one from Dr. Keith's original Paradoxical Commandments
it seems to have been added by.... anonymous.

Joscie visits the UT campus

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Flat Joscie has arrived

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:58:00 +0000

I am so excited to be hosting flat Joscie here in Bedford, Texas. She arrived on Tuesday afternoon from Canada on the same day I got my design team kit from Memorable Seasons. My mailman rang my doorbell and announced that I had hit the jackpot since I had two big boxes. :)

To read all about Flat Joscie, see my friend Joscie Cutchens blog. She has been all over since she began her journey. Her travel diary is over 3 inches thick. I still even had time to read all the places she has been yet.

Flat Joscie went to work with me on Wednesday and kept Tom Thumb and me company in the office. She just hung out here at the house on Thursday but left yesterday (Friday) for Austin with Allison. Allison and Ryan and Ryan's parents are moving Ryan out of his apartment and back to Grapevine. I will be back when I have pictures from that adventure. I plan to pack in as many "Texasy" things as I can over the next couple of weeks.

Quote of the day

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:23:00 +0000

“Smile, even if it's a sad smile, because sadder than a sad smile is the sadness of not knowing how to smile.

If anybody knows where this came from, let me know.

a blog candy give away

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Not from me this time but this stuff looks pretty good

http://judyscraftymoments.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-candy-thank-you.html

design team call

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:55:00 +0000

Memorable Seasons, an on line scrapbook store and message board, has one opening for a design team member. We will be accepting applications until July 15. The decision will be made by July 22 with the term starting August 1. We are looking for someone who is not currently on another store design team and ask that you do not join another one during your commitment. Kit clubs( as long as there is no store attached), sketch sites or challenge blogs are okay. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of shipping, this call is open to United States residents only.

Requirements include active participation on the message board (starting and replying to threads) and leaving praise in the gallery. You should also post at least 4 projects from the DT kit in addition to at least 3 other projects per month. Each DT member is required to do a blog post, pick a LOTW, and post a challenge on a 4 week rotating basis. You will also be asked to participate in occasional on-line crops and contests.

Benefits are free design team kits once a month and free shipping with all orders if you let them ship with your monthly kit.

Please join the board and upload the following to the DT entry gallery.
• Three of your favorite layouts with at least one containing 3 or more pictures.
• An additional project which could be a mini book, an altered object, a card, etc
• Start getting to know the other members on the board while you wait for the results

In addition, please email the following to memorableseasons@yahoo.com.
• A short bio that includes your full name, why you think you would be a good fit for Memorable Seasons and where you saw this call.
• Links to your blog and any galleries you have work in
• A list of any other design teams you’ve been on or message boards you are active on.

Quote of the day

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:43:00 +0000

In the middle of
difficulty lies
opportunity.
~Albert Einstein

She has a job!

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:28:00 +0000

Just had to do some shouting. I knew you guys couldn't hear me from my house so I'm shouting it here. LOL

Allison will be teaching Physics at a local high school beginning in September. She is in France right now involved in a student teacher exchange program. She called me using skype on her computer. Very cool invention! Can't wait until she gets home and shows me pictures.

Rachell's engagement party

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:34:00 +0000

We spent yesterday at my brothers' lake house. (Two of my brothers own it together) We were celebrating Al's daughter, Rachell's engagement. The party had an Hawaiian luau theme so we each were handed a lei when we walked in. Rachell, who is in the marine reserves is being deployed to Iraq in September for six months but plans an April wedding when she comes back.

Graduation Day

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:11:00 +0000

We had such a great couple of days watching Allison graduate from the University of Texas. We drove down Friday afternoon, went to dinner at Hula Hut and then went to the Congress Street to watch the bats fly. Graduation was Saturday at noon followed by pictures in front of the tower (of course) and a very late lunch at Chuy's.

Mother's Day shots and other stuff

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:30:00 +0000

I have not been very good about blogging. I have been very busy with other things. I'm taking a photography class once a week at UTA. I have been asked to be the Design Team Coordinator at Memorable Seasons. Work has been stressful, to say the least. I also think that life has conspired to make me a little less tolerable lately. I am short tempered and impatient with those around me. I definitely need a vacation. I am tired.

However, my kids have been a source of joy. They make me proud. Karen, as I already mentioned, is expecting a baby on December 10. That is our wedding anniversary. Wouldn't that be fun if he or she actually arrived on that day? Allison has finished college. She has had a few interviews and is waiting to hear if she has a teaching job waiting for her in the fall. Graduation is next weekend and then, she leaves for France the next day for two weeks. She is in a student teacher exchange program. She had a French teacher stay with her for two weeks in March to shadow her while she taught and now she is going to stay with the same young woman to do the same thing. Seth has been playing teeball and is quite serious about the whole thing. He does not smile during games, he is so focused.

Allison came home for Mother's Day last weekend and for her interviews. Curtis turned 50 last week, too. We had the whole crew over for dinner on Saturday night. Curtis cooked out and we had German Chocolate cake. On Sunday, Karen went to Joe's family. Curtis, Allison and I took my mom to dinner. I had to hand my camera over to others so I could be in these pictures, so I put it on auto and hoped for the best. It was also raining on Saturday, so taking pictures outside was not going to happen.

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:36:00 +0000

Isn't she pretty? Baby number 2 is on the way. Seth will be a big brother in December. We are all very excited.

Contest at Memorable Seasons!

dettaowens@texasearch.com (Dettao) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:55:00 +0000

The Last Scrapper Standing...

Will YOU be the Soul Survivor???

It is here. Be prepared. It is the ultimate in scrapping showdowns... It is the MEMORABLE SEASONS LAST SCRAPPER STANDING CONTEST! That is right, scrappers young and old will be trying to out-create, out-glue, and out-embellish each other starting May 1st, 2009. The contest consists of a rigorous 6 week series of challenges, games, and creations. Each week, the Adhesive Council and member votes will decide... who stays and who will be "Scrapped"... Will you get the eyelet idol of immunity? Will you win precious prizes along the way? Will you outscrap the competition and win the grand prize???

The only way to find out is to get over to Memorable Seasons and get on board... literally. I mean the Message Board. All contestants must have a minimum of 25 posts to particpate!! So, get over there, introduce yourself and get to know the competition...