Mad Hatter Tea

I attended the ARC Mad Hatter Tea again this year along with 2 others from my RHSS group and 2 from my RHSM group. It was very nice and had a larger turnout than last year, so that was good to see. I won the Silly Hat Contest along with a cute little girl and I also won a door prize, so I was having a good day!

All the delicious goodies to eat!

Everyone got to choose their own tea cup!

The Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts and Alice

Our Tea Servers

My Winning Cheshire Cat hat!

It was a tie, this is the little girl that also won. Isn't she adorable!

Sr. Ctr. Cards

Well, I can't share the January cards as they are on my new cell phone and I have been unable to get them off it and into my computer.


Here are some from this month. A few of my regulars have not been able to attend lately due to conflicts and the ones that have been unable to do their own cards, so they have been picking out what they want on them and then tell me (or Bobbie, who has been assisting me) what they want done and we do it for them.

These cards use multiple stamp sets. The one on the left uses both a retired and a current set.

The card on the right is done using the new set from the Occassions mini called "Bring on the Cake", with the exception of the butterfly which is from a retired set.

Classic Convertibles Stamp Set (retired)

This card is made with the new Build-a-Cupcake punch and matching Create a Cupcake stamp set.

Stayin' Busy

Sorry, I haven't posted in awhile. I have been staying busy with my red hat groups and the Sr. Ctr., a couple of routine dr. appts. and enjoying Jacob's occasional weekend visits. With my red hatters I have lunched at Tru Luv's, Armetta's Italian, J. Brian's Tap Rm., Qdoba's and Pinkadilly Tea House and I have dined out for the Chinese New Year at Hunan D'Lite. Lots of fun! This past weekend I attended the Mad Hatter Tea put on by the ARC. I won the silly hat contest and got $15 worth of gift certificates for Red Lobster and immediately after that I won a door prize (Virginia Honey Roasted Peanuts). Needless to say, I had a great time there. And of course, I played Canasta on the 2nd and 4th Fri. of each month (if we didn't get snowed out). Well now to post some pictures of some of the Sr. Ctr. cards and then some pics from the Mad Hatter Tea. I will skip the rest otherwise I will be here all night posting. :-)

Valentine's Day

I made Harold his card with a little mouse on it again this year (5th year with a mousy on his card). The card was inspired by one done by Robin Messenheimer, you can see hers here. I made a few changes.

I used the Valentine Defined set in the current Occassions Mini. The mouse was made using the Wide Oval punch for the body and the wing from the 2-step bird punch trimmed down for the ear and the branch with leaves cut off for the tail. The hearts are from the Heart to Heart punch.

Here are my gifts from my sweet hubby:

I love this little rose bush and can't wait for the weather to get nice and plant it in my garden. I think I will put a little votive in the lady bug after that.

In Loving Memory of Mom

Today is the 1st anniversary of my mother's passing. She has and always will be greatly missed, but I have some wonderful memories to keep me going.

Mom and Dad (2008)

Elizabeth Ann Prather

June 4, 1936 - Jan. 1, 2010

When going thru some of mom's things when preparing for her memorial, I found this prayer among some of her things and meant to read it at the memorial, but decided on some other things instead, but would like to share it now. I thought it was fitting since she passed on Jan. 1st.

A New Year's Prayer for Peace

Dear Lord,

Let this be a year

that moves us

one step closer

to each other.

Let this be a year

that brings us

understanding in our hearts.

Let this be a year

that fills us

with a yearning

burning feeling

for peace with one another

and a oneness, Lord, with You!

© 1996 by Guideposts, Carmel, NY 10512

God Bless Everyone and May You All Have a Happy New Year!

Birthday Celebration!

I had a wonderful birthday today! This morning Harold and I picked up my friend Mary at the airport (this is what she wanted for her Christmas present - LOL!) and she treated us to lunch for my birthday since she could not join us this evening as she was packing to leave again in the morning). This evening we went to my favorite (well our favorite) Sakura's Japanese Steakhouse for dinner and Margarethe and Bobbie joined us.

I opened presents before the cooking started.

Flaming onion cup (this is new, they usually do a volcano and then pretend it is a choo- choo steaming for the kids). He made a huge mess later with the rice, but it was still delicious!

The gang!

My goodies! I really got some wonderful gifts!

Tigger decided he got some gifts as well - the tissue paper. He had fun attacking it and then sleeping on it - didn't have the heart to pick it up he was having such fun - will do that tomorrow.

Birthday Surprises in the Mail!

The day after Christmas, I received a package from my darling niece, Lindsey. She made me this lovely necklace and included a kit for me to make one of my own. She said she made her mom and MIL one with pictures of her little boy - Jay-Jay and I think that is what I will do, make mine with a picture of my new little grandson, Brexton. Look the box even has a dragonfly on it (you'd think I liked them or something - wouldn't you!). I also love dragons and any fantasy creature, so this pegasus is perfect for me and it even has some purple in it and I have a lot of purple things to wear it with! She is such a sweetie and I love this gift!


Today Harold, Jacob and I made a trip down to Richmond to go to Schlotzsky's (our favorite deli) and then to Chesapeake Mall for a look around (I stayed at the Barnes & Noble while they shopped) and then to Books-a-million. Before we left I had gotten a package of some bulk items I was waiting for via UPS (jars, wooden needle holders and small canvases), but when we returned, I had another package waiting for me from my cousin, Debbie. I love getting surprises from her, she gives such wonderful gifts. Inside the box was this:

A handmade box/bag which held a matching pillow box with a stamp inside it and a CD Flowers Calendar. I also got one of her lovely cards for my birthday. Surprises like these make getting a year older worth it - LOL!