Ethnic Scrapbooking

What a ride!

Two Saturday's ago we went on a scenic train ride in Western Maryland.  It was a 15 mile trip from Cumberland to Frostburg, MD through the mountains on a steam locomotive.  The train itself is very massive and impressive.  I've been traveling the highway through that part of the state all my life, never knew about the train ride until about a month ago.  My Dad mentioned it and I thought it would make a great memory for the kids so without hesitation I booked 13 first class seats and rooms at a local resort to make a little weekend out of it.  You see folks it's being able to do these little jaunts that make working outside the home ocassionally worthwhile (scrapbbok diet in January:)). It was the last train ride of the season with over 500 passengers.  We had reserved seats and were served a meal and special dessert by the train's chef.  We spent time in Frostburg visiting little shops and a carriage museum (complete with an 1850 carriage and were shown where the servants rode).  To top it off when we arrived at Rocky Gap resort, we were right next to holiday light display that was fabulous.

Some of the highlights...seeing Jonathan and Joseph's face pressed against the window the whole time...listening to my Dad and Father-in-Law tell about their train rides cross country and to and from Alabama...Jerin and Talisa dressing alike...Jonathan repeating. "This is AWESOME" over and over...how a complete stranger came and told my kids how mannerly they were in the hotel restaurant...and how can I not forget...Jospeh's fear of Santa.

Down on the Farm

From these photos you'd really think we'd live on a farm...NOT how about a tract housing subdivision that used to be farmland in Maryland...although thoroughbred horses train on a track just at the end of our street.

Even though we aren't "country" folk we still try to teach our children to work hard no matter what they do and on this particular day we focused on how blessed we are they we don't HAVE to chop enough firewood to heat our house for the WHOLE winter.  We demonstrated how we recycled wood from a walnut tree from Granpa's backyard...the woodstack...well in everything there should be orderliness (at least in my world:))

Sharing

Here's a layout I did last weekend.  We've been telling Jerin and Joseph how much they resemble each other...so I thought I'd scrap it.

Here's a Christmas gift for my Grandmother, mom and aunts.  I started this little project last CHristmas, so finally I finished it off.  It's just a minialbum of photos of them from CHristmas at least 30+ years ago with my great grandparents.

Here's what I did with some of the Christmas cards I received last year.  Folks come to my scrap room and they say, "UHH who are those people?"  Well it's my friend Ann and her family and the single guy is James Dobson...I get a mass mailed card from Focus on the Family every year and I display it proudly.  I grew up with my Mom listening to his broadcasts and I listen to him every morning..He's very much a part of my family he's my main resource for marriage, parenting, education, politics, movies, music, culture & legislation.

Lastly...here's my ribbon storage container that 4everyoung (Lisa) started for me.

If you are interested in attending an all day crop in Odenton, Maryland this Saturday to finish up some Christmas cards or gifts...The Scrap Diva's got you covered.  e-mail me for the details.

Please also check out the new blog links I've added to my sidebar.

Today's Booty

I hit the jackpot today...first I awoke to my sister pulling out her bounty of booty from her four month stint in Africa...ahhhh the textiles she brought back (pics later).  Then Fedex delivers book samples that I've been waiting on so I can finish up my book...a few hours later her comes the postman with THREE packages....and it's still 14 more days until my Birthday.  The last package contained my secret Sistah Santa goodies and some brass adinkra symbols I order from Cultured Expressions.  The smaller ones are about one inch in size, so they could be used on a scrapbook page, but they are heavy.  I bought them to dress up my latest sewing project...YES I LEARNED HOW TO SEW LAST WEEK.

I love when someone else scrapbook shops for me...they push me out of my comfort zone (like with glitter) which I am welcoming because I feel the need to add bling to my projects these days.  I consider myself savvy on all things scrapbooking, but I was too tickled over the mini AMM tote...it's just what I needed when I run out to do demos...can't wait to fill that bad boy up!  Oh yes there was choocolate too, but I already ate it:)

Scrap-Masters Road Trip

Okay last Saturday I decided to take an impromtu road trip to a new scrapbook/photo cafe in Bel Air, MD...about an hour away.  Two scrapping buddies went with me and get this...only ONE child...Grandpa took the others for annual Santa picture and he wasn't even at the mall yet!  DId we have fun....DUHHHH YEAH...10 hours of freedom...we bought stuff from four stores and had a fabulous dinner out.

This store was everything I would have in a store.  Kiosks to sit and download your photos, developing on-site, a HUGE crop room complete with photo studio set-up.  Kid's play room, and a scrappucino coffee bar!  You know my heart skipped a beat when I saw these photographs of a black child (i hope to meet the photographer tracy miller one of these days) the owner Kathy was gracious enough to give us a personal tour of the store and I know we'll be back to do some great things there...hey maybe a book signing.

Check us out!

Check us out on a CM layout! Click Here

Thanks Charlaine for the link.  Need a quick Christmas gift...try CM's new Storybook and create a personalized digital book in no time at all.

Kwanzaa Project

Here's a link to my most recent Article featured over at Scraps of Color.  I look forward to seeing your projects starting the week of December 26th.