Memorial Day



Thinking of all the brave men and women who serve our country this
Memorial Day weekend
and remembering those who have 
paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Marine Sgt. Wade D. Wilson Memorial
Photo Credit - Portraits by Karen

Thank you for keeping me safe and
allowing me to live the life I do.

Marine Sgt. Wade D. Wilson Memorial


I honor you.

BTW,...

There's a few things on my bead table this Wednesday.

Easy Beading - Volume 8


Kalmbach's Easy Beading Volume 8 arrived on my beading table this week. I've got a pair of Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings on pages 236-237.  I was very excited to learn this!!

Keshi Pearl Dangle Earrings
by Michelle Buettner


You should see all the very cool projects in this book - oh my!  It's eye-candy central and the various designs are just delish!

Fanciful Devices - Etsy - Tutorial

Then, this past weekend, I got the opportunity to play with the tutorial I ordered from Fanciful Devices over on Etsy. Her Tribal Gypsy Bangle Tutorial.  Wow - how fun are these?!!

My attempt at 'Tribal'


Trust me when I tell you they're addicting to create - seriously!!

My White Pearls Bangles with a little Hootie!


On another note, tomorrow's the last day of school for our son.  Summer will officially be here and I'm so grateful for that.  I'd prefer it not be 114 degrees for the next 4 months, but the rest of the year really rocks when it comes to weather, so I'm not going to complain.  I will tell you that I'm extremely grateful for air-conditioning that works though!!


Arizona Desert


What are your plans for the summer - got anything special going on? Are you traveling, seeing family and friends, hanging out, having BBQ's and enjoying the season? 

Family BBQ at the Cabin


How about your creative side?  Are you crafting, beading, smacking some metal around and playing with fun stuff this summer? 

Painting at Creative U!!

I'm hoping to be teaching a couple of classes over the summer when I'm here in the Valley. 

Words on the Wall at Creative U.
So True,....So True!!

I also want to play with some new materials and create a few fun, new designs.

Front Porch of the Cabin


I'm also going to be visiting with my sister in the mountains at her cabin.

Moon over the Cabin


 I love it up there!  It's so beautiful.
There's inspiration everywhere you look!

Wild Flowers in the Meadow

I hope you're planning on having a wonderful summer, full of creativity, family, friends and all the things you love!

Linking up today with Bead Table Wednesday
over on Flickr - won't you join in the fun?!


Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Let the Summer Fun Begin!
Cheers,
~Shel~

All Gave Some. Some Gave All.

This is the case with Sgt. Wade Wilson, U.S.M.C.





We feel cheated when we loose people we care about. 




We're sad and we hurt.
The loss leaves a hole in our hearts and in our world.





Even though my family and I have only known Wade for a few years, it seems he left a big impression.


Marine Ball

I think he'd be pleasantly surprised to find out how many lives he's actually touched.



Andy and Wade at the Cabin - 2009


We met Wade through my niece, Misha, and her husband, Andy.

Misha and Andy



Andy and Wade were stationed together at Camp Pendleton.


~Halloween ~
Leland (Wade), Beth (Misha) and Dog (Andy)


According to one of his friends, "Wade was very Patriotic".

April 2011

I think that might be an understatement.



Here's the pumpkin he carved for Halloween one year.





He had a infectious smile and bright, blue eyes that could light up a room.



Wade with my great-niece, Layla


He could be very quiet at times and it took me sitting in the emergency room with him in Springerville, AZ during Thanksgiving weekend one year to get to know him (You'll have to ask Misha and Andy why we were in the ER that night!).


Thanksgiving 2009




The conversation went something like this:



"So, how you like the Marines, Wilson?"



"I like it, Ma'am."  (Ma'am?!!)



"How about California vs. Texas?  Are you enjoying California?"



"Yes, Ma'am.  I really like it up here in the mountains (AZ) though. It's nice."



"So, you're from the same town in Texas as Fisher, huh Wilson?" 



"Yes, Ma'am.  That's funny how he's Misha's family friend and you guys all know him.  I'm pretty sure I know right where his property is back home, too."



"Dude, you gotta stop with the Ma'am stuff!  I'll tell you what. I'll stop calling you Wilson and you stop calling me Ma'am,...okay Wade?!"



"Okay, Ma'am" (with a very big grin!)





My son really liked Wade and looked up to him; just as he does all the young Marines he's met through Andy and Misha.

Cody, Andy, Logan and Wade




It's going to be hard to let Logan join the Marines when he graduates here in a few years like he plans to. 

But, what's a mother to do?  Be proud.


Wade, Derek, Tom and Andy



The Marine's lost a good soldier last week when they lost Wilson.


 

The world lost a wonderful young man.









Happy Mother's Day

I think my Mom would have liked these,....




Enjoy Your Day!



Until Next Time,



Peace, Love and Celebrating Moms Everywhere!



Cheers,
~Shel~

They just don't make 'em like they used to,...


My hubby came home with this the other day. 


$7.99



I know!  That's what I said!!



I had to snap some pics before he could even clean it up. I love rust and dust macro shots!



It's 114 years old. Cobwebs and all.



They just don't make 'em like they used to anymore.



It had been 'upgraded' with a little motor and a light for working long hours, well into the night.



Yep. Motor still works.
So's everything else on it.
Needs a bit of WD40 here and there.



I finally let him wipe some of the dust and dirt away so he could check things out.



It's such a novelty because the parts actually, well,...they come apart, so  you can replace them with out having to throw the whole thing away, melt it down or recycle it.



Today's world seems mostly about
quantity vs. quality.

Faster and cheaper vs. tried and true.



Nope, they just don't make them like this anymore.

I think we're going to learn to sew on it.



Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Timeless Quality!

Cheers,
~Shel~