Hi and welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy your visit.


When I first set up this blog I called it Life Keeps Surprising Me but, since it has now become more about papercrafting, I changed the name to be more reflective of what is going on here.

I am so appreciative of those who have elected to follow my blog and I love to read comments that have been left here for me.

Thanks so much for dropping by.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

...........................Memorial Day

       Please take time out from your barbecues, parades, etc. to remember what is behind this holiday. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, a day when the graves of those who had fallen in battle would be decorated with flowers. When I was a child in school we used to buy artificial red poppy pins from the local VFW. We would wear our poppy pins proudly. I remember marching in the Memorial Day parade that would begin at the town War Memorial, a large statue depicting the flag raising on Iwo Jima. Our teachers and families made sure we understood the meaning of that day. Memorial Day is about coming together to honor those who gave their all serving their country.

 Now we have the National Moment of Remembrance, at 3:00 PM local time, take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices that so many have made in order for us to enjoy the freedom we have today.

WAR                                                                             Battle Deaths
Revolutionary                                                                        4,435
War of 1812                                                                          2,260
Mexican War                                                                         1,733
Civil War (Both sides)                                                    191,963 
Spanish American War                                                         385
World War I                                                                         53,402
World War II                                                                      291,557
Korean Conflict                                                                    33,741
Viet Nam Conflict                                                                 47,424
Persian Gulf War                                                                       147

I have not included statistics for the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as they are ongoing.

Please, at the very least, observe the National Moment of Remembrance to honor those men and women who gave their lives to purchase your freedom. Freedom isn't free.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

....................Denise offers Blog Candy

          My cybercropping buddy Denise is offering blog candy over at

http://lalasworldblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-candy-and-way-to-make-sweet-boy.html

Check it out and send a card to a little cancer warrior.
Denise, you are a sweetie for doing this.

Friday, May 7, 2010

.........................................I'm Back

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Well, it has been awhile since I have posted anything. So much for my resolution to post at least once a week. Here are my latest projects.
 A pop up birthday card.
 Birthday card for DH. Pete is a licensed private pilot, loves planes, especially WWII fighter planes.
 Card I made for a swap.
 2 page LO remembering an absolutely wonderful afternoon and evening courtesy of our sons, Phil and Eric and their wives, Shannon and Amy. We are so blessed.


This is a "Theme" LO I did for a Scrap From Your Stash cybercrop challenge.

I really want to get so much more done. Our granddaughter, Madison, was in her school play (Annie) and I want to do a LO for that. Pete took a photo of our grandson Leo sitting in PopPop's homebuilt 1/2 scale Corsair. Pete photoshopped the photo so it looks like Leo is actually flying the plane and giving a thumbs up after shooting down a Japanese Zero, another WWII fighter plane. I have so many LO's that I have mapped out in my head, now to just get them done.

Watch this space.