Show Me State-Missouri No. 33*

Missouri "ATC" 

Good memories of Missouri the 33rd State in my Odyssey. I am counting down to the 1st State.

Graduation Day, 1991

Sherri, the 1st daughter, graduated from Washington University, St. Louis in in 1990.  We had a great time at her graduation...saw Shaw Gardens, formally known as the Missouri Botanical Gardens.  (I even worked in time for "junking" known by some as "antiquing".)  

In 1998 we gave ourselves a weekend at the Big Cedar Lodge in Branson for a Christmas present.  

A real treat...we saw the Andy Williams Christmas Show at his Moon River Theatre and visited the Outlet Malls.








Stay tuned for No. 32!  Which State will it be???


*For "new to my blog" friends...on May 17, 2010, I visited Wisconsin.

 I can now say that I have been in, to or through all 50 United States.

 I am committed to make an Artist Trading Card "ATC" for each of

 the 50 States. 

Where did my time go?

I can't believe it...I haven't posted since October 12...not one word. I honestly do not know where the time went!  I even keep lists so I know that I have accomplished something from day to day.

Looking back over the 12 days---








I ran a My Memories Suite giveaway.  Which I confess did not prove to be successful except for me.  I did get a free copy of the software for running a Giveaway.  However, there were no takers from my Blog followers or from my Facebook.  Perhaps there weren't any "digital" scrapbookers among them or if there were, they already had the software they needed.

Click here to visit my shop.

I have also been busy stocking my etsy shop.  I now have 45 items in inventory with more to come.  Right now there are vintage aprons, curtains and handkerchiefs.  I am almost ready for the Grand Opening.  I am not sure what that means.  I have already had a few sales without a Grand Opening or any publicity.

Work at the library took up some of the time as did golfing and quilting.  Also,  just day to day chores...cleaning, washing, cooking...reading...watching dvd's...going to the Rep and an Emmanuel concert in Conway!

Now the big question;  Am I really retired?  hmmm....Technically, the answer is "yes".  However, I am as busy as I was when I worked a 40-hour week.  That was when I worked five days and was off two...never enough time.  Now I work three days a week and am off four...still not enough time.

I have always liked what I am doing at the moment and I still do!!!  That is the secret-Like what you do!  If you don't, find something that you do and do it, Now...

Maisie Dobbs (#1 and #2)

1st in Series

Maisie Dobbs 
by Jacqueline Winspear

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have found a new Mystery series that I really like.  Thanks to one the patron's at the branch library where I work for recommending it to me. This is the  first book of series and takes place during and right after WWI.  Maisie is a Psychologist and Investigator with a little ESP talent, so there is a fun side to the story.  Sounds like a good TV series to me.

2nd in the Series

I have already finished the second book in the series, Birds of A Feather. It is just as good as the first one. I can see a plot pattern developing, but it doesn't distract from the mystery and suspense. There is a lot of verbiage meant to educate the reader. However, it is woven into the thread of the story.  In other words, the story does not stop for you to learn some bit of history or how to do something. Now, on to the next book: Pardonable Lies. 


Since I have been stuck in the Regency period for several years,  the Maisie Dobbs Mysteries are a refreshing change.  I'll return the favor of our library patron and recommend Maisie to you!


View all my reviews on goodreads.com

A Night Out in Conway

Our Program

We joined our cousins at the Oak Street Bistro for a great visit during a delicious dinner.  Then, headed to the Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway to see Tommy Emmanuel in concert.  

Can you believe we, as lovers of guitar music and one guitar player in the house, had never heard of Tommy Emmanuel?  That is, until some very good friends saw him on AETN, the Arkansas PBS*, and were totally amazed.  They received an email that he would be performing in Conway on October 6 and we jumped at the chance to see him.

We had watched a You Tube video of Tommy playing, but in concert he totally awesome.  I have never seen nor heard such wonderful guitar music.  He is a wonderful showman and very entertaining. 

Pam Rose

Anthony Snape

He was joined by Pam Rose and Anthony Snape who did the warm-up and later joined him at the end of the show.  They did one song that Pam wrote and then an instrumental trio arrangement of "It's a Wonderful Life".  Tommy said it was Pam's and Anthony's first time to do a guitar trio piece.  That was hard to believe...it's was like they played together every day.  They made it look so easy!


What a great "night out"!  I think it's called a "Date Night" these days :)


*Public Broadcasting System

Giveaway Kick-Off!

 



 I am so excited to be asked by MMS to collaborate with them in a Giveaway!  It is a first for me and I am having fun doing it.


You can win your own copy of My Memories Suite software.  It is highly rated by Amazon.com reviewers and was given a GoldStar Award by TopTen Reviews.com.


To Enter:  
1. Click on this link:  My Memories Suite.
2. Choose your favorite paper pack or layout.
3.Post a comment on my blog telling me which ones you have chosen.


You will then be entered.  How easy is that?
I will use Random.org to select the winner on Monday, October 10, 2011. Only one entry per person will be entered.


I love this digital scrapbooking software--My Memories Suite!  If you are a scrapbook-er, crafter, photographer, blogger,  you will love My Memories Suite!  Here are some of the things I am doing with the program.

 I used a stock background and added a bow and text from the software...the flower came from my own stash of digital images.

 I am using a stock photo album to make a 2011 Memory book of my own photos.  It is really easy to select the colors and types of pages you want.  I can hardly wait to get started.

I pulled this page from the "Resource Gallery"...it was one of their free ones.  I will probably make a card from it to give to my husband on Valentines' Day 2012.

I want to buy the Embracing Autumn pack next and see what inspires me.  


You can follow My Memories Suite: 
on their blog:  My Memories Blog
On Facebook:  My Memories Suite
On Twitter: My Memories Suite


Good luck in the Giveaway!

CBS Sunday Morning

Just finished watching CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood...my Sunday morning ritual.  It is on from 8am to 9:30am Central Time. Until November 6 it is "daylight" time-after that we are back on "Standard" time.

Friends recommended this show to us several years ago.  We have been devoted fans ever since.  I pass the recommendation on to you!

Lady Antebellum...two guys and a gal

Today's show-as is every show-had a little history, a little inspiration, a little humor, and something current.  I found myself reminiscing over the past; smiling at the humor; and admiring the inspiring lives of famous and not so famous people.   Oh, and patting my foot and singing along with Lady Antebellum, the "something current" segment. 

I got a little teary-eyed today over the John Wayne segment.  I paid money to see his movies and don't remember him as the great icon as he is remembered today.  

I really admire Tyra Banks and her journey from girlhood to model to student at Harvard Business School.  She seems to be very up front with people.  I like it when people are comfortable and gracious in their honesty.

Mike Mullen, 

retiring Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair

Norris..a little girl from Little Rock
and Norman Mailer

and Norris Church Mailer 

 seem to fall in that category, as well.

...and what's not to like about "Our Gang" and Spanky?

All of these stories and more...You can find videos of them all on this link:  CBS Sunday Morning, Oct. 2, 2011