Happy New Year of the Cow!

Jackson Hewitt needed me as a receptionist for the busiest time of the tax season; so I started in February and worked for a period to help out the office staff. Bob had put together posters of Hines Ward from the Altoona Mirror and Jane hung the huge poster up. Then I took pictures of the staff and some of the happy clients. We had a special Steelers Office this year. Hines Ward was our hero! Yeah Steelers!

Nittany Lion Gingerbread!

"Still Life: Bakery constructs gingerbread Nittany Lion Inn"

Advent to Christmas!

Only 15 days till Christmas, I have lots of work to do. Bob decorated the Christmas Tree and I decorated the house and the choir group to put on the front stoop. It's raining outside today and it wouldn't be a good time to move them. Tomorrow, the weather is supposed to change to colder and that might make a better day. Also, I have quilting today and am giving Colleen a little Grey Wolf stuffed toy for her birthday. It's the cutest wolf and she likes animals. Betsy said that she was sending us a box of Christmas goodies this week. I have some good recipes ready to bake cookies and we will be mailing her a box this week too.

I printed out some postcards with my Picture It! software and they didn't put the entire photo on correctly. So, I have 12 cards that still look OK. I am going to mail them to the family and some friends in nursing homes.

This week, St. Michael's have their big Christmas Bake Sale; I am going to take Sticky Buns and Cookies up for that. So, I still have baking and Christmas cards to do to be ready for the big day.

Thanksgiving Day!

Zachary, Jacob and Bowen talk to the robot!
Elicia and Sarah sing "Hannah Montana!"
Sue, making a face, Jeanne and Deb are happy!
Desserts galore sit on Jenn and Deb's table.
Jeanne and Ann admire Jenn and Deb's refrigerators.
Zachary and Sarah built Metropolis.
Dana and Zachary enjoy the dinner!
Sarah and Jon sitting together at the table.
Jeanne looks at Dana and Zachary!

Happy Thanksgiving with the big 22 pound turkey, right out of the oven!

Party Time! 11/22/2008

Ann looks over the twins, her grandkids, doing their own version of happy belly dancing, wearing parts of her costume.
Kristina was so surprised to get exactly what she wanted to bake cheesecake, a pan with a removable bottom.
Angela proudly wears her Penn State tee; Penn State won the game and goes to the Rose Bowl now!
Kristina and Elicia look at the Wizard of Oz ruler.
Bowen helps open up another present.
Kristina gave Angela this beautiful candle!
Happy Birthday Angela and Kristina!

Here are the exuberant belly dancers!

Angela and Kristina celebrate their birthdays!

Eric, Elicia, Kristina

Angela reads the new book to Tanner!


Ann had a twin birthday party on November 22, 2008 to celebrate Angela and Kristina's birthday. She made a buffet supper, since we were all watching the Penn State game to see if they would win and go to the Rose Bowl in California. They won easily and everyone was overjoyed! Bob and I brought over a crockpot with barbequed pork and sausage and rolls. Ann and Kristina had made baked fish, macaroni and cheese, creamed spinach and salad. We had a grand banquet with all kinds of good food. Elicia greeted us with a happy smile. She had a pretty red dress on and I had on a red top. She said that we matched!

Then, Elicia said that her family was all here and she wanted me to take another picture of everyone together. Eric was sitting on the couch watching the game. So Kristina and Elicia sat beside him and made a family portrait. Kristina created a family book using Snapfish and both Tanner and Elicia enjoyed looking at their pictures and admiring the storybook. Kristina did a great job and she made the print big enough so that the children can learn to read the book easily. Bob and I had a great time and we hope to see everyone again soon at Thanksgiving!

Mother's Day!

I celebrated a wonderful Mother's Day with cards, gifts and our family gathered around the table. Bob and I visited Walker Gardens and took pictures of the Spring Beauty and swans gathered around the waters. Sunday, I cooked a ham dinner for Jenn and Deb and Sue and Tom, Bradley, Kristina and Elicia came over to eat some desserts. Betsy and Hazen and little Hazen sent a bouquet of Persian Lilies that opened slowly and burst into full blooms. Jon and Jeanne said that they would come at the end of May to bring me something special. Bob and Kathy gave me a gift certificate to Target and I love to shop there. Ann and Ed bought me a tank top in my favorite color and a beautiful graphic. Sue and Tom and Bradley brought a case of Yuengling, my favorite beer. Jenn and Deb gave me an adorable statue with 2 cute birds saying "Welcome!" Alicia sent me a e-mail card that was hilarious and Jon and Jeanne sent me a JibJab that I put up on my website, "Vogelbird." Thank you to all my wonderful and caring children for giving me the best Mother's Day! I love you all!

Down the Primrose Path!

Here we go down the primrose path again. Every year they pop up beside the patio and brighten up the yard. Last year I entered them in the spring flower contest through the Altoona Mirror and added little Hazen's green face to one of the leaves. It won first place through many votes and Hazen's help. So, I thought that was a wonderful event. I won a Mp3 player, a gym bag and a zipper carrier that would be big enough for a lap top computer. But I keep my MacBook safely ensconced in a heavy padded brief case. Thank you for the help Hazen and Betsy! I found my Mp3 in one of my totes and if you would like it, it is yours!

More Spring Beauty!

Yesterday, Bob suggested that I take some pictures of our blooming flowers. We have the famous primrose that won the CU contest last year. So I shot some photos of the primrose, Dustin's little pine tree and some violets growing in a cluster by our front stoop. Greybaby and Blinky keep looking out at the birds flying around and getting ready for their new babies. The Blessed Mother sits patiently surrounded with new lilies of the valley guarding her.

Spring Pictures!

Tulips by Betsy

While visiting in VA, we stopped to take a picture of Betsy's gorgeous tulips.

Spring Arrives!

Today the birds are singing, the sky is blue and flowers and trees are in full bloom. I am taking my trusty camera outside to explore the scenes and take some shots. Then you can see the wonders of God in our little town.

Alicia sends photos!

Today, we got some fantastic photos from Alicia. An artist photographer, friend of Jessica, caught her beauty and grace, dancing and swirling.

Spirits in the Air!

This morning, I got up early and took a picture of the new little creatures invading our side garden. Bob has made more little ghosts to greet the Halloweeners when they arrive at our door tomorrow night. We are ready for them, armed with a big container of treats.

A New Creation!

Halloween is just around the corner. And so is Bob's newest creation. I went out this morning and there at my feet was the cutest little ghost. Now the first spirit has a little buddy. Bob surprises me and he likes to make the cutest decorations.

I got my Halloween outfit together this morning. I printed out a mask that looks accurate. And I got dressed in my clothes selected for the princess. Bob took a picture of my complete look. But I can't post it because you will know my identity. That's a secret until the big party on Saturday.

A Blog for Bob!

Sunday afternoon, Bob and I spend a quiet time watching football and talking. I mentioned my blogsite and he asked how do you do that. So I told him it was just like talking and letting yourself open to the world. I told him that I would put up a blog for him.

Bob learned woodworking and carpentry from his Father. He loves to create wooden art and now he has several pumpkins and a new little ghost made to decorate for Halloween and the Fall. He surprises us with his new artwork and it's fun finding the new crafts outside.

I hope that you enjoy this little blog about Bob and have a Happy Halloween!

Our Golden Anniversary - July 13, 2007!

Bob and I drove to the Lion's Club in Newry about 6PM and Alicia, our lovely granddaughter, met us at the door and escorted us into the building performing her special Anniversary Wedding Dance. Inside the building, we were surrounded by beaming faces from our family and friends and tables filled with Hershey chocolate, Fifth Avenue candy bars, cookies and a special Family Tree Cake, designed by Sue, with the trunk representing Bob and me and the branches with green leaves signifying each child's family tree. The cupcakes were the grandchildren and the tea cakes were the great grandchildren! Each cake has a photo flag on the top, made by Betsy.

Each child worked to make the party a beautiful wonderland! Bob emceed the program and decorated his family table with the Hollidaysburg Sportsman Theme. Ann created a candy replica of our old home on Fifth Avenue. She is planning on spraying it with preservative so that we can put it up at Christmas. Betsy designed a table cloth with the Family Trees of all the families with the photos and a wooden tree of our genealogy. Susie made an automobile table with all our old means of transportion and a framed picture collage of all our family photos. Jon emceed and burnt a wonderful DVD called "The Keagy Story," with songs and photos of our family in a nostalgic mode and Jennifer designed a hobby table with fun and games on it. Everyone worked together to make our Anniversary truly a Golden Day!

Our Family Quilt!

Bob and I created a King-sized quilt for our bed. Bob cut out all the squares from material that I received from friends in quilting and the "Y." Then I added photos of our 7 children with their partners, 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren plus our 2 cats, Greybaby and Blinky, to the white squares. We asked Father Gardner if we could assemble it in the Church Hall on tables since we didn't have the space here at home. He said to bring it up to the rectory and we could put the squares together down in the basement meeting room, that wasn't in use. It took us over 2 hours to just pin the 240 squares together. Then we brought the material home and I sewed all the squares together to make the quilt top. I bought the quilt batting and the sheet beforehand. So, all that remained, was to assemble the 3 layers and pin them together. We took 3 hours to do that in the Church Hall. Bea Cannarsa, a friend who was working up in the Church, came down to see the quilt and she helped to straighten the layers with us. We finished knotting the huge quilt and brought it home for my sewing on the machine. I completed the binding and we took it outside to take a picture. Bob and I hung it on the clothes line and Bob put 2 clothes props on it to keep it from touching the ground. Our neighbor, Don, took a picture of Bob and me standing beside it. We celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary next Friday and we can put our Family Quilt on the bed!

Feathers in the Sky!

After we buried our little bluebird, I kept thinking about his beautiful blue feathers. I didn't take any from his tail because I didn't want to desecrate his plumage. Bob said that when he saw the bird, there were feathers left in the grass. So I went outside this morning to find them. We had a heavy storm yesterday evening and branches were scattered all over the back lawn. So I started cleaning up the remnants and discovered a patch of tiny little blue feathers. So I picked them up and put them in a plastic bag to make a reminder of his time here. There were blue flecks through them; but they looked like fuzzy white peep feathers. I put them between laminating film and made a suncatcher. Mom gave me a bluebird suncatcher and I have it hung in my "Pink Paradise" workroom. So I tied and knotted a blue ribbon to the feather plaque and hung them high in the sky beside the bluebirds. It's a small connection to our "Bluebird of Happiness."