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."

Rest in Peace, little Bluebird!

Bob went out in the yard today, checking out the lawn and flowers. He came in to tell me that he found our "Bluebird of Happiness." It was lying in the grass, dead. I went outside and found it behind the neighbor's pool. The children, playing it the swimming pool, came over to see the poor little bluebird laying in the grass. He was a blue streak, still and lifeless with his little eyes sunken in his head. I said that the bird would have to be buried. So I went inside and found a bright blue piece of velvet material, the same shade as the bird, and took it outside. Cory, our neighbor, came over to look at the little bird lying on the grass. She said that she saw it in the tree the other day. Most of the earth was dry and hard and we buried it in the soft ground beside her house. Cory dug a deep hole and I lay the bird gently into the ground. We both covered it up securely and I said a prayer that the Bluebird of Happiness would bring Cory happiness for giving it a dignified burial. It was a sad time today under the blue sky and the hot sun!

Bluebird of Happiness!

Bob told me to look outside and take my camera. There were more flowers blooming. So I spent some time snapping pictures of all the beautiful new posies. I kept hearing the loud trill or a bird; but I couldn't see any trace. Then I looked up into the neighbor's big old tree and on a high branch sat the brightest bluebird. Bob told me that they have a nest in one of his birdhouses by the grapes. So I zoomed in on the little birdie and got his picture. She had her mouth open and was telling me something important. I wonder how many babies that she has in her little birdhouse.

Grand Opening of Perfoming Arts Pavilion!

Bob and I went to the grand opening of our town's new Band Shell on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at 7PM. It was a wonderful event and we enjoyed the music of the Alumni Band and Chorus playing songs from the 40s and a special tribute to the Armed Forces. The Hollidaysburg Alumni Band started the campaign for the shell so that they could play outdoors in the Summer. It is located in the new Canal Basin Park and was funded through the cooperation fo the DCNR and all the community, especially Foundations, businesses, banks and community and area residents.

One of my class members, Sylvia Burke Drass Schraff, president of the Alumni Band contributed many hours and much money to see the completion of the project. It was a momentous evening for her when she unveiled the plaque with the names of the people who contributed and her husband's dedication of the shell to her. He gave as as anonymous Donor to see the completion of Sylvia's dream. So the name of the pavilion is the Sylvia H. Schraff Ampitheatre.

Little Jared Celebrates!

Kathy and Bob and Alyssa and friends helped little Jared celebrate his second birthday on Monday. Jared was so excited! He ran around talking to everyone and showing his toys to them. Bob took him outside and he had fun picking up sticks. Then we gathered in the dining room and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He needed help in blowing out the candles. Then he opened up all this presents. Jared had a Shrek theme for his birthday and he received lots of Shrek toys. We got him a little book with Shrek's head on the front. And he enjoyed looking at it. We had lots of fun watching little Jared at his party and he came today to play again. Bob watches him on Sunday because Kathy and Alyssa work at the restaurant. We get to see him that day; and it makes our Sundays special. I made a DVD for Bob and Kathy from pictures and movies that Bob burned on a CD. Little Jared watched the DVD and started dancing to Elmo's song, "Hot, Hot, Hot!" He went around so many times that he got dizzy and fell into the coffee table. We felt bad about that; and we will have to watch the furniture when he gets going. Kathy said that he makes himself dizzy now for the fun of it. Jared recuperated after we went outside and he had more room to play!

Octogenarian Party!

Last Sunday, April 22, 2007, the Vocation Committee and St. Michael's Parish held a party for all those in the parish who were 80 and over. It was a beautiful day with blue skies and birds singing. The parish hall filled up quickly with the happy people and their families. All the tables were decorated with bright red geraniums and red table accessories. We had a lovely brunch with egg casseroles, home made cookies, fruit salad and punch and coffee for beverages. Also, the Men's Club prepared pancakes and sausages for the birthday party. After everyone had their fill of the party food, Tom Baker gave all the 80 year olds an angel statue. We had a musician who sang and played her music for all to hear. Then I read an Irish blessing and everyone left for home after celebrating their birthdays and having a piece of the delectable birthday cake ordered by Darlene Low. Above is a poster collage that Bob and I put together to hang in
ST Michael's Church vestibule. And, later, look for it at St. Michael's website at:
http://www.stmichael-hldg-pa.org/

Altoona Mirror CU

I entered the Altoona Mirror "Spring Flowers" contest yesterday and went around taking pictures of our blooms in the yard. But we didn't have many happy flowers because of the cold, rainy weather recently. And the fierce winds blew them down too. So I looked at our Colorado Blue Spruce tree and spotted a proud branch reaching to the sky and shot it for the contest. If you go to: http://www.altoonamirror.com/
Altoona Mirror - Making It Happen For You and click on the icon for Spring Flowers Contest, you can rate my photo. The other spring flowers are a joy to the eye also.

Pop Art

Last night, I started playing with Photo Booth and discovered that I could make "Pop Art" using my picture! There can be tons of fun when I discover all the effects Apple packs in this Pandora's Box.