Olivia's Graduation

Tonight was my niece's 5th grade graduation from Lee Elementary School. I can't believe this little girl I remember seeing in the hospital the day after she was born 11 years ago has turned into a beautiful young lady and now middle school student! I am so proud of her and can't wait to see what opportunties unfold for her as she leaves the younger part of her childhood behind. She will be successful in anything she does in life and I am so happy she is apart of my life. Love you bunches Olivia Paige! Aunt Shell is so proud of you!

Smile!

Our Leadership Columbia class was attending our last "class" yesterday before our graduation on June 8th. I have been given a lot of static about taking so many dang pictures that when the group posed for a "group photo" they thought it would be cute to pull out their cameras/phones and take a picture of me taking a picture of them! I loved it! These guys/gals are a hoot and I am so glad I have had the last 6 months to get to know them. Thanks guys for making my day.... it's the little things in life that make you smile! :)

Fresh Strawberries!

My Aunt Carolyn sent me some of her home grown strawberries yesterday! My mom had 3 box lids full of them and this is what I have left! Home grown strawberries have such a different taste to them and these are amazing! Aunt Carolyn hasn't been feeling well for quite sometime and for her to have picked these to share with me means the world. Living in the country you would think that we would get fresh strawberries all the time... but I haven't had any that I can remember since I was a kid.... and they are just like I remember! Thanks Aunt Carolyn for the strawberries and thanks mom for bringing them to me :) 
(This is one of Grandma Ruby's bowls.... just something about old bowls that I love!)

St. Louis Cardinals

Last night we got to take in our first Cards game of the season. One of our suppliers, Crescent Electric Supply, took us. The seats were right behind home plate! We got there early enough to grab a burger and a beverage from Patty-o's and then headed to the stadium. There's nothing like being at a ball game! The storm that started in Kansas City, MO ended up in St. Louis for the 7:15 pm game but it was just a steady spinkle (it should have been raining like crazy). We saw Gov. Jay Nixon and Mike Shannon on the filed together in front of us before the game started. The Cards didn't win but it was a lot of fun! I still love the Cardinals!

Rag Blanket

I got my first sewing machine on Christmas 2009 from my mom and on January 1, 2010 started teaching myself how to sew. I wanted to learn how to make these "rag style" blankets so that I could give them as gifts for the many people I know having babies. I really enjoy making these kind of gifts because you can't buy them at the store and they are made from the heart. I have a ton of flannel fabric and just not enough time now that Spring is here. I was asked to make a blanket for a silent raffle coming up on June 11th. This raffle was important to me because it was money that was being raised for cancer research.... you see a good friend of the family passed away almost 3 years ago with brain cancer. Roger Garmon was someone that you never forget. Although there is no real cure for cancer it has touched someone we all know at some point in time. The money from this blanket will go towards cancer research through Relay for Life. This is one of the ways I give back to our community to help the life of others.

Mizzou Baseball

Yesterday I got to spend the day with the McKee family! I had won 6 tickets to the Mizzou vs. Nebraska baseball game at Taylor Stadium so I asked Misty, Charles, Olivia and Mikel to go with me! Thank goodness Olivia called me at 9:45 am to clear up directions for the day and we double checked the time of the game (my tickets said 1:00 pm) because the game had been moved up to 11:00 am for the weather. We had great seats (2nd row behind home plate) and the rain set in at 1:00 pm. We left and went to McAllister's for some yummy lunch! It was so good to spend the day with my best friend and her family.... and the Tiger's won 6-5 which is the ninth-straight win for the third consecutive season! Woo Hoo! Go Mizzou!

Little bluebird of happiness!

Isn't he just so cute!? We have mirrored glass here at our shop and the little birds will peck at the windows all day long! It is cute at first but drives you crazy with all the pecking going on all day long! What's cool is that when they rest for a minute and check themselves in the glass you can get right next to the window and they never see you! I like to call him my bluebird of happiness! :)