The Road Less Traveled

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I had Thanksgiving dinner with 74 people. We all met up at Camp Herrlich in Patterson, N.Y. This traditional gathering started many years ago when I was a child and three families were involved in running a summer camp. We would all get together at Thanksgiving or New Years up at the camp in the Catskill Mountains. As the years went by the families grew and grew...that now with husbands, wives, children, grandchildren and grandparents we are up to 75 people (and there were still a few missing). Of coarse we had plenty of food, drink and fellowship! The tables wrapped around the room and then some. We said grace and then all joined in singing the Doxology--it was beautiful!

My son and I went for a walk in the balmy unseasonable weather we are having in the northeast.

When we returned from our walk, my nephew and niece arrived for the festivities.

It was a wonderful blessing to spend Thanksgiving with my crazy family and friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

An Altered Barn Star

Finally took some time out to play with my Creative Imaginations papers (Frosty Collection), so I decided to alter a barn star. You probably can't tell from the photo, but all the edges are glittered. I took some ribbon and tied it onto one of my snowman head paper clips and spelled "snow fun" with my frosty chipboard letters. Now to find a place to hang it for the holidays.

=) Allison

Get Your Chicken Soup for the Soul Here!

Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker's Soul, First Edition is now available to purchase right here from my blog. I will be autographing each copy as well. If you have not gotten your copy and had the pleasure of reading this fabulous book...now is your chance! Just click on the link in the sidebar with the photo of the book, click on the book again and you will find all the information on how to get your copy today! Hurry, I only have 30 copies of the first edition left!

=) Allison

Making Invitations

I have been commissioned to make invitations for the Fireman's Installation Dinner--one hundred seventy five of them. I am having fun being creative and am on a roll assembly style. I have not even stopped to eat dinner--yet I stopped for a moment to post. So, here is the invite...hopefully soon I will be working on some other projects I have my sights on.

A Baby Shower Card

Here is a quick post of a baby shower card I made tonight. I almost bought one in the store today for times sake--but when I saw the price...I decided to take the time to make one.

It Wouldn't Be Fall Without An Apple Pie

Seems like fall is finally in full swing here in New York--we have the cool, windy weather to prove it. And what would fall be without an apple pie? Last week I went to visit my sister near Albany, NY--she has an apple orchard on her property.

 

So, I picked a few apples and grabbed some more from her barrel of apples to bring home with me. Today, I made an apple pie. Usually I burn Macintosh Yankee Candles in my house--but no need today...the aroma from the pie was awesome on its own! Baking pies became my job some 30 years ago when I was a freshman in high school. The only one in my family who baked pies was my grandmother, and she passed away a few years earlier. I was at my boyfriends house one day and his mom pulled me in the kitchen and taught me how to make an apple pie. I enjoyed it so much, that I made one when I got home. The pie was filled with so many apples, the crust created a mountain like peak in the center--my brother called it a volcano. So, to make a long story short...I have been in charge of making the "volcano's" every year for Thanksgiving and continued with my own family as I grew older.

Here is today's creation--not quite a volcano anymore...but very tasty!

Besides seeing my sister last weekend, I went to my brothers too--he lives near Utica, NY. I had a wonderful time with my niece and nephew, and took LOTS of pictures (almost 200)--digital cameras are wonderful!

We spent a rainy Saturday antiquing, went to lunch and then to the neighbors farm. I have known the father (Jonathan) of these children since I was 10 years old. Everybody works at the farm. Here, the kids are helping to feed the cows before milking.

I milked a cow for the first time in my life--it was warm and sticky.

One more photo to share, because I think it came out really cool. It was back at my sisters house when we took a walk on her property--we came across some thistles. My sister told me they used to used thistles as combs.

So after my weekend away...I am thankful for my visits with my extended family members, for the ability to milk a cow, for my wonderful camera, but mostly for being home again.

Peace,

Allison