Thanks, Holiday-ers...for all your kind comments...I am very slow this holiday season ... the virus bugs have hit around here & takes time to kick 'em...soon, I hope. punk ... the walnut/stained glass hanging lamp is handmade by the original carpenter that made the buffet & table. We were luck enough back in 1985 @ my hubby's gr'parents estate sale to buy the buffet/table & brought it home strapped to the top of our camper...can ya believe that! Anyway, the light was hanging in my hubby's Dad & Mom's cabin in Minnesota & he gave it to us since it originally was made w/table/buffet. Isn't that just cool! The carpenter was Larry's gr'ma's brother-in-law & he died in 1938@ the young age of 44(born 1894) ... so all of this was handmade sometime in his married life to my hubby's gr'ma's sister. I have a handwritten letter from this sister back in 1985 telling us the history ... she was pretty old back then & shared it with us. Ok, I've rattled on ... the runner is new last yr from TJMaxx ... can get bargains @that store! I am looking forward to decorating that lil' vine tree some for Summer, too. :-) Thanks again, friends. Jeanne S.

Good Morning! Hmmmm, what did I do for Emily? We had a birthstone ring made for her and hid it in an egg. I bought her a multi-strand bead bracelet from World Market and a pair of earrings and did the same. We also stuffed a few eggs with money, which you all suggested, as well. Teens ALWAYS appreciate cash ;^D Thanks again for your great suggestions. The eggs and small pieces of jewelry were very easy to bring along in my carry-on bag. We hid them on our private patio there, so we didn't have to worry about someone else finding them :~0 She LOVED it . . . and her gifts! Anyhoo, here's a pic that I took out there: As for our time with our son, that was a bit sad for us. He'd put in for a weekend pass, and being at the top of his class, was assured he'd get it. But, his commanding officer went away for the holiday and left a new asst. in charge, who turned out to be a real you-know-what. For no reason, he decided the entire company had to stay on post, despite all the families, like us, who'd flown or driven in to see their soldiers for Easter. He did grudgingly allow DS a day pass to the small town next to the post on Saturday so that we could take him out to lunch and dinner there. So, instead of DS spending a relaxing weekend with us at the resort, we had to drive down to the post ~ 90 minutes each way~ every day but Friday to see him there. As a result, we didn't get to use the pools as much as we'd hoped or explore Tucson. Instead, I'm now (unfortunately) VERY familiar with it's highways! To counteract all that driving and get some exercise, we got up early every morning and walked the grounds, worked out in the exercise rooms or played tennis or golf (DH). But, the good news is that we did get to spend some time with DS most every day, albeit on post. On the bright side, La Paloma had a wonderful Easter Morning brunch that we went to and then we had them make us up a yummy gourmet picnic lunch to take down for a picnic with DS and his good buddy after.

Wow....you have been gone a long time! Welcome back! I don't do paper embroidery but would love to. Did you try at the C&D forum? I remember you were active over there too! I am looking forward to paper quilling when I find a free minute to gather what I need and sit for a few hours!

I used instructions from Carol Duvall's episode CDS-1358 to make these Easter greeting card boxes. Image link: