I started a post, and then hit a key and lost it all. Phooey. First, I'm sorry to hear about your mom. It sounds like your brother and you are at peace with your decision and your loss, which is a great gift, but it sure must be sad sometimes. I'm sorry. My mom and dad came to the same conclusion on the deaths of their last surviving parent. My mom's mom had graduallymoved to ever-smaller, ever-more restrictive quarters, so it was gradual. And my dad's dad tried, honestly he did. And, he moved a few states away to live w/ my aunt, so he and my dad were able to weed out quite a lot. They had the same reaction, and started to just get rid of stuff in their homes. Of course, that's been awhile now..... I think that's a great gift to give your own kids, Marie. I read a post (was it here?) in which a woman said, she'd told her adult DDs that when she passed away, they were free to throw away, give away, whatever, her "treasures" (she had a little box of keepsakes, odd stuff but sentimental to her), and her possessions, because they were intended for HER lifetime, and not beyond. That sounds like a good idea, too--to free your kids et al. of the notion that just because you owned it, they honor you by keeping it. When my DGM died, my aunt sent me some "sentimental" stuff--my mom was hooting. They were just the things she happened to own at that time--they weren't important. Bathroom accessories in a rose theme--well, DGM liked roses, but those were just what they had at JCPenney the last time DGM needed to buy those things. They weren't important! I have a cousin that was thinking of taking the fabric from DGM's stash (she was a big sewer) and making everyone in the family a teddy bear (shiver...). My mom pointed out, gently, that those fabrics didn't MEAN anything emotional to DGM; they were just what she happened to have at the time. Some of them, she may not even have picked out! She sewed for other people, lots of times. Some stuff of hers WAS important to me--I got the cookie jar, which to this day I treasure and which helps me think of her often. That's enough. You may help enough just by keeping your TRULY valuable papers in a really good place, the photos in another good place, and telling your kids they should throw the rest out without even looking at it. It's useful to you, not to them! Steve, I like what you said about "theater of the mind." But sometimes we keep stuff we don't really need to "replay." You can buy NEW magazines (please, buy new magazines, so I can have a job), new books, etc. There's not really a need to keep stuff. But, on to practical matters. That stuff you'd like to pass on? Get one of those accordion folders w/ the dividers (alphabet, or 12 months), and label each for one kid. Then you've got a place to put that stuff. Maybe label one "Understanding Grandma better" and put notes to yourself (I think those might be really nice for your descendents to see), etc. Things that would truly tell someone, years from now, what you were like. And then be ruthless. If you haven't looked at that vacation stuff, it won't matter as much. Maybe you'll find 2 or 3 things from each that are worth hanging onto--something that helps you get STARTED remembering the trip. That should be enough. As for scrapbooking, well, I guess I'm unAmerican because I really don't approve. Sticking stuff in scrapbooks to look at later, yes. Getting creative w/ precut stuff and fancy letters, no. So get a big binder, buy some of those plastic page protectors (some divided for smaller stuff, some full size), and stick stuff in there. Just get it out of a box and into a book you can page through. The heck w/ labeling anything, making fancy borders, etc. Just stick the brochures into the pockets. And maybe set an arbitrary limit--no more than 5 mementos from every vacation. Because honestly, your brain is very flexible, it'll remember. And nobody else wants to look at your vacation mementos, really. And be tough; try to picture your kids 10 years from now--will they care enough to want to look at it? Will YOU? Stuff that's less personal--politics (which changes constantly), decorating idea, etc.--toss and get fresh. As if you were checking out library books from life.

It's crazy. I was just standing on the sidewalk taking a picture of a garden lady that was in a yard. So many other beautiful things to choose from.. I am always amazed at the different gardens, large and small.

There is a company that will take your photo and make an actual Rubik's cube with it, but I don't know what software they use to do it. It's very clever and cute though! I love the picture you used.

~*~Cookie Dough Truffles~*~ 1 C. soft butter 1-1/2 C. brown sugar, packed 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp salt 2 C. all-purpose flour 1 T water 6 oz pkg. mini chocolate chips. Cream butter and sugar together. Add remaining ingredients and mix well by hand. Roll into bite size balls. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Store in a plastic ziploc bag in the freezer. Makes 4 dozen. Let stand at room temperature 5 minutes before eating. ~~~Raspberry Bars~~~ 2 1/4 c.flour 1c. sugar 1c.chopped pecans 1c. butter (softened) 1 egg 1 (10oz.) jar(3/4c) raspberry preserves Heat oven 350.In lrg. Mixer bowl combine all ingr. (except raspberry preserves) Beat at low speed until well mixed 2 to 3 min. Reserve 1 1/2 c. crumb mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture on into greased 8-inch square pan: Spread with preserves to 1/2 inch of edge. Crumble reserved mixture over preserves. Bake for 40 to 50 min or until lightly browned. Cool completely :cut into bars. ~*~Peanut Butter Balls~*~ 2c. powdered sugar 2 TBSP. butter or marg.(room temp) 1 TBSP. Milk 2 tsp. granulated sugar ½ tsp.vanilla extract ½ c. creamy peanut butter 1c.(6oz) semi sweet chocolate chips 1TBSP. solid veg. shortening In a medium size bowl,mix powdered sugar,butter,milk,suar & vanilla with hand mixer until blended.Mix in peanut butter.Line a cookie sheet pan with wax paper.Roll heaping tsp. of filling into balls (3/4 inch) Refrigerate at least 2 hours.Melt choc. & shortening in a small sauce pan.Scrape into a small bowl.Spear peanut butter balls one at a time with a toothpick & dip into melted choc. Lift out & let excess choc. Drip off.Return to lined pan. Refrigerate 10 to 15 min. to firm.Remove balls from waxed paped.Keep covered in Refrigerator. ~~~Hello Dolly Bars~~~ 1/2 cup ( 1 stick ) butter or margarine 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 (14-ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk) 2 cups (12-ounce) semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut 1 cup chopped nuts Preheat oven to 350° degrees . In 13x9-inch baking pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter; pour Sweetened Condensed Milk evenly over crumbs. Top with remaining ingredients; press down firmly with fork. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Chill if desired. Cut into bars . Store at room temperature. ~*~LEMON BARS~*~ Crust Ingredients: 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup Butter, softened Filling Ingredients: 2 eggs 3/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 3 tablespoons lemon juice Garnish Ingredients: Powdered sugar Heat oven to 350°F. Combine all crust ingredients in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press onto bottom of ungreased 8-inch square baking pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Meanwhile, combine all filling ingredients in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Pour filling over hot, partially baked crust. Continue baking for 18 to 20 minutes or until filling is set. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cool completely. Cut into bars. ~~~ Cherry Poppy Seed Twinks~~~ 1c. powdered sugar 1c. butter or marg.,softened 1tsp. Vanilla 1 egg 2c.flour 2TBSP. Poppy seed 1/2 tsp.salt 1/2c. cherry preserves Heat oven 300. In lrg. Mixer bowl, beat powdered sugar & butter until light & fluffy. Add vanilla & egg; blend well.Add flour,poppy seed & salt ; mix well. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. With thumb make imprint in center of each cookie. Fill each center with 1/2 tsp. preserves. Bake for 20 to 25 min. or until edges are light golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Makes 30 cookies.