Scenes around the keys

It's very easy to sashay from key to the next

therefore, it's hard to keep up which is where so just

follow the bridges.

 As you know I love structures and how cool is that

on the water.

 This is the now defunct railroad bridge of

which I have a million shots from another trip.

But not from this view.

 And of course I have to take a million of

this stationary object.

Just in case it moves.

 You can see better here. 

The trains traveled on the bottom and cars on the tippy top.

 Needless to say I would NOT be happy on the top layer.

AT.All.

And yes it was that windy - from last night through today.

It is relentless in buffering the RV

backandforthandbackandforthandbackandforthandbackandforth

aiyiyiyiyi

Sad that a boat bit the dust, but cool shot nonetheless.

Heading home tomorrow.

Had a visitor sashay through camp

 Caught this iguana coming out and of course my camera

was in the RV - I startled him in my effort

to grab it - but I managed to get him on his way back into the brush.

Of course I had to go look for him...

Scared the bejeesus out of me because he really

was out in the open and I'm looking under stuff LOL.

There he was watching me - looking for him.

He was quite the poser too.

While waiting for dinner

on Marathon Keys fisheries the pelicans

were fishing and just hanging out.

Dinner was absolutely amazing by the way

and so is the weather.

 So while waiting on our dinner I had

a great time amusing myself.

 Got a lucky action shot...

 Okay two action shots.

Well maybe three.........

 A beautiful sunset.

Sunset in the keys......

Snazzing up Kraft and scraps

I love Kraft paper and I don't use it enough.

I also decided to use all the scrap papers on my desk

from the recent Studio Calico kit too.

(I have one paper left) woohoo!

I started out by adding some texture to the Kraft with

an onion bag and some black and yellow ink.

Would you believe the stamping came last?

It did because everything else needed to be placed.

Loving the layerings at the top.

 More layers at the bottom and just for random fun

a duck with an umbrella.

 Love those tickets - still have some leftover

and tucked that 4 in for Amelia's age.

 I wasn't sure how I was going to like all the random papers

but it worked out really well and I guess that's why

its called a "kit". LOL. 

Love how the 5x7 photo dominates the page because

its soooo cool and one of the reasons

why I chose the Kraft because of the rustic look

and then girlied it up. Sigh.

Studio Calico.

Documenting a fun get together

Life takes funny turns especially as you

get on with the business of life.

The closeness you had with cousins, or others, in your youth

at times devolves due to marriage, moving or

busy-ness.

Well, it appears that the planets and stars aligned

and cousins from yesteryear landed in Florida.

And how was that known???

My DH created a closed facebook page for "The Murphy Clan"

where pictures, stories and updates can be posted

and man they poured in.

As cousins posted they were moving to Florida and/or traveling

to Florida - and after checking the posts that's when plans were made for a get together.

And it was so much of fun.

 Of course it had to be documented with an informal get together photo so peeps

 down the line can see while hopefully they're doing the same.

Also - once the cousins got together, stories flowed and

the heritage album I started from pictures sent from one of the cousins

was brought out - well I was stoked because that's

what its all about, and those stories I was hearing??? I made

said cousins write them directly on my page, sign their name and date it.

I'm hoping there's more stories and writing to come.

This is my page for our album to document the event and

now that more are moving closer, hopefully more get togethers are in the offing.

We enjoyed corned beef and cabbage as we're Murphy's, after all,

along with an insane assortment of delicious desserts as everyone caught up on life.

All of which I need to journal about on that blank white tag.

I did some really faint stamping in the background and tossed on

some Heidi Swapp mist and gold alphas-studio calico.

Basic Grey.

Balance

Such a tame word that means so much.

Balance - staying on one's feet, working things

in your life where you can have it all.

Balance just doesn't apply to adults - children also

need balance, like routine it can be comforting.

So raise your hand if you sometimes have trouble coming

up with a blog title. 

Not only a blog title but a page title - however,

this one seemed to be a natural.

Fyi.....

That orange blob next to the clock is an 8 - turned sideways

and now it looks like a heart - love that - stash used.

 You may notice this b&w paper from here.

It started out as a regular page that turned into a disaster

and then got gessoed and whacked to 6x12 to save it

because I really liked it. This one had an added bonus

where I punched a heart out right at the bottom.

So I decided to emphasize it and backed it with a heart

stamped heart from this weeks DIY "tags".

And then I found I bigger heart punched out on paper

that totally went with the papers and tossed that it to emphasize

the boo-boo even more. And turned a pumpkin upside down.

And why not....

 I didn't realize how dark that photo was until now

it looks good IRL. So this is Miss Amelia

using a curb like a balance beam.

All Studio Calico, except for the washi and mists.

Finally got that bag on the page

I purchased some bags awhile ago with the intent

of getting them on a page because they

caught my eye and I thought they were cool.

It took forever but ta-da......

I did tone it down with some gesso and I cut the

bag apart because of some bulk.

After I did it, it was like DOH...I could've

left the bag in tact and stuck a tag in it

which could've been construed as predictable

and we can't have that.

Next time. LOL.

 It was sooooo perfect for this page with Chef Lou

and taste tester Sam.

I even finally killed those grey word strips card

(say that 3 times fast).

 And that cupcake has been around a page or three

so I'm finally glad it found a home.

Studio Calico, Paper Issues, thickers.

I had a lot of fun with this page but there was

a lot of rearranging before I was happy.