Festival of Trees - Lawrence, KS

After Thanksgiving I went to Lawrence KS to visit with my daughter, Kimmy. We spent a wonderful Monday just walking and going into all the different shops and stores on Mass Street in Lawrence. Liberty Hall Theater which is a beautiful old building was hosting the Lawrence Festival of Trees. The trees are provided by businesses in the area and are auctioned off. The proceeds from the Festival of Trees goes to the Shelter, Inc., with the Kansas Dept. of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
Click any image to see larger This tree was from the Free State Fly Fishers - A fly fishing themed tree with vintage fly rod and reels with hand-tied flies made by the members. It was titled "O Fishmas Tree"

"May There Be Peace" tree was decorated with handmade origami cranes, which in the Japanese tradition symbolized Peace, Prosperity and Long Life. This tree was put together by the Pink Ladies and Red Hot Mammas #30505.

"Seasonal Spirits" this tree you literally had to be 21 years of age or older to purchase. It had nearly 60 mini bottles of libation and stemmed glassware. This tree was put together by Marx Hair Salon and Jensen Retail Liquor.

"Fun in the Sun" this tree was bright and cheery with all the swim suits, sunglasses and I loved the flamingos.

Inside the theater are these beautiful paintings on the walls and across the ceilings.

Click any image to see larger

Congratulations Tiffany!

Congratulations Tiffany! Tiffany graduated from UNT in Denton this past Saturday. Way to go!

Kristen @ 16

Kristen is my great niece on my hubby's side. Kristen just turned 16 in Nov. We took a few minutes to do a quick session during our visit to Illinois. She is quite the beauty. Kristen when it's time for those senior pictures...keep your Auntie Dana in mind!

3 VIPs

One of my favorite parts of our trip was spending a few day's with the grand kids. They have grown so much just since Sept. It was hard to get them nailed down long enough to get some pictures of them, but I managed a few. Although the oldest has always loved a camera pointed at her, we did a mini session and got some really great shots just before we lost the light. I will before long get the other two if I have to bribe them, and I'm not above doing just that.

Ethan - This one I have to bribe! LOL

but look how cute he is...it will be worth the bribe!

Grace - or is it Cindy Lou Who? Such a cutie!
Bailey - has always been a beauty, and loves to get her picture taken.
We had a few minutes of light one evening a got some really cute shots.

Bailey and her daddy (Chris)

Ethan and his daddy (Ryan)

Just like all the visits this one went way too fast!

My Niece on Thanksgiving

Shaun is my niece and I have always thought of her as one of the sweetest and beautiful people I know. When she came in Thanksgiving dressed in this cute outfit complete with a Boston terrier purse! Well I had to get her to pose for me. Shaun you have to promise one of my visits you will have to do a session with me. I'm thinking something vintage! Maybe 30's or 40's movie star glamour look, complete with hair and makeup!

Busy...Busy Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving Day was so busy for us this year. We started out the day at my mother in-laws and ate until we could pop. By late afternoon we headed to my sisters house in Clay City to celebrate and eat once again. The food was wonderful and just being with family was the best.

A Noble Barn

I love barns, the old ones from the days past. The older and more weathered the better for me. Barns like these are no longer really used by farmers, they are not big enough to house the equipment used these days to run their farms. So they leave them to decay, and let time run it's course. With each visit back to my home in Clay and Richland Counties in Illinois I look for these relics these beautiful pieces of our past that are disappearing from our landscapes. I found this beauty just north of Noble, in Richland Co. Click pics to enlarge

Homemade Noodles?

Yes, homemade noodles......they have been my favorite part of the holiday meal since I was little. I remember my grandmother making them. Last year at my mothers request I made 9 batches (36 eggs) so we would have plenty to go in the freezer after the holidays for her to make afterward........I guess a favorite of hers to. This year I was making for my side of the family's Thanksgiving meal and also my husbands side of the family so I made 15 batches! (60 eggs) With my mothers help of cutting them up we were done in just under 4 hours. Many people use a pasta maker and cutter, but I prefer to roll out and cut without the use of those contraptions. One....just something else to wash, LOL and Two....I just like the look of the hand cut noodles, less like bought noodles.

The noodles need to dry before bagging them up for the freezer so we spread a clean sheet on the guess bed and let them air dry. We had lots of noodles for both Thanksgiving meals and lots for Moms freezer! Yummy! Now I will have to make some for us here at home in Texas......It's not a Holiday Meal without them!

The "Anniversary Buck"

I will forever think of this as the "Anniversary Buck". My Step-son Ryan got his first buck this first deer season in Illinois, and it happened to be on he and Tabatha's 1st wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary! Tabatha and Ryan! and Congratulations Ryan on your 8 point buck!

Tabatha & Ryan - Wed on Nov.23, 2007

Our Day in Amish Country

On Friday November 21 my sisters and I took off for a day in Central Illinois Amish Country. We shopped for some of the best baked goods and cheeses there is. We walked around and visited some of the shops in the towns like Arcola, Arthur and Tuscola, it was a beautiful day. I would love to spend some real time in that part of the country. I would like to go back in the spring to see the farmers in the field with their horses and plows. I'm intrigued by the simplicity of the life the Amish live, so far removed from my own.