The One Year Journey.

Well my Justin has found himself! Age 20, handsome and with a smile bigger than life. He is in school in Gainesville FL. Go Gators! A new beginning for him. He has big hopes and dreams. He rebuilt a car and it's engine that he pulled from a field. It runs and he has breathed life back into something that was cast aside. It's so symbolic of new beginnings. He would like to be an engineer one day and follow in his fathers footsteps. How proud I am of my only child. A survivor and he has persevered and chosen the right path. I am so excited to watch his adult life unfold.

Dancing Flamingo ~ Cathy

He's Back!

The wayward child made it home safe and sound. Here is to new beginnings.

Hopeful Flamingo ~ Cathy

Happy Valentine's Day

I had such fun today delivering my little Valentine Candy treats to all my friends and girlie girls at work. One little purse filled with candy treats.... yum!

Did you make your Valentine Smile yet?

Heart filled Flamingo ~ Cathy

Wayward Child.

Justin Age 18

Justin Age 19

See the shirt.... RUN! And run like the wind he did! 8 long months ago my baby at age 19 left home to find himself. With a wave and lots of tears I watched him drive away.... 1000 miles away. Summer, fall and winter is almost gone and my baby is coming home. Sleepless nights filled with worry and endless prayers to keep him safe and God is bringing him home.

Spring is around the corner and with it brings new beginnings. This Tuesday, with more hopes and prayers, he will step off the plane and I can hug my baby again.

My dear blog friends, mumble a prayer for me and my family that he steps off that plane on Tuesday and we can rejoice in new beginnings.

Hopeful Flamingo ~ Cathy

Think Pink!

Oh that obsession with flamingos rears it's ugly head again! Nothing like your traditional pink flamingo Christmas tree... "The flamingos were nestled all snug in their nests with hopes that Saint Nick soon would be there!" lol

Tickled Pink Flamingo ~ Cathy

K-9 Karnival!

We're heading to the K-9 Karnival today! Our bank has a booth and we're going to hand out yummies for the doggies. Our dog Sam is coming with us and he will be the resident greeter! Woof! Looking forward to a day gone to the dogs!

Woofin' Flamingo~ Cathy

Blog Award

So I got this great blog award from my dear friend Tina. She is a true friend... she is there for me when I need her.... I just need to say when! I love reading her blog... she is always so adventurous and humorous. She is now in Paris, how adventurous is that! I think I'm undeserving of the award but I think she just wanted to know my answers to the questions linked to the award lol.

So here are the rules:

• You can only use ONE word!!!
• Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!
• Alert them that you have given them this award!
• HAVE FUN!!!

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your hair? beautiful!
3. Your mother? Rose
4. Your father? Mike
5. Your favorite food? Cheesecake
6. Your dream last night? Cheesecake
7. Your favorite drink? Margarita... ole... sorry couldn't help myself!
8. Your dream/goal? Work from home
9. What room are you in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? scrapbooking
11. Your fear? alone
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Florida
13. Where were you last night? Eatingchinese (that's one word!)
14. Something that you aren't? Spontaneous
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? House
17. Where did you grow up? Montreal
18. Last thing you did? Sleep
19. What are you wearing? jamies
20. Your TV? off
21. Your Pets? Doggie&kitty (this is ridiculous!)
22. Friends? yes
23. Your life? sunny
24. Your mood? amused
25. Missing Someone? Justin
26. vehicle? Beetle
27. Something your not wearing? helmet
28. Your favorite store? Bath&BodyWorks
29. Your favorite color? Pink
30. When was the last time you laughed? yesterday
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? Keith
33. One place that I go to over and over? Pool
34. One person who emails me regularly? Mike
35. Favorite place to eat? Angelos.... mmm.... garlic knots!

Florida in The Fall

So as the north boasts and enjoys the fall foliage... the south enjoys it's own beauty. The hibiscus are in full bloom, leaves are spent from the long hot summer and changing color, and the lady finger bananas are ready for harvest... yummy!

Fall Flamingo ~ Cathy

Adventurous Cat!

Really there is nothing strange about seeing a cat in the yard. However, this is our 11 year old kitty who has never ventured outside until now. Doors have always been wide open for Sam our dog and he has sat safely on the porch waiting for Sammy to come back in. Well over the past week Beau has decided to become adventurous and check out this new world. I thought I would share his adventure.

The moral of the story is never lose your sense of adventure.... be brave!

Adventurous Flamingo ~ Cathy

A Great Day!

I had the greatest day off. Keith and I went out for lunch. We then came home and floated in the pool. It was 93 degrees outside today and the pool was almost 80 degrees. Then I made some glass and beach glass bracelets.... how fun is that! I couldn't have asked for a better day!

Satisfied Flamingo ~ Cathy

Finally!

The temperature outside is still in the 90's, the sky is blue and the water is warm. It's going to be a spectacular day. I'm looking forward to floating in the pool!

So I got up early to enjoy my quiet time and I finally scrapbooked some of last years Christmas pictures... Hallelujah ! lol I just thought I'd share.

Floating Flamingo ~ Cathy

Bridal Shower

So my dear co-worker Erin is getting married next month and the girls from work are throwing her a Bridal Shower this week. I volunteered to make the card. I think it turned out pretty slick. Yup! I sure am impressed with myself lol.

Modest and Humble Flamingo ;) Cathy

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day to all my friends and family. I just wanted to share a couple of pictures of the the cards that I've been happily creating over the past couple of days. Three days off are so therapeutic and I have just enjoyed the creative time!

Creative Flamingo ~ Cathy

Absolutely Delizioso!

So my dear friend Tina is traveling the globe and working. She's traveled from Chicago to New Jersey to New York and in doing so she is sampling the most world famous pizzas. From deep dish to thin crust. She posts all these great pictures of her samplings and I was becoming increasingly jealous of the amazing pizzas that sat before her.

So since I'm not presently traveling the globe I certainly can cook. So this evening I made Pizza a la Cathy and it turned out absolutely delizioso. Cheese, tomato, spinach and onions with a homemade crust simply to die for.... yum, yum, yum.

Pizza Lovin' Flamingo ~ Cathy

Florida Garden

We spent a great afternoon with my friend Laura and she is an avid Florida gardener. Banana trees, pineapples, tiki hut, tropical fragrances and great ribs on the grill. What a fun day!

Happy Tropical Flamingo ~ Cathy

Emporium

I absolutely love to scrapbook and I had some great pictures to work with. Keith's son was down a couple of weeks ago and we took some great pictures of him that worked perfectly with Emporium paper packet. My new Florida scrapbook keeps growing and growing.

Scrapbookin' Flamingo ~ Cathy

Favorite Day!

One of my favorite things to do after a busy week at work is float in the pool. There is nothing like the sound of the water... the birds chirping.. and a clear blue Florida sky. I am so blessed to live in paradise. The sun is so theraputic and relaxing.

I spent the whole day floating and regenerating today. Love it! Love it! Love it!

Tanned Flamingo ~ Cathy

Bog Award!

How exciting to receive this blog award from my dear friend Tina. This is a BFF award... Blogger Favorite Friend. This is just the sweetest thing. Thank you dear Tina!




The rules of this award are:

• accept the award by commenting on the blog of the person that gave it to you
• pass it on to five others
• reveal five things you enjoy doing

Ok so here are my five things I enjoy doing.

1. Floating in the pool with Keith with a clear blue sky overhead
2. Getting up early while everyone sleeps and have the house to myself
3. Scrapbooking! It's my therapy.
4. Talking on the phone with my best friend Tina
5. Eating Pizza with Justin

Awarded and excited Flamingo ~ Cathy

Do Flamingos Squeal?

Those of you that know me well, know that I love Flamingos. This wacky obsession started many years ago in snowy Michigan when I was craving my old home in Florida. Friends know that if they buy me "anything Flamingo" I will squeal with delight!

Well I have the greatest friend who loves flamingos too, she sent me this fabulous print, thought I would share.... Thanks Tina!

Squealing Flamingo ~ Cathy

Circle Cards - Endless Love!

So I was sitting at my scrapbook table last night trying to get inspired. I checked some of my favorite blogs and found the greatest inspirations. My friend Tina, who this card is for, displayed some of her adorable circle cards.... so I thought, how cute is that... endless love! OK get out the circle cutter! Now I'm thinking what colors do I use... Cathy, get out of your box and do something different. Well Jeannette Lynton, founder of Close To My Heart, was bringing the outside in with colors like clover meadow, heavenly blue, and bamboo. THAT'S IT!

So this cute little circle card is born. Dear Tina, if you see this post just know your adorable circle card is in the mail.... luv ya!

Inspired Flamingo ~ Cathy

Happy 4th of July!

Florida Album

Just made a fun Florida album of Justin and Sarah's time here in Florida. I used discontinued papers, some of my favorite stamp sets, ooooh glitter! Thought I would share it before I mail it off to the wayward children. Enjoy!

Creative Flamingo ~ Cathy

Happy Father's Day!

I just had to share the card I made for my honey for father's day. The card is from our pets and he will just be amused by the whole thing.


All you need is a piece of B & T paper size 8 1/2 x 11. The rest is just a matter of folding. I used Boom-di-ada paper. Love it!






He is also an avid reader and he marks his page with a grocery store receipt. I think he'll love his bookmark. It's all about love and simple things.


Flamingo Wishes ~ Cathy

Michigan here he comes!

As a parent we have our children's lives mapped out for them in our brains. We only want the best for our children and we have high hopes.

Well this week my hopes for my son came crashing down... he packed up and moved back to Michigan with his girlfriend. He is going to live his life his way.

So with waves and a tear I watched them go with safety primarily on my mind. They made it back safe and sound and now they are going to carve out their lives their way in the Midwest.

Flamingo with new dreams ~ Cathy

Where does all the time go?

Where does all the time go? One minute they're little 4 year old kids.... cute, curly haired, tanned and with not a care in the world. Then you turn around and they're 19! My Justin just celebrated his 19th birthday this week and I keep wondering where has all the time gone? Life for Justin and I has been quite eventful. Where people we loved have come and gone... but we are survivors! I hope that as he ages and matures the good parts of growing up and the values I have tried to instill will live on. My wish is that my legacy lives on with the child I love so dearly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!

Sentimental Flamingo ~ Cathy

I had a great Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday and to end the day my sweet honey baked me a yummy carrot cake. look how beautiful it turned out with some awesome cream cheese frosting. Yum! Yum! Yum!

Happy Flamingo ~ Cathy

Happy Birthday to ME!

Daisies! What is it about that simple flower that I love so much? I even named my car after the daisy. A dear customer at work gave me these flowers from her garden... they make me happy every time I look at them. I am surrounded by the nicest people and such dear friends that my birthday gift to all my friends is that I will be a better friend.



I sat at my work table yesterday during a rain storm and I made a pretty card for a dear friend that is also celebrating a birthday this month. I hope she loves the card as much as I do.






The birthday Flamingo ~ Cathy