4-2-16 ~ My Eloise Turns Eleven Today

"Children are the rainbow of life. Grandchildren are the pot of gold."

~Irish Blessing

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY, ELOISE

 I mixed textures, duplicated textures, messed around with levels, and then in the end I added Kim's beautiful "I'm Everything" texture. 

The words on her texture are:
You touched my hand; I could touch the sky.
You were my strength when I was weak.
I'm everything I am because you loved me.
You gave me wings and made me fly.
I lost my faith; you gave it back.

3-22-16 ~ When Eloise Was Only Six

"Perhaps the two greatest moments of my life were standing on the moon and being outside of the room when my granddaughter was born! We tend not to remember the worst."
~ Eugene Cernan

Enjoy Today ~ Time Flies

(mixed media from my art journal)

Precious Eloise at Age Six on a Hike in Rockbridge County

My only granddaughter will be 11 in just a few weeks.

I must enjoy today because time does fly by way too quickly.

3-12-16 ~ A Doughnut with Sprinkles

Eloise and her Chocolate Covered Doughnut with Sprinkles

This shot was taken of Eloise some 4 years ago with her favorite toy...

her American Girl doll. She even had a little guitar for her. Oh, my, how 

she had grown up over these past years. She is all grown up and no longer played with her doll. 

I have been out of town for three days, but I did not want to forget Pippa's Friends Meet Friends. I had this picture of my art desk on my computer so I am using it because ART is my favorite toy here in my old age. I play with it every day, and I learn something new every day. It is wonderful.

Please go over to Pippa's blog, as she is starting a new meme where

Friends Meet Friends on Wednesdays. The prompt this week was "Your Favorite Toy."

February 18, 016 ~ The Music of Love

Blogger has given me nothing but trouble today. To create this post has taken hours. It would not accept my pictures, and then after I finally got them to post I was left with these little boxes. I moved the pictures around in order to delete hoping they would go away, but NO luck.When I got up this morning it had printed my journal page five or six times at full size all over the post as well as the drawing of my granddaughter. I have deleted all of those and hope it is working correctly now.

This is another of my art journal pages.
I made an attempt at using watercolors, but it leaves a lot to be desired.
I have a long ways to go. It looks easy, but it's not!
I used watercolor paper that I pasted into my journal, watercolors, stamping,
pen and ink, cut and paste, and embossing. I intentionally scraped off some
of the embossing because I was trying to give the piece an aged appearance.

I am participating in the Creative Artiste-Mixed Media Challenge,

the  Lunagirl February Challenge, and  Art Journal Journey Monthly.

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Here is another shot of eloise and Sage sketching.
Of course, they are watching TV. I have them trained to watch 
House and Garden Channel with the Property Brothers and Fixer Upper.

This pen and ink was done by Eloise this weekend at age 10.
It is all freehand. 
It looks like she inherited her grandfather’s and dad’s art talents.

February 15, 2016 ~ My 77th and Big Snow #2

In past years, Eloise’s family, a friend of ours, and Bud and I have gone out to Dothan State Park and rented a big cabin for my birthday weekend. Well, this year for #77, we decided to stay here at the Homeplace, and what a fine decision that was considering the frigid weather we had. It was way too cold and windy to do any hiking or anything else outside. Here are some the posters Eloise has made for me thru the years. You can tell the first was quite a while ago. Also, she has changed my name several time... from Baga, to Lady Baga, to Bags. The Lady Baga is the one that really cracks me up.

The girls created the table. Eloise made the napkin holders from toilet paper rollers I cut into sections several years back painting them and then giving them a good dose of Modge Podge, and, and she made the name place “creations” from foam pieces you can get at Wally World. Take note of the HOT sauce. Both of my sons cannot eat anything with HOT sauce...and Mom cannot even take spices that are the least bit warm. 

 As all of you know, I am not afraid to poke fun at myself .

I thought this was a pretty funny one.

 The girls are sketching and watching/listening to the TV.

 Those poor girls. A love three day weekend,

 and then there comes the homework. UGH!

 Finally, we have the fearsome threesome in our hats. 

This has to be my favorite picture of the weekend even if I did not clean it up in Photoshop. Other than cropping, it is truly SOC!

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Then the snow started, and there was a mad departure for Richmond a day early. Going over the mountain at Afton, VA, is not something anyone in their right mind wants to do in snow, sleet, ice, or high winds. They made it back uneventfully, thank goodness.Here are the pictures I tool today after it snowing all night and day, We got 9 inches and now it i all crunchy and icy.


I only left the house long enough to get these photos.
It was way too cold and snowy to be outside for more than five minutes.

The barn and outbuilding are still standing.
Each time we get a heavy snow, I fear a roof falling in.

These tracks are from Buddy with his two sticks 
hobbling across to get up hill to his car.
He had to go to work today... before they scraped the road.

This is when the creek looks the prettiest.
It’s a shame it’s too cold to sit down there and enjoy it.

This post is inked with Our World Tuesday.

February 13, 2016 ~ The Hat

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source,

 you will truly have defeated age."

~Sophia Loren

Eloise's hair keeps growing for Locks of Love.
She and her mom (a red head) are having their hair cut in June.
She is growing up way too fast to suit me - Baga.

This post is linked with Shadow Shot Sunday 2

#31 ~ Mysteriously Losing Followers Daily on Blogger

My Baga is losing her “Followers” a few more each day. Please read what I have to say.

My name is Eloise, and I am not happy.

The more I think about it, the more upset I get. 

Oh dear,  this is it. I’ve lost it. 

  
 OK, Google...I, ten year old Eloise, am extremely upset with you. What are you doing messing with my Baga’s “ Followers”? You are taking them away from her a few each day. This is not nice thing to do if you ask me. She has spent years earning the trust of her followers, and now you are just dumping them in the trash. Well, I’ve had it. When you upset my Baga, you upset me more. 

Below, my Baga has put together as many updates as she could find regarding this HUGE change in your approach to your blogspot.com members. I hope all that you blogspot bloggers who are having problems like my Baga is will read these. Maybe it will become a bit clearer. Poor Baga....she is totally confused and does not know what to do.

The really sad thing is Baga was so excited when he finally hit 250 followers she made a special little gift for that person. Unfortunately, she didn’t pay any attention to the number, so now she has the gift and no #250.  She said to tell you if you were #250 to let her know, and she will send you your little goodie.

It was fun talking to you. Maybe one day I will have a blog, too.

Eloise

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An update on Google Friend Connect

December 21, 2015
In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

Here is one of the older Google releases I just found from 2011, but it tells you what they are planning on doing. This is the part that refers to Google Friend Connect.The rest of the post I left out.

More spring cleaning out of season

November 22, 2011

This is our third blog post in our off-season spring cleaning series. To recap, we’re in the process of shutting a number of products which haven’t had the impact we’d hoped for, integrating others as features into our broader product efforts, and ending several which have shown us a different path forward. Overall, our aim is to build a simpler, more intuitive, truly beautiful Google user experience. In terms of the details, here is the latest update:

• Google Friend Connect—Friend Connect allows webmasters to add social features to their sites by embedding a few snippets of code. We're retiring the service for all non-Blogger sites on March 1, 2012. We encourage affected sites to create a Google+ page and place a Google+ badge on their site so they can bring their community of followers to Google+ and use new features like Circles and Hangouts to keep in touch.

Here is a reply I found last night. Mary had written about her concerns of losing her followers day after day. This is Joan Davis's reply. Being a non-techie I do not really understand it.....

Joan Davis

1 day ago

+

1
2
1

 

Reply

Hi Mary!  I was reading through the comments to Blogger's post and found yours.  There are tons of ways for people to follow your blog on blogspot...so, there are no worries about the "friend connect" widget.  (It's been outdated for years anyway.)  My suggestion is to offer other ways to follow:  Blog Lovin', Feedly, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google + and RSS feed.  Most of my "followers" use their own method (i.e. Blog Lovin').  Anyway, best of luck to you!

I read somewhere last night that we should expect to lose 10-20 % of our followers....UGH! No one in the thread I was following was happy. Many had lost way over 100 friends, and it is continuing. Some of the people commenting were writing in non-english, so it is happening all over the world. None of the comments I read, and there were so many, were positive.

Here are my questions and concerns...

1.Is this why I am seeing so many people switching to Google+ with “circles” in addition to “followers”?

2. It looks to me like Google is going to be able to get lots more info about us to use for their business purposes.

3. Are we going to be in a situation where we have to switch to Google + to keep our followers?

4. What would happen if I was to switch to Wordpress? Would my blog remain in tact?

5. If I change to Google+, will my blog remain in tact?

6. Looking at Joan Davis’s reply, is there one of the choices that is better than the others?

Thank you in advance for any comments, explanations, or suggestion you might have for me. I was so upset then I saw my followers disappearing I decided to write up a post, but I wanted to add a bit of humor to it...so in comes my Eloise. I had that funny shot of her and decided to use it.

Many Thanks.....Genie

The good news is I have made it one month posting daily. Now, comes the second. I wonder if I will make it.

# 20 ~ Wildflowers, Eloise and Weezie

“Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without

feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity."

~Karstens, no Poproblemgarden.

Eloise sitting surrounded by wildflowers from last years garden.

This post is linked with Color Me Positive 2016, where the prompt this week is Wildflowers. Click here to see other collages with wildflowers in them. These girls are some wonderful artists. I got way too many different wildflowers from my archives, and ended with my layers overlapping and edging showing and not as I would liked them. I tried for hours to get everything merged together flawlessly to no avail. Finally, I got so upset and frustrated I had to stop. There is a point where I just have to stop and accept my mess ups and remind myself I am at the beginning of learning a new medium. The mistakes will come out in the wash in time. As I persevere, I hope to improve because I surely adore this medium.

                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  

"Yesterday brought the beginning,

tomorrow brings the end,

and somewhere in the middle,

we became the best of friends.”

~Author Unknown

“

Sadly, Weezie is in an nursing home in Asheville, NC, where we used to live across the street from one another. My family actually lived in the house where she lived growing up. She has had several strokes and heart attacks. I always say she was the good one and I was the mischievous one...so I should be the one in the nursing home and not her. I miss her so much. Her daughter is like my daughter, and I talk to her frequently. Buddy drove me to see Weezie during the fall, and I had three days with her...what a precious gift he gave me. I live to see her again...I LOVE her so much. She is a true BFF...a friend who loves me unconditionally.  She has had several very close calls, but God was kind, and He decided it was not time yet for her to go home. Putting this digital collage together was such fun and a bit therapeutic. 

"Best friends don’t necessarily have to talk every day. 

They don’t even need to talk for weeks.

But when they do, it’s like they never stopped talking.”

Author Unknown

#1 ~ Memories

“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land and life."

~Albert Einstein

Christmas Memories would not be complete without at least a couple of photos of my East Coast Robinson Family ~ Gene, Patti, and Eloise. We got there at 10:00 Christmas Eve and left at 11:00 Christmas Day. It is always a quick pop in and pop out visit, but it is always a FUN one!

Buddy and I wish all of our blogger family 

a happy and healthy 2016.

Here’s to another wonderful year of picture filled posts.

My Youngest Grandchildren~A Blast from the Past

Thomas and Eloise Back Then

2010 ~ 5 Years Old

Oh, So Innocent

Thomas and Eloise Now

2015 ~ 10 Years Old

Oh, So Grown Up

When I found this little poem, all I could think of was my granddaughter, Eloise. This was apparently written by the author about her daughter, but I am thinking of it as if I am sending it to Eloise from her Baga. She and I are so close, and we enjoy such a special relationship with each other. I think this little poem is just beautiful, and I wanted to share it with all of you this weekend.

Little Wishes

Little wishes on great big stars.

Daughter, I make a wish for you.

Keep on growing and keep on smiling.

And I’ll keep loving all that you do.

Little dreamers wishing big things.

The world is your stage to display.

You can sing and you can dance.

Enjoy all that comes your way.

Little hopes in a great big world.

Nothing can stop your free spirit.

Make some noise, play a beat.

It’s beautiful music when I hear it.

Little kisses from my now big girl,

You’re growing up so fast it seems.

Pretty soon you’ll leave the nest.

And fly after all of your dreams.

Little girl I love you,

And I love you even more.

Because I made a wish once,

And you’re what I wished for.

Written April 9, 2014

~Little Wishes by Casarah Nance

More poems like this can be found on poetrysoup.com

This post is linked with Weekend in Black and White.

Ten Years Old and Counting

“The wonder of a miracle from which love began. There is so much found in the touch of holding a grandchild’s hand.”
~Unknown

This post is linked with:
Weekend in Black and White
Through My Lens
Wordless Wednesday

Special Shadows with My Family

 My boys riding the bicycle built for two. Two brothers in a beard competition.

 Ridge lives in WA, so he and Gene do not get together very often.

.

 This was “war” waiting to happen. I was a wreck as they would push 

each other until they would almost flip over.  Too much for a mom. 

This has been going on for 40 years. They are so cute together. 

Their love for each other warms my heart even if sometimes they scare me.

 Eloise learning to fish out at Douthat State Park. A first time for Eloise and the WA cousins.

Eloise and Ben

 They kept getting the hook stuck in the rocks,

 but my fearless Eloise was the designated finder.

Of course, Buddy was the teacher. Thomas with his red hair can be seen in the background.

I know these are not shadow shots, but I could not end this post without including pictures of Ben and Thomas. Thomas and Eloise are two peas in a pod (just like Ridge and Gene) 

and are both 10. Ben  is 12. 

Bud and the Cousins

Thomas

 Ben

This post is linked with  Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

“What greater blessing to give thanks for at a family gathering
 than the family and the gathering.”
~ Robert Brault

It’s a Black and White Weekend

Gene and Patti on the Bicycle Built for Two.

 Macro shot of the bike chain.

And, of course, I had to add a picture of Eloise.

The three of them make up the cutest family ever and have the best times together.

“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!”

~Albert Einstein

                  This post is linked with Weekend in Black and White and Macro Monday 2.

   (Just click on the name of the meme and you will fly right there to enjoy lots of great pictures.)