Day 2 of Grateful Posts

Day 2 of Grateful Posts-
I am so grateful for knowing I have left a small part of me where ever I have lived.
I am grateful for the places I have lived, I have taken a part of that place with me.
I am grateful that the experiences of life, 

some good, some bad, some happy, some sad, some big , some small, all combined have today made me a successful and happy woman.To each of you, who have been a part of my life, I am grateful. Be blessed.

Dollhouse Appearance at Fashion Week

If I had been at Fashion Week, how would I have reacted when this model took the runway?

and tomorrow night I shall be doing the same, 

which broom will I ride.

My YES agency joins EKU 

for a bit of trick or treat madness.

NAME 2013 A-3 Houseparty Steering Committee Oct. 2012

A-3 REGIONAL Houseparty-Tea Cup Mystery

Why did I post this picture? These, oh so cute tea pots have a real 

connection to HP13's " Teacup Mystery" night. Wait till you see what is in 

store for you at this event! Do not forget to get your registration for the 

NAME A-3 Regional All Scales Houseparty in the mail before Nov. 15th so

 it may be postmarked as " First Day" registrant.

Water Colors

Water colors...... soft, tender and I think it is the best medium  to use to tell a story..

Now to create this in miniature and present as a gift of love.

My Red Wagon !

I even have his wagon in 1/12" scale.

Now to replicate these puppies in 1/12" scale.

Celebrate National Dollhouse Month!

On an October Day.. I kept humming this song

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion”
Henry David Thoreau

The "O" pumpkin picking is in full operation! I found my pumpkin to sit on, prefect place to think.
Thank you Mr. Thoreau for these words and to the person who gave me such a wonderful book, " Walden"

Looking for a miniature locket..

Indy Miniature Show

 I wish I could have stayed in Indy for another day but waiting for me at home is YES program work and an 18 county presentation to be made on Wednesday. I was thinking this morning about what this trip meant to be, doors of life are always 

closing and opening for me. I shut one door and twenty doors opened. For I shut one door on Friday, nineteen doors opened on Saturday. 

Thanks to all who opened doors of opportunity for me.

A special thanks to the person who informed me this, " You are stuck with me",
You have more than opened a door for me, in a magical way you let me shut a door and throw away the key.

Thanks for the voicemail message, 150 or more times.

Because as days, weeks and years go by, we are gonna be stuck with each other. No name is needed to be mentioned, for you know who you are. I just wanted to publicly post my thanks . OXOX Thank you.

I had a wonderful trip, with my cup of coffee, I am sitting here smiling inside and happy.

A town I love, Indianapolis, Indiana. I will always be a Hoosier Girl!

After I took this exit, I made a decision that I will never, ever regret.

I always find driving time, especially when you are alone,to be the best thinking time ever to

make decisions, adjust your journey in life.

Self talk comes from your heart and never - ever has steered me wrong. 

Here I am with my dear friend, Marion along with Milton Beeman the 91 year old builder of the doll house in this picture . the doll house was then donated to the Museum of miniature houses and other collectibles located in Carmel Indiana to be used in raising funds for this museum. Can you guess whose car back seat transported this doll house home? The show was fantastic and loved being able seeing so many friends and catching up on news.

These are two of my past NAME state representatives, Marigenne and Marcia, I adore them and our hugs of greeting were strong and warm. I felt hugs all Friday evening and Saturday. Talk about friends who have taken a journey, more like a 100 journeys in life. Love you , ladies!

My exhibit.

An autumn to love...

Just a message ..
 this autumn brings to me - a new direction of giving, many new reasons to love, to look to a season filled with happiness...challenges both big and small...
 new hearts were found to remind that even though my favorite red heart stone was lost forever,
I have replaced it .
Wishing you the best of autumn days.

I must remind myself of these everyday

Signs I love and a place I love to visit.

Kentucky State Fair with Babette with minatures and more!

Portland , Maine

Wouldn't this make a great miniature building. I loved it when I was in Portland, Maine.

Happy Birthday to Us! NAME National Convention 2012, Charlotte, NC

Songwriters: HAMLISCH, MARVIN

Memries,
Like the corners of my mind
Misty water-colored memories
Of the way we were
Scattered pictures,
Of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then? 
Or has time re-written every line? 
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? could we? 
Memries, may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember...
The way we were...
The way we were...

Farm Girl for sure

Someone said this to me...

 and this person was not telling me the truth.

Charlotte

Red hats will be every where in Charlotte....I am still finishing up odds and ends and the YES program is beginning to take shape. Working on curriculum and forms galore. Website to be available soon and now have a FACEBOOK page.

Forget the "to do list"list getting shorter... I just remembered a few things.. meaning I found my to do list from 5 days ago.... LOL. It is almost identical to a year ago's list but instead  today I was on my way to Columbus, Ohio to judge their miniature State Fair competition and being happy!  My how one's life can change in a year... well, for that matter, it can change in a matter of a second.

I am back to getting ready for NAME's 40th convention to be held in Charlotte, North, Carolina for 7 days and returning to the work of my Youth Enrichment program.

Red Ruby Remembrance Gala

The Red Ruby Remembrance Gala cards and tickets are now being inserted as I have received the official attendee list. One hundred and twenty five NAME members will be celebrating 40 years of NAME on Wednesday, July 25. Trollies will transport the attendees to the Charlotte Trolley Museum where they will meet and spend time with Fred Miller's whose miniature replicas of the trollies and the Charlotte neighborhoods they served are a very special part of this museum. I serve as the hostess for the evening. Still a few details to take care of but what a wonderful benefit event this will be.
Shall we all wear something red?

Yes, I am thinking of this holiday and working on witches

Working on a making this an extra special miniature holiday this year. I want to make these for my real house also.

NAME 2013 NAME Houseparty

 My normal day is not so normal any more- as many of you know I have added to my life the Youth Enrichment Services of Mid Kentucky- owner and executive director. Yes- I am returning to making a difference hopefully in the lives of young people- getting them ready and willing to to be educated and productive citizens. But in between packing boxes, unpacking boxes, developing forms, curriculum, life skills and more I am working on the N AME national convention which is just ahead of me and the 2013 A-3 Regional Houseparty to be held next year in Lexington, Ky.

 In between-travel days to Florence, KY, Cincinnati and,Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana, Carmel, Indiana, Lexington and Louisville , Kentucky; Charlotte, North Carolina, lots of travel time in the past two months and many emails, creative conversations and thinking, this circus train set was my submission for an HP13 workshop next May. I wanted an easy, affordable fun project to go along with our theme of "Playtime Memories". Once it is painted and aged- it is so adorable and VINTAGE looking! There are still more animals, a popcorn and clown car to be added.
I hope you like it!

It is going to rain and rain here !

I am going to stand in the rain

 and 

do the happy dance.

NAME Houseparty in Lexington May 2013

Dealer , workshop and theme luncheon applications are still arrring at the NAME office for "Playtime Memories" , the A-3 Regional All scales Houseparty to be held in Lexington May of 2013.
HAPPY DANCE... as what wonderful dealer, workshop instructors and theme luncheon presentors have applied.

So it is now time to begin showing you pictures about the fun events and activities which are being planned , very unusual and out of the box fun is being planned for the 250 attendees.

A seminar about how to use vintage hangerchiefs with miniatures to be given my Vicki Fox of Indiana. A special treat is in store for all who attend this seminar.

and I am now using the box of 120 different colors and my life is changing!

 I am re-posting this message as it now has become a part of me, my daily life..

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends.

 To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. 

This is to have succeeded."

 ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Best of Show Needlework Award

My entry into the Needlework Category of the Garrard County Fair won the Garrard County Arts Council  Best of Show honor and Fair Grand Champion- Needlework award. This is a 1/2" scale french knot miniature rug. Averages about 2-200-300 french knots per inch- this means about 6-8,000 total french knots. I have been working on this piece for 2 years.This was a Teresa Layman pattern.


Two other miniature pieces I entered received "blue/first place honors".

Here comes July

How can the summer be flying away so fast?
I just returned home from a wonderful trip to Indiana.. sharing time remembering... being a Sigma Chi sweetheart.. thank you , Kirby! Kirby is one of the founding members of this fraternity , who were celebrating their 50 year reunion. The activities and were events were as "classy" as all of these Sigma Chi men are.  Oh, yes, my son Jay is a William and Sigma Chi .
I returned home to this week being our local county fair.. so I am off in about 30 minutes to enter miniatures into their miniature categories.
Upon my return home- it is to work on NAME convention - GALA, Auction, Estate table, roundtable kits, gift exchanges, it is time for me to begin getting things packed and organized as traveling to Charlotte, N.C. is not so far away!
Oh, yes, July 1- I open the doors to the Youth Enrichment Services of Mid Kentucky , I am still trying to believe that this agency is mine.  

Off I go attacking a very busy day!    

        

If you have not heard... a new chapter in my live has begun... well, several new chapters.... within a 5 week period... my life changed.  It all began with a text message on May 6th. From that day forward, each day brought more and more bad news, events and well, I was to the point of actually saying.. when is this going to stop!  Actually, I screamed it between thousand and thousands of tears. Yes, the strong Babette was in need of a good day desperately.

But then , a phone call... changed my life.
 I had submitted an education federal grant proposal . With the support of 15 major partnerships and the encouragement and help from many outstanding people- all I consider very special friends and much more.

.. I was awarded this grant. 

... I am still in disbelief. 

I am now the
 Executive Director and Owner of Youth Enrichment Services of Mid Kentucky.

 Youth Enrichment Services of Mid Kentucky (YES) is an alternative agency that provides opportunities to disadvantaged youth for the completion of a high school diploma or GED certificate.  YES serves the youth of Garrard, Lincoln, Jessamine and Boyle Counties and other qualified candidates.  Our primary goal is to work with youth and their families to increase opportunities for success. Student experiences will include but are not limited to educational and classroom skills; on- the- job experiences and observations of work environments; paid and unpaid work experience; occupational skills training; basic life skills workshops; character building courses; leadership development seminars; mentoring, counseling and community service. Development of student character is an important focus and we will foster proper work habits, as well as good citizenship. We expect to have (40) participants with the goal of creating more productive citizens for these communities.  Criteria for the program include a lack of literacy skills, status as a school drop-out or runaway, pregnancy, and other issues. 


This will be changing my life.. and this opportunity is once in a life time.  
Those who will be joining me in this journey will be rewarded in so many ways. 

Moving on to planning the next event

This event is called " Party on the Square" held on the four quadrants of Lancaster. Everything is free- food, entertainment, give aways galore all sponsored by the Solid waste Committee of Garrard County. I serve as chair but along with 9 other wonderful people ( and spouses and children) on this volunteer committee made this all happen! A huge success and fun!

This is my kind of building...
'

Working on a new french knot rug... let me see 400 knots per sq. inch....

Looking for this book... going on an adventure trip with a list of I want to find items.....
best thing in the world is to share such an adventure with someone who doesn't mind going
 to places one never would expect to go. Understanding, I may say "STOP! Let's go in there!"
 It is called living...having the spirit to be a seeker  and finding at least one treasure to bring home.

Who would ever thought I would  become such a huge part of the " Go Green" " Keep America Clean" campaign! Well, not only do I serve as chairman of my county's solid waste citizen committee- which know serves as an appeals board, I serve on the 109 Board and now will be a part of Bluegrass Pride, an environmental agency in Lexington.
Who would of thought plastic containers and cardboard boxes could bring into my county over $100,000.
It is all because of a young man, named Chris, our director- and my fellow committee members who work together as a family to, as I often say.... " Pay It Forward".

Auction Day

Thank You!

I, the Lord, will bless and keep you, and give you peace.

I, the Lord, will smile upon you, and give you peace.

I, the Lord, will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother.

Go, my children. I will keep you, and give you peace.

I, the Lord, will bless and keep you, and give you peace.

I, the Lord, will smile upon you, and give you peace.

I, the Lord, will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother.

Go, my children. I will keep you, and give you peace.

Miniature Exhibits at the Locust Grove Museum in Louisville. KY