tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13867055990822808242024-02-22T11:08:43.930-05:00Marco's PaperGreg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.comBlogger746125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-70474903291624982482019-11-02T10:41:00.001-04:002019-11-02T10:41:03.790-04:00For Your Viewing Pleasure . . .<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our store sent me a link to a new Jennifer McGuire video on Distress Oxide Sprays -- said it's very well done (no surprise -- everything Jennifer does is very well done), and has turned some customers on to Distress Oxide Sprays who had never considered them before . . .</span><br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jE-ZXEh5_W4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jE-ZXEh5_W4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Enjoy! If you get the urge to try some after you watch the video, <a href="https://www.marcopaper.com/categories.php?category=Ranger/Distress-Oxide-Pads%2C-Reinkers-and-Sprays" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">you can find them here</span></i></b></a> . . .</span>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-32216166943596075092019-10-29T11:02:00.000-04:002019-10-29T11:02:30.900-04:00An Audience With Royalty . . .<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I was in Sevierville, Tennessee a couple of weeks ago, I got to spend a few minutes with my dear friends Picasso Gaglione, Darlene Domel, and Fred the Wonder Bear -- they came to visit from their retirement villa in Knoxville. How they got from San Francisco to Chicago to a Rocky Top retirement is beyond me -- but it works for them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTId8TfCD7slhU21E2otZAde9EsNBcb0DTRbdw7ya1QyM1U7eORcTsBbMB8lJEzxOYepHCeXglYA1vCxOCbkIubeZpqqQCGMzCcvl4bolLaa0TmZSd5t62-yvLGMQlEkkFqYS4lkQgD8/s1600/20191020_153437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTId8TfCD7slhU21E2otZAde9EsNBcb0DTRbdw7ya1QyM1U7eORcTsBbMB8lJEzxOYepHCeXglYA1vCxOCbkIubeZpqqQCGMzCcvl4bolLaa0TmZSd5t62-yvLGMQlEkkFqYS4lkQgD8/s400/20191020_153437.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can't see it in this picture, but I am wearing a little button with Picasso's picture on it -- he gave me a selection of them a few years ago.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-CDD-O4SDudN5yWiVWEbTzdZARc4vtN-en7e0Im6o68MIYSNJlNh0X_3NDcdIgNh8xQK71qbNMs6rC6jamib1tl4H4gO2yH_X9lTTz7kzDRRQsKjQm_ZZHWSHhAHGm-FO0Tc0v1UmYc/s1600/20191020_153400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-CDD-O4SDudN5yWiVWEbTzdZARc4vtN-en7e0Im6o68MIYSNJlNh0X_3NDcdIgNh8xQK71qbNMs6rC6jamib1tl4H4gO2yH_X9lTTz7kzDRRQsKjQm_ZZHWSHhAHGm-FO0Tc0v1UmYc/s400/20191020_153400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Darlene and I enjoy tormenting each other -- there have been those over the years who think we actually hate each other, but nothing could be farther from the truth. We took several pics grimacing at each other, but the best by far was the one with Sam the Photobomber (Sam Solis from Stamp on It).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have written several posts about Picasso and Darlene over the years -- if you are not familiar with their legacy in the world of papercrafting, you might find this one from six years ago enjoyable -- <a href="http://marcopaper.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-scavenger-hunt-to-pay-tribute-to.html">http://marcopaper.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-scavenger-hunt-to-pay-tribute-to.html</a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvQoxnWSTZHuUkMRXhnvOtDa4PdDTwDLlxKursqRK0A2yBftc5Vlrd6-3o-jZhSNmk6CLeY2H_HoFfLYy5AUuQMXJDVIWNPoCZq-ZtpH1MQw45pcriCodqmJbOxMkLWDhm3m9QJWywBo/s1600/20191019_110849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvQoxnWSTZHuUkMRXhnvOtDa4PdDTwDLlxKursqRK0A2yBftc5Vlrd6-3o-jZhSNmk6CLeY2H_HoFfLYy5AUuQMXJDVIWNPoCZq-ZtpH1MQw45pcriCodqmJbOxMkLWDhm3m9QJWywBo/s400/20191019_110849.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The obligatory shot of our booth at a busy moment on the first day -- had a fun couple of days in the booth with my friend Suzanne Reed. She has helped out in our booth for nearly 20 years, through two pregnancies (the boys are both teenagers now) and a move from Texas to Tennessee.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsP-TfjF7nHH5Bfe_16NduGbKWbS7EQvKtJ6qUB9atDJrxQZOlYwiwEyXgFDmh5g1s8oVNTayP0fskH2PTumleG9VAqLgsFsj5NM5TKoYlvGyEdLsjkIoOoYnPGXoTWyr99pZkca-wE4/s1600/20191019_124826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsP-TfjF7nHH5Bfe_16NduGbKWbS7EQvKtJ6qUB9atDJrxQZOlYwiwEyXgFDmh5g1s8oVNTayP0fskH2PTumleG9VAqLgsFsj5NM5TKoYlvGyEdLsjkIoOoYnPGXoTWyr99pZkca-wE4/s400/20191019_124826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These three ladies were all in the booth at the same time -- I referred to them as "The Unicorn Triplets" and they were kind enough to pose for me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp7FuHX0TEVGO-QKdDwqQXL9Juew7rIfslTK3C2jJEx562oTPMaStaPGJ3U_NR1nKi4GhnX2MQyJroXLMm6RtuzFSphcmiyQfHhL5sqQlHyPaiwXgNEdrF42TDqEy1x42Z5VwzJUE4Qc/s1600/20191020_095226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp7FuHX0TEVGO-QKdDwqQXL9Juew7rIfslTK3C2jJEx562oTPMaStaPGJ3U_NR1nKi4GhnX2MQyJroXLMm6RtuzFSphcmiyQfHhL5sqQlHyPaiwXgNEdrF42TDqEy1x42Z5VwzJUE4Qc/s400/20191020_095226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I see this every year in the parking lot at the hotel where I stay -- and every year I wonder how many stencils got turned upside down in the process. At least three . . .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f03KkzKd_VQdESJi6soUvh24CUQlB8Xv6lUtjoUrxDRo07Ee1ERUNGLDQCl6U8GSSkqCb8eut_ch9QKVHSXandHIsZ6H85Kbu5h5y26mfiR_dEyAFbKz6Yl7GOZ_62C3kXUgUNOAOZY/s1600/20191020_134950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1575" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f03KkzKd_VQdESJi6soUvh24CUQlB8Xv6lUtjoUrxDRo07Ee1ERUNGLDQCl6U8GSSkqCb8eut_ch9QKVHSXandHIsZ6H85Kbu5h5y26mfiR_dEyAFbKz6Yl7GOZ_62C3kXUgUNOAOZY/s320/20191020_134950.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I am still going through the change when I open new rolls, looking for oldies for my nephew. Have reached the point where I shoot pics of coins that I find and text them to him to see if I have discovered one that he needs.</span>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-68613820812743390602019-10-24T15:18:00.000-04:002019-10-24T15:18:00.047-04:00A Pleasant Stop Along the Road . . .<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This started two weeks ago while we were setting up for a show in York, Pennsylvania – Pat Huntoon from Technique Junkies was across the aisle from me. I heard her mention that she was doing a show in Sevierville, Tennessee the following weekend and a show in Southfield, Michigan the weekend after that – and she was going to stay on the road in-between and couldn’t figure out what to do to pass the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I said, <strong><em>“Our store is on your way and ten minutes off the interstate – why don’t you stop there, set up a trunk show on our front sidewalk, and do a make and take in our classroom?”<br /></em></strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PUW9V6EnDYQOGDVhDIbFgzEFmBJ3g27O65SNQI5joxrGfhtPAcc77PCbRc7sDdB5NaimUGxMl3vjZSnX9Uz1J78uegYyca9Vbv3esJCGMOzF3f5bgdXkHN0rrYgDb4uoXXIJ1Em04Xk/s1600/20191024_093735_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PUW9V6EnDYQOGDVhDIbFgzEFmBJ3g27O65SNQI5joxrGfhtPAcc77PCbRc7sDdB5NaimUGxMl3vjZSnX9Uz1J78uegYyca9Vbv3esJCGMOzF3f5bgdXkHN0rrYgDb4uoXXIJ1Em04Xk/s400/20191024_093735_resized.jpg" width="400" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJZKlCjj0e7G-GfZk1lKUiGdfn9bz5N_t0twhj07oeJ_6utKwqqdsDkKb5UvAXa9qr6RZmXTbUORyyUU9xj63WM99fQbJOEu77xmnOlSwPl0qAzg2OsopgeQecOKb3_9AQsQgpxm3re0/s1600/20191024_093541_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJZKlCjj0e7G-GfZk1lKUiGdfn9bz5N_t0twhj07oeJ_6utKwqqdsDkKb5UvAXa9qr6RZmXTbUORyyUU9xj63WM99fQbJOEu77xmnOlSwPl0qAzg2OsopgeQecOKb3_9AQsQgpxm3re0/s400/20191024_093541_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />And that’s what happened today. I got to the store just as Pat and Dawn were unloading her carts onto the sidewalk – I jumped out to help them finish, and didn’t think to shoot some pictures until Pat had already put her van behind the building.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChXjIph2SlC2qKOqY1fQUi4EqdlEK7E450D2m-TrRN-SliR5j2_ehsLGlkPc-iat9iO4c34T4-_ZrIplZwSVmTm8hxqcuebdtXBkxFR65Iwhb35VyNxxlSJrZkj1RM8pzxUI-fEVUBcM/s1600/20191024_123629_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCzpkEhan6eNNdVpTKeVEBokx93WpuEedpxYSNYii6x4EKXxtCOwGWJlMl9k3iEi3sr8i9BZ4y3QWPixrFTZRc5tXk3nzu-mHP87-7SF6SkSGgkbKuC7ojrRWF0ARnJIPx_QdoMdif4c/s1600/20191024_123716_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCzpkEhan6eNNdVpTKeVEBokx93WpuEedpxYSNYii6x4EKXxtCOwGWJlMl9k3iEi3sr8i9BZ4y3QWPixrFTZRc5tXk3nzu-mHP87-7SF6SkSGgkbKuC7ojrRWF0ARnJIPx_QdoMdif4c/s400/20191024_123716_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChXjIph2SlC2qKOqY1fQUi4EqdlEK7E450D2m-TrRN-SliR5j2_ehsLGlkPc-iat9iO4c34T4-_ZrIplZwSVmTm8hxqcuebdtXBkxFR65Iwhb35VyNxxlSJrZkj1RM8pzxUI-fEVUBcM/s400/20191024_123629_resized.jpg" width="400" /><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />Then I came back after lunch. Was told that I missed the full house that was there earlier – both in the classroom and on the sidewalk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gary says we need to do this more often – perhaps some of you could remind your vendor friends that I-70 and I-75 intersect just a few minutes north of our little corner of the world . . .</span>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-52458489963179109742019-09-03T15:47:00.000-04:002019-09-03T15:47:10.722-04:00Mishaps . . .<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you come into our booths at shows, you see the finished product that takes us hours to build. But sometimes there are a few monkey wrenches thrown in along the way. This story is from setup at the Syracuse show in May . . . and I should begin by saying that I took the first picture because Julie told me to . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Julie and Tom Creek from Creek Bank Creations were rolling one of their carts past where I was setting up my own booth when I heard Julie yelp and looked up to see her going to the floor. I was afraid that her back had gone out, or worse -- and when I ran to her, she couldn't talk for a moment. Then she gathered her senses and explained that one of the wheels on the cart had rolled over her toes. Ouch . . .</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aXlmas9VdqyzrDv3yhTakseeO-0ng65-7d2-qjZswU6DHxtevI6YSQWtush2L33NET3lIECsbgV52k0rJMz0kq0zO41jyZQcJC-TnRzYkCiLTXWgktaiEKSEXHKpI5ka8xqFd0_UMcc/s1600/20190517_104648_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aXlmas9VdqyzrDv3yhTakseeO-0ng65-7d2-qjZswU6DHxtevI6YSQWtush2L33NET3lIECsbgV52k0rJMz0kq0zO41jyZQcJC-TnRzYkCiLTXWgktaiEKSEXHKpI5ka8xqFd0_UMcc/s400/20190517_104648_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had packed my lunch, so I had an ice bag in my cooler and Julie put it to good use.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNn3e5_rafI_fC17d-OuTdiMUem5hpOsLXJCBgP3sRczIWl9QlXAnUGTccS9xO-JbpWvIdahu-IFDcDm7pxHBdH0U5vi7Bbxzx_1VLzdS_rHfrenIX1gpPv59Qm-iIMe2eUrMvyfXJCI/s1600/20190517_115515_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNn3e5_rafI_fC17d-OuTdiMUem5hpOsLXJCBgP3sRczIWl9QlXAnUGTccS9xO-JbpWvIdahu-IFDcDm7pxHBdH0U5vi7Bbxzx_1VLzdS_rHfrenIX1gpPv59Qm-iIMe2eUrMvyfXJCI/s400/20190517_115515_resized.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By later in the day, we were laughing about it -- and Tom and rigged a way to get Julie around the room without putting weight on her foot.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dsr-aPyaL1AI1ct5_mLHlpLcJdp90wvWok16c2gvNpLwSA_O_4fOPNasdA0ApXaPb7RZ_vcXWFfZ1VkJBwHpXZUvydfEeM7goGHTXGGZzZSV78J1tW84IGkiPZY7suDBfwo8yCqGN5c/s1600/20190517_155138_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Dsr-aPyaL1AI1ct5_mLHlpLcJdp90wvWok16c2gvNpLwSA_O_4fOPNasdA0ApXaPb7RZ_vcXWFfZ1VkJBwHpXZUvydfEeM7goGHTXGGZzZSV78J1tW84IGkiPZY7suDBfwo8yCqGN5c/s400/20190517_155138_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You had to know that I couldn't tell the story without an image of the affected digits. Julie is a trouper -- worked the whole weekend and I don't think a single customer knew that she was less than 100%. And fortunately, nothing was broken.</span>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-89847272605353774422019-08-29T10:42:00.000-04:002019-08-29T10:42:36.722-04:00Superheroes Assemble . . .<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Superheroes Assemble" was the costume theme for the Stampaway USA Preview Party three weeks ago. Didn't see as many customer entries as I have some years, but several of the vendors went all out. Here are some of the best that I saw . . .<br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIGHY0OOFvHAXmhuSS-EH0ljNphCos8um4REy-bzEXP3YbE0M8t9qnjHdMbeTFZhnOu-pyjSlKh3iNUVI0sABuCRY6f6ZP7XbcEtuJ7p8WPQcswXat8QgORcxsaYXce9HxD3phFIefiE/s1600/20190809_215709_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiIGHY0OOFvHAXmhuSS-EH0ljNphCos8um4REy-bzEXP3YbE0M8t9qnjHdMbeTFZhnOu-pyjSlKh3iNUVI0sABuCRY6f6ZP7XbcEtuJ7p8WPQcswXat8QgORcxsaYXce9HxD3phFIefiE/s640/20190809_215709_resized.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Brett and Michelle from Stamp-N-Storage won the customer vote as Best Dressed Vendors -- and deserved it.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L-gJ3R3rdIYfdqtQP0qqI-vsGyaMbYSbXh9R_S6qfa5XY1NIB7Uf0sqanKePd63SMQpalUb3uv7E40wvxMFnM4s07XsUfer7IS_FAqtZ8Mb3TbFZEe1y7lUiYvwQRcXYU3IGknTkTuM/s1600/20190809_204517_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8L-gJ3R3rdIYfdqtQP0qqI-vsGyaMbYSbXh9R_S6qfa5XY1NIB7Uf0sqanKePd63SMQpalUb3uv7E40wvxMFnM4s07XsUfer7IS_FAqtZ8Mb3TbFZEe1y7lUiYvwQRcXYU3IGknTkTuM/s320/20190809_204517_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<br /></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h1qmT9WsnvaL1jhNTLSGhzdQ91cdwV9iE7RjwmWXw5H_esRtCH_v2QFUlSprAz1Lqw_R6Do6AKO5CA0UUCUEt2ECbZjD14dezlEXD-EEEOTeecvB4qIjK0WtAlJEjVTBPOH-046Wdjc/s1600/20190809_185732_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3h1qmT9WsnvaL1jhNTLSGhzdQ91cdwV9iE7RjwmWXw5H_esRtCH_v2QFUlSprAz1Lqw_R6Do6AKO5CA0UUCUEt2ECbZjD14dezlEXD-EEEOTeecvB4qIjK0WtAlJEjVTBPOH-046Wdjc/s320/20190809_185732_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b642ZzwYSi7_ibGH0masxpsMYf8rePWgYGjk0JBuARhq47t0w_WL7xO5y1CoE64D-WzXoyNyPsaEC-8hY0EA53k1Kn79Nq0t1pAhw-S8dUYc3-HSmoyeDHXTYuJRyiY4pf0Z5O00Lww/s1600/20190809_182419_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b642ZzwYSi7_ibGH0masxpsMYf8rePWgYGjk0JBuARhq47t0w_WL7xO5y1CoE64D-WzXoyNyPsaEC-8hY0EA53k1Kn79Nq0t1pAhw-S8dUYc3-HSmoyeDHXTYuJRyiY4pf0Z5O00Lww/s320/20190809_182419_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIDQDxwoJhMzrcOFGwuPgcLVWVeO8-uwGfkMctfm7i_fgSUzzpQKLIbtTDqm1Jp6p7QkDFiDKpld0PadGQXRgbQEuo4LeiSmZHbKM65AMaINLnRnWy1WalVEhH9Tgc3emiLGV2MmNSgA/s1600/20190809_185711_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIDQDxwoJhMzrcOFGwuPgcLVWVeO8-uwGfkMctfm7i_fgSUzzpQKLIbtTDqm1Jp6p7QkDFiDKpld0PadGQXRgbQEuo4LeiSmZHbKM65AMaINLnRnWy1WalVEhH9Tgc3emiLGV2MmNSgA/s320/20190809_185711_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RqZvcGjKwdTkfa54455CGR8ZE3d1jNi57g5Gcjnd41TyReXMqcaQZfsy0pqcNUVH0eaUnl57NUnziQ8UZYp0gS2dUdTVQjoBR_SvzyVJNCO9cM4Wa0geqG7wX6l81OIVIryLHB60t7Q/s1600/20190809_181810_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RqZvcGjKwdTkfa54455CGR8ZE3d1jNi57g5Gcjnd41TyReXMqcaQZfsy0pqcNUVH0eaUnl57NUnziQ8UZYp0gS2dUdTVQjoBR_SvzyVJNCO9cM4Wa0geqG7wX6l81OIVIryLHB60t7Q/s320/20190809_181810_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggBytnH-GGKA28KKFMIxC9potkius4V7AAd4FR69iEzJ0R3his6i552gv-NhDuDGc5RYt6CK9lapy-21vVTrD1KOsanBX9gpNUFCt9hfquFvxqB_WTraE7k-RegES-6rQrdLYadIBkic/s1600/20190809_182411_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggBytnH-GGKA28KKFMIxC9potkius4V7AAd4FR69iEzJ0R3his6i552gv-NhDuDGc5RYt6CK9lapy-21vVTrD1KOsanBX9gpNUFCt9hfquFvxqB_WTraE7k-RegES-6rQrdLYadIBkic/s1600/20190809_182411_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggBytnH-GGKA28KKFMIxC9potkius4V7AAd4FR69iEzJ0R3his6i552gv-NhDuDGc5RYt6CK9lapy-21vVTrD1KOsanBX9gpNUFCt9hfquFvxqB_WTraE7k-RegES-6rQrdLYadIBkic/s320/20190809_182411_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But, of course, by Saturday morning the costumes had been put away . . .</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHHydOiFYkjaukGJtkLGsqy2TvBP_hc6GVLVJnO4NN904W5_a0gbR4XfMySA_ANM11xlNP-L1jiDEbk-tL9t6p4Cz5mXYnAc71DQMVspp6hKXlkTWH3DmvuqpVOsPqcogW-ORF5LuQa4/s1600/20190810_120911_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtHHydOiFYkjaukGJtkLGsqy2TvBP_hc6GVLVJnO4NN904W5_a0gbR4XfMySA_ANM11xlNP-L1jiDEbk-tL9t6p4Cz5mXYnAc71DQMVspp6hKXlkTWH3DmvuqpVOsPqcogW-ORF5LuQa4/s640/20190810_120911_resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And we were back at our posts dealing with booths full of happy customers.</span></div>
Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-82051611835793956822019-08-28T11:38:00.001-04:002019-08-28T11:38:40.476-04:00The Best Thing I Saw All Summer . . .<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have traveled thousands of miles this year – haven’t even tried to count the number of states I have rolled through. At every show, there is at least one image that burns itself into my brain. Some are better than others – and this one is the best I have seen so far . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A lot of you know Debby Drabik – either from Just for Fun or as the promoter of the two StampFest shows in Florida each year. Her dad, Jim, was the <strong>“Sheriff of StampFest”</strong> along with Bill Mielke for years – they would sit by the door and watch the masses go in and out of the hall. They actually had little toy sheriff’s badges that they wore. Health issues have kept both of them away for the past few years, but Jim was able to make an appearance in Kissimmee at the end of June.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I found out that Jim was in the hall, I ran over to the Just for Fun booth to make sure I got to see him. Then I went back to my cash register – and a few minutes later felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Jim – he had made his way across the room to visit with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jim Drabik is in his 90s now, and it was a special moment to get to see him again.</span>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-36672026746351914602019-08-26T12:07:00.000-04:002019-08-26T12:10:23.586-04:00Frozen . . .<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The other story that needs to be told before we can move forward (or at least bounce back and forth) started last November 2. I had just gotten off the phone with my friend Ben Andrews, who called to tell me that his prostate cancer surgery had been scheduled. Went back to my computer and checked e-mail – and in my inbox was one from my family doctor’s online system with the heading “Test Result” – so I logged in to get my bloodwork results from a couple of days before and found myself staring at <strong>“PSA – 5.1”</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>FIVE POINT ONE?</strong> I have had bloodwork every six months for more than 20 years because of my high cholesterol. About the time I turned 50, my doctor added a PSA check once a year – and my numbers were always fine so I was shocked, because anything above 4.0 is cause for alarm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so the journey began. I had bloodwork done again two weeks later, just to prove to me that the first reading wasn’t a mistake (and, of course, it wasn’t). Then I was sent to a urologist at the University of Cincinnati just before Thanksgiving, because in our area that is where the cutting edge prostate treatments are performed these days. The urologist sent me for an MRI the week before Christmas, which discovered a mass on my prostate “suspicious for malignancy.” <em>(Side note – the MRI was very cool – I had never had one, and mine was the first on UC’s brand new MRI machine – the control room was full of doctors who wanted to see how it worked) </em>In mid-January, I had a biopsy that confirmed the MRI’s suspicions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Up to this point, Ben and my brother Blake were the only people who knew what was going on – Ben because I wanted to pick his brain about his surgery, and Blake because I figure anything medical that happens to me might eventually happen to him. But I started slowly bringing the rest of my family into the loop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In mid-February, I went to a “Multidisciplinary Clinic” at the University of Cincinnati – the head of prostate surgery, the head of radiation, and a world-renowned expert on MRIs went over my test results in the morning and then individually met with me in the afternoon to present their recommendations. As it worked out, mine was caught so early that I was a candidate for a relatively new procedure called <strong>focal cryoablation</strong> – essentially it’s the male version of a lumpectomy where the surgeon goes in with needles and freezes away the cancerous portion of my prostate, with a minimal recovery time. This sort of thing has been done for years on larger organs, but the prostate is only about the size of a walnut and the expertise of the MRI expert makes this possible – she could combine my MRI with a live ultrasound image so precisely that the surgeon would know exactly where to put the needles. They told me that my other options (surgery or radiation) were essentially overkill at that point.</span><br />
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So on April 2, I reported to the hospital at 5:30 a.m. – this picture was taken just before I was wheeled to the operating room around 7:30. When I came to, I was assured that they had removed all of the malignant tissue (and a little more just to be sure). And I was home by noon.<br />
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My nursemaid was on constant watch – Zoe wouldn’t even move at mealtime until I forced her, and then she came right back to her duties.<br />
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The next day, I ached everywhere – I’m told this is common after general anesthesia. But other than that and having to drag a catheter around with me, I was pretty much fine. Also was having trouble remembering some details, but I decided that I could follow a recipe.<br />
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Went back to the surgeon on the third day and the catheter was removed – and I went straight back to work. Probably not the smartest move I have ever made – I was worn out at the end of the day, and was tired off and on for the following ten days or so.<br />
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But this is the only scheduled thing that I missed – Emily and I were supposed to walk a half marathon five days after my procedure. When the surgeon told me that the catheter would come out on the third day, I said <strong><em>“Then I might be able to walk the half marathon with Emily!” </em></strong>He just laughed at me. Needless to say, I was not up to it – but I drove Emily there and was there to greet her when she finished.<br />
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My PSA was checked again six weeks after the procedure, and it had dropped from 5.1 to 0.4. The surgeon was thrilled (so was I) – he said that was a number they might have hoped for if he had frozen away my entire prostate. Another PSA at the three month point had the same number. I will go back in October for another MRI and biopsy – assuming they come back clean (all have so far after this procedure), I will go back once a year for an MRI for several years.<br />
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I have shared this story for one reason – <strong><em>if you or your significant other are male, get that PSA checked.</em></strong> That is the only way my cancer was detected – I had no other symptoms. And if reading my story helps to save even one of you or one of your loved ones, I will be very pleased.Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-2941773953568832872019-08-23T11:49:00.000-04:002019-08-23T11:49:49.447-04:00The Elephants in the Room . . .<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want to start by thanking all of you who responded to my request in the last post for direction on where to go next -- and what to do with a cell phone full of pictures that go with untold show and travel stories from the past eight or nine months. The vast majority recommended that I move forward, and intersperse the older stuff in as I saw fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Works for me. But enough of you had no idea what was going on in my family until two days ago – and your support has meant so much to us over the past ten years – that I need to address the elephants in the room first. So today I will bring you up-to-date on Mom and Dad, and in a day or two do the same with my prostate cancer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was our 2018 "Christmas Eve Eve" family picture -- we have done this every year since the boys were born. It has been fun over the years to watch the family grow -- and we already knew that the 2019 picture was going to be very different, since both Gina and Jordan were expecting here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Six days before, Mom had moved into an Alzheimer's facility about five minutes' walk from their condo here in Ohio. Dad had taken care of her, mostly 24/7 by himself (his choice), for three years since she reached the point where it was no longer safe to leave her by herself. But Mom had reached the point where she needed more specialized care, and frankly Dad was worn out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mom is very happy and very active here – we visit often, and the staff tells us how sweet she is and that she goes out of her way to help people. She has good days and bad, but most of the time she recognizes me when I come in and we usually take long walks in the hallways together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In late January, Dad decided that he needed to go back to Arizona for a while – he hoped that some time hiking in the mountains that he loved so much surrounding Tucson would help to clear his head and relieve the stress of caring for Mom the past few years. On February 5, he went hiking in Madera Canyon – an area he had hiked many times in the past and an area that Blake and I hiked with him eight years ago. Somehow he lost his way and couldn’t find his way back to the trail. He called 911, but despite a massive search over the next week in subfreezing temperatures and snow, rescue teams were unable to find him. I listened to the 911 call several weeks later, and suspect that he may have had a mini stroke, because he couldn’t tell the operator the names of the trails he had been hiking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A few weeks later, Blake and I went to Tucson to wrap up Mom and Dad’s 30-year retirement life there and thank the sheriff’s deputies who led the teams that put their lives on hold while searching for Dad.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqtJvHP7yImAd096bv0C0OVmfHFyAsTMowCr-nBzJwRLtjBBVC5aJ9c1oQ1TAbTBBx895eP95_v3UZRlkgs26gjBy3FUYu-uN__ukGtGqP41Z_yJ2H2yQ8hNqEFJCN7kyW6ursSkRLfQ/s1600/53003635_2816524481692788_845517204739850240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqtJvHP7yImAd096bv0C0OVmfHFyAsTMowCr-nBzJwRLtjBBVC5aJ9c1oQ1TAbTBBx895eP95_v3UZRlkgs26gjBy3FUYu-uN__ukGtGqP41Z_yJ2H2yQ8hNqEFJCN7kyW6ursSkRLfQ/s200/53003635_2816524481692788_845517204739850240_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We took some breaks along the way to hike some of Dad’s favorite trails.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Life went on – life always goes on – and months went by. The deputies told us that they planned to hold search and rescue training exercises in the area where Dad got lost, but the Arizona winter was so unusual that four feet of snow were there until well into the summer – in an area only 20 miles from the Mexican Border.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By early July, I started telling people who asked that if the mountains surrounding Tucson that Dad loved so much became his final resting place, I was fine with that. And then a hiker (ironically from Ohio) got lost in the same area, and while trying to find his way back to the trail stumbled upon Dad’s belongings. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDCIii-2g78cniXhEShYHf-PnsZ_kt004bSNJgTJx5l4h813kvXUVOrAFwqjU7Yb7-NXenAYY4HhxaCblK9_hl80QnHsT1xxD4Xl3nQz3Y1bwFvlhGIebK0s29_HJnbabHLp7l4r7Y0A/s1600/dsc06208_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJDCIii-2g78cniXhEShYHf-PnsZ_kt004bSNJgTJx5l4h813kvXUVOrAFwqjU7Yb7-NXenAYY4HhxaCblK9_hl80QnHsT1xxD4Xl3nQz3Y1bwFvlhGIebK0s29_HJnbabHLp7l4r7Y0A/s200/dsc06208_orig.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAONptbMBVg84X7LFGE_2LaYCeS4wOTFrEbkJnGcsjCGPZA7nmCQNl7KTkrcfS1O0RkUul5nG-JFn3d_885kYkaTbeUBIuTZjIaWF0g21_0Je3OonOA4_9D8FU2eiMGolgtTVTgYBdBxM/s1600/dsc06236_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAONptbMBVg84X7LFGE_2LaYCeS4wOTFrEbkJnGcsjCGPZA7nmCQNl7KTkrcfS1O0RkUul5nG-JFn3d_885kYkaTbeUBIuTZjIaWF0g21_0Je3OonOA4_9D8FU2eiMGolgtTVTgYBdBxM/s200/dsc06236_orig.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-I3W1sz1OPRnd2t_5M5dyKrWmedVG9OvHkxTgrhDyoNYfjUKiwqfH_XSejAvbGlFgKr_7unrLZfxoFDJnHuIM0rOqsGg7fkDsswV8YG9tghgbugDM9fcq2hexcCQo9dDE2Cn593EkRY/s1600/dsc06234_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-I3W1sz1OPRnd2t_5M5dyKrWmedVG9OvHkxTgrhDyoNYfjUKiwqfH_XSejAvbGlFgKr_7unrLZfxoFDJnHuIM0rOqsGg7fkDsswV8YG9tghgbugDM9fcq2hexcCQo9dDE2Cn593EkRY/s200/dsc06234_orig.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Two days later, he took a search team back to that spot, and it took only a few minutes to find Dad’s remains. These pictures are from that hiker’s blog – he was very careful to post pictures that would not show anything upsetting. We are very grateful to him for his efforts. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">About three weeks ago, Dad’s remains finally arrived in Ohio and were buried in a local cemetery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Along the way, we discovered that there is a blessing to Alzheimer’s – Mom has no idea what happened. We are very grateful for that, too.</span>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-12195804649625917902019-08-20T11:38:00.004-04:002019-08-20T11:38:55.093-04:00I'm Back . . .<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has been eight months since I wrote something for this blog. In some ways, it feels like eight days – in others, more like eight years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I pretty much went off the grid about the first of November after I got my bloodwork results with the unexpected shock of an elevated PSA (didn’t tell anyone except my brother about that until the first of February). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember thinking in mid-December that I would start up again in January with our family Christmas pictures. That was right after we put Mom in an Alzheimer’s facility. But life was hectic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then Dad went missing in early February. And I remember thinking that I thought life was hectic in January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After Blake and I got back from Arizona, I saved a bunch of pictures and decided that I would write one long “catch-up” blog post during the convalescence after my prostate procedure the first week of April. But it was uncomfortable to sit at my desk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had a million excuses – but mostly I think I wasn’t ready to write about any of it, other than a couple of quick paragraphs that I added to e-mails that went out to our list. Didn’t have any trouble talking about it – have had lots of nice folks checking up on me at shows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I kept taking pictures at shows and while I was traveling, so I have a phone full of little stories that I intended to share.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now I am at a crossroads, and I have two choices – start from scratch today and move forward without looking back – or start today and move forward, with jumps backward as time allows until the camera is emptied.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I figure you folks will tell me which you prefer – you always have, and I have always appreciated it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Either way, I think this is the starting point . . .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Preview Party costume theme at Stampaway USA in Cincinnati ten days ago was “Superheroes Assemble” -- I decided to pay tribute to mine and pulled out the outfit I wore the first time we hiked the Grand Canyon ten years ago.</span>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-19805464293655776882018-12-22T14:54:00.001-05:002018-12-22T14:54:16.074-05:00A Special Request from a Special Lady . . .<p>A lot of you know Connie Williams.  If you don’t know her, but have ever attended a rubber stamp convention in the eastern U.S., you owe her a debt of gratitude – because I think hers was the first.  As I understand it, Connie went to a convention in California with Judi Watanabe (Judi-Kins) back in the early 90s, and came back to Cincinnati with a dream to start one of her own.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a75n9i5lmkQ/XB6WWes7ZzI/AAAAAAAARIU/OcqAm46kk0ExbJZAa_F1zyuKJ7EU7wJUgCHMYCw/s1600-h/Stampaway-slider-4%255B3%255D"><img title="Stampaway-slider-4" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Stampaway-slider-4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c7rJumoSn38/XB6WXI9RRRI/AAAAAAAARIY/CcGXa0mfBtAnF73hAAsl_BeHBMfn30xWQCHMYCw/Stampaway-slider-4_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="854" height="284" /></a></p> <p>Over the years, Stampaway USA grew and grew and grew – people came from 500 miles away, and I can remember lines going both ways all around the Sharonville Convention Center before the show opened.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MZ6x4PIaA3E/XB6WXsjf_1I/AAAAAAAARIc/Xa59_Zl6mwkmQCiGaJE-ExbVgNKoujFmACHMYCw/s1600-h/Stampawayroses%255B3%255D"><img title="Stampawayroses" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="Stampawayroses" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wPK9PZum74w/XB6WYGVVOCI/AAAAAAAARIg/LWsggp3ffIo5oPztyLqbb08-Xb-jWRfugCHMYCw/Stampawayroses_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="246" /></a></p> <p>Connie “retired” after the 25th Stampaway in 2017, but I think she will always be around the second weekend in August.  She and her husband Bob wanted to spend more time with their daughter in Atlanta and at their winter golf home in Florida.  But sometimes life gets in the way.  I got a message from her earlier this week . . .</p> <p><strong><em>Could use as many prayers as I can request. Greg, on November 8 Bob went in for a brain tumor surgery. It was successful and benign. The only problem, which the doctor felt could be corrected, was a nerve was stressed. The nerve affects vocal cord and swallowing. He was off to rehab and two days later back to hospital for a reaction to the steroids. Adjusted medication and a few days later back to rehab. Two days later tried to get out of bed and fell. Back to hospital and in ICU with pneumonia. Now a feeding tube through nose because food was going into lung. Then put on a ventilator, removed tube from nose and surgically put it in stomach. Two weeks later. . . yeah back to a hospital rehab facility. Lasted three days and sent to ER. Fluid draining through scar area. He is back on a ventilator and has MRSA. Tomorrow back to surgery to put a shunt from head to stomach to decrease pressure on the brain and then put a trach in to get him off the ventilator. It has certainly been a roller coaster ride these last 41 days! Hoping you can send prayers his way. Doctor has confidence that he’ll come out of this ok but full recovery may take 6 months. </em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>Doctor said Bob would have died within a year if the tumor hadn’t been removed. It was massive. Discovered it two days before we were to leave for Florida only because in a doctors office I mentioned that I thought his tremor was a little worse. He sent Bob to get a CAT scan. Thanking God for that other doctor, too.</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em>I’m getting a lot of reading and knitting done! Would rather have been in Florida.</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3tQW4b4b65Q/XB6WY4AedZI/AAAAAAAARIk/fIrYn1JzkC8OutuO4VjlBxjWOgtEUNQqwCHMYCw/s1600-h/conniebob%255B3%255D"><img title="conniebob" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="conniebob" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HxGW1YqxSsA/XB6WZUugQcI/AAAAAAAARIo/-vtH_bqUuGQvbRpJk3PJuhvt2VZSqS8LgCHMYCw/conniebob_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="424" /></a></em></strong></p> <p>So this Christmas season, as you are counting your blessings, please take a moment and ask for some blessings for Connie and Bob.</p> <p>Thanks – and a very Merry Christmas to all of you.</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-74780686823183736452018-11-27T11:14:00.001-05:002018-11-27T11:14:49.876-05:00Winners . . . and a Reminder<p>Last Friday and Saturday was the annual Make Your Own Coupon Sale at our retail store.  I didn’t make it to the store to see all of the entries, but pictures of the winners were sent to me and their creativity is shared below . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-12DLfNYSJcU/W_1tQxsxvrI/AAAAAAAARG8/L8GP7Br7_MYfcabEvmjk3Z_LfDM6o3Z5ACHMYCw/s1600-h/chrisfockefirstplace%255B3%255D"><img title="chrisfockefirstplace" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="chrisfockefirstplace" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4x2mGL_bC0k/W_1tRYuxDHI/AAAAAAAARHA/i6iJ0qJz64AA_ZwvH0ypLCkjrQGAWagQgCHMYCw/chrisfockefirstplace_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="226" height="424" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KhCI9nKQ9o0/W_1tSSLzQNI/AAAAAAAARHE/Rh0xG-rQPWIFxNO8lbRubCBd5ZIdwFknACHMYCw/s1600-h/terriegrismersecondplace%255B3%255D"><img title="terriegrismersecondplace" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="terriegrismersecondplace" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C9p3YOwZRrM/W_1tTPV-ilI/AAAAAAAARHI/cGJquSEFvIMXtq9An9wnNZmuZpbJUc5kQCHMYCw/terriegrismersecondplace_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="322" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Left to right, first place went to Chris Focke, and second place to Terrie Grismer.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HxuBHfdG1NI/W_1tUC4QsZI/AAAAAAAARHM/HwrVLXOtbig-9fWzQn6dem6MPhZtwl6EgCHMYCw/s1600-h/connieschrammthirdplacetie%255B3%255D"><img title="connieschrammthirdplacetie" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="connieschrammthirdplacetie" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SwfV28bd5wY/W_1tVJEM5XI/AAAAAAAARHQ/MaOO0GSGCsA5YE5i_uPwc3jVvmIweCGLgCHMYCw/connieschrammthirdplacetie_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="275" height="424" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OQFOMiNnR1Y/W_1tVgZazMI/AAAAAAAARHU/2-OQklMnqh4l9NjguR-99Zf0yHANV8uuQCHMYCw/s1600-h/shirleyculbersonthirdplacetie%255B3%255D"><img title="shirleyculbersonthirdplacetie" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="shirleyculbersonthirdplacetie" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X1SlICzhA9o/W_1tWToUyzI/AAAAAAAARHY/Av9mnB3s1D88UsE3BmQb-qTMzO4iW6TIACHMYCw/shirleyculbersonthirdplacetie_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="202" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Third place tie went to Connie Schramm and Shirley Culberson.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NQXv0k0f2v4/W_1tXJXYrqI/AAAAAAAARHc/I9QC8TUihlIYsypEWtyiuTnPRM3_BsM9wCHMYCw/s1600-h/sharontwardowskifourthplace%255B3%255D"><img title="sharontwardowskifourthplace" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="sharontwardowskifourthplace" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CwRfkftkV1k/W_1tYIiyg-I/AAAAAAAARHg/OqUz0Dqdd4Qwc9pGmZp0qLm0BLKOtCH2ACHMYCw/sharontwardowskifourthplace_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="188" height="424" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hAC5Hn7TGoORfUR3NlxdIBEDWeszdi7SCTdTjnmryR6X3wvJCeZ5ERmSIsEXbwkswG3Mo81DNQ8eiPFz2FJefjbtJtcuaQ1CBeJBowfN0qpVTTV854fZA5EcxgCzxIVj69n6ZO59-44/s1600-h/michelleyarbroughhonorablemention%255B3%255D"><img title="michelleyarbroughhonorablemention" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="michelleyarbroughhonorablemention" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ysnf47V92hw/W_1tZ0k4kYI/AAAAAAAARHo/vjZJUXCaA_AjfNpEpX19wwm51dciYaejwCHMYCw/michelleyarbroughhonorablemention_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="321" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Fourth place to Sharon Twardowski and honorable mention to Michelle Yarbrough.  All of the winners received Marco’s gift certificates.</p> <p>And here’s one more image that should be of interest . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yxHXtOzgzxM/W_1taxIoq1I/AAAAAAAARHs/qs00RH6soWoirJh4esvgBWSuucjzZIMkgCHMYCw/s1600-h/25off2018extended%255B3%255D"><img title="25off2018extended" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="25off2018extended" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O94md6uuC6o/W_1tcMAWKUI/AAAAAAAARHw/YWa3iJen1JEhCcTQBRHIvRVJxPRRzgifQCHMYCw/25off2018extended_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="854" height="209" /></a> <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cePDDWWN0OQ/W_1tdLtgcRI/AAAAAAAARH0/ZFDLvsRwzRY2RhjNOSZ7u3xPyYGiyuTwwCHMYCw/s1600-h/FreeShip502018%255B3%255D"><img title="FreeShip502018" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="FreeShip502018" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gIstSHw8i4c/W_1td-jJfSI/AAAAAAAARH4/POSeAnSwmYo25Px0N8QQGcXtVMzpL9W0wCHMYCw/FreeShip502018_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="854" height="156" /></a></p> <p>The 25% off and free shipping sale has been extended through Wednesday – and since I don’t stay up until the clock strikes midnight in Hawaii, that means I will turn it off when I get up bright and early on Thursday morning.  Take advantage while you can – and we will ship your orders as fast as we can.</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-20769333958837306072018-11-21T12:08:00.001-05:002018-11-21T12:08:13.969-05:00And So It Begins . . . Black Friday Plus . . . 25% Off and Free Shipping!<p>I almost forgot – I am not kidding.  It has been crazy around here.  There were items that were expected to arrive in October but didn’t arrive until the second week of November – and items that were expected to arrive the second week of November and <strong><em>DID!</em></strong>  On top of that, the illness bug hit our mail center for a few days, and I have been in and out a lot over the past several days transitioning my mother-in-law from a rehab center back to her home after falling and breaking her elbow four weeks ago.</p> <p>Then Gary walked in yesterday and said, <strong><em>“Are you ready to start the sale?”  </em></strong>Oh, whoops . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oy4zqhZAbCo/W_WQ8olGVeI/AAAAAAAARGg/IjHTetxIQmA_nwlnNcfvlg-9bj-yFMr4ACHMYCw/s1600-h/25off2018%255B3%255D"><img title="25off2018" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="25off2018" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c67NkRCNyPo/W_WQ9ZElefI/AAAAAAAARGk/BmZDUASrQag5U8-OQVa-bkUD-_7j0Ad6QCHMYCw/25off2018_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="804" height="194" /></a></p> <p>That’s part one . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XLKhv4RwCEY/W_WQ-LB-R2I/AAAAAAAARGo/8NTAwY1haMUPxrSsZdu_-TCsjaYs9iwIACHMYCw/s1600-h/FreeShip502018%255B3%255D"><img title="FreeShip502018" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="FreeShip502018" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H5mfb0XcgDc/W_WQ-3h-r-I/AAAAAAAARGs/f04P5TYlBLUbiZFE2YNBQ4Cq_wkXZEMLwCHMYCw/FreeShip502018_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="804" height="147" /></a></p> <p>And that’s part two.</p> <p>Now through Monday, November 26.  I’ll leave it up to you to figure out when you have the time.  Have a great holiday weekend!</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-67480301960189743562018-10-29T15:21:00.001-04:002018-10-29T15:21:48.241-04:00Pumpkin Night . . .<p>Because some of you enjoy our family traditions, I present this year’s antics from our annual Pumpkin Carving Night . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-96QZv0KTCfE/W9ddq8wA2MI/AAAAAAAAREk/xhX2RBumVFoxr8_gPraZrtj42ACqCzz4wCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_183504_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181028_183504_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_183504_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tqvib24gDLQ/W9ddrSWYisI/AAAAAAAAREo/dZiLmgCq3ccHQyM2mVtupS2FZhyy6xnbQCHMYCw/20181028_183504_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BHq2uO1S8os/W9ddr_vGCvI/AAAAAAAAREs/rHUl80UjKEEUwu3X7Gl7zomFlggHPdv6ACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_184430_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181028_184430_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_184430_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wXHh2nmf03A/W9ddsdM4RpI/AAAAAAAAREw/0oo9Q14kn3EqlPnUhMsgSeqg3jO86flzQCHMYCw/20181028_184430_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>We never used stencils until Emily came around.  Ryan and I balked at first – I came around a couple of years ago, and Ryan finally decided to take the plunge this year.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ehswmHIFtzc/W9dds_O_GFI/AAAAAAAARE0/EsEn-WBBRYU2jOXR3_7_3RIvA-b-ZDpaQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_183727_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181028_183727_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_183727_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NKtGbMeHHm8/W9ddtSADeiI/AAAAAAAARE4/m4gIP2yU-_AH-CCBfSE1WQVhVPK3a9UUQCHMYCw/20181028_183727_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vVZvW3_eDM0/W9ddt069SyI/AAAAAAAARE8/BooEE6OlZR4awfk0eiKzB5NMz0NtWH2eACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_192417_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181028_192417_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_192417_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G_8p6Ocozh8/W9dduRZv6MI/AAAAAAAARFA/mpvr-YmBJpYBiwOkqMVmhinUX-7KkYcfACHMYCw/20181028_192417_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>As usual, our supervisor was hard at work . . . but it was exhausting.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vl1-DSdBpgg/W9ddu9KMkSI/AAAAAAAARFE/jh24hyxwSOozNgA7ik9rRSRNE9i_cxRmQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_194718_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181028_194718_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_194718_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KJy4iSYgCC8/W9ddvBO6YoI/AAAAAAAARFI/ZCTLwOWRPYg2xtYLBp3GpGNONoh3GnjTACHMYCw/20181028_194718_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eLfXeO8DzuM/W9ddv8RRGWI/AAAAAAAARFM/zQ0lwe9l2mYe4BWtdTQ5MNa7d7zboeGewCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_194723_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181028_194723_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_194723_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xQ5vHe1kegE/W9ddwMvSwII/AAAAAAAARFQ/mVAn0p5UJNkpmBPKCWe3yLYwM30RgNv2gCHMYCw/20181028_194723_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Emily’s creation this year was Boba Fett from Star Wars.  Ryan has always been a Transformers’ fan – used to have a decal on his Jeep.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lWCSowJHhJw/W9ddwuPQL7I/AAAAAAAARFU/l0jt_PBEC50aN_dkumCErxkd73S9JhNuwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_194714_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181028_194714_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_194714_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aIlYkRejgv0/W9ddw5WZXUI/AAAAAAAARFY/9DQecBiKsNg3RVaEbZmOqnhpgGojpSRmQCHMYCw/20181028_194714_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>There is nothing p0litical about my entry – I just thought it was funny.  And it turned out much better than I anticipated.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-J2kIhSGXk30/W9ddxeSbGtI/AAAAAAAARFc/a3ts7-jenVU7qIuwYlD-QfwfoBTK8f2rACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_194758_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20181028_194758_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_194758_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pnw_SEA1YlY/W9ddxwtRjVI/AAAAAAAARFg/4yzNcw9d1-EsVpjtF51CGzZ0lNId0MTHACHMYCw/20181028_194758_resized_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" width="431" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B-GUuzQKZmw/W9ddyHSz-kI/AAAAAAAARFk/ptuQCd2xt2Q9eXfW0dCM8c7Hf1RuWPmHgCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181028_200526_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20181028_200526_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181028_200526_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nYWN0fdQpEc/W9ddyibILdI/AAAAAAAARFo/5gi-B6ReY4gC0PJmM9zaG6aeOS25WhXCACHMYCw/20181028_200526_resized_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" width="415" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Hope you and all of your ghosts and goblins enjoy the last few days before the time change . . .</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-56484938910915756782018-10-24T14:01:00.001-04:002018-10-24T14:01:35.070-04:00The Fairy Godmother and Godfather Return . . .<p>Last weekend was our annual trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.  We usually get there just in time to see the fall colors at their peak – but not this year.  Way too much rain and warmth during the summer – the leaves still haven’t started changing here in Ohio, 300 miles to the north.</p> <p>But we still had fun . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DBBm_DOClEU/W9CzYH3zn6I/AAAAAAAARDY/T6IhPRYO9uEKtbUNDZZ577eSVdSFdHurQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181020_101609_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181020_101609_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181020_101609_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o0aIN7qKdsc/W9CzY8E8TOI/AAAAAAAARDc/jOMbjTjxUg46Cf78CQntCe8sjKRksJxAwCHMYCw/20181020_101609_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ROuPD3Oa434/W9CzZWFDFNI/AAAAAAAARDg/pXF7ueDMwagGYIxVf_Y038ojjGIA8tOzQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181020_164955_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181020_164955_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181020_164955_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_o6jI8OJNXk/W9CzZ5y0L-I/AAAAAAAARDk/nI5UEiagL5IyS2DBTAs-CXoEmPsbYL2DQCHMYCw/20181020_164955_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Got to spend the weekend visiting (harassing?) my dear friends Darlene Domel and Picasso Gaglione, the Fairy Godmother and Godfather of Rubber Stamping.  They are still enjoying their well-deserved retirement in Knoxville, but come out of hiding once a year to join us.  Some of their neighbors even stopped by to see what it is they have been talking about all of this time . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z348ttcj2gU/W9CzakG-CrI/AAAAAAAARDo/1SN7gQGhITEQVu1Im3OKiPhl40ZrSYWkwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181021_155146_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181021_155146_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181021_155146_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wed6PkNoi0w/W9Cza858AHI/AAAAAAAARDs/xjxRGahsOiUHQq67WMQpeskMnVuO4OGOgCHMYCw/20181021_155146_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Steve Lindeman from Toomuchfun commandeered a scooter on Sunday and did a few laps around the convention hall . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XbauYOF2YuU/W9CzboilxeI/AAAAAAAARDw/K9Dtib05pskLiiIYfPOQpijrKygPgeX6QCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181020_093559_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181020_093559_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181020_093559_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kPNgJ_I9_l4/W9CzcHrAm3I/AAAAAAAARD0/u6h8VkfwtEYc4SwG0XnSlnPi5gnX0sTEACHMYCw/20181020_093559_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>My friend Suzanne Reed took advantage of the “demo table extenders” that I designed for Sally Lynn MacDonald from Gel Press – both ladies like to stand and have the blessing of higher than normal elevation . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JvYk4KJDqBY/W9CzcwItgBI/AAAAAAAARD4/_T5BbpcX8VgzyeTFcrhFk9-vi_2nmcZYwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181018_184306_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181018_184306_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181018_184306_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dkUnGr17ZX0/W9CzddnXfzI/AAAAAAAARD8/ZQkurEl0Cdsh1iCN9qx9aecvfw2-9BrpQCHMYCw/20181018_184306_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>One of my neighbors is a huge Tennessee Volunteers fan – she lost her dad last week, and she loved my idea of this as an alternative to flowers . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h-CGP0BnNv8/W9Czdwx8PkI/AAAAAAAAREA/WSuDMNayBw4Vv9XdrrL080hUw00WXknPgCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181018_152726_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181018_152726_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181018_152726_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JDzK8ipN2JA/W9CzeaQ3Y6I/AAAAAAAAREE/XvS82j5Y1XMBgSTeyLTCM7P3rIRx9rSrQCHMYCw/20181018_152726_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KvCED0TiREM/W9Cze4C9EfI/AAAAAAAAREI/jPpfj7A9IcM8Sv3pojvu8YnPWTue0L7vQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181018_180641_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181018_180641_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181018_180641_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yQMmwSlmng8/W9CzfSpKyBI/AAAAAAAAREM/TaGmiSbB-5IAruabaTZI4QFj3E5YLJCmgCHMYCw/20181018_180641_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="137" height="240" /></a></p> <p>The weather was delightful, so I took advantage and spent some time on the golf course next to the convention center – you’ll notice the Smoky Mountains in the distance.  This was my best shot of the day – and after I took the picture, I even made the putt for a birdie!  The 18th hole is right next to the building and parking lot – so when I noticed the Toomuchfun trailer next to the cart path, I veered off and took a pic to let Steve and Michelle know that I had arrived . . .</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-45647488510822473092018-10-09T16:43:00.001-04:002018-10-09T16:43:43.385-04:00Fort Wayne Fun Means Birthdays and Burgers . . .<p>We spent the weekend in lovely Fort Wayne, Indiana – and near record high temps allowed me to wear shorts both days of the show (even though it was freezing in the building on Sunday).</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W_PkUclqMpk/W70Sr8xCyRI/AAAAAAAARAk/C3P-_4Quq6oKlyY9JfV_t4LE7CNC8tcnACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181005_092507_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181005_092507_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181005_092507_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UrYjGXP4j4E/W70SsfxfaXI/AAAAAAAARAo/X9_MjstBLbYKRD3aG6wbzAqUi5xhmA7zgCHMYCw/20181005_092507_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZCGO_ajtI00/W70Ss8BNloI/AAAAAAAARAs/Ur6_c4awwQ0a_81H3OpYu-iwuYxAMlk6gCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181005_100444_resized%255B7%255D"><img title="20181005_100444_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181005_100444_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j-cCS-KXcTg/W70StSRTNmI/AAAAAAAARAw/9qDUyZwN8VoxS9baX8ESmzuKczIHfWDjwCHMYCw/20181005_100444_resized_thumb%255B3%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Since setup on Friday was four days before my birthday, and since I was entering my seventh decade two months before our humble promoter, Steve from Toomuchfun marked our booth with a message instead of a name – the picture has glare on it, but it says “Birthday Boy”.  And one look at Robin’s foot reminded me that she had dropped a Glass Media Mat on her big toe at the Cincinnati show seven weeks before (don’t do this at home).</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3TaQSuWQVFk/W70St8vJeuI/AAAAAAAARA0/YU8edgTLx5kIOIn3MFUgylPahlSQvimRACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_100041_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_100041_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_100041_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KjJvZ2l7DbQ/W70SucVLgQI/AAAAAAAARA4/J2ejKVvN0NcbkUhbwBv6dkCk2srSQyOXQCHMYCw/20181006_100041_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yr_fKhy_TGE/W70Su6GavVI/AAAAAAAARA8/WAmQLMptLUoTNkZdy7F6vbuZA_wbU3OHgCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_140919_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_140919_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_140919_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7eJ42DQvLhI/W70SvYizwOI/AAAAAAAARBA/BUFQXTh3-NovyJI0p_s3R0lVP6OkLwsmgCHMYCw/20181006_140919_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Saturday morning before the show opened, there was an excited crowd ready to cross the barrier to the show floor.  By lunchtime, they were spending time at the tables and chairs closer to the wall . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H0oTPoQBgiM/W70Sv_pLfrI/AAAAAAAARBE/9oOOuEk_In0eHUnl0UTjhZUTNqr45l_wACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_100545_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_100545_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_100545_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NY-7yy-0dDs/W70SwQIcKCI/AAAAAAAARBI/aPRTODlmjX44FA8eg8e7b6wYe8vxM3RfgCHMYCw/20181006_100545_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Saturday was Robin’s birthday – as usual in Fort Wayne, I had a cake for her that we worked on all weekend.  Her t-shirt says something about being 59 – we have fun with our ages, since she catches me for three days every year before I run off and leave her again.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cqSQ_LuVr1g/W70SwrWT4fI/AAAAAAAARBM/pn3j11uBGwQgHvcsipKIES6NYprz6pSkgCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_134305_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_134305_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_134305_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lo1v7EV_8dM/W70SxMGIHII/AAAAAAAARBQ/yOz6y3aK8KQH7KZiIDzAC-nd0jlNG6xxgCHMYCw/20181006_134305_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="240" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Steve and Michelle’s daughter Alana was in heaven all weekend – she has adored Keia Arnold since she was born, and they hadn’t seen each other in a year . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P_JqDdVj_7E/W70Sxri1jrI/AAAAAAAARBU/6y3nyXxhfpodU30AQnby_o-lsDJ8D53xQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_180402_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_180402_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_180402_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiP4I6CxHZbWJtAf2yo-Xiaa0oBMPzgYA5-kh1YXNyzd_6aH5yUYNYa12Qpv0W-yXENQsz88fLd05VSo-hNll3Sv9noZr2ezYVOGFrmiDHYTvSmM5e5fhisWBzpc8wPz2aW3G2IpJJ8I/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-shTYZoH2jyg/W70Sy2eQUJI/AAAAAAAARBc/LsLarFAXJfozLUz9xK4WQWrCVXy7um5ywCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_172850_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_172850_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_172850_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DhOqKsHxCGw/W70SzABIj4I/AAAAAAAARBg/-6o2VIcSeJkPgJaYZ2V8sTnq4wMlk2TJQCHMYCw/20181006_172850_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>After the show on Saturday, Robin and Keia took me to the #1 burger joint in Fort Wayne.  Bravas is just outside of downtown – the owner is a twenty-something who started with a hot dog cart, moved up to a food truck, and now has a brick and mortar establishment.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWfVU-l45w7PMd6kIMUpZ_Ek_U8HnGYrK6dpTdPRWYwkKkyCmcbnF78r6u6qQYM3rR4lQo4CWeo7xBZQtNjDuMANgATys2GdckknThz_UqO5Bhvp6GjTfH1ZEUSstcOIGlMTVgNLg1ag/s1600-h/20181006_173147_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_173147_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_173147_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y5cH9G_CtOw/W70S0WxK3JI/AAAAAAAARBo/ItJjnPOA27w1F5ZMcJpYbZCNR5ENtOuIQCHMYCw/20181006_173147_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZyJXGH5oJhM/W70S075NBmI/AAAAAAAARBs/Qig7Jgrjl6sGDV8JfIZWqcyOU3jABhzvACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_172936_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_172936_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_172936_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VP5dIA5s75o/W70S1cG4TmI/AAAAAAAARBw/udJKlWd7A3MxRPI2LxAnfOaKygv9LqkTwCHMYCw/20181006_172936_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r4ZRAbtD7lU/W70S1xkq_ZI/AAAAAAAARB0/Jnca-douh-0lPbQ8U_o6zAE9g-4ODIZOQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_173200_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_173200_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_173200_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p40Zv7_n3yQ/W70S2npw3sI/AAAAAAAARB4/v845iCDonFcO9-HarbYDiJE7oDWflT8lQCHMYCw/20181006_173200_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qy_igXZEyiY/W70S3Y6CllI/AAAAAAAARB8/q_xJKtJ9jiYGzneUHujGAmMLlMaR26JrwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_174519_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_174519_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_174519_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hKdix5d4TXM/W70S4S_gbkI/AAAAAAAARCA/kjjvIJYG4GcLvnPPbAf4U9qlSykUkgahgCHMYCw/20181006_174519_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Nlyu-kBtguU/W70S5Ojk0_I/AAAAAAAARCE/vo80R3L--50fZWP3ZQ6rTsdGtUydbCxGACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_174524_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_174524_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_174524_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4fMBs3hqsWY/W70S5bgLMgI/AAAAAAAARCI/0rTXU8ceFRAeOuAoGkDJK5PQMFFxEFw1wCHMYCw/20181006_174524_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7p3Yjtpup58/W70S6JfN14I/AAAAAAAARCM/mZwasbIQuPE4VziVytt6vtH0hqAtyd-WACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_174530_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_174530_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_174530_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9jlB1cr5Ewo/W70S6qbtNqI/AAAAAAAARCQ/Q1bycHPqoqMBQQEjfc23WCNN--EWOLkQQCHMYCw/20181006_174530_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>More pics of Bravas and our food – yes, it was that good.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KnR2r6uSW-w/W70S7D_dueI/AAAAAAAARCU/gIAvYgrWAusNTgjC_6Oub4EGK_072imUwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181007_104028_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181007_104028_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181007_104028_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UMPCOZDEXjo/W70S7vwcYDI/AAAAAAAARCY/tFUpQk-XDDkVKenvkvIiJ8WeFuOL4ogOQCHMYCw/20181007_104028_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="344" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Sunday started with a “vendor meeting” – Steve and Michelle always get donuts for the vendors, and they arranged a few of them for me.  I was serenaded by my fellow vendors as I blew out the candles.  I love our traveling band of minstrels . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qToZmkn8-Ys/W70S8JxNmuI/AAAAAAAARCc/3lxJy2PGGwoz2hYBrXuKFb4r2bjM6_MXACHMYCw/s1600-h/20181007_111213_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20181007_111213_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181007_111213_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MZCZjlat5sI/W70S8YzmVSI/AAAAAAAARCg/-1RNUrUbY2Qa8qScc71Izj-3qFhIfC7bQCHMYCw/20181007_111213_resized_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" width="285" height="379" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GDBS45GYgOc/W70S9FJyNOI/AAAAAAAARCk/1crPOiUVlTsthbZ8ppwRlpy9c7MMXMKwgCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181007_111147_resized%255B6%255D"><img title="20181007_111147_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181007_111147_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vXE43_ccmig/W70S9tFeIfI/AAAAAAAARCo/gohfo9gs8vUKxTWYIlnLdjT04uH7KfFqgCHMYCw/20181007_111147_resized_thumb%255B4%255D?imgmax=800" width="504" height="379" /></a></p> <p>There was also a card.  I already know what you are thinking – <strong><em>“It’s NOT handmade!”  </em></strong>You are not the only one who noticed . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4EsL6LYL7Ew/W70S-Nc5F2I/AAAAAAAARCs/j0pTIfGFSOAlSdLJEEkRHQ6d--qK_z3LwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_102550_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20181006_102550_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_102550_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0_GluNZG7AI/W70S-nKG6KI/AAAAAAAARCw/A0Zthsb7yG4bfuOH1l-IA6L-cTjPKu_2wCHMYCw/20181006_102550_resized_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" width="582" height="329" /></a> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tzqCpuQ69-w/W70S_NnNsxI/AAAAAAAARC0/ff5LQpGYZjIRWTZg6R2g2b2d_5ulQ4MJwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20181006_170040_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20181006_170040_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20181006_170040_resized" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ah8_HjEbE44/W70S_f8-BeI/AAAAAAAARC4/g4bGAZ20X5IjXZXHDOM1tGe-MxTJPya_wCHMYCw/20181006_170040_resized_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="213" height="329" /></a></p> <p>Alana chewed out her dad, then sat down at our demo table and made one for me herself . . .</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-40108263689764217762018-10-08T16:55:00.001-04:002018-10-08T16:55:05.859-04:00In Memory of a Good Friend . . .<p>I got a text on Saturday evening – the message stopped me cold.  I really have been expecting it for a long time, but each time Kathy Krivitski (Seaside Stampin’ Ink) had another health crisis, somehow she pulled through.</p> <p>But not this time – she died on Saturday afternoon.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DkdvFeoD_vY/W7vEJMmt6SI/AAAAAAAARAU/MADEEtFL_PMTiabhf5ALZLSxqxaPw-_9QCHMYCw/s1600-h/kathykrivitski%255B3%255D%255B3%255D"><img title="kathykrivitski[3]" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="kathykrivitski[3]" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jLmbpyaCXBk/W7vEJ8DqPEI/AAAAAAAARAY/y74LuMVABokZ41ZVGI9NZBcD-hjv2KfsACHMYCw/kathykrivitski%255B3%255D_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="319" /></a></p> <p>This is one of my favorite pictures of Kathy, with one of the birds that she loved so much.  The last five years, she has had her adorable granddaughter Gracie to give her joy and lift her spirits.</p> <p>Our prayers go out to Joe and the rest of the family.</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-35445937065481461492018-09-25T16:12:00.001-04:002018-09-25T16:12:51.561-04:00What Do You Do When You’re Not on the Road?<p>I get that question a lot –<strong><em> “What do you do when you’re not on the road?”  </em></strong>I rarely seem to have problems staying busy.  I have been home since mid-August, but every day has been full – I have even had some time to work on a project or two at home.</p> <p>But most of what I have been doing recently is related to this . . .</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Uheq3dZ9jEs/W6qWtif0QcI/AAAAAAAAQ_w/T14917vXMlwR2DPZAVbBQe5mXetA_qGWACHMYCw/s1600-h/marconewhomepage%255B3%255D"><img title="marconewhomepage" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="marconewhomepage" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N618lqiiwlc/W6qWui3lZqI/AAAAAAAAQ_0/jF4ugFPqiQ4PncU-W4NgK1HaFk0W2_5JQCHMYCw/marconewhomepage_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="844" height="389" /></a></p> <p>We are building a new website!  The finished product probably won’t look exactly like this, but I like the new logo at the top and I think we’re going to keep that.  I have been spending a lot of my time adding items to it – there are about 5,000 items on the current site, which was all that it was built to handle.  The new site will allow for more.  But it’s a lengthy process – I am working on the “easy” items now (items that don’t have lots of sizes and colors) and on my best days get 50-100 of them finished.</p> <p>Gary asked me last week when the new site would be ready to go, and he looked at me strangely when my answer was <strong><em>“hopefully by the end of the year.”</em></strong>  He thought I was kidding – I’m not.  With three shows in October, progress will be slow.  But it’s coming – and a lot of things that our customers have suggested over the years will be included.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-faO3keoTYLo/W6qWvpFAtPI/AAAAAAAAQ_4/H0QPpr9qF5cr0saN7Ais4IR4V84gE-nqACHMYCw/s1600-h/zoe20072018%255B3%255D"><img title="zoe20072018" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="zoe20072018" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-34ugekmiJfg/W6qWwViBPDI/AAAAAAAAQ_8/gyZ2uFmdW5UqIjMdoyPDwI5Rki6wr7tyACHMYCw/zoe20072018_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="424" height="275" /></a></p> <p>On a lighter note, I put this picture and the following note on my Facebook page this morning . . .</p> <p><em><strong>September 25, 2007 -- I stopped at the shelter in Lebanon on the way home from my morning workout. Our family was numb -- we had lost our nine-year-old dog very suddenly the day before, and I couldn't get rid of the feeling that we weren't going to start to heal without a new focus. There I found a four-month-old pup named Daffodil, with a note on her cage that said "plays too rough with older smaller dogs" -- and after a trip back to the shelter with Carla, and another with Ryan and the tomcat who ruled our yard, she came home with us and Ryan renamed her Zoe. Eleven years later, she has picked up a lot of gray fur, but is still the same bundle of excitable energy that burrowed its way into my heart.</strong></em></p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-22475330321372144202018-08-29T14:43:00.001-04:002018-08-29T14:43:58.318-04:00We Like to Do Birthdays in My Family . . .<p>Yesterday was Mom’s birthday.  Her 79th – I have been around to celebrate 60 of them.  I always enjoyed having young parents – and I cherish still having them around.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXPlIdTJy0dUCzyMTs7M4m79wJAh-lauZFlqgOCijihyt7gUmfIl8Kntmd9sBM76Ot1h2ToHzXbNQNJ-hRYYc_9HNJjkd63A3n2j8TdHBLR4RgjM9wtnHkyLGCOV__tP7jwSUURQrzn4/s1600-h/DSCN1823%255B4%255D"><img title="DSCN1823" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="DSCN1823" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTLXz5loUnvre93lu8hy9HKpdvpPy6PyEZtL92pO-eDtF2PsRV_F2iNY_CW-4m0neUWceYNKpem_s401enh9RTyofrrAAvLO9LFdw-0Cs0uPVAqBnEKSJRKVoOarIgi8YJWrLyHCEt1k/?imgmax=800" width="419" height="277" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJN8njPW7uzz_rSbtvtQ2i3zObx3vrKEZ7UaYqRalcv_1uNjVbk__1u1B2YUpW_TA613SZxxKjrr1ZhyphenhyphenNU33uEdDk0Jaxxtycp78wFgJd94vaKuLM0gQJvYWVa2VsMH1KPhi07F93Afs/s1600-h/DSCN1838%255B4%255D"><img title="DSCN1838" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="DSCN1838" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIlqHzaDq4EYNrE5vTjCTEkyklsE8gwLZHWVciiyANL7b1O7g7SkPtufsTt4LeNk7dXzfLDle6P0DdgaNdjH4rc60ZjCh-7Y3w10zqSDJ8omQgeGXEGaL1hiMhrgZM7otqL2KtlDh2L8/?imgmax=800" width="427" height="277" /></a></p> <p>Birthdays are always a big deal in my family – honestly, any excuse to get together is a big deal in my family.  This time, we celebrated Mom’s birthday on Saturday because it was the only day we could get all of the kids together at once.  Blake grilled burgers and chicken, and Lisa filled their kitchen counter with veggies and such.  Being the family dessert guy, I made homemade ice cream, chocolate pie, snickerdoodles, and gluten-free dairy-free chocolate chip cookies for my niece Jordan – I think remnants of all of them are on Mom and Dad’s plates.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQTKesRAUdLo3jpOaUDLZT9bSE9FLBRKPmyu-Q-dF7-BUqP1CPGa9LEcew1MDlbQVLUFgtfBMPDmHjY4f4NsZoC0b3JcOO47-Vib7hvHiKeF_kZivawh5_ziXbvVpo-klowY6IcoFnSo/s1600-h/20180828_191610%255B3%255D"><img title="20180828_191610" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180828_191610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1XQ7zmv-AM9dlwFbN2fBmQPwXnVRGuoq2EX5zEwXu58aWguXsNeQ-eric0iEoTH_ATB6xYz-LCIAFASj-PQqzep0XS77UUiO4VAq-P2NQv4Mrnv2pKl6Ze9JPK3B_gx6k5U8Qjaapbc/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="319" /></a></p> <p>Last night on her actual birthday, we did what has become another family tradition – we took Mom to Graeter’s for ice cream.  Graeter’s is a Cincinnati institution that has spread out a bit over the years, so there is one very close to us.  Mom got her love of ice cream from her dad – and so did I.  I have fond memories of childhood Sunday nights eating homemade ice cream on my grandparents’ porch.  </p> <p>I would love to have done play-by-play last night.  Mom was between Dad and me – I had a sundae, Dad had a cup filled with ice cream.  And Mom had a spoon.  Whichever way the conversation turned, Mom dipped her spoon into that treat and got a bite – and it went on that way until both were empty.</p> <p>It was some of the best ice cream I have ever had.</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-16461567090597252092018-08-14T15:47:00.001-04:002018-08-14T15:51:43.102-04:00Stampaway USA Goes Back to the Fabulous ’50s . . .<p>It always seems like it would be easier to do a show in my own area, but the week of Stampaway USA in Cincinnati <strong><em>(aka “The I Get to Sleep in My Own Bed Show”)</em></strong> is always one of the most grueling of the year.  I know that part of it has to do with only being 40 minutes from the convention center – if you forget something, you feel obligated to go back and get it.  At most shows that are several hundred miles from home, we work with what we brought.  It could also have something to do with the Stamping Gala in our store all week long, but I was only in the store three times all week – the rest of the time I was in the mail center or in Cincinnati.</p> <p>That said, what follows is a pictorial review of the week as I observed it, starting with the costumes . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkXBCRNdEyMq1dD4YNGcCnvMv2Ud91c9Ena-KeVsoTdi5U5pHrbuSBEPnz2VcgJmbIicpm7uRFBnVyvHm3KItsPaMi0rIJlZx_l3JC52lmj1_5RPH4qFGnHuwDICN2pCXrgWQkgpRPpA/s1600-h/20180810_183509%255B3%255D"><img title="20180810_183509" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_183509" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblgWlO3PWQ-VkVRC1TUUsslsjoUKp1JySHtaH6RyDErZigZ_dMinwZuUocgv_rW8Uzr3ixP1Vz1t1FSljWBsWUzJ3abf1M3BgYDc8qoS7WJJZCfenv3UrGVGkT_v7AvaKVNKovYodgfw/?imgmax=800" width="178" height="274" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI0tUjn_eyvoNxhlWCko7wZSK8nMJN9rH7gypfeGymjcKoIhJ5ioVZsBvJ2V7QP58sKklKC4WJQfat7sn5CdeOWT3y4xfbHWPKmQ7alqX1g8NeSNApksgyUjLfd8HAc74j964-kpnkN4/s1600-h/20180810_180552_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180810_180552_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_180552_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwyQ7UxZLQRhRD68b9L09DYrIoxg88V92Ow5h3WmhO5ux1Eboxm7p9V-MHjp1EZs6hpL0Omi2ib2vK2iAEKfznXfaLFvnU_Pk2ci2j5nwYD056vkZrMtcs26biscqg1ZRwS-b-zdgfNs/?imgmax=800" width="156" height="274" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbYBzVXVKWM1cnSyf9bK2tQO6MeQDVmZ25iB9tSYLTdR3nlPbEIoFjcNBbpEAtYrYQ87mBAe1lOPz0HN6j3MaAP62SRzvwxvy0nhyphenhyphenUqtGAEeDddNssmvw4E8TdJYlD2tb8ItmjS3qWgU/s1600-h/20180810_172023_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180810_172023_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_172023_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnQY3ZBX64kFn7h8AbelC3g3F8uJlcHu0g57iPopG7FtoTk6Vxf7-NShW0wwIXoEENiRlJVJDpNrQdLEPwXOrJsD9QfScTxhLvdSyCspO05Oa3Oh3wyabWoqUJQW3ka_atJr3NB-gSDU/?imgmax=800" width="484" height="274" /></a></p> <p>These were ours – mine was a rerun (which seemed fitting) from the M*A*S*H theme in 2006, Sally Lynn MacDonald from Gel Press was doing Beauty School Dropout from Grease, but I told her that she looked like a distant relative of Beldar from Remulak (for the youngsters, think Coneheads), and the Marco’s Creative Crew (Donna, Lisa and Chris) probably looked the most like 50s of all.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs8fhV4oLIQl188h1yCyqQ8h5TSSEjEpE7IhkvxnUG7DgiC_JPaNZf8p5Jrt9lhhwUvOeXPsjnuEZmm0RrOYoYqPKeWdY2WozkHJjkW7UPqU0fFyi1Va2DmOn70RmslPzTfxrXcVTucw/s1600-h/20180810_182625_resized%255B2%255D"><img title="20180810_182625_resized" style="display: inline; 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background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_210035_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkMasFLHGD4E-l8GguX7EAHA-bKRMHIB4HPb0TNNSLEpliVMeDzCJ6YRKJ1qO2HmgGEE4GNyUHwTS4syA53quXFIZHpSQq72csBpIxMW163CK3xWt2JZPtAnKA2mOdItJ3tqBKo2n9x8/?imgmax=800" width="162" height="284" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJSjeCa7joCkws4I0ZHczvokDuqogPzyoeRMsdwSWww2fA91ASyq3yDq0lWmgWwnbloniZRBstlvjwoqMEIWy7Axz73B7t-2kqVx8lnRzNUcETalhBd4AS_1oIesvAhpCL8eBs1k5XkU/s1600-h/20180810_205842_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180810_205842_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_205842_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u9FIcxyX5Y_uhweFtMHTtSyqPTbP5Z8NojFoEDJpWNox6SaDkEXwec_Vvc7O-bMvx9j1WEXNL5aXKXTTmVlLwog_3X_7yY8GBf0TPu2jrpvJZXMm9eBFzuPWvFSsytRffD_OrSXu3fs/?imgmax=800" width="162" height="284" /></a></p> <p>Vendor shots.  Seems like only a couple of years ago that Margaret’s son Billy (top row, second from left) was just a little boy running around at shows.  Same with Ted’s daughter Katie (bottom row, second from left).  Ted seems to be channeling his inner Mafia don (bottom row, third from left).  And most of you may not know her – or may “know” her but haven’t seen her, but over the past couple of years Suzanne Dowst has become the behind-the-scenes glue that holds all of this together.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQnQrUfGoD7lpC2HYp0N1scdg0g1YPAAwBGd1uWfYUM-1cImPlUe-2wknk29W_Y2PWavTCpxkyBfkQYbqNegvNiZKFFz2XHTGXHTefkrXT9Xahuunnc1u22-E4AV1qmaGRIPiabQCgmM/s1600-h/20180810_190601_resized%255B2%255D"><img title="20180810_190601_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_190601_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPQT-mF5GyooGuT8K8Iklp_Ao6b1Sb6bk6r4gepLwb0xyF6c15-J2ELq6I4EwtuaqWd5Yx97pIRsTWPQ4AqtewDLFvyR4hOV_e5arZhTmXVPsZfLCLc-f-99a0vNjO6TC2NJq39IlWDg/?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkA5xP5U5jgfz_v0Gg_Y2Pljhe-rBam1xZfaqgYCN37GOOzjRkTSigPpTfodyDBKjrYTFGTgBs7AuQDboHf2vVZ-INZY1-H4GTjav1olsZ6IeXNI5vcKtRRd84JYVbTfkjrgwjH_5ptM/s1600-h/20180810_183246_resized%255B2%255D"><img title="20180810_183246_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_183246_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW79cTU_2G49ogjqd2PJyNsdEV75eZIAVvIbIeNVXffsEIHRqUR3NXEuvP7qrKS5gk1WlRlSDlYWB2-P2dxsCxbO16u8XNA_Z1zCKzNG94GLF-1XDeBIydOmshg9I5s38omyBJ_mdILA/?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6POL-dB0ElAY0czZhAKIkJCp9_LeJJurHdjjfVLzGmUOb944QxIwX1PTtnpV1M8u_lbq-me1s5q0G42534hylw9CD3eU8HNxiCs3TxkjmXC4l_5a3XqP7-MqF5r9gaW3HmMF7_Z1tG8/s1600-h/20180810_183900_resized%255B2%255D"><img title="20180810_183900_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_183900_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Xw9UqxqZWpHUgO_ra4GbzQvC5OPwuX4eAfCcIac6_7Ic-0sWCN6Hk4aXkI8nveNbJn_abzFIgLOrvN_FeFhnZ5Ul-0VRkRqx3xPOkDWUyOiKUVnyniuXIjaroY2RsNFFKJzrMZFlLs/?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEk0bndakP8wZTYyf-GkKcppX1UPwEUcFA1EmFyyHyB7JrpaJ76OZ7nuZcEDWGkDZbhuR1tiVSTk1-Ik71vhvz5R6FmOZiStJuKbPNbdMiyTObu-diKGy00WRvt2F269otd55E3twn5g/s1600-h/20180810_194412_resized%255B2%255D"><img title="20180810_194412_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_194412_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLc3eApv4w0y7Amc_FcxhpQLKHQcHrEmoVAI-KNC6FrO9jFjxX6-hb9-SNb0AySigVpJZzYA0R8uUKTQiMd1OJdR35kC0oL5BBKTqVte0wO_rDNdCWU2ni5wv_O462t1GHfTHqq_WXCk/?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKm9dKpeSPHd_zsiNPfrjkmX0QApKxqSrWSuvmi1gKpa4p4dDdcFR5cAdkjzr0S9oa4L-tbm34chbPBoo8k_LKhfKLgYhD2Zb_Z8kEEpplroXA4jKPsWKrlMdNqD6yKmuoPBNtk-OJZ-w/s1600-h/20180810_184359_resized%255B2%255D"><img title="20180810_184359_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_184359_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GbkQ-a5XLqdmpy-Hy-bVmGfix7iiAVQmbXmS6Y30QgDFRDVSybvX1UPT9YS9VBUH4hmLGLZs0VpvMmRC_YoYX5WvN5RPjZkJcoB0lNgfnDr8ZcvLrmb_ODOpjk5oE8WGUkQ4VL3DfgI/?imgmax=800" width="139" height="244" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7NvJ57tsxYkmaUzUso1macY6cz9ttnHdU5jNK6pQnsn81k_0D6V4KU0lVeq_4e1mnwGbvQTWC49hyphenhyphenR52GW1mHx3UIvKobR8RiGmWjb_SBB-gp9HFDWcZ7OWQ042vc2hTuDmouwmltV8/s1600-h/20180810_205907_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180810_205907_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_205907_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhr5rPPxb_8SSQ_Ks0Ny17UhKrtniI61GcsydvLUyxj9AkumHkTe9LMbsF3y9weALE8OKJBheP7CugNzZgcv5TheX6NBE9CA7DmDqg4Wgk0kjqJ4Dhs3i0PRLJVDH5fioS6YA3HIJ_Q4/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>And some shots of the shoppers – I think the Coca-Cola twins at top left won, but I wasn’t out in the lobby for the judging.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi6BvGtPbvTvIflMxkafFwbnR0uEd1Th3hhFCrRTYG9s2g0E9np97FN2c6I_tj8z9b5kF-E3Ork_sA37tEMt2j-Hlo8ROHZZ76k8Kc5WbBfzMs5jOF72S7FRz4w0TWlGzTgXfUv30wCY/s1600-h/20180807_213144_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180807_213144_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180807_213144_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPgRL4wKpNnwCRyfR2B98l1LW6PJSGGYgigprM5t_coZB1Qr6wnytBBfhbHooi7RDd7dybzRFtOPm_SPTTj-uhHaiKTXhD50FXlDVKz_qNRV6TayZ8QT_2oLjIQQEiREX1P36xL3o_QA/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItW7BXgHoU2HqQTzE5j0kr5D-u_qhP0QmxlYc-pm7W8F84S3CtkNNeFXMgVGN1Kd-E3fKi-U0K6B2SrjtPdtO7Tf7B7m1K04w08dNnd_ETZn8H136yzOS1InTo-Bao1j369ZZ__VydHQ/s1600-h/51150%255B3%255D"><img title="51150" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="51150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULCUOOESbqqsZOXjSjC1j142fcUiFM0vLGtTvnBKFj2RiBMcw_7bPRBkJTJ0O9HqzyGdHuuIgtT9J17nR-DEtNtgH23kT1vmfE5_AwJlTBm89K0llPcZjJT6a7slemzJUB28vA_e_il8/?imgmax=800" width="319" height="240" /></a></p> <p>I made Chocolate Mint Cookies and brought them along to share with the vendors during the three days we were at the convention center.  Ended up using some of them to tempt/tease Rick Holland from Our Daily Bread Designs, who was in Arizona getting special treatment for his best friend, Murph.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNGg9-jE6hF3jka3t_pHdCmgDMeGnX96rpuGwQSMQLUakpRLg-xdpVpSZjal8fVXC7b3tUuWvQ3PpgANDyIPBD5t5-CyQa3e0IsSlCVZn_E2fhBMrSBFcBafM4Ia1OMLdOaDrjSKI578/s1600-h/51131%255B4%255D"><img title="51131" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="51131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijabNt_D5mu6F8cpnqZWHPnZ4KVEfpDw7LqHr-jBka6hY_i_zLSnzzpddbnaGZ-Y7AdHmCikm_8Sh6E4xkL6xbCNKBmfRyXfYe9guRZJor-_kqqfKFS5pVl3OH3zi_JipwxVjcWvusLMw/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="319" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZzd9U5r4M3OPZe5bNHq830970AsXDBHEVEH6lg5ZWx1jq5QwtsDNVlZoUkPlM9xBu7YXax4GADk9CSAactTma97NrKLlJ-TTzFpZyl9E6V-GErPmU1jALubpm0rTxs7OmeYtEY6fdhY/s1600-h/20180810_171409_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180810_171409_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_171409_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLhFso8_t7ISTk3EJbxn3Y2ENWi17cVpxlOby_sXq21f3S3c8FHyxfib6nL1a27eSUnvkJS2UTNjWG0u6zvlwOHiQl_zyszcv6hISdKIevYKNOCiamT83wDim8mE53VDCxF_AI5g3yo4/?imgmax=800" width="226" height="319" /></a></p> <p>Even got Phil Krebs from Art Impressions and Rick’s wife Kelley to play along . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5JLeZFelgOZo2yhv2KlV4dWX03eyNT7fPLalVVe7EsBwxiZRBlyCocnIsmad3bVlXy3niOdP33gBUqc0GbmsFnWFsfl0nxE4xDS9cX_hE5bR5PfAAbdWw_QNJRTIGMS6H009k8f39yw/s1600-h/20180810_190518_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180810_190518_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_190518_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7v-KvtbZwutjWURvJBtnvQmce9uy4tcfLL61u6O4288Oncq5w-rPIQxka6uZItUUm9uOkcVQ0ile10WEB205qTyFF5c6b5h84N0fhI_naH0DSFuH8ssjtGUSWoy9sSTx0qyftC21EI54/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4RHM-m0Qj-Nlm6BsEOHZlYXf5ZP3H87MgUoscLqZ682ZPOuSI8fNA2U3hMcbH5xXnmmnWj1Iyv-jZUkNG7dxLCySjQtkPGtdN1Z-nwBZcY1EphTqG52MTwCftZt7ZLNlJ-HXIGpLw5M/s1600-h/20180811_121409_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180811_121409_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180811_121409_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN41DR9ebhQrW_-9lGHfqxYnTn1dW-Qum_lscgi_b7TMiGZvp9iOnoDTDwpXDnEIkQUdDlrfk3GHuZldv4FoTYw0jWfAFuj9xVNPLNi8NHwa9dLPAm_QCjTA6EDWMkuJ-_MLr_XGOcaBc/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Marco’s Creative Crew drawing a crowd at the demo table both Friday night and Saturday . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSFuq9LvXEeGpwF6rKtWBDb3zLgJswnHxiXIBh7U_PpbZrwNP7VlBkMnuFyKIUsVme1mfsTGTswNxQmzw30rcUlEJQmVyUBbujuQP6tCrVlHQ86pS32wQ5rGFkElabAISiFNJ-XNuID8/s1600-h/20180810_190529_resized%255B5%255D"><img title="20180810_190529_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180810_190529_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59HB7HggvEEHws3Ng4U5F0PJxIuII56nqjmBhNMDf-jEmqeueFu36stlX34mAP2b2c4DOFLzPTdgodc4FxqTv8NVaa4wj3JMv09Ow-5xawsKkRXS8qzU2y7vvdGMZzyS_hH4nAwTeUuk/?imgmax=800" width="626" height="354" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6f4BEOaEvNl1N43uM8VuSlZENFL70aLwAz5NhHqqXmopC1pE0vouC2jFKckDYEiW2ZSwxYKbM20BxrKqHnmpmMFDFGB-QpXGd8DiqGEZQCU7IwIYpH3bi66y3f-YaAwHSpMg0gH4Q94/s1600-h/20180811_095411_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180811_095411_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180811_095411_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-7QHuPT30dGtzXhyk8Ia5-qEqetVCkz43nnlOANeTKJv4oxQHZN0CVFUFMo-bMR7ctV2blnaaVRP6s98wmFqVA6deYql57c3an35I8vFHsoyZd1DjUd4PWgIdaldLh5051O3UB8bkhY/?imgmax=800" width="201" height="354" /></a></p> <p>So was the Beauty School Dropout.  I titled the picture at right <strong><em>“Demo artist from Connecticut using weeds from Ohio to make art for the world” – </em></strong>she actually went out in the parking lot during the show and pulled some greenery to create backgrounds.</p> <p><strong><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURIBpwZEca36qMuEit6vcld72L30gDFI8FV6GuPr-8icpJ1sAbiYfTXJ_rcL9z_64vT9wHfOE4p7-kehg_XD4aPtfW9wZkjE5-5jQ2CP-su30ywGv0z3TmB5NIrJzt1luznxvmXURCFg/s1600-h/20180811_124737_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180811_124737_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180811_124737_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyRuByblzhh4hUK_giazNnvlpsx8dJ0Hsv1hq9uaFXEZ7QIgw4FGLlcZgJ5RA8o2Ts4Y0bQoCQAbjdbhl0rM1V3LLDyeDCKcRMW-zT1937k8hkxZy8ebmXvQTcB23Ij7foozKXLP0vIE/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="424" /></a></em></strong></p> <p>Youngest attendee I saw . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-8yqb38lxf2oKCTHOMJcKeIqVg4rGDbFdPEBOr-uCqfdKYZ_U1fB60-dlzR0oC4ue05737FLdgnjdMoBTdGxlP6qnThe3UHkXdjNFOVF3TymDqJxVqoU-fX7xTN3aho83ltixyGSgEs/s1600-h/20180806_094619_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180806_094619_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180806_094619_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvN5ehND_uZ6Down90-AKFxOFQz1Ay-mtkRUBeFGi0ncCq8d9pSJ56RmFZc2-YahX4ddnCBiP4eFoqU7Hxwdvju_0OJzu0ftCtH2iqpTTtAwdudWsjd6lHBkpbWc-fSGc_dOE5U_yUoU/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mPOrPCjWbQ3PmQFkYoe8fcSdBFS7Tce-AtlOKU0wgd-ethLHFGSDB3zhzXoLRWM8f27M8nuNbWBjzNHbU3G4dYrekee__lB2nzYF58db86m2ssQ9HDq8VYY61WObaEj9ceqF8uxPfX8/s1600-h/20180806_094629_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180806_094629_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180806_094629_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTFPn2QDhMswFoMGjMWUSFM0dDucdhfQwrlxEILvWgAB8RX5U6VKWV7kqZbnXsaRJw5SZouxEPdLGxLiTIF7di8ussQumm7BRJ9rJy1qM92fd_OcAMhnGPmNDfFc-ikWAwEpMJiYuObU/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcfXmsjgjtWyZODckmjw46tk-CsdP1d7oqRwxMdaSZNWZxnxUdzHnZGRJIbJ7fPNfwyQ1lwsC0BSIqsrpGFALqLIutyZzU2opdPRAp54Ek8tODOclS7VSRJ0ZIRyr_TulZyPYhVBzyCs/s1600-h/20180806_130111_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180806_130111_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180806_130111_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpF0Ywo8NetN5XUJbHdky00NB3D1GAm9-Ot3E3Po0cNJdrXGhMDn2DTWU5-rgm4CAxkMLdJdvTuEXbv-82R1SYwIx-5-6uWeqrbzzpDYRxJ3-PNyWP-14noyEMSv_9L8u70KCLxmpCPgQ/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1DWpqbcEbO4krTH8VNoU4q6GMvNWAvJmljS5AgNHs__LY1Jf9HEiloXCcFLHnz6a_pOK9RHFZd3lmLf1pvTL4R55-bWULjGnVnYRyFY1ku6l88Sxx5j8EVt9HaYRCAfs6tanEyTAu2I/s1600-h/20180807_093535%25280%2529_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180807_093535(0)_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180807_093535(0)_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN4HHZwJugoHNUnHK57FSK3zEdgeIDMuSvIkuLYmQwAHn_xY00tQbcKFy368tCJP4nFFhN5Ld-H9Jk-_ZTPc9SYvKF2DLofILemiWkBMprTfwZlrUHkAa3jIf4L47EKqOVcdFQ3mYEto/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>A couple of looks at our classroom at the store from the two mornings that I was able to get there – along with the lady who was there and waiting 30 minutes before the first make and take project started each day . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoGhg4LRRHsu8oW36XiIIlnRRq7GNb4uek2XHLk_HdXkD2YIWWLLvgHPeehpZjJ8wqLi4prBXtvtg-pDOSMsOTtwVIEgvRjydXOOvJs5aUFt_Src6G8pPeLm0NUjxkXUU6OVCT7NIK0Y/s1600-h/20180811_084400_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180811_084400_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180811_084400_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiD13X8hAmsGrQ6ETsO1HBVt6dqr9WrRUL5Alumw747XqguT585AQyraqyszKElY8d39V21jdStksY7-gUuIVEdcKPysj_Oy-L8qvqAaLa1hMsOzjNh1hTgOvX4IDHMtZxYSqtyuPT_jM/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="424" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX73rPsRebM9jLgXA2OeSocGiquD3lrfDEqPb8KE94y5z9JF5Owh_w0u2E4U7HNLx0uZhyp1h3yWfYrMWYnieyagGDnaWG4nomz8jLDestt63u2avc8LzafSMsaLBQJefX-Z-vcGQEn8/s1600-h/20180811_105703_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180811_105703_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180811_105703_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWMjmtJzuBODwafj_zXLqL-vkZd6cWDfuCEpBYBBzOmeMpFkSOxwj4Uq33XRUi7bJDotI8XKsRqm_Xe8GtoCbTz2cPL7iTrADpB3TkZUXssYJ9_QqJLV_IMB2xuVsL_wm-s-KbJ2kWjo/?imgmax=800" width="256" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Last but not least, the highlight of my weekend . . . I was passing out flyers Saturday morning before the show and this nice lady told me that she had something for me that she thought I would like . . . wow, was she right.  The faces on the card she created are my parents.  I have shared a lot of my family through our company blog, and when Mom had lymphoma you were all so supportive.  <strong><em>You still are . . .</em></strong></p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-88860780537799570132018-08-07T14:27:00.001-04:002018-08-07T14:30:08.961-04:00Big Boats, a Bridge, and a Sing-Along . . .<p>Last weekend was my first visit ever to Port Huron, Michigan – and the closest I have ever been to Canada without actually crossing the border.  The town is well-named – most everything I saw there had something to do with the lake, the river, or the bridge connecting the U.S. and Canada . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiozQz0hnQxc5YDBHcpu7xYI_Qa8OcDkL7tTG5Krjzn5SRn-cP2WDSDyp3sjlMsYIa1sjMcNuGvnodu2v1XactC6awZUFCRAVm5ivx_LHIySpAzrkTbo4XkltKdypgvTZMe0csBudt1sY/s1600-h/20180802_075444_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180802_075444_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180802_075444_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u1X2K62Uy-cOlYuSzkn9C3QkkHHHRinJuPNQ1ARFK1H1B3uwW9E_fS5aiu0dbZP3_B-mH6oHX2W4L8a9BzXrJWYZ1ljQzRu2-ik9TDs6ewRqvWqFpLPGkIb_tDvMBYfcQiyrrKJRvIg/?imgmax=800" width="604" height="342" /></a></p> <p>This was my first view of the bridge – it is huge, metal, and loud.  The little building underneath is a museum – apparently Thomas Edison lived here as a boy and rode the train from Port Huron to Detroit every day selling newspapers.  Over time, he got so good at it that he hired two other youngsters to sell papers on other trains – and this is how he earned the money to do his first experiments.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEapobpZPC_T49IfZR2_9YePHUuKQeFAlC5JAvJwBh1k2kaJ41V2W9n7W4y5c9VrvQzNCytioeRonA6a3lX7PYNTkpeNT-Qc-Z-piJHhTrsAA05rTIxmTEez-EOxqZqMKbTEGl9oO1wU/s1600-h/20180802_072936_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180802_072936_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180802_072936_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRCjw6aG4D2XKDkrXKxPuGVgAkx4Z-KStf2kw9tjlmL9G6HRxWFf-cPH21ct84Wr2Av7tcexn4roRhQxmMm2fzWsmMNuh2rmDDp-o3CBPhQMYKkoOF27BLAab7e-NHR5SF2TM6QIbabk/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZTW3z9c9NdxH3TSh3bBYVYyETQdD29WuOAZ75OS3vRmcp730us2G2Na8fSTY-6zo-nTe1MfZnKqPySmhyphenhyphenhyTJsYGnG-bOC-JQ-Y12g2XfZgLbzSYK0_Wh1V2mv6BIEsdWOvKChyphenhyphenH6rU/s1600-h/20180802_221747_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180802_221747_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180802_221747_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcMvRJsbA_SpLAj9V-nmf3C4_0Xdo9F2Q6HIGtAAWI9l_8C8GPXnUKMM0spB565MflKZAjKG6lUudVssv_QeDZxzm5fTiO772bLqnXno3FU0i1JxITniVkj6Z5hJRQHd_TvPmJrogP0g/?imgmax=800" width="137" height="240" /></a></p> <p>There is a Doubletree hotel attached to the convention center (or vice versa).  It has been at least 15 years since I have stayed in a Doubletree, but they still make a big deal about greeting you with warm chocolate chip cookies at the front desk when you check in.  And so they did . . . handed me a bag straight from the warmer under the desk . . . but then I asked if they had nuts in them . . . <strong><em>"Oh yes  . . . walnuts . . . but we have a nut-free alternative if you prefer that."</em></strong>  So she went back and dug through a drawer and pulled out these . . . and as she handed them to me . . . <strong><em>"They're also gluten-free . . . but they don't have much taste."</em></strong>  Yum . . .</p> <p>From my room – can’t remember the last time I saw a phone in the bathroom . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-5W7kAThR422BNxxz6kxFvCW2wQLWrC9K1wHOyKAS0wr2mfADUaxUp6Xs0MYM920xCZT1OQy3gMbp2z-_-SIcqIUbbj4oU55BT6XJgbH4TQUbMpAC7N17qWO422BLSHiYAIjzA6haSY/s1600-h/20180802_085140_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180802_085140_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180802_085140_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qEzFaubXloj_DgOGV00dhRZW5CT8MorFp6z21QAJbXqAm_VaTVGIYk8oNdl26ux_dxhvDFcBvKevQxtScEtqR7aa4s82Vv8TzfSQgAn3CbOPhh3EkrEVn3pPYZdZKV-Ej8x8iD7VUfQ/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxtnmqMtmNO-in7o-uZX3lmhl_n8ZdQwSzbJBStjGle58nOCHNqcOCalXOhOOuKL_mflu_GxvoY-p_PPsqqYVQaaFtrCkf3yXMjt0SpaI3q-q-ePqKYRpQDuJO-7NDoWjkcY1S-OQ2GU/s1600-h/20180802_190515_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180802_190515_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180802_190515_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ob60jozB35LgsMoKvQA6LjN-F76WPZ64HkFyganc4juvjV6s80X3Joq_qpY5Fdqtd2i7GACXbHy1TM6Z8DOVFrwbwoxugNTBt7VoPrRcGSqkT6-giWHnJ_1TtZzjaocDDa6IpfF7sOs/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Before and after setup – the Blue Water Convention Center is really nice, and anyplace that has a loading dock so I can avoid using the liftgate on the truck to load and unload is all right by me.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fUElrxHO4j6E6boyJxbIzmRBqqIBV9frIvMiUwhAwvT9G8iBTPJv-5JlVWIexqc72RfmFEdq9sQLOewfoEcWkoFNJ8334bcOZkwZJmPTmHUaLWk0ijqvo7Ni2PPFJJRtWjlD8NajktA/s1600-h/20180802_190952_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180802_190952_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180802_190952_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnFaRF3ajn6AB0EMqw-imzsm_xDXiIhgQ66OlYs_Le8xL1ckOLY9a-5AXU0b9WwlwFz2haREuyY1xltPu8CZwC5MCCV1QEfNAAeIGGkxrtKefx4u8YdOWGTavxEr6FVq8wxxs9bt5iXs/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Couldn’t resist taking this – the promoter is branching out – <strong><em>“Heirloom Productions and Bike Rental”</em></strong></p> <p><strong><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzPznwIivlxZ8FEiw7CyRk-OYy7x9UXeyiIXkW57x8D1kOgTw0t6yYMZhJp3x7TdsyyLMgL1PHiv6JJcvsKcTeh4gHq3pdhyphenhyphenBV4Sc3J-ARr8AfYDJhYjpfZSR9v6Fawoi0tUPxs6aU_Q/s1600-h/20180802_205537_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180802_205537_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180802_205537_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RN6HU34MDERuewn8ikBTQStqCKYDRIEbYXVU_pj1GuLoqS3DDFiX9g75Q7v__EJMMI6cCxXLUq28ztTYSv4WoZhSBvXobhNhyphenhyphennsEydlPsVDHcne3ebxQFXthZHP3wghBcUWmjGApZ4I/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></em></strong></p> <p>The barges, fishermen, outdoor music and such naturally draw you out to the river in the evening – there always seemed to be something going on.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGSSjfyeogN6nSZcrqO8n5J2BAksY-SiBqDpp8S0yxx-nyPLrUtLaymYowRX70kjAt6cRoHaHhKOIaluzLuvoH_d3sKzyra9OAvLzUXf-HmFQrYZi2tjKqF7wAniUqXZkItdvirT04XM/s1600-h/20180803_114229_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180803_114229_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180803_114229_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZqDIJPcBEoeFlZGEwXRHRqzYW1Z4yjRYDfMTnet1aK16NGtheYTS8GSGdQwc9_dKmywYuFL8NFHBh96np20bbd2V6ORVLQ970JsMQHM9FwpStVNz4oHKzlUnRgHK2GdBKgXNxdOHoh4/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uJnfyIrLksMS9e6oirRpD4IMFy3X8DnRZX2GSxzOkqwc6BYkW8NDdFSsjsezxgTcgz5srli6hS8Zkut-3M_Br0DrwR17WJpyqH5Q89Sy9Yj04cKDmNPUgkBfSHaz5C9gCU3dFONufwg/s1600-h/20180803_114941_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180803_114941_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180803_114941_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cGOCfIcQFEG8DT1hw32F7q0Fko0aisZR2hfzogfyvaAw35Vg8yOIqK_RovORlJgOnLrCTUfpihUlBtex7cVlFz0hzYBCbEr4FzePXBS_dglC7zZ4ZbqEajsdM9LxSwLp74m_ktoiO_M/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>The demos in our booth were “self serve” – but the customers were quite willing to help each other.  The nice lady in the middle was there for the better part of 45 minutes and drew quite a crowd.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9BHIHU9O8nJYpMiw_7WFHptAXbXxXPFJr6PF7zQv9T7sBnYzfZTypXUvAfGPtEc4PvlathnmhyYTXt-er3QDwDCrRV6_cIE8AyG_Qv_vkkRLt3tD-Wm7IHJrC290r5WeGqsDgdKx3N8/s1600-h/20180803_201039_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180803_201039_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180803_201039_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRccqhAQPrXF57yckK-ONBVASFk8FKHei-X2Rq-TZh-4L4iiRe8X-_cAB1uABSJuHfDrTUtzmGMSWnQEPm43c29HjJi1PK6dmrA20PQ393ZFJ5SJ17LXMijIHnowUkt4GGoNpyM52gtc/?imgmax=800" width="407" height="214" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXBvel8IjtdpKdlUDG7LHJi14Dti1KKFqn8vmXoIDqtAeTWkkrmC2TwdJQ3SFHe5JagXQK-Vq3cf2n5XkO4gODZTdvSS5L9VCd4M6ntGzvn87SfjyU-1dmyhPMHqt9kusHFJvspmQt3k/s1600-h/20180803_201147_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180803_201147_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180803_201147_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnj1JoG4dTTDmJcRbw_RAUvQbLlck1lmI2E9oRnhopGiV50qJSlTZKP1b7tnozSo6K4oh0jgHaOmWZ8lKWeON-cilZ9ceLVFy_aAiZy78m3p5wxybrypFyeL6bMZ7TV1yr5XXVttEaMU/?imgmax=800" width="446" height="214" /></a></p> <p>Back to the river on Friday evening – took a walk as far as I could in both directions from the convention center.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz33ZHAWS4NM_oSDQBZ1kT6uSWUM5o914RCJXKMYvU07yxfwqXPlr4WfJ9RZFmXbJzREGzp6bPtLyuOMhsQa11WgSyCvxWlzIt7mRhoKAc-mBor76b_dbGHH5O94QSjlI2xXyek_Z8ak/s1600-h/20180803_193132_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180803_193132_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180803_193132_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hBPwAh30T6BHh_2VR-C17LFa_UCYUnXxuN4BYqf3bB_dRvEE51-bDKvh2s2m4NW2Z-vx5-3JFdkPYTsLpstWKfahHcdCbZ-KTtS4qqIxLp7Xf6BvFwWfSQGD0SpFkD9U2861Y_0cF1o/?imgmax=800" width="422" height="239" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dRvnG9vz8DaptUQqggXwKrXE8uc31ShkaYcREcOFrCDtasuP1O5xusd2KdmUQLQT1zQgWKLWyPolmKeAc_8BY0FFs0DNHF50x9_T2m1-gUld-fxqcx85mEnvXosFcD2Lacql63LXdxA/s1600-h/20180803_200946_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180803_200946_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180803_200946_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3UAGij8nbpMmOmUrnfgeBU68QvvCAyIiHvdGH-aUUeZyMPJ4F6CKpnUeBRbarlaa9vfXkFgDUFqtmJbIcveyFiziX3MKM0mAoRAgCZDcU49rW1uUPiA0fQVJbP8zsM_btfzZpfcvzt4/?imgmax=800" width="428" height="239" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKvHvZwoQY6VPfIpNT609fNHlWkXmJqg-dHwloU6ZE101AiQ_LI9EuGqrAkT-pAKDzW4fV_fRPVPtCJZitCdVJr2qt5zfZlmKQR0TldIY9TOqnjjQk6HQ0jtuP88UiXBkFvsSHzneFBo/s1600-h/38240244_2372541526091088_8466371157442953216_n%255B3%255D"><img title="38240244_2372541526091088_8466371157442953216_n" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="38240244_2372541526091088_8466371157442953216_n" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1VZsR_KSMKHfsw-e_2gWsFg3Vgf9R46yNHAx2f4lG3Tv6YKPh_0vBmUyoVHDXLleJCqE2Q5_uenMwLuP45uN5lrq_J-3TvuVWSm-rPyjcea9IXKvreH_WCGyk0Ix-82l3cR95iE_ZP8/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="424" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpUzrnXNVsoZZxlj-umHDjlo9aM29rs-WfV7GC1xui0jpAC29LERXqwJ7en0TYwPFBQ0HWOu4nZDvH8QYzzShB0jprtfWErHJW5Z6P30XSyI5ZA_-V8TnB8Q3dDw8lLfELVWJbSi2_Jc/s1600-h/38404635_2373797369298837_7029900537633964032_n%255B4%255D"><img title="38404635_2373797369298837_7029900537633964032_n" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="38404635_2373797369298837_7029900537633964032_n" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdxA5LAUhGJGHE__Z9OP6xDH53Hiy5EbDiC0pn4VGsmhRbJ0T-LGHiuqNgiCdbQxkQ-QUgYWGAAYP4QdAV5xSpNtrQOZ8A-lRKjgUZnpLmAXJywlRfID3w8pAXpUBpT084Lm9ZBAuAgQ/?imgmax=800" width="284" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Even though I never crossed into Canada, apparently my phone was pinging a tower on that side of the river – Verizon thought I was there, and my directions started appearing in metric . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9Ob1wEAlYxnlxpnAKmOYLIGkaQEqHZTUAuQ9b2II8Q7UlLZPkwUPR5kIZNX5cKwnVQoQMDu6eumnYYUmicNFeUElb4A1y2lmb7T5WYyjL2OVJwtPxWy1py9sJRBq1Aie8bf6rkbCxqU/s1600-h/20180804_112400_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180804_112400_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180804_112400_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid04_7hnNgOe1bSZh_1_CEcVL4bwe5Qp5GX4E7IR16G6KQe1hTg1hakodl0Q1hyD6zmIlMhG-YDoMPL9oS_Z-Haj1kjFCxjQK7E_W2aR3BTh3UVlJrHBCuwyXzmDf7lX0ddbqOFro1HOs/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="242" /></a></p> <p>How to keep your kid occupied while you shop . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgql9zEfpzQOz0oq6YAo4LwmiNmyQFzXwGwZjx9jfLMSqAo9n4zxtwHadXkDF4tBfZD2SheHV5QyfxUgDFdrvt3mZGZzqEVzrA7GHOkQWypNmSXUiv1555WBLQWTxLIa0QR5jlA7QzPrs/s1600-h/20180804_144803_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180804_144803_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180804_144803_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rzezsgx4SIGDJlpOTBpF5_T166KpBrJOuIDPu5WI0T6Xn3c087GbCUEghl1WzHQlj1OwMenHSA1mV_7bdfoOY8cC9rSG_vowYrZdJRhcMiIw94CdjtO-1zoSCZVsLFUv4dajzePE0Gk/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVLN8bF_7ocxAMRrxsV7nl9qVRqz0x9-XXSJQEgp_7SQRVErZkpl2YHgF3nSC5hyphenhyphenYj7m4B_Bae21sLPGyWTXkqvqc7uT1yO50OMpdEQLVb8rrZ4DyVq8UiaBJlpOejBccti1D0OqNSmI/s1600-h/20180804_153120_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180804_153120_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180804_153120_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSUgc6Nk92JQ1ULYwNXzGIpO4TvseOOVKCPWUjrF9D9cf9a-NO3T676B2hreTp5a2ypGZyS4YesZ3gmzIEHulcmIZB8A2XlMtvizzBLkaKItvEhH59qt1CrHrfGcUwkqSnroKs6RDDsw/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Another crowd at the demo table.  I see these t-shirts at practically every convention in Michigan – finally told them what goes through my mind when I see them . . . <strong><em>“We represent, the Lollipop Kids . . .”</em></strong></p> <p>Another bunch of customers sat around a table and did a sing-along by reading from cards provided by one of their group.  There were more than seven dwarfs, and I didn’t have time to figure out how to make it appear here, but if you click on this link from our Facebook page, I think you’ll be able to watch it . . . <a title="https://www.facebook.com/MarcosPaperandCrafts/videos/10156771811342558/" href="https://www.facebook.com/MarcosPaperandCrafts/videos/10156771811342558/"><strong><em><font color="#0000ff">https://www.facebook.com/MarcosPaperandCrafts/videos/10156771811342558/</font></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeh4v1FGgxInnjRBi9HE57UmliyDUC7GQYHcXRNkZuuF2CO_YaxmWKK4PCFBHMR3Z8z6-N6Rkg6cw1jJ_MYezcH8WGmLZfnNQJt913Xac0YJUC4rbp0XJkqmLHaGUKp1a80pjAVmIX3I/s1600-h/20180804_165209_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180804_165209_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180804_165209_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmvzN6RDbtOP46qcePGuwQkJyT9N7wdVtDN0KUdpZCfHS3lQ2Kd8NaJoHLPqDyXg7expdH300_9xeE1CTdGgbLW3_9Jq99IaYY93KcQ7XW69FnCTi4QevXDE2mNgXRw6sOf0Qw6NCoCA/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>While we were tearing down after the show, this bunch was right outside in the hallway.  We thought it was a wedding reception, but found out later that the open bar was getting these folks well-lubricated <strong><em>before</em></strong> the wedding.  Made us all wonder what might be shouted out when the minister got to <strong><em>“speak now or forever hold your peace”</em></strong> . . .</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-38869488235927069022018-07-27T14:34:00.001-04:002018-07-27T14:34:28.278-04:00New Grandparent Alert . . .<p>Congratulations to our friends Deb and Sam Solis (Stamp on It) -- many of you have watched their children Talia and Jesse grow up on the road at shows . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2GYchI4yO_oTVGqWPFLQWhUfi7N4pDex_rOWmAqdeDlo-kSStkyqnb7G93gMWIf3HWEr_KsZr1slppV9zfrtJdFYsEbpaoueY60poW1wd_aonQvHaVwC5ULVM4wmhhULQypb_0FA4RY/s1600-h/50328%255B3%255D"><img title="50328" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="50328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkWYIc6lrzJ_tCyEgjt6eDuOiJISKgeo1AGI3qlxxfshSPc7Vh91hRp1jU8-oVIqnte5nQFA1im3Sl15mTbL4_tGswlxQQUgs40ulimBr0k5WAkUsve_th8ohmn6cKpKOI9EVsyBBhHI/?imgmax=800" width="319" height="424" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI8-qI34XG_TtTB8ZjLdQx3II_6GQkQ06XeYeAmuVgBsjSfeU_L9UximX03On-JrprkR9mLjzkJGoppTOHrEAQjdjEpiKRq7vhUvQJhm9qr_CDJiDZKK_kXUGtlb9A0DDlOHoAzRHzS4/s1600-h/50327%255B3%255D"><img title="50327" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="50327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH6XYG1sT6qOhE4SARaJSuqfrleYw0yU7JW-igI2sX2t6wVG4Ab_rxBphzAcWmk3zcdh5Er1OsuSt1DYKDnhbNltzm-tdK1bJyiS0TgHS_GXCe2b-WBHwf1RXtMXRWB5cn28rEC8QrFc/?imgmax=800" width="209" height="424" /></a></p> <p>This week, Deb and Sam became grandparents for the first time, as Talia and her husband welcomed Jameson Quinn into their family!</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-43234674211805860072018-07-25T14:59:00.001-04:002018-07-25T14:59:51.301-04:00Summer Grab Bag . . .<p>Time to catch up on some pictures and stories and such from the past three shows or so . . . because once the Stamping Gala at our store and the 50s Preview Party for Stampaway in Cincinnati come in early August, my cell phone will fill up again.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseyWz1Y4OgevlKkmVDMf0ztCWwP7FVEsV9ZSR9XvCFwUS3a6d1f2IEzCgaTfqW782WUastyJaChj3wJEMXU7kKldLfsZ6LLDO4G-BfiU8tygp42xFH5gijME7ETuh4B3fe89lh6PlzFk/s1600-h/20180629_141305_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180629_141305_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180629_141305_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDhWdQMt08vnEJ_7gyGCZa2q2IXvNXEiPRXsthYAiVZ5xXuhaU-342ZxaAGzMTeGR4769PzTTA4DJZBWBLZkXP7T8ItqQ38Mt7vFZc3v8RC1-3cKeGfrfplE6Tk3zOXgGaeTf29Wb8Vo/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Joe and Kathy Krivitski’s (Seaside Stampin’ Ink) granddaughter Gracie is now four years old and the apple of her grandparents’ eyes – she and Danielle came along with Joe to StampFest in Kissimmee in late June.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIEXM5xFrnMbuoeH2fitjvs_dRJxHs2A7QtL0N29S9FUqKrk0o3wBcn5GrSIRHC87vpWYVKnhnANecoHI3ICrZempD_jgsBXJ-CRcQjkxcM_2VAG44wwb1qNQXcrTSfmXaXNDFASxBk0/s1600-h/20180630_115812_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_115812_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_115812_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6Pb71kHHQgj3apji90dsdLfAFX7uO7SLdckh72t3ns5OLsBEK-8GE-f0UDjMGAhz4YpW8378EVMO17owPXmt_wPjOo-tcS-geJPrzjnQkOKmPeTwkEu-anmOg8AWFBYwDFYjevu6WoU/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBzsgS_LlKUAISpUMm0ob3OhczY02fePtPnRsIeJnL8UKoJLZT2vfNALGjbaKgrxjttrATmhWcJHTT5_H8TzRF__vwYsEWrh5O9YvgTI0nXHG2J1XpQvk9PtLtzdC-ygblZT2Pk_EoEA/s1600-h/20180630_131653_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_131653_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_131653_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTSPQ2bheX51UwvTf2rzp_iguXkz0UXSon3PoxSd-RxsRpGD9yA7cftobWz2IQasJ9vBUI3NfvYqfxCvM1Klpvy9jYHCQNsrngsvB9FQtzpD5zyQTkRZ82HsdnGanU6705UJhYcdndEY/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMAFtgEJmfu5zmFqGHxZM115NV_RrDul741q6X1CYHGb46IvUhmXVIctdZ7YowtcVHzcOZVKxnrm9Re-IUqtOwTU2VkBLLt43NYB2E6r9oD4Q-BX9Ky1rhSqN1kMun9QNKI_RAa6RV_I/s1600-h/20180707_100553_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180707_100553_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180707_100553_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9IqYMGPe0z3kNc3P0wYU_rbs8_2S5osmSdOa7ouoHOltdDowJbz9uBrDi6RsCBt1k2-Xa1cV-vQRsGi3CfiDEKmI4rN6k-80UKv-kIdATz6DXPIxzaITv4RkJ7P0AGf7bHnsmfoYCSM/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="424" /></a> </p> <p>Always on t-shirt watch . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgUwm6BEqKpWQHIh72R_F-ISNfiMiSX1xcBqhGrW0tzkyWKwuN7WT9HJowVXEFH3Dn2bPEFhkeI2NJ3p1SSx9vbggFm7U_PiJqbfnQQczBIMbmZ_7AnHnFZ-nxRdgFHd0HOUicfKYnYo/s1600-h/20180630_142115_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_142115_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_142115_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6lUZ9H-zqgYyXcky5pmPXRBh9yYMMEaIh4mKsoa04aevEk_TuwYHNIdfedraZB_njYMCDqPLr-WNFUMP0Ti0mPD_B51_M-5RASn2EHrHkQiMgQ6uMRL4EHm3H-yQ0DLiO64bvoOxYik/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCunATd1yp2-vTYMvQ4UOo9dRUg6G3MGqiJou0vZ_vjx45OFccjqmuaMAGf9l9O-di1PiYTAM7nYEEXnepLU8_yqUMajE18E382YcyMZYT9App4fxIeHltkiCnL-n-DmXB6QIQBy9fQrk/s1600-h/20180714_103901_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180714_103901_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180714_103901_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIWx2psWfUnK1fusjbrvJZKuA2xVxSeVmXwO6SI2Z6xdQMwj0eEIElgJPYnGGOLTHx6Xx_fJ7HhWa93rMQsw4TKfT5rAGudqLcd02tAQvKMywSG4OGe72KC74bHisxw8_bDDgaxPFZXw/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>And on buggy watch.  Never saw one with a rear view mirror before, and got a major kick out of this one in Grapevine, Texas with a bell and a sign to scare off the hitchhikers.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroTdDaJQVFG1oPNgpL6hD8NwRe_R2SR6SahYksyv02-GLEV5Bs37P6mxZEYVLBvDqfutplqm2-1FGBVLRsmnflEa5GulBjJFFspdwDnPM1sXMt4OcLVB-Nt3MdCZHkR-WOO4nQQ9_VCA/s1600-h/20180630_144729_resized_1%255B4%255D"><img title="20180630_144729_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_144729_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24ZfY538dyv7nvDUSvTX9oTMmI-CdTDXy257x5AF5oeKTzxkmrIhQ3eW7sBHb4_oIJgvMleEORYD62FMgMiAs_TzJXxxm8XhPhSA0eFuoDHD9W0KOPW1nFyDhsAyc0SOGvcR1XEfaC-8/?imgmax=800" width="591" height="334" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqPgJ_4pC_0SyPhIA0VncIgrbF0g34kzZS4c8DkOtoxTJscvhiVrFPFj1E2JrEIP6AGvqPdYJy4m0uveV-dVMTkHGg_2VoFpcKzSbuwTayuPdeTpFE-dBbARgoptXCh_2iUMW5Sf8qt8/s1600-h/20180713_105059_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180713_105059_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180713_105059_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QEfmGWSFsxnCjJRpqAcyghfsHAOZyE2omr0gPHeZUg67a0fOgFWeUaxni1k7bYn_zdaa6eFJKKFH3Kr9yIDq3isH-8hIHNGJHaNIi1GzoL1DKDYAaLwsP6CkogjaYTCyFuLkE7MEDf0/?imgmax=800" width="190" height="334" /></a></p> <p>More kids in our booth – love it when they spend some time learning new techniques.  And some of them even save their money and come into the booth as shoppers – and they are <strong><em>careful</em></strong> shoppers who get their money’s worth.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3AW5mXmnR3gNBjtCr0FP0Aa-JAFyiW5BYW8FHE5QYEeIoCIZC7dd9BRymwSgjBz_zU1MEpCnfcB3StEuhefruxYAvvSip5oIxwxNikFKf7wA5YIVlNgdVKEmJyrVxbXp_8IU5qwMPNI/s1600-h/20180630_164515_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_164515_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_164515_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE97EuuXENyCda2yyDx8Yxa5lwWRdWreYuonIUTUKC4rPXlA_M2rh6QQvO02Awe5VMrPHc0XHySwVkSDwM7u-UaZoc56glQ9nKDBCjyVtAUZ6hxWpt-3Aoui6ugH5x9NvcB1zAiNonTS4/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUAr9ZLEatmmzl6LupAo-qM9836kaSOW2oRIszPO7WzQ4A8dTJcGMoRoyVa2WJHZqYBDYCx7bnQa9SGBNyVGG9BUmAzUTYOALp8EUhgM5cuX6Ps7Ull9QqkzSU0sttI0-SHSzf2jWauM/s1600-h/20180630_164541_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_164541_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_164541_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDKEm7llfGnxx6m6pW_U2wrciZZI-Ye9A7mQVFyTGmcCyBY9S7LDpEm4Bwmm_rVjTUIPWRxiZrXd4Mt5qZ3zwEdV26XeHs-R6cSqlMHvRjjNg_WX-ORPClfwqK7G454p_wcCB9Xuz9OU/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Not everything at a show is fun.  A dead tree snapped off in a thunderstorm in Kissimmee and damaged three cars in the parking lot – the van belongs to Christina Tessler (Tessler Stamps & Stencils), and one of the cars to our friend and customer Charlene Dahlberg.  Thankfully, all were unoccupied when the storm hit.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlJkqx5mbyTvSgip3CFby7HD0WvcKg95iSQyk3gXe4QejlHn7vngfYKqN66f_g0g9R0fDpoOWo3rtElrOj5LOj37XaOLxCD4S6Pshf6TeWiqyBtJwKE8HIB3Glc8VYyxD-dPdZz35OQ8/s1600-h/20180629_205416_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180629_205416_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180629_205416_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfuU-moCKhgQI0jxBjOCgxhvGsoR8e_epAgEixoqqgkgD7NqqJRokknFfxaF90WdIMXOudplG5kWIltasQ-eqCjcDdmpusG3oEa-SI8Yw1khTISTM8iXjhxBdwiHF6kEVQGvSQHKFLYw/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>The Three Musketeers united – Kim Schallenberg (center) and Cindy Chilton (right) were together in Collinsville, IL in June, but didn’t tell me that Kim was also coming to Florida.  Have never seen Patti, Kim and Cindy in the same place at the same time . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jHitHxtTIV54LSFv9zgeYY-VIBGqWS2LKzQlHBNO1MTC5MhC3aCkRQDolm3RcU9EBzqeFg_lh_GxlelC0Dc7Ltlw_ltZXzW-7aQBuZ45RA1eoXkeUezI454cufWfRt-ZlIgJD0ywjo8/s1600-h/20180628_201433%255B4%255D"><img title="20180628_201433" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180628_201433" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBE-gcaUCXss4BBYHvZxJ99PorMLDH2A7hT_mfB_x6__zW_Ub2y-8_6XJOs8s0NKYyzxz9e3jEl5cH0AkThnjlqDAB6pC-0r607KNsIghJ3TAUg850esxnkpfNVzOvx7dd99NzlvvJaw/?imgmax=800" width="433" height="204" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFrLuvRcdGKiFUId1ty51d6KP7SH-0Q-YkthCzA7PhKCCprlTcmki5r3bch7chtjRAE_yOJUI_h5ggjp9Pj1djrb_V8ToRLQlArNJNBImoHY1fmlr8zG2I7Z9PIFS6DpcDpizx791xhc/s1600-h/20180628_201402%255B4%255D"><img title="20180628_201402" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180628_201402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCG0xd3gi1RVnDWwNBVGOjXx-nJ9vN957y6L733Q5xSPZ7nj96VGm7wQ0kXBYxgxl6ZChDGEK1v1QSn9M_e0avWWTA8UzYKwPQ6ce0mp0RnKTCqZuA91UduHlOEJuXYSqz9xzbddEO1lI/?imgmax=800" width="414" height="204" /></a></p> <p>I guess is is common to see an ibis (or lots of them) in Florida – these were watching me play golf after setup . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucFkk9HlDizhm2otJKVN_10LrkwE1fiO56N_lAqBT4d5BBw88mYKE1cLCE9iLITtD4c2qBDthIuIXq3S6uTTDFzQ_DhfvvT5V6yCQmIDcLnauzDz7nxLeitBjs-AKPu6tCpjQ0sX5rfQ/s1600-h/20180628_181330%255B3%255D"><img title="20180628_181330" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180628_181330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsgH5O8ZW6Ir7ufhASnS0SJD0DzDlr27Krl2dgM9zr4BvirElg3_VVpqm_FoeW23L57bul8a_MTTWJgdPp7DrqbpYORfPigj9KEfrUBQPhuZbWJLXrKmKXDFqNru7FnnZk_JpUp15TYc/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="223" /></a></p> <p>So was this fellow.  No, this is not a close-up – I took it from quite a distance from across a sand trap and cropped it . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIDP5zAI9_AHvPzXdivvaHMZ3mjpe-tMjuMBhwiHHxLJCgvP_nnP5wzEeEo3HMPcQIoTr5XhrzBTX6AFDJ-0AKuH1tcgJtAkoMK6ZZ6dabEIhoMmcjfiCV9oFwQqPaeWvO5k1-bFBJUc/s1600-h/20180711_131507_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180711_131507_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180711_131507_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfl64es-HvmX799fIfRoYjC-Q8ocheBX7j1jznDsI4ShHzPVhk7oNFpvdGglzgdFD233QdgDk1CJnPFzYhy6oe2ug6Ub_acUfX-SsIpw4gCmk4zc85abe-giu817EvYjHo5lOh03MsO0/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmocDOcR4Wytdjmwqj1yZHsEFnRLVz55eZypF_SuB1jFwjd59GN-8tdKqd4yR4Ywi-Dokt4v571sL68qt5ZDr53NU3D3mOXC-Azl12xrz4VPwM3DJd02ahS9jpHuHLvJtvDMczXpmCAhA/s1600-h/20180711_170540_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180711_170540_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180711_170540_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_5yarhYiE8hfSmIhL3GS0KhqXcHtZNNcOFnxRwRuzG5s88XRFLCu3I_yE7wPERVXU4BPG19_8JaKAXOMQj0YcXXzF-_2CcoIwgW6GAxehu_YriQEI7BEL8RS_F5dHDdEl8Rx9eJoHbc/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Got to play golf in Texas, too.  Sent the shot at left to my brother after I hit a tee shot close to the hole (but of course missed the putt).  And yes, it was a bit warm . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5z4Q-H1XN2O9AnJQAV4gtX09dNq-L3ws8xMkSEbk71rPCQZQCu5Xu3OwgO63UW2pVlIzx8fMpH9Oup0kHPmOC9V6Py2ykKxzw5ywZbJakN5dHVRzWQRfP9-XnupK68CgZPsLK1toqUtU/s1600-h/20180713_135440_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180713_135440_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180713_135440_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIQ0R0CqGwMxoFet6j7Y7zYzE0hFwSKQH1RZoUPJDMzw127pCyA-rw0AGDX6AZZWWHf3fbILclSOhJsQizzwPq8a44H9A_pHGAyj4eYQnxsdWAV9UZOiYSvK8fafu6OyMMrmcGXibVDY/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Sign that became necessary in our booth in Texas when the new Distress Oxide colors were announced after I had arrived in the Metroplex . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6tBGoLiRqhVgfnSChCvJdAFuCSPLxkVD0MD2alrfo7eAIGo74HX1afu961s4mO9KrIzc1aADtasGHNkhN1yfdkP7LuK3aguEEZXsrQxKfhpgQDZbICkN9fOz6H_Y8bxdjmVvLydn4Y7s/s1600-h/20180701_113658_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180701_113658_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_113658_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXp8IArcNwbK2svA2IW1VYHP4odoWyu0A9oOB6XpK3t_IWC8BgGKnGBhV2myYsKfyS9pug9rtlxFnztgg75dvL4OXB3XG5dH23H6BNlhBRRUXXFy3BTyCrML92RFQIoqpUD4_7x3Xv8lM/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Lots of you have seen this face before – Carole used to help Maria Repsher from Another Stamp Company at shows all over the eastern part of the country.  She retired and moved to Florida several years ago, and stopped by to visit during the Kissimmee show.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6q1PW14JNWpWqI2uhoRLIp0ImLonfujNXoaniNUkvNpLwPQ8sSOwguYYrNj9RotP6IbHYO6QU0rzVMQULcsiuNTftnJ1eS34Ca1n6dQdthBJj6ILKItBYTrn089dmL9rk3-LKACBeaU/s1600-h/20180630_201717_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_201717_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_201717_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkVQKblBb2OzwxRvOy4A9Vxe_Y_UujGBpdrjtzGlCJgkdK8HXhJVdUqm6RKHB4qCd_VXPr2JJsnrHhlgw8uQxpK_EVCXUdEpNwK3hq4QvjCCwCY5BJS1aee6jpBZkYJ6kiPuc5N5WjN8/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyuBz9bZzy2yOghl0RlVO6iOJdvgLwpUk82jR27CWGZxarKrNrhh4qnxyYZMWEAI5JxdVjsCbVV0WNVplo_90f1BkKUxJ7D_YNTNQo1ZKh0ZZPje0BRmbH5p8as9IYTPoY9cd3G3yrzo/s1600-h/20180630_201728_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_201728_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_201728_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiH4RSOEZkstkKz7FeiL5dbcQ3tYUDERGgk_IFCZyzSbQqu4uqIgCHZb02dffp9jNz1dlggAPl1qp6naeeN4w79fMpcWXWN1pb63yFn_IG8hRpTSgOrtT0j6RN4WMv4Kll0cdQ31ewzFY/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>We did homemade ice cream in Florida, too – but it’s a lot of work and I am done for a while.  Still it was an enjoyable way to sit and visit after a busy Saturday . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x4pzZqQf7XEFaED8qIxZUFBs9kO2hnJ_mTEN40T91DsjtmWSnQ_yyFTgpa__Z8gc-hL-6wq9Z9gAELOZSGMO3o5zbmnLgbYILm_63rugF838kwDWyGSJ5wbEt6udpPKiJdlRVi3IuJ0/s1600-h/20180630_200557_resized_1%255B2%255D"><img title="20180630_200557_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_200557_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GoUWdCvWF4DkNE3QobmNtuCIz2UO-AlKQBYDF3eTsuma8uThjRv0_TpfHdol3lvvGI0v8_v3rlWkbMNza8xD-oOE_D0izxvSywqOMB-cY0W-sUN6yxTmO9d620rsmBarMOrrKZ55ovE/?imgmax=800" width="180" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1LjDbKEdNKIG1cnjn0GmnMgrfMriIhEFIAt5zPk6wn38F7DDZdTnXzj4ZbWQiyz1Iq2QN6ood2kRB_Y1SEojCz2psYyM-JO8CUfSO3kZgicb9gV5CG6Gh7zrrjYhBe8Loiq6C9qSdsY/s1600-h/20180630_203259_resized_1%255B2%255D"><img title="20180630_203259_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_203259_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCjzgaL-jecLlC_2LLKUD2L9LXFyXYWIDKocht07ETUT2BZk68k3VIqSgPVzDW6QP22o5N9xzv86UEH92zotv51gUWI6efuu6wgZT4KavG4iKwtsXfoTAudPCRyhRb1fqoZgEIe6RtlQ/?imgmax=800" width="167" height="244" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu9hT1vtPQ5YzI6lDUakvL-qo5TXvh7FV8V5WAq7dzptcU-QiZ-JZhikokh3Q7rNGWWxXM1-8JbVRdLE3BdLxcdNgSD5qsZfxTT3LfjKLqXJ4JHXMQ3u0Q1gGhTyp4pdgU3-aPls7tK0/s1600-h/20180630_203254_resized_1%255B3%255D"><img title="20180630_203254_resized_1" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180630_203254_resized_1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR93ONZKgZIXSlp5UdvHPtLNqvHMhNYmVk9xYA3EzFq04SifewEvs1pEtegHfDJxJeIr7DPp6DhAaHVC_5hI-XRknSG5kMOYT6SnvuPJ-UEyhDztkRFmhPs_rqYJQLpl-MKzi08TpA1yU/?imgmax=800" width="431" height="244" /></a></p> <p>And we had enough left over to ambush Lovely Linda’s class and offer them a quick snack break.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPNo19A7lzteitYSrYdmr7prwY_W3PjdMsGxZk25forSA-MoFkTzz7Oct091vcCYWj2latheVFR0D8fKl6OtROoaLVG6HzX3EuqH09PafuwlLykQT_wXLNf27MzfdoFAQLu5CIDVD6vs/s1600-h/20180710_194917_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180710_194917_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180710_194917_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigASjp8l_E5bjNVaWJb8JkRMP572iD2jq7qeXHcxcHNljpCRz2rqlZeic25VUh3-LNxybsmOxyV6qn9YMF_KlCksgEIvcWshesYtwRDFFC0gS_iofbLpZn-mpg5bII_3GtKb3UCOtSzt8/?imgmax=800" width="504" height="398" /></a></p> <p>Finally, one of the best candid shots I have ever taken, as Mom and Dad were leaving a family reunion on the 4th of July.  After 61 years of marriage, they’ve still got it . . .</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-77560357380025290292018-07-24T11:26:00.001-04:002018-07-24T11:26:13.413-04:00Play Time . . .<p>Amazing the things that our kids find to play with while we’re working with you at shows.  My son used to bring his Game Boy and his rollerblades 20+ years ago.  In those days, Ryan and I each carried a little walkie-talkie and I had only two rules – he needed to check in with me every 30 minutes or so, and if I heard him he was in trouble.</p> <p>At the Shakopee, Minnesota show a couple of weeks ago, the fun involved a few empty boxes . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZkvfiuVurP3fAKqzbANE8MINcidBw-bjLXqls5LNWypVs8yhz6jt7_DTaEBYDW3S9NHO9AsneonlcF-cbwrj4-CFD1o7PMY-oBXzgqcJMtBhqGmS7_yEz0dwxEQjCL0EnmNXQME6QrA/s1600-h/20180707_105523_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180707_105523_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180707_105523_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSKTDnznk_wNJDa94B4tJm88uj8POWC1WUZbbp3ptn83wYJn1_R7JBLe8wWTWFHQDUr5yiDPjm-_WjrFxrl8W5SNcIsSP7jDWklIVSCwR1IJYTd9LhChTjLe3nLTgeieXpMXLcoENg-k/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="243" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLo0puXgLPPzVadUX11PLjpN8LgCvqHgKjU0cRf4SNy39l4LMAqTCf7xdf01CdFmNSRAJea_p60lcnELl_2xd7CSAZhVUQtzKIoparlV0mJoieyvuw3jYTgfggoYp110O55XkW3xvtrlo/s1600-h/20180707_105528_resized%255B4%255D"><img title="20180707_105528_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180707_105528_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVv0cEekibwWLtwFQnxOJdxVQgI6kZVcHdGhGRJm38OJGxwsBaYs_n1H_dSfmNg6gY1U0-wKxhGNa5mYHPcUIJJBQf8zcK3SCc2_0mrFJihPjk46_UGp6zxx2_OEb5Mvm5ASkUGZ1dU5g/?imgmax=800" width="429" height="243" /></a></p> <p>I was partly responsible – Friday afternoon during setup, I had put a couple of empty boxes that had contained Glass Media Mats next to the trash can.  Saturday morning, I saw Alana Lindeman from Toomuchfun and Ruthie Visser from Stamps by Judith and Heather working on them with a roll of tape and some markers.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQJWbnBFqLpKbKbkwEBXtIELLOt1I8dHtA2hlIwHlB0U_jx-E8mxOGkugLFRmrpj6_gtqNbkeEFEb6JM3GAaJcgSZjNtaYNyfN_DZTSxFMePBK2TdM1-aqUUutmMeHLKX5JJcq5GQ6uY/s1600-h/20180707_120455_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180707_120455_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180707_120455_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG1PBFTx1aXAu8p6F3EzIQE8_JtDrY63loIftKckL-nQRSt2pMuJfYe5TV5Sbs6_0wFQgUhQBnAXtlm8-keoDQA5qKbqXKzRBjcZrpmUJ5cKHSfaxQqEtfaAGcNw31cK-DOQgurL0XYg/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCz5dZ8J-ic07C81q81TjTwa9OrDumjREvAm69omWC_bouS6juC2h5BcKP_EbP7hkKB_JpjOEhKAh_YYjIKg_OZFKQH55D0nzA7clAbd9KGCCFV6FK_dOwdVCz9_7eUEfpkY8uNs4X7I/s1600-h/20180707_163858_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180707_163858_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180707_163858_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim23Sz0IG9W217zstloHyHwCYeG78cHppcHN7NBcvY4BAnNZuMTvWRVlYBzVawe5aUputzWoEV9ItoOLQa0TyQtnDG16qZBb8wvlYn7BYu3LinP5FXikVumRO_AsG-qxC1hN742jjUEI4/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>When I looked again a couple of hours later, those boxes began looking like mini-playhouses . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBBT2yUdXM8tZpDB3xwTCs5vG1PSq6wXqga1Sr58EBM5uv9pwUk3NS2iC9aXa76kEN-Ns7ShgqnvjuV_wp5an7CqTPvTPr-RzxuEs0c6gqgyTtMChLJsdpEfin65kb1hiNuyrfoIeNFk/s1600-h/20180708_115941_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180708_115941_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180708_115941_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYKhVgubvvhn_oBNHrPmezwW_oBCnLEF5ppkwRe21WCxHDZGHSIFU4odXQr95auFSGzNfZcVDorBEubcZYWH1opjfAA-3zrq-REcsM4Cv1hq8QD9hvvWcSC4fes6zzIqIfNPhE8CcyF8/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4T1hoHDDyvffG3LbzxavhaDwUJfq94pusdqkKIa_djboQnruITBP8_drQ5CXPP88svHS0L0fdPgVPlF0rHfRTWjXL8udDngjuBNiX0d3LeXvrzMORgtSGFxuIh7JOy-wjKr97Q3xT3A/s1600-h/20180708_115959_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180708_115959_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180708_115959_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iz2cb5mJhwxr7VtwWrKkAEqeVvXEdFLP2nWfKUnyqYInYas8-T4PtdlifX1W2d7jOYsRlKBYjlax85OYjnphfEKPSp78lhyphenhyphenE-rpDmFwrLSrP1gaQXRMQHtqISvx8zUUh6YBJ650tEcQ/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>By the next morning, a third box had appeared and Ruthie’s sister Rachel had joined the fun . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy5jziw86oec0y5t5uf_neLwnthyphenhyphenoZwbMGnQ_esN_jzCzgURIdOUmnqAv9ThTH70kYpQabqPB3714EqcAhmGOUqyzEr0JY0A9nOixh-XMHnmUyXHtVwEwYepqVO0TmOESrd308trd8Bw/s1600-h/20180708_115946_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180708_115946_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180708_115946_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla_yQ-uLKMPZ7zZwyofTNdwHyC_0XObYOrQBVfmaf_J7eWa9WLYjFHvAxCas8ceI0m2QoLkfpfaT-_BX8bpUc_oGgRcZ38hB5i_4D1LmUUzu9v-jG4KAaE3T0_EdPySAWebKVUdQFdd0/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Apparently a garage door makes a good place to display your artwork . . .</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-29525171938067063272018-07-11T12:18:00.001-04:002018-07-11T12:18:11.168-04:00New Distress Oxide Colors . . .<p>Just revealed – 12 new Distress Oxide colors!  Coming very soon – <strong><em>advance orders 20% Off the MSRP with Free Shipping in the Contiguous U.S.</em></strong> until the first shipment arrives!</p> <p><a href="https://www.marcopaper.com/categories.php?category=Tim-Holtz-Products/July-2018-Releases" target="_blank"><img title="DistressOxideJuly2018BannerPrelim" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="DistressOxideJuly2018BannerPrelim" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dcTfA2nb8P3xCThQ0xX0v01QxCBo81upyX7UAApGOKKZHX4FmNHxxU6qGz0zdJ2zHNB6BF6lm5UqoAzEYhlg8r24z0nqEvoyJeu3woj7bbq4F-a0MnexeSfT3FuC947V9ARCkDBv7n8/?imgmax=800" width="854" height="163" /></a></p> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.marcopaper.com/categories.php?category=Tim-Holtz-Products/July-2018-Releases" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff">Click on this link to see them</font></a></em></strong> and place your order today!</p> <p>Side note – finally <strong><em>(finally!)</em></strong> we received a shipment of <strong><em><a href="https://www.marcopaper.com/products.php?product=Tim-Holtz%C2%AE-Glass-Media-Mat" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff">Glass Media Mats</font></a></em></strong> yesterday – enough to fill all of the advance orders with more left over if you haven’t taken the plunge yet!</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1386705599082280824.post-34860154103354427542018-07-10T09:54:00.001-04:002018-07-10T09:54:40.245-04:00Happy Trails . . .<p>Those of us who travel the country bringing our mobile toy stores to your area have two families.  One is our blood relatives – the other is our fellow vendors.  We truly become family over time and share our milestones.  So it is a bittersweet moment when one of us decides to call it a career.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJutDVhOYbAgurG-_adizqNOrwNLtSYIFVxKn85tSMJIi_D-Ctl-e-jNbN8LG4tDdbQv4WETL5z7KsuMpubaKG4dlI4DaKN7s2uVdxH-9pZy85gGhopabP36aWZkM4xV9SZENPDfJw7xg/s1600-h/20180708_105200_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180708_105200_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180708_105200_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqIePRRe9SWeAhg9RPT5vvq8TyHzORXm62XtvOU2U7K0W-8cb3Bb5mQLYFWE52b916-vEyJSPjc5HHWEIgeu70n4iqZbiTZfRxS4o4v7Wqg-a1CQPf-yl9Tks2PrlQWGRK32bx-Mh7Sw/?imgmax=800" width="240" height="424" /></a></p> <p>Sunday was one of those days – the last day on the road for our friends Monte and Pam Michaelis from Morning Star.  They have been good friends for a long time – they have been in our store several times and we even went to church on the road together a few times.  Monte even has a small prankster streak – several years ago he swapped my can of Caffeine-Free Coke (unopened) next to my cash register with a can of Coke Classic, and waited for the puzzled look that came from my face . . .</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj026iJ9ab9fbychEE263aKJLWzE8FSdmCqAKfCO1W_q9CUhz8YZebaa1thyphenhyphenan-2PwfKv3Vl9sm8xjMNQuW5P_UD9ltzsDMNP68Z_BHhp80x0_J0OzZk-9s4LokNE7InX3pp0SPY33x0XI/s1600-h/20180708_162201_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180708_162201_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180708_162201_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiLiuwOb-hOIcEDaICkDNDznlNZ-4sx-A53eCQPo4xjQR6JY21S20nRKvIfOST1e3_o_k7bBm8FwmSFkM2UOAWXCwegUkBDPDKYZ7pGluy5X2WlPml5lpheU4pj7zvnCVAyhQLZ25l54/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSL54kTXIC6vpL0pvvjLXNo8Vd6XV0Kn2RIIsQo1o52O4WgDmJRAFi26a2gRHO_Gn7G7oLb_E4Tb1KXuGwRoStWGeNCtpkowGi3kqM7VDH2dZPEPthaUHDCDUK-z30201LFwVdkibXxM/s1600-h/20180708_162155_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180708_162155_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180708_162155_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMmWdvLi51TOT4oDGncB2U3b33RulDh7lYV3vH11Rgk8mABQQ7xZ-CuiftFEk3qy-0TFOwT1LB7B472gbfDDPgLGSjCd0bGj4rk8jsD680LSgY_5cGBd64h66LjfR82pYlcbzU3DiaO4/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA7_wfiHE2J5ANn5yd83YSlchq9M9oqTXsw6HR7rrnm2E-nzp1edG4WUbTcbKxwXBAEWguQi5hglTldJGNyE0QkS8DpSPkj8dzTmh_Yx52-7O2AvWzCm22ZM-eg3xH3MApKFyqUISyJI/s1600-h/20180708_162204_resized%255B3%255D"><img title="20180708_162204_resized" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180708_162204_resized" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzWE-Qj8Xp5tkpLx1hqBAGZG-37VUqBZSJOZBUe6UmKYEvQZlfwkgFcOaPrOO908sLgHwBTHYIghzgrM_lWGIru156WCm_ofCpG6EGbWM7VoeqYgUeK-_c-nM-d3y0_P_Kq1uwtKgvoo/?imgmax=800" width="424" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Teardown after the show ends is a crazy time, but Steve and Michelle from Toomuchfun got some going-away brownies and we took time to share them when we could as we wished Monte and Pam well.  They will be missed.</p>Greg Smallwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05873569481889322836noreply@blogger.com0