A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

March 3, 2014

A March Monday

Hello there!

And we're right back around to the freshness of a brand-new week, not to mention, a brand-new month!! Here we go again ... zawhooshing through another year!

I don't have a card today, just so you know in case you want to click right off, but I should have one for tomorrow. Life has kept me busy away from the Playhouse the last few days. I met my former work friends for lunch on Thursday that ended up lasting six hours! Six women, six hours, that's not really long enough when you think about it! Then Friday I had an unexpected occasion to help out a friend that took several hours.  And on Saturday we had the unexpected pleasure of joining the kidlets for a day in the City at the Exploratorium.

I didn't want you to think the hamster pummeled me to death, so I thought I would pop in with some photos of our Saturday outing, which was captured on film ~ oh, hahaha! I said that to a friend recently and we had a good laugh. Film! How old am I??

Enjoy!
 The rain clouds parted to reveal a glorious day!

Coit Tower

 The entrance to the Exploratorium.
The twins are peeking over the circle rim on the left.
That's me on the right with the Mister
reflected in the glass behind me. Very arty!

 Family fun. The Exploratorium is just what the name implies.
We used to take Dan there when he was the age his twins are,
so it's very special for all of us.

 Autographing their artwork from the pendulum art machine.

 A sculpture made completely from parts of DOLLS!
You're thinking, "Why didn't I think of that?" aren't you?!

 Me and the Mister.
Awww.
~~~

New Friends Corner

In between bouts of much-needed rain, I had a lovely visitor come to the door of the Playhouse! 

It's my pleasure to introduce you to Petra of Creative Cards. Petra lives in South Africa and she participates in many wonderful hobbies besides her card artistry: running, scrapbooking, cooking, baking, sewing, and knitting! I mean, WOW, I need a nap after just typing that! I think you will enjoy your visits to Petra and I know she will appreciate the encouragement you give her!

Welcome, Petra, and thank you for joining us!

~~~

Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower!  Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

This week promises to be another busy one, and I'm really sorry if I haven't been around to see you. I hope to be able to do that soon!!
  
 
*Life Is Too Short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:
Click CTL + Home.
Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.
Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.
Click Comments and the pop-up box opens.
Click Jump to Comment Form; no more car pool tunnel!
Mwah!

53 comments:

Hannelie said...

Loved looking at your photos!
And there's my friend Petra... she makes awesome cards! Love her!

Sammy said...

Erm... Regarding the doll thing, I think I was a little too busy being creeped out to think that! (I think I have seen one too many horror movie containing dolls and parts of such!)
Sounds like a fantastic place to visit though. And it looks like you all had a wonderful time. x

Sue - said...

Looks like a really fun place for the boys, apart from that doll sculpture - very freaky!

Patti J said...

Looks like you had a great day with the kid lets, and your DH looks like a real sweetie! Glad you enjoyed your friends, and that you were not hamster pummeled! Hugs...

Kathyk said...

Lovely pix - I remember the fabulous view from the top of the Coit Tower.

Six women and six hours! Know what you mean - just spent a crafting weekend with six women (and one man!!!) and THAT wasn't long enough either!

All the best

Kathyk

Unknown said...

What a great place to visit - it looks and sounds as if you had great fun.

Kim M said...

Looks like you all had a great time! That pendulum art machine looks cool. :-)

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Gorgeous trip
great fotos and memories
love the last foto so much
It fells love from it
hugs Tamara
have a lovely new week

Pat said...

What a lovely family fun day out Darnell, and some great photos of you all. Glad you had a good weekend. x

Ardyth said...

Great photos of family fun! And that's more important than making a card any day!

Hettie said...

That looks like fun! And you got a kiss from the Mister! Who says love is for younguns ey?!!
xx

Sheila H said...

Your family photos are great. They made me a bit nostalgic...

Benzi said...

Beautiful photos and fun times! I think I'll try that doll sculpture...NOT. Ha

Your day with the ladies sounds like a lot of fun and bet you made some good memories.

Gerrina said...

Love the photo's and the one with the circles is stunning! Enjoy your day, Gerrina

Bobby said...

I'm jealous looking at the blue skies and lack of snow. The family fun time looks wonderful. I'm jealous of that, too. Wish my family lived closer. And that "doll" head? That looks like something my boys would have done with their sister's dolls. ;)

Tracey McNeely said...

It sounds like you have been on a wonderful adventure! LOVE all of the photos and time with the kidlets over crafting really is time well spent. We are sitting today with absoluely gorgeous sunshine and a balmy -5F. I am sorry but this cold is for the birds, who I wish would come home! Have a great week my friend.

Irish Cherokee said...

We spent a full week in Frisco and loved the city. For me or the wife to say that is special since we are both country folk. Neither of us like cities. We didn't see the Exploratorium but we saw all of the other places. Thanks for the memory flash back.

Redanne said...

Happy memories for me too in my favourite American city - thanks so much for sharing them Darnell. The Exploratorium sounds like a fabulous place to visit, love the photos but not the doll thingy.... Hugs, Annie xxx

Canonbury creations said...

Great photos Darnell, loved the glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge and a lovely one of you and "mister!"
Val x

Jean said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures. It looks like you all had fun at the Exploratorium. Love the twins pendulum art!

Lisa Elton said...

Thanks for the fun pictures! Love the one of you and your Mister!!!

cm said...

What a fun post of your weekend ventures with your family! Looks like a most excellent time was had by all; and the photo of Mister giving you a kiss...soooo sweet! Lots of love in your midst, Darnell and that is just awesome x a zillion!
c

Kathleen said...

Great photo's Darnell and looks like you had a fabulous time. Not sure about the doll sculpture, looks a bit scary to me, but a very novel idea.

Kath x

Cat Craig said...

Oh what a beautiful day. I love San Francisco. Hubs and I were there 3 years ago. Time to make another trek I think!

Bonnie said...

Fun times to treasure!

Anita in France said...

Sounds and looks as though you've been having a simply wonderful time, Darnell ... lovely, lovely photo's ... especially of you and the mister ... you sweet pair, you! Hugs, Anita :)

Unknown said...

Hi Dippy - just loved looking at the photos of your wonderful family day out. I am so jealous of those wonderful works of art done by the twins......would love to have a go at that wonderful machine. Fab photo of you and Mister!!! So glad my friend Petra stopped by - she's such a generous crafter.

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Barb Ghig said...

You really have been a 'busy girl'! Six girls in six hours? Yikes! Must have been a blast!!!

Thanks so much for the photos...I love them all, especially the sculpture made completely from parts of dolls!!! Only in California, I tell ya...so COOL! Thanks so much for the update, Darnell...see ya tomorrow ♥

shirley-bee said...

Erm, what body parts were used in the making of those doll cheeks? Look suspiciously like other cheeks to me...
Sounds like a fun place - my kids would have loved it!

Carole said...

Happy family time...so nice.

Dianne said...

Whoosh, finally caught up and this is my favorite post, just made me feel all warm inside, glad you gave us the 411, the hamster doesn't get physical does he :). What a special day, wonderful photos, looks like some big fun,I don't know about that doll head, kind of spooky to me, I loooooove the one of you and the Mister perfect ending. Petra makes beautiful cards, and what a background she has to show them of fabulous scenery. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful week, ((( BIG HUGS)))...

Carol L said...

TFS these great photos of your fun times! As for that sculpture - who knew a barbie doll's a$$ would make such a nice chin?!?! ROFLMAO!!

Shannon J said...

Awwww, sweet, special moments with your fam are *the* best!!! And no way, now how is six hours enough to spend with your friends...can never have enough of those good times!!!

Diane said...

Fabulous pictures Darnell, the San Francisco museum with the dolls parts is certainly interesting.

Hugs diane

Geri said...

Awesome pics Darnell! You truly are blessed with an amazing family...and a Mister who obviously loves you to pieces!!!

alexandra s.m. said...

What a beautiful post!
You have the most beautiful family Darnell!
Thank You for sharing these wonderful pictures with us!

Inkyfingers said...

What great photos to remind you of a lovely day Darnelle, and I love how you grouped them. Are you going to start scrapbooking? The place you visited looks a lot like the Children' Science museum that we used to take our little ones to back in the day, and we used to have lots of fun there too!
TFS
Hugs
Carol x

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Looks like you had a great day with you adorable grandsons, the photo of you & your mister is sweet. What a good looking couple :) Cheers, Shirleyx

Brenda in IN said...

It looks like you had a great time with the boys. I love going places like that with the grands. Great picture of you and hubby.

scrappymo! said...

That photo of you and your husband reflected in the mirror.widow behind you is so cool. Combinded with the twinks beside you...it is wonderful!

Off to pop over to check out theS. African blog...
Will pop back to catch up on your blog but may not leave comments on all...time is getting to be a precious commodity as I gain more followers and also as I create more. More time in the craft room means less time on the computer!!! lol

Sharon Underwood said...

So glad the clouds cleared for some sunshine! Looks like you had a fun day at play. I, too, went to a museum over the weekend. It's nice to get out again in the good weather. I didn't even catch the "film" until you mentioned age. Yikes! What does that mean for me?

Anonymous said...

I've been to that exploratorium before and it was a blast!!! What a great time I"m sure you had with the twins and your man :-)

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I want to go to the Exploratorium and explore. It looks like scads of fun. What a sweet photo of you and the mister. That doll though... that's a thing of nightmares. All we need is a clown to go with it.

Karen Davis said...

I love your photos Darnell, so lovely to see other people's cities. Just love the one of you in the round window and of course the one with your fella is Gorg!!
PS Congrats on being selected at MM. Loved the card.

JD/ Jill said...

What great family pics...you ALL look adorable. As My hubby, said in a post above me...these pictures brought back some fabulous memories for us...I still can't believe we managed to get there for a vacation. It was our dream vacation for sure.

Greta said...

Looks like you had a wonderful family day! So glad the weather was even nice, but I do hope you get more rain to help with the drought--just not all at once!

Cindy Brumbaugh said...

Sweet time with family- how blessed you are! When my bestie and I frequent our Thai place in Pittsburgh...the owner knows it will be alt least 3 hours for our dinner....then another hour sitting out front in one of our cars. One night we were there for 6 hours! And we were only two women!

Brenda said...

Beautiful photos Darnell! It looks like you all had a fabulous time! That face make from doll parts is pretty creepy looking. lol And I just loved the last pic of you and the hubby, so cute and sweet! Hugs!

Sue Lelli said...

LOVE the photos, especially the heads made from doll parts and the one of you and the Mister!

Marybeth said...

Awww thanks for sharing your beautiful family pictures with us. I am so happy you have been blessed with such a wonderful family Darnell. What a good looking family you all are! Love the last one! Hugs

MaryH said...

Thanks for sharing your special,wonderful day & your beautiful family with us. That Mr. is pretty special...liking that smoochie stuff. Very nice picture of the both of you. Looks like the twinkies have some developing artistry skills too. You can see they had such fun. Times they will remember long years from now, good memories. Again, TFS & letting us enjoy it with you. Off to check out Petra. Hugs

Kim Heggins said...

Looks like such a fun way to spend the day...love all your photos!

Petra Swart said...

Hi, Darnell!! I never got to see this post of yours!!! ...and thank you so very, very much for these welcoming words, my friend!!
That is sooo kind of you!! I have just realised that I have missed your posts 'cause I have joined as a member, but I use bloglovin to follow blogs nowadays!! I have set the matter right by joining with bloglovin now - don't want to miss any of your posts in future!!!
Your cards are so lovely and I love your posts - so full of fun and laughter!! ...and so kind of you to welcome each newcomer to your blog!! You are a star!!
Thanks again, friend and have a super Sunday!! Hugz