My world has changed

Oh wow.. one minute life is going as normal, then the next, the floor is pulled out from under me. I'm from a family of 2 brothers and 2 sisters. My father died when I was 8 (back in 1976). My Mother died 4 years ago.

I received a phone call Monday night from my sister-in-law, Donna. Donna's neighbor saw a sheriff deputy's car at her house several times during the day. When Donna got home, her neighbor told her about the sheriff's cars being there. Donna tried to call my brother, Rod, at his hotel. Rod was on the road to Lynchburg, VA for work. When she called the hotel, they said that he had not checked in yet. She called me right before calling the sheriff's department so I knew something was wrong. Then she called the sheriff's department, thinking there had been a break-in. Sadly, the sheriff's department told Donna over the phone that Rod was found in his truck, 911 was called and they were not able to revive him and that she needed to call a number in NC. Why they gave her this news over the telephone ~ I'll never know.

She called me, I couldn't understand anything she was saying so, at this point, I didn't know what exactly had taken place but I knew IT WAS BAD. I reached her house in 20 minutes, during that time, my sister Linda had called me to tell me what was going on. Linda had called the phone number in NC for Donna. I heard what Linda said but I didn't process it. I just knew I had to get to Donna's house. Once I reached her house, walked inside, that is when the I came to the realization that my brother was no longer here.

He passed away on June 23rd, exactly 1 week before his & Donna's 30th anniversary. They had the best life together. They were best friends. The only couple I've ever known that have never truly argued. They never had children, they took many vacations and had just gotten back from a week long Riverboat trip 8 days earlier. It was a trip that he had always wanted to take.

I will be posting a picture of Rod & Donna on their trip soon.

I miss my brother tremendously. There will never be a day that I won't think of him. He was one-of-a kind and the mold was broken when he was born. There will be a empty spot in my life forever. He gave me so many AWESOME memories! He was always there when I needed him. He was my father figure, he was a great friend, he would show up without calling and hang out with us for an afternoon just shooting the breeze. He always picked on me like brother's do to their little sister's. He was Donna's soulmate and I just cannot imagine how lost she feels without him. She is a strong, independent person and I know she will find the strength to get through the next days, weeks, months and years. Please keep her, along with the rest of our family, in your thoughts.

Here is a link to the obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/independentmail/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=112210448

Eastin with Uncle Rod at the Lake Keowee Marina. She was so scared of the Jolly Roger and he kept making it come on and dance. He picked on her all of the time.

A fun day cruising the lake.

Rod, Russ and Eastin at the dock watching hot air balloons going over our house.

A few pictures from this weekend

We didn't go anywhere, we didn't need to :)

First of all.... I was trying to take some photos before I shipped something out and
I honestly thought I was going to throw up when my pictures were overblown... I just knew I was going to have to ship my camera off, I couldn't imagine being without it!

Every picture I took was so far overblown that I couldn't even make out what the picture was of.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh... when all else fails ... **RTFM**

So happy to find out that at some point I had bumped the EV up (all the way up to +3.3). Next time I'll know where to check before I reach for the paper bag to breathe into.

Here is the first picture I snapped once I realized what I had done.. ahhhhhhhhhh... great exposure again!

Saturday we broke out our first slip 'n slide for the Summer! We usually go through atleast 2 a Summer. The next door neighbors let me borrow a tarp for putting under our deck to protect our patio underneath when I put water seal down. We decided to extend the slip 'n slide with the tarp.. oh what fun!! Airborne kids (and college bound kids too).... got in on the action!

Then we headed down the hill and spent the rest of the afternoon at the lake,

The maniacs were out ~ if you've never heard these boats before, you would never believe how loud they are! This one was throwing out a huge rooster tail, even though it was obnoxious ~ it was pretty cool snapping a picture of it.

And then hereeeeeeeeeeeeeee's Miller, he wears a life jacket for many reasons!

He can swim for hours, he forgets his name when he swims, he swims after waterbugs and doesn't pay attention to how far he is away from the dock..

I'm hoping the bright yellow jacket will make him more visable to boats

plus, he is my epileptic boy..

so just in case he has a seizure ~ he will be safe. Thank goodness, he is 5 months since his last seizure, but I do keep my eyes on him constantly.

He is on PB twice a day and he is my side kick. He is very closely monitored.

Well.. enough pictures of our weekend at home.

I hope everyone had a great week also and yes!

I did get the water seal down on the deck and we plan to break the slip 'n slide out again once everyone's bruises heal.

Russ & Eastin

It is rare I get the two of them looking serious, they are either making silly faces OR telling me to put my camera up. I was walking through the kitchen on the way out the door to take some pictures of a birthday set that is shipping in the morning.

They had just come up from swimming and he had heated up a hotdog with chili because, as always, Eastin was STARVIN'. I think they are both due for a haircut ;)

Here's the set I'm shipping in the morning for a 1st birthday party celebration.

Thank you so much Lynn!

and... Russ has been griping about how our front entrance looks unkept.. I just love my "shabby chic english garden" style landscaping. This is where I take pictures but it is to the point I have to dodge the bee's and step on flowers just to get to our front door! My daisies have just flopped all over our sidewalk and my lavender salvia in the other bed is slowly making it's way to "the other side". My main concern is that the mailman and the UPS can deliver packages.

Ha ha!! Now you know where my priorities are ;)

I take so many pictures

It is amazing how many pictures I take now that I'm using a digital camera.

Here are a few pictures I found this evening while clearing off my photocard.

what do you see???

I see a dragon looking at me ;)

A few things the first week out of school

Summer may not officially be here, but whewwwwwww.. the heat sure has been! The temp has been hovering close to 100 degrees and high humidity.

I caught a picture of Eastin in mid air, one of many hundred jumps off of the dock..

Eastin's 2nd cousin (only 1 month's difference) visited and they had a great day on the lake and in the sprinkler!

and... Eastin and Miller enjoying a kool-aid ice pop on the patio outside of my sewing room window.. They both ended up with blue tounges! I swear Miller thinks he is a person, not a dog. He swims with Eastin, he hunts butterflies (and catches them) with her, he loves running with her hula hoop ~ with it in his mouth and her chasing him telling him that it is her turn with the hula hoop.

Here he is in action ~ and yes!

please pay close attention to his back paws :)

so funny looking back....

I was looking back through the pictures on my computer and I ran across these from January 2007. They are some of my all time favorites :)

This one makes me laugh every time I see it!! Eastin has gotten taller and Miller has gotten thicker.

HartwellDesigns' new product inspector....

I sent my 4 month old nephew, Jackson, a little surprise package last week. His Mom took several pictures of him checking out his new bib.



I just added this bib to my etsy shop,

just in case you know some one that might like a bib like Jackson's ;)

http://www.hartwelldesigns.etsy.com/



I can create a matching onesie if you are looking for a gift set.

And.. I have the same sweet teddy bears print in pink if you are looking for a precious girls set

Snowcones on a bush

If you ever visited our house, you would notice something.... the backside and the front side have very distinct personalities.

The backside has a tropical feel... is all about the water, sun, swimming, boats, and our summer tropical plants.

The front side is more english garden shabby perennial. I have english daisies, lantana, lavender, lambs ear and then my new

blooming favorite this year...

my hydrangia.. forgive my spelling, I didn't take latin ;) but this hydrangia is special, it blooms all summer long and yes, the blooms are suppose to be different colors. They remind me of a snowcone. They are a new varitey called "Endless Summer", I purchased several at Park Seed Co in Greenwood, South Carolina last year.

Peace in the Middle East

PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

awwwwwwwww... now how sweet is this little chunk of love?? Meet my 4-month old nephew, Jackson, wearing his peace sign tank onesie that I made for him before he was born.

He wore this Memorial Day, his parents both served in Iraq.

Summer greetings

What a beautiful site!

Now... if we could do something about the humidity :)

8 1/2 years old.. WOW!

One more full day of school and 2 half-days, then Summer break is here! It is hard to belive Eastin will be starting third grade in August.

I was told, the older you get, the faster time goes ~ It seems like she started first grade a few months ago.

I hope to spend lots of time this summer outside, taking pictures, walking on the shore, throwing rocks (maybe putting on a bathing suit), working in the garden and enjoying sunsets. I hope Eastin wants to spend those moments with me :) afterall.. she is "8 1/2"...