A Day In My Life

Another Fall season on the way!

Here where I live we have always known when Fall starts.  Even if the weather doesn't turn quite yet (although it seems to have this year) we have known, since young children, that Fall begins on Labor Day weekend, on the day we attend the Blue Hill Fair!

Since I was young it was a family tradition to go to this fair...back then we went on the day that the fireworks would be held, and I remember those fireworks being AMAZING.  As we grew up and had kids of our own we began meeting on Sunday to go to the fair.  It was my dad's (and then my Dad and step mom's) treat.  We would meet at the gate at "NOON SHARP" in the words of my Dad.  When Dad passed away in 2008  that tradition changed.

In my grumpiness this year...I realized that it is STILL my kids childhood memory, and they STILL want to carry it on...and so we did.  Only this year we went on Labor Day.  We changed it up a bit by not spending much money, since Scott is out of work...but we still had fun.

Heavy on pictures...

 

Our first stop as it has been for years:

 

While we were eating our fries, this guy was setting up for a show so we ended up watching him.  he was sooooo funny and we all enjoyed it!

 

Nobody in our house really likes rides, except for Lauren...so I sucked it up and went on the scrambler and the tilt-a-whirl with her.  We had so much fun laughing:)

 
 
and we always have to make a stop and see the animals...this fella was HUGE and beautiful!

 
and Nate the Pony and Goat whisperer:

 
 
 
And the PIGS...we love to see the baby pigs:

 
 
Nate and Scott and Mario played a couple of games and won Lauren and I some stuffed animals...and then Nate found his annual Hat:)

 
and then...we were POOPED!  Cotton Candy for the ride home and another Summer was at an end.  Sigh...

Dancingly, Denise

Bar Harbor...Maine

Dear Blog...and blog readers...I have been a not so good blogger this summer.  WHY? you may ask...I have no realy answer to that questions...I just have not found it appealing to sit and write at the computer lately, but I would like to think that my "moodiness" has changed and all will be okay again in my little blog world?  Well...let's get started...and hey, don't expect miracles...give me a bit of time to get back in the swing of things!

Last week  Scott's sister Kathy visited from Georgia...and although I wish we could see her more often, we try to spend some quality time with her when she is home...sooooo we took her to Bar Harbor and had a great day.

We started out the day by taking the Ollie Trolley  1/2 site seeing tour...it was great fun and we learned so much about Bar Harbor!

 

 

 

We found out about the "sand Bar" when talking with the Trolley driver and had no idea that you could drive right out on in when the tide was right...we decided not to drive, but we had a nice time walking on it...

 
 Scott and his Sister:

 
Us:

 
 
 
Lauren and her friend Mario:

 

We had a great time..and were able to fit in our annual trip to Bar Harbor (45 minutes from where we live LOL).  It has been tough getting the whole family together for anything this year!

Dancingly, Denise (who is hunkering down for the IRENE storm headed our way tomorrow)

Happy 16th Birthday Nate!

He was and is our RAINBOW Baby.  I had never heard that term before until a friend told me a few days back.  Nate's life started out a little tough:

 
He was born 6 weeks early...May 19, 1995.  He had it tough and lived in the hospital for the first ten days of his life.  I look at this picture and the fear comes back., not as strong, but still there.  16 years later THIS is our Rainbow baby:

 
He is a risk taker.  He is funny and a clown. he is quiet, but when he does talk it is always during one of my favorite shows...no commercial talk for him.  He plays guitar fiercly.  He plays trumpet. He is a hard worker, WHEN it is something he is interested in.  He loves music...he loves his Ipod Touch.  He is NOT a morning person.  He is late to school almost everyday (according to MY standards:) His room is a mess right now.  He likes to show you magic tricks.  he doesn't eat much and is careful about drinking enough water ( a little episode with dehydration will do that for you).  He is one of the best readers in his class, but he really could care less about reading.  He cares about things.  He cares about our animals. And even though he will deny it, it would fight the world to protect his sister.  He walked with me slowly when I was recovering from appendicitis...  Everyday for weeks.  He is a vegetarian.  He loves cheese pizza. When he gets mad he goes away from everyone else...and maybe slams a door.  He makes me laugh daily. He questions things.  He gets good grades, but he doesn't care (so he says). I love listening to him quietly playing his guitar.  I love him.  he is one of the loves of my life.  He makes me want to be a better person everyday of my life.

I LOVE his smile...it spells TROUBLE:
 
He is our Rainbow Baby.  He was born in the midst of a storm, and though the storm raged on he made us smile.  He was born 10 days to the year that our Baby Angel Jamie was born (May 9, 1994).  He helped to continue to bring joy and love into our lives.  We still ached for Jamie, but he opened our hearts.  We love you Nate!

Dancingly, Denise

In memory: Jamie Lee Perkins-Fields

Jamie Lee Perkins-Fields May 9, 1994  Born Sleeping.

To our Baby angel Jamie on her BIRTHday... May 9, 1994 

Our very own STARlight

 It is so hard to believe it has been 17 years since we said good bye.

 -I remember soon after we lost Jamie, I spent the nights sitting outside staring at the stars twinkling in the sky.

-I remember picking out the first star of the night and sending a special good night to her.

-I remember Lauren telling me that the sound of our wind chimes was Jamie flying by. We have windchimes still and think of her when they blow in the wind.

-I remember my Dad holding my hand while I was in labor with Jamie, knowing that she was already gone.

-I remember Lauren (1.5 years old) holding my hand while the Dr. did the sonogram.

-I remember my step mom folding piles of laundry for me, cuz I was just too sad to get anything done.

-I remember my mother and father in-laws taking me out for a ride one afternoon, just to get me out of the house.

-I remember that we named Jamie after one of my dance students...and her middle name Lee after my sister, who was there through the labor.

-I remember on her first birthday that we let balloons off into the heavens because Scott said "every little girl needs balloons on her birthday"

-I remember that soon after I gave birth to Jamie...during my many sleepless nights OJ Simpson had his "Car chase". That gave me something to concentrate on.

-I remember that some days the ONLY thing that got me out of bed was the knowing that Lauren needed me.

_I remember I had baked beans cooking at the apartment and we had to have someone go shut them off because I was in labor with Jamie.

-and I remember, all the kind, wonderful people in my life that helped us push  through...

-and I remember that a year and TEN days after Jamie's birth date Nate was born (premature, but safe)...

-and I remember how very lucky I am and how very grateful I am...

-and I know, that although it has become different how we think of her, the grief never goes away. She would be 17 this year.

-and I know that, just as my other two children have made me a better person each day of my life, so has Jamie

Thanks for listening...

Dancingly,  Denise

Thoughts on Mother's Day

 
I have two different thoughts on Mother's Day...one is...how lucky I am that I have THREE mothers to visit with.  Although sometimes it is a little confusing as to how we will see them all...I never feel like it is a chore. I am grateful that all three of them are in my life, and they are three of the strongest, smartest, and kindest women I know.  I am proud to be their "daughter" and hope that they know how much they bring into our lives here at the Perkins-Fields home:

My Mom:

 
 

My StepMom Bonnie:

 
 and my Mother-In Law Ruth:

 

My other side of Mother's Day is of course my children.  I am alot of things in life, I wear alot of hats, as most women do.  My favorite hat is that of being a Mom.  I wrote this on Facebook the other day:

"My kids have made me the person I am today.My 3 children have made me want to be and forced me to be a better,stronger person each day of our lives together.When I think about what I want to be when I grow up I know it is what I already am, a mother.They are the reason I get out of bed in the mornings they are the loves of my life.   Lauren Fields,Jamie and Nate Perkins-Fields... I love you I am a work in progress...I hope they continue to be patient with me:)"

(these are my words to my kids...not ones that I have copy and pasted from anothers.) Just wanted them to know I am proud to be a mother on mother's day.

 
 

I was laying in bed thinking this morning, that ofcourse "once a mother, always a mother" and how hard this last year has been in the lessons of letting go:(  One thing I know, my role of "mum" is always changing...and I am always learning.  Sometimes easy lessons, sometimes "smack me in the head" lessons.  For me, "motherhood" is a verb, an ongoing process and one that I love and feel so blessed to be a part of.

Life goes on, and my hats will change, BUT I will always be a "Mum" and for that I will be forever grateful.  Thank you Lauren, Jamie and Nate for  sharing this journey called life with me!

Happy Mother's Day to all...

Dancingly, Denise

Happy Easter

 

I feel very thankful today.  Grateful that I have the chance to hang out with family today.  Gonna hang out with some of my favorite PEEPS:)

 
Have a beautiful day!

Dancingly, Denise

I am here!

Greetings!  People have emailed me and asked everything was okay since I haven't blogged in a bit.  I am not sure how to answer that question, but let me try.

First, I have been very busy...I finished these..."MUM's Feathered Nest" 
 
and added Pins/broaches to the line:

 

I have been working on these:

 
and I even went to a Spring Fever Concert at my son's school:

 
He played trumpet in the band and:

 
Guitar in Jazz Band.  He had two solos on guitar and sounded great!

We have had quite a bit of turmoil in our household in the last month.  I have always tried to keep my blog upbeat and positive, without making anyone think that I live the "perfect" life.  THAT is why I haven't been blogging as much, I do not feel incredibly positive right now and so I have a hard time making myself come to the blog and write.

There are sad things and painful things going on.  Nobody has died...and nobody is going to (you know what I mean)...but this pain and sadness will lead to some difficult paths and choices that need to be made.  It is not my story to tell...though I am a part of the story, and because I have chosen to not talk about things that are not JUST mine...it will have to be enough to say...I am here and I still love my blog and my readers and I will try to post as often as I can.

I can tell you that I am experiencing empty nest syndrom with everyone still at home...Lauren is always at school or work...Nate is at school or with his band...and Scott is sleeping or working.  Leaves me a great deal of time to think, plan and sometimes just plain feel sorry for myself:)

Well, am off to clean the kitty litter boxes.  THAT would cheer anyone up:)

Take good care and thanks for listening and reading!

Dancingly, Denise

Before and After

My little guys haven't been to the groomers in WEEKS.  It has just been too cold, and their collapsing tracheas get worse out in it.

The other day I decided it was time, since we could no longer get a comb or brush through Snuggles fur (he is the white one).  I KNEW he was in for a DRASTIC cut!  So off we went to the groomers...before:

 

and here they are after the pick up...SEVERAL hours later:)

 

Now, if only I could get my Cosmetology student interested in doing THEIR hair:)  It is pricey going to a groomers, but worth every penny.  And don't worry, Snuggles hair will grow back very very quickly!

Dancingly, Denise

It's Monday

and I've got NOTHING:)  I have set myself a goal to join some blog linky get togethers and last week I had two post that I was able to use starting right on on Monday.  BUT this weekend was crazy and I have NOTHING.

I started cutting out super hero capes...but that is exciting.  So in the spirit of VALENTINE's DAY I am going to bring back and idea I did in 2008 for a Valentine Day card.

In 2008 my kids (now 19 and 15) joined with their cousin David to make a card.

I cut out three large hearts from 12x12 cardstock and then cut out letters with my Cricut.  The hearts said "I"  "LOVE"  "YOU".  Then I took these pictures:

 
 

and then:

 

I wish I had a picture of the final card for you...but I can't find it:(  If I do I will post it, but this is what I did.   and ofcourse you could create the card anyway you like it is really more about the pictures.

I made a "collage" strip of the first three picture (in Picasa)

Picasa 3: Free download from Google  and adhered it to the front of the card ...I used red cardstock and cut it 4.4(4 and a quarter)x5.5 folded it in half.

The correct picture I printed larger and adhered to the inside of the card.  I am pretty sure I tied a piece of ribbon into a small bow on the front also, but you could decorate it anyway you wanted to.

I hope you can visualize it?  it was truly the most fun Valentine's card I have made and everyone loved it!

Enjoy...and I would love to see your creation.

By the way ONE LITTLE WORD giveaway coming SOON!

and don't forget to check my blog at www.dancinglydenise.typepad.com/mepursenalities

Dancingly, Denise

Linking up to:

Made By You Monday | Skip To My Lou

Making the World Cuter

Under The Table and Dreaming: The Sunday Showcase Party with Jessica N Designs {No.38}

Memorial Boards

Today it is a snow day so both the kids are home. 

 I have been thinking a great deal about past post that I have done and I looked and this will be my 693rd post!  That's alot of posting.

One thing I learned from taking the last challenge blog was that some post are so important or good or helpful that reposting them is a GOOD THING (sorry Martha).

Last night I was feeling greatly let down by someone important in my life and when I am  my heart and mind always goes to my Dad.  He was always there when these letdowns happened (and my Bobo) and so my heart was heavy with missing Dad last night too.

For those of you who don't know, my dad passed away in October of 2008 and another fact would be that i am a scrapbooker, with scrapbooking friends.  So bear with me while I repost some of the info from the Memorial Board we did for my Dad.

I have great friends...Judy and Karen helped me through the whole process.  I picked out pictures, karen scanned them in and Judy worked on the pages.  I want to note that I emailed them both one day and asked for help and the next day we were working on the project.  I spent as much time as I could on it with them that day and then I had to leave.  Later that day they brought the pages down to me in hospice.  They were so great!

One of the things I wanted to do was to put together a board, that then could be taken apart and would have pages for a 12x12 album.  We used this book:

 

and found this sketch in it to use.

 

I had already drawn out an idea...I wanted each page to depit something that Dad was in life...I Friend, A father, A dancer:) and so on.

The final board looked like this:

As you can see each 12x12 is a page.  His favorite color was blue, so we used the blues on each page  It now sits an an album that I can look at and share with others and though I don't NEED a reminder of how wonderful he was...it certainly serves as that.  And it is such a keepsake.  I just didn't want a board that had random pictures on it and then I would have to deal with all the loose pictures.  I am lucky I am a scrapbooker with great scrapbooking friends.

The board it self was a tad bit tricky to put together, especially since I was a mess emotionally and the service was the next day.  That is where my post "real Men Do Scrapbook" came in A Day In My Life: Real Men DO Scrapbook...  In the end, my very patient husband put it all together for me, because of course it needed to be in page  protectors and easy to remove after:

Dancingly, Denise