RED letter day :o)

The phrase "RED LETTER DAY" signifies a special day or occasion...

The following was taken from www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/red-letter-day.html.

Meaning

In earlier times a church festival or saint's day; more recently, any special day.

Origin

This comes from the practise of marking the dates of church festivals on calendars in red.

The first explicit reference to the term in print that we have comes from America. This is a simple use of the term "Red letter day" in the diary of Sarah Knight - The journals of Madam Knight, and Rev. Mr. Buckingham ... written in 1704 & 1710, which was published in American Speech in 1940.

The practice is much earlier than that though. William Caxton, referred to it in The boke of Eneydos, translated and printed in 1490:

"We wryte yet in oure kalenders the hyghe festes wyth rede lettres of coloure of purpre."

The term came into wider use in 1549 when the first Book of Common Prayer included a calendar with holy days marked in red ink. For example, Annunciation (Lady Day), 25th March, was designated in the book as a red-letter day.

The term is sometimes written without the hyphen - 'red letter day'.

Some most recent "Red Letter Days" of our children have occurred within this past month or so...

Our daughter Girly~Twirly's First day of Work as a dentist.

(Girly~Twirly is working 5 days a week in her new office and has been an amazing dentist...we always took their "First Day of school" pics and so it was fun to see this of her taken by her hubby).

Our son-in-law's (Girly~Twirly's Mr.) First day of Work as a physician.

(His first rotations are on ICU and if there were any physician that I would want to have on duty, it would be our son-in-law! He has an awesome work ethic and ability to retain all that he has learned!)

Our daughter Girly~Whirly's First Dental Board Exam completed.

(Girly~Whirly enjoying the day after a very lengthy and challenging board exam. She is standing by one of the many, many horse statues in Lexington, KY. These are displayed during the same time as the upcoming World Equestrian Games being held from Sept 25 to Oct 10).

Our son's, Heartbreaker's, awesome First day of an awesome Hawaii vacation, courtesy of our dear family friends.

(Photo of Heartbreaker, our friend's son K, daughter B, and our friend K-taken by our friend T at the Honolulu airport, when Heartbreaker and B flew in. Both Heartbreaker and B were born in Hawaii, 20 yrs ago, when my hubby and T flew Blackhawks for the Army in Hawaii).

And today, is a "Red Letter Day" of significance...since I am posting the winner of the $40 CSN gift certificate...

The winner is..... Entry #4...Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife :o) I will be contacting you with the special code.

I truly appreciate all of you that participated in that giveaway! I wish that I was able to have had more CSN certificates to giveaway!

I am keeping this post as brief as I can this week...since I had a full work week and limited time and was not able to share more of the photos that I had initially planned.

Blessings & Aloha!

Heading off to bed! It's almost midnight! And the 6am wake up call comes way tooo soon!!!  I will share more past drawings next time, but please take a peek around to see previously posted drawings. 

 ...I am linking up this week only with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.

The upcoming weeks will be represented with the colors of the rainbow :o)

(Here is a beautiful photo taken by our son of a beautiful 

Hawaiian rainbow in Waikiki!)

I truly like to get to be a part of other memes, but feel that I cannot this week, since I do try to visit those participating on the different memes.  

I am still trying to get to all of you that left wonderful comments on my last week's ABC post! (I will hopefully stop by soon...just have not been able to yet with lots of drawing orders to complete still).

Thank you so much for stopping by!

A B C...

This post signifies the end of Ms. Matlock's First Alphabe-Thursday extravaganza!  A new Alphab-Thursday will start again after the colors of the Rainbow- ROY G. BIV.

This last "assignment" can be done from past Alphabe-Thursday posts or what she calls Alphabet Soup...your choice...

So... I thought I would have a go at trying to include each of the alphabets :o)

...what about a sentence with each letter represented?

My post is in celebration of the most recent birthdays of our daughter - Girly~Twirly (aka theluckiestmrs.) who celebrated her birthday this past July 20th...
& my dad's birthday, which was on July 18th.

In the past, we've had a few fun visits up at my dad's place, where we were able to celebrate both birthdays together.

Girly~Twirly...I year old

First Bday...New Mexico

My dad...1 year old...I think.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This slideshow is of some photos of my dad when he was little.

This slideshow is of some early birthday's of Girly~Twirly's.

The song is an original written, played and sung by our son, "Heartbreaker".
Please go to this post to hear a few more of his songs...


I am joining in with:

Jenny's

 Alphabe-Thursday,

&

Alicia's 

Friday Photo Flashback,

&
Jenilee's
Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane.

Blessings & Aloha!

Here are a few drawings ordered to commemorate past births.

A is for Alphabet blocks

B is for Basketball Mickey

C is for a (Precious Moments) Clown

D is for Dora the Explorer

E is for Eeyore

ok...ok..I'll stop...but just one more...

w is for Winnie the Pooh!

& also...if you haven't entered for a chance to win a $40 CSN gift certificate...please read my previous post.  All you have to do is go to the online store link that I posted and let me know what dining furniture you like...The $40 may be used on any item in their store.

Oh...dear...I almost forgot! I was asked quite a long time ago about posting a guest blog post on  Become.com after being mentioned as an interesting blog HERE.  

If you have time...please stop by HERE and leave a comment on my little guest post (It is the 6th article from the top) 


OOps! The entries change continuously...so just scroll down til you see the titled article: "WHAT's in a NAME?".  I have never done a guest post before and hope that they will see some activity for my little contribution there :o) 

It is a real neat site that has lots of interesting info for everyone. I don't get any monetary compensation or products... 

And I am way way behind on blog reading....working full time, getting home late and keeping up on drawing orders... but I will be sure to catch up soon! Thank you so much for coming by!

Giveaway!

I truly appreciate everyone that stops by and leaves a comment! It's a fun and amazing adventure for me in this great world of blogging! So many wonderful bloggers out there to meet...with such diverse reasons for blogging.

Many of you may already know that I started blogging as a way to share a bit about me and my life that is behind the Personalized Sketches artwork that I do.  I will be doing giveaways for my 100th post that are for free drawings and for gift certificates to be used for your own Personalized Sketches art.

But today, I am happy to announce a wonderful opportunity for a
$40 CSN gift certificate towards ANY product you can find at CSN online Stores.

(This post ties in with -  what was asked to share about - one of the many wonderful things you may find at the CSN stores... & the topic happens to be one of our first purchases...)

WHEN?

...way, way back, in New Mexico...when my hubby and I were mere babies!

~taken on our first Christmas...1982~

I was about 3 months pregnant with Girly~Twirly.

...our tree had strung popcorn strands, a bit of tinsel and a few handmade ornaments. 

This photo was taken after our 2nd big home purchase that we made together.

WHAT?

Now, let me tell you about one of our first purchases that my hubby and I made as newlyweds......that big ticket item, for us, was a solid oak dining table with 6 chairs.

Back in 1983, this was about $1000! And whew! That was quite a lot for us as newlyweds! We were married in Feb, and waited a little while before buying this. (Nothing else was in the dining room of our military house.,,,and it would be a long while before we bought anything else. :o) It really is a quality, sturdy set, but my hubby has wondered for when it was purchased, if the ones who sold it to us saw some "naive, young 'uns" coming and steered us to their higher ticket items.

...Lots of things transpired after that first year of marriage and 1988...(6 years later after Mr. B's flight school in Alabama).

After flight school, we moved to Hawaii, which was my hubby's first assignment as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot...

(taken at the Hilo Airport...we had stayed with his parents a few months until we were able to get military housing on Oahu.)

We were now parents of 2 beautiful little girls...

& owners of an addition to our dining room...

...in the corner of the dining room was a china cabinet that matched perfectly in style and it was also solid oak, although it was bought years later in Hawaii.

(That is Girly~Twirly checking out her uncle after "fixing" his hair with ponytail holders and scrunchies! And Girly~Whirly and I are looking at her creative work that was done on that very patient uncle.)

Now this past June 2010, Girly~Whirly and two of her dear friends/classmates drove down for a week to see a little of Savannah and get a change of scenery to do some studying for their Dental Board exams.

(June 2010)

Here is the most recent photo of those two pieces of dining furniture.  

I took this photo after our daughter Girly~Whirly and two of her dear friends/classmates left to drive back up to Kentucky.  The girls bought me a beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas before they left. 

They really have been solid pieces of furniture and have lasted a long time!  

Well...we have had the dining table and chairs for 28+ years (almost as long as we have been married!) ....and the china cabinet is about 22 years old.  We have had many, many dinner meals with family and friends on this table...crafts...studying...games...etc...  

Our tastes have changed some and so my hubby and I have looked at other dining furniture... but we haven't quite decided on anything yet. We may hang on to them...before too long...these will be "antique". haha (I love antiques.)

Here are a few from CSN that I think are very beautiful...

~Trump Home Central Park~

~Sunset Dining Set in Cappacino~

~Derby Counter height in Cappacino~

The CSN Giveaway ends next Sunday, July 25th at midnight... & winner will be announced on Thursday, July 29th.

Mandatory entry is:

1. Go to the CSN site (below) and let me know by leaving a comment on the

 DINING ROOM 

furniture that you like or is your style.

Optional entry:

2. Leave a separate entry, if you follow already or become a follower.

3. Leave a separate entry, if you have my button.

Please be sure to include your email. 

(Note: I am waiting to get confirmation that this CSN giveaway opportunity is open only to those in the United States and Canada.   But please still participate and I will update if it is open to all.)  ***CONFIRMATION--Sorry, but at this time, the CSN online store is offering this giveaway only to those in the United States and Canada.****

Blessings & Aloha!

(Happy Birthday to my dad!!! (July 18th) 

& Happy Birthday to our Girly~Twirly aka the Luckiest Mrs.!!! (July 20th). 

I will be posting a little about the birthdays 

& share some more Personalized Sketches art orders on another post). 

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah...Zip-a-dee-ay!

****First a Word of WARNING****: 

This post is extremely long! 

Yessiree Bob! 

Believe it or not...I think this one has to be my longest post! 

And it is cuz I had waited far tooooo long before posting a thank you for all the sweet BLOG HUGS (aka Blog Awards) that have been passed my way.

****End of WARNING!****

(Please continue...)

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day.
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way,
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay!

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder,
It's the truth, it's "actch'll"
Everything is "satisfactch'll."
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
Wonderful feeling, feeling this way!

Mister Bluebird's on my shoulder,
It's the truth, it's "actch'll"
Everything is "satisfactch'll."
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!
(Lyrics by Ray Gilbert and Allie Wrubel)

Our daughters are sweet sisters...

& also sorority sisters...part of a wonderful Sorority...

These were taken back in their undergraduate years.

...a close sisterhood...and it is fun to see their friendships that they have formed with their Kappa Delta Sorority sisters.

sooo...this is fun for me to say....

Presenting:

The Bloggerette Sorority!

I'm now a...

I love the cute sorority sisters pictured!  

& Thank you Karen for a fun way 

to connect the world of blogging sisters!

I went to college after our children were in high school. So at my age, I didnt get connected with a college sorority! I would've been the house mom or something like that. haha

I look forward to being a part of this Sorority :o) ...meeting others and creating new friendships.

Go to my sidebar and click on the Bloggerette Sorority Button to find out more about it.

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&

Now...here's "plenty" more "sunshine headin' my way..."

I know that some of you do not "do" awards...just know that I was thinking of ya! 

...but if there are those that will accept them, 

please let me know when you post about them, 

so that I can be sure not to miss it. 

The following "thank yous" have been long overdue!

Thank you for your patience with my delay in posting these awards (AKA blog hugs!)

FEB awards:

Thank you to Dina-Marie @ Dimes 2 Vines.                                                                
She is a sweet blogger...keeping busy with what makes her happy.                                  .
..her hubby, 10 children, beautiful home with a vineyard...

This is special to me, since it was created by our older daughter -Girly~Twirly aka theLuckiestMrs.

& it represents and is a great reminder of some of the things that make us happy :o)
(Girly~Twirly introduced me to the wonderful world of blogging!)

The rules for me accepting this award are:

1. Copy & paste the award on your blog.                                                                      
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her blog ( or hyperlink)                      
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know!

First...10 that make me happy:

1. My personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. My hubby - Mr. B

3. Our daughter - Girly~Twirly & our son-in-law

4. Our daughter - Girly~Whirly

5. Our son - Heartbreaker

6. The great health of my family

7. Future grandbabies

8. Great times with family & friends

9. Traveling

10. blogger friends :o) (blogger friends make the blog world go round...)

Now, for the other bloggers...

...with this "blog hug",

 ...a few newer and a few not as new blogger friends.

1. Jenny @ Jenny Matlock Off on my Tangent

2. Karen @ Some Days are Diamonds

3. Maureen @ Mighty Mo's

4. Morgan @The Everett Family in Asia

5. Jenilee @ The Goodwin Family

6. Michelle @ A'etonu Family Adventures

7. Alely @ Oh Sweetlee Me

8. Vicki @ Change in a Bottle

9. Laurie @ Sewnso's Sewing Journal

10. Vivek @ Friend's Kitchen

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Thank you to Rose @ Etcetera, Etcetera.

Rose is a beautiful blogger with a beautiful family. 

As a requirement I have to list 8 things about me. & pass this on to 8 beautiful bloggers.

(I'm trying to think of 7 things I may not have mentioned before).

1.  I love the heat...(I tend to feel colder than any one else in a room).

2.  I love fresh flowers & a garden with lots of blooms & different types of plants...(but I'll dry the roses my hubby will bring home after a couple of days, cuz I don't want them to lose their petals...I love my dried roses).

3.  I would love to sew, smock, craft, quilt, draw, blog, create....as much as I can. (retirement sounds great...but I actuallly just started to contribute to the work force outside our home...so should I be thinking this???)  (...I must say that I do love my patients.)

4.  I would love to get all our photos organized and in albums by year, so that I can find them! (I did our photos from 1990 to 1995 in dated albums...but have the rest...some in albums, some in rubbermaids, some...hm...dont know exactly!)

5.  I love food! I would love to go to some of the places the show called Drive-In, Diners & Dives features on t.v.  I love the cake and food challenge shows... and home decorating/renovating shows...and the show House Hunters.

6.  I want to travel, travel, travel! (& it would be awesome to travel with family).

7.  I would love someone to go through my wardrobe and totally up-date it...I like to ask our girls for advice, cuz they have the fashion sense. I had some clothes in my closet from high school! hm...I think I finally got rid of most of them.

8.  I love learning new crafts and new ways to create...in any media.

Here are 8 new beautiful bloggers that added me to their blogs they follow (thank you):

1. Mama's Little Chick

2. Charm of the Carolines

3. Leksi Designs

4. CueJ @ Shroomei

5. The Paint Splash

6. The Thrifty Ba

7. LDH @ With a Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart

8. Karen @ I made it Through the Rain

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I would like to thank Lea at SSH! Momma's Writing for this.  Lea recently also went into the outside working world and with an 18, 12, 8, and 3 year old! 

I am exhausted when I am done at the end of a work day and it is only me and my hubby at home, now that our children are grown.

& in March Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife also passed this one on to me.

Kathie's regular comments truly make my day...she has been so wonderful at stopping by. She's so creative with her blog and I am impressed with the numerous blog awards that she has designed and passed on. 

The rules are as follows:

• Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
• Pass the award onto 6 bloggers.
• Link the nominees within your post.
• Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
• Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here are 6 bloggers that regularly bring me sunshine with their regular visits and the sweetest comments! (I would definitely send this back to you Kathie!!! but since you sent it to me, I am passing this on to the next bloggers who have commented the most):

Xinex @ Christine's Home & Travel Adventures

Debbie @ Heart Choices

Nan @ Mom's the Word

Jamie @ 2003 Beach Bunch

Alicia @ More than Words


& 6 more bloggers (that bring sunshine through their posts) 
since this one was passed to me two times :o)
Katie @ Katie's Nesting Spot
Sandi @ Bearly Sane Blog of a Bear Nut
Melissa @ A Little Loveliness
Cheryl @ Too Many Hats
Nina @ Portugal Bound
& her lovely daughter
Brooklyn @ Portugal Rocks

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MARCH awards:

Thank you Kathie at Just a Happy Housewife for both these awards!

Kathie! You truly have been a blessing! Thank you for thinking of my blog and for answering my multitude of past blog-related questions!

 No rules for the Blogger Buddy award :o)

This Blogger Buddy Award...

I pass on to all those that follow me,

those on my "Blogs I Browse" & 

those that leave a comment on this post. 

Thank you so much for leaving a comment.  

It is always so fun to read what you all have to say.

<><><><><> 

For the Stiletto Award

THE RULES!

If you’ve received this award, here’s what you do:

1. Display your Stiletto Badge of Honor on your sidebar! Wear it with pride…

“Heels this high are not meant for clubbing or walking long distances in. They are mainly used for getting from the living room to the bedroom, from the car to the restaurant, or for a short stroll along the catwalk.”

2. BRAG ABOUT IT! -write a post about your award.

3. SAY THANKS! - include a link to the friend who nominated you for the award.

4. SHARE THE LOVE! -nominate 5-10 blogs that you feel deserve the award.

Include links to them in your post -and- leave them a comment to let them know they are nominated.

5. DO WHAT YOU DO! -keep at it. Keep inspiring and encouraging and sharing your life! We love it and we thank you!!!

I am passing this on to my next 10 top commenters:
Nancy @ Bacardi Mama
LV @ Thoughts from Meme's Corner
Heather @ Oswald Cuties
Jenny @ Jenny Matlock...off on my Tangent
Mary Anne @ Starlight Blog
Lea @ My letters to Emily
Kristin @ Bon Bon Rose Girls
Maggi @ Just add Glitter and Stir
Jessica @ Muthering Heights
Our lovely daughter aka the Luckiest Mrs.

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APRIL awards:

Thank you Alely @ Oh, Sweetlee Me

so i need to list 7 things about myself and then pass this blog award to 7 other Lovely ladies!

1. * I love to learn the background/origins/history of words, names, unusual things...
2. * I would love to have a craft/sewing/art room with tons of shelves and everything organized.
3. * I love roses, gardenias, magnolias, orchids, morning glories, hibiscus, hydrangeas, tulips, daffodils, sunflowers...uh...I guess I have to stop and just say...I love flowers!
4. * I love, love, love to draw.
5. * I think it would be awesome to be a children's book illustrator.
6. * I  love listening to my hubby and children sing and create music.
7. * I love to play board or card games...video games can be a bit complicated for me.

now it's time to pass this blogger award on to 7 other Lovely ladies.
Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife...do you have this one yet???

Jessica @ Chronically Vintage
Regan @ A Day in the Life
Jen @ I believe in Love
Dani Joy @ Taking the Gospel 2 Gijon
Yonca @ Yonca is Cooking
Veronica @ Of Mice and Ramen

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Thankyou Kathie @ Just a Happy Housewife! Ok...here is an example of one of the beautiful awards that Kathie has created!  And I love what this one represents: 

This award is just for fun and to say thank you!  Thank you for entertaining, teaching, inspiring and supporting me.  Thank you for all that you contribute to the blogosphere!

The only rule for this award is that if you accept it, please don't keep it to yourself.  Please pass this along to others and share the bling!

I'm passing the bling to a few faithful friends and a few new ones too:

Angela @ Sweet Tea Diaries

Regan @ A Day in the Life
Rose @ Nostalgic Marveling

Noelani @ Lanikee.com

Lynn @ Painting Thyme Needfuls

Keren @ Free Pretty Things for You

Betty @ Day Dreamn World

****WHEW! If you made it to this part...You are amazing!  Truly!!! **** 
Please do let me know when you do post about your award, so that I can be sure not to miss your post.

I am linking up with:

Jenny's

 Alphabe-Thursday,

&

Alicia's 

Friday Photo Flashback,

&
Jenilee's
Wednesday's Walk Down Memory Lane.

And since this is so long, I will wait til my next post to share some more drawings. But please take a peek around and see some past drawings that I have shared.

Blessings & Aloha!

(Also, since it is still a bit before my 100th post and the giveaways for Personalized Sketches artwork and gift certificates....On Saturday, I hope to post about a giveaway for $40 to be used at the CSN store. Please check back.)