Cranberry Township, PA – March 2018
Broken Road.
It can be easy
to breeze through life
when you are cruising along
on the wide open, straight path of the highway.
But often times
it is the bumps and dips and obstacles
on the broken roads
that lead to the best and most beautiful things in life.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
This past weekend was our local Cranberry Township Community Days.
One of the highlights of this event is the fireworks display that occurs on the last evening of the three-day celebration.
Cranberry Township Community Day used to occur on July 4th (Independence Day) every year, so the fireworks display has become a tradition and symbol of this celebration.
Hubby works for Cranberry Township. So for the past 15 or so years, we have had front row “reserved” seats for the show.
In fact, we are so close that we have been hit with ash and get to “enjoy” the sulfur smell of the explosives as they light up the sky.
It’s all part of the fun and adventure!
Photographing fireworks is quite difficult. I should have researched and studied a bit, and I should’ve taken a tripod!
But here is one that represents a snippet of the fun and beauty of the night.
It was a great show, and a great celebration of a wonderful community.
I hope you had an enjoyable weekend – finding time to relax and celebrate – all the traditions, symbols, and activities that make life so sweet – at life in between.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
On Saturday, I got my Santa on! On Christmas cards that is… We had a JOLLY ole’ time with Head Elf Cindy (of CindyLeeBeeDesigns). What a sweet, generous, and talented elf she is!
And check out her great stampin’ studio! If you are in the Pittsburgh, PA area, Cindy holds classes at her studio in Pittsburgh Mills Shopping Mall. You can create some cards, go shop, eat, catch a movie – all in one stop.
Feel free to visit her website here or see the info on her storefront sign below.
We whipped up all of these cute cards in two hours – and all with one stamp set from Stampin Up called Get Your Santa On!
These were my fellow classmates elves sharing our creations.
So – Yippee – four more Christmas cards done!
We stamped and chatted and embossed and chatted and drank coffee and chatted.
We cut and punched (and chatted).
We colored (and chatted).
We learned new elf tricks from our head elf instructor.
And we got this cutest ever favor!! (Made with the SU Curvy Keepsake Box Die cut) Oh Cindy – you might even rank higher in my book than Hermie the elf now! And that is really saying something!
Thanks for a great time, Cindy.
Thanks for chauffeuring Stacey (of StudioDesigners). Be sure to check out her site too. Stacey is uber talented and creative and also hosts wonderful classes in Cranberry Township, PA.
Great fun with all of you ladies!
Now – go get YOUR Santa on! Christmas is only 52 days away!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Cranberry Township Community Days is a big deal in our local community, and it was a fun opportunity for me to romp around a take a few pictures this past weekend. Marty, on the other hand, is a wee-bit tired as he is tasked with assuring everything goes right with electricity for the hundreds of food and vendor booths and the variety of bands playing at the outdoor stage, as well as assuring that traffic operations cooperate with the influx of activity in the area. It was the first year he was able to remotely coordinate the traffic lights to go into “flash mode” after the fireworks show when over 10,000 people are trying to get out of the park at the same time. It was a great day, and here are some pics to give you a flavor of our local culture.
loving all the locally knitted artwork on trees and this quaint bridge that crosses a small creek flowing through a part of the park
adorable face painting and plenty of fun with bubble-blowing and catching
Art in the Park comes in many forms
funnel cake wantin’
a spot for everyone
We had the BEST Pork BBQ Sandwiches, Homemade Chips, and Coleslaw from the Cranberry Rotary Club’s booth. I so should have taken a picture, but was too busy enjoying it and forgot!
bubbles and tattoos and popcorn and delightful precious young faces everywhere
I’m not sure this darling little guy likes the look of that hot dog on a stick
Momma joy and love
this little sweetheart had the best seat in the house for the #BonJourney concert
just wanted to pinch those sweet cheeks on this little guy enjoying his soft pretzel in the grass
this young guy is just chillaxin’ amongst the activity all around him enjoying the concert in the park
riding a mini ferris wheel at dusk
Oh these sweet little ones enjoying the thrill of a three foot dip in the snake roller coaster. I love how big brother in the last seat is watching over little brother who looks completely thrilled (and a teensy bit nervous), the bravery of the one with her hands in the air, the “I’m not so sure about this” look on her seat mate, and the perfectly poised young lady with her stylish glasses smiling at her family in the front. The joys of childhood captured in a split second.
Carpet Slide Racing
I ADORED this knit covered bridge
My first go at trying to capture fireworks. We were RIGHT UNDER THEM. It was a great show!
laying on a blanket on the ground as the fireworks lit up the entire sky above us
Another great show from #Zambelli Fireworks!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 