True Stories Prompts 3 & 4, LOM Community Challenge, Sketches in Thyme Favorite

I've had a wonderful, productive day in my craft room today. I worked on some handmade Christmas gifts and then completed two layouts to share with you.

I combined yesterday and today's True Stories prompts to create a layout about pecan pie. Yesterday's prompt was all about repetition and I wanted to create a layout about something I repeat, baking pecan pies every year for the holidays. Today's prompt was about writing letters, and I decided to write a letter to Grandma (whose recipe I use and who's been gone for over 9 years now). I wrote the letter in my journal then just tore that page out of the journal to use on my layout. I also included a copy of the recipe on the layout.

The letter reads: Dear Grandma,

It's almost time for me to pull out your recipe and bake a pecan pie. Ever since you've been gone, every Thanksgiving and Christmas I bake pecan pies. I bake one occasionally during the year as a special dessert for a get-together or if I'm just craving the taste. I always think of you and miss you when I'm baking a pie.

I remember the first year I took over making the pies, when you were in the nursing home, no longer able to get around much. That first pie didn't set up and it was all runny when we cut it. I asked what I did wrong, I was so disappointed and wanted everything to be perfect (like I always do). You looked at me and simply said, "You have to cook it until it's done." Well, I've got it down now; and no matter where I am or what oven I'm using (gas or electric), I simply bake it 'til it's done.

I wish you were here to share a piece with me. I miss you. Love, Your Ray of Sunshine Melissa

The photo of Grandma is not the best one I could find as she was pretty sick at that time, however as I was flipping through my Category Drawers looking for the right photo I realized she was eating a piece of pecan pie, one that I made! The journaling under the photo reads: Grandma's Last Thanksgiving. She's eating a slice of one of my first pecan pies. 2000

I had a wonderful time creating this layout and remembering Grandma sharing the secret to great pecan pies with me - just cook it 'til it's done!

This week's Library of Memories Community challenge was to create a PLACES WE GO layout using 5-10 photos and a map. I created a two-page layout with photos from four visits to the Dallas Museum of Nature & Science over the past three years. I actually used 13 photos and did not use the map I had of the museum because as I started putting it all together the map really didn't fit into the layout.

And one other piece of news today - I am excited that I was chosen as one of the Top 3 Favorites at Sketches in Thyme for my Coca-Cola layout. You can see the other favorites here. I added the award blinkie to my side bar - check it out.