Homegrown Hospitality

A Reflection

This is what choosing to "see" joy looks like to me when I take EARLY morning Pennsylvania walks.  Most of you know that I am a real baby when it comes to leaving the security of my own home....

You see, the thing is, when I go to PA, it does not happen. The extreme anxiety, the home-sickness for weeks and the last minute "I don't wanna go's" even when I know that Snoopy has to fly the little plane.  I seem to be able to see, feel and experience things differently than anywhere else (besides South Africa) and it is a beautiful thing. Just what I need (probably four times a year until at least retirement age...sorry Mr. Shuck!!)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Josh 1:9

 
Here is a look at what I see and ultimately, how I feel....

A sturdy metal roof & strong red bricks that provide strength and protection...a weathered fence that stands strong inside a small concrete hedge to protect the surroundings..a parked bicycle that is ready for free and random pedaling...life that is thriving and the perfect splash of color against the weathered fence and the old red brick...a tiny patio that is the perfect place to sit and watch the trains go by, to watch the mountain of trees change colors and to watch the snow fall....even the right place for trash cans to be tucked away... years and years of history...age...a place nestled and protected between others...a sense of security & peace.

Do not get me wrong and think I am just in la la land...dreaming of "a white Christmas" and just plain cuckoo...(hold your comments, Mr. Shuck!) I am sure that it also has rusty pipes, leaks, saggy rain gutters, broken windows, damaged interiors and weak spots...shall I even dare say.. a rodent..or two (ugghh) but..

Don't we all ??? I do..and I will admit it all day long..if you'll listen...BUT (here comes the point)

It is the "Bless in the Mess" that we MUST find. (key word "Must")

Really, I can not tell you how necessary and IMPORTANT it is to slow down and become more aware and intentional because there are messes at every corner (and on the walks in-between the corners!) and if you choose to only focus on the messes (or better yet, choose to ignore them) whelp, sadly...you will miss experiences and the beauty of everything else around...

and for the Love of Pete...don't do that!

Messes, no matter how messy they are, keep us on our toes, keep us focused,  on track, tuned in and aware of changes that happen, the changes that need to be made and the possibilities of something better!

Thank you PA..for assisting me on focusing and renewing my spirit again. 

Hi, My Name is Stephanie Ackerman**edit 2011**

WARNING....this is a LONG POST..maybe my longest ever!

This is me:

 
This is NOT me

http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/2011-spellbinders-design-team-finalists-round-one/

I am on the Prima Education Team, I design red rubber stamps for Purple Onion Designs and Dies &Embossing Folders for Sizzix and well, speaking of dies, here is an example for the my shapes you can cut from felt (yes, you can cut felt) 

 
no, they are not hacky sacks, but I am thinking that if you filled them with kitty litter or rice, they probably could be (dang cute ones, too!) No, they are pin cushions...

anyways...apparently there are TWO Stephanie Ackermans in this industry and plenty of room for more, but....I am me, and she is she (a little Dr. Seuss for you!)  I don't know her (but did get a little email from her once) and I am not sure about what exactly she does...but congrats to her on being a finalist for the Spellbinders team!

and well, just because I know you are dying to know...here is a little about me:

1. I started out Stephanie Knudtson at birth (no, not this big, this was me on the 3rd birthday!)

 
and a handful of my Facebook friends knew me as like this from the Class of 1987..whoot whoot!

Although I never had a "glamour shot" photo session, I really should have with those nails and I feel pretty confident that many of my readers had highly flammable "aqua net" hair and shoulder pads.

2. I was Stephanie Tafoya for 10 years

3. I had two stinky lovely boys (well, I mean I still have them!) and they are growing up way to fast!

4. I love my home and rather be there than anywhere...except for Maui

 
at Lara's in South Africa 

 
or on the streets of Huntingdon PA.

 
5. We have a dog, "had"a rabbit, and have had the same carnival 10 cent fish for a LONG time because he swims in bottled water....apparently he is the Real Orange County Gold Fish.

5. I was once I mean, TWICE President of the US, I mean PTA, drove a mini van (which I LOVED and still would drive one today)

6. I ran a marathon , went to church, volunteered at the school, worked at the school..spent alot of time at the school..while traveling through divorce

 
7. I have traveled to many a skate park and sat in beach chairs on the front curb with the GND (girl next door) for many an hour..Now the kids are sitting on the curbs with their friends and there is no room for the moms....and the girl next door moved away...

 
8. I have worked in an office, catered and served many a drink the several of the REAL OC housewives (and have never been a waitress!) went into the category of Self Employed, baked 100's and I mean HUNDREDS of cakes and cupcakes...painted 1000's of snowmen on ornaments

 

9. In 2006 I dove head first into the Paper Crafting world after several dreamy talks and a visit from a girl..my creative life took a turn and have made the most wonderful amazing friends...

  
 

   
 

 

fast-forward...

10. Re-connected with the first boy that I ever loved (when I was 15 and we worked at McDonalds)

  

11. Surrounded by my family and my best friends, became Stephanie Ackerman in 2007

  
 

12. just a few months after that, this was published...

  
followed by three more...

 
and I did this, that and the other..here and there..traveling, teaching, designing, gluing, cutting, coloring, doodling, blogging..learning...failing, crying...laughing....

13. I call myself "god's Crash test Dummy" because sometime I do things...well, once I took the guard off of a die cut machine and wound up rolling my finger right through it (yeas, I had to roll it back out so I could be taken to the urgent care!) and yes, of course I have a picture...you don't want to see it!

14. I take GIANT leaps of faith (because I like to stay at home) and have traveled the streets of Downtown Los Angeles to find creative treasures

 
and have traveled around the world to South Africa where I met up with my best Creative Soul Friend and found my home on the other side of the globe..and did it again two years later year....

 
15. I pray ALOT...and doodle about it

 16. I am blessed to have an amazing family 

 
17. some super cool friends that get my dorkyness and love me anyway

 
18. I have some amazing friendships that have bloomed from this wacky world of paper..and my own vuvuzuela

   
19. I belong to a REALLY amazing Church  and give all the credit to GOD for my wildly creative amazing life....

and am blessed and HONORED to be working on a new project for our Women's Ministry with a super team of women that I can not wait to share...coming in the fall of 2011...eeek!!!!

20. Our house...is in the middle of our street...and it is really super fun where we live....sometimes more like a campground.  We have said "Bon Voyage" to too many neighbors (if you ask me) but have welcomed in some amazing new neighbors...and I have a new girl next door that I look forward to sitting on the curb watching her kiddos someday...not quite yet....all the newbies are sooooo young...makes me feel...really...."mature"!

  
oh yeah..I LOVE to make things....alot!

whew...that's all I have for now, because I am bored and sure that you are too....

oh, did I mentioned that I LOVE Bon Jovi? 

 

Home Away From Home

I departed the OC on Thursday with excitement...which is NOT typically how I  feel leaving home, but now I understand...God had a plan.

This is Grove's.  The place I will frequent each season of each year until retirement age..and then at that time, will take over the top floor to create an amazing art studio and classroom, hold events, take field trips to "The Valley" buy bulk foods & GIGANTIC Oyster crackers from Peight's, stitch into the wee hours of the morning, bake up homegrown goodness....LET a girl dream please.While spending four days in Central PA, my new home away from home, I gave myself walking tours in the early frosty & COLD mornings  
to absorb things like unbelievably RED trees

 
 Buildings with amazing character and 100's of years of history

 
toooo many amazing doors and windows

 
 
and then to top it off, visit, teach, share, eat and laugh (& learn the history of the Mallomar cookie!) with wonderful ladies from the surrounding towns and beyond!

 
and did I mention that they have the BEST hand dyed felted wool in America? Yep, they do..and I got some of it..but not enough (Buchannon's is going to be a "field trip" during our "4th floor Create-Fest")

 
Thank you so so much to all of the ladies who came in from all over PA and beyond, who have re-ignitied my creative fire....and to the The Shuck's & Family, for your amazing hospitality and love...be back soon..next times, with cookies and my own Penn State sweatshirt & Steelers jersey!!
  

Home is good...

but Pennsylvania is REALLY good....

I am glad to be home but already longing (yes, I said "longing") for the bright crisp COLD mornings, the history, the small town, the railroad, the old buildings, The Shuck's...and all of my friends in Pennsylvania...I left a piece of my homegrown heart there so I will be back soon! (you might want to let the local police know...)  
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”  John Muir

Today...

Is my mom's birthday (I think it is her 29th..again?!)  GOD has blessed me with a really good mom and I am a very lucky girl ! 

GOD has blessed so many others because my mom is such a good grandma, wife, neighbor, boss....and best friend to others.....Happy Birthday MOM!!!! I LOVE you. Thank you for so much.I hope you have a GREAT day!

   
Today is also Veteran's Day..and I thank all Veteran's for the courage, honor and duty you have given to our country...

Today I am on my way to the great state of Pennsylvania (I said that in my beauty contestant voice in case you were wondering) and am headed to see the ol' Shuck's at Grove's....

 
I have everything packed and ready to go...except for my dang glasses...that once again, I can not find...and will make it VERY HARD to thread a needle in the airport and airlplane and hotel room...and anywhere else I can stitch...

and today is also my friend Christy's birthday, so I want to shout out to her..."Happy Birthday"...Hope you have a GREAT day..Start practicing your spoon skills for New Years....

off I go to the airport... Have a GREAT day!

Timing

Thank you so much for your very encouraging and honest thoughts about the post on Homegrown Hospitality revival. There are so many things that go into something like this and I truly believe that "if" and "when" the timing is right, it will happen.  Right now, the most important thing for me (and for you) to remember is that it is not in MY timing, so with that in mind, I will work on it, do the best that I can and as Bon Jovi sings, "Keep the Faith"....

Tomorrow I am headed to Grove's in Pennsylvania to teach two classes! I believe that there are a few spots left in each class and it is never too late (well, actually Sunday would be too late) to sign up! We are going to be spending pretty much the entire day creating the "Countdown to Christmas" book and then the "In your Life" block project that was originally created from a challenge I was given while camping during this past summer.  This has become one of my favorite projects and I am pretty sure you will be seeing this project again in 2011, just sayin.

 
Everything is just about packed and ready including my little big bag of felt for a day of flying cross country...and speaking of felt, here are a few things I have done in the past few days, in between this, that and the other...

   
 

what are they, you ask? Cute.

Have a GREAT day...