It's always a happy day for me when someone writes to say they were moved to action by something in Scrapbook Retailer or this blog.

Yesterday deann mcdaniel of (We Are) Storytellers (they use the fancy brackets in their name) told me that my commentary on staycations inspired her to do a challenge event/workshop. Here's the info- maybe you'd like to participate:

staycation: 1. A vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer. 2. A vacation spent close to home

Welcome to our blogshop!!!! A Blogshop is a workshop on a blog that we happen to be offering to {we are} storytellers fans all summer long.

Dates: July 4 - September 5, 2008
Place: Here http://wearestorytellers.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Led by: Julie Ann Shahin with assistance from the wst creative team and select members

If nothing else check out the galleries to see what has been posted. Some of the July 4th projects are absolutely magical.

deann is an advocate for getting more journaling- storytelling- back into scrapbooks. A staycation may not be a visit to a Disney park (unless you live in Orlando or Anaheim) but there are still many happy and magical moments to capture in your own backyard. Introducing your children to the historical significance and natural wonders of where they will grow up will give them a strong sense of place.

I know my son is just as happy to visit the rather lugubrious and castle-like Mercer Museum in Doylestown, PA as any other fairy tale castle in an amusement park. The added bonus- it's 10 minutes from my home and it doesn't require advanced planning. Now if I could only figure out how to get enough flash in there to get a really good picture of him gaping at a gargoyle.

Enjoy a restful weekend before we gear up for CHA Summer. I'll see you soon!-- Beth