#North Carolina Scrapbooking

[virginiascrapbookingretreats]

Raleigh NC Spring '24 scrapbooking weekend retreat 4 days NON STOP with your friends & Creative Memories

VIRGINA SCRAPBOOKING RETREATS

RALEIGH, NC 

Cinco de Mayo Scrapbooking Event

APRIL 25-28, 2024  (Thursday 10am - Sunday 2 pm) $150

4 full  non-stop days of scrapping! Crop room open 24 hrs for you night owls!

Each cropper will have a 6' crop space, and a free custom designed scrapbook t-shirt as a thank you from us.

Door prizes all weekend and 3 grand prizes --must be present to win (one Fri & Sat evening and one Sunday at noon) 

Scrapbook vendors on site offering you classes & products. 

Pre-plan now for this retreat and don't miss out follow the link here for registration details...https://virginiascrapbookingretreats.com/raleigh-nc-april-2024/

#Cinco DeMayo '24 NSD National Scrapbook Day with Creative Memories & Virginia Scrapbooking Retreats

[powerlineprincess]

Holy Moments. 2024.

[mascrapping]

2021: Title and End Pages

[fear-is-truth]

PRISON GF!READER

a/n: quick note ! from what i’ve gathered, only a few states allow conjugal visits, sadly north carolina isn’t one of them. so in this au, i’ll still focus on the emotional & relationship aspects. as for why he is in prison, it’s for second-degree murder

prison gf!reader, who has been together with rafe long before his arrest and was already deeply in love with him, even though everyone warned her about his reckless behavior.

prison gf!reader, who cried the first time she saw him in his prison uniform and tried to hide it behind a brave smile so he wouldn’t feel bad.

prison gf!reader, who talks to his lawyer as much as she can, trying to stay updated on his case and doing everything in her power to advocate for him.

prison gf!reader, who gets defensive whenever anyone speaks ill about her boyfriend, firmly believing he’s so much more than his mistakes.

prison gf!reader, who visits him every chance she gets, dressing up and trying to look her best for rafe despite the circumstances.

prison gf!reader, who saves every penny to afford the gas for her trips and commissary money so he doesn’t feel like he’s going without.

prison gf!reader who spends hours writing long, heartfelt letters to rafe, telling him about her day, gossiping, and assuring him that she’ll wait for him no matter how long it takes.

prison gf! reader, who has memorised rafe’s inmate number and automatically writes it down without thinking whenever she sends him something.

prison gf!reader, who sneaks in little photos of her clad in lingerie (or sometimes full-on nude) in the letters she sends him.

prison gf! reader, who has a small scrapbook full of his letters that she’s read so many times, they’re crinkled and worn from handling.

prison gf!reader, who decorates her bedroom with little mementos: polaroids, stuffed animals, perfume and jewelry he gave her.

prison gf!reader, who daydreams about his release day and all the things they’ll do together, from going to the beach to just holding him in her arms for hours.

prison gf!reader, who keeps track of the days until his release with tally marks on a little calendar.

prison gf!reader, who brags to her friends about how protective he is, even in prison, because he still asks about anyone she’s been hanging out with and gets jealous over hypothetical scenarios.

prison gf!reader, who refuses to let anyone flirt with her, always proudly reminding them that she has a boyfriend who she’s madly in love with.

prison gf!reader, who reassures him constantly that she’s not going anywhere, even when he’s moody or distant on phone calls because she knows he’s just frustrated with his situation.

prison gf!reader, who still celebrates his birthday, baking a cake and telling him all about it in her next letter or visit.

prison gf!reader, who takes late-night drives alone, imagining he’s sitting in the passenger seat like he used to, and talks to him like he’s there.

prison gf!reader, who has dreams about him coming home, and wakes up heartbroken and teary-eyed when she realise it wasn’t real.

prison gf!reader, who keeps a folder on her phone of the photos they have together, scrolling through it whenever she misses him too much.

prison gf!reader, who has considered sending him a care package, even though it’s against the rules, just to make him feel closer to home.

prison gf!reader, who promises to visit every week, and when life gets in the way and she misses one, he reassures her that he understands, but she can hear the hurt in his voice.

prison gf!reader, who talks to wardens and guards politely, knowing they can make his life harder if they don’t like her.

prison gf!reader, who gets nervous before every visit, wondering if he’ll look different or seem upset, only to feel her heart flutter the second he smiles at her.

prison gf!reader, who gets so excited when he calls, even if it’s just for a few minutes, and tries to make him laugh so he doesn’t focus on the negatives.

prison gf!reader, who fights back tears when he admits he feels like a burden sometimes, assuring him that she loves him and will never stop fighting for him.

prison gf!reader, who holds his hand across the visitation table, tracing circles on his knuckles with her thumb.

prison gf!reader, who makes an effort to stay positive around him, but he always notices when she’s sad and implores her to take care of herself.

prison gf!reader, who bites her lip when rafe leans in close during visits, voice dropping lower as he murmurs how much he misses you and how he can’t wait to have you all to himself when he’s out.

prison gf!reader, who feels the ache in her chest when she sees the new bruises or scratches on him, but doesn’t press because she knows he’ll only tell her when he’s ready.

prison gf!reader, who listens intently as he tells her stories about the fights he’s been in, pretending to scold him but secretly impressed.

prison gf!reader, who gets flustered like a schoolgirl seeing her crush when rafe makes comments about how pretty she looks, telling her that she’s the hottest thing that’s ever walked into that visiting room.

prison gf!reader, who gets embarrassed and squirmy when he smirks during visits and says, “if we were alone right now…” leaving the sentence hanging just to watch her reaction.

prison gf!reader, who gets tongue-tied when he talks about all the dirty things he’s going to do with her the moment he gets out.

prison gf!reader, who clutches his hand during visits when he promises he’ll be better for her, tears welling in both their eyes because she knows how much he means it.

prison gf!reader, who holds back tears when rafe talks about his regrets, squeezing his hand and telling him he’s not his mistakes, even when he struggles to believe it himself.

prison gf!reader, who hates saying goodbye after visits, lingering until the last second even though the guards are ushering her away.

prison gf!reader, who feels her heart rate increase every time rafe calls, especially when he starts with, “hey, pretty girl,” in that soft, low voice that only she gets to hear.

prison gf!reader, who lets him guide the conversation when he’s in a sullen mood, knowing he’ll open up when he’s ready but needing to feel in control first.

prison gf!reader, who lets him rant during calls when he’s frustrated, knowing he doesn’t have many people to vent to, and she’s the only one he trusts.

prison gf!reader, who laughs when he jokes about you smuggling something in for him, but his tone shifts when he quietly says, “the only thing i need in here is you.”

prison gf!reader, who loves it when he mutters things like “i’d kill for one kiss right now” during phone calls, and she knows he means it.

 fear-is-truth 2024 — all rights reserved. do not modify, repost, translate, or plagiarise my content.

[1264doghouse]

Bascom Lamar Lunsford plays his “dehorned” fiddle, with Mr. and Mrs. Lyda Brooks, and Gaither Robinson. From the Bascom Lamar/ Lunsford Scrapbook. Tennessee/North Carolina border area.

[mickimomo]

Also, I now have to ask you a random Oni question that doesn't require a drabble unless you wanna write that out: What's Oni's fave hobby/past time when she's not doing Hot Girl Priest Stuff? I know she has to have something she can relax and do in her downtime, right?

I cackled at Hot Girl Priest Stuff. 💀

Tbh, if Oni isn't sparing or practicing with weapons in the woods by herself, she's probably cracking open a book or wondering in nature (ex. exploring or hiking).

I'd imagined that dealing with people and trying to live up to her role as the priestess and vessel of Bast can be socially and physically draining. So, moments of solitude are definitely appreciated. Especially Pre-Namora.

I'd say Post-Namora, she still enjoys moments alone, but doesn't mind existing in silence or sparring with Namora either. I think Namora would expand her areas of exploration after realizing how much Oni thrives in nature. She'd take Oni to a few coral reefs, lakes, and rivers to see the flora and wildlife that live around them underwater.

Also, Oni definitely has a scrapbook filled with pressed and dried plants she's seen on adventures. It's the plant lover inside of her peeking out. Once Namora discovers it, she starts bringing her flowers and plant clippings to add to it.

Once they're married, I think Namora would build her a greenhouse of sorts and bring her plants from missions and special gift-obtaining expeditions. Oni often pretends that she hates gardening because that's technically her job with the Heart-Shaped Herb. However, with the greenhouse, she's more open to 'tending to the little plants her wife brings her from all over the world'. Namora just likes seeing her wife happy, so she's always bringing her things. 🥹

The blurb I thought I wasn't going to write, but I couldn't stop imagining:

"Eh... in lool? (my flower)"

"Mm?" Oni looked up from the book she was reading underneath a plum tree as Namora slowly made her way towards her.

"I got you something."

"You got me something?" She looked her over, taking note of her hands hiding something behind her back.

"Yes. A gift."

The vieled priestess closed her book and tilted her head at her wife. "Are you my gift?"

Namora's face purpled at the suggestion. "No." She looked away shyly. "Just close your eyes and hold out your hands."

"Aw. You're no fun, Amora."

The warrior rolled her eyes before refocusing on the priestess.

Her hands were held out, and her eyes were supposedly closed.

Namora squatted and waved a hand in front of her veiled face before gently placing a small potted plant in her palms.

"Can I look?"

"Mhm."

Oni slowly pulled the plant towards her face before gasping. "Wha- Where did you find these?!" She looked up at Namora. "I was just reading about Venus fly traps the other day."

"I know. You read seven books about carnivorous plants and kept talking about how much you wanted a venus fly trap."

"Yes, but these are native to the southeastern part of the United States. Like South and North Carolina. How did you-"

"-I went there at night with Attuma and Aj K'uk'ulkan." Namora offered a warm smile.

"Just for a little plant?"

"Nothing is little if you want it, in lool."

"But you got Attuma and the king of Talokan involved."

"I help them get things for their lovers all the time. How could they refuse to help me?"

Oni couldn't refrain from laughing at the thought of the three of them venturing around at night to find a tiny carnivorous plant. They must have fought snakes and gators and all kinds of things to get it for her.

"I almost wish I could have been there to see you all get it for me."

Namora clicked her tongue in feigned irritation, revealing a habit she had picked up from her wife.

"Eh?" Oni laughed as she grabbed her by the jaw and pulled her forward while she held her plant with her other hand. "What was that, warrior?"

Namora's cheeks purpled slightly. "P'atéen tíin juunaj. (Leave me alone.)"

"How could I ever leave you alone?"

The warrior felt her muscles stiffen as the priestess tugged her closer.

"Oni, not outside." Namora grunted as she crumbled on top of her, inhaling sharply as she was quickly flipped over and pinned to the ground with one hand and two legs.

Her lungs expanded with the faint scent of incense and plum as she looked up at her wife, her lilac veil billowing enough to reveal her soft two-toned lips.

Blowing enough to almost reveal her dark brown eyes that melted like chocolate in a fondue fountain whenever they rested on her.

By Chaac, she was in love.

"Why not?"

Oni's voice broke her from her reverie and Namora frowned at the pout in her voice.

"You can't remove your veil outside."

"Oh?" Oni leaned in, still holding her gifted plant close. "So, if we go inside, I can thank you properly for my gift?"

Namora turned as purple as her lover's dress before nodding. "If that is what you wish to do." She took in a small breath as her blush darkened. "Just saying thank you will suffice if you don't-"

"-Nonsense." The priestess whispered lowly. "There's so much I want to do to you."

Namora held her breath as her wife whispered a list of things she wished to do in her ear.

All Namora could do was gasp.

"Ok. Come on." Oni hummed before gently pulling away and getting up. "I wish to thank my wife properly."

Namora laid there for a moment, dazed as the veiled beauty walked away. "In k’áatech. (I love you.)" She groaned before getting up and slowly following Oni.

[wutbju]

Ruth Leisure, BJU Class of 1964.

Ruth Kinley Leisure went to be with her Lord on August 23, 2024 at the age of 79. Ruth was born in Rockford, Illinois on April 7, 1945. Her parents were the late Marian and Delbert Kinley. She married Paul Leisure in Rockford on June 28, 1968.

Ruth was a graduate of Rockford West High School and continued her education at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina(where she met Paul) and Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. She played the bass both in high school and in the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Ruth worked as an executive secretary for the Central Illinois Electric and Gas Company and later as an optician at 20/20 Optical Center in the Brynwood Shopping Center in Rockford.

In Illinois, she was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Northern Winnebago County, active in the Winnebago/Boone County Genealogical Society, a friend of the North Suburban Library, and a member of the First Evangelical Free Church.

In Florida, Ruth was a member of Seabreeze Kiwanis, chaplain of the Port Orange chapter of the Daughter's of the American Revolution, a ""scrappie"" with the Scrapbooking and Card Making Club, and a member of the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach. She enjoyed watching rocket launches in her driveway from Cape Canaveral. Her hobby was to make creative cards as a personal gift to friends and family. Ruth was often found deep in thought doing genealogical research.

She enjoyed travel to Various places as the Soviet Union(during the Cold War); Door County, Wisconsin; and Galena in Illinois. In Florida Ruth enjoyed just walking along the beach, Amelia Island, Jensen beach, and Vero Beach. She had many wonderful memories of travel with the Sensational Seniors Social group to various day trips, cruises, dinner theatres, and other interesting places. her fun overnight retreats with the ""maniac scrappie ladies"" included adventures in Mt. Dora, St Simon's Island, Vilano Beach, and St. Augustine Beach with her dear friend Lucille McDermott.

Ruth is survived by her husband Paul; daughters Amanda Teachout(Dan Teachout) and Erin Leisure- as well as grandchildren Mason Teachout, Teddy Teachout, Andrew Buchstaber, Tyler Buchstaber, and William Buchstaber. Also surviving are brothers Tim Kinley(Pam Kinley) in Rockford Illinois and Thom Kinley (tove Kinley) in Wyoming, Minnesota as well as many nieces and nephews.

[researchbuzz]

War of 1812, Africa Fact-Checking, Google, More: Saturday Afternoon ResearchBuzz, December 7, 2024

NEW RESOURCES DigitalNC: A Legacy of Historic is Preserved in New War of 1812 Records. “Interested in learning more about the War of 1812? Thanks to our new partners at the North Carolina Society Daughters of 1812, now you can! For the first time ever, six scrapbooks chronicling historic preservation, research, and reenactment are now available. Each scrapbook records written histories, historic…

[svgoceandesigns1]

North Carolina A&T Aggies Grandpa SVG - Proud Grandpa Sports SVG PNG, Cricut File

North Carolina A&T Aggies Grandpa SVG, Proud Grandpa Sports SVG PNG EPS DXF PDF, Cricut File, Instant Download File, Cricut File Silhouette Art, Logo Design, Designs For Shirts. ♥ Welcome to SVG OCEAN DESIGNS Store! ♥ ► PLEASE NOTE: – Since this item is digital, no physical product will be sent to you. – Your files will be ready to download immediately after your purchase. Once payment has been completed, SVG Ocean Designs will send you an email letting you know your File is ready for Download. You may also check your Order/Purchase History on SVG Ocean Designs website and it should be available for download there as well. – Please make sure you have the right software required and knowledge to use this graphic before making your purchase. – Due to monitor differences and your printer settings, the actual colors of your printed product may vary slightly. – Due to the digital nature of this listing, there are “no refunds or exchanges”. – If you have a specific Design you would like made, just message me! I will be more than glad to create a Custom Oder for you. ► YOU RECEIVE: This listing includes a zip file with the following formats: – SVG File (check your software to confirm it is compatible with your machine): Includes wording in both white and black (SVG only). Other files are black wording. – PNG File: PNG High Resolution 300 dpi Clipart (transparent background – resize smaller and slightly larger without loss of quality). – DXF: high resolution, perfect for print and many more. – EPS: high resolution, perfect for print, Design and many more. ► USAGE: – Can be used with Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Cameo, Silhouette Studio, Adobe Illustrator, ...and any other software or machines that work with SVG/PNG files. Please make sDisney Father's Dayure your machine and software are compatible before purchasing. – You can edit, resize and change colors in any vector or cutting software like Inkscape, Adobe illustrator, Cricut design space, etc. SVG cut files are perfect for all your DIY projects or handmade businDisney Father's Dayess Product. You can use them for T-shirts, scrapbooks, wall vinyls, stickers, invitations cards, web and more!!! Perfect for T-shirts, iron-ons, mugs, printables, card making, scrapbooking, etc. ►TERMS OF USE: – NO refunds on digital products. Please contact me if you experience any problems with the purchase. – Watermark and wood background won’t be shown in the downloaded files. – Please DO NOT resell, distribute, share, copy, or reproduce my designs. – Customer service and satisfaction is our top priority. If you have any questions before placing orders, please contact with us via email "support@svgoceandesigns.com". – New products and latest trends =>> Click Here . Thank you so much for visiting our store! SVG OCEAN DESIGNS Read the full article

[familyofpebbles]

France/Birthniversarymasyear 2021

Turns out, I had already written about Rothenburg and our whole December and forgotten that I had done that. So, here it is:

-

We made it!  A new year. We’ve managed to dodge the plague while also having an adventurous year together. It flew by, really. And of course, most importantly, BirthNiversaryMasYear was a resounding success.

We begin on your birthday, as always. You had to work, unfortunately. But I took the day off so I could work on one of your presents- an attempt to replicate your favorite meal at Chopstix, one of our regular take-out spots in North Carolina. This process turned out to take the entire afternoon and evening, but it was WORTH it. I made you angel food cake and strawberry sauce first, both of which were successes. Then I started on the largest challenge- homemade tapioca boba. I knew it would be hard, but I was not prepared for just HOW hard. The temperature and timing turned out to be VERY specific and 2 out of 3 tries I SOMEHOW made a non-Newtonian fluid out of the dough. Thankfully, despite my initial confidence, I had thought to buy some premade boba as backup. I ended up using that and now that I know how easy THAT is to get… I think it may just become a staple in our house.

Next came the Thai tea- beautiful loose leaf rich smelling goodness. And then finally, the spicy lo mien! (I forgot I was going to try to make crispy tofu too until we were done eating. Oh well.) After the boba defeat this was a much needed morale booster. And it all turned out amazing!! So satisfying to have those familiar flavors again. After dinner I gave you your slippers (multiple pairs to prevent you from stealing mine), and we played the rest of Detroit: Become Human. Not a bad birthday for having to work, I think!

Then my birthday- unfortunately you had to work this day too. But I had a nice one! Enjoyed my slowed down morning routine, did my yearly tarot reading (this year will be largely introspective and refining, and I should focus on relaxing a bit basically), and then took my yearly little portrait session. Then you got home, we did a quick outfit change, and off to Carlos and Jordan’s for a Christmas party AND little surprise birthday party for me!! Jordan got a cake and I was sung to and Carlos gave me a Yankee candle to blow out and it was all very sweet. I have such good friends.

The next morning we were off on a birthniversary surprise trip you planned for me! We went to Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, a beautiful, romantic, walled German town all ready for Christmas. It was so cozy- we walked around and drank Gluhwein and checked out this massive Christmas village store where we got two new little ornaments for our tree (Obder the gnome and Tauber the owl, naturally). You got yourself the hat you’ve been wanting and therefore completed your transformation to a dapper older man. We walked the walls of the city- one of only a few still completely standing in Germany. We had tea and rum with cake at the coziest café, resolved to come back to get the cutest teddy bears at a certain shop, tried some schneeballs, and you even scored an actual Gutman glass! Dinner was at a fancy restaurant where we had INCREDIBLE meals (pumpkin soup, ravioli, fresh bread and cheese) and wine. We left without room for dessert (we‘ll go back just for the chocolate cake sometime). Seeing places we’ve always admired in pictures will never stop being the most thrilling experience. I still can’t believe we get to do it so often. It was a beautiful weekend my love. Thank you, thank you for putting it together.

I had to work on our actual anniversary, but it was a short shift! We went to dinner at one of our favorite Indian restaurants and went through our 36 questions. I love that tradition. I love the ease in which we answer each other and how there are changes in answers over time. I love growing together.

My gift to you was a scrapbook documenting all of our treasures- where and when we got them and their stories. We had been wanting to do that for a while so we don’t forget, and I finally did!

You got me a beautiful ivy ear cuff, a necklace with a bust of a living Medusa on the pendant which I LOVE, and on top of that you made a video for me, of our relationship through the years. I don’t want to describe it too much because I feel like that takes away from it. Maybe you can post it here. It made me cry, and still makes me cry every time I watch it. I love you so MUCH. We really made it.

My Christmas gift to you was tickets to a 20th anniversary concert of the Lord of the Rings, with Billy Boyd there and everything. It was canceled. That was a swift kick to the gut. Such a disappointment.

Since we weren’t revolving around that anymore, you planned a whole new trip for us while I was at work. You took us to France!!

And what an experience it was. We arrived in Strasbourg on Christmas Eve and headed straight to the Christmas market at the base of the giant cathedral. It’s the oldest Christmas market in France apparently, and it was beautiful. We got some Vin Chaud and the best waffles of our lives (truly), and gazed up  at the spires and marveled at where we were at. We kept on asking each other “Where are we???” as constant little ‘Pinch me’ moments.

We explored more of the town and were amazed at how every single street was fully decorated, lights shining everywhere. At one courtyard there was a massive Christmas tree, and on the hour there was a light show set to The Grand Finale (from Edward Scissorhands) that was so magical I cried a little bit. The whole night was so overwhelmingly beautiful. It was the most magical Christmas to date.

Christmas morning I opened my presents in the hotel- you got me a beautiful wildflower scarf and an adorable pin of a mouse drifting on a leaf umbrella- and we had a delicious breakfast of croissants and cheese and fruit and coffee. We also got a little history lesson from the girl at the front desk. Over the whole trip we found the stereotype of rude French people to be very untrue. Everyone was kind and some even went out of their way to be friendly! Maybe the Christmas spirit helped a bit, but we had no bad experiences with anyone.

Some stereotypes that we DID find to be delightfully true were, 1) Many people of all ages do indeed wear berets, 2) We saw quite a few people carrying around baguettes, including a small child eating one whole, 3) I heard “Ooh la la” TWICE, 4) The bread and sweets are AMAZING. I will forever crave the lemon tarts.

We went to go check out the cathedral and ended up being there as the line for Christmas mass was forming. And well, why not? If I'm gonna experience catholic anything this is probably going to be the thing to see. It was very visually impressive, and the choir was beautiful to hear. What the most interesting thing to me was how ritualistic everything was. All the chanting and specific robes and hats and the staff plus the whole body & blood of Christ thing. Made me think about how humans take comfort in patterns. What struck me most was when the whole congregation chanted together. I didn't know it was coming so it surprised me, and that many people created such a deep rumble that went right to the chest. I used to feel the same way at JW conventions when thousands of people sang together- it's the most moved I ever was. I don't know about a god but people! People unified in a belief have such power. People make things happen. -

We continued on to Mulhouse, which was to be our home base for the next few days. The windows of our Airbnb looked directly to it’s towering church, lit up purple for Christmas. We had brought with us some bread, wine, and regional specialty cheese with us from Strasbourg. The cheese turned out to smell (and kind of taste) like a fart. We are decidedly not fans of Munster.

Another day, we ventured to Colmar, which was my favorite city of the trip. If we thought Strasbourg had every street decorated, Colmar took it up a notch. Mini Christmas markets and stalls on almost every storybook street. Every narrow road was beautiful, the old houses leaning over the street and shining with decorations. We had such a good time exploring, everything picturesque and so many fun stalls and shops to look around. Eventually we stumbled upon a small café and stepped inside. It was exactly what you would picture a French café to be… small tables packed in, very busy, an old woman behind the counter bustling around making tea and coffee, art all over the walls. I had a delicious coffee, you had a limited edition French Christmas beer that was so good you made distressed noises every time you took as sip because you likely wouldn’t be able to find it again. We also had our best meal of the whole trip. Two chocolate éclairs and two incredible three cheese tarts later we blissfully floated back out the door. It’s called Au Croissant Dore. Go find it if you can!

Another score from Colmar was a gorgeous leather satchel bought from a Christmas market stall. It was heavily discounted because of a tiny spot in the leather, so now I have a new bag that will last me ages! I love it. It has lots of pockets and I feel like I’m ready for adventure with it on.

The next day was our castle day, cut short to one castle due to the rain. But it was a great one castle! After listening to so much Harry Potter in the car, it fit the Hogwarts picture in our head perfectly.

Instead of more castles, we drove through a few more lovely small French towns, just wandering (and searching for a good place to eat). We ultimately landed in Riquewihr, the most charming little one yet. We had dinner with some local wine in a small hotel next to a rather stern family, and then walked along the lantern lit streets. It felt like being transported back in time, or like walking through one of our D&D settings. You got a small square tapestry to hang on our wall. As we were leaving we ducked into a small bakery to take some macarons back to our Airbnb with us (they were delicious, except for the hazelnut, which tasted strangely like sandalwood cologne).

The next day was our last, and with a long drive ahead of us we stopped in Colmar one more time to eat at the café again, and pick up some fancy gold flake éclairs and lemon tarts for the way home. Both were, of course, the best of each we’ve ever had.

New years eve we spent with our good friends, playing a small and chaotic game of D&D, and then having a fire and counting down the seconds to the new year. We kissed as the fireworks went off and the church bells rang.

This was the most magical Christmas we’ve ever had. I cannot believe we got to spend it in France, I cannot believe how we get to do these things together. I love that we’re best friends. It’s so EASY to do these things with you. We have such good memories together, big and small. We can go on big trips together completely harmoniously, always on the same page, each others company only elevating the experience. Neither of us like to experience anything new without the other because it’s just not right! You are my partner in everything. Down to the small everyday bits.

I love when we get home after work and I’m sitting on the counter stirring whatever is on the stove, and you pour a beer and do some dishes while we catch up. I love that sometimes at bedtime we are talking and goofing around so much that we have to intentionally go back to back for us to get any sleep. I love that every night is a slumber party. I love that when I finished the video game I’d been playing for over a year we threw a Morrowind themed dinner party for ourselves to retire my character. I love that we have a record player that we can play our song on and dance in our living room together to it. I love cuddling with you and Livvy and even Margo, when she allows it. I love this life. I love you.

These years are flying. I’m trying really hard to savor every single day. It freaks me out how quickly things are going now that there’s so much joy in my life. I want to sink into every moment with you, feel it fully. As long as we’re speeding through the years together, it’s going to be alright. Look at all the stories we already have to tell!

Merry BirthNiversaryMasYear my love. As always, it was a good one.

[sun-undone]

New canon obx details from the Pogue Life Scrapbook Hardcover (part 1)

So this book is basically set up as if it's the pogues making a scrapbook of their lives with cute little graphics and handwritten details. Each pogue (including Sarah) has their own section where the content is more skewed toward them, but all of the other pogues write stuff in the margins, and their comments honestly read pretty in-character (at least imo).

According to the author, Joey Elkins, he was asked by the creators to write it, and he was also the script coordinator for season 1, which is why i feel like it's safe to say that the details in the book are supposed to be canonical.

((Throughout this entire book, they pretend that all of the events in the show have happened in 2019 instead of 2020, which is so unnecessarily annoying but yeah i'm just gonna try to shift the years accordingly))

With that disclaimer out of the way, here's some potentially interesting stuff from the first half of the book, going sequentially through each of the sections:

First things first, though. Map. Map.

John B

Big John apparently makes really good banana pancakes, according to Pope

Big John taught John B about the constellations and the North Star

Big John spent 2 years studying archaeology and history at UNC Wilmington

Apparently, Big John taught John B how to scuba dive when he was 10....which pretty blatantly denies the canon but okay??

John B bought the Twinkie when he was 15

I feel like everyone pretty much assumes this already, but the HMS Pogue belonged to Big John before he gave it to John B

JJ once tried and failed to spear a massive tuna when the pogues were out fishing

John B once raced Topper's Malibu 24-MXZ in the HMS Pogue and obviously lost

POTENTIAL JARAH B FIC MATERIAL: One summer, Ward asked John B to work the My Druthers for a kook party, and John B remembers not being noticed by any of the kooks, including Sarah. Sarah adds that she did in fact notice him, and that Topper even got pissy with her because he kept catching her looking at "the cute first mate with the tousled hair and unbuttoned shirt" (in Sarah's words)

John B and JJ have absolutely brought extra sunscreen to the Boneyard to flirt with Tourons

this is such a random detail but the DCS officer's full name is Cheryl Coleman, and she's from the South Carolina DCS, not North Carolina

Ward hired surfing instructors to teach Sarah to surf, but she quickly shoved them off and preferred to learn by herself

The first time Kie went surfing, she was having a really difficult time finding her footing, but after seeing a pack of dolphins in the water with her, she took it as a sign to push through

JJ

Cambank sibling supremacy anyone?? this is cute as fuck okay

One time, JJ asked Big John to lend him his metal detector so he could try to find valuable shit on the beach to pawn. He mostly just found junk, but he did find a brass necklace which he promptly gave to a girl named Shauna, claiming that it was gold. He also found a vintage Hot Wheels Ferrari, which he claims is his prized possession

JJ believes in a bunch of urban legends surrounding the OBX, claiming that one time, Ricky had to patch up some Touron hikers who had some suspicious looking bites

Another very random, specific detail that i personally live for: Mrs. Crain's first name is Alma

JJ has several hiding spots for weed in the Twinkie, including but not limited to: tears in both the back and front seat upholstery, the passenger-side sun flap, under the floor mats, and behind the air conditioning panels (John B says that that last one is a horrible idea as if there has been an incident in the past, so take that how you will)

JJ bought his dirt bike the summer before the show starts, and he apparently got the money from him and John B giving surfing lessons to Tourons

MORE POTENTIAL FIC MATERIAL: i can't even properly summarize this so here is a fourth of july story from the obx

Places JJ has worked and gotten fired from: Island Club (we know how that one ended), Kildare Surf Shop, Pelican Spa, E. Reed Mattress Mart, and Masonboro Beach

Once, the kooks teepeed Kildare High, so JJ snuck onto their football field and ripped it up with his bike. He has also gotten in trouble for selling weed gummies on school property and falling asleep (and apparently snoring very loudly) in Mr. Sunn's class

I'll go over Kie, Pope, and Sarah's sections in another post!!

[mascrapping]

2021: North Carolina Road Trip - Family Home and Haircuts

This spread is from our time at my sister’s home in North Carolina. They live up in the mountains and have a small family farm, and the pictures on the left are taken from their back porch. The sky and especially the sunsets were beautiful. The pictures on the right are of my nieces and nephew. When I was a Resident Director, I used to cut hair for the men living in my building, and so my sister…

[handeaux]

A Passel Of Curious Cincinnati Street Names, Part One (A to E)

Annwood Street (East Walnut Hills) Most Cincinnati streets that memorialize people recognize men, but there are several honoring women. Anne (Bryan) Wood (1780-1867), for whom this street and a connecting lane is named, is also responsible for the nearby Wold Street, named for her estate. A native of England, Mrs. Wood and her husband James arrived early in Cincinnati and made a fortune in merchandizing. Their daughter Ellen married Judge Timothy Walker, one of the founders of the Cincinnati Law School. Although she died 30 years previously, warm memories inspired the neighboring community to preserve her name through the street signs.

Arcadia Place (Hyde Park) Soon after this 47-lot subdivision was platted in 1916, the new residents formed a neighborhood association that survived for decades. Every family on the street was automatically enrolled in The Arcadians, an organization devoted to fostering neighborhood pride. The Arcadians sponsored annual Halloween and Christmas parties as well as regular gatherings. They elected officers annually. When the subdivision was first constructed, none of the houses had addresses, so the Post Office refused to deliver mail. The residents adopted addresses based on the lot number of the parcel on which they had built their houses, so today’s addresses don’t match the standard city system.

Back Street (Over-the-Rhine) When Back Street was first scratched out of the northern reaches of the city, it was literally a “back street,” and that is apparently how it got its name. That’s according to Ray Steffens, a Cincinnati Post reporter who penned an invaluable series of articles, “How Was It Named?” that are treasured by local history buffs. So invaluable are these articles that they were collected by a dedicated librarian at the Cincinnati Public Library, where they occasioned a bit of a literary spat. Steffens pooh-poohed the idea that Hamilton-born novelist Fannie Hurst drew any connection between Cincinnati’s Back Street and the titular “Back Street” of her 1931 best-selling pot boiler. Apparently, on one of her trips through Cincinnati, Miss Hurst paged through the library’s scrapbook of Steffens’ columns, because this handwritten note is scrawled through the clipping for Back Street: “Not correct. Miss Hurst researched here, because I am Miss Hurst.”

Belsaw Place (Clifton) For reasons perhaps known only to the family, the estate of Thomas Sherlock in Clifton was named Belsaw and was uniformly praised for its beauty by the newspapers of the day. Mr. Sherlock immigrated from Ireland and made a fortune in Ohio River shipping and insurance. He died in 1895. Two years later, a short street on the southern side of Ludlow was renamed Sherlock Avenue in his honor. (Sorry, Baker Street Irregulars!) When Thomas’ widow, Nancy, died in 1899, the rural estate in north Clifton was bequeathed to the couple’s five daughters along with all the jewels, horses, carriages and artwork. When the estate was subdivided in 1921, it was announced as the “most exclusive” development in the city, with no houses allowed to be constructed for less than $20,000.

Boudway Lane (Westwood) Perhaps the most maladroit street name in all of Cincinnati sprang from the unrelenting necessity of police paperwork. Right on the border of Westwood and West Price Hill lies a minuscule stretch of pavement with no addresses, but lots of traffic accidents. In the early 1990s, the police appealed to the city’s public works department to slap a name on this anonymous wreck magnet. Since the tiny strip of asphalt, no more than 250 feet long, connected Boudinot Avenue and Glenway, the poets at City Hall coughed up a portmanteau word and christened it Boudway Lane. A few years later, the dolorous Boudway was subsumed as an extension of the equally mellifluous Glenhills Way.

Calhoun Street (Corryville) In 1843, John C. Calhoun, United States Senator from South Carolina, was very popular among the Democrats of Cincinnati. A proponent of states’ rights and limited government, Calhoun fiercely defended slavery and the interests of white supremacy. A group of Cincinnati Democratic businessmen wrote a public letter to Calhoun that year, inviting him to visit Cincinnati. One of the signers of the invitation was William Corry (1811-1880), among the children of William Corry (1778-1833) who owned all the land that was later known as Corryville. The southern boundary of Corry's property was a road named Calhoun Street in the 1840s, apparently in homage to the Southern firebrand.

Camargo Road (Madeira) A lot of folks, mostly men, are memorialized in Cincinnati street names. We have lots of streets named for presidents, governors, generals, businessmen, property owners and so on. Camargo Road – although its origins remain somewhat obscure – is likely the only street in this area named for a ballerina. Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo (1710-1770) was known as ���La Camargo” and lived the extravagant life of an Eighteenth-Century sex symbol. She was the first ballerina to wear slippers instead of heeled shoes and she is often credited with adopting the shortened skirt for the stage. As her name indicates, she had Spanish roots – Camargo is a very small village in northern Spain – but indications are that it is the dancer, not the municipality, that gave its name to our road.

Carrel Street (Columbia-Tusculum) When Columbia was annexed by Cincinnati, that venerable old town (older than Cincinnati) had its own Main Street and, of course, that duplicate name had to go. Reaching into history, the city fathers renamed the street in honor of Hercules Carrel, a legendary boat builder, whose operations were based nearby. Mr. Carrel also had a riverboat named in his honor, but don’t you wish the city would have named that street for his first name? Hercules Street! Now, there’s a name to be reckoned with!

Catawba Valley Drive (Columbia-Tusculum) Readers of Dann Woellert’s exhaustive history of Cincinnati winemaking know that most hillsides on the north bank of the Ohio were given over to vineyards in the decades before the Civil War. That was certainly true in the area around Alms Park. One remnant of those long-gone vines is a little street named Catawba Valley Drive, honoring the Catawba grapes that once grew here. At one time, Wine Press Road ran nearby, but was later incorporated into Alms Park.

Cross Lane (Walnut Hills) Walnut Hills was platted by the Reverend James Kemper, pioneering Presbyterian minister, who built his own residence there in 1794. That log house is now preserved at the Heritage Village Museum inside Sharon Woods Park. As an energetically religious man, naming a street after the cross would not be unusual, but Kemper’s intentions had nothing to do with his proselytizing zeal. He named all his east-west streets “Cross Lane” and numbered them. The only lane retaining that designation was originally named “Cross Lane No. 1.”

Dublin Court (Dillonvale) It’s a mystery why Cincinnati’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day shenanigans aren’t scheduled out in Dillonvale. Joseph Dillon, a proud son of the Auld Sod, platted the Sycamore Township community that he would christen with his own name in 1951. He remembered his birthplace by naming streets for Dublin, Belfast, Antrim, Killarney, Wicklow, Donegal, Wexford, and Limerick, and that’s no Blarney!

Elberon (Price Hill) With the popularity of J.R.R. Tolkein’s fantasy novels in the 1960s, folks could be excused for believing that this street was named for some elvish prince. In fact, capitalizing on that association a (very good) Cincinnati folk-rock group took Elberon as their band name. The actual origin of this street traces to the assassination of President James A. Garfield in 1881. After being shot in Washington, DC, Garfield was moved to Elberon, New Jersey, along the Atlantic shore, where it was hoped sea breezes would help him heal. That treatment failed and Garfield died in Elberon. Cincinnati was devoted to Garfield and commissioned a statue, still standing on Vine Street. Boyle Avenue was renamed Elberon in 1889, shortly after the statue was installed. Which only begs the question: How was the New Jersey town named? Turns out it has nothing to do with elves, nor (as believed for a long time) Native Americans. “Elberon” is a contraction of L.B. Brown, among the early settlers of that little seaside resort.

Eppert Walk (Mount Washington) Josephine R. “Josie” Eppert was 60 years old when she died in 1939. She had been a schoolteacher her entire adult life and was beloved by generations of children who attended Mount Washington Elementary School. She lived at the corner of Plymouth and Oxford avenues and walked home along a footpath that was later paved. Clifton Merriman, local real estate broker, suggested memorializing Miss Eppert by placing her name on the route she had traveled for decades.

[fromasgardandback]

Welcome Back, Peter Mills

Peter Mills x Reader

description: You're a firefighter on truck 81 and Peter left but came back to firehouse 51.

word count: 1.4k

warning: pure fluff :)

a/n: my first Chicago Fire fic!

masterlist

Y/N’s been a firefighter at Firehouse 51 for the past five years. She was a candidate there not long after Peter Mills moved up. And from that moment on, she knew she was in trouble seeing those bright brown eyes every day. Y/N was a lot like Peter in some ways. They both loved their jobs, cooking that eases their minds, and annoying the rest of the house to no end. 

“Alright, so this prank is going to be easy,” Peter tried to keep from laughing, “All we have to do is change out the clothes from the dryer to pink clothes. Peter and Y/N both knew that Cruz was easy to mess with, and knowing him, he’d have to deal with the pink clothes until the end of shift. “He’s gonna look like a pink peep. Those Easter marshmallow bunnies.” Laughing hard, but trying to keep it hidden, they took their hiding place to the sleeping quarters, waiting until the dryer dinged. 

Right when it dinged, the both of them took off like cheetahs, cramming all the clothes into a basket and shoving the pink-colored ones in the dryer with a red sock for good measure. After your plan was done, you hid the clothes under Y/N’s bed. Her bed was against the corner and would make room to keep it hidden than in plain sight, given if anyone looked underneath them. 

Sneakily and casually, they ventured outside. “We should pick up some of these branches or rake to make it look like we weren’t in there.” Y/N looked up at Peter. “That’s a great idea.”

They took their time getting back into the house. Nonchalantly walking into the kitchen and chatting, like they haven’t just messed with Cruz.

About 20 minutes later, everyone saw Cruz walking in with a pink uniform. “Alright, who did this. I don’t wear red socks, so who messed with my clothes.” No one spoke up but instead laughed hysterically. “C’mon guys, this isn’t funny. If Chief Boden sees me like this, he’s gonna ring my neck.” Just as Joe finished his sentence, Boden came waltzing in. A low chuckle turned into a serious conversation. “Cruz. What happened to your clothes?” 

“Chief, I washed my clothes and now they’re pink. I don’t wear red socks and am for certain that this couldn’t have happened.” Joe started to look upset, to which Y/N ducked out unseen to place his clean clothes on his bed. 

Peter ran in looking shocked. “Now?” He said. “Yeah, now. I didn’t know Chief was goanna get involved. You and I both don’t need our asses chewed out right now.” At that moment, Joe walked in. “I knew it! You two are always up to something!” Standing in front of Peter to protect him, Y/N spoke up. “But look, there are your clothes. All clean and not pink. It was a prank, not real.” No matter what you said, it didn’t help. Taking the chance, you grabbed Peter and started running.

That nice memory was three years ago. It was a nice parting memory and added to the scrapbook that Y/N gave Peter when he left for North Carolina. He’d send her postcards and small little trinkets, with her doing the same; yet, she still missed him every day. They became best friends, but Y/N would be lying if she said she wished they could have been more. She always had a soft spot for him. Being best friends was her way of seeing what it would be like to be his. It was a dangerous game she had her pawns in; although, she took all her chances. 

“Y/N. A package came for you.” Connie set down the box on the table in front of her.

“Thank you, Connie.” Y/N took out her pocket knife and opened it carefully. “What’d you get? Herrmann sat in front of you. “I didn’t order anything. This is a surprise to me.” Y/N opened it, and to her surprise, it was a framed photo of her and Peter with a letter attached. 

“Aww. I loved this photo. I can’t believe he kept it.” Herrmann smiled at his co-worker’s reaction. “What does the letter say?” She took a minute to open it and look inside. “I hope you like your little gift. I know it’s not much. I miss you and everyone at 51. Do you and everyone else miss me?” Y/N read. She smiled wide but turned around quickly when she heard that familiar voice.

“So what’s your answer? Did you miss me?” Peter stood there with his hands in his pockets. Y/N didn’t have to think twice before running into his arms and hugging him close. Peter held her tightly hearing a faint, “I missed you so much.” It wasn’t long after their embrace that the rest of 51 joined in on their hug; similar to when he left. 

Peter sat at the long dining table telling stories of his life down in North Carolina. He told one story of his sister and this guy down the street. “So one day he walks in and she’s being flirty cause she thinks he is all that, to which he’s not.” Peter beamed with a bright smile, ready to laugh, knowing the ending. “And they’ve kept this unspoken tension and seductive thing going for like three weeks. Come to find out that the next day, he walks in with his partner.” Mouch interrupted, “A woman.” 

Peter shook his head. “A man. He’s totally gay. This whole time she’d been flirting with a gay man and didn’t even know it. And the guy was so happy to introduce her to his partner like a new friend.” Peter chuckled. “Poor girl didn’t want to get out of bed, that was until that “friend” introduced her to his brother. Now, they’re engaged.” Everyone listening awed and smiled. 

“That’s a funny story. One to share when they have kids.” Herrmann commented. 

Time went on and they shared stories of things that happened while Peter was gone. He knew that this was his home, no matter what. He talked about how he was going to miss his family deeply, but there was a piece of him missing, a hole so to speak when he left. Like he was leaving his father behind. Peter could make the trips to see his family, but the reason to become a firefighter was to be close to his dad. That was his purpose, and that purpose is what he missed. 

“You know, I couldn’t sleep for like two weeks after I left.” Y/N looked up at her best friend. “Why?” She looked up at him. “I missed you too much. I remember those nights when we would watch movies and then fall asleep on the couch.” He paused to smile, the memory brought joy to his life. They would get numerous snacks, such as popcorn, candy, drinks, pizza, and other favorites. They both would lay it all out and start the binging of their favorite movies, or on occasion television shows. Later on, they would put the rest of the food away and cuddle up on the couch. Their relationship was mirroring that of a couple, but neither of them would speak on it. They would fall asleep under the television light, a thick blanket, including Y/N, snuggled into Peter’s chest.

Y/N smiled along with him. “I remember those nights. Best sleep in the world is being next to you.” She confessed. “Oh yeah? Why’s that?” Peter smirked. “Cause you made me feel safe. I was at home in your arms. I was comfortable, I knew that I could always be myself.” She pondered her thoughts before continuing. “I love you, Peter. Not just as a friend, more than that. I fell in love with you the moment I met you. You’re so full of life and energy… I just-” She was cut off by Peter cupping her jawline. He kissed her with such passion and desire. The crew of 51 had bets on when they would get together. They had been waiting and when they finally saw both of them kissing on the rooftop of Molly’s, they cheered. 

“Get it, Peter!” Severide clapped. “Yeah Y/N!!!” Gabby hollered. 

She pecked his lips once more. “I love you, Y/N.” She smiled. “I love you, Peter.”

[ask-the-usa-manor]

Hey USA,

What were the states like when they were young?

USA motioned for them to follow him. He guided them down to the basement, where they kept walking for some time. Eventually, the group got to a door. He unlocked it and opened it, revealing rows and rows of bookshelves inside.

“Oh. My. Sheetz,” Pennsylvania muttered as America pulled out many, many absurdly large scrapbooks.

“They were all so adorable when they were little!” An excited United States exclaimed as he kept pulling down the books from the shelves, “Is there any certain state you’d like to hear about?”

“…When did you have the free time to make all of this?” North Carolina asked with a raised eyebrow.

“And which one’s mine?” South Carolina cut in, watching as her father gently placed all of them in a neat pile on a table in the center of the room.

“Oh, I had some time here and there. So far, these are just Delaware’s! ” America explained, as he kept pulling down scrapbooks, “I’ve made sure to make a few for each of you.”

“…‘A few.’” Penn quoted as he spotted an entire humongous bookshelf marked ‘Pennsylvania.’

“HOLY—!” Arizona’s voiced shouted from further in the room, “Even Cuba has some! He was with us, for like, five minutes!”

The others turned to United States for an explanation.

“What can I say?” He shrugged, “I’m a dedicated scrapbooker.”