Some random pictures taken at the Leadership Conference in Columbus

This is David Wesley. Sam and I met David several years ago when we were weaving our own basket at the Homestead. He is the most amazing basket maker. Shortly after meeting him we ran into him again and again; once in Williamsburg for a Longaberger Away Tour, then in Killeen TX for another Away Tour. Each year we went back to the Bee or to the Homestead for an event we would see David. Apparently we weren't the only people impressed by this man. Tami Longaberger chose him to "star" in their first edition of Longaberger Home, a video magizine. PLEASE check it out on my website www.longaberger.com/willabrown.

The new Mother's Day Basket. What you can't see in this picture is the beautifully hand-painted lid knob that accompanies this beautiful basket and compliments it perfectly!

Ah, the ultimate! This is the 3rd in a series from the Master Crafters of Longaberger baskets. It is truly a work of art and one I shall have, by golly!

Taken from the 5th fllor of the Hyatt Regency, downtown Columbus Ohio on a very cold snowy day. No matter; I was toasty warm inside and all our classes, demos, and exibitions were inside the building so we didn't have to venture out unless we wanted to.....And I did not!

The new Botanical Weave shown on the ever-popular Boardwalk Basket. This is the basket I take to the grocery store with me and when they say, "paper or plastic," I say BASKET!!

The beautiful Potomac River at sunset on December 25th, 2008. You know geese mate for life, so here is Sam and WIlla Goose having a "stroll" on the river.

On the way home Pocahontas decided to help Brownie drive. It reminded us of a photo of Sam and Sadie when she sat behinf him almost the entire cross-sountry trip when we moved from Las Vegas to Dayton OH so many years ago. BYW, Sam and Poca use the same hair colorist!

The beautiful Oriella guiding the way home from in front of the wheel where she gets a much better view of what's coming ahead.

Catching Up....after 2 months!

Andy has shamed me into blogging. I have learned so much about him from reading his blogs. You think as a mother you should know your kiddos inside and out, but not true. I continue to be delighted when he shares his and Lisa's story with humor, sincerity, and thoughtfulness as he grows into fatherhood, advances his career and matures with the love of his life, his beautiful wife, Lisa. Today, on his 33rd birthday, I celebrate him and all he means to me. I treasure the memories of this day throughout the years and the belly laughs he has always had for me. While he will always be my baby, I'm very, very proud of the man he has become and the example he sets for his girls! I love you Andy and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

So where have I been these last few months? I guess it took me longer to recoup from the musical than I thought it would. Actually I took off for Texas the day after closing to see the family and haven't stopped traveling since. Sam and I enjoyed a very unusually quiet Christmas and New Years. All the children were busy doing their own thing so we stayed here and they stayed...well...there. Christin and Tom, C, R, & O were in Florida spending their last Christmas in Florida before the big move to California. Scott and Ally, A & T moved into their new home the week between Christmas and New Years. Andy and Lisa, A & C socked into the cold and snowy winter in Anchorage where Santa lives close by. .....And a good time was had by all.

I'll include some pictures from some of our trips but here's the rundown; After we got home from Texas we went to Williamsburg for the Grand Illumination. We took the kittens with us for their very first vacation. They loved it. Sam, not so much. He practiced being a "cat whisperer" and tried to come up with an authoritative sound that would whip the kittens into submission. They thought the "psssst" was pretty funny and it just made them scamper faster up the curtains. I think he was thrilled to head home after the week-end.

During the holidays we stayed by the fire most nights, went to see several movies and FINALLY put the Christmas tree up on the 25th. I called all the kids on the 26th to wish them Merry Christmas because we celebrated a day late! BTW, if you haven't seen Australia do yourself a favor and go see it. Sam and I loved it. It truly is an epic and a wonderful film.

Right after the New Year I went to Columbus Ohio for the Leadership Conference. It almost felt like a vacation because I had so much fun, well, not counting the fact that I had hive from the day before I left to after I got home. Don't know what caused them, but they didn't keep me down! B and I went to Baltimore the night before I left for Columbus because I had such an early flight. That was a fun night away for us and a night without being awakened by kitties. They spent their first night at home alone...and did just fine! My flight home was delayed twice because of weather and I finally got home on Sunday afternoon, tired but inspired. I love the Longaberger Company and once again have been given tools to go out there and make my business fit me! Look out world!

The day after I got home, and everyone that knows me know I always take a day off after a trip TO DO NOTHING, I got a call from Alison telling me that Scott had been admitted into the hospital with a raging mean, angry "bug". I felt I needed to go and help out wherever and however I could, so off to Texas the next morning bright and early. He was in the hospital for 3 days and then it was an uphill climb for strength as he recouped. I got to visit one day with Larry, I spent time with Mom, and one Saturday Jan and I had a blast being together. THE I GOT THE BUG! It wasn't pretty and again I had to delay my flight to come home.

Now, a few days later, I'm trying to get caught up from what seems to be several months of getting nothing done. Everything is messy and in a state of disarray here and I think it is due to lack of attention. I'm hoping to jump into the many projects in my "I need to do" list. First I have to heal my back though. I messed it up two days ago and even though it's a little metter today, it is very hard to move and get things done.

Okay, I need to stop NOW. This is beginning to sound like a version of the Perils of Pauline and I have found that once I go down the pity party road it's hard to make a quick comeback.

Check out the pictures and let me know what you think. Oh, I guess I should tell a few more people about my blog. That might help the response!

HEY, It's SNOWING! I love snow.....

For a Laugh!

Oh my goodness! This picture was in the Mt Vernon Gazette, our local newspaper in Alexandria. If you google Mt Vernon Gazette and click on the first link it will take you to this lovely picture. TONGUE IN CHEEK!

I'm in Texas now for Thanksgiving, hoping to see as many relatives as possible. Sam arrives tomorrow and I can hardly wait. I will blog more later. But I couldn't resist shairng this hee-haw picture with you!

Moving toward Thanksgiving!!

They found Sam's open briefcase and thought it would be the purrfect place for a catnap!

Sleepy kittens, but boy, oh boy, do they love togetherness!

Cast posing on opening night!

Getting hair and make-up on opening night....no nerves here!

Here is Oriella playing with pocahontas in the paper that comes in the packing material from Longaberger. They love it. Why did I buy all those toys??

WOW, how time flies when you're having fun, or when you are so busy you don't even know what day it is! So Sam tells me today that the day is Thursday and that in one week we will be eating Tom's turkey around the big table with family in Texas. I can hardly wait. I haven't seen my newest beautiful Great Niece and since her grandmother (my sister, Jan) will be visiting elsewhere, well I guess I'll just have to be the one to hold and spoil her!! Look out little Bella, Auntie Willa is on the way!

Alas, alas, before I get there I have 3 more performances of Beauty and the Beast. The amazing cast of 41 did a great job last week-end. We played to huge crowds that rewarded us with standing ovations and whistles. I am the music director for it, as well as the "orchestra" (by playing the piano thoughout the entire show) and I have throughly enjoyed the challenge. The music is so well known and it's just really too hard to hide any goofs, so I have had to PRACTICE. Who knew at age 61 you still need to practice, but it's true all you aspiring studnets out there. Practice makes almost perfect! We close on Sunday night, strike the set, have a cast party, and I get outa Didge early on Monday morning! Woohoo! Oh, just a matter of record, but when we started tech week last week, I thought it would be fun (not sure that's the right word) to log my hours actually sitting at the piano. So the results are in; from Monday through Thursday at dress rehearsal plus performances on Friday, Saturday and a Sunday matinee I SAT for 33.5 hours! AfterThanksgiving I will be pointing out that sitting at the piano for that many hours certainly explains the "broadening of my bohunkas" (as we call it in the family - thanks to Cary) and that the turkey, gravy, stuffing and all the rest had absolutely nothing to do it. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The kittens are doing so well. They have developed their own distinct personality and both are just the cutest, most inquisitive little ones ever. I have to "baby-proof" the entire house. Oriella fell into a huge Longaberger box the other day and couldn't get out. Well, she didn't actually fall in; she jumped in of her own accord and even called Pocahontas to join her. Both of them just sat there in the bottom mewing so pathetically. They are just too cute. I keep trying to call them their short names Oreo and Poca, but I am having trouble. I love their unusual names and find that when I call them using their very official names they come a'runnin. Well, when they want to!

Time to sign off. Please feel free to share my blog site with others. I've included some pictures (let me say I hope I will be able to do that) of the kittens and one of my favorite opening night photos taken from behind the piano during curtain calls when the cast was acknowledging me at the piano. Tears in my eyes made it difficult to see the music. Good thing I had practiced!!

I borrowed this picture from the wonderful lady that sold my kittens to me. Her website is www.raresiberiancats.com and when I checked in today to see if new kittens had arrived this picture greeted me. Isn't this a cutie. She looks exactly like our little Pocahontas.

More later from me. I have lots to share and then I guess I really need to actually start giving this website to people. HA!