One of my favorite sites on the internet is the Homeschooler's Swap.    I've made many online friends there and have even met some of them in person.  It's a place where homeschoolers are drawn to share their lives, and even many folks who no longer homeschool stay around because it's such a friendly place on the net. 

One of the swappie mamas decided to host a theme for us to share photos of our charm bracelets and a little bit about the charms we've collected.

Several years ago I bought myself this charm bracelet and the watering can, lacrosse stick, and thimble charms. 

The lacrosse stick represents the many years my two sons played this sport, and the sacrifice of a mom who transports said (dirty, stinky) boys with all their equipment to and from games, practices, etc.  Did you know Lacrosse is a sport native to Maryland indians?  They used to play to the death.  Thankfully my sons survived playing in high school and in college.

The watering can represents my love of gardening.  I could dig in the dirt all day, dividing perrenials, moving plants to better locations in my garden, weeding, and mulching.  I love it!  It's one of the most rewarding chores to be done at home. 

The thimble represents my love of needle crafts.  For as long as I can remember I've been in love with fiber arts and sewing.  I still have a burlap and yarn Thanksgiving creation I made when I was 7 or eight years old in my cedar chest.  It says "Happy Thanksgiving" along with a pilgrim hat.  Right before buying the thimble I'd made an historic 1830's dress:  the skirt, the bodice, the undersleeves, etc. for a local historic fashion show tea my daughter and I were in.  I love crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, embroidery, quilting, and ....too many interests when it comes to needcraft. 

The next charm was a gift from my husband:  The bible with the cross represented a commitment he'd made to me to take his role of spiritual leader in our home more seriously. 

My three kiddos bought me the #1 MOM charm, which I know it's backwards in the photo.  Oh well, you guys are smart enough to read backwards, aren't you?  Afterall, the majority of you have homeschooled, right?

The light house represents my love for the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  We've vacationed in OBX for most of the 27 years we've been married.  

Being married to an Irishman, and studying Ireland with my kiddos during our homeschooling years gave me the right (really?)  to wear the Shamrock. 

The tea pot is a representative of my love of tea.  I love to drink it, make it, host tea parties, visit tea shops, etc.  In fact, I've enjoyed visiting two tea shops with two swappies.  My local FITF (friend in the flesh) DollyM and I drove up to meet another swappie, Lori, one time at Civilitea in Gettysburg.  We had a marvelous day with Lori, and she even shared her culinary expertise by making us dinner that evening at her home.  The other swappie friend, Flamingo Sherri came from Georgia to visit her son in Baltimore  two years ago and this time Lori drove down to meet Dolly M, Sherri and I  at Tea on the Tiber in Ellicott City.  It was a lovely afternoon, and we topped it off by a trip to Trader Joe's. 

Oh my, how could I forget....... my cooking utensils.   I love to cook.  I grew up learning from my grandmother, and mother, and they're fantastic cooks.  Grandma owned a little cafe called The White House cafe in Oklahoma City, OK.  I spent many days there with grandma, watching her and the other cooks provide delicious home cooked meals for her "regulars."  Those would be her regular customers who came in at least once a day for breakfast, and or lunch.  There was Sarge the jeweler from next door, Sam, who worked across the street at the bank, the ladies from the beauty shop next door, etc.  Oh, and after Grandpa died, she even married one of the salesmen from C.R. Anthony's who REALLY liked her cooking.  ;-)  It was Mayberry, USA, right in the heart of the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma serving up wonderful meals and neighborhood charm. 

 I have one more charm I just had put on this week after I'd taken the photo.  It's an eagle which represents our trip to Alaskas last June where eagles flying overhead were a dime a dozen. 

This was fun, and I can't wait to visit the other swappie charm bracelets here. 

For now, gotta run. 

Dana