Happy Valentine's Day

A big BIG thank you to Susan at Enchanted Florist for having me this year! It was great working with Susan, her daughter Haley, and their crew. I learned a lot and had a great time.

Dozens and Dozens

This is Lisa, in her
"FLORISTS ROCK"
shirt. She looks happy, doesn't she? She's a wonderful designer. It was good to see her again.

Won't Be Long

It's 50 degrees outside, just before 5 pm. I don't know what the high today was, but it was beautiful. The puppies and I walked the garden this morning and this evening. Lots of little touches of green, lots of buds. . . I don't even mind seeing the mud and sticks and old tired foliage that will need to be cut back. It's welcome work.

Vote for Buford

My friend Hillary has entered her bulldog puppy in a photo contest. You can vote for him here. He is a cutie. I haven't got to meet him yet, so I hope he doesn't get too famous for me.
http://www.bissell.com/MVP09/Week05/Vote5.aspx?ImageName=Buford&FileName=324.jpg

Live Happy

Book Review

The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff: Interesting book that weaves history of the mormon church into a story about a son who tries to save his mother from polygamy. Part history, part who-done-it murder mystery.

It's Saturday!

What a beautiful morning! I was able to sit on the back porch with a cup of coffee in my fuzzy housecoat this morning. One of my very favorite things. G Dog and Lilla thought it was too cold and were ready to go back in with Mark. The birds were busy busy busy, getting ready for spring.

Tuesday

The little pillow is one of mama's creations. And look what you can find at your local florist's shop. A perfect stem of dendro orchids with a little bit of plumosa.

Monday Vase

I Think I Can

. . . and she did!

Ice Pictures

I am thinking and thinking about all the people in Kentucky who are dealing with the ice storm. This picture is from http://patience-please.blogspot.com/. Looks like she lives in Paducah's lowertown.

Book Review

I read When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson. And I can understand why it was named so--one bad thing after another happened in that book. I loved the characters. It was a pretty quick read. And in the midst of all those bad things happening, things always worked out one way or another.

I also read Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher. She's always funny and it's interesting to hear her point of view about things that we've read about in the celebrity mags. Kind of like reporting on reporting.

Wednesday

Loved how these tulips matched Betsy's coat. They were a surprising find last week--really fresh, found at a grocery store that is famous for selling abused and neglected flowers. Like buying from one of those places that keeps the puppy mills going.

We've been watching the weather channel's reports of ice in Paducah, Madisonville, and Lexington. Mama and PJ have had big snows in Michigan. Stay safe and warm everybody. January is almost gone.

In the meantime, I recommend tulip therapy. Preferably from your local florist. But if you find some really good ones at the grocery, go ahead and rescue them too.

Happy Birthday Betsy!

This is the hobby horse that Emma bought for Judson on one of her trips to Whitley. Mark cleaned, sanded, painted on it--a labor of love for our Betsy. And she loves it!

She didn't quite know what to think about all those people singing to her, but she loved the cupcake!

Red Wagon Birthdays

Party Time!

Back to Class

First project of the new semester--Silk & Drieds.

Connect Four

This was one of Judson and Isaac's favorite games to play when they went to visit V and Warren. Betsy loved the checkers! A day with Betsy is a great day.

Sunday Afternoon

And here's a picture of Betsy with one of the dolls that my mama (her great-grandma) made. One of my favorites. And also a glimpse of our new couch. It's a great sleeping couch and Betsy is taking a nap on it right now. Best Sunday afternoon we've had in a while.

Favorite Toy

Did you see the picture mama posted the other day of me when she took me to work? She called me a frownie face--and it's true, I didn't look too happy. But I bet it was because they wouldn't let me play with the adding machine. (If you missed her post, it's over at A Primitative Plot.)

Betsy loves this one--it belonged to her great-great grandfather! I remember granddaddy using it for the filling station.

Of all the stuff we have here for Betsy to play with--colorful toys that sing songs and count and make all kinds of noises--she's really been taken with the adding machine. And the empty Dansani water bottle. That's a big hit too.

We've had such a good good time. She's precious and doing something interesting every minute!

Six-Word Memoirs

I found the six-word memoir book on my new kindle. http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/

Love love the song that's playing in the background of the second preview. A group called pedalsped and the song is stretch. http://www.myspace.com/pedalsped

Have a great Thursday.

Aging Lily

This lily is getting old, but it is still so beautiful.

Tomorrow? It will be time to trade it in for a new one. But right now, in this moment--it's absolutely perfect.



By the way, it is -7 degrees. Minus seven.

Photo Therapy

Much needed for this January day--the high is supposed to be 24 degrees.

Mama and Mammy

taken in the 70's sometime

Pictures

Mama posted a wonderful old picture on her blog yesterday. I've been cleaning today and came across two sewing boxes full of pictures. (That's what you do with sewing boxes when you don't sew anymore.) This first shot is of me and grandma. She's got that cigarette going, like she always did. And I'm not sure who is in the second picture with mama.

Thursday Night

Well, now I have flowers (thank goodness), but I'm still baking. This is "That Pound Cake" from Creating a Stir. Really good. This little grandma sign was from mama and pj.

Rachel's Day

Happy Birthday Rachel! Have a great day on your birthday. Look for a delivery! We love you love you,
Kynda and Mark

Still No Flowers

Mark and I have been cleaning instead. Last night we went through a filing cabinet full of stuff from the 90s. A lot of it got pitched, but I found this priceless note from the boys. I hope I remembered to get it for them.

Friday Night

The cake part is just a lemon cake mix. But the frostings are wonderful. Seven-minute from Mary Beth Roe's cookbook and the perfect chocolate frosting from Cook's Illustrated. Maybe next time I'll go for real cake too.

I am in serious flower withdrawal. Serious. Withdrawal. And I'm medicating with sugar. . .

BTW, don't you love the grandma's kitchen sign? Judson and Rachel gave it to me.

Go Jordan!

He's following his dream. The rest of us get to watch and pray and celebrate with him when he gets back home.

Happy New Year!

Mark is always making fun of me because I want to keep a good supply of butter--at least two pounds. I don't know why. You never know when you might need two pounds of butter.

He's been cleaning out our kitchen cabinet for the new year and we find that we have a good supply of several items. Including four bottles of chili powder, which might be close to two pounds.

I wish you all a happy new year. May all our cabinets be full.

What a Way to Start a New Year!

Here's Jordan with his grandma when he graduated earlier this year. He joined the Army and left for basic training this week. We wish him the best as he starts this new adventure. Can't wait to see him again!

Saturday Night Bouquet

Reading Update

The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian: One of my favorite authors. A couple lose their twin daughters, then take in a foster child. Throw in an affair and a near-divorce, but such a good ending! Which was unexpected, after what he did to us with Double Bind.

Testimony by Anita Shreve: Another good one from AS. A story about some kids in a private school who mess up really bad, the events that led up to it, and its aftermath. Turns out the kids weren't the only ones who messed up. This one got to me. I was just sick about what happened, and kept having to remind myself that it was only a novel. Whew, thank goodness!

I still have the 19th wife, but Mark gave me a Kindle for Christmas so I'm going to find something to read on it. Something light for a change!

Another Boxwood Tree

I love making these and they are getting better with practice. Next year, I won't make them too early tho. Closer to Christmas is better, then you don't feel so bad about throwing it away when it's past its prime. They last a week to ten days, depending on the flowers used. Everybody loved them at Lee Ann's party.

Another Kind of Chrismas Tree

Rachel and I found this little catering shop a few weeks ago in London. Yummy food inside and these cool "trees" outside. What a fun day! I want a tree like this for next year.

Merry Christmas

I'm Dreaming

http://aroundmd.com/whitechristmas/

Monday Monday

Thursday

As my mama says, try to put sticks in everything!

Leah posted a fab design on her blog!

http://bomelogio.blogspot.com/

Breakfast with Betsy

Sympathy Final

A standing easel. Amy ordered orchids for us! I didn't get a chance to take pictures of everybody else's arrangements, but they were beautiful. I was in a hurry because Mark was in the car, waiting to take me to see Betsy!

What's In There??

I have so many shots of Betsy--and most of them are just a blur. She's a busy girl!

Apple Barn Wreath

V and I went to the Apple Barn the other day and look what we found! They have snowflakes, trees, and hearts too. Phyllis decorates them with ribbons and ornaments and dresses them up right. It was hard to decide which one to bring home!

V's Tree

Flower Tree

Another One with Sticks

Sympathy Class

Cindy and I made this one in last night's class.