Dance Recital

A before shot as Betsy was getting ready to go to her first recital.

It was so fun to see our Betsy on stage.  She looked beautiful.  Very poised and graceful. And she did a great job as the line leader :)

Mermaid number.

And here she is, post-recital, with a tell-tale pink cupcake crumb on her mouth :)  It was a great weekend being Grannie K.

Garden Vase

This vase with an over-sized bow went to work with me last week.   All this rain (another 4.5 inches in the last three days) has made the garden happy, but there's still a bunch of plants sitting on the back porch waiting to be planted.  Maybe tomorrow.  There's always hope, right?

Preschool Graduation

For Betsy

 Betsy's corsage and hair piece for her pre-school graduation.  

I loved making it for her.

Next flower project for Betsy will be for her dance recital :)

Happy Birthday!

Our trip to Kentucky Lake was a really good one.  The boat ride was Mark's favorite part.  The kids kept saying "Faster, faster" so they went faster :)

From Joe

 

A few weeks ago, Rachel and I went into a junk store and I found this adorable little picture.  I told the owner of the shop that I wanted buy it for my mama.  He wouldn't let me pay for it.   "Tell her it's from Joe."

So mama, when we go visit Rachel and Judson and the kids, we'll have to go downtown and say hello to Joe :) 

Tuesday Prayers

I just found Anne Lamott on facebook.  It feels like I just found out she's living next door!   I believe I've mentioned--oh, about a hundred times--that her Bird by Bird is one of my favorite books ever.   Lately, I've been reading her latest:  Help, Thanks, Wow:  The Three Essential Prayers.

As it turns out, if one person is praying for you, buckle up.  Things can happen.  

Happy Mother's Day

Here's my cute mama.  How did she get such perfect curls?!? 

And here's my mama's mama.  She's a cutie too.  Love her hat!

Kyle Story from Rachel

 Such a sweet Kyle story for Mother's Day, posted by Rachel on her facebook page:

While playing in the backyard this afternoon Kyle picked a dandelion and brought it to me.

Rachel: Thank you, that's a nice gesture to give a girl a flower.

Kyle: Just doing my job.

  

  Later, after I made his favorite dinner, he gave me a big hug and thanked me.  

I thought it would be funny so I replied "just doing my job" and he had a giggle fit. 

 Who knows where he picked that line up. My sweet silly boy.

A Different Kind of Weekend

This weekend is usually busy with Petals & The Farm, but it's turned out to be a little different this year.  First of all, I took off from work Thursday afternoon and Friday.  Just because.  And it's been great.  I love my day job.  It's full of challenges and too many needs with not enough resources to go around yet it's important and it makes me happy to have the honor to be there.

But lately I've been feeling like I need a day or two off here and there.  So. . . I ran away to The Farm on Thursday afternoon and spent some time with Cheryl and Gail and those cute chickens out in the garden.

The theme for Open House at The Farm was Spring Chickens. . .  or it could have been something about rain-soaked gardens, grey skies, and sweater weather. . . It's rained 4.75 inches in the last 48 hours and I don't know if it broke 50 degrees today.  But it was Open House at The Farm and that's still a good day :)

Out and about today,  I spied this red Ford truck.  Mark is dreaming about a red Ford truck.  But I'm voting for a black one.

 

Not a very good picture, but what do you think about this flower sculpture?  It's pretty reasonably priced--not outrageous for Greenview. Of everything there, it caught my eye.  

And this positively made me laugh out loud--at least seven bumper stickers proclaiming various causes with a license plate that reads "NO DRAMA"!

Tomorrow's forecast is a little warmer but still more rain.  Looking forward to it :)

Happy Birthday!

Judson is 30 years old today.  Thirty.  Yay!  I didn't realize it at the time, but my life got so much better right after 30.

So to my son Judson:  Thirty is good.  Very good.  May it be your best decade yet.  Love love from yer mama :)

Spring Season

April Wreath

Rachel's wreath for the front door.  The fabulous J is from Flea Market to Fabulous.  Rachel and I had fun on Saturday.  Shopped at Mark of Distinction (my new favorite florist in Madisonville) for the deco and florals.  Then we spent the afternoon making the wreath, baking brownies, and just enjoying a nice day with Betsy & Kyle, Mark & Judson . . . My heart is happy.

April Visit

ISFA Spring Conference 2013

By John Hosek.   Lots of wire work, lots of bling . . . 

 

Definitely want to make one of these!

. . . Bling, Bling, Bling . . .

Tulips

 I've loved every minute having these tulips in the kitchen. . .

 . . . right down to the very last stem & stamen :)

18 Inch Snow

Snow man by Judson.

These shots were taken before we had the whole 18 inches.  It snowed and snowed and snowed some more.  Mark said he couldn't remember having more fun in the snow :)

Spring!

First day of spring.  Wish I could say the forsythia are blooming in the back yard, but forced branches from your local florist are a nice substitute. 

See You In September

A HuGe thank you to Illinois State Florist Association for the Bill McKinley Education Grant.   I was thrilled when you called my name!  Hitomi and Bob Friese--I'll see you in Fruitport this September :)

Pick Me Up At Four Thirty

So today was a better day.  Everyday is a better day when flowers are involved.  I have to work on this swan though.  His wings are way too big for the rest of him.  The best part of a hands-on class is going home and fixing everything that went wrong the first time ;)

Thank you to Mark, the best husband in the whole world, for the curb service!

How Sick Was I?

So sick  that I missed Gregor Lersch's class that I've been looking forward to for months!  Never dreamed I'd be able to take a class with him.  And here he is just down the street and I'm too sick to go. 

See that bucket in the middle front table?  That was supposed to be my spot.  Yes, I am feeling pretty sorry for myself!  I know it's not really all that big of a deal if you look at the big scheme of things.  I'm not dying (but I was starting to wonder at one point).  Everyone I love is safe and sound.  I'm not homeless.  I have a good job and the best husband in the whole world (who went out, even tho he feels like s#*t too, to get  my favorite drug of choice, Coca-Cola).

But still, this was a bummer.  Hoping tomorrow is better.  There's still two days of flower convention left to see!

G Man

G Dog and I went out the other day to take a few pictures.  

We miss our morning coffee in the garden.  Won't be long now :)