Sunday Scenes

Yesterday was an absolutely glorious day in the garden.  Mark and I pruned back tree limbs that have been over-shading the beds.  V and I watched the first two episodes of Downton Abbey and now understand what the fuss is all about.  Mark went ghost hunting last night and just got home a little while ago.  We bought a food processor at Bed Bath Beyond yesterday, so now I can make Paleo breakfast cookies like PJ.  Hope they will be as good as hers!   Isaac had poison ivy this week, went to the doc to get meds, so he's on the mend.  Betsy & Kyle are having a great summer visit with their cousin Carly. I'm up early on this Sunday morning, looking forward to another glorious day in the garden.  Leave a comment--I'd love to hear your news too :)

Happy Birthday to My Mama

Seventy-eight years young today!  We're having a wonderful visit here in Michigan.  We've been on a quilt/garden tour, visited the Proven Winners garden, shopped at an antique/junk shop, and today we're going downtown to Whole Foods and Lafayette Gardens.  So lucky to be able to be with my mom and sister PJ and brother-in-law Jeff. 

And lucky to have cake too!  Love love from Michigan. . .

Happy Father's Day

 Judson, Kyle, and Mark hanging out on the new truck.  Did I mention Mark has a new truck?

This Father's Day is bittersweet.  We miss Warren.  He was always so proud of Mark and he would have been thrilled with the new vehicle. 

So this year, we're thankful for each other and our memories.  We are blessed.

Happy Birthday to Isaac

Today is Isaac's birthday.  He's 28 years young and living his dream in Denver.  If you know Isaac, you know that he is passionate about crystals, agates, and geodes.  I don't really understand the difference in all those terms, but Isaac does.   

When Isaac was home at Christmas, he left this pair of geodes with this message:

Mom. . . This is called a Las Choyas Geode from Mexico.  It is extremely rare to find dark amethyst (or amethyst at all) inside of these.  Maybe they could go with a house plant?  (That's what I've been doing.)  Put them wherever you like, just know they represent a piece of how much I love you.  

And it's signed with his swoopy signature that is uniquely Isaac's.  Thank you Isaac, for the geodes and the sweet note, and sharing something that means so much to you.  You have a beautiful spirit, a tender heart, and a fierce passion for following your own path.  Have a happy happy birthday and a wonderful year.   I love you past heaven. 

Dance Recital Flowers

The ballerina design idea came from a class at ISFA's spring convention last year.  The roses came from V's yard.  They were absolutely gorgeous.  She brought them over in this white vase that belonged to Mark's grandmother.  The ballerina was a fun practice piece, but I decided to go with a fairy wand.  They are very trendy these days.

 But even fairy wands have a hard time competing with Barbie and crazy daisies!

Pardon the curling ribbon--I didn't put ribbon in my tool case when we traveled to Betsy's, so I needed a  quick substitute.  I don't think Betsy minded at all.  She LoVeD the new Barbie :)

Book Report

When She Was Gone by Gwendolen Cross.  Another missing girl.  But in this one, we get to hear all the neighbor's secrets while trying to guess "what really did happen to Linsey?" 

Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg.   EB is one of my favorite authors.  The only disappointment here is that it ended too soon!

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin.  Really good story all the way thru til the end and then it was sad, sad, sad.  And depressing.  If you read this one, make sure you have a laugh-out-loud feel-good book waiting in the wings.  And if you know of a book like that, please tell me about it!

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