Arizona 2014

Thank you to our friend Natalie who recommended a Pink Jeep tour of Sedona.  It was a beautiful afternoon with good company and Mark didn't have to keep his eyes on the road.  No way I could have climbed for this view! 

ISFA 2014

Phil Rulloda--internationally-known floral designer.  His shows and classes are phenomenal, filled with tropical flowers and poetry.  He preaches a message--yes, you can. 

Gift packaging for a bottle of wine. . .

After the shows, the pieces are sold to benefit ISFA's educational programs.  This one went home with me! 

Tami and her mom Phyllis joined me for the show, which made it even better :)

ISFA Spring Conference 2014

It's that time of year again--spring conference with Illinois State Florists' Association.  

This year, welcome to the jungle!

 

March!

Mark, also known as TBHITWWW, has struck again.  A new blue bike for my birthday, with a very low "step through" so that I can get on and off  without falling over.  We're looking forward to lots of bike rides this summer :)

Right now, it's still snowing and icing and below zero and windy and altogether winter.  In the meantime, be sure you have some tulip medicine to treat your spring fever!

  

Betsy & Kyle had a bouncing birthday party with gifts going to the Humane Society.  Rachel promised to take pictures of the drop off.   I  told her to keep an eye out for a golden when they go to the shelter.  Yes, I'm kidding. . . well, sort of anyway.  You never know who you're going to meet when you visit an animal shelter.  It could be the next Cookie or G dog. 

 

Turtle cupcakes for Kyle's table.  Disney Frozen cupcakes for Betsy's.

 Mark of Distinction always sends the best stuffed animals with balloons for the birthdays.  This one is a big red elephant that is soft and squishy and perfect for hugging.  And throwing.

Thank you to V and to Grandma Peggy for the birthday dollars :)

 There was a lot of bouncing at the bounce house.  Kyle is in the red shirt, running.   That's Betsy  in the foreground, ready to spring off the blue bouncer and onto the next one.

 

January Update

Thanks to my sissy PJ for sharing this little gem on her facebook page.  I just loved it and hope that my mom and Rachel and all moms everywhere see it.  Such a cute little kid and I bet we see more of him. 

"Mom is wow upside down".  I wish I had know that when my boys were little.  Most of the time I felt upside down, but I didn't know about the wow part! 

I am just learning about Soul Pancake.  Go there prepared to have a good time.  And to lose two hours of your life!  I'm also addicted to Upworthy. Things that matter.  Pass 'em on.

I went to see August: Osage County.  LoVeD it and want to go see it again.  Julia Roberts plays the maddest woman I have ever seen on screen.  It's not an easy movie to watch.  I kept thinking, why don't these people get the hell out of there?  At the end, I was happy for them.  Relieved. 

This weekend Betsy & Kyle birthdays.  Next weekend  V's birthday and we're going to see the Ten Tenors at UIS. Isaac is on his way to Tuscon for the gem show next week.  Mark and I are partying three times a week at Spin Zone.  Life is good and I'm so thankful.

Don't forget to get some tulips or daffodils from your florist or from the grocery store.  They will help alleviate spring fever.  There is no cure for spring fever except 70 degree temperatures, but the flowers will help in the meantime. 

It's January. . .

 . . . We all need a little flower medicine!

At the Bob. . . With a Cool Pendant

At one of our favorite breakfast places aka Bob Evans,
wearing my new pendant by the artist Isaac Jones. 

Christmas Visit 2013

More from Christmas 2013

We had no idea they could actually get into the stable.  I didn't get a shot, but both Betsy & Kyle can fit into it at the same time.  Kyle even went in thru the window instead of the door!  They make our lives happy.

V and I made divinity this year.  Only took two tries to get a good batch.  We laughed and cussed-- well, I did anyway. V does not cuss.  Ever.  But she said she was tempted to, and so it almost counts.  I can't tell you the number of batches of candy that I've made that haven't set up or got too hard.  So many that I tell myself that it's too much trouble.  But then you make a batch with someone you love and then you share it with other people that you love and they tell you how good it is, and you realize it's totally worth it.

It snowed a couple of times for Christmas 2013.  G dog and Lilla love the snow.  Lilla likes to roll in it, G dog rubs his face in it.  I like to stay in and just watch them.

It's snowing again today and Mark is out cleaning the driveways for us.  He is my snow man.

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 will be remembered as the year Mark built a stable for Betsy and her American Girl horse.  We didn't know that she and Kyle would fit into it.  But they did.  Kyle even crawled in thru one of the windows!  As we always do when we're around BK, we had a lot of fun.  We are blessed far beyond amazing.  So grateful for this life and our family. 

Recycling

My mama grew these little pumpkins this year and I've enjoyed them so much that I just wasn't ready to give them up yet.  So they got a little coat of Olive Bright by Design Master and a few bits of decoration a la The Farm.  They make me happy, so I took one to work for my desk :)

Happy Thanksgiving

Judson, Charles, Isaac, Crafton

It's been a very nice Thanksgiving.  Can't remember when these four brothers were together last!?!

Library Books

I took pictures of this little community library especially for my mama because I knew she would love the idea.  It's on Main Street in Madisonville, right next door to Main Street Jacks where Rachel takes me to shop when we visit.

 

Mama, last one home is a green pig!  love love :)

Fall Flowers

Last of the fall flowers from the October garden.  

It's been a very nice gardening year. 

Today, we have snow. 

Garden Visitors

 Five deer visited our neighbors yard a couple of weeks ago, no doubt finding a good breakfast.  I wonder when they will jump our little fence?  G dog and Lilla missed the whole visit.  They were inside snoozing!