Celebrating Mother's Day a little early.

Celebrating Mother's Day on May 5th

 

Family luncheon and a fuchsia basket...

 

Some gardening help...

 

gorgeous day over 80 degrees!

 

 

The ladies...

 

I couldn't decide which photo I liked better.

 

And, have you been down Henderson Blvd?

It is lined with these blue flowers.

I thought they were forget-me-nots

but they're not.

flax?

 

so pretty.

 

Happy Mother's Day

 

Did the sun shine on you today?

A sweet gift from my dad...

It's a sugar and creamer set.

The boy on the trunk lifts the lid to hold sugar...

The Couple pour the cream out through the point of the book.

cute huh?

 

 

I think Its Phil and I and Walker a FEW years ago!

 

 

We went out for a walk today and spotted these neighbors working hard.

 

The Horsetails are coming up.

 

The skunk cabbage is finishing.

 

The alders are leafing out.

 

Did the sun shine on you today?

 

THE Camera Show...

...my fourth year...

 

 

for the fourth year (Since Walker went away to college)

I've helped my dad at the annual camera show.

 

Matthew Brady was there...

 

And other interested parties...

 

I helped sell cameras, but I also got to wander

around and take photos...

 

Many colorful people, and colorful displays...

 

Its always a treat to spend the whole day, just me, with my dad.

 

 

To see him in his element.

 

I went outside to catch some local color.

 

gorgeous, but very cold and wintery...

 

but obviously Spring is on its way.

 

I loved this local mural made by students...

 

I picked out the hot air balloons to photograph...

 

That's how I felt today!

 

Spring Cleaning Mania

 

 

 

This postcard is in honor of my granddaughter Tirzah,

who loves St. Patrick's Day and

all things Irish, and

I bet all things green as well...

 

I have more postcards so I need to start early!

 

This morning we both got up ambitious and energetic.

Spring cleaning Mania!

 

Phil painted the hallway, and lots of baseboards throughout the house.

He wondered if we should paint over the penciled lines, showing how Walker has grown over the years.

We came to a compromise.  I took a photo before he painted over it. 

See that top mark, a couple of inches over Phil's head,

that was Walker two years ago.

 The next one down is Phil.

 I'm in there somewhere too.

 

That means we haven't painted the hallway for 20 some years?

I guess it was time.

 

I cleaned out my refrigerator while this was going on.

oh my, it looks so bright and clean now.

No, no before and after photos of that.

 

As a reward, we went to IRON RABBIT and spent the last of our gift certificates there.

I had Thai Benedict. (curry sauce over poached eggs and rice).

It was delicious!

 

Walker went to 13 job interviews this week!  Even if no job comes of them, he has had a serious experience in interviewing.  He talked to schools he liked in Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Virginia, Texas!

 

 

100 cups of tea later...

Walker's Christmas Break has gone by very fast,

but I noticed we went through an entire box of 

Red Rose tea (100 cups of tea) while he was here.

 

I had a few of them, but it was mostly him.

 

We snapped a few shots this morning before heading to the airport.  

 

...and on the way...

 

A nice drive, as everyone else in the State was at home watching football on tv.

 

W is heading towards his last semester and graduation in 2013!

 

 

just make something

 

a little tiny project

 

I've been reviewing last years' online classes, and pulled out my stamp carving materials. I also spend (too much) time on Pinterest, seeing what other people are carving.  (New Pinterest board: Rubber Stamp)...I made these in no time at all.  I did discover that I don't have many good ink pads. The color ones I did with Ranger Distress Ink, but I think they would come out better with a brighter permanent ink.

 

 

That was really fun, and now that my stuff is out, I think I'll try some more complicated carving. maybe something for Valentines Day. This is something I definitely need to wear my reading glasses for!

 

And just a little reminder to myself of the spontaneous art and creativity that happens around the house when one of the kids is home for a while...

 

 

December daily

I've had a lot of fun with my "December Dailies" book.

You wouldn't believe all the weird stuff I have glued and taped into it!

I would never be done if I didn't finally pack it away with the rest of the Christmas stuff.

 

I love how fat it got - kind of like us with the holiday treats...

 

I've already started on a bare-bones book for 2013.

below are a couple of pages I liked out of the 2012 one:

 

This is the day we went to see The Hobbit.

Tickets, quotes, pictures, runes...

 

This is the page for the day Walker flew home.

See the airplane coming from the East?

Snow flakes etc.

 

 

Here is retired husband engaged in one of his favorite holiday activities.

 

I hope you had some moments like this.

Peaceful.

 

 

Christmas package delivered

Snow?

 

We drove to Sea-Tac last night to pick Walker up from the airport.

We laughed at the snowflakes!

Until it turned into something more ominous...

 

We felt like we were driving through a blizzard halfway there

Then, as we got close to the airport - the roads were bare and dry.

 

All is well.

Happy to see our young man.

 

 

Home safe.

 

 

 

Season is fully underway...

 

This morning I opened a new box of red rose tea.

I have so many of their little Wade ceramic figures.

Walker and I drink a lot of tea!

 

 

My figure this time - a Christmas Tree!

 

 

... and today was tree day!

Alan and Wyatt helped us.

 

With daddy and ba-pa here, I was chopped liver, as we say in this family.

 

someone had to take pictures though.

 

 

Alan and Phil loading the monster tree into the back of the truck.

 

The nice tree farmer always offers to take a photo.

When he asked if this was my first grandchild,I said (like I always do) "this is number TEN!"

His response: "NO FAIR!"  He only has one.

I thought that was sweet.

 

Alan and Wyatt driving in the lead vehicle.

 

 

Baby fell asleep on the ride back to grandpa and grandma's.

 

We did wake him up to see the tree being set up though.

He was mightily impressed!

 

I was so glad to have Alan here to help with

putting that 16 foot tree into the stand!

 

It usually takes me a few days to get it totally decorated.

 

Now the season is fully underway.

 

Relaxing with Sunday Dinner 12-2-12

Had mom and pop over for dinner this afternoon.

My favorite part about company is setting the table.

Is that weird?

 

 

above are two thrift store orphans,

repurposed as votive candle holders.

I especially like the black cup with the light inside.

 

They brought us a gift of six Christmas

wine glasses! Thrift store finds, three sets of two.

Exactly what I love!

 

I made pork roast, mashed potatoes, gravy,

 roasted carrots and butternut squash,

 home made bread and applesauce.

 

Good and easy. It all cooked up in about an hour.

 

A cozy fire in the fireplace.

a few decorations in place.

 

This is what I have on my kitchen windowsill.

Another idea from Pinterest.

I just noticed me in the reflection!