Sunday, May 31, 2009

Photographs and memories...17 years, so far...









Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Emotion, and no time to process...
I'm not ready!

This time of year is so crazy with everything that occurs at the end of the year... multiply that by three children. It's always hard to keep up.


It's been a long year as I've tried to prepare my youngest for middle school, my middle child for high school...and, also get my daughter ready for college. I'm spent.


But, I can't be... because time marches on....and there are still important things to do.
Wake me up when its over.

I was okay with the college visits... the applications...the acceptances and the final decision.
I held it together at all the curtain calls for the final high school productions.
I was doing fine with it all.


It may have started with the prom pictures...or when the yearbook she worked so hard on came home..., it really started as a whisper when the gown came home in its mortar board shaped folding...


Yes, It started to shout louder and sting my ears then...

THIS IS IT!
(Noooooooooooooo..not just yet....wait, I'm not ready.)

I'M NOT READY!

But time never waits.

It floored me when the choice of resident halls were decided...and it knocked me out cold when the roommate request was placed....these big decisions, rightly made, without me...all matter-of-fact...complete...didn't I tell ya.
Oh No!
No. This isn't happening. WAIT! She won't be living HERE next year.
No,No,No,No,No,No.....I can't hear you.....nanananananananananananananana......

I'm down and out for the count. KO!
Her high school days are nearly over...and she's off to college in a few months.

She's leaving...and I'm NOT READY!!!
It's just that everything happens so quickly..and everything is ending...one thing right after the next...always so busy.
It's been weeks of "lasts" and final moments... and, tomorrow is the very last day of her high school career.
I'M NOT READY! STOP...I want to get off this crazy ride.

During senior awards night it was really hard. I listened to the kind words spoken about her...I watched her walk on stage...sort of a rehearsal for me. A practice for me for the BIG DAY.
This is only a test. I realized then, I'm going to be a mess at graduation and forever after.
I'm going to need to go to bed for a week, or a month or four years... I'm telling you...
I'm not ready.

Monday, May 25, 2009

It's My Blog Anniversary


I've been blogging for a year and I've met some amazing people through the blog world.

Thank you to each and every one of you for enriching my life. You're all precious.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Artfest
Artfest was today. Artists gather from all around to display and sell their work along the river in a nearby town. The day was absolutely georgeous too. This is one of my all time favorite events and I look forward to it all year. The art is so inspiring and I always come away from the day recharged. (and full of yummy junk food...think cheese fries)
Usually, I just get to look at the beautiful pieces... which include everything from jewelry to pottery...from paintings to sculpture...you name it...it's there... with many, many vendors....but, this year I planned ahead and saved a few dollars to take along.

I could have purchased a million things...it was hard to choose...but the following came home with me...

I was captivated by this hand sculpture...

And, this mermaid by the same artist spoke to me.

Both of these pieces were created by James Klinger. You can view his website at http://www.klingerart.com/.
My daughter got this amazing bracelet made from vintage typewriter keys. She said I could borrow it :) This was created by Hilary Greif...she doesn't have a site.
Update: Her contact information is here.

And, my daughter got these two dresses designed by an art student!(I think) Aren't they adorable...and they were so very inexpensive. The name on the tags inside say Grace Sachi...maybe she has a facebook.
Update: I found her...her site is here.





Beautiful Bluebirds

Something very special arrived in the mail!
I have admired Jenny's work for awhile. I love the whimsy and detail in her creative pieces.
I was lucky enough to find this beautiful piece still in her shop. (Her work is snatched up quickly)Aren't those bluebirds adorable!


Every time I look at her work it makes me smile...the day seems full of sunshine!
Can you ask for anything more!...what a great quality to capture in your art and share with others.


And look at this!!!
Jenny surprised me with this precious ornament. (Thanks so much!)


Check out Jenny's blog, The Polka Dot Pixie right here!



Thursday, May 21, 2009

The countdown begins....less than two weeks of school!!! Yipeee!!!...only a few days for my daughter....

Blue and white flowers...I'm always searching for blue and white flowers to add to my little porch.











Saturday, May 16, 2009

More Prom The Ladies

The Men

The Group





Prom




ha,ha...Bentley's peeking out the window!






Friday, May 15, 2009

Food For Thought...or,
take your cake and eat it

Across the board...

It's a lot easier for someone to give away "bread"...


...when all their experiences have always been cake.


True sacrifice has nothing to do with living without....
but everything
to do with
LIVING WITH...



Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Ladybug Cookies


Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!!!





I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day.

My children always give me breakfast in bed on Mother's Day. Everything tastes so good when you don't have to make it...or step out of bed. Dreamy!

My beautiful children.



My children were very thoughtful and inventive with the gifts they gave me. They came up with their own ways to give me a present even though they didn't have any money to purchase something. My oldest son played "You are my sunshine" on his i-phone. Very sweet...thanks bud!

My daughter made me this very creative bracelet. The roses are made out of rubber bands! The quote is one she cut from a Dove chocolate wrapper! She glued it on a paper clip and then a black ribbon! Pretty creative!
She also drew this bluebird picture on a flower pot.

My youngest son gave me this blueberry muffin candle that he had purchased in his school's Secret Santa shop way back in December. He saved it all this time for Mother's Day. It smells yummy!


I love you guys!


You are my everything!!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Herb Fair

The sun was shining this morning...a perfect day for the annual herb fair. The herb fair is a sure sign that warm weather is here to stay. I love walking around the stands taking in all the scents of the herbs, flowers and heirloom roses and tomatoes. The backdrop of a local museum adds to the fun.


Every year I buy a few herbs and pot them in a large round container. I dream of having an herb garden like the one's in Williamsburg...or Provence...or even the small one that I had in my other home. Things don't seem to get done around here, and an herb garden isn't high on the list. So, every year, I plant my petite Italian flavor and "Bruschetta" garden in my round clay pot.


Parsley, sage, chives, oregano, basil, dill, rosemary...the basics. Usually, one tomato plant and a pepper plant are in another container. By July, bugs have pretty much eaten everything but the dill and chives...and then the lack of watering while we are on vacation kills the remainder. Not this year! I'm determined to make it grow.




Of course, I can't leave the herb fair without a few pips of lily-of-the-valley and lavender! I haven't been able to establish the lily of the valley in this house yet either...but, I keep trying. In my old home, I had so many that I could pick them for bouquets.




There was a stand at the fair selling homemade soaps. I wish you could experience the amazing scent of these elegant bars.


Have a fragrant day!!!

Find a way

Find a way
a path will take you there...or make your own