Home Again

My flight home on Friday was good . . . it just took a little longer than expected.  We were boarded and in line to take off when they announced that something was wrong with the plane and we headed back to the gate.  They then determined that whatever it was could not be fixed so we got off the plane and were told to go to a different gate.  That plane and recently landed . . . we waited for the passengers to get off and for the plane to be cleaned . . . and . . . the captain announced that the AC was not working and we would not be boarding that plane.  We were then told to go to another gate.  We waited for the next plane to land, for the passengers to get off, and for the plane to be cleaned.  We finally took off at 12:45 AM instead of the original time of 8:55 PM.  I landed around 1:45 in the morning.  I can only say I was happy to get off the first plane and wait as long as necessary -  if everything wasn't working as it should be.  I was even happier to get home.  I think by the time Richard and I ate and talked . . . we finally went to bed around 4:00 in the morning.

So yesterday was not a day to work and get things done.  We decided to go out for awhile instead.  There was a grand opening that Richard had been talking about.  I honestly can't even remember the name of the place . . . just that they were supposed to have a great selection of craft beers. 

I tried the Cool Beanz Coffee Porter . . . Richard went for the Lagunitas Lucky 13.  Both were pretty good.

We walked around . . .

 . . . took some pictures . . . ordered some Chinese food to take home.

He says that he is happy to have me home . . . I am happy to be home. 

Now to enjoy and make the best of the summer we have left.

Emma B.

I haven't posted in awhile.  I have been out of state visiting family.  I was able to spend nearly two weeks with my Mom and had a wonderful time.  My Internet was somewhat limited . . . which I don't like, but was probably a good thing. 

This doll is a gift for a friend. 

 

Emma B. is a fun loving little doll.  She is a little quiet until you get to know her – but once she feels comfortable with you – the fun begins.  She likes to go shopping and sometimes like some quiet time to herself just to read and relax.  She keeps a bookmark in her bag in case she starts a new book and also carries a lucky penny and a lucky button . . . because she knows a little good luck never hurts.  She also has a special origami crane.  It is a gift from an old friend to remind her that although she doesn’t tell her often enough . . . she is very special and loved very much!

I brought back all kinds of fun stuff that my Mom gave me . . . some things my grandmother made, my mom's old doll (it needs some repair - so I hope to get that done), some dishes, and other little random things that my mom gave me.  I am hoping to get some pictures taken this week and post about some of the stuff.  I always come back from visiting with the oddest collection of stuff in my suitcases.  I am almost finished with another Shabby Charlotte doll.  She is a little tennis doll named Nettie.  I am working on her tennis bag and her story. 

I just got caught up on my paper crane project - Peace, Love, Cranes  Traveling out of state gave me a chance to put some cranes someplace other than where I live.





My sunflowers grew like crazy while I was gone.  Some of them grew taller than eaves.  I just can't get enough of these beautiful flowers.

Glad to be back home!

Magic

"That's the thing about magic.  You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible." 

                                         ~ Charles De Lint

Already some of my sunflowers are starting to look a little spent, but I still see and feel their magic.  The magic is always there . . .

Adidas

All Day I Dream About Smith

Playing with my camera today . . .

 . . . and working on a new doll.

Alice ~

 

Alice . . . my latest Shabby Charlotte doll - made as a gift for my niece.

 

Alice is an adorable little doll.  She is as sweet as she can be . . . and loves to make people smile.  She also has a very determined side to her - and once she makes up her mind to do something, there is no stopping her.  She loves to play and carries her favorite little doll in her bag.  She also likes to make wishes . . . and keeps a little lady bug with her because she believes . . . if you hold a lady bug in your hand while making a wish, the direction it flies away shows where your luck will come from . . . and Alice just likes knowing that kind of thing.  Keep this little doll nearby . . . and maybe all your wishes will come true.

Bloom Where You Are Planted . . .

There is just something so happy about sunflowers . . . you can't help but love them.  Watching them each day and seeing them bloom reminds me what is really important to me . . . and how important it is to sit back and enjoy the journey.

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.  ~Hans Christian Andersen

 Full of thoughts today . . . and very much at peace with myself.  Then on the other hand . . . I am in a mood to be reckoned with.  Whatever it is - it is working for me.  I have so much to do - but everyone is out in the pool . . . I think today is simply to be enjoyed.

Just a quiet Friday

Sort of a long day.  I had another CT scan . . . nothing serious, sort of a follow up to see if the tumor on my adrenal gland is getting larger.  I am glad to have that out of the way . . . the scans are not so bad, but when they tell you to be prepared you are going to get hot . . . they don't tell you that you are suddenly going to feel yourself heat up from the inside out . . . strangest feeling.

Richard and I went and played tennis after . . . even though it was hot.  I felt like I need to run and work up a sweat (perfect day for that).  I had to take this picture . . . simply because Richard is an excellent tennis player - and I think this is the most balls I have ever seen on his side of the net.  We simply stunk it up . . . but had a good time anyway. 

We got home late . . . and I happened to notice today's chalkboard message - and I have to agree . . . Charlotte is amazing!  She is still sick . . . but doing much better today.

Good Morning Sunshine!

I love staying up until all hours of the night - always have, but I also love being up early in the morning . . . maybe why I like coffee so much.  :)

I don't stay up like I used to - but being on vacation lets me do a little of both.  One of my favorite parts of the day is being out by the garden in the morning.  The tomatoes are a little more red each day . . . they make my mouth water.  I think my sunflowers are as anxious to bloom as I am to have them bloom . . . they look like they can hardly hold back.  I am just waiting for all the color, fun, and joy to come popping out when they finally open.  My little miniature rose just seems to glow this morning . . . I do believe it is just that kind of morning.  I had to stand up on a box in order to take a picture of some of the sunflowers (they have gotten so tall) . . . I couldn't resist the opportunity for a shadow peace sign.

PEACE!

midnight message

I saw this on Pinterest tonight . . . and thought it was a cute idea.  So I took some tennis balls and left Richard a message in his truck to find in the  morning.  It was too dark to get a good picture - but you get the idea. 

Happy Friday!

Paper Cranes

I had put out all the paper cranes that I had ready, so I am spending some time today getting quotes written on some of the cranes that I have folded.  My project is moving along (SLOWLY) - but it is still moving forward. 

http://chs1000cranes.blogspot.com/

Peace ~ Love ~ Cranes

Summer Color

I'm finally getting red tomatoes - more than one at a time.  It looks like we will be eating ripe, delicious tomatoes every meal . . .

 . . . and the hot peppers are starting to turn red.  I believe these are Fresno Chili's.  Two of my pepper plants did not make it - I'm not sure why.  I was hoping to make some pepper jelly, but probably won't have enough peppers this year. 

Still no full blooms - but the plants keep growing taller. 

This one isn't quite as tall - but should see a sunflower tomorrow or the next day.  I really enjoy watching them from one day to the next.  I am looking forward to the happy sunshine yellow!

I dug out the St. Louis Cardinal place mats that I made a few years ago.  After the 4th of July . . . the patio seemed a little quite.  I needed some summer color on the table.   

I guess these colors shout summer.  I thought the mirror I spray painted would be great for people to use after getting out of the pool.  I like the lime green next to the purple ladder that holds pool towels.  I have a great idea for a post to hang wet towels on . . . with some colorful signs on it.  I am going to have to get Richard working on that.

Every season has it's colors . . . Summer colors are so much fun and seem to energize me for some reason. 

Random Wednesday . . .

 

I have three dolls started.  I got the bodies stained today . . . and cut all the yarn for the hair.  I should stay up late tonight and get the hair on at least of couple of them . . . but I don't see that happening.

I went for a walk in my new shoes.  I am always on the look out for things while I am out walking.  Today I found my husband's initials.  :)

Electric Punch & Highlighter Yellow - these are some bright neon shoes.  :) 

I made zucchini fritters tonight.  I like them with a little Siracha Sauce on them.  This recipe is from my Aunt Hess (one of my favorite ladies ever!!!)  I thought I would share the recipe.  So easy and tasty in the summer.

 

1/3 cup Bisquick

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 eggs - beaten

2 cups coarsely shredded zucchini

 

Stir together the Bisquick mix, cheese and pepper.  Stir in eggs, then stir in zucchini.  Melt 2 T. butter in a skillet.  With large spoon place mix into hot skillet and fry uncovered - low heat.  Turn when browned

This little sweetie isn't feeling so well.  She is still her happy little self mostly - but has something going on.  It's no fun seeing her sick.  We all will be glad when she is feeling better.  I think from the look on her face . . . she will be too. 

 

  "Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time." 

                                                                         ~ John Lubbock

Boxes . . .

Little did I know that cleaning out our garage yesterday would get me feeling all sentimental.  Then again . . . it doesn't take much to make me sentimental . . . just the way I am. 

I found this box up in one of the cabinets in our garage.  I was probably about 8-10 years old when I covered it with patches of fabric.  This was before ModgePodge . . . I think I just used Elmer's Glue and cut out little pieces of fabric with a pinking shears.  The original box was a Birdsall Ice Cream box.  (I probably remember that only because my first husband's last name was Birdsall ). . . (I'm rambling) . . . but I'm in sort a rambling mood tonight . . . my apologies.  So often I have thought about throwing this box out - as I did this time, but I find something to fill it with - and it finds a place on a shelf in the garage for another year.  My Gramma would laugh if she saw it . . . anyway - that got me thinking about a post on  boxes . . .

I think I have mentioned in an earlier post that I have a thing for boxes . . . so I got to looking around (like I did with the pillows the other day) . . . I really have a lot of boxes.  If they are cute or vintage - I just can't seem to part with them.  Kasey gave me this bar of soap a couple of years ago . . . I think I was more excited about the "Believe" box.  Richard could probably give me diamond earrings - and if the box they came in was something special, I probably would be just as excited about the box as I was the diamonds.

An old cigar box (full of incense) . . . a vintage Almond Joy box (full of origami paper) . . . the flowered box was the box that held my first prom corsage from that boy with the last name Birdsall - it was an orchid and white rosebuds (full of Raggedy Ann stuff) . . . the top box is just a little box I think I picked up at the dollar store.  It holds a picture of Luke and our old cat Cinders (full of index cards).  This stack of boxes is an example of how I drive my sons crazy.  When something happens to me and they have to go through all this stuff - they will just laugh and shake their heads.

I also came across this box  . . . another one I have held onto for over 30 years.  It came from overseas . . . when Richard was in the Navy - he brought me home a tea set from Japan.  I liked the pink lid on the box so had to keep it . . .

 . . . it is full of cards and letters that we wrote to each other when he was overseas for six months.  So I sat and read some of these today . . .  (this is how cleaning the garage can get me all sentimental.) 

Some cute book type boxes (full of my Halloween ornaments) . . .

  . . . this top box holds a beautiful rubber stamp set and the green box is another box that Richard brought back from overseas (full of silly little odds and ends that we have picked up over the years) . . . again I can just see my kids shaking their heads if ever they have to look through this stuff. :)

This old box belonged to my Gramma . . . (it actually is empty - I better find something to fill it up with)

This is one of my favorite boxes . . . we made it out of a book.

It holds special cards . . . and this is where I start getting sentimental again, so bear with me. 

Richard and I have exchanged so many cards through the years.  I found the first Valentine that he ever gave me . . . . and cards from when we were first dating.  I think the most special cards are from when we were struggling with our marriage . . . I can look back at them and see how we still took the time to give each other a card and say "I love you."

32 years . . . means a lot of cards . . . I thought about sorting through them and getting rid of some of them a few times.  It isn't like I get them out at look at them very often . . . except maybe when I clean out the garage.  :)

Then I remember how after my Dad passed away and I was helping my Mom go through some things.  She sat a read the cards from my Dad . . . and it made her so happy.  So I will hang on to them . . .

A Boyd's Bear Box . . . (full of colored pencils)

Colorful hat boxes . . . (full of hats of course)

Another box that makes me sentimental.  This box belonged to my Dad.  He used to build wood boxes to hold whatever in his shop.  His shop was usually in quite a state of disarray - but he could always find what he was looking for (usually stuck in one of these boxes)  

He did a lot of work with his scroll saw and used to make tiny three dimensional reindeer.  He had small rubber stamps of the reindeer that he used as a pattern.  I love that he stamped these on this piece of wood.  Knowing Dad - he probably intending on cutting these out - but instead grabbed the piece of wood to build a box.  (This box holds pens and markers.)

Thanks for bearing with me . . . sort of a long post and quite a few pictures. 

Feeling sentimental . . . but a Happy Planet!