things that made me smile today . . . .

This picture does not even come close to showing how beautiful these cupcakes were.  A parent brought them into our office . . . plus they were delicious.  I wish I had taken time to take some better pictures of them - but wanted to share anyway.

Peace and Sushi Ninja . . . "watch out for my ninja moves" (private joke)

Peace ~ Love ~ Lily

Paper Pots

I had some seeds that I wanted to plant today - but didn't really want to go out and get a bunch of small pots.  I remember seeing on Pinterest something about making pots out of newspaper - wonderful idea . . . right?

Inexpensive, biodegradable (for the earth loving side of me), and close enough to origami to be fun.  I am so excited about this project!  25 pots folded and my seeds are all planted.

I can't wait to watch them grow into wonderful Giant Sunflowers!

It was a good day today . . . Just because!

 

In every gardener there is a child who believes in The Seed Fairy. ~Robert Brault

weekend stuff . . .

Just some pictures from the weekend so far.  OP at practice . . . Ashley sent me this picture today.  I love it!  Softball is starting . . . we get babysitting duty with OP - I think this year we are going to have to take him out to the games. 

Richard wanted a double cheeseburger.  So he got the works.

Everything is better with an egg on it . . . lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado, jalapenos . . .

We went to a car show today.  I especially like the old trucks.  Unfortunately my battery died - so I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. 

We ran into Sarah and Daniel.  Sarah and I went into this great little shop called Urban Up-cycle.  Wonderful stuff!  I have to go back and take more pictures.  I bought a carafe and some cute earring.  They had wonder old pieces of furniture repainted . . . lots of chalkboard paint, some great fabric, and these wonderful knobs.

The display were great.  Like I said - I wish I had taken more pictures.  I got some wonderful ideas . . .



Finally the burritos that Luke made last night.  The photo really doesn't do them justice.  They were delicious! 

I didn't get much done at home today . . . but that's ok.  Sometimes it is more important to just go out and enjoy the day. 

Our girls . . .

Charlotte's stuffed toys just make me smile - so had to post a picture of them . . . and a picture of her. 

I am so fascinated by this little girl.  Talking to other people - that is a completely normal feeling as a grandma.  She is such a sweet, happy baby - even when she is fussy she tries to smile and laugh . . . LOVE HER!!!

Poor Lily has been sick . . . battling some sort of infection.  She is doing fine - but spending some time in the hospital.  So hard to see her sick with an IV in her arm, but she is still Lily . .. making jokes and being silly - LOVE HER TOO!!!

Peace, Love, Cranes . . . with Room 12

 Today I visited one of the 4th grade classrooms at the school where I work.  Each year Mrs. Crow's 4th grade students read the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.  Last year she heard about my 1000 paper crane project - Peace, Love, Cranes  and invited me to visit her classroom and show her students how to fold an origami crane.  I was invited back again this year . . . and once again I think 4th graders are amazing. 

Each student folded a paper crane.  Those who knew how or caught on quickly helped the other students.  They truly amazed me and warmed my heart.  I have been a little lax on dropping my paper cranes . . . this motivated me to get moving along with my project. 

Irish Shabby Charlotte and no cancer!!!!!

A little Irish Shabby Charlotte.  This one I made for my granddaughter Charlotte.  I started making these dolls with the idea that I would make her one for each holiday this year.   But I have more ideas for dolls for her than holidays.  I want to make her a little Czech Charlotte, a "one sock" Charlotte, a mermaid Charlotte . . . I'm sure I will think of more. 

This little Shabby Charlotte is all Irish. She is a happy little doll who loves to smile and laugh. She is very proud of her green eyes. She likes to have tea parties with yummy sweet treats, but also likes green vegetables. In fact she likes everything green. Her favorite holiday is St. Patrick’s Day - of course. She believes in leprechauns and hopes that maybe someday she will get close enough to one to invite him to one of her tea parties. Little Irish Charlotte is very lucky . . . so keep her close to you and maybe you will be lucky too.

This is my favorite little Irish Charlotte!

* * * * *

I don't know if I really believe in luck . . . but I am feeling very blessed and lucky after seeing my oncologist on Monday and getting the results from my PET scan.  NO MELANOMA! 

If you know anything about melanoma - you know that is wonderful news.  If you don't really know about melanoma - get online and read about it, wear sunscreen, limit your time in the sun, and STAY OUT OF TANNING BEDS!  If there is someone you care about who uses tanning beds - tell them to stop! 

I do have a tumor on my adrenal gland.  I have another test to determine what type of tumor it is . . . and I may possibly need to have my adrenal gland removed.  Not anywhere near as serious as if it had been melanoma. 

I'm glad it is all over . . . happy . . . relieved. 

Sunday Stuff ~

There is something about a sleeping baby that just warms the heart . . . there is something about being a grandma that is simply wonderful! 

Roses are always beautiful . . . love this orange one.

"Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful."   ~Jim Carrey

 

I am nearly done with my other two dolls also - but just posting a couple pictures of the bartender zombie doll tonight.  (He was a special order.)   I usually have something I like most about each doll I make.  This one . . . I like his Lagunitas beer cap.  I still have to write his story - will have to do that tomorrow. I loved the look on Richard's face when I asked him to drill a small hole in the beer cap and little plastic cup that I wanted to hang on this doll.  It's the same look he always gives me when I ask him to do something for one of my projects - it makes me laugh.  Once he knew what I was going to do with it - he was looking for other beer caps with different pictures on them for me . . . I liked this one the best.  I may have to work this Lagunitas dog into the doll's story. 

Good Day!  Good Weekend!

Saturday

Nachos for lunch ~

Baseball on TV ~

Wonderful Spring weather ~

I love Saturdays!

I'm working on some Shabby Charlotte dolls today . . . one of them a zombie that someone ordered.  Although, I find myself being easily distracted.  I am determined to get them finished tonight - so I can start on some new ones tomorrow. 

This little one has distracted me quite a bit - Our little Charlotte is getting so big and she is so much fun.  Thank heaven for little girls . . .

. . . and bubbles!  I guess we will have to do sidewalk chalk tomorrow.

 

"Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people." 

                                                                              ~ Allen Beck

Sidewalk Chalk & Saturday Seven ~

A box of sidewalk chalk . . . guess what we're doing later today!

 

Glad this week is over . . . let me get back to the Saturday Seven at planettreasure

7 non chocolate treats . . .

1.  bright wonderful yarn to play with.

  2.  a good dark beer - a porter or a stout

              3.  a bear claw danish - especially on a Sunday

 morning shared with Richard

               4.  watching a good movie - eating popcorn      

5.  coconut scented lotion - or vanilla 

6.  my mom's butterscotch pie             

7.  brightly painted toe nails                

 

Random Stuff . . .

Richard surprised me with this little Lucky Cat when we were out shopping one day.

PINK!

Just snapped some pictures in my craft room today . . . nothing special - just stuff . . . that I like, that I'm sentimental about, that I use, just things that are ME.  Organized chaos might be a good description of this room . . . but it is my chaos and I know where everything is.  I tend to just hang or set something somewhere - and there it stays.  It tends to be a room that gets messy . . . but when I am busy making a doll or something - it doesn't seem to matter. 

My last post was about Jake's Coach shoes.  I'm not much into things like Coach shoes or designer names . . . I was more excited about the box.  LOL . . . I have a thing for boxes and this one I liked.  It is now the perfect box for holding photos.

Every craft room needs a wine fridge . . . right?

I couldn't throw this wine bottle out .  The wine wasn't very good - but liked the label . . . PINK even.

I was going to have Richard drill a hole in the bottom of it for me - and put a string of lights in it - but instead he bought me a candle holder for the top of it.  (I think I remember a bitch from 2008.)

I have to fix this little doll that my mom dressed in a little Czech outfit.  My mom made wonderful doll clothes.  She used to pick up old dolls here and there and make new clothes for them.  This one is one of my favorites . . . but her head is actually broken and I need to figure out the best way to fix her.  I really don't think gluing her head on is the best answer.

Lily wasn't home for Easter . . . so we gave her her Easter gift late.  She loves to work with Papa in the garage . . . so we took one of the boxes that Richard makes and turned it into a tool box for her.  I was hoping for a quick easy coat of paint - but the spray paint leaked and dripped . . . I finally handed it over to Luke and he used three different colors of paint . . . roughed it up a bit and it turned out cute.  Now she has her own hammer, level, and measuring tape - PINK even.  She's coming over this weekend to work with Papa.

A little heart from Richard while at our favorite pizza place last night.  Let's see . .. does this mean he loves me or the beer?  It came with a smile and a wink - I will take it as he loves me.

I have been somewhat anxious this week . . . waiting for Monday to get here so I can get the results of my PET scan.  I know worrying doesn't help - I've had a couple bad days . . . being busy at work has helped.  Richard and the kids have helped the most.  Really when it comes down to it - no matter what the results come back as . . . it is all about the people I love and the life I choose to live from here on.  I choose happiness, I choose my marriage and my family, I choose my wonderful friends who have gotten me through the best and worst of times . . . I choose to do more of the things I like to do and less of the things that are not really that important.  I choose kindness . . . I choose to be passionate about things that matter to me . . . I choose to try to be the person God intended me to be.

I went through a period of time where my life was not what I expected it to be . . . I came through it stronger and more sure of what I wanted than ever before.  I will be me . . . I will not waste time worrying about people and things I can't control . . . and I will not put up with bullshit. 

LOL . . . Enough said for tonight.  Here's to a great tomorrow . . . and it's Friday!!!!!!

Cute . . .

This still makes me laugh after a couple of days . . . a verbal exchange I never thought I would hear around my table (being the mother of two now adult sons)

Jake - "Look and my new Coach shoes"

Luke - "Those are cute" . . . "Did I just say cute?"

Who are these young men sitting around my table?????  LOL!

Richard and I just started laughing . . . I'm sure Luke using the word cute has something to do with all the little girl clothes in his life the last six months.  Love my kids!!!

Spring stuff

We started planting some vegetables . . . some new soil and a little fertilizer and the tomatoes are ready to go.  There is nothing better than a tomato out of the garden . . . I can hardly wait to taste them.  I bought two different types this year.  These beef master tomatoes are supposed to be big - Richard will love them when we grill burgers.

Jalapenos of course . . . I couldn't find any of the peppers we usually get (Fresno chilis) - so will have to go back and look for them this week.  I also need to get cucumbers, zucchini, and if we get another garden bed built soon enough - I may have to try something new - maybe some gourds or pumpkins to use for decorating in the Fall would be fun.

 

 

Vegetables in the ground - and flowers are blooming.  Carnations are one of my favorites because they remind me of my grandma.  Her favorite were red - I tend to like the pink ones.  (I am going to have to plant some red ones.)  I remember when I first moved to California being so amazed by how big the carnations grew.  Growing up in Midwest - I remember my grandma having to bring them in every winter and keeping them in her basement - then bringing them out each Spring.  She only grew them in containers - and they never got this big.  Whenever I smell carnations - it brings back memories of home and her basement . . . we spent hours down there playing.

This Spring - we have this little flower . . . showing off her new bow. 

I love her chubby little cheeks!

Today - Opening Day of Major League Baseball. 

We kept with our traditional dinner of polish dogs. 

 

 "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

PLAY BALL!

Easter Eggs

It was a nice Easter with a few days of family and friends . . . too busy enjoying myself to get much sewing done though. No worries - I can get to that this week. We dyed eggs over at Brent & Ashley's - but I didn't get many pictures.

Pink . . . baseballs . . . ladybugs . . . and smiles - make for cute eggs I think.

Only one more day of vacation - and part of that will be spent at the imaging center - waiting on this is hard - but I'm hanging in there. Lot's of support from the people I love really helps.