Rooted in Childhood

My Mother Day's blessings included childhood friends,
extended family and shared memories.

Celebrating Aileen's mom's birthday.
It is so joyful to have shared a lifetime with Aileen.

Yes, it's a chicken head.

We have been friends since Miss Newman's 1st grade class.  
Aileen was our maid of honor.

Happy 75th Birthday Mary

Mary with her 3 day old great-grand, Amelia Kathleen

Holly, Aileen, me, Joe, Francesca, Skippy

Everything Grows in my Mother's Garden

Happy Mother's Day

Dulce, me, Jacob, VoVo

Jacob, VoVo, Holly

My mother and sisters instilled the love
of wire, glitter and dirt.
Wire represents the fencing of our menagerie
of animals. Dirt represents my mother's love
of gardening.
Glitter represents, my oldest sister's, Mericia, love of domestic arts.
Number two sister, Dulce, loved and cared for
our animals and plants.
She allowed me to gather chicken egg and plant seeds.

My recollection of Mericia is in vibrant color tempered
with faithful grace.  Dulce is quiet, her presence is calming,
stable and rooted. 

Springy Spring

Jacob and I each painted a little chair
before Holly was born.

Monkey bars for Rose. 

Birthday Week

When both your parents have birthdays in December.
You end up with not just a birth DAY but a birthday WEEK.

a DECADE in the making

Happy Birthday!!!   Sweet.  Brilliant. Boy.

love you MORE.

Rosie Real

 Happy Birthday to my niece, Michele.


Since Rose came into our lives,
Holly and I have been singing "I'm really Rosie and I'm Rosie Real."

I started it...and now we are all singing.

Finally, headed over to youtube. 

Wonderful memory rush.

Maurice Sendak with Carol King singing

When we aren't singing we are mad dogging.

A member of staff just dragged the metal trash can across the room
to change the liner...seriously, she couldn't have lifted it?
Alas, customer service and common courtesy just aren't what they used to be.

.  

Upcycle Vintage

Placement is a little off...we'll fix that eventually. 
Sew thrift store dollies together.
See the rooster and tulips.  Favorite motifs at the Pumpkin
Cottage.

Mr. Lee drilled some holes for drainage, added a layer of
rocks and cactus soil.
Voila.  Charming, no?

Watched Romantics Anonymous in French with
English subtitles.  Just a lovely lovely film.
The soundtrack is good, too.