Almost there....

The truth about me is that I am both a Martha AND a Mary! Generally, my contemplative time is very precious and common for me

BUT

when there is a gathering of friends to be had,

well,

let's just put it this way,

Martha Stewart has nothing on this detail-oriented queen!!

But, can't sit and gab all day - I have THINGS TO DO!!!

If you're wondering what's going on, I'm afraid you'll just have to go HERE to find out....

xo

The Price of Sugar!

In the next month I will:

~ Celebrate the baptisms of my two oldest boys.

~ Celebrate my mom's, my husband's and my middle son's birthdays.

~ spring clean up my garden!

(Just so there's no confusion after my last post, the snow has just barely melted off and there are only a few shoots from bulbs poking up so far - it is a MESS!)

~ Cut all three of my sons' hair and get out the summer clothes because...

~ I will be spending ten days with the family in California - back home where I grew up!

So, I will be...

~ going sailing a lot, spending time at favorite museums (J.Paul Getty), going to Disneyland =D, wandering down garden paths and visiting with my dear, precious best friends out there!!! xo =)

~ I will, also, be forging ahead with photographic assignments and goals.

~  and, oh boy! Speaking of forging ahead... we have to keep moving along with serious house renovations that we're in the middle of because there's a time sensitive issue involved.

Oh!

~ and I will be singing the soprano solo in the Mozart Requiem!
(~ and trying to lose five pounds for it all - just cuz! Does anyone have a long black gown that I can borrow?)

~ I know there's something I've forgotten.

oh, yeah!

~ Preparing for a show of my photography at our little local library in June. I think that my theme will be, 'in the garden!' ;-)
(Where do I even start? Need to choose images, buy mats and find frames, get things printed up! but, perhaps, that will happen NEXT month.)

SOMEBODY.HELP.ME!!!

I am drowning in good things!

and what do these images have to do with the price of sugar?

Nothing that I can see.

=)

xxo


P.S.  The little heart pin cushion in the first image was made with all vintage and antique items. It's just one of those fun, sweet things that I have that brings me joy! =)

Think Spring!

Well, here is a first! There's so much to say but I really don't want to say much.

I do feel, though, that I should apologize for being such a silent bloggy friend for the past couple of months. I've been in a cacoon!!! There is so much going on in me - in my brain and in my heart - and soooo many things that I'm learning - I have my finger in an awful lot of pies and all that - and, I think that it's getting rather crowded in here and I may just start poking my way out of the cryssalis any day, now. But, not quite yet, please! Just.... in the meantime... if you would... er... be patient and don't forget about me! heh. ;-) =]

There is one thing that I would like to share, though. (Besides dreams of my garden, last spring, I mean.)

Every spring, I find myself listening to chamber music and, last year, at about this time, I discovered a new (to me) composer - Joaquin Turina. He's sort of a cross between Debussy and Ravel and his music is completely engaging and deeply charming. Indeed, I secretly suspect that he's their long lost cousin! Here is a link to the CD with my best loved version by the Damocles trio that I've been listening to almost non-stop.  My favorite movement, at the moment, is the second movement of his quartet in a minor.

So, I've been in the cocoon with earbuds on and this is the music that I've been so happily steeped in as I've been creating these images!

...and, then, there's my garden.... =]

 

Happy spring dreams to you all!

xo

P.S.

I you do like Ravel and are interested in a charismatic performance....

Joaquin Turina Piano Quartet in a minor op. 67, 2nd mvmnt.

;-)

Make a wish!

I'm sure that pretty much all of you have heard the old adage, "careful what you wish for!" It does sound cautionary but, in truth, those words are usually delivered with a wink and a smile and is accompanied with a little flutter of the heart.... you never know.... you may just get what you wish for!

A few years back, Blogland's darling, Elyse Major, from the, oh-so-pretty Tinkered Treasures, was having a giveaway and I made a wish that I could win the giveaway. Ha! It didn't matter if I won or not because, soon after, this box arrived in the mail.

THE BOX....!!!

Now, I'm sure that probably most of us have heard of 'Random Acts of Kindness' and this was certainly one of them. Little could Elyse know that, the moment before her box had arrived, my life had crumbled in many ways. It was just one of those really, really tough 'moments', and the start of one of those seasons. (But, just don't you fret about that - the season has brought me to a wonderful place in life! =]) The point is, I cannot even express how much this box meant to me!!! I mean just the box and, really, of course the sweet thought behind it.

But, Elyse must have thought that I was cavalier about it all and didn't care because it took me almost two months to open it. Little did she know how I had the box right there in the kitchen with me and it would constantly make me smile and sigh. =] (I'm literally laughing as I type this... I just LOVED that plain old box - unopened! =D)

The reason for my delay was.... I knew that I had a young friend who needed a box just as much as I did and we made a pact to open it together. It just took longer to get together for 'the moment' than we thought it would. (erp!)

But, the truth is....

when the moment came to open the box, it was SOOOoooooooooo worth the wait!

I really can't put words to expressing the time we spent together. I want to keep it hidden in my heart anyway. I mean, it really was just one of those moments. =]

Yet, still, next week, I want to share some pictures from it! ;-)

I want to share pictures and something about my friend because, you see...

...she has a wish....

well, perhaps, really a bit of a cherished dream...

but we know that dreams are kissing cousins to wishes! =]

 In the meantime,

here are pictures that I took, back then, of a few things we found in the box....

The moral of the story is....

Elyse (wise woman that she is), said, "pffffft!" to 'being careful what she wished for' and, lo and behold, little did we know, then, what would happen now....

NOW!

TODAY!

I mean,

THIS VERY DAY - AT THIS VERY MOMENT!

(Valentine's Day, no less - how cute is that?!?!?!)

Elyse's book, Tinkered Treasures: 35 simple projects to bring charm to the everyday, has been published!

and...

At this moment (or very close to it, anyway), she is winging her way to England for festivities and to fulfill another deep desire of hers - to visit a for-real, official Cath Kidston store!!!!! (GOL!!! Lucky duck! =])

(She's doing much, much more than that but that part is just too fun and perfect to not mention! heehee!) 

It is certainly, most definitely a 'giddy-licious' moment!!!!

But, you know...

I do keep getting choked up as I type this!

I am so happy for you, Elyse!!!

and,

it teaches me to dream and not be afraid!

So....

....make a wish!!!

xxoo, Elyse!!!

=]