Happy Saturday

Annie and LaLa Pat just love the blog Cute Overload. For me though, it's Itty Bitty Kitty Committee. That Lovejoy series (see below) has me going back to visit over and over again. You have to go look! And I'm not even a cat person.
(Sorry LaLa and Phyllis.)

At Play

As a homeschooling Mom, I try and offer a safe and enriching home life, classes, groups, park days, and anything else that I can think of to meet Annie's interests. The request I get the most is "play." She still wants to get together with her friends, and just play.

I watched the girls from the kitchen window as they played with the hens, never asking them what they were up to. They played for close to four hours. The intensity and joy Annie shows while at play tells me that there is so much to it; more than I can guess at. Learning, fun, cooperation, creativity, maybe acting out scenes from their dreams?

After seeing this post, Annie says "we were having a chicken festival. We were putting leaves on the chickens in their comfortable beds so they can zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (or snooze)."

Shoe Re-do

When each of my Mother-in-laws children got married, Billy and my marriage being the first, I painted her a small painting (12"x12") of the brides shoes. (My wedding shoes are the bottom one's.) Jane actually asked me if I would do that for her after she saw another shoe series I did way back in the 90's. You can see those '90's versions below.

Now, 15 years later, there is another wedding. Sara my youngest sister-in-law, is getting remarried after going through a divorce four years ago. The wedding is at the end of July. So here's the question. Do I gesso over the original painting to do the new version, or do I start over again with a new canvas? If so, do I just toss the painting?

Here it Comes Kate

I was at the post office last week and bought the stamps above which I thought were very attractive. I guess the new postal rate went up to .44! I don't really care though. Sending stuff in the mail, cards, candy bars, etc., is something I dearly love to do and a price increase won't slow me down. Speaking of sending, Billy pulled Kate in NJ out of the bowl for my little embroidery book giveaway. I'm sending it, with love, this week Kate.


The song is I'm going to Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter by Fats Waller

Bouncing Back

Boy, I've never had this much trouble readjusting after a trip before.

But this time I'm all out-of-sorts.

It's been over three days. I'm really trying...

I've unpacked. I've made pancakes. I've paid bills. We went to park day. I made it to a DMV appointment. I've mowed the lawn and returned calls. I've brushed the dog. I even went to the post office, which I hate.

I keep thinking all of this will "ground" me. Give me a fresh, up-to-date feeling!

But really I want to crawl in bed and read my book.


The song? Strange Overtones-Byrne and Eno

Celebrating Needleworkers Everywhere

I've really been enjoying embroidering these days. It is something I've done since I was about eleven years old. I go long periods of time without picking up my needle, then I jump back into a project like no time has passed at all. I do it while sitting in the park, while watching The Wrestler with Billy, or catching the last light of day sitting in the front window. This needle book (approx. 3.4"x 6") is on light gray wool felt, with the interior fabric a slight mystery. Maybe silk? Maybe a blend.

Are you somone who mends, sews or does needlework? Are you looking for a needle book to house your most favorite needles? If so, I'd love to send you this as a gift. Please leave a comment and I will do a random selection next week and send it off to you once Annie and I get home from our trip.

We're now on the last leg of our roadtrip and we've had a wonderful time! Annie and I (mostly Annie and her cousin's) are now swimming, basking in the heat and relaxing at Grandma's house. We left Alameda in the rainy, cold springtime last Tuesday. At some juncture we took a turn and stepped into summertime.

Road Trip

I love a road trip. I've always hoped that Annie would be my companion as we explored the highways and byways. What is a byway anyway? Well, anyway...Slight car sickness, terror of bridges, overpasses, tunnels and an overall unease with being on the road make it less that pleasurable for Annie. And of course, for me. And yet, Annie was willing to take this trip! She said it was because she wanted to care for me and help us enjoy our life. Ahhh! I'll take it!

We made 5 stops in 4 hours of travel yesterday, and after about half way through the trip, she finally seemed comfortable. The mist and the rain made the California scenery so fresh and beautiful, making it so easy to stop, again (!) and enjoy.

Steig Snicker

Annie and I have gotten a huge kick out of the reading the author William Steig together. Years ago, my dear friend Cory lent us a few of his books and we were instantly in love. I especially love Caleb & Kate, The Amazing Bone, Pizza Pete, Gorky Rises, etc., etc. There is something so innocent and yet so sophisticated about his work that makes him one of my all time favorite kids authors. The image and "riddle" above are from his book CDC? and I find them hysterical! I will post one a week and I hope you get as big a tickle from them as I do.

You

I've wanted to print out a hard copy of my blog for years. Especially after my horrible blog loss of '06. Well, post by post, year by year, it is happening. As I put the pages in chronological order and snap it into binders, I glance at the posts and re-read some of the many comments and realize how, since the beginning, many of you have been there. Wow! You have visited, some silently, some offering kind words and a few, welcomed me into your world. This cyber connection can seem so ethereal and distant to me intellectually, and yet, over time I feel that you've offered me a kind of companionship and connection that feels very meaningful to me.

I want to thank you!

When I started this blog, it wasn't to "get" a readership or to meet any social need. It really was to chronicle our lives. And yet I can see that the pleasure I get would be quite insignificant if it weren't for you.

If the little red bird isn't singing your name above, please let me know! I'd love to add it. If you don't find commenting comfortable, that's O.K. too.