lynn-getting my feet wet

More Holiday Cards

2009-12-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed my Sunday yesterday. It was a stay at home day...made a pot of chicken soup in the slow cooker, the aroma filled the house...as I stood at my design table laying out more hand made cards to send to friends...and then sitting at the sewing machine putting them all together...

I finally found a use for lots of candy wrappers I had been saving... Some were pretty simple... just using fabric and threads...
some a mixture of fabrics and paper, and extra embellishments like these large white sequins...
and some a hodge podge of everything I could get my hands on...wrapping paper, candy wrappers, threads, glue, and sparkles...
and felt, fabric and marking pens...
I felt just like one of Santa's helpers...working away in my little elf shop! Such fun!!!!!

For someone who does not celebrate Christmas

I certainly got into the spirit of it all!

;-)

Oh dear, no cactus' got photographed or drawn today though.

HCM anyway~

I hope I don't get expelled from that group.

;-0

A Huge Surprise!

2009-12-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

Last night my cousin called to WARN US that his parents were not doing so well...that they were far worse than how they'd been when I saw them two weeks ago. So all the way there I was preparing myself for sitting by their bedsides, holding their hands, being quiet with them.
I was literally writing eulogies in my head, the words I would say at their memorial services.

How surprised was I to find them not in their beds when we got there, in fact not in their room at all. We were told they were in the dining room. We nearly ran down the hall to find them eating lunch at a table.

They looked alert, well, almost as good as they had been before Uncle Harry's fall and fractured hip and surgery. We sat and talked and they were able to carry on a conversation...Harry lost his train of thought maybe twice...but he was in good humor, able to tell us stories from their past.

Mimi had a good appetite and was busy eating her lunch with gusto. Harry said that when he left there he was going to write a letter to the head honcho to let them know the food was terrible! He asked me to please not tell him to eat it. I didn't. (Or I stopped).

I can't help but see my mother in my aunts face at times (her eldest sister) and myself too I think in a few years time. Especially how she held her hands. Just like mom and me.

DH brought Harry a CD player with headphones and a Yiddish music CD. He loves the Yiddish language and music. We lost him for a while then as he listened with beatific smiles on his face and his hands strumming an imaginary guitar. We left it there for him to continue to enjoy.

Aunt Mimi enjoyed looking at family photos. She didn't know the names of all her great grandchildren, had to be reminded who was who (she has quite a flock of them) and her dementia was apparent, but she remained in good humor and in fact had us in stitches laughing

a good part of the time there.

Harry said they were old now, and that life had gone by so quickly.

We assured him we'd be back soon for another visit. I sure hope we get more of this. It was such a wonderful blessing all the way around.

Thank You for Chanukah Gifts!

2009-12-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

A scrappy Chanukah Card was made from grocery store bag paper for the menorah/candle holder; shiny fabric cut on the selvage edge, which made for awesome flames!

Sewn with gold metallic thread.A card with pictures helps the kids read it themselves, or at least

read along!

Sometimes my thread tension gets all loose like this
and it used to make me scream, but sometimes like on the backside
of this card I think it looks cool.
Almost like Hebrew writing, especially if you don't know Hebrew!

;-)

I had such fun making this card I went ahead and

made a bunch more like it to send as Chanukah cards to my

family and Jewish Friends.

Shabbat Shalom

Happy Saturday!

Happy Birthday To The Love of My Life

2009-12-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

I'll take him out to a nice dinner tonight!

He's got two weeks off work (school teaching)

so we will enjoy this weekend together;

and next weekend too on a very special get away!

More about that after the fact.

Grateful Thrusday and More Holiday Cards

2009-12-17T01:00:00.000-08:00

Solo Lolo sent me a wonderful ATC from her heart that she made for me for Chanukah and her Logo Raven flew it to me from the East Coast! What could be more Chanukah the Festival of Lights

than a Cactus Menorah all lite up with it's festive lights?

And this is the card she made to go with the ATC.
See: ATC and a card to match! Aren't they beautiful?
Thank you Laurel!
I love them, all three!!!!

#####
A new friend in blog land for me is Becky at
Quilt Architect.
Becky makes these wonderful LINO prints
and put these on ATCs after asking me if
I'd trade with her!
Wow!

Are they not amazing?
I just realized I left one out and will add it tomorrow.

Becky also makes these, what she calls, "Trash envelopes"!
There is nothing trashy about them, but they are made from
recycled materials. I think this was a cereal box.
It was so pretty and the threads sewn on were tied together
at the top, I thought maybe this was her version of an ATC
and did not dare untie it at first.
Then I wondered and took a chance...

and yes, the ATCs and a note were inside this envelope.
But it is a work of art in and of itself!
Thank you Becky.
And thank you so much for asking me to trade!

######

I've continued to produce my little holiday cards
turning them out by the droves now...

Some will go to friends and some to clients...

This is what I start with...

and this is what they become!

Happy Holidays to all of you

and please know I am so grateful to start and end

each day with you in my life!

Animal Wednesday Or Henry V BEFORE his Traumatic Time

2009-12-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

Henry must have wanted to go shopping as he is pulling at my purse strings hanging out of my back pack here!

And then he took ownership of the new guitar's box which he felt was shaped perfectly

just

for

him!

But then I started doing things like cleaning house

(an anomaly that only happens big right before company is expected)

and moving furniture around

and dragging things into and out of the garage

and then two little kids came to the house

bringing their own gear and high energy

and Henry high tailed it out the door.

Never mind that it was raining cats and dogs

and continued to rain and rain and rain...

He refused to come in.

Finally on Sunday in the wee hours of the dark morning

he told DH to let him in and he slept fitfully at his feet

but once those little kids feet came down the stairs

he screamed to be let out again

and never mind that it was still raining cats and dogs outside

He stayed out and stayed out and even long after

those little kids went home

he would not come in the house.

He came to the door twice,

once when I whistled for him

and later once when DH called him.

But he would not come in the door.

He ran off again and hid.

Only much much much later did

he drag is soaking wet

furry self to the door

and chanced entering his house

that place he once called home

And only then starving as he must have been

did he decide those little kids were gone for good

did he eat and then snuggle up on my chest

and hid his face in the crook of my arm

and stayed that way for hours

no doubt praying

that the house was once more his

safe haven.

And that box?

Well it went home with those little kids!
They are nothing but trouble

for a cat!

Scrappy Christmas Cards on Bloomin' Tuesday!

2009-12-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday! My forest of trees is blooming Christmas Trees to decorate holiday cards for friends. Those of you who consider me a friend here in blogland can pick your favorite and consider that my Holiday Cheer and Good Wishes to YOU!
A bit of burlap, some green cotton and strips of upholstery fabric
sewn in red threads and trimmed in gold metallic!

Upholstery fabric backs these shiny red trees and one green one

shown off in red mesh netting with burlap trunks!

A bit of Christmas fabric printed in gold, a square of upholstery fabric on burlap.

More forest trees on shiny red and burlap

Happy Holidays to one and all!

Cactus Monday and Sunday Grandparent Bliss

2009-12-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

I woke up Sunday morning and came downstairs to this trio on the couch. They were giggling and talking...such a bond they have with their grandpa.Grandpa's hat adds a lot to the playing of the new guitar too!

Doesn't he look a lot like Don Edwards here?

And please notice the Chanukah socks.
He went home with them last year at this time when we couldn't find his socks!

And he has been wearing them ever since.

They are my socks, a Chanukah gift from friend Patty.

Grand daughter loved dressing her self up in this length of orange flowing fabric!

She also created a stack of pictures using my good marking pens!

The kids had to remind me to get out my collection of dreidels.

Some wooden, some plastic...they not only know all the Hebrew letters on them now

they can recite the entire Hebrew alphabet!

I am sure I'll be thinking of ways to wish you all

Happy Holidays from now and into the NEW YEAR!

HCM

HNY

Happy Chanukah With Family!

2009-12-13T01:00:00.000-08:00

On Chanukah we light the menorah to commemorate the eight days the oil in the temple lasted...the miracle of light, thus the festival of lights...As today was the second of the eight days of Chanukah we lit two candles using the third or middle candle to do so and recited the ritual blessings over them. Grandpa helped the grand children light the candles. Grandma read the story of Chanukah to the grand kids.

Our grandson so appreciated receiving his gift, this 3/4 sized real guitar
and here he is carefully putting away his guitar pick.

He and his grandfather made beautiful music together.

My grand daughter loved the new baby doll she received.

Grand daughter made this bathing suit for her favorite toy monkey.

She designed it, cut it out, colored it and dressed it herself.
I helped with the sewing.

A clothes designer at five!

We had latkes (potato pancakes) and apple sauce.

Stew and sour dough bread for dinner.

Chocolate macaroons for dessert.

Family fun, laughs and love.

And they are spending the night

so I get them again in the morning!!!!

Color me Happy!

Chanukah Christmas Tradition With Best Friends

2009-12-11T18:06:00.001-08:00

It was Chanukah/Christmas Brunch at my house today. Best Friend, Patty, came and we ate an omelet and toast on my grandma's china and mom's dinner plates.

We have such fun shopping for each other all year long...one year we do this at Patty's house and then I get to enjoy her Christmas Tree loaded with family heirloom ornaments and an abundance of other decorations...and the next year its here and she gets to enjoy my array of

Chanukah menorahs and other decor (many of which are past gifts from Patty.)

This year I gave Patty my first ever art journal, an experiment I told her...and she loved it as if

I'd given her the crown jewels!

She gave me this beautiful Chanukah dish which can serve as our family party cookie platter tomorrow.

I think I really really blew her out of the water when she opened her final gift
and found inside the box

My "Living Green" art quilt wall hanging~
She had admired it so many times telling me how much she liked it
I felt it only right that it should now hang in her home
and it will.

I hope she realizes its not a quilt to wrap up in~
;-)

Its Greatful Thursday Again!!! And I AM!!!

2009-12-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Gina in Ireland for these wonderful ATCs that have been sitting on my desk a while.

[But then you KNOW I've been busy!]

I love your textured art Gina!

This one has been hiding since before Thanksgiving,

an ATC from Margaret just because:

I love your art Margaret, thanks so much!

This dove flew in all the way from Marianne in The Netherlands on a blank card!
Thank you Marianne, you KNOW I love your mandalas.
And thanks too from sharing these lovely threads from your mothers stash...
I like the little bag they came in too...including the receipt I found inside from
Phildar in Rotterdam dated 15/9/92!
I know they will find their way into my art making.

Marianne and I both have cats so she KNEW I'd love this cute
kitty card...with stars falling out of it...

And this ATC which I felt had my name written all over it (and so did she)...

And more ribbons from her mom's stash...Who knew there was an IKEA in Sweden?

Or is that where it originated?

Isn't this one pretty on the turquoise satin ribbon?

And I love when she sends ATCs in these cute see-through pink bags...

and you can see all the holiday confetti that it held as well!

Hugs Marianne!!!!

I am so glad I purchased this wonderful hard bound book from

Mim in Massachusetts.

She did watercolor pages of her character

Ms EM and her adventures.

A real charmer.

I love it Mim.

And I also bought this beautiful Chanukah card from Mim's ETSY store!

I have sent it to my son and his wife for the holiday,

and I know they will love it.

I hope they will frame it.

I am so lucky to have so many talented friends from all over the world

and I am very very very very grateful for each one!

(and there are way more than are represented here today

and they know who they are!)

Thank you all.

Thanks for your caring words about my dear

uncle and aunt too.

Craft Time!!!!

2009-12-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

Years ago I used to sew crafts for my children and my cousins children. Now I find myself doing this for my grand children. This week was such fun taking scraps of fabric and creating a gift bag (that can be filled with gifts or filled with whatever the child wants to tote around) and two fabric rolled up pencil holders. I found a nice length of ballet fabric at the thrift store and quilted it with batting and bright pink backing and turned it into such a bag. (top of top photo); [In case you are wondering, I found bought fabric with musical instruments at Joanne's tonight and will get to work making my grand son a bag for his things too]

I used more scraps/fat quarters to make the two (one pink for the girl;

one green for the boy) pencil holders.

The frogs will bring a smile to grand sons face I am sure.

Grand daughter will love the pink babies and balloons on the back of hers.
This photo shows you how to roll up the pencil holder when done, with a tie to wrap it all up and hold things in place, as seen in the top photo.

Here it is opened up with colored pencils to match colors on the strips of fabric behind them.

They are held in place by a soft piece of white flannel & sewn with gold metallic thread.

And look, they stay in place even when held up side down, they do not fall out.
Any artist young or old would love such a case for their art tools, no?

I could not resist quilting this found piece of cotton covered in dancing ballerinas.

Beads keep the strings to close the bag in place.
The backing comes forward to make that dark pink band at the top

and another to match is on the bottom *unseen here.

My grand daughter (age 5) has just started ballet classes so this will

please her no end.

She has also started learning to knit at her kindergarten

so inside the bag is a lovely skein of pink yarn and

Miss Kitty knitting needles in just her size.

And a bright orange trimmed in gold flowing fabric

with which to play

Anna Pavlova.

Answers To Yesterdays Game on Yesterdays Post

2009-12-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

Blogger will not let me copy and paste from what I wrote yesterday so go back to yesterdays post to read the rest of the story and find the FALSE answer!
Thanks for playing.

A Game; My Daughter/Over The Hill; and Cactus Monday Not neccesarily in that order

2009-12-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks For Playing!

Read below for the REST OF THE STORY

Okay, I am following suite with Suki, Willow and Kelly and listing ten things about myself. One is false. You have to decide which one that is. Leave your guess in comments!

1. I slept on the beach alone in Mexico in a hammock for one week in 1960. I did do this,

I was 19 years young, and had taken myself to Mexico after working one and a half years

after dropping out of college. I was trying to make my money last 3 months, so had a book

on how to live in Mexico on Five Dollars a Day! I did it too.

The Mexican family that worked a kiosk on the beach rented me the hammock under a thatched roof on stilts for a few pesos. The Mama made me a breakfast of freshly caught fish and beans in the morning and corn tortias. It was the best food ever!!!! No one bothered me.

In fact one night I woke up to find a young Mexican boy laying on the sand next to me

and he had brought a blanket to cover me with.

I was safe as safe could be! He was my protector.

I got the best tan of my life that summer.

2. I met two men in Acapulco, Mexico and traveled with them to Oaxaca and then back up Mexico to California in their car. The two

men were Norman and Phil, college students from Boston/NY area.

They were traveling together. We befriended each other and I decided to travel

further south with them (they had a car, I'd been traveling by bus)

to Oaxaca, and they wanted to go to California so we drove together

and they took me home to my parents house.

Parents were a little surprised to see me arrive home with two guys

as they had not got the post card I sent them yet about them.

But it was fine.

3. I have traveled by ship five times between these countries/states/Islands: USA, Gibraltar, France, Israel, Venice, England and the Caribbean Islands.

Yes, I did all this.

4. I spent three weeks in China in 1982.

And I did this too.

5. I have Nat King Cole's autograph. True...My family was in

Los Angeles for New Years Eve in 1951,

I was ten years old.

Nat was having lunch at a popular restaurant for Movie Stars

and my dad told me to go ask him for his autograph and I did.

I also got autographs from Art Linkletter, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis

and Giselle McKinzie on that trip!

6. I dropped out of college in 1959.
Sad but true...I wasn't ready yet.
7. I rode a bicycle until I was fifty years old; stopping after being chased by two dogs and never rode again.
True
8. I have Elvis Presley's autograph.
False

Judith Got this first

Soul, you needed to choose! Can't vote for two! Sorry.

LOL

Cris guessed right as well.
9. I was a virgin on my wedding night.

True

I traveled the world at a young age,

but I wasn't very worldly.

My mother told me to save this for marriage

and I did...what can I say?

It was a different era.

10. I worked in a screw factory in Israel

True.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Now Unrelated to the Game!

Today is my daughters birthday! 41 years ago I gave birth to a baby girl.

I had a little boy already so I was overjoyed to learn it was a girl.

In those days we had to wait to find out when the baby arrived.

She has grown into a fine young woman.

She graduated two colleges.

She has a career!

She married a nice guy.

She birthed twin grandchildren for me (a boy and a girl)!

Well, she birthed them for her and her husband, but I act like they were birthed for me!

She is the calmest, warmest, most wonderful parent of any I know.

She is doing it way better than I did!

She is athletic! Fit! Smart! A great cook!

I am so proud of her!!!!!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

(I'll have to tell her myself as she does not read my blog!)

And

Happy Cactus Monday!

Poignant, Sweet and Sad

2009-12-06T01:00:00.001-08:00

On Saturday I traveled to Stockton to visit my aunt in the hospital, and my uncle who'd been moved from hospital to a rehab center.

Both seemed busy in their own minds...my aunt who has dementia, visited with deceased parents and sisters out loud. Heard a sound and said "That's my dad's door"; aunt played with a ribbon I had brought around a book I'd made to show her, putting it in her hair, then making a hat from her napkin...she looked so cute, we laughed over this. Her wisps of white hair round her white face, I noted with not too many wrinkles, but eyes always large looking larger I decided, as her face must have shrunk some around them...
She knew when I asked her who my mother was, and then who I was..."I know my niece Lynnie"...
even though she called me by her sons name when I came in the door.
I watched and listened and held her hand, as I observed her in this new world, one detached from mine, in and out, in and out, then dozing, waking, a few words spoken, dozing...so I finally after two hours left...wondering if there'd be many more such visits and would she know me next time?

Next I drove the few miles to the rehab center/nursing home, where uncle had been brought the day before to recover from his fractured hip. Laying in the bed my dear tall dignified uncle always smiling, eyes lit up to see me come in. But I watched him take a minute to focus, take me in. But he knew it was me. He asked if I was up to speed (did I know all that had happened to him/them) I assured him I was. Then words came haltingly, sparsely...this man who always had a story to tell. His eyes looked huge to me too, as he would gaze out into space seeing things I could not see as he reached out to touch what ever it was. "a shoulder" he said...first telling me he had "double vision, but not double vision"...later he called it seeing pictures in quick consecutive shots...was he hallucinating? Possibly. "Psychology" he said...Then he followed with: "I guess we've had our last therapy session."
...uncle always called me his "doctor" calling to share his anguish, as his beloved wife's mind receded from his reality... we'd talk.

I held his hand. I watched him mouth words, some in Yiddish, some English...then laugh quietly to himself...like he was hearing a joke, a funny story only he could hear...then he looked at me and said: "Lynnalay, you exude love."
....................I said it was because of him.

Later I said: "You make me smile." He said: "It's your fault."

I told him a story I knew from him, of how I met him at age five years old. He had red hair and was called Red, which I'd been told before our first meeting. But when I saw him, I said, "You are not red, you are orange!" My dear uncle looked me straight in the eye and said, "That must be when we first became so bonded."

"Simply Dreadful"

2009-12-05T01:00:00.000-08:00

"Simply Dreadful" is a portrait of my 19 yr old grandson, (my son's son) who does indeed wear his hair in this wild manner! I think for him it has some spiritual significance. I have taken the liberty to give them COLOR!

The art quilt measures 17" X 19" and is made of brown felt and cotton fabrics. The face is hand dyed cotton from Dyed Candy/Chris of Shady Grove blog/etsy store. Thanks Chris.

The dread locks are hand dyed (by me) repurposed dryer sheets rolled up and hand stitched.

I did my best to follow the directions of Maria Elkins "Making Portraits" article in The Quilting Arts Book by Patricia Bolton. I am challenged by a brain that does not follow directions easily, especially when I am told to put Steam a Seam 2 on my fabrics...as sometimes I put it on the wrong side (even though after I do that my mistake makes the correct way obvious) I am likely to do it wrong again. I become quite frustrated in the cutting and layering of fabrics to get the portrait just right. And that is why his face lacks shadows and depth. And why he has no whites in his eyes! So be it.

I love the 3-Dimensionality of the dreads!

I also used gold metallic thread, and paint sticks to bring out some of the

spirals in the back ground, which is sewn free motion style

all over in spirals. Gold thread is left hanging free off some of them.

I then put on a frame of binding, something I haven't done

on one of my FREE STYLE quilts in long time.

I wanted the wild and crazy part to be the head and hair!

Let me know what you think.

I may very well do this one again, as this is a gift to be given soon,

and I'd love to see how one like it would do in a show.

Unsettling News

2009-12-04T08:32:00.001-08:00

I do love seeing my aunt and uncle happy with their laps full of their great grand children! This was taken this summer at Aunt Mimi's 90th birthday party. Actually a huge family gathering for both as Uncle Harry, if you'll recall, also turned 90 in January of this year. I posted about it in June.

My dear cousin, their daughter, called me last night to tell me both Harry and Mimi were hospitalized this week.

He, for surgery on his fractured hip from a fall, and she, due to an episode with congestive heart failure. Both are recovering well the day after. So please send your prayers, positive thoughts and energy their way for a complete recovery. I sure do want to keep them in our lives longer still.

************************************************************************************

On a brighter note: I am working on and coming to completion on my latest work of art. I call it Simply Dreadful. The portrait and dreads are done. I am now completing the background. I'll post it as soon as it is completed.

Birthdays Month on Grateful Thursday

2009-12-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

This month we have many birthday celebrations in our family.

In December we celebrate the births of my son in law, my brother and then my daughter. The photo is my daughter taken some 40 years ago. It was at the beach in Bodega Bay, CA. She is wearing her big brothers sweater (knit by my mother) and he is climbing a sand dune, as she watches him with the love she felt for him then in her little heart.

I am grateful AGAIN, for my wonderful family.

Holidays Are In The Air and Windows on Animal Wednesday

2009-12-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

I took my noontime walk downtown yesterday and was overtaken by the holiday cheer that shouted from every window...this display won first prize and is perfect for Animal Wednesday! I had to reach out and touch these flowers that were indeed the real thing!

So pretty!
This fellow has been working on these windows for several weeks now.
I figure he must be being paid by the hour as he is taking his sweet time painting them.

I love Charlie Brown and his friends!

They made me smile!

And last night was the annual tree lighting ceremony

for this huge outdoor tree.

It really brings out the crowds.

I had to drive very carefully leaving my office last night

for fear of hitting someone crossing a street.

But there was nary a Chanukah nor Kwanzaa
decoration to be found anywhere!

I guess I'll have to ask to paint our office window next year myself!
Happy Animal Wednesday

and

Happy Holidays

How does the holiday season affect you?

If it's not your holiday how do you feel?

I know I have lots of clients who wish the holidays would just not happen at all.

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday

2009-12-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

I spied these girls on the rocks in our Town Square last week and could not resist snapping the pic. I wondered where 1-9 were!

And this lovely bloom was found on the walk near my office

on the street where I work. HBT!

My next Art Project will be a real challenge.

I am taking a photo of my 19 yr old grandson in his full head of dreadlocks

and transferring it to fabric in layers to make a fabric portrait.

I have instructions to follow and have done this before (4 times) but it's one

of the most difficult challenges I have given myself to date.

I had to let half a year go by before I was ready to set myself up for the frustration

it would cause me again.

It may not be difficult for most, but I am terrible at abstract thinking

and this calls for that. I do better making up my own rules as I go,

but I want this to be right...

Wish me luck.

I have some fun ideas for his dreadlocks too that are not in any book,

just in my head. That will be the easy part I bet.

Art Journal #1

2009-11-29T15:28:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I created my 1st art journal. This 28 page tome is called

Family History 101

and is for my 16 yr old grand daughter's Chanukah gift.

The book is made from a 6" X 8" cardboard page children's book. I covered it in left over hand painted and hand stamped fabric that I found on my design table from earlier projects.

And I adorned it with a charm and the word

Imagine!
This is the spine of the book.

And this is the back of the book.

Some of the pages are covered in gesso and paint, some in paper and fabric.

It opens to this double page with history about Kaeli's Great Great Grandparents (fraternal).
My grandparents. Perhaps you can read it if you click on the photo and enlarge it.
I tried to find stories that she could relate to like my father's entering military service at age 17 during WWI; or my grand father coming to this country from Russia at age 16 by himself, her age now.

I have shared some but not all 28 pages as I decided to protect the privacy of some
living and non living family members.

If you have followed my blog long you may already know all about me

so this is not news!

Here are three generations of grandmothers!

Yes, that is my Grandma's bag in the bottom left corner!

As an important part of sharing family history with Kaeli

I stressed the accomplishments of her elders. She is in her last year of high school

and is looking at colleges so I wanted her to see what other family members did

in their educational decisions, and accomplishments including what they accomplished in the arts.

So I used my self as an example following in the footsteps of my own grandmother who

was an accomplished seamstress, and my mother who knit and drew and wrote.

I want Kaeli to be inspired by the eldest and the youngest of our family members

who all have created in some way!

It was also a fun way to chronicle my own art work over the past two and a half years.

Now I'll have to make a book of it for myself.

I made up this little quote for Kaeli!
And I added a pocket to fill with more photos (wallet size) of my art quilts than would

fit on the pages of this book.

I hope to advance in my art journaling to use more drawings and stamps etc.

But for a first this feels good to me!

I hope you enjoy it too.

And of course I hope Kaeli will treasure it always.

Sunset At End Of Beautiful Day

2009-11-28T08:21:00.000-08:00

Six word Saturday:

Sunset At End Of Beautiful Day... This view from my daughters living room window looks out over the San Francisco Bay.
enjoy your weekend

OY, I Can Hardly MOVE!

2009-11-27T11:20:00.001-08:00

Sharing my Thanksgiving Day with family with you makes me smile. Here you see my son in law and grandson, and daughter. She is talking to my brother...before dinner. Pffifer the cat is 17 years old, and must have been driven crazy by the wonderful cooking smells in the kitchen...

My daughter remains oh so calm throughout all the preparations. Her brother in law and husband helping too...

My husband entertained us with song...

The guys and some gals were outside playing football in the back yard!

My grand daughter entertained herself with her Polly Pocket dolls...

My grandson got into the "project" I brought along, as is my habit...almost the first words out of their mouths when they see me is "Did you bring us an art project, Grandma?" Of course I did!

And then there was more football playing...it was such a beautiful day out...

Grand daughter loved playing with yarn and sewing her plate. She also caught on quickly to crocheting a chain.

And grand son showed his great uncle how he was learning to play chess.

And finally it was time to eat! Please notice my mother's Lenox China gravy bowl in the front. My daughter has inherited all of her china but only used this one piece yesterday. I think because the plates have to all be washed by hand. I made the yams. Everything was so delicious. The turkey was moist, the stuffing seasoned to perfection including chestnuts...my favorite!

My son in law out did himself with baking this HUGE apple pie using three different varieties of apples.

And there was pumpkin and ollieberry pies as well...

I went home feeling like a blimp! I had to be rolled out of there. But it was oh oh oh so good.

I was full of good food, and good feelings of the love we have in our family. The little kids got to have two sets of grandparents visiting at the same time, one set having come all the way from Boston! Uncles, great uncle, friends, parents...who could ask for anything more? Not me, that is for sure! I hope your day was as good and as memorable.

For those of you who do not celebrate this holiday I hope you can enjoy it through my experience. It's fun to share the joy. See it as just another wonderful excuse to gather family and friends together to share and appreciate life.

Happy Grateful Thursday and Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

I took my usual noontime walk yesterday to our downtown area. I let my camera capture the beautiful abundance of color that was at my feet...

And in front of my eyes
and looking up

towards the beautiful blue blue sky

I love all the color, the brisk barely cool air, the way my body feels as I walk along

feeling glad oh so glad to be alive!

I think Grateful Thursday and Thanksgiving must sound like an oxymoron. They are one and the same. It's on Thanksgiving in the USA that we take time to think about how grateful we are for the good things we have in our lives.

I feel shy about shouting my personal blessings to a world

where others are dealing with the sadness of losses

(loved ones, jobs, health, homes, war, etc)

So I will use this space to send my love to everyone;

those who are in need of hugs and comforting;

I'll put some money out there to charities who help feed people at this time of year;

and in the hands of some on street corners in immediate need.

I will hope my smiles of good cheer will warm a heart

and hope the work I do in my job will be helpful to those who come to me for that service.

And I will also enjoy the love

and warmth of my own family with whom I will have the joy and good fortune of

sitting with today and soak in that goodness.

Happy Grateful Thursday

and

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Animal Wednesday

2009-11-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

It's the day before Thanksgiving.

Some of you will be celebrating this holiday, as will my family, tomorrow.

Some of you live in countries where this is not a celebration at all or simply

choose for other very good reasons not to take part.

The former will undoubtedly be stuffing our faces beyond normalcy.

The latter can sit back and be grateful they are not feeling as stuffed as we

Celebratory Americans

will be feeling.

What I like about Thanksgiving besides the turkey stuffing, yams,

cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie a la mode,

is the excuse to be with family,

and to count our blessings that we have each other

to enjoy another year.

Happy Thanksgiving To Those Who Partake.

Happy Grateful Thursday to Everyone Else!

Henry will be home waiting for his "leftovers".