Remembering Dad

August 6 is my dad's birthday. He would have been 91! I was lucky to have him for almost 87 years, though. And the last six, we shared a lot of time together. He was such a good man! Kind and nurturing, interested in the world, forgiving, sweet. I learned a lot from him. Lucky me. Thanks, Dad!

Wild Women in the Studio!

Now, I'm always working on some kind of crafty project, or two or three, but having a Partner In Crime really cranks up the creativity! This weekend my BFF Deb came to visit, and we tore into the studio stash, stirring up not one, not two but Three Actual Projects!

We started out small, using Deb's grandmother's hankies to make some lovely lavender sachets.

Then moved up a few notches on the complexity scale to covering the ragged old mannequin with plaster strips, in preparation for her eventual lacey dress. That will be a project for another day, since there's drying time involved in the plaster business.

and finished up the weekend with the Grand Prize of a printed out fabric transfer French Label (courtesy of Graphics Fairy), gel medium-ed onto the Drop Cloth Cart Liner I had sewn up earlier in the week. (More to come on that project soon!)

So, those of you who have wondered - that's what I save all that stuff for - eventually, the right idea will surface, the right materials will be dug out of the studio stash, the right friend will turn up to trip the creativity switch!

Mama

 
Thanks Mom for all you gave us.

Red Boots

 

Found this card in my Family Archives (read 'Old Stuff'). My mom had given it to my dad on his 64th birthday! Life Goes On!


(Thanks to Gary Lund for the artwork on this card, published by Lyric Art Productions.)

ObLaDi

Well, life goes on. So because we have deemed it necessary to keep track of time, we count our birthdays, and thus a day which is basically a celebration of our arrival on earth, becomes all about how old we are getting to be. But as my dad always said, look at the alternative. I have now celebrated yet another year on the planet, and am fortunate to have family and friends who celebrate it with me.
Starting off with a 7 AM arrival at Market Days, and a gift of a Lavender Cowgirl Hat, continuing on with the arrival there of friends who Actually Sang Happy Birthday to me (I am so lucky to be loved by you!) Evening Festivities included dinner at the Redbud Cafe, surrounded by Ones I Love, eating, drinking, and listening to some great musicians. And yes, once again having Happy Birthday dedicated to me, this time played by the band. One has to put aside the embarrasment in this situation and 'feel the love' because after all, people wouldn't sing to you in public if they didn't love ya! So thanks to all ya'll for loving me and being In My Life. And serving Cheesecake with a candle in it. Ob La Da!

Shadow Shot Sunday

 
In between the rains, an ancient cypress stands claim to its ground in a dry creek bed, somewhere in central Texas.

 
 
 

Vacation Revisited

Well, the Euro is creeping up and the weather in Ireland is wet again. Seems like we were there at the perfect moment! My lovely daughter in law, Karen, threw a St. Patrick's Day feast (even though we know the only snakes St. P. banished were the ones the pagans viewed as symbols of wisdom - he was the real snake in the grass). Anyway, I overlooked my disapproval of the fabled saint and enjoyed the feast as a celebration of Ireland. I mean, what are ya gonna do, miss out on the fun and food? So we gathered for the evening, family and friends, including one friend who has been to Ireland many times, and we enjoyed a scrumptious meal: Irish Stew, which we all pronounced "real" having sufficient Guinness and stout used in the cooking of it, and just potatoes and carrots, none of that ridiculous peas or corn. She had started the dinner with an appetizer of a couple of kinds of Irish cheese - the irony being that we had had no real Irish cheese while we were in Ireland. (I did not tell them about the cheese fiasco at the B & B.) She also had purchased some good Irish soda bread and of course butter, although not Irish butter. But the real treats were 1. the Trifle she made - in Karen-style, she made two huge Trifles, the same but different, both picture worthy and both fabulous. and 2. Irish coffees with Bushmills and more whipped cream; I brought my Celtic Women CDs and the Street Music CD I had purchased in Dublin, put my photos on a computer slide show, and we all sat around and talked about Irish stuff - history, politics, our trips there, the wicked Catholic clergy, etc.

Wish you could been there!

Karen, thanks for the Memorable Feast!

I think we should all go back to Galway.

Echos of Ireland

 

 

 

 

Some more photos from Ireland. By train and bus, we crisscrossed the island from Dublin to Galway, spending a few days in Drogheda, a half hour outside of Dublin, then stayed in Salthill, a "suburb" of Galway. From there we made day trips to Doolin, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren and Spiddal, a quaint coastal village outside of Galway. Only actually spent one night in Dublin. That would be a trip in itself, and we really wanted to not be in a big city very much. My only regret: we didn't have more time.

The Emerald Isle

Seems like quite a while since I posted. Winter has come and gone, at least from my hill country spot. Meanwhile, I have been to Ireland again. Early March is not when it is at it's most Emerald, but it's still lovely.

 
 

Here It Comes

While I have been out living life (Not Blogging) the Time has changed again (at least this time we get the extra hour), the weather has changed, and it seems the Christmas Season has snuck up on us. Of course, it comes earlier every year - now shows up in stores pre-Halloween. Pretty soon we will have Post Labor Day Christmas Sales. I wonder if starting earlier will help avoid the Black Friday insanity. And what about that anyway? How did a religious holy day celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus turn into a free for all with people actually fighting over the purchase of stuff they don't even NEED. How far we have come. Well anyway, here are a couple of pictures of Christmas in Texas. And some seasonal music to enjoy (and no, I did not include the Coca Cola Christmas Song, even though it was on playlist). Have a glass of eggnog or a chocolate covered cherry. Be merry, be joyful, and try to love people. We all need a little more love.

Time will pass

"But time will pass and so, alas, will most of what we know.
Though tonight my memory's eye is clear as the story's being told
And I'll play ball with the underdog and sit with the child who's wrong
Be still when the earth is silent and sing when my strength is gone."
Joan Baez
Gulf Winds