It Started at the Airport

There I was,

at the airport on Wednesday evening

getting ready to fly home for the weekend

when I spotted the woman next to me

reading.

What?

You might ask.

THE ARTFUL BLOGGER

So I couldn't help myself.

I asked.

And that is how I've come to know

Jenny Stevning

an amazing artist.

Please go take a look.

Her art is so precious,

colorful and heartfelt

I love it!

Jenny is my first fellow blogger meet.

I was incredibly excited

and I think she was too.

We talked until boarding.

Then sat next to each other so we could talk some more.

I felt as though I'd known her for years.

And would you believe - 

Sunday when I flew back to CA,

she was on the same flight again?

Yep, and I saved her a seat and we talked some more.

She tried to explain her art to me,

but I must say,

her words didn't do justice to what she creates.

They are lovely pictures.

Just go and see for yourself.

And let her know Jean sent you.

Oh, the roses,

are just because!

Pink Saturday, But I'm Blue

Already another week has passed.

And once again it's a Pink Day.

So please go by and say hello

to Beverly and all the other Pinkies.

at How Sweet the Sound.

And while it's Pink Saturday,

I'm blue . . .

My father has been fighting cancer,

and now, it seems, will need surgery.

Please keep him and my family in your thoughts and prayers.

Later today, I will try to get out and stop by to say hello.

Getting Older

Read a blog,

wish I could remember which one of yours it was.

It told the story 

about a man who went to get a burrito

and was offered the senior discount

and was upset

and forgot his keys

got in the wrong car

and had a young boy tell him 

it was okay, his grandfather always got confused too.

Laughed out loud it was so funny.

So then . . .

I returned home late last night,

and went to the fridge 

to get a glass of iced tea

and found this

A bit closer?

Can you tell what it is?

 

Another angle?

Yep, hubby's socks.

His response:

"Gosh, I wondered what happened to them."

 Number #1 son thought it was hysterical.

What A Great Weekend!

Thank you all for your Birthday Wishes.

I had a lovely day.

And part of the reason is this:

I was the lucky winner

and the package arrived just in time for my B-day!

Thank you so much!

Here is what I won.

They are soooooo very cute.

I love them. Love, love, love them.

And then look at this. 

Even the tag is too cute. 

It says:

"I'm Handpainted, so please. . . 

Love me, flaunt me &; treasure me 

Thank you, Jo Williams"

No, thank you! Jo Williams @ Muddy Puddle Gifts. 
Just in case you want to stop by there and check out her 
terribly cute bookmarks, necklaces and key chains. 
I'm loving a bunch of her goodies. 


Julie, your prize is on the way.

Enjoy!

100 Followers Giveaway Winner!

I had a fabulous B-day.

Thank you all so much for your sweet wishes.

Just got home from dinner with hubby

and wanted to take care of some business.

Enlisted the #1 son to assist.

Put him on camera and he has to make faces.

He is his father's son.

By the way,
thank you all for entering.
I wish I had something for each of you.
I'm sure I'll have another giveaway soon.
 

#1 son picked out a name . . .

The winner is Julie Tucker-Wolek.

She said:
"OMYGOSH!!!! That bag is AMAZING!!!!
And you know I'm a book worm too!!
What an AWESOME giveaway!! I love it!!
And you know I follow you!
:)::):):):):):):):):):)"

Now if you've never visited Julie before
run on over and listen to what goes on at
Life With the Tucker and Wolek Clan.

Julie's blog was one of the first blogs 
I stumbled upon.
She is an inspiration! Truly. 
Each month she takes photos of herself with her kids.
She has a huge heart. I mean really huge.
And she's so creative.
Julie congratulations and thanks for  
 entering and being a follower.

 :)

Please e-mail me your address so I can STUFF it and 
send it to you.

Pink Birthday Saturday

It's Pink Day

Thank you Beverly

At How Sweet the Sound 

for once again hosting Pink Saturday.

and

 

Today is my Birthday!!!

Which is why the girl is wondering

why I'm blogging.

(she's not very happy about it. Can you tell?)

So quickly here is some pink

And today is the day I draw a name

from a hat to win

my very first ever giveaway.

I'm so very excited to see who wins.

But I'll have to draw that name a bit later.

Please check back.

Oh, and I'm now officially six days behind reading

all your blogs. 

I'm so very sorry.

It's been a very busy week,

but I'll be checking on everyone . . .

right after I spend some quality time with the girl.

I've been gone all week

and just got home last night

and she hasn't had a proper greeting yet.

Happy Bittersweet Pink Day

Late on September 10th,

the day that may or may not be my anniversary,

my daughter went into labor.

I was in California,

She was in Arizona.

My husband called me and 

then went to the hospital 

to wait.

I was to fly home the next morning,

Others were to fly to California to take care of business

but when my husband woke

to the news, 

he knew there would be no flight home,

that there would be no one to help me with work,

that I would not be there to welcome my grandson

into the world.

Stuck in California, I drove on deserted LA interstates

while my daughter labored all day.

Around her

the information swirled

and she had to have wondered

what she was doing in bringing a child into this world.

 My grandson bided his time,

but he was determined

and early on September 12th

he arrived.

One day later, I drove from California

to welcome

mother and grandson home.

 

For me these days are

bittersweet.

Thank you again, Beverly 

for hosting Pink Saturday.

Please go by and say hello to all the lovely ladies

that participate..

Anniversary?

Today

may or may not be

my anniversary.

I know,

we should know this

but it happened like this:

We decided on a date

the 10th,

my husband's parents anniversary date.

Something he could remember.

Then we couldn't get off work.

So we planned to wed on the 11th.

Then we were able to get off work on the 10th.

Then the venue wasn't available.

Then it was.

Then the minister had a conflict.

Then some of the bridal party had challenges.

By the following year,

we couldn't remember which date the deed occurred.

Yes, I know I should dig around and find that #!@!# certificate,

but does it really matter?

What matters is that I've been married to a great guy

for 29 years.

He's a kind human being, 

who is filled with compassion.

He is a great father and grandfather,

and he's the best friend I've ever had.

I'd marry you again under that banana tree.

A story for another time. :)

This Dog Loves Ikea

You know my favorite girl:

The one who doesn't like blueberries.

Well, she does love something:

Ikea

Ikea balls to be exact.

We bought them a year ago.

Notice the blue ball in her mouth.

They came in packages of three.

We bought three packages.

This is the last ball.

She chews them until they start to split in half.

That's when she really loves them,

because they make the greatest popping sound.

We've gone to Ikea several times trying to find more. 

No luck.

So, does anyone have any suggestions?

We're getting desperate.

Costume Update

So you remember Grandson TNT

(his grandfather thought those initials for a boy child were perfect.)

He's very happy with his biker jacket

and is planning on going out with his auntie

to get boots.

Well, here is his younger brother

MRE

He wanted to be a dinosaur.

Checking himself out in the mirror.

Nice tail.

Trying out his roar.

Grandfather asked,

"What about his face?"

No problem,

MRE has it all figured out.

Close up:

Not sure what to think.

But I do know he's happy.

 

What I'm Reading

My youngest daughter asked me to join her book club.

I was so excited.

As a writer I love to read.

And I love to discuss with readers what writers mean

when they open their hearts to us.

This month we are reading this.

Supposedly, many African societies believe that people

are divided into three categories:

Those that are alive,

Those that are dead

and those that have departed the earth,

but are not truly dead

because someone on earth still remembers them.

Interesting concept.

The story is about a woman who is alive

and the people she knew who are dead..

Just so you know,

I'm enjoying it tremendously.

Just So You Know

Even when I'm really, really busy

I drop in to see you.

I may not leave a comment

but I'm keeping track of you

and I tell your stories

and share your insights

all week long with everyone I see

because all of you have become 

a part of my life.

Something I never expected. 

Thank you!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway.

to win this

and some of these. 

And because it's my birthday month

there will be some other goodies tucked in as well.

Go here to enter. Good luck all.

Winner will be chosen on September 18th

Think Pink!

Today we once again celebrate PINK!

Thank you Beverly for hosting once again.

It's been such a special time.

Make sure you go here 

to read all about Colette.

And don't forget to visit some of the 

incredibly talented ladies.

Now, the reason I've been absent these past few days is

I took a vacation.

Or really a staycation

where I was going to do this?

THE WHOLE TIME!

 

But instead this happened:

Had to do a little work.

And:

Yep, I made doggie biscuits.

Blueberry-Peanut Butter biscuits

Unfortunately, said girl shown above

apparently doesn't like blueberries.

Which meant I ended up doing extra laundry when I found 

blueberries stashed all over the house

in the beds.

I also did some of this:

Yeah, lost more weight.

It's coming off slowly but surely.

So took the same clothes in another inch.

(And also tricked suggested a shopping trip to my husband.)

Of course, I'm still working on Grandson's 

dinosaur costume.

Hopefully To be completed today.

And then did some knitting.

I'm sending these out to someone special.

Along with a children's story I wrote

To also be finished today.

I'll try to remember to take some photos for you.

The only thing I haven't done . . .

Clean my desk/office/craft room.

Ugh.