Mother's Day 2010

I had a wonderful Mother's Day! The weather was about as beautiful as it can possibly get around here at this time of year. We ate great food, everyone got to be outside having fun instead of couped up in the house, I gave guided tours of my flowers and fruit trees, we hung out at the camp spot, just a real mellow, fun day!
I was really hungry for comfort foods, so I made shepherd's pie and coleslaw. Bought a couple of baguettes, ice cream, and for the kids, some Popsicles. Mom brought a casserole and 3 French cheeses, Syl brought a crock pot of baked beans with hamburger (she calls it PUD) and a HUGE salad. Mitch came a little later with Jean and her girls and brought chips, pop and grapes. Whitey made pork tenderloins, one bbq and the other terriyaki. Boy did we EAT!!! I was looking forward to leftovers, which is what I love to eat for breakfast, but sadly, there were none :(

I guess with 20 people at your house that is to be expected, but next time I will stash some in the back of the fridge!

I mananged to get a silly picture of my cat Link. He has more personality in his paw than all of my 9 cats combined.



Fun memory of a great day!

Flower Power

I LOVE lilacs.
AND Lily of the Valley or Muget as I know them best.

I have a huge lilac tree right of of my "studio" window. I have been admiring it for days now and I finally decided to pick a couple of bouquets. At first, I kept thinking "why?...... they die too fast when I cut them and bring them in."
When I decided to do it anyway, I realized the "why?"
My mind was transformed back in time to a safe place, free of any problems or concerns. A place where my little girl knew nothing of real life. It was free of cancer, money, children, significant others......
When I smell the intoxicating scent of lilacs, I go back in time.
I would love to be there but I can't. So I have to live in the moment with all of it's gifts AND trials
and thank God every day for the seemingly small gifts that actually are the center of true happiness.

Been at it again!

One of these days I will learn to center my photos!

I wanted to take some pictures of my ever evolving flowers this morning. The white lilac was given to me by a mutual "horsey" friend about 10 years ago. I've almost killed it several times, but thank goodness, It has survived me and this is the most blooms I have had so far!!! Last year I think I had 2 small, wimpy ones. Since Harmon got into the picture, I thought I'd take one of Mel so he wouln't feel left out ;)

Please no one call animal police on me, my field is one big muddy mess and they love to roll.....I do take care of them, really I do!

Blast from the past!

I've been in a scrapbooking mood lately. It's about time, since I have countless photos waiting patiently to be put into albums and a life time (or more) of supplies to embellish them with!
This is a photo I came across the other night as I was looking for Daemyan's school picture taken this fall. The store has some really cute school themed papers and embellies, so I thought I'd make some displays.
Anyway, this picture was taken in front of Whitey's grandpa's house when we went back there the fall after we got married. My son said it looks like "Beauty and the Beast"!!! ha ha! Dang, I'd sure like to be that skinny again! I'm sure Whitey wishes he had that hair again!
So, I have been wanting to do a "Heritage" album for the kids and grand kids, not for now, but for when we're gone and they actually miss us, they'll be able to look through the album and hopefully find as much joy looking through our story in pictures as I did creating the layouts.
I loved looking at my dad's photos when I was young and I'm sure it had a huge influence on my love of photography and scrapbooking. The card designing part of me came from both my grandmothers who faithfully wrote me letters as well as my maternal aunts who were great letter writers. Nowadays, this is as close as I come to letter writing, but I try (really I do!) to send cards that I have created. Just a little part of me, as personal as a hand written letter.

Royal Ann cherry trees

More to come!

Time fly's

Can't believe it has been so long since I blogged. My intentions are always honorable, it's just that life has to be lived!

Last Sunday I enjoyed a wonderful day out with my brother, sister and my BIL. We went to a sushi restaurant (Blue C Sushi) in the Freemont district

of Seattle. How fun!!! We took a little stroll around the neighborhood after stuffing ourselves and ended up at the Farmer's Market where Syl found a beautiful ring, then visited PCC , a "health food" store much like Food Coop in Mt. Vernon. Then we ended up in Sammamish to "house gaze" like we always do when we get together. We saw some gorgeous homes that we will purchase as soon as our ships come in!!!

Signs of Spring!

My sister gave me some trees a few years back.

They were from her first home which had a very small backyard. I was thrilled when she asked me if I wanted them, especially since they were fruit trees! To my surprise, they bloomed and bore fruit the first year they were planted! I ended up with two trees full of apricots that first year (the cherry tree was a little slower to produce) and I must say that I have never had such good apricots in my life!!! Unfortunately, the deer and birds must have thought so too, since they now come back every year to eat them off the tree before they even ripen. :(

Last year the cherry tree produced tons of cherries but the birds ate them all before they were even the size if a very small blueberry. Every year I tell myself that I need to put up a net to keep those rascals out and every year time gets away from me and I don't get it done. Maybe this year?...............Sylvia also gifted me with 4 more cherry trees that she started from seedlings that I planted along the fence line between the garage and house. Last year, they produced fruit and the birds once again raided them before I had a chance to enjoy them.

Today I want to try and get some before and after pictures and scrapbook them, and maybe keep a yearly diary of their growth :)