Happy Mother's Day 2013

mom and linda, a photo by purplecatcards on Flickr.

Happy Mother's Day Mom! And yes I do still startle easily.

I hope everyone is havng a wonderful day!

It's April

April in Northern Virginia arrives with rain and flowers, trees blooming and getting their leaves, birds tweeting, yard work, house maintenance and birthday's lots and lots of birthdays including mine. 

Totally cool birthday presents - an old well used hand drill (every girl needs one) and a fabulous rabbit necklace from my husband along with lovely roses.  My kids and grand kids sent some beautiful Spring flowers.  We got yummy crab cakes for lunch.  A very nice birthday.

On Saturday I'm meeting two friends for brunch and we are still celebrating April birthdays!  It's Julie's birthday this month too.  So instead of birthday day, weekend, week - I tend to celebrate birthday month!  Works for me.

If you saw this in the kitchen - would you know what it was?



I don't have any plants because Buzz loves to eat them.



I put this lovely bunny on a necklace of tiny green beads.



Best crabcake sandwich ever.



Flower, Flowers, Flowers







My scooter boots (they are at least 15 years old) decided to just come unglued.  The shoe repair man said that no glue would hold them together so I searched and searched for a pair of shoes that go over my ankle.  I bought one pair but took them back the next day - just a bit too tight on one foot.  I finally found a pair that will work for scooter riding - they are boys shoes! 

OLD riding boots



NEW riding boots

Memorial Day 2012

Never forget the sacrifice that others have made and continue to make for you and your children. 

Miss Campbell Morgan visiting her great grandfather John Griffin at Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC, with her sister and father. 

Mother's Day 2012

Happy Mother's Day everyone.  I hope you are have a relaxing day.  Here are a few photos of what's going on my my garden today.

Alex and Campbell in DC 2012

Alex and Campbell had a nice visit with their grandparents and got to see the sites in Washington, DC with their dad.  How cool is that?
For their next trip they want to see the museums and paddle boat around the tidal basin!

Campbell's Art Project

What makes you Unique?  Campbell's assignment was to make a poster about what makes her unique, she loves dance and was leaning towards a dance themed poster.  Then she decided it was Art that makes her unique.  Her sister Alex and I assisted and the project was completed in two days.  If you ever need someone to handle a hot glue gun she is an expert and would be glad to assist.

Alex found a piece of art that Campbell made when she was 5, I insisted that it be included to show that she really has been doing art all her life.  I was proud to assist her with this fabulous collage of all the things that make her unique.

Art makes me unique.  Art makes me unique because it runs in my family.  I always want to do art 7 days a week.  In an art piece you get to express yourself what you like to do.  I also love art because you can be you and you don't have to worry about judgement.  Something makes everybody unique!  Art is what makes me unique!  Peace, Love Art!

Note for Barb:  Campbell used pink paper as a base, strips of torn fabric and cut up pieces of a tin can wove them all together then sewed them on the sewing machine for a piece of art to use on her poster!!!!

Birthday 2012

 Thank you all for your birthday wishes, they are very much appreciated!  My friend Julie gave me this amazing fused glass dish that is hand painted, she choose the one with the dark hair for me.  It came with a tube of sea salt - how cool is that.  The first image is the front and second is the painted back.

Julie also found the perfect card and envelope.  She said she didn't write on the envelope because she knew that I would like to use it in my art work.

 I just got a box of moo cards with my art dolls on them.  My husband found a mother of pearl card case in the original box - it was Aunt Mary's at one time and now it's safe with me and the moo cards fit perfectly.

Buzzy helping with flowers from my lovely daughter and her family!

A wonderful time was had by all!

Welcome 2012

Happy, Health 2012 to everyone.  I just wanted to share some lovey pictures of my granddaughters from Birmingham, Alabama. 

The delightful volleyball playing Miss Alex

Miss Campbell

Campbell is very artistic - we were completely surprised and delighted to receive a framed painting from her.  I love her choice of colors and the balanced composition.  Reflections of Trees and Moons. Amazing work, we are very proud of you Campbell!

Perfect day for scooting

Before riding scooters you must use Anti Monkey Butt Powder or guess what you will get a red sore monkey butt.  I haven't been riding much - weekends have been very, very hot.  Saturday was a perfect day - we took a ride around town and put 17 miles on the scooters.  I am working up to larger trips.  The little bikes will reach 40 or so going down hill but that's about it so you can't be in a hurry.

Today is another nice day - I'll be scootin.

Father's Day 2011

I was driving to work on Friday and on the radio daughter's were talking about memories of their dads from their childhood.  When I woke up today I started thinking about memories from my childhood.  One is baking peanut butter cookies with my dad and learning how to hold the mixer all by myself.  It sure seemed heavy at the time.  I was very proud to have mixed the cookies by myself.  We also made fudge together, it was always put on a special buttered plate (it had to be that plate) and I always got to eat all the fudge from the bowl and spoon.  My dad cooked all the Sunday dinners and they were fabulous.  He was also a master at bar-b-queing.  For a retirement present his office had a stainless steel grill made for him.  Summer was not complete with out a bar-b-que party where ribs with his secret sauce recipe were served.  The sauce simmered all day until it was just right.  Obviously, the way to a little girl's heart is through her stomach.

We also traveled to Germany to see my grandparents.  It was a grand adventure.  I remember getting a traditional green wool hat and collecting pins from the places we visited.  I still have the hat and memories.

Happy Father's Day to all father's everywhere who teach us how to live and love and be better people.

Jack and Morgan

Jack is 2 and Morgan is 10.  We had a wonderful day celebrating their birthday's.  Brother's and Sister's - Anna, Aidan, Morgan and Jack.

Birthday Girl

It's my birthday.  It is a milestone I've been looking forward to - I now meet all the requirements for a full federal government retirement . . .  so I can retire anytime I want.  But I will definitely be working for a while longer, I'm very grateful to have a job.  Just knowing that I don't have to wait years to qualify for retirement has taken a giant load off my mind.

I received some wonderful birthday cards, and some birthday greetings on Facebook this morning.  My beautiful grandchildren will be calling and singing happy birthday to me later.  My husband got me a way cool rabbit with a basket of bunnies and inside the basket was a silver bracelet with enamel hearts probably from the 40's.  It is so me.

After watching my husband and Angelo (our friend and all around handyman) move all my art stuff from the 2nd floor to the basement this morning (very sad) we went to Home Depo to look at carpet for the upstairs. We also went to lunch at a cool fish market (very happy) and had the crabcake platters.  Instead of birthday cake we opted for four slices of key lime pie made by the owner Martha.  What a delightful birthday.  The weather which has been cold, warm, sunny, rainy, windy (you name it) was beautiful for my birthday - it was sunny and 84 degrees. 

Things nightmares are made of

This very scary cat was a Valentine's Day present from my husband.  It holds matches.  I think it might be planning to set the house on fire.