payback for a wicked winter

Disclaimer to my Artist friends: being crafty can be a real challenge in NW summers. We had such a lousy winter that when the weather is good, I am drawn outside. There are gardens to tend, parks to explore, lakes and rivers to visit and mountains to hike....... so inside crafts just don't compete with those options.

We are currently having the kind of weather that helps us put up with our horrible winters. Absolutely beautiful blue skies and perfect temperatures sustained over several weeks. I got up early to take Connor to the park for some exercise. Focused, obsessed, addicted? All apply when it comes to Connor and a Ball. This past week I have been using a soft Frisbee like disk instead of a ball and he is getting the hang of it jumping up to catch in mid air. It went missing last night so the balls went to the park this morning. Maybe my Vet niece Emily can explain something...... why do dogs tend to run in a somewhat crooked position? I mean he is running forward but he is kind of at an angle. He has always done this and makes me wonder....... Anyhow when he plays fetch he refuses to take water breaks so when we get home he quickly plops down in the cool grass by his water bowl.

Sometimes I am afraid he will have a heart attack or something. It generally takes a bit before he settles down on my cold entryway tile for a long sleep.

So I am feeling the need to capture every corner of my home and garden on camera lately. My way of saying farewell to everything I have planted or tended to over the past 8 years. Here are some of my current blooms.........

I really hope you are enjoying your weekend and doing what you LOVE to do!

Later....

wonderful wanderings over the weekend....

Jennifer and I went to Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island for some sun and conversation.

Later we met up with Megan who took us to lunch where we sat out on the patio and relaxed a bit before walking through downtown Issaquah....

I am a bit depressed today as I had a job rejection last week and another one yesterday. I guess I should be thankful that I at least had interviews....... but interviews don't pay the bills. Tomorrow is another day and I pray for better spirits!

One awesome thing to celebrate is James was informed last night he received a scholarship from the Chemical Engineering Department. He will have half of his tuition paid for his final year at the U of W....... I am really proud of him.

additional post:

I have just learned from a friend that a family I know is in extreme crises. Both husband and wife, parents of small children, are taking a nose dive straight to their individual bottoms due to addiction. This family would make TLC's Jon and Kate count their blessings.....

It breaks my heart to see this happen but driving home tonight, I reflected about it. This has helped me put things in proper perspective. While I might be unemployed and in financial crises, I at least have my health. Who cares where I live, who cares if I have to start over again. I am healthy!

Thank you God for revealing what I needed to see.......

jimmy johnson in the house......

what a nice saturday in seattle.....

I spent the day outside working in the garden. I know I told myself I was going to wash my car today but the back yard and the mid 70's weather just beckoned..... I had been waiting for a good day to spread the compost throughout the beds.


Compost..... "Black Gold". I find it cool to put old flowers, weeds, and kitchen produce in a barrel and return a year later to this wonder soil and organic fertilizer. It's not quite that simple but I've been composting since the early 80's and still get that awesome sense of accomplishment when your large pile is reduced to this........

Connor was also working hard with me. Always following close behind with the ball just in case I got the urge to play...... we did get some good fun time in the sun today too.

Gosh - I love the look of the gardens with the rich dark soil spread around the borders and feeding my precious roses and flowering shrubs.

I hope to get outside tomorrow afternoon too. I still have the car mats to scrub and looking forward to doing it in the sun after church.....

Great day! Great Weekend!

spring rains and a little art

Todays rain is making the garden look lush and green...... The lilac is just about ready to open in full bloom. I am a patient gardener; waiting 5 years for this colorful explosion.

Connor even enjoyed his time outside. He takes his fetch job so seriously. He too is patient....

I did these layouts this past weekend. The first layouts I've done in months. I used a mixture of past Studio Calico kits ......

James and Megan at Disneyland and California Adventure - Spring Break 2009.

Happy May Day!

Thank you for all the encouraging words. The act of writing down emotions tends to be quite cathartic for me. Putting thought to paper helps the process and I am today more focused on the exciting aspects of upcoming changes. James moving out, a career change and a home change all at the same time can be daunting at moments. But I was reminded this week how often being uncomfortable accompanies times of great growth.


So I took my earlier advise and have watched the Mike video a couple times; gaining perspective once again.


I am off to wash my sofa slipcovers and look for a few throw rugs per realtor advise. We are going to have great weather; sunny and in the 70's -
Nothing will get in my way of enjoying today!

Have a happy Friday! and a happy May Day! I am adding to my to do list.....

Make a Posie and put on my bedside table!

saying goodbye

With the close of my business during a horrible employment market I made the decision to sell my condo in order to get some capital out of my investment. You see the self employed experiencing a down turn in business just can’t go refinance with the banks. So as I stage the home for sale I am reflective and falling in love with it all over again.

Why is it so hard to let things go? Why am I having such a hard time in saying goodbye? Why do I find it impossible to call the realtor and sign the contract? Maybe it’s because this home holds a significant place in my heart as the first place I was able to own since my divorce in 1993. I worked hard to get a broken life pulled together and to focus on achieving some pretty lofty goals made in 2000. This place is my sanctuary, a place where I feel both safe and free.




It is a place where I had my own business for five years. I enjoyed much success before the eventual fall of the furniture industry…….





I will miss this yard, the second garden I have designed, and the beautiful sunsets on the back patio. I will miss my hydrangeas and clematis collections which I adore and Connor will miss his only home and favorite place to stretch out in the sun…..



I will miss this Rose. David Austin’s Shrub Rose “Evelyn” was planted shortly after arriving in 2001. It shares the name of my mother who is responsible for planting the gardening seed in me many years ago. Mom’s ashes are sprinkled beneath this rose among the campanula.......




My family has shared many holidays here and I have attempted to form new traditions.


Intellectually I can recognize that career and living changes might be good for me now. But I am just waiting for my heart to follow my head. Because the heart is hurting just a tad right now……

sunday inspiration

just a really short post today. We are having a good weekend here in Seattle so I am going to capitalize on the extra energy and get some much needed work done....



Since most of my paper supplies are in storage I am left to exploring the digi world. so I was just playing last night on making blog banners - here is one......




I've long been a fan of Anthony Robbins and taken several workshops with him. I recently found him on twitter and look forward to his thought provoking tweets. I subsequently have found his Blog to which I give credit for finding this gem of a video.



Now this is inspiration.........





I hope you all have a good week -Keep the Faith!

If you start having doubts throughout the week and need to be lifted up............
watch this video again, and again, and again.

TGIF

You know that I must have a thing for Rebecca Sower since this is the third time I mention her. I loved her mixed media style since she had her scrapbooking books published through CK. She inspires me to play with fabrics and look at the world through a different lense. Her art is just plain inspiring and her photography just draws you in. But it's Rebecca's post today that exemplifies why I admire her. She encourages me while prodding me to reflect and take action.

You can read it Here.

The lawns are being mowed right now and the sun is actually shining through my window. I can hardly wait to sweep my porch and water the pots today. It is still too cold for me but the sun is just too inticing. Besides if I don't work outside then I must be working inside -YUK.

Here are a few layouts- Have a great day and weekend everyone.

off to get my work done so I can take Connor to Marymoor Park. Besides his head on my leg right now means he wants some attention. Little does he know that cutting his nails is on my to do list. (twirling my handlebar mustache right now)

PS- The new banner is from House of 3 and there is a link on my sidebar. I have a ton of fun on that new website.......

Have a great weekend!.

YouTube Fun tonight....

If this does not choke you up I just don't know......





My favorite volunteer effort has been to usher for concerts held at Overlake. I had the pleasure to work for Mercy Me a few years ago and follow them on Twitter and subsequently found their blog tonight. It's been so much fun to check out their blogposts and videos.... I hope you enjoyed their song.

I have heard of father-son triatholon story before but can't find any details to share now. It is so inspirational but I can't help but to feel a bit sad that my own 2 children have not known the true Love of a Father.

On second thought, they do have the Love of a Father. Just not the one that they thought.....

I hope they both know how much their Momma loves them too! xoxoxoxo